Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 15:15 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20652ff39 1 Business Krakatau-Steel,steel,China,anti-dumping,imports Free State-owned steelmaker PT Krakatau Steel has submitted an anti-dumping petition against hot-rolled coil/plate (HRC/P) alloy imports from China to the Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee (KADI). President director Silmy Karim said in a statement on Monday that the petition, submitted on behalf of the Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA), was part of an effort to control imports of the product, which can be used as a replacement for carbon steel. This is the first time local industry players have submitted an anti-dumping petition on hot-rolled coil alloys from China, Silmy said in the statement, adding that KADI had also sent a notification of the petition to the Chinese government. Read also: Luhut asks Xi Jinping to roll back Chinas steel import tariffs Controls were necessary as local iron and steel industry players suspected that China was dumping its product on Indonesia, he said. Imports of carbon-akin alloys like boron steel have disrupted the performance of local steel companies because the product is often used as a substitute for the carbon steel produced by many local players. As a result, steel imports rose to 3.2 million tons in 2019 from 1.4 million tons in 2015, according to IISIA data. Silmy hopes the petition will gain support from related parties, including the government, as he considers it a move to protect the countrys iron and steel industry. The petition is also a part of the associations effort to help the government collect import duties on Chinese steel alloys as importers often circumvented trade laws by altering the product harmonized system (HS) code, he added. Read also: Indonesia, EU embroiled in fresh trade spat over nickel export ban, subsidies The HS code is a widely used goods classification system. It helps facilitate tariff requirements, statistics, rules of origin and commodities export and import supervision, among other processes. The circumvention practice in steel imports is a fraudulent practice often used by exporting countries to gain profits from avoiding import fees and receiving export tax rebates, said Silmy. WYOMING, MI -- The Wyoming City Council meeting Monday evening ended with shouts of resolution now from immigration activists. Members of Movimiento Cosecha GR want council members to pass a resolution in support of state legislation that would grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants in Michigan. The Monday, Feb. 17, meeting was the second time advocates shared with the body why it was important. However, the city council doesnt intend to take up the resolution. Related: Michigan bills would let residents apply for drivers licenses regardless of immigration status Mayor Jack Poll said that the council doesnt take positions on legislation that is outside of our control. That position, he said, was outlined in a letter last week to Movimiento Cosecha. We will not be bringing a resolution because we do not feel that this is the position of the city council to send something forward when we are not actually making the vote on it, Poll said Monday. The deliberative body is the state of Michigan that is going to be voting on it, and so we dont feel that our position to tell them how they should vote on this issue. Poll offered his personal support, saying he would pen an official letter of support in his capacity as mayor for the proposed legislation to make drivers licenses available to undocumented immigrants. He added that other council members could do the same. Other Kent County elected bodies including, the Grand Rapids City Commission, the Grand Rapids Board of Education and Godfrey-Lee Board of Education, have issued various forms of support for the legislation introduced by Democratic state lawmakers last fall. Members of Movimiento Cosecha GR interrupted a Grand Rapids City Commission meeting in November demanding a resolution of support, saying their letter of support to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state legislators wasnt enough. The Wyoming City Council was first asked to consider a resolution of support at their Feb. 3 meeting. At that meeting, a number of people spoke in Spanish and English on the importance of licenses to undocumented immigrants. Without licenses, undocumented immigrants face barriers to medical care, job transportation and more, those who spoke said. To the disappointment of organizers, no such resolution was up for consideration at the Monday, Feb. 17 meeting. If there's truly a concern for the immigrant population in this city, we would like to see this resolution on the agenda, Karla Barberi, a volunteer organizer with Movimiento Cosecha GR, told the council through a translator. Many of those who spoke Monday expressed frustration that they were only given the designated three minutes for public comment when they required the use of translation. Gema Lowe, a volunteer organizer with Movimiento Cosecha GR, said the council does not empathize with the fear that an immigrant has of the police. This fear comes from family, friends and even spouses that have been detained and arrested from the Wyoming police, Lowe said through a translator. And it has ended in separations and deportations of the families by the police." Poll said the council determined to not take up the resolution at a Feb. 10 work session. A draft resolution was prepared and presented to council at the work session at the request of Poll and council member Marissa Postler. The meeting Monday ended with Barberi during the final public comment period calling a member of city staff very rude. While people were sharing their hearts your body language, your whole body, is just showing that you dont care whatsoever about us, she said. Poll told Barberi that her time was up, as she had already spoken during public comment, and said she might have to be removed from the council chambers. As she continued to talk from her seat in the audience, Poll adjourned the meeting. Neither Barberi nor anyone else was removed from the chambers. Movimiento Cosecha GR is a nonviolent immigrants rights group fighting for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for all immigrants. The group sometimes uses disruptive tactics. Among their other actions, the group pressured the Kent County Board of Commissioners in 2018 and 2019 to have the Kent County Sheriffs Office end its jail contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE let the contract expire in 2019 after the Kent County Sheriffs Office changed its policy for keeping people jailed at ICEs request. That policy change was in response to the detainment of a U.S. citizen by ICE. Read more on MLive: Grand Rapids settles for $190K with former Marine who was detained by ICE After citizen detained, Kent County sheriff changes ICE-hold policy Some Kent County commissioners sign mock agreement to end ICE contract Immigrant rights activists protest outside Homeland Security office With the threat of a full shutdown of Ontario schools Friday still looming, its time for teacher unions and the province to put student needs ahead of costs and settle their labour dispute, says the 17-year-old president of the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTA), which represents two million public and Catholic pupils. These things should not continue to happen, said Sally Meseret of a plan by Ontarios public, Catholic and French-language school teachers to walk off the job for one day. She said teachers and Education Minister Stephen Lecce need to ask themselves, Is what is taking place in the best interest of students? Is there anything we can do to make sure we prioritize students? Are we focusing on students or are we focusing on other matters in education? The student association released its recommendations Tuesday regarding the spending it wants to see in the next provincial budget items that reflect concerns about a lack of mental health supports, access to school nutrition programs, special education and online learning. On Wednesday, the government and two teacher unions representing those in Catholic and French-language boards returned to the bargaining table at the request of the mediator. Talks continued late into the night Wednesday and were to resume Thursday. However, if no deals are reached before Friday, both unions will take part in the mass strike of 200,000 teachers, early childhood educators and support staff. Fridays walkout will be the first time in more than 20 years that teachers from the public, Catholic and French school systems have legally hit the picket lines en masse. Union leaders said last week it was a united effort to reach a deal after their last contract expired in August. Have your say: Meseret, a student in the Durham District School Board, said the ongoing dispute which has kept elementary and high school students at home for one to two days each week this year is putting students education in jeopardy. Even Grade 12 students like herself, who have already submitted their university applications, are worried. Grade 12 is supposed to be that crowning year after 12 years in the system. Were not just worried about ourselves. Were looking to students just coming into high school. Theyre in Grade 8. What is the impact of this strike action on students that are just entering the system, said Meseret, who says her younger siblings in elementary school are also missing classroom time. Both the government and teachers need to look at education as an investment rather than a cost, she said, citing research showing a relationship between education and reduced social welfare and health care spending. Its not a matter of if the money is going to be spent, its a matter of when the money is going to be spent and its better to do it up front, Meseret said. The trustees associations 30-page budget submission is based on a January survey of students across the province and is meant to put the needs of students in a budget. The budget includes the everyday concerns students have and why it should be taken into consideration. Premier Doug Ford said these strikes are impacting families. Theyre impacting the economy right across Ontario. When people cant go to work, it costs them money, and thats not fair to the families and its not fair to the kids. He said the government wants a deal that keeps the kids in the classroom. I keep repeating that. We want a deal to make sure that kids are in the classroom day in and day out. But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said what parents want is an end to the cuts. They dont want to see classroom sizes balloon. They dont want to see mandatory online learning. They dont want to see supports for kids at high risk to be removed. They want to see the quality of education in this province protected. Student trustees are also urging the government to provide more resources in the upcoming spring budget, including: More mental health supports for students, especially in the north and southwestern parts of the province. A continued commitment to addressing a $16.3-billion backlog of capital repairs in schools. More investments in online learning to meet increasing demand for students who choose elearning. OSTA has already rejected the provincial plan to make two online credits mandatory in Ontario schools. Lawmakers in the French parliament on Monday started debating the governments plan to overhaul the pension system, which has angered much of the opposition, and sparked a historic transport strike in the country. The opposition has vowed to block the plan, and has introduced nearly 40,000 amendments to slow down the process. The first day of debates concluded before MPs could even start to address the 41,000 amendments, 37,000 of which were introduced by the National Assemblys three leftist groups, the Socialists, the Communists and the hard-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed). France Unbowed party leader Jean-Luc Melenchon promised to hold strong against the pension reform, which he called the most terrible social regression of the fifth republic. Communist lawmakers, wearing T-shirts that spelled out the word Referendum, tried to table a motion that would ask president Emmanuel Macron to hold a referendum on the reform. It was rejected by a vote of 160 to 70. Call for legitimacy As with all bills, this text generates some opposition, said the new health minister, Olivier Veran, at the start of Mondays debates. Admittedly, there are some disagreements, admittedly, there are some differences of opinion. I call that democracy. Veran was a lawmaker himself until Monday, when he took over the ministerial post from Agnes Buzyn, who became the ruling Republic on the Move (LREM) candidate for mayor of Paris. He defended the governments plans to reform the pension system, saying the bill has the legitimacy of a presidential project. It has the legitimacy of a consultation... And I hope it will, in the near future, have a large legitimacy given by lawmakers. The bill was reviewed by a parliamentary commission that failed to address all the amendments, so it sent the legislation in its original form written by the government to be debated by the entire body, a situation that has never happened before. Opposition from the right to the legislation comes from the Les Republicains Party, which has denounced what it calls amateurism of the government, notably on financing the pension system. Story continues Financing the system On Tuesday, in parallel with debates on the text of the law, the government will open talks with trade unions on how to finance the system and balance the budget by 2027. Officials have warned that if no deal is reached, the retirement age will effectively be pushed pack by a few years from 62 currently. The pension reform has been rejected by unions, which organised a historical six-week long transport strike in December and January. Strikes in other sectors have continued, and polls show a majority of the French public support them, and are critical of the government's handling of the reform. Several hundred protesters marched on Monday in Paris to mark the start of the debates in parliament, but a call for a metro strike was largely ignored. Unions have called for a general strike on Thursday. Not enough time for debate The pension reform legislation will be debated for 84 hours over two weeks in the National Assembly, with the governments aim for a vote before the municipal elections in March. The bill would then go to the Senate, with the aim to have a final passage of the law by the summer. The government has a majority in parliament, but some LREM lawmakers have warned that going through all the amendments would take more time than allotted, and if the opposition holds up the vote, the legislation may have to be forced through by executive decree. Proper structures must be instituted to ... Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata does it again with his heartfelt initiative for sanitation workers. The Tata Group Chairman Emeritus on Monday posted a heart-wrenching video throwing light on the plight of sanitation workers who work in despicable conditions that not only endanger their health and lives but also violate their dignity and human rights. The gut-wrenching ad is part of Tata Trusts' initiative 'Mission Garima', which strives to "provide safe, hygienic and humane working conditions for sanitation workers who are severely affected." The campaign called "Two Bins Life Wins" aims at "urging citizens to segregate their biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to help reduce the burden on these hardworking men and women." Also Read: Ratan Tata accorded honorary doctorate by UK university Tata shared the 3-minute video along with a message that read, "Mission Garima, for our brave sanitation workers." The video shows a schoolboy reciting poetry about his father during a recitation competition where he talks about how his "Baba" runs the country risking his own life so that people can go about their businesses every day. While sharing the ad, he elucidated that "Mumbai a city of 23 million residents, has a city of 23 million, only 50,000 individuals are employed as sanitation workers. They are working in difficult conditions every single day to tackle the enormous amount of waste that Mumbai generates." Also Read: Ratan Tata opens up about falling in love and almost getting married Urging readers to dispose of their waste responsibly, Tata shared a link as a guide to help them learn more as well as support the initiative. The ad garnered more than one lakh views within minutes of being shared on Instagram. A lot of users have also praised the initiative hailing Tata for it. Also Read: Ratan Tata shares photo of younger self; Internet loses its mind Hero Xpulse Rally Kit is now available for aspiring racers and off-roading enthusiasts for Rs 38,000. Hero MotoCorp has finally launched the Xpulse 200 Rally Kit in the country for aspiring racers and hardcore off-roading enthusiasts. Priced at Rs 38,000, the package will be available at select Hero MotoCorp dealerships from March 2020. The Hero Xpulse 200 is an excellent starter motorcycle to go over tricky terrain and the new Rally Kit sets the benchmark even higher. The Xpulse Rally Kit was first showcased at the 2019 EICMA international motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. The kit is a proper functional mod developed by the companys R&D facility (Centre of Innovation and Technology) in Jaipur, with inputs from the brands motorsport division Hero MotoSports Team Rally who is a regular contestant in Dakar rally. The kit is certified by FMSCI and is also homologated. This means that once you have installed this kit, the bike is road legal, and can be used on public roads. The Rally Kit brings a host of visual and mechanical changes to the stock Xpulse 200. The fully-adjustable (compression and rebound) front forks have a travel of 250mm while the 10-step rear monoshock has a 220mm stroke. It ensures purpose-focused ergonomics with the handlebar risers and the flat- or bench-seat layout. With an increased ground clearance of 275mm (up by 55mm), Maxxis knobby tyres and extended gear lever (for easy shifting with off-roading boots), the Hero Xpulse 200 Rally Kit promises enough agility and control over challenging grounds. To support the taller stance, the side stand is longer as well. Meanwhile, the engine remains unchanged and comes in the exact state of tune. However, the bigger sprocket (12-teeth in front and 40-teeth at the rear) makes the lightweight adventure motorcycle slightly quicker off the line compared to its stock avatar. The Hero XPulse 200 is powered by a 199.6cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine that makes 18bhp @ 8,000rpm and 17.1Nm @ 6,500rpm. The engine is available in both carburetted and fuel-injected formats while mated to a 5-speed transmission. At EICMA 2019, the Xpulse 200 Rally Kit sported an Akrapovic exhaust (not a full system) that is not included in the package. The Hero XPulse 200 is a really good package in its stock format itself. The adv has become more of a sensation on the Indian market thanks to its relatively affordable price tag and go-anywhere nature. With the new Rally Kit, the desirability of the XPulse 200 is bound to improve by a huge margin. Still, it is ideal for only those who are really into off-roading (beyond Instagram) and wishes to have a career in the field of motorcycle motorsports at some point. And though the weapons were intended for the Afghan army and police forces, the militarys failure to document how and to where they were distributed has meant many of them found their way into the hands of militant groups throughout Afghanistan and the Middle East. In 2013, the inspector general for Afghan reconstruction reported that 43 percent of the Department of Defenses records for small arms sent to Afghanistan were missing information or were duplicates. This near-continuous arms flow has cost millions in taxpayers dollars, some of which remains unaccounted for, along with many weapons themselves. The Defense Departments failure to track and maintain these weapons is a result of the convoluted bureaucracy that fuels defense contracts and Washingtons desire to build an army and police force quickly from scratch. In recent years, the Pentagon has tried to improve its methods for tracking the weapons, but low literacy rates have made it difficult for Afghan soldiers and armorers to maintain accurate records. Once a status symbol for senior commanders and insurgents, the American-made M16 easily sold, lost or taken from the battlefield is now seemingly as prevalent as the Soviet-style rifles that make up much of the insurgencys arsenal. Justin Trudeau has been hit by three large-scale communications crises since the beginning of this year: an air crash in Tehran; a global outbreak of coronavirus and now, a hard-hitting series of Indigenous blockades and protests across the country. While the prime minister was given generally good marks for the way he handled the first two crises of 2020, the blockades have reignited accusations of rampant communications mismanagement. Did something stop working between crises two and three? Did the first two crises simply drain the Trudeau governments emergency-management resources? Or is Trudeaus team simply better at handling international emergencies than domestic ones? What is clear right now is that this is a crisis of a totally different type in cause and its effect on Trudeaus government. A little over a month ago, when the news emerged about dozens of Canadians killed in a Tehran air crash, Trudeau was everywhere: holding near-daily news conferences, flying out to meet families of victims, quietly attending vigils. Trudeaus government snapped into action on coronavirus too over the past few weeks, with regular media briefings and concerted efforts to help affected Canadians and quarantine the potential spread of the disease. The Indigenous blockades, however, have not appeared to send the Trudeau government into similar high gear at least not until the past few days, when senior ministers were dispatched to high-level talks with protesters and the prime minister himself cut short his international travels. Trudeau was out of the country for the third crisis and thats been the major flashpoint for criticism the suggestion that his priorities lay abroad, not at home. Who needs a seat on the United Nations security council (the purpose of his trip) when #shutdownCanada is trending at home? The prime minister has now grounded himself back in Ottawa to devote himself to full-time efforts at resolution of the blockades and to be present when the issue is likely to be boiling over in the Commons on Tuesday. But Trudeau cant handle this crisis as he did the first two. It is, first, a domestic problem, not an International one. The Canadian government has to sort out where it is the cause, as well as the potential solution, in this dispute. No one was calling on the Trudeau government to take the blame for the Tehran air crash or the outbreak of a new virus in China. In the first two crises, the PMs visible, active involvement was intended to be reassuring, even calming. In this third crisis, the PMs involvement holds the potential to escalate things, or in the words of senior officials talking off the record, inflame the situation. Theres another big difference between this crisis and the first two of 2020, though, and it revolves around the distinction between complicated and complex. Until recently, I assumed these were synonyms, but they are apparently not. Complicated and complex problems, the experts say, both involve many moving parts. But in complicated situations, all the parts are moving to one goal. The post office is complicated; so is a newspaper, but they are both ultimately devoted to sending information from A to B. Complex situations are made up of parts that may not necessarily be headed in the same direction, or even have the same end goal. Managing a city is complex; so is building a pipeline in consultation with Indigenous people. So Trudeau and his government have moved from complicated crises early in this new year to one big, complex one. Judging by the commentary from both sides of the blockades over this past week, Trudeaus government is expected to get a national railroad working and resolve historic grievances between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people all within a few days. Canadas first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, only had to worry about one of those things, with a little more time. Ironically, perhaps, Trudeau has been talking in his speeches for some time about how modern governments cant build railways the way they used to. Things have changed since the big projects of our distant past. We cant just decide to build a railway one day, and start laying track the next, he said in a 2019 speech on the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Building a railway was complicated in the 19th century. Getting trains running again in 2020, in the midst of Indigenous protests, is complex. How complex? Well, put it this way: it makes an international airline crash and a global disease outbreak look easier to manage. Susan Delacourt is a columnist covering national politics based in Ottawa. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt Read more about: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Ethiopias reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other officials on Feb. 18 on a visit expected to focus on security, investment, and Ethiopias dispute with U.S. ally Egypt. Abiy welcomed Pompeo and his wife on their arrival then they went into lunch. Their talks are expected to focus on security concerns ahead of Ethiopian elections this year, investment opportunities as Abiy opens up the economy to foreign investment, and a dispute the United States has been trying to mediate between Ethiopia and Egypt over Ethiopias giant Blue Nile hydropower dam. Abiy took power in 2018 following years of anti-government protests. He freed political prisoners, won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending a long-running conflict with neighboring Eritrea, and has begun liberalizing sectors of the state-run economy. Ethiopia, Africas second-most populous nation, has long been an ally of the United States but the difficulty of doing business in its sluggish and bureaucratic economy has discouraged foreign investment. Abiy has promised to liberalize the telecoms and banking sectors but this year he is likely to be occupied with elections scheduled for Aug. 29. His reforms, while applauded abroad, have also unleashed simmering ethnic and political tensions at home as regional powerbrokers jockey for position. More than 2 million of Ethiopias 109 million citizens have been displaced, according to the United Nations. Pompeo is on the second leg of a tour that has already taken him to Germany, Senegal, and Angola. By Giulia Paravicini SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing the expansion of its executive leadership team, QMC Telecom International ("QMC"), a leading independent owner, developer, and operator of wireless communications infrastructure assets in Latin America, announced today the appointments of Maria Betancourt as Chief People Officer and Jose Javier Martinez Rellan as Chief Information & Process Officer. In her role as Chief People Officer, Maria will provide strategic leadership of the Human Resources function to support QMC's continued growth while maintaining its entrepreneurial and client obsessed mindset as its driving force. She brings over 20 years of experience in Latin America, the United States, and other international markets. Maria most recently served as the People Function Vice-President for Operations and Logistics at Walmart Mexico and Central America where she was named one of the top 30 CHRO's in Mexico. "As we continue our rapid expansion across products and geographies, reinforcing our company culture and maintaining a deep leadership bench will continue to be top priorities for us as we deliver on our vision to Foster Growth, Enable Connectivity, and Solve Client Needs in all our markets," said Rafael Somoza, QMC Co-CEO and Co-Founder. "Maria brings to QMC a proven track record in designing, reengineering and implementing transformations in the People function that will help us achieve this goal". Maria holds a B.B.A. degree in Computer Information Systems and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Puerto Rico. In his role as Chief Information and Process Officer, Jose Javier Martinez Rellan will operate as a strategic business leader driving QMC's information technology and business process initiatives. He will be designing and executing strategies to enable the company to leverage operational efficiencies, introduce new product solutions, and increase customer satisfaction. Jose Javier brings over 18 years of experience in IT and process related positions across the Americas and Europe. Prior to joining QMC, Jose Javier was the CIO & CTO for Globenet, a submarine cable company. "Jose Javier adds vital capabilities to the digital transformation of QMC, empowering us to boost our Results-Driven and Built-to-Last core values," said Jose Stella, QMC Co-CEO and Co-Founder. "His record of success transforming IT & process capabilities fits perfectly with QMC's vision." Jose Javier holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the Universidad de Leon in Spain and an Executive MBA from IE Business School. "We are thrilled to have executives of the caliber of Maria and Jose Javier join our team. They are both yet another example of the incredible talent QMC is attracting to propel its next phase of growth," added Stella. About QMC Telecom International: Founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2008, QMC Telecom International ("QMC") owns and operates over 2,200 wireless infrastructure sites and has rights over 42,500 sites for the deployment of infrastructure by our telecom clients in Latin America. The company develops, owns, acquires and manages rooftops, macro sites, small cells and DAS solutions in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. QMC is backed by a group of renowned investors including Accel, Housatonic Partners and Grupo Santo Domingo. Contact Info: Julia Eboli +55 11 99762-2278 SOURCE QMC Telecom International For the longest time the tech industry has had a nonsensical obsession with making devices thinner and lighter, at the expense of a bigger battery. Do consumers care about shaving off a few millimeters or grams if it means the device won't get you through a day of use? Samsung's latest laptop, the Galaxy Book S, claims to have nailed the balance. Despite packing a 13.3-inch touchscreen display, full size keyboard and 4G connectivity, the $1699 device weighs less than 1kg with a frame that's just 11.6mm thick, and delivers a 'rated' battery life of up to 25 hours. The Galaxy Book S is thin, light and powerful, but its ARM processor means you'll want to stick to Microsoft Store apps. On paper, this seems like a home run. But as is always the case when it comes to tech, the devil is in the details. Unless you like to keep your display at uncomfortably low brightness levels and plan on watching videos all day on a remote island with next to no network connectivity, you're going to get closer to 12 hours of battery. In fact I was getting a little over 10 hours with the screen set to 30 per cent brightness and 4G connectivity enabled. That's still nothing to sneeze at but it's well below the 25 hour claim. A medical expert conducts her research in the laboratory. [For Women of China] The group members of the women's federations at all levels in North China's Shanxi Province have raised funds and leveraged their own strengths to aid the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia since the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province. The associations of female entrepreneurs at both provincial and city levels mobilized their members to assume the social corporate responsibilities and donate money and supplies worth about 7.43 million yuan (roughly US $1.07 million) to the anti-epidemic battle. Women lawyers from the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) under the Shanxi Lawyers Association (SLA) contributed 500,000 yuan (about US $71,727) to support the prevention and control efforts of medical workers and other frontline workers. According to Zhao Zhiqin, Vice-Chairperson of the SLA and head of the WLA under the SLA, an appeal was extended to women lawyers from across the entire province to make the best use of their own social influences via WeChat to increase publicity of legal regulations and update information on the contagious virus. Apart from the donation of money and supplies, members of the Shanxi Women Artists Association (SWAA) also used their painting brushes to depict the frontline medical workers and other workers in the anti-epidemic battle. Wang Weilan, President of the SWAA, said that many local artists have been working on the creation of their paintings and channeling their income from relevant auctions to support the prevention and control efforts on the frontline. The Shanxi Cheongsam Cultural Research Association raised 26,100 yuan (US $3,739) for the Wuhan Charity Federation to aid the anti-virus battle there. The Shanxi Medical Women's Association said in a recent statement that it would provide comprehensive support to women medical workers on the frontline to relieve their concerns at home. In addition, the Shanxi Women and Children's Development Foundation has been allocating public donations to hard-hit areas over the past several weeks. A painting created by a local artist [For Women of China] A portrait of a medical worker in the workplace created by a local artist [For Women of China] (Women of China) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Singapore unveiled US$4.6 billion in financial packages on Tuesday to deal with the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has battered the city-state's economy and sparked fears of a recession. The financial hub has reported 77 cases of the virus, one of the highest figures outside mainland China, where the pathogen has killed hundreds and infected tens of thousands. Tourism and trade are both expected to be hard hit by the virus in Singapore, an open economy with close links to China that is badly affected during any global shock. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced financial packages worth a total of Sg$6.4 billion (US$4.6 billion) as part of the annual budget, and warned that the full impact of the outbreak is yet to be felt. "The duration and severity of this outbreak and the impact on the global economy are still unclear," he said. "We must be prepared... the economic impact may be worse than we projected." Sg$5.6 billion was earmarked to help companies and families ride out the looming slowdown, with a large chunk set to go to firms in the most affected sectors including aviation, tourism and retail. There was also money to help families, which will come in the form of cash payouts and grocery vouchers for the needy. An additional Sg$800 million was set aside to support virus-fighting efforts, with most going to the health ministry. The packages would result in an overall budget deficit of Sg$10.9 billion, Heng said, but added that the government had enough surpluses to fund it. Authorities had rolled out a financial package totalling Sg$230 million during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002-03. The trade ministry said Monday that growth this year could be between -0.5 and 1.5 percent, with analysts saying this means there is a higher risk of a recession. Singapore has banned travellers from mainland China, the city's biggest source of tourists. Global supply chains have also been severely disrupted after the virus closed manufacturing operations in China, impacting export-dependent economies such as Singapore. Linta Mary Philip By Express News Service KOCHI: Of late, Athani, a nondescript hamlet near Kakkanad, has been seeing a huge influx of migrant labourers from all over the country, thanks to the boom in construction activities in the vicinity. They come and leave in batches, some of them even bringing their families. Their presence in hordes has led to several eateries and supermarkets coming up with provisions for the community. Restaurants and eateries are at the forefront of creating an eco-system by coming up with menu tailor-made for the community. While the ubiquitous brown rice of Keralites has been replaced with white rice, more suitable for their palate, the shopkeepers have also started procuring varieties of pulses and vegetables like palakhs, chow-chow, radish and brinjals, which are favoured among the community. While a few businesses in the vicinity are set up solely for the migrant community, the majority of the shops here take their needs into consideration, said Sajeer T M who owns a vegetable stall. A recently-opened small eatery in the area proudly displays its menu, which includes mangsho baath, mach baath and sabzi baath. Started by Anwar A K, a Malayali and Shankar Deb Nath, a Bengali, the stall offers only north Indian food. The dishes here are made with a generous sprinkling of of cumin and the potato finds a place in most curries and then, of course, there is the dal. They use only certain fish varieties preferred by the north Indian diaspora. Panch-phoran (a mix of five condiments) and magaj (pumpkin seeds) etc are some of the ingredients used here. Snacks such as bread masala and egg baji are also served. Even some Malayalis in the vicinity have taken to the food here. Owner of Rijaal fashions, an apparel store in the area, says that while restocking, he keeps in mind the preference of the migrants. T-shirts with prints and designs find more takers among migrants. Hence, I try and bring in more of such items, he says. Items such as earphones and chargers are available at the small mobile stores here, besides facilities such as money transfer. These stores had earlier seen a huge demand for downloaded Hindi and Bengali songs, a trend which has now faded with the easy availability of the internet. The local body too is doing its bit. Special care is taken to ensure health facilities. Awareness drives are conducted in areas where the migrants live, said M T Omana, councillor of Athani. radish & brinjals While the ubiquitous brown rice of Keralites has been replaced with white rice, more suitable for their palate, the shopkeepers have also started procuring varieties of dals and vegetables like palakhs, chow-chow, radish and brinjals, which are favoured among the community. The University of Pennsylvanias Lia Thomas competes in a swim meet against Dartmouth and Yale on Saturday. (Kylie Cooper) After undergoing hormone replacement therapy, Thomas has posted fast times for the University of Pennsylvania's women's team, sparking debates from the starting blocks to online message boards to cable news networks. Melinda Simmons is concerned by an attempted offensive by Russia-led forces in Ukraine's east. British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has called on the Russian Federation to use influence over its proxies to implement Minsk peace agreements on Donbas. "[I] extremely concerned by reports of [a] sharp increase in ceasefire violations near [the] Zolote disengagement area with heavy weaponry proscribed under Minsk agreements, leading to casualties. Russia must use influence over its proxies to implement Minsk agreements fully," she said on Twitter on February 18. Read alsoEU calls on Russia to make illegal armed formations in Donbas observe full ceasefire As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupying forces on Tuesday morning attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, using 120mm mortars proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance across the contact line. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another five were wounded amid the fight. The enemy's casualties included four killed and six wounded. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 16:02 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206534fc7 1 Business pre-employment-card,labor,unemployment,KSP,Moeldoko,skills-gap,training,subsidy Free Millions of jobseekers in Java will get subsidized training funds in April through the governments much-vaunted pre-employment card, after a brief delay. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko expressed hope on Tuesday that the government will issue the Presidential regulation for the scheme by February, finalize preparations in March and start the program in April. President Joko Jokowi Widodo initially aimed for a January launch. West Java, Jakarta and its satellite cities will be among the first cities that will form the programs pilot project. Authorities will then evaluate the results, make improvements and expand massively to other cities, Moeldoko explained. In 2021, we aim for more than 2 million people to join the program. The President has stated that if this runs well, we could beef the program up to twice as much or even more, Moeldoko told reporters. First announced during Jokowis reelection campaign, pre-employment cards aim to aid job seekers by granting them access to training, a move that hopes to help address the nationwide shortage of skilled workers. The government has allocated Rp 10.3 trillion (US$752.24 million) for the program this year. Read also: Government to roll out preemployment card in early 2020 Automation and the Future of Work in Indonesia, released in September by management consultancy McKinsey & Company, projects that 23 million jobs could be displaced by automation by 2030, but 27 million to 46 million new jobs could be created during the same period. The Presidential Office (KSP) special economic policy advisor, Denni Puspa Purbasari, elaborated on Tuesday that the sophisticated back-end programming for the programs digital platform and lengthy financial administrative processes have caused the delay. However, she said that both the Presidential regulation and the Coordinating Economic Affairs Ministry Regulation were nearly complete. KSP is currently giving its last feedback on some articles in the provisions, she said. It will be like Go-Food where the food will be the training institutions laid out in a single platform, so that users can easily compare their prices, location, packages and ratings, said Denni, referring to technology company GoJeks food delivery service. The pre-employment card program is aimed at addressing skill shortages, which have become a real problem in the countrys workforce makeup, as the education system has failed to produce graduates with the skills needed by industry. Unemployment rates of graduates of vocational high schools, that are meant to train students for specific jobs, are most alarming, standing at 8.63 percent of the workforce in February 2019, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data. Read also: Skills gap: Why education alone is not enough to land you a job in Indonesia The government has also been seeking partnerships with financial technology (fintech), banks and start-ups to digitize its subsidy for jobseeker training. This would help with cash transfers and other funding issues. However, critics and industry players have raised questions about the effectiveness of the cards in narrowing the countrys deep-rooted skills gap, as the education system remains a big problem when it comes to addressing the skills shortage, while budget shortages and weak unemployment data would hamper the pre-employment cards implementation. Former finance minister Chatib Basri also warned the government to avoid overselling the program in order to avoid failure where expectations are higher than the results. We must tone down expectations. There will be glitches in the process but thats normal if we have realistic expectations, Chatib said. In a bid to curb vaping among young adults, Gov. Ned Lamont has moved to ban flavored e-cigarettes including menthol and cap the level of nicotine that vaping products sold in Connecticut may contain. But anti-tobacco advocates say the proposal doesnt go far enough. Absent from the plan is a broader prohibition on flavored tobacco goods, including menthol cigarettes and fruit flavored cigars, that could become a bigger draw if the vaping ban goes into effect. Kids who are currently vaping, when you take away the flavors, a number of them are likely to switch to other flavored tobacco products, said Jim Williams, government relations director for the American Heart Association in Connecticut. Any flavor ban should cover all tobacco products, not just electronic cigarettes. Lamont rolled out his budget proposal for the 2020-21 fiscal year earlier this month. In it, he called for a prohibition on flavored vaping goods, an increase in the penalties imposed for the sale of tobacco or e-cigarettes to minors, and a requirement that schools put vaping prevention lessons in their health education curricula. He also included a 50 percent wholesale tax on vaping liquid to match the taxes on other tobacco products and to discourage the practice. The wholesale tax is expected to bring in $600,000 during the first year. That amount factors in the loss of revenue from flavored vaping products, which would be pulled from store shelves if the budget is approved. The governor also suggested a cap on the level of nicotine that vaping goods may contain, at 35 milligrams per milliliter. Max Reiss, a spokesman for Lamont, did not address questions about why flavored tobacco products were left out of the plan. Protecting Connecticuts youth from the harms of tobacco use is a priority for Governor Lamont, Reiss said. While there is still work left to do, we look forward to partnering with stakeholders in the upcoming legislative sessions to see these priorities come to fruition. Anti-tobacco advocates said the governors vaping announcement was a good first step, but they want a ban on flavored tobacco to be part of the effort. It is important the proposal be strengthened to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco, said Bryte Johnson, government relations director for the American Cancer Societys Cancer Action Network in Connecticut. This is critical if we want to ensure the legislation has a measurable health impact and truly protects kids from Big Tobaccos continued targeting. Officials with the American Lung Association in Connecticut shared those concerns. We know the industry really uses flavors to hook young people. So if were going to do this, lets do it right and get all the products in, said Ruth Canovi, the groups advocacy director. The end goal is all products, all flavors. A partial ban on flavored vaping products recently took effect at the federal level. The Trump administration outlawed flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes, but it exempted menthol and tobacco flavors. It also excluded disposable vapes, those with an open-tank system, and their respective e-liquids, which come in a variety of flavors. Cessation advocates have criticized Trumps plan as not strict enough and have pushed for tougher policies at the state and municipal levels. Leaders in Connecticuts public health department also called on lawmakers to bar the sale of all flavored tobacco goods, as Massachusetts did last year. It is unclear how much money the state would lose if flavored tobacco products were outlawed. In 2018-19, Connecticut collected $335.2 million in cigarette tax revenue and $22.3 million from the tax on other tobacco items, such as cigars, cigarillos, and pipe and chewing tobacco. But the state does not break down revenue by flavored and non-flavored products. Lamonts proposal is now being considered by the legislatures Public Health Committee. Advocates are encouraging the panel to support restrictions that go beyond vaping products. The committee is weighing a separate measure that would extend the ban to flavored tobacco products. Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, said he hopes to include items like menthol cigarettes in the final proposal. He also wants to halt the sale of tobacco and vaping items in pharmacies. Its high time that we stop the pharmacies from selling these products and trying to normalize their uses for people who go in to get medications, he said. Rep. William Petit Jr., a ranking Republican on the health committee, said he still is gathering information on the use and prevalence of products like flavored cigars. Members would have to weigh the extra restrictions against the odds of passing a bill in a short legislative session. It seems to me it might cause more resistance, Petit said. Naomi Doyle Age: 32 Highest level of Education: Masters in Public Administration Three examples of prior offices held or volunteer work: 1. Active at Antioch Baptist Church 2. Beaumont chamber foundation board 3. State of Texas Boiler board Q: Much of what the public hears about a JPs job is ordering autopsies and pronouncing a person dead. What do you feel your role would be in the position and what are your priorities? A: My priorities are to be an innovative Justice of the Peace. I want to be out in the community and help deter crime and keep people out of the JP court. IF they have to come, I want to rule with integrity. After court I want to provide resources to help them stay out of the judicial system. I want to build coalitions with youth programs and the school district to deter youth delinquency. The JP court will not be fighting crime, but we can have a presence. Q: In 2015 a day after Jefferson County started performing same-sex marriages, several JPs, including Judge Dollinger who previously held this seat, decided they would no longer perform marriage ceremonies. As it stands, only four still do the ceremonies, with a fifth willing to come from Chambers County to marry couples. Would you perform marriage ceremonies? Why or why not? A: I would, because it is a part of the duties for the Justice of the Peace. You have an option to not preform them, but because it is a duty, it is expected that you preform them. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: I have the educational and leadership experience to bring the court to a standard of excellence. I hear things about law enforcement experience. When you understand what Justices of the Peace do, you realize that it has no benefit to have that experience if you have no leadership experience. I have managing an office. I am the elections manager of the county. I have experience understanding the laws. I interned at the Texas House of Representatives, where I analyzed the laws and how it effects people. George Milhouse Age: 56 Highest level of education: Bachelors in Criminal Justice Three examples of prior offices held or volunteer work: Q: Much of what the public hears about a JPs job is ordering autopsies and pronouncing a person dead. What do you feel your role would be in the position and what are your priorities? A: My biggest priority is education. I believe in education. Our kids are acting out. My primary goal is to work with BISD and Child Protective Services to encourage our kids to change their lifestyles. What I found out working on the corrections side is when I talk to these kids, they dont have leadership and they lack goals. We have to find what kids want to do. We have to find a way to redirect some of that energy. Q: In 2015 a day after Jefferson County started performing same-sex marriages, several JPs, including Judge Dollinger who previously held this seat, decided they would no longer perform marriage ceremonies. As it stands, only four still do the ceremonies, with a fifth willing to come from Chambers County to marry couples. Would you perform marriage ceremonies? Why or why not? A: No, I would not. It is my belief that all marriages are blessed by God. I am not a minister. Other JPs preform marriages. The Texas constitution states that a marriage is between a man and a woman. It is my belief that all marriage should be preformed by a licensed minister and blessed by God. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: I am the best candidate because of my experience. I cant stress that enough. Ive studied the laws. On a day-to-day basis, Ive gained a wealth of knowledge that my opponents have not achieved yet. I started writing down the books Ive read about the laws. There are so many that I have had to pull from to do my job. That alone makes me qualified. Some answers have been edited for length. Kathy Dollinger N/A The Mumbai Police on Tuesday booked informer Salim Penwala alias Salim Maharaj in a fresh case for allegedly threatening and extorting money from an Andheri-based hotelier in April 2019. The complainant alleged that Penwala took 2 lakh from him, said a crime branch officer. Santosh Rastogi, the joint commissioner of police, crime branch, said, An FIR was registered in Oshiwara police station on Tuesday and the case has been transferred to crime branch unit 1 for inquiry. The complainant used to run a hotel in Versova along with three partners. After a police informer complained to the police about an illegal hookah parlour being run in the hotel, police conducted a raid in the hotel and sealed it, added officer. The complainant and Penwala met later and latter assured him that he could help him and took 2 lakh from him, said the officer. Later, the victim got a threat call from Ejaz Lakdawala. It is likely that Penwala forwarded the complainants number to Lakdawala, said the officer. NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark your calendars! Digital Sales & Marketing World (DSMW), formerly IMPACT Live, is returning to Hartford this April for its fourth year. Over 1,000 marketing, sales, and business leaders from across the globe are expected to attend and participate in engaging workshops, inspirational keynotes, breakout summits, and to connect with some of the industry's biggest names. Digital Sales & Marketing World returns to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT to April 5-7, 2020. Photo by Connecticut Headshots. Digital Sales & Marketing World returns to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT to April 5-7, 2020. Photo by IMPACT. DSMW is welcoming renowned speakers such as Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, keynote speaker, and Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs Ann Handley; Entrepreneur, Best-selling Author, and Editor & Founder of Smart Hustle Magazine Ramon Ray; Keynote Speaker, Author of Best-Selling Book They Ask, You Answer Marcus Sheridan, Best-selling Author, Speaker, Producer, and Entrepreneur Ron Tite, and many more. New this year are hands-on role and industry-specific breakout summits designed to provide Connecticut and national businesses in manufacturing, home improvement and construction, retail and e-commerce, financial and professional services, as well as marketing and digital agencies and associations with immersive training to attendees based on their day-to-day role and industry focus. The event is hosted by IMPACT, a 65-person digital sales, and marketing company based in New Haven, that celebrated its tenth year in business in Connecticut this past November. "Celebrating 10 years in business is an amazing accomplishment for our team in general, but I'm even prouder to have been able to do it in my home state of Connecticut," shares IMPACT's founder and CEO, Bob Ruffolo, a Connecticut native and 2002 graduate of Central Connecticut State University. "It's exciting to see Digital Sales & Marketing World bring so many accomplished individuals together in Hartford to learn cutting-edge tactics that they can take back to the office and begin implementing immediately. This year's event is going to be our biggest yet and we can't wait to show attendees the innovation happening here in our state." DSMW promises to be the only conference where your marketing, sales, and leadership teams will get aligned on what it takes to succeed and transform a business in the digital age. Digital Sales & Marketing World is a two-day event taking place April 5-7, 2020 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. All-access tickets include world-class keynote speakers, workshops, and breakout sessions, along with lunch and networking happy hours and receptions. For tickets and more information visit www.digitalsalesandmarketingworld.com . Contact: Kristen Harold Director of Communications IMPACT (203) 265-4377 [email protected] SOURCE Digital Sales & Marketing World Related Links https://www.digitalsalesandmarketingworld.com Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Tuesday said that he regretted his "overreaction" against veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and his family. Taking to Twitter, Singh who claimed he was "fighting a battle of life and death" said that he had received a message from Bachchan on his father's death anniversary on Tuesday. "Today is my father's death anniversary and I got a message for the same from Amitabh Bachchan ji. At this stage of life when I am fighting a battle of life and death I regret my overreaction against Amit ji and family. God bless them all," he tweeted. Amar Singh also posted a video on Facebook in which he said that over the last 10 years, he stayed away from the Bachchan family. He mentioned that a decade ago, Amitabh Bachchan was with him for almost two months in Singapore due to his kidney ailment. "Today is my father's death anniversary and I got a message for the same from Amitabh Bachchan ji. Sometimes you are aggressively reactive to a person whom you have given all your life. Similar turbulence of emotion did take place in our mutual relationship. At this stage of life when I am fighting a battle of life and death, I regret my overreaction against Amit ji and family. God bless them all," Amar Singh wrote alongside the video. Amitabh Bachchan's wife Jaya Bachchan is a Rajya Sabha MP of the Samajwadi Party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nebraska incumbents who plan to run for re-election or to seek a new office on the May 12 primary election ballot have until 5 p.m. local time Tuesday to file their candidacy papers. In Lincoln County, incumbents running for local or county offices must submit their papers by the deadline to County Clerk Becky Rossells office at 301 N. Jeffers St. in North Platte. Incumbents holding federal or state offices or sitting on multicounty boards must file their papers with the Nebraska Secretary of States Office in the State Capitol in Lincoln. All other potential candidates in federal, state and local races on the primary ballot have until 5 p.m. local time March 2 to file. For information and procedures, call Rossells office at 308-534-4350, extension 4110, or the Secretary of States Office at 402-471-2554. Tomballs new dangerous animal ordinance was initially passed without much discussion two weeks ago, but more than a dozen people showed up to protest its final approval this week. Community Development Director Craig Meyers said the ordinance was initially proposed after inquiries from residents and it is based on the ordinance the city of Houston has. The ordinance bans numerous animals like lions and tigers, but also many reptilesincluding alligators, crocodiles, all venomous reptiles and any snakes that grow longer than 8 feet. Alok Khanna, a school teacher, protested the ordinance, as he has kept a python in Tomball for several years. Ive had them in my classroom as a teacher no kids have been bitten, Khanna said. Just three weeks ago in Tomball, two dogs attacked somebodys cat and killed it. When was the last time an exotic animal injury happened inside Tomball city limits? Related: Five stories to watch in Tomball this year Adrian Berg, Vice President of the Texas Association of Reptile Keepers, lives in Katy but came to the meeting with several other members of the association to oppose the ordinance. We face so much pressure with communities trying to outlaw the pets we have, Berg said. A lot of these rules get put into place because of fear and misunderstanding of these animals. Berg said following Houstons lead is the wrong course of action because people come to Tomball to avoid big city regulations. Most people have their own property, and I dont think most people want to be told what they can keep in their own house, Berg said. Berg called the ordinance a loss of privilege for Tomball reptile owners. Normally, when a kid loses a privilege, its because they did something, Berg said. As of this point, the citizens of Tomball have not done anything in order to lose the privilege of keeping these awesome animals. Matthew Fank, of Tomball, also opposed the ban, and said he owned thousands of reptiles. As a Tomball resident, it is my intention to open an exotic pet shop, Fank said. I chose Tomball because of its ordinances. Related: Greater Tomball Area Chamber releases The Spirit of Tomball Texas 2020 Community and Business Guide Fank said the reptile industry was regulated, requiring annual permits and said irresponsible owners could be fined $2,500 and have their animals confiscated. Position 3 Council Member Chad Degges said he wanted to table the vote on the ordinance until more council members were in attendance. Council Members Mark Stoll and Lori Klein Quinn were absent from the meeting. But Position 1 Council Member John Ford made the motion, which led to the ordinance passing, and said many citizens had voiced their opposition to having exotic animals in the city. Whether its perceived or real, we have to go with what the citizens feel, and that is that they do not want those types of animals in the city limits, Ford said. Mayor Pro Tem Derek Townsend Sr. said he understood the protesters passion, and could see somebody having a single snake in their home, but couldnt see someone having tens or hundreds or thousands of them. If they were not dangerous, you would not keep them under lock and key 24/7, 365 days a year, other than when youre handling them, Townsend said. Townsend also said he heard about pythons and anacondas turned loose in the Everglades and destroying the ecosystem there, eating pigs and deer in the area. You can shake your heads all you want, Townsend said to protesters at the meeting. The deer are disappearing, pigs are disappearing, the coyotes, the foxes, the rabbits. After the ordinance was passed, Berg said the passage was disappointing. Its obvious they still have a lot of misconceptions and fear and thats something we battle all over the place, Berg said. Fank said he still has reptiles that fall within the guidelines of the ordinance, so he can still open his pet shop, albeit limiting the animals he can have there. Anyone found violating the ordinance could be fined an amount up to $2,000, with each day the violation continues considered a separate offense, the ordinance states. paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday fumed at the state government for not submitting its contentions since six months, over a PIL pertaining to hiding of more than 43, 462 Government Orders (GOs). A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhishek Reddy, was dealing with a petition filed by Perala Shekar Rao, Shekarji, a social activist. The bench asked, Why were the GOs not uploaded. We are living in the Silicon era and Hyderabad is referred as the Silicon Valley of India. On other hand you are keeping GOs away from public domain and have not responding to notices issued by the Court six months back. Now you come to us and ask for more time to file the counter. Such delay in submitting contentions is not expected from the government. Giving one final opportunity to the state government to file the counter, the Court directed the Chief Secretary to submit it by February 28. In the PIL, petitioner Shekarji charged the Telangana government with wontedly and intentionally trying to hide availability of Government Orders (G.Os) in the official website of Government Orders Issue Registrar (ts.goir.nic.in). The petitioner brought to the notice of the court that the government had kept as many as 43,462 GOs in secret without uploading the details in the official website during the period June 2, 2014 to August 15, 2019. He also submitted that these GOs constituted more than 40 percent of the 1.04,171 GOs issued by the Telangana government during the period. The PIL was heard by the same bench on September 18, 2019 and the court had ordered the state to file its contention within four weeks. However, the government did not obey the court orders. The counsel for the petitioner, on Monday urged the court to direct the state to upload the GOs, instead of asking them to file counter. In support of his arguments, he referred the judgment delivered by the Madras High Court in a similar issue. The Bench denied the counsels request by stating that some GOs could be confidential. Roger Stone, former adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, arrives to federal court in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21, 2019. The federal judge in the Roger Stone case said Tuesday she willl sentence the Republican operative for multiple crimes as scheduled Thursday but will delay imposing the terms of punishment on the longtime friend of President Donald Trump pending resolution of his request for a new trial. Judge Amy Berman Jackson said during a conference call with Stone's lawyers and prosecutors that she thought "delaying the sentence would not be a prudent thing." Stone's lawyers last week filed a motion seeking a new trial on the heels of disclosures that the jury forewoman in Stone's trial had a history of anti-Trump social media posts. A court filing Tuesday indicates that Stone's lawyers in that sealed motion are "alleging juror misconduct." Those defense lawyers told Jackson during the conference call that she should rule on their motion for a new trial before Stone is sentence. Prosecutors objected to the delay and also are opposing Stone's request for a new trial. Jackson noted during the call, "We've already put the sentencing off once." Jackson said it made sense to proceed with the sentencing "since there is no harm that would flow to the defendant." "I'm willing to make sure that there are no consequences that flow from the announcement of what the sentence would be at the sentencing hearing," Jackson said. Trump on Tuesday retweeted comments by a Fox News legal commentator who said Stone should get a new trial in light of the forewoman's posts. Additional reporting by Digital Desk staff Two Irish citizens have tested positive for Coronavirus and are currently being treated in hospital in Japan. The Department of Foreign Affairs says they share dual citizenship with another EU member state and are not normally resident in Ireland. They were among six Irish citizens who were on board the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Yokahama, Japan. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said his department is in close contact with those who remain in quarantine on the ship and are working on options for their return. 'Small number of Irish on board two coronavirus-hit cruise ships' A small number of Irish people are on board two cruise ships where coronavirus has been detected. Simon Coveney said his Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with citizens on the Diamond Princess in Japan and the Westerdam off Cambodia. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: Its a small number though, and were dealing with each individual case. There is a second cruise ship off Cambodia, were working with Irish nationals on both of those ships to make sure theyre safe. And if theyre in quarantine, to make sure those conditions are safe. Hundreds of people in China have died from the infection, known as Covid-19, which has struck down thousands. The department said it could not comment on individual cases. In a statement, it added: We are closely following the events concerning the Diamond Princess and we are in contact with the Irish citizens concerned. We are continuing to liaise closely with like-minded countries, EU partners and the health authorities in Japan and here in Ireland concerning the best course of action. Hundreds of people have tested positive for the virus on board the quarantined Diamond Princess. D oubling the length of time for which refugees receive state support could save 7 million a year and ease the trauma of people given sanctuary here, it was claimed today. A report by the British Red Cross and the London School of Economics says the current four-week limit on asylum accommodation and benefits for those with refugee status means many become homeless. It says they often have to be put in more expensive temporary housing by councils as a result. Some also suffer mental health problems. But extending the period of support to eight weeks would save money, the report calculates, by reducing the need for temporary accommodation, the cost of supporting rough sleepers and treatment costs for related health problems. The estimated annual saving of 7 million is three times the cost of providing the extra support and equivalent to the starting salaries of 330 police officers, 285 nurses, or 283 teachers, the report adds. ANN ARBOR, MI Yuri Osterhouts faith has always played a driving role in his life. It was his faith that drew him to support a crying coworker. It was his faith that encouraged him to donate his kidney to a complete stranger. On Tuesday, Osterhout, of Ohio, met the man who received his kidney at the University of Michigan Health System, where Lansing resident David Weight completed the transplant in December 2019. Osterhouts donation journey began in May 2019, when he saw his coworker Bethany Leidel crying as they left work at a hospital system in Toledo. He asked Leidel, to whom he had never spoken, if she was OK. She said, No, I'm dying, and I need a kidney, Osterhout said. And that's really where the story starts. It's like, what do you say to a person that tells you that? I mean, I wasn't expecting to hear that, I did not know this person other than I knew her name. Osterhout felt compelled to help her. At first, he thought he was meant to strengthen her faith. But after their conversation, a 30-billboard advertising campaign to find Leidels match popped up around Toledo, seemingly everywhere Osterhout was, he said. Seeing those made him consider donation. But testing found the two werent a match. I was devastated because I really thought that this is what I was led to do and I thought this was the end of the road, he said. But weeks later, the two learned about paired donation: he could donate his kidney to someone else and in exchange, a recipients loved one would donate to his friend. In the end, a Toledo-area woman chose to donate her kidney to Leidel. So Osterhout decided to pay it forward. Weight had been hoping for a transplant for years as a treatment for his chronic kidney disease. He received dialysis treatment three times a week for about a year while seeking a kidney transplant match. Mixed ethnic backgrounds make it that much harder to find a bone marrow transplant His daughter wanted to donate, but wasnt a match, so the two were part of the paired donation program for two years. Three matches had already fallen through due to logistical challenges before Osterhout came forward. The match was confirmed, and just weeks later, the transplants were complete. Osterhouts kidney was removed in Toledo and taken to UM Hospital. Weight said the transplant was significant to more than just him: hes also his wifes primary caregiver and a father. It means living, he said. To Osterhout, he didnt just help Weight. Leidels billboards did if it werent for their failure to match, Osterhout may not have found a kidney. And if it werent for the altruistic donor," the woman who donated to Leidel, the chain would have never started. I thought I was going to be able to help one person and I had no idea that Id be able to help a total of eight people now, Osterhout said of the four donors and four recipients in their donation chain. The experience has deepened their faith and their sense of community, both Osterhout and Weight said. Its a lifelong connection, Osterhout said. Hes my brother now, Weight replied. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor finally kicks off pedestrian, stormwater tunnels at railroad tracks State Rep. Rebekah Warren pleads guilty to operating while intoxicated Ann Arbor council to vote on firing city administrator German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22 Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China 20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022 Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death Dollar drops in Armenia Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021 Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19 Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties Copper rises in price Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78 Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021 243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia MP: It would be right to put pressure on Azerbaijanis to remove their firing positions Oil is getting more expensive Nearly 10,000 people detained in Kazakhstan in connection with riots Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran European Parliament speaker David Sassoli dies Alikhan Smailov appointed Kazakhstan Prime Minister Newspaper: Health minister makes decision full of contradictions in terms of Covid-related restrictions in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia authorities once again showed their being unprincipled, worthless, opposition MP says Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19 US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already NEWS.am daily digest: 10.01.22 Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province Blast in eastern Afghanistan kills nine children Pashinyan: One of key priorities of Armenia presidency at CSTO is strengthening of crisis response mechanisms Internet cut off in Kazakhstan Armenia, Kazakhstan ombudspersons confer on Armenian communitys rights Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Kazakhstan Turkey defense minister meets with their envoy in process of normalization of Armenia relations Iranian Foreign Ministry reports progress in Vienna negotiations Dollar continues going up in Armenia New attempt by migrants in Belarus to storm Poland border Skat Airlines resumes Yerevan-Aktau and Aktau-Yerevan flights New Covid-related restrictions to be introduced in Armenia Karabakh police: Firefighters also targeted by Azerbaijan shooting (PHOTOS) Artsakh Defense Army has not fired on Azerbaijan positions Azerbaijani military are protesting amid military awards deprivation Azerbaijanis open fire in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh MFA: Events in Kazakhstan are result of actions planned by Turkey Armenia army General Staff has new deputy chief Australia to buy US $ 2.5 billion of armored vehicles Artsakh emergency service: Search for soldiers remains continued during holidays Kazakh Colonel Nazanov dies after heart attack West Ham co-owner David Gold has apologised for 'liking' a tweet which appeared to call Caroline Flack 'weak' and has promised to make a donation to a mental health charity. The prominent television presenter took her own life at her London flat on Saturday while the friend who was staying with her 'popped out to the shops'. Gold, who has previously been criticised for his conduct on social media, said that he 'liked' the tweet calling the presenter 'weak' hastily and that he 'regrets' his decision to do so. West Ham co-owner David Gold has been criticised for liking an insensitive tweet about television presenter Caroline Flack, which called her 'weak', days after she took her own life Flack (pictured at The Beauty Awards in November) was found dead at her flat on Saturday The tweet in question referenced Flack as 'weak' and was liked (right) by the West Ham owner Flack, the star who most recently fronted ITV2's successful dating show Love Island, was found dead at her London flat on Saturday after taking her own life. Friends and colleagues of the 40-year-old have since spoken out about the treatment of Flack in the media and on social platforms. On Monday night, Gold liked a rare positive tweet about West Ham's current position which also referenced the death of television presenter Flack. Flack's friends and family have been critical of the treatment aimed at her across social media 'I think West Ham are okay, we have a new big stadium, a board that support to the best of their ability (limited) and players who need some kinda (sic) support. 'I get abused every other day for my opinions. If I was Caroline (weak) I'd of topped myself!...,' was tweeted by user @MikespaceChat. Gold later removed his 'like' from the message and issued a short response through the club on Tuesday morning. 'I apologise unreservedly for liking a tweet last night that I shouldn't have,' he said. 'It was never my intention to condone the sentiment expressed in the second half of it. I hastily pressed 'like' and very much regret doing so. I will be making a donation to Heads Together to recognise their important work.' Prior to his apology, the West Ham United Independent Supporters Association had criticised the conduct of their co-owner. 'This (again) is not OK at all David Gold,' the group wrote on Twitter. 'You bring shame, ridicule and embarrassment on West Ham but worst of all, you display a callous lack of understanding around mental health issues. Gold came under fire recently when he seemed to 'like' a tweet that called some fans 'morons' Gold said he 'hastily' liked the tweet and said he will donate to charity as part of his apology 'You owe everyone an apology. Look up @heads_together #UnitedWeStand #WHUnitedforChange.' Gold has history of mistakes on social media having been seen to be 'liking' tweets that referred to critical West Ham fans as 'morons' and 'neanderthals'. One of the tweets that emerged on transfer deadline day after the late signing of Jarrod Bowen from Hull. It read: 'Well done to the three Davids. Funny how the moron contingent have gone quiet tonight as yet again in a highly competitive market the board have spent big.' The 83-year-old, alongside long-term business partner David Sullivan, has come under increasing scrutiny from supporters for the way the Premier League club are being run. The Hammers sit 18th in the table ahead of Wednesday night's rescheduled clash with reigning champions Manchester City. The World Bank on Tuesday said 12 states missed out of its $4.5 million (N1.37 billion) State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme for Results 2018 grant for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Senior Economist and SFTAS Team Leader, World Bank Office in Nigeria, Yue Lee, made the disclosure at the ongoing Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) 2020 Retreat in Lagos. She said the Annual Performance Assessment (APA) for 2018 would be published on the SFTAS Website which would soon become operational, while disbursement to the 24 benefiting states would begin in March. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SFTAS is an agreement signed between the federal government and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian States. It aims to improve their revenue base, increase fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reduce their debts with a grant of $750 million open to the 36 states between 2018 to 2021, according to their performances. Ms Lee said the states which were declared ineligible for 2018 failed to publish their annual budgets and audited financial statements as stipulated by the Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLI). She said other eligibility criteria include improved budget reliability and reporting, increased citizens engagement in the budget process and implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). She said they also include strengthened Internally Generated Revenue collection, Biometric Registration and Bank Verification Number to reduce payroll fraud and improved procurement practices. The economist said others were strengthening debt management, clearance of domestic expenditure arrears and improved debt sustainability. She, however, expressed optimism that most states would meet the 2019 eligibility criteria and would therefore be able to benefit from the grant. Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Finance, Adamu Haruna, commended the World Bank for initiating the programme, adding that the states would continue to put in efforts to meet the grant criteria. I think it is left for us to follow those things so that we are able to earn this money which is extra money for development purposes, he said. (NAN) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. NEW YORK - In a party thats shifted leftward on abortion rights, Democratic presidential hopefuls are offering different approaches to a central challenge: how to talk to voters without a clear home in the polarizing debate over the governments role in the decision to end a pregnancy. While Bernie Sanders said this month that being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat, his presidential primary opponent Amy Klobuchar took a more open stance last week in saying that anti-abortion Democrats are part of our party. Klobuchars perfect voting score from major abortion-rights groups makes her an unlikely ally, but some abortion opponents nonetheless lauded the Minnesota senator for extending a hand to those on the other side of an issue thats especially important for Catholics and other devout voters. The praise for Klobuchar suggests that Democrats who have heeded rising worry within their base about GOP-backed abortion limits by pitching significant new abortion-rights policies may risk alienating religious voters who are otherwise open to supporting their party over President Donald Trump. Voters in that group looking for an appeal to common ground on abortion, as former President Barack Obama put it during his 2008 campaign, have heard few of those statements during the current Democratic primary. Plenty of pro-life Catholics are looking for an alternative to voting for President Trump, said Kim Daniels, associate director of Georgetown Universitys Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. We wish the Democratic Party would offer us an alternative instead of doubling down on support for abortion throughout pregnancy, taxpayer funding and the like. Klobuchar has underscored her abortion-rights support, and shes signed onto legislation that would limit states efforts to constrain abortion access, such as the multiple state-level anti-abortion laws that passed last year. But Daniels described Klobuchars rhetorical openness to working with abortion opponents as an important step, and shes not alone. Chris Crawford, a pro-life activist who tweeted about Klobuchars welcoming response to him during a recent event in New Hampshire, said that I dont like the senators abortion record or positions, but I do like the work shes doing on adoptions. And if shes serious about putting together an agenda that can provide for mothers ... that would make a big difference for me and other voters I know, added the Catholic Crawford, who said he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but has not yet decided who hes supporting in 2020. Religion is not the only factor motivating potential Democratic voters who favour some degree of abortion limits -- Democrats for Life executive director Kristen Day pointed out in an interview that atheists are part of her coalition. But abortion restriction is still a priority for a sizable number of Catholics, even as Pope Francis orients the church toward a more expansive definition of the term pro-life, pressing President Donald Trump on some of his immigration policies. An AP-NORC poll taken in December found that 45% of Catholics backed significant restrictions that would make abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest, or threats to a mothers life. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults, 17% said that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, a number that rises to 25% among self-identified conservative or moderate Democrats, according to a Pew Research Center survey last year. The abortion debate is set to return to the political forefront next month, when the Supreme Court hears arguments in a high-profile challenge to a Louisiana state law, authored by an anti-abortion Democratic lawmaker, which requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. A final decision is anticipated by June. Charles Camosy, an associate professor of theology at Fordham University who recently left the board of Democrats for Life in frustration over what he saw as the partys absolutist approach to abortion, asserted that something is missing when the same blanket pro-choice terminology can be used to apply to both Klobuchar and Sanders. A Democratic candidate willing to focus on common ground could have a golden opportunity to meet pro-lifers, or at least religious people who are mildly pro-choice, Camosy said. However, Klobuchars comments left some abortion-rights and anti-abortion activists cold. The anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List tweeted that the Minnesota senator is still extreme & out-of-touch, pointing to her record of abortion-rights votes, and Ilyse Hogue, president of the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America, warned Klobuchar against giving credence to right-wing red herrings. Hogue said in an interview that under the umbrella of abortion-rights advocacy, she sees room for shared values of compassion and freedom as well as different feelings about the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Where we are in common service together, Hogue said, is that none of us ever want anyone to feel like they have to terminate a pregnancy because they will not get the support they need to parent. Hogue also underscored the sharp contrast between Democrats and the GOP, where Trump has embraced anti-abortion policies and burnished his standing with religious conservatives as a result. That distance between the parties has grown in recent years, with fewer anti-abortion Democrats serving in Congress and two straight Democratic platforms adopting stronger language on abortion rights. Indeed, Sanders described abortion-rights support as essential this month but took flak from some abortion-rights advocates in 2017 for backing an anti-abortion Catholic candidate for mayor of Omaha, Nebraska. Anti-abortion Democrats are not wholly extinct, with the Catholic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards winning reelection last year, but two such members of Congress are facing primary challenges from the left. In this years Democratic presidential primary, Klobuchars inclusive language marked a rare instance of daylight between candidates in an abortion debate thats already put pressure on her rivals. When pressed on abortion by executive director Day of Democrats for Life during a Fox News town hall last month, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg said that I support the position of my party that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone. Joe Biden, a Catholic who last year reversed his stance to back unrestricted federal funding for abortions, was denied communion by one South Carolina priest last fall in response to the former vice-presidents support for abortion rights. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for her part, said at Novembers debate that safeguarding abortion rights is fundamentally what we do and what we stand for as a Democratic Party and demurred when pressed about whether an abortion opponent like Bel Edwards would be welcome. Like those Democrats, Klobuchar supports codifying the abortion-rights protections of the Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision into law. And for some anti-abortion voters, inclusive language like Klobuchars may not be enough to overcome that substantive Democratic alignment. Klobuchars handling of the issue is going to make her look much more moderate and could break through with potentially persuadable Catholic voters, said Robert George, a Princeton University professor and past GOP appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. But that advantage can be undercut by Klobuchars abortion-rights votes, George added, which Trumps campaign would seek to do. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. A primary school class. (AP file photo) SINGAPORE The Government will provide more financial help for students from lower-income families and increase the share of government-supported pre-school places to 80 per cent by around 2025, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (18 February). In his Budget speech, Heng said the Government will increase its monetary support for pre-schools to over $2 billion a year within the next few years, up from $1 billion in 2018. Currently, just over 50 per cent of pre-school places receive government support. Meanwhile, the annual bursary quantum for pre-university students under the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme for students from lower-income families will be raised from $900 to $1,000. Transport subsidies for all students, and school meal subsidies for secondary school students will also be increased. The enhancements will cost the Financial Assistance Scheme an extra $9 million a year, and come up to $52 million annually. Starting from the 2020 academic year, students in institutes of technical education (ITEs), polytechnics and autonomous universities can also get higher bursaries. Full-time ITE students who qualify under the lowest income tier for bursaries can get a full fee subsidy on top of the cash bursary. The cash bursary quantum will also be raised by up to $200 a year. The cost of bursaries for higher education will rise from $148 million to $198 million annually. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Budget 2020: Overall budget deficit of $10.9b expected for FY2020 Budget 2020: All vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2040 Budget 2020: $5 billion fund for Singapore to combat rising sea levels Budget 2020: $1.6 billion package to help Singaporeans amid economic slowdown Budget 2020: $8.3 billion for economic transformation and growth Budget 2020: SkillsFuture expansion to aid Singaporeans' development Budget 2020: GST increase will not take place in 2021 Budget 2020: $5.6B packages to help alleviate economic slowdown UPDATES: Budget 2020: Singapore prepares S$6.4 billion for coronavirus relief measures Security remains a concern in J&K. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has invoked the serious Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against people who used social media through proxy servers by breaching internet firewalls, The Indian Express has reported. An FIR was filed by the police a day after a video of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was found circulating on social media. In a statement, the police said the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar has taken serious note of misuse of social media and registered a Case FIR against various social media users, who defied government orders. The FIR has been registered while taking cognizance of social media posts by miscreants by use of different VPNs, which are propagating rumours with regard to the current security scenario of the Kashmir valley, propagating secessionist ideology and glorifying terror acts/terrorists, the statement said further. The Centre had recently partially restored Internet services in the Valley after a six-month communication clampdown post-abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the government gave access to only over 1400 whitelisted websites while banning the use of all social media and peer-to-peer applications. Besides, only 2G services are available at the moment, and the ban on 3G and 4G services has been extended till February 24. The FIR has been registered under Section 13 of UAPA, Sections 188 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 66-A(b) of the IT Act, the newspaper has reported. Kashmir mein sab kuch normal hai, haina? Everyday there is new proof of how little @AmitShah understood Kashmir (or apparently, how VPN technology works). So, now they try to set new world records of cruelty, incompetence & humiliation https://t.co/G0E8aBkbYG Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 18, 2020 Reacting to the slapping of UAPA against social media users, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi threw a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He said: A case was registered against 76 persons, including a former MLA, for alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 512.54 crore in the Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank headquartered in Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district, Navi Mumbai police said on Tuesday. Former PWP MLA from Panvel Vivekanand Shankar Patil is the chairman of the cooperative bank and he has been named as an accused along with the vice-chairman, chief executive officer and several others who had obtained loans from the institution, an official said. A press release from Navi Mumbai police said a case was registered for criminal breach of trust, cheating among others under provisions of Indian Penal Code, the Cooperative Societies Act and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors Act. It said the irregularities were revealed after an inspection of the bank's operations by the Reserve Bank of India led to a special audit of the lender's 17 branches. The case was registered on the complaint of the state's commissioner for cooperation, the official said, adding that probe was underway and no arrests had been made as yet. As per the website of the bank, it was established in 1996 under the Cooperative Bank Act after Vivekanand Patil received a licence from the RBI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UPDATE: 4:28 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 - Authorities have identified the account used to make a threat to Diamond View Middle School, police announced Tuesday afternoon. Police added that they now believe this was a hoax by an anonymous Instagram account user. They are still working to identify the person/people responsible for the message. Susanville Police Department said in part, "I assure you our first priority is to protect our students and staff at Diamond View School." Action News Now reached out to Superintendent of Susanville School District, Jason Waddell. "To be safe we had local police presence at their school and in the neighborhood," Waddell said. The superintendent also added that the attendance rate was lower than normal on Tuesday. The school was missing around 35% to 40%, they normally would miss about 10% of students. --- SUSANVILLE, Calif. Officials at Diamond View Middle School said they received a threat on social media and police have increased their presence on the campus this Tuesday. The threat via an anonymous Instagram user indicated that a person would come to the middle school on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and harm people that day, according to police. The Susanville Police Department said they have been working with Instagram and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to learn who the account holder is. Due to the threat, police presence is increased at the school. Lassen County Sheriffs Office and California Highway Patrol are assisting the Susanville Police Department. The investigation is still ongoing and police have announced they will share more information as it becomes available. Diamond View Middle School sent a letter to parents and also posted via Facebook that they are aware of this issue. Saying in part, While there may be no credibility to the threat, we want to be transparent with the information we have. The safety and security of our students and staff is our highest priority. We will keep you informed as we become privy to new information. This is a developing story, stay with Action News Now for updates. Almost 29 years ago, my 17-year-old son was robbed and murdered. The cold hard fact is that no jury can realistically guarantee 100% perfect v A Delhi Court on Tuesday granted bail to Gopal Krishna Madhav, ex-Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in connection with a corruption case. Earlier this month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Gopal Krishna Madhav, a Delhi and Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) officer. He was allegedly caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. The bail plea moved by advocates SS Pandey and Shashank Singh stated that the accused has been falsely implicated in the case and there is no prima facie evidence to even connect the accused with any such charge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Everard Bullis was just 21 years old when his U.S. Marine Corps regiment entered what he called the Big Fight at Belleau Wood. On June 9, 1917, nine weeks after the United States declared war on Germany, 20-year-old Everard J. Bullisthe only boy of five siblings in a middle-class family in St. Paul, Minnesotaenlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, waiting until that evening to spring the news on his parents and sisters. Soon he was in its newly established boot camp at Quantico, Virginia, preparing for what he called, in one letter home, the Big Fight. On April 9, 1918, his battalion had a final inspection and review by Brigadier General John A. Lejeune, Quanticos commandant. The blood was racing through my body and chills ran up and down my spine, Bullis would write in his diary the following day. I felt like a warhorse for fight. In the second volume of the diaries he faithfully kept during World War I, Bullis described in detail the 5th Marine Regiments experiences on the Western Front, including its desperate stand against repeated German assaults at Belleau Wood and actions at Soissons, St. Mihiel, and Blanc Mont Ridge. Bullis died in 1964 at age 67, but years later David J. Bullis discovered his grandfathers diaries and published them in edited form as Doing My Bit Over There: A U.S. Marines Memoir of the Western Front in World War I (McFarland & Company, 2018), from which the following account is adapted. The environs of Belleau Wood were scenic and pleasing to the eye. It was a rolling country, with most of the hills capped with trees. And the open fields and side hills were cropland, covered with grain. There were numerous little villages in the valleys. They were not like the barren villages at home, with their solitary buildings dotting the surrounding countryside; but they were in clusters, built along the main road and also a side road or two. The masonry homes, barns, and other buildings appeared tied together by high masonry walls, and there were no front and back yards, as at home, but the buildings abutted the street. And each home had a courtyard, in which were kept chickens, the work animals, and an accumulation of junk. There did not appear to be any stores where clothing, hardware, or groceries could be bought; only a shop, or two, liquors and wines the customary goods dispensed. There were no movie houses, no pool halls, or other places of amusement; there were no phones or other developments one would see in modern America. There was a church, not modern, usually with the highhipped roof and a spire, and a clock in the tower, built in the 1600s. And there were shrines at various places in the town, where the people knelt and prayed as they passed to and fro. This, then, was the setting of war. Vicious, modern war had come and disrupted life in these villages. The homes and other buildings had been hit countless times by both light and heavy artillery; the masonry walls were tumbled down, and the roads were cratered by shell-bursts. The inhabitants of the villages were gone, except, perhaps, for a few old men and women, who chose to take their chance on life and with the enemy. For the most part, they were just ghostly habitations, and the inhabitants were the soldiers who occupied the remains. The grain fields were lush with growth but were crisscrossed with paths, a line of trenches, and acres of barbed-wire entanglements. The farmers were gone, and during the day not a soul was seenbut night was alive with hurrying soldiers carrying out their various details. In the woods only, in the daylight hours, was there life, for the soldiers were to be seen moving about. There were trenches cutting the border of the trees and wire entanglements strung about and through them. There were the isolated locations of batteries, the guns erupting in fire and smoke as they fired on unseen targets a kilometer or so away. And in the underbrush you would find the huddled bodies of the slain and their equipment, letters, and personal belongings strewn about. In the more cleared areas, the living, huddled in fire trenches, and others walking about. But of bird life and small animals there was nothing, except a hare or two. And over all there hung a cloudy emanation, the acrid smoke of big guns and little, the smoke and debris of bursting shells, and perhaps the acrid or pungent odor of gas. And over the area, and for miles around, hung the air of death; the sweetish, sickening odor of the dead, the unburied, and the wounded. Such was Belleau Wood. One evening, near dusk, several of us were placed on the line. It was an area clear of trees, and our detail was to do panel work for the air force. It was explained that at a certain time a plane marked with a trailer or streamer halfway out on the right wing would fire a three star rocket and then swoop low over the position to take pictures. At the signal, we were to display our panel, a strip of white cloth, perhaps 2 feet wide by 6 feet long, leaving it exposed while the plane flew over. This was necessary for the artillerymen to determine by the pictures the front line, or point of advance, and save us from shorts from the guns. On this night, we were spread out and waiting, and then a plane appeared. The plane had the streamer positioned exactly; the plane did fire a rocket as prescribed; and we spread out the panels. As the plane swooped down to get the pictures, we perceived the German cross on its wingsand most of us hurried to gather in our panels. We were too late, in most cases, and as a result we were treated to an unusual bombardment from the enemy that night. As for our plane, it never appeared, and we wondered at that. The next few days held nothing too serious for us. One day, another marine and I were detailed to carry out a dead marine that lay in the tangled brush not far from our position. He was from our company, decomposition was far advanced, and the job was not nice. I reached the body first, and at first glance took the lead position of the stretcher. He had died on the stretcher, his wounds in the groin, and maggots were busily at work in the wounds and about the nostril and mouth. We picked up the stretcher with the gruesome remains and started to the rear area. We had not gone far when the rear of the stretcher dropped, and I heard the retching of my companion: It was too gruesome for him. So we changed places and once more went on. We had been told to cross no cleared areas and to keep to the woods, but bucks will take the easiest way out. We crossed a large cleared area on the runthey were right, for we were targeted by machine gun and rifle fire. The insistent hissing of machine gun bullets and the sharp crack of rifle fire spurred us on until we were under cover once again. The swaying stretcher with its load was hard to carry, and we collided with the brush and swerved around the many trees until we finally came to the trail and the collecting station, where we turned over our burden to the burial detail. The daytime hours were generally uneventful. We did take several spells of fire and lost a few men, but they were often passed either visiting or observing the German lines for movement. But the nights were spent watching and waiting for German attacks. On our particular point, though, the marines had made their objective, and we waited quietly for the rest of the line to gain theirs. Every day at some particular place along the lines there was a raging of rifle and machine-gun fire. The fight was severe, and we were glad that we didnt have to go up against them. The 49th Company on the 6th of June had lost over 60 percent of enlisted men and 90 percent of officers, and the replacements had not yet brought us up to strength. We were arranged along the line of battle in groups of three; one night on watch, and two sleeping. During watch, we would pass the word at intervals, On the alert, whispering it to the man on the right or left. And beware the man who failed to pass it on. Our company formed the left flank of the 2nd Division, adjacent to the French forces, and the Germans attacked them one night with a small force. There was quite a flurry of firing of pieces [rifles] and the yelling of French and Germans as they clashed. And it was over about as soon as it started. Then the nights sky was filled with flares for hours after. The next night, a platoon from our company was moved over in support of the French; again the Germans attacked and again were driven back. On the third night, a platoon from our company took over that portion of the line, and when the Germans attacked, they gave them the works, and there were no more German attacks at that point. One night, while I was on alert and all was quiet except for the machine guns, which kept up a continuous chatter, a Sho-Sho gunner on my left started firing. This gun [the Chauchat, the standard light machine gun of the French army in World War I] fires at a rate of about 250 shots per minute, which is relatively slow. It was soon joined by a Hotchkiss, firing at about 400 shots per minute. Then the riflemen adjacent became involved. The fire steadily grew and gradually worked to my position. And so it went down the line for about a mile until all were firing into the darkened void ahead. It was possible to tell every twist and turn of the line from the blaze of weaponry: The air above us was lighted with flares, both German and American, and the German rifles and machine guns also could be heard. Then company officers and noncoms went running along the line yelling, Cease firing, until they got the Sho-Sho and the Hotchkiss stopped, then the men adjacent, and finally the whole line. All was quiet on our side, but the Germans were unremitting and filled the sky with flares. We were still on edge when the Sho-Sho started again, the Hotchkiss resumed fire, and gradually the fire again extended the length of the line. The shooting on the left was finally stopped, and the guns gradually grew silent all along the line. The Germans kept the sky well lit with flares the rest of the night, and rifle and machine gun fire was spasmodic from then till daylight. Just before dawn, Captain [George W.] Hamilton and a group left the lines to investigate what had caused the fire. They returned after daybreak, grinning, each man carrying the spoils of German equipment and also a light Maxim gun. The captain proudly displayed an officers No. 9 Luger pistol and holster. They also found one of our outposts dead, bayoneted in the back. That was what started the show. The Sho-Sho gunner heard the muffled scream of the outpost as he was bayoneted and then cut loose with a burst of fire. It was a real fire hysteria that swept the lines that night, and it affected both Germans and Americans alike. For a week we held this spot on the top of the hill overlooking No Mans Land. We could not see a soul except for the few men of our own outfit. All life had disappeared from our vista, and only the roofs of the village of Torcy were visible. We could see a huge clock in a tower, which had stopped at 4:20. A shell had vented the tower, and we wondered whether it had stopped in the small hours of the morning or had died in late afternoon. The only completely visible building was a large red barn on the outskirts of town, near our line. As we watched, we saw a tile or two slither down from the roof. And then gradually there appeared a hole. And we knew German eyes now looked back over to our lines. We set our leaf sights and carefully aimed a few shots at the hole, but we did not know whether they were effective; only a new hole would appear at some other part of the roof. Officers who watched finally sent word to our artillery, and in a short while the red barn was the scene of action as our shells put new holes in the roof and through the walls of the barn and tore up the ground around it. The red barn itself remained a point of high casualties thereafter. The only other sign of life was when German stretcher-bearers appeared on the slope before us. They were seen apparently to bear a body, and so not a shot was fired. As they came near cover, the wind lifted the blanket and revealed their burden: a Maxim gun. And from that time on, no German was immune from our fire, and all niceties of warfare were at an end. This article appears in the Spring 2020 issue (Vol. 32, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Experience | The Young Warhorse Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! 5.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard On her program on Monday night, Rachel Maddow warned that though its already a dark time for the rule of law in the United States, its only going to get worse as Donald Trump becomes more desperate. The MSNBC host pointed to the battle over the presidents tax returns, which is set to hit the Supreme Court next month in the form of oral arguments. While its not yet known whether the Supreme Court will rule that Trumps financial records should be released, Maddow warned that Trump and Barr could attempt to use the weight of the Justice Department to prevent the release of the presidents tax returns even if the court rules that they should be disclosed. If this attorney general is still in place, the president at that point could promise a politically motivated persecution, courtesy of Bill Barr, the MSNBC host said. Ill roll in the FBI on you unless you defy the Supreme Court here.' Its a scenario that would only worsen the constitutional crisis that Trump has created. Video: Rachel Maddow said Donald Trump and Bill Barrs next move could be to defy the Supreme Court on the release of the presidents tax returns. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/5zs9V8HY1u PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 18, 2020 Maddow said: Next month is when the Supreme Court is going to hear oral arguments on that matter. We dont know how those arguments will go, we dont know how the Supreme Court will rule. But we do know about President Trumps hyperdesperation to avoid the exposure of records like this. There is nothing that he has fought harder or on more fronts or at more personal expense than his various legal battles to stop his taxes from becoming public and to stop his financial records from becoming public or from being handed over to investigators. So if the Supreme Court does rule that those kinds of records ought to be released, it is not at all hard to imagine that the president would flip the proverbial bird to the Supreme Court and just say no. Now that said, the way most of those cases are structured, it actually wouldnt be easy for him to do that. Because it wouldnt be the president himself who would be in the position of deciding whether or not to hand over the records. The subpoenas, remember, are directed to third parties. Theyre directed to an accounting firm and to a bank called Deutsche Bank. And it is those institutions that would ultimately have to decide whether they are going to obey a court order and hand the material over. At which point theres always the possibility that the president would lean on the accounting firm and lean on the bank and tell them not to, tell them to defy the Supreme Court or else. I mean, heck, if this attorney general is still in place, the president at that point could promise a politically motivated persecution, right, courtesy of Bill Barr. Ill roll in the FBI on you unless you defy the Supreme Court here. Thats how banana republics work, right? I mean we are in a bad place now when it comes to the rule of law and the rule of law being perverted to serve the president instead of to serve impartial justice. I mean its bad enough that, you guys, the judges are having an emergency meeting together tomorrow. Thats how bad this is. The constitutional crisis is already here The threat of a constitutional crisis has been real since the day Donald Trump set foot in the Oval Office. But after Republicans in Congress signaled loud and clear that he is essentially a king, the president has wasted no time in shredding whats left of the rule of law in America. The reason that federal judges are calling an emergency meeting this week isnt because theyre concerned that a constitutional crisis could be on the horizon. Its because that crisis is already happening. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter WASHINGTON A lightening rod progressive and prodigious fundraiser, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has singled out Connecticuts Rep. Jahana Hayes as one of a handful of bold swing-district Democrats that she has been asking her supporters to give money to. With call-outs on her website and on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. has prompted her supporters to give $35,656 to Hayess re-election, Ocasio-Cortezs campaign said this week. The boost was a welcome surprise for Hayes. When asked about it last week, Hayes, D-Conn., said she was not aware that Ocasio-Cortez was fundraising for her. Thats good, Hayes said laughing, and set off to find Ocasio-Cortez in the House chamber to thank her in person. Ocasio-Cortez did not ask Hayess permission to collect money for her, Hayes said. Ocasio-Cortezs effort shows she is extending the benefits of her stardom and strong fundraising to some more moderate House members in purple districts, along with progressives in deep-blue seats. Its unclear if that trend will continue as Ocasio-Cortez, sometimes known by her initials AOC, grows the leadership PAC she launched in January and how much financial support will be tied to incumbents and candidates backing her policies, like the Green New Deal. In an interview, Ocasio-Cortez said her philosophy is When someone takes a tough vote, we really want to have their back. Ocasio-Cortez appears to have first lent her fundraising help to swing district Democrats Hayes and Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., on March 31, 2019. In a Twitter call out, she asked her supporters to help swing Democrats targeted by the GOP and directed them to a fundraising page on her website that sent contributions to the campaigns of Hayes and Levin. The page also solicited funds for former Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., who resigned her office in October 2019 after allegations of inappropriate relationships with staffers, but it now indicates that money raised will be divided only between Hayes and Levin. Ocasio-Cortez anticipates she will issue similar fundraising call-outs for Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., this election cycle too, she said. Ocasio-Cortez is also considering call-outs for a few other swing-district members, she said. She has previously helped fundraise for Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., she said. Mike Levin and Jahana Hayes are two members, among others like Katie Porter and several others, that have exemplified just a huge degree of political courage in this Congress, Ocasio-Cortez said. They won over Republican districts and they didnt immediately turn around and give up on some of the most important fights of our time, whether it is health care or its criminal justice reform, whether it is a Green New Deal, she added. They are so committed to progressive values while holding formerly Republican seats that I think it is really important that we come out and support them as much as possible. AOC supporters have given $38,118 to Levin, her campaign said this week. Over 3,500 people have participated in the call-out so far. Ocasio-Cortez also gave Levin $2,000 through her PAC and $2,800 from her campaign committee, Federal Election Commission records show. Levin said he and Ocasio-Cortez had discussed her fundraising effort for swing district Democrats. Im grateful to her and the Speaker and everybody else who helps us out, he said. The 2020 prospects for the Democratic incumbents Ocasio-Cortez has boosted range from toss-up to solid Democratic, according to analysis by the non-partisan Cook Political Report. Cook rates Underwoods seat as a toss-up. Porters district, the 45th in California, is lean Democrat, while Levins district, the 49th, is rated likely Democratic. Porter, Levin and Underwood are among the 55 House Democrats on the National Republican Congressional Committees 2020 target list. But Hayes holds a solid Democrat seat, the Cook Political Report found. Hayes, who has four Republican challengers, raised $867,415 in 2019 and started 2020 with nearly $1 million in campaign cash to fund her re-election. Both Hayes and Levin backed Ocasio-Cortezs Green New Deal, a controversial resolution laying out a series of goals for addressing climate change. A group called Freedom USA ran an attack advertisement against Hayes in April when she spoke in support of the legislation. Ocasio-Cortez said she wanted to support Hayes because she thinks Hayes has taken a number of courageous votes. Jahana has just been so consistent on her work on education, particularly being a former school teacher herself, Ocasio-Cortez said. Its something I really look toward her leadership on. Highlighted as a woman shaping the future, Hayes was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 2019 with Ocasio-Cortez, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. Ocasio-Cortez has not given Hayes direct contributions from her own campaign coffers. Hayes did receive such contributions from Pelosi and Omar, as well as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Ted Lieu of California, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Nita Lowey of New York, Val Demings of Florida and others. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, contributed $2,000 to her campaign in June and Joe Courtney, D-2, gave her $1,000 in March, FEC records show. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which backs House Democrats, gave Hayess campaign $13,500 in 2019, FEC records show. Ocasio-Cortez is one of the top four fundraisers of Democrats in the House and is among the top 10 House fundraisers overall, according to FEC reports. She has been under fire from some House Democrats for not paying her monthly dues to the DCCC and for fundraising for Democrats who are primarying incumbents, like she did, Fox News reported. When asked about these facts, Levin said, My only comment would be that I very much appreciate the DCCC and the work that Cheri Bustos is doing to try to protect our House Democratic majority. Rep. Bustos, D-Ill., is chairwoman of the DCCC. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson BATTLE CREEK, MI City officials will hold a public hearing next month on a proposed 50-cent fare increase for Battle Creek Transit bus rides. The cost increase, and several other changes, have been proposed by the transit systems staff to fund operations, according to a Feb. 15 news release from the city of Battle Creek. It has been 17 years since, in 2003, the most recent increase brought the fare up to $1.25, the release said. The proposal seeks to increase the standard single-ride fare to $1.75, a 40% increase. General rates for Tele-Transit rides will stay the same, but reduced fares would increase under the proposal, transit director Mallory Avis said. Reduced fare applies to residents over the age of 60 or with a qualifying disability. Anyone qualifying can apply for reduced fare then will be issued a reduced fare ID card, she said. Bus transfers and rides for children under 42 inches would still be free under the newly proposed fare structure. The changes were approved by the Public Transportation Committee in January, the release said. If the changes are ultimately approved by city leaders, fares would increase starting on July 1, the release said. Transit staff found that approximately 40% of households in the community do not have a vehicle, and believe increasing fare will have less negative impacts than decreasing service, the release said. Limited transportation alternatives leave many neighbors without other options, Avis said in the release. We need to make sure we can continue operating at the current levels, and also want to improve Transit services for our riders. We think this is the best solution to meet those needs. The proposed increases would result in an estimated $141,757 increase in revenue, the release said. Battle Creek City Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, during its regular meeting at City Hall, 10 N. Division St. The proposed increases include: Single bus ride - $1.25 to $1.75 Reduced fare bus ride - 60 cents to 85 cents Multiple-ride bus passes - $6-$32 raised to $8-$45 Tele-Transit ADA and reduced fare - $2 to $3 While working to address community concerns regarding the transit system, transit staff have received grants, participated in community events and are working on new branding, according to the release. Staff are also working to connect Battle Creek Transit to Google Transit, upgrading the dispatch system and helping with countywide transportation options. Interested individuals can arrange transportation to the meeting by calling transit officials at 269-966-3474 by Friday, March 13. Anyone unable to attend can also send written comments by March 16 to Avis at mravis@battlecreekmi.gov, or mail them to Avis at 339 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49037. Battle Creek Transit provides transit services to area residents on routes throughout Battle Creek and limited stops in the city of Springfield, Bedford, Emmett and Pennifield townships, according to the website. Service runs Monday-Friday from 5:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Schedules are available online. Also on MLive: Free city bus rides for Kalamazoo students reinstated under revised program Kalamazoo Metro asks voters for tax increase on March ballot Battle Creek firefighters battle two blazes overnight First, I would like to thank the Independent Record for covering the story of a potential impossible situation were the city to hire Ed Meece even on a temporary basis. Believe me, you do not want him to get his foot in the door! I do wish, though, that you had let me know that you were going to quote me. I know Nolan Lister, the reporter covering the Ed Meece story, and thought we were only chatting. Sorry about the directness of what was said in the paper. I think it would be best to back those statements up with specifics, rather than generalizations that looked like my concern about Ed Meece is a personal thing. This is not personal. I love Livingston and my grandfather on my fathers side arrived here in 1885. (We missed a generation by everyone marrying late.) I still am frustrated what Ed Meece did to our beautiful town. I believe we are still suffering from his tenure here. Almost universally in Livingston, the community is grateful that he is no longer here. I grew up in Montana and learned that your word is better than any contract and that it is essential to tell the truth. I actually lived part of my life in East Helena as a young child. My dad was supervising construction of the village near the dam at Canyon Ferry and I loved that little town. My sister, her husband and our cousin live in Helena and I have friends in Helena that I have been working with on returning rail passenger service back to southwest Montana, including Helena. I think it is important to speak out, if only on my family and friends behalf, on this issue. I was on the city commission when we, sadly, hired Ed Meece, partially because of his glowing characterization of the city manager position he had in Bardstown, Kentucky. To our discredit, the Livingston City Commission did not impartially and properly vet Mr. Meece and should have. The Livingston City Commission advertised and interviewed city manager candidates. The city manager we wanted turned us down. In Helena, I believe, you had one potential candidate who withdrew. In our case and according to an interview with your mayor, Ed Meece was right there wanting the job and so very, very available. Please do not let that fool you. We should have gone out to advertise again. Frankly, our local police chief was doing a great job as our interim city manager and to this day, I still wonder why we did not hire him as our city manager. Our mistake. After a year of my beginning, as a sitting city commissioner, to realize that Ed Meece did not know what he was doing, I called Bardstown to verify how much they loved him as he had implied on his application. When I called, the Bardstown administration said that not only was his tenure there something to be ashamed of, that they wanted to fire him after his first year there. Please take a look at his resume and do not make the mistake we made in believing almost anything he says. It would be something you would regret and the people of Helena would eventually pay dearly for, as I believe we in Livingston have. What he did in Livingston, in my opinion, was work almost entirely to secure his job. He had few followers, but in one year he hired nine more administrators -- his buddies -- in addition to the five typically filled positions in Livingstons history so our administrative budget that year went from $500,000 to $1,200,000. He surrounded himself with a buffer at our expense. The list that led to his firing in spite of his efforts to use his office to stay in office, is very long. An example though is, the community of Livingston worked over 10 years to get a $40,000,000-plus grant to build our new hospital here. He almost blew our getting our hospital, by being his typical arrogant self, totally insensitive to the implications of what he was doing, at one of the final meetings with our funding agents. The hospital board was chagrined. Were you to properly vet Mr. Meece, you can read the letter to the editor by the chairperson of the hospital board in the Enterprise on what happened. In addition, he cost the hospital an additional $1.2 million by, typical of Meece, reneging on his deal regarding putting in water and sewer lines with the hospital. They had to eventually sue the city after he "resigned before he was fired." That was another part of what to me is Ed Meeces skewed value system. My observation was that he seldom remained true to his word even on Livingston city contracts. I can give you a list of lawsuits against the city in this area alone, if you like. I, personally, as a city commissioner with standing, had to sue my own city and it cost me $11,000 when Ed Meece tried, through a back-door deal, for a song, in my opinion, to give our beautiful East Side School to, again, his buddies. I stopped the illegal sale. I had proposed the building as a community center and stage which it eventually became. Today Livingston is proud of its Shane Center, but it would not have happened were Ed Meece to have gotten his way. I, contrary to what you might think, do not feel vindictive toward Mr. Meece. I simply want Helena to learn from our very serious mistake. You can do what we should have done, just go out an advertise again in spite of his apparent enthusiasm for the job or hire locally for an interim position. It wont take that long and you will dodge the bullet of making the mistake of your collective lives -- hiring Ed Meece -- even temporarily. Patricia Grabow Former Livingston City Commissioner Livingston Love 11 Funny 0 Wow 4 Sad 2 Angry 1 DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market: Focus on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Finished Dosage Forms (Ophthalmic Drops, Emulsions, Gels, Injections, Lotions, Ointments, Suspensions, and Tablets / Capsules), 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Current estimates indicate that the total economic burden related to vision loss is expected to reach approximately USD 384 billion by 2030, in the US alone Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030 features an extensive study of the contract services market for ophthalmic products and solutions. It is worth mentioning that the study primarily focuses on small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs), including ophthalmic drops, emulsions, gels, injections, lotions, ointments, suspensions, and tablets / capsules. It features in-depth analyses, highlighting the capabilities of a diverse set of CMOs and CDMOs. One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future size of the market. Based on various parameters, such as growth of the overall ophthalmic drugs market, cost of goods sold, and direct manufacturing costs, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and long term, for the period 2020-2030. In order to provide a detailed future outlook, projections have been segmented on the basis of: [A] type of product (APIs and FDFs), [B] type of FDF manufactured (solids, semi-solids, and liquids / suspensions), [C] type of primary packaging (ampoules / vials, glass / plastic bottles, ointment tubes, blister packing, and other forms), [D] scale of manufacturing (preclinical, clinical, and commercial), [E] company size (small sized, mid-sized, and large-sized companies), [F] key disease indications (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, uveitis, dry eye, and other disease segments), and [G] key geographical regions, covering North America (the US, Canada and Mexico ), Europe (the UK, Germany , France , Spain , Italy and rest of Europe ), and Asia-Pacific ( India , China , Japan , Australia and rest of Asia-Pacific ). The rise in incidence and prevalence of chronic eye disorders has prompted the medical research community to actively develop a variety of ophthalmic drugs / therapies. The current ophthalmic diseases treatment landscape is characterized by a number of blockbuster therapies, namely ALPHAGAN, COSOPT, LUMIGAN, PAZEO, RESTASIS, TRAVATAN Z, and XALATAN, and a robust pipeline of over 400 candidate drugs in various stages of clinical development, designed for the treatment of approximately 1,000 chronic eye disorders. Owing to various reasons, such as growing manufacturing demand, need for specialized facilities, equipment and operational expertise, and high costs of development associated with certain drugs / therapies, a number of innovator companies have demonstrated a preference to outsource certain aspects of ophthalmic drug development and production operations to contract service providers. Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are known to offer significant benefits, which include reduction in capital investment, access to larger production capacities, reductions in time-to-market and also guarantee a significant degree of commercial risk mitigation. Since 2000, more than 75 new ophthalmology focused CMOs have been established. Amidst the tough competition, the availability of cutting-edge tools and technologies has emerged as a differentiating factor and is likely to grant a competitive advantage to certain CMOs over other players in the industry. This has caused many service providers to actively expand their respective service portfolios, either through strategic acquisitions or facility / capability expansions. Over time, many CMOs / CDMOs claim to have developed end-to-end service capabilities, ranging from drug development (including preliminary R&D, preclinical studies and clinical trials), to regulatory filings, and commercial scale production. To account for the uncertainties associated with the growth of the ophthalmic drugs contract manufacturing market and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base and optimistic tracks of the market's evolution. Amongst other elements, the report includes: A detailed review of the ophthalmic drugs contract manufacturing market landscape, featuring a list of over 240 CMOs and analysis based on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, geographical location, scale of operation (preclinical, pilot, clinical, and commercial), type of product (APIs and FDFs), type of FDF manufactured (solids, semi-solids, liquids, suspensions, and injectables), type of primary packaging (ampoules/vials, glass / plastic bottles, ointment tubes, sachets/pouches, blister packing, and other forms), type of service(s) offered (pre-formulation, drug formulation, method validation, process development, analytical testing, stability studies, technology transfer, scale-up, fill/finish, and regulatory support), number of manufacturing facilities, their specific locations (country-wise), as well as their regulatory accreditations and certifications. A company competitiveness analysis, highlighting prominent ophthalmic drug contract manufacturers based on supplier strength (which was calculated considering the size of employee base of a company and its experience in this field) and service strength (quantified based on type of FDF manufactured, type of primary packaging, type of service(s) offered, scale of operation, number and location of manufacturing facilities, and number of regulatory accreditations/certifications). Elaborate profiles of key players based in North America , Europe and Asia-Pacific that offer a diverse range of capabilities for the development, manufacturing and packaging of ophthalmic drug products. Each profile includes an overview of the company, its financial performance (if available), information related to its service portfolio, manufacturing facilities, and details on partnerships, recent developments (expansions), and awards and accolades received, as well as an informed future outlook. , and that offer a diverse range of capabilities for the development, manufacturing and packaging of ophthalmic drug products. Each profile includes an overview of the company, its financial performance (if available), information related to its service portfolio, manufacturing facilities, and details on partnerships, recent developments (expansions), and awards and accolades received, as well as an informed future outlook. A detailed clinical trial analysis of completed, ongoing and planned studies of various ophthalmic drug products, highlighting prevalent trends across parameters, such as current trial status, trial registration year, enrolled patient population and trial location, phase of development, study design, leading industry and non-industry players (in terms of number of trials undertaken / conducted), study focus, and key disease indications (in terms of number of trials undertaken / conducted). An informed estimate of the annual commercial demand for ophthalmic APIs and drug FDFs (in million litres), taking into account the top 30 small molecule-based ophthalmic drugs; the analysis takes into consideration the target patient population, dosing frequency and dose strength of the aforementioned products. The annual clinical demand for ophthalmic drug products was also estimated, taking into account ongoing and planned clinical trials. A detailed capacity analysis, taking into consideration the manufacturing capacities of various stakeholders (small-sized, mid-sized, and large-sized CMOs) in the market, based on data gathered via secondary and primary research. It also provides the likely distribution of the global ophthalmic product-related manufacturing capacity available across different types of companies (small-sized, mid-sized, and large-sized), scales of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), types of FDFs manufactured (ampoules / vials, glass / plastic bottles, and ointment tubes), and key geographical regions ( North America , Europe , and Asia-Pacific ). , , and ). A discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, under a comprehensive SWOT framework, which are likely to impact the industry's evolution, including a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative effect of each SWOT parameter on the overall industry. A survey analysis featuring inputs solicited from various experts who are directly / indirectly involved in providing CMO services to ophthalmic drug developers. A discussion on the emerging trends and potential market drivers, such as the growing ophthalmic drugs / therapies pipeline, rise in outsourcing activity for sterile manufacturing operations, adoption of innovative technologies and increasing opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, which are likely to impact the evolution of the market in the coming years. region, which are likely to impact the evolution of the market in the coming years. A detailed list of over 55 ophthalmic medical device contract manufacturers, along with information on year of establishment, company size, geographical location, key application area(s) (diagnostics, drug delivery, therapeutics, and others), type of manufacturing service(s) offered (design, component manufacturing, assembly, prototype development, sterilization, quality assurance, and packaging), type of additional service(s) offered (consultancy, documentation, inspection/testing, labelling, logistics, project management, regulatory support, repair, warehouse/storage, and others), scale of operation (pilot and commercial), device class-related expertise (class I, class II and class III), number of manufacturing facilities, their specific locations (country-wise), as well as their regulatory accreditations and certifications. Key Topics Covered 1. PREFACE 1.1. Scope of the Report 1.2. Research Methodology 1.3. Chapter Outlines 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 3.1. Context and Background 3.2. Introduction to Ophthalmology 3.2.1. Anatomy of the Human Eye 3.2.2. Chronic Eye Conditions and Associated Economic Burden 3.3. Common Ophthalmic Drug Dosage Forms 3.3.1. Types of Oral Drug Formulations 3.3.1.1. Tablets 3.3.1.2. Capsules 3.3.1.3. Eye Supplements 3.3.2. Types of Semi-solid Formulations 3.3.2.1. Ointments 3.5.2.2. Gels 3.5.2.3. Emulsions 3.3.3. Types of Liquid Drug Formulations 3.3.3.1. Solutions 3.3.3.2. Suspensions 3.5.3.1. Sterile Injectables 3.3.4. Intraocular Inserts 3.4. Common Primary Packaging Formats for Ophthalmic Drugs 3.5. Overview of Contract Manufacturing 3.6. Outsourcing in the Ophthalmology Industry 3.6.1. Need for Outsourcing 3.6.2. Commonly Outsourced Operations 3.6.3. Guidelines for Selecting a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) Partner 3.6.4. Advantages of Outsourcing Manufacturing Operations 3.6.5. Challenges Associated with Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing 3.6.6. Growth Drivers and Roadblocks to Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing 3.6.7. Recent Developments and Upcoming Trends 4. CURRENT MARKET LANDSCAPE 4.1. Chapter Overview 4.2. Ophthalmic Drug Contract Manufacturers: Overall Market Landscape 4.2.1. Analysis by Year of Establishment 4.2.2. Analysis by Company Size 4.2.3. Analysis by Scale of Operation 4.2.4. Analysis by Geographical Location 4.2.5. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facilities 4.2.6. Analysis by Type of Product 4.2.7. Analysis by Type of FDF Manufactured 4.2.8. Analysis by Type of Primary Packaging 4.2.9. Analysis by Type of Service(s) Offered 4.2.10. Analysis by Regulatory Accreditations / Certifications 5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 5.1. Chapter Overview 5.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 5.3. Competitiveness Analysis: Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturers 5.3.1. Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturers in North America 5.3.2. Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturers in Europe 5.3.3. Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturers in Asia-Pacific 5.4. Competitiveness Analysis: Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers 5.4.1. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers in North America 5.4.2. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers in Europe 5.4.3. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers in Asia-Pacific 6. OPHTHALMIC DRUGS COUNTERACT MANUFACTURING IN NORTH AMERICA: COMPANY PROFILES 6.1. Chapter Overview 6.2. Akorn 6.2.1. Company Overview 6.2.2. Financial Information 6.2.3. Service Portfolio 6.2.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook 6.3. Catalent 6.4. Cayman Chemical 6.5. Pillar5 Pharma 6.6. Sterling Pharmaceutical Services 7. OPHTHALMIC DRUGS COUNTERACT MANUFACTURING IN EUROPE: COMPANY PROFILES 7.1. Chapter Overview 7.2. FARMIGEA 7.2.1. Company Overview 7.2.2. Service Portfolio 7.2.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook 7.3. Lomapharm 7.4. Medichem 7.5. Recipharm 7.6. Salvat 8. OPHTHALMIC DRUGS COUNTERACT MANUFACTURING IN ASIA-PACIFIC: COMPANY PROFILES 8.1. Chapter Overview 8.2. Akums 8.2.1. Company Overview 8.2.2. Service Portfolio 8.2.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook 8.3. Bal Pharma 8.4. Entod Pharmaceuticals 8.5. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals 8.6. Indiana Ophthalmics 8.7. Sunways India 9. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS 9.1. Chapter Overview 9.2. Scope and Methodology 9.3. Ophthalmic Drug Trial Analysis 9.3.1. Analysis by Trial Registration Year 9.3.2. Geographical Analysis by Number of Clinical Trials 9.3.3. Geographical Analysis by Enrolled Patient Population 9.3.4. Analysis by Phase of Development 9.3.5. Analysis by Trial Recruitment Status 9.3.6. Analysis by Type of Sponsor / Collaborator 9.3.7. Most Active Players in Terms of Number of Registered Trials 9.3.8. Analysis by Type of Intervention 9.3.9. Analysis by Trial Focus 9.3.10. Analysis by Target Indication 9.3.11. Benchmark Analysis of Active Industry Players 10. CAPACITY ANALYSIS 10.1. Chapter Overview 10.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 10.3. Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturers: Global Production Capacity (by Volume) 10.3.1. Analysis by Geography 10.3.2. Analysis by Scale of Operation 10.3.3. Analysis by Company Size 10.4. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers: Global Production Capacity 10.4.1. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers: Global Production Capacity (by Volume) 10.4.2. Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturers: Global Production Capacity (by Number of Units) 11. DEMAND ANALYSIS 11.1. Chapter Overview 11.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 11.3. Global Commercial Demand for Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing 11.3.1. Commercial Demand for Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturing 11.3.2. Commercial Demand for Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturing 11.4. Global Clinical Demand for Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing 11.4.1. Clinical Demand for Ophthalmic API Contract Manufacturing 11.4.2. Clinical Demand for Ophthalmic Drug FDF Contract Manufacturing 11.5. Demand and Supply Analysis 12. MARKET FORECAST 12.1. Chapter Overview 12.2. Key Assumptions and Forecast Methodology 12.3. Overall Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030 12.4. Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030: Distribution by Type of Product 12.5. Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030: Distribution by Target Disease Indication 12.6. Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030: Distribution by Scale of Operation 12.7. Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030: Distribution by Size of Manufacturers 12.8. Ophthalmic Drugs Contract Manufacturing Market, 2020-2030: Distribution by Geographical Regions 13. CASE STUDY: COMPARISON OF SMALL MOLECULE AND LARGE MOLECULE OPHTHALMIC DRUGS / THERAPIES 13.1. Chapter Overview 13.2. Small Molecule Drugs and Biologics 13.2.1. Comparison of Strengths and Weakness of Small Molecules and Biologics 13.2.2. Comparison of Key Specifications 13.2.3. Comparison of Manufacturing Processes 13.2.4. Comparison of Key Manufacturing-related Challenges 14. SWOT ANALYSIS 14.1. Chapter Overview 14.2. Comparison of SWOT Factors 15. SURVEY ANALYSIS 15.1. Chapter Overview 15.2. Overview of Respondents 15.2.1. Seniority Level of Respondents 15.3. Survey Insights 15.3.1. Type of Product 15.3.2. Type of Primary Packaging 15.3.3. Scale of Operation 15.3.4. Manufacturing Capacity 15.3.5. Location of Manufacturing Facilities 15.3.6. Regulatory Accreditations / Certifications of Manufacturing Facilities 15.3.7. Extent of Outsourcing 15.3.8. Current Market Opportunity 16. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS 16.1. Chapter Overview 16.2. Selvok Pharmaceutical 16.2.1. Company Snapshot 16.2.2. Interview Transcript: Rahul Gupta, Chief Executive Officer 16.3. Caplin Point Laboratories 16.4. Phytex Australia 16.5. Gland Pharma 17. FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES 17.1. Chapter Overview 17.2. Integration / Adoption of New and Innovative Technologies 17.3. Capability and Expertise Expansions by CMOs 17.4. Offshoring Outsourcing Activities 17.5. Growing Investments in Existing Infrastructure 17.6. Evolving Client / Sponsor and CMO / CDMO Relationships 17.7. Business Acquisition and Consolidation Activity 17.8. Challenges Faced by Both Sponsors and Service Providers 17.8.1. Concerns Related to Single Use Systems 17.8.2. Concerns Related to Capacity Fluctuations A-Z List of Companies Mentioned A. S. Joshi & Company Aarti Industries Abbott Medical Optics AccuMED Actiza Pharmaceutical Admac Formulations Aerie Pharmaceuticals AGC Biologics Aishwarya Lifescience Akorn Akums Alcon Alembic Pharmaceuticals Allergan Amanta Healthcare Ambica Pharma Sales AMETEK Engineered Medical Components Amman Pharmaceutical Industries AMRI ANI Pharmaceuticals Apex Pharmaceuticals Apicore US Arvincare Ashford Pharmaceutical Laboratories Aspen Pharmacare Assiut University Astellas Pharma Aster Pharma AstraZeneca Atrion Medical Aurobindo Pharma Avalign Technologies Axa Parenterals Bachem BAL Pharma Bausch & Lomb Bayer Baylor College of Medicine Beijing Second Pharmaceutical Bennet Pharmaceuticals BePharBel Beximco Pharmaceuticals Binex Biocon Bioglan Biomol Biotech Vision Care Boehringer Ingelheim Bolivac Pharmaceutical Bonarum Pharma Brassica Pharma Bristol- Myers Squibb C&J Industries Cadence Cadila Pharmaceuticals Cairo University University Cambrex Caplin Point Laboratories Capsugel Captab Biotec Carclo Catalent Cayman Chemical CCM Pharmaceuticals Centaur Pharmaceuticals Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Century Pharmaceuticals Ceutical Labs Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Memorial Hospital Charit University ChemCon Chemigran Chifeng Arker Pharmaceutical Technology Chirogate International Chongqing Huapont Pharmaceutical Chromo Laboratories India Ciron Drugs CiVentiChem Coastline International COC Farmaceutici Columbia University Combino Pharm Concord Drugs Consort Medical CooperVision CoreRx CTX Lifesciences Daicel Deepcare Health Delorbis Delpharm Denator Dermopartners Deva Holding DeviceLab Dhruv Life Sciences DM Pharma Doctor Pack Domp Donatelle Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Duke University Eden Healthcare Edol Laboratory EL Laboratories Eminent Healthcare Emory University Enaltec Labs Entod Pharmaceuticals Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Eurofins Euro-Med Laboratories EVCO Plastics Evergreen Research Evolet Healthcare Excella Excelvision Exela Pharma Science EXODRUG Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici FAMAR Fantabulous Pharma Fareva Farmak Farmastur 2010 FARMIGEA FDC Federal University of So Paulo Fermion Finecure Pharmaceuticals FineTech Pharmaceuticals Finnsusp Flagship Biotech International Flamma Group Fleming Laboratories Flexan Forefront Medical Technology Freudenberg Medical FSUE Moscow Endocrine Plant Galentic Pharma Gedeon Richter Genentech Gerresheimer Gland Pharma Glaukos GlaxoSmithKline Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Glochem Industries Golden Drugs Grevis Pharmaceuticals Groupe SYNERLAB Grupo Farmasierra GTIMD Guilin Pharmaceutical Handok Hangzhou Panyu Chemical Hanuchem Laboratories Harmac Medical Products Health Biotech Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Healthy Life Pharma Hemofarm Hetero Drugs Higgs Healthcare Hi-Tech Pharmacal Hospices Civils de Lyon Hovione Hritik Chemicals Hubei Biocause Pharmaceutical Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai IIFA Healthcare Indena Indiana Ophthalmics Indoco Remedies Ind-Swift Instru-med Intas Pharmaceuticals Inteprod Interquim i-Pharmaceuticals I-Tek Medical Technologies ITL Group IVERIC bio J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Jabil Jaeb Center for Health Research Jawa pharmaceuticals JGL Jips Pharmaceuticals Johns Hopkins University Johnson & Johnson Vision Care JSC Tatchempharmpreparaty Jubilant HollisterStier Juniper Pharmaceuticals JunoPacific K C Pharmaceutical Kamat Pharmatech Katsura Chemical Kaysersberg Pharmaceuticals Kemwell Keshava Organics Kilitch Drugs Korten KP Pharmaceutical Technology Krishlar Pharma Kyowa Pharma Chemical Labiana Group Laboratoires Thea Laboratorios Entema Laboratorios Grin Laboratorios Lesvi Laboratorios Sophia Lacrivera Laurus Synthesis Lawson Health Research Institute Lenus LifeCare Lifekyor Pharmaceuticals Lifezen Healthcare Lighthouse Imaging LOBA Feinchemie Logos Pharma Lohmann Lomapharm Lubrizol Maastricht University Medical Center Medical Center MacFarlan Smith Macter International Mahidol University Makcur Laboratories Martin & Brown Biosciences & Brown Biosciences Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Massachusetts General Hospital General Hospital Maxnova Healthcare Maya Biotech Mayo Clinic MD Anderson Cancer Center Medbio MEDFE INDIA Medical University of South Carolina Medical University of Vienna Medichem Medisearch Laboratories Medpharm Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Mercator Pharmaceutical Solutions Merck Micro Labs Mission Laboratories MMG Healthcare Modern Medical Equipment Moorfields Eye Hospital Morgen Helathcare Mylan Nakoda Chemicals National Cancer Institute National Eye Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute on Aging National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health Clinical Center National Taiwan University Hospital Neiss Labs Nemera NEO Tech Medical Neuland Laboratories NewGen BioPharma Nextar Chempharma Solutions NextPharma Nimbles Biotech Nitin Lifesciences Nitto Medic Nivon Specialities Northwestern University Novartis Nutragen Pharma Nvron Life Science NYU Langone Health Oceanic Pharmachem Ohio State University Olamic Pharma Olon Ora Oregon Health and Science University PannonPharma Park Pharmaceuticals Patheon Perrigo Pfizer Pfizer CentreOne Pharma Stulln Pharmaloop Pharmapack PHARMA-Q Pharmascience Pharmer Phillips-Medisize Phoenix DeVentures Phytex Australia Pillar5 Pharma Piramal Pharma Solutions PMC SMART Solutions Polpharma Polyzen PrimaPharma Prisha Healthcare Procos Product Resources ProMed Pharma Proton Pharma Pushkar Pharma Qilu Pharmaceutical Qualiphar-Gifrer Qualitron Bio Medica Quality Tech Services Qualtra Pharmaceuticals Radico Remedies RAFARM Recipharm Red Star Contract Manufacturing REDWING Pharma Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Remington Pharmaceuticals Ritedose Riverside Medical Packaging Roche Rchling Medical Rohto Pharmaceuticals Rompharm Rubicon Research Rusan Pharma Salvat Salvus Pharma Samsung Medical Center Sanbio SANOCHEMIA Pharmazeutika Sanofi Santen Saphnix Lifesciences Saraca Solutions Sarvodaya Drugs & Pharmaceuticals SCD Pharmaceuticals ScinoPharm Taiwan Second Source Medical Selvok Pharmaceutical Sensimed Sentiss Pharma Seoul National University Hospital Hospital Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Sheba Medical Center Shenzhen Haorui Industrial Shilpa Medicare Shire SHL Group Siegfried Singapore National Eye Centre Sinphar Pharmaceutical Sion Healthcare Smruthi Organics Societa Italiana Medicinali Scandicci Sofarimex Softigel Solitaire Pharmacia SOVEREIGN PHARMA Sovrin Plastics Spark Therapeutics Sparton Spectrum Plastics Group Square Pharmaceuticals Sricure Herbs SRS Pharmaceutical Stanford University StarFish Medical Stellartech Sterling Pharmaceutical Services Stevanato Group Strategix Medical Solutions Sun Yat -sen University -sen University Sungwoo Life Sciences Sunways Swiss Pharma Symed Labs Syncom Healthcare Systochem Laboratories Tahira Industries Taj Pharmaceuticals Takeda Tara Innovations Tegra Medical Teika Pharmaceutical Teligent Texas Therapeutics The Cleveland Clinic The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Titan Pharma Tonus-Les Torrent Pharmaceuticals Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Trumac Healthcare Unichem Laboratories Uni-Med India Union Quimico Farmacutica Unison Pharmaceuticals University Health Network, Toronto University Hospital Center of Bordeaux University of Alabama at Birmingham University of British Columbia University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, San Francisco University of Chicago University of Colorado, Denver University of Iowa University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Oxford University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of So Paulo University of Utah University of Waterloo University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Zurich URSAPHARM Arzneimittel USV Valentis Pharma Valtronic VDASP Pharmaceuticals Vergo Pharma Research Laboratories VersaPharm Vetter Pharma Viant Medical Vibcare Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery Vivimed VxP Pharma Wanbury Wannock pharmaceuticals Washington University School of Medicine School of Medicine Wenzhou Medical University Wills Eye Hospital Wintac Wockhardt Wuhu Sanyi Xincheng Pharmaceutical WuXi AppTec Xellia Pharmaceuticals Y S Lab Yale University YaoPharma Yonsei University Zenius Zenlabs Zylig Lifesciences For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jo9hbh Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com [February 18, 2020] CareSignal Raises Strategic Investment from OSF Ventures, UnityPoint Health Ventures, Nueterra Capital and 1984 Ventures ST. LOUIS, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its recent brand update and customer expansions, CareSignal (previously Epharmix) today announced investments from four strategically aligned healthcare technology venture capital funds. CareSignal is an accessible remote patient monitoring platform that improves payer and provider performance in value-based care by engaging and identifying rising-risk patients. Two of the investors, OSF Ventures (Peoria, Ill.) and UnityPoint Health Ventures (Des Moines, Iowa), are customer-partners that use CareSignal remote patient monitoring and engagement solutions; OSF Ventures is expanding on a previous investment in CareSignal. Nueterra Capital (Leawood, Kan.) and 1984 Ventures (San Francisco, Calif.) provide a combination of deep technology experience, ties to national healthcare ecosystems and healthcare operations expertise. "OSF Ventures is pleased to continue its financial support of CareSignal," said Mayank Taneja, director of venture investments at OSF Ventures. "As a pioneer in adoption of patient-centric innovative solutions, OSF HealthCare is proud to be a growing customer and partner of the company. Their technology enhances our ability to communicate with our patients and react to their needs. Improved patient outcomes along with a compelling value proposition make this a solution of choice for us." "Nueterra Capital is a venture firm with deep experience in healthcare administration, value-oriented health innovations and digital health startups, and we pride ourselves on identifying trends and pain points within the nation's most innovative payers and providers," said Clint Myers, vice president of Nueterra Capital. "Nueterra chose to invest in CareSignal because of the company's traction with evidence-based solutions adopted by sstems across the nation; technology, including defensible intellectual property and an aggressive focus on machine learning; and timing, as the industry shifts to true value-based care." "At 1984 Ventures, we focus on companies using software to solve real-world problems at scale. And we couldn't be more excited about our investment in CareSignal," said Ramy Adeeb, general partner at 1984 Ventures. Farzad Soleimani, MD, MBA, healthcare partner at 1984 Ventures, added: "By using technology to prioritize and engage with rising-risk patients in real-time, CareSignal is able to improve outcomes and reduce cost in some of healthcare's most challenging and expensive areas, including heart failure, hypertension and diabetes." "These investors represent the best-possible capital partners for CareSignal," said Blake Marggraff, CEO and co-founder of CareSignal. "We're actively deploying the additional funding toward sales and marketing as we expand nationally to new payer and large provider partners. The expertise, connections and capital from OSF, UnityPoint, Nueterra and 1984 are enabling CareSignal to grow even faster and impact the healthcare stakeholderscustomers and patients alikethat have the most to gain." UnityPoint Health Ventures announced the investment in CareSignal via a press release, available here . ABOUT CARESIGNAL: CareSignal is an accessible remote patient monitoring platform that improves payer and provider performance in value-based care by engaging and identifying rising-risk patients. Care teams receive real-time alerts enabling real-time prioritization and outreach, and patients respond to evidence-based questions via text messages or phone calls. CareSignal amplifies care teams, improving clinical outcomes and delivering financial returns. Try a self-guided demo: https://try.caresignal.health Learn more: https://www.caresignal.health Additional investor information: UnityPoint Health OSF Ventures Nueterra Capital 1984 Ventures Contact: Ardyst Zigler, PR Strategist at Influence & Co. Phone: (407) 721-0130 Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caresignal-raises-strategic-investment-from-osf-ventures-unitypoint-health-ventures-nueterra-capital-and-1984-ventures-301006129.html SOURCE CareSignal [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Apple on Monday announced that it will miss its forecasted revenue guidance for the second fiscal quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic. The company had projected revenue for the quarter between $63 and $67 billion, and gross margin between 38 and 39 percent. Apple did not provide revised Q2 earnings estimates. In a released statement, Apple stated that it is, experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. As a result, we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter due to two main factors. In a statement, Apple said it expected the iPhone supply constraint to be temporary. Demand for Apple products in China has been affected as well, with Apple stores closed for a duration, and then reopening at a reduced schedule. Outside of China, customer demand across our product and service categories has been strong to date and in line with our expectations, Apple said in the statement. In a note to employees obtained by Bloomberg News, CEO Tim Cook echoes the companys statement and assured worker that Our first prioritynow and alwaysis the health and safety of our employees, supply chain partners, customers, and the communities in which we operate. Apple closed its Q1 2020 with a record $91.8 billion in revenue, with iPhone sales up 7 percent over the previous holiday quarter. Its second quarter closes March 30, with results likely due in early April. New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday told former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of pending criminal cases in his 2014 poll affidavit, as the judgement on his election matter could have wider ramifications on the candidates in the electoral fray. Fadnavis insisted to review the verdict in this matter. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, after arguments on the matter reserved its verdict on its 2019 judgement asking Fadnavis to face trial. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Fadnavis, contended before the top court this matter has the potential for far reaching consequences on other candidates in the poll fray and the apex court needs to re-examine its October 1, 2019 decision. Rohtagi submitted as per Section 33 A (1) of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, there was no requirement to furnish information on criminal case unless charges have been framed by a trial court. He added mere cognisance by the court could not become a reason to reveal the criminal case. Rohatgi urged for a stay on the judgement, but the top court did not agree. The court observed that it will keep the question raised by senior counsel open. "We are not sealing your fate", said the court citing it will decide this question at the final stage. Rohatgi also submitted that a candidate can be criminally prosecuted for violating two conditions -- where a candidate has been convicted and not disclosing cases where charges have been framed. On October 1, 2019, in a major setback to Fadnavis, the Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order that prevented the trial court from examining a poll-related complaint against him. A bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose set aside a clean chit by the High Court to Fadnavis, which held that he should not be tried for the alleged offences under the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act. "In the light of the view that we have taken and in view of the clear averment made in the complaint to the effect that the First Respondent (Fadnavis) had knowledge of the two cases against him which was not mentioned in the affidavit filed by him along with his nomination papers," said the court in its judgement. The apex court has allowed the trial court to examine if he concealed criminal cases in the nomination papers filed. A complaint was filed by Satish Ukey against Fadanvis in the magistrate's court seeking his prosecution for not disclosing all the details of pending criminal cases. Ukey had alleged Fadnavis, in his 2014 election affidavit, did not disclose two pending criminal cases against him. The magistrate dismissed the complaint. In revision, the sessions judge, Nagpur remanded the matter to the trial court for consideration. Aggrieved, Fadnavis moved the High Court which set aside the order of the sessions judge by its judgment of May 3, 2018. The apex court has set aside concurrent clean chit by trial court and Bombay High Court to Fadnavis on filing false election affidavit allegedly not disclosing two criminal cases pending against him. "We unhesitatingly arrive at the conclusion that the order of the trial court upheld by the High Court by the judgement and order dated May 3, 2018 is legally not tenable and the same deserves to be set aside which we hereby do. The complaint of the appellant (Satish Ukey) will be considered afresh by the trial court from the stage where it was interdicted by the order dated May 30, 2016," observed the court. Making observation on non-disclosure of information, the apex court said that such information should be furnished in Form 26, which includes information concerning cases in which a competent court has taken cognisance. According to the provisions, if a candidate fails to furnish or gives false information or conceals information in his nomination papers especially pending criminal cases then the person may face a six-month jail term or fine or both. A blind woman who was refused access to a bus because of her guide dog has pleaded for more driver training after her hour-long stand-off only ended when police arrived. Louise Pearson and her seeing eye dog, Arthur, attempted to board a bus at Greensborough, in Melbourne's north-east, on Tuesday morning. She was stunned when the driver told her: 'No dogs on the bus'. Ms Pearson said she repeatedly told the driver Arthur, a golden retriever, was a guide dog during a remarkable stand-off that lasted more than an hour. Louise Pearson and her seeing eye dog Arthur tried to get on a bus at Greensborough, in Melbourne 's north east, on Tuesday morning when the driver told her 'no dogs on the bus' Ms Pearson urged the bus company to better train their drivers. 'Generally they're very good - but this is not OK,' she told 7 News. She said the driver, who had been on the job for six months, didn't seem interested in listening to her explanations. A passenger intervened and told the driver Ms Pearson regularly travels the route on her way to work with Arthur, but he still didn't budge. 'We've been sitting here for the last 50 minutes because he says it's not a guide dog,' Ms Pearson told 3AW. After a one-hour standoff with Ms Pearson and her dog, the bus driver called police. Officers offered to drive her to work, but she refused, taking a stand against the driver. She said she repeatedly tried to tell the driver that Arthur, a golden retriever, was a guide dog 'That's not how you win a fight,' she said. The driver eventually caved under pressure from the passengers and let Ms Pearson and Arthur on the bus. 'I can't believe in this day and age that we have this sort of nonsense going on,' she said. 'I'm totally blind. I'm just trying to go to work!' Ms Pearson said the fault lays with the bus company, who needs to train their drivers Paul Giusti, manager of the bus company responsible, Dyson Group, said they are investigating the incident. 'It does appear that it was caused by a driver misunderstanding,' Mr Giusti said. 'Dysons unreservedly apologises for any inconvenience caused to the passenger, and others on the bus.' They said they were disappointed Ms Pearson's trip to work wasn't as it should have been and are reviewing their driver education program. Guide dogs are legally permitted to travel on all public transport under Victorian law. A COUNTY Limerick restaurant was ordered to close after environmental health officers discovered a dry goods store was being used as a bedroom. A Closure Order, under the provisions of the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2010, was served on the proprietor of Ali Baba, Bank Place, Rathkeale on December 8, last following an inspection of the premises. Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that HSE inspectors discovered a mattress complete with bed linen on the floor of the dry goods store. According to the report, the bed was found on the floor where the shelving had been, along with a plugged-in electrical heater. Other breaches of regulations included the presence of a large dirty greasy wheelie bin in the main food preparation area along with a potato peeler unit which should have been located in the chipping room. Water was leaking through the ceiling of the main preparation area and ponding on the floor which resulted in dampness on the floor and walls in an area where food was being prepared. According to the report, the walk-in coldroom was filthy while the walls and sides of the freezers in the dry goods store were covered in black mould from dampness. Previously, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland confirmed the Closure Order was lifted on December 9, 2016. Separately, a take away premises in Limerick city was ordered to close this week. A Closure Order under the provisions of the FSAI Act 1998, was served on the proprietor of Hot Spot, Parnell Street on Monday. NASA On Aug. 20, 1977, NASA launched the Voyager 2 probe on a mission to explore the outer planets of our solar system. Twelve years later, having scanned Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, the 1,600-pound spacecraft completed its initial mission. But it kept going. And going. And going. Nursed farther and farther into space by a small team at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Voyager 2 is now more than 11 billion miles from Earth, making it the second-most-distant man-made object from Earth after its speedier twin Voyager 1. In late January, Voyager 2s decades-long voyage almost came to an untimely end. The mishap underscores the delicacy of NASAs super-long-range space missions, as well as the ingenuity of the space agencys probe-operators. After zipping past Neptune in 1989, Voyager 2 took on a new mission: working alongside Voyager 1 to investigate the heliosphere, which NASA spokeswoman Calla Cofield described as the bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the sun. On Jan. 25, Voyager 2 was supposed to execute a scheduled maneuver, turning 360 degrees in order to calibrate an on-board magnetic instrument. But the probe never made the turn. Voyager 2s operators in California found out about the missed turn 17 hours later the time it takes for a radio signal to travel the billions of miles from the spacecraft to Earth. Analysis of the telemetry from the spacecraft indicated that an unexplained delay in the onboard execution of the maneuver commands inadvertently left two systems that consume relatively high levels of power operating at the same time, NASA explained in a release. This caused the spacecraft to overdraw its available power supply. The Voyager probes carry plutonium-powered generators that can produce 470 watts of powerthe equivalent of a handful of light bulbs. Any system that consumes even a few extra watts could shave years off the probes lifespans. To protect against a sudden battery drain, the Voyagers software automatically shuts off the probes science instruments whenever it detects a surge in power consumption. Of course, without instruments the spacecraft are just useless hunks of metal streaking 34,000 miles per hour into the cosmos. Story continues The team in California got to work fixing Voyager 2. Theyd done it before. In 2010 a single bit in Voyager 2s memory flipped from zero to one, introducing a flaw into the data the probe was sending back to Earth. To diagnose the error, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ran simulations on a computer running the same software as the distant probe. It took a few weeks, but they were able to transmit instructions to Voyager 2 to flip the bit back to zero. But the 2010 fix perhaps seemed deceptively easy. In fact, the teams managing the Voyagers as well as NASAs other deep-space probe, New Horizons, can prevent or cause catastrophe with a single keystroke. (New Horizons, which launched in 2006, is probing the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond Neptune that scientists believe contains a large number of comets and asteroids.) In 1982, a NASA team botched a software update on the Viking 1 Mars lander. The bad code caused the lander to point its antenna in the wrong direction, permanently cutting off all communication with Earth. They can never make a single mistake, Alan Stern, the principal investigator for the New Horizons mission, told The Daily Beast, referring to NASAs probe teams. And the teams have to maintain that flawless performance every day for decades as presidential administrations come and go, budgets rise and fall, old staff retire and new staff join up. Fixing Voyager 2s January malfunction ended up being fairly straightforward. The engineers essentially rebooted a few key systems. Then waited 17 hours to hear back from the probe. On Feb. 5, NASA announced the good news. Mission operators report that Voyager 2 continues to be stable, and communications between Earth and the spacecraft are good, NASAs Cofield told The Daily Beast. The spacecraft has resumed taking science data, and the science teams are now evaluating the health of the instruments following their brief shut-off. Stern praised the engineers who saved the probe. The Voyager guys, they were under the gun of time with high stakes, he said. They discovered a problem and the clock was ticking to save the day. With any luck, the Voyagers have another four or five years worth of power left. NASA plans for the probes to continue investigating the heliosphere until the day they finally power down, sometime in the mid-2020s. With its fresher batteries, New Horizons could last into the 2040s. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser State and local governments are reconsidering their efforts to use tax incentives to attract major corporations after a decade of mega-deals handed billions of dollars to some of the wealthiest companies in America. Those deals typically involved states, counties and cities giving companies subsidies or allowing them to forgo paying some taxes in return for a pledge to create a certain number of jobs. Japans support for China as it battles to contain the new coronavirus outbreak is winning it praise online and from the government in a further sign of warming relations between the two neighbours. The pneumonia-like illness, which causes a disease officially known as Covid-19, has so far killed more than 1,800 people and infected over 70,000 in the mainland since it spread from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December. In stark contrast to some of the criticism Beijing has directed at the United States, Japan a wartime occupier with which China has bitter historical disputes has been thanked by social media users and state-run news outlets, including Xinhua, the Peoples Daily and even fiery nationalist newspaper the Global Times. Photos and video have appeared online reporting Japanese girls fundraising for Wuhan, banners bearing well wishes for China, and news that every parliamentarian from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would donate 5,000 yen (US$45) from their monthly salary to help. Reports that Japanese cities have supplied masks, goggles and protective clothing to sister prefectures in China have been particularly popular, attracting millions of shares and tens of thousands of likes. Like most of my friends, my favourite story is that many local governments and NGOs in Japan have donated masks to Chinese, and encouraged us with many ancient Chinese poems depicting the long-lasting friendship between China and Japan, said Qiu Ruifa, a white-collar worker from Guangzhou in southern China. I and many of my friends cant help but share these ancient poems in our WeChat circle. Liu Huilan, who lives in Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong, said she definitely felt the goodwill from Japan. Its so easy and regular to see these kinds of articles that the Japanese government and people are taking quick and positive action to help Chinese, said Liu, who works as an operation manager. Japan is truly outstanding, in contrast with other news like Taiwans export control on masks and the US taking the lead to bar entry for most foreign nationals who had recently visited China Story continues Liu Huilan I think this may be the [Chinese] governments attempt to promote the two countres relations. But Japan is truly outstanding, in contrast with other news like Taiwans export control on masks and the US taking the lead to bar entry for most foreign nationals who had recently visited China. China and Japan, the worlds second and third-largest economies, have long had uneasy bilateral ties. Many Chinese believe Japan has not adequately acknowledged the extent of its brutal WWII occupation of the country, while Chinas growing assertiveness, including claims to disputed islands in the East China Sea, has ratcheted up territorial tensions. The rocky relationship, often fanned by nationalist movements in each country, is further complicated by the close trading ties between Asias two largest economies. But with Chinese tourism to Japan hitting new highs last year, and this latest round of epidemic-related propaganda, Japan is building a reputation as a good neighbour and has won the hearts of many Chinese. Earlier this month, Chinas foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was deeply touched by Japans support since the outbreak began, after hitting out at Washington for spreading fear with its restrictions on travellers from China. Japan and China agreed on Saturday to continue preparations for a state visit by President Xi Jinping in April, despite speculation the trip may be postponed as Beijing struggles to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The last Chinese leader to visit was president Hu Jintao in May 2008. Beijing resident Frank Cui, who lived in Japan for years but now runs a tech consulting firm linking Chinese companies and talent with the rest of Asia, said the governments of both countries were willing to seize the opportunity to promote friendship and cooperation. This is actually an extension of the improvement in Sino-Japanese relations over the past two years, Cui said. The [good] impression of Japan has been increasing and Japanese culture and social governance are becoming more and more popular and respected among the Chinese middle class. Japanese people have often encountered natural disasters, so they have strong empathy for other people suffering disasters Jenny Tao Once the epidemic is brought under control, Cui predicted there would be a boom in Chinese tourism, investment, trade and study in Japan. Jenny Tao, a Chinese citizen living in Japans northern Hokkaido prefecture, said she had seen first hand the support for China. Japanese people have often encountered natural disasters, so they have strong empathy for other people suffering disasters, she said. Tao said China could also learn from Japans long history of dealing with crises: The whole of society forms a mature and complete emergency system. In this regard, the gap between China is very far. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Japans coronavirus support wins praise in China, showing further signs of improving relations first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. CHICO, Calif. Inspire School of Arts and Sciences presents Oklahoma! The musical is based on the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs, by Lynn Riggs. It is the first musical written by the legendary team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The show is performed by students at the school. Tickets are available at the Inspire office located at 335 West Sacramento Avenue, IC-1. Tickets are $20 for the front center section. $16 for general reserved. $13 for students/Inspire alumni and $8 for children under 13. The show runs from Feb. 22, 28, & 29 and starts at 7 p.m. More dates include Feb. 23, 29, and March 1 at 2 p.m. All shows take place at the center for the Arts on 1475 East Avenue in Chico. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Boral Limited ("Boral" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: BOALY; BOALF). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Boral and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On December 5, 2019, Boral disclosed that it had identified financial irregularities in its North American window business, involving the misreporting of inventory levels and raw material and labor cost at the window plants, and was conducting an internal investigation into the matter. Then, on February 9, 2020, Boral revealed that its investigation had found inflated earnings at its North American window-making business and announced that the Company had fired the division's vice president of finance and financial controller. On this news, Boral's American depositary receipt price fell $1.08 per share, or 7.83%, to close at $12.72 per share on February 10, 2020. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links www.pomerantzlaw.com A Chinese woman suffering from coronavirus was discharged from hospital on her birthday. The patient, identified only as Ms Yan, was recovering from the virus infection at a hospital in Wuhan, the city in China's Hubei Province at the centre of the outbreak. Touching images show Ms Yan bowing to medical workers in a display of gratitude as she was discharged on Tuesday, in time for her birthday. Touching images show Ms Yan bowing to medical workers in a display of gratitude Other photos show Ms Yan receiving a present from the medical staff at the hospital, who are wearing full hazmat suits as they applaud the recovered patient Other photos show Ms Yan receiving a present from the medical staff at the hospital, who are wearing full hazmat suits as they applaud the recovered patient. The woman was able to leave hospital after recovering from the potentially deadly virus, Xinhuanet reported. Ms Yan is among those who have made a successful recovery from the killer coronavirus rapidly sweeping the world, as the death toll rose to almost 1,900 in China on Tuesday. The woman was able to leave hospital after recovering from the potentially deadly virus Ms Yan waves to other patients inside the hospital as she is discharged after recovering from coronavirus And more than 73,000 patients have been struck down with the deadly SARS-CoV-2 infection, including nearly 1,000 outside of China. Ninety-nine per cent of cases have been in China, where tens of millions of residents are in lockdown to contain the escalating crisis. The Diamond Princess cruise, docked off the coast of Japan, has the largest cluster of cases outside of China, with 542 passengers infected. Video PlayerClose Flags are seen at the Tian'anmen Square and atop the Great Hall of the People during the opening meeting of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2019. [Xinhua/Yang Zongyou] Monday's proposals to postpone China's "two sessions" conform to the reality that China has entered the most crucial stage of fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic and must prevent any risks of rendering the previous sacrifices of the entire nation in vain. BEIJING, February 17 (Xinhua) The proposals to postpone China's "two sessions," a key event in the country's political calendar, came out Monday in a timely and responsible manner, as the latest evidence that China is trying its best to buy time for the world to contain the outbreak of novel coronavirus or COVID-19. The openings of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress, China's highest organ of state power, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, had been held on March 5 and March 3, respectively, since 1998. Monday's proposals conform to the reality that China has entered the most crucial stage of fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic and must prevent any risks of rendering the previous sacrifices of the entire nation in vain. Through arduous efforts, the epidemic overall is generally under control. Outside the hardest-hit Hubei Province, the number of confirmed cases had been declining for 13 consecutive days across China by Sunday. China contains 99 percent of COVID-19 cases within its borders. A cured coronavirus patient prepares before donating plasma at Chongqing Blood Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Tang Yi] Among nearly 3,000 national lawmakers and more than 2,000 political advisors, many of them are fighting at the frontlines. Any lax efforts at this time will cause huge losses, both for China and the world. The announcement demonstrates a responsible and transparent attitude toward epidemic control work. The proposals will gain wide public endorsement and boost national confidence. By postponing the sessions to an appropriate time, decision-makers will have more time to examine the current situation and roll out measures more precisely and effectively to restore normal economic and social activity. At the two sessions, national lawmakers and political advisors are expected to review and discuss a series of work reports which cover every aspect of China's development and the people's wellbeing. Growth targets and reform goals need to be set. Budgets, development plans and laws need to be reviewed and put to vote. All these should be done on the basis of full awareness about the virus, what the impacts are, how to minimize them and boost development accordingly. The decisions and measures will also be significant to the world as China contributes nearly one-third of global economic growth. China has given its top priority to ensure the safety and health of the Chinese people and has created a window of opportunity for other countries to intensify preparedness. The window is still open and the best way to make up for the loss is to tackle the epidemic with speed, determination and unity. (Source: Xinhua) ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Although unaware of any actual or attempted misuse, East House is providing notice of a data privacy event impacting the security of information relating to certain current and former residents and current, former, and prospective East House employees. What happened? On July 25, 2019, East House became aware of suspicious activity relating to an employee email account. East House immediately launched an investigation to determine what may have happened. Working together with a leading computer forensics firm, East House determined that an unauthorized individual or individuals accessed one (1) employee email account between July 8, 2019 and July 25, 2019, and sensitive information contained therein was accessible to unknown individuals. On November 13, 2019, East House identified the individuals potentially impacted by this incident after a thorough programmatic and manual review of the email account. East House has worked since this time to locate valid mailing addresses for the potentially impacted individuals in order to provide notice of this event. What information may have been affected by this incident? The accessed email account contained information related to certain current and former East House residents, as well as current, former, and prospective employees. The type of information affected varies per impacted individual, and includes one or more of the following types of information: name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number or state identification card number, treatment, and/or health-related information. For a very small number of individuals, financial account numbers were also affected. Although they cannot confirm that any individual's personal information was actually accessed, or viewed without permission, East House is providing this notice out of an abundance of caution. They do not have any evidence of actual or attempted misuse of any individual's information as a result of this incident. How will individuals know if they are affected by this incident? East House is mailing notice letters to the individuals for whom they have valid mailing addresses whose protected information was contained within the affected email account and may have been accessed or acquired by an unauthorized actor. If an individual did not receive a letter but would like to know if they are affected, they may call the hotline listed below. What is East House doing? Information privacy and security are among East House's highest priorities. East House has strict security measures to protect the information in its possession. Upon learning of this incident, East House quickly changed all employee email account passwords and took steps to secure the accounts. East House is currently implementing additional technical safeguards as well as training and education for employees to prevent similar future incidents. They are also offering the impacted individuals access to complimentary credit monitoring services as an added precaution. Because East House has insufficient contact information for some of the individuals whose information may be contained in the impacted email account, they are providing notice to those potentially impacted individuals by way of a notification published to certain state media outlets. Whom should individuals contact for more information? If individuals have questions or would like additional information, they may call East House's dedicated assistance line at 833-947-1417 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time. What can individuals do to protect their information? While East House is unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of any information involved in this incident, they encourage those potentially impacted by the event to take steps to better protect against identity theft and fraud if they feel it is appropriate to do so. Monitor Your Accounts . To protect against the possibility of identity theft or other financial loss, East House encourages you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements, and to monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity. Credit Reports. Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report. Security Freeze. You have the right to place a "security freeze" on your credit report, which will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report. In order to request a security freeze, you will need to supply your full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, all addresses for up to five previous years, email address, a copy of your state identification card or driver's license, and a copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, or other statement proving residence. Should you wish to place a security freeze, please contact the major consumer reporting agencies listed below: Experian PO Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/freeze/center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-888-909-8872 www.transunion.com/credit-freeze Equifax PO Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services To remove the security freeze, you must send a written request to each of the three credit bureaus by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and social security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze. The credit bureaus have three (3) business days after receiving your request to remove the security freeze. As an alternative to a security freeze, you have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below: Experian P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/fraud/center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resource/place-fraud-alert Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348 1-888-766-0008 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services Additional Information. You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, by contacting your state Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.ftc.gov/idtheft ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should be reported to law enforcement, your Attorney General, and the FTC. You can also further educate yourself about placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file by contacting the FTC or your state's Attorney General. This notice was not delayed by a law enforcement investigation. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted by mail at 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD, 21202; toll-free at 1-888-743-0023; by phone at (410) 576-6300; consumer hotline (410) 528-8662; and online at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov. For New Mexico residents, you have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violator. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. For New York Residents: The New York Attorney General provides resources regarding identity theft protection and security breach response at www.ag.ny.gov/internet/privacy-and-identity-theft. The New York Attorney General can be contacted by phone at 1-800-771-7755; toll-free at 1-800-788-9898; and online at www.ag.ny.gov. For North Carolina Residents: The North Carolina Attorney General can be contacted by mail at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; toll-free at 1-877-566-7226; by phone at 1-919-716-6400, and online at www.ncdoj.gov. SOURCE East House Benchmark indices closed in the red for the fourth consecutive session on February 18 as investors continued to feel the jitters from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The Sensex fell 161.31 points to close at 40,894.38 while Nifty fell 53.30 points to end at 11,992.50. "The short term trend of Nifty continues to be weak. Tuesday's smart upside recovery from the lows could be a cheering factor for bulls to make a comeback. But, the underlying trend remains weak and any further upside bounce could be short lived," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol. According to him, if the Nifty fails to sustain above 12,030-12,050 levels in the next 1-2 sessions, then one may expect continuation of weakness in the market. "Immediate support is now at 11,900 and the key upside resistance is placed at 12,050," he said. Shrikant Chouhan, Senior Vice-President, Equity Technical Research at Kotak Securities, said 11,900 will play an important support level. "If 11,900 is broken then we could see a steeper fall as the next major support exists at 11,800." We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Key support and resistance level for Nifty According to the pivot charts, the key support level for Nifty is placed at 11,923.4, followed by 11,854.3. If the index continues moving up, key resistance levels to watch out for are 12,046.2 and 12,099.9. Nifty Bank Nifty Bank closed 0.39 percent down at 30,562.50. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 30,312.34, followed by 30,062.17. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 30,752.74 and 30,942.97. Call options data Maximum Call open interest (OI) of 28.60 lakh contracts was seen at the 12,200 strike price. It will act as a crucial resistance level in the February series. This is followed by 12,300 strike price, which holds 24.53 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,500, which has accumulated 22.96 lakh contracts in open interest. Significant call writing was seen at the 12,000 strike price, which added 7.44 lakh contracts, followed by 12,200 strike price that added 5 lakh contracts and 12,100 strike price, which added 3.4 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was witnessed at 12,400 strike price, which shed 3.7 lakh contracts, followed by 12,500 which shed 3.29 lakh contracts. Put options data Maximum Put open interest of 33.63 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price, which will act as crucial support in the February series. This is followed by 11,800 strike price, which holds 22.66 lakh contracts in open interest, and 11,500 strike price, which has accumulated 18.62 lakh contracts in open interest. Put writing was seen at the 11,600 strike price, which added 1.19 lakh contracts, followed by 11,500 strike, which added 0.87 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was seen at 11,900 strike price, which shed 3.66 lakh contracts, followed by 12,100 strike price which shed 3.63 lakh contracts. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks. 25 stocks saw long build-up Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen. 38 stocks saw long unwinding Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen. 51 stocks saw short build-up An increase in open interest, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen. 27 stocks witnessed short-covering A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Analysts and Board Meetings PI Industries: Company's officials will be meeting with investors namely CX Partners on February 19 and JM Financial on February 25. Speciality Restaurants: Company's officials will meet Dron Capital Advisors LLP on February 20. Veeram Securities: Board meeting is scheduled to be held on February 26 to consider the issue of bonus share. Carborundum Universal: Board meeting is scheduled to be held on February 26 for considering an interim dividend proposal for the year ending March 31, 2020. NOCIL: Investors / Analysts will be visiting company's plant at Dahej on February 19. Speciality Papers: Board meeting is scheduled on February 24 to review the performance of the Chairperson of the company, taking into account the views of executive directors and non-executive directors. Mahindra Lifespace Developers: Company's officials will meet Locus Investments on February 19. Manappuram Finance: Board meeting is scheduled on February 27 to consider declaration of interim dividend. Ashoka Buildcon: Company will be attending the Investor Conference organised by HDFC Securities on February 20. Sundram Fasteners: Board meeting is scheduled on February 26 to consider second interim dividend for the financial year ending March 31, 2020. Stocks in the news Shree Cement: Shree Cement to replace Yes Bank in Nifty 50 w.e.f March 27 Oil India: Stock will stop trading in Futures & Options segment with effect from May 4. SBI: SBI Cards IPO to be launched on March 2, offer price likely to be Rs 745-775 per share - CNBC-TV18 sources Balkrishna Industries: HDFC MF sold 2.07 percent stake in company on February 17. Gayatri Projects: Promoter created pledge on 60 lakh shares (3.21 percent equity) on February 17. GE T&D: ICRA downgraded company's long-term rating to A+ from AA-, revised outlook to stable from negative. Adhunik Metaliks: Liberty House completed acquisition of Adhunik Metaliks in all cash deal of Rs 435 crore. IDFC First Bank: CRISIL assigned AA/Stable rating to bank's Tier-II bonds. HCL Technologies: Company received order from Stanley Black & Decker for digital services. Tata Chemicals: Tata Coffee sold 1,59,850 equity shares of company (constituting 0.06 percent of paid-up capital) to Tata Sons. Tata Chemicals: Tata Global Beverages sold 7,05,522 equity shares of company (constituting 0.28 percent of paid-up share capital) to Tata Sons. Jaiprakash Associates: Company received letter from Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority on its decision to cancel land allotment to JPSK Sports. FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 74.39 crore, and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares of worth Rs 309.43 crore in the Indian equity market on February 18, provisional data available on the NSE showed. Fund flow Stocks under F&O ban on NSE Yes Bank and NCC are under the F&O ban for February 19. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. RICHMOND, Va. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northams push to ban the sale of assault weapons failed on Monday after some of his fellow Democrats balked at the proposal. Senators voted to shelve the bill for the year and ask the state crime commission to study the issue, an outcome that drew cheers from a committee room packed with gun advocates. Four moderate Democrats joined Republicans in Mondays committee vote, rejecting legislation that would have prohibited the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms, including popular AR-15 style rifles, and banned the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds. The bill was a top priority for Northam, who has campaigned for a broad package of gun-control measures. The governors spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, said hes determined to continue to press for the measure. We will be back next year, she said. David Majure, a gun-rights supporter who attended the committee hearing, said hes glad about Mondays results but not convinced the bill is dead for the year. Im happy about it, but I dont trust them, he said. Virginia is the current epicenter of the countrys heated debate over guns, as a new Democratic majority seeks to enact strict new limits. Democrats ran heavily on gun control during last years legislative elections when they flipped control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades. But gun owners, especially in rural communities, have pushed back hard. Last month, tens of thousands of guns-rights activists from around the country flooded the Capitol area in protest, some donning tactical gear and carrying military-style rifles. And more than 100 counties, cities and towns have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, vowing to oppose any new unconstitutional restrictions on guns. The proposed assault weapon ban has received the most opposition. Gun owners have accused the governor and others of wanting to confiscate commonly owned guns and accessories from law-abiding gun owners. Northam and his allies have said repeatedly they do not want to confiscate guns, but argued that banning new sales of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would help prevent mass murders. This bill will save lives, said Democratic Del. Mark Levine, who sponsored the legislation. Earlier proposals to ban possession of AR-15-style rifles or to require owners to register them with state police have been scrapped. The governor had hoped a watered-down version would win over enough Democratic moderates for passage. Lawmakers have already advanced several other gun-control measures and should finalize passage in the coming days. Those bills include limiting handgun purchases to once a month; universal background checks on gun purchases; allowing localities to ban guns in public buildings and parks; and a red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others. Alan Suderman is an Associated Press writer. Car flips, hits parked vehicle A Jacksonville woman suffered minor injuries when her vehicle overturned and slid on its drivers side into a car parked in the 1000 block of College Avenue at 11:37 p.m. Sunday. According to a police report, Esmeraldaliz M. Torres, 21, of Jacksonville was going west on West College Avenue when she lost control of the steering wheel and her vehicle began to drift left. She over-corrected while trying to regain control and the car overturned and flipped onto its side, according to a police report. Her car struck an unoccupied vehicle owned by Courtney K. Langdon, 22, of Jacksonville. Torres was treated at the scene for a cut on her hand. A 3-year-old child in her car was not injured, police said. Torres was issued citations on charges of having no valid drivers license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Amanda M. Carroll, 31, of 745 Ellen Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:39 a.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Lindsey A. Boys, 34, of 1134 Illinois Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:56 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended and possession of a narcotic instrument. Trevor M. Stratton, 24, of 823 W. Lafayette Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:45 p.m. Sunday on a criminal damage to property charge. He is accused of breaking the front door of a residence after losing money. Richard A. Christopher, 58, of 333 E. North St., Roodhouse, was arrested at 11:03 p.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while license is suspended and cited on a charge of having an expired registration sticker after a traffic stop at Westgate and Westfair avenues. THEFTS, BURGLARIES The basement of two residences in the first block of Permac Road were broken into between midnight and 1 p.m. Sunday and items all together valued at $1,300 were stolen. South Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Jessup W. Henry, 41, of Victoria was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:34 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer and Marco Cartolano Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 18 February 2020: The Report Urology Surgical Instruments Market Analysis Report By Product (Endoscopes, Endovision Systems, Peripheral Systems, Consumables & Accessories), By Application (CKD, Urinary Stones, Oncology), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 2025 The global urology surgical instruments market size is expected to reach USD 14.12 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a 7.9% CAGR during the forecast period. Growing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of urinary disorders, rising preference for minimally invasive surgeries, surging R&D investments, and ongoing product launches by manufacturers are some of the key factors driving this market. According to the National Association for Continence, one in five individuals over the age of 40 suffers from urine urgency, overactive bladder, or leakage of urine. Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent among geriatric population and often results in poor quality of life, high costs, and morbidity. As per the American Society of Nephrology, urologic issues are the third most common complaint among people 65 years and above and they account for approximately 47.0% of visits to the physician. Thus, rising geriatric population could lead to increase in prevalence of urinary problems, thereby boosting demand for urology surgical instruments in the coming years. There has been growing preference for minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) in gynecology and urology in recent years. Many manufacturers are focusing on development of products to be used for such procedures. For instance, in FY 2017, the research and development expenses of Olympus Corporation were pegged at USD 355.21 million. Similarly, the R&D costs of Coloplast in 2016/17 were nearly USD 94.08 million (DKK 574 million). This has increased from USD 83.43 million (DKK 509 million) in 2015/16. These R&D investments aid in development and launch of new products in the market. Access Research Report of Urology Surgical Instruments Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/urology-surgical-instruments-market Further key findings from the report suggest: By product, the consumables and accessories segment held majority of the market in 2016 due to repeated usage of these products and their disposable nature On the basis of application, chronic kidney diseases (CKD) held the dominant share in 2016 owing to rise in cases of CKD, increasing number of clinical trials for new non-invasive procedures to treat these conditions, and initiatives by governments across the globe North America dominated the global market owing to an increase in demand for minimally invasive urology surgeries, positive reimbursement scenario, and high adoption of advanced technologies Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth owing to improving healthcare infrastructure, rising prevalence of urology disorders, and growing popularity of this region as a destination for medical tourism Some of the key players are Olympus Corporation, Coloplast Group, Richard Wolf GmbH, KARL STORZ, Cook, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Teleflex Incorporated, and Stryker. Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices Grand View Research has segmented the global urology surgical instruments market on the basis of product, application, and region: Urology Surgical Instruments Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Endoscopes Laparoscopes Ureteroscopes Nephroscopes Resectoscopes Cystoscopes Endovision Systems Light Sources Cameras Camera Heads Monitors & Displays Peripheral Systems Insufflators Endoscopy Fluid Flushing Devices Consumables & Accessories Guidewires Stone Baskets/Retrieval Devices and Extractors Catheters Stents Biopsy Devices Fluid Flushing Devices, Connecting Tubes, Clamps, Overtubes, and Distal Attachments Dilator Sets and Ureteral Access Sheaths Drainage Bags Surgical Dissectors Needle Forceps and Needle Holders Others Urology Surgical Instruments Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Urinary Stones Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Oncology Other Applications Urology Surgical Instruments Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Access Press Release of Urology Surgical Instruments Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-urology-surgical-instruments-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com Indiastuds.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 8 Jul 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the indiastuds homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the indiastuds homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the indiastuds homepage on Twitter + the total number of indiastuds followers (if indiastuds has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the indiastuds homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if indiastuds has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the indiastuds homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE India Students Blog on College Life to achieve success of students | Its a platform for Indian S DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS students, india, indian, studs, indian students, login, fashion The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Type of server and offered services. The language of indiastuds.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for indiastuds.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND She never puts a foot wrong in the fashion stakes. And on Tuesday, Shanina Shaik looked incredibly chic at a private dinner hosted by Natalia Vodianova and Maxx Royal Resorts during London Fashion Week. The Australian glamazon wore a black striped blazer paired with a stylish Gucci belt for the soiree. Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik, 29, (pictured) oozed glam in a striped blazer and Gucci belt as she attended a private dinner during London Fashion Week on Tuesday Shanina paired the blazer and belt with a lightweight black bodysuit, along with a pair of black thigh high suede boots. The beauty finished the outfit with a stylish Dior saddle bag, which she wore slung over her shoulder. Shanina opted for a glossy makeup palette, applying a light application of bronzer and a dark smokey eye to her flawless visage. Accessories: The glamazon paired the outfit with Dior saddle bag She finished her look with a matte lipstick. Shanina rubbed shoulders with a number of stars during the event, including American model, Noel Berry. It comes amid reports by The Sunday Telegraph last month that Shanina is dating London-based company director, Seyed Payam Mirtorabi. Black to basics! Shanina paired the blazer with a body suit and black suede boots Shanina has kept her new man's identity a secret, opting to hide his face in an Instagram photo in December with a love heart emoji. The Melbourne-born beauty has also increased her frequent flyer points, travelling to London from her Los Angeles base on several occasions over the past few months. While Payam has a private Instagram account, numerous photos of him with Shanina have surfaced on the profiles of his friends. Glam girls: The Australian model spent time with fellow glamazon Noel Berry (R) at the event Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Shanina for comment. Shanina, who walked the runway for Victoria's Secret five times between 2011 and 2018, filed for divorce from husband DJ Ruckus in July last year. According to court documents, their marriage had lasted from April 28, 2018 until their split on June 25, 2019. Beauty loves company: Shanina and Noel (L) were seated together for the evening Shanina cited irreconcilable differences and requested spousal support from her ex-husband. They reportedly had a prenuptial agreement in place, but the terms of the settlement are being kept secret. Shanina and DJ Ruckus announced on June 7 last year that they were going their separate ways 'after careful thought and consideration'. Moving on: Shanina is said to be dating 'London-based company director Seyed Payam Mirtorabi' following her split from husband DJ Ruckus During the Democratic Weekly Address, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) criticized President Trumps budget proposal. Stabenow was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words: Hi, Im Senator Debbie Stabenow, and I am proud to represent the great state of Michigan. This week, President Trump released his budget. And its unfortunately a disaster for Michigan families and families across our country. Michigan families want quality, affordable health care, including lower-priced prescription drugs. I am sure you want that for your family as well. But what does President Trump do? He proposes a budget that slashes $1.6 trillion dollars from critical health care programs, like Medicaid and Medicare. In Michigan, 3 out of 5 seniors in nursing homes get their care through Medicaid. And their Medicaid covers nearly half of all the babies born in our country. Medicaid also treats almost 1 in every 3 people with a substance abuse disorder or those who need mental health help. Yet the Trump budget cuts Medicaid by $900 billion and Medicare by $500 billion. Thats bad news for babies, bad news for moms, bad news for families, and bad news for seniors. Meanwhile, in his State of the Union speech, President Trump promised that people with pre-existing conditions would be protected. Yet nothing in his budget stops the Trump Administrations aggressive support for a lawsuit that would repeal the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. And thats not all. The Trump Budget cuts $2.6 billion from health research including the National Cancer Institute. We need new treatments and we need new cures, but we cant get there without critical research! Incredibly, the Trump Budget also cuts millions from programs that help us respond to disease outbreaks including the coronavirus. That makes no sense and its dangerous! Also, we want clean air and water, right? But the Trump Budget slashes $2.4 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency, gutting programs that protect our families from toxic substances, keep our drinking water safe and improve air quality. President Trump says he cares about rural communities too, like where I grew up in northern Michigan, but his budget says otherwise. He cuts rural high-speed internet rural opioid treatment, critical support for our farmers, who are having a lot of challenges and rural education. And speaking of education, our childrens public schools are cut by $4.8 billion in this budget, and students receive less financial aid in a time when the high cost of college is keeping them from earning their degrees. And on top of all of that, huge cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program leave children, veterans, and families hungry. Not even Meals on Wheels escapes President Trumps budget ax! Our countrys budget is a reflection of who we are and what we care about and who we care about. President Trumps budget betrays American families and our seniors. Senate Democrats strongly oppose this budget. We understand that you and your family deserve a fair shot to work hard and get ahead. I want you to know that Democrats will continue putting the needs of hard-working families first. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. 90 Day Fiance couple Syngin Colchester and Tania Maduro are married already, much to the chagrin of many 90 Day Fiance fans. Some had been hoping that the couple wouldnt make it they were unimpressed with how Tania Maduro treated Syngin Colchester during their time together on the show, including her choice to leave him alone in her mothers backyard shed for 30 days while she explored Costa Rica solo. Now, despite their marriage, it remains unclear if the two will be able to make it work. This is because the couple is still facing a major hurdle children. Tania Maduro seems on board, but Syngin Colchester doesnt know what he wants. Tania Maduro wants kids, Syngin Colchester is unsure Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester of 90 Day Fiance | syngin_colchester via Instagram Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester have been through a wild ride of ups and downs, starting as early as Maduro having Colchester live in a shed, and then ditching him for 30 days. Despite all of this, the two have remained together and even married. However, theres still a major sticking point between the two 90 Day Fiance lovers. Tania Maduro wants kids very soon, and Syngin Colchester just isnt so sure. This has been a topic for discussion on their season in the past they had a conversation in which Colchester said having children right now is not realistic. Now, during the 90 Day Fiance Tell All episodes, this difference in opinion is cropping up once again. During the first part of the Tell All, host Shaun Robinson brought up the baby issue. Lets talk about the baby timeline, started Robison. Now Syngin, this timeline has changed for you, lets take a look back. Kids have always been in my future plan, so I wont be married to someone who doesnt want to have kids, said Tania Maduro in a flashback. She wants kids within the next two years. Im not 100% I want kids, now thats a discussion we need to have, a talk, Colchester added during the flashback. He admitted that now, I am still indecisive about having a child. When I have a sh*t job I choose, Im not going to do this job anymore. And I will go. But if I have a child I might just have to do that sh*t job. A quick 90 Day Fiance marriage Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester of 90 Day Fiance | syngin_colchester via Instagram Obviously, whether or not they will have children is a major talking point for Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester. Despite that fact, the couple was married only two days after receiving their go ahead. You know, its something we still bump heads about, added Colchester. Its a big thing. Were kind of skipping around the fact that we dont talk about it too much. Because like, do we split if I dont want kids? When Maduro was asked if Colchester not wanting to have kids could be a problem for her, the 90 Day Fiance star didnt give a concrete reply. She simply shook her head and chose not to answer. Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester returning It seems as if having a baby could be a major problem for the couple in the future perhaps more of it will be explored during a second season for the 90 Day Fiance couple. Soap Dirt recently reported that Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester were spotted filming together with a TLC crew in Cape Town, South Africa. It could be that the couple is filming for 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After a spinoff that follows 90 Day Fiance couples after their marriage. Rantoul, IL (61866) Today Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 28F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 28F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. WASHINGTON In the early days of the Trump administration, a time when weighty decisions had to be made about war and peace, the president maintained a singular focus on badgers. A new book by Daily Beast journalists Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng reportedly describes President Trumps obsession with the beloved mascot of Reince Priebus home state of Wisconsin. Are they mean to people? he would ask Priebus, then his chief of staff. Or are they friendly creatures? Trump asked Priebus for photos of badgers and to explain how badgers work. Does it have a personality, or is it boring? How aggressive is it when threatened? Markay and Suebsaeng write: An obviously enthralled president would stare at Priebus as the aide struggled for sufficiently placating answers, all the while trying to gently veer the conversation back to whether we were going to do a troop surge. Priebus should not have been so dismissive of this line of questioning. Trump might have been offering clues into his way of thinking. Consider some of the traits the 45th president has in common with the wily mammal: Badgers are gruff and grumpy, burly and slow and awkward. The badger is a voracious eater and has a distinctive fur pattern on its head. The badger is solitary, but the male may mate with more than one female. The badger has lots of different dens and burrows. Under attack, the badger hisses, growls, squeals and snarls. Its ferocious cousin, the honey badger, is an Internet celebrity for having no regard for any other animal It just takes what it wants. Most intriguing: Badgers are known for their bad attitudes, but theyre willing to work alongside other animals if it benefits them. In fact, the American badger has a transactional relationship with the coyote, in which they hunt together. But the relationship of convenience ends in the winter, when the badger finds its own food underground and has no need for the fleet-footed coyote, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports. Is there a better description of Trump? He profits from alliances then leaves his partners in the cold when he no longer needs them. Winter is coming for Bill Barr. Im not going to be bullied, the attorney general told ABC News Thursday after surrendering his lunch money to Trump for the last year. I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me. Trump, in a tweet Friday morning, showed his contempt for Barrs bid for independence. Quoting Barrs claim the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case, Trump added that he has the legal right to do so but I have so far chosen not to! Its too late for Barr to rehabilitate his independence now. He misled the public about the findings from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, cleared Trump of obstruction of justice, embraced Trumps claim the FBI was spying on him, worked to discredit the Russia probe, disputed the inspector generals finding the probe had a proper basis, commissioned another probe in pursuit of his desired outcome, declined to investigate the Ukraine allegations and announced softened sentencing recommendations for Trump pal Roger Stone after Trump demanded it. Now hes investigating the prosecution of another former Trump aide, Michael Flynn. Now, the moment Barr shows a hint of dissent, the president makes clear he will abuse him the way he abused his predecessor, Jeff Sessions. This coyote will be out in the cold as soon as he ceases to be useful to Trump. Retired Gen. John Kelly, likewise, is now telling us what a dreadful character Trump is after two years of enabling him as Cabinet secretary and White House chief of staff. Last week, as reported by the Atlantic, Kelly praised Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman ousted by Trump from the National Security Council as impeachment retribution because Vindman declined to follow an illegal order. Kelly also quarreled with Trumps description of the media as enemy of the people, Trumps treatment of North Korea, intervention in the case of a Navy SEAL convicted of posing for photos with a detainees corpse and characterization of immigrants. Too bad Kelly didnt speak up when it would have done more good and when, on his watch, the administration put migrant children in cages. Now Kellys out in the cold. When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldnt do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head, Trump tweeted in response to Kelly. Many other former Trump officials have spoken up too little, too late: John Bolton, Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, H.R. McMaster, Michael Cohen, Rick Gates, Steve Bannon, Anthony Scaramucci, Omarosa Manigault Newman, Richard Spencer and more. They all learn, eventually, that they were wrong to think they could work with Trump and it would turn out well. It never does. Invariably, the badger returns to his burrow, leaving his erstwhile partners alone to face the harsh winter. The agreement will provide Bulgaria Air passengers with a seamless connection to destinations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Qatar Airways passengers will benefit from access to two new destinations in Bulgaria: Varna and Burgas. Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: This agreement with Bulgaria Air follows other recent partnership announcements we have made with airlines across the world, demonstrating our commitment to working with our peers to provide passengers seamless connectivity and unrivalled service. Bulgaria Air chief executive officer, Hristo Todorov, said: It is a great pleasure for Bulgaria Air to add Qatar Airways to its partnership network, which is undoubtedly one of the most respected and prestigious airlines in the world. We are delighted that they have chosen us as a partner enabling our passengers to travel quickly and conveniently to over 170 destinations with Qatar Airways. This cooperation is only a part of our long-term development strategy and we are happy to welcome the passengers of Qatar Airways onboard our aircraft. Jurassic World (Credit: Universal) It appear that Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow has taken a leaf out of The Mandalorian's book. Posting to Twitter, the director has gone full steam ahead with the cuteness (following the runway fandom of Baby Yoda in the Disney+ flagship show) with a new baby dinosaur primed for the next instalment in the movie series. Read more: Jurassic World 3 filming commences in Canada Ready, he captioned, with a picture of the baby triceratops poised in the movie's workshop. Trevorrow is back on the dino-franchise after being dismissed from the Star Wars universe he was all set to direct the ninth movie what became The Rise of Skywalker before creative differences saw him depart the production. However, he's not averse to it coming up in conversation with fans. As yet, there's not much to go on in terms of JW3's plot, other than we'll see the return of Sam Neill and Laura Dern in this final movie of the current trilogy. Read more: What the short film could tell us about Jurassic World 3 They'll reprise their roles of Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler from Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, joining Jeff Goldblum's mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm. Colin Trevorrow, J.A. Bayona, Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt and Jeff Goldblum (Credit: Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP) One snippet of detail Trevorrow has dropped is that the movie will concern the newly bred generation of dinosaurs going 'open source', following the beginning of the 'neo-Jurassic Age', a coined by Goldblum at the end of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. As seen in the brief short Battle At Big Rock, in which a family camping out in Northern California happen upon some loose dinosaurs, we'll see what happens when the Jurassic creatures and humans have to learn to in the same world. It's due out in the UK on 11 June, 2021. The United Nation chief Antonio Guterres has been closely following the talks between the United States and the Taliban about a significant 'reduction of violence' in Afghanistan. Guterres further expressed his sincere wishes that the talks are successful and lead to an Afghan-led peace process. During the international conference on Afghan refugees, the UN chief also called the global community to step up efforts to help bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan and said that the Afghan people need and deserve peace, prosperity and full respect of their human rights. A statement issued by the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres read, The Secretary-General has been following closely the talks between the United States and the Taliban about a significant reduction of violence in Afghanistan aimed at opening the way for intra-Afghan peace negotiations. The statement further read, During his visit to Islamabad, he expressed his sincere wishes that such talks are successful and lead to an Afghan-led peace process. He reiterated the United Nations readiness to provide any assistance that the parties may require. READ: Taliban Commanders Kill Primary Court's Judge In Afghanistan The talks between Taliban-US were reportedly resumed in Qatar in December 2019 and three months after Trump abruptly halted the diplomatic efforts and called it 'dead'. However, the peace deal is also expected to focus on the 'reduction of violence' through a ceasefire and intra-Afghan negotiations. The deal would further call for the Taliban and US to refrain from conducting attacks or combat operations for seven days. Taliban continues to attack Afghan forces Last week, US President Donald Trump had also said that he thinks that there is a good chance that the US will reach a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, there still has not been any decrease in the intensity of insurgency operations as Taliban fighters have reportedly attacked the Afghan government. Militant commanders also said that such operations would continue until they receive new orders from their leadership based on the deal signed with the US to reduce violence in the region. READ: Afghanistan: Nine Homeless Drug Users Shot Dead In An Open Area In Kabul A Taliban commander in Helmand which is a southern province that has seen some of the fiercest fightings told an international news agency that their leadership has not conveyed any message about a ceasefire to them. Moreover, Taliban commanders in Paktika and Nangarhar, two other provinces which are reportedly regarded as strongholds for the militant group also said that they would continue the attacks on Afghan forces. (With PTI inputs) READ: EAM Jaishankar Meets US Peace Envoy For Afghanistan, Saudi Counterpart In Munich READ: Afghanistan Restaurant Introduces Country's First-ever Robot Waitress BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 Trend: First meeting of the Caspian volunteering school titled "Goodwill Meridians" is being held in the building of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology in Baku, Trend reports. The project is being implemented by the Russian North-South Political Science Center with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund, as well as the Ministry of Ecology of Azerbaijan. The project is aimed at establishing relations among representatives of youth volunteer organizations and movements of the Caspian countries for the implementation and scaling up of joint projects in the field of volunteering. The first meeting of the school is being held in Azerbaijan, where 2020 has been declared the Year of Volunteers. The project partners are Trend News Agency, Baku Network and the Unity Press Club of Russia. Among the project participants are representatives of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia - young people involved in volunteering, heads and activists of volunteer organizations and movements, students having practical experience in volunteer campaigns and projects, as well as creative idea initiators who successfully passed the selection during open competition of the best socially significant projects in the field of volunteering. The meeting was opened by Executive Director of the North-South Political Science Center Angelica Trapeznikova. Then the guests were greeted by Head of the Department of Environmental Education and Public Relations of the Ecological Education and Training Center of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Education Saira Mammadova. Then Head of the Ecological Education and Training Center of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Education Firuza Sultanzade delivered speech. Head of the Expert Council of the Baku Network Elkhan Alasgarov and Head of the Financial and Legal Department of Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Elchin Safarov also made the welcoming speeches. In his speech, Alasgarov stressed that volunteering is one of the most successful formats of the joint activity of a citizen, society and the state, uniting people around common intentions. Volunteering is also a school of patriotism, an example of affection and service to people, the state, national and spiritual values. The work program of the meeting envisages holding of training, master classes and discussion panels. The best practices of volunteer work in various fields in the Caspian countries will be considered and discussed there. Those who will attend the classes will also have the opportunity of obtaining skills, practices and competency that in the future will contribute to more active self-organization of volunteers in various fields of activity and serve the successful solution of regional problems in the field of public diplomacy, the development of humanitarian relations and intercultural dialogue. Taking into account that 2020 is the year of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, much attention in the program of events will be paid to volunteer work in preserving the historical memory of the World War II and affirming the significance of the Great Victory gained as a result of the unity of peoples of the former Soviet Union. There will be a presentation and an award ceremony for the winners of the regional contest of the best socially significant projects in the field of volunteering Good Will Meridians within the forum. The first meeting of the Caspian Volunteering School will end on February 19. You can join the Baku Network at http://bakunetwork.com, On Twitter , Facebook, and Youtube "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan" may follow the love story of two men, played by Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar, but for "Badhaai Ho!" fans the highlight of the film is the heartwarming equation between another on-screen couple. As a middle-aged couple Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao's affable romance in 2018's comedy drama, which also starred Ayushmann, was a driving force in the success of the film, and the duo are aiming to recreate the magic with the upcoming movie. But Neena said their on-screen chemistry has evolved with time as Gajraj was initially "very reserved". "During 'Badhaai Ho!', he used to be very reserved and quiet. He used to take a lot of permissions during the scenes which really irritated me initially. 'Neena ji may I put my head on your lap like this, 'Can I do this or that?' "But eventually when we started rehearsing, it became easy. Now both of us joke around and pull each other's leg. We are very comfortable both mentally and physically. We are able to feed off each other's performance and people can see that comfort on screen which translates into an easy chemistry," the veteran actor told PTI in an interview here. In "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan", Neena plays Sunaina whom she describes as a woman who, despite living under the shadow of her husband makes sure she gets what she wants. "She is one of those housewives that you find in households where the man of the house is the decision maker, but in her own way she is very smartly able to do what she wants," she added. The 60-year-old actor, who is a National School of Drama graduate, said she had to keep her theatre learning aside to play the role. "It's a more farcical script. So I had to up my 'sur' by a lot. The tone of the dialogues and script was so set that if I tried to do improvise I could understand I was not getting the punch on time because of that. So I had to stop doing that and completely surrender to the director's vision." Also a director, Neena said, she has no plans to go behind the camera as she is having the time of her life as an actor. In the late 1990s-2000s, she directed successful TV series, such as "Saans" and "Siski", in which she also featured, and "Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr". "I've missed acting a lot. I'm enjoying my acting too much to go back to direction now. But at the back of my mind, I'm always working on 'Saans 2' and it will happen when it will," she said. Besides her acting skills, Neena has been in the headlines for her style statement. But the actor said she has always been "very fashionable". "It's just that people think they are discovering me as this fashion diva because I have started putting pictures on my Instagram," she quipped. Neena has a long list of projects including Amazon series "Panchayat", which reunites her with Jitendra; an untitled cross-border film with Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh; and Netflix's reality-based show "Masaba Masaba", in which she will feature with her daughter, fashion designer Masaba Gupta. Directed by debutant Hitesh Kewalya, "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan" is scheduled to be released on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) on Tuesday said it has signed an initial pact with for installing stations for As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will set up public EV stations at 1,000 sites in a phased manner across the country, an statement said. will make the entire upfront investment on the services pertaining to the MoU, along with the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure by using qualified personnel. Telecom PSU would be responsible for providing the requisite space and power connections for installing the charging infrastructure. Taking forward the vision of National Electric Mobility Programme, EESL has commissioned 300 AC and 170 DC chargers across India. Till date, 66 public charging points are operational in Delhi-NCR. With its innovative model of demand aggregation and bulk procurement, EESL receives and chargers at a signi?cantly discounted rate as compared to the actual market value. Further, with access to low cost funds, it is able to discover the most competitive project costs. Using this approach, EESL has established a sustainable business model, which makes EVs affordable for the end-consumers. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the Bhima-Koregaon violence and Elgar Parishad probes are two different issues and that the state had not handed over the latter to the Centre. Thackeray said only the state government will probe the Bhima-Koregaon violence and that he will ensure there is no injustice to the Dalit community. Elgar and Bhima-Koregaon are two separate issues. The issue faced by my Dalit brothers is about Bhima- Koregaon and I will not give it to the Centre. It will not be investigated [by the Centre]. I want to make it clear that there will be no injustice to my Dalit brothers, said Thackeray. He was speaking to reporters in Sindhudurg district. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar addressed a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, reiterating the demand for setting up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the Elgar Parishad case, which had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Pawar also reiterated that Elgar Parishad and Bhima-Koregaon refer to two different issues. The Bhima-Koregaon case refers to violence on new years day in 2018 at the war memorial in Pune district where lakhs of visitors, largely Dalits, had gathered for the 200th anniversary of the 1818 victory of the British army manned by Dalit soldiers against the Peshwas, the Brahmin rulers. A group of unidentified men on motorbikes attacked visitors and pelted stones, killing one person and injuring 40. A two- member commission led by a retired chief justice Of Calcutta high court was set up by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to probe this violence, but it has not submitted its report yet. The commission recently got a two-month extension to submit its final report. The Dalit community in the state is upset with the way the Bhima-Koregaon probe was investigated as no charges were brought against Hindu hard-line leaders, Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote, whom several Dalit community leaders complained had instigated the violence. Dalits make up 13% of the states population. The police investigation under the former government had focused on the Elgar Parishad event held a day before, on December 31 in Pune. The police probe said the event was funded by left-wing leaders and urban naxals, to instigate the violence and clashes at Bhima-Koregaon. In June and August 2018, the Pune police arrested nine prominent activists, linking them to this case, and raided homes of several others in Delhi and Mumbai. Soon after the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was formed, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had said that the Elgar Parishad probe was unfair and writers and intellectuals were arrested because they opposed the government and its ideology. Pawar had also written to Thackeray to set up an SIT in the Elgar Parishad probe, but just before this decision could be taken, the Centre sought the handover of the case to the NIA. Last week, Thackeray approved this transfer, overruling his home minister from the NCP, Anil Deshmukh, who was of the opinion to legally challenge it. Following this, Pawar had publicly expressed his unhappiness over Thackerays decision to hand over the Elgar Parishad probe to the NIA. Prakash Bal, a Mumbai-based political analyst, said, What is happening now is a display of the internal dynamics of the MVA. The step to probe Bhima-Koregaon is to toe the NCP line, which is disappointed with Thackeray over the Elgar Parishad case going to NIA. If Uddhav probes Bhima-Koregaon, it also means that he does not trust the commission set up by Devendra Fadnavis government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Performance in the first two years of the NDA was greatly helped by the collapse in world oil prices in October 2014, which created a very favourable external environment compared to the situation facing the UPA when oil prices were very high. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India when the UPA government was in power, traces in his latest work the story of the Indian economy and its shift from a state-run to a market based enterprise. His book serves as an insider's analysis of the highs and lows of the country's economy as well as the changes brought about by the NDA government in development initiatives and public policy. The following text is an excerpt from Ahluwalia's Backstage: The Story Behind Indias High Growth Years and has been reproduced here with permission. The NDA Years: An Overview The economic performance of the first six years of the NDA government can be described as beginning with a bang and ending with a whimper. The electorate wanted a quick return to high growth, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while presenting the Budget for 201516, played to this expectation by declaring Aiming for double-digit growth seems feasible very soon. The policies that would be adopted to achieve this objective were not specified, but there were some signals. The slogan Minimum Government Maximum Governance suggested continuity in liberalizing the economy. The new government also signalled a commitment to fiscal prudence when Finance Minister Jaitley, presenting his first Budget in July 2014, said he was retaining the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 percent of GDP set by his predecessor in the interim Budget, and promised to reduce it to 3 per cent by 201617. Policy signals on FDI were also broadly positive. PM Modi presented his Make in India initiative as an invitation to foreign investors to set up production facilities. This was a politically important signal because parts of the Sangh Parivar were known to be anti-FDI. The new government was also careful to avoid seeming anti-poor. Programmes such as MGNREGA, which were earlier criticized as wasteful, were continued and even expanded. Some existing programmes were rebranded and given a higher political profile. For example, the Total Sanitation Programme, which provided toilets to reduce open defecation in rural areas, was rebranded as Swachh Bharat and PM Modi, in his first Independence Day address, announced a target of making India open defecation free by 2 October 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Similarly, the UPA programme of opening no-frills bank accounts for the poor, combined with direct transfer of certain benefits into these accounts, all assisted by the Aadhaar (the Unique Identity Scheme of the UPA) and mobile connectivity, was repackaged and given the catchy title of the JAM trinity.' The National e-Governance Plan was repackaged as Digital India. The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was repackaged as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Economic performance under the NDA improved initially but the improvement was short-lived. A new national accounts series was introduced in 2015. According to this series, growth peaked at 8 per cent in 201516, using the GVA measure which corresponds to GDP at factor cost used earlier, and then decelerated steadily, falling to 4.5 percent in the second quarter of 201920. The Advance Estimates, released by the National Statistical Office in January 2020, projected growth for the year as a whole at 4.9 percent. This implies that the NDA government in its first six years, would have delivered an average growth rate of only 6.9 percent, compared to an average of 7.8 percent for the 10 years of the UPA. Part of the revival of growth in the first three years was simply a continuation of the upturn that had begun in the last year of the UPA, when growth moved up to 6.1 per cent in 201314. Performance in the first two years of the NDA was greatly helped by the collapse in world oil prices in October 2014, which created a very favourable external environment compared to the situation facing the UPA when oil prices were very high. However, questions began to be raised about whether the new national accounts series was overestimating growth. Data on sales of trucks, cars, scooters, consumer electronics, etc., as well as the growth of bank credit, suggested that economic growth was much slower than indicated by the new series. Businessmen began to say in private that it did not feel like the economy was growing at 7 percent. The issue of whether the new series was overestimating growth was examined by Arvind Subramanian, who was the chief economic advisor in the Ministry of Finance in the first three years of the NDA government, and then moved to Harvard in 2017. He found that the growth rate using the new series for the period from 201112 to 201516 was much less correlated with growth in many economic variables with which growth in the earlier series was more closely correlated. Probing deeper, he concluded that the new series may be overestimating the annual GDP growth rate over this period by 2.5 percentage points. Data on employment from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 201718 also cast doubt on the growth narrative. Employment had been a weak spot even in the UPA years, but there was no increase in the rate of unemployment in that period. The problem was that the quality of jobs generated was poor, with new employment being largely of the non-formal type. The PLFS for 201718 showed a much worse situation with total employment falling from 474.2 million in 201112 to 465.1 million in 201718, and the rate of unemployment rising from 2.2 per cent in 201112 to 6.1 per cent in 201718. The report on the PLFS was cleared by the National Statistical Commission (NSC) in November 2018 but its release was delayed until after the general election in May 2019. The chairman and one of the members of the NSC resigned over the interference with the release of the report. Government spokesmen dismissed the results of the PLFS, citing other partial data to suggest that employment had increased. However, independent surveys by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) confirmed that unemployment rates had increased and continued to do so even after 201718. The CMIE estimate for unemployment for the month of October 2019 was 8.5 percent. *** Montek Singh Ahluwalia's Backstage: The Story Behind Indias High Growth Years has been published by Rupa Publications Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) If President Rodrigo Dutertes spokesperson and chief legal counsel is to be believed, even celebrities would also be barred from talking about the governments bid to void its franchise if the Supreme Court issues a gag order. Pag gag order, naka-order yan. Everybody is covered, Salvador Panelo said Tuesday. They can always speak themselves, subject to the contempt power of the Supreme Court. Panelo said only lawmakers conducting hearings on ABS-CBN and its franchise would be exempted from the gag order. This is also the assertion of senators bent on beginning hearings on the TV networks franchise ahead of any action by the House of Representatives. Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from discussing the quo warranto case which he filed against the network. Calida pointed out several supposed violations of the sub judice rule which bars comments on judicial proceedings to avoid influencing the court including unsolicited opinions of ABS-CBN, its artists and other personalities on his quo warranto petition to cancel the broadcast giants franchise. TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise Calida cited 31 news articles from various outlets, including ABS-CBN and CNN Philippines, where celebrities and other personalities are quoted making comments on his petition to void ABS-CBNs franchise. READ: GMA stars, reporter show support for ABS-CBN amid franchise challenge Among the personalities who have commented on the petition seeking to void ABS-CBN include Boy Abunda, Dingdong Dantes, Vice Ganda, Robin Padilla, Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Lea Salonga, Anne Curtis, Kris Bernal, Sharon Cuneta and Alex Gonzaga. Calida said these comments would "tend to influence public opinion and unfairly encourage the pre-judgment of the instant case." While Calida is only asking the highest court to issue a gag order for ABS-CBN and its representatives, he also cited a 2010 separate opinion of then-Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Brion, who said that even the public is covered by the sub judice rule. Supreme Court Public Information Office Chief Brian Keith Hosaka said that if the gag order is approved, it will also cover Calida and the Office of the Solicitor General. The Supreme Court en banc is set to meet again next Wednesday, a day after the anniversary of the 1986 EDSA Revolution. CNN Philippines Xave Gregorio, Melissa Luz Lopez and Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. Lincoln, Nebraska -- For decades, research examining the intersection of religion and politics counted the religious "nones" -- or the unaffiliated -- as a small, homogeneous and liberal group, and conservatives have treated them as such. But the number of religiously unaffiliated has grown exponentially to become one of the largest demographic groups in the United States, now reaching 23 percent of the population. This begs the question, do religious nones still cluster on the blue end of the political spectrum? New research from University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist Philip Schwadel finds the unaffiliated are now much more varied in their political beliefs than previously believed. As this group grows, repercussions could be felt by political parties in the future. Through survey data collected from Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel, Schwadel examined religious nones, further distilling the group into three categories --atheists, agnostics and "nothing in particulars" -- for the first time. When he measured their political activities and beliefs, he found agnostics and atheists were more likely to be liberal, while the largest group, the "nothing in particulars," was more likely to be conservative. "As you would expect and as past research has shown, non-religious Americans as a whole are less likely to be Republican, more likely to be Democrat," Schwadel said. "But when we break it apart, it's really the atheists and agnostics who are especially likely to be Democrats, while those who are nothing in particular fall in between the (religiously) affiliated, who are significantly more likely to be conservative, and the atheists and agnostics." Schwadel was surprised to find, however, that those who reported that their religion is "nothing in particular" seemed to shun politics altogether, being the least likely group to have voted in the previous election. "They were also the least likely, even when compared to the religiously affiliated, to have talked about politics," Schwadel said. The religiously unaffiliated have been largely ignored by the Republican Party, because it was thought to be a wholly liberal group, but these findings show an opening for conservative politics. "It's possible that in the future, the Republican Party may be able to count on them as a constituency, but unfortunately, they're relatively uninterested politically," Schwadel said. "It would be up to the party to mobilize them." The results raise questions for future prognostications about politics in America, too. "Now that this group is one of the largest religious groups in our country, as political pollsters, political scientists, the media make political projections, I think it's important that they understand this group of non-affiliated Americans is not a monolithic group, they're not all the same," he said. Schwadel noted the study also found that agnostics were the most politically active, more likely to vote, and reported that they feel politically isolated from their families, while atheists were politically active, too, but were more likely to have conflicts with others over politics. ### Schwadel, who spent the 2018-19 academic year as a visiting senior researcher with Pew, is working on additional research regarding religion and politics, and recently published reports with Pew regarding teens and religion, as well as examinations of evangelical support for President Trump, and religiosity of lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans. MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alderon Iron Ore Corp. (TSX: IRON) ("Alderon" or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent (the LOI) with the Tunghsu Group Co., Ltd. (Investor) with respect to an investment transaction pursuant to which the Investor will acquire a 26%-38% interest in The Kami Mine Limited Partnership (Kami LP) for consideration of between US$15 million to US$23 million (the Transaction). A portion of the funds received from this investment will be used to repay the US$14 million loan facility (the Loan Facility) due to Sprott Resource Lending (Sprott). As a result of the LOI, Sprott has agreed to a further extension of the maturity date of the Loan Facility to March 31, 2020. Based on transaction progress, Sprott will consider in its discretion a further extension beyond March 31, 2020. The terms of the Transaction provide for Investor to acquire a 26% to 38% interest in the Kami LP from Alderon for consideration of between US$15 million to US$23 million. The exact percentage interest acquired will be determined prior to entering into a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement) for the Transaction. The consideration paid by Investor will be based on the percentage interest that is acquired. The parties intend to conclude the Definitive Agreement by March 15, 2020 and close the Transaction by April 30, 2020. The other material terms of the Transaction are as follows: Alderon, Investor and HBIS International Holding (Canada) Co., Ltd. ( HBIS ) will negotiate amended versions of the existing Limited Partnership Agreement and Shareholders Agreement (the Amended Partnership Agreement s) to reflect the participation of a third partner in the Kami LP. ) will negotiate amended versions of the existing Limited Partnership Agreement and Shareholders Agreement (the s) to reflect the participation of a third partner in the Kami LP. Each of the parties shall contribute its pro rata share of any actual incurred pre-production expenditures before commercial production of the Kami Project, including capital expenditures, operating expenditures, interest and financing charges, working capital and general and administrative expenditures. Any party that does not provide its pro rata share shall be diluted in accordance with a dilution formula. Investor agrees to use best efforts to obtain debt financing for the Kami Project from banks, including Chinese banks with support by other parties. The Board of Kami General Partner Limited, the managing general partner of Kami LP, shall be increased to five and the Investor shall be entitled to nominate two Board members or three Board members if it acquires a 38% interest in the Kami LP. Adding a second Chinese partner, and thereby increasing Chinese content of the Kami LP, will much better position the Kami Project to obtain financing from Chinese banks and institutions. The removal of the Loan Facility will also remove the associated debt overhang. The completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including the negotiation and execution of the Definitive Agreement and Amended Partnership Agreements, receipt of regulatory and stock exchange approvals, consent of Sprott and continued agreement from Sprott to extend the Loan Facility to the date of closing of the Transaction. There is no certainty that the Transaction will be completed on the terms set out in this press release or at all. In connection with the extension of the Loan Facility, Sprott will receive an extension fee equal to 3% of the principal amount. About Tunghsu Group Co., Ltd. Tunghsu Group is a diversified business giant headquartered in Beijing. From its foundation in 1997, it has engaged in a variety of industries including optoelectronic display materials, high-end intelligent equipment, renewable energy and eco-friendly industries. Tunghsu started its business from engaging in the optoelectronic display industry. From there it has broken through the foreign technical blockade and established Chinas first production line of domestic TFT-LCD glass substrate through innovation. As the industry chain extends, Tunghsu has become a global leader as an optoelectronic display materials provider. As a large industry-oriented group, Tunghsu insists on working to make the enterprise bigger and stronger by the strategy of combining industry and finance. Since 2014, the groups financial sector has expanded into finance companies, private equity, finance leasing, commercial factoring and many other sectors. This expansion has played a promoting role in establishing a Finance oriented focus and improved Tunghsus prosperity. About Alderon Iron Ore Corp. Alderon is a leading iron ore development company in Canada. The Kami Project, owned 75% by Alderon and 25% by HBIS Group through The Kami Mine Limited Partnership, is located within Canadas premier iron ore district, the Labrador Trough, and is surrounded by three producing iron ore mines. The Kami product will be shipped through a newly commissioned multi-user, deep-water berth near the Port of Sept-Iles in Quebec. For more information on Alderon, please visit our website at www.alderonironore.com . ALDERON IRON ORE CORP. On behalf of the Board "Tayfun Eldem" President & CEO, Director Alderon is part of the King & Bay group of companies. King & Bay is a merchant bank that specializes in identifying, funding, developing and supporting growth opportunities in the resource, aviation, and technology sectors. For further information please call: 1-604-681-8030 ext 285 info@alderonironore.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and Canadian securities laws concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the extension of the Loan Facility; (ii) the terms of the Transaction; (iii) the proposed timeline for the Transaction; and (iv) the satisfaction of the conditions for the Transaction. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, receipt of governmental and other approvals, the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the realization of resource estimates, iron ore and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Kami Project in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the ability of the Company to use the multi-user terminal facility at the Port of Sept-Iles, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the estimation of insurance coverage, assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations and exchange rates, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at the Kami Project, risks relating to variations in Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, grade or recovery rates resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access rail transportation, sources of power and port facilities, risks relating to changes in iron ore prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of iron ore and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for iron ore and related products and in the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licences and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, including the risk that the financing necessary to fund the exploration and development activities at the Kami Project may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interest, risks related to disputes with Indigenous governments and organizations, risks related to insufficient capacity being available for the Company to access the multi-user terminal facility at the Port of Sept-Iles, risks related to a default under the Loan Facility, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the Risk Factors section of the Companys Annual Information Form for the most recently completed financial year, or other reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. Females in medical school hit a milestone last year. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), they now comprise the majority of enrolled U.S. medical students for the first time in history. While women have also made recent advances in leadership roles in medicine, they still have a long way to go. For example, one study indicates gender disparities in rank, retention, and leadership remain across careers in academic medicine. Further, women were less likely to attain senior-level positions than men. A student-led group at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine provides support and mentorship to women medical students as well as residents and physicians at Carilion Clinic. Sanctioned by the AAMC, the Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) addresses such issues as gender equity, recruitment and retention, awards and recognition, and career advancement. Women are still a minority in STEM fields, so its important for them to connect with other women and to have a playbook, if you will, with shared knowledge, said Rebecca Pauly, professor and vice chair of internal medicine for education at Carilion Clinic and the medical school. A playbook for my generation is different from a playbook today, but as a lifelong learner, adapting to change is important. Thats why we are a resource for all women in medicine, not just the ones early in their career. Mentoring across generations is a unique aspect of the structure of GWIMS at VTCSOM. Pauly and Natalie Karp, urogynecologist at Carilion Clinic and assistant professor at the medical school, are the faculty advisors for the student-run organization. Pauly served as chair of the national steering committee for the group. There are a lot of challenges that I think are unique to being a woman in medicine, Karp said. GWIMS is not meant to be negative towards men in any way. We want to include everyone in our dialogue, and men are invited to our events. But the data shows the challenges women face are different, and theres inherent gender inequity. SAN DIEGO - The Trump administration said Tuesday that it is waiving federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, moving the president closer to fulfilling a signature campaign promise in an election year but sparking criticism about potential for fraud, waste and abuse. The Department of Homeland Security said waiving procurement regulations will allow 177 miles (283 kilometres) of wall to be built more quickly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The 10 waived laws include a requirement for open competition and giving losing bidders a chance to protest decisions. The acting Homeland Security secretary, Chad Wolf, is exercising authority under a 2005 law that gives him sweeping powers to waive laws for building border barriers. We hope that will accelerate some of the construction thats going along the southwest border, Wolf told Fox News Channels Fox & Friends. Secretaries under President Donald Trump have issued 16 waivers, and President George W. Bush issued five, but Tuesdays announcement marks the first time that waivers have applied to federal procurement rules. Previously they were used to waive environmental impact reviews. The Trump administration said the waivers will allow at least 94 miles (150 kilometres) of wall to be built this year, bringing the Republican leader closer to his goal of about 450 miles (720 kilometres) since he took office and made it one of his top domestic priorities. It said the other 83 miles (133 kilometres) covered by the waivers may get built this year. Under the presidents leadership, we are building more wall, faster than ever before, the department said in a statement. Critics say the waivers do away with key taxpayer safeguards. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said the presidents cronies are likely to be the beneficiaries. Charles Tiefer a professor at University of Baltimore School of Law who specializes in government contracts, said the government can just pick the contractor you want and and you just ram it through ... The skys the limit on what they bill. Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, said waiving a law for contractors to provide the government with certified cost data such as how much they pay for labour or parts could lead to grossly inflated prices. Its equivalent to buying a car without seeing a sticker price, Amey said. This could be a recipe for shoddy work and paying a much higher price than they should. Administration officials say providing cost data can be onerous and difficult. Congress gave the secretary power to waive laws in areas of high illegal activity in 2005 in legislation that included emergency spending for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and minimum standards for state-issued identification cards. The Senate approved it unanimously, with support from Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The House passed it with strong bipartisan support; then-Rep. Bernie Sanders voted against it. The waiver authority has survived legal challenges. In 2018, a federal judge in San Diego rejected arguments by California and environmental advocacy groups that the secretarys broad powers should have an expiration date. An appeals court upheld the ruling last year. The waivers, to be published in the Federal Register, apply to projects that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will award in six Border Patrol sectors: San Diego and El Centro in California; Yuma and Tucson in Arizona; El Paso, which spans New Mexico and west Texas, and Del Rio, Texas. The move came five days after Defence Secretary Mark Esper approved a $3.8 billion request from Homeland Security to pay for walls in those same areas, and the Pentagon acknowledged that more cuts could be coming to provide additional funding. The Pentagons decision stripped money from major aircraft and procurement programs that touch Republican and Democratic districts and states. The Defence Department transferred $6.1 billion to wall construction from its counter-narcotics and construction budgets after Congress gave Trump only a portion of what he wanted. The administration has been able to spend Pentagon money during legal challenges. The administration said the waivers will apply to contractors that have already been vetted. In May, the Army Corps named 12 companies to compete for Pentagon-funded contracts. Those shortlisted companies are Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. of Dickinson, North Dakota, whose leader has sought publicity on conservative media; Texas Sterling Construction Co., of Houston, a unit of Sterling Construction Co.; a joint venture Caddell Construction Co., of Montgomery, Alabama, and Gibraltar Construction Co. of Annapolis, Maryland; Barnard Construction Co. of Bozeman, Montana; West Point Contractors Inc. of Tucson, Arizona; Southwest Valley Constructors Co. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, a unit of Kiewit Corp.; Bristol Construction Services LLC of Anchorage, Alaska; Randy Kinder Excavating Inc. of Dexter, Missouri; CJW Construction Inc., of Santa Ana, California; Burgos Group LLC of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Posillico Civil Inc. / Coastal Environmental Group Inc. of Farmingdale, New York; and Martin Brothers Construction Co. of Sacramento, California. Over the course of 240 years, United States presidents have made many integral and difficult decisions to help shape this country. Civil and international wars, economic crises, and deep-rooted bigotry are just a few major installments that our presidents have had to tackle. Its common to debate the efficacy, personalities, and politics of these office-holders during their terms, and opinions run far and wide many years later when analyzing past performance. The expectations of the president have evolved over time. Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs asserts in his book, The Impossible Presidency, that the White House has progressively taken on such infeasible demandsparticularly in the most recent 24-hour news cyclethat the president cannot possibly please everyone. Drawing upon recent disenchantment with presidents, Suri discusses the limitations inherent in the day-to-day details and duties of the office; we often dont recognize the near-impossible task of leaders meeting the big-picture goals theyd set out to conquer on the campaign trail. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 00:45:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HONG KONG, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Luo Huining on Monday called on mainland-funded companies to fully support the HKSAR government in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Luo made the remarks during his visit to several companies including China Resources and Bank of China (Hong Kong) on Monday morning. Luo approved of the move of China Resources and China Merchants Group to significantly improve goods supply on the Hong Kong market in response to the shortage in some daily necessities. The companies should continue to stabilize their stockpiles and increase the supply of products mostly needed in Hong Kong, Luo said. As a wide range of industries in Hong Kong has suffered since the outbreak of the virus, Bank of China (Hong Kong) has launched a series of new policies to relieve the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, including a principal repayment moratorium. Luo said those measures set an example in the banking sector and asked the bank to roll out more measures and help businesses and residents weather out economic hardships. During his visit, Luo also recognized the efforts of Sinopec (Hong Kong) to offer consumers with stable gasoline supply at stable prices. Mainland-funded companies should continue to shoulder their responsibilities with concrete actions of serving the society, Luo said. BANGKOK (AP) The virus outbreak that began in China and has spread to more than 20 countries is stretching already-strained public health systems in Asia and beyond, raising questions over whether everyone can get equal access to treatment. Authorities in Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak, have been ordered to confine people suspected of having the illness in quarantine camps" reminiscent of makeshift hospitals seen a century ago during the outbreak of Spanish flu. The hundreds of cots lined up side by side in such facilities illustrate the Everest-sized difficulties of isolating and treating thousands of patients at a time. So do scenes of people begging for treatment and being turned away from hospitals inundated with patients. Rong Qin, who lives with her newborn son and 3-year-old daughter, mother, father and husband in a two-bedroom apartment in Wuhan, appealed for help in a post on Weibo, a Chinese microblog, saying she and her father were infected and she was worried for the rest of the family. I was told that even if we have confirmation of infection from the hospital we have to wait for beds. As far as I know, there are already many people queuing up for help," she said. The problems most evident in Wuhan are a worrying specter for health officials in many other places, as the numbers of people infected has surpassed 40,000 with more than 1,000 dead. Officials are trying to reassure the public, while moving to ensure adequate supplies of drugs and other medical necessities. Several countries outside China that have big caseloads, such as Japan, France and the U.S., have relatively ample resources for isolating and treating patients. Lower-income countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia have reported one case each. At a meeting of the World Health Organization in Geneva last week, delegates from various countries including Sudan and Bangladesh sought reassurances of support for their overburdened public health networks. Story continues A representative from Sudan said it had managed to create an isolation ward using local resources. But since the country is already battling six other major disease outbreaks and also facing international sanctions, it's short about $2 million of the funds it needs. Scott Pendergast, the WHO's director for Health Emergencies Strategy, said the estimated cost for beefing up the capacity of public health systems to respond to the virus could amount to $675 million in February-April, not including research or the economic impacts of travel restrictions and other measures. The extra cost of handling just 10 imported cases was estimated at $1.5 million, he said. Its an estimated response cost that will have to be augmented by bottom-up planning at the country level together with partners," Pendergast said. All countries are at risk and need to prepare for (the newly identified coronavirus). Partners will prioritize countries with weak health systems and significant gaps in preparedness capacity for technical and operational support," says the draft WHO plan for handling the outbreak. In Thailand, which has confirmed 32 cases of the virus, health officials are visiting the contacts of known infected people one-by-one to follow the potential spread of the virus. New cases have continued to emerge in the tropical holiday destination and hub for medical tourism. Our Thailand system is one of the best in the world," Thanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Health Ministry's Disease Control Department, said recently. But he added, No country is prepared for a global pandemic." Most people in China have at least rudimentary access to health care. The country has a tradition of community clinics dating to the days of barefoot doctors." But few have coverage for catastrophic illness. In Wuhan, three big facilities have been converted into makeshift hospitals, providing 3,800 beds for patients with mild symptoms of the virus. The city plans to convert more facilities into hospitals for emergency treatment and examinations, state television reported. Two new hospitals, one with 1,000 beds and the other with 1,500, were also quickly built. The Peoples Liberation Army deployed 1,400 doctors, nurses and other personnel to help staff the hospitals in the industrial hub, whose hospitals have been inundated while the city's transport links were cut off to contain the spread of the disease. Even within China, communities have vastly varying capacities to cope with pandemics. Overall, China's spending on health care is relatively high for a developing country, at $400 per person according to WHO data. That compares with $78 in Cambodia and $34 in Bangladesh. Access to basic public health care in China is also relatively high, at least as measured by WHO statistics, with 76% of people able to get the care they need without financial hardship. In most wealthy countries, that measure is equal to or more than 80%. Wealthy Chinese , especially those with connections, often can access VIP departments in public and military hospitals, or expensive, international-style clinics that cater to foreigners. But most people have to take their chances by lining up, often for hours at a time even in normal times, at overcrowded public hospitals. That's typical for many developing countries around Asia and elsewhere. Indonesia, whose annual per capita spending on health care is only one sixth of China's and about half that of Thailand, is considering building a facility on a deserted island dedicated to monitoring and quarantining coronavirus patients, and in the future, those affected by other epidemic illnesses, said Mohammad Mahfud MD, the coordinating security affairs minister. We are still looking for the exact place for it. But we have thousands of vacant islands, Mahfud said. Officials have confined 237 Indonesians and one U.S. citizen from Wuhan for observation at a military base on Natuna island. The country has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus yet, but intends to hold a workshop to train medical staff to be better prepared, said Windra Waworuntu, the health ministry's director general of infectious diseases. WHO was sending masks, gloves and respirators and almost 18,000 isolation gowns to 24 countries needing support. To speed up diagnoses, 250,000 test kits are being sent to more than 70 laboratories. The need was most acute in Africa, where most countries do not have the capacity to run such tests. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged more cooperation between public and private health sectors in developing tests, treatments and vaccines, saying that even wealthier countries are not reporting cases quickly enough. Thanarak, the Thai health ministry official, said his country is bracing for what could be a global pandemic, but hoping it won't be. It doesn't have to be like Wuhan," he said. Are we good enough? We will see." I believe we have the capability to handle it." ___ Associated Press writer Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Khurja in Uttar Pradesh has warned the local men with legal action if they harass girls for not wearing burqa. SDM Isha Priya held a meeting with the locals at Sarai Murtaza colony on Sunday and warned those who had been allegedly harassing the girls, after the victims complained to her about it. "A few girls came to me and complained that when they go to schools or colleges, some miscreants stop them, harass them and ask them to wear burqa." "If anyone molests girls or stops them from going to schools or colleges then the police will take strict action against them," she said in the meeting. The students are studying in the Robotics Engineering Centre (NREC) degree college of Khurja. "The residents of the area have taken the responsibility that if a miscreant molests a girl and stops them from going schools or college then they'll hand them over to police," the SDM said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Losses: Haughton and Young Ltd had worked on high-profile schemes such as Croke Park The High Court has appointed a provisional liquidator to a Dublin-based mechanical engineering subcontractor employing more than 160 people. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds appointed Nicholas O'Dwyer as provisional liquidator to Haughton and Young Ltd, which provides mechanical engineering services to the construction industry. The firm has worked on dozens of well-known projects, including Croke Park Stadium, Google's Irish headquarters and Twitter's HQ in Dublin. The company, which was founded in the late 1990s and is based at The Business Centre, Stadium Business Park, Ballycoolin Road, Dublin 11, had been profitable for many years. However, it started to sustain losses from 2018 onwards, and is now insolvent. The losses came about due to factors including increased competition in the sector, and because it was not paid the full amount of monies it was due on certain projects it had carried out work on. Yesterday, Brian Conroy Bl, who represented the firm's main shareholders, said the appointment of a provisional liquidator was urgent. Representatives of the company's creditors had attended its premises on Monday morning and were refusing to leave unless their demands were met, he said. Counsel said there were concerns that the company's assets, which include a large number of vehicles, may be taken by creditors. The appointment of a provisional liquidator will ensure the company's assets are preserved and then distributed for the benefit of all the creditors in an orderly manner, counsel said. Counsel also said that the company had been successful for much of its existence. It had up until recently employed more than 200 people. In 2018 and 2019, the company's losses began to mount, and it started to experience cashflow difficulties. The board had made attempts to take steps to address its financial problems, had sought fresh investment in the business, and last year it had to let some of its staff go. However, it was not possible to secure the company's future and the vast majority of shareholders were supporting an application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator, counsel said. Ms Justice Reynolds said she was satisfied to appoint Mr O'Dwyer of the accountancy firm Grant Thornton as the company's provisional liquidator, and granted him certain powers. The judge adjourned the matter to March. Press Trust of India There has been a decline in the population of 79 percent of Indian species of birds as per the assessment of current trends, but there is also some good news as the number of Indian peafowls (national bird peacock) has shown a dramatic rise, says a report. Besides, the number of house sparrows has remained "roughly stable" across the country. Its population has gone up in rural areas, although declining in metropolitan cities, according to the State of India's Birds Report 2020. The report was released here on sidelines of the 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 13) on Monday. It said that while assessing the status of 867 Indian birds, 79 percent, for which current trends could be assessed, and 50 percent, for which long-term trend could be assessed, have shown a decline. In all, 101 species have been classified as of "high conservation concern". As for the Indian peafowl, the abundance trend is that of a general increase, both in long-term and currently, the report said. "Some parts of the country report greater levels of crop damage by peafowl, a trend that calls for careful conflict assessment and management," it mentioned. As for the house sparrows, despite the widespread notion that it is declining in India, the analysis suggests that the species has been "fairly stable overall during the past 25 plus years," it said. However, data from the six largest metro cities (Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai) does indicate a "gradual decline" in their abundance in urban centres, it added. Using data uploaded by birdwatchers on the online platform eBird, "the analysis indicates that 48 percent of species have remained stable or are increasing in the long- term (over 25 plus years), while 79 percent show a decline in the last five years," the report said. Of the 146 species for which current annual trends could be estimated, nearly 80 percent are declining, with almost 50 percent declining strongly, it said. The groups that show the greatest decline are raptors, migratory shorebirds and habitat specialists, among others. The report relies on over 10 million observations contributed by over 15,500 birdwatchers. The assessment is based on three indices - two of change in abundance: long-term trend (over 25+ years) and current annual trend (over the past five years), and the third is a measure of distribution range size. "Of the 261 species for which long-term trends could be determined, 52 percent have declined since the year 2000, with 22 percent declining strongly. In all, 43 percent of species showed a long-term trend that was stable and five percent showed an increasing trend," the report said. The current annual trends could be estimated for 146 species. Of these, nearly 80 percent are declining, with almost 50 percent declining strongly, it said. "Just over six percent are stable and 14 percent increasing. The range size of all but six species were estimated," it added. Using these three indices together with the IUCN Red List (of threatened species), each species was classified into categories of conservation concern for India: 442 in low concern category, 319 in moderate concern category and 101 in high concern category. The report is a result of collaboration between 10 research and conservation organisations, including the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bombay Natural History Society, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wide Fund for Nature India, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and Wetlands International South Asia, among others. CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Fire Protection Materials Market for Construction by Type (Coatings, Sealants & Fillers, Mortar, Sheets/Boards, Spray, Preformed Device, Putty, Cast-in Devices), Application (Commercial, Industrial, and Residential) - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Fire Protection Materials Market is projected to reach USD 4.0 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 8.5% from USD 2.7 Billion in 2019. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=110995901 Browse in-depth TOC on "Fire Protection Materials Market" 104 Market Data Tables 53 Figures 145 Pages View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fire-protection-materials-market-110995901.html The increased emphasis on passive fire protection systems due to stricter building codes regulated by NFPA and construction regulations is a key driver for this market. The increased number of structural fire accidents globally has created a need for stringent fire safety regulations. Growing construction activities fueled by growing GDP and increased funding in PPP projects have also significantly increased the consumption of fire protection materials globally. Coatings are expected to lead the market during the forecast period. Based on type, fire protection materials are segmented into coatings, mortar, sealants & fillers, sheets\boards, spray, preformed device, putty, and cast-in devices, and others (ablative and perlite). Coatings is estimated to lead the fire protection materials market. This is due its fire proofing application in the construction industry. The growing emphasis on passive fire protection because of the increasing number structural fire incidents globally is expected to put a significant impact on this market. Growing construction activities regulated by stringent building codes and fire safety policies play a crucial role in increasing the demand for fire protection materials. Commercial construction is projected to be the largest application of fire protection materials during the forecast period. Commercial construction is projected to dominate the fire protection materials market during the forecast period. The growing demand for passive fire protection system and increased emphasis on fire safety codes and regulations are driving the market in this application. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=110995901 North America is expected to account for the largest share of the fire protection materials market during the forecast period. North America is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. The growth is mainly due to strict implementation of NFPA codes. The growing emphasis on passive fire protection system influenced by fire-stop contractors and regulatory organizations has a huge impact on this market. The key Fire Protection Materials Market players profiled in the report include Hilti Group (Liechtenstein), 3M (US), Specified Technologies Inc. (US), ETEX (Belgium), Morgan Advanced Materials (UK), Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands), Jotun (Norway), Sika AG (Switzerland), and Rolf Kuhn GmbH (Germany) Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=110995901 Browse Adjacent Markets: Foam and Insulation Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports : High Temperature Sealants Market by Chemistry (Silicone, Epoxy), Application (Electrical & Electronics, Transportation, Industrial, Construction), and Region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2022 Fire Resistant Glass Market by Type (Laminated, Ceramic, Tempered, Wired), Application (Building & Construction, Marine, and Others), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2021 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/fire-protection-materials-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/fire-protection-materials.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Russian presidents could be made immune from prosecution for life under a raft of reforms being planned by Vladimir Putin. The proposal by a group of lawmakers would make Putin safe from any criminal investigation even after his term expires in 2024. The Kremlin declined to comment but the package of reforms are widely seen as a way for Putin to maintain his grip on power after he leaves the presidency. Other proposals have included a new title of Supreme Ruler and a beefed-up prime minister's job that Putin could seek to hold for himself. Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured in Moscow last week) could become immune from prosecution for life under proposed reforms Pavel Krashennikov, the co-chair of the parliamentary working group, announced the immunity proposal today. 'The president of Russia, having ceased to exercise his powers, has immunity. We have this [proposed reform],' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. Immunity would prevent a hostile successor from investigating Putin after his term ends in 2024. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he would not comment on the working group's proposal at this stage. Krashennikov had said earlier this month that Russian presidents could be made senators for life after their term. This would have a similar effect, because lawmakers in the lower and upper houses of parliament are immune to criminal prosecution under Russian law. The working group has already put forward an array of other proposals, including one that would change Putin's job description to Supreme Ruler from head of state. Vladimir Putin (centre) meets members of the working group on drafting reform proposals at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence in Moscow last Thursday For the group's proposals to be adopted, they must be approved by the lower house of parliament in two further votes before being voted on by the upper house. They must then be reviewed by regional parliaments and then signed by Putin, who has met the working group at his official Novo-Ogaryovo residence in Moscow. Russia's lower house of parliament has already backed Putin's proposed reforms in a vote last month. The government of Dmitry Medvedev resigned to clear the way for Putin's reforms after the president unveiled his plans. The plans would shift some power away from the presidency, weakening a successor to Putin, and hand more power to the prime minister. It sparked speculation that Putin would seek to become prime minister, as he did in 2008 when his first spell as president ended. Putin has said that the proposed changes would be put to a nationwide vote, but a date has yet to be set. Head of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia Konstantin Kosachev believes that that the Ukrainian side attaches political meaning to the detention of the fishermen Konstantin Kosachev, Russian diplomat Kommersant Head of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia Konstantin Kosachev does not exclude the possibility of the release of four Ukrainian fishermen detained by Russias FSB in Azov Sea on February 15, as RT reported. If and when these fishermen agree on the fact that they violated the Russian legislation, God willing, that we release them and they leave for their hometown. Until it will not take place, we will stay in the state of the debate. This debate will be judicial from our side and political form the side of Ukraine, Kosachev noted. Commenting on the call of the Charge d'affaires of Russia to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, the Russian lawmaker noted that the Ukrainian side attaches political meaning to the detention of the fishermen. According to him, Russia ties the incident with the fact of poaching, which was confirmed by detainees. On February 15, Russia's FSB detained the vessel, saying that the crew performed illegal fishing activity. Later, Russian law enforcers interrogated the sailors who admitted illegal fishing. They were arrested for 10 days. The National Police of Ukraine has opened a case on the fact of illegal capture of Ukrainian ship in the Sea of Azov. Besides, the Charge d'affaires of Russia was called to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine due to the detention of four Ukrainian fishermen in the Sea of Azov. Bengaluru: A group of Bengaluru advocates on Tuesday came out to assist the three Kashmiri students who were arrested on charges of sedition for singing along to a song with the refrain Pakistan Zindabad in Huballi. The advocates filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka High Court against the Hubballi bar associations decision not to file vakalath for the engineering students. The High Court considered the PIL and fixed the hearing for February 20. Senior advocate B T Venkatesh and other 24 advocates on Tuesday filed a PIL before the High Court seeking directive against the decision of the Advocates Association of Hubballi not to represent the Kashmiri students. The petition also sought a judicial inquiry and an FIR into the violence perpetrated them while they were being produced in a local court on February 17. They also sought protection from the High Court for any advocate who represents the students. They prevailed upon the court to take up the PIL for inquiry immediately. The three students, Basit Aashiq Sofi from Baramulla, Talib Majeed and Amir Mohiuddin from Anantnag, studying civil engineering at the KLE Engineering College in Hubballi, were arrested on charges of sedition for making a pro-azaadi video and singing along to a song with the refrain Pakistan Zindabad on the occasion of the Pulwama anniversary. They were arrested and sent to judicial custody till March 3. F1 teams rejected Liberty Media's proposal of a pre-season group photo with all the 2020 cars at this week's winter testing. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the sport's commercial rights holder wanted all the new cars to be assembled on the grid in Barcelona for a photo. "The teams refused because they wanted their cars to be fitted with measuring instruments the first time they drive out of the garage," the report said. Andy Stevenson, the Racing Point team manager, confirmed that it can take "two hours" for the measuring equipment to be fitted. It is believed Liberty Media is negotiating with the teams to allocate another time for the group car photo. But although the cars will be missing, all the drivers will assemble for a group photo on Wednesday morning, the first of six days of pre-season testing. (GMM) In the romantic comedy-drama "Crash Landing On You", south Korean stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin characters are two completely opposite people who fall in love with each other. The drama set against the backdrop of the inter-Korean relations. It tells the story of Yoo Se Ri portrayed by Ye-jin who is a rich South Korean heiress who gets into a paragliding accident and crashes lands in North Korea, there she meets the North Korean military officer who ends up rescuing and protecting her. The North Korean military officer is named Jung Hyuk portrayed by Hyun Bin. Eventually, both characters fall in love with each other. This drama is actually the second time that both actors are working together. They were co-stars in the 2018 movie "The Negotiation" and both as actors partnered anew; romance rumors have followed them as well. Some netizens are really convinced that Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are dating seeing the romantic still cuts from their drama 'Crash Landing On You'. Both actors have really good chemistry that the dating rumors still sparks up until this very moment! The drama's social media page revealed some of the photos of the dreamy cut on February 17th. It shows that the two actors are showing off some major romantic chemistry. Even though the on-screen love team has formerly denied the dating rumors, still netizens are hopeful and convinced that there is some spark between the two. A netizen posted some comments on the photos like: "So when are you two getting married?" "Aren't these wedding photos..." "This is real. There's No way you can look at someone like that and not have any feelings at all." There was a press conference before that the stars addressed the dating rumors again, as they've previously denied it, according to the Korean press. Also, Hyun Bin's agency has announced and denied dating rumors with Son Ye Jin again. On February 18, there was one netizen that posted a screenshot from a making-of video for "Crash Landing on You" focusing on a scene in which Song Ye Jin and Hyun Bin look like holding hands underneath the table. As seen in the screenshot, it is quite unclear whose hand is holding Son Ye Jin's right hand. However, Hyun Bin's agency released a statement to clarify the rumors sparked by the post. It stated that Son Ye Jin is holding her own hand. Even before, both actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin already denied dating rumors twice in 2019. There were also talks that the two were traveling in the United States together the agencies of both parties denied rumors of them traveling together. And once again rumors resurfaced when there were photos released of the two doing grocery shopping together with other acquaintances. Still, both parties denied the dating rumors. It is quite clear that Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are not dating at all but fans are still hoping for a true to life fairytale love story for both actors. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 15:36:01 Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CALGARY, Alberta - NOVA Chemicals Corporation (NOVA Chemicals) today announced the appointment of Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum & Petrochemicals for Mubadala Investment Company to the position of Chairman, NOVA Chemicals Board of Directors. Al Kaabi succeeds His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy & Industry who has served as chairman for nearly five years. Faris Al Mazrui, Head of Moscow Office, Mubadala Investment Company, and Tim Breen, Executive Director, Technology, Mubadala Investment Company, have also joined NOVA Chemicals Board of Directors. Musabbeh Al Kaabi said, I am proud and honored to have been appointed as chairman. I would like to thank H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei for his insightful leadership during a time of growth and transformation at NOVA Chemicals. I look forward to continuing to work with NOVAs management team to deliver the current slate of investment projects and build on the companys position as a leading player in the North American petrochemicals market. ## About Musabbeh Al Kaabi Al Kaabi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum & Petrochemicals platform in Mubadala Investment Company, responsible for a portfolio of international assets spanning the global oil and gas value chain and valued in excess of $40 billion. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for several international energy companies including as Chairman of Mubadala Petroleum and Cepsa, Spains largest integrated energy company, and Board Member of Dolphin Energy, Borealis, one of the worlds largest producer of petrochemicals headquartered in Austria and Cosmo Energy, an integrated oil and gas company with upstream and downstream operations based in Japan. About NOVA Chemicals NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly-owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. # # # For further information, please contact: Media Relations Jennifer Nanz Director, Corporate Communications E-mail: Jennifer.Nanz@novachem.com Investor Relations Patty Masry Financial Reporting & Investor Relations Manager Patty.Masry@novachem.com NOVA Chemicals logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use. Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. A woman accused of strangling a man during a 2013 robbery was arrested after allegedly shooting a man to death Friday and leaving his body in the backseat of a car in southwest Harris County. Shakiya Cruz, 27, was charged with murder after police found the man in the backseat of a Chevrolet Impala at a Clodine apartment Friday night. The victim was not immediately identified. WEATHER: Cold front could bring up to 2 inches of rain for parts of Greater Houston Cruz was in a Chevrolet Impala with the victim in a parking lot off the Southwest Freeway near Wilcrest around 1 p.m. Friday, her boyfriend told detectives. The boyfriend was leaving a shop nearby when he heard several gunshots, a prosecutor said in court. He ran to the car and found Cruz holding the gun and the victim apparently dead, prosecutors said. Panicked, Cruz and the boyfriend got into the car and sped away, prosecutors said. Immediately after the shooting, Cruz said nothing other than the victim had been threatening her, the boyfriend told police. The two drove to an apartment in the 15200 block of Gray Ridge Drive, where they left the victim sitting in the backseat, prosecutors said. Later that night, the boyfriend came forward to police. Cruz was charged the next day. What led to Fridays gunfire is unclear, but this is the second time law enforcement has accused Cruz of killing someone, according to court records. A Harris County grand jury indicted Cruz on a capital murder charge in December 2019 for allegedly killing 24-year-old David Oshodi-Alagoa, who was found dead Nov. 11, 2013, inside his apartment in the 2800 block of Shadowbriar. Oshodi-Alagoas computer and watch were missing from the apartment after he was found, according to earlier reports in the Houston Chronicle. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Man crashes truck into tree, dies after argument with family in southwest Houston Two cars were also stolen from the apartment, police said. Detectives initially said Oshodi-Alagoa might have known his attacker since there were no signs anyone forced their way into his apartment. Police claim Cruz kicked and strangled Oshodi-Alagoa during the robbery, according to court documents. Cruz recently confessed to the killing, a magistrate said Sunday. Even though she's been facing the capital murder charge since December, she had not been arrested, records show. She was finally booked on the capital murder charge only after she was charged in Friday's killing. A magistrate set Cruz's bond at $500,000, saying she poses an "extreme danger" to the community. Bond has yet to be set on the capital murder charge. She was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, records show. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Huseyn Safarov - Trend: Energy projects being implemented by Azerbaijan are characterized by proportionality and well-calculated economic logic, doctor of economics, Professor of Russias Saint Petersburg State University Stanislav Tkachenko told Trend Feb. 18. The professor noted that in a situation where the structure of gas market changes due to decrease in pipeline transport in favor of LNG, prompt construction of gas pipeline infrastructure that will reliably connect consumers in Turkey and Southern Europe to gas from Azerbaijan - is a correct and timely policy. Azerbaijans modern gas pipeline projects differ advantageously from the similar Russian ones, Tkachenko added. For example, construction of pipelines by Russias Gazprom company in the Black Sea region is dictated more by strategic interests rather than by economic ones. Turkey, in turn, is turning into the main gas hub for Southern Europe, having invested a minimum of its own funds in gas pipelines. The professor said that the current cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan in the supply of natural gas to consumers in Turkey and Southern Europe has little potential, but the relations between the two countries in this area arent doomed to conflict. Russia initially considered the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) as a competitor to Gazprom at one of the regions biggest gas markets - the Turkish one, said Tkachenko. The gas supplied via the recently launched TANAP replaces Russian one. But at the same time, Russia neither explicitly nor secretly opposed the commissioning of TANAP. Moscow considers Azerbaijan as the most important partner, the economic growth of which is based on market principles and stimulates development of adjacent regions of Russia. Baku acts according to the rules of the global economy, and Moscow recognizes it without hesitation. The expert noted that the statement made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 21 in Davos that Russia may join TANAP is a conciliatory and constructive message for Russias leadership. According to the rules in force in the EU, no supplier country can use more than 50 percent of capacities of the gas pipeline built by that country, passing through the territory of the EU, Tkachenko added. The remaining volumes should be provided on a market basis to other producers or transit countries. In the short term, Russia is unlikely to take advantage of the proposal of the Azerbaijani president. But in the future, Russia may supply its gas to the markets of southern Europe along the part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which will be continuation of TANAP and will pass through the European part of Turkey towards the EU (Greece, Italy). The prospects for TANAP, given the current realities, are quite optimistic, the professor said. Tkachenko believes that this important project for the Azerbaijani economy has already become a driver of accelerating its economic growth. Mumbai, Feb 18 : Maharashtra Police will introduce a 'Changing of Guard' protocol at the state police HQ here on the lines of a similar and world-famous ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said here on Monday. The protocol will be witnessed from May 1 - Maharashtra Day - at the state police HQ complex in south Mumbai, close to the Gateway of India. The 'Changing of Guard' at Buckingham Palace is a colourful, spectacular and elaborate affair lasting nearly 45 minutes on certain days every week which is watched and photographed with great enthusiasm by both British and tourists from around the world. Deshmukh said a similar treat - with a parade and police band playing to mark the 'Changing of guard' from one shift to another - would be available for both domestic and international travelers at the State Police Headquarters complex. The announcement came after Deshmukh and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray paid at the visit to the Directorate General of Police and finalized the proposal with the top police officials. The Police Department will also set up a 'Martyrs Gallery' at the DGP Office as a tribute and an added tourist attraction. Tourism Department officials informed that the 'Changing of Guard' ceremony would also be popularised among the local and global tourists through various media to ensure maximum take advantage of it. India currently has one 'Changing of Guard' ceremony - at at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, as well as the daily 'Retreat' ceremony at the India-Pakistan at Attari-Wagah Border in Punjab, which are watched and photographed by thousands. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Syrian regime has uncovered a mass grave in eastern Ghouta containing what is believed to be the bodies of civilians and security personnel reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Syrian media said on Monday that regime intelligence have discovered a mass grave, containing around 70 bodies, in a former rebel bastion near Damascus. The bodies were found in the Eastern Ghouta region who the army said were civilians and security personnel who were executed by terrorist groups, Syrian state media said on Monday. The densely populated semi-urban area just east of Damascus was controlled by rebel and jihadist factions for around six years until regime forces retook it in 2018 after a long and bloody siege. The state news agency quoted a senior police officer as saying that the killings were believed to have taken place between 2012 and 2014. The mass grave, near Eastern Ghoutas main town of Douma, was formerly controlled by rebel group Jaish al-Islam. The brutal siege of Eastern Ghouta ended with a devastating regime offensive that saw at least 1,700 civilians killed before a deal was struck that saw fighters and civilians evacuated to northern Syria. Many of the victims, among them a woman, had been bound and executed with a gunshot to the head, regime officials claimed. AFP was not immediately able to verify the information provided by the state news agency. The Syrian intellgince have recovered a body believed to be of opposition activists Razan Zituna. The body was found among 70 others in a mass grave in al-Ub farms in eastern Ghouta. The bodys hands were tied to the back, it was an execution. Abu Turab al-Urduni, a senior commander of HTS in eastern Ghouta, who also headed a joint investigation branch, Sharia court with Jaysh al-Islam, was directly involved in the decision to execute activist, Razan Zaituna, and her mates. Swathes of Eastern Ghouta were completely levelled during the siege and the regime offensive, but some residents have returned despite the lack of reconstruction. Jaish Al-Islam rule parts of Eastern Ghouta with an iron fist, leading to clashes with other rebel groups and tensions with activists. Frequent barrel bombing, shelling and air strikes by regime forces led to thousands of deaths, including strikes on hospitals, markets and bakeries. Hundreds were killed when the regime launched an alleged sarin gas attack on the opposition enclave in 2013. Many mass graves have been found in Syria in recent years, mainly in areas formerly controlled by the Islamic State group. Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad lost huge swathes of the country following an armed uprising after the brutal repression of peaceful protesters in 2011. According to UN figures, the Syria war has caused the greatest refugee crisis in the world, with at least 5.5 million people fleeing the country and more than 6 million more displaced inside Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 500,000 people have been killed since the start of the war in 2011. Thousands are still missing and Human Rights Watch last week encouraged the authorities in Syria to investigate their fate. Consolidated grip on Aleppo On Sunday, Syrian regime forces made new gains in their offensive against the last major rebel bastion in the northwest, seizing villages and towns around second city Aleppo, state media and a monitor said. Backed by Russian air strikes, government forces have kept up the assault on the Idlib region and areas of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces since December. On Sunday, after clashes and air strikes, regime forces were in control of all the villages and small towns around Aleppo for the first time since 2012, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The move enabled forces of President Bashar al-Assad to push back jihadists and allied rebels from the vicinity of Aleppo and secure the city, it added. The Britain-based war monitor said around 30 villages and small towns were captured by Syrian government forces who advanced rapidly in the north and west of Aleppo province after insurgents pulled back. Syrian state television confirmed the report and said army units have liberated all the villages and small towns west of Aleppo city. It broadcast footage purporting to show Aleppo residents celebrating the armys advance. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. A Michigan woman is hitting headlines for taking her miniature service horse on a series of first class flights across the country. Ronica Froese and her equine companion, Fred, flew from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Ontario, California on February 7, before taking a return flight on February 16. Froese says she paid 'an arm and a leg' for tickets with bulkhead seating so that there was ample room for she and Fred to fly in style. 'This was our first trip via an airplane. Fred has traveled several thousands of miles in my vehicle but this was the first time in the air,' Froese told WXMI on Monday. 'I spent a year of my life training this horse extensively, and I was totally prepared for everything,' she added. Ronica Froese is hitting headlines for bringing her miniature service horse, Fred, on board a series of first class flights across the country. The pair are pictured en route from Michigan to California on February 7 Froese said paid 'an arm and a leg' for tickets with bulkhead seating so that she and her service horse, Fred, could both travel in style Froese told WXMI that 'everyone was sweet as pie' to both her and Fred during their travels. 'TSA was amazing. The experience was way better than I actually anticipated,' she cooed to WXMI. Guidelines provided by the federal government, which were published on August 15 last year, allow passengers to bring the miniature horses on board American aircraft so long as they are designated as service animals. In a statement at the time, the US Department of Transport told CBS 62: 'With respect to animal species, we indicated that we would focus our enforcement efforts on ensuring that the most commonly used service animals (dogs, cats, and miniature horses) are accepted for transport'. However, after recent backlash, the DOT is considering revoking the rules, so that only canines could accompany their owners on board. Giddy up! A nervous looking Froese and Fred are seen in the departures lounge ahead of their first class flight Froese told WXMI that 'everyone was sweet as pie' to both her and Fred during their travels. Froese said that she's disappointed at the prospect, stating: 'It's definitely an abused system, but the sad part is what the DOT is looking at doing, they are looking at excluding me as a handler from taking my horse on the plan.' Last year, another mini service horse owner hit headlines are she was spotted taking to the skies with her equine companion. Abrea Hensley and her 136-pound mare, Flirty, squeezed into economy for a flight from Chicago to Omaha. The incident divided travelers, with one outraged customer blasting on Twitter: 'What a time to be alive. GTHO (get the hell out) with this. Where does this pony fit on the plane? Does she get her own row because anyone sitting in hers, it's going to be tight!!!' Abrea Hensley and her 136-pound mare, Flirty, squeezed into economy for a flight from Chicago to Omaha last September Hensley and Flirty divided airline travelers with one outraged customer blasting: 'What a time to be alive. GTHO (get the hell out) with this. Where does this pony fit on the plane? Does she get her own row because anyone sitting in hers, it's going to be tight!!!' BIZARRE PETS PASSENGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BRING ON PLANES - Emotional Support Pig In 2014, a woman was booted off a from Connecticut to Washington state because her large pet pig was being 'disruptive'. A fellow passenger told CNN the pig weighed between 70 and 80 pounds, and began dropping things in the aisle and squealing - Emotional Support Squirrel A female traveler was left livid after Frontier Airlines barred her pet squirrel, Daisy, from accompanying her on a flight from Orlando to Cleveland. The passenger appeared on numerous TV programs blasting the company, claiming she had a letter from her doctor saying that the squirrel helped with her anxiety disorder - Emotional Support Hamster Last year, a woman admitted to flushing her emotional support hamster down an airport toilet after Spirit Airlines stopped her from bringing the rodent with her on the plane Advertisement The American Disabilities Act differentiates between service animals and emotional support animals - which are commonly used to help calm the nerves of anxious travelers. Unlike emotional support animals, service animals must have special training to assist their disabled owners with specific tasks. The ADA Training Association website states: 'Even though some states have laws defining therapy animals, these animals are not limited to working with people with disabilities and therefore are not covered by federal laws protecting the use of service animals'. Back in 2016, a turkey was allowed a seat on a United flight because it classified as a service animal for its disabled owner. However, in recent years, airlines have often blocked passengers from travelling with pets dubbed 'emotional support animals'. In January 2018 , United Airlines famously stopped a female passenger from bringing her 'emotional support peacock' aboard a flight out of Newark Liberty Airport. The company claimed that the peacock - named Dexter - surpassed weight and size restrictions. Back in 2016, a turkey was allowed a seat on a United flight because it classified as a service animal for its disabled owner In January 2018, United Airlines famously stopped a female passenger from bringing her 'emotional support peacock' aboard a flight Elsewhere, squirrels and hamsters have also been booted off planes, while American Airlines last year banned insects, goats, and hedgehogs from travelling with their owners. However, other fliers have been more successful in bringing aboard their support pets. In 2015, a snap of a flight attendant cradling a kangaroo on board an American plane went viral. And, on a 2016 flight from Charlotte to Asheville, North Carolina, commuters were left stunned when a passenger brought his pet duck, Daniel, onto the plane. A woman and her large pet pig were booted off a flight from Connecticut to Washington state in 2014 An emotional support kangaroo is pictured on a plane back in 2015 SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) (Valero) announced today that members of company management will attend the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Refining Conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. About Valero Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels and petrochemical products. Valero is a Fortune 50 company based in San Antonio, Texas, and it operates 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.1 million barrels per day and 14 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.73 billion gallons per year. The petroleum refineries are located in the United States (U.S.), Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the ethanol plants are located in the Mid-Continent region of the U.S. Valero also is a joint venture partner in Diamond Green Diesel, which operates a renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana. Diamond Green Diesel is North Americas largest biomass-based diesel plant. Valero sells its products in the wholesale rack or bulk markets in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland and Latin America. Approximately 7,000 outlets carry Valeros brand names. Please visit www.valero.com for more information. Valero Contacts Investors Homer Bhullar, Vice President Investor Relations, 210-345-1982 Eric Herbort, Senior Manager Investor Relations, 210-345-3331 Gautam Srivastava, Manager Investor Relations, 210-345-3992 Rural communities across the UK have been urged to sign up to flood warnings after a weekend of severe weather disruption. Numerous regions of the UK are facing another day of flooding and adverse weather conditions following torrential rain brought by Storm Dennis. The Environment Agency has issued out more than 270 flood warnings and eight 'danger to life' severe warnings as of Monday morning (17 February). The newly-appointed Defra Secretary, George Eustice, denied that the government had been caught off guard by the floods following storms Dennis and Ciara. He told Sky News that the government had done a 'huge amount', blaming the 'nature of climate change' for the severity of the weather. "We can't do anything about these extreme weather events but the steps we've taken have meant the impact of those weather events have affected fewer properties." "These weather events are becoming more extreme, but we've done everything that we can do with a significant sum of money, and there's more to come," Mr Eustice said. Persistent, heavy rain continued across the South of England on Sunday (16 February), with the weather remaining unsettled with showers and further spells of rain expected into this week. Significant river and surface water flooding is expected to continue with river levels remaining high especially in York, West Midlands, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the South of England. On Sunday there was more than 600 flood warnings and flood alerts in place across England more than any other day on record. It has been an exceptionally wet winter so far with autumn rainfall records being broken for South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. England as a whole had its fifth wettest autumn on record. Caroline Douglass, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said the 'effects of climate change means more frequent periods of extreme weather'. "Storm Dennis will continue to bring disruptive weather into early next week, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England. We urge people to check the flood risk in their area and remain vigilant. "It is important for people to be aware of their flood risk and stay safe by signing up for flood warnings, making a flood plan and remembering not to drive or walk through flood water its not worth the risk." She advised people to sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest safety advice by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188. Farmers have taken to social media to highlight the level of disruption the persistent rainfall and floods are having on their businesses. Sussex farmer and NFU South East Regional Chair, David Exwood, posted a video highlighting the huge amount of rain his farm has received. We have checked and cleared every river ditch drain and gutter on the farm and moved the sheep to be ready for #StormDennis but after 18 hours of rain theres a huge amount of water about this morning. With 10 hours of rain still to come Sussex is going to be very wet pic.twitter.com/B6oXsUTL1y David Exwood (@DavidatWestons) February 16, 2020 Few shots from around the farm today. #StormDennis gave us 48mm in last 24hrs. P.S land available to rent, excellent potential for rice production ?? pic.twitter.com/fa82LBFVad Lee Dallyn (@DallynLee) February 16, 2020 Stephen Davies, who collects milk in West Wales, said the aftermath of Storm Dennis has made collection impossible in some areas. Storm Dennis makes milk collection impossible from this farm, hopefully the river Towy in Carmarthen will drop enough so we can collect the milk tomorrow. #keeptrying #milkcollection #teamdairy pic.twitter.com/9HqWQPLIQX Stephen Davies (@stephenmansel) February 16, 2020 Cefn Mably Farm park. Hoping all the animals are okay #StormDennis pic.twitter.com/vRYmf2D6rA Megan Cope (@megancopenews) February 16, 2020 Storm Dennis continued to rage through the night with rain on the wind. Sitting on top of a hill I catch the worst of it but many years of mother natures charms have taught me to hunker down as my ancestors did once the flocks are fed and safe. #winter #farm @NFUCountryside pic.twitter.com/ScbzepNZNi Alison ONeill. Shepherdess (@woolismybread) February 16, 2020 We appreciate everything that our employees do for the company and want to do everything we can to ensure they are well-compensated, provided with the resources they need to be successful, and sincerely enjoy what they do every day. Automated Business Designs (ABD), developers of Ultra-Staff staffing software, was named one of the Nations Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2019. This prestigious honor is the third time that ABD has been recognized by the National Best and Brightest program. The software company was also recognized as one of Chicagos Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The Best and Brightest Program honored 540 national winning organizations from across the country out of 5,000 nominations. With over 20 years of experience conducting the Best and Brightest competitions, the National Association for Business Resources have identified numerous best Human Resource practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards. ABDs nomination included details of their comprehensive benefits package, which includes 100% health care coverage for each employee paid for by ABD. The Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plan includes health, dental, life, vision, and many other free health and well-being services. ABD was also recognized for their innovative best practices. In 2019, the Vice President of Systems Engineering took it upon herself to organize weekly educational training sessions, inviting all team members to take a deep dive into the different products ABD offers. These sessions, Mornings with Molly, helps cross train all departments in the company and opens up an environment to share best practices and ideas for product enhancements. We are overjoyed to receive our third National Best and Brightest Award, said Terri Roeslmeier, President and CEO of Automated Business Designs. We appreciate everything that our employees do for the company and want to do everything we can to ensure they are well-compensated, provided with the resources they need to be successful, and sincerely enjoy what they do every day. ABDs nomination also highlighted the companys spectacular culture, which includes FitBit contests, a March Madness Office Pool, birthday celebrations, and any excuse to have a party. The work hard play hard attitude is a big part of the culture at ABD. Recognizing employee achievements is also very important for the leadership team. From giving out esteemed awards to employees at the ABD client meeting, to just simply recognizing someone in an email for receiving accolades from a client, all achievements are recognized. These are just a handful of reasons why ABD is one of the Best & Brightest Companies to Work For in the United States. The staffing software provider was also judged by confidential ABD employee responses. Those overwhelmingly positive responses helped ABD receive this distinguished recognition. To learn more about Automated Business Designs and Ultra-Staff staffing software, visit http://www.abd.net. Details about the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For program are available at https://thebestandbrightest.com/. About Automated Business Designs Automated Business Designs, Inc. has been in business for 37 years, producing the staffing and recruiting software solution Ultra-Staff EDGE. ABD offers a customizable staffing experience that benefits both clients and candidates through an integrated front office, back office, web suite, and mobile application. ABD is an active member of the American Staffing Association (ASA), National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS), Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services (WASS), New York Staffing Association (NYSA), and board member status in the Illinois Search and Staffing Association (ISSA). Nicole Gladu, who is incurably ill, and her lawyer Jean-Pierre Menard arrive at the courthouse in Montreal on Jan. 7, 2019, for the beginning of a trial challenging provincial and federal laws on medically assisted death on the grounds they are too restrictive. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) Uncharted Territory: Canada Moving Too Quickly on Changes to Assisted Dying Law, Expert Warns A health policy expert is warning that Canada is moving too fast on changes to legislation that would expand eligibility for medically assisted death. Dr. Harvey Schipper, a professor of medicine and an adjunct professor of law at the University of Toronto, urges caution, saying calls to extend euthanasia access to mature minors and people suffering from mental illness should be rejected by the government. We are moving too quickly, without evidence or understood experience, down a pathway of immense societal consequence, Schipper says in a report he authored on medical assistance in dying (MAiD). We have entered uncharted territory and therefore must proceed cautiously, with great attention to the detail of each and every instance. Schipper, who was a member of the Council of Canadian Academies expert panel on MAiD, is concerned that a slippery slope effect could lead to continuous expanding of the criteria. Federal Justice Minister David Lametti plans to table legislation sometime this month to revise the rules for medically assisted death. The move comes in order to fulfill a requirement in Bill C-14 that the law be reviewed five years after it came into effect. To date, doctors have helped some 7,000 Canadians die since MAiD was enacted in June 2016, following a Supreme Court of Canada decision the previous year. Under the criminal code, Bill C-14 provides exemptions to physicians of patients who are experiencing unendurable suffering, with no end in sight, allowing medical practitioners to prescribe lethal drugs or other means to assist in death. MAiD was advanced a step further in September 2019 after a Quebec Superior Court decision removed the provision that death must be reasonably foreseeable for euthanasia. With the five-year review coming up, extending MAiD to mature minors and those suffering from mental illness is being considered. Schipper is calling on the federal government to reject such changes, noting that there are serious ethical considerations that remain unanswered. One of his major concerns is that, while settled law, prior opinion, and precedent are sound justifications from a legal standpoint, they are not satisfactory for bedside clinicians who must make forward-looking decisions amid uncertainty. The matter of consent is also crucial, he says in the report. Consent, from a clinical perspective, is highly ambiguous and not measurable. Just imagine being asked to make a very nuanced assessment of your risk and prognosis while writhing in pain, having just been hit by a truck, or in the middle of a heart attack, Schipper says. Nowhere is that considered. Yet capacity to consent is fundamental to the entire MAiD process. Nor is medically assisted dying neutral in its values, as Bill C-14 maintains it to be, he adds. The legal framing of MAiD, premised on the value of individual autonomy, is derived from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, while faith-based and religious values are systematically excluded, Schipper explains. He says religions underlying codes have deep experience in the area of the end of life and should be represented in the legislation. If Canada is to come to some accommodation about a role for MAiD, then moral voices have to have equitable standing, he says. What is to be allowed in MAiD is entirely driven by valuesnot science, not technology, not even evidence, but the moral code of each participant. A medical practitioners role, in the Hippocratic tradition, is to unpack the roots of suffering in order to alleviate the perceived wish to die, the report states. Such practitioners should view the patients overall situation holistically and present euthanasia as a last option, after carefully and laboriously considering other options. MAiD alters that approach. As things currently stand, if a patient meets current (shifting and imprecise) regulations, a provider strongly disposed to providing MAiD is able to tick the procedural boxes and proceed. In January, the government held consultations on the proposed changes, including an online survey in which the public could participate and in-person consultations with experts across the country. When the consultations were launched, Lametti said they will allow us to hear directly from Canadians and guide the path forward. But some were unhappy with the survey. A Winnipeg woman who lives with disabilities resulting from childhood polio said she perceived a huge imbalance in the questions. There are so many things [in the survey] that promote [medical assistance in dying]. I could find nothing that discourages it. There was no place that I could find where people could complain about undue influence, Ruth Enns told CBC. Lametti has said that more than 150,000 people participated in the survey. B oris Johnson is facing his first major Commons revolt since the general election, with Tory MPs determined to trigger a vote on letting Huawei build 5G. Senior Conservatives believe a large number of colleagues will vote against allowing the Chinese tech giant to handle a third of all the private data passing along the new generation comms network. The White House acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, is set to visit No 10 tomorrow to spell out US President Donald Trumps anger at the decision to use Huawei and press the Government for a U-turn. Mr Johnson is not expected to meet the Washington delegation in person, sending counterpart Sir Edward Lister and adviser Dominic Cummings to make the government case that encryption will keep secrets safe. A Huawei company logo / REUTERS The opportunity for a binding vote at Westminster arises from the Prime Ministers pledge to pass legislation capping Huaweis share of 5G. If the Government resorts to secondary legislation, which cannot be amended, then MPs will table an arcane prayer that would annul it if passed. Former Brexit secretary David Davis said MPs were looking for reassurance. There are a lot of questions flying, and if there are not good answers then I think there will be a rebellion, he told the Standard. Mr Davis said No 10s argument that Britain could be left behind in the rush for 5G made no sense because France was willing to wait longer in order to use alternatives to Huawei. If they argue that we are stuck with Huawei because of decisions made in the past, then it is even more worthwhile waiting and replacing it. Huawei insists it is a commercial company that cannot be ordered by the Chinese state to eavesdrop. However, none of Britains Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand is using the firm for 5G. The Prime Minister secured a majority of 80 at the election meaning a defeat is highly unlikely. Hearings of the ministers picked to be part of the Orban Government II continue today by the specialist committees of Parliament. According to the schedule approved by the standing bureaus in a joint sitting, the picks to be heard today are Virgil Popescu for minister of economy, energy and business environment; Ion Stefan for development minister; Ionut Stroe for minister of youth and sports; Catalin Predoiu for justice minister; Monica Anisie for education minister; Bogdan Aurescu for foreign minister, and Bogdan Gheorghiu for culture minister.The picks heard on Monday were Florin Citu for finance minister; Costel Alexe for minister of the environment; Nicolae Ciuca for defence minister, and Marcel Vela for interior minister. The only one to receive a positive opinion was Ciuca, while Citu, Alexe and Vela all received a negative opinion.On the third and last day of hearings on Wednesday, the committees will hear Adrian Oros for minister of agriculture and rural development; Victor Costache for health minister; Marcel Bolos for European funds; Violeta Alexandru for labour minister, and Lucian Bode for transport minister.*** According to the regulations of the joint sessions of Parliament, each candidate for the position of minister is heard at a joint meeting by the standing committees of the two chambers whose activity object corresponds to the area of competence of the future minister.After the hearings, the committees will draw up a joint, reasoned advisory opinion.The new Cabinet investiture voting is scheduled to take place in the Parliament plenary session, on February 24. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Wed, February 19, 2020 00:01 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065436f3 4 Inforial Free Earlier this year, the world was shocked by the outbreak of a new virus that began in the province of Wuhan, China. The coronavirus, which causes a disease called COVID-19, has since infected more than 71,000 people around the world, mostly in mainland China, and killed 1,873, including five outside mainland China, according to CNN reports as of Feb. 18. Cases have been detected in at least 30 countries and regions outside mainland China, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Australia and the United States. The virus might even have spread to Indonesia as well. Initially, COVID-19 was thought to move only from animals to humans. However, it has now been proven that the virus can be transmitted from human to human and spread through the air. This means the potential for virus contraction is even greater. Facts on coronavirus What is COVID-19? The virus that causes COVID-19 is part of the coronavirus type. This virus is zoonotic, which means it is transmitted not only from animals to humans, but also human to human. How does coronavirus spread? Within 10 years, coronaviruses have mutated into dangerous types, namely MERS and SARS. This latest mutation of the virus can spread in several ways: Contact with animals: Some scientists believe that SARS originated from civet cats, which are widely available in China, while MERS originated from camels. COVID-19 is believed to be sourced from a livestock market. Spread by air: The virus can spread through droplets released from coughing or sneezing. Human touch: Shaking hands or touching someone who is infected can increase the risk of being infected. Dirt: Contact with human feces can also cause a person to become infected with the virus, but very rarely. Who are vulnerable to this coronavirus? People with weak immune systems such as infants, children, elderly people, pregnant women and those with pre-existing health problems (e.g. pneumonia) are very vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. What are the simple steps to help minimize coronavirus infections? There is not yet any effective vaccine to prevent COVID-19. However, there are simple steps to help minimize the risks of contracting it: Wash hands regularly: Your hands touch many places and objects wherever you go. Wash your hands with water, soap and/or antiseptic for 20 seconds. Avoid physical contact with infected people: If you need to engage with those who have been medically proven to have contracted coronavirus, use the necessary protective measures because coronavirus can spread by direct physical contact. Clean animal waste: Be sure to regularly clear your pet's waste as the coronavirus can also infect animals. Refrain from visiting regions where the virus has broken out: It is advisable not to travel to places where the pandemic is still prevalent. Whenever possible, avoid visiting public places because the risks of you being exposed to the virus will be higher. Keep your body healthy: Your immune system plays an important role keeping you out of the virus reach. Since your immune system is directly related to the fitness of your body, living a healthy life is essential. Eat nutritious food, drink water regularly, get enough sleep, and do physical exercises to help keep you fit. Eat well-cooked food: Cook food well, since a virus may infect the ingredients that are not properly prepared. . (Photo courtesy of Higienis/.) Higienis Indonesia Higienis Indonesia, known as a specialist in the field of health and hygienic solutions, believes living in a healthy indoor environment can minimize the risks of contracting viruses. Blueair as part of the solution What about the rooms you live in? On average, 90 percent of daily activities are done indoors, and indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air. All kinds of pollutants, including viruses, can circulate freely where you spend most of your time -- at home, school, office or the gym. Air purification Creating clean air in a room is absolutely necessary. Installing a ventilation system can help produce adequate air exchange, though it remains possible that pollutants can still enter the room. The best way to stop viruses in the air is to install an air purifier. Choose an air purifier that is able to filter out 99.9 percent of pollutants as small as 0.1 micron, including H1N1, an earlier strain of coronavirus similar to COVID-19. Blueair creates clean air Equipped with HEPASilentTM technology and combining highly efficient HEPA filtration with electrostatic ionizers, Blueair is proven to be able to get rid of at least 12 types of bacteria and viruses as proven during a test conducted by the Guangzhou Testing Center of Industrial Microbiology and the Guangzhou CAS Test Technical Services Co., Ltd, China. Blueairs advantages As one of the most award-winning air purifiers, Blueair has a unique advantage compared with others on the market, because of its ability to effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses while producing some of the highest Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR). HEPASilentTM technology combines the best of mechanical filtering and ionizing to effectively kill and remove 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria from the air in just 60 minutes. Blueairs electrostatic ionizer Unlike most air purifiers on the market that employ only mechanical filtering, Blueair's patented hybrid technology combines mechanical filtration and an electrostatic ionizer. The polluted air is first charged with ions so that very small particles stick as they pass through opposing-charge filtration fibers consisting of different sizes and layers. Ozone-free Filter media of different sizes and layers ensure that all microscopic particles are filtered and trapped. The result is a high level of clean air production, or CADR, free from both pollutants and microorganisms, namely viruses and disease-carrying bacteria. All the ionization occurs within the unit, so that the resulting air is ozone-free. Blueair filter media is also hydrophobic, which ensures the captured germs do not survive. . (Photo courtesy of Higienis/.) Find out more on how Blueair can help kill bacteria and viruses, and make your environment safer and healthier at www.higienis.com, or call (021) 3983-5295 for information and advice. Andrew Sabisky Number 10 aide Andrew Sabisky quit Downing Street on Monday night following a storm over his previous online comments. The newly-appointed adviser was forced to resign after racist, classist and misogynistic remarks emerged including some posted on the blog of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons senior adviser. Tory MPs were among those who condemned the government for appointing Sabisky, as well as refusing to speak out against him. But what exactly did he say? Here are some of the comments which ultimately forced him to quit the government. Black Americans have a lower IQ than white Americans Sabisky commented on a blog in 2014: If the mean black American IQ is (best estimate based on a centurys worth of data) around 85, as compared to a mean white American IQ of 100, then if IQ is normally distributed (which it is), you will see a far greater percentage of blacks than whites in the range of IQs below 75 or below, at which point we are close to the typical boundary for mild mental retardation. Typically criminals with IQs below 70 cannot be executed in then USA, I believe. That parsimoniously explains the greater diagnostic rates for blacks when it comes to Intellectual disability. It simply [sic] a consequence of the normal distribution of cognitive ability, because there are significant difference in the group means. Racial differences in intelligence are genetic in origin Sabisky wrote on this blog in 2014: There are excellent reasons to think the very real racial differences in intelligence are significantly even mostly genetic in origin, though the degree is of course a very serious subject of scholarly debate. That debate busily bustles on, and Im sure well have more precise answers in another 5 years or so, though whether the politicians will pay any attention is debatable. It would be nice if they did from the standpoint of immigration control (in the UK, that is). Compulsory birth control would prevent creating an underclass Story continues Sabisky wrote on a Cummings blog, also in 2014: One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue. Given the fairly frequent side-effects of current hormone-based methods well need to come up with some better options (ideally for both sexes), but that shouldnt be too hard. Your wife should submit to your sexual demands The National uncovered explicit Reddit posts from 2013 in which Sabisky said it was the duty of Christian women to submit to her husbands sexual demands. In one post, he said: I think you probably need to take the lead a little bit more. Theologically speaking, she is your wife and should submit to you as unto the Lord. Yahoo News UK has chosen not to repeat Sabiskys subsequent graphic comments. The paper said the posts were deleted soon after it approached him for comment. Dominic Cummings hits out when asked about Sabisky "Its an honor and privilege to be chosen for this award. I have found my inspiration in some very talented and courageous women and am committed to paying that forward. Linda Mack of Mack International was awarded Women in Wealth Advocate of the Year and received the designation of Highly Commended in the Best Family Office Consulting Firm category by Private Asset Management Magazine, a leading wealth management, and family office industry publication, as part of the 2020 PAM Awards, announced February 6 in New York City. For over two decades the Private Asset Management Awards have recognized the best of the best performers and are a sought-after industry accolade. These awards recognize and reward top investment professionals, wealth advisors, legal firms, consultants and other key service providers operating within the private asset management sector. This is Lindas second consecutive year being named Leading Womans Advocate, demonstrating extraordinary mentoring for females seeking leadership roles. I remember the challenges of starting my own business 18 years ago and continue to be dedicated to sharing my experiences and lessons learned. Guiding and supporting women into senior-level positions and helping women entrepreneurs build their businesses successfully is a great source of personal satisfaction, said Linda. Its an honor and privilege to be chosen for this award. We all succeed when we empower and encourage each other. I have found my inspiration in some very talented and courageous women and am committed to paying that forward. Mack International, headquartered in Chicago, is a premier boutique firm specializing in providing C-suite retained executive search and strategic consulting solutions to family offices, family investment firms and family enterprises on an international basis. Clients range from first-generation business-owning wealth creators/entrepreneurs building a family office for the first time through multi-generational families of six or more generations. The PAM Awards, organized by Private Asset Management magazine, recognize and reward those who have successfully serviced high-net-worth individuals in an increasingly complex economic environment. Award winners in 42 categories were selected by an independent panel of judges based on financial progress, growth, client satisfaction and product innovation over the previous year. The prestigious award was presented to Linda Mack during an awards ceremony attended by over 300 industry colleagues. Being recognized this year in the consulting category was particularly thrilling, said Linda. We are strategic consultants and trusted advisors who help our clients define their long-term vision, mission, and objectives and build and execute a plan to accomplish it. Our consulting ranges from strategic planning and 360 assessments to succession planning, generational transitions, governance, organizational design, performance management, executive compensation, and retention strategies. We bring the breadth and depth of our unique experience to our clients on each engagement. About Mack International LLC Mack International is the premier, a boutique retained executive search and strategic management/human capital consulting firm serving national and international clients in the family office, family business enterprise and the wealth management industries on a national and international basis. Founded in 2002, the firm has achieved an exceptional track record of success as evidenced by its unmatched industry expertise, in-depth market knowledge and unparalleled track record of success. Founder and President, Linda C. Mack has established proprietary methodologies such as the Mack 360 and is credited for having coined the term expert generalist in the industry. About the PAM Awards PAM Awards are designed for investment advisors and wealth professionals, operating within the private asset management industry, who have proven to be the best and most knowledgeable in the industry. The judging process, using an independent panel made up of wealth industry experts, is based on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative performance indicators. Successful candidates have demonstrated exemplary performance in four critical categories: Financial Progress, Growth, Client Satisfaction, and Product Innovation. The Pittsburgh Quarterly Restaurant Review Board recognizes outstanding restaurants and chefs, publishing the top 20 annually in The List. Diverse board members are chosen for their interest and knowledge of food and fine dining. Each is anonymous, ensuring no special treatment during restaurant visitsbut in the coming reviews, each has picked an icon from the array above, and that icon will accompany their reviews so you can follow each board member via his or her icon. Throughout the year, they dine out frequently, sharing their experiences with other members via mini-reviewsbrief, off-the-cuff impressions not meant to be definitive or comprehensive. And now we share them with you! This week, we feature a collection of reviews of Dish Osteria on the South Side. Dish Osteria 128 S 17th Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15203. (412) 390-2012. Saturday night, dinner for two at 10 p.m. My wife and I have been wanting to try this restaurant since they re-opened, and we were not disappointed. Since meeting my wife (she is from Italy), I have been trying to impress her with Pittsburghs authentic Italian restaurants. Weve gone from the most expensive places in the area to the hole-in-the wall pizza shops, and nothing has caught her attention or screamed authenticity. My friends and family have advised me to switch to a different cuisine, but I wanted to give Dish one last try. It surpassed both of our expectations on all levels. The atmosphere was lively yet romantic, crowded yet cozy. The recommended wine paired perfectly with all courses of the meal. We left with such a feeling of satisfaction and enjoyment that we even went again this week for drinks and small plates. (You need to try the shrimp and sardines!) We arrived at 9:50 p.m. for our 10 p.m. reservation. The host, one of the owners, recognized my wifes accent immediately and personally seated us. He pulled out both of our chairs, lit a candle, and handed menus to each of us. He and my wife spoke in Italian for a few minutes while we got settled. (Hopefully they werent talking about me.) Once our waitress arrived, the owner instructed her to take extra care of us and then he departed to the kitchen. We ordered a bottle of wine that was recommended by the owner and the Carpaccio di Manzo for an appetizer. The owner returned with our bottle of vino, the carpaccio, and a fancy dish of his homemade green olives. These were not on the menu, but they were fantastic. The waitress arrived shortly after with homemade focaccia and a small plate of oil and balsamic. For our entrees we ordered the Rigatoni alla Scamorza Affumicata and the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare. Both dishes were better than expected. After trying the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, my wife looked at me with a big smile and simply said, You finally did it. Lastly, for dessert, we ordered the tiramisu. Light and fluffy and packed with flavor. At the end of the dinner, the owner arrived with three glasses of Cynar and asked if he could have a seat with us. It was a truly great dinner and a one-of-a-kind experience. My wife instructed me that Dish captured true Italian dining and we couldnt have loved it more! Late dinner for four. So comforting to walk into a familiar place that has been home to many, many terrific meals. Antipasti: calamari with spinach, pan roasted sea scallops, olive blend with citrus and marinade, and most spectacular. Insalata di Pere e Pecorino: arugola, radicchio, circus frisee, red pears in a cooked grape must dressing with walnuts and pomegranate seeds, shavings of Sicilian pecorino pepato drizzled with honey. I opted for the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare. Just as I remembered it. The negatives: its still too darn tight. The smallest chairs in the world are placed back to back with someone at another tableand youre bumping elbows with the person beside you. Tiny tables result in juggling space for food. I wish they would have refreshed the interior a bit more and invested in better lighting. Went for a 5 p.m. dinner on a weeknight with no reservation. There was a line around the corner when we got there, but we were comfortably seated at a table in the bar area. Impeccable service and fantastic food followed. The baby artichoke salad dressed with figs and chives and the grilled calamari with spinach were authentically Italian. The use of fresh and authentic ingredients elevates their simple preparations to outstanding. We tried the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mareluscious seafood and flavorful olive oil bathed the pastaand the Pappardelle ai Funghi, a rich and delightful pasta tossed with local lobster mushrooms, chanterelles and hen of the woods. It is beyond exciting to have this one re-opened. Dish is back and better than ever. I rediscovered this neighborhood hidden gem in the fall and returned several more times in the last few months of 2019 with new friends, after raving about each visit to them. Since its always difficult to find a reservation, I usually dine at the bar or in their limited seating section of the bar area. The cocktails are creative and fit almost any taste; my favorite is their Grazie Miele (gin, lavender, poli honey grapy). The food, particularly ravioli, keeps me coming back for more. We enjoyed the Insalata di Pere e Pecorino, Rigatoni alla Scamorza Affumicata and the Polpo alla Griglia. Cheers to Andrea and team who continue to make each dining experience intimate and memorable. He seems to know everyone who walks through his doors, remembers my order each time, and takes time to genuinely interact and ensure diners experiences exceed expectations. So glad that they are back! Cant get a reservationalthough I do have one later this monthbut have had luck in the bar arriving as late as 6:30 p.m. Vitello tonnato (not many restaurants serve this and it makes you feel as though you are on a patio in Capri in July), Carpaccio, octopus to start and shared pappardelle with mushrooms for main beautiful ingredients, simply prepared and simply delicious. A real treasure. The trial for sabotage and a conspiracy to violently overthrow the government of South Africa that earned Nelson Mandela a life sentence in 1964 was not filmed. But its audio component was recorded; 256 hours of it, according to this film. The State Against Mandela and the Others, a documentary about that trial and its aftermath directed by Nicolas Champeaux and Gilles Porte, has clever, effective means of compensating for the absence of visual documentation. One is animation. In striking black-and-white renderings that look like charcoal drawings, scenes from the trial are depicted, sometimes metaphorically. A judge upbraiding the anti-apartheid activist Mandela is drawn in an outsize fashion so as to dwarf the defendant. One is reminded of the animated Before the Law sequence that prefaces Orson Welless film of Kafkas The Trial. The movie also features interviews with surviving co-defendants and comrades of Mandela, all of them filmed with headphones around their necks. Periodically they put these on, listen to the trial audio and comment on it. Mr. Trump said that he had been very tough on Huawei but that he wanted American companies to be able to sell all of this incredible technology. The about-face is the latest blow to the China hawks in the Trump administration and another win for more moderate advisers like Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has been pushing for greater accommodation of Beijing amid pressure from corporate America. The administrations efforts to restrict the flow of American technology to China has triggered objections from companies, who say it undermines their ability to compete on a global scale. Foreign firms have already taken steps to limit the American components in their products over concerns that access to parts they need could be cut off. And some American companies say they may begin to do more research and development outside the United States to avoid running afoul of the administrations stricter China rules. General Electric, in response to media reports on Saturday about the administrations review of its export license, said in a statement that it would comply with any requirements imposed by the United States but played down concerns about the risks of sales to China. We aggressively protect and defend our intellectual property and work closely with the U.S. government to fulfill our responsibilities and shared security and economic interests, General Electric said in a statement. G.E. has provided products and services in the global marketplace for decades. The potential U.S. restrictions have gotten Chinas attention. Geng Shuang, spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry, criticized the U.S. proposal to halt the jet engine deliveries during a news conference on Tuesday. It would expose certain U.S. officials ignorance in science and technology, disregard of the market principle, and anxiety with Chinas development, he said during a briefing. It will be another example of the U.S. using political means to undermine bilateral commercial cooperation and wantonly oppress China. Braving frigid temperatures, hundreds of students from English-speaking McGill University and French-speaking Universite du Quebec a Montreal demonstrated recently against the Coalition Avenir Quebecs chauvinist secularism law (Bill 21). Students braved frigid temperatures to voice their oppostion to Bill 21 Among other antidemocratic provisions, Bill 21 prohibits Quebec schools hiring teachers who wear religious symbolsincluding the Muslim hijab, Sikh turban and Jewish kippah. Underscoring Bill 21s discriminatory aims, the government has said it has no objection to teachers wearing discreet Roman Catholic crosses. The January 17 demonstration was organized by student associations from both universities, including the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) External Affairs, the Education Undergraduate Society (EdUS), the Association des etudiantes et etudiants de la faculte des sciences de l'education and the Association facultaire etudiante de science politique et droit de l'UQAM. EdUS students, who had voted for a two-days strike to demonstrate against the law, also held another action January 21. On the first protest day, some 300 demonstrators heard speeches from students opposed to the secularism law, and marched to the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration. According to the organizers, the protests purpose was to demand that the government withdraw its secularism law in its entirety, and to press the province's university administrations to take a "hardline" stand against the chauvinist law. Bill 21 is the outcome of a longstanding campaign, spearheaded by the most chauvinistic sections of Quebec's ruling elite and the media, a campaign in which the entire political establishment, including the pseudo-left pro-Quebec independence Quebec Solidaire and union bureaucracy, has been complicit. This campaign was launched in 2007 by the tabloids of the Quebecor media empire and the Action democratique du Quebec (ADQ), the predecessor of the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ). They railed against the excessive accommodations purportedly granted religious minorities and the threat they represent for Quebec culture. Bill 21 prohibits the wearing of "religious symbols" by many other state employees, in addition to teachers, in so-called "positions of authority." It also incorporates the main measure of the previous Liberal government's Bill 62, which reduced Muslim women wearing the full veil (niqab or burqa) to pariah status by prohibiting them from receiving or giving public services (health care, public school, public transportation, etc.). The claims of the CAQ and the Quebec political establishment as a whole that Bill 21 is aimed at affirming the secular character of the state are a cynical and hypocritical cover for discriminatory legislation that stigmatizes immigrants and religious minorities, especially Muslims. In the name of safeguarding Quebec's "cultural heritage, Quebecs secularism law gives all manner of exemptions to the display of Catholic symbols in state institutions. The antidemocratic character of the law is further demonstrated by the CAQs invocation of the notwithstanding clause, which shields the law from any constitutional challenge, although it manifestly violates fundamental rights recognized by the Canadian and Quebec Charter of Human Rights. The turn of the Quebecs ruling elite towards chauvinist and xenophobic policies is part of an international trend in which policies historically associated with the extreme right are being normalized. The CAQs measures are of a kind with the Ford Conservative government's attacks on refugees in Ontario, Trumps anti-immigrant witch hunt, and the European Unions closing of its borders to migrants fleeing war. As in the 1930s, the capitalist elite is vomiting up chauvinist reaction with the aim of scapegoating immigrants and minorities for the deepening economic and social crisis and splitting the working class. Passed into law last June, Bill 21s perverse impact has already been felt by students and workers. In an interview with CTV News, Amrit Kaur, a turban-wearing Sikh teacher who was born and has taught in Quebec, explained that she had to leave the province for British Columbia to find work in her chosen profession. Expressing how thousands of workers feel, Kaur said, I am treated like a second-class person simply because I have beliefs, and I want to express myself visually. She went on to point out that the bill contributes to the labour shortage [in education] because there are people like me who are qualified to teach but cannot because of institutionalized racism. The stand in defence of democratic rights taken by the trainee teachers who led last months student protest against Bill 21 contrasts sharply with the response from the trade union bureaucracy. Together with their political allies in the big-business Parti Quebecois and Quebec Solidaire, the unions have always characterized the debate on reasonable accommodation and the so-called secularism of the state as legitimate, not a reactionary campaign trumped up by the nationalist and chauvinist right. The unions are aware that Bill 21 is unpopular among their members. But they refuse to denounce it as a blatant attack on democratic rights or mount any campaign against it. Courtney Murdoch The World Socialist Web Site interviewed Courtney Murdoch, Vice President internal at McGills Education Undergraduate Society, who helped organize last months two-day strike. WSWS: Why do you oppose Bill 21? Courtney (CM): For myself, Im studying to be a teacher, and its directly affecting a lot of our peers. They are being told that they have to make a decision between their religion, their practices, something that is really fundamental to their identity, and the career they are passionate about. And beyond even the career implications, [Bill 21] really does tell every minority group in Quebec that they dont belong here. That they are different from the others, that they are not wanted here, and, if they do stay, they should be less visible. We find that to be a very troubling message, not something that we are willing to let pass. It is something that we are absolutely going to continue to fight. Bill 21 is far from secularism. It is very targeted towards certain groups of people, and if we are going to talk about secularism, lets talk about the fact that crosses are still displayed in Quebec schools or that half of our streets are named after Catholic saints, and all the other Christian religious symbols that are present throughout Quebec. If we want to talk about secularism, these things should be our first focus. WSWS: Do you have any idea of the number of people affected at McGill or at least in your faculty? CM: I have no exact statistics at this point. But there are a number of people in the faculty who do wear religious symbols. There are a lot within the faculty who wear hijabs and there are quite a few who wear a variety of other veils as well. They plan to teach in Quebec, but they are realizing that they wont be able to unless they are willing to give up that part of who they are. And we dont feel they should have to make that choice. WSWS: What was the response from students to your call for a strike? The motion passed with 95 percent support. A lot of students participated, either by joining us on the picket line or at least by not attending classes. And a lot of teachers sent emails to students saying they would not be penalized if they chose to participate in the strike. WSWS: What was the response from the university administrations? CM: Universities tend to avoid taking political positions. But when we look at such an important issue, it is important that such institutions with a lot of power take a stand on the correct side and stand up for their students rights. But thats just not what were seeing right now. WSWS: The WSWS fights for the understanding that the anti-immigrant policies being adopted by the CAQ, Trump, and other governments represent a conscious effort by the ruling elite to divide the working class on ethnic lines and divert attention and anger away from its program of austerity, rearmament and war. Do you have any thoughts on this? CM: Definitely. We see a huge swing to the right at this time. The implications and damages of such policies could definitely be permanent, and this is why we are fighting them with everything that we have. It is a pattern seen throughout historythis idea of scapegoating problems onto minority groups. We are not willing to repeat history. We do worry that the CAQ will expand Bill 21 to cover other areas of the public sector. If youre going to invoke the non-standing clause to do this, whats stopping you from doing it to impose anything else? Passengers broke into an argument while onboard a Ryanair plane after facing hours of delays at London Stansted Airport on February 7. Sakib Ahmed was on the plane, which was supposed to be on its way to Malaga, Spain, when he recorded video of the altercation between the other passengers. The video was posted to Twitter on February 16 and shows one man yelling at another group of three men, who seemed to be upset about the delays. The passengers were already delayed by three hours before they boarded the plane, and were then told by the flight crew that they would need to wait longer due to French air traffic control strikes. Ahmed informed Storyful that the three passengers who are engaging in an argument with another man in the video were drinking alcohol, and once the news of further delays was delivered from the cockpit, tensions rose. This caused the plane atmosphere to be a lot more angry, naturally, and those 3 passengers that were intoxicated kept swearing and shouting abuse to the air hostess. Another passenger got angry and kept shouting at them and there were back and forth throughout the flight, Ahmed told Storyful. After several hours of frustrating delays, the plane eventually left the tarmac and was on its way to Malaga. Felt like the longest flight of my life, Ahmed told Storyful. Credit: Sakib Ahmed via Storyful KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A crossing guard was killed in Kansas City, Kansas, after being struck by a vehicle outside an elementary school on Tuesday morning, authorities said. The incident happened outside of Christ the King Elementary School in the 5400 block of Leavenworth Road. Alan Dershowitz has claimed Barack Obama 'personally asked' the FBI to look into someone on behalf of George Soros after the billionaire donor 'whispered' to the president. The Harvard Law Professor was referring to President Donald Trump's recent sparring with Attorney General Bill Barr when he made the revelation on Sunday. 'I have some information as well about the Obama administration which will be disclosed in a lawsuit at some point, but I'm not prepared to disclose it now about how President Obama personally asked the FBI to investigate somebody on behalf of George Soros, who was a close ally of his.' Dershowitz told Breitbart. 'People whisper to presidents all the time; presidents whisper to the Justice Department all the time. It's very common; it's wrong, whoever does it - but it's common.' George Soros (left) 'whispered' to President Obama (right) who 'personally asked asked the FBI to investigate somebody' on behalf of the billionaire donor, according to Alan Dershowitz Pressed on the facts, Dershowitz declined to reveal more but to say, 'I have in my possession the actual 302 [witness report] form which documents this issue and it will at the right time come out, but I'm not free to disclose it now because it's a case that's not yet been filed.' He added: 'There was a lot of White House control of the Justice Department during the Kennedy administration and I don't think we saw very many liberal professors arguing against that.' Barr last week implored Trump to stop tweeting about ongoing DoJ cases, telling him it made it 'impossible' to do his job. The President, however, continued his unrelenting criticism of the recommended sentence for the convicted Republican operative Roger Stone. Last week the DoJ abandoned prosecutors' initial recommendation to give Stone seven to nine years in prison after he was found guilty in November of seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering, prompting all four prosecutors to quit the case. Alan Dershowitz, impeachment defense lawyer for US President Donald Trump, attends the announcement of Trump's Middle East peace plan in the East Room of the White House in Washington last month More than 1,000 former DoJ officials on Sunday called for Barr to resign over his handling of the trial, particularly his overruling of his own prosecutors in the case. Dershowitz, who worked on Trump's defense team during the impeachment trial, added: 'We've seen this kind of White House influence on the Justice Department virtually in every Justice Department. The difference: This president is much more overt about it, he tweets about it. President Obama whispered to the Justice Department about it. 'And, I don't think these 1,000 former Justice Department officials would pass the shoe-on-the-other-foot test. Maybe some of them would, but a good many of them wouldn't.' Trump had heavily criticized the original sentencing request for Stone and the DoJ subsequently abandoned it, instead deciding to make no formal sentencing recommendation. Barr (right) last week implored Trump to stop tweeting about ongoing DoJ cases, telling him it made it 'impossible' to do his job. The President, however, continued in his unrelenting criticism of the recommended sentence for the convicted Republican operative Roger Stone Democrats blasted the department's shift in the high-profile case involving Stone, whose friendship with Trump dates back decades. Stone's trial arose from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that detailed extensive Russian interference in the 2016 election to benefit Trump's candidacy. Barr said on Thursday in an interview with broadcaster ABC that Trump's criticism of those involved in the Stone case 'make it impossible for me to do my job.' Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) recently hosted a fireside chat with Teresa Carlson, the vice president Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and one of the most accomplished forwarding-thinking technology leaders in the world. As the founder and leader of AWS Worldwide Public Sector, Carlson has helped change mindsets of both individuals and organizations around the world modernize policies at all levels of government and cultivate a 21st century global workforce equipped with the skillset necessary to leverage the full potential of cloud to drive innovation. During the discussion, Carlson talked about how tens of thousands of government agencies, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations around the world are using AWS today to pave the way for disruptive innovation and to make the world a better place. She underscored AWSs committed to the Middle East and its continued investment to support the regions digital transformation across governments, enterprises, and startups. She also commended the UAEs efforts, particularly in the public sector, in fostering entrepreneurship and driving a culture of innovation. Carlson noted that while the rapid pace of innovation creates expansive economic development opportunities, the shortage of the right skills put governments and businesses at risk to succeed over the long-term in the new digital economy. She highlighted that as the Middle East looks to become digitized, governments, private enterprises, and educational and nonprofit organizations all have a role to play in bridging the skills gap in order to reap the benefits of technology. For that reason, AWS is making significant investments in education, training, and certification programs to help advance technical skills in the Middle East. As a strong advocate for empowering women in the technology field, Carlson also outlined her belief that gender inclusion and diversity are key to driving innovation. Her passion lead to the creation of "We Power Tech," AWS's diversity and inclusion initiative, which has been extended to the region, providing events and free training courses to support technology skills development for women in the Middle East. Nadine Halabi, business development manager at DBWC, said: DBWC is thrilled to host AWS and Teresa Carlson as part of our continued commitment to providing quality training, mentoring and guidance to the councils members. Hosting such high-quality seminars with the presence of influential and successful figures in the business world is important to inspire and guide businesswomen and female entrepreneurs in the UAE. Cloud computing is today an integral part of driving innovation across all organizations and we are pleased to extend to our members knowledge and expertise in this field, she added. AWS is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. Millions of customersincluding the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agenciestrust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. TradeArabia News Service Terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir "are full", but the Pakistan army's attempts to infiltrate terrorists under the cover of ceasefire violations are being responded to in a "hard and punishing" manner, a senior army commander said. Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, who has been heading the strategic command of the Kashmir-based XV corps, is confident that Pakistan would not succeed in its attempts to push terrorists in the Valley and disturb the prevailing peace. He said peace in the Kashmir Valley has been "cemented by security forces in coordination with various stakeholders including opinion-makers and mentors of the civil society". Lt Gen Dhillon, who will soon leave for a posting in the army headquarters in Delhi, joined the strategic command in February last year. His tenure began on a challenging note as within a week of him taking over, the nation witnessed a gruesome terror attack on its security forces in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a suicide bomber targeted their convoy in Pulwama on February 14. Not yet settled properly in his new role, Lt Gen Dhillon of the Rajputana Rifles, began coordinating operations against the perpetrators of the ghastly attack as also monitoring developments along the Line of Control where situation was getting tense by the day. In a written reply to a question by PTI, Lt Gen Dhillon talked about the history of Pakistan's proxy war and said the neighbouring country has been consistently aiding and abetting infiltration in India for more than 30 years now. "All the terrorist camps and launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are full. These terrorist cadres are desperate to infiltrate with the help of Pakistan army, who indulge in firing at our posts. "Our befitting response to ceasefire violations has been swift, hard and punishing," Lt Gen Dhillon told PTI. He said the Army's main task is to keep terrorism at bay, both at the LoC and in the hinterland in "conjunction with Jammu and Kashmir police, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies." While maintaining an effective domination along the LoC, he said, conducting effective anti-terror operations "in a people-friendly manner" in the inner areas has improved the situation in the Valley. He said local business, tourism and education sectors are likely to benefit immensely from the "operational successes, the improving security situation and various government initiatives". On the number of terrorists operating in the Valley, Lt Gen Dhillon said, "We work on concepts and not numbers. And the concept is the constant attempts by Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists and war-like stores, to commit sensational terrorist activities." The shrine is found in the small village of Al Our, from where most of the victims came. The memorial shows the men kneeling with a large statue of Christ behind them, his arms open in an embrace of salvation. A museum that preserves the testimonies of the victims was also opened. Cairo (AsiaNews/Agencies) Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church on Saturday, 15 February, inaugurated a memorial to the Christian men beheaded in Libya five years ago to the day. The shrine includes a large statue of Christ with his arms open as if to embrace the statues of the 21 Christian martyrs who were killed by Islamic State militants on a beach in Sirte because they refused to give up their faith. The men, 20 from Egypt and one from Ghana, are shown kneeling, as ordered by the terrorists, who beheaded them and threw their bodies into a mass grave. The memorial was built in Al Our, a small village in Minya province, from where many of the victims hailed. Two years, the Coptic Church inaugurated the Cathedral of the Martyrs of Faith and the Homeland in the same village, also on 15 February, to honour the victims. Funding came from the Egyptian government. In addition to the memorial, Bishop H. G. Bevnotious of Samalut opened a museum dedicated to the martyrs, with exhibits about the lives of the victims, from the moment of their abduction to the repatriation of their bodies to Egypt. The latter were found two years after the massacre. Some 52pc of all bTB reactors in 2019 were in dairy herds (Paul Faith/PA) Dairy expansion is a significant factor in increasing bovine TB levels in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture has stated. Herd incidence for 2019 was the highest recorded since 2013 and marks the third successive year of increasing bTB levels. At the end of December the national herd incidence for bTB stood at 3.72pc, marginally up on 2018 (3.51pc) and 2017 (3.47pc). This means that since the beginning of 2019, 3.72pc (4,060 herds) of all herds tested for bTB have experienced a new breakdown -- they have had at least one animal that tested positive for bTB. The number of reactors identified through a combination of skin testing and gamma interferon testing (GIF) in 2019 was 17,058, a decrease of 433 from 2018 (2.48pc). The Department said that while Ireland has far lower levels of bTB than in previous decades, the downward trend in infection rates has been reversed over the past three years. "The reasons why this is happening are multifactorial and often relate to local factors," the Department stated. "It is likely that the expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has played a role in this, since dairy herds, larger herds, and herds which introduce more cattle are all more at risk of bTB breakdowns. "Some 52pc of all bTB reactors in 2019 were in dairy herds," the Department pointed out. TB levels in many parts of the country are low but there are areas with a high percentage of reactors such as Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and north Meath. Other problem regions include Clare, Cork, and Wicklow. The herd incidence in Monaghan of 7.02pc and in Cork North of 6.12pc is significantly higher than the national herd incidence of 3.72pc. Cattle densities Cattle densities in both these regions are far higher than other counties and this is viewed as contributing to the current bTB difficulties. Cork North had the highest number of reactors at 1,993. Monaghan had the second highest at 1,336, followed by Clare with 1,190 reactors. While Wicklow West had the highest herd incidence at 12.33pc (380 reactors), this region has less than 0.5pc of the national herd. Limerick and Longford had the lowest herd incidence at 2.06pc and 2.21pc respectively. The Department of Agriculture and farm organisations have been at odds in recent months over a new strategy to reduce bovine TB levels. The IFA has hit out at what they see as Minister Creed's 'refusal' to meet farmers to discuss compensation issues in the current programme. "It has forced farmers into a position of seriously questioning the ongoing contribution of 35m to a programme that has failed to deliver on its objectives and is implemented by a Minister and his officials who refuse to listen to farmers issues and address them," a spokesperson said recently. Irish farmers contribute 55m each year to the TB programme, according to IFA, but they only receive 18m in compensation for losses. Hundreds of Greek villagers have been taking to the streets in anger over the asylum-seekers they claim want to 'Islamize the western world'. The coastal area of Makrygialos is one of many areas in mainland Greece where the government is locked in a tug of war with local communities over the housing of migrants. Just months after the new conservative administration took over promising to get tough on migration, deadlock is rapidly emerging over where to accommodate tens of thousands of asylum-seekers currently languishing in overcrowded, unsanitary camps on five islands facing Turkey. Greeks that have received hundreds of thousands of refugees coming from the Turkish coastline protest in front of the Interior Ministry in Athens Protests against the 38,000 people in the camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos despite an official capacity of 6,200 Some 300 people have gathered to protest against plans to house 200 asylum-seekers in a disused former home for the mentally ill (protest in Athens last week) There are more than 38,000 people in the camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos despite an official capacity of 6,200. Island officials and residents have told the government that after five years on the front lines of the European migration crisis, they are no longer prepared to accept thousands of asylum-seekers in their midst. But while the administration of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tries to alleviate the problem by relocating thousands of migrants to other parts of Greece, many communities on the mainland are also stonewalling the move. 'We are determined to defend our homeland. We will do anything to keep them out,' says Tasos Yiakoumis, a lawyer taking part in an anti-migrant protest in Makrygialos, a coastal village 280 miles north of Athens. Some 300 people have gathered to protest against plans to house 200 asylum-seekers in a disused former home for the mentally ill. 'We know their plan, they want to Islamicise the entire western world. This shall not pass,' Yiakoumis shouts at the crowd through a microphone. Residents have raised banners made of cloth reading 'No' on a mountain slope on the provincial road of Chios, Volissos Locals have been banding together to keep out buses bearing asylum-seekers from the islands Another speaker claims that 'refugees steal children' and that 'most people coming to Greece have criminal records and are hunted in their home countries.' Other residents in the village of 1,000 say that the crime rate will increase in the village, which mainly lives on tourism. 'This is a tourist area. Which tourist would want to vacation next to a (migrant shelter)?,' asks local mayor Anastasios Manolas, a former career army officer. Similar protests have taken place in other parts of northern Greece in recent months, with locals banding together to keep out buses bearing asylum-seekers from the islands. Last week, parents in a kindergarten in the village of Vrasna refused to share the building with a small number of refugee children, who were forced to seek schooling elsewhere. Meanwhile, critics note that the conservatives only have themselves to blame by repeatedly describing asylum-seekers in negative terms. In November, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said refugees and economic migrants are 'besieging' Europe. Asylum seekers who live in Moria camp, hold placards and shout slogans during a protest over better living conditions and faster asylum procedures The refugees in the town of Mytilini, Lesvos, Greecem protest the conditions they are living in A migrant holds a child during clashes with riot police as refugees and migrants demonstrate outside the Kara Tepe camp, on the island of Lesbos The new conservative government which came to power in July has announced that the island camps on Lesbos, Samos and Chios are to shut down this year. They are to be replaced with new, smaller facilities that are to be operational by mid-2020. But the islanders say they will only accept small facilities where asylum-seekers are to be screened, and then either moved to the mainland, or sent back to Turkey outright. The ongoing deadlock, five years after the height of the migration crisis, has caused exasperation among both island residents and asylum-seekers in the camps, where violence is rife. After extended talks with officials on the islands led nowhere, the government last week caused further anger by announcing that land could be requisitioned for a three-year period to build the new facilities. The islanders responded by taking their protest to Athens on Friday. On Monday, Mitarachi said the government would give island officials a week to suggest alternative locations for the new camps. Niamey, Niger (PANA) - About 20 people were killed and 12 others injured on Monday in Diffa, in the far east of Niger, bordering Nigeria, in a stampede during a free distribution of food at the Youth and Culture House of the locality President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to India next week is a full show of confidence in Indian leadership and friendship with India by the United States, former Foreign Secretary Shashank said here on Tuesday, adding that it is also equally important because the world leader is visiting India and not any other country amid all the domestic issues going o in his own country. "His (Trump) visit is important because this is Trump's first-ever visit to India. America has seen a lot of development in its domestic affairs in the previous months. Presidential elections are coming forth in the US. Secondly, this is the President's first visit to any foreign country post his acquittal in the impeachment trial. He is visiting India and not any other country. The visit is a full show of confidence in Indian leadership and friendship with India," the former diplomat told ANI in an exclusive interview. The US President will pay a two-day state visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dignitary is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year. The announcement of Trump's first official visit to India was earlier made by the White House, which, in its statement, said that the US President and Modi had agreed during a recent phone conversation that the trip will "further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people." Shashank, meanwhile, noted that Trump's visit will further deepen defence ties between the two countries. "America is willing to share its latest technology with India and also deepen the strategic relationship in the Indo-Pacific especially in view of India's Look East Policy," he stressed. "I'm not much confident on the trade deal. But this factor, I hope should not affect the bilateral friendship between India and the US," he added. The diplomat also said that the upcoming visit will definitely influence the votes of Indian Americans and others belonging to the Indian origin in the 2020 US presidential elections. "The phenomenon is that Indian origin people are with the Democratic Party but both the leader's gesture is friendly and it will impact American Indians during the elections. Especially, when Trump is looking forward to host events like 'Namaste Trump' in Ahmedabad," the former foreign secretary said. However, Trump's visit to India is "bad news" for Pakistan. "The country which notoriously spreads cross-border terrorism in the region was harbouring America's enemies while taking money from it. Both the leaders (Trump and Modi) are very strong leaders in the world and both of them are against terrorism," Shashank noted. Regarding the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC), the former diplomat stressed that India has already spoken on such issues and "Trump has no problems with that." "The US is aware that issues including the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A are just another political gimmick by Pakistan to rant false propaganda against India on the international platform. Even Trump is aware of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir have been an internal matter of India and we have always been against third party mediation by any country," Shashank said. Shashank, IFS of 1966 Batch, was appointed as the new Foreign Secretary in November 2003. During the visit, Trump, who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, and interact with a wide cross-section of the Indian society, the MEA said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (26) Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday presented its fourth state Budget for fiscal 2020-21, promising $1-trillion economy for the biggest state of the country. UP's Finance Minister Suresh Khanna allotted Rs 5,12,860 crore budget for 2020-21, which happens to be the biggest-ever state Budget. In the previous year, the government had allotted Rs 4.79 lakh crore budget for the state. Keeping an eye on the 2022 Assembly Elections, the Yogi Adityanath government presented a populist Budget, with special focus on farmer schemes, infrastructure development, highway projects, women safety and youth development. Also Read: Unemployment: Number of jobless in UP rises by 58% to 34 lakh in two years Here are key takeaways of UP Budget 2020-21: Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for setting up a new airport at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar district. The budget also set aside Rs 500 crore for developing an airport at Ayodhya. The budget presented by state finance minister Suresh Khanna also proposed Rs 50 crore for creating job opportunities. Khanna said that every district in UP will have Yuva hub for youth employment. UP Budget has allotted Rs 20 crore for UP Police and forensic institute and Rs 3 crore for cyber crime. The Budget allocated Rs 3,000 crore for Jal Jeevan Mission, the Centre's most recent flagship scheme to provide functional piped water to all India households by 2024. The Budget proposes Rs 820 crore for Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute (SGPI), Rs 187 crore to cancer institute. The budget also proposes a law university in Prayagraj and Ayush University in Gorakhpur. The government also announced to develop three new universities to come up in Saharanpur, Azamgarh and Aligarh. Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 292 crore for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a maternity benefit program run by the government of India. The Budget proposes Rs 200 crore for metro facilities in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's bastion Gorakhpur and other cities. In a bid to improve connectivity in the cities, the UP government allotted Rs 170 crore for flyovers, bypasses, intersections. The Budget proposes Rs 2,000 crore for Ganga Expressway (From Delhi to Prayagraj), which is a dream project of Yogi Adityanath. The government also set aside Rs 900 crore for Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. The UP government has alloted Rs 20,000 crore for Smart City Project in Lucknow, Kanpur and other districts of the state. Rs 1,200 crore has been allocated for Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan Shiksha Protsahan Yojna and Rs 5,791 crore for Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The Budget allots Rs 4,000 crore for Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan and Rs 200 crore for Kashi Vishwanath mandir. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: India emerges as world's 5th largest economy, overtakes UK and France, says report New Consultancy Recruitment & Non-Staff Workflow, Monrovia, Liberia Organization: Unicef Country: Liberia City: Monrovia, Liberia Office: UNICEF Liberia Closing date: Friday, 21 February 2020 New Consultancy Recruitment & Non-Staff Workflow Job no: 529844 Position type: Consultancy Location: Liberia Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal School/Unit: Liberia Department/Office: Monrovia, Liberia Categories: Monitoring and Evaluation, P-4 1. Purpose of the assignment. The overall purpose of this assignment is to assist the Government in preparing and presenting the Voluntary National Review as per the schedule and in conformity with the required reporting standards. 2. Validity start date: 1 March 2020 3. Validity end date: 31 July 2020 4. Section, duty station: Programme, Monrovia, Liberia 5. Background and Justification. As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member states to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven. These national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the high-level political forum (HLPF), meeting under the auspices of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). As stipulated in paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda, regular reviews by the HLPF are to be voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and involve multiple stakeholders. The voluntary national reviews (VNRs) aim to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned, to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNRs also seek to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilise multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2020, 49 countries (27 first time presenters, and 22 second time presenters) will present their national voluntary reviews to the HLPF. This year, the HLPF meeting on sustainable development will be held from Tuesday, 7 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020, including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 14 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2020. The theme of the meeting is Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development . The VNR presentations are planned to begin on Monday, 13 July 2020 and proceed for the three days of the ministerial segment of HLPF (14-16 July 2020). In 2019, the Government of Liberia volunteered to be one of the countries to conduct VNR in 2020. The MFDP is the countrys coordinating ministry for preparation of VNR 2020 for Government. MFDP has requested technical and financial support from UNICEF toward the preparation of VNR 2020 reporting (key messages, report, and presentation) in line with the guidelines issued by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). UN agencies in Liberia considers the engagement with the VNR process as a great opportunity for advocacy to position itself as a partner of choice in SDG implementation and monitoring processes; bringing attention to the importance of data and the need to strengthen statistical systems; optimize the opportunity for a child and youth-centric VNR process and stakeholder accountability and connecting the child rights agenda more explicitly to the SDGs. In the above described context, MFDP has requested UNICEF for an international lead consultant to support Government in producing the report and presentations for VNR 2020. Following terms of reference are developed to engage an international consultant to prepare for VNR 2020. The consultant is expected to develop evidence informed VNR draft report on prioritised SDGs (relevant to children and women) in consultation with key stakeholders. The critical stakeholders for UNICEF in this process are the children, adolescents and youth, marginalised groups, etc. The participation of these key stakeholders requires the use of innovative platforms like U-Report polls and use of social media etc. The first two months of 2020 have seen a flurry of activity as West Australian-based medical cannabis companies hunt for cash to grow their businesses to meet booming patient demand. February will see two the public listing of two Perth medical cannabis companies, while a third startup has gone down the crowdfunding route to fund its African grow operation and the development of new medicines. Little Green Pharma's secret facility in Western Australia's south-west. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Emerald Clinics, which has established four medical cannabis access clinics across the country, floated on the ASX on February 12 after raising $6 million through its initial public offering. WA-based Little Green Pharma was the first Australian company to produce medical cannabis from its own plants and will list on the ASX on Thursday after raising $10 million in an oversubscribed IPO. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro goes out of stock in 55 seconds in first sale The Xiaomi Mi 10 unveiled last week generated over CNY200 million in its first sale and was out of stock within seconds. The Mi 10 Pro now had its first sale, which lasted just 55 seconds. Like the vanilla Mi 10, the Pro variant also garnered over CNY200 million in its first sale, meaning the company sold between 33,300 to 40,000 units depending on their memory configuration. Xiaomi hasn't revealed when the Mi 10 Pro will go on sale again in China, but looking at the current situation in the country, the company is likely to face a shortage of the Mi 10 duo and it remains to be seen how it copes up with the demand. You can head this way to check out our coverage of the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. Source (in Chinese) | Via VAL-DOR, Quebec, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abitibi Royalties Inc. (RZZ-TSX-V: Abitibi Royalties or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the Companys net smelter royalties (NSR) at the Canadian Malartic Mine, Canadas largest gold mine, near Val-dOr, Quebec, in addition to other NSRs the Company holds on earlier stage exploration projects. The Company is unique among its peers due to its strong treasury, no debt, monthly dividend, share buyback program and limited number of outstanding shares (approximately 12.5 million). Royalties at Canadian Malartic Mine The Canadian Malartic Mine, where Abitibi Royalties owns various NSRs and a net profit interest (NPI), is jointly operated by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (Agnico Eagle) and Yamana Gold Inc. (Yamana). Abitibi Royalties NSRs and NPI cover portions of East Malartic (3% NSR), Odyssey (3% NSR), Sladen (3% NSR), Sheehan (3% NSR), Jeffrey (3% NSR), Barnat Extension (3% NSR), Gouldie Zone (2% NSR) and the Charlie Zone (2% NSR). In addition, the Company holds a 1.5% NSR on the Midway Project and a 15% NPI on the Radium Property, which are all operated and located at, or proximate to, the Canadian Malartic Mine (Fig. 1). 1) Updated Resource Estimate for East Malartic & Odyssey Project The objective of the 2019 exploration program at Canadian Malartic was to define and increase underground mineral resources, with a focus on Odyssey, East Malartic, and the newly discovered East Gouldie Zone (Fig. 1). The owners of the Canadian Malartic Mine issued new resource estimates for East Malartic and Odyssey (as of year-end 2019) on February 13, 2020. The updated resource estimate for East Malartic includes Indicated Resources of 694,000 ounces of gold (9.9 million tonnes grading 2.18 g/t gold) and Inferred mineral resources of 5,192,000 ounces of gold (78.8 million tonnes grading 2.05 g/t). The updated resource estimate for the Odyssey Project includes Indicated mineral resources of 136,000 ounces of gold (2.0 million tonnes grading 2.10 g/t) and Inferred mineral resources of 1,666,000 ounces of gold (23.4 million tonnes grading 2.22 g/t). No estimate was provided for the Midway Project where the Company holds a 1.5% NSR (subject to a 1% buyback for USD$1 million), which contains a historical NI 43-101 resource estimate. Deep drilling east of the open pit in late 2018 resulted in the discovery of a new gold-mineralized zone, located south of the East Malartic and Odyssey zones, named the East Gouldie Zone. The East Gouldie Zone has a strike length of 1,300 metres in an east-west direction, dips 60 degrees north, and extends from 700 metres to 1,900 metres (estimated) depth below surface. Exploration drilling suggests that East Gouldie may potentially trend onto the Companys 3% NSR at depth and that the East Gouldie, East Malartic and Sladen zones are converging, increasing the level of confidence in the economic potential of overall mineral resources below 1,000 meters. However, the Company believes additional drilling is required to make these determinations. The initial resource estimate for East Gouldie can be found in Agnico Eagles and Yamanas Q4-2019 Financial Results News Releases dated February 13, 2020. For the portion of the reserve and resources covered by Abitibi Royalties 3% NSR as of December 31, 2018 (resources for East Malartic calculated to a depth of 1,000 metres versus resources stated above that were calculated to a depth of 1,800 metres), please see the Companys news release dated March 14th, 2019. The Company anticipates receiving an updated reserve and resource estimate for areas covered by its 3% NSR in late Q1 or early Q2-2020 based on the updated estimates above. 2) Update on Barnat Extension In Q4-2019, pre-commercial production began at the Barnat Extension project as the new Highway 117 deviation has opened. The mine owners announced that mining activities at the Barnat pit are expected to ramp up during 2020. The Company expects to receive from the mine owners an updated 3-year production schedule for the Barnat Extension areas covered by the Companys 3% NSR in late Q1 or early Q2-2020. The Company also anticipates receiving and releasing an updated reserve and resource estimate for areas covered by its 3% NSR at Jeffrey and the Barnat Extension in late Q1 or early Q2-2020. 3) Possible Production 2023 (3% NSR) Agnico Eagle states that it is evaluating several potential opportunities at a number of existing operations to build further value and enhance its gold production profile. Odyssey and East Malartic were identified as possible opportunities for potential underground mining to a depth of 1,000 metres starting in 2023 (which have not been approved for development at this time). The substantial increases in mineral resources, particularly at the East Gouldie and East Malartic zones, are anticipated to eventually replace mineral reserves currently being mined at the adjacent Canadian Malartic pit. The Partnership continues to evaluate the Odyssey project with consideration being given to potential new development synergies between the various zones at East Gouldie, Odyssey, East Malartic and Canadian Malartic. Agnico Eagle further states that subject to a positive development decision, initial production could potentially start in 2023. The permit allowing for the development of an underground ramp was received in December 2018. Agnico Eagle states production from deeper portions (below 1,000 metres) of the Odyssey and East Malartic underground zones and development of the East Gouldie Zone could potentially commence beyond 2023 (which have not been approved for development at this time). There can be no assurances that the development scenarios above will be approved as stated, or at all. 4) Canadian Malartic Mine Exploration Budget Exploration programs are ongoing to evaluate several deposits and prospective exploration areas to the east of the Canadian Malartic open pit, including the new mineralized zone discovery of East Gouldie, as well as Odyssey, East Malartic, Sladen, Sheehan and Rand (Fig. 1). Agnico Eagle states that the Canadian Malartic exploration programs in 2020 will consist of 112,000 metres of drilling. A total of 90,000 metres of exploration and conversion drilling will be primarily focused on declaring new inferred mineral resources at the East Gouldie Zone and infilling the current inferred mineral resources. Exploration drilling suggests that East Gouldie may potentially trend onto the Companys 3% NSR at depth. However, the Company believes additional drilling and information is required to make this determination. An additional 22,000 metres of exploration drilling will test other regional targets at Canadian Malartic. 5) Earlier Stage Exploration Royalties Malartic Area, Quebec & Red Lake, Ontario In 2015, Abitibi Royalties began acquiring royalties on early-stage projects near existing mines, where historical exploration had outlined favourable geology with indications of mineralization. The Company believed this was a low-cost method of gaining increased exposure to favourable mining regions. Since acquiring the royalties, a number of the projects are now being advanced. Revillard (2% NSR) Abitibi Royalties holds a 2% NSR on the Revillard property, located approximately 10 kilometres northwest of the Canadian Malartic Mine in Quebec (Fig 2). The Revillard property forms part of a larger set of claims known as the Malartic Project, which is under option by Dundee Precious Metals (Dundee). In 2019, Dundee met its second year of exploration commitments to the underlying property owner, which included 5,833 metres of drilling in 9 holes. Drill results can be reviewed in Dundees Q4-2019 MD&A. Other exploration activities completed in 2019 include prospecting, mapping and rock sampling. Exploration plans for 2020 include a possible 3,250 metres drill program. New Alger Project (1% NSR) Abitibi Royalties holds a 1% NSR on the New Alger Project, which contains the historic Thompson-Cadillac Mine, located in the Abitibi region of northwest Quebec and adjoins Agnico Eagles LaRonde Mine to the southeast (Fig. 3). The project contains a NI 43-101 Inferred resource estimate that can be viewed here . Renforth Resources Inc. (Renforth), which owns 100% of the New Alger Project, announced drill results on January 21, 2020 that included a new discovery of the gold-bearing Sericite Zone in the Caddillac Break, which returned 11.2 gpt gold over 0.5 metres. The Sericite Zone was intersected over 160 metres in 3 holes and is open along strike. In addition, the Thompson-Cadillac Mine Veins were intersected in each hole and included 5.38 gpt gold over 4.8 metres (core length), including 11.83 gpt gold over 1.9 metres (core length). Renforth announced on January 5th, 2020 that a new phase of drilling had commenced at the New Alger Project. The exploration program will drill several longer holes that will focus on different target areas. Results from this drill program are pending. Red Lake Royalties (1% NSR) The Company holds various NSR interests located near Newmont Corporations Red Lake Mine and adjacent to Pure Gold Minings Madsen Mine and Great Bear Resources Dixie Project (Fig. 4) in Red Lake, Ontario. On October 10, 2019, Pacton Gold Inc. (Pacton) announced that drill crews had been mobilized to complete a 10,000 metre drill program on a number of high-priority targets within the Madsen-Dixie fault corridor. Abitibi Royalties 1% NSR covers a number of key historical gold occurrences within Pactons Red Lake Gold Project and inside the Madsen-Dixie fault corridor. Drill results are pending. 6) Q4-2019 Cash Generation On January 20, 2020, the Company announced that it had generated total cash of approximately CDN$2.1 million during Q4-2019, with approximately CDN$999,000 coming from royalties on the open pit portion contained within the Companys 3% NSR at the Canadian Malartic Mine. The remainder of the cash generated during the quarter came from option premiums (CDN$268,000), dividends (CDN$140,000) and taxable capital gains from equity investments (CDN$697,000). During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated cash of approximately CDN$5.3 million (See news release dated April 16, 2019 for Q1-2019, July 17, 2019 for Q2-2019 and October 16, 2019 for Q3-2019 breakdowns). 7) Dividend Payments On January 20, 2020, the Company announced that its board of directors had approved a 25% dividend increase from CDN$0.12 to CDN$0.15 per common share on an annualized basis. The frequency of dividend payments was also changed from quarterly to monthly. The increased dividend amount and the payment of monthly dividends will begin in April 2020. Technical Information Abitibi Royalties has not received all, or in most cases any, of the drill hole data that has not been made public that makes up the updated resource estimates at the Canadian Malartic Mine. Please see the Companys news release dated March 14, 2019 to view the resources covered by Abitibi Royalties 3% NSR at Canadian Malartic as of December 31, 2018 (resources for East Malartic calculated to a depth of 1,000 metres in 2018 versus a depth of 1,800 metres in 2019). The Company expects to receive an updated reserve and resource estimate for areas covered at by its NSRs in late Q1 or early Q2-2020. Additionally, the Company can make no assurances that the areas for possible production in 2023 and beyond where the Company holds a royalty will result in actual production or that all or any of the planned drilling in 2020 will be in areas covered by the Companys royalties. Similarly, the Company can provide no assurances that the proposed exploration at Dundees Malartic Project or Pactons Red Lake properties will occur on areas covered by the Companys NSRs. Fire assay results for gold from the New Alger Project contained in this news release were obtained from Laboratoire dAnalyse Bourlamaque, in Bourlamaque, Quebec. Non-IFRS Measure: The Company has calculated the measure cash using the cash basis of accounting. This is a non-IFRS measure as IFRS required the Companys cash in its financial statements to be recognized using the accrual basis of accounting. The Company believes that this measure, while not a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS, provides investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. QUALIFIED PERSON Glenn J. Mullan, Chairman, is the Qualified Person (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects) and has reviewed and approved the technical sections of this news release, which are solely based on and derived from public disclosure made by Agnico Eagle and Yamana, and without independent verification. Information contained in this news release under the heading Earlier Stage Exploration Royalties was obtained solely from the public disclosures of the property owners and operators and without independent verification. About Abitibi Royalties Abitibi Royalties owns various royalty interests at the Canadian Malartic Mine near Val-dOr Quebec. In addition, the Company is building a portfolio of royalties on early-stage properties near producing mines. The Company is unique among its peers due to its strong treasury, no debt, monthly dividend, share buyback program and limited number of shares (approximately 12.5 million). For additional information, please contact: Shanda Kilborn Director, Corporate Development 2864 chemin Sullivan Val-dOr, Quebec J9P 0B9 Tel.: 1-888-392-3857 Email: info@abitibiroyalties.com Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Companys management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Figure 1. Abitibi Royalties Canadian Malartic Royalties Figure 2. Abitibi Royalties - Revillard Royalty Location Figure 3. Abitibi Royalties - New Alger Royalty Location Paris as a synonym for luxury, London at the forefront, New York image of urban fashion, and Milan a reflection of Italian chic. The four major catwalks are the most consolidated after many years of touring, but in recent years cities such as Copenhagen, Bogota or Sydney have launched events that promise to become the driver of the new prospects of design in the world. Catwalks began at the beginning of the twentieth century as a formal exercise, with the aim of showing the latest news to select clients of a brand so that, subsequently, they made an order of the desired models. From the fifties, catwalks began to become a marketing strategy, and in the nineties, they had their boom and became mainstream with the arrival of supermodels. Today, catwalks endure a moment of transition and an identity crisis. According to Pedro Mansilla, an expert in the sector, the model is sold out. Catwalks are very expensive (the setting up of a fashion show cost between 50,000 euros (54,184 dollars) and five million euros (5.4 million dollars)) and with social networks, it has lost the axis, explains the expert. According to Mansilla, fashion shows only make sense for brands that are already fortified, such as Chanel, or for emerging ones that want to get media attention. However, the giants of the sector continue to climb catwalks to present their collections each season. From Paris to New York and from Nigeria to Bogota, each gateway has its identifying features that also define the brands that parade on them. What are the most consolidated values and emerging names of the global atlas of fashion shows today? Paris, the guardian of luxury Paris fashion week continues to have its predominant and reference role. It is the most important, the one that marks the international calendar and the one that generates a greater economic impact, of around 1.2 billion euros (1.3 billion dollars) per year, according to the organization Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, promoter of the event. Its the most notable brands that parade along the catwalk of the French capital, such as Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Valentino or Maison Margiela. To be part of the official calendar of the Paris fashion week, which takes place twice a year, it is necessary to comply with a series of rigorous standards. Each company that wants to parade must organize private showrooms in Paris, own a workshop with at least fifteen workers and present a collection composed of at least 35 outfits. However, the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode invites new companies to participate in the Paris Fashion Week in each edition, although they do not meet all the requirements. In recent years, Spanish companies such as Oteyza, Yolancris or Palomo Spain have been on the catwalk of the French capital. London, synonymous with avant-garde Organized by the British Fashion Council, London fashion week is another of the most important in the international calendar. Its defining feature is that of the avant-garde since it is the event that welcomes the most news of all those celebrated in the world. Names like Burberry, Christopher Kane, JW Anderson, Mulberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Beckham or Viviene Westwood are some of the most recognized among the 150 who parade during the day and generate an impact of 269 million euros, according to the organization. Its starting to gain more weight, explains Pepa Bueno, executive director of the Association of Fashion Creators of Spain. Recently, the catwalk has taken a step further in innovation announcing the creation of a program of events parallel to the parades with the objective of opening the catwalk to the final public. Milan, flagman of the made in Italy Italian luxury as a symbol of differentiation. Canera Bazionale della Moda Italiana has managed to make the Milan fashion week a benchmark and has found its own place in the international calendar. The event generates an economic impact of almost two hundred million euros in each edition, according to the organization. With Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Prada or Dsquared2 in front, Milans fashion week has become a symbol of Italian luxury, more opulent than French. In recent years, with the boom of designers who conquer the masses such as Alessandro Michele or Jeremy Scott, Milan fashion week has managed to maintain its leadership as one of the most important in the international calendar with the participation of more than 250 Business. New York, urban fashion image Less fantasy and creativity and more connection with the pret-a-porter, according to Bueno, these are the identity features of the New York fashion week, promoted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (Cfda). According to the organization, the economic impact of this event is estimated at 887 million dollars. However, although the gateway to the Big Apple is synonymous with modernity and everything that has to do with the cool, in recent years has lost weight. He is in a difficult time, says Bueno. Currently, the event is focused on reviving the appeal that Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs or Rodarte once established. Heavy weights such as Tommy Hilfiger, Thom Browne, Proenza Schouler or Rodarte have been lowered in the last years of the New York catwalk. The last to go into exile was Tom Ford (president of the Cfda) who has decided to parade in Los Angeles, a catwalk that is gaining more and more weight and takes advantage of the call of celebrities to the Oscars gala to attract the elite audience . Beyond the big four of the international catwalks, in recent years they have gained weight emerging events that combine new formats and bet on trends such as sustainability or open their doors to the end consumer, in addition to being the vehicle of the designers of the future. Copenhagen, the rise of the eco It is interesting how he has managed to combine all Scandinavian fashion, says Pepa Bueno about the Copenhagen fashion week. The capital of Denmark has consolidated the event as a more avant-garde commitment focused on sustainability. In fact, according to the expert, unlike other events, the Copenhagen fashion week parades serve as an accompaniment to the main day , which is the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, an event that brings together the main operators and voices of the sector to discuss the role of the fashion industry in the face of climate change. Ganni, By Malene Birger and Baum und Pferdgarten are some of the companies that participate during the event, which is promoted by the Ministry of Industry Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark. Nigeria, the cradle of emerging design Lagos Fashion Week, launched in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele, is one of the most consolidated events on the international catwalk scene and the greatest exponent of African fashion. The objective of Lagos fashion week, in addition to the presentation of the collections of the most important designers in the region, is to boost and strengthen the African fashion industry. Beyond the parades, the event also has two platforms to strengthen the industry: Fashion Business Series and Fashion Focus, which offers master classes and provides support to emerging brands in the region. Tbilisi, center of Caucasian fashion The capital of Georgia has also become one of the main emerging fashion runways. Powered by Mercedes Benz in 2009, the catwalk gained notoriety by being the home of Demna Gvsalia, founder of Vetements and current creative director of Balenciaga. During the day, which is held twice a year, more than seventy designers from the region participate. The momentum of Bogota I think Colombia is becoming a focal point in the region thanks to universal recognition, now international buyers want to come to the countrys catwalks to see what is happening in the industry, says Diana Hochman, of the Bogota Fashion Week team. With the Bogota Chamber of Commerce in charge, the fashion week of the Colombian capital also has educational workshops and an accompanying program for emerging designers in the region. On the catwalk around 135 brands parade. Shanghai and Sydney, the jewels of the Pacific Asia also hosts several international catwalks that have gained weight in recent years. This is the case of Shanghai Fashion Week, Mode Shanghai Apparel Exhibition, promoted since 2013 by the Ministry of Commerce of China. The day, in addition, is celebrated by several international fairs and aims to promote the improvement of the value chain of the fashion industry, while meeting the individual needs of the national fashion retail market. Designers such as Zhang N, Moti Bai, CJ Yao, Momo Wang or Nicole Zhang participate in the event. Born in 1996 at the hands of former reporter Simon Lock, Sydney Fashion Week has become one of the most important in the Pacific, where companies such as Lisa Ho, Alex Perry, Zimmermann, Toni Maticevski, Collette Dinnigan, Leona parade Edmiston, JAton Couture, Ericaamerica, Easton Pearson and Gwendolynne. Powered by the giant International Management Group (IMG) and sponsored by Mercedes Benz, the event gives special attention to emerging designers in the region. In its latest edition, the catwalk decided to follow in the footsteps of Londons fashion week and opened its doors to the final public. Specifically, during the five days of the day, Sydney Fashion Week reserved 25% of the seats for consumers. In addition, the entrance, whose price amounted to $119, also gave access to the final public to seminars and other special events during the day. Madrid, looking for a speech Madrid needs a speech of its own to be recognized, explains Pepa Bueno. The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid, promoted by Ifema, is one of the most recognized events in the fashion sector in Spain. Currently, the event is in search of its own space on the calendar, since, according to Nuria de Miguel, at the head of the event the Madrid catwalk has an international vocation. 37 Spanish designers such as Ana Locking, Devota & Lomba, the 2nd Skin Co, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Pedro del Hierro, Custo Barcelona, Angel Schelesser, Brain & Beast, Devota & Lomba, Andres Sarda or Juan Vidal, among others, participated in their last call. The next edition of the catwalk will take place between September 2 and 7. Participating in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid involves a cost of between 6,000 and 15,000 euros of the entrance fee for companies in the sector, depending on whether they organize their parades in the Ifema enclosure or in other locations such as the Crystal Palace. The economic impact of the day is around twenty million euros, according to the direction of the catwalk Haiti - Economy : The textile sector has lost nearly 3,000 jobs According to a report published by the Association of Haitian Industries (ADIH), the textile sector lost nearly 3,000 jobs during the socio-political crisis. While the textile sector has experienced sustained employment growth over the past three years, it has slowed down with the anti-government operation "Peyi Lok" which for two months (September and October 2019) paralyzed the country and limited travel to the capital and other cities across the country According to the report, in August 2019, the subcontracting sector had 57,153 jobs which gradually fell to 55,282 (September) and 54,205 (October). However, according to ADIH, a certain upward trend was observed last November, and until January of this year, 55,647 jobs were registered. Note that in 1988 the textile sector employed 100,000 people. Despite this slight improvement, there are still more than 1,500 jobs to be recovered while in Haiti 70% of the active population is unemployed. In 2017, the Industries Association had estimated it possible to create up to 300,000 new jobs in this sector, thanks to the Hope/Help law, which allows textile products manufactured in Haiti to be exported without tax to the United States. However, Georges Sassine, President of the ADIH, had stressed that to achieve this objective, a climate of "calm and stability" was needed in Haiti, to allow the textile sector to broaden its growth potential. SL/ HaitiLibre After opening the Kartarpur Corridor last year to Sikh pilgrims from India, the Pakistan High Commission has issued visas to Indian pilgrims to visit Katas Raj temples in Chakwal city of Pakistan's Punjab province. Pakistan High Commission said in a statement that a group will be visiting the renowned temple compound, also known as Qila Katas or complex of Katas Temples between February 19 to 25. Katas Raj is considered to be one of the holiest places for the Hindu community in Pakistan. The temple complex surrounds a pond named Katas which is regarded as sacred by Hindus. Flickr The Pakistan-India protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines (1974) governs reciprocal visits by Indian and Pakistani pilgrims to designated shrines in both the countries. Last year between December 13 to 19, a group of 88 Hindu devotees had visited the shrine in Pakistan. Each year, a large number of Hindu and Sikh devotees visit the shrines in both the countries. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan''s Narowal district. Guterres said that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor is a "practical proof of Pakistan''s desire for peace and interfaith harmony", Radio Pakistan reported. AFP Guterres also visited the community kitchen (langar) at the gurdwara, where he was served a traditional meal of rice and lentils. The kitchen caters to all Sikh pilgrims visiting the religious place, providing them free meals as per the Sikh tradition, Dawn reported. The 4.1-km-long Kartarpur corridor has been built from Dera Baba Nanak town in Gurdaspur district of Indian Punjab to Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. It was inaugurated on November 9 last year to coincide with the celebrations related to the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak. A high school class ring that was lost in Maine in 1973 has been found in a forest in Finland. Debra McKenna, 63, lost the ring in Portland when she was a student at Morse High School, the Bangor Daily News reported. She said the ring was largely forgotten until a sheet metal worker found it under 8 inches (20 centimeters) of soil in a Finnish forest 47 years later. The ring belonged to McKennas late husband Shawn, who she dated all throughout high school and college. The couple was married for 40 years until Shawn died in 2017 after a six-year battle with cancer. Shawn gave McKenna the ring before he left for college, and she accidentally left it in a department store. McKenna said she cried when the ring arrived in the mail at her Brunswick home last week. Its very touching in this world of negativity, to have decent people step forward and make an effort. McKenna said. There are good people in the world, and we need more of them. The UN called on Cameroon Tuesday to conduct an independent investigation into the "shocking" killing of 23 villagers in a troubled English-speaking region and to ensure the perpetrators be held accountable. Citing information from UN colleagues on the ground, the UN rights office said that two pregnant women and 15 children -- nine of them under the age of five -- were among those killed in Friday's attack, which opposition parties blamed on members of the armed forces. "We urge the authorities to ensure that the investigation is independent, impartial and thorough, and that those responsible are held fully to account," it said in a statement. The UN had previously put the toll from Friday's attack at up to 22, but Tuesday's statement said 23 people had died in the "shocking episode". Witnesses had told the UN that around 40 armed men, including members of the security and defence forces, had attacked the village in Cameroon's Northwest Region -- one of two English-speaking regions grappling with separatist violence since October 2017. According to the witness testimony, the attack saw the men "opening fire on people and burning down houses", the rights office said. Cameroon's army on Monday denied charges that members of the armed forces were responsible for the deaths in the Ngarbuh district of Ntumbo village, describing the event as "quite simply an unfortunate accident, the collateral result of security operations in the region". The authorities said people inside the village had attacked security forces "with the exchange of shots igniting a fire that affected several dwellings", according to the UN statement. Violence in anglophone regions The tragedy marks only the latest deadly incident in the two conflict-plagued English-speaking regions -- the southwest and northwest -- where more than 3,000 people have died and at least 700,000 have fled their homes in the past two and a half years. Story continues English-speakers account for nearly a fifth of Cameroon's population of 24 million, who are majority French-speaking. Years of grievances at perceived discrimination snowballed into a declaration of independence in October 2017 and a government crackdown. "We call on the Government to ensure that the security forces abide by applicable international law norms standards during the conduct of their operations," Tuesday's statement said. "We similarly remind armed separatist groups of their responsibilities under international law and call on all parties to refrain from deliberate attacks on civilians," it added. The UN rights office said the already tense situation in Cameroon's anglophone regions had worsened ahead of this month's parliamentary and municipal elections. "The Government deployed some 700 additional troops in the North-West and South-West where armed separatists reportedly kidnapped dozens of candidates, most from the Social Democratic Front which is one of the country's biggest opposition parties," the UN said. While most of the candidates had since been released, the UN said it had also received information that voting centres and the homes of those involved in the election campaign had been attacked by separatists. (AFP) ST. PAUL The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Monday, Feb. 18, advanced a proposal to require members of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to be confirmed by the state Senate on a 6-3 vote. Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, brought the proposal and said that after the commission earlier this year voted to cap probation sentences for most felony offenses at five years, he felt the need to implement another check on the board's power. Members of the panel are appointed by the governor or the Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice. And under Limmer's bill, the members would also have to be approved by the Senate to serve on the panel. "Now that (the commission is) moving more and more on a regular basis it appears, that they're making policy that should be made in this body, in the Legislature, we should at least have confirmation of the members on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and let senators approve who is on that commission," Limmer said. Opponents in the committee raised concerns about the confirmation process potentially politicizing the commission, but ultimately the bill passed. ADVERTISEMENT The measure would have to be approved by the Republican Senate and Democratic House of Representatives before it could become law. And Gov. Tim Walz said last week the measure would be dead on arrival if it makes it to his desk. "That bill is never going to happen," Walz told reporters on Friday. If Brad Pitt populates your party until 1 a.m., its probably going well. Six nights after his big Academy Awards win, Pitt turned up at the far less formal, far more lively Krewe du Kanaval post-parade bash at Latrobes in the French Quarter. The Saturday night celebration culminated a huge weekend for Krewe du Kanaval, the hybrid Haitian/New Orleans philanthropic Carnival organization co-founded by Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of indie-rock band Arcade Fire and Preservation Halls Ben Jaffe. Did Kanaval experience some growing pains in its third year? Yes. Did everything go smoothly? No. But the krewe pulled off an ambitious costume ball of a concert with Arcade Fire and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a major procession down St. Charles Avenue, and a party with Pitt, Jude Law and other A-listers. More on that later. The Kanaval Costume Ball at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts on Feb. 14 was Arcade Fires first performance in 18 months. But it was more than a concert. Most in attendance, krewe members and ticket-buying civilians alike, took the costumes strongly encouraged mandate to heart. The full spectrum of offbeat New Orleanian apparel was represented, heavy on wigs and random masks. Early arrivals were corralled in the theaters multi-story lobby as Caribbean deejays, the Haitian-inspired collective Lakou Mizik and strategic lighting and decor conjured a club atmosphere. It was almost too authentically club-like: the lobby quickly got overcrowded, and the lines at the theater's understaffed and overpriced bars were epic. The doors to the main room finally opened at 9:30 p.m. Reserved seat tickets were irrelevant, as ushers were as scarce as bartenders and many celebrants were inclined to sit or stand wherever they pleased as a happy sort of anarchy took hold. With the Preservation Hall Jazz Band onstage, sitting wasnt necessary. The latter-day Pres Hall is a spirited, youthful ensemble whose senior member, 87-year-old saxophonist Charlie Gabriel, is just as animated and adventurous as his much younger bandmates. Wearing pink and lime green, Krewe du Kanavals designated colors, they gleefully navigated Mad, from the 2017 album So It Is, and Iko, Iko. Arcade Fires gear was already set up alongside Preservation Halls. As Preservation Hall played "Keep Your Head Up," Butler, Chassagne and rest of Arcade Fire, dressed in white or silver, ambled onstage and took up their positions. The moment Preservation Hall stopped, Arcade Fire lit into Everything Now, the exuberant title track from the bands 2017 album. With Pres Hall helping out, the effect was electrifying. Jaffe and company then departed. For the next hour and 15 minutes, Arcade Fire dusted off the rust in exhilarating fashion, despite the Mahalia Jackson Theaters harsh acoustics. Those acoustics are particularly cruel to rock bands, washing out most of the bottom end. But the chugging Rebellion (Lies), the swirling storm of Here Comes the Night Time and, especially, the keyboard-heavy, Heart of Glass-derived disco soul of Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) would not be denied. Revelers with giant papier-mache heads frolicked onstage alongside dancers, adding to the surreal scene. We havent played a show in a year and a half, Butler noted from the stage. This is f---- fun. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band returned for the final, anthemic Wake Up, which concluded Arcade Fires 11-song set. The combined bands embarked on a mini-parade, pushing through the theaters packed aisles to the lobby. The concert portion of the ball concluded, deejays took over again for a late-night after-party. As he ascended a lobby staircase, Butler paused, turned and took in the scene that he had a hand in creating. But the weekend was just getting started. For Jaffe and the other members of Preservation Hall, Saturday morning dawned somberly with beloved trombonist Lucien Barbarins funeral. Musicians donned the traditional black and white brass band attire to send Barbarin, a Pres Hall alumnus and longtime Harry Connick Jr. sideman, off in the old-school style. The Preservation Hall contingent immediately switched gears and attire for what followed: Krewe du Kanavals parade within a parade. In its first two seasons, Kanavals members strolled through the French Quarter and staged a mini-festival in Armstrong Park. But this year, they slipped into the Mardi Gras mainstream, inserting hundreds of dancers, walkers and musicians onto the traditional Uptown parade route. Kanaval did not have its own parade permit. Instead, the Kanaval procession was technically part of the Krewe of Frerets parade. Signage on the tractors pulling Kanaval's two crude floats identified them as the 18th unit of Freret, with A and B halves. The Trojan or Haitian horse arrangement worked. Tacked onto the end of the Freret parade like a colorful, Caribbean-style caboose, Kanaval felt like its own entity. As a result, many thousands of Uptown parade-goers got a taste of Haitian carnival. Arcade Fire's Regine Chassagne, in a long, flowing, pink and black skirt, strutted with a troupe of Haitian-style dancers. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band rode and performed on the B float. Krewe members walked in their signature black jackets with Krewe du Kanaval spelled out around crossed horns like a motorcycle gang logo. Discreetly mixed in among them were some famous faces, including Jude Law, Jimmy Buffett, director Spike Jonze and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. Marching band-style banners illuminated Haitis cultural and historical ties to New Orleans. Without Haiti, New Orleans Wouldnt Sound Like New Orleans, read one. It was all very colorful, very Caribbean and somewhat random, contrasting with, but connected to, the rest of the Freret parade, which saluted the music of New Orleans. Near the front of Freret, Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews rode aboard his impressive new signature float with its enormous, animatronic trombone. Local rap-cabaret performer Boyfriend also merited a signature Freret float; her prop likeness boasted her signature curlers, eyeglasses and negligee. Masked riders on her float included New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival producer Quint Davis and members of the Revivalists. Post-parade, the Freret and Kanaval contingents went their separate ways for very different celebrations. Freret ended up at Mardi Gras World for Shorty Fest. In a high-ceiling warehouse ballroom, the Revivalists backed Boyfriend, Big Freedia and Mannie Fresh spun records from atop a float and Shorty and his rock band, Orleans Avenue, closed the show. The Kanaval krewe, meanwhile, convened at Latrobes, the historic structure at the corner of Royal and Conti streets built in the early 1800s as the Bank of Louisiana. Inside, the old mystique was palpable. On Saturday night, Kanaval banners decorated Latrobe's walls. Under the domed ceiling of the main room, live Haitian music gave way to like-minded deejays aided by a guy keeping the beat with a cowbell. The music held the interest of a certain newly minted Oscar winner. Brad Pitt, like Law a "friend of the krewe," kept a relatively low profile. Dressed down in a casual green jacket, brown hat and yellow sweater, Pitt blended in with revelers, many of whom didn't recognize him or were too busy enjoying themselves to care. Standing near the small stage, Pitt watched the deejay and cowbell dude, grooving. At 1 a.m., he headed for the exit. Briefly stuck in a cluster of Kanaval krewe members at Royal Street doorway, he patiently posed and smiled for a selfie with a guy who couldnt quite get his camera to cooperate. He then disappeared into the damp New Orleans night. The Kanaval party, not surprisingly, continued without him. Ibrahim Ibrahim, an indigene of Zamfara State who was locked up in Saudi Arabia has been released. He was locked up for three ye... Ibrahim Ibrahim, an indigene of Zamfara State who was locked up in Saudi Arabia has been released. He was locked up for three years on charges of entering Saudi Arabia with hard drugs punishable by death under the laws of that country. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission revealed this via her verified twitter handle on Tuesday. . Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State had earlier dispatched a delegation to Saudi Arabia comprising of government delegation and a team of lawyers. The evidence presented at two lower courts freed Ibrahim of the allegation, proving that Ibrahim was wrongly accused. Amongst the documents was a statement from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, stating that they have arrested and charged three persons who planted the drugs on Ibrahim. . A certified copy of the two count charge sheet from the Federal High Court Kano was also presented to the Saudi Arabia court which ruled in favour of Ibrahim and discharged him. He had a theory we would get more leverage by using tariffs. He implemented the theory, and he was right, said Stephen Vaughn, a former general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). He said we could do this and it wouldnt have a dramatically harmful effect on the U.S. economy, and he was right about that. What a dire scenario: A president soaked in scandal wins re-election in part because dimwitted Democrats decide to nominate a small-state senator whos way too left-wing for the American mainstream. But enough about how Richard Nixon thrashed George McGovern in 1972. If Democrats want to reprise the past, they need only nominate Bernie Sanders in 2020. Donald Trump would eat him as an appetizer. Beside the fact that Bernies grassroots army is overloaded with abusive and sexist acolytes who terrorize his Democratic critics (some critics have felt compelled to hire private security), and beside the fact that only 53% of Bernie fans say theyll support a different Democratic nominee (according to a recent Emerson College poll), the core problem is most swing-voting Americans wont buy Bernies deluded dream of a big-government, high-tax America that mimics Scandinavian democratic socialism. Young progressives are fine with the word socialism, but most people abhor it. And on Bernies signature socialist issue taking away everyones private health insurance and forcing everyone to join government health care public opposition is just as fierce. If Bernie were to win the nomination and crusade on that issue in the fall campaign, it would be electoral malpractice. Health care should be an easy lay up for the Democrats. Trump is trying to kill Obamacare in federal court, which means the 2020 presidential nominee need only follow the playbook that turned the House blue in the 2018 midterms: Highlight the Trump threat, and campaign on a pledge to improve Obamacare (much the way that Social Security, enacted under FDR, required a number of legislative tweaks over a period of years). But Bernie is determined to botch a winning issue and shoot for the moon. Trump is already caricaturing socialism as a clear and present danger to the American way of life. Bernie would make the job even easier and, for once, Trump wouldnt even have to lie. He could simply quote from Bernies Medicare for All bill, the Senate provision which decrees that it would be unlawful for a private health insurer to sell health insurance coverage, or for an employer to provide benefits that duplicate what the government offers. Im sympathetic to the concept of Medicare for All. But politically speaking, its suicide. Democrats need to attract independents and moderate Republicans who will feel comfortable with a Democratic candidate. But, fairly or not, many of these potentially persuadable voters are reflexively opposed to bigger government and higher taxes. Bernie would exacerbate their wariness because he refuses to specify the price tag of his pipe dreams. When asked recently about the cost of Medicare for All, he replied, I dont give a number and Ill tell you why: its such a large number and so complicated. And when a CBS News host sought his reaction to the economists whove concluded that his democratic socialist revolution could double the federal budget by roughly $60 trillion over 10 years, he got huffy: You dont know. Nobody knows. This is impossible to predict. Thats fine with the Bernie Bros Bernie, like Trump, has stoked his own cult of personality but theres a reason why Trumps advisers reportedly view him as their ideal Democratic opponent and why theyre doing what they can to elevate his profile. They know Trump is widely detested, but they also know that Medicare for All, as a socialist concept with a mystery price tag, is widely detested. The observable reality, in this country, is that voters outside Bernies bubble dont want to pay sharply higher taxes (which Bernie would have to levy, but wont admit) for a massive new federal incursion into the private sector. And if Bernie were to win the party nod, Trumps opposition researchers would go to town. They had a book on Bernie in 2016, but never had to use it. This time around, imagine the possibilities: Trump would go viral with Bernies 1976 newspaper column, which declared that the U.S. Congress must institute public ownership, with worker control, of the major means of production. Trump would talk about how Bernie and wife Jan honeymooned in the Soviet Union. (It was part of sister cities program, but Trump would omit that nuance.) Hed talk about how Bernie once co-sponsored a Senate bill to cart Vermonts nuclear waste to a poor Texas Latino community (true, though the shipment never happened). Hed talk about Bernies past support for the communist Socialist Workers Party (true). If you dont think Trump can successfully stoke that kind of info to demagogic proportions, I have one question for you: Were you alive during the Trump-Hillary contest? What Democrats need to do is park all talk of a democratic socialist revolution. As best-selling novelist Richard North Patterson smartly says, right now the task of winning is revolution enough. Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. He can be reached at dickpolman7@gmail.com. Iran said Tuesday that a German held in Iran has been released as part of a prisoner swap for an Iranian held in Germany on suspicion of violating US sanctions. "We announced that we are ready to (release) this German national... on condition that they (the Germans) do not extradite our citizen to America," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said. "On Sunday... the Iranian national left Germany and entered Iran, and on Monday... we released the German national," he told a televised conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the middle of Egypt's Tahrir Square, more than fifty engineers and a thousand labourers in yellow hard hats have been working 24-hour shifts in a bid to finish the renovation of the famous landmark. The government plans to turn the 150-year-old square into an open-air museum, with the project set to be finished by the end of this month. The move is a major part of the development scheme for historic Cairo, which aims to transform it into a touristic archeological destination, especially with the state's plan to relocate government offices from Downtown Cairo to the New Administrative Capital from June. Since December, engineering equipment including cranes, forklift trucks, and excavators have been installed in various parts of the area by the Arab Contractors. The state-run company is executing the renovation, along with the ministries of tourism and antiquities, culture, local development, and housing, and the administration of Cairo governorate, among others. The strategy aims to beautify the famous site, which has been at the centre of many historical and political events in the countrys modern era, via changing the appearance of the main buildings and embellishing it with a host of archeological items, according to the project's general engineering consultant Waleed Mansour. The finished square will host an open-air pharaonic exhibition or historical pathway that the public can view, functioning as an extension of the Egyptian Museum, which is located on the northern boundary of the square. The development work covers seven spots in Cairo's largest square, with the most important the roundabout at its centre, known as Al-Sanya in Arabic. Here, an obelisk and four ram-headed sphinxes will be the prime attractions, Mansour explained. Another key part of the work is the re-assembly of a 17-metre-tall, 90-ton-obelisk from the era of Ramses II, which was found in the form of eight large blocks at San El-Hagar archaeological site in the city of Zagazig in Egypt's Nile Delta. Four sphinxes from Luxors Karnak Temple have also been transferred to the site. The square will also be dotted with many pharaonic-era plants such as date trees, olive trees, fig trees, and carob trees, in addition to papyrus, for which the ancient Egyptian civilization was famous. As for the workflow, just a few steps are left until everything is finished; 85-90 percent of the planned work has been completed, Mansour said. A complete makeover Nestled in the middle of Tahrirs famous roundabout, the obelisk is set to be the main attraction of the revamped space. The monument, which is decorated with images depicting Ramses II, alongside hieroglyphics recording his different titles, was transported to the Egyptian capital and re-erected in the square last week. It has been placed on a high pedestal, to prevent pedestrians from damaging it. The red-granite obelisk will be circled by a number of artificial waterfalls that will be operational during the coming days, Waleed Omara, the head of projects designs supervision team, told Ahram Online. The obelisk is currently flanked by four concrete bases, which will be home to the four Luxor sphinxes. The sphinxes will be situated to the front and back of the obelisk, Omara said, and also on enough height to protect them from passersby, he noted. The antiquities will be ringed with three circles of seats that can accommodate up to two thousand people. Working on the squares central circle took longer than any other part due to technical challenges. One of the major obstacles the development team faced prior to the beginning of the task was finding an engineering solution to the problem of placing such a heavy obelisk over the ceiling of the squares metro station, said Mahmoud Rostom, the site's executive manager. "The installation took a long time because we were working in accordance with tough engineering standards, he said. Moreover, the work plan of the renovation includes replacing the square's tiles and sidewalks, painting all metal fences, walls and street posts, planting greenery, and installing marble benches to reflect the Egyptian civilization, with an eye to attracting tourists. The development mission extends to sites in and around the square like Omar Makram mosque, the Mogamma government building, the Egyptian Museum, the historic building that formerly housed the foreign ministry, and the newly established Tahrir parking garage. In an attempt to preserve the square's harmony, all exterior facades of the square's buildings had been repainted in beige and brown, to give a consistent appearance. The same step was applied to the area's shops, whose interfaces were redesigned with the same color and style, said Mohamed Saeid, chairman of the National Organization for Urban Harmony. Furthermore, all advertising billboards had been removed to put an end to the cluttered view on the top of the square's buildings, a matter that was applauded by many people, he added. The Egyptian government had also delegated the Sound and Light Company, which specialises in lighting archaeological sites, to restructure the lighting system in the whole square, so as to highlight the beauty of the new developments. The company has finished the lighting of the Egyptian Museum, and most of the external premises facades inside the square, while the remaining parts will be done in the coming days. The total number of lighting units that will be installed in the square could reach ten thousand, according to Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, head of the company. Search Keywords: Short link: Priyanka Chopra has been touring with the Jonas Brothers in Europe. After performing and spending Valentine's Day with Priyanka in Milan, Italy, Nick Jonas, along with Joe and Kevin, set the stage on fire in Barcelona, Spain. Priyanka was in the crowd enjoying the show with the audience and it then when she revealed that she loves the band's performance on What a Man Gotta Do live the most. Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas Spotted Wearing Dracula Print Shirt on a Romantic Outing with Nick Jonas In fact, since the Jonas Brothers re-united, Priyanka, along with Sophie Turner and Danielle Jonas, Joe and Kevin's respective wives, has appeared in two music videos of the band--Sucker, in 2019 and What A Man Gotta Do, in 2020-- and now she has sort of hinted which track is her personal favourite. Priyanka shared a video on her Instagram as the Jonas Brothers play What a Man Gotta Do on-stage captioning it as "Love hearing this live #whatamangottado." Watch What A Man Gotta Do music video below: During the release of the music video of What a Man Gotta Do, Priyanka had given a glimpse of it and captioned it: "I'm risky... he's the business." The couple is seen giving tribute to the 1983 film Risky Business starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. Follow @News18Movies for more Former Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Khan, along with other local leaders, has been named in the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police on Tuesday in connection with the violence during an anti-CAA protest in Jamia Nagar on December 15 last year. The Delhi Police has also mentioned the name of Sharjeel Imam as an 'instigator'. Imam's name was mentioned in the chargesheet after an accused in the violence, named Furqan, alleged that he was provoked by Imam's speeches. A supplementary chargesheet will be filed against Imam, police stated. Besides them, names of local leaders Ashu Khan, Mustafa and Haider have also been included. Among others mentioned are Chandan Kumar, Asif Tanha and Qasim Usmani. Police also stated that a Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulance in which a patient was being taken was attacked by the protestors in Jamia area. The CATS ambulance comes under the Delhi government, but no complaint was lodged. The chargesheet further mentions that as per the opinion given by the medical board, the injuries of patient Ajaz, who was injured along with Shoaib Khan, are not gunshot injuries as there are no marks of gunshot residues. The investigation revealed that empty bullet cartridges of .32 bore were found from the site of violence. So far, 17 people (9 from New friends Colony and 8 from Jamia) have been arrested in the case. According to the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police, all the accused are locals. The police have also mentioned about Popular Front of India (PFI) activists in the chargesheet and stated that their role is also being examined. The probe team also stated that it will release more photographs for identification in the rioting. The Police have booked the accused under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italy is to reopen three Pompeii houses to the public after restoration. The House of Lovers, one of the most famous buildings in Pompeii, is to reopen after 40 years, according to an announcement by Italy's culture minister Dario Franceschini. The domus, which came to light in 1933 and suffered extensive damage in the Irpinia earthquake of 1980, has undergone an extensive programme of restoration works. House of Lovers at Pompeii Described as a "unique jewel" of the ancient Roman city, which was buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, the House of Lovers is the only domus whose second floor was preserved almost in its entirety. The first-century BC building, believed to have been a brothel, is decorated with images representing life, landscapes and fish, dating to after 62 BC. Pompeii reopens Casa degli Amanti The domus owes its name to a Latin inscription beside the entrance: 'Amantes, ut apes, vita(m) mellita(m) exigunt. Velle.' which translates as "Lovers like bees pass a sweet life like honey. I wish it were so." The House of Lovers has been restored along with two other Pompeii buildings - the Casa della Nave Europa and the Casa del Frutteto - thanks to the EU-funded Great Pompeii Project. Franceschini hailed the restoration as "a story of rebirth and redemption, a model for all of Europe in the management of EU funds." The news comes after Pompeii reopened the restored Casa del Frutteto, or House of the Orchard, on 1 February. India will send a C-17 military aircraft to Coronavius-hit Wuhan in China on February 20 to evacuate more Indians. The C-17 Globemaster, the biggest military aircraft in the Indian Air Force, will also carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China. Last week, India had announced that it will send medicines as well as other medical supplies to China. All 248 people at an Army camp in Manesar and another batch of 100 at an Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility, quarantined at these two places after being evacuated from Wuhan earlier in February, were discharged on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. All 248 persons, mostly students, who were quarantined at the Army camp left for their homes after being declared fit on Tuesday. "All of them have tested negative for the respiratory virus in the subsequent tests after the completion of the 14-day quarantine period," an official source said. The remaining people housed at the ITBP camp will be released by February 19 (Wednesday) morning. A total of 647 Indians and seven Maldivians were brought back from Wuhan on February 1 and 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China and kept at the two quarantine facilities. On February 17, a batch of about 200 people was discharged from the ITBP camp, which housed a total of 406 people, including seven Maldivians. As the inmates left the quarantine facility on Tuesday, they thanked the Indian Army for the arrangements made at the camp, particularly the food, and raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', PTI said. "Due to the fear of coronavirus spreading rapidly, we appealed to the Indian embassy in China to rescue us. Our university also provided support to us. The documentation process took around eight days after which Indian Army evacuated us on February 1 on an Air India flight," said a student wearing a mask after being discharged. So far 317 people out of total 406 have left the ITBP centre after being declared free of novel coronavirus by the doctors. All those who were discharged have been provided with conveyance till the airport, railway stations, or bus stands. Among those who will leave the facility on Wednesday are a few families. All released persons were advised to remain self-isolated for the next 14 days at their respective places, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that two of the three medical students who had tested positive for coronavirus infection in Kerala have now been discharged. The condition of the third one is stable, he said. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak has climbed to 1,868 while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. The CCTV footage from the Jamia Millia Islamia library is slowly helping us piece together just what happened on the night of 15 December last year The CCTV footage from the Jamia Millia Islamia library is slowly helping us piece together just what happened on the night of 15 December last year. The manner in which the police has conducted itself, as an institution, during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests across the country should ideally lead to inquiries and the subsequent suspension of officials responsible. The seemingly arbitrary implementation of Section 144, denial of permission to hold protests, lack of police name-tags, masking of faces, being out of uniform and breaking of CCTV cameras are all now becoming a regular practice. Violence by the police is not new to Indians, but the challenge has always been holding the relevant personnel accountable for their actions. Whether illegal encounters or petty corruption, proving the act of crime by a policeman is near impossible without evidence. Even with the availability of evidence, the glacial functioning of courts in India means that the idea of justice for being a victim of State violence is a dream that never materialises. The burden of evidence being on the victim is a serious problem. The growing implementation of CCTV across the country has so far been portrayed as a problem with the State gaining excessive powers. This is indeed true with the use of facial recognition technology and the lack of accountability on how the State uses the footage. The ongoing protests are teaching us that the police is just as afraid of the visuals captured on surveillance cameras as the citizens, particularly when we see cops breaking cameras. The police, it would appear, does not want to yield its power to a machine that could hold it accountable. With the affordability and availability of smartphones, cops seem to be resorting to a variety of means, including not wearing their name-tags, to avoid identification. The idea that CCTV ensures accountability or safety is flawed when the control of the technology lies with the police. When people advocate against the rise of CCTV, they are actually complaining about this power the police has to control things in real-time. The usage of facial recognition adds to this problem of power and accountability. With growing surveillance databases, the police is able to mobilise in real-time to ensure people don't assemble for any form of protest. The current state of affairs increasingly makes it clear that there is an information asymmetry between the police and citizens. While the police wants to know everything about the citizens, it doesn't want to cede any information about its own personnel. The only way to hold the State accountable is to demand transparency. Without transparency, there is no hope for accountability. And the first step towards this is to start demanding access to all forms of information held by the police departments starting with CCTV footage from cameras in public spaces. This is nothing radical or new the Election Commission allows anyone to access CCTV footage of cameras installed in polling booths and strong rooms. The commission charges Rs 50 per DVD to provide this information as per the RTI rules of 2012. There is no reason why the police should not be providing this information. For instance, in the US, access to body camera footage was a key factor in highlighting the scale of police brutality against the African-American community during the Black Lives Matter movement. Demanding access to CCTV footage is far from an easy exercise. At the time of writing, police departments store CCTV footage only for 30 days and are able to evade requests under the RTI Act. Stating that the required information has already been deleted or is part of legal proceedings and cannot be made public until the matter is decided by the court are two ways in which footage is kept from the public. Even in court, police personnel have been known to casually inform the judge that the CCTV cameras are not working when a demand is made for footage as part of public litigation. With the 'Fundamental Right to Privacy' judgment, one could argue that access to CCTV footage violates the fundamental rights of others. This is a valid concern, but then the demand should be to shut down all CCTV cameras installed by the police. The police cannot make different arguments saying privacy cannot be provided in public spaces and at the same time, reject requests for this information under RTI. The confusion about transparency and privacy is that privacy belongs to individuals, while transparency is for the State. The State can't deny information with imaginary threats of national security and privacy, when it collects this information in a manner that isn't always lawful. These are important issues for our society and they can only be solved with policing and surveillance reforms. But to even demand them, we really need to document the capacity of the State and how it is avoiding accountability. The State and police are weaponising public infrastructure against citizens by shutting down the internet and even post offices in Kashmir, the State has found ways to ensure citizens toe the line. This issue of who controls the infrastructure is becoming a problem and cannot be allowed to be extended to CCTV. The author is an independent researcher working on data, governance and the internet Walt Ramsey Joins Alchemy Advisory Board I am excited to once again work with Tim Li and have an opportunity to interact with the team at Alchemy. said Walt Ramsey. As the fintech market continues to mature, there is an ever-increasing need for more complex platform to manage financial products across the credit lifecycle Alchemy Technologies (Alchemy) a leading FinTech infrastructure development company based in American Fork, Utah welcomes Walt Ramsey to its Advisory Board. Walt Ramsey previous served as the Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Lending, LLC, a New York based personal financing company where he grew the portfolio from less than $70 million to over $120 million in 6 months. Prior to Liberty Lending, Walt Ramsey served as the Chief Risk Officer at Elevate, a tech-enabled online financial services company based in Forth Worth, Texas. He also served Elevates predecessor Think Finance as its Chief Risk Officer. Walt Ramsey held various senior leadership as well as executive position at JPMorgan Chase, Lloyds Bank, Experian, GE Consumer Finance, Associates (Acquired by Citigroup) as well as First USA Bank. "Ive had the absolutely pleasure working with Walt at JPMorgan Chase and Think Finance, said Timothy Li, CEO of Alchemy. Walts experience and vision has helped me throughout my career and his leadership will guide Alchemy to the next level." Graduated from North Carolina State University, Walt received his Masters Degree in Economics, Statistics and ABD in Economics. He also holds a B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics from the College of Charleston. I am excited to once again work with Tim Li and have an opportunity to interact with the team at Alchemy, said Walt Ramsey. As the fintech market continues to mature, there is an ever-increasing need for more complex platform to manage financial products across the credit lifecycle. About Alchemy Technologies. https://www.trustalchemy.com/ Alchemy Technology Inc. is industry-first fintech infrastructure company offering out of the box technology, algorithms and servicing to launch financial products for Banks, Specialty Financing Companies, Point of Sale Financing and FinTech startups alike. Our low cost leasing solution reduces barrier to entry and bring tremendous value both in our software and our industry know how. Our end-to-end infrastructure offering includes end user experience, merchant experience, loan origination system, decision engine, loan management system, payment gateways, and secondary market access. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 18, 2020, an industry leader in LiDAR technology who provides the most versatile and scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platformin the market, is set to return to California to showcase it's multi-award winning LiDAR technology at Autonomous Vehicles Conference 2020 from February 26-28th, booth #5, at the Pullman San Francisco Bay. AV20provides the opportunity for mobility leaders from across the globe to connect, inspire, educate and collaborate on innovative developments and future trends in autonomous driving and mobility. This year we are pleased to announce that Frantz Saintellemy, President & COO of LeddarTech will join the stage with Pierre Lefevre, CTO of COAST Autonomous for their presentation, "Paving the Road From ADAS to Autonomy" which explores the ways in which solid-state 3D LiDAR solutions like the Leddar Pixellare the "Road Ahead" for autonomous driving. This presentation will take place on February 27th at 11.30 AM. LeddarTech will also be showcasing its award-winning LiDAR technologyon the show floor at booth #5 from February 26-28th. Click HEREto request a demo and to meet our team at AV20 at booth #5 "Partnerships in the mobility space such as the one between LeddarTech and COAST Autonomous highlight the importance of collaboration in the industry and AV20 exemplifies this ethos as it challenges the status quo in the automotive sector and broadens the ecosystem in which we operate", stated Frantz Saintellemy of LeddarTech. "We are excited to be a part of AV20 as speaker and exhibitor as it allows us to share our knowledge and insights, to collaborate and to exchange ideas and concepts that will shape the future of this industry". "At COAST Autonomous, we understand the importance of having a comprehensive and complete field of view around our shuttles, and by integrating the Leddar Pixell 3D solid-state LiDAR solution onto our shuttles, we provide a solution that puts pedestrians first and gives cities back to the people", said COAST Autonomous CTO, Pierre Lefevre. "We are again excited to share the stage with LeddarTech and to participate at AV20". AV20 Silicon Valley 2020 will gather together 300+ mobility experts; from Chief Product Officers, Chief Engineers, CEOs, to Heads of Safety for Autonomous Platforms, ADAS, and Autonomous Technology. About COAST Autonomous COAST Autonomous is a software and technology company focused on delivering AV solutions at appropriate speeds for urban and campus environments. COAST's mission is to build community by connecting people with mobility solutions that put pedestrians first and give cities back to people. At the center of one of the fastest and most profound disruptions to impact the transportation and logistics industries, COAST has developed the full stack of Autonomous Vehicle. Contact: Aimie Nghiem, Director of Program Development, COAST Autonomous Tel: +1-626-838-2469 ANghiem@coastautonomous.com About LeddarTech LeddarTech is an industry leader providing the most versatile and scalable auto and mobility LiDAR platform based on the unique LeddarEngine which consists of a suite of automotive-grade, functional safety certified SoCs working in tandem with proprietary LeddarSP signal processing software. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 70 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities. LeddarTech also serves the mobility market with solid-state high-performance LiDAR module solutions for autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, and robotaxis. These modules are developed to support the mobility market but also to demonstrate the capabilities of LeddarTech's auto and mobility platform as a basis for other LiDAR suppliers to build upon. Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.LeddarTech.com , and on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and YouTube. Contact: Daniel Aitken, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, LeddarTech Tel.: +1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 Daniel.Aitken@Leddartech.com Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarEngine, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, and LeddarTech logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners. JUNEAU, Alaska - The group opposing an effort to recall Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Tuesday it will drop its court fight and instead gear up for a possible recall election. Stand Tall With Mike, in a statement, said it told its attorneys to withdraw its appeal before the state Supreme Court, saying recent court actions indicate further participation in the legal process would not be a productive use of its resources. Stand Tall With Mike will place its trust in the voters, not unelected judges, to protect the integrity of our elections, now and into the future, the group said. It filed a motion to dismiss its appeal Tuesday. Judges, while appointed from nominees put forth by a judicial council, face periodic retention votes from Alaska voters. The state Supreme Court last week allowed for pro-recall group Recall Dunleavy to begin a new signature-gathering phase while the case is on appeal. The state, on behalf of the Division of Elections, had joined with Stand Tall With Mike in appealing a lower court ruling that found the recall should be allowed to proceed. The states appeal will continue, Department of Law spokeswoman Cori Mills said by email. The state maintains an opinion by Attorney General Kevin Clarkson and a decision by the Division of Elections based on that analysis were correct and that the issues need to be addressed by the state Supreme Court, Mills said. Anger over budget cuts Dunleavy proposed last year helped fuel the recall effort, which gathered more signatures than required as part of an application that was rejected by the division. Division director Gail Fenumiai has said her decision to deny the application was based on a legal review from Clarkson that concluded the stated grounds for recall were factually and legally deficient. Clarkson is a Dunleavy appointee who was confirmed by lawmakers. Dunleavy, a Republican who took office in late 2018, has called it a political recall. He told Alaska Public Medias Talk of Alaska Tuesday that recall opponents hoped the court would look at whether various standards had been breached. It doesnt appear that thats going to happen and so we have to gear up for a campaign so that the people of Alaska can weigh in and decide whether they believe ... this governor should stay in office, he said. Grounds for recall in Alaska are lack of fitness, incompetence, neglect of duties or corruption. Recall Dunleavy, among its claims, said the governor violated the law by not appointing a judge within a required time frame, misused state funds for partisan online ads and mailers, and improperly used his veto authority to attack the judiciary. The recall group must gather 71,252 signatures in seeking to force a recall election. Stand Tall With Mike called Chief Justice Joel Bolger a material witness in the case and suggested concerns with him hearing the matter. Bolger met with Dunleavy last year after the governor refused to make a judicial appointment. Dunleavy has said the meeting provided important clarification on the nominations process that he was seeking when he delayed the appointment. Mara Rabinowitz, with the state court system, said there is a process for asking a judge or justice to recuse himself or herself from a case. Stand Tall With Mike, before withdrawing its appeal, did not file a motion asking the chief justice to recuse himself from participating in the appeal which is the proper way to raise that issue, she said by email. Brewster Jamieson, an attorney for Stand Tall With Mike, in a statement said the group considers the recall seriously flawed. If it is allowed to go forward, this means that Alaska has a purely political recall system, which is contrary to the Alaska constitution, he said. Those issues are still before the court, but in the meantime, with signature gathering underway, my client determined that it would no longer devote resources to legal proceedings. FRUSTRATED students held a rally at University College Dublin (UCD) today against a decision made by the university to increase on-campus accommodation rates by 12pc over the next three years. The demonstration follows a proposal by the college to impose a rent increase of the maximum 4pc for each of the next three years after the cap was applied to student apartments last August to ensure rent predictability, in the same way as it does in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). The increase means students at UCD are facing some of the highest on-campus room fees in the country, with apartments available from 6,000 to 9,150 once the 4pc is applied. Up to 100 student protesters marched from UCD's Student Centre to the Tierney Building, where a meeting between the university management team and UCD President, Professor Andrew Deeks was due to take place. Students' Union (SU) President, Joanna Siewierska delivered a statement at the meeting on behalf of the SU and two other student representative groups, and a petition against the rate increases signed by 2,000 students. The petition also calls for the university to deliver a reduction of on-campus accommodation rent, a commitment to deliver cheaper accommodation, and for the establishment of a student rental-assistance fund for students who are renting both on and off campus. Ms Siewierska said she is expecting a formal response from management, but if the SUs demands are not met they expect to continue escalating their protests. Not only have we been locked out of that decision making process, our demands have not been responded to in two weeks. Expand Close Students at a campus accommodation rally at University College Dublin (UCD) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Students at a campus accommodation rally at University College Dublin (UCD) Student Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich, from Connemara, Co Galway, said she may not be able to return to on-campus accommodation if the 4pc price hike is introduced because she could barely afford it this year. I lived on campus this year, in one of the cheapest accommodations available in UCD. I pay 7,500 for an apartment that didn't have heating for two months, during November and December, an apartment that had mice. We don't have ovens. We're already paying above and beyond what anyone else is paying in this country, and they want to raise it again, she told the Irish Independent. If she fails to find suitable accommodation, Mide said she will be begging family and friends to let her stay in their home. Family, friends, going through the entire grapevine and begging people to take me in. This is the situation for so many students of, if I don't live on-campus next year, or if I can't find somewhere to say, I don't know what I'm going to do. Even when people do get accommodation, it can leave people in a really precarious position because they are living in digs and they're afraid that if they annoy their landlady landlord, they'll just throw them out in there because they have no rights. This is the reality for thousands of students on this campus already with the rents the way they are and it's only going to get worse if they're going up. People coming from Mayo or Tipperary, or every end of the country has already sacrificed so much just to come here in the first place. And it's just a continuing struggle for everyone who want to pursue an education here, she said. I asked for a formal response. We got a few words from our university president just acknowledging our presence in the meeting. Ms Siewierska told the Irish Independent that students feel like they are being treated as cash cows for the college. We already feel a bit like cash cows on campus, we already feel like the way decisions are made, were being treated, where we feel that management is trying to maximise the income that can get out of us, she said. That's not what we're here for. We're here for an education and we have a right to that. We want to see 12pc rent increase stopped. We want to see that student housing crisis properly addressed by our university and not exacerbated for our students." She said accommodation prices are a barrier for students looking to attend UCD. Every year around September time and CAO time, we have families calling us in the Student Union, and I'm sure they call the university to say, look, my child worked so hard, but I just can't find a room, not within our budget. This is affecting really young people and their families from outside of Dublin the most, and we don't even have those voices here today. Those are the people that couldn't even make it here. And it's definitely something especially with the campus increase, you know, students who are on campus accommodation this year, it's a question that they have to address; Will I be able to keep covering this rent next year? I'm going to look to the private market, or do I have to transfer? These are real questions that students and families have to address and it's not fair. It's not fair. Education is a right. Locking access to it with these decisions is unacceptable by the management of a public institution. UCD previously told the Irish Independent that it was applying the cap to secure adequate funding for the maintenance of existing accommodation and the provision of 3,000 new beds, 924 of which will be available in September. The Irish Independent has contacted UCD for comment. TDT/Manama Three siblings, who are residents of the Kingdom, have set a rare milestone among accountancy professionals by earning the membership of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) "at an almost unbelievable age". While Aruna Suresh and Anika Suresh attained success at the age of 17, their sibling Anusha Suresh broke all records to emerge successful at the age of 15. And they attribute their success to their father Mr Suresh, who is also a Chartered Accountant by profession. "After finishing IGCSE and A Level, we were in a dilemma on whether to pursue a professional qualification or an academic degree. We would say, the two most important factors were dedication and proper guidance. We were like any other student, facing difficulties and failures. However, we were taught to never give up and keep working towards our goal," they told Tribune. The sisters agree to the fact that any great dream demand great sacrifice. "We spent those two years of our lives dedicated to our studies and put aside our personal interests." They also have an advice for those who wait to complete their graduation or attain work experience before pursuing such serious professional lines. "A common misconception is that these professional qualifications require experience and vast prior knowledge. "However our journey has proven that you do not require such great skill or knowledge to attain Chartered status. So, our advice would be that if you are determined and willing to put the effort, you can definitely pursue a professional qualification." The sisters, who are currently lecturers for Cambridge assessment international education, LCCI, ACCA, CMA and other professional qualifications, say the success has had a great impact on their personal lives. "We definitely benefited since it enhanced our knowledge and gave us the confidence to take up any challenge. It also nurtured the qualities of the will power and perseverance, which is essential for working towards our dreams. "Since we gained immense knowledge from our ACCA, we have completed CMA qualification as well. We chose the CMA since it diversifies us into the American accounting standards. We also plan to complete our CPA, CFA, CIMA and ACA." ACCA qualification is one of the best options for youngsters who want to make big in the accounting field, according to them. "Being a professional qualification, the ACCA is a key asset to any candidate that is looking for a job in the business field. It tells the employer that the candidate has been trained to tackle real world situations in his/her field of work." Looking forward, the sisters have great plans in the store. "We have always desired to work in one of the big four audit firms. We also want to start up businesses in the education and accounting sector." BNP Paribas REIM on behalf of its Next Estate Income Fund III (NEIF III), managed by BNP Paribas REIM Luxembourg agreed with Grossfeld PAP on the sale of the Kockelscheuer office project in Luxembourg. The property is expected to be delivered in Q1 2022 and aims at granting a BREEAM [] Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP Donald Trump has attended the wedding this weekend of embattled and controversial White House aide Stephen Miller, who has been condemned for his links to white nationalism and his hardline stance on immigration. The President is at Trump International Hotel for the wedding of Mr and Mrs Stephen Miller, a White House statement said. Trump had been in Florida earlier on Sunday to attend Nascars 62nd Dayton 500. He returned to Washington, DC, shortly after 6.00pm. According to media reports, Miller is getting married to Katie Waldman, vice-president Mikes Pence press secretary. Miller is one of the few remaining staffers from Trumps 2016 campaign and widely seen as a powerful driving force behind controversial policies like the travel ban that largely impacts mostly Muslim countries and the zero-tolerance family separation policy that caused global outrage as children at the southern border were kept in cages. Miller also hit the headlines recently for promoting white nationalist articles and racist books in emails to a writer at Breitbart, who after leaving the hard-right website leaked 900 of the messages to anti-hate campaign group the Southern Poverty Law Center. Last week Democratic congressional leaders demanded Millers resignation in a joint resolution, saying his white supremacist, anti-immigrant ideology has no place in our country. The resolution said Miller should leave his job after trafficking in bigotry, hatred and divisive political rhetoric and for promoting policies that are inconsistent with the trust and confidence placed in him as a senior advisor to the president. US President Donald Trump stressed on India-US trade deal and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, ''You have a very special Prime Minister, he really knows what he is doing", on Day 2 of his maiden visit to India. The US President said that India-US will work together against terrorism and together both the countries are making all possible efforts towards it. President Trump also interacted with business leaders in Delhi after which he addressed media at a press conference held in the US Embassy. Many universities in HCM City offer programmes in English to enable their students to communicate in that language when they work elsewhere in the ASEAN Economic Community, within which the blocs nationals can freely migrate. National English teaching program fails despite big budget English teaching to be improved following national project failure Students at the International University under the Vietnam National University-HCM City, which is the only public general university in Vietnam to exclusively teach in English. VNS Photo Gia Loc According to surveys done by recruitment companies, many enterprises complain that Vietnamese employees lack English skills. They recommend that higher education establishments should strive to improve their students English. More and more universities in the city are offering training programmes in English to address this problem. The International University under the Vietnam National University-HCM City has, in fact, switched completely to English, the only public general university in Vietnam to do so. A survey by the university on enterprises satisfaction with its students last year showed a level of 94 per cent. The HCM City University of Technology offered its programme in English in 2006. The number has since increased to more than 30. According to the university, the programmes aim to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese engineers in the ASEAN labour market and meet the growing demands of companies. They include computer science, computer engineering, automative engineering, and others. Ton Duc Thang University teaches 11 majors in English. Many private universities in the city also offer many programmes in English. Hoa Sen University has programmes called the Hoa Sen Five Star Plus with classrooms having only 25 students and teaching in English. The programmes include the Vatel International Programme in co-operation with Frances Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School and others in marketing, logistics and supply chain management and hospitality administration. Hong Bang International University will launch nine more international training programmes in English in medicine, pharmacology, nursing, architecture, economic laws, finance-banking, industrial management, tourism and travel administration, and international relations in the 2020-2021 academic year, raising its total number to 16. The programmes admit both international and Vietnamese students in order to foster a multi-cultural environment at the university, Assoc Prof Dr Ho Thanh Phong, the universitys rector, said, adding that students in these programmes could easily transfer to the universitys joint training programmes with universities in the US, New Zealand and other places. Many city universities also offer courses in which some of the subjects are taught in English. Duong Van Minh, a student of this course at the HCM City University of Science, told Viet Nam News: I have been taught subjects such as analytical chemistry, nanochemistry and general chemistry in English. English textbooks for these subjects in this course are very good and easy for me to understand because they are not too academic. Moreover, my English reading and writing skills have improved thanks to the course. VNS Vandals used red spray paint to deface Plymouth Rock and several other historic landmarks in Plymouth, Massachusetts, town officials said Monday. Plymouth Rock is said to mark the landing place of the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. The other sites that were targeted include the National Monument to the Forefathers and a statue called "The Pilgrim Maiden." Melissa Arrighi, Plymouth's town manager, tweeted that she was "saddened and sickened" by the vandalism, adding that the police are investigating. Lea Filson, executive director of See Plymouth, said seeing "this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling. The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture." By Monday night, most of the graffiti had been removed. This isn't the first time the rock has been targeted; in 2014, someone spray painted "LIES" onto the boulder. Plymouth will celebrate its 400th anniversary this year, with an opening ceremony in late April. More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The family of 1 new Trump pardon recipient donated $200,000 to Trump's re-election effort last fall Trump's pardon of Bernie Kerik also apparently wiped out Kerik's $103,300 debt to taxpayers For years, downtown Houston struggled to keep up with the challenges of a tremendously fast-growing, dynamic city. Were sort of running to catch our tails all the time, said Robert Eury, who has been president of Central Houston Inc. since 1983. Downtown has a lot of growing vibrancy at this point. We worked really hard for years to push this place forward, and now all of a sudden, it feels like it has its own momentum. Its really gratifying. Almost daily, people tell me they feel the change. The private, nonprofit membership association is responsible for planning and overseeing the redevelopment of the central city area. Eury, 72, is also president and CEO of the Houston Downtown Management District, a special assessment district, as well as president of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, which administers Houstons Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3. Eury spoke with Texas Inc. about how Central Houston and the other organizations he leads are working to facilitate the continuing growth and redevelopment. Q: What was the impetus for Central Houston Inc.? A: In the 70s and early 80s, we were seeing the emergence of centers for activity in places such as the suburbs and Uptown. Back then, downtown was moving in the direction of becoming an office park. Other things one would expect in an urban center living, retail, convention center and visitor attractions were struggling. There was a strong need for the civic community to come together and get behind the advancement of downtown. Any city wants a lot of employment but also needs an extremely vibrant central city, and to do that, you need a mix of living, working, learning, playing, visiting everything has to flow together. The civic leadership that created Central Houston in 1983 realized it needed to give special attention to the continuing development and redevelopment of downtown to keep it competitive with the new emerging areas. Q: How do the organizations you lead interconnect? A: Central Houston is a visionary organization. Its purpose is to foster this thriving hub of commerce and culture in the downtown and central city areas. It sets the agenda and engages the public and private sectors to collaborate to move projects to fruition. The Downtown Management District, created in 1995, is a governmental entity. It allows for services and improvements to be paid for by a levy on taxable property within the downtown area and focuses on managing the public environment. It supplements city services for things like cleaning, public safety and landscape maintenance. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority, created in 1998, is a governmental nonprofit corporation. Its funded by proceeds of a tax increment reinvestment zone. Its used for economic development purposes and infrastructure development, like reconstruction of streets and repurposing of old buildings. Its a financial workhorse. More Information Education: Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Rice University; Bachelor of Science in Architecture from University of Cincinnati. Favorite quote: "Perfection is the enemy of good." Favorite movie: "Rocky" Favorite books: "Isaiah," Jane Jacob's "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" Favorite food: Blue Bell Lite Homemade Vanilla Leadership philosophy: Surround yourself with a great team; listen to them and then lead by example. See More Collapse Central Houston leads in setting the vision, and these other public entities have the resources to implement the vision. My time is split between them. Its very efficient. These organizations have been a real force in the redevelopment of downtown. Q: What are some of Central Houstons biggest projects? A: One is our work in homelessness. As in most cities, homelessness tends to be concentrated in the central part of the city, largely because thats where various services and governmental facilities are. Central Houston has spent a lot of time working with public sector entities to craft an enduring system for housing the homeless. We, along with former Mayor Annise Parker, worked on launching a program called The Way Home, which was a concentrated effort to bring us to zero chronic homelessness and zero veterans homelessness, and to permanently house with supporting services as many people as possible. Weve made great progress. Were not done, but I think we can actually end homelessness here. Another very large project were involved in is planning the reconstruction of the major freeways around downtown, which for functional, capacity and transit reasons are in need of reconstruction. The approach weve taken is to configure the freeways so they have less impact on the community, and at the same time, were looking for opportunities to reconnect communities and create new civic spaces, understory parks and understory greenways. Theres a whole series of what we call civic opportunities associated with this massive reconstruction project. Weve been involved with this long-term project for several years and are working closely with Mayor Sylvester Turner and others. Q: How are your efforts to end homelessness coming along? A: We have essentially ended veterans homelessness. That doesnt mean that no veterans are homeless, but if youre a veteran and homeless, you can be housed right now. The facilities for both housing and wrap-around services are in place. We would very much like to end chronic homelessness which basically refers to individuals who have been on the street for more than a year. The chronic homeless population is particularly challenging. Q: There are resources for veterans but not non-veterans? A: Yes. Its more challenging on the resource side for non-veterans. As weve reduced the number of homeless individuals, many of the people still in the streets are incredibly compromised, which makes it harder to meet their needs. We probably dont have the proper level of public funding for mental and other health services. But this is a very philanthropic community and weve made remarkable progress. Over 100 housing and services providers are cooperating to help to solve the problem. Our organizational role is one advocating, facilitating collaboration, planning, finding funding and ultimately being a part of the communitys homeless housing and services system. Q: How are you providing housing? A: In two ways. The first is through the construction of new housing that is focused on formerly homeless individuals. Nonprofit entities have built excellent residential projects to house formerly homeless persons in the region. Central Houston worked with philanthropy to allow nonprofit housing developers to match federal grants and loans as quickly as possible. The second way is through the placement of homeless individuals into housing along with permanent wrap-around services. This is through a coordinated access system which is at the heart of The Way Home and is managed by the Coalition for the Homeless. During our Hurricane Katrina experience, we found that a coordinated approach worked well for resettling a large influx of people. Today, our challenge is maintaining and strengthening our system given constantly changing funding sources and the severe challenges faced by many who are living on our streets. Q: Is central citys travel demand growing faster than the growth in transit capacity? A: Yes, we need to move quicker. A large number of workers use transit to get to work. We have a strong, well-developed system of park-and-ride buses. About 31 percent of the workforce uses park-and-ride, local bus or rail to commute. About 22 percent of the workforce uses the park-and-ride system. Thats a lot. There are around 157,000 employees working downtown. About 56 percent drive alone in their cars. Our goal is to have less people driving alone. The passage of the METRONext plan referendum will bring new projects. Transit is so vital to the employers downtown. Were working closely with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and major employers in downtown to expand the transit system. Its a priority. Q: What are your greatest challenges? A: Two things come to mind. The first is being strategic about the use of our time and resources. Our plate is always full! The second is ensuring that all citizens of the city feel connected to downtown as we make decisions guiding its future that they continue to have a sense of ownership. Q: The Houston economy has been growing, but there are signs things may be slowing down. How would that affect your efforts? A: Weve been on an upward path for quite a while and right now, were still looking good. Were cautiously watching whats happening in the energy sector. There are a lot of different pieces in the energy economy here in Houston transport, financing, technology. Its much more than just oil and gas. What I have seen from past experience is that downturns typically spur innovation and can even be a stimulus for new things to happen. So, in general, things are good, but there is some degree of caution. Q: How do you find the relationship between government and the business community? A: As Ive watched over the last 37 years, government has grown capacity to work better with the business community. Houston is an expansive city geographically, and its also growing at a fast pace, which is projected to continue. Public and private sectors working together are always faced with challenges because of the amount of growth. The business leadership and the engagement of the business community in civic work is incredibly strong here, historically and now. We wouldnt be where we are without it. That was the overarching defense used at his impeachment hearings as his lawyers attempted to explain why the president was pushing the Ukrainian government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. Trump was merely trying to root out corruption, as all good corruption-rooter-outers do. After several consecutive days of gains, oil prices slumped by more than 2 percent early on Tuesday, as the coronavirus continues to weigh on sentiment and Russia continues to stall an OPEC+ decision to counter the virus outbreaks impact on oil demand and markets. At 8:59 a.m. EST on Tuesday, WTI Crude was down 2.06 percent at $50.97, while Brent Crude was plunging by 2.24 percent at $56.38. Oil prices were tracking losses in equity markets, with Dow futures down early on Tuesday, pointing to a drop of 123 points at market open, after Apple warned it would miss its revenues target this quarter because the coronavirus outbreak has hurt Chinese demand and production for worldwide sales of its iPhone. The price of oil was also under pressure from the continued stalling from Russia, which has been avoiding for weeks now a direct reply to a proposal for deeper production cuts to counter the demand loss from the coronavirus. Russia has taken time to review the proposal of the OPEC+ group joint technical committee (JTC) to extend the cuts as-is until the end of 2020 and to deepen those cuts in the second quarter in response to the fact that the coronavirus has had a negative impact on oil demand and oil markets. Related: Goldman Slashes Oil Price Forecast By $10 Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak continues to discuss the OPEC+ deal with his colleagues in the production group, Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow today. Novak continues to discuss the situation with his colleagues at the OPEC+ alliance and there is nothing more to add at this point, Peskov added. Analysts believe that OPEC+ would need to act in response to the slump in oil demand to prevent a glut and support oil prices. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak we were of the view that OPEC+ would need to extend its output cut deal through until mid-year, Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy at ING, said on Tuesday. However, given the demand impact from the coronavirus, we believe that current cuts of 1.7MMbbls/d need to be extended, along with continued over compliance from Saudi Arabia. These stronger-than-needed cuts in the second quarter would help offset stock builds over the first quarter, INGs Patterson added. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: New York, Feb 19 : If US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can announce even a limited scope trade agreement from the big stage during Trump's India visit later this month, it would count as a victory although businesses may be left "scratching their heads", US-India strategic experts previewing the upcoming visit are saying. "So, we know what the gold standard looks like. But for a programme like this (Trump's India visit), as long as the two leaders have something to say about what that they need to do and that they've got 80 per cent of the way there, that would count as a victory," Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser and Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told IANS. US India mavens are increasingly concerned about wrinkles in the bilateral security relationship if the two countries don't end up inking a trade deal - even a limited one - during Trump's February visit to India. Rossow said a "gold standard" trade agreement seems hard to imagine at this point which would include full restoration of the Generalised System of Preferences. The GSP is designed to give duty-free market access to exports from developing countries. After Trump took office, US has revoked duty-free treatment for some Indian exports under the GSP and threatened sanctions on any Indian company importing oil from Iran. Removing some of the trade impediments that have festered since the beginning of trade hostilities three years ago and using language that shows a level of comfort about the new normal are being listed as crucial boxes to check off during the visit. "A general announcement about the main principles of the agreement seems to be enough where they can claim victory, even as a lot of folks will be scratching their heads after the fact," Rossow said. Jeff Smith, South Asia Research Fellow at Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, told IANS the "fact that the trip is happening at all" is a success for India-U.S. relations. "There was a great deal of speculation that the visit would be tied to the completion of an India-US trade deal that has been the subject of years of gruelling negotiations. I commend President Trump for deciding to make the visit with or without a trade deal," Smith said. According to Smith, "Just having President Trump present to give a speech, get some face time with Prime Minister Modi, and sign some bilateral deals, including defence sales, will mark a success for bilateral relations. Of course, if the two sides are able to finalise a trade deal at the last minute, the visit will be considered an even greater success." Trade tensions between US and India have been running high since the Trump Administration's first blow in 2018 when it slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium exports from multiple countries, including India. Plenty of baggage has piled on since then. Delhi held off from immediate retaliation but finally allowed retaliatory tariffs to kick in June 2019 after the Trump administration revoked India's GSP status early 2019. In November 2018, US cranked up the pressure on countries importing oil from Iran, handed a six month waiver to India and then slammed the brakes altogether in Spring 2019. In October 2018, India signed a $5.5 billion deal to buy Russian S-400 air defence systems, which will begin arriving late 2020. The Trump administration's CAATSA sanctions strike at the heart of this deal and there are no guarantees yet of a waiver for India. (Nikhila Natarajan can be contacted at @byniknat) ABC News Former President Donald Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry and the estate of his late brother Robert Trump tried on Tuesday to convince a New York judge to dismiss a lawsuit by Mary Trump that accused her family of swindling her out of at least $10 million. Attorneys for the Trump siblings argued Mary Trump's claims are time-barred by a six-year statute of limitations and prohibited by legal releases she signed in 2001 when the family settled the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the former president's father. The Trumps also argued Mary Trump possessed "boxes and boxes of information" about the estate settlement that should have given rise to any claims at the time. The second of a potential six voting periods for some Midlanders in 2020 is beginning. Early voting for the March 3 Republican and Democratic primaries kicks off today. The ballot includes candidates for president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state representative, state-level judges positions and railroad commissioner. Higher-profile local positions include sheriff, county commissioner Precinct 1, district attorney, 142nd District Court judge and county attorney. Early voting for the March 3 primaries continues through Feb. 28. Election Day is Nov. 5. Voter turnout Primary elections are not the high-turnout electoral contests that Midlanders experience in November. In 2016, there were 24,446 total votes cast in the primaries. The number of voters that year ballooned to 49,698 in November. During the last four presidential primary elections, an average of 17,651 Midland County residents cast a ballot, according to information from the Midland County Elections Office website. During the same period, the number of voters in November averaged 46,455. Party turnout More for you Need to know: Early Voting Midland County is one of the most conservative counties in the state. One needs to look at primary party preference for proof. Going back to 2004, an average of 87.5 percent of the votes cast in any primary election went to Republicans. That includes 2008, when a number of Republicans cast their primary ballot for a Democrat because the Republican presidential candidate had basically been decided at that point. Not counting 2008, the highest share of the electorate that Democrats picked up in a primary was 13.6 percent in 2004. If ballot activity is any indication, Republicans will cast ballots in greater numbers. Democrats dont have any contested local elections other than party chair. The Republican Party has five. Runoffs are likely It is not a sure thing, but Midlanders might want to keep in mind May 26. That is the date for primary runoffs. Candidates other than for president must receive a majority of the vote to avoid a runoff. That may prove complicated in a couple of races on the Republican ballot. There are 10 people on the ballot for11th Congressional District; the seat currently is occupied by Mike Conaway. Election consultant Mike Stevens stated in a recent article, Mathematically, (the race) is going to a runoff. Midland County sheriff is another race that might be tough for a candidate to receive the majority needed to avoid a runoff. There are four candidates in that race. Stevens also said that turnout for a runoff usually is about half of the turnout in the primary. Big test for Elections Office This will be the first major test for the Midland County Elections Office since the November election, when a ballot box was misplaced. The Elections Office conducted a special election for Midland City Council, District 2. The office reported 521 voters participated. The Elections Office reported 24,862 voted in the Nov. 5 election. Primaries Early Total Percentage Voting Votes of electorate Presidential 2016 10,449 24,446 32.39 2012 6,462 12,204 17.18 2008 8,899 20,729 29.14 2004 6,387 13,226 18.83 Non-presidential years 2018 8,595 14,731 18.00 2014 8,023 14,046 19.09 Olorunibe Mamora, minister of state for health, says the federal government will evacuate Nigerians living in Wuhan, China if the need... Olorunibe Mamora, minister of state for health, says the federal government will evacuate Nigerians living in Wuhan, China if the need arises. Mamora said this on Monday while addressing a press conference after a meeting with ministers of health of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja. The meeting was on the regions preparedness and response to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had said there were 16 Nigerians in Wuhan and that they had not shown interest to return home. But some Nigerians living in Wuhan countered the ministers statement, saying there were about 60 of them in the city and appealed to the federal government to evacuate them from the country. At the news conference, Mamora said it is not a time for fear or stigmatisation but for science. We are in touch with our ambassador in China and the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria is also in touch with the ministry, Mamora was quoted by The Nation as saying. We are getting information on the condition of Nigerians in Wuhan and we are monitoring the health of our citizens, if and when the need arises to evacuate them, we will do so but we dont want a situation we create panic, this is not time for fear, this is not time for stigmatisation, it is time for science. Chinese government is testing everyone that is trying to leave China to ensure that they dont go and spread the virus to anyone. Also speaking at the conference, Stanley Okolo, director-general of the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO), said the region needs to be ready to curb the spread of the virus. This is not only the fight for government. The devastation of this epidemic affects everybody, Okolo said. In our estimate, we think it will be in the region of $30 million to $50 million to be sure that we can create headway in terms of critical personal protection, laboratory supplies and others and in terms of communication and coordination across borders. A medical marijuana producer that has been located in Portland since 2014 is planning to move to Rocky Hill. CTPharma has purchased a 216,532-square-foot building in Rocky Hill that had been occupied by pharmaceutical company McKesson Corp., which left the 280 Dividend Road facility in September 2018l. Terms of CTPharmas purchase of the building were not released. Tom Schutlz, CTPharmas chief executive officer, said the company didnt want to move out of Portland. CTPharmas relationship with the Town of Portland was excellent and we were reluctant to leave, Schultz said in a statement. However, there were no buildings available in Portland that were big enough for CTPharmas planned expansion and we were very fortunate to identify and purchase the McKesson property. CTPharma employs about 50 people in its highly regulated pharmaceutical production operation, according to company officials. Schultz said CTPharma expects to double its work force once it expands into the new, larger space. The move to Rocky Hill will take place over the next 18 months, Schultz said. The company currently has a federal Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical study underway with Yale School of Medicine, as well as other studies underway at the University of Connecticuts School of Agriculture. Yale professor Rajita Sinha said researchers will be doing two studies in cooperation with CTPharma. One will focus on using marijuana products to treat stress and pain, Sinha said, while the second study will focus on people with chronic pain, and test effects of chronic dosing of medical marijuana. Its taken two-and-a-half years to get through the regulatory and approval processes, she said. Sinha said she hopes to have the two studies completed within 18-24 months. The use of marijuana for certain medical purposes became legal in Connecticut in June 2012. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Turkey issues arrest warrants for some 700 people over 'Gulen ties' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 9:27 AM Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for nearly 700 people, including military and Justice Ministry personnel, over suspected links to the US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for an attempted coup in 2016. Turkey's state-run Anadolou news agency reported on Tuesday that the prosecutors were seeking the apprehension of 467 people across the country over their alleged affiliation to Gulen as part of a probe into corruption in police examinations held in 2009. In the capital, Ankara, it added, 71 people are to be detained in an inquiry targeting suspected Gulen supporters within the Justice Ministry. It also said that warrants had been issued against 157 people, including 101 serving officers, in an investigation of the Turkish Armed Forces. Meanwhile, the private Demiroren news agency reported that about 100 people had so far been detained in the fresh arrest campaign. Turkey witnessed a coup attempt on July 15, 2016, when rogue soldiers attempted to topple the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A few hours later, however, the coup was suppressed. Some 250 people were killed and over 2,000 others wounded in the abortive putsch. Since then, Ankara has been engaged in suppressing perceived putschists and sympathizers. So far, about 80,000 people have been jailed pending trial and some 150,000 civil servants, military personnel, and others sacked or suspended from their jobs. The Turkish government says Gulen's supporters have been running "a parallel state" within the civilian and military bureaucracy and pursuing their own agenda. Gulen has denied orchestrating the coup and has condemned it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to," Richard Branson famously said. With a rapidly changing world and rapidly evolving technology helping employees adapt and retrain to keep their skills marketable has never been more important. A poll from the Stanford Center on Longevity found that 59 percent of professionals surveyed strongly agree with the statement that they expect their employers to provide educational opportunities to advance their careers. The strongest support came from younger professionals (18-29 years old), 71 percent of whom agreed with the statement. Workers want their employee education from you Interestingly, the workplace is one of the major areas where people expect this retraining to happen. More people (33 percent) expect their current or future employers to be more important sources of continuing education than traditional education organizations or government programs. According to a recent survey from Instructure, 70 percent of employees say they would likely leave their current employer to take an offer from a company known for employee educational assistance a number that climbs to about 80 percent for the key 25-44 age demographic. Related: 8 Free Training Tools That Will Help You Excel at Your Job So, how can you feed your team members' desires for the knowledge to keep their skills up-to-date? Here are nine employee education programs, resources or learning-related activities that entrepreneurs can offer to satisfy that need. 1. LinkedIn learning LinkedIn is far more than an online resume and business publishing platform. LinkedIn Learning is the sites educational arm and offers a wide variety of courses in everything from data science, to the Microsoft Office suite, to coding and app design, to blogging with hundreds of courses under each umbrella catering to all skill levels. 2. New York Times or Wall Street Journal subscriptions What better place to learn about business than the two periodicals from the epicenter of American business. In an age of increasingly stripped-down, soundbite journalism, these papers are known for their strong reporting, quality writing and applying it to coverage of the business world. With subscriptions starting at $1 per week for a year of the New York Times, its also a cost-effective way to provide educational benefits to employees. Related: 20 Professional Skills You Can Learn for $30 or Less 3. Reforge Where can you grow your skill set with the help of leaders of top companies like Google, Zendesk, Squarespace and EventBrite? Reforge is a subscription-based repository of information on subjects such as growth, experimentation, monetization and strategy. Reforge's course offerings are typically geared toward employees in technology startups. If you are on a career path toward management in a startup or if you are currently the founder of a startup that is seeking growth, Reforge is for you. 4. General Assembly General Assembly offers a wide variety of tech-related courses in cities all over the U.S.. and the world, from Atlanta, to San Francisco, to Melbourne, to Singapore. Its site lets you browse courses on coding Python, data science, user experience design, consumer behavior, voice interaction, writing pitches and social media. Courses can be filtered by the cities in which they are offered. 5. Product School Product School offers on-site and online courses specifically focused on product management, with the goal of becoming a certified product manager. On-site courses are given all over North America as well as Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Product Schools instructors work at companies such as Tinder, Netflix, Airbnb and Spotify. Related: Why Franchises Are Funding Their Employees' Education 6. GrowthXAcademy GrowthXAcademy offers online courses in three distinct learning paths: sales and business development, growth marketing and UX design. What makes GrowthXAcademy unique is that the students who participate in the courses work on real projects for real companies along with a team of instructors, mentors, investors and student peers making it part course, part on-the-job-esque training. Participating companies in GrowthXAcademys unique training programs include DropBox, SurveyMonkey, Grammarly and Wells Fargo. 7. Yearly conference budget Conferences are valuable educational opportunities because people often learn more when they gather together. The learning extends far beyond the academic because of valuable industry information discussed as well as networking that can lead to partnerships in the future. Sometimes businesses shy away from conferences due to the travel, accommodation and meal expenses involved. But those expenditures can be minimized with a little strategic planning. Booking conferences early can save money on the fees, while booking travel and hotel accommodations early can reduce that pain. Often, conferences make arrangements with hotels for special group rates. Related: Focus on Education and Training to Retain Your Workforce 8. Monthly book club A book club is an effective, low-cost way to keep employees engaged in learning. It accomplishes employee training through reading, but also through the exchange of ideas among peers at the organization. With the advent of iBooks, Audible and Kindle, both the access to and the reading of books has been streamlined. They can be purchased instantly and read on the train or subway or listened to in your car. And there is no shortage of subject matter on almost any industry. 9. Bringing in speakers An interesting speaker can bring many employee benefits to your company. They can inspire workers by bringing relatable experience in solving problems from different perspectives. They can bring employees who have drifted away from the direction the company is heading back into alignment with the organizations mission. Having different but relevant speakers come to talk to team members can reinvigorate them so they become more engaged in their work and in their interaction with others. Knowledge is Power Giving your full-time, part-time, and even new employees access to knowledge, regardless of the delivery system, gives them the power to improve themselves and by extension, your company. The professional development of your employees is an investment worth making. Related: This Is How to Boost Employee Retention With Lifelong Learning Related: Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion to Combat Climate Change Five Essential Factors Entrepreneurs Should Look For In A Co-Working Space Goals 2020: #17 Entrepreneurs Share Their Work, Travel & Fitness Resolutions Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 05:26:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ATHENS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said here on Monday that they are to consider creating an international center in Greece. "Greece is a very nice showcase for other member states and we want to use all the experience," Pololikashvili said after his meeting with Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis. "We talked a lot about innovation, about education, and with the support of the Minister we are going to think and to create a UNWTO international center in Greece," said Pololikashvili. After praising Greece's recovery effort -- thanks also to tourism -- following its economic crisis, the UNWTO chief noted that "the numbers are saying that Greece is growing very fast. There are lots of investment opportunities." Theocharis said: "There is a big scope for common action. We can both provide best practices to other countries and learn from the vast experience the WTO has amassed from the different countries throughout the world. This is going to be fruitful and win-win cooperation in terms of expanding the best practices of tourism." The Greek minister noted that "our cooperation has entered some very specific and deep points, on education and on innovation and startups and sustainable development, and the exchange of good practices among countries." The minister believes that Greece is in the top league of tourist countries in the world. "But we are not happy with where we are. We want to be better. We want to focus now not on arrivals but in terms of quality and tourism revenue, the tourism GDP, in order to be able to create wealth that is inclusive and reaches all the echelons of society." This Time with Alan Partridge has been renewed for a second series. Therell be another series of This Time in the next 12 months, Steve Coogan recently told Radio 2 host Zoe Ball. The show saw Partridge step in as co-host for the magazine show This Time, much to the chagrin of fellow presenter Jennie Gresham (Susannah Fielding). Coogan is also developing an epic road trip with Partridge documenting the British historical landscape and will be launching a Partridge podcast. Source: Radio Times It is too early to tell whether the decision to let hundreds of passengers from the Westerdam fly off has the makings of an epidemiological disaster. Cambodian health authorities said that 409 of the 2,257 passengers and crew had left Cambodia for their homes scattered across the globe. The rest remain in hotels in Phnom Penh, the capital, or on the ship. But deficiencies in screening for the coronavirus aboard the ship, along with continued complacency about the epidemic in Cambodia, are raising fears this small Southeast Asian nation could prove to be a surprising vector of transmission for a virus that has already killed more than 1,700 people, mostly in China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Many health experts urge people who have been in contact with coronavirus patients to self-quarantine for 14 days, lest they add another spoke to the contagion network. But on Monday, Mr. Hun Sen directed officials in Phnom Penh to treat passengers from the Westerdam to a sightseeing jaunt. To tour the city is better than staying in rooms or at the hotel feeling bored or scared, said a post on Mr. Hun Sens Facebook page. The lack of urgency in Cambodia, where officials milled around the ship on Monday without protection, points to the obstacles in trying to contain a virus that experts warn is spreading faster than SARS or MERS. This is influenza-like transmission, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Its like trying to stop the wind. Sorry! This content is not available in your region This refers to the editorial Power Populism (February 13). This has been written in the context of power subsidies being given in Delhi and in West Bengal. I do not agree that giving power subsidy is populism. All subsidies are not economically undesirable. All countries, even the developed ones, give it. In England, orphan children or those who have lost one parent, are given subsidy to sustain themselves. They give social security benefits in different forms. In all countries, subsidies are being given to bridge inequality. Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee has argued in ... 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Photo credit: Matt Anderson Photography - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics On January 1, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into into effect, and it could have big ramifications for any netizen in the United Stateseven if you don't live in California. That's because this new privacy act in California means other states will be unable to completely skirt the rules. Similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that went into affect in the European Union in May 2018, CCPA is consumer-focused. That means that as long as you don't own a business that has to spend money to comply with the new law, you should be pretty happy about it. After all, it gives you new rights over your data and how companies may handle it. That's a pretty good way to start off the new decade. What Are These New Rights? Under the new law (which you can read in full here), there are four primary new rights that CCPA gives to consumers and a few others that mostly apply to businesses. These have to do with rights to see what information a business has collected on you and the ability to have that firm delete it upon request. Only a couple months into the new year and people are already taking advantage of their new rights. David Navettavice chair of the cyber, data and privacy practice at Cooley LLP, a law firm based in Palo Alto, Californiatold Popular Mechanics that his firm is already seeing clients get data requests. "Its a novelty right now. Whether that wears off or people will remain active, its hard to tell," Navetta says. In Europe, he added, clients that must respond to GDPR are getting hundreds, if not thousands, of data requests. That may or may not be an indicator of what to expect from CCPA moving forward. "I think privacy-forward people or those who are just curious are going to do it," he said. "I think lawyers will do it to support lawsuits and well probably see consumer groups testing companies." As for the average person, he expects to see mostly data deletion requests. To participate at all, though, you have to understand your rights. Here are the four rules you need to know about: Story continues 1. "The right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared or sold, both as to the categories and specific pieces of personal information." This means that businesses have to tell you either before or during data collection what information they're gathering from you. CCPA's definition of what counts as "personal information" is more or less what you'd expect: your name, your internet browsing history, pretty much anything that can be traced back to you. Therefore, not all data is created equal and probably should not be regulated as such, according to Ari Levenfeld, chief privacy officer at Quantcast. "Data falls on a spectrum of sensitivity, ranging from personally identifiable information like names and email addresses, to less sensitive information such as pseudonymous data that is based on probabilistic, indirect identifiers like cookie IDs and IP addresses," he told Recode. "The implications of exploiting or misusing the different types of data are fundamentally different, and therefore the regulations aimed at mitigating privacy risks should reflect those nuances. It's too early to tell how the courts will interpret this new law. 2. "The right to delete personal information held by businesses and by extension, a businesss service provider." This means that you're entitled to know whether any of your personal information, as outlined above, has been sold, and if so, to whom. A really good example of this is Facebook, which released a new data privacy tool in January, called "Off-Facebook Activity." It includes information that businesses and organizations outside the Facebook app have collected on you. For instance, you may have bought a pair of shoes from Nike's website three months ago. The retailer shares your activity with Facebook and it's saved to your account. Then, Facebook uses that information to personalize ads for you. In this case, you are legally allowed the right to ask a company like Facebook to delete all of the data it has about you. To learn how to do that, click here. 3. "The right to opt-out of sale of personal information. Consumers are able to direct a business that sells personal information to stop selling that information. Children under the age of 16 must provide opt in consent, with a parent or guardian consenting for children under 13." To put it simply, you can tell companies like Amazon to quit selling your browsing history to other companies. This is a big deal since so much of the digital economy is based on the ability to market and advertise a product, Navetta says. You can see that in the case of Off-Facebook Activity, too. There is an option to opt out of future sale of personal information about your browsing history, which effectively kills Facebook's personalized ads strategy. 4. "The right to non-discrimination in terms of price or service when a consumer exercises a privacy right under CCPA." This feature means that a company can't take any retaliatory measures toward you if you opt out of them selling your information. "Essentially, if youre a consumer and you opt to exercise your right to delete data, the company is not supposed to be able to give you a lesser service because you exercised some of your rights," Navetta says. So, you can now ask Facebook to stop using information about your browsing history to fill ad space in your timeline. The desire to avoid being tracked across sites on the internet is apparent due to the popularity of ad-blockers, Navetta adds. "Privacy is about not being bothered in a way." How To Request Data Photo credit: Justin Sullivan - Getty Images This is going to vary by site, but again, each one should notify you of your rights and let you ask for copies of your data, ask to have it deleted, or ask the company to stop selling your data, completely. There will usually be a button or link at the bottom of the pageor possibly under a "privacy" tabthat outlines your rights under CCPA as it pertains to your usage of that website, plus a form to fill out to request your information or some other process to ask for changes or to acquire data. For Those Outside California... While the CCPA only holds jurisdiction over the state of California, a whole bunch of companies already have most of the right protocols in place to become CCPA-compliant. Many international companies have already had to make changes to their privacy policies due to Europe's General Data Protection Regulation. Don't be disgruntled: other states are already taking action to follow California's lead in the data privacy space. CCPA is essentially setting the tone for privacy laws in the 49 other states, Navetta says. In Nevada, for instance, a new data privacy law is already in place. Nevada Senate Bill 220 Online Privacy Law was enacted in May 2019. The legislation gives consumers the power to opt-out of the resale of their personal information and was directly modeled after CCPA. The Maine Act to Protect the Privacy of Online Consumer Information was signed into law the following month, preventing the "use, sale, or distribution of a customers personal information by internet providers without the express consent of the customer," according to Maine.gov. According to Navetta, Washington almost signed a state law to give consumers the right to access their data, too. It seems it's only a matter of time before most states have some form of privacy law like CCPA, given that it's a pretty bipartisan issue. "California is definitely influential," Navetta says. Is This the Law's Final Version? Yes and no. CCPA officially went into effect on January 1, 2020, but just a month in, California legislators are already working on an expanded version. Back in 2019, an advocacy group called Californians for Consumer Privacy, led by Alastair Mactaggartthe mind behind CCPAsubmitted a new ballot initiative proposal for a more aggressive version of the privacy law, as it stands. The draft policy is called the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA) and it would give Californians even more control over their personal data. If Californians for Consumer Privacy round up enough signaturesand 623,000 are requiredto get CPRA on the November 2020 ballot, we just may be starting out 2021 with even more consumer privacy protections. You Might Also Like Mumbai, Feb 18 : Renowned Bengali film actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal died following a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on Tuesday, family sources said. The 61-year-old actor is survived by his wife and a daughter, who he had gone to visit in the western metropolis. Pal passed away in a hospital near Juhu, where he breathed his last around 4 a.m. Pal was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnanagar constituency in 2009 and 2014. Prior to that he became a member of the West Bengal Assembly twice in 2001 and 2006 by winning from Alipore seat. Tapas Pal etched a permanent place in the heart of Bengali cine lovers with his memorable and soulful portrayal of lead roles in blockbusters like Dadar Kirti (1980), Saheb (1981), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Gurudakshina (1987) and Anurager Choyan (1986). However, the last few years of his life saw Pal land in controversies. In 2014, a video of his speech warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to be "beware" of him as he won't spare them "and destroy your entire clan" and "unleash my boys to rape your women" became viral, causing widespread outrage across the nation. He was also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on December 30, 2016, in connection with the multi-crore rupee Rose Valley Chit Fund scam, and got bail after remaining 13 months in incarceration. "Tapas Paul. 1958-2020, today. King of Bangla cinema. Former Trinamool MP and MLA. Travel well, my friend," tweeted his party colleague and Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien. "Sad news of the demise of Mr. #TapasPal, a popular actor of Bengali films and former TMC MP. I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place at my feet and the family to bear this profound grief. Humble tribute!" Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Pipeline 18 February 2020 The Group's first NH Collection in Manhattan was inspired by the Madison Avenue's "Golden Age of Advertising" Located in the heart of the Big Apple, the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue will offer 288 rooms with stunning views over the world's most famous skyline Noteworthy among the hotel's culinary offerings: a chic cocktail bar tuned to the city's vibe and an original tea cocktail concept dubbed Suite & Tea After a two-year wait, Manhattan is getting set to welcome an exciting newcomer onto the Big Apple's hotel scene. NH Collection New York Madison Avenue, the first NH Hotel Group property to open in North America, is due to open its doors in April. Having been transformed into an enchanting hotel, it will bring its guests on a journey back in time to one of most iconic periods of Gotham's history. Located in a building inspired by the Renaissance Revival architecture of the 1920's, the hotel exudes splendor, creativity and all the buzz of the city's Golden Age of Advertising. The NH Collection New York Madison Avenue will allow guests to soak in the ambience of 1950's Madison Avenue while enjoying all the conveniences of the new millenium. Its style is distinctly European, with a touch of eclectic elegance. That nostalgia carries through to the establishment's common areas, designed to foster convivial experiences. Warm rooms with welcoming fireplaces, areas for resting in comfort and quiet but vibrantly decorated work spaces are just a few of the lobby's charms. Surrounded by some of the most emblematic skyscrapers on New York's skyline, most of the hotel's 288 rooms offer stunning city views. With an exceptional terrace looking out over the Empire State Building, the Presidential Suite will give its fortunate guests a stunning vantage point from which to view the soul of the city. Decorated with elegant furniture crafted from walnut wood, both the suites and the deluxe rooms are equipped with the brand's outstanding amenities, thus offering the highest standards of comfort. Bookings are currently available via the NH Collection's website. The ideal spot for exploring the city that never sleeps NH Collection strives unfailingly to be an attractive source of inspiration for guests looking to discover all manner of experiences during their stays. For that reason, NH Hotel Group always places its establishments in fabulous and ideally-located areas of the city, surrounded by the most elegant and eclectic neighborhoods. The NH Collection New York Madison Avenue is located in one of the most exciting areas of Manhattan, close to the landmarks that make New York one of the top ten destinations anywhere in the world. As well as providing the ideal starting point for walking to attractions such as Grand Central Station, Times Square, Bryant Park or Broadway, its location puts its guests just a few minutes away from vibrant neighborhoods such as the exclusive NoMad district. Also nearby are some of the Madison Avenue's most fashionable boutiques, as well as shopping meccas such as Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdale's and Macy's Herald Square. For NH Hotel Group it is crucial that its guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience, marked by small and unexpected details that make all the difference, in turn making the NH Collection experience something truly extraordinary. To ensure its guests make the most of the endless leisure options New York offers, the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue will be staffed by a knowledgeable Guest Relations Manager to help with every need. New York-style cocktails and a new twist on tea by NH A strong commitment to providing creative, healthy and quality food and drink is another one of the hallmarks that sets NH Hotel Group's NH Collection brand apart. The new establishment will tempt its visitors to socialize in true Manhattan style in its swank cocktail bar, while sipping on meticulously-prepared, delightful concoctions. Guests at the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue will also have the chance to discover the Group's new interpretation of afternoon tea at the hotel's exclusive Suite & Tea room, a comfortable area set aside for trying out top-notch infusions from all around the world, including the original Tea Gin & Tonic, accompanied by delicious sweet and savoury snacks. Stephen Lynch: Britain has an opportunity to show leadership in Africa and around the world Stephen Lynch is Managing Director of Lynch Communications, a public affairs and PR consultancy. He was a Conservative Party Press Officer from 2015 to 2017. In this new chapter for Britain the road to peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations runs through Africa. This continent contains 27 of the worlds 50 fastest-growing economies. The population is projected to double by 2050, when 1 in 4 consumers globally will be in Africa. Walking around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Ive seen Chinas investment at work the construction of major roads along its coastlines. China is showing aggression and invention in seeking investment opportunities in diverse sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture and mining. The Chinese have built a 525km natural gas pipeline in the country, and are negotiating over a $10 billion new port and a special economic zone that aims to transform Tanzania into east Africas leading regional trade and transport hub. At the UK-Africa Investment Summit last month the Prime Minister told the 13 assembled African leaders Britain wanted to become their obvious partner of choice, and aimed to become the largest G-7 investor in Africa within two years. The continent is not without its challenges however the World Bank and IMF both have warned that around 40% of its nations have alarming levels of debt. Whether China is engaging in deliberate debt-trap diplomacy or not, the risk remains that the Belt and Road Initiative is loading unsustainable and potentially unserviceable debts onto less-developed countries. At home, our governments motives will be questioned, and it will be accused of holding post-colonial attitudes borne of guilt or arrogance. The British Empire historically has presented a blind spot for modern policymakers, who see only poverty and instability when they look to Africa. Although the recent summit did succeed in broadening discourse beyond familiar development issues, to infrastructure, clean energy and sustainable finance. Labour says the aid budget is serving the needs of big business, instead of tackling global inequality, and that trade deals are not a panacea for ending poverty. Global Britain is not a trite slogan, but a clear commitment to enhancing the UKs global leadership and its investment and engagement in international relationships and agreements post EU withdrawal. Conservative governments have looked to Africa and see friends, allies and partners in: ending violence against women and girls and giving them access to quality education; eradicating Ebola, malaria and other diseases to stop preventable deaths, as well as providing food security and clean water for millions. At PMQs last month Boris Johnson contrasted his approach to international affairs with Labours leadership taking this country forward and outward into the world versus isolating the UK and depriving us of our most crucial allies. The PM told Jeremy Corbyn the government would continue to raise human rights issues ever more vigorously and ever more energetically from the increased leverage the UK gains from an independent, autonomous trade policy. James Bloodworth skilfully described Corbyns foreign policy as sympathising and siding with any movement who points an AK-47 in the direction of the West. Indeed, the Shadow Home Secretary once said of Northern Ireland that every defeat of the British state is a victory for all of us. Corbyn and his conspiratorial fellow travellers oppose British intervention in any circumstances, and hold America, Israel and / or the UK solely responsible for any global problem. By contrast, the Tories 2019 manifesto succinctly said: As Conservatives, we are immensely proud of the UKs history and its standing in the world. Unlike those currently leading the Labour Party, we view our country as a force for good. The rumoured merger of the FCO and DFID, accentuated by last weeks reshuffle, provides an opportunity for the government to continue to do the right thing by those overseas, and the smart thing by its citizens here. Ive seen first-hand the good work that DFID described by Angela Merkel as one of the UKs crown jewels and its social action projects can do. Three years ago, I joined Conservative Friends of International Development (CFID) volunteers and Project Umubano founder Andrew Mitchell MP in training teachers in Rwanda in language and facilitation skills as their education system transitioned from French to an English curriculum. We delivered the programme to 700 school-based mentors responsible for improving teaching methodologies in their respective schools. Our calculations showed our work would potentially go on to impact almost 16,000 teachers, and over 635,000 students! CFIDs Project Urafiki in Tanzania in 2018 saw me spending the week with Jeremy Lefroy, Theo Clarke, Sir Desmond Swayne and others in training students in debating, public speaking and employability skills. Then-Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt joined us on the final day to judge which students excelled in presentation and persuasion. Global Britain means an influential, powerful actor on the world stage. Playing leading, instrumental roles in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals. Championing the Paris Agreement on climate change (an issue disproportionately affecting the worlds poorest). A rock-solid commitment to NATO and contribution to security and defence in Europe and further afield. It means a beefed-up diplomatic presence in Africa for FCO and DFID. The diplomatic footprint of China, France, Brazil, India and Turkey each outnumbers the UKs staff on the ground. Russia and the Gulf nations are also expanding. The government should make it much easier for people from Africa, and other non-EU countries, to obtain UK visas. As we know from trade discussions with friends in India in particular, our partners reasonably expect a quid-pro-quo on visa liberalisation for students and workers. The governments new expansion of fast-track global talent visas is welcome there should be no arbitrary cap on leading scientists, researchers and mathematicians. Talent is spread equally through the globe, but the barriers to entry based on nationality have not been level. It is right to encourage and support the best and brightest to turn their ideas into reality here. Global Britain means, above all, a compassionate Britain. Conservatives are making the case for leadership in international development, knowing it is grounded in the interests of the worlds most disadvantaged people, in our own national interest and in our values encouraging enterprise, opportunity and aspiration for every family. Press Release 18 February 2020 The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) paid a high-level visit to Greece to meet with the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and offer the United Nations' specialized agency's support as the country works to grow and diversify its tourism sector. Advertisements Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was in Athens for high-level talks with political leaders, as well as high-level representatives from across the private sector. The discussions focused on the key issues of harnessing tourism as a driver of education and opportunities for all, encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting tourism investment. Mr. Pololiksahvili said: "Greece is one of the world's true tourism leaders. They also chair the UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe, highlighting the country's commitment to international cooperation and to sustainable and responsible tourism." Looking forward to returning to Greece in the very near future, he added: "I am delighted to be further strengthening our partnership and look forward to working more closely with Greece to make sure as many people as possible, including rural and coastal communities, are able to enjoy the many benefits tourism can bring." Greece Committed to Working with UNWTO Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed UNWTO's visit and support of the national tourism sector and showed a sincere interest for prospects of the cooperation with the Greek tourism sector. At the same time, Minister of Tourism for Greece Harry Theocharis expressed his thanks to the UNWTO for the official visit and welcomed its readiness to work alongside Greece in promoting year-round tourism and digital transformation. He added: "Working with UNWTO gives Greece the chance to learn from the lessons of other countries, share positive experiences and build useful partnerships in the areas of education, innovation and sustainable development." European context UNWTO welcomed Greece's commitment to sustainable tourism development, making the case for tourism as pillar of stability in uncertain times. The visit of UNWTO to Greece comes as UNWTO assumes leadership of the global tourism sector's response to the climate challenge. Later this week, Secretary-General Pololikashvili will address the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The intervention in Brussels will be made against the backdrop of the first meeting of the Tourism Task Force, with its Members to discuss the place of tourism in the European Green Deal, including both the opportunities and challenges. TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudbay Minerals Inc. (Hudbay or the company) (TSX, NYSE: HBM) today announced the community of Chilloroya has formally approved a surface rights agreement with Hudbay for the Pampacancha satellite deposit located near the Constancia mine in Peru. With the completion of this agreement, the company expects to be mining ore from the deposit in late 2020. We are very pleased to have reached a Pampacancha agreement with the community, said Peter Kukielski, Hudbays President and Chief Executive Officer. I have been impressed with the teams work and appreciate the years of effort to achieve this goal. Pampacancha adds high-grade copper and gold ore into the Constancia mine plan, lowering future cash costs for the mine and increasing operating cash flows at Constancia. Not only was Constancia one of the best project development and production ramp-up successes of recent project builds, Constancia is also one of the lowest cost open pit copper mines in South America. This could not have been achieved without our long-term commitment to, and partnership with, our local communities, and this successful agreement further validates our social acceptance to operate in Peru. On behalf of Hudbay Peru, I would like to thank the community of Chilloroya for their dedication to completing this agreement which further enhances our valued long-term relationship with the community, said Javier Del Rio, Vice President of Hudbays South America Business Unit. We look forward to continuing harmonious negotiations with the communities north of Constancia on our highly prospective exploration properties. The company expects growth capital expenditures associated with project development and acquiring the surface rights for Pampacancha to be approximately $70 million in 2020. In accordance with Perus Consulta Previa law, additional consultation between the Peruvian government and the local community is required before Hudbay can begin development activities. Some additional capital costs remain outstanding in recognition of current uses of the land by certain community members and the company intends to enter into agreements to address these matters prior to commencing mining activities. With the communitys endorsement of the agreement, the company believes these processes will be concluded in the first half of 2020. Qualified Person The technical and scientific information in this news release related to the Constancia mine has been approved by Cashel Meagher, P. Geo, Hudbays Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Meagher is a qualified person pursuant to NI 43101. For a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources at Hudbays material properties, as well as data verification procedures and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates of scientific and technical information may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant factors, please see the technical reports for the companys material properties as filed by Hudbay on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, plans to commence the development of Pampacancha, expectations regarding the timing of mining activities at Pampacancha, and expected production, costs and cash flows from the Pampacancha and Constancia mines. Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The material factors or assumptions that Hudbay identified and were applied by the company in drawing conclusions or making forecasts or projections set out in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the timing of development and production activities on the Pampacancha deposit, the timing of the Consulta Previa and permitting process, the timing for reaching additional agreements with individual community members and no significant unanticipated delays to the development of Pampacancha. The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information may include, but are not limited to, risks generally associated with the mining industry, such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, currency fluctuations, energy prices and general cost escalation), risks associated with the political situation in Peru, risks associated with the Consulta Previa process, risks associated with reaching additional agreements with individual community members, risks associated with the rainy season in Peru as well as the risks discussed under the heading Risk Factors in Hudbays most recent Annual Information Form. Should one or more risk, uncertainty, contingency or other factor materialize or should any factor or assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Hudbay does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. About Hudbay Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is an integrated mining company primarily producing copper concentrate (containing copper, gold and silver), molybdenum concentrate and zinc metal. With assets in North and South America, the company is focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base and precious metals. Directly and through its subsidiaries, Hudbay owns three polymetallic mines, four ore concentrators and a zinc production facility in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan (Canada) and Cusco (Peru), and copper projects in Arizona and Nevada (United States). The companys growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of properties it already controls, as well as other mineral assets it may acquire that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbays vision is to be a responsible, top-tier operator of long-life, low-cost mines in the Americas. Hudbays mission is to create sustainable value through the acquisition, development and operation of high-quality, long-life deposits with exploration potential in jurisdictions that support responsible mining, and to see the regions and communities in which the company operates benefit from its presence. The company is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act and its shares are listed under the symbol "HBM" on the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Bolsa de Valores de Lima. Further information about Hudbay can be found on www.hudbay.com . For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Students at UCD are to protest this morning over a rent hike in on-campus student accommodation. The price of housing at the south Dublin university is to rise by 4% each year over the next three years. Students Union President Joanna Siewierska says the increases should be scrapped: "We will be rallying and demanding that the campus rent increase is stopped immediately and a campus rent decrease and rent freeze are introduced to help students," she said. "We are also demanding that management implement a rental support scheme for students who are struggling in the private market," Ms Siewierska added. Pissed off at the 12% rent hike? Join us this Tuesday at 9.15AM in the Old Student Centre Atrium to rally in parallel to the management meeting where they'll be discussing this decision again@FixOurEduUCD @AntiCasualUcd#NotABusiness #StopThe12pct https://t.co/p0bUl8A5zC pic.twitter.com/v0ypZcfEkB UCD Students' Union (@UCDSU) February 16, 2020 Meanwhile, the NUI Galway Students Union have expressed outrage at an increase in on-campus accommodation, describing it as a "barrier to access to education". From September, a single room at the Goldcrest student accommodation will cost 750 a month after the cost was increased by 4% - the maximum allowed in a rent-pressure zone. We meet students everyday who have to work two or more part-time jobs to stay in college, students who commute huge distances, students who cant afford decent accommodation and students who arent in college who should be," NUI Galway Students Union President Clare Austick said. Turkey: all defendants acquitted in Gezi Park trial Including well-known businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 18 - The court of Silivri in Istanbul acquitted all the defendants in the trial against some key figures in the 2013 anti-government protests in Gezi Park, including the well-known businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, who had been in pre-trial detention for more than two years and was facing the possibility of life in prison. Judges ruled to acquit all 16 defendants, including seven who were being tried in absentia, for "lack of sufficient evidence" with regards to the charge of having attempted to topple the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The judges also ordered the immediate release of Kavala, the only defendant in pre-trial detention. The sentence concludes a trial that was harshly criticised by local and international NGOs for human rights and freedom of speech, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. In attendance at Tuesday's hearing were some opposition MPs and diplomatic representatives from various European countries, as well as the US and Canada.(ANSAmed). An exotic dancer who flashed her breasts on TV after admitting to sending nudes to a boy, 13, appears to be working as an escort charging $5000 per night. Bethany Edgecombe, who is also known as Blondie Australia and Beth Boom Boom, initially laughed at claims she was grooming the Queensland boy when confronted by a TV crew in central Melbourne last week. The 20-year-old initiated conversation via private message in July after he mentioned her in one of his posts on Instagram. When asked by A Current Affair what she would like to say to the boy's parents, the 20-year-old said, 'thank you, that is my comment,' and lifted up her crop top to expose her breasts in the middle of a busy road. Since then, it has emerged an online profile on international escort site Scarlet Blue advertises Blondie's services under the moniker 'Heather'. A profile on international escort site Scarlet Blue reportedly advertises Blondie's services under the moniker 'Heather' Bethany Edgecombe initially laughed at claims she was grooming the Queensland boy when confronted by a TV crew in central Melbourne last week 'Thank you, that is my comment,' she said while lifting up her crop top to expose her breasts in the middle of a busy Melbourne street Describing herself as 'fresh, fun, warm', the young escort is charging $800 for one hour, $1500 for two, $2000 for a four-hour dinner date, and $5000 for a 12-hour overnight stay. She also offers 'fly me to you' booking rates and encourages her clients to buy her lingerie, shoes, flowers, and skincare products. 'Feel free to inquire about the specifics of my services, extras I provide or with any special requests! I am here to please and happy to accommodate!' her profile reads. A colleague told news.com.au Blondie worked from an apartment in the CBD and at 'one of the better brothels in Melbourne'. 'I think she worked there because of its convenient location to her in the CBD and its previous reputation,' she said. 'She would make her money then leave.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Blondie for comment. While Blondie admitted she sent the boy sexually explicit messages, she claimed she was not serious about meeting up with him. 'Did I ever see the boy though? Have I ever seen the boy or is it just silly harmless chatting?... That's how I see it,' she told A Current Affair. When asked how many other underage teens she had sent nude photos to, she responded: 'It actually only was this one boy.' No charges have been laid against Blondie, but Queensland Police said in a statement investigations were continuing. Blondie was accused of texting the teenager nude photographs while he was at the movies with his mother. Text messages show Blondie asking the boy to sneak off to the bathroom. 'Now... Show me what I do to you? Sneak off to the bathroom bad boy. Sneak off and don't tell your mummy,' she wrote. When Nolan showed the speechless 20-year-old screenshots of her correspondence, she claimed the messages are old. 'You know I was like 18 when I did this,' she said. 'It's like two years ago.' But it's alleged the text messages were sent just last year. One of Blondie's first messages to the boy asked if he was a virgin, before she said: 'I call dibs on that virginity'. Text message receipts show Blondie asking the boy to sneak off to the bathroom (message recreation) 'Hold onto that virginity, I'll be going past your part of town in a week or two,' she then sent the boy, accompanied by a kissing face emoji. The boy responded saying he was 'keen,' before the exotic dancer urged the boy to keep their plans a secret. 'And don't tell anyone, [I] don't think you're even legal,' she wrote. Blondie then asked the boy how old he was, to which he responded saying he was 13. 'I really must be a pedo cause that's so hot,' she replied. As the messages between the pair continued, Blondie - who claims to be a law student - made more references to being a paedophile. 'Well... I'm officially a pedo,' she wrote. 'I did not know you were that young... I should not be perving on you as much as I do. Not gonna stop though.' In a statement the boy's mother said Blondie pursued her son despite knowing he was only 13. 'What kind of a sick individual does that? How dare she try and manipulate any child with her evil perverted ways for her own self-gratification,' she said. In a statement the boy's mother said Blondie pursued her son despite knowing he was only 13 The boy told A Current Affair he initially enjoyed his conversations with Blondie, before she became 'pushy'. 'After a while though she started to act a bit crazy! She was pushy and acting a bit obsessed. 'She said she wanted to take my virginity but it wasn't fun anymore, she was acting weird and I'm not that dumb. I don't date 20-year-olds.' The boy's family said they provided all the information to Coomera Police on the Gold Coast last year. His mother slammed the woman's behaviour on Facebook, news.com.au reported. '(She) has tried to groom our son when was 13 years old with nudes, filthy text messages, video chats and phone calls,' she wrote. 'She also planned on meeting up with him to take his virginity whilst up here visiting (the Gold Coast). Queensland Police released a statement last week saying 'these matters take time to thoroughly investigate, particularly when a forensic examination is required'. Police told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that the matter is still being investigated. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor China may be reporting fewer new cases of coronavirus and fewer infection-related deaths, but it does not mean the country's outbreak is slowing, immunologist Anthony Fauci told CNBC on Tuesday. "I think we need to give it a few more days to determine if that's real or if that's the variability that you generally see," Fauci, a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, said on "Closing Bell." Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, was referencing reports Tuesday that the number of new daily cases in China fell below 2,000 for the first time since Jan. 30. Chinese officials also reported 98 deaths, the first time the daily toll was below 100 since Feb. 11, according to Reuters. There are more than 73,400 confirmed coronavirus cases globally, the vast majority of which are still in China. Most of the 1,874 deaths have taken place there, too. A top World Health Organization official also urged restraint when interpreting the new data. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it "appears to show a decline in new cases," but any trend "must be interpreted very cautiously," according to Reuters. Fauci said China's domestic strategy to contain the virus was not a typical strategy, but he suggested it may prove to be effective. "The degree with which they have shut down travel through major cities, encompassing about 50 million people including the entire 11 million person city of Wuhan ... is really unprecedented," he said. "Their decision to do that was their desire to make sure that the virus does not spread further throughout China, but also outside of China into other countries." "It might actually work, as unusual as such a move is to stop an outbreak," he added. There are some signs that economic activities in China are resuming after extended holiday manufacturing shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota Motor said Tuesday they've reopened their factories or are beginning to restart production in China. The CEO of Oreo-maker Mondelez, Dirk Van de Put, also said Tuesday the company has reopened its four plants in China. But they are not yet operating at full capacity, he said. Mr. Bloomberg and his strategists have used various tactics to stress the parts of his biography that help soften his image. His ads describe his middle-class upbringing in Boston and highlight his philanthropic giving, for instance. He has also started talking more often about his plan to raise $5 trillion in new tax revenue from high earners and corporations. His message to voters as he campaigns across the country has been, in essence, that the government should raise taxes on people like him because they can afford it. The surcharge on trading, meant to raise money for social programs like expanded health care coverage, has been roundly criticized by the sort of pro-business groups that Mr. Bloomberg had long been sympathetic to, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The group immediately criticized the proposal. A transaction tax hits Main Street, not Wall Street, said Tom Quaadman, a chamber executive. He added that it would increase the cost of capital, decrease investment, harm businesses and hurt Americans who are saving and investing. Rachel Nagler, a Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman, argued that such a tax is an effective and relatively painless way to raise more tax revenue from the wealthy, citing its use in Britain and Hong Kong. A 2018 analysis by Congresss Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that a tax similar to the one proposed by Mr. Bloomberg would raise $777 billion over 10 years. Mr. Bloombergs plan embraces many of the regulatory changes made in the years after the financial crisis, even though he has often argued that rules aimed at reforming Wall Street are bad for the economy. In 2010, Mr. Bloomberg urged Democratic lawmakers not to get too tough on the finance industry, and he criticized the Volcker Rule, which is meant to reduce speculative trading by banks. He called the proposed restrictions shortsighted, with the potential to reduce middle-class jobs. On Tuesday, Mr. Bloomberg said he would toughen the Volcker Rule although his idea is more like a major rewrite. It would assume that banks were engaging in safe practices as long as they didnt gain or lose too much on a deal. Rather than getting in traders heads about what constitutes a speculative trade, he proposes taxing big gains and losses, reasoning that volatile outcomes beyond a certain threshold must be the result of overly speculative activity. By Robin Emmott and Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will launch a new naval and air mission in the eastern Mediterranean to stop more weapons reaching the warring factions in Libya, foreign ministers agreed on Monday, after Austria lifted its veto. The decision marked a breakthrough after weeks of fruitless negotiations and warnings by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell that the bloc risked becoming irrelevant if it could not act, potentially leaving Libya's fate to Turkey and Russia. By Robin Emmott and Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will launch a new naval and air mission in the eastern Mediterranean to stop more weapons reaching the warring factions in Libya, foreign ministers agreed on Monday, after Austria lifted its veto. The decision marked a breakthrough after weeks of fruitless negotiations and warnings by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell that the bloc risked becoming irrelevant if it could not act, potentially leaving Libya's fate to Turkey and Russia. "We all agree to create a mission that blocks the flow of arms into Libya," Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio told reporters following a meeting in Brussels, referring to a U.N. arms embargo first imposed in 2011 but now barely upheld. In a compromise to assuage Austria's concerns that any naval mission could bring more migrants to Europe, EU ships will hail and inspect suspicious vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, where most arms smuggling takes place, away from migrant routes, diplomats said. Borrell said he hoped the EU operation could be patrolling by the end of March. At first, it would operate in international, not Libyan, waters. Borrell also said the EU could not be expected to patrol the Egypt-Libya land border, through which artillery is still being delivered. "It would be very difficult for us to act between two sovereign countries," he told reporters. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that was acceptable but that Vienna would still be vigilant for any signs that the mission, which will take several weeks to set up, was attracting migrants into Europe. Initially Borrell had hoped to revive the EU's current military mission, known as Operation Sophia, which stopped deploying ships last March after Italy, facing an anti-immigrant backlash, said it would no longer take migrants rescued at sea. One compromise was to use aircraft, rather than ships, to monitor smugglers who supply Libya's two rival governments. But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urged the EU to agree on a naval mission, saying overflights would not be enough. On Sunday, a senior U.N. official warned that the arms embargo was meaningless because there was no-one to enforce it. CEASEFIRE In a largely symbolic move, Operation Sophia will now be scrapped. Schallenberg said Austria had dropped its veto because the new mission was purely military, not humanitarian. However, under international law, EU ships are still required to rescue those in trouble on the high seas. Borrell said earlier on Monday he did not expect a deal because Vienna was still blocking. He publicly said on Sunday it was unacceptable that Austria, a country with no navy, could hold up an EU sea mission. But Borrell needed the backing of all 27 governments to proceed. Following a summit of world leaders last month in Berlin that aimed to seek a ceasefire in Libya, the EU will also consider a peacekeeping mission if a fragile truce becomes a ceasefire, diplomats said. A spokesman for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party said the United Nations, not the European Union, should oversee the arms embargo on Libya. Ankara has backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj's internationally recognised government in the conflict, while Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt support eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar. "We think the European Union overseeing the arms embargo on Libya will not reach realistic results because some countries in the European Union directly support Haftar's side and are sending weapons to Haftar's side," Omer Celik said during a news conference. "Turkey sees the United Nations mechanism as the best mechanism here. Of course, the implementation of a ceasefire should be prioritised," he added. (Additional reporting by Marine Strauss and Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Editing by William Maclean and Alison Williams) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Everyone is unique in their retirement plans and no size fits all, but here are some of the things to consider as you wrestle with the decision as to whether to stop work Andrew Griffin, retirement advice leader at financial advisory company Stanford Brown, offers the following tips: Pre-retirement phase Make maximum use of tax-efficient super contributions with your spare cash flow via pre-tax and post-tax contributions. Work out your likely spending in retirement. Do a budget and don't forget to include the extraordinary items, such as holidays, so you can sustain your regular lifestyle. Total all of your potential income super, government entitlements, investments and savings. If you are expecting some form of inheritance, don't bank on it but include it in your calculations. Most super funds now can point you in the right direction of an independent financial advisor who can offer help and assistance as you transition into retirement. A retirement plan for a couple might cost $3000 to $6000 but is well worth it in the long run. Consider the costs and benefits of all your insurances including life and total and permanent disability noting that premiums typically rise more quickly as you age. Reduce work hours? Michael Hutton, from HLB Mann Judd accounting, says, if possible, it is better to ease into retirement by simply reducing your work obligations. Earning a smaller salary allows you to draw less on your retirement savings, enabling them to last longer," he says. "The tax results can also be good, as you may pay tax at lower rates. Pay off any debts Clear the books, including any credit-card debt and, if possible, your mortgage. Consider unlocking equity from your home by downsizing, if you own it outright. The government's downsizer contribution rules allows eligible people over the age of 65 to make a contribution into super of up to $300,000 per person from home sales proceeds. Your super fund Decide whether you want to withdraw a lump sum from your super or receive a regular income stream (account-based pension) and notify your fund. This does not automatically happen. When you use an account-based pension the government mandates that you take out a minimum amount of 4 per cent a year, which increases with age. Hutton says don't take the lump sum just because you can and it is tax free. More likely, you will spend it more quickly and invest less wisely than your super fund, which also takes care of the administration and the tax obligations of the investment portfolio, he says. Centrelink Contact the Department of Human Services to see if you are eligible to receive government support payments (eg. the pension and a health card). The Age Pension age has been slowly increasing from 65 to 67 years, depending on your birth date. To be eligible, you must meet an income and assets test and be living in Australia (or be an Australian resident for at least 10 years and physically present in Australia). Loading The maximum fortnightly pension rate is $826.20 for a single person and $1245.60 for a couple. Lodge an application online or visit a Centrelink service centre. Anne, 69, started building on her super after discussing with friends to learn what they did. I had paid down my mortgage, keeping my withdraw capacity active just in case," she says. "I also started building up a share portfolio and saved $50,000 in cash with a view to taking a long holiday upon retirement. "However, fate took over when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. "The biggest lesson for me no-one is immune from disaster. Have a contingency plan; you never know what is around the corner. "Look for other ways to diversify into property or shares and somewhere to leave cash that you have immediate access to, she says. Retirement resources Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled his North American tour to undergo medical treatment. The 71-year-old heavy metal star recently revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and had previously been recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at home. He had been set to embark on the US leg of his No More Tours 2 tour in May, but will instead travel to Europe for medical treatment. Former Black Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled the US leg of his tour (PA) In a statement, Osbourne said: Im so thankful that everyone has been patient because Ive had a shit year. Unfortunately, I wont be able to get to Switzerland for treatment until April and the treatment takes six-eight weeks. I dont want to start a tour and then cancel shows at the last minute, as its just not fair to the fans. Id rather they get a refund now and when I do the North American tour down the road, everyone who bought a ticket for these shows will be the first ones in line to purchase tickets at that time. The UK leg of the tour is set to begin in Newcastle upon Tyne in October. Former Black Sabbath front man Osbourne, known to fans as the Prince of Darkness, revealed in January he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinsons disease. He and wife Sharon, 67, said at the time they planned to go abroad for treatment, while Osbourne admitted he found it difficult to keep the facts about his health a secret. Video of the Day He said: To hide something inside for a while, its hard. You never feel proper, you feel guilty. Im no good with secrets. I cannot walk around with it any more because its like Im running out of excuses, you know? Osbournes touring has been disrupted by a series of health issues. He fell at home last year, aggravating injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003. His latest album, Ordinary Man, is set for release on Friday. January 10March 6 Reception: Saturday, February 8, 68 pm 2020 Vision Daniel Ballesteros, Mary Ellen Bartley, William Betts, Tricia Capello, Jason DeMarte, Dylan Hausthor, Jocelyn Lee, Sallie Scheufler, Manjari Sharma, and Shoshannah White Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present 2020 Vision, a group exhibition of contemporary artists working with photography. The exhibition showcases an array of subject matter and diverse ways of working with the light based medium. Highlights include gilded photographs by Daniel Ballesteros, in which buildings, concrete, and other manmade structures within the image are obscured by gold leaf leaving only the vegetation visible. By isolating trees at specific crime sites, Ballesteros attempts to spark conversations about gun violence and climate change. William Betts uses his photographs as source material to create large acrylic paintings comprised of thousands of dots. Tricia Capellos photograph of natural light illuminating the delicate stem of a house plant becomes a formal study of light and dark. Capello approaches image making from a meditative place as Buddhist principles inform how she perceives the world. Jason DeMartes photographs combine the natural and artificial worlds. He builds tableaux photographs by digitally compositing candy and icing into scenes with birds and flowers. Jocelyn Lee creates portraits that are reminiscent of seventeenth-century Dutch paintings. Manjari Sharma further investigates the relationship between figure and water. Human forms are abstracted by water in her new series Surface Tension. Informed by scientific inquiry and climate change Shoshannah White records artifacts from the natural world. Additional works by Mary Ellen Bartley, Dylan Hausthor,and Sallie Scheufler are being presented for the first time by the gallery. 2020 Vision presents a range of practices being used within photography. From formal portraiture to gold leafed landscapes or underwater photographs of glaciers, this exhibition embraces the expansive nature of the medium. Images for this exhibition can be found on our website www.levygallery.com. High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @levygallery #2020vision @ballesterosprojects @maryellen_bartley @williambettsmiami @triciacapello @jasondemarte @dylan.hausthor @jocelynleephotography @salliescheufler @manjee @shoshannahwhite Dates: January 10March 6, 2020 Closing Reception: Saturday, February 8, 68 pm Gallery Hours: TuesdaySaturday, 11 am4 pm Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com Advertisement These rarely seen photos which provide a fascinating insight into British nursing in late 19th century feature in a new book. They reveal how the all-action nurses not only cared for patients but also prepared meals for them and did their laundry. Such was their ferocious work ethic, it is perhaps surprising they had time to be pictured sitting down together in the nurses dining room. One photo shows trainee nurses during a bandaging class, while another is of a busy male ward. In the days long before medical records were put on computer files, patient documentation was simply clipped above beds. Nurses working in the laundry. On top of all their other duties, nurses also had to work in the kitchens and the laundry, Holloway, London in 1912 Another photo reveals the primitive looking equipment nurses used in a laboratory, while several showcase the trailblazing nurses of the era. Their esteemed ranks included Florence Sarah Dacre-Craven, who was the founder of modern district nursing, and the first inspector general of the Queen's Nursing Institute, Rosalind Paget. The images are published in A History of Nursing, by former nurse Louise Wyatt who has charted the development of nursing from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the present day. The book, A History of Nursing is written by Louise Wyatt a former nurse who has charted the history of the profession from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the present day Bandaging class at nurse training school at Tredegar House. These rarely seen photos which provide a fascinating insight into British nursing in late 19th century feature in the new book On top of all their other duties, nurses also had to work in the kitchens and the laundry, Holloway, London in 1912. Author Mrs Wyatt said: 'This book explores the history of nursing by investigating the earliest records of the caring profession, how it progressed and what established it along the way to becoming the nursing we see today The nurses' dining room pictured at St Bartholomew's Hospital. Such was their ferocious work ethic, it is perhaps surprising they had time to be pictured sitting down together in the nurses dining room There is a chapter dedicated to pioneering nursing heroine Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was one of 38 volunteer nurses from Britain who during the Crimean War went to medical stations in Turkey to help. She became the face of the effort after a newspaper dubbed her 'the Lady with the Lamp'. When they arrived they discovered many of the soldiers were dying not from their wounds but from diseases like typhoid and cholera, which were rife in the army hospitals. She fought to improve conditions with better sanitation, nutrition and more supplies, which saw the death rate fall. Nightingale kept meticulous notes on the number of deaths and their causes and when she returned to Britain she campaigned to improve conditions for the army and then more generally in hospitals. There is a chapter dedicated to pioneering nursing heroine Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was one of 38 volunteer nurses from Britain who during the Crimean War went to medical stations in Turkey to help. She became the face of the effort after a newspaper dubbed her 'the Lady with the Lamp'. The Florence Nightingale ward at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster showing male patients. She fought to improve conditions with better sanitation, nutrition and more supplies, which saw the death rate fall. Nightingale kept meticulous notes on the number of deaths and their causes and when she returned to Britain she campaigned to improve conditions for the army and then more generally in hospitals Male ward in Bellevue Hospital, 1898. The images are published in A History of Nursing, by former nurse Louise Wyatt. In the days long before medical records were put on computer files, patient documentation was simply clipped above beds She used the data she had gathered to lobby the government for reform. The Royal Commission on the Health of the Army was created and Nightingale's testimony and statistical analysis was published with the commission's findings in 1858. One photo of her captures her in her youth starting out in the profession, while another taken in 1906 is of her bedridden in her final years. She died aged 90 in 1910. There is also a photo of the Florence Nightingale ward in St Thomas's Hospital, Westminster, which was a hive of activity. Britain's oldest surviving hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital, in the city of London, was founded by a king's courtier in 1123. A nurse pictured in early 1900's nurses uniform (pictured left) and Rosalind Pagnet, while she was the first Inspector of the Queen's Nursing Institute (pictured right) The Nurses library pictured at St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1890. Numerous bookshelves along with tables and wicker chairs filled the room. Britain's oldest surviving hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital, in the city of London, was founded by a king's courtier in 1123. Its nursing school was set up in 1867, seven years after Nightingale's first training school was established at St Thomas's. Prospective nurses received seven weeks classroom training culminating in an exam to see if they were suitable for the profession. If approved, they underwent an intensive three year course during which they were taught anatomy, physiology, bacteriology and hygiene, as well as being shown how to read temperatures and do bandaging. The fundamentals of the training are still being repeated over a century later to today's trainees. Nurse, Sarah Elizabeth Wardroper sits at a writing table (left) and Florence Sarah Dacre-Craven, the founder of modern district nursing Nursing attire has evolved from the stylish but impractical 'Victorian decorum' late 19th century offerings to the present more functional but blander design. Mrs Wyatt said: 'This book explores the history of nursing by investigating the earliest records of the caring profession, how it progressed and what established it along the way to becoming the nursing we see today. 'Over time, education and standards improved for the safety, development and governance of the profession. 'Not everything was plain sailing and the book introduces lesser-known people who made this possible, sometimes at great cost to themselves, and the effect military nursing had on the 19th century in turning nursing from religious principles to the secular nursing we see today.' A History of Nursing, by Louise Wyatt, is published by Amberley and costs 14.99. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in two sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said. The firing and shelling by the Pakistani troops triggered a fear psychosis among the LoC residents in the wake of recent casualties and damage to a few houses, they added. The Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing and shelling along the LoC in the Shahpur and Kirni sectors for a brief period on Tuesday, the officials said, adding that there were no reports of any casualties. The Indian troops retaliated the Pakistani firing, they said. The residents of Shapur, Balakote, Gulpur and Krini, which have been targeted by Pakistani troops with heavy shelling, fear for their lives as they demand bunkers and putting and end to the shelling. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A company selling figurine firefighters cuddling little koalas is on track to raise a million dollars to help animals ravaged by the bushfires in Australia. Geelong retailer Popcultcha partnered with US company Funko earlier this month to make special edition 'bushfire heroes' figurines. In last two weeks, the company has already sold tens of thousands of the miniature toys, racking up more than $700,000 in profits. All proceeds from the dolls will go to the RSPCA National Bushfire Appeal. Funko and Popcultcha's new RSPCA Bushfire Heroes Firefighter With Koala Funko Pop doll has received worldwide demand to help the RSPCA assist bushfire-affected wildlife Marketing and content manager Andy Walker said the figurines had received world-wide demand from collectors eager to support the RSPCA's work. 'It's been crazy. We've sold thousands upon thousands,' Mr Walker told Daily Mail Australia. 'The reception we've had worldwide is incredible, we had collectors jump on these before we even announced they were available.' 'Everyone is eager to support the cause and get their hands on the limited edition of vinyl. We will be donating the profits from the sale of this item each and every month until it is sold through.' The koala pop vinyl has had buyers from all corners of the globe, including the US, across Europe, Mexico and New Zealand. Mr Walker said the Victoria-based company wanted to provide much-needed help to wildlife in the aftermath of the devastating bushfires. It is estimated more than one billion animals perished in this year's bushfire season. Pictured: a wildlife rescuer collects an injured koala on Kangaroo Island after wild fire burned through the region in January 'We really wanted to do something and help in anyway we could,' he said. 'We've been dealing with Funko upwards of 20 years and we're really lucky to be in a position where we have this relationship. 'Their design team and our in house design team worked together to bring about this really touching tribute to help out wildlife lost or in need of rescue and rehabilitation as a result of this devastating bushfire season.' The figurines cost $19.99 and numbers are limited. They can be purchased from Popcultcha's online store and will be delivered to customers in June. It is estimated more than one billion animals were killed in this year's bushfire season, including huge numbers of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and other species. With advancements in DNA testing and a LinkedIn profile, Oak Ridge North detectives have made an arrest in an almost 18-year-old cold case surrounding the death of a gas station owner. Tomball resident Martin Tellez, 42, was arrested Tuesday and charged with capital murder in the 2002 death of Subir Chatterjee. According to Oak Ridge North Police Chief Tom Libby, on Dec. 4, he received information from the Texas Department of Public Safety that Tellezs DNA was a match to evidence found at the scene. After securing a warrant Dec. 6 for Tellezs arrest, Libby said his department along with the Texas Rangers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began trying to locate Tellez. It was just as simple as a Google search on the name, Libby said adding Tellez had recently updated with new employment information. We compared his LinkedIn photo with his (drivers license) photo and it was a complete match. Detectives went to Tellezs job, where he had just started working, and arrested him as he returned from lunch. Chatterjee was found dead Feb. 15, 2002 by a fellow employee. He had been shot twice in the head and neck at close range. The store, a Coastal service station, served as a convenience store and check-cashing business where he often had tens of thousands of dollars on hand. Chatterjee had owned the business since 1997. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox When police arrived on the scene, investigators found more than $160,000 was missing from the store. The money was kept inside a brown briefcase that customers said Chatterjee would often bring to the store on Fridays to cash checks. In July 2018 in an effort to help advance the case, Lt. Kent Hubbard reported to the Oak Ridge North City Council that the department would be using money from a combination of seizure funds, funds from the Montgomery County District Attorneys office and the cases reward fund to purchase DNA testing of evidence found at the scene. The new method of testing, which Hubbard told the council was developed within the last four to five years, cost $5,830. Assistant District Attorney Donna Berkey credit Libby and his force with the arrest. Chief Libby and Lt. Hubbard have worked tirelessly on this, she said. For Libby, who was on the force that chilly February day when Chatterjee, 58, was found gunned down inside his business, the arrest of Tellez is a major victory in getting justice for Chatterjee and his family. When you have a cold case, especially a murder, it just shows the family of the victim that we as a police department and the criminal justice system still doing everything they can to bring justice for the family and lost family member, Libby said. This is a prime example we were never going to give up. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a smart jumpsuit for children as young as five months, that tracks body movement in great detail. The system may allow clinicians to identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children more easily, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and support for such children. At present, assessing children for the presence of certain neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy, involves a clinician or physiotherapist closely watching a childs movements. This typically occurs at a clinic, but kids movements may be different to those they produce at home. To address this, and make the process of detecting such disorders a little easier, these researchers have developed a smart jumpsuit that can provide long-term monitoring of movement. The smart jumpsuit provides us with the first opportunity to quantify infants spontaneous and voluntary movements outside the laboratory, explained Sampsa Vanhatalo, a researcher involved in the study. The child can be sent back home with the suit for the rest of the day. The next day, it will be returned to the hospital where the results will then be processed. The suit contains multiple sensors that provide accelerometer and gyroscope data on movement, and a machine-learning algorithm interprets the data to provide information on movement types and posture. Vanhatalo and his colleagues claim that the new system can quantify and track child movements as reliably as a human observer. This is a revolutionary step forward, said Vanhatalo. The measurements provide a tool to detect the precise variation in motility from the age of five months, something which medical smart clothes have not been able to do until now. The researchers hope that the convenience of the jumpsuit could mean that neurodevelopmental disorders are detected earlier, allowing clinicians and parents to begin supporting the child at an early stage. Significant brain plasticity in early childhood means that early intervention could provide long-term benefits. Moreover, the suit could also help researchers to identify whether interventions are working in terms of reducing motor deficits. The early identification of developmental disorders and support for infants everyday functional capacity in interaction with the family and the growth environment constitute a significant factor on the level of individuals, families and society, said Leena Haataja, another researcher involved in the study. Study in Scientific Reports: Automatic Posture and Movement Tracking of Infants with Wearable Movement Sensors Via: University of Helsinki ROME - 'Beauty Connects People' is the theme that was the inspiration for the architectural project for Italy's pavilion at Expo 2020, the Universal Exposition that will start in Dubai on October 20. Students from all over the world enrolled in architecture courses at the American University of the United Arab Emirates city took part in a recent presentation of Italy's pavilion by the designers and they agreed that the project fully reflects this theme, a communique by organizers explains. Priyanka Dhurandhar, a 21-year-old from India, Basant Abdelrahman, a 23-year-old from Egypt, 22-year-old Lebanese Nour Rouhana, Alifiyah Hassanali, a 23-year-old from Tanzania, and Sandi Boutros, Rimas Almasri and Maya Roufail, all 22 and from Syria, talked about it with their Italian peers who are currently doing internships at the General Commissioner's office for the Italian participation in Dubai. "The aspect of architecture that most fascinates me is the involvement of people and the Expo is heading in that direction," said Basant Abdelrahman. "I hope to be able to experience the multiculturalism that the various pavilions will offer". Sandi Boutros said that "contemporary architecture is much more attentive to the issue of sustainability than in the past. "Buildings are designed to produce as little waste as possible and I think this Expo will spring many surprises about how to create better environments to live in". The project for Italy's pavilion is the most sustainable in the history of the country's participation at Expo. "The architects explained to us the ideas behind the Italy pavilion: how three hulls will make up the roof and the use of sustainable elements such as orange peel and coffee grounds in the structure," said Priyanka. Alifiyah concluded that: "The Italy pavilion will feature elements of traditional UAE architecture, showing that Beauty Connects People". This is only one of Frances predicaments. Another is American assistance, which has been crucial for intelligence, surveillance and logistics, even though Operation Barkhane, as it is known, is French-led. With the situation deteriorating, President Macron and the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, summoned the leaders of the so-called G5 Sahel (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad) to a meeting in France, where they decided on a new strategy to break the advance of the I.S.G.S. But French defense officials, who see the next six months as decisive, have been alarmed by announcements from the Pentagons African Command center on adjusting its presence in Africa. French defense officials say this possible reduction of American involvement presents France with two challenges: First, withdrawing operational assistance (like drones) would break the military dynamics and create a political void that would be disastrous. Second, as one official told me, Having the United States turn its attention elsewhere just as we are pleading with our European friends to send more troops certainly doesnt help. Elsewhere is China and Russia, which are ranked as top threats, in the current American defense strategy. Florence Parly, the French minister for the armed forces, flew to Washington two weeks ago to make her case, noting that an American citizen was among hostages freed by French special forces last year on the border between Mali and Burkina Faso in an operation that cost the life of two French commandos. France makes no secret of the destabilizing effect of growing Russian activity in Africa. In a press briefing on Jan. 30, the American defense secretary, Mark Esper, acknowledged that Washington was adjusting numbers and how we allocate the personnel more toward global great-power competition in Africa, and maybe less toward counterterrorism, but no decisions had yet been made. Simultaneously, the French are trying to adjust their own strategy. They are keeping up pressure on their European partners, some of which Spain, Britain, Denmark already contribute to Operation Barkhane, while German troops train local armies. Estonia is sending 90 men, half of them for a special forces unit, and the Czechs are expected to send another 60 elite soldiers. What the French have been doing in the Sahel with only 4,500 troops is remarkable, a former British senior defense official reckoned behind closed doors. But is this enough? Critics suggest that the French strategy focuses on security and the military response at the expense of civilian efforts to fix bad governance and corruption. But if nation building is tricky, it is even more so for a former colonial power which is why France needs more help. In Paris these days, there is a sense of, Damned if you do, damned if you dont. The French, though, should not be the only ones to worry. We should all pay more attention to the Sahel. Sylvie Kauffmann is the editorial director and a former editor in chief of Le Monde, and a contributing opinion writer. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Londoners who are heartbroken over Brexit should be allowed to keep their EU citizenship, Mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested. Ahead of a visit to Brussels today, Mayor Khan urged the British government to allow all British nationals to have "associate citizenship" of the EU. This would allow British citizens to keep many of the rights they held before Brexit, including the right to move freely between EU member states. Mr Khan said: Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesnt mean our countrys future cant be closely linked with the rest of Europe. The Prime Minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European. There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens. As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship. Mr Khan will meet the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, during todays visit to the Belgium capital. The idea of European citizenship has been backed by the former chairman of the European Parliaments Brexit steering group, Guy Verhofstadt. He said: The Maastricht Treaty created the concept of European citizenship and I am in favour of using this now as a basis for people who want to keep their link with Europe. It is the first time in the history of our union that a member state leaves, but it is not because the UK Government wanted exit that individual citizens have to lose their connection with the continent. The Government must ensure Londoners and British nationals have the option of retaining their close links to Europe.@GuyVerhofstadt has been a leading voice on how we can provide a path to European citizenship for those in the UK who want it. #LondonIsOpen https://t.co/cCoQk0S9Gi Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 18, 2020 Tory candidate in the upcoming mayoral election Shaun Bailey claimed Mr Khan was focusing on gimmicks rather than dealing with crime in London. Mr Bailey said: Three more Londoners were stabbed on the weekend and a teenager is fighting for his life as we speak, and where is our mayor? In Brussels, announcing a gimmick he has no powers to implement. The mayor has got to focus on his actual responsibilities; he should be in London, urgently speaking with the Met Police, over whom he does have actual powers, about how to stop kids being stabbed to death on our streets. We need a change in leadership, we need a new mayor whose priority is keeping Londoners safe. Rory Stewart, independent candidate for London Mayor, added: This is only a soundbite the policy cannot work. The mayor has a responsibility to produce a much more detailed position on Brexit that protects London. I have such a plan. And if I were mayor I would be focused on making detailed arguments about a future immigration system, as well as service agreements, to keep London as close as possible to Europe. I would win these arguments with the Government and with Brussels with evidence, not soundbites. And I would also fix many of the things, including safety, which have gone in the wrong direction over the last four years in London. We need less talk from this mayor and more action. "Now, with the addition of fire alarm systems, installation and service, were a one-stop shop for general contractors, property owners and facility managers. JTM Electrical & Technology, a veteran electrical services organization serving commercial and industrial customers in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, announced today the launch of its Fire Alarm Division, to deliver alarm systems, installation, wiring, programming and pipework all turnkey from a single source. To lead the new division, JTM has tapped Peter Miles, a 30-year veteran of the fire alarm industry, as the Superintendent. JTM has provided the pipework for alarm systems for a dozen years. Now, with the addition of fire alarm systems, installation and service, were a one-stop shop for general contractors, property owners and facility managers, said JTM President Jack McGuinn We make it easier, faster and more cost-effective for them to get their fire alarm system up and running. Rather than contracting with two entities the electrician and the fire alarm company commercial and industry customers can source everything they need from JTM, which offers one contract and one point of contact for installation, service and repairs. JTMs Fire Alarm Division delivers a range of services, including: Fire alarm systems from most manufacturers Design and build Installation (wiring, programming and pipework) Service and repairs on systems from most manufacturers Municipal building code deficiency repairs Annual fire alarm tests and inspections Elevator hoistway modernization for electric and fire alarms Weve seen a need in the marketplace for a turnkey fire alarm solution for some time, said Dale Gosch, General Manager of JTM. Were excited to be able to fill the gap with an end-to-end solution and organization both built under the guidance and leadership of our new superintendent, Peter Miles. He brings decades of fire alarm expertise to JTM and our customers. Miles comes to JTM after two decades running a successful fire alarm contracting company. He began his career in fire and security alarm installations in 1988 and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in 1993. He received an A card for a journeyman wireman after a five-year apprenticeship with the IBEW Local 701. Miles spent a few years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for a National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC). He also is a certified NJATC IBEW training instructor. Aside from his expertise in fire alarms, Miles has experience in electrical bids, designs and installation. He is also proficient in AutoCAD for local village submittals. Im excited to join JTM and leverage three decades of experience in the industry to help JTM become a single source for fire alarm systems and services, said Miles. Were just getting started and already have additional offers in mind to help our commercial and industrial customers with their fire protection needs. About JTM Electrical & Technology JTM Electrical & Technology provides contract electrical, low-voltage technology and fire alarm system installations to commercial and industrial customers in Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin. JTM delivers on electrical contracts for general contractors, commercial property owners and facility managers in the commercial space as well as large-scale projects for organizations in manufacturing, global distribution and logistics, warehousing, or heavy industry. JTM has extensive expertise in a variety of low-voltage systems and technology installations, including cabling for voice and data networks, fiber optics, coax and more. The company also is experienced in installation of networks, IP camera systems and advanced LED lighting systems. For more information, visit us at http://www.jtmelectrical.com The minister says he sees two scenarios for Belarus. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko says there is a threat of war between Belarus and Russia as Moscow may act against Minsk's independence. "A few years ago I talked with several Belarusian journalists, and when I officially told them that if they want to remain independent, they will face the same war, the same challenges and the same suffering as we did, they expressed doubts," he said in an interview for the Czech publication Respekt, according to the news portal strana.ua. "Perhaps now they have less doubt." Read alsoRussia's MFA Lavrov: NATO "has nothing to do with Ukraine," shouldn't interfere in Donbas talks Yet, he said he still hoped such scenario would not happen. "Of course, I still hope I'm wrong. The Belarusians are calm and patient. But we were calm and patient and this lasts until they start killing you. Then you start killing [them] too. Even if the enemy is stronger, what else is there for you to do?" he said. In his opinion, Minsk has two options: "owing to foreign partners, to be prudent and calm and lose, or start fighting right now." The move to embrace Gandhian principles by Hindutva-based organisations got a real fillip when Prime Minister Narendra Modi started majorly invoking Mahatma Gandhi in his governance policies, the flagship being the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. As the nation celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is firmly on its path to assimilate Gandhian principles in its ideologies. The RSS mission to include Gandhi's philosophies in its manifestations has been so intense that the Congress, which once literally owned the legacy of the Father of the Nation, now increasingly finds being pushed away from that position. In a clear demonstration of the RSS determination to blend with the Gandhian way of thinking, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday appealed to the youth of the nation to take the lead in imbibing the principles and values of Gandhi in personal, social and political life for a new India. Until a few years ago, this would have been unthinkable as the Congress often accuses Sangh Parivar of being involved in Gandhis assassination. The difference between the two over Mahatma Gandhi was so deep that RSS was even banned for years soon after the assassination of the Father of the Nation. Even today, the Sanghs detractors and the Congress leave no opportunity to malign the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS on Gandhi's assassination, despite the fact that the first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had said on record that there was no proof of any role played by the RSS in the assassination. On Monday, when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke on the need for the country to follow the path laid out by the Father of the Nation at Gandhi Smriti, the symbolism of the event was not lost. The RSS chief was speaking on the occasion of the launch of a book Gandhi ko Samajhne ka Yahi Samay by former director, NCERT and Indias representative to the executive board of UNESCO Jagmohan Singh Rajput. The move to embrace Gandhian principles by Hindutva-based organisations got a real fillip when Prime Minister Narendra Modi started majorly invoking Mahatma Gandhi in his governance policies, the flagship being the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The world is eager to know Mahatma Gandhi and hence, it becomes the responsibility of India to keep reminding the world of the abiding relevance of the Mahatma and his vision, Modi had said in December 2019. This basic philosophy of Gandhi for upliftment has the potential to help India develop and progress. All citizens need to imbibe the Gandhian thought and vision in their lives and take it ahead in the times to come. Modi in his addresses has emphasised time and again that development would remain futile unless benefits of governance reached the last man standing -- the basic principle of Gandhis polity. Bhagwat echoed a similar view on Monday to remind the political leaders of the country that this Gandhian principle should be considered as the ultimate parameter of development and progress of the nation. During his address on Monday, the RSS chief touched upon sensitive topics like Hindutava and communal harmony and examined them from the prism of Gandhian principles. Gandhi never hesitated in saying I'm a Sanatani Hindu. But he also said, Respect all other religions as well and live with them because all religions and sects speak the same, said Bhagwat. In December last year, Bhagwat caused a stir when he said that RSS considers the 130 crore people of the country as Hindus. "The son of mother India, whether he may speak any language, from any region, follow any form of worship or not believing in the worship of any, is a Hindu....In this regard, for Sangh all the 130 crore people of India is Hindu society," he had said. He even quoted Gandhi in the past to bring his point home, Gandhiji said the endless search for truth is called Hindutva. However, the appreciation of Mahatma Gandhi by the RSS is not entirely new. Citing Sanghs founding Sarsanghchalak, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS chief said, Hedgewarji had said that remembering Gandhi alone wont help, one needs to follow the life and principles of Mahatma. Gandhi had visited RSS shakha (training camp) at Wardha in 1934 and applauded the discipline of RSS workers and absence of divisive feelings in them. He reiterated the same while addressing a meeting in Delhi on 16 September 1947. I visited the RSS camp years ago when the founder Hedgewar was alive. I was very much impressed by the discipline, the complete absence of untouchability and the rigorous simplicity, Gandhi had said. The Sangh Parivar today wants the new generation to understand Gandhi in the present context while imbibing his philosophy and principles. First we need to understand Gandhiji in todays context and then prepare ourselves by following the path of truth and discipline. The process has begun, with the young generation taking the lead and now I can say in the next 20 years, the mission will be completed. And well be able to say proudly its Mahatma Gandhis Bharat, said Bhagwat. A Seattle-area Catholic high school has come under fire and ignited student protests after being accused of forcing the resignations of two newly-engaged LGBTQ teachers. Officials at John F Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, released a statement on Valentine's Day saying that teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie 'voluntarily resigned' last week. 'They are highly capable, gifted, and qualified teachers, who have served our community with dedication and humility. Their loss will be felt deeply by their students and the entire community,' the statement claimed. Scroll down for video Seattle-area teachers Paul Danforth (left) and Michelle Beattie (right) were allegedly ousted from their Catholic school after getting engaged to their respective same-sex partners Officials at John F Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, said the teachers 'voluntarily resigned' last week. Someone later hoisted a gay pride flag outside the school in protest, but it was quickly removed Danforth's boyfriend, Sean Nyberg, proposed to the English teacher on November 1, 2019, on a trip to Disneyland. He even had custom T-shirts made to mark the occasion The couple made no secret of their relationship and shared photos on social media, including this one showing Danforth's engagement ring The happy couple are pictured in their bespoke outfits, surrounded by their friends after Danforth said 'Yes' But Danforth's fiance, Sean Nyberg, insists his future husband did not quit, but rather was forced out for accepting his marriage proposal. Danforth taught English and the school, while Beattie was a health and fitness teacher, reported KING5. Nyberg, an attorney and podcaster, released a detailed statement on social media on Monday addressing his fiance's alleged ejection from the school where his father has taught for 39 years. 'After teaching there for over five years, with a stellar record, he is no longer employed specifically because he and I got engaged,' he wrote. Nyberg popped the question to Danforth on November 1, 2019, during a four-day trip to Disneyland with their friends. He later shared a lengthy Facebook post describing the surprise proposal, accompanied by photos of the happy couple in their custom-made Mickey Mouse-themed T-shirts that read, 'I Asked' and 'I Said Yes.' On Tuesday, a large group of students, parents and alumni staged a protest outside the Archdiocese of Seattle and at the school in Burien, decrying the teachers' ouster Posted by Rob Miller on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Based on the couple's social media posts, Nyberg and Danforth never made a secret of their sexual orientation or their same-sex relationship. 'We entered into a agreement to take our relationship to the next level and enjoy the emotional, spiritual, and legal benefits that marriage provides,' Nyberg wrote in his st. 'However, in our case, Paul no longer is employed because I had asked him to marry me and he said yes.' Nyberg said much like his fiance, Beattie (pictured) was forced out for getting engaged to her same-sex partner Nyberg went on to say that while the teachers and the school officials cannot comment on the situation, he has no obligation to stay silent. 'This is not only personally painful, it also harms their former students who looked up to them, families that dont know how to explain this to their children, young LGBT students who will feel even more shame and guilt, and will weaken a community that seeks love and acceptance,' he said. According to Nyberg, his fiance's co-worker, Beattie, also stepped down after getting engaged to her same-sex partner. As news of Danforth and Beattie's plight spread, the Archdiocese of Seattle released a statement saying the teachers voluntarily left, without going into further detail because it is a personnel matter. On the day Danforth and Beattie's departures from the school were announced, King County Councilmember David Upthegrove took to Facebook, publicly accusing the institution of ousting them for being gay/lesbian. Nyberg, who is a lawyer, released a detailed statement saying 'Paul no longer is employed because I had asked him to marry me and he said yes.' He added that the school's decision to force out the two gay teachers is harmful to LGBTQ youth 'This is a reminder of the blatant discrimination that continues to exist in our community against members of the LGBT community,' he wrote. 'I hope everyone who values fairness and equality is as disgusted and outraged by the mean-spirited action of this anti-LGBT institution.' Over the weekend, someone ran a gay pride flag up the pole outside the school, but it was quickly taken down. On Tuesday, a large group of students, parents and alumni staged a protest outside the Archdiocese of Seattle and at the school in Burien, holding up rainbow flags and homemade signs reading 'Love is Love,' and chanting 'Not OK,' in reference to Danforth and Beattie's alleged ouster. Some students took part in a sit-in, while others planned to walk out of class and join the protesters outside in the afternoon. Meanwhile, a supporter has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the two now-unemployed teachers financially while they look for work. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $32,000 has been raised. A man who opened fire and shot two police officers in a Walmart in Forrest City, Arkansas, on Monday morning is dead, Mayor Cedric Williams told reporters. Witnesses said the suspect was "talking out of his mind" at the time of the shooting, Williams told reporters. The officers were responding to complaints that a man was threatening people when the man pulled out a gun and shot both officers, St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May told CNN affiliate WHBQ. The shooting occurred on the grocery side of the store, Forrest City Police Chief Deon Lee said at the press conference. The officers who responded to the incident, Lt. Eric Varner and Detective Eugene Watlington, were not wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting, Lee said. He added, as Forrest City Police detectives, they were not required to wear police vests fitted with body cameras because their division does not require it, he said. Varner was treated at Forrest City Medical Center after the incident and was released, Lee said. Watlington was transported to Regional One Health in Memphis and went into surgery, he added. Varner's prognosis is that he's doing well and is expected to be fine, according to Lee. Forrest City is located along I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, Tennessee and has a population of about 14,000 people. Arkansas State Police have taken over the investigation of the incident. "The prayers and thoughts of the ASP (Arkansas State Police) are with the two Forrest City Police Officers that were injured this morning in a shooting at the Walmart store, located in Forrest City," state police said. "The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division has been requested to conduct an investigation of the incident, and will be on the premises throughout the day." Walmart's director of national media relations Scott Pope said the company was working with police in the investigation. "As this is an active investigation, any additional questions should be referred to the Forrest City Police Department," he said. Prevent Blindness to Hold Fifteenth Annual Eyes on Capitol Hill Advocacy Event on Feb. 26, 2020. Prevent Blindness began back in 1908 as a public advocacy organization, dedicated to preventing unnecessary vision loss, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. The year 2020 is particularly fitting as a time to focus on advocating for vision health issues. Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest non-profit eye health organization, will be holding its fifteenth annual Eyes on Capitol Hill advocacy day on Wed., Feb. 26, 2020, in Washington, D.C. The annual program provides those from across the United States the opportunity to meet with Congressional and Senate members, and their staff, to discuss vision issues, including access to care, prevention and research. Data shows that the number of individuals with visual impairment and blindness is increasing in the United States and around the globe as a result of shifting demographics and aging populations. According to the Prevent Blindness report, Childrens Vision And Eye Health: A Snapshot of Current National Issues, uncorrected vision problems can impair child development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss. To help address the growing need for vision health support, this years Eyes on Capitol Hill advocates will ask elected officials to: Invest $5 million in funding for the CDCs Vision Health Initiative to conduct much-needed surveillance. Maintain the CDCs work in glaucoma prevention and awareness with $4 million. Support continued investments to the National Eye Institute (NEI) that will enhance the scope of research to support public health objectives of early detection, prevention, and population health. Prevent Blindness has also established the Prevent Blindness Policy Roadmap to guide efforts at the federal level to effectively save sight, and to help provide cost effective solutions to government entities, private institutions, and patients. Prevent Blindness began back in 1908 as a public advocacy organization, dedicated to preventing unnecessary vision loss, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. The year 2020 is particularly fitting as a time to focus on advocating for vision health issues. For more information on Eyes on Capitol Hill, or Prevent Blindness and its advocacy initiatives, please call (800) 331-2020 or visit https://www.preventblindness.org/advocacy-prevent-blindness. About Prevent Blindness Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness. Tectonic shifts in global supply chains are taking place with the trend shifting from globalisation to localisation, says BofA Global Research survey report. Supply chains for 'global' sectors with $22 trillion in market cap are moving, with South East Asia, India and North America as the preferred destinations, says the report. Companies in 50 per cent of global sectors in North America are intending to 'reshore', according to the report. The report said that for many years it has been generally accepted that jobs that had moved from developed market (DM) economies to emerging markets (EM) would never come back, and that supply chains would continue to be increasingly global and complex. However, more recently there have been hints of a reversal of that trend and the BofA report shows new evidence of that reversal. In a survey of the bank's analysts, who cover 3000 companies, BofA Global Research found that companies in more than 80 per cent of 12 global sectors ($22 trillion market cap) in each of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific (excluding China) have implemented or announced plans to shift at least a portion of their supply chains from current locations. Granted, most of these relocations are small compared to their installed base, but the breadth of the shift suggests that the trend of globalisation to localisation is real. The report added that it is striking that there are so many reasons why companies are re-assessing their supply chains. Importantly, some reasons are financial, but not all. On the financial side, tariffs are obvious, but newer automation has also meaningfully narrowed the labour cost differential that made the original outsourcing so attractive, and, in addition the tax arbitrage has narrowed. On the non-financial side, national security is a growing factor, as are the environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns of high carbon footprints associated with long supply chains and potentially problematic employment practices. In the view of BofA Global Research, these movements are "tectonic": slow moving, persistent with major changes to the business environment for global companies. Not surprisingly, South East Asia and India were the planned destinations for half of North American and Asian supply chains. Much more surprising was that companies in about half of all global sectors in North America declared an intent to 'reshore'. This was particularly true for high-tech sectors and industries for which energy is a key input. If borne out, this could represent the first reversal in a multi-decade trend, added the report. While the breadth of this shift is striking, the depth is moderate at present. Many firms appear to be experimenting with a China Plus strategy where they are keeping existing chains largely in place, while running pilot programs in alternative locations. Over the next 12-24 months, we expect the success (or failure) of these pilots to help determine the velocity of future change, the report said. The report noted that investors are not fully prepared for this tectonic shift. The bank's analysts suggest that the US could be a significant beneficiary of this process, while Chinese firms are perhaps most at risk. Even more striking, the report found almost universal intent to use automation. This suggests BofA Global Research's forecast of a doubling in industrial robots to 5 million units by 2025 may prove conservative, with bullish implications for capex and manufacturing, added the report. NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) A so-far elusive deal to reunite Cyprus would mean more money in pockets on both sides of the ethnically divided island, a World Bank and U.N.-funded report said Monday. Presenting the study's results, authors Enrique Aldaz-Carroll and Reena Badiani-Magnusson said a peace accord could boost the incomes of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots by 7% within a decade. They said economic growth could mark an extra annual increase of 0.4 percentage points in the country's south where the internationally recognized government is seated and 1.8 percentage points in the breakaway north. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the north and only the south enjoys full benefits from the country's European Union membership. UN-backed talks to reunify Cyprus as a federation are now at a stalemate and hopes for a quick return to negotiations look dim. The last effort to resolve the issue at the highest level was in 2017. The economy is projected to grow this year by 2.9% in the south and 1.8% in the north. The economic benefits of an accord would be greater for Turkish Cypriots whose income could reach 75% of that of Greek Cypriots in 10 years 8% more than if division remains. The two officials said energy, water and transport infrastructure upgrades could generate 1.1 billion euros ($1.19 billion) of investment opportunities within 2-3 years of reunification. Greek Cypriot economic output could increase by 3.4% by 2035 through exports to Turkey like financial services, shipping and tourism. Within the same span, Turkish Cypriot exports of goods and services to the EU could jump by 12.2% of their current gross domestic product. Insight TV is available in 4K UHD HDR with Polish audio on Astra at 19.2 degrees East. The deal with East & West will see the networks subscribers able to access Insight TVs content in fully immersive 4K UHD HDR. Insight TVs line-up includes the recently launched martial arts show Story of Masters featuring Hollywood legend Dan Fogler and Ghost Chasers: Exploring the Other Side, which follows the adventures of famed urban explorers and YouTube stars Josh and Cody. Viewers can also look forward to the anticipated Tomorrowland LIVE broadcast in 4K UHD HDR in March 2020.Commenting on the deal, brokered by Insight TV partner 2EndsTelecom, East & West director Renata Wojciechowska said: We are very excited to be working with Insight TV to bring their high-quality UHD content to an increased Polish audience. We are committed to taking our viewers on new adventures and are thrilled to share Insight TVs engaging and inspiring stories. Insight TV chief commercial officer Graeme Stanley, added: This announcement marks our second Polish distribution deal in 2020 and demonstrates our commitment to providing engaging and adventurous content to Polish viewers. We always strive to work with the best platforms worldwide and the East & West network is a perfect partner to offer our content to Polish audiences. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and renowned director and producer Karan Johar have appreciated the Assam Police for its "superb efficiency" in ensuring smooth conduct of the 65th Filmfare Awards held here on February 15. In separate tweets, Kumar and Johar said planning and support of the Assam Police at the Filmfare awards function was "fantastic" and also appreciated Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for hosting them. "Could fly in & out in a jiffy only thanks to the superb efficiency of @assampolice. Thank you for ensuring such a smooth experience at the award function in Guwahati. And @sarbanandsonwal ji, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, thank you once again for your kind hospitality," Akshay Kumar tweeted. In his tweet, Johar said, "@assampolice thank you for your fantastic planning and support at the Filmfare Awards it was very well planned. And respected @sarbanandsonwal ji thank you for hosting us in Awesome Assam." Director General of Assam Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said it was due to the joint effort of the officers and ranks of the force that the event went off successfully. "I thank my team for the grand success," Mahanta said. The Assam Police also thanked Kumar from its Twitter handle for his appreciation. "Thanks @akshaykumar ! We may have learnt a thing or two about being efficient in a jiffy from the real 'Khiladi' of Bollywood. Dedication wale column me hum @assampolice likhte hain!," it said. To Johar, the Assam Police wrote back, "Thank you @karanjohar for your gracious words, it was truly our 'Dharma' to ensure seamless 'Production' of the iconic @filmfareawards. We hope to see you soon once again, because, 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna!'." The 65th Filmfare Awards function was held in Guwahati on February 15 and it was Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt's "Gully Boy" that swept top awards at the ceremony while Ananya Panday was honoured with the Best Debut Actress trophy. It was for the first time that Filmfare Awards function was held outside Mumbai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a keynote speech during the American Federation of Teachers Shanker Institute Defense of Democracy Forum at George Washington University on Sept. 17, 2019 in Washington. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images) Hillary Clinton Disputes Bloomberg Vice Presidential Rumors Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton disputed reports that claimed she was interested in being presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs vice president. Clinton told reporters on Tuesday she will not consider being Bloombergs vice president if he wins the partys 2020 nomination. Oh, no. Im just waiting and watching as this plays out. I will support whoever the nominee is because I think, for all the reasons you can imagine, and here in Puerto Rico there are many, we need to have a new president for our country, the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate said at a Clinton Global Initiative event in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her remarks came in response to a report from Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report, who claimed Bloomberg was considering asking Clinton to be his running mate. Drudge posted on the website that sources close to his team said he might offer her the role after polling showed that it would go over well with Democratic voters. According to Drudges post on Twitter, Sources close to Bloomberg campaign tell DRUDGE REPORT that the candidate is considering Hillary as running mate, after their polling found the Bloomberg-Clinton combination would be a formidable force. He also added links to articles that attempted to support his claim on his website. Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg speaks during a campaign event at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Doug Strickland/Reuters) The campaign for Bloomberg addressed the rumors on Feb. 15, saying they are focused on the primary and the debate, not VP speculation. It did not confirm or deny Drudges report. In an interview earlier in February, Clinton told The Ellen Show she believes she would not be asked to serve as a running mate for a Democratic presidential nominee. Well, thats not going to happen, but no, probably no, Clinton said in response to a question from the shows host, Ellen DeGeneres. But later, the former first lady said that one should never say never to a request to be a vice-presidential candidate. Clinton recalled that she turned down former President Barack Obama when he asked her to be secretary of state. Since the start of the current election cycle, there has been frequent speculation about her intentions, forcing her and husband Bill Clinton, the former president, to make public statements to address it. As I say, never, never, never say never, Clinton told BBC Radio 5 Live weeks ago. I will certainly tell you, Im under enormous pressure from many, many, many people to think about it. By Peter S. Reinhart There is little debate about the high cost of doing business in New Jersey. Quantifying just how much is more difficult but even so the impact on the states economy is real. Some argue its the price to be paid for being in the strategic location of New Jersey - proximity to New York City and Philadelphia. But this doesnt take into account one of the greatest costs businesses face here: the higher level of uncertainty as to how the laws and rules change in the state. The New Jersey Uncertainty Tax can be defined as the additional cost a business incurs due to the political risk of government change in regulations or laws. Tacking this Uncertainty Tax onto high labor costs, building rents and other occupancy expenses, housing costs for employees, taxes on the business, taxes on the employees and owners, lost productivity due to long and expensive commutes and mandated employee expenses like sick leave, family leave, and the new mandatory severance payments makes New Jersey far less competitive than New York and Pennsylvania. A business considering either entering New Jersey or expanding here can deal with this risk in several ways. If new, it can decide to stay away from the state. If existing, it will add costs and can choose either not to expand, reduce its activity, or exit the state. None of these are beneficial to the states economy. The taxpayers of New Jersey also pay more due to the New Jersey Uncertainty Tax on businesses. The product price will increase. The incentives the state must offer to companies considering entering New Jersey end up being much higher than other states. Take some examples of laws or regulations considered or enacted in New Jersey in recent years: The proposed millionaires tax has been a subject of legislation for a decade. This potential increase in the top tax rate impacts the key decision makers the most personally and obviously affects their view of New Jersey as a place to earn income. Pennsylvania has a single tax rate of 3.07%. The uncertainty over the potential of higher ticket prices and higher business taxes to pay for the badly needed NJ Transit improvements. The political impasse over state financial incentives has had a serious detrimental effect on the already negative perception of the New Jersey business climate. Whenever and however this stalemate is resolved, the negative impact on the states reputation will take time to turn around. Other states can legitimately raise questions as to how safe those New Jersey incentives are from political risk in the future. What will be the tax rate for corporations paying in New Jersey, already one of the highest in the nation? Will other cities enact local city taxes on businesses like Jersey City has done? Whatever the likelihood, the mere potential gives business decision-makers pause. Changes to the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program are being considered that would significantly reduce the incentive to municipal government to enter into PILOT agreements. Without a PILOT agreement, many deals will not happen. The $100 billion plus deficit in New Jersey government employee pension plans and the absurdly high cost of government employee health plans also make the business community wary of additional taxes to cover these. New Jersey needs many billions of dollars to pay for long-deferred infrastructure improvements to roads, bridges, tunnels, water and sewer systems. Many of those improvements can no longer be kicked down the road. Witness the recent publicity over lead in drinking water. Business decision-makers are very wary that a significant portion of those costs will be foisted upon businesses in one form or another. If the state chooses to use public bond issues for these big ticket items, how much will business taxes and fees have to increase to help pay these borrowing costs? Other states in competition with New Jersey have noticed our inability to get things done and are seizing the opening. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is spending money to improve mass transit, roads, bridges, subways, and airports. An NYC business will likely opt for the certainty of New York over the uncertainty of New Jersey, or perhaps just as bad, negotiate for even higher incentives from New Jersey to cover the uncertainty, i.e. the New Jersey Uncertainty Tax at work. To be fair, most states have some level of uncertainty. A business is used to understanding and evaluating risk. But the problem is that the level of uncertainty is so much higher in New Jersey. The state of New Jersey is once again at a very important crossroad. Do our leaders have the political will to make decisions to make New Jersey competitive in attracting and retaining businesses? So long as there remains uncertainty over how the state will address these concerns, the New Jersey Uncertainty Tax will be an expensive consideration for any business considering remaining in or coming to New Jersey. Peter S. Reinhart, Esq. is the director of the Kislak Real Estate Institute at Monmouth University. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Back in September 2019, two Alexandria seniors were named semi-finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Both students were given the opportunity to continue in the competition for a chance to earn more scholarship money. After completing a portfolio, submitting skills, leadership roles and other accomplishments, Spencer Stelly of Menard High School and Evan Leleux of Alexandria Senior High have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. They are two out of 15,000 students around the U.S. who will have a chance to receive a full-ride scholarship to a public college of their choice. All finalist will compete for one of the 7,500 merit scholarships. Merit scholars will be announced beginning in April through July 2020. By Laman Ismayilova The third World Harmony International Competition of Young Performers has opened its doors to music lovers at Baku Music Academy. The large-scale project brought together young talents from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Ukraine. Founded in 2017, the contest aims to discover young talents and promote classical music and folklore. The "World Harmony" is being held in the following categories: solo - piano, string instruments, wind and percussion instruments, folk instruments; vocals - academic, national, pop; dance (solo and ensemble), instrumental ensembles (classical and folk), vocal ensembles (academic, folk and pop), choral and dance ensembles. The contestants who pass in the third round will be accompanied by the Gara Garayev Chamber Orchestra. The contest jury is composed of music experts from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Russia and Turkey. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the project founder, President of Union of Georgian Folklore and Classical Music "Harmony" Tsitsino Bichikashvili stressed that the first ever World Harmony International Competition took place in Baku in 2017. The competition was held for the second time in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2018. Next February, the 4th World Harmony competition will be held once again in Vilnius. Notably, the 3rd World Harmony International Competition of Young performers will last until February 24. The project is co-organized by the Georgian Union of Folklore and Classical Music "Harmony" and "Gnclr dstk" (Youth Support) project with the support of the Culture Ministry as well as Baku Music Academy and the National Conservatory. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz LANSE TOWNSHIP, MI Two teenage boys were found dead in a car on Monday while a teenage girl who was in the vehicle was unconscious and has been hospitalized. All three teens were students at LAnse Area Schools. 17-year-old Dylan Roberts, of LAnse, and 17-year-old Christopher Turpeinen, of Pelkie, were pronounced dead at the scene, Upper Michigans Source reports. The girl, 17-year-old Hunter Pelon, of Baraga, was unconscious when police arrived. Cause of death is unknown at this time, but police suspect suffocation, the report said. Autopsies are scheduled. Baraga County Sheriffs Office deputies were called to a scene of a possible drunk driver around 4:15 p.m. on Monday in LAnse Township, the report said. The vehicle was running when police arrived. The boys were found dead while Pelon was unconscious. Pelon was removed from the vehicle and life-saving measures were initiated. She was then transported to Baraga County Memorial Hospital; she was later transferred to a Green Bay hospital. Her condition is unknown. The investigation into the deaths is ongoing, the report said. Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police and Bay Ambulance assisted at the scene. READ MORE: Chippewa County police use hovercraft, airboat to practice winter rescues on Sugar Island MLives comment sections are going away, and here are the reasons why Teen beaten outside her home in Grand Traverse County by man and woman An African American man kidnapped a white woman he'd been in an on-off relationship with for years and forced her to watch nine-hour slavery miniseries Roots so she could 'understand her racism'. Cedar Rapids police seized 52-year-old Robert Noyes on Monday on charges of first-degree harassment and false imprisonment. The woman, who was not clearly described in previous reports as being white, was allegedly forced to sit with Noye and threatened when she tried to move from watching the 1977 TV miniseries. Trevor Noye, 52, allegedly held a woman captive and forced her to watch nine-hour TV miniseries Roots at a residence in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was arrested on Monday Pictured: Levar Burton playing Kunta Kinte (left) and the front cover of TV miniseries Roots (right), which first aired on American TV in 1977, and follows the struggles of one African American family told over several generations. The story starts with Kunte Kinte (pictured main), an African warrior sold into slavery, through to his great-grandchildren fighting for their freedom during the Civil War He forced her to watch the nine-hour show, which details the ancestral line of the author Alex Haley, 'so she could better understand her racism', a police complaint said. Noye threatened to 'kill her and spread her body parts across Interstate 380 on the way to Chicago', when she tried to move away, according to the Gazette. Roots, which was penned in 1976 by US author Alex Haley and was first aired on TV in 1977, follows the struggles of one African American family told over several generations, starting with Kunte Kinte, an African warrior sold into slavery, through to his great-grandchildren fighting for their freedom during the Civil War. Kinte is a 15-year-old warrior in Gambia in the late 1700s. The series begins as he sets off to undertake a semi-secretive rite of passage, which includes circumcision, war games and hunting. After he's tasked with catching a bird without hurting it, he crosses paths with a group of slavers and their captives. He returns to the village at the end of the ceremony but is then captured by the slave hunters and a group of four black collaborators, made up of his family's arch-enemies, the Koros tribe. The youngster is then sold and placed on a ship bound for America The series follows his perilous journey on a stinking, overcrowded slaveship to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was sold to a Virginia plantation owner for the price of ten mules. Kinte's name is stricken in favour of a new Christian identity, Toby. Kinte seeks to retain his African and Islamic heritage during his time in the new world, refusing to eat pork. He tries to escape by using a tool he found on the plantation. His punishment is to be whipped by a fellow slave until he recognizes his new Christian name. The controversial show goes on to follow an adult Kinte and the lives of his descendants, who eventually gain their freedom and settle 40 miles from Memphis in Henning, Tennessee. Later scenes from the miniseries include the rape of Kinte's descendants by masters with a sexual appetite for female slaves. During the Civil War period, the show documents the treatment of slaves by local members of the Klu Klux Klan. The show is graphic for its time for showing the beatings, mutilations and rape. One particularly brutal scene shows two slave catchers prevent an adult Kinte from escaping and lop off his right foot with a hatchet. It remains the third most-watched US telecast of all time after the final episode saw around 100million viewers tune in. The book and subsequent miniseries were seminal in opening the discussion about the legacy of slavery and race in America. A remake of the popular 1970s miniseries was released on the History Channel in 2016, starring Malachi Kirby as Kunte Kinte. For putting up very outstanding performances in the theatre of war, the Sector 2 of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in Yobe State, rewarded some of its personnel last weekend. The special recognition to the soldiers came at the event of the Nigerian Army Social Activities (NASA) which is a Nigerian version of the West African Army Social Activities otherwise referred to as WASA staged by the Commander Sector II of Operation Lafiya Dole, Suleiman Idris. PREMIUM TIMES checks revealed that this is the first time the activities were held in the theater in Damaturu during the almost ten years of the Boko Haram insurgency. While the event was garnished with cultural and social activities by the troops that prompted guests to jerk from their seats for intermittent laughter and amusements, the occasion took a frenzied moment as the master of ceremony took a roll call of soldiers identified for special recognition. Guests became spellbound with emotions as these select soldiers took turns to take salute and collect awards from the commander and representative of the governor, Mai Buni, at the event. At the beginning, the awards appeared to be a normal exercise until the Acting Director of Army Public Relation of Sector II of Operation Lafiya Dole, Polycarp Oteh, began to read their citation and the acts of gallantry that qualified them for the special recognition. Sergeant Major Mustapha Abubakar won the Best Soldier 2019 of 233 Battalion after he successfully coordinated radio communications to troops to defeat Boko Haram on December 22, 2019 despite very high volume of fire. His citation reads: Tiv cultural dance truope entertaining 15NA/74/4099 Sigm Mustapha Abubakar was born on 13 December, 1991 into the family of Mr. and Mrs Abubakar Sadiq from Adamawa State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Army on the 13 December, 2015. He was taken on strength in Sector 2 Mobile Strike Team 5 on 13 November, 2017. Sigm Mustapha has shown remarkable contribution to the fight against insurgency in Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre within Sector 2 AOR. As a radio operator, he (always) ensures seamless communications within the formations/units under command. Mustapha displayed act of bravery during the attack on Damaturu by Boko Haram on the 22, December 2019. Mustapha, amidst high volume of fire, confidently moved ammunitions to resupply troops in the frontline and thus the BHT were defeated. Furthermore, he exhibited act of doggedness by advancing on the foot in hot pursuit of the fleeing BHTs during the counter-ambush operation at Jakana on the 26 of January, 2020 in which 2x Gun trucks and 2x AA guns were captured. Sigm Mustapha has shown a high level of discipline in the discharge of his duties. It is worthy to note that Sigm Mustapha is a disciplined hardworking soldier who is ready to carry out any task given to him diligently. He is hereby recommended by this Brigade for the gallantry award. The Commander Sector II Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Suleiman Idris addressing press at the event. Corporal Yusuf Umar bagged the award for the best non-commissioned officer due to his doggedness as a driver after being shot severally by Boko Haram in an ambush. With his gallantry and courage, he never yielded to the fire power and drove through the ambush to a safer location with very high controlled military items. He still nurses gunshot wounds from the encounter and could not make it to the event. His award was presented (to) his friend. Below is his citation. Cpl Yusuf Umar of the sector 2 standby force was detailed as a driver of the 5-ton truck conveying military controlled items in a convoy on the 6 September, 2019. During the movement, the convoy came under Boko Haram attack and the troops fought through the ambush gallantly and defeated the Boko Haram Terrorist. Cpl Yusuf was shot several times while driving the truck but he continued driving from the ambush site until they reached their destination. Cpl Yusuf never yielded to the pain/pressure occasioned by the gunshot wound he sustained on his leg. He exhibited a high level of courage and act of gallantry by moving the items to a safer place and was rescued by troops. Idris Buba receiving his award from the Speaker Yobe State House of Assembly Ahmed Lawan Mirwa Cpl Yusuf is currently on out-patient treatment. To receive the award on behalf of cpl Yusuf is Cpl Adamu Audu. Leadership, Professionalism, patriotism and dedication coupled with courage is the embodiment of Sergeant Musa Ibrahim. His courage manifested during a Boko Haram attack on Damaturu where he tacitly moved from trenches supplying ammunition to troops and boosting their moral as the Platoon Sergeant of the QRF Unit in Damaturu. His citation below reveals his act of gallantry. Sgt. Musa Ibrahim was born on 6 Jun 1982. He hails from Kachia Local Government in Kaduna State. he attended Army Primary School Kano and later proceeded to Army Day Secondary School Janguza Kano. He was enlisted into the NA on 19 August 2002 and posted to 21 Brigade Garrison on completion of his training. He was deployed to 233 Battalion and was inducted into operation Lafiya Dole on 4 February 2013. Musa was deployed as the Platoon Sergeant of the Units Quick Response Force(QRF) at the Battalion Headquarters. Srgt. Ibrahim Musa regularly ensured training of soldiers of the units QRF while instilling (a) fighting spirit in his subordinates. This came to the fore during encounter with BHTs where he fought gallantly as the PL Srgt of the Units QRF. On 22 Dec 2019, Srgt Musa demonstrated high level of courage when Damaturu came under BHTs/ISWAP attack. He was observed moving from one trench to the other encouraging and motivating his colleagues thus boosting their morale. This motivation contributed (to) the success recorded during the meeting engagement with the terrorist where more than 30 of the terrorists were neutralized and the capturing of BHTs 1x Gun truck and cache of assorted ammunition. His hard work and courage is in keeping with the standard of professionalism in the Nigeria Army as well as patriotism of an exemplary citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Idris Buba remains one of the finest vigilante fighters with his dedication and commitment in the fight earning him the promotion of the commander of vigilante group in Damaturu. He also emerged as the best vigilante for the year 2019 having bursted and arrested several gangs including kidnap kingpin within the state. Below is his citation. Idris Buba was born in the year 1985. HE HAILS FROM Askira Uba IN Borno state. Idris JOINED Yobe state Hunters Group popularly known as Sarkin Baka in the year 2014. He has since then participated in several operations within sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole AOR. Following his brevity, Idris was subsequently promoted and appointed the commander of Sakin baka Damaturu in 2015. Since his appointment as the commander, he has carried out several operations with his men and in conjunction with 233 Bn and 27 TF Bde respectively. In January 2019, Idris led his men to Chirokusko general area of Tarmuwa LGA where he arrested a kidnap kingpin and recovered 1x AK 47 rifle, 2 x den guns, 2 x loaded magazines with extra 44 rounds of 7.62mm(special) ammunition. Idris led another operation in May 2019 where his group neutralized 2 x cattle rustlers, captured 2 suspects alive, recovered 206 rustled cattle, 1 x magazine and 1 x locally made pistol. Similarly his group participated in meeting engagements against BHTs/ISWAPs attack in Damaturu on 22 Dec 2019 which led to the neutralization of many terrorists and recovery of 1 x GT with cache of assorted ammunition. In January 2020, Idris also led his men to the arrest of 5 x kidnapers terrorizing the general area of Jajere. Advertisements These performances exhibited by his group has demonstrated his good leadership. Thus Idris is highly commendable for Command Sector 2 gallantry award. Some of the awardees who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES praised the commander for staging the event and recognising them for their contribution in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents. Idris Buba, who bagged the Best Vigilante Award, said he was humbled by the award. He said it has thrown a new challenge for him to realise that he is being watched on the things he does in the theatre. This award is a clear demonstration that whatever you are doing people are watching you. If I were doing things contrary to the work that I chose to do, the story would have been a different one. But look at me today collecting this award. It challenges me to think that the little contribution we are doing is being recognized. This will make me and my people to do more. I dedicate this award to all our members both living and dead, Mr Buba said. Another soldier who described the event as a good avenue to unwind stress, said we need these kinds of activities in the theatre once in a while. At the end, the soldiers ate, drank, danced and jubilated. [February 18, 2020] Generational Equity Advises Turbo Machinery Repair in Its Sale to DXP Enterprises Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Turbo Machinery Repair, Inc. to DXP Enterprises, Inc. The acquisition closed January 31, 2020 and details were not disclosed. Turbo Machinery Repair (Turbo) is a rotating equipment (e.g., pumps, compressors, etc.) repair shop in Richmond, California. The Company has been in business since 1986 and is a Flowserve Authorized Pump Repair Service Center. Operating out of a 36,000 square foot facility that includes a 16,000 square foot machine shop, Turbo Machinery Repair provides a wide range of services to oil refineries, power plants, chemical plants, municipal water and wastewater plants, food processing plants, marine & port facilities, cement & asphalt facilities, mining operations, and many other industries. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, DXP Enterprises (DXP) is a leading products and service distributor that adds value and total cost savings solutions to industrial customers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Dubai. DXP provides innovative pumping solutions, supply chain services and maintenance, repair, operating and production ("MROP") services that emphasize and utilize DXP's vast product knowledge and technical expertise in rotating equipment, bearings, power transmission, metal working, industrial supplies and safety products and services. DXP's breadth of MROP products and service solutions allows DXP to be flexible and customer-driven, creating competitive advantages for our customers. DXP's business segments including Service Centers, Innovative Pumping Solutions and Supply Chain Services. David R. Little, Chairman and CEO of DXP, remarked, "We are pleased to welcome the Turbo employees to the DXP team. Turbo is a unique, well-run business focused on providing value-added service and repair capabilities to its customers. Turbo will provide DXP's Rotating Equipment division with new geographic territory and enhance DP's end market mix. Turbo is a great company with key differentiators and provides us with high caliber people." Kent Yee, DXP CFO, added, "We are excited to welcome the talented and hardworking employees of Turbo to the DXP team. Turbo is our second acquisition this year and is another exciting addition to DXP. Turbo provides us with a strong pump repair facility in Northern California and complements our 2015 acquisition of Cortech. Turbo complements and diversifies DXP's products and services and end market exposure. This transaction will be positive for Turbo and DXP's customers, employees and shareholders." Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A - Western Region, Stephen Crisham's team lead by Managing Director Mergers & Acquisitions, James Hermann with support from Vice President - Western Region, Bo Zhao, successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director Tom Braun established the initial relationship with Turbo Machinery Repair. "It was a pleasure working with all of the parties involved," said Hermann. "The end result was a win-win for everyone." About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their five-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005173/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Some top Ghanaian stars came out in their numbers on Sunday to remember the late Ebony Reigns at a memorial party organised by her father, Starboy Kwarteng. The event, which was dubbed 'Ebony Reigns Memorial Jollof Rice Birthday Party', took place at the father's residence at Dansoman in Accra. It attracted a number of showbiz personalities who were there to celebrate the memory of the late dancehall artiste, born Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng. The 'Maame Hw' crooner died in a gruesome road accident on the Sunyani-Kumasi road on February 8, 2018. A Jeep with registration AS 497-16 she was travelling in from Sunyani to Kumasi had a head-on collision with a VIP bus heading towards Sunyani from Kumasi. Kofi Adjorlolo and Yvonne Nelson at Ebony's memorial party Ebony who was 20-year-old at the time she died with two other persons a military officer identified as Francis Atsu Vondee and a lady friend Frankie The driver of the vehicle, however, escaped death. It is two years since the sad incident occurred. The memorial party was partly aimed at preserving Ebony's legacy so that she is not forgotten by her followers. Sunday's ceremony attracted showbiz personalities like Yvonne Nelson, Wendy Shay, Bullet, Kofi Adjorlolo and a host of others. Starboy Kwarteng revealed that the party would be organised yearly in honour of his daughter, and he called on Ghanaians to support it. ---Daily Guide Traders Carnival, the annual event that serves as a melting pot for all types of ideas and strategies on trading, is coming to Jaipur this year. To be held between March 5 and March 7, the event will line up all renowned traders of all styles -- from intra-day and swing to directional and options. This year's Traders Carnival will also focus on the hottest trend in trading: algo trading. The Carnival will showcase live trading with both man and machine in action on expiry day (March 5), when algo traders will go toe-to-toe with popular expiry day traders such as Vishvesh Chauhan and Siva. While Siva is a scalper trading in and out within minutes, Vishvesh trades with a slightly higher time horizon that may extend from hours to days. Apart from live trading, participants will get to interact with some of the best names in the industry like Gaurav Bissa, one of India's finest technical analysts. A trend follower and a reversal analyst, Gaurav will talk on strategies using Harmonics and Ichimoku. This year's Traders Carnival will also feature local talent: Kusal Kansara and Rishikesh. Though based out of Mumbai, Jaipur is a second home for Kusal. An algo trader, he has built trading infrastructure for algorithmic trading systems and execution strategies. He has created various proprietary indicators and statistical models to generate alphas and beat the market volatility. Managing a large proprietary portfolio, Kusal has an enviable track record, often making monthly returns which some funds fail to achieve even in a year. Rishikesh, a 30-year-old whizkid from Jaipur underwent losses for 6 straight years from 2009 to 2015. Then, he turned things around dramatically by following principles of position sizing and risk management. Besides talking on these two topics, traders can learn Rishi's experiences and lessons from his failed attempts. Speaking for the first time at the Carnival will be Rishikesh Singh, a popular trader from Jaipur, who tweets using the handle @Rishikesh_ADX. Since the event is spread out over three days, it offers an opportunity for participants to interact, learn and get their doubts cleared by experts like Ashish Patel. Ashish manages his positions in the markets using the Elliot Wave as his primary tool. He combines other common technical patterns and momentum indicators along with Elliot Wave to fine-tune his strategy. Attendees can also interact with Deepak Thakran, who operates the popular Twitter handle @indian_stockss. Among the small breed of traders who trade for a living, Deepak is a price action trader who uses only price behaviour as his guide. An intra-day trader, he is the shadow lurking in the dark to pounce on a stock when it is at its most vulnerable point. A name synonymous with Nifty levels, Kapil Tandon, an ace trader will be talking about the mechanics of the support and resistance. Kapils previous talks at Delhi and Goa are still talked about for the sheer brilliance of his views on almost all asset classes. Other notable mentions presenting their respective curated strategies are Sandeep Jain from Jaipur, Govind Jhawar from Surat, and one of the foremost experts on options buying, Asit Baran Pati from Delhi. The Jaipur Traders Carnival is a buffet of trading ideas and strategies. There is something for everyone's taste. Like all carnivals, the biggest advantage is to network and rub shoulders with other traders and the opportunity to get the secret sauce that can change your life. Traders Carnival has always been a residential conference since inception in 2012. The reason is not difficult to understand. Traders need time to brainstorm, discuss ideas, strategise and more. The Carnival nights go on well beyond midnight. Those interested in participating may register at traderscarnival.com Corpses are decomposing at Marondera Provincial Hospital due to non-functional mortuary refrigerators, it has emerged. This was revealed by Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu (MDC Alliance) during a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ)-organised community reporting workshop at the weekend, where he said his office had since invited Health minister Obadiah Moyo to visit the institution. I did a tour of Marondera Provincial Hospital late last year alongside my colleague Honourable (Brightness) Mangora (Proportional Representation). Dead bodies are decomposing at the hospital and one can smell the odour about 20m away from the mortuary. We later realised that only one of the seven refrigerators was working, the other six are dead. It is a crisis, he said. The medical institution is the major referral hospital in Mashonaland East province. Matewu added that he had since approached government over the situation, with Moyo expected to visit the hospital anytime soon. I wrote to government urging them to shut down the mortuary and engage local private funeral parlours to arrest the problem. I engaged the Health and Child Care minister who is expected to visit the hospital soon. I also spoke to Energy minister (Fortune) Chasi so that he ensures the hospital gets constant power supply as well as water, among other things, Matewu said. According to a survey conducted by NewsDay, each refrigerator has a carrying capacity of three bodies. It is reported that the refrigerator is now carrying six bodies. Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd has ruled himself out of the race to become the Ceann Comhairle in the 33rd Dail. Speaking to the Irish Examiner on Tuesday evening, Mr O'Dowd said he will not be going forward, having earlier confirmed he was actively considering contesting the post. Car stuck in car wash. A live chicken in a mailbox. Dog stuck on top of a pool cover. I have, over the past few years, wasted a lot of time collecting my favorite entries from the area police blotter, a weekly roundup of law enforcement reports as published in the Post Bulletin and other area papers. Because, well, "complainant reported a female came to the house the night before, wanting to give his wife a free can of Glade." Thursday, 10:23 a.m.: Complainant says upstairs neighbor is jumping around and making a lot of noise. The complainant is a daytime sleeper and has talked to the neighbor about it in the past. Wanamingo. Saturday, 6:59 p.m.: Mail carrier found a live chicken in a mailbox. Neighbor is taking care of the chicken. Dodge Center. ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, 12:04 p.m.: People who are on a poster in the laundromat for stealing things are in there right now. Kasson. Wednesday, 12:45 p.m.: Caller said someone made a rock wall and put a dead possum on top. Appears someone was playing a prank; deputy destroyed rock wall. Zumbrota. Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.: Caller saw a mountain lion. Dodge Center. Wednesday, 5:08 p.m.: Caller reporting neighbor's dog has been dropping waste in their yard. She says she can tell which dog it is by size and shape of waste. Kasson. Sunday, 11:10 a.m.: Car is stuck in the car wash. Kasson. Tuesday, 10:11 a.m.: Neighbor's dog is coming over and eating complainant's dog's food. Deputy spoke to complainant and dog owner. She doesn't believe it's her dog; he's positive it's her dog. Wednesday, 7:06 a.m.: Complainant said a peddler came by selling cancer insurance last night, asking a lot of strange questions, like what kind of cars they drive. Zumbrota. Saturday, 4:02 p.m.: Caller said four juvenile males were playing with lighters and mouthing off. Complainant was calling from Pine Island, Fla. Pine Island. ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, 10:45 p.m.: Checked on occupied vehicle; spoke with driver whose wife was sleeping in the passenger seat. She's working at the after-prom party at Zumbrota High School, which starts at midnight. They were killing time until she has to be at the school. Wanamingo. Monday, 7:54 a.m.: Caller reporting a missing African gray parrot named Lilly. Very friendly. Dodge Center. Thursday, 11:32 a.m.: Neighbor's dog barks when people are outside. Hayfield. Wednesday, 8:42 p.m.: Anonymous message: "Isn't there a city ordinance of mowing one's lawn after 7 p.m., especially in the Royal Court of Pine Island? Oh, yes, there is." Deputy checked the area; no one cutting grass. Pine Island. Saturday, 11:22 p.m.: Woman said she'd only left the kitchen light on when she left the house; returned to find all the lights on, things seemed to be moved around. Cleared: Complainant's mom had come home in the meantime, turned everything on and left again. Pine Island. Thursday, 3:43 p.m.: Caller said they sent money to India; now their computer is locked up. Hayfield Friday, 9:09 p.m.: Complaint of someone singing in the water tower. Dodge Center. Wednesday, 5:56 p.m.: Complainant smells gas in and around residence. Smell of natural gas (rotten eggs) determined to be coming from actual rotten eggs inside complainant's garbage can. Pine Island. ADVERTISEMENT Sunday, 4:45 a.m.: Reporting party was on the Internet and got a pop-up ad that told him to call a number for virus removal. He gave his credit card information, they charged $400 to it, and now the computer is locked up and won't do anything. Hayfield. Thursday, 5:42 p.m.: Caller said the pop machine is giving away free pop, thought it should be reported. Wanamingo. Thursday, 7:09 p.m.: Caller wants to make sure the semi parked down the road isn't a refrigerated truck that will be running all night, keeping her up. Truck not running. Pine Island. Monday, 5:12 p.m.: Dog stuck on top of a pool cover. Kasson. Tuesday, 3:01 p.m.: Complainant reported a female came to the house the night before, wanting to give his wife a free can of Glade. She then asked if she could come in to demonstrate something; he believes she was trying to distract her so another party could go through the garage. Pine Island Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the Telecom department has been actively engaging with telecom companies over the issue of statutory dues and she would wait to hear its decision. Post the court's latest verdict, it will only be proper to wait and hear from the department concerned, she told reporters here when asked whether the government was mulling relief for the telecom companies after the recent Supreme Court orders directing them to clear the dues. "The department has been actively engaging with telecom companies, immediately after the orders and subsequently also after the review so the department is fully in touch with the companies and I will wait to hear from the department or on behalf of the government from the department, so that we know what is the position that the department wants to take on the matter," the Finance Minister said. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea by telecom firms including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Ltd for extension in the payment schedule and asked them to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licenses by March 17. Also read: AGR dues: Telcos' payout to lower FY20 fiscal deficit to 3.5%, says SBI Ecowrap Also read: FM Sitharaman reaffirms India's fiscal deficit won't be compromised Actress Yvonne Okoro on Wednesday paid an amount of GHC26,810.45 to clear medical bills for some 13 needy mothers at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra. The mothers could not go home after being delivered of their babies because they could not afford to pay their bills. Some of them spent more than two months at the maternity ward of the hospital while others spent two weeks. One of them was owing the hospital to close to GHC 8000. Yvonne, together with her sisters, Elizabeth Okoro and Roseline Okoro, visited the maternity ward on Wednesday to settle the bills so the mothers could finally take their babies home. The gesture was part of Yvonne's yearly charity activity to give back to society which has contributed immensely to her movie career. In addition to the bills, she also donated some babies items worth thousands of Ghana cedis for the upkeep of their babies. Among the items were Yazz sanitary pad, diapers, baby milk and powder. The rest included Ghandour baby products, hand sanitizers, Faytex, Toothbrushes from Yazz, detergents and hand wash. Speaking at the ceremony, the actress and producer revealed that she was touched to come to the aid of the women after hearing their story. The award-winning actress used the occasion to encouraged young women to plan and make sure they are prepared before bringing babies into the world. In his address Mr. Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital thanked Yvonne Okoro for her benevolence and encouraged others in society emulate her kind gesture. See more photos below: Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Reacting sharply to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's decision of not implementing Population Register (NPR) in the state, Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday said that 'the state government has to accept the laws made by the Centre and he should act rather than opposing it'. "Be it Citizenship Amendment Act or NPR, the Indian government has a right to make laws and states have to accept them. They cannot refuse to implement such laws," said Gehlot. Gehlot quoted legal minds from Congress to back his claim that states have to implement the laws duly passed by the Parliament and enacted by the centre. The Union Minister, who is also an MP from the state, urged Nath to implement NPR in the state. "This even Congress lawyers like Kapil Sibal has said. In such situations, kamal nath ji ko kathan ki jagah amal karna chahiye ( Nath should implement rather than opposing it)," he said. "During the UPA government's rule, these laws were enacted. NPR is relevant when we do Census. No one should object to it. I urge chief minister Kamal Nath too should implement the laws made by the Centre, " he said. The minister also criticised the Congress government in the state for cheating farmers and poor people. He further hit out at Kamal Nath for "not fulfilling the promises made to people in their manifesto" before coming to power in the state. "They (Congress government) are going back on its promises made in the manifesto to the people. They promised to waive off loan of Rs 2 lakh but did nothing. Nothing on the matters of cow shelter, unemployment allowance or on self-help group loans waiver. Religious Yatras were banned. The allowance and grants started during the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government too were discontinued," he said. Taking a dig at the infighting in the Congress ranks, Gehlot said that failure of Congress government is evident from the fact that even Congressmen are dissatisfied. " All the areas where Kamal Nath government has failed have been listed by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who promised to hit the roads if manifesto promises were not kept by his government," the Union Minister said. He further claimed that high-level discussions are underway on Supreme Court's verdict on observing that "job reservation, promotion quotas not a fundamental right". "The Supreme Court has given a verdict on February 7 and stated that promotion is not a fundamental right. It all depends on the state government. Also relevant to the central government. The government is discussing it at a high level. Modi government is pro SC/ST and it is committed to their as well as OBC's reservation, " Gehlot said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ava Graves (i) Age: 63 Job title: Hospice chaplain City of residence: Beaumont Highest level of education pursued: Graduated Bellaire High School in 1974; Obtained certification in pastoral care at Krist Samaritan Center for Counseling in Education in 2004; Became Eucharist Minister with the United Methodist Church in 2000 Three examples of elected office or volunteer work 1. Volunteer with Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, Bens Kids 1. Member of Pioneering Women 3. Volunteer with Meals on wheels Q: What would your priorities as party chair be? A: My first priority would be to ensure that our campaign for the general election is successful: Making sure that our candidates have access to all the right tools and resources available. In addition, I would continue to reflect the principles of the Democratic Party, recruit and retain qualified candidates and fundraise. In just the two months Ive been in leadership, weve restarted the Texas Young Democrats. Weve had a debate watch party, a deputy voter registrar training, several U.S. Senate candidates speak and volunteer training. Its all about synergizing and providing access to resources to promote Democratic beliefs. Q: Over the last several years, weve seen a number of prominent Southeast Texas Democrats change their party affiliation. Why do you think that is and how do you reinvigorate the base to keep membership? A: We have to be visual out in the community and reach out to those who are currently active in the Democratic Party, those who are dormant and those who want to participate but dont know how to get involved. Our goal is to have more of a face in the community, engage more with our precinct chairs and help them to synergize their precincts. Q: Nationally we see a sort-of reckoning between the moderate and progressive ambitions of the Democratic Party. At the same time, Texas has long been a red state that some say is turning purple and you see Jefferson County shifting the opposite way. Where do you see the ideology of the county party fitting into that landscape? A: In my perspective, everything starts at the local level. It is our charge to make sure we are electing local candidates that will impact us on a state and national level. Q: How do you see voter suppression or security playing a role in the upcoming election and what, if anything, are your concerns? A: At the Southeast Texas Women Democrats monthly meeting our County Clerk shared the exorbitant number of voter registrations being kicked back. That concerns me. Our goal is to make sure that were being proactive and keeping track of those who have voted in previous elections, so they vote again. Q: How do you counter misinformation and what is the partys role in that task? A: You cant control other peoples narrative or perspective of how things are. Of course, I have been the victim of someones disingenuous information that maligned my character. If there are any in-house concerns that need to be addressed, they need to be addressed in-house. My job is not to chase down rumors and things people say about me. My work speaks for me. I continue to be a community enthusiast and an active servant in the community. I create my narrative for myself personally and also as it relates to the party by continually informing people about the strength and synergy of the Democratic Party. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: My qualifications align with the responsibilities of the job: Being able to implement the procedures, rules and regulations that are already in place; follow the guidelines and collaborate with the County Clerk, Secretary of State, Ethics Committee and others; communicate effectively; help your candidates find resources to support the things they need to do; and also navigate relationships on a local, state and national level. It takes experience, wisdom and knowledge on how to execute group dynamics. Thats what were doing as a party chair. Youre executing group dynamics and helping us to obtain the bigger picture. Joseph Trahan Age: 23 Job title: Public relations manager for The Childrens Center, Inc. City of residence: Beaumont Education: Graduated from University of Texas in 2018 with a Bachelors degree in public relations and business Three examples of elected office or volunteer work: 1. Former chair of Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship 2. Program chair of Freedom Fund Banquet for the NAACP in Beaumont 3. Board member with the Land Manor drug rehabilitation program Q: What would your priorities as party chair be? A: My priority would be to grow out base and ensure that were not continuing to experience elections that make you want to be at the edge of your seat wondering if were going to win or lose. I dont want to see us have close elections here in Jefferson County any longer. Q: Over the last several years, weve seen a number of prominent Southeast Texas Democrats change their party affiliation. Why do you think that is and how do you reinvigorate the base to keep membership? A: We need to be engaged with voters, not simply knock on their doors while campaigning. I want to establish permanently-standing committees, including a volunteer committee. It would involve engaging with voters and community affairs, from assisting them with trash pickup to advocating for issues they care about. I want to let people know that in addition to electing Democrats, we want to live the values we preach. We also have to grow the base and engage with people in their 20s and 30s who havent been voting. I want to invest in Lamar Democrats and ensure they have resources and prominent speakers for meetings. I experienced and helped lead a similar effort at the University of Texas. I also proposed providing office space for youth-focused Democratic groups so they can feel theyre part of the party and have our support. Voter engagement on campus can make or break an election. We have to start now Q: Nationally we see a sort-of reconing between the moderate and progressive ambitions of the Democratic Party. At the same time, Texas has long been a red state that some say is turning purple and you see Jefferson County shifting the opposite way. Where do you see the ideology of the county party fitting into that landscape? A: We have more moderate or conservative Democrats here. We have many independents who dont identify as Democrats because they feel the party is moving too far in one direction. As a leader I cant push too far right or left and instead allow primary candidates to disseminate their own message. I will support the Democratic nominee chosen by the people. One reason I think more people here are voting Republican is because the Democratic Party isnt doing a good job speaking to voters outside Beaumont. Theyre expected to come to us. They see the Republican Party has a presence in their area and is speaking to them, so they move that way. I happen to believe Democrats have a better message, so if we do a better job of engaging with people and meeting them on their terms, we can win them over. We just have to invest in people. Q: How do you see voter suppression or security playing a role in the upcoming election and what, if anything, are your concerns? A: There are thousands of people on the voter suspension list. I dont think it will decide the primary. But in the general election, its crucial that people who can vote do. We have to let people know theyre on the suspense list and ask how we can help get them off. The county courthouse can provide those names. Another concern I have for November is the elimination of straight-ticket voting. Many people are accustomed to hitting one option and being done. Now they have to take the time to go through every race and I think it will cause confusion. Q: How do you counter misinformation and what is the partys role in that task? A: We have to do a better job of addressing rumors, false information and fake news. If we dont address it, people are going to assume its true, which continues to permit misinformation. Beyond just addressing potential rumors, we have to push our platforms, messages and values. So its not only addressing a rumor, but following up with what were about to push beyond the messiness and motivate people, inspire them. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: I have vast connections in Jefferson and Harris counties. We tend to go to the same people for support, which diminishes future money, instead of growing our funding base like I can do with my connections. I also am bridging the gap between members who have dedicated most of their lives to our cause and those just starting out. I went to Austin for college to expand my horizons and plan to bring the successful ideas I saw back to Jefferson County. Finally, I have support from most of our countys elected Democrats, so I wont have a honeymoon period. Paul Martin Age: 40 Job title: Candidate City of residence: Beaumont Highest level of education pursued or completed: Attended Community College of the Air Force in 2013 Three examples of elected office or volunteer work: 1. Southeast Texas regional chair and state steering committee member of Our Revolution 2. Former Triangle Caucus chair and campaign finance secretary 4. Former PFLAG board member, secretary and vice chair Q: What would your priorities as party chair be? A: We have to first make sure the candidates have what they need, the proper paperwork is filed and make sure were raising enough money -- all the stuff a normal party chair would do. In addition to that, we need to revitalize the party. It needs to be better organized and get out into the community more. Q: Over the last several years, weve seen a number of prominent Southeast Texas Democrats change their party affiliation. Why do you think that is and how do you reinvigorate the base to keep membership? A: I would say if these peoples ideology is already to a point where they want to leave the party, theres no reason to convince them to stay. We need to grow candidates. We have lots of great organizations in town and part of their mission is to encourage people to run for office. Without change, an organization will die. We need to step back look at whats working and not and determine how we improve the processes. When I was in the Air Force we were constantly encouraged to innovate, find better ways to do things. Q: Nationally we see a sort-of reckoning between the moderate and progressive ambitions of the Democratic Party. At the same time, Texas has long been a red state that some say is turning purple and you see Jefferson County shifting the opposite way. Where do you see the ideology of the county party fitting into that landscape? A: Jefferson County still has a strong Democratic presence. However, we need to be aware of the Republican Party and their efforts. I am aware of some of the steps theyve taken to organize their party and we need to keep pace with that if we want to be competitive against them. Q: Nationally we see a sort-of reckoning between the moderate and progressive ambitions of the Democratic Party. At the same time, Texas has long been a red state that some say is turning purple and you see Jefferson County shifting the opposite way. Where do you see the ideology of the county party fitting into that landscape? A: In my mind I see the state and national party evolving into a more progressive party while still being controlled by old-line Democrats. We can see that on the local level as well just by looking at the candidates and incumbents and seeing what they believe in and stand for. Q: How do you see voter suppression or security playing a role in the upcoming election and what, if anything, are your concerns? A: I have great faith in our voting system here in Jefferson County. Shes not a Democrat, but I think Allison Getz does a wonderful job in her position as tax assessor/collector. Saying that, if I were party chair, that doesnt mean I wouldnt encourage someone to run against her. Of course, Carolyn Guidry has done a wonderful job managing elections in Jefferson County. Theres the election judges and safeguards in place. When I go vote, I feel very secure when I go into my polling place and cast my vote. I have great confidence in our voting system. Q: How do you counter misinformation and what is the partys role in that task? A: If you cant win on your platform, why are you running? If you have to mudsling, why are you running? There are more honorable ways than mudslinging. Nationally, we have to keep pushing the facts. We have to yell the truth louder than the lies. We can bring out issues to the forefront through protests and other activism, such as the local Womens March we had when Trump was elected. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: I have extensive experience volunteering and working in a group. Ive been involved with a lot of organizations since discharged from the Air Force and returned to Beaumont in 2013. Through that, I have a large number of contacts and ideas for the party. Im running to have a party for the people. We need better access. Ive heard from several people that its hard to get in touch with local people. We also need to push national issues, such as a fair minimum wage; affordable healthcare, union protections; and civil rights, among others, on a local level because all politics are local. Some answers have been edited for length. A day after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the Centre for deporting British parliamentarian Debbie Abrahams, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi came out in support of the move. Dubbing her a Pakistan proxy, he said on February 18 that the deportation was a necessity. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted.#Kashmir#DebbieAbrahams Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020 If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldn't the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? https://t.co/vMtcAXCDb9 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 17, 2020 He took to Twitter and wrote:Thiruvananthapuram parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor, however, had criticised the deportation of Abrahams to Dubai and asked if the government is scared of critics. The Labour Party MP, who had earlier criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments decision to abrogate Article 370 that granted special status to Kashmir, was sent back from the Delhi airport on February 17. Although the head of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir in Britain has claimed she was treated like a criminal despite having a valid visa, the Indian government has denied her claims. Authorities have stated that the diplomat had been informed about the cancellation of her e-visa beforehand and could have applied for a regular visa. In a rather unique fashion, holding anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) placards in hands, a couple got married at the protest site in Old Washermanpet area where demonstration is being held against the CAA, Register of Citizens (NRC) and Population Register (NPR) on Monday. The engagement of the couple, Shainsha and Sumaiya, had taken place a few days ago and the date of marriage had also been fixed. Since both of them are residents of the Old Washermanpet area itself, their marriage could have been delayed due to the protest which broke out a couple of days ago and has since continued in the area. However, the duo chose to get married at the protest site itself, where they were cheered on by hundreds of demonstrators. Protests in Chennai resumed on February 15 with the protestors waving the tricolour and chanting slogans against the CAA and NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Singapore Airlines on Tuesday said that it will temporarily cut flights across its global network, including Mumbai, in the three months to May as the deadly coronavirus outbreak has impacted the flight demand to the city-state. Key affected destinations include Mumbai, Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, the airline said in a statement. The coronavirus epidemic has hit demand for services to Singapore as well as through the key transit hub. The outbreak began in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei province, in December and has now spread across the globe. Singapore's tally of 77 cases of the virus is one of the highest outside mainland China, where 1,868 people have been killed in the epidemic as 98 more people died on Monday while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. "Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will temporarily reduce services across our network due to weak demand as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak," the carrier said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments as necessary." The airline added that affected customers will be "notified and re-accommodated onto other flights. "It's not a surprise to see some cuts in flights, given the weak forward bookings that can be expected from the current environment," Channel Asia reported quoting DBS analyst Paul Yong. Demand on flights to South Korea and Japan had been hit hardest after China. A number of global airlines, including Air India, British Airways, Lion Air and Indigo airline have also suspended their flights to Chinese cities as Beijing struggled to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus within the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Feb 18 : After missing its December deadline, over 12,000 rooms in Delhi schools will be ready by April as the new AAP government takes charge. It was on January 28, 2019, when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had laid the foundation for these new rooms -- under the biggest expansion phase of government school infrastructure. Although it will take four months extra, but the classrooms would be ready, keeping in line with the Arvind Kejriwal government's plans to continue what they had started in their last term. Speaking to IANS, Sisodia said the new rooms, including the classrooms, will be made open for students in the coming academic session from April 1. Sisodia, who is again the Delhi Education Minister, told IANS that the construction got delayed as there was Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha between March and May 2019, while the apex court had banned all construction in Delhi since October 2019 due to severe air pollution. "I was monitoring the construction on an everyday basis. However, the MCC was imposed for the Lok Sabha polls and that affected the construction. Also, with the onset of winter, the city witnessed severe pollution because of which the Graded Response Action Plan was imposed in Delhi. All constructions were banned in the city when the GRAP was imposed," Sisodia said. He explained that no new tender was allowed to float during the MCC and so, the work in some places started later than expected. The Education Minister said the two reasons were responsible for the delay in the construction, adding "the new classrooms will be ready by the new academic session". The Supreme Court had in December 2019 partially lifted the ban on construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region, allowing them between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The ban was removed totally only on February 14. In July 2018, the Delhi cabinet approved the proposal of building 12,478 new rooms in the schools. Of these rooms, 9,981 were to be the classrooms, 106 multi-purpose halls, 328 laboratories, and others including Library, Principal and Vice-Principal Room and Staff-rooms in the existing premises of Delhi government schools under the jurisdiction of Directorate of Education. An estimated cost of Rs 2,892.65 crore was sanctioned. The Public Works Department is the executing agency for this project. As per the government, out of 1,024 government schools over 280 schools are running in double shifts with a high enrolment of students. The government made the new rooms as lack of control over land in the national capital affected the AAP government's plan to build new schools. In the 2015 Assembly elections, the AAP had pledged to build 500 new schools. However, since 2015, only 25 new schools have come up and an equal number may be constructed by March 2020, according to government data. Known for its reforms in the education sector, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has constantly blamed the lack of control over land for its inability to build new schools. So, the government had approved the construction of new rooms, which were expected to be ready by the year-end. Delhi went to polls this month and the AAP was re-elected. The Cabinet Ministers remained unchanged with minor changes in their portfolios. (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) In light of the Supreme Court verdict on Monday, some important questions (and answers) about the role of women officers in the Indian armed forces. When did the armed forces begin inducting women? The army, air force and navy began inducting women as short-service commission (SSC) officers in 1992. This was the first time women were allowed to join the military outside the medical stream. Initially, they could serve for five years, and their service could be extended by another five years. In 2006, a policy revision allowed them to serve for a maximum of 14 years as SSC officers. Unlike male officers, women can join only through SSC; they are not given ab initio permanent commission in any of the armed forces Are women allowed to serve in combat positions? There are more than 3,500 women in the military, but front-line combat roles were off limits to them until the Modi government approved an Indian Air Force (IAF) plan in 2015 to induct them into the fighter stream. Warships, tanks and combat positions in the infantry are still no-go zones for women. Navy has women as pilots and observers on-board its maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which is a combat role. In which wings were women first granted permanent commission? In September 2008, the defence ministry decided to grant permanent commission (PC) to eligible SSC women officers in branches such as the Judge Advocate General and Army Education Corps. Until then, women in the armed forces were offered PC only in the medical wing. Which branches of armed forces were later opened to women for PC? Apart from legal and education wings, the army from this year will grant PC to women in branches such as Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps and Intelligence. After Mondays Supreme Court order, women officers could command units in these branches, if found eligible. The IAF and Indian Navy also provide PC to women in select branches. Will women officers be automatically eligible for PC after the SC verdict? That is not the case. SSC women officers will be considered for the grant of PC on the basis of their suitability, merit and service needs. Just like male SSC officers, their suitability for PC will have to be approved by a board. Are male SSC officers eligible for combat and command roles? Male SSC officers who join fighting arms such as infantry, armoured corps and artillery are eligible for PC in those streams. As women SSC officers do not get commissioned into fighting arms, the question of them getting PC in arms such as infantry, armoured corps and artillery does not arise at the moment. Male SSC officers who meet the criteria for command roles are given such positions. Which countries allow women in combat roles? The United States, Israel, North Korea, France, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and Canada are among the global militaries that employ women in front-line combat positions. The Indian Army does not offer front-line combat roles to women. While Dhanushs earlier Tamil film Asuran is being remade in Telugu, the actor is testing his luck with another film, Local Boy, in Telugu. He will be seen in dual roles in the action drama, which is releasing on February 28. Interestingly, the Durai Senthilkumar directorial venture will see Dhanush unveiling his martial arts skills. Dhanushs martial arts episodes will be one of the highlights of the film, explains Ch. Satish Kumar who is releasing the film, adding, The film revolves around a martial art form that was practiced even before Kalari, so this aspect we feel is something thatll appeal to the Telugu audience. Gary Ono has fleeting memories of his time in a Colorado prison camp seeing snow, jumping into a ditch to avoid a dog, walking across a field with his uncle, watching someone wash photographic prints. Ono, now 80, was just a toddler when his family was imprisoned at the Granada Relocation Center, one of 10 sites across the country that incarcerated more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. As an adult, he's visited what remains of the camp, more commonly known as Amache, many times. During one visit, Ono and a grandson pitched a tent and spent the night at the site of barrack 6, block 10E, the cramped building that housed his and other families. "If you went out there, like I have several times, it's just empty of everything, except maybe evidence of foundations and things like that," said Ono, who lives in Los Angeles. "You don't get a sense of the conditions people had to live under." Gary Ono during his time at the Granada Relocation Center. Today, however, structures are again starting to dot the landscape at Amache, which had been reduced to dirt, weeds and crumbling building foundations after the war. Amache is being pieced back together, bit by bit, by a high school teacher and his students who want to make sure this dark period of American history is not forgotten. Students at Granada High School have spent hours interviewing former internees, gathering and cataloging artifacts, maintaining the grounds, giving presentations and curating a small museum, which this month is moving into a much larger building across the street. Thanks in large part to their work, Amache is now being considered as a new national park, with federal staffers conducting a special resource study to evaluate the site. Congress will review the findings of that study, which could take up to three years, and make the final decision. Amache opened in the fall of 1942 a mile outside Granada, Colorado, amid intense racism and anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Story continues Tens of thousands of Japanese Americans and people of Japanese ancestry were given just a few weeks sometimes less to pack their belongings into two suitcases, leaving behind their homes, pets, cars, businesses and family heirlooms. In addition to Amache, they reported to internment camps in California, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Arkansas. At its peak, Amache held more than 7,300 internees, who were confined within a single square mile by barbed wire and armed guards. Despite the abysmal conditions and cruel treatment, more than 950 Japanese Americans held at Amache joined the U.S. military and fought in World War II, including 31 men who died in the war. At its peak, Amache held more than 7,300 internees, who were confined within a single square mile by barbed wire and armed guards At the end of the war, the federal War Assets Administration sold Amache's buildings until all that remained were foundations and a dusty street grid. These structures got a second life on farms and in towns across southeastern Colorado and nearby parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. Without buildings or signs explaining the history of the site, Amache soon became a distant memory. To this day, many Coloradans have never heard of the internment camp. "Not only did we wrongfully imprison people who were American citizens, but we also wiped it clean from history," said Tarin Kemp, a recent graduate of Granada High School who helps with Amache preservation efforts. "Even now, very few people learn about it in history classes. Most of the people I've talked to in Colorado don't know there was a Japanese internment camp here. It really was erased from history almost completely." But high school teacher John Hopper wanted to change all that. Hopper, who grew up in nearby Las Animas, Colorado, came to Granada to teach social studies in 1989. He'd heard about Amache growing up and then again during college at Colorado State University, but did not know much. After his first day of teaching, Hopper drove around looking for the site of the forced incarceration camp. He found a board nailed to a tree marking the long-forgotten site and drove home. Several years later, however, the camp was still in the back of his mind. At the time, there were a handful of ambitious students in his U.S. history class and he wanted to give them a meaningful, challenging project to work on. Researching and, later, preserving, Amache seemed like the perfect fit. "Once it was bulldozed over, it was out of sight, out of mind for a lot of people," Hopper said. "When we started studying it, these students didn't know anything about it and they lived half a mile away." Students of Granada High School teacher John Hopper hold pieces of art in the old Amache museum, which is moving into a much larger building across the street. In the early days, Hopper tasked the students with finding and interviewing former internees to gain first-hand information and stories about Amache, since few records of the camp existed. The project slowly took on a life of its own, snowballing into an all-out preservation initiative. More and more people began to take notice of their work, including former internees and their descendants, who shared their memories and donated hundreds of historic artifacts to help create the Amache Museum. Archaeologists at the University of Denver began bringing students to Amache to conduct field research. Several groups and organizations were founded to help keep the memory of Amache alive and bring the camp back to life. Today, students help with maintaining the site and the small museum, lead site tours and give detailed presentations about Amache all over the world, including in Japan. But words can only convey so much. Efforts are now underway to reconstruct the original buildings at Amache, which became a National Historic Landmark in 2006, so that visitors can see and feel what life was like for internees. In 2018, a building that had been a camp recreation center and later served as the Granada city utility building was returned to its original site. A team of historic preservation specialists is currently restoring the building. Working together, Amache preservation groups also reassembled and returned the camp's water tower, found in pieces on a nearby ranch. Amache is also now home to historic recreations of a guard tower and a barracks. Historic recreations of a guard tower and barracks at Amache. In an ideal world, Hopper said he wants to someday rebuild an entire block of the camp, complete with a mess hall and latrines. "It actually lets people step in and experience what it was like for themselves," said Hopper, who now also serves as Granada Public Schools dean of students. "When they step inside the barracks and think about the fact that there was no insulation it gets up to 114 degrees here in the summer. It might cool down to about 85 at night, but inside those barracks it was still close to 90. Try to sleep in that." With roughly 500 residents in Granada, the preservation efforts have become deeply ingrained in the town's identity, thanks in large part to Hopper, who has inspired hundreds of students and spent countless hours working to preserve Amache. In 2014, the Consul General of Japan gave him a special commendation for his work. But to Hopper, it's simply about doing what is right. "We have to record it so that we don't do it again," Hopper said. "It was wrong. You don't take American citizens' life, liberty and pursuit of happiness away just because they have Japanese ancestry." Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 17:54:11|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese courts have been mobilized to promote and improve online litigation services as the country is battling the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to the Supreme People's Court (SPC). The move aims to better meet people's judicial needs and ensure the smooth and orderly operation of courts despite the coronavirus outbreak, said a new SPC circular. The circular demands courts at all levels make good use of mobile and online litigation service platforms and move their work online, including case filing, mediation, evidence exchange, court hearing, sentencing and document delivery. Courts need to fully consider factors such as technological realities, case conditions and the wishes of the parties while determining whether to adopt online court hearings, and should specify circumstances under which online court hearings are not applicable, the circular said. The SPC called on courts to upgrade and increase functions of online service platforms to ensure that people can access various litigation services at home. Online case handling by courts should be run as a regular mechanism amid the virus battle, according to the circular, which specifically asked the three internet courts based in Hangzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou to step up exploration in the regard. China set up its first Internet court in the eastern city of Hangzhou in August 2017, followed by the establishment of similar courts in Beijing and Guangzhou in September 2018. Internet courts in Hangzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou had accepted close to 120,000 cases as of Oct. 31, 2019, reducing the time of handling cases by nearly 50 percent, according to a white paper released by the SPC. Victoria Beckham weighed in on the stresses that come with social media, particularly when it comes to her kids. The designer and mom of four spoke with CNBC following her London Fashion Week show, where she opened up about the pros and cons of social media. I really enjoy social media, Victoria said of her Instagram accounts (in addition to her personal account, which she also uses for her fashion line, she has a separate Victoria Beckham Beauty account). British fashion designer Victoria Beckham reacts after presenting creations for her Autumn/Winter 2020 collection on the third day of London Fashion Week in London on February 16, 2020. / Getty Images I love to use it to have fun, but I can also use it to really engage with my community, which is really, really important - especially with beauty, she noted. I think the children sometimes get judged for things they might like or they might post, and they dont know, theyre children, Victoria said of her kids on social media - Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 17, and Cruz, 14. (Though youngest, Harper, 8, doesnt have her own social accounts, she does make frequent appearances on Victoria and Davids Instagrams). Victoria, pictured with daughter Harper on Instagram, says it can be 'a little bit scary' that her children are 'judged' for their social media posts. (Victoria Beckham on Instagram) But people are watching everything that they do, she went on to say, adding, I think that can be a little bit scary. But it's something relatively new for so many of us, so we're all still learning. But the Beckhams dont take any potential criticism that comes their way via social media to heart. When asked how she and her husband David protect their kids from negative comments, she explained, I think we're just a really close family and we try to not focus on that and be very positive. That close-knit relationship is apparent, from the familys frequent posts together on social media to Victorias fashion shows that always include David and the kids seated in the front row. Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, David Beckham and Harper Beckham attend the Victoria Beckham show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 16, 2020 in London, England. / Getty Images Though Brooklyn was absent from her Autumn/Winter 2020 show this past weekend (as Victoria explained to CNBC, he was away for work but showed his support through text), the rest of the Beckham crew were by the designers side. Zelensky says Ukraine has powerful Army. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says today's provocation in Donbas will not change the country's course toward ending the war. "I want to tell you we have a powerful Army. Provocations take place, the Army, correspondingly, delivered a strong response... The situation is constantly monitored by our Army, our chief of General Staff. We are sure this provocation will not change the course since only having a strong army can we sit at the negotiating table the course toward the fact that we are moving, confidently approaching the end of war, [moving] toward peace," Zelensky told a briefing following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Read alsoZelensky: Enemy offensive in Donbas attempt to disrupt peace process The NSDC meeting's agenda included, among other things, a discussion of "provocation that took place on the contact line this morning." As UNIAN reported earlier, in the morning Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, employing 120 mm mortars, proscribed by Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance through the demarcation line. As a result of the battle, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another four were injured. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Tuesday in Jos inaugurated an 11-member committee of the Justice Sector Reform Team (JSRT), to ensure continuous improvement of criminal justice delivery in the state. Mr Lalong said the measure is part of the state governments efforts to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Plateau. We expect the team to systematically collate, analyse and publish information relating to the administration of criminal justice sector, which will form the substance of quarterly reports, he said. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mr Lalong assented to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Plateau State, on October 25, 2018. He said the reports would be presented to the Chief Judge to guide him toward continuous improvement of criminal justice delivery. He said the formal inauguration of the team, was in pursuant to Section 464 -467 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which would facilitate its implementation in the state. Mr Lalong expressed optimism that the Plateau Team would maintain and improve on the achievements recorded, as the only state in the country which had more convicts than awaiting trial inmates in its correctional facilities. He said the feat attracted attention of Federal Justice Sector Reform Coordinating Committee, which sent a delegation to the state in 2019 to understudy the system, with a view to recommending it as a Model to be adopted by other states. He said the team would ensure that issues such as indiscriminate arrest and detention of persons by some law enforcement agencies and absence of effective coordination among institutions involved in Criminal Justice Administration was drastically curtailed. Mr Lalong said funds had been made available for the completion of the ultra-modern State High Court complex and the construction of the Multi-Door Court House building, which would increase access to justice by the citizens. He said in spite of the financial constraints of government, it would appoint more judges for the superior courts, adding that the governments doors were open for collaborations and enhance smooth dispensation of justice. Earlier, the Chief Judge of the High Court of Plateau, Yakubu Dakwak, commended the governor for signing 18 new bills in the state into law. Mr Dakwak said this shows the governors commitment in improving the legal system of the state and well-being of the people. He said efforts were being made to establish a Sexual Offenders Centre where records of all sexual offences in all courts would be kept and accessed by the public. He urged members of the team to be committed to their duties, saying it was a service unto God and humanity. NAN reports that the inauguration was facilitated by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN). PWAN objective is to enhance citizens participation and improve security governance in Nigeria and West Africa. Earlier, the Senior Programme Manager of PWAN, Barbara Maigari, commended Plateau State for the already existing synergy between critical stakeholders in the justice system. Mrs Maigari said the team should be a good model which would attract even the national and other state teams to emulate. She presented copies of the abridged version of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, to the governor and other agencies for public access. NAN reports that the 11-member committee, is headed by the Chief Judge of the state, with the Police, Nigerian Correctional services, Plateau State Ministry of Justice and National Human Rights Commission, among others as members. (NAN) HANOI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Vietnam expects to export 6.75 million tonnes of rice this year, up 6% from last year, Vietnam Food Association Vice Chairman Do Ha Nam said on Tuesday. "Demand is seen rising this year as Vietnamese rice is more competitive in terms of prices," Nam told Reuters, adding that the coronavirus epidemic in China had had no impact on shipments of Vietnamese rice to China. (Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Edmund Blair) Wesfarmers has become the latest company to be caught up in a wage scandal after revealing it underpaid workers at Target by $9million. The Perth-based conglomerate, which also owns Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart, Officeworks, among other big name retailers, revealed payroll discrepancies in its half-year earnings. The company, which recently admitted to underpaying staff at Bunnings and its industrial businesses, confirmed on Wednesday Target staff were also stiffed out of pay. The firm identified in its results for the six months to December 31 a $9million payroll remediation for Target and a $15million remediation in its industrial and safety division. Wesfarmers announced on Wednesday that workers at Target were stiffed out of $9million in wages The announcement follows an admission by Coles on Tuesday it was expecting a $20million hit after managers at its supermarkets and liquor division were underpaid over the past six years. 'Following the payroll errors previously identified, Wesfarmers' businesses have conducted extensive reviews of their respective payroll systems and processes,' the company said in its release to the ASX. Wesfarmers also admitted it had discovered underpayments at Bunnings and its industrial businesses 'As a result of these reviews, some additional payroll errors have been identified.' Chief executive Rob Scott said 'immediate steps' were being taken to rectify the situation and repay affected staff members. In its earnings result, Wesfarmers' net profit from continuing operations was $1.14billion for the half - up 6.0 per cent from $1.08billion a year ago not accounting for new lease standards - as revenue climbed 6.0 per cent to $15.25billion. Earnings from continuing operations - not accounting for interest on lease liabilities - fell 0.5 per cent to $1.64billion. Factoring in the impact of the new leasing standards and discontinued operations, statutory net profit dropped to $1.21billion from $4.54billion a year ago when the company's coffers were flush after the demerger with Coles and divestment of Bengalla. Half of Americans currently own unredeemed gift cards or store credits according to a new survey from Bankrate. And that adds up to tens of billions in unused money. The survey of over 2,600 U.S. adults found that the average person with unused gift cards is sitting on around $167 in free money. More than one-third of respondents with unused cards say they won't use up all of the funds. When you don't, the bank or retailer is happy to keep the money. Luckily, if you received a gift card over the holidays you have at least five years to use up the balance, thanks to the 2009 Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act. If you know you won't use up the whole gift card for whatever reason there are plenty of options. Sell or get cash back for your unused gift cards "If you've been holding onto a gift card from a store you don't like, there's nothing wrong with re-gifting it, using it to buy a gift for someone else, or even selling it," Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman tells CNBC Make It. You can also donate it. You can sell your unused gift cards, or buy discounted ones, on sites including Cardpool.com, CardCash.com and GiftCardSpread.com, says Rossman. How much you'll get for your cards will vary depending on the site, but typically ranges from 70% to 80% of the card's current value, says Rossman, depending on how popular the retailer of the card is. Starbucks, iTunes, Target and Walmart cards some of the most valuable. That said, Rossman says to use caution when selling, as there are occasional complaints about the companies (you can look them up on the Better Business Bureau's website for more information). Test it out with one or two gift cards first to make sure you like the process and actually receive payment. Some gift cards have inactivity fees, which typically kick in after 12 months or so. It's best to use your gift cards, or sell them, as soon as possible. Not only so you aren't charged the fee, but also in case the retailer closes before you can use it. When Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2018, shoppers scrambled to use up their gift cards, lest they lose their balances. If your gift cards barely have any money left on them, you may be able to exchange them at the store for cash, depending on the state you live in, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and a handful of others have different balance requirements. In California, you can get cash if your gift card has less than$10, whereas in Montana and New Jersey your card needs to have a balance of less than $5. The one exception Vietnam vows to continue active and close coordination with the WTO in all of its activities, said Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai during her meeting with WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo in Geneva, Switzerland on February 17. Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai (left) and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo. The meeting took place right after Mai, new Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations, presented President Nguyen Phu Trongs credentials to the WTO leader. Mai affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues an open foreign policy and acts an active and responsible WTO member who fully supports a multilateral trading system, with the WTO as its core. She reiterated Vietnams commitment to work in close coordination with the WTO Secretariat and member states to achieve meaningful outcomes in the fisheries subsidies negotiations and WTO reforms at the 12th Ministerial Conference, to be held in June. Vietnam will complete its second trade policy review this December, the diplomat added. Azevedo, for his part, lauded Vietnams socio-economic development and appreciated its commitments to international integration and active participation in the WTO and global trade at large. He congratulated Mai on her new mission and voiced his hope that Vietnam will make positive contributions to the WTO reforms at the time when the 164-member grouping faces multiple challenges, necessitating it to change to stay adaptive and remain as a key pillar of the global trade. Vietnam officially became the WTOs 150th member in 2007 after a decade of negotiations./.VNA Latest News Sydney property prices might not drop yet, as planning problems persist NSW planning approvals have fallen off a cliff since October, showing that the supply crisis might yet continue The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed, with rentvesting and borderless investing likely to surge A fintech has launched in Sydney after receiving an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) while its application for a Restricted ADI banking licence pends with APRA. The fintech, Hay, will first offer a digital transaction account through its smartphone app which includes features like enriched payment information, monthly insights and travel budgeting features with fee-free foreign exchange rates via the Hay Visa card. CEO Andrew Laycock said, It is such an exciting time for fintechs in Australia; we are experiencing a revolution in banking services across the globe and it is now Australias turn. Weve spent the past 18 months researching, listening and building ourinfrastructure to deliver convenient and flexible solutions that fit our users lives. Weve built cutting-edge technology, but its not about being overly clever or the most out there. Its about helping people understand what they can do to make the most of what they have in a way that works for them. Hays waitlist is now open, with the first 10,000 to sign up considered founding members who will receive unique benefits for the life of the account, including early access to all future feature releases. The digital account will be available in the coming weeks following months of testing. Opening an account is secure,100% mobile and can take as little as three minutes, with the Hay card delivered within five days. Further, the fintech charges zero fees for transactions, purchases and cash withdrawals at ATMs across Australia. There are also no setup or monthly account keeping fees. While Laycock is confident users will embrace Hay from day one, he has guaranteed the fintech will remain in a constant state of evolution, rapidly bringing new features to the platform. So, as they say, watch this space, he said. Hay is headquartered in Surry Hills, NSW, but also has international offices in London and Belfast. Chief operating officer, David Curry explained, We have the advantage that a lot of our team have local and international technology and finance experience. Many have directly participated in the UK neobank revolution, so weve seen first-hand what has and hasnt worked and built Hay from there. PARIS/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada's Bombardier said on Monday it had agreed to sell its rail division to France's Alstom for an enterprise value of $8.2 billion, as it focuses purely on business aviation and pays down debt. That price tag includes equity plus debt PARIS/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada's Bombardier said on Monday it had agreed to sell its rail division to France's Alstom for an enterprise value of $8.2 billion, as it focuses purely on business aviation and pays down debt. That price tag includes equity plus debt. The deal will be done majoritarily in cash, with a chunk paid in new Alstom shares, Bombardier and Alstom confirmed in separate statements. Bombardier said it would be receiving net proceeds of between $4.2 and $4.5 billion, once it accounts for the portion that will go to Canadian pension fund manager Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, a 30% shareholder in the rail unit. Caisse will become the biggest shareholder in Alstom following the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2021, Bombardier added. The memorandum of understanding between Bombardier and Alstom was approved by both companies' boards. ($1 = 0.9228 euros) (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Sarah White and Allison Lampert) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A Marine recruit accused of striking a drill instructor has been held without charge or trial for two years, according to his lawyer. Jay-Ar Ruiz was confined to a military prison after the alleged incident at a San Diego boot camp in late 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. He has since been moved to a federal prison hospital in Springfield, Missouri., his attorney Beth Payton-O'Brien told the paper. She said Ruiz, 28, had a pre-existing mental illness when he arrived at the bootcamp in November 2017. Jay-Ar Ruiz had been confined to a military prison after the alleged incident at a San Diego boot camp in late 2017. Stock image of new Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in January Ruiz was held at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, pictured, his lawyer says Ruiz is said to have violated a temporary restraining order filed against him in June 2017 by sending the woman concerned unsolicited letters. When a Marine staff sergeant approached him on the matter Ruiz reportedly hit out before being rendered unconscious by a bear hug from his senior. By January 2018 Ruiz was held at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. His lawyer says he should never have been recruited. Payton-O'Brien, a former Navy captain and military judge, said: 'Within days (of arriving at boot camp) he starts exhibiting behaviors with this personality disorder. He gets dropped within 30 days. He should have never been recruited.' Shortly after his detainment Payton-O'Brien said it was established Ruiz could not defend himself but it took six months for Navy doctors to assess his mental health. Beth Payton-O'Brien said she 'can't believe how long this case has been sitting around' The latest of two competency hearings in summer 2019 found he was not mentally competent and Ruiz was sent to hospital. Payton-O'Brien added: 'I can't believe how long this case has been sitting around. 'It's shocking to me that if somebody is found to be not competent to assist in their defense, that it would take almost four months to get him transferred into a mental health facility. 'The government said they're going to drop the charges, (but) how can he be competent to defend himself in an [administrative separation board]?' Ruiz said in a letter in December last year: 'There's prison politics and anything that happens in a federal penitentiary is the same here.' MCRD San Diego have not commented on the facts of the case. Members of the military can be held in custody before trial. An unnamed source said Ruiz damaged facilities while being held in the brig. He is accused of assault, disobeying orders, damaging government property, stalking, violating a restraining order and fraudulent enlistment, according to Payton-O'Brien. There is still no date for resolution of the case. DailyMail.com has contacted Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego for comment. All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated; Measured and Indicated Resource Estimates are quoted Inclusive of Mineral Reserves for all sites and projects Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today announced its 2019 year-end mineral reserve and resource statement. (See attached table for more details.) Total attributable Proven and Probable Reserves decreased by 6% to 16.7 million ounces at the end of 2019 from 17.9 million ounces of gold at the end of 2018. The decrease was primarily due to mine depletion during the year given the Company's attributable gold production of 762,000 ounces. There was no change in the $1,200 per ounce gold price assumption for estimating Mineral Reserves at the Company's owned and operated mines and development projects. Total attributable Measured and Indicated Resources (inclusive of Reserves) decreased overall by 2% or 0.7 million ounces to 27.2 million ounces of gold at the end of 2019. Total attributable Inferred Resources increased by 38% or 3.3 million ounces to 12.0 million ounces of gold at the end of 2019, primarily due to the declaration of a Mineral Resource estimate at the Nelligan Gold Project in Quebec and the completion of an updated Mineral Resource estimate at the Cote Gold Project in Ontario. There were no changes in the gold price assumptions for estimating mineral resources at Essakane, Rosebel, and resource-stage projects ($1,500 per ounce) or at Westwood ($1,200 per ounce). Gordon Stothart, President and COO of IAMGOLD, commented, "In 2019, we made further progress in advancing the resource stage projects in our pipeline. At the Nelligan Gold Project in Quebec, we declared an initial mineral resource and continued to identify additional resources at the Cote Gold Project. We also announced an updated mineral resource estimate at Pitangui in Brazil, successfully converting 52% of its resources to the indicated category. In Ontario, we discovered Gosselin just 1.5 kilometres from the proposed Cote pit, and reported positive drill results from this zone. In Quebec, we continued to explore the Rouyn Gold Project, located approximately 45 kilometres southwest of Westwood, and reported encouraging drill results. In Guinea, situated between our Boto Gold Project in Senegal and our Diakha-Siribaya Project in Mali, we announced an exciting new discovery with high grade intersections on the Karita Gold Project. In addition to the ongoing resource development programs at our existing operations, the potential for delineation of additional resources from our planned 2020 exploration program is strong. We look forward to providing updates from the drill bit as the year progresses." Forward Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "expected", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets and other risks disclosed in IAMGOLD's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Technical Information and Qualified Person/Quality Control Notes The mineral resource estimates contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The "Qualified Person" responsible for the review and approval of all mineral resource and reserve estimates for IAMGOLD contained herein is Lise Chenard, Eng., Director, Mining Geology. Lise has worked in the mining industry for more than 35 years, mainly in operations, project development and consulting. She joined IAMGOLD in April 2013 and acquired her knowledge of the Company's operations and projects through site visits, information reviews and ongoing communication and oversight of mine site technical service teams or consultants responsible for resource and reserve modeling and estimation. She is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101 with respect to the mineralization being reported on. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Person. The Qualified person has verified the data disclosed, and data underlying the information or opinions contained herein. The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Notes to Investors Regarding the Use of Resources Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources This news release uses the terms "measured resources" and "indicated resources". We advise investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Resources This news release also uses the term "inferred resources". We advise investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. Scientific and Technical Disclosure IAMGOLD is reporting mineral resource and reserve estimates in accordance with the CIM guidelines for the estimation, classification and reporting of resources and reserves. Note: Mineral reserves and mineral resources for IAMGOLD's gold mines for the 2019 year-end statement were estimated using a $1,200 per ounce gold price (unless otherwise indicated in the notes in Table 1) for mineral reserves and a $1,500 per ounce price for mineral resources (unless otherwise indicated in the notes in Table 1). For open pit operations, gold resources are constrained within an economic pit shell. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors The SEC limits disclosure for U.S. reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. IAMGOLD uses certain terms in this news release, such as "measured," "indicated," or "inferred," which may not be consistent with the reserve definitions established by the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in the IAMGOLD Annual Reports on Forms 40-F. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml or by contacting the Investor Relations department. The Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") requires mining companies to disclose reserves and resources using the subcategories of "proven" reserves, "probable" reserves, "measured" resources, "indicated" resources and "inferred" resources. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not demonstrate economic viability. A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated mineral resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A mineral reserve includes diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the material is mined. A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated, and in some circumstances, a measured mineral resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic material, or natural, solid fossilized organic material including base and precious metals in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. A feasibility study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of realistically assumed mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental considerations together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis, that are necessary to demonstrate at the time of reporting that extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of the study will be higher than that of a Pre-Feasibility Study. A Pre-Feasibility Study is a comprehensive study of a range of options for the technical and economic viability of a mineral project that has advanced to a stage where a preferred mining method, in the case of underground mining, or the pit configuration, in the case of an open pit, is established and an effective method of mineral processing is determined. It includes a financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental considerations and the evaluation of any other relevant factors which are sufficient for a qualified person, acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of the Mineral Resource may be classified as a Mineral Reserve. About IAMGOLD IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with three operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. For further information please contact: Indi Gopinathan, VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, IAMGOLD Corporation Tel: (416) 360-4743 Mobile: (416) 388-6883 Martin Dumont, Senior Analyst Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation Tel: (416) 933-5783 Mobile: (647) 967-9942 IAMGOLD Corporation Toll-free: 1 888 464-9999 info@iamgold.com Please note: This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Newsfile's website at www.newsfilecorp.com. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov. Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx. Mineral Reserves and Resources of Gold Operations as of December 31, 2019(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) Measured and Indicated Resources are inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves. Tonnes (000s) Grade (g/t) Ounces Contained (000s) Attributable Contained Ounces (000s) Rosebel(3), Suriname (95%) Proven Reserves 29,522 0.6 574 545 Probable Reserves 92,356 1.0 2,947 2,800 Subtotal 121,878 0.9 3,521 3,345 Measured Resources 35,276 0.6 698 663 Indicated Resources 247,210 0.9 7,397 7,027 Inferred Resources 64,191 0.9 1,785 1,696 Saramacca(3), Suriname (66.5%) Proven Reserves 111 0.5 2 1 Probable Reserves 26,090 1.8 1,531 1,018 Subtotal 26,201 1.8 1,533 1,019 Measured Resources 111 0.5 2 1 Indicated Resources 27,509 2.0 1,752 1,165 Inferred Resources 11,689 0.7 270 180 Essakane(3), Burkina Faso (90%) Probable Reserves 124,713 1.0 3,805 3,425 Subtotal 124,713 1.0 3,805 3,425 Indicated Resources 150,693 1.0 4,688 4,219 Inferred Resources 12,586 1.1 446 401 Gossey(4), Burkina Faso Indicated Resources 10,454 0.9 291 262 Inferred Resources 2,939 0.9 85 77 Westwood(7), Canada (100%) Proven Reserves 1,196 8.1 313 313 Probable Reserves 4,073 6.7 871 871 Subtotal 5,269 7.0 1,184 1,184 Measured Resources 925 12.1 359 359 Indicated Resources 4,133 8.3 1,108 1,108 Inferred Resources 6,174 8.6 1,698 1,698 Sadiola(8), Mali (41%) Probable Reserves 59,751 2.0 3,860 1,583 Subtotal 59,751 2.0 3,860 1,583 Indicated Resources 113,725 1.9 6,793 2,785 Inferred Resources 17,642 1.7 956 392 Cote Gold(9), Canada (64.75%) Proven Reserves 139,253 1.0 4,640 3,004 Probable Reserves 93,747 0.9 2,644 1,712 Subtotal 233,000 1.0 7,284 4,716 Measured Resources 152,100 1.0 4,720 3,056 Indicated Resources 213,400 0.8 5,480 3,548 Inferred Resources 189,600 0.6 3,820 2,473 Boto Gold(3), Senegal (90%) Probable Reserves 29,040 1.7 1,593 1,434 Subtotal 29,040 1.7 1,593 1,434 Indicated Resources 40,567 1.6 2,033 1,830 Inferred Resources 8,196 1.8 469 422 Monster Lake(5), Canada (75%) Inferred Resources 1,110 12.1 433 325 Nelligan(6), Canada (75%) Inferred Resources 96,990 1.0 3,194 2,396 Eastern Borosi(10), Nicaragua (51%) Inferred Resources 4,418 5.7 812 414 Pitangui(6), Brazil (100%) Indicated Resources 3,330 4.4 470 470 Inferred Resources 3,559 3.8 433 433 Diakha-Siribaya(5), Mali (90%) Indicated Resources 18,031 1.3 744 669 Inferred Resources 23,179 1.6 1,176 1,058 TOTAL(11) Proven & Probable Reserves 599,852 1.2 22,780 16,706 Measured and Indicated Resources 1,017,464 1.1 36,535 27,164 Inferred Resources 442,273 1.1 15,577 11,965 Notes: (1) In mining operations, measured and indicated resources that are not mineral reserves are considered uneconomic at the price used for reserve estimations but are deemed to have a reasonable prospect of economic extraction. (2) Although "measured resources", "indicated resources" and "inferred resources" are categories of mineralization that are recognized and required to be disclosed under Canadian regulations, SEC Industry Guide 7 does not recognize them. Disclosure of contained ounces is permitted under Canadian regulations; however, SEC Industry Guide 7 generally permits resources to be reported only as in place tonnage and grade. See "Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Disclosure of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates". (3) Rosebel, Saramacca, Essakane, and Boto Gold mineral reserves have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,200/oz gold price and mineral resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,500/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (4) Gossey has been estimated as of December 31, 2018 using a $1,200/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (5) Monster Lake and Diakha-Siribaya mineral resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2018 using a $1,500/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (6) Nelligan and Pitangui mineral resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,500/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (7) Westwood mineral reserves have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,200/oz gold price and mineral resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a 5.5 g/t gold cut-off over a minimum width of 2.4 metres and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (8) Mineral reserves at Sadiola have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using an average of $1,200/oz gold price and mineral resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,400/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with the JORC code. (9) Cote Gold Mineral Reserves have been estimated as of December 31, 2018 using a $1,200/oz gold price. The Mineral Resources have been estimated as of December 31, 2019 using a $1,500/oz gold price and have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101. (10) Eastern Borosi mineral resources are disclosed as gold equivalent ounces calculated using the formula: AuEq (g/t) = Au (g/t) + Ag (g/t) / 101.8; and have been estimated as of December 31, 2018 using a $1,500/oz gold price, and a $23/oz silver price and in accordance with NI 43-101. Underground resources are estimating using a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t gold equivalent with a minimum width of 2.4m and open pit resources are estimated using a cut-off grade of 0.42 g/t gold equivalent over a 3.0m minimum width. (11) Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this document may not add up precisely to the totals. The Company's reserve estimate is comprised of in-place material, i.e., contained ounces of gold and metallurgical recovery factors must be taken into account in order to assess and quantify the recoverable material. There are numerous parameters inherent in estimating proven and probable mineral reserves, including many factors beyond the Company's control. The estimation of reserves is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results from drilling, testing and production, as well as material changes in metal prices subsequent to the date of an estimate, may justify a revision of such estimates. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52527 To access our in-house intelligence please request a trial here. Read this article and more for a 30 day period. Are you already an Managing IP subscriber? Login here THE Land Bank of the Philippines (Land Bank) has extended P236.31 billion in loans to the farm and fisheries sectors in 2019, excedding its target of P231.25 billion for the year. This figure represents a 102 percent accomplishment rate, the Finance Department said. Under the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, banks are required to set aside at least 15 percent of their total loanable funds for farmers and fisherfolk and another 10 percent for agrarian reform beneficiaries. Finance Scretary Carlos Dominguez III said Land Bank has been the only lender compliant with this provision of the Agri-Agra Law. Land Banks agricultural loans at P236.31 billion in 2019 is equivalent to 26.50 percent of its total gross loan portfolio of P891.77 billion for the year. Of the total loans extended to the farm sector in 2019, P1.25 billion worth of credit was channeled directly to farmers, while P43.57 billion of loans were extended to cooperatives and farmers associations, rural financial institutions and other conduits. A total of P137.88 billion in loans went to small, medium and large agribusiness enterprises, while P53.61 billion worth of loans went to agri-aqua related projects of local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations. In terms of economic activity, Land Bank extended in 2019 a total of P18.73 billion to the crops sub-sector, which consists of palay, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, corn, vegetables, among others. Livestock accounted for P34.14 billion of the loans to the agriculture sector, while the share of fisheries was P1.92 billion. Agri-processing and trading got P75.08 billion, while P106.44 billion in loans went to projects supporting the agriculture sector, such as the construction of farm-to-market roads, public markets, warehouses, irrigation systems, cold storages facilities and slaughterhouses. (PR) Jars of preserved human remains including tongues and potentially a fetus were found in the crawlspace under the floorboards of a Florida home that once belonged to a university professor. The jars were discovered during an inspection of the home's foundation in Gainesville's Brywood neighborhood off NW 16th Avenue. Investigators found six to eight jars, some containing human tongues. One jar held what police think may be a fetus. Each jar is labelled with a name and date and at least one of those jars dates back to the 1960s, according to WCJB. Jars of preserved human tongues were discovered in a crawlspace under the floorboards of a Gainesville, Florida home that used to belong to Dr. Ronald A. Baughman, who was a professor at the University of Florida's College of Dentistry. The home where remains were found above The jars are now being analyzed by a medical examiner. Investigators are now trying to determine if the jars are connected to research of the home's previous owner Dr. Ronald A Baughman, a former University of Florida researcher and current professor emeritus. His ex-wife says she forgot the jars were still in the home after Baughman, who specialized in the head and neck, brought his work home with him one day. Investigators say they found human tongues were stored in gallon-size jars. Each jar is labelled with a name and date and at least one of those jars dates back to the 1960s. Police pictured at the scene after the remains were found during an inspection of the home's foundation Dr. Baughman was hired as an assistant professor of oral medicine in the 1971. Some of his research includes studies on canker sores, the lower jaw, research in orals cells in the mouth, oral herpes, and oral cancer Baughman was hired as an assistant professor of oral medicine in the 1971, according to UF's College of Dentistry. He published studies in the 1970s and 80s. Some of his research includes studies on canker sores, the lower jaw, research in orals cells in the mouth, oral herpes, and oral cancer, according to Research Gate. 'Six jars that we see and the jars, they're not really jars, they're more like pales, they're only a gallon-size, they're not very large,' Inspector Jorge Campos said. The appellate court described the evidence against him as overwhelming, the statement read in part. Extortion by a public official is a very serious crime, routinely prosecuted throughout the United States whenever, as here, it can be detected and proven. That has to be the case in America: a justice system must hold public officials accountable for corruption. It would be unfair to their victims and the public to do otherwise. Chicago, Feb 18 : Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) will take over General Motor's (GM) manufacturing facilities in Thailand by the end of 2020, as the US automaker prepares to withdraw from some non-profitable operations in Asian Pacific region. "Under a signed binding term sheet, GM Thailand and GM Powertrain Thailand legal entities, which include the Rayong vehicle assembly and powertrain facilities, will transfer to GWM," the Chinese automaker said in a statement released on Monday. GM and GWM are targeting the end of 2020 to close the deal and hand over the site, the Xinhua news agency reported. The Thai deal will be the second recent plant purchase GWM from GM, following another agreement the two reached in January to transfer GM India's Talegaon manufacturing facility to GWM. "The global strategy of Great Wall Motors has begun to take shape after more than 10 years of development," said Liu Xiangshang, GWM's global strategy vice president."In the past two years, through export model transformation and upgrades, Great Wall Motors has accelerated the pace of its strategic global roll-out." In 2019, GWM started production at its Tula plant in Russia, and the company also reached an agreement with GM to buy the latter's Talegaon plant in India in January 2020. GWM believes that the purchase of GM's Thai Rayong plant will not only boost its business in Thailand, but also speed up sales in other Southeast Asian countries. "Great Wall Motors will expand through the entire ASEAN region with Thailand as the center, and export its products to other ASEAN countries as well as Australia," Liu added. GM, the largest US automaker in terms of vehicle sales, has also announced its decision "to wind down sales, design and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retire the Holden brand by 2021." GM said the "decisive action" was aimed at "building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, drive significant cost efficiencies and take action in markets that cannot earn an adequate return for its shareholders. " "I've often said that we will do the right thing, even when it's hard, and this is one of those times," GM chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "We are restructuring our international operations, focusing on markets where we have the right strategies to drive robust returns, and prioritizing global investments that will drive growth in the future of mobility, especially in the areas of EVs and AVs," she added. Australian icon car brand Holden merged in 1931 with GM to become General Motors-Holden's Limited. GM had already stopped manufacturing Holden vehicles in Australia back in 2017, resulting in about 3,000 job losses, more of which are expected after Monday's announcement. "After considering many possible options and putting aside our personal desires to accommodate the people and the market, we came to the conclusion that we could not prioritize further investment over all other considerations we have in a rapidly changing global industry." said GM president Mark Reuss, who once oversaw GM-Holden operations. GM has recently invested heavily in electric vehicles, including a 2.2 billion U.S. dollar assembly plant near Detroit for electrical vehicles. It has also partnered with other companies to develop autonomous vehicles. GWM, headquartered in Baoding, northern China's Hebei Province, is a manufacturer of SUV and pickup vehicles. With more than 1 million annual sales in the past four consecutive years, it has exported vehicles to more than 60 countries and regions at competitive prices. With the transfer of Indian and Thai assembly plants by the end of 2020, if GWM can get final approvals from relevant governments and regulators, the Chinese SUV and pickup maker will be able to dramatically expand its overseas production. Joe Fattorini urges the Treasury to #cutbackwinetax Twenty-five years ago I ran a restaurant in Glasgow, where I'd pour the odd glass of wine for a young politics lecturer called John Curtis. Today he's Professor Sir John Curtis, the UK's leading opinion pollster. If I ran that restaurant again, I'd ask him his view on wine. Not as a drinker. But as a pollster. Politically wine is the UK's most important alcoholic drink. Because it's the UK's most popular alcoholic drink. There are 175ml and 33 million voters in every glass of wine. We're a diverse bunch. It's the most popular drink in every region of the UK. And in every age group in the UK. Although there is a skew. Wine is mostly bought and drunk by women. Women who have felt the sting of wine duty rates rising 40% in the last decade. They've looked on as beer drinkers - mostly men - have seen duty rates rise by just 16%. As Professor Curtis might put it, Worcester Woman has some questions... Maybe politicians think wine is too foreign, or too posh, to look after. They'd be wrong. England's first winemaker was Gundulf of Rochester. He grew vines almost a thousand years ago. The wine helped him wind down after a hard day building The Tower of London and Rochester Cathedral. Just like you do today. Six hundred years later Sir Kenelm Digby invented the modern wine bottle. It restored his family's name a bit. His father had tried to blow up Parliament. (Wine drinkers are cross. But we're not that cross). But today, every wine bottle in the world is an example of UK innovation. Kenelm's friend Charles Merret was the first person to make sparkling wine. Another UK gift to the wine world. And we keep innovating in wine. A bottle of Chilean wine on your supermarket shelf is usually bottle of UK-Chilean wine. Grown and fermented in Chile. Shipped to the UK using UK-developed technology. Bottled in the UK at the world's most environmentally sustainable bottling plant. And transported to your supermarket, or a German one, or a French one, or a Polish one, in better condition, and at lower environmental cost. Around the time (Professor Sir) John Curtis came to my restaurant, there was a storyline in Eastenders where Grant and Tiffany Mitchell served Australian Chardonnay to Phil and Kathy. How do I remember this? Because it was so unusual it was reported in newspapers. Within a decade you were more likely to find a bottle of wine in a UK fridge than a packet of butter. Last year Yasmeen, Cathy, Brian, Imran and Sean had a wine tasting in Coronation Street. That didn't make it to the papers. Because today wine is part of everyday life for people in every corner of the UK. What did make the papers was when Coronation Street's script writers mistakenly suggested a large glass of red would cost just 3.00. Viewers knew that was a real piece of fiction. Another duty rise will put the average price of a bottle of wine above 6.00. That's the point where 9.7 million UK wine lovers feel they just can't afford the UK's favourite drink. Like families with young children, who responsibly enjoy a glass to wind down after bedtime. And households on less than 30,000, who enjoy a glass as a treat (not a 'luxury') after a hard week at work. People of every background, getting together on a night out, just like the wine tasters of Corrie. Write to your MP and tell them we must #cutbackwinetax. Write to Kemi Badenoch MP, the new Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and tell her that lower wine duty means more UK jobs. Write to Rishi Sunak MP, the new Chancellor, and tell him that wine drinkers... wine voters... have had enough. Related articles: We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Photo-Me International plc (LON:PHTM). What Is Insider Buying? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. View our latest analysis for Photo-Me International Photo-Me International Insider Transactions Over The Last Year CEO & Deputy Chairman Serge Crasnianski made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK1.0m worth of shares at a price of UK0.90 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK0.86 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Serge Crasnianski was the only individual insider to buy over the year. Serge Crasnianski bought 1.36m shares over the last 12 months at an average price of UK0.90. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Story continues LSE:PHTM Recent Insider Trading, February 18th 2020 There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Insider Ownership Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that Photo-Me International insiders own 4.0% of the company, worth about UK13m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. So What Do The Photo-Me International Insider Transactions Indicate? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Photo-Me International insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. SELBYVILLE, Del., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report "Interceptor Missile Market by Surface (Surface to Air, Water to Air), Component (Infrared, Global Positioning System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), Radar Homing, Semi-Active Lasers, Anti-Radiation), Range (Short, Medium, Long), Regional Outlook, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2026," by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of interceptor missiles will cross $8 billion by 2026. Major players within the interceptor missile market are Aerojet Rocketdyne, Almaz-Antey, Kongsberg, L3Harris, Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Rheinmetall AG, Saab AB, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. The interceptor missile market growth can be attributed to increasing defense expenditure and a shift in investment trends of the defense budget. For instance, in 2018, the global defense expenditure was USD 1,822.0 billion, which was 2.6% more compared to previous years. The U.S., China, Saudi Arabia, and France contributed over 50% of the market share. An aging air defense system unable to mitigate future aerial threats will pose the demand of upgrading and modifying existing interceptor missiles system, positively impacting the market demand. Request a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2401 The surface to air segment in the market will portray over 5% growth through 2026. The capabilities of the interceptor missiles system to integrate with other defense platforms and communication systems increase its scope in land and naval applications. The land-based interceptor missile system demonstrates enhanced operational capabilities as their abilities to integrate with various C4ISR systems. This allows surface to air missiles to dominate over other segments. The long-range interceptor missile market will demonstrate the highest growth potential, growing at around 6% till 2026. In past years, government and defense organizations across the globe significantly invested in short-range interceptor missiles but the shift in political insurgencies will promote long-range interceptor missiles. Currently, political insurgencies between the U.S., Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran require long-range interceptor missiles, demonstrating their capabilities to intercept missiles at mid-course. The North America interceptor missile market is poised to expand at over 6% CAGR during the forecast period due to the presence of major industry players and defense manufacturers in the region. Significant defense allocation and the need to upgrade existing missiles will also accelerate the market revenue. Various industry players are collaborating with Asia Pacific-based companies to gain manufacturing benefits. Major countries in Asia Pacific including China and India are supporting FDI for manufacturing and providing significant subsidiaries. Companies in the market are focusing on developing new technologies and initiating long-term collaborations with various government and defense organizations to secure their market share. Transactions in the defense industry happen through long-term contracts and agreements, significantly promoting market competitiveness. The major defense contracts are mostly multi-year & multi-layered involving various government and political parties. This type of market nature has a potential to impact growth trends depending on the political agendas of different countries. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2401 Some major findings of the interceptor missile market report include: - The changing trends of defense budget allocation, where significant importance is given to acquisition and upgrades of arms and ammunition along with investments in military vehicles, supporting market growth. - The requirement to replace and upgrade existing missiles defense systems to intercept threats of future will provide a positive outlook. - Design modification and technological advancements in defense vehicles and missile carriers pose the requirement for upgraded interceptor missiles that can be integrated with modern systems. - Political insurgencies between major nations will limit the scope of operations of various industry players. - Collaborations between various industry participants backed up by government bodies for the development of new interceptor missiles are one of the major market trends. - Major industry players are engaged in developing interceptor missiles with capabilities to hit multiple targets at once and can be maneuvered at Mach speed and above. - Major industry players within the interceptor missile market are Aerojet Rocketdyne, Almaz-Antey, Kongsberg, L3Harris, Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Rheinmetall AG, Saab AB, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. Table of Contents (ToC) of the report: Chapter 3. Interceptor Missile Market Insights 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Industry segmentation 3.3. Industry landscape, 2015 2026 3.4. Market evolution 3.5. Industry ecosystem analysis 3.6. Technology & innovation landscape 3.7. Regulatory landscape 3.8. Industry impact forces 3.8.1. Growth drivers 3.8.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.9. Growth potential analysis, 2019 3.10. Porter's analysis 3.11. PESTEL analysis Chapter 4. Competitive Landscape 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Company market share, 2019 4.3. Competitive market analysis, 2019 4.3.1. Aerojet Rocketdyne 4.3.2. Elbit Systems Ltd. 4.3.3. General Dynamics Corporation 4.3.4. Leonardo S.p.A. 4.3.5. Lockheed Martin Corporation 4.3.6. MBDA 4.3.7. Northrop Grumman Corporation 4.3.8. Raytheon Company 4.3.9. Boeing 4.3.10. BAE Systems Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/interceptor-missiles-market About Global Market Insights, Inc. Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making. GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top-level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision-makers. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Blog: https://www.theresearchprocess.com Related Images global-interceptor-missile-market.png Global Interceptor Missile Market growth predicted at 5% till 2026: GMI Major players within the interceptor missile market are Aerojet Rocketdyne, Almaz-Antey, Kongsberg, L3Harris, Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Rheinmetall AG, Saab AB, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. Related Links Air Defense System Market Forecast Submarine Combat System Market Forecast SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc. Holding a wireless microphone in her hand, 21-year-old Riyana navigates the crowd of women in the narrow by-lanes of Washermanpet to make sure everyone sitting under a makeshift tent was served hot food for lunch on Tuesday afternoon. Riyana, a housewife, hasnt been home, except for a quick shower, since Friday as she has made the tent her home along with hundreds of Muslim women from her neighbourhood. Riyana and other protesters are camping in the area for the past five days, eating and sleeping through the night under a makeshift tent after police allegedly used force to disperse them while protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Registry of Citizens (NRC). Not just the 21-year-old, but hundreds of women from the Washermanpet area have become face of the movement against CAA and NRC in Tamil Nadu. In what is termed as Chennais very own Shaheen Bagh, the by-lanes overlooking the old pencil factory bus stop has been reverberating with slogans against CAA, NRC and NPR since February 14. Hundreds of women and men belonging to different faiths have been visiting the protest site to express solidarity with those agitating against CAA and NRC which they fear would drive those from a particular religion out of their homes in their own country. Not just the protesters, even visitors are served with tea, snacks and food, thanks to several people who have donated water bottles and other food materials. We will be the worst affected if CAA and NRC are implemented. Why should we not protest when we know we can be driven out of our homes for not possessing documents which we never heard of. I was born in Washermanpet, raised here and got married to someone in the same locality. Whom do I prove my nationality or my nativity? Riyana asked. Parveen, 22, interjected and said Chennais Shaheen Bagh was a proud display of women power. The women want the Tamil Nadu government to pass a resolution in the state assembly against CAA and announce that NPR will not be undertaken here." Not just women, but children too have joined the protests. Holding the national tricolour in her hand, 9-year-old Hina Banu was shouting slogans against CAA and NRC. I have not gone to school since Monday. My mother told me CAA is not good and hence, I came here to protest. All of us from the family are here for the past few days, Banu told DH. Parveen added: We came to protest on our own. We didnt ask anyone before coming here. We decided to stay here after police used force to disperse the crowd and prevent us from assembling here. We will not budge till the Chief Minister announces that the government will not implement CAA in Tamil Nadu. The women feel NPR was linked with CAA which would lead to NRC. Six questions in the NPR form about our birthplace and parents birthplace and the need to provide documents to prove our relationship has spawned doubts about the exercise. We feel the exercise will only target one community and that is the Muslim community, Parveen added. Jessie Whitehead died on Coventry Road in Bedworth last year. (SWNS) A grandmother was knocked off her mobility scooter and killed by a police car attending a routine 999 call, an inquest has heard. Jessie Whitehead, 74, was hit by the car as she was crossing the road in Bedworth, Warwickshire, in January 2019. The officers involved were said to have been responding to reports of a broken crane at the time. Mrs Whitehead, who had suffered from polio as a child, was returning from a shopping trip with her long-time friend Tony Vaughan, who was also on a scooter. Officers stopped at the scene to give first aid and the pensioner was taken to hospital by air ambulance, but she later died - becoming the third woman to die in a crash involving police in a week. People leave floral tributes at the scene in January last year. (SWNS) Road sweeper Gareth Deacon told an inquest he watched in horror as the police car ploughed into Mrs Whiteheads mobility scooter at around 12pm. Giving evidence at Warwickshire Coroners Court, he said: I saw the police car coming up the other way with its lights and sirens going. I heard the sirens before the bend. I was in shock. I was in bits. I saw Jessie before I stopped. Mrs Whiteheads friend Tony Vaughan, told the officer in the video: I said no and shouted right but she must not have heard me. READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK: I dont know if it was the sun that caught her. She couldnt have heard me shout no. I saw the police car but she obviously didnt. Several members of Mrs Whiteheads family left the hearing as police bodycam footage of the aftermath of the crash was played to the jury. Further witness statements, given to the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) as part of their investigation, were also read out to the jury by Assistant Coroner Delroy Henry. Mrs Whitehead was returning from a shopping trip at the time. (SWNS) Eyewitness Paul Lapper who was driving in front of the police car said he heard a bang and the female and her scooter were six feet in the air. Story continues She twisted into the air. Her cane fell to the ground. It was around five to 10 seconds long. The sky was blue and the sun was out, he said. Another driver, Matthew Sprott, said the police car was travelling up to 50mph when it hit Mrs Whitehead. He said: The lady had already moved into the road when the scooter lurched forward. I didnt know whether she had pressed the wrong button or thought she could get across. The police car was travelling between 40mph and 50mph when the collision happened as I was around six to seven car lengths behind. The jury inquest, which is expected to last five days, continues. RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following 2 successful events since 2018, the FPSO Brasil Congress, taking place on 25 27 May 2020 is returning to Rio de Janerio. It will continue to be the largest FPSO-dedicated platform for the robust Brazilian market. Organized by the FPSO Network, the Congress will welcome the region's oil companies, FPSO contractors, investors and solution providers at the Windsor Convention & Expo Centre. The community explored practical solutions to deliver cost-effective FPSO projects while working within the confines of the Brazilian regulatory framework, and engaged in interactive discussions and networking activities like never before. With increased investments and strategies in place to monetize Brazil's deepwater fields, the total production of Brazil Oil is set to grow at an average rate of 5% per year between 2020 and 2023 bringing light to even more FPSOs projected to be ordered by both local and International oil operators. "The 2020 Congress will focus on Accelerating FPSO Growth in the Brazilian Seas, focusing on 3 key areas; maximizing local capacity and capability, enhancing project execution and development strategies and adopting operational excellence in active FPSO projects in the country," said Jamie Tan, Director of the FPSO Network. The potential of the FPSO Brazilian market is made evident by the presence of key industry players, including Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, Petrobras, Dommo Energia SA, Equinor Brasil, Shell Brasil Petroleo, SBM Offshore Brasil, MODEC, Petrogal Brasil, Teekay Offshore, Yinson, Ocyan and many more. They will discuss various issues affecting the Brazilian FPSO industry including local content regulations, new contracting models, FPSO automation systems, project legal compliance, engaging mobile connectivity for increased accessibility, asset integrity, LATAM oil discoveries and more. We look forward to another exciting Congress in 2020. Notes to Editors For more information, contact: Theodora Soh Marketing Director FPSO Network Email: [email protected] Tel: +65-6722-9393 About International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) is the world's biggest large-scale conference company and part of the PLS group, one of the world's leading providers of strategic business intelligence with 16 offices worldwide. Our conference divisions consistently out-perform their industry sector competitors on the quality of the events we produce and the relationships we nurture with both delegates and sponsors. To learn more visit www.iqpc.com. SOURCE FPSO Network Related Links http://www.iqpc.com Motor vehicle offices are a particular sort of urban hell where people spend hour after hour waiting waiting to take a number, waiting to have a photograph snapped, waiting to take a vision test, waiting to be called to a clerks window. All to get or renew a drivers license. Now, as many unhappy applicants are finding out, its even worse. A new federal security requirement is forcing drivers who want to use their license to board a commercial flight to apply for renewals or new licenses in person at a motor vehicle office. The new so-called Real ID license has sent unprecedented crowds to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles office in Midtown Manhattan, one of the busiest in the state, according to a top agency official. It was agonizing and extremely frustrating, said Tony Monteleone, an executive with a business-to-business website who spent seven hours at a motor vehicle office in Manhattan to obtain a Real ID license. I was on vacation. At one point I said to myself, How long could it take? Who knew that it was going to take all day? Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball poses for a picture in his office at the Confederation Building in St. John's on Feb. 18, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Paul Daly) Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball Discusses Surprise Resignation ST. JOHNS, N.L.Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball says the decision to step down as leader of the province was his alone. The premier announced his intention to resign in a surprise, recorded video released Monday night, after more than four years leading the province and being reelected last May with a minority government. Ball, 63, tells The Canadian Press in an interview today he began considering the move over the holidays out of a desire to spend more time with his family, saying he was not asked by his party or caucus to step down. The premier defends his choice to resign by video rather than at a news conference, saying he wanted to make sure his message was heard before speaking to the media. Despite the provinces ongoing economic challenges, Ball says he feels great about his record and says he has left the province in better shape for his successor to take over. Ball says he will stay on as the representative for his HumberGros Morne district until the next election and has asked the president of the provincial Liberal party to begin the leadership process. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been exposed over claims that President Akufo-Addo granted tax waivers to his brother-in-law through the Ghana Investment Promotion (GIPC). The NDC, earlier this year, accused the President of corruption alleging that he granted a tax waiver to the tune of 24 million dollars to his brother-in-law for the construction of a hotel. But contributing to a debate on the floor of the house on Tuesday 18th February 2020, Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah established that all the commentary thrown into the public domain that the president has granted a tax waiver to a company called Platinum Properties is not true because in accordance with the constitution, no President on his own has the power to grant a tax waiver. Its is rather Parliament that has the power to grant waivers. If indeed any waivers had been granted why are we here Mr Speaker? We are here to consider a request for tax waivers. And from today let that propaganda be extinguished. It is just not true. Mr. Nkrumah who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi refuted the claim by the Minority MPs and the NDC stating that if anybody purports to grant a tax waiver, that person must come to this hallowed chamber and make an application and if members here consider it fit for purpose, parliament is the right body responsible to grant this waiver. According to article 174(2) of the 1992 constitution, where an act enacted in accordance with clause 1 of this article confers power on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax imposed by that act, the exercise of that power or waiver of all variation in favor of any person or authority shall be subject to the prior approval of parliament by resolution. Mr Nkrumah explained that for the first time, Parliament had now been seized with an application to grant such a waiver and will consider same in accordance with section 26(4) of Act 865. The Minister admonished the minority to stop their usual propaganda and always be truthful when discussing national issues. The house is now considering the application for waiver after it was recommended by the Board of the GIPC as a strategic investment which will inure to the benefit of Ghana. In his submissions Mr Nkrumah showcased a list of companies which were granted illegal waivers between 2013 and 2016 under the GIPC act, without recourse to Parliament. He opined that while the NDC was accusing President Akufo-Addo wrongly, they rather indeed had granted several waivers without recourse to Parliament. Contrary to expectations that the minority benches would dispute the claim Many watchers of the Parliamentary proceedings were amazed that th e minority was unable to rebut or refute the Honorable Ministers assertions. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In the backdrop of the rapid deforestation in the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday emphasized on the importance of green cover and said that it must be preserved. The remark by Supreme Court came while hearing a plea on the cutting of trees in connection with the construction of foot over bridge on the India-Bangladesh border by West Bengal state government. The Apex Court observed that the green cover must be preserved but people were not willing to explore alternatives. "There could be a way to create a path without cutting trees. It might be a little more expensive, but if you value the property, it would be better," the bench added. READ | Bezos Sets Up $10B Fund To Fight Climate Change The court was hearing a plea filed by Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) on the felling of over 350 trees for the construction of railway over bridges (ROB) and widening of National Highway-112 from Barasat to Petrapole on the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. During the hearing, the court observed the rapid deforestation and raised an alarm that greenery might vanish if people don't start taking it seriously, "We would like to see if we can lay down some principles or some suggestions. The deterioration is so rapid that before anybody knows many things will be permanently gone." READ | Norway Sees India As An Important Player Against Climate Change The Chief Justice also cited incidents of Metro car shed and the proposed coastal road in Mumbai which have been in the news for allegedly causing environmental damage. "Address us on what is to be done, this is the 3rd-4th case I am hearing... Bombay metro shed, coastal road etc," Chief Justice Bobde said. READ | Congress' Jairam Ramesh Makes Anti-beef & Pro-vegeterian Pitch To Combat Climate Change Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for petitioner APDR said that the environment/climate may take a turn for the very worse in another 50 years to which the Chief Justice agreed saying "It is very believable". Bhushan added that the human species will be in danger in the next 10-20 years if the vegetation is not protected while alleging that permissions were granted to fell trees without exploring alternatives. Bhushan asserted that underpasses could be an alternative instead of railway over bridges and alignment of roads could be changed to avoid cutting of trees. However, the West Bengal government in its defence stated that Calcutta High Court had gone into all the aspects after which it granted permission to fell 356 trees, which is required for the construction of ROBs and widening of the road. (With ANI inputs) READ | Scientists Create 'vaccine' Gel To Prevent Wildfires In Vegetations LISBON, PORTUGALSpains government approved Tuesday the introduction of new taxes on digital business and stock market transactions, following similar steps by other European countries. The Cabinet agreed at its weekly meeting to adopt the so-called Google tax and Tobin tax. The measures still require parliaments approval. Finance Minister Mara Jesus Montero said the Google tax, which has angered U.S. authorities and brought a threat of tariffs by the Trump administration, will be levied only from the end of the year. By then, the government hopes an international agreement on digital business taxes will be in place. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which advises the worlds rich countries on policies, is currently trying to draw up the agreement. Montero said the government wants a fairer tax system, adapted to the new economic trends of globalization and digitalization. Spains Socialist-led coalition government is following other European countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, in adopting a digital tax. The measure is an attempt to get around tax avoidance measures frequently used by multinationals. Big tech firms such as Google and Facebook pay most of their taxes in the European Union country where they are based and often pay very little in countries where they run large and profitable operations. Spain wants to place a three per cent tax on online ads, on deals brokered on digital platforms and on sales of user data by tech companies that have a turnover of more than 750 million euros (about $1 billion Canadian) a year internationally and more than 3 million in Spain. It hopes to raise close to 1 billion euros a year in extra tax revenue. Other EU countries, such as France, Italy and Belgium, have already passed a Tobin tax. In Spain, the government aims to levy a 0.2 per cent tax on share purchases involving companies worth more than 1 billion euros. That should raise more than 800 million euros annually, according to the government. A Socialist government first said it wanted to adopt the new taxes in January of last year, but an April general election foiled its plans. Read more about: New research from the Center for Cardiac Arrest Prevention at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai shows that rates of sudden cardiac arrest are rising following decades of a downward trend. While this disturbing uptick was observed in both sexes, in women the increase was mostly among those whose sudden cardiac arrest was the first manifestation of heart disease. In men, the increase was mostly among those with known heart disease. The study was published in the Go Red for Women issue of the peer-reviewed journal Circulation. The study validates the need for the discovery of novel risk factors and diagnostics to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest among women. And, because more than 40% of both men and women had known heart disease before their sudden cardiac arrest, prevention and treatment of heart disease remain critically important." Kyndaron Reinier, PhD, MPH, research scientist and associate director of Epidemiology at the Center for Cardiac Arrest Prevention, and first author on the study The findings are part of the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study, a comprehensive, 16-hospital, multiyear assessment of cardiac deaths in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area led by Sumeet Chugh, MD, director of the Center for Cardiac Arrest Prevention and associate director of the Smidt Heart Institute. Unlike heart attacks (myocardial infarctions), which are typically caused by clogged coronary arteries reducing blood flow to the heart muscle, sudden cardiac arrest is the result of defective electrical activity of the heart. Patients may have little or no warning, and the disorder usually causes death within minutes if no resuscitation is performed. Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for approximately 300,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Between 2004-2011, the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study showed a decline in sudden cardiac death for both men and women, probably explained by better prevention and treatments for patients with cardiovascular risk factors. However, between 2012-2016, incidence of sudden cardiac death rose for both men and women. "This appears to be a recent trend, and to our knowledge there is little data regarding reasons for this rise," said Chugh, who also serves as the Pauline and Harold Price Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology Research. "It's possible that regional, racial and socioeconomic differences could contribute, but more research is needed." As a next step, the research team hopes to gather additional biodata from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study to identify targets for prevention in women. "This study highlights the important implications of understanding the differences in risk stratification, screening and diagnosis of heart disease between men and women," said Emily Tinsley, MS, program officer in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). "The information we learn from studies like this is essential for promoting effective and unique preventive strategies for heart disease in women." The Oregon study, which recently completed its 18th year, has been funded by the NHLBI since 2007. Here are some of the findings from the study published in prior years: The importance of surveillance to accurately identify sudden cardiac arrests in the community The majority of sudden cardiac arrest patients do not have severely reduced pumping function of the heart The development of a simple electrical risk score to predict sudden cardiac arrest from the standard ECG The importance of warning symptoms in predicting risk of sudden cardiac arrest Five years ago, Chugh's team began a sister study-also funded by the NHLBI-based in Southern California's Ventura County. Jeff Bezos is the richest person on earth. Up to now he has not been in the running for most generous. Of the top five richest humans, Bezos is the only one who hasn't signed the Giving Pledge to give away at least half his net worth. His paltry $900,000 donation to aid forest fire-ravaged Australia drew sneers. Kylie Jenner pledged more. Amazon employees have protested the company's sluggish response to climate change (Bezos threatened to fire them). Meanwhile, the top headlines about the Amazon founder recently concerned his decision to buy a $165M Beverly Hills estate. But Bezos may be turning things around. On Instagram yesterday he announced that he's donating $10 billion -- about placeholder7.7 percent of his net worth -- to combat climate change. The funds will go to scientists, activists, and NGOs fighting the climate crisis. He intends to start issuing grants this summer. The pledge is entirely separate from his Bezos Day One Fund, aimed at tackling homelessness and helping kids from low-income communities. "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," Bezos wrote. Here's the complete post: The effort may be the beginning of a turnaround in Bezos's reputation for being tightfisted with his billions, but at least one group isn't ready to cheer yet. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice tweeted out a response applauding Bezos for his personal efforts, but complaining that Amazon, despite recent pledges to go carbon neutral by 2040, continues to fund climate-change denying groups and rely on fossil fuel-burning delivery vehicles, "One hand cannot give what the other is taking away," the statement read. [DATELINE]EMX Royalty Corporation (TSXV: EMX) (NYSE American: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the execution of an option agreement (the "Agreement") for the Espedalen, Hosanger, and Sigdal nickel-copper-cobalt projects in Norway (the "Projects"), with Pursuit Minerals Limited (ASX: PUR) ("Pursuit"). Pursuit is a publically traded company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange that is focused on battery metal assets in Fennoscandia. The Agreement provides EMX with an equity interest in Pursuit, a 3% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on each project, and other considerations including annual advance royalty ("AAR") and milestone payments. Pursuit may also issue up to 9.9% of its issued and outstanding share capital to EMX as certain conditions are satisfied. The Espedalen, Hosanger, and Sigdal Projects each contain magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt (Ni-Cu-Co) sulfide deposits associated with mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in southern Norway. Platinum group elements ("PGE's") and gold are also enriched in some of the deposits, although historic sampling for PGE's and gold was limited and their endowments remain poorly documented. Each of the Projects contains areas of historic mining and drill defined zones of sulfide mineralization. The Projects occur amongst a cluster of nickel deposits and mafic intrusive complexes in southern Norway that is considered to be the eastern extension of the same trend that hosts the Voisey's Bay nickel deposits in Labrador, Canada (the regions of modern day Fennoscandia and Canada were once adjoined in the middle Proterozoic period)[1]. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. Commercial Terms Overview. In accordance with the Agreement, Pursuit will have the option to acquire 100% project interests in the Espedalen, Hosanger, and Sigdal Projects subject to the following terms (all dollar amounts in USD, unless otherwise noted): Upon execution, Pursuit will make a cash payment of $25,000 and issue 20 million shares of PUR to EMX. Pursuit will then have a 12-month option period in which they must spend a minimum of $250,000 on the Projects. Upon exercise of the option, Pursuit will issue up to 20 million additional shares, capped at 9.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of PUR. By exercising the option, Pursuit will vest a 100% interest in each project, with EMX retaining a 3% NSR royalty, 1% of which may be purchased by Pursuit under certain conditions. AAR payments will commence on the second anniversary of the agreement, beginning at $25,000 per project and increasing at $5,000 per year. Upon the second anniversary of the Agreement, Pursuit will issue to EMX another tranche of shares equal in cash value to the 20 million PUR shares issued to exercise the option (as determined by the price of those shares when issued at the exercise of the option). If the option is exercised, Pursuit will commit to another $500,000 in exploration expenditures by the second anniversary, and drill at least 1,000 meters per project per year until the completion of a pre-feasibility study. Milestone payments of $500,000 will be made to EMX upon each of the following milestones: a) completion of a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"), and then b) delivery of a "positive feasibility study". The issuance of Pursuit shares to EMX, as set forth in the Agreement, is subject to the approvals of the ASX Exchange and shareholders of Pursuit. Overview of the Projects.The three Projects comprise 20,000 hectares of exploration licenses in three separate historic mining districts that were identified through EMX's regional generative programs, and acquired in 2018. Espedalen Project. The Espedalen license contains multiple historic mines, prospects and exploration targets hosted in a metamorphosed mafic-ultramafic complex. The license contains the Stormyra Ni-Cu-Co deposit, and 26 other known Ni-Cu-Co occurrences that form a broad ring within the ultramafic magmatic complex. Nickel mining in the area was intermittently active during the period 1848 to 1918 with approximately 100,000 tonnes of nickel ore produced, averaging 1.0% Ni, 0.4% Cu and 0.6% Co according to published sources[2]. Several historic Ni-Cu-Co resources have also been described on the property. The area was also explored and drilled by a Falconbridge Ltd and Blackstone Ventures Inc. joint venture in the early 2000's. Blackstone filed an NI43-101 Technical Report for the project in 2009. This document is available on www.Sedar.com[3]. It is notable that many zones of mineralization contain higher grade masses of sulfide mineralization that were remobilized during deformation and folding in the area. Multiple historic target areas have not yet been drill tested on the property. Sigdal Project. Nickel sulfide mineralization at Sigdal is hosted within an extensive metamorphosed gabbro complex, with multiple zones of historic mining and nickel occurrences (e.g., Ramstad, Gragalten, and Holmenstra prospects). Following up on an electromagnetic survey, the joint venture between Falconbridge Ltd and Blackstone Ventures drilled two shallow inclined holes in 2006 (both less than 80 meters in length), which intersected "mineralized gabbro" at depths of less than 50 meters. Blackstone described sulfide mineralization with "net" textures, veins and disseminations concentrated in fold-hinge structures and in breccias within the metagrabboic intrusions, including a 6.95 meter intercept (true width unknown) of pyrrhotite-rich sulfide mineralization with subordinate chalcopyrite[4]. Outcrop is sparse, but observations indicate significant folding and sulfide remobilization as evidenced by thickened intervals of sulfide within fold hinges up to eight meters wide. EMX recognizes compelling drill targets beneath as well as along strike of the historic workings, and as follow-up the Blackstone drill holes. Further discovery potential lies within additional structurally complex fold-hinge style targets within the license. Hosanger Project. The Hosanger district comprises several nickel-copper deposits hosted within the Hosanger Intrusion (a metamorphosed norite) that were exploited by underground mining operations from 1883 through the mid-1940's. Historical production is reported to have totalled 462,000 tonnes averaging 1.05% Ni, 0.35% Cu, and 0.05% Co, with grades up to 3% Ni reported from some phases of production[5],[6]. Mineralization at Hosanger is reported to consist of zones of disseminated and "net" textured sulfides that are cut by, and juxtaposed with, tectonically remobilized higher grade sulfide lenses. These zones include masses of sulfide mineralization that appear to have been injected into surrounding country rocks during deformational episodes. Multiple historic drill defined zones of sulfide mineralization have not been followed up with modern exploration, and remain open for potential new discoveries. Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. For further information contact: David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 979-6666 Dave@EMXroyalty.com Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@EMXroyalty.com Isabel Belger Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039 IBelger@EMXroyalty.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. [1] Reference to other mines and mineral deposits in similar geologic settings provides geologic context for EMX's Projects, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Projects host similar tonnage or grades of mineralization. [2] Reddick Consulting, 2009, Prepared for Blackstone Ventures Inc., NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resource Estimates for the Ertelien, Stormya and Dalen Deposits, Southern Norway dated Jan 13, 2009. [3] EMX has not done sufficient work to verify the information reported in the referenced Technical Report, but believes the information to be relevant and reliable. Note that Blackstone Ventures Inc. changed their name to Lattice Biologics Inc. in 2015, and the Sedar filings can now be found with the Lattice Biologics filings. [4] From descriptions in drill hole logs submitted to the Norwegian Geological Survey by Blackstone Minerals and Falconbridge. Available for download on the Norwegian Geological Survey webpage. [5] Bjrlykke H., 1949. Hosanger Nikkelgruve, NGU publication Nr. 172, pp.10. [6] Eilu, P. (ed.) 2012. Mineral deposits and metallogeny of Fennoscandia. Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 53. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52524 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 03:49:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIEV, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is sending a group of experts to Ukraine which will arrive in Kiev shortly, Interfax Ukraine reported on Tuesday. "A team of several IMF experts will visit Kiev to conduct technical discussions on policies aimed at achieving strong growth and ensuring stability," said IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Gosta Ljungman. Earlier this month, the IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva discussed the preparation of a new cooperation program for Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich on Feb. 15. The previous cooperation program between Ukraine and the IMF under the Stand-By Arrangement expired on Feb. 17. It was approved on Dec. 18, 2018, in the amount of 2.8 billion SDR, or about 3.9 billion U.S. dollars. But Ukraine was able to receive only the first tranche of 1 billion SDR (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) through it. In December 2019, the Ukrainian president, the government, and the National Bank of Ukraine agreed with the IMF management to open a three-year extended financing program, which amounts to 5.5 billion U.S. dollars. The final decision has to be made by the Fund's board of directors after Kiev meets the last requirement, including the adoption of several laws, which the Parliament has not passed yet. Enditem (Photo : Pixabay) Experts warn that various tech companies using Artificial Intelligence (AI) 'read' your facial expressions. According to research, the function runs the danger of being unreliable and discriminatory. Lisa Feldman Barrett, Northeastern University's psychology professor, said that technologies drive a developing frame of evidence that weakens the notion that facial expressions are universal across cultures. Barrett told The Guardian that organizations continue to justify what they're doing when it's undoubtedly clear what their proof is. "There are some organizations that simply hold to claim matters that can't be true in all likelihood," she said. ALSO READ: Is Artificial Intelligence Really A Threat To Humanity? Companies create technology to know facial muscle Her warning comes as some companies have begun growing technology to recognize facial muscle movements and assign emotion or purpose to those movements. HireVue's AI system scans candidates' facial expressions, body language, and word desire and cross-references them with developments that considered to be correlated with process success. Amazon claims its very own facial recognition system, Rekognition, which can stumble on seven fundamental emotions - happiness, sadness, anger, wonder, disgust, calmness, and confusion. In October, Unilever claimed that it had stored 100,000 hours of human recruitment time last year by deploying such software to analyze video interviews. The EU is mentioned to be trialing a software program that purportedly can detect deception thru evaluating micro-expressions in an attempt to bolster border security. "Based at the posted scientific evidence, these technologies shouldn't be rolled out and used to make consequential choices about peoples' lives," said Barrett. Professor Aleix Martinez of Ohio State University said computer algorithms try to understand social cues. Martinez said deciphering a person's intent goes beyond their facial expression, and it's important that people - and the computer algorithms they create. Professor Martinez said: 'The challenge is how this is probably used in towns like London, which has a large number of safety cameras. If in the future that is used to unmarried out people primarily based on how they behave, that would be very dangerous." Facial expressions don't totally reflect innermost feelings, too - research suggests It may appear apparent that AIs could paint out someone's mood primarily based on whether or not they're smiling or frowning. But facial indicators are, in fact, very different signs for our inner feelings, a study has observed. Professor Aleix Martinez of Ohio State University underscored that one cannot surely tell one's feelings from facial expressions. Some technology claims to 'stumble' on whether someone is guilty of a criminal offense or not, or whether or not someone is paying attention, or whether a purchaser is glad after a purchase. The results of the research, according to Martinez, showed that those claims are 'complete baloney.' "There's no manner you could decide those things, and those can be dangerous," Martinez added. The danger, Martinez said, lies in the opportunity of missing the real emotion or rationale in any other person and make choices depending on the person's destiny or abilities. ALSO READ: Mirror-Touch Synesthesia: Some People Literally Feel For You It is likewise true, Martinez said, that sometimes, human beings smile out of an obligation to the social norms. He said people are, in reality, entitled to put on a smile for the rest of the world. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Indian Intelligence agencies have confirmed that the chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Maulana Masood Azhar, is living inside a bomb-proof house behind Jaish's Bahawalpur headquarters in Pakistan It is to be noted that Azhar is on top of Indias most wanted list and was the architect of February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. According to intelligence sources, Masood Azhar has three other known addresses: Kausar Colony, Bahawalpur; Madarassa Bilal Habshi, Bannu, Khyber-Paktunkhwa; and Madrassa Masjid-e-Luqman, Lakki Marwat in Bahawalpur. The confirmation about Masood Azhar's whereabouts becomes crucial at a time when several reports have claimed that Pakistan may tell the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meet in Paris that the JeM boss is missing. Notably, Pakistan has sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to five-and-a-half years in prison for terror funding in order to avoid getting 'blacklisted' by FATF but Islamabad had failed to take any concrete action against Masood Azhar so far. Meanwhile, ahead of the FATF discussion on Pakistan dossier, the country's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has held a meeting with JeM commanders in Rawalpindi and assured the JeM and other terrorist groups that it will gradually remove the restrictions against terrorist organizations. Live TV This meeting was attended by Jaish operations commander Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and the ISI asked him to carry out terrorist attacks Jammu and Kashmir and other areas of India. The ISI has also asked Rauf to execute the attacks on India in such a manner that Jaish can be saved from international surveillance, according to the intelligence agencies report. The JeM has also been told to once again intensify its old activities in Madrasas and other related institutes. These institutions have been asked to teach religious bigotry and jihad against India. David Frost is Boris Johnsons Europe adviser and delivered this speech yesterday at ULB Brussels University. Thank you much everyone for that very kind introduction. It is a really huge pleasure to be here at your university. I would like to say thank you also to the Institute for hosting me, and your distinguished President, Ramona Coman, for being kind enough to host me here tonight. Your institute here has really made a huge contribution to the study of European politics and European integration and long may that continue. My aim tonight is to try to explain a bit better why people like me think as we do how we see the world and why we think Britain is better off out of the European Union. And I want also to give you a bit of insight about how that might influence the British positioning in the negotiation that are to come. Let us go back once again in history, though this time not quote so far as to Charles the Bold. Instead, to the title of my lecture reflections on the Revolutions in Europe. So in 1790 Edmund Burke, one of my countrys great political philosophers, wrote a pamphlet that is justly famous, in the UK in any case called Reflections on the Revolution in France. And my title echoes that tonight. It is not just history, that work is highly relevant today and indeed lots of modern British Conservatives politicians who would consider themselves to be intellectual heirs of Burke. Tonight I want to give you some reflections on the revolutions, plural, in Europe because I actually think we are looking at not one revolution but two revolutions, both in governments and simultaneous. So, the first is the creation of the European Union itself the greatest revolution in European governance since 1648. A new governmental system overlaid on an old one, purportedly a Europe of nation states, but in reality the paradigm of a new system of transnational collective governance. The second revolution is of course the reaction to the first the reappearance on the political scene not just of national feeling but also of the wish for national decision-making and the revival of the nation state. Brexit is the most obvious example for that, but who can deny that we see something a bit like it in different forms across the whole Continent of Europe? I dont think it is right to dismiss this just as a reaction to austerity or economic problems or a passing phase, or something to be seen off over time. I believe it is something deeper. Actually, I dont find it surprising if you cant change policies by voting, as you increasingly cant in this situation then opposition becomes expressed as opposition to the system itself. Brexit was surely above all a revolt against a system against as it were, an authorised version of European politics, against a system in which there is only one way to do politics and one policy choice to be made in many cases and against a politics in which the key texts are as hard to read for the average citizen as the Latin Bible was at the time of Charles the Bold. So, I want to explain why I moved in my own lifetime, my own professional experience, from supporting the first revolution that I talked about to moving to support the second. I want to begin my explanation by turning back to Burke. He had a very particular attitude to government. In Reflections he wrote: The state ought not to be considered as nothing better than a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico or tobacco, or some other such low concern, It is to be looked on with reverence It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection. This is of course exactly how the EU began in a way a partnership agreement in a trade or some other such low concern, not of pepper and coffee, but coal and steel, and then much more. The question is did it make the shift, did the EU make that shift to being looked on with reverence a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection? Well, I think in much of Europe it arguably did, in a way. Coal and steel were the engines of war; and the sources of power and resource. Managing them collectively meant that, on the European continent, doing this had more profound political implications straight away. It was a noble project. And post-war British leaders such as Attlee and Churchill certainly understood this but didnt feel the same moral force behind it as people in France and Germany. But in Britain, I think the answer is different it didnt, the EU for most, make that shift. I think Burke understood why. Burkes argument was essentially that the abstract foundations of the French Revolution ignored the complexities of human nature and of human society. The state, to Burke, was more of an organic creation, entwined with custom, of tradition and spirit. I think in Britain, the EUs institutions to be honest never felt like that. They were more abstract, they were more technocratic, they were more disconnected from or indeed actively hostile to national feeling. So in a country like Britain where institutions just evolved and where governance is pretty deep-rooted in historical precedent, it was always going to feel a bit unnatural to a lot of people to be governed by an organisation whose institutions seemed created by design not than by evolution, and which vested authority outside the country elsewhere. I think that is why the slogan of the Leave campaign in 2016 Take Back Control became such a powerful slogan and had such resonance . Now if I am honest, much of this still does not seem to me to be understood here in Brussels and in large parts of the EU. I think one of the reasons why people here failed to see Brexit coming and often still see it as some kind of horrific, unforeseeable natural disaster is that like the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs is at root, they were unable to take British Euroscepticism seriously, but saw it as some kind of irrational false consciousness and fundamentally wrong way of looking at the world. I think that is also why so many commentators seem to find it odd for someone of my background to support Brexit. I recognise I am unusual in doing that. Media profiles regularly say I am one of the few Brexit-voting diplomats. (Actually, there are a few more of us, but its not for me to identify who they are!) Even last month, a former Perm Rep, a former British Permanent Representative in Brussels and one of the architects of the constitution and the Lisbon Treaty, Lord John Kerr, whom I worked for many years and for whom I have huge respect even though I am profoundly disagreeing with him, said in the Financial Times of me that hell be extremely diligent in doing what he is told, as if no member of the UK foreign service could possibly have the same view of the European Union as our current Prime Minister without having been instructed to do so. In real life my story is completely different. I began my time in Brussels in 1993, as, I guess, a typical pro-European. That view did not long survive my exposure to the institutions here in Brussels and I rapidly became a persistent private critic of them. Yet in public I had to spend most of my life in the Justus Lipsius building, or if not there in the FCOs Europe Directorate. I spent a number of years in both. I wasnt the only critic of the union I recall a secret drink in 2005 with a couple of colleagues in a Foreign Office back room when the Dutch voted against the European Constitution but it was definitely a minority taste amongst my colleagues. In short, I too was experiencing in daily life a form of cognitive dissonance if you like about the value of my work. It was this that eventually drove me out of the foreign service in 2013 and then back as an adviser to the now Prime Minister in 2016. Returning once again to lead the Brexit negotiations in 2019, it was a relief to be able to be clear about what I thought and to have a government that was aligned to it and for me, to help finally take the UK out of the EU too. My doubts about British membership of the EU came principally from the fact that I could see Britain was never going to be genuinely committed to the project of turning the EU from a partnership agreement in trade to an object of reverence. Indeed, not only were the EUs institutions abstract and distant in Britain, we were never really in my view committed to the same goals at all. Some people try to question this now, and argue that Britain had in many way found the sweet spot in the Union the ideal mix between economic integration and political absenteeism only to then carelessly cast it aside in 2016 without really thinking about it. I dont think this is entirely realistic or entirely fair. Instead, I think Britain was more like a guest who has had enough of a party and wants to find a way of slipping out. By 2016 we had already found our way to the hallway without anyone really noticing at the party. It was only when we picked up our coat and waved goodbye that it felt like people said oh, are you going? as if they havent realised what had been happening. The tactical problem with this approach was obviously time-inconsistency: so nobody knew whether a deal with Britain would stick or whether we were really willing to invest in the contacts and all the underpinning of relationships that make them work over time. The strategic problem was that it made it all too clear we never knew what we really wanted to achieve, other than stop other countries doing things that they wanted to do. So given this background I actually find it bizarre that so many people can have told themselves some version of Britain is winning the arguments or, I heard this quite recently, that the EU is in many ways a British project. It plainly is not and it is surely a genuine form of false consciousness to think that it is. Brexit is a re-establishment of underlying reality, in my view, not some sort of freakish divergence from it. And one reason why take back control as the slogan was so powerful was that that was part of it we had clearly lost that control. So much for the politics. What about the economics? Its clear that many in Britain more or less unenthusiastically went along with the EU for mainly economic rather than political reasons. It is this group who they now fear the economic consequences of leaving. Indeed for many it seems to be a simple fact, rather than a prediction, that Brexit is going to do economic harm. They include it seems Michel Barnier, who said in Belfast that Brexit was always a matter of damage limitation. I believe this is wrong and I will explain why. There have been many economic studies of Brexit in the last few years, including famously the 2018 studies from the British Government and from the Bank of England. The iron of those studies seems to have entered the soul of Britains political class, in a kind of distorted form. Speculative predictions about the economy in 15 years time have become in many minds an unarguable depiction of inevitable reality next year. I am reminded of Keyness remark that practical men who believe themselves exempt from any intellectual influence are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. As you may have guessed, I would question some of the specifics of all those studies. This probably isnt the moment to go into the detail maybe I will get a chance in the future to do so. But, in brief, all these studies exaggerate in my view the impact of non-tariff barriers they exaggerate customs costs, in some cases by orders of magnitude. Even more importantly, they also assume that this unproven decline in trade will have implausible large effects on Britains productivity. Yet there is at least as much evidence that the relationship is the other way around that it is actually productivity which drives trade. The claims that trade drives productivity are often in fact based on the very specific experience of emerging countries opening up to world markets, beginning to trade on global terms after a period of authoritarian or communist government these are transitions that involve a huge improvement in the institutional framework and which make big productivity improvements almost inevitable. And I think the relevance of such experiences drawn from that for the UK, a high-income economy which has been extremely open for over a century, seems highly limited to me. I also note that many Brexit studies seem very keen to ignore or minimise any of the upsides, whether these be connected to expanded trade with the rest of the world or regulatory change often assuming the smallest possible impacts from such changes while insisting on the largest possible effects through changes in our relationship with the EU. Finally, all of these studies imply to me a fantastic ability to predict the micro-detail of the economy over a long period which I simply just dont buy. There is obviously a one-off cost from the introduction of friction at a customs and regulatory border, but I am simply not convinced it is on anything like the scale or with the effects these studies suggest. In any case, we aim to manage it down as far as we can through modern customs facilitation arrangements and I am convinced that other factors will outweigh it. Indeed if we have learned anything on economics from the last few years, and in particular from the British economy refusal to behave as people predicted after the referendum, it is that modern advanced economies are hugely complex and adaptive systems, capable of responding in ways which we do not foresee, and finding solutions which we did not expect. So all this explains why the British government is confident in the strategy we have chosen. We are clear that we want the Canada-Free Trade Agreement-type relationship which the EU has so often said is on offer even if the EU itself now seems to be experiencing some doubts about that, unfortunately. If those doubts persist, we are ready to trade on Australia-style terms if we cant agree a Canada type FTA. We understand the trade-offs involved people sometimes say we dont but we do and we will be setting out in written form next week actually how we see the shape of the future relationship in more detail. But I do not rest my case on Brexit entirely on looking at the numbers. There is a deeper point involved here once again. I made the point just now that some of the studies of the benefits of trade were really studies of the benefits of good institutions and good politics. That in my view is where the gains of Brexit are going to come. Some argue that sovereignty is a meaningless construct in the modern world, that what matters is sharing it to gain more influence over others. So we take the opposite view. We believe sovereignty is meaningful and what it enables us to do is to set our rules for our own benefit. Sovereignty is about the ability to get your own rules right in a way that suits our own conditions. Much of the debate about will Britain diverge from the EU I think misses this point. We are clear and the PM was clear in the speech he gave in Greenwich in London that we are not going to be a low-standard economy. Thats clear. But it is perfectly possible to have high standards, and indeed similar or better standards to those prevailing in the EU, without our laws and regulations necessarily doing exactly the same thing. One obvious example I think is the ability to support our own agriculture to promote environmental goods relevant to our own countryside, and to produce crops that reflect our own climate, rather than being forced to work with rules designed for growing conditions in central France. I struggle to see why this is so controversial. The proposition that we will not wish to diverge, that we would wish not to change our rules, is the same thing as the rules governing us, on 31 December this year, are the most perfect rules that can be designed and need never be changed. That is self-evidently absurd. I think we should dismiss the divergence phantasm from sensible political debate. I think looking forward, we are going to have a huge advantage over the EU the ability to set regulations for new sectors, the new ideas, and new conditions quicker than the EU can, and based on sound science not fear of the future. I have no doubt that we will be able to encourage new investment and new ideas in this way particularly given our plans to boost spend on scientific research, attract scientists and make Britain the best country in the world to do science. There are other broader advantages to running your own affairs. One obvious one is that it is much easier to get people involved in taking decisions. Another, less obvious advantage, is the ability to change those decisions. My experience of the EU is that it has extreme difficulty in reversing bad decisions it takes. Yet every state gets things wrong. Thats clear. Course correction is, therefore, an important part of good government. Britain will be able to experiment, correct mistakes and improve. The EU is going to find this much, much more difficult. I am confident that these political economy factors really matter. In an age of huge change, being able to anticipate to adapt, and to encourage really counts. Brexit is about a medium-term belief in that reality that this is true that even if there is a short-run cost, it will be overwhelmed rapidly by the huge gains of having your own policy regimes in certain areas. Its a personal view, but I also believe it is good for a country and its people to have its fate in its own hands and for their own decisions to matter. When I look round Europe, by and large its the smaller countries, who know they must swim in the waves that others make, seem to have higher quality decision making they cant afford not to. Being responsible for your own policies produces better outcomes. So, that is why, once again, we approach the upcoming negotiations in a pretty, confident fashion. We arent frightened by suggestions there is going to be friction, there is going to be greater barriers. We know that and have factored this in and we look further forward to the gains of the future. Finally, that is also why we are not prepared to compromise on some fundamentals of our negotiating position. One of those fundamentals is that we are negotiating as one country. To return again to Burke, his conception of the state was and is one that allows for differences, for different habits, and for different customs. It is one which means that our own multi-state union in the UK has grown in different ways across the EU each playing unique roles in its historical development. It is actually rather fashionable at the moment amongst some to run down that state which has been very successful historically. We cannot be complacent about the Union in the UK, but I nevertheless believe that all parts of the UK are going to survive and thrive together as one country. In particular, I am clear that I am negotiating on behalf of Northern Ireland as for every other part of the UK. A second fundamental is that we bring to the negotiations not some clever tactical positioning but the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country. It is central to our vision that we must have the ability to set laws that suit us to claim the right that every other non-EU country in the world has. So to think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing. That isnt a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure it is the point of the whole project. Thats also why we are not going to extend the transition period beyond the end of this year. At the end of this year, we would recover our political and economic independence in full why would we want to postpone it? That is the point of Brexit. In short, we only want what other independent countries have. To underline this I want to finish with a thought experiment. Boris Johnsons speech in Greenwich a couple of weeks ago set out a record of consistently high standards of regulation and behaviour in the UK, in many cases better than EU norms or practice. So, how would you feel if the UK demanded that, to protect ourselves, the EU must dynamically harmonise with our national laws set in Westminster and the decisions of our own regulators and courts? Now I assume, many in the EU would simply dismiss the suggestion out of hand. But perhaps the more thoughtful would say that such an approach would compromise the EUs sovereign legal order; that there would be no democratic legitimacy in the EU for the decisions which the UK would take and to which the EU would be bound; and that such decisions are so fundamental to the way the population of a territory feels bound into the legitimacy of its government, that this structure would be simply unsustainable: at some point democratic consent would snap dramatically and finally. So however amusing and however tempting it would be for us to run these arguments in reverse, the reasons we would not do so and will not do so is that these arguments of our more thoughtful people on the EU side would have very significant force. The reason we expect for example to have open and fair competition provisions is based on FTA precedent is not that we are looking for a minimalist outcome on competition law. It is that the model of an FTA and the precedents that exist in actual agreed FTAs are the most appropriate ones for the relationship of sovereign countries in highly sensitive areas relating to how their jurisdictions are governed and how their populations give consent to it. So if it is true, as we hear from our friends in the Commission and the 27, that the EU wants a durable and sustainable relationship in this highly sensitive area, the only way forward is to build on the approach we want of a relationship of equals. I do believe this needs to be internalised on the EU side. I do think the EU needs to understand, I mean genuinely understand, not just say it, that countries geographically in Europe can, if they choose it, be independent countries. Independence does not mean a limited degree of freedom in return for accepting some of the norms of the central power. It means independence just that. I recognise that some in Brussels might be uncomfortable with that but the EU must, if it is to achieve what it wants in the world, find a way of relating to its neighbours as friends and genuinely sovereign equals. So let me conclude. Michel Barnier said in Belfast in other week that Not one single person has ever convinced me of the added value of Brexit. So, Michel, I hope I will convince you when you read this to see things differently and maybe even think that a Britain doing things differently might be good for Europe as well as for Britain. And in concluding, I draw inspiration from three sources in believing we are going to get a good conclusion in negotiations this year. First, we can do this quickly. We are always told we dont have enough time. But we should take inspiration, I think, from the original Treaty of Rome back in 1957. This was negotiated and signed in just under 9 months surely we can do as well as that as well as our great predecessors, with all the advantages we have got now? Second source of inspiration is from President De Gaulle. I know that Michel is a great admirer of Charles de Gaulle. He probably doesnt know that I am as well. De Gaulle, was the man who believed in a Europe of nations. He was the man who always behaved as if his country was a great country even when it seemed to have fallen very low, and thus made it become a great country yet again. That has been an inspiration to me, and those who think like me, in the low moments of the last three years. And last, source of inspiration once again from Edmund Burke, who gave a famous speech to the electors of Bristol in 1780, and he urged his voters to applaud us when we run, console us when we fall, cheer us when we recover! in 2016 we ran; in 2018, we fell; so cheer us now as we in Britain recover, and go on, I am sure, to great things. Thank you very much. (Natural News) Those looking for signs of life outside our planet should take a look first at whats living deep beneath the oceans surface, according to astrobiologists. In a talk presented at the Astrobiology Science Conference, post-doctoral investigator Amy Smith said the Loihi seamount, located just off the southeastern coast of Hawaiis Big Island, can mimic the conditions believed to exist on the Saturnian moon, Enceladus. According to Smith, who is currently signed with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, if the Loihi seamount does mirror Enceladus environment, the undersea volcano can potentially aid in the search for life on other celestial bodies. There are lots of ocean worlds in our solar system. Besides Earth, my favorite one is Enceladus, Smith said. Other scientists share the same opinion. Recent observations have revealed that Enceladus one of the 62 confirmed moons orbiting the ringed planet Saturn may have hydrothermal vents in its seafloor just like those found on Earth. Moreover, scientists have found evidence of hydrogen production on the moon. This makes Loihi seamount the perfect analog for extraterrestrial environments, according to scientists. (Related: Scientists revise astrobiology guidelines, significantly reducing the estimated number of planets where signs of extraterrestrial life might be found.) Unlike most other underwater volcanoes, Loihi seamount is relatively isolated from any larger faults or ridges. This isolation, according to experts, means that it does not get as hot as volcanoes located in plate-edge regions making it much closer to the possible temperatures of the hydrothermal vents on Enceladus seafloor, which is theorized to be around 86 to 104 F. Whats more, experts say Loihi seamount likely has similar pressures to the icy Saturnian moon. Let there be life Located 3,200 feet or 1,000 meters below the surface, Loihi seamount isnt exactly what youd consider a lush and green marine paradise. At this depth, due to the limited amount of sunlight penetrating the water, many organisms have adapted to use a process called chemosynthesis, a process wherein organisms consume elements and compounds such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide in order to build their cells and grow. A team, put together by NASA, scoured the area in 2018 through a project called the Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog, or SUBSEA. The research team conducted the project aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) exploration vessel Nautilus. During this expedition, remote operated vehicles (ROVs) were sent down to Loihi to collect rocks which the research team observed in order to identify the vibrant microbial community around the volcano. We dont see very many typical organisms at this site, Smith said, noting that the Loihi caldera is dominated by mats of iron-oxidizing bacteria, as well as a couple of fish and a few shrimp species. Since this environment is similar to what we might find, we predict, on other ocean worlds, were hoping to get some answers as to what kinds of life might be there, Smith said. Previous observations by NASA, through its Cassini spacecraft, have revealed that Enceladus oceans are likely full of gases like hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane, all of which contribute to terrestrial life. Another moon, Europa, which orbits Jupiter, is also being observed as a possible habitable location, given the existence of a massive ocean beneath its icy crust. Sources include: LiveScience.com AGU.Confex.com Astronomy.com Mashable.com Futurism.com GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 18:13:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have detained four Syrian nationals suspected of having links to the Islamic State (IS) in operations conducted in Turkey's northwestern province of Bursa, state-run Anadolu agency reported Tuesday. The scope of the operation was extended after an alleged senior executive of the IS was detained in the Inegol district on Monday, Anadolu said. Earlier in the day, three other suspects were arrested in the same region, including an intelligence officer of the extremist group. The first arrested Syrian, nicknamed Abu Taki Al-Shami, was believed to be an executioner of the IS operating in the warzone in Syria. Following an intelligence report, police found he was working at a natural gas service company in Inegol. IS militants have been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in Turkey over the past years, in which more than 300 people were killed. New Scots: meet the Syrian refugees who are setting up businesses in a small Scottish town Everything stops for cake. Its a dreich day in Alloa town centre, but Muhanad Alwens cafe is an oasis of light and colour. We have just sat down to discuss his journey here from Damascus when the cake arrives, and what a cake it is an airy tower of sponge layers, sandwiched together with Chantilly cream and drizzled with sticky caramel sauce. There are enthusiastic murmurs of appreciation around the table as it is rapidly demolished. The conversation can wait. There is a distinctly French flavour to Muhanads delicacies, which is no accident. Syria was influenced by the French because it was a French colony not just baking or sweets, but our cuisine generally, explains Muhanad through translator Rohdwan. The glass-fronted display cabinet could be straight out of a Parisian patisserie, with its carefully constructed slabs of chocolate cake, lemon and strawberry sponges, petits fours, date-filled pastries (maamoul) and plates of the freshest, crispiest baklava this side of Damascus. Producing food like this is not so much cake-making as artistry, but to Muhanad, its all in a days work. The 37-year-old is an artisan who has been honing his craft for more than 20 years, having started out as a chef at the Damascus Sheraton before setting up a small cake factory and bake shop of his own. After he arrived in Scotland as a refugee in 2017, he naturally wished to pick up his old business again. This is life. It doesnt stop at any stage. You forget the past, move forward, focus on the future. Alwen Cakes opened last April and Muhanad has spread the word by attending farmers markets and putting up a stall in Stirling shopping centre. Thanks to orders via the cafes Facebook page, he now has a client base that stretches from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Stirling, Falkirk and Dollar, as well as Alloa itself. It represents normality at last the normality that he and his family lost amid the conflict in Syria. The Damascus suburb where they lived was taken by rebels and became a target for the Syrian regime. First their block was hit in an airstrike, forcing everyone to move, and then Muhanad was arrested as part of a wave of random arrests. He spent a month packed into a room with hundreds of other detainees. On being released without charge, he headed for Lebanon with his wife and children. They lived there for five years and when the opportunity arose to start a new life in Scotland through the UN resettlement scheme, Muhanad took it. Even so, it was a huge change for the whole family, coming to Alloa. I felt lost at first because of the language barrier, he says. It felt the same for my family. But he insists that feeling only lasted a week and that from day one, he was supported by senior housing officer Lynette Murray, her council colleagues and volunteers from Shelter, to find his way around, start English classes and get to know how things work in Scotland. Once he had sufficient English, Murray helped him fulfil his ambition of setting up his own business. Especially thanks to Lynette, says Muhanad, she has helped me with everything, from small things to big things, getting information about family, kids, school and housing. So how does he feel about being here now? Muhanad looks serious. Im really happy here, he says. Very safe. Very safe. Safety. Security. Peace of mind. Those are the themes that recur. Across the road from Alwen Cakes is Alloa Barber Shop, which is run by another Alwen, Muhanads younger brother, Mohamad, along with his friend, Neehad Mohammad. Neehad, who is Kurdish, came to Scotland with his disabled sister after initially fleeing to Kurdistan in Iraq. As we chat, a boy comes in with his mother and is given a warm welcome by Neehad and Mohamad before climbing into the chair for his haircut. There is everything here in Alloa, for my children, says Mohamad, 33, who has two boys aged five and three-and-a-half. Its not safe for my children in Syria, or Lebanon. Better here for school, doctors, everything for my sons. Mohamad was also arrested at random in Damascus and was held in prison for six months. He was finally released without charge at 10pm one evening. In the morning, we just picked everything up and went, he says. The family arrived in Lebanon soon afterwards and Mohamad, a professional barber, started up a business, but his tribulations were not over. There was a problem in the shop one day and, in a country where everyone carries weapons, it resulted in Mohamad being shot in the leg. Everyone wants to make a dignified income and to be able to independently sustain themselves Following that incident, he approached the UNHCR to request resettlement. The family arrived in Scotland at the same time as Muhanad, in mid-2017, and he has received tailored support in a whole variety of ways, which he has found very helpful. Mohamad worked at a Turkish barbers for a while to improve his English, before setting up his own place. His business model is very customer-focused, with masks, massages, waxing and threading on offer alongside haircuts. We had a lot of support from Lynette, she encouraged us all the time, and we managed to follow her advice, says Mohamad. We are happy, our business is going well, people are coming and even bringing their friends. This is life. It doesnt stop at any stage. You forget the past, move forward, focus on the future. He laughs: Theres no break. This tiny central Scotland town (population 21,000) is now home to three businesses run by Syrian residents, all within a few metres of each other, the other being a restaurant. A Middle Eastern grocers shop is also in the pipeline. Such a flowering of Syrian-run enterprises reflects both the innovation of the newcomers and the enthusiasm with which the council and community of Clackmannanshire have embraced refugees brought to the UK via the UNs resettlement scheme. The council has housed and supported 24 families so far more per head of population, it is thought, than any other council in Scotland. Its quite a claim to fame for the smallest mainland local authority in the country and is giving Alloa town centre a noticeable boost. The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) was launched in 2014 to help those affected by the civil war in Syria, with the aim of resettling those in the greatest need, including people needing urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence and torture, and women and children at risk. Theresa May committed to resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK while Nicola Sturgeon said that Scotland would take a minimum of 10 per cent of the UK total. It has been up to local authorities and their partners to turn those commitments into reality, and they have embraced the challenge. All 32 councils in Scotland have taken an active part in the scheme and over 3,000 refugees have been resettled in Scotland under the VPRS and the associated Vulnerable Childrens Resettlement Scheme (VCRS) more than 50 per cent over the original commitment. Glasgow, unsurprisingly as the largest local authority in Scotland, has taken the highest number. The resettlement scheme will continue after 2020, with a further 5,000 refugees due to be settled UK-wide during the first year. Scottish councils have registered their desire to continue taking part, including Clackmannanshire Council which voted in November to take another 20 families over the next five years. In Alloa, petite, unassuming housing officer Lynette Murray has been the lynchpin figure, answering the families questions, encouraging them and helping them with the bureaucracy involved in starting up a new business. People bring a huge range of skills and experiences with them when they seek refugee protection here When Muhanad was ready, he came to us with his business idea and we have supported him to look for premises, to meet with environmental health and meet the requirements for planning, explains Murray. He was assisted in drawing up a business plan by People Plus, through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme at the Job Centre. We made sure he had his certificate for food hygiene, supported him applying for the loans, and the rest he pretty much did on his own. Scotlands history of settling asylum seekers and refugees, while largely positive, has not been uniformly so. Receiving a warm welcome can make a world of difference to newcomers. So how has the local community responded in Alloa? Really positively, she says. Theres been lots of positive feedback through Facebook pages, lots of positive feedback through newspaper articles; weve not had anything negative towards the families at all. Clacks, the residents and the community, have really welcomed them with open arms, theyve been really good. The far-right Scottish Defence League (SDL) did attempt to foment discontent in Alloa three years ago, with a march against the council for taking refugee families, but Murray notes, with quiet satisfaction, that four times the number of local people turned out to support the families as there were SDL marchers. Not a peep has been heard from the SDL since. The Scottish Governments recently published plans for a Scottish visa highlights Scotlands need for migration, to help maintain the tax base to fund public services as the population ages. But the contribution of refugees to the economy is sometimes overlooked, with the focus being on migrant workers. Perhaps it shouldnt be. The proactive approach of Clackmannanshire Council shows what can be achieved when the right coordinated package of support is put in place for refugee families. People bring a huge range of skills and experiences with them when they seek refugee protection here and its great to see this being used to enrich neighbourhoods and communities across Scotland, says Sabir Zazai, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council. Everyone wants to make a dignified income and to be able to independently sustain themselves and their families. But the support needs to be in place for this. The host society must invest as early as possible in peoples potential, whether thats through education, training or resources to start new businesses. We know that the earlier this is in place, the swifter progress people can make on the journey from stranger to citizen. We have strong political leadership around migration issues in Scotland and there is a lot of goodwill from local people towards newcomers. We need to harness both of these if we are to provide the support people seeking refugee protection are entitled to, and to think independently about the future prosperity of the country. Qahraman Ramadan, 35, also lives in Alloa, with his wife and three children. The children love school and are developing Scottish accents, he tells me with a smile. He intends to open a Middle Eastern grocery shop in Alloa, a prospect that excites him since he doesnt enjoy being unemployed. He is keen to acknowledge the help he has received from the council since arriving, joking that I feel that the council is like my dad or my mum. In the future, if he succeeds, he says, why not expand his business and recruit people? Thats my plan, to give back to the people who have helped us. Why not provide employment to the locals? Its an encouraging idea and at a time when Scotland needs migrants for their energy, skills and innovation, its a reminder that refugees are very much part of that story. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (21) SOUDERTON Video or audio taping of meetings, live streaming meetings, social media, newsletters and changes to the boroughs website are all things a new exploratory committee that could become permanent will look into as ways of increasing communication with borough residents. At Souderton Borough Councils Feb. 17 work session meeting, Vice President Julie Munden said she would like to start a communications committee with other council members and volunteers from the community. She said shed also like to see the borough again start putting out a newsletter, which was done in the past, but is not currently done. One of the other things we want to do is update our website, Munden said. Its a busy, confusing website and I just want to make sure that its easy for people. Another thing to be looked into would be starting a borough Facebook page, which would be to post strictly events, not to post any sort of controversy, she said. She said the committee would also look at how other towns communicate with residents. I want Souderton to do the same thing and I would love for all of us to be involved in that, Munden said. Council member Daryl Littlefield said hes looked into Facebook pages by other towns. Its strictly used to just promote things within the town, he said. Council President Brian Goshow said the newsletter was dropped when the borough began adding onto what is posted on the website. The boroughs website was recently updated, he said. Goshow said he thinks it is a good idea to restart the newsletter, but has concerns about starting a Facebook page. If its Souderton Boroughs Facebook page, who authorizes who to run it? he asked. There would be a moderator, Munden said. The reason it scares me is because people are waiting to pounce on that kind of stuff, Goshow said of the Facebook page suggestion. The boroughs website shouldnt be the only thing the municipality depends on to communicate with residents, Littlefield said. I think you have to think of other avenues to reach out, he said. In his experience, Goshow said, one of the problems that arises is the borough gets accused of favoritism because it lists a business or event and other businesses or groups whose event wasnt listed become upset. Its a challenge, Goshow said. It is a challenge, Munden said. I cant sit here and say Im gonna be able to communicate the right or wrong things, but I feel like theres not enough communication in this borough. To who? Goshow asked. To the residents, to the people that live in this town, Munden said. Communication is a two-way street and the borough does put out information, Goshow said. If people dont listen, they dont listen, he said. But you gotta make the effort of outreach to the community, Littlefield said. I dont think the newspaper and the website are enough, Munden said. People communicate different today than 10 years ago, or even five years ago, council member Donna Rogers said. Following a suggestion from council member Matt Mschichowski, it was decided that an exploratory committee would be formed to bring back suggestions and possibly become a permanent committee. Its a way to get it started, Mschichowski said. Goshow, who is currently in his fourth four-year-term on council, said his experience was being ignored by the newer council members. Munden has been on council for two years. Rogers and Littlefield took office the beginning of this year. Part of communication is listening, Goshow said. I started [speaking] and I had three people continue to talk over top of me. Ive been around the block a few times. If that doesnt mean anything to you, figure it all out yourself, he said. Good luck with that. Just because youre paranoid of social media doesnt mean somebody cant do some research, Rogers said. You should probably check your words before you say things like people are paranoid about things, Goshow said. Well, you just said social media scares the hell out of you, Rogers said. It scares the hell out of me from a governmental standpoint, Goshow said. Im just being reasonable. The discussion then moved on to a suggestion made earlier this month by resident Charl Wellener that borough meetings be videotaped. Other variations raised at the Feb. 17 meeting included audio taping or live streaming. The video or audio could then be made available on the boroughs website or through social media for people who werent able to attend the meeting, Munden said. Its also a historical record, she said. If you put it on record, though, youve gotta keep it, youve gotta store it, Goshow said. Theres a challenge to that, a cost challenge. Wellener said shes talked to people in other towns that videotape their meetings. The initial output for the costs was minimal, around $200, $250, she said. The storage is done over the internet, she said. Having the recording available gives people who couldnt be at the meeting the chance to hear everything that was said, rather than just getting a summary, she said. The exploratory committee will add recording the meetings into the things it is looking into for increased communication and will report back to the full council, Munden said. India on Monday served a demarche to Turkey, warning that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) during his recent visit to Pakistan would have strong implications for bilateral relations between New Delhi and Ankara. Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, summoned Ankara's envoy to New Delhi, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, to the South Block and served him the demarche. New Delhi strongly objected to the remarks Turkish President made while delivering a speech at Pakistan Parliament during his recent visit to Islamabad. This recent episode is but one more example of a pattern of Turkey interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, Swarup conveyed to Torunlar. India finds that completely unacceptable. We particularly reject the repeated attempts by Turkey to justify the cross border terrorism practiced so blatantly by Pakistan, MEA Secretary (West) told Turkey's envoy to India. The Turkish President was on a visit to Pakistan on Friday. He addressed the lawmakers of the neighbouring country during a joint session of both Houses of its Parliament. He said that the issue of Kashmir was as close to the hearts of people of Turkey, as it was to Pakistanis. He said that Kashmiri brothers and sisters had suffered for decades and their suffering turned graver due to unilateral steps taken in recent times. He went on to say that that the issue of Kashmir could be resolved, not through conflict or oppression, but on the basis of justice and fairness. He said that Turkey would continue to support Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. New Delhi underlined in its demarche that the remarks made by Turkish President on Jammu and Kashmir reflected neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy. The remarks distorted events of the past to advance a narrow minded view of the present. These developments have strong implications for our bilateral relationship, Swarup told Ankara's envoy to New Delhi on Monday. India's relations with Turkey turned sour over the past few months, particularly after Erdogan referred to the issue of Kashmir in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019. He criticized the August 5 decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government in New Delhi to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and to reorganize the state into two Union Territories. Modi cancelled proposed visit to Ankara after Turkish President echoed Pakistan Prime Minister on the issue of Kashmir at the UNGA in September 2019. Natalia tricked people into thinking she had gone to Bali. Photo: natalia__taylor A Youtuber has exposed how easy it is for influencers to lie on social media by fooling her followers into thinking she was on holidays when she actually never left the country. American influencer, Natalia Taylor, recently told fans that she had travelled to Bali when in fact she was never in Indonesia at all - instead she staged a bunch of holiday snaps at her local IKEA store, revealing her prank in a YouTube clip. Dont trust everything you see on the internet, she said in the 13-minute video, explaining how she tricked everyone into thinking she was on holiday. The queen has arrived #bali, her first post was captioned, followed by subsequent images of her sipping wine and lying in a bathtub in her robe, all the while tagging her location as in Bali. And she had her 313K followers completely fooled. She really out her living her best life, was one comment on the images. Im in Bali too, another excited follower wrote. Natalia claims she did it as an experiment, to see whether people would believe she was actually on this influencer vacation, because she says these days its so easy to pretend to be anyone you want to be. In reality, what she really did was take a trusted photographer to her local IKEA store to stage the photoshoot, even leaving a few of the IKEA price tags in the photos as clues. Then she went a step further by posting photos to her Instagram stories using photos and footage from the internet - like a snap out of a plane window or arriving at Balis Denpasar Airport. Natalia exposed her trick on Youtube. Photo: Youtube/Natalia Taylor It seems painfully obvious that Im not in Bali. Im not even posting any of the iconic Bali photos of me on the beach or in exotic locations and Im getting away with it. Thats insane. Story continues Watch her reveal the trick below: Bloggers reveal Instagram vs Reality Body-positive advocate and blogger Sara Puhto is also focused on trying to show the world that you shouldnt believe everything you see on social media. Taking to Instagram, the young woman from Finland regularly shares side-by-side images to prove how much of a difference angles and posture can make in photos posted to social media. In one post, Sara wore the same bikini in two side-by-side images. In the picture on the left, she stood in a natural stance that she deemed Reality. On the right, she stood tall with her back arched and her arms raised in a pose she called Instagram. Sara Puhto regularly posts side-by-side photos showing the difference between Instagram and reality. Photo: Instagram I was scrolling through my old photos and came across these photos where I was trying to take one of those sandy bum pics. I posted the right one back in January, but the left is the reality behind that photo, she wrote in the accompanying caption. I still sometimes get a slight pang of sadness and jealousy when I see all the big beautiful bums on Instagram and wish I could magically have what they have, she continued. Because sometimes I feel like all my booty gains are gone when I take photos where it looks smaller, but then I remember that I shouldnt compare my body to theirs. I have a great booty and so do they! Its all about posing/angles and nobody looks like that all the time. Sara went on to say that although theres nothing wrong with posting a photo of yourself thats taken from a great angle or is deceptive, you should keep in mind that other people are doing the same. Just remember that when youre scrolling through social media and see all the posed bums that you too have a great bum and that nobody looks like that 24/7, she wrote. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. The Cambridge Dictionary defines hate speech as public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. In its mildest form, hate speech seeks to cause discomfiture and unease; while its ugliest form seeks to incite violence by instigating others and allowing them the space to turn rhetoric into action. Individuals who indulge in hate speech often counter objections to their words by raising the provision of free speech, which, by definition, allows them the right to express ones opinions without censorship, restraint or legal penalty. The argument then, that hate speech cannot be penalised is therefore a common one. In certain liberal democracies, such as the United States of America, this argument does hold up legally. Hate speech is not a punishable offence, and is protected under the First Amendment. The Indian Penal Code, however, treats hateful messaging differently. While the Indian Constitution provides every individual freedom of expression, Article 19 stipulates that is subject to reasonable restrictions for preserving inter alia public order, decency or morality. In addition, Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code says, inter alia: Whoever (a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, or (b) commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity, ... shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. However, what we are seeing lately is that despite these laws and safeguards, there have been many recent instances of hateful messaging, many of which have been made by political aspirants who seek to indulge in divisive politics. The peril of hate speech is that they are not just words, as argued by those who seek to legitimise discourse that fuels animosity between communities who have religious differences. When a minister raised the slogan Desh ke gaddaro ko goli maaro s***** ko, in an election rally in New Delhi on January 27, it was followed very literally by a teenaged youth less than a week later, who opened fire on a group of protesters at Jamia Milia Islamia, injuring one student. The fact that the politician was allowed to raise the slogan in the first place leads one to wonder if there was no threat perceived by the authorities appointed to police hateful messaging in permitting political aspirants to encourage fellow citizens to shoot at those they consider traitors. That the close and dangerous link between hate speech and violence is well understood and documented is made evident by the fact that not only the Constitution and the Indian Penal Code have made provisions to keep it under check, but also so has the Code of Criminal Procedure. In recent times, however, the courts have provided contradictory views regarding the violation that hate speech is. In 2013, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Central government directing them to frame guidelines that would ensure the control of hate speech delivered by politicians. This notice was also issued to the Election Commission of India. However, in 2014, when a PIL was filed asking the Supreme Court to direct the Election Commission to curb hateful speeches made by politicians, this was dismissed on the grounds that the fundamental right of people to express themselves cannot be curbed. In contrast, the social media has taken up a slightly more responsive role in the censoring of hate speech. Despite an enormous room for improvement, there are policies in place. Hate propaganda reported by users on Facebook is reviewed, and if found to be inflammatory, taken down within 24 hours. Twitter takes down hateful content and issues warnings to accounts that violate their Hateful Conduct Policy, suspending accounts that are repeat offenders. Following the horrifying lynchings that took place in India a couple of years ago, wherein innocents were killed on suspicion of being child kidnappers, WhatsApp placed a restriction on the number of times a piece of content can be forwarded. Although there is still a long way to go, there does appear to be an attempt to reduce the visibility of hateful content on these platforms. As an ordinary citizen, you may recognise your limitations in controlling hate speech itself, but you might seize the opportunity of counter speech as a direct response to hate speech. This is a powerful tool which can be used in a multitude of ways. If its on the social media, you might choose to engage with the speaker and battle his/her hateful messaging by putting forward a contrary message. The #iamhere campaign, a counter narrative to hateful messaging, which was started in Sweden, spread quickly to other parts of the world because of its simplicity of function. Admins of the group routinely post articles that contain hate propaganda onto their page, encouraging members to counter speak with the hashtag #Jagarhar (which means I am here). This drives up the counter posts, effectively drowning out the hateful content. A few weeks ago, at New Delhis Shaheen Bagh protest site, a young man fired into the air in an attempt to register his dissent towards the protesters. The next day, a group of young citizens decided to counter speak by launching a campaign called GoliNahiPhool (Flowers, not Bullets) and showered the protesting women with flower petals in a demonstration of peace and solidarity. Another method young Indian counter-speakers have embraced is through the creation of art whether music, poetry, paintings or street art. From Bankim Chandra Chatterjees Vande Mataram to Faiz Ahmad Faizs beautiful yet defiant poem Hum Dekhenge, strong resistance art has been known to possess the power to move people and to unite them the ultimate goal of any counter speech. Lastly, you might choose to reclaim words that are used as slurs against communities, minorities or any other group. An example of this is the way the Slutwalk campaign, a global campaign calling for the end of rape culture and slut shaming chose to reclaim the offensive word and rebrand it, rejecting the idea that women should experience shame over their sexualities, sexual preferences and choice of clothing. A democracy always needs to tread the thin line between freedom and oppression. The freedoms enjoyed by one cannot be translated into oppression suffered by another. This is the very principle that cements the line between freedom of speech and hate speech. In times of turmoil, then, it falls upon us, ordinary men and women, to self-police and counter speak when faced with an objectionable idea or piece of content. Because when it is the best of times, and the worst of times, it is always the ordinary citizen who takes up the torch and leads the way. As India prepares to welcome US President Donald Trump, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat has become the preferred destination for key foreign dignitaries visiting India. Before Modi became the PM, top foreign dignitaries visiting India also used to go to places like Hyderabad and Bengaluru, Pawar told reporters here. "Earlier, they (foreign dignitaries) used to go to places like Agra, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It is good that in the last five years, all these people chose Ahmedabad. It is a good thing," Pawar said, when asked why is Maharashtra missing from Trump's itinerary. "We are happy that the country's prime minister thinks Ahmedabad is the best place to show in India to any visiting foreign dignitary," Pawar said. Important global leaders who visited Gujarat after Modi became the PM in 2014 include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. NCP MLA and Pawar's grand nephew Rohit Pawar had last week asked the Centre that apart from Delhi and Ahmedabad, Trump should also visit the country's financial capital, Mumbai. Taking to Twitter, Rohit Pawar had opined that Trump visiting Mumbai would further boost economic ties between both the countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Update: The foreign object damage has been confirmed due to a bird hit. The aircraft is now being inspected by the GoAir engineering team. The right engine of a GoAir Ahmedabad to Bengaluru flight suffered a damage from foreign object damage while on the take-off roll. The suspected FOD resulted in a small fire which has been doused. All passengers and crew are safe. In a statement GoAir said that the right engine of the Ahmedabad-Bengaluru flight suffered damage, which resulted in a small fire. "The right engine of GoAir Ahmedabad to Bengaluru flight suspected to have suffered from a foreign object damage while on take-off roll. The suspected FOD resulted in a small fire which has been doused. All passengers and crew are safe," GoAir said in a statement. #NewsAlert - The right engine of GoAir Ahmedabad to Bengaluru flight suspected to have suffered from foreign object damage while on the take-off roll. The suspected FOD resulted in a small fire which has been doused. All passengers and crew are safe.@Zebaism with details. pic.twitter.com/ZG1DQMW3de News18 (@CNNnews18) February 18, 2020 The airlines added that no emergency evacuation was carried out and passengers will be deplaned after the aircraft is towed off the runway. Beijing: Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, a rights group said Tuesday. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International. China's ruling Communist Party has severely curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students. The death this month of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the deadly new virus before dying of it himself triggered rare calls for political reform and freedom of speech. The "Chinese government's battle against the coronavirus has in no way diverted it from its ongoing general campaign to crush all dissenting voices," said Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, in an emailed statement. Another source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said Xu had been arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou police did not respond to requests for comment. Xu went into hiding after authorities broke up a December gathering of intellectuals discussing political reform in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, prior to the coronavirus crisis. Over a dozen lawyers and activists were detained or disappeared after the Xiamen gathering, according to rights groups -- and Xu's detention appears linked to his presence at the meeting, explained Poon. But while on the run, Xu continued to post information on Twitter about rights issues. On February 4 Xu released an article calling on Xi to step down and criticised his leadership across a range of issues including the US-China trade war, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests and the coronavirus epidemic, which has now killed nearly 1,900 people. "Medical supplies are tight, hospitals are filled with patients, and a large number of infected people have no way to be diagnosed," he wrote. "It's a mess." "The coronavirus outbreak shows just how important values like freedom of expression and transparency are -- the exact values that Xu has long advocated," Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. But the disappearance of Xu illustrates how the Chinese state "persists in its old ways" by "silencing its critics", she said. Xu -- who founded a movement calling for greater transparency among high-ranking officials -- previously served a four-year prison sentence from 2013 to 2017 for organising an "illegal gathering". "That he was a fugitive for so many days while continuing to speak out, that in itself was... a kind of challenge to (Chinese authorities)," said Hua Ze, a long-time friend of Xu who told AFP she lost contact with the Chinese activist on Saturday morning. HANOVER, Germany, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Experienced cruisers know all the tricks of the trade: if you book a trip right before departure, you are sure to save a lot of money. Right? The latest findings by Cruisewatch now prove that it may not always be worth taking the risk. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, Cruisewatch has discovered which US ships, sailings and cabin types are already very likely to sell out within the next ten weeks. Characteristics of 'sold-out-soon' Cruises; Data provided by cruisewatch.com Highest Book Out for Cruise Evergreens When it comes to planning a cruise, the priority for many holidaymakers is choosing an attractive destination. According to Cruisewatch's impressive data pool, cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas are especially popular right now. Around 50% of all cruises that are likely to be sold out soon are sailing to these regions. Also, fans of the Orient, South America or the Mediterranean Sea should book wisely these destinations line up directly behind the famous tropical islands. Once a customer decides where they would like to set sail to, the focus shifts to the cruise companies themselves. It is not surprising that world brands like MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line are among the shipping companies with the future most fully booked sailings. Accordingly, MSC Grandiosa, Pride of America or Carnival Liberty are in the top ten of ships with sailings at cabin level that will likely sell out within the next weeks. Of these 'sold-out-soon' sailings, however, it is not always only the suites that sell out in advance: interior cabins have the highest probability of being sold out, followed closely by suites and finally with less probability oceanview and balcony. "Our customers can find this information directly on our website. If a cabin type for a cruise deal is expected to be sold out soon, our 'Vacancy Prediction' engine will advise them to book accordingly which they can do directly via cruisewatch.com," explains Markus Stumpe, CEO and co-founder of Cruisewatch. The Brain behind the Cruise Forecasts Cruisewatch bases their vacancy predictions on a massive data pool collected over several years of operation. The next-generation cruise advisor utilizes Artificial Intelligence and big data analysis to process thousands of cruise deals daily. The sheer volume of data enables the algorithm to interpret not only past developments but create forecasts on prices and availabilities. To produce the current statistics, Cruisewatch analyzed millions of data points to predict which cruise is likely to be fully booked in exactly which week before departure. "We invented the vacancy prediction to give the customers a full picture of their options. In combination with our price prediction, our customers gain more control in making informed decisions," Stumpe explains. To further enhance their AI-based prediction engine, Cruisewatch are partnering with scientists from the Technical University of Leibniz in Hanover, Germany. About Cruisewatch.com is a digital cruise advisor built on Artificial Intelligence and big data. It offers automatic forecasts on when to book which cruise for the best price. The service compares various sources to provide overall market transparency and to find the best deals that save cruisers massive amounts of money. Cruisewatch also offers a free price drop monitoring system that alerts customers automatically when prices drop or when great deals are headed their way. Please find more Cruisewatch press articles of the last years over here: https://www.cruisewatch.com/company/press-relations For more detailed information on our cruise vacancy prediction, please visit: https://www.cruisewatch.com/cruise-guide/plan-your-cruise/cruise-availability-how-spot-sold-out-cruises-easily Contact: Anna Nuxoll 650-235-4941 [email protected] SOURCE Cruisewatch Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst doubts that the United States will appoint its special representative for Donbas. "Volker is a very talented diplomat ... and the fact that he left the post is a definite loss. As far as I know, they decided not to replace him, and there will not be a new ambassador for this particular case - not in Ukraine, but on the issues of Donbas," Herbst said in an interview with Radio NV. As for the new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Herbst noted that he did not know when he would be appointed. He also called U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. Kristina Kvien a competent diplomat. ish File photo Many of us are quite concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. We are counting on scientists to find a vaccine before it infects our own communities. What this means is that billions of people will demand vaccinations. Each batch of vaccine, whether it is made to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus or flu or measles, must be tested for contamination by bacterial toxin. Horseshoe crabs, an ancient marine creature that lives in Long Island Sound, has very special properties in their blood that is harvested and used for this purpose. Once the horseshoe crabs are bled, they are released back into the ocean and most of them survive this process, although it clearly disrupts their spawning and can cause a decline in the population. In Connecticut and New York, most of the harvested animals are used for bait in traps to catch eel and whelk. The 12 fishermen that have a license to harvest horseshoe crabs in Connecticut voluntarily report their catch to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The problem is the actual harvesting of horseshoe crabs is not monitored and for every 1,000 animals reported, there are many more taken from the beaches illegally, leaving the population in decline. Radmilla Suleymanova Radmilla Suleymanova is a senior business producer at Al Jazeera Digital. She spent a decade at the United Nations writing about finance and economic... more s, sustainable development, human rights, and conflict and security. She has previously worked as a television news writer, fuel oil analyst, segment producer for Al Jazeera America and documentary filmmaker examining media coverage of the Russia-Georgia war. Radmilla holds a master's degree in international relations from New York University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from St John's University. IBM says it is consolidating its Storwize and the Flash Systems lines of storage products under a single family, the FlashSystem, that will span from entry level to advanced. It also announced a trio of all-flash storage products, spanning a range of use cases. Eric Herzog, chief marketing officer and vice president of worldwide storage channels for IBM storage, made the announcing in a pair of blog posts here and here. He noted that different organizations have different requirements for storage, and that storage vendors have traditionally responded with unique storage platforms to meet them But with that uniqueness comes complexity: different management and troubleshooting, different APIs and automation, different paths to cloud, and more. Because of this, all related storage costs are among the top concerns of storage users. These concerns can delay deployment of new storage technologies, limit flexibility, impact your applications and workloads, and drive up costs, he wrote. He's got a point. Every storage provider has multiple lines to serve different customers. Dell EMC has the most, with five storage product families thanks to the EMC merger, Hitachi Vantara has three and NetApp and Pure Storage have two. HPE could be accused of having four, but it has been working to consolidate its many storage products (3Par, Nimble) under the Primera product line announced last summer. It should be noted that this does not impact IBMs line of mainframe storage products. That remains unchanged. IBM promises the new FlashSystem family will offer 99.9999 percent availability, full hardware redundancies, and two-site or three-site replication as well as seamless hybrid- and multi-cloud support and integration with full security. IBM is making some big claims around its new products. It boasts that the new FlashSystem 9200 offers three to four times the performance and 17 times the rack density of the current A9000, but at 40% to 60% lower price tag, depending on configuration. The new FlashSystems can deliver up to 18 million IOPS, with latency down to 70s and bandwidth up to 45GB/sec from a single unit. That is a big leap over the older FlashSystem A9000R, which delivers up to 2.4 million IOPS with 250s latency and up to 26GB/sec. Another new product, the FlashSystem 7200, offers end-to-end NVMe storage for enterprise-class hybrid cloud and multicloud functionality in mid-range systems and replaces the Storwize V7000. The FlashSystem 7200 offers 43% greater performance and 55% better throughput. The new storage systems will use IBMs Spectrum Virtualize software, like the old systems. That means things like two- and three-site replication for disaster recovery, support for VMware, Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift and the Container Storage Interface, and Ansible playbook orchestration. FlashSystems are monitored by IBM Storage Insights service, which receives telemetry from all IBM storage systems and uses AI to monitor the systems and try to automatically fix problems whenever possible. IBM plans to make the new FlashSystem products available in March. It will sell the older Storwize and FlashSystem products through the end of the year. President Donald Trump has again said he might commute the prison sentence of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. This time, the president made one motive clearer. Its about revenge. I thought he was treated unbelievably unfairly; he was given close to 18 years in prison, Trump said to White House reporters aboard Air Force One, misstating Blagojevichs 14-year sentence. And a lot of people thought it was unfair, like a lot of other things and it was the same gang, the Comey gang and all these sleazebags that did it. Comey, of course, is a reference to former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired. That firing led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The firing also resulted in Comey becoming a high-profile critic of Trump. Oh, Comey is also a friend of former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who oversaw the prosecution of Blagojevich. So look at any compassion expressed by Trump toward Blago as a reflection of the presidents blinding bitterness toward Comey. Also know this: The Comey gang did not overzealously prosecute the former governor. The former governor overzealously abused his position in state government and got caught. Not only did he threaten to hold up government projects until he could squeeze their proprietors for campaign contributions, he used a U.S. Senate seat, which belonged to the citizens of Illinois, as a bargaining chip to try to enrich himself. Keep in mind that Blagojevich ran for office on a platform of ethics reform after replacing a disgraced former governor, George Ryan, who was convicted on charges he ran state government like a criminal enterprise. Keep in mind, too, that Illinois is the state that grows corrupt governors like it harvests soybeans: in vast numbers. Blagojevich, Ryan, Otto Kerner and Dan Walker all went to prison. Blagojevichs 14-year sentence on myriad corruption charges was harsh but deserved. Sending him back to Illinois would be a gut-punch to the law-abiding, frustrated, fed-up electorate here, more than 2 million of whom voted for Trump in 2016 based in part on his drain the swamp attitude toward sleaze in government. Several high-ranking Democrats including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin have supported commuting Blagojevichs sentence. He has served long enough, they say. But mostly, Democrats in Illinois were glad to get rid of Blagojevich. His obsession with fundraising, with squeezing state government for his own personal benefit, took priority over his actual job of governing. He hardly showed up for work. Democrats led his House impeachment. Democrats led the Senate trial that led to his ouster from office. He was sent to prison for trying to extort campaign cash and other benefits for himself. Trump wants to sell a possible Blagojevich commutation as righting a wrong committed by the Comey gang. Wrong. Rod Blagojevich was not the victim. The people of Illinois were. Chicago Tribune VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Glance Technologies Inc. (CSE:GET)(OTCQB:GLNNF)(FKT:GJT) ("Glance" or the "Company") one of Canada's leading mobile payment and customer loyalty platforms, announced today that the Company is changing its name from Glance Technologies Inc. to Perk Labs Inc. The operating company, Glance Pay Inc., is changing its name to Perk Hero Software Inc. and is launching a new mobile payment and loyalty rewards platform, branded as Perk Hero. The Company will announce the finalization of the corporate name changes in future communications as well as the date that trading will commence under the new name, symbol and CUSIP number. In addition to the upcoming name and symbol changes, the Company will launch new websites and social channels. A preview of the Company's new websites is available at www.perklabs.io and www.perkhero.com. This name change reflects the Company's shift in strategy to move further into the customer loyalty app market and to craft a new identity that resonates with the largest mobile app adopters and consumer spending groups: Gen Z and Millennials. "The Perk Hero brand more squarely targets Gen Z and Millennials," said Glance's CEO Jonathan Hoyles. "Our research shows that Gen Z and Millennials are the most active users of mobile payments. They're the most engaged and adept app user demographic for this type of application, which isn't a huge surprise given they're a generation of digital natives for whom smartphone use is second nature." "Businesses recognize the need to evolve with this demographic if they want to win them over as loyal customers. Glance, too, is pivoting to reflect this new focus by launching a more Gen Z and Millennial-friendly brand." Research shows that: Gen Z will account for 40% of global consumers in 2020 (McKinsey & Company) Millennials are three times more likely to be excited about new mobile apps and features than older users. (ComScore) More than 2 out of 3 millennials say they're always looking for new apps and wish they could do more with the apps they already have. (ComScore) 66% of millennial digital media time is using smartphone apps. (ComScore) "The 18-34 year old demographic is absolutely comfortable with paying via smartphones," said Hoyles. "For this tech-savvy generation, paying for a coffee using a pay-and-go method or buying an item with one click of a button has become the norm. They are driving the digital-driven payments landscape by demanding features and benefits that keep them engaged. Our goal is to leapfrog current mobile payment offerings in the market." Perk Hero is built on a new and advanced technology stack using an AWS non-relational database and React Native mobile application framework. While it includes some of the best features of Glance Pay such as the ability to make quick secure payments by QR Code or paying by photo, it also includes many new advanced features such as: Apple Pay Integration Google Pay Integration Mobile pre-order Powerful, gamified loyalty reward platform allowing users to earn virtual coins as rewards All-in-one user and merchant application Merchant analytics and dashboard Artificial intelligence powered receipt recognition Perk Hero will launch at a handful of select locations before being more broadly rolled out to the rest of the existing Glance Pay network of merchants and users. The Glance Pay app will remain available for a period of time so that Glance Pay users have time to redeem their in-app rewards before migrating over to Perk Hero. Perk Hero will continue to pursue in-dining restaurants and will expand to new verticals including Quick Serve Restaurants (QSRs), coffee shops, pubs, bars and clubs, hotels, sporting events, concerts and other events, grocery, spas, salons and barber shops, and professional services. Perk Hero will also offer a "Perk Hero for Businesses' white-label enterprise solution to chains, that can be branded and customized under their respective names. "We believe there is a tremendous market opportunity for our offering," said Hoyles. "The global mobile payment market was worth US$ 881 billion in 20181 and the key market drivers remain strong." The key market drivers for the growth in mobile payments - beyond convenience and ease of use to pay for products from mobile phones - is that they can be easily integrated with card-free loyalty programs, and valuable data can be acquired such as how often customers shop, dine, what they buy, and how they respond to incentives. Merchants can use this data to better market to customers based on their shopping behaviour, patterns and preferences. Perk Labs also launched a company blog to provide further insights to stakeholders on its strategy and ongoing advancements in its technology. The blog can be accessed at: https://medium.com/@perk_labs About Perk Labs Inc. Perk Labs Inc. is the owner of Perk Hero, a digital loyalty management platform that enables merchants to provide their customers with digital rewards and a more engaging and convenient customer experience. For more information about Perk Labs, please visit www.perklabs.io For more information, contact: Jonathan Hoyles CEO (833) 338-0299 investors@perklabs.io Footnotes: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190628005111/en/881-Billion-Mobile-Payment-Market---Global Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "may", "believe", "thinks", "expect", "exploring", "expand", "could", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "pursue", "potentially", "projected", "should", "will" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to, among other things, the discussion of Glance's business strategies and its expectations concerning future operations, Glance's plans for a new name, symbol and CUSIP number, launching of new websites and social channels, the new advanced features that Perk Hero will offer, crafting a new identity that resonates with Gen Z and Millennials, leapfrogging current mobile payment offerings in the market, launching of the Perk Hero app at select locations before being more broadly rolled out to the rest of the existing Glance Pay network of merchants and users, expanding to new verticals including Quick Serve Restaurants (QSRs), coffee shops, pubs, bars and clubs, hotels, sporting events, concerts and other events, grocery, spas, salons and barber shops, and professional services, and offering a white-label enterprise solution to chains. Although Glance considers these forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Glance cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Glance is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. SOURCE: Glance Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576551/Glance-Technologies-to-Change-Name-to-Perk-Labs--Glance-Pay-to-Change-Name-to-Perk-Hero Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 11:13:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday paid tribute to nurses working on the frontline to stop the COVID-19 outbreak, saying that this year more than ever the world must show solidarity with them. Retweeting a Xinhua video posted earlier on Monday, the WHO chief said that health workers, including nurses, are bearing the biggest burden in the COVID-19 outbreak. The video, produced and posted by Xinhua on twitter, told a story on how six nurses at an isolation points in China's Anhui Province care for two children whose parents were infected with novel coronavirus. "This touching video shows the efforts and love nurses are investing in their jobs and patients to save lives. This year more than ever we must show our solidarity and support nurses and midwives," Tedros said. The World Health Assembly has designated the year 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. A latest report by the WHO said that nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services, and the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. Earlier this month when reporting to the 146th Meeting of the Executive Board of WHO, Tedros said that health workers are vital to achieving universal health coverage, especially nurses and midwives. "The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife gives us a wonderful opportunity to highlight the incredible role nurses and midwives play, and to draw attention to the shortfall of 9 million nurses and midwives the world is facing between now and 2030," he said. "We're calling on all countries to invest in nurses and midwives as part of their commitment to universal health coverage," he added. A Polish man wreaked havoc on a British Airways flight when he threatened an air hostess and shouted: 'I want vodka.' Daniel Ksiazek, 39, yelled 'c***' and 'f***ing a**hole' at cabin staff on the Heathrow-bound plane from Singapore on October 12 last year. He lurched from his seat while the seatbelt sign was still on and tried to force stewards to pour him a drink. Ksiazek appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court today wearing his hair in a Mohican with a green army jacket and admitted using threatening words and behaviour. Daniel Ksiazek, 39, yelled abuse at cabin staff on the Heathrow-bound plane from Singapore on October 12 last year Terrified crew member Tanya Murphy was convinced he was going to attack her, the court was told. He told the air hostess: 'Does your husband love you? No, because you're a c***' - before storming back to his seat angrily. Prosecutor Zahra Shah said: 'Back on October 12 2019 there was a BA flight from Singapore to Heathrow, this defendant was on that flight, Tanya Murphy was cabin crew and Mr Waltham was a customer service manager. 'Mr Waltham says he was on duty at the time when he was told by crew members that they were talking to a male passenger who was causing issues and they had stopped serving him alcohol. 'He said the passenger leaned towards him in an aggressive manner and called him a f***ing a**hole and stormed off to his seat. He kept walking up to front of aircraft and came up to him again in aggressive tone and said f*** you and then walked up to the back of the plane. 'Ms Murphy says at 10.30pm her colleague told her they had been approached by a difficult male demanding drinks. 'They said the male was very intimidating, he was a big guy and he wasn't taking no for an answer. 'She saw a male who was heavily intoxicated and he said: ''I need a drink I need to sleep.'' 'She then spoke to that male and said he needed to sit down as the seatbelt sign was on. 'It was then she realised this was the male passenger her colleague was referring to. She told him to sit down, he said ''I want vodka''. 'She followed him back to his chair, he raised his hand and she thought he was going to strike her.' The prosecutor added: 'She said this male was rude, aggressive and offensive.' Ksiasik, representing himself, told the court he had been mixing his drinks with pain relief medication he had been taking for an injury sustained at his work in Singapore. 'I was working in Singapore I got a contusion on my arms and I take pills when I am back I am drinking and mixing. I apologise I can say nothing more,' he said. Ksiasik of Streatham will be sentenced later this afternoon. Apple warns that the coronavirus outbreak will impact both production and demand for its products in China. Apple Inc said on Monday that it will not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter. The tech giant is blaming the coronavirus, saying the outbreak of the virus is affecting both production and demand in China. The company said that despite the fact that its production facilities in China have reopened, they are ramping up slower than expected. Apple had forecast $63bn to $67bn in revenue for the quarter ending in March, ahead of estimates of $62.4bn. Apple said that supply for its iPhones will be temporarily constrained as manufacturing facilities in China are still not operating at full capacity. Sales of iPhones were up for the first time in a year in the December quarter. The company also said that store disruptions had affected its sales in China, with most stores either closed or operating at reduced hours. The outbreak is expected to pile pressure on Chinas economy. Companies are struggling to restart production after an extended new year holiday. Supply chains from the car industry to smartphones remain disrupted. Analysts have estimated that the virus may slash demand for smartphones by half in the first quarter in China, which is the worlds biggest market for smartphones. The "Pharmacovigilance World 2020" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. With the augmented incidence of diseases, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs, the incidence of drug abuse has increased enormously in the recent years, which is apparent with the excess documentation of adversities and drug toxicities. In this context, the drug safety and pharmacovigilance has emerged as a dynamic clinical and scientific discipline to provide adequate information and ensure health safety by the joint interaction of doctors and patients in choosing appropriate treatment method and drug. However, evidences suggest though avoidable, the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines continue to be the bigger life risk. In England, ADR was responsible for up to 6% of hospital admissions, carrying a mortality of 2% and costing the NHS 466 million per annum (654 million, US$ 602 million) in 2004. In some countries, ADR is ranked among the top 10 leading cause of mortality. The concept of drug safety and pharmacovigilance has evolved considerably and is highly necessary to keep the severity of ADR under check. In order to prevent or to reduce harm to patients and improve public health, it is vital to develop and practice mechanisms for evaluating and monitoring the safety of medicines in clinical use. Pharmacovigilance brief the potential implications of such trends on the evolution of the science. However, these days it is confronting issues to develop a better health care system in this global pitch. Some of the major challenges include globalization, web-based sales and information, broader safety concerns, public health versus pharmaceutical industry economic growth, monitoring of established products, developing and emerging countries, attitudes and perceptions to benefit and harm, outcomes and impact, etc. The Pharmacovigilance World 2020 conference will provide a platform for the participants to discuss, share and stay updated with present state of affairs in Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety, and contribute to the public health. It will also allow all its participants to interact with the experts, discuss the various developments, challenges faced and innovations in the field. The conference will bring-forth the participants and the representatives from various fields of pharmacovigilance and drug safety under a common umbrella and will provide them an opportunity to network with various industry professionals including pharmaceuticals, biologics, devices, CROs and PV service providers. It gives us a great pleasure in welcoming you to the Pharmacovigilance World 2020 conference. Key Highlights Pharmacovigilance and globalization Women and child health care medicines and pharmacovigilance Patient-centric approaches in PV Pharmacovigilance legislation and regulations Harmonization and pharmacovigilance Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Pharmacovigilance and data management and eudravigilance Post-marketing surveillance in pharmacovigilance PV regulations and challenges Benefit-risk management strategies Risk management and minimization Adverse drug reactions reporting Signal detection and post-authorization safety Good Pharmacovigilance Practices Innovative approaches to drug safety Strategies to improve PV Real-World Evidence in PV Big data and AI in pharmacovigilance Pharmacovigilance Monitoring and automation in Social media Other emerging technologies in PV Agenda: DAY 01 08:30 Registration Refreshments 08:50 Chairperson's opening remarks 09:00 Morning Keynote: Pharmacovigilance in the Elderly The importance of monitoring adverse drug reactions in elderly patients 09:30 Morning Keynote: Pharmacovigilance of women and child health care medicines and its challenges Pharmacovigilance significance, scope and challenges Personalized medicines Safe drug use: Adverse drug reactions, Adverse-drug interactions, monitoring 10:00 An Integrated care: Effective Implementation of vigilances systems Separated vigilance systems can lead to the emergence of divergence in terms, definitions, variety of reporting forms and methods and the build of specific databases where cross analysis is no more possible. To be more proactive and innovative in PV and to ensure that emerging problems are promptly recognized and solutions are effectively communicated This integrated approach is very useful, especially for emerging countries to strengthen regulatory processes and to promote high standards of product vigilance for the protection of the health and safety of Citizens. 10:30 Morning Coffee/Tea Networking 10:50 PV regulations and challenges and how to accommodate all the various national requirements in a global organization 11:20 International harmonization and drug regulatory requirement Sales, information and knowledge of consumers Awareness, generic names, reduction of medication errors in private clinics Industrial association 11:50 Reason, Scope and Significance of establishing good PV system Quality system within organizations Critical PV process Training Risk management 12:20 GxP inspections of PV system, scope, trends and challenges 12:50 Networking Luncheon 13:30 Ensuring Quality Oversight in Pharmacovigilance 14:00 Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Challenges related with monitoring and safety Benefit-risk assessment of ATMP 14:30 Major developments in regulatory framework The future of gene therapy, stem-cell therapy, and tissue engineering EU guidelines and updates Good Manufacturing Practices for ATMPs 15:00 Afternoon Tea/Coffee 15:20 Interactive Roundtable Discussion All attendees will have a great opportunity to discuss a selection of the most interesting topics addressed during the conference in small groups with their peers. Every table will nominate a head of the table, who will summarize the topic discussed, present the main puzzles and questions posed. 15:50 Strategies to improve Pharmacovigilance 16:20 Panel discussion: with session speakers and interaction with the floor PV Outsourcing: Challenges and Opportunities Economy PV Quality assurance post-authorization safety studies Building partnerships Identifying the key areas for outsourcing The main challenges faced and impact of new legislation Core competencies, activities-database, follow-up studies, case-studies, etc. 16:50 Chairperson's closing remarks 17:00 Networking Drinks Session DAY 02 08:30 Registration Refreshments 08:50 Chairperson's opening remarks 09:00 Keynote Case Study: Interim results of a PASS on ospemifene in postmenopausal women with Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA) 09:30 PSMF Pharmacovigilance system master file PSMF summary design, role of QPPV and managing audits Responsibilities of stakeholders. Accessibility of PSMF and Transparency and ensuring compliance Challenges in the managing data collection, audit information and documenting changes in logbooks, transferring information to license partners or third parties. 10:00 Eudravigilance how well has it been integrated and accepted by organizations Improvement in data analysis and exchange of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) between EMA, and various parties. The new and improved of Eudravigilance Connecting EMA with other regulatory bodies using Eudravigilance 10:30 Morning Coffee/Tea Discussion 10:50 Structured benefit risk in the post-marketing surveillance in pharmacovigilance 11:20 PMS and globalization Limitations of premarketing clinical trials Adhering to various national and international regulatory bodies Adverse event reports, role of FDA/ CDER/ DPV/ FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Type of post-marketing surveillance Role of MedWatch or similar 11:50 Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics studies to minimize adverse event Assessment and categorization adverse event reporting clinical trial, pre-/post-marketing pharmacovigilance reporting timelines 12:20 An industrial perspective: Post-marketing Signal Detection and management Present Drug safety signal detection systems and tools and what do they lack Emerging techniques and tools in the detection and management of signals Sources for identifying safety signals 12:50 Networking Luncheon 13:30 Risk Minimization and Management Assessment with comprehensive data quality Compliant safety system (GxP compliant, inspection-ready system) Safety signals, effective trials, strategic risk assessment decisions 14:00 Minimizing risk and innovative approaches for prediction such as the use of safety biomarkers and pharmacogenetics 14:30 Pharmacovigilance Monitoring and automation in Social media 15:00 Afternoon Tea/Coffee 15:20 Impact of Machine learning and artificial intelligence in PV Ever expanding data and its safety Importance and application of AI Improving speed, accuracy and reliability using AI 15:50 Real-World Evidence for Assessing Drug Safety 16:20 Improving patient involvement and wearables Role of internet/ communication techniques, advertisement Illegal effects Post-market surveillance of devices Therapeutic good administration Safety management 16:50 Panel Discussion: Innovation and the future of Pharmacovigilance Importance of bringing patients on board The need for patient database and effective communication Emerging technologies, digitization and social platform Benefits of digital technology and regulatory hurdles 17:20 Chairperson's closing remarks For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g0hki1 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005559/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 University Libraries Emptied After Books Deemed Offensive by Students Based on Covers The library system at Georgetown University (GU) has removed hundreds of books shortly after some students found these publications offensive. According to GUs student journal The Georgetown Review in an article published in early February, a staff member of the publication noticed a book that prominently featured a Native American woman on its cover on a bookshelf at McCarthy Library. This prompted other staff members to examine every single book in the room, and they determined, by looking at book covers, that at least one-half, if not all of the shelved books contain racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, fetishization, and pedophilia. The students continued their book hunt in another library in Reynolds Hall, where they located more similarly problematic books. Wed like to add that we havent even read the insides of these books Again, the entire swath of evidence for the problematic nature of these books is based on the front and back covers, wrote Reviews editor-in-chief. After receiving emails demanding administrators to explain the presence of the problematic books, both McCarthy and Reynolds Libraries almost emptied their shelves, removing hundreds of books in what Review described as a cover-up. A university spokesperson told The Hoya, a GU student newspaper, that the decision was made because books had been left with titles, topics, and images that raised concerns for students and staff. The Georgetown Review showcased some of the removed books, mostly mid-20th century fiction, in its report. Some of them, notably Australian novelist Carter Browns detective mysteries franchise, featured sexually provocative cover pictures. While some others, including Nick Carter-Killmaster espionage adventure series, contain racial derogatory and xenophobic themes, which are not uncommon in American spy novels during the height of the Cold War. Also removed was the seemingly innocent Legion, a sequel to William Peter Blattys The Exorcist, because of portraying Christianity and the Priesthood as evil. While emphasizing that Review does not support censorship in any form, the staff member who complained to the library administrators did admit that the decision to remove the books was ultimately the correct decision. While I believe they went about it the wrong way, I believe the university was right to remove the books, the student wrote during correspondence with Hoya. Both libraries were created as social and study spaces for students when GUs Southwest Quad was built and opened in 2003, a library administrator told Review. The libraries have no formal check-out system, and their bookshelves were initially empty until an alum donated the books to the libraries. Since then, students have contributed to the libraries by donating their old books. By Robert A. Mintz United States Attorney General William Barr threw the Department of Justice into crisis last week when he overruled the sentencing recommendation of four career prosecutors in a highly charged prosecution involving one of President Trumps longtime allies after the President tweeted about the outcome. The DOJs handling of the recommendation for the sentencing of President Trumps longtime associate and former campaign advisor, Roger Stone, which is scheduled for Thursday before Judge Amy Berman Jackson, raises serious questions. Our criminal justice system is not perfect, but it relies on the fundamental belief that prosecutors will make decisions based on the law, established DOJ guidelines and the governments objective view of the facts of each case. If those principles are challenged, it can derail the delicate balance that allows prosecutors to do their jobs while maintaining the perception of fairness and the absence of political favoritism in the administration of justice. The reality is that no two criminal cases are exactly the same and no two defendants commit exactly the same crime under the same circumstances. Every case is unique in at least some respects. This places great responsibility on prosecutors to fairly evaluate the evidence and treat similarly situated defendants as evenhandedly as possible. While Congress has attempted to avoid arbitrary sentencing outcomes by creating federal sentencing guidelines that include an elaborate system of weighted factors to assist prosecutors and the courts in evaluating the appropriate criminal sentence, these guidelines are merely advisory for the court and there is often disagreement as to the proper application of the guidelines factors. In the Stone case, the aggravating factors that significantly increased the recommended sentence in the eyes of the four line prosecutors included an alleged threat to harm a witness, Randy Credico, to whom Stone had sent the message prepare to die. Credico, a New York radio host, had critical information to bolster the governments case against Stone. Prosecutors used this threat, along with other examples of Stones alleged efforts to manipulate the outcome of the trial, to support their recommendation of seven to nine years in prison. This recommendation was later retracted by Attorney General Barr in favor of a more lenient sentence. The defense argued that the government overstated the threat and observed that while Credico refused to testify before the House Intelligence Committee, he was interviewed by the FBI, appeared before the federal grand jury and testified against Stone at the trial. If this single enhancement were removed, Stones guideline range would drop to about 3 to 4 years in prison. In an odd twist, further muddying the question of Stones intent, Credico sent a letter to Judge Jackson asking that Stone be spared a prison term and stating that while he stood by his testimony, he never believed Stone would carry out his threat. Whether the full increase in the recommended sentence was appropriate under the facts of this case is exactly the type of decision that prosecutors grapple with at virtually every sentencing. These are judgment calls routinely made first by federal prosecutors and later by the sentencing judge. In many cases, reasonable minds can differ as to the appropriate result. But what transpired last week is altogether different. While we must accept the fact that fairness in our system of criminal justice is not always achieved, the perception of fairness should be unwavering. In other words, while prosecutors and defense lawyers may disagree as to the application of the sentencing guidelines, there should be no question that the government should treat similarly situated defendants equally and that political influences play no role in any prosecutorial decision. Even with Attorney General Barrs recent statements affirming the role of the DOJ to act independently and without outside influence, there remains unanswered questions as to how this happened and what is to prevent it from happening again. In addition, the more recent decision by Attorney General Barr to bring in outside prosecutors to review other pending cases in the District of Columbia tied to the president raises further questions. Ultimately, our criminal justice system relies on prosecutors, judges and juries to render impartial justice. However, even with an extensive appeals process, that is not always achieved. In the end, the perception of equal justice under law the belief that the system is designed to treat everyone fairly is all we really have. It is the bedrock principle upon which the entire criminal justice system is built. Anything that threatens that ideal should concern us all. Robert A. Mintz is a former federal prosecutor in the District of New Jersey and the managing partner of the Newark office of McCarter & English, LLP. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Some of Wales most successful farm businesses are to share their knowledge at a series of events which aim to help others expand their enterprises. Diversified farm owners will offer tips for setting up or expanding rural enterprises at three two-hour seminars later this month. They will be joined by rural and marketing experts, together with specialist mentors, who provide businesses with fully funded one-to-one mentoring on diversification projects. One of the guest speakers is mid-Wales farmer Llion Pughe, who is the co-founder of Best of Wales, a four and five star holiday letting agency. The business started out from the family farm kitchen just outside Machynlleth in 2009. Llion began letting out 33 properties, but he now lets out more than 400 after joining forces with a major online holiday lettings company. Properties range from unique glamping units to city apartments and from traditional farmhouses to coastal cottages. Llion said he believes the tourism industry could hold the key to increased profitability for many rural businesses in Wales. More than 4.8 million visitors from the UK spent at least one night in Wales during the first six months of 2019, generating a total spend of 880 million, according to Welsh government statistics. I hope that these events will inspire those who attend and give them the confidence and vision to capitalise on the rich resources we have all around us in Wales, Llion said. We live in a relatively small country, which means our visitors are never far from the wealth of amazing mountains, spectacular landscapes which stretch for miles, historic castles and a coastline which includes many seaside resorts as well as tiny unspoilt fishing coves. We need to identify the opportunities that we can offer walkers, cyclists, artists, riders, fishing and wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, caravanners and campers, food and drink lover. The appeal is almost endless for both individuals and families, and we can turn these attractions into new streams of income, he said. Farming Connects three evening tourism seminars will be held between 19:30 and 21:30 on 24 February at M-Sparc, Gaerwen, Anglesey; 25 February at The Castle Hotel, Llandovery and 26 February at the Elephant & Castle, Newtown. Farming Connect is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra Wales and funded by the Welsh government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Deputy PM and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino. The Spanish government is planning to approve one of its signature projects at the weekly Cabinet meeting today: the digital services tax, known popularly as the Google tax. This will place Spain one step ahead of an initiative by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to address the taxation challenges posed by the digitalization of the global economy. The international organization is in talks with 137 countries to tax multinationals where their users are based and to disincentivize profit-shifting to low-tax jurisdictions. Tech giants such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, as well as other large companies, are known to engage in these practices to lower their tax bills. We are working in the international and European arenas, but without giving up on progress at the national level Nadia Calvino, Deputy PM and Economy Minister But faced with pressure from the United States, which is threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that tax American companies, Spain will not be immediately collecting the tax on a quarterly basis. Instead it will wait until the end of 2020, when the OECD is expected to have finalized its own proposal. This is not a suspension of the tax, just an end-of-the-year collection, said Spains Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, speaking in Brussels. The French way could be a model for Spain, according to Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya The decision to postpone collection of the digital service tax illustrates the difficulties that many countries are experiencing due to threats of new tariffs by the US, where most of the worlds big tech companies are headquartered. In March 2018 the European Commission proposed creating new rules for a fair taxation of the digital economy because there is a disconnect, or mismatch, between where value is created and where taxes are paid. But Washington says it could slap new tariffs on automobile imports if a digital tax is introduced. The French case In the case of France, which unilaterally introduced its own digital tax in July 2019 and even started collecting it, the threats have worked: payments have been placed on hold after US President Donald Trump said he would add tariffs of up to 100% on French goods, including wine. Spain is now following in Frances footsteps by approving a national tax but waiting to collect it until a global fee is hopefully agreed on at the OECD. Spains Foreign Minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, has admitted that the French way could be a model for Spain. Spain would like the OECD or the EU to lead the way on a digital tax, but has said that it will forge ahead with a national tax in the event that global negotiations fail. We are working in the international and European arenas, but without giving up on progress at the national level, said Calvino on Monday. The Spanish government is also set to approve the so-called Tobin tax, or financial transactions tax. Sources at the Finance Ministry said the projects slated for approval on Tuesday are nearly identical to the ones that were presented to Congress last year, but which were put on hold due to early elections. The tax rates Spains digital tax will be levied at a rate of 3% on digital companies with worldwide revenues of over 750 million and domestic revenues of over 3 million. The 2019 text made provisions for taxing advertising aimed at users of a digital interface (websites, tech platforms, software and social media), platforms that allow users to trade with each other (such as Amazon), and the sale or transmission of data collected about users. The financial transactions tax will be levied at a rate of 0.2% on the trade of shares in Spanish companies with a stock market value of over 1 billion. Financial intermediaries who execute the transaction will be the ones to pay the tax. Both public and private debt and financial derivatives will be excluded. In 2019, the government estimated that these new levies would bring the state around 2 billion in revenues. On Monday, the technical experts union at the Finance Ministry said that this forecast could be an overestimate. English version by Susana Urra. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 22:29:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- One year ago, China unveiled a master plan to develop its southern bay area into a world-class city cluster, a global technology and innovation center, and a livable and business-friendly area. With a string of follow-up measures put in place since then, the bay area, officially known as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, witnessed steady development. Cities in the bay area have built increasingly closer ties with each other and achieved much easier flows of talent, goods and capital. New vitality has been injected into the bay area with a total area of 56,000 square km, a population of about 70 million, and an economy of 10 trillion Chinese yuan (1.43 trillion U.S. dollars). With more emerging growth opportunities, the Greater Bay Area is looking forward to an even brighter future, observers said. IMPROVING INTEGRATION Shortly after the unveiling of the plan, the Chinese government rolled out specific measures in the coming month in an effort to turn the blueprint into reality. Tax concessions for Hong Kong and Macao people working in mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area were announced in March, among others. Eight months later, more favorable policies were hammered out, such as encouraging those people to purchase properties in nine mainland cities and granting their children equal education there. Such measures designed to make it easier for people to work across the Greater Bay Area are key to talent mobility, KPMG China's Hong Kong partner Maggie Lee said. "The policies have created tangible benefits for Hong Kong businesses and residents." Major infrastructure projects including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link also started operation, which allowed dwellers of the Greater Bay Area to easily travel from one city to another. The transport network has become so convenient that it is even possible to take morning tea in Guangzhou, do business in Hong Kong in the afternoon, and enjoy night view in Macao. Experts said the improvement in connectivity is still significant to further unlocking the economic potential of the Greater Bay Area, pushing forward integrated development, and bolstering the confidence of businesses in the future of the Greater Bay Area. BUSINESSES SPEED UP EXPANSION A survey jointly conducted by KPMG China, HSBC and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) showed in January that 747 executives of businesses in the Greater Bay Area are bullish about both their own and the region's prospects, and most of them are planning to expand to other cities in the area. Union Medical Healthcare (UMH), a non-hospital medical services provider, has given a priority to the Greater Bay Area in its development strategy. "We are focusing on areas within one-hour travel distance of Hong Kong, where we can tap into potential markets efficiently," said UMH CEO Eddy Tang. "With rapidly-growing GDP of the Greater Bay Area, the health care market there boasts the enormous potential to see booming growth in the future." The company, currently owning 10 outlets in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, plans to open 30 to 50 more clinics in the mainland in three to five years, mainly in the Greater Bay Area outside Hong Kong. KPMG China's Lee said firms have become increasingly interested and involved in the Greater Bay Area. In Hong Kong alone, 96 percent of respondent businesses express confidence in the Greater Bay Area and expect their business revenue will grow, a survey showed. To capitalize on the opportunities, more than half of the businesses either have made a strategic plan or are in the process of formulating one. OPPORTUNITIES TO SEIZE Terence Chiu, HSBC's Hong Kong head of commercial banking, expressed strong optimism about the plan on the Greater Bay Area as enormous opportunities will be generated for businesses from the coordinated development of Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province. During the past year, the HKGCC has organized a series of seminars and business tours to discuss and explore the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, which were in particular welcomed by small and medium-sized enterprises. "The bay area is one of the few places where businesses can expand their presence and seek higher returns over the next few years," Yu Pang-chun with the HKGCC said, stressing that it has the potential to become the most important opportunity for businesses and reshape Hong Kong's business environment for decades to come. Yu said companies should not hesitate to enter the Greater Bay Area market. "They should act now in case of missing the chance even if they may not be 100 percent sure that they can seize it." Heroes for chimpanzees, seahorses, penguins and more in the running for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize and $250,000 INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., the presenter of the world's leading award for animal conservation, today named the six Finalists that will contend for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize and $250,000. The Indianapolis Prize Finalists represent the world's most successful professional wildlife conservationists, biologists and scientists, and their heroic work has saved dozens of animal species and their habitats from extinction. "The rate at which animal extinctions have occurred over the last century is at least 100 times higher than what can be considered natural. More than one million animal species are now threatened with extinction. We can all find hope and inspiration in the victories of these conservationists who do the difficult work of saving animal species," said Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society. "The Indianapolis Prize exists to celebrate and elevate the achievements of these heroic individuals. Their work proves that success is possible, and there are genuine reasons to be hopeful for the future of the natural world." The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have made significant progress in saving an animal species, or multiple species, from extinction. Every other year, the Indianapolis Prize awards $250,000 to one Winner, while five Finalists receive $10,000 each. "The 2020 Indianapolis Prize Finalists have developed effective approaches to wildlife conservation that are being implemented and replicated all over the world," said Wes Sechrest, chief scientist and CEO of Global Wildlife Conservation and an Indianapolis Prize Nominating Committee member. "They have persisted despite long odds and countless obstacles to protect species that contribute to Earth's ecosystems. These individuals are not just accomplished and impressive they are heroic. We should celebrate them and answer their call to action." The six Finalists for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize are: Dr. P. Dee Boersma of the University of Washington and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels (Penguins) of the and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels (Penguins) Dr. Christophe Boesch of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (Chimpanzees) of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (Chimpanzees) Dr. Gerardo Ceballos of the Institute of Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Jaguars, black-footed ferret) of the Institute of Ecology at the (Jaguars, black-footed ferret) Dr. Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue, Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc., and SEAlliance (Marine life) of Mission Blue, Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc., and SEAlliance (Marine life) Dr. John Robinson of the Wildlife Conservation Society (Terrestrial and marine life) of the Wildlife Conservation Society (Terrestrial and marine life) Dr. Amanda Vincent of The University of British Columbia and Project Seahorse (Seahorses) The six Finalists for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize were selected by a nine-person committee representing the scientific and conservation communities, as well as the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Zoological Society. Finalists were evaluated for the significance of their achievements in the conservation of an animal species or multiple species; the measurable outcomes resulting from their work; the quality of science involved in their conservation efforts; the number of years dedicated to conservation work; and a demonstrated spirit of cooperation with zoological societies and other like-minded institutions. "While the challenges facing wildlife and wild places are sizable, so too is our will to make a difference. These Indianapolis Prize Finalists remind us that we are succeeding every day, and solutions are within our reach," said actor and Indianapolis Prize Honorary Chairwoman Jane Alexander. "This award offers an important platform to advance hope for species and empower people all over the world to become conservation heroes in their own right." The Winner of the 2020 Indianapolis Prize will be announced later this spring and honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala presented by Cummins Inc. on Sept. 12, 2020. For extended biographies and multimedia assets for the 2020 Finalists, click here to access the Indianapolis Prize press kit. To learn more about previous Indianapolis Prize Winners, visit IndianapolisPrize.org. About the Indianapolis Prize The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. Winners receive an unrestricted $250,000 award. Remaining Finalists each receive $10,000. Since 2006, the Indianapolis Prize has administered more than $1.3 million in unrestricted cash awards. The Indianapolis Prize is administered by the Indianapolis Zoological Society. SOURCE Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. Related Links http://www.indianapolisprize.org Police in New York City are on the hunt for a lovelorn burglary suspect who is accused of stealing $8,000 worth of belongings from his Valentine's Day date at gunpoint after she spurned his amorous advances. According to a press release from the NYPD, the unnamed man got into a verbal dispute with the 27-year-old victim inside her apartment on West 47th Street near 8th Avenue at around 11pm on Friday. The disagreement then took a violent turn when the man produced a gun, grabbed the woman's purse and fled the apartment. Do YOU know him? The NYPD is looking for this man, who is a suspect in a Valentine's Day robbery targeting his date in Midtown Manhattan. He is accused of robbing a 27-year-old woman at gunpoint of items worth $8,000 The victim said she met the man on 'Gold Diggers' website and the two ended up in her apartment, where he wanted to have sex with her, but she refused According to a New York Daily News report, the victim told police she met the assailant on a dating website called 'Gold Diggers' and the pair ended up in her apartment. The 27-year-old claimed her dated wanted to have sex with her, but she turned him own, sparking the quarrel. The man is said to have gotten away with $8,000 worth of the woman's personal property, including her purse, cash and cellphone. Surveillance photos and video show the suspected culprit holding a cane in one hand and a white Citarella Gourmet Market shopping bag in the other The thief is described as a white man in his 30s or 40s, with receding brown hair. He was last seen wearing all dark clothing He was seen running southbound along 8th Avenue. The NYPD has released surveillance photo and video showing the suspected culprit holding a cane in one hand and a white Citarella Gourmet Market shopping bag in the other. The thief is described as a white man in his 30s or 40s, with receding brown hair. He was last seen wearing all dark clothing. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Valentine's villain is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. During the African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia Feb. 9, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi put forward a proposal to hold an African summit aimed at establishing a joint African military force to combat terrorism. The most important challenges facing Africa the past year during which Egypt chaired the AU were the ongoing conflicts and the increasing dangers of terrorism and extremism, especially in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, as well as the challenge of achieving stability, Sisi said. In February 2019, Egypt assumed the AU presidency for a year and then handed it over to South Africa this month. In a comment on Cairo's proposal to establish an African force to combat terrorism, Egypt's ambassador to Ethiopia and its permanent representative to the AU, Osama Abdel Khalek, noted, African leaders attentively listened to the proposal and the African continent faces many challenges as the Libyan crisis affects the Sahel states. Africa possesses the capabilities to form a military force, but coordination needs to be done in order to implement the proposal. He said in a TV interview Feb. 9, A proposal to hold an African summit to discuss the establishment of an African military force was referred to the African Peace and Security Council and the military and defense committees to discuss the matter from all sides. Abdel Khalek added, The fight against terrorism is not only limited to the military side but includes the exchange of training and security information, as well as military expertise between the member states of the African counterterrorism force. Egypt has been recently seeking to boost its presence on the African continent through the military and security axes, and the Egyptian proposal to establish an African force to combat terrorism coincided with Cairo hosting Feb. 9 the chiefs of staff meeting of the armies of the five Sahel countries Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. The meeting discussed mechanisms to enhance cooperation between the five countries in combating terrorism and exchanging experiences and expertise in the fields of security and defense. In June 2018, Egypt announced the establishment of a regional center to combat terrorism for the Community of SahelSaharan States, which is responsible for exchanging security expertise between African countries and coordinating to conduct periodic joint training in the field of combating terrorism. Observers believe Egypts proposal aims to confront the Turkish military presence in some African countries such as Somalia and Libya. In 2017, Turkey established a large military base in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, at a cost of about $50 million. In January 2020, Turkey announced that Somalia had invited it to explore for oil in its waters. Turkey now also has a military presence in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, following the conclusion of the security agreement between Ankara and the Libyan Government of National Accord. On Jan. 21, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the dispatchment of military advisers and trainers to Tripoli. Member of parliament Amin Massoud said in a statement Feb. 10, The Egyptian proposal to form an African military force to confront terrorism has aroused the concern of countries and regimes that finance, encourage, arm and harbor terrorism like Turkey. The establishment of the African anti-terrorism force will eliminate any attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of all African countries and will ensure security and stability in Libya as well as the permanent elimination of terrorist and mercenary militias loyal to Turkey inside Libya, he added. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Kamal Amer, chairman of the parliamentary Defense and National Security Committee, told Al-Monitor, The proposed African summit on forming a military force would discuss the studies of the participating delegations on ways of forming this force and its role in resolving military disputes, its costs, the location of training and who will be in charge of leadership. Amer noted, Egypt understands that African countries want to build a military force to support them in facing terrorist movements that threaten stability. Tarek Fahmy, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor, The African countries welcomed the Egyptian proposal to form an African military force for several reasons, the most important of which is Africas need of a military force from within the continent to confront terrorist threats. He added, The African countries are leaning toward Egypt to implement that proposal, given the Egyptian armys strength and experience in confronting terrorism internally and externally through its participation in international peace-keeping forces, in addition to Cairo's membership in the African Peace and Security Council. Consequently it has the ability to put forward the proposal and discuss it within the council. On Feb. 7, Egypt became a member of the African Peace and Security Council for the period 2020-22. The council is responsible for settling disputes and maintaining peace and security in Africa. Fahmy said, African countries need a military force to confront terrorism in order to attract investment and achieve development through establishing political and security stability. He noted, Forming an African military force will not affect the international balance because it is possible to have coordination between the proposed force and the international military forces present in Africa, such as the US Africa Command as well as the international coalition to fight the Islamic State. Fahmy added, Egypt aims to bridge the security gaps in Africa by eliminating terrorist movements to thwart countries that take advantage of these crises to make their way to Africa. Representative of the parliamentary African Affairs Committee Majed Abu al-Khair told Al-Monitor, African countries need a military force that does not seek to achieve personal interests and goals within their territories as is happening in Libya, in which a number of foreign powers intervened under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Khair added, Egypt is eligible to provide support and training in addition to sharing its experiences in confronting terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula with African countries suffering from these terrorist crises. Bell, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/18/2020 -- If someone is on the verge of moving, then without a second thought he looks for 'long distance movers Los Angeles.' There is no need of worrying because California New York Express will let him look no further. The company is present to make one's move smoother and hassle-free. Nowadays, all tasks related to moving with much ease. Following what the CEO says, "We comprehend the fact that moving is truly a very complicated task. Hence our company offer high-class move services at economical prices." The Company tends to provide the customers with utmost service reaching at their doors with convenient solutions. The CEO feels proud that their company is one of the foremost trustworthy companies related to Moving. Normally, while making a move one necessitates arranging different things. Packaging and loading of items on trucks and unloading with ultimately safely delivering those things at one's doorstep. Los Angeles CA NY moving company makes this bulky tasks a handy one. Moving to LA from NYC becomes easier as the company has professionals who deserve special means in packing one's valuable belongings with high class packing materials before loading them in truck. They are also accustomed to handling of priceless furniture items with utmost care. The Company's Moving services Los Angeles also offer storage services (for residential and commercial purposes). The company's charge varies accordingly with the mass of goods for carrying. Here lies the importance of NY CA movers. Contact Details: Website: https://www.moveeast.com Phone: - (888) 680-7200 Email: cs@moveeeast.com California New York Express 5698 Bandini Blvd B, Bell, CA 90201 PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 14:30:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 664 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / uBid Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:UBID) (the "Company" or "uBid"), a diversified holding company, is pleased to announce the Company has reached an agreement with the SkyAuction team so that SkyAuction continues as a wholly-owned operating subsidiary under the uBid corporate structure. This supercedes previously reported information.SkyAuction generated revenues of $4,341,000 for the year-ended December 31, 2019, unaudited.uBid Chief Executive Officer Ketan Thakker commented, "We are pleased to report we have come to a mutually beneficial agreement with SkyAuction to keep it under the uBid corporate structure. In addition, our team is continuing to pursue Company plans for acquisition of complementary and accretive technology-based companies for the benefit of the uBid shareholders." About uBid Holdings, Inc.uBid Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:UBID) is a diversified holding company whose strategic plan is to acquire interests in young businesses, and provide financing, advice and guidance to assist them in realizing their potential. It continues to identify and evaluate potential acquisitions that its Management believes will create shareholder value and a return on investment. For more information, visit: ubidholdings.com Ubid, Uwin, Usave, it is all about U! It isn't just a clever tag line it spells out exactly how uBid feels about what it does. Whether it is computers, memorabilia or a trip to Orlando, uBid has a single-minded focus on saving you money by allowing you to determine how much you pay for any item. uBid makes the process easy to understand, engaging and fun. Its customers are its inspiration; they motivate uBid to seek out better, more valuable products, allowing uBid more opportunities to save money by determining what its customers want to pay for it. Its online marketplace provides the perfect outlet for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and other suppliers to sell all types of products to a base of highly motivated consumers. For more information, visit: http://www.ubidholdings.com Forward-Looking StatementsUnaudited financial figures may change due to the result of completion of pending audits. Press Releases may include forward-looking statements. In particular, the words "believe," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "propose," "plan," "intend," and similar conditional words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements made in this news release about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company takes no obligation to update or correct its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law or those prepared by third parties that are not paid by the Company. Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although uBid believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, uBid is unable to give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the Company's ability identify a suitable business model for the Company.Media and Investors Contacts:p212-486-1250IR@ ubid.com SOURCE: uBid Holdings, Inc. The new Intech is not only sharper, catchier but the refreshed identity unites everyone within the group while putting forth each and everyones ambition, humility and devotion to life. Intech, the leader in contract manufacturing of orthopedic medical devices, today announced the launch of a new and unified global brand identity, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Fueled by a desire to tackle the industrys most complex engineering challenges, as well as an enthusiasm for designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art medical devices, Intech has grown leaps and bounds with strategic acquisitions around the world whilst creating new and innovative solutions. The need for brand unity became increasingly apparent as we grew to become an established leader in the market while further expanding our range of products and services globally, Intech is certainly today synonym with quality and orthopedic excellence, said Laurent Pruvost, Intechs President & CEO. In the wake of successful integrations across the United States, France and Malaysia, the new branding truly reflects the groups energy, passion and devotion to medical devices. And what better time to do it than on the Groups 20th anniversary!? In recent years, Intech has acquired industry leading entities including Turner Medical & Bradshaw Medical in North America, Pyxidis Medical in Europe and Ortho Solutions in Asia. "By simplifying our name, modernizing our brand, and unifying our message, we are creating one big Intech family with complementary and powerful capabilities topped by a unique team spirit ready to serve our customers everywhere," said Francois Samson, Intechs Head of Marketing. The new Intech is not only sharper, catchier but the refreshed identity unites everyone within the group while putting forth each and everyones ambition, humility and devotion to life. The companys vision, values and unique philosophy are carried through its engaging tagline we tech care. spelling out Intechs pledge to its customers, partners, staff and patients alike. The tagline embodies the brands inherent kindness, commitment and devotion, while highlighting its pursuit of technological innovation for orthopedics. Intech will be flying its new colors for the first time booth #1963 at AAOS 2020, next March 24-27 in Orlando, FL. In the meantime, tech care! About Intech Intech is a global market leader and game-changer in the manufacturing of orthopedic medical devices. It all starts with innovation, and nobody knows this better that Intech. With manufacturing facilities around the world and unique initiatives and savoir-faire, Intech is at the forefront of technological innovation in the field of orthopedic devices manufacturing as well as asset management, ensuring optimal patient care is delivered day in day out. This is who we are. We tech care. For media inquiries, please contact Francois Samson at fsamson@intech-medical.com. Pilot Plant Processing Brines Brisbane, Feb 18, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Lithium explorer and developer Lake Resources NL ( ASX:LKE ) ( FRA:LK1 ) provides this update on ongoing test work and commissioning of the Lilac Solutions ion exchange pilot plant module.As shareholders are aware, ~20,000 litres of brine samples are being transported from Kachi and are currently on the west coast and expected to arrive in 10 days to the docks in Oakland, California. These brine samples will be initially used to complete the commissioning of a Lilac Solutions pilot-scale ion exchange module. High-purity lithium chloride will be produced for conversion to battery-grade lithium carbonate. Deliveries of lithium carbonate samples to downstream groups are being planned to start the qualification process with off takers.In the lead up to this test program, Lake and Lilac Solutions are currently testing ~5,000 litres of 'replicate brine' through the ion exchange pilot plant as commissioning in preparation for the arrival and testing of the Kachi brines and to ensure the technology is consistent and fully functional.The replicate samples are expected to produce very similar results as the initial Kachi brines and Lake and Lilac will report on the outcomes from this test work.Lake's Managing Director Steve Promnitz said: "Our key focus at this time is to prove conclusively that the Lilac Solutions pilot-scale ion exchange module can consistently process the Kachi brines into high purity, battery grade lithium carbonate at volume. The rationale for processing these replicate brines is to ensure the pilot plant testing of the actual Kachi brines is completed without a 'hitch'."This is a transformational moment in the industry. Lake has an almost unique opportunity to deliver more sustainable lithium products with very low impurities - what EV makers and battery makers are increasingly seeking. The Kachi brines will arrive at Lilac in the next 10 days and testing will commence shortly thereafter. This is a critical program for Lake and Lilac and we look forward to providing updates as the test work unfolds."Lake aims to produce at Kachi a high quality, low impurity product capable of attracting premium pricing. The PFS which is almost completed is anticipated to show production costs in the lower part of the global cost curve.The direct extraction process, together with the Kachi project, offers a sustainable solution for the downstream battery makers by extracting lithium from brines using ion exchange without traditional evaporation ponds. Brine is returned to the aquifer once the lithium has been extracted without changing the brine chemistry.This addresses increasing interest from electric vehicle makers (OEM's) and battery makers to demonstrate they have access to a sustainable scalable supply chain for raw materials.To view the release, please visit:About Lake Resources NL Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF) is a clean lithium developer utilising clean, direct extraction technology for the development of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project, as well as three other lithium brine projects in Argentina. The projects are in a prime location within the Lithium Triangle, where 40% of the world's lithium is produced at the lowest cost. This method will enable Lake Resources to be an efficient, responsibly-sourced, environmentally friendly and cost competitive supplier of high-purity lithium, which is readily scalable, and in demand from Tier 1 electric vehicle makers and battery makers. Over the past five years, Maryland state psychiatrists have repeatedly concluded that Hoggle who has a history of paranoid schizophrenia is mentally incompetent to stand trial because she cant understand her surroundings well enough. But they also viewed her as restorable. In a new opinion reached Friday, according to Tuesdays proceedings, a state psychiatrist opined that Hoggle is no longer restorable. That is the first such opinion in the case, according to McCarthy and Felsen. New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Congress has been cautious on the issue of the deportation of British Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who was denied entry into India and was sent back from New Delhi airport. Congress leader Gourav Vallabh said that "the government should come out with facts on what happened". Another Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has backed her deportation. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak government and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted." tweeted Singhvi. Debbie Abrahams, who chairs a UK parliamentary group on Kashmir, said she arrived at Delhi airport at about 8.50 a.m. on Monday, and claimed that her visa was valid till October 2020 and she was visiting her Indian relatives. She was accompanied by her Indian members of staff. Narrating her side of the story, she said the immigration official in New Delhi "looked at his screen and started shaking his head. Then he told me my visa was rejected. he took my passport and disappeared for about 10 minutes. When he came back he was very rude and aggressive as he shouted 'come with me'." "I told him not to speak to me like that & was then taken to a cordoned off area marked as a Deportee Cell. He then ordered me to sit down & I refused. I didn't know what they might do or where else they may take me, so I wanted people to see me. He disappeared again when I rang my sister-in-law's cousin, Kai, who I was meant to be staying with. Kai got in touch with the British High Commission & he tried to find out what was going on," the British MP said in her statement. "After lots of different immigration officials came to me, I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a 'visa on arrival' but no one seemed to know. Even the person who seemed to be in-charge said he didn't know & was really sorry about what had happened," Abrahams said. The incident occurred while Mr Kumar was addressing a public meeting at Lakhisarai in Bihar. Patna: A youth was taken in custody on Monday after he made an attempt to throw a slipper at former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar. The youth was thrashed by supporters of Kanhaiya Kumar before being taken into custody by the police. The incident occurred while Mr Kumar was addressing a public meeting at Lakhisarai in Bihar. Calling Kanhaiya Kumar a traitor, the youth said that he has been upset with the ongoing agitation against the CAA, NPR and NRC. He also called himself a Godse supporter and said that attacks against Kanhaiya Kumar will continue. The youth identified as Chandan Kumar Gore was rushed to a local government hospital. Talking to reporters, he said, Kanhaiya Kumar has been trying to create an atmosphere of hatred through his speeches, but Left ideology will not work in our country. Patriots like me are not worried about being beaten up. Mr Kumar has raised the political temperature in Bihar by leading a massive Jan Gan Man Yatra to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NPR and NRC. Organisers of the programme told this newspaper that he has been facing regular violent attacks during his statewide tour. Activists accompanying him said that this was the ninth attack in two weeks and slogans being raised by people indicate that they belong to a particular ideology. Bihar today needs employment and not NPR. I would like to urge the state government to pass a resolution to prevent the implementation of CAA, NPR and NRC, Kanhaiya Kumar said. Blogger Denise Browning curates a comprehensive expert list featuring one of the hottest home cooking trends Delicious 5 Ingredient or less recipes shared at Easy and Delish PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 22:25:42 Press Information Easy and Delish 20802 Creek River San Antonio TX Denise Browning Author 2107011302 email https://www.easyanddelish.com Published by Denise Browning 2107011302 e-mail http://www.easyanddelish.com # 543 Words 20802 Creek RiverSan Antonio TXAuthor2107011302Denise Browning2107011302 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: Food blog Easy and Delish, authored by chef Denise Browning, today published a massive compilation of 130 mouth-watering recipes in the ever-popular 5-ingredient genre. The Brazilian native and San Antonio resident consulted with 70 other food blogging experts to assemble the compendium of tempting treats. The list spans a full gamut of alluring breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes, as well as luscious desserts, snacks, and drinks. Organized by meal course, each recipe links to the blog of its contributor.Browning has eagerly embraced the premise that recipes with relatively few ingredients can offer ease of shopping, preparation, and cleanup, as well as an economical price, while still delighting the senses. Im just thrilled to be able to offer my audience and visitors a wide range of healthy, easy, and budget-friendly recipes from all around the world, she relates, and to be able to do that without compromising on flavor. She has turned savory, unfussy meals into one of the hallmarks of her blog.The zeitgeist reveals a tension between our longing for tasty, home-cooked meals and the realities of todays overloaded work and life schedules. Pared-down recipes featuring five ingredients or fewer (occasionally supplemented by pantry staples like salt, pepper, garlic, or oil) have been a boon to todays harried cook, along with other godsends like one-pot and one-sheet pan meals.5-ingredient recipes continue an enduring trend set in motion by New Yorks Rozanne Gold, whose 1996 James Beard award winning Recipes 1-2-3 was one of the first cookbooks of the era to take up the gauntlet: how to craft a flavorful dish from a spartan list of ingredients? This minimalist approach has only continued to pick up steam since then, with British chef and restauranteur Jamie Oliver making another recent foray into the genre with his 5 Ingredient: Quick and Easy Food, launched in 2017.This type of recipe continues to be highly coveted by cooks scouring the Internet for ways to put delicious dinners on the table with a minimum of hassle. The expert roundup at Easy and Delish will no doubt serve as a comprehensive reference and invaluable source of inspiration. To access the post, please visit https://www.easyanddelish.com/easy-5-ingredient-or-less-recipes and find Easy and Delish on Twitter (easy_and_delish), Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.About Easy and DelishEasy and Delish blog and its forerunner From Brazil To You are the creations of Denise Browning, an award-winning food blogger, recipe developer, and Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef whose work has been featured in numerous national and international digital and print publications. From Brazil To You (2012-2016) grew to become one of the most successful English-language blogs dedicated to Brazilian cuisine. Broadening her focus to encompass American, Latin American, and other global cuisines, Browning transformed her blog in 2016 into Easy and Delish, whose emphasis is on easy and healthy dinner recipes on a budget. Her recipes have appeared on Food Network Canada, Food52, The Daily Meal, Parade, BuzzFeedFood, Delish, Country Living Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and many other influential sites. She counts among her previous clients Nestle, Arla Foods USA, The NYC NORTH Festival, Prosciutto di Parma, Rioja Wine, Fiji Water, and the Norwegian Seafood Council. She currently serves as a field editor for Taste of Home. The Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association on Tuesday filed a police complaint against policemen who barged inside the university's library on December 15 last year, demanding that they be charged for offences like attempt to murder and insulting religion. In its complaint filed with the deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) and the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station, the association alleged that the policemen rained batons on students inside the library and used religious slurs. "In order to hide and destroy evidences of their barbarity and unlawful conduct, the officials/personnel of the police force deliberately tried to destroy the CCTV cameras installed in the campus premises, including the ones installed in the Old Library," the complaint said. It also stated that the "personnel of the police force vandalised the premises of the Old Reading Hall of the library and broke the gate which was locked from inside by the students and started abusing the students...and lathicharging them from head to toe". According to the complaint, the students who were present inside the library ran to other floors of the building and tried to lock rooms (MPhil and PhD sections) by putting benches and chairs at the entrance "in order to protect themselves from indiscriminate and unlawful brutality and violence unleashed by the personnel of Delhi Police". The association demanded that the policemen be charged with criminal trespass with the intent to cause grievous hurt, criminal intimidation, attempt to murder, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion. It also said the videos that have emerged online over the last couple of days are proof of police action on campus. Three videos of alleged police brutality in Jamia surfaced online on Sunday. While one video purportedly showed paramilitary and police personnel thrashing students in the library, the other two showed some youths with covered faces entering the library. A fourth video surfaced on Monday. In the video, the police personnel can be seen raining batons on students who are trying to escape. Women students can be seen moving out while pleading with the police personnel and one of the policemen can be seen breaking a camera. The police have maintained that they are trying to establish the exact sequence of events by analysing all the clips circulating on social media. On December 15 last year, a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act near Jamia turned violent, with demonstrators pelting stones at police and setting public buses and private vehicles on fire. Police later entered the university, firing teargas shells and baton-charging students. They said they entered the campus as rioters had taken shelter there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When investing in dividend stocks, it's always tempting to go for a high yield. And while there are risks in doing so, you can offset those by investing in top companies that have strong track records and strong businesses. The three stocks listed below can offer investors the best of both worlds -- stability and high dividend payments. 1. GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) is a stable, safe stock for investors who are looking to cash in on its dividend. With the stock up just 9% over the past 12 months, investors would be better off holding the S&P 500, which produced returns of 23% over the same time frame. The company released its year-end 2019 results on Feb. 5, and although it generated positive growth and its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was up 1% on a constant exchange rate basis, GlaxoSmithKline expects that in 2020 it will decline between 1% and 4%. However, that's not a big problem for dividend investors given that the company has had no trouble staying in the black with a strong profit margin of 14.6% in its most recent quarter. Its strong financials give the company the ability to continue paying its impressive dividend, which investors can expect to generate roughly $2.40 per share a year, for a yield of around 5.4%. Although the company isn't raising its dividend for 2020, investors may still see some fluctuations in their payouts as a result of changes in foreign exchange. 2. AT&T AT&T (NYSE:T) is another high-yielding stock investors can add to their portfolios. Foreign exchange won't impact its dividend payments, which currently provide shareholders with $0.52 every quarter for a yield of 5.4% annually. The company has increased its dividend for more than 30 consecutive years, with the Dividend Aristocrat's most recent rate hike being a modest increase of 2%. The telecom giant is coming off a strong 2019 where it recorded sales of $181.2 billion and profits of $13.9 billion. It's not a bad result, especially given HBO Max cost the company $1.2 billion in forgone revenue. However, over the long term, HBO Max could more than pay off for AT&T as the company looks to be a dominant player when it comes to streaming services. AT&T still managed to generate more than $29.2 billion in free cash flow during the year, easily enough to cover its dividend payments of $14.9 billion. It's a safe investment, and with it trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of just 10, investors aren't paying a big premium to own shares of this blue-chip stock. AT&T stock is up more than 28% over the past year. 3. Philip Morris Phillip Morris International (NYSE:PM) also recently released its year-end results, posting them on Feb. 6. Although the company is battling headwinds as consumers move away from smoking, its net revenue for the year was still up a modest 0.6% and 6.4% when excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Adjusted diluted EPS of $5.19 also increased by 1.8% and 9.9% when factoring out foreign exchange. There are still some good opportunities for Phillip Morris to grow over the long term as its IQOS products, which heat rather than burn tobacco, provide a way for people to move away from smoking cigarettes. The company says that 9.7 million users have switched from smoking tobacco to using IQOS. But even if the company stands pat and doesn't generate much growth, it's still stable, and with a dividend of 5.3%, it could be attractive to dividend investors. Currently, the company pays its shareholders a quarterly dividend of $1.17, and it has increased its payments on an annual basis. Although it hasn't been around long enough to qualify as an Aristocrat, the dividend's proven to be stable and consistent over the years. Phillip Morris currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 15, and the stock is up 10% over the past 12 months. Which dividend should you buy today? There's not a lot separating these three companies in terms of dividend yield, and they're all better than the average S&P 500 yield of 2%. That means you can be extra picky if you're looking for just one of these stocks to buy today. The deciding factor likely comes down to growth. Phillip Morris has too many question marks surrounding its future growth and GlaxoSmithKline also isn't overly optimistic in its forecast. That leaves AT&T as the best stock of three when considering both dividends and growth. Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF), which is in the packaging business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$46.53 and falling to the lows of US$40.42. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Greif's current trading price of US$41.43 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Greifs outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Greif Is Greif still cheap? Great news for investors Greif is still trading at a fairly cheap price. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that Greifs ratio of 11.68x is below its peer average of 19.9x, which suggests the stock is undervalued compared to the Packaging industry. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Greifs beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. Can we expect growth from Greif? NYSE:GEF Past and Future Earnings, February 18th 2020 Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 53% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Greif. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Since GEF is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on GEF for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its prosperous future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy GEF. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed buy. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Greif. You can find everything you need to know about Greif in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Greif, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, has disclosed plans to gather in Ikom , Cross River State on April 12 2020 to mark five years of its resolution known as "Ekukunela Declarations". Ekukunela is an Ejagham town in Ikom local government area of Cross River State. Biafra Nations Youth League said it has setup a planning committee to organise the event. Disclosing this development to newsmen on tuesday, Chief of General Staff of the group, and leader of Displaced Bakassi Youths Linus Essien said "the decision to mark the Ekukunela Declaration every 12th day of April came during our General Assembly last February. "That was the day the true spirit of oneness entered our body". He said the declaration addressed four main issues affecting the people of former Eastern Nigeria and the Bakassi people "One is the British Conspiracy during the Colonial era. Second is the splitting of indigenous tribes into Nigeria and Cameroon, the Blockade of Biafra over Bakassi Peninsula and the denial of Biafran identity in the Niger Delta". Essien said that copies of the said resolution were distributed in dozens yesterday in the Bakassi Peninsula, "it will go round the east before the event comes up". He said many groups in the Southeast and Southsouth, including Southern Cameroons endorsed the declaration. BNYL warned the government not to use the securities to destabilize the gathering adding that it would ensure peaceful activities, hence any attempt to destabilize the event may lead to chaos "as we will not just protest the action but we will make sure there is no peace if we are stopped". The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, vowed to take on Fulani terrorists in the Southeast. IPOB urged people of southe... The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, vowed to take on Fulani terrorists in the Southeast. IPOB urged people of southeast to be prepared to expunge Fulani terrorists from the region. In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the separatist group alleged that soldiers under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai were working hand in hand with Miyetti Allah bandits and terrorists. The statement reads partly: What is unfolding before our very eyes today in Nigeria with soldiers working hand in hand with known terrorists and Miyetti Allah bandits to broaden the theater of endless cycle of slaughter and mayhem, especially in Biafraland, particularly with recent killings in Delta State of Biafraland as confirmation that only the divine words of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and actions of IPOB can save the people. It is now as clear as broad daylight that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been right along and those that mischievously accused him of hate speech are themselves the beneficiaries of the booming terror industry in Nigeria. The mind-boggling accuracy of the prophetic predictions of our leader should cause every right-minded person to ponder over the words and prophecies of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in-depth to appreciate its magnitude and force. In 2014, before the murderous tendencies of Miyetti Allah was unleashed on hapless Nigerians, way before Fulani herdsmen, bandits, foreign fighters, ISWAP, Ansaru, Al-Qaeda in the Mahgreb descended on innocent citizens with the fury of a Biblical plague; way before the emergence of the roundly hopeless and despotic regime of late Major-Gen. Buhari, our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said it live on air during his prophetic message of 6th February, 2014 on Radio Biafra that: If anything encapsulates the idiocy, double standards and duplicity of rulers of Nigeria in ongoing lawlessness in the British contraption, it is the behaviour of Buratai and his Janjaweed army. This is another one-time accomplishment and fulfillment of the prophecy from our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Therefore, we are calling on our people to be prepared because we are going to take on Fulani terrorists in our land. A Minnesota-based producer and retailer of CBD products recently doubled its Med City footprint. The CBD Centersopened its second Rochester shop on Saturday at 102 17th Ave. NW in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. CBD comes from hemp and has become very popular in recent years for its use to relieve pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, digestive issues and more. The first CBD Centers Rochester location opened in 2019 in Suite 104 at 3780 Marketplace Drive NW in the Rochester Marketplace shopping center. This new shop provides the "full experience" for customers, General Manager Trevor McCartysaid. "We have a fully functioning lab and a grow room along with the shop," he said. ADVERTISEMENT That shows what the CBD Centers organization sees as its main strength in an increasingly competitive market. All of the plants are grown on 800 acres of farmland in Southern Minnesota and then processed in a plant in Waseca. "We're a seed-to-shelf organization," McCarty said. "We know it, because we grow it." The CBD Centers carries a variety of CBD products, including oils, gummy candies, inhalables, as well as whole flowers for smoking. McCarty said the Miracle Mile shop has a team of four employees on staff now, but they hope to hire a couple more soon. President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to double efforts to free Leah Sharibu, a schoolgirl who was kidnapped two years ago. Miss Sharibu and 109 other schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram from the secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018. A total of 107 girls survived the ordeal out of which 106 were released by the terrorists after negotiations with the government. Miss Sharibu was not released because she refused to denounce her Christian faith, one of the freed girls said after their release. In a statement on Thursday, President Buhari said: This government continues and seeks to secure the release of all children and captives of terrorists and we do so regardless of their creed or the name of their creator. As we redouble our efforts for Leahs return, we can never allow the terrorists to divide us Christian against Muslim, Muslim against Christian. Read the presidents full statement he personally signed below. On the second anniversary of Dapchi, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes the following statement: Two years ago, 110 innocent children from the town of Dapchi were taken, against their will, by the terrorists of Boko Haram. 107 survived the ordeal. Today all but one Leah Sharibu are returned to their families. Now aged 16, Leah remains in the hands of the terrorists they say because she refuses to renounce her Christian faith. We say, as the government for and of all Nigerians, that no person has the right to force another to change their faith against their will and that all life is sacred. This government continues and seeks to secure the release of all children and captives of terrorists and we do so regardless of their creed or the name of their creator. As we redouble our efforts for Leahs return, we can never allow the terrorists to divide us Christian against Muslim, Muslim against Christian. We are all Sons of Abraham. And all Nigerians have the same worth and rights before the law, and before God. For actors Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah, India is their Valentine. The Shahs, always vocal about their opinions, say they are firm in their belief that the educated young give them hope in troubling times. The couple was speaking at an event titled India My Valentine here on Sunday. According to Ratna Pathak, the khalbali (churning) she saw in the 60s and 70s is back but the young and educated give her hope. During that time everyone was thinking about the progress of India. How to make the nation ours, what kind of nation it should be. Because my family has always been associated with performing arts, we used to have discussions on these topics, she said at the event featuring musical performances, stand-up comedy acts and speeches to celebrate love and unity in the country. Over a dozen artistes, including Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rekha Bhardwaj and Swanand Kirkire, came together on one stage at the event. Ratna Pathak, the daughter of the late actor Dina Pathak, said questions related to nation building were on everyones mind in the past decades. Now, there is a possibility of the nation breaking, changing, she said. The khalbali, the brainstorming of that time, can be seen reflected today. Of course, things have changed, the situation is extremely serious. What I saw and heard today, what I see around me, it definitely increases hope. Never before has India had so many young, educated people alive at one time. Its making a difference and we are seeing it all over the country, she said. The churn is not limited to Shaheen Bagh or Mumbai Bagh but spread across, she said, referring to the anti-CAA protests in several places in the country. Again, art is showing the way. This kind of khalbali is producing such wonderful writing, music, performances, she said. Also read: Heres how Deepika Padukone reacted when Ranveer Singh handed her his black lady Naseeruddin Shah said he cant help but wonder about the current situation when he looks around at the state of the nation. At a time when a lot of us are grappling to understand whats going on around us, I think Im not alone in agonising over a question: whether all this was always latent and has finally burst forth, not being able to contained any longer. Or has there been in the last decade a complete change in our country... Im not a social scientist, so I dont know the answer. The actor then read selections from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus The Discovery of India and said the book can shed some light. May be itll show you the direction... Ive also in these times felt the need to re-examine, rediscover what it is that is unique about this country, what it is that has always been our pride and has won the admiration of the entire world, he added. Follow @htshowbiz for more Published on 2020/02/18 | Source Hyun Bin (left) and Son Ye-jin The popular TV series "Crash Landing on You" starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin has ended with a record-breaking finale that delighted viewers all over the country. Advertisement The melodrama, which began airing on cable channel tvN in December last year, drew a 21.6 percent viewer rating with its final episode on Sunday, a new record for the cable channel's drama series. The previous record was 20.5 percent set by supernatural rom-com "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" in 2016. "Crash Landing on You" was especially popular among viewers in their 40s, with the last episode recording a whopping 29.4 percent rating among women and 23.6 percent among men. The series revolved around a South Korean heiress who makes a forced landing in North Korea while paragliding, and a North Korean officer who falls in love with her while trying to hide and protect her. The two stars' chemistry in an unusual setting for romance as well as supporting actors' scene-stealing turns have helped propel the show to the top. ___________ "Crash Landing on You" is directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, written by Park Ji-eun, and features Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Sun-young, Kim Jung-nan. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2019/12/14~2020/02/16, Sat, Sun 21:00 on tvN. "Jamia 2019 Assignment ki writing adhoori, kal submit kar di poori, toh library chaldi taki jaldi khatam karke ghar nikali" "...But likhna jaise shuru kara bahar shor, Many students ran inside in panic and locked the door. "..Do minute mein police ne gusse se darwaza toda, thank god they're here, now they will get us out. Par mere samne hi lathi se mere dost ka sar jo phoda".*** The words belong to a song that was released weeks after violent clashes between Delhi police and anti-CAA protesters in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year that left several students injured. Nearly two months since, videos of police attacking unarmed students in the library have started to cause outrage. And one of the most vocal critiques of the government and police seems to have come from the musicians of the country who have started to explore protest poetry to peacefully register their voice against injustice. "We are protest posts we don't fear no gun" The art of protest poetry is as old as protest itself and in 2020, both protest, and protest poetry have captured the national imagination. Be it the feisty words of revolutionary, anti-establishment Urdu poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz or the throbbing verses of young musicians across genres, protest poetry has come to aptly capture the mood of a nation deep in debates regarding a variety of government impositions. And a particular genre that has been pulsating with new content is the underground rap scene. "We have finally come to a place where protest rap is becoming mainstream and doing what it was actually meant to do - create discussion and debate about injustice and inequality," says rapper Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer, better known as 'EPR'. The acronym stands for 'Emcee, Poet, Rapper'. A 30-year-old rapper from Kolkata, EPR started writing and rapping his own songs as a teenager. After co-founding the award-winning alternative rock/rap band Underground Authority in 2010 and performing as its lead vocalist, the rapper has now started to develop his own brand of music which is more heavily focused on using art as a medium of dissent. "I hope awaz hamari wakes up the nation" In wake of continued protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019,(CAA) as well as proposed nation-wide National Citizenship Register (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), the rapper has come up with a new song that has already become a hit on social media. Called "We Inna Hindustan" and written in collaboration with Delhi-based rapper Void, the song talks about the alleged atrocities mounted by police across India on pro-democracy protesters. The song follows several incidents of violence in which protesters in Jamia as well as in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh Muslim University and other parts were attacked by armed policemen. It also comes in the wake of several incidents of shootings in protest sites in Delhi including outside Jamia that injured a student. Incidentally, the suspension of comedian Kunal Kamra's flying rights following an incident of alleged 'heckling' of Republic TV journalist Arnab Goswami also makes it to the song. According to the rapper, the problem with the government is that it refuses to acknowledge any questions. "It becomes the responsibility of artists who have a voice to become the voice for the large masses who don't." The rapper, who was born to a conservative Brahmin family in Tamil Nadu, says he had to fight it out with his parents when he started rapping. "They would not understand what I'm writing about, they even disowned me," EPR recalls. But since then, he has tried to leave behind the identity of "Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer" to craft a new identity and niche for himself as EPR - one that does not reflect his class or caste but only his persona as a musician and a protest poet. Though proud of his Southern heritage, being a musician is his only caste, creed and religion, he says. The musician does, however, acknowledge that though he had his own struggles, several other artists from discriminated castes still had very little opportunity to express their art and anger, thanks to systemic oppression within the entertainment industry and beyond.. "But social media is an important medium, it is direct and reaches a wide variety of audiences within a matter of hours," the rapper muses, adding that he hopes the platform gives more space to such artists. And in the past few years, it has. Rappers such as Sumeet Samos have for a few years now been rapping against the oppressive caste system in the country and the atrocities that members of the so-called "lower castes" continue to face at the hands of dominant upper-caste majorities across the country. Others such as former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Rahul Rajkowa from Assam whose anti-CAB rap went viral in 2019 have also been bringing regional rap to the mainstream. The artist previously sang against Assam's NRC as well. Similar artists from Bengal have started to crop up as a reaction to the anti-CAA protests which turned violent in Bengal in several instances with the issue even dominating local state politics. "We inna Bengal with our backs against the wall" EPR, who calls himself a "reporter from the streets", fears that the new wave of sectarian politics has now been entering Bengal and may end up influencing voters. The past couple of years has seen an increasing rivalry between the ruling Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party with several clashes turning violent in the last year itself. With state elections in Bengal coming up in 2021, the rapper feels creating protest art and poetry was all the more important. "Bengal always had its own culture of questioning. This is the land of Kazi Nazrul and Subhash Chandra Bose, revolution is in its blood," he says. "We cannot let fascist and oppressive narratives rule this state, or in fact any part of India". Looking at the new crop of protest poets, EPR, who is deeply influenced by Bengal's local ethos, especially that of Kolkata where he grew up and spent formative parts of his life, feels that India is at the precipice of a music breakthrough which will be driven forth by hip-hop. "Indians were served the wrong kind of commercial hip-hop when it came up in places like Punjab, it was more club and R&B, less hip-hop," he explains. He adds that it was only recently and thanks to shows like MTV Hustle and films like Gully Boy that a version of hip-hop closer to its original, fiery form was becoming mainstream. "The idea of hip-hop is rooted in dissent and unity. It is through hip-hop and in fact any art that many in the country who feel disillusioned and helpless can find a way to contribute," EPR says. All the musician's previous songs have each focused on a particular aspect of social disparity. His song "Akla Cholo Re" was about farmer suicides while another, 'Yeh Bata', was based on the severe problem of human trafficking in Bengal. EPR has also written songs about the Syrian refugee crisis as well as songs like "Ab Ki Baar Kaun" that were meant to educate the youth by showing them a hardened critique of India's electoral politics. **("Jamia 2019, my assignment was incomplete, submitted it yesterday. So I walked to the library to finish work and leave quickly for home" "...But as soon as I started writing, I heard noise outside Many students ran inside in panic and locked the door." "A two minutes the police angrily broke the door, We were relived, thought cops will save us, But in front of me they broke my friend's skull with lathi). After approving up to threefold hike in water tariff during the municipal corporations General House meeting in December, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday made a U-turn and decided to review the rates during a meeting of party councillors. The BJP has 20 councillors in the 26-member MC House. The move comes at a time when the MC is awaiting the UT administrations final notification on new rates. It has put a question mark on the fund-starved MCs plan to hike the rates from April 1, meant to meet its operation and maintenance cost for water supply across the city. The BJP during the meeting formed a panel of six party councillors, which will recommend slashing of the new water tariff. Mayor Raj Bala Malik, who too was present during the meeting and had earlier refused to review the hike, is learnt to have given in principle nod to table the amended agenda during the upcoming House meeting on February 25. However, she could not be reached for comment. BJP local president Arun Sood, who is also a councillor, said that the panel comprising Mahesh Inder Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Dhillion, Charanjiv Singh, Shakti Prakash Devshali and Bharat Kumar, will positively submit the report on February 21 after talking to all stakeholders. We will discuss it on February 22, and then accordingly push for its approval in the House, he said. Sood said the move was necessitated after there was a strong opposition from the public. We want to rationalise the hike, keeping in mind that even the MC doesnt suffer, he said. However, Congress leader of opposition Devinder Babla called it another ploy of the BJP to befool the people. If they are so concerned about the public, they should not have passed the steep hike, he said. It is their fear of losing the elections that made them review it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China has condemned the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on foreign companies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated China's opposition to the sanctions and urged Washington to correct its mistake at once. The U.S. announced on February 14, it was imposing sanctions on companies from China, Russia, Turkey and Iraq under a U.S. law on non-proliferation of nuclear and chemical materials. The law specifically restricts trade with Iran, the DPRK and Syria. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said American unilateralism and lack of respect for international rules were seriously undermining global non-proliferation efforts. He said the Iran nuclear issue was a case in point. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-17 22:28:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 4, 2018 shows the entrance to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li He) China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on six Chinese enterprises. BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" imposed by the United States citing its domestic law, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday. According to the Federal Register, the United States has decided to impose sanctions on six Chinese enterprises, three Russian enterprises, one Iraqi enterprise and one Turkish enterprise in accordance with its Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. "China has lodged stern representations with the U.S. side," spokesperson Geng Shuang said during an online press briefing, adding China urges the United States to correct its mistake at once and withdraw the sanctions. Geng said China is committed to strengthening the international non-proliferation system, strictly fulfilling the international obligation on non-proliferation and maintaining communication and cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual respect. By contrast, in non-proliferation and other areas, the United States has been obsessed with unilateralism and wantonly imposing unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" on others, which has been universally rejected by the international community as it severely undermines other countries' interests and international efforts in non-proliferation and safeguarding peace and stability, Geng said. "The Iranian nuclear issue is a case in point," he said. "We urge the United States to squarely face the international community's concerns and earnestly respect other countries' legitimate rights and interests." February 18, 2020 - The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold a media teleconference from the CARICOM meeting in Barbados. Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Time: 5 pm AST (4 pm ET) Notes for media: Media representatives wishing to participate in the teleconference should dial 1-866-805-7923 or 613-960-7518. The access code is 4687335#. A 36-year-old Ohio woman is facing a fourth-degree felony charge after repeatedly calling 911 to report that her parents had shut off her cell phone plan. Seloni Khetarpal, from Canton, was arrested on Thursday by Massillon police after she made several calls to the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center and was told only to call for legitimate reasons. Khetarpal continued to make emergency calls believing that her parents ending their payments on her cell to be a 911 issue. Seloni Khetarpal, 36, was 'belligerent' as she repeatedly called 911 last Thursday because her parents had cut off her cell service and she wanted a police response to fix the issue Seloni Khetarpal was arrested in Canton, Ohio, and charged with disrupting public services The calls began on Thursday, February 13, and Khetarpal demanded a police response. When told not to use 911 for the complaint, she called again several hours later. According to court documents, Khetarpal was 'belligerent' and insisted that it was a legitimate reason to call 911. She was arrested around 8.40pm and charged with disrupting public services. Seloni Khetarpal, 36, made repeated calls to 911 on Thursday after her parents cut off her phone plan and has now been charged with a fourth-degree felony for refusing to stop Khetarpal appeared in court on Friday and her bond was set at $2,500. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on February 27. According to her website, Khetarpal is originally from the UK but now lives in Canton, Ohio. Her bio states that she was a model for companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch and Miller Lite before coming a makeup artist and realtor. It is not known why her parents decided to stop paying for her phone plan. Within the framework of his visit to Moscow, Zareh Sinanyan, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, met with members of the Cilicia Business Club. Armenian Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toghanyan was also present at the meeting. First, the participants were introduced to the activities and priorities of the office of the aforesaid commissioner, and its agenda items for work with the Armenian diaspora. As important directions, Sinanyan singled out the maximum involvement of the Diaspora in Armenias life, infrastructure development and removal of barriers, implementation of mass repatriation, and restoration of mutual trust between the Diaspora and Armenia. Afterwards, Nver Sargsyan, the founder of Cilicia Business Club, presented their main tasks for 2020, mainly emphasizing the opportunities and prospects of investment projects in Armenia. An agreement was reached to hold the Armenian Business Networking event in April in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. The Commissioner was also presented with the idea of creating the Cilicia Tun offline communication platform, which will become a venue in Armenia for meetings and exchanges of knowhow between businessmen from the Diaspora. The Cilicia Business Club will also launch an e-platform where users can download their data, areas of activity, get to know each other, and work together. Zareh Sinanyan thanked the businessmen for their interest in the business environment of Armenia, and expressed readiness for cooperation and support. The government will propose names of 10 more wetlands, including two from Haryana, to be declared as sites of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The two wetlands in bird sanctuaries Sultanpur and Bhindawas in Haryana have never been considered before. The names of the wetlands will be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat at the ongoing 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Migratory Species and Wild Animals (CMS COP 13) being held at Gandhinagar. Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines. If the proposal to include 10 new wetlands is approved by the Ramsar Secretariat, India will have 47 sites protected internationally. We are working on declaring 10 more sites as Ramsar sites and in the process are trying to bring more areas under the Ramsar site conservation plan. A combined proposal is being sent to the Ramsar Secretariat, an Ministry official said. There are over 170 countries party to the Ramsar Convention and over 2,000 designated sites covering over 20 crore hectareshave been recognized under it. "The new wetlands being proposed for inclusion are - Lonar from Maharashtra which is a unique wetland and the only crater lake in the country, a site from Bihar-Kanwar lake, two sites from Haryana which doesn't have a Ramsar site till now -Sultanpur and Bhindawas. Uttarakhand also has sent a proposal for its first Ramsar site-Asan and the rest are from Uttar Pradesh, said the ministry official. The Convention, signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, is one of the oldest inter-governmental accord for preserving ecological character of wetlands. Also known as the Convention on Wetlands, it aims to develop a global network of wetlands for conservation of biological diversity and for sustaining human life. In January this year, 10 wetlands in India were recognized by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance which are Nandur Madhameshwar in Maharashtra, Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal in Punjab. Six sites from Uttar Pradesh were declared as Ramsar sites which are Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and SarsaiNawar. The other Ramsar sites are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) B illionaire Mike Bloomberg will take part in a Democratic presidential debate for the first time, his campaign has confirmed. To qualify for the debate in Nevada on Wednesday, the ex-New York Mayor had to score above double digits in four national polls recognised by the Democratic Party. On Tuesday, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found he had support from 19 per cent of those surveyed. He came in second place in the poll to Bernie Sanders who came in first with 31 per cent, with Joe Biden placing third with 15 per cent. The telephone survey of 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents was conducted by the Marist Poll at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points. Bloomberg's campaign centres around the belief he is the only one who can beat Donald Trump / AP Mr Bloomberg has chosen to bypass the first four nomination contests and instead use his personal fortune to define himself through television ads. The 78-year-old presidential candidate plans to enter the race on March 3, known as Super Tuesday, when 14 states will vote. He launched his presidential campaign in November but has not taken part in a debate yet. On Wednesday, Mr Bloomberg will appear at the Las Vegas debate alongside former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Fellow billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is still hoping to qualify. Mr Bloomberg's campaign said that it was seeing "a groundswell of support across the country" and that qualifying for Wednesday's debate "is the latest sign that Mike's plan and ability to defeat Donald Trump is resonating with more Americans." "Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he's the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country," Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. The Democratic National Committee recently changed its rules for how a candidate qualifies for the debate, opening the door for Mr Bloomberg to be on stage and drawing the ire of some candidates who dropped out of the race after failing to make prior stages. The candidates were previously required to receive a certain number of campaign contributions to qualify, but Mr Bloomberg, who is worth an estimated $60 billion, is not taking donations. The prime-time event will be a stark departure from Mr Bloomberg's highly choreographed campaign. He's poured more than $300 million into television advertising, a way to define himself for voters without facing criticism. Wednesday will be the first time Mr Bloomberg goes head to head with competitors / AFP via Getty Images While he's campaigned in more than two dozen states, he does not take questions from voters and delivers a standard stump speech that lasts less than 15 minutes, often reading from a teleprompter. He encounters the occasional protester, including one who jumped on stage recently in Chattanooga, Tennessee, yelling: "This is not democracy. This is a plutocracy!" But his friendly crowds usually quickly overwhelm the protesters with chants of "We like Mike!" Mr Bloomberg is likely to face far more direct fire in the debate. His fellow Democratic contenders have stepped up their attacks against him in recent days, decrying him for trying to "buy the election" and criticising his support of the "stop-and-frisk" tactic while mayor of New York City that led police to target mostly black and Hispanic men for searches. He rarely mentions his rivals by name, though his campaign is centered on the idea that none of them can beat President Donald Trump. And Mr Bloomberg, more than anyone, has predicated his campaign on a potential Mr Biden collapse. He's been aggressive in targeting African American voters in the South, a core demographic for Mr Biden's campaign. Mr Biden said he doesn't think "you can buy an election." Brussels, 18 February 2020 - Today, at a European Parliament lunch debate hosted by Christophe Hansen MEP (Luxembourg), Alzheimer Europe launched a new report presenting the findings of its collaborative analysis of recent prevalence studies and setting out updated prevalence rates for dementia in Europe. Over the past three decades, a number of significant pieces of work have been undertaken to estimate the prevalence of dementia at a European level, including: EURODEM study in the early 80s (updated in 2000) Alzheimer Europes project European Collaboration on Dementia EuroCoDe (2006-2008) ALCOVE, the 1st EU Joint Action on Dementia (2011-2013). As the most recent of these studies is six years old, Alzheimer Europe recognised the importance of establishing more recent dementia prevalence estimates, using the most up-to-date academic literature on the subject. The findings presented below are based on a collaborative analysis of prevalence studies published since the conclusion of the EuroCoDe project. A total of 16 studies meeting predefined quality criteria were included in the collaborative analysis. The key findings of this new Alzheimer Europe report include: For men, there has been a reduction in the prevalence of dementia across all age groups over the past ten years when compared to Alzheimer Europes 2008 EuroCoDe estimates. For women, apart from the age group of women between 75 and 79 years, there has been a reduction in the prevalence of dementia over the past ten years when compared to EuroCoDe. The number of people living with dementia in the European Union (EU27) is estimated to be 7,853,705 and in European countries represented by AE members, 9,780,678. Compared to its earlier estimates, this constitutes a significant reduction from 8,785,645 for the EU27 and from 10,935,444 for the broader European region. Women continue to be disproportionately affected by dementia with 6,650,228 women and 3,130,449 men living with dementia in Europe. Women continue to be disproportionately affected by dementia with 6,650,228 women and 3,130,449 men living with dementia in Europe. The number of people with dementia in Europe will almost double by 2050, increasing to 14,298,671 in the European Union and 18,846,286 in the wider European region. Alzheimer Europes Yearbook also highlighted significant limitations in the available research into dementia prevalence and a lack of research into: the prevalence of younger people with dementia (i.e. those aged under 65) the prevalence of different types of dementia the number of people affected by different stages of dementia including mild cognitive impairment the prevalence of dementia of people from ethnic minority groups. Commenting on the findings, Alzheimer Europe Executive Director, Jean Georges, said: It is promising to see that healthier lifestyles, better education and improved control of cardiovascular risk factors seem to have contributed to a reduction of the prevalence of dementia. However, our report also demonstrates that the number of people living with the condition is set to increase substantially in the years ahead, which will only place greater pressure on care and support services unless better ways of treating and preventing dementia are identified. If people with dementia, their families and carers are to receive the high-quality and person-centred care they need, governments must ensure their health and care systems are ready to meet this demand and greater investments in research into the treatment and prevention of dementia are needed. ### For further information, contact: Owen Miller, Policy Officer of Alzheimer Europe, 14, rue Dicks, L-1417 Luxembourg, Tel.: +352-29 79 70, Fax: +352-29 79 72, owen.miller@alzheimer-europe.org, http://www.alzheimer-europe.org The 2019 Yearbook "Estimating the prevalence of dementia in Europe" received funding under an operating grant from the European Union's Health Programme (2014-2020). The policy report was authored by Project Officer Christophe Bintener and Policy Officer Owen Miller. It can be purchased or downloaded via the AE website: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Publications/ Notes to editors Alzheimer Europe is the umbrella organisation of national Alzheimer associations and currently has 39 member organisations in 35 European countries. The mission statement of the organisation is to change perceptions, practice and policy to ensure equal access of people with dementia to a high level of care services and treatment options. Countries covered: Alzheimer Europe calculated the numbers of people with dementia living in the European Union (EU27) and the countries represented by the organisation's members (EU27 + Bosnia and Herzegovina, Channel Islands, Iceland, Israel, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom). Background information: In 2008, Alzheimer Europe published the results of its meta-analysis of prevalence studies published between 1998 and 2008. This meta-analysis was part of its European Collaboration on Dementia - EuroCoDe project. The findings presented above are based on a collaborative analysis of prevalence studies published since the conclusion of the EuroCoDe project. A total of 16 studies meeting predefined quality criteria were included in the collaborative analysis. Putting International Small-Caps On the Map Our goal in this paper is to provide an introduction for asset allocators to the international small-cap asset class by detailing its attributes in terms of performance, volatility, correlation, and fundamentals. Because asset allocators often compare international small-cap with international large-cap, we thought it was particularly important to examine the long-term relative performance of these two asset classes to highlight the regular frequency with which international small-caps outperformed their large-cap siblings. Knowing that the risk/return trade-off is always relevant when analyzing different asset classes, we also include volatility comparisons which show that international small-cap's superior performance record came with less incremental volatility than many financial professionals might expect. We then go on to examine how the two asset classes fared in different market environments, such as rising and falling equity markets and rising and falling interest rates periods, which showed that certain periods resulted in even wider positive relative return spreads for international small-caps. To enhance international small-cap's attractive attributes on a standalone basis, we demonstrate the benefits of adding the asset class to a global multi-asset portfolio. International small-caps have historically had a lower correlation to U.S. large-caps than either international large-caps or U.S. small-caps. This lower correlation allowed international small-caps to be additive on both an absolute and risk-adjusted return basis to a global multi-asset portfolio. Finally, we look at some indicators that suggest, at least to us, why the current period offers a compelling and timely opportunity. We conclude by highlighting some fundamental factors that we believe make the asset class potentially fertile ground for active management. Story continues Introducing a Large Opportunity in International Small-Caps Considering that less than 1%1 of mutual fund assets in the U.S. are invested in small-caps outside the U.S., we suspect that many asset allocators think of international small-caps (if they think of them at all) as a nearly indistinguishable subset of the large non-U.S. equity universe. If this is correct, international small-caps would seem to be facing an uphill climb toward recognition as an accepted asset class, much like their stateside cousins did more than two decades ago. However, the facts tell a story that should level that hill. Many asset allocators will be surprised to learn that the total market value of the companies in the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index, our proxy for international small-caps, is twice as large as that market capitalization of the Russell 2000 Index. 1 Source: Morningstar Compared with U.S. small-caps, there are: Number of Stock in International Small-Cap International Small-Cap Market Value Source: FactSet as of 12/31/19 "U.S. Small-Cap" is represented by Russell 2000, and "International Small-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap . Strong Long-Term Relative and Absolute Performance By market value alone, international small-caps would seem to merit consideration for inclusion in a globally diversified portfolio. However, their performance record makes an even stronger case for its inclusion as part of an overall equity allocation. (All of the results that follow begin with the first full month of performance for the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index on 5/31/94). Averages of Monthly Rolling Annualized 10-Year Returns From MSCI ACWI Index's First Full Month (Ended 5/31/94) through 12/31/19 10-Year Returns Global Indexes Past Performance is no guarantee of future results. "U.S. Large-Cap" is represented by Russell 1000, "International Large-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Large Cap, "U.S. Small-Cap" is represented by Russell 2000, and "International Small-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap. Annualized rolling monthly 10-year returns for the international small-cap index exceeded the MSCI ACWI ex USA Large-Cap Index (our proxy for international large-cap stocks), and nearly matched its domestic counterpart in the Russell 2000. For additional context, we also looked at results for the large-cap Russell 1000 over these same periods. Beyond this strong relative long-term performance record, international small-caps have additional attractive attributes that might be of particular relevance for asset allocators. Lower Volatility and Attractive Risk-Adjusted Returns Like their domestic peers, international small-caps have a reputation for high volatility. Even in the context of strong performance, more cautious asset allocators might not consider an investment for fear of taking on an unacceptable level of risk for their clients. The data, however, supports a very different conclusion. In fact, international small-caps have lower volatility than the U.S. small-caps and only marginally higher volatility than international large-caps, based on rolling 10-year standard deviation. Attractive Risk/Return Trade-Off Average of Monthly Rolling 10-Year Periods from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 Intl-small-cap-total-return-v-standard-deviation Past Performance is no guarantee of future results. "U.S. Large-Cap" is represented by Russell 1000, "International Large-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Large Cap, "U.S. Small-Cap" is represented by Russell 2000, and "International Small-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap. Additionally, over this same rolling 10-year period, international small-caps had comparable risk-adjusted returns to U.S. large-caps and small-caps, as well as higher than international large-caps, as measured by Sharpe ratio. Monthly Rolling Annualized 10-Year Sharpe Ratios From Indexes First Full Month (Ended 5/31/94) through 12/31/19 Sharpe-ratio-global-indexes "U.S. Large-Cap" is represented by Russell 1000, "International Large-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Large Cap, "U.S. Small-Cap" is represented by Russell 2000, and "International Small-Cap" by MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap. When considering the volatility of the international small-cap index, we think it's useful to recall that it is composed of a globally diverse set of companies in 46 countries that rarely occupy the same place in their respective economic cycles. This geographic diversification helps to dampen the price volatility of any specific security, and in our view, compensates for the lower average market cap for the international small-cap index versus U.S. small-cap index. Also helping to potentially reduce volatility is the prevalence of dividend-paying companies. Approximately 87% of the international small-cap index paid dividends as of 12/31/19.1 1 There can be no assurance that companies that currently pay a dividend will continue to do so in the future. Historical Portfolio Benefits of Low Correlation As one might expect, international small-caps have a lower correlation to U.S. larger-caps than either international large-caps or U.S. small-caps. Correlation-to-large-cap 1 Correlation of monthly returns from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 To test the performance and volatility effects this lower correlation might have, we ran results for two hypothetical multi-asset portfolios. For each, we charted hypothetical returns (measured by the growth of $10,000), standard deviation, and Sharpe ratio. Both portfolios were rebalanced quarterly and encompassed the same time period, 5/31/94-12/31/19. The first portfolio we constructed had 40% of its assets in bonds and 60% in stocks, with the latter allocated evenly among domestic large-caps, domestic small-caps, and international large-caps. In the second portfolio, we made only one change--we swapped the international large-cap allocation for an allocation to international small-caps. Hypothetical Portfolios -- Asset Allocation Quarterly Rebalanced, From 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 Hypothetical-asset-allocation While both multi-asset hypothetical portfolios showed strong standard and risk-adjusted performance, the portfolio with the international small-cap allocation had higher absolute and risk-adjusted returns as well as lower volatility. This is as strong an argument as we believe can be made in favor of allocating to international small-cap stocks. "Bonds" are represented by Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate, "U.S. Large-Cap" by Russell 1000, "U.S. Small-Cap" by Russell 2000, "Int'l Large-Cap" by MSCI ACWI x USA LC, "Int'l Small-Cap" by MSCI ACWI x USA Small Cap. The above chart is shown for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the past performance, or project the future performance, of any investment. The performance of an index, such as those used above, does not represent any particular investment as you cannot invest in an index. The Sharpe Ratio is calculated for a specified period by dividing an investment's annualized excess returns by its annualized standard deviation. The higher the Sharpe Ratio, the better the investment's historical risk-adjusted performance. Persistence in Beating Large-Caps Because many investors split their international equity allocation between small- and large-cap stocks, we think it's important to be aware of the longer-term relative performance history. International small-caps have beaten their large-cap siblings in 68% of rolling three-year periods, 82% of rolling five-year periods, and 95% of rolling 10-year periods. Batting Average of International Small-Cap vs International-Large Cap MSCI ACWI ex USA SC vs MSCI ACWI ex USA LC Monthly Rolling Average Annual Return Periods from the Index Inception (5/31/94) through 12/31/19 10-5-3-yr-intl-small-v-intl-large International Small-Cap Results in Different Environments Analyzing monthly trailing one-year returns from 5/31/94-12/31/19, which consists of 296 periods, we found that while international small-caps outperformed large-caps over most rolling time periods, there were market conditions in which the performance spread was greater than others. We first examined both positive and negative return periods for the international all-cap index to see how non-U.S. small-caps performed versus their large-cap peers. The result was a relative advantage for the international small-cap index in both negative and positive return periods for non-U.S. stocks. We then broadened our scope, examining returns for the international small- and large-cap indexes when the 10-year German Bund yield was rising and falling: International Small-Cap vs International Large-Cap in Different Market EnvironmentsMSCI ACWI ex USA SC vs MSCI ACWI ex USA LC Monthly Rolling Trailing 1-year Periods from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 MARKET ENVIRONMENTS PERIODS INT'L SMALL-CAP BEAT INT'L LARGE-CAP BATTING AVG INT'L SMALL-CAP INT'L LARGE-CAP AVG SPREAD International Equity Positive 126/196 64% 19.3% 17.3% 2.0% Negative 51/100 51% -13.8% -14.2% 0.4% 10-Year German Bund Rising 69/93 74% 22.4% 18.9% 3.5% Falling 108/203 53% 1.6% 1.0% 0.6% "International Equity" is represented by the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index. International small-caps outperformed their large-cap counterparts in both rising and falling rate environments, but the absolute return level and relative return spread were each significantly different. The best results for U.S. dollar investors came when German Bund Yields were rising, which is possibly due to three overlapping factors: bond yields usually rise when economies are improving, international small-caps have more cyclical exposure than international large-caps, and rising Bund Yields often occur in periods of U.S. dollar weakness, resulting in enhanced gains for U.S. dollar investors. In each of the four scenarios shown above, the advantage went to international small-cap. We think the results of our research therefore present a strong argument for making a strategic allocation to this asset class. The Current Opportunity Among the other compelling reasons to consider allocating to international small-caps is the timeliness of the opportunity. Over the long-term, international small-caps and U.S. small-caps have experienced rotating periods of outperformance with minimal long-term difference between the indexes. However more recently, international small-caps have underperformed which we think has increased the probability for future international outperformance. International Small-Caps Poised for a Rebound? MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap vs Russell 2000 Annualized Trailing 10-Year Relative Return Spread from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 10-yr-spread-intl-small-vs-small The 10-year average annual total return through 12/31/19 was 6.92% for the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap and 11.83% for the Russell 2000, -4.90% represents the difference. It's worth mentioning that when non-U.S. stocks as a group outpaced their domestic cousins, international small-cap outperformed their large-cap peers 80% of the time--and by an average spread of 6.2%--for all monthly rolling one-year periods from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19. When International Has Outperformed U.S. Monthly Rolling Trailing 1-year Periods from the Index Inception (5/31/94) through 12/31/19 when-int'l-outperforms "U.S." is represented by the Russell 3000 Index and "International" by the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index. "Int'l Large-Cap" is represented by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Large-Cap Index and "Int'l Small-Cap" by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small-Cap Index. The historical data suggests, then, that relatively good periods for international stocks mean relatively better periods for international small-caps. So while there is no guarantee of the course of future returns, we think the long-term performance history of the two small-cap indexes suggests that a multi-year run for international small-caps is possible. In our view, this is especially relevant when evaluating the opportunity in non-U.S. small-caps. The Case for Active Management in International Small-Caps Do the attractive attributes of international small-caps also offer the potential for active managers to improve on these results? We believe they do, based on the following: A Large and Diverse Asset Class There are more than twice as many international small-caps as domestic small-caps, providing ample opportunity for active managers to search for mispriced stocks. Further, international small-caps offer access to local, regional, and global businesses hailing from a diverse group of 46 countries. An Inefficient Asset Class About 31% of the companies in the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap were receiving one or no sell-side analyst coverage versus 15% for those in the Russell 2000 as of 12/31/19.1 This provides an active manager with a potentially sizable analytic advantage. High ROIC Companies Historical returns of the international small-cap index's high-profitability companies, based on ROIC, have markedly exceeded those for the index as a whole. The average annual total return for the top ROIC decile of non-U.S. small-cap stocks was 15.7% from 1/31/032-12/31/19, compared to 10.2% for the overall index over the same period. This suggests to us that an active management approach focusing on companies with higher profitability and sustainability can enhance the potential for higher returns.3 Companies with Earnings Loss-making international small-cap companies have historically lagged. In fact, companies with positive earnings have outperformed the international small-cap index, gaining 12.1% versus 10.2% on an average annual total return basis from 1/31/03-12/31/19. A manager who focuses on non-U.S. small-caps with established histories of earnings may therefore also be able to potentially enhance returns. 1 Source: Factset 2 January 2003 is the first month which Royce has access to fundamental data on MSCI indexes. 3 Return on Invested Capital is calculated by dividing a company's past 12 months of operating income (earnings before interest and taxes) by its average invested capital (total equity, less cash and cash equivalents, plus total debt, minority interest, and preferred stock). The portfolio calculation is a simple weighted average that excludes cash, all non-equity securities, investment companies, and securities in the Financials sector with the exceptions of the asset management & custody banks and insurance brokers sub-industries. The portfolio calculation also eliminates outliers by applying the inter-quartile method of outlier removal. Historical Performance of Active International Small-Cap Funds Our next step was to ask what history can tell us about the potential advantages for active management in the international small-cap space. We compared performance for the average international small-cap mutual fund, using Morningstar's International Small/Mid Cap Blend average, to the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap index over rolling five-year periods. The majority of the time, 63% of the 247 periods since the index's inception in 1994, the average international small-cap blend fund beat the index with average annual five-year returns that were about 200 basis points higher net of all fees for the mutual funds. This shows that the actual relative performance history aligns with our research--both suggest that international small-caps may present a fruitful opportunity for active managers. U.S. Fund Foreign Small/Mid Blend Outperformed the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index Monthly Rolling Average Annual Return 5-Year Periods From 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 active-intl-historical-outperf active-intl-historical-avg-5yr This research also shows that the universe of non-U.S. small-cap stocks is a fruitful starting point, giving active managers a number of opportunities to potentially prune the list of investment candidates. ?There were 269 US Fund Foreign Small/Mid Blend Funds tracked by Morningstar with at least five years of performance history as of 12/31/19. The performance data and trends outlined in this presentation are presented for illustrative purposes only. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Historical market trends are not necessarily indicative of future market movements. Source: Morningstar Conclusion We think that the combination of strong absolute and relative performance, low correlation to both international large-caps and U.S. small-caps, and strong results in a number of different market environments makes a very strong case for including international small-caps in a globally diversified portfolio. In our view, the timeliness of the opportunity serves to bolster an already compelling case. We suggest that asset allocators consider the potential advantages active management can offer within the asset class based on both the historical strength of certain fundamentals and the overall inefficiency of this large and diverse group of small-cap stocks. Appendix: International Small-Caps vs Emerging Markets While we believe that our research makes a clear and compelling case for an international small-cap allocation, we understand that some investors will also want to know how the asset class has fared relative to emerging market stocks. This may be of particular relevance given that emerging markets equities have a similar reputation to small-cap stocks for both high returns and high risk. When we examined the history of these two asset classes, the results were consistent with our expectations. Emerging market companies mostly delivered slightly lower returns and they did so with considerably more risk. For example, based on rolling monthly five-year returns from 5/31/94-12/31/19, emerging market stocks returned 6.0% vs. 6.8% for international small-caps. In addition, the emerging markets return came with significantly higher volatility--a standard deviation of 22.6% for emerging market stocks vs. 17.2% for international small-caps. International Small-Cap: Comparable Return and Lower Risk than Emerging Markets Average of Monthly Rolling 5-Year Periods 5/31/94-12/31/19 emerging-markets-risk-v-return Past Performance is no guarantee of future results. "International Large-Cap" is represented by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Large-Cap Index, "International Small-Cap" by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small-Cap Index, and "Emerging Markets" by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. As one might guess, emerging market stocks' combination of slightly lower returns with substantially higher volatility meant that international small-caps had a higher rolling monthly five-year risk-adjusted return. Sharpe Ratio Average of Monthly Rolling 5-Year Periods from 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 emerging-markets-sharpe The heightened risks of emerging market stocks manifested itself most vividly perhaps by having deeper declines during down markets. There were seven declines of 15% or more since the inception of the MSCI ACWI ex USA index. During these seven periods, the median decline for international small-cap stocks was 25.9% versus 40.5% for emerging market stocks--which declined more in five of those seven periods. These deeper declines could create challenges for investors trying to stay the course for as long as is needed to achieve their long-term objectives. Down Market Performance Comparison From 5/31/94 through 12/31/19 emerging-market-vs-int'l-small-in down-markets "International Small-Cap" is represented by the MSCI ACWI ex USA Small-Cap Index and "Emerging Markets" by the MSCI Emerging Markets. Overall, we suggest that a strategic allocation to international small-caps is an attractive option for asset allocators to consider--the asset class had significantly higher returns with modestly higher risk than international large-caps along with modestly lower returns but significantly lower risk than emerging market equities. Important Disclosure Information The performance data and trends outlined in this presentation are presented for illustrative purposes only. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Historical market trends are not necessarily indicative of future market movements. Any information, statements and opinions set forth herein are general in nature, are not directed to or based on the financial situation or needs of any particular investor, and do not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or a recommendation with respect to any particular security or investment strategy. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies should consult their financial professional. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Richard Madeley has revealed he was 'badly beaten' by his father as a child, during a debate on Good Morning Britain on whether it's ever okay to beat your kids. Speaking on the morning show, the host, 63, said both his dad and his teachers were violent to him when he was growing up, and he's still furious about his experiences. He admitted: 'I was badly beaten as a child by my dad. When I look back to my childhood, most of my friends, I got the cane several times. And I was seriously beaten.' He added of his school years: 'I got three strokes at (school) for throwing a paper dart. 'The scars lasted six months and I am still angry about it.' Richard Madeley has revealed he was 'badly beaten' by his father as a child, during a debate on Good Morning Britain on whether it's ever okay to beat your kids Richard Madeley with his father Christopher. Richard Madeley previously told the Daily Mail how his largely loving father used to beat him so badly he was left screaming, remembering how he was just seven when he was first beaten with a cane He added: 'I swore I would never lay a finger on my kids and I didnt think I did, but I asked them and they both have thin memories of me smacking them on the bottom once or twice and I must have blanked it out.' Richard Madeley previously told the Daily Mail how his largely loving father used to beat him so badly he was left screaming, remembering how he was just seven when he was first beaten with a cane. He wrote in 2008 of his first beating: 'The shock of being beaten with a cane - a long bamboo stick, part of a big bundle kept in the garden shed for supporting runner beans - was total. 'I could tell that they stemmed from a loss of control on my father's part. He had always been prone to losing his temper and shouting when I was naughty, but that no longer seemed enough for him. 'I must have known that the thrashings were excessive because I didn't mention them to anyone. 'I realised after several playground conversations that although many of my friends were also physically chastised, my own beatings were of a different order. 'I cannot remember how frequent the thrashings were. Sometimes they stopped. Then I would do something to enrage my father and my heart would falter as once again I stood alone in a room, listening to the distant shed door grind open.' Speaking on the morning show, the host, 63, said both his dad and his teachers were violent to him when he was growing up, and he's still furious about his experiences His confession came as Good Morning Britain viewers clashed over whether it's ever okay to hit your child after a woman claimed it's always 'completely wrong' to smack kids. Journalists and mothers Sarah Cawood, 47, and Sian Griffiths, both from London, appeared on the show today to debate whether it's ever okay to physically discipline your children. While Sarah felt it's okay to lightly hit children if they're in a 'dangerous situation' Sian believes it's always 'completely wrong' to smack children and thinks it should be banned in England. Currently it is banned in Scotland and Wales. Viewers clashed over the issue, with some insisting that it teaches 'respect and discipline' while others felt there are 'other strategies' to turn to when your child is disobeying you. This comes after actor Martin Freeman, 48, admitted he smacked his son, 14, and daughter, 11, and called them 'little f***ers' when they were younger, despite it being a rule at home not to do either. Journalists Sarah Cawood (left), 47, and Sian Griffiths (right), both from London, appeared on Good Morning Britain today to debate whether it's ever okay to physically discipline your children Sarah said: 'I think occasionally when they are in danger, it's okay to make sure they don't hurt themselves. 'I have been guilty when they're toddlers of grabbing their wrist and having a tap, because you can't reason with toddlers. So I have thought it is acceptable in that situation.' Sian disagreed, arguing: 'I think it's completely wrong. 'I mean I'm a parent, I know how difficult it is. But I do think it's wrong in principle to smack your child. Currently a vote on GMB in which 20,500 partipated in shows 66% believe you should smack your children Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their views, with several agreeing with Sarah and saying there's a 'difference between smacking and beating' and that when in danger, 'gentle hand isnt going to kill them' 'I think England should ban smacking, I think the government should ban smacking right through England, Scotland has done it, Wales has done it 60 countries have done it for a reason.' She added: 'There is a lot of research now that shows if you smack your child, if you use that as a form of discipline, your child is more likely to be aggressive, to be antisocial and more anxious. ' Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their views, with several agreeing with Sarah and saying there's a 'difference between smacking and beating' and that when in danger, 'gentle hand isnt going to kill them.' Sarah felt it's okay to lightly hit children if they're in a 'dangerous situation' and admitted to hitting her own child in the past Sian believes it's always 'completely wrong' to smack children and thinks it should be banned all across the UK 'No, never done me or my sons any harm. Correct and timely discipline helps shape a person', wrote one. Another agreed: 'That 'research' is easily rubbished. I'm one of five and we were all smacked when necessary. 'As a result it taught me social conduct, respect and discipline. There's a difference between smacking and beating.' A third commented: 'No I dont agree with smacking however if theres danger and child is not listening then a gentle hand isnt going to kill them instead! Id rather my child alive then dead by a run over car, depends on situations to! Also Im the parent not you!' However many viewers agreed with Sian and felt there's a double standard when hitting children However many viewers agreed with Sian and felt there's a double standard when hitting children. One wrote: 'Is it okay for your children to smack you? Then its certainly not okay for you to smack them.' Another said: 'Theres so many other strategies to use rather than smacking. Smacking is a reaction to poor behaviour not a response thats considered. So then if your child hits a younger child what do you say?' A third commented: 'Yes - we shouldnt even be having this conversation. Its wrong and thats it!' Another added: 'I got smacked many of times and it did me no good just made me a very angry person throughout my childhood. Id never in a million years think of hitting my kids.' There has been an astonishing decline of 79% of the Indian species of birds, but there is also some positive news as the number of Indian peafowls (national bird peacock) has shown a considerable rise, according to the State of India's Birds Report 2020. The report has also stated that the number of house sparrows have remained "roughly stable" across the country. Its population has shown a rise in the rural areas, but has been on the downward trend in the metropolitan cities. Indian Peafowl/eBird The report was released on sidelines of the 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 13) held on February 17. The report assessed the status of 867 Indian birds, and revealed a decline of 79 per cent, for which the current trends could be assessed, and 50 per cent, for which long-term trend could be assessed. In all, 101 species have been classified as of "high conservation concern". On the brighter side, there has been a spike in the population of Indian peafowl, both in long-term and currently, it was revealed. As for the house sparrows, despite the common belief that it is declining in India, the analysis suggests that the species has been "fairly stable overall during the past 25 plus years," it said. House Sparrow/eBird However, the data from six metropolitan cities (Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai), is a cause for concern as their has been a "gradual decline" in their abundance in urban centres, it added. The report which used the data uploaded by birdwatchers on the online platform eBird also added that "the analysis indicates that 48 per cent of species have remained stable or are increasing in the long-term (over 25 plus years), while 79 per cent show a decline in the last five years." Of the 146 species for which current annual trends could be estimated, nearly 80 per cent are declining, with almost 50 per cent declining strongly, it said. The groups that has shown the greatest of decline are raptors, migratory shorebirds and habitat specialists, among others. The report relied on over 10 million observations contributed by over 15,500 birdwatchers. Pinterest The assessment was based on three crucial indicators - two of change in abundance: long-term trend (over 25+ years) and current annual trend (over the past five years), and the third is a measure of distribution range size. According to the report, the current annual trends could be estimated for 146 species. Of these, nearly 80 per cent are declining, with almost 50 per cent declining strongly, it said. The report is a result of collaboration between 10 research and conservation organisations, including the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bombay Natural History Society, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wide Fund for Nature India, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and Wetlands International South Asia, among others. IT recruitment firm TopDev has secured a million-dollar investment from South Koreas leading recruitment company Saramin HR. The Ho Chi Minh City-based company said in a statement Monday that the deal, whose exact value it did not reveal, would be used to increase the supply of developers through training programs for graduates. Saramin HR, which is listed on South Koreas KOSDAQ, said the investment is part of its global development plan and would support TopDevs potential expansion in Southeast Asia. TopDev said Vietnam has 350,000-400,000 developers now but 500,000 would be needed by 2021 as the country remains a popular outsourcing software destination for multinationals. Vietnam is seeing increasing investment in tech startups. Last year the total investment in Vietnamese tech startups surged 2.5 times to $741 million, second only to Indonesia in Southeast Asia. Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett is familiar with elections, appearing on the ballot five times in the last six election cycles and overseeing the office responsible for the voter rolls in Texas largest county. She finds herself in new territory this year, however, with a feisty Democratic primary opponent former Houston city councilwoman and HISD trustee Jolanda Jones who is forcing Bennett to defend her record as an incumbent for the first time. After unseating Republican Mike Sullivan in 2016, Bennett assumed elected office for the first time, taking control of the Harris County office responsible for overseeing billions of dollars in property tax collections and serving as voter registrar. The office also processes millions of annual vehicle registrations and title transfers. As early voting begins, Bennett is battling for a second term against Jones and frequent local candidate Jack Terence. Though she has endured a few choppy moments during her first three-plus years, she argues that her voter registration outreach efforts and the creation of educational property tax workshops are among the reasons she deserves another term. Democratic Primary Candidate: Ann Harris Bennett Occupation: Harris County tax assessor-collector Elective office sought or held: Harris County tax assessor-collector since 2017; sought Harris County Clerk, 2010 and 2014; unsuccessful bid for tax assessor, 2012 Candidate: Jolanda Jones Occupation: Criminal defense attorney Elective office sought or held: Houston City Council, at-large, 2008-2012; Houston ISD board of trustees, 2016-2020 Candidate: Jack Terence Occupation: Tax protester Elective office sought or held: Unsuccessful runs for Houston city council and mayor, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 See More Collapse "I still have a little work to get done after many years of the need for cultural change in the office, bringing it up to the standards that any tax and voter registrar's office needs to be at, Bennett said. Jones, a criminal defense lawyer, said Bennett has missed opportunities to register more voters in Harris County, where the share of eligible voters who are registered to vote is below the state average and far lower than some other large counties. She said she would make aggressive efforts to register voters, including former felons and high school students, and would have Harris County buy into the National Change of Address database, which helps voter registrars keep track of registered voters when they move to new addresses. Jones argued that Harris Countys voter registration has lagged behind that of other Texas counties that use the database, though Bennett has said her office already uses it to find residents in suspense status. Bennett said her office has done everything that we could possibly do to do outreach, including partnering with nonprofit groups and holding some 200 trainings for deputy voter registrars. Otherwise, Jones contended Bennett is overly punitive in enforcing penalties on late property tax payments. The way that the current tax assessor-collector assesses penalties and interest is destructive to anyone who doesn't have all their money on Jan. 31 of whatever year, Jones said, referring to the deadline for property tax payments. Though state law would in some ways constrain Jones efforts, she insisted there are mechanisms that can be used to help people save their property. She predicted a marked decrease in foreclosures if she were elected tax assessor-collector. I'm going to collect penalties and interest when the law requires that I do, Jones said. But I'm going to give people the opportunity to pay and keep their property. In Texas, tax assessors must waive penalties and interest on delinquent payments if the taxing unit caused the payment to become delinquent, and may waive the fee if the taxpayer proves he or she tried to pay the tax by mail before the delinquency date. The tax assessor also may waive penalties or interest if the taxpayer paid the tax not later than the 21st day after the date the taxpayer knew or should have known of the delinquency. That provision gives the tax assessor a wide amount of latitude, Jones argued. Bennett, meanwhile, said she was sought ways to lighten the burden on taxpayers, such as allowing residents in need to pay delinquent property taxes through installment plans spanning the maximum 36 months allowed under state law. There's no satisfaction in me selling people's property, Bennett said. I don't take any pleasure in seeing heirs come into my office and fight over legacy property. Before winning her current seat in 2016, Bennett ran unsuccessfully for county clerk in 2010 and 2014 and lost her first bid for tax assessor in 2012. She has had little trouble navigating Democratic primaries, however, easily dispatching formidable opponents. In 2010, she secured 63 percent of the vote against former state legislator and Harris County Democratic Party chair Sue Schechter, and in 2016 fared only slightly worse 61.5 percent against Brandon Dudley, a longtime chief of staff for state senator-turned-county commissioner Rodney Ellis. Also seeking to deny Bennett a second term is Terence, who has run for a slew of positions, including Houston mayor, since the 1970s. His campaign website, jackterencetaxprotester.com, appears largely devoted to promoting a conspiracy theory that the Harris County Appraisal District gave the Houston Chronicle a favorable appraisal on its property after the Chronicle named HCAD one of Houstons top workplaces. Terence spent most of his time in a recent meeting with the Chronicle editorial board making related allegations, and at one point falsely said Bennett had received a campaign contribution from Rudy Giuliani a reference to the Bracewell law firm that formerly was Bracewell Giuliani. Former Harris County district clerk Chris Daniel, a Republican who lost his re-election bid in 2018, is running unopposed in the GOP primary. Early voting begins Tuesday and Election Day is March 3. jasper.scherer@chron.com The Patiala Babes 17 February episode began with Mini all shocked to hear that Kewal punished Neha by taking her into the bathroom. Arya cried and kept questioning Mini about her take over the incident, to which Mini expressed that she was in total shock. Arya also stated that she thought she would be the next to be punished by Keval. Mini thought that it was just better to escape to Australia after that. Patiala Babes 17 February written update After that, Mini hugged Arya and started sobbing. NB, who was eavesdropping their conversation, was in stress too. A sad Neil who was also there decided to go and talk to the sisters, but NB asked Neil to leave them alone for a while. NB also told him that now the duo had started bonding like Mini and Babita. Later, Mini made up her mind to catch hold of Keval. Mini and Arya shared emotional bonding and expressed their feelings towards each other. Mini then walked out of the room and kept reminiscing Aryas words. Even though NB warned Neil to not interfere between the sisters, he went on to question Mini if she was fine. Neil expressed that he was worried about her. Mini thanked him for the concern and then expressed that she was puzzled about their relationship. Neil told her that he would always stand beside her. Also Read | 'Patiala Babes' Written Update February 11: Mini And Arya Reconcile Also Read | 'Patiala Babes' written update | February 12: Arya gets disturbing flashbacks Patiala Babes 17 February came to end when Vinita asked Mini to not call her between 3.30 pm and 4 pm. Vinita's husband decided to not send Neha to school as she needed rest. She told Mini that she could not speak in front of her husband and hung up the phone call. Vinita's husband asked her whom she was speaking to. She said it was Nehas doctor. Arya asked Mini why Vinita was speaking so suspiciously to which the two pondered about the situation. Also Read | 'Patiala Babes' February 13 written update: Keval visits Mini's house to meet Arya Also Read | 'Patiala Babes' Written Update | Feb 14: Babes And Mini Start Their Job Search (Image courtesy: Screengrab from the show) Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Boys Scouts file for bankruptcy, creates fund to compensate sex abuse victims Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Boy Scouts of America said Tuesday that the national organization has filed for bankruptcy protection in a bid to ensure equitable compensation for thousands of sexual abuse victims who were harmed while participating in their programs and ensure they can continue to carry out their mission for years to come. The BSA also noted as a part of the Chapter 11 process, it has created a Victims Compensation Trust that would provide equitable compensation to victims. The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children, Roger Mosby, the organizations president and chief executive officer, noted in a statement. While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process with the proposed Trust structure will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSAs important mission. More than 12,000 Boy Scout members have been victims of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of 7,819 allegedly sexually abusive troop leaders and volunteers, according to an analysis of long-held records in the organization known as the perversion files. The perversion files, which have previously been highlighted, show thousands of offenders of childhood sexual abuse that have been removed from the Boy Scouts of America over the years. The files were kept private at the BSA headquarters. Jim Turley, national chair of the BSA, urged victims in an open letter to come forward. The BSA cannot undo what happened to you, but we are committed to supporting you and to doing everything in our power to prevent it from happening to others. It is a social and moral responsibility that I and the entire organization take extremely seriously. We believe that all victims should receive our support and compensation and we have taken decisive action to make that possible, Turley wrote encouraging victims to take advantage of the Trust set up to help them. I encourage you, and all victims to come forward and file claims so you can receive compensation from this Trust. We will provide clear notices about how to do so. I want you to know that we believe you, we believe in compensating you, and we have programs in place to pay for counseling for you and your family by a provider of your choice, he added. Founded in 1910, the BSA is composed of nearly 2.2 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21 and approximately 800,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. In recent years, however, the BSA has courted controversy, lawsuits, and loss of membership for admitting openly gay scouts in 2013, then openly gay leaders in 2015, and then including the participation of girls in 2017. The organization noted in their announcement Tuesday that their changes now also include some of the strongest, expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization, including mandatory youth protection training and background checks for all volunteers and staff, as well as policies that prohibit one-on-one interaction between youth and adults and require all volunteers and staff to report any suspected abuse to law enforcement. The BSAs multilayered safeguards, their commitment to support victims, as well as their efforts to be part of the broader solution to child abuse is also published at www.scouting.org/youth-safety. Reacting to the news Tuesday, Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA, a Christian boys mentoring and discipleship movement, said he was deeply saddened by the situation. We are deeply saddened that the Boy Scouts of America, a long-standing American institution, is in this unfortunate situation, Hancock said in a statement to The Christian Post. Trail Life USA (www.TrailLifeUSA.org), a Christian boys mentoring and discipleship movement, wants to reinforce its commitment to providing a safe experience for all boys, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Our philosophy is derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure. Boys are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop life-long leadership skills, he continued. Although no program can guarantee total protection, we believe Trail Life USAs child protection policy is very comprehensive, he added. "Trail Life USA has taken strong steps to ensure the risk of abuse in our program is minimized. All our adult leaders undergo regular background checks, complete youth protection training, and adhere to strict guidelines designed to reduce the potential for abuse. Members of the Mohawk community man a blockade of the commuter rail line in Kahnawake, Quebec, on Feb. 12, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Rail Blockades and the Plight of the Ordinary Guy on the Train Commentary Last weekend my wife and I returned from a mid-winter break that took us by air from Montreal to San Francisco, by sea down the Pacific coast, through the Panama Canal, past several Caribbean Islands, and up to New York City where we had booked Amtrak rail tickets for the trip back to Montreal. Throughout the trip, Wi-Fi access had been limited and we had no news from Canada. Our travels were worry-free and went without a hitchuntil we arrived in Manhattan for a one-night stay in preparation for an early morning Amtrak rail departure back to Montreal. Once we had access to Canadian news sources, things looked less promising for the final leg of our voyage. We learned that about a week before our arrival in New York, the RCMP had begun enforcing an injunction to prevent a dissident group of Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs from interfering with the lawful construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia. In the wake of RCMP arrests, acts of civil disobedience spread across the country. The hereditary chiefs maintained that no pipelines could be constructed without their consent. Despite agreements that had already been reached between elected Indigenous band councils, the chiefs are seeking to block construction for the foreseeable future. As rail blockades and disruptions escalated in parts of B.C. and Ontario as well as in Montreal, CN Rail shut down its operations in Eastern Canada. After CN said it could not support its operations amid the blockades, Via Rail announced the suspension of nearly all of its train service across the country. In the meantime, thousands of rail ticket-holding Canadians asked themselves: What on earth do we do now? As it happened, our particular travel dilemma paled in comparison to the impact across the nation. The impasse is threatening to put 6,000 employees at CN and other rail companies out of work as well as disrupt supply chains for businesses and consumers throughout the country. Our unionand thousands of working familiesare in crisis, said Teamsters Canada president Francois Laporte. He urged Ottawa to help find a solution as soon as possible. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer has said that the government should follow the will of the majority of B.C. First Nations communities who have approved the construction of the pipeline. With regard to non-indigenous activists who were involved in disrupting transportation across the country, he told reporters: These protesters, these activists, may have the luxury of spending days at a time at a blockade, but they need to check their privilege, they need to check their privilege and let people whose job depends on the railway systemsmall business, farmersdo their job. But the impact on the ordinary train traveller or businesses depending on rail to move goods across Canada was not the first thing on the minds of Canadas academic and media elites. CTV reported that Indigenous rights activist Pam Palmater, the chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, responded to Scheers comments by saying the Conservative leader needs to check his own white privilege and his blatant racism and disdain towards First Nations. Throughout the week, accusations of racism and white privilege against anyone who questioned the position of the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs were ubiquitous. Writing in The Toronto Star, Alex Boyd said it was no coincidence that Wetsuweten protesters are targeting railways. The protestors had told him so. He reported that Nikki Sanchez, an Indigenous activist who was part of the six-day encampment at the B.C. legislature, said theres historic irony to the fact that railways were the infrastructure that was shut down as part of this movement. Its very historically significant because the project of colonization, as well as the extinction of the buffalo, was facilitated by the laying down of the Trans Canada railway, Sanchez said. So there we have it. Its not just about a particular Indigenous land claim or an Indigenous governance issue between a handful of anti-energy-development hereditary chiefs and 20-some pro-energy-development elected band councils in Northern B.C. Its about bigger things: colonization, oppression, saving the planet from capitalism, and all the other intersecting post-modern Marxist themes that have filled the pages of Canadas schoolbooks since the 1970s. When all of a nations formative institutions dedicate themselves to developing an uncritical leftist revolutionary disposition among our best-educated young people, it shouldnt come as a surprise that they will be capable of enormously cruel indifference toward the plight of the ordinary guy on the train. William Brooks is a Montreal writer and educator. He currently serves as editor of The Civil Conversation for Canadas Civitas Society and is an Epoch Times contributor. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The school districts attorneys successfully, however, argued that the states administrative review law does not apply to decisions like the one made by the school board in September, according to the districts court filings. The administrative review process is designed to give those who have particular cases before a state administrative agency the ability to appeal that agencys decision to the courts. The Supreme Court's appointment of two interlocutors to persuade the Shaheen Bagh protesters to move to another venue brought a little disappointment to the demonstrators though many of them believe there is finally an avenue to talk to the government about their dissent. Hundreds of people, especially women, have been camping at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi for over two months in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, blocking an arterial road due to which the city has been facing traffic congestion. A section of the women protesters said the tent put up by them symbolised the venue as their 'battleground for justice and equality'. They said they were not averse to the idea of moving but first demanded detailed talks with the government on the CAA. "We started our protest on December 15 when the students at Jamia Millia Islamia were beaten up miserably by police. We won't be too happy to move but since it is the court's decision, we will accept it with full respect," said Shaheeda Khan, a resident of Batla House. "However, moving the point of protest won't be a decision accepted by all," she added. Ritu Khosla from the Shaheen Bagh Co-ordination Committee told PTI, "The SC's decision is welcome and we fully accept it. We will be happy to meet the mediators who have been appointed by the apex court. "I don't know if the protesters would agree to move. The decision to change the venue of the protest will entirely depend on the joint decision taken by all protesters of Shaheen Bagh." The famous grandmothers or 'dadis' of Shaheen Bagh welcomed the decision saying they now expect genuine mediation with the government. "We have wanted to talk to the government for two months. We tried various times to have a dialogue and marched towards the home minister's house too. "However, the police always stopped us. We are ready to talk but there should be a genuine interaction and mediation between us and the government," Sharvari Dadi of Shaheen Bagh said. The Shaheen Bagh protesters had marched towards Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence on February 16 seeking to talk to him about the new citizenship law. They were stopped by Delhi Police midway. The march had included senior citizen women, popularly known as the 'Dabangg Dadis' of Shaheen Bagh. The men at Shaheen Bagh said the SC's decision had brought a small but important victory for the protesters as the Centre will now have to talk to them. "We are happy that at least the SC thought that there should be a dialogue because the government has been avoiding a dialogue. "The government may think that removal of the protest point is their victory but the victory is ours because now we will directly talk and bring a solution in rolling back the CAA," Azim Khan, a resident and shop keeper at Shaheen Bagh, said. The Supreme Court on Monday, while hearing a plea against the blockade, appointed senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and advocate Sadhana Ramachandran to mediate with the protesters and persuade them to move their protest to an alternative site where no public place is blocked. The apex court said people have a fundamental right to protest against a law but the blocking of public roads is a matter of concern and there has to be a balancing factor. The top court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni seeking directions to the Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj- Shaheen Bagh stretch, which was blocked by anti-CAA protesters on December 15. Veteran Bengali actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul died of cardiac arrest early Tuesday, family sources said. He was 61. Paul, who had gone to Mumbai to visit his daughter, complained of chest pain at the Mumbai airport during his return to Kolkata and was rushed to a hospital in Juhu but died around 4 am, they said. He had been suffering from heart ailments and been to hospitals several times for treatment during the past two years. A two-term MP from Krishnanagar and MLA from Alipore, he is survived by his daughter and wife. Paul remained away from films after CBI arrested him in the Rose Valley chit-fund scam in December 2016 and was given bail after 13 months. A romantic hero, having endeared himself to the Bengali audience since his debut film Dadar Kirti in 1980, Paul became a known household name because of his lead roles in Saheb (1981), Parabat Priya (1984), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Anurager Choyan (1986) and Amar Bandhan (1986). He was awarded the Filmfare Award for Saheb (1981). Veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick described Paul's death as "untimely". "I am yet to come to terms with the He was like my younger mother. Yes he was not keeping well for some time," Mallick said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People in Ontario living with HIV had a 34 per cent higher incidence rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and were diagnosed with the disease about 12 years younger than HIV-negative individuals, according to a study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto and ICES. Researchers analyzed incidences of COPD among adults 35 years and older who were living with and without HIV between 1996 and 2015 in Ontario - where over 40 per cent of Canadians living with HIV reside. People with HIV were diagnosed with COPD at a mean age of 50 years old compared with 62 for HIV-negative individuals. The study, publishing on Feb. 18, 2020 in CMAJ Open, is the first of its kind to examine the rates of COPD among women living with HIV -- researchers found the rate of COPD among women living with HIV was 54 per cent higher than that of HIV-negative women. "As people with HIV live longer, it is important to understand how common other illnesses are to ensure that prevention, screening and treatment strategies can be developed," said Dr. Tony Antoniou, a scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's. "We wanted to understand how common COPD is in Ontario residents with HIV because COPD is a disease that generally worsens with time, can worsen a person's quality of life and is strongly linked to smoking," added Dr. Antoniou, who is also an adjunct scientist at ICES, the not-for-profit research institute where the Ontario data were analyzed. COPD affects over 380 million people worldwide and is projected to become the fourth leading global cause of death by 2030. It is potentially preventable and is strongly associated with smoking. In a sensitivity analysis, the higher prevalence of smoking in people with HIV appeared to explain the higher risk of COPD in these patients. "While other factors may contribute to the development of COPD in people with HIV, our work highlights the importance of trying to help our patients with HIV quit smoking to prevent COPD in the first place and prevent further lung damage in people who are already diagnosed with COPD," said Dr. Antoniou. Dr. Antoniou would next like to explore the quality of COPD care that people living with HIV are receiving. He also hopes the medical community will begin routinely considering COPD when managing people living with HIV. ### This study was funded by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (grant JIDA 862) and ICES, which is funded by an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Tony Antoniou is supported by a Clinician Investigator Award from the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine. Gregory Payton may only be 10 years old, but hes been to the mountaintop. The precocious pre-teen from Vallejo stars in the new HBO documentary We Are The Dream: The Kids of MLK Oakland Oratorical Fest, in which he performs Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s final speech, Ive Been to the Mountaintop, as part of a city-wide speech contest. On the red carpet at the Fox Theater premiere of the film, he bounces with nervous energy, but onstage in the film, he delivers the iconic speech with the stoic confidence of a man four times his age. Its an ambitious challenge that Payton considers a tribute. I felt like it was okay to do his last speech to show some respect to him. Most people try to do his I Have a Dream speech, because thats the one people know about the most, says Payton. RELATED: Mahershala Ali talks BART, his favorite Bay Area restaurant and new Oakland film The performance received a wholehearted endorsement from the films executive producer, Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, who told SFGATE that he loved Paytons courage and wouldve likely participated in the event while growing up in the Bay Area if he had had the same encouragement from the teachers showcased in the film. The community here is so ready to support them and uplift them, says Ali. Which is in part why I wanted to be involved in the project, because its definitely worthy of attention. The hour-long documentary follows a group of children ranging from elementary to high school as they prepare for the 40th anniversary of the public speaking competition, practicing their own original poems as well as iconic historical speeches. A Sri Lankan immigrant connects MLKs legacy with his own experiences, an elementary schooler recites a poem in both English and Spanish, and several teenage women deliver fiery messages of empowerment. Its a heartwarming testament to the voices of the next generation, as well as the spirit of Oakland, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Libby Schaaf. Its an oh-so-Oakland tradition, because it recognizes that oratory is wisdom, skill, talent, its a practice that often doesnt get celebrated in traditional school settings, says Mayor Schaaf. So leave it to Oakland to connect that to Martin Luther King, and to celebrate that talent. RELATED: Mahershala Ali almost worked as an SF ferryboat deckhand and other facts about the Bay Area actor The film left a strong impression at its premiere, earning a standing ovation for the featured children in attendance, but if Payton is any indication, theyre walking away from the experience with more than just applause. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he didnt hesitate to answer. I want to be a preacher, just like Dr. King, says Payton. "We Are The Dream: The Kids of MLK Oakland Oratorical Fest" premieres on HBO on Feb. 18, watch the trailer below. Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere ReedPop announced the author lineup for BookExpos 2020 Childrens Book & Author Breakfast, which will be held on Friday, May 29, at the Javits Center in New York City, and hosted and moderated by renowned children's author Judy Blume. This years author breakfast will also mark the 50th anniversary of Blumes celebrated novel, Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret, a seminal work of fiction for adolescents that explores religious belief and affiliations. Blume will discuss the impact of the novel as well as introduce her fellow authors and moderate a discussion about all the books. Joining Blume on the breakfast panel will be dancer Misty Copeland, the first African-American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, who is publishing Bunheads (illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey), the first in a series of picture books inspired by her early years as a ballet dancer. Next on the panel will be Academy Award-winning actress, director, and activist Natalie Portman who will discuss Natalie Portmans Fables, a book which will retell three classic fairytalesThe Tortoise and the Hare, The Three Little Pigs, and Country Mouse and City Mousewith empathy and humor for a new generation of young readers and their parents. Also on the panel, Raj Haldar will showcase his forthcoming No Reading Allowed, which pokes fun at the English language as it teaches young readers about the meanings of words, confusing phrases, and tricky rules of punctuation. Bestselling author Marie Lu will be on hand to talk about her new novel, Skyhunter, in which she imagines a world at war and discusses the evolution of the dystopian genre in works for younger readers. And finally Kwame Mbalias new work, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, will continue to feature characters from African-American folklore and African gods in a story in which Mbalia's title character will face a new series of adventures and challenges. BookExpo event director Jennifer Martin said, "The Childrens Book & Author Breakfast showcases the diversity of genres, book types, authors, and publishers within the world of childrens and young adult literature. Were extraordinarily thrilled to have such a varied group of authors who will bring such unique and different perspectives to our show. The energy transition away from fossil fuels toward renewables could put downward pressure on hydrocarbon exporting economies and issuers in the region if they are not able to diversity sufficiently quickly, said S&P Global Ratings. "As global investors get to grips with the implications of climate change for their portfolios, they are likely to reappraise their appetite for investment in sectors and regions they perceive as most at risk from decarbonisation initiatives," said Dhruv Roy, S&P Global Ratings Head of Sovereign and Financial Institutions Ratings for Middle East/Africa. "But GCC economies still rely heavily on hydrocarbons, and we expect the pace of diversification to remain gradual, he added, commenting on the two reports published on RatingsDirect: "The Energy Transition: The Clock Is Ticking For Middle East Hydrocarbon Exporters" and "The Energy Transition: How It Could Affect GCC Banks". Concentrated revenue streams and economic activity in the GCC have led to downward rating migration in the region in recent years, reflecting structurally lower oil prices. Our hypothetical long-run stress test of oil price declining to below $40 by 2040 suggests the average rating of Gulf sovereigns could fall by two notches from 'BBB+' to 'BBB-', although this is not our base-case scenario, Roy said. The downward trajectory in the average rating highlights that, including an assumed policy response and static production, the current pace of economic and fiscal revenue diversification is not sufficient to counter a gradual decline in oil prices. However, the low cost of hydrocarbon production in the region provides GCC sovereigns some resilience to energy transition risk, helping buy time for economic diversification. Furthermore, investors may see select green diversification projects within the GCC, such as solar, as compelling investment opportunities. Dan Klein, head of Scenario Planning Analytics at S&P Global Platts, a sister company of S&P Global Ratings, shares the view that Gulf national oil companies have some resilience to energy transition risk. "Saudi Arabia's oil production costs are among the lowest in the world, on the order of $5 per barrel. Even under a scenario where global oil demand and price declines sharply, Saudi Arabia's oil industry will remain extremely profitable. However, oil left in the ground, even in Saudi Arabia, will not hold its value forever, particularly as the world heads toward peak demand, Klein said. "For GCC banks, our findings show direct exposure to sectors exposed to energy transition accounted for about 12 per cent of their lending (14 per cent of rated GCC banks) at Dec. 31, 2018," said Mohamed Damak, S&P Global Ratings Sector Lead, Financial Institutions for Middle East/Africa. However, indirect exposure is substantially higher, as other sectors tend to correlate with its performance either directly through the supply chain or indirectly through government spending or consumer sentiment and spending. Saudi Arabian and Qatari banks have the highest concentrations, at about 15 per cent of lending at Dec. 31, 2018, linked to the extensive oil and gas production in these countries. United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwaiti banks have the lowest concentration, at about 10 per cent on the same date, which is explained by the higher diversification of the UAE economy and significant retail and real estate exposure in Kuwait. "In our view, the effect of energy transition on oil and gas prices and investor appetite will be an important factor for the long-term creditworthiness of GCC banks. If oil and gas prices or investor appetite were to decline significantly, GCC banks could be affected through the potential deteriorating creditworthiness of their exposures to these sectors and the overall bearing on their economies. This is due to a lack of diversification and, for some systems, the lower availability of external funding sources," Damak concluded. TradeArabia News Service Whether they are household names or people making a big impact in their industries behind the scenes, successful leaders all swear by morning routines that set them up for a productive day. Related: The 10-Minute Morning Routine That Will Clear Your Mind Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. In an interview with The Cut, she explained: "I have no shades on my windows, so I usually wake up with sunrise, which has been around 5 a.m. I generally read the New York Times right away. I have my iPad right next to my bed and I do the mini-crossword puzzle if I havent done it before I go to bed, because the new one is posted around midnight. Its sort of a habit I have. Then I get up and I take my shower. Then I go back and I read the New York Times, and I might open the doors to let the cats out." Tim Ferriss, entrepreneur, author and speaker In a podcast, the writer, speaker and thought leader explained why he starts his day by journaling: "It's easy to become obsessed with pushing the ball forward as a Type-A personality and end up a perfectionist who is always future-focused...The five-minute journal is a therapeutic intervention, for me at least, because I am that person. That allows me to not only get more done during the day but to also feel better throughout the entire day, to be a happier person, to be a more content person which is not something that comes naturally to me." Sonali Divilek, Head of Digital Storefront for Marcus by Goldman Sachs Divilaek told Entrepreneur: "Each day starts the same my husband wakes up before 5:00 a.m. and I usually follow around 5:30 a.m., which gives us about an hour and forty-five minutes before our daughter wakes up. We sit together as I go through the news and selectively read or respond to emails. I typically dont answer non-urgent emails because I want some separation from the workday and to level set my intentions for the day. Then I go to the gym and once I get backits go time. I feed my daughter breakfast while we chat, get us both dressed and then we are out the door by 8:10 a.m. to start our days. It may sound simple, but my morning routine is one of if not the most important part of my day. To me, showing up in the right headspace is critical for being effective at work and the time I intentionally spend to make sure we have quality family time helps that." Related: Everyone Should Try This Bit of Tim Ferriss's Morning Routine Sir Richard Branson, founder of The Virgin Group In a blog post, he explained his love of getting an early start on the day, writing, "...I find the period of quiet, before most of the world logs on, to be a great time to catch up on news and reply to emails. These early hours give me the opportunity to start each day with a fresh and organised slate." He continued: "Being an early riser isnt about trumpeting how hard you work. Its about doing everything within your power to help your business achieve success; and if that means you have to get up at an hour not known to most, then you might as well enjoy the sunrise." Daymond John, Shark Tank and serial founder/investor The Shark told CNBC Make It: When you wake up in the morning and look at emails, youre going to be consumed by everyone elses emails of people asking you what they need to be done. You dont get an email in the morning that says, All those problems I had last week, I solved them, and the check is on the way to you for a million dollars. He continued: I dont look at Instagram because everyone there is skinnier and sexier and richer than me, John says. So if I wake up in the morning, looking at everyones problems from an email, and then also thinking about how everyone is living a great life, then I walk out of the room depressed. John says he prefers to schedule positive things for himself in those first early hours. What I do is I start to set up in the morning all the time I want to spend with my family, with myself, focus on my goals, John says. And when I walk into the world, Im concentrating on what I want to accomplish. Related: 10 Tweaks To Your Morning Routine That Will Transform Your Entire Day Deirdre Latour, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pearson For Latour, it's all about structure, explaining to Entrepreneur: "I basically break my morning routine into three important sections: me time, work time and family time. I do a few small exercises to warm my body up like cat/cow and roll-ups. After that, it is time to read the news. Since I am a Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for a British company, it is critical that I have an understanding of what is happening in the UK, US and in the business world. With my first batch of work finished, I focus on my family. I think doing small, nice things for your partner is good for the relationship, so I also always take the time to make a pot of coffee for my husband he likes my coffee better anyway. After breakfast, I argue with the kids for what feels like ten minutes for them to get their shoes and coats on and then I take them to school on my way to the subway. Once I drop them off, its off to the races." Tim Cook, CEO of Apple In a televised interview, Cook described his crazy-early start: "I wake up at 3:45, I do e-mail (at 4:30), I'm in the gym by 5 a.m. And I work straight until 8 or 9 at night. And then I do it all over again the next day. But I love it, it's my life." Sean Kell, CEO at Blue Nile Kell builds his day around his early energy: "Im a morning person, so I like to make the most important decisions/meetings before 1-2 pm in the afternoon. I arrive at the office by 8 a.m. My first hour is spent walking around to catch up with folks and say good morning. Its also a good time to get a few emails done before my meetings start at 9 a.m. I usually have meetings booked from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day, so keeping 8-9 a.m. open is nice and allows me to have impromptu meetings if something urgent comes up." Related: 14 of the Best Morning Routine Hacks Proven to Boost Productivity Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO at Aruba Tourism Authority The head of Aruba tourism is mindful of enjoying her surroundings: "I get up at 5:00 a.m. and I use nature as my alarm clock. I like sleeping with the curtains open, so I wake up naturally at sunrise each day. The first thing I do is check my phone, emails and social media (if time permits!) I work with people across many different time zones, so I need to keep on top of my emails. I generally also exercise each morning. I start my day with a jog at Tierra Del Sol and twice a week, I like to mix it up with an activity like Hot Hatha Yoga at Happy Buddha Yoga. But Id be remiss if I didnt also call out one of the most important parts of my morning playing with my dogs. Im a big dog lover and I have two American Bulldogs, Zeppo and Zazou. Spending time with them each morning helps relax me and gets me ready for the day." Related: How Does Your Morning Routine Compare to Business Leaders Like Tim Ferriss, Martha Stewart and More? Sports Cliches That Can Actually Inspire Success 4 Ways to Unlock Your Inner Creativity Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The brother of Kishan Bhagwan Singh, one of those who died in the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing incident, has written a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde seeking police protection to all the witnesses in the case, claiming threat to their lives. Resham Singh, also a witness in the case, in his letter said he has lost hope of the Punjab government providing justice to the victims families as it is only doing politics on the sacrilege and firing incidents. He has also marked a copy of the letter to the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. I was the first to file a complaint in a Faridkot court in February 2017 demanding action against those responsible for the firing incident. The present government formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe firing incidents and I recorded my statement before it, he said. He also demanded that the courts should conduct an independent probe into an FIR (number 130) registered in October 2015 at the Bajakhana police station after the firing episode. He claimed that then Moga senior superintendent of police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sharma, SP Bikramjit Singh, inspector Pradeep Singh, DSP Harinder Singh Gill, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Paramjit Singh Pannu, DSP Tejveer Singh, inspectors Manjinder Singh Bedi, Sandeep Wadhera and Dalvir Singh besides a police team from Ludhiana opened fire at the Sikh protestors in front of him. All these officers were named in the FIR registered in 2015 during the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government, he added. He alleged that under political pressure the present SIT team removed the names of DSP Harinder Gill and ADCP Paramjit Singh Pannu from the case as they are relatives of associates of cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa. He also alleged that the person at whose residence a police gypsy was taken to fabricate evidence and the other man whose weapon was used to make fabricated bullets marks on the vehicle were not named as accused in the case. Talking to HT, Resham said in 2018 he was attacked for being a witness in the case. A case was registered in this regard, but no action was taken. Another witness, Surjit Singh (now dead) was also attacked at that time. I suspect that Surjit was attacked on the directions of political leaders who want to save accused police officers, he added. Minister Bajwa said he has no relation with any of the person(s) involved in the firing case. The court should conduct a probe. I am ready to be part of it, he added. [February 18, 2020] CPI Card Group and Harland Clarke Celebrate Growth of [email protected] Instant Issuance CPI Card Group Inc. (OTCQX: PMTS, TSX: PMTS) ("CPI" or the "Company"), a payment technology company and leading provider of credit, debit and prepaid solutions, today highlighted new growth milestones achieved by its [email protected] instant issuance solution. Through its successful partnership with Harland Clarke, a leading provider of omni-channel, customer engagement solutions, CPI today serves more than 1,600 financial institutions with nearly 11,000 [email protected] printers in market and 6 million cards printed annually. Launched nine years ago, [email protected] was the first instant issuance solution to be backed by a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) model. Recognizing the opportunity to innovatively help financial institutions better serve the needs of cardholders, Harland Clarke collaborated with CPI to bring [email protected] to its clients. "Instant issuance has evolved over the years from being a key differentiator to a critical convenience, as consumers increasingly bring their on-demand expectations to the banking experience," said Geoffrey Thomas, Chief Product Officer, Harland Clarke. "We are pleased to work with CPI to help our financial institution clients stay ahead of the technology curve and delight customers with the benefits of instantly issued cards. We look forward to extending the value of SaaS-powered instant card issuance to many more branches for years to come." Through this collaboration between CPI and Harland Clarke, [email protected] has continued to experience growth and build momentum, with more than 2,000 new printers old in 2019 alone. [email protected] also supports dual interface card solutions, helping banks and credit unions accommodate the growing popularity of contactless payment trends among consumers. With its customer-friendly SaaS model, [email protected] eliminates the need for financial institutions to maintain any of their own software or servers to support instant issuance of new and replacement cards. CPI securely manages IT setup, support and maintenance for the cloud-based solution, simply connecting financial institutions and their cardholders to the advantages of an easy, web-based and quick to implement instant card issuance technology. "We are thrilled with the success of [email protected] Its broad adoption is a testament to its ease-of-use and the exceptional 24/7 customer service supporting the solution," said Lane Dubin, SVP and General Manager, Prepaid, Personalization Solutions and Instant Issuance for CPI Card Group. "We continue to win new business with prospects while expanding our core integrations and business with existing customers, further demonstrating the significant recurring value [email protected] provides to financial institutions." To learn more about [email protected], click here. About CPI Card Group CPI Card Group is a payment technology company and leading provider of credit, debit and prepaid solutions delivered physically, digitally and on-demand. CPI helps our customers foster connections and build their brands through innovative and reliable solutions, including financial payment cards, personalization and fulfillment, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) instant issuance. CPI has more than 20 years of experience in the payments market and is a trusted partner to financial institutions and payments services providers. Serving customers from locations throughout the United States, CPI has a large network of high security facilities, each of which is registered as PCI compliant* by one or more of the payment brands: Visa, Mastercard, American Express (News - Alert) and Discover. Learn more at www.cpicardgroup.com. About Harland Clarke Harland Clarke is a leading provider of customer engagement solutions that help connect businesses and people how, when, and where it matters. The company offers payment tools such as checks and cards; and marketing services such as deposit and loan acquisition programs, digital marketing, performance analytics and promotional products for businesses. It deploys these solutions holistically, across print, phone, and digital channels, ensuring that the customers of its world-class client base enjoy a consistently superior experience. Harland Clarke is a Vericast business (www.vericast.com). For more information, visit www.harlandclarke.com or follow Harland Clarke on LinkedIn and on Twitter (News - Alert) @HarlandClarke. *Certain PCI standards apply to the financial institution facility that are not within CPI Card Group's control. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005869/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A woman wearing protective face mask walks on a street, following the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Lim Huey Teng/Reuters) Malaysian Rail Project Tells Some Staff to Work From Home in Chinas Wuhan KUALA LUMPURThe contractor for a Malaysian rail project that is part of Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative has advised some Chinese staff to work remotely while a coronavirus outbreak delays their return from holidays, a company official said on Feb. 18. Malaysia has barred the return of 13 managerial staff on the $11-billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) after they returned to Chinas central province of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, during their Lunar New Year holidays. The One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road Initiative or BRI) is aimed at building a vast network of infrastructure connecting China to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond, much like the ancient Silk Road. Bai Yinzhan, managing director of contractor CCC-ECRL, the Malaysian unit of China Communications Construction, said the affected staff would work out of their homes in Wuhan, the provincial capital, during Malaysias temporary ban. They can work from home, Bai told a news briefing. There has not been a major impact on the work. We can use network video platforms to continue communicating. Nearly 200 Chinese staff, who also went back for the annual holiday, are now back at work following 14 days of self quarantine at base camps in Malaysia, said Darwis Abdul Razak, chief executive of project owner Malaysia Rail Link. Darwis said officials do not expect the outbreak to delay construction of the 640-km (398-mile) rail project, nor do they see delays in loan drawdowns from China Export-Import Bank (China Exim), which is lending 85 percent of the total project cost. As far as fund disbursement is concerned, everything is progressing well, Darwis said. We did not get any indication from (China Exim) that they are going to stop everything. China and Malaysia resumed construction of the train project in July, after a year-long suspension and a deal to pare down its cost by about a third from nearly $17 billion initially. Malaysia has 22 cases in the coronavirus. By Liz Lee London: Nigel Farage says Boris Johnson must reverse the decision to allow Huawei to supply equipment to Britain's 5G network describing it as the "worst decision" any British government has made in years. The Brexit Party leader, who is a personal friend of US President Donald Trump, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age the UK's green light for the Chinese firm threatened NATO, a trade deal with the US and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group. The group is made up of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain. Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage visited Donald Trump in New York after the 2016 election. Credit:Twitter @Nigel_Farage "Whilst I am pleased with much that the Boris government is doing, the decision to involve Huawei in the 5G network is the worst decision any British government has made in years," Farage said. "It threatens the Five Eyes partnership, our prospects of a new trade agreement with the US and Australia and perhaps even the future of NATO." Each of them will also be monitored and will be required to sign their consent to the observation Ukraines Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said that the authorities of Ukraine would also evacuate citizens of the Russian Federation, Germany, Belarus and other countries from the Chinese city of Wuhan. He stated this on the air of ICTV TV Channel, UNIAN reports. "We have been approached by several countries to help them evacuate their citizens because they do not have a flight or it has been gone by now. And the Foreign Minister has been negotiating with them, and we see such an opportunity because we have will some free seats on the plane. We will take some people on board, they will be citizens of several countries, we have applications from a lot of countries, including a citizen of the Russian Federation, and I fully support it because the Russian plane took our Ukrainian before. One Belarusian, One citizen of Germany, one representative of Netherlands, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Argentina, etc.," Ukraines MIA said. Avakov stressed that each of them would also be monitored and would have to sign their consent to the observation. Foreign countries will pay Ukraine for the evacuation of their citizens. As we reported earlier, people with symptoms of coronavirus will not be allowed to enter the board of the plane, which is expected to evacuates the citizens of Ukraine from Wuhan. Afghan presidential election loser Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday contested final results that declared his rival Ashraf Ghani the winner of last year's poll, vowing he would form his own parallel government. "Our team, based on clean and biometric votes, is the victor and we declare our victory. The fraudsters are the shame of history and we announce our inclusive government," Abdullah said at a press conference in Kabul. Earlier Tuesday, Afghan election officials said final results showed he had won 39.52 per cent of last September's vote, while Ghani had taken 50.64 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad, Feb 18 : In what could further add to the fears over National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), at least three residents of the city have received a notice from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to prove their citizenship. Three persons, all Muslims and residents of the old city of Hyderabad, have been asked to appear before the inquiry officer on February 20 along with necessary documents in original to prove their citizenship. Auto-rickshaw driver Mohammed Sattar Khan is among those issued notices by the UIDAI. As they have been asked to appear at a function hall, it triggered speculations that a significant number of people may have received the notices. Khan received a letter from UIDAI's regional office here, stating that it received a complaint/allegation that "you are not an Indian national and you have obtained Aadhaar through false pretences, making false claims and submitting false documents. An enquiry has been ordered by the regional office, UIDAI, Hyderabad to ascertain the veracity of the complaint/allegation". He has been directed to appear before Amita Bindroo, deputy director/inquiry officer, with all necessary documents in original to prove "all your claims of citizenship and if you are not an Indian national, to prove that you have entered the territory of India legally and your stay is valid". According to the notice, failure to appear in person and produce the documents in original will be construed that he had no defence against the complaint and the matter would be decided suo moto. "Accordingly Aadhaar number will be deactivated in terms of Rule 29 of the Aadhaar (enrollment and update) Regulations 2016." The notice shocked Khan, a resident of Talab Katta area in the city. The middle-aged man's father was an employee of the public sector Allwyn company and following his demise, his mother has been drawing the pension. Sattar Khan's lawyer Muzafferullah Khan Shafat told IANS that UIDAI has no power to question the nationality of any person. "If any person is in possession of Aadhaar card without providing sufficient information or by any other way, they are having powers under Rules 29 and 30 to deactivate his Aadhaar number but they can't question nationality of any person. Even at the time of making the Aadhaar card, there is no procedure to establish my identity. Only thing is that I have to give my date of birth and even place of birth is not required. Taking this into consideration these people have no authority to asking any person to prove his nationality," he said. He said notices were issued persons who are not educated. "They don't even know to read and write their names. They are daily wage workers. Whatever work they get they will do. They are the only breadwinners for their families," he said. "I am surprised how this department and that too a Central government rank officer has issued such type of notice. We are unable to understand the hidden agenda of the government," he said. Shafath said that his client will appear before the inquiry officer with all the documents. "We will see what orders they pass and what will be their repercussion before deciding our legal course of action. We can't sit idle and take it for granted," the lawyer said. The development came amid continuing protests over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NPR and NRC across India. Some residents in Hyderabad have even displayed "caution" to NPR enumerators asking them to knock the doors only if they have removed new questions from the format. An investigation into a fire and sinking of a fishing vessel in the Irish Sea last year has found that its fire detection system failed to work, even though it had been surveyed only 10 months beforehand. Three crew on board the MFV Suzanne II had a fortunate escape, as their emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activated and gave their latitude and longitude. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) inquiry records that the three crew had set out from Arklow, Co Wicklow, in the early hours of May 2 last year, and were working about 30 nautical miles east of the fishing port. Weather conditions were good, and the three had taken a break when one of the crew noticed smoke coming from the engine room. The 17m French-built timber vessel with aluminium shelterdeck was built as a trawler but fitted with a pot hauler in 2018. The vessel had been surveyed and certified for fishing in July 2018. The inquiry states that the skipper went to investigate the source of the smoke and soon realised that there was a serious fire in the engine room. He made an attempt to fight the fire but the level of smoke hampered any effort. The smoke and fire very quickly engulfed the vessels accommodation and wheelhouse, it states. The crew retrieved the vessels EPIRB and abandoned ship to an inflatable life raft. Activation of the EPIRB alerted the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Dublin at 14.21 hours, as the skipper had tried unsuccessfully to seek assistance via VHF radio. The liferaft was spotted by an angling boat, the Highlander en route from Wales to Ireland, and two of the fishing crew were transferred to the RNLI Arklow lifeboat. The skipper, who suffering from smoke inhalation, was airlifted to hospital in Waterford. MCIB says this was a very serious marine casualty resulting in a major fire, an abandoned ship and the subsequent sinking. A tug boat with fire-fighting capabilities tried to extinguish the blaze, but the MFV Suzanne II sank within three hours. MCIB says the fire detection system failed to work, and had been tested as part of a survey in July 2018. There was no record of its most recent test as the vessels logbooks were lost in the sinking. Under existing regulations, testing of fire systems should take place monthly. He also explained why Ukraine needs a law on collaborators. During the transition period with the start of local elections in Donbas, representatives of the Ukrainian police, a peacekeeping mission, and territorial communities will be allowed to jointly patrol the territory, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. At the same time, the fundamental question is to prevent militants and those who have committed crimes from getting on those patrol teams this, Avakov told the Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on ICTV, Ukrayinska Pravda reports. "A representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian police, a representative of some peacekeeping mission (OSCE and some other mission), and representatives of territorial communities," Avakov said, commenting on the planned composition of patrol teams. He referred to the Croatian experience of setting up and managing such joint patrolling forces. Avakov has noted that, while being a complex issue, it remains one of the few successful practices toward peace. The task of such forces is to ensure law and order until the Ukrainian authorities once again begin to operate in the deoccupied territory of Donbas. At the same time, the Minister notes that Ukraine will not allow on the joint patrolling teams those involved in hostilities, killings, and efforts to help establish occupation authorities. Read alsoUkraine's interior minister explains "joint patrolling" in Donbas during future elections According to Avakov, the participation of representatives of territorial communities in the "transitional police forces" is a "thin ice for speculation." That is why it is necessary to clearly define and formulate the issue. Minsk accords say all self-styled "authorities" and illegal groups must dissolve so they will not be able to take part in joint patrols, Avakov assured the audience. "As soon as the elections are held, new bodies start working. These are the bodies provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine, and there can be no others. The border should be completely under the control of Ukrainian border guards, maybe they will be reinforced additionally in order to avoid any nuances," the minister explained, adding that border control is another security condition for holding elections. Avakov also believes that the militants will withdraw from Donbas along with the occupying forces. It is noted that the Ukrainian police will play a key role in the "transitional police forces." At the same time, Avakov suggested that among the officials with the Ministry of Internal Affairs there will be many IDPs from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. As the head of the ministry explained, the process should be as follows: when the Ukrainian police are deployed in Donbas, representatives of local communities join them in the presence of international forces. Then they begin joint patrolling. At the same time, border control should be re-established. However, Avakov agrees that it is impossible to do this within a day due to the considerable length of the border. Read alsoUkraine says OSCE SMM's freedom of movement in Donbas still restricted On the question of transitional justice, namely, how to determine who has committed crimes, who can be involved in joint patrols and who can't, the minister said it would be necessary to pass the so-called law "on collaborators." "It does not concern those who performed the 'social' function teachers, doctors and the like. But those who performed the repressive function, killing and shooting, will not be 'covered with forgiveness'," the minister said. As UNIAN reported on February 15, President In Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that joint patrols, consisting of Ukrainians, representatives of the occupied territories, and OSCE SMM observers, ensure security in the temporarily occupied territories during preparations for local elections. Ukrainian authorities earlier said they aimed to hold local elections throughout the country in October 2020, including the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Over 120 citizens of the city were sent notices by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) urging them to prove their citizenship while alleging that they obtained Aadhar through illegal means. The notices were issued after reports from the police, UIDAI said. "Aadhaar is not a document of citizenship and UIDAI has been mandated under the Aadhaar Act to ascertain residency of a person in India for 182 days prior to applying for Aadhaar," the nodal body, which issues the 12-digit biometric ID, said in a statement. The Supreme Court, in its landmark decision, has directed the UIDAI not to issue Aadhaar to illegal immigrants, it said. Recipients are now planning to approach the High Court in order to challenge the notices. One of the notices sent to a Mohammed Sattar, a resident of Talab Katta in the Old City area, stated that the recipient allegedly 'obtained Aadhar through false pretences' and that he was not an 'Indian national'. It said, "Whereas this Office has received a complaint/allegation that you are not an Indian National and you have obtained Aadhaar through false pretences, making false claims and submitting false documents. An enquiry has been ordered by the Regional office, UIDAI, Hyderabad, to ascertain the veracity of the complaint/allegation." UIDAI further directed Sattar to appear before an officer in Balapur "to prove all your claims of citizenship and if you are not a stay is valid Indian National, to prove that you have entered the territory of Indian legal and your stay is valid." ALSO READ | KCR indulging in minority appeasement: Goyal flays Telangana government move to pass anti-CAA resolution UIDAI warned that if Sattar does not appear and produce the required documents "the matter shall be decided suo motu". The document was signed by Amita Bindroo, deputy director of UIDAI Hyderabad. "It may be noted that the regional office Hyderabad received reports from the state police that 127 people have obtained Aadhaar on false pretences, as in their preliminary enquiry they were found illegal immigrants who were not qualified to obtain an Aadhaar number," the UIDAI said. As per the Aadhaar Act, such Aadhaar numbers are liable to be cancelled. "Therefore, the regional office Hyderabad has sent notices to them to appear in person and to substantiate their claims for getting an Aadhaar number," it said. The UIDAI, however, emphasised that these notices have "nothing to do with citizenship and cancellation of Aadhaar number is in no way related to the nationality of any resident". In case it is found and proved that any of them obtained Aadhaar by submitting false documents or through false pretences, their Aadhaar is liable to be cancelled or suspended depending on the severity of the transgression, UIDAI said. ALSO READ | Citizenship has become a nightmare for citizens: Shashi Tharoor "Severe errors like forged documents, etc., will lead to appropriate actions, including suspending /cancelling the Aadhaar," it cautioned. "Sometimes it becomes necessary to cancel the Aadhaar number when it is found that a resident has obtained it by submitting false biometrics or documents. It is a routine quality improvement process that the UIDAI takes up regularly," the authority said. Additional time has been given to allow them to collect the requisite documents, "Since it may take them some more time to collect their original documents that they had submitted for obtaining Aadhaar, as informed by the state police, the UIDAI has postponed the personal hearing to May 2020," it added. Sattar's lawyer Muzzafer Ullah Khan said that his client would attend the enquiry as per the notice on February 20. ALSO READ | Citizenship Row: PIL in High Court seeks stay on NPR exercise in State Khan further said that UIDAI's notice would be challenged in High Court. In the wake of this action, the Aadhaar issuing authority has come under sharp criticism. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Section 9 of Aadhaar Act says that it isnt proof of citizenship. On what legal authority, does UIDAI, UIDAI Hyderabad have to demand proof of citizenship? The notices dont even mention the grounds on which they were issued. This is illegal and unacceptable." Lawyers from Telangana Advocates JAC have raised objections to this and questioned its jurisdiction. The JAC termed the action as unconstitutional and arbitrary. (With PTI Inputs) Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers develop world's largest pure OA framework agreement Julich, 18 February 2020 - A successful outcome has been reached in the negotiations between Forschungszentrum Julich and leading open access publisher Frontiers. The two partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Forschungszentrum Julich for a pilot project that will enable researchers to publish in Frontiers' journals through a simplified publishing process with university libraries managing the publication costs centrally. Forschungszentrum Julich led the two-year negotiations on behalf of the members of the Helmholtz Association - Germany's largest scientific organisation. Under the terms of the agreement, all German research institutions and universities have the option to participate. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at Forschungszentrum Julich, is an important step towards finalizing a National Open Access Publishing Framework between Germany and Frontiers. Its objective is to make scientific research immediately free to access. The goals of the understanding align to the strategic objectives of both the large-scale open access transformation defined by Germany's Alliance of Science Organisations, and those of the international funders' initiative cOAlition S. cOAlition S' objectives require that from 2021 scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant open access journals. Through the Framework, over 15,000 articles by German researchers are expected to be published in Frontiers' open access journals over the next three years. Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers aim to finalize and implement the first agreement under the Framework later this year. Specifically, the two parties have agreed: The Framework, when finalized, will be open to all member institutions of Projekt DEAL, which includes more than 700 publicly and privately funded academic and research organizations in Germany. Researchers from participating institutions will be able to publish in any of Frontiers' open access journals (currently 79), which includes more than 662 academic disciplines. The publication costs (Article Processing Charges, or APCs) of eligible articles from those researchers will be covered by the respective central libraries or departments of participating institutions. Articles will be published under an open license (CC-BY) allowing authors and their institutions the right to retain copyright. German institutions will benefit from Frontiers' institutional collaboration programme which provides dedicated workflows, support and transparent reporting on an institutional as well as national level. The Helmholtz Centres will be the first participating institutions under the Framework and will commit to fund the publication costs, estimated to be a total of US$ 2 Million, for their scientists over the next three years. As part of the pilot, a new payment mechanism will be tested with the Helmholtz Centres. It aims to simplify budget planning and administrative costs for libraries. Additionally, a transitional solution is to be found for German institutions that depend on DFG funding and are current member of Frontiers' institutional membership programme. All participating institutions will benefit from a national discount. The Framework, once finalized, will be made public. Dr. Bernhard Mittermaier, Head of the Central Library of Forschungszentrum Julich, said: "We are glad to be able to provide conditions for handling publication charges with a large Gold Open Access publisher that are comparable to those agreed with large subscription publishers in the DEAL contracts." Fred Fenter, executive editor at Frontiers, said: "We are pleased Forschungszentrum Julich recognizes the value of collaborating with leading open access publishers and continues to lead the way to open science in Germany, and we hope that other countries follow in these footsteps." Frontiers' collaboration programme for universities, research organisations and funders will provide dedicated workflows and support for university library staff, insights into open access uptake and expenditure via detailed data reports on articles published by their researcher. The Framework also offers a national discount for Germany that will benefit all participating research organizations. Researchers will continue to have permanent (open) reading access to the full contents of Frontiers' journals and access to Frontiers' Open Science tools, including collaborative peer-review, article and author impact metrics, and scholarly social sharing tools such as the Loop research network. The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports German universities by providing temporary funding for the publication costs in open access journals. Its programme aims to help universities create their own open access funds. While some universities still depend on the DFG for funding, it does not always cover the full cost of the publication. Some of these universities are current members of Frontiers' institutional membership programme. For these current members to be able to participate in the Framework, and to ensure a smooth transition away from current limitations of the DFG funding, Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers have agreed to seek, during a national consultation round referred to below, a temporary and transitional solution to deal with this issue. In the coming weeks, a consultation with the German universities will take place to help align processes, workflows and further details of the pilot. The pilot will initially run for three years, during which Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers will continue to work together on exploring future open access models on how funding on a national/institutional level can be improved for the whole of Germany. Germany joins other leading scientific communities, including those in Austria, Norway, Sweden and the UK, all of whom have committed to open access framework agreements with Frontiers. ### For further inquiries, please contact: Forschungszentrum Julich: b.mittermaier@fz-juelich.de, +49 2461 61-3013 e.zeiss@fz-juelich.de, +49 2461 61-1841 Frontiers: Fred Fenter, Executive Editor, Frontiers, frederick.fenter@frontiersin.org Ronald Buitenhuis, Head of Publishing Solutions, Frontiers, ronald.buitenhuis@frontiersin.org About Forschungszentrum Julich As a member of the Helmholtz Association, Forschungszentrum Julich makes an effective contribution to solve major challenges our society is facing in the fields of information, energy, and bioeconomy. They focus on varied tasks in the area of research management and utilize large, often unique, scientific infrastructures. Come and work with around 6,100 colleagues across a range of topics and disciplines at one of Europe's largest research centres. For more information, visit http://www. fz-juelich. de and follow @fz_juelich on Twitter About Frontiers Frontiers is an award-winning Open Science platform and leading open-access scholarly publisher. Frontiers' mission is to make high-quality, peer-reviewed research articles rapidly and freely available to everybody in the world, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation, societal progress and economic growth. Frontiers received the 2014 ALPSP Gold Award for Innovation in Publishing. For more information, visit http://www. frontiersin. org and follow @Frontiersin on Twitter. This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Bernard Guerrero Joins MaxDecisions, Inc. as Vice President of Decisions Sciences I am excited to start a new chapter at MaxDecisions, helping to expand its product offerings and market share as well as working with the current customer base to provide additional services, further enhancing their profitability. MaxDecisions, Inc. (MaxDecisions) a leading fintech A.I. and machine learning analytics company based in Plano, Texas welcomes Bernard Guerrero as Vice President of Decision Sciences to further expand analytical products and offerings. MaxDecisions, an industry leading analytical company leveraging the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence software has helped hundreds of specialty financing companies, banks as well as fintech startups with their marketing, underwriting and portfolio management analytics. "As we strengthen our customer base and enhance our custom analytical product offerings, we are bringing industry veteran to help us deliver mission critical applications to help our clients from marketing to collections with our deep industry experience, said Timothy Li, Founder, MaxDecisions. I have known Bernard for over a decade and hes dedication to the financial industry as well as his business acumen in the analytical sphere is bar none. We are excited to have such as talented individual to join our management team to further our vision of delivering world class analytics to clients worldwide." MaxDecisions was founded four years ago with a singular vision of lowering the barrier to entry with high end analytical offerings that drives marketing, underwriting and risk-based pricing tools for large and small financial institutions alike. Weve found success over the past four years offering personalized services to help lenders to make better critical decisions. MaxDecisions turnkey direct mail service has helped numerous specialty financing company to achieve the right balance between response, conversion and default rates. In addition, MaxDecisions underwriting models have been implemented by many point of sale fintech startups to help to launch and achieve profitability in a short amount of time. I am excited to start a new chapter at MaxDecisions, helping to expand its product offerings and market share as well as working with the current customer base to provide additional services, further enhancing their profitability. said Bernard Guerrero. My goal is to deliver even more value to our existing customers, as well as expand MaxDecisions coverage into new verticals in the near future. Bernard Guerrero previous served as Senior Vice President of Risk Management at RumbleOn as well as BorrowWorks. Bernard also served as the Chief Risk Officer at Balance Credit. Prior to Balance Credit, he was the Direct of Risk Management at Bonfire Capital as well as the Direct of Decision Sciences at ThinkFinance. Bernard graduated with an MBA in Finance and Economics from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business as well as receiving a BA degree in Physics from Rutgers University in Newark New Jersey. About MaxDecisions, Inc. https://www.maxdecision.com/ MaxDecisions, Inc. is industry leading analytics company leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligent algorithms to deliver unparalleled results in direct mail marketing, credit risk modeling as well as risk-based pricing and portfolio management algorithms. Our mission is to remove the barrier of entry for financial institutions large or small to access best in class analytics that delivers results. With over 20 data scientists, mathematicians and statisticians, we strive to deliver best in class analytical models to clients world wide. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. The local arm for Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines debuted its Modern Jeep Class 3 units. The HD50S Class 3, together with the the H-100 Class 1 and the HD50S Class 2, were showcased at the Negoshow Oro. The said move is Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) CVs opening salvo for 2020. The thee offers is said to make HARI the first player of the national PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) to complete its lineup of Modern Jeepney offerings. Negoshow Oro came right at the heels of Hyundais back-to-back Passenger Car dealership launches in Angeles City, Pampanga and Baguio City. Currently, HARI has over 2,000 unit orders of its Modern Jeepney line with various transport groups across the country. At Negoshow Oro, 16 more transport cooperatives signed MOUs with HTB Calamba for 1,708 units of the Modern Jeepney Class 2 and 570 units of the Modern Jeepney Class 3 or a total of 2,278 units. The two-day Negoshow Oro Mobility Expo, held at Hyundai Trucks and Buses (HTB) Calamba. HTB Calamba is under the umbrella of the Areza Group of Companies which celebrates its 30th year of operations. In his speech at the event, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor outlined the socio-economic and environmental benefits of PUVMP and commended the various stakeholders from the private sector who have thrown their solid support for the nationwide implementation of the program. Ang inyo pong papel na gagampanan ay mahalaga at kritikal. Lalo na kayong mga car manufacturers at dealers, sapagkat sa inyo nakasalalay ang pagsunod sa kalidad ng bawat sasakyang ilulunsad natin sa ilalim ng programa. Dahil sa inyong suporta, hindi lamang tsuper ang natutulungan, nabibigyan din ng dagdag trabaho ang ating ibang kababayan. Pastor, who also graced the turnover of another batch of Hyundai Modern Jeepneys in General Santos reported that since the PUVMP was launched, there are now 562 PUVMP-authorized routes to be plied by 15,650 authorized units, 4,120 of which are operational. Story continues He also noted that 1,030 transport cooperatives that count a total of 104,000 members are already accredited by the Office of the Transportation Cooperatives (OTC). Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez likewise expressed confidence on the program between HARI and HTB Calamba. With this expo, I am confident that PUVMPs objective to make our public transportation system efficient and environment-friendly will be realized. Naniniwala ako na ang teknolohiya at modernization ay magbubukas ng maraming oportunidad para sa ating bansa at mamamayan. For her part, HARI President and CEO Maria Fe Perez-Agudo was bullish about the impact of Negoshow Oro on CALABARZON business. It is fitting that Calamba City, the richest city in CALABARZON, be the first stop of Hyundais mobility expos for 2020. Negoshow Oro is a golden opportunity to raise the banner for Hyundai CV as the Partner in Every Way of Region 4-A. At nais kong iparating sa DoTr Secretary na tuloy ang pagsuporta ng Hyundai na maging matagumpay ang PUV modernization program Negoshow Oro is just a start of great things to come for Hyundai in CALABARZON. Malayo at malawak pa ang maari natin abutin! On a different note, Ms. Agudo urged the audience to stand together as a community to assist the communities that were devastated by the eruption of Taal Volcano. Negoshow Oro ended Day 1 with a raffle draw, the proceeds of which were to be donated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Batangas province displaced communities. HARI envisions Hyundai trucks and buses to be at the forefront of moving and connecting people and resources across islands and regions, driving businesses forward regardless of size and scale. Also read: The post Hyundai PH Debuts Modern Jeepney Class 3 units appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. President Donald Trump lashed out at former President Barack Obama for claiming that he's responsible for creating legislation that caused economic booms in both of their administrations. Just before 11am on Monday morning, Obama tweeted a photo of what appeared to be his signature at the bottom of the Recovery Act, a stimulus package that was signed into law in February 2009. 'Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history,' Obama wrote. On Monday evening, Trump responded to Obama's claim in two tweets, calling it a 'con job'. President Donald Trump lashed out at former President Barack Obama (pictured together in November 2016) for claiming that he's responsible for creating legislation that caused economic booms in both of their administrations Just before 11am on Monday morning, Obama tweeted a photo of what appeared to be his signature at the bottom of the 2009 Recovery Act 'Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration,' the president tweeted. 'He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers ever,' Trump claimed. 'Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted. Fed Rate UP, taxes and regulations WAY DOWN. If Dems won in 2016, the USA would be in big economic (Depression?) & military trouble right now. THE BEST IS YET TO COME. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!' Trump added. But in reality, the Recovery Act, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, kicked off the longest period of economic growth and job creation in American history. Since September 2009, GDP growth has been positive every year. On Monday evening, Trump responded to Obama's claim in two tweets, calling it a 'con job' Under Obama, economic growth ranged from 1.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent per year. Under Trump it ranged from 2.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent. According to Forbes, the last three years of Obama's administration were stronger than Trump's 2019 when adjusted for trade, inventory impacts and government spending. The president's job growth is also a continuation of Obama's economy, which stemmed from the $831billion Recovery Act. Data shows that Trump's best year for economic growth was in 2018, but that year alone doesn't beat any of Obama's last three years. The 6.5 million jobs that have been created under Trump falls short of the 8.1 million jobs created under the Obama administration. Obamas 2009 stimulus package had tax cuts as its largest component and plowed more than $100billion into highway, transit and other 'shovel-ready' infrastructure projects. According to Forbes, the last three years of Obama's administration were stronger than Trump's 2019 when adjusted for trade, inventory impacts and government spending And despite Trump's criticism, the president has never had to venture far from Trump Tower to see stimulus money at work. Trump even liked the package when it was signed into legislation in 2009 Under Obama, economic growth ranged from 1.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent per year. Under Trump it ranged from 2.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent And despite Trump's criticism, the president has never had to venture far from Trump Tower to see stimulus money at work. The Brooklyn Bridge and a new landmark Manhattan train station were among New York Citys recipients of millions of stimulus dollars for construction and repairs. Trump even liked the package when it was signed into legislation in 2009. When it passed in the depths of the severe recession, he praised Obama as a 'strong guy' who did a 'terrific job,' adding, 'this is what we need'. More than a third of the money it went to tax cuts. Medicaid spending and other help for health care made up the next largest component. Then came infrastructure, followed closely by education. The package mixed economic and social spending, helping states train displaced workers, for example, extending jobless benefits and assisting with low-income housing. In New York City alone, $30million went toward repairs and repainting of the Brooklyn Bridge; the Staten Island ferry also got a boost. More than $80million was earmarked for Moynihan Station, an annex to Penn Station that is meant to return the rail hub to the grandeur of the original Penn Station. Road, bridge and other transit projects across the country also got a lift. Irish-Australian archaeologist Susan Arthure with household artifacts from the Baker's Flat site. Credit: Flinders University The oldest known Australian example of a communal type of Irish settlement has been 'unearthed' in a dusty paddock in rural South Australia. An extensive geophysical study of the Baker's Flat Irish settlement site near Kapunda has found the firstand possibly largestclachan in Australia, says Flinders archaeologist Susan Arthure whose Ph.D. investigations of Irish history and archaeology in SA led her to the site in what appears to be a featureless paddock near the former mining and farming community. "Clachans had actually died out in Ireland by the end of the nineteenth century but our research proves they continued in Australia, with this example the first to be fully described," says Irish-Australian archaeologist Ms Arthure. "We found a large, vibrant clachan settlement, now hidden beneath the surface of an empty farm paddock, which contains a wealth of materials to tell us a lot about the past," she says. "This traditional Irish settlement style, characterised by clusters of houses and outbuildings, highlights the way the new residents to this dry country worked together to make the best use of marginal land. "More than 500 Irish migrants created a community here. "Although outsiders looked at the settlement and judged it as chaotic and haphazard, in fact these Irish settlers were able to maintain a sustainable way of life by managing their animals communally and making joint decisions about how best to use the land. "Being able to control a large area of land allowed Irish traditions and customs to be maintained." Ms Arthure, who co-edited Irish South Australia: new histories and insights (Wakefield Press) says archaeology is not just about the ancient past. "The recent past is really fascinating, and many people in South Australia would be descendants of those early settlers of Baker's Flat and other Irish settlements in the Clare Valley and the Mid North." Flinders adjunct Associate Professor Lynley Wallis, a co-author of the latest Baker's Flat paper published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, says: "What we found with GPR and magnetometry surveys shows us that sometimes all is not what it seems." "When we arrived at the paddock, we had no idea about the paths, houses, yards, paddocks and fences hidden beneath the ground," Associate Professor Wallis says. University of Queensland geophysical archaeologist Dr. Kelsey Lowe, another author on the paper, says that this is one of the largest surveys of its kind to be undertaken in Australia. "When we began to download the data and saw structures and enclosures appearing, it was a very exciting moment," Dr. Lowe says. "We were also fortunate to have Dr. Josh Feinberg, at the USA University of Minnesota, to assist us in analysing some of our samples." More information: Kelsey M. Lowe et al, Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker's Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2020). Kelsey M. Lowe et al, Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker's Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia,(2020). DOI: 10.1007/s12520-019-01003-2 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are some stocks that are in the news today: Allows non-bank custodians for gold-related instrumentsInvestment advisors must separate advisory, distribution operations Allows non-bank custodians for gold-related ETFs, Trade JSW Steel declares preferred bidder for 3 iron ore mines in Odisha HAL raises Rs 1,000 crore through commercial papers JSW Energy: Company will buy 1,050 MW GMR Kamalanga Energy for Rs 5,321 crore. Reliance Industries announced a consolidation of its media and distribution businesses spread across multiple entities into Network 18 Vodafone Idea: CARE Ratings downgraded its rating of Vodafone Idea's Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) and long-term bank facilities. Tata Motors: The company is planning to raise Rs 500 crore through the issue of securities for which a committee of its board will meet on February 24. HCL Technologies - Fonterra Co-operative selects company for IT Infrastructure Transformation Paisalo Digital: Credit rating agency Infomerics Valuation and Rating has assigned IVR A with a positive outlook to the company's CC and NCDs. Future Lifestyle board meeting on February 20 to consider proposals for raising of funds Vodafone Idea to pay Rs 2,500 crore as telecom dues on Feb 17 and Rs 1,000 crore more by end of week KPI Global: Company bags order for executing solar power project of 900KW capacity from JPB Fibers, Surat. Orissa Minerals: Belkundi Iron & Manganese Mine gets the nod for iron ore production and Manganese Ore enhancement in Odisha. Lloyds Metals and Energy: Company on Feb 20 to consider fundraising via preferential issue of securities to promoters and strategic investors. Grasim Industries: Board approves raising Rs 500 crore via NCDs on a private placement basis. Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. Chip maker Qualcomm is getting ready to launch its 3rd-gen 5G modem just a year after introducing the 1st-gen model. The upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 5G modem should be faster and more versatile than last years Snapdragon X50 or this years Snapdragon X55, but you might have to wait a little while to get a phone with the new wireless chip. Qualcomm says itll begin shipping samples to customers within the next month or two, but we shouldnt expect it to show up in smartphones until early 2021. That means most premium phones that ship this year with Qualcomm chips will likely have a Snapdragon X55 modem and honestly, most users probably wont see much difference. But on paper the new chip has a few advantages. Its the first 5G modem with a 5 nanometer baseband. It has a new QTM535 mmWave antenna module. Qualcomm says the new modem is also the first 5G Modem-RF System to support spectrum aggregation across all key 5G bands. Thats a fancy way of saying that not only will it support pretty much any 5G network around the world, but that it supports carrier aggregation and simultaneous connections to two different types of 5G networks mmWave and sub-6 GHz. According to Qualcomm that means that the Snapdragon X60 modem supports download speeds up to 7.5 Gbps and peak upload speeds as high as 3 Gbps. Interestingly, Qualcomms press release has little to say about power efficiency, other than that you can expect all-day battery life in some devices, depending on settings, usage, and other factors. The amount of rain that has fallen and was still coming down on Tuesday is not record-breaking, but the deluge came just a week after a previous cyclone, Storm Ciara, hit Britain and so the ground was soaked and rivers already running to the brim. Applause erupts in court as nine defendants are acquitted over their alleged role in Gezi Park protests in 2013. A Turkish court has acquitted businessman Osman Kavala and eight other defendants over their alleged role in Gezi Park protests of 2013 in Istanbul. Applause erupted in the court on Tuesday as Kavala was ordered to be released after more than two years in jail. The court decision came at the maximum-security Silivri prison outside Istanbul months after the European Court of Human Rights in December called for Kavalas immediate release saying there was a lack of reasonable suspicion that he had committed an offence. In 2013, hundreds of thousands had marched in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey against plans to build a replica Ottoman barracks on Istanbuls Gezi Park, which later transformed into anti-government protests. It was a major challenge for then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now Turkeys president. Eight young protesters and a police officer were killed, and 5,000 were injured, in the unrest. Kavala and two other defendants had been facing life sentences without parole, while the other defendants were accused of aiding them in attempting to overthrow the government by organising the protests. They had denied the allegations. At one point in the hearing, police scuffled in the court with defence lawyers who attempted to prevent them forcibly removing a lawyer who had repeatedly requested permission to speak. The case of seven further defendants, who are abroad and were being tried in absentia, was separated but arrest warrants for them were lifted. They were also expected to be acquitted. Judiciary criticised Critics of Erdogans government have questioned the independence of Turkish courts, especially since a crackdown following a failed coup in 2016. Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development (AK Party) say the judiciary makes independent decisions. In his defence, Kavala had stressed the European Court of Human Rights decision demanding his immediate release and had described as a conspiratorial fiction the idea that the protests were an attempt to overthrow the government. A court previously acquitted people prosecuted over the 2013 protests, with a judge ruling in 2015 they were exercising the right of freedom of assembly. But in 2017, Kavala was arrested and the following year police arrested the other 15 defendants including civil society figures, writers and actors. The prosecution was a part of the crackdown that Turkey says is necessary on security grounds. It has involved widespread purges of the armed forces, ministries and state organisations. Since the attempted 2016 coup, approximately 80,000 people have been jailed pending trial and 150,000 civil servants, military personnel and others have been sacked or suspended. The total number of infected onboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess has risen to 454 after Japan recently announced 99 more cases on board the ship. According to reports, Japan's health ministry was carrying out tests on passengers and crews that are quarantined onboard the ship. Largest concentration of infected outside of China The Diamond Princess is currently docked in Yokohama, a port city close to Tokyo. The quarantine of the Diamond Princess cruise ship is scheduled to end on February 19. The cruise liner boasts the largest number of positive cases for COVID-19 outside of mainland China. According to reports, the Japanese Health Ministry has tested little more than 1,700 people on board the cruise liner. The Diamond Princess has 3,700 passengers and crew on board that have been quarantined for close to two weeks. Late on Sunday, the US used two chartered planes to evacuate 340 out of the 380 Americans aboard the Diamond Princess. Reportedly the US State Department then added that 14 of the passengers on the plane had tested positive for the coronavirus. Read: Coronavirus: 40 US Citizens On Board Diamond Princess Cruise Infected Read: Canada, Along With US And Hong Kong, To Evacuate It Citizens From Diamond Princess Canada announces evacuation Canada has recently announced that it will be taking steps to evacuate its citizens who are currently stuck on board the coronavirus infected Diamond Princess cruise liner which is docked in Yokohama, Japan. Canada will also be sending planes to Japan in order to bring back its citizens. According to reports, the Canadian government said that Canadian passengers aboard the cruise liner that exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus or have been tested positive will not be allowed aboard the flight. They will instead be in the care of the Japanese health care system and will receive appropriate care from there. The statement added that after arriving in Canada, all the passengers will undergo a 14-day period of quarantine. S.Korea announces evacuation South Korea announced on February 16 that it would evacuate Koreans that were quarantined on a coronavirus infected cruise ship in the Japanese port of Yokohama, according to international media reports. The step was taken after 355 people were found to be infected with the virus. The Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo briefed that the government has decided to bring the Koreans home if they test negative at thermal screenings to be conducted by the Japanese authorities. Read: Coronavirus Hit Cruise Ship Diamond Princess In Japan Reports 67 New Cases Read: One More Indian Crew Member Aboard 'Diamond Princess' Tested Positive For Coronavirus (with inputs from agencies) Sofia Vergara fits almost anyones definition of success. Shes earned four Emmy nominations and four Golden Globes nominations for her role on ABCs hit show Modern Family. Shes been named the highest-paid actress on television for seven years running, and shes happily married to Joe Manganiello. But Vergaras life wasnt always so sweet. As a child growing up in Colombia, she experienced the kind of trauma most people never see. Her family life Sofia Vergara | Morgan Lieberman/Getty Images Vergara was born in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1972, the youngest of five children in a loving, Catholic family. Her mother stayed at home with the kids while her father worked on the familys cattle ranch. The ranch provided well enough that Vergara attended a private Spanish-English school. The 70s and 80s were a dangerous time in Colombia, however. Drug trafficking in Barranquilla brought violence between warring paramilitary factions, and although the members of the Vergara family were somewhat protected by their economic status, the same advantages also made them potential targets. Life took many unexpected turns Vergara, a devout Catholic, refused work as a model, thinking it was too immodest of a job. Eventually, her mother convinced her to appear in a Pepsi ad that was a huge hit in 1989, but after that Vergara retreated from show business. She might have never gone back, but at 18-years-old Vergara married her first husband, and a year later she gave birth to her son Manolo. She had started studying to become a dentist, but all that changed when Manolo was only two and the couple divorced. Sofia Vergara left home to protect her son Determined to provide for her son, she took him with her to live in Bogota. With violence in Barranquilla escalating, she hoped to keep him safe in a bigger city, where she could also find better-paying jobs as a model. In Bogota, she was offered work as an actress on a Mexican telenovela. When that led to a job on a travel show that was based in Miami, she jumped at the chance to take her son away from the violence in Colombia. Becoming an American Although Vergara came to the U.S. in 1994, it took another 20 years for her to become a citizen. When she finished the process she was proud to tell Jimmy Kimmel that she got a perfect score on her naturalization test. You know what? Its a very emotional moment for me, she said. It took me a lot of time to get my residence even though I was working here for a long time. She has often spoken about how grateful she is to have her citizenship, once saying, Honestly, I cant be more thankful to this countryFrom my experience, its a country that has given me an opportunity to raise my family, to work and make money. Not everyone is impressed While Vergara is happy and grateful to be an American, some people dont seem to think her immigration status is something to be proud of. A few years ago at a party, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice felt slighted by Vergara. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Giudice opted not to take the high road about the situation, and complained loudly about her, calling her that woman and worse. Maybe the most shocking comment Giudice made was to suggest that Vergara, as an immigrant, was somehow beneath her. I cant stand her, she said. She has more of an accent than me. You would think shed be nice; shes an immigrant! Its clear by Vergaras success, however, that not everyone thinks less of her for being born in Colombia. Whether they know the full story behind her harrowing childhood or not, her many fans are happy shes here. Were going to get back to living life, even if it kills us An adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who had discussed the benefits of forced contraception quit last night, saying "media hysteria" about his old online posts meant he had become a distraction for the government. Earlier, Mr Johnson's spokesman repeatedly refused to comment when asked about Andrew Sabisky, whose appointment drew widespread criticism after newspapers reported statements he made online in 2014 and 2016. In addition to posts on contraception, Mr Sabisky also said data showed the US black population had lower IQ than white people, and, in a 2016 interview with digital publication 'Schools Week', discussed the benefits of genetic selection. It was reported Mr Sabisky was hired following an unusual appeal earlier this year from Mr Johnson's senior adviser Dominic Cummings for "weirdos and misfits with odd skills" to help bring new ideas to Britain's government. His resignation is a blow to that effort, which had attracted criticism from those who said Mr Cummings was sidestepping normal government recruitment processes. "The media hysteria about my old stuff online is mad but I wanted to help (the government) not be a distraction," Mr Sabisky said on Twitter. Expand Close Right-hand man: Dominic Cummings is an influential figure in No10. Photo: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Right-hand man: Dominic Cummings is an influential figure in No10. Photo: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire "Accordingly I've decided to resign as a contractor... I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination: if I can't do the work properly there's no point." Mr Sabisky, who has referred to himself as a "super forecaster", said he hoped Mr Johnson's office hired more people with "good geopolitical forecasting track records" and that the "media learn to stop selective quoting". Both the opposition Labour Party and at least two of Mr Johnson's own Conservatives had called for him to be fired. "Andrew Sabisky's presence in No 10 is a poor reflection on the government and there is no way to defend it. He needs to go. 'Weirdos' and 'misfits' are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence," Conservative lawmaker William Wragg wrote on Twitter before Mr Sabisky resigned. An account in Mr Sabisky's name made the comments about black IQ in a reply to a 2014 blog post written by an American professor discussing education disabilities in the United States. In 2016, replying to a blog post written by Mr Cummings, an account in Mr Sabisky's name said: "One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue." Mr Johnson's spokesman earlier repeatedly refused to comment on whether Mr Johnson shared Mr Sabisky's views, saying only that the prime minister's own views were well known. Insiders insisted Mr Johnson did not support eugenics, but he has previously courted controversy with his own views on the subject of IQ. In a speech in 2013, he said any discussion about equality had to take account of the fact that 16pc of "our species" had an IQ below 85 while around 2pc had an IQ above 130, adding: "The harder you shake the pack, the easier it will be for some cornflakes to get to the top." Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Another 400 post offices face the threat of closure next year unless they get a major business boost by taking on services like motor tax. The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) has issued a stark assessment of the postal network's future. It comes after 159 post offices shut their doors under a recent voluntary exit scheme. And a spokesman for An Post also warned there is a "very limited window" to transform the service. He said there is an opportunity to offer a much broader range of government services including driving licences, passports, motor tax, public service card renewal and government department administration like recording welfare customers' holidays. The postmasters' union warned hundreds of post offices will find themselves in crisis when support payments worth 10pc of each transaction rolled out under a new contract end in June next year. "I'd say you're looking at 300 to 400 post offices that will be under financial stress if they don't continue the 10pc arrangement," said IPU president Sean Martin. "They won't be able to survive. What we're saying to the Government is they need to make their mind up whether they want the post office or not." He said the outgoing government diluted services by encouraging welfare customers to opt for direct debit, while a passport express service is cheaper online. The union wants a public service obligation in place for the post office network to ensure continuous financial support. A spokesperson for An Post said it faces challenges maintaining its post office business "in the face of major shifts in our social welfare business". He said this is happening as customers move from cash and unemployment falls. "There is, in our view, a limited window within which we can further transform the post office and we will continue to work with government to maintain local post offices and maximise the opportunities for postmasters and their customers through the delivery of more government services," he said. There are 950 offices in the network, most of which are run by postmasters. They serve 1.3 million customers a week. Meanwhile, An Post announced that from March 19, the price of stamps will increase by 10c. The postal service said that his, the first domestic price increase since April 2017, "keeps An Post tariffs in line with the European average". The price of a standard domestic stamp will increase from 1 to 1.10 and a standard international stamp from 1.70 to 1.80. An Post said: "Mindful of the impact of increased prices on customers, we now offer regular customer discounts on stamps booklets and bundles. "We plan to increase the discounts available for Christmas posting this year. Rates for business bulk discount customers will remain unchanged until May 6." With so many new baby products emerging all the time it's difficult to know which ones are worth investing in. The world of parenting has seen a seismic shift in the past two decades, with the number of working mothers in England rising by more than a million, the emergence of co-parenting and more men taking on equal responsibilities. But what about the products that have changed UK parents' lives for the better? Emma Coffey is a mother-of-two and show director at The Baby Show, which has been running for 18 years and returns to the ExCeL London on February 28 until March 1. She knows everything there is to know about the childhood essentials and accessories that have stood the test of time, as well as emerging trends which have taken the baby industry by storm. Here she shares her top products which she believes should be on every new parent's wish list in 2020 with FEMAIL. Emma Coffey is a mother-of-two and show director at The Baby Show, which has been running for 18 years and returns to the ExCeL London on February 28 until March 1 Ergonomic baby carriers Daniel Craig received an outpouring of compliments from mums after he was pictured holding his baby daughter in a carrier in 2018. The papoose has been used for generations, but baby carriers from the likes of Baby Bjorn, Ergobaby and Stokke have evolved greatly over the past 18 years. They have become more ergonomic, making them safer for baby's hips and providing greater comfort for mum and dad. The ErgoBaby OMNI 360 Carrier, priced at 154.90, offers four carry positions and enables parents to quickly and easily switch baby to face out or in while on the move Lightweight buggies Many parents these days don't just want to push their buggy in the park but get outside and active. The iCandy Peach All-Terrain Forest, which launched in 2017, has enabled parents to really get off the beaten track and push their buggy on tougher terrain. And there's been an incredible number of small, lightweight fold-away buggies, like London's favourite compact buggy, the Babyzen Yoyo, and the Didofy Lotus 3 in 1 travel system that opens and closes at the touch of a button, meaning parents can transport their little one wherever their hearts desire without the worry of a huge, heavy buggy to lug around! The iCandy Peach All-Terrain Forest, which launched in 2017 and retails at 1,080, has enabled parents to really get off the beaten track and push their buggy on tougher terrain Discreet breast pumps Breast pumps have come along way over the past 18 years. While they used to be noisy, heavy and sometimes uncomfortable, today there are a number of incredible designs to make mums' lives easier. Medela have always led the way with the double electric breast pumps, and one of the most exciting to launch in 2018, and even spotted on the catwalks of London Fashion Week, was the Elvie breast pump. Silent, wearable, small and discreet, mums can fit the pump into their bra with no tubes, no noise and no hassle, enabling them to pump anytime and anywhere. One of the most exciting to launch in 2018, and even spotted on the catwalks of London Fashion Week, was the Elvie breast pump, priced at 249 Side-sleeping crib The Chicco Next2Me side-sleeping crib is a genius invention to help you sleep close to your baby, ensuring they're safe. It can be used with the side open, attached to the bed or as a regular crib with the side up. It attaches easily to every bed, ideal for giving baby the sense of protection they need and parents peace of mind. The Chicco Next2Me Air retails at 189 and features one-handed opening and a closing side panel Sleep aid There's been hundreds of sleep aids launched over the past 18 years but one of the finest - and most iconic - is Ewan the Dream Sheep. A simple yet highly effective tool for settling restless babies and toddlers, it's a cuddly toy sheep that plays comforting heartbeat and womb sounds that mimic the noises babies heard while inside their mum. Ewan the Dream Sheep, which costs 29.99, is a simple yet highly effective tool for settling restless babies and toddlers Eco-friendly nappies More and more parents are conscious of not only the type of food they feed their little ones but the material they use to care for them, ensuring they're not only good for their baby but also for the environment. As a result we saw a rise in popularity of organic baby care and eco-friendly nappies. Brands such as Childs Farm make a premium creams and bath range, while eco-friendly wipes and nappies are available from the likes of Cheeky Wipes and The Washable Nappy Company. The Washable Nappy Company sells these Little Lamb Bamboo Shaped Nappies in three sizes, ranging from 8 to 10 Electronic rockers Many babies will only get to sleep by constantly being rocked. That's why the 2017 invention, Rockit Rocker, was such a fantastic innovation. Simply clip it onto your pram or buggy and it will rock your baby to sleep in no time. The Rockit Rocker, which retails at 39.99, clips onto your pram or buggy and rocks your baby to sleep Baby monitor Monitoring your baby has come on leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Going from a walkie talkie style system to a visual monitor, and now to the latest a sock by Owlet that fits onto your baby's foot and sends details on heartbeat, temperature and more straight to your smart phone. Bluebell is a great example, leading the way with its technology. As well as keeping track of baby's breathing, temperature and movement, it promotes sleep with things like white noise, lullabies, a gentle night light and the option to listen in and speak to baby. Monitoring your baby has come on leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Pictured: a monitor from Bluebell (299) which monitors babys breathing, temperature, movement, crying, sleep and if they roll on their tummy. It sends you real-time alerts on these, 24/7, even outside the home Milk prep machine Preparing milk in the middle of the night used to be a nightmare, but in 2018 Tommee Tippee launched its ingenious Perfect Prep Machine. Its technology enables you to make sure the milk you give your baby is the perfect temperature in just two minutes, making preparing bottles quicker and more accurate. Tommee Tippee launched its ingenious Perfect Prep Machine (from 89.99) in 2018, enabling you to make sure the milk you give your baby is the perfect temperature in just two minutes Meal planner Weaning queen Annabel Karmel launched her first book - The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner - nearly 30 years ago and ever since she's been a household name. Her guides help families come up with creative and healthy meals for their little ones and teach them how to wean. Her books have been a kitchen shelf essential, revolutionising the way we feed our babies and toddlers. Weaning queen Annabel Karmel launched her first book - The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner (RRP 14.99) - nearly 30 years ago and ever since she's been a household name E-strollers Just as we've seen a surge in the electric car market, prams have also been given a technological overhaul. In 2019 Cybex launched the e-Priam a battery-operated electric pram which has an electric motor in the stroller that kicks in just when you need it. It's perfect for those on snow, rough terrain, ramps or steep hills, or just wanting a more comfortable ride! In 2019 Cybex launched the e-Priam (1,004) a battery-operated electric pram which has an electric motor in the stroller that kicks in just when you need it Baby bath towel The Cuddledry was the brainchild of two Somerset mums in 2006 who saw that parents faced the same stressful juggling act with towel and baby at bath time. They came up with the Cuddledry which enables mum or dad to cuddle their baby dry in their arms, naturally, happily and safely. The original Cuddledry has won dozens of awards for its simple yet effective design. The Cuddledry 'hands-free' baby towel, which costs 34.99, enables mum or dad to cuddle their baby dry in their arms, naturally, happily and safely Grobag Lack of sleep is always the biggest issue that new parents face - which prompted the birth of the Grobag, a revolutionary baby sleep bag designed to keep your baby sleeping soundly. Recommended by The Lullaby Trust, it's lightweight, safe and machine washable and keeps baby at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. It can't guarantee a full night's sleep of course, but it certainly helps! Grobags (now owned by Tommee Tippee) come in various sizes and are priced from 35.99 Lightweight car seat Just like the cars themselves, baby car seats have evolved dramatically over the past two decades. The Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix is one of the best inventions. Lightweight and easy to use, it can be quickly and simply transferred from the car to any Maxi-Cosi or Quinny stroller. The Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix (139) features a side Protection System and padded head support, and can be easily clicked into a pushchair to create a flexible travel system Skip Hop Changing Mat Launched in 2003, the Skip Hop changing mat is smartly designed, functional, PVC-free, wipe clean, waterproof and an essential for parents on the go. Their play mats are also a hit with parents as they're reversible and come with activity gyms included! Launched in 2003, the Skip Hop changing mat (29.99) is smartly designed, functional, PVC-free, wipe clean, waterproof and an essential for parents on the go Classic high chair Eating together is one of the most important times in a family's day and high chairs are an essential way to get baby involved from the very start right up to the table. The Stokke Tripp Trapp has been a stalwart for over 45 years as it can be adapted to grow with your child, lasting beside your kitchen table for generations. The Scandinavian invention has been a staple in many homes all over the world, having sold over 11 million worldwide. The Stokke Tripp Trapp, which retails at 178, has been a stalwart for over 45 years as it can be adapted to grow with your child, lasting beside your kitchen table for generations Jumperoo The Fisher Price Jumperoo has been a family favourite for the past 10 years, encouraging your little one to bounce and kick. Portable, affordable and so much fun, it's a must-have for little ones! The Fisher Price Jumperoo (80) has been a family favourite for the past 10 years, encouraging your little one to bounce and kick For more information about The Baby Show visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk/excel Photo: Jeff Turner/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in Sacramento? Read on for everything you need to know. Authorities looking for armed and dangerous felon known to frequent Sacramento, Reno According to authorities, 41-year-old Maitland Carpenter went to a home in Susanville Monday morning and left the home with Dorothie Janaybean Crosby and another man. Read the full story on KRON 4 News. Spirit Airlines flight declares emergency in air, loses power at Sacramento airport A Spirit Airlines flight declared an emergency while attempting to land at Sacramento International Airport on Saturday morning but managed to touch down without incident. Read the full story on The Sacramento Bee. Female struck by falling tree branch on Sac State campus A woman was injured by a falling tree branch on Sacramento State's campus Monday afternoon, Sacramento Fire said. Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento. CHP: 7 injured in suspected DUI crash in North Highlands One person was arrested and seven people were injured after a suspected DUI crash in North Highlands on Saturday night, according to the California Highway Patrols North Sacramento office. Read the full story on KCRA 3. New US Marshal based in Sacramento makes history Attorney General William Barr just designated Lasha Boyden as the first African American acting U.S. Marshal in the Eastern District of California. Read the full story on ABC Sacramento, KXTV. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 17:29 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653a218 4 National crocodile,crocodile-chocked-tire,Palu,central-sulawesi,Matt-Wright,Chris-Wilson,BKSDA Free After a week of attempting to rescue a crocodile trapped in a motorcycle tire in the Palu River, Central Sulawesi, Australian presenter Matthew Nicolas Wright has excused himself from the rescue mission despite the lack of progress in saving the animal. The presenter had to return to his home country as his work permit to participate on a local rescue mission with a wildlife rescue team to save the trapped crocodile expired. Give the [crocodile] a rest. Well be back soon to continue operations, Wright wrote on a caption of video uploaded to his official Instagram account, @mattwright, on Monday. In the video, he said he was planning to meet several parties in Australia to set up new plans as well as technologies to catch the crocodile. Fellow crocodile observer, Chris Willow Wilson, also joined earlier this month with the team formed by the Central Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Central Sulawesi). Wilson returned to Australia on Saturday. The 4-meter-long crocodile, regularly spotted swimming in the Palu River, has had a used motorcycle tire stuck around its neck for years and has foiled repeated rescue attempts from various parties. Wright said he promised to come back to Palu in May after setting up new strategies, while adding that the crocodile was in a healthy state and his condition would not be threatened by the tire stuck around its neck for at least a few years to come. The Australian presenter also appreciated members of the rescue team in the video who had been working together with him in the rescue mission. Read also: We are up to plan D or E: Australian rescuers still have no luck catching crocodile Before returning to their home country, Wilson and Wright had carried out various tricks to attract the crocodiles attention, including hanging a living duck from a drone that was later flown over the crocodile. Such tactics, however, failed to attract the crocodile, which swam away before disappearing without a trace. BKSDA Central Sulawesi admitted that Wrights role during the rescue mission had been substantial, especially in providing training to members of the rescue team on how to tame wild animals without hurting them. Thanks [for] helping us. Were happy to work with you. See you soon mate, BKSDA Central Sulawesi wrote on its official Instagram account, @bksdasulteng, on Monday. The agency added that the rescue team would continue to monitor the crocodile and carry out rescue efforts if necessary. BKSDA Central Sulawesi rescue team leader Haruna said the efforts to free the trapped crocodile from its rubber shackle would continue, although the two Australian experts had gone back to their home country. Read also: See you later, alligator: Crocodile rescue contest in Palu cancelled as no takers emerge However, the rescue operation might not be as intensive as before. Well try to attract the animals attention first so his behavior wont change significantly, Haruna said on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com. He added that the team would give the animal more space because they had hunted and chased it for several years. The team worried that an extensive rescue effort would stress out the crocodile, prompting it to attack other crocodiles or surrounding communities. Haruna said he would not invite more people, especially non-experts, to take part in the upcoming mission, as it would pose big risks to those involved. (syk) Questions need to be answered over the use of public money from Invest NI by Wrightbus, Sinn Fein has said. Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald, chair of the Economy Comittee at Stormont, said that in June 2019 Invest NI loaned Wrightbus 2.5m in a bid to provide "financial breathing space" at a time when the company was experiencing financial difficulties. The firm then went into administration before being bought by English industrialist Jo Bamford in October. "Clarity is now needed on what the terms of the loan were and whether Invest NI was aware that charitable donations were being given to the Green Pastures Church while Wrightbus was reporting losses," Ms Archibald said. "People are entitled to know how public money is being spent and should be able to have confidence it is being spent in an accountable and transparent manner." An Invest NI spokesman said: "Invest NI has been completely open about the decision to provide an urgent 2.5m secured loan as part of a wider funding package to the Wrights Group. "The decision to provide the loan was taken jointly by Invest NI, and the permanent secretaries of the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance to help safeguard the business. Expand Close Green Pastures Church / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Green Pastures Church "Had this loan (of which 1.5m has already been repaid) not been advanced, it is very unlikely the company would be operating today under new management, with employment of 400 and plans for further growth." Parent company donated 1.35m to church despite firm's financial distress The MLA's comments come after BBC Spotlight revealed the parent company of Wrightbus donated 1.35m to Green Pastures Church despite the Ballymena bus builder being in deep financial trouble. However, the then management said this was before a drop in orders and the failure to secure a contract and subsequently every penny was used to try and save the business. BBC Spotlight has revealed the parent firm Cornerstone made the donation to the church in Ballymena in January 2019. Wrightbus then went into administration in September 2019, owing creditors 58m. Every penny was needed to prop up Wrightbus, so no money was available for charitable donations Jeff Wright In a statement Jeff Wright, who was the controlling shareholder of Cornerstone and a director of the church, said: "When the business experienced a sudden and unexpected drop off in orders and the failure of a significant order to materialise profits plummeted and every penny was needed to prop up Wrightbus, so no money was available for charitable donations. "It is a simple truth, a fervent wish and an unswerving commitment to Christian works that has been the sole motivation behind Green Pastures, and more recently its planned expansion to the Gateway Project. "There is no mystery to how, as a family, we were able to support our Christian commitment to these works. All dividends from Wright group were paid with the full knowledge of Bank of Ireland and Invest NI." Mr Wright said the firm's collapse was "deeply felt" by his family, adding that he recognised the anger the collapse has generated. "We reject any insinuation of wrongdoing and trust that we will be fully vindicated when all matters are concluded," Mr Wright added. When the firm collapse, the PSNI advised the Wright family of threats to their safety and security in September last year. Mr Wright said he believed this was triggered by "untrue information about our financial dealings". He added that his family cooperated fully with Deloitte when they were brought in to advise the company in April 2019 and have continued to do so after the administration of Wrightbus. It has been previously reported Green Pastures received an estimated 15m in donations through Cornerstone over the last six years. Most of the donations were made during a period when the firm was financially strong. However, Wrights Group management accounts for 2018 show a pre-tax loss of 13.6m. According to accounts filed with Companies House, the firm donated the following amounts to the church. 2012 - 1.02m 2013 - 742,000 2014 - 4.45m 2015 - 5.02m 2016 - 700,000 2017 - 4.15m Green Pastures has also pledged to build a megachurch on a 97-acre site with a business park, training centre and student housing near Ballymena. This is referred to as "Project Nehemiah" in Companies House documents with 4.65m sitting in its dedicated account in 2018. The Spotlight programme, which airs at 10.35pm on Tuesday, also looks at other transactions in the run-up to the administration. Since the company was bought out of administration in October the firm has been on a recruitment drive and the factory now employs around 400 people. Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial will open on March 17, just two weeks after the embattled leader tries to secure re-election, officials said Tuesday. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier and the first to be indicted while in office, has been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies all wrongdoing. In a statement, the justice ministry said judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman would read out the indictment in Jerusalem, in the presence of Netanyahu. The trial, including all possible appeals, could take years. Israeli law says that government ministers who are subject to criminal prosecution must resign. But this does not apply to the prime minister, meaning no legal barriers are likely to prevent Netanyahu, 70, from remaining in office should his right-wing Likud win enough seats to form a government. The March 2 poll is Israel's third in less than a year, after two previous votes resulted in a deadlock between Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz. Neither was able to form a coalition despite having the two biggest parties in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament). Gantz had refused after September elections to join a unity government led by Netanyahu, saying the prime minister must settle his differences with the judiciary before taking power. The retired general said Tuesday it was "unacceptable that a prime minister could lead the country and manage three legal cases against him at the same time." "On March 17, his mandate ends and the trial begins. Netanyahu will not be able to take care of the Israeli people as well as his own affairs," Gantz told a meeting of his centrist Blue and White party. - Impact on voters? - Experts are uncertain whether the indictment will damage Netanyahu's support among voters, with recent polls pointing to another tight race. "Netanyahu skillfully managed to frame the issues he has been charged with as... not real corruption," the president of the Israel Democracy Institute think-tank, Johan Plesner, told AFP. Plesner said Netanyahu had succeeded in convincing the majority of his political base that his conduct amounts to legitimate political "wheeling and dealing," not serious misuse of public resources. Netanyahu and his family are accused of receiving gifts including luxury cigars, champagne and jewellery from wealthy individuals, estimated to be worth more than 700,000 shekels ($204,000, 189,000 euros), in exchange for financial or personal favours. He has also been accused of seeking a deal with the owner of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper that would have seen it give him more favourable coverage. In exchange, the prime minister allegedly offered to push for legislation that would hurt the paper's main competitor. A third allegation, the most serious, is that Netanyahu offered mogul Shaul Elovitch regulatory changes worth millions of dollars to his telecoms giant Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on Elovitch's Walla! news website. Shlomo Filber, a Netanyahu ally for more than 20 years and a former communications ministry director general, has become a state witness in that investigation. Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit formally presented the charge sheet last month after Netanyahu withdrew a request seeking parliamentary immunity. His opponents had already mustered a majority in the legislature to deny him immunity. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The Centre is likely to face resistance in granting Schedule Tribe (Hill) status to the Bodos living outside Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) as part of third Bodo peace accord. The District Congress Committees of the three hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, said as the Bodo Kacharis settlement in the three districts was a consequence of recent migration, they could not be deemed ST (Hill) and granting them the same under Clause 6.1 of the accord would unsettle the geo-political environment of the already fragile hill districts. In a joint representation to the Centre, signed by Congress leaders Khorsing Engti, Nirmal Langthasa, Dr Mongve Rongpi etc, the committees said historically and geographically, the Bodo Kacharis have always been a ST community living in Assams plains and as such, they were conferred the status of ST (Plains). The Bodo Kacharis living in these three hill districts are already enjoying all benefits of ST (Plains) wherein they have an elected member to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. Generally, the Bodo Kacharis, as a tribal community, are far more advanced in every aspect than the indigenous tribals of this region namely Karbi, Dimasa, Naga, Kuki, Hmar, Baite, Hrangkhol etc. Thus, conferring them ST (Hill) status would be a major setback to these tribes, the committees wrote in the representation. They reminded that when the Centre had signed the second Bodo peace accord with erstwhile rebel group Bodo Liberation Tigers in 2003, the Centre had refrained from granting ST (Hill) status to the Bodos after a joint delegation from the hill districts had lodged a protest against the move before then Union Home Minister LK Advani. The Congress committees lamented that the Narendra Modi government decided on granting St (Hill) status to the Bodos without holding any consultations with the stakeholders of these hill districts. Therefore, on behalf of the original tribes of the three hill districts of Assam and the people, we, the three District Congress Committees, earnestly request the Central and state governments to revoke the contentious Clause 6.1 from the Bodo Peace Accord and implement Article 244(A) of the Constitution which is the long-standing demand of the three hill districts, they said. WESTHAMPTON The towns registered Democrats will hold a caucus on March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Westhampton Public Library, 1 North Road, to elect delegates and alternates to the Democratic State Convention set for May 30 at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats. Pre-registered Democrats who were 16 years of age by Feb. 15 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. The town can elect one delegate and one alternate. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or online at massdems.org. Those interested in getting involved with the Westhampton Democratic Town Committee should contact Stephan Wurmbrand at 413-530-2194 or swurmbrand@tcsgp.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 23:48:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia vowed Tuesday to contest the ruling of a Dutch court demanding Moscow pay 50 billion U.S. dollars in compensation to shareholders of the now defunct Russian oil giant Yukos. The Ministry of Justice said in a statement that The Hague Court of Appeal failed to take into account the unlawful use by former Yukos shareholders of a treaty not ratified by Russia. The court also ignored the fact that former Yukos shareholders obtained control over the company that was privatized in the 1990s through illegal actions, including conspiracy and bribery, it said. In the management of Yukos, the former majority holders allowed massive tax evasion, illegal withdrawal of assets abroad, money laundering and other illegal actions, it added. Earlier on Tuesday, the appeals court overruled a decision by the District Court of The Hague in 2016, which overturned a 2014 compensation order by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague over the lack of jurisdiction as the case was based on the 1994 Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which was signed but not ratified by Russia. "When the Russian Federation signed the ECT, it undertook to apply that treaty provisionally unless it would violate Russian law. In the opinion of the court, there is no question of conflict with Russian law," The Hague Court of Appeal said in a statement. Russia will now appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court in the Netherlands. Yukos was one of the largest oil and gas companies in Russia. Former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, then the richest man in Russia, had been jailed for more than a decade on charges of fraud and tax evasion, among others. Khodorkovsky was pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2013. Yukos was declared bankrupt in 2006 and its assets were tendered and finally incorporated into Russia's major oil and gas company Rosneft. Three major shareholders then initiated arbitration against the Russian Federation. Professor Adam Habib to step down from Wits at the end of the year Habib to join the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, UK, from 1 January 2021. Professor Adam Habib, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, has resigned and will leave the University at the end of December 2020. He has accepted an offer to serve as the Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) based in London as from 1 January 2021. I was approached to apply for the SOAS position at the end of last year. I threw my hat into the ring and was surprised when they offered me the post. After much deliberation with my family and considerable engagement with the Wits Council and the Executive, I have agreed to accept the offer. My decision was not made lightly I am a proud leader and champion of Wits University and South Africa, and will continue to fly these flags high, says Habib, who has served at the helm of Wits for the past seven years. I have committed to strengthening ties between the South African and UK higher education sectors in my new role. [Professor Adam Habibs full statement follows below.] Habib implemented the Wits 2022 strategy. Under his leadership, Wits has exceeded in all indicators Wits research output has increased by more than 60% (in quality, international journals), throughput rates are up (more students are passing) and a record number of students have graduated in recent years. Wits Universitys Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct has also flourished under his leadership, Wits finances are stable and it has strong, independent governance structures in place. Wits has recorded significant achievements in the last seven years, adds Habib. In 2019 we graduated over 9 500 students, the most in the Universitys history. In line with the Wits aim of becoming an increasingly postgraduate university, we enrolled 15 000 postgraduate students last year. Our research outputs have increased from 1 200 units in 2013 to just under 2 000 in 2020, without compromising on quality about 90% of our papers are published in peer-reviewed international journals these are phenomenal achievements for any university, and I will leave Wits in a strong position. Mr Isaac Shongwe, the Chairperson of Wits Universitys Council adds: Please join me in congratulating Professor Adam Habib on his appointment. He is a dynamic leader, who has without a doubt made a significant contribution to Wits and the higher education sector, both locally and abroad. His fearless, forthright commentary and his general robustness has left our University, and South Africa, a richer intellectual space, for which we are grateful. [Mr Isaac Shongwes full statement follows below.] Professor Habib has committed to continue to serve Wits until all the necessary succession plans and processes are put in place. The Chancellor, Dr Judy Dlamini, members of the Universitys Council and members of the Senior Executive Team are already working together to ensure that all the processes to appoint a suitable successor are in place. Wits has an impressive executive team, who are increasingly sought after to lead other universities in the higher education sector. Almost a third of all public universities in South Africa are led by Witsies, and we are confident that a suitable successor will be appointed. We will, of course, continue to develop strong leaders for all sectors of society, concludes Shongwe. FULL STATEMENTS Message from Professor Adam Habib to the University community: This is one of the most difficult letters that I have had to write in my seven years at Wits. Late last year, I was approached by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London to apply for the position of Director, and was subsequently offered the job. Following a lengthy internal reflection, intense deliberations with my family, and robust discussions with the Wits executive team and Council members, I have decided to accept the offer I will take up the new position in January 2021. By the end of 2020, I would have spent about eight years at Wits, and I would have loved to lead Wits to its centenary in 2022. However, this opportunity has emerged and I am not sure that another one will be available in the near future. I will continue to work with our executive team throughout this year to consolidate our institutional agenda both at the level of our centenary campaign and our national and global partnerships, including the ARUA network. This will provide the Council with the opportunity to initiate a process to choose a new vice-chancellor, and enable us to undertake a handover so that our agenda to build a research-intensive university is not in any way compromised. I commit, with the Chairperson of Council, Mr Isaac Shongwe, to keep you updated on matters related to my departure and the future management and leadership of the University. It has truly been an honour to lead this University, and it has not always been an easy job. We have lived through some tumultuous times, where politicians and activists have threatened, and sometimes destroyed public institutions, either because of greed and/or misguided political adventurism. We, as Wits, would not have survived these times without the collective voice of the Senate, Council, researchers, academics and the University community being heard at crucial moments. I have said this before and I say again, I lead at the behest of the academy. Throughout my tenure, academics, Senate and Council have provided wise counsel and support without which we would not have been able to survive institutionally. I thank you for these years of support. Our achievements have been significant in the last seven years. In 2013, we graduated 7 000 students; by 2019, this had jumped to over 9 500. In 2013, we enrolled 9 800 postgraduate students. By 2019, we enrolled 15 000 students. Our research has increased from 1 200 units in 2013 to just under 2 000 in 2020. As a result of these academic successes, our budgeted income has increased from R2.4 billion in 2013 to R4 billion in 2018, some R500 million per annum above our research peers. This has allowed us to make investments in the academic programme by more than 14% per annum, social investments in professional and support staff by a similar 14%, and a financial investment approximating 24% in student support. All of this has happened while we have built on earlier successes to establish a student community that is both diverse and cosmopolitan, and an academy in which black academics now constitute a small majority. We have also made significant strides in refashioning our neighbourhood so that our students and staff can study, live and experience a vibrant social life. We have demonstrated in practice that it is possible both to transform, and to advance excellence. I cannot claim that we have made the politicians and political activists happy. However, in the indicators that matter - research, teaching, financial sustainability, transformation - we have done well as a result of the collective endeavours of all. But, there is still much to do. The Wits project is also a global project and we have demonstrated this well over the past few years through our research and partnerships. Our world and the global academy are unequal and as long as this is the case, our collective future as a society remains in peril. All our contemporary challenges - inequality, poverty, climate change, renewable energy, clean water, public health, political and social polarisation - are transnational in character and require quality science and an understanding of local contexts to be addressed. This necessitates a global alliance of universities and researchers to address the challenges of our time. Africa therefore requires its research universities to play a major role in searching for contextually relevant solutions, and Wits is perhaps its most preeminent research institution. It is important for the nation, the continent and our world that our research character, our postgraduate focus and our teaching excellence are consolidated as we build towards a global academy of commons. There is no better group of individuals to lead our institutional agenda than the executive management team at Wits. I can say without doubt that this is the strongest and most resilient executive team in the country. Even after contributing to the leadership of other institutions, the Wits executive remains the best collective in the country. It has been an honour to serve with them and I look forward to doing so for the remainder of this year. I also know that I will leave this University in the best hands. Thank you again for the collective support that you have provided throughout my tenure. Forever in your service. Best, Professor Adam Habib Vice-Chancellor and Principal University of the Witwatersrand 18 February 2020 Message from Mr Isaac Shongwe to the University community: Iran sentenced eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who reportedly also has British and American citizenship, to prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Iran's national security, the judiciary said Tuesday. According to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, an appeals court issued the final verdicts. Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani, got 10 years each and were ordered to return the money they allegedly received from the U.S. government for their services. Tahbaz is an Iranian who also holds U.S. and British citizenship. Iran does not recognize dual or multiple nationalities, meaning Iranians it detains cannot receive consular assistance from their other countries. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government. Esmaili, the judiciary spokesman, said two other activists, Houman Jokar and Taher Ghadirian, each got eight-year sentences for allegedly collaborating with the hostile government of America." Another three of the activists, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashan Doust and Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi, were sentenced to six years in prison each. The eighth activist, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, got four years. All the activists were arrested in early 2018. A ninth activist who was arrested at the time, Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian-Canadian naional, died while in custody under disputed circumstances in February 2018. His widow then was blocked from flying out of Iran, but later made it out. Iran is also holding others with ties to the West, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman sentenced to five years on allegations of planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling in Iran with her young daughter. Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the US-backed shah, both are serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage charges. Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail in 2017 after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for collaboration with a hostile government. Shahini has since returned to America and is now suing Iran in US federal court. Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing. Earlier this month, Iran's supreme court confirmed the death penalty for Amir Rahimpour, who was convicted of spying for the C.I.A. Iranian state media have alleged that he had shared details of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program with the American spy agency. Esmaili said at the time that Rahimpor would soon be executed. Iran has in the past has sentenced alleged American and Israeli spies to death. The last such spy executed was Shahram Amiri, who defected to the US at the height of Western efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear program. When he returned in 2010, he was welcomed with flowers by government leaders and even went on the Iranian talk-show circuit. Then he mysteriously disappeared. He was hanged in August 2016, the same week that Tehran executed a group of militants and a year after Iran agreed to a landmark accord to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Tensions remain high between Iran and the US since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal. A US drone strike in January killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting Tehran to retaliate with a ballistic missile strike on Iraqi bases housing American troops. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dec. 21, 2009: Four Academy of Art University recruiters Scott Rose, Mary Aquino, Mitchell Nelson and Lucy Stearns sue their employer in U.S. District Court in Oakland under the federal False Claims Act that covers allegations of government fraud. The four allege that the school fraudulently collects millions of dollars a year from the U.S. Department of Education through federal student loans. They say the school raises or lowers their salaries by as much as $30,000 and dangles bonus trips to Hawaii based solely on the number of students they enroll, in violation of the federal ban on incentive compensation meant to stop schools from enrolling unqualified sudents who wont repay the loans. The recruiters also allege the school falsely claims to the government that it complies with the law. Judge Phyllis Hamilton seals the case to give the federal government time to look into the facts, as is done in all False Claims Act cases. Spring 2010: Two of the plaintiffs are fired by now, and two have resigned. June 23, 2011 Judge Hamilton unseals the complaint. March 7, 2012 Lawyers for the Academy of Art move to dismiss the lawsuit. They say the school used multiple factors to determine recruiters compensation, not just enrollment numbers, and was therefore protected under federal safe harbor provisions during the time covered by the lawsuit, roughly 2006 to 2010. (Safe harbor was repealed in 2011.) June 28, 2012 Judge Hamilton denies the Academy of Arts motion to dismiss. Dec. 21, 2015 Lawyers for the Academy of Art submit 76 exhibits in a move for summary judgement, meaning they want Judge Hamilton to rule immediately in their favor. May 4, 2016 Judge Hamilton denies the Academy of Arts motion for summary judgement. June 16, 2016 The U.S. Supreme Court rules on a case known as Escobar, and sets a higher standard for False Claims Act cases. Aug. 24, 2016 Lawyers for the Academy of Art ask Judge Hamilton to reconsider granting summary judgement in light of Escobar. Under this standard, they argue, the schools practices matter little to the U.S. Department of Education, which has only once barred a school from the federal student loan program for violating the ban on incentive compensation. Sept. 20, 2016 Judge Hamilton denies the Academy of Arts second request for summary judgement, noting the Department does value compliance and has recouped $59 million from schools that violated the ban. Dec. 6, 2017 Lawyers for the Academy of Art appeal Judge Hamiltons denial of their request for summary judgment. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Aug. 24 2018 A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal rules there is enough evidence to move forward with the case. Nov. 26, 2018 The appeals court panel formally denies the schools appeal, with one judge dissenting. Feb. 25, 2019 Lawyers for the Academy of Art ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider their appeal. April 1, 2019 The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear the schools appeal. Feb 11, 2020 Judge Hamilton sets a trial date of April 27. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex made a swift exit from the royal family, reportedly leaving Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge to pick up the slack a bit. The Cambridges have been busy so far in 2020 and, according to one report, Kate is happy with having a bigger role in the royal family. Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan left their royal duties behind In January, the Sussexes shared in an Instagram post their intentions to step back from their royal duties, but after Queen Elizabeth met to discuss the specifics of the plan, they left for good. In exchange for their freedom, Prince Harry and Meghan gave up the use of their HRH titles and public funding. The queen shared in a statement: Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. Prince Harry noted during a speech after the details were finalized that he and Meghan felt like they didnt have any other option. Are Kate and Prince William picking up the slack? Once the Sussexes exited the family, it was reported that the Cambridges had to pick up the slack they left behind. Harry and Meghan deciding to up sticks and leave without any thought about how it could affect them is pretty selfish, a palace source told The Mirror. The insider continued: If the Sussexes are only here half the year then it will fall to William and Kate to pick up the slack with more engagements, more pressure, and that has not even been considered. Kate is reportedly so happy about her role If there is indeed extra work for the Cambridges, sources say Kate is happy about it. Shes been busy with her survey project about early childhood, which she is clearly invested in. Kate is extremely passionate about the work the Foundation does and she has ideas and plans for how she believes it can be used to help some of the causes which she is particularly passionate about, a source told The Sun. The insider added: In recent weeks Kate has visited a lot of organizations and spoke to lots of experts and has soaked a lot of information. She wants to use that to go out and bring about change to many of those who need support. William and Kate may have extra responsibilities in the wake of Harry and Meghans move to Canada but neither of them want that to be at the expense of their Foundation, the source shared. They both work very closely with the team and Kate is sitting in on more and more meetings so she can have an input in the work that is going on. The Cambridges can focus on the Foundation more now, as the insider shared that it had been a bit of a tug of war between what William and Harry wanted, adding, Now it is purely in the shape of how William and Kate want it to be. He portrayed Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, as hungry for power. He accused Xi of trying to cover up the coronavirus outbreak in central China. In one of his most daring writings, he urged Xi to resign, saying, Youre just not smart enough. Then, over the weekend, Xu Zhiyong, a prominent Chinese legal activist, went silent. Authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou detained him Saturday, according to Xus friends, after he spent nearly two months in hiding. His girlfriend, Li Qiaochu, a social activist, went missing Sunday, Xus friends said. The activist is the latest critic to be caught up in Xis far-reaching efforts to limit dissent in China. The crackdown, which has ensnared scores of activists, lawyers, journalists and intellectuals, is likely to intensify as the ruling Communist Party comes under broad attack for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, one of its biggest political challenges in years. Xu, a 46-year-old former university lecturer, has long railed against government corruption and social injustice in China. He went into hiding in December as police began rounding up human rights activists who met with him in the eastern city of Xiamen. While in hiding, Xu continued to publish blunt critiques of Xi on social media, accusing him of leading a dictatorship. He also criticized Xis handling of the outbreak in the central province of Hubei that has killed at least 1,770 people in China and sickened more than 70,000. In one of his last writings before he was detained, Xu mourned the death of a doctor in Wuhan whom police had silenced after he warned about the virus. In their hearts, Xu said of party leaders, there is no right and wrong, no conscience, no bottom line, no humanity. Xu, a firebrand who has spent decades pushing for political changes, has long clashed with the Chinese government. He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2014 for gathering a crowd to disturb public order, a charge that stemmed from his role organizing the New Citizens Movement, a grassroots effort against corruption and social injustice in Chinese society. It is unclear what charges authorities might bring against Xu. The circumstances of the disappearance of his girlfriend, Li, were also ambiguous. Police in Guangzhou did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Xus friends defended his actions. It is within the scope of freedom of speech under the Chinese constitution, said Hua Ze, an activist based in New Jersey and a friend of Xu who confirmed his detention. Faced with growing public anger over the coronavirus outbreak, Chinas leader has cited a need to strengthen the guidance of public opinion, a term that often refers to blocking independent news reporting and censoring critical comments on Chinese social media. Many free-speech activists worry that the party, which is concerned about maintaining its control, is tightening the reins of public discourse despite a growing perception that the silencing of doctors and others who tried to raise alarms has enabled the virus to spread more widely. Two video bloggers who attracted wide attention for their dispatches from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, have gone missing. Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher at Human Rights Watch, an advocacy organization, said the detention of Xu showed that authorities had no intention of loosening restrictions on speech. The Chinese government persists in its old ways: silencing its critics rather than listening to people who promote rights-respecting policies that actually solve problems, she said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Hundreds of Israelis gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Sunday to pray for an end to the coronavirus, citing traditional prayers and Psalms and even singing and dancing. A sign on the mens side of the Western Wall read in Hebrew and Chinese, The People of Israel pray for the sake of China. The Jerusalem Post reported that the ceremony was promoted by Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Safed and president of the Rabbinical Community Association. As of Tuesday, there were 72,436 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 1,868 deaths from it. Millions and millions of people are going through tremendous suffering in China and outside China, Rabbi Avi Berman, executive director of the Israeli branch of the Orthodox Union, told The Jerusalem Post. As Jews, we believe that God has the power to send healing. We are not doctors, but we can pray. We look at our forefathers and see how when they saw trouble in the world, they prayed to God to take care of it, they prayed for the sick to recover and for the poor to find sustenance, Berman added. The Chinese people represent one-sixth of the world and many are affected also in the United States, in Europe, in Asia. We should all worry about what is happening and come together to do something about it. King David, Berman said, composed beautiful prayers that we can use to pray. The ceremony ended with a shofar blast, The Post reported. I can tell you that since the end of Shabbat my phone has not stopped for a moment to ring or receive messages from schools, communities or organizations wishing to participate or to show their support, Berman said. The Chinese embassy in Israel released a statement thanking Israelis for their prayers. The Chinese Embassy in Israel would like to extend its sincere appreciation for the sympathy, support and solidarity expressed by the Jewish people. We will never forget it, the statement read. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Amir Levy/Stringer Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Armenias leadership pledged to punish senior military officials and improve military discipline on Tuesday following a spate of non-combat deaths of Armenian army soldiers reported in recent weeks. The Armenian military has reported 13 such deaths since the beginning of this year. Eight of these soldiers have died in accidents and other circumstances not related to their military service. The five other victims are believed to have committed suicide or been shot dead by other servicemen in separate incidents investigated by law-enforcement authorities. The latter arrested three soldiers in connection with one of those deaths which occurred at an army base in Nagorno-Karabakh late last month. The shooting incidents have caused outrage in Armenia and cast a renewed spotlight on the chronic problem of hazing and other abuses in the army ranks. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian discussed them with top military and law-enforcement officials at an emergency meeting held on Monday amid continuing criticism of the army command voiced by some opposition politicians and civic activists. Pashinian said on Tuesday that a number of important, including personnel-related, decisions were made at the meeting and called for an end to the nervous atmosphere around the army. In a Facebook post, he said that the number of non-combat deaths among Armenian military personnel fell to a historical low last year thanks to the authorities efforts to tackle the problem. Our objective is to maintain this dynamic, he wrote. The chief of the armys General Staff, Lieutenant-General Artak Davtian, confirmed the impending personnel changes within the military but did not shed light on them. He declined to comment on reports that the chief of the Armenian military police is among senior officers who will be sacked in the coming days. Davtian stressed that other officers have already been demoted or discharged from the armed forces this month because of the non-combat fatalities. He also expressed confidence that investigators will identify those directly responsible for them. Armenias top military investigator, Artak Krkyasharian, discussed the ongoing inquiries with his subordinates on Tuesday. He was reported to order them to publicize details of the probes. Davtian spoke to reporters after meeting with Armenian parliament deputies behind the closed doors. He assured them that the authorities are doing their best to eradicate elements of the criminal subculture and strengthen discipline in the army. Ms Chen was taken to Robina Hospital for medical treatment for scratches and malnutrition A Chinese student who survived five days in bushland says she slept in a banana sack in a cave to survive hevay rainfall and floods. Yang Chen, 26, was feared drowned after disappearing on Wednesday while bushwalking at the Tallebudgera Valley in the Gold Coast Hinderland. The student was miraculously found alive on Monday after a mammoth search effort involving police divers, dogs and drones over nearly a week. In a press conference on Tuesday Gold Coast Water Police Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Grey said they were expecting to find a body. Shes very very lucky that we found her alive. While there was a good supply of water it doesn't appear at this stage that shes actually gone and drunk a lot of water. Shes very dehydrated, very unwell but shell be fine once the hospital treats her,' he said. Despite having no food and losing her shoes during the time in the bush, she told police she survived drinking water from streams and sleeping in a banana sack inside various caves. The Bond University Student was taking part in a two hour hike with her friend when they were separated after he went ahead to see what the path was like. Yang Chen went missing from the Tallebudgera Valley, on the outskirts of the Gold Coast - she was found five days later When he returned she was gone, sparking a mammoth search effort involving multiple police agencies, divers, dog-squads, SES, surf life-saving teams, park rangers and local volunteers. But after more than five days in the dense forest, Ms Chen was found barefoot perched on a 50-metre gorge only 300 metres from where she went missing at 11am on Wednesday. Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Grey described the search and rescue as a 'massive undertaking'. It was the most difficult search Ive been involved in. On the day she went missing by the time we got there on scene we had 30 minutes of good searching before the torrential downpour set in, and that set in for over the next 24 hours, he said. 'Theres no doubt our dive team, our police dive squad definitely risked their lives to scale that cliff face. There was no trail there, what they did to get her out of there was nothing short of amazing.' Unfavorable weather conditions seriously impacted on efforts to find the student, which suspended search efforts for some time. She was found barefoot perched on a 50-metre gorge less than a kilometre from where she went missing on Monday Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Grey said everyone is pleased she survived the ordeal. I had knots in my stomach. You know as you get to the end of these protracted search and rescues on the last day or two you start becoming really quite nervous that youre not going to find the person and starting questioning the decisions you have made, he said. Yang Chen was discharged from Robina Hospital on Monday morning after being treated for minor cuts and malnutrition. Ms Chen told Courier Mail on Monday she had seen search crews three days ago, but due to the thick forest waterfalls they couldn't hear her. 'She just kept saying thank you, thank you,' said a rescuer when she was found. Police were concerned they would be finding Ms Chen's body. She had spent four nights sleeping inside a large plastic sack she found, which was understood to protect bananas in the area. All she ate for five days was a single berry from a tree, which she spat straight out after discovering its bitter taste. A former Nigerian Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Monday said Nigeria has retrogressed because the political elites have perfected a monopoly democracy over the country. The former minister and presidential candidate argued that Nigeria cannot move forward under such a system. Mrs Ezekwesili spoke at the #FixPolitics conference organised by the Robert Bosch Academy in Lagos. The FixPolitics Initiative builds on the concept of the #OfficeOfTheCitizen, in a bid to upturn the current aberration that defines democracy in Nigeria and Africa as government of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians. Presentation In her presentation at the event, Mrs Ezekwesili explained that monopoly democracy is dangerous for the growth of the nation. She said: When you look at the degree of participation in a democracy, it will tell you whether such democracy is participatory or a monopoly. A monopoly democracy is more dangerous than an economic democracy. To have a monopoly in how the system functions is to retard the system. Read also: In Europe, statehood is about people with a similar language coming together. In Africa, it was the Berlin Conference that marked out the territories. In Nigeria, administrative convenience propelled the colonial authorities to bring the people together. It was a patchwork. Nigeria is made up of people who had nothing in common. There was no common identifying point of reference beyond the colonial powers administrative convenience. Right things not done The former minister said Nigeria could have overcome the challenges resulting from the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates had the right things been done at independence in 1960. She blamed the post-independence leaders for not renegotiating the terms of Nigerias existence when they replaced the British. In gaining independence, there was something that needed to happen that did not happen, she said. There needed to be a discussion between these people that were brought together by the colonialists. That did not happen. The fact that we failed to hold some dialogue on how to live together constituted a gap. These failures and gaps continue to haunt us to this day. Also speaking at the event, the Head of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Pat Utomi, noted that one of the most important attributes of democracy is a rational public conversation. Mr Utomi, a professor, also buttressed Mrs Ezekwesilis position, adding that healthy conversations are germane for the growth of the nations democracy. The nations democracy cannot make progress without public conversations that can advance the common good, he noted. He said: The thesis that Dr Oby Ezekwesili has just advanced, the thesis of democracy monopoly, is exactly the point I was making. When you have that mindset of only one perspective, you cannot make progress. Monopoly capitalism has never resulted in innovation and growth and that is why countries like the United States have anti-trust laws to prevent monopoly. TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES -- A man suspected of shooting and killing a woman outside a home in Michigan last month has taken his own life, officials said Monday. The Oakland County Sheriffs Office in Michigan said Reuben Tompkins, 29, of Detroit had fled to Mountain Brook where he died by suicide. The gun Tompkins used was found with his body, it said. Detectives had the weapon subjected to ballistics testing and it confirmed it was used in the murder of Kaneisha Williams, 32, of Waterford Township in a Pontiac shooting in January. Officials said the homicide case has been cleared because of Tompkins' death. Williams was slain Jan. 20 in the 10th block of North Eastway Drive between Auburn and Michigan Avenue in Pontiac, according to authorities. Deputies responded at about 11:40 p.m. to the scene on a report of shots fired with a possible wounded victim, they said. A witness told police a woman approached his home and appeared to be running from a man. The witness heard gunshots and heard the woman moaning. He saw a man leave the area in a vehicle that had been parked in the street, police said. Deputies found Williams with several gunshot wounds. They called for an ambulance, but opted to drive her to a hospital because her wounds were so severe. A doctor at the hospital declared the woman dead. Investigators later determined the woman's identity. During the course of their investigation, detectives identified Tompkins as a possible suspect in the woman's murder, officials said. They were able to track him to Alabama. Tompkins killed himself on Jan. 24th on U.S. 280 near Wendys, according to the Jefferson County Coroners Office. He was found unresponsive in a vehicle and taken to UAB Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. AL.com reporter Carol Robinson contributed to this article. 2020 The Detroit News Visit The Detroit News at www.detnews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Rome, Feb 19 : Russia is a key player in efforts to end Libya's protracted conflict and is seeking to foster dialogue between the oil-rich country's warring sides, Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday. "Moscow is an important interlocutor in the solution of the Libyan crisis," Di Maio told reporters at a press conference here with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Italy's Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. Russia's "commitment to facilitating a constructive and moderate approach by the various sides will be crucial," Di Maio underlined. On his part, Lavrov said Russia is keen to cooperate closely with Italy in international efforts to end Libya's years-old civil war. He expressed Russia's wish to "work intensely" with Italy for peace in Libya. The Libya crisis has concerned Europe due to its potential impact on security and migration, as well as Russia's growing influence in the Mediterranean. Hundreds of Russian mercenaries are fighting on the side of eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya's deadly civil war. European Union states agreed at a summit in Brussels on Monday to create a new Mediterranean mission to enforce a much-flouted United Nations arms embargo against Libya, Di Maio announced. Stopping arms entering Libya is widely seen as crucial to ending the fighting and to a negotiated peace settlement. A shaky truce was agreed last month, with Turkish and Russian influence, in the battle for Tripoli between militias loyal to the besieged UN-backed government and the forces of Haftar, who launched a deadly offensive to take the capital last April. The Nato-backed 2011 ouster of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi plunged Libya into chaos with rival administrations in the east and west since 2014 - each backed by a myriad of armed groups vying for control. Over 8,000 water consumers in Longford received good news this week following the removal of the Ballymahon water supply by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from their Remedial Action List (RAL). The latest report from the EPA shows how Irish Water has reduced the number of schemes on the RAL in Longford from five to three since 2015. The RAL identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water. The Ballymahon water supply was given the thumbs up by the EPA following extensive investment and upgrade works by Irish Water working in partnership with Longford County Council. Works are continuing on the Gowna, Grandard and Longford Central water supplies, with a view to having them removed from the RAL as soon as possible. Andrew Boylan, Water Compliance Specialist said: The publication of the latest RAL by the EPA confirms that significant progress has been made in recent years in the delivery of clean and safe drinking water in County Longford. However, in many areas, the scale of the challenge faced by Irish Water in ensuring the delivery of clean and safe water in the Eastern Midlands Region and throughout the country remains. Working in partnership with Longford County Council, Irish Water is delivering results with significant improvements being made year on year and we are delighted that we are a step closer in achieving such compliance in County Longford. As a single national utility Irish Water has been able to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of Irelands drinking water treatment plants and focus investment where the risk to our customers is highest. Nationally Irish Water, says it has adopted a prioritised programme of works which will require an investment of 2bn by 2021. Significant improvements are being achieved year on year by this approach right across the country, added Mr Boylan. He said Irish Water is committed to ensuring that all of its customers have safe, clean drinking water and is working in partnership with Local Authorities to address issues affecting the water supplies which remain on the RAL. New Delhi, Feb 18 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre to furnish the segregated data of the Rotovac clinical trial (Phase III) in the public domain. The trial involves 6,799 infants at three centres -- Delhi, Pune and Vellore -- between 2011 and 2013 to gauge the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The petitioner, S. Srinivasan, claims to be the managing trustee of Low Cost Standard Therapeutics (LOCOST), Vadodara, Gujarat. "The segregated data is crucial to know if the vaccine is safe in all areas or if some groups are more susceptible to adverse events from the vaccine. The very raison d'etre of such multicentre trials is to compare results among the centres," said the petition. The petition, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, contended that this data should have been examined by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in public interest, but such is the secrecy surrounding it that it has not been provided even to this apex body. The petitioner contended that there is a need for disclosure of the segregated data of the Vellore centre in order to ascertain whether a certain section of the population is more susceptible to adverse effects of the vaccine. The petition contended that the authorities concerned have shown complete secrecy on the matter and have not disclosed segregated (meaning dis-aggregated) data from all the centres and have only released aggregated data i.e. the results of all three centres clubbed together. "Concealing this vital data does severe injustice to the thousands of infants who participated in this study, the researchers who painstakingly conducted the trials and the medical/scientific community who depend on this data for their work", said the petition. The petitioner urged the top court to issue directions to the Centre to provide the petitioner the complete segregated results (centre-wise data) of the clinical trial of Rotavac vaccine conducted in all the three centres, including the number of intussusceptions in the two-year trial period at each centre. "Issue an appropriate writ restraining the respondents from including Rotavac from Universal Immunization Policy of the government of India till the complete data from the said clinical trial is not disclosed to the key stakeholders, including the petitioner," said the petition. The petitioner also urged the top court to issue directions to place before the NTAGI the complete segregated results of the clinical trial of Rotavac vaccine for examination and scrutiny. London: Two Australian MPs say a visit to the jail cell of Julian Assange confirms their fears that the "ratbag" Wikileaks founder has suffered from psychological torture, amid claims that new evidence in the extradition saga could force the Morrison government to intervene. Government backbencher George Christensen and independent MP Andrew Wilkie spent more than 1.5 hours conducting a "welfare check" on the 48-year-old Australian citizen in London's Belmarsh Prison on Tuesday afternoon and said they were shocked by his mental health. "I don't want to talk too pejoratively about the state that we saw him in but it was the kind of state that you'd expect from a man who's been absolutely and utterly isolated and who just does not know what is going on," Christensen said. "It was clear to us that his mental state isn't good." Christensen, one of the Morrison government's most conservative members, described Assange as "disorientated", "dehumanised" and "depersonalised" and urged British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step in to prevent a hearing next week that could pave the way for the Wikileaks figure to be sent to the United States to face serious charges. By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan within his working visit to Brussels, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The meeting was held in a constructive and mutually beneficial partnership atmosphere. The sides discussed the issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, as well as the negotiations on a new agreement to constitute the legal basis of bilateral relations. Hogan expressed confidence about the impetus the new agreement would give to raising the cooperation between the sides on a qualitatively new level. In turn, Mammadyarov briefed Hogan on the current status of negotiations on the new agreement, including the issues that are still open to discussions between the sides. Hogan noted the importance of intensification of negotiations over the trade-related issues and suggested that the agreement is finalized before the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in June 2020. Mammadyarov underlined that the Azerbaijani side is for the continuation of negotiations in a constructive manner, based on equal rights and interests of both sides. The sides also appreciated the contribution of the Southern Gas Corridor to European energy security and exchanged views on the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor and its further development through other projects. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz More than 1,000 former US Justice Department officials have called for Attorney General William Barr to resign over his handling of the trial of a long-time adviser of President Donald Trump. The former officials, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, criticised Mr Barr, the country's top law enforcement officer, for overruling his own prosecutors in a case that has prompted accusations that the Trump administration has been weakening the rule of law. The Justice Department abandoned the prosecutors' initial recommendation to give the veteran Republican operative Roger Stone seven to nine years in prison after he was found guilty in November of seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering, prompting all four of the prosecutors to quit the case. "It is unheard of for the department's top leaders to overrule line prosecutors, who are following established policies, in order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the president, as Attorney General Barr did in the Stone case," said a letter published on the website Medium. "Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr Barr to resign," the letter said. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Trump had heavily criticised the original sentencing request for Stone and the Justice Department subsequently abandoned it. Instead it decided to make no formal sentencing recommendation. Democrats blasted the department's shift in the high-profile case involving Stone, whose friendship with Mr Trump dates back decades. Stone's trial arose from former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that detailed extensive Russian interference in the 2016 election to benefit Mr Trump's candidacy. Mr Barr said in an interview with broadcaster ABC that Mr Trump's criticism of those involved in the Stone case "make it impossible for me to do my job". As warm weather inches closer, so does Musikfest headliner news, and the most recent group of rockers to be announced as a Wind Creek Steel Stage act will indeed rock the festival on its very first night of 2020. Veteran indie rock band The National will take the stage on July 31, making them the first headliner of the festival, chronologically speaking. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday to the general public. The Cincinnati-based group, made up of frontman Matt Berninger and two sets of brothers, Bryce and Aaron Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, are one of the most successful modern indie rock bands, with eight critically acclaimed albums, starting with their eponymous 2001 release, to their name and sold-out shows left and right. Their most recent release, I Am Easy To Find," was met with universal praise from critics and widely considered one of the top albums of the genre in 2019. A short film of the same name was directed by Mike Mills. Theyve raked in plenty of awards over the years as well, most notably a 2017 Best Alternative Music Album Grammy for their record Sleep Well Beast. They also just raked in an Oscar, sort of, as the band provided additional music for director Marshall Currys The Neighbors Window, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The National marks the halfway point in headliner announcements, as five of the 10 days are shored by. The band joins Darius Rucker, Willie Nelson, Shinedown and Poison as the announced headliners so far. Tickets for the show can be found on Musikfests website. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorLagore. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A simplified tax system for farming businesses could help unleash the potential of the rural economy, the Country Land and Business Association says. The CLA, which represents 30,000 rural businesses in England and Wales, submitted its proposals to the Treasury for a new Rural Business Unit. The group argues that there should be one set of coherent tax rules to be applied to all business activities undertaken by entrepreneurial farmers which are managed as one economic unit. The Rural Business Unit would allow greater freedom of investment within rural businesses, leading to productivity growth and more tax paid to the Exchequer, it adds. CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: The administration of our proposed system would be a simplification, saving time both for HM Revenue and Customs and for rural businesses. The change is considered necessary particularly in light of changes to agriculture post-Brexit. He said many farmers are looking to diversify their business to protect themselves from uncertain trading conditions. Because of this, government should 'enable and encourage' farmers to take action by making it as easy as possible to adapt their business model. The CLA is encouraging MPs to write to the Treasury in support of the proposals, many of whom promised to champion the rural economy during the general election. Mr Bridgeman said: We encourage MPs to contact the Treasury asking ministers to include our proposals in the Budget next month. This is a great opportunity to boost rural productivity through a simple administrative change that we expect to be cost-neutral to the Exchequer. In view of US President Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad on February 24, the Gujarat government on Tuesday announced rescheduling of the Budget session of the state Legislative Assembly, which will now commence from February 26. As per the earlier schedule, the session was supposed to begin on February 24--the day when Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ahmedabad. The Budget 2020-21 will be tabled on February 26 by Gujarat deputy chief minister and finance minister Nitin Patel, said Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja. The House will now meet for the total 22 days between February 26 and March 31, he said. Senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar, who was part of the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee (BAC), said the business of the two curtailed days will be accommodated in the total 25 sittings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Late last week, Barr publicly warned the president in a remarkable interview with ABC News that his tweets about Justice Department cases make it impossible for me to do my job. Trump, White House officials said, is not entirely receptive to calls to change his behavior, and he has told those around him he is not going to stop tweeting about the Justice Department. They said Trump considers highlighting what he sees as misconduct at the FBI and Justice Department as a good political message. IF COMPARED with other famous Asian beach destinations such as Indonesias Bali and Thailands Phuket, Cebus hotel room supply isnt catching up with the demand thats seen to further grow in the future. That stands as a bottleneck to Cebus tourism potential, said Andrew Acquuah-Harrison, chief executive advisor at GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. Cebu has a significant supply-demand gap in the hotel industry, creating a bottleneck for tourism growth in Cebu, he said. Citing data from the Department of Tourism and Colliers International, he said Cebu has around 10,600 three-to-five-star hotel rooms compared to Phuket which has 47,475 rooms and Bali with 50,000 rooms. This big difference is partly the reason hotel rates in Metro Cebu are costlier. This has led to higher prices of comparable brands in Cebu against better served destinations like Phuket and Bali, Harrison said. Hotel rates per night Based on a research study conducted by property consulting firm Santos Knight Frank, Lapu-Lapu City has the highest average room price a night ranging from P3,340 to P12,130, owing to its resort-type hotel complexes. Cebu Citys hotel rates, on the other hand, have an average price from P1,490 to P6,660 a night while Mandaue Citys hotel rates could range from P1,490 to P6,270 a night. Currently, Cebu is seeing 83 to 85 percent occupancy rates, with branded hotels operating at 90 percent occupancy rate. As developers are realizing this gap, they are tying up with foreign brands to add 4,000 in the next four years, he said. Based on estimates by Santos Knight, local developers account for about 53 percent of the total rooms expected to join Cebus growing hospitality industry in the next five years. Preferred location The tourism boom is expected to continuously drive demand for accommodation. Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City have remained the preferred locations for hotel developments. More than half of the hotel room supply is situated in Cebu City while Lapu-Lapu City accounted for 30 percent of the supply, according to Santos Knight. The three-star hotels make up 38 percent of the total room supply followed by four-star hotels at 27 percent. The existing supply situation and foreseen demand in Metro Cebu presented opportunities for hotel developers to add more rooms to cater to various types of tourists visiting Cebu. As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per day testing site. Puro Politics is a weekly podcast hosted by columnist Gilbert Garcia, covering the drama and nuance of local government issues. Produced by Joy-Marie Scott. Listen and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn& RSS All Episodes Our long municipal migraine is over. The city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association have officially reached a five-year contract deal, thanks to the input of a three-member arbitration panel. While both sides quickly moved to put a positive spin on the agreement, there is little doubt that the fire union came out worse for the long, bitter process that left firefighters without pay raises for six years. The contract agreement was a topic of conversation on this weeks edition of the Express-News Puro Politics podcast. It basically gives nothing to the fire union that they had sought, said Joshua Fechter, City Hall reporter for the Express-News. What they now have to abide by is this two-tiered (health insurance) plan that the police union agreed to. They also are getting wage increases that arent as generous as what the police union agreed to four years ago. They gambled big on this arbitration process, and they walked away with little that they had initially sought. Greg Jefferson, business editor for the Express-News, pointed out that the unilateral power to seek binding arbitration was something the union fought for in a 2018 proposition campaign. Last year, firefighters chose to activate that option, and it has now backfired on them. At the same time, the citys victory was hardly the product of masterful long-term strategizing. The city enraged both the police and fire unions with 2014 lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of 10-year evergreen clauses that city reps had previously agreed to in collective bargaining. The toxic climate inflamed by the evergreen lawsuits set the stage for a costly 2018 proposition campaign fight with the fire union, which resulted in strict compensation limits for future San Antonio city managers. The truth of the matter is that both sides, (former City Manager) Sheryl Sculley on one, the union on the other, they just lost their minds politically, Jefferson said. It escalated, she came under personal attack, she responded through the media, she totally engaged. And her position clearly hardened. She became inflexible, and the idea of dropping the lawsuit against the union was almost verboten around City Hall. Hear this and other topics discussed on this weeks episode of the Puro Politics podcast. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Canberra, Feb 18 : More than three quarters of Australian adults were affected by the nation's bushfire crisis, according to the Australian National University (ANU) poll. The poll asked a nationally representative sample of more than 3,000 Australians about their experiences and exposure to the recent extensive bushfires across the nation. The fires, which burned for months, killed at least 33 people, destroyed over 3,000 homes and had a devastating impact on regional economies across Australia, Xinhua news agency reported. Nicholas Biddle, the lead researcher, said that even he was "surprised at just how far-reaching" the impacts were. He said they found that about 3 million people, more than 14 per cent of adult Australians, said they were directly exposed to the fires including having their property damaged or threatened or being advised to evacuate. Analysis of the data also showed that more than three quarters of Australian adults, more than 15 million Australians, reported some form of indirect exposure. "Nearly every Australian has been touched by these fires and many of us will be living with the effects for years and years to come," he said in a media release. "These fires have been unprecedented in scale and global in impact. And now our poll shows just how far and wide and how many Australians have felt the negative and long-lasting effects of this disaster, regardless of their economic, social or cultural background." Respondents to the poll were also asked about their attitude towards their own lives, Australia's political leaders and the environment. Only 27 per cent of respondents said that they were confident or very confident in the federal government. The poll found that Prime Minister Scott Morrison's current average approval rating was 3.92 out of 10, down from 5.25 compared with the result in June 2019. "We estimate that about 60 per cent of adult Australians were either satisfied or very satisfied with the way the country is heading in January 2020, a significant and substantial decline from 65 per cent in the October 2019 ANUpoll," Biddle said. On a range of 0 to 10, life satisfaction in January 2020 declined to 6.90 from a score of 7.05 in October 2019. This is griiiiiim. Bathroom company QS Supplies recently conducted a study where they asked 1,000 people from the US and the UK about bathroom habits. Things got pretty personal, and gross. The survey showed that 68% of men and 56% of women pee in the shower, and 51% of men and 28% of women masturbate in the shower. Far from shocking, and if you don't think so you're lying to yourself. Where the study takes a turn is the revelation that one in 30 people 'defecate' in the shower. That's crook. QS Supplies said: Our bathing habits are more than purely logical choices made to stay hygienic. Instead, they can reveal secrets about who we are, what we care about, and even what our relationships are like. Do with this information what you will - maybe have some fun with it, take a glance around your office, worksite or classroom and try figure out the shower sh*tter! Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 16:52:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The assemble plant of FAW Jiefang truck in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Feb. 17, 2020. Companies resume production with epidemic prevention measures amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus. (Photo by Yan Linyun/Xinhua) The grave challenge that China is tackling, assuredly, will not disrupt the nation's development course -- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year and fully building a modern socialist country by the mid-21st century. BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fight against the coronavirus is a major trial of China's governance system and public health emergency response, and a test of international solidarity in fighting common enemies of humanity as well. Yet the grave challenge that China is tackling, assuredly, will not disrupt the nation's development course -- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year and fully building a modern socialist country by the mid-21st century. Throughout its 5,000 years of history, the Chinese nation has never succumbed to difficulties and challenges, internally or externally, including the invasions by imperialist powers in modern times. Entering the 21st century, China has pulled through major risks and challenges such as the SARS epidemic in 2003, the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake, and the global financial crisis in 2008. Certainly, the ongoing public health crisis caused by the previously unknown, highly contagious virus, is no exception. Relying on its unique institutional strengths, particularly the highly efficient national mobilization of medics and materials and the pairing-up aid of other provinces in treating patients in affected cities in Hubei Province, China will win the people's war against the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, despite the severity of the current situation. The country's daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outside Hubei, the epicenter province of the outbreak, have dropped for 14 consecutive days. Positive results are being delivered with all the unprecedented decisive and stringent measures taken under the centralized, unified leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, such as the city lockdown and the construction of multiple makeshift hospitals. Several local officials, including the Hubei provincial health commission head, were removed from their posts following the outbreak. Villagers collect radishes in the field in Pusheng Village of Pengzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 16, 2020. Villagers across China have been busy carrying out agricultural production in early spring to help ensure the supply of agricultural products in the fight against novel coronavirus. (Photo by Luo Guoyang/Xinhua) In another rare move, China mulls postponing its annual "two sessions" scheduled for early March -- the meetings of the top legislative and political advisory bodies -- to contain the outbreak. With the comprehensive and extraordinary measures, China has protected its own people and prevented the world from suffering a big catastrophe. In handling this international public health emergency, China is worthy of recognition and support. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday described the measures put in place by the Chinese government as "a gigantic effort" and said the efforts will allow for the progressive reduction of the disease. The control of COVID-19 is at the most crucial juncture for China. The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland had reached 72,436 by the end of Monday, and 1,868 people had died of the disease. Much remains to be learned about the virus, which is more cunning than the one that spread SARS. Critical lessons must be learned from the deadly outbreak. As leading domestic experts believe the virus probably comes from wild animals based on the finding that most early cases were related to a market in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, resolute efforts must be made to eliminate the consumption of wild animals and illegal trade of wildlife. The epidemic exposes inadequacy in China's emergency management and public health. At a meeting of the CPC central committee for deepening overall reform last week, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen areas of weakness and close the loopholes exposed by the current epidemic. Workers produce medical N95 masks at a mask production company in southwest China's Chongqing, Feb. 17, 2020. Medical N95 masks will be supplied to the novel coronavirus epidemic prevention frontline for medical workers. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) The coronavirus outbreak is expected to prompt an overhaul of the country's emergency and public health management and also push the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, which is part of the nation's second centenary goal. A Chinese saying goes that trials and tribulations serve only to revitalize a nation. For 1.4 billion Chinese, achieving national rejuvenation is no walk in the park and requires even greater efforts led by the reform-minded CPC. Facing temporary difficulties, many companies in China have made rapid and flexible adjustments in operation and production. It is widely agreed among domestic economists that the outbreak will not undermine the fundamentals of China's highly resilient economy, which contributes around 30 percent of global growth. Going through the trial of the coronavirus outbreak, the united Chinese people are determined to march towards national rejuvenation in a more sound and smart way, while pursuing common prosperity and closer interaction with the world. Tens of thousands of medics in China are racing against time to save the lives of infected people at the risk of their own. Chinese people are grateful for the backing of the international community, especially the aid of urgently needed protective gear for medics from many countries. Zero-sum stragglers should refrain from taking advantage of the epidemic to slander China. Instead, they should think more about how to jointly fight common enemies such as epidemics and terrorism, which are not bound by national borders in the globalized international community. 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Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. South Africa: Cabinet mourns Joseph Shabalala Cabinet has sent condolences to the family and friends of Joseph Shabalala, the legendary musician and founder of the Grammy Award-winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Shabalala passed away on 11 February 2020, following an extended illness at the age of 78 years. His music inspired countless people around the world and united South Africans. President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour Shabalala. The Special Official Funeral Category 2 entails ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service (SAPS). In 2008, this world-renowned and widely acclaimed choral group received the National Order of Ikhamanga for putting South African cultural life on the world map through his contribution to the field of South African indigenous music. The funeral will take place on Saturday, 22 February 2020. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. We do know this, however: Every action we took at Lincoln Park High School was with the best interests of the students in mind. When reports of misconduct came to our attention, we treated them with the utmost seriousness and promptly reported them. CPS claim that our actions endangered victims is false. Neither of us ever tried to minimize or conceal misconduct. That would be contrary to our morals as people and our principles and mission as educators. ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) was awarded an approximately $90M five year contract to support the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (DASD INDPOL) on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Under this contract, SPA will support the Committee's efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate foreign investment risks with potential national security impacts. SPA will also work with DASD INDPOL to triage all new CFIUS cases, monitor and assess associated risks, coordinate with Defense Department (DoD) stakeholders and technology experts, and research foreign investment transactions. "Ensuring U.S. warfighting capabilities maintain the advantage over our adversaries is an essential mission of the Department of Defense and one that our team of dedicated professionals is passionate about," said Dr. William Vantine, SPA President and CEO. "We are honored to have been able to support the Department over the last 15 years helping strengthen the defense industrial base and supply chain resiliency and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership with this new contract well into the future." Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., provides timely and objective analysis and integrated technical, operational, programmatic, policy, and business solutions in support of important national objectives. Our employees have expertise in domains, including: Air, Surface, and Undersea Warfare and Operations; Nuclear Deterrence, Safety, and Security; Radar and Sensor Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Integrated Air and Missile Defense; Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems; Space Systems; and Analytic Software Development. To learn more about SPA, please visit www.spa.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. Related Links http://www.spa.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 00:17:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HONG KONG, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- With two more cases reported on Tuesday, the total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia in Hong Kong has increased to 62. The two new cases involve a 32-year-old woman who is the domestic helper of the patient of the 52nd case confirmed on Feb. 13, and a 58-year-old man, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) said on Tuesday in a statement. The statement said both two patients had good past health and were in stable condition now. The female patient had no travel history during the incubation period, while the male patient traveled to Zhong Shan in Guangdong Province, and Macao during the incubation period. In order to minimize the risk of community transmission, the Hospital Authority (HA) on Tuesday announced the further extension of the Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Program to advance the identification of novel coronavirus infected patients. The HA decided to extend the surveillance to outpatients from inpatients. Starting from Wednesday, Feb. 19, Accident and Emergency Department (AED) or General Out-patient Clinic (GOPC) patients aged 18 or above, presented with certain symptoms, will be required to collect specimen by themselves, if hospital admission is unnecessary. And they need to return the specimens to the AED or GOPC for further testing. In the coming week, 17 AEDs and over 50 GOPCs of the HA will launch this trial program with a view to advance the detection of infected patients and to minimize the risk of community outbreak. WHISTLEBLOWER My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber By Susan Fowler In December 2015, Susan Fowler was settling into a new job as a software engineer at the technology-transportation company Uber when her boss sent her a series of disturbing chat messages. After asking how her work was going, Fowlers manager, Jake, began complaining about inequities in his relationship with his girlfriend. It is an open relationship, but its a little more open on vacations haha, he wrote, to Fowlers bewilderment. She can go and have sex any day of the week. It takes a herculean effort for me to do the same. It became clear to Fowler that Jake was propositioning her. She saved screenshots of the conversation and sent them to Ubers human resources department so that he could be appropriately sanctioned. Instead, they told her that Jake was a high performer, and that it was his first offense, so they didnt feel comfortable giving him anything more than a stern talking-to. It was up to Fowler to move to a different team within the company to get away from him. Both the inappropriate comments and the company brushoff are the kinds of experiences that women at all levels of the income spectrum have come to accept as inherent to the professional world. Rather than quietly tolerate it, though, Fowler, who was 25 at the time, decided to make a fuss. What happened next received abundant news coverage: In 2017, Fowler published a blog post describing the harassment she experienced at Uber, including multiple incidents of discrimination and corporate bullying. The post went viral and the company started an investigation. Suddenly Uber, one of the fastest growing and most valuable companies in Silicon Valley, found itself at the center of several ethical and legal scandals, culminating in the departure of the companys co-founder and C.E.O., Travis Kalanick. Image Fowlers revelations came eight months before The New York Times and The New Yorker published explosive allegations about Harvey Weinsteins serial abuse of women, and helped catalyze the #MeToo movement. What is less well known is the remarkable back story that came before Fowler found herself at the center of these newsworthy events. I wasnt supposed to be a software engineer, she writes in Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber, her sharp and engrossing memoir. I wasnt supposed to be a writer, or a whistle-blower, or even a college graduate, for that matter. If, 10 years ago, you had told me that I would someday be all of those things if you had shown me where life would take me, and the very public role I would end up playing in the world I wouldnt have believed you. US Senator Admits He Met With Top Iranian Official Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted meeting one of Irans top officials a day after reports indicated he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the Munich Security Conference in Germany last week. Murphy defended his meeting with Zarif on Tuesday, arguing in a statement: Its dangerous not to talk to adversaries, especially amidst a cycle of escalation. Murphy said hes been meeting on occasion with Zarif for years, during both the present administration and the past one. I have no delusions about Iranthey are our adversary, responsible for the killing of thousands of Americans and unacceptable levels of support for terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East, he wrote in a blog post. Discussions and negotiations are a way to ease tensions and reduce the chances for crisis. But Trump, of course, has no such interests. For the last three years, there has been no diplomatic channel between America and Iran, and not coincidentally, tensions have escalated, most recently resulting in over 100 American soldiers being injured in an Iranian rocket attack on a U.S. base in Iraq. Murphy said he told Zarif that any attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq would be unacceptable, even if they came from groups in Iraq affiliated with Iran and not Iran itself. He also asked for Irans help in Yemen and inquired about American prisoners held in Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a panel talk at the 2020 Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 15, 2020. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) U.S. soldiers and journalists inspect the rubble at a site of Iranian bombing, in Ain al-Asad air base, Anbar, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2020. (Qassim Abdul-Zahra/AP Photo) Murphy said he doesnt know whether his meeting will make a difference. Im just a rank and file U.S. Senator. I cannot conduct diplomacy on behalf of the whole of the U.S. government, and I dont pretend to be in a position to do so. But if Trump isnt going to talk to Iran, then someone should, he said. Murphys meeting with an American foe drew criticism before it was confirmed by the senator. Unless it was authorized by the president or secretary of state, conducting independent foreign policy sends mixed signals to our adversaries, Christian Whiton, a former State Department adviser in the Trump and George W. Bush administrations, told The Federalist, which first reported the meeting. It seems very unpalatable. If we want to talk to Iranians, they know how to reach us and they dont need to go through an intermediary. Asked about the possible meeting on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he didnt know what the meeting was about. If they met, I dont know what they said. I hope they were reinforcing Americas foreign policy and not their own, he told reporters in Ethiopia. Murphy admonished Michael Flynn, the Trump administrations national security adviser, in early 2017 for communicating with Russia. Any effort to undermine our nations foreign policyeven during a transition periodmay be illegal and must be taken seriously, Murphy said at the time. He also criticized an open letter that some Republican senators sent to Irans leaders during the Obama administration. The meeting came just weeks after Iran attacked U.S. forces in Iraq, leaving dozens with head injuries. The missile attacks came after the United States took out Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general who headed a military force in Iran designated by the United States as a terrorist group. That strike followed attacks from Iran against the United States, including one that killed an American contractor. President Donald Trump told reporters later Tuesday that Murphys meeting might violate the Logan Act. Flynn, who pleaded guilty to one count of lying to federal agents, was examined for possibly violating the act. Enacted in 1799, the law prohibits negotiation by unauthorized American citizens with foreign governments that are having a dispute with the United States. Trainer Ben Baillargeon sent a strong, 1-2 punch going into Mondays $34,000 final of the Pepsi Trotting Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but it was another Quebec native who watched one of his square-gaited students pull off the minor upset. The Luc Blais-trained Steuben Hanover survived a first-over trip to win the inaugural edition of the series in an eye-catching clocking of 1:53.3. Steuben Hanover got away fourth in the early going while race favourite Refi shot to the front from Post 8. Refi hit the quarter pole in :27.4, but he gave way to stablemate Zig Zag in the backstretch. Zig Zag marched to the half in :57.3 before coming under attack going into the final turn by Steuben Hanover. Zig Zag got poor gaited late and rolled off stride, whereas Steuben Hanover kicked out :27.1 closing speed to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Refi in 1:53.3. Blazing Trail overcame the outside post to be a solid third. The four-year-old son of Trixton-Star Hanover won for the first time in three attempts this season for owner Determination of Montreal, QC. The five-time winner took home $17,000 for the win, thus pushing his lifetime bankroll to $75,908 in the process. To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. PANAMA CITY, Fl, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) and Chevron Lummus Global LLC (CLG) are working toward a more sustainable future by developing novel solutions to meet the global need for sustainable aviation fuels. The team is proud to announce that ASTM International has approved the new production pathway for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) called Catalytic Hydrothermolysis Jet, or CHJ. Commercial volumes of competitively priced sustainable aviation fuel are in demand, said Chuck Red, ARAs Vice President of Fuels Development. The aviation sector is working hard to improve its carbon footprint and the approval of the CHJ pathway adds another great option. We are excited to play our part by accelerating the scaling of sustainable aviation fuels. ASTM D7566 Annex A6 was approved on Dec. 15 and was published in the revised specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons, ASTM D7566-19b on January 29. The new annex allows blending of up to 50 percent of ARA and CLGs ReadiJet with petroleum-derived jet fuel. ReadiJet is produced by the Biofuels ISOCONVERSION process, which is jointly developed by ARA and CLG. CLG serves as the single point of contact for licensing and engineering of Biofuels ISOCONVERSION. Biofuels ISOCONVERSION technology consists of hydrothermal conversion and hydrotreating operations that convert waste fats, oils, and greases into jet fuel that is nearly indistinguishable from petroleum jet fuel. ReadiJet contains a uniform distribution of all hydrocarbon types observed in petroleum fuels including aromatic, cycloparaffin, isoparaffin, and normal paraffin compounds. ReadiJet is a very clean, high-thermal-stability fuel that exhibits density and energy content equivalent to petroleum Jet A or Jet A-1. ReadiJet was the first sustainable aviation fuel to be flight tested neat, unblended, when it was flown in a National Research Council Canada Falcon 20 aircraft on Oct. 12, 2012. ARA, CLG, and their partners produced 70,000 gallons of ReadiJet that met the U.S. Navy procurement specification for renewable JP-5 (called CHCJ-5). The U.S. Navy successfully flew nine EA-18G Growler flights on 100 percent CHJ (no blending with petroleum) as part of its MILSPEC certification of the fuel in 2016. This was a huge team effort to scale and commercialize the technology and achieve the certification of the jet fuel, said Ed Coppola, who led ARAs certification effort. We are thankful for the support of the original equipment manufacturers, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, and the FAA and its CLEEN program, who performed extensive analysis and testing of CHJ. We also appreciate the support of organizations such as the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and Airlines for America, who continue to be strong advocates for commercial production of sustainable aviation fuels. CLG is excited to be able to offer Biofuels ISOCONVERSION technology, along with our partner, ARA, to meet the growing demand of renewable fuels, said Thad Sauvain, CLGs Global Licensing and Sales Director. This ASTM certification is further proof of the viability of the products from our technology, The Biofuels ISOCONVERSION technology is now poised for scale up in the United States and Japan. In the United States, multiple commercial projects are in engineering, and Euglena Corporation is working to start up its integrated Biofuels ISOCONVERSION demonstration facility in Japan with the intent to deliver CHJ for commercial flights during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. For more information about Biofuels ISOCONVERSION, contact Chuck Red at cred@ara.com or Thad Sauvain at Thad.Sauvain@chevron.com. About Applied Research Associates, Inc Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) was founded in 1979, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to offer science and engineering research to solve problems of national importance. ARA delivers leading-edge products and solutions for national defense, energy, homeland security, aerospace, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. With over 1,400 employee-owners at locations in the U.S. and Canada, ARA offers a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil engineering, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, biomedical engineering, environmental technologies, and blast testing and measurement. For more information visit www.ara.com. About Chevron Lummus Global Chevron Lummus Global LLC (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and McDermott, is a leading process technology licensor for refining hydroprocessing technologies and alternative source fuels, as well as a global leader in catalyst system supply. CLG offers the most complete bottom-of-the-barrel solution for upgrading heavy oil residues. Our research and development experts are continuously seeking advancements in technology and catalysts that will improve operating economics for your next project. For more information, visit www.chevronlummus.com. Attachment LONDON A British man who tested positive for coronavirus was branded a super spreader, his every movement detailed by the local media. Business has plummeted in a French ski resort identified as the scene of several transmissions of the virus. And after some employees of a German car company were diagnosed with the virus, the children of other workers were turned away from schools, despite negative test results. With 42 confirmed cases across the continent, the coronavirus outbreak is far less serious in Europe than it is in China, where more than 2,000 people have died and the fight to contain the virus has taken on the trappings of a wartime campaign. Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong has said that his country is touched by the kindness shown by India in helping China tackle the coronavirus outbreak. At this difficult times, I am deeply touched by the kindness of the Indian friends. All these reminded me of the time when Dr Kotnis saved many lives and made great contribution to the Chinese peoples liberation cause, Ambassador Sun said, referring to Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis who died while treating injured Chinese soldiers in conflict with Japan in the 1940s. Dr Kotnis is a revered figure in China. ALSO WATCH | Air India captain describes evacuation of Indians from Coronavirus-hit Wuhan Ambassador Sun further said, The Indian side assured the readiness to stand by China and provide the assistance that India can, to face this challenge. It also reminds me of what I experienced during the outbreak of SARS in 2003. At that time, I had the honour to receive a delegation from India led by the then foreign minister George Fernandes who visited Shanghai during the epidemic. He also said that China and India have been keeping close communication on the epidemic. Recently, PM Modi sent a letter to President Xi Jinping, expressing his recognition of the tremendous effort made by Chinese government to deal with the outbreak, said the Ambassador. He asserted that China has put in place multi-level control and prevention mechanisms and will win the battle against coronavirus. The envoy also said that China has allocated RMB 80 billion to contain the disease and the government has sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations following the epidemic. Officially known as Covid-19, the disease originated in Wuhan in December last year, has spread to more than 72,000 people and so far killed 1,900 in China. Last week, China released a list of donor countries which have offered to help during the current crisis, but blanked out India. At an online briefing on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry released the 57-country list comprising 33 countries that had given medical supplies, 17, which had offered to provide the same and seven more that had offered money and material aid. India wasnt named among those 57 countries. India is sending a consignment of medical supplies to China to assist Beijing in combating the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri said on Sunday. China said that it needed medical masks, gloves and suits especially for the medical staff attending the virus affected patients. Masks also have become scarce in China in view of the nationwide demand in the last three weeks. Why it matters: EU's Margrethe Vestager will soon reveal the bloc's plans to bolster its technological capabilities and keep up with China and the US. In the meantime, Big Tech is lobbying for a softer approach in deploying AI without many regulatory barriers, but given Vestager's track record of hammering big companies with hefty fines, they're going to be stuck with a choice between leaving money on the table and complying with stricter rules. While China and the US are fighting over information and economic dominance, the European Union is scrambling to lay down a new set of rules that will govern how tech companies operate in the region, especially when it comes to privacy and security protections, transparency, and establishing a level playing field for all players involved. On Wednesday, EU's newly appointed vice-president of digital policy Margrethe Vestager is expected to unveil a draft of the new regulation, along with a set of recommendations for future rules regarding the use of AI in high-risk sectors like transportation, manufacturing, energy, biometric identification, and healthcare. The main focus of the legislation is to establish clear safety and liability rules for tech giants that are working on disrupting those fields. The general perception is that Europe is far behind the US and China in terms of AI development. However, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, the EU's gap in digital tech can be overcome by funding startup development, digital transformation of non-tech companies, and encouraging investors to bring in more capital. As for talent, there are an estimated 5.7 million software developers in the EU, which is impressive when you think that the US only has around 4.4 million. The EU can't pass on the opportunity to generate an extra 900 billion by 2030 ($975 billion), but MEPs want to chart a course for AI adoption that also factor in the potential dangers of misuse, societal bias, the probability of errors in automated decision-making systems, and consumer protections. Silicon Valley giants are worried about the new development and have programmed meetings with MEPs to discuss the new rules. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already tried to address the issue of handling harmful content as a way to boost public trust, but his proposals come at a time when it's being probed for violation of GDPR and questionable data collection practices. Vestager noted that she isn't worried about algorithms that reshuffle content streams to better match consumers' interests, but rather about things like facial recognition or automated systems that assess who can get a loan, which are known to be very prone to bias and error. About 500 residents from some of Perth's most affluent suburbs are uniting to call for an investigation into WA Planning Minister Rita Saffioti's use of discretionary powers to approve controversial projects. Protest groups from across the city met in Nedlands on Tuesday night in the hope their combined influence would defend their communities from high-density developments. The groups are from suburbs ranging from Iluka to Bunbury and include the large and well-organised Save Subi and Save the South Perth Peninsula action groups. They alleged Ms Saffioti misused her legislative powers under the Planning and Development Act 2005 by acting "with no curtailment". Planning Minister Rita Saffioti. Credit:Nine News Perth "Discretionary powers are not unfettered," meeting organiser Ian Love said. The coronavirus outbreak in China is hitting economies around the globe, including Winnipegs. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The coronavirus outbreak in China is hitting economies around the globe, including Winnipegs. Wealthy Chinese investors have cancelled visits to Winnipeg because of the COVID-19 virus. Some home-grown technology development has been delayed, too. Cubresa, a Winnipeg company that develops medical devices, has a joint venture operation in Hefei, a city in central China about halfway between Shanghai and Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak. James Schellenberg, the CEO and founder of Cubresa, travelled to China with one other colleague to visit the joint venture in early November. He said he would have gone there again were it not for the risks of contacting the contagion. Manitoba Technology Accelerator Marshall Ring "We had staff who were planning to go back to China for the thanksgiving celebrations, but their families told them dont come, there is something going on," Schellenberg said. In addition to being prevented from regular meetings with their partners in Hefei, there are also delays in parts moving back and forth. But Schellenberg figures he will be able to weather the storm. "I think we will be OK," he said. "There is lots of planning involved in adjusting to the delays. But we dont think the delays are so significant that it will impact us in any big way." But Ab Freig is not so quick to dismiss the disruption. Freig, the founder of Triple 3 Biotechnology, has developed a technology to extract collagen, a protein used as a skin care and joint pain remedy, that it processes into capsules and tablets. Freig said there is demand for that type of supplement in China and he hopes to be able to distribute the product there when it receives Chinese regulatory approval. Ab Freig of Triple 3 Biotechnology (left) and Manitoba Technology Accelerators Marshall Ring Some days ago he was on a conference call with potential investors from China, investors who had intended to travel to Winnipeg to discuss the project with Freig, but were unable to because of the global travel concerns and restrictions. He said the call went well, but its not the same as meeting in person. "I have experience working with Chinese business partners," Freig said. "It is all about relationships. I was in Beijing a couple of years ago for a meeting and the entire morning was spent drinking tea, a tea ceremony type of thing. Only then could we talk business." Triple 3 and Cubresa are both associated with the Manitoba Technology Accelerator (MTA), which has a strategic relationship with an incubator and investor group in Hefei. Marshall Ring, the chief executive officer of MTA, was in China earlier this year and left only days before the outbreak had become a public health concern. While he was there, among other things he was making arrangements to meeting potential investors in Winnipeg. But those investors could not travel and the meeting had to be cancelled. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS James Schellenberg, founder and CEO of Cubresa, says there is a lot of planning involved in adjusting to travel restrictions because of the outbreak. "The investors were coming to talk about a $10-million investment," he said. "We ended up doing a telephone conference call, but it is not the same." The outbreak has delayed the settlement of a number of international entrepreneurs who had been scheduled to set up shop at MTA though a federal government program called Startup Visa Program. Ring said many of them have work permits but are having difficulty getting to Winnipeg from various parts of the world. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "It is slowing things down," Ring said. "We had a guy from Hong Kong arrive a few days ago. He was able to get here, but others have not been so successful." Health Canada has assessed the risk to Canadian travellers to China as high. The federal government advises not to travel to Hubei province, including Wuhan city, and to avoid all non-essential travel to the rest of China. Health Canada says travellers who come from Hubei province to Canada are at an increased risk of having COVID-19, and that people who have travelled to Hubei province in the last 14 days should limit contact with others for 14 days from the date they left Hubei. Those travellers are told to self-isolate and contact the local Canadian public health authority within 24 hours of arriving in Canada. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca With the dissolving of international timelines, a 24x7 connected world, punishing deadlines at work, achieving a healthy work-life balance has become the first casualty. There is an increasing pressure to be always switched on. According to the annual survey on Vacation Deprivation 2018 by travel firm Expedia, at 75 per cent, Indians are the most vacation deprived in the world, with 41 per cent of the Indians surveyed admitting that they had not taken a vacation in the past six months as they could not get time off work. For women professionals, achieving successful work-life balance becomes even more challenging as they have to face the regular work pressures that their male counterparts face, along with taking on the responsibilities of managing their homes and families additionally. Todays organisations are increasingly taking into cognizance the importance of providing an enabling work culture for their women work force. Various studies have affirmed the impact on the work productivity of women when faced with the twin demands of work and managing their homes. With women increasingly breaking through glass ceilings to take up leadership roles, there is growing emphasis on eliminating patriarchal mindsets and providing an environment that is conducive for women leaders to reach their full potential. And all this begins with bringing in a successful work-life balance. Adgully spoke to a cross-section of women industry experts to know how they bring in that elusive balance and successfully break barriers at work. The art of juggling time Contract India CEO Raji Ramaswamys view is that work and life are not so compartmentalised. According to her, both are important aspects in ones hectic time strapped lives and one needs to enjoy both in equal measure. Priyanka Rishi, General Manager & Executive Vice President, BBDO India, Mumbai, too, doesnt make separate distinction between work and life, but rather views it as work-life integration. I think that the trick is in the word balance, because you need to do justice both to your professional goals and your personal goals. Personal life doesnt come with deadlines, so it is usually the one to get on the back burner, but frankly even if it were the other way round and professional goals were to be deprioritised, most people would still not be happy. So for me, work-life balance is about waking up in the morning, feeling good about work and feeling good about life, says Ajeeta Bharadwaj, National Planning Director, Wunderman Thompson India. On the other hand, for Sonali Malaviya, Vice President, Client Partner, India at Essence, work-life balance has always struck a discordant note. Elaborating on this, she says, I used to believe in work-life integration, until I realised it is all life, and work is a seamless part of it, at least for me. The minute they are segregated, it becomes asynchronous and almost like living two parallel lives which I probably wouldnt do very well at. Work gives me happiness. And therefore, seamless fluidity makes sense. Aruna Jathar, Director - Marketing, RCI India, believes that work-life balance is the state of equilibrium in which demands on personal life, professional life, and family life are equal. It differs from individual to individual as it is based on ones career stage and their personal life stage. For Arunima Singh, Executive Vice- President, Social Beat, the balance means successfully managing all the responsibilities, both in office and at home efficiently. For me, work life balance is to achieve complete satisfaction and perform your best in office and have time to recuperate and enjoy your own interests with your family and friends, she adds. In the digital world, work and personal life are overlapping concepts. There is no more work-life balance, but its more about freeing your mind and creating that personal time within your day to do things that helps you enjoy life, believes Kavita Viswanath, GM, JFrog in India. Monica Pereira, Partner - HR Development & Administration, BC Web Wise, acknowledges the fact that it has never been easy for women to juggle between a thriving career and a happy family life. Being a full time working professional comes with a lot of guilt for not spending equal time at work or with family, she admits. At the same time, today, women from all walks of life are choosing to have it all dedicated and focused time at work, quality time with family and sometimes for self. More than achieving a perfect balance in ones day to day life, Pooja Bhasin, Senior Director - HR & Finance, Ticketmaster, India, believes, Work-life balance is about knowing where you are needed most and at what time that will require and while giving it that time, you ensure you give your 100 per cent. Living in the moment When it comes to achieving that elusive work-life balance, each of the experts that we spoke to had their own method. But a few common points emerged such as stressing on quality over quantity, effective time management, planning, prioritisation, having a strong support system at work and at home, flexibility, cultivating interests and passion beyond ones work. Yoga, meditation, working out, vacations, adventure sports and community service are some of the stress busters that work for our women leaders. Flash The French and Cypriot marine and air forces held a joint exercise on Monday as French Defense Minister Florence Parly arrived in the eastern Mediterranean island for talks on strengthening military cooperation, Cyprus's Defense Ministry said. Attending the start of the exercise dubbed "Talos 1-2020", Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides said the exercise involved France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets in the role of attacking airplanes, and Cypriot anti-aircraft missiles in a defensive role. "Today was the first phase of the joint exercise with France aimed at attacking virtual targets. Cyprus's air defense system had now been integrated," Angelides said. "What we have seen today is an example of France's tangible cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus. More such exercises would be taking place with France," he said. Cyprus and France have upgraded their defense cooperation in recent months. The Cypriot government has also confirmed recent press reports that it purchased a French anti-aircraft system at a cost of 240 million euros (260 million U.S. dollars). Cyprus is also upgrading a naval base on its southern shores for use by French navy vessels. The French defense minister arrived in Cyprus late on Monday for talks on Tuesday with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Angelides on expanding military cooperation. Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam and the Russian Presidential Anti-Corruption Directorate upgraded their memorandum of understanding on anti-corruption cooperation in Hanoi on Monday. Society -- A 73-year-old Vietnamese American who was the 7th confirmed novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient in Vietnam has tested negative for the virus multiple times after receiving treatment at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City since January 31. Doctors will carry out more tests to make sure he has completely recovered from the disease before releasing him from the hospital. -- Authorities in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa and the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, each reporting one case of COVID-19 infection so far, are expected to soon announce the end of the COVID-19 epidemic in their respective provinces after no new cases have been confirmed in the past 30 and 23 days, respectively. -- An unseasonal rain dampened many localities in southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, on Monday evening, which helped alleviate the hot and dry weather that has been affecting the region over the past days. -- The Peoples Committee in the north-central province of Nghe An has ordered competent authorities to relocate all residents living near the provinces largest waste treatment plant before the end of March. -- Two young children, aged three and five, drowned after falling into a pond at a farm while their parents were working in Da Lat City, located in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, on Monday afternoon. -- Three more people in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and the southern province of Dong Nai were fined on Monday for posting false information about the COVID-19 epidemic on their Facebook accounts. -- The management center for public transport in Ho Chi Minh City has ordered the suspension of a driver of bus route No.14 after several passengers reported being assaulted by him on Friday last week. Business -- Two underground packages CP1a and CP1b of Ho Chi Minh Citys first metro line project connecting Ben Thanh Market and Suoi Tien Theme Park were joined on Monday. World News -- Over 73,400 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 1,873 killed globally as of Tuesday morning, according to the South China Morning Post. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Tuesday, pressured by forecasts of improved production and concerns over weakened demand from China as the world's second-largest buyer of the edible oil tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The benchmark palm oil contract for May delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was down 7 ringgit, or 0.26%, at 2,644 ringgit ($637.72) by 0242 GMT. Palm oil gained in the previous two sessions amid hopes of higher Chinese demand in the second half of February after Malaysia's latest export data signalled a slower rate of decline. FUNDAMENTALS * Malaysia palm oil exports between Feb. 1 and 15 dropped 6.7%-10% from a month before, according to cargo surveyors. This is a slight recovery compared with the 20%-29.4% drop over the Feb. 1-10 period. * Palm oil futures were pulled down by demand concerns following lower purchases from top buyers India and China. India, the world's top palm oil buyer, last month imposed restrictions on imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, while the coronavirus outbreak in China exacerbated demand worries. * European Union palm oil imports in the 2019/20 season that started on July 1 dropped 17% to 3.38 million tonnes by Feb. 16, official data by the third-largest destination market showed on Monday. * Production in the south of Malaysia is expected to increase by 42.52%, traders said, citing data from the Malaysian Southern Peninsular Palm Oil Millers Association. * Dalian's most-active soyoil contract fell 0.3%, while its palm oil contract also traded 0.25% lower. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were up 0.2%. * Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oil market. * Palm oil may bounce to 2,711 ringgit per tonne, as it has stabilized around a support at 2,615 ringgit, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said. MARKET NEWS * Asian shares fell and Wall Street retreated from record highs on Tuesday after Apple Inc said it will not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter as the coronavirus outbreak slowed production and weakened demand in China. Story continues DATA/EVENTS 0930 UK Claimant Count Unem Chng Jan 0930 UK ILO Unemployment Rate Dec 1000 Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Feb 1000 Germany ZEW Current Conditions Feb ($1 = 4.1460 ringgit) (Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) The Calverton Park officer was at Walmart working as a security guard. He was wearing his police uniform, police said. The officer is 35 years old and has been with the Calverton Park force for 2 years. When the officer confronted the man about the shoplifting, the man pulled a gun and fired several shots. He hit the officer once in the arm and twice in the torso, St. Louis County police Sgt. Benjamin Granda said. Were very thankful that he was wearing a vest, Granda said. Dilworth, the Ferguson police captain, said the other life-saving measures were performed by Schyler Pokorski, whos head of loss-prevention for the store and used his belt to help slow the officers bleeding. It was Ferguson police Officer Jontaine Glover who used a tourniquet. No one else was injured in the shooting. The officer did not fire his weapon, Granda said. After the suspect ran from the store, he may have gotten into a car, Granda said. However, police dont have a description of a vehicle. La Fonda Holt said she was working security in the Walmart parking lot when shots went off. She called 911. Tuesday's long-awaited announcement that Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani won re-election last September appears likely to deepen, rather than resolve, a tense dispute over the country's presidential election. Why it matters: The U.S. has reached a truce with the Taliban that, if it holds, will lead to negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government. That development comes amid a bitter dispute over who speaks for Afghanistan. Driving the news: After months of delay, official results show Ghani receiving 50.6% of the vote, a whisker above the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff and 10 points ahead of challenger Abdullah Abdullah. But Abdullah has also claimed victory and accused the electoral commission of "treason." He has a significant power base, and he's threatened to form a parallel government. The U.S. had to intervene in 2014 when Ghani and Abdullah last faced off, brokering a delicate power-sharing deal. What to watch: "Ghani's victory by such a small margin based on very low turnout is problematic," said Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center think tank. KABUL, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday was declared the winner of Afghanistans presidential vote after five months of delayed results and bitter dispute. But the announcement threatened to tip the country into a full-blown political crisis on the cusp of a U.S. peace deal with the Taliban. Just hours after the announcement, Mr. Ghanis leading challenger, Abdullah Abdullah who accuses Afghanistans election commission of favoring the incumbent also declared himself the winner and said he would form a government of his own. The dispute over the election result comes just after a breakthrough in the negotiations between the United States and the Taliban, with the two sides arriving at a tightly choreographed peace plan expected to be rolled out in a matter of days. The plan calls first for a test period of violence reduction, which would lead to the Taliban and Washington signing a deal. Soon after that, the two Afghan sides would sit down to discuss the political future of the country. But Western diplomats have long feared that a political crisis in Kabul would weaken the Afghan governments hand in the negotiations and affect the overall peace plan. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- INTRODUCTION According to experts in the healthcare industry, one in three adults are estimated to be suffering from some type of chronic clinical condition, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic clinical conditions are considered to be among the leading causes of death and disability across the world. Typically, in such cases, individuals are required to medicate on a daily basis. In addition to the cost of medication, such individuals are also burdened with a deteriorating quality of life, and often struggle with medication adherence. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the overall annual expense incurred by those living with chronic diseases is steadily growing and is currently estimated to be more than USD 3 trillion. The development and commercialization of self-administrable dosage forms of drugs indicated to treat chronic clinical conditions has made a significant positive impact not only on the healthcare expenses borne by patients but also on compliance to prescribed therapeutic regimens. As the number of patients suffering from such disorders increase, the demand for more convenient and patient friendly drug delivery solutions is also on the rise. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02243611/?utm_source=PRN Most self-injection devices / systems, such as autoinjectors and pen-injectors, rely on prefilled syringes, which serve as primary drug containers in the aforementioned products. Moreover, despite having been in the market for more than three decades now, the overall interest in prefilled syringes continues to grow. In fact, the recent increase in use of biologics, which are usually administered via parenteral routes, has had a significant impact on the demand for prefilled syringes. Over the years, significant improvements have been made to conventional prefilled syringes in order to further expand the scope of their applications. In this context, it is worth mentioning that dual / multi chambered syringes designed for the administration of lyophilized drugs are already available in the market. In such products, the syringe barrel is divided into two chambers, one of which contains the appropriate diluent for the prefilled (lyophilized) drug formulation. Likewise, there are multiple types of specialty syringes, including contrast agent containing syringes and flush syringes. Further, since the introduction and enforcement of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act in 2000, several medical device manufactures have developed add-on or integrated safety devices for prefilled syringes. In fact, by 2020, the incorporation of safety features in prefilled syringes is anticipated to be made mandatory across the world. We are led to believe that the aforementioned developments are likely to fuel innovation and subsequent future growth in this market. SCOPE OF THE REPORT The 'Prefilled Syringes Market (5th edition), 2019-2030' report features an extensive study of the current market landscape of prefilled syringes and the likely future opportunities associated with such devices, over the next 10-12 years. It features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various stakeholders engaged in this domain. In addition to other elements, the study includes: An overview of the current market landscape of companies engaged in manufacturing prefilled syringes, providing information on year of establishment, company size, geographical location of the headquarters and manufacturing facilities, type of material used (glass and plastic), number of barrel chambers (single chamber and dual chamber), type of needle system (fixed needle system, luer lock and luer cone) and syringe volume. An overview of the current market landscape of companies that are developing drugs in combination with prefilled syringes, featuring information on year of establishment, company size, geographical location of the developers, target therapeutic area, phases of development, type of drug molecule, route of administration, approval year (for marketed products), dosage details (for marketed products) and other approved dosage forms (for marketed products). A detailed competitiveness analysis of the various prefilled syringes that we came across, taking into consideration the supplier power (based on the employee size of developer / manufacturer and their respective annual revenues) and key product specifications, such as number of chambers in the barrel, number of needle systems, volume of the barrel, technological advancement / user-friendliness and other distinguishing features. A list of marketed drugs / therapies and pipeline candidates that are likely to be developed in combination with prefilled syringes in the near future, shortlisted based on an in-depth analysis that takes into consideration various relevant parameters, such as route of administration, type of drug molecule, target indications, other available dosage forms (for approved drugs) and historical annual sales information (for approved drugs). An analysis presenting potential strategic partners (primarily drug developers) for prefilled syringe manufacturers (with regard to likely collaboration opportunities for combination product development) based on different parameters, such as pipeline strength, target therapeutic indication(s) and developer strength. An analysis of the various prefilled syringe combination product-related initiatives of big pharma players, based on parameters, such as current adoption (based on number of approved and under development prefilled syringe combination products) and likely future adoption (based on potential injectable product candidates in the pipeline that are likely to be delivered via prefilled syringes), target therapeutic area(s) and type of drug molecule. A review of the landscape of contract fill / finish services providers that offer services for prefilled syringes, featuring a list of active (large-sized) service providers and analysis based on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), type of drug molecule (biologics and small molecules), and geographical location of the service provider. A detailed discussion on various safety features (add-on and integrated devices) installed in recent versions of prefilled syringes and the companies involved in developing and manufacturing such solutions. An informative summary of various guidelines established and issued by major regulatory bodies for the approval of prefilled syringes, across different countries / geographical regions. Brief discussions of currently available specialty syringes, which include prefilled flush syringes, prefilled diluent syringe systems and prefilled contrast agent delivery systems. A case study on companies that are engaged in the manufacturing of autoinjectors, featuring brief profiles of key players in this domain; each profile includes an overview of the firm, and information on its respective product portfolio. Elaborate profiles of prominent prefilled syringe manufacturers engaged in this domain, featuring a brief overview of the company, its financial information (if available), information on product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. Elaborate profiles of prominent prefilled syringe component manufacturers, featuring a brief overview of the company, its financial information (if available), information on product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. One of the key objectives of the report was to evaluate the current market size and the future opportunity within the prefilled syringes market. Based on various relevant parameters, such as the number of commercialized combination products, annual adoption rate, and expected pricing, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market over the period 2019-2030. In order to provide a detailed future outlook, our projections have been segmented on the basis of [A] therapeutic area (autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, blood disorders, oncological disorders, psychiatric disorders, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders, ophthalmic diseases, orthopedic disorders and others), [B] type of syringe, [C] type of material (glass and plastic), [D] number of chambers (single chamber and dual chamber), [E] type of drug molecule (antibodies, proteins, vaccines, small molecules, peptides, and others), and [F] key geographies (North America, Europe (the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the rest of Europe), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and the rest of Latin America), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, South Korea and the rest of Asia Pacific), and the Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Africa and the rest of the Middle East)). The research, analysis and insights presented in this report are backed by a deep understanding of key insights gathered from both secondary and primary research. The opinions and insights presented in the report were influenced by discussions held with several players in this industry. The study includes detailed transcripts of discussions held with the following individuals: Matthew Young (Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Oval Medical Technologies) Kirti Maheshwari (Chief Technical Officer, Intas Pharmaceuticals) Gregor Kawaletz (Chief Commercial Officer, IDT Biologika) Kevin Cancelliere and Tibor Hlobik (Marketing Directors, West Pharmaceutical) Marco Pederiva (Marketing & Sales Director, Lonstroff) Jesse Fourt (Design Director, IDEO) Anonymous (Chief Executive Officer, Small-sized Medical Device Company) All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The data presented in this report has been gathered via secondary and primary research. For all our projects, we conduct interviews with experts in the area (academia, industry, medical practice and other associations) to solicit their opinions on emerging trends in the market. This is primarily useful for us to draw out our own opinion on how the market will evolve across different regions and technology segments. Where possible, the available data has been checked for accuracy from multiple sources of information. The secondary sources of information include Annual reports Investor presentations SEC filings Industry databases News releases from company websites Government policy documents Industry analysts' views While the focus has been on forecasting the market over the next decade, the report also provides our independent view on various technological and non-commercial trends emerging in the industry. This opinion is solely based on our knowledge, research and understanding of the relevant market gathered from various secondary and primary sources of information. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 2 is an executive summary of the insights captured in our research. It offers a high-level view on the likely evolution of the prefilled syringes market in the mid to long term. Chapter 3 provides an introduction to the concept of prefilled syringes, including details on their origin, various affiliated components (such as barrel, lock adapter, lubricant, needle, needle shield, plunger rod / piston, plunger stopper and tip cap), fabrication material (glass and plastic), manufacturing-related information, and other critical attributes and features. In addition, the chapter includes a discussion highlighting the future of prefilled syringes. Chapter 4 provides an overview of 100 prefilled syringes that are available in the market and provides details on the companies that manufacture such products. It features analyses of the prefilled syringes, based on various parameters, such as type of material (glass and plastic), number of barrel chambers (dual chamber and single chamber), type of needle system (fixed needle system and luer system) and syringe volume. In addition, the chapter provides information on manufacturers, along with information on year of establishment, location of headquarters and manufacturing facilities, and strength of employee base. The chapter also includes a discussion on the technological advances of prefilled syringes that have taken place in the recent past. Chapter 5 presents a product competitiveness analysis of glass and plastic prefilled syringes (separately) based on the supplier power and key product specifications. The analysis was designed to enable stakeholder companies to compare their existing capabilities within and beyond their respective peer groups and identify opportunities to achieve a competitive edge in the industry. Chapter 6 includes detailed profiles of some of the key manufacturers of prefilled syringes based in different geographies. Each profile includes a brief overview of the company, its financial information (if available), product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. In addition, the chapter also features short profiles of some of the small and mid-sized manufacturers, highlighting brief overview of the company, product portfolio and recent developments (if available). Chapter 7 highlights the growing concerns associated with needlestick injuries and the various steps (including regional and global legislations) that have been taken to prevent sharps related mishaps. One of the important risk mitigation strategies covered in this chapter is the installation of safety features in upcoming versions of prefilled syringes. In addition, the chapter provides information on syringe-related safety systems, including both add-on devices and device integrated features, and the companies involved in developing and manufacturing such solutions. Chapter 8 presents overview of the regulatory environment related to the grant of marketing authorizations for combination products across different countries. It highlights the prefilled syringes regulatory requirements and the role of regulatory bodies in the approval of syringes in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Chapter 9 provides details on the various pipeline and approved products that are being tested or available in the form of prefilled syringes, primarily focusing on injectable drugs and vaccines. It features a detailed analysis of these drugs, based on the various parameters, such as the target therapeutic area(s), phase of development, type of drug molecule, route of administration, approval year (in case of marketed products), dosage (in case of marketed products) and other approved dosage forms (in case of marketed products). In addition, the chapter provides information on drug developers, year of their establishment, location of headquarters and manufacturing facilities, and strength of employee base. The chapter also includes case studies of top two marketed drugs available in prefilled syringes, namely Humira and Enbrel. Chapter 10 features a discussion on the most commonly targeted therapeutic indications, including information on the approved / marketed injectable drug products available for the treatment of such clinical conditions (across different target therapeutic areas) and their respective biosimilars. Chapter 11 presents a list of marketed and pipeline molecules that are likely to be considered for delivery via prefilled syringes in the future. It is worth highlighting that this list has been compiled based on various parameters, such as route of administration, target therapeutic indication(s), other available dosage forms (in case of marketed drugs), type of drug molecule and drug sales of the approved product candidates. For the purpose of this analysis, we collated a list of over 100 top-selling marketed drugs, which were initially screened on the basis of route of administration (subcutaneous / intramuscular). Additionally, we reviewed over 1,400 clinical trials and compiled a list of pipeline molecules that are being investigated for delivery via the aforementioned routes. The likelihood of delivery via a prefilled syringe in the future was estimated using the weighted average method. Additionally, the chapter features an insightful analysis, highlighting potential strategic partners (primarily drug developers) for prefilled syringes manufacturers, based on multiple parameters, such as pipeline strength, targeted therapeutic indications, and developer strength. The analysis aims to provide the necessary inputs to the latter type of stakeholders, enabling them to make the right decisions to develop combination products. Chapter 12 highlights top 20 big pharma players engaged or likely to be engaged in the domain of prefilled syringes. It features a benchmarking of the companies based on parameters, such as current adoption (based on number of approved and development-stage prefilled syringe combination products) and likely future adoption (based on potential likely early and late stage pipelines), target therapeutic area(s), and type of drug molecules. Chapter 13 features information on specialty syringes, namely prefilled flush syringes, prefilled diluent systems and prefilled contrast agent delivery systems. For each type of specialty syringe, we have provided a brief overview and details on the different products that are available in the market and their advantages. Chapter 14 discusses the recent technological developments in this domain and their applications. The chapter provides details on the advancements in design technology and manufacturing of prefilled syringes that have enabled pharmaceutical companies to market lyophilized drugs in dual chambered syringe systems. The chapter also highlights novel lubrication and sterilization technologies. Chapter 15 presents an insightful market forecast analysis, highlighting the future potential of the prefilled syringes market till the year 2030. We have segregated the opportunity of the market on the basis of [A] therapeutic area (autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, blood disorders, oncological disorders, psychiatric disorders, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders, ophthalmic diseases, orthopedic disorders and others), [B] type of syringe, [C] type of material (glass and plastic), [D] number of chambers (single chamber and dual chamber), [E] type of drug molecule (antibodies, proteins, vaccines, small molecules, peptides, and others), and [F] key geographies (North America, Europe (the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the rest of Europe), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and the rest of Latin America), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, South Korea and the rest of Asia Pacific), and the Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Africa and the rest of the Middle East)). The analysis presents 2 X 2 matrices based on Market Share and Market Attractiveness derived from the current and likely future state of the market. Chapter 16 features a detailed discussion on the various factors that are anticipated to drive growth within the prefilled syringes market, such as the rise in preference for self-administration of medication, increase in incidence of chronic diseases, evolving patient landscape, introduction and growing adoption of biologics / biosimilars, initiatives focused on the prevention of needlestick injuries and the various potential applications of prefilled syringes. Chapter 17 provides a detailed SWOT analysis of the prefilled syringes market. The chapter presents strategic insights on major factors that have contributed to the growth of the market, while highlighting the weaknesses and threats that are likely to have an impact on its future. Chapter 18 provides insights on the various prefilled syringe component manufacturers along with details of their respective product portfolios. The key players covered in this section include Aptar Stelmi, Datwyler, Lonstroff, Ompi, West Pharmaceutical and Jiangsu Hualan New Pharmaceutical Material. Chapter 19 provides an overview of the landscape of pharmaceutical companies that offer fill / finish contract services for prefilled syringes. It includes information related to around 45 contract service providers that are currently active in this domain. It features in-depth analyses based on a number of relevant parameters, such as scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), type of drug molecules filled (small molecule and biologics), year of establishment, company size and geographical location of the service providers. Chapter 20 presents a list of autoinjectors that utilize prefilled syringes as their primary containers. In this chapter, we have included profiles of manufacturers of such autoinjectors, featuring an overview of the company and respective product portfolios. The key players that have been covered in this section include Elcam Medical, Nuance Designs, Owen Mumford, SHL Group, Union Medico and Ypsomed. Chapter 21 is a summary of the overall report. In this chapter, we have provided a list of key takeaways from the report, and expressed our independent opinion related to the research and analysis described in the previous chapters. Chapter 22 is a collection of transcripts of interviews conducted with representatives from renowned organizations that are engaged in the prefilled syringes manufacturing domain. In this chapter, we have presented the details of our conversations with Matthew Young (Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Oval Medical Technologies), Kirti Maheshwari (Chief Technical Officer, Intas Pharmaceuticals), Gregor Kawaletz (Chief Commercial Officer, IDT Biologika), Kevin Cancelliere and Tibor Hlobik (Marketing Directors, West Pharmaceutical), Marco Pederiva (Marketing & Sales Director, Lonstroff) Jesse Fourt (Design Director, IDEO) and Anonymous (Chief Executive Officer, Small-sized Medical Device Company). Chapters 23 is an appendix that provides tabulated data and numbers for all the figures included in the report. Chapter 24 is an appendix that contains the list of companies and organizations mentioned in the report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02243611/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com THE HAGUE, Netherlands In a major legal defeat for the Russian government, a Dutch appeals court on Tuesday reinstated an international arbitration panels order that it should pay $50 billion compensation to shareholders in former oil company Yukos. The ruling overturned a 2016 decision by The Hague District Court that quashed the compensation order on the grounds that the arbitration panel did not have jurisdiction because the case was based on an energy treaty that Russia had signed but not ratified. The Hague Court of Appeal ruled that the 2016 decision was not correct. That means that the arbitration order is in force again. This is a victory for the rule of law. The independent courts of a democracy have shown their integrity and served justice. A brutal kleptocracy has been held to account, Tim Osborne, the chief executive of GML, a company made up of Yukos shareholders, said in a statement. The Russian Justice Ministry said in a statement after the verdict that Russia will appeal. It charged that the Hague appeals court failed to take into account the illegitimate use by former Yukos shareholders of the Energy Charter Treaty that wasnt ratified by the Russian federation. The arbitration panel had ruled that Moscow seized control of Yukos in 2003 by hammering the company with massive tax claims. The move was seen as an attempt to silence Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin. The 2014 arbitration ruling said that Russia was not acting in good faith when it levied the massive claims against Yukos, even though some of the companys tax arrangements might have been questionable. The state launched a full assault on Yukos and its beneficial owners in order to bankrupt Yukos and appropriate its assets while, at the same time, removing Mr. Khodorkovsky from the political arena, the arbitrators said. Khodorkovsky was arrested at gunpoint as he boarded a plane in Siberia in 2003 and spent more than a decade in prison as Yukos main assets were sold to a state-owned company. Yukos ultimately went bankrupt. The Russian Justice Ministry said the Hague appeals court ignored the fact that ex-shareholders of Yukos werent bona fide investors, noting that they had won control of the company assets through unlawful actions, including collusion and bribing officials. The ministry also emphasized that Tuesdays ruling contradicted the 2011 verdict of the European Court for Human Rights, which rejected allegations that the case against Yukos was politically driven. Also Tuesday, the Trump administration announced sanctions on a Russian state-controlled brokerage that has helped the Venezuelan government skirt an American oil embargo and enabled President Nicolas Maduro to keep his grip on power in the South American country. Administration officials said Rosneft Trading S.A. and its president, Didier Casimiro, would be added to a financial blacklist in a move that is expected to largely freeze him and the company out of the global financial system. Harry Styles, a musician and former One Direction member, was robbed at knifepoint in London last week, according to Mirror Online. On the night of Feb. 14, Styles was approached by a man with a knife who demanded cash, the report said. Styles, 26, gave the man his money and was unharmed. He actually played it pretty cool, quickly giving the assailant cash, keeping himself and the guy calm and getting the situation over with, a witness told the publication. Understandably though it left him very shaken up afterwards. Police are investigating reports of a robbery involving a knife in that area, according to E! News. No arrests have been made, police told the news outlet. As of Tuesday, Styles has not addressed the incident publicly. READ MORE Mizoram has earned the dubious distinction of being the state with highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country, but the government was making all efforts to tackle the menace, health minister R Lalthangliana told the Assembly on Tuesday. A total of 21,538 cases have been registered in the state since October 1990, when the first patient was identified, he stated. Lalthangliana, while replying to starred questions by MNF leader Vanlaltanpuia and Independent MLA Lalduhoma, also said that HIV prevalence was highest among youth in the age group of 25-34 years, accounting for 42.38 per cent of the total number of cases. Expressing concern over the matter, the minister insisted that the government had been taking all measures to combat the disease. Lalthangliana also said that he recently met leaders of NGOs, students' bodies and churches and sought their help to control the spread of the disease, while efforts were also being made to seek technical assistance from UNAIDS. According to Dr Lalthlengliani, the project director of Mizoram State Aids Control Society (MSACS), at least 2,416 people have died of the disease between January 2006 and September 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PULASKI, N.Y. -- The Red Carpet Inn caught fire Monday afternoon in the village of Pulaski after a man started cooking goat meat in one of the rooms, authorities said. Someone called the Oswego County 911 Center at 4:38 p.m. to report a fire at the motel at 3723 state Route 13. Pulaski Village Police Officer Joe Taylor said most people had seen the smoke and had exited the motel safely, but he found two people still inside the motel when he knocked doors. The fire was on the opposite side of the motel, and they didnt realize there was a fire, Taylor said. Everybody got out safely and no one was injured, Taylor said. NOCA ambulance told 911 dispatchers they were transporting one person from the scene to a hospital for an asthma attack, but it was not related to the fire. Volunteer firefighters told dispatchers the fire was out at 5:26 p.m. -- 48 minutes after the initial 911 call, dispatchers said. The fire started on the south side of the motel, in the back, Taylor said. A man was cooking meat on the stove in his motel room when the griddle somehow caught fire, the officer said. Police blocked a portion of state Route 13 near the motel while firefighters battled the blaze. Responding to the fire were members of Pulaskis volunteer fire department, Ringgold Fire Co., as well as Altmar, Mexico, Richland, Sandy Creek, Orwell, New Haven and Lacona volunteer firefighters, Pulaski village police, Oswego County sheriffs deputies, state police and Northern Oswego County Ambulance (NOCA). Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his home after returning from his sentencing hearing December 7, 2011 in Chicago. Getty Images President Donald Trump granted executive clemency Tuesday to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as well as to ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and to Edward DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers football team. Trump also announced that he had pardoned Michael Milken, the former junk bond king who became a face of the insider trading financial scandals of the 1980s. In all, Trump granted some form of executive clemency to 11 individuals Tuesday, according to the White House. Trump commuted the remainder of Blagojevich's 14-year prison term. The Illinois Democrat had begun serving that sentence in 2012 after he was found guilty of attempting to trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama for money or favors. Blagojevich was scheduled for release on March 13, 2024, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Trump has floated the possibility of commuting Blagojevich's sentence for nearly two years. In a joint statement, the former U.S. attorney in Chicago and the ex-federal attorneys who prosecuted Blagojevich stressed that the former governor's crimes were "very serious" and deserved to be punished. "That has to be the case in America: a justice system must hold public officials accountable for corruption. It would be unfair to their victims and the public to do otherwise," they said. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said that Blagojevich "betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom." Durbin called for the enactment of "stricter ethics requirements, including the full detailed disclosure of income, net worth, and income tax returns by all elected officials." Kerik oversaw the NYPD under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is now the president's personal lawyer, during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Kerik was nominated in 2004 to lead the Department of Homeland Security under then-President George W. Bush. Conservation Nebraska will hold a public event at Keene Memorial Library this Saturday afternoon that will discuss water quality and regenerative agriculture. The free event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Guest speakers include Martin Dario Hernandez Ramirez, Michaela Mast and Graham Christensen. The event will discuss issues with water quality in areas such as West Point and regenerative agriculture, a form of farming that focuses on soil as the number-one resource and using practices with the end goal to build soil organic matter. I really like these speakers because their presentations not only give a lot of facts, but its really widely based on the solutions and what we can do to solve these problems, said Dakota Stock, northeast conservation director for Conservation Nebraska. Conservation Nebraska is a nonprofit that highlights issues with conservation by holding public events and working with local agencies. It held a film screening of the documentary Catching the Sun in Fremont last month. Stock said the idea for the event came after Mast, another northeast conservation director, was approached by a man from Fremont who attended an event in Omaha. He gave us the feedback of how its so much more relatable for these farmers out there and this sort of culture that Fremont has, Stock said. So he said, If you guys could get this type of event in Fremont, I think you would have a whole lot of people who are interested. At first, Stock said the event was meant to be focused solely on water quality, a main focus of Ramirez. He recently moved from Mexico City to West Point, whose citizens were ordered by the state to stop drinking the water due to high levels of manganese last August. He really likes to speak toward the whole chemical process, kind of the engineering side of it, which I think is really interesting, Stock said. Ramirez is an environmental engineer for Grassland Dairy Products, where he works with systems of lagoons and aerobic digestions for the plants wastewater. He also works with the chlorine system for its portable water system. Ill talk about what kind of water you can have in your house or what sources you can use for water systems, how the treatment of the water indicates when you use portable water for the wastewater treatment plant, he said. So what the process is for cleaning the water and the different kinds of quality of water that you have from, portable to land or other kinds. After she heard Mast and Christensens talks on regenerative agriculture, Stock said she also wanted to add their input to the discussion. Mast will also be presenting as a soil advocate through Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit that provides education in soil regeneration. She will discuss regenerative agriculture and the science behind how soil works. Regenerative agriculture is one of three models identified by Kiss the Ground, Mast said. The others include sustainable and degenerative, which she said most farms are currently using. Over time, they are causing lots of issues, from desertification to poor water infiltration and lack of micronutrients in the soil, Mast said. So [regenerative agriculture] is a way of farming that is looking at these ancient, indigenous wisdom practices and applying it with a modern lens. Mast said regenerative farming is done through five principles: animal or livestock integration, using cover crops as soil armor, increased biodiversity by using different crops, minimizing tilling to avoid disturbance and to keep a living root in the soil. Regenerative farming has also been proven to be more profitable, Mast said. Not only is it beneficial from an environmental standpoint, but from an economic standpoint for farmers, its also very beneficial, she said. So people dont necessarily have to care about climate change or conservation; they can get into it for reasons that are purely motivated by helping their family and their community. Christensen is president of GC Resolve, a network partner of Regenerate Nebraska that aims to increase education for regenerative communities, and GC ReVOLT, a solar energy company that also provides education. As Christensen also owns a farm by Oakland, Stock said she believed he was a great fit for the discussion. No matter what I come in with, no matter what kind of event that I come in with, if the people who are speakers are not in the same field as these people that are coming in, theres none of that relevance, theres not going to be any connection, she said. So its just that really close-knit community that I want to stick to and speak to. Because I know that Fremont is like that, and I want to continue to appeal to that beautiful community that Fremont has. A fifth-generation farmer, Christensen said he wants to engage with farmers across the state. He also said as a Midland University graduate, he was familiar with the community of Fremont. I know a lot of people there, I lived there for four years, we have tractors that we bought out of there, he said. So for me, Im just really excited to engage with the people of Fremont. Christensen said the United States is in a farm crisis, as 20% of operations are facing bankruptcy. Were looking at alternative options that keep farmers in Nebraska or that present new opportunities for more young farmers to be able to get on the land, he said. Regenerative is the only way that we can, I think, encompass everyone and still respect their independent nature on their independent business. Christensens presentation will focus on agriculture in Nebraska and practices farmers can use to ease into regenerative agriculture. The overall goal is to try to get farmers some more tools and some more insight on how they can be able to make some really simple transitional moves as far as regenerative practices or soil health-based practices that can give them a little bit more leverage in their farming business moving forward, he said. The presentation will also discuss issues from current practices and the challenges farmers are facing, Christensen said. Well dive deep into all those to set us up for how farmers are basically kind of front and center of the solution to a lot of these kinds of issues by utilizing very simple changes, he said. Well even start talking about ecosystem services or new carbon market, storage market opportunities for farmers that are starting to trickle into this area now too. Stock said shes learned a lot from Christensens talks, including the use of animals for regenerative agriculture. Its just really a beautiful, diverse ecosystem within these regenerative farms that I think weve really moved away from, she said. And its crazy, because its just incredible to watch things just balance out and to use all these natural solutions to the bug problems and the pest problems. Even with farming moving in a new direction, Christensen said he wants farmers to know that change isnt a bad thing for them. Thats really what its all about, is putting our farmers in the lead role of these environmental issues, but making sure that they are able to transition into these areas without risk and being able to squeeze out more opportunity from these situations so these can be long-sustaining and continuing the multi-generational family tradition of independent businesses here, he said. With his presentation, Ramirez said he wants to break scientific terms down for the public. Its important for people to understand the quality of water and the risk of waterborne diseases, he said. So I think its very important for people to know those kinds of things. Mast said she was looking forward to discussing with people about the future of regenerative farming and answering any questions they had for her. I hope that people take away that they have an opportunity to really be a part of a big movement toward coming back into a relationship with the land that is mutually beneficial and that people will feel inspired and that their creativity will be opened, she said. I also hope they might just come away feeling a bit more hopeful about the future, whether thats future generations or just for their own lives next week. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At least 17 children die in fire at Haitian orphanage run by Pennsylvania church Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The controversial Church of Bible Understanding headquartered in Pennsylvania is now under scrutiny after at least 17 children, including babies and toddlers, died after a fire ravaged one of two orphanages run by the religious group in Haiti, officials said Friday. Rose-Marie Louis, one of several devastated child care workers at the home where the tragedy unfolded, told The Associated Press that the fire began around 9 p.m. Thursday and firefighters took about 90 minutes to arrive. She explained that the orphanage had been using candles for light due to problems with its generator and inverter. Some half of the children who died in the fire, she said, were babies or toddlers while the others were about 10 or 11 years old. The AP noted that the church that was started in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1971 by founder Stewart Traill, had lost accreditation in November 2012 for its homes after Haitian inspectors faulted the group for overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and not having enough adequately trained staff. Citing the authority for social welfare in Haiti, The New York Times reported that at least 17 children were killed. Its a very sad situation, said Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, general director of the Institute for Social Welfare and Research, which oversees social welfare programs and is responsible for issuing accreditations. The Christian Post reached out to the churchs office in Scranton on Tuesday but no one was immediately available to discuss the fire which occurred in the Kenscoff area outside Port-au-Prince. Temi J. Sacks, a spokesman for the group, told the AP, We are aware of the fire in the childrens home in Haiti. It would be irresponsible for us to comment until after all the facts are in. Jean-Francois Robenty, a civil protection official, told the AP that the children could have been saved but rescue workers who arrived at the scene on motorcycles didnt have bottled oxygen and ambulances needed to transport children to a hospital were also not available. They could have been saved, he said. We didnt have the equipment to save their lives. It could have been me, Renadin Mondeline, a 22 year old who lived in the home with her son, now 6, for about two years before getting her own place, told the AP. These little girls inside were just like my baby. The CBU, which has been called a "cult," states on their website that they serve about 150 children across their two orphanages. The children that we take in come to us from many places and circumstances. Sometimes we learn of a gravely ill child during our food distributions, other times, sadly, they have been abandoned at our doorstep or in a neighboring area, and occasionally they come through referrals by friends or people who work with us. Currently there are around 150 children between our 2 very large houses (a slightly fluctuating number as some become well and have families able to care for them). They range in age from infant to young adult. You can see the relief begin to show on their faces after only a short time being with us, the group said. On Friday, however, after protests from grieving employees at the orphanages, police raided the churchs second home and removed several dozen children, the AP said. Haiti's President Jovenel Moise tweeted Friday that he was "deeply moved" by the deaths and directed officials to "adopt urgent measures" to determine the cause of the fire. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti also expressed sadness at the tragedy in a tweet Friday. The U.S. Embassy is shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life resulting from the devastating fire at Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding in Kenscoff. We offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of these children, whose lives were cut too short, the embassy said. Faye Swetlik's devastated family have been offered a free funeral service for the tragic six-year-old who was found dead in woodland near her home in Cayce, South Carolina last week. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in nearby Lexington has agreed to provide its services free of charge to Faye's parents Selena Marie Collins and Chad Swetlik, according to Fox News. The girl's body was taken to the funeral home in a police procession on Saturday after the autopsy had been completed. Faye went missing on February 10 after she got off a school bus. Her mother said she came home and was playing in the front yard before vanishing. Her body was found in woods between her home in Churchill Heights and a Napa Auto Parts store in Cayce on Thursday around 11am. Neighbor Coty Scott Taylor, 30, was found dead in his home soon after and police say they are not looking for any other suspects in the case. Faye Swetlik, six, went missing after coming home from school on Monday last week and her body was found three days later in nearby woodland. A neighbor's body was found soon after Surrounded by family, friends and community members, Faye's mom and dad Selena Marie Collins and Chad Swetlik were pictured attending the vigil for their six-year-old daughter on Saturday night. Collins and Swetlik are seen with their heads bowed (center) as family, including Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins (right of Swetlik) gathered around them The body of Coty Scott Taylor (pictured), who is linked to Faye Swetlik's (right) death, was found dead in his house shortly after the remains of the six-year-old were discovered in the woods neighboring both their homes Authorities are due to reveal Faye's cause of death and how her suspected killer died at a press conference later today. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has already confirmed that Faye's autopsy was completed Saturday but said the results would not be released immediately out of respect for Faye's family so they could have 'privacy and time to process the information'. Faye's heartbroken parents were seen for the first time since their little girl's body was discovered at a moving vigil on Saturday night. Faye was a first-grade student at Springdale Elementary School. She went missing on Monday after getting off the school bus Faye Swetlik's body was taken to the Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, in Lexington, about ten miles from Cayce Saturday in a van flanked by procession of police motorcycles Hundreds of people gathered at the vigil at the entrance to Churchill Heights neighborhood out of respect for Faye Saturday night The body of Coty Scott Taylor (pictured), who is linked to Faye Swetlik's (right) death, was found dead in his house shortly after the remains of the six-year-old were discovered in the woods neighboring both their homes Collins and Swetlik were pictured together in heartbreaking images with their heads bowed as family, including Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins, gathered around them. Hundreds of people gathered at the vigil at the entrance to Churchill Heights neighborhood out of respect for Faye. Teddy bears, flowers, candles and cards have been left at the site in honor of the little girl. A public memorial for Faye will be 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce, a small town with a population of around 13,000. More than 250 officers searched for the missing girl over three days before her body was found. Taylor's body was found soon after and an item of Faye's is said to have been found in his trash 'Our evidence and our investigation does link these two together. I can confirm he was a neighbor,' Cayce Public Safety Sgt. Evan Antley said at a Friday news conference. 'He was not a relative. He was not a friend. He was merely a neighbor.' Swetlik's grandmother shared video on Thursday showing her six-year-old granddaughter sing 'You Are My Sunshine' The heartbroken community has set up a memorial for Faye Swetlik The devastated community has rallied around Faye's family since news broke of her tragic and untimely death. A GoFundMe page set up on Friday had reached donations of $5,920 as of Monday morning. The page states that it was set up prior to knowing that the funeral would be paid for in full by the funeral home and so the donations would be used to help the family 'over the next several months' including moving costs. Faye's grandmother said on her Facebook page that money would be used to help Faye's mother Selena move away from the home where her child had vanished from never to be seen alive again. On Sunday, community members came together to protect the memorial site from the elements. Almost a dozen people covered the memorial with a tarp and tent to protect it from the rain. Faye (center) is then seen speaking to the bus driver (left) before exiting the bus 'You have absolutely no idea how much this means to us,' a family friend told WIS News. The community has spoken of the shock that such a tragedy would happen in the neighborhood. 'We never dreamed something like this [would happen] in our neighborhood. It's just unreal,' neighbor Tony Brewer told 10TV. 'I have cried so much you wouldn't believe. It's broken my heart.' Another mourner, Tequila English told 10TV she has a daughter the same age as Faye and that the tragedy has been hard on all parents and families in the area. 'I have a 6-year-old. I'm certain I can relate. As a mother, I can relate to her feelings right now. She's being very strong to even be here tonight.' 'I just don't understand how someone could take the life of somebody so small it's just horrible,' another local woman said. Some toys and stuffed animals left for Faye were donated to the local children's hospital at the weekend. COTY SCOTT TAYLOR: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR - He was 30 years old - Taylor lived at 602 Picadilly Square, a two-bed unit around 100 feet from Fayes home - Taylor did not have a criminal record and was not known to police - He is not related to the little girl nor is he a friend of the family - Officers had previously spoken to Taylor during the search for the missing girl - Taylor attended Bluffton High School from 2003 and graduated in 2007 - Beaufort County School District said he had good academics and no disciplinary record - He went to University of South Carolina Beaufort in 2007, transferred to its Columbia campus in 2008 and then withdrew from the university in 2009 - He worked at Jimmy Johns restaurant in Columbia but left the company in 2015 Advertisement Faye was finally brought home on Saturday, as the Charleston County Sheriff's Department provided a police procession to accompany her body from the coroner's office to the funeral home in Lexington County following her autopsy. Members of the public and officers gathered outside the funeral home to greet the little girl. The local community is demanding answers, with a Facebook group dedicated to the little girl's death voicing speculation over whether suspected killer Taylor acted alone. Conspiracy theories circulated online asking whether he had a roommate who may have been involved. Authorities said Friday there is no danger to the community and that no other arrests had been made. Taylor, who did not have a criminal record and was not known to police, is not related to the little girl nor is he a friend of the family, authorities confirmed. 'He was merely a neighbor who lived at Churchill Heights,' Sgt Evan Antley, with the Cayce Department of Public Safety, said Friday. He also confirmed that officers had previously spoken to Taylor during the search for the missing girl. Antley assured the community 'that there is no reason to believe there is an active threat in the community'. No arrests had been made and officers are not seeking any other persons of interest. Dutch Slingeland Hospital has opted for the software solution AscomDigistatSuiteto monitor patient data in one central location. With first implementations beginning of this year AscomDigistatSuite as part of the Ascom Healthcare Platform gets installed step by step throughout the hospital. Slingeland Hospital takes part in the innovation project 'Sensing Clinic'. An initiative which aims to improve healthcare with sensor technology to monitor vital functions such as blood pressure, heart rhythm, breathing, etc. Ascom Digistat Suite allows to centrally process data from all sensors and doing data analysis on one single platform. The software solution of Ascom collects the patient's vital functions from wearable sensors and generates automatic notifications. It works seamlessly with various sensors and tests the measured values against a number of hypotheses, making it possible to identify changes in the patient's condition at an early stage. Slingeland Hospital aim is to shorten the duration of treatment and to reduce workload of caregivers. The goal of continuous monitoring of the patient is helping diminish health complications so that healthcare providers can spend less time on administrative tasks and offer better patient care. Malou Peppelman, Innovation Program Manager at Slingeland Hospital, says: "Thanks to the collaboration with Ascom, we can raise the 'Sensing Clinic' project to a higher level. The clear presentation of all patient data for our doctors and nurses was a crucial step in integrating sensor technology into our method of working." Olaf Hendriks, Managing Director Netherlands, adds: "The deployment of Ascom Digistat Suite to the Slingeland Hospital makes us very proud. This project is further proof that our solutions can meet the high demands of a modern hospital of the 21st century and that Ascom is the partner of choice for communications software solutions in healthcare." The state Trafficking in Persons Council will launch a new task force to combat prostitution and human trafficking at massage parlors in Connecticut, following a CT Insider investigation. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said the heads of state agencies will be working with the Trafficking Council to do whatever we can, whether its administrative, whether its legislative. Its a terrible problem with a terrible human cost especially for children and for women, she said. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, on Tuesday called on prosecutors in Connecticut to impose more fines on people who patronize prostitutes or promote prostitution. By state law, money from these fines is used to support human trafficking investigations, but in the past few years, the penalty was rarely imposed or collected. Looney urged all local police departments to make human trafficking and prostitution enforcement a top objective. I think statewide police departments need to uniformly commit to this as a priority area of enforcement, he said. A two-part CT Insider investigation found that many illicit massage parlors operate around the state, while police and a patchwork of state and local health and labor laws struggle to control the problem. The new illicit massage parlor task force will be announced publicly at the state Capitol on Wednesday, said Steven Hernandez, executive director of the state Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford. "The TIP Council will form a working group to bring various professionals together to plan for a coordinated response to put an end to illicit massage businesses in Connecticut, they said. The Councils working group will be led by Gilchrest. In an interview, Gilchrest said the Council has not previously conducted a concentrated study of illicit massage parlors. She said its clear that municipalities, non-profits, state law enforcement and federal agencies are all working on the issue, but their efforts are not always fully coordinated. For far too long, community after community has tried to address it, she said. There needs to be a comprehensive approach to trying. Based on investigations from Connecticuts Department of Labor and the counter-trafficking non-profit Polaris, there are 250 illicit massage businesses operating in Connecticut at any given time, the state Trafficking in Persons Council said in its 2018 annual report. Thats stunning, said Bysiewicz. That means there could literally be one or more in each of our municipalities. On the internet, it is easy to find graphic reviews from people who claim to have bought sex services at these businesses. Around the country, police often use these review boards, including a website called Rub Maps, as one source of information when investigating possible prostitution and human trafficking crimes. CT Insider reviewed 10 years of police records for 30 massage parlors with user reviews posted on Rub Maps. As of Jan. 6, the site identified 98 massage parlors in 47 towns where anonymous reviewers claimed to have engaged in sexual acts. An examination of police records by CT Insider found that human trafficking was suspected at some of these businesses by law enforcement. Many law enforcement officials described the challenges of investigating human trafficking and prostitution cases to CT Insider. Milford Chief of Police Keith Mello said Tuesday his department has identified 13 massage parlors in Milford where police have suspicions that illegal activity may be occurring. His department has several ongoing investigations into some of these establishments. We do receive a lot of complaints from people who say there is illegal activity going on these massage parlors, he said. Its very difficult to prove if there is illicit sexual activity. Sometimes the massage parlors offer a mix of legitimate and illegal massage services, Mello said. When Milford police speak to employees of some massage parlors, they find many employees lack identification and do not speak English, Mello said. We have not had a situation where any of the workers have been comfortable enough or told us that they are not there of their own free will or not being paid, he said. Whether or not that is valid is hard to ascertain. Looney said new state laws are not needed to help police and towns investigate human trafficking and prostitution, just enforcement of current statutes. In 2016, the General Assembly passed legislation adding a fee to the penalty for the crimes of patronizing a prostitute, permitting prostitution or promoting prostitution. The money from these fees is supposed to be used to support human trafficking investigations. In fiscal year 2017, the first year for which data is available, 27 people were found guilty of these crimes, according to the state Trafficking in Persons Council. In only six of those cases the fine was assessed however. The state could have collected $127,000, the Council found. Instead, it collected $5,600. I would hope that a higher percentage of those cases would actually impose the fine, so it could realize its stated purpose, Looney said. Local police often work with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the State Polices Bureau of Investigations on these cases. Bysiewicz said state police currently have no open human trafficking cases. The state budget supports the hiring and training of more state troopers, some of whom may work on these investigations, she said. In 2022, 40 percent of the existing state police force about 900 men and women will be eligible for retirement, increasing the need for more troopers, she said. Bysiewicz and Gov. Ned Lamont will also consider whether the Department of Labor requires more resources to conduct sweeps to ensure massage parlors and spas are following state labor laws, Bysiewicz said. The Department of Labor takes this issue very seriously and has been regularly pursuing successful investigations into improper payment of wages and other employment issues at businesses ranging from nail spas to massage parlors to egg farms, said Thomas J. Wydra, Director of the Wage and Workplace Standards Division at the state Department of Labor. Human trafficking is a global, societal problem that takes a team effort to combat, from the customer who may notice something amiss at a business to the state and federal agencies and law enforcement who respond to complaints. We urge anyone with any suspicions about a businesses treatment of its employees to contact us immediately. The U.S. Department of Justice has called human trafficking one of its top priorities. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 31 creating a new position in his administration to lead anti-trafficking efforts. The order also proposes an additional $42 million for funding for service programs and prosecutions. People come from different states. You have a website that is linked to the Czech Republic, said Bysiewicz. We need the [U.S.] Department of Homeland Security and the FBI and the federal Department of Labor to be helping with this law enforcement because we have multiple states and multiple countries that are involved. CT Insider also found Connecticut cities and towns are increasingly turning to local ordinances to try to shut down illicit massage parlors. Bysiewicz called on the Trafficking Council, or organizations like the Connecticut Council of Small Towns and Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, to develop model town ordinances that municipalities could adopt to help close illegitimate massage establishments. I think if you asked a municipal leader would you like to help prevent human trafficking? that leader would say Yes absolutely, Bysiewicz said. So what we need to do is get those kind of tools into the hands of municipal leaders, like some really good ordinances. Many towns have already passed or are developing such ordinances. Danbury, which proposed a new regulation in April 2019, is still working on passage, said Mayor Mark Boughton Tuesday. "The City of Danbury remains committed to prohibiting any establishment that claims to provide legitimate massage services while at the same time engages in illegal activity, Boughton said. To that end we have developed a first of it's kind ordinance and have solicited comment from legitimate Massage and Physical Therapy businesses regarded the proposed ordinance. Once those comments have been incorporated into the ordinance, we will be ready to move forward with final passage." Under its ordinance, Milford requires massage businesses to register their patrons. They also require police-issued permits for massage establishments and workers. The Milford police department conducts compliance checks multiple times a year on these establishment to ensure they are following state and local labor and health codes, Mello said. The force did a sweep of Boston Road massage parlor Tuesday morning, Mello said. We dont arrest, and were not looking to charge, any of these women, Mello said. We are looking to charge the businesses. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 01:01:04 *Oasis calls for change in Sun Corporation management to stem losses in corporate value *Oasis nominates new Board of Directors to protect all stakeholders *More information available at www.abettersun.com Oasis Calls Extraordinary General Meeting to Protect All Sun Corporation Stakeholders Taylor Hall media@hk.oasiscm.com Oasis Management Company Ltd. (Oasis) is the manager to funds that, collectively, are one of the largest shareholders of Sun Corporation (6736 JP) (Sun, Sun Corp or the Company). In order to protect Sun Corps future and end managements destruction of corporate value, Oasis has called an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in order to replace Suns Board of Directors. Oasis has nominated a new Board of Directors who will work together to turn around Sun Corps struggling domestic business by taking advantage of the ample growth opportunities available, grow its subsidiary Cellebrite, and collaborate with all of Suns stakeholders to increase long-term corporate value. Oasis will revitalize Sun Corps businesses and bring back the entrepreneurial spirit of Suns original founder, Mr. Masami Maeda. For the last three years, Sun Corp, a Nagoya-based technology conglomerate, has recorded losses and is expected to post another loss this year. We believe that Sun Corps problems can be primarily attributed to its ineffective management team and failed oversight by the Board of Directors, which has led to Sun Corp trading at a deep discount to its intrinsic value. In addition to the significant upside from restructuring the domestic business, Sun Corp also owns 71.55% of Cellebrite, a high-margin, high-growth international digital forensics and analysis business based in Israel, which Oasis values in excess of 150 billion to Sun Corp, implying an upside of over 240% to Suns current valuation. Oasis has repeatedly sought to engage with Suns management in order to help improve the Company and stop the losses at the domestic business, but our attempts at constructive dialogue have been rebutted. Instead, Sun Corp management has continued to destroy significant corporate value, including through the third-party allotment of 24.42% of Cellebrite at a significant discount to its intrinsic value (Cellebrites management own the remaining 4.03%), and the recent issuance of convertible bonds and warrants at a large discount to their market value, with no apparent economic rationale other than to dilute shareholders. In its latest earnings results published on February 14, the Company announced a loss of 2.77 billion for the nine months ended December 2019, and forecasted a loss of 3 billion for the full year ending March 2020, underscoring the urgency of these issues. Seth Fischer, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Oasis, said: Oasis is committed to helping foster the long-term growth of corporate value for all our investee companies, to the benefit of all stakeholders. The destruction of corporate value and egregious actions taken by Sun Corps management have compelled us to introduce a new Board that will transform and expand Sun Corp into the great company that it should be. Oasis urges all Sun Corp shareholders to review the full information on Oasiss website www.abettersun.com, which outlines our view why shareholders should vote for Oasiss proposals at the upcoming EGM. Together, we believe that we can stop the destructive force of the current Sun Corp management team and plant the seeds of a brighter, healthier future for Sun and all its stakeholders. Stakeholders are also encouraged to contact Oasis at info@abettersun.com with any questions, comments, or suggestions. Oasis Management Company Ltd. manages private investment funds focused on opportunities in a wide array of asset classes across countries and sectors. Oasis was founded in 2002 by Seth H. Fischer, who leads the firm as its Chief Investment Officer. More information about Oasis is available at https://oasiscm.com. Oasis has adopted the Japan FSAs Principles of Responsible Institutional Investors (a/k/a Japan Stewardship Code) and in line with those principles, Oasis monitors and engages with our investee companies. Oasis statements are intended only to offer useful information to shareholders on Oasis proposals put for resolution in the EGM so that shareholders are able to make well-informed voting decisions for a better Sun Corp. This material is not intended to solicit voting in favor of Oasis proposals, to which rules concerning solicitation of proxies applies. Similarly, Oasis is by no means soliciting or requesting shareholders to jointly exercise their voting rights together with Oasis. Oasis disclaims its intention to be treated as a Joint Holder with other shareholders under the Japanese Financial Instruments and Exchange Act by virtue of its act to express its view or opinion or other activities to engage in dialogue with other shareholders in or through this website. This statement and related materials exclusively represents the opinions, interpretations, and estimates of Oasis in relation to the upcoming EGM. Oasis is expressing those opinions solely in its capacity as an investment advisor to the Oasis Funds. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005 150 eminent persons write to President Kovind in support of NPR, NRC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 18: Over 150 eminent citizens including former judges, top armed forces' commanders among others have written to President, Ram Nath Kovind in support of the government's recent policies related to citizenship. The 154 prominent people have termed the protests against the newly amended citizenship law, NRC and NPR as a false and motivated campaign. They urged the President to look into the ongoing protests will all seriousness and safeguard the democratic institutions of the country. They have also urged that strong action be taken against such persons. The signatories include, 11 former judges of various High Courts, 24 retired IAS officials, 11 former IFS officers, 16 retired IPS officers and 18 former lieutenant generals. They have said that fear is being spread across the length and breadth of India which appears to be motivated and with a sinister design to harm the nation. Anti citizenship law protest being crushed: Noted Urdu poet They also said that the campaign is being carried out in a coordinated manner leading to violent protests in which public and private property is being destroyed. There is also a false and nefarious narrative that is being created, they also added. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 The idea of NRC and NPR which has been a discourse since independence remains to be implemented. "This has grave security implications and does not bode well for our motherland. These protests, while ostensibly claiming to oppose the policies of Government of India, are in effect designed to destroy the very fabric of this country and harm the nation's unity and integrity," the letter also reads. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 8:19 [IST] S chools out in London this week, with February half term offering a much needed break for the kids at least, not so much for parents. Luckily there are plenty of places to keep the little ones busy, with some of Londons biggest museums putting on family-friendly workshops and tours. Elsewhere, there are free dining options, immersive experiences and places to entertain all members of the family. These are our picks of what to get up to in the capital this half term. Tread the boards at the Globe The whole worlds a stage this half term, and the Globe is running a series of fun and educational childrens throughout across the week. Kids can learn about the Bard and his timeless stories with the Half Term Tales series, which includes family tours, a relaxed discovery morning on Friday and storytelling sessions based on As You Like It and A Midsummer Nights Dream, which are aimed at children between the ages of five and 12. Until February 23, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT, shakespearesglobe.com Head to Knight School at the Tower of London Getty Images Travel back in time to the War of the Roses with the Tower of Londons hands-on history lesson. Kids can dress up in armoury, design their own flag and learn what it took to be a knight in the 15th century. The half term exhibition is included in the price of general admission, so families can see the crown jewels while theyre there. The Twilight Tours and the Queer Lives at the Tower tours are also well worth checking out. Until February 23, St Katharine's & Wapping, EC3N 4AB, hrp.org.uk Take a holiday to space at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Oli Scarff/Getty Images Fire up childrens imaginations with a trip to the stars the Royal Observatory is putting on immersive workshops, helping those with a passion for astronomy learn more about our solar system. Guests will first enjoy a 20-minute session of star-gazing in the planetarium, before a half-hour workshop learning more about the planets. Sessions begin at 10am and tickets cost 6. February 20-21, Blackheath Ave, SE10 8X, rmg.co.uk Head out for a free meal at Londons family-friendly restaurants Restaurants where kids can eat for free in London 1 /9 Restaurants where kids can eat for free in London Hix Restaurants At Mark Hixs restaurants, kids can eat for free all year round. Children under the age of eight can get a free main dish from the kids menu at Tramshed in Shoreditch or Hixter in Bankside. The offer is available between12-6pm all week, for children accompanied by a dining adult. Dishes across the restaurants include fish and chips with mushy peas, Glenarm minute steak with chips, and a quarter roasted Indian Rock chicken. The Real Greek Sundays are about getting the family altogether at The Real Greek and with kids eating for free, that makes it all a little easier. For every 10 spent by an adult on a Sunday, a child under 12 can get a free meal from the kids menu, along with a drink and ice cream. Dishes include a souvlaki wrap filled with the likes of loukaniko beef or halloumi, or a meze selection from which kids can choose three items. With spots all around town, you wont need to make the kids travel too far either. Camino Bankside The kids can tuck into tapas too at Camino, with the Bankside location offering its kids menu for free on weekends. Children can choose the classic menu offering Iberico meatballs, croquetas and patatas bravas or the vegetarian menu of tortilla, Arzua Ulloa cheese and tomato bread both also include a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The restaurant is also just a few minutes walk from the Tate Modern, making it a convenient post-gallery lunch spot. The offer is vaild for under 12s, one per paying adult. Gordon Ramsay Restaurants From Heddon Street Kitchen to Union Street Cafe, kids can eat for free at nine of Gordon Ramsays London restaurants. With dishes including meatball pasta and sticky toffee pudding, kids under the age of 12 get a complimentary meal when ordering from the Tillys Treats menu, which has been inspired by cookbook of the same name by Ramsays daughter Matilda. The offer is available for every adult meal ordered from the a la carte menu. Bodean's Kansas City-style barbecue joint Bodeans offers a free three-course meal to its young customers, when dining with an adult ordering a main meal. Kids start off with crudites and hummus, before moving onto baby back ribs, chicken wings or a cheeseburger with fries, and Lil Judes milk lollies for dessert. The timings for the offer differ at each restaurant, so check the link below before you go. Sea Containers This riverside South Bank restaurant offers a weekend treat for kids, with free food available from 12pm-4pm every weekend. Children aged 12 and under can get a main meal for free (when alongside a paying adult) and can choose dishes including grilled chicken breast with mash, broccoli and lemon butter sauce, or fish and chips made with battered sea bass and served with crushed peas. Big Easy Kids can get into the lipsmackin barbecue spirit at Big Easy too, where they can eat for free every weekend, all year round. Children under 10 can choose a main course and side for free between 11am and 4pm on weekends, with dishes including a small rack of St Louis pork ribs or mac and cheese, with sides of creamy mash and house slaw. There are plenty of family-friendly restaurants in the capital, and a handful of places even lets kids dine for free. Children under the age of 10 can enjoy a complimentary main dish from the kids menu Tramshed in Shoreditch and Hixter in Bankside between 4-6pm Monday to Friday and 12-6pm on weekends. Kids under the age of 12 also get a complimentary meal when ordering from the Tillys Treats menu at Gordon Ramsay restaurants. Hungry for more? Read our full guide to free kids meals in London. Various locations Be inspired at the Southbank Centre Sam Peach Productions Ltd The likes of Dermot OLeary, Cressida Cowell and Konnie Huq are on board for Imagine Childrens Festival, which aims to inspire families to experience art and culture together. This year kids have the chance to do everything from visiting a dinosaur zoo, helping create a community artwork on a giant chalkboard and heading out on an adventure with classic character Pippi Longstocking. Book now and dont miss out. Embotics, part of Snow Software, recognized for completeness of vision and ability to execute Emboticsthe hybrid cloud management company recently acquired by Snow Software, today announced that it has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Management Platforms1 for the second year in a row. "The cloud is being adopted faster than ever. However, the challenges around process transformation and workflow automation, as well as risks around cost management and governance have grown considerably as well," said Jay Litkey, Founder of Embotics and SVP, Cloud Management at Snow. "Our team has focused on delivering a product that is a fully integrated platform with a comprehensive suite of services to assist organizations with their cloud transformation. Speed of delivery, predictable cloud budgets and risk mitigation can be obstacles for even the largest organizations, and we have helped our customers not only visualize the challenges in their environments but to actually tackle them in real-time. When it comes to cloud, it is not enough to see a problem; you must be able to immediately act or even automate the solution. This is how you can truly accelerate service delivery, contain costs and mitigate security concerns." This news comes on the heels of Snow's acquisition of Embotics in December 2019. With the integration of Embotics and Snow, IT leaders are able to better understand, manage and optimize their entire technology ecosystems from cloud instances and SaaS applications to software and devices. Embotics provides cloud provisioning, automation, orchestration and governance capabilities, supporting both cloud brokered self-service consumption and cloud direct consumption for DevOps teams, leveraging native cloud resources and APIs. "Cloud has become an integral part of the overall IT ecosystem and created new requirements for how organizations manage and drive the most value from their IT investments," said Sanjay Castelino, Chief Product Officer at Snow. "The acquisition of Embotics by Snow brings together two leaders to provide another layer of visibility and intelligence across the entire ecosystem, empowering organizations to overcome the complexities and maximize the potential of hybrid environments." Gartner Peer Insights documents customer experience through verified ratings and peer reviews from enterprise professionals. Embotics reviews include the following: "Quick deployment and ease of integration lead to a quick ROI Embotics provides superior support, simple integrations and by far has been the simplest to deploy." Director, Data Center in the Finance Industry (read full review) "We selected Embotics based on their excellent customer service and willingness to partner. The Embotics team have gone 'above and beyond' throughout the negotiation and initial implementation, proactively anticipating our needs and responding quickly when required." Chief Technology Officer in the Manufacturing Industry (read full review) "Excellent Cloud Management Platform, has great features and makes automating existing infrastructure possible while also allowing for greenfield deployments as well. Plugs into any API and has a scripting engine that makes possible what many other tools fail at. Great reporting functions and excellent user portal Have found very few tasks that were not able to be automated by this tool." CI/CD Automation Engineer in the Manufacturing Industry (read full review) "Fantastic lifecycle/automation solution with multi-cloud supportEmbotics vCommander provided immediate functionality once we plugged it into our environment. With it, we were able to automate the process of requesting or removing or changing resources on servers in our environment. This allows our infrastructure staff more time to work on other projects and initiatives while maintaining a consistent and standardized environment. A user is able to request a server, obtain the appropriate approvals and receive the resources needed in less than an hour with the submission of one webform. The Account, Support and Professional services teams have been terrific to work with and have provided exceptional value add to vCommander." System Administrator in the Finance Industry (read full review) For a complimentary copy of the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Management Platforms, please visit: https://bit.ly/2uV1UeP [1] Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Cloud Management Platforms" by Dennis Smith, Sanjit Ganguli, Padraig Byrne. February 13, 2020 Gartner Disclaimers Gartner Peer Insights reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and do not represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Snow Software Snow Software is the global leader in technology intelligence solutions, ensuring the trillions spent on all forms of technology is optimized to drive maximum value. More than 4,000 organizations around the world rely on Snow's platform to provide complete visibility, optimize usage and spend and minimize regulatory risk. Headquartered in Stockholm, Snow has more local offices and regional support centers than any other software asset and cloud management provider, delivering unparalleled results to our customers and partners. To find out more about Snow, please visit www.snowsoftware.comand follow on Twitter @snowsoftware. To find out more about Embotics, please visit www.embotics.com and follow on Twitter @EmboticsCorp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005795/en/ Contacts: Dan Gaffney fama PR for Embotics (617) 986-5036 Embotics@famapr.com Julie Neumann Snow Software (615) 498-9650 press@snowsoftware.com On Sunday, Breitbart's Joel Pollak sat down for an interview with famed Harvard Law professor and criminal defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz. During the interview, Dershowitz explicitly stated that George Soros asked Obama to have the FBI investigate someone for him and that Obama acceded to that request. He further stated that he had documentary proof that will be released during the course of an upcoming lawsuit. During the interview, Dershowitz spoke about the way in which CNN mangled his argument during the Senate hearings on Trump's impeachment, something he said justified a lawsuit; the fact that Roger Stone deserves a new trial because the jury foreperson lied when she stated that she had no strong political bias and knew nothing about Stone himself; and that he would leave the Democrat party if Bernie Sanders won the Democrat primary. Regarding this last point, Dershowitz's beef with Bernie is Bernie's hostility to Israel. What Dershowitz doesn't acknowledge is that all the Democrat candidates and, indeed, the whole Democrat party are hostile to Israel. Whether it's Bernie or someone else, today's Democrat party is the home of Linda Sarsour, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, etc., and not Alan Dershowitz. The most fascinating thing Dershowitz said came up when he and Pollak were discussing the left's outrage that Trump appears to be having a say in how Attorney General Bill Barr is handling the Roger Stone sentencing. This outrage most recently culminated in a letter from 1,100 former DOJ attorneys and officers stating that Barr must resign from his office simply because his decisions coincide with Trump's tweets. According to Dershowitz, presidents have had a say in the administration of federal justice practically since Congress created the office of the attorney general via the Judiciary Act of 1789: And let's be very clear about the constitutionality. The president could make a decision to really control the Justice Department. He could decide who to prosecute and who not to prosecute. He shouldn't do it. It hasn't been done since Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson did do it. We've seen this throughout our history. The interference didn't end with Jefferson. It's been going on for centuries. Dershowitz pointed out that "[t]here was a lot of White House control of the Justice Department during the Kennedy administration and I don't think we saw very many liberal professors arguing against that." All presidents have engaged with the Justice Department, although past presidents were sneakier, or they got a pass for being leftists: We've seen this kind of White House influence on the Justice Department virtually in every Justice Department. The difference is this president is much more overt about it, he tweets about it. President Obama whispered to the Justice Department about it. And I don't think these thousand Justice Department officials would pass the "shoe on the other foot" test. Maybe some of them would but a good many of them wouldn't. The real shocker was when Dershowitz honed in on one specific event during the Obama administration: I have some information as well about the Obama administration which will be disclosed in a lawsuit at some point, but I'm not prepared to disclose it now about how President Obama personally asked the FBI to investigate somebody on behalf of George Soros, who was a close ally of his. Just to make sure he understood what Dershowitz had said, Pollak asked, "You said that George Soros asked Barack Obama to have his Justice Department investigate somebody?" Dershowitz affirmed his claim and stated that he had the evidence to prove it: That's going to come out in a lawsuit in the near future, yeah. *** I have in my possession the actual 302 form which documents this issue and it will at the right time come out, but I'm not free to disclose it now because it's a case that's not yet been filed. People have long suspected that George Soros wasn't just aligned with Obama's policies, but, in fact, exerted control over Obama's conduct. This seems to bear it out. Syracuse University has suspended around 30 student-protesters who continued to occupy an administrative building after hours Monday night. Organizers from the group #NotAgainSU were issued suspension letters after a tense evening that was widely broadcast on social media and in student media outlets. SU officials who in November gave protesters immunity from certain campus rules during an eight-day sit-in did not extend those exemptions to protesters this time around. Students formed the #NotAgainSU group after a spate of racist, anti-Semitic graffiti and other incidents stunned the campus community. The group late last year issued a list of demands, which Chancellor Kent Syverud eventually signed with three red-line edits. But that was too little, too late for the protesters, who have continued to call for Syveruds resignation. The group ramped up its efforts Monday, again calling for administrators to resign and adding to their list of demands. In addition to the resignations, protesters added five more demands. They are demanding that SU publicly identify any perpetrators of hateful biased incidents, disarm public safety officers, freeze tuition, widely acknowledge systemic issues on campus, and make changes to the housing selection process for people with disabilities. #NotAgainSU announced an occupation of Crouse-Hinds Hall, where Syveruds offices are located. They brought pillows and blankets and indicated they were prepared to stay through the week. This time, SU officials responded with less willingness to capitulate to protesters demands. In conversations live-streamed by #NotAgainSU, administrators said protesters needed to comply with campus rules, particularly a Disruption Policy," which they said barred students from remaining in Crouse-Hinds Hall after hours. Students were issued warning letters, which they shared on social media. The letters said students who remained after 9 p.m. would be charged with violated of the student code of conduct and placed on interim suspensions. After 9 p.m., about 30 students were issued a second round of letters informing them theyd been suspended. The letters, also shared on social media, said students who lived on campus would be allowed in their dormitories and dining halls, but that all suspended students were not permitted on other Syracuse University-owned property. The letters state that students who violate these instructions could be arrested for trespass. The students remain in Crouse-Hinds Hall, according to their social media accounts. The building is closed except to employees. Classes and other events have been moved to other locations. Department of Public Safety officers are stationed around the building, and are not allowing people to drop off food, according to #NotAgainSU. SU officials said in a statement to campus community they were working in good faith on the measures agreed upon last semester, to make the university a more welcoming and safe place for people of color and other marginalized groups. Officials insisted students were not being suspended for protesting, but for violating the Campus Disruption Policy. Keith Alford, chief diversity and inclusion officer, and Robert Hradsky, vice president for the student experience, said in the campus-wide email they had offered for students to protest at Bird Library, which is open around the clock. Though we continue to support peaceful demonstration and the free and respectful exchange of ideas, at this time, we must enforce established policies that help maintain an environment that fosters sensitivity, understanding and respect for all 22,000 students in our community, as well as our faculty, staff and visitors, Alford and Hradsky said in the email. Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and sometimes fun stuff like treasure hunters. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work A Tuesday sent Sharjeel Imam, named as an "instigator" by Delhi Police in its charge sheet on violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at New Friends Colony in December last year, to judicial custody till March 3. Imam was arrested on sedition charges last month in a separate case. The police has filed the charge sheet before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, naming Imam as an instigator of the violence. It said it has attached CCTV footage, call detail records and statements of over 100 witnesses as evidence in the charge sheet. The court had on Monday sent Imam to one-day custody of Delhi Police in the case as it wanted to quiz him because an accused - Furkan - in the December 15, 2019 violence case has alleged in his disclosure statement that he was provoked by Imam's speeches. The police had earlier told the court that Furkan was arrested on the basis of a CCTV footage which showed him carrying a container allegedly containing petrol. Four people were arrested in the case on December 16 and sent to judicial custody. Furkan was arrested later. Imam, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh here against the CAA and the Register of Citizens, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 in a separate case for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the and in Aligarh. A case had been registered against him on sedition and other charges on January 26. Protestors had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during the demonstration against the CAA on December 15, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and fire fighters injured. The police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent mob. They entered the Jamia university campus, saying that rioters had taken shelter there. However, the Jamia students had denied that they were involved in the violence and had alleged police brutality. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal had said groups of people, who were coming from the Jamia side, gathered near New Friends' Colony and blocked the road. The protesters, around 1,500, did not pay heed to the police appeals to clear the area. The protest was being held against the contentious law which seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims religious minorities from three neighbouring countries who arrived in India to escape religious persecution before 2015. On Monday, a had sought a status report from Delhi Police on whether it was investigating the officers who had allegedly barged into Jamia Millia Islamia and lathi-charged students during an anti-CAA protest on December 15 last year. In addition to this, the court had also sought an overall report probing into violence near the campus during the ongoing agitation against CAA. The European Commission has warned big tech companies that they face tougher rules and penalties in Europe if they do not curb hate speech and disinformation on their platforms. It's not for us to adapt to this company, it's for this company to adapt to us," said Breton, a former French finance minister, and former CEO at French telecom Orange and French technology company Atos, on Monday, after meeting Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Brussels. Breton, who leads EU digital policy, along with Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, said a proposal for a Digital Services Act by the end of 2020 could be much tougher on big tech, which so far has been self-regulated. These new rules "can be binding to avoid this kind of abuse, because it is abusive, when totally illegal content is massively disseminated to our fellow citizens," Breton said. Zuckerberg was in Brussels urging officials to not go too far in punishing platforms for carrying hate speech, so as not to curb free speech. Facebook needs to decide The Facebook chief met with European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova, who became an outspoken critic of Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica data scandal in 2018. Good regulation of hate speech would require a new type of regulator for the EU, Zuckerberg argued to Jourova. After the meeting, Jourova said Zuckerberg was coming around to the European approach on regulations. But she said it would be unfair for the company to shift all the burden to authorities. Facebook cannot push away all the responsibility," because regulations will never solve every problem, she said. It will not be up to governments or regulators to ensure that Facebook wants to be a force of good or bad." In a paper submitted to the commissioners, Facebook stressed that the way to limit unwanted speech was to make sure that platforms put the right systems in place, not by holding them liable for the speech itself. The company's recommendations include requiring companies to set up user-friendly channels to report harmful content and regularly release enforcement data. It suggested that governments should define what illegal content is. Breton said the proposals were "interesting" but "not enough: too slow, too low in terms of responsibilities". He added that Facebook, the world's biggest social media network that also owns Instagram and Whatsapp, had not addressed its market dominance. Regulating AI Breton and Vestager will announce on Wednesday proposed regulations on artificial intelligence, including facial recognition, as well as the bloc's digital strategy that would challenging the dominance of the big tech companies Facebook, Google and Amazon. The EU has already pushed through strict data privacy rules and issued multibillion-dollar antitrust fines against companies like Google. On Monday Zuckerberg met with Vestager, whose proposal on AI is expected to involve a "risk-based" approach similar to how Europe approaches food safety concerns, such as GMOs and chemicals. She has said she would back away from a ban on facial recognition technology and instead ask companies and authorities to think hard before deploying it. Two women infected with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Vinh Phuc Province left the medical center in Binh Xuyen District Tuesday afternoon. After being quarantined and treated for several weeks, Nguyen Thi Nam, 30, and Pham Thi Binh, 42, tested negative for the virus three times in a row and their health was normal, said Nguyen Thanh Hai, health department director of Vinh Phuc, home to most of the new coronavirus infections detected in Vietnam so far. Nam was among eight workers of Japan-invested Nihon Plast Company sent to train for two months in Wuhan City, epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak. They returned to Vietnam on January 17. Six of them have tested positive for the virus and two others are awaiting test results. Nam had showed no symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, like fever and cough. She also remained healthy during the quarantine period. On February 7, she tested positive for the deadly virus. We are sorry On her discharge, Nam thanked all the people who had taken care of the new coronavirus patients, and apologized to the community at large. "We didnt know and didnt want to be infected with the virus. We feel sad because we have affected everyone, and making doctors and medical staff take care of us," she said. Binh had contracted the virus from her neighbor Nguyen Thi Du, another of the eight workers returning from Wuhan. Shed met Du at the latters house during the Lunar New Year holiday. Du has already been discharged from the hospital. Binh developed high fever on January 31 and was quarantined at a local medical center. Blood tests showed was infected. On Tuesday morning, two other patients, a 55-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man who was among the eight workers returning from Wuhan, were discharged from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Eleven of the 16 Covid-19 infections confirmed in Vietnam so far have been in Vinh Phuc. Of the remaining five, three were found in Ho Chi Minh City, one in Khanh Hoa and another in Thanh Hoa. The Health Ministry said Khanh Hoa can declare itself SARS-CoV-2 free after reporting no new infections in the past 30 days, while Thanh Hoa can do so in the next four days. 11 patients in Vietnam have been discharged. Medical experts have confirmed there is no specific medicine or vaccine to treat the novel coronavirus, though Vietnam has enough capacity, experience and confidence to treat patients. The WHO said Saturday that Vietnam, which declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a national epidemic on February 1, has responded well to the crisis from the very outset, preventing its spread. As of Tuesday, the global death toll had climbed to 1,873 and confirmed infections topped 73,000. Nearly 12,000 patients have recovered. Minister of Foreign And European Affairs of the Republic of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajcak, is currently paying an official visit to Romania. On Tuesday, the Slovakian official will have political consultations with the head of the Romanian diplomacy, Bogdan Aurescu."The Slovakian high official's visit to Romania is in line with the common efforts of the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations, which are already at an excellent level, and to boost cooperation in fields of common interest, while it's also an occasion for an exchange of opinions with respect to the regional, European and international developments of interest to both states," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday.According to the same source, the agenda of the visit focuses on the current status and prospects for development of the bilateral political dialogue, and economic and sectoral dialogue.The two officials will also discuss topical issues on the European, international agenda and security issues, says MAE.Miroslav Lajcak will also be welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Palace and Prime Minister Ludovic Orban at the Victoria Palace. Indicating that the Maharashtra government, led by Shiv Sena-NCP alliance, may not implement the Population Register (NPR) in the state, NCP on Monday said that their government will not take part in any central government's process but the Census. "Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that Maharashtra govt will help in collecting data for the Census which is conducted in the country every 10 years. But if anyone tries to do anything beyond it, then the state govt will not take part in it," the Minister said. Awhad made the comments while addressing a public gathering in Thane on Monday. Many non-BJP ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan, have refused to implement NPR and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in their respective states. The opposition parties are claiming that the NPR exercise is linked to the Register of Citizens (NRC). Awhad's comments are significant as their alliance partner in the Maharashtra state government, Shiv Sena, broke away from the BJP last year. Shiv Sena had contested elections in coalition with the BJP and their alliance got a majority, but the long-term partners parted ways over the issue of rotational chief ministership. Later, Sena joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress to form the government. Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray is now leading the coalition government in the state. BJP President JP Nadda recently said that the party will contest next Assembly elections solo and that it will be a BJP versus other parties contest in the polls. The first phase of Census-2021 will be conducted in Haryana from May 1 to June 15, with the help of around 58,000 enumerators and supervisors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Great Essays by Martin Gardner Origin of Species Strange New Worlds 2201neha Lnstnbass4 SMD sarbjeetsingh777 Winners dont make excuses. 350--> 700 https://gmatclub.com/forum/700-q47-v39-ir-7-awa-246682.html Signature Read More Stephen Miller's uncle donated to a refugee aid organisation as a "wedding gift" to his nephew, who designed Donald Trump's hard-line anti-immigration policies and whose coordination with right-wing media outlets revealed disturbing ties to white nationalism. David Glosser posted a link to a spoof wedding "registry" website that mocked Mr Miller's recent nuptials by linking to wish lists from advocacy groups that provide aid to asylum seekers and immigrants in need. Mr Miller married Katie Waldman, press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, on Sunday. The registry created by late-night news and satire programme Full Frontal with Samantha Bee supports "organisations that help the most vulnerable among us, people whose rights are receding faster than Stephen's hairline", the website says. Mr Glosser has frequently criticised his nephew's ideology-driven immigration agenda, which has included deterring asylum seekers from crossing the US-Mexico border by separating families and placing children in detention centers, as well as banning travel from several majority-Muslim countries and suspending a programme that allowed young undocumented people who entered the US as children to remain in the country. In a Facebook post, he said he made a contribution to HIAS, a Jewish American nonprofit organisation which provides humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement assistance, a group that he said helped rescue his family from "Czarist oppression in the Russian Empire in 1906". Inside California's largest detention centre 1/9 Backs turned: Adelanto faces complaints that it does not allow inmates sufficent visits Reuters 2/9 Barbed issue: the facility is the focus of protests by immigrant rights groups Reuters 3/9 Aliens: ICE agents are empowered to round up suspected illegal immigrants Reuters 4/9 World class: the facility is run by private operator The Geo Group Reuters 5/9 Limbo: people have gone on hunger strike to protest prolonged imprisonment Reuters 6/9 Colours: inmates wearing blue have no or minor criminal conviction the rest wear orange or red Reuters 7/9 Domino effect: according to ICE, arresting criminal aliens is a priority that predates Trumps presidency Reuters 8/9 Uncertainty: Around 240 of the detainees at Adelanto are women Reuters 9/9 An ICE detainee rests his hands on the window of his cell in the segregation wing at the Adelanto immigration detention center, which is run by the Geo Group Inc (GEO.N), in Adelanto, California, Reuters "Had our refugee forebears not been helped to emigrate to the USA, they and their children would have been murdered by the racial madness of Nazism", he said. Mr Glosser added that 74 of his relatives were prohibited from resettling in the US following the Immigration Act of 1924, "enacted by the 'America First' populists of the day" and signed by then-President Calvin Coolidge. Revealed in emails to Breitbart reporters and others while he was working for then-Senator Jeff Sessions, Mr Miller the son of Mr Glosser's sister frequently praised President Coolidge's measure, which implemented discriminatory "quotas" that could grant visas to only two per cent of the total number of people of each nationality in the US reflected in the US Census from more than 30 years prior. The law completely banned immigrants from Asia. Mr Glosser said: "Protect the refugee and welcome the stranger ... They built America." He added that each contribution to HIAS "plugs up a hole in the great wall of civilization that holds back the tide of cruelty that threatens our world". "Remember to organize, communicate, and vote for qualified Democratic candidates so that we can at long last have a rational and compassionate route forward on this and so many other issues", he said. He told the Huffington Post that "the advancement of policies which legitimize the use of racial, religious hatred and fear is a danger to everybody in our country ... The Trump administration pushing hatred in pursuit of political power is the kind of moral rot exploited by authoritarian regimes." Mr Glosser was not invited to the wedding, and he hasn't spoken to his nephew since 2015. Days after making a surprise visit to Bilal Bagh, Bengalurus Shaheen Bagh, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah voiced his concerns about the current state of the nation, saying, he's felt the need to "re-examine what it is that is unique about this country" of late. The actor, who was speaking at an event titled 'India, My Valentine' in Mumbai, said even though he had never felt the need to prove his patriotism to anybody, he was elated to be a part of an initiative, which celebrated one's love for India. "Despite the fact that I never felt the need to wear my love for my country on my sleeves, I must congratulate Swara (Bhasker, co-organiser of India, My Valentines) and the team for this initiative. I thank her for asking me to join all of you in celebrating our country and sending a valentine to our nation. At a time when a lot of us are grappling to understand whats going on around us, I think I am not alone in agonising over a question as to whether all this was always latent and has finally burst forth, not being able to be contained any longer." "Or has there been a complete change in our country in the last decade. Apart from the fact that we are moving from three million ton to five million ton. I am not a social scientist, so I dont know the answer," the actor said. Shah then read out excerpts from former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus book The Discovery of India, saying, the book could shed some light on these questions. "Maybe it will show you the direction. I've also in these times felt the need to re-examine, rediscover what it is that is unique about this country, what is that creates such unconditional love for this country, what it is that has always been our pride and has won the admiration of the entire world and I think Pandit Nehru's writing gives an answer to those questions," he added. The following are excerpts from The Discovery of India that Shah read out during his speech at the event: The diversity of India is tremendous; it is obvious; it lies on the surface and anybody can see it. It concerns itself with physical appearances as well as with certain mental habits and traits. There is little in common, to outward seeming, between the Pathan of the North-West and the Tamil in the far South. Their racial stocks are not the same, though there may be common strands running through them... Yet, with all these differences, there is no mistaking the impress of India on the Pathan, as this is obvious on the Tamil. The Pathan and the Tamil are two extreme examples; the others lie somewhere in between. All of them have their distinctive features, all of them have still more the distinguishing mark of India. Earlier, in an interview with The Wire, Shah spoke at length about his worries about the amended citizenship law, asking why 70 years of living in India were not proof enough of him being a citizen. Shah also took a jibe at his fellow actor Anupam Kher for supporting the government's move. Follow @News18Movies for more During Restaurant Week, 13 participating restaurants will serve a lunch or dinner pre-fixe for $20.20 or another amount ending with $.20 (tax and gratuity not included). Biz Briefs: Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Hosts Downtown Pittsfield Restaurant Week Downtown Pittsfield Restaurant Week Downtown Pittsfield Inc. has announced Downtown Pittsfield Restaurant Week, a seven-day promotion running March 1-7. During Restaurant Week, 13 participating restaurants will serve a lunch or dinner pre-fixe for $20.20 or another amount ending with $.20 (tax and gratuity not included). The goal of Downtown Pittsfield Restaurant Week is to highlight the numerous and diverse dining options of downtown Pittsfield and to help boost business during what is typically a slower time of the year for restaurants. DPI encourages residents to support their downtown favorites or try somewhere new. Participating restaurants include: Dottie's Coffee Lounge, Eat on North, Flavours of Malaysia, House of India, The Marketplace Cafe, Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Mission Restaurant, Otto's Kitchen & Comfort, Panchos Mexican Restaurant, Patricks Pub, That's a Wrap Cafe, Thrive Diner, and Tito's Mexican Grill. New this year, dine downtown during Restaurant Week for a chance to win a basket of gift certificates. Pick up a Restaurant Week Passport at participating restaurants and purchase a Restaurant Week special to enter. Diners will receive a card punch, by restaurant staff, each time they buy a Restaurant Week special. Each punch entitles the diner one entry into the raffle (i.e., five punches equals five raffle entries). One grand prize winner will receive a basket of gift certificates for $20.20 from each participating restaurant. For a full list of Restaurant Week promotions, visit the website or follow Downtown Pittsfield on Facebook. SVHC 'Best Place to Work' Southwestern Vermont Health Care has been named one of the 2020's Best Places to Work for the sixth year in a row. SVHC received the honor for the first time in 2015. It remains the only hospital in the state of Vermont to be recognized by the awards program. This statewide program is presented by Vermont Business Magazine in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council; the Vermont Department of Commerce and Community Development; and Best Companies Group. The program surveys and identifies the best places of employment to recognize organizations that benefit the states economy, its workforce and businesses. In the recent past, SVHC has earned several other prominent distinctions, including appearing on Becker's Hospital Review's national list of the "Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare" since 2016. In October 2019, Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, SVHC's skilled nursing facility, earned a deficiency-free rating from Vermont regulators, and in November 2019, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center earned an "A" for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group. In 2017, the hospital received the American Nurses Credentialing Centers top honor, the Magnet Prize. Nonprofit directory The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires has issued the second edition of its Nonprofit Resource Directory designed to make it easier for nonprofits to find business services in Berkshire County. The 68-page directory is underwritten by advertisers and mailed free to more than 300 nonprofits. A digital version is available for download online, and additional printed copies can be purchased for $10 at npcberkshires.org. The 2020 Nonprofit Resource Directory is arranged by subject and includes accounting, banking, events, fundraising, graphic design, human resources, insurance, legal, legislators, marketing, office supplies, organizational development, print services, professional development and technology services. Subcategories within the main categories further pinpoint the specific types of services that nonprofits need such as videographers, media contacts, and grant writers. The NPC also fields referrals daily via phone at 413-645-3151 or email. PearsonWallace Insurance opens office Pearson Wallace Insurance has opened an office at 25 Henry St. in Pittsfield and 11 Amity St. Amherst. Founder Beth Pearson, a resident of Pittsfield and Amherst, said that the agency will provide quality and affordable insurance products and services to Massachusetts and New York. Pearson Wallace currently provides personal auto, home and business insurance services. PWI opened these office with the intent of filling a gap for customers facing limited choices in choosing a local agent. Banks and big insurance retailers with headquarters in other cities and sometimes other countries are buying up the local agents, and in many cases reducing key staff, leaving the less-experienced insurance people to run the office. These big box retailers and banks are managing customers as a commodity, not as individuals. PWI will focus on concierge insurance services, including RMV registry runs, workers comp audits, claims management and more. The office can be reached at 413-464-9390. Public Works Award The City of North Adams Public Works Department has been selected for the 2020 Best of North Adams Award in the Utility Companies category by the North Adams Award Program. Each year, the North Adams Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the North Adams area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2020 North Adams Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the North Adams Award Program and data provided by third parties. 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He said the practice was draconian and un-Australian. Last week, he was out announcing changes to the Dog Act to regulate unscrupulous breeders. Then it was a law banning protests near abortion clinics. WA's politicians don't have anything meaty to get their teeth into in 2020. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola You might be in furious agreement with all these measures, but would WA's legislators, who were back at work last week after a month or so of summer holidays, think these are the most important laws they could be considering? If they did, they'd be wrong. Dr. Diana Oblinger, an education technology leader with more than 40 years of experience in higher education, joins Signal Vine's Board of Directors Signal Vine is excited to add Dr. Oblinger and her expertise, knowledge and understanding of how technology can be positioned to empower higher ed institutions to the team. Signal Vine, the leading provider of blended SMS communication to students across the education industry, announced today that Dr. Diana Oblinger has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Dr. Oblinger is an edtech industry expert with deep experience using technology to address higher educations challenges and opportunities. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ellucian, the leading global provider for higher education software and services. She is also President Emeritus of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association of 2,300 colleges, universities and educational organizations whose mission is to advance higher education through the use of information technology. During her 12 years at EDUCAUSE, she led initiatives on student success, college completion, analytics and learning technologies as well as expanding the organizations international reach. Prior to her work at EDUCAUSE, Dr. Oblinger held various leadership positions in technology at the University of North Carolina, Microsoft and IBM. She has also held faculty positions at Michigan State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Brian Kathman, CEO of Signal Vine, shares his excitement following the appointment. Signal Vine is excited to add Dr. Oblinger and her expertise, knowledge and understanding of how technology can be positioned to empower higher ed institutions to the team, said Kathman. Signal Vine has relied on Dr. Oblingers extensive knowledge in the past to facilitate discussions about the important relationship between technology and higher ed leaders. Im looking forward to continuing our work together. Dr. Oblinger notes what she hopes to accomplish as a member of Signal Vines Board of Directors. I am honored to serve on Signal Vines Board of Directors, as the companys mission is one I have shared throughout my career: to use technology to empower students so they can be more successful, said Dr. Oblinger. Signal Vines AI-powered technology can help higher ed institutions keep students on track and engaged with personalized, timely communications at scale. Im thrilled to continue to support this important mission as part of Signal Vines team. Signal Vine is the leading higher education AI messaging platform transforming how higher education institutions reach, support and engage students throughout their academic life cycles. With more than 50 million student interactions, Signal Vines Blended Messaging personalizes engagement using AI, workflow automation and one-to-one messaging to keep students on the path to success. Signal Vine has been improving enrollment and retention outcomes with a proactive approach across the entire campus and student life cycle. To learn more, visit signalvine.com or view a demo: signalvine.com/text-messaging-platform. Hollywood sex therapist Amie Harwick had requested two restraining orders against the ex-boyfriend accused of murdering her, it has been revealed. The 38-year-old was found unconscious on the ground at around 1.15am on Saturday after officers responded to a report of a 'woman screaming' in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. She had been thrown from her third floor apartment's balcony, according to police and the coroner confirmed Tuesday that she died of blunt force injuries to her head and torso. Authorities said they arrested Gareth Pursehouse, 41, at around 4.30pm on Saturday in Playa Del Rey on suspicion of murder. It is not known how Pursehouse allegedly knew where Amie was now living, but the pair had shared a home together ten years ago. Harwick first got a temporary restraining order against Pursehouse in 2011 and a second a year later. Now friends say it was the former couple's chance meeting last month at an event he was photographing that 'reignited his obsessive preoccupation with her'. Beverly Hills sex therapist Hernando Chaves told The LA Times: 'It was the absolute worst possible luck.' Friend Vera Duffy added: 'She said that when he saw her, he just went ballistic. He lost it. He made a scene.' Scroll down for video Hollywood sex therapist Amie Harwick, left, had requested a second restraining order against the ex-boyfriend accused of murdering her. Gareth Pursehouse, right, has been arrested and charged with murder, according to the Los Angeles Police Department Chaves added: 'She was very scared. She said, "What am I going to do? I let my roommate know, I have home security". ' Harwick first got a temporary restraining order against Pursehouse in 2011. After she did not attend a follow-up hearing the order was reportedly dismissed 'for lack of prosecution'. Then in April 2012 a judge granted her request for protection after she got another temporary restraining order. That order expired two weeks ago. Harwick had previously told friends she feared he would hurt her. Friend Eric Breslow told KTLA: 'This was a constant thing that she talked about, that she was afraid of this particular guy and it was always something that kind of followed her. It scared her enough to tell friends that, gee, I think I should get some mace or pepper spray.' The doctor's roommate told police that after Pursehouse broke in, they ran out of the apartment to get help for her. By the time officers arrived at the property, she had been thrown from the balcony. Amie's ex-fiance Drew Carey paid tribute to Harwick Monday. The Price Is Right host said: 'I would like to thank you in advance for giving myself and everyone who loved Amie privacy while we try to work through this tragic situation.' His statement came after it was announced that the show has cancelled this week's tapings. In a statement Drew Carey, picture with Amie, said: 'Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime. She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist' Amie was found unconscious on the ground at around 1.15am on Saturday after officers responded to a report of a 'woman screaming' in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood According to his LinkedIn profile, Pursehouse has worked as a photographer as well as a software engineer and developer. His most recent job was as lead architect at Internet Brands. Hours after Harwick died and before his arrest, Pursehouse, who is active on Twitter, posted messages on the site. 'You cant get fit without that new gym clothing,' he wrote at 9.07am on Saturday. 'But they wont give you that gear until youre fit. Soo Tough t***ies bucko.' Hours before the alleged murder, Pursehouse tweeted about politics. 'I cant figure out why gerrymandering isnt a federal crime,' he wrote. His Twitter page is full of tweets critical of President Donald Trump. 'Reminder... Once Trump is not president, the FBI can prosecute him for all the Mueller report findings,' he wrote on Wednesday. According to his LinkedIn profile, Pursehouse, pictured, has worked as a photographer as well as a software engineer and developer. His most recent job was as lead architect at Internet Brands. Hours after Harwick died Pursehouse posted messages on Twitter Harwick was found unconscious after falling from a third-floor balcony in her home, pictured Carey and Harwick first made their relationship public in June 2017. They were engaged in January 2018. Wendy Williams, 55, has come under fire for making a tasteless joke about her death, telling viewers: 'She was killed... not by Drew, but by the ex... come on down,' using Carey's catch-phrase from The Price Is Right. Harwick, the author of The New Sex Bible for Women, and Carey split in November 2018 after dating for more than a year. Harwick is a well known sex and family therapist in the Hollywood area. She received her degree in psychology from California Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Harwick also earned her masters of arts in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. In 2015, Harwick appeared in the popular online documentary titled Addicted to Sexting. A year later, she made an appearance on the reality television show Braxton Family Values. The show, which airs on WE tv, follows the lives of the Braxton sisters - Toni, Tamar, Traci, Towanda, and Trina - as well as their mother, Evelyn. Harwick also published articles in various online news and advice sites. According to her web site, she worked out of an office on Santa Monica Boulevard. She offered weekly therapy sessions at $200 per session, according to her site. FGE opens investigation into Mamitas Beach Club arrests in Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen, Q.R. The FGE says they have begun an investigation into the events that occurred on a beach in the municipality of Solidaridad when two tourist police officers forcefully removed two tourists. The FGE says the two officers are being investigated for their probable involvement in abuse of authority and injuries. The press release by the State Attorney Generals Office came after the public prosecutor initiated the corresponding investigation for abuse of authority and injuries to two people who were removed from a public beach at Mamitas in Playa del Carmen Sunday. The pair, who were tourists from Mexico City, were arrested by Tourist Police after they allegedly failed to order food in a concessioned area of Mamitas Beach Club. The arrests were released on social media by other beachgoers who recorded the incident. Varying levels of officials have expressed their dismay at their arrests including the head of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Miguel Torruco and Laura Beristain, the mayor of Playa del Carmen who described the event as shameful, saying that abuse of authority against tourists or locals will not be tolerated. According to preliminary information, elements of the Tourist Police arrested the couple allegedly at the request of the management of the Mamitas Beach Club because they were not consuming products of the establishment. The pair, identified as Azeneth N and Daniel N, both area tourists from Mexico City, were forcefully removed and taken away in handcuffs by Playa del Carmen Tourist Police after they seated themselves on the beach with towels, not paying to use lounge chairs or buying food from the beach club. Mamitas Beach Club has the concession for that area, but the beach continues to be public, which was the reason the video of their arrest generated widespread outrage. In a statement, the Ministry of Public Security said that its Internal Affairs Directorate has opened an investigation against the two agents. In a letter, the entrepreneur of the Mamitas Beach Club concession, Jorge Marzuca, announced his version of the events that happened Sunday. Mamitas Beach Club regrets the events that took place last Sunday, the 16th of February of the present year, since the mission of our company is to make our national and international visitors feel at home, always providing a kind and courteous treatment. It is important for us to clarify to our clients who have visited us for years and the population of Solidaridad with which we have shared the following for 20 years: On February 16, a couple set out to sunbathe in a service area that deliberately exists for operation as it is used by our visitors and service personnel, so they were cordially invited to relocate. They also were shown the area on the beach where they could sit comfortably and enjoy. It should be clarified that our staff approached them several times to ask them to move and the reaction we got from them were high-sounding words and threats. At the request of the couple, the municipal authorities were called. At the time of the arrival of the officers, our staff left the scene leaving the situation in their hands, we do not know the real reasons why the couple were arrested. We appreciate your attention and hope with this to clarify this misunderstanding and to continue contributing positive actions to our society. Since the incident, some social media events have been set up, one of which is geared toward Semarnat cancelling the Mamitas Beach Club beach concession and the other is the organization of a large public picnic on the beach area in front of Mamitas Beach Club. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday said he wanted to speed up criminal cases involving incarcerated women, by possibly renting hotel rooms to accelerate the pace of these hearings. The suggestion was made on the prime ministers official Facebook page on Monday, where he said the around 20,000 outstanding cases involving women should be expedited asking the relevant ministries to find solutions to the problem. The prime minister was speaking at Cambodian National Council for Women. Samdech Techo [Hun Sen] has asked the Ministry of Justice to speed up this work, which is now more than 20,000 cases of women who have not been tried, read the post. So, there must be a quick response to work on the cases, and if there is the lack of courtrooms, Samdech Techo said that the hotel could be rented for hearing the cases. Justice Ministry spokesperson Chin Malin said authorities were working to solve these cases and the ministry could use locations other than the court to have trial hearings. So, to rent different places to open trials is good, which we can consider it because its not harmful to the proceedings and the legal principles. The law allows us to use other locations for opening trial if there is limitation at the Court of First Instance, he said. A Licadho statement issued on Tuesday, dealing with a similar issue, said there were currently 103 children and 43 pregnant women incarcerated in 18 prisons across the country. Last year, the prime minister had directed a legal team to help incarcerated women with legal representation. At the time, Hun Sen said he wanted to improve the situation of women in prison, especially incarcerated pregnant mothers and children living with their mothers. It is unclear how many women have been helped so far. Licadhos monitoring manager, Am Sam Ath, said whether additional rooms were needed to conduct trials or if any other resources were lacking, the government needed to show resolve to conclude these outstanding trials. If we have genuine will in speeding up [the proceedings], I think it could be completed this year; we want all the cases cleared before March 8, he said. The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children, Roger Mosby, president and chief executive officer, said in the statement. While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process with the proposed Trust structure will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSAs important mission. DDA informed the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday that setting up of Water Front Management Authority, for cleaning of river Yamuna, is not possible as it requires legislative provision. It told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel that the Monitoring Committee has rightly pointed that INTACH and DDA are not equipped to do enforcement work and they have no regulatory authority and therefore help from municipal corporations and the police is very essential. "The suggestion of Yamuna Monitoring Committee (YMC) is for setting up of Water Front Management Authority under the aegis of DDA. It is submitted that DDA already is an Authority constituted through a separate Act. Therefore, constituting another Authority under the aegis of DDA may not be possible legally as the constitution of the Authority may again require legislative provision," the DDA said in its report, filed through advocate Kush Sharma. It said there are several stakeholders involved in management of river front namely Delhi Jal Board, municipal corporations, police and Irrigation and Flood Control Department, besides the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). "Several experts are also involved from time to time like INTACH. These organisations have defined powers under various Acts and have their defined Rules. These organizations can access funds from their own budgets. While coordination between all these agencies is of utmost important, but any Society or other body may not be able to exercise the powers of these organisations nor may be able to access funds from the available budgets or these organisations/departments," it said. DDA further said that the function of police is effective control on encroachment and unauthorised construction in the area. "Land in Delhi is with government of India and DDA is the agency authorised to manage land parcels in Delhi. Therefore, the land owned by DDA along the river front cannot be transferred to any other agency," DDA said. The NGT reserved its order on the issue after going through the report. The tribunal had earlier sought response from the DDA on whether to set up a Work Front Management Authority on the cleaning of the Yamuna river after Yamuna Monitoring Committee's (YMC) suggesed on setting up of the Work Front Management Authority under the authority. In its report, the YMC suggested that in view of lapse of time and new challenges, a new mechanism may need to be developed under the aegis of DDA to be assisted in appropriate manner to deal with all the relevant issues relating to the river front. The tribunal had directed the Haryana government to take remedial action regarding untreated discharge of sewage into river Yamuna at Faridabad, and directed the state Chief Secretary to file a report in this regard. The NGT had on July 26, 2018 formed a monitoring committee on the cleaning of Yamuna. The bench had appointed retired expert member B S Sajwan and former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra as members of the committee. The NGT had earlier rapped the Delhi Jal Board over cleaning of the Yamuna and had said there has been no "meaningful progress" on the ground in the last three years. It had said pollution in the Yamuna was of serious concern as it was highly contaminated with industrial effluents and sewage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Libya: Moscow role fundamental says Di Maio EU land mission cd be launched if sides give green light (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - Moscow's role "will be fundamental in producing a constructive and moderate attitude between the two sides (in Libya), also in the next few phases, starting with the meeting in the 5-5 format in Geneva tomorrow," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said at a joint press conference with Russian counterpart Serghei Lavrov Tuesday. They were speaking after an Italy-Russia foreign and defence summit. Di Maio said that an EU ground mission could be launched in Libya with the approval of the sides. This would flank a naval mission to enforce an arms embargo that was approved Monday. Di Maio stressed that respecting the arms embargo was necessary for any effective dialogue to take place. "If we want to work for a lasting ceasefire, and I thank Russia for what it has done, if we want to stop this war, we must stop the entry of arms", Di Maio said. Lavrov, talking about the EU naval mission to enforce the arms embargo, said it should not contradict UN resolutions. "Italy has asked us to understand the situation (in Libya)," he added. (ANSAmed). Paris French train maker Alstom has announced a multibillion-euro offer to buy the rail business of Canadian engineering firm Bombardier, as it tries to bulk up to compete with big rivals, particularly from China. Alstom, which makes the French TGV high-speed trains, said in a statement Monday it has signed an agreement with a view to the acquisition of 100 percent of Bombardier Transportation. The price will be $6.3-6.7 billion, which will be paid via a mix of cash and new Alstom shares. Both Alstom and Bombardier have a major presence in upstate New York. Bombardier employs more than 600 at its railcar manufacturing plant at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, while Alstom has a plant in Hornell, where it is currently manufacturing a fleet of 28 second-generation Acela trainsets for Amtrak. Bombardier was the lead contractor on the first-generation Acelas. The merger wasn't a surprise, said Bruce Becker, former president of the Empire State Passengers Association. The combination, he said, would position Alstom and a German company as the two largest railcar manufacturers with a North American presence. Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said: "I'm very proud to announce the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation, which is a unique opportunity to strengthen our global position on the booming mobility market." The move would give more heft to Alstom after its bid to merge with Germany's Siemens was blocked by European Union regulators worried that it would make it a dominant presence in the region. The decision to nix that deal was criticized by some European governments who want to create large European companies in various sectors that are capable of competing with state-backed companies in China and as well as U.S. multinationals. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. French Finance minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the offer as "excellent news for France, Europe and Canada." He said he will meet Tuesday with the EU's executive vice president, Margrethe Vestager, about the proposed acquisition, which will need to be approved by the bloc's competition authorities. Buying Bombardier Transportation would help Alstom compete with China's CRRC, which has been growing its business outside of its home country. Bombardier Transportation is focused on commuter trains and last year made almost $8.5 billion in sales. Shares in Bombardier have dropped some 70 percent since a peak in 2018, while Alstom's have risen 30 percent in the same period. The sea port in Libya's capital Tripoli was attacked on Tuesday, United Nations Libya envoy Ghassan Salame said, the latest violence in a battle for control of the home to the country's internationally recognized government. A Reuters reporter in Tripoli, which eastern-based forces have been trying to take in a near-year long offensive, could see heavy smoke billowing from the port area. A port source said a warehouse had been hit, but no ship. Tripoli's sea port has remained open for food and other imports since the eastern-based Libya National Army (LNA) faction, led by Commander Khalifa Haftar, started a campaign to take the city in April last year. Salame spoke as officers from the Tripoli forces and LNA met for a second round of talks in Geneva to establish a permanent truce. Both sides again refused to sit in the same room, he told reporters. "So while the situation on the ground remains a situation where the truce is very fragile...nobody has so far reneged on the principle of accepting the truce and the political process is trying to find a way to move forward," he told reporters. He also said he had received conditions from tribesmen allied to eastern forces to lift a blockade of eastern oil export ports, but said they were quite general and would have to be tackled at a U.N.-led dialogue. Tribesmen and other groups allied to the LNA joined with Haftar's forces a month ago to block major ports in eastern Libya and the southern Sharara oilfield, reducing oil output by more than 1 million barrels a day. Salame had spoken to some tribal leaders to hear their conditions to end the blockade. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Search Keywords: Short link: Unite, one of the three executive tickets for the 2020 University of Georgia Student Government Association election, aims to be visible, accountable and sustainable by inviting students from various groups and backgrounds into conversations on campus if elected. A home ministry-appointed committee has recommended that two-third seats in the Assam Assembly should be reserved for the indigenous people of the state and 1951 should be the cut-off year to define the local population, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The committee has also suggested creation of a legislative council (Upper House) for Assam and introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to control the movement of people from outside the state, they said. For the reservation of seats for indigenous people in Assam Assembly, the 13-member panel has recommended two formulas, including a quota of two-third seats (67 %) for them. In case of reservation of seats in the Assam Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies from the state, all members, except three, have suggested that 67% seats should be reserved for the indigenous people. The remaining three members suggested that the reservation in legislative bodies should be 100%. We have mentioned that there is no dissenting note but there are two suggestions for the reservation of assembly and Lok Sabha seats, a person familiar with the matter said. In addition to the 67% reservation for the indigenous people, 16% will also be reserved for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. So, effectively, the reservation will go up to 83% if it is accepted, the person said. Assam has a total of 126 assembly constituencies, while it sends 14 MPs to Lok Sabha. The high-level committee, headed by Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma, was set up by the home ministry to suggest ways to provide constitutional safeguards to Assams indigenous people. The people familiar with the matter said the panel finalised its report last week, conveyed to the home ministry that it was ready to submit it to Union home minister Amit Shah and has sought an appointment with him. The report is expected to be submitted this week itself. The committee, according to the people, unanimously recommended that those who were residents of Assam in 1951 and their descendants, irrespective of community, caste, language, religion or heritage, will be considered as indigenous people of the state. The committee was set up in July 2019 as per the Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord. Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in November. (Getty Images) Flags will not be flown on government buildings to mark Prince Andrews birthday after the Duke of York stepped back from public duties. Plans for the Dukes 60th celebrations have been dwindling over the last few weeks, as his mother the Queen reportedly cancelled his birthday bash in favour of a quiet family dinner at Buckingham Palace. Usually royal birthdays are marked with the Union flag on government buildings, but a Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) spokesman said: Following the decision by the Duke of York to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, there is no longer a requirement for UK Government buildings to fly the Union flag on Wednesday 19 February. Prince Andrew at church with the Queen in January. (Getty Images) Many government departments have the flag flying everyday, so there may be no difference. Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state previously said the flag tribute would be crass and offensive. Liverpools Mayor had already decided he would not be raising the flag on their official buildings. Local authorities have discretion on when they fly the flag. The bells of Westminster Abbey will still ring out for the dukes birthday, as its a royal peculiar, and so falls under the monarch and not the bishop. The abbey also rings the bells for the Queens birthday, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh, their children, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children. The duke also had to defer his promotion to Admiral which would have happened automatically when he reached the landmark age. Andrew would have been promoted to Admiral on his birthday. (Getty Images) A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said he had requested to forego the planned promotion until he can resume royal duties. The Duke stepped down from public duties last year over his relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019. The scandal saw charities move to distance themselves from the royal as a series of allegations emerged concerning Andrew and his friendship with Epstein. Story continues It came to a head after a disastrous interview with Emily Maitlis on Newsnight in which he said he did not regret their friendship. The Duke of York at the Duke of York Champions Trophy. (Press Association) He has been mostly kept out of the public eye since then, and was only in attendance at the 9.30am service in Sandringham on Christmas Day, dodging the main service at 11am, where Prince George and Princess Charlotte made their debut. But he was seen at St Mary the Virgin Church in Hillington, close to the Queens Sandringham estate, with his mother in mid-January. Its thought he has been a particular support to the Queen since the announcement by Prince Harry and Meghan that they want to step back from senior duties. According to reports, he is expected to celebrate his birthday with former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who he still shares a home with, and their daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie as well as friends at Windsor Great Park. Flash Fighting in Libya and violations of its arms embargo have made the North African country "the world's largest uncontrolled ammunition stockpile," a UN official said Monday. Yacoub El Hillo, deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general in Libya, told the press that an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 tons of uncontrolled munitions exist across Libya, citing recent findings of the UN Mine Action Service. Speaking via live video from the Libyan capital of Tripoli, he particularly pointed to the large number of drones flying over Libya, saying the country is "the world's largest theater for the use of drone technology." Asked which countries sent the drones, El Hillo said he believes "everybody has something flying in the Libyan sky." Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The instability resulted in a divided country, with the UN-recognized administration -- the Government of National Accord (GNA) -- overseeing the west and a rival government in the east. Each is backed by an array of militias and armed groups fighting over resources and territory. Since early April last year, the GNA has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict against the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar, which is trying to take over the capital Tripoli and overthrow the GNA. While Turkey has recently made military move to support the GNA, the LNA reportedly have the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and Russia. Despite a UN arms embargo on Libya, foreign actors repeatedly send weapons into the country, which keeps fueling the fighting, as confirmed by the UN Support Mission in Libya. Due to the inflow of arms, El Hillo said, attacks on civilian population and infrastructure have doubled since the start of 2019, adding that by the end of 2019, more than 345,000 people remained displaced. Moreover, he said almost 900,000 people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and of these, 212,000 are women and 268,000 are children. On Sunday, the UN office in Libya launched the humanitarian response plan for the country for the year of 2020, said El Hillo, which seeks 115 million U.S. dollars to reach "the most vulnerable." "Even if the needs are growing, we are actually asking for less money for 2020, because we also want to use the humanitarian response plan strategically as a catalyst to unlock national systems (of Libya)," he said, noting that Libya is an upper-middle income country. He maintained that most of the services that people in need will require are to be provided by the Libyan national systems, and "where there are gaps, they are complemented by efforts of the international community." Flash Japan's Imperial Household Agency on Monday said a public birthday event for Emperor Naruhito that was scheduled for the weekend at the Imperial Palace has been canceled due to concerns over the new coronavirus. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were scheduled to greet the public three times on Sunday morning from a balcony in the palace. The birthday address by the emperor, who will turn 60 years old, would have been the first since he ascended the throne on May 1 last year. "We made the decision to cancel the public event at the palace, which is attended every year by many people in close proximity, after considering the risk of the virus spreading," vice grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, Kenji Ikeda, told a press conference on the matter. The imperial family will still go ahead with private celebrations and a banquet to which senior government officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend, and a tea party, the guests of which will include dignitaries from foreign diplomatic missions in Japan, local media reported. Ha Duy Tung, deputy head of the Department of International Co-operation Tariff cuts mean reduced collections from export-import activities, from there having adverse impacts on the budget. Why did you say the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) would have a positive impact on budgetary contributions? With common FTAs, import tariff cuts range from 87 to 92 per cent, except the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) that allows cutting 98 per cent of tax lines by the end of the implementation roadmap (2018). For new-generation FTAs like the EVFTA, tariff cuts and reductions could surpass 98 per cent of the tax lines by the end of implementation roadmap with a faster tax reduction process. In addition, new-generation FTAs also feature commitments on cutting export tariffs and the implementation of non-traditional commitments related to labour, trade union, public procurement, environmental protection, among others. With the EVFTA, Vietnam commits to removing import tax lines right after the deal comes into force after the approval of the National Assembly (expected this June) with 48.5 per cent of tax lines, equal to 64.5 per cent of the import value from EU. For new-generation FTAs like the EVFTA, tariff cuts and reductions could surpass 98 per cent of the tax lines by the end of implementation roadmap with a faster tax reduction process. After seven years, Vietnam has to remove 91.8 per cent of import tax lines, equal to more than 97 per cent of import value from the EU, and after 10 years, tax reduction level will reach 98.3 per cent, equal to 99.8 per cent of the import value from the EU. The EU is the fifth-largest import market of Vietnam, and tariff cuts will not have big impacts on budgetary revenue because FTAs only commit to import tax cuts, therefore import items still bear value-added tax, many kinds of goods such as tobacco, liquor, automobile, and big displacement motorcycles also incur excise tax, and some others such as petroleum suffer environmental tax. Therefore, tax cut and reduction under the EVFTA would have active impacts on budget revenue as import value from the EU will go up. Additionally, as the main import items from the EU often are often subject to high duties and as Vietnam will lower import tariffs following a roadmap, the implications from lower tax revenue due to import tariff cuts and reductions in the first years of EVFTA implementation would be insignificant. EU is Vietnams second-largest export market. With the EVFTA, Vietnam also needs to slash export duties. Will this affect budget revenue? Vietnams tax cut and reduction commitments under the EVFTA are similar to those of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Specifically, Vietnam commits to removing export duties on goods bound for export to the EU or markets under the CPTPP, following a roadmap extending to 15 years. Furthermore, as most of Vietnams exports are tax-free, tax cuts and reductions would have minor impacts on budgetary collection. Besides, regarding major export items subject to export duty like crude oil and coal (except coke), Vietnam can still maintain export duty under the commitment, so that there will be no impact in this regard. Besides traditional tariff cut commitments, new-generation FTAs also involve non-traditional regulations that are assessed as technical barriers to import. With these barriers removed, economic experts assumed that Vietnam would not benefit much from the EVFTA. How do you see this? All countries but one have imposed requirements on environmental protection, animal or vegetation quarantine, food sanitation, or social responsibility. The more developed the nation, the higher the requirements are. Such requirements are applied to imports from all countries, regardless of them having signed FTAs or not. Therefore, it is inadequate to say that the EU has erected technical barriers to limit imports from Vietnam after the EVFTAs enforcement. Right after the agreement comes into force, the EU will remove tariffs for around 85.6 per cent of import tax lines, equal to 70.3 per cent of import value from Vietnam. After seven years, 99.2 per cent of tax lines will be annulled, equal to 99.7 per cent of Vietnams total import value. To enter this demanding market, Vietnamese exports, however, must meet very strict requirements on workplace safety, environment, and sanitation, among others. If they fall short of the requirements, Vietnamese exports will be subject to tax as usual. Harry Styles was reportedly mugged at knifepoint on Friday night. According to a source, Harry was on a night out in London, when the robber confronted him and demanded cash. He actually played it pretty cool, quickly giving the assailant cash, keeping himself and the guy calm and getting the situation over with." Understandably though it left him very shaken up afterwards. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said Police are investigating reports of a knifepoint robbery in Hampstead." It was reported that a man in his 20s was approached by another man and threatened him with a knife. The victim was not injured however, cash was taken from him. No arrests and enquiries are ongoing. Harry is due to perform at the BRITs where he's up for the Best British Album award for Fine Line, as well as Best British Male Solo Artist. People wear protective masks as they wait to cross the street, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Hong Kong, China February 10, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu HONG KONG, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A Filipina has become the first domestic helper to contract the coronavirus in Hong Kong, and the Chinese-ruled city's 61st case overall, health authorities said on Tuesday. There are more than 180,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, many working as helpers, according to the Philippines labour ministry. Philippines had imposed a travel ban on China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau. The helper, who worked for one of the previous confirmed coronavirus cases, spent an hour out with over 10 friends who the health department is contacting, the head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, Chuang Shuk-kwan, said. (Reporting by Marius Zaharia; editing by John Stonestreet) OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to redouble reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples Tuesday as he sought to ease tensions over nationwide blockades erected in opposition to a British Columbia pipeline project. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to redouble reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples Tuesday as he sought to ease tensions over nationwide blockades erected in opposition to a British Columbia pipeline project. Even as Trudeau called for patience, questions abounded over how he planned to make good on his promise. He faced demands from the Opposition Conservatives to crack down on protesters who have disrupted large parts of the country's transportation network. Several First Nations leaders agreed in their own news conference in Ottawa that the dispute speaks to broader and long-standing concerns from Indigenous communities, but they also appeared uncertain over how the current crisis can be truly resolved. Trudeau delivered his most extensive remarks yet on the blockades and the $6.6-billion natural-gas pipeline protesters oppose in an address to the House of Commons, where MPs were preparing to hold an emergency debate on the standoff. Recognizing the crisis as "a critical moment for our country and for our future," the prime minister acknowledged that people on all sides are frustrated. CP A supporter arrives at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ont. on Monday. (Lars Hagberg / The Canadian Press) "What we are facing was not created overnight," he said. "It was not created because we have embarked upon a path of reconciliation recently in our history. It is because for too long in our history, for too many years, we failed to do so. Therefore, finding a solution will not be simple." Trudeau acknowledged many Indigenous people feel betrayed by the federal government after decades of empty promises, as he recognized that Canadians across the country are suffering because of the blockades. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters CEO Dennis Darby, for instance, said the crisis is "beyond serious" and estimated some $425 million in goods is becoming stranded every day the blockade continues. It was in this context that Trudeau called for trust and patience from all sides to resolve not only the current crisis, but to also work on reconciliation to ensure similar disputes don't erupt. "The opportunity is there on the table right now," he said. "We are in this together: the worker, the senior, the Indigenous leader, the protester and the police officer. Let us have the courage to take this opportunity and take action together and so to build a better path for all Canadians." How Trudeau and his Liberal government might take that opportunity wasn't apparent. CP Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says due to a rocky history with Indigenous people, finding a solution to this issue won't be simple. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press) Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet compared the prime minister's speech to the promises Trudeau made to Indigenous people during the 2015 federal election campaign. Trudeau noted the federal government's offer to have Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett meet with hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, whose opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline crossing their land sparked the current crisis. However, a hereditary chief said Tuesday afternoon they won't meet until the RCMP leave the area where they arrested 28 people this month while enforcing an injunction. Chief Woos, who represents one of 13 Wet'suwet'en house groups, said all hereditary chiefs agree and accuse the RCMP of being "bullies." The RCMP have operated a mobile detachment off a logging road outside Houston, B.C., since January 2019, after they enforced a similar injunction in the area. While the RCMP have said their major operations in the region this month have concluded, they've also said the mobile unit will remain in place and continue "patrols of the corridor to ensure everyone's safety." CP Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Joseph Norton (second from left) is joined by First Nations leaders as they discusses the situation and actions relating to the Wet'suwet'en people during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press) Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer pointed out that Trudeau's address didn't include a plan to end the blockades that have halted train service to parts of the country for more than a week and temporarily closed bridges and highways. Describing Trudeau's speech as "the weakest response to a national crisis in Canadian history," Scheer blasted the protesters as "radical activists" and demanded immediate action to end the blockades, which he said were holding "our economy hostage." The Conservative leader suggested many of the protesters have little connection to First Nations and are opposed to all oil and gas pipelines. "The prime minister's elevation of these protesters to the same level as the thousands of men and women in First Nations communities across our country who have in good faith been trying to right the wrongs of Canadian history does a disservice to the spirit of reconciliation," he said. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who has been critical of Trudeau's response to the blockades, tweeted he's convened a conference call Wednesday of premiers as Chair of the Council of the Federation due to what he called "a lack of federal leadership in addressing this ongoing illegal activity." There was no immediate word on which premiers would be taking part. CP Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon was alone in suggesting the blockades have had their intended impact and should be lifted, at least temporarily. (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press files) Scheer, whom Trudeau later barred from a meeting he called with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Quebecois Leader Blanchet and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, suggested most people in the Wet'suwet'en First Nation support the project. He pointed to TC Energy as having signed an agreement for its Coastal GasLink pipeline with 20 elected band councils, including the Wet'suwet'en band council. During a news conference in Ottawa, leaders from Mohawk First Nations in Ontario and Quebec whose members have erected blockades in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs noted the councils were born out of the Indian Act, which was imposed on their people. The fact the hereditary chiefs' views were not heeded by TC Energy was exactly what prompted the current crisis, they added. "There were people in our community that saw the injustice being done to the Wet'suwet'en nation by their traditional leaders not being heard and by being overruled by a court injunction and police intervention," said Donald Maracle, chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Members of his nation on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario have set up camp next to a critical rail line, prompting CN Rail to close it to freight traffic and Via passenger trains. The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is addressing this morning the tensions over a British Columbia pipeline project and the nationwide protests it's spawned. National Chief Perry Bellegarde is seen during a speech at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld "There should have been room for dialogue with those people, particularly when there was strong disagreement in the leadership. In my opinion, the project should not have proceeded in that climate," Maracle said. Finding a solution could be easier said than done. Maracle said it was unclear to him exactly why the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs oppose the pipeline; Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said it is incumbent on the B.C. First Nation to address its own divisions. "The Wet'suwet'en people themselves have an obligation to sort this out," Bellegarde said. "You see the hereditary chiefs on one side. Then you have the Wet'suwet'en people on the other side and chiefs duly elected through band referendums support the Coastal GasLink." Bellegarde and the Mohawk chiefs nonetheless linked the current crisis to the need for reconciliation, with Bellegarde calling for implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls recommendations. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon, sitting alongside them, was alone in suggesting the blockades erected in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en have had their intended impact and should be lifted, at least temporarily. "Bringing down the blockades doesn't mean that you surrender," said Simon. "It doesn't mean we're just going to lay down and let us kick us around. But it would show compassion along with the strength." The other chiefs sidestepped questions over whether they agreed with Simon but did say work on the pipeline should be suspended. At the blockade, protesters greeted people who approached the tracks but declined to be interviewed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. With files from Ian Bickis in Toronto, Laura Osman at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Amy Smart in Vancouver. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI/Purdue) Purdue president Mitch Daniels announced a new program that will make college more affordable for students who live in rural and inner-city communities. The program is called Purdue Fast Start and is designed to help Indiana high school students earn access to up to a year of college credit through free online courses and the corresponding College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. This program was made possible through Purdue university's partnership with Modern States.org. The website has 30 free online courses that will prepare students to take the college level examination program classes otherwise known as CLEP. When students pass five of these examinations they will automatically be admitted to Purdue University. While these tests would usually cost the students money, thats not the case with this program. Modern States will pay for students to take the tests. This is something Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels says will make college more accessible to students who live in rural and inner-city communities. We are not only trying to provide them with a first-class education but every day, to try and instill in them the confidence that, yeah, you belong," said Daniels. Passing five CLEP exams the equivalent of one semester can save students and their parents a semester, and almost $11,000. Passing 10 CLEPs the equivalent of one full year can save more than $21,000. Every individual CLEP passed is a big savings as well. The Fast Start option also can move them toward early graduation and early entry into the workforce. Modern States.org is giving Purdue a one-million-dollar gift, allowing for up to ten-thousand CLEP exams to be given to Indiana students free of charge. "There is a test fee that college board charges and we've been reimbursing that at modern states and we are going to do a special gift to support Purdue," said Steve Klinsky the CEO of Modern States. Modern State's website has free courses students can take to prepare themselves for the CLEP test. Once students have completed the online course they can apply for a voucher to take the CLEP test for the subject they study. The goal is to encourage more students in rural and inner-City areas to attend college. "We hope that this will lead to a significant increase in young people who otherwise may not even make the attempt, to know that there is a way to Purdue for them, added Daniels. Rural school advocates say this program will not only be beneficial to students but rural communities in general. "We think this is a great opportunity for students... but also for adults who might be looking to get those additional few credits to get the confidence to move on to an associates degree and eventually bachelors," said Chris Lagoni the Executive Director of the Small and Rural Schools Association. Purdue Fast Start will offer support to high school students enrolled in the program, helping guide them through taking courses and tests and navigating admittance to Purdue. The students also will have access to Purdue alumni and friends for mentoring if desired. Once Fast Start students accept admission into Purdue, they will be known as Klinsky Scholars. The program officially launches in the fall of 2020, with the first students being granted admission for the fall 2021 semester. For more information, go to the Fast Start website at https://purdue.university/faststart. Thirteen Buddhist monks on a global peace mission From Thailand to France had to return from Barmer after they were not allowed to undertake further journey to neighbouring Pakistan through Rajasthan's Munabao border. According to a police official, they were stopped from entering the area restricted for foreigners in Barmer, over 100 kilometres away from the Indo-Pakistan border. Now, they will go to the Attari-Wagah border crossing for their further journey into Pakistan, a police official said. The monks have a valid visa for India and Pakistan. Their leader said they were carrying the message of global peace and will be covering nearly 9,000 km from Thailand to France in this mission. "A group of monks is on a peace journey and will go to Pakistan from India. There was no clarity over their route. Since they cannot cross the border from here, they were asked to go to the Wagah border," Barmer Circle Officer Vijay Singh said on Tuesday. He informed that the monks have left for Jodhpur and will now go to the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab's Amritsar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Households across the country will start to receive mail by March 12 from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on how to fill out the questionnaire by phone, mail or internet. Workers hired by the federal agency will start visiting households that havent responded on their own by April, according to the bureau. In Chicago, community organizations have already started knocking on doors, trying to inform residents about the decennial count and to figure out how many people need help filling out the questionnaire. Closure will last until February 24. A traffic restriction is in place between Bajkalska Street and Pristavny Bridge in Bratislava from February 16 until February 24. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Bratislava drivers and those commuting to Bratislava will experience another traffic restriction in the coming days. The exit from Bajkalska Street to Pristavny Bridge in Bratislava was closed on Sunday evening, February 16. The stretch will remain inaccessible until February 24 due to reconstruction works needed for the construction of the D4 motorway and the R7 expressway, as reported by the TASR newswire. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Drivers heading to Brno (CZ) or Vienna (AU) from Slovnaft is located, can instead use Gagarin Street. Those heading to Brno or Vienna from Bajkalska Street can also use Gagarin Street or Prievozska Street, continuing to Apollo Bridge and Einsteinova Street. The United States Sanctions Rosneft Trading S.A. to Secure Venezuela's Natural Resources Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State February 18, 2020 On February 18, the United States took action to halt the former Maduro regime's theft of Venezuela's assets and continued usurpation of democracy by sanctioning Rosneft Trading S.A., a Swiss-incorporated, Russian-owned oil brokerage firm, for operating in Venezuela's oil sector. Additionally, Rosneft Trading board chair and president Didier Casimiro, who also serves as Rosneft's Vice President for Refining, Petrochemical, Commerce and Logistics, was designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Rosneft Trading. As the primary broker of global deals for the sale and transport of Venezuela's crude oil, Rosneft Trading has propped up the dictatorial Maduro, enabling his repression of the Venezuelan people. Maduro has destroyed Venezuela's institutions, economy, and infrastructure, while enriching himself and his cronies, through his abuse of state power and his welcoming of malign support from Russia, as well as from Cuba, Iran, and China. While interim President Juan Guaido works with his coalition of international partners toward a better future for the people of Venezuela, Maduro is increasingly isolated and reliant upon the assistance of a small group of allied regimes that plunder Venezuela's resources while he continues to repress Venezuelans. The people of Venezuela have spoken out courageously against Maduro and his corrupt associates and continue to demand freedom and adherence to the rule of law. The United States is committed to standing with them until democracy and prosperity is restored in Venezuela. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world threatened by trade wars. Sign up here. The Trump administration is considering new restrictions on exports of cutting-edge technology to China in a push aimed at limiting Chinese progress in developing its own passenger jets and clamping down further on tech giant Huaweis access to vital semiconductors, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Senior officials are expected to decide by the end of this month whether to block exports of jet engines made by a General Electric Co. joint venture with Frances Safran to China for use in the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of Chinas C919 single-aisle passenger jet now undergoing flight tests, three of the people familiar with the discussions said. At the same time, the administration is also considering separate measures to broaden export controls related to the Trump administrations restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co. by blocking foreign chipmakers, such as Taiwans TSMC and U.S. suppliers, from selling components made overseas to Huawei, according to some of the people. Both moves come as some within the Trump administration are pushing for more aggressive efforts to limit Chinas technological rise and to contain what they see as a potential national security threats or rivals to U.S. innovative power in the 21st century. That effort so far has been focused largely on Huawei but has led to broader fears of a new technological Cold War splintering the global tech industry. The steps being considered face debate within the administration and would ultimately need the presidents approval. A representative for the White House declined to comment. But the discussions illustrate the sometimes dueling priorities inside the U.S. government on China. Phase One Even as the moves are being contemplated, President Donald Trump is touting a Chinese commitment to buy an additional $200 billion over the next two years in American farm exports, manufactured products and energy as part of a phase one deal that went into effect on Friday. Story continues Some analysts and industry experts say that a short-term effort to clamp down on Chinas access to technology could have long-term consequences for vital U.S. export industries like the aviation and semiconductor sectors. What the administration seems to fail to understand is that U.S. advanced technology companies need global scale to succeed, whether in engines, chips or other advanced technologies, said Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a think-tank. Cutting off exports works against that goal, and will limit U.S. innovation. Both of the new measures, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, are expected to be decided on at a meeting of cabinet-level officials Feb. 28, according to the four people familiar with the discussions. A meeting of lower-level officials is planned for Thursday of this week, they said. GE Engines The discussions over banning the sale of the GE/Safran Leap 1C engine to China is based on fears that it could help Chinese companies reverse engineer the technology used and speed up the development of their own jet engine programs. But the engine has been approved for sale to China multiple times since 2014 and a dozen of the engines have already been shipped to Comac, according to some of the people familiar with the situation. In a statement, GE, which is lobbying heavily against being blocked out of what it sees as a promising new market, said that it had decades of experience selling products internationally. We aggressively protect and defend our intellectual property and work closely with the U.S. government to fulfill our responsibilities and shared security and economic interests, a spokesperson for the company said in an emailed statement. The Commerce Department, which is considering the new GE restrictions, declined to comment on the state of those discussions. The new measures aimed at Huawei are part of a broader administration campaign to both limit its rise and convince allies not to use its equipment in new fifth-generation communications networks, an effort that heated up again at a weekend security conference in Munich. Read more: Huawei Rift Between U.S. and Europe an Issue for NATO Huawei, which has faced long-standing U.S. accusations of being a conduit for Chinese espionage efforts, was placed on a Commerce Department black list last year that effectively bans U.S. suppliers from doing business with it. In a related development, the company was last week charged with racketeering by the Department of Justice in connection with its alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property. Huawei called the charges unfounded and unfair. The administration is now considering closing a loophole that allows U.S. companies to use overseas production facilities to sell materials with less than 25% U.S. content by lowering that limit to 10%. It is also discussing changing something known as the foreign direct product rule to further restrict Huaweis access to products based on U.S. technology manufactured overseas by non-U.S. companies. Among the discussions related to the latter move has been extending a ban on doing business with Huawei to any semiconductor plant using U.S.-made chip-making equipment, according to some of the people familiar with the discussions. But one person close to the debate said the talks related to a ban on sales that in any way touched U.S.-made chip-making equipment were not as advanced as other steps. The Commerce Department, which is leading the discussions, declined to comment on any details. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson said it was continuing a review of individual applications to do business with Huawei and that staff-level discussions related to Huawei where there was any disagreement were being kicked up to the Secretarial level to balance national security considerations against corporate commercial interests. The U.S. continues to have major concerns about Huawei, the spokesperson said. Derek Scissors, an expert on U.S.-China economic ties who has advised the Trump administration in the past, said the discussions about broadening the crackdown on Huaweis access to U.S. semiconductors made sense given the larger concerns about Chinese theft of U.S. technology and the broader economic rivalry. But he said he had doubts that either a ban on the GE engine sales or moves to extend the Huawei battle to chipmaking equipment would ever come into force. Most of the administration does not want to take any action, Scissors said. They float these discussions all the time. To contact the reporter on this story: Shawn Donnan in Washington at sdonnan@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Simon Kennedy at skennedy4@bloomberg.net, Vince Golle, Margaret Collins For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE, TSX: ORL) (Orocobre or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the Agreement) pursuant to which Orocobre will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Advantage Lithium Corp. (Advantage) (TSX Venture: AAL) (OTCQX: AVLIF) that it does not already own. This transaction (the Transaction) will allow Orocobre to continue to develop the Olaroz/Cauchari basin in a cost-effective manner that will optimise extraction of the resource to the benefit of shareholders, local communities, the Provincial and National governments of Argentina, and other stakeholders. Orocobre shareholders will gain exposure to the 4.8 million tonnes (Mt) of Measured and Indicated Resources and 1.5 Mt of Inferred Resources (expressed as lithium carbonate equivalent) at Cauchari developed by the Advantage and Orocobre joint venture as detailed in the Orocobre ASX Release dated 7 March 2019. The Transaction further consolidates Orocobres leading position within the region as a low-cost producer of lithium chemicals. Orocobre will also acquire Advantages exploration properties including those at Antofalla and Incahuasi. Integration of Cauchari with Olaroz enables Orocobre to deliver optimal basin management and maximises the long term productive capacity of the Olaroz/Cauchari basin. The development of Cauchari will be considered within future plans for the Olaroz Lithium Facility. The Transaction does not trigger any need for additional financing for the ongoing development of the Olaroz and Cauchari basins currently being undertaken by Orocobre and its joint venture partners. The Transaction Under the terms of the Agreement Advantage shareholders will receive 0.142 shares of Orocobre per Advantage share. Based on the closing price of Orocobre shares on the ASX of A$3.291 this equates to a value of approximately C$0.422 per Advantage share. Orocobre is currently the largest shareholder of Advantage with 34.7% of Advantages issued shares. The Transaction will be completed through a Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement). The Arrangement is subject to approval by the Supreme Court of British Columbia and requires approval of at least 66.66% of the votes cast by Advantage shareholders. The Arrangement also requires approval of a simple majority of the votes cast by Advantage shareholders, excluding for this purpose the votes attaching to the Advantage shares owned by Orocobre and certain other persons required to be excluded under Canadian securities laws. If approved, the Arrangement will allow Orocobre to acquire 100% of Advantage shares that it does not already own and will see Orocobre issue approximately 15.1 million shares which in turn will increase the total issued shares of Orocobre by 5.8%. Orocobre intends to utilise its 15% placement capacity to complete the Transaction without shareholder approval. Directors, officers, and certain key Advantage shareholders representing an aggregate of approximately 11.55% of the issued and outstanding Advantage shares have signed support agreements to vote their respective shares in favour of the Arrangement. Orocobre Managing Director and CEO Mr. Martin Perez de Solay commented, The Advantage team led by David Sidoo, Callum Grant and Miguel Peral have been hugely successful in progressing the Cauchari project from exploration to pre-development and this transaction is an exciting opportunity for both Orocobre and Advantage shareholders to consolidate on the achievements to date. For Advantage shareholders, they can now be part of something bigger without the challenges junior companies face when moving from exploration to development and onto production. For Orocobre shareholders, we will consolidate our position in the Olaroz/Cauchari basin which will give us significant flexibility as we deliver additional growth to our existing business. Boards of Directors Recommendations The Board of Directors of Orocobre has approved the Transaction. The Board of Directors of Advantage (excluding Orocobre related Directors) has also approved the Transaction and has recommended to its shareholders that they vote their Advantage shares in favour of the Arrangement. Further Details The Arrangement will be implemented through a Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) through which Advantage will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Orocobre. Advantage shareholders will receive Orocobre shares based on 0.142 shares of Orocobre per Advantage share. The Agreement is dated 18 February 2020 and contains representations and warranties for the benefit of each of Orocobre and Advantage. The Agreement also contains a number of conditions to completion of the Arrangement that are customary in comparable transactions of this nature. These conditions must be satisfied or waived by one or both of Orocobre and Advantage at or prior to the closing of the Arrangement, and include: receipt of the requisite approvals from the holders of Advantage shares; receipt of all necessary regulatory, stock exchange and court approvals; shareholders of Advantage not having exercised their dissent rights in connection with the Arrangement in connection with more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Advantage; no material adverse effect having occurred in respect of Advantage; no law in effect making the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibiting Advantage or Orocobre from consummating the Arrangement; and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The Agreement includes a non-solicitation covenant on the part of Advantage (subject to customary fiduciary-out provisions). In the event of a superior proposal, Orocobre has the right to either match such superior proposal or receive a termination fee in the amount of C$1,000,000. Details of the Arrangement, including a summary of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, will be disclosed in a management information circular of Advantage, which will be mailed to holders of Advantage shares, and will also be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . It is expected that a general and special meeting of holders of Advantage shares (the Meeting) to approve the proposed Arrangement will be held in April 2020 and, if approved at the Meeting and all other conditions precedent are satisfied or waived, including approval by the court, it is expected that the Arrangement would close approximately one week thereafter. Advisors PI Financial Corp. is acting as financial advisor to Orocobre, and McCarthy Tetrault LLP is acting as legal advisor to Orocobre in connection with the Transaction. This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares or a solicitation of a proxy. Robert Hubbard Martin Perez de Solay Chairman Managing Director For more information please contact: Andrew Barber Chief Investor Relations Officer Orocobre Limited T: +61 7 3720 9088 M: +61 418 783 701 E: abarber@orocobre.com W: www.orocobre.com Click here to subscribe to the Orocobre e-Newsletter About Orocobre Limited Orocobre Limited (Orocobre) is a dynamic global lithium carbonate producer and an established producer of boron. Orocobre is dual listed on the Australia and Toronto Stock Exchanges (ASX: ORE), (TSX: ORL). Orocobres operations include its Olaroz Lithium Facility in Northern Argentina, Borax Argentina, an established Argentine boron minerals and refined chemicals producer and a 34.7% interest in Advantage Lithium. The Company has commenced an expansion at Olaroz and construction of the Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant in Japan. For further information, please visit www.orocobre.com . Pompeii's House of Lovers reopens after 40 years 'Story of rebirth and redemption' says Franceschini (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - One of Pompeii's most famous houses is to reopen 40 years after it was seriously damaged in an earthquake, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said Tuesday. The House of the Lovers is one of the jewels of the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. It is the only 'domus' whose second floor was almost completely preserved after the eruption. "It is a story of rebirth and redemption, a model for all of Europe in the management of EU funds," said the minister on the completion of a major part of the EU-funded Great Pompeii Project. During this part of the project, three domuses have been restored. Franceschini will be in the ancient city later Tuesday to illustrate how the House of the Lovers was re-stabilised and repaired after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake that rocked Naples and the surrounding area. The house owes its name to a Latin inscription on the right of the entrance: 'Amantes, ut apes, vita(m) mellita(m) exigunt. Velle.' "Lovers like bees pass a sweet life like honey. I wish it was so." It has three male names beside it, and this has been taken to mean that the house was a brothel. The structure dates back to the 1st century B.C according to the style of the exterior, the decorations belong to a period after 62 BC and paintings represent life and landscapes, with mollusks and fish in idyllic landscapes.(ANSAmed). The mother of 6-year-old Nadia King is considering a lawsuit after an elementary schools child crisis provider invoked the states Baker Act, placing the girl at a behavioral health center for 48 hours without her mothers consent. Martina Falk, Nadias mother, says her daughter has ADHD and global developmental delay (a term for children who have taken longer to reach developmental milestones such as walking or talking). Shes awaiting testing for Asperger syndrome. She performs on a 3 or 4-year-old level, Falk tells TIME, saying that this is making it hard for her to communicate what she experienced while committed for 48 hours at the mental health facility. Shell say, mommy, I dont want another shot,' Falk says. Its very scary because Im afraid of what happened to her. The mother of 6-year-old Nadia King plans to sue the Florida school district where a social worker invoked the state's Baker Act, placing the girl at a behavioral health center for 48 hours. | The Cochran Firm According to an incident report by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Department, officers responded to a call from a social worker at Love Grove Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida, on Feb. 4. A social worker there said that Nadia was a threat to herself and others and had been destroying school property, attacking staff, and was out of control. A statement from the school district, Duval County Public Schools, shared with local news outlet Action News Jax, says the school officials followed protocol by calling Child Guidance, a crisis care provider, and that it was a mental health counselor from Child Guidance who made the Baker Act decision, not the school officials. (The district did not respond to TIMEs requests for comment.) The incident report states that Nadias mother was notified that her daughter was being transported. Falk and her attorney tell TIME that Falk was not notified until after the Baker Act had been invoked, and was not given a say as to whether or not her daughter should be committed, she says. Nadia was taken to River Point Behavioral Center, an 82-bed treatment facility that specializes in mental health, substance abuse and dual diagnosis services. River Point accepts patients of all ages under provisions of the Baker Act. Story continues The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows individuals to be involuntarily institutionalized if the individual is believed to be mental ill and poses a threat of serious bodily harm to themself or others, according to the State of Florida Department of Children and Families. Falk waited for several hours at the facility before she had a chance to see her daughter, who she says was sedated. Body camera footage released Thursday by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office shows Nadia being escorted out of Love Grove and placed in the back seat of a police car, on her way to be involuntarily committed. In the footage, Nadia appears calm as a female officer holds her hand and leads her off the campus. Shes been actually very pleasant. Right? Very pleasant, one unidentified officer can be heard saying to another officer. I think theyre pushing the button because when I got here, shes been so cooperative with me. Nadia is now receiving temporary funding to attend a school that specializes in teaching children with autism, Falk said. In the 2017/2018 fiscal year, the last for which records are available, children made up 17.53% of all Baker Act involuntary examinations, according to the Baker Act Reporting Center thats 36,078 children who were involuntarily committed and examined at a mental health facility. Statewide involuntary examinations increased nearly 19% for children over the five years prior to 2017. Now Falk and Reganel Reeves, her attorney, are calling for changes to the act and its implementation. They are asking that Florida school districts implement better protocols to ensure parents are notified before the Baker Act is invoked, and that children under 10 years old only be subject to the act under extreme circumstances. Theres not a lot of litigation out there and thats why these schools have been so emboldened to [invoke the Baker Act] says Reeves. We do really want to get this case in court We dont think Florida should be Baker Acting babies. The Duval County Public Schools districts statement sent to Action News Jax acknowledges that Nadia was calm when officers arrived. Note that the officers in the video were not present during the events which motivated the school to call Child Guidance, our crisis response care provider, the statement by the district said. The police officers were also not present when Child Guidance was intervening with the student. It was the mental health counselor from Child Guidance, not the police officer or school personnel, who made the Baker Act decision. In the footage, Nadia can be heard asking for snacks, asking when shell see her mom and if shes going to jail. No you are not going to jail, one officer tells her. Youre not [a] bad person, youre not going to jail. Grove Ventures, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based early-stage deep tech-focused venture capital firm, closed Grove Ventures II, at $120m. Grove II received commitments from institutional investors, strategic investors, and globally acclaimed industry leaders. Grove Ventures invests in startups developing solutions at the intersection of technology, science and applicable market needs. Its investment thesis is based on the premise that the combination of IoT, AI and cloud computing technology advancements creates a new set of investment opportunities in multiple industries soon to undergo revolutionary digitalization processes, such as manufacturing, mobility and healthcare. Led by Dov Moran, Managing Partner, Sigalit Klimovsky, Partner, Lotan Levkowitz, Partner, and Omri Green, Partner, the firm invests in a range of sectors including semiconductors, Industry 4.0 and digital health, among others, creating value for deep technology-focused entrepreneurs. Its portfolio companies have raised more than $100M in additional funding from leading investors. The firm facilitates hundreds of meetings annually between its portfolio companies and potential partners, contributing to their business growth through recruitment efforts, strategic consultation and partnership creation. Portfolio companies include Fabless IoT semiconductor company Wiliot, API marketplace company RapidAPI, autonomous vehicles SWIR sensing solution company TriEye, 3DSignals, which assists manufacturers in digitalizing their machines to become an Industry 4.0 factory of the future using a range of performance monitoring sensors, as well as a wide range of deep tech startups, six of which are still in stealth mode. FinSMEs 18/02/2020 (Alliance News) - Renewables Infrastructure Group Ltd had "another strong year" in 2019, it said on Tuesday, with portfolio generation capacity rising 50%. Renewables Infrastructure Group, or TRIG, said its portfolio of renewable energy assets delivered 3,036 gigawatt-hours of electricity during 2019, pushed higher by acquisitions. However, this was 4% below budget, due to lower-than-expected wind speeds in Great Britain and Sweden, as well as grid curtailments in Ireland. Guernsey-based TRIG's portfolio was valued at GBP1.75 billion at the end of 2019, with the 38% growth from a year before driven by purchases. Net asset value per share was 115.0 pence at the end of the year, up 5.6% year-on-year. Some acquisitions made during the year included the Little Raith wind farm in Scotland, some French wind farms, and wind farms in Sweden and Germany. Pretax profit rose 32% to GBP162 million, and TRIG paid 6.64p in dividends during 2019, meeting its target. This total payout is 2.2% higher than 2018's return. In 2020, TRIG is targeting a total dividend of 6.76p, which would mean 1.8% annual growth. "2019 marked another strong year for TRIG, increasing our NAV and our dividend target. We have been well supported by our shareholders with two successful fund raises during the year enabling us to make further attractive investments," said TRIG Chair Helen Mahy. "Renewable energy has a central role to play in decarbonising our energy usage and we remain confident that TRIG will continue to play its part in the energy transition." In a separate statement, TRIG announced the appointment of Tove Feld as a non-executive director, starting at the beginning of March. She had previously worked as chief technical officer at DONG Energy Wind Power, now Orsted, and also was head of engineering solutions for Siemens AG's wind business. "I am delighted to welcome Tove to the board. She has had a distinguished career working at some of the leading names in the renewables sector and brings a wealth of knowledge that will be invaluable for TRIG," said Chair Mahy. "Tove's background compliments the existing board's skills well and increases its expertise in Europe. The expanded board is well placed to provide strong oversight as TRIG continues to go from strength to strength." TRIG shares were 0.9% lower on Tuesday in early trade in London at a price of 135.80p each. By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. A girl walks amid smog on the outskirts of the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Jan. 29, 2020. (Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images) China-Led $280 Million Kyrgyzstan Project Abandoned After Protests BISHKEKA Chinese company has pulled out of a $280 million project to build a logistics center in Kyrgyzstan after protests by hundreds of locals in a fresh display of anti-Beijing sentiment in Central Asia. The deal signed during Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to the former Soviet republic last year envisaged construction of warehouses, transport terminals, hotels and other facilities in a free-trade zone near Kyrgyzstans border with China. However, hundreds of locals saw it as a land grab by Kyrgyzstans giant neighbor and held a series of protests demanding that the project be canceled. The joint venture set up by Chinas One Lead One (HK) Trading Limited and a Kyrgyzstan partner issued a statement late on Feb. 17, saying that it was impossible to work on a large, long-term project when a part of local population opposes it. They have assessed the risks and made a decision, a spokesman for Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abilgaziyev said. Last year hundreds of locals clashed with workers of a Chinese mining company in Kyrgyzstans Naryn provincethe same region that had been earmarked for the abandoned logistics projectafter accusing the miner of poisoning local water supply. Similar clashes have happened in other parts of Kyrgyzstan. By Olga Dzyubenko Over at Peter Alexander HQ, the staff celebrate yet another big win for the year, as they add 'ruining a TV marriage' to their impressive first quarter results. Signing a Married At First Sight product placement deal was a genius move from the pyjama giants, who are well aware of the contraceptive powers of Bert and Ernie. The big story on Monday night was Poppy doing the Usain Bolt after moving into her marital apartment with Luke - a Big Bird onesie bulge may have that effect. The REAL killer: The big story on Monday night's MAFS was Poppy doing the Usain Bolt after moving into her marital apartment with Luke Welcome to Intimacy Week Intimacy Weak: John Aiken had a genius idea for how to spice up the newlyweds' first nights in their marital apartments. INTIMACY WEEK. Where each couple needs to come up with a tailor-made task for their partner John Aiken had a genius idea for how to spice up the newlyweds' first nights in their marital apartments. Introducing INTIMACY WEEK. Well, at least it's better than 'Massage Month', which was Mel Schilling's suggestion. Apparently, 'Intimacy Week' is also code for 'product placement' as the couples were sent to Peter Alexander to buy some raunchy sleepwear. Unfortunately, it was Disney and Sesame Street season at the time of filming. Nothing spices up a lovemaking session like having a Muppet with an appetite for baked goods staring up at you while you're doing the deed. Product Placement week: Apparently, 'Intimacy Week' is also code for 'product placement' as the couples were sent to Peter Alexander to buy some raunchy sleepwear That's hot! Nothing spices up a lovemaking session like having a Muppet with a crippling cookie addiction staring up at you while you're doing the deed How Much Do MAFS Stars Make? According to infamous alumni Nasser Sultan, the base rate of pay is around $150-per-day for the cast. 'Out of that, we've got to buy our own food and we've got to pay our own bills, so it's really not much money,' he said Breakout stars such as Jessika Power were able to negotiate daily salaries as high as $300 The show films for just under three months, which would mean the total salary ranges from $13,500 to $27,000 Advertisement 'Studies show that most Australians confuse intimacy for sex. But true intimacy is about building an emotional bond with your partner,' John explained in a letter. 'This week, it's up to each individual to come up with a tailor-made task for their partner, to help build intimacy, both physical... Cathy and Josh Cathy and Josh took this as an opportunity to christen their third bed in a week. 'Pop some Hydralytes and a clean towel outside the door and we'll see you guys in a week!' they said, slamming the door behind them. NEXT It's Sex Week! Cathy and Josh took the opportunity to christen the marital bed. 'Pop some Hydralytes and a clean towel outside the door and we'll see you guys in a week!' they said Michael and Stacey Vul-ner-ahh screw it: Michael gave up on reading the instructions after stumbling over the word 'vulnerability' and decided to skip straight to the tailor-made task Michael gave up on reading the letter after stumbling over the word 'vulnerability' and decided to skip straight to the tailor-made task. It was pitched as a bonding exercise, but the Ice Cube baron considered it to be more of a prank competition. 'For my prank, I'll be forcing Stacey to take her makeup off and expose her rubbish hair extensions in public!' he beamed. Can not compute: Michael seemed to think it was 'Prank Week'. 'For my prank, I'll be forcing Stacey to take her makeup off and expose her rubbish hair extensions in public!' he said 'Ive seen her in her rawest form, and now it's ready for the world to see her too.' Stacey invoked the old 'Survivor contraband' loophole and slathered on a few tubs of tinted moisturiser, so she hardly looked any different. Stacey 2.0! Stacey invoked the old 'Survivor contraband' loophole and slathered on a few tubs of tinted moisturiser, so she hardly looked any different Everything went to crap the next morning. For the second time in a week, we learned that Michael had turned into a 'bit of a d**k' after downing 3 bottles of bubbly the night before. 'That is it, he is done in my eyes,' Stacey claimed. Fool me once: Everything went to crap the next morning. For the second time in a week, we learned that Michael had turned into a 'bit of a d**k' after downing 3 bottles of bubbly Mishel and Steve Sex-o'clock: Steve spoke to producers about how the Peter Alexander tie-in could be his ticket to finally get to third base with Mishel, as he eyed off some lacy underwear Steve spoke to producers about how the Peter Alexander tie-in could be key to finally getting to third base with Mishel. Upon arrival, his beeline towards the lacy underwear section was interrupted by what sounded like a smoke alarm. 'OMG ARGHHH ELMO!' it squealed. Oh never mind, that's just the sound of Mishel finding the Sesame Street section. False (fire) alarm: Steve's beeline towards the lingerie was interrupted by a fire siren that turned out to be Mishel squealing. 'OMG ARGHHH ELMO!' she cried, as Steve's plan came crashing down Amanda and Tash Hurt and Burny: Turns out Bert and Ernie weren't the key to jump-starting Tash's sex drive either, so the pair resort to an emergency counselling session with John Amanda checked in for a counselling session at Steve and Mishel's apartment, and it turns out Bert and Ernie weren't the key to jump-starting Tash's sex drive either. Amanda ignored Steve's suggestion that she 'soften her approach' and decided to invite John to host a crisis meeting with her and Tash instead. 'How are we, guys?' he squawked, after bursting through the doors a good thirty minutes late. Hereeee's Johnny! 'How are we, guys?' he squawked, after bursting through the doors a good thirty minutes late. Obviously rubbish John, that's why you're here Jesus Christ John! Maybe try softening your approach? If everything was peachy, you wouldn't have had to put a hold on alphabetising your postage stamp collection to put a clean shirt on and drive over here, mate. After hearing them out, John concluded: 'I think you guys just have a different fight style.' Alright Rocky Balboa. Why didn't you pick that up in the interview process? Rocky road: After hearing them out, John concluded: 'I think you guys just have a different fight style.' Alright Rocky Balboa. Why didn't you pick that up in the interview process? Poppy and Luke Poppy pops off: Right about the time they were due for their mandatory trip to Peter Alexander, Poppy decided to leave the experiment and go home Poppy was stroppy from the get go after Luke had the nerve to suggest he might consider leaving the experiment if she didn't start being nice to him. Then, right about the time they were due for their mandatory trip to Peter Alexander, Poppy decided to leave the experiment and go home. 'I just miss my kids,' she lied, spouting the same line she's been using all season. Her excuse: 'I just miss my kids,' she lied, spouting the same line she's been using all season. An exit interview later revealed that Poppy just wasn't into Luke A leaked exit interview later revealed Poppy wasn't into Luke and couldn't 'stick around for something that isn't absolute true love.' I reckon she caught a glimpse of Steve in his Grover onesie, threw up a bit in her mouth and decided the prospect of seeing Luke's Big Bird bulge wasn't worth the estimated $150-a-day she earns for being there. The REAL reason: I reckon she caught a glimpse of Steve in his Grover onesie, threw up a bit in her mouth and decided the prospect of seeing Luke's Big Bird bulge wasn't worth the estimated $150-a-day she earns for being there ...And the rest Oh Connie! Connie's idea of intimacy is confiscating Jonethen's phone for a week and forcing him to write her a love letter. Hers was touching. His just said 'SOS' Connie's idea of intimacy is confiscating Jonethen's phone for a week and forcing him to write her a love letter. Hers was touching. His just said 'SOS'. David asked Hayley what her 'favourite intimate act is', and shockingly didn't respond. 'My favourite intimate act is someone giving me decency and respect. Just the basics,' she said. RUN, David, get out while you still can! Hayley and David: Elsewhere, Hayley went into Peter Alexander and said Ill have the shirt that describes me in most social situations Meanwhile, in boring land, Vanessa eyed off a box of condoms. 'Won't be needing these any time soon!' she quipped. Because Chris has the FLU, Vanessa - keep it in your pants. Can someone check in on Ivan and Aleks? We didn't hear from them all episode and one of them is clearly a serial killer. Subscribe to get the Good Morning, CNY newsletter delivered to your email inbox weekday mornings. Weather High: 44; Low: 28. You might need to break out the shovels this week. Photo of the Day TREASURE HUNTERS: Murryea Holman, 10, holds the medallion her stepfather, Justin Zollo, found at James Pass Arboretum in Tipperary Hill Monday morning. Zollo, a self-employed landscaper and native of the citys West End, was the winner of the 33rd annual Treasure Hunt, hosted by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard with Countryside Federal Credit Union. Zollo said his father used to take him treasure hunting in The Post-Standards decades-long contest. He continued the tradition with Murryea, a student at Southside Academy Charter School, which is on mid-winter break this week. Heres how he found the medallion. (Julie McMahon photo) Whats Trending Bulk of funds to fix lead paint problems still unused: Ten months ago after a syracuse.com report that nearly 700 children in Syracuse were newly poisoned by lead paint in 2017 the city was awarded $4.1 million intended to improve houses with lead paint hazards. Since that time, though, just five units have been successfully treated, using just $60,775 of the funds. Why the delay? Critics point to an application process they say is overly invasive and complex (Subscriber exclusive). I dont wish this upon any parent: Johnny Robertson, the 14-year-old who fell through ice into a creek in Cayuga County on Saturday and later died, was remembered by family and friends as a very happy, adventurous little boy who brought a smile to everyones face. He was just the most lovable, kind kid and Im going to miss everything about him, his father said. Layoffs at CNY healthcare provider: Healthcare provider Nascentia Health says it has been forced to lay off dozens of its staff in Syracuse and elsewhere around Upstate New York because of state Medicaid spending cuts that will cost it $400 million in revenue this year. After womans stroke, family faces critical decision: It was the trip of a lifetime a surprise 50th birthday gift for Jim Foran to travel to California and Montana with his wife, Tracy. But when Tracy suffered a stroke more than 2,200 miles from home, it began a long and scary ordeal for the family. This is how the family battled to keep her alive and get her back home. (Subscriber exclusive) SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Want to join group chats about SU sports, the Bills, the local restaurant scene and the best of CNY? You can SIGN UP HERE to get texts from syracuse.com reporters. Looking Ahead Want a Census job? You can apply today: Do you want to apply for a job at the U.S. Census Bureau? Census staff will be at the downtown Syracuse library today to help people apply online. Sports & Scores AP RYAN NEWMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN DAYTONA 500 CRASH: Ryan Newmans car flips in the air on the final lap of Mondays Daytona 500 NASCAR race. Newman was leading the race when he crashed into the wall; his car flipped, rolled, was hit on the drivers side by another car, and finally skidded across the finish line in flames. Newman was rushed to a hospital, and NASCAR later issued a statement saying that Newman was in serious condition, but his injuries were not life-threatening. The race was won by Denny Hamlin. (AP Photo) Not-so-fantastic finishes: They say timing is everything. Well, lately, Syracuse has picked some bad times to have a bad stretch during games. In losing four of its last five, the Orange has seen a conspicuous drop-off in the last four minutes of both the first and second halves. Why is Syracuse struggling to finish halves? (Subscriber exclusive) Changes coming to transfer rules? The ACC announced on Monday that its schools unanimously support a one-time transfer opportunity for all athletes. The decision comes at a time when transfers have become more prominent and prevalent throughout college sports, as well as more unpredictable. Ready for the big leagues? Baldwinsvilles Scott Blewett, a pitcher in his second year on the Kansas City Royals 40-man roster, is angling to make his big league debut in 2020. High school scores, stats and stories In Brief Why did a Syracuse firefighter donate half a years salary to Gov. Cuomos campaign? (Subscriber exclusive) Farmers markets, nonprofits, fines: More questions answered on NY plastic bag ban $2M campaign launched for Gustav Stickley house restoration in Syracuse The Haunt, legendary Ithaca music club, may be on the move Democrats move toward center by picking Francis Conole to battle Rep. John Katko Oswego County motel catches fire when man cooks goat meat in room 2 CNY couples held in coronavirus quarantine in Texas after returning from cruise in Japan Todays Obituaries To view todays obituaries, please click here. Amazon Flash Briefings To listen to the latest news every morning with Alexa, please click here. Subscribe Thanks for signing up for Good Morning, CNY. Quality local journalism has never been more important, please consider supporting our work bysubscribing to Syracuse.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 Businesspeople and analysts expect Indonesias trade deficit to widen this year as the coronavirus epidemic is likely to drag down the countrys exports to China. They said the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in early December would not only affect exports but also imports of raw materials of industrial goods from the worlds second-largest economy. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Major milestone for Valens with first international shipments of white label cannabis products Shipments will consist of three SKUs of tinctures, totaling over 3,000 units and are expected to be shipped in Q2 The start of a focussed international push for Valens to offer cannabis and hemp white label services to legal jurisdictions globally KELOWNA, BC, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Valens GroWorks Corp (TSXV: VLNS) (OTCQX: VLNCF) (the "Company", "Valens" or "The Valens Company"), a global leader in the end-to-end development and manufacturing of innovative, cannabinoid-based products, is pleased to announce its first international shipments of white label products to customers in Australia. Based on the purchase orders received, the initial shipments will consist of three SKUs of tinctures, totaling over 3,000 units, and are expected to be shipped in Q2, pending receipt of necessary import and export permits. "These first international shipments of white label cannabis products, mark a major milestone for Valens," said Tyler Robson, CEO of The Valens Company. "We believe Australia's strong underlying demand for cannabis products, together with the continued adoption of medical cannabis laws and relaxation of CBD laws, will drive sustained growth in the Australian market. Valens intends to continue to expand its footprint in Australia as well as other key international markets as global legal markets opens up." Australia's medical cannabis program: In 2019, there were over 25,000 prescription approvals for medicinal cannabis products in Australia, which is nearly a nine-fold increase over the number of prescription approvals in 2018. The increase in prescription approvals is in part due to the establishment of the Special Access Scheme (SAS) online system which served to streamline the application process pertaining to the prescription of, and subsequent access to, medicinal cannabis products in Australia.(1) In January 2020, the Australian Department of Health made a public submission to a Senate committee which indicated that the Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration is currently undertaking a review of CBD at lower doses. The submission further indicated that based on the outcome of these studies it is possible that relaxation of the scheduling status of low dose cannabidiol (CBD) to over-the-counter status could be considered during 2020. Valens views the submission as a potential catalyst for the further relaxation of legal cannabis in Australia and with these shipments expands its relationships within the Australian market to position itself as a leader. Sources: (1)Australian Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration, (2)Australian Institute of Health and Welfare About The Valens Company The Valens Company is a global leader in the end-to-end development and manufacturing of innovative, cannabinoid-based products. The Company is focused on being the partner of choice for leading Canadian and international cannabis brands by providing best-in-class, proprietary services including CO2, ethanol, hydrocarbon, solvent-less and terpene extraction, analytical testing, formulation and white label product development and manufacturing. Valens is the largest third-party extraction company in Canada with an annual capacity of 425,000 kg of dried cannabis and hemp biomass at our purpose-built facility in Kelowna, British Columbia which is in the process of becoming European Union (EU) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant. The Valens Company currently offers a wide range of product formats, including tinctures, two-piece caps, soft gels, oral sprays and vape pens as well as beverages, concentrates, topicals, edibles, injectables, natural health products and has a strong pipeline of next generation products in development for future release. Finally, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Valens Labs is a Health Canada licensed ISO 17025 accredited cannabis testing lab providing sector-leading analytical services and has partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop a Centre of Excellence in Plant-Based Science. The Company expects to formally change its name in due course. For more information, please visit http://thevalenscompany.com. The Company's investor deck can be found specifically at http://thevalenscompany.com/investors/. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. The TSXV or other regulatory authority has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. We seek Safe Harbour. SOURCE The Valens Company CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CardWorks in a transaction valued at approximately $2.65 billion. Cardworks is a privately held company with $4.7 billion in assets and $2.9 billion in deposits1. Under the terms of the agreement, Merrick Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks, Inc., will merge into Ally Bank. The acquisition of CardWorks will further diversify Ally's product offerings, adding an established credit card platform, full-spectrum servicing and recovery operation and a nationwide merchant acquiring business. These additional capabilities immediately enhance Ally's award-winning direct bank deposit and consumer product platform and complement the company's market-leading auto finance, insurance, and commercial product lines. Upon completion of the transaction, Ally will provide over 11 million customers in all 50 states with compelling secured and unsecured banking products. CardWorks is a privately held company headquartered in Woodbury, NY with facilities in Florida, Utah and Pennsylvania. CardWorks is a top-202 U.S. credit card issuer focused on the non-prime segment with a complementary full-spectrum unsecured servicing operation that includes third-party servicing and recovery capabilities. Additionally, CardWorks provides recreational and marine consumer finance products and is a top-152 merchant acquirer in the United States. "CardWorks represents an industry-leading credit card platform in the U.S., and this acquisition serves as an important milestone in Ally's evolution to be a full-service financial provider for our customers," said Ally Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey J. Brown. "I have tremendous admiration for the three decades of leadership Don Berman has provided as founder and CEO and remain impressed with what the entire team has accomplished in building a resilient, growing business with a commitment to the customer. Beyond the compelling strategic rationale and financial enhancements this transaction brings, CardWorks is an ideal cultural fit for Ally. Both companies share a deep-rooted history of disciplined risk management and an obsession over the customer. I'm thrilled to welcome CardWorks to the Ally team and look forward to adding value for all of our stakeholders." Consideration3 for the transaction will include approximately $1.35 billion of cash and $1.30 billion in Ally common stock, or 39.5 million shares4. The merger consideration remains subject to closing equity and other adjustments and fill-or-kill rights. Don M. Berman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CardWorks, owns 70% of CardWorks and will receive a combination of cash and Ally common stock as his consideration. Shares of Ally common stock granted to Mr. Berman will be subject to a lock-up agreement restricting the sale or transfer of 100% of his shares until the one-year anniversary of the closing date, at which point Mr. Berman can sell or transfer up to one-third of his shares. On each subsequent anniversary, Mr. Berman will be permitted to sell or transfer up to another one-third of his shares. As a result, three years after close of the transaction, Mr. Berman may sell or transfer any remaining shares of Ally common stock. Mr. Berman will join Ally's Board of Directors and become a member of Ally's executive management team following closing. "I'm incredibly excited for this next chapter of CardWorks," said Berman. "Ally has built an industry-leading online banking franchise while simultaneously re-affirming the market leading positions of its auto finance and insurance businesses. At CardWorks, we've successfully built a people-centric, compliance-focused organization enabled by technology with a mission to delight our clients and customers, and Ally represents an ideal partner. In leveraging Ally's commitment to innovation and adaptiveness, the combined company will be well positioned to meet the financial needs of our ever-growing customer base and deliver sustainable growth and performance. Importantly, Ally's inclusive and purpose-driven culture represents an important shared value between the two companies. I'm energized by the opportunity the combination of these two great businesses will provide to our customers and employees." Strategic and Financial Benefits of the Proposed Acquisition: Alignment with Ally's long-term strategic objectives: The acquisition of CardWorks directly aligns with Ally's customer-centric strategy of offering differentiated consumer product offerings supported by a growing and low-cost deposit base. Complements Ally's existing product offerings, adding a core banking product: CardWorks is a proven credit card lender with complementary full-spectrum servicing and merchant services. The credit card market has been growing at a 5% compound annual growth rate since 20135 and presents a sizeable market opportunity for the combined company. Strong cultural fit with customer-first approach driven by experienced management team: CardWorks' cycle-tested leadership team has built the company into a mature customer-centric business through best-in-class underwriting, pricing and risk management capabilities across its 32 years in operation. Enhances Ally's financial profile, introducing additional growth opportunity: Immediate enhancement of Ally's revenues and earnings stream through strong portfolio risk-adjusted returns and diversified fee and interchange revenue. Pro forma for the transaction, CardWorks would have increased Ally's 2019 full-year results across many metrics, including 17% higher adjusted total net revenue6 and 18% higher core pre-tax income6. The acquisition of CardWorks meaningfully benefits Ally's long-term financial trajectory. Relative to Ally's financial trajectory, the transaction is expected to improve Ally's Core ROTCE6 by approximately 100 - 150 basis points ("bps") for 2021 and 2022 and provide up to 100 bps of Adjusted EPS6 accretion over the same time period. Ally's enterprise capital targets expected to remain consistent: Ally's common equity tier 1 ("CET1") capital ratio will remain largely unchanged pro forma for the acquisition, and Ally expects to maintain a 9.0% CET1 target. Additionally, Ally intends to execute up to $1.0 billion of its previously announced $1.25 billion share repurchase program7. "This acquisition directly aligns with our strategic priorities to relentlessly focus on providing our customers with a differentiated banking experience, while affording opportunities to scale our product offerings and accelerate the progress of our earnings growth," said Brown. "The long-term financial and strategic benefits of the transaction materially enhance our ability to expand risk-adjusted returns and drive value for our shareholders over time." Timing and Approvals The acquisition, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020. Each company's board of directors has unanimously approved the acquisition. Advisors Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell served as legal counsel to Ally in this transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel to CardWorks in this transaction. Investor Call Ally and CardWorks will hold a joint conference call to discuss the transaction on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The call will include a discussion of the transaction followed by a question and answer session with management from Ally and CardWorks. Conference Call Information: Dial 844-530-6677 (or +1-508-637-5641 for international access) at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and enter the conference ID code 2455427. The conference call will also be webcast live on Ally's Investor Relations website in the Events & Presentations section (http://www.ally.com/about/investor/events-presentations/index.html). The presentation will be posted in the Events & Presentations section of Ally's Investor Relations website on February 19, 2020, at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET. Archive: A taped replay of this call will be made available from 11:00 a.m. ET on February 19, 2020, until February 26, 2020. Please dial 855-859-2056 (or +1-404-537-3406 for international access) and enter the conference ID code 2455427 to access the taped replay. A replay of the webcast will also be made available on the Ally Investor Relations website. About Ally Financial Inc. Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading digital financial-services company with $180.6 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019. As a customer-centric company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions, we are relentlessly focused on "Doing It Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. We are one of the largest full-service automotive-finance operations in the country and offer a wide range of financial services and insurance products to automotive dealerships and consumers. Our award-winning online bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender) offers mortgage-lending services and a variety of deposit and other banking products, including savings, money-market, and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Additionally, we offer securities-brokerage and investment-advisory services through Ally Invest. Our robust corporate finance business offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies. For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures. About CardWorks Inc. Founded in 1987, CardWorks is a consumer finance lender and servicer, and a people-centric, compliance-focused organization enabled by data and technology. CardWorks is a leading servicer of nationally-branded MasterCard/Visa cards, private label cards, secured cards, and other unique products, as well as secured and unsecured installment loans. Merrick Bank, founded in 1997 as a wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks, is an FDIC insured top-20 U.S. issuer of Visa branded credit cards. Merrick Bank also provides finance options to consumers through marine and recreational vehicle dealers throughout the country. While Merrick Bank specializes in non-prime consumer lending, it is also a top-15 U.S. credit card merchant acquirer, clearing approximately $32 billion in transaction volume per year for 85,000 merchants and 42 independent sales organizations. For more information, visit www.cardworks.com and www.merrickbank.com Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS) is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts GAAP EPS for revenue and expense items that are typically strategic in nature or that management otherwise does not view as reflecting the operating performance of the company. Management believes Adjusted EPS can help the reader better understand the operating performance of the core businesses and their ability to generate earnings. In the numerator of Adjusted EPS, GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders is adjusted for the following items: (1) excludes discontinued operations, net of tax, as Ally is primarily a domestic company and sales of international businesses and other discontinued operations in the past have significantly impacted GAAP EPS, (2) adds back the tax-effected non-cash Core OID, (3) excludes equity fair value adjustments (net of tax) related to ASU 2016-01 which requires change in the fair value of equity securities to be recognized in current period net income as compared to periods prior to 1/1/18 in which such adjustments were recognized through other comprehensive income, a component of equity, (4) excludes significant discrete tax items that do not relate to the operating performance of the core businesses and (5) tax-effected repositioning items primarily related to strategic activities Adjusted Total Net Revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure that adjusts GAAP net financing revenue by excluding Core OID expense and adjusts GAAP other revenue by excluding equity fair value adjustments related to ASU 2016-01 which requires change in the fair value of equity securities to be recognized in current period net income as compared to periods prior to 1/1/18 in which such adjustments were recognized through other comprehensive income, a component of equity. Core net income attributable to common shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure that serves as the numerator in the calculations of Adjusted EPS and Core ROTCE and that, like those measures, is believed by management to help the reader better understand the operating performance of the core businesses and their ability to generate earnings. Core net income attributable to common shareholders adjusts GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders for discontinued operations net of tax, tax-effected Core OID expense, tax-effected repositioning items primarily related to the extinguishment of high-cost legacy debt and strategic activities, preferred stock capital actions, significant discrete tax items and tax-effected changes in equity investments measured at fair value. Core original issue discount (Core OID) amortization expense is a non-GAAP financial measure for OID, primarily related to bond exchange OID which excludes international operations and future issuances. Core outstanding original issue discount balance (Core OID balance) is a non-GAAP financial measure for outstanding OID, primarily related to bond exchange OID which excludes international operations and future issuances. Core return on tangible common equity (Core ROTCE) is a non-GAAP financial measure that management believes is helpful for readers to better understand the ongoing ability of the company to generate returns on its equity base that supports core operations. For purposes of this calculation, tangible common equity is adjusted for Core OID balance and net DTA. Ally's Core net income attributable to common shareholders for purposes of calculating Core ROTCE is based on the actual effective tax rate for the period adjusted for significant discrete tax items including tax reserve releases, which aligns with the methodology used in calculating adjusted earnings per share. a) In the numerator of Core ROTCE, GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders is adjusted for discontinued operations net of tax, tax-effected Core OID, fair value adjustments (net of tax) related to ASU 2016-01 which requires change in the fair value of equity securities to be recognized in current period net income as compared to periods prior to 1/1/18 in which such adjustments were recognized through other comprehensive income, a component of equity, and significant discrete tax items and tax-effected repositioning items primarily related to strategic activities. b) In the denominator, GAAP shareholder's equity is adjusted for goodwill and identifiable intangibles net of DTL, Core OID balance, and net DTA. Tangible Common Equity is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as common stockholders' equity less goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, net of deferred tax liabilities. Ally considers various measures when evaluating capital adequacy, including tangible common equity. Ally believes that tangible common equity is important because we believe readers may assess our capital adequacy using this measure. Additionally, presentation of this measure allows readers to compare certain aspects of our capital adequacy on the same basis to other companies in the industry. For purposes of calculating Core return on tangible common equity (Core ROTCE), tangible common equity is further adjusted for Core OID balance and net deferred tax asset. Forward Looking Statements This press release and related communications contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "pursue," "seek," "continue," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast," "potential," "target," "objective," "trend," "plan," "goal," "initiative," "priorities," or other words of comparable meaning or future-tense or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," or "could." Forward-looking statements convey our expectations, intentions, or forecasts about future events, circumstances, or results. All forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which may change over time and many of which are beyond our control. You should not rely on any forward-looking statement as a prediction or guarantee about the future. Actual future objectives, strategies, plans, prospects, performance, conditions, or results may differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf speaks only as of the date that it was made. Some of the factors that may cause actual results or other future events or circumstances to differ from those in forward-looking statements are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, or other applicable documents that are filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, our SEC filings). Factors specifically related to our planned acquisition of CardWorks and our associated outlook for various financial and operating metrics, in addition to the factors described in our SEC filings, include: (1) the risk that necessary regulatory approvals may not be obtained, may be delayed, or may be obtained subject to burdensome conditions, (2) the occurrence of any other fact, event, or circumstance that could give rise to a delay in closing or the termination of the merger agreement, includingif the average price of our stock declines by a specified amountthe founder's exercise of his right to terminate and our decision not to correspondingly increase the consideration; (3) any adverse reactions or changes to customer, counterparty, regulatory, or employee relationships, including any adverse impact on our brand or reputation; (4) any adverse market reactions affecting our access to the capital markets or our investor relations generally; (5) any deterioration or weakness in economic conditions that affects households or consumers; (6) any change in the regulatory or political environment that adversely impacts the business of lending to households and consumers; (7) risks and uncertainties associated with inaccurate financial and operational assumptions, incomplete or failed due diligence, lower-than-expected performance, higher-than-expected costs, difficulties related to integration, the loss of key employees, and the diversion of management's attention from other business activities; and (8) potential litigation in connection with the merger. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of events, circumstances, or results that arise after the date that the statement was made, except as required by applicable securities laws. You, however, should consult further disclosures (including disclosures of a forward-looking nature) that we may make in any subsequent SEC filings. This press release contains specifically identified non-GAAP financial measures, which supplement the results that are reported according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures may be useful to investors but should not be viewed in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP results. Differences between non-GAAP financial measures and comparable GAAP financial measures are reconciled in the release. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply. The term "loans" means the following consumer and commercial products associated with our direct and indirect financing activities: loans, retail installment sales contracts, lines of credit, and other financing products excluding operating leases. The term "operating leases" means consumer- and commercial-vehicle lease agreements where Ally is the lessor and the lessee is generally not obligated to acquire ownership of the vehicle at lease-end or compensate Ally for the vehicle's residual value. The terms "lend," "finance," and "originate" mean our direct extension or origination of loans, our purchase or acquisition of loans, or our purchase of operating leases as applicable. The term "consumer" means all consumer products associated with our loan and operating-lease activities and all commercial retail installment sales contracts. The term "commercial" means all commercial products associated with our loan activities, other than commercial retail installment sales contracts. 1 CardWorks, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited Financials) as of 12-31-2019 2 The Nilson Report, rankings apply for years 2013-2018 for Credit Card Issuer and Top-15 for 2018 for Merchant Acquirer. 3 Price reflects Ally's forecast of closing equity and other adjustments, excluding any possible fill-or-kill adjustment. This possible adjustment may arise if Ally's stock price declines by more than 15%, a "fill or kill" termination right is exercised, and Ally elects to "fill" by issuing additional stock. Adjustments to $2.6 billion purchase price are described in the definitive documents for the transaction. CardWorks book value of equity was $1.48 billion as of December 31, 2019, according to the CardWorks, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited Financials) for full-year 2019 or period-end 12-31-2019. 4Shares based on Ally's closing share price on February 14, 2020 of $32.85. 5 Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Reflects compound annual growth rate of credit card balances from 2013 - 2019 6 Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for details. 7 Ally Board of Directors authorized up to $1.25 billion in common share repurchases for 3Q 2019 - 2Q 2020. Actions in connection with the repurchase program will be subject to various factors, including Ally's capital and liquidity positions, regulatory and accounting considerations (including Accounting Standards Update 2016 13, Financial Instruments Credit Losses, commonly known as CECL), Ally's financial and operational performance, alternative uses of capital, the trading price of Ally's common stock, and market conditions. The repurchase program does not obligate Ally to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and may be extended, modified, or discontinued at any time. Contacts: Daniel Eller Ally Investor Relations 704-444-5216 [email protected] Rebecca Anderson Ally Communications (Media) 980-312-8681 [email protected] SOURCE Ally Financial The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists--Khalil Ahmad Kayani (34) and Mohammad Nazeem (23), both residents of Tedaban village of Haveli Farwad Kahuta district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The accused were arrested near Nilkanth Nala approximately 700 meters in along the Line of Control (LoC), in Gulmarg sector of Baramulla district. Several arms, ammunition, grenades, IED material including explosives and detonators, Pakistan made medicine and eatable items were recovered from the forest area near the LoC by the Indian Army on August 21, 2019. The investigation has revealed that Kayani and Nazeem were in contact with their handler of LeT and Pakistani Army in PoK. Both were engaged in the task of concealing the arms, ammunitions, explosives etc. across the LoC in the forest area of India for the use by Pakistani terrorists to carry out the terrorist activities in India. Further investigation is going on in the case. PETAH TIKVA, Israel, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Strauss Group (TASE: STRS) today reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that the 3C joint venture in Brazil has signed a transaction for the acquisition of 100% of the quotas of Mitsui Alimentos Ltda. in Brazil from Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in Japan and Mitsui & Co. (Brasil) S.A. According to the agreement, 3C is to pay BRL 210 million reais (approximately US$ 50 million) for Mitsui Alimentos's domestic coffee business in Brazil. The 3C joint venture is equally held by Strauss Coffee and the Sao Miguel FIP, owned by the Lima family. Mitsui Alimentos's roast and ground (R&G) coffee business in Brazil has operated as part the company Mitsui Alimentos since 1974. It holds a 3.8% share of the Brazilian coffee market and is the fifth largest coffee company in the country. Based on the data disclosed to the Company, the 2019 revenue of Mitsui Alimentos totaled 270 million BRL. Following the acquisition, 3C joint venture will further consolidate its position as leader of the coffee market in Brazil. The Brazilian coffee market boasts the highest volumes in the world. Mitsui Alimentos's coffee green beans export business will remain under the umbrella of Mitsui & Co.,Ltd. The main brand Cafe Brasileiro in R&G coffee products has a strong position in the interior of Sao Paulo State and in the Midwest region of Brazil. As a result, the acquisition will strengthen 3C joint venture's business in these regions. The transaction follows a series of other transactions executed by 3C joint venture in recent years as the leading consolidator in the coffee market in Brazil, which include the acquisition of the brands Fino Grao in 2012, Itamaraty in 2014, Cia Iguacu in 2016 and Manaus in 2019. The transaction is subject to approval by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) (the Brazilian antitrust authority). Strauss Group CEO, Mr. Giora Bardea: "The coffee company is one of Strauss's four major pillars and will continue to be one of the Group's key growth drivers in the future. Our excellent partnership with the Lima family is today solidifying 3C joint ventures leadership in the coffee business in Brazil and is a strategic anchor for the coffee company." Strauss Coffee CEO, Zion Balas: "The acquisition of Mitsui Alimento's R&G coffee business in Brazil follows acquisitions made in the country in the past few years and establishes our position as the leading coffee company in Brazil. Strauss Group and its local partners, the Lima family, will continue to develop and grow the 3C joint venture organically as well as through further acquisitions that are relevant and complementary to our core business." About Grupo 3coracoes Grupo 3coracoes is a national leader in the roasted and ground coffee and cappuccino segments, leader in the North and Northeast regions with Cafe Santa Clara and national vice-leader in soluble coffee. Founded in 1959, in the interior of Rio Grande do Norte, and celebrating 60 years in 2019, the company industrializes and markets more than 25 product brands, including: Cafe 3 Coracoes, Santa Clara, Pimpinela, Kimimo, Leticia, Fino Grao, Itamaraty, Iguacu, Amigo and Cruzeiro. It also produces filter, filter holder, instant coffee, Frisco and Tornado powdered soft drink, Chocolatto chocolate, spices, Claramil, Dona Clara and Kimimo corn derivatives, and Pronto cappuccino. In 2013, the Group launched TRES, an espresso and multi-drink solution with more than 20 flavors of hot drinks. With 27 Distribution Sales Centers (CDs), seven Manufacturing Plants, 10 Industrial Units, two Green Coffee Purchase and Processing Units (Warehouses), a Corporate Unit - Integrator (CE, SP and MG) - and the School of Services and Flavors, the company is present in more than 400 thousand points of sale in the country, with its own logistical and commercial structure. 3coracoes also exports coffee from some of its brands to the main markets in Latin America and the United States. About Mitsui Alimentos's roasted and ground coffee operation Cafe Brasileiro was launched in 1959, in Dracena (State of Sao Paulo), by a family of Japanese immigrants, owner of the company Yoshioka & Cia. In 1974 Yoshioka became an affiliate of a Japanese company Mitsui & Co.,Ltd., creating Mitsui Alimentos, which since then has been working to solidify the Cafe Brasileiro brand, characterized by its refined flavor and high quality standard. For further information please contact : Daniella Finn Director of Investor Relations Strauss Group Ltd. +972-54-577-2195 +972-3-675-2545 [email protected] Or Shlomi Sheffer Director of foreign affairs Strauss Group Ltd. +972-50-620-8000 +972-3-675-6713 [email protected] SOURCE Strauss Group Ltd. RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian oil workers and oil giant Petrobras are locked in a power struggle over plans to shift focus away from non-core assets, with a federation of unions saying on Tuesday that thousands of employees are on strike indefinitely. Roughly one thousand people gathered outside the headquarters of state-controlled Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro, waving flags and protesting against recent layoffs at a fertilizer factory in the state of Parana. This will have an impact economically, in taxes, all sectors, Oseias da Costa a 35-year-old worker from the facility, known as Fafen, said in an interview. This is a strike demanding the rights of Fafen workers and all the nations oil workers, because of all the problems in Petrobras administrative area. Leftist political groups, including the Workers Party, have also expressed their support for the strike, and their opposition to plans for privatization of company assets. President Jair Bolsonaro appointed Roberto Castello Branco, a pro-market reformer, as Petrobras chief executive, who with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has advocated in favour of selling the firms non-core assets. Petrobras says the fertilizer facility has been losing money and that shuttering it is a business decision, while oil workers have seized on the plan as a harbinger of coming hardship from the company prioritizing more profitable activities related to oil production. The Unified Federation of Oil Workers said 21,000 employees in 13 states have joined the strike since it kicked off on Feb. 1 about 60 per cent of the companys workforce. The Fafen facility employs about 1,000 people. Petrobras, contacted by The Associated Press, did not confirm those numbers. The company has been able to maintain oil and gas production levels and meet fuel demand across the country by bringing in temporary workers on emergency contracts that often involve longer shifts. The federation says 36 of Petrobras 39 offshore platforms in the Rio de Janeiro region, as well as several refineries across the country, are now run by such contingency teams. The movement suffered a blow Monday night, when Justice Ives Gandra of Brazils Superior Labor Court ruled that the strike was illegal and ordered fines equivalent to $115,000 a day if it continues. The federation, which is comprised of 13 unions, said it will appeal the decision. A similar ruling last year by Justice Gandra was overruled by other members of the court, the federationsaid in a statement Tuesday, calling for the extension of the 18-day strike. Earlier this month, Gandra argued that the strike had turned abusive because unions did not comply with an order to guarantee that at least 90 per cent of the workforce would resume their activities. As a result, Gandra authorized Petrobras to contract emergency workers and avoid drops in production. Analysts said the question remains how long that can last. I dont see any fuel shortages. Today we are able to bring in imported products, said Adriano Pires, director of a consulting firm, the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure. If the strike goes on much longer, we could have a problem. So far, Petrobras has discussed plans to sell eight refineries that make up about half of the countrys refining capacity, as well as all logistical assets linked to those units. Petrobras new administration has a divestment plan in areas that are not viable. The strike is an attempt to stop this process, Pires said. ___ AP videojournalist Mario Lobao contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro Two days after being sworn in as Delhis Chief Minister for the third time, Arvind Kejriwal assured Delhis citizens that there would soon be no dearth of buses in the national capital. It did take time. But finally we were able to overcome all obstacles. So, buses have started arriving. I can assure all Delhiites, soon there wont be any dearth of buses, he tweeted Tuesday. At present, there are around 6,000 buses plying in the city, including 806 buses that were added under the cluster scheme. In the guarantee card released in the run-up to the recent assembly elections, he had promised to increase the strength of the bus fleet to 11,000 and to boost the length of the Delhi Metro network to over 500 kilometres. Kejriwal had also guaranteed that free bus travel for women which began last October will continue for the next five years. The scheme will have to be tabled in the Cabinet and then will have to be approved in the Board of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Officials said this procedure should not take more than three months. Students will also get to travel free in buses for the next five years under the guarantee card. The free bus rides for women was criticized by the opposition with the BJP saying it was yet another freebie given by AAP government apart from the free water and electricity schemes. But many women who availed of the bus scheme said that it has changed their lives for the better. The BJPs manifesto had promised to run more special buses for women, while the Congress had planned to train women to be eligible to become bus and auto drivers, apart from penalising private firms who do not provide night cabs to women employees. A Delhi court on Tuesday sent Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested on sedition charges for allegedly making hate speeches, to judicial remand for 14-day in Jamia violence case. Yesterday, the court had sent Imam to one-day police remand. He was arrested in Jamia violence case by Delhi Police Crime Branch, on charges of making an instigating speech. The crime branch is probing whether the speech given in December last year led to violent clashes or not. Sharjeel is accused of mobilising students and others, a charge that he has denied. Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 for allegedly making inflammatory speeches against the amended Citizenship Act and a possible Register of Citizens at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He was brought to Delhi the next day. According to the police, Imam, a resident of Bihar, delivered "very inflammatory and instigating speeches in his opposition to CAA and NRC". "He had previously delivered one such speech in Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13 last year and thereafter one even more inflammatory against the government which is being widely circulated on social media," they had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. First introduced in 2018 to wide acclaim, Heaven's Door is a line of handcrafted whiskeys which are the perfect melding of art and craft, as each bottle features Bob Dylan's unique ironwork sculptures. Visit heavensdoor.com/locate to find stores, restaurants and bars carrying Heaven's Door Whiskey. The Heaven's Door portfolio of craft whiskeys includes Tennessee Straight Bourbon (90 proof, $49.99 SRP), Double Barrel Whiskey (100 proof, $49.99 SRP), and Straight Rye Whiskey finished in cigar barrels from Vosges, France (92 proof, $79.99 SRP). The brand will open their Heaven's Door Distillery and Center for the Arts in downtown Nashville , slated for 2021. Heaven's Door's portfolio of whiskeys is also available online via Reservebar.com/collections/heavens-door . For more information about the brand visit heavensdoor.com or engage with the brand on Instagram , Facebook or Twitter . About Heaven's Door Spirits, LLC: Heaven's Door Spirits is a collaboration between legendary artist Bob Dylan and Spirits Investment Partnership ("SIP"). Heaven's Door Spirits is Bob Dylan's first and only consumer brand partnership in his 50 years as a worldwide cultural icon, which makes this collaboration unique and important a true interplay of art, craft and commerce. About Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan is generally regarded as one of the world's most influential and groundbreaking artists. In the decades since he first burst into the public's consciousness via New York City's Greenwich Village folk music scene in the early 1960s, Bob Dylan has sold more than 125 million records and amassed a singular body of work that includes some of the greatest and most popular songs the world has ever known. He continues to traverse the globe each year, performing more than 100 concerts annually in front of audiences who embrace his new material with the same passion as his classic output. In recent years, his work as an author and visual artist has further burnished his popularity and acclaim; a worldwide best-selling memoir, Chronicles Vol. 1, spent 19 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, in 2004, and several major exhibitions of his paintings and iron gates have been shown in recent years at some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries. Bob Dylan's contributions to our culture have been recognized with numerous honors and accolades. In December 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature by the Swedish Academy "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." In 2012, he was awarded America's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama. In addition to winning 11 Grammy Awards, Dylan has achieved six entries in the Grammy Hall of Fame, which honors recordings of "qualitative or historical significance" at least 25 years old. Bob Dylan recently released his 38th studio album, a triple-album set aptly titled, Triplicate. About Spirits Investment Partners: Spirits Investment Partners ("SIP") is a boutique spirits innovation company comprised of a team of highly seasoned spirits professionals with expertise in distilling, blending, brand marketing and finance. 2020 Heaven's Door Spirits. Please Drink Heaven's Door Responsibly. SOURCE Heaven's Door Spirits, LLC Related Links https://www.heavensdoor.com The FATF said several terrorist groups continue to benefit from funds raised through illegal activities and from supporters worldwide despite the international terror financing watchdog tightening the standards on the flow of money. New Delhi: The FATF on Monday said several terrorist groups continue to benefit from funds raised through illegal activities and from supporters worldwide despite the international terror financing watchdog tightening the standards on the flow of money. India has maintained that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. The week-long Financial Action Task Force plenary, currently on in Paris, will decide Pakistan's fate, whether it will continue in the FATF's 'Grey List', or will be put in the 'Black List' or escape from listing. Without naming Pakistan, the FATF said in a statement that terrorists use various methods to gain financing, including using social media to identify new followers and to solicit financial or other forms of material support. Individuals sympathetic to humanitarian causes or vulnerable to violent messaging are often targeted, it said. "The FATF has tightened its standards on terrorist financing which have helped disrupt access to funds for groups such as ISIL and Al-Qaida. However, various groups still benefit from funds raised through illegal activity and from supporters worldwide," the Paris headquartered FATF said. The FATF said it is monitoring terrorist financing risks and works to help authorities trace funding to strengthen prosecutions. "The FATF is also monitoring illicit financing via new payment methods, such as cryptocurrencies," it said. The plenary is examining the money laundering and terrorist financing risks that countries face to set and promote global standards to tackle these risks. Last week, an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and founder of LeT, to 11 years in two terror financing cases. The move came just four days ahead of the FATF Paris plenary. Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty, was arrested on 17 July 2019, in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Pakistan has also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family are "missing". Pakistan has claimed that there were only 16 UN-designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'. To avoid 'Black List', it needs the support of three countries. In the last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan has got the support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair China. The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India. The FATF had said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2020. In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with FATF directions. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'Black List' along with Iran and North Korea. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. If Pakistan continues with the 'Grey List', it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. Voice of the Faithful will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27 at St. Brigid's parish library, 207 Ashman St. in downtown Midland. Agenda includes completion of the video and discussion from the VOTF Annual Meeting of actions being taken by advocates working to create a just church in their local communities. They will also discuss the Pope's letter on the Amazon, Querida Amazonia. All are welcome. SPRINGFIELD The owner of Illinois nuclear power plants said it could face criminal charges and other penalties in connection with a federal investigation involving the companys lobbying practices in Springfield, but Exelon officials said they dont know how any of those things could play out or what they could mean for the companys bottom line. Utilities like Exelon are required to disclose certain issues in an annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In its 2019 report released earlier this month, the company disclosed that the federal investigation into ComEd, its utility service company, could face challenges. HALIFAX - The parents of seven children who died in a Halifax house fire a year ago are offering thanks to the public for the love and support they've received since the tragedy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Firefighters investigate following a house fire in the Spryfield community in Halifax on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. The parents of seven children who died in a Halifax house fire a year ago are offering thanks to the public for the love and support they've received since the tragedy. Syrian refugees Ebraheim Barho and his wife Kawthar survived the fire that destroyed their new rental home in the Halifax suburb of Spryfield on Feb. 19, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX - The parents of seven children who died in a Halifax house fire a year ago are offering thanks to the public for the love and support they've received since the tragedy. Syrian refugees Ebraheim and Kawthar Barho survived the fire that destroyed their rental home in the Halifax suburb of Spryfield on Feb. 19, 2019. The couple's seven children Ahmad, 14; Rola, 12; Mohamad, nine; Ola, eight; Hala, three; Rana, two and Abdullah, three months perished inside the home. "We would like to offer our deepest gratitude to the thousands of Nova Scotians who have shown us their love and support over this past year," the couple said in a statement released Tuesday through the office of Halifax MP Andy Fillmore. "The loss is immense, and we miss our children every day." The Barhos said they had managed to find comfort in the kindness of strangers, the courage of first responders and in the dedication of health-care professionals, as well as "the sense of belonging offered to us by this community." "We will keep each and every one of you in our hearts forever," the letter states. Ebraheim Barho remains in hospital after sustaining severe burns over much of his body. In a recent interview with CTV, Dr. Jack Rasmussen, the lead physician in the burn unit at the Halifax Infirmary, said Barho had undergone nearly 15 surgeries over the past year along with hours of physiotherapy and speech therapy. Meanwhile, investigators in Halifax have yet to identify a cause for the fire. In an update given last September, investigators said they were only able to determine that the blaze began at the back of the house in the main-floor living room near a couch. Nothing was found to lead them to believe the fire was suspicious, and they ruled out smoking materials, kitchen activities and electrical faults as possible causes. The fire hit the greater Halifax community hard and touched people across the country. More than 2,000 people attended the funeral service for the Barho children in Halifax. The family, originally from the war-torn Syrian city of Raqqa, arrived in Canada as refugees in September 2017. They first settled in rural Elmsdale, N.S., about 35 minutes north of Halifax, but eventually moved to Spryfield to take advantage of immigrant services, including English-language training. The Hants East Assisting Refugees Team also released a statement on Tuesday noting the tragic loss of the seven children but adding that "in difficult times our memories bring comfort." "We would like to express our most heartfelt thanks to the many people and organizations who have offered their love and guidance over the last year as we supported Kawthar and Ebraheim," the group said. "To the thousands of Canadians who were there for us during this devastating time, we are deeply grateful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprios collaboration in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is about as good as it gets. Despite having two of the most successful careers in Hollywood, the movie was actually the first time Pitt and DiCaprio worked on the same film. While their chemistry on-screen was enough to give Pitt an Oscar, their friendship outside of Hollywood is just as golden. Heres a look at how Pitt and DiCaprios relationship is the bromance we never knew we needed. Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio join forces for the 2020 Oscars Once Upon a Time in Hollywood won nominations at several award ceremonies this year, including the Golden Globes, the Oscars, and the SAG Awards. This meant that, for the first time in their illustrious careers, Pitt and DiCaprio hit the awards circuit together. Both actors, of course, had worked on another project when they were both much younger. The two started their careers with minor roles on the show, Growing Pains, though they never shared a scene together. We did start on the same television show, Pitt shared last summer. Brad calls Leo LDC. Leo calls Brad Lover. Could you ask for anything more? https://t.co/3hFxvil3Gm Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) February 10, 2020 During the 92nd Academy Awards show in February, Pitt and DiCaprio were in contention for Oscars for their respective parts in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. DiCaprio failed to go home with an award for Best Actor, losing out to Joaquin Phoenix (Joker), but Pitt did win Best Supporting Actor. In his acceptance speech, Brad Pitt mentioned DiCaprio, saying, Leo, Ill ride on your coattails any day, man. The views fantastic. Although DiCaprio walked away empty-handed, it is clear that he developed a close bond with Pitt on the set of the film. DiCaprio gushes over Pitt Last May, Pitt and DiCaprio showed up together for the premiere of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the Cannes Film Festival in France. During a press conference, DiCaprio couldnt help but compliment Pitts work on the project. According to Time, the actor revealed that it was very easy working with a veteran actor like Pitt, who provided plenty of relief on the set. I have to say it was incredibly easy incredibly easy working with Brad, he shared. And I think we together forged, hopefully, a great cinematic bond in a film about our industry together. Leonardo DiCaprio improvised his trailer freak out scene in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Quentin Tarantino 'That was all improvised and wasn't written in the script' Brad Pitt 'And I will go on record, it is one of the best meltdowns laid on film'pic.twitter.com/3jCQDgzLCx Film Facts (@factsonfiIm) February 8, 2020 Brad Pitt returned the compliment when he won an award for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes. Taking the stage to accept his award, Pitt credited DiCaprio for the win and thanked him for being such a good co-star. He also added that he would have definitely shared the raft with DiCaprio, which was a joke about his characters death at the end of Titanic. Inside Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprios close bond During Pitts acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, he revealed that he and DiCaprio have some adorable nicknames. The Ad Astra star simply calls DiCaprio, LDC, while DiCaprio refers to Pitt as Lover. Lover. He calls me lover, Brad Pitt stated. Its a bit confusing, but I roll with it. We have no idea where DiCaprio came up with that nickname, but it is pretty amazing. Young Leonardo Dicaprio & Brad Pitt & Jonny Depp. That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/VLsy3qkQYN Love Quinn (@sillyshaa) February 14, 2020 Pitt, of course, has also teased DiCaprio about the final scene in Titanic. Back in July, Pitt and DiCaprio did a promotional interview with their co-star, Margot Robbie, where they were asked if there was enough room on the raft for DiCaprios character. DiCaprio refused to comment, though Pitt and Robbie could not resist taking a few playful jabs at their co-star. Could you, could you have squeezed in there? You couldve, couldnt you? Brad Pitt hilariously inquired. Why are Pitt and DiCaprio so close? Based on all the interviews theyve done and Pitts acceptance speeches, it is clear that Pitt and DiCaprio developed a close bond on the set of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. While there are probably many reasons why they work so well together, Pitt believes that similar experiences brought them together quickly. We have kind of the same reference points, we came on at the same time, have similar experiences to laugh about and I hope we get to do it again, it was great fun, he explained. As previously mentioned, Pitt and DiCaprio had early roles on the same sitcom, Growing Pains. Pitt had brief appearances in 1987 and 1989, while DiCaprio was a cast member in 1991. "Ill ride on your coattails any day, man. The view is fantastic." Brad Pitt thanks Leonardo DiCaprio during his #Oscars speech https://t.co/xIgMGObsBv pic.twitter.com/QCUscq4kG7 The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 10, 2020 The two, of course, have also experienced what its like being a hot commodity in Hollywood, though things have admittedly died down for DiCaprio, who tends to stay out of the spotlight. Prior to his win at the 2020 Academy Awards, Brad Pitt previously won an Oscar for 12 Years a Slave. DiCaprio, meanwhile, won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the 2016 film, The Revenant. Although Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was their first collaboration, hopefully, it wont be their last. The parliamentary elections are three days away and, while the senior clerics (the twelve man Guardians Council) veto candidates deemed hostile to religious rule, that does not make much difference. The protest leaders asked Iranians to not vote but some will anyway. A recent opinion poll indicated less than 20 percent of eligible voters will actually bother to vote. When asked why, the non-voters pointed out that for decades now their elected officials had been unable to improve the standard of living, keep campaign promises and seemed obsessed with the unpopular, and so far expensive and futile, effort to destroy Israel and the United States. Since voting seemed to have no impact on their rulers, more and more Iranians have chosen to express their political preference by not voting at all. After all, it doesnt make any difference if you vote or not and by not voting you at least get the attention of the unelected senior clerics who really control the government. While the parliament is largely symbolic, the clerics expect all members to be loyal to the clerical dictatorship. Despite the screening a growing number of members of parliament are turning against the government, or suspected of doing so, once elected. For the upcoming elections, the Guardians Council vetoed 56 percent of candidates and this included 31 percent of existing members seeking reelection. In the past, the Guardians Council allowed some reform-minded candidates to run for parliament, but never enough to threaten the pro-Guardians Council majority. The rejection rate this year is the highest ever. These tolerated critics were supposed to keep the opposition distracted and divided. That isnt working anymore so such critics are no longer wanted or welcome. A higher rejection rate means only the candidates allowed to run are those who show no sign of supporting reform or eliminating the religious dictatorship. What worries the senior clerics is that in the past many seemingly conservative candidates, with a long history of loyalty to the Guardians Council, changed their minds once they had to listen to the anger and complaints of constituents. Since 2018 this has been happening even in areas that were long-time solid supporters of the clerics. No more and that scares the senior clerics a lot. Also scary was the recent death of their chief enforcer, Quds commander Qassem Soleimani. That he was killed by the Americans using their seemingly omnipresent armed UAVs made the senior clerics even more paranoids about assassination. For decades they have feared death at the hands of Israeli agents. That is still a threat but now the Americans are playing by Israeli rules. Members of the Guardians Council are even more careful about how they travel and the new Quds force commander (Ismail Qaani) seems to have gone into hiding because he isnt showing up much at all. Qaani was publically ordered to continue operations Soleimani had created and do it as effectively as Soleimani. While Qaani had long worked closely with Soleimani, he is no Soleimani and it wont be long before how effective, or not, Qaani is becomes apparent. Like most Iranians, the clerical rulers are frustrated. While major public protests have again subsided, mainly because IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) troops were ordered to use deadly force against the protestors and killed over a thousand and wounded many more. But instead of causing disillusionment and despair among the protestors, this IRGC violence just drove protestors underground. The protestors were encouraged by the death of Soleimani on January 3rd when his convoy was hit by several American Hellfire missiles. The government declared a period of national mourning but most Iranians seemed elated. To make matters worse the Iranian retaliation, a 15 ballistic missile barrage against U.S. bases in Iraq didnt kill anyone and did not, as Iran expected, cause the U.S. to withdraw all their troops from Iraq. Pro (out of conviction, fear or bribes) Iran politicians in Iraq were unable to muster enough support to force the Americans out. The anti-Iran protestors were more numerous and convincing than the anti-American ones were. Hassan Rouhani, the current (since 2013) Iranian president was allowed, by the Guardians Council, to run for president and won by presenting himself as a reformer. He briefly kept his campaign promise to improve the economy by scamming the West into signing the 2015 treaty that lifted sanctions while Iran essentially changed nothing. But in 2016 a new American president was elected, in part because so many American voters saw the 2015 treaty as a scam and Rouhani as just another lethal tool of the ruling clerics. Since Rouhani became president over 4,000 Iranian civilians have been murdered by the IRGC for the crime of protesting the religious dictatorship that has made their lives so miserable. Rouhani was not as bloody-minded as some other members of the clerical elite but this record of failure and growing popular protest and the threat of civil war has caused problems within the senior leadership. There have always been feuding factions in the Guardians Council and among the hundred or so senior clerics who are eligible to seek a seat on the council. A major problem has always been the radical faction, which is a major supporter of the IRGC and a believer in the it is better to be feared than loved approach, which is especially useful if most Iranians hate you. If the IRGC dominated the council, Iran would escalate the use of Islamic terrorism against their enemies and essentially drop any pretense of peacefully pursuing the basic Guardian Council goal of world domination by Shia Islam. For thousands of years, Iran has been preeminent in the region by favoring shrewd diplomacy, espionage and intimidation rather than outright warfare. Thats why the IRGC fans are the minority among the senior clerics. But the IRGC has the guns and willingness to use them against anyone, including Iranians, who oppose the will of the Guardian Council. A growing number of senior clerics see the IRGC as part of the problem, not the solution to anything. This attitude has been around since the 1980s when senior clerics with long memories counseled restraint in what the IRGC was allowed to do. That advice was not followed, at least not often enough, and now the solution is the problem. The Iraqi-Syrian Front Iranian efforts to expand their control in Iraq and Syria are not producing the desired results. Iraq has slipped into an unofficial civil war between pro and anti-Iran factions. Iran has used force against anti-Iran protesters, responsible for most of the 550 protesters killed since the protests began in October 2019. These deaths have exceeded the casualties caused by Islamic terrorists. Half the deaths have been in Baghdad and Iraqis know Iran is a big fan of shooting protesters. In the same time period over a thousand protesters in Iran were killed. The Iraqi government is in chaos because the parliament contains a mix of pro and anti-Iran members plus a lot of members who are pro-Iran only because they are being bribed or intimidated by Iran. The parliament has called for the departure of all American troops but only the prime minister can approve that and make it law and at the moment there is only an interim prime minister because parliament is deadlocked in selecting a new prime minister. The stalemate is influenced by Iranian pressure but the major disputes are about corruption and who gets to control the most lucrative (for thieves) ministries. The January 3rd death of Quds Force commander Soleimani had a considerable and continuing effect on Iraqi politics. Soleimani was the Iranian most responsible for years of attacks on the Americans and the deaths of hundreds of American troops. He was also responsible for the deaths of even more Iraqis, including many Shia who opposed Iranian influence in Iraq. The missile attack that killed Soleimani also eliminated several key Iraqi militia leaders that supported Iran. Removing Soleimani encouraged anti-Iran protestors who were continuing their efforts to reduce corruption and get some more honest and effective politicians into leadership jobs. Since Soleimani was killed Iran has been trying to exploit that and Iraqi nationalism against the American presence as a way to expand Iranian power in Iraq. So far its been more smoke than fire. Iraqi politicians are not eager to back anything Iran wants because months of anti-Iran protests made it clear that Iran did not have as much popular support as they thought. Much of the Iranian support was induced by fear of retribution by the notoriously ruthless Iran-backed PMF militias. Iran sees those militias as a key ally in Iraq but is having a growing problem with militiamen losing faith in the pro-Iran cause. The Israeli-American Alliance With some Israeli assistance, by way of carefully monitoring what goes in Lebanon and with Hezbollah for decades, the Americans are now concentrating on what Hezbollah is up to in Iraq. There has long been some Hezbollah activity and influence in Iraq. Despite that, few Iraqi Shia saw the need to follow the Hezbollah example and establish a private army to intimidate the government to favor the Shia. In Lebanon, the Shia were a minority while in Iraq they are the majority and have controlled the government since the last Sunni dictatorship was eliminated, along with Saddam Hussein, in 2003. General Soleimani was the Iranian responsible for looking after pro-Iran paramilitaries throughout the region and Hezbollah was considered the crown jewel of that collection. For the last decade, Soleimani spent most of his time in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq cultivating and expanding these Iran-backed militias. One of Soleimanis greatest achievements was the creation of a multi-national Shia mercenary force in Syria after 2012. This was needed to protect the Assad forces from the more numerous and motivated rebels. This largely Afghan force was much reduced in size during the last few years because the rebels were defeated and Iran was having cash flow problems because of renewed American sanctions. Iranian leaders saw their favorite general (Soleimani) as the best hope for figuring out how to strike back against Americans and Israelis who, for decades, have been used by Iranian leaders as the scapegoats for any and all problems that Iran might encounter. These accusations were never true and now the majority of Iranians realize that and are angry at their corrupt and inefficient government for the deception, as well as squandering Iranian wealth for so long. Soleimani was supposed to win some spectacular victories against Israel and America and thus justify all the band behavior by Iranian religious leaders/rulers. With the loss of Soleimani, the Iranian leadership is even more desperate and likely to do something spectacularly stupid and destructive. Because the Americans and Israelis often do not announce airstrikes they have carried out and both nations use the same types of warplanes, it is often unclear whose aircraft hit a target. One thing you can be sure of is that if the target was ISIL, it was probably an American airstrike. ISIL targets tend to be in remote areas or in unexpected places because ISIL is hated by most everyone and must maintain a very low profile to avoid detection and attack. The Americans have a more extensive array of intelligence sources (electronic, agents in Syria and worldwide and satellites) that enable them to find well-hidden ISIL locations, and then carry out an airstrike. The Israelis are more concerned with Iranian activities and that is reflected in where the Israeli airstrikes occur. Israel recently revealed that it has established a separate command to deal with operations against Iran in Syria. Israel is treating that as an active war with Iran and so far Israel is winning. As part of that Israel is reorganizing an existing infantry brigade to one trained and equipped to operate deep inside Syria, as needed, to deal with new Iranian threats. The ISIL Front ISIL is not the threat it was a few years ago but in Syria there are still a lot of ISIL zealots, either hiding or actively causing problems. ISIL would like to hit targets in Israel but that has proved virtually impossible. The continued Israeli military actions in Syria have been officially noted by ISIL, which recently declared war on Israel. In part, this was to boost morale among the Sinai (Egypt) branch of ISIL which has taken a considerable beating from Egyptian, Israeli and Iranian (Hamas) forces in the last few years. At least the Sinai faction still manages to carry out one or two attacks a month. ISIL is lucky to organize one or two a year inside Israel and these are often partial failures. While Israel doesnt launch many airstrikes against ISIL in Syria, it has hit ISIL targets in Sinai more than a hundred times since 2018. Recently, for the first time, Israel revealed actual numbers for airstrikes in Syria and Gaza. During 2019 there were 54 airstrikes against Syrian targets and 900 in Gaza. Israeli UAVs also spent 40,000 hours in the air during the year carrying out surveillance in Gaza and along the northern border. The airstrikes in Syria tended to be larger, involving more aircraft and weapons (missiles, smart bombs) used. In Gaza, an airstrike was usually one missile or smart bomb against a Hamas or Islamic Jihad facility in retaliation for a rocket, mortar and fire balloon attack against Israel. February 17, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province), a Turkey backed Syrian militia (the FSA) attacked members of an Iran-backed Shia militia near Tanf base (close to where Syrian, Iraq and Jordan borders meet). Twelve Shia militiamen were killed and one captured. Turkey and Iran are supposed to be allies in Syria but battles like this have become more common and the Turks are not pleased with this development. The Turks arent getting along well with the Russians or Americans either. Iran currently has about 20,000 Shia mercenaries on the payroll in Syria, supervised by nearly a thousand Quds personnel. February 16, 2020: In Iraq (Baghdad), three rockets were fired into the heavily guarded Green Zone and landed near an American military headquarters, which is not far from the U.S. embassy compound. These rockets, apparently fired by Iran-backed militiamen, caused no casualties. This was the 19th such attack since last October. February 13, 2020: An apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria (Damascus) destroyed an Iranian facility, killing four Iranians and three Syrians. Israel would not confirm that this was their airstrike. Satellite photos released several days later showed five warehouses and a nearby Quds headquarters building had all been turned into rubble. A bomb shelter had suffered partial destruction. February 12, 2020: In the Red Sea, an Egyptian fishing boat, while in international waters, was destroyed a Yemeni Shia rebel naval mine. Three of the crew died in the 2 Am explosion and three others were rescued by nearby ships. The Arab Coalition, which Egypt is part of, maintains a naval patrol along the Yemen Red Sea coast to block weapons smugglers and to keep the Red Sea clear of these mines, some of which are Iranian made while the rest are assembled in Yemen from components smuggled in from Iran. Since 2015 the Arab Coalition has found and disposed of 153 of these mines. February 10, 2020: Egypt, which has been brokering peace talks between Hamas and Israel, today warned Hamas that if they cooperated with Iran in any operations against Israel, or anyone else, Egypt would further tighten its blockade of Gaza and would even consider attacking Hamas targets in Gaza. This surprised Hamas, which assured Egypt that they would not misbehave at the orders of Iran. The next day Hamas ordered its followers to halt the recently resumed use of balloons carrying explosives sent into Israel. The resumed balloon use is a violation of the current Israel-Hamas ceasefire that Egypt brokered. Egypt was angry that Hamas was violating that agreement. Despite the Hamas order to halt, another balloon bomb crossed the border later in the day. It was unclear if this was the work of Hamas dissidents or another Islamic terror group in Gaza. February 9, 2020: Iran tried, for the third time since 2010, to get their Simorgh SLV (satellite launch vehicle) into space but it failed. Simorgh is a multi-stage rocket that can carry a satellite into orbit or a warhead to a distant target. The U.S. and Israel describe the Iranian SLV test as a cover for what is actually an effort to develop an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile). In the Arabian Sea (the northwestern Indian Ocean between India and Arabia), an American destroyer halted and searched a dhow because of information indicating smuggling. A search of the cargo revealed a large number of Iranian weapons (anti-tank missiles) and key components for larger Iranian missiles and UAVs as well as remotely controlled bomb boats. The cargo was apparently headed for Yemen, where final delivery would probably be made by fishing boats carrying cargoes of weapons rather than recently caught fish. There are so many of these fishing boats off the Red Sea coast of Yemen that not all can be searched and the smuggler boats seek to appear less suspicious than the actual fishing boats. Iran pays what it takes to get this smuggling done and there are plenty of skilled smugglers in Yemen looking for work, no questions asked. Such cargoes used to be sent to Gaza on a regular basis but the Israeli-Egyptian blockade is tighter than ever and it is difficult to even get individuals or suitcases of cash into Gaza. February 8, 2020: Iranian Internet networks suffered a major DDos attack which interrupted Internet and cell phone service for several areas. It was unclear who launched the attack. The United States confirmed rumors that the U.S. and Israel had formally agreed to coordinate anti-Iran efforts. Israel is concentrating on Lebanon and Syria while the Americans concentrate on Iraq in addition to maintaining a presence in Kurdish controlled northeast Syria. It had always been pretty obvious that the U.S. and Israel were cooperating is blocking Iranian efforts to build a land-bridge from Iran to Lebanon. That required Iran to get past American efforts in Iraq and eastern Syria to block Iranian road access to Syria and Lebanon. February 7, 2020: The Middle East has long been recognized as one of the most corrupt regions on the planet. The extent of this corruption c an be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2019 Iran ranked 146th out of 180 nations compared to 138th in 2018. The least corrupt nation in region was UAE (United Arab Emirates), which ranked 21st in the international rankings compared with 23rd in 2018. The most corrupt was Syria and many other Arab states were on the most corrupt end of the list. Corruption is measured annually in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Corruption is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/13, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/9) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (Finland, New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85. The current Iran score is 23 (versus 30 in 2018) compared to 60 (61) for Israel, 15 (14) for Yemen, 69 (71) for the United States, 35 (35) for Egypt, 26 (27) for Nigeria, 44 (43) for South Africa, 20 (18) for Iraq, 39 (40) for Turkey, 53 (49) for Saudi Arabia, 30 (30) for Ukraine, 45 (44) for Belarus, 58 (60) for Poland, 80 (81) Germany, 65 (61) for Taiwan, 39 (40) for Turkey, 41 (40) for India, 28 (28) for Russia, 57 (54) for South Korea, 41 (39) for China, 14 (17) for North Korea, 37 (35) for Vietnam, 85 (84) for Singapore, 73 (73) for Japan, 40 (37) for Indonesia, 38 (38) for Sri Lanka, 29 (33) for the Maldives, 34 (34) for the Philippines, 32 (32) for Pakistan, 26 (28) for Bangladesh, 71 (70) for Iran, 16 (15) for Afghanistan, 29 (30) for Burma, and 28 (28) for Lebanon. Irans corruption score has not changed much since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution when it was 28. The UAE achieved the most favorable corruption score in the region because it has long depended on foreign trade to survive and to make money in that business you must be known as an honest trading partner. Israeli corruption is largely internal and less present when making trade deals. The UAE is also different in that it is a federation of formerly independent emirates that realized the wisdom of joining forces. Laws and customs vary somewhat among the emirates and some are more gangsters than others. But overall the UAE is a place where foreigners feel comfortable doing business. February 6, 2020: In Syria (outside Damascus), three Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian bases, some of them shared with the Syrian forces. There was considerable property damage and at least 23 Iranian and Syrian personnel were killed and many more wounded. Iraq has so far refused American requests to bring in Patriot air defense batteries to protect American bases from additional Iranian ballistic missile attacks. Iraqi officials believe the delays are not at the request of Iran but an effort to obtain a bribe to expedite the paperwork. This is a lucrative source of corrupt money for government officials, even if delaying approval causes serious harm to Iraqis or the economy. This has actually happened regularly in the past. The Americans want the Patriot battery to protect key installations from Iranian ballistic missile attack. February 5, 2020: The U.S. Air Force admitted that their missile launch early-warning system spotted the Iranian launch of 15 ballistic missiles on January 8th aimed at three U.S. bases in Iraq. The Air force uses space satellites as well as ground-based radars for this function and that is no secret. It was suspected that the satellite-based monitoring had spotted the missile lunch, which led to an immediate warning to U.S. troops in Iraq. Israel and Arab allies were probably warned as well but it was no secret that Iran was planning some kind of retaliation for the recent death of their Quds commander. The warning gave U.S. troops time to get into bomb shelters. This early warning capability has been available for decades and has become more reliable and precise over the years. February 4, 2020: There are conflicting expert estimates about how much oil Iran is getting past the sanctions. Most estimates put the January exports at about half a million BPD (barrels per day) while the high-end estimates are a million BPD. The recent decline in Iranian oil sales has been spectacular. Oil shipments were, in early 2018, 2.4 million BPD but that fell to 1.5 million BPD in November 2019 and a million BPD or less in early 2019. This decline is not disputed. What is less clear is how successful Iranian smuggling efforts have been. In any event, the current situation is worse than it was before the sanctions were lifted in 2015. That is because the Americans have adapted to past oil embargo scams and Iran and its outlaw customers have not yet managed to adapt. The lifting of sanctions in early 2016 has been good for Iran. In 2016 oil exports increased to two million BPD, a level not seen since 2012. Overall oil production increased to 3.8 million BPD. Exports in general quickly doubled over 2015 levels. The government made plans to quickly achieve an annual GDP growth of eight percent. That was all canceled once the U.S. announced (in May 2017) the revival of sanctions. At that point, oil production was 4.5 million BPD but it rapidly declined because regular oil customers reduced or canceled orders. Most Iranian oil was exported and now that export income is rapidly disappearing. Even China and India, two major customers who said they would defy the sanctions, have cut orders because sanctions increase shipping costs and also increase the risk of Iran going to war. Sanctions mean the cost of insurance rises and fewer shipping companies are willing to provide tankers that move sanctioned oil. The latest problem is the January coronavirus outbreak in China the disrupted economic activity in many parts of China. The reduced the need for oil and China already has several large tankers stuck off their coast waiting for permission to unload. Until that is done, the oil producer does not get paid. Something the religious dictatorship dont like to dwell on is that before they took over after the 1979 revolution oil production was over 6 million BPD and closing in on seven million. The clerics have mismanaged the economy for over thirty years now and that is one reason they can no longer blame foreigners for all the problems. February 1, 2020: The UN confirmed that the Yemeni Shia rebels appear to be using Iranian made assault rifles and other infantry weapons. In the past, Iran sent the Shia rebels weapons made elsewhere (Russia, China, Pakistan) that were widely available on the black market. That costs a little extra but given the financial problems Iran has been having since 2017, it is not surprising that they decided to save some foreign currency and send scrubbed (unmarked) Iranian made weapons, UAVs and other equipment. Another UN investigation confirmed that the September 2019 UAV/cruise missile attack on Saudi oil facilities in northeast Saudi Arabia had come from Iran, not Shia rebels in northwest Yemen. Like earlier investigations, the UN researchers examined the debris of the explosives carrying UAVs and cruise missiles and identified them as Iranian made and models that did not have the range or accuracy to carry out an attack so distant from northwest Yemen. January 28, 2020: In northern Yemen, outside the rebel occupied capital Saana, an Iranian ballistic missile being prepared for firing exploded on its launcher. Several Iranian and Shia rebel missile experts were killed. The missile was apparently aimed at targets in southwestern Saudi Arabia. January 26, 2020: In Baghdad Iran-backed Shia militiamen again fired rockets into the Green Zone in an effort to hit the American embassy. January 25, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province), near the Mayadeen army base, unidentified (but apparently Israeli) aircraft attacked two targets. One contained Iranian troops and the other Iranian Afghan mercenaries. Iran did not disband all the Afghan mercenary brigades it formed after 2012 for service in Syria and apparently recruiting in eastern Iranian refugee camps continues. Iran says it wants revenge against the Americans for killing their Quds Force commander but so far there are no indications in Syria, Iraq or along the western Afghan border that the Iranians are spending big to organize some kind of retaliation. Describing the situation in terms of raw material import from China as "grim," India Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said the Indian Pharma Industry has enough stocks of active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs) for two to three months only. Speaking on the sidelines of BioAsia 2020,IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said they were in touch with the Centre, seeking faster environmental clearances for some of the API manufacturing units so that dependence on China was reduced. According to Jain, India imports Rs 17,000 crore worth of APIs from the Novel Coronavirus-hit nation. "It is a very critical and serious situation. No one has got the full predictability of what is happening. We have inventories for two to three months," Jain said. "What we are trying to do is work with the government to see the environmental clearances can be given faster wherever there are issues, so that they (the APIs which are being imported from China) can be manufactured in India and we can have alternate source of supplies," he said. Jain said as such China has extended Lunar holidays in that country and the situation may ease from March first week. "If we start having the supplies from first week of March (from China), we should be able to come out of the problem. However, it is very difficult to predict whether situation improves. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis, he added. Replying to a query, he said the Indian Pharma industry may also consider some of the European destinations for API supplies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Photo : www.pxhere.com) China is using a very modern way of fighting the spread of the virus by using QR codes to individuals with smartphones to give or take away access. Alibaba and Tencent have partnered up for this ginormous endeavor. You read it right, QR codes to provide or take away access to civilians. The Chinese government has enlisted the help of the two biggest tech giants in Asia right now to help spread a nationwide color-based tracking system. Read Also: This Country Has the Best Coronavirus Detection System That Has Thrice The Capability of U.S. and the Rest! How Does it Work Alipay, a payment app owned by Alibaba's subsidiary Ant Financial, recently released a new feature that is able to send colo-based QR code to individuals via their smartphones bases on the answers to an online health survey. Civilians are asked to answer a survey in the app and based on their answers the QR code will assign them of their specified colors. Now being used in the Southern City of Shenzen and the rest of China is set to follow suit. This is all good and well if honesty would be the case because there are so far 100 million Chinese residents who are in lockdown due to fear of getting the virus from going outside or contact with people. What Each Color Represents Depending on the symptoms they have been experiencing or if they traveled recently and so on. Colors will be designated if you are free to go about your business our go into self-induced lockdown for the public safety. GREEN means the user can travel freely; YELLOW prompts the user to follow some instructions but mainly has to quarantine himself for at least 7-days; and RED for people with the most severe cases which carries at least two weeks of quarantine and need users to check-in regularly via the chat in Alibaba. Read Also: Should We Trust A China Research Showing the Number of Coronavirus Cases is Declining? What Companies are Enlisted So far only two companies have been confirmed to combat the spread of the virus. They are the Alibaba Group Holdings and Tencent Holdings. Alibaba Group Holdings is Asia's largest digital advertising, e-commerce and cloud platform to date. As for Tencent Holdings, it is one of the largest video game companies and also owns the popular messaging app WeChat. What Other Modern Means Does China Utilize? China lets the police use drones as well as robots to collect data especially in areas that have a high concentration of infected people. Which is only natural but unnerving at the same time. They use the QR codes as well to allow citizens to enter buildings to make sure the spread of infection is minimized due to the alarming number of cases in Mainland China. State media reports describe the system is used as a tool to travel checkpoints like trains stations or highways. All the way down to the neighborhood level. It's being used in the province of Hangzhou now and will be utilized by the rest of the world once the product is done with its alpha phase. The spread of the COVID-19 is indeed alarming but China and the rest of the world is doing what it can to cope with the outbreak. Safety measures will be improved and precautions will definitely be necessary. Read Also: Accuracy Level Too Low? Deep Concerns Raised Over the Accuracy of Coronavirus Tests 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: QBE Insurance Group announced that Michael (Mike) Wilkins has been elected to succeed W. Marston (Marty) Becker as chairman of the group board. Wilkins will step into the role of group chairman on March 1, 2020, and Becker will retire from the board on April 30. Wilkins joined the QBE Group Board as a non-executive director in November 2016, after a lengthy career in the insurance industry. He is currently deputy chairman of the People and Remuneration committee and a member of the Audit and Operations and Technology committees. He was previously the managing director and CEO of Insurance Australia Group (IAG) and held the roles of managing director and CEO of Promina Group and managing director of Tyndall Australia Ltd. He is currently a non-executive director of Medibank Private and has previously served as a director of AMP Ltd., Alinta Ltd., Maple-Brown Abbott Ltd. and The Geneva Association. It is an enormous privilege to be elected to the role of group chairman of QBE and I thank the board for their confidence and support, said Wilkins. I would like to pay particular tribute to Marty Becker and acknowledge his enormous contribution to QBE over the past seven years, he added. The board has benefited greatly from his experience and wisdom and I am personally grateful for his friendship and support over our time working together. Becker joined the QBE Insurance Group board in August 2013, after a long career in the general insurance industry in the U.S., Bermuda and the UK. He was elected group chairman in 2014. It has been a great honor to serve as a director and as group chairman of QBE over the past seven years, as we have steered QBE to become a simpler, more globally connected and stronger organization, said Becker. I believe the time is now right for me to step down and for a new chairman to bring fresh ideas and perspectives to QBE, he added. I am delighted the board has chosen Mike Wilkins to succeed me. He is an exceptionally well credentialed director, and I wish him and the board every success in the future. Group CEO Pat Regan thanked Becker for his stewardship of QBE, along with his industry knowledge, experience and counsel which, he said, were invaluable to him. Source: QBE Insurance Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 19 2020 Tight ship: Passengers are seen on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which is docked at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, as testing for the new coronavirus continues on board on Tuesday. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha) Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi demanded on Tuesday assurances from the Japanese authorities after it emerged that three Indonesian crew members of the British-American-owned Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan had tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The Princess Cruises-operated Diamond Princess initially had 3,711 people on board when it was placed under mandatory quarantine in the waters off Yokohama, Japan, last week over fears of contamination from a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong last month and who had contracted the virus. Among those on board were 78 Indonesian nationals who worked as part of the ships crew and all of whom had a clean bill of health up until Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login CLEVELAND, Ohio - Limited-edition Cleveland Indians promotional items will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, the team announced. The items - which are not on the regular promotional schedule - are part of the teams Special Ticket Packages, which were introduced last season. They require purchases of select ticket packages for various games. Promotional items include bobbleheads, college and high-school branded caps, and other items. The online-only Special Ticket Packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special Ticket Package schedule with opponent and game time Saturday, May 2: Baldwin Wallace University cap (San Francisco, 6:10 p.m.) Friday, May 15: Runners cap (Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.) Saturday, May 16: Runners cap, Kent State University cap (Minnesota, 6:10 p.m.) Sunday, May 17: Runners cap, University of Findlay cap (Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.) Friday, May 29: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School cap (Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.) Saturday, May 30: Baldwin Wallace University cap, University of Findlay cap and St. Ignatius High School cap (Kansas City, 4:30 p.m.) Monday, June 1: Pride cap or Pride flag (Boston, 7:10 p.m.) Wednesday, June 17: Ketchup mascot bobblehead (Baltimore, 7:10 p.m.) Friday, June 19: Ohio State University cap (Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.) Saturday, June 20: Ohio University cap (Chicago White Sox, 4:10 p.m.) Sunday, June 21: The Sandlot Ham Porter bobblehead (Chicago, 1:10 p.m.) Thursday, July 9: #TheLand desktop sign (Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.) Tuesday July 28: Onion mascot bobblehead (Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.) Tuesday, Aug. 11: Scrub top (San Diego, 7:10 p.m.) Sunday, Aug. 16: Snoopy bobblehead (Seattle, 1:10 p.m.) Wednesday, Aug. 26: Mustard mascot bobblehead (Arizona, 7:10 p.m.) Thursday, Sept. 10: Love Your Melon beanie. A portion of profits from Love Your Melon products is given to the organization's non-profit partners in pediatric oncology and fund cancer-research initiatives. (Minnesota, 6:10 p.m.) Related coverage: Indians release 2020 promotional schedule Subscribe to our free To Do Cleveland newsletter Cut through the noise with our expert picks and recommendations for restaurants, bars, concerts, nightlife, movies, festivals, family fun, theatrical performances, art exhibitions and more with To Do Cleveland, delivered every Thursday to your inbox. SIGN UP NOW More entertainment news from cleveland.com 10 wines to toast National Drink Wine Day Bloom Bakerys co-founder to reopen CSU shop as Faheys Bakehouse 25 best samples in Drake songs LeBrons latest Nike shoe honors Space Jam 2 villain Famous birthdays for Feb. 18 includes celebrities John Travolta, Dr. Dre Whiskey Walk set in Cedar-Fairmount district When Iraq's top Shiite cleric underwent surgery for a fractured bone last month, it sent shivers around the country and beyond. "May God heal Iraq", read a photo of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that circulated online. Frantic supporters shared prayers. Anti-government protesters hung up photos of the black-turbaned cleric with a long white beard and bushy eyebrows, declaring, "The hearts of the revolutionaries are with you". Al-Sistani's well-wishers included officials from both Iran and the United States, the bitter rivals for influence in Iraq. The incident put into focus the question: What will happen after al-Sistani, who turns 90 this year, is gone? The question has gained added importance for an Iraq deeply embroiled in US-Iranian tensions and gripped by months of anti-government protests. Al-Sistani's death would rob Iraq of a powerful voice whose sway among followers and positions against foreign intervention is believed to have curbed further Iranian influence. He sought to restrain Iranian-backed Shiite militias accused of abuses and moderate the government, repeatedly stating that the Iraqi people are the source of authority. Iran, analysts say, will likely try to exploit the vacuum to expand its influence among Iraq's Shiites. Iran's post-al-Sistani ambitions may be complicated by Iraq's wave of protests since October, which showed a vein of resentment among Shiites to Tehran's power. Many Iraqis have also been angered at how US and Iranian hostilities have played out on their soil, including last month's US drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Al-Sistani has been a counterweight to Iran, not only in politics. He represents a school of thought in Shiism opposed to direct rule by clerics, the system in place in Iran, where supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final word in all matters. Al-Sistani and Khamenei both hold the rank of "marja taqlid" - or "object of emulation", a figure that pious Shiites revere as a spiritual guide. But the majority of Iraq's Shiites follow al-Sistani, as do many in Iran and around the world. Fending off Iran is a concern for many in the Najaf Hawza, the esteemed institution of Shiite religious learning from which al-Sistani's successor will emerge. Al-Sistani rarely appears in public and doesn't deliver sermons - his messages are put out by intermediaries. He has been recovering from his surgery and this month has resumed receiving visitors at his modest home near Najaf's gold-domed Imam Ali Shrine. Despite the modest trappings, al-Sistani is a larger-than-life figure to whom millions of Shiites look for guidance on even the smallest questions of life. Under his leadership, the Hawza's ranks swelled after dwindling under the repressive rule of Saddam Hussein. Would-be Shiite clerics from around the world flock to the Hawza, learning from the faith's most respected scholars, whose influence in turn resonates around the Shiite community. Religious classes are dispersed among mosques or buildings in the run-down alleys of Najaf's Old City. The Hawza prides itself on in its independence, governed by centuries-old traditions and unwritten rules. Status is earned by years of building up a reputation for religious knowledge and respect among students and peers. The system for al-Sistani's succession is complex and informal: No one is "appointed" and there won't be an immediate declaration of a successor. It can take months or even years until one cleric garners enough followers and influence to gain consensus as the new leading "object of emulation". A group of the Hawza's eminent clerics known as "Ahl al-Khibra" or "the people of expertise", guide the process, steering the faithful toward a figure based on piety and superiority of knowledge. The most likely contenders, if they outlive al-Sistani, are two grand ayatollahs - Afghan-born Mohammed Ishaq al-Fayadh, who is 89 or 90, and Najaf-born Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, who is in his 80s. Given their advanced age, observers have floated possible candidates from the younger generation. Al-Sistani's influential son, Mohamed Reda, could play a role in shaping the succession if he threw his weight behind a candidate who he thinks will follow in his father's footsteps, said Baghdad-based analyst Sajad Jiyad. Still, some question if a figure as broadly accepted as al-Sistani will emerge or how long that can take. "It's not easy to choose or predict who the highest (religious) authority will be, so I don't think it will be possible for Iran or any other country to have a direct say in it", said Jiyad. The senior clerics who spoke to the AP - and who belong to the Ahl al-Khibra - were confident the Hawza's cloistered ways and deeply entrenched traditions were difficult for Iran to penetrate and that no successor can veer far from al-Sistani's path. Iran has tried. It was believed to have been trying to build a following in Najaf for an Iranian cleric close to its supreme leader as a potential successor of al-Sistani. But the cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, died in 2018. Even as he shunned a direct rule by clerics, al-Sistani weighed in actively throughout Iraq's turbulent times, helping shape the rise in power of the country's Shiite majority. His positions forced Iraq's post-Saddam American administrators to significantly revise their transition plans. In 2004, it took his return from London, where he was treated for a heart condition, to end fighting in Najaf between a Shiite militia and U.S. and Iraqi forces. Still, his influence had limits. He spoke out against reprisals against Sunnis during times of sectarian bloodshed in the mid-2000s but that didn't stop the vicious killings. In 2014, thousands heeded his calls for Iraqis to take up arms against the onslaught of the Sunni Islamic State group. That helped defeat the militants; but it also filled the ranks of Iranian-backed Shiite militias accused of abuses against Sunnis, which have become a significant political force. Anger at Iran's influence has helped fuel the current protest movement, the largest seen in Iraq. Protesters complain of corruption by politicians and many reject both Iranian and American interference. Al-Sistani has voiced support for the demands of peaceful protesters and denounced the crackdown against them. He has also spoken out against all foreign intervention and called for an Iraq "that is ruled by its children with no role for outsiders in its decisions". Clerics in Najaf said the word "outsiders" was seen as a harsh message to Iran. Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been expelled from JD(U) on Tuesday cited ideological positioning as the core reason behind conflict with Nitish Kumar. He also said that one cannot support killer Nathuram Godse and Mahatma Gandhi together and asked Bihar Chief Minister to clarify his stand. "We had a difference since the Lok Sabha elections. First, on ideological positioning and second, I have issues with him as to how he can support both Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) and Godse (Nathuram) at the same time. This cannot go together. The party (Janata Dal-United) should clarify its stand and choose one line," Kishor said while questioning of toeing the middle path. The Political strategist also questioned BJP-JD(U)'s alliance and stated, "Alliance with BJP is not required to win polls. People who are in favour of being with an ally of BJP think that it is okay to compromise a bit in order to remain in the power (Rajneeti main thora bahut compromise chalta hain)." These statements from Kishor came just hours after he was expelled from the JD(U) by party chief Nitish Kumar for vociferously opposing the new citizenship law. On his expulsion from the political organisation, he said, "It is Nitish Ji's prerogative to keep me in or out. I will not question his decision." Kishor also targeted the Bihar Government for not doing enough to improve the quality of education in the state. "Nitish Ji's government failed to provide good education in Bihar. Till now they are not able to provide electricity. On various parameters, this state still lags behind," he said while highlighting the failures of the Nitish government. "It is true that development did take in Bihar but not at a faster pace. Not fast enough to transform the state. Also, Bihar so far has not got special status. Nitish Kumar urged Centre to give special status to Patna university but it did not happen," he added. In his concluding remark, Kishore said that he will soon be starting a campaign named 'Baat Bihar Ki' from February 20 which aims to "reach out to people who believe in the need for new leadership in the state." He said this program will work towards making Bihar one of the 10 best states in the country. The assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in October-November this year.Currently, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is ruling in a coalition with BJP in Bihar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Justice Department Says 2 Prosecutors Assigned to Review Ukraine-Related Materials The Justice Department (DOJ) told House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler in a letter that the department has appointed two prosecutors to review Ukraine-related information. This comes after Attorney General William Barr confirmed on Feb. 10 that the DOJ had established an intake process to review any Ukraine-related information submitted by individuals, in order to assess its source and credibility. His comments were made in response to questions about whether the department was receiving information on matters about Ukraine from President Donald Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told CBSs Face the Nation the day before that the DOJ has created a process to allow Giuliani to submit information he has collected in Ukraine about former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden so that the material can be vetted. Following Barrs remarks, Nadler sent a letter to the attorney general demanding answers as to why the department was receiving information outside its established channels (pdf). Nadler also accused Barr of misrepresenting past comments by saying he hadnt discussed Ukraine matters with Giuliani. On Feb. 18, assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd responded to Nadlers request with his letter. Boyd stated that the process, which was initially handled by multiple U.S. attorney offices or department components, had been centralized and was being coordinated by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Richard Donoghue. He added that U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Scott Brady, has also been assigned to assist in the receipt, processing, and reviewing of any information submitted by the public about matters related to Ukraine. Boyd said the move to centralize the intake process was made in an attempt to avoid duplication of effort across different department offices, to facilitate information sharing, and to prevent conflicts of potentially overlapping matters. Barr faced intense scrutiny following his confirmation that the DOJ had established a process to accept information about Ukraine, including information from Giuliani. Several lawmakers expressed concern over the move to accept the information and summoned the attorney general for testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31. Barr said during a press conference on Feb. 10 that the DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant, while adding that the department would treat any information about Ukraine with caution. There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine, there are a lot of cross-currents. And we cant take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value, Barr said. And for that reason, we had established an intake process in the field, so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department and its intelligence community partners so that we could assess its provenance and its credibility. And you know, that is true for all information that comes to the department relating to the Ukraine, including anything Mr. Giuliani might provide. In his letter, Boyd reiterated the attorney generals position, saying that the departments move to provide for the receipt of the information does not circumvent the departments established channel, adding that the DOJ regularly assigns attorneys to coordinate or focus on particular matters. He added that the process doesnt grant anyone unique access to the department. Any individual who makes use of this process will be treated just like anyone else who brings information to the departments attention, he wrote. He added that the information would be vetted and that the department is vigilant against the significant threat of disinformation. Boyd also maintained that the attorney general hasnt discussed Ukraine matters with Giuliani, citing the departments Sept. 25, 2019, statement. NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday (February 18, 2020) granted bail to Gopal Krishna Madhav, who was posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, days after he was arrested by the CBI while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. The order was passed by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court. Gopal Krishna Madhav, an Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) officer who is posted in the office of Delhi Deputy CM, was nabbed by the CBI after he was allegedly caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 2 Lakh. According to the CBI, Madhav was caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to settle a matter related to GST tax evasion on February 6. The CBI had arrested Madhav hours ahead of the crucial February 8 assembly election in Delhi. The central agency had laid a trap and caught him red-handed while taking a bribe to settle a tax evasion matter. Subsequently, he was taken to the agency headquarters for questioning and formally placed under arrest. Reacting to the development, Manish Sisodia said that corrupt officers like Madhav should be given strict punishment and said that his party remained committed to its ''zero tolerance to corruption'' policy. As per the Delhi government website, Madhav was appointed as an OSD to the Deputy Chief Minister in 2015. The arrest comes several hours ahead of the crucial assembly election in Delhi. D rill rapper star Unknown T has been cleared of killing a young man at a New Years Eve party. The musician, real name Daniel Lena, 20, appeared at the Old Bailey today where he wad found not guilty of violent disorder and murder. He had been accused of attacking Steven Narvaez-Jara, who died from wounds he suffered, at a gathering near Old Street in 2018. Mr Lena went on trial at the Old Bailey along with Ramani Boreland and Mohammed Musse, both aged 21, in January. He said he was shocked and traumatised by the violence but denied being one of the attackers. His co-accused Boreland was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10 to two and violent disorder. While Musse was convicted of violent disorder. The case had revolved around events at a New Years Eve party in north London which turned sour when Musse began grabbing girls, annoying people. A brawl ensued with guests grabbing kitchen knives, bottles and planks of wood while. One had allegedly smuggled in a large machete. Mr Narvaez-Jara, who had been a student of piloting and engineering at the University of Hertfordshire, was stabbed in the chest and died at the scene at around 3.30am. The court heard that while Musse may have started the fight he had either left or been dragged from the kitchen by the time the fatal blow was struck. It was alleged Boreland took his side. All three defendants lived close to one another in Hackney. They had planned to go to the party together, the court heard. Another man, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola, was also accused of involvement in the killing. However, he died before the case came to trial. European Union finance ministers added Panama, the Seychelles, the Cayman Islands and Palau to the EUs blacklist of tax havens, while giving Turkey more time to avoid being listed, an EU document said on Tuesday, Trend with reference to Reuters reports. The list, which was set up in 2017 after revelations of widespread tax evasion and avoidance schemes, now includes 12 jurisdictions. Adding financial centres like the Cayman Islands and Panama marks a shift for the EU. Several reviews had left on the list mostly Pacific and Caribbean islands with almost no financial relation with the EU - drawing criticism for being too lenient on tax havens. The other listed jurisdictions are Fiji, Oman, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu and the three U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Those on the blacklist face reputational damages, higher scrutiny in their financial transactions and risk losing EU funds. The eastern African archipelago of the Seychelles was added to the blacklist because it has an harmful preferential tax regime, the EU document said. Panama, which is already blacklisted for money-laundering shortfalls by the Financial Action Task Force, a global watchdog, was added to the EU list because of shortcomings over exchanges of tax information. The Pacific island of Palau was blacklisted for similar reasons. The Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, was listed because investment funds based there do not reflect real economic activity on the archipelago, the document said. That could lead to investment vehicles being created solely to reduce taxes in other jurisdictions. Cayman Islands Premier, Alden McLaughlin, said the EU decision was deeply disappointing because it did not consider changes on funds rules already passed. But he conceded the overhaul was enacted a few days after an EU deadline had lapsed. In a separate decision, other British overseas territories were deemed fully compliant with EU tax standards and were removed from an EU watchlist. HEADMASTER of Glenstal Abbey School, Fr William Fennelly, noted the word in Latin for happy is the same as blessed beatus. He was commenting after his alma mater was named as the country's best-performing school in the Sunday Independent School League Tables. One hundred per cent of pupils from 2009 to 2016 went on to third level. It rose from third spot in the list last year. Laurel Hill Colaiste narrowly missed out on being named as first in the non fee paying schools list with 99%. Ardscoil Ris was seventh in Ireland with 97%. Fr William said he was delighted but hoped that we are about more than just league tables. Its a great school for an awful lot more reasons than league tables. Success has many different shapes and hues its sporting, musical and spiritual. This is a place where boys become men of soul, that is our tag-line. I want them to be going off making a contribution - that is the big thing for me - that they have all those skills, not just for themselves, but for the good of others, said Fr William, who is from the South Circular Road. He stresses that the happiness of the boys in his care is vital. The word in Latin for happy is the same as the word for blessed they are two sides of the one coin. It makes a clear and helpful link. Fundamentally what parents are looking for is the school that suits their child best. We can all talk about results, and parents are very driven about getting results because they want them to have all the possibilities they can, but the fundamental thing is how can my child become all that he can be, said Fr William. The cost of seven day boarding is 18,950, while day boarding costs 11,350. The most expensive in Ireland is St Columbas College in Dublin at 22,350. Aedin Ni Bhriain, principal of Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ, and Fr William have a lot in common. They are the heads of the schools they attended as teenagers and stress the importance of the formation of young people rather than a league table. Indeed, Fr Williams sisters Janet, Suzanne and Mary attended the school on the South Circular Road. Ms Ni Bhriain said in their school the key word is companionship. That is what our founders wanted, that everyone should look out for each other thats what we want them to do in life as well. A happy student is the most important thing of all and when that comes right everything else will fall into place. What you really want for them is that they would feel a sense of happiness and where their place in society is going to be when they become young adults. Obviously working towards exams and being consistent is part of it. The results will hopefully come along as a result of a happy person that is what you strive for, said Ms Ni Bhriain. And the results are coming along. Were delighted obviously but the hard work goes on like it does in every school. People give it their best and thats all you can ask of them. It is a team effort between teachers, parents and pupils. It is nice when it is affirmed in the media but there is fantastic work going on in this school and in every school around this country all year round. It is great but there are so many other ways that they shine when they are in secondary school apart from results, said Ms Ni Bhriain, who adds that it is brilliant for Limerick to see the high standards and the interest in education that is there in the city and county. It has always been the case but it is nice to see it highlighted, she said. Senator Maria Byrne also highlighted that Limerick schools have featured highly in the list detailing the best schools in Ireland on the basis of college entry. It is great to see Limerick schools featuring so prominently on the list of best schools in Ireland. Our local schools are achieving real success in terms of encouraging students to go on to third level education once they have completed their Leaving Certificate. Fine Gael in Government is prioritising education in order to secure our countrys future. The Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, has a comprehensive plan to make Irelands education service the best in Europe within the decade. "The plan aims to see a 30% increase in the number of students from disadvantaged areas attending higher level as well as better supports for children in difficulty. I am glad to see Limerick schools already doing well in this regard and I hope to see this continue, said Senator Byrne. Limerick city and county schools: Percentage of students placed in third level 2009 2016: Ardscoil Ris, North Circular Road, 97% Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally, 65% Askeaton Community College, 79% Castletroy College, 93% Colaiste Chiarain, Croom, 70% Colaiste Ide agus Iosaef, Abbeyfeale, 73% Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock, 72% Colaiste Nano Nagle, Limerick city, 65% Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, 94% Desmond College, Newcastle West, 57% Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, Limerick city, 92% Glenstal Abbey School, Murroe, 100% Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, 75% John the Baptist Community School, Hospital, 88% Laurel Hill Colaiste FCJ, South Circular Road, 99% Laurel Hill Secondary School, South Circular Road, 90% Mercy Community College, Rathkeale, 75% Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry, 78% Salesian Secondary School, Limerick city, 58% Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West, 90% Scoil na Trionoide Naofa, Doon, 78% Scoil Pol, Kilfinane, 89% Sexton Street CBS, Limerick city, 52% St Clements College, Limerick city, 84% St Munchins, Corbally, 82% St Nessans, Moylish, 46% Villiers Secondary School, Limerick city, 87% (Source: Sunday Independent School League Tables) If you want to get up close and personal with wildlife, it would be hard to find somewhere as uncrowded and unspoilt as Zimbabwe, writes Mike Milotte African sunsets have a magic all of their own, but here in Hwange, Zimbabwes premier national park, the enchantment is matchless. As the golden disk slips below the tree-line, we are left gazing dreamily at the silhouetted reflections of a handful of elephants lingering around the waterhole. Just moments earlier, a hundred or more tuskers, from big bulls to babies, were wallowing here, a stones throw from our vantage point. A truly awesome sight that, apart from our guide, we have entirely to ourselves. As we sip wistfully at our sundowners a lions roar suddenly breaks the spell, signalling carnage nearby. The victim, our guide says, is a buffalo, its piteous bellows raging against the dying light. Our hearts are pounding, but the newly sombre mood quickly passes as the sky morphs into a glorious canopy of brilliantly sparkling stars. This is our first night here, and already our senses are tingling, and a cache of unforgettable memories is already stowed away. With its soaring unemployment, desperate food shortages, occasional riots and state repression, Zimbabwe may not feature on many bucket lists of must visit countries, but those who buck the trend are assured of an unfeigned welcome from a warmhearted if long-suffering people who view tourism as an act of solidarity. And if you want to get up close and personal with the wildlife as well, it would be hard to find somewhere as uncrowded and unspoilt as this. Our adventure actually begins at the countrys prime tourist attraction the worlds biggest waterfall, Victoria Falls, with a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi where the cavorting hippos were outnumbered only by the free-flowing G&Ts. The effort of getting up at 5am next morning to watch the sun rise over the falls is well rewarded: at that hour we have the pathways and outlooks virtually to ourselves. An hour later and wed have been battling for a view. From Vic Falls, most visitors in search of the wildlife experience seem to head west on day trips into Botswanas Chobe national park, but by travelling the 180km southeast to Hwange (on a good tar road), we leave the crowds behind. And from the entrance at Main Camp we still have another 80km to travel on dirt roads to our destination the remote Little Makalolo camp in the Linkwasha Concession, a vast area renowned for its mammal and bird sightings. Mike and Rachel Milotte take a coffee break with their guide Leo. With desperate foodshortages, occasional riots and state repression, Zimbabwe may not feature on many bucket lists of must visit countries, but visitors are assured of a genuine welcome This drive, with a guide who has come to meet us, lasts six hours because we stop frequently to watch the abundant wildlife from our open 4x4 viewing vehicle. Animals we have seen elsewhere in ones and twos elephants, buffalo and wildebeest appear here in their hundreds with scores of warthogs, zebra, giraffes and baboons in their wake. Then, as dusk approaches, our first hyena slinks past. Theres no doubt that elephants dominate the scene here around 50,000 of them in an area no bigger than Connaught but with over 100 other mammal species, we are never short of variety. Over five days, in addition to those already named, we encounter three separate prides of lions, some guarding fresh kill; several cheetahs on the prowl; jackals side-striped and black-backed, and antelope of every kind majestic sable and roan, imposing kudu and waterbuck, elusive steenbok, elegant duiker, and herds of jittery impala. As a very special bonus we chance on eight wild dogs out hunting: Hwange is home to 200 of this rare and endangered species - now officially renamed painted dog and soon to change again to painted wolf. But it isnt just mammals. We spot an impressive 98 species of birds almost a quarter of all those recorded here including six varieties of eagles, five of hornbills and three of vultures, as well as marabou and saddle-billed storks, grey-crested cranes, kori bustards and secretary birds galore. And those are just the big ones. The secret to seeing so much is simple: an expert guide, and Zimbabwean guides, with their intensive training, are reckoned the best in the world. Leo, our guide at Linkwasha, didnt just track, spot and identify the birds and wildlife; his knowledge of animal habits, habitats and hierarchies, and the intricate interdependencies between all of them, is exhaustive, and shared with exuberance. We spend as much as nine hours a day with Leo six in the morning and three more in the late afternoon traversing sandy tracks in our 4x4 through ancient teak forest and over open pans, the landscape and with it the flora and fauna ever changing. Returning to camp is always tinged with a little regret that another day is drawing to a close, even though Little Makalolo represents glamping with no holds barred. Our sumptuous open lounge, free bar, and plunge pool all overlook an astonishingly lively waterhole. In the evenings after dinner we chat with camp staff and guides around an open teak-wood fire where the topic, inevitably, comes back to the elephants: are there too many in Hwange? Are they making life unsustainable for other herbivores by destroying so much vegetation? Should culling, which was halted in 1986, be reintroduced? No-one here is advocating it, but the contentious c-word has crept back into serious discourse. Khulu Camp: The plush camp sits on a rise overlooking an enormous waterholewhere the herds of drinking animals are bigger than ever. We hear, too, how corruption in high places aids poaching, how bribery allows regulated hunting limits to be exceeded with impunity, and how large numbers of baby elephants are being taken from their mothers for sale by the government to Chinese zoos. The excuse: Zimbabwe owes China more money than it could ever repay. We could talk all night, but with a 5.30am wake-up call, bed beckons. Leo, with a rifle he calls his walking-stick, delivers us safely to our capacious tent. In the night we are woken by a whooping hyena, the moon casting its grotesque shadow on the wall, and although we never sense real danger, we have a bedside siren just in case. After our deep immersion in Linkashas wonderful wilderness, we move on to a different experience in Khulu bush camp, set on another concession, this one just outside Hwanges (unfenced) boundary. Our plush camp sits on a rise overlooking an enormous waterhole where the herds of drinking animals are bigger than ever, and as there are no barriers of any kind between us and them, only our elevated deck keeps us out of their path. From here we watch a dazzling array of birds, including the stunning green wood hoopoe who is as interested in us as we are in him. Each day 100 or more elephants wallow in the waterhole and when they finish, all thats left is mud. Thats when the clean water of Khulus 7,000 litre pool attracts the tuskers. During our stay they emptied it twice, and if you happen to be cooling in the pool when they arrive, the advice is to slowly and silently ease yourself out. Then grab you camera. Sadly all good things have to end, and tearing ourselves away from this intoxicating spree is hard and painful. But even as we make our final dirt-track drive back to the tar road, we are brought to a standstill as a great herd of buffalo stampede across our path, enfolding our last views of Hwange in a spectral veil of red dust. How could we not come back? Make-up mogul Napoleon Perdis has taken his former cosmetics empire to court, alleging its new controllers unlawfully terminated a consultancy agreement for his creative direction and services as a "brand advocate". Former Witchery executive Henry Lee and "Daigou queen" Livia Wang, who shot to prominence marketing Australian products to Chinese personal shoppers known as daigou, took control of the struggling Napoleon Perdis empire in April last year after the company was tipped into voluntary administration in January with debts of more than $22 million. Napoleon Perdis says his former cosmetics empire unlawfully terminated a consultancy agreement with him. Credit:Steven Siewert The parties initially agreed Mr Perdis would stay on as a consultant to the company he founded and formerly owned with his wife Soula-Marie and brother Emanuel, including developing communications strategies, leading the creative team, and initiating and participating in "public relations ... and brand advocate activities". But the relationship soured within months and the consultancy agreement, struck with Mr Perdis' Cyprus-based company Ninth Management and worth at least $400,000 a year in fixed fees, was terminated in June. Russian political performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky finds himself at the centre of a French scandal after publishing a sex tape of a leading Paris mayoral candidate online. But it is just the latest in a long line of provocative stunts from the artist, which have included nailing his scrotum to the ground outside Moscows Red Square and setting fire to the headquarters of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). Pavlensky, 35, first came to international attention in 2012, when he appeared outside Kazan Cathedral in his native St Petersburg with his lips sewn shut. He said the performance piece was a political protest against the incarceration of members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot. Following stunts included appearing naked and wrapped in barbed wire outside the St Petersburg legislative assembly and cutting off a piece of his own ear with a chefs knife in protest at the alleged political abuse of psychiatry in Russia. In 2013 he carried out one of his most shocking works when, while sitting naked on the stone pavement on Red Square, he hammered a large nail through his scrotum, and into the ground below. Pavlensky said the work represented "apathy [and] political indifference". The artist fled to France in 2017 after allegations of sexual assault were made against him in Russia, charges he said were politically motivated. He has continued to cause trouble for the authorities in his adopted country, setting fire to the entrance to offices of the Bank of France in Paris in October 2017 and now, publishing a leaked sex tape of Paris mayoral candidate Benjamin Griveaux, who has since dropped out of the race to govern the French capital. CHANGSHA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Dai Fa, 26, could have been a folk musician, but he stepped off the stage and chose to teach in his mountainous hometown. Dai is a music teacher of a middle school in Luxi, a county in central China's Hunan Province with 62.3 percent of the ethnic minority population. It is one of the 11 national-level deep poverty-stricken counties in the province. Like many remote areas, Luxi saw an outflow of talent, who are attracted by the opportunities in cities. The local education faced a grave situation with teachers leaving and young talent reluctant to come. As a Luxi native, Dai had never planned to return to his hometown before graduating from university. "When I was a child, the development of education in my hometown was lagging behind," Dai said. The poverty and lack of educational resources in Luxi made him eager to leave there and earn a living in big cities. After graduating from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in 2018, he got a job as an erhu (a traditional Chinese instrument) performer in a song and dance troupe in Hunan. Tan Zihao, director of Luxi's education bureau, watched one of Dai's performances and was deeply impressed. After many attempts, Tan later managed to persuade Dai to return to Luxi to help develop the local education. Many of Dai's students had only seen an erhu and cello that he brought to the school on TV before, and they were very excited to learn how to play them. "The spark in their eyes reminded me of myself in the high school," Dai said. "The faculty is the key to education. Only by keeping them can we help more people get out of the mountains, broaden their horizons to develop local industries, and eradicate poverty from the roots," said Du Xiaoyong, the county's Party chief. To balance teaching resources between urban and rural areas, Luxi established a mechanism to award and select academic leaders in favor of rural teachers and encourage urban teachers to work in rural schools. The local government also offers the teachers monthly subsidies as well as free apartments or low-rent housing. To ensure that education reaches even the most remote villages, the county has set up "teaching sites," schools with few teachers and students, in almost all the villages in the county. "As long as there is one student, there will be a teacher there," Tan, the education official, said. Yang Shuqing, the only teacher in a school at Dengyun village of Heshui Town, has been working there for 10 years. At present, there are 15 preschool students, three first-graders and four second-graders. The students from two villages in a nearby county also come to the school because of the good campus environment and teaching quality. "Although they are far away from the county, my students never score below 80 out of 100 on a test," said Yang. "As a teacher, this is my greatest pride." To show their gratitude, the students often bring her homemade food and specialties, Yang said, adding that the recognition from students and parents is the most valuable gift. "In the past, my dream was to shine on the stage, now my dream is to let more children leave the mountains and embrace a better future," Dai said. The Union human resource development (HRD) ministry has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his approval for the removal of Manipur Universitys vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey over allegations of administrative irregularities, according to government officials familiar with the matter. The ministrys action comes after a two-member inquiry committee indicated that there was substance in allegations of prolonged absence, and some other charges brought against Pandey, who has been heading the central university since 2016. The HRD ministry has written to the president about the issue, as he is the chancellor of all central varsities. The ministry has suggested that the vice chancellor be removed, said a senior ministry official who asked not to be named. The allegations against Pandey include that he stayed away from the varsity for long periods, and delayed filling up key positions such as registrar and controller of examinations. There have also been protests by teachers and students on the campus during Pandeys term. In September 2018, the HRD ministry suspended Pandey, citing concerns over the volatile law-and-order situation on the campus. It also handed over the administration of the university to Manipur chief secretary Jarnail Singh, who is listed as vice-chancellor on the Imphal-based varsitys official website. Pandey said he was not aware that the ministry was seeking his removal. I am not aware of the development so would not like to comment, he said, when asked for his version. In the past, Pandey said he was being targeted by a section of teachers and students, who were supported by political parties, especially those belonging to the Left. The HRD ministry has, in recent years, taken a stern view of allegations against vice chancellors. In 2016, the vice chancellor of Pondicherry University, Chandra Krishnamurthy, was removed following allegations of plagiarism. Last month, Allahabad University vice-chancellor, RL Hangloo, resigned citing personal reasons after a controversial tenure in which he was accused of administrative and financial irregularities. The ministry accepted his resignation, and initiated an enquiry into charges of financial and administrative irregularities. Recently, a vice chancellor of Tripura University, Vijay Dharurkar, resigned after a video of him allegedly accepting cash emerged during a sting operation. A vice chancellor of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, JL Kaul, was also removed in 2016 over allegations of irregularities. The upcoming visit of President Donald Trump to India later this month has the potential to usher in a new era of bilateral ties between the two countries, a top American business advocacy group has said. President Trump will pay a state visit to India on February 24 and 25 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He would be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. This would be president's first bilateral visit in the third decade of 21st century and also the first after his acquittal by the Senate in the impeachment trial. "I believe President Trump's upcoming visit to India has the potential to usher in a new era of our bilateral ties," Mukesh Aghi, President of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said in a statement on Monday. On the sidelines of the visit, the USISPF, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the ORF, has announced to organise a program entitled "US-India Forum: Partners for Growth". The full-day discussion will focus on the key pillars defining India and the US' strategic, economic, and cultural partnership over the next decade. "We have an opportunity before us to make real progress on multiple aspects of the relationship whether it is upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; building upon an already strong energy partnership; developing co-production and co-development opportunities in the defence space; or strengthening bilateral trade," Aghi said. "We look forward to an extremely successful visit and some concrete outcomes from the visit," he said. The day-long programme on February 25 in New Delhi, will bring together over 500 senior business executives, members of the US-India think tank community and leading figures of the Indian diaspora to set the agenda for this strategic partnership. Discussions during the day will touch upon areas, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and Maritime Security; the US-India Defence Partnership, the US-India Energy Partnership, Elevating US-India Trade and Investment and Role of the Indian Diaspora in US-India Relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK In a party thats shifted leftward on abortion rights, Democratic presidential hopefuls are offering different approaches to a central challenge: how to talk to voters without a clear home in the polarizing debate over the governments role in the decision to end a pregnancy. While Bernie Sanders said this month that being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat, his presidential primary opponent Amy Klobuchar took a more open stance last week in saying that anti-abortion Democrats are part of our party. Klobuchars perfect voting score from major abortion-rights groups makes her an unlikely ally, but some abortion opponents nonetheless lauded the Minnesota senator for extending a hand to those on the other side of an issue thats especially important for Catholics and other devout voters. The praise for Klobuchar suggests that Democrats who have heeded rising worry within their base about GOP-backed abortion limits by pitching significant new abortion-rights policies may risk alienating religious voters who are otherwise open to supporting their party over President Donald Trump. Voters in that group looking for an appeal to common ground on abortion, as former President Barack Obama put it during his 2008 campaign, have heard few of those statements during the current Democratic primary. Plenty of pro-life Catholics are looking for an alternative to voting for President Trump, said Kim Daniels, associate director of Georgetown Universitys Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. We wish the Democratic Party would offer us an alternative instead of doubling down on support for abortion throughout pregnancy, taxpayer funding and the like. Klobuchar has underscored her abortion-rights support, and shes signed onto legislation that would limit states efforts to constrain abortion access, such as the multiple state-level anti-abortion laws that passed last year. But Daniels described Klobuchars rhetorical openness to working with abortion opponents as an important step, and shes not alone. Chris Crawford, a pro-life activist who tweeted about Klobuchars welcoming response to him during a recent event in New Hampshire, said that I dont like the senators abortion record or positions, but I do like the work shes doing on adoptions. And if shes serious about putting together an agenda that can provide for mothers that would make a big difference for me and other voters I know, added the Catholic Crawford, who said he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but has not yet decided who hes supporting in 2020. Religion is not the only factor motivating potential Democratic voters who favor some degree of abortion limits Democrats for Life executive director Kristen Day pointed out in an interview that atheists are part of her coalition. But abortion restriction is still a priority for a sizable number of Catholics, even as Pope Francis orients the church toward a more expansive definition of the term pro-life, pressing President Donald Trump on some of his immigration policies. An AP-NORC poll taken in December found that 45% of Catholics backed significant restrictions that would make abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest, or threats to a mothers life. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults, 17% said that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, a number that rises to 25% among self-identified conservative or moderate Democrats, according to a Pew Research Center survey last year. The abortion debate is set to return to the political forefront next month, when the Supreme Court hears arguments in a high-profile challenge to a Louisiana state law, authored by an anti-abortion Democratic lawmaker, which requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. A final decision is anticipated by June. Charles Camosy, an associate professor of theology at Fordham University who recently left the board of Democrats for Life in frustration over what he saw as the partys absolutist approach to abortion, asserted that something is missing when the same blanket pro-choice terminology can be used to apply to both Klobuchar and Sanders. A Democratic candidate willing to focus on common ground could have a golden opportunity to meet pro-lifers, or at least religious people who are mildly pro-choice, Camosy said. However, Klobuchars comments left some abortion-rights and anti-abortion activists cold. The anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List tweeted that the Minnesota senator is still extreme & out-of-touch, pointing to her record of abortion-rights votes, and Ilyse Hogue, president of the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America, warned Klobuchar against giving credence to right-wing red herrings. Hogue said in an interview that under the umbrella of abortion-rights advocacy, she sees room for shared values of compassion and freedom as well as different feelings about the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Where we are in common service together, Hogue said, is that none of us ever want anyone to feel like they have to terminate a pregnancy because they will not get the support they need to parent. Hogue also underscored the sharp contrast between Democrats and the GOP, where Trump has embraced anti-abortion policies and burnished his standing with religious conservatives as a result. That distance between the parties has grown in recent years, with fewer anti-abortion Democrats serving in Congress and two straight Democratic platforms adopting stronger language on abortion rights. Indeed, Sanders described abortion-rights support as essential this month but took flak from some abortion-rights advocates in 2017 for backing an anti-abortion Catholic candidate for mayor of Omaha, Nebraska. Anti-abortion Democrats are not wholly extinct, with the Catholic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards winning reelection last year, but two such members of Congress are facing primary challenges from the left. In this years Democratic presidential primary, Klobuchars inclusive language marked a rare instance of daylight between candidates in an abortion debate thats already put pressure on her rivals. When pressed on abortion by executive director Day of Democrats for Life during a Fox News town hall last month, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg said that I support the position of my party that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone. Joe Biden, a Catholic who last year reversed his stance to back unrestricted federal funding for abortions, was denied communion by one South Carolina priest last fall in response to the former vice presidents support for abortion rights. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for her part, said at Novembers debate that safeguarding abortion rights is fundamentally what we do and what we stand for as a Democratic Party and demurred when pressed about whether an abortion opponent like Bel Edwards would be welcome. Like those Democrats, Klobuchar supports codifying the abortion-rights protections of the Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision into law. And for some anti-abortion voters, inclusive language like Klobuchars may not be enough to overcome that substantive Democratic alignment. Klobuchars handling of the issue is going to make her look much more moderate and could break through with potentially persuadable Catholic voters, said Robert George, a Princeton University professor and past GOP appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. But that advantage can be undercut by Klobuchars abortion-rights votes, George added, which Trumps campaign would seek to do. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Barack Obama has taken a subtle prod at Donald Trump, with tweet about rebuilding the nation after the economic crisis of 2007 to 2008. Mr Trump has repeatedly boasted about the state of the economy, with its run of strong markets, and record levels of employment. Despite all of the cynics, I have never been more confident in Americas future, he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month. He claims actions he took were responsible for the economys current state of affairs, while critics point out he was left strong fundamentals by his predecessor. The same could not be same for Mr Obama, who was elected to office, as probably the worst economic crisis since the 1930s took hold. All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters Among his very first acts, was a plan to reestablish confidence in the markets and banks to prevent further losses. Michelle Obama reads things she couldnt say as First Lady with Jimmy Kimmel In a tweet posted on Presidents Day, a federal holiday held to mark the birthday of George Washington, Mr Obama said the day marked another important anniversary. Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history, he wrote. If Mr Obama was hoping to hit a nerve with his successor, he appeared to have succeeded. Mr Trump responded angrily, tweeting: "Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers.... "....ever. Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted. Fed Rate UP, taxes and regulations WAY DOWN. If Dems won in 2016, the USA would be in big economic (Depression?) & military trouble right now. THE BEST IS YET TO COME. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!" Earlier, amid tweets about impeachment, and before heading to the Daytona 500 NASCAR race in Florida, Mr Trump wrote: HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY! The placement of the apostrophe in "president's" suggested Mr Trump was wishing a happy day to one president in particular. [February 18, 2020] Chandigarh University Working Towards Realizing the Dream of Make in India; Makes National Record in the Field of Research & Innovation CHANDIGARH, India, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The economic status of a nation depends upon the efforts by the respective countries in the field of research and innovation. Developed nations such as US, Japan, Germany are amongst the top nations which have a major share in global innovation index, whereas countries like India lag behind and are dependent on such countries for new-age technologies. As per the data available from world intellectual property organization (WIPO) with more than 1.5 million patents filed, China leads the list of countries that have filed the maximum number of patents in 2019 which is followed by the USA with 0.6 million. India has been ranked 7th in this list with more than 50,000 patents being filed in 2019 with just a 2.3 % increase over the last year. The main reason attributed to the current situation is that India with 0.85% contribution of its GDP for R&D currently ranks 52nd amongst the nations which contribute a higher percentage of their GDP towards research and innovation. Working with a mission to make India a self-reliant nation in developing new technologies and the acclaimed top position in global innovation index, Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as one of the leading university of the country which has filed the maximum number of patents in 2018-19. According to the latest data released by the government of India's Office Controller General of patent design and trademarks for the year 2018-19, Chandigarh University, Gharuan has emerged as one of the leading universities with te highest number of 336 patents filed by its students and faculty. According to the statistics, 23 IITs have jointly filed 557 patents which is followed by 336 patents filed by Chandigarh University alone, followed by 239 patents filed by India's leading IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The fourth position in this list is held by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with 202 patents which is followed by PSU company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) got the fifth rank by filing 135 patents. While giving details about the patents filed by university students and faculty, Dr. R.S.Bawa, Vice-Chancellor Chandigarh University said, ''Department of Mechanical Engineering leads the university departments with 176 patents filed which are followed by the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering with 59 patents and 44 patents by the Department of Computer Science." Understanding its Institutional Social Responsibility, students and faculty of Bio-Technology and Pharmacy at Chandigarh University is contributing to the field of research and has filled more than 25 patents in the field of Health Sciences and Medicine which is yet another way of contributing towards society, Vice-Chancellor added. "Higher Education Institutions or Universities have a major role to play in the field of research which contributes towards the economic prosperity of any nation," said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor of Chandigarh University. "We at Chandigarh University through our intensive R&D initiatives are trying to convert Make in India dream turn into a reality so that our country no longer has to be dependent on other nations like USA, Japan for the transfer of technology," he added. Due to robust work being undertaken by Core Research Groups, the number of patents filed by Chandigarh University has increased from 336 to 500 in 2019. The campus of Chandigarh University hosts more than 30 ultra-modern R&D Labs and Innovation Centers established by top-notch companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, SAP Labs, IBM, Honda, Hyundai, Volvo-Eicher, Virtusa, IHG Academy, The Taj Academy, Piramal Foundation and others where students are given hands-on practical exposure on the new age technologies under the guidance of Industry Experts. The University has earmarked an annual budget of Rs. 6.5 crores for the Research & Innovation which is assigned to the Core Research Groups for the development of futuristic products and technologies. About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honored with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website: www.cuchd.in Infographic: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1091558/Patents_Data_Infographic.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi, Feb 18 : Two more people have been arrested by the Delhi Police on Tuesday in connection with alleged molestation of female students at Delhi University's Gargi College. The said persons were arrested under section 452, 354 and 509 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the police said on Tuesday. So far, the Delhi Police has arrested a total of 17 persons in connection with the case, of which 10 have been granted bail by Delhi's Saket Court. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Geetanjali Khandelwal is leading the investigation in the said case. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices in a petition seeking CBI-monitored probe into the Gargi college molestation incident. A number of students of Gargi College located in the south of the city have alleged manhandling molestation and sexual harassment on the third day of the college annual cultural fest 'Reverie' on February 6. Bill Hamilton, International Vice President of East Region, speaks in front of local union members introducing members on their slate to run for International 2021 election on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. You cant pick your next leader, the members need to do it, Hamilton said. Read more Last spring, Bill Hamilton was dispatched to Western Pennsylvania to urge UPS workers to vote for a contract that they didnt support. The most powerful Teamsters leader in the state, Hamilton, 70, didnt agree with the assignment, which came down from Teamsters general president James P. Hoffa. But he had a job to do. Now, Hamilton, a longtime Hoffa ally, says hes had enough of the current administration. Hes breaking ranks with the establishment and joining the reform movement. To be sure, Hoffa, 78, is not expected to run again, but his administration is expected to pick a successor to run. On a bitterly cold, cloudless Saturday in Northeast Philadelphia outside his home local, Hamilton announced to 250 cheering Teamsters that in next years international election, he would be running on an opposition slate. Hamilton, president of Teamsters Local 107 and an Eastern vice president on the international board, made the announcement next to running mates Fred Zuckerman, a longtime reform leader who runs a local in Louisville, Ky., and Sean OBrien, a Boston Teamsters head who broke with Hoffa in 2018. In the last election in 2016, Zuckerman lost to Hoffa by 6,000 votes. The reform movement in the Teamsters international union mirrors challenges to local union leaders across the country. In Philadelphia, a rank-and-file slate at a 4,500-member UPS local ousted legacy leaders last fall. Teachers at the School District of Philadelphia are angling to do the same. And journalists represented by the national NewsGuild elected an insurgent candidate last year. Challengers broadly have delivered the same critiques: Establishment leaders are too comfortable, out of touch with members, and lack the organizing tactics to raise standards for workers, especially at a time when union membership is at a historic low and corporations are financing antiunion campaigns. READ MORE: From 2011: Philadelphia-area Teamster aiding election challenge to Hoffa New leadership at the Teamsters, a union of 1.4 million workers where insurgents have been trying to take power for more than a decade, could have major implications for labor: The union could coordinate a vision for organizing employees at nonunionized workplaces like FedEx and Amazon. And the Teamsters run one of the largest collective bargaining agreements in the country, a UPS contract that covers 243,000 workers. It was that contract that inspired a wave of worker discontent in 2018, when a majority of voting UPS workers voted down a tentative contract, demanding their leaders get them a better deal. But the union leadership used a little-known rule in its constitution to impose the contract anyway, which set the stage for opposition candidates to take control of UPS locals around the country. On stage Saturday, Hamilton called the maneuver bulls---. And OBrien vowed: No more substandard contracts! No more givebacks!" In his role as head of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, Hamilton oversees 95,000 members in the state. Attempts to reach Hoffa were unsuccessful, but a Hoffa spokesperson has responded to critiques by saying that General President Hoffa remains focused on representing our members and continuing to negotiate industry-leading contracts. Richard Brzyski, a warehouseman at Balford Farms in Burlington, N.J., whos long supported the reform movement, hopes the two factions in the union will come together. Divisiveness is never going to work, he said. If youre divided, the employer has the upper hand. Taliban says unless its leadership shifts policy, Afghan govt., foreign forces will be targeted Iran Press TV Monday, 17 February 2020 4:19 PM Taliban will not stop attacking Afghan government targets and foreign forces unless its 'leadership' gives instructions otherwise, a militant commander in Helmand says, amid uncertainties over a potential deal with the United States to curb violence. "Our leadership hasn't conveyed any message about a ceasefire to us," media outlets quoted the chief as saying on Monday, without mentioning his name. Helmand and other southern provinces have seen bouts of fierce fighting in recent years. Commanders in Paktika and Nangarhar, two other provinces located in the eastern part of Afghanistan and regarded as strongholds for the Taliban, were also of the same view. Most recently, Taliban attacked Afghan government forces at a checkpoint in the northern province of Kunduz on Sunday night. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid claimed in a statement that 19 security personnel had been killed. The Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed the assault but put the death toll at five. It also said airstrikes were conducted in retaliation. Also on Monday, Taliban said an Afghan military helicopter had been shot down in Nimroz province. But an official there said the aircraft had made an emergency landing and was not attacked. Washington has for weeks been calling on the militants to hold attacks on US forces. US negotiators see this as a condition for resuming formal talks on an agreement that would see US troops leave the country after a near two-decade war. Last week, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the United States and the Taliban had negotiated a proposal for a seven-day reduction in violence, which could lead to an eventual withdrawal of US troops. The two sides had been negotiating the deal for a year and were on the brink of an announcement in September 2019, when President Donald Trump abruptly declared the process "dead." Talks restarted in Qatar later in December last year, but were suspended again following an attack near the Bagram military base, which is run by the US. Despite the violence on the ground, Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy chief of the Taliban's Doha office, confirmed a deal with the United States is set to be signed by the end of February in a "signing ceremony" in the Qatari capital. "Soon after signing the peace accord, the United States will release 5,000 of our prisoners and we will free 1,000 of theirs," Hanafi said. There are currently about 13,000 US troops in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Texas church pastored by a man who sexually abused two pre-teen girls is the first to be removed from the Southern Baptist Convention under new sex abuse reforms. Ranchland Heights Baptist Church in Midland has for years been pastored by Phillip Rutledge, who was convicted of sexual assaulting 11 and 12-year-old girls in 2003, according to court records and the Texas Department of Public Safety. On Tuesday, the church was ousted from the SBC at the recommendation of a newly-formed committee that scrutinizes churches handling of sexual abuse. Ranchlands removal comes almost exactly one year after the publication of Abuse of Faith, an ongoing Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News investigation that found hundreds of Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have been convicted of sex crimes in the last two decades. The newspapers also found that at least 700 people had been victimized over the same period, and that, absent any wide-reaching policies in the faith group, dozens of abusers were able to find new jobs at some of the SBCs 47,000 autonomous and self-governing congregations. The inquiry into Ranchland appears to have been prompted by the Chronicle, which included Rutledges name in a June report on predators who have remained in SBC pulpits. After a reporter inquired about the church, an SBC official said that the case would be passed along to the credentials committee, which had been created a few weeks prior. The church has previously faced media scrutiny: In 2016, after a local CBS affiliate inquired about his involvement there, church officials reportedly said that they and a vast majority of churchgoers were aware of Rutledges history before he was hired, and that he was not allowed to be alone with children. We believe that God can change people, and we believe that God has forgiven Brother Phillip as well, a church deacon told the television station. Church officials on Tuesday could not be immediately reached for comment. The congregation can appeal the decision. Even so, it will have made history as the first congregation thats ever been removed from the SBC by its national body for its handling of sexual abuse. Now Playing: As Southern Baptist leaders reject reforms, sexual abuse continues to spread. Read "Abuse of Faith," our exclusive investigative series launching Sunday, Feb. 10. Video: Houston Chronicle The SBC, the nations second-largest faith group, has previously ousted churches for racism, or because they had gay or female pastors, both of which are explicitly banned from ministry by the denomination. But while the SBC had previously passed resolutions denouncing sexual abuse, and acknowledged that its churches are not immune to predators and passed resolutions denouncing sexual abuse, the organization had, until recently, declined to implement any wide-reaching safeguards or reforms. In June, the SBC moved forward an amendment to its governing documents that explicitly bars churches that mishandle or conceal abuse, saying they are no longer fit for SBC membership. Leaders have also repeatedly said that those whove concealed or committed abuses should never be allowed to return to SBC ministry, and multiple churches named in the Chronicles investigation have since voluntarily left the SBC. Among them: a Houston church that was pastored by a convicted sex offender and an SBC church near Dallas that was profiled extensively in the series. The SBC also empowered a committee to make inquiries into how churches handle abuse. The committee does not have any investigative powers because all SBC churches are autonomous, but it can refer its findings to the SBCs Executive Committee, which then decides whether to remove a congregation. Activists and survivors have raised concerns about that process, which they say lacks transparency. Some were similarly dismayed by the committees first report on Tuesday because it only included one church. Jules Woodson, who was abused by the youth pastor of an SBC church near Houston in the 1990s, said the lone recommendation absurd and quite disturbing.Woodsons abuser, Andy Savage, has since confessed to the assault and resigned from the Tennessee church he was pastoring when she came forward. Others who were involved in the handling of Woodsons abuse disclosure have also stepped down and said they failed to call police. Yet Steve Bradley is still the lead pastor of StoneBridge Church in the Woodlands, the church that Woodson attended at the time of her abuse. She said she filed a complaint against Bradley and the church with the credentials committee, and was disappointed that no recommendation was made on Tuesday. In an interview, Stacy Bramlett, the chair of the credentials committee, urged those such as Woodson not to be discouraged by the committees first report. Since unveiling its tipline late last year, Bramlett said, the committee has been inundated with complaints. But as of this week, she said, only Ranchland Baptist had gone through enough of the inquiry process to merit a referral. Bramlett also noted that her committee, which is only a few months old, is continuing to fine-tune its processes and to ensure theyre both victim-sensitive and efficient. Were building a process not just for my committee today, but for the years ahead, she said. And so our foundation has to be correct, stable and secure. We want to walk carefully. robert.downen@chron.com The Delhi police has named Sharjeel Imam as an "instigator" in its charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during protests against the amended citizenship law at New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia university last year. The accused, none of whom are students from Jamia, have been charged with rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences under the Indian Penal Code. The charge sheet was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, who sent Imam to judicial custody till March 3 after he was produced in the court on expiry of his custodial interrogation on Tuesday. Imam was arrested in the case, after an accused in the December 15 violence had alleged that he was provoked by Imam's speeches made during a protest, court sources said. While citing statement of one of the protesters, Mohd Furkan, the police said in the charge sheet that "the atmosphere was highly surcharged due to CAA protest and violent incidents of rioting in Jamia. "On that day, one Sharjeel Imam, student of JNU also gave provocative speeches against CAA and due to the same he (Furkan) and his associates were also frenzied and involved in protest." In view of the above disclosure, the role of Imam will be further probed during the supplementary charge sheet, the police said. Furkan, 26, has also been arrested in the case on the basis of CCTV footage, along with other accused. The probe is still on to ascertain his role and other aspects of the case, the charge sheet said. The charge sheet has been filed under various sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). The accused are also charged with certain sections of the Arms Act. So far 17 people have been arrested in the case, out of which nine are from New Friends Colony while eight are from Jamia area, the agency said, adding that all of them are locals and no student has been chargesheeted. It said the police has attached CCTV footage, call detail records and statements of over 100 witnesses as evidence in the charge sheet. The investigation has revealed that empty bullet cartridges found during the violence belong to a 3.2 mm pistol. The police said it is likely to release more photographs for identification of those involved in rioting. According to police, 95 people were injured during the violance, out of which 47 were police officials. Six buses and three private vehicles damaged during the rioting, it said. The court had on Monday sent Imam to one-day custody of Delhi Police in the case. Imam, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh here against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 in a separate case for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. A case had been registered against him on sedition and other charges on January 26 in this regard. During the December 15 violence, police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the mob which torched vehicles and clashed with security personnel in New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia. The police entered the Jamia university campus, saying that rioters had taken shelter there. However, the Jamia students had denied that they were involved in the violence and had alleged police brutality. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal had said groups of people, who were coming from the Jamia side, gathered near New Friends' Colony and blocked the road. The protesters, around 1,500, did not pay heed to the police appeals to clear the area. The protest was being held against the contentious law which seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims religious minorities from three neighbouring countries who arrived in India to escape religious persecution before 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first time Majed Al Wawi drove past Hamburgs container terminal, he was intrigued by the big ships and towering cranes. So when a teacher suggested he apply for an internship at the port, the Syrian refugee jumped at the chance. That first day was astonishing, said the 21-year-old. I was really motivated It was always my dream to work with big machines The bigger the machine, the more fun it is to operate. Majed fled the war in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 when he was just 17, leaving his parents and five younger siblings behind. After a 28-day journey, he arrived at the German border. Now, as a trainee with logistics firm Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Majed is learning to repair the 2,000-tonne cranes at Burchardkai, the largest and oldest of the port city's container terminals. I was really motivated It was always my dream to work with big machines." Finding work is often a vital step for refugees like Majed as they embrace new lives in host countries. Many sectors in Germany have found opportunities for new arrivals while filling gaps in the countrys labour market. On arrival in Hamburg, Majed moved into a shelter for unaccompanied minors. Within months, he returned to school and began studying German. Learning the language is the key to a society, said Majed, in fluent German. If you can master the language, you can get on in life. Syrian refugee Majed Al Wawi is photographed at St. Pauli Landing near his workplace, the HHLA Terminal Burchardkai in the Port of Hamburg. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Syrian refugee Majed Al Wawi, 21, at work on a ship-to-shore container crane at HHLA Terminal Burchardkai the largest and oldest facility for container handling in the Port of Hamburg. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Syrian refugee Majed Al Wawi (right), 21, at work with colleague Thomas Bergunde in a repair workshop at HHLA Terminal Burchardkai the largest and oldest facility for container handling in the Port of Hamburg. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Syrian refugee Majed Al Wawi, 21, at lunch at HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai the largest and oldest facility for container handling in the Port of Hamburg. UNHCR/Gordon Welters HHLA Terminal Container Burchardkai the largest and oldest facility for container handling in the Port of Hamburg. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Majed did internships with HHLA and last summer was offered a place on the ports prestigious vocational training program for engineers. The traineeship was a good fit for Majed. He had worked at his familys construction firm in Aleppo from the age of 13 when war forced his school to close. But the work was also new. In Syria, he had never even seen the sea, much less a port. Hamburg is Europes third largest port, and HHLA runs three of its four container terminals. Majed is now six months into his traineeship with the terminal operator as a mechatronics engineer, a field that combines electrical, computer and mechanical engineering. He is learning to repair the cranes that unload containers from gigantic freight ships docked in the Elbe river. He also maintains the automated rail-mounted cranes that lift containers out of temporary storage for transfer to trains and trucks. It doesnt make any difference to us what our trainees background is." HHLA is training a handful of others who have fled their home countries, though there is no specific programme for refugees. It doesnt make any difference to us what our trainees background is, said Jan Wehlen, HHLAs head of training and development. Majed says he feels at home in the port and gets on well with his colleagues. All the staff are so nice to me and friendly, he said. Its a lot of fun. Colleagues too praised Majeds work. Over the next three years, the trainees must also learn to program the computer systems that oversee the highly automated terminal. Eventually, some candidates will be taken on as permanent employees. It would be a dream come true for Majed. And yet when he thinks about the future, with his family still in Syria, he says its difficult not to feel torn. If I have a good life here, I will stay, said Majed. And Hamburg is a really cool city. But I think everyone yearns for the place they grew up in. Western Piedmont Community College will partner with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Department of Anthropology to present their annual health symposium. The symposium, The Medical Anthropology of the Carolina Mountains, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Foothills Higher Education Center in Morganton. The event is free and open to those who would like to learn more about local health practices. Presenters will discuss how different populations deal with medical issues. The symposiums host, Dr. Seth Hawkins, is the medical director of the Burke County EMS and the North Carolina State Park System, medical course director of Western Piedmont Community College, owner of Hawk Ventures and creator of the award-winning Carolina Wilderness EMS Externship. Brenda Huffman will discuss herbalism and Native American methods. Martina and Christian Ramazzini will discuss Guatemalan and Central American traditional methods. Anne Fischer will discuss energy and CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) methods. Anne Marie LaFrance will discuss Chinese body work in a video. Gia Xiong and family will discuss Hmong traditional methods. Heath Foster will discuss medical information regarding the deaf community. It will include a lunch. Register by visiting www.wpcc.edu/medical-anthropology/. MANILA, Philippines Malacanang vowed to take action on the reported anomaly inside the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over the so-called pastillas scheme. But the Palace said, it could only act on the matter once a formal complaint is filed. Any violation, any transgression, any anomaly, the Palace frowns on it and will act on it, if there are complaints formally filed before its office, noted Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Based on an expose by Senator Risa Hontiveros, BI personnel were allegedly taking bribes of up to P10,000 from Chinese nationals who wanted to enter and work in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry. Panelo said the Palace is expecting BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to spearhead the investigation and enforce the necessary actions on involved BI personnel. The Immigration commissioner is tasked to do his job. Meaning, apart from the usual governing of his own territory, he has to know if there is an anomaly in his territory and respond to it, the Palace Spokesperson said. Five immigration officials were already relieved following the Senate inquiry yesterday. Malacanang said President Rodrigo Duterte would not hesitate on stopping POGO operations in the country if evidence of corruption is proven because that would definitely have a huge impact on the countrys economy. Di ba sabi nga ni Presidente, there is no sacred cow in this government. If its against the interest of the people and general welfare, Ill stop it. This is the kind of President we have, Panelo said. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz) The post Formal complaint necessary for govt to act on alleged pastillas scheme in BI appeared first on UNTV News. By PTI BEIJING: The death toll from China's coronavirus epidemic climbed to 1,868 on Tuesday as 98 more people died while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436, officials said. Of the new deaths, 93 were reported from Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus, three from Henan, and one each from Hebei and Hunan, said the National Health Commission. Hubei reported 1,807 new confirmed cases, taking the total number of such cases to 59,989 in the province. Another 1,432 new suspected cases were reported from the rest of China. ALSO READ: China premiere of 'No Time to Die' called off due to Coronavirus On Monday, 1,097 patients became seriously ill and 11,741 patients remained in severe condition, the commission said. Of the 41,957 patients hospitalised in Hubei, 9,117 were still in severe condition and another 1,853 in critical condition, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The province also saw 1,223 patients discharged from hospital after recovery on Monday, bringing the total number of discharged patients in the province to 7,862. A total of 12,552 people had been discharged from hospital after recovery across China so far, it said. In view of human-to-human transmission of the disease, over 1.41 lakh people who have come in contact with the people who contracted the virus are still under medical observation, it said. By Monday, 60 confirmed cases including one death had been reported in Hong Kong 10 confirmed cases in Macao and 22 in Taiwan including one death. ALSO READ: Eurogroup chief says coronavirus 'temporary' drag on economy Top World Health Organisation experts, including from the US, have joined the fight against the the virus, called COVID-19, in China. China confirmed that the 12-member WHO team includes Americans, as sought by the US. "The foreign experts on board the China-WHO Joint Mission have arrived in Beijing. They have started relevant activities. We have experts from the US in the mission," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media. NHC said China has stepped up efforts to shore up weak spots as the epidemic prevention and control have entered the most crucial stage. "Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, remains the main battlefield," Wang Hesheng, deputy head of NHC, said. "Improving admission and survival rates and reducing infection and fatality rates are still the most urgent tasks." Nine temporary hospitals with more than 6,960 beds have opened in Hubei. As of February 14, a total of 217 medical teams with 25,633 medical workers had been sent to Hubei, the Xinhua report said. Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images From ELLE Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still in the early days of their new life away from royal responsibilities. This change has reportedly been a "tremendous shift" for Meghan, who returned to Canada shortly after the couple announced their big royal step-back in early January. Now that Harry and Meghan have had some time to settle into their new lives in North America, the move has proven to be positive for them as a couple, too. People reports that the couple has grown even closer since their move. "They are besotted and very sweet with each other," someone in Harry and Meghan's circle told the publication. The source said that the couple, who reportedly call each other "H" and "M," are focusing most of their attention on helping their young son adjust to his new life. "Archie is the priority," the source said. "Its very much still about taking care of him and putting the family first. Hes a happy kidhe loves to laugh. Archie and Harry have such a good time together. And Meghan is a great mom. She's very much about tending to him. They are trying to live their life as regular parents." The source also added that Harry and Meghan have become "real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs." They like to hike in the woods of Vancouver Island and relax inside. When Harry addressed attendees at a charity dinner for his charity Sentebale last month, he also brought up the news of his and Meghan's move and shared his personal thoughts about the change. "I want you to hear the truth from meas much as I can sharenot as a prince or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years, but with a clearer perspective...The U.K. is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I have grown up feeling support from so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life." He added that the decision to step back was "not one [I] made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option." You Might Also Like MMD Receiving CE Mark approval of pre-assembled disposable kit for CompuFlo Epidural System in Europe The Board of Directors of Milestone Medical Inc. (WAR: MMD, the Company, the Issuer), today announced that the new pre-assembled disposable kit for the CompuFlo Epidural System has received CE Mark approval in Europe through the Companys supplier. The Board of Directors of the Issuer believes that this CE Mark approval overcomes an important hurdle to commercialization in Europe. Based on market feedback, it was evident that anesthesiologists using the epidural instrument preferred to have the disposable kit pre-assembled before packaging to save valuable minutes in the operatory. Albeit a modest change, this modification required the Issuer to secure regulatory approval in Europe, which the Company has now achieved. In swamp news, deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates is reportedly being pinned by senior officials in the Trump administration as the so-called "Anonymous," the hideous little operative deep within the Trump administration who claimed to be the anti-Trump "resistance" on the inside, brazenly writing an essay in the New York Times to "assure" us that the Trump administration is full of such people. Here's the Daily Mail's summary: Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates may be reassigned to a position in the Department of Energy from the National Security Council In recent weeks, it has been rumored that Coates is author of anonymous op-ed The infamous op-ed was published in the New York Times in September 2018 Last year, the same Anonymous person published tell-all book called, A Warning Despite the rumors about Coates, she isn't known to disagree with the president's foreign policies, which doesn't make her a good fit for Anonymous Since I have known Victoria since the heyday of the early blog years, blogger-to-blogger; have since visited her in Washington; and have seen her around on social media since, I find the whole thing shocking. Based on what I know of Victoria, I don't believe it. First, there is the main reason cited by the Daily Mail: that she doesn't disagree with President Trump on foreign policy. That's true, and she doesn't, not even in private. She would have to then secretly disagree, I guess, which, based on what I know, isn't her. Second, there's the explicit denial from the literary agency that she's Anonymous. That says something. Here's the bitter little bureaucrat's "Anonymous" essay, something that doesn't even sound like Victoria, who, unlike this person, is a smooth and elegant writer. To be clear, ours is not the popular "resistance" of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous. But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic. That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump's more misguided impulses until he is out of office. The root of the problem is the president's amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making. Although he was elected as a Republican, the president shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright. Oh, the piety about country first, John McCain's slogan. This person hates Trump on stylistic grounds, the hallmark of a NeverTrump, deluding himself he's concerned about "morals." Sure enough, he praises John McCain as the model anti-Trump he really wants. McCain? Victoria has never brought up McCain; he was never in her intellectual orbit. She's an art historian, not a McCain-booster. Beyond McCain, this person writing sounds as though he longs for the good old days of President Bush, the neocon stuff, the American power thing. That's not something Victoria is associated with much, either. Victoria was never one of those people, a die-hard Bushie. She comes from the Ted Cruz branch of Republicanism and prior to that was an art historian. She had an earlier connection with Donald Rumsfeld, who left the Bush administration with some acrimony. Last time I visited Victoria in Washington in late 2016, Trump was about to be elected, she was confident it would happen, and she was thrilled about it. She had no offhand sniggers and no superiority complex about setting him straight the way the Washington elites did, and I met plenty of those. She never so much as hinted she wanted to save Trump from himself, as the essay-writer said he was about. She seemed to be a fierce loyalist to Trump, with no eye-rolling, well before he was elected, and she understood well why he was going to get elected. Then there's the Russia-Russia-Russia obsession of this writer, and note that it was brought up in that so-very-recognizable way of Democrats who at the time were bruiting around the Steele dossier and claiming that Trump colluded with the Russians to steal the election from Hillary Clinton. That in turn morphed into getting a special prosecutor to investigate Trump, and then morphed again into impeaching Trump after the previous efforts failed. This was the world of Eric Ciaramella, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, and that best friend of Ciaramella's in Adam Schiff's office. To speak of Russia, the last time I saw Victoria, in late 2016, I actually brought up the Russians and asked her if she agreed with Trump's position that it would be a good thing if U.S.-Russian relations improved. In those early days she smiled and said 'sure - it was worth trying,' she would be all in for it if Trump wanted to try it. It didn't sound like it was a terribly interesting topic to her, number one, and two, she wasn't anti-Russia in that hardened, calcified sense you find in many Capitol Hill circles. She was focused on other matters. The Russia stuff was just idle news talk at the time. This Anonymous character, on the other hand, is intensely focused on Russia, with a Vindman-like obsession, a country which, objectively speaking, is a rival with which the U.S. often has conflicting interests, but cooperates with too, or at least picks up the phone, and doesn't seem to be an imminent war risk. Compared to Iran, China or North Korea, Russia is a lesser league on the danger front. The Russia-obsesssed Anonymous writer seemed to using Russia as a crutch in his quest to protect America from Trump, an odd thing for someone who's supposed to be all so very informed about national security. Anonymous, in that neverTrump fashion, is also status-obsessed. Notice how on the cover of his book, "A Warning" he identifies himself (O.K., it could be 'herself' but I think it's a guy) as a "senior Trump administration official." Victoria is down to earth and would never do that. She would view that as classless and tacky. I am not privy to Victoria's exact assignment at NSC, but I know she went to work on Israel stuff instead when got her job on the National Security Council in 2017. I kind of felt bad for her for getting that assignment, since I thought she'd be better for Russia or China or one of the bigger portfolios. Nope, Israel, and it was clear she was interested in that. The Anonymous writer talks again and again about steadying the ship, and saving Trump from his worse impulses, but think about what went on in the Israel desk during these past three years -- the moving of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, the U.S. peace plan for Palestine, the Syria pullout -- radical projects that the foreign policy establishment howled about with a passion, crying that the wolf was at America's door and a whole edifice would tumble and World War III was around the corner. She was clearly on the other side of that because she's the one who enacted such things -- as President Trump wanted, for one -- seemingly the Stephen Miller of the Israel stuff, very successfully, which is why she was promoted. Here's another thing: She's not a leaker. Since going on the National Security Council she's never spoken to me even once, returned no phone calls, only contact an occasional "like" on social media. If she were going to be one of those, I'd probably be a great person to leak to, but she doesn't do that, she's actually someone who errs on the side of caution. Now she's accused of being Anonymous? It just makes no sense. More likely, some swamp thing, maybe Anonymous himself, has planted this idea to knock her out. Maybe there are things not being reported, but based on what I know, this makes no sense. Victoria has always been the most loyal and capable of Trump's lieutenants and I have some severe doubts about any talk of Victoria being involved in this at all. More likely, it was a swamp thing out to get her. After almost four years of providing free internet access to people in developing countries, Google plans to shut down its Station program. The initiative saw the search giant offer free public WiFi at 400 railway stations in India and more than 5,000 other places around the world, including in Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam. News of the shutdown started to filter out last week, but Google officially confirmed the news on Monday. In an interview with TechCrunch, Google's Caesar Sengupta said the company is ending the program because it was running into issues scaling it. Each of the partners Google worked with to provide public WiFi had different technical and infrastructure needs, which made developing Station into a sustainable business challenging. Google had tried to monetize the service by showing ads to people as part of the login process. He also said the increased availability of cheap LTE data, particularly in India, made Google feel the program wasn't as needed as it was before. The good news is that most Stations will continue to offer free WiFi. For instance, RailTel, Google's WiFi partner in India, will continue to provide free internet access at all 400 stations where the service is currently available. "We are working with our partners to transition existing sites so they can remain useful resources for the community," Sengupta told TechCrunch. Besides Google, several other tech companies have tried to narrow the digital divide in developing countries, with some finding more success than others. For example, Facebook's Free Basics initiative was banned in India in 2016 over net neutrality concerns. Despite the shutdown, it seems Station had been widely successful. In 2018, Google said Station had 8 million monthly active users in India, with people who were using the service consuming an average of 350MB per session at the time. Des Moines, Iowa So far, Pete Buttigieg has made it look easy. The once little-known former mayor of a midsize Midwestern city vaulted over a former vice president and several U.S. senators in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire presidential primary. The 38-year-old's fresh face, intellect and turn-the-page message won votes across many demographic groups in the kickoff states. Now the promise of his candidacy is colliding with the reality of the central question about his viability: Can he win among minority voters who form the critical foundation of the party's base? That will be tested Saturday in Nevada, with a diverse blend of Latinos and African-Americans, but especially in South Carolina, where two-thirds of the primary electorate could be black voters, the base of the Democratic Party that Buttigieg has struggled to attract. Buttigieg's strategy is to earn a fresh look from black and brown voters by flashing his support in the first two contests, drawing on the validation of minority leaders who have endorsed him and leveraging the personal networks of his supporters. With the South Carolina primary rapidly approaching Feb. 29, he faces a steep climb. "I've not seen any real support coming from black local officials. Pete has to make the case himself," said state Sen. Gerald Malloy, a longtime supporter of former Vice President Joe Biden's who has not endorsed a 2020 candidate. "He's obviously a tireless warrior and making the calls. The question is: Will people answer?" The former South Bend, Ind., mayor, who has registered negligible support among black voters nationally, has been to South Carolina 10 times and has been airing ads on black radio stations in South Carolina since last fall, as well as ads in black newspapers. He has been airing TV ads in the state since December, and this month began a spot reflecting his call for parting with the politics of the past. In it, Walter A. Clyburn Reed, the grandson of Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking African-American in the House, and Abe Jenkins, grandson of civil rights activist Esau Jenkins, pay tribute to their forebears but call Buttigieg "a fresh start." It and other ads blanketing YouTube and Facebook reinforce Buttigieg's heavy outreach to younger black voters, especially on college campuses, such as the historically black institutions South Carolina State University and Claflin University in Orangeburg. Reed said college students are intrigued by Buttigieg's Douglass Plan, aimed at ending systemic racism, but especially are drawn to his call for a culture of belonging. "That's something that they haven't heard from a candidate," Reed said. "So, really, when he started to hone in on that message, college voters were very attracted to it." But for older black voters, both in South Carolina and Nevada, Buttigieg faces another kind of test: whether they will vote for a gay candidate. Joan Houston, a 63-year-old African-American minister and social worker in Las Vegas, said she can't support Buttigieg because of his sexual orientation. "I'm against homosexuality. I love everybody, but I'm against that lifestyle," Houston said as she waited to cast her vote for Biden at an early caucus site. As part of his effort to persuade voters like Houston, Buttigieg has turned from larger-turnout events to more intimate listening sessions that give the candidate a better sense of South Carolina black voters and them a better sense of him, aides said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Buttigieg has since hosted small-group meetings and has dispatched black elected officials, such as South Bend City Council member Sharon McBride and Waterloo, Iowa, Mayor Quentin Hart. Buttigieg faced criticism last month for hesitating before committing to attend a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Columbia, S.C., with other 2020 candidates. He continues to face questions about the departure of South Bend's first black police chief shortly after Buttigieg took office and about his department's handling of the deadly shooting of an armed black man by a white officer in June. There are at least modest signs of progress, including in California, one of 14 states in the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries. Nina Smallwood, who attended a Buttigieg event in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, said she thought he could win over voters of color. "In this next debate, he's going to have to really make a plea," she said. "Black people want to feel like our voices are heard, as well as everybody's. I definitely think he has an opportunity." In Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg's coalition looked more like the electorate overall by age and education than the other top candidates', though voters in those states reflected little racial diversity, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the electorate. In New Hampshire, 1 in 10 voters were nonwhite. Buttigieg earned support from 14 percent of such voters, comparable to support for other top contenders, except Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, backed by 4 in 10 nonwhite voters. Buttigieg is also targeting pockets of black voters scattered widely across South Carolina, in part by tapping his campaign organizers' personal networks of churches and pastors. Although Biden is the favorite in South Carolina, Buttigieg could claim success by chinning himself into double-digit support among black voters, aides say. He can improve his standing with a respectable showing in Nevada, where he also is touting the validation of supporters, such as fellow millennial Nevada state Rep. Sandra Jauregui, who is Latina. As the number of coronavirus cases rises, epidemiologists around the world look at maps, flight bookings and population data to estimate the size of the outbreakand explain why their results are higher than Chinas official tally. Photo: Getty Images Deven Bharti, now Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief, rejected the claim made by Maria, saying it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book. Mumbai: Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed his successor Ahmad Javed knew Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani and Peter Mukerjea socially, and that Peter also knew the then Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Deven Bharti on "first name terms". Maria, who investigated some high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and also headed probe in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, made the revelation in his memoir 'Let Me Say It Now' released on Monday. Bharti, now Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief, rejected the claim, saying it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts. Peter Mukerjea was arrested on 19 November, 2015 in the Sheena Bora murder case, in which his former wife Indrani Mukerjea is the main accused. Sheena Bora, 24, was Indrani Mukerjea's daughter from an earlier relationship. The killing came to light in 2015 when Indrani Mukerjea's driver Shyamwar Rai, who had helped them dispose of the body, was arrested in another case. Rai later turned an approver in the case. As per Maria's book, Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti "on first name terms". Maria has also written that Javed also knew the Mukerjeas socially, adding they were invitees to the latter's Eid party. According to excerpts from the memoir, during interrogation in the murder case, Peter Mukerjea told Maria that he had approached Deven Bharti in 2012 to complain about Sheena Bora going missing. The book mentions that when Maria asked Peter Mukerjea about "doing nothing" when he found out about Sheena's sudden disappearance, he replied, "Sir, I had told Deven!" Recalling Mukerjea's interrogation, Maria said, "That night I couldn't sleep a wink. The thought uppermost in my mind was to find out the exact meaning of what Peter had told me in the evening." "It meant that Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti on first name terms. And I had not known this all these days. Moreover, Deven Bharti had not thought it fit to tell me even once that the Mukerjeas were close to him," he says in the book. Maria claimed that whenever he would discuss with Bharti the mystery of non-registration of missing complaint or accidental death report, he would keep silent. "And this from my Joint CP (L&O)? At the time of Sheena's disappearance, Deven Bharti was the Additional CP in the Crime Branch," Maria wrote. "He could have done so much then itself to look for Rahul's girlfriend (referring to Sheena Bora)! It was imperative that I get to the bottom of it all, without upsetting the investigating team that was doing a good job," he wrote. While mentioning about Javed knowing Mukerjeas "socially", Maria wrote, "Was there a deliberate attempt to discredit the probe by spreading the falsehood that I knew the Mukerjeas socially? I had categorically denied it, but the atmosphere of suspicion persisted." Maria was later appointed as Director General (Home Guards) and Javed then took charge as Mumbai police chief. "A week after my removal, it turned out that not the previous CP but the new CP (Javed who was later sent as ambassador to Saudi Arabia) knew the Mukerjeas socially and they were invitees to his Eid party," Maria wrote. Maria also mentioned in the book that he had conveyed to then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that he did not shield the accused as the case, undetected for three years, was unearthed by his team. "The Sheena Bora case, which was undetected for three years, was unearthed by my team. If we wanted to shield them, then why would we have detected the case in the first place? Also, I along with my team had this detection for only 12 days before I was promoted and transferred," he wrote. "Peter Mukerjea's role and financial transactions were being parallelly probed in the case. The CBI took 90 days to bring out Peter Mukerjea's role and then arrest him!! This is sad, unfair and unjust to me and the Mumbai Police team which detected this buried case," Maria conveyed in his message to Fadnavis. Rejecting Maria's claim, Bharti said, "Maria belongs to a family linked with Bollywood and, it seems, scriptwriters have a great influence on him. In addition, it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book as well as the web series, which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts." Moreover, for a policeman, it is advisable to read the charge sheet and case diary rather than a "piece of fiction", Bharti said. "Won't comment much as the the trial is in progress but would definitely tell that the whole investigation team was aware of all developments and were on the same page till the investigation was with Mumbai Police," he added. Brandon Jenner held hands with his pregnant wife Cayley Stoker on Monday as they stepped out together for a meal in Malibu, California. The 38-year-old musician wore a dark blue puffer jacket, grey T-shirt and black trousers for their outing. Brandon sported a beard and carried a to-go container of food as they left. Holding hands: Brandon Jenner held hands with wife Cayley Stoker on Monday as they grabbed lunch together in Malibu, California Cayley donned a plaid blue maternity shirt dress and sandals. She had her dark brown hair down around her shoulders and showed her natural beauty sans makeup. Brandon revealed last month on social media that he and Cayley had secretly married. People magazine later reported that the couple got married on January 21 outside of the courthouse in Santa Barbara, California. Newly married: The 38-year-old musician revealed last month on social media that he and Cayley secretly got married on January 21 at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California Brandon and Cayley started dating last year and announced in August that they were expecting twins. The reality star split from his first wife, Leah Felder, 37, in September 2018 after 14 years together and she filed for divorce. Leah, whose father is Eagles guitarist Don Felder, and Brandon have a four-year-old daughter Eva together. Baby shower: Brandon is shown with Cayley last month during the baby shower for the twins Former couple: Leah Felder and Brandon, shown in April 2014 in Los Angeles, split in September 2018 after 14 years together Brandon is the son of former Olympics champion Caitlyn Jenner, 70, and actress Linda Thompson, 69. He has a brother Brody Jenner, 36, and they both starred together in the 2005 reality show The Princes Of Malibu. Brandon and Brody also appeared on Keeping Up With The Kardashians when their father was married to family matriarch Kris Jenner, 64. Mike Goos, a longtime member of the Columbus Public Schools Board of Education, has officially resigned from his seat on the board following the passing of his wife, Tracy. In a statement dated in January to the CPS board, Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz and Executive Director of Business Operations and Public Relations Dave Melick, Goos said that the ill condition of his wife would prevent him from finishing his third term on the board. Tracy passed away Feb. 14 at the age of 56 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. I was committed to finishing my third term on the board, Goos said. However, my wifes illness commands that I devote my complete and total attention to her and my kids during the next several months. Goos has been on the board since 2009, having served during a significant time of growth and progress for the district. He was there when Loeffelholz was brought on as superintendent and during the transition to the new Columbus High School. He had been a school counselor in CPS and Schuyler Community Schools for 30 years before moving on and founding Discovery Counseling in 2017. In his statement, Goos goes on to say that his years of service on the board had provided him with many great experiences and helped to provide a cap on his years of involvement in education. Having been involved with the hiring process of both Loeffelholz and Melick, he took the time to praise them for their work through the years. We have accomplished many great things working as a team, Goos said. The best decision we have ever made is hiring Troy as superintendent of CPS. The best decision Troy ever made was to hire Dave as Finance/HR director of CPS. He also had hope for what the district will continue to be as it moves into a new frontier. He brought up the new child care center slated for the old Columbus Middle School and the growing, diversifying Columbus community as two issues that he is excited to see the progress of from afar. I truly believe Columbus Public Schools is one of the most innovative and progressive school districts in Nebraska, Goos said. Exciting work remains with the development of an early childcare center that meets the needs of the entire community and the faculty pressures we are experiencing from a growing community. To replace Goos for the remainder of his term, the board has opened the position up to anyone willing to take it. At this time, one person, former board member and Nebraska Public Power District Vice President Ken Curry, has said that he is willing to take on the role to honor Goos and his family. In other board happenings: *The board discussed LB 974, which would attempt to reduce the property tax burden on Nebraska residents through an increase in state aid to public schools. State Sen. Mike Moser was joined by the bills author, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who discussed the impact that the bill could have on CPS if enacted by the legislature and signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts. We have tried, and its very complicated because there are 244 different schools, to keep you as whole as possible, Linehan said. *The board also approved the calendar for the 2020-21 school year. The first days of school will be Aug. 12-17, with the last day of school being May 20, 2021. Teachers and faculty are contracted for 174 days. *The board also approved limits on open enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. Elementary schools will have a maximum of 275 students per grade, while Columbus Middle and High Schools will have a 290 student limit per grade. If a grade reaches or exceeds the limit, transfers and option enrollment will be restricted. Zach Roth is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at zachary.roth@lee.net. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Mizoram government is yet to notify the new prohibition rules, Excise and Narcotics Minister Dr K Beichhua told the state Assembly on Tuesday. In reply to a question from Congress member KT Rokhaw, Beichhua said the government has cancelled the notification issued in connection with the new liquor law on December 19 last year. He said that there is no prohibition rules in the state as of now. According to the minister, the government has closed all liquor shops, bonded warehouses and brewery after "The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019" came into force in the state. He said the government has also approved recruitment for 3 inspectors, 2 sub-inspectors, 45 constables, 4 upper division clerks and 2 lower division clerks to strengthen the department. In another reply, Beichhuah also said that the state government did not issue any license or permit for buying liquor. He said the government has not thought of opening wine shops as of now. Meanwhile, officials of Excise and Narcotics department said that drafting of the new prohibition rules is more or less complete. Fulfilling its poll promises the Mizo National Front (MNF) government headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga passed "The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Bill, 2019" in the state legislature on March 20 last year replacing the 4-year old "The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) or MLPC Act, 2014" introduced by the previous Congress government, that allowed opening of wine shops in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A cardiologist has praised Dublin Airports first responders for saving his life. Dr Farqad Alamgir was travelling to Ireland from Manchester when he experienced a serious cardiac event in Terminal 2 The Consultant Interventional Cardiologist was travelling through Dublin Airport on a regular trip to Ireland, where he works in a number of hospitals. After falling ill, Dr Alamgir was tended to by an Aer Lingus staff member who administered CPR until first responders arrived. Dublin Airports advanced paramedics administered life-saving drugs at the scene before transferring Dr Alamgir to the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where he underwent emergency heart bypass surgery. Having spent 30 years saving the lives of people who present with acute heart attacks, Dr Alamgir never imagined he would find himself on the other side of the fence. Dr Alamgir has said the speed of response from the team saved his life. "I remember getting off the aircraft at Dublin Airport, then the next memory I have is waking up in the Coronary Care Unit in the Mater Hospital," said Dr Alamgir. "I now know that Dublin Airports first responders used the Lucas CPR system giving me four shocks initially, then the skills of their Advanced Paramedic team administered urgent advanced life-saving drugs via an intraosseous needle into my shin, bringing me back after 17 minutes of downtime. The speed of the response not only saved my life, but the resuscitation was so effective that I have not suffered any neurological or cardiac muscle damage. Dr Alamgir said he was "so grateful and thankful to the team at Dublin Airport, the ambulance crews and the team at the Mater for giving me another opportunity to spend more time with my family." Dublin Airports defibrillator CPR programme has saved 32 lives since it was first introduced in 2003. The airport said that they have been strengthened with the addition of two fully trained advanced paramedics to the Dublin Airport Fire Service response team, with two more advanced paramedics currently in training. The Mater Hospital cardiac team said Dr Alamgir had been resuscitated by "a thoroughly professional and well-trained emergency response team at Dublin Airport." Speaking about the incident, Dublin Airport Chief Fire Officer Gerry Keogh said it was hugely rewarding and humbling when a passenger thanks the team for saving their life. "Our defibrillator programme began in 2003 and since then we have increased our defibrillator numbers to over 50 around the airports campus," said Mr Keogh. "We also have two fully-trained advanced paramedics and two in training, and their new skills greatly enhance the emergency medical response to any incident at the airport. "We were absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Alamgir back to Dublin Airport. Its a testament to the training, professionalism and team work of the airports first responders that he was in a position to come back and meet those who saved his life. Mr Keogh said that every life saved by the defibrillator programme had a profoundly positive impact on a wide range of people. Cementos Cienfuegos reverts to tyre burning to keep production going 18 February 2020 The Cuban government has ordered domestic cement factory Cementos Cienfuegos to used waste tyres as fuel to save on oil amid a worsening fuel shortages brought on by US sanctions on the Communist island. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has ordered the cement works, located in the center of the country, to receive an increasing supply of used tyres to burn, the official daily Granma said. Cuba has been suffering oil shortages since last September, when Trump administration imposed sanctions on ships carrying petroleum to the island from its main fuel supplier Venezuela. Officials said the cement business was currently burning between 130-150 tyres every day and aims to increase that to 400 a day, with the goal of reducing its consumption of fuel oil by five per cent. The cement plant is planning on importing 100,000t of crude this year, according to local sources. Published under Advertisement The Queen's nephew David Linley could be set for a battle over millions of pounds in assets with his wife after the pair announced they were set to divorce. The Earl of Snowdon and his wife Serena, Countess of Snowdon are splitting 'amicably' after some 25 years of marriage. The Earl, who is 21st in line to the throne, has amassed a fortune of millions and is famously motivated by wealth, once admitting that money 'drives him, and always has.' The couple and their two children, Charles, Viscount Linley, 20, and Lady Margarita, 17, are understood to divide their time between a flat in Chelsea, a 'tiny' cottage in Gloucestershire and the Chateau d'Autet in Provence. Serena is the daughter of debutante Virginia Freeman-Jackson and the 12th Earl of Harrington Viscount Petersham, the London landowner reportedly worth up to 250million. Her husband, meanwhile, owns Chateau dAutet, a 19th-century French hunting lodge in the foothills of Mount Luberon, France, which he bought for 800,000 in 1998. He was also bequeathed his late fathers Kensington townhouse. The property in west London's exclusive enclave was bought for Snowdon by the Queen for 70,000 on his divorce and held in trust for his children, and is now thought to be worth 10 million. The pair are now preparing to divide their combined wealth as they go their separate ways. Pictured left to right, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, and Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, attend the Alexander Dundas's 18th birthday party hosted by Lord and Lady Dundas on December 16, 2017 in London The Earl of Snowdon inherited his father's home in Kensington, west London - now thought to be worth some 10million The Earl owns Chateau dAutet, a 19th-century French hunting lodge in the foothills of Mount Luberon, France, which he bought for 800,000 in 1998 David, Earl of Snowdon and Serena, Countess of Snowdon at Royal Ascot in Berkshire on June 20, 2017 David and Serena have use of a cottage on the Gloucestershire estate of his friend Lord Bamford, the JCB construction boss The Earl's mother Margaret, the Queen's sister, died in 2002 and he became the 2nd Earl of Snowdon following the death of his father the Earl of Snowdon, celebrity photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, in 2017. Princess Margaret's tumultuous marriage to Lord Snowdon On February 26, 1960, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen had consented to Princess Margaret's engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones. They were married in Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a ceremony watched on television by more than 300 million people in 13 countries. The couple made their home in an apartment at Kensington Palace and in 1961 their son Viscount Linley was born, followed by daughter Lady Sarah in 1964. But the marriage was dogged by rumours Princess Margaret was having affairs, with rumoured dalliances with Mick Jagger and Warren Beatty. She was also alleged to have dated jazz pianist Robin Douglas Home in 1966. Pictures were also released of her spending time with Roddy Llewellyn on the island of Mustique in 1976. However, in March 1976, it was announced that Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, as he had become, had decided to separate and their marriage was dissolved on May 24, 1978. Advertisement The announcement is the second split to rock the royal household in a week, after the Queens grandson Peter Phillips announced he was to separate from his wife Autumn Kelly. In 1982, Linley founded his bespoke furniture making business, David Linley & Company, later known simply as Linley. The company also provides interior design and upholstery products. The Daily Mail reported on accounts filed in April 2017 which showed a return to profit for the company, with sales jumping from 6.9million to 13.5million while a loss of 1.9million turned into a profit of 337,000. The most recent accounts filed with Companies House for the year ended June 2018 show a turnover of 11.1million and profits of about 528,000. He has furnished yachts for Valentino and the Lebanese-Saudi socialite Mouna Ayoub and the company's client list also includes Sir Elton John and designer Lady Weinberg. He has remained chairman throughout several financial bailouts of the company. His wife Serena had her own shop in Chelseas fashionable Walton Street, called Serena Linley Provence from 2010 until 2014. Her products included a 33 body lotion, Margarita, named after the couples daughter, and 46 drawer liners. But she closed down the firm which sold scent, soap and perfume made from French lavender in 2014. Viscount Linley was understood to be a shareholder in his wifes business. The Earl has sparked controversy over the years with the decision to sell his family's possessions. He faced a backlash when he sold Les Jolies Eaux, his mother Princess Margaret's home on the Caribbean island of Mustique, while she was still alive. It was the only property she ever owned and, although the land was a wedding gift from her friend Lord Glenconner, she paid for the building herself. To her dismay, once the seven years had elapsed to escape inheritance tax, Linley sold it for around 2.1 million in 2000. Soon after, he splashed some 800,000 on a holiday retreat in the south of France. He bought the large hunting lodge in the foothills of Mount Luberon, his favourite retreat where he and his wife Serena spent holidays with their children, Charles and Margarita. It is where photographs were taken by a French paparazzo of the Duchess of Cambridge as she sunbathed topless in 2012. In 1999, the Earl is understood to have sold a flat in Battersea for a 1million profit and moved into the former apartment of his late mother in Kensington Palace. Then in 2004, he bought a 1million council-style flat above a row of shops in Chelsea before the couple purchased a 1.25 million Belgravia property, before selling it months later for a rumoured 3million. In 2002, the couple bought a 2.5 million five-bedroom townhouse in Marylebone, before moving out after an intruder broke in. The Earl sold Les Jolies Eaux, his mother Princess Margarets home on the Caribbean island of Mustique, while she was still alive, for 2.1million in 2000 to a venture capitalist Snowdon sold this Aston Martin DB5 convertible that his father gave him. It was previously owned by the late actor Peter Sellers The Earl and Countess of Snowdon at the V&A Museum in London on January 29, 2019 (left) and leaving St Margaret's Church in Westminster after their wedding on October 8, 1993 (right) The Queen, pictured today with the High Commissioner for Zambia Lieutenant General Paul Mihova at Buckingham Palace, is said to be 'saddened' by the news In 1980, he sold his late mothers Rolls-Royce, a customised Silver Wraith bought in 1980. The seats were specially upholstered in green cloth rather than leather, and the floor carpeted with green lambswool rugs. There were spotlights above the rear seat to ensure the Princess could be seen as she was driven at night, and the rear window ledges were covered in leather because she found it distracting to see her reflection in the polished walnut. Royal Rifts...Marriages that failed Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones Married: May 6, 1960 Divorced: Announced May 1978, after split confirmed in March 1976 Princess Anne and Mark Phillips Married: November 14, 1973 Divorced: April 23, 1992 Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Married: July 23, 1986 Divorced: Finalised May 30, 1996 Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer Married: July 29, 1981 Divorced: Finalised August 28, 1996 Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly Married: May 2008 Divorced: The couple remain married but separated in 2019 Advertisement The cars last official outing was to ferry mourners to her funeral at St Georges Chapel, Windsor. Soon afterwards, Linley sold the Rolls to a dealer. In 2006 he faced further outcry when he and his sister, Lady Sarah Chatto, auctioned their mothers jewellery and art. The 800 pieces, including the Poltimore Tiara she wore at her wedding to Lord Snowdon, were billed as being sold to make enough money to pay off an apparent 3million inheritance tax bill on her estate after she died in 2002. Lasting two days, it made 13,658,000 which, after deductions, Linley shared with his sister, Lady Sarah. The sale included his mother's favourite portrait of herself, painted by Pietro Annigoni in 1957. The painting was a sister to Annigoni's portrait of the Queen that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. The Princess hung it on a wall facing the front door of her apartment at Kensington Palace, a home Lord Linley and his family shared while between homes of their own. The hammer came down at 680,000 but later, it emerged it had been bought back in the auction by Lord Linley. It emerged that hidden in the detail, Annigoni had painted a tiny self-portrait and a glass tumbler hanging from a branch and containing a dark heart - undoubtedly Margaret's breaking heart. For she had sat for him two years after her break-up with Peter Townsend. The portrait of Princess Margaret was historic, and presumably of considerably greater value than previously thought. With his parents, Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret, in 1964. Born in 1961, David spent much of his early life at Buckingham Palace where he was schooled alongside Prince Andrew Then there is the Aston Martin DB5 convertible his father gave him. Lord Snowdon admired it so much when his friend, the late actor Peter Sellers, owned it that he persuaded him to sell it to him. Snowdon gave it to his son - who then sold it. Linley sold 60 percent of his company to British yacht broker James Edmiston for a $6.5 million cash infusion (just under 5m) in 2010 and 40 percent was kept by Linley, who remained chairman throughout these changes. Many are now wondering what will happen to his late fathers Kensington townhouse, where Linleys Seventies Fiat 500 is often parked these days. Bought for Snowdon by the Queen for 70,000 on his divorce and held in trust for his children, the property is now worth 10 million. Last night a spokesman for David and Serena said: The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced. They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family. FAIRFIELD, Calif. Some of the Americans who had been quarantined at Travis Air Force Base after being evacuated from the part of China that's the epicenter of COVID-19, initially known as the coronavirus, were released Tuesday morning. The Americans were evacuated earlier this month from Wuhan, the area believed to be the origin of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The travelers underwent a 14-day quarantine ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Amid all the gloom about the state of Britains wildlife, theres a glimmer of good news to be found in our rivers, ponds and lakes. The population of water-loving insects, in decline since the 1970s, has staged a remarkable recovery. And scientists think it is a result of measures to improve air and water quality brought in over the past half century. The study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution found the distribution of freshwater insects such as mayflies, dragonflies and caddisflies have surpassed 1970s levels. A mayfly is pictured above The researchers looked at the distribution of thousands of species between 1970 to 2015 from dragonflies to ants and lichen which have not been closely examined before, to see if their populations had slumped in the same way as those of birds, butterflies and mammals. They found land-based non-insect invertebrates, such as spiders, centipedes and millipedes, had seen an overall decline of seven per cent since 1970. But the study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution found the distribution of freshwater insects such as mayflies, dragonflies and caddisflies have surpassed 1970s levels. That follows a decline by almost half from 1970 to 1994, the researchers said. But they also warned that the increases had to be seen against a backdrop of decline over two centuries. Study co-author Professor Richard Gregory of University College London said: Our findings demonstrate that policies designed to safeguard the natural environment are working and can yield positive change. Trump has also derided the prosecution of his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, for lying to the FBI. Flynn, who is attempting to withdraw his admission of guilt, filed a motion Tuesday suggesting that Barr agrees the case was improperly handled. It is not settled that there was a valid predicate for any investigation of Mr. Flynn, defense attorneys wrote, citing Barrs public criticism of the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign. Barr . . . publicly stated [his] contrary position. Although one wouldve assumed the Ford trucks to get beautified, the collaboration surprisingly included the GMC Sierra in the mix as well. Tuscany also added the F-250 to the existing lineup of F-150 and GMC Sierra, and from the looks of it, it can be said that the best was saved for last. Tuscany Motor Company is not a new name in the aftermarket and performance equipment arena. The company has worked on the Ford Mustang and F-Series in the past, and now, it has tied up with Harley-Davidson to roll out some lip-smacking editions of these famous trucks. Exterior Offered in Agate Black, Star White, and Lead Foot Gray Harley-Davidsons Official Colors Around The Body Unique Grille Bezel Raptor-style Hood 22-inch Fatboy-Milled Wheels 37-inch BF Goodrich KM3 All-Terrain Tires Harley-Davidson Badge On The Fender Black Tonneau Cover With A Huge Bar and Shield Logo Harley-Davidson commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Fat Boy motorcycle by rolling out a blacked-out limited edition version. This edition is the inspiration for the F-250 as well. Other than the Agate Black, the truck can also be had in Star White and Lead Foot Gray exterior shades. Up front, the F-250 Harley-Davidson reflects the official colors of the iconic brand. There is a generous dose of orange on the black beauty to set it apart from the regular F-250s. The truck comes with a unique grille bezel that is slapped with the Blue Oval logo in the middle. The orange accents can be seen here spread across horizontally. Behind this is the honeycomb mesh grille that is outlined with an orange border at the top and on either side. The bottom border extends halfway into the bumper. The top of the bumper comes with the emblazoned Harley-Davidson moniker. To add to the ruggedness of the truck, the company also added integrated a light bar. This is complemented by two slim LED fog lamps on either side. Tuscany has also replaced the stock hood with an aggressive-looking, Raptor-style unit that features a honeycomb design on the air vents. The overall front fascia looks spectacular and Tuscany did a great job in highlighting the orange tastefully. However, it wouldve been interesting if the company could have somehow designed this to look like the shield logo of Harley-Davidson. Nevertheless, Tuscany needs to be lauded for the design because using such a contrasting color on a black shade could look gaudy and bizarre if overdone or not designed tastefully. The side profile of the Ford F-250 Harley-Davidson also looks as intimidating as the face. The truck rides on huge 22-inch Fatboy-milled wheels that are inspired by the namesake motorcycles set. The black wheels feature the Harley-Davidson Motor Company logo, too. These wheels are wrapped in 37-inch BF Goodrich KM3 all-terrain tires. To accommodate these wheels, new fender flares had to be added as well. The truck also comes with power running boards to help you climb inside this monstrous beast. The orange factor is further added on the fenders where it replaces the standard Ford F-250 badge. In Harleys speak, the badge is described as raised orange and dark finish perimeter accents and the Bar & Shield logo. Other than this, there is no chrome whatsoever on the sides. Even the telescopic mirrors and the window sills are blacked out. The front door features the Harley-Davidson lettering. Since the truck rides on 37-inch wheels, it goes unsaid that Tuscany gave it a lift job. The Ford F-250 Harley-Davidson is equipped with a BDS suspension setup with FOX off-road shocks and steering stabilizer. The Milwaukee-based company has also equipped this F-250 with exclusive solid aluminum black exhaust tips with orange accents. These performance-tuned exhausts will blare out a distinctive grunt that is sure to plaster a smile on your face every time you floor that A-pedal. Oh, and the windows are tinted in black for the absolute gangster look. All-in-all, trucks are known to have plain-Jane side profiles, but the Ford F-250 Harley-Davidson by Tuscany is different. There are no structural changes made to the derriere of this truck. The tailgate features the Blue Oval logo at the top and Harley-Davidson lettering in the middle. Surprisingly, there are no orange accents anywhere over here. Feels like a mismatch, somehow. But the exhaust pipes peeping from behind the wheels break the overall black look. To compensate for this, the company has equipped the truck with a black tonneau cover. It is embossed with a huge Harley-Davidson logo, but does not feature the companys name in letters. This cover also features a lock to protect the stuff in the bed. Interior Custom Leather Harley-Davidson Seat Covers Harley-Davidson Stainless-Steel Gauges Limited-Edition Number Plate On The Center Console Company-Branded Carpeted Floor Mats, Door Sills, And Billet-Racing Pedals On the inside, the truck is largely the same except for a few customized touches that can be counted on the fingers. The truck comes with custom leather Harley-Davidson seat covers with orange diamond embroidery pattern and badging.They match the exterior persona of the truck very well. The dash, doors, and steering wheel receive the piano black treatment. My favorite change here is the set of stainless-steel gauges. The Bar and Shield logo is backlit in orange and looks classy. Furthermore, the carpeted floor mats, door sills, and billet-racing pedals also receive the Harley-Davidson treatment. The truck will also come with a limited-edition number plate on the center console. It makes sense since only 250 of these bad boys will be built. Although this review focuses on the Harley treatments given to the truck, there are a few things that Ford could improve upon to keep up with the competition. There is obviously no dearth of space anywhere in the cabin and the truck comes with a fair bit of storage spaces. It is nowhere close to the Ram trucks cabin which comes with a smart storage system that offers up to 12 cubby holes and pockets. Since this package can be had on any F-250, the other features will vary depending on the trim you choose. Drivetrain 7.3-liter, V-8 Gasoline Mill 430 Horsepower 475 Pound-Feet Of Torque 10-Speed Automatic Gearbox Exclusively-Designed BDS Suspension FOX 2.0 Performance-Tuned Shocks Dual Steering Stabilizers Like I mentioned earlier, the truck can be had in any trim. That also means you can have the engine of your choice under the hood, including the new V-8 gasoline engine from Fords stable. This is a 7.3-liter, V-8 mill that makes 430 horses and 475 pound-feet of torque. In all likelihood, this engine will replace the existing 5.0-liter, V-8 Coyote engine. The Coyote is serving Ford for a long time now and the carmaker plans to put it to rest. The Blue Oval is also scaling down the production of this engine and might eventually phase it out by the time the 2021 F-150 is released. Power is sent to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The extra gears create a shorter ratio, thus allowing the transmission to play a lot more freely with the available power and torque. Ford offers two other engines on the F-250. The first one is the standard 6.2-liter, V-8 mill that develops 385 ponies and 430 pound-feet of twist. The other mill is the 6.7-liter, Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8 engine that churns out 475 horses and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. As for the towing figures, the F-250 comes with a maximum gooseneck tow rating of 37,000 pounds. It can also haul up to 7,850 pounds. Harley-Davidson and Tuscany havent made any changes to the performance specs of the truck. The only changes it brings include the exclusively-designed BDS suspension with FOX 2.0 performance-tuned shocks and dual steering stabilizers. Ford F-250 specifications 6.2-liter V8 7.3-liter V8 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 Configuration 90-degree V8, single overhead cams 90-degree V8, single in-block cams 90-degree diesel V8, single turbocharger, in-block cams and overhead valves Block/head material Cast iron block, aluminum heads Cast iron block, aluminum heads Compacted graphite iron block, aluminum heads Displacement 6.2 liters (379 cubic inches) 7.3 liters (445 cubic inches) 6.7 liters (406 cubic inches) Bore x stroke 4.02 inches x 3.74 inches 4.22 inches x 3.98 inches 3.9 inches x 4.25 inches Compression ratio 9.8:1 10.5:1 15.8:1 SAE horsepower 385 @ 5,750 rpm 430 @ 5,500 rpm 475 @ 2,800 rpm SAE torque 430 lb.-ft. @ 3,800 rpm 475 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm 1,050 lb.-ft. @ 1,600 rpm Pricing Tuscany has priced the Ford F-250 Harley-Davidson at $111,185. This makes it the most expensive truck to roll out of Tuscanys workshops. Final Thoughts Harley-Davidson is an iconic brand and such collaborations with automakers will only improve its credibility. Harley-Davidson also played it safe by making only cosmetic changes. Tying up with a brand like Tuscany further helped its cause. Overall, the package seems desirable and I dont see a reason as to why the company will struggle to sell the truck. The production is capped to 250 examples, thus making it a limited-run special edition truck. Despite the high price tag, Tuscany will be able to sell the truck, thanks to Fords robust truck reputation and Harley-Davidsons heritage. Fortunately, the three-year/36,000-mile warranty is retained as it is. All political parties today claim to be committed to developing India. Obviously, people desire development (vikas). The original meaning of vikas is blooming of a flower. Jain philosophers gave it the connotation of development. According to them, vikas is when the world is moving from great sadness to great happiness, avanati or regression is when it is moving in the reverse. Development is when the majority of people are moving from sorrow towards joy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now won for the third time. After winning the assembly elections, the party attributed its success to its development achievements, especially in education and health care. But its rivals also claim to be vigorously promoting development. Wherein, then, is the difference? I sought to understand what is going on by understanding peoples perceptions. So, after the AAPs second victory, I contacted a party volunteer, a little-educated young man looking for employment. He stayed with his wholesale fruit vendor uncle in a poor locality. I went there, and for four hours, listened to the conversations in the shop. The customers were those selling fruit on handcarts or by the roadside. They mostly talked politics. Most had voted for the AAP, and narrated that before the party came on to the scene, all political leaders arrived in fancy cars, sat on chairs while people sat down on the ground, never asked citizens what they wanted, but merely lectured them, and left. On the contrary, the AAPs leaders sit with the people on ground, ask them what they want, and what the party can do for them. The AAP, they said, engages in caring development; others pursue their own agenda with arrogance. It would appear that the AAP has delivered on its promises. Government schools have registered a pass percentage of 94.24% in Class 12 Central Board of Secondary Education examination, 3.5 percentage points higher than private schools. Many citizens of Delhi now prefer the efficient mohalla clinic to the long waits for overpriced doctor consultations at private hospitals. In stark contrast is the arrogance of development in Goa. In 2010, I was appointed to the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council, which was charged with suggesting appropriate directions for development in the coming years. In the first meeting, officials assured us that there were no problems with the mining sector. Distrustful of such statements, I went on field visits. There were reports of agitation against mining by residents of Caurem village in south Goa. So I began with Caurem, which is known for a picturesque waterfall. I bathed there, and then talked with locals, who narrated their woes. I then climbed to the mine on the hilltop. Every mine has to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that is scrutinised, and if accepted, the mine can operate under certain conditions. This mines EIA claimed that it would affect no water sources. It was required to keep intact the vegetation on the streamsides, and not block the water sources. In reality, several streams originating at the mine site were blocked and streamside vegetation destroyed. When I requested the manager to explain, I received an astonishing response. He stated that there were no blue lines in the geological map, and I was obviously under some illusion. When anger against such mismanagement could not be ignored, the Justice AP Shah Commission was appointed. Its 2012 report on illegal mining in Goa stated: [The] Mines and Minerals Act, was not observed, and no inspection was ever carried out resulting into fear-free environment which has caused loss to the ecology, environment, agriculture, ground water, natural streams, ponds, rivers, biodiversity, etc. It estimated illegal gains from such mining at ~35,000 crore. The report led to the suspension of mining. The Supreme Court then conditionally permitted resumption. Immediately, protests by Caurem villagers began to be suppressed. The villagers then set up a multi-purpose cooperative society and proposed to take up mining that would be conducted lawfully and, in an environment-friendly manner, ensuring that profits reached common people instead of a wealthy few. The government tried its best to discourage this effort, but the villages stood firm. It was then that their young leader, Ravindra, was unlawfully arrested and thugs were sent into the prison at midnight to liquidate him. Luckily, Ravindras screams attracted other prisoners, driving the thugs away. So Ravindra escaped with a broken arm. The crony capitalist alliance of mine operators, babus and netas are afraid of the gram sabhas (village councils) actually stepping in. So, without making any moves to collect the 35,000 crore of illegal gains, the government has handed the mining back to the same mine operators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked earlier of carrying out vikas as a jan aandolan (peoples movement), but in Goa, it has turned out to be a dhan andolan. As soon as the AAP won in Delhi, a Bharatiya Janata Party supporter sent me an email: This is a victory for handing out freebies. If such people take over our country will be reduced to the plight of Syria and Iraq. One may ask: Last year, the AAP spent on education and health care about a third of the Goa governments gift of 35,000 crore to guilty miners. What then will hurt India? The arrogant vikas in Goa, or the caring vikas in Delhi? Madhav Gadgil is Emeritus Scientist, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune Unviersity The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Civitas Senior Living, a senior living management company, and Journey Capital, a senior housing development company, have announced their plan to bring Harvest Senior Living -- a new, luxury independent living, assisted living and memory care community -- to Aledo, Texas. Both companies are local to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This will mark the third collaboration and partnership between Civitas and Journey Capital and the second Harvest Senior Living development. The first, Harvest of Roanoke, is under construction and scheduled for a June 2020 opening. "We're excited to continue our successful partnership with Journey Capital," said Wayne Powell, Founder and CEO of Civitas Senior Living. "Both companies share a passion for creating the finest upscale senior living accommodations and providing its residents a carefree lifestyle they will love. It's not just our job. It's our mission." The new, 68,000-square-foot community will be situated on 7.5 acres featuring 20 independent living villas as well as 70 assisted living and 20 memory care residences. Harvest of Aledo will be minutes away from Walsh Ranch, a $6 billion master-planned community that will eventually add 50,000 residents and more than 15,000 upscale homes to the area. "The greater area west of Fort Worth is booming," said Narayan Patel, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Journey Capital. "Living here provides the best of both worlds: Countryside charm married with big-city amenities. Residents of Parker County are accustomed to a high quality of life, and it's what we strive to provide every day with Harvest Senior Living." Harvest of Aledo will sport rustic, cozy Texas character while still providing upscale on-site amenities and services today's senior living resident demands including a full-service salon, creative arts studio, fitness center, personalized care plans, and handcrafted, chef-prepared dining options. Of particular importance is Harvest's connection to Aledo. "Harvest will be a community of active, passionate residents who call Aledo home and consider each other family," said Powell. "Our programming is designed to foster those relationships with the greater community. Harvest of Aledo isn't just a senior living community in Aledo. It is Aledo. And through our signature Passion Program, we will not only show that connection but live it daily." Civitas Senior Living's Passion Program provides Harvest of Aledo residents rich, full lives brimming with social engagements, fun activities, and personalized experiences propelled by attentive caregivers, overall wellness, and delicious food. "We believe that life is best when days are filled with passion and lived with purpose," said Powell. Civitas's revolutionary Passion Program keeps residents active and involved by enjoying memorable moments and celebratory events. Civitas' Passion Program is the cornerstone of the 41 senior living communities it manages across the U.S. Harvest Senior Living of Aledo is a collaborative effort between developer Journey Capital, management company Civitas Senior Living, Arrive Architects, and interior design firm Senior By Design. Groundbreaking is planned for June 2020 with a Winter 2021 opening. The community will be located across from Aledo High School along Bailey Ranch Road. For more information about Harvest of Aledo, please contact 817-564-8535. About Journey Capital Journey Capital is a Dallas-based investment and development company with a focus on senior housing properties. For more information about Journey Capital, please visit www.journeycaph.com. About Civitas Senior Living, LLC Civitas Senior Living is a senior living owner/operator, property management, and consulting company based in Fort Worth that specializes in the development, acquisition, and operational management of senior housing properties. These properties include assisted living and memory care residences and independent senior living facilities. Civitas is known for its signature Passion Program, which ensures a high-quality, comprehensive continuum of care through a unique integration of all the factors that affect community management. For more information about Civitas, please visit www.civitasseniorliving.com . Media inquiries can be sent to [email protected] 817-784-7591 SOURCE Civitas Senior Living Related Links https://civitasseniorliving.com Amid the ongoing protests in different parts of the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR), Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday (February 17) stressed that NPR will not be implemented in the state. It is to be noted that earlier Kerala and West Bengal have refused to implement NPR and Madhya Pradesh has become the first Congress-ruled state to say no to the 'controversial' exercise. The notification of National Population Register (NPR) being talked about is of December 9, 2019. The central government enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) after this notification, a statement issued from the Congress office on Monday quoting the CM said. Hence, the NPR notified (by the state government) has not been notified under CAA, 2019. It was done under rule 3 of CAA, 1955s rules-2003. But, anyway, the chief minister has made it clear that NPR will not be implemented in Madhya Pradesh as of now, the statement added. Notably, the proposed NPR is scheduled to be carried out along with the house listing phase of the Census exercise from April 1 to September 30. NPR has sparked massive protests across the country with many claiming that the exercise is linked to National Register of Citizens, which is meant to identify illegal immigrants. Live TV Earlier, the government had repeatedly maintained that NPR is the first step towards a nationwide NRC but the government is now claiming that the NPR and NRC are not interlinked and no discussion has been held on all-India NRC as of now. Kamal Nath issued the statement after Congress MLA from Bhopal Central, Arif Masood, highlighted the notification issued by the state government on December 9, 2019, regarding the implementation of NPR in the state. Masood appealed CM Kamal Nath to reject NPR and also warned him that failing to do so may force him to quit the party. A campaign would be launched from Bhopal on no CAA, no NRC and no NPR, he said. When Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat was pregnant with her first child, she learned that her father, Mira, was sick with pulmonary fibrosis and that her beloved uncle, Joseph, was in custody at the United States Immigration and Customs Krome Detention Center after fleeing gang violence in his native Haiti. That detainment would prove fatal for her uncle after his family said he was denied medicine he desperately needed. Danticats memoir Brother, Im Dying, chronicling the harrowing events that led to the deaths of her two close relatives, has been chosen as the One Book, One U read for the University of Miami community. I wrote the book to tell my familys story, the story of an immigrant family with hopes and dreams like any other family, said the author. She added that after her uncles death she received his briefcase that included the transcript of his interview with immigration officials. They didnt believe that he was really running for his life, even though he was an 81-year-old cancer survivor speaking with a voice box traveling with only a briefcase, Danticat said. After reading the transcript of his airport interview, the inhumanity of his questioners came through. They didn't see him as a person. Danticat hopes that members of the University community will see themselves in the book. We live in a city with a majority immigrant population, most of whom are recent arrivals, she said. This is a very difficult time for immigrants, who are constantly being maligned and stigmatized. I believe that sharing our stories and listening to the stories of other people make us more empathetic and much better neighbors. I also hope this book will inspire more of us to share our stories, as difficult as they might be. One Book, One U is a common read effort that invites everyone in the University community to read the book and encourages professors to assign the book in their classes. It is sponsored by various departments in both academics and student affairs, including the Office of Institutional Culture, Libraries, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Miriam Lipsky, assistant provost for the Office of Institutional Culture, said a selection committee made up of faculty members and students picked the book because it seemed tailor-made for the present times. With this year being the 10th anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, we chose Danticats book Brother, Im Dying because the selection committee felt that some of the books themesparticularly those related to immigration and health disparitieswere very timely and would resonate with the UM community, said Lipsky. The book, which was published in 2006, delves into themes of family separation, social injustice, and political and gang violence. But the memoir also illustrates the familial bonds that neither time nor space can change. Ultimately, the committee thought that Danticats memoir, Brother, Im Dying, would be a powerful selection, said Chantel Acevedo, professor in the English department and a noted author. The book centers on a family deeply affected by issues of immigration, a topic that is always timely, but even more so today as the country grapples with a crisis on the border. Danticat, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. and left her with her uncle Joseph and her aunt in Haiti, wrote not only about her uncle and fathers deaths, but also about her own journey from life in her native Haiti to arrival in the U.S. Patricia Saunders, associate professor of English and the Universitys Hemispheric Caribbean Studies Faculty Lead, is teaching the book in a class titled, What Moves You?Black Diaspora Literature and Visual Culture(s). In this case, the idea of movement is about migration, empathy, and political solidarity with immigrant communities. She thinks everyone should read the memoir and points to this excerpt from her syllabus for her reasoning: Given the increasing focus and debate on immigration and its impacts on North America, the need to understand the integral nature of immigrant communities and their contributions to what we now understand and refer to as the United States of America and American culture is more important than it has ever been. For professors who wish to teach only chapters from the book, Ava Brillat, learning and research librarian at the Otto G. Richter Library, and Roxane Pickens, director of the Learning Commons, have designed a readers guide that facilitates the lessons. It can be accessed through the librarys website. Danticat, winner of numerous literary awards including the 2020 Vilcek Foundation Prize, will speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Richter Librarys Kislak Center. The first 100 people to attend the event will receive a free copy of the book. Visit https://culture.miami.edu/programs/one-book/index.html to access other events related to Haiti or to the One Book One U selections. A Jacksonville Sheriff's office cruiser. Joe Raedle/Getty Images A 6-year-old kindergartner was held in a behavioral health center for two days without her mother's consent. The mother's attorney intends on taking legal action against the school. The involuntary hold was allowed under the "Baker Act," which is designed to commit those who are a risk to themself or others. Attorney Reganel J. Reeves believes the Florida law is being used too liberally and wasn't intended for a child "throwing a tantrum." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Florida kindergartner was taken from her school in a police car to a mental health center and held for two days all against her mother's wishes. The school utilized the "Baker Act," a Florida law that allows involuntary commitment if someone is a threat to themselves or others. An attorney for King's mother, who plans to take legal action against the school, said that the law is being used inappropriately. "They're liberally using the Baker Act," Attorney Reganel J. Reeves told Insider. "Instead of using it as a last resort, they're using it as a first resort." On Feb. 4 Martina Falk received a call from a mental health counselor at Lake Grove Elementary School in Jacksonville telling her that her 6-year-old, Nadia King, was throwing a tantrum. Nadia was taken to River Point Behavioral Health, an 84-bed center that treats patients for emotional, developmental, substance abuse and behavioral health issues, according to The New York Times. Declining to speak about Nadia's behavior, citing privacy laws, a spokeswoman for Duval Public Schools said that it wasn't the school that made the decision to Baker act, but rather a third party licensed mental health professional employed by Child Guidance. A spokesman declined to detail specifics of Nadia's behavior to the Times, citing privacy laws. Story continues An incident report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said that Nadia "was destroying school property, attacking staff, out of control and running out of school," the Times reported. "When a student's behavior presents a risk of self-harm or harm to others, the school district's procedure is to call Child Guidance, our crisis-response provider," the school district told the Times. Police body camera footage from Nadia's trip to the behavioral health center doesn't appear to show a child in crisis. In the video, which was viewed by Insider, the child can be heard talking calmly with the transporting deputy about snacks and her family. She tells the deputy her mother's name and the deputy tells her they're on a field trip. "She's actually been very pleasant," the deputy can be heard in the video telling a colleague who was tasked with following them in another cruiser to the facility. In the video, she also tells the other deputy that the girl had been "so cooperative." "I think it's more of them not wanting to deal with it," the second deputy said, apparently referring to the school. When Nadia's mother arrived at the mental health center, she was told that the girl was being held for 48-hours and she wasn't permitted to see her until 6:30 that night, Falk told the Times. Falk said that when she did see her daughter, the girl was sedated in a secluded room, Reeves said. "I was crying, I was hysterical, I was angry," Falk told the Times reporter on Monday. "I don't think she should have been Baker Acted. Why did they feel this was necessary?" "The officers in the video were not present during the events which motivated the school to call Child Guidance, our crisis response care provider," the schools spokesman Tracy Pierce said in a statement. "The police officers were also not present when Child Guidence was intervening with the student." Nadia, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and global developmental delay, is prone to outbursts and tantrums, her mother told the Times. She had enrolled Nadia at Love Grove Elementary, which has a student body of about 420, because of its services for children with special needs. Her mother has since moved Nadia temporarily to a school that specializes in teaching children with autism, Reeves said. Falk can't afford to keep her in the private school and is trying to find a public school option, Reeves said. Reeves said that the body camera footage, in which one of the deputies seems confused over why she was asked to transport the child, shows that the school overreached. Since the pending litigation was first reported, about 10 other parents have reached out to Reeves with similar stories of how their own children were treated under the Baker act. "Kids are being committed to mental institutions and they don't have to give [parents] any real notice of what happened," Reeves said. Falk couldn't immediately be reached for comment. "Right now she's just in the mode of trying to get her life back in order," Reeves said of Falk. "She's trying to work and try and take care of her child." Read the original article on Insider European stocks closed lower on Tuesday after Apple warned it may fall short of revenue forecasts on the back of the coronavirus outbreak, as fears over the potential economic fallout persist. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed provisionally down by around 0.5%, with most sectors and major bourses in the red. Basic resources stocks shed 2.1% to lead losses while telecoms shares bucked the trend to climb 1.1%. Tech giant Apple on Monday warned that it does not expect to meet its second-quarter revenue forecast due to lower global iPhone supply and weakened Chinese demand and production as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. As of Monday night, China's National Health Commission said a total of 72,436 people are confirmed to have contracted the new coronavirus and 1,868 have died. Apple suppliers led a sell-off in Asia overnight, with shares in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea all tumbling more than 1.3%. On Wall Street, shares also slumped with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 240 points by the time of Europe's close. Euro zone finance ministers met Monday to discuss fiscal policy options in a bid to boost the bloc's sluggish economy, with fears of a downturn growing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. On the data front, U.K. employment jumped again in the final quarter of 2019, seemingly defying a broader economic slowdown. However, total earnings growth including bonuses rose by an annual 2.9%, its weakest increase since the third quarter of 2018. The ZEW economic sentiment index showed that German investor confidence deteriorated drastically in February amid fears over the impact of the coronavirus on global trade. The monthly survey showed economic sentiment fell to 8.7 from 26.7 in January, against analyst expectations of a 21.5 reading. Stocks on the move The deadlines for sending applications for the post of CVC had been extended thrice between May and June 2019. New Delhi: With the key government anti-graft agency Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) functioning without a proper head since the past eight months, and the post of chief information commissioner (CIC) who heads the Central Information Commission, also lying vacant since more than a month now, the Prime Minister on February 18 will hold a meeting to initiate the process of finalising the candidates for the top two posts. According to highly-placed sources, Narendra Modi will chair the meeting of the selection panel for picking the candidates for the posts of chief vigilance and chief information commissioners, Tuesday. The shortlisted candidates, whose list is likely to be pruned further Tuesday (February 18), were around 100-odd in number after being whetted by the search committee. The Prime Minister heads the selection committee for choosing the chiefs of both the CVC and CIC. The selection panel also comprises the Union home minister and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. The key meeting comes at a time when the post of CIC has been lying vacant for more than a month now, after Sudhir Bhargava had superannuated on January 11, 2020, from the post of chief information commissioner. Significantly however, the post of chief vigilance commissioner has been lying vacant since June 9, 2019, after K.V. Chowdary left on completion of his tenure. Since then, vigilance commissioner Sharad Kumar has been functioning as interim CVC. The deadlines for sending applications for the post of CVC had been extended thrice between May and June 2019. Meanwhile in the CIC, apart from the post of chief information commissioner, four other posts of information commissioners too are currently vacant. Out of the sanctioned strength of 11, the CIC is functioning only with six information commissioners. Saudi airstrikes killed at least 32 civilians while wounding another dozen on Saturday, United Nations officials reported. This latest atrocity in the long list of war crimes by the US-backed Saudi-led forces in Yemens five-year-old war followed a rare shootdown of a Saudi Tornado jet aircraft Friday as it was carrying out combat operations over Yemens disputed northern province of Al-Jawf. The strike was described by Yemenis as a revenge attack for the downing of the plane. Those targeted included children who had gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft as well as families in nearby homes. Medical teams reported difficulty in reaching the wounded as Saudi jets continued to circle the area, threatening a double tap strike against first responders. Many of the wounded were in critical condition, and the death toll is expected to rise. The strike came amid a resurgence of fighting following a brief lull that was accompanied by an agreement on a prisoner swap between the Saudi-led forces and the Houthi rebels, who control Yemens most populous region in the countrys north, including the capital of Sanaa. Describing the latest bombing as shocking, Lise Grande, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, stated: So many people are being killed in Yemen; its a tragedy, and its unjustifiable. Under international humanitarian law, parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians. Five years into this conflict, and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility. While the bombing is no doubt a vicious crime against humanity, it is, after five years of such crimes, hardly a shock. Since the war began in March 2015, when the Saudi monarchy intervened in an attempt to reimpose the unelected puppet government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, an estimated 100,000 Yemenis have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands more have been wounded. Saudi bombings, including against homes, hospitals, schools, buses and weddings, are blamed for 67 percent of Yemens civilian casualties. The Saudi monarchy and its de facto head Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have enjoyed complete impunity in carrying out the slaughter of the Yemeni people thanks to the unstinting support from Washington, initiated under the Democratic administration of Barack Obama and continued under the Republican Donald Trump. While the United Nations Security Councilwhere Washington wields a vetohas imposed sanctions against the Houthi rebels, it has approved not a single resolution condemning the wholesale killings carried out by Riyadh. The US, meanwhile, backs the war of aggression against Yemen with the sale of hundreds of billions of dollars in weaponry to Saudi Arabia, the provision of intelligence used in selecting targets, the training of pilots and the continuous resupply of bombs, missiles and other military hardware. Until November 2018, the US Air Force was providing aerial refueling of Saudi bombers so that they could carry out round-the-clock airstrikes. The Trump administrations backing for the Saudi war in Yemen is bound up with its attempts to forge an anti-Iranian front based upon the Saudi monarchy, the Persian Gulf Sunni oil sheikdoms as well as Israel. Washington has continuously sought to cast the Houthi rebels as an Iranian proxy force and claimed that Tehran is providing them extensive military aid, though it has produced no evidence to support these charges. The war is being waged by the House of Saud because it fears the emergence of any government on its border that is not directly under its thumb and views the success of the Houthis as a potential inspiration for its own oppressed Shia minority to revolt. The US-backed Saudi war has produced the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the face of the planet. According to UN officials, 10 million Yemenis are living on the brink of famine, while roughly 80 percent of the countrys 24 million people are dependent upon humanitarian aid. The aid group Save the Children estimated last year that at least 75,000 Yemeni children under the age of five have starved to death since the onset of the war. Meanwhile, the country confronts the worst cholera epidemic on record, with an estimated 1.2 million people infected and at least 2,500 deaths, many of them children. Dengue is also rampant. This is the result not only of the Saudi bombing campaigns destruction of health care, water, sanitation and electrical infrastructure, but also a punishing blockade of the country enforced with the aid of the US Navy. Despite inflicting such carnage and massive human suffering, the US-backed Saudi intervention is no closer to achieving any of its objectives than it was five years ago. The Houthis have reportedly driven back Saudi-backed forces in the oil-rich province of Marib over the past week, the first time that they have taken territory there since the war began in 2015. There are also multiple indications that the so-called Saudi-led coalition, consisting of the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and a collection of mercenary outfits, is disintegrating. Sudan, under the longstanding dictator Omar al-Bashirtoppled in April of last yeardeployed, in exchange for Saudi money, an estimated 30,000 troops who were thrown into the most intense fighting and suffered heavy casualties. The minister of information of the countrys transitional government announced last week that Sudanese forces are being withdrawn from the country based on the conviction that military action will not solve the problem but rather make it more complicated. Similarly, the UAE, which had significant forces on the ground in Yemen, held a ceremony Sunday in Abu Dhabi in which senior members of the royal family greeted hundreds of troops returning from Yemen. The daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported that they constitute the largest number of UAE soldiers serving in the coalition in Yemen. Friction between the Saudis and Emiratis broke out last year after the UAE backed forces loyal to the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and its allied Security Belt Forces militia in taking over the southern port city of Aden and driving out the Saudi-backed elements loyal to the puppet president Hadi. The Hadi government, which is based in Riyadh, has accused the UAE of attempting to control the south and of seizing Yemens Socotra island. With or without the Sudanese and the Emiratis, the Saudi monarchy shows no sign of ending the war, nor does Washington indicate any intention of withdrawing its support for the slaughter. The Trump administration reiterated this backing last April when the US president vetoed a congressional resolution that would have required the Pentagon to end direct military support. While the legislation never had any prospect of securing the two-thirds vote in the Senate needed to override a presidential veto, several leading Democratic presidential hopefuls used the measure to make a phony appeal to popular antiwar sentiment in the US. Similarly, an amendment to the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that would have barred the US from providing targeting assistance or any direct aid to the Saudi-led war was quietly dropped from the massive $738 billion military spending bill in December as part of the final deal struck by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans. New Delhi: India is safe from the havoc of deadly coronavirus. More than half of the prevented people have been asked to leave the camp at ITBP camp in Delhi's Chawla. The medical team gave a health certificate to the stopped people and said that now you are free to go. The Indian government was airlifted to 650 Indians and 7 Maldives citizens from the Wuhan city of China, badly hit by the Coronavirus. Death toll in China rises, number of infected people reaches to 59,989 A camp was prepared for 409 of them at Chawla, where they were monitored. On Monday, around 200 people were found correct and were told that they could go now. Many students, yoga instructors, businessmen and professors are also among the people discharged from the camp. On 1 February, those who were brought to Delhi from Wuhan by the first flight included Inaya Bhandari. Amit Shah on Babulal Marandi's homecoming, says- "His stature is the greatest" Inaya is just 2 years old. Inaya has Inaya's mother Nutan Bhandari and father Dhirendra a yoga teacher. Sharing his experiences, Nutan said, 'We were hearing about the Coronavirus since December 2019. Till then it was not so dangerous. But by the end of January, the matter had become serious. We contacted the Indian Embassy. His attitude was very positive, he also helped. FATF: India spoke on Pakistan's role regarding terrorist funding The Great Wall of Carolina Remembering the Days: A UofSC Podcast Episode 2 It's nearly seven feet tall, 3,000 feet long and is made of 160,000 bricks. And it's older than half of the buildings on the University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe. It's the campus wall, a structure that never succeeded in its original purpose keeping mischievous 19th century students on campus. But during one tumultuous night in 1865, the wall very likely saved the campus from a fire that consumed one-third of the surrounding city. Transcript The Great Wall of Carolina Im walking down Greene Street, next to the University of South Carolina campus, and Ive got a riddle for you I want you to guess what Im looking at. Here are some hints. Its the most overlooked structure on campus; its older than half of the buildings on the Horseshoe and OK, heres the giveaway its nearly seven feet tall and 3,000 feet long. Yep, its the campus wall, all 160,000 bricks of it. Im Chris Horn, your host for Remembering the Days, where we amble across the Horseshoe and take a stroll down more than 200 years of memory lane at the University of South Carolina. Today were talking about lets call it the Great Wall of Carolina. Its a story that involves thousands of bricks, a catastrophic fire and a lot of mischievous students. And it was because of those students that trustees began advocating for a wall around South Carolina College the precursor of todays university as early as 1807, just two years after the campus opened. Trustees thought that walling the students in would put an end to their drinking at nearby taverns like Billy Maybins hotel and Briggs Tavern. Those were some of the popular watering holes back then sort of the 19th century version of Five Points. It took a long while for the wall to get built construction finally began in 1835 and it was completed in 1836. West: And so the decision was made to try to force the young men to stay on the campus. The facultys duties included trying to catch students when they were sneaking back on campus at night and the faculty were not pleased that it was included in their duties. So when the wall was constructed they actually wanted it to be pretty formidable in order to keep the students from sneaking off campus. So it was originally seven feet tall, solid brick all the way around the quadrangle, and only one entrance on the Sumter Street side. That was it. All these pedestrian and vehicle pathways were used to now, they did not exist in the original wall. Thats Elizabeth West, the university archivist. She says that even with just that single opening in the wall, the plan to keep students confined to campus was a massive fail. West: The wall was a failure in its original intent of preventing students from leaving campus. It was seven feet tall and quite thick with just a single entrance but these young men simply found ways to help each other climb over the wall and then continue their pursuits in Columbia taverns and eating establishments and visiting family, things like that, so, it was a failure in that sense. When you look at the wall now, its obvious that a lot has changed over time. For starters, it has dozens of openings for pedestrians and vehicles and one part of the wall is completely gone. West: I have called it the most altered and abused structure on campus because it has been opened and closed and opened again and lowered and raised and lowered again. Vehicles have bumped into it. The wall encloses the equivalent of about 12 city blocks of the universitys original campus, and it was changed significantly in the 1880s. Thats when the section along Sumter Street was lowered and topped with wrought iron railing. In the late 1890s, the single gate on Sumter Street was replaced by two separate gates. That changed the shape of the main pathway inside from a large oval that looked like a racetrack to an upside-down U or a Horseshoe shape and now you know how that part of campus came to be known as the Horseshoe. About 10 years ago a public history class at the university taught by professor Robert Wyeneth began studying the history of enslaved people at South Carolina College, and they learned that the campus wall was composed of brick that were hand-made by enslaved artisans. Some of those brick came from clay deposits beside the Congaree River here in Columbia and some came from Charleston. All of those handmade brick were painstakingly laid by enslaved brick masons. Theres a lot more to be said about the universitys history with enslaved people if youre interested, check out the episode entitled Looking for Jack. The students in that history class also conducted a survey of the wall, which showed that parts of it were falling apart. That led to a massive renovation over a two-year period that involved using a special type of mortar that allows those old, handmade brick to shrink and expand without cracking or splitting. Before the renovation began, the students found a brick with indentations left behind by human fingers, probably the result of someone handling the clay before it was fired in the kiln. That special brick is now in the collections at McKissick Museum on the Horseshoe. When I heard about it, I just had to go see it. Ciccimurri: What we have here are two bricks that were from the original wall that was around the Horseshoe. Thats Christian Ciccimurri, the collections curator for McKissick. Ciccimurri: The corners are kind of knocked off but you can very easily see there is definitely four fingerprints right in the edge, the short edge, of the brick An original brick from the campus wall I found myself wanting to place my fingers in the exact spot where someone probably a slave had left their finger prints nearly 200 years ago. Apparently, everyone who sees this brick has the same reaction. Christian actually mentioned two bricks. One of them is from the wall and the other is from some renovations at the South Caroliniana Library. If you go to McKissick Museum and ask nicely, theyll probably let you see them. So, one more thing about the Great Wall of Carolina. I know Elizabeth said the wall was a failure at doing what it was originally intended to do keeping the students on campus. But the wall actually saved the campus in 1865 when Gen. Shermans troops torched Columbia near the end of the Civil War. West: The wall actually rendered its finest service to the university during the burning of Columbia in 1865 when about one-third of the city of Columbia burned during that night, the night of Feb. 17th, 18th. West: We have an eyewitness account describing that the flames swept up to the very walls of the campus. So we know that without that wall there, again, still a very solid wall without all the entrances we have in it now, it really helped protect the campus. We could have lost all or some of the original buildings on the campus if the wall had not been constructed so it was very fortunate. So, apart from the fact that it saved the campus from destruction in 1865, why should we even care about this wall? As Elizabeth says, most people tend to walk by walls without really seeing them or thinking about them. I asked Emily Jones, the universitys landscape architect who oversaw the recent renovation of the wall. She says even if you dont consciously notice it, the wall nevertheless affects your experience of campus. Jones: It really defines space and even though its just a simple brick wall it really gives the core of campus an identity and you know when youre stepping through a portal whether one of the more elaborate gates or just an opening in the wall, youre stepping on to campus. And with our location here in the middle of a capital city in the middle of an urban grid, it really gives the core campus an identity. I also think it enriches our daily experience of the campus. Older building, large trees, the patina of older materials just enriches your daily experience of the urban campus. I agree with Emily. The history of the original campus is intertwined with the history of the wall itself. Its the story of 19th century neer-do-well students jumping over it; of enslaved masons making each brick by hand; and of the 7-foot-tall barrier of brick stopping a massive blaze in its tracks. Lets give the Great Wall of Carolina its due. Thats all for now. See you next time on Remembering the Days, a production of the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at the University of South Carolina. Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about In a photo she shared on her Facebook page, Jennifer Hays smiles brightly as she holds two squirming babies. I am literally holding in my arms the answers to so many prayers, she wrote, describing her daughter, Ava Joye, and her son, Harvey Ross. Since Harvey was born almost a year after Jennifer and her husband Matt adopted Ava, the two have been inseparable Harvey, at 18 months, blond and blue-eyed and long-legged like his daddy, and Ava, whose thick black hair is almost as long as she is tall and who wears little lilac-colored glasses. Ava was born in California to Chinese parents. After her birth parents learned that their baby would have multiple physical abnormalities, the family traveled to the United States on legal visas prior to her birth in order to get the medical attention she needed. They intended to deliver the baby and return to China, but they felt that Avas special needs were too severe to be treated there. Meanwhile, in the fall of 2017, Jennifer and Matt, who had tried for a couple of years to have a baby of their own, were approved quickly through Special Angels Adoption to become adoptive parents. They werent specifically looking to adopt a child with special needs, but when they saw two pictures of tiny, one-month-old Ava, just before Christmas that year, they fell in love with her. She fell in our lap, Jennifer says. We didnt have to search, Wed been praying for it for so long. The couple flew from McCalla to California, met Avas parents and proceeded with an adoption that gives both sets of parents an open relationship. They visit every birthday, says Jennifer. When they adopted her, the couple knew that Ava was missing her left femur but had no idea about her many other medical issues. Jennifer explains that Ava was born with no hip sockets; her left leg is frozen at a 90-degree angle; she lacks muscle tone below her waist; she has many vertebrae abnormalities; she must be fed through a J-tube in her stomach; and she has a heart condition. She sees at least 25 specialists, says Jennifer, and she faces many surgeries and unknowns. Despite all that, Ava is thriving in the loving environment her parents have provided for her especially since the birth of her younger brother, Harvey, who came as a surprise to Jennifer and Matt. A month after they brought Ava home from California, they found out Jennifer was pregnant. Harvey has been a huge blessing to his parents and to Ava. During her first year, Ava seemed like a serious baby who would stare intensely. She was probably just taking it all in, because now her spunky, sassy personality has emerged. Harvey has helped with that, says Jennifer. Shes much more animated now. They really are bffs. Obviously, shes older than him, but physically theyre like two peas in a pod. They adore each other. As her little brother achieves milestones like eating solid food, rolling over and crawling, Ava seems determined to follow. Once, Jennifer and Matt were told that Ava probably wouldnt be able to sit up due to her lack of muscular strength and balance. This past fall, she started crawling, and recently Ava shocked everyone when she pulled herself up onto a walker and started walking, a huge smile on her face. We thought she couldnt walk, but she could, Jennifer says. I cried and cried. Her speech has picked up recently, too. A favorite phrase is, Walk, please? Ava is walking with a walker!!! You guys I cannot even say this is a goal we have been working towards. I honestly didnt know it would be possible. I fully believe Ava is capable of ANYTHING but I didnt even know they made walkers this small! We are so thankful for the The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs and all of the resources they have! #avajoye #smallbutmighty #avawalking #movingmountains #beyondthankful Posted by Jennifer Hays on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 For now, Avas medical team is in a wait-and-see mode regarding treatment for her abnormalities and the possibility of prosthetic legs in the future, Jennifer says. Shes surpassing everything they thought was possible, she says. Its like, Lets wait and see what Ava can do. She still has a lot ahead of her, she says. The beautiful thing is, she was born this way. This is her normal, and she just makes the best of it. On her Facebook page, where Jennifer often posts updates on Avas progress, she once wrote: I see it as a privilege to be Avas advocate when she cannot be. I see it as a privilege to make sure that she has every possible opportunity in life to succeed. I see it as a privilege to love her. I do not take this lightly. Whatever is ahead for Ava, her mom will be there to support her. I hope she has a healthy life and that shes able to do everything she sets her mind to do, Jennifer says. On Facebook, she often refers to her daughter as a warrior whos small but mighty and moving mountains. Daily, she hits obstacles, but she keeps fighting! Nothing will stop her! she wrote proudly. One day, Jennifer hopes to take Ava to China, to show people her amazing progress. I would love for them to see that these lives are valuable, and God doesnt make mistakes. Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, a rights group said Tuesday. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International. China's ruling Communist Party has severely curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students. The death this month of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the deadly new virus before dying of it himself triggered rare calls for political reform and freedom of speech. The "Chinese government's battle against the coronavirus has in no way diverted it from its ongoing general campaign to crush all dissenting voices," said Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, in an emailed statement. Another source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said Xu had been arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou police did not respond to requests for comment. Xu went into hiding after authorities broke up a December gathering of intellectuals discussing political reform in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, prior to the coronavirus crisis. Over a dozen lawyers and activists were detained or disappeared after the Xiamen gathering, according to rights groups -- and Xu's detention appears linked to his presence at the meeting, explained Poon. But while on the run, Xu continued to post information on Twitter about rights issues. On February 4 Xu released an article calling on Xi to step down and criticised his leadership across a range of issues including the US-China trade war, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests and the coronavirus epidemic, which has now killed nearly 1,900 people. "Medical supplies are tight, hospitals are filled with patients, and a large number of infected people have no way to be diagnosed," he wrote. "It's a mess." "The coronavirus outbreak shows just how important values like freedom of expression and transparency are -- the exact values that Xu has long advocated," Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. But the disappearance of Xu illustrates how the Chinese state "persists in its old ways" by "silencing its critics", she said. Xu -- who founded a movement calling for greater transparency among high-ranking officials -- previously served a four-year prison sentence from 2013 to 2017 for organising an "illegal gathering". "That he was a fugitive for so many days while continuing to speak out, that in itself was... a kind of challenge to (Chinese authorities)," said Hua Ze, a long-time friend of Xu who told AFP she lost contact with the Chinese activist on Saturday morning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JACKSON, MI Jackson County could join a growing list of Michigan counties to adopt a resolution supporting gun rights. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution at its Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting to make the county a Second Amendment sanctuary county. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on the fifth floor of the Jackson County Tower Building, 120 W. Michigan Ave. Through the resolution, the board would support the sheriff and prosecutor in efforts to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law. The full proposed resolution can be seen, here. A number of county commissioners suggested support when the resolution was brought to the board in January by a grassroots group. Concern sprouted in response to Virginia passing red-flag gun laws, which would allow law enforcement to confiscate guns from people who are deemed a threat. "If someone doesn't like what you have to say, they'll just get on the phone and say, 'Hey, this guy's threatening to shoot up a school,' or something," said Bob Wilson, chairman of Jacksons sanctuary county group. "And then they'll just show up and grab it, just because somebody wants to lie." Oscoda, Lapeer and Kalkaska counties are among the areas that have already approved such a resolution. The state House of Representatives is considering a similar resolution. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, is among the co-sponsors. Several Michigan counties are voting on resolutions to designate them as "Second Amendment Sanctuaries." Related news: Some lawmakers support making Michigan a Second Amendment sanctuary state 5 things to know about the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement in Michigan You cannot have our guns: Group urges Jackson to be 2nd Amendment sanctuary county KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Veteran deal lawyer David R. Rudd has joined Husch Blackwell as a partner in the firms Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry group. His practice is focused on complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and related financings for public and private companies and private investment funds. Considered one of the leading corporate lawyers in Utah, Rudd is ranked in the Chambers USA legal directory, which notes that he has notable experience in corporate matters, including the negotiation of complex M&A and financing deals and that he often represents clients in the private equity sphere. Rudd is based in Husch Blackwells new Salt Lake City office. We think very highly of David and the incredible track record of success he has amassed during his career, said Joe Orlet, the leader of Husch Blackwells Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry group. David will be a valuable resource for our clients who are contemplating transactions, both here in the U.S. and crossborder, and his experience as a problem-solver and someone who get things done is a great fit with our industry-focused team. Rudd has handled deals across an impressive range of transaction types, industries, and geographies, including the Peoples Republic of China and numerous Latin American countries. Rudd has resided outside of the U.S. for much of his career, either on a full- or part-time basis, including over a decades residence in Mexico City. He is trusted by U.S.-based and international clients to navigate the cultural and commercial challenges inherent in crossborder investments and acquisitions. He also has substantial experience with guiding non-U.S. companies through the complexities of accessing the U.S. capital markets. The more I learned about Husch Blackwell, the more apparent it became that this firm was an excellent fit for me, said Rudd. Husch Blackwell has long been regarded as a leader in the area of middle-market M&A, but the firms platform scales up easily, enabling it to tackle larger transactions when needed. My clients will appreciate the high level of client service that defines Husch Blackwell, as well as the highly talented transactional teams we can field. Rudd has a B.A. from Brigham Young University and graduated in 1982 from Pepperdine University School of Law. He is a Trustee of the World Trade Center, Mexico Utah Business Council, and the Wayne Brown Institute. He has served as a lecturer at the David Eccles Graduate School of Business at the University of Utah and frequently speaks at leading conferences on topics related to international and domestic business and legal matters. # # # About Husch Blackwell Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused law firm with offices in 18 cities across the United States. The firm represents clients around the world in major industries including energy and natural resources; financial services and capital markets; food and agribusiness; healthcare, life sciences and education; real estate, development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation. For more information, visit huschblackwell.com. Manama Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), yesterday received Board Chairperson and members, former Heads and founders of Bahrain Businesswomen Society marking the societys 20th anniversary. She praised the outstanding economic achievements of Bahraini women and their remarkable role in the business sector. She underscored SCWs keenness on backing the national efforts to carry out strategies aimed at further engaging women in a productive and competitive economy. HRH Princess Sabeeka lauded the role of the founders of Bahrain Businesswomen Society in laying the foundation stone of the first specialised society at the Gulf level concerned with womens affairs in the commercial field. She praised the societys role in boosting economic and social relations between Bahraini businesswomen and enhancing their contribution to economic activities. HRH Princess Sabeeka listened to a briefing by Bahrain Businesswomen Society Chairperson Ahlam Janahi on the societys activities and programmes. Ms Janahi expressed sincerest thanks and gratitude to HRH Princess Sabeeka for her unflinching support to Bahraini women, recalling her contribution as Honorary President of the Society when it was set up in 2000. The meeting also cast light on figures confirming the numerous accomplishments of Bahraini women in the economic field. Saudi Arabias oil exports dropped by 10.75 percent year on year in 2019, according to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI), as carried by local news outlet Mubasher. The total Saudi oil exports, including crude oil and petroleum products, averaged 8.339 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2019, down from an average 9.344 million bpd in total oil exports in 2018, according to JODI data quoted by Mubasher. According to the data released by the JODI database, which collects self-reported figures from 114 countries, Saudi Arabias crude oil exports in December remained unchanged month on month at 7.37 million bpd. Throughout 2019, Saudi crude oil exports did not exceed 7.4 million bpd in any month, JODIs data showed. In September, Saudi Arabias crude oil exports dipped to a 22-month low of 6.67 million bpd, when the Kingdom was hit by attacks on its oil infrastructure that knocked 5 percent of global daily supply offline for weeks. Throughout last year, the Saudis exported less crude than in 2018 and less than in the 2014-2018 average as the Kingdom was trying to reduce supply to the most transparently reported inventories in the U.S., while keepingand where possible boostingmarket share in Asia. So far into 2020, Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers in the Middle East are grappling with the black swan oil demand slump in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The slowdown in Chinas industrial activity is causing the worst shock to oil demand in over a decade, Jeff Currie, global head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs, said in an interview on Bloomberg earlier this month. Saudi Arabia reacted to the depressed demand in Asia by slashing its official selling prices (OSPs) to the region for March. Saudi Arabia-led OPEC is pushing for additional production cuts in Q2 in response to the depressed demand, but its key partner in the deal, Russia, has not come up yet with an official position on whether it would support deeper cuts. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Experts said the findings are a 'valuable' insight into what drives crime. Hardened criminals have an abnormal brain structure and display aggressive behaviour from early childhood, a major study suggests. Brain scans of almost 7,000 people aged 45 were analysed - a third had a history of antisocial behaviour ranging from physical fighting to truancy. People with a lifetime of convictions behind them had structurally smaller and thinner brains, some of which were in areas responsible for behaviour and emotion control. Researchers also looked at their criminal records and questioned their teachers and nursery staff, identifying a group of 80 adults with a persistent history of antisocial behaviour and physical violence, ranging from biting other children in nursery to domestic violence as an adult. Those who had only caused trouble as adolescents did not have significant brain differences compared to the general population, however. Experts said the findings are a 'valuable' insight into what drives crime and how to prevent it happening. Life-long criminals have smaller brains and it may explain why they lie, steal or are violent, scientists say. They analysed brain scans of almost 700 people. Pictured: The average brain of a life-long criminal. Blue areas indicate which parts are smaller when comparing to someone who has never committed a crime. The darker the shade of blue, the stronger the change was Pictured: The brain of an average life-long criminal from four angles. The blue areas are where the cortex is statistically thinner when comparing to someone who has not committed crime The study led by University College London and published in The Lancet used data from a cohort of 672 people from New Zealand. The participants' level of antisocial behaviour had been measured every two years from the age of seven to 26 using self-reporting and reports from parents, carers and teachers. The participants were followed through adulthood, and 80 had what the researchers call 'life-course-persistent' antisocial behaviour. They had been convicted five times between the age of 26 and 28. A total of 151 had adolescent-only antisocial behaviour, and 441 had no history of persistent antisocial behaviour. The researchers took MRI brain scans of participants at the age of 45 and compared the cortical surface area and cortical thickness of 360 different regions of the cortex. On average, across the entire brain, those who were antisocial into adulthood had a smaller surface area in 282 of 360 brain regions than people who had no history of antisocial behaviour. They also had thinner cortex in 11 of 360 regions. The areas effected have been previously linked to antisocial behaviour through their involvement in regulation of emotions, motivation and goal-driving behaviour. Co-author Dr Terrie Moffitt said: 'I think what we've seen with these data is they are actually operating under some handicap at the level of the brain, so I think for me, this changes my conception of the "life course persistent" antisocial individuals now, to thinking of someone who is living life with some level of disability, and coping with that as part of their lifestyle.' The authors say the study provides the first robust evidence to suggest that underlying brain differences are linked to antisocial behaviour. Study lead author Dr Christina Carlisi said those who commit crimes their whole life could benefit from 'more support throughout their lives'. She said: 'Our findings support the idea that, for the small proportion of individuals with life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour, there may be differences in their brain structure that make it difficult for them to develop social skills that prevent them from engaging in antisocial behaviour.' Widespread differences in brain structure were not found for the adolescence-limited group compared with either the general population or the life-long antisocial group. The researchers said these findings have implications for the way the criminal justice system treats juvenile offenders. Pictured: The average brain of a life-long criminal from four angles. The shades of blue indicate the regions which were smaller compared to an adolescent-only criminal. The darker the shade, the stronger the changes WHAT ABOUT HEAD INJURIES? Scientists have repeatedly shown that head injuries are related to crime. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause lacerations and bruising to the brain. Internal bleeding can also occur. Up to 60 per cent of those in custody have experienced a severe blow to the head, whether from falls, assaults or road accidents, according to UK researchers who published findings in 2018. Results of the study further reveal TBI-suffering prisoners are more likely to behave badly in custody, reoffend and engage poorly with any treatment they receive. Such injuries, which affected serial killer Fred West and the notorious Kray twin gangsters, are thought to alter the brains structure, making individuals less capable of regulating their behaviour and more at risk of psychiatric disorders. Professor Huw Williams, associate professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Exeter, led the study published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry. He commented on today's study, which found life-long criminals have smaller brains. The team analysed the brain scans controlling for head injuries, as well as IQ and socioeconomic status, for example. But Professor Williams said he would have liked to have seen the researchers account for TBI more. The data showed a 'lifetime history of head injuries' was reported by 11 per cent of life-long criminals, 19 per cent of adolescent criminals, and 10 per cent of the normal population. Professor Williams said: 'We now know that relatively mild TBIs can have an effect on young peoples brains in the longer term. Especially if repeated. 'By age 45, people may not recall such events - or see them as serious enough to report. 'That being said, this is a fascinating, and well conducted study which helps us piece together the neuroscience of crime.' Advertisement They said the majority of adolescent offenders have a short brush with crime but do not continue displaying antisocial behaviours into adulthood. This makes them 'really good candidates to reform and rehabilitate'. Dr Carlisi said: 'Most people who exhibit antisocial behaviour primarily do so only in adolescence, likely as a result of navigating socially difficult years, and these individuals do not display structural brain differences. 'It is also these individuals who are generally capable of reform and go on to become valuable members of society.' Dr Moffitt said: 'Political approaches to juvenile offending often swing back and forth between punitive measures and approaches that give young offenders room to reform. 'Our findings support the need for different approaches for different offenders.' Dr Moffitt cautioned against brain imaging as a screening tool to identify people who may become life-long criminals. This is because the understanding of brain structure differences are not robust enough to be applied on an individual level. As well as this, the team acknowledged the MRI scans were taken at the age of 45, therefore it is not clear if the structural brain differences were a cause of antisocial behaviour, or a result of a troubled life associated with crime. Those who commit life-long crimes may have smaller brains because they do drugs, smoke, suffer poor mental health or have a lower IQ - more research is needed to find this out. Co-author Professor Essi Viding said: 'It is unclear whether these brain differences are inherited and precede antisocial behaviour, or whether they are the result of a lifetime of confounding risk factors (eg, substance abuse, low IQ, and mental health problems) and are therefore a consequence of a persistently antisocial lifestyle.' Speaking at a Science Media Centre conference, academics who were not involved in the study welcomed the findings - the largest to compare brains in people with varying criminal tendencies. Professor Huw Williams, associate professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Exeter, said the study is 'fascinating'. He said: 'This is a valuable and insightful contribution to the debate on what drives crime. 'There is, clearly, a strong theme that the brain systems for controlling mood and behaviour is somewhat different in those who go on to offend beyond the adolescent period. 'This reinforces the need to help children and young people who have trouble "self-regulating" to get help at the earliest opportunity to reduce risk of escalation of behaviour. 'Maybe in schools, to help manage behaviour that could lead to school exclusion.' Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics, The Open University, said: 'These research findings are consistent with the hypothesis that life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour arises as a result of abnormal brain development 'The study cant tell us from what age those brain differences were there, because the participants brains were scanned only at age 45. 'One possibility is that the differences arose at some time long after early life. In that case they cant be the cause of life-long anti-social behaviour, because they happened after the anti-social behaviours began. 'Another possibility is that the differences were there right from a very early age for some reason, perhaps genetic.' Still, the companys chief financial officer, Brett Biggs, cautioned that the coronavirus situation was still too fluid to make any definitive pronouncements about how it could play out for Walmart. Mr. Biggs said it was possible that the fallout from the virus could have a couple of cents negative impact on earnings per share in the coming quarters. The viruss impact on Walmarts supply chain is also uncertain, but the retailers executives suggested that the effect could be more muted than at other companies. If the coronavirus continues to idle factories over the next few months, Walmart said there could be some impact on shipping. But Walmart also stressed that two-thirds of the products it sells which now consist primarily of food are sourced from the United States. The other third comes from countries like China, other parts of Asia and Mexico. Walmart declined to specify how many of its goods were made in China, but Wells Fargo analysts recently estimated that 15 percent of its merchandise came from that country. Other retailers, like Target and Best Buy, have much higher exposure to Chinese manufacturing. Walmart was one of the first American companies to source its merchandise in China. But as the Chinese economy has evolved, the cost of manufacturing there has increased, prompting companies like Walmart to source their goods in less costly countries. Fishing For Love: How To Catch A Thai Bride Rating: Confronting Holocaust Denial With David Baddiel Rating: Nurse! Im confused. Either I havent had my tablets today or the telly has become quite bewildering. Im still trying to puzzle out that ending to Agatha Christies The Pale Horse on Sunday night, which saw Rufus Sewell pick up a newspaper from his doorstep and read about his own death on the front page. Please send me a postcard if Im missing something obvious, but are we really meant to believe that those witches (harmless fortune-tellers until that point) could deliver a curse so deadly that a bloke wouldnt even know he was dead till he saw the headlines? I cant work that out. Today, more than 900 Thai women are married to local Danes, with most of the men many years older than their wives. Sommai and Niels are pictured above in Pattaya Blame screenwriter Sarah Phelps, who adapted the book for TV. Dame Agatha would never have settled for a supernatural cop-out as an ending. But I wonder what Miss Marple would have made of matchmaker Sommai, whose story was told in fragments on the Storyville documentary Fishing For Love: How To Catch A Thai Bride (BBC4). Sommai was a former prostitute from Pattaya, Thailand, who met a Danish fisherman named Niels on his holidays in the Nineties and married him. Over the next couple of decades, she arranged numerous matches for women from her home village and the menfolk on Denmarks North Sea coast. The brides qualified under Danish law for full residential visas after seven years of marriage (at least one promptly divorced her grumpy husband). Most of them looked furiously miserable. The cast are pictured together Today, more than 900 Thai women are married to local Danes, with most of the men many years older than their wives. Directors Janus Metz and Sine Plambech followed Sommai and Niels, and three other couples, watching the endless awkward silences and eavesdropping as the Thai women gossiped about their husbands. They didnt ask questions, just letting the film run and leaving us to make sense of what was going on . . . if we could. Sommai was not a sympathetic character. Back in Thailand for a friends funeral, she berated the grief-stricken daughter for sobbing until she collapsed: Stop crying. We all have to die eventually. The brides qualified under Danish law for full residential visas after seven years of marriage (at least one promptly divorced her grumpy husband). Most of them looked furiously miserable. They called Sommai their saviour, but there was no attempt by the film-makers to discover whether she charged for her matchmaking. Perhaps she did it out of the goodness of her heart. She certainly seemed to have a lot of nieces. It was all fishier than a boatload of Danish mackerel. If Metz and Plambech were too reticent with questions, comedian David Baddiel was struggling to get his words out on Confronting Holocaust Denial (BBC2). Though his parents escaped Nazi Germany, most of his extended family was wiped out, and he was frequently speechless with disgust at the anti-Semitism he encountered. That made for an impassioned documentary, and helped show a more likable side to Baddiel, for anyone who usually finds him unbearably smug and egotistical. (Lets face it, he didnt help himself by making sure the camera repeatedly panned over the Spitting Image puppet of himself in his study.) If Metz and Plambech were too reticent with questions, comedian David Baddiel was struggling to get his words out on Confronting Holocaust Denial (BBC2) He was so worked up that, when he could have demolished one crackpot conspiracy theorist with a couple of sarcastic jibes, he got into a heated debate instead. The man, Dermot (an Irishman of the type they call an eejit), performed a song hed written about the Holocaust called Auschwitz Had Its Perks. Im not Louis Theroux, Baddiel fumed. I just want to punch this bloke in the face. Thats understandable, but not very articulate. This documentary was a missed opportunity. Dark tribute of the night: Daisy and Charlie Cooper, as slow-witted cousins Kerry and Kurtan in This Country (BBC1), saluted their late co-star Michael Sleggs, by letting him stir up trouble from beyond the grave. It was funny and oddly touching. Sarah Ristevski displayed a 'contempt for police' during her recent bombshell interview that may have indicated why she chose to stand by her father, despite him killing her mum. Sarah spoke about Karen Ristevski's death for the first time on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes on Sunday, nearly four years after dad Borce killed her at their Melbourne home and dumped her body in bushland. Borce feigned innocence, lied to the police, the public and his daughter, until suddenly admitting to manslaughter on the eve of his murder trial in 2019. The 24-year-old admitted she found it difficult to accept that her father was guilty and that despite his plea, she has always and will continue to love him. But leading body language expert Sophie Zadeh revealed the pivotal moment in the interview where Sarah's expressions gave away why she's supporting her killer dad. Scroll down for video The crucial moment: While talking about the early stages of the investigation, Sarah's expressions indicated a contempt for authorities, which may be why she chose to stick by her dad, body language expert Sophie Zadeh revealed Borce Ristevski and his daughter Sarah in 2016 before he was convicted of killing his wife At one point in the interview, she spoke about the early stages of the investigation, when her father had gone to police to report her mother missing. She explained the attending officer was 'rude' and suggested Karen was 'probably at the pokies'. 'My mum doesn't play the pokies,' Sarah said she responded. 'At this point, Sarah's eyes narrow. This facial movement stems from the emotion of anger. She gasps for breath and cries. Her emotion flits between sadness and distress,' Ms Zadeh explained to Yahoo News. 'What we can take from this part of the interview is something we shouldn't ignore. This is Sarah expressing genuine and extreme emotion as she recalls her initial interaction with the police. This is where she formed her opinion that they were the enemy.' Sarah might have reacted differently to her father's guilty plea, had police officers established a level trust among them from the beginning, Ms Zadeh claimed. The My Alcomy founder also pointed to another significant moment in the interview in which Sarah shows she's not ready to fully accept reality. Sarah broke down as she explained the attending officer was 'rude' and suggested Karen was 'probably at the pokies' when she went missing Dress shop owner Karen disappeared from the family home in Avondale Heights, north-west Melbourne, on June 29, 2016. Pictured with Borce and Sarah She tells reporter Liz Hayes she wants people to know she is more than just the woman who lost her mum. 'The emotion of sadness stems from loss and while Sarah is still grieving for her mother, she is now also grieving for her father and fears for the future,' Ms Zadeh said. During the interview, Sarah admitted she didn't like to talk about what happened to her mother. 'We don't talk about it. We don't think about it,' she said during the interview, at times fighting back tears. 'Even though he's pleaded guilty I find it hard to comprehend that he is guilty. I think if he were in my position he would support me.' Miss Ristevski said Borce would have her continued support when he was freed from prison. 'He's my father. I have one parent left... I loved him before, I love him now and I'll love him in 11 years when he's home,' she said. 'When you're in my position, I think when your mind is all over the place different things (like) how my mum died. It's not on my I just can't go there. Borce Ristevski, 55, killed his wife Karen (left) at their home Avondale Heights, Melbourne, in June 2016, before dumping her body in a regional park. Pictured with their daughter Sarah, who was 21 at the time Borce Ristevski (pictured) was a pallbearer at the funeral of his wife Karen in March 2017 'My heart is saying, I can't comprehend. I can't think about why my mum died.' While she stood by the wife-killer, who last year shocked Australia with an 11th hour guilty plea to manslaughter, a renowned psychologist believes Miss Ristevski is under her father's spell. Criminal behavioural analyst Laura Richards told the program Miss Ristevski's unwavering support suggests she has been manipulated. 'I believe that Sarah has been in a bubble, in a vacuum, in a highly unusual situation, he's the one in her ear constantly,' she said. Karen was killed by her husband at their home Avondale Heights, Melbourne, in June 2016. He feigned innocence, lied to the police, the public and his daughter, and even carried his wife's coffin at her funeral, until admitting to manslaughter on the eve of his murder trial in 2019. In the 60 Minutes interview, which reportedly earned her a six figure pay packet, Miss Ristevski said she 'wouldn't go there' when further pressed on her father's guilt. But Ms Richards believes Miss Ristevski will one day come to terms with what her father did to her mother - and all that he deprived her of in the process. 'As contact lessens between [Borce] and [Sarah], as her relationships strengthen with other people, [she] will think of things in a very different way. ''How could he have done this? How could he deprive me of my mother?'' And suddenly these emotions come to the fore. And I believe that that will happen,' she said. The graphic designer still speaks with and visits her father in prison. She said they discussed her 60 Minutes interview - the first she's offered since her mother's death. She denied she was 'under his spell' and said the interview was an opportunity to speak her truth. Karen Ristevski's 24-year-old daughter Sarah has spoken publicly for the first time about her mother's brutal death Pictured: Sarah with her father, Borce, as a young girl. She said she has always loved her father and always will 'He tells me I'm my own person and that's how he raised me. For the interview, he told me to just be truthful and be myself. That's all he asked,' she said. Miss Ristevski famously stood by her father even when he pleaded guilty to killing her mother after three gruelling years of denying any involvement. He has never offered any further details about her death. She opted against providing the court a victim impact statement for the loss of her mother and instead offered a glowing character reference for her father to 'highlight the man she knows'. The 24-year-old said she had no desire to help the officers who had been horrible to her by providing a victim impact statement, and said when she and her father initially tried to report her mother missing, they were dismissed by officers. At the time, both she and her father were worried, but they were told Karen was likely 'playing the pokies' and to get in contact again if they hadn't heard from her by midnight. Miss Ristevski also used the interview as an opportunity to rubbish rumours her step-brother had a romantic relationship with her mother. 'It could never be true... It is unforgivable,' she said of the claims before confirming she no longer has a relationship with her brother. She has since insisted she can 'see the sadness [Borce feels] at the loss of my mum'. 'We both have the same amount of sadness. He loved my mum... He misses her every day,' she said while holding back tears. Ristevski was jailed last April for at least six years after admitting to the manslaughter of his wife of 27 years. Police revealed they had tapped phone conversations during the investigation which formed part of a 22,000-page evidence brief. When Sarah asked her father where her mum was on the day of her disappearance, he told her she had gone for a walk after an argument. She said she could tell he was worried. 'I felt like we were just zombies, just not sleeping, not eating, we just paused in that day. It just felt like we were trapped in a nightmare,' Sarah told the program on Sunday night. In December, Karen's family's appeal over the sentence was successful and Ristevski's jail term was extended to 13 years, ten without the chance for parole. Miss Ristevski said despite her father serving a sentence, she feels like her life, too, has been put on hold. 'My dad is serving the time but I am as well... The realisation that I'm kind of alone.' The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation on Behalf of Advance Auto Parts Inc. Investors (AAP) The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Advance Auto Parts Inc. ("Advance" or the "Company") (NYSE: AAP) concerning whether the board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders. If you are a shareholder, click here to participate. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you own Advance shares and wish to discuss this matter with us, or have any questions concerning your rights and interests with regards to this matter, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218006143/en/ US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that it could take "months" to resolve a dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over a massive dam on the Nile River. Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011. The US Treasury Department stepped in last year to facilitate talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan -- another downstream country -- after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reached out to US President Donald Trump, a close ally. The latest round of talks concluded in Washington last week, and officials have said they want to reach a deal by the end of February. But at a press conference Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Pompeo said the process could take longer. "A great deal of work remains, but I'm optimistic that over the coming months we can resolve this," he said. Ethiopia says the dam -- which will be the largest hydropower plant in Africa -- is crucial for its growing economy. Egypt fears the project will disrupt the river that provides 90 percent of its drinking water. Addisu Lashitew, an analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said he expected Pompeo "will be trying to make a final push" to reach a deal during his stay in Ethiopia. "President Trump seeks to get the credit as the dealmaker for resolving this issue," Addisu said on a call with reporters last week. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew said at the press conference Tuesday there were "outstanding issues that need negotiation". He did not elaborate, but major sticking points include the filling of the dam's reservoir, which Egypt worries will dramatically curb water flow downstream. Ethiopia reforms Ethiopia is the last stop on Pompeo's three-country Africa tour, the first by a US cabinet-level official to the continent in 19 months. On Tuesday he met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year in part for pursuing an ambitious reform agenda upon taking office in 2018 following several years of anti-government protests. Pompeo said the two men discussed the reforms and preparations for landmark elections planned for August 29. "A free and credible vote will show there is no false choice between democracy and security, and it will ensure that everyone has a voice," Pompeo said. "I think the most impressive thing about these reforms is that they're owned by the Ethiopian people," he added. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discussed Ethiopia's upcoming elections. By ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (POOL/AFP) Pompeo also met Tuesday with Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde and Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. On Wednesday he is expected to deliver a policy speech at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa before flying to Saudi Arabia. Pompeo is attempting to lay out a positive vision for US cooperation with Africa, though analysts point out that the Trump administration's record complicates that message. The US is currently discussing military cuts in Africa. Pompeo's visit also comes just weeks after the US announced tightened visa rules targeting Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, as well as Tanzania, Sudan and Eritrea. Q: When is MassLive eliminating comments? A: Comments in their current form will be shut down at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Q: Why is MassLive eliminating comments? A: The ability to comment on stories and in forums on MassLive.com dates back to the 1990s, well before the explosive growth of social media and before newsrooms were accessible through many other means. Also, some commenters consistently broke community rules, engaging in personal attacks and other undesirable behavior. Q: So, this means you dont value hearing from readers? A: Not at all. We engage with readers every day, and we are constantly looking for new ways to hear and share the diversity of voices across Massachusetts. We have built strong communities on social platforms, and readers inform our journalism daily through letters to the editor, and through calls and emails to reporters and editors. We encourage readers to reach out to us, and our contact information is available on MassLive. Q: Where am I going to be able to comment? A: We are currently exploring several avenues to have conversations on MassLive properties. We have many social media accounts where our journalists moderate conversations and answer questions. Links to those accounts are listed below. Q: Is this change because your moderators cannot keep up? A: No, although there are hundreds if not thousands of comments on MassLive each day, we used a combination of human moderation, algorithms and artificial intelligence to enforce our community rules. We couldnt review every single comment in real time but we did respond to complaints. Over time, it became clear the vast majority of comments were generated by a very small percentage of users, who had a disproportionate impact on the tone of the conversations. Q: What if I see an error in a story or want to give a reporter a story tip? A: Click on the byline of the reporter and alert them, or email feedback@masslive.com or newstips@masslive.com. MassLive also has a phone line for news tips: 413-776-1364. Q: How can I reach out if I have sensitive information to share, and do not want to include my identity to share it with reporters or the community? A: You can send anonymous tips by postal mail or take advantage of online email anonymizers. You can also call or email reporters and tell them you want them to keep the source of the tip confidential. Were also active on Facebook messenger if youd like to send us a direct message. Q: Can I pay a subscription fee in order to continue commenting? A: That is not an option we are offering. Q: Isnt MassLive going to be an outlier because so many sites allow comments? A: The trend over the past few years is for news sites to eliminate comments for the reasons weve outlined. Q: Will MassLive have moderators on social media for discussions there? A: Yes, we have Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts and also hold Reddit Ask Me Anything sessions. Q: Is this an attempt to silence the right/the left? A: No, this is not a decision based on politics, and it is not something we took lightly, especially with big elections coming in 2020. We will make every effort to include our audience in our election coverage in the coming months, and we welcome suggestions on how best to create a positive, constructive forum, either on our site or on social media. Please send ideas or feedback feedback@masslive.com. Q: Can I access my personal comment history? A: We dont have the capability to provide archived comments to readers. Q: What happens to all the comments on old posts? A: They will be removed from the website at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. Q: Would you reconsider this decision to eliminate comments? A: We believe this is the best decision to improve the quality of engagement on MassLive at this time and do not anticipate reinstating comments in their current form. Q: Where can I share my opinion about this change? A: Registered users can comment here for a time. You can email feedback@masslive.com. Please take a moment to help inform our engagement decisions and strategy through this user survey. Additional Links: HOUSTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston Rockets and BBVA USA have announced the launch of their annual Launchpad contest for Houston entrepreneurs. This is the second iteration of the Launchpad contest, with the first one launching in February 2019. The contest seeks Houston-area startup businesses that need a financial boost to become digitally innovative, and awards the top submission with a grand prize of $10,000 and consultations with Rockets and BBVA USA executives. This is also the first entrepreneurial contest operated under BBVA's new Houston CEO, Dillan Knudson. "It's extremely exciting to collaborate with the Rockets for the first time, and for such a great initiative that helps Houston's thriving small business scene," said Knudson. "Part of my new role is to create opportunities and financial freedom for Houston's communities through the bank's ample resources, and to do that in collaboration with a staple organization of this city is an honor." Companies are encouraged to submit their nominations online explaining why their business should be selected. After the submission period ends on February 28, a judging period will commence between Rockets and BBVA USA representatives. After four finalists are announced, fans will have a chance to vote on the winner in late March. The winner will be notified at the end of March, and will be presented with a check during a Rockets game in April at Toyota Center. Companies are encouraged to submit their nominations online at www.rockets.com/launchpad , which will request the name of the company's executive, company name, and a link to a social media post on the business's Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn account that likes and tags BBVA and the Houston Rockets explaining: What their business does and a challenge they overcame or continue to struggle within their business. How the company would utilize the $10,000 to enhance their digital capabilities. "Over the past three years, we have been proud to partner with BBVA to highlight small businesses in Houston and their contribution to our economy," said Rockets Chief Revenue Officer Gretchen Sheirr. "Entering its fourth year, the Launchpad contest seeks nominees focused on using best in class digital strategies to enhance their small business. We look forward to reviewing submissions and honoring the great work that is being done by these businesses in our community. In 2019, the Launchpad contest crowned Houston startup Hamper as its first ever winner. Established in 2015, Hamper sought to solve the effects of Houston's traffic on everyday errands. Focusing on dry cleaning availability, the company created an app that allows customers to place an order and request a pick-up in only a few steps. The Hamper team then picks up from a home or office and delivers the clothes back at the day and time requested on the initial order. "It was an absolute pleasure to be recognized by BBVA and the Houston Rockets as the winner of the 2019 Launchpad Contest," said Hamper Co-founder and CEO Safir Ali. "It was a very exciting moment for Hamper, and we are very grateful to have the opportunity to be recognized in our community. Many thanks to both BBVA and the Houston Rockets for empowering Houston businesses and giving them such a great platform to be recognized for their efforts, and for playing an active role in empowering entrepreneurship in Houston!" For more BBVA news visit, www.bbva.com and the U.S. Newsroom . Additional news updates can be found via Twitter and Instagram . For more financial information about BBVA in the U.S., visit bbvausa.investorroom.com . About BBVA BBVA Group BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. It is also the leading shareholder in Turkey's Garanti BBVA. Its purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to everyone, based on our customers' real needs: provide the best solutions, helping them make the best financial decisions, through an easy and convenient experience. The institution rests in solid values: Customer comes first, we think big and we are one team. Its responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society. BBVA USA In the U.S., BBVA is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 641 branches, including 330 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 44 in Florida, 37 in Colorado and 17 in New Mexico. The bank ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (6th). In the U.S., BBVA has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 8th nationally in terms of dollar volume of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2018. SOURCE BBVA USA Related Links www.bbva.com If the Pentagon has money it doesnt need and it is being used to pay for a wall for which Congress expressly did not appropriate money, then in making the new budget, Congress should cut $7 billion from the Pentagon budget for the year. There should be no more concern by anyone about the president breaking his promise. He has already broken that promise by trying to pay for his big, beautiful wall (which, by the way, is ugly) with U.S. money. A Tennessee university will offer discounted tuition to students from nine states, including Alabama, the school announced. The University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas lowered tuition program will begin this fall, covering students from Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina. According to the university, instead of paying $26,000 a year in out-of-state tuition, students from those states will pay $18,000 a year. Annual in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is about $10,000 a year. The lower tuition is designed to attract out-of-state students to boost UTCs rosters and perhaps keep them in Chattanooga after graduation, UTC Chancellor Steve Angle told the Chattanooga Time Free Press. The tuition program "is rounding out our student body and bringing in additional young people to this community that can add to the economy and hopefully drive the future of the region, Angle said. We are trying to set UTC up to be a net importer of talent in the community. Currently, about 10 percent of the 11,561 undergraduate and graduates students enrolled at UTC were out-of-state students, with most coming from Georgia, followed by Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina. She's been filming the movie The Duke in her native UK. But on Monday, Helen Mirren was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport looking happy and relaxed after flying in from London. The Oscar-winning actress, 74, looked fabulous in a casual ensemble that combined comfort and her flare for fashion. Famous face: Helen Mirren, 74, was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport looking happy and relaxed after flying in from London on Monday The star of The Queen and The Woman In Gold wore a crisp white shirt and left the top and bottom buttons undone for a less formal look. She added a black pleated skirt that fell to just below the knee along with black tights and black lace-up shoes. Mirren wore a gray cardigan left undone and rolled the cuffs of her shirt up over the cuffs of the cardigan and made sure to wear the shirt collar over the knit top. She completed her look with a bandana that kept her hair back from her face and sported round sunglasses. Simply stylish: The star of The Queen and The Woman In Gold wore a crisp white shirt and left the top and bottom buttons undone for a less formal look. Coordinated: She added a black pleated skirt along with black tights and black lace-up shoes. She wore a gray cardigan and rolled the cuffs of her shirt up over the cuffs of the cardigan Helen's outing comes after she spoke about speculation that BBC are planning to scrap its licence fee in favour of a Netflix-style subscription service. Speaking at the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn, North London, she told The Daily Mail: 'I think that the licence fee has had its day. Possibly, I think it is on its way out.' Last year, Dame Helen joined fellow stars Angela Rippon and Sir Lenny Henry in signing an open letter which called for the reinstatement of free TV licences for all over-75s. Looking good: She completed her look with a bandana that kept her hair back from her face and sported round sunglasses Helen is married to American filmmaker Taylor Hackford who was the director of her 1985 film White Nights. The couple tied the knot in 1997. Mirren has been busy filming the dramatic comedy The Duke with British actor Jim Broadbent. It's based on the true story of a British pensioner who, in 1961, was prosecuted for stealing Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London's National Gallery in 1961. She'll be seen next on the big screen, though, in the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, F9, set to open in theatres on May 22. Vaseline glass, invented eons ago yet largely unused today, is a unifying element at Veronika, the new Manhattan restaurant that Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of the AD100 design firm Roman and Williams created on Park Avenue South. I love reintroducing old techniques into the cultural conversation, says Standefer, calling the bar chandeliers handmade, ribbed, flowerlike glass shades almost spooky but in the best way. Located inside an 1894 Renaissance Revival building that houses a branch of Stockholms Fotografiska museum of photography (Veronica is the mediums patron saint), the eatery has a Mitteleuropean vibe, thanks in part to lighting that seems to reference the 1960s as much as it does Art Nouveau. Mushroom-shaped lamps sprout from the bar, vertical sconces cling to walls, and egg-shaped lamps powered by diode batteries stand on tables. Meanwhile, LED and incandescent bulbsall in clear glass, with a mix of filamentseffect a warm, inviting glow. Each fixture poses a question that suffuses Roman and Williamss seductive oeuvre: Is it a period design or a complete invention? Says Standefer, I love to play with that tension. Photo: Adrian Gaut Plus, four covetable table lamps, with sculptural silhouettes and magnificent materials Photo: Courtesy Roman and Williams Photo: Courtesy RH Photo: Courtesy Visual Comfort Photo: Courtesy The Urban Electric Company Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Per the contract signed, WuXi Vaccines will build an integrated vaccine manufacturing facility including drug substance manufacturing (DS), drug product manufacturing (DP), Manufacture Science and Technology Labs (MS&T) as well as Quality Control labs (QC). The facility will be dedicated to manufacture one of its partner's vaccine products for the global market. The new facility is expected to be operational in 2022. In Nov 2019, WuXi Vaccines announced 240 million USD investment to build the new vaccine manufacturing facility in Ireland. The facility is located within the WuXi Biologics Campus adjacent to the "Factory of the Future" biologics drug substance manufacturing facility which is scheduled for commercial manufacturing in 2021. WuXi Vaccines is a joint venture company established between WuXi Biologics and Shanghai Hile Bio-technology (stock code: 603718.SH). The business model of WuXi Vaccines is to build world-class integrated platforms and CDMO model to enable global companies to develop and manufacture vaccines. "This is a historic moment for WuXi Biologics and WuXi Vaccines as well as for the global vaccine industry. Due to process complexity, extensive analytic testing and rigorous regulatory standards, vaccines are difficult to manufacture and process and quality control are extremely critical for the quality of the product. This partnership with a global vaccine leader to exclusively manufacture a vaccine for the global market, first of its kind in the industry, is a further testimony to the technical strengths and premier quality demonstrated by WuXi Vaccines," commented Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics and Chairman of WuXi Vaccines, "Vaccine CDMO is one of the next growth areas for WuXi Biologics. Once this project is initiated, our vaccine business will contribute substantially to the growth of WuXi Biologics. WuXi Biologics together with WuXi Vaccines will continue to provide our global partners with a robust and premier-quality supply chain network to produce high quality biologic and vaccine products to benefit patients worldwide and to protect human being globally, initially with therapeutic proteins and now with vaccines." About WuXi Biologics WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. Our company history and achievements demonstrate our commitment to providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and strong value proposition to our global clients. As of June 30, 2019, there were a total of 224 integrated projects, including 106 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 102 projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 15 projects in late-phase (phase III) development and one project in commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity for biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, Singapore, and the U.S. exceeding 280,000 liters by 2022, we will provide our biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more information on WuXi Biologics, please visit www.wuxibiologics.com. SOURCE WuXi Biologics Related Links www.wuxibiologics.com Two CoBRA commandos were injured on Tuesday in a gunfight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said. The encounter between the CRPF's elite anti-Naxal combat unit and the Maoists took place at around 4pm in a forest near Palodi village under Kistaram police station limits, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said. "Two personnel of the 208th battalion of the CRPF's Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) sustained injuries in an encounter with Naxals. "The injured commandos have been evacuated from the site of the incident and are being shifted to a hospital," the IG said, adding further details were awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PIERRE | A bill that would keep municipalities from banning the use of plastic bags got new life on Wednesday as it was reconsidered by the S.D. House of Representatives. SB54 was defeated in the House last week, but its sponsor, Rep. Doug Post, R-Volga, asked that it be reconsidered. The vote that defeated the bill was 30-33, with seven members absent. The legislation has been referred to in the Legislature as a ban on bans. During reconsideration, Post said there were some misconceptions about the bill stifling local control. That control was allotted to businesses that would be allowed to serve their customers as they wish, Post said. Local control does not always mean local government, Post said. SB54 is the essence of personal choice. Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender criticized the bill, calling it government overreach. Environmental groups and Democrats also opposed it. Rep. Ryan Cwach, D-Yankton, said municipalities needed to be able to enact bans when they see their landfills filling up. I think it has huge long-term implications, Cwach said of the legislation. Lets give them the flexibility to make the decision when the time comes. On its second try, the bill was endorsed by the House on a vote of 46-24. Having already been approved by the Senate, it now goes to Gov. Kristi Noem for her signature. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 Katrina McGhee The American Heart Association has named Katrina McGhee executive vice president of marketing and communications. McGhee was director, marketing of the association from 1996 to 2002. She has most recently served as CEO and founder of Loving on Me Career Success Academy, which works to empower women to take charge of their health, lives and careers. McGhee was previously executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In her new role, McGhee will serve as the AHAs chief brand ambassador. She will lead the development and execution of integrated program marketing strategies and community outreach, consistent with the Association's long-term health impact and fundraising goals. Mark Friedlander The Insurance Information Institute has hired Mark Friedlander to serve as director, corporate communications. Friedlander has been the organizations Florida communications consultant since July 2019. He was previously head of corporate communications at The Main Street America Group, a property-casualty insurance carrier headquartered in Jacksonsville, FL. Based in northeast Florida, he will continue to lead the Triple-Is Florida communications efforts in addition handling national media relations issues and providing editorial support for the organizations website and social media channels. Kris Maccini is also coming on as the Triple-Is director, social media. She joins the organization from MetLife, where she was global director, social strategy. Lauren Burt Des Moines, IA-based Kemin Industries has promoted Lauren Burt to head of worldwide communications, a newly created position. Burt joined Kemin in 2016 as worldwide communications manager. Before coming to Kemin, Burt was manager of corporate communications at Meredith Corporation and director of media & marketing for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. In her new host, her duties will include developing strategies and tactics to promote the brand, along with leadership and employee communications, global community engagement and outreach to audiences on multiple platforms. She will continue to serve as the global spokesperson for Kemin. Representative image. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Truck and bus manufacturing companies such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Mahindra & Mahindra have little under six weeks to get rid of the existing stock of Bharat Stage-IV vehicles even as demand continues to remain poor at the retail end. An estimated 19,000 trucks having soon-to-be outdated BS-IV engines are lying unsold with the dealerships and with the companies, a top supplier of auto components to these companies said. The collective value of this inventory is estimated to be around Rs 2,700 crore. Speaking to analysts after announcing the December quarter results Amit Kalyani, deputy managing director, Bharat Forge, said Because of the BS-IV to BS-VI transition nobody wants to make BS-IV vehicles and get stuck with them. There is an inventory of 18,000-19,000 trucks in the market. So the truck makers have to first liquidate inventory and then sell new BS-VI vehicles. CV makers have been trying desperately to push out BS-IV inventory since the past several months to make sure that they are not saddled with any unsold stock on April 1 which is when the industry has to switch to BS-VI. Sales of all BS-IV vehicles have to cease by March 31 as per orders from the Supreme Court. The companies are hoping to avoid a repeat of the situation of BS-III to BS-IV transition when around 40,000-45,000 BS-III grade trucks and buses remained unsold by the end of March, 2017 before the industry switched to BS-IV norms. Tata Motors' CV dispatches to its dealers came down by 24 percent to 2.73 lakh during April-January this year while that of Ashok Leyland was down by 29 percent to 1.03 lakh and Mahindra was down by 11 percent to 1.8 lakh, as per data supplied by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. The three CV producers control 86 percent of the domestic market. While Tata Motors, the CV market leader, did not share the exact inventory of BS-IV trucks and buses it is carrying, the company did mention that it is engaging with all stakeholders to clear all such stocks before the deadline. "Retail has been ahead of wholesale for seven straight months in a row, helping us bring down total system stock by more than 61 percent between June 2019 and January 2020. We are actively engaging with customers, channel partners and financiers to dynamically adjust our plans. Our primary target is to achieve zero BS-IV stock by 31st March 2020, and we are optimistic about clearing this stock before the new BS-VI norms kick in," a Tata Motors spokesperson said. Chennai-based Ashok Leyland, the country's third largest CV maker has a total stock of 6,500 BS-IV vehicles. This is split between 3,100 with dealers and 3,400 with the company. "Very insignificant inventory because we have really been able to do a wonderful job in breaking down the inventory and releasing cash flows, which is the right thing to do. What we have done was methodically clean up the inventory. And we said it is better to see a little bit of impact on market share than to keep pumping in inventory because come 31st of March, either the dealer or we will be cited with BS IV inventory, which will only result in losses," said Gopal Mahadevan, Whole-time Director & CFO, Ashok Leyland. Iran says a German held in Iran has been released after a detained Iranian accused of violating U.S. sanctions had returned home from Germany. A German national, who was arrested in Iran for photographing and filming in a number of banned and unauthorized areas and sentenced to three years in prison, has been released, judiciary spokesman said in a weekly news conference on February 18. The spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, did not give further details. On February 17, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Ahmad Khalili returned home the previous day with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had been in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference. Khalili was arrested in Germany on a U.S. request and subject to extradition to the United States. "We insisted that first the Iranian citizen should return home...then the German citizen was allowed to leave Iran on Monday," Esmaili said. The German government did not immediately comment on the apparent prisoner swap. Iranian authorities have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual citizens over recent years, mostly on espionage charges. Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting them to try to win concessions from other countries - a charge dismissed by Tehran. In December, a U.S. citizen and Princeton University graduate student detained in Iran in 2016 and later charged with spying was freed and an imprisoned Iranian stem cell expert was released by Washington in return. French Academics To Face Trial In March In other news, Iran says two French academics who have been detained for eight months on charges of plotting acts against national security will go on trial next month. Esmaili told the news conference on February 18 that French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah and her French colleague Roland Marchal will appear in court on March 3. Adelkhah and Marchal, both researchers at Sciences Po University in Paris, were detained in Tehran in June 2019 and are being held in Tehrans Evin prison. Their lawyer, Said Dehghan, said Adelkhah faces charges of "propaganda against the system" and "colluding to commit acts against national security." Marchal was accused of "colluding to commit acts against national security." Last week, Dehghan said Adelkhah, an expert on Iran and Shi'ite Islam, had ended a six-week hunger strike. Marchal, an expert on East Africa, was reportedly arrested when visiting her. Iran, which does not recognize dual citizenship, has repeatedly rejected calls from Paris to release the two. "We do not recognize dual nationality. [Adelkhah] is Iranian. We do not let other states interfere in our judiciary matters," Esmaili said. The two French researchers are not the only foreign academics behind bars in Iran. Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Melbourne University, is serving a 10-year sentence after being found guilty of espionage. With reporting by AFP and Reuters A mobile data network under construction for Perth's public trains by Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei could be used to support body-worn cameras, CCTV and live tracking of personnel and assets, government documents have revealed. The controversial company, which won the $206 million tender in a joint venture with construction firm UGL, will build 80 radio masts similar to mobile phone towers along Perth's passenger rail corridors. Government responses to potential security threats posed by Chinese telco Huawei have been mixed globally. Credit:AP Last year, Premier Mark McGowan told Parliament the Huawei network was "a closed system to provide communications between train drivers and their headquarters". "That is all it is," he said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Varroc Engineering announced that fire occurred at Varroc Lighting Systems India, subsidiary of the company, plant located at Hinjewadi, Pune. The Plant manufactures lighting products for four wheelers in India and contributes 2.0% to the consolidated revenue of Varroc Engineering. The fire incidence took place outside the manufacturing block, which then spread to packaging area and resulted into a fire outbreak. There are no human casualties reported. The Company is in the process of ascertaining the actual cause of fire and the loss caused by it. Adequate steps are being undertaken to ensure customer service at the earliest. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) THE Irish subsidiary of US car rental group Enterprise has bought the car rental business of the Dan Dooley Group for an undisclosed sum. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland bought the 50-year-old business and takes over a fleet of more than 1,400 vehicles and international customers and contracts from the Limerick-based Dan Dooley Group. The deal will see Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland increase its inbound business from north America. Other divisions in the Dan Dooley Group, including Ford dealerships in Knocklong and Tipperary, are not affected by the acquisition. The sale went through on Friday, March 31. I think it is a wonderful move, Pat Dooley, CEO, Dooley Group told the Limerick Leader this week. What is included is the fleet, the goodwill and the contracts we have already entered into with overseas tour operators - thats where the value is and the book of business thats on the cards for this year already. When asked if business is busy as ever, Pat replied: It is gigantic - busier than its been before. I think Ireland is just perceived as a safe destination at the moment compared to other European countries and there are a lot more flights landing here especially from North America and there is more frequency. The value is good now compared to what it used to be so they are getting a good bang for their buck. Its almost year round now compared to before when it was just summer business, added Mr Dooley. Enterprise is the worlds largest car rental company, operating the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands in more than 85 countries globally. The operations director/general manager of Dooley Car Rentals, Gerry McDermott, will continue to lead the Dooley Car Rentals business independently, which has around 50 employees. Pat Dooley meanwhile, will remain in an advisory role. Dan Dooley originally opened his first garage in Knocklong in July 1961 and since then the Dooley name has been synonymous with the motor trade industry. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - EMX Royalty Corporation (TSXV: EMX) (NYSE American: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the closing of a US$3.79 million strategic investment in Ensero Holdings, Inc., a privately-held Delaware corporation. Ensero Holdings, Inc. operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ensero Solutions, Inc. ("Ensero") formerly known as Alexco Environmental Group ("AEG"), which was previously the wholly-owned environmental services subsidiary of Alexco Resource Corp. ("Alexco"). Ensero has been a successful and steadily growing environmental consulting practice focused on mine reclamation and the implementation of innovative remediation technologies in the United States and Canada. EMX's investment in Ensero provides for positive cash flow to the Company from dividend and other payments totaling US$8.54 million over seven years and a 7.5% equity position, as well as the basis for a strategic alliance to identify mineral properties for acquisition, reclamation and subsequent sale. Commercial Terms Overview. A summary of the commercial terms of EMX's strategic investment in Ensero (the "Agreement") includes (all dollar amounts in USD): EMX will receive $3.62 million in Ensero Preferred Shares, representing 65% of Ensero's Preferred Shares, with a 6% annual dividend, paid in quarterly increments over a six-year term. The Preferred Share annual dividends will total $1.30 million to be paid to EMX in years one through six of the Agreement. Starting in year six, the Preferred Shares will be redeemed in eight equal, quarterly payments totaling twice the principal amount (i.e., $3.62 million). The Agreement categorizes the eight payments as: A payment of a bonus dividend in year six equal to the original principle, payable in four equal installments, and A redemption of the Preferred Shares in year seven, equal to the original principle, payable in four equal installments. The Preferred Share bonus dividend and redemption will total $7.24 million to be paid to EMX in years six and seven of the Agreement. EMX will receive $171 thousand in Common Shares representing a 7.5% equity holding of Ensero. Anti-dilution provisions will apply for the first two years of the Agreement. EMX Royalty can "put" the Common Shares to Ensero starting in year ten of the Agreement at a mutually agreed valuation. The Company's $3.79 million investment in Ensero will result in total payments to EMX of $8.54 million over a seven-year period, with EMX maintaining a substantial equity holding in Ensero as Common Shares. Strategic Alliance Overview. As an additional component of the Company's strategic investment in Ensero, EMX and Ensero (the "Companies") signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement (the "Strategic Alliance"). Under the Strategic Alliance, the Companies will cooperate in identifying and potentially acquiring mineral properties with exploration and development upside as well as environmental impairments, with the intention to reclaim and subsequently sell said properties utilizing Special Purpose Vehicles or other business arrangements. The Strategic Alliance between EMX and Ensero uniquely leverages a combination of EMX's deep knowledge of historic mining districts in the U.S. and Canada with Ensero's mine reclamation expertise to unlock the value of legacy mining properties. About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. About Ensero. Ensero resulted from Alexco Environmental Group's executive management purchase of the AEG entity from parent company Alexco Resource Corp. Ensero is an environmental consulting and remediation business with specific expertise in environmental assessments, active/passive water treatment, microbiological testing, radiological services, and turnkey remediation services for the mining industry and other industrial sectors. Ensero employs over 90 professionals in six offices across North America. For further information contact: David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 979-6666 Dave@EMXroyalty.com Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@EMXroyalty.com Isabel Belger Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039 IBelger@EMXroyalty.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52500 Apple Inc. AAPL recently warned its investors of the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak on its business. Notably, the iPhone maker has been affected more than previously anticipated as the number of iPhones it can manufacture and sell in China will be limited. The iPhone maker announced that it is trimming sales expectations for this quarter. After all, demand for its products has declined in China, thanks to the outbreak. Apple has closed all 42 of its stores in the country last month and many are yet to reopen. Management added that we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. As a result, we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter. Needless to say, that the iPhone maker is heavily dependent on Chinese factories and consumers. Apple CEO, Tim Cook has been working with several Chinese telecom providers in introducing the iPhone in the country over the last 10 years. Following these committed initiatives, iPhone sales did take off, and now China is Apples second largest market after the United States. By the way, Apple also assembles products in China. For instance, a Taiwanese company named Foxconn makes iPhones and other gadgets on behalf of Apple. However, concerns regarding the impact of coronavirus impact on the global economy and subsequently on corporate profits have been on the rise. The deadly virus has now infected over 72,000 people and claimed 1,800 lives, according to official reports. Whats more, nearly three-quarters of a billion people are already locked down in China, per a New York Times analysis. Further, with the crisis deepening, not just Apple but a host of big companies have indicated that productions may be hurt, which in turn will have a bearing on their financial results. While Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recently shut down several factory outlets in China, European aerospace giant Airbus, General Motors and Toyota have begun to limit production in China. Story continues Starbucks and Ikea have shut down many stores, while deserted shopping malls in China are expected to adversely impact sales for retailers including Nike and others. Travel related stocks have been hit hard too. Notably, Lufthansa and British Airways have cancelled flights to China. To top it, after a recent breathtaking run, Tesla, Inc. TSLA is looking vulnerable following the coronavirus outbreak. The electronic car maker did acknowledge risks that the coronavirus threat poses to output and overall business. Coronavirus Threat Escalates! Grab These 4 Stocks Now With the coronavirus threat increasing, its quite evident that companies having significant exposure to China and the global economy are vulnerable. However, domestic producers of goods should remain unaffected. Due to their limited international exposure, they offer higher protection than their large- and mid-cap counterparts against any economic upheaval. These stocks also have solid growth narratives as their promising outlook remains unfazed by the coronavirus outbreak. We have, thus, selected four such stocks that should make meaningful additions to your portfolio. These stocks flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. EBMT operates as the bank holding company for Opportunity Bank of Montana that provides various retail banking products and services in Montana. The company, currently, has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 1% over the past 90 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and year are 9.1% and 6.2%, respectively. Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. ONTX, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing small molecule product candidates to treat cancer. Onconova Therapeutics was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Newtown, PA. The company, currently, has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 42% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and year are 94.1% and 57.7%, respectively. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc. PTI engages in the discovery and development of various small molecule therapeutics to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) and other diseases caused by dysfunctional protein processing. Proteostasis Therapeutics was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. The company, currently, has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 0.8% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and year are 19.4% and 25.5%, respectively. Abeona Therapeutics Inc. ABEO develops cell and gene therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases. Abeona Therapeutics was incorporated in 1974 and is based in New York. The company, currently, has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increased 2.6% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current and next quarters are 19.4% and 30.8%, respectively. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Click to get this free report Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (ABEO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (ONTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc. (PTI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research CEO, Velox Clearing The clearing sector is ripe for innovation, and Im thrilled to be joining an outstanding team that is at the forefront of this movement. Velox Clearing, LLC (Velox), a technology-forward clearing firm, today announced the appointment of brokerage industry veteran Michael Higgins as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Higgins brings three decades of financial services leadership experience to Velox, most recently serving as Head of Operations at LPL Financial (LPL). In this position, he oversaw all areas of the firms operations while mitigating risk, increasing efficiency, and working to continuously improve the client experience. At LPL, he was also Senior Vice President of Operational Risk Management, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of a risk culture and mitigation methodology throughout the firms operational and service organizations. His career to date also encompasses senior-level positions at AXA Equitable, Bank of New York, Pershing, and Charles Schwab. The clearing sector is ripe for innovation, and Im thrilled to be joining an outstanding team that is at the forefront of this movement, said Higgins. My industry experience to date has instilled a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities our clients face, and I look forward to helping Velox and its clients successfully navigate a rapidly evolving landscape to achieve growth. In his new role, Mr. Higgins will leverage his broad expertise in brokerage operations, product development, sales, and risk mitigation to drive strategic direction and support Veloxs business development initiatives. Mr. Higgins earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from St. Johns University; he also holds FINRA Series 4, 7, 8, 24, 53, 63 and 65 licenses. David Herron, former CEO of the Chicago Stock Exchange, and a member of Veloxs board of directors, added: We are delighted to welcome an executive of Michaels caliber to the Velox team. Under his expert leadership, we are confident that Velox will continue to deliver exceptional value and differentiated service to clients. Southern California-based Velox, which publicly launched operations in 2019, offers securities clearing, settlement, custody, margin lending, stock loan, and prime brokerage solutions to small- to mid-sized broker-dealers, registered investment advisers (RIAs), hedge funds, and automated (black box) traders. The firm introduces superior efficiency and speed to the back-office, supporting its customers business operations by combining modern, responsive technology with high-touch service, competitive pricing, and rigorous risk management controls. About Velox Clearing Headquartered in Anaheim, CA, Velox Clearing LLC is a technology-forward correspondent clearing firm, prime broker, and RIA custodian. Combining deep expertise, exceptional client service, and cutting-edge technology, Velox empowers its clients to focus on controlling costs, acquiring new business, and leveraging their market presence. Velox is registered with the SEC, is a member of FINRA and the NYSE, and is a member of DTCC/NSCC and SIPC. For more information, visit http://www.velox-global.com. Icelandic English Organizational changes will be made at Eimskip today. Bjorn Einarsson will take on the role of Executive Vice President of a new integrated division, Iceland Sales and Business Management. The following business units are part of this new division: Import and Export to and from Iceland which previously belonged to the Sales division and the freight forwarding unit TVG-Zimsen which is a subsidiary of Eimskip. The objective of these changes is to simplify and integrate Eimskips service offerings and brands, continue to streamline the operation as well as to increase emphasis on business origination offering a complete range of logistic services. These changes will take effect immediately and will lead to reduction of 14 FTEs in Eimskip and TVG-Zimsen. Management team of the new Iceland Sales and Business Management division including Bjorn Einarsson are; Sara Palsdottir leading Import to Iceland, Sigurur Orri Jonsson leading Export from Iceland and Elisa D. Bjornsdottir who takes over as Managing Director at TVG-Zimsen, the role that Bjorn previously held. Arndis Aradottir leads Custom Clearance and documentation and Andres Bjornsson will lead Business Development and Cost Control. The Company has reached an agreement with Matthias Matthiasson, who has held the position of Executive Vice President of Sales, to resign from the Company. Vilhelm Mar orsteinsson, CEO: With these changes we are simplifying our structure and will be better equipped to further enhance service to our customers. We continue the journey of streamlining and integrating but at the same time we increase focus on business origination. As a result, we will be in an even better position to provide our customers, corporates and individuals, with good service and total transportation solutions which is based e.g. on our extensive container liners system which is the strongest in transportation to and from Iceland. Bjorn Einarsson, Executive Vice President of Iceland Sales and Business Management: I am excited about the opportunities the integration of the new division creates. With our experienced team, our strong brands and the solid foundation of Eimskip we will continue to provide excellent service offering the best solutions for our customers and the market. Bjorn Einarsson has worked for Eimskip and subsidiaries for 14 years e.g. as Managing Director of Eimskip in Europe located in the Netherlands and for the past few years he has been the Managing Director of TVG-Zimsen. He has extensive knowledge of Eimskips global operations as well as the transportation sector, both towards the carrier and the freight forwarding operations. Bjorn, who is a proud father of five sons, holds a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Iceland and is married to Katla Gujonsdottir. For further information - Edda Rut Bjornsdottir, Head of Marketing & Communications tel: +354 825-3399 email: investors@eimskip.is Attachment These exceptional colleagues exemplify our firms commitment to excellence, to our clients and experts, and to our people and culture. - Cornerstone Research President Yesim Richardson Cornerstone Research, a leading provider of economic and financial consulting and expert testimony, has advanced five senior staff to the role of vice president: Mike DeCesaris, Zoya Marriott, Sachin Sancheti, Gary Schmirer, and Paul Zurek. DeCesaris, who leads the firms data analytics practice, has been named vice president, data analytics. The firm also promoted two staff to the role of principal: Matthew Armstrong and Penka Kovacheva. These exceptional colleagues exemplify our firms commitment to excellence, to our clients and experts, and to our people and culture, said Yesim Richardson, Cornerstone Researchs president. We are proud to recognize their leadership, and I am confident that they will continue to make lasting contributions to the success of our firm. Vice President Mike DeCesaris directs Cornerstone Researchs data analytics practice. DeCesaris has been instrumental in building the firms industry-leading capabilities in sophisticated data management and analysis. He oversees complex projects requiring advanced empirical analysis of big data and data science techniques such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and text analytics. He has worked with counsel and clients to efficiently manage data analytics projects in the context of litigation, investigations, merger reviews, and non-litigation consulting. DeCesaris is based in San Francisco. Zoya Marriott, a leader in the firms life sciences practice, focuses on antitrust, intellectual property, product misrepresentation, false claims, and breach of contract matters. Marriott has addressed class certification, liability, and damages questions in litigation for both branded and generic manufacturers and involving both small molecule and biologic drugs. She has particular expertise with Hatch-Waxman disputes and has provided deposition and trial testimony on commercial success issues. Marriott is based in Boston. Sachin Sancheti leads teams in merger reviews, as well as product misrepresentation and intellectual property disputes. Sancheti worked on the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, as well as United States v. AT&T Inc. et al. and Commercial Metals Companys Acquisition of Certain Assets from Gerdau S.A. He has also assessed class certification claims and damages, and consulted on lost profit assessments in various industries. Sancheti is based in New York. Gary Schmirer specializes in financial matters arising from shareholder lawsuits, investment management disputes, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as in internal and regulatory investigations. Schmirer has directed analyses for five high-profile insider trading trials in the Southern District of New York. With particular expertise in addressing loss causation, valuation, damages, and sampling issues, his industry experience includes financial institutions, life sciences, technology, and real estate. Schmirer is based in Boston. Paul Zurek specializes in matters related to financial markets, securities, risk management, valuation, complex data, and statistical and econometric analysis in U.S. and international venues. Zurek has more than a decade of consulting experience, including as an expert witness testifying in civil litigation and in regulatory investigations. His industry expertise spans banking, hedge funds, investment management, manufacturing, private equity, pharmaceuticals and biotech, retail, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Zurek is based in San Francisco. Principal Matthew Armstrong specializes in securities and financial institution matters. He has extensive experience analyzing market efficiency, loss causation, and damages in Rule 10b-5 and Section 11 cases. In matters involving large, complex datasets, he has estimated damages arising from market timing in mutual funds and analyzed options trading issues at the class certification stage. Armstrong is based in Silicon Valley. Penka Kovacheva specializes in litigation and regulatory investigations within the life sciences and healthcare industries. Kovacheva focuses on economic and statistical issues in antitrust matters involving drug pricing and competition; reimbursement disputes between government and healthcare providers; and intellectual property disputes between drug manufacturers. She assessed upstream and downstream competitive effects of the vertical merger of Cigna and Express Scripts. Kovacheva is based in Los Angeles. About Cornerstone Research Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex litigation and regulatory proceedings. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent faculty and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. Cornerstone Research has earned a reputation for consistent high quality and effectiveness by delivering rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis for more than thirty years. The firm has over 700 staff and offices in Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington. http://www.cornerstone.com Twitter: @Cornerstone_Res Facebook: @CornerstoneResearchInc LOS ANGELES CBS has canceled tapings of "The Price Is Right" this week following the violent death of Amie Harwick, who was previously engaged to host Drew Carey. Harwick, a well-known family therapist and author, was killed at age 38, allegedly by her former boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, on Saturday. Episodes of "The Price Is Right" that were scheduled to tape on Tuesday and Wednesday have been postponed until the week of Feb. 24 or March 2, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Police found Harwick unconscious with multiple blunt force injuries on Saturday morning while responding to a report of a woman screaming near the therapist's Hollywood Hills home. She later died at a hospital. Authorities have since arrested 41-year-old freelance photographer Pursehouse on suspicion of murder. Per court records, Harwick twice applied for restraining orders against Pursehouse before she died. Carey, who succeeded Bob Barker as emcee of "The Price Is Right" in 2007, dated Harwick for two years before the pair split in 2018, months after announcing their engagement. Upon news of Harwick's death, the veteran comedian described himself in a statement as "overcome with grief." "Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime," he said. "She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist." Because "The Price Is Right" records its episodes several months in advance, the postponement likely won't delay the shows' air times. ___ (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A Purdue University-affiliated startup wants to help college students turn their knowledge into money and avoid the stigma that can come from conventional tutoring. The team behind studytable, one of the businesses chosen for the Purdue Foundrys Double Down Experiment, created a platform for users to find other college students to help with difficult coursework. The nine businesses chosen for Double Down were selected based on readiness to reach the next level with technologies. Every student struggles and thrives at some point with coursework, so we developed a peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing marketplace for students to earn money from the classes they excelled in by connecting them to the students having trouble, said Wesley Crouch, who founded the startup and serves as CEO. We initially called our platform tudr but, after market research, changed the name and branding to avoid any stigma associated with conventional tutoring. Crouch said the platform is simple to use. A student downloads the free app, describes the problem they have with coursework and then opens a study table. Other students who want to earn money apply to host a study table, and then the user can read reviews and personality traits to select the host they want to use. The two students then schedule a time, decide on a location and the timer in the app starts and finishes the session. Students often describe conventional tutoring as too formal or impersonal, Crouch said. We dont draw a distinction between a student and a host. Users can create one profile and easily provide or receive help from other students as needed. The price for an average session is around $20. The app offers parents and families a chance to send their student a digital care package, which can help cover the costs of sessions. The startup was created in 2018. Studytable just launched at Purdue and is active on campuses across Indiana, California and a few other states. Crouch said the plan is to advertise to more campuses as soon as possible. Crouch said he and the team were drawn to Purdue through one of their business advisors, Michael Schrader, who graduated from Purdues College of Engineering. Schrader said, I made sure they knew about the incredible entrepreneurship ecosystem at Purdue and basically said that is the place to be for what you are trying to accomplish. About Purdue Foundry The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. The Purdue Foundry is housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, located on the west side of the Purdue campus. The Purdue Foundry is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org Source: Wesley Crouch, wes@studytable.co All 248 people at an Army camp in Manesar and another batch of 100 at an ITBP facility, quarantined at these two places after being evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan earlier this month, were discharged on Tuesday, officials said, even as more Indians will be brought back from China by an IAF aircraft. The remaining people housed at the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp will be released by Wednesday morning, the officials A total of 647 Indians and seven Maldivians were brought back from Wuhan on February 1 and 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China and kept at the two quarantine facilities. On Monday, a batch of about 200 people were discharged from the ITBP camp, which housed a total of 406 people, including seven Maldivians. All 248 persons, mostly students, who were quarantined at the Army camp left for their homes after being declared fit on Tuesday. "All of them have tested negative for the respiratory virus in the subsequent tests after the completion of the 14-day quarantine period," an official source said. Military sources said India will send a C-17 military aircraft to Wuhan on February 20 to evacuate more Indians from Wuhan. The C-17 Globemaster, the biggest military aircraft in the Air Force, will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, the sources told PTI. Last week, India had announced that it will send medicines as well as other medical supplies to China. As the inmates left the quarantine facility on Tuesday, they thanked the Indian Army for the arrangements made at the camp, particularly the food, and raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', sources said. "Due to the fear of coronavirus spreading rapidly, we appealed the Indian embassy in China to rescue us. Our university also provided support to us. The documentation process took around eight days after which Indian Army evacuated us on February 1 on an Air India flight," said a student wearing a mask after being discharged. So far 317 people out of total 406 have left the ITBP centre after being declared free of novel coronavirus by the doctors. All those who were discharged have been provided with conveyance till airport, railway stations, or bus stands. Among those who will leave the facility on Wednesday are a few families. All released persons were advised to remain self isolated for the next 14 days at their respective places, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said. They were also advised the dos and don'ts during the period. On Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had also visited the ITBP facility and interacted with the evacuees. India has so far reported three confirmed cases of the virus, all in Kerala. Two of the three medical students who had tested positive for novel coronavirus infection have now been discharged, Vardhan said on Monday. The condition of the third one is stable, he said. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak has climbed to 1,868 while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PATNA: Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who was recently expelled from Janata Dal-United, on Tuesday (February 18, 2020) posed some tough questions at his former political mentor and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who expelled him from the party last month after an acrimonious war of words. Kishor also launched a "Baat Bihar Ki" programme to reach out to thousands of the state's younger voters and make Bihar as one of the most developed states of India. ''I am starting a program called 'Baat Bihar ki' from 20th February, to work towards making Bihar one of the 10 best states in the country,'' he said during the press conference. Referring to the forthcoming assembly election in Bihar later this year, Kishor questioned what he called Nitish Kumar's ideological compromise to stay in the alliance with the BJP-led NDA and also rejected the Chief Minister's claims about development in Bihar. "There have been many discussions between me and Nitish Ji about the party's ideology. Nitish Ji always told us that the party can never leave the ideals of Gandhi Ji... But now the party is with those who are soft on Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse... For me Gandhi Ji and Godse cannot go hand-in-hand," Kishor said while launching a searing attack on the state government's performance. He also challenged Nitish Kumar and his government to confront him on data that he claimed showed very little progress in Bihar between 2005 and 2015. "While Bihar has made progress, we must also see things from the perspective that compared to other states, Bihar is lacking even today... Why is that? It stands where it was in 2005. Except for Jharkhand, Bihar is still the most backward state in India. I keep repeating that Bihar was most backward in 2005, and is still the most backward when compared to other states," Kishor said. ''I urge Nitish Kumar or any of his ministers to debate with me in open forum on data points pertaining to Bihar's development,'' Kishor said. He, however, said that he has no regrets and will never complain against Bhar Chief Minister and his former party president Nitish Kumar who he respects a lot. ''I have had good relations with Nitish Kumar Ji. I have immense respect for him. I will not question his decision,'' the noted political strategist said while addressing a press conference. When quipped further about his expulsion, he said, ''It is Nitish Kumar's prerogative, I will always respect him.'' Explaining reasons why his relationship with Nitish Kumar soured, Kishor said that the Bihar CM has made himself too dependent on BJP and his association with the saffron party has not good for the state. Explaining further, Kishor explained that he had been discussing things with Nitish Kumar vis-a-vis BJP government's policies and its impact on Bihar but the two didn't come to a logical conclusion and serious disagreements persisted. Kishore said that he has no problems with the JDU aligning with the BJP but only if it benefits the state. Kishor is credited for charting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign in 2014 Lok Sabha election and more recently, Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress' spectaculor victory in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRC won 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 out of 175 Assembly seats May 2019. Kishore had also played a critical role in bringing Rashtriya Janata Dal and JD (U) together under the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in the 2015 Bihar Assembly election. In Lok Sabha 2019, the BJP had made stunning inroads in Trinamool-ruled West Bengal, winning 18 out the 42 Lok Sabha seats, up from just two seats in 2014. Trinamool, on the other hand, nosedived to 22 seats. The American entry ban on foreigners who have recently spent time in China has already prevented many students, researchers, businesspeople and travelers with legal visas from entering the United States. Yet this is unnecessary maybe even counterproductive according to experts on public health and epidemiology. A few other countries, most notably Australia, followed the U.S. example, but the majority of countries have not. High-income countries neighboring China, Japan and South Korea, allow people to enter from China, just not those who have recently spent time in Hubei province. Canada's leaders pointedly said they were "following the recommendation of the World Health Organization" that is, not implementing a travel ban. The reason the WHO recommends against travel bans is because they are ineffective. They impose costs on the target country and the banning country without creating many, if any, benefits. Even American border and customs professionals do not support broad travel bans. John Wagner, one of the leaders of field operations during the Ebola outbreak in 2014, testified when the U.S. was considering a travel ban on countries affected by the Ebola virus, saying, "It is easier to manage and control [the virus] when we know where people are coming from voluntarily and not trying to deceive us." A paper on the effectiveness of the 2003 response to SARS by Ho-fung Hung, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, concluded that it was "counterproductive" to try to "curb the transborder flow of travelers." The United States and Australia, which are among the world's most developed countries, are fully capable of dealing with the risks of COVID-19 without resorting to extreme measures. Their decisions can be much more easily explained by domestic politics and nationalism. The United States has always had a kind of contradictory view of itself. On the one hand, it sees itself as the world's leading superpower. On the other hand, being separated from Europe and Asia by oceans on either side, it sees itself as an "exceptional" country different and superior to the rest of the world. President Donald Trump has proposed the "America First" slogan. Although even Trump's attitude is contradictory, while arguing for withdrawing from the world, he still wants the U.S. to be the unchallenged global superpower and impose his will on those, like Iran, that do not fall in line. It may not be a coincidence that Trump's China travel ban came at the same time he has expanded his original anti-Muslim travel ban. When running for president, Trump called for "a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." After the ban was challenged in court, it had to be altered a few times to simply include a random list of Asian and African countries with large Muslim and non-white populations, in order to allow it to pass legal scrutiny. Jumping to simplistic answers for complicated issues is never a reasonable way to solve problems. In this particular case, the "problem" is the animosity towards people of different races coming from different countries. Banning visitors from China could well hurt the economies of the United States, Australia, and other countries that have taken such measures. This is not least because of the fact that it will make it harder for businesspeople to meet. Oxford Economics a global forecasting and quantitative analysis company estimates that the number of Chinese tourists to the United States, who spent about 40% more than the average tourist, will decline by 1.6 million. And, while a decline is also expected to occur in other countries, the travel ban may well harm the reputation of the U.S., making it less likely for tourists to visit even after the ban is lifted. Worryingly, it could also harm the scientific community by making it harder for scholars to collaborate and share knowledge. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. The government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday New Delhi: The government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. The minister was addressing media after meeting representatives of the industry to review the situation following the outbreak of the deadly virus in China. FM Nirmala Sitharaman says all sectors spoke of supply disruption on coronavirus; no talks of price rise on coronavirus-led supply issue#coronavirus #CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/CWhqzfDIlk CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 18, 2020 Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaires of different ministries tomorrow and then announce steps to deal with the situation in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office. "There are no concerns about price rise so far due to coronavirus," she said, adding it is too early to talk about the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on the Make in India initiative. She also said there were no reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment, instead the pharma industry is asking for lifting of ban on exports of certain items. However, there could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries, she said. Irish company Poppulo said it aiming for 30% annual growth over the next five years as it eyes further expansion in the internal communications sector. The Cork company creates software to help companies manage internal staff communications. It employs more than 200 people in Ireland and further 50 in Boston. Its clients include Unilever, Bank of America, Nestle, Johnson Controls and Rolls-Royce. Poppulo's founder and CEO Andrew O'Shaughnessy said they have been growing by 30% a year for the past seven years. "We plan to continue that growth, at that rate, over the next five years," he said. Mr O'Shaughnessy was speaking at the KPMG Founders event which took place at the company's offices at 85 South Mall. He outlined the growth of the company and how he started his career with his family textile business, learning hard business lessons. He went on to create Poppulo, pivoting the company from external communications to internal communications. The company has grown to become a global leader in employee communications which has captured 30% of Europes largest employers and 20% of the biggest corporations in the US. Poppulo generates $23 million annually in revenue and have recently raised 30 million in funding to further expand their global footprint. Having achieved a significant portion of the internal communications marketplace Mr O'Shaughnessy said the sector is now increasingly competitive. "Every marketplace is highly competitive," he told the Irish Examiner. "Anytime something starts to really take off or get traction, that will attract others. We have competition from all over the world. There is a lot of investment going into the area but that is a good thing. It shows there is a market there and we have a good head start. We are in a strong position to make the most of that market." Asked about further expansion plans he said Poppulo's bases in Cork and Boston would remain their main hubs for the short term. "It's really about getting the right talent that you need," he said."We will have people working increasingly remotely but our two main markets at the moment are Europe and the US and we have a base on the ground in both." The KPMG Founders series is a round table discussion for groups of scaling business owners to listen, engage and share experiences with leading entrepreneurs and founders of successful companies. Jessika Power has slammed Stacey Hampton again while trying to 'end' their feud. On Tuesday, the 2019 Married At First Sight star revealed exactly what she thought of the Women's Day allegations that Stacey was seeking 'legal advice' because of their dispute. Taking a screenshot of a follow-up article by InStyle Magazine, the 28-year-old wrote a detailed response regarding how the initial reports were 'a load of actual s**t'. 'She isn't worth my breath': Married At First Sight star Jessika Power (right) slammed 2020 contestant Stacey Hampton (pictured left) ... while wishing their 'feud' would 'end' Stacey, 26, was allegedly seeking legal advice as she felt Jessika was purposefully targeting her, according to Women's Day. The publication suggested Jessika wanted to 'expose' Stacey's personal life. 'What a load of s**t,' Jessika wrote on Instagram Stories. What's the truth? Taking a screenshot of a follow-up article by InStyle Magazine , the 28-year-old wrote a detailed response regarding how the initial reports were 'a load of actual s**t' 'I've been inundated with messages about Stacey and all of the horrible and negative things she's done to others before the show. 'But never did I seek it out and ask people for information,' she explained. Jessika went on to add: 'I couldn't care less about the woman and I wish this whole crap "feud" would end because she isn't worth my breath'. Opinions: Stacey previously told Hit FM Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge that Jessika was acting 'borderline obsessed' by adding her 'baby daddy' on social media 'Also, she seeked [sic] legal advice? Isn't she a lawyer?' According to the original publication's anonymous source, Stacey felt 'extremely violated' and 'lost it' when she discovered Jessika had followed her ex-fiance, Rebels' president Shane Michael Smith, on Instagram. Stacey previously told Hit FM Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge that Jessika was acting 'borderline obsessed' by adding her 'baby daddy' on social media. 'Isn't she a lawyer?' According to the original publication's anonymous source, Stacey felt 'extremely violated' and 'lost it' when she discovered Jessika had followed her ex-fiance on Instagram Stacey shares sons Kruz, two, and Kosta, four, with the Rebels bikie boss, 37. The law graduate ended her engagement to Shane in 2017, before he was convicted of bashing two nightclub bouncers. Stacey told the radio hosts: 'Jessika added my children's father, so I think she's borderline obsessed with me!' Married At First Sight's controversial bride Stacey (right) was engaged to Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith, 37, (left) with who she shares two sons (one pictured) Jessika has since told Daily Mail Australia she has had zero contact with Stacey's ex. 'I doubt her baby daddy will be contacting me after seeing the media storm around the topic. To me, he seems he may want to remain a private man.' 'In regards to this "feud" we supposedly have, I don't think we have one at all because you need to know or care about someone in order to have such emotions,' she added. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Nine EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company") Total Voting Rights As a result of the purchase of 25,000 Ordinary 1p shares placed into Treasury on 18 February 2020 and in conformity with Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1A, the issued share capital and voting rights of the Company are as follows: Class of share Total number of shares in circulation Number of voting rights attached to each share Total number of voting rights of shares in circulation Number of shares held in treasury (carrying no voting rights attached until issued) Total number of shares in issue Ordinary 1p Shares 40,587,725 1 40,587,725 23,921,917 64,509,642 The above total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in EP Global Opportunities Trust plc under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. 18 February 2020 LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58 Enquiries: Kenneth Greig Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited Tel: 0131 270 3800 The Company's registered office address is: 27-31 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7JF A plane carrying Canadians from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan will leave the region by week's end, the federal government says, as the number aboard sickened with the novel coronavirus continues to rise. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Minister of Health Patty Hajdu responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Monday, February 3, 2020 in Ottawa. With more Canadians expected to arrive home and be quarantined over fears of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu is visiting the military base where several hundred people are waiting out the incubation period. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld A plane carrying Canadians from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan will leave the region by week's end, the federal government says, as the number aboard sickened with the novel coronavirus continues to rise. More than 450 people from the Diamond Princess, held in the port of Yokohama, had tested positive for the virus known as COVID-19, among them 43 Canadians at last count. Authorities in Japan and here say only people who are examined and found healthy will be allowed to fly to quarantine in Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday that Canadian officials were waiting on final authorization from those in Japan before the plane ferrying people home is able to take off. Departure is now likely to happen Thursday or Friday, he said. The plane was en route to Japan after some unforeseen technical issues prior to takeoff Tuesday, Champagne said. "The plane right now is in the air and will be there on the 19th," he said. Canadians who are sick will remain in Japanese health facilities, he said. But not everyone who is healthy will travel: Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said some aboard the cruise ship have indicated they plan to stay with ill family members. She said their travel home, whenever it happens, will be tracked and they, too, will be subject to quarantine rules when they land. Hajdu said there are others aboard the cruise ship who officials are still trying to get in touch with. In all, there are 256 Canadians aboard the ship. Those who have requested and been cleared to fly will arrive at CFB Trenton for health examinations before being moved on to a Nav Canada training centre in Cornwall, Ont., which includes a large hotel. Hajdu said the amount of time they stay in quarantine will be unique to each person based on the symptoms they show and whether they test positive for the virus. "In every circumstance, we'll be considering that particular person's health and the risk of further infection," Hajdu said at a press conference in nearby Belleville, Ont. "What we're trying to do as a country is do our global part in containing the spread in Canada and I will say that I am very proud of the work that's been happening at all levels of jurisdiction to reach that goal together." She had just visited an existing quarantine site at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, in southern Ontario. More than 400 Canadians and family members airlifted from Wuhan, China, are waiting out the COVID-19 bug's two-week incubation period. She met health workers, Canadian Armed Forces members and staff from the Red Cross, who are all trying to keep the people in quarantine healthy and not too bored while they wait out the incubation period for the respiratory illness. So far, no cases of COVID-19 have been detected there. Most cases of the virus are mild, but the illness can be deadly, especially in people who are already in poor health. Eight people in Canada have tested positive for the virus, out of about 350 cases tested at the country's premier microbiology lab, and none has died. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. The 40-year-old former Love Island presenter died at her home in east London on Saturday. Friends of Ms Flack have criticised the keyboard warriors who abused her on social media. Fiona Fagan was a friend of Ms Flack for more than 20 years. Speaking on RTE Radios Ryan Tubridy Show, she said: You cant say those nasty things. Theres going to be consequences; people are fragile. Someone lost their life because of this; theyve taken their life because of this. Ms Fagan is a stylist on Dancing with the Stars. She and Ms Flack met when Ms Fagan moved from Ireland to London more than two decades ago. She described her friend as fun and sparky. Her laugh would have you in stitches, she said. Ms Fagan had messaged Ms Flack on Friday, but did not receive a response. She had spoken to friends in the past about taking her own life; she was obviously in a bad, bad place. But no-one thought that it would happen or that she would do it. The stylist spoke of how Ms Flacks mother would plead with her not to go on Twitter after she presented Love Island, because she knew her daughter would be slated. But the presenter would look at comments about what she wore and how she looked and would be downcast for hours or days. Her mum was trying to protect her, Ms Fagan said. Ms Fagan had been concerned for her friend. Ms Flack had stepped down from presenting Love Island after she was alleged to have assaulted her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, in December. She entered a not-guilty plea to the assault charge at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court and was released on bail, with conditions that stopped her having contact with Burton, ahead of a trial in March. It was Valentines Day and she is a hopeless romantic. She couldnt see her boyfriend. She was like a big heart of love, and she loved love stories, and movies. I just felt I needed to reach out, Ms Fagan said. She couldnt see him because of the court case. I know she was with a girlfriend; she had lots of friends around her, who care about her. London can be quite a lonely place without a partner to have your back, support you; its a really hard industry out there, Ms Fagan said. The criticism online really took her to the ground: she was very insecure, very fragile, concerned about her weight, her figure. I just cant believe she thought there was no other option. Im in shock that this is the way it ended for her. Shes someones daughter, shes someones twin sister, shes someones friend, shes someones aunty. Just be kind. You cannot take people down in that manner. Laura Whitmore, a friend of Ms Flacks for more than ten years, said: Im not going to pretend shes perfect, but she lived every mistake publicly, under the scrutiny of the media. I want to use my platform to call people out, because its gone too far. Your words affect people. To paparazzi and tabloids looking for a cheap sell, to trolls hiding behind a keyboard: enough. Presenter warned police she would kill herself Caroline Flack told police she would kill herself after she allegedly assaulted her boyfriend in December. The presenter, described as vulnerable by her management, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Lewis Burton at her former flat in London in a court hearing in December. Highbury Corner Magistrates Court heard that, in the aftermath of the alleged incident, Ms Flack told police: I did it, and then warned she would kill herself. She was arrested and charged with assault by beating after police were called to her flat in Islington on December 12. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment, although further detail may emerge at an inquest. Ms Flack stepped down from presenting the current winter series of Love Island after the alleged assault. The programme did not air on Sunday night, but returned last night with a tribute to Ms Flack. Ambulance crews were called to a property in Clapton, north east London on Friday night, where Ms Flack was thought to have recently moved, but a London Ambulance Service spokesman refused to confirm or deny reports that the paramedics attended her flat. An LAS statement said: We were called shortly after 10.30pm on February 14 to a residential property on Northwold Road, N16. Crews attended and, following a clinical assessment, the person was not taken to hospital. Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment further. The LAS also said crews were called to Northwold Road at 2.30pm on Saturday, adding that a person was pronounced dead at the scene, but would not comment on whether the two incidents were linked. The shock news prompted a flood of tributes from celebrities. It also raised questions about the decision to persist with prosecuting Ms Flack for the alleged assault and about the pressures faced by TV celebrities from the press and social media. Her management company criticised Britains Crown Prosecution Service for pressing ahead with what it called her show trial even after Mr Burton said he did not support it. The tragedy has put the spotlight back on the pressures attached to celebrity. Ms Flack is the fourth person linked to the ITV2 dating programme to have killed themselves. Sophie Gradon, who was a contestant in 2016, was found dead at her home in 2018 at the age of 32. BHer boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who had found her body, killed himself three weeks later. He was 25. Mike Thalassitis, a 2017 contestant in the series, was 26 when he was found dead in a park in March last year. If you have been affected by this article, support is available from the Samaritans on freephone 116123, or by emailing jo@samaritans.org, or freecall Pieta House at 1800 247 247. Love, Rihanna is a large-format, impeccably produced limited edition, hand-sewn and bound in bespoke padded Japanese-designed fabric with a pearlescent finish, with an embedded, matte black, laser-cut steel logo, designed by Barnbrook studio. The endpapers feature a custom design by The Haas Brothers in spot gloss on a rich black paper stock. Each special edition is signed "Love, Rihanna" by Rihanna and numbered 1-500. To mark this special publication, step behind the curtain with a new behind-the-scenes video detailing the creation of the Rihanna book. Rihanna was more than five years in the making and was a labor of love for her, her team, and her partners. Fans can now go behind the scenes with Rihanna on her journey to create this visual autobiography . . . from the earliest meeting where Rihanna outlined her vision to an intimate design meeting with Phaidon, The Haas Brothers, and Rihanna for the books' stands. Recount the memories with Rihanna as she looks at early images for the book; meets Barnbrook, the designers of the book who share secrets from the book's stories; and peek inside the factory that manufactured the book and the studio where its limited edition stands were made. And, finally, see it all come together at the book's launch at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City this past October. Love, Rihanna and The Making of The Rihanna Book, a behind-the-scenes video released on Friday, will take fans closer than ever into Rihanna's world. Click here to view the video. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rihanna (b. 1988, Barbados) is a nine-time Grammy Awardwinning recording artist, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She has sold 60 million albums and 215 million digital tracks worldwide, making her the top-selling digital artist of all time. Rihanna launched her beauty line Fenty Beauty in 2017, her lingerie line Savage X Fenty in 2018, and most recently her luxury fashion line FENTY in 2019. ABOUT PHAIDON Phaidon is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. With over 1,500 titles in print, Phaidon books are sold in over 100 countries and are printed in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, and dozens of other languages. Since the publisher's founding in Vienna in 1923, Phaidon has sold more than 42 million books worldwide. ABOUT THE DESIGNER Leading independent creative studio Barnbrook designed the interiors and typography for the books. Barnbrook, founded in 1990 by Jonathan Barnbrook in London, is one of Britain's most well-known and highly regarded independent creative studios. The studio has been collaborating with the world's best and most exciting art and cultural clients to produce memorable, beautiful, and thought-provoking design. The studio's contribution to design was recognized with a retrospective at the Design Museum in London in 2007 and a Grammy Award in 2016 for David Bowie's Blackstar record cover. ABOUT THE ARTISTS The Haas Brothers (b. 1984, Austin, TX) was founded by twin brothers, Nikolai and Simon. Their work explores aesthetic themes related to nature, science fiction, sexuality, and psychedelia. Their first solo museum exhibition was held at the Bass Museum of Art in Miami, Florida and their pieces are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LACMA, and RISD Museum. They are represented by Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York and live in Los Angeles. WEBSITE TheRihannaBook.com SOURCE Phaidon Press Inc. New Delhi, Feb 18 : A day after Babulal Marandi returned to the BJP at a massive rally in Jharkhand, BJP President J.P. Nadda has appointed party General Secretary Muralidhar Rao as the central observer for election of the leader of the state legislature party. The decision was announced in a party communique issued by BJP leader Arun Singh. It is widely seen as indications that Marandi may get the job. The BJP, which faced a beating in the recent Jharkhand Assembly election due to an unpopular non-tribal Chief Minister -- Raghubar Das -- seems to be readying to undo the damage. If it happens, it will also be a way of showing appreciation for Marandi agreeing to merge his political outfit, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik, with that of the BJP. Marandi rejoined the BJP at a gala ceremony at Jagannath Maidan at Ranchi in presence of the top BJP leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A large crowd of the BJP and JVM workers gathered to witness Marandi's 'ghar wapsi'. Marandi also announced the merger of his party with the BJP at the event. Marandi, who became the first Chief Minister after the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, had to step down in 2003 due to internal strife in the BJP. After the dissatisfaction crossed a level, he formed a new political outfit by separating from the BJP in 2006. The BJP lost the Assembly election in the state, getting 25 seats in the 81-member assembly. The JMM, which fought the election along with the Congress and the RJD, gained a comfortable majority. Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor says it is obvious President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos fight against illegal mining is in a final state of glaring defeat. Peter Boamah Otukonor is therefore demanding an overhaul of the Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining [IMCIM] and a review of the fight initiated in 2017, when the incumbent government took office. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, he said the President has lied over the years in his quest to fighting galamsey. He [President Nana Addo] went to galamsey operators for them to vote for him during the 2016 campaign and promised them something he knew wasnt possible. He had no measures to control the situation but rather made it worse by seizing and burning excavators. This is a wrong approach, he said. Listen to interview . . . Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video McMillions Episode 3 Season 1 Episode 3 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: HBO Before the third episode of McMillions, wed seen two million-dollar winners interviewed by Shamrock Productions, both men spinning their made-up stories about how they got their winning piece. And in both cases, its been easy to laugh about the particulars: Michael Hoover talking about going to a grocery store to replace the People magazine that had flown out of his lap and into the water at the beach, Buddy Fisher sweating profusely while trying desperately to give the vaguest possible account of what happened to him. To this point in the documentary, its been fun to watch people incriminate themselves on camera, because who cares about them, anyway? They knowingly participated in fraud. Tonights episode shows us the reverse angle and its surprisingly devastating. Gloria Brown was a million-dollar winner who made her claim at a McDonalds near Hilton Head, South Carolina, but actually hails from Jacksonville. When she sits down with Doug Mathews and Amy Murray, theres more fun to be had in watching them exploit the holes in her story, specifically her false claim to residency. When Mathews shows her a picture of the McDonalds where she won the money, theres a cruel irony to the restaurant actually being located in her Jacksonville hometown, like Mathews wanted to be as disrespectful as possible. And then, by having her sign the photo (Thanks a million!) and point to her winning star, her humiliation was complete. When we come back to the footage later in the episode, after meeting Brown in the present day and hearing her side of the story, it takes on a completely different meaning. This isnt the case of a greedy woman dutifully lying to a McDonalds promotional unit while her living large off her winnings, but a single mother held hostage by a gangster whos shaking her down for every penny shes got. The two Jerries have to get paid: Jerry Jacobson from Simon Marketing, whos been stealing the winning tickets, and Jerry Colombo, the two-bit mobster whos been distributing them to various family members and friends he can either trust or coerce. They need winners to make their money, which doesnt leave much money for the winners. With the scheme now several winners deep, all of them Italian-Americans, Jerry Colombos wife Robin suggests that he may want to bring women and persons of color to the fold or risk drawing suspicion. Brown was an old friend of Robins, and she was enticed enough by the prospect of financial relief that she didnt ask too many questions about how this blessing landed in her lap. But from the moment she agrees to take part, Colombo has the power to exploit her mercilessly: She has to submit to his every demand, from the scripted trip to McDonalds to claim the prize to the constant raiding of her bank account. He even made her mortgage her home to give him money upfront for the ticket, which wound up tripling her payments later on. Of the $50,000 McDonalds paid out to her every year, $25,000 was his tax-free, leaving her with about $10,000 after taxes, which didnt change her life much at all. Until now, the beauty of Mathews sting operation has been the plausibility of it to the winners, who have so little reason to suspect anythings wrong that several of the FBI agents on the crew, him included, didnt even bother to learn how to do their fake jobs. It wasnt like they had to produce a commercial-ready promotional video they just needed a pretense to get suspects to lie on camera. But the fact that Brown sensed that she was in trouble, based on the questions she was being asked, completely changes the context of the footage. Now shes not another terrible liar getting exposed, but a victim a few years deep into a gangsters scheme, less a winner than a hostage. Amid all the comical Coens-in-real-life lunacy of McMillions, James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte are telling us that these are not just colorful characters. Some people got hurt. Which is not to say there isnt plenty of chicanery in this hour. While Jerry Colombo was running the Monopoly scam, he was also trying to get a strip club called Fuzzy Bunnys off the ground in Ladson, South Carolina, where local ordinances forbid such establishments. Jerrys answer was to exploit every loophole he could in the law, like having his pole dancers wear Daisy Dukes and pasties, but never actually take off all their clothes. When that didnt work, he mixed sin and salvation by opening The Church of the Fuzzy Bunnys, which this News of the Weird item from 1998 describes as a Bible reading followed by a procession of dancers wearing pasties. (The same paragraph describes another ordinance-dodge in California that involved turning a strip club into an RV promotional facility.) As Colombos schemes and affairs put a strain on his relationship with his wife Robin, guess who stepped into the breach? Uncle Jerry! This bizarre love triangle leads to the funniest moment of the episode, when the interviewer has to stop Robin to process this revelation. (Hold on. Really?!) How much the Jerry-Robin-Jerry romantic intrigue factors into this story is questionable, but it does underline how closely Jacobson and Colombo had to collaborate over the years. And with two honorable men like that working together, what could possibly go wrong? Chance cards If this were scripted television, Robin Colombo watching an episode of The Sopranos would be a little on-the-nose. The episode introduces Hilda Bennett, the CPA that would travel with Jerry Jacobson, but theres no follow-up about her at all, which is an odd hiccup in the storytelling. Lee Cassanos story about Jerry Colombo making her a supremely unlucky $100,000 winner is like Gloria Brown on a smaller scale. She was another working stiff who was the happy beneficiary of Colombos largesse, right up to the point where he flew her to Philadelphia to claim the prize and subsequently shook her down for the money, too. He kept picking Italians on the east coast. Starting to suspect that Jerry Colombo wasnt a criminal mastermind. Asked whether his Church of the Fuzzy Bunnys was an affront to God, Colombo responds with a spiritual brazenness few could manage: He came to me in a dream a couple weeks ago and He said that what Im doing is fine. VULTURE NEWSLETTER Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Haiti - Kenscoff : Revitalization of the culture of coffee To "Nouvelle Touraine", 1st municipal section of Kenscoff, at almost 1,600 meters above sea level, "Solidarite Haitienne pour le Developpement de Kenscoff" (SOHADERK), a non-profit socio-economic, agricultural and educational organization, continues its project to revitalize the cultivation of coffee, executed within the framework of the "Small Grant Facility" program, financed by the American Agency for International Development (USAID - Haiti). A total of 100,000 seedlings of coffee and other forest species (such as grevillea...) and fruit (loquat and avocado) are currently in production in the nursery pending the next rainy season to be distributed and planted. This coffee-based agroforestry system will help combat erosion and accelerated deforestation, and also regenerate soil fertility in addition to being a source of stable income for the beneficiaries in the near future through the production of coffee and of fruits. This project is also a source of job creation in the community. Currently, two nurserymen and 10 nursery assistant workers are working to manage and maintain these 100,000 seedlings in the nursery. Finally, it should be noted that in addition to providing quality seedlings, SOHADERK also organizes training sessions for beneficiaries for better management of their agroforestry plots. It should be noted that as part of its project, SOHADERK has already transplanted 162,000 seedlings out of the 550,000 planned. HL/ HaitiLibre Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. by Rob Williams , February 17, 2020 Google is taking a friendlier approach to publishers with its discussions about possibly paying them a licensing fee for content, as The Wall Street Journal reported last week. The talks are said to be in the early stages, but they may help publishers create another source of revenue as they cope with declining ad sales. The value of publisher content to Google has been hotly debated since last year. The News Media Alliance, a nonprofit that represents more than 2,000 newspapers in North America, argued that Google makes at least $4.7 billion a year from "crawling and scraping" their content. Google refuted the claim, which also was questioned by media analysts, executives and columnists. It's hard to imagine that publishers have much bargaining power with Google, given that it's the most popular search engine in the world outside of China. Even if antitrust authorities manage to compel Google to undo its acquisitions of DoubleClick, YouTube and Android, the company will still dominate internet search. advertisement advertisement Its also important to understand the difference between Google Search and Google News, the two main avenues to publisher content from the search company. Google Search is valuable to publishers, helping them to connect with online audiences. The key debate is whether Google helps or hurts traffic with search results. Google has said it drives 10 billion clicks to publishers' websites and is providing an invaluable service. Some publishers, especially in France, have argued the search results show too much copyrighted content from their websites. Instead of urging people to click through, Google gives readers just enough information to stay on its site, the argument goes. In addition, Google News gathers headlines from publishers in one place, helping readers to find the latest headlines. Google doesn't have advertising in Google News, which means there isn't any revenue to share with publishers.< However, as other companies like Apple, Facebook, News Corp and AT&T develop news aggregation services, the search giant has more competitors for user attention. Facebook last year announced plans to share revenue with publishers, while Apple has a paid digital newsstand that also provides additional income. Google's willingness to pay for publisher content is a welcomed development. PITTSFIELD TWP., MI A $30-million wrongful death lawsuit is now a $50-million wrongful death lawsuit after a judge approved revisions in the case against two Pittsfield Township police officers and a tow truck company connected to a double fatal super drunk driving crash. Lake Jacobson, 55, of Pittsfield Township was struck head-on by Desten Houge, 32, of Ypsilanti about 5:15 p.m. Dec. 30, 2017, on a Pittsfield Township road. She died several days later, while Houge was pronounced dead at the scene. A wrongful death lawsuit, filed in October of 2018 in Washtenaw County Trial Court by Jacobsons husband Mark Jacobson, accuses Pittsfield Township police Sgt. Matthew Hornbeck, Officer Samuel Bradley and the towing company, Sakstrup Towing Inc., of negligence for letting Houge drive away from a crash an hour prior along the same road, Michigan Avenue. Widower in $30 million lawsuit blames police in death of communitys finest When defendants (the officers and tow truck driver) encountered super-drunk Houge, he had effectively been neutralized. He had lost control and driven his vehicle into a ditch rendering it inoperable. Defendants took a neutralized risk and resurrected it, Jacobsons attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. An MLive/The Ann Arbor News investigation revealed dashboard camera videos showing Houge say, I cant explain this s**t, at the first crash, falling once in the snow and being helped up by an officer. No sobriety test was conducted, and Pittsfield Township Director of Public Safety Matt Harshberger said Houges BAC surprised officials, as they believed there were no signs of intoxication. He also said its not uncommon to have someone drive away from a crash, if possible. Houges vehicle had functional damage after the previous crash, according to police reports, and Houge had a blood-alcohol level of .24 and THC, a component of marijuana, in his system at the time of the fatal crash. Last week, on Feb. 13, Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Timothy Connors denied the officers and towing companys attorneys motion for summary disposition to end the case and instead granted an amended complaint from the Jacobsons attorneys, increasing the lawsuit amount to $50 million, court records show. Information obtained through discovery in the case created a more profound sense of loss for the family, Stephen Goethel, one of the Jacobsons attorneys, said, explaining the reasoning for the increase. Some of the information brought to light was testimony clarifying it was standard practice for officers to remain at he scene of a crash until the scene is cleared and testimony from a witness who saw the condition of Houges car before the crash, he said. Both officers left the scene before Houges car was pulled from the ditch and the witness reported seeing Houges front tire smashed in, Goethel said. Trial court proceedings are currently postponed as the case is set to be submitted to the Michigan Court of Appeals by the officers attorneys asking for clarity in the states public duty doctrine, Gus Morris, an attorney representing the officers, said. The case as it is presents a legal issue in the public duty doctrine that needs to be revisited, Morris said. The doctrine protects officers from negligence lawsuits for failure to provide police protection unless an individual plaintiff establishes that a special relationship exists between the police officers and the individual. Given the nature of the case, Goethel anticipates the case progressing to the Michigan Supreme Court. There are parts of the law here that cries out for clarity, Goethel said. No future court dates have been scheduled. More from The Ann Arbor News: State Rep. Rebekah Warren pleads guilty to operating while intoxicated Ann Arbor council to vote on firing city administrator Le Macaron pastry shop chain eyes Ann Arbor Bicyclist in critical condition after wheel seizes, causes crash near UM hospital Two men who allegedly supplied weapons to criminals in Delhi-NCR and neighbouring states were arrested by the Delhi Police's Special Cell, officials said on Tuesday. Tushar Bhardwaj (35), and his associate Devendra Singh Jadon (46), both hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were arrested from Sun Dial Park, near Barapullah flyover, Ring Road here on February 13, they said. The two accused have supplied over 550 weapons to criminals in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P S Kushwah said. They would buy .32 bore calibre weapons for Rs 8,000-12,000 per piece, depending on the quality, and sold them in the National Capital Region (NCR) for Rs 20,000-25,000 per piece. Cartridges for .32 bore and .315 bore weapons were sold for a margin of Rs 200-400 per piece, he said. Tushar used to procure the weapons from Sendhwa in Madhya Pradesh and cartridges from a supplier in Seona in the state's Bhind district. He then sold it to different people in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, the officer added. The two accused met in Gwalior Central jail in 2016. Tushar got into the business with the help of Devender, who was involved in the business since 2012, Kushwah said. Tushar was previously involved in 16 cases of murder, robbery and theft, among others. Devender was involved in three cases registered under the Arms Act, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Those interested in hunting elephants in Botswana have been given an opportunity to bid since Friday, 7 February - Botswana will be holding its major auction for the right to hunt elephants since the ban to hunt the animals was lifted in 2019 - Interested bidders will be paying the sum of $18 300 as refundable deposit PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! The government of Botswana has announced that it will be holding its first major auction for the right to hunt elephants since the ban to hunt the animals was lifted in May 2019. The country, which has the world's biggest elephant population, is offering seven packages of 10 elephants each. According to Bloomberg, Botswana is home to about 130 000 elephants. Auction It Ltd is operating the sales on behalf of the government of Botswana. As per a report, those interested in bidding are required to pay a refundable deposit of $18 300. The auction began in Gaborone on Friday, 7 February. READ ALSO: Michelle Obama admits she and Barack attended couples therapy The government said hunting will not drastically reduce the size of the elephant population, adding that local communities will benefit from the proceeds generated from the sport. Meanwhile, Briefly.co.za learnt that a surprising occurrence was recorded in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria when a herd of around 250 elephants was spotted in a part of the state close to the borders with Cameroon and Chad. The sighting of the herd was the first reported sighting of elephants in the region since the insurgency in that part of the country began a decade ago. Tunde Marokinyo, the co-founder of Africa Nature Investors, said the sighting of the herd implied that Nigerias elephant population had effectively doubled. The herd was spotted a few kilometres from Rann during a humanitarian mission carried out by helicopter. Before the insurgency began, hundreds of elephants were said to migrate through the region when Sambisa forest served as a game reserve the size of Belgium and the Netherlands. Three major migration routes passed through the Sambisa Forest. These same routes that follow water sources are used by insurgents to escape the military bombardment. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The Newtown Borough Council welcomes the new year with three new members of council and a new borough mayor. District Court Judge Mick Petrucci was on hand on January 3 to administer the oath of office to the towns new mayor, Republican John Burke, who replaces longtime mayor Charles Corky Swartz who decided not to run for... As Oscar Wilde once said, it is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. One of my favourite cartoons showed four smartly dressed young men in suits and ties. They were standing next to an unshaven scruff who had his open-necked shirt hanging out. A boss figure had just entered the room. His shirt is nearly always hanging out, and he looks, in the words of one beady-eyed Vogue columnist, like a student popping to the 24-hour garage for cereal during a Fortnite binge And which one of you is the freelancer? he asked. For a lifelong freelancer, working from home, it rang a bell. The only sartorial effort I ever make is to check that my pyjama bottoms are buttoned up whenever a delivery man knocks at the door. And every three or four days, I look in the mirror, see old Mr Steptoe from Steptoe and Son staring back at me, and give myself a quick shave. On the other hand, if I am invited to a smart party or to a swanky restaurant, I rather enjoy wearing a suit and tie. The open-necked Branson style is as much a uniform as the buttoned-up look it seeks to displace perhaps more so, as ties at least provide colour and individuality in a world that would otherwise be studiously grey and black People in office jobs like to signal the break between work and leisure by dressing down. For me, the same process is at work, only in reverse: I dress up to have fun. I am not alone. These days, parties are full of scruffs like me looking smart, and high-flying office workers looking scruffy. This is one of the many reasons I find the Prime Ministers special adviser Dominic Cummings such an intriguing figure. He works at the grandest address in the land, but is only ever photographed entering or exiting No 10 in a hoodie and trainers, sometimes topped with a beanie. His shirt is nearly always hanging out, and he looks, in the words of one beady-eyed Vogue columnist, like a student popping to the 24-hour garage for cereal during a Fortnite binge. People in office jobs like to signal the break between work and leisure by dressing down. For me, the same process is at work, only in reverse: I dress up to have fun When Cummings returns home, after a hard days work, its perfectly possible that he reverses this process, nipping upstairs and changing into a well-pressed shirt and tie, a three-piece pin-striped suit, and a pair of shiny brogues. It was the strenuously relaxed Richard Branson who initiated the very modern process whereby hard-working businessmen strain every muscle to look leisurely. You wont find a tie or suit jacket in our London office its an antiquated tradition few people enjoy, Branson tweeted recently. He regularly boasts of the time a young man caught up with him in an elevator and asked him to help bring more joy and a relaxed culture to his office. In response, Sir Richard pulled out a pair of scissors from his jacket pocket and, like the Scissorman in Struwwelpeter, snipped off the mans tie. He claims always to carry a pair of scissors in his pocket, for just this purpose. I am tempted to call such behaviour passive-aggressive, but there is no passive about it. Has this act of vandalism brought more joy to the poor mans office? I doubt it. The open-necked Branson style is as much a uniform as the buttoned-up look it seeks to displace perhaps more so, as ties at least provide colour and individuality in a world that would otherwise be studiously grey and black. The draconian enforcement of leisurewear look relaxed or else! has been taken to new heights by the trendy Soho House chain of clubs, targeted at pushy people in the media who want to pretend to be laidback. Recently, at its countryside branch, Soho Farmhouse, an elderly gentleman was forbidden from entering the restaurant (where an unpleasant-sounding starter of Fig Jam and Pigs Cheek on Toast costs 11 and Garlic, Parsley and Bone Marrow Flat Bread costs 12) unless he first removed his tie. I doubt that this bossy measure really brought him, or any of his fellow customers, any more happiness. There are, though, welcome signs of a backlash. At Rugby School, girl pupils were recently given the chance to ditch their school uniform of ankle-length skirts for something shorter and more relaxed, but they protested. The really strong message that came through from the girls was that they loved their long skirts and that we couldnt change the design, explained the assistant headteacher. I can never bring you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a bootlace, said the great Sherlock Holmes. People like Sir Richard Branson and Dominic Cummings think that, by dressing down, they can fool everyone into thinking they are casual, or non-conformist. But a hoodie and a beanie say as much about you as a collar and tie. BETHLEHEM, Pa., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PEEPS, the number one non-chocolate Easter candy brand[*], is debuting new and delicious confections sure to excite fans who include candy in their Easter baskets and holiday traditions. The quintessential Easter candy brand continues to expand its lineup of trending food and merchandise products, encouraging fans to express their PEEPSONALITY while celebrating the Spring season with loved ones. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8685151-peeps-seven-new-easter-treats/ How PEEPS are made - a sneak "PEEP" into the Bethlehem, PA factory and manufacturing process, with Brand Manager Caitlin Servian Classic PEEPS Chicks and Bunnies are debuting bright and colorful new packaging, featuring tiny Chick and Bunny shapes in the design Seven new PEEPS products for Easter 2020 Limited-edition PEEPS Marshmallow Flavored Cereal with Marshmallows from Kelloggs is back by popular demand International Delight is hatching PEEPS Flavored Creamer for the second year in a row The PEEPS Pinata Cake is one of many tasty PEEPS Duncan Hines recipe collaborations coming this Spring "The PEEPS Brand has become an icon in American pop culture, with its instantly recognizable colors, shapes and flavors holding a special place in the hearts of many for nearly seven decades. We take pride in seeing that parents who were given PEEPS in their Easter baskets as kids are now passing those traditions on to their own family," said Caitlin Servian, Brand Manager for PEEPS. "We strive to meet the perfect balance of history and innovation by continuing to offer our classic PEEPS Chicks and Bunnies, while also bringing new and exciting products to our fans." To expand its presence beyond candy offerings, PEEPS continues to partner with like-minded brands to bring fun and unique products to fans each year. Back by popular demand, PEEPS has teamed up for the second year with Kellogg's and International Delight to offer both a marshmallow flavored cereal and coffee creamer this Spring. The PEEPS Marshmallow Flavored Cereal with Marshmallows from Kellogg's is now better than ever with new yellow PEEPS Chick and pink and blue PEEPS Bunny shaped marshmallows. International Delight and PEEPS are also introducing new PEEPS Flavored Creamer Singles at convenience store coffee stations, while the standard creamer bottle will once again be available in the dairy aisle at retailers nationwide. New this year, PEEPS will be teaming up with founder of Milk Bar, Christina Tosi to create several recipes incorporating sweet PEEPS treats. Additionally, the PEEPS Brand is joining forces with the baked-good experts at Duncan Hines to create even more Easter-inspired creations. Classic PEEPS Marshmallow products are debuting a great new look for Easter 2020. The bright and colorful packaging was updated and now includes tiny Chick and Bunny shapes in the design that will add even more sweetness to store shelves. Take a "PEEP" at the other new PEEPS products below: National PEEPS Marshmallow flavors: PEEPS Chocolate Pudding Flavored Marshmallow Bunnies PEEPS Root Beer Float Flavored Marshmallow Chicks Exclusive PEEPS Marshmallow products for select retailers: PEEPS Froot Loops Flavored Pop available only at Target and Walmart PEEPS HOT TAMALES Fierce Cinnamon Flavored Marshmallow Chicks available only at the Kroger Family of Stores PEEPS Delights Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Chicks Dipped in Creme Flavored Fudge available only at Target PEEPS Individually Wrapped Marshmallow Chicks for Egg Hunt available only at Walmart New PEEPS candy forms: PEEPS Flavored Jelly Beans National food and merchandise partners: INTERNATIONAL DELIGHT PEEPS Flavored Coffee Creamer Kellogg's PEEPS Marshmallow Flavored Cereal with Marshmallows PEZ Lofthouse Cookies Flix Candy Sunny Sky Products Frankford Candy FUNKO POP! Marshmallow lovers should also keep an eye out for an exciting announcement from the PEEPS Brand on March 3 PEEPS is hopping into the fashion scene with a global leader in innovative apparel. While eating PEEPS is the primary reason consumers purchase the brand, almost one third of fans purchase PEEPS with a different purpose in mind[**], including using them in recipes, crafts, dioramas, science experiments and gaming activities. Regardless of how they are used, the PEEPS Brand is encouraging fans to express their #PEEPSONALITY on social media this Spring while tagging @PEEPSBrand. PEEPS fans can visit www.peepsbrand.com to find additional delicious recipes and fun craft ideas for this Easter season. To purchase PEEPS Candy and merchandise, fans can shop online at www.peepsandcompany.com and follow @PEEPSBrand across social channels. To download high-res product images, click here. * IRI Market Advantage Easter 2019 (11 WE 04/28/19), Total Multi-Outlet; Includes Non-Seasonal Jelly Beans ** PEEPS 2019 Insights Study, May 2019 About Just Born Quality Confections: Just Born Quality Confections is a third-generation family-owned company that has grown into the 10th largest candy company in the U.S. [*] Just Born is the maker of some of America's most beloved and iconic brands PEEPS, MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES and GOLDENBERG'S PEANUT CHEWS. In 1923, the founder, Sam Born, opened a small candy-making and retail store in Brooklyn, New York, where he marketed the freshness of his daily-made candy with a sign that declared, "Just Born." Together with Born's brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, the company thrived in spite of the economic depression of the 1930s and, in 1932, moved its operations to Bethlehem, PA, which is still home to their iconic candy brands. All Just Born candies are proudly made in the U.S.A. For more information, please visit www.justborn.com (and see the breadth of candy and high-quality branded items at www.peepsandcompany.com) Follow us: facebook.com/JustBornInc, twitter.com/JustBornInc. * IRI Market Advantage, Total US MULO + Convenience, Latest 52 Weeks Ending 12/29/2019 SOURCE PEEPS Brand Related Links http://www.peepsbrand.com LUDHIANA: A day after five armed men made off with about 30 kg of gold ornaments, worth 12 crore, and 3 lakh in cash from a branch of India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) on Gill Road in Ludhiana, police are investigating if it is linked to recent robberies in the IIFLs Mumbai and Valsad branches. Police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said here on Tuesday that six armed men had robbed an IIFL gold loan centre of 20 kg of ornaments in Nala Sopara area in Mumbai on September 19, 2019, in a similar fashion. On January 9 this year, six armed men executed a similar robbery at a gold loan branch of the IIFL in Valsad, Gujarat, and made off with 35kg of gold ornaments. The police also suspect a connection with the theft at Manappuram Finance Company robbery in Ludhiana on July 30, 2015. Six armed men had stolen 14 of kg gold and 2.23 lakh from the Gill Road branch of Manappuram Finance Company over four years ago. The accused in that case are out on bail and raids are being conducted to arrest them. Agrawal said the firm had not employed any armed security guard and its security alarm system was not up to the mark. The financial firm has been asked to ensure that all security criteria are fulfilled. Its branches in Ludhiana are closed till further orders, he said. The police have announced a reward of 5 lakh for information about the accused. GREEN Party leader Eamon Ryan has cast doubt on the prospect of an exclusively left-wing government saying it's hard to see how it would be stable. Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald has said she still believes it's possible to form a government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. Read More But Mr Ryan was sceptical of left-wing parties reaching a deal as he arrived at the Dail as part of an expanded Green Party of 12 TDs. He said he met Solidarity-People Before Profit yesterday and said: "We have a lot in common but the reality is, if you look at the numbers, it's hard to see how you get a stable government." He said the Green Party told the Solidarity-People Before Profit TDs that it "takes three or four years to do anything, to really get change." "It doesn't happen in three weeks or three months. "So how would such a government survive more than three months? "It's hard to see, but I don't think we should rule anything out". Mr Ryan said the Greens are treating all parties "with equal respect" and has invited Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to talks. He cited more ambitious carbon emissions reductions targets of 7pc-a-year among demands that the Green Party would make of potential coalition partners. The government's Climate Action Plan currently has a target of a 2pc yearly reduction in emissions from 2021-2030. Critics have said that will not be enough to achieve net-zero emissions status by 2050. Mr Ryan said 7pc reductions would "Require us to change everything - to be willing to look at everything and doing it differently" but he added: "science is on our side in that". Mr Ryan added: "We're willing to test that with the other parties as a first step." And he put it up to the other parties saying: "What are we going to do? Are we going to pay the fines for not doing what has to be done? "Are we going to see our economy fall behind and allow the Danes and the Dutch and the British and others who are meeting those targets and more, take off? "Are we going to say we're not going to be green as a country, how could we do that?" Laura Whitmore arrived at the 40th annual Brit Awards tonight wearing a newspaper-print dress. The mini dress was from London-based designer Clio Peppiat and features a hand-beaded newsprint in powder blue, silver and jet black. The flirty 'Vic dress' has a flared skirt with a thigh split finished with a beaded silver safety pin, and a twinkling pearl and Swarovski trimmed neckline. It costs 1,850 and is made to order only - shop it here. AFP via Getty Images Tonight marks the Irish TV presenters first public appearance since her good friend Caroline Flack tragically passed away at the weekend. New Delhi, Feb 18 : Even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has observed a decline in the number of cases of COVID-19 in China, the stats of cases of novel coronavirus may shoot up. WHO will be reporting all confirmed cases from now. This includes both laboratory and clinically diagnosed. Earlier the world Health Body was reporting only those cases which were laboratory confirmed. Consequently this will result in an increase in the number of confirmed cases. In a statement released by the WHO, it said: "From today (Monday), WHO will be reporting all confirmed cases, including both laboratory-confirmed as previously reported, and those reported as clinically diagnosed (currently only applicable to Hubei province, China). From February 13 to 16, we reported only laboratory confirmed cases for Hubei province as mentioned in the situation report published on February 13. This accounts for the apparent large increase in cases compared to prior situation reports" The world health body has developed a protocol for the investigation of early cases. The protocol is designed to gain an early understanding of the key clinical, epidemiological and virological characteristics of the first cases of COVID-19 infection detected in any individual country, to inform the development and updating of public health guidance to manage cases and reduce potential spread and impact of infection. The WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while addressing a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva on Monday, said that a detailed paper released by China on more than 40,000 confirmed cases provided an insight into the age range of infections, disease severity and mortality rates. He also said, "As more data comes in from China, we're starting to get a clearer picture of the outbreak, how it's developing & where it could be headed." The WHO Chief said the data showed a decline in the number of cases. However he also said that "this trend must be interpreted very cautiously. Trends can change as new population gets affected." The WHO has observed that the novel coronavirus is not as deadly as other coronaviruses including SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). "Only in 2% of cases this virus is fatal. The risk of death increases in elders. We see relatively few cases in children." According to the WHO, the number of confirmed cases globally as on Tuesday are 71,429 including 2,162 while new confirmed cases from China are reported to be 70,635 (2,051 new) and 1,772 deaths (106 new). Number of confirmed cases outside China are 794 this included 111 new cases, in 25 countries and three deaths. WHO risk assessment in China stands at very high and at high on global level. When asked if the disease could be categorised as a pandemic, Dr Michael Ryan, the WHO's director of emergencies, said that "outbreak should not be described as a pandemic, even though it has spread to 25 countries outside China. The real issue is whether we are seeing efficient community transmission outside of China and at the present time we are not observing that." The Boston Police Department on Tuesday identified 19-year-old Hilton Clark as the victim in a Saturday night shooting in Mattapan which remains under investigation. Officers responded to a report of a person shot in near 12 Colorado St. in Mattapan just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, discovering a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Clark, of Mattapan, was transported to an area hospital where he died, according to police. Investigators and a police dog canvassed the street while searching for evidence following the shooting, according to the Boston Globe. On Tuesday, police said they are actively investigating the incident and encouraged anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at 617-343-4470. Community members can assist anonymously by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or texting the word Tip to CRIME (27463). Those in need of emotional support can call the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team at (617) 431-0125. Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364. The Supreme Court ruling on Monday that all women officers are entitled to the permanent commission in the Indian Army concluded a struggle that began in 2003, when the first petitioner, Babita Puniya, a civilian, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi high court. Puniya, now a metropolitan magistrate in Delhi, was then an advocate represented by Rekha Palli, who is now a Delhi high court judge. Several petitioners joined the crusade, and in 2010, the Delhi high court ruled in their favour. One of them, Lt Col Seema Singh, who was a Major when she moved court in 2007, said she is happy to still be in the service when the case has come to a conclusion. I would not call the existing rules discriminatory, but they came in the way of gender equality, she said on Monday, when the top court also held that women should be considered for command roles. The army is one of the best organisations to work with. It makes you feel at home, she added. The order will directly affect 332 women officers serving in the army, and others who join the eligibility ranks in the future. Another officer, who like Singh was a Major when she filed her petition in 2010, said she was stressed about having to start another career in her late 30s if she would have to retire after 14 years of service without permanent commission. After a decade in the army, I was worried about finding a new career which might require a new skill set. Being in the job left us with little time to develop that, she said, asking not to be named. She added what hurt more was seeing male officers opt for courses that would help them progress in their careers. We had no next step. There was a wall ahead of us, she said. We were never given any relaxation... we strived to do better than the men. Why were we not given the same rights? she asked. Lt Col Sandhya Yadav, who filed her petition in 2008, when she was also a Major, said the fight was for parity, and despite the long struggle, it was worth the wait. You spend 14 years in service only to be left out in the cold one day. How is that fair? she asked. Lawyer Aishwarya Bhatti, who represented over 50 petitioners, said the policy was discriminatory because it left out all serving women officers from command roles, denied permanent commission to women with more than 14 years of service, and was applicable to staff appointments only. In the petition, Bhatti mentioned Minty Agarwal, a fighter controller of the Indian Air Force who was part of the team that guided Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during the post-Balakot dogfight last February. The combat followed Indian air strikes on a terror camp in Pakistan in retaliation to the Pulwama attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Jammu & Kashmir. She also mentioned Major Mitali Madhumita, the first lady officer to receive the Sena Medal for gallantry. Minty was a staff appointment, and Madhumita faced a fidayeen [suicide] attack in Kabul, she said. This judgement is a watershed moment for women across the world. Bhatti said the next goal is to push for combat roles. Singh was not that sure. To be practical, combat roles require a special sort of preparedness, and women will need a certain kind of training. If the authorities decide to send us to combat, we are more than ready, she said. Yadav said the women, who will be commissioned henceforth, will have a clear path. Singh echoed her sentiments. The army is the kind of organisation you will fight for and that is why we went to court. It is up to us all now to prove the judgement worthy. The Rev. George V. Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome for nearly 30 years, died Feb. 11, 2020, in Syracuse. Coyne spent his final years at Le Moyne College, where he held the McDevitt Chair of Religious Philosophy and taught astronomy courses. Coyne, a Jesuit priest, promoted the dialogue between science and theology at the highest level, his obituary said. Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura delivered the following remembrance at Coynes funeral Mass Monday in the Panasci Family Chapel on the Le Moyne campus. By Linda LeMura | Le Moyne College President In 1991, astronomers Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy discovered a previously unknown body in the asteroid belt, which was officially designated SPK-ID 2014429 (catchy, isnt it?). It so happens that when astronomers discover something new, they get to give it a real name, and so these two researchers chose to name it after their colleague George Coyne, so formally, the body is asteroid 14429 Coyne. Now, 14429 Coyne, like most asteroids, is unpretentious, unlike those glory-hog planets who grab all of the attention. How appropriate that this heavenly body should carry Georges name through the heavens. 14429 Coyne. Perhaps not particularly poetic, but in the movement of bodies and the vastness of the universe, George saw poetry. George measured time in eons, and distance in terms of cosmic space. And thats where he found meaning as well. After a lifetime of contemplating the stars and praying to God who inspired them, George Coyne never allowed himself to be distracted and preoccupied by the small, the momentary, the transient. Where the rest of us saw mountains he saw only molehills. Heres an example: On learning of Georges death, Syracuse University physicist Peter Saulson, a member of the team that made the first recording of gravitational waves, sent me a letter of condolence. George had arranged for Dr. Saulson to speak about the groundbreaking discovery by the Laser Gravitational-Wave Observatory (or LIGO) in this very chapel in 2016. In his letter, Peter recalled that on his first meeting with George, he immediately sensed that they were kindred spirits. In his letter, Peter went on to say: Twice last fall, George had me over for lunch at the Jesuit residence on campus, and those discussions will remain my fondest memories of him. I treasured our discussions on issues of science and faith. His insights into how to read the books of Teilhard de Chardin will continue to help me in my own thinking. True to his gracious character, George never let on that his days were numbered. Instead, he asked lots of questions about my own life, what I was reading, and the like; he was full of encouragement and optimism. Now that I know what was on his own mind, I regret not being able to offer him informed encouragement and comfort. But I admire him all the more for his kindness and dignity. Thank you very much for giving a home to such a great soul in the final years of a very full life. Are any of us surprised that George was more interested in discussing the theology of Teilhard de Chardin rather than his own illness and worry? Doesnt it seem utterly appropriate that even while keenly aware of how fleeting his time might be that hed be curious about books and ideas, compassionate about others rather than anxious for himself? Perhaps, because he spent a lifetime peering into the heavens, George Coyne was more interested in finally finding the answers to the biggest questions. I met George for the first time in 2010, when Le Moyne awarded him an honorary degree. And following that meeting, I pursued him relentlessly. How hard could it be, I thought, to convince a world-renowned astronomer, who had lived in Rome and Arizona, to come to Syracuse, New York home of one of the worlds largest snowplows? Ultimately, he relented (I can be very persuasive), but he promised to stay for at least a short while, if only I would stop hounding him. As George would say: I can love in the desert and I can love in the snow. That was eight years ago. George told me more than once that he fell in love with Le Moyne, or as he called us a learning family. In the New York Times, the Rev. James Martin, editor-at-large of America, the Jesuit magazine, said, George was one of the pre-eminent figures in the Catholic world who could speak intelligently and articulately about both science and faith. And George, by nature a humble man, could often dazzle. And like a shooting star, dazzle us he did. Im not sure when 14429 Coyne will next pass overhead, but I know that when I look up into the night sky into that dark sublime Ill think of Father George Coyne and thank God for the light he brought to my life and to the lives of our students. Your life has blessed God, George. And may God bless you. Ci vediamo, il mio fratello. Vi vogliamo bene. Grazie. (We will see you, my brother. We love you. Thank you.) Related: Le Moyne professor, former Vatican Observatory director dies Obituary for Father George V. Coyne, S.J. Former Vatican astronomer brings outspoken views on creation/evolution to teaching post at LeMoyne College (2012) Le Moyne professor, a former Vatican Observatory director, devotes his career to both faith, science (2014) Popes climate change encyclical brings religion and science into dialogue (Commentary by Rev. George V. Coyne) Escalation in the proximity of the Zolote area in Ukraine's Luhansk region was reported on Tuesday. The European Union has called on the Russian Federation to use its influence on illegal armed formations in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, to observe a full ceasefire. "Reports of this morning on military escalation in the proximity of the Zolote area, w[ith the] use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements leading to casualties, are extremely worrying," Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine and Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas said on Twitter on February 18. Read alsoRussia claims not involved in latest Donbas escalation "These offensive attempts by Russia-backed armed formations go completely against the agreed ceasefire that has still not been fully enforced. Full implementation of the Minsk agreements & the measures agreed in the Normandy Summit in Paris is crucial. The EU expects Russia to make full & immediate use of its influence on the armed formations it backs in this regard," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupying forces on Tuesday morning attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, using 120mm mortars proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance across the contact line. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another five were wounded amid the fight. The enemy's casualties included four killed and six wounded. Americans evacuated from quarantined cruise ship land in the U.S. 99 new infections confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship Death toll from novel coronavirus reaches more than 1,800 Scramble to track Cambodia cruise passengers after coronavirus case reported Japanese health ministry staffer tests positive for coronavirus Japan on brink of recession as economy contracts, virus heightens risk China's Hubei province bans vehicle traffic to curb spread of coronavirus Hong Kong police bust toilet paper gang amid coronavirus shortages Coronavirus deaths rise in China's Hubei province, bringing total to more than 1,800 The health commission in Chinas Hubei Province reported 93 more deaths from the coronavirus illness known as COVID-19, bringing the number of fatalities in mainland China to more than 1,800. The Hubei health commission also reported 1,807 new cases as of Tuesday morning local time. Previously the number of confirmed cases in the mainland had been put at more than 70,000. The number of deaths in all of the mainland had previously been reported at 1,770. Four deaths have occurred outside mainland China one each in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and France. Hubei province, where the city of Wuhan is, is at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. It has also been detected in 25 other countries, including the United States, according to the World Health Organization. There had been 15 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fourteen Americans evacuated to the U.S. from a cruise ship quarantined in Japan have also tested positive based on testing done in Japan, officials said. Phil Helsel Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship land in the U.S. Fourteen Americans who were among the hundreds evacuated from a quarantined cruise ship off Yokohama, Japan Sunday have tested positive for the novel coronavirus that has claimed nearly 1,800 lives in a growing outbreak in China. Story continues More than 300 U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who had been passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship were taken off the vessel and repatriated back to the U.S. on two charter flights that landed at Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early Monday. They will now be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in the U.S., the State Department said. Meanwhile, Japan's health ministry confirmed 99 new cases of coronavirus on the cruise ship Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases on the ship to 454. Seventy of the latest 99 new cases were asymptomatic, the ministry added. So far, a total of 1,723 people on board have been tested. The Diamond Princess has been on quarantine since Feb. 3 after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. Olivier Fabre Death toll from novel coronavirus reaches 1,772 The outbreak continued to grow Monday as the death toll rose to 1,772 and the number of confirmed cases reached 70,635 in China. The World Health Organization said at a news conference Monday that in the past 24 hours, China had reported 2,051 new cases that were both clinically and lab confirmed. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said 94 percent of new cases continued to come from Hubei province, where the virus is believed to have originated. Outside of China, WHO has received reports of 694 cases in 25 countries, including three deaths, he said. Daniella Silva Scramble to track Cambodia cruise passengers after coronavirus case reported Health authorities scrambled on Monday to track hundreds of passengers who disembarked from a cruise ship in Cambodia last week after a woman tested positive for coronavirus, heightening fears about the spread of the disease around the world. The new case raises questions about how companies and countries should handle monitoring and quarantine for people who may have been exposed to the new virus, since the American woman from the Westerdam cruise ship had passed the usually presumed incubation period of 14 days. Holland America Line, which is owned by cruise giant Carnival Corp, said it is working with governments and health experts to track passengers. Reuters Japanese health ministry worker tests positive for coronavirus An employee with Japans health ministry has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after conducting work aboard a quarantined cruise ship docked off Yokohama, south of Tokyo. Its still not clear exactly how he contracted the virus, but Japans health ministry said Monday the 50-year-old worker did not have extensive contact with any of the passengers, even though he was on board the Diamond Princess performing administrative duties. On Feb. 11, he also helped direct people off the ship, but said that he kept a two-meter distance from the passengers and crew at all times. He reported being feverish last week and was confirmed to have the virus Sunday. Olivier Fabre Japan on brink of recession as economy contracts, virus heightens risk Japan's economy shrank at the fastest pace in almost six years in the December quarter as a sales tax hike hit consumer and business spending, raising the risk of a recession as China's coronavirus outbreak chills global activity. Analysts say the widening fallout from the epidemic, which is damaging output and tourism, could have a significant impact on Japan if it's not contained in coming months. Reuters China parliament may delay key annual March session: state media China's top political advisory body will discuss whether to delay the annual meeting of the full parliament, the official Xinhua news agency reported Monday. The proposal was made in the belief that it is important to focus on curbing the coronavirus epidemic, the report said. The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on March 3. Alex Shi and Reuters China's Hubei province bans vehicle traffic to curb spread of coronavirus The government of Hubei province said Sunday that a ban will be imposed on vehicle traffic across the province to curb the spread of the virus. Police cars, ambulances, vehicles carrying essential goods, or other vehicles related to public service, would be exempted, it said on its official website. It added that epidemic prevention staff will carry out regular "blanket screenings" of all residents so as to not leave out any household, anyone or any day." Those who refuse to cooperate will be dealt with by law enforcement, the statement on the website said. Companies will also not be able to resume work without first receiving permission from the government, it added. Alex Shi and Reuters Hong Kong police bust toilet paper gang amid coronavirus shortages Knife-wielding robbers in Hong Kong stole 50 packs of toilet paper rolls from a supermarket delivery man, police said on Monday, in a sign of the times for a city worried sick by the coronavirus outbreak across the causeway in mainland China. Police caught two of the gang of three and recovered all of the toilet paper, worth about HK$1,700 (nearly $220). They were still hunting for a third thief. No other details were given. Panic in Hong Kong over the coronavirus has emptied supermarket shelves, with people stockpiling toilet paper, cleaning products and basic food. Reuters In a recent development, iPhone production in India is slated to include the assembly of PCBs for the first time ever. Taiwans Wistron Corp is behind the manufacturing of this key component, which 9 to 5 Mac claims is the heart of the iPhone. The PCB is responsible for holding the A-series chip, RAM, flash storage, radio chip, and so on, representing about half the total value of the actual mobile unit. Altium explains that multilayer PCBs have become the norm due to the high density of connections and the number of components that are used in modern devices. The assembly of these PCBs is often outsourced to companies in Asia, and now Apple is following suit. Although Apple still produces the majority of its iPhones in China, part of their recent move to India could be attributed to the strained relations between Beijing and the US. Despite this, India still remains highly dependent on China to provide supplies for smartphone parts, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), display panels, and camera modules. Due to this factor, the recent coronavirus outbreak in China could lead to a delay in production for both Apple and Wistron in India, if it continues to spread. To further shed light on the growing tensions between Apple and China regarding trade, BBC News explains how President Donald Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and instances of intellectual property theft. On the other hand, China has the perception that the US is attempting to prevent its rise as a global economic power. Although negotiations are currently ongoing, many issues continue to remain unresolved. At the moment, both countries have imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of one anothers goods, resulting in a trade war between the two countries. With President Trump trying to encourage Americans to buy local products, China retaliated with tariffs ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent on US goods. The future of this trade war is currently unclear, according to financial analysts. Previously, Wistrons India-based manufacturing plants started making Apples SE iPhone models in Bengaluru in 2017, along with the 6S and 7 models. Their next plant is supposed to be made fully operational by April 2020, making iPhone 7 and 8 units for export. It is expected to produce an output of 8 million phones on a yearly basis. According to a recent press release by Reuters, growing PCB assembly in India will help Apple cut costs on import taxes related to smartphone components. However, both Apple and Wistron have declined to comment on this development. Currently, an OLX study found that Apple still dominates the pre-owned smartphone market in India, leading the race against its competitor brands Samsung, Xiaomi, and BBK Electronics brands (Vivo, Oppo, and Oneplus). The demand for pre-owned smartphones is growing at a massive rate, due to the continual release of new models with better specifications. As a result, this has lead to a wider range of choices for budget-conscious users who are attracted to multiple price points. 'As far as Kashmir is concerned, a 'solution' was very much in play, and had brought endemic violence across the Jammu and Kashmir regions very much under control before the disruptive adventurism of the present regime resulted in a limited and localised escalation.' Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: The scene of the terrorist attack which killed 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama, Kashmir, February 14, 2019. Dr Ajai Sahni, executive director, Institute of Conflict Management, has published a commemorative volume of essays -- The Fragility of Order -- in honour of the late supercop K P S Gill. Experts from around the globe on subjects of terrorism, insurgency and counter insurgency, areas of expertise with K P S Gill, were invited to contribute essays on these subjects. "The use of the Internet has certainly facilitated the operations of terrorists in theatres across the world, and J&K is no exception," Ajai Sahni, below, tells Rediff.com Contributor Rashme Sehgal in the first of a two-part interview. You point out in your essay 'The Fragility of Order' that fuelling much of the global conflict today comprises a range of regressive ideologies that challenge and undermine democratic values. Primitive mindsets are combining with unprecedented technological power to create conditions of savagery being reflected in many parts of the world especially Asia. How can this be combated? In many ways, this is a phase of history, and it will provoke its own backlash. The delusion of power that right wing politics -- and the associated hate and violence -- brings with it, inevitably erodes the real power of States and societies, leaving theatres of such political movements enormously weakened over time. We are quickly seeing this happen in India, as economies and institutions face progressive erosion and potential collapse. As this happens, movements of resistance quickly arise. As resistance grows, extremism and oppression by the right is also likely to grow, and can destroy the very fabric of society and constitutional governance as we know it. Democracies across the world are facing this prospect. In this context, India has some advantage here, because of the sheer diversity of the political structures and cultures across the country, and the fact that many of the states have governments are opposed to the current and centralising political dynamic, and the ideologies that underpin it. In the context of Fourth Generation Warfare, you speak about the government's plan of upgrading 100 smart cities with little thought of the kind of protection they will require. Can you elaborate on this especially in the context of how low grade attacks are taking place all the time against India and the Nuclear Corporation of India is having to ward off 10 targeted low grade attacks every day? The Internet of Things is estimated at nearly 31 billion interconnected devices today, and will expand to over 75 billion devices by 2025. Every aspect of our lives is likely to be meshed in with the IOT and will be increasingly vulnerable to malicious attacks, disruption and, crucially, potentially violent and catastrophic disruption, unless security systems are kept apace. The general perception of cyber attacks, by and large, is restricted to phishing, defacement, data theft and other largely non-kinetic patterns of assault. But, as our systems and utilities become increasingly interconnected, the possibility of catastrophic kinetic attacks will grow. It is useful to recall that the Stuxnet virus, a malicious US-Israeli cyber weapon deployed against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2010, caused fast spinning centrifuges to tear themselves apart, destroying a fifth of the country's centrifuges and setting the country's nuclear programme back by a decade. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India is already forced to block over ten targeted attacks a day - and has been successful in doing so till now. However, as critical infrastructure systems across the country become more and more interconnected, the potential for a catastrophic disruptive breakthrough can only grow. Apart from the IOT, there is a wide range of other developments that create their own dangers. The increasing sophistication of cyber technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence have created the imminent spectre of 'deep fakes' which would be almost impossible to distinguish from real images. We have already seen the effective use of deception and misdirection through social media including increasing quanta of 'fake news'. The essay 'Use of the Internet by Jihadist Groups: Evolution and Predicaments' highlight how jihadist groups are leveraging the Internet to further their goals. How successfully has it been used by terrorists in J&K and how much is it being used by Maoists? The use of the Internet has certainly facilitated the operations of terrorists in theatres across the world, and J&K is no exception. Crucially, the Internet makes terrorist outreach, propaganda and recruitment easier, reducing the risks both for recruiters and potential neophytes. Social media outreach by terrorists in J&K has certainly resulted in significant recruitment. However, it is important to recognise that social media is only a communication tool. Terrorism in J&K was far more destructive and widespread through the 1990s and early 2000s, when the State had no access to 'new media', or even to cell phones (cell phones first came to J&K through BSNL in 2003). The Maoists have by and large avoided dependence on the Internet and social media, or have used these in a very peripheral manner to disseminate information, ordinarily through releases of prepared documents to the media. This has been an active tactical decision which has recognised the vulnerabilities of the Internet, and the possibilities it will help identify their leaders. Anna Simons in her penetrating essay 'How to Thwart Subversion and Death by a Thousand Cuts' makes the interesting argument that the unfettered nature of information in the 21st century makes the subversion of democracy that much easier to achieve. Once again can this be process be reversed or are we going to see it increase to the detriment of our institutions? I think in this case, the genie is out of the bottle, and it will be nigh impossible to get it back in. However, what is seldom recognized is the reality that, while these instrumentalities empower the forces of disorder, they also place comparable tools in the hands of those who seek to enforce order and the law. Unfortunately, our systems of governance, dominated by ignorant politicians and lazy, often corrupt and ill-informed bureaucrats, are failing to keep face with the sheer pace of technological transformation. The consequence is that the criminal mind appears always to be several steps ahead of the agencies they are required to keep it in check. Technologies are no doubt creating problems, but they are also providing solutions. A large number of terrorists are today being tracked and neutralised as a result of their use of contemporary communication technologies. Commentators have rightly spoken about the 'technology treadmill', where we have to run faster and faster just to stay in the same place. The single most important lesson learnt from the Sri Lankan conflict was that insurgency and terrorism can be defeated militarily. I know I am simplifying the problem, but if that is the case, why has this not been seen on the ground in Afghanistan and in Kashmir? Every theatre is different. In Sri Lanka, we had a near conventional war between two armies across a clearly demarcated 'Forward Defence Line'. Crucially, the adversary had been restricted to a small territory, his supply lines had been cut off, and the defection of a significant component of his forces (under Colonel Karuna) had given Colombo very significant advantages, including strong flows of continuous intelligence. In Afghanistan, the war is much more fluid, and at no stage has a sufficient force -- domestic or international -- ever been deployed against the Taliban and other terrorist formations. More importantly, in both Afghanistan and Kashmir, the external factor -- Pakistani support and safe haven -- is decisive. These movements are being kept alive as a result of explicit and massive support from Pakistan. In Kashmir, it is useful to recognise that, despite this support, the situation was approaching resolution by 2012, when fatalities had dropped to just 99 in the year (including all categories, civilians, security forces and terrorists). Thereafter, an unfortunate and polarising politics has caused a relative resurgence, with fatalities rising to 452 in 2018, but dropping, again to 283 in 2019. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that this is a tiny fraction of the fatalities through the 1990s and early 2000s, with a peak of 4,011 fatalities in 2001. Crucially, most of the violence in J&K over recent years has been limited to a handful of tehsils: In 2018, for instance, the worst affected five tehsils accounted for almost 50 per cent of all fatalities; while in 2019, again five tehsils accounted for nearly 64 per cent of all fatalities. There were 82 tehsils in the undivided state of J&K (pre-August 5, 2019), and 39 tehsils in the valley alone. The problem is, the search for a 'magical' solution that will bring everything to an end at a single stroke. This is unlikely. But, as far as Kashmir is concerned, a 'solution' was very much in play, and had brought endemic violence across the Jammu and Kashmir regions (excluding Ladakh) very much under control before the disruptive adventurism of the present regime resulted in a limited and localised escalation. In Rahul Bedi's essay on the 'Politicisation of the Army' he talks about how General Bipin Rawat in 2017 talked about increasing politicisation of the army and how ruling party politicians are manipulating the army's operational accomplishment for political gain. Rahul Bedi quotes Lieutenant General H S Panag (retd) who says the government is promoting 'its own brand of nationalism and relentless communalisation'. How much erosion do you feel has already occurred? There is no way to quantify the degree of erosion, but the increasingly political postures and statements of serving army commanders, including the now Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, are testimony to the fact that great harm has certainly been done. Such positions percolate down the ranks, when it is seen that politically partisan commanders receive preferential treatment, advancement and patronage from the political executive. Such a process has inevitable, tremendous and corrosive impact on morale and on morality within the forces. The extent of the rot will only reveal itself over time, and probably in moments of deep crisis. Rashme Sehgal has had a long career in journalism and worked for The Times of India, The Indian Post among other newspapers. She can be contacted at news@rediff.co.in By Laman Ismayilova Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" ballet has been captivating the hearts of spectators for more than a century. The ballet was successfully presented at the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Azerbaijani and Russian ballet stars Teymur Asgarov and Kristina Kretova were invited to perform the main parts in the ballet. Since 2011, Asgarov has been working in the Mariinsky Theatre. He is a winner of the "Spirit of Dance" in the category "Rising Star" by Ballet magazine in 2012, prizewinner at the 11th International Ballet Dancers' and Choreographers' Competition in Moscow in 2013, and recipient of the Azerbaijan Presidential Youth Prize for Culture in 2013. Asgarov was recognized as the best male dancer in duet nomination of the International Ballet Competition and contest of choreographers that took place at the Bolshoi Theatre in 2013. His repertoire includes Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Carmen-Suite, The Legend of Love, Le Corsaire and Chopiniana. With the Mariinsky Ballet, Asgarov have toured around Europe, Asia and America. Kristina Kretova is prima ballerina of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater Kristina Kretova. She is a winner of multiple international competitions. The dancers shared the same stage with the theater's leading soloists, including Peoples Artist Gyulaghasii Mirzoyev, Honored Artists Samir Samadov, Nigar Ibrahimova, Makar Fershtandt, Elmira Suleymanova, Jamila Karimova, as well as Teymur Odushev, Ayan Eyvazova, Julia Fershtandt and others. The ballet was conducted by the theater's main conductor, Honored Artist Eyyub Guliyev. The "Swan Lake" is a romantic ballet in four acts. The story of the ballet is based on a German fairy tale. It is about a prince named Siegfried. He falls in love with the Swan princess, Odette. She is a swan by day, but a young woman at night. She is under a magic spell that can only be broken by a man who will make a promise to love her for all time. Siegfried makes the promise. He is tricked though by the magician who cast the spell. The ballet ends with the deaths of Siegfried and Odette. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is widely considered the most popular Russian composer in history. The works by great Russian composer are characterized by open-hearted melodies, impressive harmonies, which evoke a profound emotional response. His oeuvre includes 7 symphonies, 11 operas, 3 ballets, 5 suites, 3 piano concertos, a violin concerto, 11, 4 cantatas, 20 choral works, 3 string quartets, a string sextet, and more than 100 songs and piano pieces. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking rectification of errors in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 accountancy sample question papers and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the petitioner. The petitioner, named Ravinder Nath dubey, has been teaching accountancy for the past 26 years. Asserting that accountancy examination is on March 3, the petitioner sought courts direction to immediately remove eight fundamentally and conceptually wrong answers from the CBSEs website. If the students write these wrong answers in the board examinations, the examiners may deduct 7-8 marks of students, Dubey rued. A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Hari Shankar called the petition frivolous and imposed a hefty fine on him. You are not talking about an exam paper but sample papers. The model papers are for students practice, the bench said. When the petitioner retorted that he has come with a proof, the court said, The fine can be increased. I dont want to do it. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Like it? Share it! The Fire Industry Manufacturers (FIM) Expo is heading to Northern Ireland this spring with a one-day stop on Wednesday 22nd April to the impressive Titanic Centre in the heart of Belfast. Organised by the Fire Industry Association (FIA), Fire Industry Manufacturers Expo features many of the UK's leading fire detection and alarm manufacturers and focuses on showcasing the latest products and developments in this sector of the industry. With up to 20 exhibitors, FIM Expo is for anyone working in this area, whether as an installer or maintainer of fire detection and alarm systems, a manager of such systems in commercial premises or as an architect or person specifying what type of fire protection systems should be installed in a building. The event is a road-show that travels around the UK, providing an intimate forum for networking as well as finding out whats new in fire detection. It is designed to give delegates access to all the key manufacturers in one location on one day. Furthermore delegates will have the occasion to benefit from the free, CPD accredited, seminar sessions focused on the updated BS 5839-1:2017 and the latest developments of FD&A qualifications. FIM Expo is open from 09.00 to 15.30 on Wednesday 22nd April and is free to attend. For more information and to register go to www.fim-expo.com. Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, Feb. 18, and thousands of fire victims are poised to get billions from PG&E and some of them are not happy about it. Heres what you need to know to start your day. The Academy of Art University in San Francisco has tried for 10 years to fend off a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit saying it illegally ensnared students who could not afford tuition or pay student loan debt. Now, as the lawsuit by ex-employees nears its April 27 trial date, angry, debt-ridden former students are speaking out. Its ruined my life, said Shaun Dunn, who earned bachelors and masters degrees at the school but only after piling $431,607 in student loan debt. He also went bankrupt and remains unemployed. The Chronicle spoke with more than a dozen former academy students who are stuck with thousands of dollars of debt. Their stories are at the heart of the federal lawsuit. Read Nanette Asimovs full report here. The price of surveillance Ring Home security company Ring, known for its popular video doorbells, has netted hundreds of police contracts including several in the Bay Area that could help solve neighborhood crime. But critics say the proliferation of such partnerships has skirted oversight, turned police departments into corporate marketing machines, and threatened peoples privacy. Personally, I dont want to live in a surveillance dystopia where my neighbors are essentially spying on me on behalf of my local law enforcement, says Mike Katz-Lacabe of Oakland Privacy, a group concerned about surveillance. Reporter Anna Bauman examines the widening debate over Ring. Falling short Talia Herman / Special to The Chronicle Tens of thousands of people whose homes burned down in recent California wildfires are in line to receive part of a $13.5 billion court-approved settlement with PG&E Corp. But some very vocal victims think the deal does not provide enough money to help those who filed claims about 80,000 people rebuild their lives. Others object to the settlement being financed partially with stock. Our hopes will be shattered if the current plan is approved, a Camp Fire survivor wrote to the judge handling the case. Reporter J.D. Morris spoke to some victims caught in this long, arduous process and details what happens next. Cruising ... or sinking? The Port of San Francisco is expecting 117 cruise ship calls this year, more than ever before. But the coronavirus outbreak is dampening some passengers enthusiasm. Vancouver, British Columbia, couple Daniel Ho and Winnie Tang thought about canceling their 10-day Mexico cruise that left S.F. last week. Tang even searched for face masks in Vancouver, but stores were sold out. They plan to enjoy the trip despite the fears. Youll find us at the casino and not in the swimming pool, thats for sure, she said. Read the full story by reporter Shwanika Narayan. Also: Air Force officials: Coronavirus patients will not stay at Fairfield base. What Bay Area residents need to know about coronavirus. Taxi medallion woes Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2019 A $155 million lawsuit seeking to hold the city of San Francisco accountable for selling pricey taxi medallions that have plummeted in value is slated for a court hearing this week. If a judge lets the case proceed to a trial, the San Francisco Federal Credit Union, which made loans to cabbies to buy $250,000 medallions, will argue that the city let the taxi industry collapse in part by turning a blind eye as Uber and Lyft ravaged the market and now must make good on about 620 medallion loans. Read more here. Around the Bay A fix for choked S.F. streets: Mayor wants congestion pricing and Sunday parking meters. High hopes: At Oaklands airport, optimism reigns despite loss of JetBlue and Norwegian. Thoughtful and haunting: Blackness is the focus in Dawoud Beys SFMOMA show. Aubrey Huff rebuffed: Giants will not invite ex-player to 2010 reunion because of vulgar tweets. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. It feels different: Where does Buster Posey fit in the Giants new reality? Corruption probe: London Breed says she dated Mohammed Nuru years ago, discloses a recent gift. Peninsula politics: Money pours into crowded race for Bay Area Senate seat. Immigration crackdown: Border Patrol will assist ICE in sanctuary cities. Teeny tiny E.T.? Scientists theorize aliens may already be here, but we just dont recognize them. Prop. E fight: S.F ballot measure ties office growth to housing opponents say thats a bad idea. Easing resistance: Berkeley tries on a new movement: the quest to create housing. Ill conceived: More Californians are skipping medical care because of cost, and are sicker for it. Chronicle Food Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle If you dont know Chamorro food, the indigenous cuisine of Guam, the place to go is Prubechu in the Mission. The history of Guams people and their intersections with colonizers and neighboring cultures is reflected in the restaurant, writes critic Soleil Ho. And its exposed in such an engaging way that you have no idea that youre receiving an education with dinner. From the menu to the clothing to the kinds of animal parts and vegetables here, everything at Prubechu, Ho adds, is part of the greater story that the staff and owners want to tell. Read Hos full review here. More from Food: Jewish bakeries are on the rise in the Bay Area. Calabash restaurant plans to bring cuisines of three chefs to Oakland in April. Bay Briefing is sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Taylor Kate Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available LONDON You ask me what life is, wrote the great Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Thats like asking what a carrot is. A carrot is a carrot, and theres nothing more to know. Well, Anton, I think theres a lot more that can be said and known about the matter. Almost everyone loves a carrot, from toddlers clutching the little batons to grown-ups at holiday feasts, where a gleaming platter of roasted carrots radiates a deeper, more complex type of sweetness. I cant think of another vegetable with such wide appeal. Such a treat are they, indeed, that theyre the symbolic reward dangling off the end of so many punishment sticks. Turnip and stick, parsnip and stick: They just dont have quite the same ring or the same vivid, bold, happy-making color, being the white, gnarly roots that they are. Its easy to take for granted that carrots are, for the most part, orange, but its also interesting to dig a little below the surface, and see that it isnt always so. Listen up, Anton! Life is complex! (TNS) Boulder, Colo., City Council last month made it a priority to raise the minimum wage within city limits, and at the councils meeting with Boulder County Commissioners on Monday, leaders said a regional increase offers advantages to municipal action.While the minimum wage in the state rose for 2020 to $12 an hour, and $8.98 an hour for tipped employees, a Colorado law passed last year allows local governments to further hike the minimum wages.But it also limited how many minimum wage increases can take place across the state. No more than 10% of local governments can enact minimum wage laws, meaning that once that threshold has been hit, a city or county that seeks to do so would have to wait for state lawmakers to amend the law and increase the cap.Councilman Adam Swetlik said that having the county as a whole, instead of each of its cities separately, increase its minimum wage across its borders would count as only one entity toward that 10% cap. Officials are set to start examining the process this spring, with the assembly of a local wage working group that would advise public officials on a potential minimum wage increase.City and council officials envision the group including representatives from chambers of commerce within the county, the Colorado Restaurant Association and the hospitality industry, as well as childcare providers, school districts, the University of Colorado, unions and local governments.If we can figure this out all together, that would reduce complaints that this affects business competition, because everyone would be playing by the same rules individually and it would only take one bite out of the apple that the Legislature had laid out for us, Swetlik said.The regional approach is also preferred by restaurants, but an increase in minimum wages is still likely to hit the bottom lines of businesses, result in a rise in prices or both, according to business leaders.It is very challenging when a restaurant in one area has to pay a higher wage than another one two minutes down the street. They are forced to increase prices, giving them a competitive disadvantage, Colorado Restaurant Association President and CEO Sonia Riggs said in an email.Riggs added the organization prefers a statewide approach over a patchwork of varying minimum wages across Colorado, but that a countywide increase is better than a city by city change.Another important point for us is that any city or county looking to increase minimum wage should do so slowly, in order to give time for businesses to adjust, Riggs said. These increases are particularly difficult for our industry, as 95 to 97 cents of every dollar coming in is spent on the people, the place and the food. With such small margins, any increase in cost is a challenge.To justify looking into a boosted local minimum wage, Swetlik also cited recently publicized research that found an increase in the lowest legal pay rate could decrease suicide rates.Looking at health and safety as leaders of the county, the minimum wage is a good place to look, Swetlik said.Increases in the minimum wage above the statewide floor also could have an impact on Boulder Countys organic farmers, who have a greater need for labor than some of their counterparts in conventional agriculture using heavier machinery and technology to limit manual work.My first thought is that the minimum wage issue is complicated one, Boulder County Farmers Market leader Brian Coppom said in interview. First, all of our farmers would like to see their workers making a living wage. Second, people already complain about the costs of growing food, and a livable minimum wage will increase the cost of growing food.He urges residents to reexamine how they evaluate the monetary cost of consuming food against the consequences of local expectations for relatively inexpensive food from other places in the world that do not enforce labor laws as stringent as the United States.(Greater minimum wages) will likely cause people to think that locally grown food is too expensive, because rather than having someone local on a living wage growing it, they can buy it from a country where there is no such thing as a living wage, Coppom said. To shift the paradigm, it really takes some education of the what true cost of the products we consume really is, in terms of social impact, environmental impact. Total Quality Logistics Named One of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2020 Total Quality Logistics (TQL) has been named to Fortune Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2020. The annual ranking recognizes companies with outstanding workplace cultures, according to the global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune. This is the second straight year TQL has been named to Fortune's list of Best Companies to Work For, rising six spots to number 78 on this year's list, up from #84 in 2019. To determine the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, survey responses from more than 650,000 employees in the U.S. were analyzed on how respondents rated their company on credibility, trust, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. "We take great pride at TQL in developing relationships with our customers and carriers, but it starts with our employees," said TQL President Kerry Byrne. "We're incredibly honored by this recognition because it's further evidence we have created a culture that customers, carriers and employees are all proud to be associated with," Byrne added. TQL, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the nation's largest freight brokerage companies, hosts numerous employee engagement events throughout the year, including its TQL Cares volunteer and donation matching program, which had an 82% participation rate from employees in 2019. Other unique culture-building events include three annual signature events centered around holidays for employees' children, a Pull-for-a-Cure semi-truck pull to raise $100,000 for the American Cancer Society, and a card-sending campaign to brighten the spirits of patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital during the holiday season. TQL has 57 offices in the U.S., with more than 5,000 employees. "The 100 Best show the way forward," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "These companies have created Great Places to Work For All-for everyone, no matter who a person is or what they do for the organization. As a result, they have built a path to realize the promise of artificial intelligence, gain strength from a diversity of perspectives, and thrive during downturns." This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Great Place to Work research shows that companies appearing on the list outperform industry rivals when it comes to talent retention and demonstrating higher levels of productivity than their peers. To see the full list of the 2020 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For, click here. The 100 Best Companies is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. About TQL At Total Quality Logistics (TQL), we create greater supply chain efficiecies for our customers by combining industry-leading technology and unmatched customer service. Customers and carriers turn to us daily to solve their transportation needs with competitive pricing, continuous communication, and a commitment to do it right every time. We move more than 1.8 million loads across the nation annually through our broad portfolio of logistics services and our network of more than 85,000 carriers. In addition, through TQL Cares and the TQL Foundation, our company and employees make the world a better place by donating thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars each year. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, TQL is the second-largest freight brokerage firm in the nation, founded in 1997, with more than 5,000 employees in 57 offices across the U.S. Connect with TQL on the web, on Facebook or on Twitter @TQLogistics. About The FORTUNE 100 Best Companies To Work For Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index survey responses from more than 650,000 employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations across the country. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists published with Fortune, visit Greatplacetowork.com. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising, its culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. They use their unparalleled benchmark data to recognize Great Place to Work-Certified companies and the Best Workplaces in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For list published annually in Fortune. To learn more, visit greatplacetowork.com, listen to the podcast Better by Great Place to Work, and read "A Great Place to Work for All." Join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Downloadable Multi-Media: TQL Logo TQL b-roll (YouTube) TQL b-roll (Google Drive) From FORTUNE 2020 FORTUNE Media IP Limited All rights reserved. Used under license. FORTUNE and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For are registered trademarks of FORTUNE Media IP Limited and are used under license. FORTUNE and FORTUNE Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Total Quality Logistics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005702/en/ Commentary At Shan Army HQ, Another Twist in The Tale of Myanmars Fragile Peace Process Restoration Council of Shan State troops on parade at the Shan State National Day celebration in Loi Tai Leng, Shan State on Feb. 7. 2020 / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy LOI TAI LENG, Shan StateGeneral Yawd Serk appeared upbeat and enthusiastic as he sat down with us at his home in Loi Tai Leng in the hills of Shan State on Myanmars border with northern Thailand, and home to the headquarters of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S). The general was still in a buoyant mood following his visit last month to Naypyitaw, where he held extensive talks with government leaders and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He was clearly pleased with the outcome of the meetings and seemed gratified by the reception he received in the nations capital. We had never had such a one-on-one meeting with the army chief before. During our talk, we discussed misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Actually, our views on the changes [needed] for the betterment of the nation are not so different. The army chief makes changes in his way, and there are only small differences between us, because our views and our desires are similar, the bespectacled Shan leader said with a broad smile. The mood was in stark contrast to late October, when Gen. Yawd Serks planned trip to Naypyitaw had to be aborted at the last minute after the chief of the armys Eastern Central Command refused him permission to travel by road to attend a ceremonial peace conference in Naypyitaw, insisting that he fly instead. Since then, in an effort to mend fences, the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) has sent a number of high-ranking officers to meet with Shan leaders in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The outcome so far has been positive. At their meeting in early January, which was by all accounts highly productive, Gen. Yawd Serk and Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing sat down for more than three hours and spoke through a translator. His meetings with government leaders including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also served to advance mutual understanding, the Shan leader said. Notably, Shan leaders did not talk much about their meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and seemed more eager to talk about the positive outcomes of their meeting with Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. The interpreter was required as Gen. Yawd Serk speaks limited Burmese. However, observers who have known him for a long time say these days the general has developed a habit of slipping into Burmese occasionally when he wants to emphasize a point across the table. Indeed he did so several times during our interview. At their meeting, Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing seems to have launched a charm offensive, saying he believes in and accepts the idea of a federal union. He also surprised his Shan guests by acknowledging a need to amend the Constitution but insisting that this must be done gradually (the armys appointees in Parliament continue to oppose the ruling partys proposed constitutional changes), and requesting that Gen. Yawd Serk help to achieve peace by bringing those ethnic armed groups that have yet to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement into the process. The Shan leader said he was surprised at the senior generals words. We had not had this kind of discussion before. Listening to him I was quite amazed; it gave me a better understanding of his goals and policies. The army chief speaks in one way [harshly] in his addresses, but during our conversation, he spoke in another way. So I now have two ways to see things: the way he spoke during our meeting, and the way [I see] his speeches. We will wait and see [his actions], he told us during a recent interview on a chilly day in Loi Tai Leng. Since the Naypyitaw meetings, Myanmar leaders have tried to keep up the momentum and continue making positive overtures. When the RCSS celebrated Shan State National Day in Loi Tai Leng in early February, both the Myanmar government and military honored Gen. Yawd Serks invitations by dispatching top-level officials to attend the commemorations. Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo and Defense Services Inspector Lieutenant General Aye Win were among the 11-member delegation that made the trip to RCSS headquarters. Significantly, it was the first time that officials from the highest levels in Naypyitaw had set foot in the Shan armed groups headquarters. Smiles and firm handshakes were exchanged, and rounds of whiskey tossed back. The promise of peace was held outat least for that evening; to be sure, there was no shooting. At a dinner on the eve of the main ceremony, Gen. Yawd Serk played the role of diplomat, creating an inclusive atmosphere in which all groups could come together and feel welcomed. As host, he invited ethnic leaders, including those from groups that have yet to sign the NCA, to come to the main stage and sing songs and dance. The government delegation and army generals and other officers joined in somewhat awkwardlybut at least they were smiling. It was an important opportunity to let off steam. Drinking is better than shooting, a Shan colonel said, as more whiskeys arrived and peace seemed, at least for the moment, to be a little closer. But it is better we dont talk, a Shan commander renowned for his frontline fighting skills said with a grin. Once we start to talk, we start to argue and fight again. His evaluation seemed fair enough to me, so we ordered more drinks. A foreign peace consultant walked passed and smiled at us. He couldnt have known what the Shan commander had told me, but just the sight of the party seemed to be enough to create a sense of hopeeven if it was a false one, a bit of theater. Many ethnic leaders recalled fondly the peace meetings held under former president U Thein Sein, events characterized by free-flowing whiskey and other spirits, as well as teasing and laughter. Held at hotels in Naypyitaw or Yangon, or at the insurgent groups headquarters, these events served to relieve the tension on all sides, they said. (Whenever such meetings are held, expensive whiskey plays an important roleand donors are happy to foot the bill, according to the ethnic leaders.) They said they missed U Aung Min, who previously served as Presidents Office minister and, more importantly, chairperson of the Myanmar Peace Center. Considered the chief peace negotiator, he got along well with several ethnic leaders who also enjoyed late-night drinking sessions. Many of these leaders have a reputation for being rat holesmeaning they can quaff great quantities of alcohol. But this culture has disappeared under the current government. The fighting on the ground has intensified, lives have been lost and peace seems distant. Peace talks are characterized by stony faces, reserved language, stiffness and stress. The government also appointed Daw Aung San Suu Kyis personal physician to a key post at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC). Dr. Tin Myo Win, vice chairman of the NRPC, seems unfamiliar with peace and conflict issues, and ethnic politics in Myanmar. Many ethnic leaders were extremely disappointed by his appointment. Little wonder, then, that they yearn for the old days of peace talks, fun and whiskeyin fact to hear them talk, it seems that peace and whiskey are inseparable. The night we gathered at Loi Tai Leng we observed there were enough Thai brand beers and whiskey, not to mention moonshineincluding one produced by Gen. Yawd Serk himselfand almost everyone got drunk. Raising their glasses, some ethnic leaders said they didnt want to hear any more talk about the Myanmar militarys six-point peace principles, which were drafted when a military junta ruled Myanmar and require ethnic militias to accept the 2008 Constitution and disarm. Once they start to talk about the six points, we feel its going nowhere, they said. The plain fact is that the majority of ethnic armed groups do not accept the 2008 Constitution. A representative of the Kachin Independence Army chimed in, saying, If they keep talking about the DDR, we cant move forward, referring to DDR-SSR, or disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and security sector reform. After sipping his drink, he added, The more we have political space, the less we will have armed conflict. But whats happening now is the exact opposite, he said. If you want to end armed conflict, create and expand more political space, he said. Otherwise, were doomed. As night fell and a chill wind blew onto the stage, the whiskey continued to arrive. Speaking bluntly to a visiting Tatmadaw general (theyre all generals, after all), Karenni army chief General Bee Htoo said, Before you ask us to sign [the ceasefire], look at what happened to those who have signed the NCA, suggesting that the pact is in disarray. The officer he was addressing, Lieutenant General Aye Win, kept his cool, the smile never leaving his face. (Perhaps this even temperament is the reason he was sent to the SSA-S headquarters. Karenni commanders are often a source of amusement at such functions, known for having little time for protocol and diplomacy.) At one previous gathering, a Karenni commander boasted to a Myanmar general about how he and his rebel soldiers had blown up a major power cable connecting central Myanmar and Kayah State. The outburst prompted both laughter and discomfort. Well, this is the nature of peace talks especially in Myanmar, whose long-running civil war has killed and maimed so many over the years. The Karenni army, which is controlled by the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), is not currently engaged in serious military clashes with the Myanmar army, nor are the two sides seriously at odds ideologically, but they havent been able to sign a ceasefire. Many Karenni leaders have lived over the border in Thailands Mae Hong Song province for decades and are out of touch with reality. Karenni civilian leaders from the KNPP didnt show up for the Shan State National Day commemoration, offering the lame excuse that Loi Tai Leng is too cold. In truth, they stayed away over what they perceive as a lack of respect from Myanmar army leaders whenever they meet for peace talks. They disregard our names, designations and positions, a member of the KNPP leadership told us. There should be mutual respect. This perception of the Myanmar generals who take part in peace talks as patronizing and disrespectful was echoed by several ethnic leaders. If I am a general, they should properly address me by my title and my name, a Shan commander said. Its better to show respect and [embrace] dialogue. As the night wore on, the temperature on the hill began to drop sharply. And while the Shan soldiers guarding the gathering and the 73rd annual Shan State National Day kept the festivities safe and sound, it was impossible not to sense the deep and lingering mistrust on this cold winter night, and for all the laughter, a sense of caution lay underneath all discussions of the peace process. The next day, still nursing hangovers from the late-night drinking session, all those present dressed up and attended the ceremony, which began at 6 a.m. Gen. Yawd Serks speech was nothing if not cautious and cordial. He spoke about those engaging in dialogue who are afraid of losing the powers they presently hold and having little trust, but called for patience in building trust and engaging in political dialogue. The same note was struck in the messages from President U Win Myint and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, respectively, which were read out by government and military representatives. The words federal union were repeated numerous times to an audience of thousands of Shan villagers, though many of them probably did not understand the Burmese-language speeches. But they seemed curious at the sight of the Shan leaders and other luminaries seated on the stage. Doubtless many were hoping that the evening would bring more traditional Shan dances and fireworks. There was no mention of the six-point peace policy, or of surrender or disarming, but Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged the rebel groups to put aside their arms and make peace. Some participants yawned during the ceremony; some busied themselves taking photos, while others tried to warm themselves by moving into the sunlight. Interestingly, the Shan soldiers did not show off their arms and heavy weapons at this years parade, limiting their displays to demonstrations of marching discipline and martial arts. Observers concluded this restraint was out of respect for their distinguished guests from Naypyitaw. Some observers said the militarys decision to send a high-ranking general to Loi Tai Leng was significant, demonstrating a genuine interest in Shan politics and a desire for Gen. Yawd Serk to take a leading role in the faltering peace process. This could signal that the Shan are set to assume a leading role in the process, taking over from Karen insurgents who have been a significant force in the peace process for the past eight years. The armys relations with the Karen have been sensitive and fragile of late, with a sense that serious fighting could erupt at any time. Tensions between Karen and Myanmar forces have been rising since last year, and a recent spate of clashes in areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU)/Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)s Brigade 5 have demonstrated the fragility of the NCA. A senior Myanmar general confirmed to me a few weeks ago that serious fighting could break out at any time in the area. We asked them [the KNU], Do you want us to attack? If so, please define the area, said the general. The military wanted to limit its fighting to the 5th Brigade area. It is believed that the top Karen leaders have little control over the area. Karen leaders are split into two factions. Saw Mutu Say Poe, now in his late 80s, is a military and political leader and remains chairman of the KNU. His faction is pro-ceasefire and still enjoys a good relationship with the government and the military. The other faction is allied with a group of hardcore Karen army commanders who want to resume fighting. Myanmar military leaders observing this internal conflict have been dismayed to see Saw Mutu Say Poes faction lose power to the point where it is in danger of being dethroned. A powerful leader within the KNLAs 5th Brigade area is General Baw Kyah Heh, who is known to be a hardliner and a good commander. The trouble started when the Myanmar army began building a road in the 5th Brigade area, sparking fierce opposition among local Karen, who say the road will bring not peace but food and weapons for Myanmar troops stationed in the area. They have demanded the project be stopped, but the Tatmadaw has refused. There have been regular skirmishes between the two sides, but the situation deteriorated dramatically after the killing of a Myanmar officer in a landmine explosion in late January in an area where the 5th Brigade is active. Karen leaders also object to the militarys use of drones in the area. The NCA forbids military deployments, surveillance activities, reinforcements, armed fighting, the use of landmines, other forms of violence, and damage to physical properties in all ceasefire territories. Neither the military nor the ethnic armies adhere to the provisions of the agreement, however. Since the ceasefire was signed, the two sides have continued to expand their territory, deploy troops and engage in aggressive recruitment in ethnic villages. Myanmar army leaders also suspect that Karen leaders in the 5th Brigade area have established regular ties with the powerful Wa armed force known as the United Wa State Army, which sells and supplies weapons to ethnic armed groups in the country. This connection with the Wa in the north has set alarm bells ringing among Myanmars generals. Furthermore, gold mining is a lucrative business in the 5thBrigade area and there is no shortage of cash to buy more arms. The tough Karen commanders wont mind the thought of resuming the conflict. Sensing the threat of renewed conflict, the Myanmar army leaders may feel a need to reassess their relationship with the Karen as the KNU sorts out its internal conflict. And if the Karen commanders want to fight, the Myanmar army is still capable of fighting despite the deployment of several light infantry divisions in conflict-torn northern Rakhine State on Myanmars western border. We havent gone out to fight yet, a top general told me recently, but our soldiers are itching to go out and attack since we lost our officer [in the mine blast]. Thus, making peace with the Shan makes sense for the foreseeable future. Even Chinese officials, who promised to broker a peace deal between the central government and the ethnic rebels, are paying attention to Gen. Yawd Serk lately. So they visit him often. Perhaps, some observers say, the Chinese want to convince him they are not just siding with the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups, but are willing to engage with the SSA-South as well. A Chinese gas pipeline passes through Shan State, and upcoming BRI projects including roads, bridges and construction projects will go through the area. On the Chinese projects, Gen. Yawd Serk said that consultations with local groups who oppose the projects are needed. For instance, the gas pipelines from Rakhine State pass through Shan State and the Shan State government is supposed to get 5 percent as compensation. But we dont know anything about it: who accepted the compensation, who signed and how much are local residents compensated? he said. He added, Our people have lost many things due to the pipelines but they do not have any rights. When we ask [those who build the pipelines], they know nothing. Sun Guoxiang, a special envoy from Beijing, has also met Gen. Yawd Serk. Last year, the Chinese asked the general to help convince the non-NCA signatories in northern Myanmar and the Karenni National Progressive Party to sign the agreement. So perhaps China and Myanmar these days see him as a key figure to help move the fragile peace process forward. Nonetheless, some Shan commanders who showed up with big smiles at the ceremony in Loi Tai Leng still quietly express concern that fighting could break out in 2021, as both sides are having difficulty controlling their troops on the ground. This view is in sharp contrast to Gen. Yawd Serks upbeat mood. We are worried, a Shan commander told me; it seems that for all the handshakes and smiles, the situation on the ground is not so promising. The Shan villagers at Loi Tai Leng happily braved the cold to attend the Shan State National Day celebration; many traveled from central or northern Shan State to be there. A woman in her early 60s talked about recruitment in her village, adding that her son had migrated to northern Thailand to look for work. But she said she was OK. Whoever comes to our village, we cook for them and feed them. Sai Mong, a villager in his late 30s wearing a traditional Shan outfit, spoke of insecurity and skirmishes in the area where he lives, near Lashio. There are soldiers and rebels and militia, he said with laugh. Who is the troublemaker? He shakes his head, I dont know; I read the news and they say there will be peace, but we are afraid. They dont know who is doing the shelling; they just pay their taxes and provide food for whoever comes to the village. But there is no peace and we havent held a traditional festival for more than a year, he said. Then he added, But Im happy to be here. You may also like these stories: We Have Never Talked About Secession: RCSS Chief Textile stocks have been on an temporary upswing thanks to the recent ratification of the EVFTA but textile enterprises still face difficulties due to heavy dependence on imported raw materials and reduced demand worldwide. A Song Hong Garment factory at the Yen Lap Industrial Zone in the northern province of Phu Tho. The ratification of EVFTA has boosted textile stock prices. Photo baophutho.com.vn In the latest trading sessions, from February 5 to February 14, shares of Duc Quan Investment and Development JSC (FTM) continuously increased with six session witnessing ceiling prices. FTM soared by 38.01 per cent. During the same period, Song Hong Garment Joint Stock Company (MSH) also increased by 9.5 per cent, the Viet Nam National textile and Garment Group (VGT) rose 21.2 per cent. According to Tran Xuan Bach, a stock analyst at Bao Viet Securities Co (BVSC), the ratification of EVFTA has boosted textile stock prices as the agreement is believed to offer a huge advantage to the industry. But this is only a short-term impact, textile firm can enjoy the benefits the agreement brings if they can meet market demand and expand production scale, Bach wrote in a daily report. Under the tariff reduction plan, tariffs on most yarn and fabric products will be immediately exempted while tariffs on garments will gradually decrease to 0 per cent in 6-8 years, said Ngo Tri Vinh, a stock analyst at BVSC. Subsequently, Viet Nams garment products will gradually decrease the price gap in line with Bangladesh (currently at 0 per cent tax) and gain advantages over China (12 per cent tax) while the preferential tax for Cambodia (0 per cent) is currently discontinued due to recent labour rights violations, Vinh wrote in a daily report. However, EVFTAs impact in the short term will be marginal due to limited capability of material autonomy while EVFTA includes fabric-forward rule of origin, which means to enjoy preferential tariffs, the products must be made from fabrics of Vietnamese origin, he noted. EVFTA only opens opportunities for businesses with material autonomy as well as those with large EU groups of customers, such as TNG Investment and Trading JSC (TNG) and Thanh Cong Textile Garment-Investment-Trading Joint Stock Company (TCM)." "EU is the largest market of TNG, accounting for 54 per cent of sales. For TCM, EU currently contributes only about 5 per cent of sewing revenue, however, with 60-70 per cent material autonomy, TCM is expected to meet EVFTA rules of origin, Vinh noted. According to SSI Securities Joint Stock Company (SSI), Viet Nams textile and garment industry is heavily dependent on importing of machinery and raw materials (60 per cent). Free trade agreements, on the other hand, impose strict requirements on the origin of products, demanding capability of material autonomy. Since few of Vietnamese business can produce raw materials, they can not fully exploit the benefits brought in by the FTAs, SSI said. The textile and garment industry will also face challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the company said, adding that business activities of Vietnamese textile enterprises will be negatively affected as many China-based textile factories have been shut down since January. Currently, China is the largest raw materials supplier of Viet Nam. According to SSI, textile stocks dropped sharply last year as businesses did not perform pretty well. The Viet Nam National Textile and Garment Group (VGT) decreased by 10.9 per cent in 2019 due to poor business results. VGT's net revenue reached VND18.4 trillion (US$792 million), down 3.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. Pre-tax profit reached VND671 billion, fulfilling 75 per cent of the yearly plan. Post-tax profit touched VND628 billion, down 10.6 per cent compared to 2018. Duc Quan Investment and Development JSC (FTM) witnessed shares plunged 88 per cent last year. FTM net revenue recorded a decrease of 13 per cent compared to 2018, reaching nearly VND1 trillion. The company also recorded a net loss of nearly VND95 billion in 2019. Therefore, FTM only fulfilled 66 per cent of its revenue plan. VNS EVFTA: a 'highway' with many toll collection stations The EU Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) has been compared to a highway which allows businesses to go faster and boost their exports. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday questioned the role of Pune Police and senior officials in the Elgar Parishad case. Pawar said he used to be proud of the Maharashtra Police but todays situation is worrying. He also questioned how the central government got information about an internal meeting on setting up Special Investigation Team (SIT) held by the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and state home minister Anil Deshmukh. The state government needs to take this seriously, he said, hinting that someone who attended the meeting leaked out the details to the Centre. Pawar was speaking to reporters at YB Chavan Centre on Tuesday. I used to be proud of the Maharashtra Police as I handled the home department for almost 15-20 years. The way power was misused by the police is worrying. The role of Pune Police and a few senior police officials in Elgar Parishad case is in question. They have booked those who were not even present in that parishad, Pawar said. The Supreme Court too has observed that an independent probe is needed to be conducted in the Elgar Parishad case. I am also demanding the same thing... if the state government wants to take legal opinion before forming the SIT then nothing wrong in it, he added. The NCP chief also wanted the government to find out how the details of the meeting held by the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister Anil Deshmukh on Elgar Parishad probe reached the Centre. On January 25, the Centre issued notification on taking over the probe, hours after Pawar and Deshmukh held a meeting with police and home officers on forming the SIT. Ajit Pawar and Anil Deshmukh wont have to inform the Union home ministry, then who has informed them? The state government needs to take this seriously, he said. Days after the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government came to power, the NCP chief had written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Anil Deshmukh about constituting SIT in the case. After the NCP chiefs letter, Ajit Pawar held a meeting with officials of the home department to review the case. The home department had also been considering appointing a SIT to probe the Elgar Parishad case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By PTI NEW DELHI: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday backed the government's deportation of British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she is not just an MP but a "Pakistan proxy". Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday, with officials saying she was informed in advance that her e-visa had been cancelled. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," Singhvi tweeted. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted.#Kashmir#DebbieAbrahams Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020 Singhvi party colleague Shashi Tharoor had, however, tweeted in support of Abrahams on Monday. "I find it ironic that some of the same people who applauded me for going to Britain as an Indian MP & telling them off about their colonial misbehaviour, are attacking me for wanting India to grant a British MP the same privilege! If we can dish it out, we shld be able to take it," Tharoor wrote on the microblogging site. Stacey Dooley has opened up about suffering from anxiety and panic attacks while talking to a man with psychosis in her latest documentary. The broadcaster, 32, from Luton, spent three weeks with ward staff and patients at Springfield Hospital in London, one of oldest psychiatric hospitals in the UK, while filming Stacey Dooley: On The Psych Ward. During the BBC Three programme a young man is brought into the 136 Suite, reserved for people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act. The man is clearly drunk and becomes very agitated as he's put into a bare room with just a bed and a toilet for his own safety. Stacey Dooley has opened up about suffering from anxiety and panic attacks while talking to a man with psychosis in her latest documentary The broadcaster, 32, from Luton, spent three weeks with ward staff and patients at Springfield Hospital in London, for her new documentary Stacey Dooley: On The Psych Ward. Pictured speaking to one of the patients Stacey speaks to him through a speaker, admitting to staff members: 'This guy is fully breaking my heart.' During their conversation the man asks Stacey is she has ever struggled with her mental health, to which she replies: 'Me? Sometimes anxiety. I get that feeling.' Speaking to camera away from the ward, she explains: 'He said, Stacey have you ever suffered with mental health and I said, "Not to this extent but I certainly know what it means to sort of, have anxiety and... panic attacks and things like that."' Stacey has been making documentaries which focus on social issues for BBC Three since 2009, some of which have seen her interview Islamist extremists and members of the EDL. Stacey confessed to having feelings of anxiety when a man with psychosis asked if she'd ever struggled with her mental health Stacey said taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, which she won with her now-boyfriend Kevin Clifton in 2018, helped her to de-stress and taught her that 'activity outside work is good for my mental health'. She told the Mirror: 'I think you have to take time out from all the heavy stuff, even though it's your passion and you love it so much. 'You have to keep time aside for life, which I havent done enough over the past couple years.' She added that they have been times in the past when she didn't have enough work or money and would 'panic'. Speaking to camera away from the ward, the broadcaster explained: '[The man] said, Stacey have you ever suffered with mental health and I said, "Not to this extent but I certainly know what it means to sort of, have anxiety and... panic attacks and things like that."' Stacey pictured with the Lotus team at Springfield Hospital in London, one of oldest psychiatric hospitals in the UK 'I was doing three jobs. Doing telly, working in a pub and working in my pal's shop,' she said. 'I have never met anyone who has worked harder than me. I put the hours in and have taken advantage of opportunities.' Last year the star said she doesn't care what people think of her as she discussed hitting the headlines after the BBC dance competition. Stacey split with long-term partner Sam Tucknott before getting together with pro dancer Kevin, 37, last year. Speaking about having her personal life discussed in the media, she told Red magazine: 'You have to allow people to think for themselves and you can't pass judgement. I don't let outsiders worry me too much, I really mean that. Stacey said taking part in Strictly Come Dancing helped her to de-stress and taught her that 'activity outside work is good for my mental health' Stacey split with long-term partner Sam Tucknott before getting together with pro dancer Kevin Clifton, 37, last year. Pictured on This Morning in November 2018 'I'm in Iraq filming really remarkable women telling me they've lost their babies, you know? So, if somebody's gossiping or saying they don't like me, in the grand scheme of things, it's really not the end of the world.' Revealing how she deals with social media trolls, the radiant redhead added: 'I'm not going to kick off and argue with everyone, but I am also not going to sit and smile like a nodding dog. 'I know who I am, I know the woman I want to be and I'm going to stick to my guns.' In her latest documentary Stacey speaks to an anorexia sufferer who tried to throw herself off a motorway bridge after not eating for two weeks. She also chats to 70-year-old Christine, who started hearing voices when she was a teen and has been in and out of hospital for most of her life, and 19-year-old Kyle, who is feeling deeply depressed and suicidal. Stacey Dooley: On the Psych Ward is available to watch on BBC iPlayer from February 19. [February 18, 2020] Basilea reports significant revenue growth from marketed products and pipeline progress for full-year 2019 Revenue contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera increased 39% to CHF 114 million Operating result improved by 29% Start of urothelial cancer study for derazantinib with immunotherapy combination and further expansion planned into gastric cancer Positive topline results reported from ceftobiprole phase 3 skin infection (ABSSSI) study Year-end cash and investments of CHF 161 million and reduction in net operating cash consumption In 2020, revenue contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera, excluding deferred revenue, expected to grow 12% to 27% year-on-year Basel, Switzerland, February 18, 2020 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) announced today its financial results for the financial year ended December 31, 2019. David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, said: Basilea made significant progress in 2019. Revenue contributions from our two marketed brands, Cresemba and Zevtera, increased by 39 percent year-on-year. At the same time, we continued to manage closely our expenses, leading to a further reduction of our net cash consumption, and a 29 percent improvement of our operating result. Cresemba sales by our partners continued to grow significantly, both in established markets and new markets, which triggered two sales milestone payments based on sales in Europe. Our commercialization partners doubled the number of launched countries during 2019 and we expect that Cresemba will be available in about 60 countries by the end of 2021. He continued: Important progress was also made for lisavanbulin and derazantinib, our most advanced oncology programs. We have identified a potentially response-predictive biomarker approach for lisavanbulin and decided to move the drug candidate forward into a targeted phase 2 study in patients with glioblastoma. For derazantinib, we have started a phase 1/2 study in patients with urothelial cancer and are planning to further expand the clinical development program into gastric cancer. In both studies, derazantinib will be explored as a single drug and in combination with Roches immune checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab. Preclinical profiling of derazantinib indicated that it may make tumors more susceptible to immunotherapy. For our antibiotic ceftobiprole, we have successfully completed the first of the two phase 3 studies which are necessary to support a regulatory filing in the U.S., the commercially most important market for novel branded hospital antibiotics. We expect continued strong global sales uptake for Cresemba while we remain focused on carefully managing our expenses and are convinced that we are very well positioned to take our next value-generating steps. Financial summary Total revenue in 2019 increased to CHF 134.4 million (2018: CHF 132.6 million). Together, product revenue and contract revenue increased to CHF 114.4 million (2018: CHF 105.9 million). Revenue contributions from the two marketed brands Cresemba and Zevtera increased 39% to CHF 114.3 million (2018: CHF 82.0 million), of which CHF 68.7 million (2018: CHF 50.5 million) relate to non-deferred revenue and CHF 45.6 million (2018: CHF 31.5 million) to deferred revenue recognition. Deferred revenue is recognized for upfront, development and regulatory milestone payments received in prior years from partners. The company was able to fully offset the impact from the completion of the non-cash deferred revenue recognition related to Toctino in 2018 (2018: CHF 23.9 million). Other revenue amounted to CHF 19.7 million (2018: CHF 26.5 million). This included CHF 18.5 million BARDA reimbursements (2018: CHF 25.9 million), which are offsetting a substantial portion of the ceftobiprole phase 3 development expenses. The BARDA reimbursements decreased in line with the reduced development expenses after the successful completion of the ceftobiprole phase 3 skin infection study. In 2019, investments in Basileas pipeline resulted in research and development expenses of CHF 102.7 million (2018: CHF 104.9 million). Such expenses were mainly driven by costs for the two phase 3 studies for the antibiotic ceftobiprole, the costs related to the ongoing preclinical and clinical program for derazantinib, the phase 1/2a development of oncology drug candidate lisavanbulin and the ongoing pediatric programs for ceftobiprole and isavuconazole. Selling, general and administrative expenses remained flat at CHF 30.0 million (2018: CHF 31.4 million). Cost of products sold, which includes manufacturing costs, capacity reservation costs, shipping and handling costs as well as certain one-off items amounted to CHF 18.9 million (2018: CHF 20.3 million). In 2019, the operating loss amounted to CHF 17.2 million (2018: CHF 24.1 million). Net loss in 2019 was significantly reduced to CHF 22.4 million (2018: CHF 31.4 million), resulting in a basic and diluted loss per share of CHF 2.08 (2018: CHF 2.89). Net cash consumption from operating activities in 2019 was reduced by 19% to CHF 63.8 million as compared to CHF 79.2 million in 2018. This is a result, on the one hand of the significant increase in cash inflow from Cresemba and Zevtera revenue and, on the other hand, of Basileas continued focus on managing its operating expenses by continuously optimizing its preclinical and clinical portfolio and targeting its investments into its R&D pipeline. Combined cash and investments amounted to CHF 161.0 million as of December 31, 2019, compared to CHF 223.9 million as of December 31, 2018. Key financial figures (In CHF million, except per share data) 2019 2018 Product revenue 50.9 26.2 Contract revenue1 63.5 79.7 Revenue from R&D services 0.3 0.2 Other revenue 19.7 26.5 Total revenue 134.4 132.6 Cost of products sold (18.9) (20.3) Research & development expenses, net (102.7) (104.9) Selling, general & administrative expenses (30.0) (31.4) Total cost and operating expenses (151.6) (156.7) Operating loss (17.2) (24.1) Net loss (22.4) (31.4) Net cash used in operating activities (63.8) (79.2) Basic and diluted loss per share, in CHF (2.08) (2.89) (In CHF million) Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Cash and investments 161.0 223.9 1 Contract revenue in 2019 include none (2018: CHF 23.9 million) related to Toctino deferred revenue recognition. The consolidated financial statements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the financial year 2019 can be found on the Companys website at https://www.basilea.com/financial-reports. 2020 Outlook For 2020 Basilea will focus on: Through its commercialization partners, continuing to grow significantly in-market sales of Cresemba and Zevtera. Advancing its clinical pipeline towards the next value inflection points: Presenting topline results from the registrational phase 2 study with derazantinib in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, in addition to the first interim data of the phase 1/2 study in urothelial cancer. Starting a new phase 1/2 study with derazantinib in gastric cancer. Starting a targeted, biomarker-driven phase 2 study with the oral formulation of lisavanbulin in recurrent glioblastoma. Progressing the ceftobiprole phase 3 study in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia towards top line results in H2 2021. Continuing to explore opportunities to selectively expand the clinical and preclinical oncology portfolio through both in-licensing and internal development. Considering these key priorities, Basilea provides the following financial guidance for 2020: Revenue contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera, excluding deferred revenue recognized for payments received in prior years, are expected to grow to CHF 77-87 million (+12% to +27% y-o-y), reflecting the continued significant growth of in-market sales by our partners. CHF 77-87 million (+12% to +27% y-o-y), reflecting the continued significant growth of in-market sales by our partners. Total R&D and SG&A expenses are expected to remain at approximately the same level as 2019 but costs of products sold are expected to increase based on higher product deliveries to partners, leading to an anticipated operating loss of CHF 20-30 million. Net cash consumption is expected to further decrease as compared to 2019, resulting in anticipated cash and investments of CHF 100-110 million at year-end 2020. Deferred revenue recognition relating to one-time upfront, development and regulatory milestones received in prior years is expected to decrease to CHF 33 million (2019: CHF 45.6 million). Total revenue is expected to amount to CHF 128-138 million, with reimbursements by BARDA decreasing in line with lower R&D expenses related to the ceftobiprole phase 3 program as compared to 2019. (In CHF million) 2020E 2019 Cresemba & Zevtera revenue (deferred) 33 45.6 Cresemba & Zevtera revenue (non-deferred) 77 87 68.7 Other (mostly BARDA reimbursements) 18 20.0 Total revenue 128 138 134.4 Cost of products sold 25 18.9 R&D and SG&A 133 132.7 Operating loss 20 30 17.2 Cash and investments (year-end) 100 110 161 Portfolio Important progress in clinical pipeline and accelerated commercialization of marketed brands throughout 2019 In-market sales of our two marketed brands, Cresemba and Zevtera, continued to increase significantly In 2019, Basileas partners doubled the number of countries in which Cresemba is launched. To date, Cresemba is launched in more than 40 countries. According to the latest available public data, global in-market sales of Cresemba reached approximately USD 190 million in the 12 months to the end of September 2019.1 Zevtera is currently launched in 18 countries. Zevtera sales continued to increase and sales growth is expected to further accelerate through the increasing contributions from the newly launched countries inside and outside of Europe. Expanding derazantinib data package In August 2019, we started a phase 1/2 study, FIDES-02, to explore the FGFR kinase inhibitor, derazantinib, in patients with advanced urothelial cancer with FGFR genetic aberrations, alone and in combination with Roches atezolizumab (Tecentriq), a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor.2 As announced early in 2020, we are also planning a biomarker-driven multi-cohort phase 1/2 study, FIDES-03, in advanced gastric cancer patients with FGFR genetic aberrations, which is expected to start in the third quarter of 2020. This study, too, will assess derazantinib alone and in combination therapy with atezolizumab. The rationale for the combination is based on the activity of derazantinib to inhibit the colony-stimulating factor-1-receptor (CSF1R), which differentiates derazantinib from other FGFR kinase inhibitors in clinical development. CSF1R kinase inhibition has the potential to enhance the response to atezolizumabs immune-checkpoint inhibition. Roche is providing clinical supply of atezolizumab for the FIDES-02 and FIDES-03 studies. Following the reporting of positive interim results from FIDES-01, a registrational phase 2 study with derazantinib in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and FGFR2 gene fusions, an additional cohort was opened in patients with FGFR2 gene mutations and amplifications in order to further profile derazantinib in this indication.3 Tumor checkpoint controller lisavanbulin shows clinical efficacy in glioblastoma In 2019, we concluded patient enrolment into two phase 1/2 studies with lisavanbulin (formerly BAL101553) with daily oral dosing and weekly 48-hour i.v. infusion, respectively.4, 5 We observed clinical activity in glioblastoma in both studies, including two patients with profound clinical responses with more than 80% reduction of the tumor area. We decided to advance the development of the oral formulation to a targeted, biomarker-driven, phase 2 study in recurrent glioblastoma and potentially additional tumor types. This study is anticipated to start in glioblastoma patients mid-2020. In addition, a separate phase 1 study with daily oral dosing of lisavanbulin in combination with radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma is ongoing.6 This study is conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Adult Brain Tumor Consortium, and patient enrolment into the study could be completed by mid-2020. Positive topline results from phase 3 study with ceftobiprole (Zevtera) support U.S. strategy In August 2019, Basilea reported positive topline results from the phase 3 TARGET study, which evaluated ceftobiprole in the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).7 Ceftobiprole met primary and secondary efficacy endpoints and was well tolerated with the overall rates of drug-related adverse events being similar between ceftobiprole and the control group. For a future regulatory filing in the U.S., positive results from a second phase 3 study, ERADICATE, would also be required.8 ERADICATE is exploring ceftobiprole in patients with bloodstream infections (bacteremia) caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and is on track to report topline results in the second half of 2021. The ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 128 million, which is approximately 70% of the total estimated program costs) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under Contract No. HHSO100201600002C. Conference call and webcast Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. will host a conference call and webcast today, Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at 4 p.m. (CET), to discuss the Companys financial and operating results. Via audio webcast with presentation: The live audio webcast of the results presentation can be followed here. Please note that there is no function to ask questions via webcast. For questions, please additionally dial-in via phone (see below). Via phone: To listen by phone and ask questions, please use the dial-in details below. To ensure prompt access, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. +41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA) +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (U.K.) Replay: The webcast, along with presentation will be available online shortly after the event and accessible for three months. About Basilea Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +41 61 606 1102 [email protected] [email protected] This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References 1 IQVIA, September 2019. In-market sales reported as moving annual total (MAT) in U.S. Dollar corrected for currency fluctuations. 2 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04045613. Tecentriq is a registered trademark of Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. 3 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03230318 4 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02490800 (glioblastoma, daily oral dosing) 5 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02895360 (glioblastoma, ovarian cancer; weekly 48-hour i.v. infusion) 6 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03250299 7 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03137173 8 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03138733 Attachment Press release (PDF) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Nagpur police commissioner on a petition filed by a Bhim Army functionary over permission to hold a rally in Reshimbaug area on 22 February. Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Nagpur police commissioner on a petition filed by a Bhim Army functionary over permission to hold a rally in Reshimbaug area on 22 February. The ground where the Bhim Army wants to hold a rally, to be addressed by its chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, is close to the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The Kotwali Police denied permission, citing law and order. The petition, filed by Bhim Army Nagpur district chief Praful Shende through his counsel Firdos Mirza, said the outfit had got permission from the CP and Berar Education Society which controls the Nagpur Improvement Trusted-owned ground. However, the petition stated, the Kotwali police station denied permission citing law and order. It sought directives from high court to the state government and police commissioner to grant permission to Bhim Army to hold the rally. Justices Sunil Shukre and Madhav Jamdar issued notices to the respondents to reply before the next date of hearing scheduled for 20 February. Iran said on Tuesday it has sentenced eight environmental activists to between four and ten years in prison for charges of collaborating with the US government. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said the activists will remain in prison and return the money they "received from the government of America.. which is considered a hostile government." The eight environmental activists were detained in Iran in January and February 2018 and had remained in prison without clear charges according to Human Rights Watch. A plunge in prices is shaking some of the more marginal players out of the liquefied natural gas market, chilling what until recently was the hottest part of the energy industry. Major utilities from Orsted A/S in Denmark to Iberdrola SA in Spain are exiting the business. Naturgy Energy Group SA has made no secret it isnt comfortable with the volatility of LNG and was reported as considering an exit, and Vattenfall AB of Sweden wont even think about entering. The moves drain momentum from a push by companies in almost every corner of the energy industry to start trading LNG. Over the past decade, commodity trading houses and oil majors have joined other utilities such as RWE AG in building their trading desks and investing in new facilities to handle the fuel. Now it is a pretty painful moment for the LNG market with such low prices, Frank van Doorn, Vattenfalls head of trading, said in an interview. Vattenfall doesnt necessarily need to be active in the LNG market. It is not an obvious business case for us at the moment. Optimism about the industrys prospects has crashed into economics. New export projects from Australia to the U.S. have flooded the market with new supplies at the moment that warmer weather and the coronavirus in China curbed demand. The result is brimming storage tanks in Europe and prices for the commodity testing record lows. FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox Lower prices are putting some LNG exporters in a complicated situation where they must decide whether to shut in production or accept losses in delivering cargoes at prices that wont cover their own costs, according to Domenico De Luca, head trading & sales at Axpo. In this environment we do see some curtailments already for a few certain LNG suppliers globally, De Luca said. This summer I wouldnt be surprised to see more extensive maintenance planned as some operators choose to use the low price environment to plan upkeep and repairs. We are now approaching levels that some more price-sensitive U.S. LNG shippers would make losses on full costs. Activity in the LNG industry reached its highest level in five years in 2018, with contracts signed to deliver a total of 123 billion cubic meters of the fuel, according to a report from the International Energy Agency. Much of this increase relates to the development and financing of new liquefaction projects. A record-setting capacity of more than 170 billion cubic meters of natural gas liquefaction got final investment decisions, or FID, last year. More LNG While shipments continue to set new records, gas prices around the globe have fallen, and that has gutted margins for spot LNG traders, said Ewout Eijkelenboom, a senior consultant at the Dutch industry adviser Kyos Energy Consulting. There is too much competition, with everyone wanting to deliver into Europe, the only place with flexible demand in the world now, he said. A few see an opportunity in low prices. Storage sites are charging higher fees to keep gas for future months. Its also a good moment for LNG buyers who want to sign long-term contracts from projects set to come on line in the next few years, Eijkelenboom said. They can get favorable terms from sellers eager to lock in steady customers and may turn highly profitable if the LNG price recovers. The LNG sector is suffering as we are in a bearish cycle, De Luca said. I see it as a short-term situation, more like a contingency moment. For Vattenfall, the high costs of entering the market at such an uncertain time makes LNG unattractive. LNG is a high-ticket item. You need scale, capital and resources to start that business, van Doorn said. The gas hubs in our market in the Netherlands and Germany are very liquid, so for sourcing our gas portfolio we dont need LNG. Five firefighters who suffered injuries battling a three-alarm fire in Red Lion on Sunday morning are home and recovering, officials said Monday. More than 80 firefighters were dispatched to the fire, which started about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Hilltop Apartments on Henrietta Street. Crews from 18 different departments didnt finish up until about 6 a.m. Sunday, York County 911 said. The fire originated in the apartment's basement storage room, where crews quickly extinguished the flames. However, they soon realized the blaze had spread to the floors above, said Scott Gingrich, the Alliance Fire and Rescue fire chief, in a news release. At about the same time the crew made entry, an explosion of super-heated gases and fire accrued, the release states. One firefighter suffered burns that will require additional medical treatment, Gingrich said. All residents from the 18 apartment units were evacuated and are receiving assistance from the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross. Every tenant was affected by the blaze, the release states. As of Monday, the Red Cross had provided assistance with housing, food and clothing to 30 adults and 12 children who were displaced by the fire, the organization stated in a news release. The apartment complex was originally constructed as a school, leaving "many void areas" when the building was later converted to apartments. The conversion allowed the fire to travel from floor to floor, making it difficult to stop the fire, Gingrich said. The blaze is under investigation by the state police fire marshal. A cause and damage estimates are still undetermined. By Tina Locurto, The York Dispatch, Pa. (TNS) More: Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre has showed off his dramatic 18 kilogram weight loss transformation after a stint in the South African jungle earlier this year. In a snap posted to his Instagram, the 40-year-old TV personality is seen smiling from ear-to-ear as he posed for the selfie in a gym locker room. In the photo The Living Room star showed off his slim figure while he wore bike shorts and placed his hands on his hips. Looking good! Miguel Maestre showed off his whopping 18 kilogram weight loss transformation on Monday after winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Despite his dramatic weight loss, Miguel revealed that he's still got some way to go on his journey. Alongside the snap, he wrote: 'What a journey. Chop chop. Set your goals and focus in reaching one bit at the time, prioritise wot is really important and be yourself and no one else. 'Make sure you look after your mind as much as your body,' he concluded before tagging the charity, R U OK? Chop chop! Despite his dramatic weight loss, Miguel revealed that he's still got some way to go on his journey, writing: 'Set your goals and focus in reaching one bit at the time, prioritise wot is really important and be yourself and no one else' His inspirational post was followed with comments of support by fans and his fellow I'm A Celeb! contestants. Rhonda Burchmore wrote: 'Woo hoo! Ya big hunk of spunk.' One cheeky fan commented: 'Wowwee...thought it was The Rock!!!' A new man! Meanwhile, winner Miguel Maestre lost 10kg during his four weeks in the jungle. Pictured left: in 2018. Right: at the I'm A Celebrity wrap party On Thursday, Miguel returned to Australia after spending five weeks in the South African jungle. He later shared a video of him making his way to the car park, accompanied by his child Morgan, five, as he spoke on his iPhone. 'There's nothing in the world [better] than arriving home after 40 days in the jungle. Here we are, we made it!' he was heard saying. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 13:32:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants has killed a primary court judge in Afghanistan's western Herat province, a local official said Tuesday. The incident happened late on Monday night when a group of Taliban militants shot dead Abdul Rahim Azimi in Injil district, Shaidaye area, Jailani Farhad provincial government spokesman told Xinhua. Azimi was serving as chief of Injil district's primary court and Monday's shooting was the latest in a spate of targeted attacks. Two police officers were killed in a shooting attack in Dand district of southern Kandahar province over the weekend. The Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts as more than 2,800 civilians were killed and over 7,950 others injured in conflict-related incidents in 2019, according to figures released by Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). In 1984, during what she now calls her Madonna days, Holly Ann Green wore 12 to 15 rings on her fingers including her cherished graduation ring from Paramus High School. It was a Class of 1983 ring and I lost it with all of my other rings in a bathroom in Manhattan on June 26, 1984, Green said on Monday. Green and a friend were hanging out in Washington Square Park as crowds gathered for the New York City Gay Pride parade. She went into a restaurant to use the bathroom and took all of her rings off, leaving them on the bathroom sink, she said. When she came outside, she realized shed forgotten her rings. I went back in and they were gone. Nobody in the restaurant had seen them or knew anything about them, she said. Missing was her prized class ring, which she purchased as a junior in high school. Over the years, Green moved out of state and raised three sons before settling down in Pasco County, Florida. She said she rarely gave her missing class ring another thought. But what Green didnt know was that about a year after losing the ring, an air-conditioning repairman working at a supermarket stumbled across it. I found this ring at the bottom of a refrigeration case in Melville on Long Island, said Dean Ferraro, then a member of Steamfitters Local 638. On closer inspection, Ferraro saw the inscribed name: Holly Ann Green. For the rest of the day, I couldnt get it out of my mind, said Ferraro, now 60, and working as an engineer in New York. I put the ring in a drawer at home and wondered what I should do, he said. I couldnt hock it because it had a name in it. Anyway, selling it to a pawn shop wouldnt be the right thing to do. Ferraros researched options were limited in the time before social media. He tried calling information but the operator couldnt find a number for a Holly Green in New Jersey. He called Paramus High School but he said no one called him back. For decades, the ring sat at the bottom of a jewelry drawer inside Ferraros East Northport, Long Island, home. Every three or four years, Id come across it, he said. I tried and tried but I just couldnt get rid of it. The ring was a class ring and it belonged to somebody and I knew I had to get it back to them. Over the years, Ferraro said he occasionally searched for Holly Green online but never found the right one. In 2003, however, he discovered an online post that said the Paramus High School Class of 1983 was planning its 20th reunion. Ferraro said he called one of the organizers and told her about the ring. She sounded excited and said shed try to find out who it belonged to and get back to me, he said. But she never called me back. Holly Ann Green's Class of 1983 ring from Paramus High School sat in the bottom of a New York man's drawer for years.Dean Ferraro More than a decade later, Ferraro began experimenting with various people-finding websites. There were a bunch of them, he said. But they all wanted to charge my credit card. And they were recurring charges. I was a little leery of doing that. He said a free search turned up a phone number and an address belonging to a Holly Ann Green in New Jersey. The phone number wasnt any good, so Ferraro took a chance and wrote to the Florida address he found in the contact field. You dont know me, but my name is Dean Ferraro, began the single-spaced, typed letter. I was wondering if you are the Holly Green who graduated from Paramus HS in 1983. If you are, I might have something of yours. The letter Dean Ferraro wrote to Holly Ann Green before mailing the ring to her last week.Holly Ann Green The letter arrived at Greens mothers house and eventually ended up in Greens hands. When I got that letter, I was kind of annoyed at first, Green said Monday. I thought it was either a scam or somebody wanted to find out my phone number. She waited until she was at her desk at a Florida law firm before calling, to avoid revealing her personal phone number. She called Ferraro, but he didnt pick up, so she left a curt message. Holly called me back and left me a message that was kind of rude, Ferraro said with a laugh. I cant blame her. I think she thought it was a sales call. Holly, Ive got your ring, Ferraro told her when they finally connected. But just to be sure, Ferraro asked Green for her middle name. Ann, she said. Thats when Green said he knew hed found the rings rightful owner. Ferraro mailed the ring to Green and she received the package at her Florida home on Saturday. I was so excited to hear from him, Green said. I never thought Id see this ring again and I cant explain how happy I am. I would love to know how it got from lower Manhattan to Suffolk County (Long Island)! Ferraro believes it was fate that led to him finding the ring. I think maybe it was meant for me to find it, he said. Even though it took years, the ring made its way back to the person it belonged to. Thats the way it should be. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A Western Australian police officer has been charged with deprivation of liberty and assault occasioning bodily harm over the arrest of a woman in Cloverdale. The first class constable, 29, from the Cannington District was involved in the arrest on January 22. He will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on February 18 and has been stood down from operational duties. Ford has put a hold on deliveries of its new award-winning Puma SUV after identifying a serious problem with its airbags. Deliveries of the new car began at the start of the year, with buyers of high-specification First Edition trim levels - costing from 22,295 - already receiving their vehicles. However, motoring publication Autocar has received confirmation from Ford that further deliveries have been suspended and recalls for sold cars is in process due to an issue with the airbags that can see them detach from the steering wheel when they go off. Airbag recall: Ford has confirmed it is recalling all sold examples of the Puma crossover and suspending deliveries of the model having found a serious issue with the safety device Autocar was alerted to the issue after a reader contacted the title claiming his order had been postponed because of a fault with the safety device. The publication contacted Ford In a statement given to the publication, Ford said: 'A number of Puma vehicles have been built with driver's airbag retention springs that may be outside of Ford Motor Company manufacturing specification. 'Under certain conditions, it is possible that the airbag is not retained in the steering wheel after it has been deployed. 'The performance of the airbag in case of an accident with airbag deployment will still meet regulatory requirements and provides sufficient protection for the driver. 'Ford has issued a sales hold of all affected vehicles in dealer stock and will immediately exchange the airbag retention spring.' The company added that a safety recall for vehicles that had already been delivered to customers 'will follow immediately'. The car maker has said a number of Puma vehicles have been built with faulty driver's airbag retention springs It said that 'under certain conditions' it is possible that the airbag is not retained in the steering wheel after it has been deployed Ford said it has 'issued a sales hold of all affected vehicles in dealer stock and will immediately exchange the airbag retention spring' Right hand drive examples of the SUV only recently landed in showrooms, though dealers were told last week to not sell cars until the issue had been fixed. It is not clear how many Pumas have been delivered to buyers in the UK thus far, but Ford has confirmed that the issue affects cars produced between November 2019 and January 2020. Of the affected vehicles, around a third are understood to have been delivered to buyers who are being notified of the recall requirement. The Puma, which is priced from 20,545, was named What Car?'s New Car of the Year for 2020 last month. It was chosen as the standout model from a shortlist of 30 new cars that will arrive in showrooms this year, with judges recommending it for 'being fun to drive, cleverly packaged and well priced'. The Puma, which is priced from 20,545, was named What Car?'s New Car of the Year for 2020 The Ford Puma scored a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating in 2019, achieving one of the highest scores for occupant protection The Romanian-built Puma crossover headed off the likes of the Skoda Scala, Range Rover Evoque and Tesla Model 3, all of which were winners in each of their respective sectors in the awards. The Puma was also named the pick of the small SUVs, taking the category win ahead of models including the Audi Q2 and Skoda Kamiq. Ford's jacked up SUV was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating when it was assessed last year. It scored a 94 per cent adult occupant protection rating, which was one of the highest recorded last year. [February 18, 2020] MetLife Announces First Quarter 2020 Preferred Stock Dividend Actions MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that it has declared the following preferred stock dividends: Semi-annual dividend of $29.375 per share on the company's 5.875% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative preferred stock, Series D, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The dividend will be payable March 16, 2020, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 29, 2020. Quarterly dividend of $351.5625 per share on the company's 5.625% non-cumulative preferred stock, Series E, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, represented by depositary shares (NYSE: MET PRE) each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of the preferred stock, holders of which will receive $0.3515625 per depositary share. The dividend will be payable March 16, 2020, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 29, 2020. Quarterly dividend of $0.25277777 per share on the company's floating rate non-cumulative preferred stock, Series A, with a liquidation preference of $25 per share (NYSE: MET PRA), subject to the final confirmation that the cmpany has met the financial tests specified in the certificate of designations for the Series A preferred stock, which the company anticipates will be made and announced on or about March 5, 2020. The New York Stock Exchange has not yet set an ex-dividend date for the Series A preferred stock, and will set an ex-dividend date after the confirmatory announcement. The dividend will be payable March 16, 2020, to shareholders of record as of March 1, 2020. About MetLife MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements in this news release, such as "will," are based on assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, including the "Risk Factors" MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. MetLife's future results could differ, and it has no obligation to correct or update any of these statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005876/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A spread of dishes. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Tonight, Ann Redding and Matt Danzer the married chefs behind Nolitas Uncle Boons, the Thai hit with a killer khao soy open the doors to their newest restaurant, Thai Diner. The Mott Street corner spot is a marriage of their interests in Thai cuisine and mid-century diner cooking. For Redding, who grew up in Thailand and would eat exotic delicacies like chicken-and-Bisquick when visiting her dads parents in America, its a marriage that just makes sense. The restaurant also takes inspiration from one very specific place. In terms of the concept I look to something like Veselka, where theyve been doing it for 50 years and its this beautiful mix of Ukranian food and, like, a cheeseburger, Redding says, adding that she practically lived at the restaurant when she first moved to New York. Danzer broadens the scope a little. I think the framework of a Greek-American diner is probably the inspiration a little bit as far as the thought process for the menu. Where you have some super-classic American dishes and then some kind of classic Thai street food, he says. At Thai Diner, the menu offers an unapologetic mix of food: some classic American, some straight up Thai, and other dishes that blend the two. The 65-seat space was designed by Redding and her sister May. It borrows some elements from Uncle Boons, but is also influenced by places like the mid-century chain Schraffts. Given Redding and Danzers past successes, Grub Street asked the chefs if theyd kindly take us through the menu and explain how stuffed cabbage ended up in green curry sauce. Breakfast All Day Okay, there isnt a laundry list of egg dishes, with 14 different omelettes. But you can eat breakfast any time you want, and the trio of morning meals includes eggs your way. Those come with a choice of avocado, bacon, or Thai herbal sausage not breakfast sausage! and a potato-and-taro hash brown. We just wanted to bring that ingredient in, but still have it be a classic potato hash brown, Redding says. The other dishes include a steak and eggs with a touch of Isaan, the Thai province where Redding was born. Steak and eggs isnt a thing in Thailand, but having a meat with jaew sauce and sticky rice is a very Isaan dish, she says. Theres also toasted rice powder for good measure. Rounding out the breakfast menu is some good old-fashioned Thai-Jewish fusion: a Thai tea babka French toast with condensed milk butter. That one we almost surrendered, Danzer says. As for the flavor, Redding adds, I always ate chocolate babka. Youre looking for something to pop, to hit you over the head. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Sandwiches There are two sandwiches on the menu, both American standards. Theres a hamburger just a classic American burger, Redding insists, no frills and a fried-chicken sandwich with pepperoncini, lettuce, mayo, and turmeric-pickled red tomato. Danzer and Redding had talked in the past about opening a Thai fried-chicken spot. But a TFC sandwich this not. The fried-chicken sandwich is American style, Redding confirms. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang/Diane Sooyeon Kang Salads There are two salads on the menu: one a classic som tum with tomato, peanuts, and crispy dried shrimp, the other a fusion-y house salad of romaine and avocado with Thai herbs, toasted rice powder, and spicy coconut-milk dressing. Usually at diners, the voice is always the owners, Danzer says, which helps explain why the dressing is coconut milk and not, say, Thousand Island. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Khanom Krok Redding is so obsessed with khanom krok, little coconut-rice pancakes, that she and Danzer cut down on Diners menu just so they could serve them. The pancakes are one of three snacks, and cooked in a specialized cast-iron skillet thats dimpled and almost looks like a takoyaki machine, as Danzer puts it. They were a challenge to perfect. My mother looked at me like, Youre nuts, when I told her were putting them on the menu. That in turn scared me, Redding says. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Steamed Oysters and Chopped Liver The snacks section of the menu is rounded out by a land-and-sea combo. Theres spicy chopped chicken liver, more Jewish-Thai fusion with pineapple, Thai herbs, and roti. The liver is seasoned with red curry paste, caramelized onion, and chopped boiled eggs, Redding says. The seafood is steamed oysters by the half dozen. Those can be had with either lemon nam prik, Doilly Prat sauce, or both for an extra $2, and were inspired by a place in Virginia that Esquire critic Jeff Gordinier told Redding about. Id always been obsessed with doing a version with Thai nam prik, she says. Im turning into my mom in some ways because shell always be like, That would be great with nam prik. Shell take any dish, like Thanksgiving turkey? Nam prik! Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Soups The chefs made sure to get another diner must on the menu, in the form of their tom yum spicy chicken and rice. Its one of two soups available by the cup or bowl, the other being the Asian greens chowder. Its a vegetable stock with bok choy, potatoes, morning glory greens, and lots of garlic, Redding explains. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Mains There are eight mains, which are all Thai in spirit. One of the more traditional is a muu ping (top left), a popular street skewer, though its not exactly what youd find on the corner. We are not grilling it. It is broiled, Redding says. Theirs is made with marinated pork jowl served with nam jim dipping sauce and sticky rice. In lieu of the khao man gai served at Uncle Boons Sister, theyre serving braised chicken and rice with coconut milk with galangal and lemongrass. Then theres the haw mom talay. Its a steamed red curry custard with mixed seafood, Redding explains. It comes with fish, mussels, prawns, and a side of jasmine rice. (Not pictured is the vegan khao man yuba, a riff on the chicken and rice dish khao man gai. Anytime we are able to do something Thai and vegan we go for it, Redding says.) Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang More Mains Should you wish for a bigger serving of soup, theres kuaytiew pet, a duck noodle soup (bottom right). The duck leg is braised in a soy and anise-scented broth. It comes with rice noodles, Chinese celery, and bean sprouts, she says. For another dish, they brought new life to stuffed cabbage (bottom right). I might have a mild obsession with Veselka, Redding confesses when asked about their version. The chefs stuff the classic Eastern European dish with chicken, rice, and the Thai trio of garlic, black pepper, and cilantro root. Its classic Thai flavoring rolled in cabbage, Redding says. Theres even more seafood, and neither dish is traditional. One is the hoi frites (top right). My moms favorite Thai dish is yen ta foo, which is a Thai noodle soup dish, its typically seafood, and its pink because of red bean curd, Redding explains. They took the broth and morning glory greens that go with the dish for a Thai-style mussels and frites with garlic aioli. Finally, theres a riff on puu phat pong karee (top left).The crab cakes, the flavor profile is based on this Thai dish where you take whole crab in the shell and stir fry it with onions, yellow curry sauce, and lots of egg, Redding explains. We just kind of took that flavor profile and do a more classic American preparation of crab cakes, but were still serving it with rice and the yellow curry sauce and the celery and onion you typically get in the Thai dish. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Wok Dishes Some old favorites are featured in the enthusiastically named From Our Woks!! Theyre all recognizable to anyone familiar with Thai cuisine. Three of these are our most popular dishes at Sister. We wanted to still be able to give that to our guests, she says of the phat Thai (center bottom), rice noodles with peanuts, radish, and dried shrimp in tamarind sauce; phat see eiw (left), a rice-noodle stir-fry with soy, egg, and Chinese broccoli; and phat bai horapha (center top), a stir-fry usually made with beef, Thai chili, garlic, and basil, with a fried egg. The last of these dishes is the khao phat rot far, train style fried rice (right) with tomato, garlic, and Thai basil. Fried rice is comfort food for me. Its like mac and cheese, Redding says. The savory menu is rounded out by a handful of sides, including a kale fai dang stir-fry and rice Thai disco fries. Were putting Massaman curry on top. Peanuts, onion, Redding says. If you think about Massaman, theres typically potato and onion in it. So were basically just putting it on French fries. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Dessert The Thai tea babka wont be the only sweet thing on the menu. At the bar, theyll have a display case of various desserts. Like the rest of the menu, its a mix of traditional and fusion-y items. We have the guava crumb cake for breakfast, and the banana pudding, Danzer says. Redding adds that theyre using Uncle Boons Thai rum for the pudding, which gets topped with a Thai lotus cookie. Pointing to the coconut monster cake, she adds, You can see we take ourselves very seriously. Photo: Diane Sooyeon Kang Thai Diner, 186 Mott St., at Houston St.; 646-559-4140 The depositions included questions about behavior in the laboratory. The alleged behavior included hugs between Philbert and the female researcher, an incident in which she patted him on the backside and a nude photo of her. Richard Seryak, a lawyer who once represented Michigan in the suit, wrote that the nude photo was a joke, according to The Detroit News. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- While candidates jostle for advantage in the Democratic presidential primary, and the news media play the odds, President Donald Trump already knows the identity of his opponent. Indeed, his campaign, with the full support of the Republican Party, is already waging a vigorous crusade to destroy his opposition. No, its not Joe Biden, who inspired Trumps shakedown of Ukraine. Trumps gunning for bigger game: democracy itself. The Democratic Party is not prepared for this war. The news media is still struggling, and often failing, to adapt to demagogy. And the electorate, at least the non-MAGA majority invested in preserving rule of law, has limited tools for fighting back. As election law expert Richard Hasen notes in Election Meltdown, his alarming new book about the threats to U.S. elections, mitigating risk is especially challenging when one of the greatest risks to the integrity of the process comes from the sitting president of the United States. The assault will have multiple fronts. Trumps disinformation campaign is, obviously, under way, to the extent that there is any meaningful distinction between the words Trump and disinformation. The news media, like many Americans, have become acculturated to Trumps lies and to the lies of his accomplices and defenders. The Washington Post keeps a running tab, now well above 16,000, of the presidents public falsehoods. Does anyone notice anymore? Democracy takes place largely in public communication; it cant function without reasonably honest discourse. Trumps daily dose of propaganda and smears badly corrodes an already weakened democratic faith, rendering it less resistant to his subsequent assaults. As November approaches, Trump plans to complement corrosive rhetoric with concrete action. In the words of one Trump campaign official, the GOP will be playing offense on Election Day. This will entail something more than Trumps efforts in 2016. Then, Trump closed out his campaign with sinister threats about voter fraud. In an October, 2016 rally in Pennsylvania, he told his MAGA followers: So important that you watch other communities, because we dont want this election stolen from us. In Akron, Ohio, he told a MAGA crowd that they needed to watch the vote. Story continues And when I say watch, you know what Im talking about, Trump continued. Right? You know what Im talking about. His white followers knew. The 2020 election will be the first in decades in which the Republican National Committee will not be constrained by a Reagan-era court order that prohibited ballot security measures to intimidate nonwhite voters. The Democratic National Committee had sued to halt the intimidation, after the GOP had deployed off-duty police officers wearing National Ballot Security Task Force armbands to New Jersey polling stations. Some of these poll watchers were visibly armed. According to a leaked recording of a Trump campaign official, Trump is all in on the voter fraud theme this year. Weve got a guy thats committed to this, who is able to short-circuit media attention on stuff, said Trump campaign senior counsel Justin Clark last November to a meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Association in Madison, Wisconsin. Lets start playing offense a little bit. Thats what youre going to see in 2020. Its going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program. The program relies on Trumps talent for raising the profile of issues that come up, as Clark put it. If lawyerly euphemism is not your native tongue, heres a translation: Trump will foment hysteria about voter fraud the issues that come up to justify GOP suppression tactics, AKA the program. Trump made preposterous claims of fraud after his 2016 victory. Just this week, Trump was in New Hampshire falsely claiming that he lost the state in 2016 due to fraud. He is sure to yell fraud if he loses in November. Then what? Hasen considers other potential nightmare scenarios, including an Election Day power outage in a Democratic city in a swing state, sabotaging the Democratic vote. As much as Democrats worry that Trump wont concede a close election if he can raise unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, Hasen wrote, what will Democrats do if they are on the losing side of a close election that they can credibly claim was marked by efforts of voter suppression? The choice in that case is to accept that the election was stolen, and accept Trumps ensuing assault on democracy and rule of law, or plunge the nation into an electoral civil war with no clear endgame. The terminus of any legal process is a very Trumpy Supreme Court. Despite Republican obstruction of election-security legislation, U.S. election administrators can take steps to protect the 2020 election from foreign hacking; many have done so. Social media companies, if they accept their responsibility to the democratic culture that helped nurture them, could curb Russian bots and curtail propaganda. To protect American democracy from Trump himself, however, is a more demanding task. It will require an unflinching news media meeting an authoritarian challenge that it has thus far largely failed to acknowledge. It will require a vigilant electorate, mindful of its own democratic imagination, prepared to take public action not just on the day of the vote but after. And it may well require a hefty helping of luck. America used to have an abundant supply. Lets hope it hasnt run out. (Disclaimer: Michael Bloomberg is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.) To contact the author of this story: Francis Wilkinson at fwilkinson1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sarah Green Carmichael at sgreencarmic@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg Opinion. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. MANILA, Philippines Filipinos working in Macau and Hong Kong can now return to their jobs despite the travel ban being implemented on China and its territories due to the threat of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. In a Twitter post, DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dodo Dulay announced that Filipino migrants returning for work in Hong Kong and Macau have been exempted from the outbound travel ban. However, Dulay said they will be subjected to certain procedural formalities. OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) returning for work in Hong Kong and Macau have been exempted from the outbound travel ban by the IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) subject to certain procedural formalities, he said. Today, DFA Sec Locsins advocacy has come true. OFWs returning for work in Hongkong and Macau have been exempted from the outbound travel ban by the IATF-EID, subject to certain procedural formalities. Woohoo!! @teddyboylocsin Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 18, 2020 Hundreds of Filipino workers bound for Hong Kong and Macau were left stranded in the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte on February 2 imposed travel restrictions on China and its territories hit with the deadly virus. Stranded migrant workers were offered P10,000 cash assistance, and provided with dormitories and food while they await the lifting of the travel ban. Groups of OFWs have earlier appealed to the government to let them return to China and its territories in fear of losing their jobs. The post DFA: Filipino workers can now return to Hong Kong, Macau despite coronavirus travel ban appeared first on UNTV News. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Tuesday said expressed dismay over the delay in the hanging of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case and said that she could not fathom the reasons for the delay. "This is the third time that death warrants have been issued against the convicts. I do not understand why this is being delayed so much. How come these convicts who have committed such heinous crime are saved by their lawyers on every occasion," Maliwal told ANI. On Monday, while hearing a petition by the state and Nirbhaya's parents, Delhi's Patiala House court had ordered the four convicts to be hanged on March 3 at 6 am. This is the third time a death warrant is being issued by the court. The convicts have earlier used every legal remedy to appeal against the death penalty. "A mockery is being made of the courts and the whole legal system. Only these people have human rights and what about Nirbhaya? What about her mother who is knocking at the doors our judicial system?" Maliwal said. Earlier, Delhi High Court on February 5 had granted a week's time to the four convicts to avail of all legal remedies, while underlining that the convicts cannot be hanged separately since they were convicted for the same crime. A Delhi Court had earlier issued a death warrant against the four convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- on January 7 and they were scheduled to be executed on January 22 at Tihar Jail. Later, the execution was suspended indefinitely by a Delhi court. The case pertains to the gang-rape and brutalizing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus in Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012 by six people including a juvenile. The victim died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oversized, ornately-decorated playing cards will come to life with the help of 20 Houston artists this Spring as part of Discovery Green's newest exhibit. The upcoming "House of Cards" exhibit features massive playing cards that display custom Houston artworks and come together to form a life-size house of cards. During the day, the card's artworks will dazzle in the sunlight and at night, the structure will be illuminated with choreographed lights that create an illusion of the cards rising and falling, according to a release from Discovery Green. ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The United States will provide financial assistance to Ethiopia as it pursues political reforms, the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Tuesday during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. An agreement has been reached regarding the strengthening of the holistic and ongoing reform in Ethiopia to which the United States Government plans to provide substantial financial support, the statement said. Neither Pompeo nor Abiy provided further details. Ethiopia, Africas second-most populous nation, has long been an ally of the United States, which supplies about $1 billion in aid annually. Pompeo praised political reforms Abiy has spearheaded ahead of Ethiopias upcoming elections. Ethiopians are due vote on Aug. 29 in a balllot Abiy has promised will be free and fair in a bold break from decades of repression. A free and credible vote will show that there is no false choice between democracy and security and it will ensure that everyone has a choice, Pompeo told reporters. Abiy took power in 2018 following years of anti-government protests. He freed thousands of political prisoners, won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending a long-running conflict with neighboring Eritrea, and put prominent dissidents and human rights activists in positions of power. These arent reforms imposed by somebody on the outside. These were reforms that came from Ethiopian people, Pompeo said. A senior U.S. State Department official told pool reporters said Abiy appeared committed to holding elections on time, although he said Ethiopian security agencies - long used to suppressing political opposition - might need some more training on respecting human rights. Abiys reforms, while applauded abroad, have also unleashed simmering ethnic and political tensions at home as regional powerbrokers jockey for position. More than 2 million of Ethiopias 109 million citizens have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The most important challenge for us is security, Ethiopias foreign minister Gedu Andargachew told reporters. Most of our youth have no job... this situation is difficult to maintain peace and order. Abiy has also overseen economic reforms, promising to open its bureaucratic, state-run economy to foreign investment and liberalize the telecoms and banking sectors. Ethiopia struggles with foreign exchange shortages that inhibit investment. Gedu also said there had been progress in a dispute that the U.S. Treasury has been trying to mediate between Ethiopia and Egypt over Ethiopias giant Blue Nile hydropower dam. Pompeo is on a tour that has already taken him to Germany, Senegal and Angola. His visit comes as some African governments are questioning U.S. President Donald Trumps commitment to their continent. Australian workers are being encouraged to take a closer look at their salaries and award rates to ensure they aren't being underpaid. The recommendation comes as supermarket giant Coles becomes the latest business to reveal they have underpaid staff. At least 1,000 employees at both the supermarket and its liquor stores have been underpaid by about $20million over the course of the last six years. An easy-to-use online pay calculator has been designed to ensure employers are paying their staff correctly. The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman created the interactive tool, which directs employees to answer a series of questions which should give them a clear indication of their award rate and penalty entitlements Coles has confessed to underpaying its staff $20million over six years The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman created the interactive tool, which directs employees to answer a series of questions, to give them a clear indication of their award rate and penalty entitlements. The organisation reminded Australian taxpayers that a salary should never equate to less than minimum entitlements. The Pay Calculator gives the employee options to help them find their correct award rate, asking questions about their profession, employment length and title. From there, it gauges which awards could be a potential match and encourages the employee to filter through and decide which one fits best. The Pay Calculator can be found on the website and is an easy-to-use tool. People just follow the directions on the questionnaire If there are any discrepancies in the total amount due by the end of the quiz and how much a person is actually being paid, they are urged to raise the query with their employers. If the matter is not resolved, the next step for a staffer would be to write a letter of demand or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman to investigate. Coles, meanwhile, is the latest Australian company embroiled in a payment scandal, following rival Woolworths and high-end restaurant business Dinner By Heston. The organisation reminded Australian taxpayers with this photo that a salary should never equate to less than minimum entitlements The cause of the underpayment, which the company claims affects 1,150 workers, was due to discrepancies between their remuneration and the General Retail Industry Award (GRIA). Coles boss Steven Cain has issued an apology for team members. 'We aim to make Coles a great place to work, and apologise to those team members who have been unintentionally affected. 'We are working at pace with a team of external experts to finalise our review. 'Once completed we will contact all affected team members, both current and former, to remediate any identified differences in full. Last year Woolworths has admitted to underpaying thousands of workers for several years 'Coles has implemented steps to improve our systems and processes.' The Fair Work Ombudsman has been notified. The issue was discovered during a review, which was launched in November last year after rival Woolworths was found to have been underpaying thousands of its workers up to $5,200 each year for almost a decade. Australia's biggest supermarket chain failed to pay 5,700 of its salaried workers in compliance with the General Retail Industry Award as much as $300million. The company estimated the issue dated back to 2010, when the modern award was first introduced. Woolworths also promised to reimburse staff. Catherine Oshotse, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Lagos, Nigeria, has the internet to thank for her growing business. Selling hair extensions and women's handbags online to customers across Africa and abroad has grown her client base from 10 in 2015 to more than 1,000 currently. Of these, 70% are in Africa and 20% in the United Kingdom and the United States. Catherine Oshotses business website. Challenges and the opportunity in continental trade You just go to my website and click on the item you want to buy. I receive an email that somebody has placed an order, then I deliver the package. Very easy, Oshotse tellsin an interview.Online shopping for goods and services is booming in Africa and its changing the very nature of many startups, especially among young entrepreneurs.With the emergence of online technologies, Africa is joining the burgeoning world of digital economies.Estimates suggest about 264 e-commerce startups are operational across the continent, active in at least 23 countries. Theres significant potential to create new jobs as many as 3 million by 2025. These jobs will be directly in online marketplaces, supporting services and spin-off economic activity.Benefits will include opening markets to otherwise isolated rural communities and servicing Africas fast-growing consumer class. Young entrepreneurs are taking a keen interest in e-commerce because it entails reasonable startup funding, offers revenue-generating prospects, and has an open door to all, in ways traditional workplaces may not. African e-commerce can be a force for sustainable development.The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that Africa had at least 21 million online shoppers in 2017, 50% of which were in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. Although this is only a small portion of the African population which is over a billion, the number has been increasing by 18% annually since 2014, which is 6% higher than the world average.Despite the growing popularity of e-commerce in Africa, the industry faces obstacles.The E-commerce Index 2018 by UNCTAD measures an economys preparedness to support online shopping covers 151 world economies, including 44 African countries. Mauritius was ranked 55th, the highest among African countries. Nigeria and South Africa ranked 75 and 77 respectively. Nine of the last ten countries in the ranking are African.Challenges include slow and expensive internet connectivity, inadequate infrastructure and weak delivery logistics. Consumer protections are weak or non-existent, affecting trust between the seller and the buyer.While mobile payment is growing, cash-on-delivery remains popular in Africa, making cross-border e-commerce difficult. Also, policies are often not adapted to complex payment supply chains, meaning Africas merchants have fewer options to connect their local e-payments systems with services used by global customers.Policy-makers also need to work to improve local and global payment system interoperability. This would help bolster Africas position as a global leader in mobile payments.The new Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a gamechanger. Set to start trading in 2020, the AfCFTA aims to create the worlds largest trading bloc, with a market of 1.27 billion consumers, expected to reach 1.7 billion by 2030. Bridging the digital divide and creating an enabling environment would help entrepreneurs like Catherine Oshotse grow their clientele even further and offers vast opportunities for innovation.The role e-commerce can play in realising the AfCFTA is also critical. E-commerce has the potential to lift intra-African trade from the current rate of 18% and to boost Africas share of global trade, currently estimated at less than 3%, said Ajay Kumar Bramdeo, the African Unions ambassador to the UN in Geneva, during E-commerce Week in Geneva in 2019. Missing Girl Faye Swetliks Cause of Death Revealed: Coroner The 6-year-old South Carolina girl who was found dead last week died of asphyxiation hours after she was abducted, said the local coroners office. Speaking at a 3 p.m. press conference Tuesday, Lexington County coroner Margaret Fisher said she was abducted and killed. Police officials have previously said her 30-year-old neighbor, Coty Taylor, was suspected in the case, but he was found dead at his nearby home. The loss of Faye, an innocent child, who was simply playing in her own yard has been extremely difficult to all of us, Fisher told The Associated Press. The coroner said she would not release any more information about the death out of respect for Fayes family. Cayce Department of Public Security Chief Byron Snellgrove confirmed to reporters that Taylor was responsible for her death and acted as the sole perpetrator, Fox News reported. Faye, a first-grader, was found dead in a wooded area on Feb. 13 about three days after she vanished. Officials said she was playing outside her home in Cayce, South Carolina, when family members noticed she went missing and contacted local authorities. Within minutes of her bodys discovery, investigators discovered Taylor dead in his home, according to officials. Snellgrove said during their investigation before the girl was found, Taylor was cooperative and gave consent to agents to look through [his] house and agents did not see anything, AP reported. On Saturday, the childs body was taken to the funeral home after her autopsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, reported WLTX. Faye is a bubbly, energetic [girl] Snellgrove said of the girl. Fayes teacher loves her, Fayes SRO loves her, Fayes classmates love her. When she walks into a room she brightens it up. Everybody loves Faye. As the expected vote on a possible split in the United Methodist Church approaches in May at the next meeting of the General Conference, clergy in Alabama have been staking out positions and explaining where they stand. A group of traditionally orthodox conservatives met on Jan. 25 at Clearbranch United Methodist Church in Trussville to talk about what kind of new, post-split denomination they could form. So far, the plan for a United Methodist split is unofficial, but realistic enough that people are beginning to prepare for a new denomination. The plan, called the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, was released Jan. 3 and could be voted on at the General Conference in May. Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett has announced that informational gatherings will be held in Huntsville on March 21 and April 4 in Birmingham, where clergy and lay people can gather to talk about issues that will come up when the denominations governing body gathers in Minneapolis. The Rev. Steve West, pastor of Arab First United Methodist Church, has posted the following response to the Clearbranch meeting on his blog and asked that it be shared: Why Im not leaving the United Methodist Church By Steve West A few weeks ago, hundreds of North Alabama Methodists who consider themselves traditional, orthodox, and conservative met at Clearbranch UMC to talk about splitting from The United Methodist Church. I have had good interactions with the pastors who organized the meeting. They are my colleagues. They are part of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, an organization of 1,500 churches nationwide and about 60 clergy here in North Alabama planning to launch a new denomination a few months from now, once the General Conference in May allows for their gracious exit. I respect their convictions. But I wont be joining them. Heres why. 1. I made a promise. My dad is a retired pastor, and he and I agree neither of us will leave The United Methodist Church (until recently, it was beyond my imagination that any of us would consider it). It would dishonor our family history, but there's something even more important at stake. I feel it would disregard the vows I made at ordination. I promised I would be faithful to The United Methodist Church and uphold its discipline. I have done so, even if others haven't, and I am only responsible for my own vows. I follow the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church even when I get heat for it, gently insisting that all people may participate fully in the ministries, sacraments and programs of the church (yes, thats in there). I would not perform a same-sex marriage, but Im passionate about inclusiveness in the church. For me, its the way of Jesus, but its also about the vows I took. Speaking of vows, I feel leaving The United Methodist Church would be hypocritical when, for over 30 years, I have welcomed members into Gods church by asking them to take a vow to be loyal to The United Methodist Church and support it. 2. This has evolved past social issues to schism. I am a centrist and have varied opinions on issues. The United Methodist Church is not perfect, but diversity of thought is one reason I love it. John Wesley taught Christianity was essentially about love for God and neighbor, growing through the means of grace, and staying connected even when we agree to disagree (yes, he coined that phrase). We have made it through divisive issues such as slavery, voting rights, temperance, civil rights and ordaining women. It is the most evenly widespread denomination in the United States, so there will always be cultural issues. But this is a moment where I must decide whether to stay at the table and work it out or not, and to me, thats the very definition of church. There is no plan on the table that involves telling pastors they have to perform weddings theyre not comfortable with, telling local churches they have to do something inappropriate for their context, or telling conferences that they cant set standards for ministry. I respect that others may leave The United Methodist Church because of their convictions, but I am staying precisely because of mine. Wesley said that separating from a body of living Christians with whom we were before united is a grievous breach of the law of love and hence it is only when our love grows cold that we can consider separation. 3. There is too much to be lost. The United Methodist Church is not perfect, but its my home. In a romanticized view of starting a new Methodist denomination, one can forget there are so many positive things to be lost by leaving. Together we have created the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Upper Room, the Walk to Emmaus, the Academy for Spiritual Formation, Africa University, and all sorts of regional treasures like Sumatanga and the Childrens Home. In America, we have started more colleges and universities than any other faith group, and we charter more Scouts than any other denomination. No church is perfect, but there is much to be lost by leaving. I respect those who cant live with differing practices across the country, but our DNA is connectional, not congregational. Small churches will be the biggest losers if they suddenly have responsibility to recruit their pastor (this is in the proposed Discipline of the new denomination). Promises are being made, of course, but I believe that the DNA of a new denomination that forms over cultural disagreements will end up splitting again over the next one. I honor their decision, and perhaps we will all be able to move forward more freely with bringing people to Christ. But I cant be a part of leaving. 4. I believe in the authority of the Bible. The debate is incorrectly framed as being about biblical authority, when it is really about culture wars. I hold the Bible in high authority under the lordship of Christ. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by human hands and codified by holy councils. God was in all of it. Wesley didnt teach fundamentalist ideas such as inerrancy and infallibility. Instead, he taught the importance of interpreting it faithfully through tradition, reason and experience. He said in our Articles of Religion that the Bible contains everything necessary for salvation, but he didnt say it spells out everything. How do I interpret the Bible over complex issues like acceptance of LGBTQ Christians? The reason we call it the Word of God is because it reveals Christ, whom the Bible calls the Word. So I read the Bible through the lens of Christ, who fulfills the law and confounds the Pharisees. I dont worship the Bible. I worship Jesus, so to make sense of the Bible, I read it through the person of Christ. He loved every broken person he encountered. The only people he criticized were the Pharisees who had lost sight of love because of religious rules based on their tight interpretation of Scripture. The Bible says God is love, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, so I believe it. 5. I am traditional and orthodox. The schism is being planned over a set of social issues that are neither discussed in the Gospels nor addressed in the ancient creeds. So it is odd for people of only one viewpoint to exclusively claim the terms traditional and orthodox. There are indeed moral issues addressed in Scripture we must grapple with. But our Wesleyan tradition is, once again, to interpret Scripture through tradition, reason and experience. I believe in the virgin birth, the resurrection, the humanity and divinity of Christ, the Trinity and the things addressed in orthodoxy. I also follow the tradition of Wesley, who loved to use the saying, In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity. Jesus didnt even mention the issues that divide us, but theres something else that he most definitely did talk about: our unity, for thats what Jesus prayed for in John 17. I have friends that say they are not leaving the church; the church has left them. I get that, but I honestly find it to be an echo of southern secessionism. The United Methodist Church agrees on whats essential, and Im going to stay at the table and work out whats secondary. 6. I follow Jesus. I keep coming back to the way Jesus treated the woman at the well. He offered her living water, then, after indicating he knew of her past, he took her seriously in discussing the religious issues on her mind. I have noticed what he did NOT say. He gently pointed out that she was committing adultery (that ones in the Ten Commandments), but he didnt say, Oh, now I take back what I said about living water. Christs offer was still good, and then they had a fascinating discussion about faith. So I choose to accept people for who they are and invite them to Gods table for relationship with Christ. God handles the rest. 7. I believe in grace. Do our churches rebuke people who are divorced and remarried, not allowing them to serve in ministry? Im not saying we should hold remarried people in judgment, not at all. Im saying that if we offer grace in one situation addressed in Scripture and not in another, its clearly not about biblical authority but about culture wars. I cant be a part of a new movement that insists LGBTQ people cant be Christians. I know too many that are. 8. I believe in the church. We are the body of Christ, and I dont have all answers about the future, but leaving the table is out of the question. Our divided culture needs a witness to love that transcends our differences, not giving in to the prevalent us vs. them and either/or mentality. The biggest criticism Jesus got was that he ate with sinners. Who am I to decide that I cant be in communion with someone I dont agree with? The only people Jesus didnt tolerate were the religious elites who were intolerant. Im not going to be one of them. Thats why Ill stay UMC. I agree with Pinson United Methodist Church Pastor Joe DeWitte who said, The UMC continues to discover that our church is big enough (because our God is big enough) to include people who disagree on matters that are not creedal. Here I stand, I can do no other. Heres a response to West from the organizers of the Clearbranch meeting. A three-year-old boy has been found dead in a daycare bus parked outside a primary school. The grim discovery was made at the gates of Hambledon State School on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland at about 3pm on Tuesday. Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's death. The grim discovery was made on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland, at 3.15pm on Tuesday. Pictured: the scene where police are investigating 'It's early days and a number of factors could be at play here and we'll investigate all possibilities,' Detective Inspector Jason Smith told Nine. 'The death of any child is an awful thing which is why it's so important for us to get to the bottom of this.' The boy is believed to have boarded the bus, owned by Goodstart Early Learning, in the morning and was supposed to be dropped off at a daycare. But his body was found by the bus driver at 3.15pm outside the primary school - about 1km from his daycare centre - as temperatures reached 34C. A Goodstart Early Learning spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the company was 'devastated' to learn of the child's death. 'We are working to support the entire centre team, our families and our children,' the spokesperson said. 'The matter is now a police investigation and we will be working with the police, Department of Education (childhood education and care), and Workplace health and Safety. Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's death Hambledon State School postponed a scheduled parents' meeting following the tragedy 'Our thoughts are very much with the family of the child at this time.' The boy's mother has been informed. Hambledon State School postponed a scheduled parents' meeting following the tragedy. 'Good afternoon families, due to unforeseen circumstances the P&C meeting scheduled for tonight has been cancelled,' the school wrote on Facebook. 'We will reschedule this as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.' A report will be prepared for the coroner. A Perth high school at the centre of a sexual abuse case involving one of its former teachers has urged its community to rally around the alleged victim and protect her privacy. Justin Limb appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face a string of offences relating to the alleged abuse of a 16-year-old girl while she was in his care at Carey Baptist College more than a decade ago. Carey Baptist College. Credit:Google Maps Police will allege the incidents happened over a year-long period at a private home. Carey Baptist executive principal Jennifer Argue sent out a message to the school community following the revelations and said Mr Limb had since resigned. A man has been accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl after he allegedly spent months grooming her over Snapchat. Jason Humphreys, a 39-year-old Sydney truck driver, was arrested following a vehicle stop at Panania, in Sydney's western suburbs, about 5pm on Monday. Police will allege Mr Humphreys sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions at a home in Sydney's south west in early February. Sydney man Jason Humphreys (pictured) is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he allegedly met and started to groom on Snapchat It's also alleged Mr Humphreys kept the young girl hidden in his truck's cab while leaving Sydney for the ACT last week. Police will further allege he physically and sexually assaulted the girl in the truck during the drive to Canberra. When they returned to the Sydney suburb of Lurnea, where he had a rented room, he allegedly sexually assaulted the girl again, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. It's alleged the pair met on Snapchat in December before meeting in person in February. Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec said the man and girl were not known to each other before they met up. 'There is no information to suggest the man was pretending to be anyone else online before he met the alleged victim,' Superintendent Kerlatec said. 'There was a level of grooming, and I won't say sexual grooming at this stage, but a level of befriending and enticing the girl to meet up. 'We will allege that the sexual grooming took place after they met up.' Superintendent Kerlatec said it was extremely concerning that despite the tireless work of Task Force Trawler they were still encountering these cases regularly. 'Its certainly concerning, its concerning in regards that as many times as I stand up here and talk about the arrests that Strike Force Trawler has made that cases do occur day in day out,' he said. Mr Humphreys faces 17 offences, including sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14, aggravated sexual intercourse and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday and police say investigations are continuing. The attraction of universal healthcare (Medicare For All) should be obvious -- it is all about receiving care for little or no money and not the quality of healthcare one receives. If one simply scans the Internet long enough, an article with anecdotal stories extolling the virtues of Canadas universal healthcare model can be found that paints a lovely picture (my infant son spent a week in intensive care and it only cost us a gift basket!) but even if the anecdotes are true, does that mean that the United States should follow the example of Canada or the U.K. and implement a single-payer healthcare system? That would be an extraordinarily bad idea, for several reasons. Nobody is saying that the U.S. healthcare system is perfect, but the socialists never talk about one of the best ways to fix the current systemtort reform. Sleazy lawyers have driven up the cost of malpractice insurance and forced doctors to order unnecessary medical tests in order to avoid expensive and unnecessary future litigation. According to the National Institute of Health, [C]hildren born by cesarean have no documented reduced risk of other childhood neurologic problems or cerebral palsy. Yet parasitic tort lawyer John Edwards fleeced doctors and insurance companies for somewhere between $40-$80 million dollars by suing them under the false pretense that a C-section could prevent cerebral palsy, in effect blaming the physician for a birth defect. But the problem is that the public is being sold the idea of free healthcare where you go to the doctor or the hospital and all you pay out of pocket is what you choose to voluntarily spend on a gift basket to thank the doctors and nurses for taking such excellent care of your child. But the reality is that youre buying managed healthcare, which is rationed healthcare. With a total population of only 37.59 million people, maybe Canada really can afford to provide quality healthcare but the problem is on a completely different scale here: California alone has three million more people than Canada, and the difference in population is probably undocumented, which used to be known as illegal, aliens. George W. Bush might have been a decent president overall, and certainly a vast improvement over the options presented by the Democrats, Al Gore and John Kerry, but if for no other reason, he can never be called a great president because of his horrific expansion of Medicare to cover prescription drugs as he pandered to seniors and the AARP. Socialists love to demonize the pharmaceutical industry and accuse them of overcharging (somewhat tough to dispute, given the number of commercials for new drugs that we see on television) but the price of a drug is affected by several factors, and greed only plays one part. The most important function of a pharmaceutical company is new research and development into treatments and cures of serious diseases and traumatic injury. Yes, people like Heather Bresch ought to be put under the prison for jacking up the price of an Epi-Pen so she could give herself a whopping $16 million dollar pay raise, but dont hold your breath because Heather happens to be Joe Manchins daughter, and royalty doesnt often go to prison. Martin Shkrelis worst crime was apparently not having the right father. Say it aint so, Joe. American hospitals are often harshly criticized for what appears to be obscenely overpriced services. Several years ago, my wife suffered a medical emergency that eventually required an overnight stay in the hospital, and the bill was over $24,000. After the sticker shock, I remembered a call Id received a few years prior from a hospital in Virginia, inquiring about treatment Id allegedly received but they had been unable to bill to my insurance, probably because I hadnt been in Virginia. The person who claimed to be me and provided my Social Security number as identification had received medical services using a false identity. He had used mine, in fact. Naturally, the hospital in Virginia could not pursue me for medical expenses incurred using my name and identity and had to write them off, but somebody has to pay for the medical equipment and hospital staff. When my wifes hospital bill in Georgia was $24,000, I sort of understood why our bill was so high, even after our insurance paid its part. Doctors dont work for free. Nor should they. Medical school is ridiculously expensive, and they suffer long and hard internships before they ever earn the right to offer their services to the general public. One of the biggest problems with single-payer healthcare is that doctor compensation is suddenly mandated by government fiat, and the very last thing we need to do is kill the incentive of our best and brightest to pursue a career in medicine because the federal government has decided to cap their earnings potential. If medical schools cant produce future generations of brilliant, innovative new physicians, the future demands of single-payer healthcare will inevitably cause longer waiting times for routine care and rationing for medical services. Wouldnt it be ironic if the imposter John Leonard and I both showed up at the hospital at the same time in the distant future, requesting medical treatment when healthcare services are being rationed and he received treatment, but I was turned away? Irony would be one word for it. Criminal might be a better word. Getting back to the Canadian propaganda piece (the gift basket) for a moment, one thing the article didnt explain: why are there so many American hospitals on the Canadian border? Is it possible that treatments are created and developed in the U.S. long before they ever become available in Canada, and that contributes to the overall cost of American healthcare? Here in the Deep South, we have an expression: You only get what you pay for. If you want the best healthcare system in the world, you shouldnt expect to be treated for free. Socialists have somehow managed to convince the general public that universal or single-payer healthcare is actually about healthcare when its really only about control of our money. If you think a socialist will care more about your health than you do, perhaps you deserve socialized medicine because it doesnt really matter. Socialists only care about two things: their power and your money. Ignorance is treatable, but stupidity is incurable. Implementing socialized medicine as a solution to the problems with our current healthcare system is a lot like hunting a housefly with a bazookayeah, you just might get the job done (then again, you might not) but the only guarantee is that youll make a terrible mess in the process. This is what socialists always dothey promise the people the paradise of Sweden but deliver to them the hell of Venezuela. Graphic credit: Piqsels John Leonard writes novels, books, and articles/blogs for American Thinker. You may find him on Facebook or his website at southernprose.com. His books are available here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 21:29:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will reduce tariffs of airlines and hotels by around 30 percent in a bid to encourage people to make journeys amid the flagging condition in the tourism sector, a minister said. The airlines providing discounted prices would be incentivized by the government, Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio said. "The airliners and hotels (tariffs) will be deducted between 25 and 30 percent, or may be more," the minister noted at the presidential office. To implement the plan, the minister said, he has met with officials of 33 airliners and discussed a scheme for the tariff cut, citing that the airliners welcome the plan, media reported on Tuesday. The minister urged that the airliners receive incentives to open new flight routes to attract foreign travelers to visit Indonesia. The minister predicted that the current global condition would make the country's aviation industry suffer a financial loss of four million U.S. dollars. Kusubandio said that he insisted on edging up of the country's travel tourism index to the range of 36 to 38 next year from the current's position of 40. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that the country's competitiveness in the tourism sector has improved in recent years, but it is still below those of the neighboring ASEAN member countries. This year, the government has set a target of attracting 17.3 million foreign tourists to visit Indonesia with higher revenue of 21 billion U.S. dollars, expecting travelers to stay longer in the country, according to the Tourism Ministry. WASHINGTON Matthew T. Albence, the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, is scheduled to visit the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department Thursday for a news conference at which law enforcement officials will continue their push for changing a New York law that blocks federal immigration and border enforcement agencies from accessing the state's motor vehicle database. The Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, known as the "Green Light Law," prohibits sheriff's departments from sharing motor vehicle data with those federal agencies. It has raised concerns among many law enforcement officials who contend border patrols and immigration enforcement agencies conduct work that often involves national security, human and drug trafficking, and other serious crimes. A news conference will take place at 11 a.m. in Sheriff Patrick Russo's office and will be livestreamed. The prohibition was included in the state's new law that like similar measures in more than 10 other states allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Many law enforcement leaders have not opposed issuing driver's licenses to people in the U.S. illegally, but they say the state's decision to block access to the driver's database by federal law enforcement agencies will impede the ability of border and immigration enforcers to do their jobs. The unusual visit by Albence is planned as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and President Donald J. Trump have recently sparred over a decision this month by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to suspend the ability of New York residents to renew their memberships or enroll in several federal "secure traveler" programs that enable pre-screened individuals to swiftly pass through border and airport checkpoints. Trump and Cuomo met at the White House last week but emerged without reaching agreement on Cuomo's proposal to allow Homeland Security agencies to access the state's motor vehicle database only for the purpose of screening applicants to the secure traveler programs. The governor has insisted he would never allow the federal immigration and border agencies to use the state's motor vehicle database to search for illegal immigrants. Albence's scheduled appearance at the jail is being organized by the National Sheriffs' Association. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon. "I'll definitely be there, but it's their press conference," said Russo, who along with other county Republican leaders has been an outspoken critic of the Green Light Law. In October 2017, Russo drew criticism from civil liberties groups when he submitted an application to implement an ICE program that "allows a state or local law enforcement entity to enter into a partnership with ICE," allowing them to enforce federal immigration law on a local level. Nearly 20 organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition and New York Civil Liberties Union, as well as hundreds of individuals signed a letter sent to Russo that November urging him to withdraw the county's application for the program. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has also criticized the Cuomo administration's immigration and licensing policies. County Clerk Frank Merola has been a lightning rod on the Green Light Law: He filed a federal petition late last year arguing the changes to state vehicle and traffic law are preempted by federal law, and that his compliance with those provisions would cause him to violate the U.S. Constitution and leave him exposed to criminal liability. The federal case, and a similar challenge filed by a county clerk in Erie County weeks earlier, have been thrown out by federal judges who did not rule on the merits of the legal arguments but found the clerks lacked standing to bring the actions. Last week, the state sheriff's association issued a statement saying they are not challenging the "public policy" to issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, but that they have "deep concern" about the information-sharing blockade. "Our inability, under the new law, to share DMV data with federal immigration officers jeopardizes the safety of those officers," the sheriffs' statement said. "We find it offensive that, in order to avail our own deputies of DMV data that they need for their own safe operations, we were coerced into signing a nondisclosure agreement that jeopardizes the safety of our federal partners." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The timing of Albence's visit raises questions about whether Cuomo's proposal at the White House last week will be brushed aside. A Homeland Security official who attended the meeting last week said he would conduct follow-up discussions with Cuomo's office to "find a mutually agreeable solution," but there is no indication those have taken place. Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, did not immediately comment Tuesday. Albence oversees ICE's day-to-day operations, including a workforce of more than 20,000 officers, special agents, attorneys and "mission support professionals" assigned to more than 400 domestic and international offices, according to the agency's website. New York's four U.S. attorneys issued a statement last week saying that information-sharing is a matter of national security, and the access to the motor vehicle database is necessary for border protection and immigration enforcement. Hours after Cuomo's meeting at the White House, two Democratic Assembly members Billy Jones, D-Plattsburgh, and Monica Wallace, D-Cheektowaga whose districts border Canada announced they would work to amend the Green Light Law to "allow federal agents the access they need to do their jobs and protect the border." "We rely upon customs and border patrol agents to keep our borders safe, and to the extent that this legislation is interfering with their ability to do that, it needs to be fixed," Wallace said in a statement. New York Democrats, especially in Buffalo, have said the decision to cut off the ability of New York residents to apply for or renew safe-traveler status will be devastating to international commerce and tourism in that region. Although many other states offer driver's licenses to immigrants who are in the United States illegally, only New York has blocked access to its motor vehicle database to the federal agencies that handle immigration enforcement. Texas is finally in a position to be the decider in a presidential primary. In most presidential primary elections for the past 30 years, Texas has been an afterthought, voting only when the races were all but over. But when early voting opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday, voters will get to weigh in on an unsettled Democratic presidential primary as the candidates make an aggressive final push to win over the undecideds. We have been moving our primary up by stages for two decades to find a relevant spot, and I think we have it this time around, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. If Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont wins the majority of the 228 pledged delegates in Texas to go with his tallies from Iowa and New Hampshire, it could be game over for the rest of the field, Jillson said. But if former Vice President Joe Biden holds onto South Carolina and wins Texas and other Southern Super Tuesday states, he could suddenly be back in the drivers seat. Know the candidates: Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide; San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide Voting Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 18. To cast ballots in person, registered voters must bring an acceptable form of photo identification. Those are: a Texas driver's license, a Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by the Department of Public Safety, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas handgun license, a U.S. military identification card, a U.S. citizenship certificate containing a photo or a U.S. passport. Voters can bring printed materials, such as a sample ballot, into the booth, but may not use cellphones or photographic devices while casting ballots. Find more on Texas voting rules here. Voters Guide Everything you need to know about this year's election, only on HoustonChronicle.com and ExpressNews.com. See More Collapse Winning Texas is also key to billionaire Michael Bloombergs unique campaign strategy as he skips traditional early states. Instead he is spending big on Texas and California, which both vote on Super Tuesday on March 3. Bloomberg has been surging in polls in both states, and winning both would vault him to the forefront of the race. The candidates dont have to be reminded about how big the stakes are in Texas. Each campaign has turned up the intensity in Texas with more ads, more staff on the ground and more visits from the candidates and their surrogates. Let me begin by making a dramatic announcement: Were going to win the state of Texas, Sanders said at a packed rodeo arena in Mesquite on Friday. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Sanders has opened five campaign offices around in the state over the last five days and boosted his television and digital ad buys. If you want honesty in the White House, we are going to make Donald Trump a one-term president, Sanders said. A day earlier it was Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, in Houston quoting former House Speaker Sam Rayburn, a legendary Texas Democrat, in making the case that he can unify the nation after four years of Trump tearing down presidential norms. It reminds me of a Sam Rayburn saying that you might know: Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one, he said. Im not a carpenter, but I am an engineer, and Im ready to get building. For subscribers: National money flows into Texas for 2020 Democrats Bloomberg continues to saturate the airwaves in Texas, where he has already topped $25 million in TV advertising. He has spent $9 million in Houston, the most of any city in the state. This week hes dispatched surrogates to campaign for him around Texas. On Monday, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was in Houston standing in for Bloomberg in the Latino community. While Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has been campaigning hard in Nevada, shes relied heavily on Julian Castro and other surrogates to make her pitch in Texas. Her campaign held a series of rallies with prominent Latinas in San Antonio, Laredo and McAllen last week. Also last week, Castro stumped for Warren at a Harris County Democrats event. I know the No. 1 thing we want to do is to beat Donald Trump, but a victory is only truly a victory if you also hold on to your soul when you do it, Castro said moments after Bloomberg had addressed the same crowd. Castro, the former San Antonio mayor, said Warren is determined to represent people who dont have a voice. Although Castro dropped out of the presidential race last month, his name remains on the ballot along with 16 other Democrats. Others who dropped out including Cory Booker, Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet are also on the ballot. While Biden has slipped in national polling, his campaign continues to send surrogates to Texas to shore up his support. Over the weekend, he had U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, campaign for him in Dallas and former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte was campaigning in San Antonio. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the surprise winner of the Iowa caucuses, was just in The Heights a month ago warning Texans that they are about to play a key role in the primary. Its never been more important for us to be organizing our friends and allies here, knowing that the race is unpredictable, he said during a January stop. As of Monday, Buttigieg had added 24 paid staffers to help train volunteers to get out the vote in Texas. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota has had the smallest Texas footprint of the remaining contenders. But with a strong showing in New Hampshire and a debate there last week, her campaign has said that a boost in fundraising has allowed her to staff up in Nevada and South Carolina and that she will start having a bigger presence in Super Tuesday states including Texas. We raised $12 million and now will have staff on the ground in every Super Tuesday state, which will allow us to compete everywhere, Klobuchar campaign manager Justin Buoen said. Republicans also have a presidential primary. Trump is on the ballot and has six primary opponents, including former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. The attention on Texas is a rarity in the modern political primary system. In 2008, Texas was relevant even though its primary was after more than 30 other states had already voted. Then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were still battling for the nomination when Clinton narrowly won the Texas primary, but Obama gained enough delegates in Texas and states that voted in March to pad his overall delegate lead. In 1988, the Democratic nomination was a wide-open field when it hit Texas and 18 other states on Super Tuesday. Just days before Texas Democrats voted, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, Rep. Dick Gephardt, Sen. Al Gore and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were all campaigning in the state, and more than $1 million of ads were on Texas TV. Wins in Texas and Florida on Super Tuesday helped Dukakis take a delegate lead that he never relinquished. Jillson said there are not many other primaries in which Texas Democrats have played as big a role as this year. I think that Texas is well positioned to be influential, he said. Making a scathing attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor mocked his developmental claims vis-a-vis the 'Lalu Raj' in the state on Tuesday, saying that even after 15 years of his rule, Bihar still ranked at the bottom on major parameters of growth. Patna: Making a scathing attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor mocked his developmental claims vis-a-vis the "Lalu Raj" in the state on Tuesday, saying that even after 15 years of his rule, Bihar still ranked at the bottom on major parameters of growth. Launching a no-holds-barred attack on his former boss, the expelled JD(U) leader said it was true that Bihar witnessed some development since the days of former chief minister Lalu Prasad's rule, but raised questioned as to where did the state figure presently, compared to states such as Maharashtra or Haryana. "How long will you blow the trumpet of accomplishments in governance as compared to those prevailing during the Lalu Raj (RJD rule)... even after you being in power for 15 years, Bihar continues to remain at the bottom on major indices of development," Kishor said at a press conference, the first since his expulsion from the Janata Dal (United). "Bihar stood at the 22nd position in terms of per capita income among the states in 2005 and it holds the same rank even today," he said while providing some growth figures to buttress his argument. After the RJD's rule in Bihar from 1990 to 2005, Nitish, leading the NDA coalition with the BJP, threw it out of power and has been at the helm of affairs continuously, except for a brief period when he had appointed Jitan Ram Manjhi to the chief minister's chair after the JD(U)'s debacle in the 2014 general election. Kishor (42) also sought to puncture Nitishs developmental claims, which he said was rated as "gold standard" by the JD(U) rank and file, and questioned the success of prohibition in the state. On the burning issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said he expected Kumar to disallow grant of citizenship to any refugee in Bihar under the provisions of the new citizenship law until there was a court verdict on the contentious legislation. At the free-wheeling press conference, Kishor said Bihar could not bear to see its leader becoming a "pichhlaggu" (someone riding piggyback) and also sneered at Nitish for having capitulated before the BJP for the sake of power. Kishor, who recently helped the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retain power in Delhi with a landmark victory in the Assembly polls, dismissed the allegation of Arvind Kejriwal equivocating on the volatile citizenship issue for electoral gains and asserted that the Delhi chief minister and his party were "firmly against CAA-NPR-NRC". "I thank Nitish Kumar for his stance on CAA-NPR-NRC. I hope he would remain steadfast in his opposition, not allow the NRC in the state and use his influence to get the contentious clauses dropped from the NPR forms," he said. When asked about the JD(U) voting in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament, the former party vice-president said, "Kumar has indicated that he will like the matter to pass judicial scrutiny. He has said that a court verdict should be awaited." He said as of now, nobody was granted citizenship in Bihar under CAA provisions, so one could assume that the law was yet to be implemented in the state, adding, "I hope Nitish Kumar will maintain this situation." "If anybody is granted citizenship invoking this law in the state, I would oppose it in my capacity as a political activist," Kishor, whose stout opposition to the citizenship law had rankled the BJP and threatened to upend its alliance with the JD(U), said. "Somebody over here has asked about the political rationale of my opposition to these moves, claiming that the Congress suffered on account of opposing the legislation and the AAP had distanced itself from the issue fearing an electoral backlash. I do not know the basis of such conclusions," he said. Kishor asserted that the drubbing of the Congress in the Delhi polls was not related to its stand against CAA-NPR-NRC. "As regards Kejriwal and his party, let it be known to all that the AAP is firmly opposed to these moves," the poll strategist, who has collaborated with the Congress in the past in states like Punjab, said. Kishor berated Nitishs government for touting the stringent prohibition law in the state as a major achievement, notwithstanding the administration's failure to effectively check bootlegging. "We could have judged whether or not the liquor ban has been beneficial if alcohol consumption had indeed come to a stop. All of you know that liquor is freely available," he quipped. Spelling out Nitishs failures during his 15-year rule, Kishor said he provided students with free uniforms and bicycles but failed to ensure good educational standards. He got roads built but could not help the people of the state prosper so that they could own vehicles. The chief minister had improved electricity supply but most people in the state could not afford beyond a light bulb and a fan, he said. Electricity connection to every household in Bihar and building a metal road in every village with a population of 250 and above formed part of Nitishs "saat nishchay" (seven resolves of good governance). Asked whether he saw any possibility of "ghar wapsi" (homecoming) with regard to Nitish, Kishor remarked cryptically, saying, "When did I leave his home? His home has always been home to me." For residents across the southern United States dealing with an abnormally wet weather pattern and flooding, Mother Nature will only bring more of the same this week as a parade of storms keeps the wet weather pattern in place, according to Accuweather. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said that, while more storms are expected this week, rainfall is not likely to be as intense as that of recent storms. "Still, because the ground is saturated in many areas, it won't take as much rain to trigger small stream and flash flooding," he said. "Seven-day rainfall on the order of 1-5 inches could also be enough to slow the rate of recession on some rivers and trigger a secondary rise on other rivers."The heaviest rainfall may target the Pearl River basin, where the third highest crest on record is forecast at Jackson, Mississippi, from rain that fell prior to this week.On Monday morning, there was minor, moderate and major flooding occurring along nearly every gauge on the Mississippi River south of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Minor to moderate flooding was also common along some larger rivers in the Carolinas, Louisiana, western Alabama and southern Arkansas.A cool front associated with a storm that brought snow to the Upper Midwest on Monday was responsible for areas of rain in the South. The front and the rain associated with it was still affecting the South on Tuesday.Coverage and intensity of rain will decrease on Wednesday as a brief push of drier and colder air noses into the Deep South.The next round of rain will ramp up across eastern Texas and Louisiana later Wednesday into Wednesday night as another storm system forms along the central Gulf coast near the stalled boundary.That storm will move northeastward off the South Carolina coastline by Thursday evening, so the heaviest precipitation in Georgia and the Carolinas from this second system should occur on Thursday before moving offshore late Thursday night."The problem is that just enough cold air will have entered the scene in North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southern Virginia and the northern parts of South Carolina and Georgia for some snow to fall or a mixture of snow, sleet and rain for at time on Thursday," Mr. Sosnowski stated."How fast that frozen precipitation falls will determine if roads and sidewalks become slippery or if this will just be a novelty event with some slush on grassy areas and cars," he added.Although the rain could lead to isolated flooding on smaller streams and creeks this week, it should not fall heavily enough over a large enough area to exacerbate flooding on the Mississippi River or prevent the floodwaters from receding.Some smaller streams and creeks already near or above flooding stage, however, could crest at even higher levels than they have over the weekend.In addition, motorists traveling on portions of interstates 10, 20, 85 and 95 impacted by the rounds of heavy rain should make sure to slow down on wet roadways to avoid the risk of hydroplaning.Anybody venturing outdoors this week should be sure to grab the umbrella and rain gear before heading out the door, and any outdoor gatherings or sporting events may need to be shifted indoors or postponed until a later date.Drier and much cooler air should finally return to the Deep South and Southeast to end the week as another shot of Arctic air sweeps from the Central states into the Northeast.Unfortunately, the dry weather may not last for long as another potential rainmaker arrives later in the weekend or early next week. This weeks edition of the Lancetthe worlds pre-eminent peer reviewed medical journalcarries a letter from 117 medical doctors in 18 countries, renewing their call for urgent action to save the life of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. Their letter appears less than one week before the start of the US extradition hearing in London that may decide Assanges fate. The doctors two-page letter appears in the correspondence section of the Lancet under the heading End torture and medical neglect of Julian Assange. It was written by Dr Stephen Frost (UK), Dr Lissa Johnson, clinical psychologist (Australia), Dr Jill Stein (former leader of the US Green Party) and William Frost (UK). A pedestrian passes pro-Assange graffitti outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The case of Assange is multifaceted, the doctors write. It relates to law, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, journalism, publishing, and politics. It also, however, clearly relates to medicine and public health. The case highlights several concerning aspects that warrant the medical professions close attention and concerted action. Nearly three months ago, on November 22, more than 65 doctors issued an open letter to the UK government challenging the illegal and arbitrary detention of Assange. A follow-up letter to the Australian government was issued on December 16. Neither government has responded. Issuing their appeal to medical colleagues throughout the worldthe Lancet has 1.8 million subscribersthe letters authors describe multiple human rights violations by the US, UK, Swedish, Ecuadorian and Australian governments against Assange. This includes nearly a decade of illegal and arbitrary detention and relentless state persecution amounting to prolonged psychological torture. Readers of the Lancet might be shocked to learn that doctors treating Assange in London have faced intimidation and state surveillancemethods commonly employed by military dictatorships. There was a climate of fear surrounding the provision of health care in the Embassy, the letter recounts, with treating doctors forced to report their identity to police. Disturbingly, they write, it seems that this environment of insecurity and intimidation, further compromising the medical care available to Assange, was by design. Assange was the subject of a 24/7 covert surveillance operation inside the embassy, as the emergence of secret video and audio recordings has shown. He was surveilled in private and with visitors, including family, friends, journalists, lawyers, and doctors. Not only were his rights to privacy, personal life, legal privilege, and freedom of speech violated, but so, too, was his right to doctorpatient confidentiality. The signatories state emphatically, We condemn the torture of Assange. We condemn the denial of his fundamental right to appropriate health care. We condemn the climate of fear surrounding the provision of health care to him. We condemn the violations of his right to doctorpatient confidentiality. Politics cannot be allowed to interfere with the right to health and the practice of medicine. Doctors for Assange (as the doctors are collectively known) have launched a new website, and their letter to the Lancet links to this, We invite fellow doctors to join us as signatories to our letters to add further voice to our calls. Even as the worlds designated authorities on arbitrary detention, torture, and human rights added their calls to doctors warnings, governments have sidelined medical authority, medical ethics, and the human right to health. This politicisation of foundational medical principles is of grave concern to us, as it carries implications beyond the case of Assange. Abuse by politically motivated medical neglect sets a dangerous precedent, whereby the medical profession can be manipulated as a political tool, ultimately undermining our professions impartiality, commitment to health for all, and obligation to do no harm. The doctors issue a stark warning, Should Assange die in a UK prison, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has warned, he will have effectively been tortured to death. Much of that torture will have taken place in a prison medical ward, on doctors watch. The medical profession cannot afford to stand silently by, on the wrong side of torture and the wrong side of history, while such a travesty unfolds. Yesterday, Doctors for Assange sent copies of their letter to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Mr Assanges human rights to health care and freedom from torture must be upheld. At this late hour, we call on you to act decisively, the doctors wrote. Their letter to the Lancet concludes, Our appeals are simple: we are calling upon governments to end the torture of Assange and ensure his access to the best available health care before it is too late. Our request to others is this: please join us. Her album features several Los Angeles performers including Isiah Gage, a cellist who recently played with Ringo Starr. Theyre all world-class performers who play with a million people, Malone said of her band, but everybody knows who Ringo is. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} During the week of her Baraboo performance, Malone will release the music video for Home 2, which was filmed in the summer in Portage. I wanted to show what its like growing up in a small town where everybody knows you, Malone said of the music video that shows her walking downtown, through St. Marys School where she went to grade school, the Wisconsin River and more. I wanted to capture all the quintessential things that I think about when I think about home. While Malone and Madison visual artist Elizabeth Wadium filmed the video in downtown Portage, dozens of people honked and waved at Malone including not one but two of Malones aunts, Malone recalled with a laugh. When they filmed the video in the rural countryside of Portage, the Bublitz family stopped their car and asked Malone if there was something wrong and if they could help her. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 07:58 694 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20650e743 1 City ondel-ondel,Jakarta-city-council,DPRD,buskers Free Jakartas streets may soon no longer see ondel-ondel (giant Betawi effigies) being paraded by buskers in the capital as the City Council plans to prohibit the use of ondel-ondel in street performances through the revision of a 2015 bylaw on the preservation of Betawi culture. Iman Satria, the head of the councils Commission E overseeing peoples welfare, said that the point of the ban was to maintain the spirit of ondel-ondel as an icon of Betawi culture. It is to maintain the spirit of ondel-ondel, [which] should not be used for street performance. If it is included in the regulation, those who still do that will count as violators, Iman said last week as quoted by kompas.com. The Jakarta Culture Agency is currently making and reviewing academic texts to revise the regional regulation. Sanctions for buskers who use ondel-ondel on the streets will also be included in the revised bylaw. We will complete the academic paper first as a prerequisite for the revision. Well try to complete it fast, said Imam Hadi Purnomo, the agencys secretary. Read also: Satire, Betawi peoples way of laughing in face of lifes struggle In the meantime, he said, the agency had been coordinating with heads of districts and sub-districts around the city to set up a plan to urge buskers not to use ondel-ondel in their performances. Ondel-ondel street performances have for long been a common sight in many corners of the city, where a group of people including children walk along the street, with usually one person in the giant puppet costume and another pushing a small cart with a cassette player and a loudspeaker, and the rest carrying buckets asking passersby for money. Responding to the ban plan, ondel-ondel craftsmen in Ondel-ondel Village in Kramat district, Central Jakarta, expressed their disagreement, saying that they met their daily needs by renting ondel-ondel to buskers. We also rent [ondel-ondel] for ceremonial events but not regularly. Renting them to buskers helps us to fulfill our daily needs, said Renggo, one of the ondel-ondel craftsmen in the village. Renggo argued that he instead felt proud that buskers used ondel-ondel to get around busking on the streets because in addition to helping them to earn a living, ondel-ondel simultaneously served to promote Betawi culture to the community. We are proud of ondel-ondel buskers because they are the ones who preserve ondel-ondel, so that it is widely known to the wider community. They [the city officials] have never done so on the streets, said Renggo. Read also: Unemployed rely on street ondel-ondel Rio, another ondel-ondel craftsman, said that he could accept the ban as long as the city administration had a good solution for the people like himself who used ondel-ondel to make a living. He expected that when the ban was official, the city could provide a space for ondel-ondel cultivation so the craftsmen would still have jobs. Dont cut it off just like that. We should be given a place in cafes, malls or supermarkets, for us to make money, Rio said. He said that the craftsmen so far had never received attention from the city as ondel-ondel had rarely been involved in ceremonial events held by officials. Therefore, Rio said, the craftsmen were worried that when the ban was imposed and the city did not permit the use of ondel-ondel, they would end up unemployed. (syk) Anxiety disorders such as phobias and PTSD are fairly common problems in society. One of the prime causes of anxiety disorders is the inability to overcome the fear for certain contexts when they no longer apply. Attempts to facilitate this process of overcoming fear, therefore, has been the focus of recent efforts to treat anxiety disorders. These efforts have culminated in the discovery that certain opioid compounds, called delta opioid receptor (DOP) agonists, assist in masking fear memory. Consequently, DOP agonists have been at the center of clinical explorations in this area over the last decade. In the thick of such clinical explorations, scientists from the Tokyo University of Science and the University of Tsukuba, Japan, led by Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh, first discovered the depression- and anxiety-relieving effects of DOP agonists. Subsequently, in a new study published inNeuropharmacology in 2019, they explored the potential of these agonists to help in the fear memory masking process. "We looked at the effects of DOP agonists on anxiety and fear memory, which have not been sufficiently studied so far," explains Prof Saitoh. Prof Saitoh and team applied the "fear conditioning test" to mice in their laboratory. On day 1 of their experiment, they placed the mice in conditioning chambers and inflicted footshock on them at regular intervals. This was designed to induce fear for the chamber in the mice, who would henceforth associate the chamber with painful footshocks. On day 2, the mice were given either saline ("control" group), KNT-127, or SNC80 (both DOP agonists) and released into the conditioning chamber once again. They were not given any more footshocks. On day 3, they were given no drugs or saline but re-exposed to the conditioning chamber, to test their fear memory--or whether they remembered to be afraid. When mice are afraid, they freeze. On day 2, the mice on both drugs showed significantly less "freezing" behavior. On day 3, the mice on KNT-127 showed reduced freezing behavior, but those on SNC80 did not. The scientists also examined the effects of these drugs on the activities of enzymes and pathways in the brain that are known to drive the masking of fear memory. They found that KNT-127 increased the levels of "phosphorylated" (or activated) molecules of an enzyme called ERK, which is involved in the ability to overcome fear conditioning in certain parts of the brain. Taken together, these results suggest that although both KNT-127 and SNC80 reduce conditioned fear, only KNT-127 helps suppress contextual fear memory. Further, KNT-127 performs this role by increasing the levels of phosphorylated ERK in certain parts of the brain. So, both drugs reduce anxiety in the case of conditioned fear but do so via different pathways in the brain. These observations and inferences are based on mice in a laboratory, but they clearly suggest new therapeutic possibilities for people. Prof Saitoh and Dr. Yamada say, "the fear conditioning test used in this study is also a model of PTSD. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder in which the memory (trauma) of anxiety and fear once experienced cannot be forgotten and thus impairs daily life, causing problems like insomnia and withdrawal. At present, the widely prescribed medication for PTSD takes several weeks to have therapeutic effects and is not satisfactory. There are also no potential breakthrough therapies for such disorders. Our study shows that DOP agonists, when used in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, can enhance the efficacy of treatment for anxiety disorders. It offers hope for the realization of a safe and effective new mode of therapy for PTSD and other related psychiatric disorders." ### About the Tokyo University of Science Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations About Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh from Tokyo University of Science Dr Akiyoshi Saitoh is a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science. A respected and senior researcher with more than 20 years of experience in his chief areas of interest--medicinal pharmacology, behavioral pharmacology, and neuroscience, including the role of the amygdala in the extinction of fear memory in rodents and the development of a novel opioid delta receptor agonist for antidepressants/anxiolytics--he has more than 100 research publications, and is the lead author of this paper. He also has patents for drugs in this area. Funding information This research was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (Grant number 17K10286). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for patience and dialog as indigenous-rights protests that have brought rail traffic to a halt across Canada drag on. Blockades in British Columbia, where some hereditary chiefs oppose a new natural gas pipeline by TC Energy Corp., and solidarity protests along the key Montreal-to-Toronto corridor in Ontario forced Canadian National Railway Co. to shut down a large part its network last week. The crisis has stalled the flow of goods -- including oil for export and propane needed for heating -- in the sprawling, trade-dependent nation and prompted Via Rail, Canada's primary intercity passenger service, to cancel nearly all trains. "On all sides, people are upset and frustrated. I get it," Trudeau told lawmakers Tuesday morning in Ottawa, where he's facing calls to intervene in the dispute. "To the Wet'suwet'en and Mohawk nations, and indigenous leaders across the country: We are listening," the prime minister said. "We are not asking that you stop standing up for your communities, your rights and for what you believe. We only ask that you be willing to work with the federal government as a partner in finding solutions." Trudeau had planned to spend the first part of this week lobbying Caribbean leaders to back his bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. But he was forced to scrap that trip late Sunday and convene an emergency meeting of key ministers in Ottawa on Monday. His government has prioritized improving relations with First Nations, and is leery of actions that could spark a repeat of violent clashes between the authorities and indigenous communities in the past. "To those who would want us to act in haste, who want us to boil this down to slogans and ignore the complexities, who think that using force is helpful: It is not," Trudeau said. Those comments appeared to be a response to Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who called last week for the prime minister to order the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to clear the protests. The opposition leader minced no words in his assessment of Trudeau's remarks. "That was the weakest response to a national crisis in Canadian history," Scheer said in the legislature, denouncing the prime minister's speech as "word salad" in the place of a credible plan. Two more Indians on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess quarantined off the coast of Japan were tested positive for coronavirus, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo said on Monday, adding that the four Indian crew members who were earlier tested positive for the virus are "stable and responding well to the treatment." A total of 99 new cases of coronavirus were reported on the ship, bringing the total number of those infected to 454, the embassy said in a statement posted on its Twitter handle. "As per the information availed with the Embassy, 99 new COVID-19 positive cases onboard Diamond Princess have been confirmed today (bringing the total number to 454). This includes two Indian crew members who have been transferred to medical facilities for necessary treatment and quarantine," the statement read. "The number of Indian nationals who have tested positive for COVID-19 now stands at six. The four Indian crew members who were earlier tested positive continue to receive treatment. Their health conditions are stable and responding well to the treatment," it added. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the luxury cruise ship. The Embassy said that it is coordinating with the Japanese government and ship management company for the health and welfare of all Indian nationals on-board. "The Embassy of India in Tokyo is in constant touch with on-board Indian nationals, who are successfully braving out the situation and understand public health safety concerns in such situation," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman has been arrested in connection with a murder in Dublin last year. The body of Wayne Whelan was discovered in a burning car at Mount Andrew Rise in Lucan on November 18, he had been shot and killed before the car was set on fire. My father has made some terrible mistakes in his life, and some of them caused terrible pain for our family and others, he said, adding he did not agree with all of his fathers choices, but his father often had good intentions, helping people get back on their feet with job offers. He always tried to do the right thing for people because it was the right thing to do. He called his father a deeply flawed but inherently good man and said he hoped he got the treatment he needs. Kamran Yousuf, a multimedia journalist who works with Newsclick, was detained by Pulwana police late in the evening of February 16 and interrogated for several hours. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemn Yousufs illegal detention. Police officers led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) surrounded Kamran Yousufs house in Kashmirs Pulwana district at 11pm on February 16, before knocking on the door. When Yousuf answered, he was taken by police van to the DSP Pulwana office. Yousef told IFJ monitors that the police officials asked him to come with them and took his phone. At the station, police accused him of running a Twitter account under the name Kamran Manzoor, noting the account was used on February 16 to post a video of Syed Ali Geelani, a pro-Pakistan freedom leader in Kashmir. Yousuf said: They checked my phones and searched everything on it. They asked me about some Kamran Manzoor and showed me his Twitter account. The police officer said we had suspicion that you are running it. He was released two hours later at 1am on February 17. Kashmir Press Club said, The polices nocturnal raid at the house of a journalist has once again highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in the Valley. It called for constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and speech to be respected by letting press and journalists to function freely. The IJU said: IJU joins Kashmir Press Club in demanding the union home minister as well as the J&K government to take action against such rampant harassment of journalists since August 5 last year. The IFJ said, The IFJ condemns the detainment and interrogation of Kamran Yousef and condemns the use of midnight raids with baseless evidence as a means to intimidate and silence journalists. Even after the United States claimed that its peace accord with the Taliban is very close, there has not been any decrease in the intensity of insurgency operations. According to international reports, the Taliban fighters attacked the Afghan government forces overnight and the militant commanders said on February 17 that such operations would continue until they receive new orders from their leadership based on the deal signed with the US to reduce violence in the region. Read - Esper Says Taliban Deal Is Promising But Not Without Risk Last week, while US President Donald Trump had said that he thinks there is a good chance that the US will reach a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Other international reports also stated that both sides are set to sign their peace deal by the end of February which includes a plan for a ceasefire for at least seven days along with the withdrawal of all American forces from Afghanistan over a period of 18 months. However, the week-long period has reportedly still not commenced. Read - US Secretary Of State Visits Senegal To Start Africa Tour Taliban commanders to continue attacks A Taliban commander in Helmand which is a southern province that has seen some of the fiercest fightings told an international news agency that their leadership has not conveyed any message about a ceasefire to them. Moreover, Taliban commanders in Paktika and Nangarhar, two other provinces which are reportedly regarded as strongholds for the militant group also said that they would continue the attacks on Afghan forces. Read - US All Set To Sign Peace Accord With Taliban, Withdraw Forces Over 18 Months On the night of February 15, commanders of Taliban had attacked the forces of the Afghan government that were reportedly manning a checkpoint in the northern province of Kunduz. According to the statement by Taliban spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, the group killed 19 military personnel. Meanwhile, the Afghan defence ministry also confirmed the attack but stated the death toll as five. Afghan government's statement also mentioned the retaliatory airstrikes by their side. Meanwhile, while addressing the violence in Afghanistan, NATO Secretay General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Taliban will have to show real will and stability in order to reduce the violence in the region. Stoltenberg said that situation remains difficult in Afghanistan but the organisation is committed to the long-term security and stability of the war-stricken country. Read - Esper Says Taliban Deal Is Promising But Not Without Risk Read - Pompeo, Esper Meet Afghan President On Cusp Of Taliban Deal (With agency inputs) Kiara Advani returns to Netflix with "Guilty", her second outing with the streamer after "Lust Stories", and the actor says filmmaker Karan Johar thought she would be apprehensive about coming on board for another project on the OTT platform. Kiara made her debut in 2014 with "Fugly", but found acclaim with Johar's directorial segment in the 2018's anthology. "I was in the car with Karan when he told me he has heard a narration and it's a very strong role. He said it's the most thrilling script he had heard. He wanted me to hear it and told me it was on Netflix. "But he thought I may have an apprehension in my mind because I had signed films like 'Kabir Singh' and 'Good Newwz' but in my head, the platform doesn't matter. What matters is the content," Kiara told reporters here. Having seen the reach of web, the actor said she had no qualms about returning to the medium. "As an actor you want to reach out as many people as possible. Fortunately, the script that came to me was 'Guilty'. 'Lust Stories' was a game changer for me. So there was never a second thought about doing 'Guilty'. It seemed like a perfect opportunity." Directed by Ruchi Narain, "Guilty" explores the different versions of truth that emerge when a small-town girl accuses the college heartthrob of rape. Kiara said the story of the film is layered and hence it cannot be classified as a thriller. "Yesterday I called Karan and asked him, 'What do I say (about the trailer)' and he said something that I wrote down because it aptly describes the film. "Basically, consent is a victim of perception. And it's true because what may be consensual to you might not be consensual to someone else. How each one of us looks at it." Ruchi, known for writing screenplays of films such as "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi" and "Calcutta Mail", said while sexual assault has always been a relevant issue, there is a lot more conversation and awareness around it today. "There is a lot of talk and awareness about it these days, about any kind of assault and who do you believe. What interested me the most in telling this story was that when you read an article, there are opinions and a lot of things are academic. But life is about human beings and everybody is coming from a (certain) place, they have their own agenda. "So when an issue like this happens, there are different reasons to believe and not believe. So how do you really know? That's the question which bothers and plagues all of us. Everyone has a point of view and it is, in some way, relevant. It is a story about human complexities," Ruchi added. Written by Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan, "Guilty" will stream from March 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HomeSmart International Headquarters We are thrilled to see continued expansion of HomeSmarts flat-fee transaction-based model [by] bringing it to Satellite Beach and Brevard County, said Matt Widdows, HomeSmart International founder and chief executive officer. HomeSmart International is excited to announce that they will be expanding their 100-percent commission brokerage model to Satellite Beach, Florida, located on the states Atlantic coast. We are thrilled to see continued expansion of HomeSmarts flat-fee transaction-based model [by] bringing it to Satellite Beach and Brevard County, said Matt Widdows, HomeSmart International founder and chief executive officer. We look forward to seeing how our proven model of success will make the real estate experience better for agents and consumers in the area. The HomeSmart model is a welcome addition to Floridas real estate market, as agents throughout the state have been searching for a real estate company that is designed for the business of the future. The tech-focused company has been able to create and utilize technology in ways that serve both agents and their customers effectively, and at no additional cost to the agent or consumer. HomeSmart Coastal Realty is not your traditional brokerage. Besides running their business using HomeSmarts proprietary transaction management software, agents keep 100 percent of their commission while having access to free training, an arsenal of marketing tools, and expert broker support. The company is part of the nationally-ranked HomeSmart International brand that currently has 18,000 real estate agents, across 35 states. The Satellite Beach franchise will bring HomeSmarts exciting and innovative model to a newer market for the company, said Bryan Brooks, HomeSmart International senior vice president of franchise sales. The opening of this brokerage is another step in the direction of HomeSmart having a presence in every market across the U.S. The Satellite Beach office can be reached via Broker@HomeSmartCoastalRealty.com or 321.348.9528. About HomeSmart International: Founded in 2000, HomeSmart International quickly became the fastest-growing real estate brokerage firm in Arizona. HomeSmart International is ranked in the top 5 real estate brokerages in the United States and the number one brokerage firm in the Phoenix market and in Colorado. From its international franchising headquarters based in Scottsdale, HomeSmart International offers franchisees efficiency and innovation coupled with the systems and technologies necessary to succeed in todays evolving real estate industry. Today, the brand has 190 offices in 35 states and 18,000 agents nationwide. For more information on HomeSmart International and its franchise opportunities, visit https://www.homesmart.com. A heartbroken teenager killed himself just before he was due to meet his ex-girlfriend while his parents, who had 'no idea' he was suffering, were abroad, an inquest heard. Kieran Froude, 19, was found dead at home near Gosport, Hampshire, on the day he was due to meet his former girlfriend of four years. His devastated parents Tony and Allen were on holiday in France when Mr Froude died of suicide in the afternoon of September 7 last year. An inquest yesterday heard how the pair had 'absolutely no idea' about their son's anguish because he 'hid his emotions so well'. Speaking at the Portsmouth Coroner's Court, Coroner Samantha Marsh cautioned against concealing mental health struggles during the inquest into the death of Kieran Foude Coroner Samantha Marsh cautioned against concealing mental health struggles days after news of Caroline Flack's suicide shocked Britain. Ms Marsh also warned of the need to 'break the stigma' of mental health as it emerged last year that suicide was the most common cause of death for men aged between 20 and 49, according to the Office for National Statistics. She said: 'With what's been happening in the national media it's important to recognise that everybody should be able to reach out and admit they are struggling. 'As a society we need to break the stigma of mental health for men.' Male suicide rates HIGH as national rates fall, Office for National Statistics warns Research commissioned by the Office for National Statistics indicates that suicide among men in Britain aged between 20 and 49 was the most common cause of death in 2018. There were 6,507 suicides registered in Britain, an age-standardised rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 population. The latest rate is significantly higher than that in 2017 and represents the first increase since 2013. Three-quarters of registered deaths in 2018 were among men, which has been the case since the mid-1990s. The male suicide rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 represents a significant increase from the rate in 2017. For females, the British rate was 5.4 deaths per 100,000, consistent with the rates over the past 10 years. Nick Stripe, Head of Health Analysis and Life Events, said: 'We saw a significant increase in the rate of deaths registered as suicide last year which has changed a trend of continuous decline since 2013. 'While the exact reasons for this are unknown, the latest data show that this was largely driven by an increase among men who have continued to be most at risk of dying by suicide. 'Looking at the overall trend since the early 80s, we are still witnessing a gradual decline in the rate of suicide for the population as a whole. 'We will continue to monitor the recent increase, to help inform decision makers and others that are working to protect vulnerable people at risk.' Advertisement Mr Froude, of Lee-on-Solent, was due to meet his ex-girlfriend Taylor Dudley before he tragically decided to take his own life last September. An inquest at Portsmouth Coroner's Court heard how he sent a flurry of texts and tried to call Ms Dudley. He did not then answer when she tried to get back in touch with him. Ms Dudley called police, it emerged, with Mr Froude pronounced dead at 4.11pm. His mother Ellen, 45, told the hearing: 'He hid his emotions so well, we had absolutely no idea. 'People need to know that this isn't the solution to their problems, even if it feels like it at the time.' Miss Dudley, 19, said of her ex-boyfriend: 'He was such a good person; he was always there for his friends and for me. We did everything together and he made me so happy. 'I'm so glad I got those four years of being loved and getting to love him. She added: 'Anyone would rather spend endless time making sure someone's OK than speaking at their funeral.' Mr Froude's suicide comes as news of the death of beloved TV presenter Ms Flack at her east London flat over the weekend continues to shock Britain. Alongside contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, both of whom died in 2018 and 2019 respectively, Ms Flack, who hosted five seasons of Love Island, is now the fourth person associated with the programme to have died of suicide. The 40-year-old presenter died of suicide hours after it was announced that she would be charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27. It has been claimed that paramedics were sent to her home the day before she was found dead, following fears for her welfare, but she was not taken to hospital. Ms Flack was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a 'show trial' over an alleged assault and was worried she could not cope with the fallout. Friends said she was tormented over the idea of a jury being shown police 'bodycam' footage taken during the night she was accused of attacking Mr Burton. She had hoped the trial would not go ahead. A court had heard last December how police had found the pair covered in blood and that Ms Flack had cuts to her wrist. The revelations about her mental health prompted questions about whether she was given enough help to tackle her depression and panic attacks. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org. A motorcyclist who rode without lights on a dark footpath, hit a pedestrian causing life-changing injuries and then fled has been jailed as has a friend who tried to destroy evidence. Disqualified driver Joshua Abbott was on a Honda dirt bike on a shared footpath in Echuca on March 10 last year when he crashed into Joel Beach, who was walking home after leaving the American Hotel. Police believe Abbott was riding at between 41km/h and 50km/h, that the motorcycle didn't have working lights and was on a dark section of the path, the County Court heard. The crash nearly killed Mr Beach and left him with an acquired brain injury and facial, skull and other fractures. The 40-year-old is likely to need help in daily tasks for the rest of his life. In the moments after the crash, two women helped Mr Beach but Abbott got up and rode away and had Daniel Norris a friend and fellow-ice user hide the motorcycle. Snakegate may be over on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but theres another case of drama unfolding between some of the ladies. At the center of it this time is Kenya Moore and unwilling foe Tanya Sam, who so far seems unbothered. Regular RHOA viewers are aware that a potential feud was brewing between the two women after Moore started spreading a rumor about Sams fiance, Paul Judge. A few episodes ago, she told some of the ladies Paul was making passes at bakery owner, Shiana White, whos been nicknamed The Cookie Lady. Its since set off a chain reaction that culminated in White crashing one of their lunches and an impasse between Moore and Sam. Fans are not feeling it. Kenya Moore of RHOA attends BravoCon | Arturo Holmes/WireImage/Getty Images Viewers point out that Moore started the rift For weeks, fans have been slamming Moore for implying that Judge cheated or attempted to cheat on Tanya with the cookie lady. After Tanya made a joke about Kenya wearing a wig and showed it to the other housewives, it got back to Kenya and she decided to go on the attack. Although many considered themselves fans of Kenya, they called her out on social media for being shady by bringing up Judges so-called indiscretion to the other women, and then by presenting White at their lunch outing to purposely humiliate Tanya. It didnt work as Tanya brushed it off during two separate confrontations, and its only served to rile up fans against Kenya. After last nights episode, people are continuing to urge Kenya to pay attention to her own marriage and stop being evil and cruel to Tanya. Fans dug up dirt on the cookie lady After the cookie ladys appearance in the Feb. 9 episode and the little bit of aftermath in the Feb. 16 show, Twitter detectives decided to do some digging on White. They found a legit mugshot and arrest record of her for financial transaction card theft and fraud, financial identity. Twitter users immediately started commenting that theyd want to avoid doing business with White and cracked jokes about her being classy, something she called herself on the show. Multiple threads are going about the mugshot, with some saying White should stop meddling in other peoples business when she has her own skeletons. What Tanya Sam and Paul Judge have to say about cookie lady Since the ordeal has been playing out on TV, both Sam and her beau have discussed it. During a RHOA After Show episode, Sam stated that Judge was livid when he saw that scene and said it was a lie. He explained that he acted as a wingman when out with a group of friends at a bar that night. Out of the six, Sam said, some of the guys were single and Judge invited two women to have drinks with them and chat. She said nothing inappropriate took place between Judge and the cookie lady. As far as what she thought about Kenya bringing the woman to lunch, Tanya said she was shocked. What was surprising for some fans to learn is that Kenya and Tanya had a cool relationship coming into the show, but things went south. After this, its unclear if the two women will ever be able to reconcile. A mystery surrounding dinosaur footprints on the ceiling of a cave was solved thanks to a chance meeting in a fruit shop. There are nine different sets of dinosaur tracks inside the man-made Fireclay Caverns in Mount Morgan, in central-eastern Queensland. The tracks were first discovered in the roof of the old goldmine in 1952, with the peculiar footprints sticking downwards into the caves from the ceiling. 'You'd imagine when you create a footprint you make a depression, but these are not dinosaurs walking on the ceiling,' University of Queensland palaeontologist Dr Anthony Romilio told Daily Mail Australia. The mystery of dinosaur footprints sticking down into the roof of a cavern (pictured) in central eastern Queensland was solved after a chance meeting at a fruit shop Pictured: University of Queensland palaeontologist Dr Anthony Romilio examines tracks at the Lark Quarry dinosaur track site in Central Queensland in 2019. Dr Romilio's meeting with geologist Ross Staines' daughter Rosaline helped to determine what kind of dinosaur left the tracks in the roof 'What happens is, when you make footprints, the sediment can take the shape of the foot, then become covered over with other sediment. 'After dinosaurs registered their tracks, they were covered in sand that became sand stone, and then the clay eroded leaving the print in to make projections coming down.' Early research efforts thought the 200million-year-old prints belonged to dinosaurs that walked on four legs. 'There are medium sized tracks with smaller tracks oriented in the same direction very close together,' Dr Romilio said. 'One interpretation was that the big tracks are feet and the little one is a hand print.' 'We thought that was unusual for a meat-eating dinosaur.' The mine is difficult and dangerous to access, causing researchers to use evidence from photos taken in the 1950s, with bad publishing quality making it difficult to inspect the initial markings of the tracks. The dinosaur tracks were first discovered on the roof of the former gold mine in 1952 Geologist Ross Staines measures the large foot tracks on the roof of the Fireclay Caverns in 1954 It wasn't until years later when Dr Morilio was working in a Brisbane fruit and vegetable market that he had a chance interaction that would blow research on the dinosaur tracks wide open. He met shopper Rosaline Dick, whose father Ross Staines was a geologist who worked on the site and had kept an extensive archive of evidence and photographs he had taken in 1954. Dr Morilio was offered to have a look at the evidence and was shocked at what he found. 'The photographs were very high resolution, it was beautifully kept archival material,' Dr Morillio said. 'It was immediately apparent that they were all footprints.' 'These pieces of evidence were really critical.' The evidence included charts and graphics, as well as a replica dinosaur footprint Dr Staines had made from plaster. The medium size footprints are 24 centimetres long from the heel to the tip of the toe, and the smaller footprints measure 13 centimetres The scale of the dinosaur prints in the roof of the cave to the size of an average sized person Dr Anthony Romilio flies a drone above prints at the Broome dinosaur track site in 2018 Data taken from Dr Staines archive helped researchers uncover that dinosaur tracks in the cave belonged to seven different types of dinosaur; four meat eating and three plant eating. The medium sized footprints are 24 centimetres long from the heel to the tip of the toe, with the smaller prints measuring 13 centimetres. Dr Morilio was able to determine what kind of dinosaur made the large prints in the mine. 'The dinosaurs of that time had fairly similar looking feet, but had subtle differences,' he said. 'One of those is whether the toes are splayed or not and the relative length of the middle toe, making these likely to be a plant eater.' Dr Morilio believes there is huge potential for more to be discovered in the Fireclay Caverns, but the site has been closed for more than a decade due to safety risks from rock slides. Dr Morilio hopes that the site will be reopened one day to conduct more research with modern 3D imagery technology, and to showcase the incredible beauty of the expansive caves. 'The likelihood is that there would be lots more, but without any access being permitted its an unknown,' he said. 'It's a tremendous site and a tremendous tourist attraction. It really has a lot to offer Australians and visitors to Australia. 'It's interesting to see a slice of Australian history from 200 million years ago.' 100 years ago Stolen car demolished Following an investigation of an accident on the Schenectady road over the weekend, a plainclothes police officer and two state troopers recovered a vehicle involved that was alleged to have been stolen from John Case of St. Johnsville back on Oct. 28. Police departments throughout the Capital Region had been searching for the car since that time. On Saturday, as the Albany-Schenectady limited trolley car was approaching a stop, the motorman noticed a seven-passenger Buick touring car ahead and racing for the tracks. The car became stuck as it crossed the tracks, with the oncoming trolley only a few feet away. Two men leapt from the car and were seen running back toward Albany just as the trolley struck the car, sending it into the air and over a fence into a snowdrift in a field. Passengers on the trolley avoided injury by ducking to the floor at the moment of impact, but the auto was demolished. Authorities discovered that the thieves had removed the original license plates and replaced them with a set belonging to Henry Swartz of Third Avenue in Albany. Times Union, Feb. 18, 1920 50 years ago Radioactive contamination Harris Levine, State Health Department scientist who "moonlighted" at his Albany home using an atomic isotope, had to move out of the house because parts of the interior were now radioactive. He and his son were found to have measurable radioactivity themselves but levels were low. State Health Department officials, who revealed the occurrence at a press conference, said Levine and his son did not pose any danger, or threat of danger, to people with whom they associated. The boy continued to attend school. Mrs. Levine and a daughter had only minimal or trace involvement and another son not living at home had not yet been checked. Radioactivity levels inside the house near Buckingham Lake were extensive and some clothing of both parents had been contaminated. Times Union, Feb. 18, 1970 Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais and Azra Haqqie. Be My Eyes, a San Francisco, CA-based mobile app that allows anyone to assist visually impaired people through live video calls, raised $2.8m in Series A funding. The round was led by Cultivation Capital. In conjunction with the funding, Paul Weber (Cultivation Capital), and Michael Buckley (angel investor and former VP of global communications at Facebook), joined the board. The company intends to use the funds to further develop its business model while keeping the visual support service free and unlimited for all visually impaired users. Led by CEO Christian Erfurt, who co-founded the company with a legally blind craftsman named Hans Jrgen Wiberg in 2014, Be My Eyes calls up a real person, on demand, to describe whats in front of a blind users camera. Initially supported entirely by volunteers, the company recently announced that it would begin partnering with companies to provide expert-level support through a new feature in the app (Specialized Help). Microsoft signed on as Be My Eyes first video support partner in 2018, followed by Google, Lloyds Banking Group, and Procter & Gamble, who now all provide video customer support to the BME community, which spans more than 175 countries. Companies can provide Specialized Help globally or by region, and support services are free to users. Be My Eyes has previously been backed by angels and investment funding from the likes of Singularity University, the founders of Zendesk and the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. FinSMEs 18/02/2020 A man and a woman whose allegations have led to a criminal indictment against a former Montgomery County priest are suing the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Vatican over the handling of their accused abuser. The suit, filed Monday in federal court, takes aim at the Holy See for heading a hierarchy that allowed Manuel La Rosa-Lopez to be ordained, even though, according to the suit, church leaders including former Bishop Joseph Fiorenza were aware as early as 1992 that he had been accused of molesting a young parishioner at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston. The plaintiffs are seeking $20 million in damages. The 51-page document primarily recaps three decades of allegations against La Rosa-Lopez and the latest developments in the investigation from search warrants, charging papers and sealed court records that were mistakenly made public. La Rosa-Lopez is slated to go to trial in March on five counts of indecency with a child. Details of the 1992 allegation, disclosed in prior court records, indicate the abuse occurred in Harris County, where La Rosa-Lopez was a seminarian at the time. The man behind that complaint is not among the federal plaintiffs. The Archdiocese, in response to a request for comment, said it had just learned of the lawsuit late Monday from the media. We take these allegations very seriously and continue to pray for all victims of sexual abuse, the statement said. We are unable to comment any further at this time. The lawsuit says that church leaders failed to stop La Rosa-Lopezs unfettered access to children either by informing law enforcement or parishioners after the initial accusation. Instead, the Diocese kept this information secret and Bishop Fiorenza ordered La Rosa-Lopez to undergo spiritual and psychological evaluations, the suit states, adding that he was allowed to continue his priestly studies the next year. But in 1994, and without explanation, the suit says, La Rosa-Lopez was abruptly transferred to Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wisconsin. Despite his marred past, La Rosa-Lopez was allowed to take his priestly vows in 1996 and was posted to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, where he is alleged to have molested both plaintiffs as children. The accusers, now adults, live in Texas and Washington state respectively. The are listed as John and Jane Doe in the suit to shield their identities and have alleged to Conroe investigators that La Rosa-Lopez molested them from 1998 to 200. Their claims became the foundation of his September 2018 arrest on three counts of indecency with a child. Two more charges involving a third accuser followed in 2019. According to the lawsuit, Fiorenza in 2001 after learning of another allegation met with the female accusers family and assured them La Rosa-Lopez would be removed and would get help. Bishop Fiorenza was aware of La Rosa-Lopezs molestation at St. Thomas parish, but Fiorenza remained silent regarding this fact regarding this fact and simply assured JANE DOEs devout parents that La Rosa-Lopez would be removed and would get help, the document says. The priest was removed from ministry but the allegation was again not disclosed to authorities or parishioners, the suit continues. La Rosa-Lopez received treatment at the Shalom Center, a Splendora rehabilitation center for priests, from April 2001 to January 2002. In 2004, he was allowed to continue working as a priest at St. John Fischer Catholic Church in Richmond. In 2005, he was accused of raping a woman, according to a 2018 report to Sugar Land Police Department. A pattern of keeping La Rosa-Lopezs predatory behavior quiet continued as Cardinal Daniel DiNardo took over for Fiorenza, the lawsuit continues. Cardinal DiNardo knew or should have known La Rosa-Lopez was sexually dangerous to minors and grossly unsuited for such assignments, the document states. Also in 2018, La Rosa-Lopez was accused of offering to find another priest a larger parish but only if he supplied sexual favors, according to a court document. The church was made aware of the allegation but it was not known if La Rosa-Lopez was ever reprimanded. Eduardo Lopez de Casas, head of the Houston chapter of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, welcomed the lawsuit. The fact that something is happening, and someone is reaching out to make the Cardinal answer to some of the many things that he has been accused of doing, is always a good and positive sign, he said. nicole.hensley@chron.com Far From Home unveils the first gameplay teaser for their sci-fi, action-survival game coming to Steam Early Access in 2022 and later to consoles. China on Tuesday called on India to review restrictions related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak with a humanitarian spirit so that normal trade and travel between the two countries could be resumed. Chinese ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, told a media briefing on the Coronavirus epidemic that there were no reports of infections among Indian nationals in China, and that the Chinese embassy has established a contact mechanism with Indias health ministry to maintain close communications on the situation. We hope the Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner, implement the consensus and instructions of the two leaders [President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi], handle with Chinas much-needed items in a humanitarian spirit, and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between our two countries, Sun said. He noted that the WHO (World Health Organisation) hadnt recommended any travel and trade restrictions, and countries around the world need to maintain normal flows of people and trade and refrain from overreaction. Most Indian airlines have stopped their flights to China. New Delhi has also cancelled all e-visas and normal visas issued in the recent past to Chinese citizens, who are required to make fresh applications for travel documents so that they can be screened. As with other countries, Chinas trade with India too has been hit by the Coronavirus-related restrictions. Noting that more than one million people travel between India and China every year and bilateral trade is currently worth more than $90 billion, Sun said that China is a significant player in the global supply chain. Therefore, Chinas early victory over the epidemic will be beneficial to the development of both China and India as well as the global economy. It will help bilateral economic and trade cooperation get back on track. In this context, helping China is actually helping yourself, he said. China, he added, attaches great importance to the health and safety of foreign nationals and will take good care of the Indian citizens ... like our own. The Indian students in Hubei province are in good health, have sufficient daily necessities, accommodation and food. So far theres no report of infection for the Indian citizens in China, he said. India operated two Air India special flights on February 1 and 2 to evacuate hundreds of its citizens from Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, which are the epicentre of the epidemic. The outbreak has claimed nearly 1,900 lives and infected over 72,000 people in China. Sun said that he hoped the epidemic wouldnt affect bilateral ties or activities related to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Year of China-India cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We need to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders during the second informal summit in Mamallapuram [last year]. We need to maintain high-level exchanges, hold institutional meetings and a series of celebratory activities, expand personnel exchanges and trade, and scale bilateral relations to a new height, he said. The envoy acknowledged PM Modis appreciation for Chinas help in evacuating Indian citizens from Hubei that was conveyed in a letter sent to President Xi. The Indian side assures readiness to stand by China and provide the assistance that India can to face this challenge, he said, adding external affairs minister S Jaishankar too had said in a phone conversation with foreign minister Wang Yi that it was important to evaluate the outbreak in an objective and rational manner. Sun also invoked historic contacts between the two sides to underscore the need for cooperation, including the contributions made by Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis during the 1938 Sino-Japanese war and former defence minister George Fernandes visit to Shanghai at the height of the 2003 SARS epidemic, when he had criticised the foreign media for exaggerating the situation. In response to a question, Sun rejected reports that the Coronavirus had originated in a Wuhan laboratory. Based on the analysis of genomic sequence, what we now know is that this virus originates from nature and is not man-made. The virus is terrible, but rumour is more terrible, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Of all the complex factors behind Caroline Flacks death, one over-riding fact is clear. Her death must not be blamed on intransigent police and prosecutors who should, her fans claim, have dropped the case out of consideration for her vulnerable mental state. Miss Flack, who took her own life while awaiting prosecution for an assault on her boyfriend, was clearly in urgent need of psychiatric help, and her death is an unmitigated tragedy for her family and friends. But, cold-hearted as it may sound, this does not disqualify her from being subjected to judicial process. That hasnt stopped some trying to point the finger of blame at the Crown Prosecution Service. Miss Flacks management company has suggested that her ongoing case should be blamed for her untimely death. They reference the fact that Lewis Burton, the alleged victim of the assault, did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events. That may be true. But it is still no excuse for allowing a celebrity a higher threshold for evidence before any prosecution a notion that in the past has enabled high-profile figures to commit serious crimes without challenge. We have to have one law for everybody or theres no law at all. Caroline Flack is pictured above leaving a court in London in December last year Nazir Afzal is a former chief prosecutor who has today said there is no better way to clear one's name than in a court of law The guilty must be held to account. And for the innocent, there is no better way to clear ones name than in a court of law. Furthermore, while it may seem sensitive to take a victims reasons for withdrawing support for a prosecution at face value, history shows that often the causes are more complicated than meets the eye. A victim may have been coerced by the defendant or their family not to kick up a fuss. Financial motives may also come in to play; if the accused is responsible for paying a mortgage, the pressure on a victim to withdraw can be overwhelming. An undated photo shows Caroline Flack, who was found dead today at her home in East London, aged 40 There were 750,000 reports of domestic violence to police in the year ending March 2019. That in itself is the tip of the iceberg; the British Crime Survey indicates that there were more than two million victims. To say it is the epidemic of our times is an understatement. Flack's management team brand the CPS case a 'show trial' that was 'not in the public interest' Caroline Flack's management said everyone was devastated at the news and criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for pressing ahead with her 'show trial' even after her boyfriend said he did not support it. In a statement, Francis Ridley of Money Talent Management, said: 'We are devastated at the loss of our client and friend Caroline Flack. 'An immensely talented young woman who was at the top of her game professionally and loved by television viewers across the country. In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported. 'The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events. 'The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. Our thoughts are with Caroline's family at this time.' Advertisement Indeed, following Miss Flacks tragic death, it seems that many have forgotten that roughly 90 per cent of domestic assault victims are women. Imagine if, instead of a much-loved female celebrity being accused of domestic violence, her male partner was accused of beating her. If that were the case, I highly doubt that anyone would be campaigning for the CPS to restrict its investigations. Men who withdraw their allegations will generally have different reasons from women. A victim who has been assaulted by a woman more than a foot shorter than him, for example, might subconsciously feel that he could have prevented the attack. This is why the CPS must be blind to gender, as it is to all similar considerations. The evidence is all that matters. Yet the majority of commentators on social media display very little understanding of this. That isnt to say that the CPS couldnt have treated Miss Flacks case with more sensitivity. It ought to have been handled much faster, to spare her months of mental trauma. Thats partly due to massive cuts to both the police and CPS in recent years. Boris Johnson has pledged to reverse these, and I hope he does. I also find it deeply troubling that Miss Flack was informed of her forthcoming trial on Valentines Day. This was clumsy. The mental health of a suspect has to be a consideration in prosecution. New guidelines emphasise that CPS lawyers must have regard for the vulnerability of the defendant. This, however, must not be driven by social media outrage, but on medical and psychiatric evidence supplied by defence lawyers. Whether the case then proceeds depends on the public interest test: does the risk to the defendant outweigh the possible harm to the public at large? It is a fine balancing act and the more serious the allegation, the less likely that the vulnerability of the accused will halt the prosecution. Prosecutors are fully aware that Parliament and society rightly take a very dim view of domestic violence, and want to deter it by prosecuting robustly. They will also know that after every domestic killing last year (and there were more than 120), the question was asked: Could it have been prevented by earlier action by police and prosecutors? Its not a scientific exercise, but one based on judgment. After all, thats why we have a blindfolded figure with a set of scales above the Old Bailey. CPS is under pressure to prosecute MORE domestic violence cases after two watchdogs said there was room for improvement in the way they are handled By David Barrett Home Affairs Correspondent For The Daily Mai Prosecutors were placed under renewed pressure to bring more domestic violence cases to court just weeks before Caroline Flacks death. Two official watchdogs told prosecutors and police there was room for improvement in the handling of cases where the victim stops co-operating with the investigation. The criticism takes on a new dimension after the TV stars apparent suicide just hours after she learned prosecutors had decided to press ahead with a court case. CPS lawyers decided to prosecute Miss Flack even after her boyfriend Lewis Burton asked police not to proceed. A court was told she hit him over the head with a lamp. A court previously heard that Caroline Flack had hit her boyfriend Lewis Burton with a lamp (pictured together above) Flack is pictured above leaving Highbury Magistrates' Court in December last year Known as an evidence-led prosecution, it would have relied not on his testimony but on material gathered by police such as bodycam footage taken at the presenters north London home in the early hours of December 12. A former director of public prosecutions said the CPS was under a lot of pressure to bring cases against a victims wishes. In a report published just three weeks ago, police and prosecutors were told to be pro-active in instances like Miss Flacks, and were criticised for allowing too many domestic abuse cases to slip through the net. The report by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found a fifth of domestic abuse cases where the victim had stopped co-operating with the police were incorrectly dropped. The TV presenter, aged 40, took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving her alone at her London home (pictured) It has now been suggested that Flack's trial had been a 'show trial' by the CPS (Flack is pictured above in a promotional shot for Love Island in 2019) Inspectors examined a sample of 78 cases marked no further action by police in England and Wales. They concluded that in 15 cases, or 19 per cent of the total, reasonable lines of enquiry had been missed. In a joint statement, inspectors Wendy Williams and Kevin McGinty said: Domestic abuse can have a devastating impact on victims lives and it is important that the police and CPS are proactive in their approach to dealing with this type of offending. The law allows police and prosecutors to carry on building a case against the alleged perpetrator without the victims help, using evidence such as statements from other witnesses, CCTV evidence and 999 recordings. Prosecutors can even force victims to give evidence against their alleged abusers. Former director of public prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald said there would be a strong presumption that bringing domestic violence charges would be in the public interest. The CPS is under a lot of pressure these days to bring cases where victims withdraw their co-operation, he told BBC Radio Fours Today programme. Indeed theres a recent report by the CPS inspectorate that called on prosecutors specifically to do this. Prosecutors can often be damned if they do and damned if they dont, he said. As 170 to 180 people a year, mainly women, are killed in domestic violence incidents there is a huge amount of public concern about such offences, Lord Macdonald added. And it would be quite rare to drop a prosecution because a defendant was in a vulnerable mental state. Human rights barrister Charlotte Proudman, of Goldsmith Chambers, suggested the prosecution of Miss Flack was a show trial. Dr Proudman told Today: Looking at the circumstances of the case, Im struggling to see why it was in the public interest to prosecute when its very clear that Caroline Flack, at the time, was struggling with her mental health. Seen above is the entrance to a Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan on Feb. 10. The road shows no traffic as the plant was shut down due to the insufficient supply of auto parts imported from China. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo The economic fallout of the coronavirus is likely to lead to weaker-than-expected earnings for Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motor in the first quarter as the two have intermittently halted plant operations following deficits in key parts usually supplied by Chinese subcontractors or affiliates. According to Hyundai Motor, the company ceased work at its Ulsan Plant No. 1, Tuesday, after it ran out of wiring harnesses, which are imported from Korean auto parts suppliers in China. It plans to resume operations possibly by Friday. Car and component production was halted in China due to an extended Lunar Year holiday and mobility restrictions due to the outbreak. Most automakers aim to resume production in a few days, but disruptions related to supply chains could continue until the end of February or early March, according to market research firms. Hyundai Motor stopped operations at all of its domestic plants from Feb. 7 to Feb. 12, due to supply problems. The wiring harness shortage came after the Chinese government ordered businesses in Hubei Province to cease operations up to Feb. 9 to prevent the further spread of the virus that originated in its capital Wuhan. According to industry officials, 38 out of 40 Chinese plants supplying wiring harnesses to car manufacturers here have resumed operations, however, just 60 percent of their employees have returned to work, causing a production slowdown and supply shortages for Hyundai and Kia. Kia Motors had planned to resume production at its plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, but decided to wait until Wednesday, when its No. 3 plant in Gwangju will also resume operations. After Chinese factories restarted manufacturing, Hyundai Motor received a significant amount of wiring harnesses, but this was insufficient to meet the massive demand required from its domestic plants, a company official said. As the fallout of the coronavirus is amplified, the two automakers are acknowledging concerns that the setbacks will affect their first quarter earnings. Yoo Ji-woong, an eBest Investment & Securities analyst, said around Hyundai will see a production drop of 30,000 vehicles due to complications from the coronavirus outbreak, while Kia Motors will lose 7,000. Citing the numbers, he anticipated Hyundai's and Kia's sales will decline by 900 billion won ($757.2 million) and 210 billion won, respectively. This will cause a 150 billion won decline in Hyundai's operating profit and a 40 billion won cut in Kia's bottom line. "In terms of Hyundai, the company attempted to minimize the impact on the GV80, the Palisade and the Grandeur, which are core models contributing to the company's profitability," Yoo said. "Through this, the actual decline in the company's operating profit could be relatively small compared to the number of vehicles facing production setbacks." Citing the two firms heavy reliance on Chinese auto parts, other market analysts expect the duo will see a "noticeable impact" on their first quarter profits. But noted that this would be short-lived. "As negative events are concentrated in the first quarter, a V-shape rebound is expected for Hyundai and Kia in the second, because a decline in vehicle inventory in the first will result in increased output in the second," Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Lee Jae-il said. In White House ceremonies and raucous campaign rallies, President Donald Trump has celebrated a pair of "America First" trade deals he says will end the unfair treatment of American workers. "Unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises. We did our job," he said during the State of the Union address, referring to new trade deals with Canada, China and Mexico. ". . . Our strategy has worked." The new deals rewrite the trade rules that Trump says were responsible for "the catastrophe" that struck American manufacturing over the past quarter century. Yet with fresh tariffs this month on European aircraft and products such as steel nails and aluminum vehicle bumpers, it's clear that the high-profile accords have not completed the president's planned overhaul of U.S. trade relations. In fact, they are just the start. Even as Trump celebrated hard-won gains in negotiations with the nation's largest trading partners, he laid the groundwork for more tariffs, more challenges to longstanding trade norms and more disruption to global commercial flows in the months ahead. "There's a lot still to come. I think they believe they have a playbook that works," said Michael Smart, managing director at Rock Creek Global Advisors. "There's been a lot of talk about how confident Trump is following his acquittal on impeachment. If you look specifically at the trade ledger, he feels he's right on track." In the past four weeks, the president expanded his March 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs to cover products made from those materials, an implicit acknowledgment that his original approach to curbing a flood of imported industrial metals hadn't worked. He authorized the Commerce Department to begin imposing tariffs on U.S. trading partners that allegedly used undervalued currencies to subsidize their exports. And he considered withdrawing the U.S. from a global agreement on government procurement, alarming foreign allies. These actions come as the president sparred with his next trade war target, the European Union, a longtime U.S. ally he says treats American businesses even worse than China, and mulled additional deals with the United Kingdom, Kenya and India. On Feb. 14, Trump fired a new shot in a long-running dispute over Europe's subsidies for aircraft maker Airbus, increasing to 15% an existing 10% tariff on European planes to 15%. His chief trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, issued a 174-page report blasting the World Trade Organization's appellate body for "chronically" violating its own rules and undermining U.S. rights. Administration officials are also mulling a frontal assault on WTO limits on the tariffs that the U.S. can charge other nations. The flurry of activity is evidence that despite two years of intense bargaining with multiple countries and whiplash-inducing tariff threats, the president still has a lengthy to-do list on trade. "Prior to the election, it's probably a mix of stirring the pot and claiming credit," said Dean Pinkert, senior counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed and a former commissioner with the International Trade Commission. The president's "America First" stance has toggled between adversarial and accommodating when it comes to China. On Tuesday, he intervened to quash a Commerce Department plan to restrict the export to China of aircraft engines produced by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric and Safran of France. "I have seen some of the regulations being circulated, including those being contemplated by Congress, and they are ridiculous," Trump wrote in a mid-morning tweetstorm. "I want to make it EASY to do business with the United States, not difficult." Trump, who dismissed the national security worries cited by supporters of the export ban as an "excuse," tweeted after he made it clear in a phone call with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Defense Secretary Mark Esper that he wanted the export licenses for the engines approved, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak to the press. Still, Trump and his team remain determined to upend the patterns of global trade that have arisen since the fall of the Berlin Wall. In a Feb. 6 speech in London, Ross complained that before Trump took office, globalization had "gotten out of control," citing as an example the fact that "it takes 200 suppliers in 43 countries on six continents to make an iPhone." Rebalancing global trade so that the U.S. produces more, and countries like Germany consume more, remains the objective for a president who sees the chronic U.S. merchandise trade deficit as a sign of economic weakness. Speaking in Oxford, England, Ross suggested new digital production technologies associated with the "Fourth Industrial Revolution" could redistribute production of goods such as textiles and apparel away from developing countries to advanced economies such as the United States. Those U.S. industries have been in a long-term decline as low-wage foreign rivals gobbled up market share. The president's renewed activism means that the business community's hopes for an end to trade-related uncertainty will be disappointed. In a seven-country survey of 1,770 executives for TMF Group, a London-based professional services firm, 39% said "trade wars" were their key concern this year. That was the highest figure any issue received. "You can no longer assume a relatively benign global trade regime. You have to factor in tariffs," said Mark Weil, TMF's global chief executive. "They can be changed extremely quickly. That's just the new reality." Trade issues are expected to be at the center of the president's re-election effort and this month's State of the Union address previewed his central themes. "Unfair trade is perhaps the single biggest reason that I decided to run for president," Trump told a joint session of Congress. Trump's handling of trade negotiations represents a sharp break with the bipartisan consensus of the last several decades. He prefers negotiating with U.S. trading partners one at a time rather than in larger groups. To gain leverage in those talks, he has wielded tariffs to a greater degree than any president since the 1930s. The president, who frames his policies as designed to benefit workers rather than "the financial elite," was rewarded with labor union support for his NAFTA replacement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Trump's supporters feel vindicated and not just by his achievements at the negotiating table. The U.S. economy is in its 11th consecutive year of growth, its longest such run, and the unemployment rate is near a half-century low. "He had a theory we would get more leverage by using tariffs. He implemented the theory and he was right," said Stephen Vaughn, former general counsel of the office of U.S. trade representative. "He said we could do this and it wouldn't have a dramatically harmful effect on the U.S. economy and he was right about that." Ross, in last week's speech, said the president's tariff threats were responsible for the China and USMCA agreements as well as smaller deals with Japan and South Korea. Yet, rather than serve as just a temporary negotiating tool, the vast majority of the tariffs Trump imposed on Chinese products remain in place. Ross also called the $887 billion deficit between the value of American exports and the larger total of goods imported into the U.S. in 2018 "unsustainable." (He spoke before the government released updated figures showing the gap had narrowed slightly in 2019 to $852 billion.) The U.S. runs such trade deficits with 97 countries and nation states, though five - Japan, Mexico, Vietnam and the European Union - account for 92% of the total, he said. The president's future trade initiatives may confront even tougher obstacles. His Jan. 24 decision to extend tariffs to downstream products made of steel and aluminum already has drawn a legal challenge from an American importer facing an unexpected multi-million dollar import tab. In a Feb. 4 complaint to the U.S. Court of International Trade, PrimeSource Building Products of Irving, Texas, argued that the president's extension of his steel and aluminum tariffs was "unlawful and unconstitutional"and should be blocked. Trump's action came 638 days after his authority to do so expired, according to the company's complaint. The distributor of building materials said the Commerce Department also had violated the law by not giving notice of the new tariffs or holding a public hearing on the matter. Chief Judge Timothy Stanceu last week barred U.S. Customs officials from imposing the new duties on PrimeSource after the company and the government agreed to a temporary cease-fire while the legal challenge proceeds. A crowded calendar means the president also is unlikely to make progress on major new agreements. Implementing the "phase one" China deal, including promised Chinese purchases of U.S. products, will preoccupy U.S. and Chinese negotiators for months. That will slow progress toward a second, more ambitious deal, which the president has acknowledged might be delayed until after the November election. "The China thing is probably on hold until after the election, so long as the Chinese follow through on the agriculture purchase commitments. That's important for Trump politically," said Warren Maruyama, a partner at Hogan Lovells and a former USTR general counsel. Likewise, initial talks with the European Union have advanced at a glacial pace and most analysts anticipate only a partial deal, if that, before November. The president has complained about European barriers to U.S. automobile and farm goods. "Europe has been treating us very badly," Trump told almost three dozen governors at the White House on Feb. 10. ". . . They have barriers that are incredible." With less than nine months until Election Day, Trump likely will refrain from imposing significant tariffs that could damage the economy, several analysts said. That means his oft-repeated threats to impose tariffs on imported European automobiles are unlikely to be carried out. But even as Trump touts his trade record, some analysts said he is vulnerable. "The criticism will center on the unpredictability of the Trump trade policy," said Miriam Sapiro, vice chairman of Sard Verbinnen & Co., a communications firm, and a former deputy U.S. trade representative. "It makes it very hard for U.S. businesses to make investments when it's not clear which sector, or country or region the president may choose to punish next." Sydney artist Joan Ross has worked on some large canvasses but never one as large or as public as her current commission. Art Gallery of NSW has commissioned her to create an original work for the hoarding that wraps around the construction compound of Sydney Modern, a project that effectively doubles the gallery's exhibition space. The 20-metre long mural is a meld of five historical imagery and watercolours by colonial-era artist Joseph Lycett, overlayed with iconography from the modern world and interspersed with the occasional headless bird. Construction of the Sydney Modern Project is creating a new home for art through the hoarding surrounding the site. Sydney artist Joan Ross with her piece using fluorescent yellow paint, which is a signature feature of her multidisciplinary work. Credit:James Brickwood Ross, a Sulman Prize winner, brings together the panoramic work, We have sung the same song for millions of years, with dashes of high visibility (hi-vis) yellow which were yesterday hand-painted onto the vinyl "canvas". Dublin, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Raised Access Flooring Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global raised access floor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 2% during the period 2019-2025. Key Market Insights The analysis of the global raised access floor market provides sizing and growth opportunities for the forecast period 2020-2025. Provides comprehensive insights on the latest industry trends, forecast, and growth drivers in the market. Includes a detailed analysis of growth drivers, challenges, and investment opportunities. Delivers a complete overview of segments and the regional outlook of the raised access floor market. Offers an exhaustive summary of the vendor landscape, competitive analysis, and key strategies to gain competitive advantage. The usage of raised access flooring technology is increasing due to the growth in the construction market. The optimal use of floor space is one of the primary reasons for the growth of this technology. The increase in building permits for private residential houses and the growth of commercial construction are key factors influencing the market significantly. The demand for raised access floor is also stemming from retrofit projects, which is expected to aid the global raised access floor market during the forecast period. The increase in the number of data center projects is another contributor to the market growth. The US, China, Germany, India, Japan, UK, and Singapore were the most preferred locations for the development of hyperscale data centers in 2019. More than 70 hyperscale data centers were opened or under construction in 2019. Moreover, the US alone is likely to add around 30 hyperscale data center facilities by 2023. For instance, GIGA Data Centers opened a 60 MW data center facility in North Carolina, the US in 2019. Apple announced its plan to invest $10 billion in data centers across the US in the next five years in December 2018. Hence, increased investments from hyperscale service providers are expected to benefit raised access flooring manufacturers. Story continues Raised Access Floor Market: Segmentation This research report includes detailed segmentation by type, end-user, and geography. Steel-based raised access floor is witnessing major demand as it offers high durability and can accommodate major types of floor finishing. The market for steel-based panels is leading as the availability of steel as raw material is in abundance. The demand for steel panels is expected to grow further as they are the first choice among first-time users. The segment is also growing because steel panels prevent deformation, thereby easing calibration. The demand from renovation construction is also high for steel panel flooring. However, the volatility in steel is a restraining factor for the market. The US government's decision to impose a tariff of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminum, respectively, sourced from China is likely to hamper the growth of the steel concretes. The raised access floor technology is finding increasing application in data centers across the world. The increasing internet penetration in countries such as the US and Canada is growing. This rate is likely to increase further as the adoption of smartphones and handheld connected devices is increasing, thereby increasing data consumption. The data growth is also attributed to technological advancements in the past decade, such as cloud computing, big data, and the internet of things (IoT). Hence, the increased data consumption is leading to development data centers, which, in turn, increase the demand for raised access floors. Commercial office real estate remains a major construction activity in the overall urban development. The growth in office spaces has increased globally, with some regions exhibiting rapid progress on account of their economic growth. For instance, in India, during H1 2019, the office space leasing crossed 30 million square feet, which was an increase of around 40% than 2018. The increasing need for office spaces with low maintenance cost and highly sustainable facilities is expected to increase the demand for raised access floor during the forecast period. Insights by Geography A large part of demand in North America comes from new construction projects that are expected to drive the market. The demand for raised access floor in the region is driven by the massive size of end-user industries such as data centers; commercial enterprises such as retail, semiconductor, aerospace; and sizeable public utility centers. The region stands as a leader in innovative manufacturing practices, reinforced by comprehensive product development with an emphasis on energy-efficiency, reduced lifecycle costs, and sustainability. The growth in the general commercial construction demand and the high availability of low-cost labor has boosted the growth in the APAC region. The major drivers in the APAC region include the growth of data centers market on account of the growing number of internet users, the increased use of social media, and high smartphone penetration, the increased adoption of public cloud and hybrid cloud services, and the need for enterprises to migrate from server rooms to data centers. The European market for raised access floor is strong in Western Europe, where the data center footprint is high, especially in the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Germany. The market in Southern Europe is expected to grow steadily. The construction market in Europe is more agile in adopting new technologies than the US. Office spaces, utility centers, and commercial buildings in key cities with high construction activities make use of floor panels. The European region has a significant number of trade agreements that favor trade liberalization and help seamless sourcing, with reduced complexity with respect to duties and taxes on floor panels, and floor finishes products. Insights by Vendors The global raised access floor market is highly fragmented, with no major vendors having a significant share. The market is characterized by vendors that are application-specific, product-specific, or multiple-service providers at any point in time. The selection criteria mainly depend on access to raw material, pricing models, and portfolios. The competitive landscape of the industry is scattered across different geographical regions and flooring type variations. The market is divided into developing and developed regions, with a high variation in the demand and supply ratio. The market is in a nascent stage of growth. The growth is expected to be majorly driven by data centers and office spaces. The competition is currently stiff in the data center and workspace segments, as several companies are looking to gain the first-mover advantage. Key Topics Covered 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 4.1 Market Definition 4.2 Base Year 4.3 Scope of The Study 4.3.1 Market Segmentation by Geography 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 5.1 Key Caveats 5.2 Currency Conversion 5.3 Market Derivation 6 Market at a Glance 7 Introduction 7.1 Overview 7.2 Construction Industry Pricing Model 7.3 Contract Model In Construction Industry 7.3.1 Open Bidding 7.3.2 Closed Bidding 7.3.3 Negotiated Bidding 7.4 Internet Penetration 8 Market Opportunities & Trends 8.1 5G Deployment to Increase Edge Data Center Investments 8.2 Rise of Industry 4.0 8.3 Growth in Infrastructure at Airports 9 Market Growth Enablers 9.1 Growth in Construction Sector 9.2 High Degree of End-user Variability 9.3 Increasing Construction of Hyperscale Data Centers 10 Market Restraints 10.1 Low Penetration Rates in Developing Regions 10.2 US-China Trade Issues 10.3 High Dependence on Data Centers 11 Market Landscape 11.1 Market Overview 11.1.1 Key Insights 11.2 Five Forces Analysis 11.2.1 Threat of New Entrants 11.2.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 11.2.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers 11.2.4 Threat of Substitutes 11.2.5 Competitive Rivalry 12 Panel Type 12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 12.2 Market Overview 12.3 Steel Concrete 12.4 Calcium Sulphate Board 12.5 Chipboard Core 12.6 Others 13 End-user Segmentation 13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 13.2 Market Overview 13.3 Data Center 13.4 Office Workspaces 13.5 Commercial Buildings 13.6 Command Centers 13.7 Others 14 Geography 14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 14.2 Geographic Overview 15 North America 16 APAC 17 Europe 18 Middle East & Africa 19 Latin America 20 Competitive Landscape 20.1 Competitive Scenario 21 Company Profiles 21.1 Lindner 21.1.1 Business Overview 21.1.2 Products Offerings 21.1.3 Applications 21.2 Knauf 21.3 Exyte Technologies 21.4 Gamma Industries 21.5 Everest Industries Ltd. 21.6 Kingspan 21.7 Eurodek 21.8 Comey 21.9 JVP 21.10 United Office Systems Private Limited 21.11 AET Building Products 21.12 Haworth 21.13 Polygroup 21.14 Bathgate Flooring 21.15 Mero-Tsk 21.16 Jansen Access Floor 21.17 Porcelanosa 21.18 Lenzlinger 21.19 Veitchi Flooring 21.20 CBI Europe 21.21 AKDAG S.W. 21.22 ASP Access Floors 21.23 Huatong Xinli Flooring For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ayzcll Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 16:19:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Feb.18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Department of Agriculture, on Tuesday said if the overseas desert locust plague persists, the probability of locusts entering the island country would increase, causing devastation to crops. Local media quoted the Department of Agriculture as saying that currently although it is extremely unlikely that desert locusts would directly migrate into Sri Lanka's inland areas, local agrarian communities were however being made aware of the threat. Last week, the UN issued a warning about the numbers of desert locusts currently swarming through much of East Africa as they had reached Uganda and Tanzania. The outbreak is the largest in decades and has already devastated crops in countries with fragile food security, such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. Desert locusts are considered as one of the most destructive migratory pests. They can fly 150 km with the wind every day and survive for about three months. SAVANNAH, Ga. - A former government contractor serving time in federal prison for leaking a classified document to a news organization is making an appeal for early release to President Donald Trump, who once tweeted that he considered her crime to be small potatoes. Reality Winner, 28, is serving a sentence of five years and three months at a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, after she pleaded guilty in 2018 to a single count of transmitting national security information when she worked at a National Security Agency office in Georgia. Prosecutors called it the longest sentence ever imposed for a federal crime involving leaks to the media. Winners parents and sister appeared with her attorney at a news conference Monday in Dallas to announce the filing of an application with the Justice Department seeking clemency for Winner. Attorney Alison Grinter Allen said the application included about 4,500 letters of support. In a phone interview Tuesday, Grinter Allen said Winners best bet may be direct intervention by Trump, who has demonstrated a willingness to become personally involved in criminal prosecutions that he considers unfair. I dont know that we ever had our hopes pinned on the official channels of the pardon attorneys, because really that takes so long, Grinter Allen said. But this president has shown a willingness to ignore those conventions and to commute peoples sentences when he sees fit. Thats what were hoping for is to get the attention of the president, she said, and get the attention of all the candidates vying to be president. A former Air Force translator from Kingsville, Texas, Winner worked as a contractor for the NSA in Augusta, Georgia, when she printed a classified report and left the building with it tucked into her pantyhose. Winner told the FBI she mailed the document to an online news outlet. Authorities never identified the news organization. But the Justice Department announced Winners June 2017 arrest the same day The Intercept reported on a secret NSA document. It detailed Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software and the accounts of election officials ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The NSA report was dated May 5, the same as the document Winner had leaked. Winners sentence was part of a plea deal agreed to by her defence attorneys and prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine, whose office prosecuted the case, called Winner the quintessential example of an insider threat and said the document she leaked harmed national security. Trump weighed in on Twitter the day after Winner was sentenced. Gee, this is `small potatoes compared to what Hillary Clinton did! Trump tweeted on Aug. 24, 2018. So unfair Jeff. Trump didnt elaborate in his tweet on what he was alleging Clinton had done. Jeff Sessions was still serving as Trumps attorney general at the time of the tweet. Before her arrest and prison sentence, Winner had made it clear she was no fan of Trumps. On Facebook she once called him a soulless ginger orangutan. Winner struck a different tone after Trumps supportive tweet in 2018. In a jailhouse phone call, she told CBS This Morning: I just cant thank him enough. Trump has worked outside the traditional pardon process usually overseen by the Justice Department, appearing to favour cases that catch his attention. Some have been championed by friends, celebrities or conservative media. Trumps latest clemency spree Tuesday included commuting the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of political corruption just months after he appeared on Trumps Celebrity Apprentice reality TV show. Last week, the Justice Department at the direction of Attorney General William Barr recommended a lighter sentence than federal prosecutors had initially sought for Trump confidant Roger Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress. Trump had tweeted that Stones conviction should be thrown out. Grinter Allen said seeking clemency is Winners only real chance for early release from prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system. And Winner gave up her right to appeal her sentence as part of her plea agreement. Reality has taken full accountability for what she did, Grinter Allen said. ...Shes suffered enough and punishing her doesnt serve any goals of a free people. A SYRIAN refugee whose family has been resettled in Portlaoise is extending his free Arabic language classes to the public in Limerick to promote integration with the Irish community and foster greater understanding of his culture. Radwan Abouhajar, a 40 year-old agricultural engineer from northern Syria, moved to Ireland three years ago with his wife, and his daughter, now aged six, while his second daughter, now aged 15 months, was born here. He started free Arabic classes in Portlaoise last year, with a modest class size of just six Irish nationals, and they are now being extended to Limerick city, with the assistance of Doras Luimni, a human rights organisation which offers support to all migrants living in the Mid-West. The language classes are very basic the alphabet, phrases, short conversation. But people want to know more about our culture, our history and our language, said Mr Abouhajar, who was forced to leave his parents behind in Syria. Irish people want to build friendships with us. The reception has been very warm here. Its lovely. Everyone is so helpful. I have never suffered any abuse in Ireland. The course has been very successful in Portlaoise. After the language classes, Irish people have watched movies with us in Arabic, and we have introduced them to Syrian food too, he told the Limerick Leader. In addition to teaching Arabic to English speakers, he has also been teaching basic English through Arabic to recently resettled Syrian families in Portlaoise for the past year. His eldest daughter, who is in senior infants in primary school in Portlaoise, is helping him to improve this English, and also gain cupla focail as Gaeilge. Our children are doing brilliantly in Laois, he said. They are hopeful and that gives us hope. Leonie Kerins, director of Doras Luimni, which was founded 17 years ago, said that this is the first time they have offered the six-week basic Arabic language course, following its success in Portlaoise. It is their hope, she said, to continue the programme depending on demand, while spaces are capped at 12 for the initial course in Limerick. She added that while the Arabic speaking world extends to some 20 countries, and over 420 million people, the particular focus of the class is on connections with Syria through its volunteer teacher, who himself is a former client of Doras Luimni and now a member of its board. Forty-seven Syrian refugees were resettled in Limerick last year, a further 25 adults and children are due to arrive in Limerick in the coming weeks, and 54 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Portlaoise. Over 80 Syrian refugees are due to arrive to the county Roscommon town of Ballaghaderreen early next month. Limerick City and County Council said that its partnership with eleven other State agencies and local stakeholders has led to the successful resettlement of these families, in association with the Department of Justice, An Garda Siochana, Tusla, the HSE, the Department of Social Welfare, and others. Doras Luimni worked with almost 1,200 people from 86 countries last year, according to figures in their newly released annual report for 2016. Out of the 86 different nationalities whom they worked with, the predominant five countries of origin were Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Brazil and Somalia. The charitable organisation assisted a total of 1,126 people, including 597 new clients, and held 2,416 case meetings. They also supported 96 people in finding accommodation. The most prominent issues which arose were family reunification, asylum applications, social welfare issues, citizenship applications, and housing supports, including supporting people moving from direct provision to independent accommodation. A quarter of their workload relates to the increase in family reunification applications. The Arabic classes will begin on Thursday next, February 23, in Central Buildings, OConnell Street, Limerick, where their offices are based. The one and a half hour class starts at 5.30pm, and while there is no fee, donations are welcome. To book contact Brian at b.vandamme@dorasluimni.org or call 061 310328. Xu Zhiyong has asked for Xi Jinping to step down. (Twitter: Amnesty) Beijing: Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised president Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, a rights group said Tuesday. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International. A source who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said Xu had been arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou police did not respond to requests for comment. Xu went into hiding after authorities broke up a December gathering of intellectuals discussing political reform in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, prior to the coronavirus crisis. China's ruling Communist Party has curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students. The death this month of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising alarm about the deadly new virus before dying of it himself triggered rare calls for political reform and freedom of speech. The "Chinese government's battle against the coronavirus has in no way diverted it from its ongoing general campaign to crush all dissenting voices," said Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, in an emailed statement. Over a dozen lawyers and activists were detained or disappeared after the Xiamen gathering, according to rights groups -- and Xu's detention appears linked to his presence at the meeting, explained Poon. But while on the run, Xu continued to post information on Twitter about rights issues. On February 4 Xu released an article calling on Xi to step down and criticised his leadership across a range of issues including the US-China trade war, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests and the coronavirus epidemic, which has now killed nearly 1,900 people. "Medical supplies are tight, hospitals are filled with patients, and a large number of infected people have no way to be diagnosed," he wrote. "It's a mess." "The coronavirus outbreak shows just how important values like freedom of expression and transparency are -- the exact values that Xu has long advocated," Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. But the disappearance of Xu illustrates how the Chinese state "persists in its old ways" by "silencing its critics", she said. Xu -- who founded a movement calling for greater transparency among high-ranking officials -- previously served a four-year prison sentence from 2013 to 2017 for organising an "illegal gathering". "That he was a fugitive for so many days while continuing to speak out, that in itself was... a kind of challenge to (Chinese authorities)," said Hua Ze, a long-time friend of Xu who told AFP she lost contact with the Chinese activist on Saturday morning. Experts involved in astrophysical, space and laboratory plasmas and young researchers from 25 countries worldwide have gathered at the 7th edition of the series Magnetic Fields in the Universe that is taking place in Quy Nhon from February 16-22. At the conference (Photo: tiasang.com.vn) The conference forms part of 16th Meeting Vietnam (Rencontres du Vietnam) - a development initiative that has brought the worlds renowned scientists to Vietnam for discussions since 1993, said Professor Tran Thanh Van, President of the Rencontres du Vietnam Association on February 17. Entitled Magnetic Fields in the Universe: from Laboratory and Stars to the Primordial Structures, the conference aims to provide ample exchange of the new results and recent progress in these distinct but closely related research areas and provide the new generation with a broad perspective of the field. The topics addressed cover magnetic fields in a broad variety of processes and environments: from plasma laboratory to the solar corona, the heliosphere, the interstellar medium, external galaxies, clusters of galaxies, the intergalactic medium and the primordial Universe. The perspectives given to the audience on each of these topics are theoretical and/or numerical, as well as observational./. VNA Discovering underwater sea path of Quy Nhon With summer in full swing, visitors have been flocking to visit Hon Kho island in Quy Nhon city to discover the areas enchanting underwater sea path as well as participating in scuba diving around coral reefs to avoid the hot weather. Photo: The Canadian Press Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau celebrate at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal on October 22, 2019. Chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault says there were no cybersecurity incidents of significance during last fall's federal election campaign. In a preliminary report to Parliament about the Oct. 21 election, Perrault says there was no cyber disruption to services to Canadians or to the administration of the electoral process. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Elections Canada can't let its guard down, says Canada's chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault, despite getting through last fall's federal election campaign with no significant cybersecurity threats. In a preliminary report to Parliament about the Oct. 21 election, Perrault says there was no cyber disruption to services to Canadians or to the administration of the electoral process. Elections Canada created a social-media monitoring unit devoted to scouring online platforms for disinformation about how, when and where to cast ballots and rooting out websites and social-media accounts that falsely claimed to belong to the independent elections agency. The report says Elections Canada flagged to social-media companies 28 instances of impersonation or inaccurate information that could have interfered with electors' ability to vote, although none were "concerning in terms of their scope." Thirteen of those posts were removed by the platforms; some of the accounts were determined to be inactive. "Thankfully, nothing happened but it doesn't mean that we have to stop being concerned about these issues," Perrault said in an interview shortly after the report was tabled in the House of Commons. "These are now, I think, permanent features (of elections)." Elections Canada worked with Canada's security agencies to secure its operations and Perrault said it will continue to do so now that the election is over. It will also maintain the social media-monitoring unit, on a reduced scale, and continue to require cybersecurity training for all employees. The report says some 18.3 million Canadians cast ballots, or 67 per cent of registered voters, down slightly from the 68 per cent turnout in 2015, which was a 20-year high. It also says Canadians are increasingly choosing to vote in advance polls rather than wait until election day. Advance polling hours were for the first time extended to 12 hours a day and took place on four days over the Thanksgiving weekend. The report says almost 4.9 million voters (more than 26 per cent of the total who cast ballots) took advantage of the advance polls a 32.7 per cent increase over the 2015 election and a whopping 131 per cent increase over 2011. There was also an increase in the small percentage who chose to vote by special ballot. While nearly 70 per cent still chose the traditional approach of waiting to cast their ballots at their local polling stations on election day, the report says that is "the lowest percentage ever recorded in Canadian federal elections and attests to the rise of the popularity of advance voting." Elections Canada officials said the extended hours and additional locations for the advance polls was a big factor behind the increased cost of the 2019 election an estimated $504 million, up from $443 million for the 2015 campaign, which was almost twice as long. "It worked well this time around but if you throw another million voters at this system, with the same number of workers and the same number of polling stations, it may not produce such high quality service," Perrault said. "We need to find a way to meet the demands of electors, increase the service options, without increasing the workforce because there just is no more people to hire." The report says returning officers aimed to recruit 248,000 election workers but ended up hiring about 232,000, most of whom where assigned to polling stations. Roughly 10,000 of them did not show up for work. Canadians living abroad were allowed to vote in the election, regardless of how long they'd been outside the country a change introduced by the Trudeau government and which some Conservatives had argued would pave the way for two million or more expats to vote, some of whom might potentially be compelled to vote a certain way by unfriendly foreign governments. In the end, the report says just 34,144 expats actually voted almost precisely the number Perrault had estimated would take advantage of the reform. Elections Canada received some 11,100 complaints during the campaign, down from 17,000 in 2015. More than half came from environmental groups worried that talking about climate change would constitute a political activity for which they'd have to register as a third party. Perrault said the problem was "a bit of a wildfire" but confined largely to the pre-election period. Once Elections Canada clarified the rules, he said, it died down. Slovakia continues to be a strong supporter of Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and of its candidacy for OECD membership, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Government of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajcak, on a visit to Bucharest, said on Tuesday. During a joint press conference alongside Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu, Miroslav Lajcak highlighted the Romanian policy on minorities. "Romanian minority policy could be considered as a model," Lajcak said. In his turn, Minister Aurescu noted the common vision of the two countries on EU enlargement. "Both states are strong supporters of the enlargement of the European Union and we have a remarkable convergence between our positions and approaches on this issue. I have stressed the importance of the enlargement process for the states in the region, a process that must continue without further obstacles. We support the adoption of a decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible," he said. Bogdan Aurescu also mentioned the Three Seas Initiative, in which Romania and Slovakia are involved. "I welcomed the recent announcement made by the US at the Munich Security Conference - the allocation of up to 1 billion US dollars for interconnection projects under this initiative," the head of Romanian diplomacy said. Regarding the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework, Aurescu highlighted "Romania's interest in an ambitious budget to maintain the necessary funding for the Cohesion Policy, for the Common Agricultural Policy". Kildare County Council has granted planning for an aviation repair operation in Celbridge, at which there could be over over 60 jobs. On February 6, the council granted permission to Esprit Investments Limited for the operation on the Maynooth side of the town, a week ahead of its scheduled permission date. The planning file suggests a further development at the site could be on the way. Lufthansa Technik was named in the planning application by Esprit Investments Limited to set up an operation on the Maynooth road at Moortown, Celbridge. The application was made to Kildare County Council last November 1 and on February 6, permission was granted to locate an aviation repair unit at Moortown, Celbridge, on the R405 Maynooth road, close Salesians College and Celbridge Community School. On September 10, 2019, Esprit Investments Limited, as well as the proposed user, Lufthansa Technik, and the Industrial Development Authority, met Kildare County Council planning officials in a pre planning meeting on September 10 last. The staff will include 60 skilled engineers in an operation in which aircraft engines would be repaired. A number of submissions were made to the Council, from John and Laura Ward of Moortown House, Lar McKenna of Rossmore Properties and Birdwatch Ireland, which requested the applicants to provide nesting for the swift bird. The company said it was happy to provide nest boxes and this is part of the planning conditions. Another condition is a 228,966 in development contributions which will go to the council. The conditions require that heavy goods vehicles not enter the premises during peak closing and opening hours of nearby Salesian College and Celbridge Community School. Lufthansa Technik currently has two main operations in Ireland. One is Lufthansa Technik Shannon Limited -LTSL-, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG. It has a workforce of over 550. The second is Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS) which specializes in the repair of components for both high pressure and low pressure turbines for CFMI and GE aircraft engines. It employs around 200 people. Edward Enninful has announced the first 'Forces For Change' event in London, which will take place days before Meghan Markle is set to return to the UK to wrap up royal duties. The editor-in-chief of British Vogue, 47, and the Duchess of Sussex, 38, collaborated on September's special 'Forces for Change' edition, which featured a grid of 15 'incredible' women on the cover with articles commissioned by the royal inside. Edward took to Instagram last night to announce the 'Change-Maker Talks', an evening of 'intimate discussions' in London, with actress Salma Hayek acting as a 'keynote speaker'. It is not known whether the Duchess of Sussex will attend the event on March 7, with Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan believed to be returning to the UK for the Commonwealth Service on March 9. British Vogue's Editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, 47, has announced the 'first ever' Forces For Change event, inspired by Meghan Markle's, 38, September issue (pictured together celebrating the magazine's success) Taking to Instagram to announce the event last night, Edward shared a snap of Salma, writing: 'I'm so pleased to present the very first @BritishVogue Forces For Change event, the Change-Maker Talks, as part of the 10th anniversary @WOWGlobal Festival in @SouthbankCentre's Queen Elizabeth Hall. 'Join me and a host of my dear friends, including the formidable @SalmaHayek, on Saturday 7th March for an evening of intimate discussion and inspiration.' Other women who will appear at the event include Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto and British-Iranian journalist Christiane Amanpour. It is not known whether the Duchess will be in attendance at the special evening event in London, which takes place early in March. It is not known whether the Duchess of Sussex will attend the event. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan are believed to have been asked by the Queen to return to the UK for the Commonwealth Service on March 9 Meghan and Prince Harry quit as senior members of the Royal Family in January and are currently residing in Canada, planning to split their time between British and the US. However, it is widely believed they will return to the UK for the annual Commonwealth Service on March 9 with the rest of the royals. It was reported last week that the Queen had appealed to the couple to attend the service next month. For the Duke and Duchess, it will be wrapped into a wider whistle stop schedule which will mark their final duties on The Firm's frontline. Announcing the event on Instagram, Edward revealed it would be an 'evening of intimate discussion and inspiration' The Forces For Change event will coincide with their return to the UK for their final royal engagements before they make their final transition to non-royal life. Last week, it was announced the September issue of the magazine sold out in 10 days and was the biggest selling issue of the past decade. Meghan selected 15 'trailblazers' and 'changemakers' to appear on her front cover. The line-up of women she admires included celebrities, politicians and activists known for championing issues such as diversity, body positivity, transgender rights and climate change. Actress Salma Hayek, who was selected by the Duchess of Sussex to appear on the cover of the magazine, will act as keynote speaker at the event And Edward spoke of the success of the issue earlier this year, branding the Duchess of Sussex's Forces For Change initiative 'not a moment, but a movement.' He described the response to the September edition, which was released on August 2, as 'phenomenal,' before declaring the idea would be continued in every issue. Meghan's role as guest editor represents one of the most radical moves in Vogue's 100-year history, with the magazine saying it considers the new September issue to be its most important edition of its year. Another race will be held concurrently with Irans parliamentary vote: The Assembly of Experts midterm election. The Assembly of Experts is an 88-member clerical body in Iran tasked with choosing and monitoring the next supreme leader. Candidates must have a certificate of Sharia expertise or pass an exam from the Guardian Council on Islamic jurisprudence to run. Meanwhile, many believe that the hard-liner-dominated council rejected many of candidates for their affiliation with the Reformism current. The assemblys election is held every eight years, but a midterm is held every four years to replace those who have passed away or resigned. Most of the assembly's members are over 70. Some consequential decisions of the clerical body have included electing Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri as the deputy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1985 and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the new supreme leader in 1989. The secret committee In the Assembly of Experts, there are two important commissions named after Article 107 and Article 109 of Iran's constitution. Article 107 concerns the qualities of the leader, including his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and political insight, and Article 109 states that the assembly is tasked with choosing the leader. According to assembly member Morteza Moqtadai, there is also a secret sub-commission of three persons elected from the members of the two other commissions. The secret committee dates back 18 years. Assembly member Ahmad Khatami stated in 2017, In the meeting of the Assembly of Experts with the Supreme Leader around 15 years ago, he said that you should have 10 [potential] leaders up on your sleeves. Based on this idea, a secret committee was formed to investigate figures who could be the leader. In a 2006 interview, Moqtadai elaborated on the function of the committee, saying, This committee holds a meeting every week and their investigations are secret. Their documents are also classified. This three-member committee doesnt even give its documents to other assembly members. According to Khatami, however, If the Supreme Leader wants, the names of [the potential figures to replace him] will be given to him, but he hasnt asked for it so far. Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former assembly chairman, revealed that the commission once chose two candidates to replace the supreme leader after talking with hundreds of figures. However, he emphasized, the committee makes no decisions and is only reviewing. According to Moqtadai, the committee members visit the house of potential candidates to assess their personal lives as well as their political insight and positions on foreign policy and domestic politics. The British Ticket As Khamenei ages, the assembly has been attracting attention. Four years ago, late Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, two-time president of Iran, laid out a plan to change the makeup of the assembly, which has been mostly controlled by hard-liners, by blocking the three most powerful hard-liner clerics: Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah Yazdi (spiritual leader of hard-line Endurance Front), Ahmad Jannati (secretary of the Guardian Council) and Mohammad Yazdi (secretary of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom). The Reformists had high hopes for 47-year-old Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic's founder, but he was disqualified by the Guardian Council. The Reformists claimed he councils rejection was politically motivated as Khomeini had produced the required certifications. The hard-liners and radicals had campaigned fiercely against Rafsanjani and his candidates, labeling his list the British Ticket. Since a large number of Reformist and moderate clerics have been rejected by the Guardian Council and barred from running in the election, Rafsanjani was forced to put a number of conservative figures alongside his allies on his ticket. Most of the clerics on his ticket won election, especially in capital city of Tehran, where Rafsanjani's list won 15 out of 16 seats. Mesbah Yazdi and Mohammad Yazdi were both left out of the body, but Jannati managed to secure a place in the assembly. Despite the victory, Rafsanjani and his allies remained a minority faction in the assembly, dissuading him from running for the chairmanship. Moderate Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini was nominated by Rafsanjanis camp, but he lost to the Rafsanjani's archenemy Jannati. A midterm opportunity Despairing over the mass disqualification of their candidates and believing that even successful candidates will be left ineffective in the parliament and the Assembly of Experts, many moderates and Reformists have decided not to run at all. Hence, the road seems clear for the hard-liners to take full control over both bodies. In some provinces, including Qom and Fars, the hard-liners face only one rival from their own camp. Under such conditions, Mohammad Yazdi and Mesbah Yazdi are likely to join their old friend Jannati in the assembly and influence future developments, exactly the situation the late Rafsanjani sought to prevent. Credit: University of Sheffield A mass burial of bodies, known to be victims of the Black Death, has been discovered at the site of a 14th-century monastery hospital at Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire. Archaeologists from the University of Sheffield revealed 48 skeletons, many of which were children, at the extremely rare Black Death burial site. The Black Death was one of the worst pandemics in human history. It devastated European populations from 1346-1353 and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people. The presence of such a large burial site, containing both male and female adults, as well as 27 children, suggests the local community was overwhelmed by the Black Death and was left unable to cope with the number of people who died. Dr. Hugh Willmott from the University of Sheffield's Department of Archaeology, who has been working on the excavation site since 2011, directed the excavations and explained why the find is of national importance. "Despite the fact it is now estimated that up to half the population of England perished during the Black Death, multiple graves associated with the event are extremely rare in this country, and it seems local communities continued to dispose of their loved ones in as ordinary a way as possible," he said. "The only two previously identified 14th-century sites where Yersinia pestis (the bacterium responsible for the plague) has been identified are historically documented cemeteries in London, where the civic authorities were forced to open new emergency burial grounds to cope with the very large numbers of the urban dead. "The finding of a previously unknown and completely unexpected mass burial dating to this period in a quiet corner of rural Lincolnshire is thus far unique, and sheds light into the real difficulties faced by a small community ill prepared to face such a devastating threat." Dr. Willmott added: "While skeletons are interesting, they just represent the end of somebody's life and actually what we are interested in as archaeologists is the life they led before they died. "One of the ways we can connect with that is through the everyday objects they left behind. The mass burial of bodies at Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire. Credit: University of Sheffield "One artifact that we found at Thornton Abbey was a little pendant. It is a Tau Cross and was found in the excavated hospital building. This pendant was used by some people as a supposed cure against a condition called St Antony's fire, which in modern day science is probably a variety of skin conditions. "Before we began the dig the site was just an ordinary green field grazed by sheep for hundreds of years, but like many fields across England, as soon as you take away the turf, layers of history can be revealed by archaeology." Teeth samples from the skeletons found at the Thornton Abbey site were sent to McMaster University in Canada where ancient DNA was successfully extracted from the tooth pulp. Tests on the DNA revealed the presence of Yersinia pestis, which is documented to have reached Lincolnshire in the spring of 1349. Tau Cross found at the site. Credit: University of Sheffield Dr. Diana Mahoney Swales, from the University of Sheffield's Department for Lifelong Learning, who is leading the study of the bodies, said: "Once the skeletons return to the lab we start properly learning who these people really are. "We do this by identifying whether they are male or female, children or adults. And then we start to investigate the diseases that they may have lived through, such as metabolic diseases like rickets and scurvy which are degenerative diseases for the skeleton. However for diseases such as plague, which are lethal, we have to use ancient DNA analysis to investigate that further." New Delhi, Feb 18 : Though the construction of new classrooms for Delhi schools has missed the construction completion deadline, these will be ready by the coming academic session, according to the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. It was on January 28, 2019, that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia had laid the foundation stone for 11,000 new classrooms for Delhi schools under the biggest expansion phase of government school infrastructure. Even after one year, however, the classrooms are not ready. Speaking to IANS, Sisodia, who holds the education portfolio, said the new rooms, including classrooms, will be made available for students in the coming academic session beginning April 1. The deadline for building about 12,000 new rooms, from January 2019, was December 2019. Sisodia told IANS that the construction had got delayed as there was the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in operation for the Lok Sabha elections between March and May 2019, as well as due to a court ban on all construction in Delhi since October 2019 on account of severe air pollution. "I was monitoring the construction on an everyday basis. However, the MCC was imposed for the Lok Sabha and that affected the construction. Also, with the onset of winter, the city witnessed severe pollution because of which the Graded Response Action Plan was imposed in Delhi. All constructions were banned in the city when the GRAP was imposed," Sisodia said. He explained that no new tender was allowed during operation of the MCC and, thus, work in some places started later than expected. "The new classrooms will be ready by the new academic session", the Education Minister said. The Supreme Court had in December 2019 partially lifted the ban on construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region, allowing these between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The ban was removed totally on February 14. In July 2018, the Delhi cabinet approved the proposal of building 12,478 new rooms in the schools. Of these rooms, 9,981 will be the classrooms, 106 multi-purpose halls, 328 laboratories, and others, including libraries, fooms for principals and vice-principals and staffrooms in the existing premises of Delhi government schools under the jurisdiction of Directorate of Education. An estimated cost of Rs 2,892.65 crore was sanctioned for the purpose. The Public Works Department is the executing agency for this project. As per the government, out of 1,024 government schools, over 280 are running in double shifts with a high enrolment of students. The proposal for new classrooms was designed to accommodate these students. The new rooms are being built since the state government lacks control over land in Delhi, which has affected the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) plans to build new schools. In the 2015 Assembly elections, the AAP had pledged to build 500 new schools. Since 2015, only 25 new schools have come up in the capital and an equal number may be constructed by March 2020, according to government data. Known for its reforms in the education sector, the AAP has constantly blamed the lack of control over land for its inability to build new schools. Delhi went to the polls this month and AAP was re-elected. The cabinet ministers have remained unchanged with minor changes in their portfolios. (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Brian Babin (i) Age: 71 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated from University of Texas Dental Branch City of residence: Woodville Job title: Retired dentist; member of Congress Up to three examples of other elected office or volunteer involvement: 1. Former military service: U.S. Air Force, Texas Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve 2. Former councilman, school board member and mayor of Woodville 3. Former deacon and Sunday school teacher, First Baptist Church of Woodville Q: How do you feel the interests across your district vary and how do you fairly represent everyone across the land area? A: From Deer Park to Orange and Corrigan to Newton, the people of District 36 are hardworking, family-oriented American patriots. The issues we hear about when we talk with our constituents, meet in one of our four Texas offices, or help an individual with casework always seems to revolve around the same thing: How do we know that our government hasnt forgotten about us? Our office utilizes town hall meetings, telephone town halls, constituent mail with issue reply cards, social media and other digital platforms to update and receive feedback to ensure we always address the latest needs and concerns of the people. Q: What would you say are the most important issues you have to address when lobbying for Orange, Jasper, Hardin and Newton counties? A: Flood/storm recovery is the most pressing need, since people are out of their homes. But every disaster event is a lesson that better prevention and mitigation can save countless dollars in recovery and repair down the road. I work every day to convince my colleagues from coast to coast that these arent just backyard parochial issues for me, and that solving them impacts not only the families and communities I represent but the ones they do as well. Southeast Texas is the energy capital of the world, and projects like the Sabine Pass LNG export facility provide energy security and stability for our county and our friends around the world. These places need a stable workforce where you can raise a family, and they can be found in these counties. Another important project is the Sabine-Neches Navigation District channel widening and deepening. Q: What can you do to lobby for more education and labor force grants for parts of your district with few such opportunities? A: Taxpayer dollars for these grants are high in demand, low in supply, but I make the point everywhere I go that my district is one of the best places to earn a good salary to raise a family, even if you dont have a college education. Workforce training grants have a maximum impact in my district because as soon as someone is trained and certified in a trade, there are countless places just waiting to hire them on. Q: Do you believe America is increasingly polarized? Why or why not? How do you address that polarization in your district? A: I believe that the good people of my district agree more than they disagree. Their common interests far outweigh their differences. They believe in hard work, freedom, free enterprise, our First and Second Amendment rights and the spirit of community. Roxanne and I are reminded of that with each town and family we visit in this district, and I feel honored to represent them in Washington a place that could use more East Texas values. Q: What are your thoughts on the impeachment, i.e. should the House have pursued impeachment in the first place? Have the proceedings been handled appropriately? Why did you vote the way you did? A: The impeachment of President Trump was an absolute sham from the beginning. The proceedings were totally unfair, rushed and illegitimate. This was perpetrated by a political party that has been hijacked by the extreme left and is more consumed with trying to bring down this president than focus on improving the lives of the American people. I voted against his impeachment because I believe that President Trump did nothing wrong. In fact, hes doing all he can to make this country better, to uplift our families and root out corruption in government. I stand with him 100% and look forward to having the opportunity to work with him again to build upon our past successes. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: Ive had the honor of serving Texas 36th Congressional District and fighting to bring conservative leadership to Washington. Working with President Trump, weve been able to make real changes that put our families and America first. In Congress, I fought to help the president get the funding needed to finish the border wall. I fought to uphold our gun rights and pass the Trump tax cuts that allow hardworking Americans to keep more of their money and Im fighting to restore healthcare freedom when it comes to finding affordable health insurance. As a veteran and father of a Navy SEAL, I saw the dismantling of our armed forces under the previous administration put our national security at risk. Last year alone, we passed legislation that increased defense spending by $22 billion funding needed to upgrade Americas air and sea fleet and also providing long overdue pay increases to our brave soldiers. These resources will be used to keep our military at the ready and keep our citizens safe. Ive had the honor of receiving President Trumps endorsement in my re-election, and with the peoples support, I look forward to working with him in the future as we as continue to keep America great! RJ Boatman City of residence: Houston Job title: Real estate brokerage Priorities: Immigration Taxes True conservative Texas values Stand with President Trump Pro-life Boatman did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Information for this biographical box was gathered from the Secretary of State and Boatmans campaign website. Savers with Britain's largest building society could win 100 in a new prize draw. Nationwide's Start to Save account offers quarterly prize draws with payouts of 100 to lucky savers as well as 1 per cent interest. The aim is to encourage people to build a rainy-day fund. Nationwide's Start to Save account offers quarterly prize draws with payouts of 100 to lucky savers as well as 1 per cent interest The new account supports the Government-sponsored Money and Pensions Service target to persuade millions more who struggle to save regularly. More than 11 million people in the UK have less than 100 in savings. Nationwide will have four prize draws. The first will be in July, with the others following at three- monthly intervals. To be eligible for the draws you must increase your balance by 50 a month prior to the draw. Nationwide says the odds of winning are, at worst, one in 67 far better then Premium Bonds, where the odds will drop to one in 26,000 in May. The more people save, the more prizes there will be, which means the odds could drop. The total prize fund for each draw will be 1 per cent of the total balance increases on qualifying Start to Save accounts in the three months leading up to the draw. The account is available online and open to all savers in England, Scotland and Wales. It is not available in Northern Ireland because legislation there does not allow it to offer a prize draw. sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk Eastport's new city manager has fallen in love with the island city since arriving in July and says his mission will be to work on how he can help make the quality of lives of those who live in the city better and more prosperous. "I'm here to serve the people and to embellish what already is good here to become better," says Thomas Hoskins, who was hired by the Eastport City Council in a 5-0 vote at a special meeting on January 27. The city has been without a city manager since Ross Argir resigned at the beginning of November. According to council President Rocky Archer, a total of nine people applied for the position, but the council interviewed only two candidates. Of the decision to hire Hoskins, Archer says, "He was in our price range." He adds that the decision was based on Hoskins' previous work and his willingness "to work with our terms of employment." Hoskins, who began work on February 3, will receive $55,000 a year with a benefit package, under a one-year probationary contract with a review by the council after six months. According to Archer, Hoskins is willing to lock in with a three-year contract, but the terms have not yet been worked out. One of Hoskins' first tasks will be to prepare the city budget for the coming fiscal year. Former Calais City Manager Jim Porter, who was hired on an hourly basis by the city council in January, is helping him with the budget and in learning the job. Hoskins says the budget "will be on track" for approval by the council in June. Hoskins notes that he has budgetary experience, having been responsible for a $554 million budget at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He worked there for nearly eight years, until 2019, as a senior hospital administrator, including as strategic employee engagement analyst director and as corporate IT finance analyst. He says he was responsible for three divisions with 2,500 workers, out of the hospital's 47,000 employees. Last year, he says, he "decided to do something dramatically different." He first went to Vermont, where he had been planning to shoot a pilot television production about dogs. He notes that proposal was a $3 million project for a TV production studio and would have needed state funding. However, the state "didn't have the money for that," so he left, put his two golden retrievers in the car and went to the farthest point in Maine, since he had lived near the water much of his life. "I found a great place to live, where I'm really, really happy," he says. He arrived in July and "loved it. There are so many great things going for it." People reached out to him and were very kind. In September he bought a house across from the former city hall building and had it renovated so he could move in by Thanksgiving. "I like to move quickly," he notes. He applied for the city manager position because he "felt there was lots of opportunity to do great things." Noting that he's "big on education," with the New York hospital having a program to provide funding for students to go to college and then have a job at the hospital, he says he can use his years of expertise in television, the corporate world and marketing "to help Eastport and to serve this community and hopefully make Eastport more prosperous." Before he worked at the New York hospital he was an executive producer and on-air show host for Great Lifestyles Television Productions for a Fox-affiliated TV station in the Midwest. Hoskins says he is continuing to be involved with TV production and is planning on a production "all about dogs" in Eastport. A camera crew was in Eastport at the end of January, and the production will be shot this summer. "People in Maine love their dogs," he notes, and the show will be about where people take their dogs and how they travel with them. The show will be "shopped out to network TV" for national distribution. Hoskins also was a corporate visual merchandising regional director for Macy's Department Store in Miami, Fla. He helped with marketing of new Macy's stores for 14 years, working with city officials and developers. His five "hot topics" to work on in Eastport are: a return of manufacturing industries to the city that would employ 150 to 200 people; travel and tourism, with Hoskins noting that the ocean draws people and helps communities become profitable; school programs that will tie in with aquaculture to take advantage of what already exists in the area; downtown retail development; and senior healthcare, with services provided to seniors at their homes. While grant-writing is not in his background, he says he can work on obtaining money for projects from corporations and other sources. With his former television show he worked with national sponsors to help fund the production. After being on the job for a week, Hoskins remarks that he is working with "a great staff. They're very dedicated city workers." Concerning his commitment to staying as city manager, he says, "This for me is the long haul. I'm not a job hopper." And as for working in a small community, he notes that he grew up in a small town in Ohio. "I like the simplicity. I like the connections with neighbors, and I like the connections with the community." "I am very passionate about Eastport and very happy to call it my home," he says. "I love the idea that we're the smallest city in the state of Maine with the biggest agenda." Sandy Block: That's right. There's an expression in Washington, they'll call a bill a Christmas tree, because it's got lots of things hanging on it. This one is particularly apt, because it was passed just around Christmas. It has all kinds of little shiny things on it that kind of have gone under the radar. When we talked to Ed Slott last week, we talked a lot about an aspect of the bill that people don't like, which affects people who inherit individual retirement accounts. But these provisions, I think a lot of people are going to be happy to see. For example, one of the provisions will allow part-time employees to contribute to a 401(k) plan. Sandy Block: In the past, if you worked fewer than 1,000 hours during the year, you typically weren't allowed to participate in an employer's plan, and that could benefit people, maybe people who are cutting back, they're early retirees, they have a part-time job and a gig job, maybe make enough money, their employer offers a plan and anything that gets more participation in a 401(k) plan is a good thing. Ryan Ermey: And you say new parents are likely to be sort of under the radar beneficiaries? Sandy Block: Oh yeah. Yeah. It's interesting, I was just reading an article about the cost of adoption, and depending on how you adopt it can cost next to nothing to over $50,000 if you're engaged in an international adoption or a private agency adoption. It can get very, very expensive. One of the provisions of the bill would allow new parents to take penalty free withdrawals of up to $5,000 from a 401(k) or IRA after the birth or adoption of a child. So, I think people should always be cautious about taking money out of a retirement plan because that's not what the retirement plan is for, and you'd still have to pay taxes on it, but this is an option particularly might be preferable to running up a big credit card bill if you find yourself strapped for cash after, again, an expensive adoption or maybe the birth of a child that costs a lot, you drove up your medical care costs. Ryan Ermey: Yeah, and another thing that we have down here on our script of SECURE Act leftovers, leftovers, by the way, one of my favorite parts about Christmas if we're going on about a Christmas tree bill, is that 401(k) plan administrators will be required to provide an annual estimate of how much money plan participants could get each month if they use the account balance to buy an annuity. Sandy Block: Now, this is a little controversial because one of the provisions in the legislation will make it easier for 401(k)s to offer an annuities as part of your menu, and there's a lot of conversation about whether or not that's a good idea. Ryan Ermey: Whether they're the most suitable. Sandy Block: Right, whether they're expensive, but I think this could actually be a good thing because one of the problems we have now is people have gotten really good about putting money in their plans, but they have no idea what that's going to get them when they retire. I think this formula might actually give people an idea. If it tells you how much you would get each month through an annuity at least gives you sort of a ballpark idea of how much money you can get once you retire and start taking money out. So I don't think this is a bad thing. Sandy Block: The last one I want to mention, and I actually think this is the nicest ornament on the tree, is it will allow owners of 529 college savings plans to withdrawal up to $10,000 tax free to make payments on the beneficiaries, which usually is your child, student loans. So let's say you've saved a lot of money in a 529 plan and your child did need it all. You could use that money, but your child did borrow. You could use some of that money to pay off the loan, and I could see all kinds of ways that people could play this. You could decide, let's let that money grow in the 529 plan, borrow, and then just pay off the loan as soon as the student graduates. Sandy Block: Grandparents, in particular, will like this because there's a cork in the financial aid formula that says if you're a grandparent and you take money out of the 529 plan to give to your grandchild, it can reduce their eligibility for financial aid. So instead of taking money out of the 529 plan to pay for your grandchild's college, you could take the money out and pay for your grandchild's loan. So I think this is one that offers a lot of interesting strategies for people with these plans. Ryan Ermey: Yeah, a lot of flexibility and an ability to really have an outsize financial impact. I know the kind of lengths that would go to if I could pay down big chunks of my student loans. We may be talking about those in the future episodes of the show... Sandy Block: Oh, yeah. We're going to get to that. Ryan Ermey: Off mic, Sandy and I have talked about what I might be willing to do. Maybe I should enter into one of these surveys that we always get, but in the meantime, be sure to go back and listen to our talk with Ed Slott. About the headline implications of the SECURE Act, and be sure to go to kiplinger.com for all of our coverage of the act, the whole Christmas tree and of course all of these little ornaments that are going on there as well. Can you guess what the ETF with the symbol FIVG invests in? Kyle Woodley previews excellent lesser known ETFs next. Ryan Ermey: We are back and we're here with Kyle Woodley. He's the senior investing editor of Kiplinger.com, and I think now a three-time guest on the show. Kyle, thank you so much for coming back on. Kyle Woodley: Hey, again, everyone. Ryan Ermey: So we're talking ETFs again and we're going to get into today's main topic, which is ETFs that you've probably never heard of. But first, Kyle, I guess a quick caveat about investing in unfamiliar ETFs. Kyle Woodley: Sure. So some of you might not be familiar with ETFs or maybe you're just not familiar with investing in smaller ETFs. If that's the case, I just want to point you online to a... it's a quick guide that includes some really basic information you want to look out for. It's a very simple link, Kiplinger.com/links/etfguide, as in it's a guide to ETFs. Ryan Ermey: Oh, really? Kyle Woodley: But otherwise, I just want everyone to know that just because a fund is new doesn't mean the investment is some crazy, high risk crapshoot. In fact, one of these ETFs is actually dedicated to one of the oldest investment strategies in the book. So, I think there should be a little something for everyone today. Get your pencils ready. Ryan Ermey: Well, so we're going to get to that one in a second. But first, one of the newer investments in the book, one of the ETFs that you plan to talk about here is very much investing in a hot new theme here. Kyle Woodley: Yeah, so I'm sure this point, you've heard of 5G or fifth generation wireless technology. All the major telecoms at this point have some sort of 5G network up and running, even if it's only partially, even if it's 5G lite, only a handful of phones even support 5G yet. My wife actually bought a new iPhone over the weekend, no 5G, but it's coming. Kyle Woodley: So the big pull is obviously that it's faster, and it is fast. One of the simplest explanations that I've heard is that a two-hour movie would take you 26 hours to download on the old 3G technology. Now, that's six minutes to download on 4G. Ryan Ermey: Not too bad. Kyle Woodley: Just 3.6 seconds on 5G. Ryan Ermey: Holy Moly. Kyle Woodley: That's fast. But it's not just about speed. It's also the fact that because of how it's built, 5G will allow many things to be connected to networks in the way that they weren't before. So you might be thinking about your smart thermostat at home or maybe you have like an echo speaker. So that's part of it, but we're also talking about tiny sensors and things like oil pipelines or health monitors, and the numbers are silly. WinterGreen Research has a report out, and a lot of the numbers vary, but WinterGreen Research is pegging global 5G market growth from $31 billion this year to $11 trillion by 2026. Ryan Ermey: Okay. I'm sold, how do I get in? Kyle Woodley: So a Defiance NexGen Connectivity ETF, ticker FIVG 5G... Ryan Ermey: 5G. Kyle Woodley: Launched in March of 2019, so it's very new, and it is the first 5G specific ETF. It's a pretty direct play on the space. So you have exposure to telecoms like AT&T and Verizon, of course, but it's also hooked up to companies that are building the infrastructure behind all of this. So you've got NXP semiconductors, which is ticker NXPI. You've got Nokia, ticker NOK. Qualcomm, ticker QCOM. There's even real estate exposure, so there's a company called American Tower, ticker AMT, which actually owns cell towers and telecom infrastructure. Here in the U.S. it actually leases those out to AT&T and Verizon and it does the same kind of thing and about a dozen other countries. It charges 0.3% in fees, which is $30 on a $10,000 investment, and it's already put together $240 million in assets. So it's young, but it's getting there in size. Sandy Block: So, Kyle, I'm kind of a 3G kind of girl and I'm looking for maybe something a little less adventurous. What have you got in the area of value ETFs? Kyle Woodley: Sure. So not a big name yet, but it's the Distillate US Fundamental Stability and Value ETF, ticker DSTL. So this launched 16 months ago, but it's off to a fantastic start. The goal of this fund is to put together a portfolio of stable, high quality value stocks. But the thing that I want to focus on right now is the value aspect, because this is kind of where DSTL stands out. So a lot of value ETFs and mutual funds out there, especially index funds, what they'll do is a lock onto a couple of really basic metrics of value. So price divided by earnings, which is PE, price divided by sales, which is PS, but DSTL doesn't use those. It uses free cashflow, so that's the cash that's left over once a company does whatever capital spending it needs to maintain its business... Ryan Ermey: The parenthetical I have to put in every single time I mentioned free cashflow in the magazine, I have it copied and pasted. Kyle Woodley: I do the same thing at this point. Sandy Block: Tattoo. Kyle Woodley: So you take free cash flow and you divide it by its enterprise value, which is a different way to measure a company size. You start out with market capitalization and then you factor in the debt it owes and the cash it has on hand. Ryan Ermey: Yeah. Generally, the amount that someone would have to pay to buy the whole company is how I've heard people describe that. So why is that an important value metric? Kyle Woodley: So a lot of companies are getting increasingly we'll say creative with their accounting. All right, so "adjusted earnings", they've been used for a long time, but usually it's for one off things, say, like a big tax charge or expenses related to an M&A deal. But some companies, especially newer companies, are using things like adjusted earnings and even adjusted revenues every quarter. They say it better represents their actual business dealings, but really it's just helping them look better than their traditional accounting methods would. Cash? Cash doesn't lie. You don't see a lot of adjusted cash out there. You either have cash or you don't. Kyle Woodley: So you've probably heard a lot over the past few years about how value is underperforming, and that's true. Traditional value funds have underperformed and people say things like, "Value is broken." But I've actually talked to Thomas Cole who's the CEO over at Distillate Capital a couple of times, and I love that he says, "The problem isn't the value stopped working. It's that traditional value metrics did." Kyle Woodley: Now, so far, at least as far as this fund is concerned, he's right. I actually put DSTL in my list of the best ETFs to buy for 2019 when it had just $17 million in assets. Now it has $70 million and it's in my best ETFs for 2020 list. It didn't just beat other value funds last year. It beat the market. It's a little behind the S&P 500 so far this year, but it's clobbering other value funds. So again, this one is DSTL, and it charges 0.39% in annual expenses. Ryan Ermey: You know, I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. You're remembering to do the tickers every time. Which the last time I talked about individual investments on the show, I mentioned Bayer the drug company, people thought I was telling you like... Sandy Block: Smokey the... Ryan Ermey: ... a bear. Kyle Woodley: They're looking for the hedge ETI. Ryan Ermey: Right, so you have to spell these things out. Kyle Woodley: No, that was actually, that was a Money Show call back. I went to the Orlando Money Show a few years ago and a lot of them are just, "Hey, here are 10 value stocks, here are 10 dividends stocks," And they would talk about him, and God forbid one of the speakers not mention the ticker. Someone in the crowd would loudly, angrily say, "Well, what's the ticker?" Sandy Block: It's an old group, right? Kyle Woodley: It is, I mean, it definitely tended that way. But the people that were yelling, they weren't always old. I mean, it was a dedicated group of investors that came there for picks. They wanted their picks and they wanted to know what they had to type in at the end of the day. So it's just something I try to remember when doing this. Ryan Ermey: All right, one more pick from you. And this is in another area of the market that people have a lot of interest in. Kyle Woodley: So yeah, this one has to deal with the health care. So we'll take a few things and sort of smoosh them together. All right? Ryan Ermey: That's what I like. Kyle Woodley: So you've got healthcare, and healthcare just as a whole is a really great sector because it can do well in good times and bad. You might not buy a second pair of Nike's if times are hard, but you're going to move heaven and earth to make sure that you're getting your prescription. Ryan Ermey: And you're still alive. Kyle Woodley: Yes. So then you have the mega trend of aging boomers, and that means far more money is being spent improving and prolonging the lives of that generation. On top of that, we're not the only country with an aging population. Other areas of the globe are dealing with the exact same thing and a lot of these countries are growing in wealth too, so the market's over there are becoming more lucrative. Kyle Woodley: On top of that, you have the fact that technology is now playing an increasing role in dealing with all of these new healthcare needs or even old healthcare needs. So if you wanted to mix all those things together, Robo Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF, which is ticker HTEC, that might be the bowl you want to mix it in. Kyle Woodley: H tech is a thematic fund. So it's not just a single industry like, say, medical devices, and it's not even one sector. It's mostly healthcare, but it dips into technology too. The result is a combination of anywhere between 50 and 100 stocks across the world, not just the U.S., that are basically redefining the edges of health care. That's the theme. Ryan Ermey: So is it a lot of sort of biotech names coming up with new innovative medical devices? Kyle Woodley: Sure. So it does have some of those, but if we're talking about sort of pressing the edges of health care, there's a couple of other companies that make it easy to describe. So you've got Teladoc Health, which is ticker TDOC. Let's say your sinuses are acting up, case in point today for me. Ryan Ermey: You sound great. Kyle Woodley: Rather than going your doctor, you can use your PC or smartphone to video conference in with a Teladoc physician. They can prescribe you medicine, or for whatever reason they think the condition is more serious, they can refer you to a primary care physician, urgent care center, hospital, whatever. So the fund also holds a company called Ping An Healthcare, and I hope I'm pronouncing the middle part of that right, but that's a Chinese company that acts like a one-stop healthcare ecosystem. You can do online consultations, you can get expedited medical deliveries, accompanied hospital visits for senior citizens, the whole nine yards. But it also holds medical device companies. There are biotechs. There are other cutting edge healthcare firms. So yeah, this gets you, you know, you are broadly in healthcare, but you're where healthcare is going to be in the next 5 to 10 years. Sandy Block: Well, and I think one thing that strikes me about some of these names, Kyle, is that they would benefit even if there are efforts to lower medical costs. Right? Something like Teladoc is poised to benefit as we try and drive down the cost of healthcare. Kyle Woodley: Absolutely. If you look at a lot of healthcare funds, and H tech included, pharmaceutical and biotech companies might be among the types of stocks are going to be affected by some sort of political sea change, but it also holds companies that should hold up. Again, Teladoc, the idea that you can just go ahead, if you're at home you don't have to drive to the doctor and you can just get on your cell phone. Yeah, that's something that is going to persist sort of no matter what happens. That's not to say that H tech is completely immune from all that. It absolutely isn't, and nobody should take it that way, but some of these holdings might actually hold up better than what you'll find in a lot of traditional funds. Ryan Ermey: So listen, all fabulous picks. I know I joked last time you came on here, it's like having Rodney Dangerfield on the "Tonight Show." Like it just treats, you're just here giving them out. We really appreciate it. Kyle is the senior investing editor of Kiplinger.com, and be sure to log on for all of our fabulous investing content, including a lot of Kyle's excellent ETF content. Kyle, thank you so much for coming on. Kyle Woodley: Thank you kindly, have a good one. Ryan Ermey: If you've shopped for student loan rates, you'd have been smart to have skipped to LendEDU and if you're shopping for prescriptions, you should probably skip Canadian websites. Details after the break. Ryan Ermey: We are back, and before we go, another edition of deal or no deal. And, Sandy, is yours a deal or a no deal? Sandy Block: Oh, it's a no deal, Ryan. Before we started doing wild pitches, we were getting wild pitches regularly from a company called LendEDU, and basically the survey, it was dubious surveys about all of the things, you know, we've talked about this, the things you would do to relieve yourself of student loans. Well, these would get more and more outrageous. They'd be like 20% of students... Ryan Ermey: Would cut your own hand off? Sandy Block: Yeah, 20% of students said they would never have sex again if they could relieve themselves or their student loans. They just got more and more ridiculous. Well, the FTC brought an action against this company, and basically what LendEDU did, and there are a lot of companies that did this, they rated different types of financial products, including private student loans. They'd say, "These are the best providers of student loans." Well, the FTC charged them with basically elevating the companies that paid them money. Sandy Block: So it was, to get a high rating, financial services firms paid LendEDU. So these were not unbiased reviews at all, was totally pay to play. So people were thinking they were getting an unbiased analysis of the best provider of private student loans or other products, when in fact they were getting a list of companies that paid the most to get highest ranking. Which is mad enough, but the FTC also said that LendEDU's employees and friends and family members would file fake positive reviews on other websites about how great LendEDU is. Sandy Block: I was looking at the complaint and one of the testimonials came from someone named Sophia Loren, University of Texas 2015. Who knew? Ryan Ermey: The movie star herself. Sandy Block: That probably should have been a tip off. She said she saved $10,000 on her student loans. Now, I mean the takeaway here is you need to be very skeptical of comparison websites and product reviews. This has been written about. One way the FTC recommends is don't look at just one site. Don't look at just one comparison site, look at several. The same thing goes with reviews. Don't just go with one site's reviews, look at others and do... and you just really have to have kind of a very skeptical approach to all of these things. Ryan Ermey: Which isn't to mention that LendEDU, they used to send out press releases to us, which we never covered them, but someone probably did, and there's a whole site ... if you Google Drew Cloud, and I don't feel bad giving away that name because it wasn't a real person. Sandy Block: No, it was composite. Basically, they kept offering him up for interviews as a veteran of student loans and an expert, and when some folks at the Chronicle of Higher Education actually tried to talk to him instead of emailing him, they found out that there was no such person, that he was a composite. Ryan Ermey: So what it really means, you know, what else it means, I suppose, is keep an eye on who you're following for your financial advice in media as well, and stick with the trusted time-tested personal finance advice of Kiplinger.com... Sandy Block: ... because we're real. Ryan Ermey: And our lovely... yeah, we are real. You can tell... actually if people haven't seen us, they don't know. Sandy Block: We're not composites, yeah. Ryan Ermey: We are indeed real people. So I got an interesting email from a reader. In fact, this saga that I wrote about getting relief, getting payment assistance on prescriptions for my dry eyes, by far the most email I've ever received on any story. It turns out there's a dry eye community. Sandy Block: And they have lots of advice for you, right? Ryan Ermey: They have lots of advice. Sandy Block: It has nothing to do with saving money on your prescription drugs. Ryan Ermey: No, no, no. It's about how I should be taking supplements and I should have tear duct plugs. I mean, apparently a painless procedure. I need to fire my ophthalmologist, all this stuff. But one that stood out was a gentleman wondering why in my article about saving on pricey prescriptions had I not talked about buying drugs from Canada. And my first inclination was, isn't that illegal? But like any journalist, I thought, "Wow, maybe I left a stone unturned here." Sandy Block: You could've gone up to Quebec, had a wild weekend, and come back with your prescriptions. Ryan Ermey: I don't know, maybe I had a blind spot and I didn't realize. Sandy Block: With those dry eyes. Ryan Ermey: Yeah, that's right. But no, it actually is illegal, but kind of less illegal than you might think. So, the 2017 Consumer Report's nationally representative survey found then estimated 3.4 million people had ordered at least one medication online from outside the U.S. in the 12 months preceding the survey in order to save money. Ryan Ermey: So it's not an uncommon thing, and WebMD, which WebMD is like the hypochondriacs. I mean... Sandy Block: You got a symptom, you go there, yeah. Ryan Ermey: They have a very interesting write up about the legality of it. What they say is, let's make this very clear, it's absolutely, unequivocally, without question illegal to re-import into the U.S. prescription drugs that have been exported to other countries or to bring in substances that are banned under U.S. law for any reason, except when you've got a prescription and the FDA or customs agents say it's okay or decide to look the other way. So, which is the whole point, right? Ryan Ermey: It's sort of, it seems that the agencies are interested in prosecuting the businesses that are involved in this, and really not so interested in prosecuting you for doing this. Now, is this nevertheless something that we would never recommend anyone do in the magazine or on the podcast? Yes, because it's illegal, and moreover it's perilous. Buying drugs this way can be risky according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, it tracks these online pharmacy websites, and of more than 11,000 such websites, 95% operate outside the U.S. and federal laws, meaning that most did not require prescriptions and were selling foreign drugs or drugs not approved in the U.S. What's more, you could open yourself up to buying counterfeit prescriptions or some adulterated or watered down prescriptions, and if you do it from what is an illegal site, you really don't have any recourse. You can't go to the government and say, "I bought these fake prescriptions and now I'm getting sick," because they said, "Well, where'd you get them from?" MANBIJ, Syria Families displaced from Idlib province continue to arrive in Manbij, fleeing the fierce fighting between Russian-backed Syrian regime forces on one side and Syrian opposition factions and jihadist groups on the other. Thirty-five displaced families made it to Manbij in Aleppo province Feb. 3, according to the Manbij Military Council. The media office of the Northern Democratic Brigade published a video Jan. 31 on its Youtube channel showing another 80 families arriving. There are large batches of people arriving in Manbij on a daily basis, so it is difficult to count their numbers," Abu Omar al-Idlibi, commander of the Northern Democratic Brigade, told Al-Monitor. The brigade is affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-Arab alliance that controls the area. Commander Mazlum Kobane tweeted Feb. 6 that thousands of displaced people have traveled east from Idlib to the safe SDF areas, adding that more people were still expected to arrive. Making the situation in Idlib even more difficult, some 550,000 Syrians had been previously displaced to Idlib from other areas and now must flee again. The United Nations said Feb. 13 that 140,000 people had been displaced from northwest Syria just in the three previous days, many of them futilely headed west to the closed Turkish border. Idlibi denounced the failure of relief organizations to secure the needs of the displaced, saying, No humanitarian organization has offered relief or assistance to the displaced civilians, with the exception of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria [Rojava] and its civilian councils. Idlibi, who is from rural Idlib, wrote on Facebook that two members of his family were killed Feb. 3 during airstrikes by Russian aircraft backing the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Monitor spoke with Hamdoun, who declined to give his full name. He said he was displaced with his six children from Jabal al-Zawiya in Idlib province. He talked about the catastrophic conditions and the daily killings taking place in the Idlib countryside, denouncing the Turkish-backed opposition's Syrian National Army for failing to protect civilians. Khaled Zeino, head of the Northern Democratic Brigade's public relations office, expects the number of people displaced to Manbij to increase as the battles intensify in Idlib, perhaps exceeding 60,000 in the coming months, he told Vedeng News. He added that Rojava officials are setting up a huge camp in Manbij capable of accommodating 100,000 civilians. Kobane wrote in a Dec. 27 tweet, Our doors are open to our people in Idlib. They can coordinate with the SDF-affiliated Idlib Military Forces to come to our areas. Asked about Kobanes welcome, Idlibi commended it, adding that it isn't the first initiative launched to help the people of Idlib, as camps were previously established in Tal Rifaat and Afrin before the Turks occupied them. Idlibi said Kobane's initiative showed to the whole world that the SDF is a national force, one that protected all the components of the Syrian people and maintained Syrias borders, economy and civil peace despite all the challenges, pressure and attacks from the Turkish and Syrian regimes. CHICAGO Rod R. Blagojevich, whose criminal sentence President Trump has commuted, became a household name when he was arrested 12 years ago on an explosive accusation: Prosecutors said he had tried to sell or trade to the highest bidder the Senate seat that Barack Obama was vacating to become the president. Mr. Blagojevichs expletive-filled remarks about his role in choosing a new senator caught on government recordings of phone calls became punch lines for late-night television. Ive got this thing, and its golden, he was memorably quoted as saying, using profanities. And Im just not giving it up for nothing. Im not going to do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there. In the years he has since spent in federal prison in Colorado, Mr. Blagojevichs name has faded some. (So has his trademark pouf of black hair.) Madeleine West has written a blog about her yoga experiences. In a lengthy column for Nine Honey, the former Neighbours star said that after doing the practice in Byron Bay for some time, she felt like an inner-city class would be too easy for her. She admitted that it was at that exact 'moment her yoga superiority came crashing down' around her. 'I was so very Byron!' Madeleine West revealed this week the exact 'moment her yoga superiority came crashing down' when she completed a grueling inner-city class The 39-year-old said she was left shocked and in 'pain' after her grueling session in the 'big smoke.' Madeleine explained that when she walked into the city studio she felt 'superior' because she thought her yoga studio in Byron Bay was better. 'It just wasn't Byron. It wasn't the inked-up, "fresh from the beach" bronzed backpacker vegan vibe in all-natural organic-bespoke poet shirts and ironic velvet shorts look I was accustomed to,' Madeleine said. 'I was so very Byron, with my hand-printed T-shirt, repurposed wine bottle-now-water vessel and ''coffee in a jar cos (sic) I'm too cool for Keep Cups'' vibe.' Shocked: The former Neighbours star said that after doing the practice in Byron Bay for some time, she felt like an inner-city class would be too easy for her. But the 39-year-old was left shocked and in 'pain' after a grueling session in the 'big smoke' Too cool: 'I was so very Byron, with my hand-printed T-shirt, repurposed wine bottle-now-water vessel and ''coffee in a jar cos (sic) I'm too cool for Keep Cups'' vibe' The actress said despite thinking she would be 'underwhelmed' by the class, that it was the 'hardest class of her life.' 'I was in so much pain I didn't even think about asking for her number, let alone breathing I was too busy shaking, aching and sweating,' she said. Madeleine said she learned a lesson about yoga, that it doesn't matter where she does it or what she wears, it was all about the art of it. Back in 2016, Madeleine told the Australian Women's Weekly that her enviable figure is all just 'smoke and mirrors.' 'Without my Spanx, I have no waist and without my push-up, I am less cup overfloweth, more empty windsock,' she said at the time. Life lesson: Madeleine said she learned a lesson about yoga, that it doesn't matter where she does it or what she wears, but rather the art of it The Playing for Keeps star relocated to Byron Bay back in 2019. In October last year, she mocked city types who move to Byron Bay, despite relocating to the coastal town herself. She told KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show that Byron was filled with 'wannabes'. 'The thing I laugh about is the people who come from big cities to Byron and suddenly start "being Byron",' she said. Madeleine explained that these people wear contrived bohemian outfits while actual Byron Bay locals just wear T-shirts and shorts. 'They have the perfect hair, the perfect outfit and the perfect makeup,' she added. UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan's Narowal town. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received the UN Secretary General at Kartarpur Sahib, some 125kms from Lahore. A Sikh boy presented him a bouquet. Guterres was also briefed about the Kartarpur Corridor pact between Pakistan and India. He was told that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken this initiative to facilitate the Sikh community of India and elsewhere to visit the shrine. Wearing an orange scarf, Guterres visited different parts of the Gurdwara. He was served with traditional food in lunch along with Sikhs and Pakistani officials. Strict security measures were taken during the visit. Indian Sikhs in good number were also present at Kartarpur Sahib. Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019 in connection with the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor from the Indian side on the same day by flagging off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims, including former premier Manmohan Singh and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and urged them to focus on new technologies. He termed climate change as the major issue the world is facing today. He also inaugurated a polio campaign. Pakistan is one of the three countries where polio is still endemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled his US tour (AP) Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled his Northern American tour, saying he will not be fit to perform. The 71-year-old rocker - who announced in January that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease - has cancelled all US dates on his 2020 No More Tours 2 while he seeks treatment in Switzerland. Osbourne said in a statement: Im so thankful that everyone has been patient because Ive had a s*** year. Unfortunately, I wont be able to get to Switzerland for treatment until April and the treatment takes six-eight weeks. Read more: Ozzy Osbourne fronts gory anti-declawing campaign for PETA Ozzy Osbourne had already postponed the tour from 2019 due to ill health (AP) I dont want to start a tour and then cancel shows at the last minute, as its just not fair to the fans. Id rather they get a refund now and when I do the North American tour down the road, everyone who bought a ticket for these shows will be the first ones in line to purchase tickets at that time. Refunds, including fees, are available at the original point of purchase.Those who bought tickets to No More Tours 2 are promised first access to tickets when Osbournes next tour is announced. The tour had been due to start in Atlanta on May 27 with 26 concerts scheduled throughout June and July. Those have all been cancelled. The former Black Sabbath frontman is now due to begin the tour in the UK on October 23 2020. Ozzy Osbourne attended the 2020 Grammy Awards in January supported by daughter Kelly Osbourne (Getty Images) Read more: Ozzy Osbourne talks making new album Osbourne had already rescheduled the tour, which was originally due to take place in 2019. After being plagued by health problems he revealed in an emotional interview to Good Morning America, where he was joined by his wife Sharon, that he had been diagnosed with degenerative disease Parkinsons, which affects the nervous system and can cause depression. Osbourne said: "I had to have surgery on my neck which screwed all my nerves in. I've got numbness down this arm from the surgery. My legs feel going cold, I don't know if that's Parkinson's or what... It's a weird feeling." Karamatullah K Ghori By During his recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Imran Khan lamented that Pakistan wasnt getting from its brothers in the Muslim world the support it expected over its tangled relations with neighbouring India. Imran had gone to Kuala Lumpur to smoothen out kinks in his equation with Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammad, whom hed greatly disappointed by not showing up at the Kuala Lumpur Summit last December. Imran publicly apologised to his host for not showing up at that important conclaveof which he was himself a proponent along with Mahathir and President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Imran apologised for his absence which, he acknowledged, was because of misconception of some Muslim states who thought of the conclave as divisive and disruptive of the fabled unity of the Muslim Ummah. Imran didnt name names of the countries that suffered from the misconception, but he didnt have to. An outspoken Erdogan had done that on the heels of the meeting by pointing the finger at Saudi Arabia which, according to him, had twisted Imrans arm to not turn up at the conclave. Imran had been harshly lambasted by a free-wheeling Pakistani news media for his pusillanimity and surrender to the Saudi diktat. But hed kept a studied silence on the issue. So, the pundits are pondering and musing, why did he choose to break his silence now and that, too, on foreign soil? Well, for one, Imran was on friendly soil in Kuala Lumpur and knew hed be having a receptive audience there. Mahathir, along with Erdogan, has stood stoutly by Pakistan in its ongoing tangle with India over what the Modi government has done to the disputed Valley of Kashmir. Mahathir is paying a stiff price for his support to Pakistan in the sense that India, out of pique at his temerity, has hit back by drastically reducing its import of palm oil from Malaysia. For another, Mahathir and Erdogan together make a duo of the fiercest critics of the Saudi stance of not only not supporting what they regard as Pan-Islamic causes and issues but also for playing a disruptive and divisive role in the ranks of the Ummah. Imran, a novice to governance, regards Mahathir and Erdogan as his mentors and gurus in statecraft. That he chose his presence in Kuala Lumpur to make a clean breast of his disappointment for having taken his cue from Saudi Arabia in boycotting the Summit is a pointer to his and Pakistans growing frustration with their Arab brethren in general, and with the Saudis in particular, for not standing with Pakistan when most needed. Pakistan feels sorely disappointed that the Saudis have not only done precious little for them on their own but, more regrettably, have callously sabotaged all Pakistani efforts to get the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the highest representative body of Muslim States, actively engaged on Pakistans side in its tussle with India over Kashmir. OIC, in its genesis, was supposed to lend a platform to the Ummah for collective advocacy of all issues Islamic. However, because of its headquarters in Jeddah, and because Saudi money largely bankrolls OIC, it has becometo the utter frustration of manya Saudi handmaiden. Together with UAE, Saudi Arabia has stonewalled collective action by OIC member states where needed, for instance, on Yemen. Ever since the Indian government revoked Kashmirs special status, last August, Pakistan has been tilting at all windmills to have an exclusive gathering of OIC Foreign Ministers to hear its complaints on the Indian move. But it has hit a wall on every move to have the OIC on board. Last week, for instance, senior officials of OIC congregated to an prepare agenda for the 47th session of OIC FMs. Kashmir figured on it, but only for casual discussion. Pakistan was left out in the cold on its request for an exclusive session of FMs on Kashmir. The vibrant Pakistani social media has been vocal in its condemnation of the Saudis and Emiratis for being undisguised partisans of India. They are accused of putting money before principles. Tens of billions of their dollars are invested in India, besides India being a much larger market than Pakistan for their oil. But Imrans hands are tied, for a variety of reasons. Saudi Arabia is not only where the two most sacred shrines of Islam are locatedand Pakistan has Islam at its rootsbut its also home to 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates. Besides, Pakistan is beholden to the Saudis for bailing them out of tight economic binds, time and again. Imrans government is no exception. The younger generation of Pakistanis, increasingly and unequivocally, critique the Saudis for taking the older Pakistani generations infatuation with them for granted. They would like to see their policy makers becoming more even-handed, say,for instance, between the Saudis and Iranan immediate neighbour. Imran is an icon of the younger Pakistani generation. He seems to be getting their message to get Pakistani policy on the Ummah better keeled. Imran is playing host to Erdogan in Islamabad as these lines are written. But diluting the Saudi syndrome will be a tougher ball game. Karamatullah K Ghori Former Pakistani diplomat Email: K_K_ghori@hotmail.com Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into rival Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday, forecasting that his appearance on the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas will allow his rivals to demonstrate their skills at taking on an "egomaniac billionaire" such as President Donald Trump. "It's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate," wrote Warren, D-Mass. "But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire." Bloomberg will face five Democrats eager to take him down on Wednesday after qualifying for his first debate since entering the 2020 race. The business titan is estimated to be worth more than $60 billion. Warren tweet Bloomberg, a former New York mayor, has rapidly ascended in the polls he's now in third place in national surveys despite forgoing the first four nominating contests in order to devote resources to the more delegate-rich states that start voting in March. Warren, for her part, is facing pressure to make a mark at Wednesday's debate after sliding in the polls following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first states to host nominating contests. Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire. A man has won $150,000 in a lawsuit after he sued officials in Kentucky because they denied him a license plate that read 'IM GOD'. Bennie Hart sued the state of Kentucky in November 2016 after a Department of Vehicles worker refused his request on the grounds that it might distract other drivers, and that plates can't be 'vulgar or obscene'. Last Monday, a judge ruled that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and ACLU-Kentucky attorneys should be compensated for the time spent pursuing case. It was agreed that the amount obtained by Hart after paying lawyers would be determined privately. Bennie Hart of Kentucky sued in November 2016 after he applied for a customized license plate that read 'IM GOD' and was denied it. Last Monday, a judge ruled that the Freedom From Religion Foundation and ACLU-Kentucky attorneys should be compensated $150,000 for the case In November 2019, he was granted permission to get the license plate after the Transportation Cabinet was found to have violated the First Amendment. 'Im thankful to finally have the same opportunity to select a personal message for my license plate just as any other driver,' Hart said. 'There is nothing inappropriate about my view that religious beliefs are subject to individual interpretation.' He finally received it a few weeks ago. 'The Commonwealth [of Kentucky] went too far,' the court said. 'To allow such plates as "IM4GOD" and "LUVGOD" but reject "IM GOD" belies viewpoint neutrality.' 'Groups such as ours have to put in a lot of work to ensure the constitutional rights of ordinary folks,' says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. 'We truly appreciate that the court recognizes this.' Hart is a Postal Service retiree who is married to his middle school sweetheart. He was raised in a religious family, he began to question religion as a child but now identifies as an atheist. Hart previously said that by announcing 'IM GOD' on his license plate, he simply wanted to show the impossibility of disproving anyone's claim to being 'God.' He had the same plate for a dozen years when he lived in Ohio, without causing any problems The state had turned him down, saying it would be distracting to drivers 'The Commonwealth [of Kentucky] went too far,' the court said. 'To allow such plates as "IM4GOD" and "LUVGOD" but reject "IM GOD" belies viewpoint neutrality' He had the same plate for a dozen years when he lived in Ohio, without causing any problems. Hart sued state Transportation Secretary Greg Thomas on free speech grounds, asking a federal judge in Frankfort to strike down some Kentucky laws and rules for personalized plates. The Freedom from Religion Foundation said his denial was unconstitutional. The Wuhan Coronavirus continues to spread at an unprecedented rate, claiming over 1800 lives and affecting over 73,000 people. And today, it has claimed the life of a senior doctor at a hospital in Wuhan. Weibo/ Reuters 51 year old Liu Zhiming was the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital who specialised in Neurosurgery. This is the second death after Li Wenliang -- the 34-year-old doctor who made the world aware of the Wuhan Coronavirus when many were oblivious to its existence. Casualties like this bring to light the risk healthcare providers face each day, treating thousands of patients. Reports by the National Health Commission, more than 1700 medical workers have been infected by the novel Coronavirus, with at least 6 deaths. China has been shifting healthcare providers and doctors from less-infected locations to more concentrated ones to help stabilise the condition. Over 25,000 medical workers, including doctors, have been flown from cities like Beijing and Shanghai to Hubei -- the epicentre of the epidemic. Reuters The fight with the Wuhan Coronavirus hasnt been easy for the doctors and medical practitioners, with many experiencing severe skin burn due to constant decontamination using bleach-based disinfectants as well as scars near nose and cheeks after constantly wearing tight face masks for hours. Many arent even getting proper sleep, with many doctors just crashing on chairs and tables, and immense stress of an ever-increasing number of cases that theyre experiencing daily. XINHUA NEWS With the rising number of patients, each requiring care on the toes, doctors and healthcare providers dont even have time to head to a washroom and rely on wearing diapers the whole day. Female nurses in China also went to the extent of shaving their heads voluntarily, to limit the risk of cross-contamination while combatting the Wuhan Coronavirus. Explained: Why Nirbhayas killers are unlikely to hang on March 3 as well India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 18: On Monday yet another death warrant was issued to execute the killers of Nirbhaya. The Delhi court said that the killers, Mukesh Singh, Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta shall be hanged on March 3 at 6 am. The judge, Dharmender Rana said in a six page order that putting off the date of execution any further would be sacrilegious to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice. This is incidentally the third death warrant to be issued by the court. The earlier warrants were issued for January 22 and February 1. The hanging had to be put off in the wake of the killers filing mercy petitions and moving the Supreme Court also. Nirbhaya convicts to be hanged on March 3 at 6 am The question now is will this be the last death warrant. It is unlikely because if one of the killers files a mercy petition or exercises his option to file a curative plea in the Supreme Court the death warrant will have to be stayed. It may be recalled that the High Court had earlier this month, rejected the plea of the Centre that the Tihar jail authorities should be ordered to execute the convicts who do not have any appeal pending. Legal experts say that this would mean that unless the Supreme Court sets aside the provision of the convicts being hanged together, a separate hanging cannot take place. Pawan Gupta is yet to file a mercy petition. His counsel informed the Delhi court on Monday that Gupta intends to file a mercy petition and also a curative petition. The counsel also said that his client was unaware of the seven day time frame that was granted by the Delhi High Court earlier this month. Further advocate, A P Singh representing Vinay and Mukesh said that he would be filing a second mercy petition for Thakur. This is because the earlier one did not have the records of his financial status. The law states that a death row convict can file more than one mercy plea on the ground that the new one is based on new material which was not available earlier. Nirbhayan case: Convict Vinay Kumar Sharma is suffering from mental illness; Lawyer informs court Judge, Rana Sais that Article 21 merely guarantees an opportunity to the condemned convicts to exercise their legal rights. Whether to utilise it or not is a matter to be decided by the condemned convict. Gupta had indicated that he was not filing a mercy or curative petition. The court said that Gupta cannot be permitted to defeat the ends of justice by simply opting to remain indolent. There also cannot be any quarrel with the proposition that protection under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is available to the convicts till their last breath, the judge also said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 8:29 [IST] Chinese FM to discuss coronavirus fight, Lancang-Mekong cooperation with ASEAN FMs in Laos BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Vientiane, capital of Laos, from Wednesday to Friday for the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease, spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Monday. The meeting, to be co-chaired by Wang and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, will also be attended by other ASEAN foreign ministers. Besides, Wang will co-chair the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and pay a visit to the country, Geng said. Robert Kubica says it is "possible" that he could return to Formula 1 someday. But at 35, having returned in 2019 with his permanent arm injury and struggled, the Pole told Przeglad Sportowy that he is "of course aware" that he may not be back on the grid again. Indeed, Kubica is staying in F1 as a reserve driver with Alfa Romeo this year, and also racing in the German touring car series DTM. When asked if his ambition is to return to the F1 grid, he said: "It is possible. "But it is also a very possible scenario that the race in Abu Dhabi was my last in F1," said Kubica. As for whether he would like to come back, he added: "Formula 1 is Formula 1. "I will answer realistically and cleverly - five or six years ago no one believed that I would come back, but I never closed the door and I did come back." He says he has no regrets about returning with Williams, where he struggled at the very rear of the grid, but he also laughed that he was a "mobile chicane" in 2019. When asked about getting lapped, he answered: "In the beginning you try to give way as efficiently as possible. Later you come to the conclusion that if you lose a second or a second and a half really doesn't change anything. "It was the same with the starts. You try to take risks, but even if you overtake two drivers on the first lap, the question becomes whether they will pass you back in a few corners or a few laps. "Life can be cruel," said Kubica. "But overall I think it was worth it. It was not an easy year but it gave me a lot." (GMM) A POST-NATIVE PERSPECTIVE In one of my columns last December I revealed that I was looking for another teaching job outside of my current district. Well, at the end of Read more Advertisement Stephen Miller and new wife Katie Waldman were serenaded by an Elvis impersonator at their lavish Washington, D.C. wedding on Sunday. An official photo from the nuptials - shared to Twitter on Monday - shows the White House power couple slow-dancing to a ballad by 'The King' inside the ballroom of the Trump International Hotel. Miller, 34, is a White House Senior Advisor, while Waldman, 28, is a Press Secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, and their wedding was attended by President Trump. And while the Elvis impersonator made a memorable appearance in a embellished white suit, the Commander-in-chief wasn't about to be outdone at the microphone. According to one attendee, Trump delivered a rip-roaring toast to the couple, which took aim at their decision to hold the wedding on President's Day Weekend. POTUS cut his weekend getaway to Mar-a-Lago short in order to return to the capital for the Sunday evening ceremony - a decision he appeared none-too-happy about during his speech. 'He [Miller] is the only one who could have a damn wedding in the middle of President's Day Weekend. I'm sure it didn't affect anyone here,' Trump reportedly wisecracked. Stephen Miller and new wife Katie Waldman were serenaded by an Elvis impersonator at their lavish Washington, D.C. wedding on Sunday Miller, 34, is a White House Senior Advisor, while Waldman, 28, is a Press Secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, and their wedding was attended by President Trump One photo showed the couple standing beneath a large chuppah as they took part in a traditional Jewish ceremony conducted by Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone. Meanwhile, Waldman - who has now taken her husband's surname - shared several other wedding photos to her Twitter account on Monday. One showed the couple standing beneath a large chuppah as they took part in a traditional Jewish ceremony conducted by Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone. 'The most perfect day, the most perfect man surrounded with more love than we both could have ever dreamed,' the bride cooed beneath the pictures. The combative Miller is one of the White House's most conservative and influential voices in pushing moves that Trump has taken to curb immigration. Trump campaigned in 2016 on a promise to build a wall on the US border with Mexico and reduce the number of people crossing the border illegally. 'The most perfect day, the most perfect man surrounded with more love than we both could have ever dreamed,' Waldman said of her wedding day According to Real Clear News' Philip Wegmann, Trump spoke during the celebration Miller is widely viewed as the driving force behind the administration's hardest-line immigration policies. He is also a frequent speech writer for the president. Meanwhile, Waldman served as a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security before moving to the vice president's office. She previously defended the administration's controversial child-separation policy for the Homeland Security Department while serving as the department's deputy press secretary under Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. During heated debates in 2019, Waldman said the administration 'never had a blanket policy of separating families in custody,' but also acknowledged: 'We are saying of course separations occurred but not at the rate of "thousands" they are claiming.' The couple announced their engagement in November 2019, about a year and a half after they were introduced by mutual friends in 2018. Others in attendance included former White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, who shared a picture of the Millers on Twitter. 'Spectacular and very special wedding tonight with new bride and groom Stephen and Katie Miller!' Priebus wrote. 'So much fun and still going with @realDonaldTrump having fun and the band is going strong!' he added. Trump attended the wedding of Stephen Miller (second from left) and Katie Waldman (second from right), the press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence. Others in attendance included former White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, (left) and his wife, Sally (right) 15.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A group of federal judges are calling an emergency meeting over Donald Trumps meddling in Justice Department cases that involve his political buddies. According to USA TODAY, A national association of federal judges has called an emergency meeting Tuesday to address growing concerns about the intervention of Justice Department officials and President Donald Trump in politically sensitive cases, the groups president said Monday. The head of the association is Philadelphia U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, who was nominated to the bench by George W. Bush. More via USA TODAY: Philadelphia U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, who heads the independent Federal Judges Association, said the group could not wait until its spring conference to weigh in on a deepening crisis that has enveloped the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr. There are plenty of issues that we are concerned about, Rufe told USA TODAY. Well talk all of this through. Rufe, nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush, said the group of more than 1,000 federal jurists called for the meeting last week after Trump criticized prosecutors initial sentencing recommendation for his friend Roger Stone and the Department of Justice overruled them. The unusual concern voiced by the judges group comes in the wake of an equally unusual protest. More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials called on Barr to resign Sunday, claiming his handling of the Stone case openly and repeatedly flouted the principle of equal justice. But the economy Donald Trump is banking on the fact that the American people will look at the top-line economic numbers and vote to give him four more years in the White House. But the economy, his supporters will say in an attempt to deflect from the presidents constant abuse of power. The problem, of course, is that it shouldnt matter how strong Trumps inherited economy is. When the president of the United States is actively trying to cheat his way to a second term while destroying the very fabric of our institutions, he must be removed from office regardless of how much he cut taxes for the wealthy or how many judges hes appointed. Since the spineless Republican Party refused to do its job in the impeachment trial, its up to the American people to save the republic from a man who increasingly believes hes a king. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter A festival in Germany that mocks world politics with satirical floats has set its sights on Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin this year. The Mainz Carnival features a procession of caricatures of politicians and popular cultural figures, including the likes of Greta Thundberg. Among the show in 2020 is a depiction of the prime minister Mr Johnson with a Brexit standard in front of an unimpressed Queen Elizabeth II. There are also floats featuring President Trump tweeting peace in front of a burning White House, as well as the President depicted as child-eating clown Pennywise from Stephen Kings It. Numerous world leaders are mocked, including Boris Johnson, China's Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un / Reuters Chinese president Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un are also caricatured. The Mainzer Carnival Association presented the colorful, oversized figures for a first glimpse Tuesday before they will entertain the crowds on top of floats next week on Shrove Monday during the traditional street parade in the western city. Mainz, Cologne and Duesseldorf , the three big cities along the Rhine River, are all famous for their politically provocative floats. During the Carnival, dubbed the "fifth season of the year" before the start of Christian season of Lent, the common people are traditionally allowed to make fun of those in power. New Delhi, Feb 18 : Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Tuesday shared a heartwarming video advertisement of sanitation workers, where a boy is seen saying: "Mera baba desh chalata hai". The video starts with a poem recital scene in a school where a schoolboy starts talking about his father. "Nahi hai neta par desh ko vo chalata hai, vo doctor bhi nahi hai par vo rog bhagata hai. Mera baba desh chalata hai. Vo police main bhi nahi hai, lekin desh ki gandagi mitata hai. Vo army main bhi nahi hai par jung ladke aata hai. Mera baba desh chalata hai". He continues by saying what would happen if his father would stop going to work, "Bachche school nahi pahunchenge, naahi doctor hospital." As the post went viral, social media went abuzz with reactions. A user wrote, "Great video shared by the greatest man. @ratantata thanks for sharing this video to bring awareness amongst us. Thank you so much sir that you are doing this things such as bringing awareness and making NGOs for the poor. Hats off to you." Another wrote: "Oh my God... so sad this is... and true also." At the end, the advertisement shows a sanitation worker climbing down a sewer as the schoolboy explains that the people don't segregate dry and wet waste, and manual scavengers catch lethal diseases and sometimes, die during the process. "Kabhi kabhi lagta hai mera baba bimariyo se haar jaega, kabhi kabhi lagta hai baba laut ke ghar nahi aaega," says the schoolboy. Tata shared the video on his Instagram handle with the caption: "Mission Garima, for our brave sanitation workers #twobinslifewins. In Mumbai, a city of 23 million, only 50,000 individuals are employed as sanitation workers. "They are working in difficult conditions every single day to tackle the enormous amount of waste that Mumbai generates. As a Tata Trust initiative, Mission Garima is working to provide safe, hygienic and humane working conditions for sanitation workers who are severely affected doing the unimaginable for the city so that we may find it clean!" The caption further read: "#TwoBinsLifeWins is a campaign urging citizens to segregate their biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to help reduce the burden on these hardworking men and women". A user posted on Tata's handle: "We should clone Mr. Ratan Tata, we need more people like you sir." "Thanks for sharing sir! It is inspiring and made me think about changing habits," read another post. Representatives with the Rios Law Firm announced today that Founding Attorney Crystal Rios Ramos has been selected to the 2020 Arizona Super Lawyers List. I am honored to be selected to this prestigious list of amazing lawyers, said Ramos. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. As for the selection process, every year Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented selection process that involves peer nominations, independent research, and peer evaluations. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, the selection committee limits the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public. Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Before establishing Rios Law Firm, Ramos worked as a paralegal for one of Phoenix's largest workers' compensation law firms for 10 years. Once she received her license, that firm recruited her to manage their Tucson office and handle all of their cases. After that, another large law firm recruited her to handle all of their workers' compensation cases and manage their Phoenix workers' compensation department. Ramos has extensive experience representing injured workers and has devoted her law firm to putting that experience to work for her clients. For more information, please visit: rioslawaz.com/about-us and rioslawaz.com/blog. About Rios Law Firm Rios Law Firm specializes in helping its clients navigate the workers' compensation system in Arizona. The form's practice areas also include construction accidents, third party claims, and immigration issues in workers' compensation. Contact Details: Crystal Rios Ramos 3839 N 3rd St Suite 304 Phoenix, AZ 85012 United States Phone: 602-237-6265 Source: Rios Law Firm PLLC ### The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on the international community to condemn the offensive attempts by Russian-backed forces in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine. "Very concerned by escalation in Donbas following the latest Russian attack. Prohibited weapons used resulting in a new wave of casualties. This is the latest breach of agreements reached at N4. We call on the intl. community to condemn this escalation," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kateryna Zelenko wrote on Twitter. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the enemys attack on the Ukrainian positions in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area a cynical provocation and an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas. On the morning of February 18, Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi. As a result of the combat, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, and four others were wounded. ish Car-free Market Street was the first step, but traffic in downtown San Francisco is often still a nightmare at rush hour. Mayor London Breed wants to introduce some new measures to reduce congestion on streets but it's going to cost drivers some money. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, in a letter to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys Board of Directors, Breed argued for congestion pricing (tolls on busy roads at peak times) as well as Sunday and evening parking meters. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Seoul, South Korea Tue, February 18, 2020 10:29 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206517fa4 2 World South-Korea,Moon-Jae-In,coronavirus Free South Korea President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday the government should make an all-out effort to boost the economy as it comes under pressure from a coronavirus outbreak. "(The government) shouldn't quibble over whether anything is unprecedented or not, rather, we should take every possible measure we can think of on the table to deploy them," Moon said in a cabinet meeting. Moon said the economy is in an emergency situation and needs a boost to stimulate domestic demand. In 2015, South Korea drew up a supplementary budget to help cushion the economy from the effects of an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A security guard wearing a face mask walks past a poster promoting mask-wearing near the Qianmen pedestrian street, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, in Beijing, Feb. 18, 2020. Reuters The rapidly spreading coronavirus in China is expected to hit South Korea second hardest if the virus epidemic forces Beijing to disrupt its supply of intermediary goods to Seoul, a report showed Tuesday. According to the report by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), China's exports of intermediary goods to South Korea stood at US$75.1 billion in 2017, accounting for a 6.5 percent of Beijing's total exports of intermediary goods. The United States was the largest importer of China's intermediary goods in 2017, with the ratio standing at 10.7 percent, the report showed. That was followed by Japan with 5.5 percent, Germany with 2.7 percent and Taiwan with 2.7 percent. "If the supply of Chinese-made intermediary goods is disrupted, it will have a negative impact on Korean firms doing business in China," the report said. "Also, it could have a negative impact on Korean exporters as China's economy slows." Jeff Bezos said he's giving $10 billion to fight climate change and launch a new initiative called the Bezos Earth Fund. "We can save Earth," he said in a post on Instagram. "It's going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals." The richest man in the world, Bezos has an estimated net worth of $129.9 billion, so his $10 billion pledge is about 7.7% of that. Visit Business Insider Australias homepage for more stories. Jeff Bezos said on Monday that he's giving $10 billion to fight climate change. The Amazon CEO and richest man in the world announced he'd start the Bezos Earth Fund in a post on Instagram. He said he expects to start giving out grants this summer. With an estimated net worth of nearly $130 billion, his pledge accounts for about 7.7% of his wealth. "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," Bezos said in the post. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share." The move follows pressure from Amazon employees to push the company to do more to fight climate change. More than 350 employees signed a Medium blog in January calling for net-zero emissions by 2030, among other requests. Story continues In September, Bezos announced Amazon's climate pledge to get the company carbon neutral by 2040, 100% renewable energy by 2o30, and 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030. Bezos is the only American among the world's five richest people who has not signed the Giving Pledge, in which participants promise to give away more than half of their wealth during their lifetimes or in their wills, Business Insider's Paige Leskin wrote. His ex-wife MacKenzie Bezos signed the pledge in May. His full Instagram post read: The top stories here for the day are Apples AAPL guidance cut, Qualcomm QCOM choosing Samsung to make its 5G chips, U.S. considering further restrictions on Huawei and Amazons AMZN climate fund. Here are the details: Apple Cuts Guidance Apple confirmed what many analysts expected, that the coronavirus that hit Chinas Hubei province would lead to weaker iPhone sales in the current quarter. But while analysts werent sure whether sales would come within its very wide guidance range, Apple now says that it wont make those numbers. Moreover, disruptions in the supply chain can have a far-reaching impact on iPhone sales in other markets as well. The problem is that most of its 40+ stores either remain closed or are not open long enough to generate required sales while manufacturing operations continue to operate at sub optimal capacity with only a small fraction of workers. Analysts had earlier said that iPhone demand shouldnt dissipate but is more likely to get pushed out into later quarters. And since the virus affected the first quarter, theres a chance that full-year results will remain unaffected. But, of course, that will depend on the extent of the supply chain bottlenecks, especially given that it is just getting ready to ship its new cheaper iPhone in March. Samsung Wins Qualcomm Deal Samsung will make new Qualcomm X60 5G chips on its 5nm process and may also supply modem chips on the same process, according to media reports. Qualcomm estimates that 175 million to 225 million 5G smartphones will be sold in 2020. Its X60 chips will aggregate signals sent over disparate frequencies in different 5G networks, thus speeding up downloads. Samsung, traditionally a memory chip maker, announced a plan last year to invest $116 billion in non-memory chips through 2030. So this deal may be evidence of the progress its making. It may also help the company take share from market leader Taiwan Semiconductor TSM. TSM is the market leader by far (Trendforce estimates Samsung had 17.8% market share in Q4 versus TSM's 52.7%), so theres no risk to its throne at this point. But memory prices tend to be volatile (although suppliers do try to lock some big customers into long-term contracts), which is the real reason this deal is such good news for the Korean company. Huawei Restrictions Good for the Market The U.S. is determined to contain Huaweis progress. The Trump administration is considering an amendment to the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which requires some foreign manufacturers of U.S. technology to U.S. regulations and could prevent companies like Taiwan Semiconductor from selling Huawei its chips. The company has repeatedly denied allegations that its equipment helps the Chinese government to spy on a countrys networks. But a growing uneasiness about Chinas dominance and potential for espionage led the U.S. imposed restrictions anyway and the UK followed with some of its own. Other European countries are also concerned about the issue, particularly because the cost of switching from legacy Huawei equipment would run into billions, and also because it would considerably delay 5G deployment. Telecom industry leaders are therefore developing an open standard that would help industry players seamlessly deploy components from competing suppliers. Story continues This will not only mean the end of dominance for foreign players like Huawei but also increased competition for the EUs Nokia and Ericsson. So it will be positive for the market overall and longer term, also fro telecoms. Amazons Bezos Forms New Climate Fund Bezos, the world's richest man, with a net worth of $130 billion dollars, pledged $10 billion dollars to create an Earth Fund on Monday, Feb 17. The fund will support scientists, activists and nonprofits fighting the effects of climate change. It will start disbursing grants from as early as this summer. He is also investing $100 million in reforestation efforts. Earlier, in Sep 2019, Amazon announced that it would buy 100,000 Rivian EVs. Amazon earlier stated that its goal is to be net carbon neutral by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris climate accords schedule. While this may be challenging to say the least considering that it already delivers some 10 billion items a year, activists both within the company and outside have said that it could do more. Just last month, Amazon Employees for Climate Action (AECA) went against the companys communications policy to protest its environmental policies. They went ahead and posted a letter on Medium, asking Bezos and the board of directors to bring a shareholder resolution for a comprehensive climate plan that would be based on their suggestions. Now, while lauding this move, the group is pushing against Amazons other activities that contribute to climate change, such as the consumption of fossil fuels: "We applaud Jeff Bezos' philanthropy, but one hand cannot give what the other is taking away," it tweeted. "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," Bezos said in an Instagram post. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share." "It's going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals," Bezos said. In 2018, Amazons carbon footprint was reportedly 44.0 million metric tons (MMT). Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Click to get this free report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research As an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Alex Gibney knows a thing or two about the limelight. Its in the shadows, though, where hes made a name for himself. Whether its Taxi to the Dark Side, his Oscar-winning expose on American use of torture in Afghanistan; Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, his Oscar-nominated look at corporate greed; or Going Clear, his three-time-Emmy-winning deep-dive into Scientology, Gibney has a proven knack for putting a human face on questionable behavior. When hes at his best, Gibney is a sort of cross between Mike Wallace and Ken Burns: a dogged investigative journalist but an equally effective storyteller. The results, more often than not, are nothing short of riveting. Thats the case in his latest film, Citizen K, a meticulously researched and well-reported tale rich with political intrigue and populated with figures who feel plucked straight from a James Bond movie. The fact that its not fiction makes it that much more captivating. The Citizen K in the films title is Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oligarch who after emerging as a vocal political critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin was tried for financial crimes that landed him in a Siberian prison for a decade. He was eventually released and now lives in exile in London, where he continues to lead and finance the anti-Putin movement. Ostensibly, Gibneys film is a profile of Khodorkovsky. In reality, though, Khodorkovskys story is only a springboard for a much deeper look into post-Soviet Russian history and the unlikely rise to power of Putin. Those Americans who witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union from their living room couches can expect to be reintroduced to a number of familiar events and familiar faces in Gibneys film. But with help from characteristically cogent interviews involving a cadre of credible sources, they become much more vivid. In his own words, Khodorkovsky describes how he and a handful of other Russian businessmen, armed with both business savvy and greed, took advantage of the cultural and legal whiplash brought on by Russias foray into a market-based economy in the wild 90s. Each of these new oligarchs carved out a piece of the Russian economy for himself: One took control of the media. Another got the real estate game. Another, banking. For Khodorkovsky, it was Russias massive oil apparatus. Eventually, seven men controlled an estimated 50% of the Russian economy and, thus, controlled Russia itself. Meanwhile, for the rest of country, salaries were shrinking and gang-related killings skyrocketing, as the economy floundered and Russia experienced its own version of the Wild, Wild West. Also skyrocketing: the influence of a once-anonymous KGB bureaucrat named Vladimir Putin, who upon the exit of President Boris Yeltsin parlayed a relatively low-level position at the Kremlin into the presidency. As long as the oligarchs stayed out of politics, Putin made it clear, he would let them keep their economic fiefdoms. As Khodorkovsky tells it, however, he had something the other oligarchs didnt: a sense of empathy. Witnessing his fellow Russians hurting on such a massive scale, he decided to step in and speak out against the Putin regime. That would kick off an epic power struggle Putin vs. Khodorkovsky around which Citizen K is built. Now, Khodorkovsky is a somewhat complicated protagonist. Hes the first to admit hes no Boy Scout. But although Gibney leaves some of the darker questions about his past unanswered, hes also a compelling figure who is earnest in his desire to unmask Putin for the brutal authoritarian he has become. Thats pretty hard to root against. By the time its done, he becomes a sympathetic figure and Citizen K becomes an effective cautionary tale for anyone who appreciates real democracy. Admirably, though, Gibney resists the temptation to climb on his soapbox to deliver some pointed political message. He gives his audience more credit than that. Instead, he leaves viewers to connect the dots themselves. And unless theyre watching with their eyes squeezed shut, the implications of Citizen K with regard to modern history in Russia and beyond become frighteningly, fascinatingly clear. ************************ CITIZEN K 3 stars out of 4 Snapshot: A documentary portrait of former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky that does double duty as a history lesson on post-Soviet Russia and a look at the unlikely rise to power of Vladimir Putin. Director: Alex Gibney. MPAA rating: Unrated, warrants R for disturbing images. Running time: 2 hours 6 minutes. When and where: Opens Friday (Feb. 21) at the Zeitgeist Theater & Lounge. The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku, The District Minister-Washington DC District 18.02.2020 LISTEN Induction Service For Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku District Minister, Washington DC District And Minister In Charge, Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, Woodbridge, Virginia The Washington DC District in the North America Australia Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has a New District Minister in the person of the Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku. He also serves as the Minister In Charge of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, the Head Station of the Washington DC District located in Woodbridge, VA On January 19, 2020, the Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku was officially inducted into office by the North America Australia Presbytery. The Officiating Minister for the Induction Service was the Rev. James Joseph Kumi-Duodu, Chairperson of the Presbytery and he was assisted by the Rev. Frank Addo, Clerk of the Presbytery. In attendance at the Induction service were some ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the Presbytery and the District, other Ministers from other Church Denominations in the Woodbridge, VA area and members of the Ghanaian community in the area. It is also worth mentioning that leaders and members of all the congregations and Preaching Posts which come together to form the District attended the Induction Service in their numbers. Preaching the Sermon on the theme: Behold, the Servant of the Lord Rev. James Joseph Kumi-Duodu admonished the new District Minister to rely only on the power and guidance of God in the discharge of his duty and mandate as the Chief servant of the District. Again, the Presbytery Chairperson called on the Presbyters and other officers of the church not forgetting members of the church in both the District and the local congregation to give of their maximum cooperation and support to the District Minister so that together they can work and achieve much and also lift up the image of the church in the District for the glory of God. In a short address after the Act of Induction, the Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku, the District Minister of the Washington DC District gave thanks to God for his help that has brought him this far. He also acknowledged with gratitude the support that his wife, children and entire family not forgetting friends and other senior ministers of God in the church continue to give to him and his ministry. He outlined his vision for the District and the congregation. Among other things, he mentioned promotion of spiritual renewal through prayer and the study of the word of God, growth to existing congregations and planting of new ones, financial discipline aimed at ensuring financial wellness, church discipline and compliance to church policies. He finally used Nehemiah 2:18 to call on members of the church in the District to look at the current state of the District and the congregation and resolve to rise up so that together they can build for the glory of God. The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. He was born on November 3 to Rev.& Mrs Otchere-Mireku, both natives of Bepong-Kwahu in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He holds Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Management from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Masters Degree in Divinity from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX Before his appointment as the District Minister of the Washington DC District, He was serving as the Minister in Charge of the Resurrection congregation in Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex in the State of Texas. He has also worked in the fields of Education, Clinical Research, Immigration and Pastoral Chaplaincy in Ghana and United States of America The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku is married to Mrs Justina Okyere-Mireku and they are blessed with three children. Brief History of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, Woodbridge, VA, the Head Station of the Washington DC District in the North America Australia Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church (EPMC) located at13403 Baxter St, Woodbridge, VA 22191 was established as a response to the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as written in Matt. 28: 19- 20, and reiterated by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, a group of dedicated immigrant Presbyterian Christians in the United States of America, Virginia who were also members of Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) started EPMC in the year 2004. In the past sixteen years since its founding, EPMC under the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and in North America Australia Presbytery of the church, has played a major role by bringing together Ghanaian immigrants community of true believers under the direction and leadership of our Savior, Jesus Christ. EPMC is a church home and a house of prayer where seekers or new members are welcomed with the love of Christ. It is a place where believers are motivated and empowered with the word of God to be worthy ambassadors of Christ as they live their lives in the community and impact on others with the good news for the glory of God.EPMC also provides for the maintenance of worship, the edification of the body of Christ and the redemption of humankind. Cross Section Of Members And Invited Persons Present2 Cross Section Of Members And Invited Persons Present Epmc, Woodbridge Va Choir, Gt Menaaas Fellowship Ministers And Their Spouses Present At The Induction Service1 Mrs. Justina Okyere-mireku And Other Ministersaaa Spous E In The Presbytery Present Rev. & Mrs Sam Okyere-mireku, The Washington Dc District Minister, Wife And Children A: To manage everything administrative with the company. The leadership duties are split between the Board of Directors, who does strategic oversight; the artistic director, Barb Zahora, who leads the artistic vision of the organization; and my job is to make sure that all the managers, all the directors, everybody is doing what they need to do to execute Barbs vision. Keeping in view India's over dependence on import of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Government of India has constituted a Task Force on APIs under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) and Chemicals & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya to formulate a road map for the enhanced production of APIs in the country. The 5th Meeting of the Task Force was held yesterday. Several important issues were discussed regarding policy relaxations to small, medium and large API units and also simplification of the process for clearance for production and availability of medicines. Mansukh Mandaviya took stock of the situation of availability of drugs and medicines. The Industry Representatives has explained thoroughly to Mansukh Mandaviya that they have enough drugs and medicines to deal with any contingency arising out of impact of CoronaVirus. They ensured that there will be no shortage of any Drugs, APIs and Medicines in the coming days in India. During the meeting, the challenges faced by the Pharmaceutical Industry in obtaining Clearance were also discussed. The representative of Ministry of and Forest, Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has stated that steps are being taken to expedite Environment Clearances and also mentioned that recently MoEF&CC has modified the guidelines so that there is no need to obtain separate Environment Clearance, if the production of the Pharma unit is increased by 50%. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A TDs son has been spared a jail sentence and a criminal record after he became aggressive and spat at a Garda during an appalling incident following a row over a taxi fare. Student Fearghal O Snodaigh, 24, son of Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court in November to assaulting Garda Niall Carolan. It happened at Ballymun garda station in north Dublin on February 28 last year. The common assault offence can result in a conviction with a six-month sentence and a fine. The Trinity College Dublin student, of Naas Road, Dublin 8, also admitted obstructing Garda Carolan and using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour during the drink-fuelled incident. He had instructed his barrister defence barrister Emer Ni Chuagain to apologise on his behalf. He had also agreed to take part in a restorative justice programme through the Probation Service and to donate 500 to charity. Judge Paula Murphy was furnished with the restorative justice report today and noted it was all positive and that O Snodaigh had given the money to charity. It was also confirmed the student had not come to further attention. She struck out the case sparing him a conviction and a sentence. The student, who was accompanied to court by his fiancee, did not address the court. His politician father had come to court on a previous date to support him when he entered the guilty plea. At that hearing, Garda Sergeant Damian Beakey told Judge Ann Ryan, then presiding, that the accused entered the station with a taxi driver because of a dispute about a fare. He was extremely intoxicated and aggressive to gardai from the start, Garda Sergeant Beakey had said. Gardai tried to calm him down but O Snodaigh squared up to one of the officers in a threatening manner. Garda Sergeant Beakey said he heavily resisted. He was restrained and arrested and brought to the custody foyer but refused to give his details to the stations jailer. He remained uncooperative, the court heard. He was immediately brought to a cell where his aggressiveness continued and he refused to take off his belt and refused to allow himself be searched. And at this stage he spat out at Garda Niall Carolan. The court heard he was then searched and charged before he was released into the custody of his father. O Snodaigh had no prior convictions. Garda Sergeant Beakey agreed with the defence barrister it was unlikely he would come to Garda attention again. O Snodaigh had offered to give 500 to the charity Feileacain (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland), which was nominated by the prosecuting Garda. Testimonials and reports were furnished to the court which heard he had engaged in voluntary charity work. Counsel said the testimonials spoke of the type of man he was and this was out of character. He had also been struggling with a prior difficult incident and had attended counselling. The barrister said O Snodaigh had told her he had not consumed alcohol in that manner before. Pleading for leniency, she said he was unlikely to come before the courts again and wanted to travel to the United States on a graduate visa after he finished his masters degree. He had taken an unusual level of alcohol and never wanted to put himself in that situation again, the barrister said, pleading for leniency. In relation to addressing his alcohol use, counsel said O Snodaigh dealt with it himself; normally he would not drink that much and he now drank small amounts. Judge Ryan had said the incident was triggered by the amount of alcohol he had taken, and he had a good future ahead of him. But the incident itself was appalling and your behaviour was completely and utterly unacceptable, she had told O Snodaigh. Garda Carolan did not wish to give a victim impact statement. Judge Ryan had said the restorative justice programme, which is aimed at first-time offenders, would give him time to reflect on his behaviour and it was especially beneficial for cases like this. President Akufo-Addo has expressed the determination that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will win the hearts of the people of the Volta and Oti regions despite calls from the opposition that he should stay off the area. According to the President, although the two regions formerly known as Volta Region, are the strongholds of the opposition NDC, his party and government will continue to invest, develop and support the areas to prove that it has genuine commitment to improving the lives of the people there. The President made the remarks at Adaklu Waya during a durbar of the Chiefs and people of the Adaklu Traditional Area in the Adaklu District. His comments were in reaction to remarks by the main opposition party. The president recounted how a spokesperson of the opposition had said, ever since he won power, he and his Vice President, Dr. Bawumia have frequented the Volta Region unusually. The spokesperson averred that the frequent visits of the duo were because we are trying to reap where we have not sowed, the president noted. In reaction to this, he said, it appeared the NDC did not know about a man who is determined to win a woman over. If they did, they will perhaps not make such comments. He went on to say that whether the NDC likes it or not We will continue to go to the house and go and go and go. That is what I am determined to do. I am determined to marry the people of the Volta/Oti region. The Paramount Chief of Adaklu, Togbe Gbogbi Atsa V, stressed that the President had proved that Adaklu had a place of pride in his heart for visiting the area thrice in the last three years of his government's tenure. This the President replied will not be the last. The Chief added that every visit of the President was accompanied by a development agenda, making the area a beneficiary of all the laudable projects initiated in the last three years. He commended the government for not abandoning the Community Senior High School inherited from the erstwhile government, but instead furnishing it with all necessary education facilities including beds. He said just as Adaklu has benefited from the planting for food and jobs, Free SHS, Ambulance among others, urgent attention should be put into expanding the Five District Community Water Project at Adidome in the Central Tongu District so that Adaklu who have little access to safe drinking water can benefit. Togbe Gbogbi Atsa also lamented that apart from the main Ho-Sogakofe road which passes through Adaklu, no other road is tarred. He was hopeful that under the year of roads program, the area will be a beneficiary. He also appealed for a District Hospital, a bus for the community Day School and a creation of a pasture bank to deal with invasion and destruction of their farm lands by nomadic herdsmen. Daily Guide Aussies, Phuket lifeguards mark cooperation on water safety PHUKET: The Australian Consulate-General in Phuket last Friday (Feb 14) hosted an event to celebrate cooperation on beach safety, and the handing over of a childrens book relating a story highlighting water safety that has been translated into Thai and will be handed out to local Thai schools. tourismmarineSafetypatong By The Phuket News Tuesday 18 February 2020, 06:22PM The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Australian Consulate-General in Phuket The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Australian Consulate-General in Phuket The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Australian Consulate-General in Phuket The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Australian Consulate-General in Phuket The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality The event was held at Patong Beach last Friday (Feb 14). Photo: Patong Municipality Joining the event held at Patong Beach last Friday were Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai and Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup. Also in attendance were members of the Phuket consular corps, Phuket Hotels Association and Phuket Chamber of Commerce. The event recognised the efforts of six Australian lifeguards from Surf Life Saving New South Wales who spent a week in Phuket training with their local counterparts and children. Training team leader David Field said the week provided an opportunity for Australian trainers to work with local Thai trainers who delivered a high quality of instruction to eager trainees. The event was also an opportunity to launch the Thai-language version of Thu-Trang Trans Pirate Kim: Lets go swim a childrens water safety story supported by funding from the Australian Governments Direct Aid Program. The Australian Consulate-General will be distributing copies to local schools in coming months. Capping off the day, Australian trainer Lachlan Field demonstrated the capabilities of Surf Life Saving New South Wales drone technology which broadcast audible warnings to beachgoers in Thai of potential dangers while hovering 100 metres above the sand. As part of the event, Thai trainees completed a quick-paced rescue relay to show off their newly honed skills. Australian Consul-General Matthew Barclay said the bond between Australian and Thai lifeguards was very strong. I am looking forward to more skills exchanges between lifeguards from Phuket and Australia in the future, Mr Barclay said. A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was killed in bombardment in Syria's Aleppo on Tuesday, Fars agency reported. "Hamidreza Babelkhani... was martyred this morning in a rocket strike," said the Iranian agency, which is close to ultra-conservatives in the Islamic republic. Babelkhani was also known by his nom de guerre Haj Ebrahim, Fars added, without giving his rank. The brief report also showed a picture of Babelkhani in a forest area wearing tan fatigues with the Guards' insignia and a dark green beanie. Iran, alongside Russia, has strongly backed the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war. More than 380,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict broke out nearly nine years ago. Iran says its forces are in Syria at the invitation of Assad's government and only in an advisory role. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kusumari Ayuningtyas (The Jakarta Post) Klaten Tue, February 18, 2020 13:31 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20652433e 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,Natuna,Riau-Islands,quarantine,Wuhan-coronavirus-stigma,Wuhan-coronavirus,Central-Java,Klaten Free Hilyatu Millati Mila Rusdiyah could finally breathe a sigh of relief when she was reunited with her family two weeks after her repatriation from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Hubei province, China. Her family, she said, was what she had missed the most during the isolation period. The 33-year-old student had returned from a special quarantine complex in Natuna regency, Riau Islands, where she was observed for symptoms of COVID-19, the illness resulting from the novel coronavirus, and isolated from contact with the outside world for 14 days in accordance with established procedure. Mila was one of the Indonesian students evacuated by the government from Wuhan and the surrounding areas. She had lived there with her husband, fellow student Ahmad Syafuddin Zuhri. The mother of one had been pursuing a doctorate at Chongqing University in Chongqing, Sichuan province about five hours away from Wuhan by train while, her husband had been studying at the Central China Normal University in Wuhan. She said the quarantine had been relatively comfortable, with the evacuees exercising every morning and filling their days with activities such as karaoke and games, amid routine medical examinations. We have all been given certificates of good health from the Health Ministry, and we hope people wont be afraid of us, Mila said. She said that the deluge of misinformation regarding the coronavirus, as well as the initial opposition of Natuna residents to hosting the quarantine had opened her eyes to the possibility that she and her fellow evacuees could be unfairly stigmatized. We were met with resistance [from the public] during quarantine, so we have braced ourselves, said the Central Java native. Despite their less-than-favorable reception by residents of Natuna, Mila conveyed her appreciation of the government and other parties involved in the evacuation. She said that she had chosen to remain in Wuhan when the viral outbreak first made headlines earlier this year because she was determined to finish her dissertation. However, things spiraled quickly as dozens of confirmed cases soon ballooned to thousands. We were so relieved when we found out that the Indonesian government would evacuate us, Mila said. Mila and her family had no choice but to wait for the evacuation team to arrive in Wuhan during the citywide lockdown. Over the course of 10 days, Mila said she had tried her best to share her experience on social media to counter pervasive misinformation about the outbreak. She said that one of the worst stories she read was one saying that the outbreak was azab (divine retribution). We were already stuck in a locked down city and worried enough as it was. Then netizens decided to say things like that. It made us feel down, she said. Khayun Nur Fajrin, the head of Malangan village in Klaten, Central Java, where Mila and her family reside, said he was optimistic that residents would welcome her with open arms despite the stigma against Indonesian evacuees from China. I have called [the Central Java Health Agency] and asked for their assistance should we need more guidance regarding this issue. But from what Ive seen, the locals here seem to be welcoming, some of them even offered to visit Mila in her home today, Khayun said. Indonesian students returning from China in recent months have often been met with suspicion and prejudice in the archipelago, making them feel like outcasts in their own country. Read also: Indonesian students treated as pariahs upon return from China Adam Amrismafasyah, a 19-year-old Jiangsu Normal University student from Muaraenim regency in South Sumatra, said the locals had been treating him differently ever since he returned from China earlier this month. Some of my neighbors have steered clear of me, others asked me upfront whether I had been thoroughly examined and whether I was completely free of the coronavirus, Adam told The Jakarta Post. There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia to date. (rfa) New Delhi: Cracking its whip on illegal ticket softwares, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) claimed on Tuesday that it has arrested seven people, including a Kolkata-based mastermind who was in touch with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Jammat-Ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JUMB). Addressing a press conference, RPF Director General Arun Kumar said, "Recently we arrested seven people, including Kolkata-based Jayanta Poddar, who was in touch with JUMB operatives." He said Poddar, a resident of Nadia in West Bengal, was the lead seller of the illegal ANMS software and was in contact with cattle smugglers, hawala operators, fake currency operators and fake passport and Aadhaar card makers. The RPF DG said that during probe it was found that Poddar transferred money through Smart Shop, a mobile wallet owned by Hermes I-Ticket Ltd. Kumar said during questioning that Poddar gave further leads that Hermes had transactions worth crore with two other companies -- Sifa Enterprises (about Rs 5 crore) and WiFi Solutions owned by Rajesh Yadav, which showed transactions worth Rs 23 crore. "With the lead from Poddar, we arrested Yadav from Mumbai. He was the fund manager and worked for Shamsher, who owned Sifa Enterprises," Kumar said. After the arrest of Poddar and Yadav, we arrested Shamsher from Lucknow, Kumar said, adding that he had started working with Hamid Ashraf, a Dubai-based man suspected to be one of the masterminds of the racket. Shamsher even cornered crores of rupees for his personal consumption and owned a school, trucks, earth moving machines, flats etc. "Shamsher even betrayed Ashraf and got his school bombed in 2019," the RPF officer claimed. The DG said that with further leads, the RPF arrested Satyawan Upadhyay, a developer by profession, who developed the illegal MAC software for ticket touts. "Updahyay had sold his MAC software to over 235 sellers across the country," Kumar said, adding that Updadhyay had transferred Rs 2 crore to Ashraf between April 2018 and March 2019. "Following the lead that we got after the arrest of Upadhyay, we identified over 4,493 tickets procured through MAC valued at Rs 1.3 crore," he said. "Later we arrested two more persons from Ahmedabad and Surat -- Danny Shah and Amit Prajapati, respectively -- and recovered 8,569 tickets worth Rs 2.59 crore," Kumar said. The RPF had earlier booked over 47,795 tickets worth Rs 7.94 crore, he said. Making more revelations on the illegal nexus, the RPF officer said, "We have also arrested Priyajit from Shillong, a panel seller and also a member of a WhatsApp group named "Pakistan Zindabad". He further said that the RPF also ran a drive against IRCTC agents on February 11 and 12, and arrested 319 agents besides identifying 317 IDs for blacklisting. Kumar said that after the crackdown on ANMS and MAC softwares, all other illegal softwares are currently not working and the passengers are easily getting confirmed Tatkal tickets from the IRCTC website. When asked how many persons have been arrested till date in connection with the e-ticket scam, Kumar said since December last year, 60 people have been nabbed. In one of the biggest crackdowns on train ticketing touts in recent times, the RPF has arrested a madrassa-educated, self-taught software developer from Jharkhand and claimed to have busted an e-ticketing racket with suspected links to terror funding and money laundering. The scam`s mastermind was based in the UAE, officials said. Ghulam Mustafa was arrested from Bhubaneswar earlier this year and two laptops with the ANMS software were recovered from him by the RPF. The scamsters also converted the collected money into cryptocurrencies and through shadow net sent them abroad, which were allegedly used in "terror funding and money laundering," Kumar said. Disposable Medical Gloves Market 2020 Global Industry Analysis to 2026 is latest report on Global Disposable Medical Gloves Market, published by Fortune Business Insights. According to report Disposable Medical Gloves to rise at 9.1% CAGR and Reach $10.9 billion by 2026. Report segments market for Disposable Medical Gloves by Application (Surgical and Examination), By Material (Latex and Synthetic), By Category (Powdered and Powder free) By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic/Pathology Labs, and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026. Global Disposable Medical Gloves Market Insights: Disposable Medical Gloves Industry Key Players Analyzed in Report Are Ansell, Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Cardinal Health, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, Dynarex Corporation, Elite Surgical, KANAM LATEX INDUSTRIES PVT LTD, Halyard Health, Romsons. Get Sample Disposable Medical Gloves Market Report Increasing technological advancement in glove making is expected to propel growth of the global disposable medical gloves market, says Fortune Business Insights in a report, titled Disposable Medical Gloves Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Surgical and Examination), By Material (Latex and Synthetic), By Category (Powdered and Powder-free) By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic/Pathology Labs, and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026. The disposable medical gloves market size was valued at USD 5.4 Billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 10.9 Billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.1% between 2019-2026. As per the report, the disposable glove market on the basis of application is segmented into surgical and examination. The surgical glove segment is expected to witness high demand during the forecast period owing to the rising number of surgical procedures and increasing patient pool. The rising focus of key players in the development of innovative surgical gloves and a decline in the manufacturing lines of examination gloves by few leading players will aid the surgical glove segment, which, will, in, turn boost the disposable medical gloves market. The report is dedicated to providing accurate data. It briefly defines the current market scenario and offers key insights into the disposable medical gloves market. It also offers data on various characteristics of the market such as market trends, growth drivers, industrial development, market restraint, recent mergers and collaborations. Increasing Cases Of Chronic Diseases Will Support Growth The increasing prevalence of chronic disease around the world is expected to aid growth of the disposable medical gloves market. The surge in the patient population is expected to create growth opportunities for the market. The increasing healthcare expenditure and government initiatives to establish a strong healthcare infrastructure to provide patients with advanced levels of medical procedures opportunities will enable growth of the disposable medical gloves market. the rising adoption of advanced products will also bode well for the market. The rising awareness about the advantages offered by innovative gloves will also aid the disposable glove market growth. The expansion in medical tourism will boost the market growth. Furthermore, the initiation of industry-academia by Top Glove Corporation is predicted to facilitate the growth of the market. For instance, Top Glove Corporation Bhd announced the initiation of industry-academia collaboration by granting a research grant to University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for the performing of glove industry-related research. Presence Of Large Number Of Suppliers Will Boost Growth In North America Geographically, the disposable medical gloves market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. North America was valued at USD 2.0 Billion in 2018 and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period owing to the rising awareness about prevention of healthcare-associated infections, and growing demand for high-quality polyisoprene gloves for surgeries, high cost of the medical gloves, and presence of large number of suppliers in the region. Moreover, stringent guidelines for the use of infection protection devices by the regulatory agencies in countries such as U.S. and Canada plays crucial role in the medical gloves market in the region. Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommends wearing medical gloves to reduce risk of blood and body fluid contamination of healthcare workers hands and microbial dissemination in the environment. Europe is expected to hold the second-largest share in the global market owing to high consumption of medical disposable gloves in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain. According to Hartlega Holdings Bhd, Netherlands accounts for the highest per capita glove consuming country with per capita consumption of gloves in pieces as 276 gloves whereas followed by Denmark and Germany is with 259 and 208 gloves consumed per capita respectively. The Netherlands is expected to contribute to the growth of this market in the region. In addition, The rising demand for advanced gloves in France and Germany is likely to aid the market in Europe. Speak to Analyst Highlights of the Report: In-depth analysis of various insights, namely, Disposable Medical Gloves Market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and other related challenges. Comprehensive details of key market players, their core competencies, and Disposable Medical Gloves Market share. The potency of suppliers and buyers to make better business decisions. Lists out the market size in terms of volume. Key questions answered in the report: What will the market growth rate of Ophthalmic market in 2026? What are the key factors driving the global Ophthalmic market? Who are the key manufacturers in Ophthalmic market space? What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Ophthalmic market? Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Ophthalmic market? What are the Ophthalmic market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Ophthalmic industry? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Ophthalmic industry? Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Continued About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com For two-and-half weeks, as Kanhaiya Kumar's Jan Gan Man Yatra opposing the CAA-NPR-NRC makes its way through Bihar, it has come under sustained violent attack. Archana Masih/Rediff.com discovers that the yatris, who include teenagers wanting to save the Constitution and the Nation, are unfazed by the threats and loathing. IMAGE: Communist Party of India leader Kanhaiya Kumar addresses a meeting in Sasaram during the Jan Gan Man Yatra in opposition to the CAA-NPR-NRC in Bihar. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Nivedita Jha For the past 19 days, Nandini Kumari, 17, has been travelling through Bihar in the Jan Gan Man Yatra against the CAA-NPR-NRC, spearheaded by Communist Party of India leader Kanhaiya Kumar. "Unko dekh kar log pagla jate hai (people go crazy seeing him)," the teenager says over the phone from Pawapuri where the entourage had halted for the night and had a meal of puri and aloo sabzi. Nandini started the yatra from Gandhiji's ashram in Bhitiharwa, West Champaran and will be at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on February 27 when the yatra culminates in a rally. "Kanaihya bhaiya is telling people about the CAA-NRC. He speaks about the Constitution, the Dalits, the poor. He says we have to save the Constitution to save the nation." "I like that," says the Class 10 student, the daughter of a Dalit farmer from Araria district which borders Nepal. Her parents allowed her to go for the yatra, but her friend Priyanka's mother wept for hours before giving permission. 'What if you don't come back? Who will marry you if you go off like this?' the mother had asked. "You must understand the background that they come from -- they are coming from a milieu where grooms are being found for girls their age," Tanmay Kumar, an activist, tells me over the phone from Araria, taking the call from a public meeting addressed by activist Kavita Krishnan. Nandini, along with Nitu and Priyanka, are amongst the youngest members of the yatra's 60 to 70 member entourage. The girls are activists of the Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, a trade union of landless workers, where Tanmay is an office member. IMAGE: Left to right, Nitu, Nandini and Priyanka, the youngest members in the yatra, belong to a village in Araria. They collect donations from the crowd at every sabha for petrol and other expenses. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Tanmay Kumar The entourage consists of 4 to 5 cars and a bus with 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' (We are the people of Bharat) written on it. And images of Gandhi, Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh as well. The three girls have taken the responsibility of collecting donations from the people who come to hear Kanhaiya speak. The money they collect is used for petrol and towards expenses for the grand rally in Patna. Before every public sabha, an announcement is made from the stage and the girls weave through the crowd with boxes to collect whatever people contribute willingly. The amount ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 2,000. "The yatra is people funded, we don't get money from any political party or corporation. It is crowd funding in the real sense," continues Tanmay, adding that the girls have raised Rs 150,000 from their humble chanda dabbas. A hundred people's organisations, including those aligned to the Left parties, women's groups, human rights organisations, workers unions etc, opposed to the CAA-NPR-NRC, are participating in the movement. "Political leaders, NGOs, journalists, activists -- the oldest is 70 and youngest 17," says Tanmay. "Their energy is commendable." SEE: Snippets from Kanhaiya Kumar's Jan Gan Man Yatra in Bihar On February 14, Valentine's Day, the yatra was attacked by goons for the eighth time. Nandini and several others in the travelling party have been witness to every attack. Once a stone hit the window where she was sitting and she ducked and moved to the other side to escape being hurt. The Valentine's Day attack was the most brutal, says Nivedita Jha, a former journalist and acting Bihar president of the National Forum for Indian Women, who is a member of the yatra's coordination committee. Kanhaiya Kumar's police escort -- 4 to 5 constables -- pulled him out of the car to safety in the nick of time. Some among the travelling party were injured. A woman sustained a blow to the head. First came the eggs. The yatra had set course from a dharamshala in Buxar for Arrah when eggs were thrown at it. Few struck some people in the yatra, says Tanmay, who was seated in the bus. Then came the stones and lathis. "There were men on bikes who had covered their faces with hankies. They started throwing stones on the entourage and broke Kanhaiya's car window. A 70-year-old man in our group who got down to document what was happening was injured." On the weekend, a delegation from the yatra, met Bihar Home Secretary Amit Suhani to express their concern about the continued attacks. "He gave instructions to district officers to look into it seriously and arrest the attackers," adds Jha. Three arrests were made on Monday, February 17, in connection with the attacks. Still, as Kanhaiya addressed a sabha in Lakhi Sarai on Monday, a slipper was flung at him. IMAGE: A meeting in Aurangabad, Bihar. The yatra started at Gandhiji's ashram in Bhitiharwa and will culminate in a rally at the Gandhi Maidan, Patna. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Nivedita Jha "Bauklahat hai (there is upheaval among the yatra's detractors) that hordes of people are coming, who are not Muslims alone. The BJP wants to project the CAA-NPR-NRC as a Muslim problem," says Nivedita Jha over the phone from Patna where she is planning for the Gandhi Madian rally on the 27th. Jha attended the sabhas in Sasaram and Aurangabad. "Kanhaiya is a great communicator; his rural andaz (manner) touches people. He doesn't only talk about the NRC alone, but also about umemployment, farmers and women." "He says if you don't get a job then you won't get a bride either. Who will want to marry a jobless man?" "People -- especially the youth -- treat him like a hero and have a lot of love for him. They want to take selfies with him, but he carries his stardom with responsibility," says Jha. "When people chant 'Kanhaiya Kumar zindabad!', he stops them and asks them to say 'Samvidhan Ki Jai! and Jai Hind!" "He has a political maturity and people have a lot of hope from him," says Jha. The former JNU student union president and now a Communist Party of India leader, Kanhaiya Kumar's fledgling political career suffered a setback after he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election to the Bharatiya Janata Party's Giriraj Singh in his home district Begusarai. Meanwhile, plans are afoot for a huge rally in Gandhi Maidan, Patna, where the organisers estimate that 500,000 to 700,000 people will be in attendance. The maidan has been booked for two days. Tents will have to be erected, water and bathroom facilities provided. "Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh will be spent on the yatra," says Nivedita Jha. Local stay and food is looked after by individual organisations in the districts the yatra passes through. Nandini returned to her village on Monday and will take a bus from the village to Araria town, 70 km away. She will then board the train to Patna along with others to attend the rally on the 27th. "Hum apne baap ke baap ka naam bhi nahi jante tho kagaaz kaise dikhayenge? (I don't know my grandfather's name, so how can I show documents?" she asks, speaking on a group member's phone. She says she has an Aadhar card, but does not have any other document. I ask if she wasn't scared when the yatra was attacked eight times in front of her eyes. "Hum nikle hai samvidhan bachane, toh dar kiska? (We have set out to save the Constitution, so why should we be afraid?)" Tunisian President Kais Saied said the country faces risk of early parliamentary elections if the line-up proposed by designate Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh fails to win parliamentary majority. Fakhfakhs line-up was rejected by the biggest parties in the country, including Ennahda, an islamist party with the largest parliamentary representation. Ennahdhas decision will put the country in a difficult situation, said Fakhfakh. Heart of Tunisia, the second biggest party, also said it would not back the government after Fakhfakh excluded it from the coalition. Fakhfakh, a former finance minister, was tasked by Tunisias president with forming a government after a previous list proposed by Ennahdhas nominee for Prime Minister, Habib Jemli, was rejected by Parliament in a confidence vote last month. This comes as the Tunisian economy struggles with debt and unemployment amid surge in insecurity in its borders with Libya. Saied, a political independent, was elected last October as president. Around 500 passengers will leave a cruise ship quarantined off Japan on Wednesday after testing negative for the new coronavirus that has infected hundreds on board, a health ministry official said on Tuesday. "The number (who will leave Wednesday) is changing, largely because it is up to passengers (if they get off)," the official told reporters. "But it will be around 500 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Cleveland family is in mourning as they plan a funeral for a 12-year-old boy who police say was allegedly tortured to death by his grandparents and uncle in Montana. ABC13 reported that the boy's aunt in Cleveland, Misty Burks, said James Alex Hurley's family in Texas never suspected he was in danger. Court documents show his mother told detectives the grandparents would not let her contact James. James grandparents, James Sasser Jr. and Patricia Batts, and his 14-year-old uncle James Sasser III are charged with deliberate homicide in James' death, a felony. James initially went to live with his father in Montana, his grandmother told detectives, and lived with the paternal relatives for two years after his father died. Out of jail: HISD teachers free on bond after indecency with a child arrests Montana authorities first received a report of James' death on Feb. 3. Detectives began investigating the death, and found multiple inconsistencies in the family's story of what had happened. Eventually, investigators seized the family's cell phones, where they found numerous videos of James being tortured. In videos from December through late January, James can be seen crying while being forced to do jumping jacks, begging to use the bathroom and screaming about committing suicide, according to court records. Other videos from that period show him in underwear before fans for long periods and being sprayed with isopropyl alcohol in his face, and some indicate he might have been sleep deprived as well. Detectives noted that much of the food in the home was locked away and that James' body was emaciated when found. On HoustonChronicle.com: Galveston-Houston archdiocese, Vatican accused in federal suit of concealing abuse allegations against ex-Conroe priest James' grandmother told investigators the 14-year-old uncle had a fight with James on Jan. 27 and on Feb. 2. The uncle's search history shows he searched for "what was the longest coma" on Jan. 27 and on Feb. 2 looked up symptoms of brain injury, sleep deprivation and concussions. A Feb. 12 Facebook post from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office in Montana stirred sympathy from people near and far, and displayed an additional development a person defending the family in the comments and engendering outrage under the name Gage Roush was reportedly taken into custody for assault on a minor, the sheriff's office said. The office confirmed in the comments that the minor was James. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 20:48:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with France in the health sector so as to jointly safeguard regional and global public health security, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday. A 46-year-old man died in hospital from a gunshot wound to the head after a shooting in Queen's Park, police have confirmed. Eraj Seifi, of Maida Vale, was found shot on the afternoon of 29 January and rushed to hospital. He was treated at the scene before being rushed to hospital. Scotland Yard has said he succumbed to his injuries on January 7. A post mortem examination found his cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. LISLE, Ill., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Endotronix, a digital health and medical technology company dedicated to advancing the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF), today announced the enrollment of the first two patients in the PROACTIVE-HF pivotal trial. The trial is a pre-market investigational device exempt (IDE) study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Cordella Pulmonary Artery (PA) Pressure Sensor System (Cordella Sensor) for the treatment of HF. The first two patients were successfully implanted with the Cordella Sensor by Drs. Navin Kapur and Michael Kiernan at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts and Dr. Liviu Klein at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial is expected to enroll over 950 New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III heart failure patients at up to 60 sites across the U.S. The dual-arm trial design compares HF management using daily patient vital sign data versus daily vital sign plus PA pressure data. Designed to show a definitive benefit for PA pressure-guided management, the landmark trial incorporates protocolized PA pressure therapy guidelines and guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for proactive HF management. Primary endpoints of the study include the reduction of HF hospitalizations and mortality. In addition, the data from this trial will support U.S. market access of the Cordella Sensor and inform a national coverage decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The company also announced that last year they received Category B IDE Study approval from CMS, which will allow coverage of the Cordella Sensor and routine care services during the trial. "Management of chronic heart failure patients can be challenging. The Cordella Sensor and System provide a unique combination of daily patient PA pressure and vital sign data, enabling me and my team to make smarter, trend-based clinical decisions before decompensation occurs," commented Dr. Klein, Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at UCSF and National Principal Investigator of the PROACTIVE-HF trial. "Based on my early experience, the Cordella System offers an intuitive at-home patient experience, including a seated PA pressure reading, for remote management. I'm excited for the PROACTIVE-HF trial and look forward to clearly demonstrating the benefits of hemodynamic PA-pressure guided therapy and its impact on clinical outcomes." "PROACTIVE-HF is a groundbreaking trial, designed to provide the highest level of clinical evidence in support of PA pressure-guided therapy," added Harry Rowland, Chief Executive Officer of Endotronix. "Our national coverage of top implanting centers positions us for successful study enrollment to further demonstrate that the Cordella Sensor and System provides efficient HF management, improves clinical outcomes and has the potential to redefine the standard of care for patients with chronic heart failure." The Cordella Sensor is not available for commercial use in any geography and is under clinical investigation in Europe (SIRONA II CE Mark Trial) and the U.S. (PROACTIVE-HF IDE Trial). CAUTION - Investigational Device. Limited by Federal (or United States) Law to Investigational Use. Exclusively for clinical investigations. The Cordella System, without the sensor, is available for commercial use in the U.S. and E.U. and is currently in cardiology centers across the U.S. About the Cordella Heart Failure System The Cordella Heart Failure System (Cordella System) is designed to help patients suffering from chronic heart failure feel better and stay out of the hospital with streamlined care and remote medication titration. The system provides a comprehensive health status of the patient at home with easy-to-use tools that securely collect and share health data with healthcare providers for trend-based management. The Cordella Sensor seamlessly integrates pulmonary artery (PA) pressure data into the Cordella System. Together, they proactively deliver the information necessary to improve patient care between office visits and support reimbursement for care delivery activities. About Endotronix Endotronix, Inc., is a medical technology company focused on advancing the treatment of chronic heart failure. Privately held, the company is backed by world-class medtech investors including Aperture Venture Partners, BioVentures Investors, LSP, Lumira Ventures, OSF Ventures, Seroba Life Sciences, Skydeck LLC, SV Health Investors, Wanxiang Healthcare Investments, and two unnamed corporate strategic investors. Learn more at www.endotronix.com . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. MEDIA CONTACTS: Carla Benigni SPRIG Consulting LLC (847) 951-7430 [email protected] SOURCE Endotronix, Inc. Related Links http://www.endotronix.com Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra on Monday waded into the controversy over video clips of December 15 violence at Jamia Millia Islamia saying that even Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged for the Mumbai terror attack, would be termed innocent had he entered the university library with a gun. Over the past two days, a series of videos have emerged of the incident two months after the alleged police brutality in Jamia Millia Islamia. If that day Kasab had rushed in the library with his gun, he would be called an innocent.... Mishra tweeted in Hindi, days after a crushing election defeat in the Delhi assembly polls. In one of the video which surfaced online, police can be seen beating students as they try to escape in the Jamia library. In another video, some youths can be seen rushing into the library room, some of them with their faces covered. Some of the policemen also had their faces covered. The Jamia Millia University has denied leaking the footage while the Delhi Police has said that its special investigation team (SIT) probing the violence in Jamia Nagar area on December 15 will analyse all the video clips to establish the exact sequence of the events on the day. Mishra, a former lawmaker of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year after falling out with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. In the run up to the Delhi assembly election earlier this month, he sparked a major controversy saying the polls would be an India-Pakistan contest. The comment led the Election Commission to slap him with a ban on campaigning. He was among those BJP leaders who ran a hyper national campaign. Mishra, who fought the election from his old constituency of Model Town, lost to AAPs Akhilesh Pati Tripathi by over 11,000 votes. More than 60 lawyers critical of the Armenian government have joined forces to campaign for a no vote in the upcoming referendum on a controversial government proposal to oust most members of the countrys Constitutional Court. The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Tuesday registered them as the sole No side in the unfolding referendum campaign. The official status entitles them to free airtime on state television. Armenians will vote on April 5 on draft constitutional amendments ending the powers of seven of the nine Constitutional Court judges who have for months been under government pressure to resign. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has repeatedly accused them -- and Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian in particular -- of maintaining ties to the corrupt former regime and impeding judicial reforms. Tovmasian and Pashinians political opponents have dismissed these claims, saying that Pashinian is simply seeking to gain control over Armenias highest court. Leading opposition parties have questioned the legality of the proposed amendments, saying that they run counter to other articles of the Armenian constitution. But none of those parties has decided to officially campaign against their enactment. Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK), argued last week that opposition involvement in the No campaign would make it easier for Pashinians political team to portray a yes vote as another rejection of former President Serzh Sarkisian. The latter was overthrown in the 2018 Velvet Revolution that brought Pashinian to power. The lawyers who have set up the official No camp too have denounced the amendments as unconstitutional. One of their representatives, Ruben Melikian, insisted on Tuesday that their involvement in the referendum campaign will not help to legitimize the process. In terms of our national interests, we will suffer much greater damage and losses if not only the constitutionality but also the fairness of this process is called into question, Melikian told reporters. We must enable people, who have something to say, to present their message and allow those people, who want to monitor [the referendum,] to take that opportunity. Melikian, who has served as a deputy justice minister in the past, also said that the lawyers are not afraid of being branded agents of the former regime by Pashinians team. We do not support or campaign against anyone, he said. This is a fight for the Republic of Armenia. While saying that the No campaign will seek to avoid political statements, Melikian did not exclude that it will give opposition forces a platform to continue denouncing the government bid to replace the high court judges.Yes, we may enable various political forces to make use of our free airtime, he said. Meanwhile, Pashinian met with senior members of his My Step bloc late on Monday for further discussions on practical modalities of the Yes campaign. One of his top loyalists, Alen Simonian, confirmed after the meeting that the prime minister will personally participate in the campaign. The prime minister loves talking to the people and the people love the prime minister, Simonian told reporters. We will be entering this campaign with great pleasure. Simonian did not give other details of the campaign. He said only that the ruling bloc should be careful not to tire out voters with speeches and other activities. A total of 29% would support Irish unity but 52% would back remaining in the UK if a referendum was held imminently Less than a third of people here would vote for a united Ireland if a border poll was held tomorrow, according to a major study of 2,000 voters. A total of 29% would support Irish unity but 52% would back remaining in the UK if a referendum was held imminently. The key to nationalist success in a border poll is winning over those who define themselves as 'other' and vote for Alliance, the Greens and smaller parties. But nearly three-quarters (73%) of those who define themselves as other - neither nationalist or unionist - would support remaining in the UK with just 27% opting for Irish unity. If the 'don't knows' are removed from the overall result, the figures break down at 65% to 35% in favour of maintaining Northern Ireland's current constitutional position. Support for the Union was higher among unionist voters than support for Irish unity was among nationalist voters. A total of 99% of DUP and UUP voters wanted to remain in the UK compared to 92% of Sinn Fein and 81% of SDLP voters saying they would support Irish unity in a border poll. Just 30% of Alliance voters backed a united Ireland compared to 70% supporting the Union. The results are revealed in Northern Ireland's largest general election face-to-face study ever carried out. Just over 2,000 people were interviewed across our 18 Westminster constituencies between December 28, 2019 and February 11. The Liverpool University-led project was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with interviews conducted by Social Market Research. Asked to define national identity, Irish was the most popular with 35% of voters choosing it to 34% saying they were British and 23% identifying as Northern Irish. Asked to label themselves ideologically, 28% chose 'unionist', 25% 'nationalist' and 40% said neither. Despite the cash-for-ash scandal, support for devolution was remarkably high. The restoration of the Assembly and Executive was backed by 81% of people with a minuscule minority of 2% opposing it. Power-sharing with both unionists and nationalists in the Stormont executive governing together was also strongly endorsed with 61% support and 7% opposition. But deep divisions remain on an Irish Language Act with 36% of voters supporting one and 32% opposed. DUP and UUP voters were equally against the legislation with 74% opposed while 82% of Sinn Fein and 77% of SDLP supporters were in favour. Alliance voters were 32% in favour to 25% against. Read More Despite the strong support for devolution, voters remain deeply divided along religious grounds. The results indicate that the suggestion of a swathe of Catholics voting DUP over the abortion issue is a myth - zero per cent said they voted for either unionist party. A half of Catholics voted Sinn Fein (51%) while 28% SDLP, and 13% Alliance. No Protestants voted Sinn Fein and just 1% SDLP. Among those who said they were of 'no religion', 28% voted Alliance, 15% SDLP, 10% UUP, and 6% Sinn Fein and 6% DUP. Despite significant criticism over her party's handling of Brexit and RHI, there was strong support for Arlene Foster among DUP voters. Asked to rate her from zero (bad) to 10 (good), almost a third gave her 10/10 while 69% gave her eight or more. Michelle O'Neill's approval ratings were lower with her party voters with 55% scoring her at eight or above. But both leaders have bridges to build with the other community - 56% of Sinn Fein voters and 44% of SDLP supporters gave Mrs Foster zero. Ms O'Neill was equally unpopular with DUP voters - 43% rated her at zero and 75% at two or under. Colum Eastwood was most highly thought of among his party's voters with 95% giving him six or above. Alliance's Naomi Long was the leader most popular with voters from other parties. For unionists, the DUP was regarded as the most effective Northern Ireland party (54%) compared to 9% for the UUP. Among nationalists, 56% viewed Sinn Fein as more effective with 12% opting for the SDLP. Across the entire electorate, the DUP was seen as by far the most effective party (19%), followed by SF (11%), Alliance (10%) and the SDLP (8%). The UUP scored worst with just 4% saying it was most effective. Bolton claims censorship Former national security adviser John Bolton, speaking out for the first time since the conclusion of President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, discussed his upcoming book and expressed serious concerns about the White House review process that he claimed is holding up its publication. Bolton labeled the review process as censorship. I say things in the manuscript about what [Trump] said to me; I hope they become public someday, Bolton said during an interview in front of an audience at Duke University on Monday evening. He tweets, but I cant talk about it -- how fair is that? Boltons book, which contains allegations regarding President Trumps personal involvement with activities in Ukraine that led to his impeachment and subsequent acquittal, has been in a standard prepublication security review for classified information with the White House National Security Counsel since December 30th, according to Boltons lawyer, Charles Cooper. (ABC News) Featured stories Apple says it has experienced a lower demand for its products within China because of the spread of the coronavirus. Apple signals coronavirus threat to global businesses (New York Times) Hospital director dies in Wuhan, as death toll from coronavirus outbreak tops 1,800 (CNN) Americans from coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan arrive in U.S. (CBS News) Federal judges association calls emergency meeting after DOJ intervenes in case of Trump ally Roger Stone (USA Today) 2,000 ex-Justice Department employees call on Barr to resign over Roger Stone case (CBS News) Boy Scouts files for bankruptcy amid wave of sexual abuse claims (oregonlive.com) National news Mississippi flooding: Helpless feeling as up to 1,000 homes feared affected (NBC News) Federal prosecutors weigh new charges that bring Lev Parnas investigation closer to Giuliani (CNN) California to issue an official apology for World War II Japanese internment (USA Today) 11 children shot in yet another violent Chicago weekend (CNN) Trump campaign manager deletes Air Force One photo after it is pointed out it is from 2004 (The Hill) Plymouth Rock, iconic landmark that marks where the Pilgrims first landed, was vandalized (CNN) Mothers and daughters killed in Missouri crash returned to Louisville (The Courier Journal) Former mayoral candidate drugged woman with cupcake to steal newborn, officials say (USA Today) Leaning Tower of Dallas survives implosion to become internet sensation (Dallas Morning News) Donald Stratton, a Pearl Harbor survivor and USS Arizona crew member, has died at 97 (CNN) Ice volcanoes explode on Oval Beach along Lake Michigan (mlive.com) World news Taliban says peace agreement with U.S. to be signed by months end (Washington Post) Irans foreign minister blames US and Saudi Arabia for rising tensions in the Gulf (CNBC) China to grant tariff exemptions on 696 U.S. goods to support purchases (Reuters) Suicide bomber in SW Pakistan kills 8 at Islamist rally (Associated Press) From bad to worse - Dashed hopes may deter many Iranians from polls (Reuters) Severe weather turns deadly in U.K., forces young climate activists to cancel meeting: A bleak irony (CBS News) Syria conflict: UN says Idlib displacement overwhelming relief effort (BBC) 14 children among dozens killed in Cameroon attack, UN says (CNN) U.S. mulls cutting Huawei off from global chip suppliers, with TSMC in crosshairs (Reuters) China detains Uighurs for growing beards or visiting foreign websites, leak reveals (The Guardian) Brexit negotiator says UK must be able to set its own laws (BBC) [February 18, 2020] Relativity Appoints Beth Clutterbuck as Chief Human Resources Officer CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, an industry leader in legaltech, today announced that Beth Clutterbuck has joined the company as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). After spending more than 20 years at best-in-class organizations across Europe, Clutterbuck has relocated to her hometown of Chicago to join the Relativity team. "Beth in an inspiring person with a fantastic track record of developing strong human resources functions across a diverse set of industries. She is exactly what we need to deliver an incredible experience to our employees," said Mike Gamson, CEO at Relativity. "I'm looking forward to working with Beth especially as we continue our work to make Relativity a talent-first organization over the next five years." "Relativity's workforce has grown so quickly, providing an incredible opportunity to responsibly and effectively scale the organization on a global level," said Clutterbuck. "I am excited to hit the ground running with the entire team to deliver a great employee experience around the world and am even more excited to have the chance to contribute to building an incredible tech community right here in Chicago." Clutterbuck has held human resources leadership positions across four countries and five industry sectors, including technology, financial services, biotechnology, manufacturing, and media. In her former roles at Cloudreach and Deliveroo, Clutterbuck oversaw the building of the global people strategy and underpinning scaffolding to drive the rapid scaling of these high growth technology firms. Additionally, she held talent-focused roles at NBCUniversal and HSBC. Relativity now has more than 1,100 team members worldwide and is planning to hire at least 200 more employees this year across its global footprint. Clutterbuck will be instrumental in that process as she works in lockstep with Gamson and Relativity's larger leadership team on an inclusive talent-first agenda. About Relativity At Relativity, we make software to help users organize data, discover the truth, and act on it. Our e-discovery platform is used by thousands of organizations around the world to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Relativity has over 180,000 users in 40+ countries from organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 Fortune 100 companies, and 198 of the Am Law 200. RelativityOne offers all the functionality of Relativity in a secure and comprehensive SaaS product. Relativity has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for nine consecutive years. Please contact Relativity at [email protected] or visit http://www.relativity.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/relativity-appoints-beth-clutterbuck-as-chief-human-resources-officer-301006168.html SOURCE Relativity [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Weird Science of Rockaway Beach's Twin Rocks, N. Oregon Coast: Video Published 02/17/2020 at 12:28 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Rockaway Beach, Oregon) Twin Rocks at Rockaway Beach has been the big scenic highlight since day one that settlers appeared here, and long before that when indigenous people first arrived as well. What legends grew around that sight isnt exactly clear, though there were likely numerous interpretations just like today, when some say it looks like a dragon or other fanciful creature. The truth, however, is stranger than fiction about this famed Oregon coast landmark. Twin Rocks has a weird little secret. Its probably geologically speaking not what you think it is. A lot of people at first guess think it was once part of a larger structure, and theyd have it half correct. Twin Rocks is what they call in geology an intrusive. Yes, its lava originally. But it has the unusual distinction of being part of a much bigger lava flow that entered into the ground and re-erupted elsewhere. The solid-as-rock definition (pun intended) of an intrusive is lava that reaches the surface from below. But this is usually used when talking about magma chambers and much more expansive volcono-like things. However, there are times a major lava flow goes scooting its way along the surface and then dives into softer sediment, burrows down, and then comes back up. According to north Oregon coast geologist Tom Horning: Sometimes, lavas burrow into muck and re-erupt like Haystack has, he said, referring to Cannon Beachs Haystack Rock. Twin Rocks, according to Horning and other Oregon science folk, has the same kind of origin story. Somewhere about 18 to 15 million years ago, the coastline was some 75 to 100 miles farther inland than it is now, and all that you see here was under water. About that time, there was an enormous weak spot in the Earths crust roughly where the Idaho / Oregon border is now. (Spoiler alert: this weak spot, Oregon coast landmarks and Yellowstone National Park are all related). This let loose a massive set of eruptions that probably went on and off for a few million years. No ones really sure how many times it fired off. It's also responsible for the Columbia Gorge. We do know it spewed huge numbers of lava flows, which often seared their way across proto-Oregon, burning down forests and eating up formations along the way. It created rivers of lava, sometimes 30 feet high, that went hundreds of miles westward until they plummeted into the ocean and sometimes kept going on the ocean floor. When it reached the softer slushy floor of the ocean, thats where it sometimes oozed its way underground and then re-erupted elsewhere. And thats what Haystack Rock and Twin Rocks originally were. Its believed both were much larger structures at one point, but were whittled away by time and tides over the many millions of years since. Since these were formed partially with the sediment surrounding them, theyre a tad weaker than a lot of basalt that was formed other ways. To get an idea how big of a structure these instrusives couldve been, take a look at Neahkahnie Mountain. It rises 1,680 feet above the sea. It, too, was originally an intrusive: some gigantic mass of lava that re-erupted from another, larger lava flow. What did the original formation of Twin Rocks look like? No one knows. Now, erosion is showing itself in realtime on the great rock structures (which are erroneously referred to as one, but theyre actually considered two). As Oregon geologist Ernst Lund put it in the seventies: One is an arch, the other a stack. At one point, both basalt structures were part of one big one, then they were separated into two. Then, erosion ate a hole in that southern rock and created the arch. One day, that arch will crumble and Twin Rocks will have a third wheel in its relationship. More photos below. Hotels in Rockaway Beach - Where to eat - Rockaway Beach Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The California Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld a unanimous jury verdict in a retaliation case involving San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera. The court upheld the jury's finding that Herrera illegally retaliated against San Francisco Chief Trial Deputy Joanne Hoeper by firing her after she discovered a scheme happening at Herrera's office. The court upheld the jury's verdict, awarding Hoeper $5 million in damages and attorney's fees. According to Hoeper's attorneys, Hoeper found evidence that the City Attorney's Claims Unit colluded with plumbing companies to pay hundreds of illegal claims involving alleged damage to sewers that weren't really damaged. Hoeper learned the scheme went as far back as 2007 and cost taxpayers an estimated $10 million, her attorneys said. When Hoeper informed Herrera of her findings, a Claims Unit employee allegedly told her, "You'll be sorry," according to Hoeper's attorneys. After Hoeper was fired, Herrera claimed it was because of his dissatisfaction in her handling of matters years prior to the sewer investigation. The jury, however, found that Herrera's criticism was pretextual and her firing was to cover up the scheme, Hoeper's attorneys said. A greatly expanded Salinas Library branch will open its doors to the public with a grand-opening event from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday. The new El Gabilan Library at 1400 North Main St. is a two-story 20,800-square-foot building that occupies the same Northridge Mall site as its 3,400-square-foot predecessor. Ground was broken in 2018 and construction was completed in 18 months. The building features dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults; an outdoor reading deck; a multi-functional community room; group study rooms; a digital classroom; and a makerspace. The design by Anderson Brul Architects maximizes the use of natural light and also has LED lighting and ventilation systems. The outdoor landscaping uses native plants. The activist women known as Moms 4 Housing will be among those recognized as Black History Month honorees when the Oakland City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, council President Rebecca Kaplan announced. Other honorees will include North Oakland store Marcus Books, community advocate and Oakland Tenants Union founder James Vann, activist and educator Kin Folkz, accessory dwelling unit advocate Bertram Harris; Red Bay Coffee owners the Konte family; Cypress Mandela Training Center founder Arthur "Art" Bolden; lie Omode School; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Festival founder Donald Oliver. Starting last November, the Moms 4 Housing group occupied a vacant West Oakland home at at 2928 Magnolia St. for about two months to call attention to the plight of the many homeless people in society and the housing crisis affecting the Bay Area and the state. The group was evicted from the home by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office in January after failing to win a court decision to allow them to stay. The house had been purchased in July by Southern California-based Wedgewood Properties, which planned to renovate and sell the home. But a deal brokered in January by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's office means the home will be sold to the Oakland Community Land Trust, which buys properties and converts them to affordable housing. The steering committee of Moms 4 Housing -- of Misty Cross, Carroll Fife, Sameerah Karim, Tolani King, Merika Regan, Sharena Thomas, and Dominique Walker - will be recognized by Kaplan. Police responding to a report of a fight in a Fairfield park Thursday afternoon arrested an 18-year-old who was carrying a loaded and concealed handgun. Officers were called to Dover Park at 1600 Flamingo Drive and found a group who matched the descriptions given by a caller. A bat and a knife were found on the ground and officers conducted a search that turned up the handgun they say was in the possession of Thomas Hearne. They were unable to get further details about the altercation or how it started "due to a lack of cooperation by those involved," the department said in an announcement. A flight carrying U.S. citizens who had been passengers on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan arrived about 11:30 p.m. at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, where they will be quarantined for two weeks. "At present there are 171 additional passengers on the installation," Travis officials said in a statement. "This number does not include the previous two cohorts of evacuees from China, who arrived on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 and have been observing their separate 14-day quarantine." The evacuees had been tested and determined to show no symptoms of the coronavirus. But 14 later tested positive for tested positive for COVID-19, now the official name of the virus, but were allowed on the flight and were "moved in the most expeditious and safe manner to a specialized containment area on the evacuation aircraft to isolate them in accordance with standard protocols," according to a joint statement from the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Travis officials said the passengers who tested positive would be taken to a separate location off of the base for continued isolation and care. Any other passenger showing symptoms will be taken to an off-base hospital for containment and specialized care, officials said, noting the Centers for Disease Control is in charge of the quarantine and that base personnel would have no contact with the passengers. A 15-year-old boy from Santa Clara was struck and killed Sunday evening while apparently crossing the street against the signal, Santa Clara police said. The collision at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Agnew Road was reported about 9:20 p.m. Police say a black Honda Accord was going southbound on Lafayette Street at the intersection with Agnew. "Witnesses reported that the Honda had a solid green light to continue through the intersection. The pedestrian was crossing the street westbound against the 'Do not walk' sign. The youth suffered significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are not releasing his name. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the police investigation, which closed the intersection for several hours. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The database obtained by The Associated Press profiles the internment of 311 individuals with relatives abroad and lists information on more than 2,000 of their relatives, neighbours and friend in China. The database emphasises that the Chinese government focused on religion as a reason for detention, not just political extremism. Beijing: For decades, the Uighur imam was a bedrock of his farming community in Chinas far west. On Fridays, he preached Islam as a religion of peace. On Sundays, he treated the sick with free herbal medicine. In the winter, he bought coal for the poor. But as a Chinese government mass detention campaign engulfed Memtimin Emer's native Xinjiang region three years ago, the elderly imam was swept up and locked away, along with all three of his sons living in China. Now, a newly revealed database exposes in extraordinary detail the main reasons for the detentions of Emer, his three sons, and hundreds of others in Karakax County: their religion and their family ties. The database obtained by The Associated Press profiles the internment of 311 individuals with relatives abroad and lists information on more than 2,000 of their relatives, neighbours and friends. Each entry includes the detainees name, address, national identity number, detention date and location, along with a detailed dossier on their family, religious and neighbourhood background, the reason for detention, and a decision on whether or not to release them. Issued within the past year, the documents do not indicate which government department compiled them or for whom. Taken as a whole, the information offers the fullest and most personal view yet into how Chinese officials decided who to put into and let out of detention camps, as part of a massive crackdown that has locked away more than a million ethnic minorities, most of them Muslims. The database emphasises that the Chinese government focused on religion as a reason for detention not just political extremism, as authorities claim, but ordinary activities such as praying, attending a mosque, or even growing a long beard. It also shows the role of family: People with detained relatives are far more likely to end up in a camp themselves, uprooting and criminalizing entire families like Emer's in the process. Similarly, family background and attitude is a bigger factor than detainee behaviour in whether they are released. Its very clear that religious practice is being targeted, said Darren Byler, a University of Colorado researcher studying the use of surveillance technology in Xinjiang. They want to fragment society, to pull the families apart and make them much more vulnerable to retraining and reeducation. The Xinjiang regional government did not respond to faxes requesting comment. Asked whether Xinjiang is targeting religious people and their families, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: this kind of nonsense is not worth commenting on. Beijing has said before that the detention centres are for voluntary job training, and that it does not discriminate based on religion. China has struggled for decades to control Xinjiang, where the native Uighurs have long resented Beijings heavy-handed rule. With the 9/11 attacks in the United States, officials began using the spectre of terrorism to justify harsher religious restrictions, saying young Uighurs were susceptible to Islamic extremism. After militants set off bombs at a train station in Xinjiang's capital in 2014, President Xi Jinping launched a so-called Peoples War on Terror, transforming Xinjiang into a digital police state. The leak of the database from sources in the Uighur exile community follows the release in November of a classified blueprint on how the mass detention system really works. The blueprint obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which includes the AP, showed that the centres are in fact forced ideological and behavioural re-education camps run in secret. Another set of documents leaked to the New York Times revealed the historical lead-up to the mass detention. The latest set of documents came from sources in the Uighur exile community, and the most recent date in them is March 2019. The detainees listed come from Karakax County, a traditional settlement of about 650,000 on the edge of Xinjiang's Taklamakan desert where more than 97 percent of residents are Uighur. The list was corroborated through interviews with former Karakax residents, Chinese identity verification tools, and other lists and documents seen by the AP. Detainees and their families are tracked and classified by rigid, well-defined categories. Households are designated as trustworthy or not trustworthy," and their attitudes are graded as ordinary or good." Families have light or heavy religious atmospheres, and the database keeps count of how many relatives of each detainee are locked in prison or sent to a training centre." Officials used these categories to determine how suspicious a person was even if they hadnt committed any crimes. It underscores the witch-hunt mindset of the government, and how the government criminalizes everything, said Adrian Zenz, an expert on the detention centres and senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC. Reasons listed for internment include minor religious infection, disturbs other persons by visiting them without reasons, relatives abroad, thinking is hard to grasp and untrustworthy person born in a certain decade." The last seems to refer to younger men; about 31 percent of people considered untrustworthy were in the age bracket of 25 to 29 years, according to an analysis of the data by Zenz. When former student Abdullah Muhammad spotted Emer's name on the list of the detained, he was distraught. He didnt deserve this, Muhammad said. Everyone liked and respected him. He was the kind of person who couldnt stay silent against injustice. Even in Karakax county, famed for its intellectuals and scholars, Emer stood out as one of the most renowned teachers in the region. Muhammad studied the Quran under Emer for six years as a kid, following him from house to house in an effort to dodge the authorities. Muhammad said Emer was so respected that the police would phone him with warnings ahead of time before raiding classes at his modest, single-story home of brick and mud. Though Emer gave Party-approved sermons, he refused to preach Communist propaganda, Muhammad said, eventually running into trouble with the authorities. He was stripped of his position as an imam and barred from teaching in 1997, amid unrest roiling the region. When Muhammad left China for Saudi Arabia and Turkey in 2009, Emer was making his living as a doctor of traditional medicine. Emer was growing old, and under heavy surveillance, he had stopped attending religious gatherings. That didnt stop authorities from detaining the imam, who is in his eighties, and sentencing him on various charges for up to 12 years in prison over 2017 and 2018. The database cites four charges in various entries: stirring up terrorism," acting as an unauthorized wild imam, following the strict Saudi Wahhabi sect and conducting illegal religious teachings. Muhammad called the charges false. Emer had stopped his preaching, practised a moderate Central Asian sect of Islam rather than Wahhabism and never dreamed of hurting others, let alone stirring up terrorism, Muhammad said. He used to always preach against violence, Muhammad said. Anyone who knew him can testify that he wasnt a religious extremist. None of Emer's three sons had been convicted of a crime. But the database shows that over the course of 2017, all were thrown into the detention camps for having too many children, trying to travel abroad, being untrustworthy or infected with religious extremism, or going on the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. It also shows that their relation to Emer and their religious background was enough to convince officials they were too dangerous to let out from the detention camps. His father taught him how to pray, notes one entry for his eldest, Ablikim Memtimin. His familys religious atmosphere is thick. We recommend he (Emer) continue training, says another entry for his youngest son, Emer Memtimin. Even a neighbor was tainted by living near him, with Emer's alleged crimes and prison sentence recorded in the neighbours dossier. The database indicates much of this information is collected by teams of cadres stationed at mosques, sent to visit homes and posted in communities. This information is then compiled in a dossier called the three circles, encompassing their relatives, community, and religious background. It wasnt just the religious who were detained. The database shows that Karakax officials also explicitly targeted people for activities that included going abroad, getting a passport or installing foreign software. Pharmacist Tohti Himit was detained in a camp for having gone multiple times to one of 26 key countries, mostly Muslim, according to the database. Former employee Habibullah, who is now in Turkey, recalled Himit as a secular, kind and wealthy man who kept his face free of a beard. He wasnt very pious, he didnt go to the mosque, said Habibullah, who declined to give his first name out of fear of retribution against family still in China. I was shocked by how absurd the reasons for detention were. The database says cadres found Himit had attended his grandfathers funeral at a local mosque on March 10, 2008. Later that year, the cadres found, he had gone to the same mosque again, once to worship and once to celebrate a festival. In 2014 he had gone to Anhui province, in inner China, to get a passport and go abroad. That, the government concluded, was enough to show that Himit was certainly dangerous. They ordered Himit to stay in the centre and continue training. Emer is now under house arrest due to health issues, his former student, Muhammad, has heard. It's unclear where Emer's sons are. It was the imam's courage and stubbornness that did him in, Muhammad said. Though deprived of his mosque and his right to teach, Emer quietly defied the authorities for two decades by staying true to his faith. "Unlike some other scholars, he never cared about money or anything else the Communist Party could give him," Muhammad said. He never bowed down to them and thats why they wanted to eliminate him. Photos of Amotekun commanders speaking at Ekiti state house of assembly in their combat regalia have gone viral on social media. The commanders were at the assembly complex for a public hearing on the security outfit and also to give their submission on the security initiative. This is coming after the Ekiti assembly passed the Amotekun bill transmitted by Governor Kayode Fayemi into law. Here are photos of Amotekun Commanders below; Share this: Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Facebook recently promised that it would increaseefforts to remove so-called deepfake videos, including content thatincluded misleading manipulated media. In addition to fears that deepfakes altered videos that appear to be authentic could impact the upcoming 2020 general election in the United States,there are growing concerns that they could ruin reputations and impact businesses. A manipulated video that looks real could convince viewers tobelieve that the subjects in the video said things they didnt say,or did things they didnt do. Deepfakes have become more sophisticated and easier to produce, thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, which can be applied to existing videos quickly andeasily, achieving results that took professional special effects teams and digital artists hours or days to achieve in the past. Deepfake technology is being weaponized for political misinformationand cybercrime, said Robert Prigge, CEO of Jumio. In one high profile case, criminals last year used AI-basedsoftware to impersonate a chief executives voice and demand afraudulent transfer of US$243,000, Prigge told TechNewsWorld. Unfortunately, deepfakes can also be used to bypass manybiometric-based identity verification systems, which have rapidly grownin popularity in response to impersonation attacks, identity theft andsocial engineering, he added. Facing Off Against Deepfakes Given the potential for damage, both Facebook and Twitter have banned such content. However, its not clear what the bans cover. For its part Facebook will utilize third-party fact-checkers, reportedly including more than 50 partners working worldwide in more than 40 languages. Theyre banning videos created through machine learning that areintended to be deceptive, explained Paul Bischoff, privacy advocateat Comparitech. The videos must have both audio and video that the average personwouldnt reasonably assume is fake, he told TechNewsWorld. A deepfake superimposes existing video footage of aface onto a source head and body using advanced neural network-poweredAI to create increasingly realistic doctored videos, noted Prigge. In other words, adeepfake looks to be a real persons recorded face and voice, but thewords they appear to be speaking were never really uttered by them. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Defining Deepfakes One troubling issue with deepfakes is simply determining what is adeepfake and what is just edited video. In many cases deepfakes arebuilt by utilizing the latest technology to edit or manipulate video. News outlets regularly edit interviews, press conferences and other events when crafting news stories, as way to highlight certain elements and get juicy sound bites. Of course, there have been plenty of criticisms of mainstream newsmedia for manipulating video footage to change thecontext without AI or machine learning, simply using the tools of the editing suite. Deepfakes generally are viewed as far more dangerous because it isnt just context that is altered. At its heart, a deepfake is when someone uses sophisticatedtechnology artificial intelligence to blend multiple images oraudio together in order to change its original meaning and conveysomething that is not true or valid, said Chris Olson, CEO of The Media Trust. From manipulating audio to creating misleading images, deepfakesfoster the spread of disinformation as the end user typically doesntknow that the content or message is not real, he told TechNewsWorld. To varying degrees, social platforms have issued policies prohibitingthe posting of highly manipulated videos that are not clearly labeledor readily apparent to consumers as fake, added Olson. Still, while these policies are a step in the right direction, they do not explicitly ban manipulated video or audio, he pointed out. Having youraccount blocked isnt much of a deterrent. Manipulation Without Malice Facebooks ban and other efforts to ban orotherwise curb deepfakes do not apply to political speech or parodies. Consent may be another issue that needs to be addressed. This is a great point fake videos and images can be definedbroadly for example, anything that is manipulated, said ShumanGhosemajumder, CTO of Shape Security and former fraud czar at Google. A D V E R T I S E M E N T But most media created is, to some extent, manipulated, he told TechNewsWorld. Manipulations include automatic digital enhancements to photos taken using modern cameras those equipped with HDR settings or other AI-based enhancement as well as filters, and aesthetic editing and retouching, noted Ghosemajumder. If most media is thus automatically marked on a platform assynthetic or manipulated, this will reduce the benefit of such atag, he remarked. The next step will be to figure out objective criteria to excludethat type of editing and focus on maliciously manipulatedmedia, which could be an inherently subjective standard. However, it cant be a question of individuals consenting to be invideos, because no such consent is generally required of publicfigures or of videos and images that are taken in public places,observed Ghosemajumder, and public figures are the ones that aremost likely to be targeted by malicious users of these technologies. AI Tools Singled Out Facebooks deepfakes ban singles out videos that use AI technology or machine learning to manipulate the content. This is an incomplete approach, since most fake content, includingmisleading videos posted today, are not created with such technology,said Ghosemajumder. The now famous Nancy Pelosi video could have been created withtechnology from 40-plus years ago, since it was just simple videoediting, he added. More importantly, maliciousness cannot be defined based only on thetechnology used, said Ghosemajumder, since much of the same technology used to create a malicious deepfake is already being used to create legitimate works ofart, such as the de-aging technology used in The Irishman. Viewer Perception As the Facebook policy stands, satire and parody would be exempt, but what falls into those categories isnt always clear. Viewer reactions dont always align with what thecontent maker may have had in mind. A joke video that falls flat might not be viewed as satire. The standards for judging satire or fan films are also subjective it may be possible to determine what is or is not intended as satirein a court of law to societys satisfaction in an individual instance,but it is much more difficult to make such determinationsautomatically for millions of pieces of content in a social mediaplatform, warned Ghosemajumder. In addition, even in cases when a video is created with obviouslysatirical intent, that intent can get lost if the video is shortened, taken out of context, or even just reposted by someone who didnt understand the original intent. There are many examples of satirical content fooling people whodidnt understand the humor, said Ghosemajumder. Its more about how the audience perceives it. Satire doesnt fallinto the ban. Nor does parody, and if the video is clearly labeled asfiction, it should be fine, countered Bischoff. It is our understanding that Facebook and Twitter are not banningsatire or parody intention is the key differentiator, added AlexeyKhitrov, CEO of ID R&D. Satire by definition is the use of humor, exaggeration or irony,whereas the intention of a deepfake is to pass off altered orsynthetic video or speech as authentic, he told TechNewsWorld.Deepfakes are used to trick a viewer and spread misinformation. Whilea deepfake aims to deceive the average user, satire is apparent. Legal Efforts There have been legal efforts to stop the proliferation ofdeepfakes, but the government might not be the best entity to tacklethis high-tech problem. Over the past two years, several U.S. states introduced legislationto govern deepfakes, with the Malicious Deep Fake Prohibition Act andDEEPFAKES Accountability Act introduced to the U.S. Senate and Houseof Representatives respectively, said The Media Trusts Olson. Both bills stalled with lawmakers, and neither proposed muchchange beyond introducing penalties. Even if laws were passed,it is unlikely a legislative approach can keep up with technological advancements. Its very difficult to effectively legislate against a moving targetlike emerging technology, warned Olson. Until there is perfect recognition that content is a deepfake,platforms and media outlets need to disclose to consumers the sourceof the content, he suggested. Deepfake videos cannot be stopped, just like photoshopped photoscannot be stopped, said Josh Bohls, CEO of Inkscreen. Libel laws can be expanded to include altered videos that mightmisrepresent a public figure in a harmful way, providing the subjectsome kind of recourse, he told TechNewsWorld. It would also be prudent to pass laws requiring the labeling of certain categories of videos political ads, for example so that the viewer is aware that the content has been altered. Tech to Fight Tech Instead of the government creating new laws, the tech industry could solve the deepfakes problem, even if defining them remains fuzzy. Providing access to technology to determine if a video has been manipulated could be a good first step. Several social platforms have taken steps to detect and removedeepfake videos with limited success as detection lags behind thespeed at which new technology emerges to create better, more realisticdeepfakes in an ever-diminishing period of time, said Olson. The challenge remains on the difficult process of identifying andremoving deepfakes before they spread to the general public, he said. Social media is where these videos are spreading and where removal iscrucial. These platforms are in a good position to roll out new technology. Overall, Twitter and Facebook announcing plans to take action againstmalicious fake content is an excellent first step, and will increasescrutiny and skepticism of media uploaded to the Internet, especiallyby anonymous or unknown sources, noted Ghosemajumder. However, this is absolutely not a silver bullet solution to thisproblem, for many reasons warned Ghosemajumder. The detection of fake media is a cat-and-mouse game. If manipulatedcontent is immediately flagged, then malicious actors will experimentagainst the system with variations of their content until they canpass undetected, he explained. On the other hand, if manipulated content is not immediately flaggedor removed, it can be spread and will quickly morph causing damagein whatever period exists between creation and uploading and flagging, ina way that may not be possible to easily contain at that point,Ghosemajumder suggested. Finally, the use of fake accounts andautomated fraud and abuse is the primary mechanism that maliciousactors use to spread disinformation, he said. This is one of the key areassocial networks need to address with the most sophisticated technologyavailable, not just home-built solutions. Anti-Deepfake Tools Several companies are exploring methods of combating deepfakes. Facebook, Microsoft and AWS launched the Deepfake Detection Challenge to encourage development of open source detection tools. [*Correction Jan. 22, 2020] Without consistently flagging suspect digital content and labeling thesource of the doctored video or audio, technology will have littleimpact on the issue, said Olson. Providing this context will help the consumer better understand theveracity of the message. Was it sent to me from an unknown thirdparty, or did I find it on a brand website during product research? This attribution information is whats needed to counter deepfakes, he said. However, with a lot of manipulated content, it is often aboutmisdirection and in this case, too much focus on the video itself could be problematic. Its not just the visual stream thats vulnerable to deepfakes, butalso the voice stream. Both can be altered or manipulated as part ofa deepfake, said ID R&Ds Khitrov. There is technology to help detect a deepfakes manipulated audio, he noted. Liveness detection capabilities can identify artifacts that arentaudible to the human ear but are present in synthesized, recorded orcomputer-altered voice, explained Khitrov. We can detect over 99 percent of audio deepfakes, but only where that technology is deployed. The Deep View Those with a pessimistic take believe the technologyto create convincing deepfakes simply will outpace the technology tostop it. Our analogy is that there are viruses and there is antivirustechnology, and staying ahead of the bad guys requires constantiteration, and the same holds true for deepfake detection, saidKhitrov. However, the AI-based technologies that the bad guys are using arevery similar to the technologies the good guys are using. So thebreakthroughs that are available to the bad guys are also being usedby the good guys to stop them, he added. A bigger threat is that deepfake software is already freelyavailable on the Web, although its not that great yet, saidComparitechs Bischoff. We will have to learn to be vigilant andskeptical. *ECT News Network editors note Jan. 22, 2020: Our original published version of this story incorrectly stated that the Deepfake Detection Challenge was a project launched by The Media Trust. In fact, it is a joint effort of Facebook, Microsoft and AWS. We regret the error. Mumbai: Despite the opposition of his alliance partners, the NCP and the Congress, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday his government would not block the National Population Register (NPR) exercise in the state. The NRC (National Registration of Citizens) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are two different issues. No one has to worry even if the CAA gets implemented. But the NRC will not be implemented in the state, Mr Thackeray said on Tuesday. On the NPR, Mr Thackeray said he would personally check the columns in the National Population Register to ensure there would not be any problem with the exercise. NPR is a census and I will go through columns given in the form. I dont think there will be any problem with it. The Census is carried out every ten years, the chief minister said while addressing the media at Sindhudurg. If the NRC is implemented, it will affect not only the Hindus or the Muslims but it will also affect the Adivasis. However, the Centre has not discussed the NRC as of now, he added. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, however, said that Mr Thackeray is entitled to his personal views but all coalition partners in Maharashtra would soon have a detailed discussion on the CAA. We will convince Mr Thackeray on the CAA, he said. The differences among the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government constituents the Sena, NCP and Congress came to fore after the Shiv Sena walked out during voting in the Rajya Sabha but spoke out against the CAA, whereas the NCP and the Congress voted against the law. Later, Mr Thackeray made it clear that there is no reason to be afraid of the citizenship law. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:16:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- At a time when China is diligently fighting the novel coronavirus, Chinese nationals in Japan have donated medical supplies such as masks and protective suits to help mitigate a shortage in their motherland. After learning how the outbreak led to a shortfall in medical necessities, the Union of Chinese Residing in Japan called on all Chinese associations as well as individuals in Japan to make contributions to China's fight against the epidemic. Donations followed in batches from Chinese business owners and chambers. According to the Union, more than 70 affiliated associations and chambers immediately took action and raised donations and medical supplies including masks, protective clothes, goggles and gloves, worth a total of 39.84 million yen (about 363,000 U.S. dollars) in only two weeks. "When trouble occurs at one spot, help comes from all quarters. We would like to show our love for the motherland and hometown," said He Naihe, chairman of the Union. Meanwhile, Chinese associations and chambers of commerce in Kyushu and Okinawa also issued initiatives, urging donations from overseas Chinese to support the prevention and control of the epidemic back in China. In only a few days, roughly 280,000 surgical masks, over 1,100 protective suits, and more than 30,000 bottles of disinfectant and disinfectant towels were gathered. Some individuals drove hundreds of miles overnight to buy an extra box of masks, while others queued in the freezing cold to buy more protective suits. In the warehouse of a logistics company in the Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo are large cardboard boxes filled with anti-epidemic materials waiting to be sent to China. They were raised by the Hubei General Chamber of Commerce in Japan as well as other Chinese associations and enterprises. Some Chinese volunteered to transfer the goods. They pulled up banners, raised national flags and shouted "Come on, Wuhan! Come on, Hubei! Come on China!" The Chinese embassy in Japan last month listed a dozen goods in urgent need in China. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou expressed his appreciation to the overseas Chinese community in Japan for its devotion to the motherland, saying that the epidemic would soon dissipate as long as the Chinese people unite together. Kong said China's efforts to defeat the virus are bearing fruit: the number of recoveries have outpaced deaths and the rate of severe cases is slowing down. China has full confidence in winning the people's war against the epidemic, he added. Noting that the number of infected cases of the novel coronavirus in Japan have increased recently, Kong said that China will continue to closely coordinate with Japan to eradicate the virus. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are settling into their new, more private lives. The royal couple made a shocking announcement earlier this year they were leaving the family. While the negative media definitely played a role in the couples departure, they also wanted to be more hands-on parents to their son, Archie. But experts suggest that Archie might actually be in more danger in Canada. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Archie | Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images Harry and Meghan left the royal family in January Late last year, Harry and Meghan took a six-week hiatus from royal life to spend some time alone during the holidays. The two resided on Vancouver Island in Canada, and when they returned, people assumed it would be back to business as usual. But to the worlds surprise, Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back from their roles as senior royals. As things started to unfold, Meghan and Harry learned they could not continue to work for the queen while also achieving financial independence. They ultimately made the decision to leave their roles as working royals altogether. The couple put their son first in their decision to move There were various reasons why Meghan and Harry made such a life-changing decision. The two had only been married for a year and a half, but things hadnt been easy for Meghan since joining the family. She was portrayed negatively in the media, making it difficult for her to win over the public. The couple also had their son, Archie, in mind when they left the family. Archie was born in May 2019, and Harry and Meghan opted not to give him a royal title. This was a clear sign that they were planning to leave the royal family, though most people didnt realize it at the time. Archie could be in more danger in Canada Harry and Meghans intentions were good in moving Archie to North America. Harry never liked growing up in the spotlight, and he didnt want his son to be subject to the same media scrutiny that he was as a child. But moving Archie to Canada might have proven to be dangerous for the little boy. Self-defense expert Matt Fiddes said that the couples son might now be a target for kidnapping. Since Harry and Meghan dont have the same umbrella of protection in Canada that they did in the U.K., they need to be even more protective of Archie. The issue for them is more like a kidnap and ransom attempt, Fiddes said of Archies safety. He was suggesting that kidnappers might use Archie to force Harry and Meghan to hand over millions of dollars. Security for the couple will cost millions Protecting Meghan, Harry, and Archie wont come at a cheap cost. Now that theyre halfway around the world from the royal family and dont have the same security blanket that they did, they might need to shell out even more money to make sure their family is as protected as possible. The familys security cost easily tops $1 million annually, but Fiddes suspects its actually somewhere between $13 and $19 million per year. Right now, it remains unclear who is paying the couples security costs, but its been suspected that its still being funded by the queen. A major fire broke out at a chemical company located in an industrial area in Maharashtra's Thane district in the wee hours of Tuesday, triggering explosion of drums filled with chemicals, officials said. No casualty was reported in the incident till 8 pm. According to officials, efforts are underway to douse the blaze which has been raging for the last 20 hours since it erupted at Metropolitan company around 12:45 am in Dombivali township. "No one was injured in the fire," Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Santosh Kadam said, adding that the cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained. More than 20 fire engines are trying to put out the flames. Officials said thick smoke filled the area as chemical-filled drums stored at the company exploded due to the fire. Officials have already evacuated workers of the company. Schools located in vicinity were closed before scheduled time, apparently due to thick smoke. "Nearly 80 per cent of the fire is under control now. We are not taking any chances," said Sub-Fire Officer Namdeo Chowdhary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DAYTON, Ohio, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Winsupply Inc., one of the nation's largest distributors, has opened Tri State Winsupply in Dubuque, Iowa, serving plumbing, heating and air conditioning, water well and septic contractors in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. Ronald Slaats is the president of Tri State Winsupply. Slaats has 29 years' experience in the industry, almost entirely in outside sales. "Ronald has an excellent reputation among his customers as a knowledgeable expert," said Rob Ferguson, president of Winsupply Local Company Group. "After being an outside salesman for over 25 years and seeing what customers expect of their distributors, I plan on treating them with the utmost respect, with integrity and honesty," Slaats said. "I also plan on presenting a positive work environment and will encourage personal and business growth, community involvement, and keeping the important decisions local. This will not only help my business grow but also that of my employees and, most importantly, my customers." Slaats, along with two other employees, invested in minority ownership of the new company along with majority owner Winsupply Inc. With this co-ownership model, local company presidents have the autonomy and flexibility to decide how best to meet the needs of the customers in their markets. They also share uncapped financial rewards and risks of ownership. Winsupply Inc. provides the local company locations purchasing power, distribution, and other support services such as business consulting, accounting, payroll, IT and marketing. About Winsupply Inc. Winsupply Inc. ( www.winsupplyinc.com ) is a leading supplier of residential and commercial construction and industrial supplies and equipment headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The privately-held company has more than 600 wholesaling locations in 45 states and offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to own a meaningful part of the local business. Collectively, Winsupply is known as "The Winsupply Family of Companies" and includes Win-branded locations, Noland Company, Carr Supply, Security Plumbing & Heating Supply, APCO, and other regional suppliers the company has acquired. In the family are companies conducting business-to-business wholesale distribution of supplies and equipment in plumbing and heating; hydronics; pipe, valves and fittings; HVAC and refrigeration; electrical; fastening hardware; waterworks and utility; pumps; turf irrigation and landscape; and fire system fabrication. Follow Winsupply on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Contact: Winsupply Inc. Maury Williams [email protected] 937-531-4554 SOURCE Winsupply Inc. Related Links http://www.winsupplyinc.com Captain Musa Nuhu The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Captain Musa Nuhu as the Director-General for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Senator Smart Adeyemi-led Committee on Aviation, which conducted Nuhus screening. The President, General Muhammadu Buhari had requested the Senates approval through a letter dated January 7, 2020, and read at plenary. The President described Nuhu as a reputable airline pilot and aviation safety expert with over 30 years of cognate work experience in the aviation industry. The letter had read, In view of the strategic importance of the NCAA as the regulator of the civil aviation industry, I wish to request for the expeditious consideration and confirmation of Captain Musa Shuaibu Nuhu as the substantive Director-General of NCAA. The former spokesman of Jaish al-Islam has confessed to French authorities that his group was responsible for killing Razan Zaitouneh reports Brocar Press. Sources have told Brocar Press that, during his interrogation by French authorities, the former Jaish al-Islam leader, Islam Alloush, confessed that the group had killed the activist Razan Zaitouneh her colleagues. The source confirmed that Alloush informed the French authorities of the location where the victims were buried. Alloush was arrested last month in France, where he was charged with war crimes, torture and forced disappearance. Alloush, 32, was a spokesman for the group, before traveling to France on a student visa from the Erasmus program. He was arrested in the city of Marseille. On Monday, Syrian regime media reported that a mass grave had been discovered containing 70 bodies, including the body of a woman. Russian media outlets suggested that Zaitouneh could be among them. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Having travelled around China, Abbie S. David, Grenadian ambassador to China, now has a deeper knowledge of the country. According to her, China boasts a variety of natural landscapes, diverse cultures and warm-hearted people. Abbie S. David, Grenadian ambassador to China (Photo/haiwainet.cn) The Chinese government has made a great achievement in lifting an annual average of over 10 million people out of poverty, she said. Grenada is one of the few countries that allow Chinese tourists to visit without having to apply for a visa. According to the Grenadian ambassador, more and more Chinese have visited Grenada, and learning Mandarin has become a trend among the Grenadian people. Many Grenadian people have grown fond of Mandarin, which helps them to understand China and form friendly relations with the Chinese people, she said. China-contracted projects in Grenada, such as stadiums and buildings, also demonstrate the sincerity and loyalty of the Chinese people. In December 2015, Chinas naval hospital ship Peace Ark provided medical services for 9,057 people in Grenada over six days, a move that was highly praised by the local people, the ambassador pointed out. In 2018, China and Grenada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting Belt and Road cooperation, which not only facilitates the overseas sales of Grenadas agricultural products, but also makes it easier for Chinese people to visit Grenada. The Belt and Road Initiative is providing great possibilities for Grenada to further participate in economic globalization, said Abbie S. David. News18 Wrap brings you some of the biggest stories on News18.com today to help you stay updated at all times. In case you missed it 26/11 Attacks: Responding to the allegations related to Ajmal Kasab and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks made by a former top cop, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday said the officer will be summoned and the issue probed. Read more. Coronavirus Measures: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government will shortly announce some measures after comprehensive consultation on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy. The comments came after a review meeting of the finance ministry in New Delhi. Read more. J&K Row: The visa of British MP Debbie Abrahams was revoked because of her activities that went against Indias national interest, government sources said, adding that she was informed about the move on February 14. Abrahams, who has been critical of the governments Article 370 move, was denied entry when she landed at the Delhi airport on Monday and then deported to Dubai. Read more. FATF List: Pakistan is likely to remain in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after Turkey and Malaysia expressed support for Islamabad, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying on Tuesday. The decision whether Pakistan will continue in the 'Grey List' or put in the 'Black List' is being made at the week-long FATF plenary currently on in Paris. Read more. Pulwama Info: The central government has refused to make public an investigation report into the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on February 14 last year. The governments refusal was revealed in a response by the Ministry of Home Affairs to a Right To Information (RTI) query. Read more. Agree or disagree A bevy of top Bihar leaders made a beeline during campaigning for the Delhi assembly polls but they seemingly failed to influence the voters drawn from Bihar in favour of the their respective parties as performances of their candidates were dismal. Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (U) president Nitish Kumar shared dais with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda at two elections rallies. At his Delhi rallies, Kumar had launched an all-out attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, saying some people were more interested in publicity than work. Read the piece by Ashok Mishra, who argues that the Delhi poll results have undeniably dampened the BJP spirit and, at the same time, enhanced the bargaining capacity of Nitish Kumar during seat-sharing for the Bihar assembly polls. [February 18, 2020] South Carolina SMBs Can Avoid Security Risks and Empower Their Firstline Workforce with Affordable New Microsoft Tools from PTG The average Firstline Worker can save up to 166 hours per year when using the right digital tools, according to a Total Economic Impact Survey conducted by Forrester (News - Alert) on behalf of Microsoft. Those efficiency gains can result in significant savings for businesses who employ a large number of Firstline Workers-defined as "someone who serves as the first point of contact between a company and the outside world." These workers are often the first to engage customers and to represent the company's brand. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005982/en/ SMBs interested in this new Microsoft (News - Alert) productivity tool should reach out to PTG (Graphic: Business Wire) "As Microsoft SMB partners, we have a unique opportunity to leverage technology that can increase the value of local small business owners who employ Firstline Workers," says Reed Wilson, Founder and CEO of Palmetto Technology Group (PTG (News - Alert)) in Greenville, South Carolina. Microsoft Teams for SMB Firstline includes a customizable mobile experience with mobile-only features such as location sharing, a shifts scheduling tool, private chat between teams and workforce management systems, and a new "Praise" feature that makes it easy for managers and employees to recognize their coworkers right within Teams. A smart camera also allows Firstline Workers to document things on the job-storing images in a secure cloud, rather than a local device which can be lost or stolen. The basic platform starts at $1.00/user/month, can easily be used on a mobile device or tablet, and includes: Easy phone number sign-in (no email needed) A mobile-optimized chat experience Shift scheduling with clock-in, clock-out Assign and track task to-do's Remotely share photos and access traiing docs and handbooks Integrate line of business apps Read-only access to Work, Excel, Powerpoint 2 GB personal cloud storage and 1TB shared storage PTG is proud to announce that it is currently offering the Microsoft SMB Firstline platform for eligible businesses. South Carolina-based companies who are interested can learn more at info.goptg.com/firstline Small to mid-sized businesses who employ clerks, receptionists, cashiers, and others who perform their client-facing activities to deliver products and run operations are encouraged to consider this affordable, secure, easy to adopt solution. About PTG Palmetto Technology Group is a privately held, award-winning IT support and managed services provider in Greenville, South Carolina. The company was founded by Reed Wilson in 2007 and holds Microsoft Gold Competencies in small to mid-market cloud solutions. PTG has been named one of the "Best Places to Work in South Carolina" for six years running and has been awarded the Channel Futures 501 Top MSP's since 2014. PTG's mission is to serve small to mid-sized businesses and organizations by leveraging technology to bring business value. Learn more at www.goptg.com. About Microsoft Teams for SMB Firstline Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform that combines persistent workplace chat, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files), and application integration. The service integrates with the company's Office 365 subscription office productivity suite and can be setup to integrate with additional non-Microsoft products. In January 2019, Microsoft released an update targeting "Firstline Workers" in order to improve the ability of Microsoft Teams to serve shift workers who serve customers directly and often only use tablets or mobile devices to manage their workload. For more information about Microsoft Teams. To start using SMB Firstline in South Carolina. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005982/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Young radio hams hack FlexRadio Maestro Jenny List G7CKF writes on Hackaday about an amateur radio club for students that's been hacking the FlexRadio Systems Maestro Jenny writes: The student radio society in Trondhjem owns a Flex 6500-radio, with its associated Maestro panel peripheral. This is a software defined radio, and the Maestro is a computer containing just enough of an embedded version of Windows to run its front-end software. Unfortunately for our Norwegian radio amateur friends it runs very little else, even to the extent of being unable to connect to public WiFi that requires a web log-in. This was particularly annoying as the student network does this and theyd had to create their own hotspot, so theyve provided some details on how they were able to open it up a little to do a bit more. Read the full Hackaday post at https://hackaday.com/2020/02/16/closed-ham-radio-peripheral-reveals-its-windows-secrets/ FlexRadio Maestro Hacking Part-1 https://www.la1k.no/2020/01/08/flexradio-maestro-hacking-part-1-public-wifi-and-wallpapers/ FlexRadio Maestro Hacking Part-2 https://www.la1k.no/2020/01/29/flexradio-maestro-hacking-part-2-revealing-the-backdoor/ By Laman Ismayilova The City of Winds has always been famous for its beautiful architecture. The splendor of its historical buildings still delights the tourists from all over the world. Every building carries history within its walls. The Palace of Happiness, also called Palace of Marriage Registrations, is famous for its wonderful history. The construction of this building is associated with a beautiful love story of the Baku millionaire Murtuza Mukhtarov and his wife Lisa Tuganova. Mukhtarov was born into a poor family in a village of Amirjan near Baku. His grandfather and father were farm laborers - they carried oil from the fields on carts. At the age of 15, he got a job in fishing. He extracted oil from shallow wells. Later, he set up his own drilling company in 1890 and then diversified into oil production. The company specialized in manufacturing machinery for derricks and in drilling oil wells. Mukhtarov was the author of several patents on drilling equipment - unique feat amongst oil industrialists of the time. Murtuza Mukhtarov became one of the most reputable drilling experts in Baku. During his trip to Vladikavkaz, Mukhtarov met with the Ossetian general Tuganov and his family. Murtuza was so fascinated by the beauty and secular manners of his daughter Lisa that he immediately decided to get married to her. Their wedding was held in Vladikavkaz. Mukhtarov built a mosque, dedicated to his wife, in Ossetia, known as Mukhtarov's mosque. They went to Europe for a honeymoon and visited Venice, Paris, Rome. In Venice, Liza liked a beautiful French Gothic mansion. After returning to Baku, Mukhtarov secretly asked Polish architect Ploshko to build the similar palace in Baku as a sign of his love. An exact copy of the building was raised in Azerbaijani capital within nine months. On its completion in 1912, Mukhtarov surprised his wife by driving her there in a carriage and telling her that it was her new residence. Young Liza, actively involved in the country's public life, started working in the Nijat educational society. He took part in the creation of a special children's hospital, and headed the Muslim Ladies Charitable Society. In her new mansion, she opened a boarding house for orphaned girls, whom she cared for. The couple lived in the palace until 28 April 1920, when the Bolsheviks took the house from the owners. In 1922, the building started to be used by the newly founded women's organization, the Ali Bayramov Club, which offered a variety of vocational skills and training to women along with the cultural and leisure activities. Afterward, it functioned as Shirvanshahs Museum. During the existence of Azerbaijan SSR, the palace functioned as the Palace of Marriage Registrations. On 2 August 2001, by a resolution issued by the Cabinet of Ministers, the mansion was listed as a real estate of historic and state importance and was to be protected as a monument of the Azerbaijani culture. The street lying on the right side of the building carries the name of Murtuza Mukhtarov. The building has been reopened in 2012 after major overhaul and restoration. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Description GIS 18 February, 2020: A National Road Safety Observatory, to serve as a Centre of Excellence for road safety in Mauritius, would be set up by the Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail in collaboration with the University of Mauritius. The Observatory is in line with the 2016-2025 National Road Safety Strategy for Mauritius. The Road Safety Observatory would be responsible for coordinating data collection, monitoring, reporting, delivering training and leading research in road safety. It is recalled that a Road Safety Strategy for Mauritius covering the period 2016-2025 was elaborated in 2016. One of the overriding objectives of the Strategy is to achieve a 50% reduction in the number of killed and serious injury crashes by the year 2025. Moreover, actions to improve safety on roads in Mauritius are outlined in the document. Ten strategic fields of action have been defined, namely: the setting up of a Research and Development Programme; the improvement of Safety Standards of the road infrastructure; the reorganisation of the roadworthiness control of vehicles; the setting up an effective communication strategy and the strengthening of the Road Traffic Law and Enforcement. The other strategic fields include the development of new perspectives for delivering Road Safety Education, the re-engineering of the Driving Licensing Scheme, the provision of post-crash trauma care and medical fitness to drive, the reduction of accident costs and the setting up of a Road Safety Academy. Muhammadu Sanusi, emir of Kano, says the north will destroy itself if it doesnt change. The emir spoke on Monday at the Kaduna ... Muhammadu Sanusi, emir of Kano, says the north will destroy itself if it doesnt change. Kaduna. The emir spoke on Monday at the Kaduna state government house during a programme to commemorate the 60th birthday celebration of Nasir el-Rufai, governor ofKaduna. Sanusi said as a leader, repeating the same thing and expecting a different result shows that something is wrong. He noted that the real change can only occur in the north through those who do things differently. He commended el-Rufais reforms in the education sector, noting that what the governor is doing in the sector is what will save the north. It is almost correct now to say that, if you are seen as normal, if you are a governor in the north or a leader in the north, and you are seen as normal in the sense that you continue to do what your predecessors have been doing, doing the same thing, which has been normalised, then, there is something wrong with you. You are part of the problem, Sanusi said. The real change in the north will come from those who are considered mad people, because you look around and say if this is the way we have been doing things, and this is where we have ended up, maybe we need to do things differently. If the north does not change, the north will destroy itself. The country is moving on If we dont listen, there would be a day when there would be a constitutional amendment that addresses these issues of quota system and federal character. rest of the country cannot be investing, educating its children, producing graduates and then they watch us, they cant get jobs because they come from the wrong state, when we have not invested in the future of our own children. Therest of the country cannot be investing, educating its children, producing graduates and then they watch us, they cant get jobs because they come from the wrong state, when we have not invested in the future of our own children. The emir said no northern leader can afford to be happy in the midst of problems facing the region. Nobody who is a leader in northern Nigeria today can afford to be happy, Sanusi said. You cannot be happy about 87 percent of poverty in Nigeria being in the north. You cant be happy with millions of northern out-of-school children. You cant be happy with nine states in the north contributing almost 50 percent of the entire malnutrition burden in the country. You cant be happy with the Boko Haram problem. You cant be happy with all the issues. So, we wish Nasir a happy birthday, but we do not want him to be happy as a leader. Because you are happy when you think you have reached a state of delivering and taking your people to where you want them to be. He also said el-Rufai should be celebrated as a public officer who is addressing the core problems of his constituency. If you look at what Nasir is doing in Kaduna, with 40 percent of his budget in education, that is the only thing that is going to safe the north. I know that, when we say these things, they dont go down well, he said. BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Heartland Forward announced today that Angie Cooper will lead the mission and operations of Heartland Summit, the think and do tank's annual event in Bentonville, Ark. The Heartland Summit showcases innovation between the coasts, sparks honest conversations about the challenges of the region, ignites systems for sustained economic growth and inspires problem-solving in the heart of the country. Heartland Summit Director For more than 16 years, Cooper has worked in policy and international and domestic public affairs for Walmart Stores, Inc., most recently as Senior Director of Global Public Policy. "Our mission to change the narrative about the middle of the United States can only be achieved by coming together to address the unique challenges and opportunities this region faces," said Olivia Walton, Heartland Summit Co-Founder. "Angie's deep-rooted understanding of those issues and experience in producing strategic gatherings during her career at Walmart will bring a vital perspective to the Heartland Summit team." "The prospect of assembling the greatest thinkers and doers of our time, while helping to enact positive change for the Heartland, is a phenomenal undertaking and one that is truly close to my heart, having spent my formative years here," said Cooper. "I'm honored at the opportunity to take on this role and to work with this constructive force for the greater good." In addition to spearheading Heartland Summit, Cooper will lead the development of other events and convenings for Heartland Forward. Cooper has worked in various departments within Walmart including: Merchandising, Public Affairs, State and Local Government Relations, and the Walmart Foundation. Cooper returned to Northwest Arkansas after working in California, where she directed Walmart's regulatory efforts and growth opportunities in Northern California, as well as oversaw government relations efforts in Alaska and Hawaii. Cooper recently served as Walmart's Chair of the Women's Resource Council (WRC). The WRC is a group of women and men who cultivate an inclusive environment and act as a forum to connect, develop, and advocate for their members. Cooper also serves on the board for the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL). Angie is a native of Oklahoma and a graduate of Oklahoma State University. The Heartland Summit is the flagship convening of Heartland Forward, a Bentonville-based think and do tank focused on advancing economic performance and opportunity in the center of the country. For more information on the 2020 Heartland Summit visit https://heartlandforward.org/heartland-summit-2020 About Heartland Forward: Heartland Forward's mission is to improve economic performance in the center of the United States by advocating for fact-based solutions to foster job creation, knowledge-based and inclusive growth, and improved health outcomes. We conduct independent, data-driven research to facilitate action-oriented discussion and impactful policy recommendations. For media inquiries: [email protected] Related Images angie-cooper.jpg Angie Cooper Heartland Summit Director SOURCE Heartland Forward Related Links https://heartlandforward.org Congratulations, sekaidokei.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Sekaidokei.com scored 79 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 4/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 29 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. sekaidokei.com is very popular in Facebook, Delicious and Google Plus. It is liked by 281 people on Facebook, it has 179 twitter shares and it has 11 google+ shares. The total number of people who shared the sekaidokei homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the sekaidokei homepage on Twitter + the total number of sekaidokei followers (if sekaidokei has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the sekaidokei homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the sekaidokei homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if sekaidokei has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the sekaidokei homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE .com - DESCRIPTION .com1jal KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 4.01 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave the Kashmir Valley in 1989 and during the early 1990s in the face of militancy. The government has been trying to resettle them back to their native places in Kashmir. The central government in August last year scrapped Articles 370 and 35A which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new study has found that the emotional connection shared by parents has the potential to shape their childrens future. Published in the journal Demography, co-authored by researchers at the University of Michigan and McGill University in Quebec, the study collected unique data from families in Nepal to provide evidence. William Axinn, co-author and U-M Institute for Social Research researcher said: In this study, we saw that parents emotional connection to each other affects child-rearing so much that it shapes their childrens future. The fact that we found these kinds of things in Nepal moves us to step closer to evidence that these things are universal, William added. A detailed study conducted by the researchers found that the children of parents who reported they loved each other either some or very much stayed in school longer and married later. Lead author Sarah Brauner-Otto, director of the Centre on Population Dynamics at McGill University said: Demonstrating and providing evidence that love, this emotional component of family, also has this long impact on childrens lives is really important for understanding the depth of family influence on children. On why parental love impacts children in this way, researchers speculate that when parents love each other, they tend to invest more in their children, leading to children remaining in education longer. The childrens home environments may also be happier when parents report loving each other, so the children may be less likely to escape into their own marriages. Children may also view their parents as role models, and take longer to seek similar marriages. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) TWIN FALLS When Wood Investments Companies announced in January it had purchased Canyon Park East and West, the two shopping centers along the Snake River Canyon rim, it declined to share the price tag on the massive real estate investment. That sales price has now been announced by the broker, Mountain West Commercial Real Estate. The purchase cost Wood Investments $50 million. The Woodbury Corporation and Ray Neilsen were the sellers of the property and had been referred to as Geronimo LLC in past press releases. The site for one of Twin Falls most controversial development projects in recent memory is part of the purchase. Canyon Park West includes the empty pad along the rim that is slated for a new, four-story hotel. The hotel faced significant opposition from residents and local geologists due to concerns about height and proximity to the canyon rim. Engineers for the hotel said that the building would be safe and not in danger of falling into the canyon. The City Council approved the project. The new owners have done extensive research on the proposed hotel, and would like to see it built, Wood Investments Companies Managing General Partner Patrick Wood told the Times-News when the sale was announced. Canyon Park East and West sit atop more than 30 acres and include major chains such as Best Buy, TJ Maxx, Outback Steakhouse, Dicks Sporting Goods, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Petco, among many others. There are also undeveloped pads within the Canyon Park West that might not stay undeveloped for long. Theres plans for a bunch of different stuff, Wood said, adding that his companys approach to Canyon Park West wont differ much from Geronimos. Wood Investments Companies is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 17 A 23-year-old man has been arrested with over seven kilograms of ganja in West Bengal's Howrah district, police said on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, personnel of Golabari police station raided Salt Gola Ghat on Monday night and made the apprehension, a police officer said. The accused, a resident of neighbouring Hooghly district, was booked under sections of the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating the Board of Directors and Officers of AbbVie Inc. ("AbbVie" or the "Company") (NYSE: ABBV) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/abbvie-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. About Monteverde & Associates PC Monteverde & Associates PC is a national class action securities and consumer litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders and consumers from corporate wrongdoing. Monteverde & Associates lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions, whereby they protect investors by recovering money and remedying corporate misconduct. Mr. Monteverde, who leads the legal team at the firm, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019 an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. If you own common stock in AbbVie Inc. and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341. Contact: Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405 New York, NY 10118 United States of America [email protected] Tel: (212) 971-1341 Attorney Advertising. (C) 2020 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC Related Links http://www.monteverdelaw.com A judge has said reality needs to enter the picture amid a call by Seamus Ludlows family for the State to set up two commissions of investigation into his murder more than 40 years ago. The family of Co Louth forestry worker Seamus Ludlow was before the Court of Appeal in Dublin on Tuesday. The family is seeking two commissions of investigation into his murder and the handling of the investigation. The commissions were promised by an Oireachtas committee in the Republic of Ireland and recommended by the Barron Report a number of years ago, however successive ministers of justice have refused to implement them. Mr Ludlow, 47, was a forestry worker shot dead by loyalists on his way home from a pub in Dundalk, Co Louth in 1976. His family has long maintained that Mr Ludlow was an innocent victim of a loyalist death squad comprising Red Hand Commando operatives and two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who travelled from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland to commit the murder. The RUC told the Garda in 1979 the names of four loyalists it suspected of being involved in Mr Ludlows killing but the information was not pursued at the time. In 1998, four named suspects were arrested and questioned by the RUC and two of the men allegedly made confessions about their involvement in the murder. The family also believes gardai were complicit in spreading false rumours that Mr Ludlow was killed for being an IRA informant and that documents about the case, two bullets and items of the victims clothing have been lost by state agencies. An Oireachtas committee in Dublin recommended more than 10 years ago recommended that two commissions of investigations be held into the murder and subsequent events after an official judge-led report damned the botched original Garda investigation. Neither of the recommendations have been implemented by the Government. The family of Seamus Ludlow will be before the Court of Appeal in Dublin tomorrow from 10:30am arguing for the two further Commissions of Investigation. It will be heard in Court 16, Courts of Criminal justice. Our @GavinBooth23 acts for the family #TeamPhoenix #SeamusLudlow pic.twitter.com/HxeK85E7mv Phoenix Law Belfast (@PhoenixLawHR) February 17, 2020 Counsel for the Ludlow family, Ronan Lavery QC told the court, as some of the witnesses are dead, an investigation becomes more difficult. It was the Oireachtas committees view that we need to compel witnesses in order to bring the investigation forward. Without witnesses, one is constrained with how far one can go, he said. In response, Justice George Bermingham said, with regard to a commission of inquiry being granted, the length of time since the murder and the fact some witnesses may or may not be alive means there comes a stage where reality has to enter the picture. Justice Bermingham also questioned whether Brexit will play a role if witnesses are compelled to be brought across the border from Northern Ireland. Mr Lavery said: There is certainly goodwill between the north and the south, it is in both states interests to continue to co-operate. He added that because of the transition period, court cases should not be affected and it would only be in the event of a hard Brexit that there could potentially be issues for legal cases that involve the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning fired off a series of tweets backing a new trial for longtime associate Roger Stone on a day a federal judge is set to hold a key status hearing on the case and called the government's case 'tainted.' Trump's comments come days after Attorney General Bill Barr issued an extraordinary admonition for Trump to stop tweeting about criminal cases saying it makes it 'impossible' for him to do his job. Judge Amy Berman Jackson last week denied a request by Stone's lawyers for a new trial, while outside the courtroom the president repeatedly intervened publicly in the case on Stone's behalf. They filed a separate sealed motion seeking a new trial on Friday. President Trump ignored an admonition by his attorney general and tweeted about Roger Stone's case Trump called the case 'badly tainted' Trump tweeted comments by Judge Andrew Napolitano calling for a new trial for his longtime advisor Trump tagged Judge Andrew Napolitano and Fox & Friends Trump tweeted on a day Judge Amy Berman Jackson was to hold a scheduling conference on Roger Stone's case Four prosecutors had themselves removed from the case last week, after the government cast aside their request in a motion filed with the court that Stone serve up to nine years in prison. The government changed its position and left it up to the court to decide on jail time following an early morning Tweet by Trump blasting the sentence as excessive. More than former 2,000 Justice Department officials have signed onto a letter calling for Barr to resign. Trump tore into the prosecutors once again Tuesday morning, almost exactly a week after his explosive public commentary on the case. 'These were Mueller prosecutors, and the whole Mueller investigation was illegally set up based on a phony and now fully discredited Fake Dossier, lying and forging documents to the FISA Court, and many other things,' he said, bringing up a series of grievances about the Russia probe. President Donald Trump called the government lawyers on Roger Stone's case 'Mueller prosecutors' and said their work was 'badly tainted,' as he tweeted support for his longtime advisor getting a new trial Prosecutors spun off the Stone case from the Russia investigation, after concluding he lied about his contacts with WikiLeaks during his time as an advisor to Trump's presidential campaign. 'Everything having to do with this fraudulent investigation is ... badly tainted and, in my opinion, should be thrown out,' Trump wrote. 'Even Mueller's statement to Congress that he did not see me to become the FBI Director (again), has been proven false. The whole deal was a total SCAM. If I wasn't President, I'd be suing everyone all over the place...BUT MAYBE I STILL WILL. WITCH HUNT!' Trump also retweeted supportive comments on his position from Fox commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano who as it turns out last month said there was 'ample and uncontradicted' evidence for Trump's removal from office. Napolitano pointed out that the woman who served as the fore person on the jury has revealed to have run for Congress as a Democrat and had tweeted about the case immediately after Stone's arrest. 'Judge Jackson now has a request for a new trial based on the unambiguous & self outed bias of the foreperson of the jury, whose also a lawyer, by the way. 'Madam foreperson, your a lawyer, you have a duty, an affirmative obligation, to reveal to us when we selected you the...existence of these tweets in which you were so harshly negative about the President & the people who support him.' Napolitano continued: 'Don't you think we wanted to know that before we put you on this jury.' Pretty obvious he should (get a new trial). I think almost any judge in the Country ... would order a new trial, I'm not so sure about Judge Jackson, I don't know,' Trump wrote, tagging Napolitano and the Fox & Friends morning show. Last week, after Trump's repeated comments about the case, Barr told told ABC News in an interview: 'I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases. 'I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me,' he said. The push had no immediate effect. Trump responded Friday morning by noting that Barr had said Trump never asked him to do anything in a criminal case. Then he added: 'This doesn't mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!' More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials weighed with a letter calling on Barr to resign amid a swirl of developments. 'Mr. Barr's actions in doing the President's personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words. Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign,' according to the letter. 'But because we have little expectation he will do so, it falls to the Department's career officials to take appropriate action to uphold their oaths of office and defend nonpartisan, apolitical justice.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Tue, February 18, 2020 19:11 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653d84b 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,outbreak,North-Sumatra,Karo,negative,hydropower-plant Free Five Chinese workers at the Lau Bilang hydropower plant (PLTA) in Kandibata village of Karo regency, North Sumatra, have tested negative for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) after undergoing a 14-day quarantine at the power project site. The five workers consisting of one woman identified only as GZ and four men with the initials TY, GL, HD and YH have been allowed to interact with their colleagues at the project site after they were declared healthy. Karo Health Agency head Irna Syafrina Meliala said the five Chinese nationals ended their observation period on Sunday after they showed no symptoms of COVID-19 infection during the 14-day quarantine period. The five Chinese workers showed no symptoms of being infected by the coronavirus, which includes fever, shortness of breath and coughing. They are healthy, Irna told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that they were allowed to get back to work. Read also: Five Chinese workers isolated at N. Sumatra project site after returning from China She added that the Chinese nationals were previously quarantined not because they tested positive for the infection, but because they had just returned from celebrating the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25 in their home country. The five workers went to China prior to the holiday and returned to Karo on Feb. 3. They immediately went into self-imposed quarantine in their respective rooms in line with the procedures set by the Health Ministry. The project management put a barrier line in front of their rooms to prevent other workers from approaching them. Their food was brought by same personnel every day, in order to minimize the possibility of COVID-19 spreading. Officials of the Karo Health Agency had visited the project site when the five workers were put in the quarantine area, as reported by tribunnews.com. The agencys officials said the five workers did not experience fever or any other symptoms of the disease, either upon arrival at the airport or during the quarantine. Irna suggested members of the general public be alert and maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as cleanliness. COVID-19 has killed nearly 2,000 people, including five outside of mainland China, AFP reported. It has also infected more than 70,000 people globally since it first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late December. (syk) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 11:04:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government and the World Health Organizations (WHO) on Monday stressed that joint efforts are well underway to contain a potential novel coronavirus outbreak in Ethiopia. "Home to one of Africa's busiest international airline hubs, Ethiopia is bolstering preparedness to contain a potential outbreak of coronavirus disease, now known as COVID-19," the WHO said in a statement. Noting that Ethiopian health authorities are tightening up surveillance, diagnosis, epidemic response coordination and public health education to swiftly detect cases and limit widespread infections, the WHO also stressed that the East African country is among 13 African countries that it considers as "top priority for COVID-19 preparedness due to direct links or a high volume of travel to China." Recalling the confirmation by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population concerning the first case of COVID-19 in Africa, the WHO said that "while there have been no confirmed cases reported in sub-Saharan Africa, the WHO Regional Office for Africa continues to strengthen its support to countries to detect and manage suspect cases and ensure a robust response." "We are working hard day and night with the government to improve the critical measures needed to ensure that the country is ready to effectively respond to an outbreak of COVID-19. We have shipped in equipment for infection prevention and control and are supporting the training of health officials," the statement quoted Boureima Sambo Hama, WHO representative to Ethiopia, as saying. "As we speak, with the strong support of WHO, response systems are close to being right up to standard, Ethiopia is taking the right steps and we are rallying our efforts to ensure we can detect the virus and respond in time," Hama said. According to the WHO, since January, there have been numerous alerts about coronavirus disease reported in Ethiopia, but after investigation, including the testing of suspect cases, no case has been confirmed in the country. More than 1,800 passengers with travel history to China have been screened. Zewdu Assefa, manager of the Emergency Response Center at the Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Public Health Institute, also stressed that strengthening epidemic response coordination, enhancing surveillance through screenings at the country's international airports and land borders were some of the main elements of coronavirus preparedness efforts in Ethiopia. The East African country has four international airports and 21 land border crossing points. In addition, an isolation center is being set up and more equipment and supplies needed to prevent and control a potential outbreak were also being procured with the help of the WHO, according to Zewdu. "We have also designated different treatment centers and mapped hospitals in preparation," Zewdu said. "With the nature of this virus you need additional capacity in terms of supplies for infection prevention and control materials." The WHO also said that it has shipped reagent kits for coronavirus diagnosis to more than 20 countries in Africa to step up the diagnosis of the virus and is working closely with countries to help them prepare for a rapid detection and response to cases or clusters. The Ethiopian government has so far trained some 60 rapid response team members on coronavirus surveillance, medical care for patients, public health communication and countering misinformation and rumors. "We are working with our partners to achieve the (required) standard level of preparedness," said Zewdu, emphasizing that Ethiopia's previous preparedness efforts for influenza and Ebola outbreaks were paying off for coronavirus readiness. "We are not starting a new thing, but we are strengthening preparedness. We are also using the experience in EVD (Ebola virus disease) screening at the points of entry to strengthen screening for the new coronavirus," he added. (Newser) The pressure continues to be turned up on Attorney General William Barr. The independent Federal Judges Association is convening an emergency meeting Tuesday to address concerns about how the Justice Department and President Trump have intervened in high-profile political cases, reports USA Today. (Two recent examples were the cases of Trump allies Roger Stone and Michael Flynn.) The move comes days after more than 1,000 former Justice Department officials demanded that Barr resign. More on what's happening: Significance: The move by the judges' group "is another example of the scrutiny Barr is facing from not only Democrats but also members of the legal communityfrom both sides of the political aisle," per Axios. The move by the judges' group "is another example of the scrutiny Barr is facing from not only Democrats but also members of the legal communityfrom both sides of the political aisle," per Axios. Why: "We just could not wait until April to discuss matters of this importance," said Philadelphia US District Judge Cynthia Rufe, the group's president and an appointee of George W. Bush. "There are plenty of issues that we are concerned about." She also voiced support for the federal judge in the Stone case, Amy Berman Jackson, who was criticized online by Trump. Critics including Hillary Clinton said that amounted to intimidation. story continues below One critic: In an essay in the Atlantic, former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer (he served under George H.W. Bush) argues that Barr must resign or be impeached. The attorney general seems intent on trying to make Trump a president who can operate above the law and is destroying the integrity of the Justice Department in the process, writes Ayer. "Bill Barr's America is not a place that anyone, including Trump voters, should want to go," he concludes. "It is a banana republic where all are subject to the whims of a dictatorial president and his henchmen." In an essay in the Atlantic, former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer (he served under George H.W. Bush) argues that Barr must resign or be impeached. The attorney general seems intent on trying to make Trump a president who can operate above the law and is destroying the integrity of the Justice Department in the process, writes Ayer. "Bill Barr's America is not a place that anyone, including Trump voters, should want to go," he concludes. "It is a banana republic where all are subject to the whims of a dictatorial president and his henchmen." From the right: At the Washington Examiner, Byron York see hypocrisy in all this criticism of Barr as he looks into "the murky origins" of the Justice Department's various investigations. "Not to be too blunt about it, but where were these voices the last three years?" York asks. He ticks off a list of probes into Trump allies, none of which seemed to bother the Trump critics. "But now, as Barr seeks to shine a light on how the investigation machine revved up, we suddenly hear concerns about the costs of such investigations." At the Washington Examiner, Byron York see hypocrisy in all this criticism of Barr as he looks into "the murky origins" of the Justice Department's various investigations. "Not to be too blunt about it, but where were these voices the last three years?" York asks. He ticks off a list of probes into Trump allies, none of which seemed to bother the Trump critics. "But now, as Barr seeks to shine a light on how the investigation machine revved up, we suddenly hear concerns about the costs of such investigations." And Graham: GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham also went after Barr's critics in an appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox show Monday, per Fox News. "Bill Barr stepped in and stopped what I thought was an unjust sentence enhancement," he said, referring to the decision to overrule the original recommended sentence of up to nine years for Stone. "You are not trying to uphold the rule of law," he said to Barr's critics. "You're trying to take a good man down because you hate" Trump. (Read more William Barr stories.) Honda Tells dealers Not To Panic About EV's LAS VEGAS The AIADA reported that electric cars and autonomous vehicles are coming to the U.S. and have great potential to disrupt the automotive status quo, but there's still time for automakers and retailers to embrace the change and incorporate it into their business models, Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president at American Honda Motor Co., told a dealer meeting. "My advice to you is don't panic," Arcangeli told dealers at a Monday luncheon for the American International Automobile Dealers Association, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. "Instead, think about what you can do to take a larger share of the business that's out there." The Honda executive was talking specifically about dealer fears that electrification can hurt profitability since EVs generally need less service than gasoline-powered vehicles. For example, EVs don't need oil changes or tune-ups, and their service schedule is more focused on tires, brakes and software. "There is a real opportunity here for dealers to better compete with third-party repair facilities, which presently service approximately two-thirds of the vehicles today," Arcangeli said during his keynote address. "As vehicles become even more technical with the advance of electrified, automated and connected technologies, customers will need your business and for longer than the typical three-year period of a new car. As part of the AIADA event, dealers welcomed the organization's incoming chairman, Jason Courter, a Seattle-area Honda dealer. And they celebrated the work of outgoing chair Howard Hakes, a California Toyota dealer who championed the new North American trade accord, traveling repeatedly to Washington to lobby on behalf of dealers on a variety of trade issues. AIADA members also recognized Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America, who retires April 1. Arcangeli spoke on the sidelines of the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas, where the threat of EVs and autonomous vehicles to the current retail model was an important topic. Fortunately, Arcangeli said, the future may not be coming quite as fast as was hyped and feared. Rather, the deployment of electric and autonomous vehicles should come gradually enough for OEMs and dealers to prepare themselves. "Reading the many news headlines over the past two years, you would have thought car ownership would be a thing of the past. And we all would have arrived today in a driverless, shared vehicle. But that view has begun to change of late," Arcangeli told retailers of international nameplates such as Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. "The notion of a shared vehicle for personal use remains daunting at best. So I believe vehicle ownership will continue to be the dominant means by which the vast majority of customers in the U.S. engage with our products for some time to come," Arcangeli said. "That means we all must work at advancing the customer relationship and brand loyalty that will enable us to maintain strong and profitable businesses into the future. The executive noted that Honda is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in the U.S. International automakers and their U.S. dealers have also been change agents for the auto industry, he said, bringing additional competition and consumer choice. In case you missed it, the New York Times ran a rubbernecker of a piece last week called The Chaos at Conde Nast. It was a look back at the scandalous misbehavior depicted in a new memoir, As Needed For Pain, by former Details magazine editor in chief Dan Peres, about publishing while on painkillers and the corporate environment that enabled it. As mentioned in the article, I was the magazines executive editor at the start of Peress decline, so this was hardly news to me. I was surprised, however, by the flood of incredulous calls, emails, texts, and direct messages I received from friends in the media business who were curious about the Times resurfacing a particularly egregious Details fiasco. RECENTLY: The dumbwaiter defense In the summer of 2002, Details published a short humorous essay, bylined Kurt Andersen, called Dudes Who Dish. The piece, an idea hatched by Peres to confirm his observation that men actually gossiped far more than women, was not in fact by the novelist and cofounder of Spy Magazine. Even cynics whod seen it all considered this editorial identify theft beyond the pale. Though its probably best to let sleeping dogs lie, the purpose of this piece is to set the record straight. Many bizarre things transpired in the glory days of Conde Nast, but this incident involves a very different sort of surreality, one the paper of record didnt get quite right. So please consider the following recap a cautionary tale for other content companies, especially in the golden age of Fake News. Some context: its worth remembering that the early aughts were a very good time to be in the magazine business, the final days before so much of it went south. Wed emerged from the trauma of 9/11; ad revenue had come roaring back; the iPhone was still half a decade away. At Details, we were trying to differentiate ourselves from more established competition by targeting a demographic known as the metrosexual, code for young, affluent, post-preference men of the sort who might grow up to be Pete Buttigieg or his straight, suited-and-booted colleagues at McKinsey. One way to do this was by larding our pages with great writers. And, back then, we had the resources to do it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The result was a byline arms war, in which writers not normally associated with glossy mens magazines were hunted like big game and paid handsomely for the privilege of gracing our publication with their gilded pens. Editors found themselves in direct competition to bag the biggest antlers, with promotions and demotions on the line. During my run at Details, we published Jonathan Safran Foer, Rick Moody, Augusten Burroughs, and many, many other award-winning, nearly universally-male writers. (It was that anachronism: a mens magazine, for those wondering about gender parity.) I recall nearly agreeing to pay Martin Amis ten dollars a word to churn out a thousand words on nostril hair. All this prose was shepherded by a killer editorial team, as acknowledged in the Times piece, which included Pete Wells, now the papers food critic, and Jessica Lustig, who is now deputy editor of the Times magazine. (For Details/Times trivia fans: we even published the first post-disgrace piece by Howell Raines, the Times once-invincible managing editor, who was terminated in the wake of the Jayson Blair scandal.) At the time, Details also employed a very talented but somewhat unstable editor named Bob Ickes, who was a ball of nervous, if highly productive, energy. I recall, as we discussed who should write the piece on men and gossip that would come to be attributed to Andersen, that Ickes said, I think we should go after Don DeLillo. Why not go right to Pynchon? another editor responded, rolling his eyes. The hunt was on. We dispersed and descended upon our collective Rolodexes. We knew whoever hooked the right writer would be rewarded. If an enormous whale was harpooned, you might even earn the approbation of Si Newhouse, the man in charge of Conde Nast. A few days later, Bob turned up with some good news about Andersen. Kurt said yes, he announced. Hes going to do it! Everyone applauded, for such a thing was completely plausible. If Jonathan Safran Foer could write about a ping-pong player and Howell Raines wanted to publish a few words about his sons indie rock band, why wouldnt a much-admired writer and media figurethe man who help coin the phrase short-fingered vulgarian to describe Donald Trumpwant to write about dudes and their talkative tendencies? And besides, Bob and Kurt had worked together before. A week or so later, the piece showed up on my desk. I recall finding it a nifty piece of magazine writingpungent, punchy, and less than a page long. In the Times story, Andersen refers to it as the terrible piece attributed to me, but I would happily submit his revisionist judgement to a forensic linguist for review, so skilled was the ventriloquism. Sure, it was weird when Bob explained that Kurt didnt have time to deal with our fact checkers, so he would field all queries directly with Kurt via email. But writers are eccentric beasts and we believed in their care and feeding. And so all facts in the piece were checkedexcept, of course, the authors actual identity. I believe Bob probably reached out to Kurt; he might have even reached out to DeLillo and Pynchon. At a certain point, however, it seems to me that rejection crested into desperation, and Bob must have gone rogue. Shortly after that piece appeared, Ickes disappeared from the office, leaving an empty desk and no contact information. To this day, Im still not sure if he cracked or simply assumed no one would even notice. Or perhaps he just wanted to burn the house down. Ickes and I hadnt spoken in two decades. But when I reached him recently to ask, he thanked me for letting him know about this piece, and told me exactly what he told the Times: he did not write the piece published under Andersens name. Publishing eras may change. But the blanket denial never goes out of fashion. ICYMI: Under Trump, media companies are emboldened against unionizing Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Andrew Essex a former executive editor of Details, is the chief executive of Plan A and the former chief executive of Droga5 and the Tribeca Film Festival [February 18, 2020] Colby College Poll Shows Statistical Dead Heat in Maine's U.S. Senate Race In the aftermath of President Donald Trump's impeachment acquittal, a new poll of registered Maine voters by Colby College revealed a statistical dead heat between four-term Republican incumbent United States Senator Susan Collins and the leading Democratic front-runner, Sara Gideon, the current speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. Forty-two percent of poll respondents said they would vote for Collins, while 43 percent reported they would vote for Gideon, according to the poll, which reached 1,008 registered Maine voters from Feb. 10 to Feb. 13. The poll was developed and sponsored by Colby College and conducted through the national pollster SocialSphere. Collins's overall favorability rating came in at 42 percent, with 54 percent of respondents giving her an unfavorable rating. Among self-identified independents, a key voting bloc in Maine, 39 percent had a favorable view of the senator and 57 percent had an unfavorable view. "There's a long way to go, and things can change," said Dan Shea, Colby College professor of government and the lead researcher on the poll, who noted Sen. Collins last earned re-election with 67 percent of the vote. "However, the results indicate this could be the kind of race Sen. Collins has not had to deal with before." Asked if Mainers should be proud or disappointed with Sen. Collins's role during the impeachment process, 30 percent said they were proud, 37 percent were disappointed, and 31 percent said they had mixed feelings. According to the Colby poll, 79 percent of respondents paid attention to the impeachment proceeding. The sample was split on the Senate's decision to acquit the president: 48 percent said it was the right move, 49 percent said it was the wrong move. While 46 percent of respondents said Collins's vote would probably not change their opinion on her candidacy, 36 percent of respondents indicated her vote would lead them to vote against her. By comparison, 17 percent of poll respondents said her vote would lead them to vote for Collins. According to Shea, the results indicate that Sen. Collins's role in the president's acquittal on impeachment charges resonated negatively with Maine voters. "Some Republicans were disappointed that Sen. Collins didn't protect the president more, while a lot of Democrats and independents were upet that she didn't vote to remove him from office," he said. "The middle can be a lonely place these days." Trump support falls, but still leads in 2nd Congressional District Colby's poll shows support for President Trump in Maine has fallen. Thirty-nine percent of respondents gave Trump a favorable rating, compared to 60 percent who gave him an unfavorable rating. Only 34 percent of respondents said they would vote to reelect Trump, with 37 percent indicating they would vote for whomever the Democratic candidate is, 15 percent noting it depended on who the Democrats select, and 15 percent remaining undecided. In 2016 Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton by just three percentage points in Maine. However, the president did make history by winning Maine's 2nd Congressional District in 2016 - marking the first time Maine split its electoral votes - and the poll suggests he may do so again. Some 41 percent of respondents from the 2nd Congressional District said they would vote for the president, 31 percent said they would vote for whomever the Democratic candidate is, 14 percent said it depended on who won the Democratic nomination, and 14 were undecided. The Colby poll also found that in the 2nd Congressional District incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Golden still holds a 43- to 29-percent lead over a generic Republican candidate despite Golden's stated support for the president. Twenty-eight percent were undecided. Gideon and Sanders Far Ahead in Democratic Primary Some 383 respondents said they intended to vote in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Gideon netted 60 percent of respondents, Betsy Sweet had 8 percent, and all the other candidates scored less than 3 percent. Thirty-one percent were undecided. Of the 350 respondents who said they would likely vote in the presidential primary March 3, the results showed the following: 25 percent said they would vote for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont; 16 percent indicated they would vote for Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind.; 14 percent noted support for former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg (News - Alert); Former Vice President Joe Biden scored 12 percent, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts received 9 percent, with all others less than 5 percent. While this year will be Maine's first time to hold a presidential primary, Sanders was the overwhelming preference of Maine Democrats during the presidential caucuses in 2016. According to Professor Shea, it is not surprising that Sen. Sanders would be way ahead given that he trounced Clinton in 2016. "The real surprise is that Joe Biden is in fourth place," he said. Methodology Conducted between February 10 and 13, the Colby College survey reached 1,008 registered voters and has a margin of error of 3 percent. Roughly 30 percent of the respondents were reached on telephone landlines and cell phones, with the remaining 70 percent being contacted online. The sampling and contacts were made by SocialSphere, a public opinion research firm located in Boston. The head of the firm, John Della Volpe, is also the director of polling at Harvard's Institute for Politics and at RealClearPolitics. For a complete set of the poll's findings, as well as key cross-tabulations and a detailed discussion of the methodology, please visit: http://www.colby.edu/government/2020-polling/ This poll is the first of a series of polls that Colby College and SocialSphere plan to conduct between now and Election Day in November. Colby College Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America's most selective colleges. Serving only undergraduates, Colby offers a rigorous academic program rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close interaction with world-class faculty scholars. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218006131/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Twenty-four civilians were shot dead and three others were kidnapped during an attack Sunday in Burkina Faso. According to Christianity Today, one of those killed was a church pastor. Another 18 were also injured in the attack. The mayor of Boundore commune said a group of about 20 attacked people in the town of Pansi in the Yagha province of Africas Burkina Faso. The group of armed terrorists entered Pansiand attacked the peaceful local population, after having identified them and separated them from non-residents, Col Salfo Kabore said, according to The Christian Post. Both Christians and Muslims were killed and a nearby Protestant church was set on fire. The gunmen also stole oil and rice from nearby stores and forced the three kidnapped youth to carry the stolen goods. It hurt me when I saw the people, Mayor Sihanri Osangola Brigadie said after visiting some of the victims in the hospital in Dori town. This isnt the first attack in the Yagha province. Last week, gunmen killed a retired pastor and abducted another pastor. In December, more than a dozen people were killed at an evangelical church following attacks earlier in the year and Protestant and Catholic Church gatherings. In the December attack, gunmen separated men from women and killed only men, ages 10 to 40. Perpetrators use victims links to government or their faith to justify the killings, while others appear to be reprisal killings for killings by the government security forces, said Corinne Dufka, the West Africa director for Human Rights Watch. She added that the attacks are increasing at an alarming rate. According to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, more than 1,300 civilians were killed last year in targeted attacks in Burkina Faso. The government also says that some 760,000 people have been displaced because of the violence. Related: Brutal Attack on Burkina Faso Church Leaves 14 Dead Christians Flee Burkina Faso after at Least 19 Christians Are Killed in the African Nation 4 Christians Executed in Burkina Faso for Wearing Cross Necklaces Terrorists Execute Six Christians in West African Protestant Church Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Milenius Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner. President Donald Trump issued a pardon Tuesday to Michael Milken, the former junk bond king who was a face of the insider trading scandals of the 1980s. Trump, in announcing the pardon, cited the "incredible job" that Milken has done supporting cancer research since pleading guilty in 1990 to racketeering and securities fraud charges. "He's done this and he suffered greatly," Trump said. "He paid a big price; paid a very tough price." Milken, 73, originally was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes while heading the bond department at the investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert and fined $600 million. But that punishment was later reduced to two years locked up after he cooperated with federal investigators. Milken also is banned for life from working in the securities industry. The pardon does not affect the lifetime ban, the White House told CNBC on Tuesday. Financier and philanthropist Michael Milken visits "Mornings With Maria" at Fox Business Network Studios on August 23, 2018 in New York City. John Lamparski | Getty Images That pardon, which had been considered for as long as two years, was one of 11 acts of executive clemency issued Tuesday by Trump. The president also granted pardons to former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik and ex-San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. And Trump commuted the lengthy prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Milken, in a prepared statement, said that he and his wife, Lori, with whom he "recently celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary, along with our children and grandchildren, are very grateful to the President." "We look forward to many more years of pursuing our efforts in medical research, education and public health," Milken said. Conroy Gold & Natural Resources Plc - Placing & Subscription of New Shares to raise 302,500 18 February 2020 THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATIONS (EU) NO. 596/2014 ("MAR"). IN ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE RESULT THAT CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION. Conroy Gold and Natural Resources plc ("Conroy Gold" or the "Company") Placing & Subscription of New Shares to raise 302,500 Conroy Gold and Natural Resources plc (AIM:CGNR), the gold exploration and development Company focused on Ireland and Finland, is pleased to announce the successful placing of 2,083,333 ordinary shares of 0.001 each ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 12 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Placing Shares") to raise 250,000 (the "Placing") before expenses. The Placing has been arranged by Brandon Hill Capital Limited, the Company's broker ("BHC"). The Company has also undertaken a subscription of 437,500 Ordinary Shares at a price of 12 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Subscription Shares") to raise 52,500 (the "Subscription"). The Placing and the Subscription have been subscribed for by certain existing shareholders and new investors. The net proceeds of the Placing and the Subscription will be used by the Company to undertake further exploration work at Clontibret, Clay Lake and Glenish along the Orlock Bridge Fault in Ireland and for general working capital purposes. The Company intends to provide further details on its 2020 work programme in due course following receipt of funds from the Placing and the Subscription and the preparation and approval of a detailed budget. Each subscriber to the Placing and Subscription will receive one warrant for each Placing Share or Subscription Share, giving them the right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share at an exercise price of 16 pence per Ordinary Share for a period of nine months from Admission (the "Warrants"). In addition, BHC will receive 114,583 Warrants. The issue of the Placing Shares, the Subscription Shares and the possible issue of new Ordinary Shares from the exercise of the Warrants, are made under the Company's existing share authorities. An application will be made shortly for the Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange with effect from 21 February 2020 ("Admission"). In accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the Company confirms that on completion of the Placing and the Subscription, and following Admission, the Company's enlarged issued ordinary share capital will comprise 26,213,872 Ordinary Shares. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in Treasury. Therefore, following Admission, the above figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations to determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For further information please contact : Conroy Gold and Natural Resources plc Tel: +353-1-479-6180 Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman Allenby Capital Limited(Nomad) Tel: +44-20-3328-5656 Nick Athanas/Nick Harriss Brandon Hill Capital Limited (Broker) Tel: +44-20-3463-5000 Jonathan Evans Lothbury Financial Services Tel: +44-20-3290-0707 Michael Padley Hall Communications Tel: +353-1-660-9377 Don Hall Visit the website at:www.conroygold.com LONDON The derelict cargo vessel was last spotted drifting into the sunset, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. There were no signs of life onboard: It was a ghost ship on the lonely ocean, adrift and abandoned. This week, after more than a year being ravaged by strong seas and powerful storms, the ships voyage came to an end when it crashed onto the rocky shores of Ballycotton, a tiny fishing village on the south coast of Ireland. The rusty ship, identified as the Alta, had somehow managed to survive a journey thousands of miles from southeast of Bermuda, where it was first disabled and its crew rescued. By Trend Even if the voting results in Azerbaijan are canceled in all polling stations where video footage in connection with violations were shot and spread on social networks, this will not affect the general parliamentary election results, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said. Panahov made the remark in Baku at the CEC meeting, Trend reports on Feb. 17. The CEC chairman stressed that these video footages were shot in about three percent of polling stations. Sometimes people think that there were violations at all polling stations in the country, but that's not true, Panahov said. Of course, such negative cases are undesirable. Bu I always say that all negative cases will be thoroughly considered in accordance with the legislation and the measures will be taken against the offenders. The parliamentary elections were held in Azerbaijan on February 9. US Imposes New Rules on State-Owned Chinese Media Over Propaganda Concerns WASHINGTONThe Trump administration said on Feb. 18 it will begin treating five major Chinese state-run media entities with U.S. operations the same as foreign embassies, requiring them to register their employees and U.S. properties with the State Department. Two senior State Department officials said the decision was made because the Chinese regime has been tightening state control over its media, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made more aggressive use of them to spread pro-Beijing propaganda. The control over both the content and editorial control have only strengthened over the course of Xi Jinpings term in power, said one official. These guys are in fact arms of the CCPs (Chinese Communist Partys) propaganda apparatus. Beijing wasnt informed in advance of the decision and was to be notified on Feb. 18, one official said. Beijings control of Chinas state-owned media has become more and more draconian, the second official said. Both officials spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. Tensions between the United States and China have escalated since President Donald Trump came to office three years ago, with disputes ranging from trade tariffs to accusations of Chinese spying in the United States and to U.S. support for Taiwan. The decision, the officials said, isnt linked to any recent developments in SinoU.S. relations and has been under consideration for some time. The new determination is being applied to the Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corp., and Hai Tian Development USA, Inc., the officials said. China Daily is an English-language newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party. Hai Tian Development USA distributes the Peoples Daily, the official newspaper of the Partys Central Committee. The five entities U.S. operations will have to disclose their personnel rosters and hiring and firing decisions, and register with the State Department properties in the United States that they rent or own, the officials said. They also will have to seek advanced approval before they lease or purchase new U.S. properties, they said. Asked if there are concerns that the Chinese regime will retaliate against Western media based in China, one official noted that foreign news outlets there already work under strict rules and that the new disclosure rules impose no restrictions on the five state-owned Chinese entities U.S. operations. These guys operate in a far more liberal environment here in the United States than any foreign press enjoys in the Peoples Republic of China, the official said. By Jonathan Landay You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Banking giant HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC) announced a sweeping overhaul on Tuesday, including shedding about 15% of its global workforce, as it works to recover from an onslaught of challenges, including Brexit, U.S./China trade tensions, and, more recently, uncertainties due to the coronavirus. HSBC, which is based in London but does significant business in Asia, said it would eliminate at least 35,000 jobs over the next three years and take $7.3 billion in restructuring charges as part of a planned revamp that will target $4.5 billion in cost reductions in the U.S. and Europe. "Parts of our business are not delivering acceptable returns," interim CEO Noel Quinn said in a statement. "We are therefore outlining a revised plan to increase returns for investors, create the capacity for future investment, and build a platform for sustainable growth." HSBC said it intends to scale back its U.S. trading operations and reduce its retail branch network by about 30%, refocusing its U.S. and European businesses around international investment banking opportunities. At the same time HSBC intends to accelerate its investments in Asia, where HSBC currently generates most of its profits. Overall, HSBC expects to shed about $100 billion assets. The restructuring announcement came as HSBC announced 2019 net profit fell 53% year over year to $6 billion, impacted by the $7.3 billion charge. The bank said it was monitoring the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus, which HSBC said "may impact" 2020 performance. HSBC has also been impacted in recent years by uncertainty created by Brexit, as well as U.S./China trade tensions. Quinn has been serving as interim CEO since last August, taking over after John Flint was removed after just 18 months on the job. HSBC offered no update on the search for a full-time replacement for Flint, or whether Quinn was still being considered for the job, saying only that we expect to make an appointment within the 6 to 12 months initially outlined." The lower turnout might also be tied to success the union has had since that rally, achieving two of the three issues they wanted resolved in November, said GlenEva Dunham, president of the Gary Teachers Union and a member of the American Federation of Teachers. Legislation separating standardized test scores from teacher evaluations and ending teacher externships is moving forward, she said. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Boston, MA, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wasabi, the hot cloud storage company, today announced a disruptive new Reserved Capacity Storage (RCS) pricing model that allows customers to purchase a reserved amount of cloud storage for a fixed price for periods of 1, 3, or 5 years. This new pricing model allows customers to easily compare the cost of cloud storage to the cost of on-premises storage hardware. RCS also makes it easy for Wasabi channel partners to sell cloud storage capacity as a SKU in the same way that they would sell a new on-premises storage appliance. When it is time for a technology refresh or time to update hardware, Wasabi RCS is a perfect solution to support back-up, archive and other cloud storage strategies like hybrid and multi-cloud architectures in a more cost-effective manner than on-premises storage hardware. For example, a 100 TB storage appliance from one of the leading manufacturers has a list price of approximately $130,000. With maintenance, the five year total cost would be well over $240,000, not including data center and people costs. By contrast, 100 TB/5 year Wasabis Reserved Capacity Storage costs under $40,000, including premium technical support. RCS is an ideal option for those businesses that prefer one-time payments to monthly billing such as educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, large enterprises as well as channel partners such as value added resellers and system integrators. Wasabis research has shown that these institutions prefer the predictability of a fixed price PO to variable monthly bills. Channel partners can also expand their margins by purchasing RCS and then reselling it to their customers. One of Wasabis first RCS customers Cory Pierce, IT Manager and Associate Principal of Midwest-based Architectural and Engineering design firm The Clark Enersen Partners shares, As a multidiscipline firm working on projects spanning multiple industries, we are highly protective of our data and will only utilize partners we can trust. Wasabi was easy to use and interfaced well with our existing storage solutions. With Wasabis RCS pricing model we were able to realize substantial cost savings and modernize an aging archive workflow which gave us more immediate access to our data. Storing our data with Wasabi with the RCS pricing model was a logical choice. As cloud storage becomes increasingly popular, many companies conclude that not all of their data should reside off-site. RCS fits the hybrid cloud model where some data is stored on-premises and other data is stored in the cloud. Popular uses for RCS include backups, second copies of data, and archives. Best practices mandate that companies keep one copy of their data off-site, and RCS offers a simple and extremely cost effective way to move copies of data to secure Wasabi locations, all at a guaranteed fixed price. The model is also beneficial for Wasabis channel partners who are transitioning clients to the cloud. Unlike reserved capacity pricing from the hyperscalers, Wasabi has no fees for egress or API requests, so the RCS price is exactly how much the customer will pay for storage, no matter how many times they access their data. As customers migrate their data to the cloud, we want to be able to offer them a pricing model that compares favorably to how they purchase on-premises storage hardware. Companies are used to buying hardware and issuing one-time purchase orders. We want to make buying cloud storage just like buying hardware. RCS helps customers with budgeting, purchasing, and planning their storage, says David Friend, CEO of Wasabi. With most of the worlds data still stored in on-premises hardware, we want to make it easy for people to migrate their data to the cloud and start saving enormous amounts of money in the process. For more information please visit www.wasabi.com/RCS. About Wasabi: Wasabi is the hot cloud storage company delivering disruptive storage technology that is 1/5th the price of Amazon S3, faster than the competition with no fees for egress or API requests. Unlike first generation cloud vendors, Wasabi is solely focused on providing the world's best cloud object storage service. Created by co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi is on a mission to commoditize the cloud storage industry. Wasabi is a privately held company based in Boston, MA. Follow and connect with Wasabi on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our blog. In our second quarter, CI continued to provide the states early stage companies with the capital and resources needed to accelerate business plans and commercialize innovations. Connecticut Innovations (CI), Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies, today announced that investments during the second quarter of its 2020 fiscal year totaled $8.1 million across 27 transactions. In the quarter, CI directed $4.7 million toward biotechnology companies and $2.5 million toward information technology companies, with the remaining funds distributed across companies spanning a range of industries. The investments leveraged an additional $54.8 million in outside capital. In our second quarter, CI continued to provide the states early stage companies with the capital and resources needed to accelerate business plans and commercialize innovations, said David Wurzer, executive vice president and chief investment officer at Connecticut Innovations. We are excited to follow the progress and development of these promising and innovative young companies. Connecticut Innovations venture capital portfolio includes investments in more than 150 companies throughout the state. About Connecticut Innovations Connecticut Innovations (CI) is the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies. To maximize growth potential, CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early stage technology companies; financial support for innovation and collaboration; and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, visit http://www.ctinnovations.com. The federal police have joined the search for information after a man and his guide dog were hit and killed by a car near Bendigo last year. Raymond Meadows, 63, was walking south-east along the Calder Highway in Wedderburn with his guide dog at about 6.40am on June 2, 2019, when he was hit by a Toyota Corolla. The driver, a man in his 20s, stopped and helped before being taken to hospital with shock. Mr Meadows and his dog died at the scene. Plans to convert the Wyndham Vale rail yard into a dump site for the West Gate Tunnel's toxic soil could force V/Line to run ghost trains to Geelong, if they cannot be parked safely overnight. Rail workers say they will not set foot on the train stabling facility in Melbourne's west if it becomes a dangerous dump site for the road project's waste, potentially leading to mass train cancellations on the strained V/Line network. The Age has revealed a controversial state government proposal to dump the toll road's soil contaminated with potential carcinogens PFAS and asbestos at a Wyndham Vale rail yard, just metres away from housing and four planned schools. The Wyndham Vale rail stabling yard now under construction is just north of housing estates. Credit:Joe Armao The government has said it plans to use the 82-hectare government-owned site in Treasurer Tim Pallas' Werribee electorate as a "back-up, temporary" dumping ground, but the move has triggered a fierce backlash among local residents. Mumbai Polices crime branch detained gangster Riyaz Bhatti purported aide of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim at Mumbai international airport on Monday evening when he allegedly tried to flee to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Joint commissioner of police (crime branch) Santosh Rastogi confirmed that Bhatti was detained. The gangster was arrested by unit one of crime branch in October 2019 in connection with two cases of extortion registered in Amboli and Juhu police stations. However, he was released on bail as per the direction of the court on the condition that he will not leave the country, said Rastogi. There was a lookout circular (LOC) issued against him. The airport authority detained him and informed the Mumbai Police. A police team from unit one brought Bhatti to the unit office for legal process. We will produce him in court, added Rastogi. This is not first time that Bhati tried to flee from the country. In October 2015, he was arrested from the international airport when he had planned to fly to South Africa using a fake passport in the name of Bhatti Phoolji. After Bhattis original passport expired in 2006, he could not renew it as he was not given police clearance on account of the criminal cases registered against him. However, Bhatti managed to get a fake passport from Rajasthan with the help of his relative and had travelled abroad at least on eight occasions and travelled out of the Mumbai international airport 10 times between 2009 and 2012 using the fake passport. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The number of tourists from Turkmenistan visiting Turkey amounted to 297,706 people in 2019, which is 17.71 percent more compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to Turkeys Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The share of Turkmen citizens in the total number of foreigners visiting Turkey in 2019 amounted to 0.66 percent. In December 2019, 20,101 tourists from Turkmenistan visited Turkey, which is 0.42 percent more compared to December 2018. In this month, the share of Turkmen citizens in the total number of foreigners visiting Turkey amounted to 0.94 percent. Over 2.1 million tourists visited Turkey in December 2019, which is 10.11 percent more compared to December 2018. In 2019, more than 45 million tourists visited Turkey, which is 14.11 percent more compared to 2018. Over 14.9 million tourists visited Istanbul and 14.6 million tourists visited Antalya. The remaining 15.5 million tourists accounted for countrys other cities. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Nearly 300 civilians have been killed in attacks this year in northwest Syria, 93% of them caused by strikes by the Syrian government and its ally Russia, the top United Nations human rights official said on Tuesday. In a statement expressing horror at the scale of the humanitarian crisis, Michelle Bachelet denounced direct hits on or near camps of displaced civilians, as well as on medical and education facilities, including two hospitals on Monday. She has previously said such acts could be war crimes. Her spokesman Rupert Colville, asked whether Syria and Russia were deliberately targeting civilians and buildings protected under international law, told a Geneva briefing: The sheer quantity of attacks on hospitals, medical facilities, and schools would suggest they cannot all be accidental. Search Keywords: Short link: Twellium Industrial Company stormed the University of Ghana and UPSA campuses to share over 1500 pieces of female and male condoms and other products as part of the Valentines Day celebrations. The decision comes on the back of a research made by the Ghana Aids Commission on the high rise of HIV-AIDS curses in some part of Accra during 2019. The distribution was done by some celebrates led by actress Benedicta Gafah, top model Edem Fairre, Nana Made in China, Dezel the model and other influencers. The Marketing Director of Twellium, Mr. Ali Ajami, during the distribution asked students to use protection during sex if they cant abstain. So we thought it wise to share condoms and our products to the students and also educate them on the need of protecting themselves as they celebrate this years Valentine day. He said Twellium Industrial Company was incorporated in Ghana in September 2013, to kick start the production of 4 key franchised products. These include Rush Energy drink, Original American Cola, Planet Range and Bubble Up lemon lime. While the company specializes in the production of irresistible non-alcoholic beverages, it also prides itself in its flagship product, Verna Mineral Water, for its clean, tasty and refreshing appeal, as confirmed by target market and consumers. Twellium, holds franchised license from Monarch beverages Atlanta Georgia; a diversified, international beverage company operating in over 50 countries and offering over 200 products spanning traditional carbonated soft drinks and New Age categories such as energy drinks. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Jill Stein speaks out against Pennsylvanias certification of the ExpressVote XL voting machines used in Philadelphia and two other counties, during an appearance in Philadelphia in October of 2019. Read more Pennsylvanias top elections official warned a federal judge Tuesday of chaos should the court block Philadelphia and two other counties from using their new voting machines during the 2020 presidential elections. Your honor, I cant overstate the chaos that would ensue, frankly, Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar said of the primary election. The voters who just learned a new machine would have to have something, some ability to vote. And while getting new replacement machines in time for the April 28 primary election would not be possible, Boockvar said, she was also not sure whether it would be feasible for the general election in November, calling it extremely difficult with a tight timeline and other electoral changes being made this year. Lawyers for 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein are seeking to have the voting machines used in Philadelphia decertified by the state, arguing they violate a lawsuit settlement that requires voter-verifiable paper ballots for every voter in Pennsylvania. City and state elections officials and their lawyers sought Tuesday to demonstrate both that the machines meet the agreements requirements, and that decertifying them would create massive problems. Counties would have to scramble to select, purchase, and implement new machines, Boockvar said, a task made more difficult because everything takes longer, takes more resources, takes more preparation in a presidential year than in any other year. Boockvar was the main witness Tuesday, fielding questions from lawyers for Stein, the state, and the judge. A lawyer for Stein argued that counties could replace their voting machines in a matter of a few months. Stein and the Pennsylvania voters joining her as plaintiffs say the counties should replace the machines in question, the ExpressVote XL from vendor Election Systems & Software, because they make it difficult to properly verify and tally votes, undermining election security. The machines, they say, violate the settlement by relying on bar codes, not properly allowing voters to confirm their selections, and producing a paper record that is not technically a ballot under Pennsylvania law. The state, joined by Philadelphia, argues that the machines are secure, that the record produced is a paper ballot and can be confirmed by voters before being cast, and that blocking the machines from use in 2020 would be costly and disruptive. U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond has no timeline for a decision on whether the case should continue. But if he allows the case to move forward and it ultimately leads to the statewide decertification of the ExpressVote XL voting system, Philadelphia and two other counties would need to quickly purchase and implement new voting machines, at a cost of millions of dollars, by November. At the same time, officials are preparing for high turnout in the hotly watched presidential contest while implementing wide-ranging changes that elections administrators already worry will be difficult to implement. On the other hand, the plaintiffs say, using insecure machines in a critical battleground state like Pennsylvania could also disenfranchise voters by potentially miscounting their votes. The underlying lawsuit filed by Steins group accused Pennsylvania of violating the constitutional rights of voters in 2016s presidential election because its voting machines were susceptible to hacking and the electronic voting machines most voters used left no paper record, making a manual recount impossible. In 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all counties in the state to replace their voting machines in time for the 2020 presidential election, requiring paper records. The state then reached an agreement with Stein and the other plaintiffs that following through on that order would settle the suit. But Stein and other advocates for hand-marked paper ballots say the model of machine selected by Philadelphia, Northampton and Cumberland Counties violates that agreement. The ExpressVote XL is a touchscreen system that prints a piece of paper with a series of bar codes and plain text listing voters choices. The ballots are cast when they are fed back into the machine to be read. The Pennsylvania Department of State has ordered the plain text paper list of vote choices to be the official record of the vote. In theory, if a machine was hacked or malfunctioned, votes could still be recorded accurately during an audit or recount. Critics say the machines are difficult to use and the paper records they produce often go unchecked by voters before being submitted. The machines are also more vulnerable than simpler systems in which voters mark choices on a paper ballot that is then scanned, critics say. "We will not accept a single illegal coloniser," reads a banner in the small village of Makrygialos. The village is one of many areas in mainland Greece where the government is locked in a tug of war with local communities over the housing of migrants. Just months after the new conservative administration took over promising to get tough on migration, deadlock is rapidly emerging over where to accommodate tens of thousands of asylum-seekers currently languishing in overcrowded, unsanitary camps on five islands facing Turkey. There are over 38,000 people in the camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos despite an official capacity of 6,200. Island officials and residents have told the government that after five years on the front lines of the European migration crisis, they are no longer prepared to accept thousands of asylum-seekers in their midst. But while the administration of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tries to alleviate the problem by relocating thousands of migrants to other parts of Greece, many communities on the mainland are also stonewalling the move. "We are determined to defend our homeland. We will do anything to keep them out," says Tasos Yiakoumis, a lawyer taking part in an anti-migrant protest in Makrygialos, a coastal village 450 kilometres (280 miles) north of Athens. Some 300 people have gathered to protest against plans to house 200 asylum-seekers in a disused former home for the mentally ill. - 'This shall not pass' - "We know their plan, they want to Islamicise the entire western world. This shall not pass," Yiakoumis shouts at the crowd through a microphone. Another speaker claims that "refugees steal children" and that "most people coming to Greece have criminal records and are hunted in their home countries." Other residents in the village of 1,000 say that the crime rate will increase in the village, which mainly lives on tourism. "This is a tourist area. Which tourist would want to vacation next to a (migrant shelter)?," asks local mayor Anastasios Manolas, a former career army officer. Similar protests have taken place in other parts of northern Greece in recent months, with locals banding together to keep out buses bearing asylum-seekers from the islands. Last week, parents in a kindergarten in the village of Vrasna refused to share the building with a small number of refugee children, who were forced to seek schooling elsewhere. Meanwhile, critics note that the conservatives only have themselves to blame by repeatedly describing asylum-seekers in negative terms. In November, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said refugees and economic migrants are "besieging" Europe. The new conservative government which came to power in July has announced that the island camps on Lesbos, Samos and Chios are to shut down this year. They are to be replaced with new, smaller facilities that are to be operational by mid-2020. But the islanders say they will only accept small facilities where asylum-seekers are to be screened, and then either moved to the mainland, or sent back to Turkey outright. The ongoing deadlock, five years after the height of the migration crisis, has caused exasperation among both island residents and asylum-seekers in the camps, where violence is rife. After extended talks with officials on the islands led nowhere, the government last week caused further anger by announcing that land could be requisitioned for a three-year period to build the new facilities. The islanders responded by taking their protest to Athens on Friday. On Monday, Mitarachi said the government would give island officials a week to suggest alternative locations for the new camps. Inhabitants hold a banner reading "Patriotic Movement of Pieria" as they gather outside the town hall during a protest against the creation of a migrants' hosting centre, in Makrigialos, a beachfront tourist village, some 460km north of Athens. Riot police scuffle with migrants during a demonstration outside the municipal theatre of the city of Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, on February 4, 2020. Running for Our Lives: A Story of Faith, Politics, and the Common Good by Robb Ryerse is available now! We need more stories like Robbs in todays America, stories that prove some people do still get into politics hoping to make things better for someone other than themselves. Angela Denker, author of Red State Christians On Inauguration Day in January 2017, progressive Republican and evangelical pastor Robb Ryerse listened to Rob Bells podcast, RobCast. Like many Americans that day, Ryerse felt powerless. Listening to RobCast that night, Ryerse found an unexpected calling. The guest was the founder of Brand New Congress, an organization that equips everyday Americans with resources and training to challenge entrenched incumbents from both parties. Ryerse felt hope again. He took the first steps to run for Congress in 2018, hoping that with other ordinary citizens, the country could change in a revolutionary way with a government by and for the people. Joining Brand New Congress, Ryerse and other congressional hopefuls, including a then-unknown Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, met at Congress Camp to prepare their campaigns. Ryerse ran a long-shot, congressional campaign in Arkansas against Steve Womack, one of the most powerful Republican incumbents in Washington, D.C. He realized the realities of money in politicscost-prohibitive filing fees just to get a candidates name on the ballot, incumbents with PAC money who never have to fundraise in living rooms or coffee shops, and the limits of grassroots organizing against candidates accepting corporate donations. He connected with other progressive evangelicals who feel animated by issues such as LGBTQ rights, income inequality, and healthcare. He saw firsthand that in order to get rid of career politicians, we need to invest in bivocational candidates, everyday Americans running for office who also work one or more jobs. These light-shining stories of collaboration and the power of faithful people working for the common good comprise his new book, the political and faith memoir Running for Our Lives: A Story of Faith, Politics, and the Common Good. Robb Ryerse is the kind of guy who believes in big ideas that are daring enough that they just might happen, says Angela Denker, author of Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump. We need more stories like Robbs in todays America, stories that prove some people do still get into politics hoping to make things better for someone other than themselves. Though Ryerse ultimately lost his campaign, he is committed to seeing ordinary people become leaders for their communities and representatives in government, writing Being involved in politics could be a vital expression of my commitments to see divine love, peace, and justice extended to all people. The gospel to which I was called to be a minister was actually big enough to be good news for all aspects of every persons life. Ryerse continues this commitment as the executive director of Brand New Congress and the political director of Vote Common Good, which helps to mobilize people of faith in support of progressive candidates. Running for Our Lives is now available from Westminster John Knox Press. Robb Ryerses writing was most recently featured in TIME and you can watch the documentary about his campaign journey True Believer on TheAtlantic.com. He is also the author of Fundamorphosis: How I Left Fundamentalism but Didnt Lose My Faith. He lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he copastors Vintage Fellowship with his wife, Vanessa. ASK DR TESTOSTERONE: MORTALITY & BODYBUILDING Written by Dr. George Touliatos, MD 18 February 2020 Dr. Testosterone By George Touliatos, MD Mortality and Bodybuilding Several professionals who competed in shows that I grew up with passed away during the last couple of years, most of them betrayed by their hearts. Doping abuse requires some time in order to establish irreversible health consequences. Famous IFBB pros who died include: 1) Matt Duvall (USA) 2) Art Atwood (USA) 3) Ed Van Amsterdam (Netherlands) 4) Nasser El Sonbaty (Germany) 5) Greg Kovacs (Canada) 6) Mike Matarazzo (USA) 7) Daniele Seccarecci(Italy) 8) Baito Abbaspour (Iran) 9) Dallas McCarver (USA) 10) Rich Piana (USA) Also, Americans Don Long and Tom Prince suffered acute renal failure and had to undergo kidney dialysis for life. One of the greatest talents, the promising American Dennis Newman, developed leukemia fortunately it healed shortly after winning his IFBB pro card in 1994 (NPC overall winner). We shouldnt neglect the very first victim, Mohammed Momo Benaziza of Algeria (The Killer of Giants). He tragically died of diuretics abuse (spironolactone) and severe dehydration at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1993. Potassium-sparing diuretics lead to electrolyte imbalances, known as hyperkalemia. This can lead to fatal heart arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia. Three years later in 1996, the Austrian Andreas Munzer died at age of 31. It was just three weeks after his last participation in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic. Munzer was admitted to the hospital with intense stomach pains. During surgery, an extensive hepatic tumor was revealed, along with undissolved pills that were found in his stomach. An autopsy revealed atrophic adrenals, atrophic testicles and heart enlargement, twice the normal weight. Munzer was speculated to have abused a cortisol blocker (aminoglutethimide), leading to severe secondary Addisons disease and insufficiency. His cardiomegaly was the result of somatropin abuse, while his testicular atrophy was a common side effect of steroid abuse without the use of HCG. Of course, there are other professionals who died later in life, such as the legendary Mike Mentzer, betrayed by his heart in 2001 at age 49. Moreover, the mythical Sergio Oliva (Mr. Olympia, 1967-1968-1969) died at age 71 and the legendary Serge Nubret died at age 72, after being hospitalized for almost a month until he passed away in coma. Mr. Universe and Mr. America and actor Steve Reeves died from non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2000 at age 74. The iconic South African, Reg Park, died from malignant melanoma in 2007 at age 79. In the summer of 2017, two young and famous professionals died. Rich Piana died from cardiovascular issues at age 46 and Dallas McCarver (who placed second at the 2017 Arnold Classic), so young at age 26, died from the same issues. Last but not least, the first Mr. Olympia in history (1965-1966), Larry Scott, died at the age of 75. More recently, the Sultan of Symmetry, four-time Arnold Classic winner and two-time Mr. Olympia runner-up Flex Wheeler, had part of his right leg amputated. Rumors speculate it was linked to poor circulation as a result of his kidney transplant, or perhaps vasculopathy coming from DM2 and GH abuse. Additionally, two-time Mr. Olympia (1976, 1981) Franco Columbu passed away from a heart attack at age 78 in 2019. Irrational use and years of abuse can be fatal, sort of a time bomb. Hepatocellular carcinoma, acute renal failure, prostate tumor, psychotic behaviors, bipolar disorder, acne, infertility, sleep apnea, heart enlargement, hypertension, diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome are some of the complications. Bodybuilding is impressive, but is also a double-edged sword when it is not consistent with the requirements of knowledge, know-how and prevention. You should not blame the drugs if you use them carelessly, neglecting the significance of medical prevention rules, while carelessly stacking different compounds. The most dangerous drugs in bodybuilding are: 1) insulin 2) diuretics 3) CNS stimulants These medications can lead respectively to lethal: 1) hypoglycemic coma 2) hypovolemic shock and severe heart arrhythmia 3) aneurysm rupture, leading to hemorrhagic stroke and acute myocardial infarction in other words, heart attack The contradictory and paradoxical issue with the use of chemical enhancement is that while you improve your external appearance, at the same moment, you risk your health. Conversely, when you cease using drugs, your physique starts to flaw, but your health starts getting better and laboratory tests improve. It is an indisputable fact that competitive bodybuilding deals with a minority of few genetically gifted (physically and mentally) individuals. However, for every dream in life, there is a price to pay. If I have regretted the use of chemical enhancement, it is mainly due to two reasons (as I have mentioned in one of my interviews): 1) Because of my health issues (LV hypertrophy, intramuscular abscess-hospitalized, heart arrhythmias-hospitalized, dehydration-hospitalized, pharmaceutical hepatitis, atheromatosis-statins administration, roid rage-psychotherapy, hypogonadism-TRT). 2) Because of what AAS and PEDs abuse cost me in terms of social relationships with relatives, family, friends, colleagues, relationships-marriage (divorce). Unfortunately, quite many are willing to sacrifice their lives, even for the sake of their vanity and glory. These are options that for others seem shallow and careless, especially for those who live with disabilities or chronic diseases. It seems unfair to be born with an organic failure. But it seems quite idiotic to end up with organic failure as a result of your poor choices. Nature is smarter than people think; if you dont show respect for your health, you will regret it somehow, someday. George Touliatos, MD is an author, lecturer, champion competitive bodybuilder and expert in medical prevention regarding PED use in sports. Dr. Touliatos specializes in medical biopathology and is the medical associate of Orthobiotiki.gr and Medihall.gr, Age Management and Preventive Clinics in Athens, Greece. Heis the author of four Greek books on bodybuilding, has extensively developed articles for www.anabolic.org and is the medical associate for the book Anabolics, 11th Edition (2017). Dr. Touliatos has been a columnist for the Greek editions of MuscleMag and Muscular Development magazines, and has participated in several seminars across Greece and Cyprus, making numerous TV and radio appearances, doing interviews in print and online. His personal website: www.gtoul.com Read : Bodybuilding - The Good, The Bad & the Ugly Available on Amazon Click the link or picture to buy CLICK BELOW TO WATCH EPISODE 50 OF ASK DR. TESTOSTERONE: FOLLOW MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT ON: FACEBOOK: MuscularDevelopment Magazine TWITTER: @MuscularDevelop More than a 100 people in a Hyderabad neighbourhood have been asked by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to verify their Aadhaar enrolment documents in person or face a suspension or cancellation of their 12-digit identity number that underpins access to government subsidies. The matter first came to light when a letter sent to 40-year-old autorickshaw driver Mohd Sattar Khan was widely shared on social media websites. The letter, seen by HT, asked him to appear before a UIDAI official on February 20 with all necessary documents in original to prove all his claims of Indian citizenship. If you are not an Indian national, prove that you have entered the territory of India legally and your stay is valid, the notice, served under Rule 30 (Chapter VI) of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, said. The notice also mentions a complaint/objection, without specifying who objected to Khans Aadhaar enrolment. Later on Tuesday, the UIDAI issued a statement saying that its Hyderabad office received reports from the state police that 127 people obtained Aadhaar on false pretences and were illegal immigrants. In the said notice/s, the residents in Hyderabad, 127 in number, were asked to appear before the deputy director on 20th February for a personal hearing. Since it may take them some more time to collect their original documents that they had submitted for obtaining Aadhaar, as informed by the state police, the UIDAI has postponed the personal hearing to May 2020, the agency said. ...Aadhaar has got nothing to do with the citizenship issue as such. Aadhaar is not a document of citizenship and UIDAI has been mandated under the Aadhaar Act to ascertain residency of a person in India for 182 days prior to applying for Aadhaar. Also, the Supreme Court of India in its landmark decision has directed UIDAI not to issue Aadhaar to illegal immigrants, it also said. Khan was not available for comment but his lawyer Muzafferullah Khan said they will challenge the notice in the Telangana high court, while also appearing before the UIDAI. They were originally staying at Sanathnagar, where Allwyn factory was located, and later, they moved to the old city. How can he be suspected to be foreign national? he said. The incident comes amid heightened apprehension among people, especially those from minority communities, of an identification exercise by the government that could target them if the National Register of Citizens is created across the country. His company is often criticized for its environmental record, but Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and the world's richest man, said he was committing $10 billion to a new fund to tackle In a post to his 1.4 million followers on Instagram on Monday, the e-commerce tycoon said the Bezos Earth Fund would "fund scientists, activists, NGOs -- any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world." " is the biggest threat to our planet," said Bezos, whose net worth is estimated to be around $130 billion. Hundreds of Amazon employees last month signed a blog criticizing the online retail giant's climate policies and demanding it do more to tackle Amazon has been accused of creating vast amounts of waste from the packaging it uses for doorstep deliveries, as well as for the greenhouse gas emissions from huge fleets of vehicles. The company, which in December said its workforce had hit 750,000, has also been denounced over its carbon footprint because of the high energy consumption of its server farms for its lucrative cloud computing activities. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," Bezos said in his announcement on Monday. Bezos, who maintained his status as the world's richest person despite an expensive divorce last year, said his new foundation would begin issuing grants later this year. Last September, he said Amazon would pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040 and vowed that the company would order 100,000 electric delivery trucks. Rather than make investments that the business guru might profit from, the fund would allocate grant money to projects, The New York Times said, quoting unnamed sources familiar with the initiative. Bezos divulged few details on his social media post, which attracted overwhelmingly positive responses from his followers. Bezos has often clashed with US President Donald Trump, who regularly attacks climate change activists, recently calling them "perennial prophets of doom." The fund was described as Bezos's biggest philanthropic commitment. Fellow billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, now devotes much of his time to his charity foundation and a venture fund that makes investments aimed at helping curb emissions and reverse climate change. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "My granddaughter experiences various health issues such as ear aches when water enters her ears," said an inventor from Hapeville, Georgia. "As a means to reduce costly and time-consuming trips to a doctor's office, I was inspired to develop a cover for the ears." She developed the EAR CAP which may reduce the incidence of ear aches or infections by protecting the delicate ear from water. This invention may eliminate pain, hearing problems and balance issues. Additionally, it would feature a small and lightweight design. The original design was submitted to the Atlanta sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-ALL-1915, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com She added that her ministry would hold a meeting and discuss with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) ways to formulate a response to disruption in exports and imports. Sitharaman said: "We need to ready our ports as the manufacturing sector is affected due to congestions and there might be a rush of raw materials from China when the situation improves in the coming months." "Tomorrow, each secretary in the ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Irakli Shotadze's re-election is nothing more than a cause for holding the "corridor of shame" promised by the opposition two weeks ago, however, without much response. among the population, head of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Caucasus Mamuka Areshidze said, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza. The opposition's strategy is that not just Shotadze's re-election, but any awkward government action gives them a reason to protest. Their plan - the reasons are not important, the main thing is to protest," he explained. So far, they have failed to mobilize the population. "I saw there some 40-50 protesters in the morning, others were police and journalists. Moreover, it's not so important the opposition whether they are supported by the population or not, it is important for them to show a protest. That is, it's not about domestic audience, but the external one," the political scientist drew attention. "Now we see an internal struggle between the parties, not a consolidation of positions before the elections. Perhaps they will be able to unite, but as soon as it comes to taking power, there will be no unity," Mamuka Areshidze emphasized. "If Mikheil Saakashvili doesnt return, we can talk about a certain coalition government. In the end, if there were elections today, the Georgian Dream would have won, despite all the oppositions activity," the head of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Caucasus concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 06:06:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production, Mohamed al-Assar, and Senegalese Minister of the Armed Forces, Sidiki Kaba discussed on Tuesday joint cooperation in the fields of military and civil industrialization. In a statement, al-Assar stressed Egypt's interest in cooperating with the Senegalese Ministry of the Armed Forces in the field of supplying military equipment, weapons and ammunition, training technicians and cyber security. For his part, the Senegalese minister praised the industrial and technical capabilities possessed by the Egyptian Ministry for Military Production, expressing desire to open horizons of cooperation with Egyptian military production companies in various manufacturing fields. LOWER TOWNSHIP Police and firefighters on Tuesday honored an officer who was fatally shot in the line of duty 26 years ago. The flags at Township Hall and the Police Department were flown at half-staff in memory of Officer David C. Douglass Sr., who was killed while chasing a suspect who had burglarized a home and set it on fire, police said in a news release. A memorial wreath was placed at his grave at Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, 780 Seashore Road. Alabama man wrongfully convicted of murder to speak Tuesday in Cape May County MIDDLE TOWNSHIP An Alabama man who spent 30 years behind bars for two murders he did not c In addition, dispatch at 7:15 p.m. transmitted his end-of-watch broadcast, police said, and all township fire sirens were activated in his memory, as he also served as a Town Bank firefighter. Douglass was responding to a report of a suspicious person in North Cape May when the suspect ran, then turned and shot him, police said. Douglass returned fire, hitting the suspect in the hand before making it back to his patrol car to call for help, but he did not survive. Authorities arrested the suspect in April 1994 in New York City, police said. Let us not forget his efforts, let us not forget his name and please let us not forget his family, police said. Molly Bilinski Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Archbishop Nelson J. Perez sits on the cathedra, the bishop's seat, for the first time as Archbishop of Philadelphia. Read more Accompanied by solemn prayers, hymns in Spanish and English, and a whooping, uproarious crowd, Archbishop Nelson J. Perez was installed Tuesday at the helm of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, telling the regions 1.3 million Catholics that he cant do his job alone. Its time to come back to the church, the 58-year-old prelate said, addressing for the first time in his new role a church that has been buffeted by parish mergers, financial difficulties, and sex abuse investigations in recent years. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the archbishop told the thousands packed into the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, he enters his new assignment with hope. Yes, I have hope, Perez said. I gave my life to a faith that believes that a dead man rose from the dead. This is the foundation of our Christian faith this hope that no matter how dark it gets, no matter how much it appears that this is the end, it is not." Perezs first homily as archbishop capped off a two-hour Mass of Installation rich in pageantry, reverent tradition, and religious symbolism. But cutting through the pomp and grandeur, the new archbishops relaxed, folksy pastoral presence suffused the basilica. Perez entered the cathedral after a procession of more than 500 cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians with a broad smile on his face. He was greeted by waving attendees holding up their phones for photos or pumping their fists in the air. READ MORE: Philly Jesus cited for trespassing during the installation of Archbishop Nelson Perez He cracked jokes in English and Spanish once the Mass had begun, and paused at one point to ask the standing-room-only crowd to chant along with him and say hello to his mother, who was in Florida watching the ceremony over a livestream. She had just been released from the hospital and could not attend. Perez individually embraced people in a long receiving line, drawing extra applause when he shook hands with one of the citys other newcomers, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, greeting her by putting his hand on the side of her face. And when it came time to deliver his homily, he eschewed the pulpit for a step right in front of pews. Close friends and family members said they expected nothing less from this garrulous, down-to-earth archbishop. This is a huge source of gratitude and religious pride for our family, said Perezs cousin Christine Sesin-Florentino of Clifton N.J. But on a family level, hes just the same old funny Nelson. Despite Perezs unassuming manner, his installation as the regions first Latino archbishop is historic. He becomes the youngest sitting archbishop in the United States, inheriting day-to-day management of one of the largest Catholic dioceses in the country. His relative youth will give him a nearly two-decade runway to leave his mark on the five-county archdiocese of more than 215 parishes, 460 diocesan priests, and a network of universities and schools serving more than 141,000 students. READ MORE: Archbishop Nelson Perez's installation: Everything you need to know He succeeds Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who retired upon reaching the churchs traditional retirement age of 75 after just over eight years in Philadelphia. Perez thanked his predecessor at the start of his homily Tuesday. He was steadfast, and he made decisions that sometimes a father has to make. Decisions that sometimes drew him great suffering and criticism," he said. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia owes this man an incredible debt of gratitude for who he was, is, and continues to be. Christophe Pierre, the Vaticans top ambassador to the United States, said Chaput had earned his time to relax. To Perez, Pierre added: You dont get to rest. The archdiocese needs you to be a shepherd that goes out to meet the flock with energy, zeal, and warmth, he said. This archdiocese is not the same as when you left it. The son of Cuban immigrants, Perez was ordained in Philadelphia and spent nearly three decades here as a priest before he was elevated to the hierarchy with appointments as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island in 2012, and Cleveland in 2017. Perez said that he embraces Pope Francis vision of the church as "a community of visionary disciples, and that his plan for the archdiocese is that I have no plan. I hope to listen and visit over time, he said, and learn what the church in Philadelphia looks like today. That listening began Tuesday. Perez welcomed dozens of bishops seated behind him on the stage, including Chaputs predecessor in Philadelphia, Cardinal Justin Rigali, and Bishop Joseph Bambera of the Scranton Diocese, Bishop Edward C. Malesic of the Greensburg Diocese, and Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Then, after the ceremony concluded, he returned to greet hundreds of well-wishers in the vestibule. Among them was Rosario Lopez, 28, who arrived excited to see her former pastor assume such a prominent role. After her family immigrated to Philadelphia from El Salvador 18 years ago, they said, Perez, then a priest at St. William parish in Lawncrest, made them feel welcome. He understands what it is like to be an immigrant, said Lopez, who helped translate for her mother, Maria Inez, and uncle Gerardo Ramirez. "He represents all of our countries. READ MORE: As Philadelphia archbishops, Charles Chaput and Nelson Perez may differ less in substance than in style Maria and Frank Murillo, who were married in Philadelphia by Perez in 2008, brought their seven children to the installation Mass. We are very excited," said Maria Murillo, whose family now lives in King of Prussia. He has a great spirit, and hes willing to unite the church. They left with the crowd spilling out onto the cathedrals steps, with Perezs last message still ringing in their ears. I love you. I need you, he had told the audience just moments before. "This is not about me. This is about us. On This Day The Day Myanmar Lost an Influential Cartoonist The cartoonist U Ba Gyan YANGONOn this day 67 years ago, U Ba Gyan, a pioneering cartoonist who boldly used his satirical cartoons to criticize the government and ridicule frailties in Myanmar society, passed away. U Ba Gyan was the most popular cartoonist in Myanmar from before World War II until he died in 1953 thanks to his work critiquing the political, economic and social issues of the country. He created comics that became favorites of Myanmar children and his cartoons openly ridiculing the mismanagement of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League (AFPFL) government and human frailties were liked even by those he criticized. His humorous cartoon commercials were also popular in Myanmar society. U Ba Gyan contributed to almost all the daily and periodical publications in post-independence Myanmar and enjoyed significant influence. At the request of the AFPFL government, he even drew funny cartoon strips for a public distressed by civil war. However, U Ba Gyan loved to express his opinions freely and rejected job offers from the government and political parties offering high positions and huge benefits. Displeased with the governments tax collection in 1950, he stopped drawing cartoons for around three months in protest against the government, but later resumed at the request of his audiences and publishers. He was awarded the Alinka Kyawswa title, an award given to outstanding artists, posthumously in 1954, one year after his death. U Ba Gyan is the only cartoonist to win the award. U Ba Gyan, who died at the age of 52, was also the first in Myanmar to make an animated cartoon movie. He was also a painter, photographer, writer and columnist. His political and social cartoons are still popular today and a cartoon show in his honor is held annually at 13th Street in Lanmadaw, Yangon during the Tazaungdaing Festival in November. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: The Day Myanmar Honored an UK MP for His Panglong Efforts Myanmars Meditation Master Who Spread the Practice Abroad The Assassination of Myanmars Communist Leader The federal government and the National Assembly have given a nod towards the actualisation of the clamour for those in the diaspora to participate in the countrys elections. The government and the National Assembly will work closely with the Nigeria Diaspora Voting Council (NDVC), to achieve this, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said at a workshop in Abuja on Monday. The workshop, organised by the NDVC, was aimed at addressing the voting challenges faced by those in the diaspora, during elections. The vice president, who was represented by Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, said the administration of Mr Buhari has consented to diaspora voting without any limitations. There is a need for all stakeholders, who are desirous to participate in the elections to approach and work with the National Assembly to amend the constitution in order to accommodate those in diaspora to vote during our elections, said Mr Osinbajo. This now goes to the legislature to make this a reality, namely: an amendment of the laws by the National Assembly so that those in the diaspora can vote in future elections. The vice president said the council would need to convince the National Assembly to amend the relevant laws to make diaspora voting a reality. He emphasised that Nigerians in the diaspora give their contribution to the nations economic growth with their own resources and are part of the nations sojourn towards development. In his speech, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, told the gathering that the 9th Assembly is committed to the issue of diaspora voting and assured that they have given their nod. Mr Gbajabiamila said after years of contention on the issue of diaspora voting, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel under the current National Assembly. The Speaker said many Nigerians who earn their living outside the country, have as much a stake in the present and future of Nigeria, as those of us who live here. He, however, said there were difficult tasks that need to be solved to ensure this, such as the need for a law that would allow Nigerians not in the country the opportunity to vote during elections. Im saying all this because I want us to make the process a near-perfect one. There are so many issues that surround the issue, and we need to address them. But Im for diaspora voting. The topic of diaspora voting has, within a short time, become a matter of intense public debate. This reflects the capacity of our diaspora citizens to influence the content and tone of public policy conversations here at home. It also causes us to confront the simple, unavoidable reality that this is a subject matter for which we must find resolution within the shortest possible time. It is true that our electoral process in Nigeria is far from perfect. We have a lot of work to do to ensure that we deliver on an electoral system that is faithful to the best expectations of the Nigerian people. We have started that work, and we will succeed in that objective, the Speaker said. Responding, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman/CEO, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) commended the dedication, commitment, and passion of the chairman of NDVC, Ade Omole, in the quest to actualise diaspora voting soon. I think we have heard a lot, especially on the technicalities, but the key thing is that we have agreed that it is desirable and that it is about time we knew what the legal challenges to achieving our goal are. I think it will happen. However, are there challenges? Yes, there are things to be worried about. That is why we are liaising with the National Assembly. First thing we need is to be practical, have a draft bill that will be sent to the legislature, which Mr Omole has already worked on, and all the issues will be debated so that Nigerians will decide whether they want it or not. The idea is that a lot needs to be done. So, we need to come up with what is ours, what we want as ours. Nigerians are willing to do anything for their country. We should make diaspora voting possible for our brothers and sisters, she said. Speaking earlier, Mr Omole said that the stakeholders workshop was organised to sensitise Nigerians in diaspora on their voting rights. Recall that on June 18, the House of Representatives assured the European Union Observers Mission of the present administrations resolve to embark on electoral reforms ahead of the 2023 general elections. Advertisements She took to Twitter to ask 'the masses' whether they agree with school's decision List says what should be in lunch and claims 'pickles don't count' as a vegetable Alicia Liebel Berg, from Minnesota, claims she received a note from son's school A mother has claimed she was lunchbox shamed by her four-year-old son's school for putting pickles in his lunchbox because they 'don't count' as vegetables. Alicia Liebel Berg, from Minnesota, took to Twitter to reveal she was handed a note from her child's school informing her that her child's required portion of vegetables was 'missing' from his lunch that day. The checklist, which is based on information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), states that each child's lunch must include 'two veggies' or 'veggies and fruit'. Taking to social media, Alicia claimed the school didn't have a problem with accepting 'cut up cucumbers' as a vegetable in her four-year-old's lunch on another day. Alicia Liebel Berg, from Minnesota, said she was handed a note from her child's school informing her that 'pickles don't count' as the 'vegetable' required to be a part of his lunch She said: 'Todays All-American Lunch Box Saga has a major debate. That requires a poll of the masses. 'Is a pickle a vegetable? Does it "count"? Guess what. His cut up cucumbers do.' According to the checklist, parents are required to provide a daily quota of milk, protein, grains or bread and fruit in their child's lunch, alongside vegetables. The note states: 'Please note, a lunch must include 1/4 cups each of two different veggies or a 1/4 cup each fruit and veggies'. Alicia, a mother-of-two, later tweeted the USDA insisting that the 'American farmer' would 'vehemently disagree' that pickles aren't classed a vegetable. The checklist (pictured) stated each child's lunch must include 'two veggies' or 'veggies and fruit' Alicia, a mother-of-two, later tweeted the USDA insisting that the 'American farmer' would 'vehemently disagree' that pickles aren't classed a vegetable by the school This wasn't the first time Alicia had been called out for an apparent lack of vegetables in her son's packed lunch. On January 11, she posted another image of a lunch checklist which had 'vegetable' circled because it was 'missing' from her child's meal. Alongside the photograph, she said: 'This is what our lives as parents have become. Hard. Too damn hard. On January 11, Alicia posted another image of a lunch checklist which had 'vegetable' circled because it was 'missing' from her child's meal Other social media users took to the comments of Alicia's post to sympathize with her lunch dilemma 'Making sure the prescriptive boxes are checked for some government oversight committee. I work hard and put love in his daily sack lunch. 'And yes. I am annoyed. He's only in pre-K!!!!!' Other social media users took to the comments of Alicia's post to sympathize with her dilemma. One user said: 'You know whoever wrote that eats cold hot dogs dipped in cheese whiz for lunch.' Another added: 'That's overstepping for sure. I would start choosing one thing to leave out every day to cause more unnecessary work for them.' 'OMG! That is crazy,' said a third. Old Irish 'clachan' found in South Australia The oldest known Australian example of a communal type of Irish settlement has been 'unearthed' in a dusty paddock in rural South Australia. An extensive geophysical study of the Baker's Flat Irish settlement site near Kapunda has found the first - and possibly largest - clachan in Australia, says Flinders archaeologist Susan Arthure whose PhD investigations of Irish history and archaeology in SA led her to the site in what appears to be a featureless paddock near the former mining and farming community. "Clachans had actually died out in Ireland by the end of the nineteenth century but our research proves they continued in Australia, with this example the first to be fully described," says Irish-Australian archaeologist Ms Arthure. "We found a large, vibrant clachan settlement, now hidden beneath the surface of an empty farm paddock, which contains a wealth of materials to tell us a lot about the past," she says. "This traditional Irish settlement style, characterised by clusters of houses and outbuildings, highlights the way the new residents to this dry country worked together to make the best use of marginal land. "More than 500 Irish migrants created a community here. "Although outsiders looked at the settlement and judged it as chaotic and haphazard, in fact these Irish settlers were able to maintain a sustainable way of life by managing their animals communally and making joint decisions about how best to use the land. "Being able to control a large area of land allowed Irish traditions and customs to be maintained." Ms Arthure, who co-edited Irish South Australia: new histories and insights (Wakefield Press) says archaeology is not just about the ancient past. "The recent past is really fascinating, and many people in South Australia would be descendants of those early settlers of Baker's Flat and other Irish settlements in the Clare Valley and the Mid North." Flinders adjunct Associate Professor Lynley Wallis, a co-author of the latest Baker's Flat paper published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, says: "What we found with GPR and magnetometry surveys shows us that sometimes all is not what it seems." "When we arrived at the paddock, we had no idea about the paths, houses, yards, paddocks and fences hidden beneath the ground," Associate Professor Wallis says. University of Queensland geophysical archaeologist Dr Kelsey Lowe, another author on the paper, says that this is one of the largest surveys of its kind to be undertaken in Australia. "When we began to download the data and saw structures and enclosures appearing, it was a very exciting moment," Dr Lowe says. "We were also fortunate to have Dr Josh Feinberg, at the USA University of Minnesota, to assist us in analysing some of our samples." ### The paper, 'Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker's Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia' (February 2020) by KM Lowe, S Arthure, LA Wallis and J Feinbert, can be found online at DOI:10.1007/s12520-019-01003-2 This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Pipeline 18 February 2020 Hilton, one of the world's fastest-growing hospitality companies, has signed a 15-year management agreement with Inspirasi Langkawi Sdn. Bhd. ("Inspirasi Langkawi") to build The Nautilus Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, a 250-room hotel on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia. Targeted to launch in 2023, The Nautilus Resort is set to be the first property under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand in Malaysia and Hilton's first property on Langkawi. The resort will join the hospitality company's established portfolio of hotels in Malaysia where it currently operates 11 properties across three brands. Visitors to The Nautilus Resort can enjoy a short commute, whether they are travelling by air or sea, as the resort is located just nine kilometres from Langkawi International Airport and five kilometres from the island's Star Cruises Jetty. The resort will boast stunning, unobstructed views of the Straits of Malacca, with its prime location in the center of famous beach town Cenang Beach, south of the island and in close proximity to a number of attractions, bars and restaurants. Guests will enjoy direct access to the sea, complete with clear waters and a white sandy beach. Upon opening, The Nautilus Resort will feature three food and beverage outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant and a rooftop bar. Young travelers can spend their days in the kids' club while the adults relax in the pool or work out in the fitness center. The property will also offer an events space spanning approximately 680 square meters and a ballroom of approximately 350 square meters. F resh ground was broken in the City today as Lisa Gordon was appointed chairman at small-cap broker Cenkos. It is only the second time a woman has taken the role at a UK stockbroker, the first being Lorna Tilbian at Dowgate Capital last year. Gordon, 53, has 25 years experience working in the Square Mile and is also a non-executive director at Alpha FX Group, the AIM-listed foreign exchange firm. Jeff Hewitt, acting chairman, said: I am delighted that Lisa has agreed to join the board. Lisa brings an impressive breadth and depth of boardroom experience and will be a valuable addition to the senior management teams experience for the continued development of Cenkos. The appointment came as Cenkos eeked out a profit for last year, boosted by a strong pipeline of IPOs and fundraisings on the AIM market. Small-cap brokers have struggled in recent years, hit hard by Mifid II regulation. The EU-wide regulations are currently under review and it is unclear how many of the rules Britain will retain after Brexit. Boeing has told employees that it discovered foreign-object debris in fuel tanks of "several" 737 Max planes the manufacturer has in storage, CNBC learned Tuesday. Foreign object debris "is absolutely unacceptable," Boeing Commercial Airplanes executive Mark Jenks, a vice president and general manager of the 737 program and Renton production facility, according to the company's website, said in a note to employees. "One escape is one too many. "With your help and focus, we will eliminate FOD from our production system," he wrote. The company plans to investigate the foreign objects in the tanks, which was first reported by Leeham News, and said that the discovery won't impact the plane's return to service. "The success of this initiative is dependent on you. We need our entire team to make this a priority. Thank you for your commitment to put safety, quality and integrity into everything we do," Jenks wrote. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware that Boeing "is conducting a voluntary" inspection for debris in the undelivered aircraft "as part of the company's ongoing efforts to ensure manufacturing quality." "The agency increased its surveillance based on initial inspection reports and will take further action based on the findings," the agency said in a statement. Boeing also plans to inspect all undelivered 737 Max planes. Boeing produced some 400 Max planes since the grounding last year until it halted production last month. The company suspended delivery of the new planes after regulators grounded them worldwide in March after two fatal crashes in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia less than five months later killed all 346 people on the two flights. While regulators and Boeing work on resolving issues with the Max that still need to be fixed, no U.S. carrier currently expects the planes to return in time for most of the peak summer travel season. United Airlines pulled the Max from its schedule until Sept. 4. Meanwhile Southwest Airlines, which had operated more Max planes than any other U.S. airline, removed the jetliners from its schedules through Aug. 10 and American Airlines adjusted its schedules to remove the Max through Aug. 17. Ranchi, Feb 18 : Jharkhand tribal leader Babulal Marandi who joined the Bhartiya Janata Party on Monday in presence of Amit Shah, had in fact once rejected the offer in 2014 when the Rajya Sabha elections were taking place. It was in 2014, when the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand lost the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections during the Modi wave. Then BJP president Amit Shah desperately wanted Marandi back in the party fold and sent emissaries to him to join the party, offering a Rajya Sabha seat, the elections for which were due. Shah traced Marandi in Kolkata, and sent him an offer to join the BJP through a messenger. The decks were cleared for Marandi to go to the Rajya Sabha, but he declined the offer and refused to return in the BJP. However, as it is said "nothing is permanent" in politics, Marandi mellowed down over the years. He, on Monday, merged his party, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), with the BJP in Shah's presence. This was the result of Shah's six-year-long efforts which led to a 'ghar wapasi' of Marandi after 14 years. Marandi, a former RSS disciple, has quite an influence among Jharkhand's tribal communities. Marandi joined the BJP at a gala ceremony at Jagannath Maidan here in presence of top BJP leadership. A large crowd of the BJP and JVM workers gathered to witness Marandi's 'ghar wapasi'. Marandi also announced the merger of his party with the BJP at the event. Shah said that the strength of the BJP will increase manifold with the arrival of Marandi. He said: "Today is a matter of great pleasure for me, because I was trying to bring back Babulalji in the party since I became the BJP President in 2014." Marandi, who became the first Chief Minister after the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, had to step down in 2003 due to internal strife in the BJP. After the dissatisfaction crossed a level, he formed a new political outfit by separating from the BJP in 2006. Experts say that senior BJP leader Om Mathur played the most vital role in bringing Marandi back into the party. Marandi himself confirmed this during the meeting. Experts also say the BJP felt the need for a strong tribal face in Jharkhand after the defeat in the Assembly elections held last year, to revive the party's sagging fortunes in the state. Mathur, at the behest of Shah, once again started backroom negotiations with Marandi, who also felt that the time has come for him to give wings to his ambitions and going to the BJP is the only option in view of the new political equation that emerged after the Assembly elections. Marandi also gave a clarification regarding his return during the event. He said: "Some people will say that the BJP is taking him into the party due to the defeat in the state Assembly elections. But it was not a sudden decision. Rather, the BJP leaders have been talking to me for many years. Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's efforts to bring me to the party were continuing". Marandi said that he was not ready to come back once he left the party due to his stubborn nature. However, later respecting the wishes of the workers, he decided to return to the BJP. (Navneet Mishra can be reached at navneet.m@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text [SPOILERS FOR HOMELAND SEASON 8 EPISODE 2 AND PREVIOUS SEASONS AHEAD] In the Homeland Season Eight premiere, the writing team did a heck of a job teeing up the storylines of the shows final installment. It began with Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) regaining her mental and physical strength in a military facility in Germany. After we saw Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) struggling to make headway with Afghanistan peace talks, Homeland fans knew hed be calling on Carrie soon. That conversation took place even faster than shed expected, and before she could say Yevgeny she was back in the Middle East. As we saw at the close of Episode One, Yevgeny (Costa Ronin) himself was also working a Russian angle in Kabul. And, when Carrie saw him, she reacted with a mixture of horror, fear, and confusion. In Catch and Release (Episode Two), its becoming clearer why Carrie dreads the sight of Yevgeny. In the meantime, however, shes pushing the peace talks forward as Saul works the most dangerous angles possible. Carrie got the dirt she needed on VP Gulom Claire Danes as Carrie and Mohammed Barki as Gulom in HOMELAND, Catch & Release | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME. If seeing Yevgeny just before meeting with the Afghan vice president werent bad enough, Carrie truly feels burned when Gulom points out (correctly) that she has no leverage. The Carrie Mathison I knew would never come in here making demands, he tells her. Not without a gift or a gun to the head. So Carrie starts looking for the gun to put to Guloms head. It doesnt take long to find. Working on an anonymous tip, she tracks down an anti-corruption crusader the Afghan government once tried to take out. Sure enough, Carrie finds some useful information after searching the womans house. Unfortunately, the womans decoy job interview went wrong at the CIA station. When Carrie returns, she has to clean up an amateurs mess before getting the dirt on Gulom. (Hed stolen tens of millions in war funding.) Upon her second visit to the VP, Gulom realizes hes cornered. Within the hour, Gulom walks back his announcement on Taliban prisoners of war. For Saul, whod snuck into Pakistan hoping for a secret meeting with Taliban leader/Season Four villain Haqqani, that news couldnt come soon enough. After all, hed just drugged and buttonholed Haqqanis cousin. Sauls trip to Pakistan gets off to a bad start Mandy Patinkin as Saul in HOMELAND, Catch & Release | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME. Saul, never one to think inside the box, tries to work some magic in order to move the peace talks closer to a conclusion. His plot starts with intelligence Max (Maury Sterling) gathered in the field. According to intercepts, the Taliban also seems to want peace. But Saul needs a friendly messenger to bring along his proposal to Haqqani, and he finds him in Haqqanis cousin, whose release kept the Doha talks alive. After awakening from his drug-induced sleep, the freed fighter agrees to deliver Sauls message. Wanting to keep a low profile, Saul had snuck into Peshawar with just four men. As Haqqanis convoy approaches, Saul realizes what Max meant when he told him Pakistani intelligence (ISI) was congregating in the area. A rocket launcher destroys one of Haqqanis vehicles. The plot twists keep coming. After seeing Yevgeny in a bar, Carrie realizes she may have gone further with Russian intelligence than her memory allows her to recall. Meanwhile, Saul finds himself kidnapped and, in the final shot, feeling the effects of a rifle slammed into his face by Haqqani. Also see: Claire Danes: How Much is the Homeland Star Worth? A man was allegedly lured to a Louth farmhouse, assaulted with iron bars and placed in the boot of a car before 50,000 was demanded from him, the Special Criminal Court has heard. It's also alleged that the man's daughter was contacted and his home was set on fire, the court heard. Two men charged with attacking and falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth on or about December 2nd, 2017, appeared before the court this morning [Tuesday] for a bail hearing. They're also charged with robbing Mr McAndrew of several items, including two mobile phones and a passport. William Twomey (56), from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down and Anthony Finglas (49), also of Havelock Place, have been in custody since they were arrested separately last week. In court last week, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan indicated that the State would likely object to their bail applications. In particular, he stated that the prosecution wished to ascertain the means of Mr Twomey as gardai believe this is a man of very substantial means. Mr O'Donovan said they wished to access Mr Twomey's bank statements and get an understanding of his assets. This morning Caroline Cummings BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the prosecution had "received nothing" about finances from either of the men. She said she understood Mr Finglas was seeking to adjourn the matter for a number of days, by which time his financial information would be provided. She said the prosecution would consent to this. However, in relation to Mr Twomey, Ms Cummings said he had been in "complete default" of providing the prosecution with information about his income, his assets or his occupation. Ms Cummings said the prosecution is "anxious" to accommodate Mr Twomey's move to have his bail application heard as soon as possible but she said the prosecution needs the information about his finances. Mr Justice Paul Coffey asked Ms Cummings if she believed "a failure to comply with the [Bail] Act and to furnish that information is an impediment to the matter proceeding at all?" and she answered, "Yes, I do." The barrister said the offences which the court are concerned with are of an "intimidatory kind". She said it's alleged that Mr McAndrew was lured to a farmhouse and assaulted with iron bars before he was placed in the boot of a car "for period of time". She said he was allegedly later taken out of the boot and told to pay 50,000. Ms Cummings added it's alleged that contact was later made with Mr McAndrew via email, during which the demand for the money was repeated, and that his daughter was also contacted with a message that included the words "warmest greetings" and the name "Barry". Ms Cummings said that on the evening Mr McAndrew's daughter was contacted, Mr McAndrew's home was allegedly damaged by a fire. She said given the "seriousness of the offences" it was "incumbent" on the court to have the relevant financial information pertaining to the two men. Bernard Condon SC, for Mr Twomey, told the court that despite efforts by his solicitor, the Irish Prison Service has failed to facilitate a meeting between Mr Twomey and his solicitor or counsel since he was placed in custody last week. "That is not Mr Twomey's fault. He wishes to move his application [for bail] and I wish to do so on his part," Mr Condon said, before adding that his junior counsel was only able to take "unsatisfactory" limited instructions from Mr Twomey while he was in the "cells" of the Criminal Courts of Justice before this morning's hearing. Mr Condon also argued that the prosecution's move to access Mr Twomey's "financial details" is a case of the prosecution putting "the cart before the horse" and claimed it was a "fishing" exercise by the prosecution. He also claimed the prosecution was attempting to use the Bail Act as an "investigatory tool" and he said this was "not appropriate". He added that he believes the seeking of a "forensic report on the accused" is not "proper use" of the Bail Act. He argued against Mr Twomey being remanded further "for the convenience of the State". Ms Cummings said the information was being sought in order for the prosecution to assess whether Mr Twomey is a flight risk. She said such a request is provided for in the Bail Act. The barrister also rejected Mr Condon's assertion that the Bail Act was being used as an "investigatory tool". She said the information obtained "can only be used for the purpose of that act [Bail Act] and no other purpose". Mr Justice Coffey said: "It seems to the court that the obligation under scrutiny is in fact a mandatory obligation and that, in those circumstances, it is an obligation that should be complied with." He added that the information sought will "not result" in any trial prejudice as the material furnished "cannot be used against him in that trial...it can only be used in relation to the bail application". The men were remanded in custody and will appear again next Tuesday at 10.30am. The operation took place in the capital, Kyiv, and in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Dubno, and Irpin. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on February 17 said it had disrupted a network of "bot farms" and seized computer and telecoms equipment that were supported by Russian online services in five Ukrainian cities. Telecommunication platforms were used to create and promote 8,000 fake social-media accounts and groups that were used to spread "fake information about the situation in Ukraine, incite protests, scare the public, send notices of bomb threats at critical infrastructure sites," and troll the accounts of high-ranking officials, the SBU reported on its website on February 17, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said. Read alsoFacebook removes Russian accounts over Ukraine interference The operation took place in the capital, Kyiv, and in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Dubno, and Irpin. Firearms, explosive devices, and narcotics were also distributed using the social-media accounts. These accounts were registered on the Internet through Russian online services that provided virtual mobile-number services. Some of the equipment was used to illegally reroute mobile-phone traffic from two "illegally created" mobile carriers that operate in territories that Russia-backed forces control in the eastern part of the country, the SBU said. While conducting searches in the five cities, the SBU found computer equipment, GSM modems, computer network gateways, and more than 22,000 SIM cards from Ukrainian mobile operators. The involvement of Russian special services and intelligence bodies in the bot farms is being checked, the SBU said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is holding a daylong meeting with 70 columnists from across India on Tuesday in an effort to clear misconceptions about the organisation, sources said. RSS chief Bhagwat, who last year met representatives of international media organisations posted in India, is expected to deliver a keynote address that will be followed by a free-flowing conversation, they said. The 70 columnists attending Tuesday's meeting write in different languages. The meeting, in Chhattarpur in New Delhi, is a closed-door meeting and the proceedings are "strictly confidential", the sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The six Indians infected with the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship off the Japanese coast were responding well to the treatment, the Indian embassy here said on Tuesday even as 88 new cases of the deadly disease were reported on the vessel, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 542. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month. The Japanese government on Tuesday said that final testing to detect positive cases of the COVID-19 have completed. Eighty eight more people tested positive for the disease, taking the number of those infected on the ship to 542. The ship was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the COVID-19 on the ship. "Till 1800 (Japan Standard Time) today, no new #COVID-19 positive cases confirmed on #DiamondPrincess since yesterday," the Indian embassy tweeted. "All six Indian crew members already receiving treatment for COVID 19 are responding well to the treatment and their conditions are improving," it said. The embassy said it is coordinating with the Japanese government and ship management company for health and welfare of all Indian nationals on board. "The embassy is in constant touch with on board Indian nationals who are successfully braving out the situation and understand public health safety in such situations," it said in a statement. The Embassy said it was making efforts for early de-boarding of all the Indians from the ship after the end of the quarantine period and was in discussions with the Japanese government and the ship management company for the disembarkation modalities. The US on Monday evacuated its 340 nationals from the ship, of which 14 had the virus. According to an AFP report, the UK government said it will evacuate its citizens on the ship. The death toll from the epidemic climbed to 1,868 on Tuesday as 98 more people died of the disease in China and the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436, officials said on Tuesday. The coronavirus outbreak originated in central China's Hubei province in December last year and has spread to several countries, including India. Many countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry. Addressing media after meeting representatives of the industry to review the impact of coronavirus outbreak, Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaires of different ministries tomorrow and then announce steps to deal with the situation in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office. "There are no concerns about price rise so far due to coronavirus," she said, adding it is too early to talk about the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on the Make in India initiative. MUST WATCH: Coronavirus: FM dispels fears of impact on Indian economy Sitharaman also said there were no reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment, instead the pharma industry is asking for lifting of ban on exports of certain items. However, there could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries, she added. Indian drug manufacturers are to a large extent dependent on China for sourcing their drug ingredients or the active pharmaceutical ingredients. According to industry expert, the government should consider steps like waiver of import duties to manage supply from alternative sources. "Even though the impact of the coronavirus on Indian economy has been limited so far, there is a risk that industries like pharma and electronics may be seriously impacted if the disruption in supply chains persists for long. It is important that the government take precautionary steps to look for alternative sources of supply. Steps like waiver of import duties may be considered since imports from alternative sources will be costlier," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. ALSO READ: From Apple to Honda: 9 top companies impacted by coronavirus outbreak As per data from the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), the cost of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) Penicillin has surged to Rs 639 per unit compared to Rs 454 per unit in January. Reports suggest that Indian suppliers of key drug ingredients have increased prices amid looming fear of shortage stoked by the coronavirus outbreak in China. Keeping in view the country's over dependence on import of APIs, the central government has constituted a Task Force on APIs under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya to formulate a road map for the enhanced production of generic drugs in India. The fifth meeting of the Task Force was held on Monday in which pharma industry assured government that there are enough drugs and medicines to deal with any contingency arising out of impact of deadly virus. Some key issues that were discussed in the meeting include policy relaxations to small, medium and large API units and simplification of the process for environment clearance for production and availability of medicines. ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Paracetamol prices rise by 40% amid outbreak of deadly virus By Chitranjan Kumar with PTI inputs We want to convene the groups and were open to input from all of them in terms of determining priorities, Griffin said. There might be federal issues, such as healthcare funding, which is a complicated topic. We want to see where we can shed more light. We are not locked into any particular topic in any particular order. Even as followers of chief minister B S Yediyurappa prepare to celebrate his birthday on February 27 , trouble seems to be brewing in the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party. On Monday night, more than 20 original BJP MLAs met at the residence of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who is minister of large and medium scale industries in Yediyurappas cabinet. The legislators are said to be unhappy at the recent cabinet expansion in which only turncoat MLAs who joined the party after quitting the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) were made ministers, several MLAs who did not want to be named said. The legislators, primarily from northern Karnataka, are said to have met to come together to demand a change in leadership, said the MLAs quoted above Shettar, who met Yediyurappa, told journalists: I am a minister and several current and former legislators keep meeting me. They had come to discuss certain things about the developmental activities of their constituencies and then they left. Too much should not be read into this. Can I ask them not to meet me? The fact that several party heavyweights like Murugesh Nirani, Umesh Katti, C P Yogeshwar and others who were ministerial aspirants chose to meet in a group with Shettar, is being seen as an attempt to send a message to the party high command over the sidelining of loyalist MLAs and the preference given to turncoats. The CM did not respond to questions on this issue. An unsigned letter allegedly written by his close followers in Kannada and was being circulated on social media asked the CM to step down. In the letter, the author(s) effusively praise Yeddiyurappas role in bringing the party back to power in Karnataka, but accuse him of being weak, helpless and inactivedue to age-related health issues and thus request him to move aside. Asking Yediyurappa, 76, to retire from electoral politics and become a Margadarshak (guide), the letter also says his experience could be better utilised as a governor. The anonymously authored letter says that the CMs family, particularly his younger son B Y Vijayendra, was interfering in the administration; it says the CM, who wants to remain the tallest leader of the Veerashiva Lingayat community, is not allowing anybody else to grow. Incidentally, Shettar is seen as a Lingayat leader and that was one of the reasons he was made CM when Yediyurappa rebelled and left the BJP in 2012. A BJP spokesperson, Go Madhusudhan, made light of any threat to stability of the government. Shettar has already clarified that some legislators met him for constituency work. Too much is being read into the meeting. Shettar is a party loyalist. Asked about the anonymous letter, Madhusudhan said: I havent seen this letter. It maybe a fake one put together by opponents of the party... Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa tweeted on Monday: 22 BJP MLAs are meeting very late in the night at former CM and present Karnataka minister Jagadish Shettars residence. @BSYBJP has historically always enjoyed short-lived tenures. A Yediyurappa confidant who did not want to be named said: Our leader is number one to number ten in Karnataka BJP. Those demanding he step down dont they realise what happened to the party when he started KJP. BJP was reduced to 44 seats... KJP is short for Karnataka Janata Paksha, which Yediyurappa formed in 2012 and merged with the BJP two years later. Political analyst Prof Harish Ramaswamy said even though the party high command may eventually want to replace Yediyurappa considering his age, they have no credible replacement. He is like the proverbial hot ghee. They can neither swallow nor spit. After all he remains there biggest vote getter as seen during the by-polls. Dismissing reports of tension brewing in the Karnataka unit of the party; a senior BJP functionary in Delhi said, Karnataka has a stable government under a stable leader. Iran's proposal: A national referendum in territory of Palestine Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 6:52 AM Iran has proposed a referendum among all Palestinian people, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, as well as their descendants, as the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Majid Takht-e Ravanchi outlined the plan in two letters sent to the world body's chief and the Security Council's president on November 1, 2019. The full text of the letters was published Monday on khamenei.ir, the official website of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Following are the texts: In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful No. 112284 01 November 2019 Your Excellency, It is a source of grave concern that after more than seven decades, the question of Palestine is still unresolved and the international community has failed to settle this chronic complicated crisis. I attach hereby, for your kind attention, the text of a plan, received from the Secretariat of the International Conference on Palestine, concerning a National Referendum in the Territory of Palestine. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annexe circulated as a document of the Security Council. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Majid Takht Ravanchi Ambassador Permanent Representative HE Mr. Antonio Guterres Secretary- General United Nations, New York CC: HE. Ms. Karen Pierce President of the Security Council United Nations, New York Introduction: For more than seven decades, the question of Palestine has been the world's oldest and the most complicated crisis. As a result of the continued expansionist policies as well as the illegal and inhumane practices of the Zionist regime, the oppressed people of Palestine has been deprived from its inalienable and imprescriptible rights and their living conditions have deteriorated on a daily basis. Such policies and practices, which are in violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and rules of international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights, have been systematically intensified due to the failure of the international community in taking serious practical measures to resolve the question of Palestine. To realize their fundamental rights, particularly the right to self-determination as well as self-defense against occupation and illegal expropriation of their territory, the people of Palestine have resisted and made praiseworthy efforts thus far. Nevertheless, due to the lack of any comprehensive and practical initiative or plan corresponding with the historical facts and historical roots of the question of Palestine, it has remained unresolved. Given the destructive consequences of the continued occupation of the territory of Palestine, the displacement of the people of this territory and the current intricate situation of the oppressed people of Palestine, as well as the threats emanating from this situation against regional and international peace and security, and taking into account the historical facts and being aware of the ineffectiveness of the initiatives proposed for resolving the question of Palestine, the Islamic Republic of Iran is of the belief that the only possible solution is to hold a national referendum with the participation of all Palestinian people including Muslims, Christians and Jews and their descendants; and accordingly, presents its initiative entitled "National Referendum in Palestine" to the United Nations. It is essential that the said referendum be held by observing the principled criteria in line with historical realities and in conformity with the democratic principles and the fundamental and imprescriptible rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the observance of international standards on elections; Therefore, such referendum could constitute a solid basis for the settlement of the question of Palestine. Title of the Plan: National Referendum in the territory of Palestine The objective of the Plan: The objective of the plan for a "National Referendum in the Territory of Palestine" is to provide the grounds for the people of Palestine to exercise their right to self-determination. Legal Basis of the Plan: Following the illegal acts of Britain during the trusteeship period, in 1948 the Zionist regime was recognized by the United States and later by other countries such as the former Soviet Union, whereas the people of the territory of Palestine were never consulted about their fate. In fact, the Zionist regime was established without allowing the native population of the territory of Palestine to exercise their right to self-determination. The measures that led to the formation of the Zionist regime were contrary to international law at the time. According to Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, Britain had no sovereignty over Palestine and should have allowed the exercise of the right to self-determination, namely holding a free referendum with the participation of all inhabitants of Palestine. Even after the establishment of the United Nations, whereas the Charter of the United Nations had included completely specific rules regarding territories like Palestine (Chapter XI - Articles 73-74), these regulations were not taken into account. Even resolution A/RES/181(II) A of the United Nations General Assembly in November 1947 on the partition plan for Palestine also was not implemented because the Palestinian Arabs were against it. Therefore, at the time of the formation of the Zionist regime, the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine was completely disregarded. Furthermore, during the negotiations at the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the representative of the Government of Iran, along with the representatives of some Arab countries, objected to the partition of Palestine and considered it as a ground for war and conflict. In fact, so far the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine has neither been exercised at the time of the declaration of the formation of the Zionist regime in the occupied territories of Palestine nor afterwards. According to Article 1 common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, all peoples have the right to determine their political status. Similarly, in accordance with Articles 1 and 3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment of all human rights including the right to self-determination. The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004 on the "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory", evidently emphasizes the need for the observance of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine and affirms the obligations of the Zionist regime to respect and observe it. Moreover, the necessity of exercising the right to self-determination by the indigenous people of a territory has been clarified fully in the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of 25 February 2019 on "the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius by UK". According to this advisory opinion, a country that assumes the trusteeship of a non-self-governing territory cannot, at its own discretion and without observing the right of people to self-determination, detach a territory. As mentioned in this advisory opinion, any detachment that occurred without the consent of the indigenous people is null and void and other countries should avoid such acts. Moreover, the right to self-determination is among the most fundamental principles recognized under international law that has been noted in Article 1(2) of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations Notwithstanding this fact, the right of the Palestinians to self-determination has constantly been violated, both at the time of the declaration of the formation of the Zionist regime in the Occupied Territory of Palestine and afterwards. In other words, the right to self-determination, as a fundamental and undeniable right in international human rights system and as an erga omnes norm in public international law, has been recognized in many international instruments. Given the nature of this right as an erga omnes rule, all states are obliged to observe the commitments arising therefrom and to provide the conducive ground for its realization. Likewise, noting resolution A/RES/194 (III) of 1948 of the United Nations General Assembly On the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland, this Plan includes all genuine Palestinians. Accordingly, holding a fair and inclusive referendum is the most basic mechanism for nations to achieve their right to self-determination. Implementation Phases of the Plan: The implementation of this Plan includes four main phases: Enforcing the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their historical homeland. Holding a national referendum among the people of Palestine, including the followers of all religions, who inhabited in Palestine before the issuance of the Balfour Declaration, for the self-determination and determination of the political system. Establishing the political system determined by the majority of the people of Palestine. Deciding on the status of the non-indigenous residents of Palestine by the political system elected by the majority. Implementation Mechanisms: All people of Palestine including Muslims, Christians and Jews will have the right to participate in the referendum. Representatives of the people of Palestine from among the Muslim, Christian and Jewish will assume the primary and managerial role in all planning and implementation phases of the Plan. With a view to facilitate the participation of all Palestinians, particularly the Palestinian refugees in this referendum, the global project for comprehensive identification, census and identity registration of all Palestinian citizens in Palestine and other countries will be implemented. An international authority with the participation of the representatives of the people of Palestine will be mandated to implement this project. An international committee will be formed under the auspices and with the assistance of the United Nations and participation of the representatives of the people of Palestine to implement the above-mentioned plan and to focus on the main issues of Palestine inter alia historical, sovereignty and territorial issues related to Palestine and the Al-Quds Al- Sharif. For furtherance of and to support the implementation of this Plan, an international fund, with the contribution of the international community and under the authority of the above-mentioned Committee, will be established. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Senate will fast-track the passage of bills passed in the eight Senate but not signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said . Many of these bills have been reintroduced in the ninth Senate. Mr Lawan, on Tuesday, directed the majority and minority leaders alongside the Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sadiq Umar, to make a list of such bills. Some of the bills rejected by the president are Petroleum Industry Governance bill, electoral amendment bill, digital rights bill, Peace Corps bill, and Ajaokuta Steel Company bill. Mr Lawans comment was sequel to the second reading of a bill seeking to establish a Federal Health Sciences institution in Otukpo, Benue State. Although reintroduced by Benue senator, Abba Moro, the bill was sponsored by David Mark in the eight Senate and was passed on July 6, 2018. It was neither assented to nor rejected by the president. After the second reading of the bill, Mr Lawan recalled that he had commended Mr Mark on the bill in the previous assembly. If there is anything we can do to show appreciation of service is to not waste time in passing the bill. This is one bill that deserves all our support, he said. He proposed that such bills skip public hearing stage after second reading. A lot of the preparatory work has been done, we did not need to spend time to pass the bill. I am happy that Mr President has already approved the establishment of the institution but I think that this is one bill that deserves all our support. Going forward those bills that we processed almost through all the states, one we should fast-track them by skipping public hearing that will cost us time and resources that can be avoided, given the level of work we have done on them. So we need to look at those that were successfully passed by the National Assembly but were not assented to and review the observations and objections which were the grounds on which they were not assented to and take them back for Presidential assent without going through again public hearing and all these things. But on new bills we can do that. I think this is the way to go. Senate Leader, you need to take care of this. You and the Minority Leader and the Senate Committee Chairman on Business and Rules, you go through and give the various stages of the bills processes in the Eighth Senate but were not assented to. The Senate Presidents suggestion comes about a week after Kano senator, Barau Jubril, made a similar suggestion. The lawmaker had said it was stressful to go through the whole process of bill passage all over again when considering bills that had been deliberated in the last Senate. He also called for a review of the Senates standing rules to be able to hasten the passage of such bills. By doing so, the Senate will have to amend its rules to allow this suggestion. And if adopted, bill reintroduced will just go through first, second and third readings and be passed. The larger point, which comparisons to the rest of the state obscures, is that these are serious disparities, said Joseph E. Kennedy, a law professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and expert in criminal justice racial disparities. Who cares how bad things are in the rest of the state? A mayor can have a much bigger impact on arrests by his citys police force than a governor can have in a state where multiple agencies make arrests. The South Bend Police Department changed how it reported crime data to the F.B.I. in 2018, using a more detailed reporting system, a Buttigieg campaign spokesman said. Experts agreed that the switch likely accounts for a perceived uptick in drug-related arrests that year. Omitting 2018 from the time frame, though, black residents of South Bend were still 2.7 times more likely than white residents to be arrested on drug charges and 4.1 times more likely for marijuana possession. What Mr. Buttigieg said Poverty rates for black residents decreased by nearly 40 percent since Pete took office and poverty rates for Latino residents decreased by half far outpacing their counterparts in Indiana and across the country over the same time period. on his campaign website This is exaggerated. The poverty rates for South Bends black and Latino communities did decrease during Mr. Buttigiegs two terms as mayor, in line with a decade-long trend across the country. But hes selectively highlighting one set of data to show a greater decline over a more precise data set showing a smaller, but still notable, reduction. The Census Bureau currently produces two main sets of data through its rolling American Community Survey: one-year estimates, which are more current, and five-year estimates, which have a lower margin of error. The bureau noted that the second set is more reliable for smaller geographic areas and small population groups. South Bend has a population of roughly 102,000, including about 27,000 black residents and about 16,000 Latino residents. As other fact checkers have noted, Mr. Buttigieg is using the one-year estimates for his figures. By this metric, poverty in South Bend declined by 39.3 percent for black residents from 2011 to 2018, and by 49.9 percent for Latino residents. In this same frame, poverty declined in Indiana by 21.6 percent among African-Americans and by 38.3 percent among Latinos, and the reductions were 19.9 percent and 27.1 percent nationwide. By the five-year estimates, though, black poverty declined by 14.6 percent in South Bend and Latino poverty by 25.9 percent. That still outpaces the rates in the state (2.7 percent and 10.6 percent) and country (6.2 percent and 9.5 percent). A spokesman for Mr. Buttigieg said the five-year estimates did not fully capture the economic investments in the city in recent years. Jazeera Airways, Kuwait's leading low-cost airline, has announced that it will launch the airlines first service to Sharjah on April 2, marking its third destination in the UAE. Jazeera Airways CEO, Rohit Ramachandran, said: We are very pleased to be operating our first direct service to Sharjah and to be launching this new route following our successful service to Al Ain in December last year. The flight not only connects our customers to a great tourist destination for families, but also connects Kuwaiti students to an airport closer to where they are studying as well as residents of Sharjah to our growing network of destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, he said. Sharjah is a leading destination for Kuwaiti students attending universities such as the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah. Sharjah International Airport also connects Kuwaiti students to universities located in the emirate of Ajman as well as the northern emirates. Moreover, Sharjah is home to distinct archaeological sites, historic museums, galleries and heritage houses that provide a rich experience into the local culture and history. Rohit added: We thank Sharjahs Department of Civil Aviation and Sharjah Airport Authority for enabling Jazeera Airways to launch this new service and support the growing demand for flights between both airports. The airline will operate direct flights to the third largest Emirati city with two convenient weekend return flights every Thursday and Saturday. Flights takes off from Kuwait at 13:55 local time and return from Sharjah at 16:30 am local time. Bookings for Kuwait-Sharjah flights are open and available on jazeeraairways.com. Fares start from KD31 ($101.3) for a one-way flight from Kuwait and KD49 ($160.2) for a return flight from Kuwait. - TradeArabia News Service The first panels of levee border wall are seen at a construction site along the U.S.-Mexico border, in Donna, Texas, on Nov. 7, 2019. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) Homeland Security Waives Contracting Laws for Border Wall SAN DIEGOThe Trump administration said Tuesday that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security said waiving procurement regulations will allow 177 miles of wall to be built more quickly in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The 10 waived laws include requirements for having open competition, justifying selections, and receiving all bonding from a contractor before any work can begin. The acting Homeland Security secretary, Chad Wolf, is exercising authority under a 2005 law that gives him sweeping powers to waive laws for building border barriers. Secretaries under President Donald Trump have issued 16 waivers, but Tuesdays announcement marks the first time that waivers have applied to federal procurement rules. Previously they were used to waive environmental impact reviews. The Trump administration said it expects the waivers will allow 94 miles of wall to be built this year, bringing the Republican president closer to his pledge of about 450 miles since taking office and making it one of his top domestic priorities. It said the other 83 miles covered by the waivers may get built this year. Under the presidents leadership, we are building more wall, faster than ever before, the department said in a statement. Chad Wolf (L), Acting Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, speaks to the media, during a visit to the border wall being constructed northwest of County 9th Street and Avenue F along the Colorado River, in Yuma, Ariz., on Jan. 10, 2020. (Randy Hoeft/The Yuma Sun via AP) The move is expected to spark criticism that the administration is overstepping its authority, but legal challenges have failed. In 2018, a federal judge in San Diego rejected arguments by California and environmental advocacy groups that the secretarys broad powers should have an expiration date. An appeals court upheld the ruling last year. Congress gave the secretary power to waive laws in areas of high illegal crossings in 2005 in a package of emergency spending for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and minimum standards for state-issued identification cards. The Senate approved it unanimously, with support from Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. The House passed it with strong bipartisan support; then-Rep. Bernie Sanders voted against it. The waivers, to be published in the Federal Register, apply to projects that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will award in six of nine Border Patrol sectors on the Mexican border: San Diego and El Centro in California; Yuma and Tucson in Arizona; El Paso, which spans New Mexico and west Texas, and Del Rio, Texas. The administration said the waivers will apply to contractors that have already been vetted. In May, the Army Corps named 12 companies to compete for Pentagon-funded contracts. The Army Corps is tasked with awarding $6.1 billion that the Department of Defense transferred for wall construction last year after Congress gave Trump only a fraction of the money. The administration has been able to spend that money during legal challenges. By Elliot Spagat Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 13:09 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206521737 1 National elections,direct-election,elections-in-Indonesia,direct-elections-in-Indoensia,MPR,DPRD,Indo-Barometer,survey,poll,research,report Free Belief in democracy among the Indonesian public remains strong despite the political turbulence that dominated last years headlines, as reflected by a survey from pollster Indo Barometer. The survey, which was conducted from Jan. 9 to 15, found that the overwhelming majority of respondents favored democratic political practices, which in theory grant the public rights such as direct elections, over practices that would revert electoral power to centralized bodies. The report showed that 89.4 percent of the 1,200 respondents were in favor of a direct presidential election, whereas only 4.1 percent of the respondents supported an indirect election, which would effectively grant The Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) the sole authority to elect country leaders. Meanwhile, 6.5 percent of survey respondents were ambivalent on the issue. Of those in favor of direct elections in general, 42.5 percent said they were in favor of directly electing the president and vice president specifically because it meant they would retain the right to vote and be voted for. In contrast, of those in favor of an indirect election, 32.7 percent said they preferred such an option for the presidency because it was more likely to prevent conflict among the public. Others 30.6 percent of the respondents said indirect elections would be cheaper than direct elections. Read also: Indonesia plans to keep direct elections in democratically mature provinces. Papua may be left out. The report also showed that the overwhelming majority of respondents reached a similar consensus on the matter of regional elections, as 88.2 percent were in favor of direct regional elections. Only 5.9 percent favored regional elections through Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD), while the remaining 5.9 percent remained ambivalent on the issue. Of those who favored direct regional elections, 41.2 percent agreed they preferred to directly elect regional heads governors, regents, and mayors because it meant they would retain the right to vote and be voted for. The survey results seem to have clearly illustrated where the public stands on the issue of direct elections as the government floats the idea of so-called asymmetrical elections. Home Minister Tito Karnavian created controversy late last year when he suggested that the government should only hold direct elections in democratically mature provinces. Regions that were deemed prone to political instability, such as Papua, would instead host indirect elections, he said. Read also: Arguments against direct elections spurious: CSIS With direct regional elections, besides the potential of conflict in some regions with shootouts happening between tribes, identity politics is also on the rise, Tito said. Maybe the evaluation will find [that we should hold] asymmetrical regional elections. The idea of abolishing direct elections has been periodically floated since their establishment in 2004, with the last major attempt in 2014 overturned by a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) issued by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Indian Army chief General MM Naravane is visiting Nagrota near Jammu to review the ongoing security situation in the region as Pakistan continued to violate the ceasefire agreement in Poonch sector, ANI reported on Tuesday. ANI quoted unnamed sources as saying that the army chief will be briefed by top military commanders about the situation and Pakistans attempts to help terrorists infiltrate through the Line of Control (LoC). The commanders will also review the measures taken by the army to neutralise Pakistans attempts, ANI reported. General Naravane has given clear instructions to the commanders to give a befitting reply to Pakistan army in case of provocation by them on LoC, it said. Reports said Pakistan forces have carried out more than 497 unprovoked ceasefire violations so far in 2020. Pakistan made the highest number of ceasefire violations in the last 16 years along the Jammu and Kashmir border in 2019 or more than 3200 instancesan average of nine such violations every day. There have been 3289 ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army along the India-Pakistan border in 2019, officials have said. Of these, 1565 ceasefire violations took place since August 2019, after India revoked Article 370 and bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories. The number of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in 2019 was over 300 more than in 2018 and over three times that of 2017 when 971 cases were reported. In 2017, 31 people 12 civilians and 19 security forces personnel were killed and 151 others suffered injuries. Last August, the documentary "American Factory" was released in the United States, telling the story of Chinese company Fuyao Glass Co. Ltd. and its bid to set up a factory there. On Feb. 9, 2020, the film won the award for best documentary feature at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, making Cao Dewang, chairman of Fuyao Glass and his company go viral on the Internet. Cao Dewang (Photo/People's Daily Online) "There are criticisms about me in this documentary, but I'm not worried about the negative impact," Cao Dewang said in comments about "American Factory" to the People's Daily online. In the view of many netizens, "American Factory" has a lot of criticisms about Cao Dewang, founder of Fuyao Glass, which is "not necessarily a good thing" for the company. In an exclusive interview with a reporter from People's Daily online, Cao Dewang was open about his portrayal. A lot of documentaries themselves are critical in nature, because they want to be true, 100 percent true, with no literary creation. When I asked him (the director) to do the shooting, a lot of people were surprised and thought they would 'die' because of this. I told him (the director) that whatever I do, he can shoot whatever he saw. During the four and a half years of filming, Cao Dewang and his factory made everything public with no reservations. Many people wonder why Cao Dewang was willing to "take such risks". "When I went to invest in the United States, Americans did not believe that the landing of such a large project was done by a private Chinese enterprise, including the contractors who contracted the project, said Cao, adding that I think, instead of letting them secretly inquire and peek, it is better for people to film and spread it. Later, they finally believed that Fuyao could do it. " Two days before the release of "American Factory" in the United States on Aug. 21, 2019, Cao Dewang had an advance viewing of the film. Fuyao's management staff, who watched the documentary with him, were worried that it would lead to controversy. But Cao Dewang had no such concerns. "I told the director that there is no need to change anything. As long as it does not cause any legal disputes, you can broadcast it as you like." Cao Dewang's calm comes from his confidence in Fuyao Glass and its workers. In one scene from the documentary, Cao Dewang walks into the factory conference room and says to the Chinese workers sitting below, "I hope your performance will change the way Americans think about China." "Do you think they have achieved this?" Cao Dewang did not answer the reporter's question directly, but his words revealed "satisfaction." "At that time, about 200 employees went to the United States for this project, and I told them that practical actions should be taken to demonstrate the hard-working values and patriotism of the Chinese people. In the film, we can see the Chinese staff are outstanding. I am very grateful to them. " He said that Chinese workers can endure hardships and are very dedicated to their work. "China is what it is today. There is one thing in China that is absolutely better than anywhere else, that is, a uniform pace, which only the Chinese can perform. " Fuyaos factory in the US holds an open day every week for the locals, and Cao Dewang hopes to allow more Americans to enter this modern and "beautiful" Chinese factory. "Many Americans have never been to China. They don't have to travel a long distance. They can visit the Fuyao factory directly in the United States. My original intention is to show Americans that Chinese enterprises are not like 'labor camps' as they imagine, but automated and modern factories. " HABARI HIZI ZINAPATIKANA KWENYE APP YA UDAKU SPECIAL, BONYEZA HAPA KUIDOWNLOAD KWENYE SIMU YAKO BURE Join AJIRA YAKO Group for Daily Job Updates CLICK HERE Kenyan lawyer turned socialite, Corazon Kwamboka has spoken up on the setbacks being in the limelight has cost her.The bootyful businesswoman who graduated as an Advocate of the High Court from Kenya School of Law said socialism was by utter chance.I was in the Kenya School of Law when I decided to go for a shoot. I put them on social media and that is how I became a socialite. I have no regrets as much as I was a brilliant student, I also would not have wanted a 9 to 5 job. It worked out for good.I was a brilliant student but I never wanted a 9 to 5 job Corazon Kwamboka revealsThe working hours did not jell well with her but she still practices Law. Though, seldom.I practice Law but rarely. Maybe once or twice a year.However, it was the world of fame that drove her into quitting Law because of the negative picture it had already painted about her as a person.It made me not practice law. At the time, I felt like I was being misjudged. I just pulled back from the Law School because I was scared of looking for a job.Not just Law. Socialism sacrificed her relationships because men who came her way felt insecure, judging from her kind of reputation.It affected my relationships from when it happened. I have dated and the guys get insecure because of the comments on social media. They start being insecure a few months into the relationship.Socialism also affected my relationships Corazon Kwamboka cries outWhat of her enviable body?Its genetic, most of my family look like this so I started working out. As Dr. Oliff pointed out, Youll be disappointed at times no matter what. So if your choice is between positive expectations that are occasionally proven wrong or negative expectations that are occasionally proven right, you might as well go with the former. [Like what youre reading? Sign up here for the Smarter Living newsletter to get stories like this (and much more!) delivered straight to your inbox every Monday morning.] While this mind-set shift is easier described than done, Dr. Oliff said it can help to remember that many of the negative things we predict never actually happen and that, even when they do, we usually recover pretty quickly. Argue against yourself So your co-worker got the promotion you were angling for. And your mind is filling with thoughts like: Im bad at my job. Ill never move up the ladder. I might as well quit right now. When you enter that pessimism spiral, Dr. Seligman says the trick is to first recognize the voice making those negative remarks, then argue with it as if it were an external person whose mission in life is to make you miserable. How would you argue with your nemesis? Youd present evidence to prove them wrong, such as: Im not bad at my job my co-worker has been here for two years longer than I have. Or: Ill eventually get promoted another position is opening up soon. Turning this type of self-argument into a habit requires a little practice. Its not instantaneous, Dr. Seligman said. But on the other hand, its not really onerous and difficult. Its something that most people can acquire in a few days. New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), here on Tuesday, urged students not to go ahead with the hunger strike as their demands were under consideration. In a letter to the IIMC, students had on Monday said they would go on hunger strike if their demands were not met by 10 a.m. of February 18. The students are demanding quashing of the February 12 fee-submission circular, probe into procedure of the panel set up on the IIMC executive committee's (EC) direction and revocation of 11 students' suspension. The IIMC said the decision to raise free-ship to 25 per cent for economically eligible students by doing away with requirements, like academic and attendance eligibility, were as per the EC decision. Also, the quarter free-ship (Rs 11,250-40,000 per student) would benefit 184 of the 434 students and the last day for submission is March 2. Course fees, it said, were not raised mid-way and was mentioned in the admission prospectus. On suspension of students, the IIMC said they were asked to give written explanations by February 13, but only two of the 11 students responded. The two students' suspension had been revoked. The students who didn't reply had been again asked to respond by February 20. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Arabian Taxi, the leading taxi services company in Bahrain; has received a fleet of Toyota Camry hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) cars from Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota vehicles in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Ebrahim K. Kanoo executive general manager of sales, Ismail Akbar handed over the fleet to the managing director of Arabian Taxi, Tawfeeq Al Qattan, at the Toyota Showroom in Sitra. Al Qattan highlighted the importance of upgrading their fleet with Camry hybrid cars, stating: Purchasing Camry hybrid models is in line with our strategic direction of adopting sustainable transportation solutions. Arabian Taxi serves all of Bahrain and we want to play our part in reducing carbon emissions. The Toyota Camry hybrid is a preferred option for corporations due to its reliable performance, eco-friendly outstanding acceleration and exceptional fuel efficiency. -- Tradearabia News Service The Irish Government needs to be aware of the trade-offs resulting from tighter regulation of harmful online communication, a senior Facebook official has said. The online giant's head of global policy said that a requirement on companies to take down all content that meets a certain definition with 24 hours runs the risk of not prioritising content that is particularly harmful and may have gone viral. Speaking in Dublin, Monika Bickert, Facebook's vice president of global policy, said regulation would impact on where service providers put resources and on areas like innovation, freedom of expression and privacy. Addressing the Institute of International and European Affairs, the lawyer said Facebook supports the overall goals of draft Irish legislation regulating online services, but wants to be involved in the conversation around it and "inform" the regulations. The Online Safety Bill, published last month, proposes binding online safety codes and a new Online Safety Commissioner, with significant powers. The Oireachtas Justice Committee also held detailed hearings last Autumn on online harms with a view to making recommendations for legislative changes. Ms Bickert said that Facebook had constructive and productive dialogue with the Government on the bill. We are regulated in Ireland, the DPC [Data Protection Commission]is based here, our international headquarters is here Ireland is central to a lot of what we do, she said. She said Facebook's fundamental values are freedom of expression, safety, privacy, dignity and authenticity and that regulation helps weigh those values. If you focus disproportionately on one of those values you risk cost to the others, she said. She said that if regulation requires companies to take action on all content that meets a certain definition within a certain period, say 24 hours, that this incentivises companies to address the cases in order. She said this runs the risk of treating more serious content, that maybe has gone viral, the same as less serious instances, saying this is a very real issue with something like hate speech. Ms Bickert said Facebook would want to focus on the more harmful content first, and fast, and added: But incentives created by a 24-hour takedown time might not encourage a company to do that it might incentivise the exact opposite. Asked if Facebook agrees with proposals for a binding code of conduct and powers of sanction, she said: What we care about most is being involved in the process so we can show what some of the trade-offs might be. Ms Bickert said bullying and harassment are one of the most manual areas for Facebook and its content reviewers, saying it is a constant challenge and that context was key. She described deaths like that of TV celebrity Caroline Flack as awful and tragic and that Facebook regularly reviewed these tragedies. Facebook has produced a global "white paper" on content regulation, setting out a range of suggestions. Ms Bickert said Facebook goes above and beyond what is legally required and does what it can to keep people safe. She added: We have heard loudly and clearly from governments and people who use our services that they want to know that we are being responsible. A 55-year-old woman who went missing after she was swept away by raging floods has been identified as the fifth victim of Storm Dennis. Yvonne Booth, from Birmingham, became stranded in her car and was carried by fast-flowing water near a bridge which crosses the River Teme, near Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, on Sunday. Police launched a desperate hunt before her body was recovered on Monday evening. Her family say they are 'devastated' by the news, and 'appreciate the continued support from the emergency services'. Yvonne Booth (pictured), from Birmingham, was swept away during torrential rain after her car got stuck near a bridge which crosses the River Teme, near Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire A statement from her family, released by West Mercia Police, said: 'Yvonne is a very much loved member of our family and we are all devastated by this news. 'We appreciate the continued support from the emergency services. We would like to ask for our privacy at this time.' More than 550 flood warnings are still in place - including five with 'danger to life' - as Britain faces even more misery in the aftermath of the storm, with forecasters predicting another two inches of rain within 24 hours in parts of Wales. The Environment Agency (EA) said downpours have swelled rivers to "exceptional" levels in parts of Britain. Police launched a desperate hunt before her body was recovered on Monday evening Search teams scoured the edge of the flooded river Teme near Eastham near Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire Communities across the country are counting the cost of the weekend's storm, which left hundreds of properties flooded. Among the worst affected areas were South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire where major incidents were declared. A Met Office weather warning has also been issued for ice and snow over the Grampians in Scotland, which will be in place until 11pm on Tuesday. Yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for north and south Wales on Wednesday and Thursday. Blustery showers are set to continue throughout Monday and Tuesday, with western areas of England, Scotland and Wales the worst impacted. In the Scottish Highlands there will be snow in higher areas, as well as hail and spells of thunder. Rain and increasingly strong winds will move in from the west on Wednesday morning spreading across the whole of the UK. Her family say they are 'devastated' by the news, and 'appreciate the continued support from the emergency services' Rain and increasingly strong winds will move in from the west on Wednesday morning spreading across the whole of the UK Showers will be persistent and heavy at times in Wales and north western England overnight and a further front will move through on Thursday bringing heavy downpours. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it had pulled one man from the River Teme at Eastham Bridge on Sunday morning, with a female casualty still unaccounted for as of about 4pm. A man in his 60s died on Sunday after being pulled from the River Tawe near Trebanos Rugby Club in Wales, but Dyfed-Powys Police said his death was not being linked to the bad weather. A 42-year-old hill walker was found dead after he went hiking in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday. Police were scrambled to Stob Ban, a 3,278ft munro located on the south side of Glen Nevis, northwest of Kinlochleven, Highlands at around 1pm on Sunday, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Shocking drone pictures show the devastating scale of flooding the Welsh village of Crickhowell after the Usk flooded A baby is pictured being rescued from flooded homes in Hereford today after water levels at the Old Wye Bridge reached dangerous heights The bodies of two men were pulled from rough seas off Kent on Saturday as the UK was struck by a storm for the second weekend in a row. There are fears for a man called Leon Ford, 32, from Guildford, Surrey, who has not been seen since around 2am on Saturday. Police are also looking for a woman, 36, who disappeared from a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning and is believed to have run into the sea in Brighton. Storm Dennis was described as 'life-threatening' in South Wales, where the Met Office had a red warning in place until 11am today. Forecasters said that winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the country, with the highest measuring 91mph in Aberdaron in north Wales on Saturday. Sitioshonduras.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 24 May 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the sitioshonduras homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the sitioshonduras homepage on Twitter + the total number of sitioshonduras followers (if sitioshonduras has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the sitioshonduras homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the sitioshonduras homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if sitioshonduras has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the sitioshonduras homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE SITIOS HONDURAS - PORTAL DE SITIOS DE HONDURAS DESCRIPTION SITIOS HONDURAS - EL PORTAL DE SITIOS HONDURENOS KEYWORDS HONDURA, HONDURENOS, SITIOS, BUSCADOR, GRATIS, TELEFONOS, COMPUTADORAS, INTERNET, SUBASTAS, OFERTA, VUELOS, TURISMO, PASAJES OTHER KEYWORDS sitios, honduras, sites, sitios honduras, de sitios, portal, noticias CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE WINDOWS-1252 DETECTED LANGUAGE Spanish Spanish SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux The language of sitioshonduras.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for sitioshonduras.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Appointment 18 February 2020 InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG") [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces that Sharon Rothstein is to be appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director of IHG. She will join the IHG Board with effect from 1 June 2020. Sharon Rothstein currently serves as Operating Partner of Stripes Group, a growth equity firm investing in high growth consumer and SaaS (Software as a Service) companies. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, and subsequently, as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Product Officer for Starbucks Corporation. Sharon will serve on the Audit and Corporate Responsibility Committees of the IHG Board. Pursuant to LR 9.6.13R, Sharon is an independent Non-Executive Director of Yelp, Inc., a public company, quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE). In addition, Sharon has held senior marketing and brand management positions at Sephora LLC, Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., Nabisco Biscuit Company, and Procter & Gamble Company, and brings insights and experience in the hospitality industry, having also held senior roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Sharon is a Director of Yelp, Inc.; and serves as a Board member for private companies: True Food Kitchen, Inc., a fast-growing healthy lifestyle restaurant company; LOLA, a lifelong women's reproductive care brand; and Levain Bakery, Inc., a premium New York bakery chain. Olkeksii Liskonih/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- The State Department notified five Chinese media outlets on Tuesday that they must register as "foreign missions," requiring them to share information on all their U.S.-based employees and properties with the U.S. government. Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corp. and Hai Tian Development USA are all being designated in a move that ramps up the Trump administration's efforts to combat what they say is the Chinese Communist Party's increasingly dominant control of media and its spread of propaganda overseas, including in the U.S. "We're not seeking conflict by any stretch of the imagination, but we're going to call it straight, we're going to call it as we see it," said a senior State Department official who briefed reporters on the announcement, "And the fact of the matter is each and every single one of these entities does in fact work 100% for the Chinese government and the Chinese communist party." These designations were similarly used for Soviet outlets, such as Pravda, during the Cold War, although currently, Russian outlets including RT or Sputnik have not been required to register as foreign missions. The most recent designation was the Vietnam News Agency, a state-run outlet that was required to register five years ago, according to a second senior State Department official. All five Chinese outlets have already been required to register by the Justice Department as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. But this authority will give the U.S. government increased insight into their operations, according to the senior officials, including a list of employees and requiring prior approval for acquiring any new commercial property. Even U.S. citizens who work for one of these five outlets, which includes the widely available cable news channel CGTN, will have their information handed over to the U.S. government. That includes basic details, such as name, date of birth, residential address and job title, according to one official. Asked about the timing, they said the outlets had increasingly come under party control under the rule of Xi Jinping, China's president and the Chinese Communist Party's general secretary, even reading a quote from Xi about the importance of party control over the media. Senior Trump administration officials have become increasingly hawkish on China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence warning that the Communist Party is creating a totalitarian system that it seeks to export overseas to dominate the 21st century. In a speech to U.S. governors on Feb. 8, Pompeo warned that that effort to expand its influence even includes taking advantage of the freedom of the U.S. system. "The Chinese Government has been methodical in the way it's analyzed our system, our very open system, one that we're deeply proud of. It's assessed our vulnerabilities, and it's decided to exploit our freedoms to gain advantage over us at the federal level, the state level and the local level," he said. "Today they have free rein in our system, and we're completely shut out from theirs." In a similar vein, the State Department announced in October that Chinese personnel at the embassy in Washington and consulates across the U.S. would be required to notify the U.S. of any meetings with state and local governments and educational or research institutions. It was a decision to "level the playing field," a senior State Department official said at the time, as U.S. diplomats in China must get approval for any similar meeting while Chinese officials still do not. The new registration requirement for media outlets will not, however, place any "constraints" on these outlets' activities in the U.S. or the content they produce and publish, according to the senior officials. But while they wouldn't go so far as to accuse them of spreading disinformation, one official told ABC News, "They are part and parcel of the PRC (People's Republic of China) propaganda apparatus, and anyone that consumes news or any other content that those guys produce should keep that in the back of their mind." Both officials batted away concerns about possible Chinese retaliation against U.S. or other Western journalists in China, saying press freedom there is already severely restricted. The U.S. expects all five companies will comply, according to one official, who declined to discuss what enforcement options the administration would take if they did not. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Regional Director of NCRPO, PMGEN DEBOLD M SINAS leads the destruction of the seized video karera machines at Police Station 10, Kamuning, Quezon City. (NCRPO PIO) MANILA, Philippines The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday destroyed more than 50 seized video karera machines at Camp Crame as part of its campaign against illegal gambling. PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) chief Ronald Lee said the machines were confiscated from a four-day operation in the cities of Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa and Pasay. The machines were destroyed using a mallet. Lee said the 24 civilians arrested during the operations will face illegal gambling charges. Policemen caught being lax in curbing illegal operations in their areas will also be charged. May mga kinasuhan kaming sibilyan, mga operator, may cashier na nahuli at kinasuhan din namin yung mga PCP commanders, he said in a press briefing. PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, meanwhile, stressed the one-strike policy being imposed on police officials regarding the agencys crackdown against illegal gambling. Pag nag-operate ang IMEG o even itong mga units ng higher headquarters, relieved kaagad yun. So, dalawa o tatlo na PCP at chief of police ang relieve. Pag tatlong chief of police ay pwede nang i-relieve yung provincial director o district director and so on and so forth, he said. RRD (with details from Correspondent Lea Ylagan) The post PNP destroys over 50 seized video karera machines appeared first on UNTV News. WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Reporters are invited to see NASA and its partners test a motor on the Orion spacecraft's launch abort system. The test will take place Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Northrop Grumman's test site in Elkton, Maryland. Northrop Grumman postponed the previously scheduled test as a precaution due to the threat of severe weather in the area. The test will qualify the attitude control motor (ACM) for human missions beginning on Artemis II, Orion's first mission with astronauts. During this third and final test, eight high pressure valves will direct more than 7,000 pounds of thrust generated by the solid rocket motor in multiple directions while firing at freezing conditions. Media can watch the test on a monitor from an indoor viewing location and interview an astronaut plus NASA and contractor leaders. Additionally, they will have an opportunity to learn about the test and its significance to NASA's Moon and Mars exploration plans under the Artemis program. Imagery will be available following the test. Reporters wishing to attend must request accreditation by 5 p.m. EST, Friday, Feb. 21, from Northrop Grumman's Melissa Sheets: 410-864-4970 or [email protected] The ACM is one of three motors comprising Orion's launch abort system, and is built by Northrop Grumman under a contract with Lockheed Martin, NASA's prime contractor for Orion. The system is designed to carry astronauts inside the spacecraft to safety in case of an emergency on the launch pad or during Orion's climb to orbit atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket. In the unlikely event of an abort, the attitude control motor would steer the Orion crew module away from the rocket. The ACM also orients the capsule for parachute deployment once the module is a safe distance away from the rocket. Through Artemis, NASA will send the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024 , and establish sustainable exploration with its commercial and international partners by 2028. Orion will carry and sustain astronauts in deep space, provide emergency abort capability, and support safe re-entry at lunar return velocities. For more information about the Orion spacecraft and its launch abort system, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/orion SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov Ashraf Ghani has won a second term as president of Afghanistan, the countrys independent election commission announced Tuesday, more than four months after polls closed. Kabul: Ashraf Ghani has won a second term as president of Afghanistan, the countrys independent election commission announced Tuesday, more than four months after polls closed. The commission said Ghani garnered 9,23,592 votes, or 50.64 percent, in the election that took place on 28 September 2019. Challenger and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah received 7,20,841 votes, or 39.52 percent. Election results were repeatedly delayed amid accusations of misconduct and technical problems with counting ballots. The final vote tally count had originally set to be announced 7 November. Hawa Alam Nuristani had said previously said that 1.8 million Afghan citizens voted in the election out of some 9.6 million eligible. The election commission tried to launch a ballot recount in November but Abdullah halted the attempt, saying he wouldnt let his observers participate. He eventually allowed a recount to go forward earlier this month. Thousands of Abdullahs supporters had rallied in November against what they said were fake ballots. The controversial recount had seemed set to favour Ghani. Abdullah in December agreed to allow a ballot recount in provinces where his supporters had stopped the process for almost a month. The election commission had tried to launch a ballot recount in November but Abdullah halted the attempt, saying he wouldnt let his observers participate. Ghani and Abdullah head a fragile national unity government that was put together under US pressure after both leaders claimed victory in Afghanistans last elections in 2014. The election results come days after US defence secretary Mark Esper announced a truce agreement between the United States and the Taliban that could lead to the withdrawal of American troops from the country. Ghani first ran for president in 2009, capturing barely a quarter of the votes. He ran again in 2014 in what was considered a deeply flawed and corrupt exercise. Ghani, from central Logar Province was born 19 May, 1949. He holds a doctorate in Anthropology from Columbia University and first went to the US as a high school exchange student. Except for a brief teaching stint at Kabul University in the early 1970s, Ghani lived in the United States, where he was an academic until joining the World Bank as a senior adviser in 1991. He returned to Afghanistan after 24 years when the Taliban were ousted by the US-led coalition. Ghani was head of Kabul University until he joined President Hamid Karzais government as finance minister. In 2010 he led the lengthy process to transfer security of the country from US-led coalition forces to the Afghanistan National Security Forces, which took effect in 2014. WHO said that this was a very valid approach but that it was important to get the timing right to maximize the boost to a patients immunity. Doctors in Shanghai are using infusions of blood plasma from people who have recovered from the coronavirus to treat those still battling the infection, reporting some encouraging preliminary results, a Chinese professor said on Monday. A top emergency expert at the World Health Organization (WHO) said later that using convalescent plasma was a very valid approach to test, but that it was important to get the timing right to maximize the boost to a patients immunity. The coronavirus epidemic is believed to have originated in a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, and has so far killed 1,770 people and infected more than 70,000 in mainland China. Chinas financial hub of Shanghai on Monday had 332 infected cases, one of whom died in recent weeks. Lu Hongzhou, professor and co-director of the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, said that 184 cases were still hospitalized, including 166 mild cases, while 18 were in serious and critical conditions. He said the hospital had set up a special clinic to administer plasma therapy and was selecting patients who were willing to donate. The blood would be screened to check if he or she had other diseases like hepatitis B or C, he added. We are positive that this method can be very effective in our patients, he said. There are no fully licensed treatments or vaccines against the new coronavirus, and the process of developing and testing drugs can take many months and even years. Very important area Convalescent plasma has been proven effective and life-saving against other infectious diseases, including rabies and diphtheria, Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHOs health emergencies program, told reporters in Geneva. It is a very important area to pursue, Ryan said. Because what hyperimmune globulin does is it concentrates the antibodies in a recovered patient. You are essentially giving the new victims immune system a boost of antibodies to hopefully get them through the very difficult phase. So it must be given at the right time, because it mops up the virus in the system, and it just gives the new patients immune system a vital push at the time it needs it. But it has to be carefully timed and its not always successful. Ryan added: So it is a very important area of discovery, and I believe they are starting trials on that in China. But it is a very valid way to explore therapeutics, especially when we dont have vaccines and we dont have specific antivirals. As well as using plasma therapies, the Chinese doctors are also trying antiviral drugs licensed for use against other infections to see if they might help. Scientists are testing two antiviral drugs and preliminary results are due in weeks, while the head of a Wuhan hospital had said plasma infusions from recovered patients had shown some encouraging preliminary results. A senior official working in the State House, Abuja, has been murdered. Laetitia Dagan, an Assistant Director of Administration in the State House, was murdered in her house on Monday night, an official said. Attah Esa, the Deputy Director Information in the State House, said 47-year Ms Dagan, from Plateau State, worked in her office on Monday till 8 p.m. But by 11 p.m., she was gruesomely murdered in her apartment by unknown persons, the spokesperson said. In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, described the killing of Ms. Dagan as a painful loss, not only to her immediate family, but also the entire State House. She was a dedicated, hard-working officer, and we all feel pained by her dastardly and untimely death, Mr Arabi told her family members during a condolence visit, according to the statement from Mr Esa. We all share in your grief and pains, but be consoled by the fact that she lived a good life and contributed her best to the services of her nation, he told the family members. Mr Arabi expressed confidence that the police will fish out the killers of Laetitia and the law will take its course. He prayed that God should comfort Ms Dagans family, the entire staff of State House, and grant the soul of the departed officer eternal rest. A weekend social media post lived for just a half-hour on the South Jacksonville Police Departments Facebook page before being deleted, but its backlash is lasting much longer. The post shows marked cars from South Jacksonville police and the Morgan County Sheriffs Department along with an unmarked white passenger van at Loves Travel Stop in South Jacksonville. The only comment about the photo is, Lets just say we are not a sanctuary city. The post drew quick reaction from those who believed it was a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While some expressed support, others said it was in poor taste or unprofessional. A sanctuary city is one that establishes laws or policies that help protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution. Although there is only one sanctuary city and one sanctuary county in Illinois Chicago and Cook County former Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill in 2017 declaring Illinois a sanctuary state. The designation prohibits local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal agents in enforcing immigration laws. It also prohibits police from asking about the citizenship or immigration status of those who are detained or arrested. Shortly after the original post was removed, South Jacksonville Police Chief Tim Mann apologized on the agencys Facebook page. That post also since has been deleted. This post was deleted because it was in poor taste, the second post said. While there is much more to the story than the picture depicts, it was not intended to offend. It is my regret that I would do or post anything that would draw criticism to the officers that serve the citizens of South Jacksonville. Mann declined to comment on the posts Monday, saying he is waiting for direction from village leadership on how to proceed. I can assure you that nothing illegal was done by our officers, but I can not comment any further, Mann said. Village President Harry Jennings told radio station WLDS that the post goes against our professional standards and as soon as I was made aware of the post, I ordered it to be removed. He declined to comment on any potential personnel issues resulting from the post. Illinois is one of 11 sanctuary states nationwide, but there are dozens of cities and counties that have declared themselves as sanctuary communities. The Trump administration has challenged the legality of such designations and is taking some of them to court to force them to cooperate with immigration agents. Attorney General Bill Barr last week said the administration was making a significant escalation against those who challenged the lawful functioning of our nations immigration system, according to Fox News reports. Let us state the reality upfront and as clearly as possible. When we are talking about sanctuary cities, we are talking about policies that are designed to allow criminal aliens to escape. These policies are not about people who came to our country illegally but have otherwise been peaceful and productive members of society. Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes. This is neither lawful nor sensible, Barr said during a speech at a National Sheriffs Association conference in Washington, D.C. By Express News Service BENGALURU: In a circular issued on Tuesday, the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) admitted that the mathematics question paper for preparatory Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination for 10th standard students, was leaked beforehand. The exam was held on Tuesday. V Sumangala, director of KSEEB said in the circular, "The SSLC preparatory exam paper was leaked on WhatsApp and went viral. We have lodged a complaint with the police to find out who was behind the act. If such things happen in the future, the headmaster of the school will be held responsible." "Preparatory exams need to be held as seriously as the main board exam with strict security measures. The person responsible for such leaks will be taken into police custody one week before the exam begins in the future," she wrote in the circular. ALSO READ: Madhyamik - Purported Bengali question paper images go viral, 'match' with original Three days ago, TNIE highlighted in a story on how packaging for SSLC preparatory exam question papers was inadequate. The headmasters of schools had raised their concern over possible leak when they received the question papers in bags without seal and only cellophane tape. In the previous report, the director of KSEEB had responded saying that there were different modalities for preparatory and main board exams. He added that all precautions were taken to ensure confidential and secure transportation of the question papers. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 13:03:02 Recently honored with Innovation Award for improving warehouse efficiency by Kings of the Supply Chain GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO), a leading global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, will present its Pick and Put to Light system in the innovation gallery at SITL 2020 from March 17 to 20 in Paris. The technology recently received the prestigious Innovation Award at Kings of the Supply Chain 2020. XPO developed Pick and Put to Light from the ground up in collaboration with technology partner Actemium Lyon Logistics, a member company of the global Actemium network dedicated to industrial process improvement. The solution uses color recognition to retrieve palletized products and route them within the warehouse, assisting employees with fulfilment processes. The technology is fully integrated with XPOs warehouse management system. XPO and Actemium designed Pick and Put to Light to address specific roadblocks to efficiency in logistics environments, including inefficient use of employee time and material handling vehicles and overreliance on voice communication. The system has increased productivity by 14% on average in the picking process, improved utilization of production capacity during peak periods and dramatically reduced operator training time, while enhancing speed, accuracy, control and safety. Richard Cawston, managing director, supply chain Europe, XPO Logistics, said, Pick and Put to Light is an industry-first technology that improves service quality while enhancing the workplace for logistics employees. Our team was extremely proud to receive the Innovation Award for thinking beyond traditional processes and developing a truly transformative solution. About XPO Logistics XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) is a top ten global logistics provider of cutting-edge supply chain solutions to the most successful companies in the world. The company operates as a highly integrated network of people, technology and physical assets in 30 countries, with 1,504 locations and approximately 100,000 employees. XPO uses its network to help more than 50,000 customers manage their goods most efficiently throughout their supply chains. XPO's corporate headquarters are in Greenwich, Conn., USA, and its European headquarters are in Lyon, France. xpo.com Media Contact XPO Logistics, Inc. Erin Kurtz +1-203-489-1586 erin.kurtz@xpo.com More Tatkal tickets will be available for passengers now as the railways has weeded out several illegal softwares and arrested 60 agents who would use them to block such tickets, a top official said on Tuesday. Railway Protection Force (RPF) Director General Arun Kumar said the software cleansing exercise means Tatkal tickets, which would earlier vanish within minutes of opening of the booking, will now be available for passengers for hours. Those arrested include a Kolkata-based person with suspected links to Bangladesh-based terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JUMB). In January, the RPF DG had said an e-ticketing racket with suspected links to terror-funding and money laundering was busted. Officials explained on Tuesday that illegal softwares such as 'ANMS', 'MAC' and 'Jaguar' would bypass the IRCTC's login captcha, booking captcha and bank OTP to generate tickets, while a genuine user has to go through all these processes. The booking process for a general user usually takes around 2.55 minutes, but those using these softwares could do it in just around 1.48 minutes, they said. The railways does not allow agents to book Tatkal tickets and over the past two months, the RPF has nabbed around 60 illegal agents who were booking tickets through these softwares, making it virtually impossible for others to get Tatkal bookings. "As of today, I can say that not one ticket is being booked through illegal softwares. We have plugged all the issues that we had with the IRCTC website and also nabbed most of those who were top operators of the softwares," the RPF DG said at a press briefing. With the arrests, Kumar said most of these illegal softwares, which used to generate business of Rs 50 crore-100 crore annually, have been blocked. Booking for Tatkal tickets opens 24 hours before the day of travel. The IRCTC's ticket booking section reflects the impact of the railways action as it shows a jump in the availability of Tatkal tickets across the board. For example, on October 26, 2019, Tatkal tickets were available for two minutes for the Magadh Express, while for February 10, they were available for over 10 hours after the bookings opened on February 9, 2020. Similarly, on the Sampoorna Kranti Express, Tatkal tickets were available for a little over four minutes on November 16, 2019, while on February 8, 2020, they were available for 18 minutes. On the Swatantrata Senani Express, on November 16, 2019, the Tatkal bookings lasted for just a little over two minutes, while on February 8, it lasted for more than an hour. "This position has been taken from different zones and we have seen that the Tatkal tickets are available for longer. We are still monitoring other softwares which can be used to book tickets and will move on them as and when they try to book tickets illegally," said Kumar. The RPF DG said that seven people, including a Kolkata-based person who was in touch with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, (JUMB) have been arrested in the latest crackdown, on February 8. "Recently, we arrested seven people including Kolkata-based Jayanta Poddar who was in touch with JUMB operatives," he said. Among those arrested is one Rajesh Yadav, believed to be the fund manager for the illegal e-ticketing racket who was picked from Mumbai. Another person, Shamsher, who worked for Hamid Ashraf, a Dubai-based man suspected to be one of the masterminds of the racket, was arrested from Lucknow. Ashraf, however, is still at large. The DG also said that the RPF has arrested Satyawan Upadhyay, a developer by profession, who built the illegal 'MAC' software for ticket touts. He further said that the RPF ran a drive against authorised IRCTC agents also on February 11 and 12, and 319 of them were arrested for dubious bookings. As many as 317 user IDs were identified for blacklisting, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday (February 18, 2020) directed the CBI to hand over to P Chidambaram and his son Karti certain documents filed along with the chargesheet in the INX Media alleged money laundering and corruption case. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar issued the direction to the CBI during the hearing in the INX Media corruption case. The court was also hearing the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate. P Chidambaram and his son Karti were present in the court during the hearing. Chidambaram was taken into custody on August 21 when he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in INX Media corruption case. On October 16, the ED arrested him in the separate money-laundering case. Six days later, on October 22, the apex court had granted him bail in the case lodged by the CBI. On December 4, after 105 days of custody, Chidambaram was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the money laundering case lodged by the ED. Karti is also currently out on bail in both cases. CBI had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, ED had lodged the money laundering case. Court rules that women could serve as army commanders, rebuking govt for opposing womens appointment to top roles. Indias top court ruled on Monday that women could serve as army commanders, dismissing the governments stance that male soldiers were not ready to accept orders from female officers as disturbing. The Supreme Court also ordered the government to extend permanent service which has only been applicable to men so far to all women officers, signalling a move towards gender parity in the traditionally male bastion. With this women will get the same opportunities and benefits as their male colleagues, including ranks, promotions and pensions and be allowed to serve longer tenures. Currently, women are inducted through a short-service commission that lets them work for up to 14 years and only allowed permanent commission in the armys legal and educational wings. To cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army, judges said in their ruling. Government opposed move Last week the government opposed women being appointed to top roles such as colonels and brigadiers, saying most soldiers were men from rural backgrounds who were not mentally schooled to accept women officers in command. The government also argued that men and women officers were physically different and could not be treated equally. The top court rebuked the government, describing its views as disturbing and urged the need for change in mindsets to bring about true equality in the army. It, however, did not rule on deploying women in combat roles, saying a competent authority needed to decide. India, with one of the largest armies in the world, has long resisted including women in combat roles, citing concerns over womens vulnerability if captured and over their physical and mental ability to cope with front-line deployments. Indias air force and navy offer a permanent commission to women as well as select combat roles. Most countries employ women in various roles in their armed forces but only a handful, including Australia, Germany, Israel and the United States, allow them to take on combat roles. India began recruiting women to non-medical positions in the armed forces in 1992, yet they make up about 4 percent of the armys more than one million personnel, according to latest data. Aishwarya Bhati, a lawyer who represented female officers at court, lauded Mondays judgement as one that would remove discrimination and boost womens role in the army. They (judges) have completely negated all the farcical stands raised by the army to deny women equal opportunities, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. These battles are watershed moments not just for women in the Indian army, but for women across the world. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, hinted at more Ukraine revelations in his unpublished book during an appearance at Duke University on Monday night. Bolton was asked about whether he shares Trump's view that the July 2019 call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, which fueled his impeachment, was 'perfect'. Bolton, who reportedly got $2million as part of his book deal, responded: 'You'll love Chapter 14.' 'For all the focus on Ukraine and impeachment trial: to me there are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine I view that as the sprinkles on an ice cream sundae, in terms of the book,' Bolton reportedly said at the event. 'This is an effort to write history. I did the best I can ... We'll see what happens with the censorship.' John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, raised concern on Monday about his unpublished book being 'suppressed' by the White House and suggested he should be able to respond to the president's tweets about him 'I hope, ultimately, I can get the book published,' Bolton told a Duke University event in North Carolina during his first public remarks since Trump's acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial. 'I hope it's not suppressed' 'I hope, ultimately, I can get the book published,' Bolton said during the North Carolina event, his first public remarks since Trump's acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial. 'I hope it's not suppressed.' At one point, Bolton was asked about the president's criticism of him on Twitter, Bolton said: 'He [Trump] tweets, but I can't talk about it. How fair is that?' Bolton also said he hopes his private conversations with Trump can be 'become public someday'. The White House informed Bolton in January that his book manuscript appeared to contain 'significant amounts of classified information' and could not be published in its current form. In a letter from the White House National Security Council to Bolton's attorney, Charles Cooper, said the manuscript contained some material that was considered 'TOP SECRET'. 'Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information,' the letter said. Bolton, 71, left his post in September after disagreements with the president (pictured together in July 2018). Trump said he fired him. Bolton said he quit Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani (left), who has played a prominent role in the Ukraine affair, said last month: 'I used to like and respect John and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong' The White House informed Bolton in a letter (right) in January that his book manuscript (left) appeared to contain 'significant amounts of classified information' and could not be published in its current form Bolton said during Monday's event that the White House was still doing a pre-publication review of his manuscript but officials have not attempted to stop him from speaking publicly about issues related to his time working for Trump. Trump has called the book, which is due out next month, 'nasty & untrue'. The president added: 'All Classified National Security.' Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Page Auditorium where Bolton spoke and protested him coming to the campus. Some protesters held signs that read 'shame on Duke' and 'book deal Trumps national security?' Several demonstrators attended the event while holding their signs. On Friday, Bolton's team accused the White House of trying to suppress his unpublished book after the National Security Council sent a second letter expressing concerns that the manuscript contained classified information. Sarah Tinsley, a senior adviser to Bolton, issued a statement Friday acknowledging that a letter from the NSC had been sent to Cooper, Bolton's lawyer. News that the letter had been sent had started circulating in Washington earlier in the day. 'This latest leak from the NSC's pre-publication review process raises even more serious concerns that the process has been thoroughly breached, and that it is more about suppressing Ambassador Bolton's book than about classification issues,' Tinsley said. She said Bolton continues to believe 'that the manuscript contains no legitimately classified material'. Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Page Auditorium where Bolton spoke and protested him coming to the campus Some protesters held signs that read 'shame on Duke' and 'book deal Trumps national security?' An attendee to John Bolton's lecture at Duke University holds a sign criticizing Bolton as she waits in line to enter the venue Several demonstrators attended the event while holding their signs (pictured) Bolton, 71, left his post in September after disagreements with the president. Trump said he fired him. Bolton said he quit. Media outlets reported in October that Bolton, a leading foreign policy hawk, was planning to write a book about his time in the Trump administration. The New York Times reported that Bolton wrote in his manuscript that Trump wanted to continue freezing $391million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden - an allegation that prompted Trump's impeachment. Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who has played a prominent role in the Ukraine affair, said last month: 'I used to like and respect John and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong.' On December 18, the Democratic-led House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstructing Congress relating to his actions in Ukraine. Trump denied wrongdoing and denounced the impeachment process as a sham. The Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump largely along party lines on February 5 in only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history. Bolton had refused to cooperate with the House impeachment investigation, but said on January 6 he would be willing to testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed to do so. Democrats sought his testimony at the trial, but the chamber voted not to call witnesses. BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL...February 18, 2020 - Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's (BGU) Cyber Security Research Center have found that they can cause the autopilot on an autonomous vehicle to erroneously apply its brakes in response to "phantom" images projected on a road or billboard. In a new research paper, "Phantom of the ADAS," published on IACR.org, the researchers demonstrated that autopilots and advanced driving-assistance systems (ADASs) in semi-autonomous or fully autonomous cars register depthless projections of objects (phantoms) as real objects. They show how attackers can exploit this perceptual challenge to manipulate the vehicle and potentially harm the driver or passengers without any special expertise by using a commercial drone and inexpensive image projector. While fully and semi-autonomous cars are already being deployed around the world, vehicular communication systems that connect the car with other cars, pedestrians and surrounding infrastructure are lagging. According to the researchers, the lack of such systems creates a "validation gap," which prevents the autonomous vehicles from validating their virtual perception with a third party, relying only on internal sensors. In addition to causing the autopilot to apply brakes, the researchers demonstrated they can fool the ADAS into believing phantom traffic signs are real, when projected for 125 milliseconds in advertisements on digital billboards. Lastly, they showed how fake lane markers projected on a road by a projector-equipped drone will guide the autopilot into the opposite lane and potentially oncoming traffic. Click here for video "This type of attack is currently not being taken into consideration by the automobile industry. These are not bugs or poor coding errors but fundamental flaws in object detectors that are not trained to distinguish between real and fake objects and use feature matching to detect visual objects," says Ben Nassi, lead author and a Ph.D. student of Prof. Yuval Elovici in BGU's Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering and Cyber Security Research Center. In reality, depthless objects projected on a road are considered real even though the depth sensors can differentiate between 2D and 3D. The BGU researchers believe that this is the result of a "better safe than sorry" policy that causes the car to consider a visual 2D object real. The researchers are developing a neural network model that analyzes a detected object's context, surface and reflected light, which is capable of detecting phantoms with high accuracy. ### The paper is published on the website of the International Association for Cryptologic Research. American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) turns 50 this year, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more. AABGU, headquartered in Manhattan, has nine regional offices throughout the United States. For more information visit http://www.aabgu.org. Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Tuesday extended an olive branch to his estranged friend Amitabh Bachachan, seeking to end their feud, saying he regrets his "overreaction" against the Bollywood megastar and his family. "Today is my father's death anniversary & I got a message for the same from @SrBachchan ji. At this stage of life when I am fighting a battle of life & death I regret for my over reaction against Amit ji & family. God bless them all," Singh wrote on Twitter. Singh and the Bachchans were close family friends till they fell apart nearly a decade ago. Diagnosed with a kidney ailment a few years ago, Singh has been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Singapore. He also posted a video on his Facebook page in which he talked about his friendship with Bachchan and their subsequent differences. "For the last 10 years, I have not only maintained a distance from the Bachchan family but have also tried to make them hate me. However, yet again, Amitabh Bachchan has paid tribute to my father. I recall that in this place in Singapore, Amit ji and I stayed together for two months for my kidney treatment ... we grew apart afterwards" he said in the video apparently shot from his hospital bed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We also note that the EU statement raised concern over the suffering of the ordinary people and the deteriorating national situation which has greatly affected the livelihoods of the citizens. The EU takes note of the shrinking democratic space and the endemic corruption by the well-heeled political elite as contributing factors to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. It is pertinent to note that this vindicates our position, considering that we have already unveiled five key fights as part of the Agenda 2020 national programme, among them the fight against corruption and to restore livelihoods and dignity for the ordinary citizen. A man busted for drink-driving while riding his orange lawnmower has avoided jail. Police arrested disqualified driver Abrar Matin Alif, 34, as he was driving his Kubota ride-on lawnmower past a roadside breath test in Greystanes, Sydney in November last year. They found an empty can of Jim Beam bourbon and cola in the mower's cup holder when they stopped him, according to court documents. 'Police noticed an extremely strong smell of alcohol coming from him and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and that he was finding it difficult to keep his eyes open,' the police facts state. 'The accused was slurring his words when speaking. The accused was talking quite loud and even though he was sitting he was swaying in the seat.' Police arrested disqualified driver Abrar Matin Alif, 34, as he was driving his Kubota ride-on lawnmower past a roadside breath test in the suburb of Greystanes (pictured) Alif told police 'I am taking the lawnmower to my friend's house' before becoming increasingly hostile and aggressive. He had ridden the mower across the Great Western Highway before police spotted him. When officers stopped him, he explained he'd travelled from Pendle Hill some two kilometres away. Because the mower weighed more than 250 kilograms, police asked Alif whether it was registered. 'I do not need to have it registered,' Alif replied. Alif was taken to Granville Police Station, where he recorded a breath alcohol reading of 0.167 - more than three times the legal limit. 'The accused began banging on the doors and screaming to be told why he was at the police station, even though he had been told in detail numerous times,' the police facts state. 'In relation to his drinking, the accused refused to provide any details, only stating he'd 'had a lot to drink'.' A sentencing assessment report said Alif - a metal worker and spray painter - had previously been convicted of drink-driving twice in 2015. 'Mr Alif claimed he was unaware it was illegal to drive a lawnmower with a disqualified licence while under the influence of alcohol,' the report states. 'He added he was disappointed in himself as after his prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol he chose to move closer to his work to eliminate the temptation to drive.' Alif on Monday was convicted in Fairfield Local Court of driving while disqualified and high-range drink driving. He was sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order which includes a six-month curfew. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Amelinda Bonita Leonard (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 The government has decided against the homecoming of some 600 former foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) from Syria as they could become a new terrorist virus that will threaten Indonesias entire population. Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD announced the decision, a few days after President Joko Jokowi Widodo expressed his refusal to welcome back the returnees. The countrys largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, supports the governments policy. The call to fighting for the Islamic State (IS) group had enticed hundreds of Indonesians to quit their jobs, leave their hometowns, with or without their families. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. The former MP, Mohamed Dessouqi, died of a heart attack last year Prominent businessman Mohamed Abul-Enein has won a parliamentary by-election in Giza, the head of Egypt's electoral committee said on Tuesday. The owner of Ceramica Cleopatra Group and chairman of the Egyptian European Businessmen Council won 36,213 votes, a majority, out of an estimated 266,396 registered voters in this district, said Lasheen Ibrahim, head Egypt's National Electoral Commission. No irregularities were reported in the by-election, which was held on 11 and 12 February at 87 polling stations and monitored by 115 judges, Ibrahim added. The former MP, Mohamed Dessouqi, died of a heart attack on 30 November. Abul-Enein is expected to be sworn in as an MP when parliament reconvenes on 23 February. He was fielded by the parliamentary majority party Mostakbal Watan (the Future of Homeland), and competed against three candidates, all of whom were independent. Abul-Enein was first seated in parliament in 1995 after he was appointed by then-president Hosni Mubarak. In 2000, Abul-Enein won the seat for a Giza district in the elections, and soon became head of parliament's housing committee. In 2005, he won the Giza seat for the second time, and was later elected as head of parliament's industrial committee. Abul-Enein decided to run even though Egypt's current parliamentary session will finish in July. New parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Egypt in November. Abul-Enein hopes that winning the Giza by-election will prepare the ground for a run in November. Ibrahim also announced on Tuesday that a second, and final, round of voting will be held for the by-election in the Malawi district in Upper Egypt's Minya. The first round, held on 11 and 12 February, saw seven candidates competing, he said, adding that Mohamed Abdel-Hakam, the candidate of Mostakbal Watan, and Abdallah Mohamed Khalifa, an independent, got the highest number of votes. "So they are going to compete in a second round," said Ibrahim. Ahmed Sharmookh, the MP formerly representing the constituency, died of a heart attack on 8 December. Search Keywords: Short link: A group of citizens on Tuesday demanded a thorough inquiry into the death of special CBI judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya in 2014. The group has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, seeking a time-bound probe into the death of Loya. Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case of Gujarat, died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Social activist Ashok Pai, addressing a press conference on behalf of the group, also demanded proper compensation for the judge's family, saying he was on an "official" tour. Pai said on Tuesday he met NCP president Sharad Pawar, whose party is a key constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, and raised these demands with him. Pawar assured to look into the demands, he said at the press conference at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh. "We have handed over a letter to Maharashtra Assembly speaker Nana Patole and dispatched a copy of the letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray (seeking a probe into Loya's death)," Pai said. As the matter relates to "mysterious" death of a sitting judge of the CBI, all facts about it must be made public after a detailed and time-bound probe, Pai said. The Loya death case had reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had held that Loya had died of "natural causes" and had rejected PILs seeking an SIT probe into the death, questioning their motive. The SC had held that petitions were moved by political rivals to settle scores which was a serious attempt to scandalise the judiciary and obstruct the course of justice through a "frontal attack" on its independence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Randy Weber-R (i) Age: 66 Highest level of education completed or pursued: Obtained a bachelor of science from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City of residence: Friendswood Job title: Business owner Weber did not return multiple requests for comment. Information for this biographical box was gathered from his U.S. House of Representatives website. Adrienne Bell-D Age: 69 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated from Houston Baptist University with a masters degree in education in 2012 City of residence: Pearland Job title: Fourth-grade teacher Up to three examples of other elected offices or volunteer involvement: 1. Former deputy field director with Battleground Texas Q: How do you feel residents interests across your district vary and how do you fairly represent everyone across the land area? A: One thing I found talking with voters is that there are interests that unite people such as healthcare for everyone, public education, higher education, affordable housing and strengthening infrastructure. There are five ports in my district. You go from Port Arthur to Freeport. The interests are still the same. You learn that when you actually get with voters and talk about what their issues are, instead of telling them what you think the issues are. Clean air is a concern. Clean water is a concern. Q: What would you say are the most important issues you would have to address when lobbying for this side of Galveston Bay? A: I think we need to put a lot of focus on infrastructure. With climate change and hurricanes getting stronger, these areas are very vulnerable to flooding, which impacts lives and property. We need to put some focus on rebuilding infrastructure, roads and bridges and making sure we have efficient transportation. The storms are going to continue and we need to be more resilient. Q: Should the federal government continue awarding disaster recovery dollars to individuals and local governments? What should these dollars be focused on (resiliency measures, drainage, buyouts, etc.)? A: First, we should look at efficiency in awarding the money. It takes too long for people affected by these catastrophes to get funded. I would look at being more proactive and being equipped to handle the response. I remember during Hurricane Harvey, in Brazoria County there was a contact number for residents to call in to, but it didnt work. The whole community was trying to call into one number instead of the officials being proactive and reaching out into the community to see what the issues are. We need contacts in each neighborhood so we can reach out and see what the needs are instead of expecting everyone to call us. Q: Do you believe Americans are increasingly polarized? How do you take that unity to Washington, D.C.? A: No. When I talk with residents, theres concern about the direction of our democracy. But I dont think theres that polarization. I had a gentleman that voted 50 years as a Republican, but because of President Trump, hes voting for me. We still have the same desires. Youve got people in D.C. who have lost sight of the people. This seat is not about me. Its about taking back a seat that isnt representing the people. Im about policies that are going to benefit the people. If there are representatives who arent about that, were going to disagree. Q: Do you agree with how the impeachment proceedings were handled? A: I think when you have abuse of power and a Constitution that gives you the charge to investigate it, you should. But having a trial without witnesses, I dont agree with that. I think we should set aside all this partisanship and look at whats good for America. Congress is charged with upholding the Constitution and representing the people. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: I care about the people. I care about our younger children pre-K through 12th grade. I want them to have the best education they can. I care about our seniors being taken care of. I care about our veterans who believe in our country but now have to fight for healthcare. I care that the voices of the people get the attention they deserve. Too much of the people in our government are focused on themselves. I will be a champion for the people. Eddie Fisher-D Age: 65 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in communications in 1975 City of residence: West Columbia Job title: Co-owner of Gulf Hydrographic & Coastal Consulting LLC; former Texas General Land Office Director of Coastal Stewardship, Coastal Erosion and the Beach and Dune program Q: How do you feel residents interests across your district vary and how do you fairly represent everyone across the land area? A: It is a large district. One of the reasons Im running is Ive lived along the coast of Texas all of my life. The current representative and a lot of the other candidates are from the Clear Lake, League City area, not really the coastal area. Theres more than 100 miles of shoreline from Sabine Pass to the San Bernard River. We have so many ports and national wildlife refuges that are included and a big part of the district. Of course, the port and petrochemical industry is a big part of the economy. I want to bring representation that will represent the diverse nature of our district. Q: What would you say are the most important issues you would have to address when lobbying for this side of Galveston Bay? A: Again, it ties into the coast. One of the things thats important to me is as we transition to renewable energy, were very fortunate in our area of Texas to be a leader in exporting LNG. That can help bridge the transition to renewable energy. We need to support the deepening of the Sabine-Neches Waterway. Its a very quick entrance to deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. Theres already one facility built, and we need to concentrate on improving the ports that exist. Improving and strengthening our ports and funding coastal restoration are some of the bigger priorities for the specific area. Q: Should the federal government continue awarding disaster recovery dollars to individuals and local governments? What should these dollars be focused on (resiliency measures, drainage, buyouts, etc)? A: When Hurricane Ike struck, I was one of the four members of the Texas General Land Office recovery team. We worked with FEMA for many years. I think its of upmost importance that we elect a representative that believes in the mission of FEMA. I think we need to build resiliency as far as natural protection: Beach and marsh restoration. Thats an important item in the Port Arthur area as a lot of the large freshwater marshes are being exposed to saltwater and degrading their value. We can use the dredge material from the Sabine-Neches Waterway to restore those marshes and, of course, maintain and deepen our ports. I think also we need to preserve the natural wildlife refuges in the district because they provide a buffer. I think acquiring and maintaining the natural wildlife refuge is important and then also building natural resiliency measures to protect the port structures. Q: Do you believe Americans are increasingly polarized? How do you address that? A: I think we are, but I think it can be changed. The current president promotes division. I would like to get to a time where people of both parties can work together for their districts. I dont think we can achieve that with the current administration. I dont think that anything will change whatsoever if we dont elect a new president. I have been an early supporter of Mike Bloomberg because I think he can beat Trump and bring the country back together. Q: Do you agree with how the impeachment proceedings were handled? A: I think they definitely should have been pursued. The abuse of power was obvious. I have some mixed feelings about the obstruction of justice. Unfortunately, the way the law is written, I think the House needed to wait for judicial judgment of some of the items that were challenged. I understand some of the opposition to that charge. As far as the abuse of power, did the president withhold funds for his own political purposes? Its obvious. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: Part of the reason Im running is my experience tied to the coast. I think Im the best candidate for the same reason I support the presidential candidate I do: I think I have the best chance of winning. I think we need to beat the incumbent. Whether or not theres a change in the Senate or presidency, all the funding bills start in the House. Funds needed for the ports, Port Arthur and the Sabine-Neches Waterway arent going to get anywhere with Republicans in the House. I think Im the best candidate because of my life experience along the Texas coast. I know the citizens. Theyre a diverse group. Joshua Foxworth-R Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a masters degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2005 City of residence: League City Job title: Entrepreneur Focus issues: Enforce immigration laws End guest worker programs End affirmative action Restore the nation Foxworth did not return multiple requests for comment. Information was gathered from the Texas Secretary of States website and Foxworths campaign website. Mikal Williams-D Age: 44 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated South Texas College of Law with doctor of jurisprudence in 2013 City of residence: Kemah Job title: Attorney and mediator for the law offices of MD Williams Up to three examples of other elected office or volunteer involvement: 1. Member and former scholarship committee chair of Goose Creek Lodge 1192 AF&AM 2. Member of the Clear Creek ISD Special Education Parent-Teacher Committee 3. Member of Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer organization Q: How do you feel residents interests across your district vary and how do you fairly represent everyone across the land area? A: Our district is huge; its a three-county district, Jefferson, Galveston and Brazoria county. It covers a vast difference of living styles. It goes from completely urban to our rural farmlands and protected wildlife areas. Weve got our coastal industries, our port industries and then it moves up to our inland industries. The diversity in our district is overwhelming. Through my experience, I have worked and advocated in all the different communities for their needs. I am the candidate that represents most of our citizens interests in fiscal responsibility and in some social governance as well. Not everybody is extremely left or right. Most everybody is moderate and centrist, so I think Im the candidate that represents that in our district. Q: What would you say are the most important issues you would have to address when lobbying for this side of Galveston Bay? A: This side of the bay, there are projects going on that were actually kind of worried about. I know McDermott filed for bankruptcy. Their port projects in Sabine and Golden passes are still on shaky ground. My goal is to shore up and secure those projects as well as bring in leaders from the oil and gas industry, the renewable sector, environmental sector and education and start investing in the infrastructure to transition to renewable energy and use our coastal resources for that to plug into that. We can use our winds, our tides and our flooding issues. We can design drainage that actually harnesses that flood water, moves it and uses it for renewable energy. We also need to reinvest in wetland reclamation to assist in our coastal flooding issues. Q: Should the federal government continue awarding disaster recovery dollars to individuals and local governments? What should these dollars be focused on (resiliency measures, drainage, buyouts, etc.)? A: First, I think that regulations need to be put in place on insurance companies to assist in disaster relief. Yes, the federal government should continue to invest in communities and individuals. They still need that assistance. But we also should hold municipalities, local governments and insurance companies accountable for regulations that they put in place on the local level, so they assist in the mitigation of damages from these disasters. The money should not be focused on rebuilding the exact same way. It should only be focused on buyouts if that is the only viable option. It definitely should be used in better infrastructure, better drainage design, wetland reclamation and other projects that will assist in helping our communities remain our communities. Q: Do you believe Americans are increasingly polarized? How do you take that unity to Washington, D.C.? A: I remember a time growing where we say our statesmen, our representatives reach across the aisle and work together to get things done. Your side might want these five things, my side might want these five things. Lets work together and at least get these three things that kind of mesh to continue moving our country and district forward. I dont think were that polarized. I think most Americans are kind of centrist. Theyre kind of moderate in the middle. Sometimes we lean a little right, sometimes we lean a little left. But I think all of us want the same things: a better America, a better district and more equity. My experience as an attorney and mediator means I can step back and be that advocate for my constituents and for my district. We cant not listen to each other anymore. Q: Do you agree with how the impeachment proceedings were handled? A: Personally, I think that I would not want a president in either the Democrat or Republican party to ask a foreign nation to investigate an American citizen, a political rival, and not present evidence to the American people of why our own law enforcement arent investigating that issue. If any president did that, then the House should do its job and investigate and draft articles of impeachment for the Senate to try. Just like in a trial. The House is a grand jury. They arent determining innocence or guilt. I think the House did its job. I think the presidents most recent actions were definitely impeachable. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: Im the best candidate because of my experience, education and training to this point. Im the only candidate with a law degree that focused in constitutional law. I know how to draft and interpret legislation. I know how to negotiate and work with people who dont necessarily have the same viewpoint as me. I know how the American people, how our district feels. Im not that far out of my graduation. I graduated law school 2013. Thats seven years ago. I still feel the burden of student loan debt. I still feel the burden of a broken healthcare system. Im a single parent of a special needs son. So, I understand what over half of our working families are going through. I understand the struggle that our district is going through and I think I relate to them the best and the most. I think thats why Im the best candidate. Robert Puga Thomas-D City of residence: West Columbia Job title: Engineer Thomas did not return multiple requests for comment. Information was gathered from the Texas Secretary of States website. Sanjanetta Barnes-D Age: 37 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Graduated from Troy University with a masters degree in international relations and a masters degree in public administration with emphasis in national security affairs in 2015 City of residence: League City Job title: Political consultant Up to three examples of other elected offices or volunteer involvement 1. Former regional political director of Southeast Texas for the Texas Democratic Party 2. Former Pennsylvania regional field director for terra strategies on the Hillary Clinton and Katie McGinty campaigns 3. Former deputy political director for Sylvester Turners campaign Q: How do you feel residents interest across your district vary and how do you fairly represent everyone across the land area? A: Our district is diverse, and I think thats job related, race related. I think its just a diverse district, period. But we all have a lot more in common than some would lead us to believe. We saw a lot of unity when people flooded during Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda. We didnt care if you were Democrat or Republican, black or white, Muslim or Christian. We just cared about helping people. The way I see our district, we are united at times when we need each other. I think we just need to keep that in mind and move forward with the same love in our hearts. Q: What would you say are the most important issues you would have to address when lobbying for this side of Galveston Bay? A: Jefferson County is one of those counties that, when I look at it, theres a lot. People need jobs. Healthcare is one of the biggest issues people across the district face. You have people who are going bankrupt over a single medical bill, which should not be happening. Poverty levels are still high. You have people working two or three jobs barely able to make ends meet. Thats not something that should be happening. When you work a full-time job, you should be able to take care of your family. Throwing in veterans, youre looking at homelessness and we go back to healthcare. Mental health is a big issue for veterans and a lot of the areas. We dont talk about it. Its one of those taboo issues we dont like to discuss. But its very real and we have to treat it as such. Q: Should the federal government continue awarding disaster recovery dollars to individuals and local governments? What should these dollars be focused on (resiliency measures, drainage, buyouts, etc)? A: Absolutely. We recently saw our current elected official vote against the extension for that. Thats not something we need. You have a lot of people with insurance, but they didnt have flood or wind insurance. They didnt understand they had to get that because full coverage doesnt really mean full coverage. I want to look closer at how this money is being spent and what its being used for. Drainage plays a huge part in how the flow of the water goes out so that people are not getting flooded. We have to make sure we pay attention to that. But I want to get a better understanding of how its being done. The goal is to make sure that people are safe and prevent flooding. You want to take precautionary measures. I definitely feel thats a priority. I think thats something we need to research. Q: Do you believe Americans are increasingly polarized? How do you address that? A: America is great. But were having a situation where people are being divided over something they dont fully understand. Our judgment is being clouded because were fighting amongst ourselves and not seeing the bigger picture. I dont think were as divided as some lead us to believe. I have watched us, when someones child has had cancer, someones parent needs assistance during Hurricane Harvey, we pulled together, we gave money to each other, we fed each other. Whether youre a Democrat or Republican, as a representative for Congressional District 14, my job is not to worry about your political affiliation. My job is to worry about what you need. Im here for you. I work for the people. At the end of the day, Im talking about us as a whole because were all family and thats how Ill see it. Q: Do you agree with how the impeachment proceedings were handled? A: It is one of the issues we keep bringing up and it clouds us. If your president doesnt go to work every single day do you think he should be impeached, or should he stay there? Thats the question you have to ask. Im a firm believer as a Democrat, if another Democrat does wrong, I have to be willing to tell them theyre wrong just as much as i would say a Republican was wrong. When you wont call out your own and correct the certain behavior, thats what were talking about. You dont have to hate the person. You just dont like certain behaviors. There are certain things we cannot do because it compromises us as a nation. Correct the behavior, but dont hate the person. If its your own party, you have to be willing to stand your ground regardless. Q: Why are you the best candidate? A: At this point, you need someone who is going to be able to unite everybody, not divide everybody. I firmly believe in accountability. I believe as a legislator, you should be held accountable. The only way you can be held accountable is talk to the people. You need to be out there, communicating with them and asking them what they want, what do they think or feel, getting their feedback when you create bills. You have to vote for our best interest. Its not your personal belief. Its not what you personally want. Its what the people want and need, thats what you have to vote for. I dont think thats what were getting. Also, when look at us as whole, I think its time and were ready for change. As Im out there talking to people, they truly want change. I am that change. While turnout has normally been low in the capital, in surrounding towns and villages it is often a different story. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a high turnout in Fridays parliamentary election as a way to display unity within the country. There are nearly 58 million eligible voters. And while the turnout has traditionally been low in the capital, in surrounding towns and villages it is often a different story. Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari travelled to a town outside of Tehran to find out why. Swedish technology giants Ericsson and ABB are partnering and planning to establish a smart manufacturing production facility in Vietnam this year, supporting the nations strategic Industry 4.0 vision when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to come into force. From an ICT and high-tech perspective, the pact will pave the way for increased investment in smart manufacturing capabilities in Vietnam by European manufacturers. The EVFTA will further accelerate the need for accelerated expansion of 4G networks this year and next, coupled with the introduction of 5G capabilities to Vietnam in the 2021 to 2022 timeframe, Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson Vietnam and Myanmar, told VIR. We intend to invest in a variety of emerging technologies such as AI and automation, as well as our global service capabilities to Vietnam in partnership with our mobile operator customers, encouraged by the favourable terms and conditions incorporated in the EVFTA, he added. We are also planning to strategically partner and collaborate with world-leading manufacturing companies such as ABB to support them in introducing smart manufacturing facilities to Vietnam in the near future. Evidently, Ericsson Vietnam is well positioned to tap into the benefits and value of the EVFTA through existing 4G infrastructure and capabilities across all mobile operators in Vietnam, including Viettel, VNPT Group, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile. The EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which were ratified by members of the European Parliament last week, will both support the Swedish giants ambition here. Opening up the market ICT will be one of the beneficiaries of EVFTA, as the landmark deal will open up access to this and other sectors such as finance and banking, transport, services and distribution, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals for European investors. The historic agreement will represent a new chapter for trade and investment between the two sides. For instance, five years after it has entered into force, Economic Needs Test, a test that conditions market access upon the fulfillment of certain economic criteria, applicable for the establishment of the second and subsequent outlets, will be eliminated for retail services. Meanwhile, for financial services, the threshold for EU investment in certain joint stock commercial banks will rise from 30 to 49 per cent, and EU investors will be able to establish themselves as health insurance providers. For some sectors such as government procurement, which is currently closed to European investors, openings will be made available on the back of the EVFTA. In telecommunications, EU investors will be able to provide new services which will be made in most cases through joint ventures with local partners. Moreover, firms from the bloc will enjoy significant changes in foreign ownership limit (FOL) in telecommunications services. For example, under the EVFTAs commitment, Vietnam will permit the establishment of 100 per cent foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in non-network infrastructure value-added telecommunications services after five years. Currently through World Trade Organization (WTO) terms, only joint ventures are permitted with an FOL of 65 per cent. The EVFTA also represents an historic change in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the fields that the country has been seeking particular solutions to for years, such as intellectual property rights, direct pharmaceuticals imports, and tenders among others. According to the WTO Centre of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pharmaceutical imports from the EU into Vietnam will be more favourable, accessible, and direct under new commitments. In addition, competition in tenders for groups of pharmaceuticals to open to EU bidders in the ethical, or prescription drugs channel will also be strengthened further. For agriculture and other sectors for exports to the bloc such as textiles and garments, woodwork, petrochemicals, electronics, automobiles, high-tech, and food processing will also benefit thanks to tariff cuts, thus promoting EU investors and others to boost investment in Vietnam. Together with the EVFTA, the EVIPA will help align Vietnam with international standards and practices, and further integrate it into the global economy by introducing reformed, modern investment protection rules. This will ensure that European investors will receive the best available treatment, without infringing on Vietnams right to legislate in its own best interests on issues such as health and safety, or the environment. As shown in the EVIPA, new, more precise standards on investment protection are included. This means that the government must respect five fundamental principles provisions on non-discrimination; allowing investors to transfer or repatriate investment-related funds; prompt and adequate compensation in cases of expropriation; a commitment to fair and equitable treatment; and a guarantee that contractual and legal obligations toward investors will be honoured. Upbeat prospects According to statistics from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), investors from 23 out of 27 EU member states have registered around $24 billion into more than 2,200 projects over the past 28 years. EU investment has been most traditionally prominent in manufacturing, electricity, and real estate. However, it remains modest compared to Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong (China). According to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), European investment remains humble because, at the moment, some sectors remain closed to their investors. Meanwhile, tariffs on Vietnamese products are higher than those coming from countries with which Vietnam has an active free trade agreement. Nicolas Audier, chairman of EuroCham, said that the picture of European investment in Vietnam is set to change once the EVFTA is ratified. Thus far, several EU giants have made new steps, with Novartis, Sanofi, Abbott Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Zuellig Pharma, among others, being the pioneers in the lucrative pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. For instance, on the heels of Sanofi, which expanded its footprint in Vietnam by becoming the first lawful multinational importer in the drug production industry in the country, Novartis quickly became the second. Meanwhile, many other multinational corporations are seeking the same ticket. In a strong move to improve Vietnams FDI attraction, the Vietnamese government is likely to issue an action plan this month to implement the Politburos Resolution 50 on the orientation of perfecting institutions and policies, improving the quality and efficiency of foreign investment co-operation by 2030 (see box for details). FELTON, California, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With reference to the statement published by the specialists the scope of the global Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Market was projected at US$ 13.11 billion in 2017. It is expected to develop by a CAGR of 4.2% during the period of forecast to touch US$ 18.3 billion by the completion of 2025. Decreasing obtainability of fresh and fit to drink water, mainly in Middle East & Africa along with Asia Pacific, is expected to boost necessity to treat wastewater during the period of forecast, which in turn will boost up the demand for industrial water treatment chemicals. The maximum frequently utilized chemicals are iron, chlorine dioxide, muriatic acid, sodium bicarbonate, aluminum, chlorine and algicide. Flocculants, coagulants, filter cleaners and clarifiers too form an important share of the method of water treatment. The chemicals of water treatment comprising above stated products are utilized in contaminated seawater, rivers and wastewater discharges, so as to make the source harmless for humanoid drinking. Drivers: Such as the outcome of growing industrialized accomplishments, speedy urbanization and rising financial growth the demand for water is increasing constantly. An amount of products are utilized to fulfill the constantly increasing demand and confirm safety of the customer. The four elementary procedures comprises the purification, treatment of wastewater effluent, cooling treatment and boiler treatment. In the U.S.A, demand for freshwater is expected to upsurge due to altering type of weather, alterations in the generation of energy, usage of land and increasing humanoid populace. The freshwater is majorly utilized within the country for irrigation, livestock, in aquaculture, also for cooling of electric power plant, industrialized and metropolitan usages. Due to the unpredictable rain fall within the regions of Africa, Asia Pacific and Central & South America, there is low per head availability of freshwater for human ingestion. These areas are developing markets for biocides which are utilized in the management of industrial wastewater so as to keep up clean environment and deliver drinkable supply for the populaces. Growing industrialized productivity in the sector of power generation and decreasing water footmark by way of recycle are expected to motivate the global industrial water treatment chemicals industry. Get Sample PDF and read more details about the "Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Market" Report 2025. Restraints: Greater prices linked with the procedures, comprising the charges of pollution control, energy and maintenance, add considerably to the procedure charges. This could perform such as an interference to the development of the industrial water treatment chemical market. Many additional restrictions that effect on the prices of operation comprise capability of the plant, figure of workforces, geographic place of the plant, kind of sewage that requires to be treated, choice of chemicals & technologies and gradation of mechanization. Classification: The global industrial water treatment chemicals industry can be classified by Application, End User Industry, Type of Product, and Region. By Application, it can be classified as Water Desalination, Cooling & Boilers, Raw Water Treatment, Effluent Water Treatment and Others. By End User Industry, it can be classified as Chemical, Paper & Pulp, Oil & Gas, Metal & Mining, Power and Others. By Type of Product, it can be classified as Scale Inhibitors, pH Conditioners, Biocides & Disinfectants, Oxygen Scavengers, Sludge Conditioners, Oxidants, Corrosion Inhibitors, Antifoams and Others. Regional Lookout: By Region the global industrial water treatment chemicals market can be classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In 2017, Asia Pacific region, comprising China, was responsible for the biggest share of volume and revenue. Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines administrated the water PPP development due to the controlling support from officials for the involvement of private sector in the management of the wastewater and metropolitan substructure in these nation state. These features are expected to increase the regional market during the period of forecast. One off the most important nations suffering with drought is Taiwan because it obtains merely 21% of forceful rainfall per year. Not only this decreases the class of the air and compromises the comfort of persons, but furthermore influences planned businesses of manufacturing. Hence, resource organizers of Taiwan are concentrating on safeguarding along with expanding its resource supply during the approaching years. This is powered by the stable growth in the nation's industrial demand from 15.4 million m3/year to 16.4 million m3/year. Strong existence of manufacturing amenities in the sectors of automotive, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages and chemicals in Canada and the U.S.A is expected to perform an important part in growing the demand for the services of water treatment during the period of forecast. Deteriorating development in the sector of mining in the U.S.A., due to the outcome of inadequate funds for functioning of mineral processors and increasing prices of labor is expected to decrease the possibility of management services during the nearby future. On the other hand, increasing manufacture of automobiles within the state is expected to upsurge the usage of treatment services in plant utilities during the period of forecast. This will boost up the development of the industrial water treatment chemical industry. Companies: Some of the important companies for industrial water treatment chemicals market are: BASF SE, Suez S.A., Kemira Oyj, Solvay S.A., Buck man Laboratories International Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Ecolab Incorporated, Snf Floerger, So lenis LLC, AkzoNobel N.V., Cortec Corporation and BWA Water Additives. Browse 60 page research report with TOC on "Global Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-water-treatment-chemicals-market Market Segment: Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Raw Water Treatment Water Desalination Cooling & Boilers Effluent Water Treatment Others Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe , Middle East , & Africa , , & Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Belgium Sweden Austria Finland Poland Turkey China Asia Pacific India Japan South Korea Singapore Indonesia Thailand Vietnam Australia New Zealand Iran CIS Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile South Africa Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights: About Million Insights: Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive. Contact: Ryan Manuel Research Support Specialist, USA Million Insights Phone: +1-408-610-2300 Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/ Blog: https://millioninsights.blogspot.com/ SOURCE Million Insights [February 18, 2020] AllCloud Launches Lightning Migration Assessment for Salesforce Users The Salesforce Platinum Consulting Partner is rolling out a new service, on top of its existing Lightning Experience migration services, that aims to help clients get to the new Salesforce platform quickly and seamlessly through a multi-pronged, deep-dive analysis of a clients Salesforce environment before the migration work begins. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AllCloud , a global cloud services provider, has launched the Lightning Migration Assessment (LMA) service for Salesforce users. The assessment is available now to all Salesforce Classic customers that want to leverage the full breadth of the new Salesforce platform. Customers already on Lightning Experience may also benefit from an LMA, as many may not be aware of new or improved solutions that are only available in Lightning Experience. Salesforce Lightning Experience is a modern user interface from Salesforce that helps users visualize data more easily and readily. On January 7, 2020, Salesforce activated Lightning Experience for all organizations using Salesforce. Customers can still use Salesforce Classic, but they may not have access to the many new features available with Lightning Experience such as Voice, News and Insights and Auto-Fill, which drive business growth and productivity. A Salesforce Platinum Consulting Partner, AllCloud offers a wide range of Salesforce-specific services, from planning, building an testing to training, deployment and change management. Working from offices in the US, Canada and EMEA, AllClouds Salesforce-certified consultants have migrated numerous companies to Salesforce over the past decade, including HighWire, Make-Sense and Zoko Enterprises. AllClouds LMA service for Salesforce users is based on a proven methodology for implementing and fully utilizing Salesforce Lightning Experience. The service includes a deep-dive assessment of a clients Salesforce environment as well as a readiness backlog, project plan and roadmap to ensure organizations can easily and fully migrate to the Lightning Experience without losing any functionality. AllCloud will also suggest solutions using Lightning-ready apps, third-party applications, smart changes through in-house development, and estimates including time-to-value and cost-optimization. Salesforce Lightning Experience is one of the many tools that Salesforce is using to enhance the future of customer experience, with forward-focused technology and customizable features that are already providing our customers with an agile, competitive edge, said Peter Nebel, Vice President of Strategy and Practice Development at AllCloud. Its only a matter of time before Salesforce Classic is retired, and Salesforce product owners will be left scrambling to migrate against the clock. In most cases, this will be more than just a simple click of a button. In fact, migration can be a complex project that involves serious business changes. AllCloud is well experienced at executing Lightning Experience migration projects and can quickly scope the effort it would take to transition your organization. Companies interested in learning more about AllClouds LMA service can find more information here . About AllCloud AllCloud is a global professional and managed services company providing organizations with the tools for cloud enablement and transformation. Through a unique combination of expertise and agility, AllCloud accelerates cloud innovation and helps organizations fully unlock the value received from cloud technology. As an AWS Premier Consulting Partner and a Salesforce Platinum Partner, AllCloud helps clients connect their front office and back office by building a new operating model that allows them to harness the benefits of both Salesforce and AWS. AllCloud is supported by a robust ecosystem of technology partners, proven methodologies, and well-documented best practices, elevating customers by achieving operational excellence on the cloud, within a secure environment, at every milestone of the journey to becoming cloud-first. With over 12 years of experience and a portfolio with thousands of successful cloud deployments, AllCloud serves clients across the globe. AllCloud has offices in Israel, Europe and North America. Media contact: Kevin Wolf TGPR (650) 483-1552 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Jet Airways owes banks nearly Rs 8,000 crore. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Jet Airways' Committee of Creditors will meet on February 18 to decide on giving more time to Prudent ARC, and possibly Synergy Group, to put in bids for the airline. The meeting takes place a day after another no-show even as the deadline to submit bids expired. As it was feared neither of the two suitors submitted a proposal to take over Jet Airways, which had suspended operations in April 2019. The Committee of Creditors, consisting of the banks that lent to the airline, would either extend the deadline or clear the way for liquidation, the eventual possibility. Of the two suitors, reports suggest, Prudent ARC has asked for more time to submit bids. A Business Standard report said that the New Delhi-based company informed the resolution professional overseeing the insolvency process that it had got the backing of investors and needs more time to submit a formal bid. On the other hand, there is now a big question over Synergy's interest. While it wanted assurance from the government that airport slots of Jet Airways would be available to the new owner, the administration said that the availability would depend on a concrete business plan. Synergy's owner German Efromovich earlier commented that Jet Airways had a more serious problem and that, in the history of aviation, no airline that stopped flying rose again. For Jet Airways lenders, led by State Bank of India, there are few options. Liquidation will further lessen their chances of recovering at least a part of the over Rs 8,000 crore that Jet Airways owes them. But, they end up with just that alternative. The airline, overall, has a liability of over Rs 20,000 crore. The banks now have just a month before the mandatory 270-day insolvency period, gets over. Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister and secondary education minister, Dinesh Sharma this years UP Board 2020 high school and intermediate examinations, beginning on Tuesday, would be unique in many ways. In a chat with Rajeev Mullick, the minister said the results would also be announced much ahead of other boards. Excerpts: What is so unique about the UP Board examinations this year? The Board examinations will begin from Tuesday (February 18) and end on March 3 for High School and on March 6 for Intermediate. Thus high school examinations will get over in 12 working days and intermediate exams in 15 days. This is a new record. In 2019, the Class 10 or high school examinations concluded in 14 working days, while the Class 12 or intermediate examinations concluded in 16 working days. Prior to Yogi governments tenure, the exams continued for two and a half months. We are now finishing high school exam in 12 working days and intermediate in 15 days. This will not only cut down expenses but will also ensure early declaration of result. UP Board results will be announced on April 24, ahead of many other boards. Like previous year, this is for the second time the UP Board exam will be held as per NCERT syllabus. What measures was taken to ensure sanctity of the exam? Technology has been integrated in a big way in the smooth conduction of UP board examination. A hi-tech control room has also been set up in Lucknow which would be connected to each of the 7784 examinations centers in 75 districts of state through a network of around 1.90 lakh CCTV cameras. The webcasting of examinations would be done every day which would be monitored by officials in state capital. Every centre in the state this year has also got a broadband connection installed along with voice recorder for smooth webcasting of examination proceedings. Around 1.88 lakh teachers have been assigned examination duties to be conducted in 94,000 rooms. What security measures has been taken for the board exams at the centres? There will be a static magistrate in every centre and nodal officer in every district. Our officers will be on the move in different districts during the examination. Section 144 has been imposed outside exam centres and no outsider, even management committee members, will be allowed to enter the exam hall. Are there any new initiatives ahead of the exam? The UP board launched two toll free helpline numbers: 1800-180-5310 and 1800-180-5312 for students to get replies to their queries and help them overcome stress. The helpline numbers remain active from 8 am to 8 pm. We also launched a new Twitter handle @upboardexam2020 for real-time speedy transmission of information. Keeping in mind the wide interests of candidates appearing in the High School and Intermediate examinations, the Board launched the Twitter service for 2020 examination for speedy resolution of their problems. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Coronavirus (Representative Image: Reuters) Pune-based Serum Institute of India and American biotech firm Codagenix have developed a preventive vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19), which is ready for pre-clinical trials and may even progress to human trials in six months, The Times of India reported. A collaborative effort, the candidate vaccine was made using synthetic lab-made coronavirus. While global efforts are also on, this is a breakthrough as it significantly reduces the time taken to develop a vaccine for use. Adar Poonawalla, the owner and CEO of SII, said it would take seven to eight years to develop a vaccine for use by conventional methods. "We have already marched ahead by generating a candidate vaccine in the laboratory of our US-based partner Codagenix. Our vaccine-virus strain is identical to the original virus and can generate a robust immune response," he told the paper. COVID-19 update COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The death toll in China has climbed to 1,868, and the total confirmed cases jumped to 72,436 on February 18, National Health Commission officials said. Of the 98 new deaths, 93 were reported from Hubei Province the epicentre of the virus. The province also reported 1,807 new confirmed cases, taking the total number of such cases to 59,989 in the province. Another 1,432 new suspected cases were reported from the rest of China, they added. Top World Health Organisation (WHO) experts, including those from the US, have joined the fight against COVID-19. "The foreign experts on board the China-WHO Joint Mission have arrived in Beijing. They have started relevant activities. We have experts from the US on the mission," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media. NHC said China had stepped up efforts to shore up weak spots as the epidemic prevention and control had entered the most crucial stage. Nine temporary hospitals with more than 6,960 beds have opened in Hubei. As of February 14, a total of 217 medical teams with 25,633 medical workers had been sent to Hubei, the Xinhua report said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived late Monday in Ethiopia, Africas second most populous country and a key US security ally in the Horn of Africa region. Its Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is under pressure to uphold his dramatic political reforms amid rising ethnic tensions ahead of a major election in August. Abiys government is also under pressure from the US to reach an agreement with Egypt on the massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project that Ethiopia says is crucial to pull its people out of poverty. Ethiopia is the latest stop in Pompeo's Africa tour. Hong Kong: Residents should take govt flights Chief Executive Carrie Lam urged Hong Kong residents aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan to return home via a chartered flight arranged by the Government. Addressing the media before todays Executive Council meeting, Mrs Lam said the Immigration Department has deployed staff to communicate with all 351 Hong Kong residents on the ship. She explained that while the Government has been unable to contact 10 residents, with the help of the Diamond Princess crew, the department will continue to reach out to them as long as they can establish contact. So we have asked the cruise company to help us to reach out to them. We are sending them letters. I am going to send each of them a letter today to tell them exactly the arrangements that we have put in place. Because a number of Hong Kong residents have expressed reservations about taking the chartered flight, Mrs Lam said the Governments letter will also explain the consequences of such a decision. "They may not realise that if they dont take this chartered flight and they disembark, they think they could board a commercial flight and come back to Hong Kong. One, is they may have difficulty in getting a commercial flight ticket. Because if people know that they come from this cruise, then there may be some worries. "Secondly is, even if they manage to take a commercial flight back, upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport they will be stopped by the Immigration Department because they will be put on the watch list. And our port health officials would then approach them and would likewise serve a quarantine order." Mrs Lam stressed that the flight is free of charge and that those concerned must make a final decision right away. I hope with that full explanation, that those who have expressed some reservations about using our service - and by the way its a free service that we are rolling out - will reconsider and let our Immigration Department know their exact decision, because we need the decision pretty early so that we can arrange the transport and so on. Regarding Hong Kong people in Hubei, Mrs Lam stated that she is very concerned and attached great importance to their situation, adding the Government has provided necessary assistance to them. She pointed out that while the Government wants them evacuated, it must also consider that the local coronavirus situation is still severe. As movement in and out of the province is tightly controlled, a specific plan should be drawn up first, Mrs Lam added. This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Turkey: 766 arrest warrants for 'coup ties' 'Gulen affiliates infiltrated army, police, ministries' (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 18 - Prosecutors' offices across Turkey issued at least 766 arrest warrants on Tuesday in a new maxi round-up against suspected affiliates of the network of Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government considers responsible for orchestrating the failed coup on July 15, 2016. Anadolu news agency said the operation concerns alleged infiltrations in the country's army, police force, and justice ministry. The main operation was coordinated by magistrates in the capital city of Ankara, and targeted 467 people accused of having rigged examinations for police officers in 2009, allowing access to the position of deputy commissioner. The questions were allegedly released in advance to facilitate infiltration among the top ranks of the police force by officers linked to Gulen. Operations are underway in 67 provinces across Turkey on Tuesday to try to arrest the suspects, while other operations are taking place across the country from Smirne on the Aegean coast to Adana on the Mediterranean coast. Dozens of active-duty military personnel are among those being sought. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested as a result of the failed coup, with more than 140,000 people fired or suspended from civil service in the biggest purge in modern Turkish history.(ANSAmed). Very concerned about latest military escalation in the area Swiss ambassador during his visit to Luhansk region Swiss ambassador to Ukraine Claude Wild visited the contact line during his visit to the Luhansk region, and stressed that he was very concerned about the recent military escalation in the area. "Pleased to meet the local population and officials but very concerned about the latest military escalation in the area," the Embassy quoted the ambassador as saying on Twitter on Tuesday. As reported, as a result of a military clash that began on Tuesday morning due to an attack by Russia-led forces of the positions of Ukrainian units near the settlements of Novotoshkivske, Orekhove, Krymske, Khutir Vilny (Luhansk region), one Ukrainian military was killed and another four were injured. Haiti - COVID-19 : Training of agents of the National Ambulance Center at the International Airport At the initiative of the Department of Epidemiology, Laboratories and Research (DELR) of the Ministry of Public Health, agents from the National Ambulance Center (CAN) stationed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, took part in a training on the prevention and control of a person suspected of being contaminated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). On the front line in the introduction of a possible suspected case of COVID-19, which could arrive by air, these CAN agents learned the management protocol, the use of personal protective equipment and the precautions to be taken in the transportation of any patient. Simulation sessions were conducted at the International Airport and personal protective equipment was provided to participants. This 2-day training, given by Dr. Jeronimo Canahuiri Ayerbe and Dr. Daniella Satyr, both consultants for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); Epidemiologist Apollon Destine, airport surveillance manager and Dr. Joane Adrien, epidemiologist at DELR, is part of PAHO technical support to Haitian health authorities to consolidate preparation for a possible introduction of the new Coronavirus in the country. COVID-19 Global report 18 February : Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the number of people infected worldwide with the Coronavirus COVID-19 (laboratory and clinical confirmed cases) amounted to 73.336, an increase of 1.526 cases, 40% lower than the previous day https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30050-haiti-news-zapping.html ; 1,874 deaths (+ 5.6%), 99 more than the day before (1,775); 13,021 people healed, ie 1,741 people (+ 15.4%) more than the day before (6.9 times more healing than death compared to 5.8 times the day before). To date there are outside China, 898 confirmed infected people worldwide (after removing duplicates) Number of deaths abroad unchanged (4): 1 in the Philippines, 1 in Hong Kong, 1 in Japan, and 1 in France. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30039-haiti-health-the-caribbean-and-latin-america-trained-in-the-detection-of-covid-19.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30015-icihaiti-health-haiti-now-has-the-means-to-detect-the-new-coronavirus-covid-19.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30010-haiti-flash-coronavirus-the-number-of-infected-and-deaths-explodes-in-24-hours.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29955-haiti-health-surveillance-measures-are-deployed-in-the-country-s-ports-and-airports.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29950-haiti-flash-the-ministry-asks-the-hospitals-of-the-country-to-prepare-for-the-coronavirus.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29947-icihaiti-dr-towards-the-establishment-of-a-sanitary-cordon-at-the-border.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29926-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29923-haiti-coronavirus-emergency-meeting-of-caribbean-health-ministers.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29919-haiti-flash-chinese-banned-to-go-out-of-a-plane-to-port-au-prince.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29879-haiti-health-chinese-coronavirus-the-ministry-of-health-is-reassuring.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29858-haiti-flash-chinese-coronavirus-haiti-is-preparing-and-activating-its-alert-system.html HL/ HaitiLibre Mike Bloomberg still introduces himself to voters on the stump by saying "I'm an engineer" - an egghead identity he honed managing large organizations such as the city of New York, his namesake company and a nascent presidential campaign now on track to spend more than any in U.S. history. But on Wednesday night, Bloomberg will be forced to leave his comfort zone and test his chops as a charismatic politician. When he steps onto the debate stage in Las Vegas for his first hostile and uncontrolled campaign test, there will be no management decisions to make, teleprompters to lean on or endless ad budgets to filter his image with focus-grouped messaging. In preparation, his advisers have spent much of the past week drilling him for the big jump, which could make or break the momentum he has generated with his extravagant spending. In debate prep sessions, they have armed him with comebacks for the coming attacks on his enormous wealth and past record, while also coaching him to move beyond his sometimes distant, wonky and diffidently logical public persona. "Mike is the most deeply steeped student of policy who is going to be on that debate stage," said Bloomberg senior adviser Tim O'Brien, one of many who have helped the candidate prepare for the debate. "We also really hope voters get to see his humanity and his compassion." Wary of Bloomberg's rise in the polls, his rivals, with far more debate experience and Democratic longevity, have made clear that they will not go easy on the newcomer. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spent Tuesday in Reno, Nevada, denouncing Bloomberg's campaign as an example of "oligarchy, not democracy." Former vice president Joe Biden has been boasting for days about his desire to confront Bloomberg in person, since he cannot compete with the billionaire's advertising budget. "At least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., warned in a tweet about Bloomberg on Tuesday. The scrutiny comes as Bloomberg's own aides are attempting to reframe the contest as a two-person race, between Sanders and Bloomberg, after several state and national polls have shown Biden's support plummeting as the former New York mayor's numbers rise past Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg. In a call with reporters Tuesday, Dan Kanninen, Bloomberg's states director, said Sanders was the only other viable Democrat in the race. He said supporters of other candidates need to quickly choose between the two or risk wasting their votes in upcoming primaries. Under party rules, candidates who get less than 15% of the vote in a state or congressional district are awarded no delegates. Recent polls have found both men on the ascent in the Democratic race - and on a collision course if their trajectories continue. An NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll published Tuesday put Sanders at 27% and Bloomberg at 14%, one point below Biden's 15%. Unlike Biden, who fell 11 points in the past month, Bloomberg gained five points over the same period. But a race between the two at the current moment would be no contest, with Sanders at 57% and Bloomberg at 37%. "It's very clear Democrats have to urgently consolidate around a candidate," Kanninen said, warning that supporters of other moderates could inadvertently help nominate Sanders by refusing to get behind Bloomberg on his timetable. "There really is a prospect of a candidate with maybe only a quarter of the votes getting 80 to 90% of the delegates." The rise in polling comes as Bloomberg faces a barrage of negative news coverage, some of it promoted by rival campaigns. He has had to again address allegations that he made profane and sexist comments, his past defense of targeting stop-and-frisk police policies to black and Latino neighborhoods in New York, and an interview in which he blamed the 2008 financial crisis on politicians who had pushed to end racially discriminatory mortgage-lending policies known as "redlining." Bloomberg's past political leanings - he registered as a Democrat in 2018 - and his refusal to file a financial disclosure or release his tax returns before the debate, even as he is self-financing his campaign, also could come into play Wednesday. A spokesman for his campaign said the financial disclosure would be filed by March 20, and Howard Wolfson, a senior adviser to the campaign, has previously said Bloomberg would release his tax returns, though no date has been set. Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey signaled Tuesday that the campaign may soon adopt a more aggressive posture toward opponents such as Sanders. "The opposition research on @BernieSanders could fill @realDonaldTrump's empty Foxconn facility in Wisconsin," Sheekey wrote in a Twitter post, with no elaboration save the reference to a giant manufacturing space for which President Donald Trump once claimed credit. "It is very damaging, perhaps even disqualifying." Those comments and the campaign's new get-it-done thrust came less than a week after Bloomberg declined to criticize Sanders or express concern about a lack of consolidation among the moderate Democratic candidates. "I'm not a prognosticator, so I don't want to comment on who's up and who's down," Bloomberg said last week on a tour through Tennessee, demonstrating his typically dispassionate style. "I believe that I have common-sense policies that are affordable, practical and politically viable to take this country forward." Until now, Bloomberg has built a campaign that exists overwhelmingly in the realm of paid advertising, with hundreds of television and digital ads that have been tested and refined to produce positive responses from their audience. Through mid-February, Bloomberg has spent about $339 million on television and radio, more than the total that President Barack Obama spent on such ads during his 2012 reelection campaign, according to Advertising Analytics, a tracking firm. By comparison, the two top finishers in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, Buttigieg and Sanders, spent more than $10 million each on broadcast advertising in the state. To put the spending in another context, all the ads Bloomberg purchased through Feb. 10 would run for 4,106 hours, or 171 days, if they were played consecutively. Bloomberg announced his campaign 86 days ago. The wizard behind the curtain of all that paid media, however, has been far less visible to the public. By passing on the competitions in Iowa and New Hampshire, and the first year of televised town halls and interest group cattle calls, Bloomberg has not needed to flex the improvisational campaign muscles his rivals have been building for months. His in-person campaign approach has also been outsourced to a massive field operation that employees about 1,700 people in 43 states. They have proved adept at attracting crowds for him of about 1,000 as he jets around the country for events with free food and wine, live music, and complementary campaign T-shirts. Bloomberg's actual performance on the stump can be underwhelming by comparison, as he reads from teleprompters to deliver even a standard 15-minute speech after multiple introductions, and regularly cuts short the time for glad-handing with the public afterward. Bloomberg is the first candidate to make the Democratic debate stage this cycle without meeting any fundraising goals, after a change last month by Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez allowed candidates to qualify for the debate either by winning at least one delegate or by scoring 10% or more in four qualifying polls. The poll that put Bloomberg onstage, from NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist, showed him with the support of 19% of Democratic primary voters nationwide - in second place behind Sanders, who received 31%. The poll, published Tuesday, was conducted between Feb. 13 and 16. The debate will air Wednesday on MSNBC and NBC at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Candidates who qualified either with polling or by winning national delegates in Iowa or New Hampshire include Bloomberg, Biden, Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar and Buttigieg. Bloomberg has prepared for the sparring by shifting his policy proposals to more closely align with the appetites of Democratic primary voters. He has proposed a modest financial-transaction tax that would hit many of the subscribers to his company's financial-data terminals, and a tax increase for those like himself in higher tax brackets. He has called for racially targeted programs to increase black homeownership, double the number of black-owned businesses and increase the net worth of black families. He has also repeatedly apologized for stop-and-frisk policing. If anything, Bloomberg has tried to use his wealth and emotional distance from political combat as a selling point. The central message of his campaign is that he has the ability and record to defeat Trump and the managerial competence to improve the lives of voters. While his rivals attacks his wealth as obscene and his spending as profligate, he has embraced the same as the appeal of his candidacy. "There is nothing Trump can do or say that can hurt me," Bloomberg said last week in his stump speech in Chattanooga, Tennessee. "I won't let him bully you, either." Massachusetts State Rep. David Nangle was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, prosecutors announced. Additional federal charges may be lodged against the Democratic state representative, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling tweeted. #BREAKING: #Massachusetts State Representative David Nangle arrested this morning for allegedly using campaign funds to pay personal expenses, and other federal charges. Details to follow at 10:30am press conference w/ USA #Lelling, @FBIBoston and @IRSnews U.S. Attorney MA (@DMAnews1) February 18, 2020 Nangle, a Democrat, represents the 17th Middlesex district, which includes parts of Lowell and Chelmsford. He has served in the Massachusetts State House since 1999, according to the commonwealths website. The U.S. Attorneys Office will hold a press conference later Tuesday morning at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston to announce the charges, Lelling said in a statement. Nangles arrest comes after two recent ethics cases involving state legislators. John Nardozzi, an accountant for the late former State Sen. Brian Joyce was sentenced in January to more than a year in jail for conspiring with Joyce to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, and in 2013, former State Rep. John Fresolo resigned after an ethics investigation was launched into his travel per diems and allegations of an inappropriate photograph found on his email. Brian Hoey, Nangles staff director, declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday morning. Sydney Airport has cemented its logistics footprint after inking a new long-term strategic partnership with DHL Express to cater for the increasing arrivals of e-commerce freight. Located at the domestic airport, the deal fund to 2029 and will see the airport grow its dedicated freight hub in the coming years. The extended lease will allow DHL Express to upgrade the internal operations of the 12,000 square metre hub. Sydney Airport has more than 90 tenants occupying 98 per cent of the 880,000 square metres allocated to freight handling at the airport. Other tenants include Qantas Freight, Virgin, Toll, Menzies and Dnata. DHL Express has extended its lease with Sydney Airport to cater for the growth in online shopping freight. Last year, Australians spent a total of $28.6 billion on online shopping, which now accounts for about 9 per cent of Australias total retail sale. [February 18, 2020] New .gay Top-Level Domain Champions LGBTQ Nonprofits and Online Safety Domain registry Top Level Design proudly announces the launch of generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) '.gay' after a near decade-long application process. The .gay domain extension represents a historic step forward that signals support of LGBTQ people, causes, and businesses. The gTLD sunrise period is currently underway for trademark registration through March 31, open to businesses that have their trademark validated with TMCH; an additional phase for other trademark holders follows thereafter. "We believe that .gay is something special - our mission is to provide a distinctive digital space devoted to connecting and celebrating LGBTQ communities," said Ray King, CEO of Top Level Design. "We're already seeing great uptake, from Fortune 100 to LGBTQ-specific brands and public figures, secure domain names during our Sunrise period and look forward to continuing to build momentum with upcoming launch phases." In addition to creating a completely new medium for LGBTQ visibility, .gay is making an industry-first commitment to donate 20 percent of all new registration revenue to nonprofit partners, which will help address key issues facing these communities. All registrars are also encouraged to match the .gay donation at the retail level or make their own pledges in support of LGBTQ people. This year .gay is honored to share this donation with inaugural beneficiaries GLAAD and CenterLink, two organizations that offer vital tools and life-saving services to these communities. "CenterLink is proud to partner with .gay as they launch their campaign to lift up LGBTQ voices and create more gay-friendly spaces on the internet," said Denise Spivak, Interim CEO of CenterLink. ".gay's generous support of CenterLink and the Center Action Network will ensure that those voices are heard as we engage and mobilize LGBTQ people across the country." Additionally, GLAAD's Media Guide is core to all .gay marketing resources and ".gay RightsProtections" policy, which ensures that registrars and domains will represent LGBTQ people appropriately and respond to reported instances of hate or harassment on .gay sites. The registry is committed to set a higher industry standard by taking steps to ensure that all .gay domain names remain free of harassment, hate speech, and anti-LGBTQ content, as well as provide specific remedies for domains that do not uphold these standards. .GAY LAUNCH SCHEDULE All websites on .gay represent an opportunity to give global populations a more meaningful online experience that connects and celebrates LGBTQ communities. "Pink Media makes history as the first-ever .gay site activated with ilove.gay now live online, " said King. "As a social-first LGBTQ media company, its #ILoveGay brand and mission to usher in a more connected world is perfectly aligned with our vision for the .gay domain." The launch schedule includes a required phase for registered trademark holders as well as additional phases for the most-interested and active parties before it is made globally available to all. For corporate brands and employers, this extension is a clear sign of diversity and inclusion that could be leveraged for employee resource groups and LGBTQ outreach. Phases begin at 15:00:00 UTC and end at 14:59:59 UTC. February 10 - March 31, 2020 - Sunrise: A required phase for all trademark holders already registered in ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse to register domains matching their approved trademarks. April 6 - May 6, 2020 - Sunrise II: An innovative phase that expands the scope of acceptable trademarks and service marks to those registered with any verifiable national or international body (e.g., WIPO, USPTO, UKIPO, OHIM-EUIPO). May 11 - May 18, 2020 - Early Access Period: Registration prices start higher and then decrease daily. It is most relevant for those interested in valuable, generic keywords. May 20, 2020 - General Availability: Registration will be open to the public. Anyone who wishes can register a name ending in .gay on a , first-come, first-served basis. Prices will begin under $30. For more information or support on purchasing a .gay domain, visit http://toplevel.design/gay. ABOUT TOP LEVEL DESIGN Top Level Design LLC was founded to deliver a new generation of internet naming. Our domains focus on a passion for people, creativity and the power of collaboration. We are the proud registry for the .wiki, .ink, .design and .gay TLDs. We also provide registrar services through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Porkbun LLC. We are based in Portland, Oregon and have team members on the East coast as well as Beijing. ABOUT CENTERLINK CenterLink develops strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and builds a thriving center network that creates healthy, vibrant communities. Founded in 1994, CenterLink plays an important role in addressing the challenges centers face by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity, access public resources, and engage their regional communities in the grassroots social justice movement. www.lgbtcenters.org. ABOUT GLAAD GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook (News - Alert) and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005296/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday accused the DMK of deceiving the people over the CAA and dared it to explain "which minority" community has been affected by the law in the state. Making an intervention in the state assembly when a DMK member batted for a House resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, he slammed the principal opposition party and said it was deceiving the people on the issue. The assembly, debating the 2020-21 budget, witnessed exchanges over the controversial law even as protests by Muslims against it continued for the fifth day at Old Washermanpet here. Speaking on the budget, DMK MLA T Mano Thangaraj favoured an anti-CAA resolution in the House. Intervening, Palaniswami, who had been maintaining that the government will not allow anything that may affect the minorities, sought to turn the tables on the DMK and asked it to give details about those affected by the citizenship act. "Which minority is affected in Tamil Nadu? We are not acting (deceiving) like you (DMK)," he said. When Thangaraj, defended his position and pointed to resolutions against the CAA in some states, the Chief Minister said the law related to Citizenship came under the domain of the Central government and not the state. IUML member KAM Muhammed Abubacker too spoke and pointed to apprehensions vis-a-vis the CAA. Responding, Revenue Minister R B Udhaya Kumar said the Chief Minister had even said (previously) that the government would own responsibility if any Muslim had been affected in the past three decades in Tamil Nadu, an apparent reference to the AIADMK rule for a major part of the period. Kumar said the matter (CAA) was in the Supreme Court and also no rules had been framed under the law yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MARCY, N.Y. - As State Police continue to look for two men believed to have impersonated police officers, stopping a vehicle along Route 49 between Utica and Rome forcing the driver to his knees, Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol wants to get the word out to people that this has happened and what you can do to keep safe if it were to happen to you. State Police say a man, whom they are not identifying, told them he was pulled over on on Tuesday, January 28th around 5:20 P.M. along Route 49 in the Marcy-Floyd area by an unknown type of vehicle with flashing blue lights inside the windshield. The driver told investigators two men, whom appeared to be in their 20's, around 6-feet tall and possibly Hispanic, got out of that flashing blue light vehicle in black winter coats and black winter hats and then forced him to get out of the car, and then forced him to stay on his knees at the rear of his vehicle. He says one of the men searched his vehicle, and a second man took a Q-tip and swabbed his mouth. Both men then told the driver that he was all set and free to go. The two men still have not been caught. Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol says this case being handled by State Police is very concerning for all law enforcement, "Blue lights would signify a volunteer firefighter. The circumstances around that case, everything that happened there, is certainly something that a legitimate police officer would ever do." Maciol says police vehicles in New York State have red flashing lights, some do have blue lights mixed in, but they always have red flashing lights. Maciol has some tips to stay safe if you are approached by a vehicle with only blue flashing lights, "If you do feel uncomfortable about exactly where you are, by all means put your flashers on or slow down. With your flashers on, at least if it is legitimate police officer behind you at that moment, theyre going to realize that you know theyre trying to pull you over so youre going to send a signal to the police officer that youre not fleeing from them. Maybe you want to go just a short distance up the road to find a safer place to pull over." Maciol says if you are being pulled over by a a vehicle with only blue flashing lights, call 911, "If you see blue lights, blue lights in New York State, thats a volunteer fire fighter so you have to yield to them, slow down and pull over, but if youre stopping and they're stopping, then youre probably going to want move on. Because again, a police officers not going to pull you over with blue lights." Maciol says a police officer would never swab someone's mouth during a traffic stop. He says such a swab is only used to get a DNA sample, and police have to serve a warrant to do so and it would never be done during a traffic stop. State Police are asking anyone who may have been traveling on State Route 49 between the city of Rome and the city of Utica between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 28 and may have witnessed the incident, to contact them at 315-366-6000. TAIPEI, Taiwan, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lanner Electronics, the leading Whitebox Solution provider for network security, SD-WAN and Intelligent Edge, today announced the release of the Verizon-certified L-1515, an LTE and WiFi ready uCPE/vCPE, and the PGN-300, a swappable CAT-6 LTE Module. The open, scalable design hardware platforms provide system integrators with robust performance, carrier-grade reliability and future-proof connectivity to meet application-centric demands of next-gen 5G wireless communications. Lanner L-1515, the Whitebox Solution version of the Lanner NCA-1515, has received certifications from Verizon Wireless as a LTE/WiFi Ready uCPE/vCPE for SD-WAN. Lanner provides the Verizon-certified PGN-300, the swappable LTE Cat-6 caddy module designed for intelligent VMS, mobile SD-WAN and 4G LTE failover. To meet the demands for regulatory standards, safety and technical requirements, Lanner L-1515, the Whitebox Solution version of the Lanner NCA-1515, has received certifications from Verizon Wireless as a LTE/WiFi Ready uCPE/vCPE for SD-WAN. Featuring up to six antennas for enhanced 4G/LTE/WiFi connectivity, the L-1515 is a desktop network appliance equipped with 4~16 Cores Intel Atom C3000 Series CPU, 4~6 GbE, 2x SFP, Gen3 bypass and Intel QAT, making it capable of delivering SD-WAN and VNF services at distributed enterprise, retail stores and branch offices. The interoperable and reliable mobile connectivity in the edge network is now a necessity for next-gen communications. To offer scalable flexible LTE connectivity for intelligent edge platform, Lanner provides the Verizon-certified PGN-300, the swappable LTE Cat-6 caddy module designed for intelligent VMS, mobile SD-WAN and 4G LTE failover. The secure mechanical design provides dual SIM card readers and dual 4G LTE Antenna inputs, featuring up to 300 Mbps down/150Mbps uplinks. With the hot-swappable PCI-Express 3.0 interface, the PGN-300 provides robust connectivity to all of our network appliances through onboard expansion slots on Lanner network appliances, edge AI gateway and rugged in-vehicle platforms. "The Verizon certification on Lanner Whitebox Solutions not only ensures the reliability in edge to cloud communications, but also helps our OEM customers accelerate the time-to-market process in their mobile applications," said Sven Freudenfeld, CTO of Lanner Telecom Applications Business Unit. "Lanner Whitebox Solutions and modular caddy help system integrator efficiently manage network connectivity and resources from distributed branches to the data center and the cloud." About Lanner Electronics Lanner Electronics Inc (TAIEX 6245) is a world leading provider of design, engineering and manufacturing services for advanced and customizable SDN and NFV network computing appliances for system integrators, service providers and application developers. Lanner possesses a wide range of network appliances including vCPE gateways designed for SD-WAN and SD-Security, as well as NEBS-compliant, NFVi-ready platforms with multiple processors, network I/O blades, and high availability features. www.lannerinc.com Media Contact Brian Chen +886-2-8692-6060 [email protected] SOURCE Lanner Electronics Related Links http://www.lannerinc.com Recording artist, author and speaker Becky Nordquist is slated to attend the National Religious Broadcasters' NRB 2020 Christian Media Convention, which will be held February 25-28, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Nordquist will be meeting and interviewing with media and industry leaders to discuss her poignant and encouraging combination music and devotional book project, Before We said Hello, which released in the fall of 2019 from Music for the Soul. "The National Religious Broadcasters organization plays such a huge role in making the gospel message available to people across the county and around the world," Nordquist says. "I'm thrilled to be able to attend this year's NRB 2020 Christian Media Convention, and to have the opportunity to share my music and story with so many new friends in the industry." Since the October 15, 2019, release of Before We Said Hello, Nordquist has found herself in demand as a guest on multiple television and radio broadcast, print, and online media outlets, including interviews and performances with Worship Leader Magazine, Cornerstone TV's flagship program Real Life, It's Time with Herman & Sharron and Bridges on the Christian Television Network, Julie & Friends on the TCT television network, WATC television shows Babbie's House, Atlanta Live, and Friends & Neighbors, Bill Martinez Live! (syndicated in over 300 U.S. radio markets), Moody Radio, Chris Fabry Live, The Rick Altizer Show on Bott Radio Network, World Christian Broadcasting, CBN.com, Inspiration.org, Hallels, and Song Revolution Podcast, among others. For more information on Becky Nordquist, visit beckynordquist.com. For more information on Music for the Soul, visit musicforthesoul.org. To listen to "Before We Said Hello," visit musicforthesoul.org/resources/before-we-said-hello/. Tags : Becky Nordquist to Attend National Religious Broadcasters Christian Media Convention Becky Nordquist Becky Nordquist news Becky Nordquist interview One mans gain is another mans loss. At least this is the philosophy that Wilbur Ross, who also happens to be the US Commerce Secretary, adheres to. His statements are not in harmony with those of US President Donald Trump, who emphasized he would continue extensive communication and cooperation between the US and China in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The WHO has already declared the Covid-19 outbreak a global threat, as it has been detected in a couple of dozen countries. While the epicenter of the outbreak is in Wuhan, and most of those infected are in the Chinese province of Hubei, the world must work together relentlessly in order to contain the epidemic worldwide. In times of crisis and viral epidemics, the world must engage in even closer cooperation. In general, the international reaction has been positive, with a few exceptions, of course. The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Chinas efforts to contain the new disease, saying they have "bought the world valuable time" and that other nations must make the most of it. Responsible countries have treated it as a natural disaster and are standing with China in this difficult time, extending all possible moral, diplomatic, political and material support, such as the donation of medical equipment and sending medical staff. But some of the more opportunistic nations have seen it as a chance to blame, bash, contain, and defame China. US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross has said the coronavirus outbreak in China could be positive for the American economy. His statement is based on the philosophy of Your loss is my gain, unlike the Chinese thinking, which encourages win-win partnerships. Famous German magazine Der Spiegel ran a front-page report over the weekend featuring an Asian wearing red protective clothing, goggles, and headphones, with the headline "Made in China." This highly racist and provocative publication was not expected from a civilized nation like Germany. Denmark's Jyllands-Posten printed a cartoon of the Chinese flag with virus-like figures in place of the symbolic Golden-Yellow stars. It should be remembered that these acts set bad precedents, and do not help with the global epidemic fight. President Xi: On the frontline At the 12th meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) central committee for deepening overall reforms, held on 14th February 2020, President Xi stressed improving the mechanisms for major epidemic prevention and control and the national public health emergency management system. He further emphasized strengthening legislation on public health and assessment of revising laws and regulations concerning infectious disease prevention and treatment. Under President Xis leadership, China is working on a war footing and in unison to defeat the epidemic. The first priority is to confine the virus to a limited area and isolate the infected people so as to control its further spread. Simultaneously, scientists are developing a vaccine against Covid-19. Development of vaccines and its testing on animals and then human trials is a time-consuming process. The state is fully aware and strict legislation and policies are being formulated and implemented to prevent similar outbreaks in the future. Chinese intellectuals have the capacity to formulate a strong policy framework to deal with future disasters too. Formulating relevant laws is easier than their implementation. The strength of the Chinese governance system is that it can effectively implement the policies in their true spirit. The number of those infected has reached 70,548, with 1,770 deaths by Feb.16. This number may have increased by the time you read this article. But due to its enormous political will and economic strength, we are confident that the leadership and governance system of China will be able to overcome the epidemic soon enough. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online. Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] Feb. 14 Brittany N. Decker, 24, of Bossier City, Louisiana was arrested at Elko County Jail on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $5,000 -- Maria B. Esquivel, 36, of Elko was arrested at 12th and Chestnut streets in Carlin for driving with a suspended drivers license and failure to give appropriate signal when required. Bail: $470 -- Jennifer K. Hills, 43, of Elko was arrested at Elko Motel on a warrant for four counts of failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $3,505 -- Dylan E. Jerome, 24, of Spring Creek was arrested on Spring Valley Parkway on five counts of violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. -- Hunter A. Jones, 19, of Hiddenite, North Carolina was arrested at the Rancho Plaza for felony possession of a controlled substance. Bail: $5,000 -- Janell S. Mendoza, 51, of Elko was arrested at 10th and Silver streets for failure to drive properly on divided road and driving under the influence. Bail: $1,255 -- Jeffrey E. Morreira Jr., 25, of Carlin was arrested at 12th and Chestnut streets for driving without a drivers license, two counts of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $1,475 -- James M. Ryan Jr., 41, of Elko was arrested at 1400 Mountain City Highway on a parole and probation hold. -- Stephen Siderowicz, 57, of Spring Creek was arrested at 527 Lawndale Place for assault with a deadly weapon and domestic battery. Bail: $23,140 -- Paul M. Smith, 34, of Carlin was arrested on Mountain City Highway at Walmart for driving with a suspended license and open container of alcohol in vehicle. Bail: $710. -- Brett Starns, 33, of Salt Lake City was arrested at the Montego Bay parking lot for speeding 1-10 mph over limit and driving under the influence. Bail: $1,140 -- Supileo M. Takau, 32, of Draper, Utah was arrested at 1800 W. Butte St. in West Wendover for domestic battery and resisting a public officer. Bail: $3,640 -- Darwyn R. Yowell, 36, of Spring Creek was arrested at 1754 Weyumb St. on two BIA/tribal charges. Bail: $1,000 The charges above do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd. | The share price has risen 21 percent to Rs 2,942.7 as on June 18, 2021 from Rs 2,424.25 on June 17, 2020. Profit margin for the quarter-ended June 2017: 42 percent, June 2018 quarter: 44 percent, June 2019 quarter: 58 percent, and June 2020 quarter: 73 percent. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More - FY20 Q3 revenues up 4 percent YoY- Electrical consumer durables drove up top line and margins- Lighting and fixtures volumes increased, but revenues fell- Focus on cost control initiatives pays off - Valuations reasonable from a long-term perspective ------------------------------------------------- Consumer durable company Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals (CGCE) (CMP: Rs 283, Market cap: Rs 17,785 crore) delivered a show full of sparks for the December quarter of 2019-20. Electrical consumer durables continued to be on a roll, but the lighting segment was a drag, which cast a shadow. The outlook remains stable and the business is on track to deliver yet another powerful year despite moderation in economic activity. Key result highlights Revenues for the quarter rose 4 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,071 crores as sales were impacted by the credit stress in trade channels and downbeat retail sales. Gross margins improved 30 bps YoY on the back of a richer product mix and easing commodity prices. Cost control measures rubbed off on the operating margin. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was up 8 percent YoY to Rs 131 crore. PAT (profit after tax) came in much higher because of income tax reversals and lower interest expenses. Electrical consumer durables picked up steam, whose revenues increased 11 percent YoY to Rs 787 crore. Market share gains across fans, geysers and mixer grinders kept the top line in good shape. Domestic pumps grew 8 percent in volume terms, but agriculture pumps took a hit from subdued rural demand and adverse weather conditions. EBIT margins looked up owing to higher share of premium products and economies of scale. Cromptons market share in the fans category has improved to 27 percent. Going forward, the management looks to scale up the vertical by ramping up its market share in geysers, air cooler and mixer grinders. What flickered was lighting and fixtures, which disappointed. Sales contracted 11 percent from a year ago and EBIT margins came down by 170 bps (basis points). Within the lighting business, volume growth in LED and battens was strong at 15 percent. However, price erosion (~8-10 percent YoY) in the segment had an adverse impact on top line and margins. Its EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) revenues declined steeply by 38 percent as the business felt the heat due to slowdown in government spending and delay in project execution. Post correction in July-August 2019, the prices in lighting segment appear to have stabilised and further erosion is unlikely in coming months. Volume growth remains strong and the management is working on cost control initiatives to drive the margins higher from the current levels. The China factor The Indian consumer durables sector has a high dependency on China for key components such as motors, compressors and printed circuit boards. Cromptons Q1 of 2020-21 is likely to be impacted by the current shutdown in China as a majority of the component manufacturers are yet to resume production due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. While the production is anticipated to resume by February-end, subsequent delays could disrupt the entire sector and have a material impact on top line and margins of Crompton Greaves beyond Q1. Outlook and Recommendation India has been one of the largest growing electronics markets in the world in recent years. Rise in working age population, rural electrification and availability of credit financing have been stimulating demand for consumer durables in the country. The near-term growth would be challenging due to supply chain disruptions, aggressive competition and lacklustre consumer spending, but the government investment in infrastructure and schemes such as Housing for All will continue to propel the development of the sector in the long run. Despite the soft consumption trends, the long-term growth story of Crompton Consumer (36.1 times FY21 estimated price earnings) remains intact. Cromptons fundamentals seem healthy owing to its pan-India presence, strong market positioning, superior return ratios and stable cash flows. Long-term investors should make use of any dips in the stock price to gradually build positions in the stock. Follow @Sach_Pal For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page Disclaimer: Moneycontrol Research analysts do not hold positions in the companies discussed here US electronics giant said manufacturing production in China was starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated, resulting in constrained supply US electronics giant Apple has become one of the first major bellwether global manufacturers to warn of supply-chain shortages resulting from the Covid-19 coronavirus to the extent that its financial results will be affected. In an investor update yesterday, Apple which makes most of its iPhones and other products in China said that manufacturing production is starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. As a result, it said worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained, adding: While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province and while all of these facilities have reopened they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated. It stressed that the health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues. A second factor that would temporarily affect revenues worldwide was that demand for its products within China had been affected, because all of its stores in China and many of its partner stores had been closed, and stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. It added: The situation is evolving, and we will provide more information during our next earnings call in April. Apple is fundamentally strong, and this disruption to our business is only temporary, expressing gratitude to those on the front lines of confronting this public health emergency. As reported earlier this month, there have been concerns about supply to a number of sectors due to the effects of the new coronavirus, from pharmaceuticals to clothing, with companies and governments preparing contingency plans. For example, clothing retailer Joules warned of potential disruption across its supply chain, noting that although a large proportion of its spring-summer season was already in its UK warehouse or on boats already, there was still a portion of that season which was either at port in China or yet to be manufactured. It said switching sourcing to neighbouring countries also had its problems, noting that even if you have a factory in Vietnam, the Philippines or Cambodia, a lot of the raw materials will be coming from China. The complexity of modern supply chains means the reality of what is impacted and when is tricky to figure out. Freight forwarders have also been warning about the potential impact on their customers supply chains due to the extended factory closures in China, but also of potential capacity restrictions once production ramps up, particularly because of the reduction of air freight capacity due to the widespread cancellation of passenger air services to and from China. As reported earlier this month, the impact of the coronavirus on global supply chains is likely to be felt for several months, even if the worst effects of the outbreak are reached soon. Even if a factory only misses one weeks output, given the way production cycles are set up today there will be ripple effects over a longer period, Brian Bourke, chief growth officer at SEKO Logistics, told Lloyds Loading. Other freight forwarding sources have talked in terms of months to clear backlogs and replenish supply chains once factory production gets back up to speed. Jens Lund, chief financial officer for DSV Panalpina, told Lloyds Loading List that once the impact of the deadly virus subsides and China reopens for business, the starvation of supply chains due to factory closures will be followed by a huge surge in freight demand, creating capacity shortages across all modes. Production is significantly reduced or standing still in many places in China, so we are moving less cargo, which of course is creating a lot of bottlenecks in global supply chains, said Lund. But once production across restarts, freight will need to be transported by whatever mode has capacity. This represents a lot of work that has to be carried out at that point in time, added Lund. We have to find ways to basically manage this, and if we do this well, of course it means that there is an opportunity for us to regain some of the money that we lose initially. It will take a couple of months to clear that backlog. But, of course, the more time lapses the longer it takes. Image: Shutterstock.com The last time she heard from her family was more than three years ago, before China began rounding up Muslims in the country's far west. She lived abroad and knew nothing of her family's fate until the contents of a leaked government document surfaced, describing their lives in chilling detail. Rozinisa Memettohti, an ethnic Uighur who has lived in Turkey since 2003, learned in the document that two of her sisters had been sent to indoctrination camps for having more children than the region allowed. One of the sisters was also targeted for obtaining a passport. "The reality is already far worse than any of my fears," Memettohti said in a telephone interview this month. "My father, my brothers and my sisters are in danger." For the past few years, authorities in the Xinjiang region have placed hundreds of thousands of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim minority groups into indoctrination camps in the most sweeping mass detentions since the Mao era. The document provides a rare, finely grained view of how the ruling Communist Party has carried out the system of detentions that has shredded the fibers of society in Xinjiang. The leaked document, a 137-page spreadsheet, outlines information that authorities in Karakax County (also spelled Qaraqash) in southwestern Xinjiang have gathered on its residents. It includes the names and government identification numbers of more than 300 people held in indoctrination camps and information on hundreds of their relatives and neighbors. Even children as young as 16 were closely monitored for signs of what Beijing considered to be wayward thinking. The document, one of numerous files kept on the more than 1 million people who have been detained in the camps, shows the range of behaviors that authorities see as problematic that would be normal elsewhere, such as giving up alcohol, wanting to go on a religious pilgrimage or attending a funeral. In Memettohti's case, her sisters were flagged for praying regularly and participating in routine religious ceremonies. The spreadsheet adds to a growing body of evidence on these detentions. Reports on other leaked government documents last year by The New York Times and a group of outlets led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists showed the coercive nature of the crackdown and detailed the tight controls placed on detainees in the indoctrination camps. Zenz calculated that three-fourths of the listed detainees had been released. That appears to be in line with assertions by officials in Xinjiang last year that they had begun winding down the program. But the document shows that many of those released from the camps were later assigned work in tightly controlled industrial parks, and at least one person went into such work while remaining in detention. Some former inmates have described a system of forced labor in which they have been required to work for little or no pay after their release. His writing was just awesome. He was a lovely, lovely writer and as his real estate editor, I appreciated him not just because he was an excellent writer who did not require much editing on my part, but because he also knew his subject matter so well and so deeply, said Sallie Gaines, a retired Tribune editor and reporter who for a time oversaw Hayes work. He was able to explain it clearly and in a manner that was interesting. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street on his way to Buckingham Palace after the general election in London, Britain, December 13, 2019. Thomas Mukoya | Reuters Any time that the British prime minister reshuffles his or her cabinet, there are bound to be disappointed ministers or ex-ministers turfed out from a job they enjoy in a system that can sometimes prize loyalty over ability. But last week's surprise resignation of Sajid Javid, the U.K.'s short-lived finance chief, could actually limit Boris Johnson's ability to make personnel changes in the future, even if the latest cabinet shake-up was intended to give him greater short-term control over his ministerial team. Javid, a Deutsche Bank broker turned politician, had already served as home secretary before being named Chancellor of the Exchequer, and together with Dominic Raab (the current foreign secretary), Matt Hancock (the current health secretary) and Michael Gove (currently the minister for the Cabinet Office) he had in the past vied for the leadership of the Conservative Party. So when Prime Minister Johnson asked him to stay on, but insisted he would have to make do without his own team of personal advisors, Javid doubtless saw this as a form of attempted humiliation. His subsequent resignation upset the carefully planned and executed changes to the Johnson government last week, and delayed what was clearly meant to be a precisely choreographed piece of political theater. But as one former senior Treasury advisor who has worked under more than one chancellor pointed out to me, Javid's former deputy and now his successor, Rishi Sunak, had been given a "hospital pass" with the new budget that is expected in just a matter of weeks. But he also suggested that Sunak's position was now incredibly secure for the foreseeable future, because a prime minister that sacks or forces out two chancellors might appear to have a management problem in the eyes of his fellow politicians, not to mention investors. To misquote Oscar Wilde, it is a misfortune to lose one chancellor, but to lose two smacks of carelessness. Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid attends a session during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Our state faces many pressing issues ever-increasing corruption, out-of-control property taxes, employers, small and large, closing their doors, and a public education system that is in great need of investment. All of these policy failures contribute to our states terrible out-migration problem, causing our communities, including many right here in western Illinois, to shrink instead of grow. If youve picked up a newspaper or turned on the evening news recently, you probably know that there is a massive, sprawling federal investigation into corruption in our state. Just in the past few months, weve seen a sitting Democratic lawmaker indicted for ghost-payrolling, a former Democratic lawmaker plead guilty for taking bribes and committing tax fraud, and another arrested for bribery. And Im sure thats just the beginning. This federal corruption probe has made the need for tough, comprehensive ethics reform even more urgent. Im proud to say that I, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues in the House, have co-sponsored legislation to increase transparency, limit conflicts of interest, and work to prevent lawmakers from serving themselves instead of their constituents. I also support reforms to make the Legislative Inspector General more independent. Strong ethics reforms are absolutely critical to restoring the publics trust in state government. Ethical government starts with fair and honest elections. Thats why I am co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to enact true, independent redistricting reform, commonly referred to as fair maps. Corruption starts at the ballot box when lawmakers are able to pre-ordain elections by drawing their own legislative district boundaries. Our Democratic governor campaigned on fair maps, but has been silent on supporting a specific proposal since taking office. Its my hope we can get this done before the referendum deadline in May because voters shouldnt have to wait another decade for honest elections. We all know our state is inhospitable to business, whether its relatively high taxes or burdensome regulations. That hostile business environment has forced countless numbers of employers to close their doors, to the detriment of local governments, particularly schools, and local property tax payers. Consider the recent closure of power plants in Illinois, including Havana. That plant was a major area employer and major contributor to the local property tax base. Now that they were forced to close due to new environmental regulations, we have less jobs, local schools will see less revenue, and property taxes will be shifted to area homeowners, forcing property taxes to increase even further. Thats wrong, and thats why we need to enact reforms to lower property taxes and attract new jobs and businesses to our state. In the past, I have supported property tax reform measures and economic development incentives, and I look forward to continuing that work this year. Similarly, the state must fulfill its constitutional obligations and become the primary funder of public education. Increasing state funding for public education will provide much-needed resources to local K-12 schools and will relieve the upward pressure on property taxes. Additionally, we must enact reforms to the school funding formula to make sure that community schools like Havana arent devastated when major employers close their doors. Students, teachers, and homeowners deserve stability and certainty in their classroom funding and property tax bills. And we know that education doesnt stop after high school. The state must do its part to support vocational and technical education and also our higher education institutions like Western Illinois University to ensure that our citizens are properly equipped for todays economy. As your state representative, I am committed to working with lawmakers from across our state to find real, meaningful and lasting solutions to the problems we face. Solving these problems is absolutely critical, and I am hopeful that we will make progress on those issues and get the job done. Norine Hammond is state representative for the 93rd District of Illinois, which includes all or part of Mount Sterling, Rushville and Havana. As the urbanisation and corporate growth dawns upon us, the need for real estate arises. The lack of trust in under-construction properties has heavily contributed towards the slump in investment in real estate. With the ever-increasing fraudulences, the need of the hour is the arrival of the honest and transparent organization to provide its customers a hassle-free and affordable life spaces. Wisteria Realty, a Singapore based company, is all set to enter into the Indian Real Estate market. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, Indian Real Estate market is expected to grow by 2040 to Rs 65,000 crores (USD 9.30 billion) from Rs 12,000 crores (USD 1.72 billion) in 2019. With emerging opportunities, Wisteria Realty is RERA compiled to provide its customers with on-time possession and payment through online modes. After taking the real estate world by storm in UK and Singapore, the company is ready to bring the international experience to India. Wisteria offers to provide its Indian customers with the same quality of trust that they are well known for. With regulations like RERA and GST controlling the interests of the customers, Wisteria is ready to comply with all the rules and work accordingly to change the skylines of India and introduce new standards of living. "This is our responsibility for the investors to provide them with a trustworthy option when it comes to real estate. If they put their trust in us, we make it our goal to get the work done on time. Our commitment and morals are our biggest virtue and that is how we plan to function in the Indian market. There is an undeniable opportunity that we see there and we are ready to grab it," says Kuo Yo, Manager, Director, Wisteria Realty. The values of the company are heavily ruled by ethics and that is how they plan to function in India as well. The real estate sector poses an ever-changing scenario but with Government initiatives like the Smart City Project, where there is a plan to build 100 smart cities, is a leading opportunity for the real estate companies like Wisteria Realty. This arrival is very much expected and hopefully a much-needed one in the Indian market. The welcoming rules and regulations are one of the challenges but the grass seems definitely greener on the other side for both Wisteria Realty and the investors. Wisteria Realty is a Singapore based real estate venture which is known for its crystal-clear operations. The company has also successfully ventured into the UK real estate market. The company has over fifty years of experience in the industry and is now looking for an opportunity to expand its operations in the Indian market. The company believes in ethical functioning and is transparent and honest to its investors. 3EA India Ltd is the brain behind this promising new step provides a commitment to the potential customers. Wisteria Realty prides itself as a name that can be trusted when it comes to building a dream home. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nancy Pelosi warned Democrats they need to unify ahead of the November election as 'we must defeat Donald Trump.' Her warning comes as the party has failed to coalesce around a single presidential contender, progressive star Bernie Sanders has become the front runner, and moderate Michael Bloomberg will make his debate debut on Wednesday. 'I can't even envision a situation where he would be reelected,' the speaker told CNN's Christiane Amanpour of the president. 'But we are not, we don't take anything for granted. As I say, we have to have our own vision for the future. But everybody knows that we must be unified in making sure that he does not have a second term.' 'We know one thing: we have a better vision for America, and we must defeat Donald Trump who does not share a vision that is about unity and unifying the country,' she said. Nancy Pelosi warned Democrats they need to unify ahead of the election, saying 'we must defeat Donald Trump' Pelosi has been battling President Trump for months Speaker Pelosi is the highest-ranking Democrat in elected office and has emerged as a tour de force against President Trump. She has declined to endorse a Democrat in the presidential race but told CNN she believes each one of them 'have made a very valuable contribution to the debate,' and that that it is 'easy' for her to say that 'any one of them would be a better president than the current occupant of the White House.' 'I think every one of our candidates, all 25 -- I don't know if Michael Bloomberg is counted in the 25, but Michael Bloomberg, too -- have made a very valuable contribution to the debate putting forth their vision, their knowledge, their judgment, their strategic thinking,' she said. She also said she wasn't counting out Joe Biden, who was the early front runner for the nomination. The former vice president has seen the sustainability of his campaign come under question after he failed to net a single delegate in the New Hampshire primary and came in fourth in Iowa. 'I'm grateful to all of them for putting themselves on the line, putting forth their ideas. And now, we come down to the winnowing process,' Pelosi said, adding, 'quite frankly, with all the respect in the world for Iowa and New Hampshire, I'm not counting Joe Biden out. There's still races ahead that are much more representative of the country.' Biden's campaign have touted the upcoming contests in Nevada - which has a heavy Latino population - and South Carolina, where African American voters have a strong influence on the winner. She did not directly mention Sanders, who won the New Hampshire primary and battled with Pete Buttigieg for the win in Iowa. That state's result remain under question after an app designed to count the caucuses failed. Meanwhile, Bloomberg on Tuesday qualified for the debate stage in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, which will be his first time facing his rivals for the nomination. Bloomberg's billions have made him a formable force in the primary, where he has focused on the upcoming Super Tuesday states when one-third of the delegates necessary to win the nomination are awarded. Pelosi warned Democrats not to count out Joe Biden He is self-funding his campaign. But it's Sanders who has taken the lead in the RealClearPolitics polling average on the race with Biden in second and Bloomberg in third. Pelosi and Trump have had a series of spats lately, their most recent at the annual State of the Union address earlier this month when the president refused to shake her hand and the speaker tore up the text of his speech when he finished speaking. She told CNN her ripping the pages had nothing to do with President Trump's refusal to take her extended hand when she welcomed him to the chamber. 'He didn't shake it when he extended it. I don't know what you call that. But in any event, that had nothing to do with my tearing up the State of the Union address. My tearing it up had to do with, I thought, if I can find a page that doesn't have a falsehood on it, I'll spare it, but I couldn't find that,' Pelosi said. The Associated Press Record high temperatures reportedly measured in Antarctica will take months to verify, the U.N. weather agency said Sunday. A spokesman for the World Meteorological Organization said the measurements made by researchers from Argentina and Brazil earlier this month have to undergo a formal process to ensure that they meet international standards. A formal decision on whether or not this is a record is likely to be several months away, said Jonathan Fowler, the WMO spokesman. Scientists at an Argentine research base measured a temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius 6 February on a peninsula that juts out from Antarctica toward the southern tip of South America. The previous record there was 17.5 degrees celsius in March 2015. Last week, researchers from Brazil claimed to have measured temperatures of 20.75 degrees Celsius on an island off the peninsula beating the record for the entire Antarctic region of 19.8 Celsius in January 1982. Fowler said both of the new measurements would need to be transmitted to Prof. Randall Cerveny, a researcher at Arizona State University who examines reported temperature records for WMO. Cerveny then shares the data with a wider group of scientists who will carefully evaluate the available evidence (including comparisons to surrounding stations) and debate the merits and problems of the observation, said Fowler. The evaluation normally takes six to nine months, after which Cerveny would formally either accept or reject the potential extreme, giving official WMO approval to the new record, he said. Climate change is causing the Arctic and the Antarctic to warm faster than other parts of the planet. Fourteen years a long time... but look, hes the governor of the state. And he was, he was convicted of very, very serious crimes in trying to monetize the position that he held. But the point is, is that is now the sentence is now commuted. I think its unfortunate, if the President was somebody who stood for integrity and government recognized and respected the rule of law and wasnt constantly trying to undermine the Department of Justice, federal judges and playing favorites, with people whove been convicted of serious crimes. I think an action would have a lot more credibility than this one is ever going to have. Emmanuel Macron today pledged to 'win the battle' against Muslims creating separate communities in France. During a visit to a police station in a densely populated district of Mulhouse, in the east of the country, the French President said: 'The Republic must keep her promises. 'We must fight separatism because when the Republic does not keep her promises, others will try to replace it.' He added: 'We have decided to win the battle against Islamic separatism using education and the economy'. Pointing to 'communitarianism' the creation of self-governing communities within the state the premier said he was sick of hearing about children being taking out of school because of radical political ideas linked to Islam. Emmanuel Macron on a visit to a police station in the district of Bourtzwiller, Mulhouse, eastern France Mr Macron and interior minister Christophe Castaner (right) meeting with police officers during the visit Mr Macron said: 'We are here for a reason that we share with Muslims that is the struggle against communitarianism.' And he added: 'We must fight against discrimination we have to have a meritocracy everywhere.' France is a secular republic which does not compile official statistics about citizens' religion or racial origin. But Bourtzwiller, the district of the eastern city of Mulhouse which Mr Macron visited, is considered a security concern because of tensions linked to religious faith. In 2012, Bourtzwiller which has a population of 15,000 was designated one of 47 'Republican reconquest districts' where traditional French values were being challenged. This led to more police and security measures being deployed in the area, and stricter monitoring of radical preaches. The French premier listens to a police officer in the district of Bourtzwiller, which is considered a security concern because of tensions linked to religious faith Mr Macron greets people on his visit, where he today pledged to 'win the battle' against Muslims creating separate communities in France The President greets a police officer on the visit, before later lamenting children being taking out of school because of radical political ideas linked to Islam Many of those living there in Bourtzwiller have links to former French colonies in North Africa, such as Algeria. There have also been concerns about the funding of the new 25million An-Nour Mosque and Islamic centre in Mulhouse, because around half of this sum is coming from the gas and petrol-rich state of Qatar. France has a Muslim population estimated at around six million the largest in western Europe. There are frequent claims of discrimination against them, especially those living on housing estates in areas such Bourtzwiller. Parties such as the National Rally which used to be called the National Front are frequently accused of anti-Muslim prejudice, along with other right-wing parties such as the Republicans. Mr Macron has himself been accused of moving further to the right as he attempts to win voters from both parties. We were pleased that NES Financials purpose-built OZ administration technology could streamline our funds unique reporting requirements. Specialty financial administrator NES Financial announced today that it has contracted to provide its purpose-built Opportunity Zone Fund Administration services to Arctaris Impact Investors a Boston-based impact investment firm focused on creating jobs in small-to-medium operating businesses in manufacturing, renewable energy, telecom, and real estate. The Arctaris Opportunity Zone Fund, unique in its capital structure, blends public capital from federal and state government agencies with private funding from institutional investors and foundations, including Michigan-based Kresge Foundation. In addition to creating jobs across Opportunity Zones located in states including Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Maine, and Utah, Arctaris plans to create affordable housing for the workforce of the businesses it invests in. Our firm has been investing in low-income areas in the U.S. for more than a decade and we, along with our investors, understand the importance of social impact. Opportunity Zones are a natural extension of our portfolio of funds and with this new initiative, we expect more investors to be interested in making a difference with us, said Jonathan Tower, founder and managing partner of Arctaris. Our OZ fund is designed and focused on saving and creating jobs for men and women based in rural and urban Opportunity Zones while providing risk mitigation and first-loss protection for investors. Our approach to impact investing is not traditional because of the nature of our previous debt funds. We were pleased that NES Financials purpose-built OZ administration technology could streamline our funds unique reporting requirements, said Ben Bornstein, managing director of Arctaris, who along with Jonathan Tower, joined NES Financials OZ webinar as expert panelists on Feb. 12 to discuss social impact. The NES Financial Opportunity Fund Administration Solution leverages technology to streamline the complex administrative requirements of OZ fund management, helping the Opportunity Zones program have the positive impact it was meant to have. For fund managers and investors, this means a purpose-built solution that embeds security, transparency and regulatory compliance at each step of an OZ investments life cycle. We are continuing to see the fundamentals of the Opportunity Zone initiative showing positive impact in areas with economic development needs, said Reid Thomas, EVP of NES Financial. The rise of impact investment in Opportunity Zones is on an upward trajectory and NES Financials social impact measuring tools will help investors better understand the impact they are making in OZs. For additional information about the Opportunity Zone Fund Administration Solution, please visit the NES Financial website or contact an NES Financial representative at 1-800-339-1031. About NES Financial NES Financial is a specialty financial administrator which serves sectors characterized by high administrative complexity, increased transaction security needs, and challenging regulatory compliance requirements. The companys purpose-built solutions streamline the administrative processes of these markets simplifying specialized financial transactions, curtailing fraud and abuse and helping ensure the utmost in security, transparency and regulatory compliance through each step of an investments life cycle. NES Financial, recognized on the San Francisco Business Times top Bay Area fintech list, has defined industry best practices in each of the markets it serves from 1031 exchanges and EB-5 visa funding, to private equity and the landmark Opportunity Zones program. NES Financial services more than 300 funds, administers over $20B annually, and has worked with more than 700 EB-5 projects. For more information, visit nesfinancial.com. About Arctaris Impact Arctaris is a Boston-based impact investment fund manager focused on revitalizing disinvested cities and targeted rural communities. The firm has launched and managed five funds during the last 10+ years through partnerships with institutional investors, CRA banks, foundations, the U.S. Treasury Department, and state economic development agencies. For more information visit arctaris.com. In politics, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh once said you should never write a political obituary until it is time to write an obituary (tab tak terhavin nahin manana chahiye, jab tak aap vakai mein terhavin nahin manaa lete). Which means never write off a political leader or his party prematurely. A corollary of that is that anyone being written off also should not lose hope of resurrection miracles do happen, as we have seen recently in Maharashtra. Recent events in the state underline both the need to avoid premature obituaries as well as cling to hope in the persona of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He wrote off Sharad Pawar too soon, but like a true evergreen politician and much in the spirit of Sharad Pawar, he does not lose hope. Last week, he challenged chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to recontest the Assembly elections and see how badly he could be defeated. Now that is unlikely to happen because, firstly, the next election is nearly five years away and cannot be advanced at the whims and fancies of defeated politicians. Secondly, in Maharashtra now the basics are quite different. It is three against one in the state. Moreover, in realpolitik terms, Fadnavis forgets that at least 15 of the BJPs 105 MLAs belong to other parties, particularly the NCP and are already beginning to chafe at the bit. I am told olive branches have already been sent to Pawar who is in no hurry to readmit the recalcitrant MLAs to his party. He has asked them to stay away from him for at least six months before he decides their futures because he has some bigger business to get through namely the impending elections to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Now the NMMC is likely to prove to be an interesting case study. The corporation is under the control of Ganesh Naik who had earlier quit the Shiv Sena to join the NCP in the decade of the 2000s to be on the right side of the ruling dispensation. He was richly rewarded by Pawar for that act with ministerial berths and given complete charge of running the NMMC which Naik won against all odds in 2014 after the BJP won both the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. But by 2019, he needed to be on the winning side again and so days before the Assembly polls, despite the cajoling and persuasions by the Pawar trio (daughter and nephew included), he switched sides to the BJP, hoping that would lead to an easy victory in the municipal corporation. But now with weeks to the local polls he finds the boot on the other foot, with an exodus of his supporters already beginning towards the NCP. They have cited their substantial Dalit and Muslim vote banks as likely to go against them if they continue with the BJP and it remains to be seen if Naik is able to stem the tide or himself joins the bandwagon. If he does the latter, the election could be a foregone conclusion. If he sticks by the BJP, it will still remain an uphill task for the party, for then both the Shiv Sena and the NCP will have reason to defeat Naik with the Congress playing along for the few crumbs that might come its way in a municipal corporation that has always eluded it even when it was the leading party in power. The BJP has already lost a series of smaller elections and by-elections to the trio in the past months, but the NMMC is likely to prove the bigger test of its endurance both, in terms of party hoppers and voter connect against the might of three parties in government. The results will set the tone for shifting loyalties and return of prodigals. Which is why I think Fadnavis could have been somewhat more circumspect in daring Uddhav Thackeray to fight him again at the Assembly polls. His dare (himmat asel tar... if you have the guts) has already caused a lot of mirth on social media, with Twitter users turning the dare on him. The ridicule does not do him or his party any good. Like Pawar, he needs to learn the virtue of patience in politics. And cease writing political obituaries before they are due. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands Russia release 4 fishermen detained in Sea of Azov The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian charge daffaires ad interim in Kyiv on Monday and expressed protest over the detention of four Ukrainian fishermen by the Russian side in the Sea of Azov. We demand that the Russian side steadily adhere to the international and legal obligations and treaties which it is party to and immediately provide exhaustive information about the circumstances of the detention of the Ukrainian fishing vessel and its four crew members, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary published on its website. During the meeting, the Russian side was presented with the demand to immediately release the Ukrainian fishermen and fishing vessel and return all fishing equipment. On February 15, the press service for the FSBs border guard branch for Crimea said that a small-size vessel with four Ukrainian citizens without any identification documents on board had been detained in the western part of the Sea of Azov. The captain of the ship failed to obey a border guard detachments legitimate demand to stop and tried to flee. Over 290 caught kalkan fish and an illegal fishing implement, a stake net, were detected during examination of the vessel. At the same time, the detainees did not have ship identification and registration documents, including a permit to fish aquatic biological resources, the FSB press service said. The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service said in comments to Interfax that it was determining the circumstances of the detention of the vessel. Ukrainian Border Guard Service chief Serhiy Deineko said that there had been no proof so far that the Ukrainian citizens detained on board the small-size ship by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Sea of Azov had been fishing illegally. At the same time, he said that the Ukrainian fishermen had departed in violation of the current administrative regulations; thus the owner of the vessel may be fined. Businessgroup LLC Theme(s): Others. A commando of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and another injured on Tuesday during a gun battle with suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district, officials said. Sukmas superintendent of police Shalabh Sinha said GD Manjhi died during treatment at a hospital in Raipur and Indrajeet Singh is being taken care of by doctors. Bastars inspector general of police, Sundarraj Patilingam, said while speaking to HT that the force was out on an anti-Maoists operation in the jungle. The exchange of fire took place in the forest near Palodi village under Kistaram police station area. The two jawans sustained injuries on their waist and leg in the gunfight. They were immediately evacuated from the forest and were sent to Raipur for treatment, the IG said. Meanwhile, another CoBRA trooper who was injured in an encounter with Maoists on February 10 died at a private hospital in Raipur on Tuesday. Head constable Ajit Singh who had sustained bullet injuries in his abdomen breathed his last at Sri Narayana Hospital, a senior CRPF police official. Singh was among the six personnel of 204th battalion of CoBRA who were injured in a gunfight with the Maoists in Pamed area of Bijapur. Two CoBRA troopers and a Maoist were also killed that day. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Boy Scouts of America urged victims to come forward Tuesday as the historic, 110-year-old organization filed for bankruptcy protection in the first step toward creating a huge compensation fund for potentially thousands of men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders. The Scouts resorted to Chapter 11 in hopes of surviving a barrage of lawsuits, many of them made possible by recent changes in state laws to allow people to sue over long-ago sexual abuse. Bankruptcy will enable the organization to put those cases on hold for now and continue operating. But ultimately the Boy Scouts could be forced to sell some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a victims' fund that could top $1 billion. The Boy Scouts estimated 1,000 to 5,000 victims will seek compensation. "The BSA encourages victims to come forward to file a claim as the bankruptcy process moves forward, the organization said in a statement. James Kretschmer of Houston, one of those suing, said he was molested by a Scout leader in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. The bankruptcy, he said, is a shame because at its core and what it was supposed to be, the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organization. But you know, anything can be corrupted, he added. And if they're not going to protect the people that they've entrusted with the children, then shut it down and move on. More than 12,000 boys have been molested by 7,800 abusers since the 1920s, according to Boy Scout files revealed in court papers. Evan Smola said two new victims had already called his law office in Chicago on Tuesday morning, bringing the firm's total to 319. The opportunity to tell your story is a cathartic and healing experience," Smola said. It's very painful when they actually do it, but getting it off your chest is a big step. It will be up to the court to set a deadline for filing claims. The amount of money each victim will receive is likely to depend on what assets are turned over and how many people come forward. Story continues The filing in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen, given the Scouts' 50-state presence. The organization listed assets of $1 billion to $10 billion and liabilities of $500 million to $1 billion. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children, said Roger Mosby, the Boy Scouts' president and CEO. While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process, with the proposed trust structure, will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSAs important mission. The Boy Scouts are the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organization that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians, businessmen, astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies. I'm sad for all the victims who were preyed upon by people entrusted with their care. I'm sad that no amount of money will undo their trauma, said Jackson Cooper, an Eagle Scout who is now a prosecutor in Louisville, Kentucky. Whatever consequences come for BSA are no concern of mine. I only hope, if they continue to operate, they build robust systems to protect the young people in their care. The Boy Scouts finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sex-abuse settlements. The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from a peak of more than 4 million during the 1970s. Its membership rolls took a big hit Jan. 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favor of programs of its own. The financial outlook worsened last year after New York, Arizona, New Jersey and California relaxed their statutes of limitations to make it easier for victims to file claims. Teams of lawyers across the U.S. have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts. Most of the new cases date to the 1960s, '70s and '80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted mandatory criminal background checks, abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during all activities. Many of the lawsuits accuse the group of negligence and cover-ups. Wayne Perry, a member of the organizations national board and past president, said Scout families wont notice any differences as a result of the bankruptcy. He touted the protections now in place for young people. Today, we are really, really good. Were we always good? No, nobody was good 50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago, Perry said. Amid the crush of lawsuits, the Scouts recently mortgaged some of their major properties, including their national headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico. One unanswered question is whether the Boy Scouts' 261 local councils and their campgrounds and other assets will be dragged into the case, even though the Boy Scouts said the councils are legally separate entities and they were not part of the bankruptcy filing. Mike Pfau, a Seattle-based attorney whose firm is representing scores of men nationwide, said the plaintiffs may go after the local councils' property holdings, too. We believe the real property held by the local councils may be worth significantly more than the Boy Scouts assets, he said. He said one question will be whether the Boy Scouts transferred property to their local councils to try to put it out of the reach of those suing. Perry said he hopes the court remembers that the Boy Scouts are teaching leadership and life skills to children. You have to take into account the balancing of the victims, but (also) the fact that the kids today who are joining Scouting had nothing to with those bad behaviors of criminal acts of perpetrators who are long gone, he said. Plaintiffs' attorneys trace the Boy Scouts fall to 2010, when a jury awarded a former Scout nearly $20 million in a lawsuit in Portland, Oregon. The trial led the Oregon Supreme Court to release 20,000 pages of confidential Boy Scout files on 1,200 people after The Associated Press and other news organizations fought for their disclosure. Until last spring, the organization had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths. But in May, the AP reported that attorneys for abuse victims had identified multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts. The next day, the Boy Scouts acknowledged the truth. ___ McCombs reported from Salt Lake City. Associated Press video journalist John Mone also contributed to this story. REAL LIFE By Brandon Taylor Wallaces father died several weeks ago, but more pressingly so did the collection of nematodes he has been diligently studying all summer in an unnamed university in an unnamed Midwestern town. Like I was quite recently, and like the novelist Brandon Taylor was once himself, Wallace is a black gay grad student from the South who is mining hope for some better or different life in the haunted halls of a white academic space. A space that demands his full attention, lest he affirm the sense that he was never meant to be there to begin with. In Taylors stunning debut, Real Life, quiet diligence toward ones goals mutates into a spiral that leaves the mind and body bruised as if survivors of a psychic war zone. We meet Wallace on a Friday night in his college town, as hes trudging, begrudgingly, toward an evening hang with friends by the lake. Its neither the death of his father nor that of his nematodes that inspires the drag of his feet, but the overwhelming dread that accompanies socializing with his fellow biochemists, a complicated composite of friends and foes. Sharp spikes of worry and repression are the heartbeat of this narrative that follows Wallace down the rabbit hole of one of the last weekends of their summer holiday in this quiet town. So goes Real Life, a novel that probes painstakingly, with the same microscopic precision its protagonist uses in the lab the ways that an anxious queer black brain is mutated by the legacies of growing up in a society (in Wallaces case, rural Alabama) where the body that houses it is not welcome. It is a curious novel to describe, for much of the plot involves excavating the profound from the mundane. As in the modernist novels of Woolf and Tolstoy cited in passing throughout, the true action of Taylors novel exists beneath the surface, buried in subterranean spaces. The rhythms and rituals of Ph.D. exam prep, vegan dinners and idle academic gossip become the landscape upon which the real work of Real Life is built. Taylor proves himself to be a keen observer of the psychology of not just trauma, but its repercussions: how private suffering can ricochet from one person to injure those caught in his path. The aftershocks of these childhood horrors (He almost jumps at the fright of it, the wholeness of the memory. His body remembers. His traitorous body) set Wallace up for further humiliation within new American contexts that are still not designed for our protagonist. For example, the jarring moment after a female colleague accuses him of misogyny in terms laced with racism and homophobia, as sharp as a stiletto: The most unfair part of it, Wallace thinks, is that when you tell white people that something is racist, they hold it up to the light and try to discern if you are telling the truth. He abandons the confrontation before it can escalate further, the hallways motion sensors failing to detect his presence. His body nothing more than an apparition, imperceptible in this space. [ Read an excerpt from Real Life. ] Over the course of a single weekend, beginning that Friday night and ending on the Monday morning of orientation, Real Life moves us through the stark internal realities of being young, gifted and black in a town where your peers are abundantly yt, whyte and WHITE. I was struck by the whiteness of Wallaces surroundings, a fact of many spaces of American higher learning, and one rarely articulated in literature by writers of any race. Yet Taylor allows whiteness to move consistently on the periphery of Wallaces gaze, in tandem with the muted hum of desire: its volume rising and falling as his field of vision encounters white hands adjusting tight shorts revealing flashes of untanned, untouched flesh. Our curiously quiet and cautious protagonist holds a well of desire that could fill the many baths he takes and then some with the viscous liquid of his desire: a desire to escape his past, a desire to find refuge in some future, a desire for a man. A desire that he has constantly sublimated and denied in favor of silent yearning, until that Friday night. Spirals always begin and end with longing, and this is true throughout Real Life. Global NCAP has conducted first of its kind car to car crash test. This crash test reveals the double standards in car safety applied by car makers. Getting a Global NCAP rating may or may not be on everyones minds, but its essential to understand what the data points of a result indicate. Global NCAP Car to Car crash test is one of a kind but hopefully becomes standard practice in many countries, including India. Global NCAP crashed the 2019 Nissan NP300 Hardbody sold in Africa and a second-hand Nissan Navara NP300 manufactured in Europe in 2015. The video demonstrates that the new African Nissan crash test dummy would have likely sustained fatal injuries. The other would have likely walked away from the crash. The old European car features a crash avoidance anti-skid system, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which isnt seen in the model sold in Africa now. As crash tests are a study at predetermined speed and path, the outcome indicates what can be. And this offers an insight into the crashworthiness of a vehicle. CEO and President of Global NCAP, David Ward says this particular test uniquely illustrates the double standard in vehicle safety performance between models sold in Europe and those sold in Africa. The concern though highlighted far far away is one that plagues even India. For example, Maruti Baleno made in India for Indian market, is about 80 kgs lighter than Baleno manufactured in India for export / Europe market. Though it is not clear as to why there is such a huge weight difference, a crash test between Baleno sold in India vs Baleno sold in Europe can surely give some answers. As the automobile market is still growing in India, and not as developed as a number of European nations, the focus on safety has been negligible, and it is only now that a dialogue around it has begun. In fact there are just over 25 cars that have any sort of a crash test rating that is relevant to India. When it comes to features, India too has always dealt with the handout of stripped cars. In Africa, the test output shows the new Nissan Hardbody perform significantly worse than the used European Nissan Navara. The simple observation in this case is a new car, which one would expect to have a better body, shell and tech isnt necessarily safer. This would mean a region thats on the receiving end of such cars would actually be safer if it relier on used car imports from regions with tougher regulatory requirements for safety, and environmental performance. Sounds bizarre but this is true. Executive Director of the FIA Foundation, Saul Billingsley asks an important question. Does Nissan believe an African life is worth less than a European life? The answer may not be this straightforward though. Its the same reason that plastic and toxic waste gets offloaded on lesser nations. This is a global problem thats pervaded all business and growth, and car crashworthiness and safety is just another casualty in the larger scheme of things. Global NCAP is concerned as it aims towards a 2030 target of halving road deaths. For this to be a reality, the governing body says, we must stamp out this kind of unethical behaviour by some in the car industry. Willem Groenewald, CEO of the AA said, We have for a long time been concerned that vehicles available in Africa are inferior to those in other markets such as Europe and Asia, and these results seem to confirm that concern. He further explains the result indicates complete disdain for African vehicle consumers and their safety in favour of profit. There is a need for stricter regulation of standards so as to not allow inferior vehicles to be sold in Africa. While such test results do generate interest around a dialogue, they may not necessarily impact buying immediately. In the backdrop of sales slowdown, Maruti Suzuki continues to dominate the market in terms of sales despite not providing customers crash test results. Of course it helps that MSIL has a large vehicle portfolio. Mahindra and Tata have gotten a few of its vehicles crash tested. Mahindra XUV300 is now recognised as Indias safest car. However, its yet left to be seen if this can help the car sell in greater numbers than it is at present. A French photographer who flew into New York to take his girlfriend on a surprise Valentine's date is recovering in the hospital after having his throat slit in Harlem. Gabriel Bascou, 28, was slashed in a random attack in the street as he left an IHOP with his 23-year-old girlfriend Manon Duma on Friday. Gruesome photos and a video shared by Bascou on social media show a deep gash on his neck from ear-to-ear as he lies in bed with a tube coming from his throat after a tracheotomy. Police have charged 28-year-old local man Khalief Young with the crazed attack. He is said to have carried out at least two random attacks before. Bascou, from Paris, had flown to New York City to see Duma, a model who moved to Harlem a month ago to work as an au pair. Gabriel Bascou, 28, was slashed in a random attack in the street as he left a Harlem IHOP with his 23-year-old girlfriend Manon Duma (by his side) on Friday Attacker: Police have charged 28-year-old local man Khalief Young with the crazed attack, and he is said to have carried out at least two random attacks before Bascou, from Paris, had flown to New York City to surprise Duma, a model who moved to Harlem a month ago to work as an au pair. She is pictured here with Valentine's balloons in an Instagram post after he arrived last week He was attacked and slashed in the face and neck as they left IHOP on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard near West 132nd Street after a romantic breakfast date at around 11am. 'I didn't see him coming,' Bascou said. 'At first I thought it was a punch,' he said in an interview with the New York Post via WhatsApp, as he can't speak after his operation. He said the knifeman 'turned around and looked me in the eye and started running. Then I felt the warm blood run inside my coat.' The photographer said that passersby 'didn't understand what was going on' as his girlfriend screamed for someone to call 911. Eventually a cyclist called an ambulance as Duma, a former nurse, did her best to stem the blood flow. Bascou added: 'The people around me seemed terrified'. He said he 'did everything to stay calm' and gave Duma his blood type and list of allergies in case he passed out. Bascou had just left an IHOP (above) on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem when he was attacked in the street He was later given a transfusion of two pints of blood and has been left with a lung infection as well as his knife wounds. 'I'm in really bad shape for now,' he said from the Harlem Hospital ICU on Monday. Bascou said he had wanted to visit New York 'since forever' and decided to surprise his girlfriend for Valentine's Day. Bascou, from Paris, had flown in to surprise his girlfriend for Valentine's Day but ended up getting slashed in the neck in a random attack outside an IHOP in Harlem Gruesome photos shared by Bascou on social media show a deep gash on his neck from ear-to-ear as he lies in bed with a tube coming from his throat after a tracheotomy Duma said she 'hasn't slept' since the attack but was relieved that police arrested Young as a suspect in the attack on Monday afternoon. He was arrested by an officer who spotted him on the street around 3:50 p.m. and recognized him from CCTV footage of the attack. He was charged with two counts of assault in the second degree, police said. Young lives just two blocks from the scene and has randomly attacked at least two others in the past, police sources told The Post. Bascou wrote he was 'super excited' when he was told that that cops had someone in custody. Bascou excitedly tracked his progress with Instagram posts saying 'Harlem baby!!!' as he flew from Paris to New York to take his girlfriend on a surprise Valentine's date Gabriel Bascou, 28, takes a selfie in a lift in New York after arriving for a romantic Valentine's date before he was slashed in the neck in a random attack by a crazed knifeman 'I want my girlfriend to stay safe here,' he said. 'If they caught someone in just a few days, they did a great job.' Bascou's mother, Marielle Debayne, a nurse from Marseille, has flown in to be by his side while he recovers in the hospital, where he is expected to stay for at least a week. His mother said: 'It's so awful. Gabriel was here for one day. He walked less than half a mile in New York and was cut.' Friends of Bascou have started an online fundraiser to help him out with medical bills. Bascou said he won't let the attack put him off from visiting the city again. 'I'll make it back to the Big Apple for a visit, especially after not seeing much else besides the inside of the Harlem IHOP. 'I plan to come back there as soon as possible and discover this incredible city.' Bascou with his mother, Marielle Debayne (center), a nurse from Marseille, and his grandmother who have flown in from France to be at his side while he recovers (Natural News) One of the biggest problems in containing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is that the incubation period is lengthy roughly two weeks, according to health experts. But once it is contracted, people are highly contagious and, in fact, may very well be so before showing any symptoms. With that in mind, it seems more than outrageous that health officials in Hawaii would completely dismiss those concerns after a Japanese man and his wife who visited the state were diagnosed with the virus after returning to his home country. According to The New York Times in a story filed from Honolulu, a reporter appears to have tracked down some of the contacts made by the unnamed infected Japanese couple during their visit, but health officials in the state, notably, dont yet know or havent said what the source of the infection is. The Times report begins with the story of Chantelle Pajarillo, a Hawaiian woman who was spending an extended weekend at the famous Waikiki Beach resort. While there, she saw a local news report stating that the infected man may have also stayed at the resort. The report prompted Pajarillo to contact the hotel staff and immediately request some antiseptic wipes, which she says she used to immediately begin wiping down everything. I wiped down everything I knew they would touch: the sliding door, the refrigerator, countertops and the bathroom, Pajarillo told the Times reporter on Saturday while walking back to the pool at the Grand Waikikian,with a stack of towels. Im a germaphobe myself and I have three little kids so I want to make sure I take every precaution. It should be noted that, as of the original report, neither Hawaii health officials or their counterparts in Japan had a clue where the man might have contracted the virus. The most likely option, they believe, is that he picked it up somewhere along the way while he traveled to the islands from his home. (Related: Coronavirus breaking news: Infected passengers flew Delta and Hawaiian Airlines out of Honolulu.) I have it in writing State health officials worked for a few days attempting to find anyone who could have been in contact with the Japanese man and his wife who also visited the island of Maui. Officials said that the couple was not diagnosed with Wuhan coronavirus until they returned to Japan. That said, the Times reporter did manage to find John Fukiwara, a local resident who said he believes the Japanese man is a friend of his whom he would not identify by name. The man recently visited the island and had coffee with Fukiwara before they exchanged gifts of chocolate. Fukiwara then contacted a local newspaper and then reached out to state health officials, with whom he offered to self-quarantine. But amazingly, state health officials told him to simply go about his normal day-to-day routine and to be sure to report any symptoms. What an amazingly irresponsible thing for the states health officials to do, as the virus continues to spread throughout China and kill. Even if it turns out the Japanese man in question isnt the same one who was infected, like his wife, wouldnt it be better to be safe rather than sorry? The Times reported: In an email he shared with The New York Times, a disease intervention specialist with the Hawaii Department of Health did not confirm that Mr. Fujiwaras friend was the one who had been diagnosed, but told him that he should contact the department if he had any symptoms before Tuesday, which would be two weeks after he saw his friend the maximum incubation period for coronavirus. I plan to go to dinner with my girlfriend tonight, unless things change, specifically because I have it in writing from the State of Hawaii Department of Health to continue my daily routine, he told the Times. And people wonder how these pandemics continue to spread. Sources include: NYTimes.com NaturalNews.com The Labor Partys powerful administrative committee has moved to discipline an ALP powerbroker accused of attacking and racially vilifying party members. Socialist Left figure Jasvinder Sidhu has been referred to the partys internal disputes tribunal over comments he made at a private branch meeting last month, with the administrative committee saying if Labor did not take strong action, we forfeit the moral right to attack ... parties like One Nation who express Islamophobic views. ALP branch member and factional figure Jasvinder Sidhu after he was allegedly assaulted at a branch meeting in late January. The administrative committee, the partys key decision-making body, was forced to convene a special meeting on Tuesday night after party members circulated a petition calling for Labor to deal with Mr Sidhus comments following leaked recordings of him allegedly vilifying Turkish and Lebanese Muslims at a branch meeting on January 25. On Tuesday night, in a highly unusual move, the committee directed state secretary Clare Burns to charge Mr Sidhu at the disputes tribunal with a number of offences under the ALP rules, including attacking and racially vilifying fellow party members and breaching ALP rules. University College Cork is the latest third level institution to confirm it is increasing rents in campus accommodation. Students living in UCC-run accommodation will see their rents increase by 3% for the 2020/21 academic year. The decision comes amid announcements of similar rent hikes at other universities around the country. Students at University College Dublin staged a rally calling on the college to reverse a planned increase in campus rents of 12% over the next three years. A UCC spokesman said money generated from on-campus accommodation is put back into the facilities. "Due to major refurbishing work, the rise in security and maintenance costs, and the investment required to provide additional accommodation for students, Campus Accommodation UCC has decided to raise its campus accommodation rates by 3% for 2020/21. Income generated by Campus Accommodation is exclusively used by the company to meet such costs," he said. "UCC is extremely conscious of the financial challenges faced by students and has decided to undertake to review the applicability of the 2020/21 increase for students in receipt of student assistance funding. "Any changes to Campus Accommodation rates are considered together with the student representatives on the Campus Accommodation Board." UCC has five accommodation complexes. It is in the process of building a new student development on the site of the former Crow's Nest bar in Victoria Cross, which will include an additional 255 student beds. Even with the increase, UCC's accommodation "remains significantly below" the cost of privately-owned student accommodation in Cork city, the spokesman added. Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire has criticised the rent increases at Irish third-level institutions. UCC's announcement follows similar decisions by UCD, DCU, NUIG, NUIM, UL and TCD. Mr O Laoghaire said: "Many students will now wonder how they can afford to live in Dublin, Cork, Galway, or any of the major cities. "We recognise that there is a funding crisis for third Level institutions, however, making it harder for low-income students to attend third level is not a solution." Meanwhile, some 154 new student beds have been granted permission in a 25-apartment structure in Victoria Cross. The eight-storey private apartment block will be constructed at the former Kelleher's Tyre Service Centre, close to UCC. Chandpukur's mission is located north of Rajshahi. Thieves stole the animals that financed the hostel. The little girls sleeping next to the stable unharmed. The thieves seemed well prepared. All motives are being examined, in addition to the economic factor. The mission hosts 300 poor children, including many orphans, and cares for people of all faiths. Rajshahi (AsiaNews) - Unknown assailants entered the Chandpukur mission in Rajshahi diocese overnight and stole the parish animals, in short the goods with greatest market value. Fr. Belisario Ciro Montoya, associated as "fidei donum" of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Bangladesh, who has been pastor here for a month says "we are in shock the animals were used to buy rice to feed the 300 children we host in the hostel". The stable is located next to the girls' dormitory. Thank goodness - he adds - nothing happened to the little girls. It was a miracle that they did not suffer violence or rape. " The priest is visibly strained by what happened: "There is a lot of sadness and fear because just as they managed to break in and steal, they could have hurt us." He says that the theft occurred around 1 am when everyone was asleep. Thieves entered from the corner of the mission that houses the animals, broke the lock on the gate and took away two oxen and a cow. On the market, cattles of that size are worth 2,500 euros. In fact, we were also going to sell them and use the proceeds to buy food. " Chandpukur's mission is composed of the Church of the King of Peace, with two priests including the parish priest, the school, the dispensary and two hostels for boys and girls. The girls live together with the sisters of the local Shanti Rani (Queen of Peace) congregation. Belisario reports: We have neither walls nor security guards. The only area with a small fence is that of the girls' hostel and the stable ". Around 6,500 Christians live in the area, out of a total population of two million Hindus and Muslims. It is among the largest missions in the diocese - he continues - but also one of the poorest. A religious sister who is a nurse runs the medical dispensary for first aid". The theft was discovered this morning before mass, when the men who take care of the animals found the fence empty. The parish priest filed a complaint and the policemen promised that they will help us find the animals. We sent some people to the local market, looking for livestock, but I doubt they will ever be found. Meanwhile, the police have opened an investigation and set up a round of guards." "It's a real shame - he adds - because with the money obtained from the sale we also wanted to expand the hostel. Here we host several orphans and very poor Santhal and Garo tribal children, from kindergarten to 10th grade, that is, up to 18 years. The conditions are difficult, the rooms are small, in the summer it is very hot and up to three children sleep in the same bed. But it's still better than at home, where they don't have the opportunity to study and often don't have food." The investigations, he continues, will also be aimed at those who in recent days have come to the mission to evaluate animals. It is not excluded that there are accomplices among the villagers because the criminals knew exactly where to go. The mission is very dear to the whole population because we host and care for people of all faiths. However, other reasons besides the economic factor are not excluded . The most important thing, he concludes, is that they didn't touch the girls, that they didn't notice anything. And even if they heard something, they didn't make a noise, they didn't attract attention. Here we try to give them a better future through education. Without the Church's mission, they would be condemned to go home, marry as children and suffer from the condition of servility that oppresses them. We will continue our work despite what happened. " (A.C.F.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I interviewed Dr. M Zuhdi Jasser in January 2017, July 2017, September 2018, and May 2019 on a range of topics including Islamism and what he believes is its antidote, the Muslim Reform Movement. This is a follow-up interview. Jasser is president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD), co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement (MRM), and author of A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriots Fight to Save His Faith. He is a practicing Muslim. He is also an active physician and former U.S. Navy officer whose parents fled Syria in the 1960s, and host of the Blaze Radio Podcast Reform This! and founder of TakeBackIslam.com. Jasser and I discussed the developments in Iran and Iranian links to American Islamism. Postal: Was the US right to assassinate General Qasem Soleimani? Jasser: This was not an assassination, but a targeted killing of the leader of the worlds most dangerous terror network. The killing of Soleimani was at least as justified as the targeted killings of terrorists Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki. Soleimani had been responsible for over 600 dead American soldiers, and countless other attacks on U.S. citizens. Soleimanis terrorism was more significant than others, as he was able to freely use Irans treasury, intelligence, and the military network of the Iranian Republican Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah. Soleimanis IRGC had been officially designated a Foreign Terror Organization (FTO) in 2019 by the U.S. government. With that designation, the United States did not need an authorization of Congress to kill him. The IRGC is a major instigator of the ongoing massacres in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. It aided Bashar Assad in killing over 600,000 Syrians and displacing over 10 million Syrians. Killing Soleimani deters Iran from projecting its power and terrorism abroad. Postal: Recent reports show thousands of protesters in Tehran calling on Ayatollah Khamenei to resign. Former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi stated that the world is now seeing the beginning of the end of the Islamist regime in Iran. But he called the regime a sinking Titanic back in 2009. Why should the U.S. view the current protests in Iran as anything more than the failed protests in the late 1990s and 2009 in Iran? Jasser: The recent protests are very different than anything before. First, as the post 2011 revolutions in the Middle East have shown, regimes ultimately cannot contain social media and its viral movements once they get to a critical mass. The Iranian regime is very scared of these trends, and in fear has shut down the internet for an extended period of time. Most importantly, this revolution is far more than simply against the government in Tehran. It has encompassed many major cities, including the academic centers of Islamist theocratic control like Qom. The demonstrators have protested increased fuel prices, Irans funding of genocide in Syria and Yemen, theocracy, and oppression. The protesters have also supported economic, justice, and feminist reforms. Postal: News reports highlight instances of civil disobedience in Iran, with people openly protesting the regime, student protests, women refusing to wear headscarves, a taekwondo champion defecting in protest, and people refusing to walk on American and Israeli flags. How should the U.S. interpret and respond to these developments? Jasser: The sheer diversity of the various groups rising up in civil disobedience against the regime is breathtaking. Frequent and open public displays of affection for America and Israel reveal deep and broad-based dissatisfaction with the theocrats. For a long time, the silent majority of Iranians have ignored and dismissed the demonization of America and Israel pushed upon them by state media and their rent-a-mobs. Now, the protesters are telling their oppressors that they love and emulate the West. When you have women in burqas on state media telling their people if you do not enjoy the rule of Islam in society then you should collect your belongings and leave, there is no better sign that the regime is on headed towards collapse. It could take months or years, but collapse is the trajectory. And global isolation and sanctions augment the will of the people. Postal: Several members of Congress have called on the Trump Administration to investigate the National American Iranian Council (NAIC) for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Among other things, the complaint condemns NAIC's relationship with the Iranian regime and its role amplifying regime propaganda. Additionally, M. Hanif Jazayeri, news editor at Free Iran, alleges that a legislative assistant to Barbara Lee is NAICs mole in Congress, and that Ilhan Omars senior legislative assistant, one of Rashida Tlaibs staffers, and a member of the Democratic National Committee have NAIC connections. What are your thoughts on these developments? What is the connection between the Iranian regime and the Islamist movement in the U.S.? Jasser: I have said for a long time that Islamist organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) frequently take the side of foreign Islamist regimes over our own government. Now with Iran in the spotlight, folks are finally paying closer attention to NAIC. NAICs proteges, like CAIRs proteges, graduate into pro-Islamist information operatives for congressional offices. As PJ Media reported, yes, NAIC proteges now include Mahya Sorour in Omars office and Samira Damavandi in Lees office. NAICs talking points frequently mirror the position of the Iranian mullocracy, be it their positions on the nuclear deal to the recent protests. NAIC has fought consistently against sanctions on the regime, and has never confronted the anti-American, anti-Semitic ideology of the Khomeinists. NAICs positions have always been on the wrong side of history, morality and humanity. In fact, when NAIC tried to intimidate its Iranian-American critics through lawfare in 2008, the court ultimately dismissed the case in 2012 and repudiated the tactics of NAIC and its President, Trita Parsi. Parsi has now re-located to the Quincy Institute, whose staff has been accused with multiple instances of anti-Semitism. I can tell you as a Syrian-American, Syrian-Americans for decades have seen a similar network of Syrian government sympathizers shape pro-Assad positions through its foreign agents, useful idiots, and propagandists inside the United States. Prior to the Syrian revolution, it was conventional wisdom among Syrian-American expatriates that somewhere around one in ten Syrians in America provided information to the Syrian government on the activities of Syrian-American families. After the revolution began in 2011, some of that network became stronger and more entrenched. However, most of the network has since fallen apart and the United States was able to convict Mohamad Soueid of Leesburg, Virginia and others. Similar networks existed during Saddams Iraq, and a similar network exists for the current Iranian regime. It is long overdue for us to investigate the tentacles of foreign Islamist regimes and movements in our government. The Islamist influence from many regimes of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation dwarfs any domestic intelligence threat we experienced during the Cold War. Postal: Recent reports discuss that Iran has sleeper cells of terrorists in the United States as well as Central and South America. How should the U.S. respond to this reality? Should the U.S. fear reprisal attacks on its soil? Jasser: The threat from Hezbollah has always been significant in the U.S. The only thing that has prevented Hezbollah attacks similar to what Sunni jihadists have done in 9-11, Fort Hood and San Bernardino has been the presence of sanctions against their benefactor, Iran. We should continue these sanctions, and continue to apply the rule of law against those that seek to harm us. We won a major victory recently when the United States convicted Ali Khourani for 40 years for being recruited, trained and deployed by Hezbollahs Islamic Jihad Organization to plan and execute acts of terrorism around New York City. An operative for Hezbollahs Islamic Jihad, he was nabbed [a]fter spending years conducting surveillance on the Citys critical infrastructure, federal buildings, international airports, and even daycare centers. Politico also reported on Hezbollahs major cocaine funneling operation in the U.S. that also included Central and South America, Africa and Europe. Their impressive investigation revealed how the Obama administration ditched over a decade of heroic agency work dubbed Project Cassandra exposing Hezbollahs cocaine operation in the United States as collateral damage of the nuclear deal. These Hezbollah drug runners are likely just the tip of the iceberg of Hezbollah operations in this hemisphere. The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Nicholas Rasmussen, believes that Hezbollah is determined to give itself a potential homeland option as a critical component of its terrorism playbook. Postal: The Muslim Reform Movement (MRM), which you co-founded, just celebrated its fourth anniversary last December. Do you see any possibility of the MRM arising in Iran? Jasser: Our dream is for the MRM to gain traction in countries where people truly understand the threat of Islamist theocracy. One such country is Iran. There are currently thousands of courageous dissident leaders in Iran promoting many ideas central to the MRM. Their messages on social media sound like ours, and vice versa. But other Muslims in Iran that would be sympathetic to the MRM are trying to stay alive because their leaders are torturing, murdering, or disappearing those that openly express those ideals. As Iranian journalist and womens rights activist Masih Alinejad said, we are not fighting for a piece of cloth, we are fighting for our lives. She also asserts that the legacy media is lying to Americans about the revolution now in Iran. Dont fall for Iranian regime propaganda, she exclaimed on Fox News and in the Washington Post. I dont understand how our liberal media, presumably champions of feminism, gay rights and free speech, marginalize the activists who share those values and the values of our MRM here in the U.S. Postal: In our first interview, we discussed how Saudi Arabia In the last 30 years has spent more than an estimated $100 billion to fund the spread of Wahhabism worldwide (in contrast to the $7 billion the USSR spent spreading communism from 1921 through 1991). Does Iran have similar global ambitions for its own Islamism? What, if anything, should the U.S. do to counter this? Jasser: There can be little doubt as to what the regimes goals are. Through their words, ideologies, crimes against humanity, and their domestic, regional and global spread of terror, Irans regime is in no way content with only domestic oppression. They see themselves ushering in the 12th Imam and with him the End of Times. Their government, military, and economic is geared towards proselytizing an anti-freedom and anti-American mission. While Shia and Sunni Islamists may differ on many things, their raison detre is the same: establishing Islamic states across the world that would unite into a Caliphate to which the whole world will submit. The only thing preventing Iran from building a similar global network as Saudi Arabia has been the vast resources the West has expended on effective sanctions and unraveling Irans global networks of terror, ideology, and drugs. In contrast, the Obama Administrations nuclear deal, removal of sanctions and economic normalization for Boeing and others only served to enable the global spread of Irans Islamism and war machine. You can see Irans hateful propaganda they are spreading globally on PressTV or Hezbollahs AlManar TV. To counter this, we need continue maximum pressure against Irans regime and also proactively engage in an information war against the theocrats and their Islamism. We need to support reform-minded Iranians, Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis, and Lebanese. Your reference back to Saudi Arabia is timely. As Irans clerics try to prevent a growing revolution, Saudi Arabia recently announced that they would stop funding mosques beyond its borders. This is surrender, coming from the Wahhabis who believe in a mandate of global dawa (proselytization) and offense. But perhaps even more importantly, this surrender presents an opening for ideological antagonists: Muslims who oppose the idea of any Islamic sharia state and promote liberty and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Perhaps changes like this will give the West momentum to support allies of liberty Muslims who support freedom and the defeat of the theocrats like our Muslim Reform Movement and its Declaration. Taking information from Giuliani is particularly fraught for the department because the presidents personal lawyer is under investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan in a case that has led to campaign finance charges against two of Giulianis associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. The pair helped Giuliani try to conduct investigations in Ukraine and lobbied for the ouster of Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Prosecutors have in recent weeks contacted witnesses and sought to collect additional documents in that case. Domino's Pizza, Inc. DPZ is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2019 earnings on Feb 20, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the companys earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. Further, the bottom line outpaced the consensus mark in three of the trailing four quarters and missing in the remaining one. It has a trailing four quarter posrtive surprise of 3.7% on average. Q4 Expectations The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $2.93, higher than $2.62 reported in the year-ago quarter. Over the past seven days, the companys earnings estimates have increased 0.3%. For quarterly revenues, the consensus mark stands at nearly $1,123 million, indicating an improvement of 3.6% from the prior-year quarter. Factors at Play Domino's results in fourth-quarter 2019 are likely to have benefited from robust international and domestic revenues. Dominos solid digital ordering system, robust international expansion and other sales initiatives are likely to have positively impacted the companys performance in the quarter to be reported. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for international revenues is pegged at $76 million, suggesting growth of 7% from the prior-year quarter. Moreover, domestic revenues from franchise and supply chain are pegged at $134 million and $658 million, indicating an improvement of 7.2% and 6.6%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figure. However, domestic company-owned stores revenues are likely to witness a sharp decline of 17.9% to $128 million. Apart from the established markets such as Canada, Japan, Italy, the U.K., Ireland, Switzerland and South Korea, the emerging markets like Brazil, China, Indonesia and Turkey have been posting solid growth. Australia, Russia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia have also been gaining momentum. However, negative currency translation and a tricky consumer spending environment in the U.S. restaurant space is likely to have weighed on the fourth-quarter performance. Story continues Domino's Pizza Inc Price and EPS Surprise Domino's Pizza Inc Price and EPS Surprise Domino's Pizza Inc price-eps-surprise | Domino's Pizza Inc Quote What Does the Zacks Model Say Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Domino's this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that's not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Domino's has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Stock With Favorable Combinations Here are a few stocks from the Retail-Wholesale sector that investors may consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the upcoming releases: Rite Aid Corporation RAD has an Earnings ESP of +33.33% and a Zacks Rank #1. Papa John's International, Inc. PZZA has an Earnings ESP of +0.79% and a Zacks Rank #2. The Wendy's Company WEN has an Earnings ESP of +8.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Wendy's Company (WEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Papa John's International, Inc. (PZZA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Indian High Commission in London confirmed on Tuesday that British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, who was denied entry to India and deported to Dubai on Monday, did not hold a valid visa. Abrahams, who is an Opposition Labour Party MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir, claimed she was travelling on a valid e-visa to India to visit family and friends but her visa was revoked without explanation. She questioned why her visa was suddenly revoked and also the possibility of a visa on arrival, something India does not offer. "Mission has confirmed from the Indian immigration authorities that Ms Debbie Abrahams did not hold a valid visa, the Indian High Commission said in a statement on Twitter. "Further, there is no provision for visa on arrival for UK nationals. She was accordingly requested to return," the statement noted. Abrahams, who has been a vocal critic of the Indian government's abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, posted what looks like an e-visa document on Twitter to show that she had a visa issued on October 7 last year, which was valid until October 5, 2020. "Once again the key questions are why was it revoked and when, the Labour Party MP questioned. "Again, for clarity, I am PRO human rights and social justice. I will always speak up for people who are not afforded these rights including Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control, she added, as part of an ongoing social media row over the issue. In an account of her experience at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday, Abrahams said she had presented herself at the immigration desk along with her documents and e-visa. "...the official looked at his screen and started shaking his head. Then he told me my visa was rejected took my passport and disappeared for about 10 minutes. "When he came back he was very rude and aggressive shouting at me to come with me'. I told him not to speak to me like that and was then taken to a cordoned off area marked as a Deportee Cell. He then ordered me to sit down and I refused. I didn't know what they might do or where else they may take me, so I wanted people to see me." The official then reportedly called her sister-in-law's cousin, Kai, who she was meant to be staying with in Delhi. Kai got in touch with the British High Commission in New Delhi in an effort to try and find out what was going on but they allege that there has been no clarification from the Indian side over the issue. The UK Foreign Office said she had been offered consular assistance and have been in contact with the Indian authorities to determine the circumstances of her entry being denied. Abrahams was among a group of MPs who had issued formal letters following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which removed the special status of the region, in August last year. "We are gravely concerned at the announcement by Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been removed by Presidential Order," the Opposition MP noted in her letter to the UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, at the time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention notified Seegene Inc. (096530.KQ) that Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS; Former KFDA) approved its novel coronavirus (COIVD-19) Real-time PCR assay for the Emergency Use, following the recent CE-IVD Mark. It will begin offering the assays in Korea and across the globe from today. As the global concern is growing over the rapid spread of COVID-19, the market is demanding more accurate and prompt diagnostic solution to reduce the global prevalence of this unprecedented virus. Seegene launched a single-tube assay, Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay that identifies the 3 different target genes (E gene, RdRP gene and Ngene) designed based on the international recommended protocols posted by World Health Organization (WHO). The capability of a simultaneous test in a single-tube, compared to the existing multi-tube assays, greatly improves the efficiency in workflow, maximizing the throughput for a high volume test and minimizing the test cost. Seegene's automated system with its auto analysis software, Seegene viewer, is extremely useful especially in such an epidemic situation where thousands of tests may be required to be performed in a day, providing test results in 4 hours. Also, when used together with Seegene's other high multiplex respiratory assay portfolio that screens and identifies 19 respiratory viruses and 7 pneumonia bacteria with similar symptoms, it is able to diagnose the cause accurately and promptly. Seegene is capable of manufacturing 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day in order to meet the demands from the market and international society. According to Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO and Founder of Seegene, "It is meaningful that our molecular diagnostic technology and product can contribute to the international community in need of this new virus." He also added, "We are pleased to report KFDA approval of our COIVD-19 assay and are ready to support global healthcare organizations in need of our diagnostic solution." About Seegene Seegene (KQ: 096530) is the world's leading developer of multiplex molecular technologies and multiplex clinical molecular diagnostics (M-MoDx). Seegene's core enabling technologies - DPO, TOCE, and MuDT - are the foundation for M-MoDx tests that can simultaneously detect multiple targets with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Seegene's products detect multi-pathogens with great reliability and throughput, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene's mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology using innovative proprietary technologies. For more information, please visit www.seegene.com. New Delhi, Feb 18 : Indian Overseas Bank will approach Reserve Bank of India for withdrawal of PCA (prompt corrective action) framework once it starts making net profits even though the lender has already met the key criteria of below 6 per cent net NPA to be out of the restrictions, IOB Chairman Karnam Sekar has said. The longest serving PCA bank has drawn up aggressive business plans on its focus areas -- Retail, Agri and MSMEs where it is looking at higher disbursement targets and may tap market if there is a need for capital on regulatory front. The government recently infused Rs 4,360 crore in the bank. The bank is not part of any merger scheme announced by the government last year. "We hope to make net profit from this quarter (January-March) onwards and then we will approach government and RBI for PCA withdrawal. We have a below 6 per cent net NPA already and we want to observe it for more quarter to prove that it is sustainable," Sekar told IANS in an interview. As of December 2019 quarter, the bank's Net NPA fell to 5.81 per cent. PCA withdrawal benchmark mandates below 6 per cent Net NPA. IOB reported a standalone loss of Rs 6,075.49 crore for the quarter ended December 31 as provisions jump three times. The public sector lender had posted a loss of Rs 346.02 crore in the same period last year. He said the bank does not currently need either regulatory or growth capital but may tap market if there is a need. "We may fall short slightly on CRAR including the counter cyclical buffer. After we hopefully make profits in this quarter capital adequacy ratio will be comfortable. We don't need growth capital also since our plans are not very aggressive immediately. If at all we need, we will go for Tier 1 or Tier 2 capital from market", the CEO said. Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio (CRAR) is also known as Capital adequacy Ratio, the ratio of a bank's capital to its risk. IOB is in PCA for the last 5 years, longest stay for any commercial bank under PCA because of heavy exposure in corporate loans bringing huge NPAs. Government so far has infused about Rs 8000 crore capital. "We will not go big on corporate sector because of our high NPAs. We will have overall 1.5-2 per centr loans of overall loan book not beyond it in corporate portfolio. We will try to focus on MSME and retail loans. Across our 3000 branches we have a MSME portfolio of Rs 31000 crore, we want to increase it to at least Rs 50,000 crore over the next two years. Its a portfolio we will nurture and grow as a strategy. The bank has an overall portfolio of a little over Rs 1 lakh crore in RAM portfoilo", Sekar said. He said the bank is trying to bring corporate slippage to zero and RAM portfolio slippage to 2 per cent from the 4 per cent earlier, then additional provisioning will reduce. IOB's NPA's provision coverage ratio is 86 per cent now and net NPA is Rs 7,000 crore in absolute amount. On its net profit possibilities, the CEO said, "We are making operating profit in the range of Rs 800 crore each quarter. We are recovering about Rs 200 crore each quarter from written-off accounts, which directly adds to the operating profit which is Rs 3000 crore operating profit annually". As per IOB's strategy to post profit, he said, "Last several years the bank had to make huge provisions on credit which has led to an accumulated provision of Rs 43,000 crore. Not that the entire provision needed to be written off or to be absorbed, as and when we recover NPAs some of them will be ploughed back which will be straight addition to operating profit". (Anjana Das can be contacted at anjana.d@ians.in) New French health minister Olivier Veran said there is a "credible risk" Chinas coronavirus outbreak could turn into a pandemic, spreading across the world. "This is both a working assumption and a credible risk," Veran told France Info radio. He said France was ready to deal with all the possibilities and its health system was sufficiently robust and well-equipped, Reuters reported. Four patients who tested positive for the virus remained in hospital in France, Veran added. An 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the coronavirus in France last week, the first fatality in Europe. The death toll in China has climbed to 1,868 today. According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. The Bono regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC claims that about 350 people died in Galamsey related activities under the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama. According to him, the effect of galamsey related issues under the NDC regime was huge as compared to NPP Administration, adding a lot of people lost their life due to galamsey activities between 2013 and 2015. To him, the opposition NDC and former President Mahama have no credibility to talk about galamsey issues in the country. Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Programme, Abronye DC emphatically affirmed that over 350 people died in Galamsey Pit under former President Mahama administration. If the NDC is writing to UN then they should also write to the international criminal court that the former president who doubles as their flag bearer also tries to sell Ghanas Bauxite to his brother How was river pra when it was handed over to NPPGalamsey saga was one of the major security threat under their regime..it was killing a lot of people especially the youth in part of the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo region The one who stops the fight to allow people to die and the one who keeps fighting the menace, between them who should be applauded, he quizzed. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the removal of President Akufo Addo as Co-chair of UN SDGs advocates over his failed fight on illegal mining. Communications officer of the party Sammy Gyamfi Sammy challenged the Akufo-Addo-led government to account for all the excavators that have been seized in fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey. According to him, government in its own 2020 budget stated that about 900 excavators have been confiscated so far and not 500 as is being claimed by government. Speaking at a press conference at the banks of the Twifo Praso River in the Central region, Mr. Gyamfi said the NDC will petition the UN over President Akufo-Addos appointment as co-chair of the SDG Advocates following his failed fight on illegal mining. The NDC further demands, that the Akufo-Addo Government as a matter of urgency, should fully account for all items seized as listed at paragraph 801 of the 2020 Budget Statement presented to Parliament. We insist that a public exhibition of all 900 excavators, 2,779 weapons and ammunition and the 4,045 other mining equipment confiscated must be held in the spirit of transparency and to the benefit of all Ghanaians. We are terrified at the prospect of all these weapons finding their way into the hands of hoodlums belonging to NPP vigilante groups in an election year. More importantly, we hereby serve notice, that the NDC shall in the coming days, petition the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to revoke the appointment of President Akufo-Addo as Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates, the party said. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a press conference, Sun said China has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures to win the battle against coronavirus at the earliest, asserting that the country has sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations New Delhi: It is easier to shake a mountain than China, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said on Tuesday, dispelling concerns over the impact of coronavirus outbreak on the country's economy and its possible ripple effects across the globe. In a press conference, Sun said China has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures to win the battle against coronavirus at the earliest, asserting that the country has sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations. At the same time, he said that virus is a "borderless and a common threat to everyone in the world" and joint efforts are required to combat it. The envoy appreciated India for extending solidarity and expressing readiness to assist China to deal with the epidemic, but stressed that there should not be any restrictions on trade and movement of people between the two neighbours. Sun said there is no case of infection as of today among the remaining Indians in Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, and authorities are taking "good care" of them. China has been reeling under coronavirus outbreak triggering global health concerns as well as apprehensions about negative impact of the epidemic on the country's economy, which has the potential to impact global trade. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak climbed to 1,868 on Monday while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. "China's economy is stable and strong like a mountain. The fierce wind could blow down the trees but not the mountain. What I want to say is that it's easier to shake a mountain than China," Sun said. He said China's confidence to deal with the epidemic came from the country's strong economy, adding the Chinese government has allocated more than 80 billion RMB for epidemic prevention and control. Sun said banks and financial institutions have provided more than 537 billion RMB in credit to fight against the epidemic. "The epidemic has brought certain impact on some industries such as transportation, tourism and catering as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. In the short term, the downward pressure on China's economy will increase, but the impact is still local, temporary and limited," Sun said. He said China has the confidence to maintain long-term and stable development of its economy, notwithstanding the current situation. "As President Xi Jinping points out, we have full confidence, capability and determination to prevail over the epidemic at an early date," he said. "As the world's second largest economy, our economic strength is the strong material foundation for us to win this battle," the envoy said. He said several measures taken by China to deal with the situation are well beyond what is required by the International Health Regulations and the recommendations of World Health Organisation. Talking about measures taken by Beijing to stop the spread of the disease, Sun said China has made tremendous efforts for the global public health at "great costs and sacrifices". As of 17 February, the envoy said the number of confirmed cases has been declining for 14 consecutive days outside of Hubei province. "The epidemic in Hubei is also being managed more effectively. There is a rapid increase in the cure rate, from 1.3 percent to today's 8.2 percent. Over 12,000 people have recovered and they have been discharged from hospitals. The fatality rate is 2.29 percent nationwide and just 0.55 percent outside Hubei," he said. About international support, he said over 160 countries and international organizations have expressed their sympathy and support to China through telegrams or letters. Sun said nearly 20 regional organizations, including the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), have spoken in support of China. "As of 14 February, 33 foreign governments and four international organizations have assisted China with medical supplies. Seventeen foreign governments and one international organization announced that they will offer medical supplies," he said. "Facing this common challenge, we need to strengthen cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, show solidarity, and jointly overcome difficulties," Sun said. The envoy said China and India have been keeping close communication on the epidemic. "Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter of condolence to President Xi Jinping, expressing his recognition of the tremendous effort made by the Chinese government to deal with the outbreak. The Indian side assures readiness to stand by China and provide the assistance that India can to face this challenge," he said (Natural News) Roughly five months before the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) reared its ugly head, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing about Americas growing reliance on Chinese pharmaceuticals. And one of the things discussed or perhaps admitted, depending on how you look at it is the fact that a shocking 97 percent of all antibiotics in the United States now come from China. During the discussion, Gary Cohn, who was President Trumps chief economic advisor at the time, warned against the Commander-in-Chief waging a trade war against China because China could retaliate by simply cutting off the supply of life-saving medications to our own citizens. If youre the Chinese and you want to really just destroy us, just stop sending us antibiotics, Cohn stated, citing a report by the Department of Commerce showing that nearly all antibiotics are now made in China. It was almost a shot heard round the world concerning the national security risks inherent to a U.S.-China trade war, seeing as how not just antibiotics but all other drugs, as well as many other consumer products, originate there. By outsourcing even our system of medicine to a communist country that in many ways hates us really wasnt a smart thing to do, in other words. But thats where we currently stand nearly half a year later as Trumps trade war has coincided with the unleashing of a deadly new virus that has the potential to become a global pandemic. Were already seeing it spread to the four corners of the earth, including in areas where people didnt necessarily even visit Wuhan, the epicenter of this latest disease outbreak. If we are dependent on China for thousands of ingredients and raw materials to make our medicine, China could use this dependence as a weapon against us, warns a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) report, citing the testimony of national health care authority and Hastings Center Senior Advisor Rosemary Gibson. While the Department of Defense only purchases a small quantity of finished pharmaceuticals from China, about 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used to make drugs in the United States are said to come from China and other countries like India. The Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is accomplishing what the communist Chinese regime could have only dreamed of doing itself China has already threatened in the past to withhold exports of raw materials both for pharmaceuticals and vitamins to the U.S. as punishment for the trade war. Now, it appears that Beijing might not even have to do this as the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is doing it for the communist regime. The United States Trade Representative, apparently concerned about the negative impact this could have to the pharmaceutical industry but who cares about vitamins? made a proposal back in May 2019 that excluded $300 billion worth of pharmaceuticals, certain pharmaceutical inputs, and select medical goods as trade war bargaining chips. But, again, all bets are now off due to the rapid spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). At the time when this CFR report was published back in August, the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) wasnt even on anyones radar, at least not publicly. And the solution seemed as simple to the globalists as simply moving production not back to the United States where it belongs, but instead to India. But these plans have now been thwarted due to the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), which arrived too quickly for there to have been enough time to move any pharmaceutical production elsewhere. So, well all just have to wait and see what happens, and perhaps stock up on needed supplies if its not already too late. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is available at Outbreak.news. Be sure to also check out the official H.R. Report channel at Brighteon.com. Sources for this article include: CFR.org NaturalNews.com A Quebec man aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan has contracted COVID-19. Julien Bergeron, who has been quarantined in a windowless cabin with his partner Manon Trudel for about two weeks, has tested positive for the virus. Trudel's results have not been disclosed yet. Bergeron is one of 88 new positive cases reported aboard the ship, bringing the number of infected people on the Diamond Princess to 681, the Japanese health ministry confirmed Tuesday. Bergeron told Radio-Canada's Tout un matin that officials knocked on his door Tuesday morning to tell him he had tested positive for the virus. They asked if he wanted to be transferred to a hospital in the coming days. "I told them, 'If I have the coronavirus, take me now! I want to go now,'" he said. But in the hours since, Bergeron said no one has come by to check on his condition, let alone bring him to a hospital. "I asked to be transferred to a hospital if I'm sick, but we have to wait wait for what?" he asked. "They've been improvising since the beginning." Trudel, who teaches a course on biological contaminants at CEGEP de Sorel-Tracy, said the boat was not a proper quarantine and people were not given proper masks to protect themselves from infection. She said if she tests negative, she doesn't believe she'll be allowed to go with Bergeron to the hospital. A consular official told her she would probably have to stay on the boat and restart her 14-day quarantine. But they don't know if that means they will be allowed to return to Canada. On Saturday, the Canadian government announced it was sending a chartered plane to repatriate the Canadian passengers on board. Canadians who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 infection will be flown to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, in Ontario to be assessed ahead of another 14-day quarantine. Anyone showing symptoms of infection will be transferred to the Japanese health system to receive care, and will continue to receive full consular services, the statement said. Story continues Bergeron said he has a borderline fever and feels tired, but otherwise has no symptoms of the virus. "I'm looking forward to leaving this room behind," Bergeron said. Trudel said she hopes the plane comes soon, as the number of infected people is rising "exponentially." "I'm prepared to go in the baggage hold if I have to," Trudel said. Almere, The Netherlands February 17, 2020, 6:00 p.m. CET ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announces that its 100 million share buyback program 2019-2020 has been completed on February 17, 2020. On July 23, 2019, ASMI announced the authorization of a new share buyback program for up to 100 million. The program started on November 1, 2019, and was completed on February, 17, 2020. In total, we repurchased 984,279 shares at an average price of 101.60, under the 2019-2020 program. This share buyback program was executed by a third party. ASMI has the intention to reduce its capital by withdrawing the shares repurchased as part of the 2019-2020 share buyback program, save for such number of treasury shares as maybe necessary to fund ongoing share and option programs for employees and board members. This withdrawal of shares is intended to be proposed to the Annual General Meeting in 2020. The repurchase program is part of ASMI's commitment to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders. WEEKLY UPDATE SHARE BUYBACK In addition, ASMI reports the following transactions for February 10 - 17, 2020, which was the final week of the 2019-2020 share buyback program. Date Repurchased shares Average price Repurchased value February 10, 2020 650 115.71 75,211 February 11, 2020 634 119.34 75,659 February 12, 2020 650 121.80 79,168 February 13, 2020 800 123.27 98,618 February 14, 2020 800 124.87 99,894 February 17, 2020 882 121.46 107,124 Total 4,416 121.30 535,674 For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/share-information/share-buyback . About ASM International ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com . Story continues Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. CONTACT Investor contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: victor.bareno@asm.com Media contact: Ian Bickerton T: +31 625 018 512 A Turkish court on Tuesday dismissed national security charges against nine of the 16 high-profile liberal and leftist activists involved in major 2013 protests against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ignoring the recommendation of prosecutors to hand life sentences without parole to some of the defendants. Among those acquitted and allowed to walk out of prison was Osman Kavala, a philanthropist and liberal activist held in prison for more than two years on accusations of plotting to overthrow the government, the official Anadolu news agency reported. Liberals and leftists celebrated the decision, which comes among a string of victories for their political wing that includes the election of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last year against the candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party. Patna, Feb 18 : Political strategist and politician Prashant Kishor on Tuesday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying that his party JD-U was aligning with those "going soft on Mahatma Gandhi's killer", adding that the ideologies of the Father of the Nation and his assassin Nathuram Godse cannot go hand in hand. "There has been a lot of discussion between me and Nitish ji on the party ideology. He has his own thought process and I have mine. There have been differences between him and me -- the ideologies of Godse and Gandhi cannot stay together. You have to say which side you are on," said Kishor, who was expelled from the Janata Dal-United last month. "Nitishji always told us that the party can never leave the ideals of Gandhiji. But now, the party is with those who are soft on Gandhi's killer Godse. For me, Gandhiji and Godse cannot go hand in hand," he added. Kishor, who runs a consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and rebel leader Pavan Varma were thrown out by the Nitish Kumar's JD-U after its senior leadership was locked in an ugly war of words with the duo. The 43-year-old strategist, who helped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in strategising in the run-up to the Assembly elections, will launch his "Baat Bihar Ki" campaign from February 20 to reach out to the people of his native state. "My relationship with Nitish Kumar has never been a political one; he always treated me as a son. Those who know us will vouch for this. I also consider him a father figure," Kishor said at a press conference here, his first after expulsion from JD-U on January 29. Kishor was accused of questioning the JD-U stand on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Kishor also accused the JD-U chief of making an "ideological compromise" to stay in an alliance with the BJP. "Many JD-U leaders feel that staying in an alliance with the BJP will help the party. And the Chief Minister believes that in an alliance there are times when you have to compromise." He revealed that his ideological differences with Nitish Kumar first emerged during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "We had a standoff on two points. It's not new, it started during the Lok Sabha elections," Kishor said. Kishor joined the JD-U in September 2018. He first entered the political arena in 2011 when he met then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and helped him stitch his third consecutive win in the Gujarat Assembly polls in 2012. However, it was his active involvement in Modi's 2014 Lok Sabha campaign "an election that is a textbook case for everything done right" that catapulted him to instant fame with his 'chai pe charcha' campaign. After the success of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the Bihar polls in 2015, Kishor was a hot property which every political party vouched for. And the results of elections in Punjab in 2017, Andhra Pradesh in 2019, West Bengal by-polls in 2019, and now Delhi in 2020 have further increased his demand. The only failure for Kishor so far has been the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2017, wherein the Congress and the Samajwadi Party combine lost to the BJP despite campaigns like 'Khat pe charcha' and 'UP ke Ladke'. The latest to join his bandwagon is Tamil Nadu's DMK, which has roped in I-PAC to strategise its campaign for next Assembly elections. Janet Uhlar sits for a photo at her dining room table with an arrangement of letters and pictures she received through her correspondence with imprisoned Boston organized crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, in Eastham, Mass. Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders. But now she says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on the murder charges, because she learned he was an unwitting participant in a secret CIA experiment in which he was dosed with LSD on a regular basis for 15 months: AP Photo/David Goldman The notorious crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped to his pending arrest. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders, even after hearing evidence that the mobster was helped by corrupt agents in the Boston office of the FBI. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison, some of which describe his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind control drug in the late 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prison something his lawyers never brought up in his federal trial. Had I known, I would have absolutely held off on the murder charges, Uhlar told The Associated Press in a recent interview. He didnt murder prior to the LSD. His brain may have been altered, so how could you say he was really guilty? At the same time, Uhlar says she would have voted to convict Bulger on the long list of other criminal counts, meaning he still would likely have died in prison. Uhlar has spoken publicly about her regret before but says her belief that the gangster was wrongly convicted on the murder charges was reinforced after reading a new book by Brown University professor Stephen Kinzer: Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. The book digs into the dark tale of the CIAs former chief chemist and his attempts to develop mind control techniques by giving LSD and other drugs to unsuspecting individuals, including colleagues, and observing the effects. It was encouraging to know I wasnt losing my mind, thinking this was important, Uhlar said. It told me, this is huge. I mean, how many lives were affected by this? We have no idea. Story continues Gottliebs secret program, known as MK-ULTRA, enlisted doctors and other subcontractors to administer LSD in large doses to prisoners, addicts and others unlikely to complain. In Bulgers case, the mobster and fellow inmates were offered reduced time for their participation and told they would be taking part in medical research into a cure for schizophrenia. Appealed to our sense of doing something worthwhile for society, Bulger wrote in a letter to Uhlar reviewed by the AP. But nothing could have been further from the truth. The CIA mind control program known as MK-ULTRA involved the most extreme experiments on human beings ever conducted by any agency of the US government, Kinzer said. During its peak in the 1950s, that program and its director, Sidney Gottlieb, left behind a trail of broken bodies and shattered minds across three continents. After Bulger was found guilty by Uhlar and the other jurors, a federal judge sentenced him to two life terms plus five years. But his life behind bars ended a little more than a year ago, at age 89, when he was beaten to death by fellow inmates shortly after arriving in his wheelchair at the Hazelton federal prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. No criminal charges have been filed. Although much had been written about the CIAs mind control experiments before Bulgers trial, Uhlar said she knew nothing about them until she began corresponding with the renowned gangster following his conviction. Uhlar started writing Bulger, she said, because she was troubled by the fact that much of the evidence against him came through testimony by former criminal associates who were also killers and had received reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against their former partner in crime. When I left the trial, I had more questions, she said. After Bulger started returning her letters, Uhlar noticed he often dated them with the time he had started writing in his tight cursive style. He always seemed to be writing at one, two, or three in the morning and when I asked him why, he said it was because of the hallucinations, Uhlar said. When Uhlar asked him to explain, Bulger revealed what he had already told many others: that since taking part in the LSD experiments at a federal prison in Atlanta, hed been plagued by nightmares and gruesome hallucinations and was unable to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Sleep was full of violent nightmares and wake up every hour or so still that way since 57, he wrote. janet-uhlar-whitey-bulger.jpg Janet Uhlar sits at her dining room table with an arrangement of letters and pictures she received through her correspondence with imprisoned Boston organized crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger (AP Photo/David Goldman) On the Rock at times felt sure going insane, he wrote in another letter, referring to the infamous former prison on Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, where he was transferred from Atlanta. Auditory & visual hallucinations and violent nightmares still have them always slept with lights on helps when I wake up about every hour from nightmares. The mobster also recalled the supervising physician, the late Carl Pfeiffer of Emory University, and the technicians who would monitor his response to the LSD, asking him questions such as, Would you ever kill anyone? Etc., etc. That questions struck a nerve with Uhlar. After hearing from Bulger about MK-ULTRA, as if I should have known about it, she visited him at a Florida federal prison on three occasions to discuss the experiments and started reading everything she could find about them. At one point, she reviewed the 1977 hearings by the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence, which was looking into MK-ULTRA following the first public disclosures of the top-secret program. The hearings included testimony from CIA director Stansfield Turner, who acknowledged evidence showing that the agency had been searching for a drug that could prepare someone for debilitating an individual or even killing another person. Thats just horrifying, in my opinion, Uhlar said. It opens up the question of whether he was responsible for the murders he committed. According to at least two of the several books written about Bulger and his life of crime, associates including corrupt former FBI agent John Morris said they assumed Bulger would use the LSD experiments to mount an insanity defense, if he were ever caught and tried. But in 2013 Bulgers Boston attorneys, J.W. Carney Jr. and Hank Brennan, unveiled a novel defense in which they admitted Bulger was a criminal who made millions and millions of dollars from his gangland enterprise, but was enabled by corrupt law enforcement officers, especially those in Boston office of the FBI. Neither Carney nor Brennan would comment on their decision attorney client privilege outlasts a clients death. But Anthony Cardinale, a Boston attorney who has represented numerous organized crime defendants, said he would have opted for an insanity defense, in part because of the abundant evidence against Bulger. I would have had him come into court like Harvey Weinstein, all disheveled, and in a wheelchair, he said. Still, Cardinale acknowledged there would have been challenges to presenting an insanity defense, including the fact that Bulger spent 16 years out-witting several law enforcement agencies, before he was captured in 2011 in Santa Monica, California, where hed been living quietly with his longtime girlfriend while on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted List. The problem is, he lived for a very long time on the lam in a very secretive and a very smart way, Cardinale said. But that doesnt diminish the notion that, based on the LSD experiments, and the doses he was experiencing, he could have convinced himself of things that were not true, including that he had immunity from prosecution and could do whatever he wanted. To his dying day, Bulger insisted hed received criminal immunity from a deceased federal prosecutor who once headed the New England Organized Crime Strike Force. John Bradley, a former Massachusetts federal prosecutor and assistant district attorney, agreed that defense lawyers would have faced high hurdles waging an insanity defense, noting that most end in convictions. The flip side is that jurors are sometimes swayed by morality more than legality, he said. The whole shtick that the government played a role in creating this monster, uses him as an informant and then goes after him thats an argument that could affect one or two jurors. And it only takes one to vote not guilty on all the criminal charges to produce a hung jury, Bradley noted, forcing prosecutors to decide whether to retry a case. Given Bulgers decades as a crime boss who corrupted the Boston office of the FBI, paying cash and doing favors in exchange for information that helped him thwart multiple investigations, a retrial would have been a near certainty. Nevertheless, Cardinale said, a hung jury in the Bulger case would have been a monster victory for the defense. Even if Bulger were convicted on the other criminal charges and received a sentence that would have kept him behind bars for life, a refusal to find him guilty on the murder charges would have meant anguish for family members of his victims. As in any case involving a tragic murder, a conviction of the perpetrator helps family member obtain closure and move on with their lives, said Paul V. Kelly, a former federal prosecutor who has represented the family of one of Bulgers murder victims. An acquittal of Whitey Bulger on the murder charges would have just caused additional pain and anguish. Uhlar has written about the Bulger trial in The Truth be Damned, a fictionalized account she published in 2018 and advertises on her website. She also gives occasional talks on the trial at community centers and libraries. During her correspondence and visits with Bulger, Uhlar said, she grew fond of the gangster, though he often warned her that he was a criminal and master manipulator. When asked if Bulger might have manipulated her, she said, Ive asked myself that many times. Ill finish reading a letter and say, Could he have? Bulger often wrote to Uhlar as if she were a friend, even joking with her. But in one letter he also enclosed a more menacing message inscribed to her on the back of a photo taken of him on the Rock, at a time when he was fending off LSD-induced nightmares while contemplating his return to Bostons violent criminal underworld. At end of Alcatraz, getting more serious and capable of about anything, he wrote. Hard time makes hard people. The Associated Press Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a staunch Hindu and he never shied away from showing his credentials, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Monday. Gandhi even described himself as an orthodox sanatani Hindu, said Bhagwat. He travelled to understand India and became one with aspirations and sufferings of India and that is why he was never ashamed of being a Hindu. He said I am a staunch sanatani Hindu. He also taught to respect other religions, Bhagwat said at the launch of a book on the relevance of Mahatama Gandhi by former NCERT director JS Rajput. The RSS chief said that India which Gandhi dreamt of is yet to be formed but he has full faith in the present generation that they will realise this even if it is 20 years from now. Young generation instills confidence in him that if not today, in the next 20 years, there would come a time when on October 2, we could tell him that he can work with peace in India, said Bhagwat. Citing Mahatama Gandhis policy of opting for honesty and atoning for his mistakes when his experiments failed, Bhagwat said those who are responsible for fostering movements in the current scenario that turned violent are neither held responsible nor do they make amends. Sometimes Gandhijis movement went wrong, but he knew his method was wrong and not his intent. He used to atone for that and take responsibility. But the movements that are going on today, if there are law and order problems is there anyone who will atone? Is there anyone who will take responsibility? If there is a lathicharge or firing, the ones who are killed atone, the one imprisoned have to face courts. But those who organise these movements either win or lose, Bhagwat said. The comments came in the backdrop of the protests against the amended citizenship act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The book was launched at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, where Gandhiji fell to the bullets of assassin Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948. According to a functionary of the RSS, Bhagwat is the first Sangh chief to visit Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. The RSS has praised the Union government for bringing CAA that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Criticising those who are responsible for stoking unrest, Bhagwat said, for Indias future, it is imperative to follow the follow Gandhis first lesson that honesty is everything. Honesty is not a policy, it is everything Bhagwat said. BOSTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Hill Staffing Group recently opened its 53rd location in Phoenix, Arizona. The office opens with Beacon Hill Legal, Beacon Hill's legal staffing division. With this addition, the Legal division now operates in 15 Beacon Hill locations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and now Phoenix. Leading BH Legal in Richmond is Division Director, Lisa Ricketts. Prior to joining Beacon Hill, Ms. Ricketts spent over five years with one of the world's largest staffing companies where she was recognized as one of the company's top performers in their legal direct hire division. Ms. Ricketts is a licensed Canadian attorney (Alberta) and she practiced securities and M&A law with an international law firm based in Calgary, Alberta for 7 years before heading up the firm's Recruitment and Professional Development departments for Alberta. She moved to the Phoenix area in 2014. "I'm excited to have been afforded the great opportunity to introduce Beacon Hill Staffing Group's Legal brand to the Phoenix area," said Ms. Ricketts. "Many of the clients that we have talked to are excited to work with Beacon Hill as they are aware of their East Coast reputation for excellence, outstanding client service and rate flexibility." "I feel extremely lucky and flattered that someone of Lisa's caliber decided to make the move to Beacon Hill Legal," noted John Tarbox, Managing Director of BH Legal. "Lisa is an industry veteran with an amazing track record of success not only in Phoenix but all over the Southeast. With the addition of Lisa and the team she will be putting together, we couldn't be in a better position to become one of the top legal staffing providers in that region." Beacon Hill Legal, through distinct specialty groups, provides search services for attorneys up to the partner level, as well as paralegals and legal secretaries, and also delivers on projects, document reviews and interim staffing requirements with a talented contract and temporary workforce and project management team. Beacon Hill Staffing Group's niche brands provide direct hire, executive search, temporary staffing, contract consulting, temp/contract-to-hire, and MSP/VMS and RPO solutions to emerging growth companies and the Fortune 500 across multiple market sectors and all industries. Over time, office locations, specialty practice areas and service offerings will be added to address ever changing constituent needs. SOURCE Beacon Hill Staffing Group Related Links http://www.beaconhillstaffing.com Over 8,000 Nigerians who participated in an online poll have supported the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister 74 political parties. The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, announced the deregistration on February 6. The latest act by the electoral umpire was welcomed with mixed feelings. While many applauded INECs decision saying it will strengthen the electoral process, some have said it is not a good idea. The recent deregistration of political parties brings the total number of parties in Nigeria to 18. The Poll A total of 8,141 voters participated in the poll which was conducted on the PREMIUM TIMES website and on its official Twitter and Facebook pages. The poll lasted for about seven days and was conducted in a way that made it impossible for a respondent to vote more than once from the same computer or mobile device. Participants were asked a single question: Is the deregistration of some political parties by INEC a good move? with options of yes, no, we need less parties and I dont care. On the Facebook page, 5,000 respondents (94 per cent) aligned themselves with INEC while 302 participants (six per cent) kicked against the idea. Poll result On Twitter, 1,409 participants (70.7 per cent) voted in support of INEC, 82 respondents (4.1 per cent) voted against, 317 participants (15.9 per cent) voted that the nation needs less political parties and 185 (9.3 per cent) said they do not care. On the website, 605 respondents (71.5 per cent) voted yes, 40 respondents (4.7 per cent) voted no, 145 respondents (17.1 per cent) said we need less parties and 56 respondents (6.6 per cents) said they do not care. Why 74 parties were deregistered The deregistration of the parties followed their poor performance in the 2019 general elections and court-ordered re-run elections arising from litigations, Mr Yakubu said at a press briefing. This is largely due to their failure to win at least one political seat in the last general elections. Facebook poll result Most of the parties were not able to poll up 20 thousand votes in the last national elections and lack presence in most parts of the country, he said. Mr Yakubu said the commission carried out an assessment of political parties to determine their compliance with the requirements for registration and only 18 political parties fulfilled the requirements for existence based on Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution. Given that the action was in preparation for the coming 2023 general elections, this means the political parties would not be participating in subsequent elections in the country, except the decision is reversed. READ ALSO: INEC had in 2012 deregistered 28 political parties for similar reasons. The commission, however, registered more parties between that period and the 2019 general elections. INECs power to deregister parties Section 225 of the Nigerian Constitution was amended to empower the INEC to de-register political parties on grounds of: a. breach of any of the requirements for registration; b. failure to win at least twenty-five per cent of votes cast in- i. one State of the Federation in a Presidential election; or ii. one Local Government of the State in a Governorship election; c. failure to win at least- Advertisements i. one ward in the Chairmanship election; ii. one seat in the National or State House of Assembly election; or iii. one seat in the Councillorship election. Parties react The affected parties have since kicked against INECs action with a few few of them threatening legal action. Twitter poll result Affected parties like the All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) have cried foul and accused the electoral umpire of not practicing democracy the right way. Other parties like KOWA party and Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) have said they would seek legal redress. Mark Adebayo, acting national chairman of KOWA party, explained that his party and 32 others had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja in 2019, to among other things, restrain INEC from deregistering parties pending the determination of the suit. He said the court upon hearing the Motion for an Interlocutory Injunction adjourned for ruling on February 17. The court on Monday granted the injunction sought by the parties barring the electoral commission from deregistering them. Justice Anwuli Chikere said INEC failed to counter the application by the applicants whose rights must be protected. The Taliban have said that a peace deal with the United States will be signed by the end of the month, with the top US negotiator describing himself as cautiously optimistic about the process. Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, a senior Taliban leader and member of the political commission in Doha, Qatar, said in a video message shared with journalists that after negotiations both sides have initiated the final draft of the peace agreement. Now talks are concluded. This is the first formal statement released by the Taliban since the United States announced a peace deal with the movement on Friday. Mr Hanafi said both sides have agreed to sign the agreement by the end of this month, after making a favourable environment before signing of the agreement. What Mr Hanafi appears to be describing is what US negotiators and Afghan government officials are calling a period of reduced violence that approximates a cease-fire and will last seven days. Mr Hanafi gave no further details on what a favourable environment would entail. American and Afghans officials also have been tight-lipped regarding details of the violence reduction. Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Show all 10 1 /10 Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Walas Bibi, 10 (left), was wounded in her arm and stomach by two bullets during a shoot-out between the army and the Taliban. Zubaida, 8 (right), was wounded in her legs by shrapnel from a bomb as she went to fetch water Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Jawidullah Muhamad Khan, 12, from Ghazni, wounded during a bombing near his home as he came back from school with some friends. He lost four fingers and was injured in his leg in multiple places during the raid, which hit everyone in the area Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Ambulance transport for two young wounded men Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Noorahad, 12, from the Marjah area, hit by a bullet while he was simply sleeping in his bed at home Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Anahita, 18, hit by a bullet while her husband was cleaning his gun. She risked losing her right leg, as her thigh bone was broken Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home A rehabilitation session for Mujahid, 10, wounded in a shoot-out between the Taliban and Afghan army near his home in the Nad Ali area Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Mafton, 5, wounded in a clash between the Afghan army and Taliban militias in Tagab district, in Kapisa province. When a rocket exploded, he lost his left eye and his chest was wounded all over Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home A father speaks with first aid staff looking after his son, wounded by an explosive device Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home Nurses in Kabul take care of Somaya, 1, who had surgery on her right foot, wounded by shrapnel from an explosive device Giulio Piscitelli Afghanistan conflict: When War Comes Home photo exhibition Zakhem | Wounds: When War Comes Home A patient left wounded by the explosion of a car bomb is treated in Kabul Giulio Piscitelli In his first public comments since the peace talks breakthrough, US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief negotiator with the Taliban, said he's cautiously optimistic. But I am realistic enough to know that there are lots of challenges ahead, he added. Mr Khalilzad said that while he had received security guarantees from both the Afghan government and the Taliban, the potential remained for spoilers both inside Afghanistan and outside the country to upend months of diplomatic progress. I believe that, maybe better than any time in the last couple of decades, there is an opportunity for peace, he said, speaking in Islamabad on Monday at a United Nations conference on refugees marking 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan. Some Afghan officials said the reduced violence would be countrywide and all parties to the conflict would halt planned offensive operations. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deal publicly. There is no official word on when the reduction in violence will begin, but it's expected to be sometime this week. If that reduction in violence holds, it would be followed by the signing of a broader US-Taliban agreement under which thousands of US troops would withdraw and the Taliban would begin direct negotiations with Afghan leaders. Mr Hanafi mentioned talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, but he said such a step would only be taken after a mass prisoner exchange. When the process of releasing of 5,000 [Taliban] prisoners ... is completed, then intra-Afghan talks will begin, he said. The Taliban prisoners would be exchanged for 1,000 members of the Afghan security forces, according to Mr Hanafi. Recommended US officials distorted statistics to mislead public about Afghan war But Afghan officials have said previously that the exchange would be discussed during the intra-Afghan talks and not before. The broader US-Taliban agreement is nearly identical to one negotiated in September that was cancelled by Donald Trump after a Taliban attack that killed a US soldier before it could be signed. The deal would begin the withdrawal of US troops and require the Taliban to pledge not to harbour terrorist groups with the intention of attacking the West. While a deal has been reached, US officials have cautioned it remains conditional on the outcome of the period of reduced violence. In a statement released by Ashraf Ghani's office Saturday, the Afghan president said the agreement will be finalised next week and will have conditional content. At an annual security conference in Munich on Saturday, Mr Ghani took a combative tone when asked about a possible role for the Taliban in a future Afghan government. If the Taliban had support, why would they be so afraid of elections, he said. I challenge them: Put your best candidates in Helmand and see whether you win, he continued, referring to an Afghan province considered a heartland of Taliban support. If people elect you dog catcher, then I would say you really have a power base. Guns are not the basis of power. The Washington Post Eventually, Mr. Giuliani named Mr. Kerik correction commissioner in 1997, and Mr. Kerik won praise for reducing violence in the citys jails. As evidence of his clout, Mr. Kerik had a city jail in Lower Manhattan named after him. (The name was later changed.) In 2000, Mr. Giuliani, having been re-elected to a second term, appointed Mr. Kerik as police commissioner. His role as the Police Departments leader at the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks raised Mr. Keriks national profile. After Mr. Giuliani left office, Mr. Kerik joined the former mayors security consulting firm and earned millions of dollars over several years. A stunning fall In December 2004, at Mr. Giulianis urging, President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Kerik to become homeland security secretary. But within a week, Mr. Kerik had withdrawn his name from consideration, citing what he said were questions about the immigration status of a nanny he had once employed. The nominations collapse was the beginning of the end of Mr. Keriks career. It also raised questions about what Mr. Giuliani knew about Mr. Keriks background as he pushed him for the cabinet position and when he named him police commissioner. In June 2006, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty in State Supreme Court in the Bronx to two misdemeanors tied to renovations done on his apartment in Riverdale by a New Jersey construction firm suspected of being linked to organized crime. He paid $221,000 in fines and penalties, but avoided jail time. According to a grand jury transcript of Mr. Guilianis testimony in the case, he recalled that a prosecutor had told him that the citys Investigation Department had compiled substantial evidence of Mr. Keriks ties to the firm before he was picked to lead the Police Department and that Mr. Giuliani had been briefed on the agencys findings. (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks SpaceX launched its fifth batch of 60 Starlink satellites Monday morning, another step toward Musks vision of creating a space-based network to provide broadband service around the world. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rumbled aloft from Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida at roughly 10:05 a.m. local time and the satellites successfully deployed. The rockets first stage appeared to narrowly miss landing on an uncrewed drone-ship in the Atlantic ocean. Gywnne Shotwell, SpaceXs president and chief operating officer, said earlier this month that SpaceX will likely spin out Starlink and sell shares to the public. SpaceX is one of a handful of players that wants to build out a space-based internet system that can serve people who struggle to access the web today via fiber optic and cellular connections. Starlink would beam down relatively high-speed data from its network of satellites orbiting the Earth. Its targeting service in the northern U.S. and Canada this year. Such a service would effectively make SpaceX a telecommunications company that also has a rocket launch business. SpaceX has been launching roughly 60 satellites at a time into orbit, and with a few more should have global coverage. The service will be less than what you are paying now for about five to 10 times the speed you are getting, Shotwell said earlier this month at a private investor event hosted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Miami. SpaceX has come to dominate the commercial rocket industry, with customers that include NASA, the U.S. military and commercial satellite operators. Starlink and its ability to provide high-speed internet across the globe has helped private investors in SpaceX justify a roughly $33 billion valuation. Musk has long maintained that SpaceX itself is unlikely to go public until it is regularly ferrying people to Mars. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A Safe Haven in a Changing World Can Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Serve as a Local Refuge Against Ocean Acidification? By Pike Spector February 2020 Californias Channel Islands are home to some of the most productive and unique ecosystems along the west coast of North America. Renowned for their pristine beauty and rugged coastlines, the Channel Islands offer a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of Southern California. Visitors and researchers alike are transported to the solitude of the islands as they venture across the Santa Barbara Channel to the sanctity of Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. And for Dr. Lydia Kapsenberg, former UC Santa Barbara graduate student and current postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Barcelona, Spain, the islands may play a critical role as a refuge for a problem that scientists are just beginning to grapple with: ocean acidification. The sun shines on Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA The California Current System and the Channel Islands Californias Channel Islands are positioned within the California Current System, an ecosystem driven by the movement of water along the west coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California. The California Current System brings nutrients to the region, supporting much of the biodiversity seen around the Channel Islands. The mainland coast of California is also home to strong seasonal upwelling events. As the wind blows across the water, it moves surface waters away from the California coastline. This allows deeper ocean water to rise from the depths to take the surface waters place. This process, known as upwelling, exposes marine organisms to deeper water that is higher in nutrients but is also more acidic than most of the water on the surface of the ocean. Over the last two centuries, we have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels to support human activities, such as to drive our cars, power our homes, and manufacture concrete for construction, and from land use changes. As we continue to burn fossil fuels, the ocean has helped absorb about 30 percent of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, this absorption has profound effects on seawater chemistry, increasing its acidity beyond natural levels. While upwelling in the California Current System encourages growth at the base of the local food web, when combined with ocean acidification, it exposes marine organisms to more acidic conditions. More acidic waters can make it harder for plankton, bivalves, lobsters, sea urchins, and other organisms to build their exoskeletons, and whole food chains may become disrupted. These disruptions can be catastrophic for the economically important fisheries that rely on these organisms. But theres good news: according to Kapsenberg, the protected northern shores of the northern Channel Islands create the perfect setting for an ocean acidification refuge. More acidic water can make it harder for invertebrates like lobsters to build their exoskeletons. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA The Hunt for Ocean Acidification Refugia Because of their location, the four northern Channel Islands provide the conditions for an ocean acidification refuge, an area where organisms vulnerability to ocean acidification is less than elsewhere, says Kapsenberg. These islands form an archipelago that runs from east to west. This unique orientation creates coastal shorelines and marine ecosystems that face north, a feature that does not exist elsewhere in the California Current System. The currents trapped between the northern island shorelines and the California mainland, in combination with the irregularity of the coast in this region, prevent deep water from being upwelled to the surface along the northern Channel Islands. Thus, according to Kapsenberg, the high level of acidity associated with deep waters that are upwelled along the California mainland coast does not reach these island waters. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is located off the coast of Southern California. Click the image for a larger version. Image: NOAA "While organisms in the Channel Islands will experience ocean acidification, they are protected from the 'double whammy' of harmful acidity associated with upwelling and ocean acidification," says Kapsenberg. Therefore, vulnerable species may thrive along the northern shores of the Channel Islands while on other parts of the coast they might not. This makes the marine waters of the northern Channel Islands, which are part of Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, perfectly positioned to reap the benefits of upwelling in nearby waters without the deleterious increases in acidity found elsewhere along the California coastline. Effectively, these northern islands sit in a Goldilocks Zone in terms of coastal geography and ocean current circulation. With this refuge from ocean acidification, organisms around the Channel Islands are able to thrive where their neighbors on other parts of the coast might not. Kapsenberg conducts research in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Lydia Kapsenberg Why Conservation Matters: Real World Adaptation to a Global Issue The Channel Islands have historically been home to vast kelp forests, extensive seagrass meadows, and other coastal ecosystems that support a plethora of economically and ecologically important organisms. Protected because of their importance to nearshore fisheries and ecological stability, these ecosystems are now being viewed in a new light. In conjunction with marine protected areas, the islands play an even more critical role in preserving organisms that we humans depend on. Consider both the California spiny lobster and the red sea urchin. Both of these organisms are similar in that they are both invertebrates that make hard exoskeletons and are both highly valuable fishery species. Sea urchins depend on kelp for food, while lobsters use seagrass meadows as nurseries and hunting grounds. As ocean acidification persists along the California coast, the fate of these organisms remains unclear. Ocean acidification can affect entire food webs. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA Ocean acidification is a global issue; as the ocean continues to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, surface waters will continue to become more acidic. Ocean acidification is still occurring everywhere, so mitigation of atmospheric carbon dioxide should remain the number one ocean acidification management priority, says Kapsenberg. Even though this is a global issue, marine managers are seeking to lessen the blow on a local level. Therefore, it is critical to identify locations along the coast that will reap the most benefits from marine policy and protection. Collaborative research like Dr. Kapsenbergs work highlights the importance of local mitigation and management for global issues like ocean acidification, says sanctuary superintendent Chris Mobley. With this knowledge we are better informed to protect the natural resources of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. With the new understanding that the northern Channel Islands create a refuge for organisms often impacted by ocean acidification, scientists and marine managers are better equipped to plan for the future of Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary in the face of a changing ocean. Pike Spector is a California Sea Grant State Fellow with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Its not a healthier option to the meat patty because of the additives and thickeners, which does not make it a desirable choice, according to Robbie. But it tastes phenomenal, and so much like meat. I truly dont know how they did it. Even on its own the patty had an amazing amount of flavour, with smoky barbecue undertones. Plus, it didnt give me the meat sweats that can often come with the classic Whopper. If youre avoiding meat but missing burgers, this will be heaven for you - just dont eat them on a daily basis because theyre definitely terrible for your health. Ten out of 10 from me Loading Schnitz The great thing about the Schnitz menu is the ability to sub out the chicken schnitzel in any burger for a veggie one - at no extra charge. It looks just like a normal schnitty, and I thought it would be one of those Quorn-style fake chicken patties that taste pretty similar to the real thing. But unfortunately it was just a fried patty filled with veggies and onion. For some reason, Schnitz refused to give me the ingredient list so I have no idea whats actually in it, but I can report that its pretty tasty. A little heavy on the onion but their vegan cheese option is pretty solid. Compared to the other chicken shop burgers I tried, this was probably my least favourite. But we all know that Schnitz has the best chips of any fast food chain in Australia so its worth enduring the burger just for those. Oporto Oportos vegan burger is once again another fried vegetable patty. This ones made with peas and basil, making it a pretty different vibe to the usual Bondi Burger taste that youd get from Oporto. The capsicum relish and avocado on there do add some good texture, but its not really the sort of flavour you want from a Portuguese chicken joint. If youre in the mood for a burger and Oporto is right there, its certainly a good option. But if youre craving Oporto while avoiding meat, this probably wont hit the spot. However, Robbie points out that from a health standpoint, the vegan burger wins out against the standard chicken burger. Its lower in the saturated fat, sugars, and sodium, which tend to be detrimental to our health. Plus, the meat used at Oporto is only 94 per cent chicken - the rest is additives. In comparison, the pea and basil vegan patty looks to be a better choice, according to Robbie. Nandos I thought the Nandos burger was just going to be a repeat of Schnitz: some mushed up veggies fried into a patty and whacked on a burger. On paper it sounds the same, but the reality is so much tastier. Loading The veggie patty is grilled instead of fried, and its full of spices that give it a much richer flavour. Paired with Nandos peri peri sauce, I enjoyed it more than Id enjoy a normal chicken burger. You can also get it in a wrap or a pita, which was a nice reprieve after eating four vegan burgers in three days. According to our expert Robbie, compared to their classic chicken burger it does not have as good a ratio of carbs to fat. But of all the vegan burgers I tried, Nandos one was the lowest in fat and calories. Is it because its smaller? Probably. But whatever. There is a high-protein fake chicken burger on the horizon for Nandos, but its currently available only in Queensland. Its meant to taste pretty similar to the standard Nandos burger so Im just gonna be sitting here patiently waiting for it to be available in Sydney. Though still in its infancy, the drone delivery business is set to take off in the coming years. Spurred by everything from environmental concerns to the desire to avoid congested roads, companies are developing, testing, and beginning to implement a wide array of drone delivery systems. A number of practicalities need to be worked out before drone delivery becomes an everyday occurrence including regulations and drone technology itself but its likely only a matter of time. Drone delivery has the potential to radically improve the way we live by making the things we need in a hurry available in just minutes, said Alexa Dennett, a spokesperson for Wing. As a faster, safer, and more environmentally friendly method of delivery, we believe drones will be commonplace in the near future, she told TechNewsWorld. Wing, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, already has started making limited drone deliveries in three markets: Helsinki; Canberra, Australia; and Christiansburg, Virginia. Wing is not the only player in the market. UPS subsidiaryUPS Flight Forward recently received full Part 135 certification from the FAA. UC San Diego Health, in collaboration with UPS and Matternet, soon will pilot a program to deliver medical supplies and documents to several of its facilities. Zipline has been delivering medical supplies to remote locations in Rwanda for several years. Flytrex is testing food delivery in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Amazon Prime Air continues to develop its own drone delivery system. The Benefits of Going Drone Delivery by drone promises a variety of benefits, including reducing carbon emissions, increasing delivery speed, making deliveries more accessible, and spurring local economic opportunities. We believe that delivering goods by drones is faster, safer, more affordable, efficient and environmentally sustainable, compared to todays car and truck delivery systems, said Wings Dennett. Drone deliveries offer the potential to improve the way our cities operate by reducing road congestion and creating new economic opportunities for local businesses. Used instead of cars and trucks, drones could reduce greenhouse emissions drastically by up to 99 percent, according to an AlphaBeta study commissioned by Wing. Wing and Virginia Tech partnered to research the potential impacts of drone delivery. So far, this research suggests that in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area, drones possibly could take 3,385 cars off the road, save 40.2 tons of C02 each year, and save customers time worth US$46.6 million annually. A D V E R T I S E M E N T There are three primary benefits of drone delivery, noted Guy Bloch, CEO of Bringg. It will drastically reduce the environmental impact that large trucks from warehouses or even smaller delivery vehicles produce, he told TechNewsWorld. The cost at least for ultra- fast deliveries will be far lower, as retailers wont have to worry about filling an entire vehicle. Another advantage is speed, Bloch said. It will allow retailers to more dependably provide fast deliveries. The Sky Ahead It wont be all smooth sailing or flying however. Drone delivery becoming commonplace relies on working out regulations as well as solving a variety of other technological, economic and cultural issues. Ensuring public and airway safety is a primary concern, and the industry is working closely with the FAA and other regulatory organizations to develop safe standards and practices. The whole development of the commercial drone industry revolves around safety, said Mike Hertzendorf, CEO of NUAIR. The United States has one of the most if not the most heavily trafficked airspaces in the world, he told TechNewsWorld. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems industry needs to do everything we can to make sure people in the air and on the ground remain safe, Hertzendorf added. Given all that must be done, its not likely that drone delivery will become commonplace in the near future particularly in cities, where air traffic is much higher than in rural areas. I believe we are still a ways away from routine drone deliveries in highly populated areas, said Hertzendorf. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The current regulation around drones from the FAA is called Part 107. A couple of the main regulations in Part 107 is the restriction of flying your drone farther than you can see it, and it prohibits flights over people. So again, all based around safety, he explained. NUAIR is a key industry leader helping to develop the standards and help define regulations to expand on Part 107, which will lead to advanced commercial drone operations like food, package and medical deliveries, Hertzendorf said. Industry groups like NUAIR are working with the FAA as it develops regulations to protect peoples safety, but the process likely will take some time. We are actively figuring out what regulations need to be in place to make sure those in the air and on the ground remain safe during routine drone operations, said Hertzendorf. The technology is there for these advanced drone operations. We just need to figure out and implement the appropriate performance requirements, rules and regulations that and the other multitude of issues, like flying beyond visual line of sight, weather impact on drones, and the different weather patterns inside city limits versus rural areas, he continued. Needless to say, there are many issues that need to be addressed before well see the sky filled with drones. In short, regular drone delivery of packages to doorsteps as appealing as it may be probably will not happen any time soon. There is a great deal of speculation regarding drone-based package delivery, said Henry Fletcher, a drone specialist a Cambridge Consultants. Forecasts predict anything from limited, premium deliveries and indirect contact with consumers to drone-based small parcel delivery becoming ubiquitous, enabled by cost reductions over conventional delivery from high levels of automation and lightweight last-mile transit, he told TechNewsWorld. The technology exists and is very capable, but as a whole, the industry needs to prove its safety credentials in a highly regulated area, Fletcher pointed out. This can only happen at a limited pace and will inevitably suffer setbacks along the way. The Future of Drones Even when drones become more commonplace, they likely will not replace other methods of transport and delivery. Rather, theyll be part of a mix of delivery methods, and the methods used in any given case will depend on the goods being delivered, location, distance, weight, and a variety of other factors. Delivery via drone will just be another economical tool for the delivery of certain products, much like there are still products being delivered via barges across the ocean or being hauled across the country via train, explained NUAIRs Hertzendorf. The advent of the airplane did not replace these delivery methods, he noted. The ability for any of these vehicles, including drones, to deliver a product relies on many of the same issues and limitations what is it, where is it going, and whats the most economical and logical way to get it there. I do not see routine deliveries via drones totally replacing current shipping methods. Theyre just another potential option for faster, more efficient deliveries of certain products. - Strategic Initiatives to Drive Diversification and Long-Term Shareholder Value - - Balance Sheet Remains Strong, with Essentially No Debt - SAN CLEMENTE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Concierge Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB:CNCG), a diversified global holding firm, today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019. "Results for the quarter were in line with expectations, as we continued to invest in growth initiatives for each of our core business segments," said Nicholas Gerber, chairman and chief executive officer. "In financial services, progress was made during the quarter developing a new fintech product that we expect to launch this spring under the name, "Marygold'. Our hair and skin care company completed the development of a new, branded line of vegan haircare products, "Worry Free,' and subsequent to the end of the second quarter launched the line at a large national retailer, representing entry into a new channel for us. We also built a solid backlog for our Brigadier Security business, and in alignment with our strategic growth initiatives, we continued to explore acquisition targets. "Concierge Technologies has had excellent growth since its formation as a holding company, just five years ago," added Gerber. "We are staying true to our mission of not being reliant on any one business or sector by building a profitable, diverse organization through organic growth, acquisitions and new ventures, and creating tangible long-term value for all of our stakeholders." For the three months ended December 31, 2019, revenues were $5.8 million, compared with $6.7 million for the prior year. Net loss for the most recent three-month period amounted to $74,914, equal to break-even per share, versus income of $88,518, also equal to break-even per share, for the comparable prior year period. Results for the fiscal 2020 second quarter, as anticipated, were impacted primarily by lower assets under management (AUM) at the company's USCF Investments fund management subsidiary as compared to the prior year. USCF Investments manages nine commodity-oriented and two equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, currently with approximately $2.2 billion in assets under management. The company's Other business segment, which comprised approximately 51 percent of total revenues in the most recent second quarter vs 41 percent of total revenues in last year's second quarter, achieved a 7% improvement in revenues for the fiscal 2020 period. The Other segment is comprised of Gourmet Foods, Brigadier Security Systems and Original Sprout. Concierge's balance sheet further strengthened at the end of the second fiscal quarter. Cash and cash equivalents remained steady at approximately $6.5 million, after the cash investment in our the new fintech venture and payment of annual employee incentive rewards at the subsidiary level. Total stockholders' equity increased to $17.5 million at December 31, 2019 from $17.2 million at June 30, 2019. The company has essentially no debt. "Operating results for USCF held fairly steady throughout the second quarter," said Stuart Crumbaugh, chief financial officer of Concierge Technologies. "We believe the downward trend cycle in assets under management is coming to an end, with the eventual up-swing anticipated as the historical nature of commodities in general would suggest. Regardless, our business model operates well in fluctuating markets, since many of our expenses are variable in nature and move in concert with revenues to sustain profitability at lower levels of AUM." "Our "Other' operating units had a productive quarter despite some one-time expenses," said David Neibert, Concierge Technologies' Chief Operations Officer. "Original Sprout successfully made the transition to nationwide retail distribution for their new "Worry Free' line of hair care products, and Gourmet Foods had a near-record holiday season of sales. Brigadier Security Systems was seasonally hampered by frigid cold in Saskatoon, which, in turn, helped build a solid backlog for the next quarter. Our Other operating units were all cash flow positive, and we only posted a small net loss on a consolidated basis, due, in part, to non-cash expenses, including $150,000 in depreciation expense for the quarter," Neibert said. Business Units Gourmet Foods, https://gourmetfoodsltd.co.nz/, acquired in August 2015, is a commercial-scale bakery that produces and distributes iconic meat pies and pastries throughout New Zealand under the brand names Pat's Pantry and Ponsonby Pies. Brigadier Security Systems, www.brigadiersecurity.com, acquired in June 2016 and headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, provides comprehensive security solutions to homes and businesses, government offices, schools and other public buildings throughout the province. The company's USCF Investments operation, www.uscfinvestments.com, acquired as part of the Wainwright Holdings transaction in December 2016 and based in Walnut Creek, Calif., serves as manager, operator or investment adviser to 13 exchange traded products, structured as limited partnerships or investment trusts that issue shares trading on the NYSE Arca. Acquired by Concierge at the end of 2017, California-based Original Sprout, www.originalsprout.com , produces and distributes a full line of vegan, safe, non-toxic hair and skin care products, including a "reef safe" sun screen, in the U.S. and its territories, the U.K., E.U., Turkey, Middle East, Africa, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. A second line of products, "Worry Free" was created to target mainstream U.S. nationwide consumers and began distribution in January 2020. About Concierge Technologies, Inc. Concierge Technologies, originally founded in 1996, was repositioned as a global holding firm in 2015, and currently has operating subsidiaries in financial services, food manufacturing, security systems and beauty products. Offices and manufacturing operations are in the U.S., New Zealand and Canada. For more information, visit www.conciergetechnology.net. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" that include information relating to Concierge Technologies' future events and future financial and operating performance. Such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, adding new distribution channels and an expectation for the USCF operating subsidiary to benefit when the cyclical trend for commodities shifts upward, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Concierge Technologies or its subsidiary companies, and more detailed information about the individual operating entities, please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available on the Company's website, (http://www.conciergetechnology.net), or at www.sec.gov. Financial Tables Follow: CONCIERGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) His company is often criticized for its environmental record, but Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and the world's richest man, said Monday that he was committing $10 billion to a new fund to tackle climate change. In a post to his 1.4 million followers on Instagram, the e-commerce tycoon said the Bezos Earth Fund would "fund scientists, activists, NGOs -- any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world." "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," said Bezos, whose net worth is estimated to be around $130 billion. Hundreds of Amazon employees last month signed a blog criticizing the online retail giant's climate policies and demanding it do more to tackle climate change. Amazon has been accused of creating vast amounts of waste from the packaging it uses for doorstep deliveries, as well as for the greenhouse gas emissions from huge fleets of vehicles. The company, which in December said its workforce had hit 750,000, has also been denounced over its carbon footprint because of the high energy consumption of its server farms for its lucrative cloud computing activities. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," Bezos said in his announcement on Monday. - Amazon's carbon targets - Bezos, who maintained his status as the world's richest person despite an expensive divorce last year, said his new foundation would begin issuing grants later this year. Last September, he said Amazon would pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040 and vowed that the company would order 100,000 electric delivery trucks. Rather than make investments that the business guru might profit from, the fund would allocate grant money to projects, The New York Times said, quoting unnamed sources familiar with the initiative. Bezos divulged few details on his social media post, which attracted overwhelmingly positive responses from his followers. Bezos has often clashed with US President Donald Trump, who regularly attacks climate change activists, recently calling them "perennial prophets of doom." The fund was described as Bezos's biggest philanthropic commitment. Fellow billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, now devotes much of his time to his charity foundation and a venture fund that makes investments aimed at helping curb emissions and reverse climate change. The New York Times said that even if Bezos spent the full $10 billion immediately, he would still be the world's richest person. Last week, he reportedly agreed to buy a Beverly Hills mansion built in the 1930s by Hollywood movie mogul Jack Warner for $165 million, a record price for a California home. Amazon boss Bezos has announced he is committing $10 billion to a new fund to fight climate change 3 1 of 3 WCSU / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 / Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Western Connecticut State University is hosting Unfinished Business: A Celebration of Women Trailblazers, marking the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing womens right to vote, on Tuesday evening, March 3. The program, subtitled Voices on Womens Suffrage, Political Power and Gender, will feature panel discussions of past achievements, present opportunities and future challenges for women in a diverse range of professional, political, social and personal endeavors. Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who was expelled by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday launched a campaign to reach out to young people across the state to build a movement - Bihar ki Baat - that he said, would push for accelerating development in Bihar. Kishor, who was last month expelled from Nitish Kumars Janata Dal United, prefaced the announcement about his campaign with an explanation about his exit from the Janata Dal United and his abiding respect for the JDU chief. Then, he started firing questions that appeared to question the effort to project Nitish Kumar as someone who had put Bihar back on the development track. Prashant Kishor, who appeared to critique the performance of his former boss, said Bihar hadnt moved on most indices since 2005 when Nitish Kumar first became the states chief minister. Watch | Respect Nitish Kumars decision: Prashant Kishor on being expelled from JDU Kishor linked this perception about Nitish Kumar to the years that Bihar was ruled by Rashtriya Janata Dals Lalu Yadav. So when a chief minister came in 2005 who was doing some development, that appeared to have become the gold standard, he said. But this, he said, shouldnt be good enough. The question to ask is where does Bihar stand vis-a-vis Maharashtra or Haryana. Bihar needs someone who dreams about moving Bihar into the top 10 states on, say per capita income and has the blueprint. Prashant Kishor announced the launch of Bihar ki Baat, a campaign to identify people across the 8,800 panchayats in the state who had a similar aspiration for the state. My effort is medium to long term, Prashant Kishor, who has strategised with political parties to help them win elections, said. He has targeted to get 10 lakh volunteers to enrol till March to build a new Bihar. Kishor also explained for the first time his differences with Nitish Kumar that led to his exit. He said the differences had cropped up in the run up to the 2019 national elections over Nitish Kumars alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. On the one hand, he said, Nitish Kumar would say that the JDU could never leave the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and on the other, he teams up with the party that has been soft on Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse. For me, Gandhi ji and Godse cannot go hand-in-hand, he said, asking if this compromise had been struck to just let Nitish Kumar stay in power or have two extra MPs in Parliament. Prashant Kishor said he could have been open to it if Bihar could have received a better deal from the Centre due to the alliance. But Bihar hasnt got the special status that it had been asking for, he said recalling how Nitish Kumar, with folded hands requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to upgrade Patna University as a central university. But he didnt even get a reply to his request. Vatican police have conducted new raids as part of a corruption investigation into a botched London property venture, focusing on the Vatican prelate who signed the contracts for the deal involving a luxury apartment building. Documents and computers were seized from the office and home of Monsignor Alberto Perlasca, a long-time chief of staff in the Vaticans secretariat of state, the Vatican said. A press statement stressed that Perlasca, who was quietly transferred to a post at the Vaticans high court as the investigation heated up last summer, enjoys the presumption of innocence. The Vatican prosecutor authorised the raids and searches, which resulted from the interrogations of five people who were suspended after a previous raid, the statement said. Police raided the secretariat of state and the Vaticans financial watchdog agency, the Financial Information Authority on October 1. Vatican prosecutors have not charged anyone. The pace and gaps in the case suggest the investigation partly involved a turf war in the Vatican. The bulk of the Vatican prosecutors initial search warrant concerned the secretariat of states 2012 investment of 150m in a luxury apartment building in Londons Chelsea neighbourhood. The mortgage turned out to be onerous, the property lost its value amid Brexit concerns and middlemen managing the venture were making millions from the Vatican in fees. The secretariat of state in 2018 decided to buy the building outright but needed an extra 150m loan from the Vatican bank to buy out the other investors and pay off the mortgage. The bank director and the auditor generals office raised an alarm with Vatican prosecutors alleging the buyout looked suspicious, sparking the raids. Passengers react after they disembark from the MS Westerdam. AP Photo/Heng Sinith Irish people were among the passengers on a second cruise ship stricken by the coronavirus. The Westerdam luxury ship was allowed to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Saturday .Passengers were allowed disembark after one of them tested positive for the virus. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Irish people were also on the ship and foreign affairs officials are working to repatriate them. Read More Meanwhile efforts are also underway to rescue Irish passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan. There are hopes they can be included on a flight to the UK where they would face quarantine for two weeks. The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are aware of the developing situation and are liaising closely with other like-minded countries regarding the consular needs of our citizens." However, if it is arranged and the Irish couple accept the transport they are likely to have to endure another two weeks isolation in the UK, or another country, before they are allowed to return home to Ireland. There were reports yesterday that a hotel near Heathrow airport has been block booked by England's Department of Health with a view to using it as a reported yesterday to be in discussions with the UK government to deploy a Virgin Atlantic plan for repatriation. No case of the virus has been diagnosed in Ireland. However, scores of people have been tested for it as a precaution. In total, 4,501 people have been tested for Covid-19 in the UK, of which nine have come back positive. The death toll in mainland China rose by 98 to 1,868, in figures announced early on Tuesday morning, while the number of people infected globally stands at 72,436, according to the country's National Health Commission. Family businesses in the Middle East & South Asia (MESA) region are looking at the next stage of growth by considering innovation, geographical expansion, governance and succession planning, experts said a recent event organised by KPMG. The KPMG MESA Family Business Summit themed driving growth through innovation and excellence, which took place in Dubai, UAE, was attended by more than one hundred delegates from prominent family owned companies in attendance, of which, 35 delegates were representing family businesses in Bahrain. This included Hala Yateem, director at A M Yateem Brothers, who was a key guest speaker. KPMG in Bahrains managing partner, Jamal Fakhro, was a keynote speaker where he provided a regional perspective on the issues and challenging facing family businesses according to the GCC Family Business Survey conducted by KPMG in the region. Reyaz Mihular, chairman at KPMG MESA highlighted changes in the technology landscape which are triggering new opportunities and challenges for family businesses in the region. He added that businesses should be agile and innovative to succeed in this new normal. At a global level, Randel Carlock, Professor in Entrepreneurial Leadership at INSEAD, spoke on the topic driving business culture with family values describing examples of how many global family businesses prospered by emphasizing innovation within organizational culture. Tom McGinness, Global co-leader for Family Business at KPMG International presented key findings from the STEP 2019 Global Family Business Survey, a publication sponsored by the KPMG Enterprise Center of Excellence for Family Business. The survey depicted the emergence of millennial family business leaders, with refreshed outlook and priorities. The Summit was facilitated by Harish Gopinath, Head of Family Business & Private Enterprise at KPMG MESA. Family businesses are the backbone of the economies. Therefore, we need to support them stay in business and avoid disruption due to family issues, and help them ensure smooth transition from generation to another. KPMG recognizes Family businesses as a significant sector and endeavours to work closely with family companies and private enterprises to drive growth through innovation and excellence, said Gopinath. TradeArabia News Service Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat on Tuesday stressed upon the need to eradicate drug menace in the state and said it is high time to unitedly kill the 'Bhasmasura' (a demon who could burn anything) of drugs. The statement came after a video of a teenage boy from a Goa village went viral in which he allegedly confessed that he got drugs for free. Kamat said, "It is high time to rise above all our other priorities and unitedly come forward to kill the Bhasmasura of drugs before it is too late." He said that it is unfortunate that the government says that there is no drug trade in Goa just to cover up the failure of its intelligence agencies and overall mechanism. "The devil has already entered into the hinterland of the state and now it is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that the evil is destroyed completely," he said. He said that instead of seizing small drug traders, big fish should be caught. "Although the government creates a picture of curbing drug trade with some small seizures, the need of the hour is to catch the big traders who are the root cause of the problem," he said. Kamat said that the government should keep a high vigil on the drug trade in Goa and all the schools and colleges should be brought under the scanner. "The educational institutions, teachers, parents will have to play a responsible role to fight the menace," he added. He appealed to parents and educational institutions to play a pro-active role to prevent the next generation to become victims. "I appeal to parents and educational institutions management to play a pro-active role now, failing will make our next generations victims of the deadly menace," he said. I hope better sense will prevail and corrective actions will be initiated immediately, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Technavio has been monitoring the industrial boiler market and it is poised to grow by USD 3.7 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005919/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global industrial boiler market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Increasing demand for the biomass boiler has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, global shift toward solar and wind energy might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Industrial Boiler Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Industrial Boiler Market is segmented as below: End-User Food and Beverages Chemicals and Petrochemicals Pulp and Paper Oil and Gas Power Generation Others Geographic segmentation Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30511 Industrial Boiler Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our industrial boiler market report covers the following areas: Industrial Boiler Market Size Industrial Boiler Market Trends Industrial Boiler Market Industry Analysis This study identifies increasing popularity of electric boilers as one of the prime reasons driving the industrial boiler market growth during the next few years. Industrial Boiler Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the industrial boiler market, including some of the vendors such as Babcock Wilcox, Cleaver-Brooks, Henan Province Sitong Boiler, MIURA, Thermax Global and Xizi United Holdings. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the industrial boiler market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Industrial Boiler Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist industrial boiler market growth during the next five years Estimation of the industrial boiler market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the industrial boiler market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of industrial boiler market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005919/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force has sent four batches of transport aircraft since January 24, carrying medical personnel and hospital supplies to virus-hit Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. On February 13, the PLA air force dispatched China's domestic-made large transport aircraft Y-20 to Wuhan to carry out a non-military mission for the first time. The Y-20 was used again for a second mission on February 17. A mother and her adult daughter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to killing five of their close relatives, including three children, at an apartment in Pennsylvania just across the bridge from Trenton last year. Shana Decree, 46, and her daughter Dominique Decree, 20, sat side by side in court in suburban Bucks County and affirmed their pleas to charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy. The family has past ties to Trenton. The pair barely spoke, except to respond to the judge's questions about the charges and their pleas. At one point, sounds of crying emanated from the defendants' table, and Dominique wiped her eyes. Shana closed hers briefly as the judge read the names of the victims. A relative told NJ Advance Media that the mother and daughter had been isolating themselves and talking about demons prior to the killings. Shana and Dominique Decree told police that the whole family had discussed suicide and wanted to die, according to court documents. Authorities found the bodies of three children and two adults in what they said was a trashed apartment in early 2019 and soon after arrested Shana and Dominique Decree, charging them in the deaths. Authorities have said four of the victims were suffocated, while one was strangled. Prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that they filed first-degree murder and conspiracy charges against the pair and have until March 20 to decide on seeking the death penalty. A trial is set for June 8. What remains unclear is a motive. Shana Decree, 45, and Dominique Decree, 19, are charged with killing five family members, including three children, inside this Bucks County apartment. Police continue their investigation inside the apartment, which is located on the 200 block of W. Bridge St. Julia Hatmaker | jhatmaker@pennlive.com Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees said after Tuesday's hearing that he thinks it could become clearer during the proceedings. I feel like the questions are: Why did this happen? Why did this happen? Why did this happen? It's the same question I have because it does seem so hard to understand," he said. It's such an unimaginable crime." He is focused, he said, on being able to tell the victims' loved ones that justice has been served." Messages seeking comment on behalf of the defendants were left with their attorneys. The victims were Shanas children, NaaIrah Smith, 25, and Damon Decree Jr., 13, both of Morrisville; Shana Decrees sister Jamilla Campbell, of Trenton, New Jersey; and Campbells 9-year-old twin daughters, Imani and Erika Allen. Jamilla Campbell, left, and Naa'Irah Smith, right, are two of the five people found dead in a Morrisville, Pa., apartment Monday afternoon. (Facebook) All five of them were found in a bedroom in the apartment in a three-story red brick complex in Morrisville, across the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey. Smith, Damon Decree Jr. and the twins had been suffocated, the Bucks County coroners office said in March. Campbell had been strangled, according to the coroner. Authorities discovered the scene after a child welfare officer arrived for an unannounced visit and was let into the building by someone who works there, according to court papers. Police say they found Shana and Dominique Decree disoriented inside the apartment, where furniture had been turned over, drywall was cracked and glass lay around. Police initially said they found four bodies, but they discovered a fifth underneath another that was next to a bed. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Concho Resources Inc. (CXO) said, for 2020, the company is planning to invest $2.6 to $2.8 billion. This is expected to result in 300 to 320 gross operated well completions, for the fiscal year. For the full year, oil production volumes are expected to increase 10% to 12% year over year. First-quarter production is expected to be 316 to 325 MBoepd. The company's Board approved a 60% increase to the quarterly dividend, from $0.125 to $0.20 per share. The next quarterly dividend is payable on March 27, 2020, to stockholders of record as of February 28, 2020. Excluding special items, fourth-quarter adjusted net income was $1.03 per share compared to $0.94, last year. Fourth-quarter oil production volumes increased 8% year over year to 215 thousand barrels per day (MBopd). Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. A 25-year-old Indian engineer allegedly fell to his death from a residential apartment in Dubai, according to a media report. Sabeel Rahman, from Kerala who has been living in Dubai since 2018, fell off the building near his work site, The Khaleej Times quoted a social worker as saying. Naseer Vatanapally, the social worker, is assisting the family to repatriate his mortal remains back home to Thirur in Malappuram district, the report said. "The case is a bit unusual. We're not sure why he went to the building near his worksite," said Vatanapally. "His family is unaware of any issues he may have faced. He had asked his brother to collect a new mobile phone he had purchased online - which they received. He had no reason to take his life," he added. Rahman was the youngest of four siblings. The devastated family is awaiting details from the Rashidiya Police Station. "Following legal procedures, we will repatriate his body back home," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is set to harvest a record production of 106.21 million tonne in the 2019-20 crop year on the back of good rains, according to latest government data. production has been rising year-on-year and the previous record of 103.60 million tonne was achieved during the 2018-19 crop year (July-June). is the main rabi (winter) crop, harvesting of which will begin from next month. Releasing the second estimate of foodgrain production, Ministry said the cumulative rainfall in the country during the monsoon season (June-September 2019) was 10 per cent higher than the Long Period Average (LPA). Accordingly, the production of most of the crops for the 2019-20 crop year has been estimated higher than their normal production, it said, and added these estimates are subject to revision on account of more precise information flowing over the time. As per the second estimate, total foodgrain production is pegged at a record 291.95 million tonne for 2019-20 crop year, higher than 285.21 million tonne last year. Of the total production, foodgrain output is estimated to be 142.36 million tonne from the kharif (summer) season and 149.60 million tonne from the rabi season of this year. Foodgrain basket comprises of wheat, rice, cereals and pulses. Reputed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apples supply-chain partner Universal Scientific Industrial will start supplying the SiP for the Ultra Wideband tracking tags a.k.a AirTag in Q2 or Q3 of 2020. By the end of the year, shipments for the SiP are expected to reach tens of millions of units. Universal Scientific Industrial will be the primary supplier of the SiP (System-in-Package) of the AirTags and fulfill around 60% of the total orders. Apple has been widely expected to release the AirTags in the first half of 2020. The tracking tiles have leaked extensively before and its references have also been found in iOS 13. The tags will feature Ultra Wideband support and will talk to the U1 chip inside the iPhone 11/Pro series for extremely accurate indoor positioning. The tags will offer Tile-like tracking functionality stick them to any item and you can then track its location. The tags would also be able to emit a chime to help one find the lost item they are tagged to. If Apple will only start receiving the SiP for the Ultra Wideband chip in Q2-Q3 2020, a late March or early April launch for the tags seem unlikely. The company is rumored to hold a media event on March 31 where it would announce the iPhone 9, a 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh, and possibly an iPad Pro refresh. Apple could always preview the AirTags at the March event and then launch them later in the year. Another possible scenario is that the company will preview the AirTags at WWDC 2020 before launching them later in the year. [Via MacRumors Credit: CC0 Public Domain A report released earlier this month dives deep into the ongoing inequities surrounding childbirth in the U.S., with Oregon emerging as a leading example of how to do better. Oregon State University associate professor Missy Cheyney, a medical anthropologist who focuses on midwifery, was one of 15 authors on the "Birth Settings in America" report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which was commissioned by Congress. She helped present the findings to lawmakers in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 6. Despite the U.S. spending more on maternity care than any other countryan estimated $110 billion each yearit has the worst outcomes among peer countries for mothers and babies. "People giving birth today are more likely to die in childbirth than they were in our parents' generation," Cheyney said. "And that risk is unevenly distributed: It disproportionately affects black and Native American women, who are dying at a rate of 3 to 4 times more than white women." For the report, authors examined hundreds of articles documenting birth outcomes in three settings: hospitals, birthing centers and home births, and compared them with the medical literature from other countries whose birth outcomes are better than in the U.S. Based on the report's findings, Cheyney says it is imperative that the U.S. make midwives and home and birth center births more accessible to families who want them, which will help to: Lower health care costs; Reduce complications from unnecessary interventions, including some cesarean sections; Improve patient experience; and Provide more respectful care that aligns with cultural and personal values, as well as clinical needs Currently, 98.4% of all U.S. births occur in hospitals, with about 0.6% in birthing centers and 1% at home. Overall, 89% of U.S. births here are attended by physicians, and only 11% by midwives. Very few families are able to access midwifery care in home and birth center settings due to high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage and a shortage of midwives. That's the opposite of our peer nations, Cheyney said, where a majority of pregnancies start with a midwife and only receive a higher level of care if complications arise. And in many of those countries, the health care system better supports cooperation across provider types and birth settings. "In our peer countries, you triage up to a higher level of care when it's indicated," she said, and there is greater exposure to, and acceptance of, a full range of birth settings. "Here, we start everyone at the highest level of care under the assumption that everyone will need a surgeon. In other high-resource nations, they assume that as long as you're healthy, most people can start with a midwife." Other countries' systems more effectively integrate midwives than in the U.S., where midwives are covered by a state-by-state patchwork of regulations that often serves to further limit access to care and can impact safety. In those countries, midwives are enabled to perform immediate interventions for complications that can arise in childbirth, such as excessive bleeding by the mother or difficulty breathing by the infant. With portable oxygen tanks and injectable medications, those are not hard to safely manage in a home or birth center, Cheyney said. But midwives need consistent access to necessary training, licensure and integration into the health care system, including seamless transfers to a hospital when indicated. Another major issue is the high rate of cesarean births in the U.S.: Today, nearly 1 in 3 mothers give birth via cesarean, and efforts to reverse that trend have been largely unsuccessful. Cesarean births are associated with a number of complications, including greater blood loss, risk of infection stemming from the incision and risk of complication in future pregnancies. While cesarean births can be life-saving, the World Health Organization finds that rates higher than 10% are not associated with lower maternal and newborn mortality rates. In comparison, Cheyney said, when low-risk women start their childbirth process at home or in a birth center, only about 5 to 7% result in a cesarean birth. In hospitals, women of color report higher incidence of being ignored and threatened by providers, having care withheld, and receiving care they did not consent to, compared with other birth settings. Culturally matched midwifery can improve maternal outcomes by connecting families with providers who understand the challenges people of color face when navigating the U.S. health care system. "We should not separate the outcomes of care from the experience of care," Cheyney said. "How we treat mothers matters as much as the clinical outcome, and we have lost track of that in some places." On a positive note, Oregon is leading the way when it comes to integrated care and access to midwives and doulas. In Corvallis specifically, the Community Doula Program, headed by Cheyney, works to match traditionally underserved populations with culturally matched doulas, and the services are free for Medicaid patients. The integrated care system in Corvallis also means that families can freely choose to give birth at home, in a birthing center or at a hospital, and when someone needs to transfer to the hospital, it is a midwife-to-midwife transfer. This allows some obstetricians in Corvallis to focus their care at the top of their license, Cheyney said: They can be called in to work on the medically complex births they're actually needed for, rather than on every birth. Oregon still has its challenges, especially with low insurance reimbursement to birthing centers, but it's "definitely ahead of the curve," Cheyney said. The next step is to learn how the programs that have been successful here can be scaled up and used nationwide. Explore further Evidence backs women's choice on where to have their babies QUASQUETON A second person has been arrested in connection with guns found during a search at a Quasqueton mobile home park in January. Buchanan County sheriffs deputies arrested Vanessa Gene Johnson, 42, on Friday on charges of aiding and abetting the possession of firearms by a felon and a domestic abuser. She has been released pending trial. She is the second person to be arrested. Her husband, Cecil Clayton Johnson, 43, was arrested on Jan. 31 on several counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Court records allege Cecil Johnson has a prior felony conviction in Missouri. On Jan. 31, deputies searched the Johnsons mobile home at 310 S. Third Street and found handguns and long guns that were loaded and not locked in a cabinet. Deputies seized a Hi Point .45-caliber rifle, a Hi Point .45-caliber pistol, a Taurus 9mm pistol, a Superior Arms 5.56-caliber AR-15 rifle, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, a Hercules 20-gauge shotgun, a Hi Point .40-caliber pistol and five different types of ammo, according to court records. Vanessa Johnson petitioned on Feb. 6 to have the weapons returned. Records indicate she admitted to purchasing the guns, and deputies allege she failed to keep them secured and away from Cecil Johnson. Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This is taking "shit, shower, shave" to a whole nother level. Bathroom company QS Supplies recently conducted a study, where they asked 1,000 people from America and the UK about their secret bathroom shenanigans. And it's safe to say the results were shocking. The survey showed that 68% of men and 56% of women pee in the shower, and 51% of men and 28% of women masturbate in the shower. Okay these ones aren't too odd. But the study also revealed that one in 30 people take a dump in the shower. What the f*ck? Seriously, what the F*CK? To make matters worse, the people who admitted this, said that they do this in work showers. QS Supplies said: Our bathing habits are more than purely logical choices made to stay hygienic. Instead, they can reveal secrets about who we are, what we care about, and even what our relationships are like. So if you haven't learnt anything today, at least now you know that one in 30 people are good ol' waffle stompers. Awesome. How Much Could You Earn as a Freelancer? Freelancing is becoming a way of life for many people in Singapore, especially as the cost of living has increased. Luckily, there are many freelancing opportunities in Singapore and just a little commitment of your spare time and existing assets will allow you to earn extra money to supplement your regular income. Also, thanks to the internet, earning extra income has become much easier and less bound by geographical distance. If you are keen to explore freelancing in your free time, here are some opportunities that will get you started. Shop for Others While You Travel Love to travel? You can make extra cash even when you are enjoying your vacation. All you need to do is to extend a helping hand to shop for others. Depending on your destination and how much spare luggage space you have, Airfrov, a peer-to-peer online marketplace enables travellers to access a network of shoppers to offer shopping services from all over the world. The online application enables users to list their next holiday destination and accept requests for purchasing products from that city. Both traveller and shopper will come to an agreed price on the app before the commencement of the deal. Upon return, the traveller will arrange for delivery based on previously agreed terms. Note that Airfrov takes 7% of the agreed value, plus another S$2 for the service fee, which is important to take into account before agreeing to any deals. Additionally, we recommend being strategic about your credit card usage. For example, you can earn points or cashback by using the right shopping card, which can in turn decrease the cost of your trip. Possible Gains You can make anywhere from one dollar to hundreds per deal, depending on your purchases. Here is an example to show you what you can expect: Incoming request for a pair of Pokemon Adidas Stan Smith Advancourt that costs S$111 in Japan Traveller quotes S$140 for the purchase of the item on Airfrov Based on 8% tax refund in Japan, the traveller will pay S$102 for item Total earning: S$140 - S$11.80 (platform fees 7% + S$2) - S$111 = S$17.20 Story continues What You Need to Get Started If you are all set for the trip, here is a list of what you will need before you can start bringing in the money through Airfrov: Mobile device that you will access in Singapore and when you are abroad Download the app and set up an account Create a post for your upcoming trip Leverage Your Skills Many people have extensive skills and talents that can easily earn a quick buck, if marketed correctly. The internet has made it so easy to access a large pool of clients, both locally and internationally. By browsing platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer or Guru, it is possible to locate projects that best suit your time and profile. Possible Gains: Whether you choose to get paid hourly or based on a fixed rate, your experience and portfolio will often determine the fee you can command. Lets take freelance writing as an example, the cost of a freelance writer can range from 8 for 500 words to $250 for 500 words depending on their research or SEO experience. Knowing the level of your writing experience and interest will help you determine a reasonable fee. What You Need to Get Started At the baseline, you must be proficient in the language you are writing in. You must also be able to research and create content that are relevant to the topics you are assigned. A passion for writing will definitely be a bonus. Access to a laptop (or computer) and Wifi are also must-haves for freelance writers. There will always be lots of online research work and hours spent drafting articles. Become a Private Hire Driver This is likely to be the first gig that comes to mind if you have access to a car. Being a private hire driver has been a popular freelancing option for students, full-time workers and even business owners. Many choose to ferry passengers during their spare time, when commuting to and fro work (peak hours are great for getting higher rates!) and even weekends, just to make enough to cover for their petrol and part of their car loans. There are no restrictions on how long you have to drive or how many trips you need to make a day. However, if you want to earn a bigger package from the private hire companies such as Grab or Gojek, you may have to clock more hours a week to make as much as $12,980 in a month. On average, drivers can earn up to $30/hour during peak hours and $25/hour during non-peak hours. What You Need to Get Started There are more requirements for becoming a private hire driver in Singapore, these are the criteria that you will need to fulfill: Possess a Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL) or Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) (PDVL Course: S$155.15; TDVL Course: S$294.25) At least 21 years of age Own a 4-door car (rented car applies too) Minimum of 2 years driving experience Car Insurance Incentives from each private hire company vary from month to month, however, drivers who can commit to long hours of driving are entitled to bonuses on top of their regular driving fee. Publish an Advertisement on Your Car One of the easiest ways to make money on the side is to let companies advertise on your vehicle. In some cases, this will net as much as S$700 per month. If you are iffy about the type of ads that will go on your vehicle or where the decal will be placed, you can simply opt-in or opt-out of the options provided to you before the agency commences with the contract. Potential Gains Allowing advertisements on different parts of the vehicle can yield different rates. Based on a sedan car, these are the possible advertising fee that you can make: Drive or Passenger Door: S$60 per month Rear and Bumper: S$50 per month Entire Car: S$110 per month There are different pricing models for different vehicle types but what is obvious is that the bigger the surface area of your vehicle, the higher the fee you can demand. Develop Your Own Online Course If you are an expert in a particular subject, you can create and sell online courses on the topic on online teaching sites like Udemy. Do not be surprised if you quickly garner a growing fanbase. According to a study, the total market value for the e-learning business will reach US$325 billion in 2025, so why not jump on the bandwagon now to make the most of this opportunity. Potential Gains There are options for marketing your online course via platforms like Udemy. Udemy offers free marketing through their database if you opt-in for their promotional campaigns. Do note that there will always be a 50% revenue share between the platform and course owner. Below is an example of the potential returns you can receive in a year if you choose to promote your course through Udemy's marketing campaigns: A two-hour marketing course is priced at S$80.00 Udemy offers the course for a discount of 75% to its users Assuming 5 subscribers sign up for the course each month at $20.00 Total gains for 12-month period: $20 * 5 subscribers * 50% revenue share * 12 months = S$600.00 This is a lucrative return considering once the course is developed, you can continue to reap the harvest for as long as the content is relevant. While it may take days if not months to develop a simple course, it is well worth it since it can yield long term returns. What You Need To Get Started If you are creating your course video content from home, you will need a computer with video recording and editing capabilities. You should also be well-versed with the topic that you want to teach. Based on your expertise, you have to submit the following to the online platform before your course will be launched: Learning objectives Profile of target students Course lectures of at least 30 minutes in video format Course worksheets Learn About Relevant Regulations Before You Begin According to a government survey, the number of freelancers in Singapore has been on the rise. People are increasingly seeking new and innovative ways to make money. However, you should bear in mind that there are licensing and tax rules you'll need to follow depending on the industry and your level of involvement. With the growing supply and demand of freelancing jobs and side gigs, now is a great time start monetizing a niche that resonates with you. The article How Much Could You Earn as a Freelancer? originally appeared on ValueChampion's blog. ValueChampion helps you find the most relevant information to optimise your personal finances. Like us on our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest news and articles. More From ValueChampion: Potential security threats from China dominated the annual Munich security conference, which also revealed faultlines within Europe and between technology companies and governments, Financial Times reports in its article China, Europe and technology dominate Munich security conference. Mark Esper, US defence secretary, told international partners to wake up to Beijings nefarious strategy of taking control of sensitive emerging technologies such as 5G. The stark rhetoric which was strongly contested by Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister stoked fears among EU countries that they are being forced into a choice between the US and China that they do not want to have to make. While Europeans increasingly share Washingtons concerns over the security and strategic impacts of Beijings rise, most do not see shunning China as wise or realistic, especially given the shortage of alternatives in areas including 5G. Europes Trump realism Many Europeans have shifted from hoping to endure a one-term Donald Trump presidency to recognising his presence in the White House might be a harbinger of a deeper structural change in relations with the US. Mark Rutte, the Netherlands prime minister, summed up an emerging, albeit still not universally shared, transatlantic realpolitik that attempts to turn Washingtons growing scepticism about multilateralism from a European difficulty to an opportunity. We are moving away from criticising Trump to making use of Trump to change some international structures like the UN, Nato and the WTO, he told the Financial Times. For a couple of years we all debated Trump and [asked] why could he be there? Well Trump is there. Lets make use of his presence. European faultlines The fragile state of relations between Paris and Berlin was also on display in Munich. French president Emmanuel Macron said that if the Franco-German tandem failed to provide a future perspective for the middle classes in Europe, we will have made a historic mistake. We are becoming a continent that no longer believes in its future, he warned. Asked whether he was frustrated that Germany had failed to respond to his sweeping proposals for EU reform, he replied: Frustrated no, but I am impatient. Germanys long-serving and notoriously cautious chancellor Angela Merkel is the focus of much of this impatience, and in Munich Mr Macron had his eyes on the post-Merkel era. The president had a three-hour supper with Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck, the two leaders of the German Green party, which is running just a few points behind Ms Merkels CDU in the polls. German foreign minister Heiko Maas highlighted his countrys efforts to play a more active role in the world, including talking of more military deployments, for example in the Sahel region of north Africa which is being destabilised by Islamist terrorist groups. With the era of the omnipresent American world policeman visibly drawing to a close, Germany had to step in to take up the slack, he said. But some doubt Berlins willingness to pitch in. Last year Germany twice turned down a request from Paris to provide military support for Frances six-year Sahel campaign. Officials in Berlin say that German participation in a combined joint special operations task force would breach the countrys constitution. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from discussing the quo warranto case which he filed against the network. Calida on Tuesday filed a "very urgent motion" asking the high court to issue the order that bans "parties and persons acting on their behalf" from releasing statements discussing the merits of his plea to forfeit ABS-CBN's existing franchise. He said this violates the sub judice rule, which prohibits anyone from publicly assessing an ongoing case to avoid pre-judgment. Calida on February 10 asked the high court to cancel ABS-CBN's legislative franchise weeks before it lapses. He claimed the network committed "highly abusive practices" in violation of terms set by Congress when it approved ABS-CBN's franchise in 1995 when it set up the KBO channel and when it supposedly allowed foreign investors to control the company. Supreme Court Public Information Office Chief Brian Keith Hosaka said ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. have been given up to five days from receipt of the new petition to submit their response to the gag order plea. However, Hosaka clarified that the gag order, if approved, would also cover Calida and the Office of the Solicitor General. The SC en banc is set to meet again next Wednesday, a day after the February 25 holiday marking the1986 EDSA Revolution anniversary. Hosaka added that senators, who are set to conduct an inquiry into supposed violations committed by ABS-CBN, would not be covered by the rule. The government's top lawyer accused that the network "engaged in propaganda" after the case was filed last week. He cited a video entitled "Quo warranto petition laban sa ABS-CBN, ano ang ibig sabihin?" led by anchor Christian Esguerra which aired February 14, saying that the item directly tackled Calida's allegations against the TV station. Calida took this as a "clear attempt to elicit public sympathy, sway public opinion, and, ultimately, to influence the resolution of the case," he said in a statement. Calida also called out two other video reports and a series of commentaries published on ABS-CBN's website, as well as articles quoting showbiz personalities throwing support behind the Lopez-owned network. He said these would "tend to influence public opinion and unfairly encourage the pre-judgment of the instant case." TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise The Solicitor General also took offense at ABS-CBN's statements denying that it violated the law in response to the filing of the complaint, followed by a clarification that the network had no unpaid taxes to refute comments thrown to them online. "Verily, inasmuch as ABS-CBN unquestionably directed its statements on the merits of the quo warranto case to influence the public and members of this Honorable Court, this Honorable Court must issue an order prohibiting the parties and persons acting on their behalf from releasing any statements discussing the merits of the subject petition," the Solicitor General said in his plea. Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said separately that Calida was right in asking for a gag order, stressing anew that President Rodrigo Duterte would not personally interfere with the network's franchise woes. "Parang nagiging emotional ang issue on this particular topic. It's much ado about nothing, it's not about press freedom," Panelo said in a media briefing. Duterte has repeatedly ranted against the network, saying it failed to air his political advertisements for the 2016 elections, and vowed to see to it that ABS-CBN would be out of business this year. In December, he told the Lopezes to just sell the company to a new owner to stay on air. "He will not use his office to stop ABS-CBN from continuing with its service. That's for Congress to decide, not for him," Panelo added. Former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said the Supreme Court should revisit the sub judice rule as it "makes no sense" since the Philippines does not hear cases using a jury composed of ordinary people. Amnesty International Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin urged Calida to withdraw his plea for a gag order, saying it is a "clear attempt to silence critics of the government, and would set a very dangerous precedent in violation of the right to freedom of expression." "It is unacceptable for the authorities to blatantly attempt to restrict freedom of expression and then expect people in the Philippines to simply remain silent. If anything, the governments continued efforts to undermine the presss ability to report freely will only invite more criticism," Bequelin said. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Calida's request for a gag order was an "obvious attempt to silence all voices opposed to this government's push to shut down ABS-CBN," and is tantamount to surpressing the truth. Media groups have earlier cried foul over Calida's bid to forfeit ABS-CBN's franchise, saying it was an attack on press freedom. The Solicitor General has denied that the case he filed was politically motivated. CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. Solution to question of Palestine is in two elements: Resistance and Referendum, FM Zarif says IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 18, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran has always stressed the Palestinians are the ones who have the right to choose and the Islamic Republic will accept whichever path the people of Palestine opt for. Zarif noted that in other words, "we accept that the Palestinians should make the final decision and their final decision should be respected by everyone". The following is the full text of an interview with Zarif, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs with Khamenei.ir. In this interview, he discusses the 'Deal of the Century' put forward by Donald Trump and presents the Islamic Republic's alternative for resolving the question of Palestine. In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Interviewer: In your opinion, what is the role of the US and the Zionists in the formation of the "Deal of the Century" and what do they pursue with that plan? FM Zarif: Unfortunately, in the course of the past years particularly in recent years not only has the Arab world adopted a passive outlook towards the Zionist regime and towards the US, but they have also allied themselves with the Zionists against the Islamic country of Palestine. This course of action has pushed them into a delicate situation. That is why the Americans have reached the conclusion that they can unveil their plan. However, until a few years ago, the Americans were not in the same position; they did not even think of turning the issue of Palestine into a real estate business and sacrificing all the desires, dreams and essential rights of the people of Palestine for the sake of their own construction projects. On the basis of what Trump and Kushner think and say, they are not at all concerned about anyone's rights and they think of this plan as a [real estate] project. They have come to the conclusion that the Arab world is so humiliated that they can introduce such a despicable plan as the rights of the people of Palestine. As a matter of fact, this plan would turn Palestine into something like the Bantustans of the apartheid era. In other words, there would be designated regions that would come out in the center of occupied Palestine in order to control its inhabitants. In that deal, everything is in the control of the Zionist regime as the clauses specified in the 'Deal of the Century' are beyond the ones suggested in Oslo and Madrid accords. In its current shape, the plan would metamorphose Palestine into small segments situated among the lands encircled by Zionist territories. It would even grant to the Zionists all the lands disputed since 1967. Trump's wish to annex Syria's Golan Heights and Bait-ul-Moqaddas, Muslims' capital, to the Zionist regime's occupied territories these are regions that did not belong to the Zionists from the beginning only stems from the passivity and degradation of the Arabs in the face of the Americans and the Zionists. The Arab world is still after buying a security from the US and the Zionist regime. Instead of relying on themselves, their people and their Muslim neighbors, they continue to persist in their desire to buy security from the U.S. As for the Americans, of course, they welcome it due to the fact that for instance, they sell weapons to Saudi Arabia worth 67 billion dollars, but they also simultaneously trade its dignity in exchange for selling weapons to the country. Interviewer: Why do you think some Arab heads of states reacted disapprovingly to the 'Deal of the Century' and why do they think that it would have a reverse effect for the plotters? FM Zarif: The stance adopted by some of the heads of Arab countries who have turned into the leaders of the Arab world today due to the problems that big Arab countries are faced with is different from that of the Arab people, but the important thing that has happened is that the dependent Arab regimes have endeavored in recent years to introduce the Islamic Republic as a danger a false one to their people. Nonetheless, the recent incident showed that the danger that the Arab world is faced with is in fact embodied in the current masters of Arab countries who violate, at once, all the dreams and rights of the Palestinians while those [Arab] leaders do not even dare to confront them. Instead of adopting a position in support of Palestine, they even go as far as thanking Mr. Trump. In fact, this is a message to the Arab world that the question of Palestine cannot be resolved with such policies, that they should turn their back on them and that they should recognize the danger of Zionism which is a threat to the world of Islam and also the danger of those individuals who pursue the humiliating policy of cooperating and collaborating with the Zionist regime. In my opinion, this is an opportunity for the world of Islam to realize that the solution for the issue of Palestine turns around the two pivots of democracy and resistance. The goal of the Resistance is clear and the Palestinians are resisting as well, but today all Palestinians should express their unanimous opposition to the "Deal of the Century." The unity inside Palestine on the basis of resistance can turn out to be a very auspicious phenomenon for foiling Zionist policies. Democracy is a very important player as well. Those whose cry of democracy has deafened the world and who refer to the Zionist regime as the only democracy in the region should be prepared to embrace the real democracy. What does real democracy mean? It means that all those who live in Palestine, who are the real owners of Palestine, but who have been displaced around the world should be able to determine and make decisions for their own future. Why are the advocates of democracy intimidated by this proposal? [Or by] The plan that the Supreme Leader of the Revolution has introduced in recent years as the Islamic Republic's proposal for the question of Palestinewhich is naturally a logical one? When a similar plan was implemented in South Africa and when apartheid was eliminated as a result of it, did it lead to the massacre of the white people? Why do they wish to falsely promote the notion that this plan will lead to the massacre of the Jews? Hazrat-e Aqa [The Supreme Leader] has reiterated many times that we have nothing against the Jewish people and that the Jews who have been living in Palestine have the right to reside there, but that they cannot determine the fate of others. It is each and every one of the Palestinians who should determine their own fate. In South Africa, all Africans including the blacks, the whites and the people of color were once divided into different groups and they were deprived of the human right to live together, but they decided to put an end to such a system. Almost 30 years have passed from [the days of] that system, but we have not been witness to any war or massacre in South Africa. As for Palestine, instead of giving in to the humiliation and the increasing and infinite pressures exerted by the US and the Zionist regime, there are two solutions that should be pursued simultaneously, not separate from one another. One is resistance and another is democracy and popular vote. If they put these two solutions in practice, the question of Palestine will be resolved. Last year, we registered with the United Nations the Supreme Leader's proposal in the United Nations as an officially recognized proposal, so that the world would become familiar with it, as is already familiar with it to some extent. When the "deal of the century" was just about to be unveiled, we promoted the plan proposed by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution so that the world would know that the only solution for Palestine is not merely to violate the rights of the Palestinians and to pursue a settlement project, that rather the only solution is to assert the rights of the Palestinians. Interviewer: How can the plan put forward by the Islamic Republic become closer to achieving results? FM Zarif: Notice that the final decision rests with the people of Palestine. It is they who should make this decision. In our opinion, one of the mistakes made in the past 30 years was that they [Some Palestinian organizations] thought they would be able to revive the rights of the Palestinians through cooperating with the occupiers. However, today all Palestinian parties have realized that this is not the case. Therefore, they should begin to think about an alternative for the Oslo accord and subsequently, the 'Deal of the Century' which is the continuation of the U.S.'s interventionist policies regarding the question of occupied Palestine. Therefore, the Palestinians should accept that this is not just another intervention and that the U.S. is one side of the problem and the dispute. Therefore, they should work on a plan which can provide them with a solution. We have always stressed that it is the Palestinians who have the right to choose and the Islamic Republic will accept whichever path the people of Palestine opt for. In other words, we accept that the Palestinians should make the final decision and their final decision should be respected by everyone. Interviewer: A few years ago, in his insightful prediction, the Leader of the Revolution announced that the Zionist regime will not see 25 years from now. [i.e. it will be destroyed]. How can the 'Deal of the Century' accelerate the elimination of the Zionist regime? FM. Zarif: The time when the Palestinians come to believe that giving in to the US interventionism is not the path to get them to their goal, and when they realize that the only path towards that is to utilize their power of resistance and seeking democracy [then that will happen]. The biggest weak point of the Zionist regime unfolds when the Palestinians urge [the fulfillment of] their rights and surely will this path pay off if they put aside fabricated solutions and if they rely on democracy. Interviewer: Given the formal registration of the Islamic Republic's proposal with the United Nations regarding the resolution of the question of Palestine, please tell us how the Zionist regime has reacted to such proposals? FM Zarif: Remember that the oldest question that the United Nations has been dealing with is the question of Palestine. And from the very beginning, no good solution for the question of Palestine was brought up at the United Nations. It is interesting to know that even the Pahlavi regime had proposed a democratic solution for the question of Palestine and had rejected plans that violated the rights of the people of Palestine in favor of the Zionists. At that time too, Iran was one of the countries that did not approve of the plan to disintegrate Palestine. Of course, Arab countries were not in favor of the disintegration policy either and therefore, this mistake [the occupation of Palestine] should be resolved through a democratic solution. However, the Zionist regime uses propaganda to label it as an issue of a group of anti-Semitic people there; however, it is not about anti-Semitism. Those who have an anti-Semitic background live somewhere else in the world. In this region, we do not have a record of anti-Semitism. People of the region have always hosted and continue to host Jews in a warm manner. We are obliged to respect Prophet Musa [Moses] as a divine prophet. We invite the followers of Prophet Musa (greetings be upon him) and of the Scripture [Torah and Bible] to unity. Therefore, no one can portray Muslims and Iranians The people of the region have a record of saving the Jews as anti-Semites. What we argue is that Palestinians' rights cannot be violated over such excuses and that the only path that can resolve the question of Palestine is the path of democracy. Today, many of the grave disasters in the world including extremist Christianity and Jewism, and Islamophobia - are rooted in violating Palestinians' rights and such disasters will not disappear unless the rights of the people of Palestine are restored through a democratic way. Interviewer: After the martyrdom of General Soleimani, the Leader of the Revolution said about him, "That man empowered the Palestinians." What measures had Martyr Soleimani taken making the Leader of the Revolution praise him in such a way? How does Iran support the camp of Resistance in the present time? FM. Zarif: The Islamic Republic has always stood by Palestinians and other Muslim nations' sides in their resistance, including Lebanon, Syria and other Arab countries whose lands have been occupied by the Zionist regime. Martyr Soleimani was, in fact, a symbol of the Iranian nation's cooperation with and assistance to the nations of the region. Martyr Soleimani was an individual who mounted resistance not only in the face of the Zionist regime but also in the face of extremism and terrorism. He stood by the side of the resistant people of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It could be said that Martyr Soleimani was not only a hero of Resistance but also a hero in the fight against terrorism and advocating peace. Surely will his martyrdom will bring about many natural outcomes, some of which we witnessed in Iraq. After long periods of struggle and contention on the streets of Iraq, after the martyrdom of the Commander, all the people of that country became united in order to bury his pure body and later on, they demanded that the US be expelled from Iraq. Trump's action was both foolish and cowardly, for he could not confront Martyr Soleimani in the battlefields and had to martyr, in the dead of night, our dear martyr and his companions in particular, Martyr Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis using a drone. As the Americans themselves acknowledge, terrorist activities are a sign of cowardice, not of courage. With such a cowardly and foolish act, Trump put an end to the US' presence in the region. In other countries including India too, the people held demonstrations against the U.S. in hundreds of cities. This indicates that with that action, the US dealt itself a fundamental blow and it strengthened the camp of Resistance and the camp of anti-domination and anti-arrogance in the region and in the whole world. Interviewer: As for the last question, if you have an account of your relationship with Hajj Qassem [Soleimani], please tell us about it. FM. Zarif: Almost at all moments, I had the blessing to meet with that great martyr. Whenever we were in Iran, we would hold a meeting once a week. Martyr Soleimani was a reasonable, intelligent and far-sighted man. He was never interested in merely chanting slogans. One could comfortably talk to him. We always had different viewpoints at the beginning of our meetings, but we always ended up reaching an agreement and we always divided weekly tasks among ourselves and we would always stay true to our words. All of us especially Hazrat-e Aqa [the Supreme Leader] were always worried about Shahid Soleimani. Whenever I wanted to say goodbye to him, I would whisper "God is surely the Best Protector" in his ears. The last time I saw Shahid Soleimani was the Sunday afternoon of the same week when he would be martyred [on Friday]. 9455**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo taken on April 6, 2018 shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li He) "Facts have proven once again that as the largest state actor of spying in cyberspace, the U.S. is worthy of the name of the 'empire of hackers.' The sky is the limit with the U.S. when it comes to spying," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang. BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Facts have proven once again that the United States is the largest state actor of spying in cyberspace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday, urging the United States to clarify to the international community on relevant affairs. Reports have emerged that from the Cold War into the 2000s, the U.S. intelligence used the Swiss company Crypto AG's encoding devices to spy on other countries while pocketing millions of dollars. The company sold the devices to foreign governments and companies, and the machines were encrypted but the U.S. intelligence had rigged the devices so they could crack the codes and intercept thousands of messages from more than 120 governments worldwide, according to reports. Geng told an online press briefing that the U.S. government and relevant departments have conducted large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber theft, surveillance and espionage on foreign governments, businesses and individuals, which is "a fact already well-known to all." It is a tawdry trick that the United States, on the one hand, has been collecting nearly 5 billion mobile phone call records across the globe every day, spying over German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone for more than 10 years, controlling more than 3 million computers in China every year, and implanting Trojan Horse in more than 3,600 websites in China, and on the other hand, enjoys playing victim of cyber attack, just like a thief crying "stop thief," said Geng. The U.S. hypocrisy on the issue of cybersecurity could not be clearer, the spokesman said, stressing that the U.S. has no honor and credibility to speak of in front of other countries. "Facts have proven once again that as the largest state actor of spying in cyberspace, the U.S. is worthy of the name of the 'empire of hackers.' The sky is the limit with the U.S. when it comes to spying," said Geng. The spokesman called on the United States to clarify the issue to the international community, noting that an explanation concerning the WikiLeaks and Snowden incidents is still owed. (Photo : Screenshot taken from Youtube Clip of Official Land Rover Defender) The new Defender from car manufacturer Land Rover is ready to dish out all the pain and take the punches as well. James Bond better get ready to learn how to operate or run away from this beast. The Land Rover Defender gets a very nice spot in the up-and-coming James Bond film titled No Time to Die. For the extra British flair, it's accompanied by Triumph motorcycles to inspire that sinister feel of the bad guys who are out to chase the antagonist to the ends of the earth. Here is the advertisement for you to see if you haven't already: Also Read: Diablo on Netflix Soon: "Nope, That's Not What People Like, Blizzard!" [VIDEO] How They Shot the Commercial Lee Morrison coordinated the short clip, and Chris Corbould was in charge of special effects and action vehicles on the scene. The stunt driver used in the scene is racecar driver Jessica Hawkins. This is all speculation as of now until we receive more news. However, the clip features a chase sequence near a villain's hideout. Three Defenders and three dirt bikes leap into action through a dreary and moot environment with real enthusiasm. The trucks tear through grass and mud, hit trees, splash on creek water, and finally flip over and keep running. There is also a lot of air time showcased, and people who are considered enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that jump testing is part of their durability test, along with wear and tear. Also Read: Hurray! Redbox Offers Free Live TV With No Sign In Requirement: Check Out How to Avail Two Kinds of Defenders The all-new Defender comes with a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter inline-six making a total of 395 bhp or 295 kilowatts and 406 pound-feet or 550 Newton-metres of that sweet torque while running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also comes with an option with an all-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case if you choose, manual locking center differential, and automatic locking rear diff for better traction when you're off-road. Buyers can also customize the height-adjustable air suspension system. The other option will be coming with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 296 bhp or 221 kW and 295 lb-ft or 400 Newton-metres and a 2.0-liter turbodiesel with around 237 bhp or 177 kW and 317 lb-ft or 430 Nm. Also comes with a plug-in hybrid option should be arriving relatively soon. The Defender has two body styles, and they are both amazing. The four-door 110 is available as a five-seater or a five-plus-two configuration. It can comfortably seat up to six occupants. A commercial version might arrive in the future. The initial base price will set you back a whopping $49,900 plus tax on the official website right now. James Bond Tie-in with Land Rover The two have been helping each other promote their brands as long as time can tell, and this seems to be another one of their collaborations. This will definitely not be the last of the partnership as there are already rumors who the next James bond will be. Regardless of the rumors, one thing is for sure is that Land Rover is there to stay. No Time To Die will premiere on Mar. 31. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A worker is fighting for his life after he had his leg trapped in a piece of machinery at a turkey factory near Sydney. Emergency crews were called to the factory on Ralfe Street, Tahmoor shortly after 8am on Wednesday after reports a man, 35, had his leg torn off. A NSW ambulance spokesman told Daily Mail Australia crews worked frantically to free the man before he was flown to hospital in a critical condition. A NSW ambulance spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the man was treated at the scene before he was flown to hospital in a serious condition Four ambulance crews were at the site and special medical team had been flown over via helicopter. Safe Work New South Wales has been notified. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Inghams Poultry for comment. More to come Two Irish passengers on board the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Yokahama, Japan, have tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19). They are currently being treated in hospital in Japan. These citizens share dual citizenship with another EU member state and are not normally resident in Ireland. The Irish Embassy in Tokyo is in ongoing contact with them regarding their consular needs. In total, six Irish citizens were on board the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship. "We are also in close contact with those who remain in quarantine on the ship. We are working with our EU partners and other like-minded countries regarding options for their return," Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said. Mr. Coveney said the safety and welfare of Irish citizens overseas remains priority. "In these efforts we are working hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and other relevant departments and agencies, both in Ireland and internationally, to ensure that all the appropriate advice and precautions are in place," he said. He said Ireland remains Covid-19 free, with well over 100 tests coming back negative. To date, with the assistance of the UK and other EU partners, six Irish citizens were repatriated from Wuhan city in China. Three were evacuated on January 31 and three were evacuated on February 9. "Nine Irish citizens were passengers on the Westerdam Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Seven are currently being screened, along with other passengers and crew. Our embassy in Hanoi is in ongoing contact with the citizens regarding their consular needs. Only two of these seven are normally resident in Ireland," he continued. "Two further Irish citizens, who were also passengers on the Westerdam, returned to Ireland over the weekend. The Health Service was informed. No further comment will be made about an individuals health or healthcare. To date, the Department of Health has confirmed there are no cases of Covid-19 in Ireland." Mr. Coveney said the Department of Foreign Affairs is reviewing travel advice on a regular basis, encouraging anyone travelling or currently abroad to continue to check its website and to download the TravelWise app. "As previously announced, the Government has allocated 500,000 to the World Health Organization to assist its vital work to help control the spread of the Covid-19. The rapid spread of Covid-19 concerns us all. It is vital to take early, coordinated action to prevent further spread of the virus," he added. "Irelands international support is complementary to our domestic preparedness efforts led by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. We all share the overriding goal of minimising the impact of this epidemic." If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on December 5, 2018. The United States on Tuesday tightened financial restrictions on Venezuela, blacklisting a subsidiary of Russian oil firm Rosneft that President Donald Trump's administration has said provides a lifeline to President Nicolas Maduro's government. The move steps up pressure on Russia, which the United States sees as the main backer of Maduro's government. The Trump administration has accused the subsidiary, Rosneft Trading SA, of propping up the Venezuelan oil sector and actively evading American sanctions. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department, target Rosneft Trading. The United States also issued a general license allowing companies 90 days to wind down their transactions with the company, according to a notice on the department's website. The action freezes any U.S.-held assets of the Geneva-based trading unit of the Russian oil giant, Rosneft Trading SA, and its chairman of the board of directors and president, Didier Casimiro. The United States last year recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the OPEC nation's legitimate interim president and began ratcheting up sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Maduro's government. A year later, Maduro remains in power, backed by the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba. "Rosneft Trading S.A. and its president brokered the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States is determined to prevent the looting of VenezuelaCOs oil assets by the corrupt Maduro regime." The decision to sanction Rosneft Trading SA was cleared by Trump, a senior administration official said, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday discussed the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich security conference in Germany. "This is a reaction to the growing and increasingly central role of Rosneft in the affairs of Venezuela, particularly in the course of the last year," the senior administration official told reporters in a conference call. The United States has also reiterated its call to all companies in the world to cease business with the Maduro government and added that Tuesday's step was part of a wider campaign. Uganda is set to host an international conference on the Land Information System peddled at providing a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends in land matters. This is the second time Uganda is hosting such an International Conference on Land Information System in partnership with the World Bank to share experiences and show case successes of Land Information System implementation in Uganda. The first time Uganda held a Conference of this nature was in February 2013, when the Ministry had commenced computerization of the Land Registry. Stories Continues after ad According to Minister of State Lands Persis Namuganza, government of Uganda with support from the World Bank under the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) has been implementing the National Land Information System (LIS). She said the conference that is scheduled to take place from 20 21 February, 2020 at Protea Hotel, Entebbe, will bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to share practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Land Information Systems for Development. The National Land Information System has been installed and is operational in 22 Ministry Zonal Offices of Wakiso-(Busiro and Kyadondo), Mukono, Masaka, Masindi, Kibaale, Kabarole, Mbarara, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Mbale and Jinja, Mpigi, Luwero, Mityana, Kabale, Rukungiri, Tororo, Moroto and Soroti, Kampala (KCCA). She said She said that the objective of establishing Ministry Zonal Offices and development of Land Information System is to bring the Ministrys services closer to people who were formerly bearing all inconveniences and indirect costs of travelling to the ministry headquarters in Kampala VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coro Mining Corp. (Coro or the Company) (TSX: COP) is pleased to announce changes to the Companys Board of Directors including the transition of Mr. Colin Kinley from Non-Executive Chairman to a Non-Executive Director role and the appointment of Mr. Michael Haworth as the Companys Executive Chairman, reflecting the increasing time commitment expected of the role as the Company advances the development of its Marimaca project. The board changes also include the appointment of Ms. Petra Decher as the lead independent Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Kinley assuming the role of Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Coro is developing the exciting Marimaca Copper Project (Marimaca or the Project) for which the Company recently released an updated oxide Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 420Kt of contained copper with an average grade of 0.60% copper within the Measured & Indicated Categories and 224kt of contained copper with an average grade of 0.52% copper within the Inferred Category (refer release on 2 December 2019), representing an increase of nearly 100% from the pit constrained MRE released in April 2018. Coro has identified several near deposit oxide targets which offer the potential to further extend the MRE in addition to larger sulphide exploration targets both at Marimaca and within the broader tenement package, which will be the subject of follow-up exploration work. Coro is currently undertaking a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Marimaca, which is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2020. The Company, through its Chilean consultants, GEM, recently completed a detailed trade-off study to understand the key development strategies available for the project and which has identified a stand-alone, full scale, development option for Marimaca to be used for the PEA. As a result of its premier location and access to first class infrastructure, simple open-pit mining and oxide processing, Marimaca is expected to benefit from low capital development costs relative to other copper development peers in the region. In addition, due to the favourable geometry of the orebody and relatively simple oxide ore processing through Solvent Extraction-Electrowinning (SX-EW), Management believes the Project will have highly competitive operating costs, delivering compelling economics in the PEA. The appointment of Mr. Haworth as Executive Chairman will provide support to the CEO, Mr Luis Tondo, as he spends increasing time on the completion of numerous technical work streams for Marimaca. These technical items represent key de-risking catalysts for the Company and include an immediate focus on the delivery of the PEA, a rigorous preliminary and follow-up metallurgical test work programme, ongoing exploration work to expand resources and define new deposits, as well as preparing for various permitting workstreams. Mr Haworth is a co-founder and Senior Partner of Greenstone Resources, which holds 24.9% of the shares of Coro Mining, and is Coros largest shareholder. His career in natural resources has spanned over 20 years including in roles as Managing Director and Head of Metals and Mining Corporate Finance in London for J.P. Morgan. He will provide leadership on corporate strategy, financing, investor engagement and marketing including investor roadshows. Michael Haworth, Executive Chairman of Coro Mining Corp commented: I look forward to supporting Luis and his project team as they progress the development of what we believe is one of the most exciting copper oxide deposit discoveries in Chile in the last 10 years. Marimaca appears to have all the hallmarks of a low capital cost, high margin, copper mine development. 2020 is expected to be a transformational year for the Company and my focus will be on providing structure for an active engagement with the capital markets and further developing our corporate strategy, including the various financing options available, as we aim to move Marimaca towards production. To complement this, we have commenced preparations for several changes to the corporate structure of Coro to best position us for a successful future development, including corporate rebranding in line with the primary focus on the development of Marimaca. The Board and I would like to thank Colin for his strong leadership as Non-Executive Chairman, and his ongoing involvement as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Contact Information For further information please visit www.coromining.com or contact: Tavistock +44 (0) 207 920 3150 Jos Simson/Emily Fenton coro@tavistock.co.uk Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information in this news release including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying such information, was prepared under the supervision of, or has been reviewed by, Sergio Rivera, Vice President of Exploration, Coro Mining Corp, a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and a geologist with more than 36 years of experience. Mr. Rivera is a member of the Colegio de Geologos de Chile and the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile. The independent Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource Estimate at Marimaca is Luis Oviedo Hannig, a geologist with more than 41 years of experience at NCL Ingenieria y Construccion S.A. He is a member of the Colegio de Geologos de Chile and the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile and is registered with the Qualification Commission of Resources and Mining Reserves (CRISCO, CMC, Membership Number 013). He has a postgraduate degree in "Certification and Validation of Mining Assets from Queens University and PUVC. The Qualified Person for other contents than geological information of this news release is Luis Tondo, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Coro Mining, a mining engineer with more than 30 years of experience and a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. All QPs confirm they have visited the project area, reviewed relevant project information, allowing the correct technical judgement in their respective areas of expertise, in turn used in the writing and reviewing the contents of this news release. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or the Companys future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of a rebranding of the Company, the future development and exploration potential of the Marimaca Project. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Coro, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project delays or cost overruns or unanticipated excessive operating costs and expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, the availability of and costs of financing needed in the future as well as those factors disclosed in the Companys documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A solicitor who stole just under 1m from both his law firm and its clients for almost a decade to fund an obsessive interest in horse racing was jailed yesterday. Handing Samuel Graham Keys, a four-and-a-half year sentence, Judge Neil Rafferty QC told the 64-year-old that his offending had an impact on both his former firm, his former partners and the confidence of the legal profession as a whole. Keys, from Lurgan Road in Glenavy, was sacked from his role as a partner with Diamond Heron Solicitors as soon as his offending emerged in August 2015. In a statement yesterday the partners of Diamond Heron Solicitors said they immediately provided all assistance required by the PSNI which has ultimately led to the successful prosecution of this former solicitor who breached the trust of those who worked in our firm and most importantly the clients he represented. No clients suffered a loss as a result of his criminal actions. The staff of Diamond Heron have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly in the best interests of the clients of our firm. Over a period spanning from March 2006 to July 2015, Keys helped himself to 856,714.89 from the client account and to 83,931.01 from the companys account with the totality of his offending amounting to 940,646.80. Belfast Crown Court heard Keys had an interest in the purchase, breeding and training of horses which allowed him access to a social life which might otherwise not have been accessible to him. The court also heard there has been no repayment of any of the money the father-of-three stole. He admitted a total of 21 charges consisting of 19 counts of fraud by abuse of position, nine counts of false accounting and two counts of theft. Keys was informed he will serve half his sentence in prison, followed by a period of two years and three months on licence when he is released. Crown prosecutor David Russell said that over a period of almost 10 years, Keys was able to use his position in the law firm to create false documents and false entries to try and conceal his offending. His offending began to emerge in August 2015 when police made the company aware of suspicious activity in relation to a cheque from the client account being lodged into Keys personal account. Keys had been a partner since 2001, and when police alerted the firm, an internal audit was launched. At this stage, Keys admitted lodging two cheques from the client account into his own account, and was immediately expelled. Mr Russell said as a result of Keys offending, the remaining four partners ploughed 50,000 each of their own money into the firm as an immediate reaction, to try and maintain the confidence of its clients. The prosecutor said that whilst there was initial uncertainty surrounding the future of the firm, no-one lost their jobs and the firm thankfully has recovered. Telling Judge Rafferty there was no prospect of repayment from Keys, who has since been declared bankrupt. Defence barrister Frank ODonoghue QC said Keys accepted unequivocally that he was responsible for creating havoc with his own firm. Offering an apology from Keys to both the firm and its clients, Mr ODonoghue said Keys was a man once held in high regard and trusted, but whose conduct was frankly unforgivable but completely and utterly out of character. Mr ODonoghue revealed that Keys offending was linked to his association with racehorses, which provided a social life and alternative world that needed funded. The defence barrister also pointed out that when arrested, Keys co-operated fully with police. Describing Keys fall from grace as catastrophic, Mr ODonoghue said that after losing his job, Keys was now living in a one-bedroomed flat on benefits. Judge Rafferty described Keys as a highly gifted and capable solicitor who used his legal knowledge and ability to systematically siphon funds using camouflage and concealment over a prolonged period. The judge said he accepted the money stolen by Keys was used to indulge his almost obsessive interest in horses and horse racing and the associated lifestyle that came with it. Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg has joked that Donald Trump could do chores were he to lose this years election and refuse to leave the White House. Mr Buttigieg was speaking at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada, on Monday, when he was asked what he would do if Mr Trump did not accept a victory by the Democrats in Novembers election. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, gained laughter and applause from the audience when he said: If he wont leave, I guess if hes willing to do chores, we can work something out. Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg attends a campaign event in Reno, Nevada, U.S., on February 17, 2020: REUTERS/Eric Thayer While the election is due to take place in November, the inauguration ceremony will not be held until January. Mr Buttigieg made a similar joke when he appeared on Bill Mahers politics programme on HBO last month. Asked what he would do as president-elect if Mr Trump contested the result, Mr Buttigieg responded: Well, its going to be a little awkward when Chasten and I are moving into the White House. But at the end of the day, theres only one president, he added. After a delay caused by technical issues, it was announced earlier in February that Mr Buttigieg had won the support of 13 delegates in the Iowa caucus, narrowly beating Bernie Sanders who gained 12. Over the weekend, Mr Buttigieg hit back against homophobic comments made by the conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh about him kissing his husband on stage. Mr Buttigieg told Fox News host Chris Wallace that he would not be lectured on family values by Rush Limbaugh or anybody who supports Mr Trump as the moral leader of the country. Following his acquittal in the impeachment trial, Mr Trump celebrated by posting a video on Twitter joking that his presidency could go on beyond 2048, and has previously mused about serving a third term. Read more Mayor Pete fires back at Rush Limbaugh over homophobic comments Buttigieg 'deserving of death' for being gay, says Christian website Sanders and Buttigieg are on a mission to prove their electability The illegal armed formations on Tuesday morning attacked the positions of the subdivisions of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) near such residential areas as Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, Khutir Vilny, a JFO press center reported. "As for now, the battle is running on. Unfortunately, Ukrainian defenders sustained losses amid enemy attacks," JFO reported on Facebook. According to the report, Russia-led forces make shell attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine using arms banned by the Minsk Agreements. Thus, the enemy uses mortars of 120mm caliber. The enemy also make attacks using grenade launchers of various systems and large-caliber machine guns. "Under a fire cover, the Russian invaders began active offensive operations and made an attempt to advance through the disengagement line," the JFO reported. In turn, the JFO units gave an adequate response to the illegal armed groups hitting fire in order to suppress their armed activity. "The enemy's losses are being clarified," it was informed. Did HSBC cooperate with the US to depict the Chinese firm as mastermind of HSBCs Iran sanctions violations? United States prosecutors overlooked apparent violations of US sanctions against Iran by HSBC Holdings Plc in exchange for the British banks cooperation with a government investigation of Huawei Technologies, lawyers for the Chinese telecoms giant said. The government agreed to overlook HSBCs continued misconduct, electing not to punish the bank, prosecute its executives or even extend the monitorship, Huaweis lawyers wrote in a February 10, 2020 letter filed in US District Court in Brooklyn, New York. The letter was seen by Reuters on Tuesday. In return, HSBC agreed to cooperate with the governments efforts to depict Huawei as the mastermind of HSBCs sanctions violations and supply witnesses to the governments stalled investigation of Huawei, the lawyers wrote. In an indictment unsealed last year, Huawei was charged by the US with bank fraud and violating sanctions against Iran. Federal prosecutors added more charges to the case this month. The indictment accuses Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, of conspiring to defraud HSBC and other banks by misrepresenting Huaweis relationship with Skycom Tech Co Ltd, a suspected front company that operated in Iran. The new claims by Huawei relate to a five-year deferred prosecution agreement that HSBC accepted in 2012 for disregarding rules designed to prevent money laundering and processing transactions that violated sanctions. Huaweis lawyers say that, after HSBC obtained the deferred prosecution agreement, the bank continued to process Iran transactions through its New York branch and concealed the conduct from a court-appointed monitor. It also failed as late as 2017 to implement compliance measures it had promised in order to secure the agreement. The Justice Department determined that HSBC met all of its obligations, including its sanctions obligations, under its 2012 Deferred Prosecution Agreement, the bank said in a statement. Huawei has pleaded not guilty. Meng, the daughter of Huaweis founder, was arrested in Canada on a US warrant in connection with the case. She has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition. Reuters reported last February that HSBC conducted an investigation into Huaweis connections with Skycom that helped lead to the charges against the Chinese company. Huawei is seeking documents from the HSBC investigation of the company and reports from the monitor, which it says appear certain to contradict the allegations in the indictment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Celine Jankowiak (Agence France-Presse) Vienna, Austria Tue, February 18, 2020 15:07 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20652f103 2 Lifestyle Vienna,Austria,same-sex-couples,dance,gender Free When Sophie Grau and Iris Klopfer take to the floor as two of the debutants at Vienna's prestigious Opera Ball on Thursday, they will be dancing their way into history. It will be the first time that a same-sex pair of dancers figures among those whirling their way through the ball's opening ceremony. The event is the highlight of Vienna's annual ball season, watched by some 5,000 people in the lavish State Opera building and about two million on television. Sophie and Iris have been friends since high school in their native Germany and, like most of the other pairs, are not a couple outside the dance floor. They showed few nerves at one of the final rehearsals on Sunday as they smiled and chatted with fellow dancers in between routines. "Right now we're really chilled but you always have that moment before you go on stage when all the nerves kick in," Sophie, 21, told AFP, looking ahead to the big night on Thursday. Like all the others taking part, Sophie and 22-year-old Iris had to make it through the ball's rigorous selection process -- the foremost requirement being mastery of the Viennese waltz. While they insist they went through the effort purely out of love for dance, there is a message as well. "We're trying to use this platform...to just say that it doesn't matter what you have in your pants or what you were born with, you can dance whatever part you want to," Sophie said. "All that matters for a pair of dancers is whether you dance well together and whether you have fun doing it," she adds. If anyone is uneasy at this re-invention of one of Vienna's most venerable traditions, it's certainly not ball organizer Maria Grossbauer. Read also: Vienna bids farewell to iconic Life Ball AIDS fundraiser 'They dance very well' She says that if same-sex couples applied to previous editions of the ball, they would have been welcome. "The ladies dance very well and that's why they were accepted, they fulfilled the criteria," Grossbauer says, adding that in 2020 a same-sex pairing shouldn't be a big issue. In one respect Sophie and Iris will be sticking to convention: the dress code. In their application, the pair said that Sophie would be happy to don the black evening suit normally worn by the male debutant. Sophie is matter-of-fact about this choice: "I have short hair, where would you put the crown?" she asks, adding: "We just decided that we would be comfortable with turning up like this." Grossbauer said that the organizers were happy to hear this as the contrast between black tails and white dresses produces a distinctive visual effect as the dancers move in unison. As for who leads when they dance, Iris explains that the two of them take it in turn. "Everybody that is a dancer... will know that there are so many men that can't lead at all and so many women that can lead very well so it doesn't really matter," she says. A neat way of showing that, as Grossbauer puts it, "within tradition you can have development and progress". "You can't just stay stuck in your ways, you have to be open," she says. PETOSKEY, MI A man accused of sexually assaulting children under the age of 13 will spend up to a half of a century in prison. An Emmet County judge sentenced Logan Zeedyk to 25 to 50 years in prison after he pleaded no-contest recently to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, according to 9&10 News. Zeedyk, 28, of Goetzville, was charged in September for incidents that involved two children under the age of 13 that happened between January of 2014 and July of 2019, the Detroit Free Press reports. Moscow court extends detention of Russian businessman in bank embezzlement case RAPSI, Natalia Vaneyeva 17:15 17/02/2020 MOSCOW, February 17 (RAPSI) The Basmanny District Court of Moscow had extended the detention of businessman Vasily Boiko-Veliky in the Credit-Express bank embezzlement case, the court press-secretary Irina Morozova told RAPSI on Monday. Earlier, the Moscow City Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Boiko-Veliky against his detention. Thus, he will stay jailed until May 19, 2020. According to the Investigative Committee, other defendants in the case along with the businessman are bank director Alla Kabanova, chief accountant Maria Antonova and four other employees of Credit-Express Anastasia Novotnaya, Egor Pikhtin, Elena Chuyeva and Natalya Tsipinova. They have allegedly embezzled over 180 million rubles ($2.8 million) and $929,000. Investigators have detected 31 counts of embezzlement, the statement reads. Moreover, investigators are checking facts of withdrawal of assets by granting unsecured and loss loans to legal entities, according to the news release. Boiko-Veliky pleads not guilty. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. There will be cadre changes in the Armed Forces, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Lt. General Artak Davtyan told reporters in parliament after being summoned for a discusiion with legislators regarding the recent non-combat fatalities in the military. There will be cadre changes, the official orders will be published, he said, without elaborating. Earlier Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan revealed that a shake-up will take place in the military. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Esther Samboh and Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 12:07 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20651f7b1 1 Business omnibus-bill,omnibus-law,foreign-direct-investment,positive-investment-list,Airlangga-Hartarto,job-creation,tax-incentive,tax-holiday Free Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has said that foreign investment rules namely the priority investment list may be issued by the government before the sweeping omnibus bills on job creation and taxation pass into law. Airlangga said the priority list would allow certain business sectors to get fiscal incentives such as tax holidays and super tax deductions. The government would also prohibit 100 percent foreign ownership in small and medium businesses. We are still harmonizing [the investment list], and we will provide the priorities to investors so that during the list campaign we do not have to say, These are the sectors that you are not allowed to invest in, the minister said at a media briefing in Jakarta on Monday evening. Read also: Government to liberalize investment in omnibus bill on job creation The government has long floated the idea of changing the current negative investment list (DNI) to a so-called positive investment list. Currently, the DNI regulates which business sectors are open, prohibited or open with certain conditions to foreign investment. In the omnibus bill on job creation, the government will open all business sectors to direct investment except those it explicitly declares prohibited from such activity or those that can only be handled by the government. The prohibited areas are narcotics, gambling, chemical weapons, ozone-depleting substances, coral extraction and fishing for endangered species based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Further details on the investment policy will be regulated in a presidential regulation, the bill states. The government expects the bill, if passed into law, to cut regulatory red tape and attract more investment into the country to help boost stagnant economic growth. Indonesias economy grew by 5.02 percent last year, down from 5.17 percent in 2018, as investment and exports cooled. Read also: Key points of labor reform in omnibus bill on job creation: What we know so far President Joko Jokowi Widodo's administration has also submitted to the House of Representatives the omnibus bill on taxation, which will lower corporate income tax from the current 25 percent to 20 percent by 2023. The bill will also lower tax penalties, ease income tax regulations for expatriates and work toward taxing multinational digital firms that have no physical presence in Indonesia but that benefit from activities in the local market. Airlangga said that labor-intensive industries would receive a tax holiday. For instance, if a company wanted to build a garment factory with 2,000 workers, they would receive a tax holiday. The minister added that large investments would also receive similar tax incentives, adding that an investment of US$750 million may allow a company to have a tax holiday for 15 years. WA Labor has chosen its candidates to stand in Collie and Albany after veteran regional MPs Mick Murray and Peter Watson announced they would be retiring from Parliament at the next election. The seats, which Labor has held for two decades, are expected to be tight contests for the party without the personal following of the popular local politicians. Retiring MP Mick Murray with WA Labor candidate for Collie-Preston Jodie Hanns. In Collie, high school deputy principal Jodie Hann will contest the seat of Collie-Preston. Ms Hann was a Collie Shire councillor, the chief executive of the Collie Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a member of the Coal Miners Welfare Board. By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in ordered the government to implement urgent measures to combat the new coronavirus Tuesday, including finding emergency funding to salvage the economy amid mounting concerns over the viral outbreak's impact on the business sector. "The government needs to exercise boundless imagination to create policies needed to cope with the emergency economic situation," Moon said during a Cabinet meeting. "The current situation is more serious than we thought." The President's remarks reflect grave worries over the epidemic, which originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, that has dented the nation's exports and consumer demand. In particular, Moon expressed concerns about immediate setbacks in supply chains and production activities linked to China, where more than 70,000 people have been infected by COVID-19, or 2019-nCoV. "If China's economic situation worsens, we are hit hardest," Moon said. "Right now, supply chain and production activities linked to China are being disrupted. Exports to China, the world's trading center that accounts for one-quarter of our exports, are falling sharply. "The impact on tourism, culture, leisure and other services industries has also been severe, which is causing consumption and domestic demand to shrink significantly, and our companies and self-employed people are becoming more increasingly concerned. The virus will have a much bigger and longer impact than SARS or MERS." Moon urged the Cabinet to prepare measures to help small businesses in particular to cope with the downturn. "The government needs to prepare strong support measures to minimize damage to small- and medium-sized companies," Moon said. "We should review special financial aid for those companies and drastic measures to ease the concerns of small business owners regarding rent. The government needs to consider expanding incentives to boost corporate investment and more drastic regulatory reform measures." On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a 104.1 billion won ($87.9 million) emergency fund for quarantine efforts against the new coronavirus. The government will announce measures to help the export sector later this month. The President has been increasing his communication with the people and businesses to hear their concerns about the epidemic. He met leaders of the nation's six major conglomerates last week and has visited various sites to reassure the people that the government is on top of the situation. "Excessive fear and anxiety are making it more difficult for the economy," Moon said. "With trust in the government's response to the virus, we urge the people to resume normal economic activities. This will be hugely helpful for an economic recovery." On Tuesday, first lady Kim Jung-sook visited a traditional market in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, following the President's visit to Namdaemun Market last week. The opposition has criticized the visits as being aimed at garnering public support ahead of the April 15 general election. But Cheong Wa Dae denied this. Later, Levine saw a video posted online by Howard and then understood why he declined, he said. He made it very clear that I was just to be the first [lawmaker targeted], that he could find all of our homes. . . . That we should kiss our wives goodbye, kiss our husbands goodbye, kiss our children goodbye because he would use the business end of his gun. (CNN) The Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry in 2019. The Apple Watch sold 31 million units worldwide, while all Swiss watch brands combined sold 21 million units, according to research from consulting firm Strategy Analytics. Analysts are divided on whether this spells trouble for the Swiss watch industry, with some saying the end is near. Others point out that the mechanical watches certified in Switzerland are still bringing in more revenue than the Apple Watch. "The Apple Watch has emerged as a status symbol of its own, and offers a competitive alternative to mid-range Swiss watches," Steven Waltzer, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, told CNN Business. "Apple's massive customer base means that converting just a small percentage of iPhone users to Apple Watch users yields volume in the millions." The Apple Watch, which can track fitness levels and link to apps for faster check-ins at the movie theater or the gym, appeals to younger generations, while analog watches are popular among an older demographic, Strategy Analytics pointed out in a report. "People have embraced the Apple Watch as a solution that brings tech and fashion together," said Carolina Milanesi, a tech analyst at research firm Creative Strategies. Milanesi noted that Apple's emphasis on health and fitness positioned its watches differently from the Swiss timepieces that are marketed as jewelry and fashion accessories. "Yet these two value propositions are much stickier than fashion and glamour, which is how we get to today," she said. "Nobody else in the wearable market has been able to find the right formula and get anywhere near Apple." The company also benefits from its greater ecosystem of iPhone, iPad and other Apple-branded products. While Swiss companies also sell smartwatches, they operate in the Android ecosystem. "Apple has an existing consumer electronics-based relationship with the vast majority of its Apple Watch customers," said Rishi Kaul, media and consumer tech analyst at Omdia, a tech research service. Kaul pointed out that Swiss watchmakers use Google's Android-based WearOS software, which might mostly appeal to people who already use Android phones. More replacements Still, analysts said that this doesn't spell the end of the Swiss watch as a luxury status symbol, even if it is falling behind in the smartwatch competition. "I would argue it is not really comparing Apples to apples," said Vincent Thielke, a research analyst at market research firm Canalys. "Unit shipments do not paint the entire picture." Thielke pointed out that Swiss watches are about twice as expensive as Apple watches on average ($1,000 versus $500), and in terms of absolute US dollars generated, the Swiss watch industry outperformed Apple Watch last year. Looking at unit sales alone doesn't tell the full picture. Apple Watches might need to be replaced more frequently than Swiss watches to upgrade their technology and boost battery life, all of which could bump up Apple's unit sales number, said Thielke. He added that the Apple Watch could also be attracting newer audiences who might never have purchased a Swiss watch. "Apple Watches cater to a much broader consumer base, including young customers and gadget lovers," said Thielke. "For these groups, it may be more important to adopt a smartwatch for technological or health reasons rather than because of an appreciation for 'timeless timepieces.'" Still timeless? The Swiss watch's position as a status symbol is safe, given its luxury pricing and different watch faces and designs to choose from, said Kaul, the Omdia analyst. "The only way to increase the uniqueness or status of the Apple Watch is to invest in a designer band." Ramon Llamas, research director at market research firm IDC, said that Swiss watches personified "luxury, position and affluence." "Does this spell the end of Swiss watches? I doubt it. There will still be interest and demand, and in fact a number of younger users still aspire to own one some day," he said, "Meanwhile, today's smartwatches and yes, even the Apple Watch will look quaint in just a matter of years." This story was first published on CNN.com, "The Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry in 2019." Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 741 Harvard Ave. E. sold for almost $9.6 million, according to King County records. The seller were three LLCs related to Blueprint Capital, which acquired the land in 2012 for $700,000, then developed it. . . . DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. A shoplifting suspect trying to get away from a grocery store stripped naked and steaks tumbled out of his pants, police said. Police say they found Stefan Short, 28, of DeLand, Florida, running out of the store in the buff, and when he refused to stop, officers shot him with a Taser. The incident occurred Friday night at the Save-A-Lot in DeLand, police said. Officers were sent to the store and were told Short was being pinned to the ground by a manager and a civilian, but he was fighting them, the police report said. Witnesses reported to police that in an attempt to get away, Short wriggled out of his clothes. Police said Short stole four packs of ribeye steaks valued at $41.24. Short was charged with resisting an officer without violence, resisting a store employee while committing a theft and first-degree petty theft. He was held without bail Monday at the Volusia County Branch Jail. An officer arriving at the store saw coupon books and packs of meat scattered on the stores floor and a naked Short running, the report says. The store manager reported that Short was a regular shoplifter at the store and that when other shoppers reported they saw him stuffing meat in his pants, the manager stopped him, investigators said. Short was taken to a hospital after it was discovered that a Taser prong struck him in the genitals, the report says. Follow Patricio G. Balona on Twitter: @PBalonaNJ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida man escaped in nude with steaks falling out of pants Los Angeles, United States On February 4, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that temporarily bans privately run detention facilities contracted by the United States government. At the heart of the ban is a proposed shelter for migrant and unaccompanied children to be privately managed under the jurisdiction of the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its the latest tug-of-war between policymakers from the state of California and the administration of US President Donald Trump in an ever-expanding battle over a growing list of policies. This newest clash may set up yet another legal battle between the federal government and one of the nations most populous and powerful states. Government data shows that in 2019, California produced more than $3 trillion worth of goods and services, making its economy far larger than those of the vast majority of the worlds countries. The Los Angeles City Council met on Tuesday, February 4 to vote on an ordinance to temporarily ban federal migrant detention centres [Dina Demetrius/Al Jazeera] The building at the centre of this state-versus-federal battle is a former assisted living facility in Arleta, a neighbourhood in the northern part of Los Angeles with a high concentration of Latinos. It is one of two proposed California centres meant to house migrant children. The recently passed ordinance temporarily halts any new construction or opening of such facilities. Over the next two to three months, Californias city council is expected to consider a permanent ban. The city of Los Angeles has great oversight over land use policy, said Council President Nury Martinez, whose district includes the Arleta site. We feel like we have really good legal standing to do this. LA Councilmember Herb Wesson first introduced a motion expressing no support for private immigration facilities in June 2019, hoping to send a message to federal agencies. But that message fell on deaf ears because a month later, the ORR awarded an Arizona-based youth services agency a grant to construct the facility. That organisation is called VisionQuest. Im really kind of flabbergasted that individuals would try to go around [the ban]. So were a little shocked by that, Wesson said. VisionQuests troubled history Most of VisionQuests children come to the facilities it runs from foster care and juvenile justice systems. According to The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), VisionQuests alleged violent handling of children spans the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond. According to CIR, 15 young people died in VisionQuest centres in its first two decades. New Mexico revoked the companys licence in 1984 because it found some children were abused while at the states centres. In 1994, the US Department of Justice documented several cases of physical and mental abuse by VisionQuest staff over many years and at different facilities. In 1996, an 18-year-old was thrown from a VisionQuest truck in Utah. And in 2017, the company closed a facility in Pennsylvania after more allegations of child maltreatment. According to CIR, a 2018 audit showed the companys debt exceeded its assets by $8.5m. Entering the migrant child shelter business was part of its get-out-of-debt plan. With the latest federal grants, VisionQuests annual revenue increased by $28.5m, a 30 percent boost for a company that was losing $700,000 a year for the past two years. Opening detention centres is one way to maintain that boost. Yet, in many of its target locations, VisionQuest reportedly did not secure the necessary permits and leases before being awarded the funds. Al Jazeera contacted VisionQuest, but as of the time of publication, it had not responded to that request for comment. Grandmother and child migrant activist Mayra Todd addresses the Los Angeles City Council on the temporary ban on detention centres [Dina Demetrius/Al Jazeera] Growing resistance Los Angeles is not alone in putting a halt to VisionQuests efforts to license shelters for unaccompanied minors. In November 2019, the zoning commission for the city of San Antonio also blocked the companys bid to open a detention facility for migrant children there. Albuquerque and Philadelphia are other locations where VisionQuest is being met with official resistance. Mayra Todd is a Guatemalan immigrant who has been in the US for 33 years and lives near the proposed detention site in Arleta. She has made her presence known at city council meetings and at protest rallies in front of the building. Were going to keep fighting no matter what, she told city council members. For Todd, the fight is personal. Her son has been repeatedly threatened in Guatemala for his work as a collections agent, so he, his wife, and two children crossed into the US through its southern border last year without documentation, which is against US law. Their coyotes turned them over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In Texas, Todds sons nine-year-old went with him to one detention centre, while his six-year-old went his wife to another facility. They were separated for 60 days while Todd petitioned for them. Reunited in California with her son and his family, at least for now, Todd said through tears, I came here with a dream when I left my family behind and couldnt see them any more. We need to work together and show love for all kids. Federal government fights back California passed a state ban on privately run immigration detention centres and prisons in 2019, but the federal government appears to be pushing forward with creating them. A month after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 32 into law, ICE posted a request for bids from private companies for four new adult detention centres in his state. The federal contracts with three different companies totalled nearly $6.5bn and began less than two weeks before the ban went into effect on January 1st. In a written statement to Al Jazeera, ICE spokesperson Lori Haley framed the new contracts as a benefit to the detained immigrants because they limit the need to transfer detainees to other states, along with keeping them near their families and legal representatives. She added, State laws aimed at obstructing federal law enforcement are inappropriate and harmful, saying it made an effort to remove dangerous criminal aliens more difficult. VisionQuest reportedly did not secure permits to open a child migrant shelter at an empty former assisted living facility in Arleta, California prior to receiving a federal grant [Dina Demetrius/Al Jazeera] HHS had no comment on VisionQuests scandal-plagued history managing facilities for minors. But in an email to Al Jazeera, HHS spokesperson Patrick Fisher, who is authorised to speak on behalf of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, said there is no new information on the status of the proposed LA-area shelters. He adds that its up to VisionQuest to secure the needed infrastructure and licensing. Our top priority at ORR is to unify children with their parents, family members or other suitable sponsors as swiftly and safely as possible, Fisher said. ORR is a child welfare agency, not a law enforcement agency. Call them by any name, Council President Nury Martinez says, but housing parentless children in centres keeps them in prisons. And the LA City Council is preparing for a legal battle if needed. Sometimes, you have to fight fights that deserve to have a fight, said councilmember Wesson. And this is one. This is not who we are. I do believe that in a lot of ways, this is the president trying to gin up his base. I think that California is a foil for him. So between his federal government and our local government, I dont see any peace on this issue. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Isabelle Harris (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 11:56 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20651ea3b 1 Health #health,#healthcare,#HealthCampaign,#children,#stunting,#Malnutrition,#sanitation,#education Free It starts with a simple sticker, stuck to the wall of the main room in the family home by a volunteer with one goal: ending stunting in Indonesia. Stunting is when a child does not grow properly and fails to meet height averages that match their age, resulting in brain damage that causes issues such as low IQ and illness later in life. Currently, it affects one in three Indonesian children, or 35 percent of children under the age of five, according to the World Bank. In the places weve been to, food has never been the problem [] the problem is always insufficient micronutrients and hygiene, says Valerie Krisni, an outreach coordinator at the 1,000 Days Fund, a group that is battling stunting with a promising pilot program. Measure up: A child is measured using one of the in-home height charts developed by the 1000 Days Fund. (Courtesy of 1000 Days Fund/-) She also said that there was a strong correlation between homes that did not have a toilet and severe stunting. The main causes are a lack of safe water and toilet access, low breast-feeding rates, low immunization rates, malnutrition and wealth inequality; although these often affect one another and not every child is affected by all causes. The organization says that on average, stunted children lose between six to 10 IQ points and miss approximately a year of school over their education as the result of sickness. Children experience more sicknesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea from extended malnutrition, as well as being more likely to die of severe illness from a weakened immune system. Later in life, affected children are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension. They also earn lower wages, earning around one fifth less than their non-stunted peers. However, organizations like the 1,000 Days Fund are tackling the problem from the start. The organization is named for the critical first 1,000 days from conception to age two, after which brain damage and other ill effects of stunted growth cannot be reversed. Smart blanket: A mother holds up the smart blanket which is designed to measure infant children who cannot stand. (Courtesy of 1000 Days Fund/-) They distribute height charts and smart blankets, which are blanket height charts for babies and for children, alongside delivering training to volunteers at an integrated health service post (Posyandu). We work through the established health system, 1,000 Days Fund founder Zack Petersen says. The organization recently received a US$25,000 grant from the World Bank to develop and deliver a combined height chart and education pilot program in three villages in East Nusa Tenggara in 2019, which had a stunting rate of 43 percent. The program was highlighted on television program Kick Andy in June 2019, which resulted in some Rp 100 million ($7,317) in donations to the 1,000 Days Fund from state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura. According to research conducted by the 1,000 Days Fund, the national average of stunting is 30.8 percent, higher that some areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The organization eventually arrived on a simple plan of attack. First, all the volunteer healthcare workers and professionals in the area gather for a group training session. Next, two members of the 1,000 Days Fund team and one local volunteer healthcare worker go to every house, explaining the height chart and training the parents in how to prevent stunting in their children. By the end of the day, the volunteer is trained in delivering and maintaining the program in their village, which includes promoting proper nutrition and hygiene practices. The village also develops an action plan to prevent and reduce stunting in the future. Education first: Caregivers take part in an in-home training session to learn about the importance of nutrition and sanitation. (Courtesy of 1000 Days Fund/-) Simon Flint, chair of the 1,000 Days Fund, says it works closely with local communities, especially women. We asked the mothers what they thought of the posters and theyd say Oh, we love the posters, but we have to wait until our child can stand up before we can use them so what we did is we went away and developed the smart blanket, he said. He also described how educating the community is very important, as it allows for the information to sink in and be practiced reliably in the community. Flint said a study that took place in Zambia that used similar posters in the home reduced stunting in children by 22 percent, an idea that formed the basis for the pilot program. Indonesia already experiences stunting rates that are on par with countries such as Zambia and Ethiopia. A study that accompanied the program showed promising results. In January 2019, only 4 percent of caregivers could identify and explain stunting, while 65 percent could do so after the program ended. We almost doubled the number of women who not just said they breastfed, but were able to explain why it was good for their child. This rose from about three in 10 to six in 10 Simon said of nutritional education that formed part of the program for mothers. To date, the 1,000 Days Fund has distributed 12,000 height charts across 22 islands in Indonesia. In the future, it hopes to increase its efforts to give out 20,000 height charts this year as well as expanding the implementation of their program to more villages. Before the election of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Flint said the government was either unaware or did not prioritize it, praising the current government for recognizing the impact, although it has not outlined a formal plan to address the issue. Its a disproportionately large problem with a disproportionately small amount of focus, Simon says. For now, organizations like the 1,000 Days Fund have made steps toward reducing the effects on child stunting in Indonesia, with a goal to eliminate it by 2030. (ste) -- Isabelle Harris traveled to Jakarta with the assistance of the ACICIS Study Indonesia program. The European Space Agency is searching for 20 women to 'float' in a bath tub style bed for five days straight. The space agency is working with the Medes clinic in France to study the impact of 'dry-immersion' baths - floating beds - on the female body. Volunteers are supported and suspended evenly in the tub - mimicking the floating experienced by astronauts on the International Space Station. They want female volunteers as they have almost no data on the impact the 'floating' has on women - but do have data on men. Scientists running the study say it sounds appealing but caution the pleasure soon wears off. They want female volunteers are they have almost no data on the impact the 'floating' has on women - but do have data on men Volunteers are able to watch television and play games during the course of the studies - some of which involve water beds and others a traditional bed ESA's human spaceflight team leader Jennifer Ngo-Anh said for this first round of tests there won't be any specific experiments. 'We will collect data to better understand the dry immersion model and how the women react to assess these studies for more extensive investigations in the future.' 'We get many requests to be a volunteer for these studies but they are no joke, lying in bed sounds fun but the pleasure wears off very quickly. 'We constantly salute the volunteers that sacrifice their daily lives for the benefit of human exploration.' A range of organisations and researchers are able to bid for access to data from the study, or to have their own specific tests carried out on volunteers. Other studies aim to simulate lower oxygen, pure oxygen and different atmosphere environments - replicating what an astronaut might experience in space Dry immersion is designed to mimic spaceflight in terms of the monotonous environment, posture-motion limitations and other effects it has on the body. ESA says this means simulation by dry immersion has great potential to investigate detrimental effects of spaceflight and to design and validate countermeasures against changes occurring in microgravity and hypokinesia. 'However, to date, no controlled studies have actually compared the same measurements to spaceflight.' They are looking for 20 all female test subjects to spend five days at the Medes facility in Toulouse France late in 2020. It's designed to test and validate the dry immersion model and to get a better understanding of the changes that occur in the body. A range of experiments are carried out on the volunteers before, after and during bed rest to find out how their body copes with different conditions. All of the research facilities used by ESA have a centrifuge The results from this type of research don't just go to help people leaving the planet and spending time in space, but also those bedridden on Earth for long periods. In weightlessness, astronauts' bodies lose muscle and bone density, eyes change, fluids shift to the brain and more. Finding ways to stay healthy in orbit is a large part of human spaceflight research and the 'bedrest' studies are part of that process. 'The more test subjects the better, but sending people into space is expensive and hard,' ESA said. In the study the head is tilted at 6 degrees below horizontal and a single shoulder must touch the bed at all times, even during washing and eating There are a range of different studies carried out at the space research facilities - in addition to the floating beds - including one that keeps the head pointing down. The study simulates aspects of spaceflight by placing volunteers in bed for long periods of time with their head 6 degrees below horizontal. That study will last 60 days and be carried out by a different team of researchers working in both France and Slovenia. One shoulder has to touch the bed - even when eating, going to the toilet and washing, say ESA. In the longer study volunteers will also be tested in a centrifuge to see how their body handles zero gravity like environments. Throughout the study participants eat all their meals in bed as they are not allowed to get up for the entirety of the five day study There are three sites used by ESA for spaceflight bedrest studies - one in France, one in Germany and a new one in Slovenia. The Slovenia site is at a higher altitude with less atmospheric pressure, so will be used in part for research into future lunar habitation. 'The goal is to definitively test measures that reduce the unwanted effects of living in weightlessness,' said ESA science coordinator Angelique Van Ombergen. 'We have a long history at ESA of conducting bedrest studies and this round will put all our knowledge gained towards fine-tuning and working out the best techniques.' The centres allow researchers to tweak environmental conditions, such as oxygen levels in the room. Testing volunteers in low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, is relevant for future space missions where the confined environment of spacecraft and space habitats could contain less oxygen. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The meter data management system market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 274.4 Mn in 2018 to US$ 961.8Mn by the year 2027 at a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period.The meter data management solutions provide transparency for the utilities and municipalities, and thereby enable significantly increased efficiency in reading, billing and service processes. Energy and grid utilities in Europe are vigorously contributing to the deployment of public fast and ultra-fast charging networks. . Such rapid development in EV charging installations across Europe is expected to bolster the meter data management system market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862121/?utm_source=PRN Most utilities are investing in the new technology due to government mandate.Many countries have passed legislation mandating the adoption of smart meters as part of broader clean energy initiatives. Thus, growing the need for meter data management system during the forecast period.The major adoption of Electric Vehicle (EV) has been recognized as a primary challenge for the future development of smart grids. The ever-growing electric vehicle charging further increases energy demand.The carbon release due to EV charging is leading to critical environmental concerns. Apart from environmental and economic reasons, the most important driving force of the EV market is strong policies, such as legislation, benefits, and rebates from various governments. On the basis of offering, software held a significant share of the Europe meter data management system market.The software segment leads the meter data management system market and is projected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period 2019-2027. Smart meters are the next-generation metering devices that are utilized for obtaining energy consumption feedbacks, manage, monitor, and further send this feedback to the billing management system. These devices allow bidirectional communication between the central management system and the meter. The overall Europe meter data management system market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.The research process begins with exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the Europe meter data management system market. It also provides an overview and forecast for the meter data management system based on all the segmentation provided with respect to the Europe region.Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the mater data system industry. Some of the players present in meter data management system are ABB Ltd, Eaton Corporation, Honeywell International, Inc, among others. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862121/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com The UK is reportedly preparing to reject several of the stipulations contained in a draft European Commission negotiating mandate. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) UK chief Brexit negotiator David Frost will on Monday travel to Brussels to outline his countrys vision for a post-Brexit trade deal. In a rare public appearance, Frost is expected to tell attendees at Universite Libre de Bruxelles that the UK wants to pursue a trade deal similar to those the EU has negotiated with Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Frost is all but certain to underline the UKs governments desire to strike a deal with zero tariffs and quotas on goods, but with no alignment on standards, which is a key part of the EUs current trade deal with Canada. But no alignment on standards would also almost certainly result in the introduction of customs checks, additional paperwork, and other limits on what types of goods can be traded. The UK is reportedly preparing to reject several of the stipulations contained in a draft European Commission negotiating mandate, including one that would force the UK to abide by EU tax and workers rights rules. READ MORE: AKK is not OK Germany's conservatives are in chaos The draft mandate insists that there must be a level playing field between the UK and EU to prevent distortions of trade and unfair competitive advantages. Noting the geographic proximity of the UK to the bloc, the mandate says there should be common high standards in the areas of state aid, competition, state-owned enterprises, social and employment standards, environmental standards, climate change, and relevant tax matters. Frost will likely point out that the EU has largely tariff-free agreements with Canada, South Korea, and Japan, without any regulatory alignment of this kind. While the UK officially left the EU on 31 January, it is currently in a time-limited transition period that concludes at the end of 2020. Talks on the trading relationship that the UK will have with the EU are due to begin in March. Frosts visit comes after French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday predicted that the UK and EU would rip each other apart during the negotiations. I think that on trade issues and the mechanism for future relations, which we are going to start on, we are going to rip each other apart, the close ally of French president Emmanuel Macron said. But that is part of negotiations everyone will defend their own interests. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature Canada Eight-month Vancouver Island forestry strike ends Three thousand forestry workers organized by the United Steelworkers, as well as independent contractors, ratified new five-year contracts last week after a bitter eight-month strike on Canadas west coast. Central to the dispute was Western Forest Products demand to impose a grueling alternate shift schedule, which raised important safety concerns amongst the workers, given the hazardous nature of their work. In the end, the contract imposed the alternate shift schedule but also contained vague language stipulating that operational trials of safer scheduling practices could be considered in the future. The protracted strike caused significant hardship for the forestry workers and the communities in which they live. Bankruptcies both among strikers and small businesses spiked. Contractors were forced to sell their equipment to keep their families afloat. Province-wide protests by Alberta nurses against Conservative healthcare cuts Nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers staged demonstrations at 33 locations in 25 Alberta cities and towns against the plans by the Premier Jason Kenneys Conservative government to reduce the provincial healthcare budget by up to $2 billion. A recent government report recommended privatizations and a massive restructuring of healthcare delivery processes that would severely reduce the quality of healthcare in the province. A four-year wage freeze and job cuts have also been proposed. Latin America Mexican worker training instructors strike over unjust deductions in pay Teachers and administrative workers at branches of the Veracruz Institute for Worker Training (Icatver) in Veracruz, Mexico began a strike February 10 to protest unjust deductions from their pay applied for income tax. The striking workers claim that the tax, known as the Impost Regarding Rent (ISR), is arbitrary and excessive. They also accused Icatver management of disparities in its application, implying either ineptitude or favoritism. The strike was called for 18 campuses throughout the state, involving about 600 teachers. It followed fruitless meetings between their union and the administration the week before in the Icatver office in Xalapa. Throughout 2019, the administration made numerous errors in the calculation of salaries, causing hardship for the workers families, who were hit with unexpected ISR assessments. The workers had previously marched and held one-hour stoppages but have received no response from the Labor and Social Security Secretariat. They are now calling on the state governor to intervene, sack the incompetent officials and replace them. Strike by university workers in southern Mexico completes second week Striking workers at the Benito Juarez Autonomous University in Oaxaca (UABJO) were still on strike February 14 with the likelihood that the walkout would remain in force this week. The workers union, STEUABJO, has sent a petition with a list of demands to the UABJO administration, but has not received a response. The demands include a 20 percent salary hike; application of a system to tabulate pay scales and retirement payments; remedies of contract violations; the granting of 105 positions; payments of from two to eight months for 20, 25, 30 and 40 years of service; and the maintenance of the quality and efficiency program, estimated at costing 11,500,000 pesos (US$620,000), among others. Bahamian water and sewerage workers strike over contract Workers for the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) in the Bahamas went on strike to press the corporations president to sign an industrial agreement. The workers are members of two unions, the Water and Sewerage Management Union and the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU). Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, claiming that the strike threatened the public interest, referred the dispute to the Industrial Tribunal and asserted that the workers had to return to work in the meantime. To further intimidate the workers, he sent armed Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers to WSC sites to guard against acts of sabotage. The workers nonetheless continued on strike. A lawyer for the BUSAWU contradicted Foulkes and called his order pure, pure, absolute nonsense while union president Dwayne Woods denounced the order as a blatant attack on our civic rights as workers in this country. Meanwhile, WSC president Adrian Gibson told reporters that the strike was illegal and that striking workers pay would be docked. He also said that the corporation was applying for a court injunction to force them back to work. The strike was called after repeated attempts to get Gibson to sign the industrial agreement presented by the unions failed. The unions are calling for the Gibsons firing for creating chaos and discord in the unions. They have appealed to the prime minister to settle the conflict. Colombian teachers union calls for strike as another teacher is murdered, dozens more receive death threats Following the assassination of Sandra Mayerly Baquero, a teacher in the northeast Colombian province of Arauca on February 7, at least 40 other Colombian teachers have received death threats. In addition, a teacher and a representative of the Fecode educators union survived an attempt on their lives in central Tolima province. Killings of teachers, union representatives and social activists are frequent occurrences in Colombia. Fecode, noting that 1,579 teachers have been murdered in the last 60 years, slammed the inaction of the far-right government of President Ivan Duque, a staunch US ally who has done nothing to curb the violence against teachers. At the same time, members of his Centro Democratico (CD) partyfounded by death squad-connected former president Alvaro Uribeadvocate the destruction of Fecode, which one CD member called that nest of communists that ruin the young people of Colombia. On February 10, Fecode announced a strike later this month against the continued violence and said that it will appeal to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and other international bodies for support. Former airplane factory workers in Argentina protest firings, demand rehiring Workers who were fired from the Argentine Airplane Factory (Fadea) in the province of Cordoba during the administration of Mauricio Macri (2015-2019) protested in front of the firms headquarters on February 13. The mobilization was organized by the State Workers Association (ATE), which created a Commission of Survey and Reincorporation of State Employees Fired During the Macri Era (Corredma). Corredmas goal, as ATE secretary general Federico Giuliani told La Nueva Manana, is to recuperate the productive apparatus from dismantling. At least 160 Fadea workers were fired without cause from 2016 to 2019. Former workers from other state industries in Cordobaincluding the National Food Safety and Quality Service, the Subsecretariat of Family Agriculture, transport regulation, public health and social insurance agencies, the Labor Ministry, the National Civil Aviation Administration, the National Atomic Energy Commission, the National Communication Services, and the National Industrial Technology Institutesuffered job losses during that time-span as well. The protest is a response to a recent national decree that delays the rehiring of fired workers for 180 days. ATE is asking for a meeting with Fadea management to negotiate rehiring. A union delegate said, We have information that work is coming to the factory; therefore, we see the possibility of rehiring as positive. United States New Orleans firefighters launch sickout over staffing levels New Orleans firefighters carried out a sick-out February 11 as the fire departments staffing level declined to its lowest point in its 128 years of existence. Some 47 of the 140 scheduled firefighters called in sick Tuesday leading the citys Fire Department Superintendent Tim McConnell to accuse Fighters Association Local 632 of extortion as the department was only able to man trucks with two people. Local 632 union claims the departments call volume increased by 150 percent over the past 10 years while the firefighter rolls have dropped by 25 percent to 480. On February 10 the union called for a boycott to all department requests for overtime. Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell responded by canceling scheduled vacations for firefighters, igniting the sickout the following day. Airline catering workers demonstrate after year of fruitless contract negotiations Airline catering workers held demonstrations at 15 airports throughout the United States February 15 to call attention to the poverty-level wages and benefits they receive. In San Francisco, about 200 workers took part and 31 were arrested for staging a civil disobedience action outside the American Airlines terminal. In Honolulu, Hawaii, dozens of workers protested outside of the United Air Lines departure terminal. In 2018, Unite Here was able to unionize thousands of catering workers who are employed by subcontractors for the major airlines. But despite nearly a year of negotiations, there has been no breakthrough. New negotiations under the National Mediation Board will resume at the end of March. A survey conducted by Unite Here of workers employed by LSG Sky Chefs at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport in Minnesota revealed 47 percent of the workers go without insurance. Delta Airlines is preparing to unveil, with great fanfare, a $1.6 billion profit-sharing payout to employees. But subcontracted workers would not be eligible for the benefit. As President Donald Trump moves to purge his administration of perceived disloyalty, one of his top deputies is also doggedly working to expose perhaps the most famous dissident in its ranks. Officially, assistant to the president Peter Navarro is Trump's point-man on trade policy. But Navarro has also taken it upon himself in recent weeks to uncover the identity of the person known simply as Anonymous, the senior Trump administration official who has railed against the president in the New York Times opinion pages and, most recently, in a bestselling book titled A Warning, and whose actual identity has so far confounded White House leak hunters. Since at least the time of the impeachment process against Trump, Navarrowhom the president affectionately calls my Peterbegan conducting his own private investigation into the identity of Anonymous, according to three sources with knowledge of Navarros efforts. One of those sources described Navarros investigative efforts as partially an in-depth analysis of the language and phrases used in Anonymous book and other public writings. The process, as described to The Daily Beast, mimics forensic linguistic profiling, and the goal is to cross-reference Navarro's profile with a list of potential suspects. Two other people familiar with Navarros efforts said he had zeroed in on at least one likely suspect and that he has compiled his findings in a written report that hes shared with White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who is leading official internal efforts to unearth Anonymous identity. One of the sources who spoke with The Daily Beast specifically asked to be identified in this story as a senior administration official because that is how Anonymous is self-described in the famous op-ed and book. Navarro declined to comment when reached by The Daily Beast on Sunday. A White House spokesman did not provide comment by press time. But Navarro, it should be noted, is not working alone. Instead, his efforts are part of a multi-pronged effort inside the administration to figure out who, exactly, Anonymous is. In addition to work by the counsels office and Navarro, a handful of staffers on the National Security Council have taken it upon themselves to conduct their own unofficial probe, one source said. Story continues A Warning: First Excerpts From Anonymous Book Say Trump Officials Considered Resigning En Masse Despite those efforts, Anonymous has vexed and fascinated political and media figures since writing a New York Times column in September 2018 describing himself or herself as part of the resistance inside the Trump administration. In November 2019, the person released A Warning, which lambasted Trump for his alleged erratic, reckless, and ignorant behavior and actions in office. The book claimed that numerous other administration officials share Anonymous disdain for the president, and frequently work to subvert his agenda. Trump himself has taken notice, and on many occasions has privately asked senior aides about efforts to unmask Anonymous, according to those close to the president. Both he and his allies have taken Anonymous presence as confirmation of the existence of a deep state cabal operating within the federal government to thwart the presidents efforts to disrupt the status quo in Washington. That view has inspired the West Wings efforts this month to purge the White House of perceived subversives, such as Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified to Congress about Trumps phone call with the Ukrainian president. Vindman is not suspected of being Anonymous, but was removed from his NSC post last week in retaliation for his (legally mandatory) testimony before a House panel investigating conduct that led to the presidents impeachment. Its not clear whether Anonymous actually remains in an administration post, or has moved on. Reporting since his or her Times column has floated a variety of potential culprits. Every administration official whos been asked has denied being Anonymous. But then thats what Anonymous said he or she would do. For now, the person wrote in A Warning, if asked, I will strenuously deny I am the author of this book, including when the president demands we each disavow it. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent decades taking risks on the track and in the air. Hes trying to minimize both these days. Earnhardt said Sunday before the Daytona 500 that hes changed his approach to flying following a harrowing crash landing near Bristol Motor Speedway last August. Earnhardt, his wife Amy, daughter Isla, dog and two pilots escaped the fiery wreckage of the executive jet in east Tennessee. Earnhardt was physically unscathed, but emotionally scarred. Its really tough on me getting back in the plane, and it will never be the same now that you know the real realities and dangers, he said during a wide-ranging interview. It will never, ever be the same again. Something you will never be able to forget and never block out no matter how many flights you take. For me to be able to get back in there and go and do and travel like I want, the only way I can do it is really was to get into the details. Earnhardt has tried to learn everything he can short of becoming a pilot. He did a deep dive into his jets capabilities, specifically regarding how long it needs runways to be for takeoffs and landings. And hes checking detailed weather reports days before stepping on the plane. Im diving into the deep end trying to learn everything I can about the planes ability and the decisions they make and why they make them, he said. Its been extremely educational, as you could imagine. Ive learned so much in such a short period of time. Its kind of empowered me and given me more confidence in what were doing and that we are safe and that I am going to be safe as opposed to I dont want to just quit flying; I dont want to just quit getting into an airplane. I need to get over that fear and work hard to get through it. He spoke to a number of people about his experience, and the advice he heard repeatedly: Keep getting back on the plane and in the air. I just sort of have to figure this out on my own, and its working out pretty good so far, he said. Story continues Earnhardt retired from full-time racing following the 2017 season and is now working as a NASCAR analyst for NBC Sports. He got back in the car at Richmond for the second-tier Xfinity Series in 2018 and drove at Darlington last year. Hes scheduled to race at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month. He said he misses racing and its getting worse. I thought as I got out of the car, and the further I got from my full-time career, the less that would bother me, he said. But it actually is getting worse for some reason. I really look forward to getting some seat time and smelling the smells and hearing the noises and just enjoying being in the car. But he has no plans to expand beyond one race a year for his JR Motorsports team, an annual ride that eases his angst and pleases his sponsors. Its a healthy thing to miss it, to want to do it, he said. I think it helps me in the booth to have that energy as a fan. I think ones plenty, probably ones more than I should be doing. I got my wife and Ilya and all that. I should devote as much as I can to them. Ones just perfect. I think it really helps me remember what drivers are thinking about. He does hope to get behind the wheel during test sessions just to get a feel for NASCARS new aerodynamics package. Id love to be able to speak on that a little better than I can in the booth, he said. I may seek out those opportunities, but no more official races. Earnhardt was at Daytona in an official capacity for the third consecutive year for the Daytona 500. He was the grand marshal in 2018, the pace truck driver in 2019 and now the honorary starter. He will wave the green flag to start The Great American Race. I was flag man at Pevely dirt track once, so a little experience, he quipped. I skipped a few steps along the way to get up to the big time and here today for the biggest race in the stock-car season. Im excited, should be a lot of fun. As for next year, he wants to be involved and insists track president Chip Wile has something in store for him. Im not singing the anthem, Earnhardt said. I dont think yall want me to do that. Thatll probably be my last time at any sporting event if I ever did that. ___ More AP auto racing You Might Also Like Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:26:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- It is practically impossible for Africa to register meaningful economic gains while still lagging behind in the area of science and technology, a Zambian specialist said on Tuesday. Michelo Moonga said despite the massive economic potential and abundant natural resources that much of Africa is endowed with, the continent has not been able to convert these resources into tangible economic benefits because it lacks the technological capacity to do so. Moonga, who is Zambia National STEM Foundation Chief Executive Officer, said science, technology, engineering and mathematics are key elements of economic growth and that countries that are considered wealthy have long been investing in science and technological advancements. "The application of modern and advanced technological tools has great bearing on economic growth because it helps increase productivity and enhances lives. While Africa has made notable strides in this area, more remains to be done to ensure that we catch up with the rest of the world," Mooonga told Xinhua. He revealed that in an effort to raise awareness and foster growth of science and tech in Africa, Zambia National STEM Foundation will be conducting the first annual All-Africa STEM awareness Conference in May 2020, which is expected to attract both local and international delegates. The conference, which has been scheduled to take place on the 5th and 6th of May this year will attract speakers from Japan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya. Also in attendance will be representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), government agencies and local entities concerned with the promotion of science and technology. "The conference will essentially serve as a space for sharing ideas on how Africa can utilize opportunities existing in the science and tech to exploit its potential and lift many people on the continent out of the doldrums of poverty," Moonga said. Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung and Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Paola Pampaloni co-chaired the event, which took place after the European Parliament ratified the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on February 12. The two delegation heads rejoiced at active developments of the Vietnam-EU relations over the past three decades, with the realisation of outcomes of the first meeting of the Joint Committee in Hanoi last May, and expressed their hope for deepened comprehensive cooperation. Dung suggested the two sides enhance all-level delegation exchanges and join hands to organise the activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. He also called for the early implementation of the EVFTA and the EVIPA, and appealed to the EU to remove the yellow card warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The two sides also discussed priorities and specific measures to promote cooperation between Vietnam and the EU across spheres, along with regional and international issues of shared concern. Regarding the East Sea issue, they stressed that disputes must be handled by peaceful measures, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They backed the maintenance of security and safety of navigation and aviation, and respect for law in the East Sea, and emphasised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)s increasing important role in keeping regional peace and stability. Vietnam applauded the EUs role in efforts to improve the efficiency of global governance and regional connectivity. Meanwhile, the EU highly valued Vietnams socio-economic achievements as well as its position in the region, hoped for further coordination to beef up ASEAN-EU and EU-Vietnam relations, and agreed to strengthen collaboration in global issues, thus contributing to peace and development in the region and the world at large. Manitoba RCMP say charges are pending against a 29-year-old Steinbach man involved Sunday in a fatal collision that closed Highway 52 just east of the city for more than eight hours. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/2/2020 (694 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba RCMP say charges are pending against a 29-year-old Steinbach man involved Sunday in a fatal collision that closed Highway 52 just east of the city for more than eight hours. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. An initial investigation determined the man's westbound SUV was attempting to pass a vehicle when it struck an eastbound car head-on around 6:30 p.m., Manitoba RCMP said Monday in a release. The driver of the car, a 78-year-old man from La Broquerie, was taken to hospital in critical condition. His passenger, an 81-year-old woman also from La Broquerie, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV was hospitalized with serious injuries. A stretch of Highway 52 east of Hirschfeld Road North was closed until 2:44 a.m. A forensic collision reconstructionist is assisting Steinbach RCMP with the ongoing investigation. Witnesses and those with additional information are asked to call the Steinbach RCMP detachment at 204-326-1234. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:39:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian Ministry of Health said in a statement late on Monday that 1,010 out of the 2,257 people onboard the Westerdam cruise ship had been allowed to disembark from the ship in the last three days. The statement said the first batch of 409 people left the ship on Friday, flying from the Sihanoukville International Airport, the third largest airport of the country, to the Phnom Penh International Airport in the capital before taking flights to their home countries. Another 601 people disembarked from the ship on Saturday and Sunday, and had flown to the capital to wait for flights to their homeland, it said, adding that the health authorities have been thoroughly providing health checks to the remaining Westerdam passengers both on the ship and in Phnom Penh. Holland America Line, the operator of the Westerdam, said in a press release on Monday evening that Westerdam guests at a hotel in Phnom Penh have all completed the COVID-19 screening. "Results are being returned when completed, with the first batch of 406 all being negative," the press release said. "Cleared guests may travel home, and arrangements are being made for those guests." Double-checks on the remaining passengers came after one Westerdam passenger tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease while transiting in Malaysia. The 83-year-old American is currently in stable condition, and her husband tested negative for the virus. The Cambodian Ministry of Health said that so far no Cambodian has tested positive for the virus. Cambodia allowed the Westerdam cruise ship, which had been denied entry to port by Thailand, Japan, China's Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines due to fears over the COVID-19, to dock at its sea port of Sihanoukville on Thursday. Passengers have been allowed to disembark since Friday after 20 sick passengers had tested negative for the virus. The University of Queensland has warned its staff of the economic hit it faces due to an expected 45 per cent of its international students not being able to start the 2020 year when classes begin on February 24, because of the coronavirus outbreak. UQ vice-chancellor Peter Hoj emailed all staff at the university on Tuesday to alert them to the impact coronavirus could have on university revenue in 2020. The University of Queensland estimates that 45 percent of their 18,000 international students will not be able to begin semester one classes. Credit:Joe Armao The University of Queensland educates more than 18,000 international students from 134 countries. "Late last week the Australian government announced it will extend the restrictions for travellers from mainland China until Saturday, 22 February 2020, and will continue to review them weekly," Professor Hoj said. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Tuesday asserted that infrastructure is a catalyst for development. He said the government is committed to the development of the state by strengthening infrastructure. The Centre is very liberal in investing in infrastructure to eliminate service backlogs of the northeast with special emphasis on rural areas, Mukhi said at the inaugural session of North East Infrastructure Development Conclave, organised by the CII-North East, here. A well-planned infrastructure enables established businesses to expand their production levels and encourage small businesses to enter the market and as such, both Central and state governments are making concerted efforts to put in place a robust infrastructure for physical connectivity in the areas of air, water, internet, and land transport, he said. He said the Union budget has allocated funds for laying new tracks and doubling of railway lines in the northeast region, the governor said. Electrification of railway lines under the Northeast Frontier Railways was also going on and by 2022 the three states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Sikkim will be connected by railways, he added. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also conceived of extensive national highway projects to give a boost to the region's physical connectivity. The governor also highlighted the measures being undertaken in northeast for bringing the region closer to the rest of the country with 12 airports in the region being operative and the Guwahati Airport being revamped with a new state of the art terminus. Moreover, a seamless digital connectivity has been in use in the region by liberalising its cyber space with India and Bangladesh signing an agreement for using unspent bandwidth available at Bangladesh's Cox Bazar in Chittagong to bring in a revolution not only in the northeast but also in some mainland states, he said. Assam is nurtured by two great rivers--the Brahmaputra and Barak and both along with their many tributaries have huge potential for river transport, tourism and industry. He also said that inland waterways in Assam received a boost during the last five years. There was an urgent need for strengthening the physical infrastructure of Assam as it was the largest among the eight northeastern states, with a population of 33 million and area of 78 thousand square kilometre, the governor said. In the face of growing urban population and rising urban infrastructural needs, solutions like planning newer modes of transportation systems especially for congested areas has become the need of the hour, he added. (Image Credit: PTI) Reuters India faces a multi-billion-dollar hit to its economy and a tarnished reputation as a place for multinationals to invest unless it can keep Vodafone Idea in business. Vodafone Idea, a joint venture between Britain's Vodafone Group Plc and India's Idea Cellular, is the most vulnerable of the mobile carriers ordered on Friday to immediately pay billions in unpaid government dues and interest following a Supreme Court ruling. It has said it cannot immediately pay the $3.9 billion it owes and its ability to survive was contingent on the government agreeing a flexible payment schedule. With 13,000 direct employees and loans from banks of about $3.8 billion, Vodafone Idea's potential exit would send shockwaves through India's economy, which is already growing at its slowest pace in 11 years. "A default of such a large scale could increase India's fiscal deficit by about 40 basis points," Aliasgar Shakir, a research analyst at Motilal Oswal, said. A 40 basis point increase in fiscal deficit roughly translates to a revenue loss of about 1 trillion rupees ($14.01 billion) for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, when it is facing the country's first fall in direct taxes in decades. Another issue is that Vodafone Idea's departure would essentially leave a duopoly between Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, which is backed by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani. That could dampen interest in an auction of 5G airwaves expected before the end of March. A former executive at Vodafone Idea, who asked not to be identified, said the risk of deterring investment was high. "They have been beaten down by the environment here," the executive said. "(We're sending investors) a very negative signal - it says the trust factor between the government and the industry doesn't exist." No Easy Answers The risks are not lost in Delhi, but finding a solution is fraught. Two official sources said the government was seeking to come up with a plan that did not violate the court's order. "(The government) is concerned with what is happening in the sector and its impact on the investment climate," a top Finance Ministry official said, asking to remain anonymous. A separate source said the government was seeking to structure a relief plan before the next court hearing on March 17, but declined to provide details. The telecoms ministry has been speaking with the prime minister's office to resolve the issue, the official added. Lawyers in the telecoms sector said the government could urge the court to allow companies to pay over a longer time frame. India's telecoms ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Modi has faced criticism for failing to create jobs in a country where about one million job seekers enter the market every month. Even some in the business sector, which broadly cheered him to power, have turned on him. State-run banks are already burdened with some $140 billion in stressed debt. However necessary, some analysts are sceptical the government can pull together a relief plan in time. The telcos still have some options, including filing a curative petition to the Supreme Court, although analysts see little chance of success. "The acceptance of a curative petition itself is an onerous task and with the Supreme Court's tough stance now, the merits of opting for this route may have diminished," Morgan Stanley said in a note to clients. In the meantime, Vodafone Idea has said it will pay 35 billion rupees ($490 million) in dues to the federal government by 21 Feb. Rival Bharti Airtel paid $1.40 billion on Monday, less than a third of the total it owes. In an effort to automate the processing of calculations, the mankind begins to invent mechanical calculating devices. It is known that the Russian mathematician Chebyshev designed a calculator at the end of the XIX century, unfortunately the drawings were lost. Simultaneously with the abacuses, still during the pre-revolutionary years (1917), the logarithmic (slide) rulers were used in scientific circles, practically without change, since the XVII century. They were in service "serve smb. faithfully" up to the appearance of calculators. The first mechanical device used in Russia for computational purposes was the Russian abacus ( schoty ). This device became "the national calculator" and was used in cashier's offices down to the middle of the 90's. It is interesting to note that the textbook "Trade calculations" published in 1986 devotes a whole chapter to methods of calculation by using abacuses. The development and production of EKVM's in the Soviet Union went parallel with its development in other industrially advanced countries of the world. The first samples of chip based EKVM's appeared in 1970. The serial production of the Iskra (Spark) model began in 1971. The production of the first domestic micro-computers based on IC's started in 1972. The further development of computing devices is closely connected to the microelectronics achievements. By the end of the 50's, the "know-how" of integrated circuits containing groups of electronic inter-connected components started its fast development, and by 1961 the first computer model based on integrated circuits was built. It was 48 times less in weight and 150 times less in volume than semi-conductor computers performing the same functions. The first EKVM based on integrated circuits appeared in 1965. Approximately at the same time started the production of the first portable EKVM's made with chips and powered by a set of built-in batteries. By 1971 the dimensions of the EKVM became pocket, and in 1972 appeared the first calculators with scientific-technical subroutines able to calculate transcendental functions. These calculators had additional memory registers and allowed to enter numbers both in natural form, and in the form of exponential floating point numbers with a wide range of values. In the Soviet Union, the distribution of the EKVM desktop calculator started in 1964 with the serial production of the EKVM Vega. The EDVM-11, an electronic ten-key computing machine with trigonometric functions was launched in 1967. In general, it is considered that the first mass electronic calculator appeared in England in a 1963. Its circuits were built on printed-circuit-boards and contained a few thousand transistors. The calculator had the size of a typewriter, and it only executed arithmetic operations with multi-digit numbers. The Soviet "Elektronika" calculator shown at the left is a typical representative of this generation of calculators. By 1961, Leningrad University had completed the design of the EKVM - Electronic Keyboard Computing Machine, one of the first desktop keyboard computers in the world. It used small-sized semi-conductor components and ferrite cores. After 1945, during the post-war years, scientists started to develop the first electronic-computing-machines (EVM). At the beginning of the 60's, despite of development of the Soviet relay computing machines Vilnius and Vyatka (1961), there was a huge gap between computers and the most powerful keyboard adding devices. At some point, people got tired of turning the handle, and the human mind found the way to invent electrical accounting machines, where arithmetic operations were made automatic or semi-automatically. The image on the right shows a full keyboard machine VMM-2, popular during the 50's. (Goods Dictionary, Vol. VIII, 1960). This model had nine digits and worked up to the 17th exponent. It measured 440x330x240 mm and weighted 23 Kg. Certainly, turning the handle to perform calculations was a good and even interesting mechanical solution, but what happened if you worked as an accountant simultaneously with several other people in the same room making hundreds of simple operations during a day? The noise caused by turning gears-counters became very inconvenient and affected the productivity of the shop. In the Arithmometer it was possible to make four arithmetic operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Later models, for example model "Felix-M", had toddlers to indicate the points on a rule, and the lever used to shift the carriage were improved. To perform calculations the handle had to be turned - once for addition or subtraction, and several times for multiplication and division. A liquid crystal display was used for the first time in this calculator. The digits were displayed with white marks on a black background (see figure at the left). To activate the calculator the user had to press a curtain and open the cover. The calculator had a very interesting operational algorithm. To calculate (20 - 8 + 7) it was necessary to press the following keys [C] [2][0] [+ =] [8] [-=] [7] [+=]. Result: 5. To multiply the result, say by 3, the calculation could be continued by pressing the keys: [X] [3] [+=]. A [K] key was used for calculations with a constant. After five months of work the first prototypes of the calculator were ready, and nine months later, three months before the established due date, an electronic pocket calculator named Elektronika B3-04 was handed over to the State Commission. The new electronic gizmo started selling at the beginning of 1974. It was a significant victory of the Soviet labor system which shown the possibilities of the electronic industry. In August, 1973 the Soviet electronic industry established a one year objective aimed to develop an electronic pocket calculator based on microprocessor chips and with liquid crystal display. A group of 27 engineers were assigned to this complex problem. It was a huge project which involved: producing the drawings, circuit and patterns consisting of 144 thousand points required to fit a microprocessor with 3400 elements within a 5x5 mm crystal. The first Soviet desktop calculators appeared in 1971 and they won popularity very fast. EKVM's based on large-scale integration circuits worked silently, consumed little energy, and performed fast and accurate calculations. Soon the cost of microcircuits started to decrease, and it became possible to consider the development of pocket size calculators with prices accessible to the wide consumer. Five travellers are currently admitted to hospitals in Maharashtra over suspicion of being infected by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), the state's health department said on Tuesday. Of them, three are being treated at Naidu Hospital in Pune, while two are at civic-run Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai, according to a health department release here. A total of 39,784 travellers have been screened at the Mumbai international airport since around mid-January for coronavirus, whose outbreak was reported in December-end from China's Wuhan city, it said. "Field surveillance is also actively going on all across the state in search of people coming from the coronavirus-affected areas," stated the release. Since around mid-January, Maharashtra had 228 travellers (till Tuesday) coming from coronavirus-affected areas and 70 of them, who showed symptoms similar to the viral infection, were kept at isolation facilities, it said. "Till today, 66 samples sent by state authorities for examination have been found negative as per the reports of the National Institute of Virology, Pune," said the release. All air passengers coming to Maharashtra from Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, are being isolated and tested for the deadly disease as per the Centre's directive, it said. Travellers coming from other affected areas are being subjected to 14 days of medical follow up. Also, 142 of the 228 such passengers have completed this follow-up period till date, the release said. Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane, air passengers are also being monitored in Nanded, Buldhana, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before. Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the WHO. The WHO has declared the coronavirus epidemic as a global health emergency. The virus, which has spread to more than two dozen countries, including India the US and the UK, has killed 1,868 people in China till now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sixteen activists, including the prominent philanthropist Osman Kavala, were accused of instigating protests in 2013. Their advocates said the charges were political and part of a broader campaign by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stamp out dissent. Even so, the judges acquitted nine of the activists and ordered the release of Kavala, the only defendant in custody. Newsfrom Japan Sao Paulo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)--A Brazilian unit of Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. <8031> has sold its core business of coffee roasting and sales for the Brazilian market to a local rival company, officials of the Mitsui unit said Monday. Mitsui Alimentos Ltda. sold the business to 3Coracoes for 210 million reals, or about 5,330 million yen, the officials said. The Mitsui unit will continue to export unroasted coffee beans to Japan and other Asian countries. According to 3Coracoes, Brazil's leading coffee company, Mitsui Alimentos was the fifth largest player in the Brazilian coffee industry with a market share of 3.8 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Close Brexit briefing: How long until the end of the transition period? Home secretary Priti Patel is facing fresh accusations of bullying, as former ministers and civil servants allege aggressive and vile conduct when she was in charge of the Department for International Development (Dfid). The union representing civil servants called for a new process for raising complaints and investigating ministers behaviour, while the Home Offices permanent secretary Sir David Normington said the department was facing tropical storms. It comes as MPs warned Boris Johnsons government not to water down a report into the Windrush scandal after it was reported a section branding the Home Office institutionally racist was stripped out. This liveblog has now closed BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Export of electrical goods from Turkey to Azerbaijan increased in January 2020, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on Feb. 18. In January 2020, Turkeys export of electrical goods to Azerbaijan amounted to $13.3 million, which is 43.16 percent more compared to January 2019. In 2019, export of electrical goods from Turkey to Azerbaijan increased by 19.49 percent compared to 2018, amounting to $171 million. Turkeys export of electrical goods dropped by 0.5 percent in 2019 and exceeded $11.2 billion. In 2019, Turkeys export of electrical goods amounted to 6.2 percent of countrys total export. In the meantime, Turkeys foreign trade turnover exceeded $374.2 billion. Turkey's export increased by 2.1 percent in 2019 and amounted to $171.5 billion compared to 2018. In the meantime, Turkey's import dropped by 9.1 percent and amounted to $202.7 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu American Hospitalized With Coronavirus Says Quarantine Messes With Your Mind An American who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in Japan after testing positive said that the medical isolation has started to take a toll on her mental health. It messes with your mind. I never really felt so alone, Rebecca Frasure said in an interview on Feb. 18. After being diagnosed with COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus that is believed to have originated in central China, Frasure said she hasnt had physical contact with anyone in 12 days other than someone taking her blood pressure or checking her lungs. I dont know if anybody else has experienced that. Clearly, people who are in the hospital too are probably experiencing that to a degree, but that is something that plays with your emotions, Frasure told CNN. To not be able to touch somebody, to hug somebody, to have that personal interaction with another human being, and to not have that interaction with your spouse, its kind of devastating. On Feb. 16, the U.S. Department of State evacuated hundreds of American citizens from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been held in quarantine since early February after an elderly man tested positive for the virus. The ship has experienced an extraordinarily high transmission rate, infecting at least 542 people out of about 3,700 passengers and crew, according to the latest update from Japanese health officials. A man wearing a face mask and holding a bag of vegetables walks along a street in Beijing on Feb. 12, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Frasure, meanwhile, told the network that she hasnt experienced any COVID-19 symptoms but had a slight cough and very slightly elevated fever. Her cough is now essentially gone and has no other symptoms. To be cleared, however, Frasure said she has to test negative on two consecutive days. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said the effort to quarantine the ship has been unsuccessful. The quarantine process failed, Fauci told USA Today on Feb. 18. Id like to sugarcoat it and try to be diplomatic about it, but it failed. People were getting infected on that ship. Something went awry in the process of the quarantining on that ship. I dont know what it was, but a lot of people got infected on that ship. Outside of mainland China, the Diamond Princess is the single largest cluster of known COVID-19 cases in the world. No other countries and territories have reached 100 cases. People still in quarantine due to fears of COVID-19 stand on balconies of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 18, 2020. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images) Americans who were evacuated from the ship are now being held in another quarantine on military bases, according to a statement from the State Department on Feb. 16. About a dozen evacuees and their spouses who were deemed high-risk were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for isolation, said state officials in a Feb. 17 press conference. Christopher Kratochvil, executive director of clinical research for the Global Center for Health Security at the university, said a total of 13 people were taken to Omaha and described them as high-risk patients. Around 2 or 3 this morning, we were asked to bring individuals who had tested positive or had a high likelihood of testing positive, based on the symptoms they were showing, Kratochvil said in the news conference. He confirmed that 13 Americans are being held in isolation there, adding that one patient was taken to a special containment unit with symptoms of an undisclosed chronic condition, said Shelly Schwedhelm, the head of Nebraska Medicines emergency department. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that the target of recovering looted state lands is not only restricted to the economic side of retrieving the state's assets, but extends to strengthening the state's prestige and imposing law and discipline, spokesman Bassam Rady said. The remarks came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the members of high committee for restoring looted state lands, and other ministers to review the situation of retrieving and legalising the status of looted lands in the governorates of New Valley, Giza, Beheira, Assiut, Sohag, Alexandria, Qena, Minya, and Daqahlia. The president requested the governors prioritise the task with an eye to legalising the legal status of citizens and ending the practices of seizing state lands. El-Sisi underscored the importance of preventing any further violations in parallel with accelerating the procedures of legalisation, in addition to considering the conditions of citizens to achieve justice and social peace. The presidential spokesman added that the meeting was the first of several set to be held in the coming days. Search Keywords: Short link: Boris Johnson disagrees with Dominic Cummings over plans to scrap the BBC licence fee, it was claimed last night. The Prime Minister wants 'reform rather than revolution' when it comes to the future of the corporation. He is less keen on abandoning the fee than his chief aide Mr Cummings, according to the Times. Mr Cummings is said to be 'ideological' about replacing the fee with a voluntary subscription system. An ally of Mr Johnson said: 'The PM is not as gung-ho on the licence fee as Dom. 'With Dom it is ideological - he believes the licence fee should be scrapped. With the PM it's more reform than revolution.' Boris Johnson waving as he leaves 10 Downing Street last week. He is said to want 'reform rather than revolution' when it comes to the future of the BBC Dominic Cummings, special adviser to Boris Johnson, leaving his north London home. He is said to be 'ideological' about replacing the license fee with a voluntary subscription system Dame Helen Mirren says that BBC licence fee has 'had its day' and claims the charge is not necessary Dame Helen Mirren has said the licence fee has 'had its day'. The actress, who has previously protested the scrapping of free TV licences for over-75s, said while 'we cannot lose the BBC ...we are moving past' the charge being necessary. Her comments come amid speculation Number 10 will scrap the fee and replace it with a Netflix-style subscription service. Speaking at the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn, North London, Dame Helen said: 'I think that the licence fee has had its day. Possibly, I think it is on its way out.' Last year, Dame Helen joined fellow stars Angela Rippon and Sir Lenny Henry in signing an open letter which called for the reinstatement of free TV licences for all over-75s. It followed the BBC's decision to only provide free licences to those who receive pension credit benefit to save money after the Government said it would no longer pay for the provision. Dame Helen's intervention aptly came as she finished filming an upcoming heist film about pensioners who protest having to pay for their TV licences. The Duke, which co-stars Jim Broadbent, is based on the true story of an elderly thief who steals a valuable painting in opposition to the charge. Advertisement In a further development, it emerged new culture minister John Whittingdale said such a move would be 'politically utterly impossible'. In comments in an interview the day before he was given the job in the post-Brexit reshuffle, he said the only way to move to a subscription model was to 'turn off Freeview and move it all online'. It comes as Dame Helen Mirren said the licence fee has 'had its day'. The actress, who has previously protested the scrapping of free TV licences for over-75s, said while 'we cannot lose the BBC ...we are moving past' the charge being necessary. Before the Conservative election victory last December, Mr Johnson suggested the broadcaster, which clashed with the Conservatives during the campaign, faced a big shake-up if he won power. He said he was looking at whether it made long-term sense to impose a 154.50 annual levy on all homes with TVs. As an initial step, the licence fee could be decriminalised, ending the corporation's power to prosecute non-payers. Mr Johnson said the enforcement regime, which leads to a small number of offenders being jailed, was 'heavy-handed'. He told workers at a haulage firm in Washington, Tyne and Wear, in December: 'How long can you justify a system whereby everybody who has a TV has to pay to fund a particular set of TV and radio channels? That is the question. 'At this stage, we are not planning to get rid of all TV licence fees, although I am certainly looking at it. Dame Helen Mirren seen making her way through LAX airport yesterday. The actress has said the BBC licence fee has 'had its day' Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings leaving Downing Street for the Houses of Parliament 'What I will say is that I am under pressure not to extemporise policy on the hoof but you have to ask yourself whether that kind of approach to funding a TV, a media organisation, still makes sense in the long term, given the way other organisations manage to fund themselves. 'That is all I will say. I think the system of funding by what is effectively a general tax, isn't it, everybody has a TV, it bears reflection, let me put it that way.' Mr Johnson's intervention came amid a row between the Tories and the BBC over its election coverage. Senior party sources accused the corporation of bias and the Prime Minister was angered by the broadcaster's response to his decision to turn down an interview with broadcaster Andrew Neil. Starting on February 24, the RSA Conference (RSAC) 2020 gives security vendors old and new a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. The event has become an attractive venue for startups to make their debut. This years crop will be demonstrating tools for DevSecOps, zero-trust networks, risk intelligence, access control, and more. The RSAC Early Stage Expo gathers over 50 promising startups from all over the world, many of which have so far been in stealth mode. These are 12 of the most interesting, in alphabetical order: 1. Blu Bracket: Code Security Suite (Early Stage Expo 27) Blu Bracket was founded in 2019 with a focus on providing security solutions for software code. At RSA, the company will demonstrate its Code Security Suite, which it claims will provide greater visibility into, and keep an audit of, an organizations code. Companies have the ability to see where their code is located, who has access to it, and to classify sensitive code. The product can also identify if secret information such as passwords are present. 2. BotRx: DeTx and ProTx automated fraud protection (Early Stage Expo 35) BotRXs mission is to protect against automated attacks against IoT devices, mobile apps or websites. The DeTx and ProTx solutions shown at RSA provide automated bot detection and mitigation capabilities to prevent identity fraud. The companys bot detection network aims to find anomalous behavior and prevent automated bots attempting to log in using harvested credentials, perform form jacking attacks or crawl for website vulnerabilities. 3. Concentric: Semantic Intelligence (Early Stage Expo 26) Concentric came out of stealth mode in January 2020 with a focus on discovering and protecting important unstructured data. Its Semantic Intelligence offering automatically discovers and classifies business critical data. Concentric claims its Autonomous Data Risk Profiles can identify both structured and unstructured data such as intellectual property (IP), personally identifiable information (PII), financial information and source code, and then apply risk scores to it based on the sensitivity of the information and the controls and policies currently applied to it. 4. Cyber Armor: Identity-based zero-trust workload and data protection (South Expo 735F) Israel-based Cyber Armor aims to bring together workload and data protection across environments by allowing DevOps teams to create zero-trust workloads. The company claims its service-to-service, identity-based control plane it will be showing at RSA is able to identify workloads based on application code analysis and create cryptographic signatures that only allow authorized workloads to run, access data, and use network resources. 5. CyCognito: The CyCognito platform (Early Stage Expo 43) Launched in November 2019, Palo Alto-based CyCognito aims to help quantify an organizations full attack surface by mapping its assets and attack surface on the internet. The CyCognito platform to be demonstrated at RSA uses a bot network to scan IP ranges, web applications, keyword and code fragments, deployed software and TLS configuration. It then applies risk scores to each potential attack vector based on ease of discovery and exploitation and the potential impact on the business. 6. Dasera: Safer data queries (RSAC Launch Pad event) Part of RSAs RSAC Launch Pad event, Dasera wants to enable safer internal use of sensitive data by employees. The Sunnyvale, California, company says its analysis engine can automatically find, flag and rewrite unsafe queries in data warehouses to help employees query data safely. 7. Gold Comet: Secure messaging (Early Stage Expo 08) Gold Comet provides private communications solutions. The Virginia company launched last year and says the browser based encrypted Gold Comet Messaging system on display at RSA allows users to send and receive messages only from persons in their contacts list, and new contacts are added via a verification system that includes a challenge question. 8. LevelOps: Application Security Platform (Early Stage Expo 38) Santa Clara startup LevelOps aims to improve security across the entire software development lifecycle. The DevSecOps tool it is presenting at RSA does this by discovering and tracking development and operational artifacts in one place. The company says it can track and map releases, products and services across teams and organizations including code, tickets and design documents. Security teams can them automate and disseminate security requirements for each artifact. 9. LUMU: Continuous compromise assessment (North Expo 4315) LUMU aims to help organizations identify potential compromises on their network. The Lumu platform being shown at RSA collects and correlates network metadata from sources including DNS queries, Netflows, proxies, firewalls and spambox filters with threat intelligence, and can help organizations isolate confirmed instances of compromise. 10. OutThink: Human risk intelligence platform (South Expo 1647F) Based in London and an alumnus of the UK LORCA and CyLon incubators, OutThink describes itself as a human risk intelligence platform. It claims the SaaS platform it's showing at RSA provides real-time analysis and continuous risk scoring of employees based on factors such as knowledge level, willingness to comply and use of technology, and then provides advice on how to tailor security training to that user. 11. Soluble: DevOps security (RSAC Launch Pad event) Soluble aims to help automate DevSecOps processes and ensure greater security at the outset of a project. The company says it can provide developers pre-configured access and policy controls to new services from a drop-down menu when creating new services. Kubernetes-based operators apply these controls across databases, buckets and third-party services and provides an audit trail and service map for visibility. 12. Zero Networks: Access orchestrator (North Expo 5358) Part of the RSAC Launch Pad event, Zero Networks wants to automate zero-trust network security and access. The Israeli company says it can automate the creation and enforcement of network access rules to enable companies to configure their zero-trust architecture deployments. Remote APIs control users and machines, while its cloud-based service defines and enforces policy automatically. By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan has been successfully represented at Small Word 2020 held in Nigeria. The charity festival encourages citizens of various countries living in Nigeria to present their national culture. The festival brought together representatives of 36 countries. National pavilion aroused great interest among the festival's guests, who were informed about Azerbaijan's culture and history, Trend Life reported. The visitors were greatly interested in beautiful dresses presented by the Center of Azerbaijani Traditional Clothes. During the festival, the guests enjoyed delicious sweets and pastries like shekerbura and pakhlava. Moreover, Azerbaijan's traditional dance "Qavalla" caused a storm of applause. All money received will be donated to local schools, hospitals, orphanages and nursing homes. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Denver, COLO. February 18, 2020 Judith Briles, the Book Shepherd, will be holding her annual Speaking Unplugged Bootcamp for local authors looking to up their game in public speaking to promote their books. This two-day intensive will be held from March 27-28 at the Embassy Suites at the Denver Tech Center North at 7525 East Hampden Avenue, Denver CO, 80231. Everyone looking to register must act fast because early bird rates for the event will end on February 23, and like the previous three Bootcamps, the event will sell out quickly. Everyone registered for the Speaking Unplugged by then will have a free photoshoot featuring them as a speaker. The results are ideal for websites and working with meeting planners for events. Dr. Briles has organized this event to feature various activities and tips to help authors with their public speaking. From how to build a portfolio of main topics, how to structure a speech, and how to keep the audience engaged, the intensive will cover every aspect to building a successful speaking platform for various authors. There will also be sessions focused on the pitfalls and blunders of public speaking and how to avoid them, along with how to bounce back from an unsuccessful speaking engagement. The event will also dive into the business side of speaking, from negotiating contracts to setting fees to structuring a presentation. Every participant with be "hot-seated" to work on part of their presentation. Why hold an event such as this? Dr. Briles reveals, "Speaking is the number one way to build influence, support your branding, and for authors, to sell more books than they ever will in a bookstore." "I'm honored that my book How to Create A $1,000,000 Speech has been honored with nine national book awards," she continues. "The genesis of the two-day Speaking Unplugged Bootcamp is that book. All recipients will receive a copy." Judith Briles has published 37 books and has over 35 years of experience in public speaking. Her lifetime within the publishing industry exposed her to the pitfalls and benefits of both self-publishing and traditional publishing. She is the president of AuthorYOU, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping authors navigate the publishing world and give self-published authors access to publishing resources. Her consulting company, The Book Shepherd based in Colorado has created over 500 bestsellers for authors. Her most recent book, When God Says NO, is currently available on Amazon in trade paperback, audiobook, ebook, and hardcover. More information on Dr Briles, the event, pricing, and hotel rates will be found at www.TheBookShepherd.com. More information on AuthorYOU can be found at www.AuthorYOU.org. Press inquiries: Judith Briles, Judith@Briles.com or 303-885-2207. ### Huawei is bringing its upcoming P40 flagship smartphones to South Africa, which will run Android with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) core. This means that underlying Google services present on previous-generation devices will not be available on these smartphones, and will instead be replaced by Huaweis own solutions. Speaking in an interview with MyBroadband, Huawei South Africa CBG vice president Likun Zhao and Huawei South Africa CTO Akhram Mohamed allayed customer concerns about the availability of apps on these new devices. Many people are thinking that basic services are not going to be functional thats not true, Mohamed said. Users will still be able to access services such as Gmail, YouTube, Chrome, Google Search, and more just not through the pre-loaded apps and native integration which they have become used to on previous Huawei devices. Education and support The difference for consumers is that your app repository, which used to be Play Store, is no longer there, Mohamed said. You now get your apps from AppGallery. This is the education step that needs to start taking place, where a customer needs to make that adjustment. User experience has been our number one priority, and that is why we kept everything the same. Zhao said that Huawei plans to rapidly scale its service points across the country to address any potential issues customers will have with the new HMS-powered Android devices. For the sales of the HMS smartphones, we want to be transparent to our consumers, Zhao said. We must inform consumers that this is a different application experience for them and ask them to make the choice. In South African malls, we only have five service stores, he added. But for the HMS smartphones, we think that, in the first phase, some consumers could face software issues or have difficulty understanding the ecosystem. So, we will start another service plan. We want to expand our service points from six to 150, with a service point in every top mall. This means that after a customer buys an HMS Android smartphone, they can take it to any of these service points and receive free support for software and application issues. Trust us Mohamed said that the concerns customers have over HMS are not major, but Huawei has accounted for each of them ahead of the launch of its first HMS Android devices. We want customers to know we are here for them, he said. We see that if a customer moves onto HMS, the experience is going to be the same as its still Android but not every application may be on AppGallery, because we are still building the ecosystem. We need consumers to know that we are there if you have a problem. If you are sitting at home and you are struggling with something, there is a direct chat line dedicated to these issues. All of this what is coming to support customers who buy HMS devices. Mohamed said that Huawei had the South African customers covered before with its transparent communication around the time of the initial entity listing, and it will continue to do so. We said that if we felt that HMS is not ready for the South African market, we will not launch and we did just that, he said. The Mate 30 Pro launched globally, and we did not launch it here. When people were concerned about the ban and its effect on existing devices, we assured South Africans that it would not affect the P30 range, and we kept our promise. Now that we are saying that HMS is coming and we feel confident to launch these devices in South Africa, you can trust that we mean it, he said. He said that South African customers can go into a store and buy a new Huawei smartphone with HMS Android knowing that Huawei will be there to provide support and help them wherever possible. We have proved that you can trust us before. Now again, trust us when we say, weve got you covered. Now read: Huawei hits back at US over spying allegations K oalas could be extinct in parts of Australia within the next three decades, scientists have warned. Populations of the mammal are facing death by a thousand cuts following the countrys bushfire crisis, conservationists told a parliamentary inquiry in New South Wales (NSW). Around 10,000 koalas are thought to have perished in the region - 80 per cent of the local population - during Australias latest bushfire season, which saw a state of emergency declared in November. The blazes were eventually put out earlier this month when rain arrived. Firefighters fought intense blazes in New South Wales that continued to rage throughout January 2020 / REUTERS Dr Stuart Blanch, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) policy manager, said initial surveys of koalas amid the ashes showed some species could die out as soon as 2050. They are heading towards extinction increasingly, he told 7news. I wouldnt be surprised, based on what were hearing, if we lost 10,000 koalas from the fire and the drought. He added that new incentives are needed for local farmers to protect habitats. Campaigners are calling for the animal to be recognised as an endangered species. Dr Kara Youngentob, a biologist at Australian National University, told the inquiry: Its death by a thousand cuts for the koala. There are big gaps in our understanding of how koala populations respond to fire. Basic knowledge about when they can safely be released is lacking. Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures 1 /4 Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures Reuters Reuters Reuters More than 800 animals are estimated to have been killed in NSW during the fires. D owning Street aide Andrew Sabisky quit his job amid outrage over a string of controversial past comments. The 27-year-old academic, who calls himself a "superforcaster", had been hired after Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings called for "misfits and weirdos" to join the heart of Government. Mr Sabisky took to Twitter on Monday to announce he was standing down, saying that he did not want to be a distraction to the Government. Mr Johnson also received backlash for not directly speaking out about the reported comments. Boris Johnson came under pressure to dismiss adviser Andrew Sabisky / AP Who is Andrew Sabisky? Andrew Sabisky, 27, an academic, was hired as a contractor to give advice on a government project. He got the job after Mr Cummings called for misfits and weirdos to apply for jobs at Downing Street. It was later reported that Mr Sabisky had made a string of controversial comments in the past about race, eugenics and class. He calls himself a super forecaster - a clever person who predicts what will happen next, taking into account a vast array of factors and information. What is he believed to of said? In a now-deleted Twitter post from 2009, it was reported that he wrote: "I am always straight up in saying that women's sport is more comparable to the paralympics than it is to men's." In a 2016 interview with Schools Week, he said the benefits of a cognitive enhancer, which can prove fatal, are "probably worth a dead kid once a year". In a blog post in 2014, a user called Andrew Sabisky said one way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a "permanent underclass" would be to enforce long-term contraception from puberty. On a different website in the same year, he suggested that black Americans had a lower average IQ than white. On another blog, a user with his name said: There are excellent reasons to think the very real racial differences in intelligence are significantly - even mostly - genetic in origin, though the degree is of course a very serious subject of scholarly debate." Reaction when his remarks were uncovered Downing Street refused to say whether or not the Prime Minister agreed with his controversial advisers outbursts. Boris Johnson's spokesman said: "The prime minister's views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented." It led to acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling the government "a national embarrassment", while Labour also called for Mr Sabisky to leave his position. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: "These are really not acceptable headlines for any government to be generating." Senior Tory MPs also joined Labour and union chiefs to call on Mr Johnson to sack the forecaster. Senior backbench Tory MP William Wragg added: "Andrew Sabiskys presence in No10 is a poor reflection on the Government and there is no way to defend it. He needs to go." Weirdos and misfits are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence. I cannot be the only one uncomfortable with recent No10 trends. Why Boris Johnson's adviser resigned from No 10 Mr Sabisky resigned on February 17. Attributing blame to media hysteria about my old stuff online, he took to social media to say that he had stepped aside from his role. I wanted to help HMG not be a distraction. Accordingly Ive decided to resign as a contractor," he wrote. I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination. I have a lot of other things to do w/ my life. Mr Cummings reacted to the furore by criticising the media. Asked by reporters if he regretted the appointment, he said: Read Philip Tetlocks Superforecasters, instead of political pundits who dont know what theyre talking about. This is the hilarious moment a German Shepherd dog is engulfed by sea foam at the beach. The dog, named Dante, was filmed by his owner as it stood on the beach on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, last Thursday. In the video, Dante is seen sitting on his haunches on the wet sand before a barrage of foam carried by the approaching waves sweeps over him. The dog looks confused as he darts his head from side to side to watch the grey foam rise up his body. The footage then slows down as the foam flows over his head and covers him completely. The foam covers much of the screen, with Dante buried beneath it. The foam quickly builds up until it is completely covering the dog, who then reappears with his whole body and head covered After a few seconds, Dante is seen with his face and body covered in foam as he attempts to bound out from the deluge. His owner can be heard laughing as the dog successfully escapes. The owner, Instagram user @Daveywa, said: 'My German shepherd Dante loving the foam at the beach.' By Lee Seong-hyon America's ideal strategy in dealing with China is to impede its rise without having to resort to military action. Although the coronavirus is an epidemic, from the U.S. strategic point of view, it's also fair game to use the case to undermine the Communist Party of China, and particularly, Xi Jinping, its leader. The buck ultimately stops at his post. The key questions are: 1) How much of this is a threat to Xi Jinping's Communist system? 2) How has the U.S. responded to the situation? 3) Is the Communist Party of China (CPC) effectively preserving the popular vote of confidence? The U.S. has launched an unprecedented public opinion warfare to induce a wave of public discontent in China, while the CPC was showing a poor response in dealing with the situation. It includes the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, who first exposed the coronavirus, an inadequate medical response system, social panic due to the prolonged isolation of residents, a growing distrust of the Chinese government and a paralysis of economic activities. These all have heightened a sense of social instability in China. But with the CPC's "hierarchical authority" (the emperor is blameless; local authorities are to be blamed) and "hero-making and scapegoating" also in operation, the situation has yet to rise to a "meaningful" level to the Communist Party in the short run. Nevertheless, if the situation becomes mid- to long-term, it could pose a significant challenge to Xi's authority and the legitimacy of the CPC. The U.S. government was the first in the world to announce on January 31 that it would evacuate its diplomats from Wuhan, declare a public health emergency in connection with the coronavirus crisis, and impose a temporary ban on foreign nationals who have been to China for the past two weeks from entering the U.S. This was a use of the "cueing" psychology, i.e. with no decision made by other countries on how they should react to the coronavirus crisis, the U.S. took the above initiatives in a preemptive manner, prompting other countries to take similar action. China accused the U.S. of "excessive" action causing "a state of panic." China's Foreign Ministry accused the United States of being the first in the world to evacuate its consulate and diplomatic mission from Wuhan and to cause public panic by banning Chinese nationals from entering the United States. China also pointed out at that time "the U.S. has not given any real help to China," in contrast to countries such as South Korea and Japan that were sending masks and medical supplies. In addition, China's Foreign Ministry, which is well-versed in the psychological warfare tactics required to manage public opinion in the socialist state, said, "Even the U.S. media and experts are questioning the U.S. government's actions," suggesting that the U.S.' actions were not even supported by its own people. Overall, the U.S. has been using the virus epidemic to question the leadership of the CCP, including President Xi Jinping, pointing out the situation has worsened due to the Chinese central government's slow response and draconian media control. The U.S. government, political leaders and the media are searching for the reasons behind China's failure to cope with the coronavirus, which they call a "China model" failure. That is, due to China's institutional factors such as the absence of freedom of press, information shutdowns to the outside world and vertical power structure; not to mention China's authoritarian leadership. This could lead to further questioning of the legitimacy of China's regime and its state-controlled capitalist practices. In the framework of U.S.-China relations, the competition for hegemony between the U.S. and China not only includes security and the economy, but also the rivalry in the political systems, indicating that the scope and area of competition is expanding. It is true that most Chinese people are extremely angry about the death of Dr. Li Wenliang. But due to a lack of critical political consciousness due to the long-standing socialist media brainwashing under the seven decades of the CCP's rule, many of these people are certainly unclear on what they are really angry about or at whom they should be directing their anger. Most importantly, except for a few, hardly anyone dares to talk about these issues in China. Ideas do not reach a "critical mass" for revolution. Having said that, the variable to watch is how long the epidemic lasts. Lee Seong-hyon (sunnybbsfs@gmail.com), Ph.D., is director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute. Smartphone addiction physically changes the shape and size of the human brain in a similar way to the organ of a drug addict, a study has found. Images taken by an MRI scanner revealed the brains of people with SPA (smartphone addiction) have lower grey matter volume in some key parts of the brain. The images also revealed decreased activity in the brains of smartphone addicts compared to non-addicts. Similar patterns and trends of dwindling grey matter have also been recorded in the mind of drug addicts. Scroll down for video Images taken by an MRI scanner revealed the brains of people with SPA (smartphone addiction). Pictured the grey matter volume (GMV) of the brain in the right anterior cingulate cortex. Blue represents the shape of the region in a non-addict and the red represents the brain region of a smartphone addict WHAT IS SMARTPHONE ADDICTION? The term 'smartphone addiction' has often e been criticised in the scientific literature. Some experts argue the lack of severe negative consequences compared to other forms of addiction make the name misleading. Some say the issue isn't with the smartphone, but it is merely a medium to access social media and the internet. Alternative terms such as 'problematic smartphone use' and concepts have been proposed instead. Despite the controversy on the term 'smartphone addiction', as described above, it is still the prevailing term in the scientific world. Additionally, the psychometric instruments used in many studies explicitly refer to the concept of 'smartphone addiction'. In the upcoming years, a shift away from the term 'smartphone addiction' towards more appropriate terms, as discussed above, might be seen. Advertisement German researchers examined 48 participants using the MRI images 22 with smartphone addiction and 26 non-addicts. Writing in the study, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, the researchers write: 'Compared to controls, individuals with smartphone addiction showed lower gay matter volume in left anterior insula, inferior temporal and parahippocampal cortex.' Decreased grey matter in one of these regions, the insula, has previously been linked to substance addiction. They add that this is the first physical evidence of a link between smartphone use and physical alterations to the brain. The authors, from Heidelberg University, write: 'Given their widespread use and increasing popularity, the present study questions the harmlessness of smartphones, at least in individuals that may be at increased risk for developing smartphone-related addictive behaviors.' Smartphone addiction is a growing concern among scientists and medical professionals as children especially spend more and more time on the handsets. Smartphone addiction is a growing concern among scientists and medical professionals as children especially spend more and more time on the handsets (stock) A damning report recently found most children (53 per cent) own a mobile phone by the age of seven years old. The report, which was based on a survey of 2,167 five to 16-year-olds in the UK, goes on to say that by age 11, nine in 10 children have their own device. Phone ownership is now 'almost universal' once children are in secondary school, it revealed. It also found 57 per cent of children sleep with their phone by their bed and almost two in five (39 per cent) youngsters say they could not live without their phone. Researchers said the findings show the extent to which phones can 'dominate children's lives'. The ubiquity of phone use in society is a cause for concern as the physiological and health implications remain poorly understood, experts of the latest research warn. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Coronavirus death toll crosses 1,800, new study says 3,000 medics infected More than 1,800 people have died from the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak in China with 93 new deaths being reported from the worst-hit central Chinese Hubei province last midnight, health officials reported Tuesday morning. Read full story here. 154 eminent citizens write to President in favour of CAA, NRC and NPR More than 150 eminent citizens, including former judges, top armed forces commanders, bureaucrats and academicians, have written to President Ram Nath Kovind in favour of the Narendra Modi governments recent policies related to citizenship and their registration. Read full story here. How Congress votes have shifted to dominant regional parties The last time Bihar had a Congress chief minister was 1990, the year Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami were born. Read full story here. Intel pinpoints JeM chief Masood Azhar to Bahawalpur headquarters Indian counterterror agencies have confirmed information that Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and the man on top of Indias most wanted list, is living under the highest security in a virtually bomb-proof house behind the terror groups Bahawalpur headquarters at Markaz-e-Usman-o-Ali, Railway Link Road, in Pakistan, intelligence officials familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Read full story here. Terror attack in Kashmir can lead to India-Pak military confrontation: Report Any terror attack in the Kashmir region can increase the risk of escalation, including a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, as well as the risk of a strong Indian response, according to the annual report of the Munich Security Conference. Read full story here. Mujhse Shaadi Karoge episode 1 written update: Shehnaaz gets surprise visit from Sidharth, Paras asked about Mahira The much-anticipated reality show Mujhse Shaadi Karoge finally went on air on Monday (February 17) night, and Bigg Boss 13 contestants Paras Chhabra and Shehnaaz Gill are all set to find their life partners. Read full story here. Power and magic of sports: Sachin Tendulkars moving speech after 2011 World Cup triumph wins Laureus Sporting moment award Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar realised his long-cherished dream of winning a cricket world cup back on 2011 after which he was carried on the shoulders of his teammates as they went around the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Read full story here. A blind man who went missing for about 33 hours in Connecticut woods was found by a police drone, police said in a news release. On Feb. 15, at around 8:43 a.m., the Enfield Police Department received a call from a man saying that he had been unable to contact his 62-year-old brother, who is blind. The department determined, based on the mans past behavior, that it was likely that he walked away from the home and became disoriented, the release stated, adding that 62-year-old Richard Doty had last been seen around 10:00 a.m. the day before, about 24 hours before police were contacted. A missing persons post by the department described Doty as having has numerous medical and physical disabilities, including being blind. Enfield police said the case was especially concerning considering the low temperatures in the area. After about 30 minutes of searching, Doty was found 100 yards into the woods, down an embankment, hidden from view by a Vernon officer with the help of a drone. The 62-year-old told officers he became disoriented due to his medical conditions and was outside for around 33 hours surviving in 9 degree temperatures overnight. The Enfield Fire Department, Thompsonville Fire Department, Enfield EMS, and Enfield Police Department assisted the Enfield Police Department. Members of the various departments helped carry Doty out of the woods. He was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. Enfield Police Department is extremely grateful for the support of the Vernon, CT Police Department, Enfield Fire Department, Thompsonville Fire Department, Enfield EMS and Enfield Housing Authority to bring this event to a successful resolution. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Education had opened investigations into Harvard and Yale for allegedly failing to disclose billions in donations from foreign governments. The department claims that American universities received as much as $6.5 billion in unreported gifts from countries including China and Saudi Arabia. Foreign governments use donations to influence the work of professors and gain access to intellectual property. Chinas Thousand Talents Plan, which figures into the investigation, has funneled money to 3,000 university faculty members. In return, Beijing requires them to turn over intellectual property to which they have access, as well as to sign agreements preventing them from disclosing the results of work conducted under Chinese patronage. Meanwhile, Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes, which ostensibly support Chinese studies in the U.S., have reportedly engaged in censorship and espionage of American students and professors. Section 117 of the Higher Education Act requires universities to disclose foreign contributions exceeding $250,000. If Harvard and Yale failed to comply, that indicates either a disregard for the law (which was enforced only loosely before Trump took office) or a tacit acknowledgment that the funding compromises the integrity of the institutions. In any event, it is clear that American universities do not see themselves as American. That is not entirely surprising. Harvard and Yale were founded prior to the American Revolution. Primarily focused on ministerial training, they were colleges that educated American leaders but had no strong connection to the government. Universities were considered citadels of knowledge independent of their societies. Since they did not conduct scientific research for roughly the first two centuries of their existence, Harvard and Yale had only an indirect impact on the American military and economy. This changed during World War II. As American colleges transformed from institutions of teaching, somewhat similar to todays boarding schools, to research centers in the mold of German universities, academic work became more vital to the nations welfare. In addition to holding seminars on Plato and the like, Harvard, Yale, and their counterparts now conducted research with international ramifications. Policymakers identified those institutions as assets in the war effort. Accordingly, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created two organizations charged with marshaling the nations resources in research and development (R&D): the National Defense Research Council, and the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Story continues These agencies achieved remarkable feats by contracting R&D to university labs. Researchers at several universities, including Chicago, Columbia, and the University of California, collaborated on the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radiation Laboratory developed intricate radar systems. Owing to those successes and others, such collaboration became a common feature of American academia after the war. To this day, universities enjoy massive tax benefits and subsidies in the form of Pell grants and federal loan programs. Each year the government provides more than $150 billion in research grants, which professors have used to develop lasers, FM radio, and global-positioning systems, among myriad other technologies. But this collaboration created a tension for universities. Since 1155, when Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa issued the Authentica Habita, granting academics the same privileges and immunities as the clergy, academic freedom has been central to the university. This freedom requires that faculties be independent from political and commercial forces, lest those forces inhibit the pursuit of knowledge. In a statement in 1940, the American Association of University Professors listed full freedom in research and in the publication of the results as a core tenet of free inquiry. Federal funding, however, directs researchers and limits their ability to disseminate work, undermining free inquiry. Sensitive military research cannot be published, and the government has discretion to prevent collaboration with foreign academics. Regulations limiting the export of sensitive technical information and software to non-U.S. persons, for instance, limit the free flow of information and ideas a fundamental feature of academic research. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine notes in a report that these challenges grow more acute as research and education become more and more globally interconnected, university campuses are increasingly international, [and] communication via the Internet is instant and worldwide. In the pre-global U.S., these two facets of the university, free inquiry and research of service to (and funded by) government, could be reconciled insofar as the government allowed the former in return for the latter. As Jonathan R. Cole, a sociologist and former provost of Columbia, put it in The Atlantic, in the postwar era the government granted great autonomy to universities in exchange for the production of new discoveries, increased human capital, and more enlightened citizens. However, as universities went global, those two missions increasingly conflicted. Foreign partnerships and overseas campuses, ostensibly in the service of free inquiry, undermined the role of universities as assets to the U.S. military and economy. It turns out that academic freedom includes the liberty to collaborate with geopolitical foes. The gulf between university administrators, who openly solicit foreign donations, and U.S. government officials, who have expressed outrage at this practice, shows their competing conceptions of the university to be irreconcilable. Harvard and Yale lay claim to a transnational mission to develop and disseminate knowledge. With international faculties and student bodies, these cosmopolitan institutions prioritize free inquiry above national allegiance. In that context, academics accepting foreign money are not only blameless but laudable, because they advance intellectual progress. While as American citizens we might object to the transfer of knowledge abroad, university officials qua university officials do not. Under the national interest view held by the DOE and various policymakers, Harvard and Yale exist to serve U.S. citizens and the government. Accordingly, the fruits of their research must be deployed in a manner conducive to American welfare. Faced with that fact, policymakers and university administrators must agree on the framework that will govern universities in the 21st century. Harvard and Yale can either remain institutions fundamentally oriented toward the national interest, as they have been since World War II, or unwind their partnerships with the government and become supranational entities. They cannot have it both ways. More from National Review CALGARY, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Westleaf Inc. (the "Company" or "Westleaf") (TSX-V:WL) (OTCQB:WSLFF) is pleased to provide the following corporate and operations update with respect to its ongoing cost reduction initiatives, financial position, corporate rebranding, and operations. "The Qwest brand was built on our commitment to quality cannabis. Despite the headwinds the industry currently faces, consumer demand for quality cannabis products is strong and we are optimistic about the future of the industry" said Ben Sze, President and CEO of Westleaf. "We will continue to be fiscally disciplined and uncompromising in our quest to forge a meaningful relationship with consumers. The synergies of pairing We Grow BC with Westleaf are already being realized and I am excited about 2020 as we bring The Plant and Thunderchild facilities online." Corporate Update Corporate Rebrand The combination of Westleaf and We Grow BC Ltd. resulted in an opportunity to create a market leading integrated producer of ultra-premium cannabis. In recognition of this new chapter in our history, on March 1st, 2020, Westleaf is expected to close a series of internal transactions to effect a corporate rebrand and commencing March 2nd, 2020 will carry on business under the name Decibel Cannabis Company Inc., and expects to commence trading under the symbol "DB" on the TSX-V thereafter. The Company will announce its OTCQB trading symbol on or before March 2nd, 2020 or as soon as such symbol has been made available to the Company. The Company will also make available its new corporate website and related corporate materials on March 2nd, 2020. New Strain Launches Qwest and Qwest Reserve brands continue to deliver on the promise to introduce unique strains to the market with the introduction of eleven new strains through January 31, 2020, including stand-outs Wedding Cake, Gelato 33, and MAC 1 among others. The new cultivars are offered in flower and pre-roll form and registered across Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The new strains have maintained or increased wholesale pricing levels in comparison to previous Qwest and Qwest Reserve cultivars which is reflective of the demand for the cannabis product produced at the Qwest Estate and the sustained consumer demand for rare cultivars of high-quality flower. Launch of New Product Brand In the coming weeks, The Company is expected to launch "Blendcraft by Qwest" as a complement to the existing Qwest and Qwest Reserve brands. With an offering of high-quality blended pre-rolls, the Company expects the launch of "Blendcraft by Qwest" to reinforce its strong premium portfolio and more fully monetize the commercial value of its harvests. Operational Update Cultivation Operations Update The Company is pleased to announce that modifications have been made to the construction of the Thunderchild facility to align with existing design and SOPs from We Grow's Creston cultivation facility. These modifications will allow the Thunderchild facility to match the craft, ultra-premium product being produced from the We Grow facility in Creston, BC. Construction is expected to be completed April 2020. Extraction Operations Update The Plant continues its commissioning and qualification activities on its extraction, filtration and distillation processes to optimize its technical and regulatory efficiencies, as it awaits its sales license amendment. Retail Operations Update Following the launch of Cannabis 2.0 products, the Company's four Prairie Records stores achieved record revenue in the month of January, with combined sales of approximately $930 thousand for the month, reflecting month over month sales growth of approximately 8%. Additionally, the operating Prairie Records stores have achieved positive EBITDA from its retail operations inclusive of retail-related corporate overhead. Construction began in late January on the Company's University of Alberta and Palace Theatre cannabis retail locations and both locations are expected to open May 2020. Furthermore, The Company has completed demolition on its Banff location and is currently evaluating designs for the potential flagship retail location. Synergies Capture As a part of opportunity created by the integration of Westleaf and We Grow BC Ltd. ("We Grow"), the Company has executed several cost-reduction measures to improve profitability and cashflow. These initiatives include the elimination of 11 positions at Westleaf resulting in projected annualized savings of approximately $1.4 million exclusive of one-time severance costs. Additionally, the Company has rationalized its retail portfolio significantly, from twenty-two (22) non-active retail locations to eleven (11) to reduce related carrying costs and lease obligations. With the execution of this phase of our integration programs, the Company is applying a disciplined and growth orientated approach to profitability. Liquidity Position As of January 31, 2020, the Company had access to $12.3 million of capital, comprised of $8.3 million of cash and the ability to draw up to $4.0 million of undrawn, low cost, non-dilutive capital under its non-revolving credit facilities with ATB Financial. The Company's capital projects are fully funded with existing capital on hand. About Westleaf Inc. Westleaf Inc is uncompromising in the process and craftsmanship needed to deliver the highest quality cannabis products and retail experiences. Westleaf has three production houses operating or under development along with its wholly owned retail business, Prairie Records. The Qwest Estate in Creston, BC is licensed and operating 26,000 square feet of cultivation space producing the widely championed, rare cultivar-focused brands Qwest and Qwest Reserve. These products sell in five provinces across Canada. Thunderchild Cultivation, an 80,000 square foot indoor cultivation facility in Battleford, SK is scheduled to be completed and licensed in 2020. The Plant, Westleaf's extraction facility, has 15,000 square feet of Health Canada licensed extraction and product development space. This production house will fuel the growth of our brands Qwest, Qwest Reserve, and Blendcraft by Qwest, into new and innovative product formats like vapes, concentrates, edibles and beyond. Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things the timing and introduction of the Plant and Thunderchild facilities' online platform, the timing and expected completion of a series of internal transactions effecting the Company's corporate rebranding, including the Company continuing under the name "Decibel Cannabis Company Inc.", trading under the Company's new OTCQB trading symbol, and the availability of the Company's new corporate website and related materials, the development of new products, the timing and quality of the Company's launch of "Blendcraft by Qwest", the Company's receipt of a sales license amendment, the Company opening new retail locations by the University of Alberta and Palace Theatre, the timing and the construction of the Thunderchild Cultivation facility and corresponding license application, the ability of the Thunderchild Cultivation facility to produce certain products, and the Company's ability to execute on the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to the ability to obtain or maintain licences to retail cannabis products; review of the Company's production facilities by Health Canada and receipt or maintenance of licences from Health Canada in respect thereof; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the labour market generally and the ability to access, hire and retain employees; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the satisfaction of conditions precedent under the Company's credit facilities; timing and completion of construction and expansion of the Company's production facilities and retail locations; and the delay or failure to receive board, regulatory or other approvals, including any approvals of the TSXV, as applicable. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains the term " EBITDA". This indicator is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Accordingly, the Company's use of this term may not be comparable to similarly defined measures presented by other companies. The Company believes that EBITDA is a useful indicator of operating performance and is specifically used by management to assess the financial and operational performance of the Company. The Company believes that this measure, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. EBITDA is defined as net earnings before any deductions for net finance costs, stock-based compensation, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Accordingly, these Non-GAAP Financial Measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. SOURCE Westleaf Inc. Related Links http://www.westleaf.com Rakesh Maria details 26/11 attack and its aftermath in his memoir. Mumbai: Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed in his memoir that Pakistan had planted fake documents on the 10-member 26/11 terror squad in a bid to masquerade the attacks which claimed at least 174 lives as an act of Hindu terror. Mr Marias long-awaited book Let Me Say It Now was released on Monday. The retired IPS officer wrote in his book that the sole terrorist caught alive, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, was found in possession of an identity card that mentioned him as Samir Chaudhary, a Bengaluru resident. The former police commissioner, who also headed the terror attack investigation, wrote in his book that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba gave a contract to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, holed up in Pakistan, to kill Kasab. Excerpts from Mr Marias book stated: If everything went according to plan, Kasab would have died as Chaudhary, and the media would have blamed Hindu terrorists for the attack. On a photograph of Kasab released after the terror attack, Mr Maria said: It was the handiwork of Central agencies. The Mumbai police tried hard not to disclose any details to the media, fearing for security. In the photograph, Kasab is seen wearing a red thread on his right wrist, which is sacred to Hindus. But alas, it had not worked that way and here he was, Ajmal Amir Kasab of Faridkot in Pakistan, Mr Marias book said. He also said that martyred Mumbai constable Tukaram Ombles heroic feat of capturing Kasab alive was the key to foiling this plan. Kasab was indoctrinated into believing that Muslims were not allowed to offer namaz in India, and he was taken to a mosque near the Metro Inox cinemas in a bid to dissuade him of his belief, the book said. The book further revealed details of Kasabs journey prior to his arrival in India, stating he was allowed to stay with his family for a week and given Rs 1.25 lakhs before he left for Mumbai. Kasab had passed on the money to his family before leaving Pakistan. After his trial, Kasab was awarded capital punishment on November 21, 2012. In his book, Maria has blamed Deven Bharti, Maharashtra ATS chief, for misleading him during the investigation in Sheena Bora murder case in which Peter Mukerjea and his former wife Indrani were accused of murdering their daughter (Sheena) Maharashtra ATS chief Deven Bharti has hit back at former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria over allegations levelled against him by the latter in his book titled 'Let me say it now'. "Maria belongs to a family linked with Bollywood and, it seems, scriptwriters have a great influence on him. In addition, it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book as well as the web series, which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than placing facts," Bharti told ANI. "Moreover, for a policeman it is advisable to read the chargesheet and case diary rather than a piece of fiction. Won't comment much as the trial is in progress but would definitely tell that whole investigation team was aware of all developments and were on the same page till the investigation was with Mumbai Police," the ATS chief said. In his book, Maria has blamed Deven Bharti for misleading him during the investigation in Sheena Bora murder case in which Peter Mukerjea and his former wife Indrani were accused of murdering their daughter (Sheena). JonBenet Ramseys death, the day after Christmas in 1996, shocked and stunned an entire nation. No one understood how a six-year-old beauty queen from an upper-class upbringing could wind up dead in the very house she called home. It has been more than 23 years since her body was interred next to her older sister, Elizabeth Ramsey, in Marietta, Georgia, but no killer has been found. A podcast, however, is investigating the piles of evidence and exploring numerous theories, many put forth by citizen detectives, since the murder. One such theory is that JonBenet was killed by a close family friend, but does the theory hold any water? The Killing of JonBenet explores a family friend Jay Elowsky, by all accounts, was a trusted confidante of John and Patsy Ramsey. A businessman, known for his restaurant Pasta Jays, was believed to be hiding John and Patsy during the media firestorm that ensued after JonBenets death. He was even arrested for attempting to protect them from two men whom he believed were photographers. Those men turned out to be engineers, and Elowsky was arrested, according to Ok! Magazine. How Elowsky came to be a suspect in JonBenets murder is a bit convoluted, explains the podcasters. The Boulder police department received a tip that Elowskys handwriting might match the writing in the ransom note. According to Radar Online, Andy Tillett said, So pretty much out of the blue, the authorities received a letter advising them to look into Jay Elowsky, claiming his handwriting was a match for the handwriting on the ransom note with examples included. Is Elowsky considered a suspect now? While The Killing of JonBenet explored the idea that Elowsky was somehow involved in JonBenets death, the Boulder police department didnt seem to give the theory much thought. While they explored the angle briefly, Elowsky was quickly cleared by police. Whether or not his handwriting was considered a match, however, is unknown. The police have never said. The grave of JonBenet Ramsey | Barry Williams/Getty Images While his name is still bandied about in circles that discuss the cold case. A Reddit user notes that none of Elowskys DNA was taken for comparison. His alibi that he was in Michigan when JonBenet was murdered was seemingly enough for police. Will the world ever know who killed JonBenet Ramsey? Whether or not The Killing of JonBenet will solve the crime is a question that plenty of listeners have. At the end of the day, its unlikely. The 23-year-old murder case is one of the most discussed cases of all time. Entire forums are dedicated to it, and citizen detectives have spent years combing over evidence. The police department and other professionals still follow up on tips and consider active leads. The podcast, while taking a deep dive into the investigation, doesnt appear to have the overarching goal of solving the case. While several true crime podcasts start with that goal in mind, most will never actually solve the crime on their own. Sure, they may bring new evidence to the table, and they may shake loose witnesses who can bring about a resolution, but actually cracking the case would be a monumental achievement. Up and Vanished may have come closest to actually solving a case, but podcaster, Payne Lindsey, admits that Tara Grinsteads killers were not on the radar when the podcast concluded. The in-depth investigation is, however, credit with bringing renewed interest to the case, and that alone seems to have helped solve it. - The University of Ghana has suspended the two lecturers fingered in the sex for grades scandal - Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor have been suspended for six and four months respectively without pay - Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The University of Ghana has finally announced sanctions for two of its lecturers who were involved in the sex for grade scandal. Following a final investigations and recommendations by UG Senior Members Disciplinary Committee, Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor have been handed six and four months suspension without pay respectively. READ ALSO: SpeakOut Sessions: Mahama to interact with Ghanaians across 16 regions According to a statement from the premier university, the suspension of the two senior lecturers takes effect January 1, 2020. ...the Disciplinary Committee recommended a six-month suspension without pay for Professor Gyampo and a four-month suspension without pay for Dr. Butakor. The suspensions take effect from January 1, 2020. The sanctions also include the two men undergoing training on the universitys Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy. READ ALSO: Government demolishes factories at Trade Fair against court orders They will be required to receive a positive assessment after the training before resumption of their duties. They are also required to undergo annual assessment for a period of 5 years, a statement from the university added. Two University of Ghana lecturers were implicated in a BBC documentary. ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is investigating the circumstances under which three 40-footer containers of infested gizzard were inputted into the country. Two import companies and their CEOs are being investigated for their role in the importation of the infested salmonella gizzard. The importing companies imported products without import permit and veterinary health certificates, Dr Asiedu Baah, a veterinary officer at the port said. President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: NDC holds presser on galamsey along Twifo Praso river (Photos) Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh She recently announced her engagement to her 'life partner' Dion Hamilton. And Jourdan Dunn put on a leggy display in a brown paisley skirt suit as she sat on the front row at London Fashion Week's Christopher Kane show on Monday. The model, 29, looked sensational in the ensemble as she displayed her sparkling diamond ring during the fashion event. Amazing: Jourdan Dunn put on a leggy display in a brown paisley skirt suit as she sat on the front row at London Fashion Week's Christopher Kane show Jourdan proudly displayed her slender pins in the beautiful suit which boasted a 1960s inspired double-breasted front and oversized buttons. The fashion star teamed the look with gold thin-strapped heels as she shared a glimpse of her sparkling diamond ring on the front row for the fashion show. Jourdan kept her dark tresses styled into a mass of corkscrew curls as she joined plenty of other stars in attendance for the fashion show. Sparkling: The model, 29, looked sensational in the ensemble as she shared a glimpse of her sparkling diamond ring during the fashion event Earlier this month, Jourdan announced that she was engaged to her 'life partner' Dion Hamilton, and took to Instagram to share the news. Posting a snap of her ring-clad hand being held by her husband-to-be, Jourdan wrote: 'Jourdan Dunn Hamilton ....... has a nice ring to it!' In the sweet post, Jourdan couldn't hide her delight as she covered her eyes with one hand while placing the other in her beau's. The new addition to her wedding finger could be perfectly seen, with Jourdan also sharing a closer look at the ring with another post on her Stories. I'm getting married! Earlier this month, Jourdan announced that she was engaged to her 'life partner' Dion Hamilton, and took to Instagram to share the news Following Jourdan's post, Andrew Brown, WP Diamonds CEO, offered his expertise on her engagement ring to MailOnline. He said: 'The ring on Jourdan Dunn's engagement finger looks to be a 2ct oval with a large halo and diamond band. A nice colour clarity combination of G VS would retail for around 22,000.' Jourdan has kept information about her other half secret, but hinted last month that they started dating in 2019 when she shared a picture of him during their holiday in Jamaica. The model's post in January sparked speculation that she had already married Dion, as she shared the holiday post of themselves alongside her beloved son Riley, nine. The accompanying caption was rather telling. She wrote: '2009 my son entered my life, 2019 my life partner entered my life. Stepping into 2020 with both by my side is priceless.' While she pixelated her man's face, the trio had all co-ordinated their outfits for the occasion. About a week before entering the presidential race, Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, showed up for Sunday services at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. He offered an apology to the mostly black audience for having supported stop and friskthe notorious policy that allowed police to question and search New Yorkers, even when they were doing nothing wrongduring his mayoral term. When Darius Charney saw this speech, he was skeptical of Bloombergs remorse. Starting in 2008, he and his colleagues at the Center for Constitutional Rights had spent five years suing the city of New York for its use of stop and frisk. They eventually won the case, but Bloomberg fought them bitterly right up until the end of his mayoral term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charney told me the stop-and-frisk story from his perspective on Tuesdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: Stop and frisk is a policing tactic thats been around a long time. A Supreme Court ruling actually allows it under certain circumstances. But data from the NYPD shows the practice skyrocketed when Mayor Bloomberg came into office. How did he work with Ray Kelly, the NYPD chief, to change the way stop and frisk was being implemented? Darius Charney: When Bloomberg first entered office in 2002, the NYPD recorded about 92,000 stop-and-frisk encounters. By 2011, his 10th year in office, that number had ballooned to almost 700,000. Meanwhile, crime in the city continued to go down. Advertisement Advertisement Along with that, you see Kelly and his senior leadership in the NYPD putting out a message that stop and frisk needs to be a primary crime-fighting strategy for the officers. They said that in writing. They told supervisors that one of the criteria they needed to use to evaluate officers is: How many stops are they doing? What was stop and frisk meant to stop? What the NYPD and Bloomberg and Kelly all said is: Were going to use it to get guns off the street. We have almost 20 years of datathey almost never found a gun when they stopped people. As a strategy for recovering illegal weapons, it was a miserable failure. Advertisement Tell me about your lawsuit. Advertisement Our original four plaintiffs were four black men of varying ages from different parts of New York City. Our lead plaintiff, David Floyd, was at that time a twentysomething student at City College in Harlem. He had been himself stopped and frisked by officers in the Bronx on two occasions. The second time, he was literally stopped while putting keys into the door of his neighbors apartment. His neighbor had gotten locked out of the house. The police came up on him. They patted them down. They went through their pockets. Advertisement Advertisement Why did these men want to get involved in this suit? They all told us similar stories. They said, we want this to stop this from happening to us and to our friends and loved ones. And I will never forget when David Floyd testified the first day of the trial. He was asked, how does it make you feel to get stopped like this? And he said, it really makes me feel like I am not free to move around this city. Advertisement Advertisement An audio recording that surfaced recently shows how Bloomberg thought about stop and frisk when he was still defending it back in 2015. Youve got to get the guns out of the hands of the people that are getting killed, Bloomberg said back then. The idea was: Send cops to minority neighborhoods and search people. Why do we do it? he asked. Because thats where all the crime is. Advertisement Advertisement That was actually his explanation in 2013. We had heard testimony during the trial in our case from Eric Adams, whos now the borough president of Brooklyn. Hes a former NYPD captain, and he testified that Kelly told him to his face: We go to the high-crime areas. We had a social scientist at Columbia look at this, and he testified in court. He kind of took the NYPD at its word and said: Youre saying you go to high-crime areas. Since thats where your cops are, then naturally theyre going to stop people in those neighborhoods the most. And who lives in those neighborhoods? Black and Latino kids. He looked at that and he controlled for two things: crime and officer deployment. What was the single strongest predictor of who gets stopped and where stops happen? Race. Advertisement Bloomberg called the judge biased. He said she did not know anything about how policing works in New York City. What is a high-crime area? Once you have more cops in an area, theyre arresting more people. It becomes a high-crime area, and then it becomes this kind of circle. Advertisement A self-fulfilling prophecy, as the judge called it. One of our plaintiffs lived in southeast Queens, and he was stopped and frisked on a winter evening. One of the reasons the officer gave was, I observed him in a high-crime area. Advertisement Thats it? He observed the plaintiff in a high-crime area and noticed a bulge in his jacket, which was a cellphone. And keep in mind, this is in the middle of the night. I dont know how he saw a bulge. Advertisement The cop was cross-examined in court. He was asked, how is southeast Queens a high-crime area? And his answer was, there was a robbery pattern in the neighborhood. Queens is the largest borough by landmass in New York City. That robbery pattern was three or four robberies over the course of the prior month, all of which were committed by black men. That was what made this neighborhood, in his view, a high-crime area. When she eventually ruled, Judge Shira Scheindlin didnt overturn stop and frisk, but she said it was being applied overwhelmingly against black and brown New Yorkers, and that was unconstitutional. She appointed a monitor to oversee the use of stop and frisk by the NYPD, and recommended that police wear body cameras. How did Bloomberg respond to this decision? Advertisement He called her biased. He said she did not know anything about how policing works in New York City. And the city appealed the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement By November 2013, Bloomberg knew two things: He knew Bill de Blasio was going to be the next mayor, and he knew that the appeals court had already set a schedule where his appeal would not be argued and heard until February 2014 at the earliest, when de Blasio would already be in office. So Bloomberg had his lawyers file a motion to try to take that ability to drop the appeal away from de Blasio, and he demanded a rushed decision by the appeals court. But the appeals court said it wasnt going to rush this through. Once that happened, Bloomberg couldnt do anything else. De Blasio came in, and at the end of June, he dropped the appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What did we learn once stop and frisk had plummeted to extent it has now? I think what we learned is that, contrary to what Bloomberg and Ray Kelly said, crime did not go up and chaos did not ensue. I think I can truthfully say that stops have gone down 95 or 97 percent during de Blasios time in office, yet crime has not spiked. Which shows us again that stop and frisk was not really having much of an impact on crime in New York City, but it was having a very damaging effect on the relationships between the police department and communities of color in New York. Advertisement As part of the ruling, theres someone overseeing stop and frisk now. Does that mean accountability is there? Advertisement Yes and no. I think its there in that the NYPD has to, on a regular basis, report to this federal monitor about how things are going. The monitors team will go to observe the NYPD trainings and review its policies and data. The racial disparities actually have not improved at all even since the time of trial, which is the biggest concern. That seems alarming. That was the whole reason for the decision. Im not blaming any particular person or group of people, but we dont feel like the racial profiling aspect of the court decision has been meaningfully dealt with yet. I think we still have a lot of work to do on that. Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next wherever you get your podcasts. Political and legal units across China are ordered to properly handle illegal and criminal cases related to the ongoing epidemic of COVID-19 in accordance with the law. Political and legal departments should strictly enforce the law to combat law violations and crimes that hinder epidemic prevention and control, including committing violent acts against doctors as well as producing and selling counterfeit goods, according to a guideline issued by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The guideline also called for the legal, strict and timely investigation, prosecution and trial of serious epidemic-related criminal cases, as well as strengthened law enforcement supervision. "The litigation rights of the parties concerned should be protected according to the law," the guideline said, adding that political and legal departments should deal with cases in strict accordance with legal procedures, as well as unify punishment standards. New York states sweeping new bail reform law is under attack by the police, conservative media outlets, some district attorneys, Republicans and even some Democrats. Bail reform eliminated cash bail for a wide range of offenses and forced judges to impose the least restrictive kind of pretrial supervision that is likely to ensure a defendant will come back to court. Nearly 91% of new defendants will remain free under bail reform, up from 76% under the old laws, according to researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. An additional 20,000 cases would have resulted in pretrial release without bail in 2018 if the new law had been in effect. Opponents of bail reform claim that letting those defendants out before their trial has unleashed a crime wave from repeat offenders. New York City Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea denounced bail reform as a threat to public safety in an op-ed for The New York Times in late January. In early February, New York Citys largest police union declared a public safety emergency, ostensibly in response to the rising crime rate, which its president linked, in part, to bail reform. The NYPDs commanding officer of the 108th Precinct in Queens, Deputy Inspector Michael Gibbs, may have defied the rules against police officials lobbying when he urged citizens at a public meeting in Elmhurst to contact their representatives and complain about bail reform. Gibbs reportedly vowed to continue making similar statements, even after a council members senior staffer warned him that his behavior was inappropriate. State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy called the reforms an assault on civilized society, public safety and law enforcement, and on criminal victims and the people and the taxpayers of the state of New York. But are they right? The answer should be determined by looking at actual data over a long enough period to make meaningful comparisons, not a few cases highlighted by the New York Post. Individual anecdotes about people who allegedly committed crimes after being released without bail are not necessarily illuminating in a city of more than 8 million people especially considering that they could have been released under the old rules if they had enough money. The most compelling argument bail reform foes may have is that New York Citys crime rate jumped 16.9% in January, compared to January 2019. Thats a startling increase, larger than typical fluctuations in the citys crime rate. However, its unclear if bail reform caused the increase. And theres evidence to suggest bail reform could reduce recidivism over the long haul. Bail reform officially went into effect on Jan. 1, as part of a reform package that included discovery reform and other changes, but judges started following the new bail guidelines in November 2019 to avoid a glut of people being released at once. If bail reform caused the rising crime rate, you would have expected the crime rate to start rising soon after judges started applying the new guidelines. But Novembers crime rate was down 1.3% compared to the previous November. Moreover, the NYPD hailed December 2019 as the month with the lowest number of index crimes in the modern era, with the crime rate down 0.9% over the previous December. No correlation could be or should be made to reforms that have been in place for only one month. New York Civil Liberties Union The NYPDs chief statistician, Chief Michael LiPetri, didnt even mention bail reform in his analysis of Januarys rise in robberies, assaults, shootings and car thefts. According to LiPetri, the jump in robberies was caused not by hardened serial criminals reoffending while already facing charges, but by teenagers stealing each others gadgets. And while property crimes went up, the number of rapes and murders were both down from January 2019. LiPetri also remarked that people who had recently been released from prison on parole or probation not pretrial defendants out on bail accounted for an outsized share of Januarys shootings. Nor is the general trend toward locking up fewer of the accused brand new. The use of both pretrial detention and cash bail has been declining in New York City for many years, and crime continued to fall during that time. For the past two decades, New York City has reduced both its jail population and the use of cash bail, resulting in some of the lowest crime rates we have ever seen, the New York Civil Liberties Union said in a statement. No correlation could be or should be made to reforms that have been in place for only one month. Other states, including New Jersey, have implemented bail reform without seeing a rise in crime. California completely abolished cash bail, and its crime rates remain at historic lows. Its possible the sudden jump in crime is more a question of how crimes are being classified than whats actually happening. The research of John Eterno, a professor of criminal justice and director of graduate studies at Molloy College on Long Island and a former NYPD captain has shown that data manipulation has become an increasing problem in the era of CompStat, a performance management system in which precinct commanders are grilled by the highest officers in the police department about crime data from their precinct. If commanders want to keep the numbers down, they have some ability to do so through tactics like recanvassing victims and witnesses, or downgrading crimes so that they fall out of the seven major categories of crime that count toward the crime rate for example, by coding stolen property as lost. Finally, and most difficult to detect, officers can refuse to take complaints from victims. So how do you fake a crime decrease? Its pretty simple. Dont file reports, misclassify crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, undervalue the property lost to crime so its not a felony, and report a series of crimes as a single event, wrote Robert Zink, then-recording secretary of the Patrolmens Benevolent Association, now known as the Police Benevolent Association, in the unions magazine in 2004. New York Citys major police unions have been vocal about the routine pressure that front-line officers face from their superiors for over a decade. When 19 police officers were caught downgrading crimes in the Bronx in 2015, the president of the police union defended the officers saying that NYPD management has consistently hammered police officers to reduce felonies to misdemeanors as an artificial way of keeping felonies down with fewer officers on the street, a problem that we still experience today. How do you fake a crime decrease? Its pretty simple. Dont file reports, misclassify crimes, under-value the property lost so its not a felony, and report a series of crimes as a single event. Robert Zink, then-PBA recording secretary An internal NYPD report obtained by Reuters in 2012 acknowledged a concerted effort to deliberately underreport crime in the 81st Precinct in Brooklyn and admitted that the overall pattern of misclassifications pointed to a bid to manipulate the index crime rate. In 2018, a police captain claimed to have evidence of 156 cases of downgrading over the past two years across multiple precincts, allegedly including incidents where deliberately shooting at a person and missing was downgraded to investigate shots fired or criminal mischief. Normally, police want crime stats to look as low as possible, because it makes it seem like theyre doing a better job. But if police usually hold down the crime rate, like someone with their thumb over a hose, Eterno thinks it is possible they could suddenly let the numbers surge upward to make a point. Commanders and others can get the wink and the nod that, you know, were kind of looking for these numbers to go up a bit, so were going to let them go up, he said. In 2013, one officer told the NYPDs Crime Reporting Review Committee, which evaluated the NYPDs mechanisms for auditing its crime stats, that officers sometimes also face pressure to manipulate stats upward under certain circumstances. Regardless of the stats validity, Eterno thinks there are real problems with bail reform that need to be addressed. Like many law enforcement veterans, he worries that the new law might put dangerous people on the street where they can reoffend. He noted that there were a large number of outstanding warrants in New York City even before bail reform, and he worries that the new law will only add to the backlog of people who dont show up for court. Normally, police want crime stats to look as low as possible. But if police usually hold down the crime rate, it is possible they could let the numbers surge up to make a point. Asked whether the NYPD might be manipulating crime statistics for political reasons, NYPD spokeswoman Devora Kaye replied to City & State in an email: This is simply false. The CompStat system has been in place since 1994 and each number reflects crime victim complaints that the men and women of the NYPD relentlessly investigate. She added, The integrity of the reporting system is a staple of the NYPD and there are numerous levels of checks and balances, audits, and robust oversight to ensure the proper classification of crime reports. Eterno is not alone, however, in thinking statistical manipulation may occur. Not for murders or shootings, but assaults, thefts and criminal mischief, there is considerable scope for at least some manipulation, Eugene ODonnell, a professor of law and police studies at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former NYPD officer and prosecutor, told City & State. Theres no doubt in the world it happens. The only questions are the degree in extent that it happens. ODonnell and Eterno agree that the NYPDs crime statistics are vulnerable as long as the department is allowed to audit itself. ODonnell argued that its ridiculous to expect an internal auditing process to get rigorous results when its conducted by lower-ranking officers. In a quasi-military organization, (a zealous investigator) would be crushed like a bug, he said. Still, like many in the criminal justice community, Eterno and ODonnell both feel that there wasnt enough consultation in the runup to the criminal justice reform package. ODonnell said legislators in Albany have only themselves to blame for the backlash to bail reform. They excluded the public from that process, so thats their fault, he said. It was done secretively. Other experts said that at least part of the recent crime spike represents real crimes that wouldnt have happened without bail reform but thats not the final word on public safety. Michael Rempel, director of jail reform at the Center for Court Innovation, an organization that conducts original research and designs evidence-based programs to improve the functioning of the justice system, explained that a certain amount of extra crime is inevitable when you decrease pretrial detention dramatically as bail reform has done. Obviously if people are detained, theyre incapacitated, he said. Theyre not in the community. So theres no way around the reality that detaining people, by definition, reduces their likelihood of recidivism as long as they are detained. However, Rempel stressed, this is only part of the public safety equation because most people who are detained pretrial do not immediately go on to serve a lengthy term in state prison. If theyre ultimately found guilty, theyre more likely to be sentenced to probation or a short prison stay. Then those people get sent back out into the community. So, eventually, theyll be back on the streets anyway and probably not that long from now. Then the question becomes whether their experience in the criminal justice system makes them more or less likely to offend again. There is a lot of research that suggests that pretrial detention increases recidivism over the long run. The reasons probably have to do with the negative effects of incarceration on peoples jobs, homes, families and health, not to mention the criminogenic influences a person is exposed to behind bars. Rempel pointed to studies of New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami, the Houston area, and the state of Kentucky that show that pretrial detention increases the likelihood of recidivism. However, these declines in overall recidivism are only evident over several months or even years, whereas the extra crimes from people not being in pretrial detention show up right away. Therefore, looking at the crime rate one month out is not a meaningful reflection of bail reforms effect on public safety because its only counting the immediate uptick and not the long-term decreases in recidivism we can expect based on the research. Khalil Cumberbatch, the chief strategist of New Yorkers United for Justice, a leading advocacy group in the fight for bail reform, argued that reforming the bail system has positive dividends for the entire community and that those benefits need to be considered too. Even a few days in jail can upend a persons life. A jail stint can cost a person their job, their home, custody of their children and more, to say nothing of the physical and mental toll of incarceration. The minority of people who might commit additional crimes must be weighed against the majority of defendants who are able to hold their lives and families together instead of languishing in pretrial detention including those defendants who may be innocent and could otherwise have been locked for months for a crime for which they will never be convicted. We have heard from defenders that they are seeing many, many more cases of the positive aspects of reform, Cumberbatch said. It is impossible to know if bail reform contributed to the spike in Januarys crime rate. Experts said it will take carefully designed studies over the course of several years to find out what effect, if any, bail reform has on crime. What we already know for certain is that the number of people in pretrial detention has plummeted and the rich can no longer buy their freedom while the poor languish in jail. Everyone in pretrial detention is still legally innocent, as they have not yet been tried, let alone found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. When we take stock of a few crimes that some defendants have committed while on bail, we have to balance that against the many firings avoided, evictions prevented and families preserved. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. doesnt expect to meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter because of work slowdowns and lower smartphone demand, showing that the virus outbreak in China is taking a bigger-than-predicted toll on one of the worlds most valuable companies. The company said that the iPhone, which generates the bulk of Apples revenue, is temporarily constrained due to production ramping up more slowly than anticipated. Work is starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated, the company said in a statement Monday. In addition, demand for iPhones has been reduced because stores in China have been closed or operating with reduced hours and few customers, the company said. Apple had forecast revenue of $63 billion to $67 billion for the fiscal second quarter ending in March. Analysts on average estimated $65.23 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company said in January when it announced its guidance that it anticipated factories reopening beginning Feb. 10. That process however has been slow as factory workers and manufacturing partners look to contain the virus, which has resulted in about 1,800 reported deaths in China, from spreading further. U.S. stock futures slid after Apple amplified worries about the blow to corporate earnings and economic growth from the deadly coronavirus. Apple suppliers TDK Corp. and Murata Manufacturing Co. slid more than 3% in early Asian trade. This is the double-edged sword of being in China, said longtime Apple analyst and Loup Ventures co-founder Gene Munster. Theyre the only big company with China exposure, so they are working through the pain of what has largely been a success for the company over the past decade. Apple is the only major U.S. technology giant to offer the majority of its products and services in China. Products from Facebook Inc., Alphabet Inc.s Google, Amazon.com Inc. and Netflix Inc. are either limited or unavailable. Story continues Still, Apple isnt the only big tech company impacted by the virus. Nintendo Co. is likely to struggle with production of its Switch gaming device due to coronavirus, while Facebook previously said that it will see production of its Oculus VR headsets drop due to the epidemic. Apple said that, outside of China, products and services sales have been strong to date and in line with our expectations. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant didnt say what its new revenue outlook is for March but that situation is evolving. The company said it will share more information during its April earnings call. The disclosure marks the second time in two years that Apple has readjusted its earnings forecast due to China-related factors. For fiscal 2019, it cut holiday earnings projections on slower than expected iPhone sales in China, which it attributed in part to the trade war with the U.S. Apple had been planning to start producing a new low-cost iPhone in February, putting it up for sale as early as March, Bloomberg News has reported. Its unclear how coronavirus has impacted those plans. Read more: Nightmare for Global Tech: Virus Fallout Is Just Beginning (3) This unexpected news confirms the worst fears of the Street that the virus outbreak has dramatically impacted iPhone supply from China/Foxconn with a demand ripple impact worldwide, Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said in a research note. He kept an outperform rating on the stock and remains bullish on the longer-term outlook. The company said that despite missing its guidance, all of its manufacturing sites for iPhones in the region have reopened. In addition to iPhone constraints, the company cited its inability to sell products at its retail and partner stores in China due to the virus. China represents Apples third-biggest market in terms of revenue and has 42 stores, which have been closed for much of February. Stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic, Apple said in its statement. We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can. Apple said its contact centers and corporate offices in China have already reopened. It has opened a few stores in China, including in Beijing and Shanghai, but with limited operating hours. (Updates with Asian share action from the third paragraph) To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Gurman in Los Angeles at mgurman1@bloomberg.net;Sarah Frier in San Francisco at sfrier1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Martin, Catherine Larkin For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. There are those in the party who are trying to push out people who are pro-life, Lipinski said, contending one in three Democrats nationwide is opposed to abortion. If it were just looking at the politics, the practical politics of it, it will destroy the Democratic Party to tell one-third of people they need to get out. Heart harvested from a man in Pune was on Tuesday airlifted to Delhi and then transported to a hospital here through an 18-km green corridor, officials said. The surgery to transplant the donated heart of the 47-year-old brain-dead person into a 34-year-old woman patient was underway at the private hospital here, they said. "Heart was retrieved from a brain-dead patient in Pune and then flown to Delhi. A green corridor was then made from Delhi airport to the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI) to transport the organ for a transplant surgery," a hospital spokesperson said. The distance of 18 km was covered in 21 minutes, the police said. "The team at FEHI was alerted by National Organ Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) about a possible donor heart in Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune earlier today. The team immediately left for Pune to retrieve the heart," the hospital said in a statement. The recipient, undergoing treatment at the hospital, was in critical condition for almost a month and on levosimendan infusion support, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BLACKMAN TWP., MI A Blackman Township crash left one man in critical condition Monday afternoon. A 26-year-old Jackson man was driving a black Chevrolet Silverado west on M-50, Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety Director Mike Jester said. He ran a red light at the intersection of Rives Junction Road and hit a Toyota Camry around 1:40 p.m., Feb. 17, Jester said. The driver of the Camry, a 69-year-old Jackson man was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health and transferred to University of Michigan Hospital, Jester said. The man is in critical condition as of noon Tuesday, Feb. 18, a hospital spokesperson said. There were three passengers in the Camry. A 37-year-old woman was in front and an 11-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl were in the back, Jester said. Two people had to be cut out of the car, he said. The three passengers have been released from the hospital, Jester said. The crash is still under investigation, Jester said, adding there were multiple witnesses. Michigan State Police assisted at the scene. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 18 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met with the regional coordinator of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Central Asia Zeynal Hajiyev, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Affairs Ministry. The parties noted the high level of cooperation between Turkmenistan and IOM in the context of resolving the current and emerging migration issues. The joint efforts in the area of combating the human trafficking, emergency response, including the diminishing of the risks of natural disasters were discussed. The effectiveness of technical cooperation was underlined. The parties reiterated the active participation of the representatives of Turkmenistan and IOM in the international forums, seminars and trainings aimed at further strengthening of measures on regulating the migration, development of international cooperation, including the search for practical resolutions of the migration problems and provision of the humanitarian aid to the those in need. The parties also considered the process of implementation of joint projects and stated the significance of the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Countering the Human Trafficking for the period of 2020-2022 approved in December last year. Turkmenistan joined the IOM as a full member in 2013. Prior to this, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Turkmen government and IOM in June 1998. The IOM mission in Turkmenistan commenced its activities in 2005. The main directions of joint work include counteracting human trafficking and assistance to migrants, technical cooperation and border management, management of emergency situations, as well as reduction of the risk of natural disasters. Information and educational events are being held as part of joint programs, and the institutional and professional capacity of the relevant Turkmen institutions is growing. Posted on: February 14, 2020 2:12 PM Related Categories: The second Mark of Mission, like the first, flows very directly from Jesus Great Commission to all his followers. This is found at the end of Matthews Gospel: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28.19). There is a clear element of going to proclaim Gods Kingdom required of all Christians: As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20.21). Like Jesus, they must demonstrate and be bringers of good news, as Canon Richard Bartlett amply illustrated in his article on the first of the Marks of Mission. What is captured in the second Mark of Mission is the very deliberate way in which Jesus chose, lived with, taught and trained his own disciples, making them into fishers of men. In the Great Commission Christians are asked to do the same: not to make converts, but to intentionally make disciples. That task is a joy to see lives, priorities and character transformed by encounter with and understanding of Jesus Christ. Christians are called to teach, baptise and nurture new believers none of which happen accidentally! Furthermore, Jesus did not say teach them (my future disciples) everything I have commanded you, though the western academic models and mind-set tend to operate that way. Instead he says to teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. This emphasis upon formation and lived out faith is a profound challenge: first to academic training institutions, where formation of life is difficult to assess and may end up becoming secondary and second, to local churches where intentionality and accountability are vital to truly forming people in Christs image and to help that transformation over time. In 2016 the particular importance of a whole life discipleship that reflects all five Marks of Mission and the need for intentionality in Anglican teaching of new disciples was formally recognised by the Anglican Consultative Council. It called every province, diocese and church to a nine-year Season of Intentional Discipleship, now described as Living and Sharing Jesus Shaped Life. In Lusaka, Zambia, where the Anglican Consultative Council met in 2016, one Church, St Peters, has responded to this call by creating a discipleship tool with four modules each lasting eight weeks conducted in classes of 20-30. The church leader, Robert Sihubwa, explains: We agreed that it will be a must for all members to attend these courses before baptism, being Godparents, marriage, standing for leadership or being an active minister. They have had over 600 members undergoing the process at different levels, according to their involvement in the church. In the Church of England, Setting Gods People Free is an initiative to enable the whole people of God to live out the Good News of Jesus confidently in all of life, Sunday to Saturday. It aims to facilitate a shift in culture that is seen in the two, new, primary goals my own diocese, Guildford: that every parish have a plan for making prayerful, confident disciples in everyday life and together to increase the number of new Christians of all ages. This has shaped the vision of the parish church my wife leads: To be followers of Jesus Christ, growing in faith and number and serving the community; and is being worked out through well planned teaching, establishment of new life groups and last year a year-long discipleship course. In the US-based Episcopal Church (TEC), Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is calling his people into The Way of Love and seven habits that form them in a Jesus Centred Life. This call and teaching is increasingly shaping the liturgical life of TEC, spawning many small groups and a curriculum to serve them and a re-design of their catechesis, for use with new believers especially youth and young adults, so as to emphasise formation and lived out faith. In South Sudan, a recent consultation on Intentional Discipleship involved 60 bishops & many lay members. Afterwards, the primate, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, reflected we discovered that we were not doing enough in the area of discipleship. South Sudan is a vibrant Church active in evangelism and growing, yet the archbishop concluded that It is now a new way for us to go: whole life discipleship, intentional discipleship: all dioceses and all our parishes, we have to go that way. . . God is at work across the Anglican Communion as Anglicans seek to live out the second Mark of Mission. Read the rest of our series on the Five Marks of Mission The Calcutta High Court has directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to contemplate taking suitable steps against the Bank of Baroda (BoB) such as cancelling its licence for failing to honour a bank guarantee furnished by a third party to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). The two-judge division bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Kausik Chanda in the order on February 10 instructed the RBI to "consider the conduct of the appellants" and take into account "appropriate steps" that can be considered against the bank "including revoking its licence or the authority to carry on banking business, if necessary." The court was hearing a case filed by IOCL against the BoB as the bank did not release the payment with regards to a bank guarantee worth Rs 6.97 crore provided to it (IOCL) by Simplex Projects Ltd. Also Read: Sanjiv Chadha appointed MD, CEO Bank of Baroda, AK Das to head BOI What is the case? IOCL informed the court that it had entered into an agreement with Simplex Projects Limited in 2017 for conducting certain work at the Bongaigaon facility of the oil marketing company in Assam. In order to carry out the work Simplex was required to furnish a bank guarantee on account of security deposit. The BoB then provided an unconditional bank guarantee of around Rs 6.97 crore on behalf of Simplex. As stated in the order, Simplex did not honour the contract signed between it and the IOCL which issued several notices and ultimately invoked the bank guarantee. IOCL argued that the bank did not have any right to delay immediate payment of the unconditional bank guarantee, least of all seek extra time. The oil marketing company also alleged that the BoB informed Simplex about the invocation of the bank guarantee. Following this, the company (Simplex) immediately initiated proceedings under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 before the Delhi High Court (HC), in accordance with the arbitration agreement contained in the contract signed between IOCL and Simplex. Also Read: Bank of Baroda posts loss of Rs 1,407 crore in December quarter As per the IOCL's submission, the Delhi High Court had also found that the bank guarantee was unconditional and the payment thereunder could not be avoided once the guarantee was invoked. Despite the Delhi HC's observation, the bank did not release the payment (in terms of unconditional guarantee) saying that the money may not have been given by Simplex to the bank. It was against this background that the IOCL contended that given the conduct of the BoB which was unbecoming of a nationalised bank, a suitable order should be passed to repeal its licence. Coinciding with the submissions made by the IOCL, the Calcutta HC's division bench directed the RBI to take the required steps in this direction. Also Read: Loans of banks rise over 7% in two weeks to January 31: RBI By Express News Service NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court-appointed three interlocutors to try and persuade protesters at Shaheen Bagh to shift the protest site, the demonstrators said that moving to another area might weaken the agitation. The main reason for blocking the road was to pressure the government but now if we go to an irrelevant place, I am not sure whether we could insist on our demands with same thrust or not, said Nadeem Khan, one of the protesters. He said that the apex court should have asked the government to approach the protesters and address their demands instead of telling the protesters to vacate the road. Asif Mujtaba, a student of IIT Delhi, said that the road blockade happened to pressure the government in a peaceful manner by the sit-in protest. ALSO RAD | Centre will at least talk to us now: Shaheen Bagh protesters on SC's interlocutors However, Mujtaba hinted that there were high chances that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh would obey the top courts orders and move the protest site. However, he said that a solution to the problem could be that the protesters would leave one side of the road for traffic while camping on the other side to continue their demonstration. We are glad that the SC has at least acknowledged that protest is our right and not asked us to call it off but just shift the site. There is a chance that the protesters reach a consensus with the court-appointed interlocutors. We are afraid that while there is the top court is seeing the legitimacy of our protest, the Delhi Police continues its stand that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh are using women and children as a shield, he added. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni, who had approached the high court seeking directions to the Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which remains blocked by the anti-CAA protesters since December 15 last year. Last Year's Feedback Indicates Great Things for Asia Amusement and Attractions 2020 Published February 18, 2020 by Lee R Diverse exhibitors and instant returns are on the table for the next round of AAA 2020. Taking place from May 10th to 12th, 2020, at Area A of China Import & Export Fair Complex, this year's show promises to be increasingly diverse. Diverse Promotion With promotion ranging across over 10 countries, the preparation for this year's show is sure to attract different countries. Major amusement shows across the UAS, Korea, India, Russia, the UK, Japan, Turkey, and Thailand all hosted promotional visits from AAA representatives in the buildup to the show. High Quality Platform This year's event is dedicated to gathering as diverse a collection of exhibitors and visitors for a high-quality business platform for amusement industry. Leading Sponsors Key sponsors solidifying the representation this year include organisers Guangdong Foreign Economic Trade Enterprise Association; Guangdong and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Association For The Advancement of Information Communication; and Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group. Last Year's Review AAA 2019 spanned over 120,000 square meters across 12 Exhibition Halls to establish 2019 Asia Amusement & Attractions Expo(AAA) as one of the largest and most comprehensive games, amusement, and attractions trade shows in the world. Record-Breaking Growth Last year's show was record-breaking, with international exhibitors of AAA 2019 growing 35%. Overseas exhibitors include Korea's F2 Systems Inc; Argentina's Sacoa Debit Card System; India's Straight Drive Technology and Semnox: Australia's Embed International; Hong Kong's Homepin Limited; Singapore's Dragonautics Pte Ltd; and New Zealand's Delta Strike, with the majority coming back for another go-round in 2020. Reactions last year indicated massive majorities in promising leads, gaining 96% of visitors and 94% of buyers finding products of interest. Leading Exhibitors Key exhibitors celebrating the progress included China Childrens Industry Exhibition Trading Base, who raved about selling 800 pieces of equipment in 3 days, totaling over 10 million yuan. The Trading Base took in orders from Chongqing, Taizhou, and Tianjin locally and externally from India, Bangladesh, Guatemala, and more. Outlook With such vivid activity form last year, AAA 2020 promises to be better than ever! PUBLIC Safety Minister Bill Blair recently announced the Liberal government intends to enact a red flag law to remove guns from people found by the courts to be at risk of hurting themselves or others. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion PUBLIC Safety Minister Bill Blair recently announced the Liberal government intends to enact a "red flag" law to remove guns from people found by the courts to be at risk of hurting themselves or others. The proposed legislation would allow doctors, police, lawyers, educators and family members to seek an expedited court order to seize firearms from anyone flagged as a risk of suicide or violence. It would also override current privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations that restrict, especially for professionals, their ability to disclose concerns about their patients or clients, and thereby prevent gun death or injury. The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians has long lobbied for such a law, as has a newer (formed in 2018) physician-advocacy group, Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns. As firearms legislation goes, this ones a no-brainer. Its a proposal even Canadas version of the U.S. National Rifle Association (NRA), the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights, should get on board with. Because, at base, its a public health and safety initiative, not an attempt at gun control. The Canadian gun-lobby group is currently locked in a larger dispute with the Liberal government over its plan to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons and legislate a buy-back of legally licensed handguns from their owners. The coalition is, not without good reason, aggrieved that the government has voiced an intention to achieve the weapons prohibition and buy-back scheme not via legislation debated in and duly passed by Parliament, but by means of cabinets regulatory authority under an order-in-council. Alberta MP Glen Motz, the Conservative partys associate critic for public safety, has made common cause with the coalition, arguing that the government is bypassing the democratic process by employing an order-in-council. Hes sponsored an online petition to Parliament that has reportedly garnered more than 140,000 signatures opposing the Liberal plan to skip over the House of Commons and Senate and proceed via cabinet order. Historically, the coalition has shared with the NRA an instinctive disdain for any linkage of gun ownership and gun violence. It believes the idea that at-hand availability of guns enables or facilitates violence is false even if that gun is owned or possessed by a mentally disturbed individual. While it has sometimes allowed that its a good idea to keep guns out of the hands of clinically unstable individuals, as soon as the government proposes any practical measure to protect the public, the firearms lobby group reverts to colouring it as an attack on individual freedom, property rights or even democracy itself. Its official position in response to Blairs announcement is a case in point. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Coalition executive director Rod Giltaca dismissed the Liberals gun-safety initiative out of hand, stating "police can seize firearms for any reason if they think public safety is a concern." He deliberately obscures the point that the red-flag strategy posits a new, faster and wider avenue to preventing gun violence, particularly when it comes to suicide. Suicide accounts for far and away the largest number of gun deaths in Canada. According to the last stats available from the Canadian Vital Statistics death database, between in the period from 2000 to 2016, 75 per cent of gun deaths were suicides. Suicides accounted for 9,919 of Canadas 13,168 gun deaths during that 16-year period. By comparison, homicides were just 20 per cent. The death stats are the only ones we have. Theres no available non-fatal statistical record to provide a national picture of the extent of self-inflicted gunshot harm, or resulting partial or permanent disability, but its not a logical stretch to surmise the numbers are considerable. The proposed red-flag law reflects an attempt to come to grips with a public-health crisis. The object is simple: reduce injury and death from firearms. Responsible gun owners and gun retailers should publicly embrace this firearms-safety plan. Meanwhile, Canadas gun-lobby group has missed a golden opportunity to score some points in the broader public policy debate over gun control. The coalitions disparagement of even this modest attempt to protect Canadians from gun violence wont win it many friends in Parliament, or in the nation. Douglas J. Johnston is a Winnipeg lawyer and writer. Kerala is eyeing a robust growth in domestic tourist arrivals in 2020 as it undertakes a slew of initiatives, including 'Tourism Trade Meets' in ten cities in the country, to make the state a 365-day destination. In the first nine months of 2019, the state witnessed 1.32 crore domestic tourist arrivals. Kerala has commenced the second phase of national partnership meets in January which will go on till March, Kerala Tourism said in a statement. The increase in domestic tourist footfalls is a firm reiteration of the fact that the powerful promotional campaigns connected with the people instantly, Tourism Secretary Rani George said. "Travellers from across India will find the state not only heritage-rich and enchanting but also a welcoming destination, especially with Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, and a host of other festivals lined up," she added. Kerala has added an array of new and exciting products and experiences that are tailor-made for the domestic traveller and would also make the state a 365-day destination, Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said. In a bid to make tourism a sustainable enterprise, Kerala has also introduced the concept of village life experience under the responsible tourism mission, the statement said. The customised experiences include serene backwater cruises, calm boat rides, thrilling canoe cruises, and silent walks through lush greenery and paddy fields, it added. The state has taken other initiatives such as Muziris Heritage Project, Kochi-Muziris Biennale and Spice Route Project to hard sell the state as a preferred tourist destination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yves here. One can debate what in particular to do about climate change, but its hard not to conclude we should be engaging in a war level mobilization. Yet the Democrats, the folks that like to think they represent reason and science, think the most important thing is not to change things too much, when that is precisely what ought to happen. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at DownWithTyranny! Location of Esperanza Station on the northern tip of Antarctica The climate news out of Antarctica isnt good. As Vice News put it on February 7, Good Morning. Its 65 Degrees in Antarctica. Thats warmer than Orlando today. Since then the news from the South Pole has gotten worse. From the World Meteorological Association on February 14 (emphasis added): The Argentine research base, Esperanza, on the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, set a new record temperature of 18.3C on 6 February, beating the former record of 17.5C on 24 March 2015, according to Argentinas national meteorological service (SMN). A committee for WMOs Weather and Climate Extremes Archive will now verify whether this indeed is a new record for the Antarctic continent, which is defined as the main continental landmass. Everything we have seen thus far indicates a likely legitimate record but we will of course begin a formal evaluation of the record once we have full data from SMN and on the meteorological conditions surrounding the event. The record appears to be likely associated (in the short term) with what we call a regional foehn event over the area: a rapid warming of air coming down a slope/mountain, according to WMOs Weather and Climate Extremes rapporteur, Randall Cerveny. WMO is seeking to obtain the actual temperature data for a montitoring station on Seymour Island, part of a chain of islands off the Antarctic peninsula. Media reports say that researchers logged a temperature of 20.75C. Mr Cerveny cautioned that it is premature to say that Antarctica has exceeded 20C for the first time. Twenty degrees Celsius (68F) is a marker for obvious reasons, an even number thats never before been crossed. Its been crossed now. You could wear shorts and a T-shirt on a 68 day, even on Seymour Island. A personal note: A personal note: As part of my day job I interact in many venues with people at the most progressive end of the Democratic Party infrastructure, and I keep being told by some of the smartest in these groups that we need to be practical (in the real sense, not the fake I want to slow you down sense) in our attempt to enact policies like Medicare For All and the Green New Deal. I keep being told that you cant build Rome in a day. And theyre right in a sense; these things do take time. The Republican Party didnt destroy a third of the electorate and more than half of the federal government in one or two cycles it took decades of evil, dedicated work and endless seduction of eager neoliberal Democrats to accomplish the mess were in now. And yet, at the rate things are advancing not just on the climate front, but on the rebellion against the pathological rich front we just dont have a decade to work with. We may not have five years. Which leads me to argue back: Look, even if we elect a better-than-Trump, half-measures candidate, were still not better off. Our grandchildren will curse us all the same. I dont think that sinks in, even to most of the better minds among them. Perhaps seeing a building thats about to fall, but hasnt, isnt enough. Perhaps the building has to start its descent before most in position to act will take the urgency of the crisis seriously. After all, the bricks havent fallen on their grandchildrens bodies yet. But they soon will, all too soon for all too many. Its not enough to act. We need to act in time enough to matter. I guess thats why I support Sanders and no one else, the only one who will even try to build Rome in a day. A slow-handed, good-hearted captain of the Titanic is still a disaster just about to happen a person blind to what hovers in the mist, a person who cannot feel its approaching breath. Avakov underlined that there is no issue about joint patrolling of the border; Ukraine wishes to control its state border and it does not need any assistants or advisers Open source Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, explaining the idea of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on patrolling of the situation in case of holding elections in Donbas, excluded the possibility of involvement of criminals and militants in this process, as Ukrinform reported. We proceed from the premise that the Ukrainian police, Interior Ministry of Ukraine, Ukrainian justice will stay there in full compliance with the law: the police in full armor will be the key players in this field. But, respecting the transitional period and fears of the territorial communities, we are ready to involve people delegated by these new communities to the patrolling. People who involved in the crimes, people who shot at our soldiers, will not participate in such groups anyway; it is our principal position, Avakov said. Referring to the experience of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk towns, the minister supposed that the militants and criminals will be forced to leave Donbas along with the occupation troops. Their crimes will be investigated according to the Ukrainian laws, within the investigative bodies subordinated to Ukraines Interior Ministry. Avakov underlined that there is no issue about joint patrolling of the border; Ukraine wishes to control its state border and it does not need having any assistants or advisers. On February 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine agreed to joint border control with representatives of the uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for holding local elections in Donbas. Earlier Volodymyr Zelensky announced his readiness for dialogue with the population that lives in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, but not with the so-called power in the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk region. "Animals were not as kind to our traps as humans," recall the scientists behind the project. One of the Malaise traps, located in the Brannbergets Nature Reserve in Vasterbotten, was destroyed by a bull moose rubbing his antlers against it. Credit: Anna Wenngren The Swedish Malaise Trap Project (SMTP) was launched in 2003 with the aim of making a complete list of the insect diversity of Sweden. Over the past fifteen years, an estimated total of 20 million insects, collected during the project, have been processed for scientific study. Recently, the team behind this effort published the resulting inventory in the open-access journal Biodiversity Data Journal. In their paper, they also document the project all the way from its inception to its current status by reporting on its background, organisation, methodology and logistics. The SMTP deployed a total of 73 Malaise trapsa Swedish invention designed to capture flying insectsand placed them across the country, where they remained from 2003 to 2006. Subsequently, the samples were sorted by a dedicated team of staff, students and volunteers into over 300 groups of insects ready for further study by expert entomologists. At the present time, this material can be considered as a unique timestamp of the Swedish insect fauna and an invaluable source of baseline data, which is especially relevant as reports of terrifying insect declines keep on making the headlines across the world. The first author and Project Manager of the SMTP, Dave Karlsson started his academic paper on the project's results years ago by compiling various tips, tricks, lessons and stories that he had accumulated over his years as SMTP's Project Manager. Some fun examples include the time when one of the Malaise traps was destroyed by a moose bull rubbing his antlers against it, or when another trap was attacked and eaten by a group of 20 reindeer. The project even had a trap taken out by Sweden's military! Karlsson's intention was that, by sharing the details of the project, he would inspire and encourage similar efforts around the globe. Karlsson has worked with and trained dozens of workers in the SMTP lab over the past decade and a half. Some were paid staff, some were enthusiastic volunteers and a good number were researchers and students using SMTP material for projects and theses. Thus, he witnessed first-hand how much excitement and enthusiasm the work on insect samples under a microscope can generate, even in those who had been hesitant about "bugs" at first. Stressing the benefits of traditional morphological approaches to inventory work, he says: "Appreciation for nature is something you miss when you go 'hi-tech' with inventory work. We have created a unique resource for specialists in our sorted material while fostering a passion for natural history." Sorted SMTP material is now available to specialists. Hundreds of thousands of specimens have already been handed over to experts, resulting in over 1,300 species newly added to the Swedish fauna. A total of 87 species have been recognised as new to science from the project thus far, while hundreds more await description. The SMTP is part of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative, from where it also receives its funding. In its turn, the latter is a project by the Swedish Species Information Center, a ground-breaking initiative funded by the Swedish Parliament since 2002 with the aim of documenting all multicellular life in Sweden. The SMTP is based at Station Linne, a field station named after the famous Swedish naturalist and father of taxonomy, Carl Linneaus. Situated on the Baltic island of Oland, the station is managed by Dave Karlsson. Co-authors Emily Hartop and Mathias Jaschhof are also based at the station, while Mattias Forshage and Fredrik Ronquist (SMTP Project Co-Founder) are based at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Explore further Efficiency of insect biodiversity monitoring via Malaise trap samples and DNA barcoding More information: Dave Karlsson et al, The Swedish Malaise Trap Project: A 15 Year Retrospective on a Countrywide Insect Inventory, Biodiversity Data Journal (2020). Dave Karlsson et al, The Swedish Malaise Trap Project: A 15 Year Retrospective on a Countrywide Insect Inventory,(2020). DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.8.e47255 Not with us! No pact with fascistsnever and nowhere! This was the main slogan for the mass demonstration which took place in the east German city of Erfurt on Saturday, February 15. The election of a premier in the state of Thuringia ten days earlier with the combined votes of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) once again confirmed the readiness of the German ruling elite to collaborate with fascists. This is an unacceptable breach of a taboo, was the comment by a group from Nordheim participating in the demonstration. They told WSWS reporters that such behind the scenes manoeuvring with fascists was unacceptable. Rally on Erfurt Cathedral Square How dare youhow dare you form such alliances? protested Esther Bejarano in a statement read out from the platform of the demo in Erfurt. The declaration by the 95-year-old musician, concentration camp survivor and chair of the Auschwitz Committee summed up the angry mood of demonstrators and ended with the statement: In fact the Nazis never went away. Over 18,000 people gathered on the citys Domplatz to protest against fascism. They then marched through the capital city of Thuringia, passing by the state chancellery. An additional 2,000 assembled on the same day to prevent a march by neo-Nazis from across Europe who had gathered in the city of Dresden. Dozens of organisations had issued an appeal to attend the rally in Erfurt. They included trade unions, groups close to the Left Party, as well as naturalist organisations, Jewish, immigrant, youth and pensioner groups (Grannies against the far right) and numerous anti-fascist initiatives, many from the states of Thuringia and Saxony. The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) attended and distributed 3,000 copies of a statement, The fight against the AfD requires a socialist perspective. The leaflet referred to the case of the radical right-wing Berlin professor Jorg Baberowski (Hitler was not vicious), who not only enjoys the protection of Berlins renowned Humboldt University, but also that of the German government. Many of the participants in Erfurt had heard about the case and were keen to find out more. Speakers at the rally from the Federation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the IG Metall trade union and from the churches concentrated their fire on the position taken by the CDU and FDP. Many of those taking part, however, were motivated by a rejection not only of fascism, but also of the capitalist system which gives rise to fascism and also criticised the role of the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party. Gerhard, a pensioner from Saarland, said he saw parallels between former Thuringia premier Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) and Winfried Kretschmann (the Green Party premier in Baden-Wurttemberg). Nothing has changed with capitalism, and Ramelow is not a socialist. As soon as these people become premiers, they inevitably serve capitalism. Gerhard pointed out links with key social questions and said: The AfD has benefited from the fact that all of the parties neglect ordinary people. High rents, unemployment, all of the social issues are increasingly being sidelined, and nobody cares. Instead, billions are put into the military. Silvia from Erfurt also saw the rise of right-wing extremists in connection with growing social inequality: Behind the AfD are millionaires and businessmen who fund the party with large sums, she said. Politicians are holding the right-wing radicals in reserve because they might need them. The same strategy applied to right-wing extremist networks in the police and military: They are not being exposed and dealt with because the intention was not to expose them in the first place. After WWII there was never any proper reckoning made with the Nazi history, Silvia said, and now we are paying the price. Thousands of young people took part in the day of protest, including Celine, Evion, Evelin, Line and Miriam, all students in the International Relations department at the University of Erfurt. We deal with these issues every day. We are experiencing here the importance of taking to the streets, raising ones voice and taking a stand together against the right wing. We want to show that we are not prepared to tolerate them. They regard the election of the Thuringia premier with the votes of the AfD as an absolute breach of a taboo. If you regard such an event as normal and do nothing and dont demonstrate, then we will land again in the situation as it was prior to World War II. You have to be extremely vigilant. Otherwise, such developments creep back and are taken for granted, suddenly at some point you are back in a right-wing dictatorship. Hans and Isa, who also study in Erfurt, stated that the events in Thuringia represented an attack on democracy and demonstrated the brittleness of political culture in Germany. In Thuringia the Left Party had won the most votes and in any new election would win more. When the CDU and FDP make a deal with the AfD, then they are clearly disregarding the will of the electorate. We have to show politicians they cant just do what they want. We are the public watching them closely, Hans concluded. Lisa, Lennard and Hilja study political and social sciences at the Georg August University in Gottingen. They were angry about claims of parallels between former Thuringia premier Bodo Ramelow and the former leader of Stalinist East Germany, Erich Honecker. Ramelow is being portrayed as someone worse than the AfD, and that cannot be allowed to stand. Those arguing in such a way always describe themselves as ordinary citizens, from the middle of society. But where is the middle of society? To be on the left means standing up for liberal values, those on the right oppose such values. I dont understand where there is any sort of middle. One has to think it through. The group agreed that a party like the Left Party should not be equated with the AfD and thought that new elections would be the best solution. They doubted this would happen, however, and that was why it was so important for people to take to the streets. WSWS reporters showed the students from Gottingen the video showing HU professor Baberowski attacking a representative of IYSSE. The students were already aware of the incident and were very interested in joining the opposition to the shift to the right at universities, which is being promoted by the ruling elite. Gisela from Weimar considered the causes of the emergence and rise of the AfD to be complex. She referred to the social division of society. Many people felt left behind, especially in the countryside: I think this is a problem in both East and West. Rural structures are under pressure everywhere. There are no bus connections, no local supplies in villages, few jobsa lot of issues come together. Gisela is active in a citizens alliance against the right wing because she believes it is important to get involved in democratic structures. This is an urgent issue in state politics today, she said. I find all this whispering and murmuring behind closed doors, the deals struck and the aggression with which the AfD assumes political power is inappropriate and I am against it. Gisela hoped the demonstration would be a powerful sign for democracy and against nationalism and hateful agitation. She said she found the threat of war emerging in world politics particularly depressing. Sarah had come from the neighbouring state of Hesse with two self-made placards. She said: I fear the return of the fascists in the mask of democrats. There is a danger that reactionary groups like the AfD use democratic means to pose as ordinary citizens, penetrate democracy and then gradually dismantle it from above. That is my big fear. This turning point in Thuringia indicated that this is once again possible and thats why Im here. When the WSWS reporters pointed out the deliberate actions of the established parties aimed at making the AfD respectable Sarah answered that she saw the reasons for this in the basic attitude of society: If society represented different values than it does, then the AfD would never come to hold this power. When asked what values she was thinking of primarily, Sarah replied: I am alarmed about the way in which inhumane things are openly spoken about, how whole groups are discriminated against and how this is justified. She was increasingly concerned that such things can be rendered normal and said in Parliament, thereby acquiring a certain validity and justification. In this context, WSWS reporters described the resistance of the students at Berlins Humboldt University, where right-wing extremist ideologies are being revived. Professor Baberowski from the Institute for Eastern European History portrays the crimes of the Nazis as a legitimate reaction to the resistance waged by Soviet partisans, described Hitler in a Spiegel interview in 2014 as not vicious and recently even tore down posters for the student parliamentary elections posted by the socialist IYSSE. In the course of this action he also physically assaulted a student. Such statements are becoming more and more common, Sarah said. One should not ignore something like this because it leads to murder, it leads to deaths, it leads to violence. A friend of Sarah explained the fact that the right-wing extremist terror group NSU was able to kill unhindered for years is bound up with those in the the legal system and police who sympathise with the far right. She sees a major problem in that such actions are accepted and tolerated by sections of the population because they are only directed against minorities. The problem is the racist basis of society: The police and judiciary permitted the NSU for ideological reasons ... The question is who the constitutional state protects and which people receive more protection. All people are equal, but some are more equal than others. Above all, these actions are always treated as an individual case, was the estimation of both of them regarding the murder of the CDU politician Walter Lubcke last June. It is about a network that is still continuing its business. The attack on a synagogue in Halle on October 9, 2019, also took place in connection with this network which has still not been exposed, said Sarahs friend. The members of the right-wing terrorist network are always protected anew. No attention is paid to their supporters. They could be much more exposed if it were recognised that it is not about individual offenders and psychopaths, but rather established right-wing radical structures. The structures are in fact known, but they are let off free, Sarah said. She concluded with the hope that the demonstration would motivate everyone to take to the streets and not be intimidated. The far-right networks, which extend into the police, army and intelligence services, were a central theme in other parts of the demonstration. Young people from Zwickau carried a banner with the inscription: Abolish the Verfassungsschutz [Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution]Germanys domestic intelligence agency. They told the WSWS that they were concerned that nobody would do anything to break up the right-wing networks. Ella, a young woman from the Vogtland region, explained: One has the impression that the fascists are being tolerated because they may be needed again. She pointed out that new, undemocratic police laws are being introduced everywhere. This is paid for out of our taxpayers money and is then aimed against us to better control us. Thomas from Erfurt also came to the demonstration to prevent politicians from working together with fascists. There had to be a basic consensus among democrats based on the equality of all people, he said. This was not the case, however, with any of the political parties. Thomas regarded the emergence of fascism as the result of a fundamental crisis of capitalism. Today we are experiencing a tremendous structural change, for example in the automotive industry, he explained. Digitalisation is laying off many workers in companies and there are no new jobs. Politicians fear a social uprising. This was how he explained the existence of terrorist gangs such as the SS and SA in the Third Reich, and today the right-wing networks that extend deep into the state. They are deliberately not being exposed, Thomas said. If an individual like (far-right soldier) Franco A. is exposed in the media, it only serves as an alibi. He therefore places no trust in Ramelow and the Left Party, because they do not represent socialism. What prevailed in the GDR was Stalinism. Following the October Revolution, Stalin went on to disempower the council democracy of the young Soviet Union. The real problem, capitalism, was ultimately not resolved, Thomas said. He was pleased to find a party called the Socialist Equality Party and eager to get to know it better. The Madras High Court on Tuesday criticised a former Tamil Nadu minister for taking a stand that a competent Tamilian be appointed as a non-hereditary trustee to the Chola-era Brahadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, forgetting the fact that "pride of Indian" should come first. A division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayana and R Hemalatha dismissed a peitition by V V Swaminathan, a former AIADMK Rajya Sabha member, seeking appointment of a "competent Tamilian" as a non-hereditary trustee to administer the over 1,000-year old shrine, popularly known as the Big Temple. "It is unfortunate that an ex-member of Parliament and former minister has taken such a stand in his representation forgetting the fact, the concept and rather, the pride of "Indian should come first and India is one. "It is rather unfortunate and paining to note that the petitioner who held such an esteemed position took such a stand," the bench observed. In his petition, Swaminathan alleged the present hereditary trustee, a descendant of Marathas, exhibited negligence in the matter of theft of a 'Panchaloha' idol and in preserving the valuable properties despite being in-charge of the administration of the temple. Hence, it was high time a Tamilian should be posted in that position, he contended. "The concept of hereditary trustee continues even under the present act of 1959 and therefore the continuance of the present hereditary trustee cannot be faulted with," the bench observed in its order. The petitioner submitted the last Maratha King Sivaji Maharaja II had ruled Thanjavur from 1832 till his death in 1855 and thereafter the East India Company took over the property as well as the administration of the shrine. In 1929, a scheme vide proceedings of the Board of Commissioners for Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras, came to be formulated with regard to the administration of the temple and provided for hereditary trusteeship. As per the scheme, succession to the office shall devolve by the hereditary right on such member of the family of Sivaji Maharaja. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DENVER, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Connectors, the leading North American cybersecurity industry conference series announced it will hold its twentieth annual Denver Cybersecurity Conference this week in Denver. The event is one of 50 which take place across the continent in 2020, bringing together local businesses, educational institutions, as well as federal, state and local agencies. Executives and professionals concerned with staying ahead of modern cybersecurity threats convene at the conference to learn about the latest solutions, techniques and best practices related to multi-vector cyberattacksincluding ransomware, business email compromise, endpoint security, end-user behavioral analysis, impersonation and account takeovers, to name a few. The event will take place this Thursday, February 20th, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency, Aurora-Denver Conference Center on East 14th Place and starts at 8:30 am. The Denver Cybersecurity Conference will feature local Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the Greater Denver Area, including: Joshua Foltz, Chief Information Security Officer at Insurity Michelle Vercellino, Chief Information Officer at IMA Financial Group, Inc Jim Stephens, Chief Information Security Officer of TransMagic, Inc Richard Staynings, Chief Security Strategist and CSO at Cylera Erin Turoff, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Founder of PROCANN Scott Magerfleisch, Chief Information Officer and Director of IT with City of Greeley Randall Frietzsche, Chief Information Security Officer of Denver Health Paula Kautzmann, Chief Information Officer with Colorado Access In addition, ATSAIC Ike Barnes, from the United States Secret Service Denver Electronic Crimes Task Force, will brief the attendees gathered on trends in cybersecurity. Based on his 20+ years of experience as a Special Agent investigating counterintelligence matters and cyber violations, ATSAIC Barnes will explain the current trends within cybersecurity and the steps the USSS is taking to protect private and public cybersecurity postures. The conference is made possible by the sponsorship of cybersecurity solution providers who operate in the Denver area, which this year include Armor, Code43, Gigamon, Morphisec, RSA Sentinel IPS, and more. The company explained that while attendance for the one-day event is limited, interested parties can request an attendee pass from participating vendor sponsors, featured at dataconnectors.com/denpr . Passes include all of the above-referenced educational sessions, as well as lunch, networking receptions and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for qualified participants. The event will take place Thursday, February 20th, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency, Aurora-Denver Conference Center on East 14th Place and starts at 8:30 am. About Data Connectors Since 1999, Data Connectors (www.dataconnectors.com) has facilitated the collaboration between cybersecurity professionals and solution providers. Today, over 650,000 members and 250 vendor partners make up the community that brings over 50 live conferences to cities across North American each year. CISO panels, keynotes, and informative education sessions from industry luminaries, innovative solution providers and government agencies such as the FBI, InfraGard, US Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security are featured at each event. Media Contact: Dawn Morrisey +1.636.778.9495 info@dataconnectors.com Argentina is on the cusp of registering another devastating default, analysts have told CNBC, as international investors anxiously await the outcome of "do-or-die" debt restructuring talks. Argentina's government has said it needs to restructure $100 billion in debt, including $44 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Last week, the IMF sent a team of economists to Buenos Aires for the fund's first formal negotiation with Argentina's newly-elected government. The talks, which are scheduled to end on Wednesday, are being held in order to avoid the prospect of history repeating itself. In 2001, Argentina defaulted on around $100 billion of debt. It triggered the worst economic crisis in the country's history and resulted in millions of middle-class citizens falling into poverty a consequence many in Argentina blame on the fiscal policies enforced by the IMF at the time. Demonstrators rest during a protest against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on February 12, 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patrick Haar | Getty Images Speaking from Buenos Aires, Jimena Blanco, head of Latin America at Verisk Maplecroft, told CNBC via telephone that the risk consultancy had assigned a 77% probability that Argentina would default before the end of the year. The risk of the country registering another sovereign debt default it's ninth had increased in recent weeks, Blanco said, citing a growing lack of policy cohesion within the coalition and a shortening timeframe to secure strong political backing. "This is not a coordinated administration by any means," she added. The government's timeline 'looks optimistic' At present, the Peronist coalition of President Alberto Fernandez and Vice-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner are attempting to orchestrate a delicate balancing act. The administration has vowed to refuse to agree to the kind of budget cuts the IMF usually insists on for crisis-hit countries, but it is also desperate to restructure commitments with its single biggest creditor. Further to this, Argentina's government is anxious to receive the green light from the fund to pursue a renegotiation with private bondholders. It hopes to agree on all these stipulations by March 31. Meanwhile, the IMF has underscored its reluctance to accept a loss on its biggest-ever bailout package. In an interview with Bloomberg News on Sunday, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the fund would not be prepared to offer a so-called haircut on its $44 billion loan with Buenos Aires. "Our legal construct is such that we cannot do measures that may be possible for others without this big global responsibility," Georgieva said. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Global Women's Forum in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on February 16, 2020. KARIM SAHIB | AFP via Getty Images Pope Francis made waves last week with the promulgation of Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon), his apostolic exhortation in response the Amazon Synod held in Rome last fall. To most observers, the letter is notable only for what it doesnt say: Francis avoids any mention of married priests or of ordaining women to be deacons, two of the most controversial suggestions to come out of the synod. But the document is valuable for what it does say as much as for what it doesnt, as it provides a fascinating and much needed insight into the social thought of a pontiff whose ideas on such matters have all too often remained enigmatic, unvoiced, and frustratingly nebulous. Like most any authentically Catholic political philosophy, Franciss defies sorting into the simplified, binary categories of contemporary discourse. He is not a conservative in the colloquial meaning of the word, as any GOP Catholic who has read his writing on economics and recoiled in fear and trembling will be sure to tell you the bolder among them raving about the Communist Bergoglio, the more timid whispering of their nostalgia for Wojtya. But he is even less a liberal, as demonstrated both in concrete actions such as his efforts to bring the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X back into the Catholic fold and in important statements like Querida Amazonia. The body of the popes exhortation begins with a criticism of the deracination not just ecological, but sociological wrought by reckless corporations in the Amazon. The ravaging of the environment has led directly to the destruction of communities, forcing a rapid, inorganic urbanization accompanied by massive poverty, crime, exploitation, and, not least of all, the loss of culture and tradition. The popes lament, much like the widely misunderstood Laudato Si, may be handily dismissed by those who see no valuable socioeconomics for the Right beyond Hayek and Friedman and Smith. But it is sure to resonate with those who still admire Richard Weaver and the Southern Agrarians, who remember the roots of our philosophy in a particular understanding of mans proper relationship to the world around him. And one cannot help but think of the ecological critique of the liberal society offered by such contemporary thinkers as Patrick Deneen, Wendell Berry, and even Rod Dreher. In the popes criticisms of multinational corporations and his warnings of the dangers of globalism, American readers are likely to be reminded far more of Senator Hawley than of Senator Sanders. In his repeated appeals to organic tradition and the primacy of local government, the pontiff harks back to the fundamental principles that have undergirded grassroots conservatism for centuries that are, in fact, making a serious comeback now among Catholics on multiple continents. In key places, Franciss vocabulary is strikingly synonymous with those of various nascent movements of the new Right and forgotten movements of the old one. Story continues This disposition toward the traditional, the local, and the organic permeates the entire document. The section on culture opens with a criticism of anti-traditionalism and modern society, criticism stronger than anything to be found in the writings of Benedict, as Francis observes that refugees from the Amazon lack the points of reference and the cultural roots that provided them with an identity and a sense of dignity, and they swell the ranks of the outcast. This disrupts the cultural transmission of a wisdom that had been passed down for centuries from generation to generation. Cities, which should be places of encounter, of mutual enrichment and of exchange between different cultures, become a tragic scenario of discarded lives. When Francis speaks of ecology, too, it is nowhere near the kind of earth-worship that many (including myself) feared from the bishops of the synod; it is a profoundly Christian and incarnational understanding of the physical world and of humanitys place in it. He is calling for a return to life in harmony with the natural world, with a deep appreciation for Gods creation. He is, in fact, echoing a kind of radically countercultural conservatism agrarian, communal, and ancient, rooted in history and in place that one could never have hoped to hear from any other pope in recent memory. In his recent National Review cover story focused on the popes foreign-policy failures administrative and pragmatic concerns that belong to a sphere separate from the ecology, philosophy, and theology of Querida Amazonia Daniel J. Mahoney observes that in the first year or two of Pope Franciss pontificate, conservative-minded Catholics made heroic efforts to place the perplexing ways of the new pope in continuity with the thought and deeds of his immediate predecessors. It is true, of course, that Francis possesses nowhere near the political strength that John Paul II did on the world stage; that, in fact, he has often done damage to the tenuous position of Christians in China and elsewhere. But this is far more easily and far more reasonably attributed to Franciss inferior political ability than to some malicious intent, some imagined, covert plot to institute a New Christianity. It is true, too, that Francis does not speak on the faith with the same terse clarity and unwavering constancy as Benedict. But to explain this fact we need look for no other reason than that Benedict possesses one of the greatest minds of the last century while Francis, quite simply, does not. In moments like this, however, we get glimpses of Francis the man, of the mind and the instinct that, for whatever reason, rarely shine through as brightly as did those of his more-illustrious forebears. In these moments we see that the Vicar of Christ is a man of Tradition, maybe even a man of the Right. It is true, certainly, that the current pope cannot be easily equated with his immediate predecessors the great statesman who defeated the Communists but suppressed the SSPX, and the estimable scholar who helped to lead the progressive faction at the Second Vatican Council. Quite the contrary: Papa Franciscus is far less liberal. More from National Review Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced today public disciplinary actions against the following individuals, effective immediately or on the date noted in each case. Public disciplinary actions taken by CFP Board, in order of increasing severity, include letters of admonition, suspensions and permanent revocations. This release contains information about recent disciplinary actions relating to 19 current or former CFP professionals. Of these actions, there were 3 letters of admonition, 7 suspensions, and 9 administrative revocations. The basis for each decision can be found in the Disciplinary Action Report below and on CFP Board's website. The public may check on an individual's disciplinary history and certification status with CFP Board at www.CFP.net/verify . That website also provides links to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) BrokerCheck and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Investment Adviser Public Disclosure databases, which are free tools that may be used to conduct research on the background and experience of CFP professionals who are subject to FINRA or SEC oversight, including with respect to employment history, regulatory actions, and investment-related licensing information, arbitrations, and complaints. CFP Board's enforcement process is a critical consumer protection. As part of their certification, a CFP professional agrees to abide by CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Code and Standards), or its predecessor, the Standards of Professional Conduct (Standards), which included the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards. CFP Board enforces its ethical standards by investigating incidents of alleged violations and, where there is probable cause to believe there are grounds for discipline, presenting a Complaint containing the alleged violations to CFP Board's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) pursuant to CFP Board's Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). If the Commission determines there are grounds for discipline, then it may impose a sanction ranging from a private censure or letter of admonition to the suspension or revocation of the right to use the CFP marks. CFP Board's Disciplinary Rules set forth the process for investigating matters and imposing discipline where violations have been found. The Commission meets at least six times a year to provide a fair, unbiased review of any matter in which CFP Board has alleged that a CFP professional has violated the Standards. The Commission functions in accordance with the Disciplinary Rules and reviews all matters on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the details specific to an individual case. While CFP Board has attempted to capture the details relevant to each decision, the summary nature of these releases may omit certain details affecting the decision. Accordingly, the decisions and/or rationale described in the releases may not apply to other cases reviewed by the Commission or reflect the Commission's future interpretation or application of the Code and Standards, or the predecessor Standards. STATE NAME LOCATION DISCIPLINE Maryland Lee A. Abramovitz Baltimore Administrative Revocation Michigan Anthony N. Cook Bloomfield Hills Suspension Colorado Carol E. Dixon Longmont Administrative Revocation Wisconsin Scott G. Dolven Pewaukee Suspension Florida Michael D. Hanke Lutz Administrative Revocation California Leonard I. Heller San Ramon Administrative Revocation Massachusetts Paul E. Hess Braintree Administrative Revocation New York Robert M. Krieger New York Suspension Georgia Craig E. Lewis Gainesville Administrative Revocation California Dickson Lo San Bruno Suspension Kentucky Scott C. Mann, CFP Florence Letter of Admonition New York Hector A. May Orangeburg Administrative Revocation Texas Paul Brian Millsap, CFP Austin Letter of Admonition Maine John R. O'Malley, CFP Lewiston Letter of Admonition Texas Tan Nhat Pham Houston Suspension Ohio Brian L. Stephan Jamestown Suspension Connecticut George L. Taylor Litchfield Administrative Revocation Arizona Charles Edwin Taylor Prescott Suspension Florida Steven E. Zerbarini Safety Harbor Administrative Revocation LETTERS OF ADMONITION KENTUCKY Scott C. Mann, CFP (Florence): In December 2019, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Mann entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Mann agreed that CFP Board would issue a Letter of Admonition. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Mann consented to findings based on an Agreed Order with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (Kentucky) finding that he and his firm made multiple false and/or misleading filings relating to his four federal tax liens and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing, failed to timely update his Form ADV and his Form U4 to reflect the tax lien filings and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing, and failed to deliver an accurate and current Form ADV brochure to each of his clients. Kentucky ordered Respondent to cease and desist from violating the Securities Act of Kentucky and pay a fine of $10,000. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Mann also consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 2.1, 4.3, and 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for discipline pursuant to Article 3(a) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued a Letter of Admonition to Mr. Mann. MAINE John R. O'Malley, CFP (Lewiston): In February 2020, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. O'Malley entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. O'Malley agreed that CFP Board would issue a Letter of Admonition. In the settlement agreement, among other things, Mr. O'Malley consented to findings that he failed to enter into a written financial planning agreement as required, failed to provide his clients with an accurate and understandable description of his compensation arrangements, failed to clearly communicate to a client that he would charge her an hourly rate for the financial planning services if she chose not to purchase investments through him, and sent his clients a bill only because he was frustrated that they had not generated commissions for him. Mr. O'Malley also failed to follow his firm's required practice of sending all of his emails through his Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction for review, resulting in his termination from the firm. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. O'Malley also consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 2.2(A)(1), and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct and Practice Standard 100-1, providing grounds for discipline pursuant to Articles 3(a) and 3(b) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued a Letter of Admonition to Mr. O'Malley. TEXAS Paul Brian Millsap, CFP (Austin): In February 2020, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Millsap entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Millsap agreed that CFP Board would issue a Letter of Admonition. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Millsap consented to findings that he converted his firm's funds by obtaining reimbursement for a computer purchase to which he was not entitled pursuant to the firm's Computer Equipment Purchase Assistance Program, and that he voluntarily terminated his firm employment in September 2017 for this conduct. Mr. Millsap also consented to a finding that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) found in an August 2019 Cautionary Action Letter that his conduct violated FINRA Rule 2010, which states that every member, in the conduct of its business, shall observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Millsap also consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3, 5.1, and 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for discipline pursuant to Article 3(a) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued a Letter of Admonition to Mr. Millsap. SUSPENSIONS ARIZONA Charles Edwin Taylor (Prescott): In December 2019, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Taylor entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Taylor agreed that CFP Board would issue a six-month suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Taylor consented to findings based on a 2019 disciplinary action by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) in which FINRA found that Mr. Taylor had engaged in undisclosed outside business activities involving sales of precious metals. FINRA imposed a $15,000 fine on Mr. Taylor and suspended him for six months. FINRA also found that he failed to supervise by ignoring red flags and facilitating the misconduct of others in connection with the precious metal sales, resulting in an additional $10,000 fine and a consecutive six-month supervisory suspension. Mr. Taylor also consented to findings that his firm issued him a letter of caution, imposed a fine of $10,000, and placed his branch office under supervision for one year with respect to the same conduct. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Taylor consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3, 5.1, and 4.6 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a) and 3(d) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Taylor a suspension for six months. Mr. Taylor's suspension is effective from December 18, 2019 until June 18, 2020. CALIFORNIA Dickson Lo (San Bruno): In December 2019, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Lo entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Lo agreed that CFP Board would issue a four-month suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Lo consented to findings based on a 2017 Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) finding that Mr. Lo engaged in outside business activity without informing his firm of the activity or receiving firm approval in violation of FINRA Rules 2010 and 3270. As part of the AWC, Mr. Lo consented to a two-month suspension and a $2,500 fine. Mr. Lo also consented to findings that he failed to notify the California Department of Insurance (California) of his suspension within 30 days, resulting in a suspension of Mr. Lo's California license and licensing rights for 30 days in 2018, and that he failed to report his FINRA and California suspensions to CFP Board within 30 calendar days. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Lo consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3 and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a), 3(d), 3(e), and 13.2 of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Lo a suspension for four months. Mr. Lo's suspension is effective from December 18, 2019 until April 18, 2020. MICHIGAN Anthony N. Cook (Bloomfield): In February 2020, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Cook entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Cook agreed that CFP Board would issue a seven-month suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Cook consented to findings that he was convicted of three misdemeanor drunk driving offenses in December 1996, November 2000, and June 2019. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Cook consented to findings that his conduct with respect to the third drunk driving conviction violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a) and 3(c) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Cook a suspension for seven months. Mr. Cook's suspension is effective from February 4, 2020 until September 4, 2020. NEW YORK Robert M. Krieger (New York City): In February 2020, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Krieger entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Krieger agreed that CFP Board would issue a four-month suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Krieger consented to findings based on a 2018 Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) which found that he formed and pursued an outside business activity without proper disclosure to his firm and that he failed to disclose timely two compromises with creditors. As part of the AWC, Mr. Krieger consented to a four-month suspension from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity and a fine in the amount of $10,000. Mr. Krieger failed to report his FINRA suspension to CFP Board within 30 calendar days. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Krieger consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3 and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a), 3(d), 3(e), and 13.2 of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Krieger a suspension for four months. Mr. Krieger's suspension is effective from February 4, 2020 until June 4, 2020. OHIO Brian L. Stephan (Jamestown): In November 2019, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) issued an order in which Mr. Stephan received a suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks for four years. The Commission issued its order after determining that, from May 2012 through May 2014, Mr. Stephan recommended and caused the execution of unsuitable investments for a client, particularly investments in Class A shares in 20 different mutual fund families which were unsuitable because the client could have achieved a discount on applicable sales charges by aggregating her mutual fund purchases into fewer fund families. The Commission also found that Mr. Stephan marked 95 transactions for the client as "unsolicited" when they were actually "solicited" and that he failed to cooperate with CFP Board's investigation regarding these matters by failing to timely respond to CFP's final request for documents. The Commission further determined that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) entered an order accepting a settlement offer from Mr. Stephan, in which he consented to findings regarding the same conduct, the imposition of a suspension for eight months, the payment of a $10,000 fine, and the payment of restitution for the excessive sales charges of almost $30,000. The Commission determined that Mr. Stephan's conduct violated Rules 1.4, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline pursuant to Articles 3(a), 3(d), and 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Mr. Stephan's suspension is effective from December 30, 2019 through December 30, 2023. TEXAS Tan Nhat Pham (Houston): In February 2020, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Pham entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Pham agreed that CFP Board would issue a three-month suspension of Mr. Pham's right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Pham consented to findings that he converted his firm employer's funds by obtaining reimbursement for a computer purchase and a fitness equipment purchase to which he was not entitled pursuant to the firm's Computer Equipment Purchase Assistance Program and Fitness Reimbursement Program, and that he was discharged from his firm in May 2018 for this conduct. Mr. Pham also consented to a finding that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) found in an August 2019 Cautionary Action Letter that his conduct with respect to the computer reimbursement violated FINRA Rule 2010, which states that "every membershall observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade." Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Pham also consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3, 5.1, and 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for discipline pursuant to Article (a) the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Pham a suspension for three months. Mr. Pham's suspension is effective from February 4, 2020 until May 4, 2020. WISCONSIN Scott G. Dolven (Pewaukee): In December 2019, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Dolven entered into a settlement agreement in which Mr. Dolven agreed that CFP Board would issue a two-month suspension of his right to use the CFP certification marks. In the settlement agreement, Mr. Dolven consented to findings based on a December 2018 Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) which found that he failed to disclose four federal tax liens and six state tax warrants and issued him a $5,000 fine and a two-month suspension. Mr. Dolven also consented to findings that, in April 2019, the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Washington filed an Order Revoking License for failing to report the FINRA matter and for failing to respond to the Insurance Commissioner's inquiries, and that he failed to report his professional discipline to CFP Board within 30 calendar days. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Mr. Dolven consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 4.3 and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a), 3(d) and 13.2 of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, the Commission issued Mr. Dolven a suspension for two months. Mr. Dolven's suspension was effective from December 3, 2019 until February 3, 2020. ADMINISTRATIVE REVOCATIONS CALIFORNIA Leonard I. Heller (San Ramon): In July 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Heller's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Heller's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Heller was arrested in December 2017 and entered a plea of no contest after being charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony under Florida law. The Complaint alleged that the judge, under his authority under Florida law, accepted the plea but withheld adjudication, pending a three-year probationary period. Mr. Heller disclosed this matter to CFP Board. CFP Board's Complaint further alleged that Mr. Heller's conduct violated Rules 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for under Article 3(a) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Heller declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Heller's revocation was effective as of August 1, 2019. COLORADO Carol E. Dixon (Longmont): In October 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Ms. Dixon's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Ms. Dixon's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Ms. Dixon misrepresented herself as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). CFP Board's Complaint further alleged that Ms. Dixon's conduct violated Rule 2.1 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for under Article 3(a) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Ms. Dixon declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Ms. Dixon's revocation was effective as of November 10, 2019. CONNECTICUT George L. Taylor (Litchfield): In November 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Taylor's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Taylor's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Taylor failed to respond to requests for information in an investigation by CFP Board about a July 2018 lawsuit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Mr. Taylor, in which the SEC alleges that he defrauded advisory clients and prospective clients by guiding them into unsuitable investments and by hiding commissions and other financial incentives on top of the advisory fees clients were paying for supposedly unbiased financial advice. CFP Board's Complaint further alleged that Mr. Taylor's conduct violated and provided grounds for discipline under Article 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Taylor declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Taylor's revocation was effective as of December 4, 2019. FLORIDA Michael D. Hanke (Lutz): In September 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Hanke's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Hanke's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that, in September 2015, the firm filed a Form U5 terminating Mr. Hanke's association with the firm. The Complaint also alleged that, in March 2016, his firm filed a Form U5 Amendment disclosing a customer complaint against Mr. Hanke which prompted the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) to initiate an investigation into his activities. Further, the Complaint alleged that, between February 2015 and May 2015, while associated with his firm, Mr. Hanke executed eight discretionary transactions in a customer account. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that, in some instances, Mr. Hanke seemed to have express or implied authority from the customers to exercise discretion in their account, but Mr. Hanke did not obtain prior written authorization from the customers, and the firm had not accepted the customers' account as a discretionary account. The Complaint also alleged that, in March 2018, Respondent entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) with FINRA consenting to FINRA's findings that he engaged in conduct that violated FINRA rules and consenting to a one-month suspension from association with any FINRA member in all capacities and a fine in the amount of $10,000. CFP Board's Complaint further alleged that Mr. Hanke's conduct violated Rules 3.4, 4.3, and 5.1 of the Rules of Conduct, providing grounds for discipline under Article 3(a) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Hanke's declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Hanke's revocation was effective as of October 24, 2019. Steven E. Zerbarini (Safety Harbor): In November 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Zerbarini's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Zerbarini's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Zerbarini entered into a Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent (AWC) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) accepting a one-month suspension and agreeing to pay a $5,000 fine. The AWC found that Mr. Zerbarini exercised discretionary power in effecting 67 purchases of two securities in 51 non-discretionary accounts without prior written authorization from the customers and without prior written acceptance of the accounts as discretionary by his firm. CFP Board's Complaint also alleged that Mr. Zerbarini was terminated from his firm with respect to the matter, that he violated Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Conduct, and that his conduct provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a), 3(d), 3(e), and 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Zerbarini declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Zerbarini's revocation was effective as of December 4, 2019. GEORGIA Craig E. Lewis (Gainesville): In September 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Lewis's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Lewis's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that, in March 2016, Mr. Lewis's firm filed a Form U5 terminating his association with the firm which prompted the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to initiate an investigation into Mr. Lewis' activities. CFP Board's Complaint also alleged that Mr. Lewis entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) with FINRA in which he consented to the imposition of a bar from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity for his failure to appear for on the record testimony. CFP Board's Complaint also alleged that Mr. Lewis failed to notify CFP Board within 30 days of his FINRA bar and failed to cooperate with CFP Board's Investigation, and that Mr. Lewis's conduct violated Rules 4.3 and 6.1 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(e), 3(f), and 3(g) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Lewis declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Lewis's revocation was effective as of October 24, 2019. MARYLAND Lee A. Abramovitz (Baltimore): In November 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Abramovitz's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Abramovitz's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Abramovitz failed to cooperate with CFP Board's investigation of seven tax liens filed against him by the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Maryland between 2011 and 2017, none of which he had ever declared to CFP Board as required in the biannual ethics declaration. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Abramovitz's conduct violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a) and 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Abramovitz declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Abramovitz's revocation was effective as of December 13, 2019. MASSACHUSETTS Paul E. Hess (Braintree): In November 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. Hess' right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. Hess' failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Hess failed to respond to requests for information in an investigation by CFP Board about a March 2018 lawsuit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Mr. Hess in U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. In the lawsuit, the SEC alleges that Mr. Hess was one of several accomplices to a fraudulent scheme to raise more than $55 million from hundreds of investors, purportedly as investments in affiliates of a financial technology company, but that most of the money raised was misappropriated by a colleague, the architect of the scheme, to fund a lavish lifestyle. The SEC also alleges that Mr. Hess was retained by the colleague to attract investors and sell securities issued by shell companies as part of the scheme. The SEC Complaint alleges that, although Mr. Hess was affiliated with a broker-dealer at the time, he did not conduct these sales through or under the supervision of that broker-dealer; instead, and despite his representations to investors that he was not receiving commissions, Mr. Hess received commissions directly from entities controlled by him of 5% of his sales, totaling more than $890,000. CFP Board's Complaint also alleged that Mr. Hess' conduct provided grounds for under Article 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Rules). Mr. Hess declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Hess' revocation was effective as of December 13, 2019. NEW YORK Hector A. May (Orangeburg): In September 2019, CFP Board issued an order permanently revoking Mr. May's right to use the CFP certification marks. This discipline followed Mr. May's failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required timeframe. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that, pursuant to a plea agreement, Mr. May pleaded guilty to two felony charges - Investment Adviser Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud - and was sentenced to 156 months imprisonment with respect to his participation in a scheme to steal money from his clients to cover business losses and for personal expenses, as well as to make payments to other victims in order to conceal the fraud. The Complaint also alleged that, regarding the same conduct, Mr. May consented to a Judgment by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permanently restrained and enjoined him from violations of the securities laws, and that the SEC barred Mr. May. CFP Board's Complaint further alleged that Mr. May did not cooperate with CFP Board's investigation and that his conduct violated Rules 2.1, 4.3, 6.1, and 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct and provided grounds for discipline under Articles 3(a), 3(c) and 3(f) of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures (Disciplinary Procedures). Mr. May declined to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 20 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 7.3 of the Disciplinary Rules. In accordance with Article 7.4 of the Disciplinary Rules, the allegations set forth in the Complaint were deemed admitted, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. May's revocation was effective as of October 25, 2019. ABOUT CFP BOARD Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) is a professional body for personal financial planners in the United States. CFP Board sets standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CFP certification one of the most respected certifications in financial services so that the public has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning. CFP Board, along with its Center for Financial Planning, is committed to increasing the public's awareness of CFP certification and access to a diverse, ethical and competent financial planning workforce. Widely recognized by firms as the standard for financial planning, CFP certification is held by more than 86,000 people in the United States. SOURCE Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Related Links http://www.cfp.net Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julia Suryakusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 19 2020 Old friends: Painter and curator Vladimir Anisimov gestures in front of a photograph of first president Sukarno and then-Soviet Union prime minister Nikita Kruschev at an exhibition held to commemorate 70 years of Indonesia-Russia ties at Jakartas National Gallery on Feb. 3. (Antara/Dodo Karundeng) Jauh di mata, dekat di hati [Out of sight, close to the heart]. This is how Lyudmila Georgievna Vorobieva, Russian ambassador to Indonesia, characterized the relationship between the two countries. In fact, in the 70 years of the relationship, it has gone through different states of proximity. It was pretty hot even before and around independence in 1945 when being leftist was identical with an anti-imperialist stance and certainly during Sukarnos presidency (1945 to 1967). to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Dr. Marcia Klein-Patel, Chair, AHN Women's Institute We look forward to the continued growth and success of the program under Dr. Klein-Patel's direction, providing exceptional medical care to our patients and maintaining a culture of clinical and operational excellence." Cynthia Hundorfean, President and CEO, AHN Marcia E. Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, an accomplished and innovative clinician-leader, has been named chair of the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Womens Institute. Dr. Klein-Patel will lead an Institute that encompasses obstetrics, gynecology, gynecological oncology, perinatal mental health, maternal-fetal medicine, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility, across the networks 10 acute-care hospitals. She succeeds Allan Klapper, MD, who has moved into the role of President of AHN Wexford Hospital. Previously, Dr. Klein-Patel served as the Vice Chair of Operations for the AHN Womens Institute, as well as the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program Director at West Penn Hospital. Dr. Klein-Patel joined AHNs West Penn Hospital as an attending physician and its director of resident research in 2013, when she co-founded AHNs first midlife gynecology and menopausal medicine practice. Since then she has led numerous initiatives focused on improving the patient experience and boosting operational excellence for the AHN Womens Institute. We are thrilled to have Dr. Klein-Patel, a dynamic physician-leader, serve as our chair of the Womens Institute, said Cynthia Hundorfean, President and CEO, AHN. We look forward to the continued growth and success of the program under her direction, providing exceptional medical care to our patients and maintaining a culture of clinical and operational excellence that assures the best patient experience across all of our care sites. The AHN Womens Institute has experienced substantial growth over the past several years, with a 70 percent growth in births since the network was formed in 2013. AHN opened a new labor and delivery center at Jefferson Hospital in 2014 and will add another new unit when AHN Wexford Hospital opens in 2021. The Alexis Joy DAchille Center for Perinatal Mental Health opened at West Penn Hospital in 2018, and a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opened there in 2019. During her time as vice chair of the AHN Womens Institute, Dr. Klein-Patel led initiatives to improve physician engagement, recruit new physicians, and develop protocols for enhancing patient experience. She is AHNs principal investigator in a county-wide program, funded by the RK Mellon Foundation and the RAND Corporation, to reduce infant mortality in Allegheny County by developing and validating protocols to identify infants at high risk of mortality. Prior to coming to AHN, Dr. Klein-Patel was affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and was an attending physician at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, where she also completed her residency. She received her bachelors degree from Syracuse University, and her medical degree and her PhD degree in immunotoxicology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey Medical School. ### About AHN Allegheny Health Network (http://www.AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. Among the network's 250 clinical locations are ten hospitals Allegheny General Hospital, its flagship academic medical center in Pittsburgh; Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights, Pa.; Canonsburg Hospital in Canonsburg, Pa.; Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, Pa.; AHN Grove City Hospital in Grove City, Pa.; AHN Hempfield Hospital in Hempfield Township; Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills, Pa.; Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, Pa.; West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh; and Westfield Memorial Hospital in Westfield, NY. AHN also is home to a comprehensive research institute; Health + Wellness Pavilions; home- and community-based health services; and a group purchasing organization. The network employs 21,000 people and has more than 2,500 doctors on its medical staff. Established in 2013, AHN's member hospitals share legacies of charitable care that date back more than 160 years. Julich, 18 February 2020 - A successful outcome has been reached in the negotiations between Forschungszentrum Julich and leading open access publisher Frontiers. The two partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Forschungszentrum Julich for a pilot project that will enable researchers to publish in Frontiers' journals through a simplified publishing process with university libraries managing the publication costs centrally. Forschungszentrum Julich led the two-year negotiations on behalf of the members of the Helmholtz Association - Germany's largest scientific organisation. Under the terms of the agreement, all German research institutions and universities have the option to participate. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at Forschungszentrum Julich, is an important step towards finalizing a National Open Access Publishing Framework between Germany and Frontiers. Its objective is to make scientific research immediately free to access. The goals of the understanding align to the strategic objectives of both the large-scale open access transformation defined by Germany's Alliance of Science Organisations, and those of the international funders' initiative cOAlition S. cOAlition S' objectives require that from 2021 scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant open access journals. Through the Framework, over 15,000 articles by German researchers are expected to be published in Frontiers' open access journals over the next three years. Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers aim to finalize and implement the first agreement under the Framework later this year. Specifically, the two parties have agreed: The Framework, when finalized, will be open to all member institutions of Projekt DEAL, which includes more than 700 publicly and privately funded academic and research organizations in Germany. Researchers from participating institutions will be able to publish in any of Frontiers' open access journals (currently 79), which includes more than 662 academic disciplines. The publication costs (Article Processing Charges, or APCs) of eligible articles from those researchers will be covered by the respective central libraries or departments of participating institutions. Articles will be published under an open license (CC-BY) allowing authors and their institutions the right to retain copyright. German institutions will benefit from Frontiers' institutional collaboration programme which provides dedicated workflows, support and transparent reporting on an institutional as well as national level. The Helmholtz Centres will be the first participating institutions under the Framework and will commit to fund the publication costs, estimated to be a total of US$ 2 Million, for their scientists over the next three years. As part of the pilot, a new payment mechanism will be tested with the Helmholtz Centres. It aims to simplify budget planning and administrative costs for libraries. Additionally, a transitional solution is to be found for German institutions that depend on DFG funding and are current member of Frontiers' institutional membership programme. All participating institutions will benefit from a national discount. The Framework, once finalized, will be made public. Dr. Bernhard Mittermaier, Head of the Central Library of Forschungszentrum Julich, said: "We are glad to be able to provide conditions for handling publication charges with a large Gold Open Access publisher that are comparable to those agreed with large subscription publishers in the DEAL contracts." Fred Fenter, executive editor at Frontiers, said: "We are pleased Forschungszentrum Julich recognizes the value of collaborating with leading open access publishers and continues to lead the way to open science in Germany, and we hope that other countries follow in these footsteps." Frontiers' collaboration programme for universities, research organisations and funders will provide dedicated workflows and support for university library staff, insights into open access uptake and expenditure via detailed data reports on articles published by their researcher. The Framework also offers a national discount for Germany that will benefit all participating research organizations. Researchers will continue to have permanent (open) reading access to the full contents of Frontiers' journals and access to Frontiers' Open Science tools, including collaborative peer-review, article and author impact metrics, and scholarly social sharing tools such as the Loop research network. The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports German universities by providing temporary funding for the publication costs in open access journals. Its programme aims to help universities create their own open access funds. While some universities still depend on the DFG for funding, it does not always cover the full cost of the publication. Some of these universities are current members of Frontiers' institutional membership programme. For these current members to be able to participate in the Framework, and to ensure a smooth transition away from current limitations of the DFG funding, Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers have agreed to seek, during a national consultation round referred to below, a temporary and transitional solution to deal with this issue. In the coming weeks, a consultation with the German universities will take place to help align processes, workflows and further details of the pilot. The pilot will initially run for three years, during which Forschungszentrum Julich and Frontiers will continue to work together on exploring future open access models on how funding on a national/institutional level can be improved for the whole of Germany. Germany joins other leading scientific communities, including those in Austria, Norway, Sweden and the UK, all of whom have committed to open access framework agreements with Frontiers. ### For further inquiries, please contact: Forschungszentrum Julich: b.mittermaier@fz-juelich.de, +49 2461 61-3013 e.zeiss@fz-juelich.de, +49 2461 61-1841 Frontiers: Fred Fenter, Executive Editor, Frontiers, frederick.fenter@frontiersin.org Ronald Buitenhuis, Head of Publishing Solutions, Frontiers, ronald.buitenhuis@frontiersin.org About Forschungszentrum Julich As a member of the Helmholtz Association, Forschungszentrum Julich makes an effective contribution to solve major challenges our society is facing in the fields of information, energy, and bioeconomy. They focus on varied tasks in the area of research management and utilize large, often unique, scientific infrastructures. Come and work with around 6,100 colleagues across a range of topics and disciplines at one of Europe's largest research centres. For more information, visit http://www.fz-juelich.de and follow @fz_juelich on Twitter About Frontiers Frontiers is an award-winning Open Science platform and leading open-access scholarly publisher. Frontiers' mission is to make high-quality, peer-reviewed research articles rapidly and freely available to everybody in the world, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation, societal progress and economic growth. Frontiers received the 2014 ALPSP Gold Award for Innovation in Publishing. For more information, visit http://www.frontiersin.org and follow @Frontiersin on Twitter. In a daring heist, five armed robbers on Monday decamped with 30 kg gold from the industrial city Ludhiana in Punjab within 20 minutes after tying staff members with a rope. The stolen gold is worth Rs 12 crore. The dacoity was reported at India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) on the Gill Road around 11am. The crime was recorded on CCTVs, police said. The crime spot located just opposite to a Crime Investigation Agency's office. The IIFL staff raised an alarm when the robbers fled, Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal told the media. At the time of the incident, five employees were present in the office and no customer was there. This is the second major robbery in Ludhiana in the past 20 days. On January 29, four armed assailants looted two kg gold jewellery from V.K. Jewellers. Aleppo International Airport is to resume operations, following the efforts of the Syrian army to retake he surroundings of Aleppo city writes SANA. On Monday, Transport Minister Ali Hammoud announced that Aleppo International Airport has resumed operations. The Minister said the first flight from Damascus to Aleppo will take off on Wednesday, with flights to Cairo and Damascus scheduled for the coming few days. In a statement to SANA, the Director of Civil Aviation in Syria, Bassem Mansour, said that thanks to the Syrian Arab Army securing the surroundings of Aleppo city, it has become possible for safe takeoffs and landings at Aleppo International Airport. Mansour noted that the airport was maintained and preserved throughout the duration of the war, despite the terrorist attacks, and that the airports crews are ready for work. In turn, the Director of Aleppo International Airport, Mohammad al-Masri, affirmed that the airport is ready to receive flights, as maintenance teams have finished all repairs and all technical and ground services are ready. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Hours after advising British travellers to get out of China, the Foreign Office has chartered a last chance rescue flight for UK citizens in Wuhan the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak In the early hours of Sunday morning, 9 February, they will be evacuated from the capital of Hubei province in central China to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The Independent understands a Boeing 747 will be used. It is likely to be chartered from the Spanish airline, Wamos. A small number of medical personnel will be on board, as well as Foreign Office officials. The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said: We have been working round the clock to help British nationals leave Hubei province, on UK, French and New Zealand flights. The Foreign Office is chartering a second and final UK flight with space to help all British nationals and their dependants remaining in Hubei to leave. British nationals who want to leave on the flight but who have not yet registered are asked to do so by calling +86 10 8529 6600. Earlier, the Foreign Office warned all British citizens in mainland China to leave, saying: It may become harder to access departure options over the coming weeks. Many airlines are still operating flights to and from the Peoples Republic, including three Chinese carriers serving Gatwick and Heathrow. The latest advice does not apply to Hong Kong or Macau. Turkey is taking advantage of worsening relations between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to push for more influence in the eastern Mediterranean and most other countries have failed to react, Cyprus's president said. "Turkey feels unrestrained given U.S. efforts to keep the country in the western alliance," President Nicos Anastasiades said in an interview in Nicosia. While sparring between Turkey and the U.S. has complicated relations in the 29-member military pact, NATO officials have insisted that keeping Turkey in the alliance is in everybody's interest. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may therefore feel he has a free hand. The international community hasn't acted to counter Turkey's moves in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Cyprus's exclusive economic zone, or its plan to open up the walled-off town of Varosha in Cyprus's Turkish-controlled north, Anastasiades said. "There's no decisiveness from countries to take appropriate measures and this raises the danger of conflict," Anastasiades said, noting that France is the only country that has taken an active role in the region. French and Cypriot forces conducted maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean late last year, while Paris has dispatched naval vessels to Syria and sent an aircraft carrier to the region. The Cypriot president will meet with France's defense minister on Tuesday. "The strong French presence brings hope that the European Union will take a more active role in eastern Mediterranean issues," Anastasiades said. Tensions in the region go beyond military posturing, commercial issues are at stake too. A pledge by Erdogan to send Turkish troops to bolster the United Nations-backed government in Libya has upset the delicate balance of power in the region at a time when countries are jostling over lucrative hydrocarbon resources in the waters around Cyprus. EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to deploy military assets to enforce a weapons embargo on Libya and prevent the shipment of arms to the country's warring factions, diplomats familiar with the matter said. While a maritime deal Erdogan signed in November with Libya prompted Turkey to claim maritime rights in some zones Athens says are Greek - a provocation, Anastasiades said - Cyprus will proceed with its hydrocarbon exploitation program. International energy companies present on the island will act to protect their interests, he said, assuring that the project will go ahead. Both Turkey and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - recognized only by Ankara - accuse the internationally accepted Republic of Cyprus of unilaterally conducting hydrocarbon exploration. Reunification of the island, divided since Turkey invaded the northern third in 1974, will ensure future peace and bring significant economic benefits, Anastasiades said. Turkey should understand that reunification can be achieved only through constructive engagement, the Cypriot president said. Cyprus has some concerns about the next proposed EU budget, Anastasiades said. Under the plan, "Cyprus will see a significant decrease in EU cohesion funds and asylum, migration and integration funds," the president said. "We're hopeful that there will be some corrections." Despite the island's historical ties to the U.K., Anastasiades said he is not optimistic about an easy transition to post-Brexit relations for the EU. "There are more chances not to have an agreement between the EU and the U.K. this year than there are to have one," Anastasiades said. "The EU must ensure that its members won't be in a worse position" under a final deal. A former teen fugitive jailed on suspicion of pistol-whipping three Colorado Springs hotel workers escaped from his cell and assaulted a man who is expected to serve as a key witness at an upcoming death-penalty trial, authorities say. Quinn James Scaggs, 18, is accused of tying a jail-issued mug to a pillowcase on Oct. 1 and using it as a flail to attack fellow El Paso County jail inmate Gustavo Antonio Marquez, allegedly calling him a snitch as he inflicted a head wound requiring three staples to close. Scaggs was charged Jan. 6 with assault with a deadly weapon, witness retaliation, escape and several other felonies, court records show. Marquez, 21, is the man whose confession unraveled a gang plot and 2017 execution-style shooting deaths of Coronado High School students Derek Greer, 15, and Natalie Cano-Partida, 16, authorities say. In April 2018, Marquez pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for his role in the deadly plot. As a condition of his deal, Marquez agreed to testify against others he said were involved, including a man who will face the death penalty at a trial set to begin in March. Hes a snitch and I got to smash him out, Scaggs allegedly bragged under questioning after attacking Marquez in a high-security ward at the jail, an El Paso County sheriffs deputy said in an arrest affidavit. The assault is the latest example of an inmate bypassing the lock on his cell informally called popping locks to cause mayhem in custody. The practice has persisted for years, despite attempts by the Sheriffs Office to reinforce security, clearing the way for inmates to seek reprisals against states witnesses, settle personal scores, and to attack or threaten jail guards. In 2018, the Sheriffs Office logged 200 instances of inmates defeating locks on their cells, up from 126 one year earlier, The Gazette reported in October. More than a decade ago, the county spent roughly $100,000 replacing locks and some doors and door jambs. Other upgrades have been made since, according to information from the Sheriffs Office. Scaggs was booked into the county jail in August, two months after allegedly escaping the Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center in Golden. He is suspected of climbing through a window of his ground-floor room and using a makeshift rope of knotted-bed sheets to get over a fence. He had been sent to the Denver-area juvenile jail after a string of burglaries in Colorado Springs, authorities say. Before his escape, he allegedly attacked a teacher and two other youth residents at the facility, according to CBS4 in Denver. His weeks on the run ended after back-to-back armed robberies in Colorado Springs, in which authorities say Scaggs pistol-whipped one employee at the Marriott Hotel, 2570 Tenderfoot Hill St., and two workers at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 105 N. Spruce St. He fled with money after both crimes and was arrested by police SWAT three days later at a home in Colorado Springs. At the jail, Marquez was classified as segregated from all, meaning that other inmates in his ward were kept in their locked cells during periods he was permitted to move throughout the ward to exercise, watch TV, use the telephone, have video visits and take showers, Deputy Kevin Sypher, a jail investigator, said in the affidavit. A jail security camera captures the moment Scaggs first popped his cell door lock, at about 12:22 p.m. A minute later, he is seen leaving the cell dangling a flail fashioned from a 13-ounce plastic cup. He approached Marquez swinging the flail and hit him repeatedly, the affidavit said, telling him, Youre a snitch, homie. Two days after the assault, he admitted to Sypher that he ran up on Marquez and beat him in reprisal for working with authorities, the affidavit said. Its unclear why the Sheriffs Office waited more than a month to pursue charges. Marquez remains held without bond at the El Paso County jail, said sheriffs spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby, although his name does not appear on the jails online inmate search tool. Scaggs is temporarily being housed elsewhere, she said, though she would not say where or why. His bond is $250,000, she said. Marquez, who has yet to be sentenced, faces 32 to 38 years in prison in exchange for cooperating with authorities. Police say he helped crack the mystery behind the killings of Greer and Cano-Partida, who were abducted from a party in Colorado Springs, driven to remote area south of Fountain and made to kneel for execution-style shootings. Marquez was arrested about a week after the March 12 killings while wandering on South Academy Boulevard high on methamphetamine and freely described the crimes, authorities say. The details he provided including his account of helping to abduct the teens led to the arrests of nine other people. Most have pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their roles, including one of the assassins, Diego Chacon, 21, who pleaded guilty in December 2018 to the fatal shooting of Cano-Partida. Chacon, who was sentenced to 65 years a month later, said he passed a pistol to the man who killed Greer but did not identify him. His plea bargain did not require him to testify. Cano-Partida was targeted because of gang members suspicions that she had been furnishing information to rivals that led to back-to-back shootings at residences affiliated with their gang in Colorado Springs. Greer was allegedly abducted and killed because he was with her that day, authorities have said. Marco Antonio Garcia-Bravo, 23, is scheduled for a March 2 trial. Jury selection alone could take up to two months, and the evidence phase of the trial is expected last at least two more months. The death-penalty trial approaches as Colorado lawmakers mull a potential repeal of capital punishment here. An El Paso County jury rejected the death penalty the last time prosecutors sought to impose it, at the trial of Glen Galloway, who was found guilty in back-to-back killings in a bid to get revenge against his ex-girlfriend, Janice Nam. He also killed Marcus Anderson in an apparent effort to keep him quiet before Nams murder. Galloway was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 171.5 years, marking the third consecutive time that a Colorado jury rejected the death penalty. Gov. John Bel Edwards, standing left, and campaign advisers have just realized that Edwards will surge past Republican businessman Eddie Rispone and win the governor's race. They are in the campaign's war room on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge on Nov. 16, 2019. They made their official red carpet debut as a couple in October and have kept their relationship relatively private ever since. But John Cena recently sparked engagement rumors with girlfriend Shay Shariatzadeh after the couple were spotted on a loved-up date in San Diego, California. The 42-year-old actor was in the Mission Beach area of the seaside town when sources reported that Shay was spotted with a 'huge engagement ring on her finger,' according to E! News. Heating up! John Cena recently sparked engagement rumors with girlfriend Shay Shariatzadeh after the couple were spotted on a loved-up date in San Diego, California; seen at the DoLittle premiere in January 'John Cena [was] spotted today at a carnival in Mission Beach, San Diego with Shay Shariatzadeh right behind him with [a] huge engagement ring on her finger....They were very affectionate,' a source told the outlet. 'She was grabbing onto his arm the whole time and the ring was def on her left hand.' A Twitter account shared a photo of John posing with fans at Belmont Park with Shay smiling in the background wearing a massive rock on her ring finger. 'John was with a shorter lady with brown hair,' another eyewitness told E! News. 'She had a huge rock on her left hand! They were definitely holding hands, that's when I noticed him walk by.' Something to talk about! A Twitter account shared a photo of John posing with fans at Belmont Park with Shay smiling in the background wearing a massive rock on her ring finger Questions: He also sparked a few conversations online after posting a 'Say Yes' meme on his Instagram account on Valentine's Day Sending message? Another post made shortly after showed a bride and groom dancing in the park and surrounded by colorful leaves He also sparked a few conversations online after posting a 'Say Yes' meme on his Instagram account on Valentine's Day. Another post made shortly after showed a bride and groom dancing in the park and surrounded by colorful leaves. The wrestling superstar tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: '"A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short" - Andre Maurois.' Hustle, loyalty, respect: The wrestling superstar tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: '"A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short" - Andre Maurois' Stepping out: They made their official red carpet debut as a couple in October and have kept their relationship relatively private ever since Cena was famously engaged to fellow wrestler Nikki Bella in 2017 before the pair called it quits on their relationship in 2018 after dating for six years. Nikki has since moved on to find love with her former Dancing With The Stars partner Artem Chigvintsev. He proposed during a trip to France in November and they recently revealed that they're expecting their first child together. WASHINGTON Only three candidates out of the more than half dozen vying for the White House have a viable path to the nomination, a senior official for the Mike Bloomberg campaign told reporters Tuesday. Bloomberg states director Dan Kanninen said that we are really down to a race where there are three people left who could really be considered viable to be sworn into office next year, and thats Bernie Sanders, Mike Bloomberg and Donald Trump, he said in a conference call with reporters. And of that bunch, only Mike Bloomberg has a chance to beat Donald Trump in the fall election. Bernie Sanders, Mike Bloomberg and President Trump. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP) The blunt statement provides a window into how the campaign views the other established frontrunners, including former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. When asked if he misspoke by not mentioning Biden who was leading the polls nationally until low vote totals in Iowa and New Hampshire knocked him off Kanninen said it wasnt an oversight. Vice President Biden, although he had a very strong public polling posture through most of the summer and into the fall that has really collapsed, Kanninen said. Since the campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire ... hes dropped 9 points, and Mike has now surpassed him. Kanninen added that the only Democratic rival to be set up to do well come Super Tuesday is Sanders, who is in a position to win the nomination of the Democrats based on the polling, though he believes that Bloomberg can catch up after results pour in in March. The Bloomberg campaign has long claimed that its unique ability to run a national campaign while the majority of Democratic candidates were focused on early states due to Bloombergs deep personal pockets of money gives him an edge for voters who are looking for an alternative to the two dozen Democrats who were unable to secure breakaway frontrunner status in the earlier stages of the race. Later in the call, though, Kanninen warned there is a danger if the moderate wing of the party remains muddled, unable to coalesce behind an alternative to Sanders, who has mobilized the left-wing base of the party. Story continues Kanninen suggested that if voters decide to support a candidate like Biden or another Democrat whos not Bloomberg come Super Tuesday, its possible that Sanders could have a delegate lead that is tough to match even if Bloomberg comes in a very strong second to the Vermont senator in California. I think voters should understand that there is really only a two-candidate race at the top of the Democratic field, and stacking up votes for folks that do not really have viability, either in Florida or in California or other Super Tuesday states, youre likely to perpetrate a Bernie nomination. Other members of Bloombergs staff have been less subtle in their lack of confidence that Sanders, who has scored delegates in the early contests, could decisively beat Trump in a general election. Bloombergs campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, tweeted Tuesday morning that the opposition research on @BernieSanders could fill @realDonaldTrumps empty Foxconn facility in Wisconsin. It is very damaging, perhaps even disqualifying. This barb on the Vermont senator came only a day after the Bloomberg campaign slammed Sanderss so-called Bernie Bro supporters as toxic and divisive. A feud between the billionaire former New York mayor and the Vermont democratic socialist seems to be growing by the day and will surely bubble over when the two face off onstage for the first time during the Nevada debate Wednesday evening. This will be the first opportunity for Bloombergs rivals to confront his record, advertising strategy and funding live onstage. On the Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery, Sheekey claimed that Sanders stood no chance next to Trump in the election, and would be particularly clobbered in six critical swing states: Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona. By contrast, Bloomberg campaign advisers stressed that they are better equipped than any other Democratic candidate in those critical states, able to blanket each area with staffing numbers that easily dwarf all their competitors. The campaign already has 500 field staff on the ground in each of those states and projects that number to grow. Currently, the Bloomberg campaign has 2,000 national staff members and claims to have had conversations with 2 million voters across the country and it hopes to increase that number to 10 million by Super Tuesday, just two weeks away. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Protestant websites first mentioned his conversion, but no one in Wuhans Christian communities can confirm that claim. He did however join a chat room about Christianity, and so perhaps was "seeker of the faith". The right way to honour him is to guarantee freedom of speech and freedom. Rome (AsiaNews) - For the past few days, the web has been awash with postings and articles claiming that Li Wenliang, the Wuhan ophthalmologist who first raised concerns about the coronavirus last December only to be censored by police and threatened with dismissal, was in fact a Christian. Some sort of last will citing Saint Paul, allegedly made by the doctor a few days before he died, is also circulating on the internet. In it, Li is supposed to have talked about fighting the good fight and having kept his faith. Sources in Wuhan told AsiaNews that Li Wenliang was not Christian, although he did join an online chat room used by Protestant Christians. Notwithstanding Wuhans current difficulties and isolation, no local pastor or parish priest can confirm that the everyday hero was baptised. A Chinese Protestant newspaper, the China Christian Daily, published a piece on 12 February signed by Yan Yile, that describes how Li Wenliang became a Christian. As people, on various online platforms, began honouring the doctor who had died from the virus, some praised his sacrifice as "Christian". Even his last will, which some say he wrote on his death bed, is actually a poetic opus written in his honour by people who tried to imagine his thoughts. He did not write it. Later, the platform that sparked the rumour about his faith, corrected its original postings, describing him instead as "a seeker of the faith". This said, Li Wenliang may not have been a Christian, but no one can fail to admire his courage and sacrifice. If we want to honour him, the best way would be: first, guarantee freedom of speech in China, as many Chinese intellectuals and academics have demanded; second, guarantee freedom of religion for everyone, as it is so closely linked to freedom of speech. (B.C.) ROSH HAAYIN, Israel, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterfall Security Solutions, the OT security company, and Cylus, the global leader in rail cybersecurity, announced a partnership providing a joint security solution for rail signaling and rolling stock systems, ensuring that safety-critical rail network infrastructure is inaccessible to hackers. The optimized security solution integrates Waterfall's Unidirectional Security Gateways with the CylusOne continuous monitoring solution, eliminating operational network blind spots without adding risk to railway system operations. Waterfall's reliable, ruggedized gateways replace firewalls in industrial network environments. By ensuring unidirectional data flows from operational technology (OT) to information technology (IT) networks, Unidirectional Gateways guarantee control networks' highest Safety Integrity Level, blocking attacks originating in external networks. Integrated with Cylus' vendor-agnostic rail cybersecurity solution, the joint offering allows rail operators to continuously monitor safety-critical networks, providing visibility, threat detection and response as well as a secure flow of information through Waterfall's security hardware. "Today's rail systems are becoming increasingly connected and automated in order to improve business efficiencies and passenger experience but this also increases cyber risk," said Amir Levintal, CEO and co-founder of Cylus. "Our partnership with Waterfall offers additional solutions to rail customers, combining the deep, real-time visibility into OT networks already provided by CylusOne with the most robust, hardware-based physical protections for safe, continuous and efficient operations." "The rail systems industry is very safety focused, and cybersecurity is vital to safety," adds Lior Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of Waterfall Security Solutions. "Our partnership with Cylus gives rail system operators a powerful tool to assure safe, secure and reliable operations." CylusOne is the first cybersecurity solution designed specifically for rail and metro environments. Utilizing deep packet inspection, CylusOne monitors the dataflow within specific safety-critical rail network protocols. The joint solution allows rail operators to safely and reliably eliminate blind spots, reveal asset connections, uncover safety requirement breaches, and diagnose impending service availability issues, all while reducing exposure to external cyber-attacks. Together, Waterfall and Cylus deliver safe IT/OT integration with deep, enterprise-wide IT and OT network monitoring and intrusion detection to protect rail equipment and service availability. About Cylus Cylus, the global leader in rail cybersecurity, helps mainline and urban railway companies avoid safety incidents and service disruptions caused by cyber-attacks. CylusOne is the first-to-market solution designed to meet the unique cybersecurity needs of the rail industry. CylusOne detects cyber threats on signaling and control networks, trackside and onboard, facilitating a timely and effective response. Led by veterans from the Israel Defense Forces' Elite Technological Unit together with top executives from the railway industry, Cylus combines deep expertise in cybersecurity and rail. For more information on Cylus, visit: www.cylus.com. About Waterfall Security Solutions Waterfall Security Solutions is the OT security company, producing a family of Unidirectional Gateway technologies and products that enable safe IT/OT integration, enterprise-wide visibility into operations, and disciplined control. The company's growing list of customers includes national infrastructures, power plants, nuclear plants, off-shore and on-shore oil and gas facilities, manufacturing plants, power, gas and water utilities, and many more. Deployed throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Waterfall products support the widest range of leading industrial remote monitoring platforms, applications, databases and protocols in the market. For more information, visit www.waterfall-security.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/710139/Waterfall_Security_Solutions_Logo.jpg For media inquiries: Cylus Allison Grey [email protected] +1-323-283-8176 Waterfall Security Solutions Anna Plot [email protected] SOURCE Waterfall Security Solutions; Cylus Related Links http://www.waterfall-security.com EAGLE, Idaho, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PetIQ, Inc. (PetIQ or the Company) (PETQ), a leading pet medication and wellness company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Cord Christensen, and Chief Financial Officer, John Newland, will participate at the 2020 Animal Health Summit, hosted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in New York City, NY. The presentation will be on Monday, February 24, 2020 at 1:35 p.m. ET and can be accessed live over the Internet hosted at the Investors section of the Company's website at www.PetIQ.com . About PetIQ PetIQ is a leading pet medication and wellness company delivering a smarter way for pet parents to help their pets live their best lives through convenient access to affordable veterinary products and services. The company engages with customers through more than 60,000 points of distribution across retail and e-commerce channels with its branded distributed medications, which is further supported by its own world-class medications manufacturing facility in Omaha, Nebraska. The companys national service platform, VIP Petcare, operates in over 3,400 retail partner locations in 41 states providing cost effective and convenient veterinary wellness services. PetIQ believes that pets are an important part of the family and deserve the best products and care we can give them. For more information, visit www.PetIQ.com . Contact: NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Federico Pignatelli, owner of leading photography and multimedia studio complex Pier59 Studios and founder of the Model's Bill of Rights, today announces his support of model Amy Lefvre who bravely refused to wear accessories with racial overtones at the Fashion Institute of Technology runway show on February 7. Pignatelli is updating the Model Bill of Rights to ensure there is more of a dialogue to encourage diversity and respect of global differences. "This was not fashion," said Federico Pignatelli, founder and owner of Pier59 Studios. "It was insensitive and cultural mockery. We believe fashion should be about the clothes and celebrating creative style. We do not support mistreating models in any way, especially to incite a social media scandal for exposure or profit. We applaud and stand by Amy Lefevre (@lefevrediary) for speaking up and out about this issue." "In addition, Pier59 Studios does not receive previews of the designer collections shown at Pier59 Studios nor does it have advance approval. The company is committed to working with designers and brands to ensure there is more dialogue in the future to prevent poor treatment of models or otherwise problematic clothing from being shown at the venue," Pignatelli added. The Model's Bill of Rights is a call for an industry-wide fundamental change in how agencies operate and interact with models. The Industry Model Management was the first to sign onto the Model's Bill of Rights and commit to treating models fairly and in a professional business manner regarding contracts, working visas, payment, taxes and safe environments of work, so that models have more control over their career in order to protect their professional present and future. "I founded the Model's Bill of Rights to ensure that all models can work in environments where they are safe, are paid in a timely manner and are free from the legal pressures, harassment, and other business violations that unfortunately are all too common within the fashion industry," states Pignatelli. "We will now update the Model Bill of Rights so that all models' culture and diversity is celebrated and protected." About The Industry Model Management Owned by Federico Pignatelli, The Industry Model Management is part of the Art & Fashion Group Company which includes the World largest single Studio complex, Pier59 Studios, which boasts the highest caliber of international fashion and advertising clients in the world. With the ability to call on strong and distinctive relationships within the fashion community, The Industry Model Management has an exceptional edge over other model and talent agencies. With our in-house access to the Pier59 Studio Group's state of the art digital, production and studio teams we are able to develop in a unique way talent by creating content that looks to the future of video and social media branding. The Industry Model Management is an Agency that aspires to never cease to motivate and energize both its Agents and Models alike. About Pier59 Studios Founded in 1995 by Federico Pignatelli and his Art and Fashion Group Corporation, Pier59 Studios is a 110,000 square-foot premier photography and multimedia studio located at Chelsea Piers in New York City. As the largest photography facility and multimedia single Studio complex in the World, with over 2500 advertising campaigns produced yearly, the space is equipped with state of the art technology, including AR and VR, to accommodate any needs of video-photographers, designers, advertising agencies and television and film production companies. Pier59 Studios features eleven column-free studio spaces, including a 6,500 square-foot sound stage constructed for live performances, special events, video and commercial projects. Nine studios are naturally lit and contain retractable walls to allow for unparalleled space modularity in Manhattan. For more information please visit www.pier59studios.com. RUBENSTEIN PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: AMY ROSEN [email protected] SOURCE Pier59 Studios Related Links http://www.pier59studios.com London's FTSE 100 slid to a two-week low on Tuesday, weighed down by a 4pc drop in financial heavyweight HSBC as traders sold stocks globally after tech giant Apple warned of a shortfall in revenue due to the coronavirus epidemic. The main index shed 0.9pc by 08:04 GMT, with HSBC dragging a sub-index of banks almost 2.5pc lower after its annual profit declined and it laid out plans for a a major strategic overhaul. Global market participants poured money into perceived safe havens including gold after the signals from Apple, the world's most valuable technology firm, that sales would be hurt by the outbreak. The more domestically-focussed FTSE 250 also gave up 0.4pc. A day after Montek Ahluwalias disclosure that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sought his advice if he should quit when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tore the ordinance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Singh should apologise to the country for not stepping down then. However, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala maintained that neither the party nor Gandhi would ever think of disrespecting the former prime minister. Rahulji had always described him as his guru. But it was Rahul Gandhi who displayed the will to show the way for cleansing politics. The issue is not about tearing the paper but that of decriminalizing politics and the apex court has put its stamp on that by asking political parties to upload details of pending criminal cases against candidates contesting polls. What Rahul Gandhi had stated then, we stand by it, he said. Also Watch | How Sonia Gandhi stopped Dr Singh from resigning | On The Record BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said, This (incident) shows the helplessness of Manmohan Singh. That day, by tearing the ordinances, Rahul Gandhi not just insulted Singh, but the cabinet was humiliated too. If self respect was important to him (Singh) he should have resigned. The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the plea of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, seeking a stay on the proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare him a fugitive economic offender and confiscate his assets. The matter will now be heard in March after the Holi break of the court. Mallya had on Thursday hit out at Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED saying all that investigative agencies have been doing to him over the past four years is "totally unreasonable". Speaking to reporters after the third day of the hearing at the UK High Court, where he has appealed against the extradition decision of Westminster Magistrates Court, Mallya had said, "CBI and ED have been unreasonable, all they have been doing to me over the past four years is totally unreasonable. I request the banks with folded hands to take 100 per cent of your principal back immediately." Mallya said that the ED attached his assets on the basis of the complaint filed by the banks that he was not repaying them. "That is clearly stated in the provisional attachment orders. I have not committed any offences under the PMLA that the ED would suo motto attach my assets. Now I am saying please banks take your money and the ED is saying -- we have a claim on these assets," he said. The fugitive liquor baron said he was mulling to honour his guarantee and pay the banks in full. "ED on one side and banks on the other side are fighting over the same asset. I have not borrowed any money from ED. In fact, I did not borrow money myself from banks, Kingfisher airlines did. I am mulling to honour my guarantee and pay them in full," he said. 63-year-old Mallya flew out from India in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BALTIMORE, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Virus Network (GVN) , representing 53 Centers of Excellence and 9 Affiliates in 32 countries comprising foremost experts in every class of virus causing disease in humans and some animals, is holding regular strategic discussions with its members regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China this past December. The GVN, among other critical tasks, is forming subcommittees to make scientific recommendations requested of the network. "GVN is serving as an information hub, not just for its Centers and Affiliates, but for public health entities and some industry leaders," said Christian Brechot, MD, PhD, President of the GVN, and a Professor at the University of South Florida. "We will be providing recommendations and suggested guidelines for researching COVID-19 in laboratories worldwide, while working with organizations such as the China CDC and Africa CDC as well as companies with scientifically-proven products for testing." COVID-19 has spread to other global regions, including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, The Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. As of Tuesday morning, February 18, there are more than 73,000 infected around the world and at least 1,873 dead, including five deaths outside of mainland China. The numbers are likely higher. "We have one of twelve antibodies against MERS and have submitted a grant to the European Union (EU) to study cross-reactivity and advance a SARS-2/coronavirus vaccine candidate," said Ab Osterhaus, PhD, DVM, Director of The Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonosis (RIZ) at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, a Center Director of the GVN, and CEO of Artemis One Health Foundation, Germany. "At the EVAg meeting I am attending now, we are sharing information about an EU repository for the virus and we look forward to extending accessibility of the virus worldwide." "We have been involved in setting up the first diagnostics and helping countries establish this for case finding, as the most urgent need," said Marion Koopmans, DVM, PhD, Head of the Department of Virosciences of Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, Netherlands, who is director of its GVN Center of Excellence, and a worldwide reference in zoonotic viral diseases and emerging viruses. "With an EU network of more than 800 hospitals, we are preparing for observational studies and clinical trials, so that we may start enrolling patients if the outbreak grows further outside of China. Our research agenda includes addressing some key questions about risk factors and studying pathogenesis and immune response in the European population. Further, we have an interesting reference database of data and samples from patients with different human coronaviruses from previous years, coupled with animal infection experiments to study pathogenesis and transmissibility of the new coronavirus. Lastly, our animal work also involves vaccine evaluation and therapeutic antibody studies." Dr. Koopmans attended the recent World Health Organization (WHO) meeting convened last week to address COVID-19. This was the second time that the WHO convened scientists from across the globe to receive guidance from the scientific community during an acute outbreak. The meeting identified essential knowledge gaps and existing, ongoing research. Part of the meeting was dedicated to defining key priorities, which will be presented to a consortium of funders. As scientific advisor of both the WHO R&D Blueprint and GLOPID-R, Dr. Koopmans notes, "It is fascinating to see how these new coordination mechanisms work. Compared with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the response has been much faster, and prepared through the WHO Blueprint. It now is up to the scientific community to listen to the research needs, seek collaboration and share essential data immediately." "We are working with the GVN and Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry of St. Jude to submit a grant to the U.S. National Institutes of Health to focus on an animal model study of COVID-19," said Elodie Ghedin, PhD, Professor of Biology and Global Public Health at New York University. "In collaboration with Dr. Michael Schatz at Johns Hopkins, we have also contributed to developing a new virus genomic sequence assembly application (iGenomics) that can be used with an iPhone in the field." "We are working on several projects, including a proposal from the EU Commission on animal model testing for antivirals in addition to projects with the government of Spain," said Joaquim Segales, DVM, PhD, Researcher from the Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Spain,a GVN Center of Excellence. "We continue to distribute virus samples internationally and are working to identify the structure of the virus and further genome sequencing," said Mike Catton, MB BS, FRCPA, Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia and Member of the GVN. "We look forward to hearing from GVN's specialized subcommittee on BSL-3 versus BSL-4 laboratory testing for COVID-19." "Singapore is receiving many requests for virus isolates, and we are looking to our GVN colleagues to advise on how best to prioritize distribution," said Linfa Wang, PhD, Director of the Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at Duke-NUS Medical School and a Center Director of the GVN, Singapore. "We have researchers at the UB GVN Center of Excellence and UB - Roswell Park Drug Development Center with expertise in identifying potential drugs using target molecules and 'repurposing' software simulation approaches. Our GVN center can also develop and validate antiviral drug assays and collaborate with industry for bioanalysis and pharmacokinetics of investigational antivirals. The UB GVN Center also has Affiliate Centers in Zimbabwe and Jamaica that can contribute to evaluation of innovative early warning technologies for COVID-19 infection in their regions," said Gene Morse, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director of the Translational Pharmacology Research Core and UB's Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences as well as a GVN Center Director. "Our lab is actively working on COVID-19 researching antiviral screening, monoclonal antibody screening, and vaccine testing, in both cells and mice," said Mathew Frieman, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Affiliate Member of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence. "We have an infectious clone that we hope will be recovered this week in the BSL-3, and then we will be making mutants across many genes in the clone to advance the study of COVID-19." "RKI is currently supplying our international partners with coronavirus diagnostics, mainly PCR primers, probes and controls, but also other supplies, if needed," said Heinz Ellerbrok, PhD, Deputy Head of the Highly Infectious Diseases Unit at the Robert Koch Institute, a GVN Center of Excellence. "We have started with shipment of PCR sets to Nigeria CDC on the 6th of February. In the meantime, RKI has supported, or is in the process of supporting, 13 partner institutions in 10 different countries, mainly in Africa, including Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and also countries like Sri Lanka and Yemen." SOURCE Global Virus Network (GVN) China Pushing to Modernize Its Nuclear Weapons, Report Says News Analysis The Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released a new report, detailing how China is moving to achieve world power through modernization of its nuclear land, sea, and air weapons. China was the fifth nation to detonate a nuclear weapon, and is one of only nine nations that currently acknowledges having nuclear weapons. The 2006 Defense White Paper issued by the State Council claims Beijing has adopted a self-defensive nuclear strategy to deter attacks and prevent coercion, but Chinese officials privately indicated that a conventional strike on Chinas nuclear forces would provoke a nuclear response, according to experts. CSIS rates Chinas nuclear arsenal as relatively small compared to those of the United States and Russia that operate a triad of land, sea, and air weapons. But China, as the worlds second-largest military spender in 2018, spent $250 billion. With nuclear weapons as a key military investment, its defensive nuclear strategy may be revised. The combined nuclear capabilities of the United States and the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War arms race was 64,000 warheads in 1986. The 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty, and the 2010 New START Treaty brought the superpowers warheads down to 8,290 in 2018. Given that many weapons contain multiple independent recovery vehicle warheads (MIRV), the United States is still dominant with 1,920 land, 850 sea, and 800 air nuclear weapons. China detonated its first atomic device on Oct. 16, 1964. But as a non-signatory to the weapons reduction treaties, China is unconstrained from ramping up its arsenal and is now in third place with 290 weapons, including 218 land, 48 sea, and 20 air. China is considered to have only partial triad status, because it hasnt focused on strategic bombers. This may change in 2025 when the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deploys its nuclear-capable Xian H-20 strategic stealth bomber. The new air-launch system has an 8,500-kilometer (5,282 miles) range and resembles the U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. China maintained a series of underground facilities to shelter its nuclear and conventional weapons from enemy attack. But after the U.S. military demonstrated a quantum advancement in precision GPS strike capability against fortified underground bunkers in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, China built thousands of new tunnels. Chinas nuclear deterrent advanced from Dong Feng-5 (DF-5) liquid-fueled and silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles in the early 2000s, to solid state and highly survivable mobile DF-31 ICBMs in 2006 with a maximum range of 7,200 kilometers. By 2007, the system was again ungraded to the DF-31A with a range of up to 11,200 kilometers. The DF-31A is similar to Russias RS-24, but doesnt currently include Russias four MIRVed missiles. Chinas military modernization went into high gear in December 2015 when its nuclear and conventional missile forces transferred from the Second Artillery Corps to the PLA Rocket Force as an independent branch of Chinas military. China has since upgraded its PLA navys four Jin-class (Type-094) submarines that each carry 12 Julang-2 (JL-2) sea launched ballistic missiles that have a range of 8,000 to 9,000 kilometers. CSIS comments that China claims its JL-2s can carry only one warhead, but some sources claim it can be MIRVed to carry three to eight warheads. That compares to U.S. and British Trident II D-5 sea-launched missile that can deliver eight MIRVed warheads. PLA Rocket Force unveiled its new road and rail mobile DF-41 in mid-2019 that is estimated to have a 12,000- to 15,000-kilometer range, the longest nuclear operating range in the world. DF-41 is rated as packing three MIRVed warheads, but CSIS states that some estimates indicate the DF-41 could be MIRVed with up to 10 warheads. Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr. stated at a DIA conference in May 2019 that China is likely to more than double the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile over the next decade. The DIA warned that with more nuclear weapons, China could make an offensive policy change for its weapons to become launch on warning of a potential adversary launch. The weak link to Chinas nuclear weapons modernization and expansion plans is that it has only a 14-ton stockpile of highly enriched fissile material, enough to build only a couple hundred weapons, and far less than the 574.5 tons for the United States. But Russia announced shortly after an arms control conference in October 2019 that it is now assisting China to develop a missile attack early warning system. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (C,L) and Senegal's Economy, Planning and International Cooperation minister Amadou Hott (C,R) pose with (from L) the President of Weldy-Lamont Patrick Hennelly, ABD Group CEO John Nevergole, General Electric CEO Farid Fezoua, U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Tulinabo Mushingi, Senegalese Ambassador to the United States Mansour Kane, the Director General for Ageroute Ibrahima Ndiaye, an unidentified person, the Director General of Senelec Pape Biteye, and the President of Bechtel Stuart Jones after they signed a memorandum of understanding in Dakar on Feb. 16, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Pool/ AFP via Getty Images) Senegal Needs US Troops to Stay, Says Senegalese Foreign Minister Senegals President Macky Sall and Foreign Minister Amadou Ba have expressed their desire that the United States will continue its military presence in the country to fight terrorism, amid growing concerns that American troops could be withdrawn from the region, Ba said at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Feb. 16. Ba said Senegal is determined to bring stability to the region and believes that African countries should first use their resources to fight terrorism. We respect the position of the United States, and understand that each country should support itself, he said. It is urgent for Africa to put in place its own funding system for the accretion of agreement to enable an efficient intervention of the initiatives in the Sahel areas, Ba said. President Sall proposed that Senegal should add 1 percent of the deficit to their budgets and use these funds first to improve its internal security, Ba said, and only ask the international community and the United States for help to fill the gap between the needs and the countrys own funding. However the country has no means to support two neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, which also face terrorism threats, Ba said, with Senegal also asking the U.S. government to help fight terrorism in those countries. U.S. Army and Senegalese medical professionals gather for a group photo at the Hospital Military De Ouakam, Senegal, on April 8, 2019. (Staff Sgt. Charles Stefan/Army) U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon on Jan. 30 that the department was reviewing the U.S. military in West Africa and a reduction of forces is possible, but not a complete withdrawal. The total number of Department of Defense personnel currently stationed in Africa is 6,000, according to Military Times. Pompeo said that the Department of Defense is looking at West Africa to make sure we have our force levels right, but did not provide a definitive response. Collectively Senegalese forces in the region, European partners, the French, and the United States of America, we have an obligation to get security right here in the region, Pompeo said. He also promised to discuss the issue with Senegal and other countries in the region after the review is completed. U.S. Africa Commands (AFRICOM) spokesman Air Force Col. Chris Karns told Military Times, Sahel is a tinderbox of terrorist activity and where violent extremist organizations look to use the space to recruit, adapt, and evolve. Training, logistic support, and intelligence provided by the United States plays a critical role in combating terrorism in the region, Ba said. ISIS terrorism endangers 350 million people in West Africa, and Senegal is an important ally in this fight, Pompeo said. Pompeo called Senegal an anchor for democracy and a linchpin for security in Africa. Senegalese are a tolerant people of all religions, he added. Senegal is a peacekeeper in the region and helped its neighbor Gambia to transition to a democracy, he said. Dakar, the Senegals capital, will host Youth Olympic Games in 2022 and ensuring security is especially critical to the success of this event. (top row from L) U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Tulinabo Mushingi, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Ambassador of Senegal to the U.S. Mansour Elimane Kane look on as ABD Group CEO John Nevergole (bottom L) shakes hand with Senegals Minister of Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation Amadou Hott after signing a memorandum of understanding in Dakar on Feb. 16, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Pool / AFP via Getty Images) Cooperation Between US and Senegalese Private Sectors Pompeo and Senegalese Minister of Economy Amadou Hott announced the signing of five memoranda of understanding on cooperation and partnership in the areas of transportation, energy, healthcare, and social projects, between U.S. and Senegalese companies, as well as the Senegalese government. American company Bechtelone of the largest construction company in the United Statessigned an agreement with Senegalese company Ageroute to build a 170-kilometer [105-mile] highway from the Dakar metro area to Saint-Louis, a project that will create up to 4,000 Senegalese jobs and support more than 1,500 jobs in the U.S. according to the announcement at the signing ceremony. General Electric company signed an agreement to upgrade health sector infrastructure and equipment in Senegal, build a medical center for burn victims, and upgrade a power plant. American company Weldy Lamont signed an agreement with a Senegalese private firm for a project to extend Senegals electricity grid to rural and undeserved areas. Financing for infrastructure projects in Senegal will be provided by American firm ABD Group, which signed an agreement with Hott, according to the announcement. Our cordial relationships which have several achievements are characterized by a perfect convergence of views on several international issues, and we havewe share the same values of democracy and freedom and peace, former and constant partnership. We are still partners in several areas, namely development, health, education, and security, Ba said. Dakar is situated close to the westernmost tip of the African continent and is the closest point to the Americas. TICKERS: RZZ, EMX, FNV, MTA; EXCFF, FISH; OTC, SSL; SAND, WPM Source: Matt Geiger for Streetwise Reports (2/18/20) Matt Geiger of MJG Capital examines the investment thesis for royalty companies during the current precious metals market upswing. Perhaps the most significant development in the mining industry over the past twenty years has been the rise of the royalty business model. For those unfamiliar, a royalty is the right to receive a percentage of production from a given mining operationmost often in the form of a net smelter royalty (NSR) where the royalty owner is entitled to a defined percentage of the gross revenue, less a proportionate share of transportation, refining and smelting costs. Royalty companies, as one can imagine, make their living by acquiring a portfolio of attractive royalty assets and then either (a) leveraging their portfolio for access to bigger and better royalty deals or (b) returning the cash to shareholders through buybacks or dividends. Investors love this business model for a multitude of reasons. The first is diversification, as the largest royalty companies have dozens of cash-flowing royalties (with dozens more nearing cash flow) held by different operators in different jurisdictions. The second is that the business is extremely high margin, with the world's largest royalty companies generating as much as $3.5 million in net profit per employee. Third is the scalability of the business because, as royalty companies grow in size, their cost of capital drops and larger opportunities become available. Another benefit is that royalty companies don't share nearly as much operational risk as their counterparties, as they bear no responsibility for funding mine development and sustaining capex. Finally, royalty companies get to participate in exploration upside entirely for free, which provides "a free perpetual option on discoveries" in the words of Franco-Nevada Corp. (FNV:TSX; FNV:NYSE) founder Pierre Lassonde. For these reasons, the royalty business model has been a darling of mining investors for many years now. This infatuation has been particularly apparent over the past twelve months. Franco Nevada, the world's largest royalty company, just hit a new all-time high this week, and now sits at a market capitalization of US$21 billion. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM:TSX; WPM:NYSE) and Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (SSL:TSX; SAND:NYSE.MKT) are both up north of 40% since the beginning of last year, while junior royalty players like Abitibi Royalties Inc. (RZZ:TSX.V), Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd. (MTA:TSX.V; EXCFF:OTCQB), and EMX Royalty Corp. (EMX:TSX.V; EMX:NYSE.American) have doubled or more over the same period. The royalty space is hotboth with seasoned mining investors and with generalists slowly reallocating to hard assets. This raises a few questions. The first surrounds what the reign of the royalty business model means for the mining industry generally. On one hand, royalty companies have done a service by providing a source of capital to an industry starved for funds. It is no secret that the past decade for the mining industry has been a rough one, and traditional avenues to raise capital have largely dried up. Over this period, royalty companies have stepped in and provided billions of dollars of funding to both producers and developers alike. Money is the lifeblood of this extremely capital-intensive business. But this comes with a cost. The royalty companies have no doubt been sucking away investment dollars that otherwise would have been deployed into traditional mining companies. This competition will only become more intense as the royalty complex continues to grow in mass. Additionally, there have been plenty of cases of royalty companies getting "too good of a deal," and hence encumbering assets to the point where they are not worth developing. In these cases the burden, of course, falls far more unevenly on the operator (who may only have 12 assets) than on the well-diversified royalty company. Another key question is how long this outperformance among the royalty names will continue. That will ultimately depend on the length of the precious metals bull market that is currently underway. Based on the duration of past bull cycles, I'm of the view that we have a few more years to go. Were this to be the case, the royalty names may continue to outperform for another year or two before the operators get their revenge in the later stages of the bull market. But even if the operators get their revenge late in the cycle, I still expect the royalty companies to become overvalued (perhaps massively so) in the years aheadto the extent that, as a group, they take a massive hit when the next bear market comes around. Franco Nevada exited the 20112015 bear market with a higher share price than with which it began. I doubt that will be the case the next time around. But the good news is that we won't likely have to worry about that for a few more years. It's also worth considering whether the dynamics discussed above present any opportunities to the enterprising investor. There are a couple apparent to me. The first is that the best royalty opportunities going forward lie with base and energy metals. It's astounding to me that there isn't a single base/energy metal royalty company valued north of US$500 million, especially given that gold only accounts for 1520% of the total value of global mineral production. The playing field is wide open, and I think it's only a matter of time before investors warm to royalty companies focused on metals other than gold and silver. The second opportunity is more obscure and only relevant to those of us who invest in the prospect-generation business model. I think there is a window over the next few years for the more mature prospect generators to transition into royalty companies. There are a handful of groups out there with 12 cash-flowing royalties backed by a large portfolio of non-cash-flowing royalty interests at various stages of development. I'm not suggesting that these groups go out and overpay for additional cash-flowing royalties just so they can call themselves a proper royalty company. Nor am I suggesting that anyone should disingenuously brand themselves as a royalty company before they have the goods. But at the very least, I do think there may be opportunities for these companies to restructure any existing project-level interests into NSRs and also to structure future earn-in deals with a greater emphasis on the royalty component. As a final note, it will be interesting to see whether the recent flurry of M&A activity among the precious metal developers and producers translates into any consolidation within the royalty space. I count eight major mining deals in the past 90 days, but the last takeover of one royalty company by another occurred mid-2019 when Sailfish Royalty Corp. (FISH:TSX.V; OTC:SROYF) acquired Terraco Gold. Might we see some more of this in 2020? A deal or two does seem likely, at least among the junior players. Matt Geiger is Managing Partner at MJG Capital, a limited partnership specializing in natural resource investments. The partnership is long-only and holds a concentrated portfolio of resource equities. Investments include explorers, developers, and producers of energy metals, industrial metals, precious metals and ag minerals. Geiger is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and previously founded a venture-backed technology company recently valued at $150 million. [NLINSERT] Disclosure: 1) Matt Geiger: The MJG Capital Fund owns EMX shares, Metalla warrants, and has indirect exposure to Abitibi Royalties through Golden Valley Mines. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports (including members of their household) own securities of Franco Nevada, EMX, Sailfish and Metalla, companies mentioned in this article. China's Xinhua News Agency reported that the yearly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) may be postponed. No reasons were given, but it is likely that the delay is caused by the Covid-19 virus (Coronavirus). Meanwhile, the PLA has sent in 1200 more medical personnel to deal with the epidemic. The yearly session of the NPC is Beijing's showcase for democratic decision making. Some 3000 delegates from all over China, representing minorities and a wide range of professions sit through ten days of meetings and speeches and eventually vote on proposed draft laws. The laws are, as a rule, almost unanimously adopted as they are already approved, behind closed doors, by China's Communist Party, leading critics to brand the NPC a rubber stamp parliament. But the symbolic value of postponing indicate that President Xi Jinping places health higher than politics. According to Xinhua, the NPC Standing Committee, its leading body, will decide on February 24 if the session will be postponed. Army takes over Meanwhile, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has send a second batch of 1200 military doctors and nurses down to the epidemic's epicenter Wuhan. The PLA Daily reported that the army started sending army medics starting on February 13, when it sent 1400 people, making a total of 2600. Crucial to the army involvement in fighting the virus is Lieutenant General Chen Wei, a researcher at the Military Medical Research Institute of the Academy of Military Sciences. According to an interview she gave with the Science and Technology Daily, she went down to Wuhan to join the fight at the end of January. Chen, is credited for working on vaccines against the 2003 Sars virus and the 2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. She believes finding a vaccine could happen within 12 weeks, on par with US predictions. Many cured According to figures produced daily by China's National Health Commission, there was a total of 70,548 cases on February 16, with 1,770 confirmed deaths, while in all 10,844 patients were released from hospitals after being cured. Figures jumped last week after authorities changed counting methods. Abroad, the first death outside Asia was registered in the Bichat hospital in Paris, France, an 80-old male tourist from Wuhan, who was travelling with his daughter (50). The largest concentration of infected people outside China is a cluster of 454 people aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, docked in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo. The Japanese Health Ministry says it has tested 1,723 out of 3,700 people on the ship. 340 Americans were evacuated with two charter flights and were flown to military bases in the US. 14 of them tested positive for the virus. Masked robbers In Hong Kong, fear of infection caused many to raid supermarkets, and within days Hong Kong's supply of toilet paper was depleted in many shops. In one case, masked robbers armed with knives stole 600 rolls of toilet paper worth 1600 HK$ (190 ), but were later arrested by police. Cleaning tissues and kitchen rolls also sold out quickly and face masks are often sold out, as are rice. some tinned meats, bleach and other cleaning products. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post also reported that there was a run on condoms in the city. By Li Yun, Jia Qilong and Yue Wenwan WUHAN, Feb. 18 -- Eight transport aircraft attached to the air force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) successfully transported the fourth batch of medical staff and supplies to Hubei Province on February 172020. During this emergency airlift, three types of large and medium-sized transport aircraft were mobilized, including four homemade cargo plane Y-20s, one Il-76 and three Yun-9s.These aircraft first arrived at seven airports across the country to get the medical support personnel and supplies loaded in fast speed. Then, they took off again without any delay and landed at Wuhan Tianhe It is known that, as of press time, the air force has dispatched a total of 30 transport aircraft for four consecutive massive airlift operations since the outbreak of COVID-19. The PLAs airlift to Wuhan of this time shows an example of precise and efficient emergency air transport, said Military expert Du Wenlong. He also summarized three highlights of this operation: The first is the high intensity of the assignments. This delivery mission involving eight large and medium-sized transport aircraft of three types is carried out only three days after the last mission, which involved 11 aircraft of three types. This indicates that the air force has greatly improved its readiness in various fields such as operation commanding, materials management, flight maintenance, etc. The second is the high precision of the missions execution. The accurate landing of military aircraft from seven different airports within 21 minutes is the result of precise air dynamic command, efficient control, and accurate calculations. This is a clear evidence of the air forces strong air coordination and command support capabilities. The third is powerful ground support capability. The ground conditions of the seven airports are totally different, and it is a challenge to complete loading and military aircraft maneuver orderly and timely. However, they fulfilled the task with powerful ground support capabilities. Former White House national security adviser John Bolton on Monday questioned whether it was "fair" that President Donald Trump has called him a liar on the subject of Ukraine, but "I can't talk about it." In his first public remarks since Trump was impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate, Bolton said his own views of national security policies, and descriptions of interactions with Trump on Ukraine and other issues, risk being "suppressed" and censored by the administration. His ability to speak was restrained, he said, because of the White House "prepublication review" of his forthcoming book "and threats of possible legal action." In a 90-minute question-and-answer session before students, faculty and members of the public at Duke University, Bolton voiced familiar hard-line views on North Korea, Iran and other issues. He said he viewed Ukraine and the impeachment "as sprinkles on the ice cream sundae" compared with other subjects he deals with in the book. Asked whether he agreed with the president's assessment that Trump's July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "perfect," Bolton said "You'll love Chapter 14." Bolton left the administration in September, after 17 months as Trump's third national security adviser, following policy rifts with the president. Trump announced via Twitter that he had fired Bolton, though Bolton, also via Twitter, said he had resigned. Bolton's book about his time at the White House, titled "The Room Where It Happened," is scheduled to be published March 17. Portions of the book were leaked to The New York Times, including Bolton's firsthand account of what he said were discussions with Trump about the president's withholding of aid to Ukraine unless its government investigated his Democratic political rivals. Those allegations became the basis of Trump's impeachment in December. After the impeachment, Bolton offered to testify at the subsequent Senate trial, if subpoenaed, but the Republican majority voted not to call witnesses. The Senate this month acquitted the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction. In recent weeks, the White House - to which Bolton submitted his book for national security vetting - has told him it has "serious concerns" about what it says is classified information in the book. Bolton's lawyer has disputed that assessment and asked for the White House to expedite completion of its review. It remains unclear whether publication will go ahead without White House approval. "I hope it's not suppressed," Bolton said. "This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can. We'll have to see what comes out of the censorship." "I say things in the manuscript about what he said to me," he said. "I hope they become public someday. He tweets, but I can't talk about it. How fair is that?" Bolton hinted that the book contains revelations on a number of subjects, but he declined to answer a number of specific questions. Asked for his account of Trump's controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the summer of 2018, he said, "I could read a chapter from my book and give you an answer." "In my view, to pursue the right policies for America, I was willing to put up with a lot," he said. Bolton has denied leaking any of the manuscript and suggested that the revelations came from within the administration. "Probably with leaks coming out of the administration, in due course you'll know everything that's in the book." He voiced his well-known views about North Korea, saying the administration's effort to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program was "going to fail." Despite Trump's claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he would do so, Bolton said there was "not a single piece of evidence that the government of North Korea intends to give up nuclear weapons." "This idea that they can be coaxed into giving up . . . their nuclear program was flawed from the start," he said. Pyongyang, he said, was "jiving the Americans" and is getting closer every day to the capability of dropping a nuclear weapon on American cities. On Venezuela, Bolton said the administration's "theatrics" were "not equivalent to support" for the removal of the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Bolton said China, which he described as "the number one national security issue for the rest of the century," may have known about the coronavirus epidemic "weeks and weeks before it was announced." About 1,000 people attended the free event. Outside, a protest drew about two dozen students and faculty members who objected to Bolton's hard-line views. After Bolton's appearance was announced earlier this month, all available tickets were distributed within minutes. Duke University has its own connection to prior impeachments. Richard M. Nixon, Class of 1937, and former Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Class of 1973, earned their law degrees there. Bolton is also scheduled to speak Wednesday, alongside former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice, at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. - - - Ross reported from Durham, N.C. Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project, the third Working Group activity (WG3) of the Master Trainers Program (MTP) on Risk Management (RM) and Intelligence Analysis (IA) was held in Cotonou, Benin from 3 to 7 February 2020. The opening ceremony was held in presence of his Excellency the Ambassador of Japan in Benin, the representative of the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Director General of Benin Customs and indirect Taxes. The Same group of candidates who participated in the previous two workshops got together again for this sub-regional activity to work on and make further progress towards the achievement of the objective of having a pool of trainers in the region under the MTP. This workshop is the third in a series of progressive activities undertaken by the six Revenue Authorities in West Africa, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, to improve their capacity on the implementation of Risk Management and Intelligence Analysis (RM & IA). The Master Trainer Program or MTP is a program that has been implemented under the WCO/JICA Joint Project to develop sustainable training capacity within the Customs administrations by developing 1) a pool of well-experienced trainers and (2) regionally-featured training materials and program to be used by these trainers. Building upon the first two activities, eighteen (18) Risk Management and Intelligence Analysis officials (to-be-trainers) started the development of training materials and model program to meet the specific national and regional training needs they identified during the first working group session (WG1). Experts from the WCO, RILO WCA and Japan Customs facilitated various sessions and shared their valuable knowledge and expertise on Risk Management and Intelligence Analysis to improve the understanding of the participants on both, the theoretical and practical aspects in order to achieve the MTP objective. The participants demonstrated their commitment to the MTP and actively participated in working sessions and discussions during the five days of the workshop. Both WCO and JICA welcomed their commitment and positive approach to ensure long term sustainability of building capacity in the area of Risk Management and Intelligence functions within their organizations. The participants reaffirmed their continued support to the ongoing programme within the West Africa region to have a pool of master trainers to meet the objectives of intelligence driven risk management within their respective administrations. During his closing remarks, the Director General of the Benin Customs and Indirect Taxes thanked all participants for their active contribution and thanked the WCO and JICA for contributing to the enhancement of the capacity building in the area of RM and Intelligence analysis for the West African countries. For more information contact capacitybuilding@wcoomd.org . ALBANY, N.Y. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer visited the Capital Region this week to call on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to add new conditions to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list. Schumer held a news conference at the Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post, flanked by Capital Region Vietnam War veterans, some who are suffering from Agent Orange-linked conditions. Schumer announced a letter to OMB and the VA demanding a detailed explanation as to why OMB and the VA continue to block billions in health care coverage and benefits for thousands of Vietnam veterans. A 2016 National Academies report found suggestive evidence that bladder cancer and hypothyroidism were associated with veterans service, as well as clarified that veterans with Parkinson-like symptoms (Parkinsonism) should be considered eligible under the presumption that Parkinsons disease and the veterans service are connected. Following this report, former VA Secretary David Shulkin announced that he would be adding the three conditions to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list in the near future-which would allow Vietnam War-era stricken by these illnesses to receive health care benefits-but that announcement never came. Diagnoses of hypertension among Vietnam War-era veterans have also been linked to Agent Orange exposure. Even though Schumer secured a provision in the recently-passed budget deal requiring OMB and the VA to issue a detailed report to Congress on the delay in adding these conditions to the presumptive conditions list, the report was woefully insufficient and both agencies have failed to properly explain why they are denying these Veterans. Its unfathomable that the administration is refusing to do right by our nations veterans, including the more than 240,000 New York veterans that bravely served during the Vietnam era, and has unilaterally blocked the VA from expanding healthcare benefits to those exposed to Agent Orange, Schumer stated. Last March, Dr. Richard Stone, the Executive in Charge of the Veterans Health Administration, testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that the recommended new presumptive conditions would be added within 90 days, which also never happened. Furthermore, this past Oct., email communications between the VA and the White House revealed that the delays were at the behest of the OMB Director Mick Mulvaney and White House advisors, who were reportedly concerned about the potential cost of adding diseases to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list. Schumer explained that per the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the VA automatically accepts that if a Vietnam Veteran physically served in Vietnam between Jan. 1962 and May 1975, it is probable that the veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent like Agent Orange. Furthermore, the Act established a list of presumed diseases that the VA stipulates are caused by Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, if a veteran served in Vietnam at any time between 1962-1975 and is diagnosed with one or more of the diseases VA recognizes as service connected, the VA will compensate the veteran and his or her family. However, even though there is scientific evidence linking Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension and hypothyroidism to Agent Orange exposure, they are not currently on the VAs list of recognized conditions. Schumer said veterans shouldnt have to wage their own war to gather the scientific facts and medical opinions about hypothyroidism in order to receive the care and benefits needed to treat the illnesses they contracted because they served our nation. Schumer added that is absolutely crucial that the roughly 240,000 Vietnam-era veterans in New York State receive the healthcare benefits they need and deserve. A rough breakdown of Vietnam War-era veterans in the Capital Region: Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like? As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning. By late afternoon Monday, Britain issued six severe flood warnings in the central English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Environment Agency also said 205 flood warnings were in place, meaning that flooding was expected, and there were 254 alerts, meaning flooding was possible. Some 480 flood warnings and alerts were issued across England on Monday, the highest on record, the agency said. EASTHAM, Mass. The notorious crime boss James Whitey Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped to his pending arrest. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case involving 11 murders, including that of Tulsa businessman Roger Wheeler in 1981, even after hearing evidence that the mobster was helped by corrupt agents in the Boston office of the FBI. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison, some of which describe his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind-control drug in the late 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prison something his lawyers never brought up in his federal trial. Yardley Wong, captive on the Japanese cruise ship grappling with the coronavirus, captured in a single image the essence of life under quarantine. From inside her tiny cabin, Ms. Wong took a picture of the closed doorway. She posted it to Twitter last week. So much wondering through this door, she wrote. From the Black Plague to the flu pandemic of 1918 to more recent outbreaks, the history of quarantine and medical isolation shows common emotional threads of those on both sides of such doors uncertainty, terror, loneliness, separation. But this time, the raw physical barrier is showing cracks, thanks to the smartphone. After some emotional breakdown, I find my peace from you all, Ms. Wong tweeted several days after her post brought messages of support from people around the world. Thank you for the kindness. Your tweets give me strength. Ahead of the highly awaited visit of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, former Foreign Secretary Shashank on Tuesday said that Donald Trump's upcoming visit to India next week is a full show of confidence in Indian leadership and friendship with India by the United States. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India on February 24-25. The former foreign secretary further said that the visit is equally important because the world leader is visiting India and not any other country amid all the domestic issues going on in his own country. "His (Trump) visit is important because this is Trump's first-ever visit to India. America has seen a lot of development in its domestic affairs in the previous months. Presidential elections are coming forth in the US. Secondly, this is the President's first visit to any foreign country post his acquittal in the impeachment trial. He is visiting India and not any other country. The visit is a full show of confidence in Indian leadership and friendship with India," the former diplomat told ANI in an exclusive interview. READ: 'Indo-US ties unshakeable': Senior American diplomat ahead of Donald Trump's India visit A trade deal between India and the US US President and PM Modi had agreed during a recent phone conversation that the trip will 'further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people.' Acknowledging the same, Shashank stated that Trump's visit will further deepen defence ties between the two countries. "America is willing to share its latest technology with India and also deepen the strategic relationship in the Indo-Pacific especially in view of India's Look East Policy," he stressed. "I'm not much confident about the trade deal. But this factor, I hope should not affect the bilateral friendship between India and the US," he added. READ: Shiv Sena unhappy with prep for 'Badshah' Trump's India visit; claims colonial comparison Ex-foreign Secy on the ongoing protest over CAA & NRC amid Trump's visit India has been witnessing rampant protests for a couple of months over the amended citizenship act. Regarding the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), Shashank stated that India has already spoken on such issues and said that the US President has no problem with it. "The US is aware that issues including the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A are just another political gimmick by Pakistan to rant false propaganda against India on the international platform. Even Trump is aware of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir have been an internal matter of India and we have always been against third party mediation by any country," Shashank said. READ: Ahmedabad admin serves eviction notice to Motera slum dwellers; denies Trump visit link Trump's highly expected India visit According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), President Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad similar to the 'Howdy Modi!' function that was addressed by Trump and Modi in Houston in September last year. The US President is also scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal along with Melania Trump. He will hold talks with the Indian leadership on a host of issues ranging from trade to defence deals to regional security. READ: Gujarat CM says State ready to give Trump a 'grand welcome' in Ahmedabad (With Inputs from ANI) A 13-year-old girl died in a house fire on New South Wales' Central Coast overnight. The house in Kincumber went up in flames just after midnight and was well alight when firefighters got there. Officers arrived to find a mother and father and two of their children, a boy, 14, and a girl, seven, outside the home but their eldest daughter was missing. A crime scene has been established at the home and a full investigation is now underway (stock image) Firefighters entered the home searching for the missing teenage girl and found her inside. She was rescued from the home and treated at the scene but died on the way to hospital. A crime scene was established at the home and an investigation was underway. Early inquiries suggest the fire was not suspicious and was not a consequence of the storms that hit the Central Coast and Sydney region overnight. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. A month on from Australias devastating bushfires, which saw animals, homes and lives lost, the Australian government has announced a new initiative to help revive bushfire-ravaged communities. Federal government changes to the 417 visa rules will see paid and volunteer disaster recovery work count towards the specified work needed to apply for a second or third year visa. Currently, Brits or other nationalities hoping to stay in Australia longer than a year need to do three months of farm work if they want to extend their visa to another year in either the plant, forest, fishing, mining or construction industries. Close to 45,000 young Brits arrive in Australia each year with a working holiday visa and current regulations also state that those on this visa cannot work for an employer in Australia for longer than six months. But the bushfire-based changes will mean that backpackers living and working in the affected zones can stay with the same employer for a year instead of six months. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement: These hardworking Australians have been hit by the recent bushfires, but from today they can employ backpackers for six months longer, helping them at a critical time in the recovery effort. This recovery will be driven locally, by local workers and communities. But this will be a massive recovery effort and we want businesses and charitable organisations to have as many boots on the ground as they need. Visa holders who choose helping out in these communities as their designated work will be able to head to the most affected areas such as in Eastern Victoria, South Eastern New South Wales and Kangaroo Island, South Australia. An international team of researchers carried out an experiment at HSE University demonstrating that knowledge of several languages can improve the performance of the human brain. In their study, they registered a correlation between participants' cognitive control and their proficiency in a second language. It is widely believed that bilinguals and multilinguals are better equipped to deal with multiple tasks and that they have a better attention than those who speak only one language. This would seem reasonable: bilinguals and multilinguals have to constantly switch their attention between languages they speak, and alternate between words and grammar structures that are quite different from one another. As a result, their cognitive control function -- action-monitoring and decision-making systems -- works more efficiently than that of monolinguals. Meanwhile, the scientific evidence regarding this phenomenon is rather controversial, as not all of the findings demonstrating this "bilingual advantage" effect have been replicated. According to Nikolay Novitskiy, the paper's first author, one study comparing bilingual children from the Basque Country with Spanish monolingual children found little evidence for the bilingual advantage effect. Similarly, this effect has not been observed in another study comparing the cognitive abilities of senior speakers in the region, while earlier studies had demonstrated the opposite. Several researchers maintain that the bilingual advantage has only been seen in a subset of studies, which used limited participant samples and did not rigorously control for a variety of variables including the participants' socio-economic status (SES). In other words, the reported findings may reflect imbalances in the selection of participants rather than a genuine bilingual advantage effect as bilinguals are often recruited from immigrant or ethnic minority populations whose SES may often be quite different from that of the monolingual population. When group studies use participants widely varying in their education level, income, and other factors, the observed differences in their cognitive abilities may reflect these and other uncontrolled variables rather than their language skills. 'Imbalanced parameters in group experiments is a common problem in behavioral studies,' said Yury Shtyrov, Professor at Aarhus University and an invited leading scientist at the HSE Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. He also notes: 'It is virtually impossible to control all potentially relevant parameters in a group design, and many factors including social ones may influence the results of individual studies.' In order to avoid the problem of respondents' heterogeneity, the team's study analyzed the effect of bilingualism on executive control in a homogeneous group of participants. The authors selected 50 unbalanced bilinguals for their study, all HSE University students, who did not speak their second language (English) from early childhood (unlike balanced bilinguals), but started learning it later -- during their school years. As a result, the participants' proficiency in English varied, and the researchers suggested that the relative level of proficiency in second language might correlate with an individual's cognitive control efficiency. In order to test this hypothesis, they measured the students' English proficiency and also asked them to perform on a cognitive control task. 'Our working hypothesis was that a higher second language proficiency would correlate with how often participants have to use it,' said Andriy Myachykov, Associate Professor at Northumbria University and a leading research fellow at the HSE Centre for Cognition & Decision Making, adding: 'Therefore, the more often they must switch their attention between their mother tongue, Russian, and the second language, English, the stronger bilingual advantage effect on their cognitive control efficiency we should find.' Cognitive control efficiency was tested with the help of the so-called Attention Network Test, which measures the efficiency of an individual's attention by comparing response times in conditions requiring different degree of focusing and switching attention from one stimulus to another. As such, the task measures the efficiency of main 'attention networks': alertness (readiness for the stimulus), orientation (directing attention to the stimulus), and executive control (switching attention from one stimulus to another). The results of the study demonstrated a correlation between the performance on the attention network test and language proficiency: The better the students knew the second language, the better they could perform on the executive control task. First, this study demonstrates that an approach taking into account relative levels of the respondents' second language skills rather than a group design may help researchers better understand a complex interplay between language and cognition at the level of individual speakers. Second, the study used an objective method (translation task) in order to evaluate second language proficiency while many other studies are based largely on subjective language proficiency self-evaluation and associated measures, such as the nominal length of learning a second language. ### "Arjun Reddy" star Vijay Deverakonda, who will be making his Bollywood debut with director Puri Jagannadh's bilingual film, says he is looking forward to play a fighter with stutter in his maiden pan-India project. Tentatively titled "Fighter", the film is being simultaneously shot in Telugu and Hindi. "I've started shooting for my first pan-Indian film with Puri Jagannadh... It's a project that required me to undergo drastic physical transformation and I've been working non-stop to pull off the character. I play a fighter and the role required me to learn mixed martial arts," Vijay told PTI. The 30-year-old actor also confirmed that he will dub his own lines for the Hindi version which will be presented by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta. The film will also be dubbed in other south Indian languages. The project marks the first collaboration of Deverakonda and Jagannadh, who is best known for films such as Mahesh Babu-starrer "Pokkiri" and Amitabh Bachchan-fronted "Bbudadh... Hoga Terra Baap". Vijay said "Fighter", with which he will be chasing his dream of country-wide stardom, would be the beginning of a new phase in his career. "I feel I've slowly started changing and this is the beginning of a new phase in my career. With each of my upcoming releases, I want to surprise my fans. I really want to rule Indian cinema," he said. Talking about his latest release "World Famous Lover", Vijay confirmed that it'll be his last love story as he's shifting his focus on other genres. This is one of the hardest films of my career. I'm aware of the comparisons with 'Arjun Reddy' and I didn't mind because this will be the last love story of my career. I've played three different avatars in the film, which was emotionally and physically more exhausting than I'd imagined, he added. World Famous Lover, directed by Kranthi Madhav, opened in theatres last week to mixed response. The film also stars Raashi Khanna, Aishwarya Rajesh, Catherine Tresa and Isabelle Leite. Having charted his own path in a cut-throat industry without any backing, Vijay said he's finally living his dream. "Be it about doing my kind of films and chasing the pan-India dream, or producing a film, or launching a clothing line or buying a home, I am living my dream. I am slowly trying to influence and change a generation, and if you notice, the youngsters love me for what I do, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UTICA, N.Y. New York residents could see a significant tax hike if the state decides to remove the cap on the county-level contribution to Medicaid. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente says the worst-case scenario could result in a 7-9% tax increase. The governor has proposed, indirectly, that the cap that was instituted on counties a few years back, that capped our growth on Medicaid, would be released -- and we would be required to pay the growth factor again. Now that's a problem because we have been working hard over the past few years staying under the tax cap with the benefit of not having to pay the growth in Medicaid. And if that gets taken away from us, that changes the dynamics for everything. We want to work with the governor and fix this, said Picente. The state is currently facing a budget deficit of $6 billion, $4 billion of which is due to Medicaid costs. Picente is urging Cuomo and other lawmakers to find another solution to make up the deficit. Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed that had Pakistani terrorist Mohammed not been caught alive, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack would have been dubbed as the handiwork of "Hindu" terrorists. Kasab's body would have been found with an I-card bearing a fictitious Hindu name, Maria writes in his memoir 'Let Me Say It Now' released recently. In the 624-page book, Maria writes extensively about the investigation helmed by him in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. "If all had gone well, he (Kasab) would have been dead with a red string tied around his wrist like a Hindu. We would have found an identity card on his person with a fictitious name: Samir Dinesh Chaudhari, student of Arunodaya Degree and P.G. College, Vedre Complex, Dilkhushnagar, Hyderabad, 500060, resident of 254, Teachers Colony, Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru," Maria writes. "Ramesh Mahale, Prashant Marde and Dinesh Kadam would have been on their way to Hyderabad to find more about him. There would have been screaming headlines in newspapers claiming how Hindu terrorists had attacked Mumbai. Over-the- top TV journalists would have made a beeline for Bengaluru to interview his family and neighbours," he wrote. Mahale, Marde and Kadam were senior police officers involved in 26/11 attack investigation. "But alas, it had not worked that way and here he was, Ajmal Amir Kasab of Faridkot in Pakistan, and I was asking him, Ki karan aya hai? (What are you here for?)," the former IPS officer wrote. Maria's book also mentions that Pakistan's ISI and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were ISI and the Lashkar were bent upon killing Kasab by "hook or by crook" after he was caught alive by ASI Tukaram Ombale. "As the Joint CP in charge of the Crime Branch, Kasab was now my most esteemed guest. Keeping this enemy alive was my number one priority. Anger and hostility towards Kasab were perceptible. The way the men and officers were reacting to him, I had to personally choose his guards for the entire period he would be with us," Maria writes in the book. "The ISI and the Lashkar were bent upon eliminating him by hook or by crook to obliterate the only living evidence of their heinous deed. We had received a letter from the Government of India that Kasabs security was entirely the responsibility of the Mumbai police and within it, of the Crime Branch. "Specific Intelligence inputs had been received from Central Intelligence agencies that Pakistan was intent on killing Kasab and the Dawood Ibrahim gang had been entrusted with the task. The reputation of the Mumbai police, not just my job, was at stake if anything were to happen to him," Maria wrote. Maria writes that Kasab felt Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India. "He seriously believed that Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India and mosques were locked up by the authorities. He felt that the azaan he heard five times a day in the Crime Branch lock-up was just a figment of his imagination. "When we came to know of this, I instructed Mahale to take him to the mosque near the Metro Cinema in a vehicle. When he saw the namaaz in progress with his own eyes, he was bewildered. This was not how it was supposed to be!" Maria writes in the book. In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country's history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death on November 21, 2012. Police hunt for street-racing gang after noisy Wat Chalong farewell to 13-year-old killed in crash PHUKET: Police are now looking for some 30 youth members of a motorbike street racing gang after the gang revved their motorbikes as a final farewell at the funeral of a 13-year-old student who died in a motorbike accident while trying to evade a police checkpoint. transportaccidentsdeathpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Tuesday 18 February 2020, 05:39PM Wat Chalong Administrator Chaiwat Chatchawet said apologised for the incident, promising, This kind of incident will not happen again in the temple. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Chalong Police Chief Col Sarawut Chuprasit assured that police will track down and charge the young offenders. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Chalong Police Chief Col Sarawut Chuprasit explained that a 13-year-old boy died in a motorbike accident after trying to escape a police checkpoint last Thursday night (Feb 13). Col Sarawut did not elaborate on where or what time the accident occurred, or whether police were in pursuit when the 13-year-old died. The cremation for the boy, a student at Ban Talad Neua School in Phuket Town, but unnamed by Col Sarawut, was held at Wat Chalong on Saturday (Feb 15). At the funeral, while the boys body was being carried up the stairs to the crematorium, around 30 friends of the boy started their motorbikes and revved them loudly, with many of the motorbikes being fitted with modified exhausts. The incident was recorded on video and posted on Thai social media, causing outrage among many readers. Responding to the incident, Wat Chalong Administrator Chaiwat Chatchawet said, I have to apologise for what happened. I promise this kind of incident will not happen again in the temple. They [the gang] may believe that revving their motorbikes is a way to honour and say goodbye to their friend, but the sound disturbed people at the funeral, as well as tourists and people living near the temple. People at the funeral asked them to stop, which they did and then left the temple, Mr Chaiwat said. Col Sarawut said, I have already ordered investigation police to track down the group of teenagers for prosecution. They will be charged with using modified motorbikes and causing a public disturbance in order to deter others from doing the same. Their parents will also be invited to acknowledge that their children have been charged, Col Sarawut assured. Col Sarawut made no comment about any police involvement that may have led to the death of the 13-year-old. The head of Ukraines border guard service, Serhiy Deyneko, says Russia should release four Ukrainian fishermen it detained for allegedly fishing illegally once their 10-day civil arrest term expires in occupied Crimea. We know all the citizens who were detained. The fishermen are being held in a detention facility in Kerch, Deyneko told Interfax news agency on February 17. He added there is no evidence so far that the Ukrainians were illegally fishing in the Sea of Azov. "At the moment, we do not have information that clearly indicates that citizens detained by the Russian side were fishing illegally, so we can only evaluate the information we have available and to which we have access, Deyneko said. He said the Foreign Ministry and law enforcement agencies are cooperating and doing their utmost to bring our citizens back to Ukraine as soon as possible. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on February 17 summoned the Russian charge d'affaires and protested the fishermens' detention. "We demand that the Russian side steadily adhere to the international and legal obligations and treaties which it is party to and immediately provide exhaustive information about the circumstances of the detention of the Ukrainian fishing vessel and its four crew members," the Foreign Ministry said on its website. During the meeting, the Russian side was "presented with the demand to immediately release the Ukrainian fishermen and fishing vessel and return all fishing equipment." On February 16, a Russian-administered court in Kerch on the Ukrainian peninsula ruled to arrest the four Ukrainian fishermen, who were detained along with their boat the previous day near the Crimean coast. Deyneko said their boat was about 50 kilometers from the coast of Crimea. Pavlo Melnyk, a Ukrainian lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People party, named the fishermen as Serhiy Hoha, Oleksiy Ivanov, Vasyl Tyurkedzhi, and Maksym Tyeryekhov. They all hail from the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya. The border guard force of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said it apprehended the fishermen on February 15 and accused them of violating rules of catching aquatic biological resources. The FSB also said the boats captain had admitted guilt during questioning. The fishermen didnt have documents on their person and the catch on board the vessel was illegal, said Larisa Opanasyuk, the human rights ombudswoman on the Russian-occupied peninsula. A 2003 Russia-Ukraine treaty stipulates unimpeded access to the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov, including the sharing of its aquatic resources. On November 25, 2018, Russian border guards attacked, intercepted, and seized three Ukrainian Navy boats off Crimea, taking 24 crew members prisoner. The sailors were freed as part of a prisoner exchange in September. Russia invaded Crimea in early 2014 and has controlled the peninsula ever since, triggering Western sanctions that are still in place. With reporting by Interfax This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Investors generally gauge a stocks potential returns by examining earnings growth and valuation multiples. At the same time, its important to measure the performance of such a stock relative to its industry or peers, or the appropriate benchmark. If you see that a stock is underperforming on fundamental factors, then it would be prudent to move on and find a better alternative. However, those outperforming their respective sectors in terms of price should be selected because they stand a better chance to provide considerable returns. Then again, it is imperative that you determine whether or not an investment has relevant upside potential when considering stocks with significant relative price strength. Stocks delivering better than the S&P 500 over a period of 1 to 3 months at the least and having solid fundamentals indicate room for growth and are the best ways to go about this strategy. Finally, it is important to find out whether analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings results of these companies. In order to do this, we have added positive estimate revisions for the current quarters (Q1) earnings to our screen. When a stock undergoes an upward revision, it leads to additional price gains. Screening Parameters Relative % Price change 12 weeks greater than 0 Relative % Price change 4 weeks greater than 0 Relative % Price change 1 week greater than 0 (We have considered those stocks that have been outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 12 weeks, four weeks and one week.) % Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0: Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks. Zacks Rank equal to 1: Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks that have returned more than 26% annually over the last 26 years and surpassed the S&P 500 in 23 of the last 26 years can get through. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Current Price greater than or equal to $5 and Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000: A minimum price of $5 is a good standard to screen low-priced stocks, while a high trading volume would imply adequate liquidity. VGM Score less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (Buy) offer the best upside potential. Here are the five stocks that made it through the screen: Tempur Sealy International, Inc. TPX: Tempur Sealy is a premier manufacturer, marketer and distributor of bedding products globally. The 2020 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Lexington, KY-based company is $5.66, indicating 41.2% earnings per share growth over 2019. Next years average forecast is $6.77 pointing to another 19.7% growth. Tempur Sealy has a VGM Score of A. Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. TRWH: An owner and operator of casino gaming and horse racing facilities, Twin River Worldwide Holdings has a VGM Score of B. Over the past 30 days, the Providence, RI-based company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 36.8% to $1.86 per share. Rite Aid Corporation RAD: Rite Aid, headquartered in Camp Hill, PA, is one of the largest retail drugstores in the United States, based on revenues and number of outlets. The firm has a VGM Score of A and a solid earnings surprise history having surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters, the average being 254.2%. DaVita Inc. DVA: DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services in the United States to patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD). Sporting a VGM Score of A, this Denver, CO-headquartered companys expected EPS growth rate for three to five years currently stands at 20.4%, comparing favorably with the industry's growth rate of 12.5%. United Therapeutics Corporation UTHR: Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, United Therapeutics engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases. The company has a VGM Score of B and an enviable earnings surprise history, having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters. Earnings surprise was 36.8%, on average. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) : Free Stock Analysis Report DaVita Inc. (DVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (TPX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (TRWH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Prominent film director Ram Gopal Varma, who has announced his decision to make a film on the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in Hyderabad in November last year, visited the RGI airport police station in the city on Monday to meet officials to gather information for the movie. He wanted to meet the ACP who was not available, police sources said. Varma met other officers. He told news channels that he has come to meet police officers as part of the film's research aspect. "My next film is titled 'DISHA' which is going to be about the Disha rape. After the brutal rape and horrific murder of Nirbhaya, the Disha rapists went further in their ghastliness in actually burning the poor girl with petrol," he had tweeted on February 1. The veterinarian's body was found at Shadnagar near Hyderabad on the morning of November 28, a day after she went missing. Four men, all lorry workers, were arrested on November 29 for allegedly raping and killing the woman by smothering her and later burning her body. They were later killed in an alleged encounter with police. Follow @News18Movies for more CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnira Software Inc. (Omnira), the leader in reserves and economic forecasting software, today announced that Vermilion Energy Inc. (Vermilion) has selected MOSAIC software for its corporate Portfolio and Asset Management requirements. The decision was made after an extensive evaluation process to identify a company that could partner with Vermilion to provide the required functionality, in addition to implementation and support teams with extensive industry experience. Mike Kaluza, Vermilion's Executive Vice-President and COO, pointed out that "our decision to implement MOSAIC supports our ongoing use of software technology to drive efficiencies in the management of our assets worldwide, while providing insight into both our day-to-day operations and our long range planning." MOSAIC is the system that has the largest market share in Canada, and is being adopted more and more in the US and Internationally to replace prior generation reserves and economic forecasting systems. MOSAIC's single system approach consolidates data, simplifies work flows and reduces costs. "Our clients tell us that one unified system for economic forecasting, field development planning, budget execution, and reserves management is the most effective way to go. We feel it is better than other offerings where vendors have acquired multiple overlapping legacy software products that increases required integration, complexity, and costs," said John Pollock, COO at Omnira. "We are excited to be partnering with Vermilion as their business requirements and forward plans are similar to other innovative energy companies who have already switched to MOSAIC and are now delivering superior results." "A key factor in our selection was the confidence Omnira provided as far as data conversion, customization, and support," said Steve Reece, Director IT & IS for Vermilion. "This MOSAIC implementation supports Vermilion's unified workflows and reporting from various operations, and provides an opportunity to work with a trusted and proven vendor in the market. When my team asked for references, Omnira was exceptionally open by offering conversations with any of their clients, and those that we did talk to were very satisfied with MOSAIC's capability as well as Omnira's ongoing level of dedication to support," said Reece. For more information about MOSAIC, please contact [email protected]. About Vermilion Energy Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and optimization of producing properties in North America, Europe and Australia. Our business model targets annual organic production growth, along with providing reliable and increasing dividends to investors. About Omnira Software Omnira Software Ltd., a wholly owned software company within Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), provides MOSAIC to Oil and Gas producers ranging from start-ups to those producing over 1 million barrels per day. The industry's Premier Petroleum Economics & Reserves Software system, MOSAIC outperforms legacy systems with MOSAIC for corporate reserves, petroleum economics, budgeting, capital planning, and decline analysis. Omnira has offices in Houston Texas, and Calgary Alberta. More details can be found at www.omnirasoftware.com SOURCE Omnira Software Inc. Related Links http://www.omnirasoftware.com TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) The only Democrat running for Tippecanoe Superior Court 4 Judge is feeling confident about winning. Matthew Boulac officially launched his campaign at the Tippecanoe County Democrat headquarters on February 13. Boulac told News 18 voters will hear him out and elect him. According to Boulac's campaign site, he has practiced law for nearly 15 years. He currently serves as the IV-D Commissioner in Tippecanoe County and hears child support and paternity cases. He offers what change he would like to make to the court. "What id like to do is starting looking at a mental health court and seeing if that is a viable option in Tippecanoe County. We already have a drug court. In my experience as a commissioner and DCS attorney drug addiction is always underlined by mental health problems," said Boulac. As News 18 previously reported Current Tippecanoe Superior 4 Judge Laura Zeman is retiring. The Republican primary is contested Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:53:20|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Zhang Dailei, Gui Tao and Larry Neild LONDON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is in times of global crisis, like the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that human beings can best realize their common humanity and shared common interests, said world renowned sociologist Martin Albrow. In a recent interview with Xinhua, the 82-year-old British academic said disasters show how dependent we are on each other "in a worldwide sense," and thus demonstrate the need to build a community with shared future for mankind, a concept that was forged and developed by China. He commended China for its responses and efforts to global challenges such as the outbreak of the virus, saying there is no way the rest of the world can ignore the COVID-19. "Something like coronavirus, or in a previous time, SARS, for instance, requires a global response because the virus doesn't respect national boundaries," he told Xinhua, adding that he does not share the view that China has been slow in responding to the COVID-19. "I think the Chinese response has been entirely appropriate," he said. "Chinese health workers are working overtime and at great cost to themselves. Many health workers are putting themselves in danger when they are actually treating people who are suffering from the virus." "I'm quite sure that in China today there is huge support for the workers who are handling this terrible crisis. And I believe the rest of the world too, will be looking to China and recognizing what enormous efforts the Chinese people are making for each other," said Albrow, also fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Albrow, who is renowned for his works on globalization and civil society, said he hopes the COVID-19 outbreak can help bring the world together in the fight against the virus, producing a vaccine, and eventually overcoming it. "That, in a sense, will contribute to the shared future for mankind," he noted. Speaking of building a community with shared future, Albrow said people-to-people communication is fundamental in a world society where people are increasingly inter-dependent, with connectivity increasing all the time. "We should do everything to facilitate communication between people across borders, to create a much better general understanding of different cultures, different customs and so on. This can't be done through governments building walls between countries," he said. Last week, after a candidate forum in Las Vegas, Telemundo reporter Guadalupe Venegas sat down with three democratic presidential hopefuls: Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer, and Pete Buttigieg. Most reporters who cover presidential politics tend to stick to questions that closely follow the campaigns usual agenda: health care, the economy, etc. Venegas was smart enough to choose a different route. He asked about Mexico. The question itselfWho is the president of Mexico?made sense: The Nevada caucus is Saturday, and 78 percent of the states roughly 800,000 Hispanics are of Mexican origin. Advertisement The candidates, however, were ill-prepared. And thats putting it mildly. Steyer couldnt remember Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexicos president since late 2018. I forget, Steyer acknowledged. That Steyer, a billionaire who has never held elected office, could not recall the name of a foreign leader might be forgivable, but Amy Klobuchar, a sitting U.S. Senator, is another matter. Im sorry to ask this, Venegas told Klobuchar. But do you know who he is? Klobuchar hesitated, looked to her right (perhaps in search of a lifeline), and tried to respond. I know that he is the Mexican president, she said, awkwardly. Venegas would not relent. But would you tell me his name? he followed up. Klobuchar was forced to admit that she couldnt, even though she had recently voted for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade treaty Mexicos president had lobbied for. Pete Buttigieg fared better, sweating through the correct answer. President Lopez Obrador, I hope, he said, blushing slightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video of Klobuchars exchange with Venegas went viral. Some of my colleagues in the political press seemed surprised at her inability to answer this simple question. But I wasnt. Ive seen American politicians stumped by what should be essential knowledge of Latin America as a whole and Mexico in particular. Four years ago, I interviewed Bernie Sanders in Los Angeles. Like Venegas, I tried to focus my questions on Latin America, specifically the crisis of the regions leftist regimes, including in Venezuela and Argentina. Sanders would have none of it. Im running for president of the United States. I have an opinion, but I am focused on my campaign, he told me. He hasnt changed much since then. Just last week, Sanders tried to explain his support for former Bolivian President Evo Morales. When Chuck Todd tried to follow up, Sanders attempted a pivot. I dont know that everybody is interested in Ecuador, Sanders said, mistaking Bolivia for Ecuador. Advertisement This extraordinary ignorance about a regionand a country, Mexicoof undeniable, objective importance for the United States is inexcusable. Think of Mexico. After President Donald Trumps trade war with China, it is now Americas largest trading partner. The country is, by far, the top travel destination for American tourists abroad: More than 30 million Americans visit Mexico every year. There is, of course, another side of the coin. The countrys cartels play a crucial role in the opioid epidemic in America, as well as other, equally harmful drug trafficking operations. Add to that the rising toll of the refugee crisis in Mexico and other scourges like human smuggling, and Mexico becomes a clear source of concern for the United States. The fact that Mexico could argue much the same thing of its neighbor to the north, whose lax gun control laws provide hundreds of thousands of weapons of war to those same criminal organizations, only makes the relationship more complex and relevant, even urgent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of my colleagues in the political press seemed surprised at Klobuchars inability to answer this simple question. But I wasnt. Whose fault is it, then, that these candidates running for the highest office in the land know so little? The politicians themselves are to blame, of course. But American journalists have also played a role. Consider the eight debates held so far among the Democratic candidates. Apart from some stellar questioning by my Latino colleague Jorge Ramos and Jose Diaz-Balart, none of the debate moderators have shown any interest in asking the candidates about Mexico or Latin America, especially in contexts other than immigration. Moderators have asked about North Korea, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Russia, and China. But not Mexico. This is as unfathomable and embarrassing as Klobuchars and Steyers obliviousness. Now more than ever, the relationship between the United States and Mexico deserves to be discussed. After all, it took Trump less than two minutes to begin bashing Mexico and its citizens when he first declared his candidacy for presidency, half a decade ago. He hasnt stopped since. What have voters of Mexican origin, who make up the majority of the countrys growing Hispanic electorate, heard from the Democratic Party in response? Either nothing or empty platitudes, sometimes delivered in Spanish for the optics. No wonder, then, that those same voters have turned out to vote in such dismal numbers over the years. The Democrats need to address their issues ahora mismo. Wednesdays debate might be a good place to start. Nevadas large Mexican American community will surely be listening. Other far larger Hispanic electorates in states like the solidly Democratic California or Texas, which the Democrats hope to keep turning blue, will be as well. COLUMBIA, Md. and HOUSTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA recently announced that it has selected four science investigations as a step in choosing one or two missions for flight opportunities in the 2020's as part of its Discovery program. Among these are the Trident and DAVINCI+ mission concepts. Trident's Principal Investigator is the Universities Space Research Association's (USRA) Louise Prockter, Director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute. A co-investigator is USRA Staff Scientist at LPI, Dr. Paul Schenk. USRA scientists Walter Kiefer and Justin Filiberto, also from the at LPI, are co-investigators on DAVINCI+. "The USRA team is thrilled to play such a significant role in two of the four selected missions for Phase A of NASA's Discovery Program. We look forward with great anticipation to working with the other team members to advance the scientific and technical maturity of these missions during Phase A," noted Ghassem Asrar, Senior Vice President, Science, at USRA. The goal of NASA's Discovery Program is to address pressing questions in planetary science and increase our understanding of our solar system, and the latest four missions selected focus on compelling destinations and science questions that are not covered by NASA's active and planned missions. At the conclusion of the upcoming study, next year, only one or two of the four missions will be selected for development and launch. Each of the four nine-month studies, which also include the Io Volcanic Observer (IVO), and the Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy (VERITAS) mission, will receive $3 million to develop and mature concepts and will conclude with a Concept Study Report. "These selected missions have the potential to transform our understanding of some of the solar system's most active and complex worlds," said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "Exploring any one of these celestial bodies will help unlock the secrets of how it, and others like it, came to be in the cosmos." The Trident mission would explore Triton, a unique and highly active icy moon of Neptune, to understand pathways to habitable worlds at tremendous distances from the Sun. NASA's Voyager 2 mission showed that Triton has active resurfacinggenerating the second youngest surface in the solar systemwith erupting plumes and an atmosphere. Coupled with an ionosphere that can create organic snow and the potential for an interior ocean, Triton is an exciting exploration target for understanding how habitable worlds may develop in our solar system and others. Using a single flyby, TRIDENT would map Triton, characterize active processes, and determine whether the predicted subsurface ocean exists. The Trident Mission proposal is led by USRA's Louise Prockter, Director, Lunar Planetary Institute(LPI). USRA's Paul Schenk, also with LPI, is a co-investigator. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, would provide project management, Ball Aerospace would build the spacecraft, and international partners would include the Italian Space Agency and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. DAVINCI+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus). DAVINCI+ will analyze Venus' atmosphere to understand how it formed, evolved and determine whether Venus ever had an ocean. DAVINCI+ plunges through Venus' inhospitable atmosphere to precisely measure its composition down to the surface. The instruments are encapsulated within a purpose-built descent sphere to protect them from the intense environment of Venus. The "+" in DAVINCI+ refers to the imaging component of the mission, which includes cameras on the descent sphere and orbiter designed to map surface rock-type. The results from DAVINCI+ have the potential to reshape our understanding of terrestrial planet formation in our solar system and beyond. James Garvin, Chief Scientist of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the Principal Investigator. Additionally, Universities Space Research Association's scientists at LPI, Justin Filiberto and Walter Kiefer, are co-investigators on the DAVINCI + mission proposal. NASA GSFC would provide project management for DAVINCI+. The selected missions will be managed by the Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the Discovery Program. The Discovery Program conducts space science investigations in the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, guided by NASA's agency priorities and the Decadal Survey process of the National Academy of Sciences. Established in 1992, NASA's Discovery Program has supported the development and implementation of over 20 missions and instruments. These selections are part of the ninth Discovery Program competition. For more information about NASA's Discovery Program, visit: http://discovery.nasa.gov. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs, under Federal funding. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu. PR Contact: Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D. [email protected]; 443-812-6945 Julie Tygielski [email protected] SOURCE Universities Space Research Association Related Links http://www.usra.edu Remember Ben Hart who sued the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (and won) after he was denied a vanity license plate that said "IM GOD?" Hart had the plate for more than a decade while living in Ohio (image above) and wanted to keep the message when he moved to Kenton County a few years ago. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet denied his application citing rules against personalized plates that are "vulgar or obscene." Last year, American Civil Liberties Union and Freedom From Religion Foundation argued that the state had violated the First Amendment and won Hart the right to get the plate. Last week, a United States District Judge ordered the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to pay Hart $151,206 in attorneys' fees and litigation costs. From Fox19: Hart, who identifies as an atheist, says his personalized plate is his way of spreading a political and philosophical message that faith is susceptible to individualized interpretation. "I can prove I'm God. You can't prove I'm not. Now, how can I prove I'm God? Well, there are six definitions for God in the American Heritage Dictionary, and number five is a very handsome man, and my wife says I'm a very handsome man, and nobody argues with my wife," Hart told FOX19 NOW. The second bidder, South America-based Synergy Group, did not submit a plan for Jet Airways and the group reportedly sought clarity on slots in the domestic and international routes of the grounded airline. Even as Jet Airways' Committee of Creditors is to meet today (Tuesday) to decide on extending deadline to two suitors that have evinced interest in the grounded airline, New Delhi-based Prudent ARC reportedly sought more time for submitting its revival proposal for the crisis-hit airline, said news reports. Though the two suitorsnamely Prudent ARC and Synergy Group, reportedly expressed their interest to acquire Jet Airways which was grounded in April last year due to acute liquidity crunch, they failed to submit a resolution plan as the deadline to submit bid ended on Monday, said a report in Moneycontrol. Prudent ARC reportedly sought four more weeks time to submit a revival proposal for the debt-laden airline, reported Business Standard. The second bidder, South America-based Synergy Group, did not submit a plan for Jet Airways and the group reportedly sought clarity on slots in the domestic and international routes of the grounded airline, the report said. Jet Airways has attracted a slew of bidders. Early last month, Synergy Group, which owns majority shares in airlines including Colombian carrier Avianca Holdings, had submitted a fresh expression of interest (EoI) for investing in the bankrupt Jet Airways, reported The Economic Times. In December last year, Synergy Group had sought more time to take a decision on investing in the grounded airline. In December 2019, the UK-based Hinduja Group yet again expressed interest to buy Jet Airways. The Hinduja Group had plans to submit an expression of interest by the 15 January 2020 deadline, signalling its intent to make a formal offer. However, in January this year, the group reportedly withdrew as it did not find any value in the company. In May 2019, there were reports that Hinduja Group was planning to initiate the bidding process for Jet Airways. The business group and Etihad Airways were also expected to meet on 23 May, 2019 to explore ways to revive the cash-starved airline. However, the Hinduja Group and Etihad Airways failed to strike a deal for joint ownership of Jet Airways. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) sought extension of corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Jet Airways from the Mumbai bench of the NCLT in view of South America's Synergy Group wanting more time for due diligence and two new interests being shown for the grounded airline. On 17 December, the Aviation Ministry and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had informed the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that they would positively consider any concrete business plan for the grounded Jet Airways. The airline owes over Rs 8,500 crore to a consortium of 26 banks led by State Bank, and over Rs 13,000 crore to the tens of hundreds of vendors and around 23,000-odd employees. Lenders to Jet Airways, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), are seeking investors in Jet to recover their dues. The airlines total liability, including unpaid salaries and vendor dues, is nearly Rs 15,000 crore. -- With inputs from agencies PAAIA Launches Campaign to Combat Increasing Discrimination Against Iranian Americans 02/18/20 Press Release by Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), February 7, 2020 Iranian Americans Are American will encourage greater awareness of Iranian American beliefs and contributions Washington, DC - Amid mounting tensions between the U.S. and Iran that have resulted in renewed discrimination of Iranian Americans, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) today launched Iranian Americans Are American to reaffirm that Iranian Americans are, first and foremost, American. This campaign launches as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admitted to inappropriately targeting Iranian Americans and breaching agency protocol last month when they detained hundreds of Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canadian border simply because of their national origin. "During times of conflict, our community has faced increased suspicion and discrimination," said PAAIA Executive Director Leila Austin. "PAAIA's Iranian Americans Are American campaign seeks to highlight the American identity of Iranian Americans across social media and through community engagement and direct outreach to members of Congress." Iranian Americans Are American will encourage greater understanding of the Iranian American community by highlighting the democratic beliefs, contributions to U.S. economy, culture, safety, and security of this vibrant, ethnic community. PAAIA is calling on allies to show their support for the Iranian American community by following PAAIA on Facebook and Twitter and liking, sharing and reposting campaign content. In January, PAAIA was flooded with reports that hundreds of Iranian Americans, including young children, had been detained by CBP at the Peace Arch Border on the Washington State/Canadian border. The majority were U.S. citizens and permanent residents, detained solely based on their ethnicity or national origin. Instead of a warm welcome back to their country, these Iranian Americans were greeted with lengthy and invasive questioning about their family and employment histories, their parents' mandatory military service in Iran, their allegiance to the U.S. or Iran, and their faith - a clear violation of their First Amendment Rights. "No American should face discrimination because of their ethnicity or country of origin," added Austin. "PAAIA believes that through greater education about Iranian Americans, we can begin to quell the discrimination that has long afflicted our community." According to the results of a 2018 survey conducted by PAAIA, 77 percent of Iranian Americans expressed concerns about discrimination. Of those surveyed, 49 percent indicated that they have personally experienced discrimination because of their ethnicity or country of origin. About PAAIA: The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization that serves the interests of Iranian Americans and represents the community before U.S. policymakers and the American public at large. We work to expand opportunities for the active participation of Iranian Americans in the democratic process at all levels of government and in public debate, provide opportunities for advancement for our next generation, educate the American public and policymakers on the Iranian American community and their opinions, and foster greater understanding between the people of Iran and the United States. Ebrahim Hatamikia, Irans award-winning director known for his films on the Iraq-Iran War, has made headlines again with his new film Exit, a political drama about a group of farmers driving their tractors in protest to the presidential palace. Irans moderates accused the director of making the film to please the countrys hard-liners, pointing out that the film was financed by Owj Arts and Media Organization, which is tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). During a Feb. 8 press conference, Hatamikia denied that he has ever made films on request, or ever will. The son of an Iranian Azeri family, Hatamikia started his career in the film industry as a scriptwriter. He directed his first film, The Identity, in 1986 and followed it with a series of documentaries on the Iraq-Iran War, known as the sacred defense in Iran. The ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the heroism of Iranian soldiers sacrificing their lives for their homeland were recurrent themes in his earlier films. Over the past four decades, Hatamikia has made contentious social and political films, including From Karkheh to Rhein (1993) and The Glass Agency (1998). The former narrates the story of an Iranian veteran passing away in Berlin as the result of the chemical weapons Germany sold to Iraq during the war, and the latter portrays the isolation and destitution of Iraq-Iran War veterans once society and the government forget their sacrifices and leave them to fend for themselves. In the 2000s, Hatamikia tackled another sensitive subject Irans security apparatus. The Color Purple, directed in 2005, narrates the story of an undercover intelligence officer who falls in love with a college student whose father, one of the leaders of the opposition, was a target. The Ministry of Intelligence objected to the film, which was banned until 2010. In the 2009 presidential election, Reformist candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi announced that the ballots were rigged, leading to massive protests across Iran and imprisonment of critics. To the shock of radicals, Hatamikia publicly declared in 2014 that he had voted for Mousavi and even retold the story of how his sons used his megaphone to shout slogans against hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who won the 2009 elections. Merely a year after the lifting of the ban on The Color Purple, Hatamikia made another film that was banned as well. The Report of a Party" focused on the 2009 post-election events that led to the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi. The film was screened only once, at the Fajr International Film Festival, before being banned. Hard-line Raja news site slammed Hatamikia for making a film in favor of Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard, arguing that Hatamikia has no right anymore to speak about the holy defense. He had better speak about the lady [Mousavis wife] of his city. Even before the film on Mousavi, Hatamikia had drawn the reaction of the radicals. In 2009, Kayhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of the hard-liners, railed against him saying that his recent films about the war were in conflict with the concept of [Islamic Revolution] resistance. In 2016, Hatamikia said that he had voted for Hassan Rouhani in the 2013 presidential election, but added, I, however, have the right to criticize him. That same year, he accepted funding from Owj for his upcoming films Bodyguard (2016) and Exit (2020). It is Exit, screened at Irans state-run main film event, the Fajr International Film Festival, that has created the most recent controversy. The film, screened for the first time in early February narrates the story of several farmers who drive their tractors to the presidential palace in protest of the economic and agricultural policies. On their way, the old farmers are stopped and arrested by the security forces; the presidents senior adviser makes promises, which are never fulfilled. The film was lambasted by the Reformists immediately, who described it as a propaganda film commissioned by the radicals to undermine Rouhani. The government-run Iran newspaper described the film as superficial and laughable. Reformist Entekhab news site said Hatamikias talents as a filmmaker were diminishing and the only way he could get funding was by directly hitting the president. The hard-liners rose to the directors defense. Hatamikia may well be Irans only star director who has never sold out his nations causes to make pseudo-intellectual gestures and [gain favor in] various festivals. Hatamikia is still by far the best Iranian director. His work isnt [tied] to the Cannes and Berlin [film festivals] but to Iran and the Islamic Revolution, wrote IRGC-affiliated Javan newspaper on Feb. 12. The commentary called Exit a film that seeks justice and urged the director to pursue the path of justice. During the Feb. 8 press conference, Hatamikia responded to the criticism by saying that he was not worried about the critique, but that he did not like the insults thrown at him. What is my sin? That Im a filmmaker? Why the articles and reactions are [similar to] the courts? he asked, firmly denying that he made films at anyones command. He boycotted the closing ceremony of the Fajr festival on Feb. 11, because he wasnt nominated for an award in directing or screenwriting. In this vein, Kayhan daily took a swipe at the government, claiming that the festival jury was supposed to put Exit on the list of nominations for the best script and best director, but they were dissuaded. Hard-line Fars News Agency, in a commentary Feb. 11, asked the jury just why the film was ignored. Is it its critical and anti-governmental content that caused it to be ignored? it said, adding that Hatamikia is used to film festivals ignoring him. He is a protester and this issue leads [the officials] to ignore him, in the hope of silencing him. Despite his insistence on being independent, Hatamikia has clearly distanced himself from his past and is now recognized by the public as the desired director of the radicals a filmmaker they have always yearned for. This change of direction toward the power centers could be costly for Hatamikia, as it would ultimately lead people to back away from Hatamikia and diminish a large part of his films audience. A Bergen County man was arrested Friday on charges he sexually assaulted a juvenile in town, authorities said Tuesday. Cory Bensen, 27, of River Edge, faces multiple charges including first-degree aggravated sexual assault, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Bensen was also charged with sexual assault by sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. Police received information Friday that Bensen was sexually abusing a juvenile in the borough and he was arrested the same day, authorities said. Bensen is being held in the county jail, pending a first court appearance, according to jail records. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. WSEC is a program of L.C. and Lillie Cox Haven of Hope, which strives to help all individuals enjoy equitable opportunity and support to flourish to their fullest potential. Located on the corner of International and Seminary Avenues in East Oakland, WSEC will serve the community and provide a space for formerly incarcerated women and immigrant women seeking self-sufficiency and economic mobility through business ownership. The Union Bank grant will help support WSEC's entrepreneur program, which provides educational workshops, one-on-one counseling sessions, and training. These activities are structured in three phases: Launching the Social Entrepreneurial Journey: Preparing participants to start their entrepreneurial journeys through exploration of financial literacy, emotional and mental well-being, self and community care, and social entrepreneurship. Social Impact Accelerator: Introducing business development topics culminating in the completion of a business plan. Social Impact Consulting: Providing one-on-one advising sessions to guide participants to launch their businesses and prepare for startup capital. Union Bank is able to drive meaningful change in local communities because of its strength in forming strategic collaborations that bring together all sectors to accelerate the potential for lasting change. Support of WSEC is a manifestation of successful cross collaboration with multiple partners, including the City of Oakland's Economic & Workforce Development Department and the Greenlining Institute. This investment aligns with the city's economic development strategy and advances Greenlining's goals to increase small business development and close the racial wealth gap in Oakland. "As a financial institution, our success depends, in part, on the success of our local communities," said Julius Robinson, MUFG Union Bank Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. "We are very proud to support the Women's Social Entrepreneurship Center because its mission and singular focus aligns with our vision to strengthen economic opportunities for underserved communities. I am especially pleased to know that women in Oakland who aspire to launch their own business will be the beneficiaries of our support." "Our goal is to create an environment in which the women we work with feel supported in navigating the institutional and structural barriers intersecting with race, immigration status, gender, and sexuality," said Darcelle Lahr, Founder and Executive Director of L.S. and Lillie Cox Haven of Hope. "Our belief is that by embarking on the path of social entrepreneurship, these women will gain the knowledge, hope, and self-determination that they need to thrive in the economy and beyond." "We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the MUFG Union Bank Foundation," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. "We share the bank's vision of empowering disenfranchised women in our community to seek new opportunities that will help them and their families to prosper. This grant will help propel women to get one step closer to achieving their dreams. We are equally proud to have the Greenlining Institute involved with the efforts. This is a manifestation of the expression, 'It takes a village,' and I couldn't be more proud of our collective efforts." About Union Bank Union Bank is a full-service bank with a rich history of investing in our clients, communities and employees throughout the West Coast for more than 150 years. Union Bank provides a wide range of personal and business banking products as well as wealth management services. With more than 350 branches in California, Oregon and Washington, Union Bank remains committed to serving the needs of its local communities. As a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world's largest financial institutions, Union Bank holds our clients' best interests to heart and remains committed to investing in their success. About MUFG Union Bank, N.A. As of September 30, 2019, MUFG Union Bank, N.A. operated 350 branches, consisting primarily of retail banking branches in the West Coast states, along with commercial branches in Texas, Illinois, New York, and Georgia. We provide a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial, and retail banking and wealth management solutions to meet the needs of our clients. We also offer an extensive portfolio of value-added solutions for clients, including investment banking, personal and corporate trust, global custody, transaction banking, capital markets, and other services. With assets of $134.7 billion, as of September 30, 2019, MUFG Union Bank has strong capital reserves, credit ratings and capital ratios relative to peer banks. MUFG Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MUFG), one of the world's largest financial organizations with total assets of approximately 314.5 trillion (JPY) or $2.9 trillion (USD), as of September 30, 2019. The corporate headquarters (principal executive office) for MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation, which is the financial holding company, and MUFG Union Bank, is in New York City. The main banking office of MUFG Union Bank is in San Francisco, California. 1 Exchange rate of 1 USD=107.9 (JPY) as of September 30, 2019 Press contact: Erika Montelongo (818) 746-4949 [email protected] SOURCE MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Related Links http://www.unionbank.com In a widely unexpected verdict, a Turkish court acquitted prominent philanthropist Osman Kavala and eight co-defendants in a high-profile case that has highlighted the malleability of Turkeys politicized justice system. Kavala, who was held for 840 days on flimsy charges of seeking to overthrow the government, was expected to be finally freed from the maximum-security Silivri prison on the outskirts of Istanbul. The verdict triggered loud cheers from family, friends and international observers present at the hearing. But their joy was short lived. In a counter move, Istanbuls chief prosecutor ordered Kavalas continued detention on charges stemming from a separate case also pertaining to his supposed involvement in the failed 2016 coup. It remained unclear at the time of publication whether he will be re-arrested on those charges. In December, the European Court of Human Rights had called for Kavalas immediate release, citing a lack of reasonable suspicion that he had committed any crime. As Turkey is a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights, the courts rulings are accordingly binding, so Ankara ignoring the courts opinion was widely interpreted to mean that Kavala would remain behind bars. Hence the surge of disbelief and jubilation. Pundits rushed to explain the government's apparent U-turn from its protracted smear campaign against Kavala. He was accused of instigating the nationwide demonstrations in 2013 against the government's plans to erect an Ottoman-style shopping center in Gezi park, a rare green space in Istanbul. Pro-government media outlets competed with the court to tout surreal charges against Kavala based, among other things, on secret witness testimony that was later retracted. The conventional wisdom is that the case, opened after the failed 2016 coup, stemmed from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans conviction that Kavala and assorted other, often fictitious, enemies were conspiring with Western powers to get rid of him. Thus todays verdict does not signal the judiciary's miraculous recovery of its independence, as attested by the Istanbul prosecutors subsequent appeal. Some point to a struggle within the judiciary between anti-Western forces who view figures like Kavala pushing to strengthen civil society as a threat and others who want to pull the country and the government in the opposite direction. What is clear, said a Western diplomat speaking on condition that he not be identified by name, is that none of this has to do with the rule of law. Were there actual judicial independence, the case against the accused would have never been brought, the accused would have never suffered lengthy pre-trial detention and the case would have been thrown out after the European Court decision, said Howard Eissenstat, an associate professor at St. Lawrence University and non-resident senior fellow at the Project on Middle East Democracy in emailed comments to Al-Monitor. I think the pattern remains: Trumped up political charges against perceived political enemies, Kafkaesque prosecutions and pretrial detention as a means of punishment. The famously cynical Erdogan may have decided that he is better served by letting Kavala walk. Or not. The last-minute reversal is reminiscent of the plight of prominent author Ahmet Altan, who is also rotting in jail on trumped up coup-related charges. He was freed in November only to be jailed again a week later. Either way, Developments in Syria appear to be forcing Erdogans hand, noted human rights lawyer Erdal Dogan. The Turkish leader has few friends left so he is reaching out to the West again to hedge his bets, Dogan told Al-Monitor. Faruk Kaymakci, Turkeys deputy foreign minister, was in Brussels today to meet EU officials. He can use the #GeziTrial acquittal as a piece of good news, tweeted Marc Pierini, a former EU ambassador to Ankara. Another critical hearing is set for tomorrow of 11 human rights activists who face sentences of up to 15 years for their supposed role in the abortive putsch. Ankara will need to show that this is a trend, not a one-off, Pierini observed. Russias Vladimir Putin is snubbing Erdogans demands for a cease-fire in Syrias Idlib, where Russian-backed regime forces are pursuing their offensive against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and fellow jihadis. The violence has sent hundreds of thousands of civilians to Turkeys border. The presence of more than 3.5 million Syrians already sheltering in Turkey has sapped Erdogans poll numbers and further arrivals could spell big trouble as his former allies Ahmet Davutoglu and Ali Babacan launch rival parties on the center right, where most of Erdogans support lies. A Turkish delegation led by another deputy foreign minister, Sedat Onal, was poised to hold a second day of meetings with Russian counterparts in Moscow tomorrow to continue thorny talks on Idlib. Erdogan has set an end-of-February deadline for regime forces to pull back from territory they captured in recent weeks, including around the strategic M4 and M5 highways connecting Damascus with the major cities in the country. Erdogan has hinted Turkey will attack should they fail to do so, placing Ankara directly at odds with Moscow. Omer Celik, a spokesman for Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party, renewed the threat today, suggesting that the talks in Moscow were not going as hoped. Turkey has made the necessary preparations in northwestern Syria and told Russian counterparts it was determined to push the [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad regime to previous boundaries, Celik said. Soon after, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Russias proposals on Idlib have so far proved unacceptable to Turkey. Erdogans informal coalition partner, ultranationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, also took aim at Russia again today, reminding fellow lawmakers in the parliament, We know Russia from its [historical] designs on the Bosporus strait. Bahceli had earlier blamed Moscow for the deaths of 13 Turkish soldiers in two separate regime attacks in Idlib. Russias Foreign Ministry riposted that his remarks were incendiary. Despite the chest thumping, it seems highly dubious that Turkey can translate its threats into action. Neither the United States nor the Europeans want to be dragged into a confrontation with Moscow over Idlib as it sees things over a crisis of Ankaras own making. And Turkey cannot go it alone. Moreover, Erdogan can ill afford the likely economic fallout of another dust-up with Moscow of the kind Turkey suffered after shooting down a Russian plane in 2015. And it's entirely conceivable that Turkey is using Idlib to gain concessions from Russia for a freer hand against the Kurds. President Donald Trump said in a series of tweets that he wants China "to buy our jet engines, the best in the World. {...} ....I have seen some of the regulations being circulated, including those being contemplated by Congress, and they are ridiculous. I want to make it EASY to do business with the United States, not difficult." His tweets follows a Reuters report over the weekend that the U.S. government is considering whether to stop General Electric (GE) from continuing to supply engines for a new Chinese passenger jet Read more at: https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=3035244 Babies kept away from their mothers after they are born may do worse in life up to 20 years later. Newborn infants cared for in incubators struggle with sleep and emotions as they grow up and become more easily stressed as adults, a study has found. But babies given skin to skin contact with their mothers do not have the same issues even if this happens for just an hour a day. New research highlights the importance of 'kangaroo care' in which babies are taken out of an incubator and placed naked on their mother's chest under her clothes like being in a kangaroo pouch. Not all hospitals in the UK offer this, but many provide it for underweight or premature babies from around 28 to 30 weeks old. Babies kept away from their mothers in incubators after they are born may do worse in life up to 20 years later, a study has found. Stock picture of skin-on-skin cuddles after birth Researchers looked at 146 babies, half of whom were separated from their mothers and kept in an incubator for around two weeks. The rest were also born prematurely, but were placed against their mother's skin for an hour a day. Their studies show children kept in an incubator slept more badly aged 10, and struggled to exercise control over their emotions. And the latest findings, following the babies kept from their mothers until they were 20 years old, show their stress levels rose higher when asked to do public speaking and difficult arithmetic. When a young baby connects with its mother, this is believed to 'tune' its brain for social behaviour later in life. Professor Ruth Feldman, from the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya, Israel, presented the research in Seattle, at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. PREMATURE BABIES GIVEN 'KANGAROO CARE' HAVE BIGGER BRAINS Premature babies given skin-to-skin contact with their mothers develop better than those placed in incubators, a study in 2016 found. The technique, known as kangaroo care, involves a mother nestling her child on her chest as if in a pouch as soon as possible after birth. The baby is exclusively breastfed and the mother becomes its main source of heat and stimulation in its first few weeks. The study, published in the Pediatrics medical journal, tracked two groups of premature babies over 20 years. The death rate among those who had been placed in incubators were more than double that of the babies cared for using the kangaroo method 7.7 per cent compared to 3.5 per cent. Kangaroo babies spent 23 per cent more time at kindergarten and had less than half the rate of school absenteeism. When they later went out to work, their average hourly wages were almost 53 per cent higher. Scores for aggressiveness and hyperactivity were also 16 per cent lower, particularly among children from less-educated families. And tests after 20 years found a 3.6 per cent advantage in IQ for kangaroo babies. Advertisement On babies kept in incubators, she said: 'Life will be a little harder and I think it will be harder for them to reach their full potential.' She added: 'It's not just touch, it's the entire envelope of the mother's body, and it has many components the mother's smell and the mother's body heat, and the mother's heart rhythms and the mother's movement.' At three months old, babies held close to their mother rather than kept in an incubator were better at regulating their emotions. They could tolerate difficult situations, like a loud bell being rung next to them or a toy car with brightly flashing lights, for longer without reacting. Aged five, they showed more self-control, and were less likely to tear open a present a researcher had told them not to unwrap. This behaviour has been linked to how likely people are to do well in their education and work life when they are older. At 10 years old, children fitted with a wrist-worn tracker over five nights had less trouble falling asleep, and were better at nodding off again after waking in the night, if they had skin to skin contact with their mother early in their life. The latest results, presented at the AAAS conference and not yet published, show babies given kangaroo care are less vulnerable to stress as adults. These children, at the age of 20, were asked to speak in front of a panel of intimidating 'judges' in white coats, and to count backwards from a high number, subtracting 13 each time. The situation caused a higher level of the stress hormone cortisol in people kept in an incubator without kangaroo care. These people also showed higher levels of inflammation a reaction to all kinds of stress in the body which can lead to physical and mental health problems and which Professor Feldman said 'really sets the stage for problems later on in adulthood'. Babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy may need to be placed in incubators to provide help with breathing, feeding and warmth. But placed on the mother's chest, beneath clothing, they can also be kept warm for a short period. Professor Feldman said the benefits of touch at a young age between babies and mothers are likely to apply to all children, and not just those born prematurely. She said: 'If we provide maternal bodily contact in this critical period, even if it's for an hour a day, then the infant is not deprived of it for weeks. 'Then this intervention reorganises the brain.' Peter Bradley, information and support manager at Bliss, the charity for babies born prematurely, said: 'Bliss has long advocated the importance of kangaroo care for premature babies. 'It can help calm babies, especially if they are having any painful or distressing procedures, but it can also help reduce parents' stress or anxiety too.' Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at King's College London, said: 'Kangaroo care is known to be beneficial to babies, and it is plausible that this care could benefit brain development. 'Around the time of birth, especially in premature babies, inflammation is known to affect the brain and this can be influenced by stress hormones. 'A calming environment associated with kangaroo care will reduce these stress hormones, which could explain the results seen over the impressive 20-year follow-up, although more research is needed.' Bravo Target Safety, a leading provider of industrial and oilfield emergency response and safety services, today announced that Andrew Monty Montgomery has joined the Bravo Target Safety team as the companys first Director, Technology and Innovation (DT&I). The DT&I mandate was created to address new industry opportunities associated with digital transformation. Being at the forefront of revolutionary technological change allows Bravo Target Safety to add customer value, enhance worker safety and distinguish itself from competitors. The DT&I is responsible for evaluating and implementing new technologies, leading change management, training and upskilling Bravo Target Safetys personnel, and supporting business development by providing technical expertise in client relations. Prior to joining Bravo Target Safety, Monty acquired seven years of oil and gas experience in project management and business development. Specifically, he is a subject matter expert in the deployment of remote confined space monitoring, technologies that create significant value for clients while mitigating risk to on-site workers. Earlier in his career, Monty was an officer in British Army for 14 years. His principal accomplishments included training 700 British and Canadian troops in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan, managing 160 Iraqi personnel and a $16 million fleet of vehicles, and leading 40 British soldiers deployed in Iraq. Monty graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2003 and obtained a Chartered Manager (CMgr) designation in 2014. We are very pleased to announce the creation of the DT&I role, which we believe creates significant benefit for our customers, says Kevin OBrien, CEO, Bravo Target Safety. We also welcome Andrew Montgomery to the Bravo Target Safety team. He has exceptional knowledge of Albertas oil and gas industry, expertise in industrial safety and change management, and has implemented large-scale technology projects. Montys background as a military officer is testament to his leadership skills. He has a proven ability to lead large groups of individuals. These talents are directly applicable to our business where seasonal projects involve managing hundreds of people on-site. We welcome Monty and look forward to our shared success. About Bravo Target Safety Bravo Target Safety is a leading provider of industrial and oilfield emergency response and safety services. Dedicated to the highest industry standards, Bravo Target Safety selects the strongest leaders, provides the best training, and invests in the best technology and equipment. Headquartered in Calgary, Bravo Target Safety has facilities in Bonnyville, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lloydminster and Red Deer. For more information, please visit http://bravotarget.ca/. Media Contact: Mark Lowe PRagmatic Communications mark.lowe(at)pragcom.com (514) 576-2519 Pakistani Christian girl reunited with family after kidnapping, forced conversion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A 14-year-old Christian girl, who had been kidnapped, gang-raped and forcibly converted to Islam on paper and married off to a Muslim man, was rescued and brought back to her home in the city of Lahore in Pakistan. The Christian girl, Sneha, who lives in the Bahar area of Lahore and is a Class 9 student at Franciscan Girls High School, is back with her family, according to the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, one of the groups that helped her family. Sneha says that a Muslim man, identified as Zeeshan, proposed to her but she refused. On the evening of Jan. 14, he pushed her into a vehicle while she was returning home from an academy where she was studying for her final exams. Six other men joined in, beat her and took her to a location unknown to her where she was once again beaten and repeatedly raped. The men tortured and forced her to sign some blank sheets of paper, which were later turned into a marriage certificate and a certificate of conversion to Islam. The kidnappers also threatened that she would face serious consequences and her sisters would suffer the same violence if she told her family about the attack. Sneha is the youngest daughter of Sabir Masih, and has two sisters and a brother. The family reported her disappearance to the police, and a court ordered the police to investigate. Five days later, the police rescued her. However, the kidnappers remain at large. Muslim-majority Pakistan ranks as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USA's 2020 World Watch List. As the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports, its estimated that as many as 1,000 women and girls are forcibly converted to Islam each year in Pakistan, many of whom are kidnapped, married, and subject to rape. Earlier this month, a court ruled against the family of a kidnapped Christian girl who was forced into an Islamic marriage, saying that no law was broken if the girl had already had her first period. The Catholic Charity Aid to the Church in Need-Italy reported that the Sindh High Court in Karachi issued the Feb. 3 ruling in the case of 14-year-old Huma Younus, who was taken from her home on Oct. 10, 2019, and later married to a radical Muslim man. Judge Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali Shah ruled that the Catholic girls marriage to her alleged abductor, Abdul Jabbar, was valid under Sharia law because the child had already had her first menstrual cycle. Once again justice has been defeated and once again has been proved that our state does not consider Christians to be Pakistani citizens, the mother, Nagheena Younus, was quoted as saying after the hearing. Last year, Pakistani lawmakers rejected a national bill that would have raised the child marriage age to 18, after it was opposed by Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadari and other officials. (Newser) Bernie Madoff wants a judge to grant him "compassionate release" from prison because he is dying of kidney disease. In a New York Times op-ed, a sociology and criminal justice professor argues that the judge should do so. Yes, Madoff "is as close to the financial equivalent of a serial killer as one might encounter," writes Colleen Eren, author of a book on Madoff. And, yes, his Ponzi scheme wrecked lives, wiped out life savings, and led to three suicides, including that of his own son. Still, Eren is struck by the "visceral" reaction to Madoff's request, especially from those on the left who say they want to end mass incarceration. It shows the "obstacles to transformational criminal justice reform" in our society, writes Eren. She suggests compassionate release should be the norm for those who are terminally ill if they have served at least 10 years. Madoff has served 11. story continues below "If our societal goal is to reduce incarceration, we are going to have to confront the inconvenient truth that retribution cannot be our only penological aim, and justice for victims has to be much more extensive than the incarceration of those who have caused them harm," writes Eren. "We desperately need to shift our cultural impulse to punish harshly and degradingly, and for long periods." Madoff may be the "worst of the worst," but it's dangerous to use this "worst of the worst" criteria as a backbone to our criminal justice policy. That's partly why the death penalty still exists, despite widespread evidence of racial and class bias. Eren notes that the 81-year-old Madoff has lost both sons while in prison, is a "social pariah," and is the subject of universal scorn. "This is not to say he deserves sympathy, but he has been punished." (Read the full column.) The building was supposed to come down Sunday morning, but a failed demolition left it with a distinctive tilt and nickname: "the leaning tower of Dallas." The implosion by Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition was part of The Central, a 27-acre, $2.5 billion development project that will bring an office building, a hotel, eateries and other amenities to an area just north of downtown Dallas, The Dallas Morning News reported. But nearly 300 pounds of dynamite wasn't enough to topple the old building on the development site, said Steve Pettigrew, president of Pettigrew Inc., a company involved in the demolition. Pettigrew blamed timing, saying the building, which has a concrete and steel core, "undressed itself" too quickly during the implosion, Pettigrew said. "The skirt came off the core," he said. IMAGE: The former Affiliated Computer Services tower in Dallas What was left is 35 feet shorter and listing at 15 degrees, Pettigrew said. The remaining structure which a Lloyd D. Nabors spokesperson said is "safely contained" within the job site will be demolished later with a crane and a wrecking ball, Pettigrew said. In the meantime, a slew of comical photos showed people in the distance pretending to lift up or push over the leaning tower. Download the NBC News app for breaking news One photographer, Lauren Armstrong, said that she'd never been to the Leaning Tower of Pisa but that now she wasn't sure she needed to. "Here it is," she said. "Dallas brings the leaning tower to Texas." Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition will bring down what remains of the 11-story building later this week, the company told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. LIMA, Peru - For nearly two decades, workers for a company building gas lines across Perus capital have found themselves unearthing a treasure trove of history. On one recent afternoon, a team came across four burials accompanied by ceramics from a pre-Incan civilization. Two years earlier, they found the bodies of farmers who had been among the first wave of Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. Lima literally sits atop a cultural bank, with one layer of history atop another, said Alexis Solis, one of 40 archaeologists who work for the Calidda national gas company that is installing lines across the city. The co-operation is a step forward for preservation in a metropolis whose rapid growth over the past century led to the destruction of many important sites. Gas line worker Segundo Chavez last year found the body of a child inside a base a burial characteristic of the pre-Incan Chancay people who flourished from about 1200 to 1470 b and he recalled how his shouts of discovery attracted nearby residents from their houses. It was an ancient burial, 80 centimetres deep, Chavez said as he looked at two other recent discoveries still unrecovered in a ditch in a street in the Puente Piedra neighbourhood: bones of an adult in a huge vase and the those of a baby found with a ceramic figure of a Cuchimilco, a sort of guide through the world of the dead in the Chancay culture. The Colombia-based company says it has installed about 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of natural gas lines across Lima over the past 16 years, and its reported about 300 archaeological finds, some of them 2,000 years old. It says it has spent about $2 million the archaeological effort. Peruvian law requires that archaeological discoveries be reported and turned over to the Culture Ministry. But some developers have been cavalier about following the law and preserving the nations history. In 2013, workers for real estate developers destroyed a 4,500-year-old pyramid-shaped structure on the edges of the city. What is now Perus capital, located in a valley irrigated by three rivers fed from the Andes, housed human civilizations thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1535. It is scattered with cemeteries, irrigation canals, structures and ancient roads, with thin, vulnerable layers of deposited earth separating vastly different eras. The physical difference between the present and antiquity is but a few centimetres, Solis said. Louis-Philippe Roy recently received his second consecutive Canadian driver of the year award, but it was his success with two other 2019 OBrien Award winners that most pleased him. The 30-year-old Roy was the regular driver of two-year-old pacing filly Alicorn and two-year-old male trotter HP Royal Theo, who each received divisional OBrien honours earlier this month. Im proud of my season with the young horses, said Roy, who was a standout in Quebec before moving to Ontarios Woodbine-Mohawk circuit in 2017. I never raced on a big track until I came here, so that was the first adaptation for me. Then after, driving a lot of young horses in the summer, stakes horses, two-year-olds. That was something I didnt do a lot in my early years. I learned a lot of it by moving here when I started driving more two-year-olds and three-year-olds and teaching them how to race. I feel like Ive learned a lot and improved a lot in my last two years with stakes horses. Im proud of that. Louis-Philippe Roy, pictured accepting his OBrien Award as Canadas driver of the year for the 2019 racing season. Louis-Philippe Roy, pictured accepting his OBrien Award as Canadas driver of the year for the 2019 racing season. Roy has driven four OBrien winners in the past two seasons, with female pacer Shower Play and male pacer Jimmy Freight both receiving honours in 2018 at age three. He was the leading driver on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit in 2018. You need to get those special horses to drive to step up to the Grand Circuit, Roy said. Any type of competitive guy would tell you that he wants to compete at the highest level. Thats for sure something I would like to do. To get there, you need the opportunities. I just want to keep doing [well] and take any of the opportunities I can get. Roy, who received Canadas Rising Star Award in 2016, won four times on the Grand Circuit in 2019, with four different horses: HP Royal Theo in the William Wellwood Memorial, Lindy The Great in the Caesars Trotting Classic, Alicorn in a division of the Eternal Camnation, and YS Mathis in a division of the Champlain. He finished second in purses among Canadian drivers and third in wins. In 2018, Roy led both categories. Roy is a graduate of the University of Quebec at Rimouski. For the first two years of his driving career, he also worked as a financial analyst for a telecommunications company. For the past three seasons, he has donated a full cards earnings to a food bank in his hometown. For his career, Roy has won 1,467 races and $16.4 million in purses. He is the fourth driver this century to receive Canadas Driver of the Year Award in consecutive years, joining Chris Christoforou, Mark MacDonald, and Sylvain Filion (who did it twice). Its something I didnt expect to achieve yet, but Im very happy with it, Roy said. I feel like I realize it more on those kinds of nights, when the awards happen, because in your everyday life you dont realize all the roads youve travelled to get where youre at now. When I look back to where I was five years ago, Im pretty proud of all the travelling I did. (USTA) A Delhi Police Crime Branch team visited the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on Tuesday as a series of videos of the 15 December violence inside the university emerged over the past few days. New Delhi: A Delhi Police Crime Branch team visited the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on Tuesday as a series of videos of the 15 December violence inside the university emerged over the past few days. Four videos have surfaced online of the incident, the latest being on Monday. The team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Deo visited the varsity's library that was badly damaged during the alleged police action inside the campus, according to officials. This is the first time that a police team is visiting the campus for investigation after the violence, they said. Members of the team analysed and videographed the extent of damage to the library. They also visited the proctor's office, the officials said. The case is being probed by the Crime Branch. "We need to examine many people in connection with the case and also need to collect evidence. We have also requested the Jamia administration to share all the videos that they have related to the incident, a senior police official said. There was a tactical reason why police didn't go to the varsity earlier, he said. "We wanted the situation to normalise and wanted students to finish their exams. We are also trying to identify those who were seen in the video," the officer said. In a video that emerged on Sunday, paramilitary and police personnel can be seen thrashing students in the library. Two other videos, which appeared hours later, showed some youths with covered faces entering the library. In the Monday video, police personnel can be seen raining batons on students who were trying to escape. Women students can be seen moving out while pleading with the police and one of the policemen is seen breaking a camera. On 15 December, police had used batons and teargas shells to disperse a violent mob during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). They entered the university campus, saying that rioters had taken shelter there. However, Jamia students had denied that they were involved in the violence and had alleged police brutality. On Monday, a Delhi court directed the police to file a status report on whether it was investigating the officers who had allegedly barged into Jamia Millia Islamia and lathi-charged students. The court has also sought an overall status report from the Delhi Police on the ongoing investigation in the case related to the violence near the varsity during the protest. 15,000 restoration to preserve Stanley Spencer war artwork BURGHCLERES historic Sandham Memorial Chapel has had new door facings fitted as part of an ongoing restoration project. The original doors of the chapel built in the 1920s to house artist Stanley Spencer's paintings were resurfaced with oak in 1957 and those facings have now been replaced to safeguard the building. As well as protecting the original doors from the extremes of weather, the facings retain the humidity and temperature inside the chapel, helping to preserve the historic artwork inside. The original design, as well as drawings, sketches and archive photographs were examined to ensure the design mirrors the facings from 1957. The new facings are also made of oak and will have minimal treatment, allowing them to age and weather over time as both the original doors and facings did. Following the restoration of the doors, chapel operations assistant Adrian McIlroy Speed reflected on the historical importance of the chapel. He said: The chapel is a huge piece of 20th-century art and is a wonderful reflection of the experience of the First World War. Its the only memorial in the UK to my knowledge that commemorates the Macedonia campaign of the war. The murals depict Stanley Spencers memories at the Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol and his time in the Macedonia campaign. He was a medical orderly for most of the war, first at the hospital in Bristol and then in Madedonia with the 68th Field Ambulance unit. He then became an infantryman in late 1917. The murals are quite unusual because they depict the day-to-day activities of war, like cooking, cleaning, washing and setting up camp. These arent often depicted in art. Theres a military chaplain who comes by and says when he was training other army chaplains, he would bring them to this chapel and say this is what your men will be doing, this is their life. So the chapel maintains a strong spiritual connection even to the modern military. The National Trust site also plays an important role in the local community, with workshops and exhibitions often held. The new facings cost 15,000 and were funded by the National Trust and money raised on site by chapel events. More local news The south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa is now eligible to declare itself free of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after having recorded no new patient for 30 days, the Ministry of Health stated on Monday. Khanh Hoa, home to the tourism hotspot of Nha Trang City, reported its first patient, a 25-year-old hotel receptionist who had interacted with two infected Chinese men, on January 17. The province has since detected no other case. The receptionist was discharged from the hospital on February 4 after recovering from the disease. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a government meeting on measures against the current COVID-19 epidemic held in Hanoi on Monday that Khanh Hoa has proficiently fought against and kept the disease under control. Deputy PM Dam tasked the Ministry of Health with instructing Khanh Hoa authorities to complete documents to declare the end of the COVID-19 epidemic in the province. The north-central province of Thanh Hoa will be also eligible to end its epidemic status if no new cases are recorded in the next five days, according to the health ministry. Thanh Hoas only patient so far is a 25-year-old woman who was among a group of eight workers recently returning from the central Chinese city of Wuhan - ground zero for the COVID-19 outbreak. She had been under treatment since January 24 and was discharged on February 3 after making a full recovery. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision declaring the acute respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, now named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, an epidemic in Vietnam on February 1. The scope of the epidemic was identified in three provinces of Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa and Vinh Phuc. Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends a government meeting on measures against the COVID-19 epidemic in Hanoi, February 17, 2020. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre Vinh Phuc has reported 11 patients so far, including five in the group of workers returning from Wuhan City. It has only been five days since Vinh Phuc confirmed its last case, the 50-year-old father of one of the workers who also infected her mother, sister, cousin, and neighbor. Vietnamese localities are eligible to announce the end of their epidemic status if there are no new cases reported in the previous 28 days and preventative measures against the disease have been properly deployed. The novel coronavirus disease, which is called COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), has killed 1,873 people and infected over 73,400 globally since it first surfaced in Wuhan City of Chinas Hubei Province in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post. Vietnam has so far confirmed 16 cases of the viral infection, including 13 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, seven have fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital. As of Monday afternoon, six other COVID-19 patients were also ready for discharge from hospitals across the country, according to the health ministry. Vietnam was lauded by the WHO to have responded well to the COVID-19 epidemic in a statement released by the organization on Saturday. While the U.N. health agency spoke highly of Vietnams ability to address urgent public health issues, it also urged the Southeast Asian country to stay on high alert and be ready to respond should more infections be detected. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Houstons convention agency failed in recent years to inform some companies how their contract bids would be evaluated and at one point awarded a deal for more than $400,000 without seeking any competitive bids, an audit commissioned by the city controllers office found. The findings, detailed in a 27-page report released Monday, raised several questions about the way Houston First Corp. awards contracts or makes purchases for the array of city facilities it oversees, including performing arts venues, hotels, parking garages and the George R. Brown Convention Center. The audit generally recommends the agency tighten its procurement methods and become more stringent about documenting the process. Houston First officials in most cases indicated they would comply with the auditors recommendations or already had done so by absorbing them into a fresh procurement manual released in January 2019. "It's important that the city, its departments, and all its component units are conducting their procurement processes in a consistent, transparent manner, city Controller Chris Brown said. This audit demonstrates that Houston First has room for improvement on that front." Houston First, a public nonprofit that takes in and spends public and private funds, operates the Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall, the Hilton Americas hotel and several other facilities. The audit covered about $238 million worth of spending by the agency from July 1, 2016 through the end of 2018, and was conducted by Stinnett & Associates. Among the findings: The agency did not require written justification when an official designated a purchase order as an emergency, which allows it to obtain goods or services without going through the traditional bidding process. Houston First lacked adequate guidelines for financing purchase orders with credit, monitoring or canceling purchase orders, or approving purchase orders when the purchasing agent was out of the office. The agency paid performance-based incentives to a security services vendor with no supporting documentation proving it used a scoring system to evaluate the vendors performance. Houston First received goods and services before issuing purchase orders, despite agency policy that says the order must be issued first. The agency awarded a roughly $412,000 contract for a parking guidance system without posting a request for proposals or receiving any competitive bids. Houston First CFO Frank Wilson said the agency concedes that the process utilized for the parking guidance system selection which he noted was made by the former chief operating officer and president and should have been documented more clearly. The audit also flagged a $741,000 construction purchase order in February 2017 on the Avenida project, which produced a new plaza outside the convention center, among other developments. For the project, Houston First used an alternative to the typical competitive bidding process due to the necessity of completing the Avenida project before the 2017 Super Bowl and because of the size and complexity of the reconstruction, agency officials said. The agency said it selected the vendor in accordance with applicable law. When Houston First did request competitive bids, the auditors found, it did not always include a scoring matrix to show interested firms how their proposals would be evaluated. And those that did include a matrix did not always include a description or basis for the scores awarded to each proposal. The auditors identified a few instances when Houston First officials verbally communicated key parts of the procurement process but did not document them in writing or otherwise. Agency policy, for example, requires competitive bids be opened and read in public, but in a sample of five purchase orders, auditors found no evidence stating whether the competitive bids received were publicly read. Houston First officials said they only read the bids aloud if vendors were present and did not produce a written record of who attended. The auditors also found records to prove contracts were awarded to the lowest, responsible bid were not consistent and did not always provide sufficient evidence to support the selection of one bid over another. In response to the audit, Houston First purchasing agent Mitch Miszkowski began recording the date, time, location and attendance at public bid openings. The agency made a number of other changes to comply with the audit, establishing in its revised procurement manual a uniform process for documenting the review and evaluation of vendor proposals and updated requirements for emergency purchase orders. jasper.scherer@chron.com ST. LOUIS - A Missouri man convicted of killing an 81-year-old mobile home park manager nearly three decades ago now faces execution in May. The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday set a May 20 execution date for Walter Barton, 64. He would be the first Missouri inmate put to death since Russell Bucklew was executed in October. Bartons case has been tied up in court for years due to mistrials, appeals and two overturned convictions, and his attorney continues to maintain his innocence. Gladys Kuehler operated a mobile home park in the southwestern Missouri town of Ozark, near Springfield. In October 1991, friends and relatives of Kuehler were concerned when they couldnt reach her, and contacted police. Officers found Kuehler dead inside her mobile home. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times. DNA testing showed that a stain on Bartons clothing was Kuehlers blood. Bartons attorney, Frederick A. Duchardt Jr., said Barton had blood on his shirt because he was among those who helped identify the victim. Duchardt said the conviction was also based on testimony from an unreliable witness. Im saying the state of Missouri is about to prove why the death penalty should not be used because they are about to execute an innocent man, Duchardt said. The first attempt to prosecute Barton ended in a mistrial in 1993 after his attorney objected that prosecutors had failed to endorse any trial witnesses. Another mistrial was declared that same year after another jury deadlocked. Barton was convicted in 1994 and sentenced to death. The state Supreme Court overturned the conviction over objections to the prosecutors final arguments. Barton was convicted again and sentenced to death in 1998, but another new trial was ordered when a judge found that the prosecution had failed to disclose the full background of one of its witnesses, among other improprieties. At his fifth trial, in 2006, Barton was convicted for the third time. The state Supreme Court upheld that conviction and death penalty in 2007, but Barton has continued his appeals. Missouri was once among the most active death penalty states, but the pace of executions has slowed considerably in recent years in part because fewer convicted killers are being sentenced to death. Bucklews execution was the first since January 2017. Sohar International, a leading bank in Oman has signed an agreement with Sohar Port and Free Zone (SFZ) for further boosting trade and commercial activities in the zone and the national economy in general. As per the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), the bank will explore potential capacities of business in new value-creation areas, including collaboration for new products, services and technologies for the existing and future investors registering with Sohar Port and Free Zone. The MoU was signed on at the Sohar Internationals head office at Waterfront in Shatti Al Qurum. Signing the agreement on behalf of Sohar International was chief executive officer Ahmed Al Musalmi whereas Sohar Port and Freezone was represented by its chief executive officer Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi. Also present at the ceremony were Khalil Al Hedaifi, chief retail banking officer at Sohar International and Abdul Wahid Al Murshidi, chief Islamic banking officer of Sohar International. Al Musalmi said: With the governments economic diversification program, further development of Sohar Free Zone will simultaneously contribute to the steady economic growth of the Sultanate. With the availability of easy financial services, we anticipate to attract a number of new investors from all over the world. This MoU also embodies our constructive and positive attitude to always play an active role in advancing Omans diversification agenda and supporting socioeconomic development. Under the agreement, Sohar International will provide banking services to companies based in the zone, as well as to corporates that are yet to establish their operations in the area. As the zones preferred financial services provider, Sohar International may also be tasked to help in financing projects that are executed within the zone. In addition, Sohar International is expected to provide its full range of banking services including opening new bank account, e-services, financial arrangements, among others, in accordance with the rules and regulations set under the Banking Law of Oman, Central Bank of Oman and Sohar Port and Free Zone. Al Mahrizi said: Sohar Port and Freezone plays a vital role in strengthening the economic growth of the country, especially in the fields of trade, industry and services. We are excited to collaborate with Sohar International and utilize their extensive range of banking services and solutions. This MoU comes as part of our value proposition to contribute to the growth and expansion of our established companies within Sohar Freezone.- TradeArabia News Service For UAE leaders, this is a "historic moment". A local group working with a South Korean firm built the Barakah power plant at a cost of US.4 billion. Four reactors are expected to produce 5,600 megawatts. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews/Agencies) For the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the licensing of the Barakah nuclear power plant, the first to become operational in the entire Arab world, is a historic moment". The permanent representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Hamad Al-Kaabi, said that the Board of Directors of FANR granted the licence to the Nawah Power Company. The plant is located in the north-western part of the country. It was expected to start in 2017, but faced a series of delays and postponements related to safety and regulatory requirements. A consortium led by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) built the facility at a cost of US.4 billion. For the Emirates, the plant represents a milestone, said al-Kaabi, that will ensure that the UAEs future energy needs are met. Last month, local authorities announced that their first reactor would be up and running in a few months, contributing to the countrys development and sustainability. The other three reactors are in an advance stage of construction. When fully operational, the four reactors will produce 5,600 MW of power, meeting 25 per cent of the energy needs of the oil-rich country. Although the Arab country has significant energy reserves, especially oil, nuclear power and renewables are expected to meet at least 27 per cent of its needs by 2021. TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Fraser Institute will release a new study on government debt interest costs in Canada. Interest Costs: A Growing Burden for Canadians compares the government debt burden (both provincial and federal) among provinces, using measures such as per-person debt interest costs and debt interest as a percentage of government revenue. A news release with additional information will be issued via GlobeNewswire on Feb. 19 at 5:00 a.m. Eastern. MEDIA CONTACTS: Jake Fuss, Economist, Fraser Institute Alex Whalen, Policy Analyst, Fraser Institute Jason Clemens, Executive Vice-President, Fraser Institute To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact: Mark Hasiuk, (604) 688-0221 ext. 517, mark.hasiuk@fraserinstitute.org Media in Atlantic Canada, please contact: Drue MacPherson, (902) 429-1143, communications@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Investigators sealed off the site where a police officer reportedly shot her parents and two brothers to death and then killed herself in Gjilan, southeastern Kosovo. All five people were discovered dead at the scene. The Respeck monitor, which will be used in the study is a wireless wearable sensor that collects data about breathing and physical activity patterns. Credit: Imperial College London Londoners equipped with wearable sensors will help researchers understand the effects of air pollution on personal health in real time. Air pollution is one of the world's greatest environmental threats, responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths every year. A new study, led by Imperial College London with partners at the University of Surrey and the University of Edinburgh, will provide the most detailed account yet of the specific personal health consequences of exposure to different air pollutants in urban environments. Participants from around the capital, including at Imperial College London's South Kensington and White City Campuses, will wear individual pollution monitors as well as biosensors to track in real time how their heart and lung function responds to changing pollution in their environment, alongside their physical activity. The study will involve healthy participants as well as those with asthma, to understand a range of sensitivities and responses to pollution. Urgent questions The INHALE study will develop a physics-based, multi-scale approach to understanding the impact of pollution in cities. This means looking at its effects at several levels in the human bodyfrom our cells to our lungs, as well as how pollution moves around our cities and is affected by our immediate environment. By integrating these models, the researchers hope to develop a clearer picture of how individual people in cities can protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution, as well as how urban planning such as "green infrastructure"such as roadside hedges and city vegetationcould be used to mitigate it. Model of pollution flowing around different buildings and streets. Credit: Laetitia Mottet The study is led by Professor Kian Fan Chunga clinical scientist specialising in respiratory medicine from Imperial's National Heart and Lung Institute, and Professor Christopher Pain, who leads Imperial's Applied Modelling and Computation Group in the Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering. Professor Kian Fan Chung said: "The health effects of air pollution have until now been measured in terms of excess mortality or admissions to hospital, but an assessment of effects of environmental pollution at the level of a particular individual is an area that has not yet been fully developed. INHALE will use complex modeling to predict the health outcomes at the personal level from a study of the biological potential of pollution particles through to the individual's respiratory response and his/her personal exposure in the neighborhood scale." Wall with plants in James street. Credit: Pack-Shot / Shutterstock.com Professor Christopher Pain said: "This research addresses one of the most urgent questions our society faceshow can we live healthily and sustainably in our growing cities. We all love green infrastructure, but it is important to choose what and where to place it carefully. This study will help us understand how we can protect people from pollution in cities, while empowering them to personally devise ways of minimizing the effects of pollution on their health." Explore further Nearly half of all childhood asthma cases in Barcelona are attributable to air pollution More information: D. K. Arvind et al. Characterisation of Breathing and Physical Activity Patterns in the General Population Using the Wearable Respeck Monitor, Body Area Networks: Smart IoT and Big Data for Intelligent Health Management (2019). D. K. Arvind et al. Characterisation of Breathing and Physical Activity Patterns in the General Population Using the Wearable Respeck Monitor,(2019). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-34833-5_6 ANN ARBOR, MI -- Rosalie Guillem wants customers to know the difference between a macaron and macaroon. Cookies coated in colorful, round shells made of almond flower with a smooth meringue filling and a delicate crumble upon the first bite -- those are macarons. Macaroons, often confused with the shelled dessert, are a coconut-based cookie. Guillem, a France native who has been running the desert chain Le Macaron for 10 years, is looking to expand into Ann Arbor. We opened our first location 10 years ago in Florida with my daughter," she said. "This is a family business. My daughters wanted to create something with me. She said they decided on macarons and other French pastries that were difficult to find in Florida. It was the Guillem familys way of bringing French culture to the United States. The chain now includes 64 shops and mall kiosks around the country, according to the company website. Guillem does not yet have a specific Ann Arbor location locked in, but is looking into opening either a new shop or a kiosk, she said. We would love to franchise a cafe, patisserie or kiosk. Ann Arbor is a very interesting city, Guillem said. I think it could be a nice addition to the downtown maybe. A little French cafe, patisserie, salon de the. Ann Arbor is a big city and theres place for different kind of macaron. Although downtown Ann Arbor already has a couple macaron shops, TeaHaus and Le Bon Macaron, Guillem said her stores offer a broad variety of authentic French offerings. In our cafe, the main product is the macaron, Guillem said. We have French gelato with a typically French flavor like violet and creme brulee. We sell other French pastries like napoleons, eclairs, pies (and) cakes. We sell beautiful fine chocolate, hand-crafted. We use the best ingredients. We dont use artificial vanilla. We use real vanilla from Madagascar. The French recipe is really different to master. We have a French chef doing all the baking." Le Macaron also carries breakfast pastries and offers catering services for corporate and wedding events. The company currently has a kiosk at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi and is opening a space in Rochester. Franchising information is available here. It can cost around $200,000 to open a cafe and less than $100,000 for a kiosk, she said. When we started ... it was difficult, but it was our American dream. I think weve reached it, Guillem said. I want to help their other people ... to reach their goal to be living the American dream, too. We traced the path and you just have to follow the path now. I love it. . , The Hill, , ... The US Secretary of State says he is optimistic about resolving the dam dispute over the coming months US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that it could take "months" to resolve a dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over a massive dam on the Nile River. Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the project in 2011. The US Treasury Department stepped in last year to facilitate talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan -- another downstream country -- after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reached out to US President Donald Trump, a close ally. The latest round of talks concluded in Washington last week, and officials have said they want to reach a deal by the end of February. But at a press conference Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Pompeo said the process could take longer. "A great deal of work remains, but I'm optimistic that over the coming months we can resolve this," he said. Ethiopia says the dam -- which will be the largest hydropower plant in Africa -- is crucial for its growing economy. Egypt fears the project will disrupt the river that provides 90 percent of its drinking water. Addisu Lashitew, an analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said he expected Pompeo "will be trying to make a final push" to reach a deal during his stay in Ethiopia. "President Trump seeks to get the credit... as the dealmaker for resolving this issue," Addisu said on a call with reporters last week. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew said at the press conference Tuesday there were "outstanding issues that need negotiation". He did not elaborate, but major sticking points include the filling of the dam's reservoir, which Egypt worries will dramatically curb water flow downstream. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed to entrust the US and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of GERD following the latest round of negotiations which concluded in Washington on Thursday. *This story has been edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Hungary could start importing natural gas from Azerbaijan from 2023, said Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian foreign affairs and trade minister. Szijjarto said the annual 1-2 billion cubic metres of gas Hungary would import from Azerbaijan would greatly boost the security of the countrys gas supply, Trend reports citing Hungary Today. He said Hungarys purchase of Azerbaijani gas had been made possible by the near completion of the Southern Gas Corridor and Azerbaijans increase of its gas output. He highlighted an agreement between Hungarian oil and gas company MOL and the US company Chevron which resulted in MOL acquiring a 9.5 percent stake in Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli block of oil fields and nearly 9 percent share in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Szijjarto said this had been the largest Hungarian investment in the Caucasus. The Southern Gas Corridor project aims to increase and diversify European energy supply by bringing gas resources from the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor comprises the following four projects: (i) operation of Shah Deniz natural gas-condensate field ("SD1" project) and its full-field development ("SD2'" project), (ii) the operation of the South Caucasus Pipeline ("SCP" project) and its expansion ("SCPX" project), (iii) the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline ("TANAP" project) and (iv) the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline ("TAP" project) (SD2, SCPX, TANAP and TAP collectively, the "Projects"). The Projects have an estimated investment cost of approximately $40 billion. Upon completion, the SD2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under SD1 project. Total length of the newly constructed SCPX, TANAP and TAP pipelines will be more than 3,200 kilometres. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn A camera illusion has made it look like a lighthouse was rocking back and forth as it was battered by strong winds and waves during Storm Dennis. Fastnet Lighthouse, off the coast of Cork in Ireland, was filmed being engulfed by giant waves over the weekend. But when Mary Cadogen looked through the lens of her camera she noticed the 177-foot tall lighthouse seemed to look unsteady. Fastnet Lighthouse, off the coast of Cork in Ireland, is filmed being engulfed by giant waves The short clip showed waves bashing the sides of the look-out tower as winds reached up to 91mph. The tower, which sits on a high rock, seemed to sway from side to side, something Mary said could be to do with the camera's super zoom mode. Another theory is that the lens of the camera itself was shuddering in the high winds - causing the image to appear to move. Fastnet Lightnet was built 100 years ago, and became operational in 1904 after a cost of almost 90,000. The tower was built using a dovetail technique, meaning each of the granite stones of the tower was dovetailed into those around it, bonding the structure. When Mary Cadogen looks through the lens of her camera she notices the lighthouse seems to look unsteady The building replaced an older lighthouse on the same site, and is in fact the third lighthouse to be constructed in the area, with the original Fastnet lighthouse replacing an earlier lighthouse on Cape Clear Island. Storm Dennis engulfed the UK and Ireland on Saturday and Sunday, with five people confirmed to have died from the extreme weather. Yvonne Booth was swept away by floodwater when her car stalled on a bridge in Tenbury in Worcestershire on Sunday. A man drowned after he fell into a swollen river in South Wales the same day. The country is now battling the worst floods in 200 years as people across England and Wales are abandoning their water-logged homes. The worst-hit communities are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches of rain will fall in 24 hours. Any business has various core processes involved, right from the supply chain to the market strategy and then the finances. Business management is always about understanding those fields and trying to solve problems in the overall activities of the business. One such solution that dominates the improvement in operational activities of any business, be it inventory management, planning or scheduling is MRP or Manufacturing Resource Planning. MRP is an automated system that can manage all information, suggest improvement and work as an efficient system to control the entire business model. However, it has taken time to bring in the MRP revolution, considering the high costs involved earlier. With time, the benefits that bring positive returns to every business, MRP is now used in many MNCs and SMEs across the nation. MRP can compile data, reduce errors and streamline manufacturing processes that otherwise involve a high number of inputs, are time-taking or can have a high wastage cycle. With widespread positive returns, here are a few benefits that Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) software provides: 1) Data is the big guy Every business is starting to see the importance of effective data utilisation and hence, shifting everything from an offline paper-based system to an online network. With the implementation of MRP Software, all workload of researching data directly reduces as the software primarily works to find and collect data that can be used to improve the business operations. Not only is the data well-sorted, but it is also usable for other improvements, presentations or discussions. As a business owner, what better investment can there be which addresses the elephant in the room, uses actual evidence to call for action and can be a tool to work round-the-clock during busy days? Infact, every piece of report or statistic can be developed via all the MRP data collected. 2) Work on money Earlier due to lack of availability and less supply, MRP softwares were expensive and difficult to procure. Now, many big names and types of MRP softwares are available which makes life easier for any user. Moreover, the software calculates the product cost and lead time of the manufacturing process follows up the entire customer order from the start to the end and takes actions during errors. This way, all these cost calculations are used in the short run and long to know where the money is going along with how much money is being used, how much is being gained and does the business makes any profits at all? Also, reduction in errors and their possibilities allows a business to save up on any sudden or unpredicted expenses during crisis or mess-ups. With an MRP software, it itself prepares a production schedule, reducing the cost of professional labour hiring for the enterprise as well. 3) Be on time With lead time and entire process time figures sorted, MRP Softwares are implemented to increase efficiency. Every patch, product series, and versions are tracked, quality levels are maintained and material expiry dates are noted. MRP Software also has a central system to manage vendors along with the business purchase requests. Firstly, continuous tracking, reminders, and follow-ups ensure no delays in order delivery. Secondly, when errors reduce, a certain number of products start getting manufactured in lesser time than the usual allotted time, leaving room for more production and better working hours. Infact, with the data collected over a period of time, one can know which vendors arent meeting deadlines, which purchase orders are missing deadlines and how does one single time breach impacts the company profits. Analysis and correction points are initiated and made possible via the use of an MRP software at work. 4) Real-Time enrooted in reality MRP software is known to work on a real-time basis where it monitors and measures all stock changes, along with efficient inventory control. The primary goal is to be aware of stock movements and never have a stock-out situation. It also converts the entire manual and paper-based team reporting system to an online and quick methodology. MRP Softwares can be used to have either an entire desktop view of data for the team or a simple standalone kiosk containing a tablet which can be accessed for real-time team reporting. Anything that works round the clock can streamline the entire process and ensures that there are no leaks, especially when all internal communication gets transparent and modified. 5) Planning comes first MRP software is highly useful to many stakeholders in the company, as the production manager. One can rely on MRP to accurately plan the entire operations of the firm, be it the material availability, be it process scheduling or be it communication tasks. Everything is thoroughly pre-decided and planned when an MRP software is at work. Anyone at the company can access the data, use it to track their individual schedules and understand the master schedule as well. Not just accessibility, it also plans procurement, purchase orders and expected inventory so that there is no need for continuous emails or phone calls, which might lead to a delay in delivery or miscommunication. The perks of planning based on data and time is that you can also forecast the future results or costs, allowing you to save ahead or call the shots before your competition leads the way. Wrapping up! With MRP software, there is no looking back. Unlimited access, widespread solutions and a dream tool for any manufacturer, it applies practicality and accountability into the business model without creating any hassle. Everyone from a large business brand to a small local factory, a single product company to a multiple product network should apply MRP with the only goal of turning their high-cost complex manufacturing processes into a planned, reliable, transparent and low-cost process via a simple solution. So, get MRP software from the many providers available, depending on your location and needs, but always remember, be clear in your goals and what you need from MRP, be it planning, be it time management or be it process streamlining. This way, you can get quick results which would be highly beneficial. Congratulations, seha.qa got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Seha.qa scored 96 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 8 May 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. seha.qa is very popular in Facebook and Twitter. It has 5047 twitter followers. Furthermore its facebook page has 5453 likes. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the seha homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the seha homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if seha has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the seha homepage on Twitter + the total number of seha followers (if seha has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the seha homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the seha homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 SERVER Microsoft-IIS/7.5 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Type of server and offered services. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. The language of seha.qa as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for seha.qa by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/sehaqatar DESCRIPTION '' | Seha is the National Health Insurance Scheme in Qatar LIKES 5453 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 1640 PAGE TYPE Health/medical/pharmaceuticals TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/sehaqatar DESCRIPTION ACCOUNT CREATED ON 23 Feb 2014 LOCATION Doha TWEETS 200 FOLLOWERS 5047 LISTED 10 Election Day is here. Over the past few weeks, the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board has interviewed and researched dozens of Republican and Democratic candidates, weighing such factors as incumbency, experience and accomplishments, to assemble a list of recommendations we hope will guide voters through some tough choices. We are the only nonpartisan group in the Houston area to provide this service. Early voting in the March 3 Texas primaries began Feb. 18 and ends Feb. 28. You can't take your cellphone with you into the voting booth, but you can print out these handy one-pagers: REPUBLICAN Primary PDF DEMOCRATIC Primary PDF PRESIDENT Democrat Joe Biden. Biden has the moderate, pragmatic track record that originally led us to endorse Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who suspended her campaign on March 2. Klobuchar has endorsed Biden and we are following suit. The former vice president has the experience to hit the ground running and to fill an administration with bright and capable people. U.S. SENATE Democrat Royce West. West, a 26-year veteran of the Texas Senate, promises that, if elected to the U.S. Senate, hed work with the Republicans even Sen. Ted Cruz just as closely as he has in Austin. Hes unabashedly a moderate but hes also been vocal when it matters on issues of race, in defense of public education, and more recently gay rights. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Republican U.S. House District 7: Cindy Siegel. As former mayor, she led Bellaire through the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Ike and said she decided to stay on for a fourth term to deal with the issues surrounding the police shooting of unarmed Robbie Tolan. U.S. House District 8: Kevin Brady. As the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady has a level of influence that the state of Texas and the 8th Congressional District cannot afford to lose. U.S. House District 9: Johnny Teague. The longtime Baptist pastor says he will work for civil discourse in Washington. U.S. House District 18: Wendell Champion. With a compelling biography that he neatly shortens to a from welfare to West Point catchphrase, Champion rises to the top of a crowded field in the Republican primary. U.S. House District 22: Pierce Bush. The grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and nephew of President George W. Bush has an advantage in making important connections in Washington. As CEO, he showed organizational skill in turning around the financially troubled Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. U.S. House District 29. Neither candidate showed up for a scheduled meeting with the Editorial Board or responded to repeated phone calls. As a result, we offer no recommendation in this race. U.S. House District 36: Brian Babin. While we disagree with the congressmans position on the president and regret his drift from the pragmatic public servant we endorsed in the 2014 general election, we recognize his staunch support of NASA and the importance of human space flight to America and to Houston. Democrat U.S. House District 2: Sima Ladjevardian. A Houston lawyer, political activist and former Beto ORourke adviser, Ladjevardian gives Democrats a fighting chance to flip this seat. U.S. House District 8: Laura Jones. Political newcomer Jones is doing the work on the ground in a challenging district for Democrats. U.S. House District 9: Al Green. Best known nationally as the first member of Congress to present articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, in May 2017, the Houston congressman has not been shy about speaking out. We do not always agree with his positions, but we do admire his courage to step out boldly for what he believes in. U.S. House District 10: Mike Siegel. Democratic voters have a difficult choice to make, as the three candidates in the race offer compelling reasons why they should be selected. Ultimately, Siegels commitment to public service and progressive policy positions earn our recommendation. U.S. House District 18: Sheila Jackson Lee. The 13-term incumbent is a force in the political landscape. She is consistently ranked among the most effective legislators in Congress and knows how to wield her high profile to get things done. U.S. House District 22: Sri Preston Kulkarni. A former Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State, Kulkarni is the son of an immigrant father and a mother whose family descends from Sam Houston. Democrats can be optimistic about Kulkarnis prospects for flipping the seat. SUPREME COURT Democrat Chief Justice: Amy Clark Meachum. Meachum is calling for change in the court, which has had all Republican members since 1999, but she is no flamethrower, nor an ideologue. Justice, Place 6: Larry Praeger. A Democrat who nonetheless works easily with Republicans, Praeger says Republicans stranglehold on the top court has squeezed out the perspective of ordinary men and women who find themselves outmatched by the rich and powerful. Justice, Place 7: Brandy Voss. Voss's direct experience with appellate law, a field in which she is board certified, convinces us shed be the sounder choice for Democrats eager to break the Republican Partys decades-long hold on the Supreme Court. Justice, Place 8: Peter Kelly. Kelly expertly grasps the nuances of how Texas top civil court works and how a new justice can influence the law in Texas. COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS Republican Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 3: Bert Richardson. Voters should reward, not punish, a judge willing to stick to the law even if it meant bucking a powerful governor. Democrat Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 3: Elizabeth Frizell. Her experience as a lawyer gives her insight into the flaws of the legal system, something that would help her weigh the life-and-death decisions that come before Texass highest criminal court. Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 4: Tina Clinton. A state felony district judge in the Criminal District Court in Dallas County, Clinton brings 25 years of experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, municipal judge, county criminal court judge and state district court judge. RAILROAD COMMISSIONER Republican Ryan Sitton: As the only engineer on the three-member commission, Sitton understands the importance that the oil and gas industry plays in Texas, but also the need to hold bad actors accountable and enforce regulations. His willingness to buck the status quo, even in limited cases, is worth supporting. Democrat Chrysta Castaneda: An engineer and attorney with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, Castaneda can balance the economic concerns of the oil and gas industry with the need to protect the environment for all Texans. TEXAS SENATE Republican District 13: Milinda Morris. As a medical professional, Morris has shown commitment, compassion and maturity that should serve her constituents well in the Legislature. Democrat District 11: Susan Criss. She is full of ideas for criminal justice reform, mitigating flood damage and making the workings of the Legislature more transparent. District 13: Melissa Morris. Although she is a political neophyte and would have a steep learning curve in the Legislature, we were impressed by her knowledge of issues facing the district and her desire to represent residents too often overlooked by elected leaders. TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Republican House District 127: Dan Huberty. After 10 years in the Legislature, Huberty says he doesnt give a lot of thought to the Republican, Democrat, liberal and conservative labels. His focus as a state representative, he says, is to do whats right for the kids. House District 129: Dennis Paul. First elected in 2014, he has focused on bringing his experience and clear thinking to the Legislature on issues such as pension reform and support for NASA. House District 132: Mike Schofield. The one-time incumbent wants to preserve traditional Texas values when it comes to attracting and generating employment: low taxes, a reasonable regulatory structure and lawsuit reform all issues he championed in the Legislature and as an adviser to former Gov. Rick Perry. House District 135: Justin Ray. His practical experience as mayor of Jersey Village will be key in connecting with suburban voters who share his conservative values. House District 138: Josh Flynn. The race has drawn three very conservative candidates, but Flynn, an active party member for more than 30 years and the current secretary of the Texas GOP, is our choice. Democrat House District 126: Natali Hurtado. By building on lessons learned in the two years since her first campaign for this seat, Hurtado is well-positioned to give Democrats a chance of flipping it. House District 128: Josh Markle. A former staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, Markle's platform includes the full gamut of core Democratic issues healthcare, education, jobs and criminal justice reform. House District 131: Alma Allen. the incumbent demonstrates deep knowledge of the Legislature, where friendships across the aisle and mastery of procedures matter at least as much as passion. House District 134: Ann Johnson. She speaks with authority about a broad range of issues and with the persuasive power of a former prosecutor. She also has a record of appealing to common values to get important work done. House District 138: Akilah Bacy. Her focus is on core issues important to the voters in her district: education, health care, flooding, climate, employment rights, restorative justice. House District 139: Jarvis Johnson. He has been effective and busy in his three terms representing this district in the House. House District 141: Senfronia Thompson. A respected veteran in the Texas House, she has helped raise the state minimum wage, passed hate-crime legislation protecting LGBT communities, and reformed the criminal justice system. House District 142: Harold V. Dutton, Jr. His experience in Austin and willingness to do what he thinks is right, even if unpopular, give him the edge. House District 146: Shawn Thierry. In her first two terms, she has learned to navigate effectively within the reality of a Republican-controlled Legislature and under a Republican governor. House District 147: Garnet Coleman. A hard-working veteran lawmaker who has pursued legislation addressing mental health and criminal justice reform, including the Sandra Bland Act requiring jailers to immediately send mentally ill inmates to a mental health facility. House District 148: Anna Eastman. In eight years on the Houston ISD board of trustees, she proved herself smart and committed to progressive policies. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, District 6 Democrat Michelle Palmer: Her years as a teacher in area schools, including Aldine ISD and Houston ISD, have made her familiar with curriculum issues and will bring a rare perspective to the board: that of an active teacher. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF Republican Randy Rush: When he felt higher-ups at the Harris County Sheriffs Office werent taking an episode of prisoner abuse seriously enough, he became a whistleblower. Rushs experience and willingness to do the right thing is one of the reasons we recommend him. Democrat Ed Gonzalez: From taking a bold stance in support of bail reform to minimizing the use of solitary confinement to expanding vocational programs to women in the jail, Gonzalezs changes big and small have prioritized public safety as well as fairness and the dignity of inmates. HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Republican Lori DeAngelo: DeAngelo has deep experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the Harris County District Attorneys Office. She supports misdemeanor bail reform and in her many years as a prosecutor, she has handled every type of case, including capital murder. Democrat Kim Ogg: Seeing justice is done while reforming the criminal justice system isnt easy. Ogg has drawn criticism, including from us, but we believe shes charted the right course overall. Her experience far surpasses that of her opponents and her integrity is sound. HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY Democrat Christian Menefee: The civil litigation attorney will bring needed energy, attention to detail and fresh perspective to a job that goes beyond serving as a lawyer to county officials and judges. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1 Democrat Rodney Ellis: His work as commissioner has continued that of his trailblazing Texas Senate career, with a focus on public policy, such as bail reform. For his experience, deep policy knowledge and results, Ellis is the best choice for Democratic voters. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3 Republican Brenda Stardig: A hard worker passionate about flooding, infrastructure and public safety, Stardig has a reputation for connecting with constituents on the ground level and fighting for their needs. While her unfiltered style can raise eyebrows, its refreshing when it means greater transparency. Democrat Michael Moore: His attention to detail and practical focus on flood mitigation, infrastructure, traffic, an underfunded hospital district and other challenges in a growing region are why we recommend him. TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR and VOTER REGISTRAR Democrat Ann Harris Bennett: Shes an experienced administrator who, despite stumbles, is making progress on registering voters and helping educate taxpayers. JUDGES Republican 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5: Terry Adams. He has been a primary lawyer on more than 200 appellate cases. Democrat 1st Court of Appeals, Place 3: Dinesh Singhal. He has a strong reputation for being smart and experienced. 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5: Tim Hootman. A former staffer on this court of appeals, he has handled more than 350 appeals including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief of the 14th Court of Appeals: Jane Robinson. She has a solid reputation and is a significant contributing editor to the OConnors Texas civil court guide. 14th Court of Appeals Place 7: Wally Kronzer. He has extensive appellate court experience in state and federal courts. 80th Harris County District Court: Larry Weiman. Though Weiman has been criticized for stressing docket speed over other issues, his reputation on the bench is that he has integrity and he has done reasonably well in bar polls. 164th Harris County District Court: Grant J. Harvey. Hes a highly regarded litigator who has participated in numerous trials and appeals. He has practiced law for 30 years including at one of the most respected boutique firms in Houston. 165th Harris County District Court: Megan Daic. She has varied civil experience, teaches as an adjunct at UH law school and has impressed colleagues as being capable of having the temperament to handle the bench. 176th Harris County District Court: Bryan Acklin. He has been called even-tempered and talented by colleagues on both sides of the criminal cases that this currently under-performing court handles. 179th Harris County District Court: Ana Martinez. She gained a sterling reputation as a human trafficking prosecutor before she became a defense attorney. 333rd Harris County District Court: Daryl Moore. He gets wildly high marks on bar polls and his reputation is that he is thoughtful, intelligent, with an even-handed approach to the law and a great temperament. 334th Harris County District Court: Steven Kirkland. His reputation is that he is a good judge with solid bar poll results. 337th Harris County District Court: Colleen Gaido. She has handled more than 50 criminal trials and is known for understanding the realities of all angles of a case. 339th Harris County District Court: Teiva Bell. Her reputation in trial is superb though not all her opponents have liked going up against her, which can be a good thing. 351th Harris County District Court: George Powell. Lawyers who have practiced in his court say he is thoughtful, respectful and fair on the bench. 507th Harris County District Court: C.C. Sonny Phillips. Colleagues expect Phillips will bring fairness, clear policies and organization to a court that has fared poorly in recent bar polls. Recommendations for the 2020 Republican Primary in Texas Recommendations for the 2020 Democratic Primary in Texas Why recommend candidates at all? The editorial board, a team of opinion journalists separate from the newsroom, believes it is an essential part of our duty to inform readers. We know voters want to make responsible choices in the voting booth but that can be daunting given the number of candidates. We invest the time and resources for the benefit of voters and for our democracy. We skipped some races those for justice of peace and county courts of law but not many. As always, feel free to shoot us a note and let us know how we did: www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/submit. Due to the devastating impact of the coronavirus in China, Apple does not expect to meet the revenue guidance previously provided for its fiscal second quarter. In January, Apple said it was expecting net sales to be in the range of $63 billion to $67 billion for the March quarter. The company did not offer a revised projection, this week. What the World Health Organization is calling coronavirus disease 2019 (or COVID-19) has hit Apples business on multiple fronts in China. As the U.S. tech giant said this week, the public-health crisis briefly crippled product production in the country. And, although all of its facilities have since reopened, manufacturing is apparently ramping up more slowly than Apple previously predicted. We are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated, Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. advertisement advertisement COVID-19 has also impacted demand for Apples products in China. That is because the lives of millions of Chinese citizens have been upset by the health crisis, while Apples retail operations have been severely compromised. On Monday, Apple said all of its stores in China -- and many of its partner stores -- have been closed since the COVID-19 outbreak began. Stores that are now open have been operating at reduced hours, and with very low customer traffic. Apples corporate offices and contact centers in China are open, while its online stores have remained open throughout the crisis. Business aside, Cook said in his letter to employees that Apples paramount concern is with the people who make up Apples community of employees, partners, customers, and suppliers in China. Looking ahead, Apple said this week the crisis is still evolving, and it expects to provide more information during its next earnings call in April. Police found the body of an unidentified man 38 years ago in Ohio. Now, Twinsburg, Ohio investigators say that man may have a connection to Upstate South Carolina. DNA and forensic genealogy research linked the man to South Carolina. The victim, or one or more of his close ancestors, is likely from Laurens County, police said. Police found the body on February 18, 1982, according to the DNA Doe Project, which uses new forensic genealogy techniques to try to identify cold case victims. Workers found the mans remains behind a store in Twinsburg, Ohio, near Cleveland, police said They initially found a skull, but later, about 40 to 50 feet away, a garbage bag of bones. The deceaseds body, which showed evidence of stabbing, blunt force trauma, and postmortem fire, had been dismembered before being stuffed into the garbage bag, according to DNA Doe. A forensic anthropologist estimated the man was small in stature, about 5 6, and was between 20 and 35 years old. The deceased may have had a noticeably humped back or slouched posture due to Kyphosis (a forward curvature of the spine), according to the researchers. Investigators say there was a Chrysler stamping slant in the Cleveland suburb at the time of the murder, adding that the victim or the killer could have a connection to the plant. Police in Ohio say a murder victim found in 1982 may have a connection to South Carolina. Police say the man was 20 to 35 years old when he died, meaning he would have been born between 1942 and 1961. They estimated he was killed between 1977 and 1981. Anyone who may have information about the man should contact Twinsburg Police Department Detective Hendershott at 330-405-5679. If you have completed a DNA test, you can help by uploading your DNA to GED Match or FTDNA and opting in for law enforcement matching, police said. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NuggMD, the nation's leading cannabis-focused telemedicine platform, is lowering their price for medical marijuana evaluations in Missouri. The new lower price for evaluations will be $99. This is a $40 discount over their current price of $139, with the new price being the lowest offered anywhere in the state by a wide margin. The discount is effective as of Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. This discount is temporary and will last until the first medical marijuana dispensaries open, which is anticipated to be late Spring or early Summer. The Department has issued its license approval list which can be found on their main website, but it will be several weeks before these dispensaries become operational. Patients are not waiting for dispensaries to open before getting their cards, however. As of Feb, 1, more than 31,000 Missourians have been approved for medical marijuana in the state, and the number is increasing by roughly 1,000 patients a week. NuggMD opened operations in Missouri on Jan. 6th, 2020 and agree that Missourians are enthusiastically joining the program, which they had predicted in their opening press release. "We were expecting a positive response here, but the numbers that came in were surprising," says Alex Milligan, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of NuggMD. "It's been a busy several weeks, but we want to do everything we can to make it easy for patients to make purchases when the first dispensaries open." "Operations are running smoothly despite the demand," says CEO and co-founder Collin Mann. "The average wait time for patients at the moment is about 5 minutes from the time they enter the digital waiting room till they see their doctor and the user experience has been very smooth." NuggMD believes that most patients are joining the program early because it offers many additional advantages above and beyond the ability to purchase at legal dispensaries -- the largest being that patients can sign up to cultivate their own medicine. Many other patients are signing up with caregivers, or are simply excited to visit dispensaries on the first day they open. "People are impatient to start, says COO and co-founder Kam Babazade. "The sense we get is that they've waited long enough." The price decrease is already effective on their website. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, facilitating access to medical marijuana for patients in New York, California, Nevada, Oklahoma and Missouri. NuggMD's patients receive their evaluations entirely online via face-to-face video chats from the comfort and privacy of their own home. Qualifying medical conditions vary by state. Since their launch in 2016, NuggMD has helped more than half a million medical marijuana patients connect with their new physicians and obtain their medical marijuana recommendations. They are fully committed to improving patients' quality of life through cannabis. For further information, visit nuggmd.com/missouri SOURCE NuggMD Related Links https://www.nuggmd.com/ Following the opening of the Munich Security Conference, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (both Social Democrats, SPD) delivered bellicose speeches in which they demanded a more independent and aggressive foreign policy for Germany and Europe. Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer developed the same theme on Saturday. Her appearance had all the hallmarks of a wartime speech. In considerable detail, she explained what Berlin, Brussels and Paris intend to do to prepare for future conflicts between the major powers for the redivision of the world. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer at the Munich Security Conference (AP Photo / Jens Meyer) Observing is inadequate, stated Kramp-Karrenbauer at the beginning of her speech, which was titled Defending the West. She is in full agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron, who also spoke at the conference in favour of a more independent European foreign policy. The Europeans not only need to describe their weaknesses, not just comment on or complain about the actions of othersbut conduct more strategic dialogue in Europe and do something concrete for our security. Germany in particular is obliged to develop more practical capabilities and a willingness to act. The defence minister recalled the conference here six years ago, when Germanys greater readiness to accept responsibility was discussed and the president at the time (Joachim Gauck) called on Germany to intervene earlier, more decisively, and more substantially in international crisis management. This remains correct and must now, in spite of all previous efforts (Kramp-Karrenbauer referred to German military operations in Eastern Europe, Mali, Iraq, and Afghanistan), be put into practice. I believe it is necessary for the Munich consensus of words to become a Munich consensus of deeds, she declared. Because we Germans and Europeans observe a strategic situation that is increasingly being determined by competition between the major powers. Kramp-Karrenbauer then spoke concretely about what the ruling elite is plotting behind the backs of the population: a comprehensive remilitarisation programme for Germany aimed at enabling Berlin and Brussels to wage war to protect their economic and geostrategic interests against their rivals around the world. We will increase the German armys combat readiness with a combat readiness initiative, which will lead to a significant improvement in equipment and combat power already this year, she stated. To this end, military spending will increase substantially. We are keeping the promise we made to our NATO allies and will increase our defence spending year over year. By 2031, 10 percent of NATOs total capabilities will be supplied by Germany. For this, we need a defence budget of 2 percent of gross domestic product, declared Kramp-Karrenbauer. In absolute terms, this means a doubling of the defence budget to more than 90 billion annually. Kramp-Karrenbauer was explicit about what the money would be used for. Ladies and gentlemen, to increase Europes ability to take decisive action, Germany and France are developing the military platforms of the futurewhile always remaining open for alliances with others. For example, in the Future Combat Air System [FCAS] with Spain, where we have already taken the first steps. Just three days ago, we were able to get parliamentary approval for the money to fund these concrete steps. The price tag for the FCAS, which was already launched last June by Kramp-Karrenbauers predecessor, Ursula von der Leyen, and her counterparts from France and Spain, Florence Parly and Margarita Robles, is enormous. According to a report in Handelsblatt, the costs of FCAS could rise above 500 billion by mid-century. This would be enough to cover Germanys total education budget for 27 years. Even so, numerous additional multibillion rearmament projects are planned. We are also advancing on the Main Ground Combat Systemthe tanks of the future, if you will, continued Kramp-Karrenbauer. So we Europeans are showing that we are serious about throwing our own weight around more, militarily, technologically, and on industrial policy. She also appealed for a common European approach on the issues of drones and air defence systems. The cooperation should go well beyond the military sphere and comprise the fields of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, for instance. The huge rearmament projects are part of Berlins determined drive to transform Europe into a military powerhouse under its leadership that is capable of waging war and carrying out military interventions independently of and, if necessary, against the United States. In Syria, Europe has no standing and no initiative and this cannot be permitted in other conflict zones, Kramp-Karrenbauer warned. I therefore think it is important and have been strongly pushing for us in Germany and Europe to define our political goals with regard to the Sahel region, she said. The Sahel zone is a key region for Europe, due to issues like immigration or the threat of terrorism. This is why its important for Germany to remain engaged there, including militarily. We are doing this through training missions, which help our African partners to defend themselves. We have to be more robust in these missions. And consider whether we can do more in the common interest. It is clear that what is being considered is a broader military deployment aimed at occupying the resource-rich region. Kramp-Karrenbauer also expressed a desire for common action with regard to the Strait of Hormuz. Germany is not participating in the American mission, because we consider maximum pressure not to be the correct way to deal with Iran. The ruling elites plans and rhetoric increasingly resemble the war fever which emerged prior to the First and Second World Wars. We all belong together, we are all part of the West, which we want to strengthen in all directions, Kramp-Karrenbauer stated in conclusion. The best way to defend the West is to give its ideas space to spread freely. The last time leading German politicians blustered about spaces and how they want to strengthen their influence in all directions, the result was the Second World War and the worst crimes in human history. If the ruling elite thinks it can simply revive its war policy 75 years later, they are seriously mistaken. The working class will not allow German imperialism once again to thrust the world into the abyss. Founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg arrives for a meeting with European Commission vice-president in charge for Values and Transparency, in Brussels (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images) After years mired in privacy scandals, Facebook has suggested that it wants to work with governments on new rules for the internet. The social media giant - which has been under fire over fake news and hate speech online - published a set of recommendations for online content regulation. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for good regulation on social media companies. Facebook published recommendations for future regulation, which suggest placing more accountability on companies to do content moderation. READ MORE Facebook argues this will be a strong incentive for firms to be more responsible. Facebook wants to work with policymakers to create new rules for the internet. We published a White Paper that offers 5 principles that could frame content regulation, especially outside the US, that keeps the internet safe and protects free expression. https://t.co/SqXKK10oFn Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) February 17, 2020 Some internet users were scathing about Facebooks proposals, referencing previous privacy and election scandals which have involved the company. You know what happened during the EU referendum and subsequent General Elections and yet stood by and watched Zuckerberg deny any knowledge of it and fail to cooperate with the Select Committee. Carol Gardiner (@Auntie_CarolG) February 17, 2020 Last week, the Government published early proposals for new online harms regulation, including placing broadcasting regulator Ofcom in charge of holding internet companies to account should they fail to uphold a duty of care to users. Story continues Sharing the company's guidelines on Twitter, Facebook's head of global affairs and communications Sir Nick Clegg said: "Facebook wants to work with policymakers to create new rules for the internet. "We published a White Paper that offers five principles that could frame content regulation, especially outside the US, that keeps the internet safe and protects free expression." The guidelines suggest regulations should "respect the global scale of the internet and the value of cross-border communications" and encourage coordination between different international national regulators, as well as look to protect freedom of expression. In terms of enforcing new rules, it also calls on regulators to develop an understanding of technology which still allows technology firms to innovate rather than issuing blanket bans on certain processes or tools, and asks regulators to take into account the "severity and prevalence" of harmful content in question, its status in law and efforts already underway to address the content. Writing in the Financial Times, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said the company supported the need for new online regulation even if it damaged Facebook financially. "I believe good regulation may hurt Facebook's business in the near term but it will be better for everyone, including us, over the long term," he said. "These are problems that need to be fixed and that affect our industry as a whole. If we don't create standards that people feel are legitimate, they won't trust institutions or technology. "To be clear, this isn't about passing off responsibility. Facebook is not waiting for regulation; we're continuing to make progress on these issues ourselves. "But I believe clearer rules would be better for everyone. The internet is a powerful force for social and economic empowerment. Regulation that protects people and supports innovation can ensure it stays that way." Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who built his fortune by selling a tool to help handle the financial industry, is veering left as a Democratic presidential hopeful with a new set of policies taking aim at Wall Street in what amounts to a reversal of his own past criticism of financial regulations. The plan released on Tuesday morning would toughen banking regulations and introduce a financial transactions tax, alongside other ideas like strengthening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that would seem natural to come from more progressive candidates in the field like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Mr Bloomberg, who has mounted a non-traditional 2020 campaign that sees him foregoing the first four nominating contests that generally lend credibility to campaigns, has amassed a personal fortune estimated at around $64 billion through his eponymous financial analysis and media company. And, in the past, he has taken hits for criticising financial regulations like the post-Great Recession Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, and for blaming the housing crisis that largely created that recession on the end of racist red lining practices by banks. Given how profoundly the 2008 crisis undermined faith in the establishment and given how close it brought the world to economic collapse authorities everywhere should be doing all in their power to fix the flaws it revealed, the plan reads. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Central to the ideas set forth in his plan is unwinding the Trump administrations efforts to roll back Dodd-Frank, which was signed by Barack Obama in 2010 and gave the federal government stronger oversight over the financial sector, implemented crisis prevention measures, and implemented harsher penalties for abusive conduct. In 2014, while still registered as an independent after being a member of the Republican Party through 2007, Mr Bloomberg called that very plan dysfunctional. He was among the harshest critics of Dodd-Frank outside of the GOP umbrella. The trouble is if you reduce the risk at these institutions they cant make the money they did, Mr Bloomberg said then. If they cant make the money they did, they cant provide the financing that this country and this world needs to create jobs and build infrastructure. The new plan also calls for a strengthening of the 1977 federal law that aimed to end racial discrimination in mortgage lending, which has been referred to as redlining. Mr Bloomberg had previously blamed the end of that practice, which denied loans to customers who lived in areas identified as having high populations of minorities, for the 2007 housing crisis. Once you start pushing in that direction, banks start making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasnt as good as you would like, he said in 2008. As for the CFPB, Mr Bloomberg has said he would bolster the agency, which was championed by Ms Warren, who is also running for president. That agency which has put in place restrictions on short-term, high interest payday loans and on discriminatory auto loan premiums has been weakened by the Trump administration. UAE issues license for Arab world's first nuclear power plant Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 1:05 AM The United Arab Emirates has issued an operating license for a reactor, developed by foreign experts, at its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world. The Barakah plant, located on the Persian Gulf coast west of the capital, had been due to come online in late 2017 but faced a number of delays that officials attributed to safety and regulatory requirements. The national nuclear regulator has now given the green light to the first of four reactors at the plant, Hamad al-Kaabi, the UAE representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a press conference. Emirati officials said in January that the plant would start operating within a few months. No new date was given on Monday but Kaabi indicated it would happen soon. "The full operation of Barakah plant in the near future will contribute to the UAE's efforts for development and sustainability," he said, adding that the operator would "undertake a period of commissioning to prepare for commercial operation." Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan also tweeted that "today marks a new chapter in our journey for the development of peaceful nuclear energy with the issuing of the operating license for the first Barakah plant." "As we prepare for the next 50 years to safeguard our needs, our biggest strength is national talent," he added. The UAE plant is being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation at a cost of some $24.4 billion. Mark Hibbs, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Nuclear Policy Program, says the UAE "has to build up a domestic pool of experts in many areas to keep these plants running smoothly and efficiently", as all of the expertise for developing the facility has been "imported from outside". When fully operational, the four reactors have the capacity to generate 5,600 megawatts of electricity, around 25 percent of the nation's needs. The remaining three reactors are almost ready. The plant is the Arab world's first. Saudi Arabia has said it plans to build up to 16 nuclear reactors, but the project has yet to materialize. In September, Saudi Arabia announced plans to produce and enrich uranium in the future for its nuclear power program set to enter into an operational phase with two atomic reactors. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the kingdom's energy minister, said that Riyadh intends to diversify its energy mix and go ahead with the full cycle of its nuclear program, including the production and enrichment of uranium for atomic fuel. "We are proceeding with it cautiously... we are experimenting with two nuclear reactors," Abdulaziz said at an energy conference in Abu Dhabi. Companies from the US, China, Russia, South Korea and France are speculated to be involved in preliminary talks about the project estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia claims that it wants to tap nuclear technology for peaceful purposes but enrichment of uranium is a sensitive step in the nuclear fuel cycle as it can open up the possibility of military uses of the material. Concern over Saudi nuclear ambitions has mounted both because of the regime's dark record of violating human rights, particularly for detention of women's rights activists and the cruel murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, as well as its brutal war on Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Phuket airport adds virus checks on arrivals from Cambodia after Westerdam passengers allowed entry to Thailand PHUKET: Arrivals from Cambodia landing at Phuket International Airport have been added to the watchlist to be screened as potential threats carrying the Wuhan coronavirus, officially designated COVID-19. healthtourismtransportChineseimmigrationCoronavirusCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Tuesday 18 February 2020, 11:36AM Passengers wait to be screened at Phuket International Airport. Photo: AoT Phuket The announcement came from the Airports of Thailand management team at Phuket airport (AoT Phuket), who confirmed that 27 passengers from the cruise ship Westerdam arrived in Bangkok on Sunday night (Feb 16). The Westerdam passengers arrived from Phnom Penh on Thai Airways International flight TG 585, landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 10pm Sunday, AoT Phuket reported on its official Facebook page yesterday. (See post here.) Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health has also confirmed that 44 passengers from the MS Westerdam cruise ship arrived in Thailand on Feb 14 and 15, reported state news agency NNT. All Westerdam passengers were screened on arrival. They were found not to be suffering any fever or upper respiratory infections, and allowed to continue their journeys to their next destinations, the report said. The report did not clarify whether the next destinations were international or domestic. (See report here.) Westerdam infection The news that Westerdam passengers have been allowed to continue their journeys through Thailand follows an 83-year-old American woman who was a passenger on the Westerdam being confirmed as infected with the virus while attempting to enter Malaysia. The woman was stopped at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after going through thermal temperature scanners, and later tested positive for the coronavirus, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail explained at a press conference in the Malaysian capital on Sunday. Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Malaysian Disaster Management Centre Committee chairman, countered claims by Cambodian officials that the tests carried out on the woman were not conclusive. "The wife tested positive twice. The first one, they (Cambodian authorities) said that maybe we did not adhere to protocol, he said. He added that Malaysian Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had shown all the test results to his Cambodian counterpart. "Dr Noor Hisham said we showed everything to them and they agreed that our protocol was actually world class. So, whatever Malaysia did was right, Malaysian Deputy PM Wan Azizah said. "It was not a false positive. It was a positive," Dr Wan Azizah confirmed. (See report here.) The American womans 85-year-old husband tested negative, he added. Japan, Singapore added to watchlist Meanwhile, health authorities in Thailand have extended coronavirus screening to cover visitors from Japan and Singapore. "We have expanded our intensive screening to travellers from Japan and Singapore. The screening method will be the same one used on passengers from Wuhan," Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Sukhum Kanchanapimai, told a news conference on Monday, reported the Bangkok Post. (See story here.) Intensive screening was already in place for arrivals from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the report added. Dr Sukhum urged travellers from Japan and Singapore who develop a fever or respiratory problems within 14 days of entering the country to go to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute or other hospitals to be checked for infection. Public health authorities yesterday (Feb 17) raised measures against CONVID-19 to Level 3, in preparation for a surge in transmissions. Level 3 means medical staff have to undergo screening for the virus, explained the report. Within the next two months, every province will have at least one hospital capable of testing for Covid-19, the report added. The Department of Medical Sciences is also developing a coronavirus test kit that will deliver a result in five minutes. The test kit should be available within two months. DOUBLE TAP While confirmation that Westerdam passengers have been allowed to enter Thailand became public, Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday barred passengers and crew from the cruise ship MS Westerdam from entering Thailand. Mr Anutin said he had ordered all Thai airlines not to issue boarding passes to anyone who had been on the Westerdam for the next 14 days, reported the Bangkok Post. And if any airline breaks this new regulation, it must take a responsibility for any damage incurred, Mr Anutin said. Thailand yesterday recorded one new coronavirus patient, taking the total number of cases to 35 since January. Fifteen have since recovered. The new case is a 60-year-old Chinese tourist from Wuhan, reported Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Sukhum. FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox are close to a deal with veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday. The 33-year-old will likely receive a minor league deal and join the Red Sox in camp this week. Lucroy, who played for new Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke in Milwaukee from 2011 to 2015, will give the club a veteran depth option behind starter Christian Vazquez and backup Kevin Plawecki. Though Plawecki is on the 40-man roster and out of options, Bostons financial commitment to him ($900k) is minimal, meaning Lucroy could pass him and win the backup job with a strong spring training. Lucroy split 2019 between the Angels and Cubs, hitting .232/.305/.355 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 101 games. The two-time All-Star (2014, 2016) was released by the Halos in mid-August, signed a minor league deal with Chicago a couple days later and played 24 games for the Cubs before the end of the year. According to MLB Networks Jon Heyman, Lucroy underwent a disc replacement surgery on his neck over the winter and has recovered well from the procedure. After spending the first 6 seasons of his career with Milwaukee, Lucroy has played for five teams in the last three seasons, being traded twice and signing three free agent deals since 2016. He was a -0.1 WAR player in 2019 but was an All-Star just four years ago, being traded from Milwaukee to Texas in a trade deadline blockbuster that sent Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz to the Brewers. Lucroy will be the seventh catcher in big league camp with the Red Sox. In addition to Vazquez and Plawecki, the club has Juan Centeno, Jett Bandy, Connor Wong and Roldani Baldwin on the major league side this spring. ARENZVILLE Private landowners in partnership with several groups and organizations have started a campaign to restore the hillside prairies west of Arenzville. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Pheasants Forever and the Nature Conservancy have partnered with these landowners to remove stands of eastern red cedar, locust, trees, honeysuckle and Russian olive to bring the hillsides back to conditions that existed in the 1950s, according to a post by Mike Budd, private lands coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Illinois, on wildlifeillinois.org. One of the residents leading the efforts is Ray Geroff, an Illinois Department of Natural Resources natural heritage biologist. He is talking to his neighbors and coordinating with area stakeholders, according to Budds post. Geroff told Budd that the populations of popular game animals such as deer, turkey and bobwhite quail could expand if the prairies are restored. Insects, pollinators and non-game species also could benefit from an improved landscape, according to Geroff. We have a great opportunity here to restore a large hill prairie complex by working together, Geroff said. When more than one landowner is involved, all neighboring landowners benefit. According to Budd, the private landowners are leveraging money they received from their partner groups and agencies to pay for hiring a private contractor or for seed. The combined total area owned by interested landowners is more than 1,000 contiguous acres. When the landowners contribute time and money to a project we know the time and funds we contribute will be a great investment, Budd said. In other projects in which cedar trees have been removed, wildflowers and native tall grass species bloomed within a year of the removal, Budd said. Geroffs main goal is to restore the hill prairies from Mud Creek Hill Prairie to Meredosia Hill Prairie, he said, adding that he hopes to go beyond that area if time and money allows. He expects the process to take several years possibly decades to finish. [February 18, 2020] AutoAlert Enhances Customer Experience Management (CXM), With More Industry-First Customer-Centric Dealership Solutions KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoAlert is once again revolutionizing the industry with two new customer-centric solutions to round out its Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform: Volume Targeting and Recall Management. The AI-driven platform unifies complex customer data from siloed sources including OEM activity, sales data, CRM, DMS, and third-party analytics into one customer-centric platform that is accessible from any point and by any person in the dealership. Starting today, the platform includes volume target sales planning and recall management solutions, giving dealers a single point of contact for storing and acting on accumulated customer data. "Providing the best customer experience is what customers expect from dealerships," said AutoAlert CEO Mike Dullea. "Today's customer wants brands to know tem and anticipate their needs. It isn't enough to rely on time-based or siloed customer communications any longer. Customers want a relationship and will go to the dealer that provides it." Both industry-first solutions integrate directly into CXM, delivering seamless experiences that meet or exceed customer expectations, optimize conversions and engender even higher customer loyalty. "Imagine having every touchpoint with a customer including email, SMS messages, Facebook posts, service appointments and if they've shopped another dealership integrated with OEM incentives and recall notices," said Dullea. "Now imagine all of those specific customer data and touchpoints in one system that alerts you to opportunities for customer interaction and provides you with highly predictive data for customer upgrade or to set a service appointment. Additionally, we are including a customer resolution process that ensures on-time, all-the-time customer-centric solutions. That's CXM." For more on AutoAlert's CXM or to schedule a demo, visit Autoalert.com. About AutoAlert AutoAlert is the original disruptor and the recognized leader in innovation in the automotive software space. Its Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform continues to focus on the dealership-customer relationship, creating direct opportunities, both online and offline, for meaningful connections and seamless customer-centric experiences. Visit us at www.autoalert.com. Media Contacts: Tracy Henderson, Center Reach Communications, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/autoalert-enhances-customer-experience-management-cxm-with-more-industry-first-customer-centric-dealership-solutions-301005517.html SOURCE AutoAlert, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Union Cabinet is likely to consider the merger of 10 PSU banks into four big lenders this week to allow the process to take effect from the scheduled date of April 1, 2020. Once notified, the boards of these banks will approve the swap ratio for the merger. Each bank is required to follow regulatory norms to protect minority stakeholders' interests. The mega merger was announced on August 30 last year. The government is slated to notify the merger of 10 public sector banks to create four big lenders later this week, as the banks have completed the necessary groundwork, said officials. On the issue of the mergers being not notified so far since the April 1 deadline is not so far away, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said: "I don't see any reason to go back or any reason which is particularly causing any delay for any notification...you will hear on it as it when it comes." Under the plan, the Punjab National Bank will take over the Oriental Bank of Commerce and the United Bank, the Canara Bank will take over the Syndicate Bank, the Union Bank of India will take over the Andhra Bank, and the Corporation Bank and the Indian Bank will be merged with the Allahabad Bank. In April 2019, the Bank of Baroda, in a three-way merger exercise, amalgamated the Vijaya Bank and the Dena Bank with itself. The SBI had merged five of its associate banks - the State Bank of Patiala, the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, the State Bank of Mysore, the State Bank of Travancore and the State Bank of Hyderabad as well as the Bharatiya Mahila Bank with itself effective April 2017. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global coiled tubing market size is expected to reach USD 4.72 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to grow on account of increasing need to maximize oil and gas output from existing oil and gas wells. Rising demand for primary energy for transportation, power generation, and household activities has resulted in increased consumption of oil and gas in major economies. As a result, there are increasing investments in exploration and production activities in unconventional oil and gas reserves. Key suggestions from the report: North America is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 5.5% in terms of revenue, from 2020 to 2027, owing to accelerating production of tight oil in the country Well intervention service is estimated to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 5.0%, in terms of revenue from 2020 to 2027. The growth is attributed to rising demand from oil and gas producers to maximize production from the existing wells Onshore application acquired the highest market share of 61.5% in 2019 owing to abundant production of oil and gas from onshore fields Offshore application is estimated to experience the fastest CAGR of 5.6% in terms of revenue, from 2020 to 2027, owing to rising investments in offshore fields on global scale In 2018, Baker Hughes Company was awarded the contract by Saudi Aramco for coiled tubing services and drilling for Marjan oilfield expansion Read 153 page research report with ToC on "Coiled Tubing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Services (Well Completion, Drilling), By Operations (Circulation, Pumping), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/coiled-tubing-ct-market Coiled Tubing (CT) plays a significant role in enabling upstream oil and gas players to produce oil in a cost effective way. It can be used on live wells as the product can be inserted into the well while the oil and gas production is ongoing. Moreover, there are number of well intervention operations such as well completion and well cleaning that can be performed in a cost effective way through utilization of coiled tubing. It can endure greater tensile and compressive forces when perforating highly deviated and horizontal wells. North America was the largest regional market for coiled tubing in 2019. The region is predicted to maintain its dominance in the forthcoming years. Significant boost in the production of tight oil particularly in U.S has resulted in significant rise in demand for coiled tubing. Canada is yet another prominent regional market, as there are number of deviated wells in the country, for which CT is largely used for well intervention and drilling services. The top three players in the global coiled tubing market include Halliburton, Baker Hughes Company, and Schlumberger Limited. These companies gain competitive edge in oilfield service market as the oil and gas exploration and production companies are aiming to minimize cost of production through innovative technologies like coiled tubing. Grand View Research has segmented the global coiled tubing market on the basis of service, operation, application, and region: Coiled Tubing Services Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Well Intervention Well Completion Well Cleaning Others Drilling Others Coiled Tubing Operation Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Circulation/Deliquification Pumping Logging Perforation Others Coiled Tubing Application Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Onshore Offshore Coiled Tubing Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe U.K. Russia Poland Asia Pacific China Australia Central & South America Argentina Brazil Middle East & Africa & Iran UAE Saudi Arabia Find more research reports on Drilling & Extraction Equipments Industry, by Grand View Research: Offshore Mooring Systems Market Rapid expansion of oil and gas E&P from the offshore fields along with the rising development of high temperature gas hydrate basins for sustainable future growth is expected to drive offshore mooring systems market over the forecast period. Rapid expansion of oil and gas E&P from the offshore fields along with the rising development of high temperature gas hydrate basins for sustainable future growth is expected to drive offshore mooring systems market over the forecast period. Well Intervention Market Presence of vast unexplored hydrocarbon rich reserves both in onshore and offshore basins coupled with significant dependence of various economies in the industry is expected to propel the well intervention market growth in near future. Presence of vast unexplored hydrocarbon rich reserves both in onshore and offshore basins coupled with significant dependence of various economies in the industry is expected to propel the well intervention market growth in near future. Positive Displacement (PD) Pumps Market The volatility in the oil and gas industry is expected to dip the revenue of large players. However, the demand for cost-effective and easy-to-install pumps in midstream and downstream is estimated to balance the overall appetite. The fluctuation in oil prices is expected to lead the PD pumps market toward consolidation. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy on February 18. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, the interlocutors exchanged views on cooperation between Armenia and the USA in various spheres. Particularly, the sides assesses promising the spheres of modern technologies, particularly, the implementation of joint projects in the sphere of artificial intelligence. In this context, the sides referred to the possible cooperation in the sidelines of the president-initiated ATOM project, the goal of which is to transform Armenia into a leading country in the spheres of artificial intelligence and mathematical modeling. During the meeting the Armenian President and the US Ambassador also exchanged views on the referendum for Constitutional changes scheduled on April 5. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference 2020 As part of NetSTAR's annual participation at the RSA Conference held in San Francisco, California, NetSTAR is excited to announce a new initiative focused on start-up and early stage vendors that want to use the NetSTAR technologies in their products and services. The program, NetSTAR's Genesis Partner Program, includes licensing discounts, technical support, and technical resources designed specifically for the future stars of the high-tech, security, telecom, and adtech industries. The Genesis program is available for all of NetSTAR's solutions, including inCompass (URL categorization), ip/Compass (IP Address categorization and reputation), WebApp Compass (web app and SaaS categorization), MobileApp Compass (mobile app categorization), inSITE (threat intelligence), and ADVantage (adtech URL categorization with IAB taxonomy support). Daniel Ashby, Sr. Vice President of NetSTAR, explains "As the global leader in URL and IP Address categorization, NetSTAR's technologies are being used by the industry's largest and brightest technology companies, service providers, and mobile operators. With over 260 technology partners using the NetSTAR technology, we have always had a special relationship not only with these large organizations but also with start-up and early stage companies as well." Mr. Ashby continued by saying "However, the industry has never really had a special program focused on the unique needs and requirements of these start-up and early stage companies. This is where the Genesis program is designed to be different and to provide the very resources that our industry's up-and-coming companies, with their innovative technologies, solutions, and services, require." NetSTAR understands the unique challenges faced by start-up and early stage companies. The Genesis program provides a complete bundle of services to help empower these companies to focus on creating innovative and disruptive solutions for the market, with the assistance of NetSTAR's global team, industry-best technology, and world-renowned support. Each vendor or partner as NetSTAR likes to refer to those using NetSTAR technology will receive a dedicated technology specialist, access to the NetSTAR technical team, 24/7 technical support, technology and libraries designed to simplify integration of the NetSTAR technology/solution into the partner's products/solutions, and special licensing discounts that are critical for early-stage companies to be competitive in the market. NetSTAR will be meeting with prospective Genesis program participants at RSA Conference 2020, where NetSTAR has a booth and meeting space. Technology companies that are interested in learning more about the Genesis program, and how it can help them become more competitive in the market, are invited to contact NetSTAR to set up a meeting during RSA Conference or off-site at a mutually beneficial time and location. NetSTAR is a global leader in internet categorization and security solutions for technology and telco partners. We categorize billions of URLs, domains, and IP addresses, and give our technology and telco partners visibility into the dynamic internet landscape. With our telemetry data from over one billion endpoints, our proprietary categorization technologies, and our partnerships with internet and security industry leaders, we provide unparalleled URL categorization and threat intelligence. More information is available at https://netstar.io . If you would like to discuss this release with a NetSTAR team member, inquire via +1 650.600.3850. SOURCE NetSTAR, Inc. B oris Johnson has spoken with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the coronavirus outbreak, Number 10 has confirmed. The Prime Minister offered his sympathies to those affected by the virus, while President Xi thanked the UK for its support. It is the first time they have talked since the Prime Minister's father met with Chinese ambassador, Liu Xiaoming, to discuss environmental issues two weeks ago. After the visit, Stanley Johnson warned that Chinese officials were concerned over the lack of support they had recieved from the Prime Minister following the outbreak. Boris Johnson's father Stanley / AFP via Getty Images An email was sent by Mr Johnson to environment minister Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and other officials, but mistakenly included the BBC among the recipients. But the Prime Minister spoke to President Xi over the phone on Tuesday, where he reiterated the crucial relationship between the UK and China. China's president responded by telling Mr Johnson that he was thankful to the UK for its donation of medical equipment to battle the virus. Chinese President Xi Jinping was thankful to the UK after its donation of medical supplies / AP A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi of China this morning. "He offered his sympathies for those affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. "President Xi thanked the UK for its support and in particular welcomed the donation of vital medical equipment to China. "The Prime Minister and president agreed on the importance of the UK-China relationship and resolved to work together across a range of issues including strengthening the economic partnership, to benefit the people of both China and the UK. "Ahead of COP26 in Glasgow and the Convention on Biological Diversity Summit in China, the two leaders resolved to work closely together on the issue of climate change. Kody Brown and his wives were still living in one home together in Lehi, Utah, when they first appeared on TLCs Sister Wives around a decade ago. After fourth wife Robyn Brown joined the polygamist family, Kody and the rest of the Browns moved to Las Vegas to escape potential legal prosecution in Utah. There, Kody, Robyn, and his first three wives (Meri, Janelle, and Christine Brown) lived in four separate homes in a cul-de-sac. Now that the Brown family has moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, Kody hopes to change all that. On the new season of Sister Wives, Kody revealed his dream of having the whole family back together in one large, shared home on their Arizona land, Coyote Pass. But not all of his wives were convinced. Third wife Christine was adamantly against the plan, while Janelle was the only wife solidly in favor of sharing space with her sister wives. Meri and Robyn were undecided. But when Kody claimed in a recent episode that the wives attitude was due to jealousy, first wife Meri wasnt happy that he appeared to speak for her. She took to Twitter to call him out. Kody, Janelle, Christine, Meri, and Robyn Brown | Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images Kody claimed his wives didnt want to live together due to jealousy In the Feb. 16 episode of Sister Wives, Why Not One House, Kody asked his four wives to discuss the potential pros and cons of living together again. While Janelle mentioned the potential for greater community and shared space if they all lived together, some of Kodys other wives were more worried about the health of their individual marriages with their husband. Christines main issue was with privacy. She admitted she enjoyed being the queen of her own domain, as she had been in Las Vegas. And since the Brown wives have an unspoken rule of not showing physical affection with Kody when theyre around each other, she worried that she wouldnt be able to have an intimate marriage with Kody except in her bedroom. Kody claimed it all boiled down to jealousy. The Sister Wives star argued that his wives were wondering, How often am I going to have to see the face of that other woman? Meri took issue with Kodys claims on Twitter Meri, who married Kody when they were both just 19 years old, live tweeted during some of the Feb. 16 episode. She earned thousands of likes from Sister Wives fans when she called Kody out for claiming that all of his wives were rejecting the shared home due to jealousy. I do have to say, I cant speak for all of us, but when Kody says all of us cant handle seeing him with another woman, he is so wrong and shouldnt be speaking for me, she wrote on Twitter. Kody quote tweeted his first wife and apologized for hinting that all of his wives shared the same opinion about PDA. Okay, sorry that I generalized again, he wrote on Twitter. It is true that I sometimes accuse them of all doing something that usually is one wife only. One fan responded that viewers knew Christine was the main wife who appeared to be struggling with jealousy over Kodys other three marriages. (Christine also struggled the most when Robyn came into the family, as she was pregnant with her last child, Truely, when Robyn and Kody were courting.) Christine has been showing more moments in the last few years of yearning for monogamy, which makes me sad for her, the Twitter user wrote in response to Meris tweet. Shes in a tough spot now, as theres no way to have it with Kody, and she clearly is very in love with him and wouldnt want another man. Sister Wives fans flocked to social media to support Kodys first wife Many fans loved that Meri was speaking up for herself in opposition to Kody, especially given that the couple has struggled with their marriage in recent years. One Sister Wives viewer wrote of Meris lack of jealousy, It shows how secure you are and I love that about you! Its obviously no secret that he has multiple relationships lol. Theres no out of sight, out of mind here. I wonder how the kids feel about not seeing their other moms not being openly affectionate with their dad. Others argued that Kody just wanted his way when it came to the single home, prompting his jealousy remarks on the episode. I think hes just frustrated that you all wont unanimously accept his idea of the one house, one fan argued. Another agreed, writing, When Kody says keep an open mind, he means agree with whatever he says. The West Bank city of Hebron is separated from the epicenter of China's virus outbreak by more than 4,000 miles and a ring of Israeli checkpoints. But even here the economic symptoms of the outbreak are starting to appear. Palestinian markets have long been flooded by low-cost Chinese goods. Traders in Hebron, the largest Palestinian city and a commercial hub for the territories, fear that if the outbreak and quarantine efforts continue they will have to switch to more expensive alternatives, passing higher prices on to consumers in an already weakened economy. Their concerns point to the potential for wide-ranging ripple effects from the outbreak in China, the world's largest exporter. The health crisis has already thrown the global travel industry into chaos and threatened to disrupt supply chains around the world that depend on China. That a city deep inside the Israeli-occupied West Bank is so reliant on Chinese goods illustrates the perils of global economic integration. The illness, recently named COVID-19, first emerged in December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Since then, the virus a new type of coronavirus has spread to about two dozen countries and infected more than 73,000 people. It has caused more than 1,800 deaths, nearly all in China. No cases have yet been identified in Israel or the Palestinian territories, but merchants have felt the impact and fear the worst is yet to come. Samer Abu Eisha, a children's clothes wholesaler in Hebron, has been importing from China for more than two decades. He has a permit from Israel that allows him to fly from Ben Gurion International Airport to China's Guangzhou province every two months so he can place orders with factories there and supervise output. But business ground to a halt last month as the outbreak gathered pace. Israel and neighboring Jordan have suspended all flights to China, shipments have been put on hold, and Abu Eisha says his agent in China is confined to his home because of a local quarantine. If the situation continues he'll have to explore other options. The effects will vary from business to business, with some already feeling the pinch and others preparing to switch up supply lines and raise prices in the coming months. There is an alternative in Turkey, but it's not the same. It's not the same quality or the same workmanship or the same price," he said. "It's hard because all the raw materials also come from China, so things will be more expensive. He estimates he'll have to raise prices by up to 30 per cent, which could pose difficulties in the local market. Decades of Israeli restrictions have hindered economic development in the West Bank, leaving many Palestinians reliant on low-cost imports. The economy here is terrible. In Palestine it's zero, or less than zero, Abu Eisha said. Bilal Dwaik, another Hebron merchant who imports women's clothing from China, was supposed to travel there later this month but had to cancel his trip because of the outbreak. He says if it continues the effects will be felt across the region. The economies of the whole Arab world are not productive, they aren't self-sufficient," he said. "It's all dependent on imported goods, on Chinese goods. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use China Tobacco International (HK) Company Limited's (HKG:6055) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. China Tobacco International (HK) has a price to earnings ratio of 33.58, based on the last twelve months. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 3.0%. Check out our latest analysis for China Tobacco International (HK) How Do I Calculate China Tobacco International (HK)'s Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for price to earnings is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for China Tobacco International (HK): P/E of 33.58 = HKD17.70 HKD0.53 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Does China Tobacco International (HK) Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that China Tobacco International (HK) has a significantly higher P/E than the average (11.1) P/E for companies in the retail distributors industry. SEHK:6055 Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 17th 2020 Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that China Tobacco International (HK) shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Story continues China Tobacco International (HK) maintained roughly steady earnings over the last twelve months. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. How Does China Tobacco International (HK)'s Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? China Tobacco International (HK) has net cash of HK$1.8b. This is fairly high at 15% of its market capitalization. That might mean balance sheet strength is important to the business, but should also help push the P/E a bit higher than it would otherwise be. The Verdict On China Tobacco International (HK)'s P/E Ratio China Tobacco International (HK) trades on a P/E ratio of 33.6, which is multiples above its market average of 10.1. Recent earnings growth wasn't bad. And the healthy balance sheet means the company can sustain growth while the P/E suggests shareholders think it will. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than China Tobacco International (HK). So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. This year was supposed to be huge for the San Francisco cruise industry. More ships than ever before 117, up from 85 last year are calling at the port. But the pall cast by the coronavirus over the cruise industry may affect the city. Vessels come here primarily from other U.S. ports, as well as from Mexico and Canada, and the Port of San Francisco doesnt expect any ships to stay away. Nonetheless, the virus is preoccupying travelers especially since a cruise ship stationed off Japan has had hundreds of passengers infected and far more stuck in quarantine. I cant deny it, its on everyones minds, said Sandra McShane, who lives in Britain and had gotten off the Grand Princess cruise ship that arrived from Hawaii and docked in San Francisco last week. Marign Van Waaigan, who got off the same ship, said it had been briefly delayed due to a medical emergency on board. I was anxious and at first I thought it was the coronavirus, but the captain assured us it was not, Van Waaigan said. The 117 cruise calls scheduled for the city this year involve 32 vessels from 19 cruise lines. Many of the ships return to the city several times. The Carnival Miracle, which is set to make its maiden voyage to San Francisco in March, plans to make a total of 28 calls in San Francisco, accounting for much of the increase the city will see this year. The ship usually departs from Long Beach and heads to Hawaii and Mexico. Port officials are monitoring the coronavirus situation, which has caused many travelers to cancel vacations and cruise companies stocks to tank, but they say that so far they expect no decrease in passengers. San Francisco is a premier destination for many tourists, said Michael Nerney, assistant deputy director at the port. And none of the ships that come here come from Asia. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Revenue from cruises brings in $7.9 million for the port, including passenger and docking fees. Thats a fraction of the $122 million in revenue the port recorded for 2019. Most of the ports revenue comes from property rentals for commercial and industrial businesses. Before the opening of the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 in 2014, the port averaged 50 cruise calls a year. Now the average is higher. The record number of cruise calls expected in 2020 mean more passengers are expected 400,000, up from almost 300,000 in 2019, Nerney said. Cruises have a ripple effect on local businesses. Hotels, restaurants and shops, they all benefit, said Laurie Armstrong Gossy, a spokeswoman for San Francisco Travel, a trade organization. But travel agencies are now scrambling with cancellations and reroutes. Shares in Carnival Corp., which is based in Miami and operates the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan, are down about 16% in a month. Americans were evacuated from the ship to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. For JoAnn Giovannoni, owner of Portal World Travel in San Francisco, the reroutes have been an ordeal. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes I have a client whose cruise is now going to Singapore instead of Hong Kong, she said, noting that the clients itinerary did not involve San Francisco. Finding a flight for him out of Singapore timed with the cruise has been a logistics nightmare. She said cancellations havent happened yet for her, but clients are worried. While we certainly feel for every traveler and supplier impacted by the coronavirus outbreak; and while we have been overwhelmed with changes, re-routes (by way of air reservations and cruise) and even some cancellations ... this too shall pass, Leah Bergner, a travel agent with Coastline Travel Advisors in Orange County, said in an email. The global cruise industry contributed $2.5 billion to the California economy in 2018, up 5.3% from 2016 and accounting for 10.4% of the cruise industrys spending nationwide, according to a report released in November by Cruise Lines International Association in Washington. Besides San Francisco, there are three other cruise ports in the state: Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego. Vancouver, British Columbia, couple Daniel Ho and Winnie Tang thought about canceling their 10-day Mexico cruise that left from San Francisco last week. Tang said that the day before she boarded, she searched for face masks in Vancouver but every store was sold out. They plan to enjoy the trip despite the fears. Youll find us at the casino and not in the swimming pool, thats for sure, she said. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika BS6 petrol Volvo XC40 MY2020 has been launched in India at a starting price of Rs 39,9 lakhs, ex-sh. We recently got a chance to test drive the car in Goa. Here is our test drive report. The Volvo XC40 made an entry mid-2018 to disrupt the entry-level luxury-SUV segment thats filled with awfully familiar cars. It arrived in India with a diesel-exclusive R-Design variant with a very attractive price tag of INR 39.90 lakhs (ex-showroom). In less than 18 months, the company has launched the 2020 Volvo XC40 in India in the same R-Design variant (alone), carrying the same price tag, but with a host of updates and changes, not the least of which is the swap of the highly impressive D4 2.0-litre diesel motor for the new T4 BS6 petrol engine. Is this swap going to be an oomph or ouch for the buyers? The 2020 Volvo XC40 still looks just the same as the 2018 model that looked almost identical to the Volvo 40.1 concept car underpinned by the brands Compact Modular Architecture platform. And just as before, the new Volvo is the largest in its segment in overall dimensions and ground clearance, not to mention the most muscular and distinctive in our opinion. There is nothing new to talk about the exterior of the 2020 XC40, as even the 18-inch alloy wheels are carried over from the earlier model. Despite having no improvement to the outer skin, the smallest of the Swedish brands SUVs still feels strongly desirable especially compared to the competitors in its space which have been around us with more or less the same looks for many years. The interior of the 2020 XC40 is where you can recognise most changes, even if not too many. The new instalment now only gets all-black colour theme that includes the Nappa Leather seats instead of the Alcantara ones, and black carpet all over the floor. So no more striking orange cabin that helps you stay awake, and theres no more ventilated or heated seats either. The darkness of the new black-insistent driving room is well compensated for the ray of life with the massive panoramic sunroof thats too irresistible not to peek out of every now and then. Combine that pleasure with the beats, bass and jazz from the 600W 14-speaker Harman-Kardon music system that features a sub-woofer behind the dashboard, youll forget entirely that it was just a test drive and you dont really own it yet. Dont even get me started on the super immersive 9-inch vertical touch screen, and the highly engaging 12.3-inch instrument display, although they are the same hardware from the 2018 XC40. Majority of whats in the cabin of the new Volvo XC40 is still a carryover, the luxury factor of any of which is still surprisingly intact. We are talking about the touch and tactility of the controls, knobs and vents, the sinfully premium materials elsewhere in the car, and the host of intuitive storage options around the driver and even the passengers. The fun of dwelling inside the XC40 is augmented by the introduction of wireless charging pad in the recess of the centre console, thanks to which there is no distraction of a wire disturbing the experiencing of the car in peace. The no-wire bliss is not just about charging thankfully, its also about connectivity courtesy of Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. The passengers at the back can have a very relaxing ride as long as there arent three bulky adults. The corner seats are designed to be accommodative of sizeable men, but the centre space does not have welcome giant written on it. For argument sake, its not like the rivals of XC40 are significantly otherwise. The aforementioned host of storage options on the XC40 include expansive front door pockets that can hold a 1-litre bottle, an iPad, a note book and a text book, and still say thats all youve got? The centre tunnel has a large and deep sub arm-rest storage space, a waste bin, a four-pot cup holder, and the recess with the wireless charging flanked by extra space to shove more phones or small gadgets. The driver gets a special under-seat tray as well. Spoilt with space to store crap would be an understatement in this car. The rear seat gets a wide arm-rest with cup holders, and seat corner shelves to store more crap apart from the rear door pockets and the long and wide rear parcel tray. The glove compartment for the front passenger hosts some clever provisions for the usual things we throw in. And yet we havent gotten to the best part of the storage options of this car. The 432-litre boot is enough to send my wife packing to her moms house for a good six-months, and it gets me bonus points for helping me segregate the valuables vs. the things too hard to make sense of, thanks to the folding platform that doubles up as a partition, which also opens up to a basement level of the boot where more stuff can be stowed. There are also shopping bag hooks and tie-down provisions. The rear seat folds 60:40 allowing me to pack and carry one or more human-sized teddy bears, and there is a small window at the seat-centre which allows me to store very long and narrow objects even without folding the seats, like skis. While bringing all of them up to the car you can open the boot with a simple one-leg sweeping gesture beneath the bumper, or the long press of a button on the remote key fob. You can also close the boot the same way. Despite the same price as earlier, and the host of features explained, there has been no skimming in regards to the tech and safety features on the new Volvo XC40. The car actually features the segment-first radar-based driver assist system! The other safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Aid, Run-Off Road Mitigation, Frontal Collision Mitigation Support, Whiplash Protection on front seats, and airbags on front, side and even one for the drivers knee. There are several other features in the new XC40 that are well known from its predecessor. Coming to the most important change in the 2020 Volvo XC40, the new BS6 petrol engine that has replaced the well-liked 2.0-litre diesel mill. The older motor used to deliver 190 hp of maximum power and 400 Nm of peak torque, and the BS6-compliant 2.0-litre petrol engine produces the same amount of peak power and 300 Nm of torque. The lack of diesel punch is felt, even after the turbo opens up at around 2,500 rpm, and the shifts by the 8-speed automatic transmission are calm and noticeable except in the Dynamic mode. The other modes, Eco, Comfort, and Off-road, have distinctive settings, and the Individual mode lets us set some powertrain behaviour, steering feedback and braking characteristics. Overall, the switch to the petrol motor is not at all a let-down for Volvo fans, as the performance is still good and fun at times. The power delivery is linear and the engine is rev-happy to push as much as one would like. The combined nature of this engine and the 8-speed gearbox is not really race-inspiring, but definitely more than adequate for the typical use of this sort of car. Its a gallant commuter, versatile tourer and a great value purchase considering the assortment of features and luxury it offers as a whole for the price point. Disclaimer For this review, Volvo Auto India invited and hosted us at Goa. They paid for our travel, stay and food. Estimated $560 million spent by film and TV crews in Illinois last year: The Tribunes Nina Metz writes, The amount of money spent in Illinois by film and TV projects increased in 2019, according to estimates jointly released by the state and the city of Chicago. Thanks to a steady roster of television shows, $560 million was spent on cast and crew wages as well as other related expenditures, compared with $473 million in 2018. Click here to read her story. The arrest occurred during a health check for the coronavirus. Human rights defender, Xu had been wanted for some time. In early February he published an indictment of Xi Jinping for his management of the epidemic crisis, for the trade war with the United States and for the protests in Hong Kong. Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Human rights activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday, February 15, in Guangzhou (Guandong) during a "health check" to prevent the spread of Wuhan's coronavirus (Covid-19) . On the run for some time, after attending a meeting with democratic activists in Xiamen (Fujian) last December, Xu has become one of President Xi Jinping's most open critics. In particular, his accusation is that the government's tightening on freedom of expression has favored the uncontrolled spread of the epidemic. An emblematic case in this regard is that of Li Wenliang, Wuhan's doctor who died while tackling the virus. Li had been the first to launch the alert, which cost him a police detention. Xu was arrested at the home of his friends and sympathizers, some of whom were first arrested and then released. According to Radio Free Asia, the police allegedly used a facial recognition system to capture him. This suggests that the authorities are using the fight against coronavirus to repress internal dissent. In the context of the fight against the pulmonary epidemic, the government is, for example, authorized to seize citizens' properties. Formerly a professor at Beijing University, Xu is a human rights lawyer, founder of the New Citizens Movement. For his ideas in defense of democracy, and for denouncing the corruption of members of the Communist Party, the activist was imprisoned in January 2014, serving a four-year sentence. Xu published an article on the web in early February asking Xi to step down because he is "unable to manage" not only the coronavirus crisis, but also the war of trade war with the United States and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. In a previous message he accused the Chinese president of having created a "new model of totalitarianism". Another professor, Xu Zhangrun, a law professor at Qinghua University, rose to prominence recently for his criticisms of the government's management of the epidemic crisis. For Xu, the repressive and tyrannical action of the authorities caused delays in the response, thus leading to the expansion of Covid-19. A speech by Xi dated February 3, and reported by several state media, indicates that he had been aware of the epidemic since early January, when he launched an operation to counter it. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 12:01:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A Palestinian young man works on his laptop inside a local media organization in Gaza City, Feb. 18, 2020. Palestinian youths have launched a campaign on Twitter to show solidarity with China, reinforcing an international trend on social media to back China's ongoing fight against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, known as COVID-19. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian youths have launched a campaign on Twitter to show solidarity with China, reinforcing an international trend on social media to back China's ongoing fight against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, known as COVID-19. The campaign, inaugurated 7:00 p.m. Gaza time (1700 GMT) on Sunday in both Arabic and English with hashtags "#PalestineInSolidarityWithChina" and "#PalestineWithChina" respectively, was largely retweeted by Palestinian social media activists and browsers. Within the first one hour and a half of the campaign, the number of its supporters reached 1 million. "It is an indication that the Palestinians believe in the necessity of expressing solidarity with China in the face of the Coronavirus crisis," said one of the organizers. The supervisors of the campaign are prominent Palestinian journalists and veteran media activists, who said the campaign is aimed at supporting China's fight against COVID-19. They said in a press statement sent to Xinhua that the campaign was organized for several reasons, first to express solidarity with China, which is fighting the coronavirus "on behalf of the world and protect humanity," and second to foil some rumors about the epidemic. "It is our duty as Palestinian journalists to stand on the side of the great people of China who have been always standing on the side of the Palestinian people, either socially, economically or politically," said the statement. Around 15 male and female youths gathered in a room to tweet the hashtag "Palestine in Solidarity with China" and published media reports and content to tell the readers China's efforts and achievements in containing the epidemic. One Twitter account said: "The China people and government are stronger than the coronavirus." Mohammad al-Jammali, one of the 15 participants, wrote on his Twitter: "I'm a Palestinian Muslim and I express full solidarity with China because I'm in solidarity with humanity and with life in China." "I call on all my friends, no matter what their color, language or religion is, to express deep and full solidarity with humanity in China," he tweeted. "It is impossible for a great country like China to be defeated by the coronavirus and I believe we have to intensify our tweets in solidarity with this just cause," he told Xinhua. "We try to deny all allegations and rumors. Marwa Izzat, a 27-year-old woman from Gaza who joined the campaign said: "It is hard to see the people of China suffering from this ... epidemic." "I believe that all the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims all over the world should express full and deep solidarity with the people of China because the virus doesn't differentiate between a man or a woman, a child or an elderly," she said. Ahmad Mas'oud, a Palestinian in his mid-20s, expressed happiness and joy after the campaign won enormous support on Twitter. "We succeeded in making the tweet of the Hashtag an international trend," he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Filipino workers are now exempted from the Philippines' travel ban to Hong Kong and Macau, the Department of Health announced Tuesday. The DOH in a statement said the government's inter-agency task force dealing with the coronavirus outbreak has "agreed to authorize travel to Hong Kong and Macau for permanent residents of the two Special Administrative Regions, Filipinos leaving for study and Overseas Filipino Workers provided the travellers sign a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved. " Thousands of OFWs bound for Hong Kong and Macau were left stranded in the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte on February 2 imposed a travel ban to China and its special administrative regions. They have appealed to the government to allow them to return to their jobs. The DOH said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging infectious Diseases also decided during a meeting Tuesday to expand exemptions for entry to the Philippines from China, Macau and Hongkong. The task force's resolution now allows Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of diplomatic visas, to enter the country provided they go through a 14-day quarantine period. Previously, only Filipinos and permenant resident visa holders were allowed entry from those areas, subject to the mandatory quarantine. Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Bridigo "Dodo" Dulay also earlier tweeted that OFWs returning for work in Hong Kong and Macau have been exempted from the outbound travel ban. There are over 210,000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong and another 32,000 in Macau, majority of them household workers. The government offered each worker stranded in the country P10,000 cash aid. They were also provided dormitories and food. The task force also reiterated government's commitment to bring home all Filipino passengers and crew of the M/V Diamond Princess -- the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, Japan -- who will request repatriation. There more than 500 Filipino crew members on board the ship. The oldest known Australian example of a communal type of Irish settlement has been 'unearthed' in a dusty paddock in rural South Australia. An extensive geophysical study of the Baker's Flat Irish settlement site near Kapunda has found the first - and possibly largest - clachan in Australia, says Flinders archaeologist Susan Arthure whose PhD investigations of Irish history and archaeology in SA led her to the site in what appears to be a featureless paddock near the former mining and farming community. "Clachans had actually died out in Ireland by the end of the nineteenth century but our research proves they continued in Australia, with this example the first to be fully described," says Irish-Australian archaeologist Ms Arthure. "We found a large, vibrant clachan settlement, now hidden beneath the surface of an empty farm paddock, which contains a wealth of materials to tell us a lot about the past," she says. "This traditional Irish settlement style, characterised by clusters of houses and outbuildings, highlights the way the new residents to this dry country worked together to make the best use of marginal land. "More than 500 Irish migrants created a community here. "Although outsiders looked at the settlement and judged it as chaotic and haphazard, in fact these Irish settlers were able to maintain a sustainable way of life by managing their animals communally and making joint decisions about how best to use the land. "Being able to control a large area of land allowed Irish traditions and customs to be maintained." Ms Arthure, who co-edited Irish South Australia: new histories and insights (Wakefield Press) says archaeology is not just about the ancient past. "The recent past is really fascinating, and many people in South Australia would be descendants of those early settlers of Baker's Flat and other Irish settlements in the Clare Valley and the Mid North." Flinders adjunct Associate Professor Lynley Wallis, a co-author of the latest Baker's Flat paper published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, says: "What we found with GPR and magnetometry surveys shows us that sometimes all is not what it seems." "When we arrived at the paddock, we had no idea about the paths, houses, yards, paddocks and fences hidden beneath the ground," Associate Professor Wallis says. University of Queensland geophysical archaeologist Dr Kelsey Lowe, another author on the paper, says that this is one of the largest surveys of its kind to be undertaken in Australia. "When we began to download the data and saw structures and enclosures appearing, it was a very exciting moment," Dr Lowe says. "We were also fortunate to have Dr Josh Feinberg, at the USA University of Minnesota, to assist us in analysing some of our samples." ### The paper, 'Geophysical and archaeological investigations of Baker's Flat, a nineteenth century historic Irish site in South Australia' (February 2020) by KM Lowe, S Arthure, LA Wallis and J Feinbert, can be found online at DOI:10.1007/s12520-019-01003-2 PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 17:40:04 Press Relations: Sam Connatty Tel.: +44 370 904 3601 Email: sam.connatty@capgemini.com Investor Relations: Vincent Biraud Tel.: +33 1 47 54 50 87 Email: vincent.biraud@capgemini.com Capgemini augments its data and analytics capabilities in Scandinavia with the acquisition of Advectas Stockholm, Paris, February 18, 2020 Capgemini announced today the signing of an agreement to acquire Advectas , a leading business intelligence and data science company in Scandinavia. By joining Capgeminis Insights & Data global business line, the 200+ strong Advectas team will help to further meet growing client demand for Capgeminis business intelligence and data analytics services across the region. Founded in Sweden in 2006, to help companies make better business decisions based on data-driven insights, Advectas has a strong Scandinavian footprint with offices in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Malmo. Client projects span multiple industry sectors and include business intelligence solutions; data management and data science services; consulting, planning and simulation. Over the past thirteen years Advectas, a well-known player in the Scandinavian market, has built up a strong competency in the analytics space through the outstanding quality of its people and high caliber of its client base, comments Zhiwei Jiang, CEO of the Insights & Data Global Business Line at Capgemini. Along with many commonalities in terms of culture and clients, Advectas brings to Capgemini a further presence in cities across Sweden and Denmark, a strong track record in helping clients to monetize data, as well as deep and significant relationships in the Scandinavian business intelligence space. I am delighted to welcome the Advectas team to Capgemini. The cultural fit between Advectas and Capgemini was a major consideration for us. In Capgemini we saw a number of fundamental values that mirror our own, such as team spirit, freedom and trust, as well as a deeply collaborative mindset," said Stefan Olsson, CEO and President of Advectas. We had reached a stage where our large clients wanted to expand and evolve our solutions for their global marketplaces. By joining Capgemini, we will be able to offer them this scale along with many other integrated digital and cloud-based capabilities to support their long term business goals. The transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent including competition clearance and is due to close in the coming weeks. About Capgemini A global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. Capgemini is driven by the conviction that the business value of technology comes from and through people. It is a multicultural company of almost 220,000 team members in more than 40 countries. The Group reported 2019 global revenues of EUR 14.1 billion. Visit us at www.capgemini.com . People matter, results count. Attachment Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, center, the chief policymaker of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), announces the party's pledge for the April 15 general election at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. He said the party would seek to cut the salary of lawmakers who often skip sessions. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The National Assembly has long received public criticism over the lack of penalties given to lawmakers who fail to attend Assembly sessions or participate in relevant activities. Amid mounting criticism of the "unproductive" Assembly, the ruling party has vowed to slash the salary of lawmakers with poor session attendance records. However, it remains to be seen if the pledge will be implemented as planned because it contains some exception clauses that lawmakers may exploit. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) announced the plan as one of its campaign pledges for the April 15 general election, where 300 parliamentary seats will be taken. "We have come up with the pledge in response to growing public calls for practical punitive measures against lawmakers who neglect their duty," Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, the chief policymaker of the DPK, said at the Assembly, Monday. In accordance with the principle of "no work, no pay," the DPK election pledge is mainly focused on cutting lawmakers' monthly salary in proportion to their absence from parliamentary sessions which they are required to attend, among others. According to the party, if lawmakers' absence rates stand between 10 percent and 20 percent, their salaries will be reduced by 10 percent and those whose percentage of missing sessions is 21 percent through 30 percent will have their pay slashed by 20 percent. A 30 percent cut will be imposed if the ratio of absence reaches 31 percent to 40 percent of total required attendance. The ruling party also unveiled disciplinary measures that will ban those who are frequently absent from Assembly duties from attending parliamentary meetings for up to 90 days and even deprive them of their Assembly seats. Such measures come as the 20th Assembly is under heavy fire for negligence of duty, with it being called a "vegetative parliament" by the public and press. As of December 2019, lawmakers proposed a total of 23,133 bills, but 6,721 were passed, with the processing rate standing at a mere 29.05 percent, compared with 41.74 percent from the 19th Assembly. However, critics cast doubts on whether such a pledge will be fully kept, saying it would be nothing but an attempt to curry favor with voters. They also claim that the party should legislate it immediately rather than proposing it as an election pledge. Moreover, the salary cut includes some exceptions: If a lawmaker frequently fails to attend sessions, he or she will not be punished if able to submit documents showing the causes of absence in advance, such as a business trip or hospital visit, or if the person is a party chief or a Cabinet member. Citizens were skeptical of the promise. "You are trying to fool us again. This is what you always say when election is coming," an internet user said on portal site Daum. "What about this pledge: lawmakers get the state-set minimum wage?" another wrote. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The first thing you'll notice about this game is the change in pace. It isn't as zippy as other shooters, yet buy osrs gold despite how heavy the armour on your character appears to be, death comes quickly. 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The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) is a special jungle warfare unit of the CRPF deployed for anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Fidan Babayeva - Trend: The economic reforms in Azerbaijan focus on the development of the non-oil sector, and the country has succeeded quite well in this area, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov said at a business summit organized jointly with USAID in Baku, Trend reports. Orkhan Mammadov noted that small and medium-sized businesses have always played an important role in the successful development of Azerbaijan's economy. The country's economic reforms have been focused on the development of the non-oil sector, and Azerbaijan is successfully moving towards its goals in this area. "Azerbaijan ranked 25th in the latest report on business development and became one of the most reformed countries," Mammadov said at the partnership summit aimed to support business and professional associations in Azerbaijan. Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan ranks second in the development of transport and road infrastructure. The agency chairman added that increasing the share of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in gross domestic product (GDP), employment and exports in Azerbaijan is a strategic goal. By 2025, it is planned to increase the share of SMEs to 60 percent in GDP, 70 percent in employment and 40 percent in exports, Mammadov said. "Today, as an agency, we are working on the development of SMEs in various sectors of the economy. To this end, we have managed to establish close cooperation with foreign partners. We also work with the USAID, and they provide us with the necessary support," Orkhan Mammadov added. USAID and Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency have launched a new initiative to support business and professional associations. WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Yukon Mint Corporation (Yukon Mint) is pleased to announce its 2nd Yukon-wide gold coin design contest, MY YUKON, is now accepting submissions to design the front side (obverse) of a Yukon gold coin. The MY YUKON gold coin design contest is open to all Yukon residents and offers artists the opportunity to interpret the Yukon culture, history and the land by presenting a design that recognizes the Yukon. The MY YUKON gold coin design will utilize Yukon gold, processed chemical-free to produce .9999 gold coins in a variety of sizes. The contest which opens today will accept submissions starting February 27, 2020 with the winning design to be announced on May 15, 2020. CONTEST START DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 DRAWING SUBMISSION: MAY 1, 2020 CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: MAY 15, 2020 The winning design will be highlighted on one side of Yukon gold coins to be produced in 1 ounce and other sizes. The contest winner will be compensated with a cash prize and a one ounce gold coin bearing the winning design and the winners initials while receiving marketing opportunities on a global stage. The reverse side of the coin depicts the Klondike Gold Rush stampeders, an iconic image of the Yukon. For additional information and contest guidelines please visit: http://www.yukonmint.com/design-contest/ . About the Yukon Mint The story of Canadian gold coins dates back to the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1853, Canada adopted the gold standard as a monetary system and this standard helped develop a growing interest in minting gold at a Canadian mint. Canadian miners later lobbied for domestic refining capabilities because they were often forced to sell their gold to the United States. The idea for a Canadian Mint and Canadian gold coins was put on hold until the late 1890s, when a major gold rush in Yukon's Klondike region brought an awareness of gold mining to the forefront of Canadian consciousness, and fueled Canadian's dreams of mineral wealth. These first gold coins struck by the Royal Canadian Mint (then called the Ottawa Mint) were Canadian in almost every aspect, from raw material to design. The coins were composed of Canadian gold, approximately 90% of it from the Klondike region. The story of Yukon gold coins starts with the Yukon Mint. The Yukon Mint is focused on creating gold coins that will be Yukon in almost every aspect, from raw material to design. The Yukon Mint works to ensure local communities benefit from Yukon mining and exploration projects. A percentage of the net profits from the sale of the gold coins is shared in the Yukon. The Yukon Mint is a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Predator Mining Corp. (Golden Predator). For more information on the Yukon Mint or Golden Predator, please see www.yukonmint.com or www.goldenpredator.com . YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Artak Davtyan has been invited to the Parliament to discuss the recent death cases in the Army. The discussion was initiated by the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs and the committee on protection of human rights and public affairs. The meeting is also attended by several top officials of the military. Chair of the standing committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan announced that the meeting will be held in a closed format, but after that they will answer to the questions of the reporters. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan A mother whose 17-year-old son took his own life after being bullied online has said Caroline Flack's death has brought back her own loss with 'enormous clarity'. Lucy Alexander's son Felix died when he stepped in front of a train near his home in Worcester in April 2016, after telling his parents he was going to school. While appearing on This Morning Mrs Alexander, who helped launch a #BeKind campaign in 2017, said the former Love Island presenter's death was 'triggering'. Scroll down for video Lucy Alexander has said that Caroline Flack's death has brought back the loss of her son Felix, 17, (pictured together) 'with enormous clarity'. The teenager look his own life in Worcester in April 2016 after being bullied online Speaking on the show Ruth Langsford asked the grieving parent if recent news had taken her back to Felix's death. Ms Alexander replied: 'It's amazing how triggering it can be, I feel brought back to that moment with enormous clarity, very quickly. 'I feel so badly for Caroline's family, I know exactly where they are now and it's a really, really horrible place to be.' The 40-year-old TV presenter was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, London, by her father on Saturday. An inquest into her death is due to open tomorrow morning at Poplar Coroner's Court in London. It is thought Ms Flack committed suicide after she learned her court case was going ahead and she was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a 'show trial'. The mother (left) became emotional as she discussed how Caroline Flack's death had been 'triggering' and said she felt 'so badly for Caroline's family'. The presenter is pictured right During the interview on This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn Holmes also discussed how Mrs Alexander had found strength to help others by working in anti-bullying. Mrs Alexander explained how online trolling can 'affect everybody' no matter their background. She said: 'It affects everybody. People of all ages, all status'. It doesn't matter if you're in the public eye or not. We've been given a unique platform to voice these negative opinions of people and its snowballing... 'Because of bullying Felix took his own life. He was made to feel really unworthy and miserable for many years. It affected him enormously, his mental health was really badly damaged.' Despite much of Felix's bullying happening while he was online, Mrs Alexander explained how making him come off social media wasn't the easy answer. She said: 'Particularly with his age group, more so than with his older brother and sister, that [being online] was his sole way of communicating. There was little face to face, it was much more online. Mrs Alexander (pictured on This Morning) explained how online trolling can 'effect everybody' no matter their background 'So when I said "that's it the iPad's going" he'd say, "why do I get punished for something that's been done to me?" It just excluded him further and meant he was less involved in life at school.' Now working to help educate young people, Mrs Alexander said the key is early intervention and giving children the right tools. She said: 'We have to work with young people from when they get their first phone and give them strategies of keeping safe and interpreting content they're going to see. 'The genie is out of the bottle, we can't put it back in, but we can educate how to use it safely and kindly early on. Then there's more chance of adults using safely and kindly that way.' Former detective Philip Grindell (right) was also on the show and said it can be difficult for websites and companies to spot 'context related abuse' on social media Former detective Philip Grindell also appeared on the show and spoke about how it can be hard for social media companies to spot abuse. He said: 'A big challenge is lots of harm online is driven by context related abuse. And it is more difficult for companies to pick up abuse and trolling when context driven, they can't pick it up by automation. 'I also think legislation in the UK is poor. Terminology under the Communications Act says it has to be 'grossly offensive' and the threshold is quite high ... There's an issue.' Mrs Alexander discussed the loss of her teenage son with the Daily Mail in 2018. She said: 'Felix took his own life in April 2016. He was just 17 and had been so badly damaged by years of torment, he couldnt see a happy future. 'My beautiful, smiley son had been hounded by bullies since primary school. Its hard to know why or how it began. The only thing I can put my finger on is a silly playground squabble. Pictured is Felix (ringed), with his parents Lucy (second left) and Ratan (centre) as well as older sister Charlotte (second right) and Ben (right) 'His dad and I wouldnt let him have the 18-rated video game Call Of Duty because we thought it was too violent. 'Felix must have explained this to the other kids and they started teasing him over it. One called him a p***y. 'But, quite honestly, it was one of many incidents too insignificant to put my finger on. It was death by 1,000 cuts. 'Over the next few months, we realised he was always trying to impress. He tried being the class clown, or the whipping boy anything to fit in. Hed say: No one likes me as I am. 'We thought it would get better when he went to senior school, but it didnt. Then, at 14, social media kicked in particularly sites such as ask.fm and the bullying became unstoppable.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org. Trump administration officials are internally raising concerns about President Trumps nominee for Energy deputy secretary, who appeared to openly contradict the president on nuclear waste storage at Nevadas Yucca Mountain last week. Driving the news: While speaking at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing last Wednesday, Mark Menezes told members of the panel that the Trump administration is still interested in storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain and that what we're trying to do is to put together a process that will give us a path to permanent storage at Yucca." His statement came just weeks after Trump tweeted that he hears and respects Nevadans concerns about the nuclear waste repository part of a long-standing not in my backyard battle. [M]y Administration is committed to exploring innovative approaches Im confident we can get it done! Trump said. Menezes remarks also came just days after the White House unveiled its fiscal year 2021 budget, which does not include funding for Yucca Mountain. The administrations previous budget requests included $120 million and $116 million, respectively, to maintain licensing for the site. What were hearing: Menezes comments were flagged internally to White House officials who have been working on Yucca Mountain, an administration official told Axios. Its a big deal that the possible No. 2 at the Department of Energy came out in defiance [of] the presidents very strong position on a huge issue," the official said, calling it "shocking" that Menezes would "basically give a middle finger to the president." A second administration official told Axios that Menezes knew for weeks that funding for Yucca Mountain was going to be seized, adding to internal frustration over his comments last week: When the budget comes out, and it has made a change from previous years, everyone's notified of that. Department of Energy is clearly in the know about that because its a core change. The other side: I have spoken to the White House and the Administration will not be pursuing Yucca Mountain as a solution for nuclear waste, and there are no funds in the budget to do so. I am fully supportive of the Presidents decision and applaud him for taking action when so many others have failed to do so, Menezes told Axios. A White House official said, "There is zero daylight between the President and Under Secretary Menezes on the issue." Why it matters: Trumps comments about Yucca Mountain, as well as his decision to cease funding for the repository, come as his re-election campaign seeks to turn Nevada red again after narrowly losing the state to Hillary Clinton in 2016. As the New York Times first reported, two of Trumps top political advisers, Bill Stepien and Justin Clark, have opposed storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain for years, and they see the presidents decision to side with Nevada residents as positive for his re-election campaign. Trump heads to Nevada this week, where he'll host a rally in Las Vegas on the eve of the Nevada Democratic caucus and speak at a Hope for Prisoners graduation ceremony at police department headquarters. Hell stay overnight at his hotel on the Strip. The backstory: Menezes, currently the Energy undersecretary, was officially nominated as deputy secretary on Thursday, a day after his remarks before members of Congress. However, administration officials say these nominations are normally planned weeks before being announced. Editor's note: This story has been updated to add Menezes' response. HARRODSBURG, Ky. Courtney Griffieth's cellphone lit up with yet another message notification while she scanned the menu at her hometown Huddle House, settling on the burger. Just 22, her amber-colored hair spilling out from under her beanie and draping the stems of her black-framed glasses, Griffieth would seem an unlikely leader of the nearly 90,000 supporters who have persuaded more than 100 Kentucky counties to declare themselves sanctuaries for gun rights. Unlikely, that is, until you spot her maroon Grunt Style-brand sweatshirt, emblazoned with an American flag sporting seven stripes each one bleeding into a rifle. Griffieth loves guns. She loves the feel of a rifles recoil against her shoulder, the ping of a bullet hitting a metal target, the way the stress melts away when she gets to "shoot some steel." "You always leave the range feeling better than when you got there, she said. But most importantly, she loves what guns represent. They are, she believes, the Founding Fathers' insurance policy against tyranny the safeguard for every other right spelled out in the U.S. Constitution. Second Amendment 'sanctuaries': Will they affect gun laws? Its why she has embraced her role as one of the states most prominent defenders of gun ownership. It comes as Kentucky United, the pro-Second Amendment group Griffieth helped grow to nearly 90,000 members, finds itself in turmoil following revelations that founder John Cartwright is a felon, forbidden from owning a gun. "A lot of people are pushing for me to be ahead of this because theyre like, youre the future of this," she said. In the last two months, Kentucky Uniteds members have packed county meetings across the state to lobby for the passage of so-called Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions. Courtney Griffieth wears a protest sign during a Jan. 7 gun-rights rally at the Kentucky statehouse. Nearly all of Kentuckys 120 counties have adopted versions of "2A sanctuary resolutions, joining an ever-growing list of municipal governments in at least 20 other states spread across the country. Story continues At their core, these resolutions are public declarations of opposition toward any infringement real or perceived on what supporters see as their right to keep and bear arms. In Kentucky, much like the rest of the country, the resolutions have been a reaction to everything from calls for bans on assault-style weapons to proposed extreme risk protection orders so-called red flag laws which provide a legal way to temporarily take firearms from people deemed a credible threat of harming themselves or others. Gun violence-prevention advocates argue that these resolutions are the byproduct of a campaign of fear and misinformation designed to distract from efforts to find real solutions to America's gun violence epidemic, which claims thousands of lives every year including hundreds in Kentucky. That campaign has found willing partners among Kentucky's sheriffs and county leaders who see the "gun sanctuary" resolutions as a mandate to willfully ignore any gun-control laws legislators might pass, advocates say. "Theyre really overstepping their role in the constitutional system and undermining the rule of law," said Kathi Crowe, legislative lead volunteer for gun violence-prevention group Moms Demand Actions Kentucky chapter. I think a lot of this is to intimidate parents, survivors and people who want protection from gun violence. Gun laws: NRA helps sheriffs fight Second Amendment 'sanctuaries' Courtney Griffieth fires a rifle at Burgin Gun Range in Burgin, Kentucky. 'I'm not going to be in a ditch somewhere' Griffieth grew up around guns: older rifles, family heirlooms, the pistols her dad kept for self-defense. He was a hunter but gave it up, she said, when the screams of a deer he shot sounded too much like a baby crying. She fired her first gun at 21, shooting targets on trees at a friends farm. But for Griffieth, owning a gun is about self-defense. Im going to have a way to protect myself if I should go up against a male attacker that could overpower me, or multiple attackers, she said. Im not going to be in a ditch somewhere. The transition from gun owner to gun-rights activist percolated as Griffieth got deeper into her studies as a criminal justice major at Eastern Kentucky University. She learned more about constitutional law, about the statistics of gun violence and the practicality of gun control. "It just fell together," she said. Griffieth had already been a member of one Facebook group for gun owners when, shortly before Christmas, she joined the fledgling Kentucky United. She didnt know its founder, John Cartwright, or that the group would quickly become the engineer behind turning Kentucky into a gun sanctuary. The Second Amendment leader who 'can't own a gun' John Cartwright of Kentucky United cannot legally possess a gun because of a past felony conviction. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of defrauding a secured creditor, court records show. I cant own a gun but it doesnt mean I dont believe in something, he said. I can fight for other peoples freedoms whether I have them or not. He visited Kentucky Gun Co. in Bardstown. Guns were also a constant in John Cartwrights childhood. Cartwright, 51, comes from a military family. His father served in the Army, and he said his ancestors were Revolutionary War officers. "My dad taught me a gun was always loaded, even if it wasnt, Cartwright said. It wasn't a fear thing. It was respect." That respect for firearms, and his familys ties to America's birth, helped fuel his interest in the Constitution and his path toward gun-rights advocate. I knew the Constitution before I got out of grade school, he said. Even today, he loves to talk about the Second Amendment, about how the word "regulated" meant something different back then, and about how the Founding Fathers didnt intend to limit the type of weapons owned "or even who can own them." On Dec. 10, Cartwright created the Kentucky United Facebook group to educate people about red flag laws and other gun-control proposals that he believes will strip people of their Second Amendment rights. When you see it being taken away, youve got to stand up, he said. Its the same as defending your life. It's a right that Cartwright can't take advantage of himself. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to felony counts of defrauding a secured creditor, obliterating his own Second Amendment protections. "I can't own a gun ... but it doesnt mean I dont believe in something," he said. "I can fight for other peoples freedoms whether I have them or not." The public disclosure of that conviction, coupled with Cartwright's self-admitted stern manner, ultimately caused Griffieth and other Kentucky United leaders to splinter from the group in mid-January but not before they transformed Kentucky into a Second Amendment "sanctuary." Where the gun sanctuary movement began In April 2018, leaders in the rural southern county of Effingham, Illinois, grew increasingly concerned with gun-control proposals coming from the states Democratic-controlled legislature. Drawing inspiration from the immigration enforcement debate raging in Chicago and elsewhere, they passed their own "sanctuary" resolution among the nations first aimed at protecting the Second Amendment. Its a buzzword, a word that really gets attention, county board Vice Chairman David Campbell told The Associated Press. He was right. A year later, more than half of Illinois 102 counties had passed similar resolutions, according to media reports. Its now estimated that Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions have been adopted in various forms by hundreds of local governments in both red and blue states at least 20 in all. The current wave of 2A sanctuary resolutions in Kentucky took root in Appalachian counties near Virginias border. Harlan County passed what is likely the states first, on Dec. 17, 2019, modifying language from a resolution passed in southwest Virginia county. Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley said he heard from officials in 38 other Kentucky counties after it passed, all asking for a copy. "We dont see anything in Kentucky that has any real legs behind it," he said of current gun-control proposals. "But you never know." What stokes fear among many gun owners is talk of an unfiled bill to legalize extreme-risk protection orders, which critics say violate due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth and 14th amendments. Such red flag laws "were definitely a big push," Griffieth said, "because most of us feel like that one had the biggest threat of passing." Some gun-rights advocates have seized upon those fears, painting red flag laws and other gun-control bills as an attempt to trample on the Constitution and disarm law-abiding citizens. "Across this commonwealth, communities have united in their county to send a message at the local level, to the state and federal government, that we the people will not stand for this gun-grabbing nonsense, Republican state Rep. Savannah Maddox told the crowd at a Jan. 31 gun rally outside the Capitol. Cartwright and other Kentucky United leaders mobilized around the passage of 2A resolutions. They set up satellite Facebook pages for county-specific offshoots and printed flyers to hand out at gun shops and other stores. Griffieth kept track of when 2A resolutions would be on county fiscal court agendas and updated a map as counties scheduled meetings and passed resolutions. "It blew up fast," Griffieth said. By Jan. 4, 14 counties had adopted 2A resolutions, according to Griffieth's tally. Seventeen days later, the total swelled to 92 counties. A message becomes twisted At its height, Kentucky United boasted close to 90,000 members. With that growth came a struggle to manage its public image. The group started with the idea that it would be free of politics. There were to be no threats of violence, no tolerance for hatred. "We didnt want anyone to be left out, no matter where you were," Cartwright said. "I was wanting the page to be on the same morals that our Constitution was founded on." The reality, though, has been different. A Courier Journal review of the group's Facebook page found multiple posts that attack liberals or accuse Democratic lawmakers of committing treason for sponsoring gun-control bills. Other members have shared right-wing conspiracy theories, left blatantly Islamophobic comments, or made threats of violence. One member, responding to a comment about a plan by Democrats to take guns "a step at a time," wrote: "and we fight back a bullet at a time." Another member wrote: "Its time to cleanse the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrants and patriots alike." The rhetoric has carried beyond social media. At a hastily organized gun-rights rally Jan. 15 outside the statehouse in Frankfurt, a small group of Kentucky United members joked about coming back a few days later to barbecue pork during Muslim Day at the Capitol. Both Cartwright and Griffieth have condemned such behavior. "We try to weed out those people and completely block them from being involved with us," Griffieth said. But, she added, "youre always going to get people in there that sneak in and say stuff that does not go along with what were representing." She dismissed it as just "talk" when people say they are willing to use violence, if necessary, to defend their rights to own guns. "Its just like my dog," Griffieth said. "Shell bark at you. Shell growl at you. Shell make you think shes going to eat your face off. But if you come up and pet her, shell lick you. Shes all bark, which is what a lot of people are." A push for Second Amendment legislation When you see it being taken away, youve got to stand up, said John Cartwright. Its the same as defending your life. Cartwright, who founded Kentucky United a pro-Second Amendment group, cannot legally possess a gun because of a past felony conviction. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of defrauding a secured creditor, court records show. I cant own a gun but it doesnt mean I dont believe in something, the 51-year-old said. I can fight for other peoples freedoms whether I have them or not. He was visiting the Kentucky Gun Co. in Bardstown. Kentucky Uniteds ranks have since dropped to 77,000 after Griffieth and other leaders split to form their own private Facebook group, United Kentucky, which has 15,000 members. Cartwright sees the group stepping further into politics, with some Kentucky United leaders running to unseat county leaders who have not been sufficiently supportive of gun ownership. Hes also trying to get his criminal record expunged, to restore his right to own guns and, possibly, to one day run for office. Griffieth, meanwhile, is in her last semester at Eastern Kentucky University. After graduation, she hopes to land a job as an investigator with the Kentucky State Police. To date, all but 12 of Kentucky's 120 counties have adopted versions of a 2A sanctuary resolution. Republican state Rep. Savannah Maddox has filed a statewide resolution this legislative session that urges the General Assembly to oppose red flag laws or "any legislation intended to infringe upon a law-abiding citizens right to keep and bear arms. " Griffieth hopes lawmakers will take that a step further and pass "legitimate legislation" that, once and for all, protects Kentuckians' Second Amendment rights. "Having the county support," she said, "is really going to help for a state push." Follow Jonathan Bullington on Twitter: @jrbullington. This article originally appeared on Courier Journal: Second amendment sanctuary: How Kentucky counties oppose gun laws C ommodities giant Glencore shrugged off a loss of form on Tuesday to pay a trio of billionaire shareholders more than $400 million in dividends. The mining and trading giant, a key cog in the global economy supplying commodities like copper and coal, revealed a widely expected slump in earnings for 2019. But it pleased shareholders by paying a 20 cents per share dividend equal to $2.6 billion. That delivers around $242 million for chief executive and top shareholder Ivan Glasenberg, the whirlwind 63-year-old South African who has led the company for the past 18 years. Around $90 million is also set for Glencores head of zinc Daniel Mate and former head of copper trading Telis Mistakidis, who retired in 2018, who are also top shareholders. Glencore earned the nickname the billionaire boys club after a 2011 stock-market float made dozens of staff at its headquarters in Baar, Switzerland rich. This generation of leaders are slowly being phased out in favour of younger executives. Glasenberg has hinted he may retire sooner rather than later, last year announcing a review into handing over the reins. Last year was tough for Glencore, as tense trade negotiations between the US and China, tumbling commodity prices and production problems at its Katanga copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo ravaged performance. Adjusted earnings, the companys preferred measure of performance, fell 26% to $11.6 billion. The shares dropped 2.8%, or 6.7p, to 230p. There was no update on a Serious Fraud Office bribery probe, which was revealed in December. Secrets of Our Cities with Greig Pickhaver returns to SBS on Sunday, with the first episode looking at the Gold Coast. Two more episodes will follow this series with Footscray, Vic. and Kalgoorlie WA. SBS continues to unearth the secrets of some of Australias most iconic cities and suburbs in the second instalment of Secret Of Our Cities. Over three weeks, Australian icon Greig Pickhaver will travel to the Gold Coast QLD, Footscray VIC, and Kalgoorlie WA to uncover their hidden histories and meet the unsung residents whove helped shape these iconic places. Season Two, Episode One: Gold Coast The Gold Coast hides a past full of bitter struggle and huge enterprise. Greig explores how South Sea Islanders suffered brutal treatment to enable the early sugar boom in the 19th century, and how it was post-war migration that led to the Gold Coasts hedonistic years of bikinis, meter maids, and pyjama parties. Greig meets Maori Showband members, who transformed the nightlife with their cultural beats, and an Iranian architect who saw a world of opportunities in a coastline of construction cranes. 7:30pm Sunday on SBS. MONTREAL, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Datavalet Technologies Inc. ("Datavalet"), a leader in wireless network management, and its majority investor Alpine Growth Partners LP ("AGP"), a Canadian private investment firm, are pleased to announce the expansion of Datavalet's growth strategy with a focus on mergers and acquisitions of owner-operated managed network services companies. This shift will aid in the acceleration of both product and commercial strategies as the company continues to grow its influence in the global Wi-Fi and network management industry. To support this acquisition strategy, AGP has brought on long-term ally Stephane Boisvert from Datavalet's Board of Directors as the new Chief Executive Officer of Datavalet. Stephane brings industry expertise, leadership in rapid growth contexts and expansive network to the C-suite. AGP Managing Partners and Datavalet Co-Presidents Daniel Forest and Toby Chang have also pivoted their operating roles to further support organic and M&A growth, moving into the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer within Datavalet, respectively. "Stephane brings commercial acumen, demonstrated success in driving value through mergers and acquisitions, and an essential understanding of the business to the table," said Daniel Forest, CFO of Datavalet and Managing Partner of AGP. "We see incredible promise in merger and acquisition opportunities and with Stephane at the table leading our management team, we have the bench strength for enhanced coordination, execution, and successful integration of acquisitions." As a private equity-backed, strategic acquirer in the network management sector, Datavalet is seeking to scale independent network managed services firms beyond typical growth constraints and hurdles. "In further building out the market leader in capabilities and effectiveness in the managed network services space, we're looking to work with highly experienced network engineers and founders that want to take their business and customers to the next level, while safeguarding their financial security," continued Daniel Forest. "Our channel partner distribution model, in-house development capabilities, exceptional team and financial backing allow us to arrange real win-wins with owner-operators." "We are very excited to have Stephane Boisvert joining the Datavalet team as CEO and believe his repertoire as a proven leader will only benefit the accelerated organic growth strategy," said Toby Chang, COO of Datavalet and Managing Partner of AGP. "Cultivating a strong team in an acquisitive context is the natural next step forward in Datavalet's rapid evolution. As the company prepares to take on an additional level of strategic growth, its aim remains the same: to cement Datavalet's place as a global, independent leader in Wi-Fi and network managed solutions." About Datavalet Datavalet is a managed Wi-Fi and branch network services and SaaS provider for multi-location businesses seeking to drive customer engagement and loyalty, while containing costs and maximizing performance. As a responsive single point of contact, we provide end-to-end services that address managed branch network needs, allowing our customers to concentrate on their core business. By leveraging our team's consultative insights, we enable marketing, IT and operations teams alike to drive improved customer experience and harness analytics to increase sales and improve efficiency. Your Network, Your Branches, Your Customers. datavalet.com About Alpine Growth Partners AGP invests in and grows small- to medium-sized businesses in Canada and the United States. Partnering with highly experienced managers and investors, its approach is to fuel growth through hands-on involvement in the business. AGP assembled a team of world-class entrepreneurs, operating executives and investors that share a common passion for growing small to mid-sized companies in North America and beyond. Its investor group includes many accomplished business leaders, providing the vision, expertise, discipline, and experience necessary to enhance the long-term value of the companies AGP partners with. For additional information, please visit or contact: Datavalet Technologies Inc. Donna Zamiska Marketing Director 514 385-4448 #290 [email protected] datavalet.com Alpine Growth Partners LP Daniel Forest Managing Partner 514-385-4448 #273 [email protected] alpinegp.ca Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12810474 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Datavalet Related Links https://datavalet.com Hospitals are bracing for the potential spread of coronavirus in the United States, trying to plan for a potential onslaught of sick patients combined with potential supply shortages. The strict quarantine and screening measures enacted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have given hospitals breathing space to review their pandemic plans and stockpile needed equipment, said Dr. Mark Jarrett, the chief quality officer for Northwell Health, a New York hospital chain. "We're buying some time now that it hasn't really spread so much in the United States," Jarrett said. "That's giving us a chance to gear up factories and address supply chain issues." But the United States is in the throes of a tough flu season that's already straining the capacity of many hospitals, said Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and patient safety for the American Hospital Association. "It is a tough flu season. It's a very bad flu season. And many of our hospitals are pretty darned full," Foster said. "If there were to be an outbreak here in the next couple of weeks, the overlap means that many hospitals would be full to the brim, if not overflowing." To make matters worse, the coronavirus epidemic has hampered supply chains leading out of China, and is highlighting the problems with American hospitals' dependence on "just-in-time" supply orders, experts said. Protecting health care workers first Take, for example, the N95 respirator mask, which is primarily manufactured in China. This mask provides much better protection for health care workers than the thinner masks worn in surgeries, said Shelly Schwedhelm, Nebraska Medicine's executive director of emergency management and biopreparedness. Nebraska Medical Centers treated three Ebola patients in its biocontainment unit in 2014, and recently opened a nearby quarantine clinic for coronavirus-infected people re-entering the United States from China. "The folks that are going to have the closest contact with patients should use the N95," Schwedhelm said, noting that procedure masks or surgical masks "just don't have the filtration capability you would need for some of these viruses." This is not a theoretical threat. More than 1,700 medical workers in China have become infected with coronavirus while on the job, Chinese officials announced last Friday. "This is concerning and consistent with what CDC knows from our experience with SARS and MERS, where we saw that transmission can be amplified in health care settings if infection control practices are not carefully followed," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a media briefing on Friday. However, Schwedhelm said, because the N95 typically is only worn when treating patients with rare infectious diseases like tuberculosis or measles, U.S. hospitals typically don't stock a lot of them in supply closets. "If you haven't done stockpiling of that item, you're never going to have enough" to go around in case of a coronavirus outbreak, Schwedhelm said. Unfortunately, Jarrett said, stockpiling runs counter to the efficient way medical centers are run nowadays. Hospitals everywhere have become very dependent on global supplies of drugs and equipment, as well as supply orders that always come in the nick of time, he added. China crucial to supply chain "Hospitals don't have huge warehouses full of stockpiles like they used to in the old days, because things can be shipped so quickly and communication is so quick," Jarrett said. This means a catastrophe in one part of the world can quickly put a pinch on medical supplies elsewhere. For example, when Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico in 2017, one of the consequences for hospitals was a shortage of saline IV bags, Jarrett noted. It turned out pharmaceutical factories in the U.S. territory were a major supplier of the bags, and they went dark when the storm knocked out power. The CDC already has heard enough concerns regarding the N95 that the agency issued recommendations for extended use and limited reuse of the respirators, in case there aren't enough to go around. China also is a major supplier of raw ingredients needed to manufacture penicillin, ibuprofen, aspirin and other routine medications, fueling concerns about future shortages. "We are starting to hear of some reports of hospitals who are unable to get their regular supplies, or there's a delay in getting their regular supplies, but it's just sort of the beginning of this," said Roslyne Schulman, the American Hospital Association's director of emergency response and public health policy. Foster said that many hospitals "are making sure that every N95 mask is being used appropriately, because that's one of the things we anticipate could be in shortage in the nearer term." Learning from prior outbreaks The U.S. health care system does have the advantage of experience in dealing with previous outbreaks, including H1N1 flu, SARS, MERS and even Ebola, experts said. "We've all had a lot of practice putting plans into place for major viral illnesses and pandemics. That being said, you can never be prepared enough, and it always depends on the volume of patients you're going to see," Jarrett said. "If it was as overwhelming as it appears to be in China, that would certainly stress the whole health care system in the U.S. tremendously because there are only a certain number of beds." To save on personal protective supplies, hospitals have plans to place coronavirus-infected patients in specific quarantined areas and have them be treated by specific teams of dedicated personnel, Schulman said. That way, heavy-duty respirators and other protective equipment will only need to be handed out to the limited number of hospital workers coming into direct contact with the sick. If necessary, Foster said, hospitals also could limit the number of people allowed into routine surgeries, to conserve surgical gowns, masks and gloves. Elective surgeries might have to be suspended if things grow dire. "I would say we are better prepared than we were, but a pandemic is really an all-hands-on-deck scenario," Schwedhelm said. "We're going to need every health care worker to be able to protect themselves and we need to be able to provide them the resources to do that, otherwise I'm not sure they're going to come to work." More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about coronavirus Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- C5 Capital USA LLC ("C5 Capital"), the specialist investment firm that exclusively invests in the secure data ecosystem, including cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and applied data analytics, has led a successful Series A funding round for Enveil, Inc. ("Enveil"), the award winning Data in Use security company. Enveil's ground-breaking technology protects data when it is most vulnerable while it's being used or processed. Founded by Dr. Ellison Anne Williams in 2016, the Maryland, U.S., based company's technology enables enterprises to perform secure search, analytics, data sharing and collaboration while preserving data privacy. Enveil's technology has wide applications across financial services, healthcare, audit and compliance, and government. Enveil's solutions were recognized at two UK Financial Conduct Authority "Global Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime TechSprint" events in London and Washington D.C. last year, for their ability to enhance Know Your Customer ("KYC") and Customer Due Diligence ("CDD") processes. The company won the US event and the KYC/CDD use case at the UK event, validating the strength of Enveil's ZeroReveal solutions for financial services. C5 Capital's investment is the first by C5 Impact Partners LP, a fund focused on data driven technologies which supports inclusivity, safety, resilience and sustainability of cities and communities. This focus is aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 11, (Sustainable Cities and Communities). C5 Impact Partners LP is led by Zulfe Ali, who joins C5 Capital as Managing Partner and brings considerable international investment experience. Zulfe, who will join the board of Enveil, is the former Chief Investment Officer at Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, and has more than twenty years of experience leading investments and corporate transactions for global institutions including JPMorgan and Bank of America. Commenting on the investment Zulfe Ali, C5 Capital Managing Partner, said: "Enveil embodies all of the key attributes we seek in our investment strategy: a brilliant founder CEO; break-through technology addressing large and growing end markets; a highly scalable business model; and a mission-driven company culture that is focused on commercial success as well as positive impact. We are excited to embark on this journey with Enveil and help the company realize its full potential on all fronts." Andre Pienaar, Founder of C5 Capital Limited, said: "Secure data is critical for safe and secure cities, the focus of our Impact Partners fund. We are delighted to be partnering with Enveil as the leading homomorphic encryption company to enable cities to use data securely during processing." Ellison Anne Williams, Founder and CEO of Enveil, commented: "We are delighted to have C5 Capital lead our Series A funding round and look forward to taking full advantage of the opportunities C5 provides through its global network. We are especially proud of the contributions Enveil's Data in Use solutions can make toward the broader security-centric goals of this impact investment fund." SOURCE C5 Capital Related Links https://www.c5capital.com POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - One person died Tuesday morning when a car was hit by a high speed train in South Florida, officials said. The Brightline train, which operates between Miami and West Palm Beach, struck the car at an intersection in Pompano Beach about 10:12 a.m. Tuesday, said sheriffs spokeswoman Gerdy St. Louis. One person was confirmed dead. Witnesses to the crash said the vehicle went around the guard rails, a Brightline spokesman told The Associated Press. More than 40 people have been killed by the train, which travels at speeds up to 79 mph (127 kph) through some of Floridas most densely populated cities, according to records. An analysis of data by The Associated Press in December found the death rate is about one for every 29,000 miles (47,000 kilometres) the trains have travelled, which is the worst per-mile death rate of the nations 821 railroads. An investigation is underway. No additional details were immediately available. Pompano Beach is north of Fort Lauderdale. As you may have heard there has been another translocation of Kiwis to the open sanctuary, namely the people evacuated from Wuhan who are being quarantined on the Defence Force land. There is no access in or out of there, so the Regional Park area remains safe for visitors. The restricted access meant that sanctuary work scheduled for the next month had to be completed in a few days so all of the little spotted kiwi with radio trackers were rounded up for a health check. They were found to be fit and well in spite of the extended period of dry weather which can limit their food supply. Also on the bird front, the sanctuary has now been judged a suitable habitat for hihi (stitchbird), so we are currently in the process of obtaining permits for a translocation of 60 birds this year. The introduction of animal pests and diseases plus the destruction of habitat made these birds extinct on the mainland in the 1880s, but fortunately they survived on Little Barrier Island, which has been a sanctuary since 1894. Although there are now a number of populations at various other sanctuaries they all require support, so we are starting by acquiring feeding stations and constructing yet more nesting boxes. The dotterels on Te Haruhi Beach did not fare so well this spring. They got off to an excellent start with 13 nests and 32 eggs, but for various reasons there were only three fledglings. Apart from egg-raiders like pukeko, oyster catchers, gulls and possibly people, some nests were simply abandoned. Kite-boarders consistently sail too close to the beach, and their kites terrify the dotterels which fly up to drive them off and leave their nests unprotected. Please remember that Maritime Safety Rules state that you must not exceed a speed of five knots if you are within 200m of the shore. There have already been some good outcomes from the new Shakespear Interpretation Plan interpretation is jargon for improving visitor experiences. The most notable is the new SOSSI app, Shakespear Explorer (HM February 5) which contains two guided walks with information about the sanctuary and can be downloaded for free from the app stores. A second project has set guidelines for the look and feel of all future projects and a third seeks to improve directions at the park entrance. Persistent flooding of the ranger station in Te Haruhi Bay meant that it had to be abandoned a couple of years ago, and the workshop and offices then moved to temporary buildings up behind the Shakespear Homestead. Construction is now finally underway for a new nursery there as well, so SOSSI volunteers will also have a new and bigger home. A new workshop will come next and finally, new offices and perhaps a visitor centre, but they are some years off yet. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri has launched another attack against President Uhuru Kenyatta following his sack from Cabinet on January 14. Speaking at the Nanyuki PCEA Church on Sunday, Kiunjuri recounted how he was duped into dropping his gubernatorial ambitions for a role in Uhurus government. He noted that he folded his GNU party to back President Kenyattas re-election saying it was a classic example of betrayal in the city. I had expressed interest in vying for the Laikipia gubernatorial seat but I was told in broad daylight to drop my bid and I would be offered a plum job in government. I will now be jobless for the next three years, said Kiunjuri. He also defended his performance during his tenure saying the Agriculture ministry was underfunded. You expect your wife to be cooking meat three days a week yet you do not avail money to purchase the meat. You cannot go out there accusing your wife of not cooking meat as you expect yet you do not give her money, he said. Kiunjri, who pledged his allegiance to DP Ruto after getting the sack, also accused President Uhuru of selectively fighting corruption. Who abused Uhuru more than Wanga or Joho or Babu Owino? They were forgivenbut everytime Kiunjuri or Moses Kuria says barabara Laikipia ni mbaya, kesho yake uko DCI ama KRA ama EACC, Kiunjuri stated. He added: Let BBI (Building Bridges Initiative) not shadow development in our regionas Kiunjuri I will continue to say soI will fight for my people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 01:53:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Iran's Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani addresses a press conference at the Iranian embassy in Lebanon in Beirut, Lebanon, on Feb. 17, 2020. Iran's Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani said Monday that his country is ready to help Lebanon in all fields amid an absence of support by the international community, local Al Manar TV channel reported. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani said Monday that his country is ready to help Lebanon in all fields amid an absence of support by the international community, local Al Manar TV channel reported. "We have discussed today with Lebanese officials the potential of offering support to Lebanon's industry, economy and agriculture," Larijani said during a press conference held at the Iranian embassy in Lebanon. Larijani added that Lebanon can benefit from Iran's expertise in the power, medical and educational sectors. The Iranian official also added that Hezbollah constitutes a protection for Lebanon against any future Israeli attacks. "Hezbollah is not a terrorist group and if it wasn't for Hezbollah, Israel would have committed more crimes against Lebanon," he said. Larijani arrived on Sunday evening in Beirut for an official visit and he met earlier in the day with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and reiterated his country's invitation for the Lebanese president to visit Tehran. Foreign terrorists deported within anti-terror operations The foreign terrorists will continue to be returned whether their home countries wanted to accept them or not, said the chief of the migration department. Turkey has deported 229 foreign terrorists, 75 of whom are EU citizens, since its anti-terror operation in Syria, an official from the country's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. TURKEY'S STRUGGLE AGAINST FOREIGN TERRORISTS IS ONGOING Abdullah Ayaz, head of Turkey's migration department, told Anadolu Agency that the struggle against the foreign terrorists was ongoing, adding that since 2011, the country has deported 7,898 terrorists of 102 different nationalities. He noted that entry bans had been issued for 94,000 foreigners considered to be affiliated with terrorist organizations. He underlined that foreign terrorist fighters were the responsibility of their home countries, citing UN Security Council resolution 2178, which he said contains agreed-upon measures to block the travel of foreign terrorists and readmit them to their countries of origin. Some EU officials have announced that they would not accept terrorists in their countries, Ayaz said, adding: "It is not acceptable to try to leave them in our country in any way." French prosecutors placed Alexandra de Taddeo, the girlfriend of the Russian artist who leaked a sex tape that prompted a Paris mayoral candidate to drop out of the race, under formal investigation on Tuesday. French prosecutors on Tuesday placed a Russian artist and his girlfriend under official investigation over the leaking of a sex video that brought down a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron. Pyotr Pavlensky and Alexandra de Taddeo are facing charges of invasion of privacy and publishing images of a sexual nature without consent over the leaking of the video that forced the governing partys Benjamin Griveaux to end his campaign to become mayor of Paris. Pavlensky is also being probed over an knife fight at a New Years Eve party in Paris. Paris prosecutors on Tuesday requested he be placed in detention over that incident. Pavlensky, 35, and de Taddeo, 29, were taken into custody on Saturday and questioned for two days. They will be brought before an investigating magistrate later Tuesday to face possible charges. Pavlensky, an artist and activist who fled Russia in 2017, has already admitted publishing the video showing a man masturbating, along with racy text messages. De Taddeo is believed to have been the recipient of the video and messages, which were uploaded onto a website created by Pavlensky and widely shared on social media. Griveaux, a married father of three and former government spokesman, pulled out of the running for Paris mayor after the scandal broke. Wanted to expose hypocrisy The leaking of the video triggered an outpouring of sympathy for the politician in France, where politicians and the media have dismissed sex scandals as private affairs. Pavlensky, who made global headlines in 2013 when he nailed his scrotum to Red Square in Moscow as a form of political protest, told AFP last week that he had wanted to expose the hypocrisy of the 42-year-old who had made families a core theme of his campaign. Story continues With just a month to go until the municipal elections, former health minister Agnes Buzyn was scrambled to take his place as the Paris mayoral candidate of Macrons Republic on the Move (LREM) party. She faces a stiff challenge to oust the Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo Griveaux was already running in a distant third place before the video emerged. Pavlensky, who has a long record of radical protests, received asylum in France in 2017 after falling foul of Russian authorities. He was originally detained on Saturday on accusations he pulled a knife during a brawl at a New Years Eve party in Paris, before investigators shifted their focus to the leaked sex video. (AFP) Kazakh authorities say they thwarted several acts of terrorism and arrested two adherents of a destructive religious cult who had allegedly plotted them. The arrests were made in Almaty, Kazakhstans biggest city, and a court authorized their arrest on February 14, the National Security Committees (KNB) press service said on February 18. While conducting searches of the suspects residences, officers found an improvised explosive device filled with fragmentation-generating objects, components to manufacture it, sharp weapons, and smartphones with pictures and video footage of presumed targets, according to the KNB statement. The suspects have been charged with preparing a terrorist act and propaganda of terrorism. The acts allegedly were to be carried out in Kazakhstan at large public gathering places. The investigation is still ongoing, the statement said. WARSAW, Poland (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for closer ties with Poland in shaping the European Union without Britain, in European security and relations with Russia. Following talks in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Macron also called for a revival of trilateral ties with Germany, urging a summit meeting before the summer, following years of hiatus. He said the three countries bear responsibility for Europe's future and should resume that role, especially after Britain's departure last week. Later in the day. after talks with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Macron said his trip to Poland was pretty special, a few days after Brexit, because it also shows our will, between strategic partners, big European powers, being able to ... reactivate a productive dialogue and make our Europe stronger, more sovereign, more united. Duda said the 27-member EU should become more efficient and attractive so that no one will want to leave it. Macron has previously been critical of Poland's right-wing government and its policies of refusing to accept migrants, continuing reliance on coal and trying to bring the judiciary under political control. His predecessor, Francois Hollande, canceled a visit in 2016 after Warsaw scrapped a planned purchase of French helicopters. Macron said he would like his visit to be a turning point in bilateral relations and for any misunderstandings to be cleared up. Relations with Russia have been a sticking point, as Poland pushes for increasing sanctions on Moscow for its seizure of the Crimea Peninsula while France is seeking dialogue. France has not become pro-Russia, like I hear sometimes, France is neither for nor against Russia. France is pro-European, " Macron said. "It is not our interest to have a situation where we dont face up to our relationship with Russia, letting unsolved conflicts pile up and misunderstandings persist, he said. Story continues Later, he said the dialogue he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel resumed with Russia has proven efficient and brought progress, including in the form of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. Let's not be naive, but dialogue allows (us) to find common solutions, Macron said. Macron expressed concerns over the changes Poland's right-wing government of the Law and Justice party is making to the judiciary, bringing it under political control, and urged a more intensive dialogue with the EU's executive body to end a conflict on Poland's rule of law record. I spoke with President Duda with the honesty we owe each other as European partners, about the concerns that the ongoing reforms of the judicial system have given rise to," Macron said. I wish for the dialogue with the European Commission to intensify in coming weeks because I know that the values of freedom and justice are ingrained in Poland and throughout its history, he added. Duda said this first visit by a French president to Poland in many years had breakthrough value for Poland. Following his talks with Morawiecki, Macron spoke of the need to increase the European military presence in Africa's Sahel region where troops are fighting jihadists. France said Sunday it was sending 600 soldiers to raise the number of troops there to 5,100. Macron also offered French know-how to assist Poland's plans to develop nuclear energy, and European financial support for the huge effort of phasing out coal which remains Poland's chief energy source. The French delegation includes the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, finance and the environment. On Tuesday, Macron will travel to the southern city of Krakow where he will visit Wawel Castle and give a speech at the Jagiellonian University on European cooperation and values. His agenda includes meeting with French expatriates in Poland and Polish intellectuals. In an unexpected move, Jeff Bezos took to Instagram on Monday to announce that he is pledging $10 billion to fight climate change with his new Bezos Earth Fund. Here's his announcement: So far as I can tell, that Instagram post is the only information that's publicly available about the new fund or Bezos's planned climate change philanthropy. The Bezos Earth Fund apparently has no website yet, or publicly acknowledged staff. It hasn't said whether it plans to focus on any particular areas of climate change, or how decisions about where to donate would be made. (I've reached out to Amazon for more information and if I get any, I will update this post.) There are a few lessons we can all learn from Bezos's announcement and the reaction to it so far. 1. Big numbers grab big headlines. There are any number of headlines out there right now that combine the words "Jeff Bezos" "$10 billion" and "climate change." No one seems all that concerned about the lack of detail, even though the lack of detail is striking. Compare it, for instance, with Bezos's 2018 announcement of the Day One Fund which explained in detail exactly what the fund would do. And the Day One fund started with a pledge of $2 billion, one-fifth the funding of the Bezos Earth Fund. 2. Once you've alienated employees, it's tough to undo. Alienated Amazon employees appear to have set the whole thing in motion. It began almost a year ago, when a group called Amazon Employees for Climate Justice sent an open letter to Jeff Bezos and the Amazon board asking the company to make some climate-related changes to its policies, especially in light of the company's AWS for Oil & Gas Services initiative and the fact that Amazon had just ordered 20,000 diesel vans. More than 8,700 Amazon employees have signed that letter. Then in September, 1,700 Amazon employees joined the climate walkouts, even though on the previous day, Amazon announced its Climate Pledge, promising to meet the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change ten years early. Some of the walkout's organizers were later given warnings that they had violated the company's policy against making public statements about Amazon without prior permission and were in danger of being fired. They responded by organizing a group of 350 Amazon employees to deliberately violate the policy by publishing statements on Medium. Once you've threatened to fire employees, it's tough to get them on your side, and Amazon Employees for Climate Justice did not respond to the current announcement as positively as Bezos might have hoped. Instead, they publicly questioned him about AWS for Oil & Gas Services, and about the company's past donations to both organizations and individual politicians who oppose legislation and initiatives to fight climate change. 3. Smart leaders think long-term. Bezos has consistently managed for the long term in his stewardship of Amazon, for example, by keeping the company unprofitable for years while he poured all the revenues he could back into making improvements. My guess is that long-term thinking is behind the new Bezos Earth Fund as well. Bezos knows that being perceived as on the wrong side of climate change controversy can hurt Amazon's reputation for a long time to come, especially since the effects of climate change will get harder to ignore. My guess is that he's betting Amazon Employees for Climate Justice will fade out as its leaders move on to other companies, or as an uptick in unemployment makes those employees a bit more afraid of losing their jobs than they are today. Whereas, creating a highly visible and huge fund to help climate change will bolster Amazon's reputation in this area for decades, even if AWS does keep on serving the fossil fuel industry. A prominent Young Democrats member has stepped down from her position over claims she experienced bullying from "Bernie Bros", a name given to Bernie Sanders' supporters. Lindy Li was the treasurer for Pennsylvania Young Democrats, but it was announced on Monday by the organisation's president that he had accepted her resignation. "Tonight I accepted the resignation of our Treasurer and am proud to appoint Rob Collini to the post & announce his confirmation by the PAYD Executive Committee," President TJ DeLuca wrote in a tweet on the organisation's page. Ms Li, who's running to be a convention delegate for former Vice President Joe Biden, is a vocal critic of Mr Sanders on her Twitter page, often condemening his socialist position within the party. Her critiques gained notice from some of the Vermont senator's supporters, and she claims this criticism encouraged the Pennsylvania Young Democrats to force her to resign, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. "This is like Bernie Bro behavior in real life," Ms Li told the newspaper, referencing "aggressive" attacks online. "I wasn't always like this. They drove me to this." 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She praised the senator at the time, but her opinions have since changed. Her Twitter platform is now largely used to show support for Democratic candidate Mr Biden and criticise Mr Sanders. Mr DeLuca, who was elected president of the Pennsylvania Young Democrats last month, shared a different side as to why the organisation asked for her resignation. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer many state Democratic Party officials raised concerns over what was shared on Ms Li's Twitter page. Former Young Democrat treasurer Lindy Li (pictured with Joe Biden) claims she was ousted for her anti-Bernie Sanders tweets (Lindy Li/Twitter) He reportedly contacted her to discuss her profile, but she would only respond to emails and text messages instead of agreeing to meet in person, he said. "Lindy is putting that pressure on herself," Mr DeLuca said. "She said she would rather resign than talk to me about her Twitter account." One recent tweet Ms Li shared was a video of Mr Sanders from his visit to Russia, then part of the Soviet Union, in 1988. The clip shows him heaping praise on to the country. "#BernieSanders lavishes praise on Communist Russia, preferring the Soviet Union to the American way of life," Ms Li wrote alongside the clip. Another critical tweet read: "#BernieSanders, who praised Communist regimes and joined a socialist party that took Iran's side during the hostage crisis, is a grave risk to American democracy. Get at me, #BernieBros. Do what you do best: excel in hate." Ms Li sparked critiscim last month for also reweeting a tweet that called Mr Sander's a "self-hating Jew". She later deleted the retweet and released an apology, which she now says was an action encouraged by her former organisation. The apology has since been deleted. "I have spent hours over the phone with TJ discussing my tweets," Ms Li said. "I had nothing left to say and wasnt going to censor myself to make the Sanders' supporters in our group happy." Her resignation on Monday was "at her own free will", Mr DeLuca told the Philadelphia Inquirer. UBC professor Wenran Jiang calls the Chinese response unprecedented and extraordinary while Carleton University professor Jeremy Paltiel argues the current regime still has to show a willingness to listen and learn. Wenran Jiang UBC professor YES It is extremely tempting for the critics to link how China has managed the ongoing coronavirus crisis, known officially as COVID-19, to the countrys authoritarian system and President Xi Jinpings personal governing style in recent years. In fact, many have concluded that the writing is on the wall: the Chinese system has failed the public because of the way the institutions are organized and the tight control Xi has exercised. Some even claim the outbreak signalled that Xi has lost the traditional Chinese Mandate of Heaven and a dynastic collapse may be imminent. But lets not jump too fast to make sweeping systemic observations of the Chinese state or Xis mandate. Nor should we confuse a public health crisis, which is ongoing, with a political turmoil that does not exist. The reality on the ground is that the entire Chinese nation is mobilized in unprecedented speed and efficiency to flight the spread of the virus. In both historical and international contexts, China has taken extraordinary measures to protect its own large population and the rest of the world that few other countries, if any, can measure up. Of course, the Chinese system has been severely tested and there were clearly some initial missteps. Dr. Li Wenliang, who warned his colleagues in a social media group about the virus, was called in by the local police and reprimanded for spreading rumours. His tragic death triggered a public outcry calling for more transparency and freedom of expression, a constitutional right on paper but very limited in practice. There are also questions whether the early warnings filed by other doctors and Wuhan local government to the central authorities were processed with delays that may have wasted valuable early response time. But once the new type of virus was identified, China has shared its data and analysis promptly with relevant global institutions, which had been hailed by the World Health Organization and medical communities worldwide as by far the shortest time by modern epidemic control standards. The Chinese government has locked down Wuhan, a city of 11 million and a key industrial production base thats a part of Chinas large global supply chain of manufacturing goods, measures that are unthinkable and likely untenable by other governments. Currently, nearly half of Chinas 1.4 billion people are participating in mandated and voluntary self-lockdown, without chaos, martial law or disorderly behaviour. Just imagine a lock down of the entire city of Chicago or Mumbai Western media has speculated that the high tech and facial recognition surveillance equipment used by the Chinese government may play a key role in such an effort. Maybe, but they have underestimated the overwhelming societal commitments and the broader public support by the Chinese people to the government efforts in confronting the virus as a collective fight and a test of the nations will to be strong and united. The race with time to save more lives has seen the building of modern, state-of-the-art hospitals with thousands of beds in a matter of days, a complex collaboration of construction, infrastructure, communication, medical equipment installation and logistics in an orderly 24/7 breathtaking speed. Share your thoughts Medical doctors and nurses, many of them wearing diapers due to the difficulties of putting on and removing their medical suits, have worked long hours and over 1,700 of them have been infected. These brave front line workers do so not because the state forced them or the official propaganda machine made them heroes, but they have chosen to put their own health at risk in order to perform their duties as they have sworn like any other medial personnel around the world. The jury is still out if the Chinese efforts in controlling the COVID-19 will be successful or there will be a prolonged fight ahead. But when all is done, there will be profound reflections by both the Chinese government and the public on how to better prepare for a future epidemic such as the current one. The most desirable outcome should involve further reform of Chinas political system, less control of the peoples rights in expressing their critical opinions and potentially better regulation of the countrys wildlife trade, which is widely considered the cause of the initial infection. For now, the world needs a strong China to continue to contain the virus and keep the world a safer place. Wenran Jiang is an adjunct professor at the School of Public Policy & Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus poses an unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinpings leadership. He declared on Feb. 4 that the epidemic was a major test of the governance system. Jeremy Paltiel Carleton University professor NO Ever since the 19th Party Congress in late 2017, the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its publicity outlets have overflowed with self-congratulatory propaganda on the superiority of its centralized leadership system and unique advantages of party-centered governance. This epidemic has social, political, diplomatic and economic dimensions. Socially, the epidemic strains the credibility of government and trust in its information system. For the first time, Chinese social media are openly revealing and questioning the implicit social contract that binds Chinese society to the CCP. They explicitly question whether their sacrifice of freedom to the party has gained the benevolent care the party promised. The party is being held to account. Xi boasted that the centralized Chinese system enables the concentration of power to accomplish great deeds and this power constitutes the superiority of the socialist system. The detention of Dr. Li Wenliang for spreading rumours when he warned fellow physicians of the virus in late December angered many and provoked a rare rebuke of the police from Chinas own Supreme Court. When Dr. Li subsequently succumbed to the virus, it unleashed a shock wave of anguished commentary, including from loyal party members, focusing on the doctors last recorded words: There should be more than one voice. Wuhans mayor admits that his municipality could not announce the epidemic outbreak earlier because it does not have the authority to make such announcements. Valuable time was lost because the party weighs the release of negative public information to the perceived damage to its own reputation under the guise of acting to squelch rumours and prevent adverse social impact. Recognizing the severity of the challenge, the CCP has taken charge. An entire province of 50 million people is under quarantine, with districts in other provinces also restricting movement. Senior local officials have been dismissed and a special commission, headed by Premier Li Keqiang, guides the national response to the crisis. This centrally designated group leads containment efforts in Hubei Province and Wuhan. A new hospital was built in Wuhan at breakneck speed. Construction could be viewed in real time online. The party newspaper, the Peoples Daily, is filled with stories about the epidemic and its efforts to combat it. Military language is invoked with Xi mobilizing the Peoples Liberation Army to defeat the virus. The economic impact has already begun and will prove severe. Demand-side impact is already felt in lower oil prices. Consumption is slumping. Tourism and retail services have been hard hit. The crisis is now affecting the supply side as factories scheduled to reopen after the Chinese New Year holiday struggle to resume production. Labour shortages spill over into parts shortages that paralyze production chains. China will not collapse overnight, nor will Xi be hounded from power. The CCP is resilient. The adaptive genius of the CCP is the guerrilla tradition that combines a centralized network of command with decentralized adaptive responses to local circumstances and experimentation. These adaptations percolate upwards in the command structure to allow iterative policy adjustments from the top. Xi Jinping weakened that system by imposing rigid ideological and organizational discipline supported by police-state tactics. THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here. In the coming weeks and months, Xis power is likely to be diluted as his proteges and henchmen are replaced and as different voices are heard from the partys propaganda outlets. There is no chance of a systemic crisis in the immediate future, so long as the regime copes with the epidemic. Cracks will appear later as the organization tries to draw lessons. But as different voices are heard from above, they will surely embolden voices from below. The regime will adjust, adapt, survive and may even thrive, but Xis chances of serving a third term are low. The partys survival depends on its capacity to absorb and co-opt discordant voices within its leadership. The severity of the political crisis will directly correlate to the severity of economic fallout. The CCP can manage the crisis, but it will have to demonstrate a willingness to listen and learn, along with taking charge of epidemic control and the recovery of the economy. Concentrating efforts on command and control alone will not be enough. It may even accelerate the partys demise. Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Dr. Li Wenliangs name. This version reflects the correct spelling. Jeremy Paltiel is a professor of political science at the Carleton University. Read more about: Lahore: UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, as he visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received the UN Secretary General at Kartarpur Sahib, some 125kms from Lahore. A Sikh boy presented him a bouquet. Guterres was also briefed about the Kartarpur Corridor pact between Pakistan and India. He was told that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took this initiative to facilitate the Sikh community of India and elsewhere to visit the shrine. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. Wearing an orange scarf, Guterres visited different parts of the Gurdwara. He was served with traditional food in lunch along with Sikhs and Pakistani officials. Strict security measures were taken during the visit. Indian Sikhs in good number were also present at Kartarpur Sahib. Later talking to media persons, the UN Secretary General said the Kartarpur Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, Radio Pakistan reported. He said the opening of the corridor is a good step and it will promote tolerance and interfaith harmony. The UN chief appreciated the facilities being provided to Sikh pilgrims at the complex. Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019 in connection with the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor from the Indian side on the same day by flagging off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims, including former premier Manmohan Singh and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and urged them to focus on new technologies. He termed climate change as the major issue the world is facing today. He also inaugurated a polio campaign. Pakistan is one of the three countries where polio is still endemic. Stock markets ended the day largely in the red, with traders spooked by Apple's warning that the coronavirus outbreak will hit sales of its iPhones. The FTSE 100 closed down 51.24 points, at 7,382, dragged lower by heavyweight HSBC, which fell 6 per cent after it unveiled a 33 per cent fall in pre-tax profits for last year and announced 35,000 worldwide job cuts. The pound rose slightly following the release of the latest UK jobs data showing employment at a record high, but also a sharper-than-forecast decline in wage growth. That new Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the March 11th budget may have also helped sterling rise 0.1 per cent against the dollar and 0.3 per cent against the euro. Meanwhile, the price of Brent Crude fell by 70 cents today as concerns over the coronavirus continued. The International Energy Agency said last week they expect the virus to cut oil demand by 435,000 barrels a day. In company news, mining company Glencore recorded its first annual loss in five years in 2019. The London-listed firm said low commodity prices, trade uncertainty, and a 2.15billion tax impairment caused it to fall to a 311million loss last year. InterContinental Hotels has reported a 12 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to $542million (417million) for 2019, but revealed a raft of writedowns, including for its UK business. An ambulance, believed to be carring an infected passenger of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, leaves the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 14, 2020. EPA A South Korean presidential plane arrived in Japan on Tuesday to evacuate four nationals and a Japanese spouse from a quarantined cruise ship docked near Tokyo, after an increase in onboard infections of the new coronavirus. The VCN-235 of the Air Force arrived at Japan's Haneda Airport hours after it departed from Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of the capital. The plane plans to return to Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on Wednesday morning. Fourteen South Koreans -- nine passengers and five crew members -- have remained inside the Diamond Princess since it reported the first group of infections of COVID-19 on Feb. 5. The number of cases has surged to more than 450 out of some 3,700 aboard. None of the South Koreans on the ship have contracted the disease. Only the five will board the government plane as the rest of them apparently expressed a desire to stay on the ship, largely due to their residential status and lack of connection to South Korea. All but three of the 14 people are permanent residents in Japan, the foreign ministry in Seoul said earlier. Almost a third of asthma sufferers are increasing their risk of dying from the disease because of excessive use of reliever inhalers as a quick fix to help them breathe. New research released today shows thousands of people with asthma in this country are going through more than 12 reliever inhalers per year. This is classed as overuse of the treatment and puts people in higher danger of a life-threatening attack. The findings also reveal seven in 10 sufferers of the illness use three or more of these inhalers in a year, which can also cause an escalation in symptoms. Almost 380,000 people suffer from asthma in this country. The warning of excessive use of reliever inhalers follows evidence from the Global Initiative for Asthma aimed at improving the lives of people with the disease. When applied to Ireland the caution is particularly urgent because of the heavy reliance on these reliever inhalers by half of sufferers five years after diagnosis. The Asthma Society found in the year after diagnosis, 30pc aged under 17 are overusing the inhaler and this rises to 60pc for those over 50. The highest risk comes with using up more than 12 of these medical devices in a year - but even going through three inhalers or more annually can worsen symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness and progression to an asthma attack. Counties with the highest reliance are Carlow, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin, Monaghan, Tipperary, Offaly, Longford, Louth, Leitrim and Clare. "A reliever inhaler works within minutes to relieve asthma symptoms when they happen," said Marcus Butler, medical director of the Asthma Society. "It gives a short-lived improvement in symptoms, effectively just buying time. But it can eventually fail to keep a patient safe from asthma if more appropriate and effective controller inhalers are not used on a daily basis. A controller inhaler works over a much longer duration than reliever inhalers to eventually ease the underlying airway inflammation which ultimately causes asthma symptoms. "It prevents symptoms from arising several weeks and months down the road, as long as it is habitually taken." Ingrid McLoughlin (9) from Howth, Co Dublin, who features in the latest campaign Asthma SafetyCare, had uncontrolled asthma and was extremely reliant on the reliever inhaler. Her mother Karen recalled how the little girl on occasions could not breathe. Ingrid's medication was changed and it has changed her life for the better. "Ingrid is now taking part in activities she never thought possible because of her asthma, running 3km every Saturday morning." Ingrid said she feels "so much better". It looks like there is some good news for iPad fans. Apparently Apple is going to launch a new iPad Pro in March this year. But what may come as a disappointment is that despite the launch happening in March, there could be a delay in production due to the widespread impact of the deadly Coronavirus in China. In a report published by WCCFtech, it has been mentioned that even though the iPad will be launched around March as planned, but 2020 iPad Pros production phase might be hit. It is expected that the new iPad Pro will feature a triple camera setup similar to the iPhone 11 Pro. This means that the tablet will have a 12-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. There is speculation that a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor may replace the ultra-wide or telephoto cameras. This could be used to compute depth information and improve on the AR capabilities. The last iPad Pro models were launched back in 2018 which included the 12.9-inch model and an 11-inch model. Expect Apple to bring a similar design with edge-to-edge LCD displays with a resolution of 2048x2732 on the 12.9-inch model and 1668x2388 on the 11-inch model. The new iPads should get an upgrade in terms of processing, and we could see the A13X Bionic chip, with at least 4GB of RAM and storage going from 64GB to 1TB. Apple is also expected to launch the affordable iPhone alongside the new iPad Pro range. Meanwhile, the deadly Coronavirus, which is being touted as the reason for the delay in production, has claimed the lives of more than 71 thousand people till now across the world. India had evacuated 650 people from Chinas Wuhan on February 1 and 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft after the outbreak of the disease. Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 : The Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri city has received over Rs 187.01 crore donation from devotees by the end of January this year, informed Law Minister Pratap Jena on Tuesday. Replying to a written question of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Umakant Samantray, the Law Minister told the State Assembly that the total collection made in cash is over Rs 187.01 crore. "The Jagannath Temple has received 17.756 kg gold, including jewellery and 277.95 kg silver from worshipers and others," said the Minister. The temple received 'Patta' clothes, ghanta and clothes used in covering chariots as donations. He said the cash contribution is deposited in the bank and is used for payment of share to servitors and Sevapuja of the deities in accordance with provisions of temple record of rights and Shree Jagannath Temple Act 1955. The contribution in kind like grocery items, Patta, cloth used for covering chariots and gold and silver is used in the preparation of Kotha Bhog, Sevapuja, repair of ornaments and decoration of the deities provided the use of such contribution is admissible/suitable as per the established traditions of the Temple, said Jena. Arvind Kejriwal, who came to the forefront in 2011 with the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement, started as a firebrand orator training his guns at political parties, but seven years later, has donned the image of a moderately combative peoples leader The emergence of Arvind Kejriwal as a masterful strategist came just about at the right time. Away from his perennially angry image that he is often identifiable with, the AAP convener ahead of the Delhi Assembly Election embraced a mellowed image, got down to brass tacks to survive and narrate the hardscrabble life of a politician who triumphed just from the brink of decimation. Instead of walking into an ambush and skilfully avoiding the plot of provocation by his rivals, Kejriwal remained focussed only on one goal an overwhelming majority and achieved it in style with AAP winning 62 out of 70 seats. Addressing a rally ahead of the 8 February Delhi polls, BJPs Parvesh Verma had said, In Delhi, many terrorists like Kejriwal are hiding. I don't understand if we should fight with terrorists in Kashmir or with terrorist Kejriwal in Delhi. In response, Kejriwal said, I'm leaving this decision to the people of Delhi - whether they consider me a son, their brother, or a terrorist." The leader, who came to the forefront in 2011 with the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement, started as a firebrand orator training his guns at political parties. But seven years and many political ups-and-downs later, he has donned the image of a moderately combative peoples leader. His focus on the issues faced by the people and their demand for development paid off in the Delhi elections, when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief refused to comment extensively or engage in debates with the BJP, which had made the Citizenship Amendment Act and the Shaheen Bagh and Jamia protests the centre of its campaign. Despite improving its tally as compared to the 2015 Assembly polls, the BJP fell 28 seats short of the 36-seat majority mark required to be the ruling party in the Delhi Assembly and 40 seats short of the number predicted by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. Such was the belief in Kejriwals pitch for progress that BJPs only local issue the regularisation of unauthorised colonies fell flat. In his book Swaraj, Kejriwal wrote, All the leaders of the so many political parties that exist are the same. We can select leaders from one party or the other but the content of that political leader will not change. In the last sixty years, we have tried every political party and every political leader. But there has been no improvement in the condition of the country. Bureaucrat-turned-RTI activist-turned-politician Kejriwal resigned voluntarily from the income tax department in 2006, owing to the rampant corruption he witnessed in the government. He began work in the Right to Information Act sector and his efforts won him the Ramon Magsaysay Award. With the prize money, he founded the Public Cause Research Foundation. However, by 2007, his faith in the RTI as a tool for accountability dwindled and he went on to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill, with the help of Prashant Bhushan and former Union law minister Shanti Bhushan. With the Bill ready, he joined Anna Hazare in the India Against Corruption movement, rallying on streets and sitting on hunger strikes. Kejriwal invoked the sacrifices he made during that time for the better good even during the 2020 Delhi election campaign. "I have put my life on the line for the country. I'm a diabetic. If a person with diabetes is on insulin and doesn't eat anything for three to four hours, they collapse and can even die. In such a situation, I have done hunger strike against corruption twice, once for 15 days and then 10 days," he said. As an anti-corruption activist, Kejriwal criticised the governments in power irrespective of the party that led the Centre. In 2012, he called the UPAs plan to make Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) a multi-member body, an attempt by the government to make the body its private agent. He went on to call Modi a coward and psychopath, blaming him for ordering CBI raids at Delhi government offices in December 2015. He also asked for the proof of the surgical strikes conducted in Pakistan by the army in response to the Uri terror attack. As the chief minister in 2016, he hit out at the Budget presented by late Arun Jaitley for strangulating the jewellery business, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opposed a similar move when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. The wavering nature of his opinions did nothing to dent his credibility as the leader of the masses. Kejriwal blamed the UPA government for the birth of the Jan Lokpal Bill, saying that, Our movement was against the corruption of the UPA government. Why did Congress not bring the (Lokpal) bill? If they did it, our movement would not have continued and Congress would have got a huge credit." It was also the current AAP chief who called former prime minister Manmohan Singh a thousand times better than Modi for making India one of the few countries resistant to the global economic recession of 2008 by taking timely measures. It was with the Congress support that the AAP formed a minority government in 2013. Launched in 2012 from the springboard of Kejriwals anti-corruption movement, the AAP won in the 2013 Assembly elections, unseating Congress' Sheila Dikshit. But the activist took precedence over the politician when he resigned after the Jan Lokpal Bill did not pass the Assembly test. He was then re-elected with a thumping majority of 67 seats in 2015. Amid such a turn of events, he continued to work on issues that resounded with the common man first corruption and later water, electricity, health and education. The Kejriwal-led party was defeated in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections in 2017. Soon after, AAP started gearing up for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the issue of full statehood to Delhi at hand. Terming then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung as an agent of the Modi government, Kejriwal and AAP leaders and workers staged a nine-day long sit-in protest outside L-Gs office in 2018 after bureaucrats allegedly went on a strike following reports of AAP legislators assaulting then Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. Kejriwal even wrote a letter to Modi, accusing him of orchestrating the strike by bureaucrats. It is unimaginable that a countrys prime minister, out of political malice, would get bureaucrats in the capital city to stop work, he wrote. Baijal, termed as an agent of the Modi government, was also accused of stalling the Delhi governments projects. The tussle ended with a July 2018 Supreme Court order stating that the lieutenant governors powers were only limited to land, police and public order. Even up till 2019, he continued to slam Modis fake nationalism. "He is using the armed forces to get votes as he does not have any work to show," he alleged. Later, the AAPs defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in which it won only one of the 40 seats it contested and the BJP won all the seven Parliamentary constituencies in Delhi, pressed Kejriwal to rethink his approach towards the National Capital. An erstwhile activist refused to comment on the issue of CAA and NRC, issues that have the spurred a nationwide stir. From chanting Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram at election meetings and rallies, he prayed to Lord Hanuman on the counting day and chanted the Hanuman Chalisa. In fact, his Delhi victory speech on 16 February saw him hailing a new brand of politics -- the politics of development. The protests and strikes were replaced by newspaper advertisements and billboards hailing the success of the Delhi governments schemes. A positive campaign was held and Kejriwal told reporters in January, Hume gaali galoch ki rajneeti nahi aati (We dont know the politics of hate and name-calling). A changed AAP even welcomed the revoking of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and also thanked Baijal for clearing critical infrastructure projects in Delhi. Far from the no compromise with corruption call with which the AAP had entered politics, the Jan Lokpal Bill is an abandoned cause with 50 AAP MLAs refusing to furnish details of their assets with the Delhi Lokayukta in January 2019. Shedding the image of an anarchist, Kejriwal and the AAP now look forward to the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. However, after a major drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, it remains to be seen if his national ambitions will be revived for the 2024 polls. Despite a transformation in his style of leadership, Kejriwal heads a state with just seven Parliamentary seats, has just over seven years of experience and lacks the resources and workers base that the BJP enjoys. With the promises of ensuring the betterment of people and in turn the country, will Kejriwal be able to find a place among the gamut of leaders in mahagathbandhan? The Morton Grove promotion does not feature special deals, but instead a chance to win gift cards. Diners can eat at any restaurant in the village during February and either submit photos of their experience to www.mortongroveil.org or bring a February 2020 receipt to village hall by March 4 to enter a contest for a non-specific $25 gift card. The new Ontario licence plates debuted this month, featuring the first major redesign since the province started adding slogans to them in 1973. The blue plates which are stirring up a controversy after social media users including an off-duty Kingston police officer claimed over the weekend that they cant be seen at night has the slogan A Place to Grow. Its pulled from the little-known provincial anthem A Place to Stand, a Place to Grow, presented at the Ontario pavilion at Expo 67. A film of the same name was also featured at the Expo. The new plate replaces the white plate which had the slogan Yours to Discover, in use since 1982. Before Ontario was yours to discover, Keep it Beautiful was the slogan between 1973 and 1982. Open for Business is now the slogan that will appear on commercial plates used by trucks and other industrial vehicles. The most recent change came with the election of Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives. After 15 years of disastrous Liberal mismanagement supported, frankly, by the NDP we want to make sure people understand there is a new government. We are actually open for business, Government and Consumer Services Minister Bill Walker told the Star in April 2019. About 1.8 million new licence plates are issued each year and there are 12.9 million active registered plates, the province said in a news release last spring. The plates are produced with prison labour through Trilcor Industries, which gets its name from the words trillium (Ontarios provincial flower), and corrections. Ontario Correctional Services has been producing licence plates for the province since the 1950s. By providing inmates with the opportunity to work at meaningful jobs, the program provides cost effective, rehabilitative work experience for offenders, the Ministry of the Solicitor General writes on its website. In the process, they learn valuable skills that will serve them well upon release. A regular work schedule teaches offenders accountability, responsibility and teamwork. Its not the first time that the Conservatives have used licence plates to make a statement. The previous Keep it Beautiful and Yours to Discover slogans were also introduced by a Progressive Conservation government. Between 1946 and 1972, in an era when motorists got new plates annually, Ontarios plates alternated between blue and white. The Tories were in power for 42 years, between 1943 and 1985. Former premier Bob Rae recently derided Fords government plan to change the plates. Ive knocked on thousands of doors over four decades in public life, Rae wrote on Twitter. No one has ever, ever, ever demanded a change in the licence plate, and in particular no one has ever, ever, ever suggested we change it to an empty hot air political slogan. With files from David Venn Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Nargiz Ismayilova Trend: The signing of the memorandum in April 2019 created the basis for promoting trade and commerce between the US and Azerbaijan, the co-chairman of the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) Reza Vaziri said at the partnership summit in Baku to support business and professional associations in Azerbaijan, Trend reports on Feb. 18. Among the achievements reached during a short period are: two US agricultural forums, two trade missions, the signed cooperation document, the cooperation agreement between the Azerbaijani city of Gadabay and Stillwater city in Oklahoma (US), Vaziri said. "USACC, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce together with the Azerbaijani mission of the US Agency for International Development USAID, organized the Oklahoma-Azerbaijan agricultural forum in 2019, Vaziri said. More than 30 agricultural companies and representatives of relevant state agencies, as well as Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov participated in the forum. This is high appreciation for business." The chairman said that the Azerbaijani and US companies reached a number of achievements. "USACC certified trade mission was organized in 2017, as a result of which several contracts worth millions of dollars were signed, the chairman said. A number of the US companies entered the Azerbaijani market, while the rest expanded their participation in this market." Vaziri stressed that USACC will continue to work with USAID to achieve even bigger success. Former NASCAR driver Candace Muzny, who started her own team in Mooresville, was found dead at a home in Oklahoma City Monday night, according to police and local media reports. Muzny, 43, competed in two races in NASCARs K&N Pro Series East series, once in 2011 and once in 2012, according to Racing-Reference.info. She also drove in NASCAR Late Model divisions and started her own team, called CNM Racing, in 2009. The cause of Muznys death has not been determined but police said they found no obvious signs at this time that a homicide occurred, Oklahoma City TV station KOCO News 5 reported. Neighbor Raushae Jones told station KFOR that Muznys family was in her front yard distraught when she arrived home. Candace Munzy, full-time race car driver. Muzny lived in the home on Island View Drive where she was found dead, station KOKH reported. Police are awaiting a ruling by the Medical Examiners Office on the cause of death, according to the station. On Jan. 12, Oklahoma City police arrested and jailed Muzny after she was accused of becoming belligerent while receiving a pedicure at a nail salon she frequented, station KWTV News 9 reported. Salon employee Tiffany Nguyen told the station she was speaking with her boss in Vietnamese when Muzny yelled at them to stop speaking the language, assaulted her and waived a pocket knife at her. Police also accused Muzny of assaulting a police officer who responded to the business, according to KWTV in Oklahoma City, which cited public records from police. It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Hotcopper Holdings Limited (ASX:HOT). What Is Insider Buying? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. Check out our latest analysis for Hotcopper Holdings Hotcopper Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider David Argyle bought AU$3.0m worth of shares at a price of AU$0.13 per share. That implies that an insider found the current price of AU$0.14 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. The good news for Hotcopper Holdings share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price. Hotcopper Holdings insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Story continues ASX:HOT Recent Insider Trading, February 17th 2020 Hotcopper Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It's great to see that Hotcopper Holdings insiders own 51% of the company, worth about AU$13m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Hotcopper Holdings Insiders? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Hotcopper Holdings shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Hotcopper Holdings insiders think the business has merit. Along with insider transactions, I recommend checking if Hotcopper Holdings is growing revenue. This free chart of historic revenue and earnings should make that easy. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The polarized reaction was not surprising for a dinner that, in recent years, has faced questions about why it exists in the first place. Once a chance for the president and his chroniclers to rib each other in good faith, the tenor of the event shifted after Mr. Trump who was famously mocked by President Barack Obama and Seth Meyers at the 2011 dinner chose to boycott it in 2017, the first president to skip since Ronald Reagan after his 1981 assassination attempt. (Mr. Reagan dialed in from his hospital bed.) Vanity Fair and The New Yorker canceled their parties; A-list celebrities steered clear. The Correspondents Association shifted the dinners focus from boozy revelry to a more solemn tribute to the First Amendment welcome news to some critics who had long lamented the dinners image of chumminess and glad-handing. Mr. Trump has stuck firmly to his boycott for the past three years, as his relationship with the national press has curdled further. In 2019, the president accused news organizations of treason, and his administration phased out the daily White House press briefing. Jonathan Karl, the president of the Correspondents Association, has embraced the dinners renewed emphasis on freedom of the press. Under his direction, the association has introduced awards to recognize accountability journalism and reportorial courage. The association also plans to contact the Committee to Protect Journalists and PEN America about highlighting threats faced by reporters in other countries. New Zealand North Island Robin (Maori name: Toutouwai). This bird is banded to identify it as part of a restoration scheme to return robins to Wellington and was released in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, an area surrounded by a predator proof fence. The fence can be seen reflected in its eyeball. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license. A pair of researchers at Victoria University of Wellington has found that North Island robins have long-term memory. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Rachael Shaw and Annette Harvey describe experiments they conducted with the birds and what they learned from them. Humans have notoriously long memories, as do some other animals. Elephants, for example, have been found to remember water holes they have not visited for many years. And red-footed tortoises have been observed retrieving food from stores stashed away over long periods of time. In this new effort, the researchers tested long-term memory in North Island robins living in New Zealand. North Island robins, more popularly known as toutouwai, are native to New Zealand and are popular because they are cute and show little fear of humansquite often, they can be seen alighting on a person's shoulder, boot or even head. They are also small, just slightly bigger than a common sparrow. The work by Shaw and Harvey was initially an investigation into whether the birds could be taught to open a closed vessel to retrieve a desired bit of food. The food vessel consisted of a block of plastic with three holes drilled halfway through. Each of the pits was large enough to temporarily house a mealworma favored food treat for toutouwai. Each of the pits was covered with a swiveling lid. The researchers taught the wild birds to open and retrieve the food inside by starting with the lids open, and then progressively closing them more over time. Eventually, the birds learned to peck open the food bins upon sight with the lids fully closed. The researchers then returned to the same site 22 months later to find out if the birds would remember the food bins, and if so, how to open them. In all, they observed 32 birds they had trained previously investigate the food binall but two immediately pecked open the lids and retrieved their meal. The researchers also observed 17 toutouwai that had not been trained investigating the food binnone of them were able to open the lids. More information: Rachael C. Shaw et al. Long-term memory for a learned behaviour in a wild bird, Biology Letters (2020). Journal information: Biology Letters Rachael C. Shaw et al. Long-term memory for a learned behaviour in a wild bird,(2020). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0912 2020 Science X Network Ninety years ago today (Feb. 18), astronomer Clyde Tombaugh gathered the data that proved the existence of what would eventually be dubbed Pluto but it wouldn't have been possible, astronomers have since realized, without the calculations of a mathematician whom history has forgotten. That mathematician was Elizabeth Williams, who worked for astronomer Percival Lowell , who first theorized the existence of a ninth planet. Lowell died before his successor, Tombaugh , finally spotted the elusive Pluto, but both men relied on calculations that Williams made. But the math got lost in the discovery it enabled, and so did Williams. "There isn't much about her, which is very unfortunate," Catherine Clark, a doctoral student in astronomy at what's now known as Lowell Observatory , told Space.com. "There's so much about Percival Lowell and Clyde Tombaugh, and not so much about the computers who were actually doing the day-to-day calculations." Related: Photos of Pluto and its moons Those calculations were vital for the quest that eventually resulted in Tombaugh identifying Pluto. The logic motivating the search was based on observations of Neptune and Uranus. "Percival Lowell first noticed that the orbits of Neptune and Uranus were not exactly what they should have been," Clark said. When Lowell saw those differences, he knew that astronomy's map of the solar system was incomplete . But finding the missing world required math very complex math, and that's where Williams and other mathematicians came on the scene. Before the invention of calculators, so-called human computers often women, since it was unglamorous work did all the complex math that astronomers required, by hand. For Lowell's research, Williams calculated where he should look for how large of a missing object, all based on the discrepancies in the orbits of Neptune and Uranus. Lowell never spotted Pluto, and the quest languished for a few years before Tombaugh picked up the work. And then, there it was: In 1930, those calculations paid off when Tombaugh caught sight of an object moving through the solar system. "There's a specific result that came of her calculations, so that's pretty exciting," Clark said. But Williams wasn't there to see it, Clark said. In 1922, Williams had married and Lowell's widow had fired her because she felt it inappropriate to employ a married woman. The pair took jobs at a Harvard observatory in Jamaica. In 1935, Williams was widowed herself and moved to New Hampshire, where she died in poverty. NASA's New Horizons probe provided the most detailed view of Pluto to date in 2015. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) Clark gave a presentation about Williams and her work at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu last month based on her collaboration with Lowell Observatory historian Kevin Schindler. She told Space.com that what stood out to her about Williams' story was "understanding where women first came into this field and what they were allowed to do in the very beginning. And also just these crazy calculations that I don't think I could do by hand." Williams herself was particularly talented in her work, Clark added. "On top of these incredible calculations, really advanced math that she was doing, she was also ambidextrous and writing simultaneously with both hands," she said. "She would write in cursive with her right hand while printing with her left." Decades after Williams' work, of course, astronomers don't need humans to calculate orbital mysteries. "We rely so heavily on modern machine computers these days to do our work and we're able to do some really crazy awesome science with that," Clark said. But learning how astronomers worked in the past, she said, "really takes you back to the history of it and makes you grateful and thankful for these people, particularly these women, who were doing these calculations in the first place." The erasure of Williams' work is also a reminder of the ways that women have been excised from the story of the history of science. "Even though they were in the shadows," Clark said, "[women] were contributing to this field." Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . One of the more interesting stories in the U.S. cannabis market is the opening up of the developed cannabis market in Colorado. Prior to the passing of Colorados House Bill 19-1090, publicly traded companies werent allowed to own or invest in Colorado cannabis businesses. The bill went into effect on November 1, 2019 opening up the $1.6 billion market opportunity to public companies previously focused on new states opening up recreational use such as Illinois. The state has long been used as an example for the regulatory environment such as the high level of dispensaries compared to the relatively low levels in Canada. The main drawback has been the lack of public investments. According to estimates, Colorado has one retail store per every 10,000 residents. The state first legalized cannabis back in 2014 and has over 560 outlets serving a population of 5.7 million residents. The state serves as an example of the ramp up period needed to reach normalized cannabis sales. Back in 2014, Colorado started with slightly above $40 million in monthly sales and recently topped $160 million to reach $1.6 billion in annual sales. Sales growth has nearly plateaued since the fourth year of legalization with sales topping $1.5 billion in 2017. Also worth noting, medical marijuana sales have only declined since the original sales levels of $30 million monthly. With this in mind, weve delved into three U.S. companies set to expand into the well-established Colorado cannabis market in an attempt to consolidate the market. Using TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we lined up the trio alongside each other to get the lowdown on what the near-term holds for these cannabis players. Columbia Care (CCHWF) Columbia Care made the most direct move into the Colorado cannabis market with the purchase of The Green Solution (TGS) for $140 million. TGS is listed as the largest vertically integrated cannabis operation in the state with trailing proforma revenues of $73 million. Story continues TGS operates 23 dispensaries in Colorado now with 48,000 pounds of cultivation capacity with combined indoor greenhouse and outdoor flower. The company has plans to expand cultivation to 150,000 pounds by 2023 providing for over 200% growth in the next few years. Columbia Care suggests the deal priced at 1.6x 2020E sales or the equivalent of $87.5 million in revenue from TGS. The deal price is relatively low due to the limited growth expected from Colorado in general and the acquisition target specifically. In total, Columbia Care forecasts a total US footprint of 93 facilities covering 15 jurisdictions in the U.S. with an addressable market of 155 million people. The deal nearly doubles the size of the MSO making Columbia care a suddenly large player in the cannabis business while increasing the path to profits when the deal closes in the 1H of the year. Columbia Care only has a market value of $740 million with quarterly revenues of $22 million. The company is definitely a less risky way to participate in the consolidation of the Colorado cannabis market. Wall Street analysts are on the same page. 3 Buys compared to no Holds or Sells add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. Additionally, the $10.82 average price target implies 252% upside potential. (See Columbia Care's price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks) Medicine Man Technologies (MDCL) The one stock now most tied to the new rules in Colorado is Medicine Man Technologies. The company has announced 12 deals to consolidate a whole list of cannabis operators when the deals are finalized in the next few months. Once closing all of the deals, the company predicts having 12 cultivation operations, seven product manufacturing operations, 34 dispensaries along with research, development and innovation assets. Medicine Man forecasts the combined*- businesses generating 20% EBITDA margins with a goal of reaching 30% margins via collaborative growth and economies of scale in the future. Prior to the deals closing, Medicine Man generated Q3 revenues of only $5.3 million with a net loss of $1.8 million. The company had a cash balance of $15.2 million. Most of these numbers are irrelevant due to the pending acquisitions. Medicine Man will need a strong management team to carry off the integration of a dozen separate business units working on a range of products from dispensaries to edibles to cultivation and production facilities. The stock is the best way to obtain a pure play in the Colorado market, but the financials of the company are still largely unknown. Due to the potential here, the stock trades above the levels from last year. Curaleaf (CURLF) The last stock set to benefit from the new laws allowing public companies to invest in Colorado is more of a speculation. Curaleaf is in the process of becoming the largest cannabis company in the world and the company recently obtained one of the 14 medical marijuana licenses in Utah. The logical conclusion to the large ambitions of Curaleaf is that the Utah business provides for the easy step across the state line to Colorado. The company recently closed the Select deal and has another major pending deal with Grassroots to enter the Illinois market. Once these deals are done, the company will likely return back to looking for more deals. While these other states offer growth opportunities, Curaleaf has national ambitions and the establishment of operations in Colorado is only logical. With over 500 dispensaries in a competitive market, one can easily foresee the company making a similar deal as Columbia Care to acquire an established chain in need of capital or better management to grow operations and consolidate market share. Curaleaf is forecasted to top $1 billion in annual sales this year so a similar move to Columbia Care wont move the needle drastically, but rather Colorado provides a more certain growth opportunity and likely positive EBITDA to help build the business. The stock is trading close to the lows below $7 despite the substantial opportunities still ahead in the U.S. cannabis sector due to opportunities in Colorado. What does the rest of the Street think? As it turns out, 7 out of 8 analysts that have published a recent review see the stock as a Buy, making the consensus rating a Strong Buy. Adding to the good news, the $9.13 average price target indicates 44% upside potential. (See Curaleaf's stock-price forecast and analyst ratings on TipRanks) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 20:36:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Yiwu International Trade Market, the world's leading small commodities market in east China's Zhejiang Province, was reopened to customers from all around the world Tuesday morning. The market usually opens on the 12th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar after the Spring Festival holiday. However, the opening date was postponed for nearly two weeks this year for coronavirus epidemic prevention. Purchasers and merchants have been assigned QR codes after submitting an online application. Purchasers should scan the codes of the merchants that they visit to record their tracks in the market. These QR codes, along with face recognition technology and high-definition cameras, have been adopted to follow all personnel's tracks in the market. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, applications of 54,679 merchants, employees and purchasers have been authorized online. Catering, accommodation, foreign trade services, logistics, customs clearance, finance and other supporting services will also resume to ensure operations of the market go back to normal. On Tuesday morning, with authorized QR codes and valid identity cards, merchants wearing masks entered the market after passing body temperature tests. Zhang Xiaoai is one of the merchants. "Although online communication has become a main way of our communication with customers, the shops in the market are still important windows for displaying our products," Zhang said. On Tuesday, an estimated 50 percent of merchants returned to business, and the share may rise to 80 percent by the end of this month, according to Zhang Qizhen, deputy general manager of Zhejiang China Commodities City Group. Yiwu is home to the world's leading small commodities market. In 2019, there were more than 1.4 million non-natives and 15,000 overseas businesspeople in Yiwu. PRECISE EPIDEMIC CONTROL Going through the infrared temperature measurement channel with her QR code and passport, Mexican purchaser Veronica felt relieved. "These procedures made me feel safe," she said. Purchaser Handy from Yemen directly went to the crystal decoration area to check out the products. "I have been looking forward to the opening every day, and I came here early in the morning," he said. Because the market closed early but opened late, he had run out of storage. "I'm more anxious than the merchants," he said. Zhang Qizhen also felt relieved when he saw merchants and purchasers entering the market one after another. Thanks to Yiwu's precise epidemic control with smart technologies, the city is well prepared for every aspect of the market opening, said Zhang, deputy general manager of Zhejiang China Commodities City Group. Production and work had been resuming in Yiwu under measures ensuring the prevention and control of the epidemic, said Yiwu's deputy mayor Ge Qiaodi at a press conference Saturday. The market venues opened Tuesday with 16 entrances. Each entrance is equipped with intelligent equipment such as real-time infrared thermometers. The system automatically gives an alarm if someone's body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees Celsius. YIWU IS READY A lot of Yiwu merchants have the habit to make storage in advance, allowing them to take orders and deliver goods before work resumes in factories and in the market. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, major e-commerce business, foreign companies and industrial enterprises had seen at least 80 percent of their businesses returning to operations in Yiwu. On Sunday alone, the number of packages reached 9 million in Yiwu. Even though some fast-delivery employees have not returned yet, the daily average orders in February has already surpassed that of the same period last year. On Feb. 10, trains started transporting goods between Yiwu and countries and regions across Eurasia. In 2019, Yiwu launched 528 China-Europe freight trains carrying over 42,286 standard containers, up 65 percent and 68.7 percent year on year, respectively. In order to contain the epidemic, the Yiwu government has decided to rent 40,000 beds from hotels for those who need quarantine after returning to work. The government will cover their living expenses. The government will also provide three-day free accommodations for people who are willing to find a job or start a business there. INTRODUCTION Till date, more than 20 cell-based therapies have been approved (recent examples include Zynteglo (2019), Alofisel (2018), YESCARTA (2017) and Kymriah (2017)), while over 500 product candidates are under development. New York, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market (3rd Edition), 2020 - 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05492737/?utm_source=GNW In fact, there are over 1,000 active clinical studies of cell therapies, worldwide. Over the last few years, such therapies have garnered significant attention within the biopharmaceutical industry. Several companies and venture capital funds / investors have already invested a lot of capital towards the development and commercialization of this emerging class of therapeutics. Despite the optimism, the growth in this domain is still hindered by various development and manufacturing related challenges, primarily due to the limited availability of expertise and infrastructure to produce cell-based therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapies. The growing number of product development initiatives in this domain, coupled to the fact that there are multiple marketed products, have led to a substantial rise in the overall cell therapy manufacturing demand. As a result, developers have turned to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to fulfil their cell therapy development and production requirements. A wide array of industry players, including well-established companies, mid-sized firms and start-ups, as well as academic institutes, are contributing towards fulfilling the aforementioned demand, offering GMP grade manufacturing services for cell therapies. In addition to cell therapy manufacturing companies, there are several other players that claim to have developed novel technology solutions, aimed at improving the existing cell therapy manufacturing process. Many CMOs are also actively expanding their cell therapy manufacturing capacity either through collaborations or acquisitions, in order to offer a wide range of services to their respective clients. As a result of the ongoing efforts aimed at mitigating the existing challenges in this domain, the cell therapy manufacturing market is expected to witness significant growth in mid-long term. SCOPE OF THE REPORT The Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market (3rd Edition), 2019-2030 features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future opportunities associated with cell therapy manufacturing. It focuses on both contract manufacturers, as well as developers with in-house manufacturing facilities, offering in-depth analyses of the various business entities that are engaged in this domain, across different global regions. Amongst other elements, the report includes: A detailed review of the overall landscape of companies that are engaged in the manufacturing of cell-based therapies, including information on the type of cells manufactured (including immune cells (including T cells, dendritic cells, NK cells), stem cells (including adult stem cells, human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and others), source of cells (autologous and allogeneic), scale of manufacturing, type of cell cultures (adherent and suspension), purpose of production (fulfilling in-house requirements and contract services), manufacturing capabilities / services offered (including R&D, cell culture development, quality testing, packaging, labelling, cell banking, cryopreservation, fill / finish services, and regulatory affairs management), location of headquarters and location of their respective manufacturing facilities. An analysis of the various expansion initiatives undertaken by service providers, in order to augment their respective cell therapy manufacturing capabilities, over the period 2015-2019 (till October), taking into consideration parameters, such as year of expansion, type of cells, scale of operation, purpose of expansion (facility expansion and new facility), location of manufacturing facility, and most active players (in terms of number of expansion initiatives undertaken). An analysis of the recent partnerships focused on the manufacturing of cell-based therapies, which have been established in the period 2014-2019 (till November), based on various relevant parameters, such as the year of agreement, type of partnership, type of cells, and scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial). Informed estimates of the annual commercial and clinical demand for cell therapies (in terms of number of cells produced and area dedicated to manufacturing), which were further analyzed based on type of cells. An estimate of the overall, installed capacity for manufacturing cell-based therapies based on information reported by industry stakeholders in the public domain, highlighting the distribution of the available capacity on the basis of scale of operation (clinical and commercial), size of the organization (small, mid-sized and large firms) and key geographical regions (North America, EU and Asia Pacific). An in-depth analysis of cell therapy manufacturers using three versatile representations, namely [A] a three dimensional grid analysis, presenting the distribution of companies on the basis of type of cells manufactured, scale of operation and purpose of production, [B] a logo landscape based on the type of cells manufactured, geographical location of manufacturer (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific) and type and size of organization (non-industry players, and small, mid-sized and large companies), and [C] a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of cell therapy manufacturing facilities of both industry and non-industry stakeholders. A detailed analysis of the various factors that are likely to influence the pricing of cell-based therapies, featuring different models / approaches that may be adopted by manufacturers while deciding the prices of their proprietary offerings. An elaborate discussion on the role of automation technologies in improving current manufacturing methods, along with a comparative (qualitive) analysis of cost differences between manual and automated processes. A qualitative analysis, highlighting the various factors that need to be taken into consideration by cell therapy developers while deciding whether to manufacture their respective products in-house or engage the services of a CMO. A discussion on cell therapy manufacturing regulations across various geographies, including the North America (focusing on the US), Europe and Asia (focusing on Japan), featuring an analysis of the diverse certifications / accreditations awarded to manufacturing facilities by important regulatory bodies across the globe. Elaborate profiles of key players (industry and non-industry) that offer contract manufacturing services for cell-based therapies; each profile includes an overview of the company / organization, information on its manufacturing facilities, service portfolio details, recent partnerships and an informed future outlook. A discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, which are likely to impact the industrys evolution, under a comprehensive SWOT framework, which includes a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative effect of each SWOT parameter on the overall market dynamics. Insights generated in a market-wide survey, featuring inputs solicited from experts who are directly and indirectly involved in the development and / or manufacturing of cell-based therapies. One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future size of the cell therapy manufacturing market. Based on parameters, such as number of ongoing / planned clinical studies, cell therapy manufacturing costs, target patient population, and anticipated adoption of such products, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and mid to long term, for the period 2019-2030. In addition, to account for the uncertainties associated with the manufacturing of cell-based therapies and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base and optimistic tracks of the markets evolution. The opinions and insights presented in the report were also influenced by discussions held with senior stakeholders in the industry. The study includes detailed transcripts of discussions held with the following individuals: Victor Lietao Li (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lion TCR) Tim Oldham (Chief Executive Officer, Cell Therapies) Gerard MJ Bos (Chief Executive Officer, CiMaas) Wei (William) Cao (Chief Executive Officer, Gracell Biotechnologies) Troels Jordansen (Chief Executive Officer, Glycostem Therapeutics) Arik Hasson (Executive VP Research and Development, Kadimastem) Gilles Devillers (General Manager, Bio Elpida) Arnaud Deladeriere (Manager, Business Development & Operations-cGMP Manufacturing Unit, C3i Center for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy) Brian Dattilo (Manager of Business Development, Waisman Biomanufacturing) Fiona Bellot (Business Development Manager, Roslin CT) Mathilde Girard (Department Leader, Cell Therapy Innovation and Development, Yposkesi) David Mckenna (Professor and American Red Cross Chair in Transfusion Medicine, University of Minnesota) All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The data presented in this report has been gathered via secondary and primary research. For all our projects, we conduct interviews with experts in the area (academia, industry, medical practice and other associations) to solicit their opinions on emerging trends in the market. This is primarily useful for us to draw out our own opinion on how the market will evolve across different regions and technology segments. Where possible, the available data has been checked for accuracy from multiple sources of information. The secondary sources of information include: Annual reports Investor presentations SEC filings Industry databases News releases from company websites Government policy documents Industry analysts views While the focus has been on forecasting the market till 2030, the report also provides our independent view on various emerging trends in the industry. This opinion is solely based on our knowledge, research and understanding of the relevant market, gathered from various secondary and primary sources of information. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 2 is an executive summary of the insights captured in our research. The summary offers a high-level view on the likely evolution of the cell-based therapy manufacturing market in the short to mid-term, and long term. Chapter 3 provides a general introduction to cell-based therapies and ATMPs. It includes a detailed discussion on the manufacturing process of cell-based therapies, and associated challenges and applications of currently available cell therapies. It also provides information on the different manufacturing models (centralized and decentralized) that are being used for the production of cell-based therapies, along with a discussion on their respective advantages and disadvantages. Further, it features details related to the scalability of cell-based therapies. The chapter also includes a brief overview on the role of automation and the need for effective supply chain management for cell-based therapies. Chapter 4 features a detailed list of all the industry, as well as non-industry players that are actively involved in the manufacturing of cell-based therapies. It provides information on the location of their manufacturing facilities, scale of manufacturing, type of cells manufactured (immune cells (such as T cells, dendritic cells, NK cells), stem cells (such as adult stem cells, human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and others), purpose of production (fulfilling in-house requirements / as a contract service provider), source of cells (autologous / allogeneic), manufacturing capabilities / services offered (such as R&D, cell culture development, testing, packaging, labelling, cell banking, cryopreservation, fill/ finish services, regulatory services). Chapter 5 features a detailed discussion on the regulatory landscape related to cell therapies across various geographies, such as the US, Europe and Japan. Further, it presents an analysis of the manufacturing facilities on basis of the certifications awarded (for manufacturing cell-based therapies) to individual sites by various regulatory bodies across the globe. Chapter 6 describes the strategies that are likely to be adopted to accelerate the translation of cell-based therapies from laboratory to clinics. It provides details on roadmaps published by different organizations located across various geographies, specifically in the US. Chapter 7 discusses the role of automation technologies in optimization of current manufacturing practices with the use of closed and single use systems. Further, it features a roadmap that provides information on the steps to develop automation devices, supported by two case studies. It also presents a qualitive analysis on the cost incurred while manufacturing cell-based therapies using manual versus automated manufacturing approaches. In addition, it features a list of organizations that offer automated technologies for manufacturing operations or provide services to therapy developers to automate their production processes. Chapter 8 features detailed profiles of industry players that offer contract manufacturing services for cell therapies at the clinical and / or commercial scales. Each profile provides a brief overview of the company, details on its manufacturing capabilities and facilities, recent partnerships and an informed future outlook. Chapter 9 features profiles of non-industry players that offer contract manufacturing services for cell therapies. Each profile provides a brief overview of the organization, and details on its service portfolio and manufacturing facilities. Chapter 10 discusses the role of non-profit organizations in this domain. It provides a list of organizations that are actively involved in the development and production of cell-based therapies, across different global regions. Further, it includes profiles of organizations that provide financial and / or technological support to cell therapy manufacturers and developers. Additionally, the chapter provides information on various international / national societies that help in disseminating knowledge about the advancement of these therapies to the general community. Chapter 11 features an analysis of the various partnerships and collaborations that have been inked amongst players engaged in this domain, between 2014-2019. It includes a brief description on the various types of partnership models (which include manufacturing agreements, manufacturing process development agreements, licensing agreements, additional services agreements, acquisitions, joint ventures, service alliances and others) that are employed by stakeholders in this market, and an analysis on the trend of partnerships inked since 2014. It also includes analyses based on year of agreement, type of partnership, scale of operation, types of services offered and types of cells manufactured. Further, the chapter features a world map representation of all the deals inked in this field, highlighting those that have been established within and across different continents. Chapter 12 presents detailed analysis on the expansions that have taken place in the cell therapy manufacturing industry, since 2014. It includes information on expansions carried out for increasing existing capabilities, as well as those intended for setting-up of new facilities by manufacturers engaged in this domain. The expansion instances that we came across were analyzed based on various parameters, including year of expansion, type of expansion (capacity expansion and new facility), geographical location of the facility, scale of operation (as mentioned in the expansion terms), type of capability (research and manufacturing), type of cells (CAR-T cells, TCR cells, TIL cells, NK cells, dendritic cells and stem cells). Chapter 13 features a comprehensive analysis of the overall installed capacity of cell-based therapy manufacturers. The analysis is based on meticulous data collection of reported capacities, via both secondary and primary research, of various small, mid-sized and large companies, and non-industry players distributed across their respective facilities. The results of this analysis were used to establish an informed opinion on the cell-based therapy production capabilities of organizations across different types of organization (industry and non-industry), scale of operation (clinical and commercial), geographies (North America, EU, Asia Pacific and the rest of the world) and size of the organization (small, mid-sized and large organizations). Chapter 14 features a detailed analysis of the annual demand for cell therapies (in terms of number of cells produced and area dedicated to manufacturing), considering various relevant parameters, such as target patient population, dosing frequency and dose strength of the approved cell therapies, as well as those therapies that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. The demand analysis has been segmented across different types of cell therapies (including CAR-T cells, TCR cells, TIL cells, NK cells, dendritic cells and stem cells), scales of operation (clinical and commercial) and regions (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific). Chapter 15 highlights our views on the various factors, including manufacturing costs, that may be taken into consideration while pricing cell-based therapies. It features discussions on different pricing models / approaches, which a manufacturer may choose to adopt to decide the price of its proprietary products. Chapter 16 presents a qualitative analysis that highlights the various factors that need to be taken into consideration by cell therapy developers while deciding whether to manufacture their respective products in-house or engage the services of a CMOs. Chapter 17 presents a comprehensive market forecast analysis, highlighting the likely growth of the cell therapy manufacturing market till the year 2030. We have segregated the opportunity by type of cell therapy (T-cell immunotherapies, dendritic cell-based therapies, NK cell therapies, stem cell therapies and other ATMPs), scale of operation (clinical and commercial), source of cells (autologous and allogeneic), purpose of production (in-house and contract services) and geography (North America, EU and Asia Pacific). Chapter 18 presents a collection of key insights derived from the study. It includes a grid analysis, highlighting the distribution of cell-based therapy manufacturers on the basis of type of cells manufactured, scale of production and purpose of manufacturing (fulfilling in-house requirement / contract service provider). In addition, it consists of two logo landscapes, representing the distribution of cell-based therapy manufacturers based on the type of cells manufactured (immune cells and stem cells), geographical regions (North America, EU and Asia Pacific) and the type / size of organization (non-industry, small, mid-sized and large companies). The chapter also comprises of two schematic world map representations to highlight the locations of various cell-based therapy manufacturing facilities across different continents. Chapter 19 provides a discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, under a comprehensive SWOT framework, featuring a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative impact of each SWOT parameter on the overall industry. Chapter 20 summarizes the entire report. It provides the key takeaways and presents our independent opinion of the cell therapy manufacturing market, based on the research and analysis described in the previous chapters. Chapter 21 presents insights from the survey conducted for this study. We invited over 100 stakeholders involved in the development and / or manufacturing of different types of cell therapies. The participants, who were primarily Director / CXO level representatives of their respective companies, helped us develop a deeper understanding on the nature of their services and the associated commercial potential. Chapter 22 is a collection of interview transcripts of the discussions held with key stakeholders in the industry. We have presented details of interviews held with Victor Lietao Li (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lion TCR), Tim Oldham (Chief Executive Officer, Cell Therapies), Gerard MJ Bos (Chief Executive Officer, CiMaas), Wei (William) Cao (Chief Executive Officer, Gracell Biotechnologies), Troels Jordansen (Chief Executive Officer, Glycostem Therapeutics), Arik Hasson (Executive VP Research and Development, Kadimastem), Gilles Devillers (General Manager, Bio Elpida), Arnaud Deladeriere (Manager, Business Development & Operations-cGMP Manufacturing Unit, C3i Center for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy), Brian Dattilo (Manager of Business Development, Waisman Biomanufacturing), Fiona Bellot (Business Development Manager, Roslin CT), Mathilde Girard (Department Leader, Cell Therapy Innovation and Development, Yposkesi) and David Mckenna (Professor and American Red Cross Chair in Transfusion Medicine, University of Minnesota). Chapter 23 is an appendix that contains tabulated data and numbers for all the figures provided in the report. Chapter 24 is an appendix that provides the list of companies and organizations mentioned in the report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05492737/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wawa and 2SP Brewing Company proudly announce its partnership with Coppertail Brewing Company to debut a first-ever craft beer scheduled to hit Wawa stores and local distributors across Florida on Thursday, February 20 with sales starting at 4:00 p.m. As Pennsylvania-based companies, Wawa and 2SP Brewing Company named the beer Snow Bird Reserve, as a nod to local friends and neighbors who migrate South to escape the wintry weather to soak up some sun and can now enjoy a refreshing beverage by Coppertail Brewing Company, one of the regions leading beer experts in the state of Florida something locals can certainly enjoy and be proud of as well! Handcrafted by Bob Barrar, Head Brewer, 2SP Brewing Company, Casey Hughes, Brewmaster, Coppertail Brewing Company and Michael McLaughlin, Wawas Concept Development Manager and World Traveling Coffee Guru, the recipe is a robust porter with sweetness derived from malted barley, intensified by Wawa Winter Reserve Coffee and balance by a hint of vanilla. With recently celebrating Wawas 200th store opening in the state of Florida, were grateful for 2SP Brewing Companys introduction to longtime friends at Coppertail Brewing Company to collaborate on this innovative product that brings excitement to our Florida friends and neighbors, said Mike Sherlock, Chief Product Marketing Officer, Wawa, Inc. Its just one more way for us to Fulfill Lives in our community. When our friends at Wawa spoke about doing a beer for their family in Florida, we immediately knew we wanted to collaborate with Tampa natives, Coppertail. We have known Coppertail's head brewer Casey Hughes for over 15 years and have collaborated with him a few times so we knew we could do something special. Adding Michael McLaughlin, the one and only coffee guru at Wawa into the mix, we created a very approachable Coffee Vanilla Porter. It was a great experience working with our friends and neighbors and we hope Floridians enjoy drinking it as much as we did brewing it. We are honored to partner with Wawa and 2SP for this one-of-a-kind collaboration. To be able to work together with Bob who is both an incredible brewer and a longtime friend has been a blast. We cant wait to premiere Snowbird Reserve to our city and show what we have been working on. Casey Hughes, Brewmaster, Coppertail Brewing Company. For the true beer enthusiasts, a firkin-tapping event will take place on Thursday, February 20, 3:45 p.m. at Wawa located at 3660 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33611, where customers can meet the brewers, get a first taste of the new brew and the first 100 customers can get their hands on the official Brew Tour t-shirt, as supplies last. With limited quantities and availability, customers should visit the official Brew Tour website to confirm which stores receive product and are advised to get to stores as quickly as possible before its too late www.wawa.com/beverages/wawa-beer About Wawa+2SP Brew Tour In November 2019, Wawa and 2SP Brewing Company, announced a multi-state brew tour celebrating the return of Winter Reserve Coffee Stout and two freshly brewed partnerships with Hardywood Brewery in Richmond, VA featuring Coffee Cake Reserve and Coppertail Brewing Company in Tampa, FL now with Snowbird Reserve. About Wawa Reserve Wawa Reserve is a line of small-batch, limited-time only, specialty-grade coffees. The beans used to make these special varieties follow a strict industry classification and are chosen according to overall cup quality, consistency, and the unique characteristics of their country of origin. Each limited-edition coffee is picked at the height of ripeness and roasted to its fullest potential. Since January of 2018, Wawa has offered limited time offers including: Kenya AA, Tanzania, Peru Amazonas, Winter Reserve, Sumatra Gayo Mountain, Guatemala Huehuetenango, and Ethiopia Sidamo. Wawa, Inc. Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and certified process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, Georges grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. A chain of more than 860 convenience retail stores (over 600 offering fuel), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. 2SP Brewing Company 120 Concord Road, Units 101-103, Aston, PA 19014 The 2SP Brewing Companys mission is to bring world-class beers from world-class brewers to the region. Founded by Michael Stigz Stiglitz who hand selected his 2SP dream team, the brewery has a very specific mantra: Pretentious? Never. Passionate? Always. Head Brewer Bob Barrar is a Delaware County native and has won over 30 Great American Beer Fest Medals and 11 World Beer Cups. True to style: that's Delaware County and that's 2SP. In 2015 Bob Barrar, one of the most awarded brewers in the country, got together with a few unemployables and opened a brewery in Delco. Their goal was to get Bob's beers into the hands and lips of drinkers across the region. Now in their fourth year, they have been able to keep the lights on and get 2SP onto tap-lines and beer shelves across Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and...Japan! Coppertail Brewing Co. 2601 E. 2nd Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33605 Coppertail was the dream of Kent Bailey, who was a homebrewer and unhappy attorney practicing business law in Tampa. He wanted to make a career change and felt he could be successful brewing beer in larger quantities than he could in his kitchen. He knew he needed the help of a professional brewer. In 2013, while in an online beer brewers chat room, he met Brewmaster Casey Hughes. He invited Casey and his newly-wed wife to meet him in Tampa. They shook hands after their first meeting and a partnership was born. Kent acquired access to Coppertails site at the corner of 2nd St. and Adamo drive in 2013. The original building was built in 1908 as a Hellmans Mayonnaise factory. It was used for production by the Sevilla Olive company in 1920, as a refrigeration repair shop and other uses over time. Coppertail Brewing Co. was named after an imaginary sea monster who lives in Tampa Bay. The creature was the vision of Kent Baileys daughter, Sofia, when she was age 5. CONTACT: public.relations@wawa.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/283427ea-cece-4e56-aa96-704e359c0104 The results of the forensic medicine expert examination of the death of compulsory fixed-term serviceman Artur Ajamyan, who died at a military post of a military unit on December 2, 2019, are in, and according to the attorney of Ajamyans legal successor, the version of suicide of the serviceman is refuted, as reported Haiarpi Sargsyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. The forensic medicine conclusion showed injuries on the body. Whereas there used to be a version that they could have been marks on the corpse, now violence has been confirmed. According to the forensic doctor, there is rough bleeding on the forehead, and he had been struck with a blunt instrument minutes before his death. This means that violence was used before the firearm injury. According to the attorney, this refutes the version of suicide. The expert examination also made it clear that Ajamyan had received the gunshot at a distance of 0.3-0.5 cm, meaning there was no fulcrum, suicide is strongly refuted. A criminal case has been instituted under particular articles of the Criminal Code of Armenia (attempt of murder of two or more persons) in relation to the incident during which compulsory fixed-term serviceman Artur Ajamyan received a lethal firearm injury and compulsory fixed-term serviceman Davit Melikbekyan received firearm injuries at the military post of the maintenance station of N military unit of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) on December 2, 2019 at around 6:50 a.m. Preliminary investigation is underway. SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2020 ratings naming the best SEO companies in Philadelphia. SEOblog analysts determined the 19 best SEO companies in Philadelphia based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each digital marketing agencys website, industry experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship among other factors in its ranking system. SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offering added by SEOblog in 2019. Philadelphia has several of the nations top SEO agencies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape. SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 1,500 agency listings with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply. SEOblog.coms 19 Best SEO Companies in Philadelphia in 2020: 1Digital Agency, Momentum Digital, Seer Interactive, Brolik, Majux Marketing, DMi Partners, IntuitSolutions, SEO Digital Group, From the Future, Total Web Company, WebFX, Silverback Strategies, Vici Media, FourFront, BrainDo, Leadnomics, MEE Productions, Mindgrub and SEO Brand. Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/philadelphia/ About SEOblog.com SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States. SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends. SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States. The website will be increasing its coverage of agencies in North America and accepting more guest posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese community representatives here showed their support for China's battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) on Sunday night by holding a donation and a public health lecture on how to stay healthy during the epidemic. John Kennedy, former vice mayor and a current councilman of Pasadena City, lauded the Chinese government's efforts to fight against the COVID-19 at the high-profile fundraising gala, which is also 28th annual gala of the Beijing Association USA, a local Chinese American group founded in 1992. "This virus is not so easily contained, but the People's Republic of China is working diligently internally and with governments around the world to help protect not just the Chinese people but everyone around the world. I think China has done a good job with their quarantine operations," Kennedy said. He said that the quarantine will have a negative impact on China's economy, while expressing the hope that the United States would have the empathy to do all that it can do to help China during the crisis, so the Chinese people can "live and fulfill their biggest potential in business, education and commerce, and support their young people." Pasadena City, 18 km northeast of downtown Los Angeles, is one of the primary cultural centers of the San Gabriel Valley, where eight of the 10 cities in the United States with the largest proportion of Chinese Americans are located. Dr. Zhang ZuoFeng, dean of the UCLA's School of Public Health, was invited to the gala to present accurate and up-to-date information on the COVID-19. "An old Chinese saying is that the very best doctors treat patients early before they have a disease," Zhang told Xinhua. "Now, the Chinese government's measures, especially the quarantine, has really reduced the risk of spreading the COVID-19 from Wuhan to the Unites States and globally," he said, adding "It's still a very early phase, so we don't know everything yet about this disease, but the case mortality rate at about 2.2 percent -- much lower than SARS and MERS." U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu attended the event to show support for the Chinese community and make sure that they are not being unfairly isolated by other people fearful of infection. "The message we give to people is it's so important for us to continue to live our (normal) lives... eat at restaurants, shop at grocery store," said Chu, who was elected from the 27th Congressional district, an area with a high population of Chinese immigrants. "Be calm and work together," she said. In tonight's edition: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads to Ethiopia from Angola on his tour of the continent. It's the first from a Washington cabinet official in 18 months. Also, the last South African president to lead under apartheid has apologised for saying that white minority rule was not a crime against humanity. And we head to Salt River in Cape Town, where the annual Public Arts Festival is bringing more art into the community. Flapper dresses and fedoras brought Saturdays second annual Sweetheart Soiree to life. The event, organized for seniors in the Cibolo, Schertz and Selma area, had a theme of The Roaring 20s. Fashion of that era was all the rage at the afternoon event held at Noble Group Events Center in Cibolo. Newsboys hats, fedoras, dapper suits and lacey evening gowns, all were in vogue among the hundred or so attendees and volunteers on hand. Kimberley Gray, Kara Latimer and Becki Boyle were among the 20s flappers on hand. Sue Boissonneault sported a gold crown, similar to one handed to her Sweetheart Soiree co-sponsor Katie Cunningham. We give them a free day. Theres music, food, dancing, there are gift prizes, there are vendors, each attendee gets a free photo, Boissonneault said. And we do it all with people who donate. The food, desserts, gifts and raffles; we do it all for them. Cibolo City Councilman Mark Allen stood on stage, calling out raffle ticket numbers. Attendees popped up to claim their prizes. Pizza and wings disappeared from the plates brought to the seniors by celebrity waiters. Sheriffs, county commissioners, mayors, judges, city council members, all were on hand to either serve food or sit and enjoy the senior company. Cibolo residents David and Kate Howell reigned as Soiree King and Queen, the first time a royal couple has been elected for the soiree. We have over 90 people here today, enjoying themselves, Boissonneault said. The community has responded in an awesome way. Cibolo Mayor Stosh Boyle, dressed in black vest and a hat right out of The Great Gatsby, applauded the turnout and the work done by tireless volunteers who he said he cant thank enough. Todays one of the reasons why you serve, said Boyle, who was not the only mayor in attendance, He was joined by Schertz Mayor Ralph Gutierrez and his wife, Raquel. Its not just Cibolo businesses and volunteers, its area volunteers as well, Boyle said. These small victories that bring a smile to these peoples faces, thats what its all about. One of those with a smile on her face was Martha Stahl, a Schertz resident who said she almost forgot the event until she received calls from a few friends. This was Stahls first time attending. When asked what she was expecting, she said, Exactly what I got pandemonium. Good food, good fellowship, it was all wonderful. Stahl hit the dance floor, leading a few dances even after the 1-4 p.m. event had officially drawn to a close. Thats what I do, practically in my sleep, she said. Larell Choice is a South Carolina resident who has spent the last two months in Cibolo with family members. I like the camaraderie, the service, and the high school teenagers who were out there dancing with us. Its just so much fun, being here, she said. Boissonneault said more than 90 gift prizes were collected and handed out, from beauty products to oil changes to dinners, massages and bottles of wine. Boyle said the event has blossomed in just its second year. Theres support from everywhere the police department, the fire department, folks from everywhere, he said, adding, Just to know that every program like this that weve put together in the last 2 years has just grown, in prominence and participation, its a great feeling. jflinn@express-news.net OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Soft-Lite has entered into a strategic partnership with AmeriFirst Home Improvement Finance, LLC to produce a mobile financing solution specifically for their dealers with the kind of offers that will differentiate them as well as satisfy the needs of many more customers. Mike Fredricks, SVP of AmeriFirst, stated, "We couldn't be more thrilled that our friends at Soft-Lite chose us to assist them with this program. Working with them on creating the Soft-Lite Finance app has been a complete joy and we are looking forward to a long and successful partnership supporting the Soft-Lite sales team." The Soft-Lite mobile app will provide Soft-Lite's dealers with a paperless process, instant decisioning, eSignature capabilities and a suite of programs at their disposal. With 180-month terms, zero merchant fee programs, APR's as low as 6.99% and staged funding available, Soft-Lite Finance is poised to be one of the best choices their dealers can make to increase sales. "Soft-Lite Financing powered by AmeriFirst is a unique financing program that is designed specifically for home improvement professionals.", says Tyson Schwartz, SVP of Soft-Lite. "The Soft-Lite Financing App will allow our customers to close more deals and be very consumer-centric. We are excited to partner with AmeriFirst and give our customers a unique and powerful in-home closing tool and enjoyable in-home experience." According to Tom Overs, VP Dealer Sales with Harvey Building Products, the Parent Company of Soft-Lite, "AmeriFirst provides a menu of financing options at competitive rates to provide dealers' customers solutions to finalize their purchasing decision. AmeriFirst is easy to do business with their App and back-office team who make financing happen seamlessly. The launching of Soft-Lite Finance is just the first step in their 2020 strategy for success and it provides their dealers with an excellent tool for them to be even more successful now and in the future. For Soft-Lite dealers looking to sign up for the Soft-Lite Financing program, please click on the link below and fill out the dealer application. https://softlite.trustamerifirst.com/signup/ The Soft-Lite Financing MOBILE APP is available for iOS and Android; Smart Phone and Tablets. To ADD the APP to your HOME SCREEN: APPLE / iOS Operating Systems 1. Open your browser on your mobile deviceGo to https://softlite.trustamerifirst.com 2. At the bottom of the LOGIN page, tap the share icon. 3. Scroll up until you see "Add to Home Screen" then tap it 4. You will be directed to the ADD TO HOME SCREEN page. Click "Add" in the upper right corner 5. Your new Soft-Lite Financing App will now appear as on your home screen. Android Operating Systems 1. Open your browser on your mobile deviceGo to https://softlite.trustamerifirst.com 2. Tap the download icon in the top URL section 3. You will see "Install this website as a web app on your Apps screen?" 4. Tap "Install" 5. Your new Soft-Lite Financing app will now appear as on your home screen. Soft-Lite Windows (www.soft-lite.com) is a Streetsboro, OH company and a manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows and patio doors that are expertly designed and skillfully manufactured to provide you with cost-saving energy efficiency, exceptional safety and security, greater comfort and remarkable beauty. Soft-Lite Windows is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvey Building Products. (www.harveybp.com) AmeriFirst Home Improvement Finance, LLC (www.trustamerifirst.com) is an Omaha, Nebraska-based consumer loan origination and servicing platform and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAF Holdings, LLC (www.safholdingsllc.com), a Reno, Nevada-based holding company which also completes portfolio acquisitions of consumer loans through its Summit Consumer Receivables Acquisitions, LLC (www.scrafinance.com) subsidiary. For more information contact [email protected]. Media contact: Mike Fredricks [email protected] 847-652-0471 SOURCE AmeriFirst Home Improvement Finance, LLC Related Links http://www.trustamerifirst.com Political strategist Prashant Kishor opened up about the reason for his exit from the Janata Dal (United), and said that party boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is being badly treated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Nitish ji always treated me like his son, and he was like father to me. So whatever decisions he has taken, I am fine with those. He inducted me in the party, and expelled me - but I dont hold any grudges against him, Kishor said in Patna on Tuesday. He acknowledged that there were difference between him and the Bihar Chief Minister, but those were ideological in nature. Watch | Respect Nitish Kumars decision: Prashant Kishor on being expelled from JDU All this started around Lok Sabha polls, and it was about ideological positioning. Nitish ji always said he cannot leave Gandhi, JP and Lohia. When you are propagating Gandhis ideology, how can you stand with those who praise Godse? said Kishor. He also said that the BJP doesnt respect Nitish Kumar. I have seen Nitish Kumar in 2014 - he commanded respect then. But now, a Gujarat leader announces that he will be the face our NDA in Bihar. I dont think this is right. He is not a manager that other leaders have to tell him what he has to do, said Kishor. He referred to Home Minister Amit Shah who had announced in October last year that Bihar Assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Further elaborating, the former vice president of JD(U) said that Nitish Kumar once told him that compromises need to be made in politics. But have those compromises led to Bihars progress? said Kishor. Kishor was expelled from JD(U) by Kumar last month for his stand against the amended citizenship law (CAA). Kishor and former Rajya Sabha member Pavan K Varma, once the closest aides of Kumar, attacked the CAA that enables the government to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-majority countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Kishor had said that he will continue to be politically involved in his home state of Bihar. Kishor played a key role the in brokering an alliance between Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and JD(U) for the assembly polls and defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar in 2015, when the Modi wave was at its peak. After the results, he had said he wanted to focus on Bihar and remain in the state for the next 10 to15 years. Indian Political Action Committee, the election strategy firm set up by Prashant Kishor, was roped in by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party for the campaign in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections. The AAP won a thumping majority by winning 62 of the 70 assembly seats in the February 8 Delhi elections. S imon Cowell is so worried about the threat of coronavirus that he and his son Eric will wear surgical masks on an upcoming holiday. The X Factor star, 60, admitted that he is terrified about the illness and will 100 per cent make six-year-old Eric cover up with a protective mask when they travel to Paris. I am terrified about it, he told talkRADIO yesterday, adding: I have worn masks for ages. When I cycle around town, I wear a mask. But I am taking Eric to Disneyland Paris next weekend and Im almost certain that when were on the train we will be 100 per cent be wearing masks. Prepared: Cowell will also bring hand sanitiser on his trip / Getty Images He said that he will also be armed with loads of hand sanitiser on the trip and revealed that he wouldnt want to be on a cruise ship right now, in reference to the Princess Diamond cruise ship docked in Japan. More than 450 passengers on board have so far tested positive for the virus, including British tourists David and Sally Abel. The Foreign Office has confirmed in a statement that it is working to organise a flight home for British nationals on the ship. Those people stuck on that cruise ship, why they havent taken them off and put them in a proper hospital is unbelievable, Cowell said. Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined 1 /32 Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP Global interest: David Abel, who is on board Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, has been posting updates on social media David Abel Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), officials of the DFA-Philippines in Tokyo with Department of Health team wear protective suits as they prepare for the disembarkation of Filipino crew members on board the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama Port AP A man in a proctective clothing is seen on the sixth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads "shortage of medicine" on the cruise ship Diamond Princess Reuters Passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port are pictured in Yokohama REUTERS/Kyodo Japan David Abel of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan. PA David Abel being treated David Abel Workers in protective clothes stand before passengers disembarkating off the Diamond Princess AFP via Getty Images Quarantine operation on the eighth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA The Diamond Princess cruise ship, in quarantine due to fears of new COVID-19 coronavirus, is seen at Daikoku pier cruise terminal in Yokohama AFP via Getty Images Sally Abel being treated David Abel/Facebook Men wearing protective gear are seen near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Reuters The Diamond Princess cruise ship with around 3,700 people on board sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama after a number of passengers were confirmed to be infected with coronavirus Getty Images An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger tested positive for a new coronavirus from the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Buses carrying passengers who have been under quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off the coast of Japan, the Diamond Princess, leave RAF Boscombe Down in Amesbury Reuters An empty casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Workers in protective gear are seen on the Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images An empty atrium on the Diamond Princess cruise shi PA Workers in protective gear transfer a person under a blue sheet from the Diamond Princess cruise ship onto a Japan Coast Guard boat in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP I have seen movies about this kind of stuff before and you know, with so many people travelling around the world it was always going to happen one day, he continued. Were seeing it right in front of our eyes now. It does worry me. The pneumonia-like strain of coronavirus, which has since been named Covid-19, was first detected in China at the end of 2019. The World Health Organisation then declared a Public Health Emergency in January. The number of people infected globally currently stands at over 72,000, according to Chinas National Health Commission. 1,868 people have died of the illness in mainland China. Nine people in the UK have so far been treated for the virus, eight of whom have since been discharged from hospital after twice testing negative. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 19) A lawyers group said that detained Retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. is unduly enjoying special treatment inside the New Bilibid Prison even after he was convicted for the disappearance of two student activists in 2006. The National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) said that the former military man keeps on making a mockery of the law and judicial system despite being sentenced to 40-year jail time for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of two students of the University of the Philippines. In a motion submitted to the RTC of Malolos City, Branch 15, where Palparan is being tried in another case of kidnapping involving farmer Raymond Manalo, the NUPL asked that the special privileges he is unduly enjoying be terminated once and for all, said NUPL in a statement. NUPL is an association of human rights lawyers and law students, which offers legal services to marginalized clients such as farmers, workers, urban poor, youth, students, children, women, and migrants. The group's Secretary General Atty. Edre Olalia represented the families of the victims. The group claimed that Palparan has also been overstaying at the Directorate for Reception and Diagnostics (DRD) of the national penitentiary, wherein inmates only stay for no more than 60 days. At the DRD, Palparan has been acting as governor or mayor de mayores to about 1,500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), said NUPL. NUPL also said that he has unbridled access to the computer and the internet. By these acts, Palparan, with the help of his coddlers in government not only brings the courts into disrepute, he also continues to frustrate the attainment of justice for his victims and affront the fundamental principle of civilian supremacy over the military. CNN Philippines is trying to get the response of the Bureau of Corrections regarding this issue. TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GoTo, a multimodal shared mobility service, present in 13 cities in 3 countries with over 1.7mn rides in 2019, is adding to its Maltese fleet of 200 cars an addition of 300 electric scooters as it focuses on providing an end-to-end shared mobility service able to become an alternative to private car ownership. Introduced to Malta in 2018, over 200,000 trips and 1.8 kilometers were covered using the GoTo cars. The GoTo team expects similar enthusiasm for its scooters. Gil Laser, CEO GoTo Global, said: "We are excited to see our vision for an ultimate multimodal mobility experience coming to life with the launch of our scooter fleet in Malta. We will keep adding more mobility modes in Malta and other countries striving to reduce dependency on privately-owned cars." Scooters are smaller, lighter, more traffic-friendly and easier to park vehicles, which makes them particularly handy for shorter trips. During the closed pilot, GoTo witnessed a large number of trips that were proportionally shorter to what the company was used to with its One-Way and Round-Trip carsharing services, especially in more congested urban areas. CEO of GoTo Malta, Gordon Bugeja, said: "This reinforces our belief that we'll be serving our customers even better by adding different solutions targeting multiple forms of transportation needs via a single platform enabling seamless multimodal mobility experience." The company believes that in the long run shared mobility solutions will continue to rise, as they bring a more sustainable solution for people to move around, while reducing transportation expenses, traffic levels and resource waste since private cars tend to stay parked over 80% of the time. About GoTo Global GoTo Global is a multimodal vehicle sharing service provider with a mission to reduce the number of privately-owned vehicles in cities. We do so by offering people multiple ways of traveling from point A to point B including shared cars, mopeds, bicycles and kick-scooters. We cover all the personal mobility needs with one membership and one app. We have our own proprietary technology and operate globally. Headquartered in Israel, the company currently has presence in three countries and 13 cities and continues its expansion in Europe. https://www.goto.global | LinkedIn Press contact: Liliya Miringof Head of Global Marketing [email protected] SOURCE GoTo Mobility Related Links https://goto.global Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 : Leader of opposition in Kerala Ramesh Chennithala here on Tuesday alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had outsourced the job of monitoring traffic violations and collection of penalty to a private company at the cost of Rs 180 crore. According to Chennithala, the government had signed a deal with Meditronix under which the company will install 480 cameras on roads to catch traffic violators and the police will help it collect penalties. "A committee, led by top police officers, decided to allow the private company to collect traffic fines. It's the first time in the country that collection of penalty for traffic offences is being handed over to the private sector. "Had it not been for the CAG revelations last week, the state police chief would have inked the contract and handed it over to a private company," said Chennithala. The deal has been offered through a tendering process where two state public sector undertakings -- Keltron and SIDCO -- participated. "While SIDCO had quoted a 60:40 share (60 per cent of the collected fine to go to SIDCO and 40 per cent to the state government), Meditronix was given the contract even though it will transfer only 10 per cent to the government. It's being suspected that Galaxon, the company 'caught' in the CAG audit, is behind this contract," Chennithala said. The Congress leader said the Chief Minister was keeping mum on this as well as other corrupt deals. "Vijayan, an accused in the SNC Lavalin case, had maintained stoic silence then and is keeping mum now as a new scam has hit the police department, which is headed by Vijayan," said Chennithala. Demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into it, he said Galaxon must be kicked out of the state police headquarters. Kerala Congress chief Mullapally Ramachandran said the party would stage protests on March 7 at all police stations, demanding CBI probe into the CAG revelations. The CAG report for 2013-18, tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday, pointed to missing guns and cartridges, misuse and diversion of funds and blamed state police chief Loknath Behra for it. It also pointed to alleged collusion between Keltron, a state public sector company, and the police in purchases made by the latter. The United States will provide financial assistance to Ethiopia as it pursues political reforms, the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Tuesday during a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "An agreement has been reached regarding the strengthening of the holistic and ongoing reform in Ethiopia to which the United States Government plans to provide substantial financial support," the statement said. Neither Pompeo nor Abiy provided further details. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has long been an ally of the United States, which supplies about $1 billion in aid annually. Pompeo praised political reforms Abiy has spearheaded ahead of Ethiopia's upcoming elections. Ethiopians are due vote on Aug. 29 in a balllot Abiy has promised will be free and fair in a bold break from decades of repression. "A free and credible vote will show that there is no false choice between democracy and security and it will ensure that everyone has a choice," Pompeo told reporters. Abiy took power in 2018 following years of anti-government protests. He freed thousands of political prisoners, won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending a long-running conflict with neighbouring Eritrea, and put prominent dissidents and human rights activists in positions of power. "These aren't reforms imposed by somebody on the outside. These were reforms that came from Ethiopian people," Pompeo said. A senior US State Department official told pool reporters said Abiy appeared committed to holding elections on time, although he said Ethiopian security agencies - long used to suppressing political opposition - might need some more training on respecting human rights. Abiy's reforms, while applauded abroad, have also unleashed simmering ethnic and political tensions at home as regional powerbrokers jockey for position. More than 2 million of Ethiopia's 109 million citizens have been displaced, according to the United Nations. "The most important challenge for us is security," Ethiopia's foreign minister Gedu Andargachew told reporters. "Most of our youth have no job... this situation is difficult to maintain peace and order." Abiy has also overseen economic reforms, promising to open its bureaucratic, state-run economy to foreign investment and liberalise the telecoms and banking sectors. Ethiopia struggles with foreign exchange shortages that inhibit investment. Gedu also said there had been "progress" in a dispute that the US Treasury has been trying to mediate between Ethiopia and Egypt over Ethiopia's giant Blue Nile hydropower dam. Pompeo is on a tour that has already taken him to Germany, Senegal and Angola. His visit comes as some African governments are questioning US President Donald Trump's commitment to their continent. Search Keywords: Short link: Describing the budget presented by the Uttar Pradesh government as "directionless" and a "betrayal" of all sections of people, opposition parties on Tuesday said it offered nothing concrete and failed to explain how the state will become a trillion dollar economy. While the Congress alleged that the budget has nothing for farmers, youth and women, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) said it was the same as last year's. The Uttar Pradesh government presented a Rs 5,12,860.72 crore budget for FY 2020-21, which also includes Rs 500-crore allocation for constructing an airport in Ayodhya. The budget, the size of which is Rs 33,159 crore more than last year's, has provisions for new schemes worth Rs 10,967.87 crore. "The government is betraying all sections (of people), be it youth, farmers or women. The BJP says that it wants to make the state a trillion dollar economy but it is not telling from where the investment will come," Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav told reporters, adding that in future, people will "betray" the government (in polls). "MoUs were inked and groundbreaking ceremonies held. The government should tell how much incentive it has given to the industry and which banks have signed the agreements," he said. Yadav said unlike the previous SP-led state government, the BJP government has proved to be a "failure". "Do something which they (people) can remember when you are not in power. Previous UP government was known for expressway, metro, laptops, but now the perception has changed. With government-sponsored deaths, including custodial deaths and shooting protestors, the BJP government is a failure," he said. On Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath describing the budget as "historic", Yadav said, "It is nothing but historic 'jumlebaazi' of the BJP." BSP chief Mayawati said the budget is a result of the BJP's lack of willpower to address issues of public welfare. "The budget presented by the state government is a farce. With this budget, welfare of 22 crore people of the state cannot be done. The budget is same as the previous one," she said. "The promises and claims made in the budget appear hollow and are only on paper. Like the Centre, why does the UP BJP government make promises and claims that people find far from the ground realities and cannot trust," she said. Terming the budget "directionless", Congress state president Ajay Kumar Lallu said it is only "jugglery of figures" and offers nothing concrete. "There is very little provision for women's security. The budget has nothing for youths, farmers, women and poor," he said. This is the fourth budget of the Adityanath government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday (February 17) defended Rahul Gandhi's act of tearing a copy of an ordinance in 2013 when Manmohan Singh was prime minister, saying that the former Congress president can think of disrespecting Manmohan Singh. Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rahul Gandhi's decision to tear the ordinance brought by the Congress-led UPA government to allow those convicted in criminal cases to contest elections should be seen as a courageous step. Surjewala made the statements shortly after former Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said after the Gandhi scion tore the ordinance, Manmohan Singh had asked him whether he should step down as prime minister. "I do not know what was discussed between the two people. But, Rahul Gandhi has considered Dr Manmohan Singh as his guru and guide, neither Rahul Gandhi nor the Congress party can even think of disrespecting him," Surjewala said. "The issue is not tearing the paper but the issue is of clean politics and whether criminals should remain in politics," he added. It is to be noted that Singh was on a visit to the US when Rahul Gandhi had torn apart a copy of the ordinance, terming it as "complete nonsense". Rahul had publicly said that it should be "torn up and thrown away". "I was part of the PM's delegation in New York and my brother Sanjeev, who had retired from the IAS, telephoned to say he had written a piece that was very critical of the PM. He had emailed it to me and said he hoped I didn't find it embarrassing," Ahluwalia was quoted as saying by PTI. Could British American Tobacco p.l.c. (LON:BATS) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments. A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for British American Tobacco. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. Some simple analysis can offer a lot of insights when buying a company for its dividend, and we'll go through this below. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on British American Tobacco! LSE:BATS Historical Dividend Yield, February 18th 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. In the last year, British American Tobacco paid out 74% of its profit as dividends. This is a fairly normal payout ratio among most businesses. It allows a higher dividend to be paid to shareholders, but does limit the capital retained in the business - which could be good or bad. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. British American Tobacco paid out a conservative 45% of its free cash flow as dividends last year. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Is British American Tobacco's Balance Sheet Risky? As British American Tobacco has a meaningful amount of debt, we need to check its balance sheet to see if the company might have debt risks. A quick check of its financial situation can be done with two ratios: net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). British American Tobacco is carrying net debt of 4.29 times its EBITDA, which is getting towards the upper limit of our comfort range on a dividend stock that the investor hopes will endure a wide range of economic circumstances. Story continues We calculated its interest cover by measuring its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), and dividing this by the company's net interest expense. British American Tobacco has EBIT of 6.35 times its interest expense, which we think is adequate. We update our data on British American Tobacco every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here. Dividend Volatility From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. British American Tobacco has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been cut on at least one occasion historically. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was UK0.84 in 2010, compared to UK2.03 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.3% a year over that time. British American Tobacco's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 9.3% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. A reasonable rate of dividend growth is good to see, but we're wary that the dividend history is not as solid as we'd like, having been cut at least once. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? British American Tobacco has grown its earnings per share at 5.6% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share are growing at an acceptable rate, although the company is paying out more than half of its profits, which we think could constrain its ability to reinvest in its business. Conclusion Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. First, we think British American Tobacco has an acceptable payout ratio and its dividend is well covered by cashflow. Second, earnings growth has been ordinary, and its history of dividend payments is chequered - having cut its dividend at least once in the past. Ultimately, British American Tobacco comes up short on our dividend analysis. It's not that we think it is a bad company - just that there are likely more appealing dividend prospects out there on this analysis. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 20 British American Tobacco analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. 154 eminent citizens backs CAA, NPR & NRC; writes to Prez New Delhi, Feb 17 (UNI) Backing CAA, NPR and NRC, 154 eminent citizens, including former judges, bureaucrats, armed forces officers and academicians, on Monday wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind asking the Centre to look into the prevailing protests in the country against the CAA with gravity and take strict action against those behind these protests. The citizens, comprising of 11 former judges of different high courts, 24 retired IAS officers, 11 former Indian Foreign Service officers,16 retired IPS and 18 former Lieutenant Generals, said a "false and motivated" campaign is being started against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).'' "This (protests) has grave security implications and does not bode well for our motherland. Internationally recognised govt pulls out of UN-brokered talks in Geneva after Haftars forces hit port in the capital. Libyas internationally recognised government has said it is suspending its participation in ceasefire negotiations hosted by the United Nations in Geneva, hours after an attack by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftars forces on the capitals port. In a statement late on Tuesday, the presidential council of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said it would respond firmly to the attack at the appropriate time. Earlier in the day, representatives of the GNA and Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched a military offensive in April last year to seize Tripoli, had resumed indirect talks aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire. Footage shared online showed thick black smoke rising from the port, a major gateway for food, fuel, wheat and other imports. State oil firm National Oil Corporation (NOC) said it had urgently evacuated all fuel tankers from the facility after a missile struck metres away from a highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker discharging in the port. Todays attack on Tripoli port could have led to a humanitarian and environmental disaster, NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said. The city does not have operational fuel storage facilities the consequences will be immediate; hospitals, schools, power stations and other vital services will be disrupted, he said. The attack happened as five military representatives from the GNA and another five from the LNA gathered in Geneva, more than a week after they ended their first round of negotiations without striking a deal that would help end the fighting in Tripoli. In the previous round of talks, the UN mission said there was broad consensus between the two sides on the urgency for Libyans to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, and to stop the flow of non-Libyan fighters and send them out of the country. Oil-rich Libya has been splintered between competing factions and militias since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed during a NATO-supported uprising in 2011. It is currently split between two rival administrations the Tripoli-based GNA and another allied with Haftar in the eastern city of Tobruk that controls key oil fields and export terminals. Each administration is backed by an array of foreign countries. Earlier in the day Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Libya mission, had called the port attack a big breach of the fragile and repeatedly violated ceasefire that was brokered by Russia and Turkey on January 12 as part of efforts to de-escalate the battle for the capital. It may seem that we dont see Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles as much as we do other royals, like Prince William and Kate Middleton. However, Charles is an important part of the monarchy, and he has quite a full schedule. Queen Elizabeth herself rarely travels too far outside of London, so when duties must be carried out in other locations, it is up to her family members to attend. It is pretty safe to say that when royal family members hop on a plane to go somewhere, they do so in a way that the rest of us cant even begin to imagine. So, exactly how much money do Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles spend on travel? Their recent royal tour of New Zealand Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Royal fans know that the family members, especially Prince Charles, have jetted off to some pretty spectacular locations. His role as a royal has taken him around the world as he meets with world leaders and other important figures to discuss relationships with Great Britain and other important issues. So, where did Charles and Camilla go on one of their most recent royal tours? It turns out that they went to New Zealand, Town & Country reports. While there, the couple interacted with locals, and Charles spoke about issues such as the environment and conservation. Where else have Charles and Camilla traveled to? New Zealand definitely was not Charles and Camillas first trip, and it wont be their last. Over the years, they have taken quite a few lavish trips to places that most of us have only dreamt of. It was not so long ago that they headed off to Cuba, the first time any of the royals have done so as part of their official duties. There is no doubt that they had the time of their lives, and it was even reported that Prince Charles and Camilla enjoyed a British Classic Car event while in Havana, and even drove around in a black convertible. While in the Caribbean a few years ago, Charles and Camilla made sure to set aside some time for fun, which couldnt have been easy considering as to how they carried out 50 engagements during their time there. What a fun, yet jam-packed schedule. How much do Prince Charles and Camilla Parker spend on travel? All of this traveling gets pretty costly! So, how much do Prince Charles and his wife Camilla actually spend on traveling? According to Travel + Leisure, the future monarch and queen consort actually spend the most out of any of the royals. In 2017, the family as a whole racked up a bill of over $6 million dollars for their travels. The most expensive trip that year was, of course, Charles and Camilla, whose visit to Italy, Austria, and Romania in the time span of just over a week cost well over $200,000. Their visit to the Caribbean cost more than twice that, proving that Charles and Camilla spare no expense when it comes to traveling. So, why is it so expensive? Well, they stay at lavish hotels, wear designer outfits for appearances, have a hair and makeup crew, and of course, a huge security team. Lets not forget the small, chartered flights to various places, and it adds up to quite a large sum of money. A member of the Communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Eric Adjei, has urged the ruling NPP government and the Ministry of Health to do all it can to evacuate Ghanaian students in Wuhan, China. Ghanaian students in China have called on government to evacuate them following the outbreak of coronavirus. North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a post on his facebook page, backed calls for the students to be evacuated. According to him, May it never be said of us that we have become the country renowned for waging expensive campaigns to attract largely rich and famous Africans in the diaspora through the Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiatives and yet cannot spend a fraction of that to evacuate our stranded compatriots in China. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MoH) says Ghanaians living and studying in China are safe from the deadly Coronavirus and would be evacuated when it becomes necessary. Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Eric Adei asked the government and the MoH to stop the excuses and bring the students home. "Use our taxpayer's money to bring them home, what are we waiting for. I believe if the government is willing, they will be able to do the preparations here in Ghana and bring them home. They are Ghanaians so I will urge President Akufo-Addo and the Ministry of Health to use our money to bring them home. They can even use the money from the excavators to bring them home," he intimated. Watch his submission in the video below Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Alok Sharma, who was last week elevated to the cabinet role of Business secretary in the Boris Johnson government, has been appointed president of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. Agra-born Sharma, 52, is among four Indian-origin ministers at Johnsons cabinet table; others being chancellor Rishi Sunak, home secretary Priti Patel and attorney-general Suella Braverman (nee Fernandes). Official sources said on Tuesday that as the former International Development secretary, Sharmas experience in diplomacy will be key in driving ambitious climate action from countries attending the 26th United Nations Climate Conference in November. Sharma began his new role on Monday with a meeting with UN deputy secretary general Amina Mohammed, where they committed to working closely together towards a successful, globally ambitious summit in Glasgow. Sharma said: It is a great honour to take on the role of COP26 President. I have started working with my new team ahead of the summit in Glasgow this November, where we aim to speed up the global journey to net zero carbon. We will be building on efforts to urge all countries to bring forward ambitious plans to curb their emissions ahead of the event itself. It is vital everyone comes together to deliver the change needed to tackle climate change and protect our planet. COP26 is expected to be the largest summit the UK has ever hosted, with over 30,000 delegates, including world leaders, experts, campaigners and government officials. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A study has concluded that beavers can bring 'measurable benefits' to people and wildlife despite concern from farmers over their possible impact on productivity. The five-year trial looked into the impact of beavers on the English countryside as the government contemplates reintroducing them. Beavers became extinct in the United Kingdom during the 16th century due to hunting for their fur, meat and scentglands. Scientists studied the mammals since 2015 as part of the River Otter Beaver Trial, located in East Devon. The Science and Evidence Report, published this week, is based on research undertaken by the University of Exeter team. Their report concludes that the quantifiable costs and benefits of beaver reintroduction demonstrates that the ecosystem services and social benefits accrued are greater than the financial costs incurred. It adds that other wildlife has 'greatly benefitted' from the beavers presence, while their dam building activities have also helped reduce the risk of flooding. And while the beavers created 'localised problems' for a 'handful' of farmers and property owners, these can be 'successfully and straightforwardly managed with the right support and intervention', it says. It comes as farming industry groups repeated highlight farmers' concerns over any beaver reintroduction plan. The NFU said last year letting the animals loose in the wild could have a 'massive impact' on farming and the countryside. The union's senior countryside adviser Claire Robinson told The Telegraph: Any species introduction, particularly if it has not been in this country for hundreds of years, can have a massive impact on the many benefits that the countryside and farming delivers. Beavers in the wild could have potentially serious implications on farmland such as land drains being blocked in lowland arable areas. But the new 130-page report argues that the animals should be set free, arguing they prevent flooding and drought by building leaky dams. Professor Brazier, who is chair of the Science and Evidence Forum that published the report, said: Following five years of detailed research work, the report concludes that the positive impacts of beavers outweighed the negatives. A summary of the quantifiable cost and benefits of beaver reintroduction demonstrates that the ecosystem services and social benefits accrued are greater than the financial costs incurred. However, it also makes clear that those who benefit from beaver reintroduction may not always be the same people as those who bear the costs, highlighting that the reduction of flood risk in communities downstream may come at a cost of water being stored on farmland upstream. The report has now been presented to Natural England and to Defra for a decision on the future of East Devons beavers, and the status of the species in England. The timing of these announcements is not yet known. Despite promises to do so, President Donald Trumps proposed fiscal 2021 budget for the Department of Defense fails to restore $3.6 billion in funding for 127 defense projects diverted last year to build 175 miles of the wall on the border with Mexico, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrichs and Tom Udalls offices said. That former funding includes $125 million for two projects at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo and White Sands Missile Range in the southern part of the state. Defense Secretary Mark Esper had promised the funding would be included in the next years budget. Were still waiting to hear how the funding will be restored, U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., said in a phone interview with the Journal. It will probably take a congressional appropriation to restore it. Both projects put on hold are in the 2nd Congressional District that she represents. The diversion put on hold an $85 million project for an unmanned aerial vehicle training facility at Holloman Air Force Base and a $40 million project for an information systems facility at White Sands Missile Range. Torres Small said the current unmanned aerial vehicle training facility at Holloman used for pilot training is in pretty bad shape and is threatened by a sinkhole. She and Heinrich have said the facility also has plumbing and electrical problems. The current information systems facility at White Sands which was built in 1962 was recently damaged by fire. Torres Small said the missile range could fall behind on its testing requirements and the nations security put at risk if the project does not go through. Last week, the Trump administration announced it intended to shift another $3.8 billion from the DOD for additional wall construction from funding for aircraft and ship construction, as well as funding for National Guard projects. Udall spokeswoman Annie Orloff said the newest diversion was not site specific. Udall was among seven Democratic senators sending a letter to Esper objecting to the newest diversion. The raid on this funding is quite simply an attack on the efforts to ensure our citizen-soldiers are prepared to respond to disasters, both overseas and in nearly every community in all fifty states and four territories, the senators wrote. U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland a member of the House Armed Services Committee with Torres Small also criticized the move. Our military service members need the proper tools to protect our country, but this administration is putting them at risk to pay for his wasteful border wall, again, she said in a release. The administration said the diversion of funds was in support of higher priority items that were necessary in the national interest, according to the notice transmitted to Congress. It said the Department of Homeland Security had identified areas along the southern border of the United States that are being used by individuals, groups, and transnational criminal organizations as drug smuggling corridors, and determined that the construction of additional physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the United States border is necessary in order to impede and deny drug smuggling activities. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned six public officials allegedly involved in police pension scam to the tune of N64. 6 billion in an FCT High Court, Abuja. Those re-arraigned are Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Ahmed Inuwa Wada; Veronica Ulonma Onyegbulam; Sani Habila Zira; Uzoma Cryril Attang and Christian Madubuike. They were first arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, with the case number FCT/CR/64/2012 in 2013 on 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. They were then arraigned alongside Esau Dangabar, who died on July 24, 2019 in the course of hearing. In view of Mr Dangabars death, EFCC on October 17, 2019 filed a motion before the court for amendment of charge with a view to removing the name of the first defendant from the charge. EFCC told the court that the further amended charge was in pursuant to Section 216 and 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). The defendant could not take their plea as counsel for the third defendant, Earnest Ikeji, drew the attention of the court to the inclusion of the name of John Yakubu Yusufu, who was convicted for the crime in 2012. On resumed sitting of the case, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, urged the court to admit the further amended charge dated and filed on Feb. 17. He prayed also that the charge be read to the defendants for them to take their plea. When the 18-count further amended charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, receiving gratification and disobedience of government directive was read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired between January 2008 and June 2011 to commit criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of the sum of N20. 1 billion. The offence the anti-graft said was punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, Nigeria 2007. They were also alleged to have between January, 2009 and June, 2011 knowingly disobeyed the order contained in the Federal Government Treasury Circular dated October 22,2008 lawfully promulgated by the Accountant-General of the Federation. The EFCC further alleged that the defendants converted N20.1 billion belonging to the Police Pension Office to their own use. This offence is punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, Nigeria 2007, among other charges. Following their not-guilty plea, Atolagbe asked for date for continuation of trial, which was not opposed by all the counsel for the defendants. Baba-Yusuf then adjourned the case until March 25 and April 21 to April 22 for continuation of hearing. (NAN) Long term investing works well, but it doesn't always work for each individual stock. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. Spare a thought for those who held New Zealand Energy Corp. (CVE:NZ) for five whole years - as the share price tanked 82%. And some of the more recent buyers are probably worried, too, with the stock falling 33% in the last year. We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson. See our latest analysis for New Zealand Energy New Zealand Energy isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. Over five years, New Zealand Energy grew its revenue at 4.5% per year. That's not a very high growth rate considering it doesn't make profits. It's not so sure that share price crash of 29% per year is completely deserved, but the market is doubtless disappointed. While we're definitely wary of the stock, after that kind of performance, it could be an over-reaction. We'd recommend focussing any further research on the likelihood of profitability in the foreseeable future, given the muted revenue growth. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). TSXV:NZ Income Statement, February 18th 2020 This free interactive report on New Zealand Energy's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 8.8% in the last year, New Zealand Energy shareholders lost 33%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 29% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand New Zealand Energy better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for New Zealand Energy you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The impeachment of President Trump has been a witch hunt ever since he became President. The president's remarks in the transcript did not violate any law. Ukraine's president said we spoke about many things....nobody pushed me. There was no crime! No due process was involved. The House voted to impeach was totally along party lines. The Senate trial to convict Trump was defended by Jay Sekulow, Democrat Harvard Constitutional professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz, Pan Bondi and others. Their testimony proved that Trump was innocent. The vote failed to have the two-thirds necessary, but Senator Mitt Romney voted on one article to convict. Romney has never been a true conservative. You do not get elected in Massachusetts, one of the nation's most liberal states, by being a constitutional conservative. His health care plan there was used as the model for ObamaCare. The five top democrat candidates for president are all socialists. Why are America's youth voting for socialism? It is because socialism is being promoted into the minds of our children in our public schools (Common Core) and colleges. If the principles of liberty and the founding of our free enterprise Constitutional Republic are not taught, then they will vote in socialism. Socialism is promoted as an ideal solution to eradicate societal inequality, discrimination, and unfairness. The government mandates the unconstitutional edicts to implement these goals by redistribution of wealth through confiscatory taxation and regulations. In reality, Venezuela is the latest example where governments have the power to make citizens into equal victims. They lose their liberty by becoming equally poor, equally miserable, equally terrified with the police state and equally starved or murdered! If the socialists gain control, the same will happen here! It only took 10 years under socialism for a once prosperous Venezuela to become a living hell. Socialism always kills liberty! A concerned citizen, Adrian Arp Filer Love 4 Funny 9 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 (Photo : Screenshot from Pear Video (Weibo)) Chinese woman wears giraffe costume to protect herself from coronavirus This woman in China wore a giraffe costume when she visited a hospital to protect herself amid the coronavirus outbreak. Her unusual way of protection triggered heated discussion in social media. The woman is seen in a video fully covered from head to toe, with only a small window of transparent plastic film for her to see. pic.twitter.com/PfqORxbpv5 Wearing a giraffe-shaped costume to avoid #coronavirus infection, a woman in Sichuan, #China comes to the hospital to get medicine for her father. Without daily disinfection, wearing these costumes home may bring the germs & viruses back, warns an expert. https://t.co/Cq8za26Zwf The Paper (@thepapercn) February 14, 2020 Woman resorted to wearing costume due to shortage, expired face masks According to a report by South China Morning Post, the woman explained that her face masks have expired. She instead brought two costumes online due to the shortage of surgical masks in the country. The woman, known only as Ms. He, resorted to the bizarre outfit after her sick parents asked her to run errands in Luzhou, China, the Daily Star reported. Mrs. He said she needed to collect medication for her family. ALSO READ: 'Contagion' Becomes One of The Most Downloaded Movies in iTunes in the wake of Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak The woman narrated that her father had been a regular patient at a local hospital's department of respiration before the deadly coronavirus broke out. To reduce the risk of her father being infected while visiting a hospital, Ms. He decided to go to the hospital and ask his father's doctor to conduct a virtual consultation with him through a video conference. Mrs. He, as the healthiest person in her family, also took on the tasks of grocery shopping and running errands to prevent her parents from catching the virus. "It's sad but rather endearing to see this. Really hope this epidemic will be over soon," a netizen commented in a Chinese social media. "It's better than no protection at all. She [the woman] wouldn't have done this if she had other options," another netizen said. ALSO READ: Another Scary Discovery About Coronavirus That Could Spell More Trouble: Incubation Period is Longer than 14 Days Wearing costumes fail to protect people from the lethal virus Authorities said such costumes are unable to protect people from coronavirus and needed to be disinfected after use. It is warned by Chinese medics to change the face mask regularly. According to the BBC, medical personnel is asked to use a new one every six hours. The frequency indicates the country would need two million covers each day. ALSO READ: Thermometer Guns Used By Coronavirus Front Lines Are 'Notoriously Not Accurate;' Should We Be Scared? Face masks, although experts are skeptical about its effectiveness, are in widespread use both among the general population and medical staff. There is already a massive demand which is only going to boom in China, particularly as coronavirus is expected to peak in mid-to-late February this year. China purchased 220 million face masks since January 24 and February 2. South Korea is one of the countries supplying the Mainland, according to BBC. The authorities have also removed tariffs and duties on imported medical components since the beginning of February. The outbreak of the new virus - formally called COVID-19 - has so far claimed thousands of lives and infected at least 64,000 human beings in 28 international locations and territories across the world. Nearly 99 percent of those infections had been in China. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Over the years, despite no national framework, India has followed a relatively generous, though ad-hoc, approach to incoming refugees. Considering this strong historical record, the recent Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) building on the 2015 amendments to the Foreigner Act Rules, appears particularly arbitrary. Editor's Note: Within the larger framework of the raging Citizenship Amendment Act debate, what best practices in terms of refugee policy can we turn to? This series compares India to other ethnically diverse countries of the Global South experiencing refugee influx. Part 1 features countries, like India, that have also not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocols (Bangladesh, Lebanon, and Jordan), and part 2 will feature countries that have (Brazil, Uganda, and Turkey). The 1951 RC and its 1967 Protocol constitute the key international guiding framework defining who a refugee is and what rights and protections are due to them in countries they escape to. The principle of non-refoulement enshrined in this framework mandates that no country can send a refugee back to a place where they are in danger of persecution and this has, since, become a part of customary international law, applicable even to those that have not signed the 1951/67 agreements. *** In 2020, the world is home to more refugees than it has ever been before 25.9 million according to the International Organisation for Migration's (IOM) 2020 World Migration Report. Over half of this number is below the age of 18, according to latest data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Some of the most affected countries are located in the Global South, exerting strain on their existing physical and governance infrastructure. As these countries attempt to tackle the twin challenges of stable governance and sustainable development, the arrival of large refugee populations presents an enormous policy challenge. India is home to a diverse refugee population comprising Tibetans, Afghans, Pakistanis, Burmese (Chin and Rohingya), Sri Lankans, and Somalis. But with an estimated refugee and asylum-seeking population of almost 2.50,000 (only 0.2 percent of the country's total population), it is far from being the most affected. Over the years, despite no national framework, India has followed a relatively generous, though ad-hoc, approach to incoming refugees. Tibetan refugees in the 1950s, Burmese Chin refugees in the 1990s, the Chakmas in the 1970s, the Bangladeshis during the 1971 war, the Sri Lankan Tamils in the 1980s and most recently, the Rohingya from Myanmar, have all been accommodated under ad-hoc policies and agreements to varying degrees. The UNHCR in India grants refugee cards to these vulnerable populations and through the work of numerous non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, refugee communities can access resources, education, and basic livelihoods. Standalone initiatives such as the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy of 2014 and schemes for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees provide further relief. Since 2012, India has also begun issuing Long-Term-Visas (LTVs) to UNHCR recognised refugees and has spoken out in favour of non-refoulement in recent international forums. Considering this strong historical record, the recent Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) building on the 2015 amendments to the Foreigner Act Rules, appears particularly arbitrary. It excludes the Muslim community, citizens of various other neighbouring nations (with refugee crises of their own) and institutes a cut-off date of December 2014. At present, the CAA is the main legislative initiative India offers for refugee populations. How does India's current refugee policy compare to the policies of other countries in the Global South which have not signed the 1951 Convention or its 1967 Protocol? Bangladesh Starting April 2020, in a landmark move hailed by rights groups across the world, Bangladesh will be piloting a flagship program extending education facilities to over 10,000 Rohingya children living in camps. The aim, according to officials from the UNICEF as well as the Bangladesh Government, is to prevent a 'lost generation of Rohingya children'. For over two decades years now, Bangladesh has borne the financial and logistical brunt of Myanmar's crackdown in Rakhine state, prompting over a million Rohingya people to flee their homes as refugees. The country's refugee policy, however, has varied considerably over time. Since the 1970s the Rohingya, a Muslim minority ethnic group from Myanmar, have sought refuge in Bangladesh and other countries as a result of state-backed persecution in Myanmar. Their numbers post a much-publicised 2017 crackdown have swelled to over 1 million with the refugees largely settled in camps in and around Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar. Although this represents a miniscule portion of the country's population (about 0.6 percent of the over 165 million population), Bangladesh's policy has moved from a liberal refugee-welcoming stand to a more refugee-hostile one over time. Bangladesh witnessed the influx of Rohingya refugees in three waves. The first wave in the 1980s post Operation Dragon King of 1978 numbered about 2,00,000 and at this time, the government arranged temporary shelter and other kinds of support. In the second phase of the 1990s, about 250,000 fled persecution in Rakhine. Bangladesh granted temporary asylum, food and medical services and called for help from the UNHCR. Around 20 refugee camps were built in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts in September 1991 and the country also co-operated with international NGOs such as Red Cross to support the refugees. Diplomatic avenues were explored through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 28, 1992 between the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh and Myanmar in Dhaka to resolve the crisis. In the third phase, the government changed their approach. After 1992, Rohingyas were no longer given refugee recognition in Bangladesh; instead they were identified as 'illegal immigrants.' Bangladesh appealed to the UNHCR in February 1992 to assess the Rohingya crisis and communicated its unwillingness to host any more refugees. Between 1993 and 1997, extensive repatriation activities were undertaken. The country forcibly repatriated some 5,000 refugees under the 1992 MoU. A policy of non-acceptance of those refugees who came back after 15 August, 1997 was also announced. In 2008 and 2009, Bangladesh continued to adopt a policy of informal deportation of Rohingya refugees. Post the 2017 crackdowns, the numbers in Bangladesh have swelled to more than 1 million and the Rohingya crisis has also garnered international attention. Increased international discourse has prompted more progressive initiatives such as the joint education scheme for Rohingya children. However, camp conditions continue to be difficult with freedom of mobility and livelihood severely restricted. Jordan Located in the heart of the Middle East, Jordan has, time and again, has borne the brunt of wars and civil crises in its surrounding countries. Over the years, it has hosted Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, and Palestinian refugees, with Syrians constituting the bulk of the refugee population today. The proportion of refugees in the local population is also extremely high in Jordan close to 8 percent, far higher than either India or Bangladesh and growing. The Census of 2015 reported an 18 percent increase of the non-Jordanian population versus 3.1 percent for the Jordanians, mostly due to increasing refugee influx. Jordan's approach to refugees has been ad-hoc but largely generous. Building on earlier national laws such as the Law on Residence and Foreign Affairs (1978), the country's MoU with the UNHCR in 1998 incorporated some semblance of structure into its refugee policy. This provided a definition of 'refugee' that is close to the 1951 Convention and explicitly committed to the principle of non-refoulement along with legal and protection rights including the right to freedom of religion. Since then, particularly post the 2011 influx of Syrian refugees, Jordan's tolerance has come under intense scrutiny. Initially, the Syrians were resettled in the way that the Palestinians and Iraqis had been before, mostly with local host families. For a while, the stories of the Syrian refugees served to keep political unrest at bay in Jordan while negative perceptions of them deflected attention from internal problems. Now, that delicate balance is shifting. However, Jordan continues to have one of the most structured responses to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. In 2013, the Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate was established by the government to exclusively handle rehabilitation efforts, followed by a National Resilience Plan in 2014. In 2017, the Ministry of Planning and International Co-operation in Jordan instituted the Jordan Response Plan for the Syrian Crisis (JRP). This three-year plan, often hailed as one of the most sophisticated responses to the refugee crisis among the Middle Eastern countries, aims at rehabilitating the refugee community while safeguarding Jordan's own stability and development progress. It also receives financial support from international organisations. In 2018, the JRP provided education access to over 130,000 Syrian children, over 200,000 primary healthcare services, and cash assistance programs to over 140,000. However, the picture is not an entirely positive one for example, in 2018, while Syrians living in towns and cities without permits were regularised, their access to healthcare was restricted. Lebanon Lebanon, like Jordan, hosts mostly Syrian refugees one in 6 people in the country is a refugee along with Palestinians, Iraqis and refugees of other nationalities. This makes it the country with the highest number of refugees per capita in the world given its own population of approximately 6 million. Despite an initial attempt to welcome Syrian refugees, the pressure exerted on the country's economy, its demographic makeup and the housing market has led to increasingly restrictive policies over the years. Lebanon's ad-hoc approach was given some structure through its 1999 MoU with the UNHCR however, this was extensively criticised for leaving out the principle of non-refoulement and restricting itself to asylum seekers who had appealed to the UNHCR within two months of entering the country. In 2015, Lebanon introduced a new policy: it required Syrian refugees in Lebanon to extend their residency either by paying $200 per year or finding the support of a Lebanese local to sponsor them. Lebanese workers earn LBP 418,000 a month on average, or approximately $276-barely above the fee asked of them to renew their residency. Those who find Lebanese sponsors typically face exploitation, especially if they also work for the same individual. In 2014, the Lebanese Ministry of Labour issued a circular restricting the employment sectors for Syrians to construction, agriculture and cleaning. It also asked employers to maintain a less than 10:1 ratio of Lebanese to foreign workers. Syrian refugees registered by the UNHCR are also prohibited from working in Lebanon as they officially receive humanitarian assistance. They are, thus, typically forced to work in dangerous conditions, without a legal contract and with the threat of harassment or, worse, deportation constantly looming. Lebanon also maintains a 'no-camp' policy, forcing Syrians to arrange for their own accommodation. While most Syrians reside in cities, many also live in makeshift tents or settlements and some in garages, workshops or other non- housing spaces. In 2017, the Lebanese government waived the $200 fee for Syrian refugees provided they had registered with the UNHCR before 1 January, 2015 or obtained residency through their UNHCR certificate at least once in 2015 or 2016. While the move was welcomed, many Syrians do not possess UNHCR registration cards or indeed their own identification documents. However, the Lebanese government has not closed its border with Syria entirely, indicating that it is open to Syrian arrivals and the recent Lebanon Crisis Response Plan provides much needed structure to rehabilitation efforts. Finding Common Ground Some key lessons can be derived from these divergent experiences of refugee integration. The impact of international co-operation on this front is crucial and the lessons from the Syrian example are noteworthy. In 2016, through the signing of the Jordan Compact at the London Conference, the country agreed to integrate 200,000 Syrians into its labour market in exchange for preferential access to European Union markets, investment, and soft loans. Lebanon signed a similar Statement of Intent aiming to reduce vulnerable communities' dependence on aid and increase productivity and incomes. International co-operation has thus allowed multiple perspectives and plans to converge on finding rehabilitation solutions in a sustainable manner without overly taxing one host country. Multilateral co-operation between governments for a similar approach to the Rohingya crisis may be an effective alternative to the Bangladeshi and Indian governments' current individual ad-hoc approaches. The scale of refugee influx in India is much lower than that in Bangladesh, Jordan, and Lebanon. Despite this, the response of the latter governments shows that rehabilitation need not be a zero-sum game where refugees are helped at the cost of locals (although rhetoric of this sort is frequently observed in all these countries). Recent research shows that countries accepting refugees are increasingly starting to reap the benefits. Given the diverse nature of India's refugee communities, there is great potential to not only add to the rich ethnic fabric of the country through integrating the 250,000 currently seeking asylum but also boost economic growth. The authors are migration policy researchers at India Migration Now, a Mumbai-based migration data and research organisation. IMN is a venture of the South East Migration Foundation. Follow their work at @nowmigration Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today signed a very memorable document and offered the President of Armenia to grant Armenian citizenship to 105-year-old N. Y., based on the latters application, and posted this information on his Facebook page. N. Y. was born in 1915 in Western Armenia, currently resides in the Republic of Armenia, and at the age of 105, has expressed the desire to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and hold Italian citizenship at the same time. Every Armenian in the world must have citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. Proud citizen of the Republic of Armenia! Nikol Pashinyan stated. Indian business leaders are demanding cuts in import duties on antibiotic drugs, mobile parts and other items as the outbreak of the coronavirus has disrupted supplies from China, government and industry officials said. The outbreak of the virus in China has hit India's manufacturing and exports of medicines, electronic, textile and chemicals as China is the biggest source of intermediate goods, worth $30 billion a year, according to a presentation by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), seen by Reuters. The confederation will show the presentation on Tuesday when ... Of late, India's judiciary has drawn a lot of criticism. The latest to join the chorus of critiques is the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. While hearing the bail petitions of 23 activists arrested and charged with sedition, the judge took a dig at India saying that curbs cannot be placed on freedom of expression of citizens, as per a report by Pakistani news portal Dawn. Justice Athar Minallah said, on February 17, that it is not expected of a democratic government to curb freedom of expression. As per the report, he said, "This is Pakistan, not India." The activists had reportedly been arrested at a demonstration in the city and had been slapped with sedition charges. Last week, the magistrate, who had invoked sedition charges against the activists, was asked to submit an explanation for the same. Advocate General Tariq Mehmood Jahangir said in court that no one should say things against the state, adding that Pakistan had been fighting terrorism for over 20 years and such "secret agenda" of protesters was a cause for concern. To this, Justice Minallah replied saying that the country's institutions were not so weak that mere words could have an impact on it. He said if people dissent and want to protest, they can seek permission for the same. "The constitutional courts will protect the constitutional rights of the people," Justice Minallah added. Later, the court was informed that charges against the protesters had been dropped. An activist, who was among those who had been arrested, later confirmed the same via a Twitter post. "The state has withdrawn the FIR and all charges against us. Thank you to all who stood with us in solidarity. Hope this sets a lasting precedent against the criminalization of dissent, peaceful protest and freedom of expression in our country," activist Ammar Rashid tweeted. Human trafficking seems to be everywhere. Fighting it is a buzzword and a campaign promise. Trafficking, however, is not what you think. Law enforcement can point to no one in Alabama who was kidnapped and sold into sex trafficking. If you took all the nations kidnappings, experts said, fewer than 1 percent are kidnapped and sold into trafficking organizations. According to Homeland Security Investigations, in fiscal 2019 nationwide, authorities investigated 1,024 human trafficking cases. Those investigations yielded 2,197 criminal arrests, 1,113 indictments and 691 convictions. There were 428 victims assisted. Commercial sex is estimated to be a $110 million industry in the Birmingham metropolitan area, according to Doug Gilmer, resident agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations. That does not include child sex trafficking or illegal massage parlors. AL.com sat down with Gilmer and James Hernandez, assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Alabama. The interview was edited for length. Q: When I think of human trafficking, the Liam Neeson movie Taken comes to mind. Is that what is happening? Gilmer: That may be what certain aspects of human trafficking look like in other parts of the world, but I think most of the national research thats been done indicates that less than 1 percent of people who are kidnapped are actually kidnapped for the purposes of human trafficking, being sold into sex trafficking here in the U.S. Q: What is human trafficking? Gilmer: There are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Both contain the same elements force, fraud or coercion. A person could be born and raised in the city of Birmingham and never leave their neighborhood in Birmingham and be a trafficking victim if theyre subject to force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of a commercial sex act or force labor, bondage, indentured servitude. A minor can never consent to a commercial sex act. Under federal law, a minor is anyone under the age of 18. Under Alabama state law, its anyone under the age of 19. Q: How long has Homeland Security been investigating human trafficking? Gilmer: Even before DHS was created, our legacies worked human trafficking cases. In 2000, we had the first real modern piece of legislation - the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. That law has since been reauthorized several times and amended for greater protection for victims, for stricter penalties for traffickers, additional tools for law enforcement. Q: How much of what you investigate involves human trafficking? Gilmer: Its a big part of what we do here because its a big thing here, but its not the only thing we do. But because its such a pervasive issue here, we spend a lot of time working exploitation-related crimes such as sextortion, human smuggling, child pornography. Q: What is the difference between human trafficking and prostitution? Gilmer: The difference would be if a person is self-promoting themselves, they dont have a pimp or a trafficker who is controlling them or taking their money, controlling their movement, using force fraud or coercion, that would be strictly a crime of prostitution. If they have a trafficker or a pimp, if they are controlling that person, and if theyre taking their money, then it moves it into the realm of trafficking. Or (if it involves) a minor. Q: How can you tell the difference? Gilmer: There are certain law enforcement tools and applications that we can access that kind of give us an idea. Some of those people advertised online weve dealt with before or our partner agencies have dealt with before. Oftentimes, we know the motivation behind that person. Sometimes, its just a person who is an addict and really may just self-promoting themselves to buy a bag of meth. That would strictly be prostitution. But there are things we can look for online that give us a clue as to a fact that this may be a trafficking situation. Q: What does human trafficking in Alabama look like? Gilmer: We have sex trafficking and we have labor trafficking. Id say the vast majority of sex trafficking today is facilitated online. We have about 30 different websites and apps that target Birmingham with commercial sex ads. Any given week, we can identify 200 or more different individual identities who are being sold or selling themselves for commercial sex online, just for the Birmingham metro area. Q: Where in Alabama does it take place? Gilmer: It goes on everywhere. Certainly, it happens a lot in Birmingham. Birmingham has been identified as one of six major hubs in the south for human trafficking. Part of that is due to our proximity to Atlanta. Theres the 140-mile stretch between Birmingham and Atlanta is often dubbed the sex trafficking super-highway. Its believed there are more trafficking victims that travel that stretch of interstate than any other stretch of interstate in the entire nation. Typically, we see patterns where women, mostly women but some men get trafficked too, are moved from city to city. They may come from Atlanta to Birmingham and stay here for four or five days, and then go from Birmingham to Memphis, and then Nashville and then Chattanooga and then back to Atlanta and then back to Birmingham or down to Tuscaloosa. Q: How profitable is this crime? Gilmer: Weve interviewed victims here in Birmingham who have told us, based on what they normally charge an hour, and based on the number of clients they see per day, one girl can make their trafficker $250,000 a year. Q: What is the going rate? Gilmer: About the average for an hours time here is $150 an hour. Obviously, there are some who charge far less than that, and it depends on what the person wants and how long theyre willing to stay. There are some that will charge over $300 an hour. It all depends on the type of female thats being sold. And the clientele theyre targeting. That trafficker can sell that girl 10 to 12 times a day, seven days a week, for years. Its a non-consumable commodity until that person either ages or is no longer attractive or dies of an overdose. Q: Is there a typical profile of a human trafficking victim? Gilmer: Weve had cases throughout Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, St. Clair County, Shelby County, and they literally involve people from every socio-economic level from Mountain Brook and Oak Mountain to Fairfield and Ensley. We could put the pictures of all of the trafficking victims over the past couple of years here and you wouldnt find any linking physical characteristic. A lot of times that grooming process begins online and they connect with somebody online, usually an older adult that recognizes a specific vulnerability in that person, whether its a youth or an adult. One thing we see, even though you cant say there is a specific stereotype of a victim, what they all have is a vulnerability. Those vulnerabilities cant always be seen from the outside. Some of these vulnerabilities could be low self-esteem, somebody from a broken home, out of a bad relationship, it could be physical appearance, the one girl among a group of girls at the mall thats maybe a little bit more awkward among her friends that somebody shows attention to. It could be socioeconomic. Maybe they come from a family thats got very little income, the person doesnt have nice clothes, or an iPhone and this person comes along and offers to buy them new clothes or an Apple watch. We actually had one guy come along and pay for a tutor for a student to show they were a respectable person. They key in on that vulnerability and thats what they tend to exploit. Q: Who are the consumers? Hernandez: From college students, to business executives, to pastors. Weve seen it all. Q: How often do drugs play a role? Hernandez: Quite a bit. That is a means of control. Gilmer: Weve had victims who have been forcibly addicted to heroin, where theyve literally been held down and injected with heroin over a period of days to the point where they become addicted and dependent on the heroin and then once they do, theyll do anything for the next fix because the heroin is so controlling and the withdrawal symptoms are so painful. Q: How long does a girl stay with trafficker? Gilmer: A lot of the control exercised is psychological. It might be force and threats of force to begin with, but it becomes very much like a Stockholm Syndrome. The trafficker could actually bring girls to Homewood for instance and stay across town at a nice hotel while the girls work at a shady hotel, but the girls wont leave. Often the traffickers hold their IDs. Often, the girls are free to leave the hotel but theyre going to come back because 1. They have nowhere else to go and 2. If they get caught, theyre going to be severely punished. Hernandez: And weve even seen situations where the trafficker is a family member. Q: Who is the average trafficker? Gilmer: We see local gangs in Birmingham that are actively trafficking both adults and minors. These are street gangs that are often also involved in selling drugs and guns and street level violence. Theyre selling people for sex as a way to supplement the organizations income. We see that but weve also had instances where we had a school teacher trafficking women and girls. It could be your boyfriend. It could be blackmail thats becoming much more pervasive. Were seeing a lot more sextortion cases where youve got an individual in a relationship or meets a girl on line, and they get together, they share intimate photos, he then threatens to share those photos to the family, to the school if that girl doesnt do these things - sex with him, sex with others, all of the above. Q: There seems to be a big fear, almost hysteria about abductions for sex trafficking, especially by someone in a white van. Whats up with that? Gilmer: I get about three calls a week about white vans. The first thing I ask, Is there a ladder on top? Its largely an urban legend. Again, nationally the statistic is less than one percent of people who are kidnapped are actually kidnapped and sold into trafficking organizations in the U.S. Kidnapping is really a high-risk crime to begin with because everybody has cell phones, security cameras and weve got Amber Alerts. The other thing you hear about is the mother who takes her kids to Walmart and some creepy guy is in the parking lot or following them around the store waiting to snatch their kids and sell them into a trafficking ring. Thats not to say there arent creepy people at Walmart or Target or the mall or wherever, and thats not to say there arent people intent on robbing you or doing you harm. There may be people there who are intent on kidnapping somebody but its probably not for sex trafficking. Its probably for some other sick reason. Q: Do you recall a case where anyone was randomly kidnapped for the purpose of sex trafficking in Alabama? Gilmer: No. Hernandez: I can speak for the whole state. We havent had anything like that. Q: Where does that fear come from? Gilmer: A lot of it is perpetuated online. There have been some high-profile kidnappings like Cupcake and Aniah Blanchard - whether its here in Alabama or elsewhere. They create that level of hysteria. When we were kids, our parents let us play outside all day and we didnt have the fear of being kidnapped. Parents now have this boogeyman syndrome thats been perpetuated because theres so much out there on social media and we have a 24-hour news cycle. All of that perpetuates these ideas. Again, youve got to keep an eye on your kids. Q: What should parents be concerned about? Gilmer: 1. Know who your kids friends are, especially if theyre older and far outside their age group and 2. Monitor what theyre doing online and on their phones because I can guarantee you there are more predators that are intent on harming your children within just a few taps on the screen on your phone then there are people cruising your neighborhood or the Walmart looking to hurt your kids. Q: Is it growing or just being uncovered more? Gilmer: Its both. The 2019 trafficking report by State Department identified trafficking as the worlds second largest criminal enterprise, second only behind sale of the illicit drugs in terms of profitability and some believe by the end of 2020, human trafficking could actually surpass the global illicit drug trade in terms of profitability. Were also seeing more of it because its being uncovered more because were doing a better job of educating people. People are seeing it and theyre reporting it. Q: How is the enforcement effort going? Hernandez: The success weve had here, especially in this area, has been due to the partnerships weve created and the outreach weve been able to do with our agents and the relationships weve established with both the state and local law enforcement and the non-governmental agencies that are incredibly helpful. Gilmer: More people are understanding what trafficking looks like, whether its sex trafficking or labor trafficking and as more people became educated and they find out exactly what it is and they understand it is happening in their communities, theyre wanting to become involved and theyre wanting to do something to stop. Its a two-prong approach we want to put the bad guys in jail and dismantle these criminal networks, but we want to provide care and services for the victims of trafficking as well. We dont always have every tool we need to do that but with NGOs (non-profit organizations) we can. Q: One officer said while its a problem, its not in the Top 10 of things police see on a daily basis. Would you agree? Gilmer: Absolutely. Its a crime in the shadows. Youre not going to get a 911 call about human trafficking. Sex trafficking is taking place behind closed doors, and labor trafficking looks so much like the rest of normal society, people tend to look past it. Its not until usually something happens that law enforcement gets called. Theres an assault, or a domestic violence complaint at a hotel thats really a girl and her trafficker fighting or a girl and her customer fighting. Q: What about these human trafficking free zone signs in cities throughout Jefferson County? Do those really help? Gilmer: Signing a proclamation doesnt mean the human traffickers are going to stop at the city limits. But it is a way to say that were taking a zero-tolerance policy and if we find it, were going to hold people accountable for it and were making it a priority to address in our city. Q: Do you make more arrests or victim rescues? Gilmer: Were doing a lot of both. We will always rescue a victim even it means we may not get a prosecution. The victim is always going to be our No. 1 priority. There is a specific charge of human trafficking at the federal level and at the state level. But human trafficking is never a single scheme crime. It always involves a lot of other crimes it could be money laundering, tax evasion, wire fraud, transporting a person across state lines for purpose of prostitution. Sometimes we have victims who are very solid, we get them into rehab, they come out, they want to testify. But often, if we can make a human trafficking prosecution and not necessarily go to trial on a human trafficking charge in which that victim is going to have to testify, if we can charge an interstate transportation and racketeering charge, or money laundering, guns drugs whatever, and we can prevent actually having to put the victim on the stand where he or she is revictimized and retraumatized by having to retell that story ... thats what well steer toward. Q: Is there a high recidivism rate for victims? Gilmer: Yes, if the victims dont get into some type of immediate treatment facility and go through a process, even those who do, I know from our experience and this is why we like working with NGOs, so at the moment we encounter a victim we also have a victim advocate there to show care and concern, we have survivor bags with clothes and food and hygiene items, they can feel like a new person again. The sooner we can get that advocate there to talk to that person, the better chance we have of getting that person to the Wellhouse or somewhere like that, the better chance we have of them not going back into the lifestyle. Q: What would you say to those who say this is their choice, in terms of prostitution? Gilmer: Say we encounter a 30-year-old female and we determine talking to her that she doesnt have a trafficker. Shes selling herself. In almost every single case, even though she may not have a trafficker today, she was either trafficked previously and either somehow got away from her trafficker or age out or was no longer able to make money. One of the lines we often use when interviewing victims is the example of a college student. She goes to a frat party and maybe has a little too much drink. Shes not feeling well and goes upstairs to a friends room and falls asleep. Thirty minutes later she wakes up and theres a guy on top of her who has removed her clothes and is having sex with her. What do we call that? Rape. She couldnt consent. Well, if youre under the threat of force, fraud or coercion, you cant legally consent. Its really the same thing. By Trend The Munich Security Conference, held in 2020, will go down in the history of international relations as a brilliant demonstration of Azerbaijans realities to the whole world, Editor-in-Chief of the Baki Khabar newspaper and Political Expert Aydin Guliyev told Trend. Guliyev noted that during the panel discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Azerbaijani leader surpassed his opponent in all respects. The Azerbaijani leader brought weighty arguments covering the history, the current essence and the most optimal ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, and thereby puzzled the prime minister, said the editor-in-chief. The indestructible position and strong logic of the head of the Azerbaijani state aroused genuine interest of the participants of the panel. The undisguised concern and anxiety that, Nikol Pashinyan, unlike President Ilham Aliyev, demonstrated, spoke of the low awareness of the Armenian prime minister about the essence of the problem. Once again, everyone became eyewitness that Pashinyans arguments were nothing more than an unsuccessful and extremely cynical attempt to justify Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The Munich panel became one of the most obvious scenes of Armenias defeat in the diplomatic and legal plane since the beginning of the Karabakh conflict, Guliyev added. President Ilham Aliyev once again proved to the whole world that, from the point of view of international law, Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. He said that during the discussions Pashinyan couldnt disguise the fact that, contrary to his commitments, he doesnt contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, but acts in the interests of small nationalist aggressive groups in Armenian society. Pashinyan again lied to the world community, Guliyev noted. However, the Azerbaijani president didnt leave any of his lies unanswered. Moreover, the head of state exposed fraud and destructive activity with the aim of disrupting the negotiations of both Pashinyan and his predecessors. President Ilham Aliyev also exposed the lie allegedly said by Ayaz Mutallibov and accused Pashinyan of hypocrisy over the words that the Azerbaijanis themselves allegedly committed the Khojaly tragedy. One of the most interesting moments of the discussion was how, unlike Pashinyan, who simply repeated well-known tales and unfounded claims, the Azerbaijani leader made a concrete message to Azerbaijani and Armenian people, Guliev said. The statement by the head of state that the Armenian people wont be able to fight with Azerbaijan forever, completely silenced Pashinyan, who was speaking orienting towards domestic audience. The expert, as another significant episode of the meeting, noted that President Ilham Aliyev brought Pashinyan to a standstill before the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the power centers of the world. President Ilham Aliyev called on the international community to force Armenia to implement UN Security Council resolutions, Guliyev added. The all-round superiority demonstrated by the head of state in the debate with Pashinyan, shows that President Ilham Aliyev has truly laid the foundation for a new phase of the peace process. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A professor who specializes in the study of hate crime said posters placed across Durham Region warning of the Great Replacement of European Canadians are fear-mongering about diversity. The posters, which appeared last fall in Newcastle and Port Perry and most recently in three locations in Whitby, are the subject of an ongoing Durham Region police investigation. The posters state The Great Replacement of European Canadians is not a conspiracy theory and add It is an undeniable fact supported by statistics from the government of Canada. The posters go on to state Canadas European Canadian makeup was 98 per cent in 1867, 96 per cent in 1971 and is 72 per cent today. They say it will drop to 50 per cent by 2036 and to 20 per cent by 2100 and claim the numbers come from Statistics Canada data. Statistics Canada has spoken out about the use of its data and Whitby town councillors have unanimously condemned the posters. The Durham District School Board has also spoken out against them. Barbara Perry, who is director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, raised particular concerns with the language in the poster. She said a term like the great replacement is fundamental to extreme right-wing rhetoric. It is embedded in the narrative of you (immigrants) will not replace us (whites). She said an example was the Charlottesville, Va., white supremacist rally in 2017 where a woman died after being run over by a white supremacist and 28 others were injured. The chants there were You will not replace us, and Jews will not replace us, Perry said. She said fear of replacement crops up in the manifestoes of mass shooters, most infamously in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2018, when a white supremacist killed 51 and injured 49 in an attack on two mosques. It (replacement) summarizes for them all the fears, all the threats of loss of identity; not just loss of identity but loss of privilege and power in a changing society, Perry said. For Maleeha Shahid, a Whitby town councillor who immigrated to Canada, the posters are awful and completely unacceptable. Shahid said that, as an immigrant myself who has always been welcomed in Whitby I can tell you our town is an inclusive and a very acceptable town. She said the posters made her extremely sad to see this. Perry, whose books include Hate and Bias Crime and In the Name of Hate: Understanding Hate Crimes, said it was important to use opportunities like this in order to challenge that kind of positioning (replacement) in general, not just this particular poster but that distortion and fear-mongering about diversity and immigration. Its not a crisis. She added that even if (the numbers stated in the poster) is a fact, why is it a problem, that we have increasing immigration, increasing diversity? The kinds of immigration patterns weve seen have done an incredible job of making our lives more exciting, of increasing access to a bigger labour force. Thats one of the calls for increasing immigration that we need more skilled labour. She said many immigrants face job and workplace discrimination and create jobs themselves, by opening small and large businesses. They really are drivers of economic growth and cultural dynamism. The UN secretary general has said that the virus outbreak that began in China is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation. Antonio Guterres said in an interview to The Associated Press Tuesday that the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that. The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The UN chief was in Pakistan for a conference on 40 years of refugees fleeing neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During an appearance at Duke University on Monday night, former National Security Adviser John Bolton didn't reveal much about his forthcoming book on the time he spent in President Trump's White House, but he did quip, "I hope my book is not suppressed." The manuscript is still being reviewed by the White House. According to The New York Times, Bolton writes in his book that Trump attempted to involve him in a quid pro quo arrangement with Ukraine. Trump has said his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the conversation that triggered his impeachment was "perfect," and when asked if he agrees, Bolton responded, "You'll love Chapter 14." Bolton also talked about U.S. policy in Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, saying there is "not a single piece of evidence that the government of North Korea has made a strategic decision to give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons." The United States has "wasted two years" with North Korea, he said, and Pyongyang in turn has received a "two-year pass." More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils Trump's pardon of Bernie Kerik also apparently wiped out Kerik's $103,300 debt to taxpayers The family of 1 new Trump pardon recipient donated $200,000 to Trump's re-election effort last fall Former CPs book claims Kasab was supposed to die as Samir Chaudhary. Mumbai: Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed in his memoirs that Pakistan had planted fake documents on the 10-member 26/11 terror squad in a bid to masquerade the attacks which claimed at least 174 lives as an act of Hindu terror. Mr Marias long-awaited book Let Me Say It Now was released on Monday. The retired IPS officer wrote in his book that the sole terrorist who was caught alive, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, was found to be in the possession of an identity card that mentioned him as Samir Chaudhary, a Bangalore resident. The former top cop, who also headed the terror attacks investigation, wrote in his book that Pakistans notorious intelligence agency, the Inter State Intelligence (ISI), and terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) gave a contract to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, who is holed up in Pakistan, to kill Kasab. Excerpts from Mr Marias book stated, If everything went according to plan, Kasab would have died as Chaudhary, and the media would have blamed Hindu terrorists for the attack. On a photograph of Kasab released after the terror attack, Mr Maria said, It was the handiwork of central agencies. The Mumbai police tried hard not to disclose any details to the media fearing for security. In the photograph, Kasab is seen wearing a red thread on his right wrist, which is sacred to Hindus. But alas, it had not worked that way and here he was, Ajmal Amir Kasab of Faridkot in Pakistan, Mr Marias book stated. He also said that martyred Mumbai constable Tukaram Ombles heroic feat of capturing Kasab alive was the key to foiling this plan. Kasab was indoctrinated into believing that Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India and he was taken to a mosque near Metro INOX Cinemas in a bid to rubbish his belief, the book stated. The book further revealed the details of Kasabs journey prior to his arrival here, stating that he was allowed to stay with his family for a week and given `1.25 lakh before he left for Mumbai. Kasab had passed on the money to his family before leaving Pakistan. Following a trial, Kasab was awarded capital punishment on November 21, 2012. Cherokee Nation When we first made the leap of opening the Cherokee Nation Film Office, we often heard, Why should Cherokee Nation get involved in this? To that I say, Why not us? Now celebrating its first full year of successful operation, CNFO is blazing trails never before seen in Indian Country. The film industry in Oklahoma is poised for growth. We are centrally located. We have four seasons across six different eco-systems. All that and we remain an affordable place to shoot television and movie projects, with tax incentives to attract projects to our state. Since launching in January 2019, CNFO has met with producers and executives from major film studios. Our CNFO staff have assisted with casting calls and consulted on or provided services to more than 30 projects. CNFO has become the first film office operated by a tribal nation to be accredited by the Association of Film Commissions International. That's a wrap! Thank you to everyone who made the Inaugural Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge possible this year at Sundance Film Festival. Watch our short recap video. #MoreNatives pic.twitter.com/GG4aEc1sWl @CherokeeFilm (@cherokeefilm) January 30, 2020 Perhaps even more important than its business success is that CNFO allows us to provide cultural expertise and guidance to film projects happening within the Cherokee Nation. Youve probably watched films or television shows where Native people were portrayed by non-Indians wearing bad wigs and inaccurate costumes, speaking stereotypical dialogue. It is frustrating. And it makes you wonder why they didnt check with tribes to get a better understanding. Many times the answer was simply that the film industry did not know any Native people to ask. So, they fumbled around on their own, often with unfortunate results. Thats why CNFO is creating a Native American talent and crew database. With this database, potential employers in the film and television industry will be able to instantly access lists of Native cast and crew who have already been vetted. This tool helps to ensure and authenticity in production and creates opportunities for Natives in the film industry to have a voice and a presence at every level. It is critical that whenever Cherokeesor any Nativesare represented on screen, there are Natives behind the scenes ensuring accuracy and integrity. Actors and other production professionals with proof of tribal citizenship can submit their resume and experience, which can then be shared with projects looking to film in the Cherokee Nation. Other resources in the works at CNFO are databases of film-friendly local businesses, filming locations, and cultural and historical consultants. Locations throughout our amazing Cherokee Nation are highlighted, making it easy to find just the right spot for a key scene. As we grow along with Oklahomas burgeoning film industry, the CNFO benefits our tribal citizens and all Oklahomans. We have partnered with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture. We recently sponsored the first-ever Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. This landmark event celebrated Native American representation in mainstream media and film. Future initiatives will include CNFO offering free public workshops over the summer in both Tahlequah and Tulsa. Storytelling is an integral part of our Cherokee culture. We have unlimited potential in the Cherokee Nation thanks to our beautiful and historic sites and the talents of Cherokee writers, producers, actors and technicians who are ready to tell our stories. I am looking forward to even bigger and better things in the coming year for the Cherokee Nation Film Office. You can check out CNFOs services on the website, www.cherokee.film Chuck Hoskin Jr. is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from 1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribes Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years. Join the Conversation Back to the Beginning: an engrossing narrative that gives the readers an abundance in their life through the restoration that this book will reveal to them. Back to the Beginning is the creation of published author Tassayne Assis, a minister at We Are One Church in Miami. She is also a Mary Kaye independent sales director, which is an additional platform to minister women. She is passionate about restoring the body of Christ to their original identitythe likeness of God Himself. Assis writes, Back to the Beginning teaches you biblical principles that, when learned and applied in your life, will restore your identity to who God originally intended it to be. When walking in your true identity, you can fully enjoy every area of your life as God meant for you to enjoy, and you can live to your fullest potential. This book is a study of the first half of the Book of Genesis, and it includes principles of restoration that were created by God at the beginning of creation. If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you. John 8:31-32 MSG In the beginning, when God first created humankind, He intended for you to have an abundant life. This book is intended to help you achieve abundance in every area through the principles of restoration that it reveals. Back to the Beginning includes activation sessions to guide you to think and take action on steps that will lead you to a fully restored being. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Tassyane Assiss new book is an absorbing handbook filled with amazing revelation strategies for restoration that enables the readers to live to their fullest God-given potential. With this purpose, Assis hopes that both the activities and the reading will help the readers restore their lives, souls, as well as relationships. View a synopsis of Back to the Beginning on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Back to the Beginning at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Back to the Beginning, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. A couple are in shock after defying odds of 200 million to one by conceiving identical triplets naturally. Emma Lennon (31) and partner David Hopkins (32) had given up hope on having children after trying for two years - then discovered they were expecting three identical daughters. Ms Lennon, of Bettystown, Co Meath, had opened a hairdressing salon in Mornington days before she found out she was pregnant. Now 21 weeks pregnant, she is being watched closely by medics in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she could give birth in just seven weeks' time. Ms Lennon has a daughter Kacey (10) who had wished for a baby brother or sister. "We accepted that we may never have children but we were staring at the screen when the sonographer said there were two little souls in there," said Ms Lennon. "I was delighted because it was always a dream of mine to have twins. But then she spotted baby number three and David keeled over. He was pleading with the sonographer to stop counting. "It's a super-rare pregnancy, especially as it happened naturally. I think the odds are between one in 60,000 and one in 200 million." A prominent left-wing Latino organization has given its first-ever presidential endorsement to Senator Bernie Sanders less than a week before the Nevada Primary. Trumps re-election is a direct threat to our communities, the organization, Mijente, wrote on its Twitter account. Sen. Bernie Sanders has a long history of progressive stances + consistently remains on side of working people. Thats why were proud to endorse Sanders for president. Mijente has around 1,000 dues-paying members according to Politico, however its email subscribers number over 300,000. The organization will use its reach to mobilize Latino voters in Nevada and other state primaries. Its an honor to receive Mijentes first presidential endorsement. Theyve mobilized a powerful grassroots network to stand up to Trump, Sanders wrote on Twitter. Together we will build a multiracial, multigenerational movement to sweep him out of office and transform this country so it works for all. Around 29 percent of Nevadas population is Latino, the largest of any early-voting state. Sanders on Friday snagged the endorsement of progressive New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The Vermont senator goes into Nevada having won the New Hampshire primary and finished in a virtual tie with South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg in the Iowa Caucus. Nevadas powerful Culinary Workers Union, whose members work primarily in the states casinos, declined to endorse a candidate. The union had been critical of Sanderss Medicare-for-all plan, believing it represented a threat to the unions own generous and painstakingly negotiated health care plan. We will not hand over our healthcare for promises, read a leaflet passed out by the group. More from National Review Hundreds of truck drivers on Tuesday blocked the Onitsha -Enugu expressway to protest alleged imposition of taxes, intimidation and violation of court judgement by the agents of Anambra State government. The situation made commuters to suffer hectic time at Onitsha as security agencies battled in vain to appease the protesters. They protested under the aegis of Animo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria, Gods Own Tipper Owners, Drivers Association, and the Ihiala LGA Tipper Workers Association and drivers. They carried placards bearing various inscriptions like Governor Obiano rescue us from the hands of illegal agents of government, We are not slaves, We want to take care of our business without interference and Respect Court judgements. The protesters said the government was yet to address their grievances despite various appeals, correspondences and visitations to decision-makers. They claimed that drivers with six cubic tippers and 12 cubic tippers were respectively taxed N100 and N200 daily during the tenure of former Governor Peter Obi but the current administration allegedly taxed them N700 and N1400 per trip of laterite, gravel, sands or stones. As a result, they approached a Federal High court sitting in Awka in a suit number FHC/AWK/CS/104/2017. The court held that the Anambra state government, officials of the state ministry of environment, their agents and privies and other persons acting by or through them, had no right to make laws or rules, formulate policies, impose taxes or levies and or charge and collect dues or revenue on sand, stones, laterite, gravel and the like. However, addressing reporters during the protest, Emmanuel Ezeokafor, the Coordinator, Anambra Tipper Drivers Association, alleged that the state government neither obeyed nor appealed the judgment since 2018. Rather, it was employing the services of law enforcement agents in intimidating and harassing his members to be paying the obnoxious tax, he said. Mr Ezeokafor said the drivers had on several occasions sought audience with the governor but all was in vain. He added that they had written petitions where they requested to be allowed as a union to tax their members as they (the drivers would agree to pay) and remit same to the government monthly as other transporters do but their plea fell on deaf ears. An activist and coordinator, Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), Osita Obi, who joined the protest, condemned the alleged intimidation, harassment and collection of levies from tipper drivers It negates section 4(2), section 4(3) and item 39 in the Exclusive Legislative List in the second schedule (part) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, he said. Section 1 and section 164 of the Nigeria Mining ACT 2007; section 1 and section 2 of the Taxes and levies (approved list for collection) CAP T2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; and could also lead the drivers into banditry, kidnapping, among other crimes. The President General, Great Tippers Association, Anambra state chapter, Ebuka Orakwe, said the protest which was the eighth, had been held across major towns in the state. He said it would continue until the state government hearkened to their demands as the obnoxious taxation had caused most of its members to relocate from Anambra to other states in the South-East geopolitical zone. When the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, was called for reaction, his line was not available. But one senior aide to Mr Obiano said the government would look into it The aide, who did not want to be quoted, said Mr Obiano had not instructed anyone to be collecting such taxes from the tipper drivers, adding that some people were just dropping the governors name to tarnish his reputation. James Taylor says he was a "bad influence" on the Beatles in his early days in show business. (Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Today, the world knows James Taylor as a master songwriter, an icon. But in the early days of his career, back in the 60s, he was just an aspiring musician, who happened to be the first artist signed to the Beatless record label, Apple Records. He remembers watching the group at the studio as they were recording the White Album. Moreover, he recalls that his interactions with John Lennon and company werent always the healthiest, because he was struggling with a heroin addiction. Well, I was a bad influence to be around the Beatles at that time, too, Taylor told The Guardian in a new interview. When the reporter asked why, Taylor replied, Because I gave John opiates. Taylor, whos promoting his new audio book Break Shot: My First 21 Years, didnt know if it was Lennons introduction to the drug. The British newspaper noted that Lennon, by many accounts, picked up a heroin habit in 1968 that contributed to an unhealable rift in the band. John Lennon, Yoko Ono, James Taylor and Carly Simon photographed in New York, circa 1960. (Photo: Art Zelin/Getty Images) Taylor said he would often encounter the Beatles as they were leaving recording sessions. He would go early just to have a chance to listen to them. He watched them go through what he called an extremely creative unraveling before they broke up in 1970. Taylor found big success with his song Fire and Rain later that same year, after a stint in rehab. The track was from Sweet Baby James, his first album with another record label. Of course, Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison went on to their own successful solo careers. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. Veteran journalist and Chief Editor of 'Kala Kaumudi' daily M S Mani passed away here on Tuesday due to age-related ailments, family sources said. He was 78 and leaves behind his wife, Dr Kasthuri Mani, a son, Sukumaran Mani, the Managing Director and Editor of 'Kala Kaumudi', and daughter Valsa Mani. Mani is the son of Padma Bhushan awardee K Sukumaran, a former editor of 'Kerala Kaumudi' and Madhavi Sukumaran. Condoling the veteran journalist's death, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described his passing away as a huge loss. "His contribution to the world of journalism has always been appreciated and is also credited for building a huge talent pool of journalists. The hallmark of the veteran was even when he differed on issues, he always saw to it that it never affected his personal relations," Vijayan said. Leaders cutting across party lines, paid tribute to the veteran journalist. He started his career in 1961 as a staff reporter at 'Kerala Kaumudi' and within a year was posted in Delhi as the Parliament correspondent. He extensively covered Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for many years and in 1965, returned to Thiruvananthapuram and took over key editorial responsibilities of 'Kerala Kaumudi' along with his father Sukumaran. A decade later, he founded 'Kala Kaumudi' publications. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An American Airlines plane at left, leaves a gate area near an Alaska Airlines plane, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. Ted S. Warren | AP Airlines are stepping up their battle over Seattle, where the spoils are high-spending corporate travelers from technology giants like Amazon and Microsoft and millions of other passengers at one of the country's fastest-growing airports. The latest shot fired in the turf war came last week when American Airlines and Alaska Airlines announced a plan to expand their partnership to include American's international flights from the West Coast, just weeks before reciprocal frequent-flyer benefits were set to be scaled back at the end of February. That agreement between Seattle's hometown airline and international giant American formed after Delta spent years beefing up service from Seattle, which is one of its most profitable hubs. The surprise agreement also came after Delta swooped in last September with plans to buy a 20% stake in American's longtime partner LATAM, a move that would increase Delta's presence in American's hub in Miami. The American-Alaska deal "can be seen as a competitive reply to Delta's very bold, recent incursion onto American's Miami turf," said Craig Jenks, founding president of Airline/Aircraft Projects, a New York aviation consulting firm. Going abroad The unusual Alaska-American agreement would allow Alaska to book its travelers on American's flights abroad from the West Coast. In its announcement, American unveiled plans to fly nonstop from Seattle to technology hub Bangalore, India, starting in October. Bangalore is one of Amazon's top three business-travel markets, said Brett Catlin, Alaska's head of network planning and alliances. The new service would launch almost a decade after American ended its flights to India. "India is a grossly under-served market, despite the number of businesses with a major presence in both India and the West Coast," Vasu Raja, American's senior vice president for network strategy, said in a news release. "By adding Seattle to Bangalore, we're giving customers from more than 70 U.S. cities access to India in one stop or less versus the two, three or four stops they'd have to make to get there in the past." American also announced a flight between Seattle and London Heathrow, starting in March 2021, adding to flights on the route that American's trans-Atlantic partner British Airways offers from Seattle. Prized growth The partners of European venture capital firm Atomico. Atomico Atomico, the venture capital firm founded by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, has raised $820 million for a new fund the biggest since it was set up by the billionaire in 2006. The firm plans to cash in on the ongoing "renaissance" in Europe's tech sector, according to Siraj Khaliq, an investment partner for Atomico. Khaliq noted the rise of so-called unicorns privately-held tech firms valued at $1 billion or more in the continent over the past decade. In 2014, Europe was home to just 22 unicorns, according to Atomico's own data, while today there are over 100 across the region. "Now the talent exists here, the mentorship exists here. All these key ingredients you need for European success stories actually exist," Khaliq told CNBC in an interview. "It's not to say we can't be better, but we're really on the track." Khaliq was formerly founder of Silicon Valley agriculture data firm The Climate Corporation which Atomico had invested in but left the U.S. after it was acquired by Monsanto for $1.1 billion. Atomico said the latest fundraise was "oversubscribed," closing above its target of $750 million and attracting investment from a range of institutional investors. The firm declined to disclose the names of its limited partners, but said it included pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, as well as the founders of European start-ups Adyen, Klarna and TransferWise. This latest investment vehicle takes Atomico's total assets under management to $2.7 billion. European VCs have been on a tear in recent months, raising hundreds of millions of dollars to back non-Silicon Valley tech firms. Revolut backer Balderton Capital raised a $400 million fund in November, while not long after early Spotify investor Northzone closed its own $500 million fund. Last year, start-ups in Europe managed to raise well over $30 billion, according to multiple data trackers, thanks to an increase in the number of so-called $100 million "mega-rounds." The continent has seen an uptick in interest from U.S. and Asian tech investors, a trend that's given European VCs impetus to remain competitive. According to Atomico, its new vehicle is Europe's largest single "pure-play" venture capital fund, meaning it only starts buying into start-ups at the early stage. Data from research firm Pitchbook indicates that DST Global, Rocket Internet and Index Ventures have closed larger funds in the past, but Atomico explains these all fall into the category of growth-stage or corporate VC. Primary focus on Europe This is the chilling moment a jealous gunman casually walks into a Bangkok dental clinic and shoots dead his ex-wife. Mother-of-one Khuntai Chatthai, 28, has been named locally as the victim of today's execution-style killing in the Thai capital. Piercing screams rang out through the Century Plaza shopping complex as the suited killer unrelentingly peppered his receptionist former partner from point-blank range. As the dead mother lay sprawled in a pool of her own blood, the gunman fled the scene of the slaughter - and remains at large. Police and paramedics descended on the mall in the heart of Bangkok just after 3pm local time and desperately tried to revive Chatthai. A second person was taken to hospital with non-fatal injuries and are believed to be in stable condition. Piercing screams rang out through the Bangkok Century Plaza shopping complex as the suited killer unrelentingly peppered his receptionist former partner from point-blank range The gunman relentlessly squeezes the trigger and unloads a whole round of ammunition on his ex-wife, mother-of-one Khuntai Chatthai, 28 As the dead mother lay sprawled in a pool of her own blood, the gunman fled the scene of the slaughter - and remains at large Police Major General Samroeng Suanthong said: 'The shooting seems to have been caused by the delusional jealousy of the gunman towards the dead person, who was his ex-wife. 'This case is not that complicated, there are no other suspects or motives.' Horrifying CCTV captured the moment Chatthai was caught unawares and shot dead by her bitter ex-husband. It shows her working behind the counter with a colleague, both of whom are wearing suits and perched on stools. As the gunman walks in, not making eye contact with the staff, both women seem to sit up and watch him closely. He then reaches into his inside blazer pocket and draws a handgun. Khuntai Chatthai, 28 (pictured being worked on by medics) has been shot dead and another injured by a gunman in a Bangkok shopping mall today. Police and paramedics descended on the Century Plaza in the heart of the Thai capital just after 3pm local time A team of about seven medics dressed in white swooped in on the clinic and began trying to revive the victim Chatthai spots this and throws herself to the ground behind the counter, quickly followed by her colleague who also dives for cover. But the shooter quickly rounds the desk and opens fire, relentlessly squeezing the trigger as his victims scream helplessly. After unloading a full round of ammunition on his target from less than a metre away, the gunman pulls another magazine and reloads as his makes his escape. A team of about seven medics dressed in white later swooped in on the clinic and began trying to revive the victim with CPR Another photo shows the injured victim being treated for what appears to be a gunshot wound to the hand. Paramedics and police work in the Icon Clinic - the dental place where the woman was shot dead Another photo shows the injured victim being treated for what appears to be a gunshot wound to the hand Shoppers were still bustling throughout the building, but many stopped to watch in shock as emergency crews rushed to the dental clinic. A worker from the building said ''everybody panicked'' when they heard shots. They added: 'I was on the same floor as the shooting and I heard screaming. There was a lot of panic, everybody was running away and did not know what to do. It's scary, I don't feel safe.' Century Plaza is a popular mall near to the city's well-known Victory monument. Guns are easily obtainable in Thailand and disputes between lovers or family members often play out in bloody violence, drawing headlines over the deadly brawls. The shooting comes at a sensitive time for Thailand as just over a week ago a soldier went on a gun rampage at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, killing 30 people and injuring 60 others. Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, died after his bloodbath shooting spree which he live-streamed on Facebook. Century Plaza is a popular mall near to the city's well-known Victory monument. The fatal shooting happened at a dental clinic in the retail complex, which has now been partially sealed off by officers who are still hunting the at-large gunman The shooting comes at a sensitive time for Thailand as just over a week ago soldier Jakrapanth Thomma (pictured) went on a gun rampage at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 30 people and injuring 60 others Coffee shop staff hide in the shop as gunman Jakapanth Thomma goes on a shooting spree in Thailand earlier this month by Pierre Balanian Closed for years, Aleppo airport reopens tomorrow. In response to Turkish threats, the Syrian President said that the battle to liberate the countryside of Aleppo and Idleb will continue regardless. Damascus (AsiaNews) Aleppos airport is set to reopen for the first time in years after the Syrian military last week retook almost all of the citys surrounding region. Anti-government rebel forces and the Al-Nusra and Daeshi terrorist groups had taken the airport in 2012 when they seized the eastern part of the city. Work on upgrading the airport had began in 2016, followed in 2017 by the first test of the new runway. Following tomorrows official reopening, the first plane, a domestic flight from Damascus, will land, Syrias Transport Ministry announced. Plans are for more domestic and international flights to follow, including direct flights between Aleppo and Cairo. In a rare and unusual move, a few hours after the reopening was announced, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad delivered a brief televised speech, carried by many national and pan-Arab TV broadcasters. The president noted that Aleppo is now safe after the Syrian army successfully took back the areas west of Aleppo. For eight years, rockets had been fired from here against the city, sowing death and destruction among the civilian population. [W]e are fully aware that this liberation does not mean the end of the war, or the failure of schemes, or the disappearance of terrorism, or the surrender of enemies, but it certainly means [. . ] a prelude for [their] complete defeat, sooner or later, Assad said. Responding to Turkeys threats, the Syrian President added that the battle to liberate the countryside of Aleppo and Idleb will continue regardless of some empty sound bubbles coming from the north,. Likewise, the battle for liberating all Syrian soil, crushing terrorism, and achieving stability will also continue. To this end, the Syrian army will never hesitate to carry out its national duties, and it will be as it always has been: an army from the people and for the people. Speaking about Russian forces, Assad described them without mentioning them directly as our brothers, friends, and allies A Syrian military source told AsiaNews that the Turks were surprised by the fall of Al Rifeyn's defensive lines that extend from south-west of Aleppo to the southeastern limits of Idlib. Faced with the inability of the forces it backed to hold back the Syrian advance, the Turkish army moved in further striking directly on the mistaken assumption that this would stop the Syrian advance. Source added that, in light of the new situation, Turkey has had to quickly build a new defensive line, the last one before the Syrian-Turkish border at Bab el Hawa. Meanwhile, in Idlib, the battle continues. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Russia are in Moscow for a two-day meeting, trying to avoid a confrontation. The Syrian government yesterday announced the opening of two more humanitarian corridors as civilians continue to flee combat zones. The decision to retake Idlib, which has the highest concentration of terrorists and mercenaries in the world, or at least free the Aleppo Latakia highway, was apparently taken in Damascus. This time, nothing or no one seems able of stopping the advance of the Syrian army. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies will expand its existing partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, to seek treatment solutions for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019-nCoV). This latest collaboration will enhance Janssen's ongoing work with global partners to screen a library of existing antiviral molecules, with the aim of identifying compounds with promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The expanded partnership with BARDA builds on Johnson & Johnson's multipronged response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These efforts, in addition to the ongoing development of a potential vaccine candidate, bring hope of finding a solution against COVID-19 for communities in greatest need in China and around the world. "We must engage in rigorous research and development in order to identify therapeutic candidates with antiviral activity against the novel coronavirus. Our ambitious goal is to bring forward a solution for patients and ensure future generations do not have to live in fear of the potentially serious consequences of COVID-19," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson. "We have a proven track record in partnering with others to develop and deliver antiviral therapies that serve the needs of diverse populations worldwide. While we are at early stages, we are making that commitment again." To screen potential compounds, Janssen will work with the Rega Institute for Medical Research (KU Leuven), in Belgium. The arrangement couples the Institute's infrastructure, breadth of high throughput screening experience, and capabilities for studying special pathogens with Janssen's drug development resources and antiviral expertise. Janssen and BARDA will share the research and development costs and mobilize resources to screen a library of antiviral molecules for activity against SARS-CoV-2. The agreement was created under an existing U.S. Government's Other Transaction Authority (OTA), HHSO100201800012C. This is a different agreement from the OTA under which Janssen's SARS-CoV-2 vaccine research is being conducted. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to a group of viruses called coronaviruses that attack the respiratory system. There is currently no licensed vaccine, treatment or cure for COVID-19. For more information on Johnson & Johnson's commitment to combatting COVID-19 visit: www.jnj.com/coronavirus. About Johnson & Johnson At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews. About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenGlobal. Notice to Investors Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding darunavir/cobicistat and development of potential preventive and treatment regimens for COVID-19. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Related Links http://www.jnj.com Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category TROY The citys economic development boards have a new leader as Mayor Patrick Madden appointed Justin R. Nadeau to chair the agencies. Nadeaus appointment as head of the citys Industrial Development Authority and Capital Resource Corp. comes as the Troy Local Development Corp. negotiates a land-use agreement with Hoboken Brownstone Company to redevelopment the vacant 1 Monument Square site with an estimated $30 million mixed-used project. Nadeau, a senior vice president with Pursuit, formerly the New York Business Development Corp., also is appointed to the TLDC and is expected to be elected chairman. Justin brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this important economic development role. Im confident his insight and knowledge will serve him well to support the Troy IDAs mission to encourage local investment in our community, Madden said in a statement announcing the appointment. I look forward to working with the IDA Board on projects that support Troys ongoing economic growth and revitalization, Nadeau said in the same statement. The TLDC has been negotiating with Hoboken Brownstone, a New Jersey-based company with waterfront development experience. The firm was selected by the city in July 2019 as the preferred firm to work on 1 Monument Square. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The 1.1-acre site between River Street and the Hudson River at the south end of Riverfront Park has been empty for nearly a decade when City Hall was razed to clear the site for eventual development. Hoboken Brownstone is making the fifth attempt to redevelop the site. Steven Strichman, the city commissioner of planning and economic development, said Tuesday negotiations are moving ahead with Hoboken Brownstone. Strichman also is a TLDC board member. BRUSSELSNo NATO ally should succumb to the temptation of letting Chinese tech giant Huawei into their next-generation cellular networks, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Feb. 17 at Allied headquarters, turning U.S. opposition to Huawei into a bipartisan effort. Pelosi said the invasion of privacy that would result from having Huawei integrated into Europes 5G communication networks would be like having the state police, the Chinese state police, right in your pocket. She insisted such technology was far too sensitive to turn to over to Chinese interests, even though they can deliver such technology cheaper, thanks to the fact that the company relied on Western know-how to build its systems. While some people say that its cheaper to do Huaweiwell yeahits a Peoples Liberation Army initiative using reversed engineering from Western technology, Pelosi, the senior Democratic lawmaker, told reporters in Brussels. So, of course its going to be cheaper to put on the market. And if its cheaper, then they get the market share and then they (China) bring in their autocracy of lack of privacy. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has also raised national security concerns about Huawei, the worlds largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and is a lobbying Western allies to bar the company from their wireless, high-speed networks. Trump administration officials, including Cabinet secretaries, say Huawei can give the Chinese regime backdoor access to data, allegations that the company rejects. The United States has been trying to have European nations ban the gear from next-generation cellular networks, but countries are shying away from banning it altogether. Britain, notably, announced last month that it would allow Huawei to participate in certain non-sensitive areas of its networks. Pelosi warned allies not to cave in to Chinese pressure to take Huawei. You cannot sell the privacy of the people of your country down the river, Pelosi said. Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:PAG) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 2 days. Investors can purchase shares before the 21st of February in order to be eligible for this dividend, which will be paid on the 3rd of March. Penske Automotive Group's next dividend payment will be US$0.42 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$1.68 per share. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Penske Automotive Group has a trailing yield of 3.2% on the current stock price of $51.81. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to investigate whether Penske Automotive Group can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. View our latest analysis for Penske Automotive Group Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Penske Automotive Group paid out a comfortable 31% of its profit last year. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:PAG Historical Dividend Yield, February 18th 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Penske Automotive Group, with earnings per share up 9.6% on average over the last five years. Management have been reinvested more than half of the company's earnings within the business, and the company has been able to grow earnings with this retained capital. We think this is generally an attractive combination, as dividends can grow through a combination of earnings growth and or a higher payout ratio over time. Story continues Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. In the last nine years, Penske Automotive Group has lifted its dividend by approximately 22% a year on average. We're glad to see dividends rising alongside earnings over a number of years, which may be a sign the company intends to share the growth with shareholders. The Bottom Line Has Penske Automotive Group got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Penske Automotive Group has seen its earnings per share grow slowly in recent years, and the company reinvests more than half of its profits in the business, which generally bodes well for its future prospects. In summary, Penske Automotive Group appears to have some promise as a dividend stock, and we'd suggest taking a closer look at it. Wondering what the future holds for Penske Automotive Group? See what the ten analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Protests erupted in London in response to the forcible conversion of a Hindu minority girl who was forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man in Sindh, Pakistan. People took to streets in London to protest outside the Pakistan embassy against atrocities that are perpetrated towards religious minorities in Pakistan. Several such cases of atrocities against the minorities in Pakistan have emerged over the past few months, and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has chosen to remain mum over them. Read: 'Naya' Pakistan: 15-yr-old Hindu girl abducted, converted to Islam in Sindh's Jacobabad Protestors in London were seen holding banners and placards which read 'Stop Child Abuse in Pakistan' and 'Freedon, Equality and Justice for Bharti Bai'. In a shocking incident, a Hindu girl in Pakistan was abducted during her wedding ceremony and was married off to a Muslim man after being converted to Islam. The news agency reported that the girl is identified as Bharti Bai. The report claimed that she was abducted by a group of people during her marriage ceremony in Hala, a city located in Matiari district in Sindh province. She was then married to Shah Rukh Gul. Read: Hindu girl gets kidnapped in the southeastern area of Sindh, Pakistan The report also claimed that authorities have not taken any action against the abductors. It went on to allege that Police helped the men to abduct the girl. Akali dal leader Majinder Sirsa questioned the silence of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over another Hindu temple vandalization. He tweeted the photos of vandalized scriptures and temple. A few months ago reports of an 18-year-old Sikh girl named Jagjit Kaur being abducted and converted to Islam in Pakistan had emerged. When in September, the victim was reunited with her family, Pakistan had faced global anger due to inaction. Read: Another forced conversion & marriage in Pakistan: Hindu bride abducted, forcibly wed As one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the United States, the Phoenix-metropolitan area includes the tony enclaves of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale which have seen skyrocketing demand for homes over $1M over the last 18 months. Altshuler's private client agent team merges investment expertise with luxury market insights to deliver a heightened level of expertise to the purchase and sale of ultra-luxury properties. "The Arizona luxury market has been steadily growing and the rapid influx of sophisticated buyers from out-of-state, especially California, has made it an ideal seller's market," said Robert Altshuler, licensed agent and Founder of Valley Luxury Partners. As a former wealth manager, Altshuler is uniquely positioned to serve high-net-worth clients looking to strategically grow their real estate portfolio. "Your home is one of your most valuable assets," Altshuler said. "Valley Luxury Partners approaches the purchase and sale of real estate property with a portfolio-minded approach." A changing buyer profile is also shifting Arizona's luxury market in favor of ultra-luxury sellers. "We are seeing a surge in luxury homeowners with very specific tastes," Altshuler said. "From art collectors seeking architecturally-significant homes with gallery-like space, to car collectors looking for homes designed to store and display rare and extensive collections to high-net-worth property owners looking to downsize due to lifestyle changes." "We are in the midst of a generational shift in Arizona's luxury consumer as well as a rapidly growing luxury market that is attracting buyers from major US luxury markets like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York as well as global luxury buyers from Mexico and China," he said. "Clients who raised their families in Paradise Valley or Scottsdale find they no longer need a large home after their children have grown up. Many of these homeowners already own second and third homes and opt to sell their multimillion-dollar mansions with extensive acreage for lower maintenance luxury homes or they wish to retire, travel or pursue other interests," Altshuler explains. "These homes are of particular interest to our out-of-market luxury investors who find the relaxed lifestyle and understated brand of Arizona luxury extremely appealing in addition to the value proposition of Arizona real estate and tax benefits," he said. Offering a cadre of concierge-level services unlike typical real estate firms, Valley Luxury Partners sets itself apart from the competition. Valley Luxury Partners is affiliated with RMB Luxury Real Estate and its broker, RMB Realty LLC. Michael Banovac is the Managing Partner of RMB Luxury and a licensed agent with Valley Luxury Partners. The combined firms will offer concierge-level services to real estate buyers and sellers, including all facets of design, staging, construction expertise and the potential for financing staging and property improvements. "Valley Luxury Partners is positioned to offer full-service real estate solutions to the local luxury market in a way that many traditional firms are not able to achieve," Altshuler said. "Valley Luxury Partners works closely with luxury clients at every milestone to reach their lifestyle goals." The firm is accepting new clients on a referral basis. For more information about Valley Luxury Partners visit www.valleyluxurypartners.com or call 480-734-2455. To request additional photos or schedule an interview contact Melissa Lively, The Brand Consortium Public Relations. About Valley Luxury Partners The Valley Luxury Partners team represents discerning buyers and sellers of luxury real estate in select markets in Arizona including Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Biltmore and North Scottsdale. Additionally, Valley Luxury Partners specializes in ground-up development, estate remodels and design services through its brokerage, RMB Realty LLC, and its general contractor, Mission Realty LLC. The combined firms have closed over $100,000,000 in real estate transactions. About Robert Altshuler Robert Altshuler is an Arizona licensed Realtor and founder of Valley Luxury Partners. A prominent name in Arizona real estate and finance for over 20 years, Altshuler brings a dynamic combination of experience as a wealth manager and real estate attorney. Frequently quoted as an industry expert, Altshuler has been a contributor to Kiplinger Personal Finance. He was voted as a 40 under 40 business leader by the Phoenix Business Journal. SOURCE Valley Luxury Partners Related Links http://www.valleyluxurypartners.com WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fish & Richardson won a $31.2 million jury verdict in Delaware federal court for Swiss clients Wasica Finance GmbH and BlueArc Finance AG in their long-running patent battle against Schrader International Inc. and three other Schrader companies. On February 14, 2020, a jury found that Schrader contributed to and induced infringement of Wasica's and BlueArc's '524 patent, which covers technology related to tire pressure monitoring systems, and awarded $31.2 million in royalty damages. The case is the latest chapter of an international patent dispute that started nearly 20 years ago between the parties. Wasica and BlueArc sued Schrader in the U.S. in 2013 after years of alleged infringement. Schrader supplies the sensors installed in the wheels of a tire pressure monitoring system that transmit information wirelessly to a receiver in the vehicle. While many companies had licensed the technology, Schrader sold about 164 million sensors that used the technology without paying royalties. "We are thrilled that the jury recognized our clients' contributions to the industry. Schrader's infringement helped them quickly become the market leader and sell over $1 billion in infringing sensors," said William Woodford, the Fish principal who led the litigation. In 2000, Congress passed the TREAD Act, which requires that all vehicles sold in the U.S. include tire pressure monitoring systems to warn drivers about underinflated tires. These systems are valuable because low tire pressure is one of the leading causes of tire failure. It also increases stopping distances and reduces traction, fuel economy and the lifespan of the tire. "This has been a long, hard-fought case that spanned the district court, the PTAB and the Federal Circuit. Through the ups and downs, our clients maintained confidence in the case and our ability to deliver an excellent result. The verdict shows that small, innovative companies can stand up to the market leader when they feel their patented technology has been taken," added Woodford. In addition to Woodford, the Fish trial team included principals Susan Morrison and Jason Zucchi, with support from Frank Scherkenbach and James Huguenin-Love. The case is Wasica Finance GmbH and BlueArc Finance AG v. Schrader International Inc. et al. (U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware). About Wasica and BlueArc In the early 1990s, two Swiss inventors developed the patented technology as part of a years-long collaboration with Uwatec, a worldwide leader in safety devices for divers. The technology was an offshoot of their previous work on dive computers, which measured the air pressure in dive tanks and transmitted that information wirelessly to a computer worn on the diver's wrist. The inventors filed a patent in 1992 and the U.S. patent issued in 1997. When Uwatec was eventually sold, the owners kept the rights to the tire pressure monitoring technology and formed Wasica and BlueArc to hold the patent rights. About Fish & Richardson P.C. Fish & Richardson , a premier global intellectual property law firm, is sought after and trusted by the world's most innovative brands and influential technology leaders. Fish offers patent prosecution, litigation, trademark, and copyright counseling and advocacy for a broad range of client needs. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. We have an established reputation as a top-tier firm for patent portfolio planning, strategy and prosecution, as well as post-grant proceedings at the PTAB. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe, and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson . Contact: Amy Blumenthal or Patricia Baressi Blumenthal & Associates Fish & Richardson P.C. (617) 879-1511 (617) 368-2115 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Fish & Richardson Related Links http://www.fr.com A new executive director will take charge at the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra this summer. The organization has announced that Matthew Herren will begin as executive director starting on June 15. Herren grew up in Lancaster before attending The Juilliard School, where he earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance. He has also worked with the symphony before, though it was as a performer. I am honored by the opportunity to work for such a celebrated orchestra," Herren said in a press release. As a young cellist, I played in the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and feel like I am returning home. I am eager to begin working with an award-winning team including Maestro Stuart Malina, the hard-working staff and board, and the exceptional musicians of the HSO. Herren has served as executive director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas since 2014, and prior to that worked in the administration of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission in Lawrence, Kansas and the Helicon Foundation in New York City. It is a testament to the artistic quality of our orchestra, the strength of our board and administration, and the quality of life in the Harrisburg area that we are able to bring Matthews caliber and experience back to the region, said Stuart Malina, HSO Music Director, in a press release. As we recognize our 90th anniversary, I look forward to working with Matthew to build an even stronger future for the HSO. The current executive director, Jeff Woodruff, has announced he will be retiring at the end of the 2019-2020 season. Woodruff was recently honored by Theatre Harrisburg for his contributions to the arts community of the Harrisburg region. A celebrity sex therapist and the former fiancee of comedian Drew Carey has reportedly been murdered. Dr Amie Harwick was found on the ground outside her Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles, in the US state of California, on Saturday morning (local time), local news outlet CBSLA reported. Residents reported hearing a females screams coming from the home about 1.16am and contacted police, with the 38-year-olds ex boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, 41, arrested over the death later that day, according to the publication. Amie Harwick has died after she was found gravely injured outside her home. She is pictured here with ex-fiance Drew Carey in 2017. Source: Getty Images Police found the victim unresponsive and gravely injured on the ground beneath a third-storey balcony with Dr Harwick suffering injuries consistent with a fall, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in a statement. The Los Angeles Fire Department took her to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Police said the investigation revealed possible evidence of a struggle upstairs as well as forced entry to the residence. Surveillance footage showed Pursehouse entering the property and leaving after the murder, police said. Detectives learned that the victim had recently expressed fear about a former boyfriend and had previously filed a restraining order against this person, the LAPD said. The restraining order had expired and the victim had seen this former boyfriend two weeks ago. Dr Harwick split from Carey in 2018. The Price Is Right host has not commented on the tragedy. Story continues She earned her masters degree from Pepperdine University in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. The 38-year-old was also a former Playboy model and the author of The New Sex Bible for Women. Many of her patients and friends reacted on social media. F***ing enraged to hear this news. She was my therapist... We spoke in detail about my past history [with] domestic abuse. She dedicated her LIFE (sic) to helping women like me. Feels unreal, Kelsey Darragh, host of E!'s Dating #NoFilter, tweeted. A woman responded, saying: She was my therapist too until I left L.A.; she truly was one of the most inspiring and strong women Ive ever met and she did more for me than words can say. Im just so sad and angry about this. Ending a relationship is a big choice. Sometimes, its hard to commit to that decision, Dr Harwick wrote in October. You always have the right to end a relationship. Breakups do not have to be a failure or a bad thing. Breakups can be healing, a sign of progress or a shift in dynamic that works better for everyone. In her last social media post, Dr Harwick posted about being thankful "for the authentic love that we give and receive to friends. Pursehouse is being held on a US$2 million bail as investigators prepare to present their case in court. with Yahoo Celebrity Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Sanjeev Pandit A large number of Indians work outside India or have businesses outside India. They visit India, at times for an extended period, or after a stint abroad, even return to India. Tax Liability in India in such cases depends on whether a person is a resident or a non-resident. If an individual is not a resident in India, only then is the income that is earned in India or which is received in India is taxable in India. So, to avoid world income becoming taxable in India, one must be careful about the period of stay in India. The Finance Minister, in the Budget that she presented last month, has proposed three changes to the rules for deciding the residential status of an individual. New resident rules An individual becomes a resident in India if he satisfies any one of the following conditions: (i) he has stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year; or (ii) he has stayed in India for 60 days or more in the financial year and his total stay in the earlier four financial years is for 365 days or more. However, in the case of Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), the second condition is relaxed. The relaxation enables them to stay longer in India without becoming liable to tax on their world income. Presently, if an Indian citizen or a PIO visiting India stays in India for less than 182 days, he/she retains his status as a non-resident. The Finance Bill proposes to reduce this period of 182 days to 120 days. As a result, now, if an Indian citizen or a PIO stays in India for 120 days or more while visiting India, he/she will become a resident of India. This may make his/her world income chargeable to tax in India. The second change proposed is an anti-abuse measure. Some persons, particularly high net worth Individuals (HNIs) manage their stay in various countries in such a way that they do not become residents of any country for tax purposes. They are classified as stateless Indian citizens. The Finance Bill proposes to introduce a new provision for such stateless Indian citizens. Under the new proposal, if an Indian citizen is not liable to tax in any country on account of his/her stay or domicile, he/she will be considered as a resident in India. As a result, she/he may become liable to pay tax in India on her/his world income. Tax fears This proposal created a genuine fear that Indians working in countries such as the UAE, which do not levy income tax, will be deemed as residents. In such a case, they will have to pay tax in India on their salaries earned abroad. The government immediately issued a press release stating `The new provision is not intended to include in tax net those Indian citizens who are bonafide workers in other countries. In some section of the media the new provision is being interpreted to create an impression that those Indians who are bonafide workers in other countries, including in Middle East, and who are not liable to tax in these countries will be taxed in India on the income that they have earned there. This interpretation is not correct. The governments communication also stated that in the case of Indian citizens who become deemed residents of India under this proposed provision, income earned outside India by them shall not be taxed in India unless it is derived from an Indian business or profession and, if required, necessary clarification will be incorporated in the law. Let us hope that it is done when the Finance Bill is passed. While the two proposals considered above are restrictive, the third proposal relaxes and simplifies the criteria to become a `Not Ordinary Resident (NOR). In the case of an NOR, although he/she is a resident, his/her foreign income is not chargeable to tax in India unless it is from a business controlled from India or profession set up in India. This provision is particularly helpful to returning Indians. It gives them time to arrange their affairs before their foreign income becomes taxable in India. Presently, to become an NOR, a person must be a non-resident for at least nine out of the 10 previous financial years or his/her total stay in India should not be more than 730 days in the preceding seven financial years. It is now proposed that an individual will be an NOR if he/she has been non-resident for at least seven years out of the 10 preceding financial years. The other condition of `not more than 730 days stay in India is being deleted. Now a returning Indian, who has been a non-resident for 10 years or more, will be an NOR for four years and his/her foreign income will not be taxed when he/she is an NOR. A welcome change, indeed! (The author is a Chartered Accountant and views are personal) Two Iowa police officers went above and beyond their duties to serve their community. Around 2:50 a.m. Friday, the Milford Police Department received a 911 call from an elderly man at a home. When officers Keaton Verner and Garth Wolff arrived, they asked the man what the emergency was. "He explained to us that he was lonely and wanted someone to talk to," Milford police said in a Facebook post, which has since been removed. The police department posted a new Facebook post and clarified, "He is very much loved and has family that are involved with his everyday life." But after they arrived early Friday, Verner and Wolff pulled up chairs next to the man and said they would keep him company. When Wolff's shift was over, he left, but Verner said he was going to stay for a while just to talk to the man so he wouldn't be lonely. "Most people wouldn't do this, and I am sure it meant the world to him. This career isn't about making arrests, giving people tickets. It's about helping others out in their time of need. If you ever feel like you need someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to call. We are always here," the Milford Police Department's Facebook post said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The police department shared its non emergency number for anyone else in their Iowa community that might be having a hard time. "Please don't be afraid to call us and we will respond at anytime during the day or night," the updated post said Sunday night. "We are here for you all 24/7 7 days a week." Harris County Constable Precinct 4 primary candidates include Republican incumbent Mark Herman, Republican Chris Bounds and Democrat Jeff McGowen. The mission of the Precinct 4 office is to improve the quality of life for our citizens by working collaboratively with area law enforcement, commissioners court, our community, and our contract holders to prevent crime, enforce the law, reduce fear, increase mobility and target violent offenders for prosecution. Those who are running for this position have answered questions about what they will do to serve the community in this role. Responses have been edited for clarity. Primary elections start with early voting from Feb. 18-28 and primary election day is on March 3. For more information on other candidates in the 2020 primaries, visit the Houston Chronicles 2020 voter guide here. Why are you running for this position? Herman: I am currently the elected Constable and every 4 years I am required to run for election. Bounds: I am running for Harris County Pct.4 Constable because the citizens of the precinct are not getting the services they need or deserve. I will start with improving deputy retention and halting the decline of the department. McGowen: I am running for Pct. 4 Constable to bring the community and law enforcement communities together to prevent crime throughout Precinct 4. Bridge the gap between law enforcement and minority communities, increase positive interaction between law enforcement and all communities [and] address the traffic congestion on major roadways. [I] insist on a daily working relationship with all law enforcement agencies within Pct. 4 to include backing up and picking up calls to reduce wait times for citizens in need of assistance. What are your top priorities? Herman: My top priority is keeping the 522 square miles of Precinct 4 safe. To continue listening to the hundreds of communities we serve and embracing citizens in community engagement. Bounds: My top priorities are dealing with the decline of the department. Addressing the homeless problem facing Harris county, starting with Pct.4. I will also be stepping up DWI enforcement within Pct.4. McGowen: My top priorities are: 1. Public Safety 2. Community Engagement 3. Reduction of Traffic Congestion What experience do you have that will benefit you if you are elected to this position? Herman: I have worked at the constables office for the past 34 years, and started as a deputy and worked my way to the No. 1 spot as Constable. I understand the organization and the 572 employees I work with here. More importantly, I know the many communities and citizens we serve and their specific law enforcement needs. Bounds: I have been in law enforcement since 1995. Most of that time I was assigned in patrol. I am a worker, I have experience in getting things done within the law enforcement field. I am an investigator and know how to catch the criminal. Seventeen of my law enforcement years was spent with the Pct.4 Constables office. I know how the department works and what the citizens of Pct.4 expect from their local law enforcement. I have a lot of knowledge about the jail, bonding and mental heath field as it relates to the problems on the streets. McGowen: 28 years of Law Enforcement experience, supervisor over many areas at the Harris County Sheriff's Office. [I am the] past-president of the Texas Crime Prevention Association and a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist. How do you plan to make an impact on your area? Herman: We plan to continue fighting the good fight against criminals to keep our communities and citizens safe. We proudly work daily by our core values of honor, integrity, compassion, and respect, when dealing with our communities. Bounds: I plan on making an impact in Pct.4 by stronger DWI enforcement as well as working with the community to educate the public about available options to driving drunk. I will establish a homeless outreach team, along with educating patrol deputies, on how to best use the Harris County Mental Health system to empower people with behavioral, health and IDD needs. Along with working with other county leaders to improve the Mental Health system in Harris County when dealing with the homelessness issue. McGowen: My plan to make an impact is to engage the community. I plan to be more proactive then reactive. Utilizing statistical data to focus resources in high crime or problem areas. Focus on bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community we serve. Launching more community based programs throughout Pct. 4. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com Democratic Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg is encouraging voters in Nevada to visualize the day they get US President Donald Trump out of office. "The deeper reason I ask you to visualize that day isn't about politics," said Buttigieg. "It isn't about just the need for us to win, but what America is going to need on that day, because that's going to be a challenging day in our country. It's not like our problems end on that day. That's when our work begins." Buttigieg's comments came during his first of three campaign stops in Nevada before he heads to a final town hall for the day in Salt Lake City, Utah. The former mayor was also asked if he does get Trump out of office, how will he make him leave. "Going to be pretty awkward when Chasten and I are moving in our furniture. I mean, if he won't leave, I guess if he's willing to do chores, we could work something out," said Buttigieg jokingly. "I think we want to set a goal of winning big enough that this election is way beyond cheating distance. And that Trumpism goes into the history books, too. It's got to be a win so big that Senate Republicans are reunited with their consciences and only a political shockwave can do that. And that's part of our focus." The Democratic Primary is being held Saturday in Nevada. Buttigieg is one of the top Democratic candidates having a successful turnout with voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Several Diamond Princess cruise ship passengers who were described as a high risk, along with their spouses, were taken to Nebraska, after displaying potential COVID-19 symptoms or testing positive, said state health officials on Monday. The Americans were taken University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for isolation, said state officials in an afternoon press conference. Christopher Kratochvil, executive director of clinical research for the Global Center for Health Security at the university, said a total of 13 people were taken to Omaha and described them as high-risk patients. Around 2 or 3 this morning, we were asked to bring individuals who had tested positive or had a high likelihood of testing positive, based on the symptoms they were showing, Kratochvil said. One of the passengers was taken to a containment unit with symptoms of an undisclosed chronic condition, said Shelly Schwedhelm, the head of Nebraska Medicines emergency department. When asked, neither Schwedhelm or the other officials could confirm the number of patients who are being held at the hospital. They have WiFi, they have TV, they have a small refrigerator, she said of the rooms. All of the 13 people have been tested, the officials said. Well have to decide whether they will stay in their room or be let outside, Schwedhelm said, adding that the rooms are separate. Those who have tested positive for this novel coronavirus are only showing mild symptoms of the disease, stated a release distributed at the news conference, reported KTIV. On Monday, Dr. Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary for the federal Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, confirmed to the Omaha World-Herald that 10 passengers and spouses were taken to the UNMC campus for isolation. Like other evacuees, they will have to be placed under federal quarantine for 14 days, according to the health officials. The State Department said that 14 passengers among the more than 300 evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, two or three days before. The virus outbreak on the Carnival Corp.-owned cruise ship is believed to have originated from an elderly Hong Kong man who had tested positive for the virus. Japanese health officials later placed the entire cruise ship under quarantine for two weeks, starting in early February. But as the days went on, more and more cases of COVID-19 were being confirmed. As of Monday, 454 people were sickened by the mysterious virus on the ship, said Japanese health officials.oom The From The Epoch Times 8 killed in Pakistan bombing: A suicide bombing killed eight people and wounded 16 others in Pakistan's southwest Baluchistan province when it struck an Islamist rally in the regional capital, local police said. The blast went off near Quetta's press club, where dozens of supporters for a Sunni militant group had gathered outside. Police said officers were among those killed. No one immediately asserted responsibility for the bombing. Baluch separatist groups, as well as rival Shiite and Sunni militants, operate in the province and have staged similar attacks before. David Caldwell pulled out his own baby book when his first child, a son named Zayne Alexander Caldwell, was born on Jan. 30. Zayne was born 10 weeks early, weighing just three pounds, and was admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. More than three decades earlier, in 1986, Caldwell was also born several weeks early and spent around six weeks in the same NICU as his son. "I got the baby book out because wanted to compare photos of me and Zayne as babies and in the NICU," Caldwell, now 33 and a professional wedding photographer, told "Good Morning America." MORE: 7th grader gives back to the NICU she was born in as a premature baby in the sweetest way Caldwell and his fiance, Renata Freydin, Zayne's mom, were looking through his baby photos last week at their home in Edison, New Jersey, when Freydin took a second look at one photo in particular. The photo, taken by Caldwell's late mom, showed him being held by his mom's favorite nurse in the NICU, a woman named Lissa McGowan, on the day he was discharged from the NICU. PHOTO: David Caldwell is held in 1986 by Lissa McGowan in the NICU at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Courtesy David Caldwell) Freydin immediately recognized McGowan as the same nurse who had been taking care of Zayne in the NICU since his birth. "We brought the [photo] in and two of the other nurses confirmed that it was [McGowan]," said Caldwell. "And my fiance lost it and was like, 'I told you it was her.'" MORE: Identical twin nurses help deliver identical twin girls in hospital where they work Caldwell described his own reaction at learning the same nurse who cared for him as a newborn was now taking care of his son as one of pure shock. "Its 33 years later and this does not happen every day," he said. "She was the only nurse in my baby book. My baby book came apart and the photo stayed in there." Caldwell and Freydin waited until McGowan's next shift, on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, to tell her about the special connection she shared with one of her patients and his dad. McGowan was equally shocked. Story continues "I have never had this happen before," said McGowan, who started her career at Saint Peters University Hospital in 1981. "Its kind of unusual having your preemie come back after 34 years ... but to have a dad come in and be the dad of a preemie is a whole other story." McGowan was part of the team that admitted Zayne to the NICU right after his birth and then spent the next three days as his nurse. She said she remembers speaking with Caldwell and helping to "calm his nerves" when Zayne was admitted, but never put together that she was speaking with a former patient. Making the connection even more remarkable is the fact that Saint Peters University Hospital has an award-winning and very large NICU. The department cares for about 1,500 babies per year, has 56 beds and employs 120 staff members, meaning there was a good chance McGowan could have been working but not assigned to Zayne. "At any given day there are 20 nurses working in the unit," McGowan said. "Just to be in the area that he was admitted to and being on that side of the room, everything kind of lined up to put us together." Caldwell, the youngest of seven siblings, said he sees having McGowan care for his son as a sign that his mom, who passed away in 2004, is looking out for his family. PHOTO: David Caldwell poses with his son Zayne and Lissa McGowan, the NICU nurse who cared for them both. (Courtesy David Caldwell) He remembers asking his mom as a kid about the woman holding him in the photograph in his baby book. "She was like, 'Oh this woman was so nice. She was so great. She just reassured me every day that you would be fine,'" said Caldwell. "This happening is like a way of telling me that my mom is looking over me and my baby." "I know my mom is watching down on me and her grandson and making sure that were in good hands and God is watching over us," he said. "Its just a really emotional thing." Under the care of McGowan and her fellow NICU nurses, Zayne is gaining weight, eating well and showing all the developments of a full-term baby, according to Caldwell. "He's a fighter," he said of his son. Father and son treated by same nurse at same NICU more than 30 years apart originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com As performance time nears, patrons of the 2011 Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball climb the stairs from the lobby of the Philadelphia Academy of Music to their boxes. The Academy announced last week that it has canceled next year's ball. Read more Last weeks announcement that the Philadelphia Academy of Musics Anniversary Concert and Ball will go on hiatus for at least next year makes clear that Philadelphia faces a crisis of history and tradition. While history and tradition may seem unimportant to some, to many Old Philadelphians like myself it is of the utmost importance. My fifth-great uncle, Napoleon LeBrun, was one of the visionary architects responsible for the construction of the Philadelphia Academy of Music from 1855 to 1857. The Philadelphia Academy of Music is the oldest opera house in the United States and has hosted a number of talented groups, including the Pennsylvania Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Academy celebrated its 163rd (and possibly last) annual concert and ball on Jan. 25. Its website advertises A Timeless Event, with the opportunity to step back in time with the same wonder and delight as the first guests of the buildings opening night gala in 1857. I understand any lack of empathy over the cancellation of a glamorous event for wealthy individuals that costs anywhere from $350 (for Young Friends) to $1,950 (for Parquet Box and Balcony Box) per ticket for the concert, dinner, and ball. However, I would not be quick to dismiss the importance of such a cultural event designed to celebrate and cultivate funds for the arts. The inability to attract and retain new patrons will have long-lasting adverse effects on the future sustainability fund-raising efforts for the Academy and other organizations in the city. READ MORE: End of an era? The Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball will go on hiatus. At first glance, the recent hiatus announcement seems like simple number-crunching. According to Academy chair Caroline B. Cackie Rogers, the amount of money spent on the event outweighs the amount it raises for restoration and preservation of the Academy. But in my opinion, this change is a microcosm of the larger societal problems plaguing Philadelphia as a whole. First, old money does not last forever, and there is a lack of influx from new money. Despite the rise of gentrification, economic growth in Philadelphia has remained relatively steady and may actually start to retract. Second, many younger people would rather live somewhere with more employment opportunities, better school districts, and less crime than Philadelphia. Third, in a 2018 study, Philadelphia ranked third in the country for income inequality a wealth gap that only benefits the spending habits of wealthy individuals with little to no benefit for the middle or upper-middle classes. Altogether, the lack of new innovative businesses with high-paying jobs and worsening inequality will continue to hasten disinterest in the city among the younger generations Philadelphia needs to thrive. And that disengagement stands to impact social, cultural, and genealogical organizations. When explaining the concert and ball cancellation, Rogers noted that the younger generation tends to be sticking a little bit more close to home in the suburbs, and so cant be reliably counted on to contribute to a place like the Academy. Hence, the organization is rethinking the event. Given that declining interest, I believe the hiatus is a pivotal moment for the city of Philadelphia that can serve as a learning opportunity for other organizations to become more inclusive and accommodating to younger generations in the hopes of remaining relevant. The Academy is a prime example of a historical organization in Philadelphia that can foster the connection between past and present. As such, the concert and ball should strive to reach younger patrons in order to keep the traditions of Philadelphia alive. I do not believe the city of Philadelphia is truly in decline rather, the celebration of its rich history and tradition is waning. Indeed, Old Philadelphians, corporate philanthropists, and socialites alike will adapt to changing times and continue to support their social organizations in new ways. But for the love of art and the city of Philadelphia, I hope the Philadelphia Academy of Music reconsiders the hiatus. Rather than cancel the annual concert and ball, its time to protect it. Christopher B. Alexander is a JD candidate at Villanova Universitys Charles Widger School of Law. When I was a child there was one thing I'd always hear my father say, on and on. He'd always ask me to take only as much food on my plate as my stomach required. He always reiterates the fact that the brain knows when you need to stop putting food on your plate because the stomach would tell it to. However, I always found that logic a bit flawed but as I grew older, I understood and realised his reasoning came from a very tangible logic, something we all should do on an autopilot, which is to not waste food, no matter what. Thinkstok Apart from a disarray in the balance of power, where the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer, food has been an inadequate resource for a lot of people in India. Sometimes food isn't accessible to some of the villages because they are lying in a godown somewhere, in filth, rotting away and no one takes adequate responsibility to keep the distribution of food balanced. People below the poverty line go hungry for days without a single proper meal, while people in bigger towns waste food because, well, they can. Keeping that in mind, a lot of provisions have been made in bigger cities to see that food doesn't go to waste, especially at weddings, where meals are cooked for over a thousand guests. For instance, Delhi Police ensures that the organiser or caterer gets an FSSAI license, from Delhi's Department of Food Safety, to run their kitchen and serve their food to guests for big functions. This helps them distribute the surplus food and leftovers at weddings etc. to the needy, through various NGOs. One of the prominent NGOs in Delhi doing this noble service is The Robin Hood Army, who've been feeding the needy while taking food from weddings that may otherwise go waste. Twitter However while efforts are being made in most metropolitan cities, we need to level this practice everywhere else in the country. Apart from people not getting adequate food, wastage of food also leads to emission of greenhouse gasses, and if food wastage was a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses. Smaller towns have started regularising food distribution and wonderful initiatives are being made personally too by hotels and resorts. For instance, this luxury resort in the hills of Coorg, Karnataka, bills people for wasting food and honestly, that's the only way to make someone realise that they're doing something wrong! At the Ibnii Spa and Resort in Coorg, food wasted by guests is billed to them at the rate of Rs. 100 per 10 gm and we feel all hotels and restaurants should adopt this policy to avoid maximum food wastage. Whatever money the resort makes out of billing their guests for food wastage goes to a non-profit organisation that feeds children at an orphanage in Madikere. Facebook "There has been a drastic decrease in the quantity of food waste since the initiative was taken up. We know that from the number of waste bins: it has come down from 14 to 1," said Ibnii's CSR Advisor, Shereya Krishnan, in an interview with a popular publication. She also said that the resorts composting units used to be overworked with 14 large bins collecting food waste daily. So it was decided to decrease the portions. The guests were told they could place any number of orders. But the wastage went on. The prices of charging the guests for food they haven't eaten at the resort is fairly simple. At the end of every meal, if the guest leaves food on their plates, whatever is left is weighed on a scale in front of them. At the end of the stay, when they're paying the bill, the total wastage of food is accounted for and they have to pay Rs. 100 for every 10gm they've wasted. Subsequently, the payment goes straight into a donation box. We have seen a drastic decrease in the quantity of food waste. From fourteen waste bins every day, we now only need one, Shreya Krishnan said in an interview with a popular publication. Which means there has been a drastic decrease in food waste in the resort and everyone is finishing everything on their respective plates, in order to save some money! Twitter While these initiatives are sprouting up all over the country to safeguard resources, we mustn't forget to do our bit without being told to do so. We're all well educated and well informed, so if we can contribute in any way towards a progressive and a self sufficient way of life, with some ardent compassion, then there's literally nothing like it! SAN DIEGO Many U.S. holding cells along the Mexican border were less than half-full, even empty, during an unprecedented surge of asylum-seeking families from Central America, newly unsealed court documents show, raising questions about the Trump administrations claims that it had to make people wait in Mexico because it didnt have the means to accommodate them. Holding cells were no more than half full at 18 of 24 border crossings on a majority of days between July 2018 and June 2019, according to the analysis of government data. Cells in the Texas cities of Laredo and Brownsville were no more than half-full on nearly nine out of 10 days during the 12-month period. Cells at some smaller crossings were often empty. Legal advocates for migrants say the figures show that Trump administration officials were making up excuses to keep people from entering the U.S. to apply for asylum. Customs and Border Protection, in its defense, has long maintained that the number of migrants it can take in at any one time is governed not just by the amount of holding-cell space but by available manpower. And during the surge, the staff was stretched especially thin dealing with priorities deemed more important, such as fighting drug trafficking and inspecting truck cargo. Also, holding-cell figures do not tell the whole story, a senior official said in the unsealed documents. Some cells are less than full because some migrants must be isolated from others for safety reasons. For example, someone arrested for a crime would be held in a cell alone, as would a family with lice, or migrants with tattoos denoting gang membership. A federal appeals court unsealed the documents after a request from the Associated Press. They were originally filed as part of a lawsuit that challenges the Trump administration practice of forcing asylum-seekers to wait for weeks or months in dangerous Mexican border cities to request asylum in the United States. Since 2016, U.S. authorities have adopted a practice known as metering, under which they accept only a limited number of asylum-seekers per day at official crossings. As a result, huge waiting lists have taken shape at border towns in Mexico. The AP counted about 19,000 people on waiting lists in four cities last July. Officials have rejected allegations that they are ignoring obligations under U.S. law and international treaties to consider asylum requests, portraying metering as a matter of crowd management. The analysis of the government figures was done by Stephanie Leutert of the University of Texas Strauss Center for International Security and Law. She studied the data on behalf of attorneys seeking to block the metering policy. Elliot Spagat is an Associated Press writer. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: An association of gold refiners will be created in Azerbaijan soon, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Orkhan Mammadov told reporters, Trend reports on Feb. 18. As part of this initiative, the Agency held a meeting with various entrepreneurs and appealed to the Ministry of Justice in connection with the registration of the association, chairman of board added. As a result of the appeal, an agreement was reached. This association will be registered within two weeks. Mammadov stressed that the creation of the association will be a significant event while the association itself will play the role of a bridge between the state and business. In conclusion, Mammadov said that the Ministry of Economy decided to create a working group that will operate in the field of gold processing. The representatives of the management of the customs committee, the Ministry of Economy, the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, AzerGold CJSC and the created association will be involved in this group, chairman of board said. "We will further reduce duties in this sphere for entrepreneurs to take advantage of this and return to the market they have left," Mammadov said. The press-conference entitled "Prospects for the development of the jewelry market in Azerbaijan: problems and opportunities" is underway in Baku on Feb. 18. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev, Chairman of the Board of Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of board of AzerGold CJSC Zakir Ibrahimov, as well as local entrepreneurs involved in the jewelry business attended the event. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Abdullah al-Mohamed uses a game to help his daughter Salwa cope with the sounds of falling bombs in Syrias Idlib. Salwa, a three-year-old Syrian girl, has only ever known war. But now, when she hears the sound of falling bombs, she laughs. In a video that has been widely shared on social media, the toddler stands on a sofa, leaning against her seated father, Abdullah al-Mohamed, and they play a bittersweet game they seem to have played many times before. As a rumbling sound grows louder, al-Mohamed asks Salwa: Is that a plane? Or is it a shell? A shell! Salwa responds, proud to have guessed right. Itll fall now, and we can laugh. As the blast sounds, the toddler jumps a little then starts laughing loudly as her more subdued father encourages her, laughing along and saying: Thats funny, right? A shell? His smile falters at the end of the video, when Salwa looks away. Abdullah ve guzel kz Selva. Yukarda durumlarn paylastgm baba kz. Ve yine tekrar eden o kahredici oyun. Anlamak icin Arapca bilmenize gerek yok. pic.twitter.com/wUwKAcLzWE Mehmet Algan (@alganmehmett) February 16, 2020 The video was filmed in Sarmada, a small town near Syrias border with Turkey where the family has sought refuge amid a renewed offensive by Syrian government forces and their allies on rebel-held northwestern Syria. The family were forced to flee their home in Saraqeb, a strategic town in Idlib province that fell to government forces earlier this month, when the air raids became too intense to handle, al-Mohamed told Al Jazeera. The 32-year-old said he devised this private game to help Salwa, his only child, overcome her fright as the attacks on Saraqeb intensified in December. Children in our neighbourhood used to play with bang snaps. One time during Eid, they threw them around to celebrate and Salwa was frightened by the noise, he said, referring to the religious Muslim holiday. I took her out to the balcony to show her that it was just a toy, a game kids play to celebrate Eid and whatnot, al-Mohamed added. I tried to use the same pretext to convince her that this was just a game, that she shouldnt be scared, al-Abdullah said. I needed to remove the fear from her heart, he said. I wanted her to associate these loud, frightening sounds to something that is light and amusing. According to the UN, some 900,000 people have been displaced in the area since the December offensive [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters] More than three million people live in Idlib province, many displaced from other parts of the country recaptured by government forces. According to the UN, some 900,000 people have been displaced in the area since the December offensive. The renewed military push has strained the fragile cooperation between Turkey, Russia and Iran, the main international players in Syrias war, who had designated Idlib as a de-escalation zone in a 2018 deal that slowed al-Assads push to retake the territory. Under the deal, Turkey, which supports a number of rebel groups, and Russia, which backs al-Assad, agreed to create a demilitarised zone in Idlib. However, the parties have accused each other of not sticking to the terms of the agreement and, last April, al-Assad relaunched his drive to take control of the last remaining rebel-held area. A number of ceasefires were negotiated and failed to hold last summer, with the government offensive restarting in December. The assault has been characterised by fighter jets launching initial attacks followed by shelling and the arrival of ground troops, as civilians flee en masse from towns, including Maaret al-Numaan and Saraqeb, towards the closed Turkish border. During our last days in Saraqeb, the shelling was so intense When it started, it could take up to a month to wind down, al-Mohamed recalled. My game will no longer be enough Al-Mohamed is not hopeful for the future, unable to find work as the family struggles to cope with everyday life near the sealed border with Turkey, which hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees and has said it is unable to absorb more. As a father, he worries constantly about the environment Salwa might grow up in. Shes doing fine, for now; shes a child who plays, laughs, and jokes, he said. But my fear is that as she grows up, the shelling continues. And when it does, my game will no longer be enough to shield her from deeper psychological trauma. I dont have any expectations for the future; its unknown to us here, al-Mohamed said hopelessly. I want the world to know: Were not terrorists as the regime paints us out to be, he said, Were human, were worthy souls who have the right to live like any other human being in the world. On Monday, in rare public remarks, al-Assad vowed to continue pressing on with the offensive in Idlib province as well as the outskirts of neighbouring Aleppo. Syrian state television said on Sunday that the Russian-backed forces had liberated all the villages and small towns west of Aleppo city, in what marked a significant advance for the government. Additional video reporting by Seena Khalil Mark Cahill's daughter, Abigail, was approaching her second birthday when he first noticed some unusual behaviour. She had poor eye contact, she liked spinning in circles, and began 'losing' words that she previously had in her vocabulary. Along with his concerned wife Claire, they brought her to their local health care provider, who referred her on to a waiting list for an Assessment of Need (AON). Shortly after her third birthday, they got a diagnosis that Abigail had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and needed multi-disciplinary assistance like speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. But since then, Mark feels it's been an "uphill battle" to get any kind of help for her and feels that due to chronic waiting lists for primary care assistance she is languishing on a system that no longer works. She currently attends an "excellent" pre-school in Donnycarney with a designated ASD unit, but Mark says she is not guaranteed a primary school place there in September. The family, who live in Raheny and also have three boys ranging in age from four months to three years, are living in an area that is seriously under-resourced when it comes to getting any kind of help. "The system is not broken; it's non-existent. In a third-world country I could imagine, but we're supposed to be a first-world country that is thriving," he said. "These are the most vulnerable children in our society and they have to wait three years to get any sort of public service assistance; it's unheard of. You wouldn't believe the letters I've sent into the HSE on this." New figures released to Independent.ie have revealed a huge disparity in the number of children on the waiting list for assistance, depending on which part of the city they are in. In the areas of Dublin north, north central and Dublin north west, there are nearly 2,500 waiting for initial speech and language assessment. When it comes to the catchment area of Dun Laoghaire, Dublin south east and Wicklow, there is just one-sixth of that number, with 405 children waiting as of the end of December 2019. Abigail had to wait more than two years to get into the Early Intervention Team (EIT) last May, and, apart from a few therapy sessions, has received very little assistance due to the chronic staffing shortage. However, she will be discharged from their services when she turns six later this year and will have to join the queue for the School-aged Disability Team. Mark has been told there's a three-year waiting list for that and says the former government's inaction on the issue is a disgrace. He is also baffled why the HSE can't divert resources from one side of the city to the other to help alleviate the waiting lists, when best practice is early intervention. "This country is thriving, but why are our children not seeing any of the benefits? Nobody wants to tackle the problem," he said. "It's been an ongoing battle for years. All we had was a diagnosis and a waiting list. She got a couple of speech and language sessions but there's only one OT therapist in Coolock spread across the whole of north Dublin. "It's called the Early Intervention Team but she wasn't seen until she was five; that's not early." He estimates his family has spent about 7,000 on getting private intervention for his daughter, but says she's being denied the help that she so badly needs. "My gripe with this is that I've paid my taxes since I was 18 and the one time you turn to the State for a bit of support, it's not there. "Why should I go down the private route and pay 100 for an hour of therapy for my daughter? The expenses rack up really quickly. You'd want to win the Lotto to afford to pay privately for all the therapies she needs," he said. Newly elected TD Aodhan O Riordain (Lab) recently held a public meeting in Raheny on the issue of autism and the crucial lack of resources, and said more than 100 concerned parents attended. "There's a huge level of exhaustion from parents trying to care for their children who feel they have to go to war with the system due to the huge lack of basic provision," he said. In a statement, the HSE said that improving access to therapy services in primary care was a "priority" and said plans were in place for additional therapy posts in 2020. I USED to imagine a lesser evil guard one of our shores from a bigger evil, to help us ward off the latters incursions into our shores. I once believed myself to be anti-US imperialism, but when China began menacing the Spratlys, I softened up on the idea of having a US base in the country again. What about Palawan, I thought. US imperialism is real, true. American multinational companies have oppressed and exploited us so they can gain bigger profits from their operations worldwide. But heres the problem: China is outrightly claiming what is ours and bullying us into submission. We hate that, except that the current dispensation seemingly does not. I also used to dream of an independent Philippines that is free from oppression and exploitation by foreign forces. But is there such a setup? Look at Vietnam. That country battled US aggression and attempts to split its soul in half. It won and realized the dream of unification at the cost of thousands killed and displaced. But Chinese imperialist designs is driving Vietnam back to US arms, although on different terms. People can be fickle. When President Rodrigo Duterte announced his pivot to China, his diehard supporters, and they are many, also began singing praises to China, even wanting the country to give up its claim to the Spratlys. Thus my dream of us defending our territory, even to the point of allowing at least one docking area for US warships in Palawan to deter Chinese aggression there, will no longer become reality. This setup has apparently split the anti-imperialist forces in the country. There are those anti-imperialists before who are now diehard Duterte supporters or DDS who are trying to put an anti-imperialist spin to their idols foreign policy, but that isnt working. These are the same people who made voters believe in the past presidential election that Duterte is a progressive. Ah, so the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA is not good for the country? What then do we make of the billions of dollars worth of aid that we would be losing once the military agreement is cut? The tongue may be in US President Donald Trumps cheek but there was a modicum of truth to his statement that the US would save money from the VFA termination. That may not be prime dollars but are dollars nevertheless. The truth is, many of the diehard Duterte supporters actually hate the anti-imperialists for disparaging in the past the terms of the VFA agreement. Some of these people love to travel to the US, buy anything stateside and even have relatives in the states. Now they have suddenly become anti-US and pro-China. They are clapping with glee at the governments decision to terminate the VFA. The lack of principles and the blind loyalty of these people to their idol show every time. I wonder what they would do in a change of administration. What if the new administration would be diametrically opposed viewpoint-wise from the old one? Oh, I forgot. That is precisely why the word balimbing was invented. FORT COLLINS, Colo., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Growcentia, a Colorado-based company that produces science-based solutions for cannabis and hemp cultivators under the Mammoth product line, today announced the appointment of Scott Wiley as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. "I'm excited about the projects Growcentia is working on, from new technologies and products to expanded markets," said incoming CEO Scott Wiley. "The company is the most well-recognized and respected brand of biological solutions to help growers do what they do best: produce high-quality, safe products for consumers. I look forward to my role as CEO and growing this young, dynamic company by strategically building upon an already rock solid foundation." Wiley will be taking over for Errol Arkilic who served as interim CEO since July 2019, and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. Under Arkilic's leadership, the company continued strong revenue growth and advanced multiple breakthrough technologies towards product launch. "Growcentia is poised for rapid and sustainable growth under Scott's experienced leadership", said Dr. Matthew Wallenstein, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board. "Scott is a proven leader with a clear vision of how to build on our past success by launching additional breakthrough products along with exceptional customer service that address critical grower needs. Scott's deep experience in both traditional agriculture and the hemp industry will enable him to anticipate and address rapidly changing market dynamics while effectively managing a growing enterprise." Wiley is an agriculture and food industry veteran. His career includes roles as CEO of Equinox Tree & Vine, an enterprise-scale fruit and nut grower, Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply Company board member, and president of DeLaval Direct, the market leading direct-to-farm distributor of dairy equipment and animal health technology. Earlier in his career, Wiley was a managing director at KPMG, where he completed M&A transactions exceeding $40 billion across four continents. Wiley most recently held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Front Range Biosciences, a leading producer of hemp plants and seeds. "We appreciate Scott's contribution to Front Range Biosciences and wish him the best as he joins our neighbor in Fort Collins, Growcentia," said Dr. Jonathan Vaught, Co-founder and CEO of Front Range Biosciences. "We are excited about the continued growth of the industry and how companies across the supply chain such as FRB and Growcentia are aligned in providing cutting edge solutions to growers." "I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Vaught for the opportunity to be a member of the leadership team at Front Range Biosciences. He has assembled an amazing team that are gamechangers in the industry," said Wiley. Created with high standards and backed by science, Mammoth products undergo rigorous testing in both lab and greenhouse settings, as well as by third party labs in order to ensure effectiveness and quality. For more information about Growcentia's Mammoth product line, please visit https://mammothmicrobes.com/ . About Growcentia Growcentia aims to enable the healthiest, most productive, and most profitable cannabis and hemp plants while minimizing environmental impact. Growcentia was founded in 2015 by a team of three Colorado State University PhD soil microbiologists who share a passion for enhancing soil and crop health and promoting sustainable agriculture. Media Contact [email protected] 970-818-3321 SOURCE Growcentia Jason Humphreys, 39, is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl he met on Snapchat A truck driver accused of the horrific rape of a 13-year-old girl he met on Snapchat was on bail at the time for allegedly sexually assaulting and choking a woman. Jason Humphreys, 39, was arrested at Panania in Sydney's western suburbs on Monday evening and charged with 17 offences including aggravated sexual intercourse with a child, sexual intercourse with a child and common assault. He allegedly sexually assaulted the young girl on multiple occasions in a truck and a home he was renting in south-western Sydney. As Humphreys was refused bail at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, it was revealed the New South Wales Attorney-General was urgently reviewing why he was freed last year. He was allowed bail despite being charged last April with four counts including sexual intercourse without consent and intentionally choking a woman. He is accused of meeting her on social media as well, the Canterbury-Bankstown Express reported. NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said he had ordered an urgent transcript of the bail hearing. 'Any allegations of child grooming and sexual assault are of immense concern,' he said. 'I have ordered an urgent transcript of the accused offender's bail hearing which I will review.' Humphreys (pictured) allegedly sexually assaulted the young girl on multiple occasions in a truck and a home he was renting in south-western Sydney Detectives allege Humphreys sexually assaulted the 13-year-old on several occasions this month at the house in Lurnea where he rented a room. They said he also attacked her in his truck last week while travelling from Sydney to Canberra. Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec says the pair initially met online in late 2019. He urged young people to be aware of who they could be dealing with online. 'We just can't make it loud enough,' he said. File image Political strategist Prashant Kishor is set to launch a campaign titled Baat Bihar Ki beginning February 20, reports suggest. The campaign will be aimed at reaching out to people who believe in the need for a new leadership for Bihar". Reports further suggest that the campaign is to mobilise one crore youth over the next 100 days. Speaking to the media, Kishor said that he would create a political force in Bihar for the betterment of the state no matter how much time it takes. Kishor also questioned the Nitish Kumar government's development model, even as he sneered at the chief minister for making ideological compromises to stay in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Kishor said: "Nitish ji has always said that he cannot leave the ideals of Gandhi, JP and Lohiya... At the same time, how can he be with the people who support the ideology of Godse. Both cannot go together. If you want to stay with the BJP, I don't have any problem with it but you cannot be on both sides." Also read: Prashant Kishor questions Nitish Kumar's development model in Bihar "There has been a lot of discussion between me and Nitish ji on this. He has his thought process and I have mine. There have been differences between him and me that the ideologies of Godse and Gandhi cannot stand together. As the leader of the party you have to say which side you are on," he added. Kishor was expelled from Chief Minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) over his open opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). He has been credited with designing Prime Minister Narendra Modis 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. Kishors Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) has worked with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) for the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, with the Congress in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in 2017. The organisation has also worked with Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the recently-concluded Delhi Assembly polls. I-PAC is currently working with Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and MK Stalins Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the 2021 Assembly election. (This story will be updated when more details are available) Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd sent a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) Tuesday informing him that the U.S. attorneys for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Pennsylvania are reviewing "unsolicited" information from the public related to matters involving Ukraine. Why it matters: Nadler had requested an explanation for the "intake process" that Attorney General Bill Barr stated had been set up in order to receive information that Rudy Giuliani had obtained about the Bidens in Ukraine. While the letter doesn't explicitly say that the Ukraine-linked information is coming from Giuliani, the former New York mayor's efforts to dig up dirt on President Trump's political opponents set off a chain of events that ultimately led to the president's impeachment. Giuliani is also believed to be under investigation in the Southern District of New York as a result of his foreign dealings. In a letter to the Justice Department on Feb. 10, Nadler demanded answers as to why the department is receiving information from Giuliani "outside of normal channels," especially in light of allegations that Barr was also involved in the Ukraine scheme. Details: Boyd stated in the letter that the department "regularly assigns U.S. attorneys to coordinate or focus on certain matters," and that this process "does not circumvent the department's established channels." Boyd stressed that all information will be "carefully evaluated and vetted," and that the department "remains vigilant against the significant threat of disinformation." He also repeated the Justice Department's denial that Barr has ever discussed matters related to Ukraine with Giuliani. Read the full letter. Classical guitarist Paul Vondiziano will perform at Hope College on Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the John and Dede Howard Recital Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts. Evert Lutz, a music critic from the Netherlands, has called Vondiziano an aristocrat among guitarists, while Gerald Elliot of the Grand Rapids Press has called him a superb guitarist a sensitive musician in full command of his instrument. Vondiziano has performed at Hope College several times, including solo concerts and in conjunction with other artists. Vondiziano was born in Larnaca, Cyprus, where he began his study of the guitar at age eight. Following his studies in the United States, he returned to Cyprus, where his performance activities led to further engagements and tours in Europe. Since his return to America, he has been active as a performer and continues to make appearances abroad. He has premiered works for guitar such as his own Memories of Inner Time and Triptych, as well as Will Bottjes Lighter Strings for guitar and harpsichord and Greetings suite for solo guitar. He has collaborated with various musicians and ensembles and has performed as a concerto soloist with ensembles such as the Cyprus National Chamber Orchestra, the Boise Philharmonic, Kalamazoo Symphony, Plymouth Symphony and various university-related orchestras. He has also participated in ensembles such as Opera Grand Rapids (in productions of The Fall of the House of Usher by Philip Glass) and Greek Music Groups. Other collaborations include a guitar-harpsichord duo with Susan Lawrence from the Gilmore Keyboard Festival. He has been featured both in performance and interview formats on Cyprus National Television and Radio, Swedish Radio, public radio stations in the U.S. and CBC Radio in Canada. Tickets for the concert are $10 for regular admission, $7 for senior citizens and Hope faculty and staff, and $5 for students 18 and under. Tickets are available online as well as at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Audience members who need assistance to fully enjoy any event at Hope are encouraged to contact the college's Events and Conferences Office by emailing events@hope.edu or calling 616-395-7222 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., on Columbia Ave. between Ninth and 10th streets. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. World Vision's $3.7 million coronavirus campaign to aid nearly 400,000 in China Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As over 1,600 people in China have died due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the international evangelical humanitarian agency World Vision is spending millions to provide assistance to nearly 400,000 people in the midst of the deadly health crisis. Sponsoring over 55,000 children and employing 300 staffers in China, World Vision is one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations operating in the country. The organization remains concerned about the increasing rate of confirmed coronavirus cases as China reported at least 121 more deaths from the virus on Friday. The Chinese government reported Saturday that 1,665 people have died from the virus. Erica Van Deren, World Vision program manager for humanitarian and emergency affairs, told The Christian Post that about 39,000 of World Visions sponsored children live in areas of China that are at immediate risk of the coronavirus. However, she said that none of the World Vision sponsor children have contracted the virus. Were working with our sponsor children and their families to make sure their families have the protective equipment that they need, Van Deren said. Then also [they need the] education and understanding of how they need to protect themselves from this and talk to kids about the fear and stress they may be having. World Vision aims to help 390,000 people in 10 Chinese provinces by distributing personal protective equipment and sanitation products that include facemasks, thermometers, sanitizers and soap. The cost of World Visions coronavirus-related efforts in China is estimated to be about $3.7 million. Van Deren said World Vision has already distributed 50,000 hospital-grade facemasks to people in five counties in four provinces. These are incredibly poor families, she said. World Vision China has a history of addressing the needs of these communities. World Vision will work with local partners to reach vulnerable families to educate them on the importance of proper hygiene and handwashing techniques. In addition to helping sponsor children and their families, World Vision is also helping local community health workers in provinces like Hubei and Hunan to ensure that they have the right protective supplies. Those include gowns, gloves, eye protection and respirators. World Vision will also seek to assist Chinese institutional homes for vulnerable children. Such homes include orphanages or centers for disabled children. Right now, that is sort of a gap in the response, Van Deren explained. World Vision is helping to fill that gap and working with the government to make sure that the people working in those homes have the protective equipment that they need. World Vision has experience assisting vulnerable communities through its work in past health crises such as Zika, Ebola and H1N1. As the total number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 68,500 worldwide, World Vision is also working on a global preparedness plan with all of its offices, especially those bordering China and some of its offices in Africa. As of Saturday, four reported coronavirus-related deaths have been reported outside of China. We dont want anybody out there to think there is a big fear of transmission being outside of China, Van Deren said. Really, the biggest concerns are inside China. But every office is assessing what is the World Vision capacity to respond if this were to come [to their countries] and if the host governments are ready to respond if this were to happen. Van Deren said that in Vietnam, Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar and the Philippines, they are confident in the abilities of the World Vision offices and the national governments to respond. However, there is concern about countries with inadequate health systems. Our biggest concern is if this were to go into countries that dont have strong health systems or dont have strong governments that are able to control and trace the virus, she stressed. What we have right now is the grace of time. Lets be thinking about what would happen if this were to come to a country in southern Africa and think about who would lead our response there and who would be our public health leaders. In a lot of these places we have worked for a long time on infectious diseases like Zika, Ebola and HIV and we already have strong connections to the ministry of health and local health workers, she added. There has just been an incredible amount of learning from the Ebola outbreak that we can be applying to this coronavirus outbreak. In the U.S. there have been 15 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in seven states. "Right now we're in an aggressive containment mode," Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Robert Redfield told CNN, adding that they dont know a lot about the virus. "This virus is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year, and I think eventually the virus will find a foothold and we will get community-based transmission." TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Robert Shahverdyan, Head of Vascular Access Center at Asklepios Klinik Barmbek of Hamburg, Germany, has recently published a retrospective analysis of his first 32 consecutive radiocephalic (forearm) VasQ External Support procedures in the Journal of Vascular Access. VasQ External Support, a Laminate Medical technology, is implanted around the connection between the vein and artery of an arteriovenous fistula to promote development into a functional access for hemodialysis. The paper demonstrated that using VasQ as standard of care for radiocephalic fistulas resulted in a significant improvement in his center's primary fistula failure and longer-term secondary patency rates with less repeat interventions when compared to historical controls. Radiocephalic fistulas are the preferred vascular access to facilitate dialysis treatment as compared to other modalities despite the reported high rates of primary failure and need for frequent interventions. Historically, the primary fistula failure rate for radiocephalic fistulas at Dr. Shahverdyan's center before the use of VasQ was 29%, which compares well to the typically higher rates reported in the clinical literature for this type of fistula. That primary failure rate has dropped significantly to 6% since he began using VasQ as the standard of care for his radiocephalic patients. Additionally, his rate of repeat procedures required to make the fistulas usable dropped from 0.62 per pt-yr to 0.26 per pt-yr with VasQ. For context, typically reported rates for repeat procedure are between 1 to 2 interventions per pt-yr in Europe with rates in the U.S. reported >3 per pt-yr. His data aligns well with previously reported clinical studies for VasQ for upper arm fistulas and shows that the adoption of VasQ as the standard of care improved patient outcomes of an already high performing center. Dr. Shahverdyan commented that, "Hemodialysis patients are a particularly challenging patient population with historically poor outcomes related to vascular procedures. As surgeons we must be skeptically optimistic about any new technology that promises better outcomes for our patients until we see it perform in a real-world setting. After careful review of my results over the last few years, I was excited to learn of the beneficial impact VasQ has had on my hemodialysis patient outcomes and am happy that I can offer them a better option with VasQ as my new standard of care for their vascular access." "The results from Dr. Shahverdyan's practice is a significant step forward for Laminate to meet our goal of providing surgeons tools to create more usable fistulas," said Laminate CEO Tammy Gilon. "We are excited to continue to partner with physicians like Dr. Shahverdyan as they work to create functioning fistulas for each of their patients." About Laminate Medical Technologies Laminate Medical Technologies is dedicated to improving AVF function for hemodialysis patients. Founded in 2012 by Tammy Gilon and Dr. Eyal Orion, Laminate plans to build upon the success of VasQ with additional devices currently in development to address the challenges faced by AVF patients. For the full publication, go to the Journal of Vascular Access. To see a demonstration video of VasQ, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W3HoTH2x58 . Visit Laminate at www.laminatemedical.com. SOURCE Laminate Medical Technologies Related Links http://www.laminatemedical.com Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday will propose millions of additional dollars for Illinois long-troubled child welfare agency as he puts forward a plan to again balance the states chronically unstable budget while simultaneously trying to convince voters to approve his graduated-rate income tax plan this fall. The budget proposal Pritzker will present to lawmakers cant rely on any additional revenue Illinois could see from the graduated income tax if voters approve his plan, and the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services is just one area where theres a demand for more state funding. Pritzkers spending plan also will need to continue pumping more money into public schools under an education funding formula lawmakers approved in 2017, and the states required payments to its underfunded pension systems will continue to grow. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Pritzker wouldnt explain how he plans to handle those challenges, instead highlighting his proposal to increase funding and staffing at the states child welfare agency for the second straight year as it continues to recover from the budget stalemate under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners administration and struggles to protect the children in its care. The nearly $147 million in additional DCFS funding Pritzker is proposing for the budget year beginning July 1 is aimed at boosting the understaffed agencys workforce to reduce heavy caseloads for investigators and meet a projected increased demand for services. A top aide to the governor hinted at the possibility of proposed increases for other social services programs as well. This new budget is really about rebuilding and reinvesting in our overall human services system, with a special focus on our child welfare work, Deputy Gov. Sol Flores said. Pritzkers second budget address could mark a seminal moment in his tenure as he continues to push the case to voters for approving his signature initiative: an amendment to the state constitution that would swap the mandated flat-rate income tax for a graduated rate structure, with wealthier residents taxed at higher rates. The governors office has estimated the rates approved by lawmakers last year would raise an additional $3.6 billion in annual revenue. The governor wouldnt say what cuts hell propose in other areas to fund his priorities or whether hell recommend an overall increase in state spending from the $40 billion budget that was approved for the current year with bipartisan support. Lawmakers last year approved a sweeping gambling expansion as well as a host of tax and fee increases that force Illinois residents to shell out more for gasoline, cigarettes, license plates and other items. But all of that revenue is dedicated to Pritzkers $45 billion Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program. This years operating budget will benefit from tax revenue from legalized recreational marijuana, also approved by the General Assembly last spring. At a news conference in Chicago, the governor touted $225 million in spending reductions his administration is anticipating for the coming year, mostly from health care savings achieved through union contracts with state workers. While that amount would cover the proposed increase at DCFS, it represents less than 1% of the overall state budget. Pritzkers plan to augment the DCFS budget would put $21 million toward cost-of-living raises for private agencies the state works with to provide the vast majority of the child welfare services in Illinois, with the aim of attracting and retaining skilled workers. Pritzkers proposal also increases investments in technology and would raise the departments authorized staff head count to 3,056, adding more staff to take hotline calls with reports of child abuse and neglect, and adding workers in other areas to reduce the caseloads of investigators and other employees. Last year we started the long road of improving the foundation of DCFS, and this years budget and this years plan of action is all about how we rebuild and set a foundation for a system that has not had all the support its needed in the past few years, acting DCFS Director Marc Smith said. I think that our opportunity is to keep moving forward and keep building. The proposed boost for DCFS will be welcomed by many Democratic lawmakers, whove bemoaned the deterioration of social services during four years of budget battles with Rauner. Some GOP lawmakers also have supported increased funding for the agency. How that will affect other aspects of state government, and how Pritzker plans to cover the states perennial budget gap, remain open questions, however. House Majority Leader Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat, said he wants to see the state continue to increase funding in areas such as human services and elementary and secondary education, but the question is: How are we going to pay for it keeping up investments in these areas that we all want? Were going to have a tough budget situation this year, Harris said last week. Theres going to be a big gap to close, and I think were all going to be listening very closely to how (Pritzker) will close that while we wait for the vote on the graduated-rate income tax. German-based Freudenberg Group CEO Ulrich Kerber on Tuesday discussed modal quality for Rs 400 crore investment in Punjab's automotive sector with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The Chief Minister assured the Freudenberg Group of government's full support and cooperation to undertake expansion in the state. Kerber, who met the Chief Minister said, "The group was in constant touch with the Invest Punjab team for identification of a suitable site for their new project, which would be soon finalised." He also lauded the positive attitude of Invest Punjab in extending all possible support to the group for the execution of their proposed plan. Singh appreciated the group's endeavours and said the new proposed project would further boost the investment sentiment in the state, besides generating tremendous employment potential. He said that with his government's investor-friendly policies, coupled with renewed confidence of entrepreneurs, the state had firmed up investments worth nearly Rs 60,000 on the ground since March 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After six acrimonious years, the fire unions dispute with the city of San Antonio has ended with a whimper. The contract that a panel of arbitrators handed down is nowhere near the terms sought by the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association. Firefighters would have been better off if their union had accepted a contract that mirrored the one inked between the city and the police union in 2016. Firefighters will not receive back pay to compensate for their frozen wages during this dispute. Going forward, they will receive smaller pay raises than city of San Antonio police officers. While the evergreen clause in the fire contract was reduced from 10 years to five years, the police union maintained an eight-year clause. And, of course, firefighters will have to contribute to their health care plan, the very issue they were fighting. Credit to Mayor Ron Nirenberg for not caving to political pressure on this one. And credit former City Manager Sheryl Sculley for having the wisdom and conviction to address rising public safety health care costs. The citys position was never about not valuing first responders San Antonios firefighters are still among the highest-paid in the state but about maintaining sound fiscal practices and not crowding out other city services. Thank goodness for firefighters and police officers. But also thank goodness for parks, roads, public transit and community centers. Whats particularly sad about this agreement is it reflects the culmination of folly. Not only have firefighters come out behind under the misbegotten leadership of San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association President Chris Steele, but the unions tactics damaged the city and undercut its own aspirations. This really is a union tragedy. We are referring, of course, to the fire unions misbegotten charter change amendments. Voters approved two of those three amendments in 2018. One limits the city managers tenure to eight years and pay to 10 times the lowest-paid city employee. While we appreciate the idea of limiting pay and tenure for an unelected executive who is a public servant, what this means in real terms is San Antonio has limited itself when it comes to recruiting talent. If City Manager Erik Walsh is thriving in year eight and that is our hope and expectation just how do taxpayers benefit by replacing him with a new city manager? At some point soon, this charter change will need to be revisited. The other charter change gave firefighters the sole right to declare an impasse with the city over contract talks and head to arbitration. Obviously, arbitration didnt go their way. But this maneuver also threatened the citys credit rating. In 2018, Fitch downgraded the city to AA+, specifically citing this charter change. The other ratings agencies held steady at AAA, but downgrades have the potential to increase borrowing costs. We also found this a strange tactic by the fire union because, if anything, a AAA rating would make it easier for the city to provide a better contract. While its tempting to frame this in the terms of winners and losers San Antonios firefighters should think long and hard about their union leadership the most important takeaway is the city and community suffered in this protracted fight. Thats something city officials and the public safety unions should be mindful of in future negotiations. Its past time to write a new chapter. It appears nothing can stop Sofia Richie from enjoying sushi at celebrity hot spot Nobu. Despite having her wisdom teeth pulled just a day prior, the 21-year-old aspiring actress looked in good spirits while enjoying a meal with friends at the famed restaurant on Tuesday. Like in her post-surgery picture, Richie's cheeks did not appear swollen and she seemed unaffected by the procedure while sporting a pair of trendy white jeans and blue sweater. Trooper: Sofia Richie, 21, looked in good spirits while enjoying a meal with friends at the famed restaurant on Tuesday just one day after getting her wisdom teeth removed On Monday, the Hello hitmaker's daughter took to Instagram to share a picture and update to her followers after the oral surgery. 'Wait this really sucks,' she wrote over a photo of herself laying in bed wearing a jaws wrap and in full makeup, while appearing to be icing down her face. The model, who recently revealed she's taking a step back from Keeping Up With the Kardashians, appeared to be recovering smoothly as kept her blonde locks down and face hidden under a pair of over-sized shades. Ouch! The Hello hitmaker's daughter took to Instagram to share a picture and update to her followers after the oral surgery laying in bed wearing a jaws wrap and in full makeup on Monday Feeling better: Like in her post-surgery picture, Richie's cheeks did not appear swollen and she seemed unaffected by the procedure while sporting a pair of white jeans and blue sweater Before getting her teeth pulled, Richie spent Valentine's Day with boyfriend since 2017 Scott Disick. While the pair have been together for two years, their relationship is often on-and-off again. Sources recently told People: 'Scott and Sofia are the type of couple that constantly split up and get back together. It's all very dramatic, and then all good again.' Romantic dinner: Before getting her teeth pulled, Richie spent Valentine's Day with boyfriend since 2017 Scott Disick Like Richie, her close friend Kylie Jenner underwent the same procedure on Monday. The youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister also took to social media to express her pain and plans to stay in her pajamas for the next few days. 'Hi I got my wisdom teeth taken out. This sucks,' she wrote on her Instagram story of TV seemingly panning over the Santa Monica Pier. Feeling good: The model, who recently revealed she's taking a step back from Keeping Up With the Kardashians to focus on her own career ambitions, looked happy to be out and recovering smoothly The 22-year-old billionaire with 162 million Instagram followers was not exempt from the common procedure, many 17 to 25 undergo, which involves removing the third molars and the last permanent teeth to grow in. If not removed, in some people, these teeth can come in at an angle toward the other permanent teeth, the back of the mouth or into the jaw and can cause pain. Removing the teeth is a common procedure and aftercare can be tedious to prevent infection, swelling is highly likely. Besties: Like Richie, her close friend Kylie Jenner underwent the same procedure on Monday While the famous friends have not been spotted recovering together, Jenner is spending her recovery time snuggling up with her 2-year-old baby girl Stormi. The toddler has been supportive of her mom's surgery and in one video Jenner asked her, 'Are you taking care of mommy? Are you taking care of me?' Have you been taking care of me?' 'Yeah!' Stormi replied, while her mother confirmed, 'You have!' External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met top leaders of the European Union and held wide-ranging talks on key issues such as combating terrorism, climate change and enhancing economic cooperation, that would "benefit both India and the EU". Jaishankar, who was in Germany during the weekend for the prestigious Munich Security Conference, arrived here on Monday to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit for the India-EU summit here next month. He was here at the invitation of Josep Borrell Fontelles, European Union's High Representative/Vice President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of the EU, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The FAC, constituted by the EU High Representative and the 27 Foreign Ministers of bloc's members, is responsible for the EU's external action on foreign policy, defence and security, trade, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Jaishankar shared with the FAC India's foreign policy priorities and regional and global perspective. "The focus of the exchange was on the common values of India and the EU, which represent the world's two largest democracies and their shared commitment to democracy, multilateralism, rules-based international order, rules-based international trade with the WTO at its core and sustainable development," according to the statement. Both the sides expect to deepen their engagement - particularly on common priorities such as addressing climate change, safeguarding multilateralism, cooperation in defence, security, connectivity, digital economy, trade and investment as also in the field of defence security and addressing the menace of terrorism, it said. This was Jaishankar's first visit to the EU after the assumption of office of the new Commission in December 2019. The foreign minister met EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and the two leaders discussed experiences in capacity building and development partnerships. "Coordination on these issues would be to the benefit of both India and EU," Jaishankar tweeted. The minister also held "positive and productive" parleys at the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU. "Thank the attending Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors & senior officials and most of all HR (High Representative) @JosepBorrellF. Looking forward to working together to strengthen this key partnership," he said. Jaishankar also met EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan and "exchanged views on the prospects for India-EU economic cooperation." He appreciated President of the European Council Charles Michel for his vision for the EU and Eu-India relations and expressed confident that "his (Michel) leadership can translate that into substantive outcomes."Jaishankar held a very "engaging" conversation with Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans and the two leaders discussed experiences on sustainability, climate change, environment and innovation. Jaishankar also had an open discussion with members of the European Parliament representing a broad spectrum of and member states. "The interaction covered political, economic and social issues. Noted their deep interest in India and our relations with the EU," he tweeted. Jaishankar met Philippe Goffin, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defence and congratulated him on Belgium's assumption of the Presidency of the UNSC for February 2020. The two ministers discussed India-Belgium cooperation in the bilateral context, in multilateral fora as well as regional and global issues of shared interest. During his one-day visit, Jaishankar exchanged views with a group of members of the European Parliament representing various members and political groupings in the new European Parliament. This was his second such interaction with the MEPs. Jaishankar's visit comes weeks after the European Parliament postponed until March a vote on a joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by its members against India's Citizenship Amendment Act, which was debated at its Plenary session in Brussels. During the debate, Helena Dalli, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, had said the Commission was looking forward to Prime Minister Modi's visit to Brussels in March for the 15th India-EU Summit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The principled position is that the Ukrainian-Russian border on the Ukrainian side must be controlled by Ukrainian border guards. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the next summit of the Normandy Four leaders will raise the question of the transfer of control back to Ukraine over the Russian-occupied sectors of Ukrainian-Russian border in Donbas, says Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko. The minister recalled that the next meeting of the Normandy Four leaders was tentatively scheduled for April. "The last time we managed to agree on seven main positions. Among which there was no place for the issue of the border," Prystaiko told a TV panel show on ICTV. "But that's exactly how President Zelensky poses the question, and at least the first step that we offered to the Russian Federation that we take is to create a special working group to deal with this question [of the border]," the foreign minister said. According to him, this working group should determine how full control over the border shall be transferred to Ukraine, and how many efforts and steps are required to this end. "As of today, such a group has not yet been set up, and that's why President Zelensky, like last time, will insist that the issue be considered and remain among the priority ones," Prystaiko said. Read alsoUkraine seeks to hold local elections as early as this fall, including in Donbas and Crimea, president says In this regard, he emphasized that the Ukrainian border must be controlled by Ukrainian border guards. "This is a principled position that we must achieve," the Foreign Minister stressed. He also said that the first package of Minsk agreements back in 2014 provided for a security corridor under the OSCE control along the Ukrainian-Russian border. "Unfortunately, most people forgot that such an agreement had been reached, and in this context, our negotiations aren't progressing," Prystaiko said. The minister added that the ceasefire is still on the agenda, another priority issue is the exchange of held persons, and access to the occupied territory of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Prystaiko said that all these issues will be raised again at the next Normandy Four summit. The foreign minister also added that he had agreed with his German counterpart Heiko Maas that before the summit it would be necessary to study progress on Donbas settlement. Read alsoAvakov elaborates on idea of joint patrolling in Donbas "We agreed with the German Minister Maas that we will definitely find time to look at the progress that would be made and hold a meeting at the stage where our experts have enough grounds. After that, we will be able to convey to the leaders [proposals] regarding further steps," Prystaiko said. As UNIAN reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian authorities had been making every effort to ensure that the next Normandy Four summit took place in April this year. In turn, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko noted that the Normandy Four summit may not take place in April, as previously scheduled. Russia said that the decision to hold the next summit would be made based on progress in implementing the existing agreements. Hyderabad: A 33-year-old accountant at NBK Creations was arrested by the Jubilee Hills police for forging the signature of actor and TD MLA Nandamuri Balakrishnas wife Vasundhara. According to the police, the accused, Korri Shiva Kumar, forged the signature of Ms Vasundhara and applied for mobile banking with the HDFC Bank branch at Jubilee Hills Road No. 2. The matter came to light when bank officials called Ms Vasundhara for verification on February 13. Surprised, she asked NBK Creations accounts manager V. Subba Rao to inquire with the bank. During the internal enquiry, it was found that Shiva Kumar had forged the signature. Jubilee Hills police investigated the case and arrested him on Monday. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Jubilee Hills inspector K. Sattaiah said Shiva Kumar joined NBK Creations six months ago. As he had to frequently visit the bank, he thought of using internet banking and applied. He did so without the knowledge of the account holder. In addition to that, he forged the signature of the account holder, which is a crime. Based on a complainant from Mr Subba Rao, the police booked Shiva Kumar for cheating, forgery, using forged documents. Bengaluru, Feb 18 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi took oath as a member of the Legislative Council (MLC), a day after he was elected to the Upper House in a straight contest, an official said here on Tuesday. "Legislative Council Chairman K. Pratapachandra Shetty administered the oath of office to Savadi in Kannada on the second day of the budget session," the official told IANS. Savadi won the contest by 113 votes, defeating Anil Kumar, who was backed by the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) on Monday. Savadi, one of the three Deputy Chief Ministers in the 6-month Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, joined the B.S. Yediyurappa Ministry on August 20. As Savadi was not a member of the either House he had to become a member of the Assembly by February 19. Savadi lost the May 2018 Assembly elections from the Athani seat to Mahesh Kumathalli of the Congress. Ironically, Kumathalli, who quit the Congress to join the BJP in November and was re-elected from Athani in the December 5 by-election, has remained out of the ministry. Even in the February 6 Ministry expansion, while the other 10 defectors were induscted in the government his name didn't figure in the list of Ministers. The vacancy in the Karnataka Legislative Council was caused by the resignation of Congress member Rizwan Arshad, who got elected to the Assembly in the December 5 by-election from the Shivajinagar seat in central Bengaluru. Over 35,000 advocates boycotted courts across Jharkhand on Tuesday in solidarity with the striking lawyers of Palamau district and sessions court protesting against the inappropriate behaviour by a judge. The protest by the lawyers affected work in courts across the tribal state, including in the Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday. The High Court had on Monday sent Registrar Akhil Kumar to find out the cause of the rift and suggest measures for an amicable settlement between the district and sessions judge and the bar members, sources in the court said. Dheeraj Kumar, an executive member of the Jharkhand High Court Advocate Association said, Advocates of Jharkhand numbering more than 35000 remained absent from court work across the state, including Jharkhand High Court, on Tuesday in solidarity with the Palamau lawyers. The decision to stay away from court work for a day across the state was taken on Monday at a meeting of the Jharkhand State Bar Council in Ranchi, he said. Kumar said that a four-member fact-finding committee of the state bar council had visited Medininagar. The future course of action will be taken after going through the report of the committee, he said. Meanwhile, the indefinite sit-in by the lawyers in Palamau district and sessions court entered the third day with the agitating lawyers demanding action against the judge for his alleged inappropriate behaviour with the Palamau District Bar Association president in Medininagar on Saturday. An argument had broken out on Saturday when the district bar association president went to the courtroom to discuss some matter with the judge, the Palamau District Bar Association general secretary Subodh Kumar Sinha had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy Tuesday as the century-old institution faces spiraling costs from hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits. The groups bankruptcy filing in Delaware listed whopping liabilities that ranged between $100 million and $500 million and assets of $1 billion to $10 billion.* In response to the deluge of suits, the youth organization that says it currently serves more than 2 million youths began positioning itself for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as far back as December 2018, but the actual filing didnt take place until this week. Advertisement By seeking bankruptcy protection, the outdoor and youth leadership group, which claims more than 110 million participants since its inception, puts a halt to the litigation and will give the Boy Scouts a window to negotiate settlements with those who have sued, potentially rolling all claims into a single final resolution. Its a similar approach used by USA Gymnastics and Catholic dioceses as they grappled with potential judgments against them running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. I want you to know that we believe you, we believe in compensating you, and we have programs in place to pay for counseling for you and your family, said Jim Turley, the national chair of Boy Scouts of America, after the filing. Turley said bankruptcy was declared in order to create a trust to compensate abuse victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bankruptcy filing stemmed from a new wave of suits that grew out of an Oregon case against the Boy Scouts in the 2000s that left the nonprofit liable for $18.5 million in punitive damages, the largest verdict against the group in its history. Paul Mones, a lawyer in that case, said he recalled musing with his co-counsel at the time that the files may just be the tip of the iceberg that could ultimately send the Boy Scouts toward bankruptcy, the New York Times reports. But instead of trying to establish a compensation fund for victims over the years, he said, the organization continued trying to protect its reputation. The trial also triggered the public release of internal files kept for decades that revealed the identities and crimes of hundreds of known abusers, the Oregonian notes. The files informed thousands of former Scouts about the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in the organization and the extent of the groups knowledge, he said. The records prompted hundreds of lawsuits, including several in Oregon. Since then, select states have opened windows for abuse victims to prosecute alleged crimes that normally would fall outside of the statute of limitations, paving the way for a spike in lawsuits against the Boy Scouts. The Omanhene of Awaso Asempaneye, Nana Oko Twansuo III, has commended former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the massive development projects across the country under his regime. He specifically mentioned the provision of a CHPS Compound for his community and the start of work on the Awaso town roads in the town. Nana Twansuo said his people are working and praying for a John Mahama victory in 2020 because the people of Asempaneye see him as a redeemer, urging all Ghanaians to vote for John Mahama. The Omanhene was speaking during a courtesy call by the NDC Flagbearer as part of his #SpeakOut tour of the Western North Region. The #SpeakOut is an opportunity for the NDC leader to meet, interact and listen directly to the people of Ghana. According to Nana Twansuo, the people of Awaso Asempaneye are looking forward to the NDC expanding the CHPS compound into a hospital and complete the Awaso town roads. The contract for the road works was stopped by the NPP government on assumption of office in 2017. Even if our thumbs are chopped off on December 07, my people and I will use our toes to vote for you to come and continue with your good works, the chief announced. President Mahama thanked the chief and his people for the acknowledgement of the contributions of the NDC, adding that he is aware of the challenges facing cocoa farmers in the region and will take measures to tackle them. The NDC Flagbearer said the decision to sell fertiliser to cocoa farmers among others is insensitive and affecting the output of cocoa production. The #SpeakOut tour will take place in all 16 regions of the country. Mr. Mahama said major development projects especially roads in the Western North Region were executed by the NDC from the era of President Rawlings through President Mills. He added that at the time of exiting office in 2016, many contracts were awarded for upgrading of roads, stressing that, those contracts were either abrogated by the NPP government. He promised to revisit all those projects and new ones when voted back to power. On a somber day in the U.S. Capitol stood a former Republican vice president fiercely opposed and reviled by Democrats. He recalled his time: "There were no differences when it came to both parties' devotion to the idea of democracy." Iltija Mufti has been vocal in her criticism of the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent restrictions imposed in Kashmir. Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is either being misled or he is "intentionally misleading the country" on Kashmir. Speaking at a press conference held in Delhi, Iltija was quoted as saying by The Hindu, "I respect Prime Minister Modi. But I don't know if he is being misled or he is misleading the country intentionally." She said that though people of Kashmir are angry with local political leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, "they are more angry with the central government". "Let Amit Shah go there and see by himself...I will do a salaam to Amit Shah if he roams around freely in Kashmir," Iltija said. In her address to the media, Iltija also questioned the filing of an FIR against 200 Kashmiris for using social media. She was quoted by India Today as saying, "I will go to Kashmir and use VPN. Let them slap an FIR against me." The Union Territory's administration on 14 January had issued an order banning all social media sites to curb their misuse by miscreants for propagating false information and rumours. Iltija said on Tuesday that the Centre is fishing in troubled waters, and that it will "backfire in its face." She further asserted, "I am not anti-India because I am speaking against the BJP. My loyalty lies with the country, it is not mortgaged to the BJP." Mehbooba Mufti has been in detention since 5 August. She, along with several other regional leaders in the erstwhile state, was placed under detention shortly before the Union government passed two legislations to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution revoking the erstwhile state's special status and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. Iltija has been handling her mother's Twitter account since the latter was placed under detention. She has been vocal in her criticism of the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent restrictions imposed in Kashmir. With inputs from PTI The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate alleged corruption resulting from the galamsey fight. ASEPA wants the Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining and the anti-illegal mining task force, Operation Vanguard, to be the focus of the probe by the Special Prosecutor. In the petition, it highlighted the need for full investigations into the misappropriation of seized items such as excavators, mining equipment, gold and weapons by the IMCIM through the fight against illegal mining. The groups said recent allegations of corruption in the fight against illegal mining show that the whole fight against illegal mining was a sham and a plot to get licensed small scale miners out of business so that some elements in the government can take over small scale mining in the country. The group further held that the allegations border on offences such as stealing, bribery, corruption, abuse of public office for private gain and other serious offences which fall under the purview of the Special Prosecutor. The recent allegations ASEPA referenced involved the disappearance of hundreds of excavators seized from illegal miners. So far, six persons have been arrested in connection with the missing excavators and since granted bail . The six, include the suspended First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party in the Central Region, Ekow Ewusi, who was also heard in an audio recording with the Environment, Science and Technology Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng discussing the prospect of mining on some concessions. The leadership of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association has also called for a probe into the whereabouts of gold that were seized from illegal as well as other individuals who may have been engaged in other forms of corruption. It was Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng who revealed that the state did not know the whereabouts of most of the excavators that were seized, bringing the failings of the state in the fight against illegal mining back into focus. Calls for action The Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu called for the arrest of Prof Frimpong-Boateng for his alleged role in the disappearance of the excavators. The leadership of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association also plans to petition President Nana Akufo-Addo to widen the probe into the alleged corruption that accompanied the crackdown on illegal mining. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also threatened to petition the United Nations to revoke the President's position as co-chair of the United Nations (UN) Eminent Group of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates because of the state of Ghanas environment following the galamsey. citinewsroom The United Nations on Tuesday welcomed a new EU naval operation to enforce an arms embargo on Libya as the warring sides in the conflict met for military talks in Geneva. EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to a naval mission that will be authorised to intervene to stop weapons shipments into the North African state. "Whoever can help in monitoring the arms embargo is welcome in whatever part of Libya," UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame told reporters. "What is needed is that member states of the UN come to the rescue... in monitoring the violations of the arms embargo, otherwise it will not end," he said. Salame said the embargo was being violated by air, land and sea, pointing to Libya's large and porous border. The UN envoy on Tuesday began hosting a second round of talks in Geneva to attempt to turn a shaky truce between the government based in Tripoli and the eastern-based National Libyan Army led by commander Khalifa Haftar into a lasting ceasefire. States including Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt support Haftar, while the Tripoli government led by Fayez al-Sarraj is backed by Turkey and Qatar. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the new EU mission should be implemented "in agreement with the UN Security Council". Lavrov was meeting his Italian counterpart in Rome over the EU agreement which several countries had demanded should not encourage a spike in migrant crossings from North Africa to Europe. "The ships will be deployed to the east to monitor weapons, not along the migrant route," Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said. No Talks Together Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival armed factions still vying for power. In the latest outbreak of fighting, Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli last April, but after rapid advances his forces stalled on the edges of the capital. The fighting has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced some 140,000 according to the United Nations. Five senior officers from the Government of National Accord (GNA) and five appointed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) were taking part in the Geneva talks -- part of broader efforts to end the conflict in the country. Salame said he was meeting with the two sides separately but did not rule out possible joint talks at a later date. A first round of the talks ended with no result earlier this month but Salame said there was "more hope" this time, mainly because of the approval of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a "lasting ceasefire". World leaders had agreed at a Berlin summit last month to end all meddling in the conflict and stop the flow of weapons, but little has changed on the ground since then. Salame said the truce was "very fragile" but "nobody has so far renegued on the principle of accepting the truce". He said agreeing a ceasefire was "not a precondition" for talks planned to start in Geneva on February 26 on finding a political solution to the long-running conflict. * This story has been edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Denmark Arrests 27 People on Suspected Cocaine Smuggling Danish police say they have arrested 27 people for suspected drug smuggling after finding some 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine on a Bahamas-registered cargo vessel plying Danish waters. Copenhagen police said on Feb. 15 in a statement that the cocaine was seized during an internationally coordinated bust on Saturday on the container ship Duncan Island while it was sailing south of the town of Gedser. Stock image of cocaine. (Stevepb/Pixabay) The suspects, all foreigners, are charged with serious drug crimes under Danish law and may face a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. They include the vessels international crew with Russian, Latvian, Ecuadorian, and Filipino nationals among others and remain in custody pending further investigation. Were naturally very pleased that many kilos of cocaine have not hit the street. Now we are investigating further to find out who is waiting in vain for the deliveries, said Inspector Dannie Rise, the head of the special Investigation unit at the Copenhagen police. According to Danish broadcaster TV2, the vessel was en route from Helsingborg, Sweden to St. Petersburg, Russia, when it was seized by authorities. It said the cocaine is believed to have a street value of approximately 350 million Danish kroner ($50 million). How deniers maintain the consensus gap Posted on 18 February 2020 by John Cook An excerpt from the book Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change, released Feb 25. First posted here. A number of studies have quantified the level of scientific agreement on climate change. In 2009, a survey by Peter Doran found that 97.4% of publishing climate scientists agreed that humans were changing global temperature. In 2010, Bill Anderegg analyzed public statements about climate change. He found 9798% agreement among the most actively publishing climate scientists that humans are causing global warming. In 2013, I led a team of researchers analyzing 21 years of scientific papers about global warming. Among relevant climate papers, 97% affirmed the consensus. Three different studies all found overwhelming scientific agreement. The scientific consensus has also been endorsed by many scientific organizations around the world, such as the American Geophysical Union, European Geosciences Union, Royal Meteorological Society, and Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The National Academies of Science from eighty countries have all affirmed human-caused global warming. Deniers argue that theres no scientific consensus on climate change because thirty-one thousand science graduates signed a petition rejecting the consensus. This argument appeals to fake experts. The only requirement for the Petition Project is an undergraduate degree in any kind of science. Only 0.1% of the signatories are climate scientists. Asking for nonexpert opinion on a complex topic is like asking a computer scientist to perform heart surgery. This argument also misleads by using the technique of magnified minority. More than 10 million people have earned a science degree since 1971. That means that only 0.3% of Americans with science degrees signed the petition. Citing thousands of dissenting nonexperts to cast doubt on consensus is an ageold technique, perfected by the tobacco industry in the 1970s. Climate deniers have been trying to cast doubt on the scientific consensus for decades. Why attack the consensus? Republican strategist Frank Luntz conducted market research and found that peoples opinions on climate policy depended on whether they thought experts disagreed about human-caused global warming. Luntz advised Republican politicians to cast doubt on the scientific consensus. Decades of misinformation have taken its toll. The public mistakenly think 67% of climate scientists agree on human-caused global warming. The chasm between public perception and the 97% consensus is known as the consensus gap. Over a decade after Luntzs insight, social scientists began researching how people think about consensus. They identified that public perception of consensus is a gateway belief. Once people understand that theres scientific consensus, theyre more likely to accept that climate change is happening and requires action. Social scientists recommended that scientists should communicate the overwhelming expert agreement on human-caused global warming to correct the misconception that scientists disagree. Communicating the 97% consensus has begun to undo the damage of misinformation campaigns. Over the last 5 years, public awareness of the scientific consensus has steadily increased. This has led to a new argument from the same deniers who have claimed there is no consensus: now they argue we shouldnt talk about consensus. Deniers want to convince the public that experts not only disagree on climate change but also stop scientists from clearing up this misconception. The case for human-caused global warming isnt based on the 97% consensus; its based on scientific evidence. Nevertheless, the public often rely on expert opinion to guide their views on complicated topics like climate change. This is why deniers target expert agreement and why its important to communicate the 97% consensus among climate scientists. Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change uses cartoons, climate science, and critical thinking to make sense of climate denial and misinformation. Guided by psychological research into how to refute misinformation, the book embraces a creative approach, using cartoons and visual analogies to make the science engaging and accessible to readers. The book is written and drawn by John Cook, a former cartoonist who now researches climate communication at George Mason University. Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change will be published by Kensington Books on Feb 25. Sign up for latest Cranky Uncle news at crankyuncle.com. After losing to Hero Splendor for the last couple of months, Honda Activa is back on the top once again as the No 1 two wheeler sold in India for Jan 2020. The new year, though still slow has gotten off to a start that hasnt been altogether treacherous for two wheeler manufacturers. The top 10 two wheelers cumulative sales accounted for 10,15,157 units in January 2020. This is 5.17 percent lower than 10,70,550 units sold a year earlier. Though lower, its not the worst decline the industry has reported in the ongoing FY. The top runners collectively lost 55,393 units in volume. Honda Activa leads at 2,34,749 units. Even better is the fact that sales grew by 21,447 units. Sales growth is reported at 10.05 percent, up from 2,13,302 units. The improvement has afforded it numero one position from its second spot standing for the comparable month. Hero Splendor settles for second spot. However, it hasnt really lost much in terms of volume. It just hasnt done any better. Sales fell 1,331 units, down ,59 percent at 2,22,578 units from 2,23,909 units. Hero takes third spot too. Hero HF Deluxe sales fell marginally at 1.96 percent at volume loss of 3,831 units. Sales fell to 1,91,875 units from 1,95,706 units. No Top 10 Two Wheelers Jan-20 Jan-19 Diff % 1 Honda Activa 2,34,749 2,13,302 21,447 10.05 2 Hero Splendor 2,22,578 2,23,909 -1,331 -0.59 3 Hero HF Deluxe 1,91,875 1,95,706 -3,831 -1.96 4 Bajaj Pulsar 68,354 85,099 -16,745 -19.68 5 Honda CB Shine 66,832 86,616 -19,784 -22.84 6 Suzuki Access 54,595 54,524 71 0.13 7 TVS XL Super 52,525 72,593 -20,068 -27.64 8 Bajaj CT 100 42,497 46,547 -4,050 -8.70 9 RE Classic 350 40,834 46,321 -5,487 -11.85 10 Hero Glamour 40,318 45,933 -5,615 -12.22 Total 10,15,157 10,70,550 -55,393 -5.17 Bajaj Pulsar sales is significantly lower at 19.68 percent. Sales fell 16,745 units, down to 68,354 units from 85,099 units. Honda CB Shine sales fell 22.84 percent. Volumes fell by 19,784 units, down to 66,832 units from 86,616 units. Suzuki Access sales has been flat but this isnt an altogether poor performance keeping in mind ongoing sales slowdown. Sales are lower by a mere 71 units, down .13 percent at 54,595 units from 54,524 units. TVS XL Super continues to triumph as the auto manufacturers bestseller despite sales decline of 27.64 percent. Last month, the TVS sold 20,068 units lower at 52,525 units, down from 72,593 units of XL Super sold in same month last year. Bajaj has another contender in the top 10 list with its CT 100. Sales decline for the model is reported at 8.70 percent, down 4,050 units at 42,497 units, down from 46,547 units sold a year earlier. Royal Enfield finds its Classic 350 on the list at ninth spot. Sales have fallen 12.22 percent, having lost a volume of 5,615 units. Sales fell to 40,834 units, down from 46,321 percent. Hero Glamour is the manufacturers third product on the list. At sales decline of 5.17 percent, the brand has lost 5,615 units in volume. Sales fell to 40,318 units, down from 45,933 units. All companies are now focused on smooth BS6 transition as the norms are mandated from April 1, 2020. Politicians cutting across the party lines welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) judgment on permanent commission (PC) for women in the army on Monday. Hailing the verdict, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said the government was committed to strengthening stree shakti (women power) in the military. He added that the percentage of women in the armed forces has grown over the last three years. I wholeheartedly welcome the Supreme Courts judgment on giving women officers PC in the armed forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported the idea of PC for women and announced the change in policy in his Independence Day speech in 2018, Singh said. There was no official reaction from the defence ministry or the army on the apex courts judgment. Singh said there were instances of women officers serving the military for nearly 20 years, even though the Short Service Commission (SSC) term ends in 14 years. Before 2016, women made up just 2.5% of Indias armed forces, working in mainly non-combat roles. As of January 2019, 3.89% of army personnel comprised women, while 6.7% of the navy and 13.28% of the air force personnel, respectively, were women, as of June 2019, he said. He added that last year the defence ministry decided to grant women permanent commission in 10 branches of the army, including signals, intelligence, army aviation, engineers and army service corps. The army does not offer front-line combat roles to women. The Congress, too, welcomed the verdict terming it a victory for every citizen who believed in equality bereft of sexes, and a defeat of the myopic thinking of the Narendra Modi government. In a Twitter post, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: The government disrespected every Indian woman, by arguing in the SC that women Army officers didnt deserve command posts or permanent service because they were inferior to men. Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: This is a victory for every citizen ... who believes in equality bereft of sexes. This is a defeat of the Modi government and its myopic thinking and thought process whereby it argued before the Supreme Court that men and women cannot be equal for combat roles, saying women are physically inferior. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said the SC has upheld womens right to equality. We welcome the judgement. For so many years women in the defence forces have been fighting for their constitutional right to equality, now the SC has upheld that right, she said. Burma Military MPs Urge Myanmar Govt: Improve Accountability, Dont Waste Public Funds Military lawmakers stand up as parliamentary speaker T Khun Myat enters during a Parliament session in 2020. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAWMilitary lawmakers urged the National League for Democracy (NLD) government to establish an administrative mechanism to best serve the public interest with a minimum waste of public funds as they joined a parliamentary debate on the findings of the Union Auditor-Generals Office. In a session on Monday, the Union Parliament discussed findings from the Joint Public Accounts Committee on the report by the Union Auditor-Generals Office for the six-month period from April to September 2018. Military lawmakers pointed to a number of cases as evidence of mismanagement. They highlighted how the Ministry of Transport and Communications has still been unable to provide records for the 10,000 gallons (37,850 liters) of fuel it bought with government funds in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation purchased several dozen computers but has kept them in its headquarters and not distributed them to its departments. Similarly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation cut down some 15,000 tons of teak wood between 2013 and 2017 and reportedly left it sitting unused and unsold. Military lawmakers also raised objections to the fact that the Food and Drug Administration has not set a deadline for receiving automobiles it purchased from a private company, despite having paid a 30 percent advance to the company within one week of signing the deal, a violation of official procedures. In Mondays parliamentary debate, Upper House military lawmaker Colonel Nyunt Win Aung said the government is obliged to manage the public funds. It should be responsible and accountable for the results of its actions, he said during the debate. Another military lawmaker, Major Pyae Tun, called for stringent audits of government spending as mandated by law. If the auditors do not audit strictly, the departments audited will not pay heed. If the auditors audit loosely, the departments audited will be neglectful, he told Parliament. Military lawmakers urged government agencies to heed the findings and recommendations of the Auditor-Generals Office and prevent corruption in order to minimize the waste of public funds. Civilian lawmakers said that the military parliamentarians criticisms were one-sided. Lower House NLD lawmaker U Khin Cho said that while military lawmakers criticize weaknesses of government agencies, civilian lawmakers are not allowed to audit or even discuss the accounts of departments and agencies under the military. The report of the auditor-general includes nothing about the military. So, we have nothing to discuss, said U Khin Cho, also a member of the Joint Public Accounts Committee. The Union Auditor-General Law enacted in 2010 when the ex-military regime was in power states that provisions of the law shall not affect the Ministry of Defense, meaning that only the militarys own auditor-general is allowed to audit the accounts of the military. The civilian auditor-general can only check the summarized audit report of the military auditor-general. Basically he has no say over the report, said U Khin Cho, who represents Hlaingbwe Township in Karen State. If the military lawmakers participate in discussions on the countrys affairs constructively, we will accept their discussion. But if they discuss it pessimistically, we will object. Military lawmakers, in response to the report of the Joint Public Accounts Committee, suggested that the committee look into whether the relevant departments implement the recommendations of the Union Auditor-Generals Office, and report back to the Parliament. Military lawmakers also drew attention to other cases of mismanagement. They pointed out that the Magwe Region Education Office paid two companies for construction in fiscal year 2016-17 but the projects were not finished in time. The Education Ministry is now obliged to claim some 34 million kyats (US$23,500) from the company for the unfinished works but the ministry says it has been unable to contact the company, showing a lack of responsibility and accountability, according to military lawmakers. Military lawmakers also suggested filing lawsuits against private airlines Air Mandalay and Air Asia Wing over 90 million kyats of unpaid passenger service fees that the companies owe the Civil Aviation Department. The lawmakers also highlighted the actions of the Union Civil Service Board (UCSB), a government agency responsible for training civil servants. The UCSB reportedly did not invite tenders to select an international university to provide masters degree training in public administration to civil servants in Myanmar. Furthermore, the university that the UCSB selected to provide online training was later found to be a fake university. Meanwhile, the UCSB also violated financial regulations by failing to return unused funds to the Union government for two fiscal years. Military lawmakers said the actions constituted professional misconduct. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko Boris Johnson and his estranged wife have agreed a divorce settlement following a legal dispute over money. The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, were given the go-ahead to officially end their marriage of more than 25 years today. Judge Sarah Gibbons oversaw a private hearing in the Central Family Court in London on Tuesday, which neither party attended. During the short hearing, she gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for a Decree Absolute, which would bring the marriage to an end. A case number revealed Mr Johnson, who is now living with Carrie Symonds at Downing Street, and Ms Wheeler were involved in a dispute over money or assets. Marina Claire Wheeler was named as the 'petitioner' and 'applicant' in the case, while Alexander Boris De Pfeffel Johnson was named as the 'respondent'. Mr Johnson was said to have had 6.5million in cash and assets as of September 2018, but will have likely seen his wealth rise since becoming Prime Minister last July. It is therefore plausible that Ms Wheeler will be receiving around 4million if it is an equal split. However, the judge said no detail from today's case relating to money can be revealed in reports, apart from what is already in the public domain. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and estranged wife Marina Wheeler have reached an agreement relating to money following their separation two years ago Mr Johnson is pictured with his current girlfriend Carrie Symonds ahead of his keynote speech on the final day of the annual Conservative Party in October Judge Gibbons gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for the decree absolute 'out of time'. This suggests that she was granted a decree nisi by the courts more than a year ago. Those who are successfully granted a decree nisi have up to a year to apply for the next stage of divorce, the decree absolute. Should the applicant fail to do so within 12 months - as was the case with Ms Wheeler - they are required to reapply for permission for the decree absolute and explain the reason for the delay, which is what occurred in court today. How Boris's second divorce could be finalised in days Judge Gibbons gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for a decree absolute 'out of time'. This suggests that she was granted a decree nisi by the courts more than a year ago. Those who are successfully granted a decree nisi have up to a year to apply for the next stage of divorce, the decree absolute. Should the applicant fail to do so within 12 months - as was the case with Ms Wheeler - they are required to reapply for permission for the decree absolute and explain the reason for the delay, which is what occurred in court today. It is likely that the application for an decree absolute was delayed by Ms Wheeler while both parties discussed a financial settlement, which the court also heard today had been agreed. As Ms Wheeler was granted permission to reapply for the decree absolute by the judge this afternoon, she can now make her final application at any point from today. Once she does so, a divorce certificate will be sent to both parties, likely within a week, that officially ends the marriage. Advertisement It is likely that the application for an decree absolute was delayed by Ms Wheeler while both parties discussed a financial settlement, which the court also heard today had been agreed. As Ms Wheeler was granted permission to reapply for the decree absolute by the judge this afternoon, she can now make her final application at any point from today. Once she does so, a divorce certificate will be sent to both parties, likely within a week, that officially ends the marriage. The couple first announced that they had separated and were going through the process of divorce in September 2018. Within months, Mr Johnson had moved in with his current girlfriend Miss Symonds, 31. Miss Symonds' status remains a delicate subject as the Prime Minister is still technically married to his estranged wife Ms Wheeler. It has been suggested in the past that Miss Symonds could not become a fully-fledged 'first lady' until the couple were married. Mr Johnson was coy when asked about the subject last year, telling reporters that marriage speculation was 'a tiny bit premature'. Ms Wheeler and Mr Johnson married in 1993 and have four children. They separated in 2018. The couple announced that they had separated and were going through the process of divorce in September 2018 - saying that 'as friends we will continue to support our four children in the years ahead'. Carrie Symonds is seen leaving Downing Street last week, the first time she had been seen in public for two months Miss Symonds' status remains a delicate subject as the Prime Minister is still technically married to his estranged wife Ms Wheeler At today's hearing, Mr Johnson (pictured last week) was represented by Neil Russell and Ms Wheeler by Lucy Stone QC Mr Johnson's 3million former marital home in a leafy corner of Islington, North London What is decree nisi and absolute? The two key stages of divorce Before any married couple can dissolve their marriage, there are several legal hurdles they must complete. First, they must prove that the marriage has broken down and cannot be saved. The five reasons - or 'facts' - accepted are adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, separation of two years or separation of five years. Then the 'applicant' must apply for the divorce, which costs 550. The court will then send the 'respondent' an 'acknowledgement of service' form. If they agree to the terms of the divorce, the applicant can go ahead and apply for a decree nisi, which is a legal document that says that the court does not see any reason why the two parties cannot divorce. Should the judge agree to the decree nisi and grant it, the applicant must wait another 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) before they can apply for a 'decree absolute'. Sometimes, parties may be advised to await the approval of a financial settlement before going ahead and applying for the decree absolute. The applicant will then apply in court for the decree absolute. If granted by the judge, the court will then send both parties a certificate within 10 days. Once this arrives, the marriage is dissolved officially. Advertisement Mr Johnson was a childhood friend of Ms Wheeler - the daughter of BBC journalist Charles Wheeler - when they were both pupils at the European School in Brussels. He met his first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen while they were students at Oxford, and they wed in 1987, but the marriage was annulled in 1993 and he married Ms Wheeler later that year. The couple have two sons and two daughters. Mr Johnson has repeatedly come under scrutiny over his personal life. The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009. In 2004, he was sacked from the Tory frontbench over a reported affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt. Last year Ms Wheeler, a QC, revealed she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer but considered herself to now be free of the disease. At today's hearing, Mr Johnson was represented by Neil Russell and Ms Wheeler by Lucy Stone QC. Rules say applications for a decree absolute must be made within 12 months of the granting on an initial divorce decree, a decree nisi. Applicants have to tell a judge why there has been a delay if an application is made outside that 12-month period. The case was listed as Wheeler v Johnson on public court lists and that listing showed that Ms Wheeler had begun litigation and made an application. A Florida kindergartner was sent to a mental health center against her mothers wishes and held there for 48 hours this month after she reportedly threw tantrums at her school. The student, 6-year-old Nadia King, was just starting her day at Love Grove Elementary in Jacksonville on Feb. 4 when her mother, Martina Falk, received a call from a mental health counselor at the school saying that the girl was out of control and throwing a tantrum. The school called me after the decision to Baker Act was made, Ms. Falk said on Monday, referring to a Florida law that allows the involuntary commitment for up to 72 hours of people who are judged by certain authorities to be an imminent danger to themselves or others. Tracy A. Pierce, a spokesman for Duval County Public Schools, said it was Child Guidance, a crisis-response firm, that decided to have the girl admitted to the mental health center not the school. WASHINGTON A former corporate chief executive who spent his post-prison years helping inmates return to society received a pardon from President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the urging of former Gov. Chris Christie. Christie and long-time ally Jeff Chiesa, a former state attorney general and interim U.S. senator, represented Ariel Friedler, the founder and former CEO of Virginia-based Symplicity Corp., in his application for a pardon. They submitted the request for a pardon more than a year ago. Trump called Christie on Friday and they discussed the pardon for the first time, the former governor told NJ Advance Media. He said Trump asked him, Are you convinced hes a really good guy?" and Christie responded, "Yes, Mr. President. I said, Mr. President, he got treated wrong and you can help right it, Christie said. Friedler went to prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to conspiracy to hack into computer systems of competitors to Symplicity, which provides software to universities and government agencies. Since then, he has worked to help ex-inmates return to society as well as advocate for veterans. It was a complete overreaction by the U.S. attorneys office, Christie said. He acknowledged that he did something wrong but he didnt deserve to be a federal felon and now hes not a federal felon because of the president. I heard nothing but great stuff about the guy, Christie said. Both Trump, who signed landmark legislation offering alternatives to incarceration for many nonviolent offenders, and Christie, who led the way in Jersey to keep nonviolent drug abusers out of prison, championed changes to the criminal justice system. Along with Christie, Rabbi Menachem Katz a leader of the Florida-based Aleph Institute, which also works with prisoners, pushed for Friedlers pardon, the White House said. Others who pardoned or saw their sentences commuted by Trump on Tuesday included: * Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, whose effort to become President George W. Bushs homeland security secretary collapsed in scandal and he went to prison for tax fraud and other felonies. * Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who tried to sell Barack Obamas vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder. * Financier Michael Milken, imprisoned for violating securities laws. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Julian Robertsons three new homes on New Zealands North Island are a matter of practicality. The co-founder, chairman and chief executive of the investment firm Tiger Management needs the residences for his growing family, which now includes his three sons, their wives and his nine grandchildren. When Mr. Robertson first built a vacation house on North Island more than a decade ago, he imagined his clan all staying there together under one roof whenever they visited. Its a destination Ive long loved and enjoying sharing with my loved ones, he said. That first home, along with the new ones, are on the same 6,000 acres of farmland in the Bay of Islands as Mr. Robertsons upscale hotel, the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs. The property is part of Robertson Lodges, a trio of hotels in New Zealand that also includes the Farm at Cape Kidnappers near Napier and Matakauri Lodge, on the South Island. She's always a firm fixture on the party scene every London Fashion Week. And Tigerlily Taylor was putting in a typically edgy appearance when she attended the LOVE Magazine bash at The Standard, London on Monday night, turning heads in a quirky ensemble. The 25-year-old model, who is the eldest daughter of Queen rocker Roger Taylor, donned a silver sequinned minidress paired with coordinating, eye-emblazoned boots. Partying in style: Tigerlily Taylor was putting in a typically edgy appearance when she attended the LOVE Magazine party at The Standard on Monday night, turning heads in a quirky ensemble The party frock boasted a cut-out panel at the back and loose draped sleeves to balance out the short hemline for the event sponsored by CIROC. Tigerlily dressed her look down with an 80s-inspired, rainbow-hued jacket featuring a white shearling lining. She pulled her blonde hair up into a bun, accessorising with a pair of hoop earrings and carrying her belongings in a leather satchel. Tigerlily joined a slew of stars in attendance for the LOVE magazine party at The Standard, London, taking over the whole of the Kings Cross hotel's 10th floor, including the Decimo restaurant and also velvet-ceiling private bar Sweeties. Stylish: The 25-year-old model, who is the eldest daughter of Queen rocker Roger Taylor, donned a silver sequinned minidress Keeping cosy: Tigerlily dressed her look down with an 80s-inspired, rainbow-hued jacket featuring a white shearling lining for the event sponsored by CIROC. Tigerlily previously said she was mercilessly teased for being the daughter of famed rocker Roger while growing up at boarding school Bedales in Hampshire, where she shared a room with Cara Delevingne. She told Hello! Fashion Monthly: 'I used to listen to [Queen] so much when I was younger but I strayed away because I used to get bullied at school. 'People would put them on at a party and be like, "Ha! Ha!", so I kind of developed a bit of an aversion to them for a while. But I do love their music.' Eye for style: She paired her look with coordinating, green eye-emblazoned boots Chic: The party frock boasted a cut-out panel at the back and loose draped sleeves to balance out the short hemline The fashion darling also revealed her neighbours in her posh west London flat complained about her trying to follow in her father's celebrated footsteps by playing the drums. She told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden: 'I started learning to play the drums, but then my neighbours complained about the noise, so I had to stop. I used to have drums in my garage.' The star added of her trendy neighbourhood: 'I live in Ladbroke Grove, but I dont know if its cool any more Im a bit sick of it.' While the real estate market sentiment for purchasing residential property remains weak, new launches from listed, organised developers with a strong execution track record are expected in 2020, says a new report. Unlike the MMR and NCR markets, the South India market continues to see stable demand with developers largely focusing on mid-income and affordable housing launches, an analysis by ICICI Securities has said. The analysis also noted that homebuyers preference has shifted to ready housing projects. With around 50 percent of projects being stuck with no resolution in sight as many of these projects have already sold units to customers, new homebuyers are now gravitating towards nearing completion/ready units across cities, it said. Therefore, levels of "saleable inventory" by developers to homebuyers is not all that gloomy and actual inventory levels would be closer to 18-24 months if stalled projects were to be excluded, it said. All the developers have lined up launches in CY20 starting from the beginning of January 2020, it said, adding Q3FY20 saw overall residential volumes across India remaining stagnant with South Indian markets showing continued resilience while MMR/NCR volumes continue to remain muted. In the South, Brigade Enterprises (Brigade) has seen a very good scale up in volumes over FY19-20 and it is expected to clock over 4msf of sales volumes in FY20. The company continues to launch more affordable/mid-income housing inventory across its ongoing projects in CY20 along with the launch of premium inventory, the analysis said. Sobha will be releasing new inventory in its existing projects along with new launches across South India. launch of Sobhas Hosur project in Q4FY20 is also expected, the analysis said. Mumbai players too have lined up a number of launches. Oberoi Realty (OBER) has a number of launches lined up in CY20. The new launches include the Maxima tower at JVLR, Andheri (178 units priced between Rs 35-40mn) which had a soft launch in October 2019 and the company intends to also launch its Goregaon Phase 3 and Thane projects in H1FY21. Godrej Properties (GPL) has a pipeline of 7-8 launches lined up in Q4FY20 of which it has already launched high value projects such as RK Studios, Mumbai and many projects in NCR and Bengaluru. Further, in H2CY20, GPL has a number of high value launches lined up including Bandra and Vikhroli launches in Mumbai, recently acquired Ashok Vihar project in New Delhi and a number of other mid-income housing launches. Sunteck Realtys (SRIN) recently acquired Andheri (W) project acquisition is slated for a Q1FY21 launch and SRIN expects to commence construction of its annuity assets of 3msf at Oshiwara District Centre (ODC), Goregaon in Q1FY21 as well in a phased manner. Also, with Avenue 1 and Avenue 2 projects in ODC, Goregaon nearing completion, the company plans to monetize the balance inventory in CY20 along with the launch of new phases in its Naigaon affordable housing project, the analysis said. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh talks to Vietnam News Agency on the role of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh. What was the significance of the 37th 'High-level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI)' meeting which was held in Hanoi on February 12 and 13? The event drew the participation of senior economic officials from deputy minister level from all ASEAN member states. High on the agenda was the discussion on what should be written in the recommendations and strategies in the economic integration vision for ASEAN. Participants spent a lot of time discussing co-operation among ASEAN member countries and between ASEAN and other international economic groups. In the discussion on economic co-operation among ASEAN member states, we spent quite a lot of time evaluating the master plan on the course of the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2025. Regarding external economic co-operation, participants focused their discussion on two points. First, the criteria to select counterparts to negotiate with ASEAN member countries. Second, a special group would be created to review the negotiation process for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Program (RECEP), an important move for the coming negotiation sessions in 2020. Did you face any challenges in holding the meeting in Hanoi? The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected the ASEAN economy, including the Vietnamese economy. Adding to that, the representative delegation from Singapore, who is the incumbent of the President of the group, could not attend the Hanoi meeting due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. However, Vietnam has done its best to co-chair the video meeting with the Singaporean side. And the meeting took place smoothly. Vietnam played a very important role in the 37th of the HLTA-EI meeting. Adding to that Vietnam shared its experience with other ASEAN member countries to help them look for a better way to negotiate their free trade agreements in the future. Vietnam also shared with other member nations the lessons the country learned in the course of negotiating for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Programme (RCEP). Do you think the RCEP will be signed in 2020? At the year-end meeting in 2019 in Bangkok, all ASEAN member states adopted a joint statement voicing their commitment to open their market as was regulated in the agreement. However, India is still facing some problems in discussions about the RCEP. Yet all 15 countries have agreed to open their markets for other signatories to the agreement. We have set a target to have the RCEP agreement completed by late this year in Vietnam. Though we have foreseen that the negotiations with India still face certain challenges, we vow to do our best to have them completed by late this year. What do you think about the impacts of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Europe Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on ASEAN? The approval of both the EVFTA and the AVIPA by the European Parliament was the good news for both Vietnam and other ASEAN member states. Vietnam and Singapore are the two countries in ASEAN that have signed free trade agreements with the EU. We hope in the near future, more free trade agreements will be signed between the EU and the remaining eight ASEAN member states. All ASEAN members have expressed their willingness to have an agreement between the two blocs the EU and ASEAN. We hope with lessons learned from the trade deals signed between Vietnam and Singapore with the EU, an agreement between the EU and ASEAN will soon be concluded. VNS Vietnam successfully fulfils role as President of UNSC in January Head of Vietnams mission to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy chaired a session on January 31 to review activities of the UN Security Council (UNSC) during January, the month Vietnam held the rotary Presidency of the UNSC. Internal Combustion Engine Basics The internal combustion engine is undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions of human civilization. Like so many other inventions, however, the internal combustion engine has caused arguably as many problems as it has solved. ICEs use either gasoline or diesel fuel to operate, although they can be retrofitted to operate on natural gas as well. Both gasoline and diesel are crude oil derivatives that set the vehicle in motion through, as the name suggests, combustion. The combustion process, like any process involving the burning of a substance, releases various chemicals, most of them harmful. Carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides are among the biggest culprits for air pollution from vehicles with internal combustion engines, but particulate matter, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfur, and volatile organic compounds are also problematic. A combination of scientific research, fuel efficiency technological advancements, and regulatory efforts to reduce air pollution and the health risks associated with it has resulted in much cleaner-burning, less polluting ICE fuels. The group of chemicals called oxygenates have been instrumental in that process. What are Oxygenates? Oxygenates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen as one of their components. While any compound that contains oxygen is technically an oxygenate, the term is commonly used for compounds that are used as additives in internal combustion engine vehicles. Alcohols and ethers Oxygenate fuel additives are either alcohols, such as ethanol, or ethers, the most popular among them methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE. An alcohol is any of a number of chemical compounds that contains at least one hydroxyl group (made up from oxygen and hydrogen) and this group is attached to the carbon atom in an alkyl group. Alkyl groups are chains made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Chemical specificities aside, alcohols are an important group in organic chemistry because of their versatility: they can be derived from and converted into a wide variety of other compounds. Related: Europe's Largest Economy Is Betting Big On Hydrogen An ether is a compound that has one oxygen atom attached to two alkyl groups. Like alcohols, ethers are structurally similar to water. The difference between alcohols and ethers is that in alcohols, one of the hydrogen atoms in a water molecule is substituted with an alkyl group, while in ethers, both hydrogen atoms in the water molecule are replaced by alkyl groups. A History of Oxygenates In the early days of the automobile industry, cars were noisy, and their engines were not very powerful. Emissions of soot and carbon monoxide, the products of internal combustion engine action, were also abundant. To fix the power and pollution problems, General Motors proposed adding lead to gasoline. This happened in the early 20th century and before long, lead became a standard additive for gasoline. The problems that lead caused began emerging soon enough. Workers at a Standard Oil facility rose to grim notoriety when they began suffering hallucinations, and several died. Some scientists called for closer scrutiny of the lead additive industry, noting the metals history of toxicity. The debate continued for decades as GM funded most of the research into the health hazards of lead. It was only in the 1970s that the lead content in gasoline began to be reduced in the United States, following the passing of the Clean Air Act. This reduction that would ultimately lead to the elimination of the toxic compound from fuels had to be compensated for by other chemicals to avoid the inevitable drop in engine power. What Oxygenates Do in the Engine The main problems with additive-free gasoline include the so-called knocking in the engine and emissions. Knocking refers to the premature explosion of the fuel in the combustion chamber (the cylinder) when mixed with air in the presence of a spark. First lead and then oxygenates were added to gasoline to prevent this premature explosion. This premature explosion compromised the power of the engine as it interfered with the burning process of gasoline. Oxygenates boost gasolines knocking resistance, which is measured as an octane number. The higher the octane number, the smoother the burning of gasoline in the combustion chamber, and the more powerful the car. The premature explosion also produces more soot because the fuel does not burn completely. It also producers more carbon monoxide. Adding oxygenates to gasoline improves the solubility of oxygen in the fuel, which makes it burn more efficientlyrather, more completely. This, in turn, reduces the emissions of soot and carbon monoxide. Whats more, the oxygen in the additives displaces some components of gasoline, such as benzene and sulphur, which would otherwise be released as polluting exhaust fumes. This is particularly important in the cold winter months when the low temperatures cause higher carbon monoxide emissions. This is why all American states have strict winter oxygenate fuel programs. Types of Oxygenates Oxygenates for gasoline ?he range of oxygenate additives used in gasoline is the widest in both the alcohol and the ether group. Alcohols The most popular alcohol oxygenate by far is ethanol. It is more commonly referred to a biofuel that emissions regulation requires to be added to gasoline. Chemically, ethanol is an oxygenate, which is why it merits a place in this guide. Ethanol is the product of yeast-based fermentationmore specifically, the fermentation of the starch and the sugars in one of several plants: corn, sugar cane, and sugar beets. In the United States, corn is the undisputed leader among these. In other parts of the world, sugar cane and beets are the most popular since fermenting sugar to make alcohol is a quicker process than fermenting starch, which is the case with corn. In recent years, an alternative fermentation process has emerged for ethanol. That process involves the breakdown of not starch and sugars but cellulose. Called cellulosic ethanol, the product of that process can use any waste feedstock, including grass and tree matter, which makes it a lot more flexible in terms of raw material. The drawback is that the end product comes in much smaller quantities than standard alcohol fermentation. This is why cellulosic ethanol has not yet become a competitor of standard ethanol. Besides ethanol, other alcohol oxygenates used in gasoline are methanolthe simplest alcoholand two propylene derivatives, n-butanol and tert-butanol. Another common alcohol oxygenate for gasoline is isopropyl alcohol, also produced from propylene. Ethers The most popular ether oxygenate until relatively recently was methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). As the name suggests, MTBE is made from methanol, like another ether oxygenate, tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME). The other popular ethers for gasolineethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) and tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) are made from ethanol. Ethers can be made from either petrochemical feedstock or renewable matter. They are considered superior as oxygenates to alcohols, capable of achieving higher octane numbers, which is why, at first, MTBE was used precisely as an octane booster, to replace lead. Yet ethers also lowered harmful emissions of carbon monoxide and partially burned hydrocarbons, which made them a good fit as oxygenates as well. The amount of MTBE used in gasoline kept growing as refiners preferred it to alternative additives because of its economical nature and strong performance as an octane booster and emissions reducer. However, it emerged that while MTBE reduced CO2 and unburned hydrocarbon emissions, it often increased the emissions of nitrogen oxide: also a toxic substance. The MTBE controversy There have been a number of studies that have found traces of MTBE in groundwatersome of it a source of drinking water. Further research into the compound has suggested it is safe to use as oxygenate in gasoline and that more data is needed to determine the actual health risks that could be associated with human consumption of MTBE-contaminated water. In the late 1990s, however, U.S. refiners began phasing out MTBE production and to date, MTBE is produced only in relatively small amounts in the country. As a replacement for MTBE in gasoline, refiners are using ethanol, which is not toxic. Oxygenates for Diesel Because of the difference in operation between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine (spark ignition in gasoline engines versus air compression in diesel engines), there are also differences in the oxygenates that can be used for each fuel. While some alcohols and ethers are compatible with diesel as oxygenates, the most compatible compounds for diesel fuel are fatty acid esters. Fatty acid esters are chemical compounds that are made by combining fatty acids with alcohols. The most well known of this group is biodiesel, which is made from recycled cooking oil, animal fats, and a variety of other oils. The production process involves the removal of glycerine from the fats and oils, which leaves compounds officially known as methyl esters. Related: Why Oil Traders Are Stockpiling Crude Yet esters tend to have a lower cetane number: the time interval between the start of auto-ignition of the fuel in the chamber and the start of pressure increase during ignition. Heavier ethers and alcohols feature a higher cetane number and could therefore also make good oxygenates for diesel engines. The general rule with diesel oxygenates is that the longer the alkyl chain in the oxygenating additive, the better it is. The reason for this is that heavier alcohols and ethers are denser than those with lower molecular weight, have a higher boiling point and higher viscosity, and they are less volatile and flammable. This is also why ethanol is not a good oxygenate fit for diesel fuel, and neither is methanol. Both basic alcohols have low molecular weight, which makes it harder to maintain the state of emulsion that fuel and oxygenate need to be in. Whats more, ethanol compromises some properties of diesel fuel, which constitutes a safety hazard: it lowers the flash point of the fuel and it is also flammable within a wider range of temperatures than other oxygenates. Unlike with gasoline engines, the biggest emission problem with diesel engines is nitrous oxide and particulate matter. Oxygenates that add just 1 percent oxygen to the diesel fuel can achieve particulate matter reductions of up to 67 percent. If the oxygen content of the fuel is high enough, emissions of particulate matter could be entirely eliminated. Reformulated Gasoline In 1990, after Congress passed a set of amendments to the Clean Air Act, a program for tweaking the contents of gasoline so they are less harmful began. The reformulated gasoline program targeted the most polluted parts of the country and involved almost a third of gasoline supply. The reformulation aimed to reduce the content of volatile organic compounds released as a result of the burning of the fuel, nitrous oxides, and other polluting elements. To date, the quality of conventional gasoline with added oxygenates is virtually undistinguishable from that of reformulated gasoline largely because of other emissions regulation passed over the last 30 years that has tightened requirements for gasoline quality. Fuel efficiency progress has also helped the convergence in quality between conventional gasoline and the reformulated variety. Current Oxygenate Statistics Today, more than 31 million barrels of fuel oxygenates are produced monthly in the United States. Most of this is ethanol. Its average monthly production for 2019 hovered around 30 million barrels. Production of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, averaged more than 1.7 million barrels monthly in 2019. Biodiesel production hovered around 150 million gallons monthly in 2019. Ethanol is by far the most popular and environmentally trendy fuel oxygenate. There is production capacity totalling 1.1 million barrels per day in the country and this has been growing. However, in 2019 this growth began to slow down as the market approached the point of saturation. Ethanol is being blended with gasoline at a low percentage because for all its advantages such as cleaner burning and lower emissions, the biofuel also causes engine corrosion. However, there is a blend that contains predominantly ethanol: E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. With fuel and energy efficiency advancements it is not impossible that in the future oxygenates will no longer be needed because vehicles will run on either electricity or renewable fuel such as ethanol. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: It made for one hell of a contrast. Inside city hall this past Thursday, Mayor John Tory and the councillors on his executive committee were praising the citys 2020 budget. Outside city hall, chaos reigned. While Tory listed off investments in the budget which will be debated by Toronto council on Wednesday and declared the financial plan will make the city stronger and make the people stronger, the people outside were dealing with the aftermath of a morning subway derailment. Shuttle buses couldnt handle the crowds. Frustrations boiled over. Thousands were late for work. It was the second such derailment in less than a month. Whatever the technical cause of these TTC snafus, they do help make the case for the fiscal strategy Tory has embraced this year. The citys infrastructure is in rough shape. The status quo is untenable. New investments are needed. So theres good news for people who spent some time last week cursing the sorry state of the city. By moving to raise residential property taxes by an additional eight per cent through 2025 with an expansion of his city building fund, Tory has created room for the spending Torontos infrastructure requires. But its also become clear Torys city building fund wont be enough to fully build out of the hole the city is in. Instead, the increased tax is just the first part of a two-step strategy. The second step is a big bet on enhanced cooperation between Tory and his counterparts at the provincial and federal government. Toronto is looking for a lot more out of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford. Intergovernmental friendliness is assumed all over the budget. The most pressing need is a $77 million transfer from the federal government to pay for the cost of accommodating refugees and asylum claimants in the shelter system. But beyond that, many major long-term plans in the budget also call for the funding pie to be split three ways. The city has assumed a three-way split for the cash needed to buy enough TTC buses, subway trains and streetcars to meet growing demand, for example. The same goes for the citys new supportive housing plan to get people out of shelters Toronto has found enough cash to build just 600 of the 1800 new housing units the plan calls for each year. Its a similar story with Torontos aggressive $23.4 billion long-term affordable housing strategy, which looks to the other governments for $14.9 billion. Another pie cut in thirds. Tory has a good case to make for more equitable slices. The Toronto region, with the city as its centre, contributes 18.5 per cent of Canadas GDP and about half of Ontarios. That contribution relies on infrastructure like the TTC actually being functional. Torontos place as the centre of a growing GTA has also meant the city shoulders a disproportionate amount of social service costs. Toronto offered 6,687 shelter beds on average in 2018, ten times as many as offered by Durham Region, Halton Region, York Region and the City of Hamilton combined, according to a recent budget report. But direct federal and provincial cash makes up just 21.3 per cent of this years operating budget, and 17 per cent of the capital plan. Not a well-sliced pie. For Tory, the trouble going forward will be that well-reasoned arguments often dont matter much in the face of political expediency. Municipal politicians have been pushing for a fairer funding arrangements from Queens Park and Ottawa for decades, with some limited progress, but mostly in the form of ad-hoc announcements timed for maximum electoral benefit. If things arent different this time, the mayor may find himself wishing he had pushed for a more significant property tax increase or powers to enact other locally-controlled taxes and fees. But for now, Torys city hall is pinning their big plans on an old standby getting by with a little help from their friends. Read more about: Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the federal government is putting A$2 million into a grant fund for researchers to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus, also known as the virus that causes COVID-19. Were going to put $2 million through the Medical Research Future Fund, and were going to be putting that money into a competitive program to find a vaccine, Morrison told reporters at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne on Tuesday. There are many research projects that are going on around the world to do this very task, and Australia is going to play its part in that process, he added. Already here at Doherty, there is much work going on in this area, and we continue to support that work, and we want to get as many of the brightest and smartest minds in Australia working on this task. Researchers from across the country can apply for money from the Medical Research Future Fund. The grant will add to the work being undertaken by the institute, CSIRO, and the University of Queensland. The Medical Research Future Fund is set to finalize details of the grant process this week and will advise the government on the merit order of the research. Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said that the government is currently contributing A$50 million through NHMRC grants to the institute. He said that the government is hoping the additional A$2 million in funding will encourage even further work. Were hoping that that funding will encourage even further work. Thats the key point, Hunt told reporters on Tuesday. Last month, researchers at the institute were first to develop a lab-grown version of coronavirus outside of China successfully. The institute said that the lab-grown virus sample could help generate an antibody test to help detect the virus in asymptomatic patients. Feel Free to Move Around The Prime Minister told reporters, in response to comments that he encountered in Melbournes Box Hill suburb on Monday, that Chinese Australians should feel free to move around, dont need to stay at home and can go in and participate in the community. There seemed to be some misunderstanding about that, Morrison said. Unless youre subject to self-isolation because youve been in mainland China for the last 14 days, then you should feel free to move around because Australia has been successfully containing the coronavirus to date. He added that of the cases presented, many of them now [have] left hospital and theyre getting on with their lives and so we need to continue to deal with this issue very regularly. In and Out of Quarantine The funding announcement comes as more than 200 Australians and their family members who had been quarantined on Christmas island have begun to return home. Another group of 266 Australians quarantined at Howard Springs is also set to leave soon, Morrison said. This group, of the second evacuation flight for Australians out of China, had left Wuhan and touched down in Australia on Feb. 9. Their quarantine period is set to end on Saturday, Feb. 22. Meanwhile, some 209 Australians currently aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in the port of Yokohama, Japan, are set to fly out on Wednesday, after which they are intended to be quarantined at the Howard Springs site, reported the Australian Associated Press. The flight will also include New Zealanders, who will be transferred home after landing in Darwin. The news wire service noted that the group to arrive at the site in Howard Springs would not have any contact with the group leaving the site. The Australian Associated Press contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Mexico City officials are hoping that surveillance footage of a murdered seven-year-old girl's last moments walking down an alley with an unknown street vendor will lead authorities to her killer. Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett was last seen February 11 after leaving Enrique Rebsamen Primary School with a woman, who according to locals sold snacks outside the school entrance in Santiago Tulyehualco, a neighborhood in the borough of Xochimilco. In the security camera video released Monday by the Mexico City prosecutor's office, the woman is seen holding Aldrighett's hand as they walked down a street near the school approximately at 6.30pm local time. Aldrighett's body was discovered Saturday afternoon in a plastic garbage bag in Mexico City's Tlahuac neighborhood, days after another murder of a young woman triggered angry protests. Mexico City's attorney general and mayor promised justice and offered a $107,000 reward for information. The attorney general's office released Tuesday a sketch of the suspect, who they believe is between the ages of 42 and 45. According to Univision Noticias, authorities have searched a home where they believe Aldrighett was kept before she was killed and her naked body was dumped on an empty lot. Maria Magnadalena Anton told reporters on Monday that her daughter could have been killed by the same person who murdered her sister. She said her daughter's nails were painted black, just like her sisters. Surveillance footage shared by Mexico City Attorney General's office shows the moment Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett (left) is walking down an alley with a woman (right), who locals said worked as a street vendor outside the school entrance Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett's body was found in a garbage bag Saturday in Mexico City's Tlahuac neighborhood, four days after she was reported missing by her family. Aldrighett was last seen February 11 after leaving Enrique Rebsamen Primary School with a woman, who according to locals sold snacks outside the school Mexico City's Attorney General's office is offering a $107,000 for information leading to the capture of the woman (pictured) who was spotted in a video walking with Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett last Tuesday before the seven-year-old's lifeless body was found Saturday Sonia Lopez blasted the lack of an immediate response from authorities after her niece was reported missing and said Aldrighett could have been found alive if they had listened to the family. 'Fatima is not with us because the protocols were not followed, because the institutions did not give the attention they should have,' Lopez said, her voice breaking with emotion as she spoke to reporters. 'We will not forget her.' Lopez said precious hours were wasted after Aldrighett was reported missing. She also said social services had not heeded calls to help the girl's mother, who has health problems, support her daughter. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that authorities would now issue amber alerts and start searching for children as soon as they are reported missing by a relative or teacher. Authorities lost a full day in the search for Fatima because they waited for a formal missing-person case file to be opened. Family and neighbors packed a street in the southern borough of Tlahuac on Tuesday for a Mass underneath a massive yellow tarp strung from roof to roof. The priest leading the service read a message from Bishop Andres Vargas Pena that acknowledged the indignation felt and urged them to not grow accustomed to the daily atmosphere of crime. Mourners ate plates of a dish called romeritos on white plastic tables set up in the street outside the home. Votive candles spelled out the girl's name on the sidewalk outside the home. Mexico City attorney general, Ernestina Godoy Ramos, said she would review the office's handling of the case. 'The full institution has been activated for the investigation,' she told reporters. A woman consoles Maria Magnadalena Anton moments after the casket carrying the remains of her daughter, Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett, arrived at her home Friends and family members attend Tuesday's mass prior to the burial of Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett, the seven-year-old girl who went missing last Tuesday and was discovered dead Saturday Pallbearers carry the coffin of seven-year-old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett before she was buried Tuesday afternoon in Mexico City Men prepare the grave where seven-year-old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett was buried Tuesday Guillermo Anton, the girl's grandfather, said Monday that his daughter arrived at the school 15 or 20 minutes after the woman led the girl away. He added that his granddaughter had left the school wearing her uniform, but the woman had put a green shirt and pants on her. His daughter was initially told that authorities couldn't begin searching for 72 hours after her disappearance, he said. However, the prosecutors office said an Amber Alert was issued about the girl's disappearance the same day that relatives reported her missing. Family and friends gathered for a wake at the family's home to mourn the girl Monday evening. Maria Magnadalena Anton reacts after her seven-year-old daughter's coffin arrives at the family home, where friends and family members gathered for a closed casket service Monday A coffin with Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett's body is carried inside her home in Mexico City A woman stands outside the entrance to Enrique Rebsamen Primary School, where Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett studied Many relatives and commentators called for urgent changes to primary school safety protocols. At government schools in urban areas of Mexico, children simply walk out on the street after classes end. Although their parents are often waiting outside, it is not the school's responsibility to make sure someone is waiting to meet them. Mexico City officials said on Tuesday that they will be enforcing rules that will forbid children from leaving the school unaccompanied. Humberto Fernandez, the head of the city's school system, said there is already a little-used rule requiring parents or designated person to show up within 20 minutes after classes, or their kids will be taken to a prosecutors' office. Going forward, any child within the allotted time frame will be transferred to prosecutors' offices in the city's 16 boroughs. Friends and family members wait outside Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett's home, were a public funeral service was held Monday night, two days after her body was found inside a bag Activists gathered in Mexico City on Monday to demand justice for seven-year-old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett, whose body was found inside a garbage bag Saturday, four days after she was reported missing Residents demand answers from the Mexico City government at a rally held Monday following the murder of Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett The abduction and killing of the child came just two days after Ingrid Escamilla, a young Mexico City resident, was allegedly murdered by a boyfriend. The man, who has been arrested and purportedly confessed to killing Escamilla with a knife, mutilated her body and flushed part of her corpse into the sewer. Indignation grew after some local media published horrific photos of the skinned corpse, apparently leaked by city police officers. Protesters read a statement Friday saying, 'It enrages us how Ingrid was killed, and how the media put her body on display.' On Monday afternoon, the Interior Ministry said in a statement that media should not publish personal details or images of children in relation to a crime whether they are the authors, victims or witnesses. A man looks on next to white balloons and flowers at the site where the body of seven-year old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett Friends and family members pay their respects near the coffin of Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett A man hands over a lit candle near the coffin of Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett during a public service held inside her home in Mexico City A man carries his daughter and stops to observe the site where Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett's body was found inside a garbage bag Saturday Friends and family members pay their respects at Monday night's funeral service for Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett, the missing seven-year-old girl whose body was found inside a garbage bag The Mexican capital has seen a series of angry demonstrations over killings of women over the past few months, including several in which protesters have vandalized major monuments and buildings. During his daily press briefing Monday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said protests over the killings were an attempt to distract attention from his social programs. In response, the president said he was sure authorities would catch the perpetrators of the crime, but said punishment alone was not the solution. Ingrid Escamilla was brutally murdered in Mexico City on February 9 The bigger challenge, he said, was to purify Mexican society, which he said had 'fallen into decline, a progressive degradation that has to do with the neoliberal model.' 'Unemployment, economic growth, the number of homicides are measured, but the degree of social decomposition produced by neoliberal policies are not measured. There is a deep crisis of loss of values.' Aldrighett's grandfather slammed Lopez Obrador for blaming his predecessors for Mexico's problems. 'Now he is in charge, he is president,' Guillermo Anton said. 'He should show us he is different.' An average of 10 a day are killed in Mexico and the year 2019, the first of Lopez Obrador's government, set an overall homicide record, according to official data. Victims of femicide increased 10% in 2019 to over 1,000. Washington: The upcoming visit of President Donald Trump to India later this month has the potential to usher in a new era of bilateral ties between the two countries, a top American business advocacy group has said. President Trump will pay a state visit to India on February 24 and 25 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He would be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. This would be president's first bilateral visit in the third decade of 21st century and also the first after his acquittal by the Senate in the impeachment trial. "I believe President Trump's upcoming visit to India has the potential to usher in a new era of our bilateral ties," Mukesh Aghi, President of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said in a statement on Monday. On the sidelines of the visit, the USISPF, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the ORF, has announced to organise a programme entitled "US-India Forum: Partners for Growth". The full-day discussion will focus on the key pillars defining India and the US' strategic, economic, and cultural partnership over the next decade. "We have an opportunity before us to make real progress on multiple aspects of the relationship whether it is upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; building upon an already strong energy partnership; developing co-production and co-development opportunities in the defence space; or strengthening bilateral trade," Aghi said. "We look forward to an extremely successful visit and some concrete outcomes from the visit," he said. The day-long programme on February 25 in New Delhi, will bring together over 500 senior business executives, members of the US-India think tank community and leading figures of the Indian diaspora to set the agenda for this strategic partnership. Discussions during the day will touch upon areas, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and Maritime Security; the US-India Defence Partnership, the US-India Energy Partnership, Elevating US-India Trade and Investment and Role of the Indian Diaspora in US-India Relations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 18. The Armenian armed forces were using sniper rifles. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 14:52:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2020 shows Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi addressing a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, on China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) WELLINGTON, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi on Tuesday urged New Zealand to lift the travel bans it has imposed on China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying such measures have already had a negative impact on bilateral trade and education cooperation. "As member states, we should respect and follow the recommendations made by international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO)," Wu said in a press conference held by the Chinese embassy. She noted that the WHO has said there is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade, and Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, when addressing the 146th session of the WHO Executive Board meeting earlier this month, called on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent. "The recommendations from the WHO are clear cut, and have been reiterated time and again," she said, urging New Zealand to lift the travel restrictions it adopted earlier this month against China. Wu stressed that the novel coronavirus is generally under control through China's arduous efforts. "In a lesser situation, with a lesser risk, why should tougher measures be imposed in this case?" said Wu. She warned that the restrictions have had a negative impact on bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and education. According to figures from New Zealand Education Ministry, about 80 percent of university students in New Zealand were from overseas, and half of them were from China. However, due to the restrictions, around 40 percent of international students from China are still overseas waiting for the travel bans to be lifted, and Chinese students that have arrived in New Zealand are facing xenophobia due to misinformation, she said. "We need to look at why we have seen some discrimination and xenophobia. I believe part of the reason is maybe a lack of accurate information. That's why I want to have a press briefing to release the most up-to-date information," She said. Wu stressed that the Chinese embassy will ensure the rights and interests of Chines students in New Zealand will not be impeded by such restrictions. Swami Krushnaswarup Dasji of Swaminarayan Bhuj Mandir (Nar Narayan Dev Gadi) exposed his misogynistic mindset of the sect and its followers. The seer in a series of controversial statements said, If you eat food prepared by a menstruating woman even once, then your next avatar will definitely be of a balad (ox). A menstruating woman who cooks for her husband will certainly be reborn as kutri (bitch). The problematic sect runs the Bhuj institute in Gujarat where more than hostellers were forced to strip for a menses check. Sixty-eight girls were pressured to remove their undergarments to check if they were menstruating. Even as the controversy refuses to die down anytime soon, Swamis statements have created shockwaves. Youtube The video clip in which these remarks were made has been culled from a speech that he gave an year ago to an audience. He adds that this is the first time in 10 years that he is advising his followers. Everyone will feel that I am strict. The saints have asked me not to talk about our religions secrets. But if I do not say then {you} will never understand, he said. He goes on to say that men should learn to cook if they do not want to bear the negative effects of eating food cooked by menstruating women. -Swami Krushnaswarup says that if menstruating women cooks they will be born as bitch in next life, -Sadhguru says if a mother gives birth to twins then each breast produces different kind of milk, -Hindu Mahasabha says Corona Virus is an angry avatar to kill Meat eaters, Amit TanaShah (@_MotaBhai_) February 18, 2020 So Swami Krushnaswarup Dasji in previous life had food cooked by menstruating women?? Intekhab Alam (@Bhola4U) February 18, 2020 "If menstruating women cooks, she will reincarnated to a bitch" a swami from gujarat. A bitch get menstruations, that's why you born. How many idiots are being considered as swami in my community Earthling (@Earthli64328597) February 18, 2020 Not that I believe much in rebirth; but, I would any day prefer to be reborn as a kutri, and my husband as an ox, than be born as this Swami! I wonder what this learned man would want menstruating women to be reborn as if he finds we cook AND pray during our periods https://t.co/JuHM4YgLb1 Nidhi Jamwal (@JamwalNidhi) February 18, 2020 This Baba must be jailed... "If menstruating women coock, they will be born as kutri (bitch) in next life." And "if you eat food made by a mentruating woman then you are sure to be born as an ox." ~ Krishan Swaroop Das (Swami Narayan Bhuj Mandir) pic.twitter.com/5KdSdEa22M Mission Ambedkar (@MissionAmbedkar) February 18, 2020 According to the sects norms, menstruating women are barred from entering the temple and kitchen, a practice still common in most places in modern India. They are also forbidden from touching other students. However, some students complained that many females hid the fact that they are menstruating so that they could mingle with fellow inmates. At the hostel, it was mandatory for females on their periods to make an entry into a register and declare that they are menstruating. They were then asked to shift to the hostels basement. The U.S. sanctioned a unit of Russias largest oil producer Rosneft PJSC for maintaining ties with Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro and state-run oil company PDVSA, according to U.S. government documents. The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control is designating Rosneft Trading SA, the companys Swiss-incorporated brokerage firm, as well as its Chairman Didier Casimiro, according to the documents, obtained by Bloomberg News. The action against Rosneft represents the latest escalation in the Trump administrations campaign to oust Maduro and rally international support behind Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. The U.S. placed an array of sanctions on Venezuela last year, freezing all state assets, targeting senior officials and prohibiting transactions with state entities. Rosneft didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. In the wake of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, Russia has become the second-largest source of American oil imports. The nations crude and oil product exports to the U.S. climbed to 20.9 million barrels last October, the highest since November 2011, according to U.S. government data. Rosneft is currently subject to some U.S. market-sector sanctions, although those measures arent as far-reaching as the sanctions against businesses associated with the Maduro regime and dont prevent Rosneft from entering into transactions for Venezuelan oil. Rosneft has been Venezuelas main shipper of crude, which goes predominantly to refineries in India and China. The Moscow-based company, controlled by Russian President Vladimir Putins government, has loaned $6.5 billion to Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the Latin American countrys state-owned oil company, in exchange for crude. Venezuelan oil sales fell to a 34-year-low in 2019 after sanctions cut off trade with the U.S., until then the countrys biggest customer. Notably, the U.S. Treasury Department has exempted Chevron Corp., allowing the company to conduct business with PDVSA. Chevron has ramped up output at a key Venezuelan oil project to levels not seen in almost a year. Its current waiver from sanctions expires in April. EASTHAM, Mass. - One of the jurors who convicted notorious crime boss James Whitey Bulger says she regrets her decision after learning that he was an unwitting participant in a covert CIA experiment with LSD. Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped to his pending arrest. In2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders, even after hearing evidence that the mobster was helped by corrupt agents in the Boston office of the FBI. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison. In some, he describes his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind control drug in the late 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prison something his lawyers never brought up in his federal trial. Had I known, I would have absolutely held off on the murder charges, Uhlar told The Associated Press in a recent interview. He didnt murder prior to the LSD. His brain may have been altered, so how could you say he was really guilty? At the same time, Uhlar says she would have voted to convict Bulger on the long list of other criminal counts, meaning he still would likely have died in prison. Uhlar has spoken publicly about her regret before but says her belief that the gangster was wrongly convicted on the murder charges was reinforced after reading a new book by Brown University professor Stephen Kinzer: Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. The book digs into the dark tale of the CIAs former chief chemist and his attempts to develop mind control techniques by giving LSD and other drugs to unsuspecting individuals, including colleagues, and observing the effects. It was encouraging to know I wasnt losing my mind, thinking this was important, Uhlar said. It told me, this is huge. I mean, how many lives were affected by this? We have no idea. Gottliebs secret program, known as MK-ULTRA, enlisted doctors and other subcontractors to administer LSD in large doses to prisoners, addicts and others unlikely to complain. In Bulgers case, the mobster and fellow inmates were offered reduced time for their participation and told they would be taking part in medical research into a cure for schizophrenia. Appealed to our sense of doing something worthwhile for society, Bulger wrote in a letter to Uhlar reviewed by the AP. But nothing could have been further from the truth. The CIA mind control program known as MK-ULTRA involved the most extreme experiments on human beings ever conducted by any agency of the U.S. government, Kinzer said. During its peak in the 1950s, that program and its director, Sidney Gottlieb, left behind a trail of broken bodies and shattered minds across three continents. After Bulger was found guilty by Uhlar and the other jurors, a federal judge sentenced him to two life terms plus five years. But his life behind bars ended a little more than a year ago, at age 89, when he was beaten to death by fellow inmates shortly after arriving in his wheelchair at the Hazelton federal prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. No criminal charges have been filed. Although much had been written about the CIAs mind control experiments before Bulgers trial, Uhlar said she knew nothing about them until she began corresponding with the renowned gangster following his conviction. Uhlar started writing Bulger, she said, because she was troubled by the fact that much of the evidence against him came through testimony by former criminal associates who were also killers and had received reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against their former partner in crime. When I left the trial, I had more questions, she said. After Bulger started returning her letters, Uhlar noticed he often dated them with the time he had started writing in his tight cursive style. He always seemed to be writing at one, two, or three in the morning and when I asked him why, he said it was because of the hallucinations, Uhlar said. When Uhlar asked him to explain, Bulger revealed what he had already told many others: that since taking part in the LSD experiments at a federal prison in Atlanta, hed been plagued by nightmares and gruesome hallucinations and was unable to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Sleep was full of violent nightmares and wake up every hour or so still that way since 57, he wrote. On the Rock at times felt sure going insane, he wrote in another letter, referring to the infamous former prison on Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, where he was transferred from Atlanta. Auditory & visual hallucinations and violent nightmares still have them always slept with lights on helps when I wake up about every hour from nightmares. The mobster also recalled the supervising physician, the late Carl Pfeiffer of Emory University, and the technicians who would monitor his response to the LSD, asking him questions such as, Would you ever kill anyone? Etc., etc. That question struck a nerve with Uhlar. After hearing from Bulger about MK-ULTRA, as if I should have known about it, she visited him at a Florida federal prison on three occasions to discuss the experiments and started reading everything she could find about them. At one point, she reviewed the 1977 hearings by the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence, which was looking into MK-ULTRA following the first public disclosures of the top-secret program. The hearings included testimony from CIA director Stansfield Turner, who acknowledged evidence showing that the agency had been searching for a drug that could prepare someone for debilitating an individual or even killing another person. Thats just horrifying, in my opinion, Uhlar said. It opens up the question of whether he was responsible for the murders he committed. According to at least two of the several books written about Bulger and his life of crime, associates including corrupt former FBI agent John Morris said they assumed Bulger would use the LSD experiments to mount an insanity defence, if he were ever caught and tried. But in 2013 Bulgers Boston attorneys, J.W. Carney Jr. and Hank Brennan, unveiled a novel defence in which they admitted Bulger was a criminal who made millions and millions of dollars from his gangland enterprise, but was enabled by corrupt law enforcement officers, especially those in Boston office of the FBI. Neither Carney nor Brennan would comment on their decision attorney client privilege outlasts a clients death. But Anthony Cardinale, a Boston attorney who has represented numerous organized crime defendants, said he would have opted for an insanity defence, in part because of the abundant evidence against Bulger. I would have had him come into court like Harvey Weinstein, all disheveled, and in a wheelchair, he said. Still, Cardinale acknowledged there would have been challenges to presenting an insanity defence, including the fact that Bulger spent 16 years outwitting several law enforcement agencies, before he was captured in 2011 in Santa Monica, Calif., where hed been living quietly with his longtime girlfriend while on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted List. The problem is, he lived for a very long time on the lam in a very secretive and a very smart way, Cardinale said. But that doesnt diminish the notion that, based on the LSD experiments, and the doses he was experiencing, he could have convinced himself of things that were not true, including that he had immunity from prosecution and could do whatever he wanted. To his dying day, Bulger insisted hed received criminal immunity from a deceased federal prosecutor who once headed the New England Organized Crime Strike Force. John Bradley, a former Massachusetts federal prosecutor and assistant district attorney, agreed that defence lawyers would have faced high hurdles waging an insanity defence, noting that most end in convictions. The flip side is that jurors are sometimes swayed by morality more than legality, he said. The whole shtick that the government played a role in creating this monster, uses him as an informant and then goes after him thats an argument that could affect one or two jurors. And it only takes one to vote not guilty on all the criminal charges to produce a hung jury, Bradley noted, forcing prosecutors to decide whether to retry a case. Given Bulgers decades as a crime boss who corrupted the Boston office of the FBI, paying cash and doing favours in exchange for information that helped him thwart multiple investigations, a retrial would have been a near certainty. Nevertheless, Cardinale said, a hung jury in the Bulger case would have been a monster victory for the defence. Even if Bulger were convicted on the other criminal charges and received a sentence that would have kept him behind bars for life, a refusal to find him guilty on the murder charges would have meant anguish for family members of his victims. As in any case involving a tragic murder, a conviction of the perpetrator helps family member obtain closure and move on with their lives, said Paul V. Kelly, a former federal prosecutor who has represented the family of one of Bulgers murder victims. An acquittal of Whitey Bulger on the murder charges would have just caused additional pain and anguish. Uhlar has written about the Bulger trial in The Truth be Damned, a fictionalized account she published in 2018 and advertises on her website. She also gives occasional talks on the trial at community centres and libraries. During her correspondence and visits with Bulger, Uhlar said, she grew fond of the gangster, though he often warned her that he was a criminal and master manipulator. When asked if Bulger might have manipulated her, she said, Ive asked myself that many times. Ill finish reading a letter and say, Could he have? Bulger often wrote to Uhlar as if she were a friend, even joking with her. But in one letter he also enclosed a more menacing message inscribed to her on the back of a photo taken of him on the Rock, at a time when he was fending off LSD-induced nightmares while contemplating his return to Bostons violent criminal underworld. At end of Alcatraz, getting more serious and capable of about anything, he wrote. Hard time makes hard people. ___ AP investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report. Follow Associated Press investigative reporter Michael Rezendes at https://twitter.com/mikerezendes ___ Contact APs Global Investigations team at Investigative@ap.org [February 18, 2020] Surescripts Report Shows U.S. Patients Demand Greater Prescription Price Transparency Surescripts' Prescription Price Transparency and the Patient Experience survey shows that patients want to talk about the price of a prescription with their provider to avoid the sticker shock and delays that can lead to medication non-adherence. Electronic health records (EHR) vendors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are responding by developing tools that arm healthcare providers with patient-specific, benefits-based cost information at the point of care. The survey found that over half of patients had not taken a medication because of cost, and nearly three in 10 hadn't taken medication because of the wait time. Of those who reported that they didn't take medication because it was too expensive, 94% said they would have been willing to take a lower-cost alternative if their doctor or nurse had suggested one. Both cost and time to fill are of particular importance to millennials, 61% of whom reported skipping a medication due to the price tag (News - Alert), while 38% said they did so because it took too long to fill. "A patient's decision about whether or not to take a prescribed medication shouldn't come down to how much it will cost and how long it will take to get," said Tom Skelton, Chief Executive Officer of Surescripts. "With access and affordability driving the nationwide healthcare agenda in 2020, it is critical that providers know the cost of a patient's prescription based on their benefits plan, as well as the price of therapeutic alternatives, at the time they're writing the prescription." Patients Want to Talk With Their Healthcare Providers About Drug Cost A majority (56%) of patients said they talk about medication cost with their doctor or nurse at least some of the time, but 63% of these conversations are initiated by the patient. Millennial patients are leading the charge in demanding this type of interaction, with 68% indicating that they're already discussing their out-of-pocket cost with their doctor. "As a physician, I was trained only to consider the best clinical choice for the patient," said Andrew Mellin, M.D., Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer at Surescripts. "But today's prescribers must consider both clinical and economic factors with the patient in their decision-making process." Cost Conversations Heavily Influence Patient Choice of Healthcare Provider The survey further reveals that patients believe prescription price transparency at the point of care helps them afford their medications (55%), and increases both their satisfaction with their doctor (50%) and the likelihood that they'll stay with that provider (50%). n fact, 41% of patients said they have referred other patients to their doctor because of conversations they had about price and lower-cost alternatives. Many patients are willing to make changes in order to have cost conversations with their doctor. In fact, 27% said they'd make an appointment at an inconvenient time, 21% said they'd be willing to wait a few weeks for an appointment, and 20% said they'd be willing to switch to a new doctor if it meant being able to discuss prescription prices and lower-cost alternatives. Prescription Price Transparency Is in Higher Demand Among Millennials Prescription price transparency at the point of care is especially important to millennials and their choice of healthcare provider. Nearly 70% of millennials say the ability to talk with their provider about prescription cost has a moderate or significant impact on which doctor they choose, compared with 51% of middle-aged patients and 32% of Medicare-age patients. And 28% of millennials said they'd be willing to find a new doctor in order to have cost conversations about their prescriptions. "Medication adherence begins with a shared decision-making process between the prescriber and their patient, and it must be informed by delivering accurate and patient-specific cost and coverage information at the point of care," said Michelle Forbes, M.D., with MD Pediatric Associates in Dallas, Texas, who uses Surescripts Real-Time Prescription Benefit as part of Veradigm RxTruePrice, the price transparency feature of her EHR. "Using the price transparency tool keeps the medication decision-making process in the exam room, where it belongs-between my patient and me." Today, Real-Time Prescription Benefit is used by more than 260,000 prescribers nationwide. With access to accurate cost and coverage information, integrated into their EHR workflow at the point of care, prescribers can have conversations with their patients about the best treatment and ensure they get the right medication at an affordable cost. Real-Time Prescription Benefit provides prescription price information based on the patient's benefit plan, not estimates or price ranges, and it doesn't require the prescriber or the patient to go to other sources to price shop, which can cause delays that lead to medication non-adherence. In one case, a prescriber used Real-Time Prescription Benefit to save a patient $8,032 on a single prescription. Surescripts' 15-minute online survey was administered by Engine Group in November 2019 to a nationally representative sample of 1,001 consumers aged 23+ who had visited a doctor and received a prescription within the last three months. Download the report, Prescription Price Transparency and the Patient Experience, to see more patient perspectives on talking to their healthcare providers about drug cost. Learn more about solutions that deliver prescription price transparency to the point of care. About Surescripts Our purpose is to serve the nation with the single most trusted and capable health information network, built to increase patient safety, lower costs and ensure quality care. Since 2001, Surescripts has led the movement to turn data into actionable intelligence and convened the Surescripts Network Alliance to enhance prescribing, inform care decisions and advance the healthcare industry. Visit us at surescripts.com and follow us at twitter.com/surescripts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005355/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KENT Kent Memorial Library is presenting a new lecture series based on the musical West Side Story, on four consecutive Saturdays in March at 2:30 p.m. at Kent Town Hall. Leonard Bernsteins 100th birthday celebration was held in 2018 at Tanglewood, with an audience of 18,000 people. The music performed for the first half of the concert included numbers from the 1957 original Broadway production of West Side Story, according to the librarys marketing and special events director, Lucy Pierpont. The Bernstein-Sondheim-Robbins collaboration created a spectacular Broadway classic which has been enjoyed by many generations in live theatre and film, she said. This month, a Broadway revival of the makes its debut. Steven Spielbergs new movie, West Side Story has a release date of December 2020, and Netflix recently acquired the rights to the untitled Leonard Bernstein film which Bradley Cooper will star in and direct, Pierpont said. With the success of last years To Kill A Mockingbird lecture series, we thought it would be fun to have an interesting exploration of another beloved classic, and West Side Story surfaced, she said. Not only is the subject matter endearing, but in my opinion, everything about it is pure genius. The lecture series will explore the Jets and the Sharks, Maria and Tony, and introduce a new book about Bob Avian making its debut in Kent. Those who attend three out of four programs in this series will have their name entered to win two tickets to the Broadway production on April 7 in New York City. The lectures all begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be held at the Kent Town Hall. March 7, West Side Story Series: Part One: West Side Story and William Shakespeare, presented by panelists Athenaide Dallett, Kent School faculty; Geoff Stewart, Kent School faculty; and Patrick Beer, South Kent School faculty, at Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Boulevard, Kent. . March 14, West Side Story Series: Part Two, Movie: West Side Story. 1961 movie is an American musical romantic drama film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by William Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet. March 21, West Side Story Series: Part Three, Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story presented by music lecturer Jeffrey Engel, adjunct professor at Northwestern Connecticut Community College. March 28, 2:30 p.m. West Side Story Series: Part Four, Book Talk: Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographers Journey, Author Tom Santopietro will interview Kent resident, noted choreographer Bob Avian as they discuss their new book Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographers Journey. Avian is an award-winning Broadway choreographer known for his work on A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard. He began his career on Broadway as a dancer in such classic shows as West Side Story, Funny Girl, and Hello, Dolly! He also served as an original producer of Dreamgirls in 1981 and directed the Broadway and London revivals of A Chorus Line in 2006 and 2013. This will be their first event to introduce the new book. Registration is required for all programs. Visit kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information Playa del Carmen police dogs credited with 300 arrests Playa del Carmen, Q.R. One year after the incorporation of the Canine Unit into the Ministry of Public Security and Municipal Traffic of Solidaridad, the director says the dogs have been responsible for more than 300 arrests. The Canine Unit, which is directed by Commander Jorge Robles Aguilar, says the four dogs that make up the specialized unit for the detection of narcotics, weapons, explosives and paper money have participated in 400 coordinated operations which have resulted in the arrests of 301 people. The specialized canine unit, which was created by the municipal government of Solidaridad, is made up of four canine officers named Kano, Roca, Mona and Martina, have specialized training in the detection of narcotics, firearms, paper money and explosives. The unit, which belongs to the Operational Directorate of the Municipal Secretariat, was created to strengthen and improve procedures of the corporation in order to provide a better service and continue the fight against crime. The dogs provide support to several law enforcement areas including the National Guard, members of the State Attorney Generals Office and municipal law enforcement officers. The dump Trump movement was doomed from the start. Democrats chose the wrong battle and presented their case poorly. The movement has early roots in pre-election 2016 with the recently discredited FISA warrant relating to alleged Trump/Russia election collusion. And the first public mention of impeachment occurred even before Trumps inauguration. Moments after the inaugural ceremony the Washington Post reported impeachment efforts in the works. The Democrats tortured process was an impeachment in search of an offense, and eventually the infamous telephone call provided something to pursue. The obstruction charge dealt primarily with Trumps predictable use of the executive privilege precedent. Legal scholar Johnathan Turley seemed to kill that charge when he testified: if you make a high crime and misdemeanor out of going to the courts, it is an abuse of power. Its your abuse of power. But nevertheless, in a rush to impeach, legal remedies available for challenging Trumps assertion of privilege were foolishly not pursued. Finally, it came down to the abuse of power charge, and the two parties talked past each other by considering very different questions: Democrats asked: Did Trump ask Ukraine for help investigating a potential election opponent? Republicans asked, Was Trump justified in investigating a potential political opponent. The answer to both is yes. The Republican question was legitimate. The Barisma/Biden relationship deserves scrutiny it never received. It had been commonly known and quietly criticized, but never investigated or debunked as Democrats claim. It was simply disregarded. The abuse of power charge implies that a presidential challenger cant be investigated by a current president, even if suspicious events had occurred. Thats nonsense. Wedded to their narrower, less valid question, articles of impeachment were feverishly presented to the Senate along with demands to enforce subpoenas and pursue witnesses the House hadnt found time for. They rushed to impeach Trump in order to subject him to extended public ridicule. Susan Collins, exhibiting her usual reason and wisdom, explained her vote to acquit by pointing to the Houses responsibility to seek the full extent of its own remedies rather than relying on the Senate. The House presented evidence that was mostly hearsay, interpretation and supposition. In a traditional trial they would have faced this: Objection! Hearsay! Speculation! Relevance! Requires a conclusion by the witness. Those were sustainable objections. The acquittal vote split approximately along party lines. When deliberating the usual well-developed issues, siding along party lines is common. But we witnessed something far more important. This party line vote was prima facie evidence of an unproven case. Their most damaging strategies included: pretending the Bidens were irrelevant to the trial, Schiffs theatrics of making up scripts for what might have happened, insulting the Senate and pushing the Senate to cover for the Houses botched investigation. The Democrats were defeated by rules of evidence, due process, and reasonable doubt. Eloquent and emotional hyperbole was their only substitute for these shortcomings, and the Senate jury saw through it all. Trump must bear some responsibility for this unfortunate adventure. If he were less outrageous in style and persona, showing more respect for traditional processes and decorum, impeachment efforts might have been futile. Yet, part of the Democrats failure was responding to their disdain for him with an ad hominem attack, appealing to feelings and prejudices more than presenting compelling, provable facts. I question whether Democrats wanted to prevail. Perhaps they staged their theatrics and other questionable tactics around appealing to the TV audience as an introduction to the next presidential campaign. If so, they harmed their cause. And did Vladimir Putin achieve his goal? Democrats took the bait, stirred the pot, and delivered Putin the prize: rumor, misinformation and infighting which led to chaos and division. Following similar reasoning to that used for the Senates decision to acquit Bill Clinton, the current Senate clearly recognized the presidents approach was flawed, and perhaps reckless. As with Clinton, the Senate wisely decided nothing warranted removal from office. The 2016 election is finally over. Paraphrasing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Senate was structured to keep temporary rage from doing permanent damage to the republic. Fortunately, acquittal means voters can decide in 2020. Thats as it should be. Steve Bakke is a Courier subscriber living in Fort Myers, Fla. He is a retired CPA and commercial finance executive. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 COLONIE The end of last year was a difficult time for Bonita Rosengrant, the owner of a small New Hampshire diner. In early September, Rosengrant was in Pennsylvania saying goodbye to her dying mother but had to abruptly leave after finding out that her 21 employees had not been paid. She soon learned that she was one of thousands of people victimized by the sudden collapse of MyPayrollHR, the Clifton Park payroll-processing company at the center of an alleged multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme. Rosengrant lost $30,000. As a result, she's not sure when she'll be able to retire. On Monday, she drove three hours to the Capital Region for one reason: to attend Tuesday's annual meeting of shareholders at Pioneer Bank, one of the financial institutions that for years lent MyPayrollHR CEO Michael Mann money, to demonstrate the human impact of MyPayrollHR's collapse to the bank's president and executive board. Rosengrant said she believes her money remains frozen in Mann's account at Pioneer as civil and criminal cases make their way through various courts. Mann faces a federal charge after authorities said he admitted to orchestrating a $70 million bank fraud scheme. He has not yet entered a plea. After the meeting, Rosengrant made a beeline for Pioneer CEO Tom Amell in the conference room at the bank's headquarters on Albany Shaker Road. "I just want you to know who I am," she told him as executives and shareholders milled around. "Im a little tiny diner in New Hampshire. Pioneer Bank has my money. I am 64 years old. I worked hard to build my business brand-new. I did everything right; I paid my employees and I paid my taxes." Trying to strike a sympathetic tone, Amell told Rosengrant that litigation limited how much he could say. "We sympathize with the people that were impacted on this," he said. "We also were significantly impacted. What I can assure you and everybody else is that Pioneer Bank will always do the right thing always. Previously: Firm that moved money for MyPayrollHR files for bankruptcy Pioneer Bank CEO received $866,131 in 2019 MyPayrollHR debacle: Another payroll firm sues Cachet Complete coverage of the MyPayrollHR debacle Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Pioneer faces several pending legal actions related to MyPayrollHR's collapse. One lawsuit filed by an Oklahoma-based payroll processor claims Pioneer continued to accept the payroll company's client tax funds even after the bank freezed outgoing transactions meaning the tax funds were never paid to the proper taxing authorities. Another lawsuit claims Mann's relationship with a Pioneer executive may have played a role in the bank's decision to lend money to Mann's companies. The MyPayrollHR scandal was not brought up during the 15-minute shareholder meeting, the purpose of which was to elect two new directors and ratify the bank's public accounting firm. After the meeting, one shareholder approached Rosengrant and Melanie O'Malley, another business owner affected by the scandal, and told them that he and other shareholders were surprised that the matter hadn't been mentioned. Though she didn't get any immediate answers, Rosengrant said she was still glad she introduced herself to Amell and other Pioneer executives. "I'll sleep a little bit better," she said, "now that they know who I am." Michael.Williams@timesunion.com CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TSXV:VM) (the "Company" or "Voyageur") is implementing steps to ensure the Frances Creek barium sulfate project leads the industry in environmental best practices. Our objective is to create a project that has the lowest impact possible on the environment. Voyageur is currently testing and investigating new technologies that will directly reduce the overall impact on the area of our quarry project and future API facilities. This includes minimizing our CO 2 emissions, land disturbance, elimination of tailings ponds and reducing water consumption. We have set an agenda that will reduce our environmental impact by focusing on the following: Reduce water consumption Reduce emissions Eliminate tailing ponds Reduce waste dumps Limit ground disturbance throughout the project area Voyageur has successfully tested new gravity concentration technology. Allgaier Mogensen S. L., based in Spain, a wholly owned division of Allgaier Group of Uhingen Germany, has developed the GSort Densimetric Table for the separation of materials by density. This system successfully concentrated a 3-tonne sample that came from a crushed representative run of mine sample from the Francis Creek property vein. The sample was sent to the Allgaier Mogensen Test Lab where it averaged a specific gravity of 3.0 feed for the GSort unit. The Allgaier Mogensen GSort Densimetric Table was successful in using air gravity to obtain a final specific gravity concentrate of 4.3 with the underflow waste rock resulting in a 2.9 specific gravity. Voyageur is testing multiple new technologies for incorporation into the design of its barium sulfate processing facility with the environmental impact playing a major role for equipment selection. Brent Willis, CEO, comments, We are testing multiple technologies and the G-Sort system could be a game changer for our barite quarry, it may allow for a very small environmental footprint, no water usage, no tailings ponds and a very small, efficient unit that reduces the overall emissions. The G-Sort technology will allow Voyageur to create a sound environmental processing plant located on the quarry site. By operating with a dry gravity system, we can eliminate drying costs and reduce the overall operating costs to produce high purity product. About Voyageur Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol VM. Voyageur is focused on the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) minerals. The near-term focus is developing barium and iodine radiocontrast products and bromine based pharmaceutical products. Voyageur's goal is to generate positive cash flow from operations through its joint venture with Chief Medical Supply Ltd. - Alberta's only GMP pharmaceutical manufacturer. The joint venture contemplates turnkey manufacturing, bottling and distribution of barium radiopharmaceuticals for MRI, X-ray and CT scan applications. The Company also contemplates potentially extending the joint venture to encompass planned Health Canada registration applications for iodine and bromine products, also for medical applications. Voyageur owns 100% interest in three barium sulfate deposits including two properties suitable in grade for the industrial barite marketplace, and an interest in a high-grade iodine, lithium & bromine brine project in Utah, USA. About ImagingX Pharmaceuticals Voyageur formed ImagingX, a gross revenue sharing joint venture company, with Chief Medical Supply Ltd (CMS). CMS provides high quality, competitively priced pharmaceuticals and hemodialysis products to pharmacies, hospitals and clinics in Canada. Operating from both its 81,000 square-foot plant in Calgary, Alberta and its 163,000 square-foot facility in Mississauga, Ontario, CMS can supply products coast-to-coast. Regulated by Health Canada and complying with the Canadian Food and Drug Act, CMS has both drug and medical device establishment licenses issued by Health Canada. CMS currently has the combined bottling capacity of 760,000 bottles per day and has a turnkey sterile bottle line ready for ImagingX iodine contrast production. ImagingX is employing a strategy of selling competitively priced radiopharmaceuticals for MRI, X-ray and CT scan applications. The main focus to date has been on barium, and iodine will follow in 2020. The joint venture obligates Voyageur to provide the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient minerals for the products and CMS to manufacture the products. The partners split gross revenue 50/50. This joint venture relationship is designed for ImagingX to be highly competitive by controlling all input costs under the motto of: "From the Earth to the Bottle" https://stockhouse.com/news/newswire/2020/02/05/one-purest-natural-barite-finds-world https://midasletter.com/2020/01/voyageur-pharmaceuticals-cvevm-how-barium-and-iodine-are-used-to-help-the-health-care-industry/ Qualified Person Statement The Companys qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, Mr. Bradley Willis, P.Eng, has reviewed this news release and approved it. For further information, please contact: Steven R. Livingston, Vice President, Finance Cell: (403) 471-1659 Office: (587)-779-6166 steve@voyageurminerals.ca www.voyageurminerals.ca Reader Advisory Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to the Company that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that the Company anticipates may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statement and undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "will", "intends", believes, expects, forecasts, "anticipates", "plans" and similar expressions. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the feasibility and expectation of the Company to bring its mining assets into production; the experience of management and directors of Voyageur and its pharmaceutical joint venture partner to execute on its business plan and that of its joint venture company; the economics and risks associated with its business plan; future operations and strategies for development, sales and distribution of mineral and pharmaceutical product; and the ability of the Company to attract investment capital to fund operations and capital expenditures. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. Here we go again. Our so-called European partners are already cranking up the rhetoric in advance of talks aimed at agreeing a new post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is warning that we are going to rip each other apart during the negotiations. That dismal bureaucrat Michel Barnier insists that Britain will have to obey all EU rules and submit to the jurisdiction of the European Court if we want to carry on doing business on the Continent after December 31. The whole deal could be tied up in about ten minutes, with goodwill and a bit of give and take on both sides. But the problem is that the Brussels bureaucracy is still fighting the last war. They think theyve got us over a barrel. Michel Barnier is pictured above Effectively, they are seeking a no-compete deal, which would prevent us lowering taxes and setting our own standards on everything from workers rights to subsidising ailing industries. They want to force us to carry on following the pernicious European Convention on Human Rights, which has proven to be a goldmine for opportunist Left-wing lawyers like the now-disgraced Phil Shyster and has provided a get-out-of-jail-free card for terrorists, murderers and illegal immigrants. Brussels is also making noises about cutting off the City of Londons access to European financial markets with as little as a months notice. It doesnt seem to have sunk in yet that they are no longer dealing with the defeatist Theresa May, who was prepared to offer any concession and swallow any amount of humiliation in her pathetic, demeaning attempts to stifle a proper Brexit Oh, and they are demanding that foreign fishing boats continue to enjoy unlimited access to British waters. If we were to agree to any of this extensive shopping list, it would make a mockery of the whole point of Brexit taking back control. Fortunately, Boris appears to have no intention of complying with these outrageous conditions a position amplified by our chief negotiator David Frost in a speech last night. All we are seeking is a fair deal, based on friendly co-operation, not special treatment. But as far as the EU apparat is concerned, friendly co-operation is not on the table. They arent even prepared to offer the same tariff-free trading terms they have agreed with countries such as Canada, South Korea and Japan. Such sabre-rattling is, of course, only to be expected. But its all so tiresome and unnecessary. The whole deal could be tied up in about ten minutes, with goodwill and a bit of give and take on both sides. But the problem is that the Brussels bureaucracy is still fighting the last war. They think theyve got us over a barrel. It doesnt seem to have sunk in yet that they are no longer dealing with the defeatist Theresa May, who was prepared to offer any concession and swallow any amount of humiliation in her pathetic, demeaning attempts to stifle a proper Brexit. Theres a new sheriff in town. Hes the man who led the Vote Leave campaign and has just been re-elected Prime Minister with a thumping 80-seat parliamentary majority after an election fought on the simple slogan: Get Brexit Done. Brussels is also making noises about cutting off the City of Londons access to European financial markets with as little as a months notice. Oh, and they are demanding that foreign fishing boats continue to enjoy unlimited access to British waters. A fishing boat is seen in the English Channel His sidekick is a sociopath who masterminded both the victorious Leave and recent Tory General Election campaigns. Dominic Cummings would probably prefer to accept Brussels surrender in a railway carriage in the French countryside rather than cede an inch in the coming negotiations. Does Barnier really think this administration will ever agree to Britain remaining a vassal state of the EU? If so, hes been hitting the Pernod too hard lately. Mother Theresa was willing to postpone our departure until the Twelfth of Never if necessary. Boris is determined we wont linger one second past midnight on December 31. This time we hold the winning hand. Therell be no retreat. We are prepared to walk away, Renee or Michel, or Jean-Yves, or whoever Brussels fancies sending along to cross the Is and dot the Ts. Its time we stopped referring to the EU as our partners and started calling them our rivals or competitors. If they want continued access to their biggest export market and our co-operation in military and security matters, they have to get real. Fast. Theres a new sheriff in town. Hes the man who led the Vote Leave campaign and has just been re-elected Prime Minister with a thumping 80-seat parliamentary majority after an election fought on the simple slogan: Get Brexit Done. Boris Johnson is pictured above in a Cabinet meeting with new Chancellor Rishi Sunak We wont be bullied. The City is big enough, ugly enough and powerful enough to look after itself. If Boris sells out the fishermen it will kill him in those coastal constituencies which voted Tory for the first time. And he knows it. The EU is facing an existential crisis and is terrified that Britain will make a roaring success of Brexit, while Europe implodes. On the other side of the Channel, Babylon is burning. But thats not our immediate problem. We are once again masters of our own destiny. Theres a whole wide world out there, gagging to do business with us. The EU has far more to lose than we do. Our Man Frost is not going naked into the negotiating chamber. He should simply tell Barnier and his buddies: Enough of the empty threats. Were off whether you like it or not. If you want to rip yourselves apart, have a nice day. But if you want to carry on selling your cars, fridges, food and wine in Britain, its time to cut out the grand-standing and cut a deal. It seems that soon the only way to get around cheaply, while at the same time saving the polar bears, will be to buy a car powered by your own two feet like the Flintstones Electric cars may be the future, but dont kid yourself they are going to be any cheaper to run than todays petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles. Once they become widespread, the Government will simply crank up the tax on electricity to compensate for the billions it will lose in fuel duty and VAT. Charging them will cost an arm and a leg, too. A survey by The Times discovered that early converts to electric cars are already being ripped off. At one charging station, it costs 23 for enough electricity to travel just 100 miles nine times what it would cost you to top up at home, and double the price of driving a diesel or petrol car the same distance. Electric vehicles may have zero emissions, but manufacturing them especially the batteries creates just as much pollution as a conventional motor. It seems that soon the only way to get around cheaply, while at the same time saving the polar bears, will be to buy a car powered by your own two feet like the Flintstones. Yabba Dabba Doo! Who needs CCTV and facial recognition software when youve got a copper like PCSO Andy Pope, from Redditch? Hes blessed with a photographic memory, and has used it to catch almost 2,000 suspects. It even helped him apprehend a man later convicted of indecent exposure. Sounds like never forgetting a face isnt the only tool in his crime-fighting armoury. Be-bop-a-flu-la Just as we are getting to grips with the coronavirus, along comes another health scare. Elton John had to be helped off stage in New Zealand suffering from something called Walking Pneumonia. Thats a new one on me. I wonder if it only afflicts musicians, like the Rockin Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu, the 1957 R&B classic written by Huey Piano Smith. Symptoms include a sore throat and cough. But, apparently, you can get a syrup for it. Which is good news for Elton. Hes got a syrup for every occasion. Councillors in Walsall have been given Lego sets to help them create a resilient community, whatever that means. One of them spent a training session building a Lego Elvis. As you do. The idea was dreamed up by consultants hired by the council at the staggering cost of 10 million to suggest ways of making savings. Not spending ten mill on consultants would be a good start. Thats money which could be used to employ dustmen, roadsweepers and lollipop ladies. Maybe letting them play with Lego is where they got the idea to create miles of useless, planet-destroying cycle lanes. Speaking of health scares (see Elton elsewhere) a new report claims that salad gives you cancer. Specifically, rocket leaves, a particular favourite of healthy eaters. (If this was about Elton we could have used the headline: Rocket Man.) I guess it was only a matter of time before the Everything Gives You Cancer (copyright: Joe Jackson) alarmists got round to salad. I know I shouldnt laugh, but I think Ill stick to steak and chips and bacon banjos in future. Just to be on the safe side. Charles Portis, the author whose 1968 novel True Grit inspired two beloved big-screen Westerns, died Monday at the age of 86. The Arkansas native had struggled with failing health for several years, according to his brother, Jonathan, who confirmed the death to the Arkansas Times. Portis was born in 1933 in El Dorado, Arkansas, to Samuel Palmer Portis and Alice Waddell Portis. He served in the Marines during the Korean War before going on to study journalism at the University of Arkansas. He was a newspaper reporter before going on to write fiction, having written for Fayettevilles Northwest Arkansas Times, Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Arkansas Gazette, and Newsweek. He went on to become the London bureau chief of the New York Herald-Tribune, according to an obituary his family prepared for the Ruebel Funeral Home which was obtained by to the Arkansas Times. Also Read: 'M*A*S*H' Actress Kellye Nakahara Dies After Battle With Cancer His 1968 novel True Grit was his biggest success. It inspired a 1969 John Wayne film, and later the 2010 film starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld. It follows the story of a young farm girl who hires a drunken lawman to catch the outlaw who murdered her father. They go on a quest along with a Texas Ranger to track down the villain, and on that adventure, the strength of their grit is tested. Portis other work includes comic fiction like Norwood, The Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis, and Gringos, as well as a collection of his shorter works called Escape Velocity. Read original story Charles Portis, True Grit Novelist, Dies at 86 At TheWrap In a first, the West Bengal government suspended internet services for three and a half hours in about 50 community blocks in nine districts to stop leak of question papers for the state secondary boards class 10 Madhyamik examination that started on Tuesday. Providers of both mobile and broadband internet services have been asked to suspend operations from 11.30 am to 3 pm on all days when exams will be held. The exams will end on February 27. Education department officials who did not want to be identified said districts where the action has been taken are Malda, Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, Alipurduar and West Burdwan. A total of 10,15,888 students are appearing for the exams this year. The number has gone down by 33,000 since 2019, Kalyanmoy Ganguly, president of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Examination, told the media. Students will not be allowed to carry mobile phones and smart-watches. Even teachers are not allowed to use smartphones and smart watches during the exams, he said. Significantly, neither the state government nor Ganguly made any official statement on the suspension of internet services. I have no comments to make, said Ganguly. HT, however, accessed a written order signed by a district magistrate in south Bengal on February 17. The step was taken in view of the leak of question papers in several districts last year. The malpractice was discovered when images of English, Bengali, history and geography question papers surfaced on social media on consecutive days. The criminal investigation department (CID) of the state police took up the investigation after Ganguly lodged a complaint. Several people including two students were arrested. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has sought an appointment to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday to press the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the north eastern state, CMO sources said on Tuesday. All leaders of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance(MDA) are camping at the national capital to meet Shah, the sources told PTI. The confirmation about the meeting is, however, yet to be received from the home minister's office, they said. This is the third time that the Meghalaya chief minister is in the national capital to meet Shah. In the past three months delegations led by him had met the union home minister twice. But on both occasions Shah had postponed the decision on granting ILP to the tribal state. The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on December 19, 2019, urging the Centre to implement the ILP following massive protests in the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. A delegation of the MDA partner, the United Progressive Front(UPF) had met Sangma last night and asked him to "aggressively pursue the matter with the Centre". The BJP is also supporting the demand of ILP in Meghalaya, according to A L Hek, a minister from the party. "We will impress upon the union home minister on the merits of implementing ILP in Meghalaya. We are hoping for a positive result," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This article was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba A 75-year-old lead lawyer for one of the defendants in the long-delayed trial over the Sept. 11 attacks went before a military judge on Tuesday to plead that he be released from the case on health grounds. After three surgeries in 2018 and a recent consultation with a cardiologist, he said, My trial days are over. But faced with the possibility that the departure of the lawyer, James P. Harrington, could make it harder to start the trial as planned next January or could lead to his client being tried separately from the other four defendants, the prosecution objected and sought to keep him on the job. There is no emergency medical situation, said Edward R. Ryan, one of the government prosecutors, told the court. The judge, Col. W. Shane Cohen, said he would rule Wednesday on the request by Mr. Harrington, who serves as the capital defense lawyer, or learned counsel, for Ramzi bin al-Shibh, one of the five accused plotters of the attacks. Mr. Harringtons request is but one obstacle to the start of jury selection in 11 months. Stock Market Symbols GIB (NYSE) GIB.A (TSX) www.cgi.com/newsroom Center to showcase global solutions and enable co-innovation with clients MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) is pleased to announce the opening of a new innovation center in Montreal, showcasing CGI's cross-industry innovations with its clients from around the world, and offering clients unique co-innovation opportunities. Clients and business leaders are invited to experience an immersive visit, taking advantage of virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and other innovative tools that leverage key emerging technologies, CGI's best industry innovations, and CGI's intellectual property solutions. The center also is equipped with a state-of-the-art design thinking space where clients, guided by CGI experts, can build digitization roadmaps and spark new thinkingfrom ideation to rapid prototypeswith a process designed to generate applied innovations. For CGI consultants, this facility also provides a collaborative environment to test and evolve innovations, and a space to share advances with the local community. "The new center is an extension of our proximity model," said Guy Vigeant, President of CGI's Canadian operations. "CGI's global network of innovation centers and labs enables us to collaborate and innovate locally with our clients. The center also will help us attract new talent to our growing team of approximately 11,000 professionals in Canada, which is spread across 21 offices and 11 centers of excellence, and delivers end-to-end services." "Montreal is one of the world's top cities for artificial intelligence, among other emerging technologies," added Michael Godin, Senior Vice-President, CGI. "Our new innovation center demonstrates our commitment to take an active part in the ecosystem, providing clients and CGI teams with a dedicated space where they can connect, think, explore, innovate and, most of all, get inspired." Based on the findings of in-depth interviews with 1,550 business and technology leaders around the world, CGI's 2019 Client Global Insights reveals that consistent application of innovation is a pressing concern for clients, and developing new products or services is a top priority. The company's new Montreal innovation center is designed to help clients identify, prioritize and apply relevant innovations to improve their performance. More than 65 Montreal-based and international clients already have explored the innovation center as part of a phase 1 pre-launch. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 77,500 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. With Fiscal 2019 reported revenue of C$12.1 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. SOURCE CGI Inc. Related Links www.cgi.com The man was seen wincing in agony while being put in the ambulance He was stretchered out by paramedics with the knife still lodged in his torso Paramedics were called to Westfield in Sydney's northern beaches at 2pm A man in his 20s has been stabbed in his stomach with a kitchen knife A man in his 20s has been stabbed in his stomach with a kitchen knife at a busy shopping centre. Paramedics were called to Westfield Warringah Mall at Brookvale, in Sydney's northern beaches, at 2pm on Tuesday. Footage showed the man being stretchered out of the nearby medical centre by paramedics with the knife still lodged in his torso, wrapped in bandages. Footage showed the man being stretchered out of the nearby medical centre by paramedics with the knife still lodged in his torso, wrapped in bandages A New South Wales Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the man was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital The man was fully conscious while being put in the ambulance, and at times winced in agony. A New South Wales Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the man was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. Detectives were seen bagging up evidence outside the medical centre, where it's believed the man ended up after being stabbed at the mall. Police are yet to establish a crime scene or pinpoint any suspects. Monday, February 17, 2020 Advice from Leading Third-Party Labs We spoke with Eurofins and ProVerde, trusted third-party labs in the industry, to get their perspective and advice on the problem. One of the largest questions facing consumers in the CBD industry today is How do I know if my CBD product is real, reliable and safe? One of the most effective ways that companies have been able to answer this question is through third-party Certificates of Analysis (COA). Independent analytical laboratories provide testing services for hemp biomass, CBD extracts and finished products in order to offer an unbiased report on the cannabinoid and contaminant levels. It tells producers and consumers alike what their product contains so they can be confident in its quality and safety. One of the most effective ways that companies have been able to answer this question is through third-party Certificates of Analysis (COA). In this article, we will discuss the importance of COAs, dive into the issue of fraudulent COAs in the CBD industry, and learn how to verify if a COA is trustworthy or not. We spoke with Eurofins and ProVerde, trusted third-party labs in the industry, to get their perspective and advice on the problem. Why are COAs Important? Eurofins recently acquired Covance Food Solutions, a nutritional testing laboratory that has been around for 80+ years specializing in consumer product analysis. Its a trust, but verify, industry, said Eurofins. Whether you own a brand or processing company, you need to make sure that your materials, ingredients, and products are meeting your internal standards, customer needs, and regulations. Although it is an issue throughout the supplement market, the emphasis on quality is even more important in the CBD industry due to its use and rising popularity. ProVerde, a third-party laboratory that specializes in cannabis analysis, also spoke on the importance of COAs. They are important from the consumer perspective to ensure that you get what you paid for, meaning the contents of the product match the label in terms of dose and extract type. Also, customers should be confident that their product is completely free of contaminants or unwanted compounds. From the perspective of CBD producers, COAs are helpful in understanding your processes, identifying and eliminating sources of contamination, and aiding in the development of consistent formulations. They are important from the consumer perspective to ensure that you get what you paid for. COAs in the Supplement and Pharmaceutical Industries Not only are COAs important in the CBD industry, but in the supplement and pharmaceutical space as well. An over the counter drug manufacturer in Canada received a warning letter from the FDA in 2017 for failing to test incoming ingredients through a third-party lab before formulating their products. As FDAs letter stated, You must conduct at least one specific identity test to analyze all incoming components. You may not rely on your suppliers CoA to verify the identity of your components. The general consensus is that You need to be very skeptical of information provided by supplement manufacturers and sellers. This goes for all types of products that you consume, but the supplement space especially. In general, supplement production is less regulated than other industries, and in the case of CBD, a product with hype and large profit potential, consumers must be wary of counterfeit products and certificates. The general consensus is that You need to be very skeptical of information provided by supplement manufacturers and sellers. Fake COAs for CBD Products ProVerde said that fraudulent COAs are prevalent, the two most common adulteration methods being changing the name of the company on the document or changing the reported numbers. This issue began years ago, and its challenging the legal marijuana industry as well. An article published in 2016 tells the story of a third-party supplement testing lab who found out that companies were creating fake COAs which looked identical to real certificates from the lab. Examples of companies forging COAs or insufficiently testing ingredients or products with a third party lab are everywhere. Kazmira has also seen questionable examples of COAs that do not match test results confirmed by additional labs for the same sample. Although it is very difficult to prove any fraudulence, it is clear to the company that you shouldnt trust a COA just because it has numbers, there must be additional steps taken to verify the accuracy and quality of the results. Why Would a Company want a fake or Adulterated COA? COAs have become a gold standard in the industry, and the word is finally getting out to consumers that they should be checking for a COA before buying a product. However, much like CBD companies themselves, third-party labs do not have a regulatory foundation that performs audits or standardizes their testing procedures. Therefore, some untrustworthy CBD businesses try to take advantage of this by producing fraudulent COAs. If companies have products that do not meet regulations or safety standards, they may try to lie about this with a fake or altered COA. Even third-party labs themselves could be dry labbing, meaning they produce fake results to keep their clients happy and returning. Much like CBD companies themselves, third-party labs do not have a regulatory foundation that performs audits or standardizes their testing procedures. On the topic of dry labs, Eurofins said, Coming from a third-party lab and knowing how much it costs to run a test, seeing some of the pricing at other labs really makes you wonder what exactly they are doing for their testing. It is expensive to run these tests, and cheap prices could indicate the lab is not actually performing the tests they say they are. Testing Standardization An interesting twist in this story is that laboratories do not have industry standard testing procedures for cannabinoids or cannabis products. Some basic safety tests are standard such as the FDA approved BAM method for detecting microbes, according to ProVerde. However, when it comes to cannabinoids, analytical methods vary from lab to lab. These methods are also adapted for different types of products whether it be hemp biomass, oil, or finished products. Eurofins said they follow the AOAC methods for cannabinoid testing, which they helped develop. ProVerde said they use proprietary analytical methods. According to Eurofins, labs often base their procedures off of published methods that they adapt to fit the sample or testing equipment that they possess. The point is not that one lab method is better than the other, but the fact that methods differ from lab to lab presents a dilemma for the industry. You could potentially send the same CBD sample to three different labs and get three different COA results. The point is not that one lab method is better than the other, but the fact that methods differ from lab to lab presents a dilemma for the industry. How to Verify A Certificate of Analysis Eurofins and Proverde offered advice on how to verify the authenticity and quality of CBD products and their respective COAs. Check for a QR code on the product package this will link you directly to the Certificate of Analysis ASK THE MANUFACTURER FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS Make sure the COA is produced by a third-party and is not an in-house COA. Look into the lab who produced the COA are they reputable? Is the lab facility ISO accredited? Make sure all of the identifying information is present batch number, product name, company name and contact, lab name and contact etc. Make sure all tests have been completed and reported full cannabinoid and terpene profile, pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, microbials etc. Make sure methods and detection limits such as LOD/LOQ are reported. Check for a verification QR code on the COA it should link you to the laboratory website to verify its authenticity. Contact the third-party laboratory to verify if the COA provided to you matches the one they have on record. For more information, check out our article on How to Read a Certificate of Analysis. Be Confident in Your Choice of CBD Oil With the lack of regulation and multitude of opportunities for fraud in the industry, it can be difficult to decide which company to purchase from. Make sure to Know Your CBD Manufacturer and understand how to verify the quality and trustworthiness of a company before you purchase. At Kazmira, we strive to be the best in class CBD manufacturer, making our company synonymous with the highest level trust and integrity in the industry. We have built relationships rooted in trust with all market stakeholders including (1) the end consumer (2) our customers (3) our farming partners (4) our employees and (5) regulatory agencies. There is a deep need to restore integrity in the industry, and Kazmira is leading that effort. [February 18, 2020] Global Investors Look to Diversify Portfolios Amid Coronavirus Chaos The outbreak of the coronavirus, coupled with record valuations in equity markets, has triggered a global sell-off of high-risk investments and a significant shift in sentiment among global investors. Accompanying the dip is a well-reported surge into traditional safe-haven monetary assets such as gold. As global investors remain concerned that the virus could become far more globally significant, inflows into gold exchange traded funds are 30% higher than last year. Other low-risk investments have reported similar inflows of capital. Henley & Partners CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen says there's is also growing interest in residence- and citizenship-by-investment programs among wealth managers and high-net-worth (HNW) individuals as a result. "Investment migration programs enable countries to grant residence or citizenship rights to individuals in exchange for a substantial investment. Savvy investors are embracing investment migration - the newest option in the safe-haven asset class - as it unlocks novel risk anagement and optimization options for the HNW portfolio." Over 100 countries have some form of investment migration legislation in place, and there are over 60 different programs active around the world. In terms of the industry's size, citizenship-by-investment contributes about USD 3 billion a year to the global economy, while the residence-by-investment sector contributes about USD 15 billion a year, putting the industry as a whole at around USD 18 billion. Increasing demand indicates that the industry will soon reach USD 20 billion annually. Henley & Partners Chairman and pioneer of the modern investment migration industry, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, says visa rules and governments can and do change, but citizenship is for life and can normally be passed down to future generations. "On the one hand, holding additional residence and/or citizenship provides security, reliably diversifying risk through greater protection from volatile markets and political instability. It also prevents individuals from being dependent on a single country. On the other hand, investment migration programs permit access to a significantly expanded suite of opportunities for travel, investment, and access, creating substantial value. In either case, the benefits that accrue from multiple citizenships and residencies generate unique value for the investor that goes beyond simply providing political risk insurance." For an investment of between EUR 1 million and EUR 2 million, Malta and Cyprus offer the most sought-after citizenship-by-investment programs in the EU, and along with most other EU member states, the two countries also offer residence-by-investment, at lower price points. The minimum real estate investment requirement for the Malta Residence and Visa Program is EUR 270,000, while the most affordable qualifying investment for the Cyprus Permanent Residence Program is purchase of real estate with a total market value of at least EUR 300,000 plus VAT. The minimum real estate investment requirement for the popular Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program is EUR 350,000, and the permit enables one to apply for full citizenship after five years. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005029/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Cork University Hospital (CUH) still places teenage girls in some wards with adult men. A day after a 62-year-old man was convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in her hospital bed, CUH was asked what changes it brought in as a result of the horrific case. It was also asked what assurances it could give that the type of incident that happened at CUH in 2018 would not happen again. The hospital declined to give an assurance that such an incident would not happen again. While it said it has reviewed admission protocols since the incident, it would not say what recommendations arose from the review. Andrew ODonovan from Butlersgift in Drimoleague, Co Cork, was convicted on February 11 of sexually assaulting a girl in CUH. The South/South West Hospital Group, which runs CUH, said: The sharing of wards between male and female patients is not common practice. However, this can arise in terms of Intensive Care Units and Observation Units for clinical reasons. Patients under the age of 16 years are always accommodated in pediatric wards. Judge Sean O Donnabhain, who sentenced ODonovan, questioned how it was that a vulnerable, incapacitated girl was placed in a ward with ODonovan. In his summing up, the judge said: You have to question in circumstances like this what management was doing. You have to question the management of the ward system. There appears to be no system of management or supervision. An emergency motion is to be raised at the next Regional Health Forum in connection with the sexual assault of the teenage patient at CUH. Forum member Ted Tynan wants CUH chiefs to explain what they have done to make sure this does not happen again. Mr Tynan said that, so far, the response from the hospital has been entirely unsatisfactory.The Cork City Council councillor added: People need to know that their daughters are safe at this hospital. Mr ODonovan has a diagnosed schizophrenic condition and had been attending mental health services since the 1980s for anxiety, agitation, euphoria, and insomnia. He was in same ward as the teenage girl, who was recovering from serious injuries when he sexually assaulted her. Because of her physical injuries at the time, she could not reach the call button over her head. Staff were only alerted to what was going on when the mans heart monitor set off an alarm that his heart rate was rising and they thought he was having a heart attack. After reading FBL Financial Group, Inc.'s (NYSE:FFG) latest earnings update (31 December 2019), I found it beneficial to look back at how the company has performed in the past and compare this against the most recent numbers. As a long-term investor I tend to pay attention to earnings trend, rather than a single number at one point in time. I also like to compare against an industry benchmark to understand whether FFG has outperformed, or whether it is simply riding an industry wave. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways. View our latest analysis for FBL Financial Group Did FFG's recent earnings growth beat the long-term trend and the industry? FFG's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of US$126m has jumped 35% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 3.7%, indicating the rate at which FFG is growing has accelerated. What's the driver of this growth? Well, lets take a look at whether it is solely due to industry tailwinds, or if FBL Financial Group has seen some company-specific growth. NYSE:FFG Income Statement, February 17th 2020 In terms of returns from investment, FBL Financial Group has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 8.5% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 1.3% is below the US Insurance industry of 2.7%, indicating FBL Financial Group's are utilized less efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for FBL Financial Groups debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 1.6% to 1.5%. What does this mean? Though FBL Financial Group's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. While FBL Financial Group has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I recommend you continue to research FBL Financial Group to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at: Story continues Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for FFGs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for FFGs outlook. Financial Health: Are FFGs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Chief of Police of Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan has said that Afghan intelligence services have evidence Iran is supplying the Taliban with Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). In an exclusive interview with Radio Azadi (Afghan Service of Radio Liberty/Radio Azadi ) on February 18 General Muhammed Haya said that the Taliban in Farah Province who have received the weapons are trying to transfer them to Uruzgan to attack Afghan military planes in the region. General Haya also alleged that Iran's Revolutionary Guard is funding the Taliban to fight Afghan and American forces and their allies. Afghanistan's Interior and Defense Ministry officials have not made any comments about Iran's provision of anti-aircraft missiles to the Taliban. Taliban Spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmad recently claimed that using its own weapons, the group has downed several Afghan military aircraft. "At least in the current year, the Taliban has not downed any of our planes," Deputy Spokesman of the Defense Ministry of Afghanistan, Fuad Aman, told Radio Azadi and added that technical issues were responsible for the recent crash of two planes in Balkh and Farrah provinces. The crash in Farah killed two pilots. "Iran will reinforce groups such as the Taliban in general, and Al-Qaida in particular, to target Americans and their allies in Afghanistan. A few months ago, there were reports that Iran was supplying Al-Qaida with missiles to target American bases. I think these concerns have deepened now," Hikmatullah Azami, a counter-terrorism and security expert in Kabul, told Radio Azadi. Tehran denies assisting the Taliban but has officially admitted to having contacts with the group. In November 2019 a high-ranking Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the groups founders, visited Tehran after talks in Moscow. Mullah Abdul Ghani held meetings with Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif according to these reports. Earlier in September, a week after peace talks between the group and the United States collapsed, another Taliban delegation held discussions with Zarif in Tehran. Iran's new Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani's connections with Afghanistan have become highly controversial in the country when an Afghan journalist revealed that the commander had faked his identity in a meeting with an Afghan regional official in 2018. Iran's Qods Force has for many years supported various factions in Afghanistan including the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. Iran's Qods has also mobilized immigrant Afghan workers in Iran to form the Fatemiyoun Division, a paramilitary group consisting of Afghan Shiites, to fight alongside Iranian forces in Syria. Fatemiyoun Division which was formed in 2012 mainly consists of Shiite Hazaras. Members of the division had a distinctive presence in the funeral ceremonies held for General Qassem Soleimani, the slain Commander of the Force, in November and could easily be spotted waving their yellow banners. Fatemiyoun's yellow flag was also displayed alongside the flags of several other groups including the Hezbollah of Lebanon on January 9 at the press conference of Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the Chief of Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force. The press conference was held after Iran's missile attack on Iraqi bases hosting U.S. and other coalition forces in response to the killing of Soleimani on January 3. The Taliban condemned his killing in a statement on January 4. In January 2019 the London-based Iran International TV journalist, Harun Najafizada, disclosed that Iran's new Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani had met in July 2019 with Tahir Zaheer, the Governor of Bamyan province. The disclosure was based on a photo posted on the Governor's Facebook page in July. In 2018 General Qaani was Deputy Commander of the Qods Force and its Ansar Headquarters which is responsible for Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. The Facebook post introduced the Governor's guest as Iran's Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan. Tahir Zaheer denied he had been aware of Qaani's real identity and said the meeting had been set up by the Interior Ministry. In a press conference in Kabul on January 7 the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Edrees Zaman, stressed that Qaani had never been a deputy ambassador in Kabul and the ministry would investigate the allegations. Tahir Zaheer who had met with Qaani said they had visited a hospital under construction by Iran and called for cooperation of the governorship "in case of security problems". [February 18, 2020] UnitedHealthcare and Optum Take Action to Support People Affected by Floods in Mississippi UnitedHealthcare and Optum, the health benefits and services companies of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), are taking action to help people who may be affected by the recent floods in Mississippi. Support includes assisting health plan participants who may need to make alternate arrangements to access care and early prescription refills, as well as offering a free emotional-support line to help people who might be affected. Help Finding a Network Care Provider, Early Refills: Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call customer care at the number located on the back of their medical ID cards. UnitedHealthcare App: People enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual health plans who have a smartphone can download the free UnitedHealthcare app, which provides instant access to their ID card, ability to review and manage prescription medications, locate nearby network care providers and facilities, their personal health benefits and more. The app also enables eligible plan participants to directly schedule and conduct a Virtual Visit with a doctor* and schedule a callback from a UnitedHealthcare customer service advocate**. The app is available now for download at no additional charge for Android and Apple devices to people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare health benefit plans. Free Help Line: Optum, a leading health and behavioral health services company, is offering a free emotional-support help line. The toll-free number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long as necessary. The service is free of charge and open to anyone. Specially trained Optum mental health specialists help people manage their stress and anxiety so they can continue to address their everyday needs. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters. Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources and information are available online at www.liveandworkwell.com. * Additional out-of-pocket costs may be required for telemedicine services depending on the plan and any applicable state requirements. ** Most UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plan participants have access to the callback feature. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218006095/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Members of the French delegation announced the inauguration of a number of cultural centres in Egypt's governorates and the opening of a specialised college in arts at the French University in Egypt Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem met with the French Senate Parliamentary Friendship Delegation this week. The delegation included Catherine Moran Desilli, head of the delegation and the head of the Culture, Education and Communication Committee in the Senate, Senator Jean-Michel Olgat and Senator Oge Suri, members of the Egyptian-French Friendship Association, and French Ambassador to Egypt Stephane Romatet. Also present were member of the Egyptian-French Friendship Association Ayman Abu El-Ela, as well as MPs Samia Rafa, Marian Azar and Sherine Farag to discuss the means of organising several joint cultural and artistic projects that will enhance the ties of friendship between the two nations. Abdel-Dayem stressed the depth of relations between Egypt and France at all levels, especially the cultural and intellectual, pointing out that the political leadership declared 2019 the Egypt-France Cultural Year, which came as the culmination of ties between the two countries. She explained that Egypt is characterised by its cultural diversity, therefore its political leadership supports activating and spreading culture in society in cooperation with the private cultural institutions. Desilli thanked Egypt for supporting the cultural and artistic activities organised by the two countries during Egypt-France Cultural Year. She stressed that Egypt is a major partner, explaining the French connection with the Egyptian cultural heritage and folklore, and also hinted at many intellectual similarities between the two peoples. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the elements of cooperation of a number of major cultural and national projects, including the projects of the City of Culture and Arts, and the new opera house in the New Administrative Capital. Members of the French delegation expressed willingness to support all these projects in addition to inaugurating a number of cultural centres in the Egyptian governorates, such as Luxor, and in Sheikh Zayed city, increasing the joint production between the National Centre for Cinema in the two countries, and the inauguration of a college specialised in arts at the French University in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Tuesday claimed that despite issuance of notification for the panchayat by-election in the union territory, its chief GA Mir was not allowed to visit Srinagar to hold poll-related meetings. The Congress leadership raised the issue at a pre-poll meeting with J&K Chief Election Officer (CEO) Shalinder Kumar. By-election to over 12,500 panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in eight phases beginning March 5. The party said Mir was not allowed to visit Srinagar to hold a poll-related meeting on Monday and described it as an insult of the Election Commission. After the meeting with the CEO, Monga told reporters that the party would wait for the response of the Election Authority before announcing its final view with regard to the bypolls. The Congress leaders said that due to the withdrawal of security of opposition leaders, they are not able to reach out to their cadres and people at grassroots level in the Kashmir Valley, where the vacancies constitute 95 per cent of the total seats to be filled. He said that party participated in the panchayat and urban local body polls in December 2018 despite strong reservations and apprehensions about the conduciveness of overall scenario at that time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 15 years after five members of a family ended their life in Amritsar, a local court on Monday convicted retired deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Kultar Singh, sitting deputy superintendent of police Hardev Singh and four other accused here for abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation and extortion. Rittu Kumar, assistant public prosecutor said additional session judge, Sandeep Singh Bajwa ruled that the six were guilty in the mass suicide case. The quantum of sentence will be announced on February 19. Activists of Punjab Human Rights Organisations (PHRO), which played vital role in the case, welcomed the courts ruling. The case dates back to October 31, 2004, when Hardeep Singh, a resident of Chowk Karori locality in the city, his wife Romi, mother Jaswant Kaur, and children Simran and Ismeet, committed suicide by consuming poison. The family scribbled a suicide note on a wall in their house, and also mailed a similar note to their friends, accusing four of their relatives and Kultar Singh, the then Amritsar senior superintendent of police (SSP), of forcing them to take the extreme step. Hardeep Singh was being blackmailed after he allegedly committed a crime. Fed up with repeated demands for money, he and his immediate family committed suicide in 2004. Though the local police registered a case, no one was taken into custody. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The State Property Fund of Ukraine plans to sell more than 500 enterprises in 2020. "This year we plan to sell more than 500 enterprises. There will be small entities, real estate and so-called nonfunctioning facilities among them," Chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine Dmytro Sennychenko said during the roundtable meeting on aspects of the privatization policy implementation and the introduction of social compensators during the privatization of state-owned property, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He reminded that privatization should bring about UAH 12 billion to the state budget this year. According to Sennychenko, the agricultural enterprises will also be transferred to the State Property Fund of Ukraine for privatization. "There is a set of agricultural enterprises, but it is not yet clear what formula will be used for the privatization of the enterprises with big land plots," the State Property Fund chairman said. In 2019, the state budget of Ukraine received almost UAH 2.7 billion due to the activity of the State Property Fund. ol United Nations, Feb 18 : UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that his visit to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur was a "very emotional moment." After his visit to the shrine in Pakistan on Tuesday, he said: "I'm a Christian but I feel very much at home when I am in a Sikh shrine and where I can pray to God here together with the Sikh community." He also paid tributes to the Sikh community for their global contributions. Guru Nanak Dev, whose 550th birth anniversary is being celebrated currently, established the first Sikh community in Kartarpur in 1504 on the bank of the River Ravi. According to the transcript of his comments to reporters there that was released by his spokesperson's office, Guterres said: "When we see so many parts of the world fighting in the name of religion, it's necessary to say that religions unite us for peace and the best symbol is this shrine." He added, "It is wonderful to see interfaith dialogue. It is wonderful to see in the same shrine today Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, maybe Hindus -- all worshipping in harmony and in peace." Many Hindus, in fact, honour Guru Nanak and in many Hindu communities he is honoured alongside Hindu manifestations of deity and holy persons in shrines, unlike in certain other religions. Pakistan and India set up the Kartarpur Corridor last year connecting Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur in India with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, 4.7 km inside Pakistan, permitting Indian pilgrims to travel there without visas. Recalling his visit to the Golden Temple in 2018, Guterres said: "I've been in Amritsar, today I'm here, to pay tribute to the contribution of the Sikh community all over the world for our planet." "This is the best symbol that we can give for a world in peace and for a world in which there is mutual respect and there is the acceptance of what is different - recognizing that diversity is a blessing, is a richness, not a threat," he said. Guterres is on a visit to Pakistan to participate in the 40th anniversary of Pakistan hosting Afghan refugees. He met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday and a readout from his spokesperson's office said that they discussed regional issues including Kashmir. The statement said: "He (Guterres) continues to follow the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with concern and appeals for maximum restraint and full respect for human rights. The Secretary General reiterated his readiness to exercise his good offices if both sides agree." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) witnessed the final placements of its largest ever batch with a record of over 125 companies hosted on campus. With a staggering highest offer of 75 lakhs per year, the average package rose to Rs 20.48 LPA annually and the median increased to 18.2 LPA. This year the average package saw a marginal increase despite a 14 per cent increase in the batch size. A whopping 28 per cent of candidates from the batch got prestigious pre-placement offers from both new and old decorated recruiters after the summer internships. The 41 new companies which have associated with IIFT this year included some of the biggest organizations such as McKinsey & Company, Reckitt Benckiser, Star Global, Western Digital, Media.net, Axis Bank, Boston Scientific, Tata International, BEML, Virtusa, Polestar Solutions, HMS Bergbau AG, RBL Bank, Tech Mahindra, BOD Consulting, Ninjakart, Newgen Software, IGT Solutions, Gemini Solutions, Cremica, and Merilytics. In the BFSI sector, HDFC Bank and Federal Bank were among the first-time recruiters. Marquee recruiters such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan & Chase, DE Shaw, Yes Bank, Citibank, HSBC Global Banking and Markets, EpikInDifi, L & T, Indus Valley Partners and Samunnati Finance continued to show their faith in the talent pool of IIFT. In the Sales and Marketing domain, our legacy recruiters included Dabur, ITC, L'Oreal, Bajaj Auto, Shell, Pidilite, Flipkart, Amazon, Western Digital, Tata Global Beverages Limited, Philips, Signify, Tata Steel, Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited, Maruti Suzuki, Cremica, Dell, EpikIndifi, Games 24x7, Google, Hero Electronix, Hero MotoCorp, HT Media, L & T, Raymond, Tata Sky, Tata Consultancy Service, TVS, and Raam Group. Top recruiters in Strategy and Consulting included McKinsey & Company, Roland Berger, Bain & Company, Cognizant Consulting, Michael Page and Infosys Management Consulting. IIFT once again proved its mettle in trade with prestigious recruiters like Apical Group, ETG, Olam, Tolaram, Trafigura, Enhance Group, Archer Daniels Midland, TATA International and Louis Dreyfus Company revisiting the campus and offering coveted roles in overseas locations. Shell, Ninjakart, Maersk Line, Tata Steel, Genpact and Vikram Solar were among the top recruiters or their core supply chain and operations roles. Airtel, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Mahindra, Flipkart and Reliance Industries continued to show their faith in IIFT for their prestigious management trainee roles in the General Management domain. The Logistics domain saw first-time associations with Delhivery and QuickRide. For the IT, Product Management and Development, IIFT continued its association with industry giants such as Microsoft, Go MMT, EpikIndifi, Media.net, Cognizant Consulting, Genpact, Ofbusiness, Polestar, Axtria, Hexaware, HCL, Tech Mahindra, IBM, ZestMoney, Wipro and Capgemini. "The largest ever batch of 2018-20 has been placed in various reputed organizations. The successful placement is a testament to the rigorous academic involvement and professional exposure IIFT provides to its students," said Dr Rohit Mehtani, Head, Corporate Relations and Placement Division, in a statement. Dr Manoj Pant, Director at IIFT, expressed his gratitude to the old and new recruiters for their continued support and faith in IIFT and its students. He affirmed IIFT's pride in its student quality which is holistically nurtured through a rigorous course curriculum, world-class faculty and continuous industry exposure. IIFT takes this opportunity to express gratitude to its Alumni for their unrelenting support throughout the placement cycle and looks forward to for the same to continue in the upcoming drives. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON The young woman at the next table didnt take off her shirt during the high-speed guitar riff of Fleetwood Macs The Chain, but it wasnt for lack of trying. It was another raucous Saturday-night service at the North London restaurant Black Axe Mangal, and the music wasnt even the loudest thing in the room. There was Kiss graffiti on the belly of the black-iron wood grill, the platinum-bleached hair of a line cook, Mexican-style flowered oilcloth on the tables and ropes of tattoos climbing the arms of the chef, Lee Tiernan. There was the memory of the first dish: a shot of vodka for one hand, a shot of beet juice with a tincture of horseradish for the other, a bite of sausage and pickled walnut a full round of shots and snacks, all on one plate. At nights end, Cher sang backup to a deep-fried apple hand pie that arrived in a red plastic basket and dared to be even better than the McDonalds version. The Lucky Star is gilded with the signature Vollmann brew of erudition, irony, mysticism and banality. References to Judy Garland and Natalie Wood appear alongside quotations from Colette, Thoreau, The Gnostic Bible, The Gospel of Buddha, Greek and Sufi poetry, The Egyptian Book of the Dead, a Catholic hermeneuticist, Finnish folk tales and dated scholarship with titles like Female Homosexuality: A Psychodynamic Study of Lesbianism. Yet in this novel pain is omnipresent, and only orgasmic pleasure (sometimes in the form of more pain) can turn things, fleetingly, right-side up. So we are also given a torrent of sex sex that is often deadeningly unsexy, an exercise in desensitization through repetition. Indeed, two-thirds of the way into the book, after hundreds of pages of tongues gliding, organs throbbing, nipples hardening, bodies rutting, lips opening and mouths guzzling, the narrator invokes a letter apparently real, addressed to Vollmann from his longtime editor saying: To be honest, I do wonder whether some readers will simply tire of, for example, all the climaxing. To be honest, this reader did. Vollmanns prose can be evocative (one character has hair like ferns and waterfalls) and deliciously incisive (on domestic ennui: Those housewives thoughts had been interrupted so many times for so many years that it felt easier not to think). But it is just as often clunky, flat, absurdly ornate (My ecstasies were eternally varying yet never unheavenly, like a single great hoard composed of the tiny lovely irregularities of golden Visigoth coins) or plain bad (Judy pleasures another character, her head moving up and down like a seals black head among dark kelp). With each passing page, I was more likely to groan not from pleasure but from boredom. This applied to the climaxing, but also to the chatter: the gossip, the confessions, the barside bromides, the characters ceaseless whining and rehearsals of anxieties and slights. Although eliciting boredom may be the point look, bonking can be as stultifying as working for the I.R.S.! its not the strongest sell. A problem deeper than boredom nagged at me, though. The Lucky Star, like its author, is fixated on femininity and the ways it is performed by humans, consciously and unconsciously, regardless of the sexual equipment with which they were born. Noting the sorrow of people, straight and queer, who seek to sell themselves, performing allure, Vollmann seems to want to restore balance, assign dignity, to those hobbled by a toxic standard. Maybe he would argue he has empowered his feminine characters by giving them voice, by rendering them in all their magnificent pathos. But this is a difficult idea to swallow in a novel where femininity is inextricably, exuberantly linked with miserable yearning and sexual objectification. I counted only one moment when a character cried misogyny. If Vollmanns verite portraits are meant to stand alone as critique if he is crying misogyny, too he has drowned himself out in an avalanche of piteousness and porn. Nevas most devoted followers may believe in the healing powers of her love. I, for one, remained an atheist. Notorious serial killer 'Cyanide' Mohan has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Mangaluru for the murder of a 23-year old woman from Kasaragod district of Kerala in 2006, the 19th of the 20 murder cases slapped against him. Sixth additional district and sessions court judge Sayeedunnisa on Monday sentenced Mohan to life and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. The sentence shall commence after he serves the sentence of imprisonment in the other cases, the judge said. This is the 19th case out of the 20 murder cases registered against the criminal, who has killed several women using the deadly cyanide after befriending and raping them. Earlier, he had been awarded death sentence in five cases and life imprisonment in three cases. Two of the death penalties were later commuted to life imprisonment. According to the charge sheet in the latest case, Mohan met the woman while she was coming to work at an unit of CAMPCO in Mangaluru. After befriending and offering to marry her, on January 3 in 2006, he took her to Mysuru and stayed in a lodge near the bus stand. Like in all other cases, the next morning, Mohan asked the woman to remove her ornaments. The two went to the KSRTC bus stand where he asked her to consume a pill convincing her that it was a contraceptive. However, it was laced with cyanide. The woman, who consumed the pill in the washroom, collapsed and declared brought dead at a hospital where she was rushed by those in the room. As in previous cases, Mohan went back to the lodge and left the place along with her ornaments. He was arrested later from Bantwal in 2009, after which he admitted to killing 20 women. The judge also directed the District Legal Service Authority to take steps for awarding compensation to the woman's mother under the Karnataka victim compensation scheme. Nirbhayas mother Asha Devi expressed the hope that the four convicts would finally be hanged on March 3. A Delhi court on Monday ordered that the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case be hanged at 6 am on March 3 after it issued fresh death warrants, saying deferring the execution further would be sacrilegious to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice. (Photo: File) New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday ordered that the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case be hanged at 6 am on March 3 after it issued fresh death warrants, saying deferring the execution further would be sacrilegious to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice. The court directed that the four convicts Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) be hanged by the neck at 6 am on March 3 until they are dead. It is for the third time that the death warrants were issued by the court against them. It is hereby directed that the death warrants, as issued by this court vide order dated January 7, 2020 in respect of the condemned convicts namely Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay and Vinay shall now be carried into effect by causing the said convicts to be hanged by the neck until they are dead on March 3 at 6 am, said additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana. The judge noted the death warrants were earlier issued on January 7 and the execution was later deferred twice on January 17 and January 31. Now deferring it any further would be sacrilegious to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice, he said. Nirbhayas mother Asha Devi expressed the hope that the four convicts would finally be hanged on March 3. She said: We have struggled so much. But we have complete faith in the judiciary. Our real victory would be when the convicts are actually hanged. Nirbhayas father said the family has been receiving congratulatory messages stating their seven-year-old struggle for justice will finally come to an end. He said the court order goes to show that sooner or later criminals are brought to justice. Nirbhayas family lawyer Seema Kushwaha, however, claimed that defence lawyer A.P. Singh was misleading people and the convicts families into thinking he will be able to save the convicts. The two death warrants issued earlier could not be executed as the convicts took it in turns to use every legal option available to them. The first date of execution, January 22, was postponed to February 1 by a January 17 court order. Then the trial court, on January 31, stayed till further orders the execution of the four as they had not exhausted all their legal remedies. The fresh death warrant was issued after Delhis Tihar jail authorities informed the trial court that three of the four convicts had exhausted all legal options and none of them have any correspondence pending at the moment. Pawan is the only convict who has not filed a curative petition the last legal remedy available to a person which is decided in-chamber or mercy plea before the President. The trial court said: There is only two possible inferences for such indolence: 1) either convict Pawan is satisfied with the verdict of the Supreme Court; or 2) he is simply interested in delaying court proceedings. In either case, he cannot claim that the execution of the sentence needs to be delayed further. The trial court noted that the Delhi high court had given one more opportunity to Pawan, unambiguously clarifying to exercise his rights within a week, failing which requisite action shall be initiated without any further delay. The court said Pawan cannot be allowed to defeat the ends of justice by simply opting to remain indolent. All four convicts have already exhausted the one week allowed by the high court to exercise all their legal options and will need to go to the Supreme Court to get an extension. Akshays counsel has now informed the court that he has prepared a fresh mercy petition to be moved before the President. One of the four convicts, Vinay, has started hungerstrike at Tihar Jail after his petition challenging President Ram Nath Kovinds rejection of his mercy plea was turned down by the Supreme Court last week. The convict had claimed the President had not factored in his mental illness after torture in jail. The Centre had produced a medical report dated February 12, which showed he was mentally sound. The trial court directed the Tihar jail superintendent to take appropriate care of Vinay. The four convicts will be facing the noose for raping and savagely assaulting the physiotherapy intern on the night of December 16, 2012 in a moving bus in South Delhi. She died of her injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital. Six people including the four convicts, Ram Singh and a juvenile were named as accused. The trial of the five adults began in a special fast-track court in March 2013. Ram Singh, the prime accused, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar Jail days after the trial began. The juvenile, who was said to be the most brutal of the attackers, was put in a correctional home for three years. He was released in 2015 and sent to an undisclosed location amid concerns over a threat to his life. When released, he was 20 years old. Khatron Ke Khiladi 10: Karan Patel shares his experience while doing stunts; Watch video | FilmiBeat Karan Patel, who was last seen in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, will be seen in stunt-based reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi. The reality show has been in news for the interesting line-up of contestants like Karishma Tanna, Karan Patel, Amruta Khanvilkar, RJ Malishka, Tejasswi Prakash, Shivin Narang, Adaa Khan, Dharmesh and Balraj Sayal. It is being said that among the 14 popular celebrity contestants in the show, Karan Patel is the highest paidone. While KKK 10 is yet to be aired on television, as we revealed earlier, the makers are planning for special edition of the stunt-based reality show. In this edition, contestants from the previous seasons will be roped in. As per Pinkvilla report, Karan is one among them, and it seems that the actor is getting a huge amount! If the report is to be believed, the YHM actor is getting between Rs 5-6 lakhs per episode. Apparently, the special episode will have 10 episodes and the contestants will soon fly to Bulgaria to shoot for the episodes. A source was quoted by Pinkvilla as saying, "The special edition will have at least ten episodes, and will be shot in Bulgaria. The contestants will fly down soon to be a part of the show. Karan, who is a part of the upcoming season, has also been roped in for the show and will be receiving almost Rs 6 lakh per episode making it close to Rs 60-70 lakh for the edition." Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 will start airing from February 22. The tagline of this season is 'Darr Ki University' and the professor of this university is Rohit Shetty. The makers have revealed a few interesting promos to lure the audience. The episodes were shot in Bulgaria, and apparently, Karan Patel, Karishma Tanna, Balraj Sayal and Shivin Narang are among the top four contenders of the show. Comedy queen Bharti Singh, who was a contestant in the last season, will also be making special appearances in KKK 10. Stay locked to this space for the latest updates of the show. Also Read: Mujhse Shaadi Karoge: Sanjjanaa Galrani, Jasleen, Balraj Participate In Paras-Shehnaz's Swayamvar! Also Read: Bigg Boss 13 Finale: Paras Walks Away With Rs 10L; Salman Declares Sidharth Shukla As Winner The terminology humans have conceived to explain and study our own brain may be mis-aligned with how these constructs are actually represented in nature. For example, in many human societies, when a baby is born either a "male" or a "female" box is checked on the birth certificate. Reality, however, may be less black and white. In fact, the assumption of dichotomic differences between only two sex/gender categories may be at odds with our endeavours that try to carve nature at its joints. Such is the case with a new paper, published recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex, where researchers argue that there are at least nine directions of brain-gender variation. Many classical statistical approaches pre-assume which groups they expect to see in the data; such as old vs. young participants, or introverted vs. extroverted participants. Everything else that follows after that critically depends on the initial decision of assigning individuals into strict groups. In this new study, the researchers did not pre-assume what the brain gender groups, transcending male, female, and individuals in-between, should be. Instead, they derived the brain-gender groups directly from brain-imaging and psychological assessment items in an agnostic data-driven fashion. "Our goal was to demonstrate that widely available brain-imaging methods are capable of providing evidence against a strict binary view of how sex/gender is manifested in the brain," explains Dr. Danilo Bzdok, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and a senior author on the paper. "These findings have important consequences for the movement towards improved equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada and other countries. By raising awareness from the biological perspective we may contribute to building a society where individuals identifying themselves in between the labels of male and female do feel included rather than discriminated against." Pulling the data together In order to conduct their study, the researchers acquired a unique dataset comprised of individuals of wide sex/gender diversity. Rather than only studying gender behaviour in a male and a female group, as is commonly done, they acquired a rich sample that also included individuals that underwent sex transformation from male to female as well as individuals that have undergone sex transformation from female to male. The measured brain connectivity fingerprints of these four groups were then related to a comprehensive profile of gender-stereotypical behavioural traits, working closely with Professor Ute Habel and Dr. Benjamin Clemens at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University. The researchers used machine learning algorithms that could provide evidence that sex/gender may not be a dichotomic entity in the human brain. In an unbiased pattern-learning approach they could show that at least nine dimensions of brain-gender variation can be robustly identified. That is, the particular individuals can be assigned to nine "expressions" or coordinate system axes of how much they fall along a particular distribution of brain-gender variation. "My lab works at the interface between systems neuroscience and tailoring machine-learning algorithms to answer questions in large neuroscience datasets," says Dr. Bzdok, who recently moved to Montreal to join the McGill community. "Montreal has the advantage of combining world-class neuroscience institutions, such as The Neuro, with top-notch Artificial Intelligence institutions, such as the Mila Quebec AI Institute, in the same city. In both of these research areas, there is a lot of legacy and, now, momentum to build a critical mass to promote forward progress. As such, Montreal is a particularly promising place that is likely to make important contributions to bridging neuroscience and AI." Moving the research forward Dr. Bzdok is optimistic that budding clinical consortium initiatives will allow them to pool even richer and multi-modal datasets to acknowledge even more facets of sex/gender variation existing in the wider population. From a data analytics standpoint, he explains that the more data we can gather, the more likely it is that we will discover a greater number of sex/gender dimensions. "I am currently reaching out to various investigators across the McGill community to try to take these and other projects to the next level," shares Dr. Bzdok. "Such questions of mapping societally-relevant behavioural variation to brain variation can now be addressed from cross-cutting perspectives including genetics, genomics, interventional responses such as from temporary brain lesions, immunological markers, and so many more. McGill provides fertile ground to work towards such ambitious questions." ### "Predictive Pattern Classification Can Distinguish Gender Identity Subtypes from Behavior and Brain Imaging," by B. Clemens, U. Habel, D. Bzdok, et al, was published in the journal Cerebral Cortex January 29, 2020. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz272 BEIRUT - The international airport of Aleppo, in Syria, will reopen in coming days after an eight-year closure, said Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammud, cited on Tuesday morning by Syrian state television. The reopening of the civilian airport will take place as government forces backed by Russian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces continue their offensive southwest of Aleppo against anti-regime militants backed by Turkey. The Syrian government's recent retaking of areas around Aleppo paved the way for flights to resume at the airport in the northern Syrian city. The first flight is scheduled for Wednesday morning to Damascus, with other flights planned for Cairo, Egypt. The city of Aleppo became a theatre of the Syrian war in the summer of 2012. Syrian government forces retook the eastern and central rebel-held districts only in 2016, following a long siege that caused devastating damage to infrastructure. The Aleppo airport is situated in the city's southeastern outskirts and the first tests for civilian flights took place in 2017. The Syrian government said the defeat and withdrawal of anti-regime groups ensures the security of arriving and departing flights. British woodsman Ray Mears has travelled to Kangaroo Island in south Australia to visit koalas orphaned by the devastating bushfires. More than 600 koalas were brought to the islands Wildlife Park, where a rescue centre was created for the scores of animals orphaned after fires tore through the country. Many of the animals remain seriously injured as they recover from being burned in the wildfires which began in December, but are receiving specialist care to ensure their survival. Mears, a bushcraft and survival expert, said he also wanted to meet the local wildlife heroes that helped to save the animals. The broadcaster also advised wildlife experts on recovery methods that will help improve the future for injured koalas in their natural habitat. Its amazing that in the midst of fighting fires and trying to save their own home, the people of Kangaroo Island have still cared tremendously for the animals burnt by the fire in a desperate bid to escape, he said. When almost 600 badly burnt koalas were dropped off by locals at the local Wildlife Park, they stepped up to the plate and did the most remarkable thing any living creature could have asked for. Though this is a truly heart-breaking story, many of these animals are alive today because of these local wildlife heroes and it is truly an honour to meet them. Kangaroo Island, which lies off shore from Adelaide, is home to some of the countrys most endangered creatures. Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a bilateral meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw, Burma, on Jan. 18, 2020. (NYEIN CHAN NAING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Regime Hints of Political Infighting as Leader Xi Jinping Criticizes Officials for Failing to Contain Virus Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently called out Hubei officials for not following his instructions to stem the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Previously, local officials complained that they were unable to disclose details about the outbreak because the central government did not allow them. Meanwhile, state-run media published, then quickly deleted, a report about Gao Fu, current director of Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention, being disciplined for violating Party rules. The media outlet has since published an apology, but the unusual move attracted netizens attention. Analysts saw these are the latest indication that there are Party disputes over how to handle the current outbreak. There are several factions within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Xi is a leader of one faction, while former leader Jiang Zemin leads another. A number of officials belong to a faction loyal to former leader Hu Jintao. Some insiders have also claimed that premier Li Keqiang is at odds with Xis faction in recent years. Faction Conflicts Chinese state-run Xinhua recently published a speech by Xi on Feb. 3, addressing the Politburo Standing Committeethe Partys top decision-making bodyon the virus response. Xi criticized Party leaders in Hubei Province. On Jan. 7, I gave my request to prevent the new coronavirus at the Politburo Standing CommitteeOn Jan. 22, I clearly asked Hubei Province to comprehensively and strictly control peoples movement to the outside, Xi said, according to the Feb. 15 report. Wuhan City announced that the citys public transportation would be suspended indefinitely on Jan. 23. Xinhua publishing Xis speech 12 days after the event is broadly understood as an explanation for why Xi dismissed two top Party officials in Hubei Provinceprovincial Party secretary Jiang Liangchao and Wuhan Party secretary Ma Guoqiangon Feb. 13. Since Jan. 27, Hubei senior officials claimed in public statements that they reported the outbreak to the central government, but Beijing did not allow them to release the data. Wuhan mayor Zhou Xianwang also said the decision to lock down the city on Jan. 23 was made by him and Ma. Who decided to lock down the city to contain the viruss spread: this is the conflict between Hubei senior officials and Xi, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan said. He added that there was another hint of disagreements between central and local authorities: Beijing has asked all provinces except Hubei to reopen their businesses, but each local government has launched different rules. On Feb. 14, Shanghai residents shared an official notice from different local governments that no non-local people and vehicles are allowed to enter or stay in the city. All the people and vehicles who entered before must leave Shanghai as soon as possible. Chinese businesses rely on migrant workers. By not allowing non-Shanghai natives to stay in the city, migrant workers are effectively shut out, and most businesses would not be able to operate normally. On the same day, Beijing requested all people from other areas of China must be quarantined for 14 days before he or she can go to work. Tang commented that these rules show local governments dont follow Xis orders. Medical staff members working at the isolation ward of the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province, on Feb. 16, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Report About Gao Fu Gao, 58, earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Oxford University in the U.K. in 1994. He studied and worked in the U.K., Canada, and United States for 13 years. After returning to China via a recruitment program called Hundred Talents Program in 2004, Gao was promoted from university professor to current CDC director; academician at the countrys top research institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and dean of the Savaid Medical School in Beijing. Gao made several public statements about the COVID-19 outbreak that have later been proven false, angering many Chinese netizens. On Dec. 31, 2019, Gao said that the new disease can be controlled and prevented, and assured the public that it wont be transmitted from human to human. On Jan. 22, Gao said the evidence collected by medical teams showed that COVID-19 would not infect children and young people easily. Scientists and Chinese authorities have since confirmed that the disease is contagious, while doctors at a Wuhan hospital confirmed that pregnant mothers may pass the infection to their unborn children, after a newborn tested positive for COVID-19. Tang analyzed that there is a possibility that Gao could really be investigated as the state-run media initially reported. It happens frequently that the Chinese Communist Party officials were shuanggui [an internal disciplinary process] after some leaked information, Tang said. Based on Xis speech, the leader had asked officials to prevent the virus on Jan. 7. Whether Gao followed Xis instruction remains a question, Tang said. Kanos Emir Sanusi Lamido has warned northern youth to stop pushing religion and ethnicity to forge ahead in Nigeria, or else they keep destroying their region. You dont need to rise on being from Kaduna State or being from the North or being a Muslim to get a job, he said while delivering a speech at the birthday ceremony of Kaduna Gov. Nasir El Rufai on Monday. You come with your credentials, your competence, and you can compete with any Nigerian from anywhere. He added that the northern leaders need to get northern youths to a point where they dont need to come from a part of the country to get a job. We have been saying this for 20 to 30 years. If the North does not change, the North will destroy itself. The country is moving on. The quota system that everybody talks about must have a sunset clause. The rest of the country cannot be investing, educating its children, producing graduates and then they watch us, they cant get jobs because they come from the wrong state, when we have not invested in the future of our own children. The former CBN pointed at how the governor has developed himself over the years as a surveyor, a lawyer, boasting over 80 certificates from Harvard. He noted education makes a man. According to him, investing in education is the only way the region will save itself from imminent destruction. Sanusi lamented that 87 percent of the countrys poverty rate is in the north, with nine states in the zone constituting almost 50 percent of the malnutrition burden of Nigeria. PV: 0 (Newser) The White House Correspondents' Association dinner is back with a host. Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson will serve as master of ceremonies at the April 25 event at the Washington Hilton, while 2017 featured entertainer Hasan Minhaj will return to that role, per the New York Times. The outlet describes the event overseen by TV producer Bob Bain as "a return to comedy" after historian Ron Chernow was the featured speaker last year. "The dinner has a serious message, but we also believe it is as important as ever to be able to laughat ourselves, as well as at the people we cover," says Correspondents' Association President Jonathan Karl. Indeed, "I'd argue that humor is more important now than ever." story continues below He describes Thompson and Minhaj as "two of the most engaged and engaging entertainers in America," per NBC News. He adds that the 1914 founding charter of the Correspondents' Association, restored after it was rediscovered during a 2019 White House renovation, will be unveiled at the National Archives in the days leading up to the event, meant to "celebrate the role of a free press in our democracy." It's unclear whether President Trump will end his three-year boycott, though it doesn't look good. No one from the White House attended last year's dinner, which came after 2018 host Michelle Wolf offended White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders as she sat at the head table. (Trump wasn't pleased.) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Gibraltar is encouraged by Spain's 'pragmatism' on its key demand that their mutual border remain fully open after the Brexit transition period expires at the end of 2020, its deputy chief minister said on Monday. Spain claims sovereignty over the port at the mouth of the Mediterranean that it ceded to Britain in 1713 after a war BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Gibraltar is encouraged by Spain's "pragmatism" on its key demand that their mutual border remain fully open after the Brexit transition period expires at the end of 2020, its deputy chief minister said on Monday. Spain claims sovereignty over the port at the mouth of the Mediterranean that it ceded to Britain in 1713 after a war. However, in a 2002 referendum 99% of Gibraltarians rejected any idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain. Britain formally left the European Union on Jan. 31 but remains bound by EU laws and regulations until the end of the year. Brexit has complicated relations between EU member Spain and Gibraltar, a British overseas territory. "There are those who say that Spain must capitalise on the apparently historic opportunity she now has to recover sovereignty over Gibraltar after 300 years," Joseph Garcia told a conference in Brussels, referring to Brexit. But Garcia said the centre-left government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez did not seem inclined to take that line. "Sanchez has called himself for a different approach, one which puts a historic sovereignty question to one side and focuses on the opportunity we now have to create an area of shared prosperity on both sides of the border," Garcia told the conference at the European Policy Centre. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya has also echoed Sanchez's words, Garcia said, by stressing the importance of solving day-to-day issues for citizens. "We will not agree on everything, but it is this pragmatism that creates the space in which we can talk." Gibraltar has a population of 32,000 and, at the end of December, around 14,400 workers were commuting there from Spain. It also welcomes some 10 million tourists per year, a sector accounting for about a quarter of its economy. Garcia noted that the European Union had common travel areas agreed with the likes of Switzerland and Iceland. "There is no need to reinvent the wheel," he said. Garcia recalled that Spanish dictator Francisco Franco closed the land border with Gibraltar in 1969, even cutting telecom links. It only reopened to pedestrians in 1982 and cars in 1985. "(It) had a devastating effect on everything around it. This cannot be allowed to happen again," Garcia said. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Gareth Jones) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Playground Global is rebuilding, months after the departure of controversial founder Andy Rubin and just days after the failure of its highest-profile investment, Rubin's mobile-phone startup Essential Products. What's new: Laurie Yoler, a Silicon Valley veteran with both investing and operating chops, has joined Playground Global as its fifth general partner. Yoler tells Axios she was recruited by several venture capital firms, but chose Playground Global because she felt it was going after some of the toughest challenges in autonomous tech and artificial intelligence. She adds that all of her conversations with Playground came after the departure of Rubin, the "father of Android" who was accused of sexual misconduct while still at Google. "We didn't overlap and, honestly, Andy wasn't even a thought for me," Yoler says. Yoler has been advising self-driving startup Zoox for several years and serving on its board. She also was a founding director of Tesla Motors. Her other roles have included president of Qualcomm Labs, managing director of GrowthPoint Technology Partners, founder of Sun Microsystems' corporate venture capital unit, and product manager for what became the Visa Check Card. She's maintaining pre-Playground board seats at consumer electronics company Bose and home goods company Church & Dwight (maker of Arm & Hammer products). Yoler says that Playground has invested less than half of a $500 million second fund raised in 2016, and that she recently led a round for digital contracting startup Leaf Logistics. Playground also recently hired: Allison Braley, a marketing-focused operating partner who most recently was VP of marketing for Fair. Michael Tolo, a venture principal who previously was an analyst for Australian investment firm Future Fund. Editor's note: The story has been corrected with Playground Global's correct name and that it has five (not four) partners. A TREASURE trove of artefacts and historical gems, depicting a life of peace and struggle in 1916, were officially launched on the monumental Proclamation Day, on Tuesday night in Limerick. Welcomed by a crowd of history buffs of all ages, members of the Defence Forces and those eager to learn more about the Easter Rising, the exhibition entitled They Dreamed and are Dead was launched by organisers, council officials and special guests. Amongst the visitors was John Colivet grandson of former Limerick City MP and TD, Michael Colivet who spoke fondly of his family roots and the exhibit. A publication supplementing the exhibit was also launched at the Merchants Quay museum. Before the launch kicked off, spectators were entertained by the St Marys Prize Band, followed by a performance by Irish World Academys Roisin Ni Galloglaigh, who sang rebel songs from the Fenian and Jacobite eras, to commence and finish the launch. Though the commemorative showcase remembers those who fought, and died during the Easter Rising, the exhibit also examines layers of Limericks social and cultural life in 1916. On loan from the Imperial War Museum, in London, the most prominent artefact is a green flag bearing the Limerick City coat of arms, which was in Roger Casements possession when he was arrested for trafficking ammunition from Germany. The flag was given to Casement and fellow rebel Robert Monteith by Limerick-born German consul Thomas Gaffney. Also sealed inside glass cases are Volunteer uniforms, letters, literature, booklets, a manifesto for the Limerick Young Ireland Society, portraits and paintings, Colivet memorabilia, and information on sporting and social life. The exhibition also showcases a brief history of the Limerick lace industry. Deputy Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell congratulated those involved and said that the exhibition also commemorates those who fought in World War One. This is very important. Thousands of Limerick men joined the British army and navy. Can you imagine how worried the families of the soldiers and sailors were, waiting to hear news about their young ones. In 1916 alone, 279 Limerick people died in the war. It also looks at life in 1916. It was full of new inventions. Limerick had world-class industries, such as bacon, clothing, and even womens fashion was taking on the modern appearance. But sadly, there was a lot of poverty and hardship. Many people had no work and no money. They lived in small, dark and dirty houses or flats, without toilets, running water or even separate bedrooms, he added. Editor of the publication, Jacqui Hayes said at the launch that Limericks involvement in 1916 life is not very well known, and that she hopes the public learn a lot from the museum. The Daly family, for example, were the icons of nationalism. John Daly was the link to the previous rebellion, and he was this spiritual master who all the revolutionaries looked to. They all hugely respected him. Limerick City Museum and Archives scholar, William ONeill said that they wanted to publish the book to complement the exhibition and to show that there was colourful and diverse life in Limerick 1916. Its a fantastic feeling that people can come here and learn about these things. You should be learning about these people and getting a sense of who they were. We painted a picture of life in Limerick, good and bad, war and peace. And while we should be commemorating the people who died, there was an awful lot of life in Limerick. Surely, that should mean as much now as it did back then, he said. Josephine Cotter Coughlan, of Limerick City and County Council, congratulated all council officials, members of the public and groups involved in the project. It is an example of history at its best, resting on solid academic foundations, but accessible and meaningful to the community. You should all be very proud of your contribution for a greater understanding and appreciation of Limericks history and heritage, and I hope you all enjoy the exhibition. Mr Colivet concluded the launch, reflecting on his grandfather Michael, who grew up on Windmill Street. I am glad to see that the Limerick Volunteers are being remembered, he started. As a young father, its interesting to look over Michael Colivets life. Because, at the time of 1916, he was 34 years old, and he wasnt a particularly young man. He was married three years with two small children. So why would somebody - and its hard for me to imagine now - go down that path. Its difficult to conceive. His mother was a Fenian from Askeaton, while his father was a French navy sailor, who died after his ship sank in World War One, in 1917. Certainly, my grandfather inherited some of the French stubbornness and the Republican sentiments from both his father and his mother! he enthused. The former TD was arrested and jailed in Lincoln Prison for his role in the Rising. While there, he was elected MP for Limerick City, in 1918. He shared a cell with former President Eamon De Valera. The exhibition is expected to be showcased for most of 2016, according to organisers. Organisers said that 80-90% of the collection is from the Limerick City Museum and Archives. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. A plane from the presidential flight takes off from Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, to evacuate six South Koreans and one Japanese spouse from a quarantined cruise ship docked at a port in Yokohama, Japan. /Yonhap Gov't confirms 31st COVID-19 infection By Bahk Eun-ji A plane from the Korean presidential flight will return here early today carrying six Korean nationals and a Japanese spouse who were quarantined on a cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan, the government said Tuesday. Among 14 South Koreans onboard the Diamond Princess nine passengers and five crewmembers only seven boarded the plane with the rest opting to stay on the ship. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it was mainly due to their lack of a connection to the country and their residential status. European Unions finance department recently added Panama, Seychelles, the Cayman Islands and Palau to the EUs blacklist of tax havens, an EU document stated. According to the document, the organisation has given Turkey more time to avoid being blacklisted. The countries which get blacklisted in the EUs list face reputational damage, higher scrutiny of financial transaction and an increased risk of losing EU funds. Read: Brexit: UK And EU Will 'rip Each Other Apart' In Trade Deals, Warns France Read: Indian Foreign Minister Defends Citizenship Law As He Promotes EU Ties The EU document revealed that Seychelles, an eastern African archipelago was added to the list owing to its harmful preferential tax regime while Panama and the pacific island of Palau were blacklisted because of its shortcomings over the exchange of tax information. The document further said that the British oversee territory of Cayman islands were included because investment funds based there did not reflect real economic activity on the archipelago. Meanwhile, in another separate decision, British oversees territories were deemed fully compliant with the EU list and were removed from the list. Turkey given another year Turkey despite failing to present its records in December was given an extended deadline ending next year to begin sharing data with other 27 EU states. Two officials said the decision was taken for political reasons, despite the risk that this could undermine the EU listing process. One of the diplomats told international media that they should remain aware of the relevance of Turkey in many policy areas, which are important to the organisation. Read: EAM Jaishankar, EU Trade Commissioner Discuss Prospects For India-EU Economic Cooperation The EU depends on Turkey to curb migration from the Middle East and Asia, but the relationship has soured over President Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on critics following a failed coup in 2016. It has worsened over Turkey's gas and oil drilling off the Cyprus coast. Read: Brexit: UK And EU Will 'rip Each Other Apart' In Trade Deals, Warns France EUs blacklist now includes 12 jurisdictions. The other jurisdiction included in the list is Fiji, man, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu and the three U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list was set up by the world body in 2017 after revelations of widespread tax evasions and avoidance schemes. Navy chaplain accused of violating Constitution for encouraging soldiers to 'lead like Jesus' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A U.S. Navy chaplain has been accused of violating the U.S. Constitution for teaching an optional 12-week seminar called "Lead Like Jesus" at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. According to the religious liberty legal organization First Liberty Institute, Cmdr. Richard Smothers is being antagonized by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation a group that argues for a strictly secularist interpretation of the Constitution for promoting the seminar at the base. MRFF sent an email demanding that Capt. Ian Johnson, commander of the Naval base, investigate Smothers and anyone else who promoted the seminar through emails or fliers. The organization argues that service members were being "voluntold" to attend the Christian-oriented event. Michael L. Mikey Weinstein, founder of MRFF, accused Smothers of having weaponized Christianity in an interview with the Navy Times published in January. He added that those behind the discussions should be visibly and aggressively investigated and punished. Nothing could be more disruptive to good order and discipline and unit cohesion than a message like this, he said. Commenting on the matter, First Liberty noted that encouraging troops through faith is in the job description of a chaplain. "Most chaplains are endorsed by a particular church or religious organization, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or a host of other religions. They agree to uphold that organizations beliefs and to carry out their duties as a representative of their faith. If they dont, they lose their endorsement," the organization said Friday. "Thats why its so absurd when chaplains are attacked for sharing certain aspects of their faith like a Christian chaplain giving a seminar about Jesus. It goes against their very job description." Cmdr. Elizabeth Baker, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman, said in response to the complaint that no one was being coerced to attend the seminar. Its not any kind of directive from the chaplain to lead like Jesus its a discussion series after services only for those who volunteer to attend, she said in a response to Navy Times. An advisory board member of MRFF countered that discussions called Lead like Mohammed or Atheist Leadership would likewise not be "tolerated" on the base. Mike Berry, general counsel for First Liberty Institute, said in an interview with Fox News earlier this month that Jesus was a leader and it's perfectly legal to study His leadership. "Its perfectly legal to study his leadership. In fact, some of our military leaders would do well to study Jesus leadership a bit more. None other than our first commander in chief, George Washington, looked to Jesus as a model of leadership. First Liberty Institute is the law firm that won a 7-2 victory at the United States Supreme Court last year in a case concerning the Bladensburg World War I "Peace Cross" in the case of American Legion et. al. v. American Humanist Association. The high court ruled that the monument, which has stood on public land in Maryland for approximately 50 years, does not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. North Korean refugees have launched a political party, South-North Unification Party in South Korea on February 18 with an aim to elevate the voices of at least 33,500 defectors which are living in the South and oppose peacemaking with Pyongyang. According to international reports, the decision to set up a formal party is a sign that defectors are vouching for a more direct political role ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled in April. Read - Masked North Koreans Mark Kim Jong Il's Birthday More than a thousand North Koreans had defected to South Korea in 2019 according to South Unification Ministry. Reports state that since South Korea is still at war with North Korea because of the 1950-53 Korean War ended without a peace accord, unification is still a nationwide goal in South. However, the conciliation between the two countries is now seen as a distant possibility. 'Future of unification' According to international reports, Kim Joo-il who is appointed as the secretary-general of the newly formed South-North Unification Party said during the launch that the defectors are always considered minorities and aliens. He further added that the North Korean defectors are now the future of unification. Furthermore, many people have now grown critical of South Korean President Moon-Jae-in's administration which has been accused of ignoring the defectors along with human rights in order to mend its relations with North Korea. Read - UN Experts: North Korea Enhances Nukes And Illicit Trade Kim Yong-Tae, a lawmaker reportedly said during his congratulatory party speech that South Korean leader Kim Jong Un is the most afraid of is when the dignity of the North Korean defectors is raised. Furthermore, one of the defector participants said that the new party's criticism of the North Korean leader may raise concerns about publicly pledging support amid fear of endangering their family back in North. However, the most senior defector, Thae Yong-ho, who was the deputy ambassador at the North Korean embassy in London when he had defected from North along with his wife, two sons in August 2016. He has also become the most vocal critic of the regime. The new party's office reportedly said that Thae is someone who risked his life for freedom. He will now run for national assembly elections on April 15 for Liberty Korea, which is also the country's main opposition party. Read - US 'ready And Prepared' To Help North Korea In Combating Coronavirus Read - US Says It's Ready To Help North Korea Combat Virus (With agency inputs) REUTERS The brutal killing of a seven-year-old girl in the suburbs of Mexico City has sparked renwed anger about rates of femicide n the country. Fatima Cecilia Aldrighetts family have accused the police and government of failing to protect the girl after her body was discovered wrapped in a bag on 11 February, in a rural area, according to some reports. Maria Magdalena Anton, her mother, said the family had been forced to wait hours to submit a missing person report by investigators after Fatima was taken from school. Justice has to be done, for my daughter and for all women, she told journalists. A $100,000 reward for information about the individual who collected her from school has been offered by prosecutors spokesperson Ulises Lara. Classmates of Fatima left flowers, candles and balloons outside the school on Monday. The killing has reignited anger about the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the country with the hashtag #JuticiaParaFatima tweeted tens of thousands of times and local residents shouting and holding placards as they called for justice. It comes just days after the chilling killing of a young woman, allegedly stabbed to death by her partner, sparked mass outrage in Mexico after photos of her mutilated body were leaked to the press. Ingrid Escamilla had her organs and skin removed in what is believed to have been an attempt to hide evidence of her grisly murder. The man, who has been arrested and purportedly confessed to killing Escamilla with a knife, mutilated her body and flushed part of her corpse into the sewer. Leaked images of the 25-year-olds mutilated body were splashed on the front page of Mexican newspaper Pasala alongside the caption: It was cupids fault. Protesters descended on the streets of the Mexican capital on Friday and graffitied femicide state in blood-red spray paint on the exterior of the country's presidential palace as they shouted not one more murder. Femicides, defined as the gender-motivated killing of women, are prevalent in Mexico and more than 700 cases are currently being investigated. According to official data, an average of 10 women were killed a day in Mexico in 2018. Story continues Some 44 per cent of women have suffered violence from a partner and 66 per cent of women have experienced some form of violence during their life, according to the Mexican Institute of Statistics and Geography. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has claimed demonstrations over the killings were a bid to divert the spotlight from his social programmes. This issue has been manipulated a lot in the media, he said on Monday. I dont want the issue just to be womens killings. The world leader has also said they are working to ensure there will not be any more womens killings. Read more Hundreds protest rise of femicide in Mexico after womans killing Sinn Feins elected representatives have only been making a fraction of the donations to the party expected by its executive, despite leader Mary Lou McDonald insisting that each elected member donates 2,500 to the party from their salary each year In fact, nine of the partys TDs in the period from 2016 to 2018 made no donation whatsoever. In that time, a maximum of 235,000 could have been received by the party should each of its 32 representatives (reduced to 30 following the resignations of Peadar Toibin and Carol Nolan) have made their full contribution. However, just 125,860 was received in that time, 53.6% of the total figure. The nine TDs in question - John Brady, Pat Buckley, Sean Crowe, David Cullinane, Kathleen Funchion, Martin Kenny, Jonathan OBrien, Caoimhghin O Caolain, and Eoin O Broin show no record of having donated to Sinn Fein in any of the years 2016 through 2018, according to records obtained via the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo). No figures for 2019 are available yet they are to be submitted to Sipo on or before March 31 of this year. Under statutory obligations, Sipo receives and publishes statements of donations of more than 1,500, on aggregate, made to their party by all elected representatives each year. The party had not replied to a request for comment on the matter at the time of publication. For the three years, period, in question, only Mary Lou McDonald and Dublin senator Fintan Warfield donated the full made the full donation of 7,500. Former president Gerry Adams made donations of 6,563 in that period. Ms McDonald last week clarified that while TDs are no longer required to take only the average industrial wage as a salary, they are expected to make the maximum legally allowable donation to their own party of 2,500 per year, with the remainder used to fund constituency services. The former requirement that TDs take only the average industrial wage now stands as a voluntary measure, and was abandoned as a mandatory expectation from April 2016. It has emerged in recent years that a number of exceptions had been allowed as regards the industrial wage policy, with veteran TD Dessie Ellis one of the most noteworthy examples. Eoin O Broin: "I take a net pay of about 550 and the remainder of my salary I invest in local community projects" Mr O Broin, the partys housing spokesman, last Friday told RTE Radio that it has been very clear for quite some time that Sinn Fein TDs make a voluntary contribution to the party of 2,500, which is the maximum you can make under Sipo rules. In my own case, for example, I take a net pay of about 550 and the remainder of my salary I invest in local community projects and activities in my constituency, and thats broadly what our TDs do, he said. Sipo has no record that Mr O Broin has made any voluntary contribution to his party over the past three years. After Ms Mary Lou McDonald and Mr Senator Fintan Warfield, former MEPs Matt Carthy (7,492) and Liadh Ni Riada (7,492), and finance spokesman Pearse Doherty (7,283) made the next largest contributions over the three-year period. No other representative broke the 7,000 mark. Mr Ellis made one a sole contribution of 2,750 in 2018 250 of which was returned to him, having breached the maximum allowable donation. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 23:14:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- In fiscal year 2019, the operating profit (earnings before interest and taxes, EBIT) of Daimler Trucks declined by 11 percent year-on-year to 2.5 billion euros (2.7 billion U.S. dollars), the German commercial vehicle manufacturer said on Tuesday. Although the company's unit sales fell by six percent to 488,500, revenues increased from 38.3 billion euros to 40.2 billion euros. "2019 was a solid year for Daimler Trucks," said Martin Daum, chairman of the board of Daimler Truck AG. It was the third most successful financial year in the company's history. The start of an "economic normalization in key markets" has been noticeable from the third quarter of 2019 onwards. According to Daimler Trucks, demand was still high at the beginning of last year, but had decreased by the end of 2019 particularly in North America, Europe and Japan. "We responded to the economic headwind in key regions and adjusted our production," said Daum. For 2020, the company expects further declines in its most important markets. Daimler Trucks already decided in November to reduce costs by approximately 550 million euros by 2022, including around 300 million euros in personnel costs. "We want to and will permanently cut our costs. This is why we have intensified our efficiency measures," Daum said. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollars) SPRINGFIELD There was little support Tuesday at the former stomping grounds of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich for President Donald Trumps decision to commute the remaining years of the disgraced former Democratic governors 14-year corruption sentence. Republicans and Democrats from various levels of state and federal government issued public statements condemning the presidents decision, which was initially reported by ABC News Tuesday morning. Several others received commutations from the president Tuesday as well, according to the Associated Press. Yes, we commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, Trump told reporters Tuesday before boarding Air Force One. He served eight years in jail, a long time. He seems like a very nice person, dont know him. Blagojevich, who was a contestant on Trumps Celebrity Apprentice television program in 2010, began serving a 14-year federal prison sentence in 2012. He was convicted on 11 criminal counts related to his effort to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he became president. Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, called Trumps decision disappointing and said he was never going to be able to figure out how the president messages, nor the decision making that he does. Currently we have a massive federal investigation into corruption in the state of Illinois, and this action distracts and also dilutes what I think is the proper role of the Department of Justice to root out corruption, he said. In a statement, Gov. JB Pritzker, who has argued on several occasions that Blagojevich should serve his full sentence, echoed that sentiment. Illinoisans have endured far too much corruption, and we must send a message to politicians that corrupt practices will no longer be tolerated, he said in the statement. President Trump has abused his pardon power in inexplicable ways to reward his friends and condone corruption, and I deeply believe this pardon sends the wrong message at the wrong time. Im committed to continuing to take clear and decisive steps this spring to prevent politicians from using their offices for personal gain, and I will continue to approach this work with that firm conviction. Blagojevich was also convicted on six counts related to campaign contribution shakedowns, including one count which said he essentially tried to trade $8 million in added state funding to pediatric specialists for a $25,000 campaign donation from a hospital CEO. In 2015, five of those counts were thrown out in appellate courts, although his 14-year sentence was re-imposed months later. Durkin was involved firsthand with the bipartisan effort to impeach Blagojevich in January 2009. I saw a governor who was rogue on steroids, he said. He didnt care about the state of Illinois, he cared about his own ambition and he abused the office, and the Legislature did the appropriate thing, the federal courts did the right thing, not only at the district court level but also the appellate court and U.S. Supreme Court and they said his sentence was appropriate. Durkin questioned why Blagojevich should get special treatment when others who are imprisoned for drug offenses receive decades in prison without relief from presidential pardons. Its just because of the celebrity of Rod Blagojevich, Durkin said. I think its wrong and it sends a bad message to people in this country that you dont have to pay your debt to society. U.S. Rep Darin LaHood, a Republican and honorary co-chair of Trumps Illinois re-election campaign, said in August that he spoke to the president and encouraged him not to commute the sentence. On Tuesday, LaHood and the other members of Illinois' congressional delegation John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis and Mike Bost released a statement expressing their disappointment in Trump's action. "We believe (Blagojevich) received an appropriate and fair sentence, which was the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines for the gravity of his public corruption convictions," they said in the statement. "Blagojevich is the face of public corruption in Illinois, and not once has he shown any remorse for his clear and documented record of egregious crimes that undermined the trust placed in him by voters. As our state continues to grapple with political corruption, we shouldn't let those who breached the public trust off the hook. History will not judge Rod Blagojevich well." U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who said in 2018 he would support a shortening of Blagojevichs sentence, released a statement Tuesday afternoon in which he did not specifically say if he agreed or disagreed with Trumps action. Former Governor Blagojevich betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom, Durbin said in the statement. At a time when corruption by elected officials is still in the headlines, Illinois and Washington should move quickly to establish stricter ethics requirements, including the full detailed disclosure of income, net worth, and income tax returns by all elected officials. The office of Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, released a statement saying Blagojevich should serve his full sentence as well, and several rank-and-file Illinois lawmakers condemned the commutation and called for greater ethics reforms in state government. A 5-year-old girl who was in a car when it was stolen in Boston Monday evening, has been located and is believed to be unhurt. The girl was sitting in a Honda Accord at about 5 p.m. on Dorchester Avenue when a suspect jumped into the vehicle and drove away. The childs father had stepped away from the car when the crime occurred, said David Procopio, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police. The theft prompted police to put out an alert asking anyone who saw the car to call 911 immediately. A subsequent ping of the girls fathers cell phone, which was in the stolen car, revealed the car was traveling south of Boston, Procopio said. At about 6:40 p.m., Trooper David Frederick located the child on Powdrell Avenue, in Randolph. Procopio did not release details on how she was found but said she appeared unharmed. Police continue to search for the vehicle and the suspect or suspects in the theft of the car and the abduction of the child. The car is described as a silver Honda Accord with a Massachusetts license plate of US117D. Anyone who sees the car is asked to call police immediately, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 07:42:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on churchgoers in Burkina Faso, which reportedly killed 24 people on Sunday, his spokesperson said on Monday. "The secretary-general strongly condemns the attack that reportedly targeted churchgoers in Pansi, in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, on Feb. 16," said Eri Kaneko, associate spokesperson for the secretary-general. "The secretary-general extends his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of those killed. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. He stresses that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime, and the series of others that have preceded it, must be brought to justice," she said. "The secretary-general reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support Burkina Faso in the fight against violent extremism and the achievement of sustainable peace and development," the spokesperson added. Gunmen reportedly killed at least 24 people on Sunday in Pansi, a village in Boundore department, Yagha province, in the northern Sahel region of Burkina Faso. France's new French health minister, Olivier Veran said on Tuesday that there is a "credible risk" the coronavirus outbreak could turn unto a pandemic, as the World Health Organisation warned against a global over-reaction, following panic-buying and event cancellations. "This is both a working assumption and a credible risk," Veran told France Info radio, when asked about the possibility of the coronavirus becoming a pandemic. He said France was ready to deal with all the possibilities and its health system was sufficiently robust and well-equipped. Veran stepped into the role of health minister on Monday, after Agnes Buzyn was tapped to run for Paris mayor, following the withdrawal of Benjamin Griveaux from the race because of a sex tape scandal. More than 72,000 people have now been infected by the virus in China and 900 more abroad, including 12 in France. But the WHO stressed the disease has infected a "tiny" proportion of people outside its epicentre and the mortality rate remains relatively low. "Measures should be taken proportional to the situation. Blanket measures may not help," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva. More than 80 percent of patients with the disease have mild symptoms and recover, the WHO said. The official death toll neared 1,900 on Tuesday. Economic effects Despite the WHO's reassurances, global concerns persist, with trade shows, sporting and cultural events cancelled around the world. The outbreak is threatening to affect the global economy, as key production facilities in China for companies like Apple supplier Foxconn and automaker Toyota have been temporarily closed. The WHO has praised China for taking drastic measures to contain the virus. Authorities have placed about 56 million people in central Hubei under quarantine, sealing off the province from the rest of the country. Other cities far from the epicentre have restricted the movements of residents, while Beijing ordered people arriving to the capital to go into 14-day self-quarantine. This conveyer of rubber bands separates solid and liquid waste effectively in an experimental sanitation system at a test site in India. But at a facility in South Africa, where the culture uses toilet paper, the results aren't as good. This was one of many lessons learned from two eight-month-long field trials for sanitation systems sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Credit: Brian Hawkins, Duke University As legend has it, when French workers felt their livelihoods threatened by automation in the early 1900s, they flung their wooden shoes called sabots into the machines to stop them. Hence the word sabotage. Instead of wasting good footwear, perhaps they should've tried wet toilet paper. In two new papers published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, engineers from Duke University report on results from the first large-scale, real-world field trials of critical components of their off-grid sanitation system. Since 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Reinvent the Toilet" initiative has invested more than $200 million to fund these and other efforts to create small-scale sanitation systems to serve the needs of the 4.2 billion people who lack safely managed sanitation worldwide. While their nutrient removal processes need improvement, the researchers say they were pleasantly surprised at how long the system's components lasted. They were also reminded of just how important cultural practices can be to the success of a global engineering challenge. "The first step in our reinvented toilet system separated the solid and liquid waste through a conveyer belt made of rubber bands," said Brian Hawkins, research scientist in the Duke Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID). "It works great in India where they have a washing culture, but in South Africa, where they have a wiping culture, the toilet paper got into the mix and gummed up all of the gears. That resulted in the system needing cleaning every couple of days, which is not sustainable." For the Gates-funded sanitation systems to be considered successful, they must not only remove pathogens from human waste and recover resources such as energy, clean water and nutrients, they have to do this "off the grid," without access to external electricity or water sources. To top it all off, the systems must cost less than five cents per user, per daythat's 200 users for $10. The textile mill in Coimbatore, India, where one of the prototype sanitation systems was tested in a real-world setting. Credit: Shamsheer Yousaf Along with Jeffrey Glass and Brian Stoner, both faculty members in Duke's Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hawkins has worked on his system at RTI International and Duke Engineering for almost a decade. After testing the liquid treatment system at large scales in real-life settings, it appears that the team's dedication is beginning to pay off. "The big thing we were trying to find out is how long we can run this system before it needs critical maintenance," said Hawkins. "And you want to do that in as close to real-life situations as possible." Throughout much of 2018, the Duke researchers installed a prototype waste treatment system at two locationsa women's dormitory at a textile mill in Coimbatore, India and a communal ablution block at the edge of Durban, South Africa. Over the course of eight months, both systems served up to 50 potential users at any given time, processing more than 11,000 liters of waste throughout the field trials. While the problem of toilet paper was an important discovery, the primary purpose of the trials was to test the longevity of the critical components of the liquid treatment process. After solids are separated from the liquids, they are pushed through a large activated carbon filter. While this removes almost all of the biosolids, it does not disinfect the water or remove any dissolved salts. But that's okay, because the researchers can make use of one problem to solve the other. Electricity is run through the water to break down the molecular bonds within the remaining salts to produce chlorine-containing oxidants, a powerful disinfectant. "Electrochemically treating hazardous waste has a lot of benefits," said Glass. "You don't have to ship or handle any chemicals for the disinfection, and the process can be very efficient." The treatment hardware for the prototype sanitation system that underwent field testing at a textile mill in Coimbatore, India. Credit: Shamsheer Yousaf Depending on the specific chemistry of the water, however, the electrical leads needed for this process can corrode quickly. The researchers also weren't sure how much use the activated carbon filters could handle before needing to be replaced. But the field trials helped alleviate those fears. "Both trials went for eight months and the filters never failed. I had it in my head that it'd be great if they could last a year, and so far it looks like they might be able to," said Hawkins. "So long as we cleaned the electrical system periodically, it lasted for hundreds of hours of service. That's a component that, if you had to replace it every six months, it's not going to work out. But if you can make it last three or four years, that's okay." In general, the field trial results were promising in regard to the system's potential maintenance needs and performance. Duke's prototype systems met all of the biological parameters and three out of the five chemical standards for liquid effluent according to recently released stand-alone sewage treatment requirements from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However they fell short of the standards for remaining amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen. "These two chemicals are of particular concern when you're discharging water into lakes and streams because too much of either can cause algal blooms," said Hawkins. "There are efficient ways of removing phosphorus and nitrogen at low costs for large volumes, or for small volumes at high costs, but not for low volumes at low cost. That's an ongoing topic of R&D for us." Duke engineers are now testing solutions to such problems in their next iteration of systems in India. The new systems are more compact and efficientand just a little bit closer to being employed as full-scale working solutions. "If you look at the flow diagram of our original system and what we're testing now, the components are all the same, but the newest prototypes are a lot more lean and mean," Hawkins said. "At this point we're mostly iterating on the same technologies, but not really making big changes." Explore further Toilets of the future must be designed with people in mind, not technology More information: Claire M. Welling et al, Field testing of a household-scale onsite blackwater treatment system in Coimbatore, India, Science of The Total Environment (2020). Claire M. Welling et al, Field testing of a household-scale onsite blackwater treatment system in Coimbatore, India,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136706 Tapuwa Sahondo et al. Field testing of a household-scale onsite blackwater treatment system in South Africa, Science of The Total Environment (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135469 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment A new medical approach recommended by University of Cincinnati physician-researchers may reduce organ wait times, save money, boost quality of life and prolong life expectancy for kidney patients. According to a computer analysis conducted by faculty in the UC College of Medicine, using kidneys from hepatitis C (HCV)-infected donors for transplant in non-HCV-infected dialysis patients and then treating the infection afterward could reduce the average wait for a kidney from four years to 1.56 years. That's a reduction of 61 percent. "This matters because patients on dialysis have a much higher risk of dying each year," said Mark Eckman, professor and director of the UC Division of General Internal Medicine. "Patients receiving hemodialysis face an excess mortality rate as high as 15% per year, while the mortality rate for patients receiving kidney transplants is 2% annually. If we can shorten the amount of time that patients need to live on hemodialysis, survival can improve." The findings are available online in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases and Eckman, also a UC Health physician, is the study's lead author. The computerized decision analytic model uses data from United Network for Organ Sharing and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to establish an average wait time for dialysis patients of four years for a non-infected kidney, said Eckman. In the United States, roughly 103,000 patients are waitlisted for kidney transplantation. In 2018, only 14,725 or 4% received kidney transplants, said Eckman. The computer model shows results for both effectiveness, measured in quality-adjusted life years, as well as cost. Patients receiving transplants with an HCV-infected kidney gained nearly 10 months in quality-adjusted life expectancy compared with those who waited longer for transplantation with a kidney not infected with HCV. Quality-adjusted life years take into account duration of survival and the quality of those years. Eckman says the quality of life during the time following kidney transplantation is higher than that for the years a patient remains on dialysis. There is also a cost savings of $37,918 over the life of the patient when someone accepts an HCV-infected kidney and is then treated for hepatitis C compared to waiting for a non-infected kidney and continuing dialysis in the process, according to computer analysis. Eckman said patients receiving hemodialysis have medical costs exceeding $95,000 annually, while costs after transplantation surgery are roughly $36,000 per year. Physicians can now cure hepatitis C thanks to a new 12-week treatment regimen. The latest findings showing possible benefits for transplanting HCV-infected kidneys into patients not infected with hepatitis C mirror a 2018 study authored by Eckman that also found a benefit in transplanting HCV-infected kidneys into patients already infected with hepatitis C. The decision analytic model simulates events occurring over time looking at two different strategies. One strategy uses kidneys from a non-HCV-infected donor while the other uses kidneys from an HCV-infected donor. Many factors affect waiting time for a donated kidney such as blood type and location of a patient's transplant center. The increased availability of HCV-infected kidneys is largely the result of a surge in the number of deaths from opioid-related drug overdoses, said Eckman. Hemodialysis is tough on the body and is an important factor in patients seeking a kidney replacement, said Eckman. "Patients on dialysis have large shifts of fluid volume and rebalancing of electrolytes during each dialysis session that typically occur three times a week," said Eckman. "That creates physiological stresses. A large part of the mortality associated with dialysis is due to cardiovascular events, some of which may be related to the volume shifts, changes in blood pressure and changes in electrolytes that accompany dialysis." A patient's quality of life is also impacted; dialysis patients spend three-hour sessions three times a week hooked up to a dialysis machine, said Eckman. "It's hard to travel anywhere since you are tethered to the dialysis center. Thus the quality of life while receiving chronic dialysis is not as good as that of a patient following a kidney transplant. Anything that can shorten the number of years the patient is on dialysis waiting for a transplant is an improvement. That's the benefit of accepting an HCV-infected kidney." ### Other University of Cincinnati authors contributing to the study are Dr. E. Steve Woodle, chief of the Division of Transplantation and William A. Altemeier Professor of Research Surgery; Dr. Charuhas Thakar, professor and director of the Division of Nephrology Kidney CARE Program; Rita Alloway, research professor in the Division of Nephrology and Dr. Kenneth E. Sherman, Gould Professor of Medicine and director of the Division of Digestive Diseases. Thakar and Sherman are UC Health physicians. Alloway is director of Transplant Clinical Research at UC Health. Woodle is director of Solid Organ Transplantation for UC Health. Dr. Sherman has grants/contracts (institutional funding) from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune and Merck, and serves on advisory boards for Abbott Laboratories, Gilead, MedImmune, Merck and Shionogi. He also serves on safety monitoring boards for Watermark Research Partners and MedPace. Thakar is a consultant to Merck and NxStage. He has investigator-initiated funding from Bioporto and Otsuka Pharmaceutical. Woodle has received clinical trial funding from AbbVie. They became close pals following their stint on this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia. And on Tuesday, Charlotte Crosby reunited with YouTuber Tanya Hennessy for a swift cocktail, as she continues to spend time in Australia following a brief trip to Dubai. The pair looked in very high spirits as they sipped on an espresso martini in a photo shared to Tanya's page, with the comedian writing: 'Please dont go back to the UK @charlottegshore!' Friends for life! On Tuesday, Charlotte Crosby reunited with YouTuberTanya Hennessy for a swift cocktail, as she continues to spend time in Australia following a brief trip to Dubai One person who wasn't at the drinks was Charlotte's love interest and I'm A Celebrity campmate, Ryan Gallagher, 31. Despite the duo being in Australia together at the same time following a loved-up appearance on the show, they haven't appeared on each other's social channels for over two weeks. Charlotte told OK! magazine earlier this month that Ryan has a special 'dream date' - whale watching in Port Stephens - organised for their reunion. It's not yet believed to have taken place. Is it over? One person who wasn't in on the outing was Charlotte's love interest and I'm A Celebrity campmate Ryan Gallagher (right) Still OK? Despite the duo being in Australia together at the same time, they haven't appeared on each other's social channels for over two weeks Charlotte has, however, been busy meeting some of her other campmates. On Saturday, she caught up with King of the Jungle Miguel Maestre, 40, and his family, in Sydney's Manly on Saturday. The group enjoyed a lunch at a local eatery, before the Geordie Shore star was gifted a signed copy of the Spanish chef's cookbook, Miguel's Tapas. 'Best friends forever': Charlotte Crosby, 29, caught up with her I'm A Celebrity co-star Miguel Maestre, 40, and his family in Sydney's Manly on Saturday 'Look who I'm with. It's the king and the queen, and the prince and the princess,' Charlotte said in an Instagram Story post. The British reality TV star was joined by Miguel, his wife Sascha Newport and their children daughter Claudia, nine, and son Morgan, five. Miguel later gifted Charlotte a copy of his 2010 cookbook, Miguel's Tapas. Leisurely lunch: 'Look who I'm with. It's the king and the queen, and the prince and the princess,' Charlotte said in an Instagram Story post. Pictured is Miguel's wife Sascha Newport He wrote on an inside page: 'Dear Charlotte. This is the first book I wrote. It's a present to our wonderful friendship. Love you my friend. Fat and skinny.' Miguel also shared a photo of the pair together outdoors in Sydney's Manly, with Charlotte clutching onto the cookbook. 'FATTY AND SKINNY. Best friends forever,' he wrote in the post's caption. Sweet: Miguel later gifted Charlotte a copy of his 2010 cookbook, Miguel's Tapas. He wrote on an inside page: 'Dear Charlotte. This is the first book I wrote. It's a present to our wonderful friendship. Love you my friend. Fat and skinny' Champ: Earlier this month, Miguel was crowned I'm A Celebrity's king of the jungle Miguel was crowned King of the Jungle during the I'm A Celebrity finale episode. He broke down in tears as he claimed the title and was reunited with his family, with the prize money going towards suicide prevention charity R U OK? AFL star Dale Thomas, 32, placed runner-up for his charity Camp Quality, and theatre star Rhonda Burchmore, 59, in third for Neuroscience Research Australia. The number of fish parasites is rising with climate change and as fish farming becomes more common, say researchers. Credit: Flickr/Artur Rydzewski, licensed under CC BY 2.0 Salmon farmers battling large numbers of parasites that flourish on fish farms are seekingand findingnew ways to cut their losses and protect marine wildlife. About 20% of farmed salmon in Norway die as a result of parasites, according to Seafarm Development, a company developing technologies for fish farms, and researchers say new strategies are vital to prevent further damage to the sector and to safeguard local wild fish. They warn that the number of parasites is rising with global warming, and as fish farms become more common. In Norway, 'sea lice are a major problem," costing salmon farmers about 5bn NOK (500m) a year, says Stein Age Davidsen, head of Seafarm Development, which has developed a way to curb sea lice infestations. Norway's fish-farming industryalmost all of it salmonwas worth 7bn in 2017, more than the entire EU's fish farming industry combined. Sea lice feed off salmon skin, mucous and muscle, and they can grow up to 18mm long. They thrive in densely populated farm cages where they can easily jump from fish to fish. And their peak reproductive seasonwhen a female lays up to 2,000 eggs a monthhas lengthened because of rises in sea temperatures in the last five to ten years, says Davidsen. Farmers often used harsh chemical treatments to rid their fish of the pests, but these are becoming less effective and there are concerns about the impact of the treatments on the surrounding wildlife and the fish themselves. Between 10% and 15% of Norway's farmed salmon die of stress caused by the sea lice treatment. Just 5% are directly killed by the parasites, says Davidsen. "There's been a lot of reactive measures in the last three to five years," said Davidsen. Farmers are now seeking preventive measures so their fish 'can be left in peace," he says. Electrical pulses Davidsen's team developed a netting through a project called the Seafarm Pulse Guard that covers the cages and emits electrical pulses that kill off the larvae. The technology has been trialed on three farms and found to kill between 60% and 80% of larvae, he says. He hopes it will now be used by many more farmers. But it cannot be used in isolation, Davidsen adds. Other strategies are also needed. These include a new technique being piloted to rear fish in tanks on land until they reach 0.5 kgthey are usually put in cages at 0.1kgbefore putting them in ocean cages. At this size, they are more resilient to parasites. Other strategies include putting fish farm cages in the open ocean where they are exposed to strong currents and storms which make it harder for the sea lice to jump between fish. Another is to keep them at deeper levels where there are fewer naturally occurring sea lice. Wild salmon Environmentalists are concerned about the impact of sea lice on local wild salmon which swim close to the infected fish farms as they migrate to and from their spawning grounds. Up to 30% of adult wild Atlantic salmon exposed to areas full of fish farms die as a result of the lice. Norway has introduced strict regulations, as well as helped fund the development of new technologies and strategies, to try and control the pests. The country's fish farms must do a weekly count of the number of parasites on their fish. If they average less than 0.5 adult female lice per salmon, they are granted licenses to expand the tonnage of fish on their farm. If they average more than that, they have to use treatments to reduce the number of parasites. When they cannot get the sea lice under control over an 18 month cycle, they have to reduce the tonnage of fish on their farm. Salmon farmers spend between 5 NOK (0.5) and 8 NOK (0.8) per kilo of salmon dealing with the sea lice problem, says Davidsen. "It should be around 1 NOK (0.1) to be sustainable," he said. "This industry is so important for Norway, and globally because of the food product. I think all the efforts from governments down to fish farmers, will give us great results in three to five years' time." Global impact Sea lice are probably the most researched fish-farm parasite, but many others are also creating problems for the industry. Some authors have estimated their total economic impact at between $1bn and $9.6bn a year globally, says Dr. Ariadna Sitja-Bobadilla, director of Spain's Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal (CSIC). Many parasites do not kill fish, but they affect their growth and weaken them, making them more prone to dying from stress or disease. "There are many different ways in which a parasite can produce problems and for this reason it's so difficult to quantify their impact," she said. Until recently, the EU prioritised research into other types of diseases, including furunculosisa highly contagious and deadly bacterium which infects trout, salmon and other fishand infectious pancreatic necrosis. But now that many bacterial and viral diseases have been dealt with, the seriousness of parasites has become more visible. "Now they are realising that parasites are there, and they are a problem," she said. Rising sea and river temperatures are boosting many parasite populations that thrive in and around fish farms, says Dr. Sitja-Bobadilla. Some are also spreading to more northerly regions as a result, she says. "It's really a concern particularly those parasites that can attack many different fish species," she said. Dr. Sitja-Bobadilla is coordinating a project called ParaFishControl, which has sequenced the genomes of parasites, giving researchers vital information for developing drugs 'very fast' in the coming years. The project has been researching vaccines for some parasites, including Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, which causes white spot disease in rainbow trout and common carp among others, and Philasterides dicentrarchi, which attacks turbot. The researchers are also developing products that can be introduced into the feed to make fish more resistant to the pests. "We cannot destroy all parasites, it's impossible, so we need a bunch of different strategies to control the impact of the parasite on the farm," said Dr. Sitja-Bobadilla. She says farmers should use good management techniques and only turn to drug and chemical treatments when absolutely necessary to kill off the parasites. "This is more environmentally sustainable, and has a lower cost for the farmer," she said. Like Davidsen, she is optimistic that the pests can be curbed. "I think in the future parasites are going to be much more controlled than they are now, especially under the European way of producing fish where everything is very (regulated)," she said. Explore further Salmon sickness detected in farmed Canadian fish A British celebrity astrologer has revealed the best sex positions to suit each star sign. Nicolas Aujula, who has read for celebrity's Toyah Wilcox, Angie Best and Lizzie Cundy, believes you can improve your sex life based on astrology, and even claims Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aries are the best between the sheets. He said: 'Astrology reveals how we all have different personality traits based on the zodiac sign that we are born under, and that shapes our libido and what we like between the sheets. 'By understanding your needs you can have an improved sex life and choose partners that match your individual appetite for sex.' A British celebrity astrologer has revealed the best sex positions to suit each star sign, according to the personality traits based on the zodiac they are born under (stock image) Aries 21 March-20 April 'Aries are fiery and hot blooded between the sheets and exude high octane energy. 'They love the chase, for them fun is in the pursuit and pleasure comes from conquest. 'Rarely seduced, they are the ultimate seducer preferring to take control. Aries act with great speed but can fizzle out just as fast, and can sometimes be quick to climax so sex can be brief but intense. 'When the temptation strikes, they never hold back and like sex in all kinds of places.' Favourite Sexual Position: Reverse cowgirl to be in control Libido Rating: 3/12 (1 being the highest) Scorpio and Sagittarius have the highest libidos, according to the astrologer. Stock image Taurus 21 April-21 May 'Taureans are passionate and affectionate and will shower you with kisses and their sensual touch. 'They are more sensual than sexual, with foreplay being their strongest skill, and they will spend plenty of time building up to sexual climax. 'They enjoy being held, stroked and massaged. They lack spontaneity and have an earthy attitude towards sex, so don't expect fireworks and adventure but if you like sensuality your in for a treat.' Favourite Sexual Position: Missionary where you can touch and tune into your partner Libido Rating: 8/12 (1 being the highest) Gemini 22 May-21 June 'Geminis are curious with an open mind to sex, and willing to try news things and experiment sexually. 'Nothing is too taboo making them sexually open. But like their scattered attention span, their libido can be erratic, so always have a plan B at hand to arouse. 'Geminis' imagination ignites their libido, and they enjoy indulging in fantasy role playing and foreplay via technology to build to an explosion in the bedroom.' Favourite Sexual Position: Pinball Wizard position (partner enters kneeling with the woman's legs spread wide) for adventure Libido Rating: 10/12 (1 being the highest) Cancer 22 June-22 July 'Cancerians are caring and sensitive souls, who are guided by their feelings and not raw sexual urges. 'For them sex needs to be comforting and nurturing. Cancers needs to feel cared for that between the sheets - they aren't really looking for performance, preferring to be guided by emotions and wanting deep sexual intimacy. 'They are the most romantic lover - no one will hold you as tight or make you feel as secure whilst having sex'. Favourite Sexual Position: Sitting up cowgirl for added intimacy and closeness Libido Rating: 9/12 (1 being the highest) Cancerians are caring and sensitive souls, who are guided by their feelings and not raw sexual urges. Meanwhile Leos are described as being 'bold and playful lovers'. Stock image Leo 23 July-23 August 'Leos are passionate and bold who are extremely playful lovers in the bedroom. 'They are creative, romantic, and fun to be with, this zodiac type brings a lot of variety into their sex life, no night is ever the same. 'Leos are turned on by the beauty of the human body, that when they find someone they are attracted to, their sex drive gets very high and needs to be met daily. 'With a strong hunter instinct, they seek to be in control and take charge, so expect to be thrown around the bedroom, and perhaps even some biting and scratching'. Favourite Sexual Position: Doggy style appeals to animal instincts Libido Rating: 5/12 (1 being the highest) Virgo 24 August-22 September 'Virgos are earthy and tactile, who aim to please - however they aren't the best initiators of sex, which may put you permanently in charge. 'They go through periods of erratic libidos, having sex once a week is perfectly fine for them. 'Sex is a place where Virgos can let their hair down whilst their perfectionist natures mean that they will do their upmost to be the best lover. Being neat and clean, they don't fare well with messy sex, try keeping it clean.' Favourite Sexual Position: Face-to-face standing for sex in the shower Libido Rating: 12/12 (1 being the highest) Libra 23 September-23 October 'Libras love harmony and aesthetics,and to them sex is all about creating a beautiful experience. 'They feel alive when they are having sex and truly know all about love making. They are people pleasers, so are willing lovers and may neglect their own needs for the sake of a partner - balance is key. 'There's a low risk of infidelity with a Libra because they get attached to their partners. With a wild imagination they love to play erotic games and indulge in sexual pleasure.' Favourite Sexual Position: Erotic V position (the man stands and the woman puts her legs over his shoulders) where you can indulge in kissing Libido Rating: 7/12 (1 being the highest) Scorpio 24 October-22 November 'Scorpions are a deeply passionate and energetic sign that exude a strong sexual energy, which others can feel. 'Easily seduced they need to connect emotionally and physically to feel satisfied - it's not always about the act but the need for intimacy. 'Expect them to push your boundaries and take you to new heights, and expect plenty of experimentation and bondage activities. 'Being in control is important to them so let them take the lead into orgasmic heaven.' Favourite Sexual Position: Standing 69 to reveal true sexual mastery Libido rating: 2/12 (1 being the highest) Sagittarius 23 November-21 December 'Sagittarians have a libido that's off the charts, and an optimistic and adventurous attitude to sex. 'Expect them to toss you around the bed and overload your senses - they can get down anytime and anywhere, from the bedroom, in the car to even outdoors if you're willing. 'Sex is not emotional to them it is a physical outlet that they treat like an athlete. 'Being free spirited, sex with them can feel impersonal as they are rulers of booty calls and one night stands.' Favourite Sexual Position: Raised doggy to enjoy speed and physical sexual endurance Libido rating: 1/12 (1 being the highest) Capricorn 22 December-20 January 'Capricorns are practical and consistent and exhibit an earthy powerful sex drive that needs regular sexual experiences to unwind. 'They don't need crazy and wild sex, just something reliable and satisfying. They can keep going so be ready to orgasm and start again after a few minutes, endurance is their middle name if you can keep up. 'They have kinky side so bondage activities are right up their street. Always loyal, they stick around when they find someone they click with.' Favourite Sexual Position: Wheelbarrow position to give them a challenge Libido Rating: 4/12 (1 being the highest) Aquarius 21 January-18 February 'Aquarius are free spirits who require a lot of space to explore their sexuality. 'Their sex drive is inventive and erratic so expect to have new experiences that are really are out of the box. 'Be prepared to explore the inner sexual freak as nothing is off limits. 'Whilst their moods create an erratic sexual energy, some days it will be mind blowing, yet cold on others. 'Sex is an experiment of pleasure rather than an emotional experience. Not always great initiators, they have a tendency to put their own needs before a partners.' Favourite Sexual Position: G Whiz position (women's legs on men's shoulders) to be different Libido Rating: 6/12 (1 being the highest) Pisces 19 February-20 March 'Pisceans are sensitive and dreamy, and their sex drive is dependent on how well they can connect with their partner. 'If they feel safe and connected, they will lose themselves to sex experimentation and to push the boundaries. 'Sex with a receptive Pisces can be a truely bonding experience in body and mind, they love to caress and share sweet words. A Pisces must remember that while giving is great, they can't neglect their own needs.' Favourite Sexual Position: Spooning to get close and intimate Libido Rating: 11/12 (1 being the highest) After the impeachment, Bolton offered to testify at the subsequent Senate trial, if subpoenaed, but the Republican majority voted not to call witnesses. This month, the Senate acquitted the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction. In recent weeks, the White House to which Bolton submitted his book for national security vetting has told him it has serious concerns about what it says is classified information in the book. This chimpanzee, named Betty, was among five who died from a human cold virus in Uganda in 2013. Other human viruses have since been found in chimps. Read more Nelson J. Perez will be installed this afternoon as the 10th archbishop of Philadelphia. Well be covering the developments throughout the day on Inquirer.com. In other news, my colleague explains how viruses like coronavirus can jump from animals to humans, an Allentown museum discovers that it has had a Rembrandt painting for decades, and some students are returning to their Philly school buildings after a five-month absence due to asbestos. Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) The source of the new coronavirus is apparently an urban market with a collection of live animals that somehow infected shoppers. Viruses have been spreading from animals to humans since we began farming with them, living among them, and killing them for food so, basically for many thousands of years. My colleague Tom Avril spoke with experts to explain what happens when a virus jumps between animals. Meanwhile, a couple from York County, Pa., has been quarantined for coronavirus at an Air Force base in San Antonio after evacuating a cruise ship in Japan. They have not tested positive. Pennsylvania has had no confirmed cases of the virus. When the Flyers score a goal at home, it sets off a chain of events: The puck hits the back of the net, a foghorn roars, over 19,000 fans scream in delight, sirens go off, lights flash. But in a room near the Club Levels main escalators, only a muffled noise gets through. For fans with autism and sensory sensitivity, the Flyers have created an environment for them and their families to enjoy their favorite team. Starting in 2015, the lounge was made available during the Flyers annual Autism Awareness nights. After a positive response, the franchise made them available at seven games, and theres a chance that a permanent location could be carved out so it could become an every-game feature next season, according to a Flyers official. What you need to know today Through your eyes | #OurPhilly Thanks for capturing the Presidents Day celebrations, @alyssacwangerll. Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! Thats interesting Opinions Didnt anyone remind the Diverse Editions team that you cant judge a book by its cover? Didnt anyone in the executive suites where this nut-job idea originated squirm a bit as they imagined a dark-skinned Frankenstein or a Latinx-looking Juliet? Did the word blackface (yellowface, redface) never enter their minds? writes Anndee Hochman, a writer and teacher in Philadelphia, about how Barnes & Nobles botched black history efforts made a mockery of true efforts toward inclusion. More Philly college campuses need recovery programs, writes Jillian Bauer-Reese, an assistant professor at Temple and a volunteer who helped students in recovery organize and advocate for resources. Restaurant critic Craig LaBan writes about why theres no better time than now to support Phillys Chinatown. He gives some suggestions on the spots you should eat at. What were reading Your Daily Dose of | A Modern Castle How did a modern castle land in the heart of Center City? Architecture critic Inga Saffron writes about Jefferson Hospitals Scott Memorial Library at 10th and Walnut because it bursts with information about its purpose and its place in the city. ISG Provider Lens report finds German manufacturers looking to modernize through machine learning, big data, industrial IoT and automation FRANKFURT, Germany, Feb. 18, 2020)), a leading global technology research and advisory firm. The 2019-2020 ISG Provider Lens Digital Transformation - Manufacturing Services & Solutions Report for Germany finds traditional manufacturers facing competition from digitally focused newcomers able to establish new business models because they are unencumbered by legacy operations. New technologies like industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), big data analytics, digital twins, collaborative robotics and additive manufacturing allow manufacturers to become more efficient, flexible and innovative. "The smart manufacturing landscape rises vertically from the shop floor up to ERP and the cloud and spans the entire value chain," said Christian Decker, partner and lead, smart manufacturing vertical, ISG EMEA. "It is about leveraging new technologies and exploiting the captured data of machines and processes to make both machines and human workers smarter and more efficient. The primary objective is to optimize manufacturing productivity, beyond what a human operator can do. Smart manufacturing also enables greater flexibility and new business models." Digital transformation is visible in many places in the German manufacturing sector, leading to a radical change in the entire industry, the report says. "However, the maturity of Industry 4.0 greatly varies in Germany. For example, the B2C industry is aiming at highly adaptable, customer-centric plants, to meet the demand for products customized to individual needs, whereas large-scale process industries are more focused on productivity improvements," Decker added. The report also notes that smart factories span all layers of the technology stack, from the physical to the virtual. Various solution vendors are battling to offer software to enable manufacturing execution systems (MES), product lifecycle management (PLM), IIoT and ERP. The report finds three key technology trends that are critical to setting up smart factories. First, digital manufacturing providers are pairing applied analytics skills to digitized production transformation projects. Data analytics can fundamentally change the production landscape and revolutionize supply chains, the report says. Second, virtualization of products and processes, using concepts such as digital twins or virtual and augmented reality, have become increasingly important in digital manufacturing, the report says. Enterprises are using VR and AR to create virtual prototypes, plan production and to virtually train employees. Finally, near-real-time networks enable connections to factory automation using licensed radio spectrum. The new 5G standard allows real-time communications, including robotic peer-to-peer connections without latency, the report says. Integrated cybersecurity solutions, however, are needed across the IT and operational technology (OT) domains to ensure operational continuity. The 2019-2020 ISG Provider Lens Digital Transformation - Manufacturing Services & Solutions Report for Germany evaluates the capabilities of 77 providers across seven quadrants: Manufacturing Data Analytics Solutions, Manufacturing Virtualization Solutions, Manufacturing Connectivity Solutions, Manufacturing Analytics Services, Digital Consulting and Engineering Services, Digital DevOps and Software Engineering Services, and Manufacturing Blockchain Services. The report names Atos and IBM as leaders in four quadrants and Bosch, Capgemini, Cognizant, DXC Technology and Siemens as leaders in three. CANCOM, Cisco, HCL, Infosys and Tech Mahindra are named leaders in two quadrants, and Accenture, Alexander Thamm, Arxum, CGI, Dassault, Device Insight, FORCAM, Fujitsu, Microsoft, PTC, QuEST Global and TCS are all named leaders in one. The 2019-2020 ISG Provider Lens Digital Transformation - Manufacturing Services & Solutions Report for Germany is available to ISG Insights subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage. About ISG Provider Lens Research The ISG Provider Lens Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG's global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG's enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe and Latin America, as well as in the U.S., Germany, the U.K., France, the Nordics, Brazil and Australia/New Zealand, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage. The series is a complement to the ISG Provider Lens Archetype reports, which offer a first-of-its-kind evaluation of providers from the perspective of specific buyer types. About ISG ISG) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including more than 70 of the top 100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries-a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com. WASHINGTON -- The United States has imposed financial penalties on Rosneft Trading, a Russian-owned oil brokerage firm, for operating in Venezuela's energy sector in violation of U.S. sanctions on the South American country. In a statement on February 18, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said sanctions were also placed on the brokerage's president, Didier Casimiro, for having "acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Rosneft Trading." "As the primary broker of global deals for the sale and transport of Venezuela's crude oil, Rosneft Trading has propped up the dictatorial [President Nicolas] Maduro, enabling his repression of the Venezuelan people," Pompeo said in the statement released by the State Department. "Maduro has destroyed Venezuelas institutions, economy, and infrastructure, while enriching himself and his cronies, through his abuse of state power and his welcoming of malign support from Russia, as well as from Cuba, Iran, and China," he added. Rosneft Trading is a Swiss-based unit of Russian state-owned energy giant Rosneft and was established in 2011, according to the companys website. Rosneft works with Venezuelan energy giant Petroleos de Venezuela in South America. The sanctions generally block the firm and its president from operating in global financial markets. Reacting to the U.S. announcement, Rosneft said its projects in Venezuela were "in strict compliance with the norms of international and national laws," and that it "does not pursue any political goals." The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the sanctions would not affect Russias "interaction with the lawful authorities of Venezuela." Energy-rich Venezuela has been embroiled in a months-long political standoff with opposition supporters. Russia, Cuba, Iran, and China are the key backers of Maduro, who took office in 2013 and was sworn in for a second term in January 2019 following elections that were marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging. The opposition has accused the socialist Maduro of mismanaging the economy, sending the country into an economic crisis. Maduro has blamed outsiders, including the United States, for creating the crisis. The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized opposition leader and legislative speaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's leader and have demanded that Maduro step down. "While interim President Juan Guaido works with his coalition of international partners toward a better future for the people of Venezuela, Maduro is increasingly isolated and reliant upon the assistance of a small group of allied regimes that plunder Venezuela's resources while he continues to repress Venezuelans," Pompeo said in his statement. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Councilman Joe Borelli sent a letter to Albany requesting the New York State Assembly and Senate allow their citizens to cast their vote and decide whether or not to keep the recent bail reforms in place. This suggestion would allow New York State residents to express their opinion in regards to bail reform instead of the legislators, Borelli (R-South Shore) wrote in the letter addressed to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan. In the letter, Borelli argues that the new bail reform has generated a heated discussion in the community for what has become an increasingly controversial topic. Please keep in mind that if there is inaction on your parts in regards to this topic, the issue of bail reform will continue to be discussed in our communities and in the news media outlets, Borelli wrote. The new criminal justice reforms went into effect on Jan. 1, drastically changing they way bail is applicable to defendants. Under the new law, people accused of non-violent offenses, like criminally negligent homicide, second-degree burglary and robbery, among others, could be released without bail. On Jan. 24, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said during a press conference that the new laws were directly correlated to the recent increase in crime citywide. At the beginning of the month, the NYPD released new data showing a spike in certain crimes on Staten Island, which included robberies, grand larceny auto crimes and rapes, compared to the same period the previous year. "Either we forgot how to police New York City or there is a correlation, Shea said. However, many advocates in favor of the bail reform and some councilmen in New York City accused top police brass of creating a false narrative against the new criminal justice reform. As any serious person knows, one month of data cannot tell us anything meaningful about crime trends," said Tina Luongo, attorney-in-charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. "This is just more irresponsible misinformation from NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and other opponents of bail reform happy to ignore reality when it doesnt serve their agenda. Councilmen Donovan Richards (D-Queens) and Rory Lancman (D-Queens) wrote a letter to Shea asking him to either back up his claims about most major crimes increasing as a result of bail reform with statistics, or walk back the statement. As a former member of the minority party in the Assembly, I understand the difficulties in having two opposing viewpoints on an issue with no chance of compromise in sight, Borelli wrote in the letter. For that reason, I truly believe that placing the bail reform legislation issue on the ballot for the voters to decide is the most reasonable and realistic solution." For years, Facebook Inc. lobbied governments against imposing tough regulations, warning in some cases that they could harm the companys business model. Now, its pleading for new rules for the good of its business. In a white paper published Monday, Facebook detailed its push for internet regulation, calling on lawmakers to devise rules around harmful content, a different model for platforms legal liability and a new type of regulator to oversee enforcement. If we dont create standards that people feel are legitimate, they wont trust institutions or technology, Facebooks Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in an op-ed in the Financial Times on Monday. That and the publication of the white paper coincided with a visit to Brussels, home of the European Union institutions that have crafted some of the toughest rules in recent years. Silicon Valley firms have suffered from whats been dubbed as a tech lash, with users frustrated over how web platforms profit from their data. Facebook has borne the brunt of that disenchantment following a series of missteps including privacy breaches and accusations it didnt do enough to stop election manipulation on its platform. Meanwhile, Facebooks user growth is stagnating in the U.S. and Canada its most important markets. Facebooks White Paper Charting a Way Forward: Online Content Regulation Facebook says it has joined the call for new regulatory frameworks for online contentframeworks that ensure companies are making decisions about online speech in a way that minimizes harm but also respects the fundamental right to free expression. This balance is necessary to protect the open internet, which is increasingly threatenedeven walled offby some regimes. I believe good regulation may hurt Facebooks business in the near term but it will be better for everyone, including us, over the long term, Zuckerberg said in the op-ed, echoing comments he made over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference. In Brussels, Zuckerberg has Monday meetings with EU tech czar Margrethe Vestager and other senior officials as the bloc prepares new legislation in areas including artificial intelligence, gate-keeping tech platforms and liability for users posts, all of which could impact Facebooks business. Zuckerberg has previously called for global regulation covering election integrity, harmful content, privacy and data portability. Political Ads, Harmful Content In the op-ed, Zuckerberg said Facebook was hoping for clarity around what constitutes a political ad especially if paid for a group not directly affiliated with a political party, such as a non-governmental organization. Companies also need clearer lines around data ownership to enable users to move their information between services, he said. In addition, the company would look into opening up its content moderation systems for external audit to help governments design regulation in areas like hate speech, he said. Any new rules should hold internet companies accountable for having certain procedures in place and platforms should meet specific performance targets when it comes to handling content that violates their policies, Facebook said in Mondays white paper. Rules should also define forms of speech that should be prohibited online, even if theyre not illegal, it said. When it comes to liability for what users post on its platform, Zuckerberg said in a media roundtable in Brussels on Monday that a different regulatory system should be created somewhere between newspaper publishers, who can be sued for what journalists write in their pages, and telecommunications companies, who arent liable for customer conversations. This legislation may require a new type of regulator that is proficient in data, operations and online content, the company said. European Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a press briefing he had discussed platform regulation, market dominance and liability in a meeting with Zuckerberg this afternoon. Breton took note of Facebooks use of AI systems to take down more harmful content, but said if we see that its not what we need regarding our own standards, then we will have to regulate. He also warned the EU could regulate the market dominance of platforms like Facebooks. Brussels Visits Zuckerberg reiterated that companies shouldnt be in charge of making decisions that balance competing social values, and said he hopes that new laws will draw cleaner lines to help companies navigate those decisions even as regulators in Europe are also investigating Facebook over its compliance with existing privacy and antitrust rules. People need to feel that global technology platforms answer to someone, Zuckerberg said in the op-ed, but also stressed that the plea isnt about passing off responsibility. He said that Facebook is continuing to make progress on some of the issues on its own. The Facebook chiefs Brussels visit follows a recent trip by Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai in January who came to discuss regulating artificial intelligence. The EU is expected to unveil planned rules for the technology this week, when its also likely to flag proposed liability rules for tech platforms coming later this year. Its not a coincidence that the chief executives of tech firms like Facebook and Google are making the pitch for regulation in the EU capital. They have seen before that, when the EU sets sweeping laws on tech, like the General Data Protection Regulation, the impact can reverberate far beyond its borders. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation InsurTech Tech Europe The government of Ghana is preparing to send Ghanaian teachers to Cuba for training in Special Needs Education and Early Grade Teaching in order to enhance their expertise. Ghana and Cuba have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which would officially pave the way for some selected teachers to benefit from the programme. As part of the package, some Cuban teachers would also visit Ghana to impart their knowledge to teachers who would not make the trip. The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka Napo, who is working to secure the package for teachers, is currently in Cuba to help finalize the deal. As I said, I want the Ghana Embassy in Cuba to immediately engage your office as part of our treaty or cooperation agreement, Napo, who is also Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, told Cuba's Minister of Education, Ena Elsa Velazquez Cobiella, in Havana during the visit. Napo is currently in Cuba leading a high-level delegation to attend the 12th International Congress of Higher Education. His delegation comprised the Executive Secretary of NCTE, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, and Isaac N. Biney, Director of PBME at the Ministry of Education. Ministers' Meeting These two areas are key: bringing Ghanaian teachers to be trained and sending Cubans to train our teachers, the minister emphasized. In Ghana, we have schools that train teachers and schools that need teachers, he added. According to the minister, he made the trip to Cuba as a follow up to an earlier meeting where Napo had passionately requested Cuba's support to train teachers in Special Needs Education and Early Grade Teaching. He said Ghana and Cuba needed to form formidable cooperation in the area of education in order to help the two countries to develop their human resource base. Napo also said he had early on held a fruitful meeting with the Cuban Higher Education Minister, and they discussed the need to deepen exchanges mostly in the area of medicine. Ghana's need now is in the area of postgraduate medicine such as Radiology, Pathology, Forensic, postgraduate courses in Lab and Pharmacy, among others, as well as in technical and vocational areas, he pointed out. Our embassy will start the discussion and let us know what Cuba can offer, he said, adding that he was grateful for the reception given him. Ms. Velazquez gave an assurance that Cuba was ready to assist Ghana, stressing that her country had improved the training of personnel in the field of Special Needs Education. According to her, the teaching and training of children with special needs is key to Cuba, disclosing that their system covers such children up to age 21. We are ready with a draft and we will be sending it to the Cuban Embassy in Ghana as we continue to work with the delegation from Ghana, the Cuban Education Minister said, giving an assurance that we are able to dedicate time to work on this and I assure you that they are in safe hands. ---Daily Guide The Deputy Communication Director of the governing New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has commended President Akufo Addos administration for the success chalked in the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey. According to her, the efforts of the government which include the deployment of Operation Vanguard across a number of mining sites which has helped some of the water bodies to regenerate its natural ecology is highly commendable as compared to the NDCs regime. To her, it is incumbent on the opposition party to appreciate the progress that has been made by Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addos government considering the mess they left behind. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the removal of President Akufo Addo as co-chair of UN SDGs advocates over his failed fight on illegal mining. Communications officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, challenged the Akufo-Addo-led government to account for all the excavators that have been seized in the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey. According to him, the government in its own 2020 budget stated that about 900 excavators have been confiscated so far and not 500 as is being claimed by the government. Speaking at a press conference at the banks of the Twifo Praso River in the Central region, Mr. Gyamfi said the NDC will petition the UN over President Akufo-Addos appointment as co-chair of the SDG Advocates following his failed fight on illegal mining. The NDC further demands, that the Akufo-Addo Government as a matter of urgency, should fully account for all items seized as listed in paragraph 801 of the 2020 Budget Statement presented to Parliament. We insist that a public exhibition of all 900 excavators, 2,779 weapons and ammunition and the 4,045 other mining equipment confiscated must be held in the spirit of transparency and to the benefit of all Ghanaians. We are terrified at the prospect of all these weapons finding their way into the hands of hoodlums belonging to NPP vigilante groups in an election year. Mame Yaa Aboagye reacting, reiterated that the treachery, lies, deceit and vile propaganda of the opposition party of the fight against illegal mining will expose them as the government keeps honoring his promises. The way NDC is behaving is as though they did anything worth clapping for in the fight against galamseyas far as the economy is concerned, progress is being made and the abysmal performance of the NDC has now seen a great improvementeven though the fight against galamsey might have suffered a few hitches, the successes are more than the failures and deserve commendation, she said. She therefore appealed to Ghanaians to ignore NDCs cheap propaganda to score political points and urged the government to remain resolute, not be detracted by the ugly noises of the opposition. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dimas Muhamad (The Jakarta Post) Cambridge, Massachusetts, US Wed, February 19 2020 World of work: Hundreds of applicants head for a walk-in interview for a bank at the Smesco Building in Jakarta in November 2019. Much of the controversy around the omnibus bill focuses on fears of existing workers, while others hope the new law will create new jobs. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) Nicholas Kristof, a renowned human rights advocate and New York Times columnist, raised eyebrows years ago with an article defending sweatshops in Cambodia. How could a human rights defender do such a thing? In the piece, Kristof shared the stories of people working as scavengers at a Phnom Penh garbage dump. One of them, earning less than US$1 a day, told him that its dirty, hot and smelly here, a factory is better. For some of us, working in a factory is probably a nightmare, but for millions who scrape a living without formal jobs, its the dream. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login New Delhi, Feb 18 : Women in entrepreneurship can generate transformational employment in India and generate 150-170 million jobs, which is more than 25 per cent of the new jobs required for the entire working age population by 2030, a new report said on Tuesday. A joint report by Bain & Company and Google titled "Women Entrepreneurship in India - Powering the economy with her", underlines the need to accelerate efforts to grow women entrepreneurs in India in both quantity and quality to solve employment challenges in the country. "In spite of India's economic progress in the last decade, women's participation in the labour force has declined and is expected to be under pressure due to labour trends, technological disruption and constraining social barriers," said lead author Megha Chawla, Partner, Bain & Company. "Unlocking entrepreneurship amongst women in India is a complex effort, but it provides an unprecedented opportunity to change the economic and social trajectory of India and its women for generations to come," Chawla added. "This will drive tremendous job creation and also deliver transformational social and personal outcomes for women," she added. The report identified six dominant segments of women entrepreneurs and estimates India to have 13.5-15.7 million women-owned enterprises, representing approximately 20 per cent of all enterprises today. In many cases, women are named as owners for financial and administrative reasons with no active role to play, which overstates true entrepreneurship amongst women. Of all women-owned enterprises, a majority are single person enterprises, with the largest group represented by rural non-farm home-based business owners at 38 per cent, followed by urban self-employed women solopreneurs at 31 per cent, who usually work from home. According to the study, the other dominant segments include rural agripreneurs who are farm-based business owners at 18 per cent and small business owners at 14 per cent - split across urban (6 per cent) and rural (8 per cent) - employing less than 10 employees and contributing most to employment generation. Finally, there are the scalers, who employ more than 10 people and account for less than one per cent. In total, these women entrepreneurs provide direct employment to an estimated 22 to 27 million people today. The report projects an opportunity to accelerate both quantity and quality of entrepreneurship to create over 30 million women-owned enterprises out of which 12 million can generate employment. "At Google we have been investing in scaled skilling efforts across SMBs, Startups and overcoming the digital gender gap in the country through the Internet Saathi program. Across all our programs, we have seen that women are hungry for opportunities to grow their household incomes," said Sapna Chadha, Senior Country Marketing Director, Google India and Southeast Asia. "Hundreds of women in rural India want to learn more about doing business and many have already made the start to enhance their livelihoods. We are already running a pilot accelerator program for rural entrepreneurs from our Internet Saathi network," Chadha added. According to Chadha, this joint effort report with Bain is a start to better understand the barriers facing the various types of women entrepreneurs across India and find synergies with like-minded companies and the government to accelerate women entrepreneurship in the country. Conversion of energy is a constant process but measuring the efficiency of this conversion is not an easy task. Quantifying the heat emission of the object that absorbs energy has been proven to be a good indicator. Scientists have now devised a technique that can perform this measurement easily and accurately, and this novel technology can shed light on the energy transfer processes in systems ranging from plants to solar cells. Energy is in a constant universal cycle of use, reform, and reuse. Through this process, there are often several situations where energy is received in one form and converted to another form, or even to a non-energy form; photosynthesis is an apt example for this. In this process, as we know, the sun's energy, in the form of sunlight, falls on leaves, and leaves convert this solar energy into other forms of stored energy through a set of reactions. But, what is the efficiency of this energy conversion? To put in simple terms, energy conversion efficiency is the ratio of useful output of an energy-converting system like a plant and the total energy that it receives in the first place. This value is important especially in the planning of energy-efficient structures like solar cells. However, although the theory is simple, there is no established method to accurately measure factors that determine light energy conversion efficiency, like total energy or total electrical power generated. One alternative technique that has been explored for solving this issue is the measurement of heat over light. Everything that absorbs energy tends to dissipate that energy in the form of heat. This release of heat is greater immediately following energy absorption and reduces as time passes. This is in contrast with light emission by systems like "phosphorescent" or glow-in-the-dark materials, which absorb energy and only release light much later. Therefore, measuring heat release as a function of excitation light wavelengthor to use the technical term, the "photothermal excitation spectrum" or PTEScan be a viable method to measure energy conversion efficiency. Photothermal deflection spectroscopy is one method for the direct application of PTES. However, very little research has investigated PTES independently of light emission. Scientists at the Tokyo University of Science, Japan decided to address this knowledge gap. This team of scientists led by Prof Eiji Tokunaga had previously created a Sagnac interferometer photothermal deflection spectroscopy (SIPDS) technique, which improved the efficiency of the existing techniques by one magnitude. Photothermal spectroscopy detects the heat generated when the irradiated light is absorbed by the sample, and therefore, it can measure the absorption spectrum for samples of any shape and with any properties, such as "scatterers" whose transmitted light cannot be measured. Prof Tokunaga says, "Since about 2010, we have been working on increasing the sensitivity of photothermal deflection spectroscopy using an interferometer, and with the collective efforts of everyone including students, we could analyze samples in air that have seldom been analyzed before, giving us the ability to measure the absorption spectrum over the entire visible light range." Why was this so important? "This upgraded technology," states Prof Tokunaga, "enabled us to evaluate the quantum efficiency of luminescence or chemical energy conversion." Taking this technology another step forward, these scientists, along with Dr Kohsei Takahashi and Dr Naoto Hirosaki from the Sialon Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), have now integrated "balanced detection," which is essentially a technique to measure small variances in values, into their SIPDS technology. This new innovation uses a white-light lamp as a source of energy and can measure the photothermal excitation spectrum of materials in the air. The scientists noticed that no heat is generated, meaning that light energy is converted to effective energy, so the difference from the absorption spectrum could be measured to determine the light energy conversion efficiency. They were able to use this technology to measure the heat spectrum (PTES) of a high-efficiency luminescent red phosphor of white LED, made by NIMS, successfully and compared it with their photoluminescence excitation spectrum (PLES), which showed the amount of light emitted by the phosphor as a function of excitation light wavelength (Figure). This comparison provided accurate photoluminescence efficiency values of the phosphor as well, which is a measure of how well a substance can emit light. "We can use our technology to measure the thermal relaxation spectra of materials over the whole visible range in the weak excitation limit 50W/cm2, which is a never-before-achieved breakthrough," remarks Prof Tokunaga. Thus, the measurement of energy conversion efficiency, which had previously required expensive and different devices such as phosphors, solar cells, and photosynthesis (to measure the converted effective energy [emission energy, electrical energy, chemical energy]), could be done using one simple, unified method. The future prospects of this technology are exciting: once developed further, measuring the energy conversion efficiency of even photosynthesis in "live" leaves can be performed. Hopefully, these findings can stimulate and accelerate research aimed at improving the conversion efficiency of substances and realize a society with high energy conversion efficiency. Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/ About Professor Eiji Tokunaga from Tokyo University of Science Dr Eiji Tokunaga is a Professor at the Faculty of Science Division I, Department of Physics of the Tokyo University of Science. He completed his undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral education at the University of Tokyo. A respected and senior researcher, he has more than 82 publications to his name. He works with his team to explore optical spectroscopy and condensed matter physics. Having spent almost three decades in these fields, Prof Tokunaga has introduced several new concepts related to the optical properties of materials.His research can be found at https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/fac/p/index.php?3b4e. Eiji Tokunaga Professor Tokyo University of Science, Faculty of Science Division I, Department of Physics https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/fac/p/index.php?3b4e Funding Information This research was partly funded by Ichimura Foundation for New Technology. Sixty-five social homes in west Dublin are being put at risk over an on-going protest. Work has been halted at the site in Mulhuddart for the last three weeks. Katherine Phillips Durham, Board Director and Former CMO and P&L Executive (The Standard and HP Inc.), will serve as emcee and moderator for the event. The following professional women will participate in the panel: Lena Wittler , CEO, Clark Public Utilities , CEO, Clark Public Utilities Janet Campbell , Vice President/Chief of Staff, Cambia Health Solutions , Vice President/Chief of Staff, Cambia Health Solutions Anne Weaver , CEO, Elephants Delicatessen , CEO, Elephants Delicatessen Anna Maria Ponzi , President, Ponzi Vineyards The showcase will include a question-and-answer session with the panelists and a pre-event networking reception with hors d'oeuvres and wine. There will be a display of various women-owned businesses exhibiting onsite. "We are thrilled to once again offer the Women in Business Showcase to the Portland business community," said Robin Anderson, Dean of the Pamplin School. "We are proud of the diversity among our faculty, staff and alumni and this is a great way to come together with other business leaders. We are proud of the work they do, and we wanted to offer a forum to highlight women successes. We look forward to bringing together professionals of all levels at this event." The Pamplin School offers the Showcase under education series offerings for the public that spotlight business topics and trends and provide networking opportunities. These events are part of their Professional Development for Executives (PDE) program that also includes a Mentor Match-Up opportunity for graduate students and Learning Labs (free workshops for the public). For more information, please contact Lilia Grundy at [email protected]. About University of Portland Pamplin School of Business Founded in 1939, the Pamplin School of Business at University of Portland is one of five business schools in Oregon accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, the business school's focus is to provide students with innovative and challenging educational experiences beyond the classroom. For more information, visit https://business.up.edu. Contact: Lilia Grundy University of Portland Pamplin School of Business (503) 943-8724 [email protected] SOURCE Pamplin School of Business Related Links business.up.edu Wildlife areas on farms must be carefully managed as well as protected to support bees and other insect pollinators, a major study has found. Over 70% of crops worldwide rely on insect pollinators so the creation of interconnected, well-managed habitats on farmland is crucial. Intensive farming has been blamed for the decline in the number of insect pollinators and the associated loss of flower-rich habitats that provide food, nesting and breeding sites. More than 20 pollinator experts from 18 different countries across Europe, including Ireland, looked at a range of wildlife habitats on farmland. They wanted to determine how well the habitats supported insect pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies. In a bid to decrease the environmental impact of agriculture, the 2014 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) defined a set of habitat and landscape features that farmers need to incorporate in order to receive basic farm payments. However, despite significant investment in wildlife habitats, also called ecological focus areas, they are failing to provide all the resources insect pollinators need. The experts identified a scarcity of late-season forage across Europe that has been implicated in the decline of late-active bee species. Actions needed to manage the situation include late-flowering species in seed mixtures and staggering or having more lenient mowing or grazing of nitrogen-fixing crops. Jane Stout, Professor in Botany at Trinity College Dublin and a co-author of the study said farmers must make sure there is a diversity of resources for bees and other pollinators to feed on right through the year, and places for wild pollinators to nest or lay their eggs. "Of our 99 Irish bee species, most of them nest in the ground and we are currently investigating what influences their nesting, and how we can create appropriate agri-environment measures to promote this," said Prof Stout. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, evaluated how different agri-environmental wildlife habitats supported insect pollinators. The experts found there were substantial opportunities to improve the quality of the habitats by implementing pollinator-friendly management practices. The study, funded under the Cost Action Super-B Sustainable Pollination in Europe Programme will inform the CAP post-2020. Dr Lorna Cole, agricultural ecologist at Scotland's Rural College and lead researcher said the study highlighted the need to improve habitat quality to effectively conserve pollinators. With different habitats offering different resources we also need to focus on increasing habitat diversity to ensure that our countryside provides the range of resources that pollinators require, said Dr Cole. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks to The Associated Press, in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Guterres said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak that began in China "is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation." Antonio Guterres said that "the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that." The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry) The U.N. secretary general said Tuesday that the virus outbreak that began in China poses "a very dangerous situation" for the world, but "is not out of control." Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Antonio Guterres said that "the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that." Guterres said his greatest worry was a spread of the virus to areas with "less capacity in their health service," particularly some African countries. The World Health Organization is looking into how to help handle such a development, he added. Egypt recently reported its first case of the virus, raising fears of its spread to the African continent. The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. China on Tuesday reported 1,886 new cases and 98 more deaths. That raised the number of deaths in mainland China to 1,868 and the total number of confirmed cases to 72,436. Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad. But Japan, Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients, raising concern of the virus spreading locally. A report saying the disease outbreak has caused a mild illness in most people raised optimism among global health authorities. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks to The Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Guterres said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak that began in China "is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation." Antonio Guterres said that "the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that." The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry) The U.N. chief was in Pakistan for a conference on 40 years of refugees fleeing neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. In his interview with the AP, Guterres said that today's world is a "chaotic" one beset by multiple crises. He decried the horrors of Syria's nine-year-old civil war. The U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has warned that the most recent exodus of refugees therenearing 900,000 people fleeing fighting in the northwest Idlib regionrisks being the biggest humanitarian disaster of the 21st century. Syrian President Bashar Assad has, however, vowed to fight rebels in the country to the bitter end. Backed by Iran and Russia, his forces are making rapid progress against the last rebel-held enclaves in northern Syria. Turkey backs opposition fighters there and has sent troops in to try stopping the Syrian advance. Some 3 million Syrian civilians are sheltering in those last rebel-held areas and many of them have been forced out into make-shift shelters and camps amid harsh winter conditions. The suffering of Syrians is "horrible," Guterres said. He called for an immediate cease-fire, urging Turkey, Russia and Iran to find a political solution. Turning to the Libyan civil war, Guterres bemoaned the blatant violations of a U.N.-imposed arms embargo on the North African country. Foreign powers have intervened in oil-rich Libya's conflict, apparently jockeying for control over its resources while supporting its rival west- and east-based leaders. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks to The Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Guterres said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak that began in China "is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation." Antonio Guterres said that "the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that." The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry) "How many countries in Libya are interfering with the conflict and independent of an arms embargo, decided by the Security Council, they go on providing both personnel and equipment to Libya?" he asked. Western Libyan forces rely on military assistance from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. On the other side, Turkey, Italy and Qatar support the embattled Tripoli-based government in the country's east. The U.N. chief put some of the blame for the state of world affairs on the three leading powers, the United States, Russia and China, calling their relationship "dysfunctional." He said it has paralyzed the U.N. Security Council. "It is clear that we live in the moment where chaos risks to transform our world in something much more unstable," he said. The U.N. leader, however, said U.S.-Taliban peace talks presented a chance for ending one of the world's longest running conflicts, in Afghanistan. "We absolutely need to seize this opportunity for peace,'' Guterres said. Millions of Afghans are still living as refugees, he pointed out. The second half of the peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban is expected to be signed on Feb. 29. It calls for Afghans on both sides of the conflict to begin negotiations over the country's post-war future. Until now, the Taliban have refused direct talks with the Afghan government. "It is in the interest of everybody to do everything possible to guarantee that there is peace, that peace becomes a reality, that it is sustainable and that Afghanistan can be integrated into international community,'' said Guterres. Explore further Egypt confirms first case of new virus 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. By Christoph Steitz, Tom Kackenhoff, Arno Schuetze and Edward Taylor FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's Thyssenkrupp has shortlisted two private equity consortia in the sale of its 16 billion euro ($17 billion) elevator unit, dealing a blow to Finland's Kone, which withdrew from the closely watched deal. By Christoph Steitz, Tom Kackenhoff, Arno Schuetze and Edward Taylor FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's Thyssenkrupp has shortlisted two private equity consortia in the sale of its 16 billion euro ($17 billion) elevator unit, dealing a blow to Finland's Kone, which withdrew from the closely watched deal. Potentially Europe's biggest private-equity deal in 13 years, the transaction is now in its last stages and could come to a head next week when Thyssenkrupp's supervisory board is scheduled to meet. The cash-strapped conglomerate said it would focus on negotiations with two private equity consortia: one consisting of Blackstone, Carlyle and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board and another led by Advent and Cinven. Shares in Kone plunged nearly 7% on news it had withdrawn, while Thyssenkrupp's stock dropped as much as 3.7%, reflecting disappointment that a tie-up, which would have created the world's largest lift maker, was now off the table. "The remaining bidders have submitted more concrete offers. The bids are at a high level and underline the attractiveness of the business," Thyssenkrupp said in a statement on Monday. The steel-to-submarines group now plans to let the two consortia battle it out in a final round, hoping they will raise their bids to beyond the roughly 16 billion euros offered so far. The elevator division is Thyssenkrupp's most profitable business and the German group said it aimed to reach an agreement over whether to sell a majority stake or all of it. "A complete sale has always been the base case," a person familiar with the matter said. CLEANER DEAL If no agreement is reached, an initial public offering remains an option, Thyssenkrupp said, adding this would be possible from early summer. Views in Thyssenkrupp's 20-member supervisory board had differed over whether to weed out Kone's bid - the highest in terms of value but also the riskiest in terms of execution - people familiar with the matter said. At more than 17 billion euros, Kone - in partnership with CVC - had offered about 1.5 billion euros more than private equity suitors. "The decision to prioritise potentially lower offers indicates, in our opinion, the desire for a cleaner sales process as financial investors should reduce risk of prolonged anti-trust clearance measures in comparison to a conceptual Kone offer," analysts at Jefferies said. Labour unions, which control half of Thyssenkrupp's supervisory board, were opposed to a deal with Kone from the get-go, fearing it would lead to substantial job cuts. Kone, in a brief statement, said it continued to believe that a combination of its business with Thyssenkrupp Elevator, which would have been the largest acquisition in Finland's history, would have been strategically compelling. "But in the end we came to a moment where you see that the risks become too significant," Chief Executive Henrik Ehrnrooth told Reuters, adding he believed that antitrust reviews would not have been an obstacle. Cevian, Thyssenkrupp's second-largest shareholder with an 18% stake, had been arguing in favour of a deal with Kone, two of the people familiar with the matter said, pointing to substantial synergies. Cevian declined to comment. ($1 = 0.9228 euros) (Additional reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki; Editing by Susan Fenton and Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Huawei logo is pictured at the IFA consumer tech fair in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 6, 2019. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters-File) US Judge Rejects Huawei Challenge to Federal Law Restricting Its Business A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday rejected Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies constitutional challenge to a U.S. law that restricted its ability to do business with federal agencies and their contractors. In a 57-page decision, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant ruled in favor of the United States, concluding that Congress acted within its powers by including the restriction in the National Defense Authorization Act, which also targeted Chinese company, ZTE Corp. A Huawei spokesman said the company was disappointed in the loss. While we understand the paramount significance of national security, the approach taken by the U.S. Government in the 2019 NDAA provides a false sense of protection while undermining Huaweis constitutional rights. We will continue to consider further legal options, the spokesman said. The U.S. Justice Department had no immediate comment. The decision comes as the United States has a wide-ranging effort underway to prevent Huawei technology from being used in sensitive telecommunications equipment in the United States or elsewhere. Washington was disappointed last week by Britains decision to use 5G equipment made by Huawei, the worlds biggest maker of mobile networking equipment. The Trump administration is also considering changing U.S. regulations to allow it to block shipments of chips to Huawei from companies such as Taiwans TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, two sources familiar with the matter said. By Jonathan Stempel and Diane Bartz Apple has released a new stable version of watchOS today for all its smartwatches. The watchOS 6.1.3 update brings some critical bug fixes for Apple Watch owners. The Cupertino-based smartwatch maker has released watchOS 6.1.3 to all the Apple Watch users, and the update brings bug fixes and performance improvements. The update fixes a bug that prevented the irregular heart rhythm from being detected and notified to users in Iceland. Apart from this critical bug fix, nothing concrete has been mentioned in the official changelog. The update is compatible with all the Apple Watch models except for the original Apple Watch. For Apple Watch users who pair their smartwatch with an iPhone running iOS 12, the company has released the watchOS 5.3.5 update with the same bug fixes and improvements. Apple is also testing watchOS 6.2, and we expect the company to release a new public beta version later today along with iOS 13.4 Beta 2 and iPadOS 13.4 Beta 2. The watchOS 6.2 beta update brings support for in-app purchases for watchOS apps and an ability to purchase universal apps that also work across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. WYOMING, MI -- A 50-year-old man was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle in Kent County. First responders were dispatched shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, to a report of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle on 28th Street SW, near Burlingame Avenue, in Wyoming. Police said the man was attempting to cross 28th Street west of the intersection and not within the crosswalk. He was struck by an eastbound vehicle. The pedestrian was transported to a local area hospital with serious injuries. The driver was not injured, according to Wyoming police. The eastbound right lane of 28th Street SW near Burlingame Avenue was closed Tuesday morning to investigate and clear the scene. Police asked the public to avoid the area until the investigation was complete. Police anticipated reopening the roadway by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Read more: Family sickened by young mothers brain injury in road-rage encounter Rockford, Forest Hills among schools closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18 Grand Rapids to add splash pad, bathrooms at these parks To curb espionage, US moves bill to ban 10 year entry visa to China Wait for visa appointment to be 'significantly' longer: US embassy British MP Debbie Abrahams's activities against 'India's national interest': Govt sources India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 18: Debbie Abraham's British MP visa was revoked before she traveled to India on account of "activities which went against India's national interests," said government sources in response to media reports on return of British MP Debbie Abrahams, to UK from India. "The facts are- grant, rejection, revocation of visa / electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of any country," media reports quoted government sources as saying. "Debbie Abrahams was issued an e-Business Visa on 7th October 2019, valid till 5 Oct 2020 to attend business meetings . Her e-Business Visa was revoked on 14 February 2020 on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest," said the government sources. Debbie Abrahams, who had previously criticised the abrogation of Article 370 on Monday claimed that she was denied entry into India, despite having a valid visa. British MP, outspoken of govts J&K move, denied entry into India Labour Party MP Debbie Abraham, who landed at the Delhi airport, was deported to Dubai. The Home Ministry maintained that it had informed her about her e-visa being cancelled. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 Abrahams chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir and was among a group of MPs who issued formal letters following the revocation of's special status in 2019. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 14:25 [IST] A SHOPLIFTER who threatened a store manager with a syringe during a robbery almost a year ago has been jailed for four years. Dean Power, 32, of no fixed abode had pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to an offence which occurred on March 29, 2019. Garda Aishling O'Neill told Limerick Circuit Court the defendant entered Boots, William Street at 11.18am despite being barred from the premises. Once inside, he selected a perfume set worth 44.50 and when he was challenged by the manager he produced a syringe from his pocket. Garda ONeill said the worker could see the needle and that he immediately backed away as he feared for his safety. He was afraid he would get sick with a very serious illness, she told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting. Read also: Addict jailed over robbery and assault at Limerick internet cafe After Mr Power left the store, gardai were alerted and he was located at St Johns Square a short time later. Garda ONeill said he was clearly under the influence of an intoxicant and that two needles and a syringe were found when he was searched. Barrister Eimear Carey said her client has a serious drug addiction and that all of the offences occurred during a short period after he relapsed following the death of his brother. Ms Carey said the defendant accepts he has a bad record but asked the court to note that he is apologetic and intends leaving Limerick again when released from prison. Judge Tom ODonnell, who described the incident as disturbing said what happened was very frightening for the store manager who feared for his safety. He said Mr Power has a appalling list of previous convictions and he must be regarded as a scourge on shops in the city centre. He accepted Mr Power had been living a chaotic lifestyle around the time and that he has been homeless on several occasions in the past. The judge imposed a five year prison sentence, suspending the final 12 months. A 117-strong group doctors and psychologists has called for an end to what it calls the psychological torture and medical neglect of Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks founder is being held in Belmarsh Prison awaiting a hearing on February 24 which could see him extradited to the US. In a 1,200-word letter published in the medical journal The Lancet, the Doctors For Assange group expresses concern over his fitness for the legal proceedings. The letter states that Assange is in a dire state of health due to the effects of prolonged psychological torture in both the Ecuadorian embassy and Belmarsh, where he has been detained. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court / PA "Should Assange die in a UK prison, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (Nils Melzer) has warned, he will have effectively been tortured to death," the letter added. "Much of that torture will have taken place in a prison medical ward, on doctors' watch. The medical profession cannot afford to stand silently by, on the wrong side of torture and the wrong side of history, while such a travesty unfolds." The first hearing into the United States' request for Assange's extradition was held on May 2 2019. When asked by the judge if he consented to the extradition, Assange said: "I do not wish to surrender myself for extradition for doing journalism that has won many, many awards and protected many people." Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange is currently being held in Belmarsh prison / Getty Images A copy of the Doctors For Assange letter has been sent to the Australian minister for foreign affairs, Marise Payne. It follows up on a previous letter sent on December 16, calling on Ms Payne to bring Assange home to Australia for urgent medical care. A copy has also been sent to the UK Government, which the doctors accuse of violating Assange's human right to health. Singer MIA demands release of Julian Assange The letter condemns what it calls the "torture" of Assange and "the denial of his fundamental right to appropriate healthcare". It adds: "Politics cannot be allowed to interfere with the right to health and the practice of medicine. "Abuse by politically motivated medical neglect sets a dangerous precedent, ultimately undermining our profession's impartiality, commitment to health for all, and obligation to do no harm. "Our appeals are simple: we are calling upon governments to end the torture of Mr Assange and ensure his access to the best available healthcare, before it is too late." Matt Warren's ability to build and lead large sales delivery organizations coupled with his strong client relationship management skills has produced superior bottom-line results in taking small organizations through an aggressive growth model. He will leverage his 24+ years of Federal Government technology sales experience, mostly within the US Departments of Homeland Security, State, Energy, Justice, Commerce, and Education, to build, oversee, and grow Steampunk. Matt holds a liberal arts degree in communications from Virginia Tech. In addition, and effective with this announcement, John Harllee will assume the exclusive role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Steampunk. John brings over 24 years of recognized operational leadership experience within the Federal Government sector. As the COO, John Harllee will provide the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure the organization has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to effectively grow the organization and to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency. John holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. "Our servant-based leadership model brings a relentless commitment to mission impact and achieving 'shared success' with our clients," said Matt Warren, the company's new Chief Executive Officer. "I am excited to work alongside our leadership team and each of our employees to inspire, innovate, and elevate our company and our Federal clients to new heights. And, I very much look forward to renewing relations with the many colleagues and clients that I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career," added Warren. About Steampunk Steampunk is a Change Agent in the Federal contracting industry, bringing new thinking to clients in the Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health and DoD sectors. Through our Human-Centered delivery methodology, we are fundamentally changing the expectations our Federal clients have for true shared accountability in solving their toughest mission challenges. As an employee owned company, we focus on investing in our employees to enable them to do the greatest work of their careers and rewarding them for outstanding contributions to our growth. If you want to learn more about our story, visit http://www.steampunk.com. Media Contact: Robert Pearson, Chief Marketing Officer [email protected] | 571.344.5538 www.steampunk.com | @Steampunk_inc SOURCE Steampunk Related Links http://www.steampunk.com Russian-backed separatists tried on Tuesday to break through the trench line in the stalemated war in eastern Ukraine, killing one government soldier and wounding four others, the Ukrainian military said. In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the attack was seen more as a diplomatic feint than a military assault, an effort to gain leverage during talks to end the war. In response, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, convened an emergency meeting of his national security council. The Kremlin denied any involvement. After a phase of widespread violence in 2014 and 2015, the war settled into a dreary back-and-forth along a frontier consisting of about 270 miles of trenches. Despite a negotiated cease-fire, skirmishes break out daily, most of them with long-distance artillery. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported nearly 300,000 cease-fire violations by both sides last year, counting every explosion or burst of gunfire its monitors hear along the front. A Polish mayor on Monday deplored the decision by a sister town in France to suspend 25-year official ties with her town because it declared itself an area free of LGBT ideology. The mayor of the south-eastern town of Tuchow, Magdalena Marszalek, blamed the rare decision by the French community it had been twinned with,, on campaigning ahead of local elections there. She expressed regret that severing ties will cut friendly relations among residents, as Tuchow will no longer be able to sponsor visits by people from Saint-Jean-de-Braye. Marszalek said many in her community do not identify with the declaration adopted last year by local councilors of Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice party. The sister municipality in central France suspended ties last week and said in a statement that France is committed to combating human rights violations based on sexual orientation ... We cannot accept that the ties that unite our two cities by a twinning oath be tainted. We condemn the position taken by our twin city of Tuchow. Tuchow was among other towns in south-eastern Poland that adopted the declaration in May saying they wanted to defend themselves against radicals ... who attack freedom of speech, childhood innocence, the authority of family and school and the freedom of businesspeople. The declaration came in reaction to Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, an opposition politician, declaring the capital city supportive of the LGBT community and its rights. Poland's ruling party and other social conservatives say they are trying to protect children and traditional families from being demoralized and corrupted by a growing gay rights movement. (TNS) State lawmakers in Washington want the state to be the gold standard for regulating companies and governments that collect peoples digital data or use facial recognition programs.Its an ambitious goal for the home of Amazon and Microsoft, and one that legislators and others hope could become a national model.But as they push forward meeting with companies, lobbyists and community advocacy groups lawmakers are divided on key aspects.Legislators face tough philosophical questions, along with pressure from companies affected by regulations and community-advocacy groups skeptical those regulations wont go far enough.Front and center in that debate is Senate Bill 6281 , which passed Friday out of that chamber.Sponsored by Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, the bill uses as inspiration European data-privacy regulations and a California law.Among other things, it would require companies to tell people whether their data is being used and provide that information back to them. If requested, companies would have to fix inaccurate data and delete personal information under certain circumstances.The legislation makes the Attorney Generals Office the sole authority to enforce violations, each of which could amount to a civil penalty of up to $7,500. The money would go to help fund the existing state Office of Privacy and Data Protection.Companies that could be affected by the bill range from global giants Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook, to retail stores and largely invisible data brokers. The bill would cover companies conducting business in the state or producing services or products that are targeted to Washington residents.On the Senate floor, Carlyle described the proposal as an important balance between our constitutional rights and the value to our economy and our civic society With no action from Congress on data privacy, It becomes more imperative than ever that we as a state move forward, said Carlyle. SB 6281 passed 46-1, though two Democrats expressed reservations about parts of it.But the bill faces questions or skepticism by House Democrats and Republicans. There isnt much time to resolve the issues before the legislative session ends March 12.Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, has criticized the bill as too corporate-centric and said she believes individuals, rather than just the Attorney Generals Office, should have a right to sue companies for violations.One of the issues with the Senate bill is that it grants rights and no access to justice, said Smith.Carlyle has defended using the Attorney Generals Office exclusively to enforce the law. The office would be well-equipped to pursue violations, he said, and more effective than what could be a flurry of private lawsuits if individuals were allowed to sue.If were just unloading the lawyers on Day 1 I dont think were recognizing what it takes to be the home not just of Microsoft, not just of Amazon, but Starbucks and Boeing and Expedia and F5 and some of the premier companies on this particular planet, he said.Carlyle said he has pledged to sponsor a bill to allow private lawsuits after the bill became law, if it were found that they were necessary.Rep. Shelley Kloba, D-Kirkland, said she hopes the House and Senate can find middle ground on the issue of enforcement.Kloba has questions about whether companies could get around the regulations in SB 6281 because of how it defines who is covered under it.The Senate bills regulations would apply to entities conducting business in the state that process or control the data of at least 100,000 individuals. Also subject to the regulations would be businesses getting 50% or more of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data, and control or process information on 25,000 or more consumers.In theory, people trying to avoid those regulations could do so by creating a series of smaller companies that dont exceed those numbers, she said.Kloba this year sponsored a companion bill to Carlyles version , which has what she calls a consumer-focus with opportunity for enforcement.Meanwhile, lawmakers remain divided on how to regulate facial-recognition programs or whether to put a moratorium on such programs for now.Carlyles bill would regulate companies using facial recognition technology.Facial-recognition programs have come under criticism, especially after a study released in December by the federal National Institute of Standards and Technology showed how they misidentified women, elderly people and especially people of color.SB 6281 would require companies using facial-recognition programs to make them available for independent testing to see if they are accurate, according to a legislative analysis. And it would require companies to submit a plan to improve the programs if that testing found problems with how various populations were treated.And it would put some regulations on how companies use those programs in public spaces, such as retail stores.The lone vote against Carlyles bill on Friday came from Sen. Bob Hasegawa, a Democrat from Seattle who has sponsored legislation to put in place a moratorium on government facial-recognition programs. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN), a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton, agreed Tuesday to acquire Legg Mason, Inc. (LM) for $50.00 per share of common stock in an all-cash transaction of $4.5 billion. Franklin Templeton will also assume approximately $2 billion of Legg Mason's outstanding debt. The company will fund the cash consideration from its existing balance sheet cash. The acquisition of Legg Mason and its multiple investment affiliates, which collectively manage over $806 billion in assets as of January 31, 2020, will establish Franklin Templeton as one of the world's largest independent, specialized global investment managers with a combined $1.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM) with presence in key geographies. With this acquisition, Franklin Templeton will preserve the autonomy of Legg Mason's affiliates, ensuring that their investment philosophies, processes and brands remain unchanged. Following the closing of the transaction, Jenny Johnson will continue to serve as president and CEO, and Greg Johnson will continue to serve as executive chairman of the Board of Franklin Resources, Inc. There will be no changes to the senior management teams of Legg Mason's investment affiliates. Global headquarters will remain in San Mateo, CA and the combined firm will operate as Franklin Templeton. This transaction is expected to generate upper twenties percentage adjusted earnings accretion in Fiscal 2021, excluding one-time charges, non-recurring and acquisition related expenses. The majority of the expected $200 million in annual cost savings are expected to be realized within a year, following the close of the transaction, with the remaining synergies being realized over the next one to two years. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of Franklin Resources, Inc. and Legg Mason, Inc. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and approval by Legg Mason's shareholders, and is expected to close no later than the third calendar quarter of 2020. Trian Fund Management, L.P. and funds managed by it, which collectively own approximately 4 million shares or 4.5% of the outstanding stock of Legg Mason, have entered into a voting agreement in support of the transaction. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de A nervous wait at Louisiana abortion clinic at centre of U.S. Supreme Court fight A patient from Arkansas sits in the recovery room at the Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport By Lawrence Hurley SHREVEPORT, La. (Reuters) - A 27-year-old woman from southern Arkansas waited nervously at the Hope Medical Group for Women after travelling two hours for a medical procedure that is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain in certain parts of the United States: an abortion. Four weeks pregnant, the woman felt she had no option but to seek an abortion because she suffered serious medical complications during her last pregnancy, which ended in stillbirth. "I'm incredibly thankful for this place," the woman told Reuters. "I don't want to die." The future of the Hope clinic, located in the city of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana, hangs in the balance. The clinic is housed in a windowless brick structure on a corner lot several miles (km) from the casino hotel-dominated skyline of the city of about 190,000 people. Its fate lies in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, which on March 4 is set to hear the clinic's challenge to a tough Louisiana law placing new restrictions on doctors who perform abortions. If the law goes into effect, the clinic may have to close down. Clinic staff members said some women would face considerable barriers to obtaining abortions if they have to travel further and some may ultimately forgo the procedure. A 24-year-old woman who was nine weeks pregnant had travelled from east Texas. She said she sought an abortion because she was unable to take medication for a health condition while she is pregnant. "It's important that we can make our own decisions and not be forced to have a child," the woman said. Both clinic patients spoke to Reuters on condition that they not be named. The Supreme Court's ruling, expected by the end of June, could signal whether its 5-4 conservative majority, including two justices appointed by President Donald Trump, intends to make bold moves to curtail abortion rights. Anti-abortion activists are hoping the court will undermine and eventually overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognised a woman's constitutional right to an abortion and legalized the procedure nationwide. Story continues Trump's administration has backed Louisiana in the case. Abortion remains one of the most divisive social issues in the United States. Louisiana and other conservative states have in recent years passed various laws seeking to restrict abortion. The Supreme Court sets nationwide boundaries on how far states can go. A ruling in favour of Louisiana could embolden states to enact similar or even stricter laws. When the Supreme Court in 1992 reaffirmed its Roe v. Wade ruling, it prohibited abortion laws that placed an "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. The court in December left in place a Kentucky restriction requiring doctors to show and describe ultrasound images to women seeking an abortion, turning away a challenge arguing that the measure violated the free speech rights of physicians. 'ADMITTING PRIVILEGES' The Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of the 2014 Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have an often difficult-to-obtain arrangement called "admitting privileges" with a hospital within 30 miles (48 km) of the clinic. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in 2016 blocked it from taking effect, saying it created an impermissible undue burden on obtaining an abortion and would shut down two of Louisiana's three clinics - the Hope clinic and a facility in Baton Rouge. The judge, who also concluded that the admitting privileges requirement would provide no significant health benefits to women, said that only the clinic in New Orleans, more than 350 miles (560 km) southeast of Shreveport, would remain. The Supreme Court struck down a similar admitting privileges requirement from Texas in 2016 when conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the four liberal justices in the majority. But Kennedy, a supporter of abortion rights, retired in 2018. Trump, a Republican, replaced him with conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump's other appointee is conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised to appoint justices who oppose abortion rights. In January, in an address to an anti-abortion rally in Washington, Trump declared, "Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House." Despite the 2016 Supreme Court ruling, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018 upheld the Louisiana law, prompting the clinic's lawyers to take the risky step of appealing to the Supreme Court. They won a preliminary victory in February 2019, when the Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold, meaning the law has not taken effect. The Hope clinic's administrator, Kathaleen Pittman, rejects the state's contention that additional regulation of abortion is required for health reasons. "I think that's a total falsehood," Pittman said in an interview in her clinic office. In a state with anti-abortion sentiment among its elected politicians, including Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, Pittman considers the law part of a long-running war on abortion rights. "We have heard them say the goal is to be an abortion-free state," Pittman added. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill, who is defending the law in the case, has asked the Supreme Court to consider overturning the 2016 Texas ruling even though the precedent is just a few years old. The court is often cautious about overturning precedents and it would be unusual to take that step in a case so recently decided. Louisiana has clear authority to regulate the clinics, Murrill said in an interview. "Doctors do not have a constitutional right to perform abortions. They don't have a constitutional right not be regulated. If the law works the way it is supposed to work, doctors who are competent should be able to obtain privileges," Murrill said. At the Supreme Court, the state has offered new information that was not considered in its defence of the law at trial. Louisiana among other things has questioned whether doctors have made "good faith" efforts to secure admitting privileges at local hospitals while the litigation is pending. The clinic's lawyers at the Center for Reproductive Rights, a legal advocacy group favouring abortion rights, reject that assertion and said the Supreme Court should analyse the case though the lens of the 2016 Texas ruling. Should the Supreme Court uphold Louisiana's measure, "that would be an unfortunate opening of the floodgates," said Nancy Northup, the group's president. Such a ruling would "wreak havoc on the ability of women to get access to reproductive healthcare in many states," Northup added. At the Hope clinic, blocked-off windows and security restrictions on gaining entry are aimed at anti-abortion activists, reflecting the hostility some local people feel toward abortion. A sign states "please do not feed (or speak to) the protestors." Shivering in the cold outside, two women, Cynthia Vaught and Angela Chagnard, sought the attention of patients going inside, hoping to counsel them not to terminate their pregnancies. Both said their opposition to abortion is based on their beliefs as Roman Catholics. They said they hope the clinic closes. "I would like there to be no abortion providers in the United States," Vaught said. "Life is sacrosanct." For a graphic on state abortion laws, see https://tmsnrt.rs/2WZuiVP (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) Syrian Arab Army liberates Greater Aleppo area as militants withdraw west By News Desk February 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:55 P.M.) The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has officially taken control of the Greater Aleppo area after the last remaining militants fled west along the last road open. According to a field source in Aleppo, the jihadist rebels completely surrendered the Anadan Plain region after controlling this area for more than six years. The capture of the Anadan Plain region came shortly after the Syrian Arab Army announced complete control over all areas that were previously under jihadist control in Aleppo city. With Greater Aleppo and the provincial capital secured, there will likely be a ceasefire between the militants and Syrian Army, with peace negotiations to continue in Astana. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Syrian Army closes in on key airbase in northern Idlib: video By News Desk February 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Footage filmed on Sunday shows soldiers from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) advancing towards a Turkish-controlled airfield as military vehicles reportedly belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces are spotted near Taftanaz Air Base, south of Taftanaz, Idlib province. Five Turkish soldiers were killed in shelling by the SAA at the same airbase on Monday. It is the closest point to the airport in Taftanaz where the Turkish regime is located, as you see vehicles, monitoring and communication devices, as well as artillery that supports the militants against us during the past two days, said one of the Syrian Arab Armys (SAA) officers at one of the checkpoints in the town of Taoum, less than 5 kilometres (3,1 miles) fromTaftanaz. Another SAA officer said Turkish forces have recently attacked them with no casualties reported from the SAA side. We are here in our land against any Turkish attack or others until the liberation of the last part of the Syrian Arab Republic, he added. This article was published by "Al Masdar News"- Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== The Guardian view on Idlib: nowhere left to run: Hundreds of thousands of civilians are fleeing a renewed assault by the Syrian regime, in desperate circumstances It is past midnight in the city of Aleppo and the streets are still crowded with celebrating people. For the first time in 8 years Aleppeans wont have to worry about Jihadist terrorist attacks targeting their neighborhoods, schools and hospitals. Not a word from CNN or BBC. pic.twitter.com/iB4WlnCSH5 (@HadiNasrallah) February 17, 2020 Zambia could issue a fifth mobile licence, according to new reports. The director general of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), Patrick Mutimunshi, was quoted in ITWeb Africa as saying: There is still the possibility of us accommodating a fifth operator that can still be able to make profit because at the end of the day, the operations must be sustainable. He noted that the regulators priority was to ensure competition in the market, saying: The new licensing regime that we have has opened up the market for anyone to come in the country and invest. The news outlet also indicates that the government has conducted an analysis of the market which concluded that a fifth operator would not impact profitability in the wireless sector. With rates for voice and data services currently high, the government is reportedly keen to push down prices by introducing greater competition. New Delhi, Feb 18 : China on Tuesday reiterated that rumours about COVID-19 or cornavirus were terrible and had the potential to stigmatise Chinese people around the world. Aarti Tikoo Singh New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) China on Tuesday reiterated that rumours about COVID-19 or cornavirus were terrible and had the potential to stigmatise Chinese people around the world. Dismissing conspiracy theories around COVID-19, China's Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, said while talking to the media here, "The virus is terrible, but rumour is more terrible. The coronavirus is in nature, and not man-made." Appealing to the media not to pay credence to such rumours, he said such rumours "will create panic and overreaction, and harm people-to-people relations. We must ensure that truth outweighs rumours and sciences prevail over ignorance." Weidong said that based on the analysis of genomic sequence, it is now known that the virus originates from nature. "Stigma and discrimination come from panic, lack of understanding and empathy. Only through mutual understanding and cooperation can we truly overcome the epidemic. We hope that the international community can view the epidemic in a rational and calm way," he said. Giving out details of the epidemic in China, Weidong said there is a drop of over 50 per cent in the COVID-19 cases outside Hubei province, indicating that the efforts to contain the epidemic are proving effective. The epidemic in Wuhan city in Hubei province is also being managed more effectively, he said. The cure rate, he said, has gone up from 1.3 per cent to 8.2 per cent. Over 12,000 people have recovered and discharged from hospitals. The fatality rate is 2.29 per cent nationwide and just 0.55 per cent outside Hubei. The number of new suspected cases in China continues to decline, from the peak of more than 5,000 a day to over 2,000 a day, he said. The Chinese envoy attributed the positive indicators to China's confidence, compassion and cooperation. "Our confidence comes from China's ability to mobilise all the resources for big undertakings. To relieve the shortage of medical resources, it took us only 10 days to finish the building of two makeshift hospitals -- Huoshenshan and Leishenshan," he said. "A total of 1,500 builders with a reserve team of 2,000 people and 280 sets of construction machinery and equipment have been working day and night. The hospitals are equipped with modern medical facilities, all made in China, with 5G high-speed network that can support the needs of 25,000 people and set up a platform for remote diagnosis and treatment," he pointed out. While the government has allocated over 80 billion RMB for coronavirus prevention, China's banks and financial institutions have provided more than 537 billion RMB in credit to fight the epidemic. The National Health Commission sent 217 medical teams with more than 30,000 staff and three mobile P3 laboratories to support the treatment in Hubei. Wuhan has mobilised 16,000 people to conduct complete search of all the communities. About the impact of the epidemic on economy, Weidong said that in the short term, the downward pressure would increase but the effect is still local, temporary and limited. "China is a major country with strong resilience, great potential and ample room for manoeuvre. The government has strong macro regulation capabilities and sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations. Secondly, China's economic structure has become more rational and its system has been strengthened. "Thirdly, China's market is big enough and the subdued consumer demand will be released rapidly when the epidemic is over," Weidong said, adding that 99.7 per cent of state-owned enterprises in Beijing and 80 per cent in Shanghai have resumed production. Australian crocodile wranglers have failed in their first attempt to capture a 13-foot reptile with a tyre stuck around its neck. Matt Wright, one of the country's most recognisable wildlife experts, flew to Indonesia last week after following online reports about the four-metre-long beast. He spent the best part of a week trying to capture the reptile, nicknamed 'Boss', in what he said was one of the toughest he's encountered. Australian crocodile wrangler Matt Wright said he has failed in his attempt to remove the tyre from the 13-foot reptile's neck (pictured) Mr Wright (pictured with some of the Indonesian team he worked with) tracked reports on 'boss' for 18 months before deciding to lend his expertise to the rescue 'We failed, we spent quite a bit of time on the water, we went out last night and didn't even get sight of him,' Wright said. 'He's had two weeks of people trying to catch him, he is sick of it, he is over it, he's stressing, he just wants to lay there and sun bake and just enjoy his time.' 'We're not going to stop until we succeed. We've got such a good team over here, everyone's been hooking in (and) everyone's been doing such a good job. 'We are going to keep on this mission and we are going to catch this crocodile, it's just time.' Wright said he would return every couple of months for the next year to help capture the elusive crocodile. 'I believe the tyre has been around the croc's neck for a few years now with the croc being able to survive and live unaffected,' Mr Wright posted on Instagram. He said after four days they were still unable to wrangle the beast (pictured) and he is forced to return to Australia but he said he would return every coupe of months until they succeed 'Our contacts in Indonesia have shared recent pictures of the crocodile which show the tyre looking tighter than ever before with the poor fella gasping for air and officials now fearing the tyre is slowly killing the beast.' However after seeing things first hand Wright said the tyre posed no immediate danger to the crocodile but in time it would. As a result he's confident the team will succeed before 'boss' grows larger and starts getting choked by the tyre. 'I did get a couple really good shots last night, but wasn't on my game and missed,' Mr Wright posted in an Instagram update. 'It's all about getting the right opportunity to get a good run at catching him and they're far and few between. Mr Wright and his team are working with the Central Sulawesi Natural Resources Agency (BKSDA Jakarta) and the Indonesian government to catch the beast. However after four unsuccessful nights on the water the Indonesian team are being stretched to their limits. In response Mr Wright has started a GoFundMe page to keep the team active and with the resources they need. Three members of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) surrendered along with their arms on Tuesday before the Border Security Force (BSF) in Tripuras Gomati district, officials said. The three were identified as Sannakumar Tripura, Jarmaram Tripura and Sudharam Reang. They also surrendered their arms at Amritpara, nearly 50 kilometres from Agartala, including .38 calibre pistols and 528 live rounds of .38 bullets, a BSF official said on the condition of anonymity. Tripura police had arrested three NLFT operatives from North and Dhalai districts in January this year. Last year, 88 insurgents from this banned outfit surrendered before the state government. NLFT was floated on March 12, 1989, with the agenda of sovereign Tripura. It was banned in 1997 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and then under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The outfit has been responsible for several violent activities including 317 insurgency incidents in which 28 security forces and 62 civilians lost their lives between 2005-2015, according to Union ministry of home affairs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON AFP via Getty Images Bernie Sanders has surged to 31 per cent support nationally in a new poll his highest rating of the primary season so far. The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll puts him 12 points ahead of his nearest rival, Michael Bloomberg, who will now be joining Sanders and the other primary candidates on the debate stage for the first time. Mr Sanderss support has grown since he won the New Hampshire primary, where he narrowly defeated former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigeig. He continues to draw huge crowds at his rallies, and last year raised roughly $96m from more than 5 million contributions. However, Mr Sanders faces challenges headed into the next primaries. His campaign for the upcoming Nevada caucuses has been overshadowed by protests from the powerful Culinary Workers Union, the states largest labour organisation, which opposes his Medicare for All plan. On the other hand, there are signs he is overcoming his past weaknesses as a candidate, in particular by attracting more support from voters of colour. Meanwhile, several other candidates once expected to win or run strongly in the primary show further signs of falling behind. Joe Biden has dropped from 24 per cent to 15 per cent, while Elizabeth Warren has fallen to just 12 per cent. Mr Buttigeig, who ran neck-and-neck with Mr Sanders in Iowa and came second in New Hampshire, languishes on just 8 per cent, while the newly ascendant Amy Klobuchar has apparently overtaken him, now sitting at 9 per cent. A father allegedly pimped out his three-year-old son to sex tourists and shared images of himself raping the boy for others to see. The Brisbane man, 48, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly photographed himself sexually abusing the boy and posted the images to a worldwide child sex offender network. The network operated through Telegram, a cloud-based messaging program where information is heavily encrypted and can self-destruct. The three-year-old child (stock image pictured) was pimped out to sex tourists who planned to travel to Australia to abuse the small boy and post images of the vile acts online for others to see The father was arrested in December last year after an urgent referral was made to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. His two children have been removed from his care, the Courier-Mail reported. His arrest has led to multiple arrests in the United States and United Kingdom. The federal parliament passed the Assistance and Access Act last year, allowing investigators to get decrypted communication or otherwise reveal a suspect's data. Concern has been raised that exposing a suspect's data may become even more difficult when tech giants, such as Facebook and Google, 'go dark'. The tech companies plans to offer end-to-end encryption could mean suspects like the Brisbane father may never be caught. Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre chief executive Nicole Rose said the advancement of communications technology without corresponding legislation was one of their greatest challenges they were facing as it allowed criminals to exploit the system. A new book titled 'The Self Made Indian Dream' by Vinodh Subramanian, founder of the Self Made Indian Movement, takes a look at the aspirations of the new Indian middle class, narrating how they achieve success, and move up in the social ladder despite disadvantages. "The Indian dream has always been there. But, it's just that it's not been defined, neither given a name nor promoted the way the US has promoted the American Dream", said Subramanian, who through the movement, is working towards making upward mobility possible for hundreds of millions of people from disadvantaged backgrounds in India. "I have a dream" The American Dream is a set of ideals that promises equal opportunity for success, prosperity and upward mobility in the society with less or no barriers. It is the belief that anyone can attain their own version of success and move up in society regardless of where they were born, or what class they were born into. 243 years after independence, the American Dream still continues to inspire the nation, gets everyone into action, attracts people from all across the world, and makes America one of the greatest countries in the world. Besides America, India's neighbour, China has recently stated a 'Chinese Dream'. The Chinese Dream describes a set of personal and national ethos and ideals in China to promote prosperity, collective effort, and national glory. "The China Dream is about making China great again", said Steve Tsang, a political scientist and professor at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Apart from China, even smaller countries like Qatar and New Zealand have also stated their national dreams. But, what about India? As one of the largest economies in the world with hundreds of millions of people from poor, lower and middle-income class backgrounds, does India have a dream of its own to inspire its people and to uplift them from various social disadvantages? "India had a dream, a dream of an independent country in the past. But it faded after we achieved it", said Ranjani Iyer Mohanty, in her Wall Street Journal article. What about now? Does India still have a dream that can make upward mobility possible for hundreds of millions of its people from disadvantaged backgrounds? "Yes, India has a new dream", revealed Vinodh Subramanian, in his new book, 'The Self Made Indian Dream' which was recently launched on Kickstarter for pre-orders. Inside this new book, Subramanian reveals what this new Indian dream is all about, and how deprivation, disadvantage, deficit, and inner misery mobilize hundreds of millions of people from poor, lower and middle-income class families in India, achieve success and move up in the social ladder regardless of their age, gender, caste, education or background. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mission of Ukraine to the EU has informed the European Union about a new Russian attack in Donbas and called for a strong reaction from partners. Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi wrote this on Twitter. "Yet another Russian cynical attack in Donbas. Today Russian forces and its proxies launched an offensive and heavy shelling of Ukrainian positions with weapons banned by the Minsk agreements. One Ukrainian military killed, four wounded. We informed the EU about Russia's escalation and urged partners to react resolutely," Tochytskyi said. Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi early on Tuesday, February 18. The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line. According to the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation, the battle has already ended, one Ukrainian military has been killed, and another four have been wounded. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius expressed deep concern about offensive attempts by Russian-backed forces near Zolote. op Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas and the Plainview Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting Thursday at 1715 W. Fifth St. to showcase the stores new remodel. The ribbon cutting will start at 11:30 a.m. All eyes are on the West Coast as the state of California reins in the unfettered collection, use and sale of the personal data consumers share as part of the bargain for free online services. For years this bargain has been explained in privacy policies that few people read, because there is not a lot of negotiating in the personal data market. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) gives consumers revolutionary rights to access, delete, transfer, and prevent the sale of their data. As revolutionary as the CCPA is, there are even more significant privacy and data security law developments brewing on the other side of the continent. In Washington, D.C., for the first time in history, Congress is giving serious consideration to legislation providing comprehensive privacy and data security (PDS). A confluence of unlikely events makes it more likely than ever that Congress actually will pass PDS legislation introduced at the end of November as the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act (COPRA). Bits and Pieces Neither CCPA nor COPRA is the first PDS statute by a long shot. Nearly a dozen federal statutes include PDS elements. Each is narrowly focused none are broadly applicable to privacy and data security concerns. Among the patchwork quilt of PDS statutes: CAN-SPAM (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing) COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act) FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act RFPA (Right to Financial Privacy Act) TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) There are also some relevant rules: DNC (Do-Not-Call) Graham-Leach-Bliley Privacy Rule and Safeguards Rule Red Flags Rule TSR (Telemarketing Sales Rule) The granddaddy statute of them all, Section 5 of the FTC Act, provides the foundation for many of these laws and a majority of the enforcement activity. The FTC for years has led enforcement efforts against bad actors and provided industry with guidelines. The FTCs 2012 report on protecting consumers set forth best practices for businesses. Among its recommendations: privacy by design (consumer privacy should be considered at every stage of product development); do-not-track mechanisms; and greater transparency. It also recommended in 2012 that Congress consider enacting general privacy legislation, legislation regulating data brokers, and data security and breach notification legislation. Existing PDS laws are not just split among a witches brew of federal statutes. They also are split among the 50 states laws. All 50 state legislatures have passed data security breach laws, and they continue to amend them. A collage of state laws was relatively manageable in the brick-and-mortar world. Now it is a compliance nightmare. There are so many PDS laws that there is a need for a solution that might have been imagined by Tolkien: one statute to rule them all. Surprisingly, Congress appears to have stepped up to provide it in the form of COPRA. Why now? One, Silicon Valley is an easy political target. The immense wealth of Facebook and Google suggests that consumers have not received a fair bargain in the trade of free online services for personal data. Two, the FTC brought actions against each of those companies for data privacy violations and settled for amounts that congressional Democrats have ridiculed as entirely too low to incentivize better behavior. Three, the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed how profiling can be used for nefarious purposes. Four, the European Unions GDPR has provided a model for how to give consumers control over their own personal information. European PDS law might be ignored, but California stepping alone into the breach is an embarrassment to Congress and carries the threat of businesses having to contend with 50 comprehensive (and conflicting) PDS statutes coming from the states. Regulate Us, Please As is usual at this point in an area of rapidly evolving state enforcement, businesses that typically have opposed federal legislation now want federal legislation to save them from state efforts. Last spring, four major online advertising trade organizations (4As, ANA, IAB and NAI) formed a coalition with top legal experts to work with Congress to support comprehensive consumer data privacy and security legislation. The coalition, Privacy America, recommends creating a new Data Protection Bureau within the FTC. For years the online advertising industry tried to fend off federal regulation by self-regulating, and providing consumers with mechanisms to opt out of online targeting. Efforts for a universal Do-Not-Track (DNT) option failed. The major browsers added a DNT setting, but websites have no legal obligation to honor DNT settings. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Consumers generally understand that online content is free so long as websites are supported by advertising, but with ads also appearing on e-commerce sites, where theyve become an additional revenue stream, this stretches the traditional ad-assisted model. Consumers may or may not understand that the prices paid to websites for ad inventory are a function of the narrowness of the sites audience. Advertising technology now makes it possible for each ad impression (each ad space you see) to be submitted to real-time bidding by agents for advertisers. Adtech also makes it possible for consumers to block trackers and even block ads altogether. Each consumer who uses an adblocker becomes a free rider, putting more pressure on the website to generate more revenue from the unblocked ad impressions, and to purchase anti-adblocking technology, which diverts more money away from content development. Other technology offers anonymous browsing and the ability to change IP addresses. Software developers will continue to develop more privacy-enhancing tools, and the most sophisticated consumers will make use of these self-help measures to protect their privacy. But what about everyone else? There are two current legislative proposals before the Senate Commerce Committee, but COPRA has somehow stolen the limelight. Known as the Democrats bill as a nod to its sponsors in the Senate, COPRA is an attempt to create a comprehensive DPS regime applying to all business sectors in the U.S. The proposed statute for the first time would establish that American consumers have rights to their data. These rights would, under COPRA, include the right to access their data, to move their data, to restrict data sharing and sales, and to be able to grant (or withhold) rights to process that data. COPRA contains many proposals, and it is, alas, merely the legislative equivalent of a discussion draft doomed to be marked up by Congress. Following are the things we believe probably will survive the legislative process, in this bill or another: The acknowledgment of some set of consumers rights to control some of their data; A definition of covered data expanding consumers rights beyond merely the information they provide businesses; A right by consumers to access, review and correct data; Consumers right to control sale of some of their data; Disclosure by companies of where at least some of their data on the consumer originated; and Imposition upon companies holding data of duties to consumers, including posting privacy policies, creating training, and reporting to the responsible federal agency about their practices. There are other proposed provisions that seem less likely to pass, if history is any guide. A statute that passes both houses is unlikely to include comprehensive rights for consumers to control all their data without regard to origin; a comprehensive opt in PDS regime; the right to move data at will; and a private right of action for damages. One provision that has made a public splash in the news but it pay to be skeptical about it is the proposal for a new bureau at the FTC to handle privacy and data security matters. Its true that the FTC has been the most consistent regulator of PDS for nearly three decades. Its also true that given the history, the FTC is the logical place to house a regulator of PDS. However, that same recent history counsels skepticism. After all, the FTC was the ideal place for the new regulator of consumer financial practices, but thats not where CFPB ended up. Then theres another reason to be skeptical: the bizarre sight of FTC commissioners testifying in Congress and begging lawmakers to not agreements. You may be unpleasantly surprised about the terms of your agreements. Review your data breach insurance. Review your contractual obligations in the event of a data breach. Watch out for open-ended indemnities. Determine what your legal responsibilities actually are now. If you do business in the EU, get compliant with GDPR. (There are American lawyers who are experts in GDPR.) If you do business in or are located in California, get compliant with CCPA. Check your state laws: They have a more immediate impact on your business than GDPR, CCPA or the anticipated federal legislation. Update compliance with existing PDS laws and regulations. As of now, the patchwork of federal statutes and rules mentioned above are the law. Its entirely possible that compliance with existing law will grandfather you into whatever comes down the road from Washington. At the very least, updating or polishing your compliance program will give you a good foundation to leap up to the next big thing, whatever it is. If you have to make a big investment in DPS now, before things become clear lets say youre starting a compliance program from scratch the best bet is to comply with the requirements of the current federal DPS laws and your local state laws. Where no federal or state standard clearly applies, you might want to use the CCPA as a suggestion to inform your choices. (For example, no current federal law explicitly requires a company to publish a privacy policy on its website or to place a privacy policy link on its website. However, CCPA does. Its not hard to predict that CCPAs requirements for both will appear in whatever federal legislation finally passes.) In any case, no matter what your situation, find an experienced compliance lawyer to guide you. Many e-commerce businesses shy away from any discussion of a compliance program, because the burden seems so extreme. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The truth is, no one needs to start from scratch to build a comprehensive compliance structure. A compliance lawyer can help you prioritize by identifying what compliance policies you need right now, what you can save for later, and what you dont need at all. Candidates look at employment opportunities at a job fair in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Liu Jianhua/For China Daily] Job fairs around country are closed to help contain spread of coronavirus The central government is making efforts to relieve employment pressure on college graduates as large-scale job fairs are suspended or canceled to contain the novel coronavirus pneumonia. Wang Hui, director of the college students department of the Ministry of Education, said at a news conference recently that the number of graduates will reach 8.74 million this year, 400,000 higher than in 2019. At a time when these graduates were supposed to be busy looking for jobs, they are facing a hard situation due to the epidemic nationwide. Large gatherings have been banned, including job fairs. The effect of an already slowing economy on businesses has been overlapped by new economic losses brought by the epidemic, leading many companies to raise the bar for college graduates and reduce recruitment quotas to control labor costs. Zhaopin, an online recruitment agency in Beijing, released a report in early February saying that positions offered on its platform decreased 71.6 percent year-on-year in the first week after the Spring Festival holiday. About 30.4 percent of surveyed companies said that they will consider cutting down their recruitment quotas because of the epidemic. Another 30 percent said they can't pay salaries on time. According to the report, half of the surveyed companies will limit their recruitment quota to 10 people while only about 25 percent of them will recruit 30 or more people. To reduce the impact of the epidemic as much as possible, the Ministry of Education is stepping up online employment services for college students and helping develop more job opportunities to relieve their pressure, Wang said. "The ministry will maintain close connections with provincial-level recruitment platforms and those run by companies to share employment information with them, and make the information more accessible to students," he said."Universities are encouraged to offer services like interviews or contract signing online." The ministry is also endeavoring to develop more job opportunities, and is encouraging graduates to serve on the grassroots level, join the army or start their own businesses. Graduates in poor financial condition will have designated college staff members help them to get employment information. Seeking jobs or doing interviews online is strongly recommended by the government amid the epidemic. On Feb 5, five central government departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Transport jointly released a notice encouraging universities and companies to organize recruitment tests and interviews online. Recruitment campaigns will be lengthened and employment servicesfor example, signing employment contractswill be open to college students online, the notice said. Zhaopin suggested that it is better for graduates to take action as early as possible, like sending their resumes online. College students should also adjust their targets while remaining confident in themselves because job markets may be affected by the epidemic for some time but will soon resume, it said. Li Zeming from Qufu Normal University in Shandong province will be admitted to the university as a teacher after he gets his doctoral degree in June. "I should get a paper published before graduating from the university, then deal with work matters," he said."The epidemic makes me face problems sending my paper to publishing units, which will affect my graduation. If I can't publish the paper before June, my graduation will be postponed to December." He said he is much luckier than his peers because he had already settled the job with the university. "All I'm worried about is the paperI'm not sure when will it be published. But most of my friends who haven't gotten job offers yet are anxious about their future jobs." INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of Fluor Corporation (FLR) on Behalf of Investors Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or the "Company") (NYSE: FLR) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On February 18, 2020, Fluor disclosed an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)") into Fluor's accounting and financial reporting "related to projects for which the Company recorded charges in the second quarter of 2019." As a result, Fluor "does not expect to complete and file itsannual report on Form 10-K prior to the end of February." On this news, the Company's stock price fell $4.70, or over 24%, during intraday trading on February 18, 2020, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Fluor securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005978/en/ More than half a million people are trapped with life insurance that could force them to choose between unaffordable premium hikes or a devastating drop in payout money. The controversial investment-linked insurance policies were popular decades ago, but have since been all but abandoned by customers and firms after an explosion in complaints. As the policies are tied to investments, the insurer can demand higher premiums from customers if the funds do not perform. Controversial investment-linked life insurance policies were popular decades ago, but have since been all but abandoned by customers and firms after an explosion in complaints And if they refuse to pay up, their claim value can be slashed by tens, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet, around 541,000 policyholders were still paying millions of pounds into 'unit-linked' life insurance in 2018, according to the latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). If policyholders keep up with premium payments, the plans guarantee a payout when a customer dies. But if a customer wants to stop making payments altogether, they are offered a 'surrender value', which can be less than 1 per cent of the money they have already paid in. Widower Malcolm Brown, 83, took out a policy with his late wife, Cora, in 2003 and began by paying 50 a month for their family to receive a 217,495 payout when they both died. Canada Life wrote to the couple in 2013 to say it would be hiking their monthly premiums to 278, and that if they did not agree to this within 30 days, it would cut their payout to just 52,071. But when the letter was sent to their home in Ascot, retired support worker Cora was terminally ill with breast cancer, and former salesman Malcolm believes she opened the letter and forgot to tell him about it. H e only found the letter in September the following year, a month after Cora died aged 74. When Malcolm called Canada Life to say he had missed the letter, the insurance giant insisted it was too late to reinstate his original payout even though he was willing to pay the higher premiums. He cancelled the policy in December and reluctantly accepted a surrender payment of just 670. 'Canada Life has shown me no sympathy and has caused me so much distress and anger,' says Malcolm. 'This firm should have made every effort to contact us when it was going to reduce the payout so much, I can't understand how one letter was enough.' Such plans work by investing some of the customer's premiums into funds. This has led to the policies being touted as investment opportunities. In the past, policyholders were often allowed to withdraw a limited amount of cash from their policies before they died but this was dependent on the cash value of the policy and how long it had been set up for. In the early 2000s, the Financial Ombudsman received a surge of complaints from policyholders who claimed they had been mis-sold their plans. One Money Mail reader who has paid more than 18,000 in premiums for a plan, has been offered a surrender payment of just 60p (file picture) And, in 2013, more providers abandoned these policies after the regulator clamped down on commission earned for selling investment products. Today, there is only one unit-linked life insurance policy left on the market, and it does not allow policyholders to withdraw any cash. One Money Mail reader who has paid more than 18,000 in premiums for a plan with Sun Life Financial of Canada, has been offered a surrender payment of just 60p 0.003 per cent of the money he has paid in. The 72-year-old, from Essex, has been paying 61 a month in premiums for more than 25 years. But the father of two, who does not wish to be named, has seen his payout value plummet to just 18,320 from an original 100,000. He was first asked to increase his premiums in 2008, from 61 to 115.50, or else face seeing his payout cut to 45,540. Since then, he has rejected six more reviews, but refuses to accept the surrender payment offered by the company. 'The surrender value it has offered is derisory, it's an insult,' says the former construction worker. 'It feels completely immoral.' Other policyholders have been left facing hefty premium hikes in their late 80s and 90s. May Stockhill, 89, a retired restaurant owner, took out a policy with Sun Life Financial of Canada in 1988 for 15 a month. The mother of three, who lives near Doncaster, wanted the 6,926 lump sum to pay for her funeral. But she has now been told she will have to raise her premiums to 115 a month, or her payout will be cut to just 1,038. And, while May has paid in 5,655 over nearly 32 years, the insurer has offered to give her only 874 if she were to cancel the policy. Her daughter, Gill Carlile, says: 'My mother bought this policy in good faith and all [the insurer] is doing is taking advantage of a vulnerable lady.' Last year, the Financial Ombudsman saw a 24 per cent rise in complaints about whole-of-life policies compared with the previous financial year, with the majority of the 1,620 cases relating to plans that could be reviewed, such as unit-linked plans. Martyn James, of complaints site Resolver, says: 'It's shocking that hundreds of thousands of people are trapped in unit-linked policies, faced with the daunting choice of moving their cash and losing out in fees, or risking staying put and watching the money drift away.' Canada Life declined to comment on Malcolm Brown's case. A Sun Life Financial of Canada spokesman says he believes the unnamed reader had been informed about how the plan worked. He declined to comment on May Stockhill because her case is being investigated by the firm. An ABI spokesman says: 'The terms and conditions of policies should be clearly set out. 'When assessing options, getting independent financial advice can be important in making the right decision for your circumstances.' f.parker@dailymail.co.uk FLINT, MI -- A United Auto Workers official from the Flint area whos admitted to accepting more than $1.5 million in bribes from vendors that did business with his union has agreed to forfeit a Florida home, vehicles, boats and jewelry in advance of his sentencing in U.S. District Court. A stipulated preliminary order for forfeiture filed Monday, Feb. 18, by an attorney for Michael Grimes says hes agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 million, the minimum amount he acknowledges that he personally obtained in bribe payments. Grimes agrees in the stipulation that he will make payments of $1,500 a month beginning next month and agrees to forfeit a home in Fort Myers, Fla.; a 2017 Jeep Wrangler; a 2019, 22-foot pontoon boat with 175 horsepower engine; a 2006 Lowe fishing boat; commemorative coin sets; a Tiffany necklace and other items. Grimes pleaded guilty in September to stealing from fellow union members through kickbacks from vendors who sold union items like wristwatches and jackets that were distributed to members over a period of nearly 12 years. Hes scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, Feb. 19, by District Judge Bernard A. Friedman on the formal charges of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Although sentencing guidelines call for him to serve from 46 to 57 months in prison as a result of his plea, the government is recommending just a 24-month sentence in light of Grimes significant cooperation." Grimes attorney Mike Manley has recommended a prison term of one year and one day. Its not known yet where Grimes, who started working for GM in Flint in 1972, will serve his sentence. The former shop chairman at UAW Local 659 also worked for UAW International Unions sourcing committee, and was a former bargaining chairman at the old AC Rochester Flint West plant. Overworked healthcare staff fear exposure to virus as government faces criticism over $197m cuts in budget for health. Manila, Philippines The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has now killed more than 1,800 people and infected more than 72,000 others since it was first detected in Chinas city of Wuhan in December. In the Philippines, where the first death outside of China was reported, the government has faced intense criticism over its handling of the outbreak, and its decision to allow direct flights from China despite the lockdown in Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic. A jittery public erupted in anger after it was revealed that the 44-year-old Wuhan resident, who later died, and a female companion, visited three cities in the Philippines before they were both tested positive of the virus in the capital, Manila. In a Senate hearing following the first confirmed death linked to the virus, legislators questioned Health Secretary Francisco Duque III over the governments system of identifying and tracking down people, who may have come in contact with the infected couple a process known as contact tracing. I think its not just a failure of communication. I think its also a failure of leadership on the part of the health department, said opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan. As of Monday, February 17, there were three confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, including one death and one patient, who had returned to China before her infection was confirmed. At least 171 patients remain hospitalised and are under investigation, while 350 others were discharged. At an infectious disease hospital, where the infected couple from Wuhan was admitted, medical staff told Al Jazeera the lack of transparency from health authorities, understaffing, and shortage of protective medical equipment expose the dire state of the countrys public health system that is ill-prepared to manage the outbreak. When the health department said we are prepared for this (COVID19), I dont know if they are saying that because they want to prevent public panic or they want to lie, one staff nurse, who asked not to be identified, told Al Jazeera. Panic at hospital Another nurse recalled to Al Jazeera how medical staff grew anxious after the Chinese mans condition turned for the worse and he had to be intubated a medical procedure employed when a patient can no longer breathe on his own without assistance. Then panic and chaos ensued at the Manila-based public hospital when the patient died of the infection. The healthcare workers, who had been treating the two infected patients from Wuhan, had to be quarantined themselves, forcing other medical staff to work overtime.Some of the health workers simply broke down in tears due to exhaustion and anxiety over the spread of the virus, they told Al Jazeera. Another nurse at the same hospital said there are standard protocols for the handling of new and emerging diseases. But quick turnaround of health workers, who seek higher-paying jobs in other hospitals or outside the country, makes it difficult to implement the policy. Health authorities also need to take the emotional and psychological preparedness of health workers into consideration, said the staff nurse. Surgical masks as thin as tissue paper At another public hospital in Manila, two nurses in the general admission ward are assigned to take care of about 100 patients during their shift. The hospital is also preparing one of its wards to be a quarantine area. Their supervisor showed to Al Jazeera a mask that they use as protective gear from the virus. Its as thin as tissue paper. It can probably only mask bad breath, she scoffed. But we dont have a choice, this is all we have. We wear two masks at a time. Despite criticisms, the Philippine government has assured the public that is is prepared to deal with the coronavirus outbreak [Aaron Favila/AP] The DOH is prepared. But what we are seeing is the virus is infecting people faster. Despite the challenges, the overstretched workforce of health workers and limited resources, we have contained the infections and prevented any cases of local transmissions, said Alethea De Guzman of the Department of Healths Epidemiology Bureau. According to estimates the doctor-to-patient ratio in the Philippines is one doctor per 33,000 patients, and one hospital bed is available to every 1,121 Filipino patients. We understand the anxiety that our health workers are feeling. But we also have to consider that there is a shortage of personal protective equipment worldwide because of the global epidemic outbreak, de Guzman said, adding that the government is trying to secure more supplies and protective equipment despite a global shortage. Earlier this month, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that 2.25 billion Philippine pesos ($44.5m) would be allocated to buy protective gear, which will include goggles, N95 masks, gloves, headgear for front line health workers. A health worker in a public hospital in Manila shows the mask they use. Its as thin as tissue paperjust enough to mask bad breathe. Public health workers say the COVID-19 virus is weighing heavily on the battered public health system. My report on @AJEnglish coming up. pic.twitter.com/j2YQInueXM Ana P. Santos (@iamAnaSantos) February 16, 2020 Budget cut for healthcare But the additional budget allocation came on the heels of the health departments 2020 budget being cut by 10 billion Philippine pesos ($197m). Several legislators criticised the move saying that the country is already struggling to cope with the recent successive outbreaks of dengue and measles and the resurgence of polio. In a statement, opposition lawmaker Senator Risa Hontiveros called the budget cut illogical, counterproductive and even criminal. Jocelyn Santos-Andamo, the secretary-general of Filipino Nurses United (FNU), a national union of nurses, said in general, the government does not treat health as a priority. The already low health budget was further cut resulting in less medical supplies, poorly maintained medical equipment and understaffing. Even before COVID-19, the public health systems was already deteriorating, she said. FNU and the Alliance of Health Workers, a union of government and private health workers, have been holding protests demanding for adequate protective gear for nurses and an increase in their minimum monthly salary currently pegged at 16,000 Philippine pesos ($320). The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Philippines has improved its healthcare capacity over the years. We can see that by how they have successfully contained three individual cases of COVID-19 and prevented it from infecting others, said Dr Rabi Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative for the Philippines. Looking at the global trend, we need to prepare for a possible large scale community outbreak where the virus is transmitted from person to person, Abeyasinghe added. But the staff nurse at the infectious diseases hospital shrugged her shoulders and sighed at the news. I dont know anymore. Times like this the only thing you can do is pray and Im not even a religious person. Armed factions are shooting hunting rifles loaded with birdshot at peaceful protesters in Baghdad, the United Nations has warned, and urged Iraqi authorities to hold those responsible for the violence to account. Nearly 500 people have died since October after security forces and affiliated armed groups used deadly force at rallies that erupted across the country against endemic corruption and foreign interference mainly by Iran and the US. Last year Amnesty International said that police were firing live ammunition and military-grade teargas canisters which can pierce skulls into crowds, killing people. The group verified several gruesome videos of teargas attacks filmed in Baghdads main protest point Tahrir Square. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said it had now received credible evidence of protesters being targeted with hunting rifles, stones and firebombs on the nights of 14-16 February, leading to at least 50 injuries. Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Show all 17 1 /17 Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters take cover behind a barricade on Al-Jumhuriya Bridge during an anti-government demonstration in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on 25 October, 2019. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters push down concrete walls during a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad. Reuters Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Anti-government protesters try to break into the provincial council building during a demonstration in Basra. AP Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi women protesters march with national flags during an anti-government demonstration in the central holy shrine city of Najaf. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester uses a mobile phone to take a selfie photo with an army soldier standing atop a humvee during a demonstration outside the local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters gather during an anti-government demonstration at the burning local government headquarters in Nasiriyah, the capital of Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters wave a national flag as they stand atop the gatehouse to the local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by security forces amid clashes during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters carry away an injured protester following clashes during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi security forces stand guard on Al-Jumhuriya Bridge during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Anti-government protesters gather in Tahrir Square during a demonstration in central Baghdad. AP Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire The burning local government headquarters in Nasiriyah, the capital of Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters take cover behind a concrete barricade during a demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi paramedics help injured protesters in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters gather in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester takes cover between concrete barricades in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters take cover from teargas canisters fired by security forces in Baghdad. AFP/Getty At least 150 people were injured in the Shia Muslim holy city of Karbala in January alone due to similar tactics, UNAMI added in a statement. The continued pattern of the use of excessive force, with ambiguously identified armed groups and unclear loyalties, is a grave security concern that must be tackled urgently and decisively. Peaceful protesters should be protected at all times, said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative of the UN secretary-general for Iraq. There was no immediate comment from Iraqi authorities. Recommended US embassy in Baghdad attacked with rockets However, Iraqs army spokesperson Abdul Karim Khalaf, separately told local media that protesting is a right guaranteed by the constitution and the law. He said there were no plans to forcibly end ongoing anti-government protests even after the new prime minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi forms a new cabinet. Mr Allawi, the countrys former minister of communication, was nominated as the new premier on 1 February, three months after his predecessor Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November amid the unrest. Mr Allawi has been publicly endorsed by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr but many protesters just see him as another example of the political elite they have been protesting against. The prime minister initially called on protesters to continue their demonstrations but later called on them to resolve their differences to avoid dragging Iraq into the abyss. He is expected to announce his cabinet line-up this week. Iraq has been rocked by four months of protests. At least nine people were wounded on Monday in Baghdad during renewed clashes between protesters and security forces, police sources said. Two were wounded because of birdshot and the rest suffered teargas-related injuries. Protesters have chiefly rallied against the corrupt ruling elite and also foreign interference in the country, that has in recent months become the battleground of a conflict between the US and Iran. On 3 January a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Irans most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, the force behind many Iran-affiliated paramilitary groups in Iraq and Syria. A retaliatory Iranian missile attack struck Iraqs Ain al-Asad airbase days later injuring dozens of US service members who were stationed there. On Sunday small rockets struck the Iraqi base hosting American troops and other coalition forces in Baghdads Green Zone but caused no casualties. CHENNAI: Consolidating all the policy pronouncements, programmes and achievements of the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu in the last three years, a special souvenir in Tamil was released by the Chief Minister at the Secretariat here on Monday. A beaming Mr Palaniswami, handed over the first copy of the document, titled 'Amma Arasin Muthirai Patitha Moondru Aandu, Mudhal Idame Adharku Saandru', to the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. O. Panneerselvam at a simple function in the presence of ministers and top officials including Chief Secretary K Shanmugam. The publication is by the State Information department. The souvenir highlights the achievements of the Edappadi Palaniswami-led government which have left an imprint on the socio-economic sectors. Topping among them are the 'Kudimaramathu' schemes to rejuvenate water bodies across the state, declaration of Cauvery delta area as 'Protected Agriculture Zone', carving out of five new districts, getting Centre's sanction for an unprecedented new 11 medical colleges in 11 districts, foreign tour of the Chief Minister to attract fresh industrial investments and launch of a police app to ensure women's security. All these achievements were reflected in the several national-level awards received by the Tamil Nadu government in recent months. The Chief Minister also released separate documents on district-wise achievements of the AIADMK government that was received by the State Information minister Kadambur Raju. A short film and CD on the highlights of the government's performance was also released. A coffee-table book 'Kaala Peyzhai' was also released by the Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, which was received by the Chief Secretary. Information department secretary Mahesan Kasirajan welcomed the gathering and Information director, P Sankar, proposed a hearty vote of thanks. New warrant in relation to 2016 coup bid comes on same day Kavala was acquitted for accusations over Gezi Park protests. Turkish businessman Osman Kavala has been detained by police for alleged links with a 2016 failed coup, according to state media, hours after he was acquitted for his alleged role in the Gezi Park protests of 2013. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency said late on Tuesday prosecutors had accused Kavala of attempting to undermine the constitutional order in relation to the coup attempt blamed by Ankara on Fethullah Gulen, a religious leader who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, and his group. Gulen denies the charges. The fresh detention request by Istanbul prosecutors came as scores of people including MPs, other defendants and supporters were waiting for Kavala to be released at a roadside restaurant near the Silivri prison complex where he was held. In court earlier on Tuesday, applause erupted and some people cried in disbelief when the acquittal was announced. A guilty verdict had been widely expected in the case, but Kavala, also a prominent philanthropist, was ordered to be set free after more than two years in jail. The European Court of Human Rights in December demanded his immediate release, saying there was a lack of reasonable suspicion that he had committed a crime. In 2013, hundreds of thousands marched in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey against plans approved by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the countrys prime minister at the time and current president, to build a replica Ottoman barracks in the citys Gezi Park. Eight young protesters and a police officer were killed and 5,000 people were injured in the unrest that posed a major challenge to Erdogan. Following Tuesdays acquittal, Industry Minister Mustafa Varank condemned the Gezi protests as a betrayal that had damaged the country democratically and economically. Kavala and two other defendants had been facing life sentences without parole, while the other six defendants were accused of aiding them in attempting to overthrow the government by organising the protests. All denied the allegations. Only Kavala had been kept in custody while the trial proceeded. At one point in Tuesdays court session, police scuffled with defence lawyers who tried to prevent them forcibly removing a lawyer who had repeatedly requested permission to speak. Turkish judiciary criticised The cases of seven further defendants, who are abroad and were being tried in absentia, were separated but arrest warrants for them were lifted. One lawyer said they were also expected to be acquitted. Critics of Erdogans government have questioned the independence of Turkish courts, especially since a sweeping security crackdown following the 2016 coup attempt. Erdogan and his Justice and Development (AK) Party say the judiciary makes independent decisions. 200218123047968 In his defence, Kavala pointed to the European Court of Human Rights decision demanding his immediate release and had described as a conspiratorial fiction the idea that the protests were an attempt to overthrow the government. A court previously acquitted people prosecuted over the 2013 protests, with a judge ruling in 2015 they were exercising the right of freedom of assembly. But in 2017 Kavala was arrested and the following year police rounded up the other 15 defendants including civil society figures, writers and actors. The prosecutions were part of a crackdown that Turkish authorities said was necessary on security grounds. It has involved widespread purges of the armed forces, ministries and state organisations. (Newser) An Iowa man was arrested Monday after being accused of employing an unusual attempt to school a woman on prejudice and discrimination. The Gazette reports that 52-year-old Robert Lee Noye is facing charges of first-degree harassment and false imprisonment after he allegedly forced a woman at his Cedar Rapids home to sit with him and watch the 1977 Alex Haley miniseries Roots, a nine-hour program about slavery and liberation. Per a criminal complaint, Noye's reasoning for the mandated TV time was so the woman "could better understand her racism." story continues below The woman apparently tried to escape, at which point Noye told her to "remain seated and watch the movie with him or he would kill her and spread her body parts across Interstate 380 on the way to Chicago," the complaint notes. It's not clear how long the woman allegedly was made to sit with Noye, or how she and Noye know each other. (Read more weird crimes stories.) State Highway 35 is currently closed in both directions just north of state Highway 84 due to a downed power pole in unincorporated San Mateo County early Tuesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The pole was reported down at about 11:30 p.m. Monday in the community of Sky Londa, the CHP said. It is unclear how the power pole fell. By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijan and Hungary will explore cooperation opportunities in the field of gas transportation and distribution. The two countries have signed an agreement on the implementation of joint activities to explore cooperation possibilities in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as transportation and distribution of natural gas. The document was signed as part of the first session of the Working Group on energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary held in Budapest on February 14, Energy Ministry said. The current level of energy cooperation between the two countries and the prospective to develop it were discussed during the session. Addressing the meeting, Energy Ministrys Chief of Stuff Zaur Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan and Hungary should exchange experience in the field of geothermal energy. In turn, Hungarian Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Security Pal Sagvari praised Azerbaijans role in creating the Southern Gas Corridor and expressed Hungarys interest in expanding energy cooperation with the country. The parties noted the need to organize events between the two countries in the field of energy, exchange of experience, cooperation in energy investment and expanding relations in the field of marketing and supply of new technologies, as well as oil and oil products. The parties also noted that they support the development of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijans SOCAR and Hungarys MOL. Following the meeting, a protocol was signed. The parties decided to hold the second meeting of the working group in Azerbaijan. Hungary regards Azerbaijan as a key partner in reference to ensuring Europes energy security. Southern Gas Corridor project (SGC), which envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe, is important for Hungary in terms of diversification of energy sources. There is an efficient cooperation between Azerbaijan's SOCAR and Hungarian MOL oil companies. One of the tasks is linking Hungary to the Southern Gas Corridor through interconnectors between the countries in Eastern Europe. Hungary also joined AGRI (Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector), which will help diversify energy supply in the country. AGRI project envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to the Black Sea coast of Georgia via gas pipelines. Azerbaijani gas delivered to Georgia's Black Sea coast will be liquefied at a special terminal and following this, it will be delivered in tankers to a terminal at the Romanian port of Constanta. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Michelle Obama has shared a throwback photograph from her prom night in the 1980s in a bid to encourage students in the US to register to vote. The former US first lady shared the picture on her Twitter and Instagram accounts, showing her sitting in a wicker chair while her date, David Upchurch, stood to the side. Throwing it back to my 1982 prom night and this pink satin, polka-dotted dress, Obama wrote in the caption. The 56-year-old continued, explaining that she shared her prom photograph as part of the #PromChallenge. The Prom Challenge is an initiative organised by When We All Vote and MTV as a means of increasing the number of young people registering to vote. If youre a student or teacher, join the #PromChallenge with @WhenWeAllVote and @MTV and tell us what your school is doing to register students to vote you could get a free prom for your school! Obama wrote. Learn more at prom.mtv.com. You can also help me spread the word by posting your prom photo with #PromChallenge. Recommended Michelle Obama opens up about marriage therapy Several people commented on the best-selling authors prom picture, with one Instagram user describing it as iconic. Lowkey I would wear this outfit now, one person wrote. Yes Queen!! Youve been it your whole life!! someone else remarked. On the Prom Challenge website, it outlines that the campaign has been launched with the support of several brands, including Rent the Runway. Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the key to a successful marriage In our house we dont take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage. On Live with Regis and Kelly in February 2011. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On not underestimating yourself "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." In a speech to schoolgirls at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in North London in April 2009. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On inspiring young people I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong, so dont be afraid. You hear me? Young people, dont be afraid. Be focused, be determined, be hopeful, be empowered Lead by example with hope, never fear, and know that I will be with you, rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my life. In her final White House address in January 2017. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On double standards regarding parenting When a father puts in long hours at work, hes praised for being dedicated and ambitious. But when a mother stays late at the office, shes sometimes accused of being selfish, neglecting her kids. At the "Let Girls Learn Event" in Madrid, Spain in June 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the importance of diversity in film and TV For so many people, television and movies may be the only way they understand people who arent like them I come across many little black girls who come up to me over the course of this 7 years with tears in their eyes, and they say: Thank you for being a role model for me. I dont see educated black women on TV, and the fact that youre first lady validates who I am.' In an interview with Variety in August 2016. AFP/Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On maintaining hopeful following the election of Donald Trump See, now we are feeling what not having hope feels like, you know. Hope is necessary. It is a necessary concept. What do you give your kids if you cant give them hope? In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in December 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On motherhood "My most important title is 'mom-in-chief'. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the centre of my world." At the Democratic National Convention in September 2012. AFP/Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On championing women's education Men in every country need to look into their hearts and souls and ask themselves whether they truly view and treat women as their equals. And then when you all encounter men in your lives who answer no to that question, then you need to take them to task. You need to tell them that any man who uses his strength to oppress women is a coward, and he is holding back the progress of his family and his country. In a speech at the summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, July 2014. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On dealing with bullies When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you dont stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high. At the Democratic convention, July 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the meaning of success "Success isnt about how your life looks to others. Its about how it feels to you. We realised that being successful isnt about being impressive, its about being inspired." In a speech at the Oregon State University commencement, June 2012. Getty Images It explains that the aim of the initiative is to celebrate and recognise 20 high schools across the country integrating voter registration into their schools in the most creative and impactful ways The winners of the competition will receive up to $5,000 (3,837) to make their schools prom dreams come true. In January, Obama released a workout playlist to help give people an extra boost when they exercise in the new year. Her playlist featured songs by artists including Lizzo, Childish Gambino, Cardi B and Beyonce. Statement by the Tanaiste on the Consular Aspects of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak Statement "The Consular Assistance Unit in my Department is liaising closely with our Embassies and Consulates overseas regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, and the implications for our citizens in the region. The safety and welfare of our citizens overseas remains our priority. In these efforts we are working hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and other relevant Departments and Agencies, both in Ireland and internationally, to ensure that all the appropriate advice and precautions are in place. Ireland remains COVID-19 free. To date, with the assistance of the UK and other EU partners, six Irish citizens were repatriated from Wuhan City in China. Three were evacuated on 31 January, and three were evacuated on 9 February. Six Irish citizens were on board the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Yokahama, Japan. Two of these tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently being treated in hospital in Japan. These citizens share dual citizenship with another EU member state and are not normally resident in Ireland. Our Embassy in Tokyo is in ongoing contact with them regarding their consular needs. We are also in close contact with those who remain in quarantine on the ship. We are working with our EU Partners and other like-minded countries regarding options for their return. Nine Irish citizens were passengers on the Westerdam Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Seven are currently being screened, along with other passengers and crew. Our Embassy in Hanoi is in ongoing contact with the citizens regarding their consular needs. Only two of these seven are normally resident in Ireland. Two further Irish citizens, who were also passengers on the Westerdam, returned to Ireland over the weekend. The Health Service was informed. No further comment will be made about an individuals health or healthcare. To date, the Department of Health has confirmed there are no cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Across government we are in close ongoing contact with the relevant international agencies, our EU Partners and other like-minded countries. We are sharing information regarding consular assistance and arrangements for our citizens, including where necessary, on repatriation and quarantine arrangements. As in all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to comment on the details of any of these cases, or to speak publicly about the individuals concerned, It is important for our citizens to know that any consular concerns or issues they might have are always treated in confidence. We are reviewing our travel advice on a regular basis, and encourage anyone travelling or currently abroad to continue to check the DFAT website and to download our TravelWise app. As previously announced, the Government has allocated 500,000 to the World Health Organization to assist its vital work to help control the spread of the COVID-19. The rapid spread of COVID-19 concerns us all. It is vital to take early, coordinated action to prevent further spread of the virus. Irelands international support is complementary to our domestic preparedness efforts led by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. We all share the overriding goal of minimising the impact of this epidemic." ENDS | The European Union has announced fresh sanctions, which target prominent businessmen in Syria and large Syrian entities reports Alsouria Net. The European Union has imposed new sanctions on eight businessmen and two entities affiliated with the Assad regime, according to a statement published by its official website. In the statement released on Monday, the Council of the European Union said it had added eight prominent businessmen and two entities linked to businessmen and entities subject to the criminal restrictions imposed on the Syrian regime and its supporters. According to the European Council: Their activities directly benefited the Assad regime, including through projects located on lands expropriated from persons displaced by the conflict. The councils website said that the list of sanctions against the Assad regime now includes 277 people and 71 entities, targeted with travel bans and the freezing of assets. The European Union sanctions on the Assad regime include a ban on trade in oil, restrictions on investment, and a freeze on the assets of the Syrian Central Bank present in the European Union. The new sanctions included: Yasser Aziz Abbas , general manager and founding partner of the al-Malak al-Shab company, who is also general manager of Tafawoq Tourism Projects Company and Bajaa Trading Services LLC. Last year, loyalist networks reported a decision by the regimes General Customs Directorate stipulating the seizure of Abbass movable and immovable assets after he was accused of fraud and corruption related to to oil derivatives. Maher Burhanuddin al-Imam , general manager of the Tulsa Group, and a founding partner in several Syrian companies, including Tadamon Telecom Company, which he owns 50 percent of, as well as 50 percent of the companys capital line, according to the Al-Iqtissadi website. Amer Foz , from the city of Lattakia, who is the brother of Samer Foz, one of the the most prominent businessman associated with the Assad regime. Amer has been the CEO of ISM International General Trading since 2012. Saqr Rustom , nicknamed the supreme ruler of Homs. He is the CEO and owner of Damas Development and Real Estate Investment. In recent years, he has led the National Defense Forces supporting the Assad regime in Homs. Abdel-Qader Sabra , president of the Chamber of Maritime Navigation in Syria, and one of the founders of the Cham Holding Company, which at one time acted as an alliance between businessmen with the regime and its officials. Kheder Ali Taher , who owns a number of companies and co-founded others, most notably Ematel, Citadel for Protection, and Guard and Security Services, which is one of the main security companies owned by Taher, founded in 2017. Adel al-Olabi , Governor of Damascus, and the chairman of the Damascus Holding Company, described by regime media as the governorates investment arm. Wasim Qattan , born in 1976 in Damascus, is director of a number of major companies and mega-projects in Syria. He is currently the head of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce. The Qaterji Company , a prominent company which played the role of broker in supplying oil from the Islamic State territories to the Assad regime. The firm is headed by Hossam Qaterji, whom the US Treasury Department has sanctioned due to links to the Islamic State and for buying oil for the Assad regime. Hossam Qaterji also supervised a militia loyal to the regime, known as the Qaterji Group, mainly stationed in Aleppo Governorate. Damascus Cham Holding, the main engine for reconstruction projects the regime is planning in Damascus. The company is the result of networking between the public and private sectors in Syria after the war, within a framework that allows private companies to manage state property. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Germany is sending a second shipment of medical aid supplies to China to help the Asian giant fight the coronavirus epidemic that has infected over 73,000 people. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Tuesday the government is sending 8.7 tons of aid supplies worth 150,000 euros ($162,000), including protection gear and disinfectants. Germany stands firmly on the side of China in the battle against coronavirus and works closely and trustfully with the Chinese officials, Maas said. We have the utmost respect for the efforts China has already undertaken. The virus, which emerged in central China in December, has killed 1,868 patients in mainland China and five others elsewhere. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19. China has instituted a strict lockdown on over 60 million people in central Hubei province and other nations are taking their own measures including mandatory 14-day quarantines to stop the virus from getting established on their territory. Find additional latest updates about novel coronavirus on our live blog. Europe has had one virus death among its 47 confirmed cases, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist in Paris who was initially turned away by two French hospitals. Italy says 14 of 25 Italian crew members aboard the troubled Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been struck under quarantine in Japan, will take an Italian evacuation military flight home. The other 11, including the captain of the ship, will stay, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. No date for the Italian air force planes departure for Japan has been decided yet. The Russian Embassy in Japan announced Tuesday that one Russian is among the 542 people on the Diamond Princess confirmed with the virus. The statement clarified earlier reports about two Russians getting infected. On Monday, a Russian court sent a woman who had broken out of a locked 14-day hospital quarantine back into quarantine and Russian health authorities are suing others who have defied quarantine requirements. The drive to see the artist took me to Ses Salines, a traditional small village in the South East of Majorca. Many will know the route to the salt mines and the Puerto Colonia St Jordi. A different landscape without the dominance of a mountain range. As I arrived into the village an iron conch shell was the ornament on the roundabout with a series of little houses at the entrance to the shell. I found it delightful and at that time I did not know it was the work of the artist I had crossed the island to visit. My destination was to the workshop and inspiration of Horacio Sapere. Hopefully a chat with him and his dynamic wife Pilar was the order of the day. A huge barn awaited with paintings and sculptures in various stages of creation all around. In one corner a roaring fire and a table laid with the serrano, sobrasada, grapes and bread. This was to be no short visit but a total artistic experience. Horacio is hard to define except to call him an artist in every sense of the word. A Poet, A Playwright, A Sculptor, An Artist His dynamic constructions of chairs, tables, rooms, and dwellings and their placement in larger communities, landscapes and private psychological spaces range from architectural to poetic. The Horacio of today has served a life apprenticeship to be where he is now. His childhood in Argentina became a problem in his early twenties when he was working in the arts and theatre in particular. His views were not shared by the majority and he was under some scrutiny. He had family in Europe and left his life behind in Buenos Aires to join them. The rest, they say is history and now he is defined by an international career. Horacio Saperes work has been sold throughout Europe and North and South America. He is the recipient of numerous public installations and commissions in Spain and abroad for the last thirty years. He is also an active poet and playwright currently living in Ses Salines on the island he has called home for the last thirty-five years. He met his wife Pilar when she visited a gallery in Palma showing some of his work. Thirty-five years of marriage later, two sons and the delight of living in Majorca still continues. Central Palma living has given way to a huge rural space with plenty of space to work. The direction of each day is defined by whichever way the artist is inspired. Horacios prolific work is filed in trays ready for those who want to choose original art to view and buy. Some lucky people are allowed in to see the process and the finished work. His cooperation with an agent in Soller means that many of his original pieces hang in the beautifully renovated homes of the Soller Valley. Exhibitions take him and his work to many places. In 2020 it is Montreal which will enjoy a Horacio Sapere Exhibition. Much the work I viewed on my visit will soon be en route to his legions of admirers in Canada. Meanwhile back in Palma, Finis Africae has opened under the talent of Pilar Esteve Gamundi Horatios wife. She is very happy to be situated near the graphic design studios and enjoys the interaction the space has with all forms of the collective experience of art and literature in Palma. Fleming Square, in the Es Capitol district of Palma, has a new cultural space. It has been promoted by Finis Africae, and wants to become a landmark in the neighborhood. In recent years, Palma has seen the closure of historic bookstores, and others have been relocated. But in Finis Africae they see the sector optimistically. Finis Africae has opened its doors with the exhibition Stories of Outer Space by Pato Conde. At the same time, it presented the second visual book of the Sa Soll project. Finis Africae will continue to focus on culture. In March, Horacio Sapere and Maria Victoria Secall will be exhibiting, and in April the Ibizan photographer Pep Tur. A new space in Palma where literature and art become one. Pilar is the light behind all this as well as running a publishing company and controlling the artistic world of her husband. Childrens book publishing is a particular passion but everything is fluid. The space she has created as Finis Africae will bend with the wind to include the reaches of all artistic endeavour. To be in the presence of such talent and talk of the past when Pilar left school in Majorca to go to University in Barcelona was enthralling. This was the era of uprising and challenges as the Franco era was ending. To be a student with freedom of expression was liberating for her and all her fellow students. Then to return to a Majorca also asking questions, developing and talking through art was a very exciting place for her to be. No wonder when she walked into that gallery where Horatio was exhibiting it was love at first sight. The artistic flows from Ses Salines and from Finis Africae, in fact wherever these two are the art in all its forms is there. Our discussion on my visit took us into the world of Visual Poetry and Mail Art. Concepts I had not really understood until it was explained by the roaring fire. In fact, I left thinking that absolutely everything is art in one form or another. Horacio Saperes surname means dare to be wise and I think he and Pilar are just that and live up to their name. The pleasure in meeting them was all mine Finis Africae can be found at Alexander Fleming 17, 07004, Palma. Horacio Sapere can be contacted on Facebook. The Arc of Midland has been assisting families with their future planning for the past 68 years. What is future planning? Future planning is creating a guide for a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) to lead a good life as independently as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support. A person-centered future plan should reflect the wishes of the person with I/DD, as well as his or her parents, siblings, extended family members and friends, and other important people in his or her life. The plan should include information about all aspects of a person's life including: A proposal to split the prosecutorial district that covers Washington and Hancock counties drew significant support but no opposition during a January 29 legislative hearing on the bill by the Judiciary Committee. While concerns were raised about possible cost increases and whether the splitting of the district would resolve a shortage of assistant district attorneys, others felt creating a separate district for Washington County would provide greater access to justice for those facing charges and would help address the rising cost borne by county residents of drug-related crimes. The bill would place the proposal before the voters in both counties in a referendum in November, and, if approved, the district would be separated in 2023. Members of the Washington County legislative delegation, including Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias, the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Anne Perry of Calais and Senator Marianne Moore of Calais, all spoke in support of the measure, pointing to population, median income and geographic size differences between Washington and Hancock counties. Moore noted that it takes five hours to travel across Washington County, so the bill would give "people greater access to justice without delays." Perry stated that victims in the opioid crisis "need to get through the courts in a timely manner," to either drug court or mental health services. The bill "would help people with substance abuse problems to get the help they need," she said. "People in recovery need to be able to access these resources without delay." Criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Davidson, who has a law practice in Machias, pointed out, in written testimony, that because of the disparity in population -- Hancock County's population is close to double Washington County's -- no attorney who lives in Washington County has ever been the district attorney (DA) for the county. While the current district attorney for Washington and Hancock counties, Matthew Foster, who is based at the Ellsworth DA's office, has tried to be more present in the county than his predecessors, Davidson stated that "he is not here sufficiently to serve the people of Washington County in a manner that they deserve." During the time that Foster has been in office, Washington County has had numerous assistant district attorneys who have had little to no experience, according to Davidson. Over six months ago the DA's office in the county had two young attorneys and one older attorney, but "they simply did not win many trials," he wrote. All three have left the office and the county, and Foster "has not been able to attract any attorneys to take full-time positions in Washington County. He has sent one of his prosecutors who was working primarily in Hancock County to be full-time in Washington County, and he has made an extraordinary arrangement with the Attorney General's Office to hire another local attorney part-time." However, for the past few months the county has been functioning with half of its normal allotment of assistant district attorneys. "There are more than 1,000 cases, both criminal and civil, prosecuted in Washington County in both Calais and Machias courts each year," Davidson stated in his written testimony. "Currently this means that one attorney will have to handle more than 600 cases this year, and the other part-time attorney will have to handle more than 300 cases, simply because it is so difficult to recruit attorneys to work and live in Washington County. This is a ridiculous number of cases and well above the case load recommended by responsible bar associations." Increase in drug crimes Davidson stated that the nature of crime in Washington County has "changed dramatically" in the past five to 10 years, with many more drug crimes, associated violence and overdoses. "We are now regularly seeing out-of-state drug dealers who have no concept of the value of life. We now have cases where people are killed over drugs, where people disappear altogether, where people are burned in their homes after being shot, where children are sexually assaulted. Our community is not accustomed to this type of crime." The police in the county "need a partner in the prosecutor's office who is available full-time to work with them on these issues. It is time that the legislature recognize this need and do what is necessary to provide Washington County residents with their own district attorney who is answerable solely to them to address the rising cost on our people of crime." At the hearing, Chris Gardner, chair of the Washington County commissioners, echoed Davidson's concerns, stating, "The issues facing our county are much like that of the statewide drug epidemic, but sadly the economics of rural Maine amplify the issues greatly. It has hit us all very hard and very fast and in ways that are not just common criminal activity." Because of the drug epidemic, the court system and prosecutors "have seen an explosion in workload" and the county jails "are overcrowded, under funded and not equipped to handle many who are oftentimes addicts more than they are criminals." Staffing of assistant district attorneys in Washington County "has been a revolving door" for the past few years, and as caseloads increase "prosecutors simply don't have the time to devote to meaningful prosecution, diversion and/or disposition." During the hearing, Gardner stated, "People are languishing in our county jails waiting for their cases to be tried." He added, "We have the wrong people in our jails. They are not criminals," but rather people with substance abuse disorders. Regarding any cost increases, Gardner said that the county commissioners are ready to help fund any increases needed in the county budget. He noted that the state police have pulled back in Washington County and that local law enforcement in towns and cities have cut their forces. In response, over the past three budget cycles the county has added to the county sheriff's office budget, almost doubling the force. Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis, who requested that the bill be introduced, said he had seen a decline in the number of cases prosecuted since he became sheriff in 2014, which he said correlated with the lack of staff in the Washington County DA's office. "Cases are pled down or dismissed," he said. "It is my opinion the citizens of Washington County would greatly benefit from having our own district attorney. Having a district attorney, dedicated to the people of Washington County, would allow better management of the offices and caseloads as well as allow more time to work hand in hand with law enforcement." Matthew Dana II, the Indian Township police chief, noted that Washington County has the highest population density of Natives of any of the state's counties. He felt it was important to have district attorneys familiar with tribal court jurisdiction, as sometimes in the same case charges can be brought in both tribal and Maine district courts for the same defendant. "To have assistant district attorneys and the district attorney who deal with these types of cases on a frequent basis would greatly benefit Washington County and the Passamaquoddy Tribe." A human resources problem Testifying neither for nor against the bill, Foster admitted that the level of needed DA office staffing wouldn't change with a splitting of the district, but redistricting would affect the cost-sharing among the eight current prosecutorial districts for the $350,000 budget of the Maine district attorneys' technical services office, resulting in increased costs for Hancock and Washington counties. He also admitted it's been difficult to manage "people two hours away," although he noted Calais and Machias are an hour apart. "We have had openings for assistant district attorneys in Washington County for six months with zero applications," he said, noting there is only one part-time assistant district attorney presently working in the county. "I can't find anybody to fill those positions," he said, but he didn't see how separating the district "solves this human resources problem." He added, "I understand the want and need for local control, but this proposal is like proposing to build a school but not having any teachers to teach in it." Foster said the number of cases has not increased over the years, but the time needed to review them "has increased exponentially." About 65% to 70% of the 3,800 to 4,000 cases that the office handles each year are in Hancock County. Maeghan Maloney, district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties, expressed concern about using state resources to create another DA position and noted that there are only eight district attorneys covering Maine's 16 counties. She would prefer to see a treatment prosecutor in every prosecutorial district to help with substance use and mental health cases instead of hiring more administrators. The Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a work session on the bill. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The European Data Protection Board recently closed a comment cycle on guidelines for the European right to be forgotten under the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The new guidelines list the word right 15 times and duty 15 times, as rights and duties are easily created commodities. Such is the supposedly profound role of self-envisioned government truth arbiters in the modern era. Because of this supposed right, Europe today is not dissimilar to Oceania, the infamous Orwellian thought-control state depicted in 1984. In the novel, protagonist Winston Smith spent his days doctoring newspaper articles and historical photographs, and in doing so literally rewrote history. So too did Soviet workers during the reign of Joseph Stalin. Even today, North Korea routinely engages in similar practices. Thanks to the European right to be forgotten, this longstanding tradition of government censorship and historical revisionism is alive and well across much of the continent. And if were not vigilant, it could spread to American shores too. Europes descent into madness began in 2014, when the European Court of Justice initially found a modern right to be forgotten in European law. As a result, individuals could petition Google to remove articles from its search results under a wide variety of circumstances. The rationale for this European right is as follows: the Internet is unique, and ones online reputation is paramount. Thanks to search engines like Google indexing the Web, embarrassing content might be closely associated with ones reputation via a search result. Balancing the interests of the publics right to access this information against a persons right to shape his online reputation, the persons right to privacyand thus the right for the embarrassing content to be forgottenis paramount and should win out. Or so the argument goes. Of course, a right to be forgotten is anathema to American observers, as it clearly violates our First Amendment. If I see Adam doing some activity, and tell Bob that this event took place, Adam cannot claim a right to be forgottenor utilize any such law or rightto limit my freedom of speech in recounting that event. Indeed, just as one cannot indiscriminately remove books from library shelves, one also cannot demand that others cease lawful speech simply because that speech reflects poorly upon him. Not so in Europe. Since 2014, Google has received nearly 900,000 requests to remove almost 3.5 million URLs from its search results. Under the European right to be forgotten, Google granted nearly half of these requests. And just what has Google expunged from its search results? In one instance, Google removed an article detailing the escape of a schizophrenic patientwho was previously found guilty of murderfrom a mental hospital. In another, Google removed 7 articles detailing an individuals aiding and abetting an attempted terrorist attack. Three articles detailing a minors murder of a close family member were also removed. And Google removed 4 articles detailing a former bank clerks conviction for stealing money from elderly customers bank accounts. It gets worse. In more recent years, Belgian and Italian courts have affirmed and expanded this right, allowing individuals to demand that newspaper archives and other original content sources actually remove online content altogether. In the Belgian instance, a newspaper was forced to alter an archival version of a 1994 article detailing a doctors conviction for drunkenly killing two individuals with his car. The Italian court, meanwhile, ordered a news blog altogether remove an article detailing an altercation involving a restaurant owner who stabbed his brother, as it was supposedly harmful to the restaurateurs reputation. According to the court, after only two years, the publics interest in the content of the article had expired just like milk, yoghurt, or a pint of ice-cream. The blog owner complied with the order and removed the article, but facing mounting legal debt and hundreds of similar removal requests, he decided to shut down the site entirely. Thankfully, this European nightmare cannot be enforced extraterritorially. But dreams of similar censorship have already seeped into the American imagination. 88% of Americans support a right to be forgotten. And while a 2017 New York state effort at legislating a right to be forgotten was ultimately abandoned, at least one American news website has begun erasing history proactively, fearing that to do otherwise would reinforce[] rac[ial] stereotypes about crime. The most recent conduit for an American right to be forgotten is Californias new privacy law, CCPA. Mercifullyand to perhaps spare the California AG one of no doubt countless legal challenges to the lawCCPA includes a specific carve-out for deletion requests concerning the exercise of free speech. Unstated, however, is that efforts to use the power of government in this manner to limit speech necessarily violate the First Amendment. The European right to be forgotten is a limitation on free speech, one of the most basic American civil rights. Protecting speech, rather than subjecting it to Orwellian government control, is the better course for America. Wall Street analysts wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of the market can help investors determine whether to add a new name to a portfolio. Additionally, the use of technical indicators and fundamentals can point the direction of a stocks near-term trajectory. Another way, though, is to gauge the sentiment amongst fellow investors. As the old saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. TipRanks Stock Screener has a set of filters which allows you to search out a stock according to your needs, be it by market cap, analyst consensus or various other metrics. In our case, we searched for three tickers boasting very positive sentiment from top TipRanks investors a readout of individual investor portfolios tracked by TipRanks on its Smart Portfolio platform. Whats more, in addition to piquing investors interest, all 3 have a further characteristic in common; all currently score a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street. Lets explore, then, why investors and analysts alike, are finding these names so compelling right now. Centene Corp (CNC) With a market-cap of $38 billion, Centene has established itself as a major player in healthcare services. The large cap has more than 33,000 employees across the country, has health plans that serve 12.3 million members in 29 states and offers health insurance to other healthcare and commercial organizations. With roughly 22 million members, Centene is the largest provider of government-sponsored health plans. The companys recent earnings results were a mixed affair. Centenes Q4 revenue came in at $18.9 billion, 14% up from last years $16.6 billion, while also beating the analysts' estimate of $18.43 billion. The companys higher-than-expected medical benefit ratio (the percentage of health insurance premiums paid out in claims), though, was a disappointment for investors. At 88.4%, the figure came in higher than the Streets estimate of 87.6% and impacted the companys medical costs. Story continues Nevertheless, J.P. Morgans Gary Taylor believes CNC trades at a discount to its group. Multiple overhangs including the election, block grant and public charge, according to the analyst, will all likely prove immaterial. Taylor also believes Centenes acquisition of WellCare for $17 billion in March of last year will lead to further long -term value creation. The 4-star analyst further said, We believe that CNC remains a long-term growth story as managed care penetration of Medicaid grows from ~68% of spending towards 75-80% over the next decade. We believe CNCs organic opportunity (primarily fueled by its Medicaid and Medicare exposure) certainly remains above-average for the sector. Bottom line, then? Taylor reboots his rating on Centene with an Overweight along with a price target of $88. Should the target be met, investors stand to take home a 33% gain over the next year. (To watch Taylors track record, click here) Overall, the healthcare service specialist is getting a lot of healthy love from the Street right now. 13 Buys and a single Hold converge to a Strong Buy consensus rating. At $80.54, the average target implies possible upside of 24%. CNC has a Very Positive investor sentiment with the number of portfolios holding CNC rising on both a 1 week and 1-month basis. (See Centene stock analysis on TipRanks) Applied Materials (AMAT) Next up is a fellow large cap, though from an entirely different sector. Semi-conductor company Applied Materials makes integrated circuit chips for a wide range of electronics, including TVs, smartphones and flat panel display screens. The $61 billion heavyweights robust start to 2020 is a direct continuation of 2019s stellar performance; last years gains of 90% have been boosted by a further 9% year-to-date. As per expectations, AMATs latest earnings results delivered a strong quarter and guidance. F1Q20s revenue of $4.16 billion indicated a quarter-over-quarter increase of 11% and beat the Streets estimate of $4.11 billion. At $0.98, EPS came in above the high end of the company's $0.87-0.95 guidance and above the Streets call for $0.93. Looking ahead, galvanized by a continued robust foundry/logic business and the return of some memory spending, AMAT expects to see "strong double-digit" growth in its semiconductor business this year. Deutsche banks Sidney Ho applauded the print and notes the guide would have been even stronger without the estimated $300 million impact of the coronavirus on its operations. Ho said, AMAT continues to benefit from a robust foundry/logic environment and with this strength expected to continue throughout CY20, early signs of a memory recovery, and expectations for continued share gains, the company appears well positioned for a strong CY20 Post earnings, we remain encouraged by AMAT's near and long-term outlook and believe that the risk-reward for AMAT, which trades at ~12x (including pending acquisition) vs. its large cap peers at 1415x, is favorable. The 5-star analyst, therefore, keeps his Buy rating intact, while raising his price target up from the previous $72 to $75. The new figure implies possible upside of 15% from current levels. (To watch Hos track record, click here) It turns out that the rest of the Street wholeheartedly agrees with the Deutsche bank analyst. With 19 "buy" ratings vs. 1 "sell" and 1 "hols," the message is clear: AMAT is a Strong Buy. Possible gains of 17% could be heading investors way should the average price target of $75.71 be met over the coming months. In addition, based on top investor portfolios in TipRanks database, 6.9% hold AMAT stock. On average, top investors allocate 3.7% of their portfolios to AMAT. This gives the stock its Very Positive investor sentiment score. (See AMAT stock analysis on TipRanks) Microchip (MCHP) Staying in the semi-conductor field, we come across another big player in the shape of Microchip. This company does what it says on the tin: Sells microcontrollers, analog, and field-programmable gate array [FPGA] chips to a wide array of customers. With earnings season in full swing, Microchip has been posting results, too. The solid quarter exhibited a beat on revenue and earnings: MCHP reported sales of $1.29 billion, compared to the $1.26 billion estimated by the street. NonGAAP EPS came in at $1.32, above the streets estimate of $1.26. For the current quarter, MCHP expects revenue of $1.36 billion, guiding above the streets call for $1.33 billion. Needhams Rajvindra Gill sees multiple inflection points in MCHP's business. The 5-star analyst notes the company has seen a continuation of strong backlog and bookings trends. Additionally, Gill notes MCHPs ongoing strength in data center and industrial and auto, all recovering from a bottom, with the trends expected to continue in 2HCY20. Gill summarized, We could envision an optimistic scenario where we see an inventory restocking, given the historical low levels of distribution inventory, combined with genuine demand pull through driven by data center, ADAS, industrial IoT and 5G. While lead times may extend, we do think MCHP has built enough capacity to support a return in demand. In that environment, we believe revenue could return to pre-downturn levels and grow from there. Moreover, we believe MCHP is on track to hit its LT GM target of 63% (vs. 61.7% MRQ) as the $16MM underutilization charges roll-off the P&L. Net, we see upside at current levels as we roll out our new FY22 Non-GAAP estimates." As a result Gill reiterated a Buy rating on MCHP shares, while raising his price target to $140 (from $130). The implication for investors? Potential upside movement of 30%. (To watch Gills track record, click here) The consensus breakdown provides further cheer; 15 Buys and 2 Holds coalesce to a Strong Buy consensus rating. With an average price target of $123.13, analysts expect an additional 15% to be added to the share price over the next year. Furthermore, 2.4% of all portfolios hold MCHP, with 0.2% being added in the last month alone. Top investors allocate, on average, 1.7% of their portfolio to the chipmakers stock. (See Microchip stock analysis on TipRanks) [February 18, 2020] Tachyum CEO Dr. Danilak Won 2019 Crystal Wing In Innovation and Startups Category Dr. Radoslav Danilak, founder and CEO of semiconductor startup Tachyum Inc. and Tachyum s.r.o., was the recipient of the 2019 Crystal Wing Award in the Innovation and Startups category. This prestigious Award recognizes significant achievements of Slovaks who have attained exceptional expertise and success in their respective industries. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005478/en/ Tachyum CEO Dr. Danilak Won 2019 Crystal Wing In Innovation and Startups Category (Photo: Business Wire) Now in its 23rd year, the Crystal Wing is given in the categories of philanthropy; economy; journalism and literature; theater and audiovisual art; fine arts; popular music; sports; and medicine and science to highlight unique people and their professional performances, which are deserving of the highest respect. Winners were selected by a jury of peers, after being selected as finalists from among all nominees. Dr. Danilak has more than 25 years of industry experience and over 100 granted patents designing state-of-the-art processor chips. A U.S. citizen, born in Slovakia, he serves on the Slovak government's Innovation Advisory Board. Dr. Danilak is a member of the IDC (News - Alert) Technical Computing Advisory Panel, the Forbes Technology Council, and a contributor to TechTarget. He holds a Ph.D in Computer Science and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the TUKE Slovakia, in Kosice. "The Crystal Wing Award is a tremendous honor for any citizen of Slovak Republic to receive and I am truly humbled to have been included among this year's recipients," said Dr. Danilak. "The country is at an apex in variou areas of social, economic, scientific and cultural life, and the Crystal Wing Award is a prestigious way of recognizing the achievements made by the men and women of Slovakia. I look forward to carrying on the mandate of greatness that this award represents as we continue to reshape information technology with our transformative work, delivering the world's first and fastest Universal Processor (News - Alert) to worldwide markets." Tachyum is building a new R&D center within Slovakia that plays essential role in development phase of the company's Prodigy Universal Processor Chip, the smallest and fastest general purpose, 64-core processor developed to date, requiring 10x less processor power, and reducing processor cost by 3x. Prodigy will directly enable a 32-Tensor Exaflop supercomputer and allow the building of machines more powerful than the human brain by 2021, decade ahead of industry expectations. Prodigy reduces data center TCO (annual total cost of ownership) by 4x, through its disruptive processor architecture and a smart compiler that has made many parts of the hardware found in typical processors redundant. Fewer transistors, fewer and shorter wires, due to a smaller, simpler core, translates into much greater speed and power efficiency for the Prodigy processor. Dr. Danilak was among the 13 winners of this year's Crystal Wing Awards, honored at a prestigious event held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini on February 9. The full list of 2019 Crystal Wing recipients is available online at https://kristalovekridlo.sk/. Follow Tachyum https://twitter.com/tachyum https://www.linkedin.com/company/tachyum https://www.facebook.com/Tachyum/ About Tachyum Named for the Greek prefix "tachy," meaning speed, combined with the suffix "-um," indicating an element (e.g. lithium), Tachyum is meant to evoke the notion of "an element of speed". Tachyum emerged from stealth mode in 2017 to engineer disruptive intelligent information processing products. Tachyum's founders have a track record of solving problems caused by device physics in semiconductors, to deliver transformational products to global markets, and are backed by IPM Growth, the Central & Eastern European venture capital platform, as Tachyum's lead investor. For more information visit: http://tachyum.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005478/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] He's the New Zealand-born heartthrob who stars as Archie Andrews on the Netflix hit series Riverdale. And on Monday Keneti James 'KJ' Apa revealed that he is sick of people thinking he is Australian. Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, the 22-year-old said: 'At least once a day (due to my accent) I get mistaken for being an Australian'. Over it: Keneti James 'KJ' Apa revealed that he is sick of people thinking he is Australian during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on Monday 'You sound like your angry at that,' Ellen jokingly replied, before asking whether he believes New Zealand is a better country than Australia. 'I do, I do, definitely,' he nodded. 'New Zealand is the most beautiful place on earth and there is nothing that can kill you there,' the hunk joked. 'New Zealand is the most beautiful place on earth': KJ explained he 'definitely' prefers New Zealand to it's Down Under neighbour, and joked that Australia has to many dangerous animals 'In Australia, your wife will tell you (Australian actress Portia De Rossi) there's a lot of spiders, a lot of poisonous creatures that will kill you but in New Zealand, there is no predators.' KJ earned his first major acting gig as Kane Jenkins on New Zealand prime-time soap opera Shortland Street from 2013 to 2015. In 2016, he was cast as leading man Archie Andrews in Riverdale, which is based on the Archie comic books that started in 1941. Aussie connection: The talk-show host married Australian actress Portia De Rossi (pictured right) in 2008 In September last year, AJ admitted that he didn't always dream of becoming an actor and that his first passion was music. 'I never really wanted to be an actor, it was never really something that I actively pursued,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'I have always been super-passionate about music, that is my first love. I love being a part of things that I am super-inspired by at the end of the day.' Supreme Court's decision to appoint two advocates, Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran, to talk to the protesters of Shaheen Bagh should be welcomed, according to senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid. "I have always maintained there should be some dialogue between the government and people who are protesting," he told ANI on Monday. Meanwhile, the Shaheen Bagh protesters said that they are ready to talk to government officials who wish to discuss with them their concerns on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Population Register (NPR) and the proposed NRC. "If a government official wants to talk to us about CAA, NPR, and NRC, then he is welcome to do so," said one of the senior citizens participating in the protest at Shaheen Bagh. Hearing a PIL, the Supreme Court had appointed senior lawyers Sanjay Hegde, Sadhna Ramachandran and former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah to go and talk to protesters at Shaheen Bagh and convince them to hold the agitation at an alternative site. The Supreme Court has fixed the matter for further hearing on February 24. A large number of people, especially women, from different communities have been staging a protest at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh since mid-December last year against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC). No Union minister or a government official has so far gone to meet the protesters to listen to their grievances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr. Martens is releasing a new collab every month in 2020 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the company's iconic boot, the 1460. The newest collab joining the line up for a limited time on February 22, and this one's got a huge design name behind it: Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons. That design, with a classic matte-black leather upper pierced by steel rings that hang down like punk jewelry, is surprisingly minimalist but no less eye-catching. And thats no surprise, considering the designer. "This interpretation of the 1460 boot stimulates you to make it your own," Raf Simons told W Magazine. You can personalize it by adding charms, or keep it clean as is. That DIY ethos is central to both brands' history. Like Doc Marten, Simons is a mainstay in contemporary music, receiving name-checks from musicians like Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Future. Back in 2015, Kanye West cited Simons as the primary influence on his first fashion line, Yeezy Season 1. The designer has worked on Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and even Dr. Martens previously; last year Simons created the Raf Simons X Dr. Martens Derby unchanged from the original except for the Raf Simons logo and an exposed steel toe on the right shoe. If you want a prediction about whether this collaboration will sell out, the derbies are available at The Webster for $271 in one size (UK 12), and Farfetch for $451 in a few other sizes (though a couple of those sizes only have one left, and will cost $625). If youre excited about this boot, you'd better be ready to pull the trigger when they become available on Feb. 22. Otherwise, you might not pay an arm and a leg if you dawdle but two feet seems entirely possible. Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's threat landscape has brought the critical need for data security front and center. Stepping up to meet this challenge is Cyber Security Services, a cyber security consulting firm and risk assessment company, which announced today the launch of its new free service aimed at protecting nonprofit organizations from a data breach. The company, a party-neutral entity, will now offer complementary penetration testing to any nonprofit or not-for-profit Higher Education institution, to determine where it might be most vulnerable. Nonprofit Chief Information Officers (CIO) are now able to request a free penetration test (also called a "pentest"), designed to safely exploit their network and web application to identify vulnerabilities. Delving deeper than a vulnerability scan, a pentest functions just as an outside intruder might and exposes valuable insights into areas where your network or technology might be at risk. Cyber Security Services will determine the least probable access points that might be used to gather intelligence and result in the greatest potential impact on data integrity. A penetration testing report then provides results needed to help IT teams proactively mitigate risk by implementing controls before an attack is attempted. All reviews are completed by certified cyber security consultants. "We take a comprehensive approach, analyzing the external network, applications, and wireless technologies along with social engineering to prepare nonprofit IT teams as we enter a critical time where Ransomware and other malicious activity is expected to increase in 2020," explained Michelle Perez, Director of Client Services at Cyber Security Services. "We're excited to offer this service as a way to contribute to organizations that do so much good for our communities. It is one way we can help them continue to deliver their services in the most secure way possible." To qualify organizations must meet 501(c)(3) tax-exempt requirements. To learn more about the company or its penetration testing services or to request your free risk assessment, visit www.cybersecurityservices.com. Relevant Links About Cyber Security Services Cyber Security Services is a cyber security consulting firm and risk assessment company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and serving customers nationwide. The company provides a range of products and services to help organizations meet cyber security challenges including SOC 2 Compliance, PCI Compliance, virtual CISO services, cyber security consulting, penetration testing, network security monitoring, and privacy services. Media Contact: Michelle Perez Phone: 800-390-1053 Email: [email protected] Related Images cyber-security.png Cyber Security Cyber Security Company focused on providing top tier Cyber Security Consultants and Risk Assessment Services. SOURCE Cyber Security Services Related Links http://www.cybersecurityservices.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: An association of jewelers is expected to be created in Azerbaijan, the country's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said at a press conference on "Prospects for the development of the jewelry market in Azerbaijan: problems and opportunities", Trend reports. Mikayil Jabbarov noted that it is necessary to create the Association of Jewelers of Azerbaijan in order to continue providing serious support for jewelry in the country. It was also noted that certain steps have been taken towards the development of this sphere and a working group on the matter will be created. The minister noted that one of the main tasks of Ministry of Economy as part of the country's socio-economic development is to ensure medium and long-term competition of small and medium-sized enterprises in all areas. "From the prism of today's event, this is reflected in tasks such as the development of precious metals mining in general and the jewelry business in particular," Jabbarov said. A press conference on the topic "Prospects for the development of the jewelry market in Azerbaijan: problems and opportunities" is underway in Baku on Feb. 18. The event is attended by the country's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency Orkhan Mammadov, as well as local entrepreneurs involved in the jewelry business. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 05:14:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said Tuesday it is important for the new Lebanese government to meet the demands of the Lebanese people. Gheit's remarks came during his meeting in Cairo with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis, the AL said in a statement. Aboul-Gheit expressed the AL's support and solidarity with Lebanon during crises it has gone through, according to the statement. He stressed the importance that the new government should fulfill its pledges and carry out necessary economic reforms that would enable the government to restore the confidence of the international community and open the way to benefit from international aid and attract investment. Aboul-Gheit and Kobis discussed the most important developments and the prominent challenges facing Lebanon during the next stage. Last week, the Lebanese cabinet headed by Prime Minister Hassan Diab gained a vote of confidence by the parliament with a majority of 63 votes. Lebanon is in dire need for serious reform measures to save the deteriorating economic and financial situation amid severe shortage in U.S. dollar currency caused by a drop in foreign reserves of the central bank which has impacted both individuals and businesses. The GSMA Board would like to express its sadness at the unavoidable cancellation of MWC Barcelona 2020. This decision is painful, but we believe the correct one. Health and safety are the priorities of all of the GSMA Board and Mobile Network Operators. Our sincere thoughts are with those affected in China and around the world in these trying times. Our vision at the GSMA is to unlock the power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. MWC is crucial to convene and advance the industry and mobile ecosystem. The mobile industry is committed to harnessing the power of mobile technology and connectivity to transform the lives of billions of people around the world, and we are committed to a great MWC Barcelona 2021. The Board thanks GSMA management and the Host City Parties for their hard work throughout this challenging and unprecedented situation. We look forward to working together again for an even better MWC Barcelona 2021. The GSMA Board is comprised of 25 of the worlds leading mobile operator groups. www.gsma.com/aboutus/leadership/gsma-board Further updates from the GSMA, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com. -ENDS- About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005277/en/ A Woodbridge-based contractors association is behind a proposed corporate donation of $275,000 to the Toronto police intended to fund the purchase of a new armoured vehicle, board documents show. While large corporate donations must be disclosed to the public and approved by the Toronto police services board, experts say the civilian board must carefully scrutinize the proposed gift at its upcoming meeting, due to concerns about possible undue influence and perceptions of bias. I think we need to be very careful about private entities providing a donation to the police, said Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Toronto who researches policing. Its precisely for the same reason that we dont want political interests driving police priorities, we also dont want private sector interests unduly driving police priorities, said Christian Leuprecht, a policing and technology expert affiliated with Royal Military College of Canada and Queens University. Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario (ISCA) approached Toronto police to provide the bulk of the cash necessary to replace what Toronto police chief Mark Saunders called its outdated 14-year-old armoured vehicle. Military-style machines like it have increasingly been used by municipal forces in recent years. According to a statement from ISCA, a construction employers association with more than 100 member businesses, the donation is in line with its long history of philanthropic support of community endeavours. Upon learning that the Toronto Police Services (Emergency Task Force) was in need of a new armoured rescue vehicle to replace an ageing and less capable similar vehicle, the volunteer board of ISCA agreed that this was in keeping with the giving spirit and sense of community beneficence that has defined ISCA for decades, read a statement from executive director Ron Johnson. Noting theres a reason why individual officers cannot accept gifts or payment from members of the public, Owusu-Bempah said there are legitimate questions to be asked about the possibility of preferential treatment going forward down the road, who is going to get the contracts? According to Saunders report, the donation is in accordance with both the Toronto police board procedure and the City of Toronto donation policy allowing voluntary donations for community benefits. The chiefs report said Toronto police has confirmed that ISCA is not currently engaged in, nor are any of its registered contractor members currently engaged in, active City or Service procurements as bidders, proponents or applicants. In his report to the Toronto police board, Saunders said the services current armoured vehicle poses officer safety issues, including a lack of air filter or ventilation capabilities. The new armoured rescue police vehicles have been designed with greater surveillance and officer safety capabilities, his report states. According to Saunders three-page report, the association approached Toronto police to fund the purchase of a new armoured vehicle after ISCA executive staff attended the ETF facility for a tour. The proposed donation of $275,000 will cover the bulk of the estimated $300,000 required to buy a new vehicle; the remaining $25,000 will require a change to the Toronto police services 2020 operating budget, the report says. Saunders said Toronto police cannot simply refurbish their current armoured vehicle because the manufacturer is out of business. Potential conflict-of-interest dilemmas such as this underscore the importance of independent police oversight, Leuprecht said. The boards decision will be closely watched, he said, in part because as Canadas largest municipal police board, Toronto police is often perceived as a trailblazer and the decision sets the precedent. Leuprecht stressed the importance of effective communication from the board to explain the complex issues at hand, including why they are entertaining this and why it may be necessary. A board policy requires donations worth more than $10,000 to be approved by the seven-member civilian board. The policy calls gifts to the service a valuable form of public support but it states donations must be subjected to a transparent process and cannot compromise the integrity, impartiality or objectivity of the Service. It is critical that donations be consistent with the goals, objectives and priorities of the Service and that they be beneficial to the community at large, the policy states. Armoured vehicles are typically used by the military but have been obtained by municipal forces in recent years, including in Montreal, Halton region, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Waterloo. In Toronto, the armoured vehicle is used by the tactical unit, which responds to the most dangerous calls for service, Saunders said in the report, including armed suspects, hostage rescue, high-risk search warrants, and negotiations with people in crisis. The vehicle allows the police to safely get closer to dynamic, dangerous scenes and deploy officers more quickly with the goal of bringing resolution to the event, Toronto police spokesperson Allison Sparkes said in an email Tuesday. It can be life-saving in that it allows for rescue and recovery of injured people, she said. Owusu-Bempah said theres needs to be greater communication from police and the board demonstrating the need for this, noting that having a new weapon in their arsenal could in particular impact people who already feel like they are being targeted by police. Among the answers police need to provide, he said, is how getting this new militarized vehicle demonstrates a commit to community-oriented policing. John Sewell, former Toronto mayor and part of the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition said the service needs to focus more on being responsive to the community. Which means they act and look less armed and frightening to those they are dedicated to serve and protect, he said. The United States is advising India and China against purchasing oil from Venezuela, US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters on Tuesday, Trend reports citing Sputnik. The two largest customers of Venezuelan oil are India and China in that order. We will be in conversations with the customers to advise them of US policy with respect to the export of Venezuelan oil, Abrams said at a press briefing. We will continue to try to persuade those countries that are supporting and sustaining this regime to diminish their activities. The official also added that expected Spain's Repsol company to change it activities in Venezuela following sanctions against Rosneft Trading S.A. "We will have conversations, no doubt ... more conversations with Spanish officials and with Repsol and would expect that as we move forward some of Repsols activities would have to change, and that would be true of other foreign oil companies in Venezuela as well," Abrams said. Earlier in the day, the United States announced sanctions against Swiss-based Rosneft Trading S.A. and its head Didier Casimiro, accusing the Rosneft oil brokerage subsidiary of handling Venezuelas exports in circumvention of American sanctions. The US government has imposed multiple sanctions against Venezuela's government and industry sectors, effectively banning US companies from participating in the countrys economy and cooperating with Venezuelan persons and entities. The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday earmarked funds to set up three new state universities for higher education, one Ayush university, a law university and a police forensic university in 5,12,860.72 crore budget for financial year 2020-21. The three universities for higher education will come up in Saharanpur, Azamgarh and Aligarh respectively. 20.20 crore has been earmarked for a university in Azamgarh, 20.70 crore for one in Aligarh and 20 lakh for Saharanpur University in the budget. Presently, there are 17 state universities in Uttar Pradesh. With this, the state government has met a long pending demand of setting up a state university in Saharanpur, said principal secretary, higher education, Monika Garg. Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had made announcement of setting up of state university in Saharanpur district. The university has started functioning temporarily from a Government Degree College, Punwar. As many as 10 rooms have been allocated for the university till proper land is identified for construction of a full-fledged university, said Dhirendra Kumar Verma, who has been appointed as the first registrar of the proposed Saharanpur University. The district administration has already identified 50 acre land just behind the Government Degree College, Punwar and MoU has been signed with the farmers. The state government will soon announce the name of the new university, he said. We plan to start the new session from July 2020 from the present temporary location, said Kumar, who took charge as registrar on February 6. In November last, the Yogi government had announced to set up a state university named after Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh in Aligarh. Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh had donated land for the construction of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and BJP leaders had earlier raised a demand that the AMU be re-named after the Jat king. However, to avoid any political controversy on the issue, the Yogi government has decided to build a new university in his name, an official said. The state government has also proposed to set up of Police Forensic University in Lucknow, Ayush University in Gorakhpur and a Law University in Prayagraj. A sum of 20 crore has been allocated for law university in Prayagraj. Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who also hold portfolio for higher education, said he wish to congratulate chief minister who not only gave his consent to 28 private universities but also made provision for three new state universities. I am confident that the government will complete all necessary formalities to ensure that teaching work begins at the earliest in all the three new universities. In addition provisions have been made for about 100 new secondary level schools which will also become functional soon, Sharma said. An arrangement of 111 crore has been made under Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan for the development of infrastructure facilities in the field of higher education. An amount of 270 crore is proposed for Atal Residential schools being set up in 18 divisions of the state. An amount of 18,363 crore proposed under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to improve school education at primary and senior primary levels in the state. A target of distributing free text books and work books among 19 million students for next academic session has also been set up. New schemes for youth Yogi government has also announced allocations for two new schemes - Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion scheme and Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA) - to link the youth of the state with self-employment and employment. Provision of 100 crore was made under the Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion scheme to impart on-job training to the youth of the state in MSME Units and link them with an employment of definite period. Under the scheme, the youths will not only be imparted training but also given stipend. Out of the total amount of stipend, 1500 will be borne by the central government, 1000 by the state government and remaining amount by the concerning industry. YUVA Hub Allocations have also been made for a novel initiative taken through the Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA) to provide employment to lakhs of trained youths in the state. Under this scheme, YUVA Hub will be set-up in every districts of the state. The hub will assist the youth in conceptualization of the concept, financial help for one year and in operation of unit. The scheme is likely to make over one lakh youths self-dependent. An amount of 50 crore is proposed for setting up YUVA Hub in every districts. The state government will target to train 2 lakh youths under various training programmes of UP Skill Development Mission. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned six persons accused of N20 billion fraud in the Police Pension Scheme. In a statement signed by the EFCC spokesperson, Tony Orilade, on Tuesday, he said the accused were arraigned before Justice Hussein Yusuf of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on an amended 18-count charges of criminal breach of trust. The accused are: Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Veronica Onyegbula, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang, Christian Madubuke and Esai Dangabar (now deceased). Mrs Attang, a former chief accountant in the police pension office, is standing trial for theft and abuse of office. She was initially arraigned in 2013 with five others Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Uzoma Cyril Attang, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, and Christian Madubuke on April 10, before Justice Baba. The EFCC believes the accused persons used their offices to divert the said amount sourced from the Nigeria Police Pension funds in the account domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria Plc for personal use. According to part of the charges, they committed the crime between January 2008 and June 2011. The EFCC said the offences are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act Cap, 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007. The court in 2013 had granted them bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties, one of whom must not be less than an officer on grade level 14. The sureties, the judge also said, must live within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties were, however, to depose to an affidavit of means which must be verified by the EFCC. The accused persons were also to deposit their national passports before the court. A not-for-profit organisation, Paths to Nigeria Freedom, in 2017 also petitioned the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Alagbon Close, Lagos over the matter. The petitioner alleged that some serving police officers attached to the Police Pension Office reportedly connived to defraud both the government and others of the sum. Todays Court Hearing At the resumed trial, prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, asked the court to withdraw the initial charges as he had a substitution. The development followed the death of Esai Dangabar, who is a principal defendant in the trial. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them. Justice Yusuf adjourned the matter till March 25, 21, and April 22, 2020, for the continuation of trial. (Alliance News) - Shares in fishing equipment retailer Angling Direct PLC fell Tuesday as the company warned on weak post-Christmas trading. The stock was 8.03% lower in early trading on Tuesday in London at 63.00 pence a share. Norwich-based Angling Direct said "exceptional" winter flooding after Christmas has led to lower levels of fishing activity, hurting profit. Further, higher margin consumable products received a disproportionate hit. On top of this, Angling Direct has taken a "more product" approach to some legacy costs. As a result, the company sees its loss before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation being no more than GBP500,000 for its year ended January. A year earlier, Angling Direct did not report Ebitda, but posted a pretax loss of GBP266,000. Despite this, Angling Direct still achieved "strong" growth in its recently-ended financial year. It said revenue was up 27% to GBP53.1 million, with in-store sales rising 41% and 12% like-for-like. Online sales rose 13%, making up nearly half of all sales. The company added 10 new stores to its footprint during the year, taking the number to 34. "The company is pleased with the performance of the new stores, although the legacy stock that came with the acquired stores did contribute to margins being lower than the levels to which the board aspires. This stock has been mainly cleared and other actions have been taken to ensure the company returns to expected margin levels in the new financial year and beyond," said Angling Direct. Online, Angling Direct has been focused on international geographies such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Online sales in these countries rose 25%, 71%, and 87%, respectively. Angling Direct will report annual results on May 13. By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijan exported 31 million 238,000 tons of oil in 2019, which is 4.3 percent lower than in 2018. During the reporting period, the total cost of oil exported from Azerbaijan amounted to $14 billion 447 million 114,000. This indicates an 11.6 percent decline, local media reported. Gas export from Azerbaijan amounted to 12 billion 210.2 million cubic meters in 2019 (a 23.2 percent increase). The total value of gas exported from the country during the reporting period amounted to $ 2 billion 569 million 583,300 (a 50.8 increase). Azerbaijan is currently exporting its gas to Georgia and Turkey. However, despite the overall decrease in oil and gas exports in 2019, January 2020 saw an increase of exports from Shah Deniz field. According to the data, provided by State Statistical Committee the export of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field amounted to 1 billion 71 million cubic meters in January 2020, which is 14.5 percent higher than that of January 2019. It was noted that during the first month of the year, gas exports from the Shah Deniz field accounted for 33.9 percent of countrys all gas transported through gas pipelines. Overall, Azerbaijans gas pipelines transported 3 billion 163.6 million cubic meters of gas in January 2020 (a 12.2 percent increase). In 2019, Azerbaijans gas export from Shah Deniz amounted to10 billion 417.8 million cubic meters. Azerbaijan mainly carries out oil exports through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, and gas exports via the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), namely the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum. Currently, an average of 110,000 tons of oil and 94 million cubic meters of gas are extracted per day in Azerbaijan from offshore and onshore fields, including the Shah Deniz, Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) and Umid fields, which are jointly operated with foreign companies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The former Uber engineer who blew the whistle on sexual harassment and discrimination at the company, has claimed she was stalked by private investigators and her family's social media accounts were hacked, after she published an expose three years ago. In the February 2017 blog, Susan Fowler revealed that her boss had been pestering her for sex and claimed other women had opened up about suffering in the misogynistic environment too. The claims sparked an investigation and less than four months later co-founder Travis Kalanick stepped down from his CEO position and was replaced by Dara Khosrowshahi. But Fowler became depressed and feared for her safety during the investigation, she says in new book, Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight For Justice at Uber. Susan Fowler appeared on CBS This Morning Tuesday and opened up about how she believed Uber hired a private investigator to look into her past and follow her Her February 2017 blog post about sexual harassment going on within Uber led to co-founder Travis Kalanick (left) stepping down and Fowler said Tuesday that when she asked new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (right) whether PIs were still investigating her, he said in a Twitter message, 'I killed all that c**p' Susan Fowler's new book goes into detail about her sexual harassment allegations against @Uber. In her first TV interview, @susanthesquark reveals how she says the company retaliated against her, and how her blog post led to massive change for the company. pic.twitter.com/oItEEYx4Fj CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 18, 2020 Speaking about the claims made in her blog, Fowler explained about her former boss on CBS This Morning Tuesday: 'He told me he was in an open relationship and he was looking for women to have sex with.' When she sent screen shots from the company chat services, Uber admitted it was sexual harassment but didn't want to punish her boss because he was a high performer. They gave her two choices, she added in Tuesday's interview: 'You can either stay on his team and receive a retaliatory performance review because you didn't accept his proposition and reported him to HR, or you can go to an entirely different team.' In new book, Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight For Justice at Uber, Fowler describes becoming depressed. She was only comforted by the fact that if she was harmed or killed, 'everyone would know exactly who was responsible' Following the blog expose, Kalanick tweeted a link to Fowler's article, saying: 'What's described here is abhorrent & against everything we believe in. Anyone who behaves this way or thinks this is OK will be fired.' But Fowler was scared into silence and became depressed after she noticed professionals following her and told CBS she 'suspected it was Uber'. In a Time op-ed published Monday, Fowler says that people who were not reporters began contacting her friends, family and acquaintances for information on her personal life and asking questions about her past. Those people were contacting friends she hadn't spoken to in years or an old neighbor she had as a teenager. At one point her neighbor told her: 'Someone's digging really deep on you, Susan and it's scary how far back they're going.' Fowler says in the Time article: 'I didnt know what they were looking for, and I didnt know what they were going to find. It was terrifying.' She says eventually, private investigators started reaching out to her directly. 'I received a call from a number I didn't recognize and I answered it. A woman was on the line,' Fowler says. 'She gave me her name, identified herself as a private investigator, claimed that she was working on a case against Uber, and asked me to help her. 'I declined with a laugh, then did some detective work on my own; a quick Google search showed that the PI firm that she worked for had been hired in the past for cases in which people were trying to discredit victims of sexual misconduct.' She started to notice professionals stalking her after the expose about her boss pestering her for sex and when asked by CBS host Gayle King who she thinks hired them, she replied: 'I suspected it was Uber' She claims people tried to hack her social media and email accounts and became aware after receiving messages for twofactor authentication. Fowler says that despite changing her password frequently and getting a new phone for 2FA texts, hackers still managed to break in and even her younger sister's Facebook account was compromised. 'The moment she told me that someone else had gotten into her account, I logged in and looked at the messages Id recently sent her,' Fowler tells Time. 'I watched in horror as they went from unread to read.' 'Nothing was as scary as being followed, which started happening shortly after I published the post that February. I noticed a peculiar car parked outside my house,' she says. 'When I walked from my house to the BART station on my way to the office, Id often see the same car drive past me. 'Whenever I left the office, I couldnt shake the feeling that I was being followed. I told myself that I was imagining it.' I didnt know what they were looking for, and I didnt know what they were going to find. It was terrifying. But a switch in her routine revealed more. When she left for work in San Francisco early one March morning, a man jumped as if to be surprised that she was there. 'I changed directions as I walked, going down side streets, and whenever I glanced back, I saw him following a short distance behind,' Fowler recalls. 'I eventually ducked into a Whole Foods, and watched as he walked past, sighing in relief. But when I went back out into the street, the man was leaning on a tree, looking down at the sidewalk. 'I had to walk past him, and he followed closely behind until he moved ahead of me, stopped, turned around and looked right at me.' Fowler says she ended up dashing into the train station to avoid him. She was 'terrified even more' when she later learned that Uber had previously hired was Ergo, an opposition research company run by former CIA operatives. On Tuesday, Uber denied hiring a PI, saying: 'The company has no knowledge of ever hiring anyone to follow or personally investigate Susan Fowler' 'A deep, aching terror fell over me as I prepared for the worst parts of my life to become public. Meanwhile, I was growing increasingly isolated,' she tells Time. The worry was heightened further as another former employee, Morgan Richardson, claimed an investigator had entered her apartment without her permission. Uber denied that the man had gone inside her apartment but Fowler grew concerned: 'If they did it to her, what would stop them from doing it to me?' Fowler confided in a friend, 'only to have our conversation parroted back to me by a reporter a few days later'. She 'felt sick to my stomach every day and had trouble sleeping' and at one point it got so bad that she would 'curl up into a ball on the floor and cry until I felt numb' or 'stand in the shower, turn on the water, cover my mouth with my hands and scream until my voice was hoarse'. Fowler said she was only comforted by the fact that if she was harmed or killed, 'everyone would know exactly who was responsible'. Fowler has previously said she suspected Uber of hiring private investigators to watch her but the company denied it in 2017. Tuesday, CBS shared a statement from Uber appearing to deny hiring a PI, saying: 'The company has no knowledge of ever hiring anyone to follow or personally investigate Susan Fowler.' But Fowler, now a New York Times Opinion editor, called their response 'interesting'. Fowler said Tuesday that when she asked Khosrowshahi whether PIs were still investigating her, he said in a Twitter message, 'I killed all that c**p'. 'When I talked to the new CEO, over Twitter chat actually, and I asked whether the company was still having private investigators follow me, he said to me he "killed all that c**p" and was reassuring to me for two reasons,' she said on CBS. 'First it confirmed to that Uber had been doing this, and he had taken steps to stop it and I thought that was a very good sign.' Uber did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Fowler opens up about being plagued by rumors she was paid by investors in competitors such as Lyft or Google, to write the blog post. SALEM A bill to end the Oregon governors role in hiring and firing the states public records advocate is waiting for a hearing in the House, after Senate lawmakers unanimously approved it on Monday. In the fast-paced short session, the bill must be scheduled by Thursday for a House policy committee work session or else it will die. House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, wants to keep the bill alive and bring it to the House floor for a vote, her spokesman wrote in an email Tuesday. Kotek supports the independence of the public records advocate, Danny Moran wrote. Under Senate Bill 1506, the advocate would instead be selected and overseen by Oregons Public Records Advisory Council. The council proposed the change after the high-profile resignation of former Public Records Advocate Ginger McCall last year. McCall accused Gov. Kate Browns lawyers of inappropriately pressuring her to advance Browns public records policy goals, while keeping her involvement under wraps. Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, said that after that sickening situation," the records council debated for hours how to respond. They settled on pushing for a bill to ensure the advocates independence. Thatcher is a non-voting member of the council. Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, recounted his experience being denied access to public records as a television reporter in the 1990s. "When Oregonians have more access to their government, their government works better, Hass said. Sen. Chuck Riley, D-Hillsoro, is chair of the Senate committee that reviewed the bill. Although Riley voted for the plan and said it was a good bill overall, he said lawmakers also need to make sure that those records that can be harmful to people are not disclosed. There are more than 550 exemptions to Oregons public records law, which government agencies can cite to justify redacting or withholding records from people who request them. "And we want to make sure we still keep our laws that protect, for instance, our public servants out in the field, Riley said. Information about public employees has been an especially fraught issue in recent years, as the anti-union Freedom Foundation sought the names and addresses of those employees in order to send mailers urging them to opt out of paying union dues. Public employee unions have a strong political presence in Oregon and Browns administration has expressed interest in changing state law to further limit the release of information about public employees. However, Senate Bill 1506 only deals with the advocates independence and would make no changes to public records law. Oregons governor appoints or has an indirect role in selecting nine of the thirteen members of the Public Records Advisory Council. The two lawmakers chosen by legislative leaders are non-voting members. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Visit oregonlive.com/newsletters to get our 2020 Oregon Legislature newsletter delivered to your email inbox. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, February 18, 2020 Authorities in Cameroon should immediately release journalist Martinez Zogo, drop all charges against him, and reform the countrys penal code to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 17, judicial police officers in Yaounde, the capital, arrested Zogo at the offices of Radio Amplitude FM, a privately owned broadcaster where he works as editor-in-chief, Zogos lawyer, Joseph Kenmoe, told CPJ in a phone interview. Authorities charged him with criminal defamation following a complaint filed by Sylvie Biye Essono, the ex-wife of a government official, which alleged that Zogo had spread false information about her in a January 8 broadcast, Kenmoe said. On January 25, Zogo was transferred to Yaoundes Kondengui prison, where he remains in detention, Kenmoe told CPJ. In Cameroon, defamation carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a fine of 2 million Central African francs ($3,447), according to the countrys penal code. Zogo is due in court on February 27, Kenmoe said. Martinez Zogo should be released immediately and the legal proceedings against him dropped, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Cameroons maintenance of defamation as a criminal offense signals its disrespect for basic press freedom and unwillingness to align its laws with international standards on freedom of expression. In her complaint, filed on January 14, Essono alleged that Zogo insulted her and said she had used her ex-husbands name when applying for government contracts, Kenmoe said. He said that her original complaint accused Zogo of cybercrime, blackmail, and defamation, but authorities only filed the defamation charges against him. CPJ called Essonos lawyer, Tchoungang Charles, for comment but he did not answer the phone. CPJ sent text messages to Charles that were marked as read, but which did not receive any response. Joyce Ndjem, the national communications chief for the Cameroonian police, told CPJ in a phone interview that it was not possible to answer questions about Zogos case unless a CPJ representative came to see her in person, and then the line disconnected. CPJs follow-up calls went unanswered. When CPJ called Cameroonian Minister of Information Rene Sadi for comment, he said the call quality was poor and then the line disconnected. He did not answer follow-up phone calls. Cameroon is the second worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, according to CPJs 2019 prison census, which found seven journalists in jail as of December 1, 2019. Rishikul Yogshala with its open arms invites yoga seekers from around the globe to come and immerse in the beautiful practice of yoga, and get to deepen personal knowledge and experience purifying energies to live a healthy lifestyle. The aim is to let students walk into a healthier life, and since 2010, Rishikul Yogshala has been helping and molding its students towards a better lifestyle and living. The vigilantly designed schedule and curriculum of the school allows yogis to go deep into their practice. Here the yoga fanatics can discover their own journey by using the knowledge, techniques, tools, and space that they will get through meditation, intense yoga sessions, spiritual practices, and extensive yoga retreats. Rishikul Yogshala offers 200 hour, 300 hour and 500 hour yoga teacher training, along with various kinds of retreats that will allow yogis to transform, grow, and develop in their personal fields. The first 200-hour program is considered as the foundational stage from where the yogis take their first step into their beautiful journey. The main focus of this training is to develop a strong base through asanas, meditation, alignments, adjustments, philosophies, and pranayama. The next in line is the 300-hour teacher training program, which helps to advance the practice and knowledge for higher level. For almost 10 years, the schools has been providing its learners excellent experiences, authentic deep-rooted programs, nourishing yet delicious food, and decent Vedic style accommodation with a hygienic environment. The devoutly determined team, built upon the grounds of respect, personal growth, faith, and deep relationships is pleased to be a part of this organization. Rishikul Yogshala provides its trainees with the best gurus who offer an insight into deep-rooted yoga and how it helps mould people lives by uplifting the spirit, improving the mind, and making the body healthier. About Rishikul Yogshala Rishikul Yogshala is honored to help the yogis aspire their dreams, and for almost 10 years, guiding the students towards a better future. The Yoga Alliance approved school has earned huge admiration for its well-qualified mentors, carefully designed curriculum, and well-defined amenities. It is an excellent place for all the yoga fanatics who are thoughtfully looking towards changing their life into a healthy one by achieving peace, calmness and good health. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Rishikul Yogshala Related Links https://www.rishikulyogshala.org Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Millennia after our culture has disappeared, eternity will only have begun. Jesus promised the thief on the cross, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). What was paradise like for that convicted felon? What will it be like for you and me? Why does it all matter today? A dear elderly saint was near death and gave her pastor a strange request: When my casket is opened at the funeral, and all my friends come by for a last look, I want them to see me ready to be buried with a table fork in my right hand. She explained to her puzzled pastor, I want you to tell the congregation, you know what it means when they clear the dishes from a big meal and someone says, Keep your fork. You know that something good is comingmaybe a piece of apple pie or chocolate cake. Keep your fork means something good is coming. Pastor, I want to be buried with a dessert fork in my hand. It will be my way of saying, The best is yet to come. And so it was. Everyone who saw her body in the casket saw her final witness. For her, death and judgment were not a disaster, but dessert. How can that be true for you and me, when we stand before God in judgment one day? Living for heaven is in your best interest on earth and in glory, in time and in eternity. The Bible has much to say about our judgment and rewards in heaven. Well look briefly at the subject, and relate it to our lives today. Will your building last? In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul paints the picture of life as a house we build. His discussion makes four facts clear. First, your house is the gift of God (v. 10). Pauls abilities and opportunities to be an expert builder were given to him by God. His relationship with Jesus Christ is Gods grace gift to him. All we have and are comes by his grace. The doctrine of judgment does not teach a works righteousness. We cannot earn Gods love or favor. Judgment means that we are to be faithful stewards of the grace gifts and opportunities of God and are accountable for them. But no one deserves the rewards given at the judgmentthey come by his grace. Second, your house must be founded on Jesus (v. 11). He is the unchanging, stable rock upon which to build your life. Not just your religion, or your Sunday mornings, but every priority, commitment, and ambition. Your life must be bolted to him. Third, you are responsible for what you build (v. 12). The foundation is determined. What we build on it is not. Some of us use gold, silver, costly stones such as marble and granite. We give God our best. We invest in that which is permanent and eternal. We put souls before success, family before finances, God before gold. When the fire of judgment comes, gold, silver, and marble stand the test. Youve seen ancient marble ruins standing for thousands of years, ready to stand for thousands more. So with some of us. On the other hand, some of us build our lives out of wood, hay, or straw. We give God what is cheap, convenient, or easy. He gets the leftovers. And when we are judged, our disobedience will be obvious to all. Fourth, God will judge our lives (vs. 13-15). One day the judgment will comethe Day (v. 13). Those who lived for God will be rewarded, as well see in a moment (v. 14). Those of us who lived for ourselves, for this fallen world, for that which is temporary and inferior, will suffer loss (v. 15a). God cannot reward disobedience. If we have made Jesus our Savior, we will be saved. Our eternal salvation is not in question. But our eternal rewards are, and if our house has been built out of wood, hay, or straw, we will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (v. 15b). How do people run out of a burning house? With nothing. Youve perhaps heard about the crooked building contractor who built a house for a wealthy friend, cutting corners wherever he could, inferior products and workmanship throughout. When the house was finished, the wealthy friend gave the man the keys and said, Its yours. Theres a story about a business tycoon who made a fortune in money and fame but gave little of himself or his wealth to God. When he died, Peter showed him to his home in heaven: a small shack. He protested loudly, and Peter shrugged his shoulders and explained, I did the best I could with what you sent me. You and I are responsible for what we do with the lives God has given us by his grace. They are to be founded on Jesus as Lord, built of our best commitment to him. One day the Building Inspector will visit our house. And his judgment will be eternal. These are the facts of Gods word. Now lets ask some questions. Will you be judged? First, will we be judged? Would a loving Father of grace and mercy judge his children? Hebrews 9:27 is clear: Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. All of usno exceptions. Paul said, Each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). A man in the congregation laughed when the pastor said, Members of this church, you will all die one day and face the judgment of God. The pastor asked him why he laughed, and he said, Im not a member of this church. But he is. So are we all. By whom will we be judged? By Jesus: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). The judgment seat was a raised platform where the ruler sat and judged those brought before him. At this bema seat Pilate once judged Jesus; now Jesus judges Pilate. Jesus was very clear on this: the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). Peter said, [Jesus] is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). Paul agreed: God will judge mens secrets through Jesus Christ (Romans 2:16). When will we be judged? At his return: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will judge them (Matthew 25:31-32). Jesus will judge us all at his return. We cannot escape. But if were prepared, this will not be terror but triumph; not a curse but a crown. Lets see how to be ready today. How will we be judged? How will this judgment happen? Gods word describes two books of judgment: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. . . . If anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-13, 15). First, there is the book of works. Here God has recorded your deeds and mine. Now he will judge them. What will he find? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. . . The wages [judgment] for sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). No one can get to heaven on the basis of the book of works. None of us is good enough. And so there is a second book, the book of life, and its the key. What is it? I believe that when your life began, you were recorded in this book of life. Moses said to God: Please forgive their sinbut if not, then blot me out of the book you have written. The Lord replied, Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book (Exodus 32:32-33). God has your name in his book, and must blot it out if you choose to reject his free salvation in Christ. When you die without Christ, God is forced to remove your name from his book of life, and youll be thrown into the lake of fire. Scripture is very clear: Nothing impure will ever enter [heaven], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life (Revelation 21:27). But if you have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, your name will be there forever. Jesus said to his disciples, Rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Paul addressed the Philippian Christians as my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3). However, heaven is not the only question at the judgment. Heavenly rewards or loss of rewards is at issue as well: If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). Why will we suffer loss of reward? Secret, unconfessed sins will be judged: God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs (Luke 12:2-3). Our words will be judged: I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36-37). After listing all sorts of sin, Peter declared that those who do such things will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5). Ungodly, unconfessed sins, thoughts, or words will be revealed at the judgment and burned away. Because heaven is perfect, these things cannot enter in; they must be burned off, destroyed. Sin is forgiven, but reward is lost. On the other hand, gold, silver, costly stones are rewarded. What kind of rewards? There is the crown of life: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12). Jesus said, Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). There is the soul-winners crown: What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). There is the crown of righteousness: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayand not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). For Christian leaders there is the crown of glory: Be shepherds of Gods flock that is under your care, serving as overseersnot because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:2-4). Gold, silver, costly stones will be rewarded with everlasting crowns. For what? Enduring temptation; winning souls; staying faithful to Gods purpose; serving Gods people in love. This is the building that lasts forever. Conclusion Lets summarize. You and I will stand one day before Jesus Christ in judgment. If you have rejected him as Savior and Lord, your name will not be in his book of life, and youve chosen hell over heaven forever. If youve accepted him, heaven is already yours. Your name is in his book, forever. But the book of works will determine your rewards or loss of rewards. Ungodly words, secret sins, and immorality will be burned away and suffer loss; holiness, soul-winning, faithfulness, and loving service will be rewarded with eternal crowns. We need to be ready, today. C. S. Lewis once said that there are two kinds of people. Some say to God, Your will be done. For them, the judgment will be reward and victory. To the others, God must finally say, Your will be done. They have rejected heaven, or rewards in heaven. Is it his will or yours? You have only today to decide. The largest statue ever carved from a single piece of stone weighed more than two million pounds. It was a figure of Ramses I, the Egyptian Pharaoh who died in 1317 B.C. When the children of Israel left Egypt, they passed his enormous statue. Who would have dreamed that these ragged former slaves, trudging out into the hardships of the unknown desert, would amount to anything? But today, Ramses statue lies broken in the sands of Egypt. Meanwhile, the movement God began with those children of Israel, men and women willing to live in Gods will and for his glory, have been used by his hand to change our world forever. To touch your soul and mind. To glorify our Maker and King. Such people of faith win the only Oscar that matters. Will you? Originally posted at denisonforum.org LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandhills Global, the tech company behind the online auction platform AuctionTime.com, will join Old 20 Auctions & Liquidations in hosting a customer appreciation luncheon on Wednesday, February 26th, for Iowa-area farmers and equipment dealers. The lunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST at the headquarters of Old 20 Auctions, at 1949 210th Street in Manchester, Iowa. The lunch provides an opportunity for Old 20 Auctions to thank its customers for supporting the business and learn more about how AuctionTime.com can help them sell their equipment through strategic marketing that targets the equipment industries. Sandhills and AuctionTime regularly host forums and seminars all over the country to provide customers and end users with easy, educational, and effective ways to learn about Sandhills industry-leading marketplaces, which include TractorHouse, Machinery Trader, and MarketBook. Registration is not required for this event. About AuctionTime.com Powered by TractorHouse, Machinery Trader, CraneTrader, ForestryTrader, LiftsToday.com, Truck Paper, and MarketBook, AuctionTime.com is a product of Sandhills Globalan information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. AuctionTime equipment listings appear both online and in print across Sandhills' trade publications and corresponding websites to reach buyers around the world in the trucking, agriculture, construction, and heavy equipment industries. Contact AuctionTime 120 West Harvest Drive Lincoln, NE 68521 [email protected] 800-334-7443 About Old 20 Auctions & Liquidations Owners Mike and Megan Loecke built Old 20 Auctions & Liquidations' state-of-the-art facility with the intention of bringing the best auction experience to both buyers and sellers. Old 20 Auctions has been a family-run business for over 25 years. Megan works alongside Mike as the head clerk. Daughters Macy, Myla, Lucy, Trudy, and Vera staff an on-site cafe. Old 20 Auctions also employs other professionals from around the area to ensure a well-balanced organization. Contact Old 20 Auctions & Liquidations 1949 210th St. Manchester, IA 52057 563-927-2900 SOURCE AuctionTime.com Related Links https://www.old20auctions.com University of Utah Health today announced the launch of a project with a goal of quickly and accurately detecting genetic disorders among newborns in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Clinicians believe that bringing precision medicine to the NICU will transform neonatal care, leading to better diagnosis and treatment of critically ill infants with genetic-related diseases while lowering medical costs and easing the emotional and financial burden on parents and families. With this project, U of U Hospital will join Primary Children's Hospital, also in Salt Lake City, as being part of a small group of hospitals worldwide to offer this type of advanced care. The multidisciplinary project team, which includes U of U Health pediatric specialists, neonatal physicians, and bioinformatic genomics scientists, will use rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) to identify genetic mutations suspected of causing disease. "Rapidly getting information about the genetics involved will help us better diagnose and plan the best treatments for these babies," says Sabrina Malone Jenkins, M.D., a neonatologist and a U of U Health assistant professor of pediatrics. "It allows us to personalize our care in the NICU. Not only does it provide information to the clinician but it also provides an answer to parents of 'why is this happening and what can we expect?' This type of testing is the future of clinical care in the NICU. Nearly half of all newborns treated in neonatal intensive care units are suspected of having some sort of genetic disorder. But determining what those disorders are--estimates suggest the existence of up to 7,000 genetically-related diseases--and whether they are treatable is problematic because genomic sequencing and analysis isn't routinely conducted on these infants. As a result, many children go undiagnosed for years, meaning they are frequently in and out of hospital, a cycle that is agonizing for parents, doctors, and nurses. On the other hand, genome sequencing offers a tremendous opportunity to circumvent this outcome and increase the potential for treatments that could change the trajectory of a newborn's health for a lifetime. Currently, it can take weeks or even months to get results of genetic testing, a crucial time gap that neonatal physicians say needs to be slashed so they can begin providing the appropriate care as soon as possible. The goal of this project, called NeoSeq, is to cut that turnaround time to 72 hours or less at University Hospital by having clinicians identify infants in the NICU suspected of having a genetic disease or disorder. They will then ask parents to volunteer their blood, as well as that of their child, to be DNA sequenced using rWGS. "(rWGS) potentially reveals hundreds of thousands of changes that occur in DNA," says Hunter Best, Ph.D., medical director of molecular genetics and genomics at ARUP Laboratories, a national reference laboratory and nonprofit enterprise of the University of Utah that will do the DNA sequencing. "By using mom and dad's data, you can filter out all of the genetic 'noise' that's not necessarily contributing to the child's phenotype (traits). Once you filter out that noise, you can start zeroing in on what is actually contributing to the child's condition." After sequencing, scientists affiliated with U of U Health's Center for Genomic Medicine will use artificial intelligence technologies to analyze genetic variants in the child's DNA. The technologies, developed by Mark Yandell, Ph.D., and other scientists at the Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, are capable of pinpointing one or two prime genetic suspects with 95 percent probability in less than four hours. Once the interpretation of the identified genetic variant(s) is confirmed by ARUP medical directors, a research report will be prepared and doctors can begin planning for treatment based on its findings. "It's hard to overstate how transformational this will be for diagnosis and care in the NICU," says Josh Bonkowsky, M.D., Ph.D., a U of U Health professor of pediatric neurology. "In five or 10 years, people will look back and realize that this is when it all shifted. This was a time that we stepped over a line in the sand into a new era." Small investigational studies conducted at U of U Health and ARUP Laboratories have already demonstrated the power of genomic analysis in diagnosing and treating disease in newborns. In addition, the Penelope Program at U of U Health incorporates genomic sequencing into the diagnosis and treatment of older children with undiagnosed diseases. This NICU project represents the next step forward in advancing diagnoses for children. In all, more than 40 researchers and scientists from U of U Health's Department of Pediatrics, Center for Genomic Medicine, Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, and ARUP Laboratories are involved in this project, capitalizing on existing expertise in genetics and genomic medicine. If the pilot is successful, U of U Heath plans to integrate rWGS into the routine clinical care of the most difficult cases in the NICU, joining the first wave of institutions in the nation to do so. "What makes us unique is the collaborative nature of this project," says Luca Brunelli, M.D., Ph.D., director of the U of U Health Neonatal Genomics Program. "We have a broad range of scientific minds involved. We have a tremendous opportunity to discover solutions to important questions and thus benefit so many young lives." ### The University of Utah Center for Genomic Medicine, ARUP Laboratories, Illumina, and the Margolis Foundation contributed to this project. BURLINGTON In 1993, Wisconsin became the first state to put victims rights into its constitution. Those rights could be further protected if voters approve a constitutional amendment on April 7. The goal is to make it so victims of crimes have rights equal to those guaranteed to suspects. The proposed constitutional amendment is part of a nationwide effort known as Marsys Law. Similar amendments and laws have been approved in more than 10 other states. During an event Monday at The Coffee House at Chestnut & Pine in Burlington, Amanda Roddy, a field organizer for Marsys Law for Wisconsin, pointed out that many (if not most) Americans can rattle off the Miranda warning from memory, listing criminal suspects' rights, such as the right to an attorney and that anything you say can and will be used against you. But victims rights are not nearly as well known, partially because they are not so explicitly protected. Roddy and other advocates want it to become part of our culture, our norm to hold the rights of survivors of crime as equal to the rights of suspects. Thats why Roddy thinks it is important for Wisconsin voters to vote in favor of the constitutional amendment on April 7. Impact on survivors This kind of change can encourage victims, particularly those of violent and heinous crimes like attempted homicide and sexual assault, to come forward knowing they will be listened to and respected, said state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, who spoke at Mondays event. Wanggaard represents the 21st Senate District, which includes Burlington. Theres a lot of people who have stuffed down all that (trauma), victims who have never come forward, Wanggaard said. Lynn U., who was the victim of an attempted murder and sexual assault in Milwaukee in June 2017, pointed out that the man who stalked and attacked her got access to all of the police records for free. Lynn U. who has since changed her name and asked to be referred to with her previous first name and last initial in this story would have had to pay for them. Thats just one of the ways Lynn U. and other advocates say the law can sometimes favor suspects to victims. The proposed Wisconsin amendment doesnt make any mention of access to additional court records. But it does guarantee other rights, such as allowing victims to participate in nearly every step of the court process from plea hearings to parole hearings to possible pardons rather than only being able to make a statement to the court at disposition, as is guaranteed under the current Wisconsin Constitution. Before Wisconsins first victims rights amendment was approved in 1993, Wanggaard said that it was common for victims to only talk to law enforcement when the crime was reported, maybe talk with a district attorney, and then not again until an eventual court trial. They were not really part of the process, said Wanggaard, who was a Racine Police officer at the time. Its about being able to have victims have closure. The 1993 amendment was approved with 84.1% of the vote. The Marsys Law-inspired amendment allows them (victims) to be a participant in the process, said Wanggaard, who is one of the authors of Wisconsin's proposed amendment. The amendments prospects Some have argued that Marsys Law goes too far. In 2018, Jeanne Hruska, political director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, wrote that the notion that victims rights can be equated to the rights of the accused is a fallacy ... "The U.S. Constitution and all 50 state constitutions guarantee defendants rights because they are rights against the state, not because they are valued more by society than victims rights. Defendants rights only apply when the state is attempting to deprive the accused not the victim of life, liberty, or property. They serve as essential checks against government abuse, preventing the government from arresting and imprisoning anyone, for any reason, at any time. Still, Wisconsins legislators support it by and large. Each of the four times it went before legislators in 2017 and 2019 (required steps before an amendment could be put before voters), it received more than 80% approval. There are also more than six pages of names of supporters of the amendment on EqualRightsForWI.org, a website paid for by Marsys Law for Wisconsin. Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, Retired Racine Police Chief Kurt Wahlen and Burlington Police Chief Mark Anderson have also publicly supported the amendment. Even if the amendment is approved, theres no guarantee it will be put into effect immediately. A group of Wisconsin attorneys previously tried to block the referendum, claiming that the language going before voters was too vague. But their lawsuit was halted by a Dane County judge earlier this year. Roddy pointed out that a full copy of the amendment will be made available at every polling place on April 7, in addition to the words on the ballot itself, which would hopeful circumvent any lack of clarity. Regardless, theres a chance the attempted block could return in a different form if voters approve the amendment. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global rare hemophilia factors market size is anticipated to reach USD 336.3 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., progressing at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. Several factor concentrates gaining marketing approvals from regulatory bodies such as the U.S. FDA are expected to provide a significant push to the market. In addition, growing adoption of prophylaxis treatment by patients is expected to boost the growth of the market in coming years. Patients with severe rare hemophilia factor disorders are recommended prophylactic treatment to avoid bleeding episodes and improve quality of life. Favorable government initiatives and mandates to increase diagnosis and treatment rates are escalating the growth of the market. For instance, the U.S. Congress enacted the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) in 1983. From 1983 to 2015, around 3,647 drugs were designated the status of orphan drugs and 554 drugs were approved by the U.S. FDA. Several key market players in the market are focusing on R&D to launch new products and solutions for the treatment of rare hemophilia factor disorders. For instance, in October 2015, FDA approved Coagadex for treatment of hereditary factor X deficiency. Introduction of new factor concentrates is likely to bolster market growth over the forecast period. Further key findings from the study suggest: Based on type, factor VII accounted for the largest share in 2016, owing to higher prevalence of this deficiency Factor concentrates is anticipated to be the most promising segment, registering a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period. This type of treatment is considered to be the safest and most effective treatment for rare hemophilia factor disorders Fresh frozen plasma is estimated to command just over 53.0% of the market value by 2025 Asia Pacific rare hemophilia factors market is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of over 5.5% during the same period. The growth of the region can be attributed to wide base of population and high number of consanguineous marriage Some of the key players in the market are Novo Nordisk; Biogen; Bayer healthcare; Pfizer, Inc.; Baxalta; CSL Behring; and Bio Products Laboratory Ltd. Grand View Research has segmented the global rare hemophilia factors market on the basis of type, treatment, and region: Rare Hemophilia Factors Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Factor I Factor II Factor V Factor VII Factor X Factor XI Factor XIII Rare Hemophilia Factors Treatment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Factor Concentrates Fresh Frozen Plasma Cryoprecipitate Others Rare Hemophilia Factors Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany Asia Pacific Japan China Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa Saudi Arabia Access full research report on global rare hemophilia factors market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/rare-hemophilia-factors-market Krishna Bahadur Mahara acquitted of allegations he sexually assaulted female employee while drunk at her home last year. People in Nepal have expressed anger after the countrys former parliament speaker and ex-Maoist leader was acquitted of charges he raped a government worker at her home while he was intoxicated last year. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a senior member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NPC), has been in detention since October after a female employee in the assembly accused him of trying to rape her. A district court ruling on Monday said there was no evidence backing the allegation. News of his acquittal was widely condemned on social media. Acquittal of Mahara, despite publicly exposed body of evidences against him, says a lot about the credibility of our institutions. The man will once again walk with his head held high. That is the power of belonging to the ruling establishmentthis is what you voted for, Twitter user Anurag Acharya wrote. Acquittal of Mahara, despite publicly exposed body of evidences against him, says a lot about the credibility of our institutions. The man will once again walk with his head held high.That is the power of belonging to the ruling establishmentthis is what you voted for #Nepal ! https://t.co/be4l6PFEwJ Anurag Acharya (@Anurag_Acharya) February 18, 2020 Kashish Das Shrestha, a writer and photographer, said: This governments protection of sexual predators and criminals is terrifying. In a video interview published in September on an online news portal, the alleged victim said Mahara was drunk when he arrived at her home and assaulted her. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, withdrew her allegations a few days later, following alleged threats and pressure, media reports said at the time. She eventually submitted a formal complaint and a government lawyer filed the case with the court. Investigators collected evidence, including a bottle of whisky and a pair of broken spectacles, allegedly belonging to Mahara, from her home. Mahara denied the allegations but stepped down as speaker. Isnt justice delivered too early for men, and denied lifelong for women?, one Twitter user asked. Hima Bista, a womens rights activist, told Al Jazeera: We have not managed to build a system which protects the survivors of gender-based violence. Unfortunately, the case of former Speaker of the House clearly shows impunity is deeply ingrained, which overrides any potential fight for justice. Can I put it this way? People celebrating Mahara's release as a victory of truth-the same people who quash Nirmala's quest for justice. Isn't justice delivered too early for men, and denied lifelong for women? , (@Highwaynep) February 17, 2020 Moral questions Mahara was elected speaker of the House of Representative last year after the NCP won a majority of the seats in elections in November 2017. Rachana Khadka, a Central Committee member of the ruling NCP, said Mahara will get his parliamentary seat back, but the party now has to answer both legal and moral questions. The party needs to confront both legality and morality issues in the coming days, she told Al Jazeera. Mahara was a leader of the Maoist rebels who fought a violent campaign against the government between 1996 and 2006. The Maoists entered UN-monitored peace talks in 2006, ending a decade-long armed revolt, and joined mainstream politics. Mahara played a key role in the peace talks with the government. He has served as deputy prime minister, information minister and home minister. Additional reporting by Arun Budhathoki from Kathmandu [February 18, 2020] Innovation Pharmaceuticals Exploring Lead Defensin Mimetic Drug Candidate Brilacidin as Potential Novel Coronavirus Treatment Defensins are conceptually ideal for defense against different viral infections WAKEFIELD, Mass., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovation Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:IPIX) (the Company), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, announced today the Company is exploring its lead defensin mimetic drug candidate, Brilacidin, as a potential novel coronavirus treatment. Over the last few weeks, the Company has received inquiries asking about Brilacidins potential to treat the Coronavirus given the urgent worldwide need to find effective treatments for this deadly epidemic. Coronavirus (now being referred to as COVID-19) continues to represent a significant life-threatening risk in China and throughout the world, with currently over 71,000 diagnosed cases across 29 countries, resulting in nearly 1,800 reported deaths. The containment of the COVID-19 outbreak is far from a certainty, as expressed by Prof Gabriel Leung, the Chair of Public Health Medicine at Hong Kong University, warning that the epidemic could spread to 60% of the worlds population if not controlled. We have long discussed the broad therapeutic spectrum for our defensin mimetic franchise and are pleased to inform shareholders that we are now engaged in talks with leading institutions and researchers regarding the opportunity to explore developing Brilacidin , our lead defensin mimetic drug candidate. Interactions center on assessing Brilacidin as a potential novel antiviral therapy for treating Coronaviruses, including COVID-19 and potentially Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Some of the brightest minds in the field of virology see the therapeutic potential of defensins and defensin mimetics in helping to address unexpected epidemics, as detailed by Mee Sook Park, et al in a 2018 review article, linked to below and in a blog post ( http://www.ipharminc.com/new-blog/2020/2/18/shareholder-alert-defensins-are-conceptually-ideal-for-defense-against-different-viral-infections ) on the Companys website: Towards the Application of Human Defensins as Antivirals https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933891/ Due to the relative nonspeciicity of the targets of defensins compared to those of the adaptive arm, antiviral applications of defensins are conceptually ideal for defense against different viral infections. To that point, there is a movement within academia and regulatory bodies towards testing the antiviral potential of late-phase and approved drugs. These drugs have more established pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, thereby offering the opportunity to greatly shorten the development timeframe should they prove beneficial in treating coronaviruses. This is exactly where Brilacidin fits in into the emerging Coronavirus threata promising small molecule in late-phase development worthy of further evaluation as to its antiviral properties. Brilacidin already has demonstrated broad and robust antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in multiple FDA clinical trials. Pre-clinical research also supports Brilacidins antiviral properties based on work by conducted by Dr. William DeGrado (UCSF) and Dr. Richard Scott (Fox Chase). Brilacidin and other defensin mimetics similar in structure to Brilacidin have been tested against enveloped viruses with moderate activity noted from the outset. To date, Brilacidin has not been tested specifically against Coronavirus (an enveloped positive stranded RNA virus ). But the scientists who conducted preliminary research are optimistic about the multi-tiered advantages of Brilacidin to elicit a response when accompanied by drug optimization, formulation and delivery work. The Company remains committed to its prioritization of ongoing clinical development of Brilacidin for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer patients. As to Brilacidins antiviral properties, the strategy is to explore research collaborations and federal grant opportunities to further evaluate the drugs potential to treat Coronaviruses without tapping into resources dedicated for clinical research in Brilacidins primary indications. The Company plans to keep shareholders apprised, as appropriate, on any news related to evaluating Brilacidins antiviral properties in addition to its core Brilacidin programs, Ulcerative Colitis and Oral Mucositis. Alerts Sign-up for Innovation Pharmaceuticals email alerts is available at: http://www.ipharminc.com/email-alerts/ About Innovation Pharmaceuticals Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPIX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a world-class portfolio of innovative therapies addressing multiple areas of unmet medical need, including inflammatory diseases, cancer, infectious disease, and dermatologic diseases. Brilacidin, a versatile compound with broad therapeutic potential, is in a new chemical class called defensin-mimetics. A Phase 2 trial of Brilacidin as an oral rinse for the prevention of Severe Oral Mucositis (SOM) in patients with Head and Neck Cancer, met its primary and secondary endpoints, including reducing the incidence of SOM. The Company plans to advance Brilacidin oral rinse into Phase 3 development, subject to available financial resources. Positive results were also observed in a Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept trial treating patients locally with Brilacidin for Ulcerative Proctitis/Ulcerative Proctosigmoiditis (UP/UPS). Brilacidin for UP/UPS was licensed to Alfasigma S.p.A. in July 2019. A Phase 2b trial of Brilacidin showed a single intravenous dose of the drug delivered comparable outcomes to a seven-day dosing regimen of the FDA-approved blockbuster daptomycin in treating Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infection. Kevetrin is a novel anti-cancer drug shown to modulate p53, often referred to as the Guardian Angel Gene due to its crucial role in controlling cell mutations and has successfully completed a Phase 2 trial in Ovarian Cancer. More information is available on the Company website at www.IPharmInc.com. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements concerning the future execution of a definitive agreement with a global pharmaceutical company and the anticipated terms thereof, our future drug development plans, other statements regarding future product developments, and markets, including with respect to specific indications, and any other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Companys actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as anticipates, believes, hopes, estimates, looks, expects, plans, intends, goal, potential, may, suggest, and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are the Companys need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development; including the amount and timing of the sale of shares of common stock under securities purchase agreements; the fact that the Companys licensee(s) may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing and the Company will not receive milestone payments, or the fact that the Companys compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation. INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACT Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. Leo Ehrlich [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Open source The current military potential of the Russian Federation near the border with Ukraine grew threefold. Vadym Skibitsky, the representative of the Main Department of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported this as quoted by the authority's press office. "By the estimates of the Main Department of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defence Ministry, by 2022-2023, the assault groups of the Russian Federation will be able to deliver full-fledged strategic offensive actions against Ukraine without mobilization," reads the message. The Russian Federation has been putting a lot of effort into modernizing strategic nuclear weaponry, the authority said. Specifically, Topol-M missile systems will be replaced by Yars systems; besides, a new missile system, Sarmat, is being developed. The range of these rockets varies from six to twelve thousand kilometers; thus, they may pose a threat to Europe as well. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv was ready to disengage forces in Donbas on the sectoral basis. On the morning of February 18, positions of Ukrainian forces came under intensive fire, as Russian mercenaries used Minsk-banned heavy artillery. The government troops delivered a powerful artillery attack in return. One Ukrainian serviceman deceased in action. MCKINNEY, Texas - A 28-year-old Texas man pleaded not guilty during the first day of his capital murder trial for the 2018 killings of a Dallas-area police officer and another man. Brandon McCall entered the plea Monday to charges that he fatally shot of his friend, Rene Gamez II, and then killed Richardson police officer David Sherrard, KXAS-TV reports. If convicted, McCall could be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. Police have said McCall killed Gamez, 30, in an apartment complex in the suburb north of Dallas and then shot Sherrard in the chest as he entered the apartment after responding to reports of shooting. The 37-year-old officer was a married father of two daughters and later died at a hospital. McCall barricaded himself in the apartment after the shooting and fired at random during an hours-long standoff before a officers arrested him. Lawyers for McCall acknowledged he shot Sherrard but said it was unintentional, according to KXAS-TV. On Monday, jurors were shown body camera video of the moment the shooting. Police have described the killing as an ambush. According to an affidavit McCall said during a phone call from jail that he wanted to go to war with the police. In addition to the murder charges, McCall is facing seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Chandigarh, Feb 18 : The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved creation of 550 posts in the Government Medical Colleges at Patiala and Amritsar with the objective of further improving and streamlining the functioning of these institutions. The new posts would 66 paramedics of technical nature, 464 critical posts of nurses, technicians and class IV employees and 20 posts in lab projects, an official spokesperson said after the meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. These posts would be instrumental in putting into use the medical machinery, equipment and infrastructure, lying idle due to paucity of staff, thus providing better healthcare services to the people, said the spokesperson. In addition, the Cabinet gave the nod for creation and filling of five new posts in the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, along with revival of the already sanctioned nine posts under its restructuring plan. By hanging out with her sons, a mother chimpanzee boosts their odds of survival later in life. Credit: Joel Bray, Arizona State University Even kids who are nearly grown still need a parental figure to help them navigate the long path to adulthoodand our closest animal relatives are no exception. A new study of wild chimpanzees finds that males whose moms were present during their tween and teen years had higher odds of survival later in life, compared with their peers who lost their mothers before they finished puberty. The results appear in the February 2020 issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Beginning in the 1960s, researchers led by primatologist Jane Goodall started monitoring the wild chimpanzees living in Gombe National Park in western Tanzania, making note of things like births, deaths, who was related to who and how the animals interacted. Using more than 50 years of data for 247 chimpanzees, a team from Franklin & Marshall College, The George Washington University and Duke University examined the impacts of having or losing a mother at different stages of a chimpanzee's growing up. Perhaps not surprisingly, they found that a mom's continued presence after weaning means better outcomes for her kids. Chimpanzees whose mothers were still around by their tenth birthdays lived longer than their orphaned peers. But at later stages of growing up, the effect was stronger for sons than daughters. Sons whose mothers were still around between the ages of 10 and 15 were more likely to survive than sons who lost their mothers during that time, whereas daughters did just fine either way. There's a good reason for mom's diminishing influence on daughters, the researchers say. In Gombe National Park, half of all chimpanzee females leave their birth families behind at puberty. But adolescent males stay put, which means mothers and sons are more likely to form lifelong bonds. Exactly how a mom's continued presence enhances her adolescent offspring's survival is still unclear, the researchers say. Compared to other mammals, primates such as chimps and humans take a long time to grow up. Young chimps continue to travel around with their moms and stay within her sight for four to five years after they're weaned. "Primates are unique in having a really long period of juvenility," said associate professor Elizabeth Lonsdorf of Franklin & Marshall College. Young adult chimpanzees have been known to turn to their moms for comfort or reassurance after tussles with other members of their group, said senior author Anne Pusey, professor emerita of evolutionary anthropology at Duke. She recalls a time at Gombe in the early 1970s when she saw a 20-year-old male named Figan hurt his hand during a tense encounter with another male. "He just went screaming to his mom," Pusey said. "The next week he traveled constantly with his mother while his hand got better." Adolescent chimps could also be benefiting from their mom's wealth of experience and knowledge about things like how to avoid predators, or how to get food, such as which fruit trees ripen when and where to find them. "There's a lot more research to be done about what mom actually does," Pusey said. But the take-home is that while a mother's role may change after the nursing years, she continues to matter even when her offspring are nearly grown, especially to her sons. "Even after infants are weaned, mothers still matter somehow," said Margaret Stanton, a visiting assistant professor at Franklin & Marshall College and first author of the study. Explore further Female chimps with powerful moms are less likely to leave home More information: Margaret A. Stanton et al. Consequences of maternal loss before and after weaning in male and female wild chimpanzees, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2020). Journal information: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Margaret A. Stanton et al. Consequences of maternal loss before and after weaning in male and female wild chimpanzees,(2020). DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2804-7 On Saturday, February 8, 2020, at the Badrutts Palace, St. Moritzin guests gathered in aid of a good cause, a charity auction to generate funds that will help the Swiss Red Cross continue its vital work. For Carl F. Bucherer, partnering with this historic organization was a personal mission. The Lucerne-based watch manufacturer donated two exceptional timepieces to the auction, crowning the exquisite offer with a unique Hollywood experience. The Swiss Red Cross will use the auctions proceeds to fund numerous water and hygiene projects worldwide. More than 650 million people worldwide still have no regular access to clean drinking water. The organization will use the total CHF 1.1 million donated that evening to improve the quality of life of many of those affected. In doing so, the Swiss Red Cross will be making a decisive contribution to international sustainability goals, an issue that is very close to Carl F. Bucherers heart: As a watch manufacturer steeped in tradition, we are aware of how precious every moment is and the responsibility that we bear towards future generations, commented Sascha Moeri, CEO of Carl F. Bucherer. As part of our Treasuring Values corporate philosophy, we are therefore committed to long-term partnerships such as with the Swiss Red Cross, to innovative projects and, last but not least, to exceptional timepieces that are exemplars of sustainability. Manero Monograph and Manero Flyback Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer offered an elegant Manero Flyback in rose gold and the feminine Manero Monograph with 50 sparkling diamonds. The auction lot also included an exclusive Hollywood experience together with John Wick director Chad Stahelski and famous stuntman and actor Daniel Bernhardt. Both Hollywood stars, along with Sascha Moeri, personally encouraged guests in St. Moritz to bid for this particular auction lot. The lot was awarded to the highest bidder, who offered CHF 80,000, the highest individual bid on this truly special evening. Northern Ireland's projected economic growth for 2020 is downgraded to 0.8% in a key report today. The Economic Eye from business advisers EY said a planned increase in government spending and high levels of job growth would prevent the economy here from shrinking. It said the 0.8% marked just a slight downgrade in its forecast. Growth in 2021 and 2022 was projected to pick up to 1.3% and 1.5% respectively. However, the expansion was dependent on the securing of a free trade agreement with the EU. IT would be the main driver of growth in the jobs market, adding 30,000 jobs across the island over the next five years. Northern Ireland's projected growth is behind expansion of 3.4% forecast for the Republic in 2020, and 1.2% in the UK. Professor Neil Gibson, chief economist for EY Ireland, said the economies of Northern Ireland and the Republic had been dominated by political developments. Contrasting growth levels had also led to contrasting election results. And he said the New Decade, New Approach deal which restored power-sharing reflected a change in voters' priorities. "In the UK, the Conservatives secured their biggest majority in a generation with growth barely topping 1% and in the Republic the incumbent government could not secure a majority with headline growth rates of well over 5%. "This speaks to a long-standing disconnect between headline growth and the citizen experience and we are likely to see a focus on public services, quality of life and what can be characterised as more internal, or personal, outcomes gather than a singular drive for growth and globalisation. "This has already been seen in the New Deal, New Approach document. It is the nexus of economic, social and environmental considerations that is creating a new paradigm and shaping the political landscape." EY said that a notable pick-up in business sentiment in early 2020 reflected a feeling that the worst of Brexit is over after the UK left the EU on January 31. But Michael Hall, managing partner at EY NI, said that while firms were hopeful there would be a free trade agreement, they should also be prepared for anything. "Adaptable plans and flexibility should remain a top priority in preparing for a post-Brexit island." Weinberger recalled several other recent examples of students affected, including one graduate student who went home to China for winter break. While about to board a flight back to the U.S., the student was told the entry visa had been canceled, with no reason provided. The student is reapplying, but travel is now hindered by the new coronavirus and the student has withdrawn from the spring semester, Weinberger said. Alabama women die from pregnancy and childbirth complications at more than double the rate of women nationally, according to new numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alabama now ranks third highest in the nation in maternal death rates, behind Arkansas and Kentucky. This is the first year in more than a decade that the federal government has published an official U.S. maternal mortality rate. The lag is due to a delay in states adopting standardized death certificates. Alabamas new rate of 36.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births was third-highest in the nation for 2018, the latest year for which data is available. The national rate is 17.4. Alabama's maternal death rate of 36.4 is third-highest in the nation and more than twice the national average of 17.4, according to new data released by the National Center for Health Statistics. The latest maternal mortality statistics reaffirm a disturbing reality: The U.S. is in the midst of a maternal and infant health crisis, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, senior vice president and chief medical and health officer at the March of Dimes, in a statement. Were losing a shocking number of mothers each year and its crucial that were able to consistently track these deaths if were serious about preventing them. While the overall U.S. maternal death rate is 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, that number masks a glaring racial disparity: black women die at a rate of 37.1, more than double the rate of white women at 14.7, and Hispanic women at 11.8. Black women die at more than double the rate of white women and Hispanic women from pregnancy-related causes, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The new 2018 maternal death rates, though they come with caveats, are widely seen as a wakeup call. The United States ranks 55th in the world for maternal deaths, just behind Russia, and ranks worst among wealthy countries. The U.S. rate is also higher now than it was 10 years ago, even as the global rate continues to decline. The NCHS urges caution when trying to interpret the new data, however. The data from the NCHS report comes from the pregnancy checkbox on the death certificates, said Dr. Rachel Sinkey, a professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and chair of Alabamas Maternal Mortality Review Committee. That is one way, although not the most accurate way, to identify a maternal death. The death rates are calculated based on deaths up to 42 days after delivery. Although thats the definition used by the World Health Organization, it can miss some pregnancy-associated deaths, said Sinkey. Deaths resulting from pregnancy may happen more than 42 days postpartum, she said. For example, pregnancy can cause irreversible damage to a mothers heart, called cardiomyopathy, and these deaths often occur more than 42 days after delivery. The actual number of maternal deaths reported in Alabama via the death certificate checkbox in 2018 is 31. Because its a slightly different way of counting maternal deaths than in previous years, it cant easily be compared apples-to-apples with Alabamas 41 maternal deaths in 2017. Even with unreliable numbers, Alabama is still doing terribly compared with other states, said Trace Zarr, director of political development for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, a professional organization representing Alabama doctors. Where we stand nationally as a state is still far behind most of the rest of the nation. The 31 deaths in Alabama in 2018 also do not include deaths from pregnancy-associated causes, such as suicide and drug overdose. Theres evidence to show that using such a narrow definition of maternal death could leave out many deaths that can be positively linked to pregnancy and childbirth. In Illinois, for example, one fifth of all deaths of pregnant women and new mothers in 2014-2016 were suicides and overdoses, according to a report from ProPublica. One way states can get a clearer, more comprehensive picture of the causes and contributing factors of maternal deaths is through a statewide maternal mortality review committee. The CDC recommends this method since death certificate data alone has been shown to be unreliable. Alabama recently launched its own committee, which has begun the process of reviewing maternal deaths from 2017 but operates largely as a volunteer-run organization. Maternal Mortality Review Committees are key to allowing stakeholders to determine if the death was related to pregnancy, like hemorrhage or hypertension, or a pregnancy-associated death, like an automobile accident, said Sinkey. The NCHS data dont provide that level of detail. In recent months, Alabama medical and nonprofit organizations have asked the governor and state legislators to set aside nearly half a million dollars to fund the committee. The biggest takeaway from this report is that the checkbox and death certificates arent always reliable, and we need a Maternal Mortality Review Committee to actually sit down and go through those deaths, said Zarr. Once you confirm those deaths were related to pregnancy, you can finally start to assess the questions of why they happened, what went wrong and what we can do to fix it. Gov. Kay Iveys approved budget was sent to the legislature with a line item for $478,000 to fund the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Now its up to state legislators whether that remains in the budget when its passed. Its not a republican or Democrat issue, said Zarr. The death of a mother affects everyone. Our work is not done yet. Russell Down has been the CEO of Speedy Hire Plc (LON:SDY) since 2015. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. See our latest analysis for Speedy Hire How Does Russell Down's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Speedy Hire Plc has a market capitalization of UK445m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK1.3m over the year to March 2019. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at UK380k. We further remind readers that the CEO may face performance requirements to receive the non-salary part of the total compensation. When we examined a selection of companies with market caps ranging from UK154m to UK615m, we found the median CEO total compensation was UK643k. It would therefore appear that Speedy Hire Plc pays Russell Down more than the median CEO remuneration at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this fact alone doesn't mean the remuneration is too high. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Speedy Hire has changed from year to year. LSE:SDY CEO Compensation, February 18th 2020 Is Speedy Hire Plc Growing? Speedy Hire Plc has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 77% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 5.7% over the last year. This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. It's also good to see modest revenue growth, suggesting the underlying business is healthy. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings. Story continues Has Speedy Hire Plc Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Speedy Hire Plc for providing a total return of 76% over three years. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. In Summary... We examined the amount Speedy Hire Plc pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. Our data suggests that it pays above the median CEO pay within that group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. In addition, shareholders have done well over the same time period. As a result of this good performance, the CEO remuneration may well be quite reasonable. Shareholders may want to check for free if Speedy Hire insiders are buying or selling shares. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the UN to fulfil its commitments with the people of Kashmir and help them achieve right of self-determination as he met chief of the global body Antonio Guterres in Islamabad Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the UN to fulfil its commitments with the people of Kashmir and help them achieve right of self-determination as he met chief of the global body Antonio Guterres in Islamabad. During his meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Prime Minister Khan highlighted the "dire human rights and humanitarian situation" in Jammu and Kashmir following India's 5 August decision to end the special status of the region. "The Prime Minister underscored that the Kashmiri people continued to look to the United Nations to honour its commitments for the realisation of their right to self-determination, as enshrined in numerous UN Security Council resolutions," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August last year. India's decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded its diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. India has defended its move, saying the special status provisions only gave rise to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. "The country took the decision of abrogation of Article 370, which had only given separatism and terrorism to that state," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in October last year. India has rejected any third party intervention to the Kashmir issue and has maintained that all outstanding matters in Indo-Pak ties should be resolved bilaterally. Khan claimed that India's belligerent rhetoric, intensified ceasefire violations on the LoC, and other aggressive actions were imperiling peace and security in the region, the statement said. He also highlighted the possibility of a false flag operation by India to divert global attention from its "unacceptable actions" in Kashmir, it said. Talking about Afghanistan, Khan underscored that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict and reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast support for peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country. Khan also highlighted Pakistan's generosity in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the last four decades, the statement said. Earlier, Guterres and Khan attended the International Conference on 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The Prime Minister also stressed that climate change posed an existential threat to mankind and assured the Secretary General that Pakistan would work hand in hand with the global community to pursue swift implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. He also highlighted the landmark '10 billion Tree Tsunami'. Guterres also held talks with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday. Matters of mutual interests, overall regional security situation including Afghan refugees issue, Afghan reconciliation process and the Kashmir dispute were discussed during the meeting, Pakistan army said in a statement. "Visiting dignitary said that there is a need to implement UN resolutions on Kashmir," the statement said. The UN chief on Sunday arrived on a four-day visit to Pakistan during which he will also visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. Guterres thanked Pakistan for "full access given to United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Kashmir," it said. He also commended the improved security situation in Pakistan and positive efforts towards regional peace and stability. The UN chief also acknowledged Pakistan's contribution in UN peacekeeping missions and extraordinary achievements in counter terrorism. Separately, United States special envoy for Afghan reconciliation ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also called on General Bajwa, the statement said. "During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including overall regional security situation and ongoing Afghan reconciliation process were discussed," it said. Khalilzad was in Pakistan to attend the conference on Afghan refugees and discuss the Afghan peace process. He also met Prime Minister Khan. Martin Theriault, CEO of Eddyfi/NDT, says: "We are first and foremost an NDT technology company. The uniqueness and proprietary nature of the ART technique was an opportunity we could not miss. This acquisition is very synergetic for our group, impacting all 3 of our business units. Eddyfi Technologies will benefit from leveraging a new modality to create a multitude of new applications. TSC Subsea will add a second, highly differentiated modality to its offering. NDT Global will officially enter the in-service gas pipeline segment and present a competitive alternative to EMAT insofar as SCC crack detection. All in all, the transaction reinforces Eddyfi/NDT's positioning as a high-end, high-performance solutions provider agnostic to any particular modality." Halfwave Subsea will merge with TSC Subsea, and the two units will mutually benefit from larger scale and market access. Halfwave AS, the ILI entity, will kick off its integration with NDT Global at the PPIM Conference in Houston this week. The initial focus will be on creating rapid sales synergies. NDT Global's operational know-how, experience and footprint will improve the robustness of ART inspection service. The integration process is expected to be finalized during the course of 2020. This will allow the Halfwave team to remain focused on continuing to develop the science for onshore metal thickness applications, as well as crack inspection. Novacap alongside its co-investors and CDPQ, along with National Bank of Canada and Investissement Quebec, have provided their support for the transaction. "The team at Eddyfi/NDT is highly determined to succeed. What better way to accelerate their entry into the Advanced Integrated Inspection strategy than with a play in both ILI and Subsea," said David Lewin, Senior Partner at Novacap (TMT). This transaction is the team's 8th acquisition in less than 4 years. "In addition to successfully executing its ambitious growth plan, Eddyfi/NDT has demonstrated a strong ability to integrate companies into its portfolio, becoming today a world leader in its industry," said Charles Emond, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDPQ. Halfwave was acquired from its main shareholders EV Private Equity, Shell Technology Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures and DNVGL in addition to key employee shareholders. Halfwaves Chairman and Senior Partner at EV Private Equity, Einar Gamman, observed: "It was very important for the shareholders to find a buyer that could continue perfecting the ART technique and accelerate its global adoption. Following a competitive process, we found there was no better entity than Eddyfi/NDT to deliver the most prosperous future for the ART offering. I want to thank the staff of Halfwave, who have, since our initial investment in 2012, developed and commercialized a set of disruptive asset integrity inspection techniques and as such I am proud that we are positively contributing to the important global targets of safer operations of, and reduced emissions from, the up & midstream hydrocarbon industry." CEO of Halfwave, Paul S Cooper, adds: "It has been a great journey growing and developing the ART NDT platform into unique market-leading pipeline and subsea inspection applications. The combination of a talented Halfwave team, forward-looking clients and unwavering support from our owners has provided an unstoppable recipe for success. Eddyfi/NDT's impressive complementary technology portfolio, technology focus and global footprint provides the perfect vehicle for ART to realize its full potential in the market. We are very excited at becoming part of the Eddyfi/NDT team." Baird acted as an exclusive financial advisor to Eddyfi/NDT in the transaction. McCarthy Tetrault acted as lead legal advisor to Eddyfi/NDT. Simmons Energy, a division of Piper Sandler, acted as an exclusive financial advisor to Halfwave and its shareholders in the transaction, and law firm Schjdt acted as the legal advisor to Halfwave. About Eddyfi/NDT Eddyfi/NDT is a fast-growing, innovative private Test & Measurement (T&M) technology group focused on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). Through its 2 divisions, Advanced NDT Equipment and Advanced Integrated Inspections, it caters to asset owners, large engineering firms, and service companies globally in markets such as Aerospace, Energy, Mining, Power Generation, and Transportation. Eddyfi/NDT believes that advancing NDT science and technology via sensors, hardware, robotics and software makes the world safer, more productive and more environmentally secure. The company employs over 1,100 people throughout 22 offices worldwide and serves clients in more than 110 countries. www.eddyfi-ndt.com About Halfwave Halfwave provides accurate and reliable inspection data that allows its customers to make informed choices in order to maintain the integrity of critical assets. Halfwave has developed innovative cost-effective inspection tools and services for the energy market. Key to Halfwave's offering is its patented ultra-wideband acoustic inspection technology (ART), which offers penetration and measurement capabilities significantly exceeding those of existing inspection technologies. The company has established ART as a superior technology for pipeline & subsea inspection. Halfwave's workshop and office headquarters are located in Bergen, Norway. The company also has an office in Oslo and a workshop in Houston, USA. www.halfwave.com About Novacap Founded in 1981, Novacap is a leading Canadian private equity firm with CA$3.6 billion of assets under management. Its distinct investment approach, based on deep operational expertise and an active partnership with entrepreneurs, has helped accelerate growth and create long-term value for its numerous portfolio companies. With an experienced management team and substantial financial resources, Novacap is well positioned to continue building world-class businesses. Backed by leading global institutional investors, Novacap's deals typically include leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, add-on acquisitions, IPOs, and privatizations. Over the last 39 years, Novacap has invested in more than 90 companies and completed more than 130 add-on acquisitions. The company has offices in Toronto, Ontario, and Brossard, Quebec. For more information, please visit www.novacap.ca. About Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2019, it held CAD326.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. www.cdpq.com About EV Private Equity EV Private Equity is an independent growth equity firm investing in technology enabled industrial businesses offering impact in the form of lower costs, increased productivity, reduced risk and lower carbon footprint. Its team of investment experts deploy proven practices across a global network to grow world-class companies and deliver competitive returns for its investors. With five funds and assets under management of more than $1 billion, EV Private Equity has a strong active portfolio of more than 20 highly differentiated companies. It is proud of the close relationships it cultivates with its portfolio companies working in partnership with them to achieve shared goals is the key to its success in growing companies to their full potential. www.evpe.com SOURCE Eddyfi/NDT Related Links https://www.cdpq.com/ Photo: CTV News Police were on scene outside the home of Premier John Horgan Tuesday morning. A number of pipeline protesters attempted what they called a citizen's arrest of Premier John Horgan outside his Vancouver Island home Tuesday morning. CTV News reports members of Extinction Rebellion Vancouver Island said they wanted to prevent Horgan from attending the provincial budget announcement at the legislature. The premier wasn't at home when protesters first arrived, but he came home shortly after, and was verbally accosted. Four RCMP vehicles were stationed outside the home before 8 a.m., along with the premier's security team. By 8:15 a.m., two people were lying across the driveway, while others were holding signs on the street. At 8:20 a.m., police arrested protesters who were blocking the driveway. Horgan left his home at 8:30 a.m. The attempted citizen's arrest comes after last week's anti-pipeline protests, and actions in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, across Victoria, the province and across Canada. with files from CTV Vancouver Island It would require changing into something people wouldnt recognize as scouting, said Mr. Kosnoff, noting the organizations history of sending boys on remote outings with volunteer leaders. Over the span of a century, more than 130 million Americans have participated in the Boy Scouts. But membership has been dwindling in recent decades, as shifting American attitudes pulled many families away from the God-and-country oaths and outdoorsy survival skills that the Scouts offered. Then, in more recent years, lawsuits brought to light a long history of sexual abuse problems that the organization strove to keep secret. The Boy Scouts have kept internal files about abuse cases at their headquarters almost since the group was founded in 1910. In a 1935 article in The New York Times, the organization described having files on hundreds of people who had been scout leaders but had been labeled degenerates. In recent years, an expert hired by the organization reviewed decades of records and reported that there were nearly 8,000 perpetrators. The Boy Scouts fought the release of some of the files in an Oregon case, in which a jury held the Scouts liable in 2010 for $18.5 million in punitive damages. Two years later, the Oregon Supreme Court ordered that the records in that case be made public. Paul Mones, a lawyer for the plaintiffs in the Oregon case, expressed concern on Tuesday that the Boy Scouts bankruptcy filing would rob other victims of the opportunity to hold the group accountable in court. The justice that they so well deserved will unfortunately escape them in the end, and that is a true tragedy, he said. The Boy Scouts said in April 2019 that every account of suspected abuse in the groups files had been reported to law enforcement, and that it had never knowingly allowed people who harm children to work with them. The group later acknowledged that decades before, some volunteers who were credibly accused of abuse had in fact been allowed to return. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to abuse innocent children, and sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting, Mr. Turley wrote in his statement on Tuesday. After years of implementing measures like mandatory background checks for volunteers and a ban on one-on-one interactions between adults and youths, he said, Scouting is now safer than ever before. Human Rights Council and Association of Russian Lawyers Chairs sign cooperation agreement RAPSI 16:01 18/02/2020 MOSCOW, February 18 (RAPSI) The Chairman of Russias Presidential Human Rights Council Valery Fadeyev and the Chairman of the Association of Lawyers of Russia Vladimir Piligin have signed a cooperation agreement between two organizations. According to Fadeyev, the Council and the Association have already been working together for some time, in particular, as concerns pro bono legal help across Russias regions. The Chair of the Council expressed hope that the agreement was to broaden cooperation and make it even more useful for citizens of Russia. Among spheres of joint activities Fadeyev pointed out the problem of doping in sports. The two bodies agreed to cooperate in settling problems related to civil rights and liberties, improvement of public oversight mechanisms in this sphere, development of civil society institutions, humanization of and modernization of Russias society. The Council and Association are planning to carry out joint expert examinations of bills, organize conferences, seminars and round tables to study pressing problems of law enforcement, participate in the development of proposals on the improvement of legislation, run informational and awareness building campaigns aimed to boost legal knowledge. A special medical team has been deployed to screen pilgrims arriving in this West Bengal town from countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to take part in the annual Urs festival, amid the scare of novel coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday. Lakhs of Bengali-speaking Muslims from across India and several countries in the region have been coming to the Midnapore town in West Midnapore district to offer flowers, 'chaddar' and itr to the shrine of saint Syed Shah Mehr Ali Alquadri Al Baghdadi on the occasion for over a hundred years. This year marks the 119th anniversary of the Urs. A train carrying 2,321 pilgrims from Dhaka in Bangladesh arrived here on Monday. Among the passengers, 994 were female and 106 children. A district official said adequate police arrangements have been made for the Urs festival and to facilitate the pilgrims. Medical teams have also been deployed to screen people arriving here from foreign countries amid the scare of novel coronavirus, he said. The teams have been deputed at the Midnapore railway station to screen the pilgrims for symptoms of the disease and only after that they are being allowed to enter the town, the official said. The Urs, which began on Monday, will continue till Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 07:10:58|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Several hundred homes and businesses have been impacted as the Pearl River in Jackson, southern U.S. state of Mississippi, reached its third-highest crest on record on Monday, local officials said. The river is currently cresting at 36.7 feet (11.18 meters) and will go down from that peak soon, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said Monday, adding that emergency officials have responded to 16 search and rescue operations across the state. The river isn't expected to drop below major flood stage until sometime Wednesday, according to a CNN report. "We don't anticipate the situation to end any time soon. It will be days before we are out of the woods and the water starts to recede," Reeves said Sunday. He declared a state of emergency on Saturday. "There's a lot of contamination, a lot of sewage. It's not safe. There's a lot of swift water, a lot of unknowns. We don't need a tragedy out of this," Hinds County Emergency Management Director Ricky Moore told CNN. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Sunday that four injuries had been reported in Grenada County due to hydroplaning. The river had risen above 38 feet (11.58 meters) only twice before, first in 1979 and then again in 1983, according to the Weather Channel. Mr. Maduro has led Venezuelas economy into shambles and prompted an exodus of millions of people into neighboring South American states. The sanctions are among the biggest hits to Venezuelas economy since the United States banned Venezuelas state oil company last January, said Francisco Monaldi, a Venezuela energy expert at Rice University in Houston. Rosneft will now have to think how much Venezuela is worth from a business standpoint, compared to the costs of remaining under sanctions, Mr. Monaldi said. But, he added, the sanctions could misfire if Rosneft concludes that the higher costs of doing business in Venezuela are justified by the geopolitical benefit of helping out Russias key ally in South America. Rosneft sells about two-thirds of Venezuelas oil, largely to Asia, and often by obscuring the cargos source and destination. Officials said Mr. Maduro was taking the profits from the oil sales facilitated by Rosneft to hang onto power, in part by bolstering the Venezuelan military and its harsh crackdown against the public. Rosnefts trading subsidiary was created in 2011 to help its Moscow-based parent company carry out foreign projects, including shipping crude oil. In the last few years, faced with American and European sanctions, Rosneft has pushed deeply into places like Cuba, China, Egypt and Vietnam. Its two largest customers are China and India, both of which have struggled to procure sufficient oil supplies after the Trump administration imposed sanctions against Iran. In the case of India, where Mr. Trump is scheduled to visit next week, the government in Delhi has been forced to find new suppliers including from the United States. Additionally, the world is currently flooded with oil since the coronavirus is cutting millions of barrels a day of demand in the Chinese market. Curtailing Venezuelas 700,000 barrels of daily production should have little if any impact on global oil prices. CORNING, N.Y., Feb. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation (CNIG) announced consolidated earnings of $393,017 or $0.13 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. This compares to consolidated earnings of $688,728 or $0.23 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. CEO Mike German stated, The company saw an earnings decline principally due to unusual regulatory reconciliations at Corning Natural Gas and Pike County Light & Power. He noted that the unusual reconciliations arent expected to occur in subsequent quarters. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2019 is not necessarily indicative of expected results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. Quarterly earnings are affected by the highly seasonal nature of the business and weather conditions such as temperature variations. In addition, regulatory reconciliations, either negative or positive, can impact quarterly results. The revenue decline in the quarter was the result of a decline in purchased electric and natural gas costs that are a pass-through to customers. Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation provides natural gas and electric service to customers in New York and Pennsylvania through its operating subsidiaries Corning Natural Gas, Pike County Light & Power, and Leatherstocking Gas Company, a 50% JV with Mirabito Regulated Industries. From time-to-time, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation may produce forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contact: Julie Lewis / 607-936-3755 Cameroon's army on Monday denied opposition charges that it had massacred villagers in a troubled English-speaking region, blaming instead an "unfortunate accident" caused by an explosion of fuel during a firefight. Up to 22 civilians, 14 of them children, died in the incident on Friday, according to the United Nations -- deaths which opposition parties blamed on members of the armed forces. But army spokesman Colonel Cyrille Atonfack Guemo described the allegations as "duplicitous". An army investigation, he said, found that the deaths happened after fuel was set ablaze during a gunfight with anglophone separatists. Five civilians -- a woman and four children -- died, and "seven terrorists" were "neutralised", Atonfack told AFP in Libreville by phone. The deaths occurred in the village of Ntumbo in Cameroon's Northwest Region -- one of two English-speaking regions that have been grappling with separatist violence since October 2017. More than 3,000 people have died and at least 700,000 have fled their homes. "It was quite simply an unfortunate accident, the collateral result of security operations in the region," Atonfack said in a statement. He said four soldiers and two gendarmes had been carrying out nighttime reconnaissance on foot near a home that had been "transformed into a fortress" with a stockpile of weapons. They came under heavy fire, and exchanges caused "several containers of fuel to explode, followed by a blaze which spread several neighbouring homes", Atonfack said. - Gunmen - On Sunday, James Nunan, a local official with UN humanitarian coordination agency OCHA, told AFP that "armed men" had killed as many as 22 civilians, including a pregnant woman and 14 young children. Eleven of the children were girls, said Nunan, head of OCHA's office for the Northwest and Southwest regions. Conflict in the English-apeaking regions has left 3,000 people dead and forced more than 700,000 to flee their homes / AFP/File Aid workers contacted by AFP said witnesses had told them that between 40 and 50 armed men -- some wearing army uniform and some wearing masks -- entered Ngarbuh, a district of the village, before shooting inhabitants dead and burning them. "They fired on people and burned victims -- their bodies are in a terrible state," said an aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity. "People phoned us to say that soldiers had come and smashed down doors, opened fire on people and set homes on fire," Ntumbo resident Louis Panlanjo, a member of a local association, told AFP. "People took shelter in the centre of the village. There was about 800 of them." A resident who wanted to remain anonymous told AFP by phone that 35 bodies had been recovered and the army was to blame. The Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), one of the two main opposition parties, blamed "these crimes" mainly on the regime and the head of the security forces. A key figure in the separatist movement, lawyer Felix Agbor Mballa, in a Facebook post also accused "state defence forces" of carrying out the killings. The army had previously denied any involvement in the deaths. - Restive region - English-speakers account for nearly a fifth of Cameroon's population of 24 million, who are majority French-speaking. Years of grievances at perceived discrimination snowballed into a declaration of independence in October 2017 and a government crackdown. The declaration has not been recognised internationally although the government has lately decentralised some of its powers. The UN refugee agency said on Thursday that almost 8,000 people had fled into Nigeria from Cameroon in the previous two weeks to escape the fighting, bringing the number of refugees to almost 60,000. Once considered a haven of stability in central Africa, Cameroon has for the last seven years seen the jihadist group Boko Haram kill soldiers and civilians in the north. In the latest attack, three people were killed on Saturday when Boko Haram militants set fire to around 100 homes, looted shops and stole grain, security officials said. Meanwhile, the much-delayed trial was due to begin on Monday of seven soldiers accused of killing two women and their babies in 2015. However, the trial in the capital Yaounde had not started by Monday evening. The murders, which came to light through a video on the internet, were initially dismissed as "fake news" by the government, which later investigated the incident and arrested seven suspects. Reports said the committee unanimously recommended that 1951 should be the base year for defining indigenous people of Assam who would be eligible for constitutional safeguards under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Guwahati: The high-powered committee appointed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord is upset by the premature leak of recommendations in its final report that would provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards for the Assamese people. It is unfortunate that such information is out in media. We have apprised the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that the report has been finalised. If required, we can travel to New Delhi to submit it. We were told that we might be called after 18 FebruaryLets see what happens tomorrow, said a member of the high-powered committee. Reports said the committee unanimously recommended that 1951 should be the base year for defining indigenous people of Assam who would be eligible for constitutional safeguards under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Besides, the committee is also said to have suggested the introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire state along with ways for the protection of land rights. The home ministry-appointed committee led by Justice (retired) Biplab Sarma had finalised a 91-page report on 10 February after holding consultations with various stakeholders. Assam will not be out of the Citizenship Amendment Act if 1951 is made the cut-off year, but political and land rights of the indigenous people will be protected provided seat reservations are conceded and land transfer is restricted. We need constitutional protection, but also no CAA because it is against the constitutional ethos and fraternal harmony of the people, said former Assam DGP Harekrishna Deka. On implementing ILP in Assam, Deka said, It is somewhat a deterrent, but not strictly implementable in a state depending on trade and business with the rest of India. Goods and services may suffer. Border protection needs to be very strict. Peaceful demonstrations, meanwhile, continue in Assam against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with people demanding a full withdrawal of the legislation, an inquiry into the deaths caused by police firing, and release of rights activist Akhil Gogoi and other Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leaders arrested during the anti-CAA movement. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) said it would continue to oppose the CAA as the state will not accept any extra load till 2014. With 1951 as the base year, we will get safeguards to take a load of illegal migrants till 1971, this was a commitment as per the Assam Accord. But the extra load till 2014 is not acceptable, and cannot be a bargaining agenda, said AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, adding that the CAA violates the provisions of the Assam Accord. According to Clause 5 of Assam Accord, foreigners who came to Assam on or after 24 March, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with the law. According to sources, with the recommendation of 1951 as the base year, the indigenous Assamese people and their descendants included in 1951 National Register of Citizens (NRC) -- irrespective of community, caste, language, religion or heritage will be entitled to constitutional safeguards. Who will be 'Assamese', or how will the indigenous people be defined for these constitutional safeguards? Everyone included in the NRC will have all citizenship rights of every other Indian citizen of India as elsewhere. But constitutional safeguards are being sought for the people of indigenous origin who lived in Assam prior to India becoming a sovereign republic. If the indigenous people include all people, irrespective of their religion or language, domiciled in Assam at the time of the enforcement of the Constitution in 1950, the only reference document available for this purpose is the NRC of 1951, said Deka. It is possible that in that NRC names of many genuine citizens did not find a place for poor census exercise. So, any family having documents relevant to that time would have to be included on the proof of such documents. But immigrants coming after that date, though accepted as citizens, cannot be termed as domiciled in Assam before India became a republic if they were not in the geographical area of then Assam, he further explained. Earlier on 7 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Assam had assured that the Central government will work expeditiously to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord once the high-powered committee submits its report. The Honor V30 Pro is one of the best smartphones you can't have outside of China but according to MySmartPrice, that's about to change. Sort of. The lack of Google services is the main reason for that but Huawei says it's ready to launch its substitute - HMS (Huawei Mobile Services). The services would be ready to launch next week and the first phones to run it are the Honor V30 and V30 Pro. They will debut in Europe packed with home-baked services including Huawei ID, Huawei Mobile Cloud, Huawei AppGallery, Huawei Video, Huawei Themes, Huawei ScreenMagazine, and Huawei Browser. We should expect HMS to make it to other Huawei and Honor phones too and we suspect the Mate 30 Pro would be one of them. Still, you'd have to find a way to live without GMS, which might be a challenge. Via Ypsilanti, MI, Feb. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The LiveYpsi home loan program, which offers forgivable home loans to Eastern Michigan University faculty and staff who purchase a home in Ypsilanti or part of Ypsilanti Township, is nearing the milestone of 70 homes purchased since the program was launched in 2012. More than $10 million in home purchases have been supported by the initiative. Eastern Michigan administers the programs, with funding from the University and Washtenaw County. The LiveYpsi Program supports the Ypsilanti-area community by encouraging eligible employees to purchase homes in neighborhoods surrounding the University's main campus. Having eligible employees reside in the area promotes home ownership and encourages involvement in the community. Details of the program include: LiveYpsi is available to regular employees of Eastern Michigan University and the EMU Foundation. The geographic area covered by the program is the City of Ypsilanti and selected parts of Ypsilanti Township. The program provides a forgivable loan of $5,000 or $10,000, depending on the location of the home. The employee may use the loan for anything related to the purchase of the primary residence. Eligible expenses include down payment assistance, remodeling and closing costs. For each year the employee remains employed by Eastern and living in the home, 20 percent of the loan is forgiven. After five years, the entire amount of the loan is forgiven. Participating faculty and staff praise the program: As a new faculty member, I felt it was important that I make this community, not just the University, my home. The LiveYpsi program has been instrumental in making that possible, said Sarah Walsh, an associate professor of health science who purchased a home through LiveYpsi after joining the EMU faculty in the fall of 2013. "Plus, I get the added bonus of walking to work. LiveYpsi is a great program." About Eastern Michigan University Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information, visit the University's website. Morgan Mark Eastern Michigan University 7344874402 mmark@emich.edu New 'closed' refugee facilities on Greek islands put on hold Government backs down over controversial plans in the Aegean (ANSAmed) - ATHENS, FEBRUARY 18 - Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis announced on Monday that planned expropriations of land for the development of five new migrant detention camps on the North East Aegean islands has been put on hold until Friday, after the controversial plans were met with stiff opposition from regional governors and local communities. After a tense week up to last Friday when a standoff developed between both sides following the government's surprise announcement that it planned to issue a legislative act to expropriate properties, land and sites in an effort to speed up the start of construction work on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, which have carried most of the burden of the ongoing refugee crisis. The council of the North Aegean Region voted to take legal action against the government, staged protests at the Ministry of Interior in Athens, and has suspended all cooperation with the government until it repeals the legislative act that will enforce the measures to build the new facilities. Speaking to state broadcaster ERT on Monday, Mitarakis said he was "putting the expropriations on hold to allow time for new talks with the islanders". Mitarakis also commented that the proposed requisitions are simply "nothing more than a lease of those premises for a period of three years", adding that the government's end goal is to close the existing "open" centers and reduce the time asylum seekers remain in the camps to below six months. The Migration Minister also stated that one of the key issues he raises with his European counterparts at the EU is for the body to contribute to opening return routes with countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mitarakis is scheduled to meet with German Interior Minister Horst Zeehofer on Thursday to discuss the German proposal for a common European asylum policy. Meanwhile, in related developments, members of the local community near the proposed site of the new migrant camp in the Karava area on Lesvos, staged a defant show of their opposition to the government's plans. Residents of the wider area gathered on Sunday in the presence of representatives of the local authorities, and created a huge Greek flag and the word "Oxi", which means "no" in painted blue and white stones. "Our movement is symbolic, it does not offend or cause anyone any harm," said the president of the Karava local community, Haralambos Tzelaidis. He added: "We are leaving the blue and white of the Greek flag here and the word "no" here to show that we are determined not to allow the proposed new center to be created, for the very specific reasons we have already discussed in detail." While Mitsotakis' New Democracy have brought in several measures to combat the ongoing issues, such as those to speed up asylum application processes, transfers of people from the islands to the mainland, as well as tougher legislative measures and border security with the help of Frontex, the Greek state is still struggling under the weight of the problem. And things are not getting any easier as vessels carrying migrants from the Turksih coast are still arriving almost daily. (ANSAmed). When the Eye of Sauron is off the Whitehall machine, things stop working, The Sun was told last week by a senior Downing Street figure. Whoever this person may be, he certainly knows his onions. And his Tolkien. Like many metaphors, it works on different levels. At one, the Eye is an expression of the will of Sauron, the demonic villain of the tale, to pin down places and people before devouring them. At another, it is a symbol of the mangled bureaucracy of dysfunctional states. Or armies. There may be an echo of the military headquarters and staff officers of the First World War, in which Tolkien served. The Eye was busy elsewhere, one character tells another, at a point in the story. They couldnt get Lugburz to pay attention for a good while, Im told. Lugburz is Saurons command and control centre. Gollum puts it most plainly: His Eye is all round, but it attends more to some places than to others. He cant see everything all at once, not yet. As that Downing Street figure spotted, it is also a brilliant symbol of how modern British government works. Number Ten has got bigger, in relation to the rest of Whitehall, over the past 20 years. Tony Blair began the trend in earnest: introducing a new Delivery Unit to keep departments up to speed; giving Alastair Campbell the power to instruct civil servants, bringing in more fixers and operators to Downing Street. If the core of government is like Saurons Eye, this is one that was gazing further afield. The tendency has waxed and waned. David Cameron abolished the unit, only later to re-form it. The powers of the centre reached a terrifying climax under Theresa May Mark One, as this site calls it, when Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill dominated Number Ten. They were Lugburz on steroids, as it were. The power of the centre shrivelled under May Mark Two, as her majority and authority dwindled to nothing. Under Johnson and his landslide, it is back with a vengeance sometimes literally. The bloody head of Julian Smith, currently pronged on a spike above the door to Number Ten, is evidence of Johnsons long memory, his capacity to nurse a grudge and, later, deliver his revenge cold. He has a sunnier side. But it may not be for nothing that he has described his favourite film scene as the multiple retribution killings at the end of The Godfather. Amidst these tensions, Dominic Cummings is a useful agent. He is hugely influentialand ultimately dispensable. If the wrong adviser is appointed, or the BBC is over-briefed against, the Prime Minister can distance himself from his ruthless SpAd just as he does this morning. Cummings fulfils the lightning-rod function legendarily reserved for the Tsars evil counsellors. The cry goes up: If only Stalin knew! Yes, the current Eye in Downing Street is Johnsons, not Cummings. But, like the officialdom of the Great War, the more it strains, the less it sees. It becomes blind almost to all else that is moving. To be sure, modern government needs a strong centre. And the growth in the Eyes ambitions, over the last 20 years or so, is a response to changing landscape. Government is busier than ever. There is more moving out there to keep a watch on. So it is tempting, for example, to merge Numbers 10 and 11 at the top, anyway. To make the Eye see further, faster. To fix on problems and sort them quicker. Hence the decision to get Johnson and Rishi Sunaks top teams working together. Such accumulating centrism sits oddly with the dominant fashion for devolution, elected mayors, police commissioners, local enterprise partnerships, and the rest of the alphabet soup of English local government. Downing Street would say that theres no contradiction, and maybe its right. Certainly, the Eye has limited use for potential rivals. Cabinet Ministers have usually been chosen partly because they will be effective in the Commons and on the media. This Government still needs some people at the top table of that type: Michael Gove, Brandon Lewis, Sunak himself. But the sum of the reshuffle suggests that Number Ten thinks that they are less important than before. And that what matters more is competence, loyalty and discipline i.e: not showboating in the media. If the papers and TV are losing out to YouTube and Facebook, why bother with those awkward interviews on The Today Programme or Newsnight when you can reach voters directly? Why worry about Andrew Neil? If what happens on the floor of the Commons is less testing, because Oliver Letwin and Dominic Grieve and David Gauke and others have gone, does being deft at the despatch box really matter so much? We believe that it does. But understand why the Prime Minister, Cummings and others might think that they have their opponents where they want them, at least for a while. So Beware the Eye of Johnson. Nonetheless, it is worth remembering the end of Tolkiens story, as power accumulates at the centre, Ministers shrink in size, the Andrew Sabiskys of this world can swiftly be dispensed with, and the BBC may or may not be overhauled (which should and must happen). The Eye couldnt see everywhere. Two small opponents slipped beneath the radar, and finished it off a stroke. Saudi Arabias renewables drive will significantly boost its economic diversification programme and see public and private sector investment rise to more than $30 billion by 2025, said a leading regional power sector investor. The kingdoms ambitious plans for a renewable-focused future will unearth a flurry of private sector investment and local manufacturing job creation opportunities, added Turki Al Shehri, CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia, the industrial investor in the integrated waterpower plant (IWPP) sector. Ahead of his participation in the agenda-setting Middle East Energy Renewables Conference, running on March 3 and 4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Al Shehri says Saudi Arabias energy sector transformation will have multi-faceted benefits. The diversification of the energy mix goes beyond multiple clean energy sources but also provides the opportunity to create jobs through manufacturing, explained Al Shehri. In parallel to the renewable tenders being issued, efforts are underway to localize renewable manufacturing in the Kingdom. Al Shehris forecast comes as Saudi Arabia pursues an energy mix strategy that comprises 30% renewables and 70% gas by 2030. The objective will be to retire liquid burning plants and switch newer plants to burn gas instead of liquids, said Al Shehri. Renewables will comprise 16 GW wind, 40GW solar, and 2.7 GW concentrated solar power. As other renewable technologies become commercialised and costs are reduced, the Kingdom will also consider such technologies. Al Shehri will use his participation at the free-to-attend Renewables Conference to outline how future-focused energy companies can maximise Saudi Arabias green investment potential. The conference is part of a powerful knowledge-sharing programme running alongside Middle East Energy the global energy event formerly known as Middle East Electricity. The trend today is mainly related to utility scale renewables that are being applied in both the public and private sector. In addition, several local companies are rising to become developers, EPC contractors, OEMs and equipment suppliers. As the cost of renewables continues to reduce, we can expect to see more involvement from the private sector, as well as an increase in renewable targets beyond the announced targets, said Al Shehri. In addition, the drive for PPP programs in the public has also created similar PPP opportunities in the private sector. Corporate power purchase agreements are slowly becoming the norm for many private companies seeking renewable solutions. In the next four to five years we foresee 30 to 40 billion USD invested in renewable energy between the public and private sector. Given the intense focus renewables are now generating across the Middle East & North Africa it is essential this segment has a dedicated product sector within the show profile, explained Claudia Konieczna, exhibition director, Middle East Energy. Energy deployment is set to see significant acceleration in the coming years as the MENA region prepares for the influx of $35 billion in renewable energy investments per year. Driven by well-designed auctions, favourable financing conditions and declining technology costs, renewables are being brought into the mainstream. Supported by InterSolar, Middle East Energys Renewables Conference will provide insights into the global transformative dynamics of renewable energies and emphasize how technology can produce synergies and create an integrated energy system. The Renewables Conference is part of an expanded Middle East Energy knowledge programme which, for the first time, includes a high-level plenary sessions summit providing specific market information. A third conference, devoted to Digitalisation comprises over 30 conference sessions, more than 150 speakers and represents 25 hours of learning opportunities. More than 1,200 companies are due to take part in Middle East Energy across the exhibitions five product sectors Digitalisation, Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution, Energy Consumption & Management and Renewables. - TradeArabia News Service A French photographer visiting New York over Valentine's Day weekend to surprise his girlfriend has survived a random attack that left him with a slashed throat. As reported by the New York Post, 27-year-old Gabriel Bascou was visiting his girlfriend in Harlem, where she is working as an au pair, when a man cut his face and neck with a knife, then fled as the photographer's blood spilled on the sidewalk and his stunned girlfriend kneeled beside him. The couple were leaving an IHOP restaurant on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard near West 132nd Street around 11am on Friday when the man surprised Mr Bascou and quickly slashed at his face. In an Instagram story, Mr Bascou wrote: "I didn't see anything coming, he didn't steal anything from me ... Just a gratuitous blow of absolute violence." On Monday, police arrested 28-year-old Khalief Young on two counts of assault in the second degree. Mr Young had previously been sentenced to two years in prison following a conviction on charges of attempted weapon possession in 2015, New York records show. On 20 October, he was charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly ringing a woman's doorbell in Manhattan, then attacking the woman when she answered. He was released the following day and is set to appear in court on 2 March. Khalief Young is suspected of slitting the throat of a French photographer visiting his girlfriend in New York. (New York Police Department) According to authorities, he refused to leave his holding cell on Tuesday morning and was set to be arraigned later in the day in New York Criminal Court. "I didn't see him coming", Mr Bascou told the Post. "At first I thought it was a punch." His attacker looked him in the eye "and started running" as the feeling of warm blood trickled down his coat, he said. Onlookers "didn't understand what was going on" while his girlfriend shouted for help. "The people around me seemed terrified," said Mr Bascou, who tried to remain calm as he listed his blood type and allergies to his girlfriend before doctors arrived. Story continues Doctors performed a tracheotomy on Mr Bascou, who required a transfusion of two pints of blood. He is recovering at Harlem Hospital Center. He told the paper that he's in "really bad shape" after the procedure left him with a lung infection. Read more Two police officers shot in separate incidents in New York Tessa Majors: NYC mayor slams police union chief over marijuana claims Teenage boy charged with murder of student Tessa Majors 13-year-old arrested in Tessa Majors murder CLEVELAND, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal environment of the US cannabis growing market which the Freedonia Group forecasts will expand 12% annually through 2023 can be difficult to gauge, as almost daily new promises are made and old ones are retracted. A key area of confusion is the difference between marijuana legalization and decriminalization, which is important for suppliers of growing equipment and consumables to understand in order to scale opportunities in legal cannabis markets. Decriminalization does not allow cannabis production and sales markets to develop. Legalization and decriminalization often get conflated, but the differences between them are stark. When you hear about states decriminalizing marijuana, this usually refers to reducing penalties for possession and use. In other words, decriminalization reforms do not create a regulatory framework under which legal production and sales operations can be established, meaning that marijuana businesses remain illegal. Legalization establishes market rules and regulations for cannabis growers, sellers, and users. Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legal recreational marijuana programs, while 33 states and D.C. have legal medical marijuana programs. More states are expected to legalize marijuana in 2020. Generally, legalization establishes a regulatory framework for the development of marijuana markets (i.e., production, distribution, and sales) in addition to rules for possession and use. However, legal activities vary from state to state; for example, Vermont legalized recreational marijuana growing and consumption years ago, but is still in the process of legalizing retail sales. Want to learn more? Cannabis Growing Market in the US from Freedonia's new series of cannabis market studies features detailed analysis of cannabis laws by state, including the scope of allowable activities for growers and sellers, licensing requirements, and other conditions governing market opportunities in legal marijuana states. About The Freedonia Group The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985 we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Each study includes product and market analyses and forecasts, in-depth discussions of important industry trends, and market share information. Studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com. Press Contact: Corinne Gangloff +1 440.842.2400 [email protected] SOURCE The Freedonia Group Related Links http://www.freedoniagroup.com A 23-year-old admin assistant has been revealed as the winner of a 545k home after buying two tickets in a property raffle for just 2 each. Jemma Nicklin, won the four-bedroom Shrubbery Farmhouse in Longnor, near Shrewsbury, 40 miles from her current home in Bilston, Wolverhampton. Ms Nicklin, who works at community transport company Ring And Ride, spotted the competition on Facebook and decided to enter. I was looking through the photos and I said to my mum 'Do you think I should have a go?' and she said 'Why not? You've got to be in it to win it'," she told PA. "I thought it looked so lovely. I've always loved the countryside, me and my family would go for walks in the countryside quite often. It's got so much character." The farmhouse is almost 300 years old in part and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a self-contained annexe. Why was the property raffled? It was raffled by Michael Chatha, 54, who tried to sell the house after his marriage came to an end but struggled to find a buyer after eight months on the market. "The whole competition went absolutely mad. The house had been on the market for 545,000 and we brought in 550,000 in the first seven days. "We've given this house a lot of love over the last 17 years and it's been a superb family home. "We hoped the winner would be someone who was going to give it a lot of love and, having met Jemma and her lovely family, they are wonderful people and we're so thrilled, really from the heart, that such lovely people have won the property." Mr Chatha added that all legal fees and stamp duty will be paid for Ms Nicklin using the money, some of which will also be used to finish minor repairs and upkeep of the house. Donations will be made to the Hope House children's hospice, as well as helping to fund substance and gambling addiction services run by Mr Chatha. Ms Nicklin said she does not know when she will move in to the property, adding that her family and friends have not yet come to terms with her enormous prize either. "I think it's going to take years to get used to, it's just one of those things you never expect to happen," she said. "My whole family are still in shock. "It has just a crazy, crazy impact, one I could never have imagined. It's life-changing. Ms Nicklin said she was very grateful for Mr Chatha's decision to put the house up for the competition. "There's just never going to be enough words to thank him, he has changed my life. I'll definitely invite him back around, the doors are always open for him." Ms Nicklin is one of the few people to actually win a property raffle, after the majority fall through, either because they fail to sell enough tickets or they fall foul of strict gambling laws governing raffles and competitions. The Gambling Commission, which regulates illegal prize draws, has intervened in several improperly run property raffles, while the owners of a luxurious house on the banks of the river Thames had to offer a cash prize after they failed to sell enough 25 raffle tickets to cover the value of the property. What are the rules around property raffles? Gambling Commission rules say that anyone thinking of "raffling" a property must be sure their scheme counts as a competition rather than "a lottery". Running an unauthorised lottery can lead to a year in jail and a 5,000 fine. A lottery requires buying tickets and getting lucky. To comply with gambling rules, a property raffle must be a competition requiring some skill on the part of the entrant. This is why all property raffles require entrants to answer a question as well as buy a ticket. The Gambling Commission may take a dim view of a question that is too easy. Usually, there must also be an opportunity to enter for free, so most property raffles allow one free postal entry per person. If the question is deemed difficult enough, this is not necessary. Have there been other property raffles? Wendy Williams has come under fire for making a tasteless joke about the death of sex therapist and Drew Carey's ex-finacee Amie Harwick. Harwick, 38, was allegedly thrown from her balcony in Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday. Her ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse has been charged with murder while former Price Is Right host Carey has spoken of his grief. Williams, explained the tragic death to viewers Monday, while making crass use of Carey's catchphrase: 'She was killed... not by Drew, but by the ex... come on down.' As she yelled 'come on down', Williams, 55, looked towards the ground as if watching something fall, drawing gasps of shock from her studio audience. It's not the first time Williams has received backlash over an insensitive comment after a series of unfortunates gaffes in the past month that included mocking Joaquin Phoenix's 'cleft lip' and saying that gay men should not be able to wear heels. Tasteless: While the Hollywood community is still reeling from the death of sex therapist and Drew Carey's ex-finacee Amie Harwick, Wendy Williams is coming under fire after a tasteless joke about Harwick's death on her show Tragic: Williams, 55, told her viewers Monday about the tragic death of Harwick, who was reportedly pushed from the third-story balcony of her Hollywood Hills home on early Saturday morning Shocked: The audience was clearly in shock after being told of the tragic death, but they were stunned into silence upon hearing her joke On Monday, after the audience was stunned into silence by her tasteless joke about Harwick, Williams tried to recover, calling out her 'lawyer lady' for putting 'allegedly' in her copy, adding, 'This story is everywhere.' One of Williams' producers added that, 'the ex-boyfriend hasn't been convicted,' referring to Gareth Pursehouse, Harwick's ex-boyfriend who was arrested for Harwick's murder on Sunday. Williams went on to add that Harwick was dating Pursehouse, 41, before she ultimately filed a restraining order against him. Come on down: Williams told her audience that Harwick was pushed off a third-story balcony, adding, 'She was killed... not by Drew, but by the ex... come on down,' using Drew Carey's catch-phrase from The Price Is Right Bad joke: The stunned audience could only groan at the joke, before Williams tried to recover, calling out her 'lawyer lady' for putting 'allegedly' in her copy, adding, 'This story is everywhere' Arrested: One of Williams' producers added that, 'the ex-boyfriend hasn't been convicted,' referring to Gareth Pursehouse, Harwick's ex-boyfriend who was arrested for Harwick's murder on Sunday The restraining order against Pursehouse had expired at the time of Harwick's death, and she had, 'expressed fear about a former boyfriend and had previously filed a restraining order against this person.' She had reportedly seen Pursehouse two weeks ago, after the restraining order had expired. Many viewers bashed Williams for the joke, including @AuntKimmie_GG, who said, 'I KNOW #WendyWilliams did NOT just make a "come on down" joke about Drew Carey's ex-fiancee gettign killed by being thrown off a third floor balcony!!! Somebody tell me I heard that wrong, please.. but the audience is stone-cold quiet.' @BotchedNews added, 'Did @WendyWilliams really just "joke" like that about Drew Carey's ex? Disgraceful,' adding her behavior was, 'very disgraceful' and, 'she should be thrown off the air.' @lilltigger7 added, 'Did Wendy Williams just make a "come on down" joke about a murdered woman?' Bad joke: Many viewers bashed Williams for the joke, including @AuntKimmie_GG, who said, 'I KNOW #WendyWilliams did NOT just make a "come on down" joke about Drew Carey's ex-fiancee gettign killed by being thrown off a third floor balcony!!! Somebody tell me I heard that wrong, please.. but the audience is stone-cold quiet' Off the air: @BotchedNews added, 'Did @WendyWilliams really just "joke" like that about Drew Carey's ex? Disgraceful,' adding her behavior was, 'very disgraceful' and, 'she should be thrown off the air' Murdered: @lilltigger7 added, 'Did Wendy Williams just make a "come on down" joke about a murdered woman?' This is just the latest in a string of controversies for Williams, who apologized on Thursday for telling men to, 'stop wearing our skirts and our heels.' 'I'll start by saying I apologize, I did not mean to offend my LGBT+ community,' Williams said on Thursday. She added that her show isn't done, 'in a place of malice. I understand my platform in the community.' Controversy: This is just the latest in a string of controversies for Williams, who apologized on Thursday for telling men to, 'stop wearing our skirts and our heels' More controversy: It's the second time Wendy has found herself in hot water for controversial comments in just a month On the Thursday edition of her show Wendy began the segment by asking if any of the women in the audience were celebrating Galentine's Day which is an unofficial holiday created by sitcom Parks And Recreation, which is February 13, and features 'ladies celebrating ladies.' She then began to single out a few of the men she saw cheering in the audience: 'If youre a man and youre clapping, youre not even a part of this. 'You dont understand the rules of the day. Its women going out and getting saucy and then going home. Youre not a part.' She didn't stop there as she made sure to make clear that she was not just singling out straight men but also gay men as she argued they should not have the privilege in participating in the fictional holiday as they do not menstruate. 'I will do better': Williams apologized to viewers she offended on her show on Thursday when she singled out gay men saying 'stop wearing our skirts' On the Thursday edition of her show Wendy began the segment by asking if any of the women in the audience were celebrating Galentine's Day which is an unofficial holiday created by sitcom Parks And Recreation, which is February 13, and features 'ladies celebrating ladies.' She then began to single out a few of the men she saw cheering in the audience: 'If youre a man and youre clapping, youre not even a part of this. 'You dont understand the rules of the day. Its women going out and getting saucy and then going home. Youre not a part.' She didn't stop there as she made sure to make clear that she was not just singling out straight men but also gay men as she argued they should not have the privilege in participating in the fictional holiday as they do not menstruate. Ouch: Wendy made the controversial comments regarding gay men during the Hot Topics segment of her show on Thursday Girl power: Wendy began the segment by asking if any of the women in the audience were celebrating Galentine's Day which is an unofficial holiday created by sitcom Parks And Recreation which is February 13 and features 'ladies celebrating ladies' 'If youre a man and youre clapping, youre not even a part of this': The host then began to single out a few of the men she saw cheering before going on the rant Oops: The audience member's mood definitely seemed to change as the rant went on Wendy explained: 'I dont care if youre gay. You dont get a [menstruation] every 28 days. 'You can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through. 'And stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Just saying, girls, what do we have for ourselves? And earlier this month, the TV personality was slammed for making making fun of Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix's 'cleft lip' scar. 'When he shaves off his mustache he's got a hairline fracture,' she said. 'He's got one of those what do you call it? Cleft lip, cleft palate.' She then crudely hooked her finger under her lip as if she was suffering from the condition, a common birth defect which happens when a babys lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Saying sorry: Wendy Williams has apologized for cruelly mocking Joaquin Phoenix for the scar on his lip The actor has said the mark is a nonsurgical scar he was born with, according to a Vanity Fair cover story from November. It is thought Joaquin was born with a microform cleft, a mild form of cleft which often doesnt require surgery, but which leaves a small groove in the upper lip, according to the Cleft Lip and Palate Association. Williams' comments did not appear to cause outrage until more than a week after her show aired, when Canadian football player Adam Bighill criticized Wendy in a recent tweet. The athlete was born with a cleft lip and palate and his baby son Beau also has the condition. She said sorry to the cleft community, while encouraging viewers to 'learn more'. She also promised to donate money to Operation Smile and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association to help families dealing with the condition. Mumbai, Feb 18 : Renowned Bengali film actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul died following a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on Tuesday, family sources said. The 61-year-old actor is survived by his wife and a daughter, who he had gone to visit in the western metropolis. Paul passed away in a hospital near Juhu, where he breathed his last around 4 a.m. Paul was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnanagar constituency in 2009 and 2014. Prior to that he became a member of the West Bengal Assembly twice in 2001 and 2006 by winning from Alipore seat. Tapas Paul etched a permanent place in the heart of Bengali cine lovers with his memorable and soulful portrayal of lead roles in blockbusters like Dadar Kirti (1980), Saheb (1981), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Gurudakshina (1987) and Anurager Choyan (1986). However, the last few years of his life saw Paul land in controversies. In 2014, a video of his speech warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to be "beware" of him as he won't spare them "and destroy your entire clan" and "unleash my boys to rape your women" became viral, causing widespread outrage across the nation. He was also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on December 30, 2016, in connection with the multi-crore rupee Rose Valley Chit Fund scam, and got bail after remaining 13 months in incarceration. "Tapas Paul. 1958-2020, today. King of Bangla cinema. Former Trinamool MP and MLA. Travel well, my friend," tweeted his party colleague and Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien. "Sad news of the demise of Mr. #TapasPaul, a popular actor of Bengali films and former TMC MP. I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place at my feet and the family to bear this profound grief. Humble tribute!" Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi. The Arizona Senate has passed a bill designed to boost protections for firefighters and other first responders who are diagnosed with cancers linked to the workplace. The proposal from Republican Sen. Heather Carter ensures that listed cancers contracted by firefighters are irrefutably covered by workers compensation insurance. The proposal tightens rules enacted in 2017 that said certain cancers were presumed to be caused by workplace exposures. Several Republican lawmakers argued against the measure during a lengthy floor debate Wednesday. They said the costs to cities and towns were unknown and could be high. They also said family history or outside work exposures that were shown to have caused the cancers could no longer be taken into account. Carter countered that the costs were minimal and that insurance companies were unfairly denying coverage. The bill passed on a 25-4 vote and now goes to the House. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Arizona Politics Assuring passengers that they will not face any hardships post-May, 2020, RailTel added that it "will also continue to execute Wi-Fi connectivity at the balance stations." (Photo: ANI) RailTel, the Miniratna PSU, said that the free WiFi services at 415 stations will continue even after its contract period with Google expires in May 2020. According to a release by RailTel, it had entered into a contract with Google for providing WiFi services for "415 A1, A, C category stations only. In this partnership, Google provided the Radio Access Network (RAN) and Technology support and RailTel provided the physical Infrastructure and Internet bandwidth." "We entered into a 5 years contract with Google for supporting us with setting up Wi-Fi at 415 stations only and the contract is going to expire in May 2020. However, RailTel will continue to provide uninterrupted WiFi service, with the same speed and network quality, to passengers at these 415 stations after May 2020 as well," the release added. The PSU, which comes under the Ministry of Railways, also thanked Google for help in the past five years. RailTel added that it is providing free WiFi at "5190+ B, C, and D Category stations as well", apart from the aforementioned 415, which takes the total tally to 5600 plus stations around the country, with the help of a "number of partners." Assuring passengers that they will not face any hardships post-May, 2020, RailTel added that it "will also continue to execute Wi-Fi connectivity at the balance stations." Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Punjab elections: You will never have to stage another dharna says Kejriwal Covid-19 cases are rising in Delhi, but no need to panic as hospitalisation low, says Kejriwal No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge Arvind Kejriwal calls top officials of Delhi for meeting over "10 gurantees" tomorrow India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 18: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of top officers on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of "ten guarantees" including uninterrupted power supply, garbage-free Delhi and basic facilities for unauthorised colonies. According to reports, it is said that issues like potable piped water supply, education for every child, free bus ride scheme for different sections of society, healthcare facilities, safety of women and cleaning of Yamuna are included in the agenda of the meeting. This would be the first meeting of Arvind Kejriwal with top officers of various departments of the Delhi government after taking oath of office on Sunday. PM Modi congratulates Kejriwal on taking oath as Delhi CM, AAP chief responds NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 Speaking to an agency, a source from the AAP said, "All secretaries and principal secretaries have been asked to attend the meeting to be chaired by the chief minister on Wednesday." A cabinet meeting is also scheduled to be held on Wednesday. After taking the charge of their respective offices on Monday, Delhi cabinet ministers said they would work to fulfil promises made in the "guarantee card" which includes reduction in pollution and expansion of metro network. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 11:57 [IST] Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending and investment arm of Bajaj Finserv, offers medical professionals at the forefront of healthcare with Doctor Loan financing up to Rs 37 lakh without the requirement for collateral. Amid the hue and cry about Budget 2020 not providing enough fiscal stimulus to the healthcare sector, doctors running a hospital or clinic can avail funding hassle-free to undertake renovation, invest in modern equipment, and expand the scope of their practice. The loan is easy to avail and is accessible through customised, pre-approved offers. Undertake clinic renovation When undertaken with a sound plan, clinic or hospital renovation has the potential to improve staff efficiency, reduce operational costs, and accommodate more patients. However, whether it's remodelling the operation rooms and waiting areas, adding a new wing, or enhancing the clinic through smart systems, ample financing is required to translate plans into reality. Bajaj Finserv's Loan for doctors is an efficient solution to rely on as it offers funding up to Rs 37 lakh for all these activities, placing no restriction on usage. Install new medical equipment Modern medical tools and equipment aid diagnosis, and doctors who own state-of-the-art machines are sought after by a wide range of patients. Whether it is automatic external defibrillators or portable MRI machines, the latest technology bears a premium price tag. Thankfully, with the Doctor Loan's flexible tenor, medical professionals can buy or lease specialised equipment conveniently, while repaying over a maximum tenor of 96 months. Bring specialised medical staff on board As a healthcare grows, it becomes essential for doctors to add specialised staff to the in-house team. Often this can be on a need-basis and the hired practitioner need not be part of the regular roster. In such cases, the Doctor Loan's Flexi Loan facility is a great ally. This feature allows practitioners to withdraw funds from the approved sanction on the go, without needing to make fresh applications. Further, here, interest is charged only on the amount withdrawn from the sanction. Ensure positive cash flow Managing a medical practice's cash flow while borrowing can be a challenge as bad planning can cause financial distress in the future. Thankfully, the Doctor Loan aids cash flow management in more way than one. The substantial loan amount helps doctors treat short-term cash flow problems while keeping the long-term growth of the business within radar. Similarly, the non-requirement for collateral means that doctors need not set aside fixed assets as security. Serve a wider clientele quickly When it comes to the healthcare sector, earn a patient's trust is crucial as is tapping into new markets as soon as the opportunity arises. Together, these facets are vital to a medical business's growth and well-being. Expanding to a new market could mean setting up a clinic in an important city or locality, offering new treatments or even, venturing into telemedicine. Since time is of the essence, Bajaj Finserv facilities business expansion by offering finance on simple eligibility terms customised for doctors. This is supported by a minimal requirement for documentation and disbursal of funds within 24 hours, so that doctors can focus on quality medical care and the betterment of their practice. Medical professionals seeking to give speedy financial stimulus to their business can check their pre-approved Doctor Loan offer for instant approval through a customised deal. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nigel Farage has criticised Boris Johnson on Twitter over Andrew Sabisky's hiring. (PA Images) Nigel Farage has accused the government Conservative Party of being home to fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists an insult famously levelled against Ukip while he was leader. The Brexit Party leader tweeted the phrase, which was used by David Cameron, in the wake of a controversial government advisers resignation. Farage asked if the Tories were now the fruitcakes party after Andrew Sabisky quit as a No 10 adviser when a catalogue of comments about race, eugenics and Islam purportedly posted him online were unearthed. Sabisky was hired to government after Boris Johnsons senior adviser Dominic Cummings called for weirdos and misfits to apply for roles helping No 10 shape policy. Who are the fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists now? https://t.co/tGkaMwE8OA Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) February 18, 2020 The former Vote Leave campaign boss said he hoped to bring in people with genuine cognitive diversity and stay away from civil servants with humanities degrees from Oxbridge. The hiring of Sabisky created a storm over the weekend, after it emerged he made comments about giving children the drug modafinil even if it meant one dead kid a year, very real racial differences in intelligence and a suggestion that Western nations would have to adopt Northern Ireland-style community power sharing with Muslims. The PM faced a barrage of criticism after failing to distance himself from Sabiskys views. He also advocated enforcing contraception to avoid a permanent underclass. On Monday, Sabisky posted to Twitter: The media hysteria about my old stuff online is mad but I wanted to help HMG not be a distraction. Accordingly Ive decided to resign as a contractor. I hope Number 10 hires more people with good geopolitical forecasting track records and that media learn to stop selective quoting. Story continues I know this will disappoint a lot of ppl but I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination: if I cant do the work properly theres no point, and I have a lot of other things to do with my life. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK TALLINN, Estonia, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- QANplatform is thrilled to announce the planned integration of Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts to securely access off-chain data feeds, web APIs, and traditional bank payments. By bringing Chainlink's market-leading oracle solution to QANplatform, QAN developers will be able to build more complex smart contract designs that leverage resources from outside the QAN blockchain platform. QANplatform QANplatform While QANplatform offers numerous security properties that make it enticing for long-term viability, like all other blockchain platforms, it lacks the ability to interact with data and systems that are not on the QAN blockchain. Blockchains on their own can only perform calculations on data that is stored within their networks while still retaining security. This presents a major roadblock in blockchain development as most smart contracts need to interact with external resources to create value. Since the most trusted data sources often exist on non-blockchain systems, there needs to be a way to access them in a manner as secure as the blockchain itself. This is known as the oracle problem and Chainlink is the premier oracle solution for most of the blockchain ecosystem. An oracle is a digital agent employed by a smart contract to retrieve and/or connect it to data and systems outside its native blockchain (off-chain). Chainlink takes it a step further by adding decentralized security to the oracle mechanism triggering a smart contract. Through Chainlink, developers can protect against a centralized oracle being a single point of failure by decentralizing the data delivery process using multiple oracles to gather the same data point and then aggregate their responses together. They can also protect against one data source being the single source of truth by gathering data from multiple sources and aggregating them together. Some of the potential use cases we are considering once integrating Chainlink, include: - Decentralized sourcing of the QARK/USD price to enable enterprises to calculate transaction fees in USD, yet pay with QARK on the backend. - Secure connection to IoT devices to open up new insurance, supply chain, and logistics products Johann Polecsak, CTO and co-founder of QANplatform commented on the integration: "I believe that giving developers the ability to build efficient smart contracts in a timely manner is a necessary step in order to reach the desired goal of mass adoption. We can only achieve that through real-world integration and co-existence with platforms that people already use. Thanks to Chainlink's oracle solutions, we are able to do that with QAN. Alongside our multilingual smart contracts, developers possess everything they need in order to achieve adoption." About QANplatform QANplatform is a quantum-resistant blockchain platform powered by blockchain fintech brand Centrum Circle. QAN uses Lattice-based cryptography, making it resilient to quantum attacks that are expected to become possible within the next five years, and which all major crypto networks are vulnerable to. About Chainlink Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts to securely access off-chain data feeds, web APIs, and traditional bank payments. Chainlink is consistently selected as one of the top blockchain technologies by leading independent research firms such as Gartner. It is well known for providing highly secure and reliable oracles to great companies like Google , Oracle , SWIFT , and many other large enterprises, as well as leading smart contract development teams. For developer-focused information, please visit Chainlinks' documentation or Discord . The QANplatform IEO is live on the reputable BitBay exchange. https://qanplatform.com/ieo/ Media contact: Bea Bobics [email protected] 00 36 30 638 1833 SOURCE QANplatform Related Links http://qanplatform.com At least seven people died and 11 more, including an 11-year-old girl, were injured when a bus exploded while driving down a highway in southeast Colombia. The deadly incident occurred in a key drug-trafficking region where illegal armed groups vie for control, a high-ranking military official said on Tuesday. The explosion, which is being investigated by authorities, happened approximately at 7.30pm Monday in a rural region of Colombia's Cauca province, some 300 miles southeast of capital city Bogota. It is unknown how many passengers were inside the bus when it exploded. General Jorge Isaacs Hoyos, commander of the Colombian army's third division, ruled out a terror attack. 'This was no attack, Hoyos said. This was a passenger vehicle moving from Pasto towards Cali. It was moving when it exploded. At least seven people were killed Monday when a bus exploded with traveling on a highway in southeast Colombia. Authorities confirmed the incident is linked to terrorism An investigator speaking under the condition of anonymity told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that at least 60 kilos of explosives were being ferried by the bus before it exploded According to Colombian outlet Noticias Caracol, the mayor of Rosas, Roberto Campo Osorio, said the vehicle was carrying at least 60 kilos of pentolite, an explosive used for military and civilian purposes. A source with the prosecutor's office, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told El Tiempo newspaper that the explosives could have been transported from Ecuador. 'Experts managed to establish that the explosive material was in the front of the vehicle, and it exploded generating a wave from front to back,' the source told El Tiempo. Those who died were thrown from the vehicle when it exploded, the general Hoyos said. The explosion also struck two other vehicles and forced them from the road, injuring those inside. The explosion caused injuries to 11 people, including an 11-year-old girl Authorities investigating Monday night's bus explosion in Colombia believe the explosives inside the bus were being delivered to Popayan for use in illegal mining or to Cali to be used for a terror plot The injured girl, 11, was travelling in one vehicle with three other male adults. The explosion also damaged several homes and caused injuries to at least four residents. Officials were awaiting DNA samples to identify the remains of the dead passengers. The vehicle was part of Cooperativa Supertaxi's fleet, which operates out of Pasto, the capital of the province of Narino, and transited over the Cali-Pasto route. Authorities were investigating two possible theories as to why the explosives were being ferried by the vehicle. Officials said the explosives perhaps were destined to be delivered to Popayan for use in illegal mining, and also mentioned they could have been slated to be transported to Cali for a terror plot. Monday night's deadly bus explosion in southeast Colombian took place in an area key to guerrillas of the National Liberation Army [ELN], dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and criminal groups tied to drug trafficking A vehicle is engulfed in flames after a bus exploded while traveling on a highway in Colombia A government source told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that the explosives could have originated from Ecuador The region where the explosion too place is contested by guerrillas of the National Liberation Army [ELN], dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [FARC] - who returned to arms citing a breakdown of the 2016 peace deal - and criminal groups connected to drug trafficking, according to security sources. The cultivation of coca leaves and the production of cocaine fuels conflict in the Andean country, which after more than 50 years has left 260,000 dead and millions displaced, according to the government. The explosion happened following an escalation in attacks by the ELN in different regions of the country, where the rebels have set fire to vehicles, blocked roads, threatened citizens and attacked army patrols. Protection: Medical workers in masks and protective clothing tend to a coronavirus patient in Wuhan. Picture: Reuters TWO Irish citizens living abroad have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, Independent.ie understands. While Ireland remains free of the virus, the Department of Foreign Affairs is now assisting 21 people who have been impacted by the global disruption. These include 15 citizens who were on cruise ships when an outbreak occurred. Another six have been repatriated from Wuhan City in China. It is understood Tanaiste Simon Coveney will update Cabinet this evening after the efforts of his officials over recent weeks to help Irish people. Independent.ie has learned that two out of six Irish citizens on board the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship, which is currently docked off Yokahama, Japan, have tested positive for COVID-19. Read More They are being treated in hospital in Japan. Sources say they share dual citizenship with another EU member state and are not normally resident in Ireland. The Irish Embassy in Tokyo is in ongoing contact with these citizens regarding their consular needs. Another nine Irish citizens are believed to be passengers on the Westerdam Cruise Ship which is docked off Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Seven of these are currently being screened for the virus. The two other Irish holidaymakers on this ship returned home over the weekend. The HSE was informed and in a statement this evening the Department of Foreign Affairs said no further comment will be made about any individuals health or healthcare. To date, the Department of Health has confirmed there are no cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Some 78 people have been tested for the virus in this country but all have come back negative. Ireland is still considered a coronavirus-free country. In a statement, Mr Coveney said his officials are liaising closely with our Embassies and Consulates overseas regarding the coronavirus outbreak, and the implications for our citizens in the region. "The safety and welfare of our citizens overseas remain our priority. In these efforts we are working hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and other relevant Departments and Agencies, both in Ireland and internationally, to ensure that all the appropriate advice and precautions are in place," the statement said. The Irish Government has allocated 500,000 to the World Health Organization to assist its vital work to help control the spread of the Coronavirus. "The rapid spread of the Coronavirus concerns us all. It is vital to take early, coordinated action to prevent further spread of the virus. "Irelands international support is complementary to our domestic preparedness efforts led by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. We all share the overriding goal of minimising the impact of this epidemic," Mr Coveneys statement concluded. While the death toll from the coronavirus continues to rise, some cured patients, carrying flowers and wearing face masks, have been emerging from Chinese hospitals. There were two notable ones on February 7 in Liyang, in central Chinas Hunan province the northern neighbour of Hubei, the outbreaks epicentre. In the next three days, another three were discharged in Hebi in Henan province, bordering Hubei to the south, along with two in Hangzhou, on the coast. All of these were among the first patients in their cities who had fully recovered from the infection, and, like nearly all other patients outside Hubei, they had received a treatment that combined modern medicine and herbal remedies. Each province had the right to make its own policy, and Hubei did not routinely treat patients with herbal remedies. This prompted the Chinese governments virus response task force in Wuhan, Hubeis capital, to send an urgent notice last Tuesday to all agencies and hospitals involved in containing the epidemic in the province, giving them 24 hours to ensure herbal tea was made available for all confirmed and suspected patients. Less than a third of Hubeis patients had been given herbal medicines, compared with nearly 90 per cent in the rest of the country, according to the notice. The absence of traditional medicine has already affected the outcome of efforts to save and cure [people], it said. The directive reflected a growing consensus among Chinese medical experts that herbal medicine could and should play an important role in the fight against the coronavirus. By Monday, the epidemic had killed more than 1,800 people, most of them in Hubei. The sheer number of patients has put enormous pressure on medical personnel and materials in the province, but inadequate herbal treatments for patients who initially had only mild symptoms might also be a reason. The southern province of Guangdong, and coastal Zhejiang, meanwhile, had some of the highest numbers of patients after Hubei. Patients there were given herbal drinks to relieve symptoms even before they were testing positive. Story continues By Friday, Guangdong had reported a mortality of just 0.1 per cent of infected people compared with Wuhans rate of 2.6 per cent and none of the 1,155 confirmed patients in Zhejiang had died. Whether herbs could kill the virus remains a topic of heated debate in the scientific community. The virus is difficult to kill because it does not live as an independent organism, like bacteria. Once in the body, it injects alien code into its genes and can duplicate rapidly, causing havoc. A golden rule in herbal practice is that the doctor must see the patient. Among the first medical support professionals arriving in Wuhan after the outbreak were some of the most respected and famous traditional medicine doctors, including Tong Xiaolin, Huang Luqi and Zhang Boli. They spent days and nights in quarantined blocks checking patients pulses through protective suits, examining their physical condition, asking questions and updating herbal formulas for patients in different stages of disease development. On Chinese social media, news of efforts by traditional medicine doctors were greeted with both praise and scorn. While many supported the use of herbs based on their personal experience, some remained highly sceptical, if not hostile. Why cant the herbalists shut up and let the Western doctors do their job, one person said on Weibo. A doctor in Beijing who was informed of the medical work in Wuhan said some front-line doctors preferred using Western drugs partly because their mechanisms and side effects were simpler and better understood. In contrast, herbal formula sometimes contain more than a dozen ingredients, some of which are alien in modern science. Some antiviral drugs need to tamper with our genes to wipe out the virus inside, and the mainstream opinion among biologists today is that plants have no such capability. But there was plenty of data supporting the effectiveness of herbs in antiviral treatment. Although the epidemic is ongoing, Chinese researchers had obtained some initial promising results from clinical observations. Zhang, who is also a member of the national expert panel advising the central government, said in a press conference last week: A team in Guangzhou has treated more than 50 patients and none later developed severe symptoms. In Shanghai, patients with a combined treatment usually take seven or eight days to test negative [for the coronavirus]. Without herbal medicine it could take more than 10 days. By last Wednesday, some large factories in Hubei were up and running to produce herbal drinks for quarantined citizens, according to Peoples Daily. The drinks were boiled and distributed in plastic packaging, according to the report. One plant in Wuhan could meet the daily consumption of 30,000 patients. Since the 2002-03 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), the World Health Organisation has commissioned a number of investigations into the effect of herbal medicines. In mainland China, where about half of all patients in the countrys medical system have received herbal treatment, doctors have reported that a combined therapy significantly reduced the severity of symptoms, mortality rate and side effects. In one of the most dramatic cases, all 58 patients in a public hospital in Guangzhou recovered and no medical staff were infected. A study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong involving local patients also suggested herbal treatment as a safe, efficacious and affordable Sars prevention measure, according to information on the WHO website. A study by Zhang Chenyu, a Nanjing University professor, solved part of the puzzle. In a landmark paper published in the journal Cell Research in 2014, Zhangs team found that honeysuckle could effectively eliminate influenza A virus in mice. The flower plant contained some tiny, unique molecules of genetic material known as micro ribonucleic acid that could bind with the viral strain and slow down its duplication in our genes. Before the study, it was believed that genetic materials were fragile and easily destroyed in the environment. But Zhangs study found that these small plant genes could remain almost intact after being boiled as required when preparing herbal medicine and they tended to concentrate in a mouses lungs. The herbal treatment more than doubled mices survival rate, according to the experiment. The study has prompted heated discussion in the research community, because if the plant could kill the virus, it could also tamper with genes. Genetically modified plants such as soybean and corn were certified safe for consumers because scientists believed that plants could not change the genetic coding in human cells. For the same reason, no genetically modified animals have so far been approved as food, because they were considered closer to humans, with a higher risk to health. Chinese scientists today are armed with cutting-edge technology to fight the coronavirus. A few days after the release of its full genome sequence last month, a research team with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai generated a list of about a dozen herbs that could suppress the virus by simulating on computer how they would internet with the viral strain. Chinese researchers had also fired up the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, one of the worlds most expensive and advanced light sources, to study the virus real-life structure for clues of possible cures. The effect of many plants is difficult to quantify, and when you put them all in a bowl of soup, it is no longer science, it is an art, said a doctor who requested not to be named because of the controversy around the issue. It is also difficult to tell exactly how well herbs perform because in most cases they were taken by patients together with modern pills, and some patients in critical condition also received technical life support such as artificial lungs. The supporters of herbs have pointed out that China has gone through more than 320 recorded plagues since the Han dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. Chinese doctors accumulated rich knowledge and experience in those fights. Plagues in China did not cause a mortality rate as high as some in Europe, such as the Black Death in the 14th century, which wiped out 60 per cent of the entire European population. Dr Tu Youyou, who won a Nobel Prize for malaria drug artemisinin, which saved millions of lives, got her idea from a plant used in traditional herbal formulas. Tong, who is the chief scientist with the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, said in an interview with Sina Technology on Thursday that it was not the time for rival medical camps to criticise each others methods. Dont argue who should be the main player, or who has better techniques, he was quoted as saying. Everyone must join hands and unite. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Coronavirus: do herbal remedies work, and could they help in the stricken epicentre of Hubei? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. When it comes to the many airline rankings out there, the Wall Street Journal's annual "Middle Seat Scorecard" is one of the best of the bunch. It uses a a broad set of analytical data from private sources as well as the US Department of Transportation and ranks nine major US airlines on seven criteria key to travelers: On-time performance, cancellation rate, extreme delays, tarmac delays, mishandled bags, involuntary bumping and complaints. The annual ranking is put together by the paper's Scott McCartney, who has been publishing the scorecard for the last 12 years, and writing about airlines and travel for about as long as I have. Airlines rankings are somewhat helpful, but the best and worst airlines in a national ranking like the WSJ's are not necessarily the best and worst airlines for Bay Area fliers, or really for any flier. There's a best airline for YOU, but it's tough to say that there's a best airline for everyone. So let's drill down on the WSJ's rankings and I'll try to help you determine which are the best and worst airlines airlines for Bay Area travelers, and which might be the best or worst airline for you. Let us know if you agree or disagree in THE COMMENTS! Delta Air Lines comes out at the top of the WSJ Scorecard and many other airline rankings these days. It's clearly a winner for business travelers who like to arrive on time and don't like it when their flights are canceled or when they get bumped involuntarily. Delta excels in those areas, according to the Scorecard. Delta also has a mostly modern and comfortable fleet, with a consistent offering of seatback screens on nearly all its jets, and broad access to Wi-Fi, which, like most majors, varies a lot in quality. Delta's airport facilities, Sky Club lounges and staff are all above par, too. Its frequent flier program has a reputation for stinginess, but most Delta devotees are willing to overlook that to fly with an overall good airline. We'd all likely love to fly on an airline like Delta all the time, but the problem for Bay Area travelers is that it does not fly to enough places from here. None of its hubs are in Northern California. So to get anywhere on Delta you have to fly from here and connect in one of its hubs to your final destination. However, its hubs are cities many of us fly to a lot, so it's still a very strong choice from the three Bay Area airports, Delta flies nonstop to Los Angeles (with seven flights each way per day) and Seattle (with six flights per day). It also flies frequently to its New York JFK hub (with seven flights per day). You can also fly Delta nonstop to hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis. Alaska Airlines has consistently ranked first or second in the WSJ Scorecard since 2010. The paper reports that its operational performance weakened a bit in 2019 with cancellations and delays of 45 minutes or longer inching up. That's likely due to the airline's recent acquisition of Virgin America and its perennially delayed hub at SFO. Despite those issues, passengers generally like Alaska Airlines and don't complain much about the few problems they encounter in terms of annual complaints, it ranks second to Southwest Airlines. Alaska has made a hearty effort to woo Bay Area travelers and endear itself into the community. Last year it announced it would spend millions on a swank new lounge on the top of Terminal 2, which is expected to open late this year. Its fleet is new and clean; inflight food is healthy and above par, and its flight attendants are generally happy and nice. Its Mileage Plan frequent flier program is still based on miles flown instead of dollars spent with a long list of partners that make it super attractive to high mileage fliers. The recent announcement that it will join Oneworld makes it even more attractive to frequent fliers. But the downside of Alaska Airlines is that it still does not fly to enough places to compete with the Bay Area's 900-pound gorilla that we'll discuss below. Since its operations merged with Virgin America's in April 2018, its route map has been in flux with more deletions than additions. It's a fine choice for west coast flying, but for those who head east a lot, it's a relatively weak player. It does offer eight flights per day from SFO and San Jose to New York, which is great. But it only offers a single daily round trip to Chicago one of the most important routes for Bay Area fliers. But all that could change as its new partnership with American and Oneworld starts to evolve it's definitely an airline to keep your eye on. Southwest took a hit overall this year due to a slew of flight cancellations its rate overall jumped to 2.5 percent from just 1.4 percent according to the WSJ Scorecard. But for the year, Southwest's on-time performance, lengthy delay rate, bumping and complaints improved over 2018, keeping it the airline darling in the eyes of legions of travelers. Despite its reputation for low fares, Southwest is not always the low-fare leader anymore. You'll frequently find it priced at or above competitors in many markets, but it still does not charge for the first or second checked bag which is important to some travelers, but a moot point for frequent travelers who are used to living out of a carry-on. What really changed for Southwest over the last year in the eyes of Bay Area fliers is the addition of new nonstops from Oakland and San Jose to Hawaii. When Southwest introduced those flights, fares overall plummeted on all airlines, in some cases falling below $300 round trip. Flights to Hawaii make Southwest's Rapid Reward program a lot more valuable for frequent fliers as they can use their hard earned miles for flights to a sexy new destination. Southwest is a great choice for many Bay Area fliers because of its numero uno status at both Oakland and San Jose airports in terms of sheer number of flights. It also flies from San Francisco, but its SFO operation is much smaller comparatively speaking. However, the Southwest experience is not for everyone, especially those who fly frequently and want perks like assigned seats, first class, airline lounges and robust frequent flier programs. Also, its "cattle call" boarding process seems to be equally loved and loathed. The WSJ Scorecard decided to add tiny Allegiant this year because it is now required to report its operational performance statistics to the Dept of Transportation. It's a tiny Las Vegas-based carrier that flies a very thin schedule between small and "secondary" airports, but it still came in fourth place overall. That should help it overcome the negative publicity from last year's 60 Minutes report that called the airline's safety into question. From Oakland, Allegiant flies Airbus A319 or A320 nonstops a few days per week to nine cities such as Kalispell or Missoula, Mont., Eugene, Ore., Mesa, Ariz. mostly in the western half of the US. Its most frequent flight from Oakland is to Las Vegas, which is always cheap checking this week, you can fly OAK-LAS for as little as $33 each way, with a lot of restrictions and a tight 30-inch seat pitch. Its thin schedule (2-4 days per week) makes it a good choice for travelers with a lot of flexibility and free time, such as students or retirees. John Carl D'Annibale/Albany Times Union Spirit Airlines, once derided for some really bad on-time performance and customer complaints numbers, has turned around with the help of its new CEO Ted Christie (who we interviewed last year). It's best known for its banana yellow jets (which you can see in the slideshow at the top of this post); its super-tight seats, with just 28 inches of pitch; and its highly restricted fares. The carrier still gets the most complaints of all included in the WSJ Scorecard, but is solidly middle of the pack in all other categories. From the Bay Area, Spirit flies only from Oakland. Last month it announced it would add a new nonstop to its Fort Lauderdale hub, which makes it an easy and cheap stop for Bay Area bargain hunters headed to South Florida or Latin America and the Caribbean, where the airline has extensive operations. Spirit began flying from Oakland in 2011 with a single flight to Las Vegas (LAS) and gradually grew to third place among Oaklands largest carriers. The new daily Fort Lauderdale flight joins existing summer seasonal service to Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH) and year-round twice daily flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and four daily flights to Las Vegas. I have not ever flown Spirit, but if I did, I'd opt for its Big Front Seat quite a bargain for 36 inches of legroom. JetBlue was at one time a spunky newcomer and industry darling. But it's now 20 years old and had a tough year in 2019, racking up a lot of extreme (45 mins+) delays, a dip in overall on-time performance and trouble with mishandled baggage, according to the Wall Street Journal's Scorecard. Nonetheless, it's still a favorite of many with clean, roomy planes, free and fast satellite-linked Wi-Fi, a really nice business class "Mint" product, and an easy hub at New York's JFK Airport connected to the now iconic TWA Hotel there. JetBlue is a good choice for Bay Area travelers who frequent New York City, but its overall presence here is minimal. It recently announced that it would pull out of Oakland starting April 29 and focus on SFO and San Jose. From those cities, JetBlue flies to Boston, New York, Fort Lauderdale and Long Beach, Calif. The carrier also recently announced a lot of cutbacks from its hub at Long Beach, making it less of a West Coast player overall. Denver-based Frontier is hard to keep up with. Its route map and nonstop offerings from the Bay Area change a lot. But one thing you can always count on is a cheap flight to Denver from either San Francisco or San Jose (It does not fly from Oakland). As an "ultra-low-cost-carrier" that operates much like Spirit Airlines, passengers should expect few frills and a charge for nearly everything. You can learn what this airline is like like in our Trip Report: 5 things to know about Flying Frontier about a flight from San Francisco to Orlando last year. According to the WSJ Scorecard, it ranks in the bottom half in nearly every category, except for mishandled bags and lengthy tarmac delays. In terms of consumer complaints, only Spirit ranks lower. Chris McGinnis According to the WSJ Scorecard, United ranked near the bottom of the pack in all categories, and lowest for mishandled bags and two-hour+ tarmac delays. This was the carrier's worst showing in five years. The low rating is likely a big disappointment for United, which had climbed to rank #5 in last year's scorecard. The only bright spot in the ranking was that it scored second best for the lowest number of involuntary bumpings, a problem it remedied soon after the infamous 2017 passenger-bumping-and-dragging incident. Despite its poor performance in the Scorecard, United is the #1 airline for many Bay Area travelers due to its big hub at SFO with nonstops to nearly every major city in the country, and its popular and relatively generous MileagePlus frequent flier program. However, it remains to be seen what effect United's recent move to tie elite status to dollars spent instead of miles flown will have on the loyalty of Bay Area travelers. See: Blockbuster change in the wings for United's top fliers. I fly United a lot, and must say that I've noticed a lot of improvement over the last two years planes seem to be cleaner and flight attendants much nicer. The new Polaris lounges at SFO and elsewhere are best-in-class. I have not experienced too many delays at SFO, but clearly that's not the case for many other fliers when you look at the statistics. The "gate wait" situation at SFO, where arriving planes had to sit on the airport apron waiting for gates has all but disappeared. It's added a slew of new, long-haul nonstops from SFO to desirable locations such as Amsterdam, Tahiti, Delhi, and Melbourne. So while it may not be the #1 choice for many Bay Area fliers, it remains their number one airline. There's no doubt about it, the largest airline in the U.S. had a very tough year in 2019, and it showed. American cancelled 159 flights per day, nearly six times more than Delta. It involuntarily bumped a whopping 15,000 passengers last year while United bumped 107, and Delta bumped just nine, according to the WSJ Scorecard, which cited a labor dispute with mechanics as the cause of a lot of the carrier's ills. And bad stories about recent AA experiences abound, such as this recent image of a "sandwich" filled with crumbled granola. Over the last 10 years, American has thinned its presence in the Bay Area but broadened its appeal with its take over of US Airways, and now offers nonstop flights to its hubs in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Miami. Its fleet of new A321s with lie-flat seats is popular with business travelers on the busy SFO-JFK run. Its budding new partnership with Alaska Airlines is sure to make it a bigger and better choice for Bay Area travelers. In addition to that, American's new home in the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (the big move happens March 24) and larger Admirals Club should help. Notably, Hawaiian Airlines is not included in the WSJ Scorecard because it "has a big chunk of its business in short hops between islands" and such limited exposure to the mainland "distorts comparisons." But if it were included, "Hawaiian would be No. 1" according to McCartney. The Hawaii state legislature is not at all happy about this exclusion, and has signed a resolution (HR 18) requesting that the Wall Street Journal include the airline in future rankings. You can see a chart of full ranking here and the WSJ post about the rankings here (subscription required). Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Antipsychotic Drugs Market 2020 Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Regional Forecast to 2026 is latest research report on Global Antipsychotic Drugs Market published by Fortune Business Insights. According to report the global Antipsychotic Drugs market size is predicted to grow $20,539.5 million by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. Antipsychotic Drugs also known as neuroleptics Drugs or major tranquilizers, are a class of medication primarily used to manage psychosis. Global Antipsychotic Drugs Market Insights: Antipsychotic Drugs Industry report anlayzes Market for Antipsychotic Drugs by Disease (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Unipolar Depression, Dementia, Others), By Therapeutic Class (First Generation, Second Generation, Third Generation), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, Others) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026. Antipsychotic Drugs Industry Key Players Analyzed in Report Are: Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc, H. Lundbeck A/S, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, ALLERGAN, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Get Sample Antipsychotic Drugs Market Report The global antipsychotic drugs market is set to reach USD 20,539.5 million by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period. Widespread prevalence of depression and associated disorders is the key factor driving the growth of this market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), presently, around 300 million people across the age spectrum are suffering from depression. An extreme form of depression leads to suicide. The WHO estimates that nearly 800,000 people commit suicide every year, the act becoming the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 30. Increasing stress levels, social alienation, and excessive individualism are some of the prominent socio-psychological causes leading to depressive tendencies among young adults. This growing prevalence of the disorder around the world is expected to push up the demand for antipsychotic drugs, benefiting the market in the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights, in its report, titled Antipsychotic Drugs Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Disease (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Unipolar Depression, Dementia, Others), By Therapeutic Class (First Generation, Second Generation, Third Generation), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019 2026, states that in 2018, the market was valued at USD 14,963.5 million. Besides this, the report also brings out a comprehensive analysis and an in-depth evaluation of the factors and dynamics that will chart the growth trajectory of the market during the forecast period. Antipsychotic drugs are psychiatric drugs prescribed to treat or contain mental health problems which give rise to psychotic episodes. These disorders include schizophrenia, severe anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression. Large Number of Untreated Schizophrenic Patients to Present Promising Growth Opportunities Schizophrenia is a severe psychotic disorder that creates extreme distortions in thinking capabilities, leads to erratic behaviour, and causes major disturbances in ones social and personal life. The disorder is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and extreme emotionality, requiring strong medication. According to the WHO, schizophrenia is a serious mental disability, affecting nearly 21 million people globally. But, it is not an untreatable affliction. In fact, early diagnosis and targeted medication can help individuals to overcome the challenges posed by the disorder. Rising demand for anti-schizophrenia drugs had spurred many companies to develop novel treatments. For example, Indivior developed an antipsychotic drug called Perseris, an injectable form of risperidone, received FDA clearance in July 2018. This is likely to fuel the antipsychotic drugs market growth in the coming decade. High Awareness Levels to Boost the Market in North America; Asia-Pacific to Showcase a Steady CAGR In 2018, the market in North America was valued at USD 9307.3 million and the trend is expected to continue till 2026. This is mainly on account of the increasing incidence of psychotic disorders in the region, along with the readiness of patients to adopt advanced therapeutic methods to treat these afflictions. For instance, the American Psychiatric Association estimates that around 4.1% of Americans suffer from at least one serious mental disorder. Europe is projected to be the second most dominant region in the global antipsychotic drugs market share. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register a significant CAGR owing to broadening patient base suffering from and undergoing treatment for psychotic disorders. ALLERGANs Vraylar Gets FDA Approved for Depression Treatment, Encourages Innovation Among Other Players In May 2019, Vraylar, ALLERGANs new antipsychotic drug for treating depression got FDAs green light, making it the first drug to get approved for treating bipolar 1. Such regulatory support is expected to encourage other players in the antipsychotic drugs market to step up their investment in R&D to create new products. Moreover, many companies are looking to expand their operations in other countries. For example, in September 2019, Denmark-based Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals partnered with Japans Takeda Pharmaceuticals to introduce Lundbecks Trintellix for treatment of depression in the market in Japan. Speak to Analyst Highlights of the Report: In-depth analysis of various insights, namely, Antipsychotic Drugs Market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and other related challenges. Comprehensive details of key market players, their core competencies, and Antipsychotic Drugs Market share. The potency of suppliers and buyers to make better business decisions. Lists out the market size in terms of volume. Key questions answered in the report: What will the market growth rate of Ophthalmic market in 2026? What are the key factors driving the global Ophthalmic market? Who are the key manufacturers in Ophthalmic market space? What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Ophthalmic market? Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Ophthalmic market? What are the Ophthalmic market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Ophthalmic industry? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Ophthalmic industry? Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Continued About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Quarantine officials disinfect a dormitory for foreign students at Daejeon University, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, Monday, amid coronavirus fears, ahead of the start of the spring semester next month. /Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Universities are struggling to find ways of managing their Chinese student populations amid growing fears that nearly 70,000 students returning from the mainland for the spring semester could bring the coronavirus with them, according to school officials Tuesday. The health authorities here have been calling on colleges to temporarily stop Chinese students from interacting with their Korean classmates and others on and off campus to stop the possible spread of 2019-nCoV (COVID-19). However university officials are at a loss on how to properly prevent the virus from spreading as the schools are not equipped with effective methods of monitoring or controlling possible infections. Following a ministerial meeting outlining the challenges facing Chinese students re-entering Korea, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae announced a plan to strengthen preventive measures to better deal with the possible spread of the novel coronavirus. Officials have suggested students take a leave of absence for the first semester this year, and pushed universities to prepare facilities to quarantine them after they enter Korea. Chung-Ang and Hanyang universities have designated separate dormitories to quarantine Chinese students that have contracted the virus. Kyung Hee University, which has more than 4,700 Chinese students, will also designate dormitory buildings exclusively for Chinese students on its Seoul and international campuses. A school official said more than 450 Chinese students will be quarantined for 14 days in these two dormitories. Stable operations in a challenging environment The financial statements for 2019 were approved by the Board of Directors on the 17th of February, 2020. Main points of the financial statement: Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) was 50.2 million USD compared with 61.1 million USD in the previous year. Profits were 28.1 million USD in 2019, compared with 37.1 million USD in 2018. Liquid assets of the company are strong. Net cash availability was 31.0 million USD at year end and net cash provided by operating activities amounted to 67.2 million USD. Gulaug Sigurardottir CFO: Company operations remain stable and our financial position is strong, continuing the trend of previous years. This ongoing stability is vital as the secure supply of electricity to the public and other customers is a main priority. The disruptive weather, experienced in December, was a harsh reminder of the importance of the secure supply of electricity. Subsequent power shortages put a great strain on our customers but repair work went according to plan. We are convinced that some of the costs associated with repairing the damage could have been avoided if investment plans for the development of the network had been followed through. The company was only able to use half of the funds allocated for investment opportunities in 2019 due to various issues such as delays in licencing. These delays have been an ongoing issue. The government is currently working on simplifying the regulatory framework for licencing and we look forward to a positive outcome. The year 2020 will be one of our largest construction years to date. Plans are in place for the reinforcement of the electricity grid and we expect to spend 70 USD million on construction projects. Bonds were sold in the amount of 100 USD million, to international professional investors, in a closed bond issue in the USA in December. The money will go towards various investments as well as paying the initial loan provided by Landsvirkjun, which is due in March, 2020. Story continues Income Statement Operating revenues were 140.3 million USD in 2019 compared with 154.1 million USD in the previous year. The company has three main revenue sources: Revenue from energy-intensive users, revenue from transmission to distribution system operators and revenue from the sale of transmission losses and ancillary services. Revenue from energy-intensive users decreased by 2.7 million USD between years which can mainly be attributed to a reduction in tariffs mid-year. However, energy increases on the grid increased revenue. Revenue from transmission to distribution system operators decreased by 7.4 million USD this year. A main factor was the exchange rate as Landsnet receives its revenue from distributors in ISK. Revenue from curtailable electricity decreased as a result of capelin shortages in 2019. Revenue from transmission losses and ancillary services in the transmission system also decreased as a result of the exchange rate. The tariff for this service is based on costs + 1.5%. The tariff for energy losses in 2019 was based on tenders for each quarter and was altered according to any changes to those tenders. Operating expenses decreased by 2.9 million USD between years. The average rate of exchange was ISK 122.65 to the USD in 2019 whereas it was ISK 108.38 to the USD in 2018. Costs increased by 3 million USD in 2019 as a result of the damage caused to the transmission system by volatile weather conditions in December. The ISK weakened against the USD by 11.6% between years. The exchange-rate adjustment can be seen in revenue and expenses. The overall effect has not been significant for operating profits before financial items. Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) was 50.2 million USD compared with 61.1 million USD in the previous year and decreased by 10.9 million USD between years. Net financial expenses amounted to 15.5 million USD compared with 15.0 million USD in 2018 or an increase of 0.5 USD million between years. Landsnets profits were 28.1 million USD in 2019 according to the income statement compared with 37.1 million USD in profit in 2018 The EBITDA of the company was 79.8 million USD in 2019 compared with 90.7 million USD in the previous year Balance sheet and Cash flow The total assets of the company amounted to 852.3 million USD at year end compared with 846.3 million USD at year end, 2018. Total liabilities amounted to 461.0 million USD at year end compared with 476 million USD at year end, 2018. Liquid assets of the company are strong. Net cash availability was 31.0 million USD at year end and net cash provided by operating activities amounted to 67.2 million USD. Equity ratio was 45.9% at year-end, compared with 43.8% at year-end, 2018. Operating outlook The company budget for 2020 predicts a 27.2 million USD profit from company operations. The revenue plan is based on the amount and price changes that the company is aware of. The cost estimate is based on the actual cost of the operation of the company, taking into account the criteria for determining the revenue cap. The company's plans for construction during the year will amount to at least 70 million USD. The company will pay off the 70 million USD debt owed to its mother company in March. Financing went successfully and will be closed in 2020. About the financial statement The financial statements for 2019 were prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). These financial statements are presented in USD, which is the company's functional currency. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on the 17th February, 2020. About Landsnet Landsnet was established in 2005 and is responsible for operating Icelands electricity transmission system, one of the most important parts of Icelands infrastructure. Our role is to operate and develop Icelands electricity transmission system and administer its system operations. More information can be provided by Gulaug Sigurardottir, CFO of Landsnet. More information can be accessed at: www.landsnet.is where the Financial Statement is also available. Attachments The terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) 'are full' with terrorists, asserted Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon on Tuesday. He also added that the attempts of the Pakistan Army to infiltrate terrorists under the cover of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) are being responded to in 'hard and punishing' manner by the Indian Army. The statements come neatly a fortnight after Zee News reported that Pakistan is training a group of terrorists in Balakot to carry out an attack in India. In a major conspiracy, Pakistan is training a total of 27 terrorists at Jaish-e-Mohammad's Balakot to infiltrate India and launch an attack, sources had told Zee News. The sources had further said terrorists from Afghanistan are giving training to the 27 terrorists and eight of them are from PoK. According to the sources, the Balakot camp is being run by the son of terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar, Yusuf Azhar. Two terrorists from Pakistan's Punjab and three from Afghanistan are giving training to these terrorists. This is one of the reasons why Pakistan has been violating ceasefire along the LoC so that it can help the terrorists infiltrate and carry out the attacks. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has been trying hard to carry out its nefarious activities in the Valley. The terrorist base of JeM in Balakot, Pakistan, that was demolished by an IAF airstrike, has been reactivated for the same reason. India on February 14, 2020, observed the first anniversary of the Pulwama suicide attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy which resulted in the martyrdom of 40 security personnel. India had avenged the Pulwama attack by conducting airstrikes at terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan with the Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 jets pounding JeM's terror training camp in Balakot on February 26, 2019, killing several terrorists. The Narendra Modi government has adopted a 'zero tolerance towards terrorism' policy and within a few months of the Pulwama incident, Indian security forces eliminated all JeM terrorists involved in the CRPF convoy attack. This was done through a combination of technical and human intelligence-based operations conducted by the armed forces in J&K. After the Pulwama attack, four Jaish terrorists who were involved directly in the Pulwama attack were killed while four others were arrested in different operations. The intelligence inputs provided by the interrogation of at least 40 Jaish over-ground supporters in Kashmir Valley helped various counter-terrorism teams to crack down on the terror network in the region. The Jaish terrorists killed by the security forces include Kamran, who was neutralised on February 18, 2019, Mushashir Ahmed Khan on March 11, 2019, and Sajjad Bhat on March 11, 2019. When a rebellion rose against the Qaddafi government in 2011, prompting the intervention of the United States and NATO, Mr. Hifter returned to Libya, building up a powerful faction. In 2014, with an interim government in place after Colonel Qaddafis death, Mr. Hifter and his forces launched a broad offensive in Benghazi, Libya, called Operation Dignity, aimed at routing out extremist Islamic militants. Mr. Hifters two sons, Khalid and Saddam, served as officers under him and led fighting in Benghazi. During an offensive that October, two families got caught up in the violence. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs said that Mr. Hifters forces captured the Suyid family home. When the father, Adel Salam al-Suyid, and his son, Ibrahim, rushed home to rescue other family members, they were captured and kidnapped. The next day, their bodies were discovered bearing injuries that showed they were tortured. Two days later, other forces under Mr. Hifters command attacked the Krshiny home, killing two family members. Six brothers from the family were taken prisoner, accused of being members of the Islamic State. Ibrahim al-Krshiny, already injured in the eye from the attack on the house, was stripped and then beaten about the head with pipes, cables and a broomstick, according to the lawsuit. Then, over the next seven and a half hours, he was subjected to electric shocks. Mr. al-Krshiny was eventually released but lost an eye as a result of the abuse, according to his lawsuit. His brother Mustafas body was found days later, his hands tied behind his back and bullet holes in his head and chest. Another brother, Ali, was also shot to death, and three others were wounded. In October 2014, 10 men from these families were imprisoned, beaten, electrocuted or shot by Hifters forces, said Kevin Carroll, a lawyer with Wiggin and Dana who represents the families. These families will not receive due process in a country largely controlled by Hifter. The lawsuit accuses Mr. Hifter and his sons of using the Libyan National Army to wage an indiscriminate war against the Libyan people, torturing and killing hundreds without any judicial process. Days ahead of its late supremo J Jayalalithaa's 72nd birth anniversary, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday appealed to its cadres to celebrate the event by organising blood donation and medical camps and take up welfare activities that would help the poor. Top party leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami will lead the celebrations on February 24 by garlanding a statue of the late chief minister at the AIADMK headquarters here, a party release said here. Chief Minister Palaniswami is the AIADMK joint coordinator while his deputy Paneerselvam is the coordinator. The release said Jayalalithaa had always urged her supporters to shun grandeur during her birthday celebrations and therefore party workers should mark the day by taking up welfare activities that would benefit the poor. As part of this, they should organise blood donation camps, eye donation activities, medical camps and various events for students and distribute aid to them and conduct free marriages and feed those at old age homes among others, it added. An actor-turned politician, Jayalalithaa took over the reins of AIADMK after the demise of her mentor and party founder M G Ramachandran (MGR) in the late 80s and became chief minister for the first time in 1991. Known for her remarkable comebacks, she had led the party to victories in the assembly elections in 2001, 2011 and 2016. Jayalalitha, known as "Puratchi Thalaivi" (revolutionary leader) among her supporters, died on December 5, 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 19:04 | Mito (Junin region), Feb. 17. On this occasion, the Huacones de Mito Association chaired by Oscar Enrique Camac held the National Assembly of Huacones de Mito at the Culture Ministry headquarters to evaluate and analyze the improvements of the organization, as well as to set a schedule of activities in Lima and Junin as part of the anniversary celebrations. Attending the meeting was Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Directorate Soledad Mujica. One of the activities includes an exhibition on the dance at the Culture Ministry branch in San Borja district, which will open on August 22, the World Folklore Day, and will go until November this year. "The exhibit will be about the Huaconada and the safeguarding actions carried out by the people of Mito over the past 10 years for the care of this cultural expression," she stated. The Huaconada is a ritual dance performed in the village of Mito (Concepcion province) at the beginning of each year. Huaconada was inscribed in 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity , which recognized the dance's cultural significance. Every year, on the first three days of January, masked men known as huacones perform a choreographed series of dances in the center of the town. The huacones represent the former council of elders and become the towns highest authority while the festivity is going on. Such role is emphasized by the tronador (whip) they carry and their masks, the latter characterized by accentuated noses that evoke the beak of the condor a creature representing the spirit of sacred mountains. The dance involves two types of huacones : elders who wear traditional costumes and finely carved masks inspiring respect and fear; and modern huacones who wear colorful dress and masks embodying terror, sadness or mockery. During Huaconada, the modern huacones dance circumscribed steps around the elders, who have greater freedom to dance improvised movements because of their seniority. An orchestra plays different rhythms, beating out time on a small indigenous drum called tinya . Huaconada synthesizes distinctive elements from the Andes and Spain while incorporating new, modern elements. Only those of good conduct and moral integrity may become huacones . The dance is traditionally passed on from father to son, while clothing and masks are also inherited. The huacones are Mito's highest authority during these holidays. During this time, local officials and inhabitants who committed a crime or offense are judged and eventually punished with lashes. (END) NDP/JOT/RMB The ancient dance of Huaconada originally from Junin region in central Peruvian Andes celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Published: 2/17/2020 Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Custom Protection Services Inc. (OTC: CSPS) ("the Company"), a Delaware incorporated company with head offices in Conroe, Texas, offering a comprehensive portfolio of security and protection services which can be tailored to meet specific needs and situations. CFO of the Company, John Kuykendall, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's current projects and business model. Kuykendall explained that the Company began as a small Delaware corporation, but has since grown to offer a wide variety of security services. "We're really excited about the opportunities that are going on, and so far it's proven to me that we have a sustainable business model," said Kuykendall. "The revenues are beginning to come in and the company is growing," he added. Kuykendall then explained that the Company is headquartered in Conroe, Texas, which is full of business opportunities. "Conroe is the northern edge of greater Houston," said Kuykendall, adding that the location also represents the fastest growing county in the United States. Jolly then commented on a recent press release put out by the Company, detailing their approval as a service provider with the Target Corporation, and asked what it means for the Company. "This is going to mean a lot. We are now a preferred provider," shared Kuykendall. "Many of these chain stores are beginning to look at security in a different light now," he added, noting the increasing security threats arising across the market. "What makes your management team so special?", asked Jolly. "We have three key individuals that work together very well," said Kuykendall, adding that this includes himself, DeLane Potter, and George Rutherford, the Company's Director and President. Kuykendall then expanded on the team's diverse and extensive experience. "Between the three of us, we all devote 100% of our time to the business," said Kuykendall. The conversation then turned to the Company's 2019 accomplishments. "We've developed our sales strategies, as well as our targeting, marketing, and advertising campaigns," said Kuykendall. "We have some pretty ambitious goals," he added. "We really want to approach each customer with a custom program for them," said Kuykendall. "This industry is very fragmented," he explained, adding that very few companies in the security industry are publicly traded. Kuykendall then expanded on the Company's acquisition strategy, noting that they are currently targeting privately-owned security companies worth about $5 million. "We'll be offering them a program of salary and stock during the acquisition period," said Kuykendall. "I don't know anybody else in the industry that is offering anything like this." To close the interview, Kuykendall shared that the Company expects to generate between $3 to $7 million in revenue for 2020. He then shared that the Company has exceptional experience in the security industry, as well as an ambitious growth strategy, which includes uplisting from the OTC. "We're with the right people, in the right place, at the right time," closed Kuykendall. To hear John Kuykendall's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7507949-custom-protection-services-inc-cfo-john-kuykendall-is-featured-on-the-stock-day-podcast Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About Custom Protection Services Inc. Custom Protection Services Inc. is a Delaware incorporated company with head offices in Conroe, Texas. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of security and protection services which can be tailored to meet specific needs and situations. Services offered include personal protection, risk analysis, crisis response, guidance & strategic planning, maritime protection, travel security, legal investigation and POA security programs. Client contracts range from hourly to yearly depending on the type of service being provided. The Company can fulfill any client contract by utilizing a network of specialized consultants. Management has 100+ combined years of experience conducting security and protection operations. Company Contact Information: Tel: 936-703-5855 Email: info@customprotectionservices.com Website: https://www.customprotectioninvestor.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/customprotectioninvestor Twitter: https://twitter.com/CustomProtecti1 Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Custom Protection Services Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media 602-441-3474 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52520 James Frayne is Director of Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. My first focus group was in Watford in 2000. In those days, virtually every other group seemed to take place there. Partly because it was seen as a bellwether seat. But also because it was the nearest vaguely normal place to London that could be reached in an evening. In those days, people were stuffed full of sandwiches and crisps, beer and wine unlike now when its generally more austere. And every focus group tended to begin with the same ice-breaker: tell us where you get your news from. The news question provoked a bunch of different answers, depending on the make-up of the group or its location. Older people read the Daily Mail, working class people read The Sun or sometimes the The Daily Mirror, middle class people read The Times or The Daily Telegraph and yes teachers read The Guardian. Most people in the Midlands and North read a local paper. But everyone almost without exception relied primarily on the BBC1 nightly news bulletins for their daily news. And most supplemented this by dipping into other BBC news sources such as Today, Newsnight or On the Record (the main Sunday interview show, as it then was). For the English, the BBC was ubiquitous. Over the years that followed, I was often asked to test public trust in the corporation usually for campaigns that complained bitterly about the BBCs attitudes towards their cause on everything from Europe to economic policy. These campaigns hoped that people would share their concerns about BBC bias. They never did; people almost always said they trusted BBC News in absolute terms, and relatively far more than most political parties and campaigns. Trying to make people question BBC News values and motives was a pointless exercise. It was always hard to say, but the trust the public had in BBC News seemed partly to derive from their wider trust and affection for the BBC as a whole. When you asked people what they thought was so good about the BBC, they generally said wildlife and factual programmes, local programmes (including news) and the fact that there were no ads. Some would talk about the blockbuster shows like Only Fools & Horses. The BBC was interwoven through the lives of ordinary working class and lower middle class life. Broadly speaking, in my experience, Id say this was the reality consistently until a couple of years ago. Now, when you ask where people get their news from, its almost always Facebook and other social media channels in turn, directing them to an array of sites (by no means usually the BBC). Hardly anyone says they make time to watch the main BBC1 news bulletins, and fewer and fewer people say they watch or listen to the main news analysis shows. Furthermore, when you ask people about the shows they watch, they generally reply with an answer about the platform, not the shows themselves. So, theyll say Netflix or Amazon Prime or whatever. They never say they put the telly on like they did even a decade ago. Again, in my experience, I have not found that trust has fallen per se although post the referendum and two brutal election campaigns, there is now a larger minority of people who moan about BBC bias. But trust has become become less relevant people as the BBC has become less relevant. By that I mean that they dont view trust as a negating factor in their views on the decreasing relevance of the institution. This is the big problem that the BBC has: it could always fall back on the trust argument, even as it was getting a kicking from usually right-leaning activists about its output. Now, trust doesnt cut it because, increasingly, people are saying so what? Theyre increasingly saying so what? about everything regarding the BBC. When so many people are forking out for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky and other niche content on their phones and tablets, more people (but not all, see below) are starting to view the BBC as just another service thats competing for their attention. In my experience, this is particularly true amongst younger audiences they just dont see the point of it, and they dont even share the nostalgia to better times. This is my experience from the focus groups, but what of the polling? The polling bears this out to a significant extent. My agency Public First polled directly on the question as to whether the licence fee should exist, which got a bit of attention at Christmas. It showed a clear majority overall favouring its abolition by 74 per cent to 14 per cent overall and this was true across all the key demographics. And the poll also showed that people favour decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee. But it also showed that people were unsure about how the BBC should be funded in the future. Younger people were quite positive about the idea of the BBC being funded like Netflix, through subscriptions, but older people were hostile. More people liked the idea, they said, of the BBC being funded commercially, like ITV. Interestingly, the poll also showed that more people disagreed that the BBC was neutral, than agreed with it. Either way, the lesson is clear: very few people support the status quo. The BBCs perfectly reasonable pushback to this poll was that it didnt give sufficient context that it didnt present enough alternatives, essentially. Their view is that the BBC always looks better when people are confronted with the alternatives or with the prospect of no BBC at all. We had never intended this to be any sort of detailed look at public attitudes to the BBC; we ran it because one of our staff was being interviewed about the future of the BBC, and we wanted to have something to say about it. But the problem with the BBCs pushback is that it almost acknowledges that the status quo is, at best, just the least worst option. They seem to be waiting for the future to make them entirely irrelevant. So what does all this mean for Number Tens future combat with the BBC? My sense is that the BBC is extremely vulnerable to massive change if Downing Street simply and narrowly questions whether its relevance to peoples lives justifies the licence fee. This is where people are. On the other hand, if Number Ten tries to turn change into an ideological battle, it would leave most people cold but probably light up metropolitan lefties in ways that would be problematic. Which takes us back to the BBC. As I note above, the it was interwoven in the lives of the English working class and lower middle class. This is no longer true practically or culturally and the Corporation will struggle to mobilise these people. All the BBC has probably got left is the hope that at some point the public will view this Government as just another set of politicians who mess everything up. And of course the Corporation should seek to mobilise metropolitan lefties who arent terribly influential in Number Tens thinking. You have to start somewhere. Swann Auction Galleries have revealed a catalogue of Diana's letters which charts preparations and her delight at success of sale just before she died. Princess Diana was stunned when her dresses made $2 million (1,535,400) at auction shortly before her death in 1997. Now, a group of letters she wrote in preparation for the sale and detailing her reaction to its success, as well as a signed catalogue from the auction itself, are set to take around $20,000 (15, 354) at Swann Auction Galleries this week. It transpires that it was the then 14-year-old Prince William's idea for the Princess to sell a selection of her dresses at auction to raise money for children's and AIDS charities. Princess of Wales was stunned when her dresses made $2 million (1,535,400) at auction shortly before her death in 1997. Pictured, wearing a sapphire and diamond necklace, which was a gift from the Sultan of Oman, and the Spencer Tiara with a dress designed by Victor Edelstein to a banquet in Bonn, Germany In one letter, the Princess of Wales thanks Liz Tilberis for the birthday gift of flowers, expressing amazement at the amount of money made at the auction In the letter dated July 1997, the Princess of Wales continued: 'Ralph Lauren was on concorde and came and sat beside me!' (pictured) The first of the letters, written to her friend, the Harper's Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis, is dated 15th October 1996. In it she writes: 'I am so thrilled that you've invited me to New York for the evening of December 9th [Costume Institute Gala] . . . . It goes without saying how enormously proud I am of you . . . [O]f course, I will be by your side & look forward to seeing you tremendously.' On 25th February 1997, she continues: '. . . [A] lovely idea of Veronica's, to host a preview reception in June for the sale of my dresses! '. . . The news of the auction came out far too early & it's due to be announced next week from Christies! . . . 'It's been quite an event sorting out the frocks-memories flooding back & some excellent ones too! . . .' The idea for the auction clearly caught the public and media's attention, as Diana goes on to write another letter to Tilberis on 3rd April 1997: '. . . Christie's have been tremendously organised on the cancer / AIDS front & there seem to be articles appearing, here, there & everywhere! . . .' The Princess of Wales detailed her excitement while sorting through her frocks and wrote: 'Memories flooding back and some excellent ones too' A signed and inscribed menu for the benefit dinner held by the British Deaf Association on July 18, 1990 is estimated to reach $400 to $600 (307 - 460) at auction Elizabeth Tilberis's paddle registration card for the Christie's auction accompanies the lot. The auction itself, titled Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, took place in New York on June 25, 1997 and a signed catalogue, numbered 58/250, forms part of the offering at Swann Galleries with an individual estimate of $5,000 (3, 838) to $7,500 (5, 757). Diana's delight at the success of the auction is evident in the letter she wrote on her birthday, July 1, two months before her death. In it she thanks Tilberis for the birthday gift of flowers, expressing amazement at the amount of money made at the auction: 'Thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday . . . . 'It was stunning the amount made by the auction last week. How typical of the Americans to be so totally generous. I can always rely on them!' The idea of bringing to auction a selection of Princess Diana's evening wear was suggested by her son, Prince William. She resolved to convert her dresses into funds to aid the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund and the AIDS Crisis Trust. A Christmas card with a photograph of Princes William and Harry with their cousins, the Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, is estimated to be worth $400 to $600 (307 - 460) To many, the sale of the dresses represented the Princess's passage into a new phase of life; tragically, she died two months later. Other Princess Diana related lots will also be on offer in Swann Galleries' Fine Books & Manuscripts auction on February 20. These include a much earlier letter to Tilberis, dating to 31st October 1991, relating to her appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine, which is estimated to reach $1,500 to $2,000 (1, 151 - 1, 535), a Christmas card with photograph of Princes William and Harry with their cousins, the Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, estimated $400 to $600 (307 - 460). Meanwhile, a signed and inscribed menu for the benefit dinner held by the British Deaf Association on July 18, 1990, is predicated to fetch $400 to $600 (307 - 460). Liz Tilberis herself did not live long after the death of her friend, succumbing to ovarian cancer at the age of 51 in April 1999. Live online bidding is available via the website at www.swanngalleries.com and on the Swann Galleries App, which means bidders from all over the world have direct access to the sale. (TNS) Harris County, Texas, residents who primarily speak Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese or 26 other languages now will have access to a virtual translator at the polls, County Clerk Diane Trautman announced Friday, part of a series of initiatives aimed at improving the countys voter participation rate.In a nod to Harris Countys diversity more than a third of its 4.7 million residents are native speakers of a language other than English elected officials want to eliminate communication barriers at voting sites.With this innovative technology, interpreters can communicate with the voter and poll worker in real time via video chat to make the voting process easier and more accessible, Trautman said.Flanked by county Elections Director Michael Winn, Trautman offered a demonstration of the machines at the West Gray Multi-Service Center. The tablet devices, which previously stored electronic poll books and were set to be discarded, allow a poll worker to make a video conference call to a translator in the desired language. The translator then can help the poll worker and voter communicate.Harris Countys ballot features four languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese and the clerks office has poll workers who speak each. Residents speak more than 140 languages in the Houston area, however.Trautman said the virtual translators will be available at all 52 early voting locations for the March primary elections.Dozens of Korean-speaking voters were frustrated when then-County Clerk Stan Stanart barred translators from operating inside a Spring Branch polling site in 2018. Stanart said he had to follow the Texas Election Code, which limits who can operate inside a 100-foot buffer zone at polling places.Korean American Voters League President Hyunja Norman, who helped organize the Spring Branch voters, welcomed the virtual translation devices.I think they can be very beneficial, she said. Still, the human factor cannot be ignored.Norman said many of the Korean-American residents in Houston who need language assistance are elderly immigrants who are new to voting and often intimidated by technology. She said she still would like to see real-life translators gain more access to polling sites.Early primary voting begins Feb. 18 and Election Day is March 3.Trautman encouraged residents to vote early, which she said often is more convenient.You never know what might happen on Election Day, Trautman said. Early voting ensures you have different time and date options to have your voice heard.Last year, Trautman launched voting centers, which allow residents to cast ballots at any location on Election Day, rather than only in their assigned precincts. The move proved popular, as 52 percent of voters cast ballots outside their home precincts in last Novembers municipal elections. The iconic Plymouth Rock was vandalized overnight in a spree desecrating the site marking the landing of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts 400 years ago. Officials in Plymouth discovered the vandalism at the rock and other sites around the historic town early on Monday morning. Workers removed the red spray paint, which included the letters MOF and the numbers 508, from the rock before noon. Authorities say no arrests have been made and the site was open to tourists. The rock has come to symbolize the spot where William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims disembarked before founding Plymouth Colony in December 1620. Police said the vandals also targeted a seashell-shaped sign celebrating the upcoming 400th anniversary of the 1620 Mayflower landing, the Pilgrim Maiden statue and the National Monument To The Forefathers. The photo above from Monday shows the vandalized Plymouth Rock, the landmark which represents the spot where the first pilgrims landed 400 years ago Vandals also defaced a seashell-shaped sign celebrating the upcoming 400th anniversary of the 1620 Mayflower landing Vandals also spray-painted graffiti on The Pilgrim Maiden, a bronze statue erected in 1922 in honor of the women of Plymouths founding families. The image on the right is a file photo of the same statue The above image shows graffiti spray-painted on the National Monument to the Forefathers, a 120-year-old statue that commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims The vandalized monument was then scrubbed down and the graffiti was removed before noon on Monday Another monument at the site is seen above on Monday after it was vandalized Hours later, the monument was scrubbed down and the graffiti was removed The Plymouth Rock landmark is seen in the above file photo from November 2018 Most of the graffiti was indecipherable though local officials say some of it contained anti-police messages. No one knows what the tags mean, but 508 is an area code used in Plymouth. Speculation online has delved into whether it relates to a local gang, with 'MOF' being an abbreviation for 'mof***a'. It is possibly a reference to climate change issues. '508 MOF (metal organics frameworks)' can also refer to a new process that could revolutionize the way carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere, potentially saving a significant amount of money for power plants. Massachusetts recent passes a trio of bills as it aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which beyond the target in current law, which requires emissions to be reduced 80 percent below 1990 levels. It was not immediately clear if this graffiti incident had any connection to the anniversary celebration, but Plymouth Rock has been the site of political demonstrations before. United American Indians of New England holds the solemn remembrance on every Thanksgiving Day since 1970 there to recall what organizers describe as 'the genocide of millions of native people, the theft of native lands and the relentless assault on native culture.' 'Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling,' Lea Filson, the executive director of local tourism agency See Plymouth, said in a statement to USA Today. 'The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture.' MAIN EVENTS FOR 400TH COMMEMORATIONS April 24: Plymouth 400 commemoration opening ceremony at Plymouth's Memorial Hall. June 27-28: Official maritime salute in Plymouth Harbor including replica ship that carried Pilgrims in 1620. August 1: A Wampanoag Ancestors Walk to honor the original 69 villages of the Nation, which is now known as Massachusetts. September 14: A State House Ceremony at Massachusetts State House will honor the Pilgrim forefathers and Native people who are immortalized in the historic founding of Plymouth Colony. September 19: A huge Embarkation Festival is scheduled to take place on the Plymouth waterfront that will honor the traditions, cuisine and music of the original settlers and the Wampanoag people. October 29-November 1: A conference at Bridgewater State University will address the legacy of colonization experienced by Wampanoag and other Native people. November 20-25: Series of events in Plymouth in the lead up to the Thanksgiving holiday. Advertisement Four centuries on, the United States is now preparing to commemorate the moment the Mayflower made its historic crossing from the U.K. The Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts and the subsequent interactions between the British and the Wampanoag tribe significantly shaped the birth of America. The Mayflower Pilgrims were significant to American history for a number of reasons, including establishing the New World, a founding documents and the tradition of Thanksgiving. But the arrival of the British Pilgrims all those centuries ago had a devastating impact on the Native Americans - the effects of which are still held today - who have inhabited Massachusetts for 12,000 years. The 400th anniversary commemorations have been years in the making with a replica Mayfair ship undergoing million dollar restorations in anticipation for the events. The non-profit, Plymouth 400 Inc., was established back in 2011 and has been planning the American commemorations of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of the Plymouth colony. Those planning the U.S. commemorations have also been working in conjunction with the U.K and the Wampanoag tribe to plan the historic events. There are seven main events being held from April through to November that range from a replica voyage and an ancestral walk to honor the Native tribes. The United States is preparing to commemorate the moment the Mayflower made its historic crossing from the U.K. to Plymouth, Massachusetts 400 years ago. Pictured above is a replica of the Mayflower that underwent renovations for the historic anniversary The Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts and the subsequent interactions between the British and the Wampanoag tribe significantly shaped the building of America The arrival of the British Pilgrims all those centuries ago had a devastating impact on the Native Americans - the effects of which are still held today - who have inhabited Massachusetts for 12,000 years 'In name, Plymouth 400 calls to mind a singular place but the history of Plymouth colony is integral to the founding of Massachusetts and the Nation,' said Dusty Rhodes, Plymouth, Massachusetts 400th Commission Chair. 'The cultural contributions and American traditions that began with the interaction of the Wampanoag and English peoples have significantly shaped the building of American and continue to provide lessons for our future. 'Further, the inclusion of the Native American perspective is one of the truly unique aspects of this commemoration as, historically, this perspective has been mishandled and misrepresented.' Greater Kailash AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj has said recitation of Sunderkand, a chapter in Ramcharitmanas, will be held on the first Tuesday of every month in areas of his constituency to seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman. The ruling AAP was trolled by the BJP over Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwals frequent visits to Hanuman Temple during his election campaign. Kejriwal had also recited the Hanuman Chalisa during a TV programme earlier this month. Sunderkand is a chapter in Ramcharitmanas written by poet Tulsidas. The chapter talks about Lord Hanumans visit to Lanka. Bhardwaj said advance bookings have been made for the scheduled programmes. Reacting to the announcement, former Delhi government media advisor Nagendar Sharma termed it as disappointing. In a tweet, Sharma said the AAP MLA was trying to outdo the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its game. Disappointed to see a competent legislator with progressive outlook fall into the fallacious trap of trying to outdo BJP in its game, he tweeted. Kejriwals visits to the Hanuman Temple were criticised by many in the BJP with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying during a poll rally, Now Arvind Kejriwal has started reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. In coming days, you will see Owaisi reciting the same. This will certainly happen. Delhi BJP unit president Manoj Tiwari had called Kejriwal a nakli bhakt (fake worshipper). Boston is getting a "CLT Cellular Passive House Demonstration Project" that pushes every TreeHugger button. Building with wood is a great way to avoid upfront carbon emissions (AKA embodied carbon) in construction; Passive House is the best way to avoid operating carbon emissions. Multifamily housing at "missing middle" or "Goldilocks" densities is the way to build sustainable cities. Generate Architecture + Technologies That's why this project by Generate Architecture + Technologies, partnered with developer Placetailor, pushes so many buttons. It does it all. As a winner of the 2018 Wood Innovation Grant from the U.S. Forest Service, Generate has been developing a catalogue of tech-enabled and replicable kit-of-parts building solutions which utilize mass timbera sustainable engineered wood productto address the regions twin pressures of increased urban density and carbon footprint reduction. Generate Architecture + Technologies The building is the first of what is supposed to be "a pre-packaged concept that real estate developers can use for rapid deployment of CLT in mid-rise apartment buildings." That's pretty hard to do when you are given a triangular site, but they have managed to pull it off with 14 units, a mix of unit types, from studios to fully accessible units to family accommodation. Being a former real estate developer myself, I am impressed with the approach taken by John Klein and the Generate team, telling a group of them that "mid-rise buildings that use CLT can be built quicker, with less labor, and at a lower cost than using traditional construction materials. That really gets a real estate developers attention." Generate Architecture + Technologies It's actually funny to read that in 2019, because a dozen years ago it's exactly what Andrew Waugh and Anthony Thistleton told a real estate developer in London with the building that started the CLT revolution. He was convinced, so they got to build their CLT building as long as they covered all the wood with drywall so that none of the tenants would know that it was wood. Now of course, the look of the wood is part of the pitch. But many developers are risk-adverse and they want to know the answers to these kinds of questions: Where in the building should you use CLT? How do you design apartment units to be compatible with CLT panels? How is the structure of the building engineered? How do you design for fire protection and acoustics? And perhaps most important to them: How much will it all cost? That's why this project is so interesting, in that it will demonstrate how it can be done in a North American context, where developers are not used to smaller, Euro-style buildings and the codes are quite different. Generate Architecture + Technologies For example, it's harder to build small buildings in North America compared to much of Europe, because the building codes demand two means of exit and fire-separated stairs, whether it is 5 storeys or 50 storeys; it takes up a lot of space in a little building. I wish there could be some experimentation there as well. Passive House First is the best way to get to zero carbon. The building "features a CLT rooftop canopy to easily mount solar panels." But a great benefit of Passive House efficiency is that you don't need a lot of them; the demand side is so low. Going the next step to net zero gets really easy. But one of the biggest sources of emissions in our cities is not our buildings, it's the getting between buildings, the emissions from driving. That's why we need buildings like this everywhere, dense enough to support public transportation and local shopping. They have reduced upfront emissions, reduced operating emissions and reduced transportation emissions. There's a lot more going on here than just wood construction. Police claim Maesaiah Thabane hired assassins to kill her husbands estranged wife who was shot dead near her home. The murder trial of the wife of Lesothos prime minister, accused of murdering his previous wife, is set to start next month, a court official said on Tuesday. Maesaiah Thabane was arrested and charged earlier this month for the murder of Prime Minister Thomas Thabanes estranged wife Lipolelo, who was shot dead near her home in Lesothos capital, Maseru, on June 14, 2017. Maesaiah Thabane, who denies the charges and is on bail, appeared in the court briefly on Tuesday. The magistrate court set March 17 as the date for the start of the trial, a spokeswoman for the court, Mampota Phakoe, said. Lesotho police claim Maesaiah Thabane hired assassins to kill Lipolelo and was not actually present at the shooting herself. Thomas Thabane took office two days after the killing, then married Maesaiah two months later. Lipolelo had reportedly refused to grant her husband divorce after he started a relationship with Maesaiah. The case has stunned citizens of Lesotho, an independent kingdom of two million people lying in the middle of a South African mountain range. PM implicated Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli told Al Jazeera the prime minister ordered he be sacked for pursuing the investigation. A court later ruled that his job be protected. We were facing some difficulties in that people were not ready to talk or give us information or evidence, but of late people are coming in droves to give us intelligence, Molibeli said. Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller, reporting from Maseru, said a woman who was travelling with the victim and was wounded in the attack has fled the country, fearing for her safety. Its a very complex case for people in Lesotho trying to understand how their first lady could possibly be involved in such a controversial scandal, and ultimately one that could see the prime minister, Thomas Thabane, charged as hes also been implicated in this murder, said Miller. But Thabanes daughter, Mabatsoeneng Hlaethe, defended the prime minister. He is not the kind of guy to plot a killing, I still stand to be corrected. But I have different convictions as far as his new wife is concerned, she told Al Jazeera. (CNN) --The Russian government announced that it would temporarily suspend entry by Chinese citizens, according to an order posted on an official state website today. The statement said Russia would bar entry through its state border to Chinese citizens entering for work, for private, educational and tourist purposes. The order says the processing of documents, registration and invitations to Chinese citizens to enter Russian territory for those reasons would cease temporarily from midnight Tuesday; the full ban takes effect Thursday. Some background: This announcement comes amid concerns over the novel coronavirus. Russia is a major destination and transit point for Chinese tourists, and shares a lengthy land border with China. The new restrictions will not apply to transit passengers, Russian state news agency TASS said. The Russian government has reported two cases of the coronavirus involving Chinese citizens in Russia and confirmed that a Russian woman was diagnosed with the virus on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russia will suspend entry for Chinese citizens" CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new research report "Traffic Management Market by Solution (Smart Signaling, Route Guidance and Route Optimization, Traffic Analytics, and Smart Surveillance), Hardware (Display Boards, Sensors, and Surveillance Cameras), Service, System and Region - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Traffic Management Market size is expected to grow from USD 30.6 billion in 2019 to USD 57.9 billion by 2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.6% during the forecast period. Driving factors of the Traffic Management Market include the rising urban population and high demographic rates, government initiatives for traffic management and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) working model, growing need for real-time information systems, and regulatory frameworks and government policies to reduce the growing carbon emissions. The opportunities in the Traffic Management Market include the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technologies in traffic management and penetration of analytics in traffic management network systems. Browse in-depth TOC on "Traffic Management Market" 114 Tables 56 Figures 215 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1036 Smart signaling solution to account for the largest market size during the forecast period The smart signaling software collects event-based, high-resolution traffic data simultaneously from various connections placed on signals, and produces real-time signal performance measures, including probable travel time and intersection delay. This data could then be analyzed to provide simultaneous performance measures, overall travel time, and traffic congestion rates. The information is used to predict and respond to traffic demands and conditions with optimal signal timings, thus improving the traffic flow on roads. Smart signaling significantly can also help reduce the cost of network monitoring and increase the control and flexibility of traffic. The smart signaling software empowers traffic managers to optimize the existing road capacities, based on which they can take measures to reduce traffic congestions. Journey time measurement system to account for the largest market size during the forecast period Journey Time Measurement System (JTMS) identifies vehicles at two or more points in a road network and calculates the journey time for each defined segment. JTMS are coupled with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems or capture points to find the journey time of a vehicle. ANPR cameras or automatic vehicle identifiers are connected to local processors, which are then connected to the JTMS server. JTMS is mainly used to study the traffic of a region, find congested routes, and prepare a design of road network improvements. It is helpful for traffic engineers to understand how the road network is operating at a given time. JTMS also carries out various data processing functions, such as providing graphical outputs and offering compiled data for web browser access or historical analysis. If JTMS is integrated with a variable message board alongside a roadway, the traffic situation on the route ahead can be displayed to the driver. This can help lower the congestion by alerting drivers about possible delays. JTMS is an important tool for drivers and traffic managers to provide insights into the current and future road activities. It displays real-time journey time intelligence that can be fed directly to road users via display boards, such as variable message signs, websites, and mobile apps. The data enables commuters to make informed decisions, taking the efficiency and predictability of their onward journey into their own hands. JTMS is used by traffic operators to detect and identify early signs of possible congestions by comparing flows and journey times at various points along a route with the typical patterns at the same time of day. Speak to Our Expert Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=1036 Europe to account for the highest market share during the forecast period Europe accounts for the highest market share in the Traffic Management Market. The European market has diverse business needs, and similar to North America, enterprises in this region have the strong technical expertise and bigger IT budgets. In addition, there are many traffic management vendors in this region. Europe is the largest regional market in terms of revenue, and the UK is the most developed economy, contributing significantly to the growth of the Traffic Management Market. Europe has a very conducive environment for the implementation of traffic management systems, as the government has planned investments to improve public transportation modes in this region. The budget allocated by the European Commission for the smart, green, and integrated transport challenge is USD 6,684 million for 20142020. The challenge aims at improving mobility, lessening instances of congestion, and enhancing safety and security. Traffic management projects that are currently underway in the region include Amsterdam Smart City, Amsterdam; Vilnius Traffic Management System, Lithuania; and Athens Traffic Management System, Greece. Market Players The major Traffic Management Market vendors include Accenture (Ireland), Cellint (Israel), Cisco (US), Citilog (France), Cubic Corporation (US), EFKON (Austria), Esri (US), FLIR Systems (US), Garmin (Switzerland), IBM (US), Indra Sistemas (Spain), IMTAC (Oman), IntelliVision (US), Iteris (US), Global Traffic Technologies (US), Jenoptik (Germany), Kapsch TrafficCom (Austria), Lanner Electronics (Taiwan), LG CNS (South Korea), Metro Infrasys (India), PTV (Germany), Q-Free (Norway), Siemens (Germany), SWARCO (Austria), TransCore (US), Savari (US), Dahua Technology (China), Telegra Europe (Croatia), Telit (UK), Huawei (China), International Road Dynamics (Canada ), Rapid Flow Technologies (US), Advance Access (Ireland), Advantech (Taiwan), Redflex (Australia), TRL Software (England), INRIX (England), and TomTom (Netherland). Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Report: Smart Transportation Market by Transportation Mode (Roadways, Railways, Airways, and Maritime), Solution (Smart Ticketing, Traffic and Freight Management, PIS), Service, Application (Shared Mobility, Public Transport), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-transportation-market-692.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/traffic-management-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/traffic-management.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Camillus, N.Y. Carols Polar Parlor, a summertime staple in Camillus for over a decade, is permanently closed. The Carol's building will soon be demolished, Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan said. A new WellNow Urgent Care Center is planned for the property. WellNow will relocate to the new spot from its existing Fairmount location at 3504 W. Genesee St., Camillus Town Councilor David Callahan said. Thats just a half mile away from the Carols property. Camillus-based Rocklyn Cos. is the projects developer. Carols opened 13 years ago at 3800 W. Genesee St. The site was home to multiple ice cream stands before Carols, including Marnies, Kristens and Carvel. Owner Carol Franceschetti opened the shop after returning to the Syracuse area, where much of her family is located. She previously worked for years in New York City and took on the business with a plan to run it for 10 years in semi-retirement. After blowing past her original timeline by three years, its simply time to move on, Franceschetti said. She said shes grateful for her customers. The community was exceptionally good to Carols Polar Parlor, she said. Every year we were building and getting stronger and stronger. Nearby Peters Polar Parlor on Milton Avenue is owned by Franceschettis brother-in-law, Peter Haun, and that shop will remain open. Peters has been in business for over 40 years. In fact, Franceschetti and Haun are planning to beef up Peters hard ice cream offerings with Carols closure. Carols previously offered more hard flavors while Peters had more soft serve, Franceschetti said. The additions will ensure Carols customers will continue to have a place to get their fix, she said. She also said shes moved all of her outdoor seating and tables to Peters, where theyll be set up when the 2020 ice cream season begins. More retail news New CBD store in Liverpool, expansion for Stewarts (retail briefs) Retailer Pier 1 files for bankruptcy, plans to sell company Escape room chain closes Syracuse-area location Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Flash At the three-day Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show, which concluded on Sunday, attendees sent a unique "get well Valentine" to China, where people are fighting a novel coronavirus epidemic. Stretched between two posts was a 1.5-square-meter swath of fabric, on which dozens of attendees of different nationalities and all walks of life had written their sincere "get well" wishes in brightly colored ink to the people of Wuhan and China. The quotes were touching and heartfelt. One tribute scrawled near the top of the banner read, "Thank you, dear China, for all your sacrifices to contain this outbreak! Get better soon!" At what is the largest travel and tourism conference in the United States, Mary from Los Angeles wrote, "Sending you warm thoughts for healing and comfort!" while another attendee wrote simply, "California is with you!" Standing in front of the white banner, Corine from Los Angeles told Xinhua, "I had a friend who took a tour to China last year and she loved it. So, I want to go too and see the Great Wall and everything. It breaks my heart what is happening in China now." David Foster, another attendee, said China is "doing what needs to be done to protect the rest of the world, and that's a good thing." "People are concerned about the coronavirus and some have canceled their visits to China," Wu Ning, director of China's National Tourist Office in Los Angeles, told Xinhua. "But they wish for China to recover quickly so they can go to China later this year." When asked if they would visit China, most U.S. visitors to China's tourism booth at the expo said yes. Others said they planned on visiting China, but might wait until next year. Indeed, not everyone is unduly concerned about the virus. Brad, from the California city of Ontario, told Xinhua, "I think the panic is way out of proportion to the number of deaths, and that's fueled by the media to sell more papers." Ralph Lipman, an L.A. native who plans to visit China, said he is "not really concerned about the coronavirus, since it's less lethal than the flu. There were so many more deaths from the regular flu in the U.S. last year." "I think the Chinese are doing a good job at containing the coronavirus," said Sarah from the University of Southern California. "As bad as this all is, the silver lining is that it will bring attention to the need for better regulations and hygiene." "The Chinese people are warm, friendly people, just like Americans. It's more natural for us to be friends. China, we stand with you!" Roger Edwards said. Pasadena City Council Member John J. Kennedy, who visited China in January during the outbreak's early stages, told Xinhua: "We are one world community and if our brothers and sister in China hurt, then we hurt." "We have an opportunity to show that unity now and demonstrate our concern in a very tangible way," he added. Health Minister Robin Swann has ruled out launching a public inquiry into the neurology scandal. A number of official reviews are under way to examine the work of Dr Michael Watt, as well as the neurology service across Northern Ireland. However, despite mounting evidence that hundreds of patients may have come to harm and concerns over supervision of the neurologist, the UUP MLA has said he will not order a public inquiry. It comes after Alliance Party health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw asked Mr Swann whether he has plans to use powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to convert the independent neurology probe into a full public inquiry. These are major investigations, convened by a government minister, that can be gifted special powers to compel testimony and the release of other forms of evidence. The only justification required for a public inquiry is the existence of public concern about a particular event or set of events. High profile public inquiries in Northern Ireland in recent years have included the Hyponatraemia Inquiry, which examined the circumstances of the hospital deaths of five children, and the RHI Inquiry, which is due to release its findings on March 13. Calls have been growing for a public inquiry into the neurology scandal, particularly as it involved the largest ever recall of patients in Northern Ireland. In December, the findings of a health service investigation revealed that 600 former patients of Dr Watt had been given an insecure diagnosis. Some patients were told they had serious neurological conditions, such as MS, but were subsequently informed this was not the case. It has also emerged that some patients were unnecessarily prescribed life-changing medications. Health officials are currently in the process of putting together a redress scheme for those who have suffered harm as a result of the care they received. Explaining his decision not to call a public inquiry into the situation, Mr Swann said: "The Independent Neurology Inquiry was established by the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health in May 2018 as a non-statutory inquiry. Its work forms part of a series of actions in response to the recall of neurology patients by the Belfast Trust. "The inquiry is independent of all other organisations. I have met with the inquiry panel and am assured that they have made significant progress." He added: "They are at a critical stage in the delivery of their terms of reference and on this basis I have no plans to change their status." However, Mrs Bradshaw said there are serious questions to answer in the Health Minister's failure to grant full powers of public inquiry to the ongoing Independent Neurology Inquiry. "It was made clear at the outset of the Independent Neurology Inquiry chaired by Brett Lockhart QC that it was of an inquisitorial nature rather than having full public inquiry status only because there was no minister to convert it," she said. "Therefore, now that we have a minister, his refusal to switch the inquiry to give it full public inquiry powers will cause serious disquiet among those who have suffered through the failings in the neurology system, and suggests Stormont has learned nothing from the RHI debacle when again it initially refused a public inquiry. "Patients, their families and indeed the public in general who are all users and potential users of the health service deserve to know precisely what went on before the biggest ever patient recall in Northern Ireland, and whether appropriate action was taken by those in authority to stop so many recalls being necessary. "The public has a fundamental right to the fullest possible investigation to ensure that detailed learning points inform future services and there can be no repeat. "By not ensuring that this is the fullest possible investigation, the public will rightly be left wondering why it was not, and what issues may not have been covered in full." Mrs Bradshaw said the public has a right to know when things go wrong. She added: "That this is a fundamental matter of public health only reinforces that point. "Especially in the light of RHI, the minister must immediately provide direction to switch this inquiry from inquisitorial to public so that we can all have full faith in the outcome." Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Its been tabled, reworked, revived and reborn. But a bill that would make sweeping changes to New Mexicos collective bargaining laws is still alive at the Roundhouse with just three days left in this years 30-day session. I am always optimistic until noon on Thursday, the bills sponsor, Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said Monday, referring to the sessions end. The labor legislation, Senate Bill 110, is aimed at updating New Mexicos 2003 Public Employees Bargaining Act by eliminating some local labor boards, among other changes. It was initially tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee but was brought back and passed by that committee after being scaled back. The latest version reflected negotiations between labor union officials and groups representing city and county governments. Just as it appeared the Senate would vote on the bill, however, it was sent to the Senate Finance Committee for further scrutiny. That prompted the next move, the introduction of an identical House bill, House Bill 364, via a dummy bill process that allows legislation to be brought forward after the bill filing deadline through the use of generic, placeholder bills. That bill quickly cleared its only assigned House committee and was awaiting final approval on the House floor late Monday. Backers of the bills say they would update New Mexicos labor laws by balancing the power between employers and unions. In part, that would be done by scrapping some of the more than 50 local labor boards around the state and concentrating more power in a state labor board. New Mexico has more labor boards to consider union petitions than bigger states, including California and New York, and supporters of the legislation say the system has led to inconsistent rulings and in some cases lengthy delays on petitions to unionize workplaces. It is an experiment that was tried and failed nationwide, said Shane Youtz, an attorney for the New Mexico Federation of Labor. Stephanie Ly, president of American Federation of Teachers New Mexico, said having multiple local labor boards hasnt resulted in effective, standardized policy, which affects public employees. You have workers in all different areas that are state public employees firefighters, police, educators, nurses, correction officers they are all governed, if they have a local labor board, by different employment policies, she said, adding that the bill aims to make public workers rights congruent. However, Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, a libertarian-leaning think tank, also said some local government officials around New Mexico remain concerned about the bill, despite its changes. This bill is going to have a nontrivial fiscal impact on governing bodies, Gessing said. He also said he believes the bill stems in part from a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred states from requiring the payment of fair share fees by nonunion public sector workers, even if those workers benefit from union protections and contract negotiations. I think theres some connection there, if not directly, then at least from a policy perspective, Gessing said. Supporters of the bill dispute those claims, saying that changes to the states collective bargaining act have been in the works for years and that the legislation could actually reduce costs. Ly described the legislation as a compromise. She said it would allow local labor boards to keep functioning, but only if theres agreement between management and employees, among other criteria. Meanwhile, some provisions that initially drew strong opposition from county officials and other local government groups have been removed from the bill. That includes wording that would have made it easier to unionize workplaces, by reducing the threshold of employees who have to vote in favor of such a step. Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, has expressed concern about another part of the bill that would allow public employers, using taxpayer-funded contributions, to pay all or part of their employees mandatory pension contributions. He said that could lead to universities, counties and other public employers taking on large liabilities that could be passed on to taxpayers. It will set a precedent, and the dam will break, Payne told the Journal. But Youtz said that provision, and others, already exist in state law and are simply being added to the Public Employees Bargaining Act. Meanwhile, Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Veronica Garcia, who assisted with the updated legislation, said the legislation had a whack-a-mole effect, given how many entities it affects. She also said the district has officially taken a neutral stance on the bill. You fix a problem somewhere else; then it creates a problem for another entity, she said, adding that she wished there were more time to work on the legislation. Court oders seizure of assets of former Tatfondbank managers worth $1.5 billion TASS, Yegor Aleyev 17:12 18/02/2020 MOSCOW, February 18 (RAPSI) The Tatarstan Commercial Court ordered the seizure of assets held by Robert Musin, former Tatfondbank chairman, and ten other former managers of the bank totaling 96.5 billion rubles (about $1.5 billion), according to court records. The court ruling also prohibits the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (FSSRCC) to register transfers of ownership of several premises and land plots belonging to defendants. Petition filed by Russias State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) to introduce interim relief has been satisfied in part: the agency demanded to seize in total assets worth 141.39 billion rubles (about $2.3 billion). In substantiation of the claim, DIA cites the facts evidencing that the persons in control over the bank committed actions aimed to defraud it of its assets, in particular, to form simulated debts, replace valuable assets with unrealizable ones; purchased non-marketable securities; transferred liquid assets in trust of an affiliated organization and made other dubious deals. Besides, the persons in control of the bank failed to undertake measures aimed to prevent Tatfondbank bankruptcy, the DIA statement reads. As a result, the financial standing of the bank has been seriously undermined, what was the reason, the claimant believes, of the situation where it could not meet the demands of its creditors. Earlier, the Tatarstan Commercial Court has extended the procedure of sale of property of Musin for six months. On July 18, 2018, the court granted a motion of Tatfondbank and declared Musin bankrupt. Before that, the court initiated a procedure of restructuring Musins debt. The DIA sought 16.7 million rubles ($255,000) from the banker. Notably, Musin is charged with embezzlement. According to investigators, in August 2016, employees of the bank provided false data to the Central Bank of Russia to obtain a credit and subsequently embezzle the funds. Later, the money was transferred to the accounts of affiliated companies. Investigators believe that overall damage in criminal cases against Musin reaches 50 billion rubles (about $765.6 million). Thirteen cases over abuse of office opened against Musin are allegedly connected with embezzlement of 18 billion rubles ($275.6 million) belonging to Tatfondbank. Criminal prosecution In July, the Investigative Committee reported that Musin would stand trial on charges of abuse of office. According to investigators, in December 2016, Musin siphoned liquid collateral security amounting to more than 20 billion rubles ($315 million) prior to the appointment of temporary administration in the troubled bank. Thus, he caused damage in the form of credit outstandings worth over 7 billion rubles to Tatfondbank, the statement reads. Over 19 billion rubles have not been returned, investigators claim. There are 517 volumes in the case against Musin. Moreover, investigators believe that the defendant was involved in other crimes. The total damage caused by Musins actions is estimated at more than 53 billion rubles (nearly $835 million), according to the Investigative Committee. A court has seized his assets worth more than 4.2 billion rubles. The Toronto police board is set to debate whether to accept a private donation for the purchase of a new armoured vehicle, the Star has learned controversial machinery typically used by the military but increasingly obtained by municipal forces. The proposed gift is expected to be debated at the Toronto Police Services Board meeting later this month, according to a source with knowledge of the donation who was not authorized to speak on the record. Toronto police spokesperson Allison Sparkes confirmed to the Star that the force is requesting the board review a proposal for a new armoured vehicle but would not say who has offered to make the donation that would make it possible. That information is expected to be made public by the police board on Tuesday, Sparkes said in response to questions sent by the Star on Monday. If the donation is approved, the new machinery would replace the services 14-year-old armoured vehicle, which cannot be maintained or refurbished because the manufacturer is out of business, Sparkes said. But the proposed acquisition has critics worried about creeping militarization particularly given technological advancements made in the years since Toronto police obtained their last vehicle. Theres a whole trend of greater weaponization of the service without a single, solid, well-researched, independently verified business case that justifies these things, said Alok Mukherjee, who was the chair of the Toronto police board from 2005 to 2015. He referenced the recent move to equip more officers with Tasers and last weeks revelation that Toronto police tested controversial facial recognition technology. This is hugely disturbing but at the same time its consistent with the direction in which Toronto police have been moving, he said. Sparkes said the armoured vehicle is used by the services tactical unit, the Emergency Task Force. Given its mandate to respond to dynamic public safety situations, she said that having the most up-to-date technology and equipment is critical. As required by its donation policy, any gift worth more than $10,000 must be approved by the Toronto police board. The cost of a new armoured vehicle varies, but they retail in the hundreds of thousands of dollars; after a heated debate last year, Halifax city council approved the purchase of an armoured vehicle for $500,000. Within the last decade, a growing number of municipal police services in Canada have either acquired via the military or purchased their own armoured vehicles, said Kevin Walby, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Winnipeg whose research includes police equipment and tactical SWAT teams. The police forces that have armoured vehicles in their fleets include Montreal, Halton region, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Waterloo. But despite their growing popularity, Walby said the utility of armoured vehicles is limited. A lot of times a SWAT team needs to enter a space quickly and with stealth. If they are serving a warrant, expecting return fire, they dont want to be pulling up with a big clunky vehicle with Police on it, he said. Walby noted there is pressure for police services to obtain new tools and technology, both because of a keeping up with the Joneses effect if other services have certain equipment, a force may feel it needs the same as well as the fact that armoured vehicles are becoming a big industry in Canada. We have these companies that specialize in armoured personnel and vehicles, (and) they traditionally did this for militaries but now they are morphing into these entities that sell to municipal police, Walby said, noting companies attend police technology conferences and are the biggest display on the floor. Police services themselves say the equipment is used in high-risk situations, including dangerous arrests, standoffs and conflicts with a suspect who has a weapon. York Regional Police have owned an armoured vehicle for the past 10 years. Const. Laura Nicolle, a York police spokesperson, said the vehicle is often used as protection for officers and paramedics working during an incident. One of its primary functions would be for retrieval or rescue of victims from an active/unsafe situation, she said in an email. Among the most recent incidents in which York officers used their armoured vehicle was a violent standoff in December with a gunman who exchanged fire with police before barricading himself inside a Richmond Hill home. He was later arrested and charged with a slew of offences including attempted murder. The Toronto police board has a specific policy, last updated in 2010, that outlines the procedure for donations. Calling gifts to the police service a valuable form of public support, the policy states that donations must be subjected to a transparent process and cannot compromise the integrity, impartiality or objectivity of the Service. It is critical that donations be consistent with the goals, objectives and priorities of the Service and that they be beneficial to the community at large, the policy states. Sparkes said the proposal for the donation is in compliance with the policies and procedures of the police service, its board and the city. The police board meets Feb. 25. Feb 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Apple Inc said it was cutting its sales expectations for this quarter due to coronavirus and that its supply of smartphones would be hampered because production was ramping up more slowly than expected as China reopened its factories, adding that demand for its devices in the country had been hurt by the outbreak. https://nyti.ms/2STXs8c - Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Inc's chief executive, said that he was committing $10 billion to address the climate crisis in a new initiative he called the Bezos Earth Fund. https://nyti.ms/321UEtE - Pier 1 Imports Inc said that it had filed for bankruptcy and was pursuing a sale of the company. https://nyti.ms/38DGtxB - Dairy Farmers of America Inc said that it had reached an agreement to purchase a "substantial portion" of the bankrupt milk company Dean Foods Co. https://nyti.ms/2P2QooK (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to decide on Ukraine's further steps following the enemy attack on the positions of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas on Tuesday morning. "We are calling a meeting of the NSDC today. We will discuss and make decisions on our further steps. Our course towards putting an end to the war and being committed to the international agreements remains unchanged just as our determination to stand u Champneys has been hauled before the courts over claims it told guests their apple crumble may 'help reduce the risk of cancer.' The luxury health spa, which was visited by Princess Diana and counts the Beckhams, Brad Pitt and Dame Judi Dench among its guests, allegedly made the claims on its food menu. The spa also allegedly failed to inform guests at its Forest Mere resort, in Liphook, West Sussex, it had a food hygiene rating of just 2 out of 5. Champneys is accused of telling guests, who paid up to 230 a night, its apple crumble could cut the risk of 'cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes'. The spa allegedly failed to inform guests at its Forest Mere resort, in Liphook, West Sussex, it had a food hygiene rating of just 2 out of 5 Guests were also informed a black rice, quinoa and ginger salad was 'anti-inflammatory' and 'rich in fibre', it is claimed. The spa failed to tell guests about allergens in its restaurant food including gluten, mustard, eggs and soybean, it is alleged. And it is accused of selling diners a Vegan Tofu Pad Thai dish which contained milk. Champneys denies all the charges. The prestigious chain was due to go on trial after West Sussex County Council launched a prosecution against it on 19 charges relating to food safety, information, nutrition and consumer protection laws. The maximum penalty for the offences is an unlimited fine and/or a sentence of up to six months in jail. The case was due to be heard before magistrates in Brighton today but it was adjourned at the last minute after neither Champneys or the county council attended court. Judge Amanda Kelly said: 'I'm rather annoyed by counsel not turning up for this Champneys trial. There are no words.' The spa chain is facing five charges of breaching nutrition and health claims laws by saying its apple crumble 'may help reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes'. The same crumble allegedly had a label containing a claim referencing general health and well-being but did not accompany this with an authorised health claim. It is also claimed its black rice, quinoa and ginger salad had a nutritional label which claimed it was 'rich in fibre' and a 'natural anti-inflammatory' and its humous was 'high in soluble fibre' and a 'source of beneficial phytoestrogens.' Champneys is accused of telling guests, who paid up to 230 a night, its apple crumble could cut the risk of 'cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes' It faces nine charges of failing to declare allergens, including not saying mustard was in Champneys Caesar Salad dish, soybean was in pan fried sea bass dish, egg was in a braised beef dish, milk was in a rack of lamb dish, gluten was in broccoli and tofu fritters dish, mustard was in a scallops dish, sulphites were in a vegan bread and butter dessert, soybean and gluten were in a dark chocolate mousse and milk was in a vegan tofu Pad Thai. Champneys faces a further charge of engaging in a misleading commercial practice by omitting to tell diners it had a food hygiene rating of '2' and two additional charges relating to accusations of false labelling for allegedly claiming the Caesar Salad did not contain 'parmesan' and that a Vegan Tofu Pad Thai did not contain milk. The final two charges were over accusations the chain failed to comply with EU law to declare products containing gluten and knowingly / recklessly engaged in a commercial practice falsely claim foods did not contain allergens which allowed customers to buy them The case was adjourned until later this week. Police arrested a 41-year-old man after Amie Harwick was found dead in her home early Saturday. Amie Harwick, a well-known Hollywood sex therapist, was 38-years-old when she was found dead in her home with injuries consistent with a fall. Police responded to a 911 call around 1:15 am. The call was about a woman screaming in Harwick's Hollywood Hills neighborhood. Officers arrived on the scene and were met by Harwick's roommate who told officers the victim was being assaulted inside the home. According to the roommate, he jumped a wall after he left the house in order to call for police at his neighbor's. Harwick was found lying beneath a third-story balcony, gravely injured and unresponsive. The local fire department brought Harwick to the local hospital where she later died. Investigators found evidence that showed a struggle inside the home, as well as forced entry into the property. Further investigation showed the killer entering and exiting the property. Harwick had filed a restraining order against former boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, but the order had expired. Police said the victim had seen the man two weeks prior to her death. Gareth Pursehouse was arrested outside his residence in Playa del Rey around 4:30 pm Saturday. Police booked Pursehouse on suspicion of murdering Amie Harwick. He is being held on a $2 million bail. Harwick: The Go-to Hollywood Sex Therapist Amie Harwick was a well-known licensed therapist specializing in marriage, family, psychotherapy and sex therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from California Polytechnic University. She attained her Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology on Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She also graduated from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality with her Doctorate of Human Sexuality. Amie Harwick authored the book "The New Sex Bible for Women." She received a stipend award from the Phillips Graduate Institute for her multicultural knowledge and awareness regarding displaced children. Amie Harwick was also an advocate for sex workers. She supported a nonprofit that provided mental health care to performers in the adult industry. She had worked with who were clients suffering from mental health issues, trauma, divorce, sex addiction issues, and domestic violence. She was a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), the Psychology Honor Society, Pepperdine Chapter (PSI CHI), and the Kink Aware Professionals through the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (KAP). Amie Harwick briefly dated The Price Is Right host Drew Carey during the summer of 2016. The pair got engaged in January 2018 but broke up the following November. Drew Carey postponed the taping of his show The Price Is Right. He also posted a tribute on his social media page where he and Amie can be seen sitting on a red throne and surrounded by stuffed polar bears. Carey captioned the post "I hope you're lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did." AT-BASHI, Kyrgyzstan -- Kyrgyz authorities say they have canceled a Chinese investment project in the eastern part of Kyrgyzstan following mass protests against plans to construct a $275 million logistics center in the area. Artur Baiterekov, head of Kyrgyzstan's Naryn Free Economic Zone, told RFE/RL late on February 17 that the deal with China has been rescinded. The Kyrgyz-Chinese Ata-Bashi Free Economic Zone Joint Venture also said on February 17 that the contract has been annulled because "it is not possible to work on a long-term large project in the circumstances" when part of the local population opposes the construction of the logistics center. Local residents have protested several times since January against the project, which had been agreed on by the Kyrgyz government and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the Chinese leader visited Kyrgyzstan in June 2019. The latest demonstration against the project was staged earlier on February 17 near the village of At-Bashi. Germany has decided to upgrade some of its Marder 1A5 IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). This effort will cost $121 million for 71 Marder 1A5 vehicles. These will be repaired and modernized, an effort that wont be completed until 2023. The cost of this effort includes logistic support, which includes tech support and an adequate supply of spare parts. There also be new components and repairs as needed. A major boost will come from replacing the current 600 HP engine with a more modern 750 HP one. This new engine improves Marder mobility considerably but not to the levels found in the new Puma IFV and its 1,088 HP engine. The new round of upgrades include: modification to driver vision system, new fire extinguisher system, a new thermal imaging system for the gunner and integration with MELLS anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The last is a license-produced Israeli Spike LR missile which currently replaces older TOW and Milan systems mounted on some vehicles. MELLS is a state-of-the-art missile capable of destroying modern armor at ranges of up to 4 kilometers. The Marder IFV dates back to the early 1960s when West Germany looked for a common platform for various armored vehicles. They put emphasis on crew protection and mobility and wanted a vehicle that could keep up with Leopard 1 tanks. The Marder entered service in 1971 and received multiple upgrades over the years. The main armament consists of a 20 mm automatic cannon and Milan ATGM. The Marder can transport six soldiers in addition to the three-man crew. The current Marder 1A5 weighs 37 tons, up from 29 tons for the first versions. The weight increase came from additional armor, a new turret and various mechanical additions and improvements. All that additional weight made the Marder sluggish because it still had the original 600 HP engine. The German Army planned to replace the aging but still capable Marders with a modern Puma IFV but, due to budgetary constraints, the program was delayed. Currently, the Germans have about 382 Marder 1A5 and 350 Puma IFVs. However, in 2019 the army secured additional funds to obtain a second batch of 210 Pumas. If those vehicles actually enter service then more Marder 1A5 could be phased out. The modernized Marder 1A5s will be able to serve until 2025 or 2030. The German Army received their first mass-produced Puma IFVs in 2016. Puma is operated by a crew of three and carries six passengers. There are three variants ranging from A (around 31 tons) to C (43 tons). To ensure sufficient mobility the vehicle is fitted with a new high power 1088 horsepower diesel engine which gives a great power-to-weight ratio. --- Przemyslaw Juraszek A lieutenant in the Russian army used 16 tanks to form a heart shape before he proposed to his delighted girlfriend - who said yes. Platoon commander Denis Kazantsev paused war games on Valentine's Day and ordered the T-72B2 tanks to make the romantic shape at the Alyabino training ground, near Moscow. In the video, the tanks are seen being moved into position before aerial footage shows them in the shape of a heart. A lieutenant in the Russian army, Denis Kazantsev, arranges 16 tanks into a heart shape at the Alyabino training ground, near Moscow, before he leads his girlfriend, Alexandra Koptyova, into the shape's centre and proposes to her Lieutenant Kazantsev is then seen guiding his girlfriend, Alexandra Kopytova, who has her eyes covered, as they walk into the centre of the shape. The soldier is clutching a bouquet of roses in his hand as he walks. He gets down on knee as a delighted Ms Kopytova, who is in her 20s, listens while he asks her to marry him. He tells her that they have already gone through a lot together as a couple. Adding that he has 'so many nerves', he says: 'That is why I want to create a family with you and to live a happy long life together. Marry me?' Lieutenant Kazantsev is seen holding out a bouquet of roses in front of him as he gets down on one knee in front of Ms Kopytova After asking her to marry him, he then pulls out a ring and puts it on her finger. Lieutenant Kazantsev then lifts his delighted girlfriend into the air and twirls her around With the roses still held out in front of him, Lieutenant Kazantsev then pulls out a ring and Ms Kopytova nods and smiles before they kiss and embrace. The soldier then lifts his girlfriend into the air and twirls her around before they kiss once more. Ms Kopytova confessed: 'I'm overwhelmed by emotions. The pair are then seeing walking away together as Ms Kopytova looks at the new ring on her finger 'I don't understand what is going on, it's so unexpected.' Lt Kazantsev explained: 'I postponed the proposal for about one month to organise all this so it would be unforgettable, once in a lifetime. 'It was not easy but with time my commanders agreed to let me do this.' Russian TV, including Zvezda channel - owned by the Russian Defence Ministry - was on hand to record the proposal. Dublin Bay North TD Aodhan O Riordain has announced he will seek the leadership of the Labour Party, and will face off against Tipperary TD Alan Kelly. Mr ORiordain confirmed that he has been nominated by Louth TD Ged Nash and Senator Ivana Bacik. Mr Nash had been tipped to contest the post but decided against it. Speaking to RTE radio, Mr ORiordain said Labour needs to position itself as the party of change, adding: People dont look at the Labour Party and see change. Who else but the Labour Party have changed Ireland? he asked in reference to Labours record on LGBT rights and womens rights, among other issues. We need to realise that we have no right to exist. 'I relish a contest' - Alan Kelly launches Labour leadership bid Labour Tipperary TD Alan Kelly has formally launched his bid to become the next leader of the Labour Party. Candidate Alan Kelly announces he is to stand for the Labour party leadership during a press conference in Buswells Hote Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie At a press launch at Buswells Hotel, in a show of strength, Mr Kelly was flanked by many party figures including former TDs Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose and Mary Upton, along with party councillors as he addressed the media. Formally nominated by Duncan Smith, the party's new TD in Fingal, and seconded by Cork East TD Sean Sherlock, Mr Kelly said he would relish a contest if Aodhan O Riordan decided to stand against him. I spoke to Aodhan and Ged. I understand Ged is not standing. I relish a contest, it would be good for the party, he said. I expect a government to be formed involving Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens, said Mr Kelly. I don't believe we have a mandate to be in government. But we are willing to support specific policies, on a case by case basis. While he said he felt his party's manifesto was excellent heading into Election 2020, he accepted a large majority of people did not hear its message. Our actual documentation and policies were good policies. But too many doors were closed to us, too many minds were closed to us, he said. Asked about his links to John Delaney, who said previously he was close with the Labour TD, Mr Kelly said his association extended only to matters in relating to Tipperary. He added that is was time for the party "to go back to basics. The party was founded to advance the interest of workers. We must rebuild our party, take it back to the grassroots, cover every corner of the country in doing so and regenerate the trust we had with the people of Ireland that, no matter what, Labour puts the people first. "There is a hard road ahead and it will take time, but the rebuilding of the party must revolve around putting workers and their families at the centre of political discourse. Deputy Smith said he looked forward to a "positive and inclusive debate" about the partys future. He said: "Working together under a strong and fully inclusive leadership, we will win back the support of former Labour voters and re-establish ourselves as the party of working people. I believe Alan has the capability to achieve this. Deputy Sherlock said: The contest should be a positive and inclusive one and the members will have their say over the future direction of the party. The Labour Party needs to unite and campaign around its core purpose and Alan has demonstrated both the ability and energy to achieve that. Mr Kelly concluded by saying that the recent election has shown that the country needs what Labour has stood for, adding: "The realignment in national politics whereby the traditional larger parties are moving inexorably closer has created a void that honest, hard-working and considered social reformists must fill. Labour is the only party that can do that and our hard work begins now. "Southern Charm" star Eliza Limehouse is engaged to be married. ADVERTISEMENT The 24-year-old announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Mark "Struthers" McBride, Jr., in an Instagram post Friday on Valentine's Day. "We are engaged!!!!! Happy Valentine's y'all! cheers to forever @_struthers I love you!!!" Limehouse wrote. McBride, 29, an army veteran, confirmed the news in a post on his own account. "i can honestly tell you 2 times in my life where I have been full of excitement, adrenaline, & joy. This is one of them & enlisting. Here's to forever EDL Baby, I love you so very much. #engaged," he wrote. Limehouse told People that McBride proposed in January after a nearly a year of dating. McBride proposed again at Airy Hall Plantation in South Carolina last week. "He's my best friend, the most selfless man I've ever met, treats me like a princess, and makes me feel completely secure," Limehouse said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "I really love him. I feel whole when I'm with him." Limehouse joined "Southern Charm" in Season 6. The Bravo series co-stars Craig Conover, Cameran Eubanks, Shep Rose, Kathryn Dennis, Austen Kroll, Chelsea Meissner and Naomie Olindo. The Democratic Party establishment whats left of it, anyway is hoping someone can stop Bernie Sanders and his progressive horde from capturing the partys presidential nomination. I dont know how you win an election (at) 78 years old, screaming in a microphone about the revolution, said James Carville, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, in an especially pungent expression of the old guards anxiety. Its like were losing our damn minds. But Carville and other party elders have two problems as they look for a way to influence the race: They havent agreed on which non-Bernie candidate to favor. And even if they did, its not clear how many voters would listen. Sanders has a strong shot at winning for an old-fashioned reason: Even though hes not the first choice of most Democrats, hes won more votes than any other candidate. In Iowa, he essentially tied for first place with Pete Buttigieg. In New Hampshire, he narrowly defeated the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Ind. If non-Bernie voters continue to scatter their choices, Sanders will consolidate his hold on first place, even if he only wins about a quarter of the votes, which is what he got in Iowa and New Hampshire. Again, most Democratic voters arent Sanders fans or socialists. A CBS News study found a three-way ideological divide: about one third described themselves as very liberal, which is Sanders base; another third said they were somewhat liberal, and the last third called themselves moderate or conservative. In other words, die-hard progressives are a minority. So Democratic leaders who are not Sanderistas are hoping next Saturdays Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary a week later will produce a clear surge for one of the candidates they consider more electable: Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar or Joe Biden. Klobuchar, who finished a surprising third in New Hampshire, has emerged as their hope-of-the-week: more experienced than Buttigieg, a better campaigner than the flagging Biden. Shes smart, she has a strong track record, shes electable, argued Elaine Kamarck, another former Clinton aide. But Klobuchar is still unproven. Her third-place finish in New Hampshire was her best showing so far. In a Nevada poll last week, she tied Buttigieg for fifth place with 10 percent. In New Hampshire, Klobuchar was boosted by a strong performance in the final debate. A lot may hang on whether she performs as well at the next debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday. That may also be the first debate to include Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York who has spent more than $200 million to elbow his way into the competition. Bloomberg will be on ballots beginning on March 3 Super Tuesday when 14 states including California hold primaries that will choose more than a third of the elected delegates to the Democrats convention. And that opens the way to a prospect that gives establishment Democrats nightmares: a split for the un-Bernie vote among Bloomberg, Klobuchar, Buttigieg plus, if they manage to stay alive, Biden and Elizabeth Warren. Berniecrats are already worried that the establishment is plotting to stop him, as they believe it did in 2016. Theyve complained that the Democratic National Committee unfairly changed the debate rules to help Bloomberg. But its not clear that the establishment is capable of intervening effectively. A generation ago, party leaders could tip the scales by endorsing a favorite candidate. If former President Barack Obama threw his support to Biden, Buttigieg or Klobuchar, that might sway some votes although of course, Obamas support wasnt enough to elect Hillary Clinton in 2016. Endorsements dont count as much as they once did. Voters who once relied on politicians for advice now have direct access to information and disinformation through the internet. The other traditional avenue of influence was fundraising: Big donors could make one or two candidates viable, and starve others of resources. But thats changed, too. Sanders has raised more than $121 million almost entirely from small-dollar donors. Bloomberg isnt asking anyone for money at all. Besides, party leaders are reluctant to intervene in a way that would alienate Sanders supporters, since their votes will be crucial in November even if hes not the nominee. They seem to know they dont want Sanders, but they cant do much about it, said Hans Noel, a political scientist at Georgetown University who studies the role of parties in the nominating process. Still, theres one last, unusual scenario under which party leaders could exert some influence: delegate-swapping. If no one amasses a majority of delegates during the primaries, several candidates could try to cut bargains before the Democratic convention in Milwaukee in mid-July. For example, a candidate in third or fourth place could drop out and release his or her delegates, which would free them to vote for anyone else. If theres no winner on the first ballot, the partys superdelegates mostly elected officials and party activists get to join in later voting. The DNC adopted those rules in 2018 in a compromise that Sanders approved. So the establishment might make its voice heard after all. But those hypothetical plot twists are months away. Until then, the choice is out of the establishments control and up to the voters. Like it or not, the Democrats are going to have to solve their problem through democracy. Doyle McManus is a Washington columnist for the Los Angeles Times and director of the journalism program at Georgetown University. Microsoft opens engineering hub in NCR, its third in India Microsoft on Monday announced the launch of the India Development Center (IDC), National Capital Region (NCR), its third Development Center in India, Microsofts premier facility for driving cutting edge innovation. IDC-NCR will build on Microsofts strategy of tapping Indias world class engineering talent to build products and services for driving digital innovation for globally shared development, the company stated in a release. IDC-NCR will play a critical role in Microsoft Indias expansion and growth story. The facility will open opportunities for thousands of engineers, with plans to expand to a full-fledged development center, similar to IDC facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, it added. We are pleased to announce the opening of our India Development Center in NCR. We have built a strong engineering presence in India over the past two decades and we are excited to be expanding to Noida. This represents a critical expansion of our ability to attract world-class technology talent, Kurt DelBene, executive vice president, Corporate Strategy, Core Services Engineering and Operations, and chairman of the IDC Advisory Board, said. Our deep commitment to the region will help us further Microsofts mission to empower every individual and every organization on the planet to achieve more, he added. The launch of the new IDC center in NCR is a step towards realizing IDCs vision to be a world class development center and source of innovation for the next billion users. This creates opportunities for engineers to do meaningful work that will have impact across the world. We are excited to tap into the engineering talent available in this part of the country to create a truly pioneering organization that will build innovative solutions for global impact, Rajiv Kumar, managing director, Microsoft India Research & Development Pvt Ltd, said, IDC NCR will house Microsofts engineering teams across various technology groups, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Research Group, Cloud and Enterprise Group, and Experience and Devices Group, along with Core Services Engineering and Operations. IDC NCR will also house Mixer, Microsofts live streaming gaming platform team, becoming the first center to host the gaming team outside the company headquarters in Redmond. With this addition, the India Development Center will have teams across all engineering divisions from Microsoft, making IDC a true microcosm of engineering work at Microsoft. The new facility is built in line with Microsofts global standards in Intelligent Workplace, giving employees access to state-of-the-art facilities. Microsoft has announced the launch of the India Development Center (IDC), National Capital Region (NCR). IDC NCR is Microsofts third Development Center in India, serving as a premier facility for driving innovation. The India Development Center represents Microsofts strategy of globally shared development to build products and services for driving digital innovation. IDC, NCR will play a critical role in Microsoft Indias expansion and growth story. The facility will open opportunities for thousands of engineers, with plans to expand to a full-fledged development center, similar to IDC facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Kurt DelBene, executive vice president, Corporate Strategy, Core Services Engineering and Operations, and the Chairman of the IDC Advisory Board, said, We are pleased to announce the opening of our India Development Center in NCR. We have built a strong engineering presence in India over the past two decades and we are excited to be expanding to Noida. This represents a critical expansion of our ability to attract world-class technology talent. Our deep commitment to the region will help us further Microsofts mission to empower every individual and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, Microsoft India Research & Development Pvt. Ltd., said, The launch of the new IDC center in NCR is a step towards realizing IDCs vision to be a world class development center and source of innovation for the next billion users. This creates opportunities for engineers to do meaningful work that will have impact across the world. We are excited to tap into the engineering talent available in this part of the country to create a truly pioneering organization that will build innovative solutions for global impact. IDC-NCR will be home to Microsofts engineering teams across various technology groups, including Microsofts Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Research Group, Cloud & Enterprise Group, and Experience & Devices Group, along with Core Services Engineering and Operations. IDC NCR will also house Mixer, Microsofts live streaming gaming platform team, becoming the first center to host the gaming team outside the company headquarters in Redmond. With this addition, the India Development Center will have teams across all engineering divisions from Microsoft, making IDC a true microcosm of engineering work at Microsoft. The new facility is built in line with Microsofts global standards in Intelligent Workplace, giving employees access to state-of-the-art facilities. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the strength and sustainability of the Western world despite misgivings in Europe when speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15. More than 500 high-level decision-makers from all over the world convene annually at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, to discuss international security policies and address current security challenges. Among the attendees are heads of states, ministers, members of parliament, business leaders, scientists, and high-ranking members of civil society. The central theme of this years conference was fading of the West, and the Western project, a phenomenon called Westlessness by the Munich Security Report 2020, an official primer for this years conference. In todays world, what has been understood as the basis of the West: liberal democracy, human rights, market-based economy, and the rule of law, is increasingly contested, which in turn poses security challenges, according to the report. The world is becoming less Western the West itself may become less Western, too, the report says. The main theme of Pompeos speech was The West Is Winning. Free nations are simply more successful than any other model thats been tried in the history of civilization. Our governments respect basic human rights, they foster economic prosperity, and they keep us all secure, Pompeo said. The West is not just limited to geographical location, as any nation that adopts a model of respect for individual freedom, free enterprise, national sovereignty [is] part of this idea of the West, he explained. To illustrate his point, Pompeo talked about the many refugees who risk their lives to escape in droves across the sea to Greece or Italy, but not to Iran or Cuba. On the other hand, some Asian countries were able to get out of poverty and emerge as world-leading economies by embracing Western principles, like South Korea, which is in stark contrast with Communist-ruled North Korea. Pompeo emphasized the strength of the U.S. economy, citing low unemployment rates, rising wages, as well as the resilience of the countrys political system. Respect for sovereignty, freedom, and democracy are critical values of the West that allow it to win, Pompeo said. US Commitment to Protection of Freedom and Sovereignty There are, however, countries that do not respect sovereignty and can pose threats to the West, Pompeo said. He listed Russia, which seized Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine, Iran, which attacked Saudi oil facilities and has troops in several Middle East countries, and China, which encroaches on the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, and uses unfair trade practices. He strongly disagreed with remarks made in recent years by Western leaders, questioning Americas commitment to the transatlantic alliance and Americas leadership in the world. He also quoted a Western leader who said the day before that the United States rejects the international community. In response, Pompeo provided examples of U.S. involvement in fighting and countering all kinds of attacks on sovereignty and freedom of Western countries. The United States has worked to confront and counter these threats through sanctions and military actions. The United States also arms threatened or attacked nationse.g., Ukraine and provides them with financial aid, and training. The United States has led the global fight to defeat ISIS, Pompeo said. The United States urged NATO Allies to increase their defense spending to $400 billion in new pledges, and actively participates in NATOs military exercises in Europe, he said. We support independent nations. Our signature military project together is a defensive alliance, Pompeo said. Pompeo announced a new U.S. commitment to provide up to $1 billion in financing to Central and Eastern European countries of the Three Seas Initiative. The goal is to galvanize private sector investment in the energy sector to protect freedom and democracy around the world, said Pompeo. The Three Seas Initiative is a political platform at the presidential level that unites 12 Central and Eastern European countries, located between the Adriatic, the Baltic, and the Black seas, in an endeavor to build a North-South infrastructure corridor connecting countries of this region. Most of the Three Seas participants used to be a part of the former Eastern Communist Bloc, dominated by the Soviet Union. Therefore their infrastructure was not only underdeveloped in comparison with Western Europe but also focused mainly on interconnections along the East-West axis. This was a major impediment to economic growth in the region. In terms of energy, the region remained dependent on a single supplier of gas and oilRussia. Included in the Three Seas Initiatives are projects to create an energy market that will provide diversification of energy sources and suppliers, and one of the new energy suppliers to countries participating in the initiative is an American producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times The 56th Munich Security Conference was dominated by a breakdown of the NATO alliance amid the resurgence of preparations for great power conflict and a new scramble by the imperialist powers to recolonize the world. In a blunt statement, the opening report to the conference made clear that major interstate war is not necessarily a thing of the past. Rather, the return of more intense great power competition may make war more likely again. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, center, attends a news conference with members of the U.S. delegation during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) Addressing the delegates, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned, We are now in an era of Great Power Competition, meaning that we must move away from low intensity conflict and prepare once again for high intensity warfare. While there was universal agreement among the imperialist powers on the need to prepare to fight wars, equally striking were the divisions over whom the targets should be. In this supercharged atmosphere, long-simmering tensions and disputes between the United States and Europe erupted to the surface, revealing the widest divisions between Washington and its NATO allies in postwar history. The immediate context of the conference was the decision by France, Germany and, most recently, Britain to reject US demands to ban the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from building cellular infrastructure in their countries. In a series of speeches, US officials sought to bully and cajole their NATO allies into joining the United States anti-Chinese axis. The threats of Defense Secretary Esper were combined with the moralizing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the empty triumphalism of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who declared, the West is winning. So intense were the divisions between the US and its NATO allies that when a Chinese diplomat asked a question challenging US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis claim that Huawei was exporting digital authoritarianism, applause rang out throughout the room. The presence of Pelosi and that of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who had just concluded a failed effort to remove Trump on the grounds that he was insufficiently aggressive against Russia, presented a united front over what Esper called the Pentagons top concern: the Peoples Republic of China. When asked whether she agreed with the China policy of President Trump, Pelosi answered that we have agreement in that regard. Beyond the explosive divisions between the US and its nominal European allies, the entire event was dominated by a profound unease and an atmosphere of crisis. The opening statement by Wolfgang Ischinger, the chairman of the conference, proclaimed that the West is indeed in serious trouble. The theme of the conference was Westlessness. The opening report used the Spenglerian framing device of the West to encompass a whole range of crises: the decline of American hegemony, the growth of conflicts between the United States and Europe, the rise of the fascistic right and the breakdown of international norms. The report spoke of rifts and schisms within the West, centering on a number of issues, from the future of the Iran deal and the pipeline project Nord Stream 2 to NATO defense spending and transatlantic trade imbalances. Indeed, even as the event was ongoing, the United States announced new tariffs on European aircraft, while US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette bragged about the success of US sanctions in forcing Germany to abandon its plans to construct a natural gas pipeline with Russia. Important as it is in itself, the conflict over Huawei is in many ways a proxy for even more fundamental divisions. As in the period preceding the First World War, the major powers are scrambling for a redivision of the world, using the colonial language of spheres of influence. As an article in Foreign Affairs recently pointed out, Unipolarity is over, and with it the illusion that other nations would simply take their assigned place in a US-led international order. For the United States, that will require accepting the reality that there are spheres of influence in the world todayand that not all of them are American spheres. In their contributions, all of the European leaders made clear their eagerness to obtain what Kaiser Wilhelm called a place in the sun. Europe will have to show its strength in the future, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. Germany is ready to get more involved, including militarily, he concluded, to resolve crises like Iraq, Syria, Libya, Ukraine and the Sahel. Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the United States set out to reorganize the world through naked military power, beginning with the first Gulf War. As the International Committee of the Fourth International wrote at the time, the Gulf War marked: the beginning of a new imperialist redivision of the world. The end of the postwar era means the end of the postcolonial era. As it proclaims the failure of socialism, the imperialist bourgeoisie, in deeds if not yet in words, proclaims the failure of independence. The deepening crisis confronting all the major imperialist powers compels them to secure control over strategic resources and markets. Former colonies, which had achieved a degree of political independence, must be resubjugated. In its brutal assault against Iraq, imperialism is giving notice that it intends to restore the type of unrestrained domination of the backward countries that existed prior to World War II. US imperialisms effort to reconquer the world has not only created an immense human disaster, it has ended in a catastrophe for the United States. As the most recent issue of Foreign Affairs makes clear: US policymakers have for nearly three decades converged around the premise that Pentagon planners set forth in 1992: the United States should maintain a military superiority so overwhelming that it would dissuade allies and rivals alike from challenging Washingtons authority. That superiority quickly became an end unto itself. By seeking dominance instead of merely defense, the strategy of primacy plunged the United States into a downward spiral: American actions generated antagonists and enemies, who in turn made primacy more dangerous to pursue. Even as the United States series of bloody wars has created one disaster after another, US imperialism sees, with characteristic hubris, new wars and new threats as the means to extricate itself from this crisis. But this promises only new disasters. The bluntness with which the representatives of the imperialist powers speak of their preparations for world war expresses the immense dangers confronting humanity and the urgency of building a new mass antiwar movement based upon the international working class. A hospital director at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic died Tuesday, state media said, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the new coronavirus spreading across the country. The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan late last year, has infected more than 72,000 people and killed nearly 1,900. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. China said last week that six medical workers had died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected. Liu's death was initially reported by Chinese media and bloggers shortly after midnight on Tuesday -- but the stories were later deleted and replaced with reports that doctors were still trying to save him. After initial reports of his death were denied, the hospital told AFP on Tuesday morning that doctors were giving him life-saving treatment. Liu's death has echoes of that of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December. Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis. People took to social media to mourn Liu on Tuesday, with many users on the Twitter-like Weibo platform drawing critical comparisons between Liu's death and Li's. In both cases their deaths were initially reported in state media posts -- later deleted -- and their deaths denied, before being finally confirmed again. "Has everyone forgotten what happened to Li Wenliang? They forcefully attempted resuscitation after he died," one Weibo commenter wrote. Another commenter said, Liu "already died last night, (but) some people are addicted to torturing corpses". A hashtag about Liu's death had 29 million views by Tuesday afternoon. Doctors in Wuhan face shortages of masks and protective bodysuits, with some even wearing makeshift hazmat suits and continuing to work despite showing respiratory symptoms, health workers have told AFP. Hubei province and its capital Wuhan have been the hardest hit by the virus, accounting for nearly 1,800 of the deaths from the virus so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) Two airlines and health officials are trying to piece together the movements of a couple from Japan who came down with the coronavirus after a trip to Hawaii. The couple, who are in their 60s, arrived in Hawaii on Jan. 28, USA Today reports. The husband and wife flew Hawaiian Airlines within Hawaii, then took a Delta flight to Nagoya on Feb 7. Speaking of the husband, who tested positive first, a state epidemiologist said, "Our focus at this point is to try and understand who potentially this person may have had close, prolonged contact." The current theory, based on the incubation period of the virus, is that the husband became infected before he left Japan or on the flight to Hawaii. He wore a mask on the flight back to Japan, per the Hill. story continues below Delta Air Lines said it has informed crew members and agents who worked the flight, and is contacting passengers as health officials advise. The airlines are working with the CDC as well as state health officials. The hotel where the couple was staying when the man showed symptoms, the Grand Waikikian on Oahu, has stayed open. The couple has been hospitalized in Japan. (A cruise ship passenger cleared of having the virus and allowed to leave shouldn't have been.) General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota Motor on Tuesday confirmed that they've reopened their factories or are beginning to restart production in China following extended holiday shutdowns due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Michael Palese, a spokesman for Fiat Chrysler, said the company's plant in Guangzhou, located hundreds of miles south of the coronavirus epicenter in Wuhan, has resumed production this week. The company's second assembly plant in China is "expected to resume operations soon," he said in an email. Palese said Fiat Chrysler "continues to monitor its global supply chain in relation to the coronavirus outbreak in China." There has been no impact to the company's operations in North America, he said. GM, as planned, "began the process of restarting production" Saturday as part of a two-week process to reopen its 15 assembly plants in the country, according to Jim Cain, a company spokesman. He said GM has not experienced any impact to its U.S. truck production, which union officials last week said could be impacted due to parts shortages in the coming weeks. GM declined to comment on how many plants are beginning to restart production. Toyota, according to company spokesman Eric Booth, said three of its four plants in China are beginning to operate single shifts this week. "Our priority continues to be the safety and security of the workplace and we will resume normal operations as soon as is deemed safe and appropriate," Booth wrote in an email. The restart of vehicle production comes as total confirmed cases of coronavirus exceed 73,400 people, including at least 1,874 deaths. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. Former national security adviser John Bolton criticized the White House on Monday for what he termed its efforts to censor his memoir on working in the Trump administration. For all the focus on Ukraine and the impeachment trial and all that, to me, there are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine, I view that like the sprinkles on the ice cream sundae in terms of whats in the book, Bolton told an audience at Duke University. This is an effort to write history and I did it the best I can. Well have to see what comes out of the censorship. Bolton also said he hoped the book would survive the pre-publication review process. Im hoping ultimately I can get the book published, Bolton said. I hope its not suppressed. Information from Boltons book, The Room Where it Happened, was leaked towards the end of the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. Bolton reportedly wrote that Trump had specifically conditioned military aid to Ukraine on a commitment by that country to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. Republican senators including Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) and Ron Johnson (R., Wisc.) called on Bolton to publicly state whatever information relevant to the trial he had written in the book. However, Bolton declined to do so, and Democrats failed to convince enough Senate Republicans to vote to call witnesses in the impeachment trial, dashing Democrats hopes that Bolton could be called to testify. More from National Review Germany-based Freudenberg Group CEO Ulrich Kerber on Tuesday discussed with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh the modalities for investing Rs 400 crore in the state's automotive sector. Amarinder assured Kerber of his government's full support and cooperation to undertake expansion in the state, a government statement said here. Kerber informed the chief minister that the group was in constant touch with 'Invest Punjab' team for identification of suitable site for the new project, which would soon be finalised. He told Amarinder that Vibracoustic India, an arm of Freudenberg Group, is a leading supplier of NBH (noise, vibration and harshness) solutions for automotive industry, with a presence in 19 countries, and a market share of 18 per cent. It is a major supplier to companies such as Audi, Mercedes and Volvo, he added. Vibracoustic India President and Head of Operatons Jagminder Bawa informed the chief minister that the group started its operation 20 years ago in Mohali. He also pointed out that Vibracoustic India had worked out a proposal to invest for both Vibracoustic India and Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, another group company. Amarinder appreciated the group's endeavours and said the new proposed project would further boost investment sentiment in the state, besides generating employment. With his government's investor friendly policies and renewed confidence of entrepreneurs, Punjab has firmed up investments worth nearly Rs 60,000 crore on the ground since March 2017, he said. Freudenberg Group, a global technology conglomerate, deals in multiple sectors such as mobility, energy, chemicals, household, textile with 50,000 employees in around 60 countries, and had a total turnover of more than 9.4 billion Euros in 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against 11 JMB terrorists, including a Bangladeshi national, for their alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy to commit terror acts, and recruiting people for anti-national activities among others, an official said. They have been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Foreigners Act, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesperson said. Najir Sheikh (25), Arif Hussain (24), Asif Ikbal (23), Kador Kazi (33), Habibur Rahaman (28), Mohammad Dilwar Hossain (28), Mustafizur Rahman (39), Adil Sheikh (27), Abdul Karim (21), Mosaraf Hossain (22) and Bangladesh resident Jahidul Islam (40) have been named in the charge-sheet filed before a special NIA court here. The case pertains to seizure of incriminating material last year from a house in Bengaluru's Chikkabanavara area which was rented and used by JMB members, the official said. The seized items included electrical and electronic items, tools, chemical apparatus, containers among others generally used for making bombs and IEDs. Some 9mm bullets, digital cameras and other incriminating hand written documents were also seized. Investigation revealed that the accused, members of the Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a proscribed terrorist organisation, were involved in a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist acts or preparation thereof, raising funds by committing dacoities for their terrorist activities, organising terrorist camps and recruiting persons for committing terrorist activities, the official said. They were also involved in harbouring group members, procurement of explosive and ammunition for anti-national activities, the official said. Further investigation against absconding accused B D Arif and other suspects whose names surfaced during investigation was underway, the NIA added. London, 24 January 2020 (SPS) - The undersigned civil society organisations are concerned that the UK is seeking to rollover the EU-Morocco Association Agreement into UK legislation without due attention to the ongoing Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. A 1975 International Court of Justice ruling recognised Western Saharas right to self-determination and in 1991 the UN promised a referendum of the Saharawi people to decide whether they would choose to be an independent country or become part of Morocco. This promise has not been kept and the Saharawi people continue to live either as refugees in the Algerian desert or in conditions of oppression and violence under Moroccan occupation in Western Sahara. Between 1,000 and 1,500 Saharawi people have disappeared over the past 45 years. Despite this situation, the EU pressed ahead with an Association Agreement with Morocco. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), in its judgment (Case C-104/16 P) of December 21, 2016, determined that the 2012 Agreement between the EU and Morocco concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products and fishery products provided no legal basis for including Western Sahara within its territorial scope. This was confirmed by the UK High Court in April 2019. In order to be able to comply with the ruling and continue to apply the Agreement to Western Sahara, the European Commission and the European External Action Service conducted a process of consultation and the European Parliament held a fact-finding mission targeting representatives of the Saharawi community. However, concerns have been raised about whether this process was sufficiently rigorous and comprehensive. The decision to proceed with the Agreement is currently being challenged at the ECJ by the POLISARIO Front. The UK is now seeking to roll over the EU-Morocco Association Agreement into UK legislation. The Agreement will therefore be subject to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (2016), which requires the Government to lay the Agreement before Parliament for 21 sitting days. The Morocco Agreement will be laid until the 11th February. There is no guarantee of a parliamentary debate or vote in the House, nor that the Agreement will receive any scrutiny at all. The undersigned organisations believe that the UKs processes for scrutiny of all trade agreements are in urgent need of reform. This is particularly the case for the Morocco Agreement where there is potential for it to undermine International Humanitarian Law and the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. We urge parliamentarians to use every opportunity to give this Agreement proper scrutiny, including through debates in both Houses, and to only accept it if they are able to obtain robust guarantees that trade in the Western Saharan region is taking part only with the full consent of the Saharawi people such that they decide for themselves who profits from the natural resources of their territory. We believe that the UK Government must also set out clear objectives for its future trade policy and in particular that this policy will be driven by its commitments in the area of international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as by those on climate change and environmental protection. Ruth Bergan, Senior Adviser, Trade Justice Movement John Gurr, Coordinator, Western Sahara Campaign Tim Roache, General Secretary, GMB Trade Union Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite Dave Prentis, General Secretary, UNISON Asad Rehman, Executive Director, War On Want Nick Dearden, Director, Global Justice Now (SPS) 062/SPS RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro repeated a debunked sexually charged allegation about one of the countrys more prominent journalists on Tuesday, drawing fire from press freedom advocates and even some recent allies. Bolsonaro referred to Patricia Campos Mello, a reporter for newspaper Folha de S.Paulo who last year won the International Press Freedom Award after coverage of his presidential campaign. Shed also been honoured for earlier reporting from the Middle East, U.S. and Africa. A witness in a congressional hearing testified she had insinuated an offer of sex in exchange for help with a story that triggered an investigation of Bolsonaros campaign by Brazils top electoral court. Her newspaper quickly debunked the assertion by releasing transcripts, screenshots and recordings of their conversations. Still, Bolsonaro echoed the insinuation as he spoke outside the presidential residence in Brasilia. He talked about the journalists harassment, hitting on him. She wanted a scoop, she wanted to give a scoop, at any price, against me, Bolsonaro said with a smile, using a Portuguese word for scoop that can have sexual connotations. That drew laughs from his supporters. Hours later Bolsonaro spoke to journalists again at the same spot. Is there anyone from Folha there? So I sexually attacked your reporter? OK. I dont want to talk to you, he said before walking away. The Brazilian Press Association issued a statement calling Bolsonaros comment cowardly and embarrassing to Brazilians. This misogynous behaviour is undeserving of the office of the President and an affront to the Constitution, the statement said. Folha, issued a statement calling Bolsonaros comment an attack to all professional journalists. He also tars the dignity, the honour and the decorum as stated by the law for the exercise of the presidency, the daily added. Campos Mello declined to comment on Bolsonaros insult. She has suffered online abuse and received threats from supporters of the Brazilian president since October 2018, when Folha published her report on a network of businessmen who allegedly sponsored the production of false news against rival candidate, Fernando Haddad. The wave of insults against the journalist returned last week after the testimony in Congress. Like U.S. President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro frequently speaks off the cuff, doesnt shy from comments perceived as politically incorrect and often uses the press as a foil to rally support. He has repeatedly said that journalists wilfully misconstrue his statements and are seeking to undermine his administration. The incident in Brasilia follows two recent examples of Bolsonaro making offensive arm gestures at a group of journalists. The Brazilian association of investigative journalism and the Brazilian bar associations press freedom branch issued a joint statement Tuesday expressing vehement repudiation of Tuesdays statement. Even the right-wing party that sponsored Bolsonaros run for president repudiated his comments. The Social Liberal Party said called the presidents attacks unacceptable and said they deserve the repudiation of good Brazilians. _____ AP writer Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. Photo: Ron Cogswell/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Raleigh. 3 Marines charged with assaulting man on Raleighs Glenwood Avenue Read the full story on WNCN. Man convicted in mistaken identity murders gets new sentencing hearing Read the full story on ABC Raleigh, WTVD. NCDOT: Aviation Parkway ramp off I-40 in Raleigh closes for up to 60 days Read the full story on WRAL TV. Raleigh ranked as second best US state capital to live in Read the full story on WNCN. Raleigh offers two programs to help residents pay for home repairs Read the full story on ABC11 WTVD. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Three Marines were arrested early Monday morning after police said they assaulted a man during a fight outside a nightclub in Raleigh. It was a crime that rocked Wake County in 2013. The Aviation Parkway exit on Interstate-40 East will be closed for up to 60 days for a road improvement project. When it comes to the best state capitals to live in across the United States, the City of Oaks ranks high on the list. My father had dementia. He also had Parkinsons disease. He died at age 85, a week after the Parkinsons pills arrived, their having taken more than 5,000 miles and two weeks to get to Syria. I am not sure that the lack of medicine is what caused his death, but it might as well have. Until eight years ago, my father was a pharmacist in Homs, Syria. During the war, his pharmacy was destroyed, as was the town center. My father and his wife were forced to stay mostly at home for almost two years to avoid the shelling and gunfire exchanged by the Syrian government and the rebels. They would sneak out only for basic necessities. I tried to persuade them to return to the U.S., but they kept hoping that the conflict would pass. My fathers forgetfulness began after he was essentially trapped in his home, and it worsened over time. I believe this was because of the stress of the war, the lack of social interaction and the lack of basic life necessities. The symptoms of Parkinsons disease started a few years after the forgetfulness began. The first pill journey was about two years ago. That is when my fathers advanced dementia and increased agitation became apparent. The scarcity of medical professionals in Syria has been a continuing issue, as most practitioners have fled the country. The lack of proper medication was caused by the collapse of the Syrian health care system and was worsened by economic sanctions. Syrian-made medications gave my father debilitating side effects. They caused his body to stiffen to the point that he could no longer walk; once discontinued, he recovered though was weakened. These problems prompted me to attempt to send the medications from the United States. At that time, the pills traveled fewer miles. I could send the pills from the U.S. to Beirut, Lebanon, and then on to Homs. Friends in Beirut could easily find acquaintances traveling to Homs in a week or two to deliver the medication. French dairy and crop farmer Jean-Claude Pette relies on European Union subsidies to keep his 200-hectare farm afloat. But he worries support could be cut as governments seek ways to plug a budget hole left by Britain's departure from the bloc. Pette receives 58,000 euros in subsidies annually, more than the 45,000 euro income he earns from his 100 dairy cows and fields of cereals and sugar beet. He said President Emmanuel Macron must insist on those payouts being left untouched when EU leaders meet this week to thrash out the bloc's next seven-year budget. "Unfortunately, if you look at the prices we sell our produce for today, we need those subsidies to survive," Pette told Reuters on his farm 80km (50 miles) outside Paris. Pette is far from alone in France, the EU's biggest agriculture producer. Agriculture contributed just 1.1% to EU gross domestic product while the bloc's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the single largest component of the EU spending, accounting for 38% of the 1.1 trillion euro 2014-2020 budget. EU leaders are divided ahead of the Feb. 20 summit over the size of the budget and spending priorities as climate change, defence and immigration jostle with more traditional needs such as farmers and infrastructure projects. France says there can be no reduction to the CAP budget and Macron is under acute pressure to win traditional arm-wrestling with proponents of a streamlined budget like the Netherlands and Sweden. Farmers are unhappy with Macron, a former investment banker, over issues like pesticide restrictions and a landmark free trade deal brokered with South American countries. Meanwhile, legislation aimed at sharing profits more fairly along the food chain have yet to be felt at the farmgate. Farm spending Macron's government says it has heard the farmers' demands. Paris dismissed an initial proposal in 2018 by the European Commission, a 5% cut to the CAP budget post-Brexit, and French officials point to the backing of most EU countries to at least keep farm spending at its current level. Story continues "For us, a drop in the agricultural budget is not an option," a French diplomat said. Macron, an ardent Europhile championing calls for the EU to become more assertive on matters such as trade and defence against China and the United States, said this month the EU budget needed to match the scale of its ambitions. But he will have to contend with among others the so-called "frugal four" -- the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark. The Dutch say they won't accept making an increased contribution to the 2021-27 budget. Farming was one area where the Dutch government saw room for budget cuts, one official said, adding the country wanted a greater focus on climate and the environment in farm policy. Beyond the size of the CAP budget, EU countries have options to reshuffle spending, including capping payments to larger farms, harmonising subsidies between newer and older EU states, and giving more leeway to each country to allocate CAP funds. Making the CAP more environment-focused might be the reform path that wins most consensus. But this could be tough for Macron to sell to farmers already exasperated at being cast as polluters. Pette, who joined hundreds of French farmers in November blocking highways leading into Paris, said a further greening of the CAP would devalue subsidies. "If we're faced with environmental and society demands that are unattainable economically, the fact we receive aid payments won't be enough to offset our losses," he said. (REUTERS) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned German subsidiary, Bunker Pflanzenextrakte GmbH ("Bunker"), has begun its strategic exclusive partnership for research and development of cannabis focused products, specifically beverages, with the chair of brewing and beverage technology at the Technical University of Munich ("TUM"), School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan ("Weihenstephan"). Weihenstephan is home to the International Beverage Research Center Weihenstephan (the "iGZW"), a best-in-class interdisciplinary research and development center, capable of handling the entire drink design process chain - from basic molecular biology research through biotechnology processes to the final product. With a start-up cost of EUR 22 million, the iGZW includes a state-of-the-art pilot brewing plant which makes it possible to run a variety of trials to manufacture a broad range of beers in accordance with the German Purity Law and other fermented beverages using un-malted cereals and alternative starch carriers, as well as non-fermented beverages. The chair of brewing and beverage technology has a well-earned reputation for expertise in the field of food and beverage science with an emphasis on commercial applicability. The institution has a specific focus on flavor-process-engineering, raw material and product design, food safety, and relevant legislative issues, such as EU designated "novel foods". "We are pleased to be working with XPhyto on cannabis-based beverages that have great potential and create opportunities for product innovations in a new rapidly growing global market," says Dr.-Ing. Martina Gastl, group leader of the research group "Raw material-based brewing and beverage technology" from the chair of brewing and beverage technology at the TUM, Weihenstephan. "We are extremely pleased that we are able to collaborate with a globally recognized partner for the research and development of cannabis-based products and beverages. Our recently signed and announced supply, import and distribution agreement for cannabis extracts and isolates with one of the highest quality and largest cannabis cultivators in the world, will ensure the supply of necessary ingredients for all the products developed," said Hugh Rogers, CEO of XPhyto. "Given that XPhyto has been approached by beverage companies in Europe and North America with interest in potential collaboration for the development of cannabis-infused products at Weihenstephan, we are confident that we are on the right track with this exclusive strategic partnership." About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto is a next-generation cannabis company focused on formulation, clinical validation, and European imports, distribution and sales. XPhyto's 100% owned subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH, a German narcotics manufacturer, importer and researcher has expertise in the design, testing and manufacture of thin film drug delivery systems, particularly transdermal patches and sub-lingual (oral) strips. Vektor also holds a number of narcotics licences issued by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), including import and manufacturing permits, as well as EU GMP lab certification. XPhyto's 100% owned German subsidiary, Bunker Pflanzenextrakte GmbH, has been granted a unique German cannabis cultivation and extraction licence for scientific purposes by BfArM. Bunker has two exclusive R&D collaboration agreements with the Technical University of Munich, chair of beverage and brewing technology and Faculty of Chemistry. XPhyto is pursuing additional opportunities in Europe including commercial cannabis cultivation, processing, manufacturing, import, and distribution. In Canada, two exclusive 5-year engagements with the Faculty of Pharmacy at a major Canadian university provide certified extraction, isolation, and formulation facilities, drug research and development expertise, as well as commercial analytical testing capability. XPhyto signed a supply, import and distribution agreement for cannabis oils and isolates with one of the largest, highest quality, and lowest cost cannabis cultivators in the world. For further information, please contact: Hugh Rogers CEO & Director +1.780.818.6422 info@xphyto.com www.xphyto.com Wolfgang Probst Director +49 8331 9948 122 info@bunker-ppd.de www.xphyto.com Forward looking statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building an industry leading medical cannabis company Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing any cannabis-infused products; that the sale of any products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; frequent changes to cannabis regulations in Europe, Canada and elsewhere; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52510 HERKIMER, N.Y. Herkimer police are investigating a stabbing at Herkimer County Community College that took place around 1 p.m. Tuesday. Chief Michael Jory says suspects may have fled the scene in a four-door gray sedan with a tail light out, according to witnesses. Keith Hunt // WKTV Keith Hunt // WKTV Jory says three people were stabbed during an altercation at a campus residence. The injured victims moved to another dorm after the incident, where they were found by police and campus security. All of the victims were taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing as police continue to interview witnesses and collect evidence. "We're speaking to other residents in near housing units were trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together," said Jory. The college sent the below statement on Tuesday: ----------- Dear Campus Community, The Herkimer County Community College Campus Safety Office is currently investigating an incident that occurred in the Campus Meadows housing complex today at about 1 p.m. Two individuals were stabbed during an altercation. They are being treated, and their injuries are considered non-life threatening. No arrests have been made at this time. The Herkimer Police Department is assisting in the investigation. The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. More information will be made available as the investigation continues. ----------- This story will be updated as more details are released. [February 18, 2020] Virtium Introduces StorKit SSD Software Tools Virtium, a leading provider of industrial solid-state drive (SSD) and memory solutions for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market, today introduced its StorKit software tools. A free, downloadable suite of software modules, StorKit unburdens system designers of the complicated process of qualifying SSDs, provides advanced drive-protecting technologies and enables those designers to take advantage of real-time monitoring and reporting of storage systems often deployed in remote locations and/or harsh environments. The software streamlines SSD qualification, and speeds the migration from single-level-cell (SLC) and multi-level-cell (MLC) to tri-level-cell (TLC) and future higher-density flash memory. StorKit also empowers engineers with tools to monitor SSDs deployed locally and/or remotely, and provides predictive maintenance alerts. StorKit is comprised of ready-to-use software and an application programming interface (API) that interact with SSD-based storage systems. The tool simplifies the development of software used to evaluate SSDs and perform drive diagnostics in industrial-embedded systems. StorKit monitors SSDs' expected data retention throughout their lives - it provides real-time, empirical data on drives' conditions before and after the effects of heavy workloads, extreme temperatures and host software changes -- while providing advanced drive-protecting technologies that secure crucial data. These monitoring and data-protection features are particularly important to engineers designing for industrial computing, telecommunications, networking, transportation, medical imaging and diagnostics, energy, video surveillance, and military and aerospace applications. "Traditionally, designers ad to be fluent in solid-state storage, operating-system access and the intricacies of SSDs in order to develop software to properly evaluate, test or debug drives," said Pho Hoang, director of software marketing at Virtium. "Through its array of software modules and API, StorKit removes those responsibilities, enabling designers to concentrate on their applications. Moreover, StorKit simplifies SSD qualification and migration to a new generation of flash based on TLC and beyond densities, while making possible thorough monitoring and side-by-side drive comparisons that generate easy-to-understand, highly relevant SSD data -- notably a drive's wear-and-tear and expected life." StorKit modules include: vtView, vtSecure and vtTools. vtView enables designers to analyze, qualify and monitor SSDs for improved reliability and longevity. vtSecure frees designers from the complex, time-consuming tasks of security protocols and programming. vtTools provides foundational software modules that designers can use for testing during design and qualification phases and for system regression, and for diagnostics within their designs. Because it's available as source code, designers can integrate the software into their applications seamlessly. StorKit supports all Virtium StorFly SATA SSDs, as well as select models of the company's TuffDrive and Secure Digital drives. StorFly NVMe SSDs are supported through the NVMe-CLI open-source software community. Unlike other SSD vendors' software tailored to their own drives, various StorKit features can work with non-Virtium SSDs, enabling designers to more broadly assess their solid-state storage options. StorKit is free of charge to Virtium customers who sign a software license agreement. For more information and to request the tool and its StorKit Reference Guide, go to www.virtium.com/ssd-software, email [email protected] or call 888.VIRTIUM (888.847.8486). About Virtium Virtium is a leading supplier of industrial-grade solid-state storage and memory solutions for the world's top OEMs. For more than two decades, the company has designed and built its SSDs, products in the USA, fortified by a global network of sales and support locations. Virtium's world-class technology and unsurpassed customer support - the company consistently receives high scores in customer-satisfaction surveys -- result in superior industrial embedded solutions for our interconnected world. Virtium, vtView, StorFly and TuffDrive are registered trademarks, and StorKit, vtSecure and vtTools are trademarks of Virtium LLC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005489/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The plan under scrutiny Wednesday promises to be a lengthy one: The concept calls for it to take until 2031 to finish building and filling the new landfill with coal ash. Once DEQ approves an overall concept at Belews Creek, the utility likely will spend six to eight months preparing the final design and another year seeking a permit to build and operate the new landfill, said Dave Renner, a Duke Energy vice president. If everything goes according to schedule, the utility would begin putting coal ash into the new landfill in early 2023, Renner said. The Duke Energy executive added that plans on display envision returning much of the 270-acre storage basin to the natural valley it once was. "It will look much like it would have looked before we put the dam up and started impounding," he said of the basin-building process. The basin was built in the early 1970s when the Belews Creek plant opened and it accepted coal ash from plant operations for years. Duke has upgraded technology at the Stokes County plant so that all coal ash is handled in dry form much of it recycled and the basin is no longer in use. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Finland hopes to diversify and increase bilateral trade further with Azerbaijan, Paivi Peltokoski, Director, Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland told Trend. "There is plenty of unused potential in our trade relations and we hope to diversify and increase our bilateral trade further with Azerbaijan. Finland has a lot to offer as Azerbaijan is seeking to diversify its economy away from the dominant oil and gas sector," she said. Peltokoski noted that as Finland is one of the greenest countries in the world, it is in a perfect position to drive sustainable development globally. " For Finland, a circular bioeconomy is a tool for achieving sustainable development, combatting climate change, saving natural resources, and improving the state of the environment, all while generating economic growth and jobs," said the director. Peltokoski went on to add that Finland is also pleased about a Twinning project led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute developing the Environmental Monitoring System in Azerbaijan. "This joint project enables us to develop bilateral relations in environmental and cleantech sectors. Finnish experts would be interested in participating in further Twinning projects. In the future, we would also like to see further use of the EUs TAIEX instrument to conduct short-term technical assistance visits between Finland and Azerbaijan," she said. As for potential spheres of cooperation, the director said Finland can share its knowhow in education, construction, biotechnology, bioeconomy and digitalization. "Finland scores at or near the top of international rankings of competitiveness; of environment for business growth; and of quality of life. The key driver for Finlands success is education. As an export-oriented country with top-level basic research and highest engineers per capita, Finland has leading technology companies. In addition to manufacture and paper industry, we offer energy efficiency and cleantech solutions. We can share our knowhow in education, construction, biotechnology, bioeconomy and digitalization. It is fair to say that Finland offers many solutions for a sustainable society," she said. Peltokoski also touched upon the prospects for exchange in ports industry between Azerbaijan and Finland. "If Baku aspires to become a leading transport hub in the greater region, functioning air, land, and sea transport components are all needed. Finland has large companies in ports logistics and shipbuilding industries. We have a long history and thorough understanding of delivering smart and environmentally friendly high-tech maritime solutions," she said. The director went on to add that harbors are one the Finnish maritime industrys core strengths. "As all ports in Finland freeze during the coldest months of the year, we have exceptional knowhow in operating in extreme environments. Our internationally known maritime network's expertise ranges from the likes of icebreakers and ice going vessels, to cruise ships and offshore solutions as well as port technology. Finland is riding the wave of digitalization in the field of maritime. Finnish companies are changing the maritime industry with their digital skills," she concluded. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Certainly, Mr. Bloomberg has never debated anyone quite like Mr. Sanders, whose allies consider Mr. Bloombergs very biography an affront to people-powered democracy. Mr. Wolfson has been playing Mr. Sanders in the mock forums, taking inspiration in part from the curmudgeonly Muppets characters Statler and Waldorf, he said. The impression has occasionally moved Mr. Bloomberg to fits of momentum-breaking laughter during their practices, according to an aide. Asked if Mr. Bloomberg was rusty after so many years out of office, Mr. Wolfson did not say no. Well find out Wednesday, he said. Even supporters would not describe Mr. Bloomberg as a rousing public speaker. His address endorsing Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, part of her effort to highlight support from moderates and disaffected Republicans, is best remembered for his minimalist plea to elect a sane, competent person as president. He is prone more often to groaners than zingers. Alluding to Mr. Sanders once last month, Mr. Bloomberg called himself the only Jewish candidate who doesnt want to turn America into a kibbutz. And when challenged by journalists, Mr. Bloomberg can quickly become defensive. Shortly after he announced his bid, a television interview on CBS This Morning produced an arresting volume of notable remarks. Among them: the suggestion that other candidates had a chance to go out and make a lot of money to pour into their own campaigns, so they should not begrudge him for having done so; and the assertion that nobody asked about Mr. Bloombergs defense of stop-and-frisk policing until he apologized for the strategy in November. (Many, many people had asked and sued, and protested throughout his time as mayor, and he defended the approach as recently as last year.) Veterans of Mr. Bloombergs City Hall runs say that for any missteps he might have had in front of the cameras, few came during debates. He wasnt really ever trying to knock anybody out, said Edward Skyler, a 2001 campaign aide who became one of Mr. Bloombergs deputy mayors. He could absorb a hit and move on. Somebody would go on the attack and hed just be like, OK. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash is seen at a preparatory meeting for an international summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 29, 2019. (Reuters/Waleed Ali) Arab Worlds First Nuclear Power Plant Gets Green Light in UAE The United Arab Emirates now leads a number of Arab nations who are keen to diversify into nuclear United Arab Emirates authorities announced Monday that the countrys first nuclear power plant has been given the green light to operate, making it the first such facility to deploy in the Arab world. A senior official at the UAEs nuclear regulator called the move a historic moment and told a news conference in Abu Dhabi that the license would be granted to plant operator Nawah Energy Company for a period of 60 years, AFP reported. This milestone was achieved due to the UAEs vision and its leadership to build a peaceful nuclear energy program to cater for the future needs of energy in the country, said Hamad al-Kaabi, deputy chairman of the UAEs Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). With licensing formalities now concluded, the multi-billion-dollar Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi is expected to begin generating power within a few months. Christer Viktorsson, director-general of FANR, told Reuters that the license would allow Nawah to begin loading nuclear fuel into the reactor, which will take between 2-3 weeks. Christer Viktorsson, the Swedish-Finnish director general of the UAEs Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), gestures as he gives an interview with AFP in his office in the capital Abu Dhabi on Aug. 10, 2017. (Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images) After that, the operator would need to perform tests and can start initial power production by May or June of this year. Reaching the first reactors full production capacity would take between 8-12 months if all the tests go well, he added. The plant is being built by Korea Electric Power Corporation. It was initially slated to launch in 2017 but the start-up of its first reactor faced delays. Barakah was meant to be the showcase for the international nuclear industry, Mycle Schneider, an independent analyst, told Bloomberg. Grid connection is at least three years late, and there is no doubt that it is way over budget. Kaabi told the news conference that construction of a second reactor was 95 percent finished and that FANR has started looking into its operating license. The Barakah reactor is one of four that the UAE hopes to deploy by 2023, aiming to provide altogether nearly 20 percent of the countrys power generating capacity. A moment of national pride and a milestone for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program as Nawah receives the Operating License for Unit 1 of the Barakah plant from FANR. Congratulations to our employees and partners who have turned this vision into a reality. pic.twitter.com/00N6cYW2C1 Emirates Nuclear (@ENEC_UAE) February 17, 2020 The project is facing scrutiny from numerous other Arab nations who have acute interests in diversifying their energy supply to include nuclear. In 2006, the UAE was one of six member states in the Gulf Cooperation Councilwhich includes Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Omanthat began formally looking into nuclear power generation, with France pledging support and Iran offering help with nuclear technology. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia then announced in 2010 that it was embarking on a nuclear power program of its own. The development of atomic energy is essential to meet the Kingdoms growing requirements for energy to generate electricity, produce desalinated water, and reduce reliance on depleting hydrocarbon resources, read a royal decree. Saudi Arabia now plans to build two large nuclear reactors that it hopes will provide some 15 percent of its power needs by 2040. Egypt, another regional heavyweight, is in the process of tendering for the construction of its Dabaa nuclear plant with the support of Russia. Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Russias state-owned Rosatom, announced on Sunday that three Egyptian contracting companies have won bids to build the first phase of the plant, which is expected to go online in 2022. Reuters contributed to this report. Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say In damage control mode, Uddhav says Bhima Koregaon case not transferred to NIA India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Feb 18: Amid growing discontentment among the members of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday cleared the air over the probe into the Bhima Koregaon. "Elgar and Bhima Koregaon are two separate topics. The issue facing my Dalit brothers is about Bhima Koregaon and I will not give it to the Centre. I want to make it clear that there will be no injustice to Dalit brothers," Thackeray tweeted in Hindi. In the first major fissures within the government, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar came out against Uddhav Thackeray's decision to hand over the Bhima Koregaon probe to the NIA. NCP chief Sharad Pawar faults Uddav Thackeray over transfer of Bhima-Koregaon case "It is the chief minister's prerogative; he can take a decision in this regard. However, we feel that the conduct of some of the officers in the home department is objectionable. We have got complaints from many organisations (on these officers) Vard including Dalit organisations," said the NCP chief. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 On Monday, the NCP had said that the state government will conduct its own probe by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The NCP is a key constituent of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, along with the Congress party. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 13:21 [IST] Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday will meet industry and trade associations in the capital to assess the impact of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) on Indian trade and industry. The death toll from the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak has climbed to 1770 in mainland China and infected more than 70,000 others so far in the country. The virus which was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, in late December 2019, has since spread to more than 20 countries including India. The viral outbreak comes at a time when the Indian economy is going through a difficult phase and the virus outbreak could make the slowdown worse. Besides, India is dependent on China for a whole lot of sectors such as smartphone, solar cells and modules, TVs and electronics, toys, furniture, computers and cars. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Natural News) Earlier in the month, communist China feverishly erected multiple new hospitals in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) outbreak, which the regime proudly announced all took place from ground to finish in about a week. But these Made in China structures are already falling apart, as you might expect from a country with perhaps the most dismal track record of quality control in the entire world. Video footage captured inside one of these hospitals, and shared to Twitter by a Chinese-Australian artist with a verified blue check mark, shows panels falling on the floor and water leaking everywhere as panicked workers in hardhats attempt to assess the situation. Additional footage also shared to Twitter, in this case by a Dr. Harry Chen Ph.D., shows water pooling up all over the floor, possibly from the ventilation system up above. Dr. Chen notes that this particular facility was constructed out of bean curd, and that this built-in-five-days structure represents typical Chinese characteristics meaning that its basically garbage quality. In yet a third video, also shared by Dr. Chen, water is seen leaking from the ventilation system into a bucket placed right next to a hospital bed. Dr. Chen jokingly describes the monstrosity as the little hospital that couldnt, and a petri dish of positive vibes. its (sic) just a fancy humidifier and its just the flu go back to sleep, he further adds sarcastically. These displays of poor-quality craftsmanship coming out of the communist Chinese regime arent all that shocking when considering how most Made in China goods tend to bear this stamp of authenticity. But many people probably couldnt have fathomed that even emergency facilities where peoples lives are on the line would be built to similar standards, putting both patients and staff at risk. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, addresses how these so-called hospitals are actually death camps in disguise, which isnt really a stretch when just looking at them in these videos: Communist Chinese censorship is making it difficult for the truth about coronavirus to be known After receiving criticism on Twitter for his dark sarcasm in response to these upsetting circumstances, Dr. Chen was defended by another user who revealed that he and others in China who want the truth to get out there without being censored have to talk this way in order to avoid punishment. Its to avoid censorship, this person wrote, adding that Dr. Chen keeps getting banned for provocative posts. So (he) uses satire to avoid detection he is risking his life tweeting these videos to the world. We already know that the communist Chinese regime has been threatening social media users like Dr. Chen with jail time for sharing information like this that make the government look really bad amid one of the worst health crises in recent history. China doesnt even want people to know the true number of infections and deaths, let alone that these emergency facilities constructed on the fly are certifiable death traps. Its amazing that they havent completely collapsed, God forbid, due to faulty engineering. But even the persistent flow of water from unknown leaky sources poses its own unique threats, as the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) can transmit both through ventilation systems and plumbing. Since the virus can be present in wastewater, it doesnt bode well for the doctors and patients here, wrote another Twitter user about the threat of all this leaky water at Wuhans new hospitals. Be sure to visit the official H.R. Report channel at Brighteon.com for more ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) coverage. You can also keep up with the latest Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) news at Outbreak.news. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Twitter.com Twitter.com Twitter.com NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com Automakers in India seem to be divided over the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on their businesses. While some have said their production will take a hit, others believe they have a cushion for about a month, having stocked their inventories well in advance due to the Chinese New Year and in anticipation of new orders which are usually placed after the holiday period. This period lasts till the second week of February. The corona outbreak time is actually a lean period. The China issue could support the margins of battery and tyre firms like Apollo Tyres, on account of the ... BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Two women and two children aged 8 and 12 from Kazakhstan are aboard the Diamond Princess ship where coronavirus is spreading, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said that Kazakhstans embassy in Japan is constantly in close contact with these citizens and currently their health condition is not alarming; they are not infected with coronavirus. However, they already were tested for novel coronavirus. After the quarantine is lifted and as the virus is not detected among Kazakh citizens, they will be allowed to leave the ship. Japan plans to additionally check each passenger again on the land when they leave the cruise ship, the report said. Kazakh citizens who are aboard feel good, no complaints have been received from them, the ministry said They are provided with everything that is necessary, particularly with food and medical supplies. Most likely, Kazakh citizens will return to Kazakhstan following release from the ship and the coronavirus not being detected, the ministry said. The Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong was confirmed to have the disease. Based on the latest data, the total number of passengers infected with coronavirus is 454 people, making the ship the biggest cluster of cases outside mainland China. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Since then over 1,800 people have died and over 73,000 people have been confirmed as infected. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. Chinese health authorities say that the majority of the people who have died were either elderly or had underlying health problems. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, the US, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Macau, France, Canada, the UAE, India, Italy, Russia, Philippines, the UK, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Sri Lanka. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Editor: The referenced article quotes Donald Trump as telling Elise Stefanik Ill always be your friend. Little wonder as Trump lies and Stefanik swears to it. But, there is so much more to this friendship. Trumps environmental policies allow his crony industrialists to cause air pollution and create the acid rain that will destroy the forests and waters of the Adirondack Park. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trumps environmental polices allow his crony industrialists to pollute our lakes, rivers and streams and to contaminate our drinking water. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump sent his goons to the Ukraine to corrupt its president and to slander and terrorize our patriotic American Ambassador. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump condoned and celebrated the brutal, cold blooded murder of an unarmed teenage captive of war, in contravention of the American Code of Military Conduct. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump takes funds allocated to help the families of our service men and women in order to build the wall he promised that Mexico would pay for. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump allowed Kim Jung Un to have nuclear weapons that are now aimed at our shores. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump has created a trillion dollar deficit, and he plans to restructure Social Security and Medicare like he restructured debt in the bankruptcies of his failed businesses. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump separated migrant children from their parents and locked them in cages. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Trump is a liar, a cheat, a fraud and a conman. He is an anti-Semitic white supremacist, a misogynist, a bigot and a racist. He is a Howdy Doody puppet of Russia, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Stefanik supports her friend Trump. Stefanik is what one might call a friend with benefits. Edward Pontacoloni, Lake George Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Flick through your Instagram feed any day of the week and youll likely be presented with several images of topless guys. More often than not, those same guys have bodies that look like were chiselled by Gods themselves. But what you may also notice, is that theyre not the same steroid-induced muscular mountains the likes of which were made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger but much leaner versions instead, with virtually no body fat to be seen. The preference for a leaner build has been around for a few decades now, but its certainly a far cry from the bodies guy were supposed to sport in years gone by. In the late 1800s for example, the in thing was to be fat, as it showed you had enough wealth to afford feasts of food. There were even Fat Mens Clubs in America, that set its minimum weight at 200 pounds/90kgs in order for you to gain entry. Nowadays, 90kgs is considered average, with many workout warriors aiming to break the 100kg barrier. Go back even further in time to the Ancient Greeks, and a God-like, muscular body brought you God-like status amongst your peers. With photo-sharing platforms such as Instagram becoming ever-popular by the day, keeping up with the latest trends when it comes to how we should look under clothes, is almost as tiresome as choosing the clothes themselves. Especially as we now seem to have come full circle, with (most) guys still wanted to look ripped, but not necessarily aiming for the extreme body fat deficits of a bodybuilder that they used to in 2010. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANDY ANDERSON WBFF PRO (@andy_i_anderson) on Dec 1, 2019 at 5:35pm PST Dr. Harrison Pope, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University has written a book, The Adonis Complex, which examines the ways in which the media manipulates and distorts that very notion of the ideal body type, particularly for men. Were used to the idea of women having to follow magazine ideals, but guys dont have it easy, either. We spoke to Andy Anderson, change expert and founder of the Ultimate You Change Centres, to find out if hes noticed a change in body trends, what causes them, and what future male body types may look like. Andy starts by telling us that the surfer beach bod look was made popular in the late 90s and early 2000s, lean, healthy and tanned. But not everyone wanted to be a part of that clique, bodybuilders still had shrines to Schwarzenegger and Stallone, [they] were getting bigger and it was becoming extreme, Andy adds. Over the last five years or so, its become more of a social norm that men work out, have more lean muscle mass and are focused on being strong. Theyre going for the Wolverine look lean with hard, toned muscle. Instagram has fuelled that ideal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Asghari (@samasghari) on May 4, 2019 at 9:50pm PDT Just as Instagram has been a go-to bible for women to see how they should be looking, its played a similar role for men. We can be fit and strong, sure, but if we want to get likes on our photos, we need to be built as well. To this, Andy says, I think social media is definitely having an influence on society in terms of marketing an ideal body shape. It used to come from magazines now we get it from social media. There are definitely more men who want that lean, toned, harder look. But I think whats missing is the understanding of what it takes to achieve it! As Andy points out, we didnt always have Instagram to influence our decisions. We used to turn to magazines and the big-screen to determine how we should be looking and dressing. TheList.com says in the 1950s and 60s the executive look was in fashion. Men wanted to appear big, but without the necessity for muscle, so they would wear boxy blazers with a looser fit compared to the slim and skinny styles of today. View this post on Instagram A post shared by jm_zalu (@bond_and_boats) on Feb 8, 2019 at 10:29am PST Bodies did slim down somewhat in the late 60s and 70s with the arrival of Sean Connery as the first James Bond. He introduced an ever-so-slightly more toned figure, although still no abs to be seen. However, his suits were cut closer to the body and his chest was hairy. To many, he is the epitome of a manly man. Of course, not everybody sticks to the ideal, some like to stray from the path. Take Leonardo DiCaprio for example, the 45-year-old actor championed the dad bod look back in 2016. And for many men this was taken as an opportunity to let themselves go. As far as were concerned, you should be able to do what the heck you want with your body, and leave the shrill dad bod mania headlines for those stuck in 2016. But is loosening your standard to the point of a dad bod healthy? We asked an expert to find out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Total Dad Move (@totaldadmove) on Dec 10, 2015 at 8:29am PST According to Andy, it can be ok, but it has its conditions. What we accept is very personal, but the way we should all be judging our bodies and lives is how we feel day-to-day. We should ask ourselves: Do I feel good? Is my energy increasing? Am I sustaining my momentum during the day? Do I feel happier? Do I have more clarity? Do I feel more motivated? And not just: What do I look like?' In all honesty, being lean, healthy and having a smaller waistline is just a reflection of eating clean and moving properly. So, youll naturally lose the dad bod if youre focused on clean eating and movement, but your first preoccupation should be how you feel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garrett Neff (@gwneff) on Mar 5, 2019 at 11:44am PST This is a sentiment reiterated by research conducted by American gym chain Planet Fitness in 2019, which found that 79 percent (of the 2,217 mixed-sex study group) were happy with their figure, while 46 percent revealed a dad bod made them feel relaxed. Furthermore, 78 percent said a dad bod represented a man who was comfortable in his own skin. As for the next big thing in male body trends, Andy says, its an evolution and I think well move towards taking a more holistic view of things. Well move away from the superficial. People will learn about who they need to be in order to live true to their authentic self. Thats the next positive evolution I hope will happen. As for the last ten years of Instagram, heres our take on what has ebbed in and out of stye. 2010 to 2012 View this post on Instagram #youngcorymonteith A post shared by Cory Monteith GLEE (@corymonteithpic) on Mar 13, 2016 at 5:41am PDT The time period between 2010-2012 was dominated by Cory Monteith, James Franco and Ryan Reynolds types, as society got over its Green Day emo punk hangover. 2013 to 2015 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brad Pitt (@bradpittofflcial) on Dec 1, 2019 at 9:38am PST According to Glamour Magazine, the hottest guys of this time period marked a return to the classics: George Clooney, Mathew McConaughey, Ashton Kutcher, Daniel Craig, Jon Hamm and Brad Pitt. 2015 to 2017 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ross Edgley (@rossedgley) on Oct 21, 2019 at 7:28am PDT These years saw a divergence in mens physique. Some revered Leonardo DiCaprios dad bod (see: Emilia Clarke Says Her Ideal Man Has A Dad Bod), but most went more in the get as jacked as possible direction at the behest of growing icons like Joe Rogan and Ross Edgley. 2018 to 2020 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim Robards (@mrtimrobards) on Feb 7, 2020 at 9:16pm PST Particularly in Australia, the most popular mens body of the decade crystallised as a mix between the jacked bros of 2017, and the chubby wholesome rig of 2016. In other words: strong but not too ripped, not too huge, and not too skinny. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lachie Brycki (@lachiebrycki) on Sep 21, 2019 at 3:23am PDT While, as we discussed earlier, you shouldnt feel pressure to look like this (lets be honest, theres only a small percentage of the population that will achieve it, and its not necessarily any healthier, only more coveted than other body types), if you are keen to join the fad, the articles below arent a bad place to start. Read Next Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Five immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been relieved as the Bureau of Immigration investigates a questionable scheme giving Chinese nationals easy access for a fee, the agency's spokesperson said Tuesday. Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said all heads of airport terminals as well as travel control and enforcement units were replaced on Monday after the revelation of Senator Risa Hontiveros that Chinese nationals pay 10,000 as "service fee" or grease money to receive special treatment from BI officials as they enter the Philippines. The investigation can be completed in 15 days, Sandoval said, adding the probe may be expanded to other airports. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros showed screenshots of a group chat of immigration officers where there's a daily list of names of foreigners under VIP treatment and their flight details. Once the Chinese national arrives, the immigration officer on duty would leave his booth and tell the foreigner to follow him to an office, where the visitor's passport is processed for entry. This is a departure from the standard practice where all foreigners are screened through the Immigration booths in ports, Hontiveros pointed out. Related: For 10,000, Chinese nationals get VIP treatment from immigration The senator said this scheme is worth about 1 billion, computed from about 2,000 Chinese citizens entering the Philippines per day. Citing data from her "informant," she outlined how the money is divided. She said only 2,000 paid by each foreigner goes to immigration officers on the ground, while the remainder is split among the foreign tour operator, its partner in the Philippines, and the syndicate running the entire ploy in local airports. Hontiveros said the 2,000 is shared among six bureau officials who are part of the scheme in each terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The immigration officer on duty who assisted the Chinese national would get a third or 650, while the Duty Immigration Supervisor will get 470. A member of the Travel Control Enforcement Unit would get 280; the Operations official, 260; the Border Control Intelligence Unit, 240; and the Terminal Head, 100 per processed foreigner. This circle also had an agreement that they cannot change the allocations "without the consent of all stakeholders," Hontiveros said. Transactions will be tallied every Wednesday, while payouts would be disbursed every Friday, according to the informant. The bribe is called "pastillas" because before the upgrade to envelopes, the cash payments used to be distributed to officers rolled inside a sheet of bond paper resembling the wrapper of the milk candy, Hontiveros said. The senator said there were deductions made for absences, while a 2,000 bonus is given to officers who had perfect attendance during a payment period. Free lunch is also provided by the Chinese nationals, she added. Sandoval confirmed there is an irregularity in the process. "It's a bit surprising. It's not the normal process... Seeing that they have been checking their mobile phones and records of names of passengers, it's really doubtful," the immigration spokesperson told CNN Philippines. She said that if an immigration officer encounters a problem with the papers of a foreign national, they should be referred for a secondary interview to understand the details of their trip. However, she admitted that the money-making scheme of some Immigration officials is not a new practice in airport terminals. Sandoval said they have sacked several personnel and filed administrative charges in 2018 over the same scheme. "This is very alarming and surprising to find out that these things are still happening despite all the changes that have been made already... The system has been eradicated, but surprisingly some unscrupulous individuals still try to continue the same malpractices," she said. The BI has created a fact-finding committee that will submit a report on the scheme within 15 days. The Department of Justice said it will supervise the investigation. "We want to make sure that disciplinary action will be swift and severe ang kanilang penalty," Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said. Three teenage girls have been charged over the alleged assault and robbery of a 15-year-old girl in Queensland's far north after a shocking video was posted online. The teenage victim was allegedly surrounded by a group of children known to her as she walked along Bicentennial Road in the Cairns suburb of Bentley Park at 3pm on Saturday. The gang of youths then allegedly punched and kicked her to the ground and demanded money before stealing a small amount of cash and fleeing the scene. Police also allege that members of the group filmed the attack angles and later shared the vision on social media. On Monday, Queensland Police arrested and charged four teenagers, three girls and a boy aged 13 to 16, in relation to the alleged attack. Two of the teenagers were also charged with a number of unrelated offences, including the alleged theft of four cars from a community health centre. A 15-year-old girl was allegedly punched and kicked to the ground before being robbed in the Cairns suburb of Bentley Park at 3pm on Saturday. Police also allege that members of the group filmed the attack angles and later shared the vision on social media At a press conference on Monday, Queensland police inspector Jason Smith said the video was 'horrific'. 'This video depicts a number of teenage girls assaulting another girl who's on the ground and the assault is really quite horrendous,' Inspector Smith said. 'It does make it disturbing (that they recorded it), because it suggests these people are proud of what they've done. There's nothing to be proud of in this.' In the clip of the alleged robbery, a group of youths chase after a girl and tackle her to the ground before at least five people surround her. Three people argued over who's 'turn' it was to hit the girl while one person repeatedly punches the girl's face as she screams and whimpers. The same person then takes come coins from the girl and says 'grab this money' before handing it to another person. 'I give you money! I'll go home right now and give you money! I don't care, please,' the 15-year-old victim pleaded. Four teenagers were charged in relation to the alleged robbery on Monday, two receiving charges in relation to a number of additional offences. On Monday, Queensland Police arrested and charged four teenagers, three girls and a boy aged 13 to 16, in relation to the alleged attack. Two of the teenagers were also charged with a number of unrelated offences, including the alleged theft of four cars A 13-year-old Bentley Park girl and a 15-year-old Mooroobool girl were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in company and stealing. Meanwhile, a 16-year-old Earlville girl was charged with three counts of stealing and one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm in company, distributing child exploitation material. She was also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving unlicensed and wilful damage in relation to the community health centre car theft. A 13-year-old Bentley Park boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of distributing child exploitation material, making child exploitation material, robbery in company with violence. He was also charged with enter premises and commit indictable offence, receiving tainted property and wilful damage by graffiti. All four cars stolen from the community health centre have been recovered and investigations are continuing into both incidents. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions An extraordinary two-week quarantine of the Diamond Princess cruise ship ends Wednesday, with thousands of passengers and crew set to disembark over the next several days in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo. A growing number of scientists, however, say the the ship served as an incubator for a worrying new virus from China instead of a quarantine facility meant to prevent the worsening of an outbreak that has sickened tens of thousands. As of Tuesday, 542 cases of the virus have been identified among the 3,711 quarantined passengers and crew, making the ship the site of the most infections outside of China. The question now is: Why? The Japanese government has repeatedly defended the effectiveness of the quarantine. But some scientists suggest that it may have been less than rigorous. In a possible sign of lax quarantine protocols, three Japanese health officials who helped in the quarantine checks on the ship were also infected. I suspect people were not as isolated from other people as we would have thought, said Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia in England. Japan's health minister, Katsunobu Kato, told reporters Tuesday that all passengers who remained on the cruise ship have had their samples taken and that those who tested negative would start getting off the vessel beginning Wednesday, when their required 14-day quarantine is scheduled to end. They all want to go home as early as possible, and we hope to assist them so that everyone can get home smoothly, Kato said. The process is expected to take until Friday because of the large number of people involved. Obviously the quarantine hasn't worked, and this ship has now become a source of infection, said Dr. Nathalie MacDermott, an outbreak expert at King's College London. She said the exact mechanism of the virus' spread was unknown. We need to understand how the quarantine measures on board were implemented, what the air filtration on board is like, how the cabins are connected and how waste products are disposed of, MacDermott said. There could also be another mode of transmission we're not familiar with, she said, noting the possibility of environmental spread and the importance of deep-cleaning the entire ship to prevent people from touching contaminated surfaces. During the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS, a related virus, experts discovered that more than 300 people were infected through a defective sewage system in a Hong Kong housing estate. MacDermott said it was possible there was a similar issue aboard the Diamond Princess, but that a full investigation was needed. There's no reason this should not have worked if it had been done properly," she said. Some passengers on the Diamond Princess described the ship as a floating prison but were allowed to walk on the decks every day while wearing a mask and were told to keep their distance from others. Hunter, the medicine professor, said the continued spread of the virus could be due to compliance problems. It's difficult to enforce a quarantine in a ship environment and I'm absolutely sure there were some passengers who think they're not going to let anyone tell them what they can and cannot do, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan take part in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Nov. 13, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Trump and Erdogan Discuss Escalating Violence in Syria, Halt to Idlib Crisis President Donald Trump and Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on Feb. 15, just days after U.S. and Syrian government forces clashed in northeastern Syria, where Turkeys government is conducting an operation to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees. Trump discussed the conflicts in the region as he called for Russia to put an end to its support for the atrocities of the Syrian regime. In their conversation, Trump and his counterpart expressed concern over the violence in Idlib, Syria, deputy White House press secretary Judd Deere told reporters on Feb. 16. Trump also thanked Erdogan for Turkeys efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. President Trump conveyed the United States desire to see an end to Russias support for the Assad regimes atrocities and for a political resolution to the Syrian conflict. President Trump also reiterated that continued foreign interference in Libya would only serve to worsen the situation, Deere said. In a statement, the Turkish presidency said the two leaders agreed by phone that Syrian government forces attacks in the northwestern province, which killed 13 Turkish troops, were unacceptable. The pair also exchanged views on an immediate halt to fighting in the region. It comes after Erdogan on Feb. 12 said that Turkeys military will strike Syrian government forces by air or ground anywhere in Syria if another Turkish soldier is hurt. Erdogan said Turkey is determined to push Syrian government forces beyond Turkish observation posts in the northwestern Idlib region by the end of February, and he warned allied Syrian rebels not to give government forces an excuse to attack. Violence has flared in the province, just south of Turkeys border, in recent weeks as government forces backed by Russia and Iran have made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion after the countrys 9-year war. Turkey, which is allied with some rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, mounted a counterattack on Feb. 11 after 13 Turkish military personnel were killed by Syrian shelling in Idlib this month. If there is the smallest injury to our soldiers on the observation posts or other places, I am declaring from here that we will hit the regime forces everywhere from today, regardless of Idlibs borders or the lines of the Sochi agreement, Erdogan said, referring to a 2018 ceasefire accord. We will do this by any means necessary, by air or ground, without hesitating, without allowing for any stalling, he told members of his AK Party in Ankara. Russia, which has an air base in Syria, has controlled Idlibs airspace for several years. Reuters contributed to this report. South Africa: SA to host AfCFTA summit South Africa will this year host a summit to finalise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement protocol of implementation, Cabinet has announced. This comes after Cabinet congratulated President Ramaphosa on assuming the African Union Chairship on behalf of South Africa. The President ascended to the post on 9 February during the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia. South Africa was elected in February 2019 as the incoming chair of the AU. The Union, then, agreed that the assumption of the rotational Chairship shall take place on the occasion of the 33rd Ordinary Session. In a statement, Cabinet said President Ramaphosa will use his role to advance peace and stability, good governance, gender equality and the empowerment of women to grow Africas economy. Later this year, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement also comes into effect, read the statement. This agreement converges into a single market across 54 nations of about 1.2 billion people with a combined gross domestic product of over US$3 trillion. South Africa, said Cabinet, will also work towards a stable and peaceful Africa under the theme: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. Cabinet also welcomed the resuscitation of the African Diaspora Agenda, saying the size of the African Diaspora, and the skills and resources it contains, necessitate effective engagement mechanisms to harness this potential to advance the development of this continent. Meanwhile, Cabinet during its meeting welcomed the outcomes of the official visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which strengthened existing relations between the two countries. Chancellor Merkel visited South Africa at the invitation of President Ramaphosa from 5 to 7 February 2020. South Africa used the opportunity to share the many investment opportunities available in the country. This was done during a Business Forum comprising both South African leaders and the business delegation accompanying Chancellor Merkel. As one of the biggest investors in South Africa, Germany has over 600 companies in our country, Cabinet said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it was "deeply saddened by the deaths of at least 20 people, including women and infants, in Niger's Diffa region on Sunday during a rush to receive food and cash Earlier this month analysts sounded the alarm for European natural gas prices when it turned out that a lot of Asian buyers are turning down LNG cargoes and Europe is taking these in, filling up its storage space. Now, everyone seems to be wondering when prices will bottom out, if they will bottom out at all. Gas is in a bear market at the moment. In Europe, the benchmark has lost 27 percent since the start of the year after losing close to 50 percent last year, Bloombergs Vanessa Dezem and Will Mathis wrote earlier this week. Reporting from the E-World event in Germany, they also quoted traders and analysts as saying they wouldnt venture a guess at how low price could fall further. This could be a worrying sign. Natural gas production has been rising globally. Its not just the United States, although the U.S. is leading the charge with its cheap fracked gas, but its also Australia, Israel, Russia, and Norway, among others. There is more gas on offer now but demand is stuttering. The coronavirus is the immediate culprit: it hit Chinas energy demand and whatever hits Chinas energy demand also hits global demand. Related to the coronavirus but a separate concern is the slowdown in the global economy. Initially attributed to the U.S.-China trade war, now expectations of a slower economic growth on a global scale have persisted despite the Phase 1 deal Washington and Beijing signed late last year. Quarantines are ending and people in China are going back to work so the effect of the coronavirus on GDP will eventually die out but optimism is hard to come by. Yet economic sentiment is not too great in Europe either and it has been that way for a while now. The eurozone economy, which groups some of Europes biggest gas consumers, notably Germany, has been stumbling along for years now and nothing seems to help it grow more strongly. Germany itself registered a technical recession last year and for the final three months of that year it booked zero economic growth. Thats not conducive to a bullish sentiment about any energy commodity, let alone excessive-supply gas. Related: Can LNG Kill Oil? And thats not all. Gizmodo recently berated the continent for committing $130 billion in investments in new gas import infrastructure that will increase its intake of the commodity by about 30 percent. Thats bad for Europes emission targets and the people in Brussels seem to be aware if it. Earlier this month, Euractiv reported that the European Commission was preparing a strategy aimed at curbing methane emissions generated by the oil and gas industry including the methane generated during the production of natural gas in the United States that is then liquefied and shipped to Europe. Work has started on the methane emissions linked to the energy sector, including oil and gas production and transport, but also coal mines and we are planning on presenting the strategic plan still this year, one EU official involved in the drafting of the strategy told the news portal. It is probably too early to start worrying about this strategys effect on gas demand on the continent that has the ambition to become the first zero-emission one in the world by 2050. Yet with an environmentalist lobby as strong as Europes it might not be too early. Europe is currently between the rock of growing energy demand and the hard place of emission-related commitments. And while spread between these, it is being drowned in gas that is getting increasingly cheaper. How cheap could it get? Possibly cheap enough to make Norway turn the taps off: an Equinor executive had this message for those worried about Europes gas problem: If someone is hoping for supply relief from Norway, we will have to disappoint them, senior VP Tor Martin Anfinnsen told Bloomberg. We will be the last ones to turn off the taps. We are far away from reducing flows. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A thin-film device made from nanometer-scale protein wires harvested from the microbe Geobacter sulfurreducens can generate continuous electric power in the ambient environment, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. We are literally making electricity out of thin air. The Air-gen generates clean energy 24/7, said Dr. Jun Yao, an electrical engineer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Its the most amazing and exciting application of protein nanowires yet, added Professor Derek Lovley, a microbiologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The Air-gen device can generate power even in areas with extremely low humidity such as the Sahara Desert. It has significant advantages over other forms of renewable energy including solar and wind, because unlike these other renewable energy sources, the Air-gen does not require sunlight or wind, and it even works indoors, Professor Lovley said. The device requires only a thin film of protein nanowires less than 10 microns thick. The bottom of the film rests on an electrode, while a smaller electrode that covers only part of the nanowire film sits on top. The film adsorbs water vapor from the atmosphere. A combination of the electrical conductivity and surface chemistry of the protein nanowires, coupled with the fine pores between the nanowires within the film, establishes the conditions that generate an electrical current between the two electrodes. The current generation of Air-gen devices produces a sustained voltage of around 0.5 V across a 7-m-thick film, with a current density of around 17 A/cm2. I saw that when the nanowires were contacted with electrodes in a specific way the devices generated a current, said Xiaomeng Liu, a Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I found that that exposure to atmospheric humidity was essential and that protein nanowires adsorbed water, producing a voltage gradient across the device. Next steps the scientists plan include developing a small Air-gen patch that can power electronic wearables such as health and fitness monitors and smart watches, which would eliminate the requirement for traditional batteries. They also hope to develop Air-gens to apply to cell phones to eliminate periodic charging. The ultimate goal is to make large-scale systems, Dr. Yao said. For example, the technology might be incorporated into wall paint that could help power your home. Or, we may develop stand-alone air-powered generators that supply electricity off the grid. Once we get to an industrial scale for wire production, I fully expect that we can make large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production. _____ X. Liu et al. Power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires. Nature, published online February 17, 2020; doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2010-9 Grace Fetterman and her mother, Pennsylvania Second Lady Gisele Barreto Fetterman, speak about Grace's Coats' disease diagnosis in a television interview. Read more Its not unusual for parents to find a special sparkle in their childrens eyes, but there was something else going on with Grace Fetterman, the 8-year-old daughter of Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. In photographs, when Graces siblings had the telltale red eye of a cameras flash, Grace had a yellow glow in one pupil. Her mother noticed the oddity and called the family doctor. With that, she saved Grace from a serious and rare eye disorder that can lead to blindness, Gisele Barreto Fetterman told ABC27 in Harrisburg in an interview posted Tuesday. I dont want to be an alarmist, Gisele Fetterman recalled telling the doctor, but Im looking through my daughters photos and every photo has a yellow glow in one eye. He said, Pull her out of school and bring her in immediately, Fetterman told ABC27. Grace was diagnosed with Coats disease, which occurs when blood vessels in the retina develop abnormally, according to the National Institutes of Health. Symptoms, usually in just one eye, typically begin in childhood, and include a consistent white or opaque spot in the pupil. Left untreated, Coats disease can lead to detached retina, glaucoma, and blindness. Treatment varies, depending on how the condition has progressed. Graces condition was caught early enough that she was able to save her eyesight by wearing glasses, her family told ABC27. A white, yellow or opaque eye glow could be a sign of many eye conditions, including a deadly retina cancer that affects about 300 children a year, said Carol Shields, chief of ocular oncology at Wills Eye Hospital. An eye glow can also be an early sign of a cataract or infection, she said. The most important thing a parent can do, when it comes to the eyes, is look at their child and make sure their child doesnt have glow in their eyes, and that the eyes are both looking straight, Shields said. Those two features can tell us a lot about whats going on with the eyes and how well the child sees. The glow is most often detected in photographs, but may also be visible if looking at the childs eyes in a well-lit room. Depending on how advanced the condition is, the glow may only appear when the child is looking in a specific direction, she said. Parents should consult a doctor as soon as they see a glow in their childs pupil even if it does not show up consistently in every photograph, Shields said. Parents are much more likely than a pediatrician to notice a glow, she said. Last month, the lieutenant governor urged parents to learn more about the issue and take a closer look at their childrens pictures. He included a link to the organization Know the Glow, which educates families about glow-related eye disorders. So thankful Gisele noticed and for the resources online, he wrote on Twitter. Parents: Know the Glow. Years of hard work, determination and cooperation finally paid off for Noah and Jonah Boyd this past weekend as the brothers earned the rank of Eagle Scout along with 10 other boys who belonged to Boy Scout Troop 1945. But the joy of their success was tempered by other emotions because the troop, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 10 Boscobel Road in Stafford County, decided to sever its ties with the Boy Scouts because of controversial changes in the organizations policies. Its bittersweet, too, to know this is the end of their Scout journey and now, on to bigger things and newer things, their mother, Lynlee Boyd, said after pinning Eagle Scout medals on 16-year-old Noah and 14-year-old Jonah on Saturday. Theyre both all grown up now, I guess, she added. Its kind of hard to think of life without Scouting after such an intense push to get this accomplished. According to Scouts BSA, only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts ever reach Eagle status, so its uncommon to have such a large group receive the rank at the same time. (Newser) Tuesday should've marked a quiet start to jury deliberations in Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial. Instead, the drama continued with prosecutors accusing Weinstein's lead attorney Donna Rotunno of jury tampering. Rotunnopreviously accused of violating a judge's order about publicly discussing the casepenned an op-ed published Sunday in Newsweek, in which she pressed jurors to "to do what they know is right." Jurors must "[cut] through the noise of a media and public intent on injecting their narratives into the courtroom" and "base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented" in court. "The facts are the facts," Rotunno concluded. "Harvey Weinstein is innocent. His fate hangs in the balance, and the world is watching." story continues below "If this is conduct that is allowed to persist in courtroom, we are all lost," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi told Justice James Burke, claiming the piece was written at Weinstein's directive, reports Variety. Rotunno argued the op-ed was meant to counter "media attacks"it mentioned "the mocking of Mr. Weinstein's walker" and "the unflattering courtroom-artist sketches of his body"and said she'd already conveyed the relevant information to jurors in her closing argument, per Deadline. The outlet notes Burke "did not seem to immediately rule on Illuzzi's requests for some sort of sanction." However, he did caution Weinstein "against the tentacles of your public relations juggernaut" and warned lawyers not to speak to the public. Jurors ultimately ended the first day of deliberations with no verdict, the AP reported later in the day, and will resume deliberations Wednesday. (Much more on the case here.) KAMPALA NTV Uganda has unveiled investigative journalist Raymond Mujuni who has made a return to the station two years after he had quit for Next Media Services NBS Television. NTV Uganda in a brief graphic said: East or West, NTV is best. Mujuni, one of the best Investigative journalists in the country, last week penned an emotional letter to Next Media staff. He said he has enjoyed working and building this dream mostly with the Investigations Desk and our news profile. Mujuni revealed that the decision to leave was not easy but was occasioned by necessity. It didnt come easy the decision to leave but Im grateful that it now is a reality. In my time with the brand we have improved our news profile, we have held government and the corporate sector accountable, we have led to national legislation changes, we have sparked national conversations on abortion, sexual harassment, corruption, and even defunct state assets, he said. This has been possible because the platform accorded to me and you by extension was a credible, trusted and strong one. It is my prayer that it is maintained by you the team left behind. My time at Next Media has been nothing short of thrilling, exciting, educative and career-growing. It couldnt, of course, have been a smooth ride. For the days where the force of hand or word rubbed anyone the wrong way, I deeply and immensely apologise. It wasnt for ill intent, he said. Meanwhile, experienced news anchor and radio programmer, Shawn Kimuli also left NBS TV and Nxt Radio two weeks ago after over 10 years. Hi, this is to mention I will no longer be working with Next Media henceforth. Its taken me time to write this because this is home that I have to leave after 13 years. Let me state that everyone without titles has impacted my career and will remain family. Will miss you. Bye. Shawn Kimuli, his sign-out message two weeks ago reads. Kimuli was an anchor on NBS TV and a Programmer at Next Medias Next Radio Related Stefanie Sedlar says she long dreamed of becoming a teacher, but didnt think she could afford it. When she graduated from college with more than $100,000 in student loans, I took education off the table as a career pathway," Sedlar said. It wasnt until she heard about a federal student-loan forgiveness program that she changed her mind. A decade later, shes a special-education teacher at Mount Pleasant High School. She loves the work, loves the challenge. Its exhausting but rewarding, she said. But my paycheck doesnt match my commitment. The loan-forgiveness program has been fraught with issues, and its unclear the program will ever clear her debt as promised, she said. Meanwhile, half her take-home pay is going to student loan payments. She and her husband, who has his own student loans, would like to start a family but are worried about finances. For Heather Gauck, a special education teacher for Grand Rapids Public Schools, her frustration with her career doesnt involve money. Its about respect. A teacher for nearly 30 years, Gauck is getting weary of the continual stream of new state policies telling her how to do her job. As an example, she cites the requirement that her special-education students take the same assessment tests as general-education students. For five weeks each spring, she said, her time is dedicated to overseeing and administering assessments that are not well-suited to measuring her students abilities. I am so proud of my kids every day, their willingness to try, even when they are met with frustrations repeatedly, but they simply learn differently, and were spinning our wheels by requiring them to take the same tests, Gauck said. It reduces the precious time I have to help them learn and grow on their level. "We know our kids best. Were the experts. But instead of being made part of the process (of policymaking), were told that state lawmakers know better, Gauck said. Sedlar and Gauck spokes to reporters in a conference call Monday in connection with a new report that says inadequate compensation, student loan debt and lack of input into policymaking are contributing to the states teacher shortage. Help wanted: Teacher shortage hits Michigan schools Based on focus groups involving 120 teachers from across the state, the study looked at why longtime teachers are leaving the profession or switching districts, the decline of young adults going into the profession and the lack of racial diversity among Michigan teachers. Instead of detailing the impact of the shortage, the studys goal was to flip the script and listen to front-line educators and hear their solutions, said Dan Quinn, a project manager for Public Policy Associates, the Lansing firm that conducted the study. The report was commissioned by the Michigan Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers Michigan and the Middle Cities Education Association. The report lists three potential strategies in each area that could be adopted by policymakers. Those proposals, broken down by category: Monetary Incentives or recruiting bonuses for educators new to the profession or early in their careers, since the pay issue is particularly problematic for new teachers, the report said. Equity-based funding for school districts. The report notes that teacher salaries at high-poverty schools can be significantly lower than more affluent schools, making it much harder for the high-poverty schools to recruit and retain faculty. Hire more support personnel to help teachers work with special-education and other high-needs students. Non-monetary Greater educator input on working conditions and education reforms. Reduce reliance on student standardized tests, both in assessing students and using scores in teacher evaluations. Reduce barriers to and the cost of initial teacher certification and re-certification. Teacher preparation Improved induction and mentoring programs for early-career educators Paid internships for aspiring educators. Currently, students pay college tuition during their internship. Diversify the experiences for aspiring educators to make sure they have exposure to a range of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. A major takeaway from the roundtable discussions was the desire of educators to have a bigger role in developing education reforms, the report said. Our state lawmakers rarely seek input from those on the front lines, said Donna Roark, assistant superintendent for Niles Community Schools and one of the participants in Mondays conference call. Instead, our educators only continue to receive new and unrealistic requirements that make it harder for them to help students succeed. We must begin making our educators part of the discussion to continue attracting new, enthusiastic teachers to our classrooms. The report noted that African-American and Hispanic communities often bear the brunt of the teaching shortage. One reason is that minority schoolchildren are disproportionately enrolled in high-poverty school districts, which have to provide more support services for their students. That leaves less money for teacher salaries, leading to lower pay scales in those districts compared to more affluent school systems. That means school districts with the highest need for the best teachers have a harder time with recruitment and retention. The report also notes that Michigan teachers are overwhelmingly white, which means the teaching staff at many urban schools looks very different from the student population. The report pointed to research that says African-American students who have at least one African-American teacher are more likely to graduate high school and consider college. Quinn said the report should be seen as a first step. The idea was to solicit educator voices, something that was lacking in the research on the teacher shortage, he said. One of the recommendations of this is to create a statewide effort to increase the connectivity between educators and policymakers at the local and state level, to have conversations about policy-making issues. Roark, the Niles assistant superintendent, said shes like to see state lawmakers reach out more to educators. We remind our state lawmakers that their laws impact the everyday life of these hard-working professionals and students, she said. Yet educators alike are rarely asked for input. Gauck offered a similar sentiment. Just let me do my job, she said, adding that if lawmakers want to know how to make things better, just ask me. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:31:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The unexpected novel coronavirus epidemic has created some temporary impacts, but China's tourism market has a huge potential for Israel over the long term, said Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. China has become one of the main source markets for Israeli tourism, Levin told Xinhua in a recent interview, saying the number of Chinese visitors surpassed 150,000 in 2019. This was a great increase, but "it is still not a big number and the potential is still to be exploited," noted Levin. According to the annual report released by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of Chinese tourists that visited Israel last year reached 156,100, up 36.7 percent compared to 2018. "We miss Chinese tourists and I hope that what happens now will be ended as fast as possible," he said in reference to the ongoing COVID-19. Levin added that he is sure that "the Chinese government is doing its best in order to create a situation that all this problem will be behind us." The epidemic no doubt is a challenge for the tourism industry and people naturally are scared and would postpone their travels, but in the end people will go on vacations. "I am sure we will overcome it," said Levin. Levin believed the flow of Chinese tourists to Israel will continue and grow once the problem is solved. "The relations between Israel and China are strong and Chinese tourists are very welcomed all the time," he said. "I hope that we will see China is big and strong as usual." Levin has come to China for several times as a tourism minister and traveled to various Chinese cities. He said he was "very impressed" by the country every time he visits. Both Israel and China have been working closely to strengthen cooperation and exchanges to tap into the great potential in the two countries' tourism industries. "I actually grew up among books in Chinese," he said, adding that his mother was one of the first Israelis to learn Chinese and was head of the Asian and African department of the Israeli National Library. "China has a unique history and has an important place in the heritage of the world," noted Levin. Thanks to the closer ties between China and Israel, a number of non-stop flights have been in operation, serving as a significant bridge for tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Once again America honors the select few who have had the privilege to represent our country and the people of the United States of America. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washingtons birthday on the 21st, the holiday has become known as Presidents' Day when it moved as part of 1971's Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating more three-day weekends. The federal holiday now salutes all presidents but highlights those born in February: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. To make the February list complete, President William Henry Harrison should also be included. Focusing on the accomplishments of these few, let us salute all who have held this high office. Although Washington enjoyed more luxuries than others of his day, when he was only 11, his family's proudest possessions were just one soup spoon, 18 small spoons, seven teaspoons, a watch and a sword. Christianity played a dominate role in Washington's youth. He was raised a Christian and faithfully read his Bible. He spent considerable time in the wilderness as a surveyor and learned to get along with the local Indians. During the French and Indian War, he became a hero when he walked 200 miles during the winter to reach the French Fort to deliver a message from the Virginia governor. Washingtons influence prior to and during the American Revolution was most instrumental in our ultimate independence from British rule. William Henry Harrison was our ninth president. He reached the rank of major general in the War of 1812. He was president for less than a month due to developing pneumonia at his inauguration. He died one month later. He acquired the nickname "Tippecanoe" after his success at the battle with that name. He was the most dominant individual in settling the Northwest Territory. Abraham Lincoln grew up very poor. As a boy, he helped his father clear farmland and became quite proficient at log splitting. Like Washington, Abe lost a parent when he was young. This greatly limited any opportunity for his schooling. His formal education totaled barely one year. In spite of this, through his own ingenuity and determination, he became a voracious reader. Five of his favorite books were "Robinson Crusoe," "Aesop's Fables," Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," "Life of Washington" by Weems, and "History of the United States." Abe was known for his strength, skill, honesty and intelligence. According to those who knew him, the moniker "Honest Abe" was well deserved. As a young man, he was selected to navigate a flatboat 1,000 miles on the Mississippi River. The challenges in his youth were instrumental in preparing him for the demands he would face as president during the Civil War. President Lincolns fortitude and tenacity held our country together during that tumultuous time. As president, he preserved the union and supported legislation abolishing slavery in the United States (13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution). Ronald Reagan has been considered one of the greatest and most beloved presidents. He first stepped onto the public stage as an actor. But his primary contribution to America was as president defeating the Russians in the Cold War. His declaration "Gorbachev, tear down this wall" initiated the destruction of the Berlin wall and freed East Germany. On Jan. 20, 1981, his election prompted the release of 52 American hostages held by the Iranian government. Therefore, this February let us lift our glasses, let Old Glory wave from our porches and public buildings, and salute the presidents who have served us. It is a time to be united and thank God for Americas many blessings. Gary Carlson is a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Marine Corps and a former Department of Defense political appointee under President Reagan. He and his wife, Joan, write regularly from the Bitterroot Valley. Their columns will appear every other Tuesday on the Missoulian's Opinion page. They can be reached by email at oped@missoulian.com or garykcarlson11@gmail.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 The trial of an insurance company magnate and two associates on charges they conspired to bribe an elected North Carolina regulator with up to $2 million in campaign money so scrutiny of his businesses would ease is getting started. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn will preside over the case involving Greg E. Lindberg, who quickly became one of North Carolinas largest political donors before his indictment last March. Also accused of fraud conspiracy and bribery counts identical to Lindbergs are John Gray, a Lindberg consultant, and John Palermo, a former local GOP leader who worked for Eli Global, an insurance holding company Lindberg owned. The trial begins today, Tuesday, with jury selection in Charlotte federal court. The case likely wouldnt have surfaced without state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, the focus of the defendants alleged scheme. Causey is a Republican whom prosecutors said alerted law enforcement voluntarily about Lindberg and Gray and agreed to cooperate with authorities. The case highlights the influence a businessman little known outside his industry and with little political experience attempted to impress upon government policy largely through a checkbook, according to prosecutors. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty. Recent court filings suggest theyre expected to argue their activity didnt meet the definitions of honest services fraud, or that they were unlawfully entrapped by Causey. A brief filed by Palermos lawyers previewing his defense said the government recorded over 80 hours of consensually monitored telephone calls and in-person meetings between Causey, the defendants and others. A fourth person indicted, former state Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes, also was accused of lying to federal agents about his role in shifting money to Causeys campaign. Hayes, a former congressman, accepted a plea agreement late last year and agreed to help prosecutors. Prosecutors described a case in which Lindberg sought to replace or later work around a senior deputy commissioner within Causeys office whose job it was to scrutinize Lindbergs Global Bankers Insurance Group. In late 2017, Lindberg was angry with lending limits that deputy Jackie Obusek was placing upon Global Bankers, leading to several heated exchanges between them, according to Palermos brief. Meetings ensued between the three defendants and Causey, according to the indictment. By January 2018, the government says, Causey had contacted law enforcement. During a March 2018 meeting in Statesville with the now defendants, Causey agreed with an earlier suggestion that he could hire Palermo to replace Obusek or become her boss, the indictment says. According to the indictment, Causey then spoke alone with Lindberg and asked, Whats in it for me? Lindberg responded that he would create an independent expenditure committee to support Causeys 2020 reelection and give as much as $2 million, the indictment says. Lindberg ultimately wrote checks for two such committees totaling $1.5 million, according to prosecutors, while another $250,000 would move through the state Republican Party to benefit Causey. Causey later backed off hiring Palermo and agreed instead to move oversight of Lindbergs companies to another division head, the indictment said. Lawyers for Palermo and Lindberg said Cogburn should keep out of court evidence of Palermos potential hiring by Causey since it never happened. No bribe occurred because there was corrupt intent in asking that Obusek be replaced, Palermos attorneys wrote, since the defendants just felt Obusek was not qualified to be administering the regulations. But the government responded that the scheme to replace Obusek with Palermo is intrinsic evidence of the honest services fraud conspiracy. Campaign finance reports show Lindberg, a registered independent from Durham recorded as voting only once, gave more than $5 million since 2016 to North Carolina candidate and party committees and independent expenditure groups. The donations have gone in part to groups that supported GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and then-Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, who is now chairman of the state Democratic Party. Neither Goodwin nor Forest has been accused of crimes. Causey and Forest are on next months Republican primary ballot Causey for commissioner and Forest for governor. Goodwin is already the Democratic nominee for commissioner. The U.S. attorneys also want to offer evidence about political contributions for others besides Causey, including someone the government has identified as Public Official A. Public records and Gray have identified that official as U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C. The indictment said Walker spoke twice to Causey on Lindbergs behalf. Walker was never a target of the investigation and committed no wrongdoing, Walkers spokesman has said. Prosecutors arent seeking to persuade jurors that other contributions were unlawful, but rather to show the defendants had previously provided large contributions and could do the same for Causey. The defendants want this information left out of the trial, calling it irrelevant. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA North Carolina Members of Georgian opposition parties and their supporters are holding a rally at parliament building in central Tbilisi, protesting Irakli Shotadzes possible re-election as prosecutor general. Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said that "protests are part of democracy" and everyone in the country has the right to express their views. "As for the issue of the prosecutor general, despite my respect for the opposition, we have a responsibility before the state and public. The opposition may like or dislike a candidate. The final decision is up to parliament," Agenda.ge cited Talakvadze as saying. Shotadzes candidacy was approved by Parliament's Legal Issues Committee yesterday. Later today a final vote will take place in parliament during a plenary session. If at least 76 MPs of a total of 150 vote for Shotadze, he will become the countrys first prosecutor general elected by parliament twice. Shotadze, who was the first Georgian prosecutor general elected by parliament in 2015, was nominated for the post by a legal entity, the Georgian Technical University. The post became vacant after former Chief Prosecutor Shalva Tadumadze was approved as lifetime judge of the Georgian Supreme Court in December 2019. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has more than 90 MPs in parliament, vows support for Shotadze. But the opposition and the civil sector strongly oppose Shotadzes reelection. 42-year-old man recently returned from China after his health deteriorated. Union minister Harsh Vardhan interacts with Wuhan-returned Indians after they were released from the ITBP quarantine facility in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: PTI) PUDUKKOTTAI: A-42-year-old man from Tamil Nadu who returned from China recently died of suspected Coronavirus at a private hospital at Madurai on Saturday. The deceased hailed from Kothaimangalam village in Pudukkottai district. Official sources said on Monday that the victim, Sakthikumar, who runs a small restaurant in China recently returned home due to jaundice and underwent treatment in his village. However, due to manpower shortage to run his eatery there, he returned to China recently, despite his jaundice. Sakthikumar again returned home as his health deteriorated. He was admitted to a private hospital at Madurai on Friday, but he died on Saturday. Public health department officials suspect that Sakthikumars health could have been aggravated possibly by coronavirus attack. After his sudden death, public health department have now camped at his village, some 100 km from the district headquarters town of Pudukkottai, to thoroughly investigate whether Shakthikumars death was caused by nCoV or was due to other medical factors, sources added. According to family members, Sakthikumar had landed at Tiruchy airport from China on February 4, travelling via Thailand and Kuala Lumpur. His family members did not suspect any symptoms of Coronavirus, though he had been making frequent trips between India and China. For an average Tamil-speaking family, they were unable to immediately recall the name of the Chinese town. Family sources said that he had a history of several health complications, involving his lungs and liver-related ailment for the last two years and had been treated at a private hospital in Thanjavur. They further said Sakthikumar died due to his prolonged illness of his lungs and liver, besides the jaundice he was recently suffering from. The social media was needlessly playing it up to divert attention, the family sources said. Meanwhile, the health department officials secured all the medical files related to his treatment in the last two years and have sent the same to Chennai for clinical analysis. T ens of thousands of UK backpackers hoping to extend their stay in Australia will be able to count volunteer work rebuilding fire-ravaged communities towards their visa. The Australian government this week revealed the changes to working holiday visas to help with the recovery effort following this seasons devastating bushfires that destroyed thousands of homes and buildings. Under the current system, to be eligible for a second-year 417 visa, backpackers must do 88 days of regional work or farm work. For a third-year visa, they must show an extra six months of work during their second year in Australia. Australian wildfires turn sky red 1 /16 Australian wildfires turn sky red via REUTERS brendanh_au/Twitter via Reuters via REUTERS via REUTERS via REUTERS via REUTERS via REUTERS Getty Images Courtesy of Stacey Broadfoot/AFP Courtesy of Caitlin Nobes/AFP vi BradleyWDeacon/Twitter Volunteer work is not counted and employers can only take on the same backpacker for six months. Under the new plans, volunteer work in regions affected by the bushfires for periods of up to a year will now count towards a second and third year visa. The changes are designed to encourage travellers to live and work in the 45 declared disaster zones across Australia. More than 200,000 working holiday visas were issued last year to people aged between 18 and 30 years. Around 40,000 of those went to British travellers, making them the largest group ahead of those from France, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan. Dashcam Footage Shows How Quickly A Fire Can Impact When The Wind Changes Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation regional organisations were crying out for volunteers. The president of volunteer-based organisation BlazeAid, Kevin Butler, told broadcaster he was "ecstatic" and the arrangement went together like "peaches and cream". "It's the most wonderful thing, it's a win-win-win for backpackers and for farmers," he added. "We're going to have many, many young people from all over the world who have their hearts and minds set on helping Australia." He later told The Australian newspaper: "We need young people with ... muscles to do the hard yards. The bushfires hit hardest in some very rugged areas and these backpackers have the energy to do it. Ahora, junto a agricultores y sus familias, supervisamos el funcionamiento del servicio de agua para riego del canal Mochumi. Esta importante obra es simbolo de desarrollo y progreso ya que permite la irrigacion y recuperacion de tierras para el cultivo. ??https://t.co/5TUxsWA1BR pic.twitter.com/mgdqwrrszN Ms. Warren and her team feel the same. She is not cratering or surging, neither the most likely to win nor at risk of immediately dropping out, a 40-degree day surrounded by candidates who are hot and cold. Her staff members and plenty of allies argue that as a result, she is being ignored by the news media and some voters during a pivotal moment in the primary, and she is at risk of becoming less relevant in the nominating process something her campaign is now trying to reverse. When her caucus-night speech in Iowa was cut off, her campaign aides complained privately to cable networks. When her speech after the New Hampshire primary was not carried live at all, they took their criticism public. Elizabeth hasnt been getting the same kind of media coverage as candidates she outperformed, read a recent fund-raising email to supporters. We cant count on the media to cover our campaign fairly, so were taking our case directly to voters. If the campaign is trying to rally supporters at a time when Ms. Warrens candidacy hangs in the balance, it is also trying to move on from some recent political events: Her much-touted campaign organization did not show a dramatic payoff in the first two contests, and polling in Nevada, South Carolina and Super Tuesday states has shown little improvement among the black and Latino Democrats she once thought could spring her to the nomination. Straining themselves to avoid criticizing the candidate or campaign, Ms. Warrens most loyal admirers are trying to reframe the New Hampshire outcome in the most flattering light possible: More than two dozen of them, in interviews at events throughout Nevada, argued her fourth-place finish was an aberration, not a blow to the campaigns core message that should force reflection or correction. Nearly 4,000 cases of mumps have been reported in Ireland over the past 18 months, mainly among young people, according to a new study. The study by HSE researchers for the Mumps Outbreak Control Team found the age groups most affected in the current outbreak - those between 15 and 24 - were born around the time of low MMR vaccination uptakes in the early 2000s. The current generation of students were born at the height of a mass health scare triggered in 1998 linking the vaccine and autism, which has since been debunked. "The low vaccine uptake reported in 2001/02 was attributed to a lack of confidence in MMR at that time, which led to some parents refusing or delaying vaccination of their children," said the study. The report published in Eurosurveillance - Europe's journal on infectious disease surveillance, epidemiology, prevention and control - revealed there were 3,736 mumps cases notified here between August 18 2018 and January 24 this year. The researchers said the outbreak was continuing strongly into 2020, with the largest number of weekly mumps notifications, numbering 302 cases, in the last week of January. Outbreak This is compared with only around a dozen cases of mumps reported in January 2019. Ireland is among a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Israel and the United States, who have reported large mumps outbreaks involving mainly adolescents and young adults in recent years. "The high potential for transmission in the crowded social environments of students, eg, large indoor gatherings and shared housing, only partly explains the ongoing outbreak," said the authors. But they added: "Other additional factors need to be considered, such as historical low uptake of MMR vaccine, insufficient effectiveness of the mumps component of the MMR vaccine and the possibility of waning immunity in those appropriately immunised." The study found vaccination status was reported for 32pc of cases, with three out of four reporting they had received two doses of MMR, but these figures were based on recall in some cases. Nearly one in 10 of those with mumps had some sort of hospital treatment due to the illness, Information on any complications was reported for 651 cases, with 13pc experiencing some complications including orchitis, meningitis, pancreatitis and encephalitis. The HSE experts said a free MMR vaccination programme has been targeted at third-level institutions as the outbreak predominantly has affected colleges and universities. In 2019, all students - including those in secondary school and education staff under 25 - who had not received two doses of MMR were recommended to get vaccinated. But data from the HSE drugs payment programme shows the number of doses of MMR administered under the code specifically created for outbreaks has been low. The authors said they are trying to raise awareness among those aged 11 to 30 across Ireland to ensure they have received two doses of MMR. Lynne McGranger has played Irene Roberts on Channel Seven soap Home And Away for more than 26 years. But the actress, 66, has slammed the network as 'homophobic' after claims gay kissing scenes have been routinely edited out of the show's Australian broadcast. In Facebook comments retrieved by TV Tonight, Lynne admitted she was 'embarrassed and horrified' by the allegations. 'Embarrassed and horrified': Home And Away's Lynne McGranger (above) labels soap 'homophobic' after same-sex kissing scenes are removed from Australian broadcast 'It's my freaking workplace and I am embarrassed and horrified that the mentality is so damn draconian!' she wrote in response to a post on Apple TV documentary, Visible: Out in Australia's Facebook page. It's unclear if Seven or a production company was responsible for removing same-sex kissed from Home and Away in the past. The admission was made after TV soap historian Andrew Mercado called the network 'homophobic' over their handling of kissing scenes between Willow Harris and Alex Neilson - played by Sarah Roberts and Zoe Ventoura. While the scenes have aired in full in New Zealand and the UK, the same-sex kisses were cut from the scenes which aired in Australia. 'Absolutely agree': The actress, who has appeared on the soap for more than 26 years as Irene Roberts, agreed the network had a 'homophobic' problem and a 'draconian mentality' 'How disappointing to learn they film two versions of Home and Away,' Andrew claimed, without an official confirmation by Seven. 'In NZ and the UK their lesbian couple kisses in a G-rated timeslot. But here in Australia, Seven don't think we can handle the same-sex kisses despite its PG timeslot and the girls only brush shoulders with each other,' he said. The PG rating in Australia also meant that legally the scenes did not need to be removed. 'THAT is homophobia folks!' Lynne's comments were in response to TV soap historian Andrew Mercado's post on Facebook The veteran channel seven actress wholeheartedly agreed with Andrew labelling the alleged act as 'homophobic': 'Absolutely agree, Andrew!' In late 2019, two kisses were cut from Australian screenings of Home And Away, despite airing overseas. In a statement to the ABC at the time, Seven claimed the wrong version of two episodes had gone to air in Australia due to 'human error'. 'As with any television show, numerous changes are made throughout the post production process all the way up until final broadcast,' the statement said. Sweet: In a scene from earlier this year, which went to air in New Zealand, Alex and Willow shared a kiss at a bar, before Alex ordered them drinks In a scene from earlier this year, which went to air in New Zealand, Alex and Willow shared a kiss at a bar, before Alex ordered them drinks. In the Australian version, Alex looked lovingly at Willow, but the scene was abruptly cut to another scene before the kiss occurred. The New Zealand version of the scene continued for 40 seconds longer, showing the couple discussing plans for a romantic weekend away. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment. After a messy Iowa caucus that had Buttigieg questionably edging out Sanders in pledged delegates, Bernie can now declare himself the frontrunner after his impressive victory in New Hampshire. Although he won by only a few thousand votes, it's how Bernie won that matters. Biden had another poor showing in New Hampshire that will have him playing catch-up heading into Super Tuesday. In the same primary, Warren, Bernie's progressive counterpart who not too long ago was poised to steal the reins from him, received only 9 percent of the vote and is polling poorly in both Nevada and South Carolina. With such a decisive lead, Bernie has a clear path to be nominated, and simulation models show him to have a one-in-three chance of being the candidate who will face Trump in November. Four years ago, Trump also established himself as the clear frontrunner heading into South Carolina and Nevada and was never able to fully unify the party until he became president. Trump was always able to pose as the outsider fighting the powers that be. There was not only a practical, but also an emotional side to rooting for the defeat of the political machine that worked so hard to subvert Trump even after he clinched the nomination. In this sense, Hillary was the best opponent that Trump could ask for a puppet of the entity against which Trump was fighting. Four years later, Sanders is enjoying the same success and, despite his being the frontrunner, still has an underdog vibe while also preaching a populist message. Therefore, it won't be surprising if a "Never Bernie" sect of the party emerges if he becomes the nominee. The question is, how would Trump campaign against an outsider candidate now that Trump is on the inside as president? Primarily, a Trump vs. Sanders contest would be about who can appeal more to the common working-class man. This will be especially true for competing in the Rust Belt, which will have to become Trump's firewall if he is to hold off a candidate whose rhetoric is tailored toward Rust Belt voters. Trump can and should point to his successes in renegotiating NAFTA, bringing back manufacturing jobs, and supporting the coal and natural gas industry as reasons to support him over Bernie, who is still just talk at this point. It also doesn't help Bernie's populist cause that he has to toe the line when it comes to supporting liberal policies such as undermining the coal and natural gas industry, which would further hollow out Rust Belt communities. Trump can also win on taxes, despite the usual liberal mantra that Republican tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The simple facts are that most Americans want to be taxed less, not more, and that lowering taxes spurs economic growth, which is partly why Trump currently presides over a robust economy. As such, Bernie's admission that he would raise taxes on the middle class may not help him make his case to blue-collar workers, who are mostly in the middle class. Trump would be smart to emphasize this point in his upcoming campaign. Just as Trump began taking shots at Hillary when it was evident that she would win the nomination, Trump will soon have to consider doing the same with Sanders if he continues to win states and rack up delegates. Even though Trump won't admit to preferring to face one crazy Democrat candidate over another, Sanders would pose the biggest challenge to Trump on the debate stage and on the map as well. Leaders within the party and Democrat voters may be starting to realize this, which may explain his recent surge in the polls, especially in demographically diverse states. Even so, it would take a miraculous turn of events for Trump not to be re-elected this November. Democrats realize this, which is why they went all-in on a Mueller investigation and an impeachment trial that lacked any validating evidence from the start, undermining the candidates' efforts to oust Trump democratically by trying to oust him legally. Afghanistans incumbent president, Ashraf Ghani, has been declared the winner of a disputed presidential vote thats been tainted by accusations of vote-rigging, Trend reports citing Bloomberg. Ghani led the poll with 50.64% of the 1.8 million votes cast, defeating his top rival Abdullah Abdullah, who obtained 39.52% in the bitterly contested poll that began on Sept. 28, Hawa Alam Nuristani, the chairwoman of the election commission, said on Tuesday evening. Abdullah, whos the chief executive of the war-torn country and shares power with the incumbent, accused Ghani of rigging about 300,000 votes in his favor. On Tuesday Abdullah rejected the outcome and said he considers the results unlawful. The results of the elections is the result of an election-rigging, a coup over democracy and betrayal over peoples will, and we consider the results as unlawful, Abdullah, who declared himself the victor, told supporters a few hours after the announcement of the results. Despite Abdullahs concerns, the election commission said Ghani is the winner after investigating and invalidating fraudulent votes. That could mean more turbulence ahead for a country that has seen decades of war. The disputed results come as Afghanistan is on track to hold peace talks with Taliban militants who control or contest half the country within 10 days of the signing of a peace deal between the group and the U.S., expected by the end of February. Ghanis victory by such a small margin based on very low turnout is problematic, said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center in Washington. I fear that his narrow victory could exacerbate Afghanistans political divides and complicate efforts to establish and sustain an intra-Afghan dialogue with the Taliban. Supporters of Abdullah, including current vice-president Abdul Rashid Dustom and Mohammad Maheqeq, who also holds a top government position, warned of the establishment of a parallel government if the election ends up in Ghanis favor. Abdullah, in his address to supporters, didnt specifically say he would form a parallel government, but he did say he would create an inclusive government, without giving more details. McLaren did the right thing by dumping its works supply of Honda engines after 2017, according to F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. Brawn was actually team boss at Honda's works team well over a decade ago, but he says "clever people" at McLaren concluded that the ill-fated collaboration had to stop. "They have some clever people there but it took a while for them to realise," he told motorsport-total.com when asked about McLaren's decision to split with Honda. "People always think they made a big mistake in parting with Honda, but funnily enough, I think they almost needed it to figure out what to do with the team. "They blamed Honda all the time but now they realise it wasn't true," said Brawn. Indeed, since Honda left McLaren, the Japanese engine manufacturer began to thrive in collaboration with Red Bull's two teams. Brawn said of McLaren: "By getting rid of Honda, they realised they had to do something with the team. "I'm not sure if they would have come to that conclusion if they hadn't put an engine in the back that other teams have used as well. "Once they did they realised that they had to make some big changes. And I think they did. They took a very positive step," he added. (GMM) The Brazoria County Sheriff's office is investigating the shooting death of a Texas Department of Corrections officer whose body was found last week on Follett's Beach, the sheriff's office said Tuesday. A citizen found the body of 60-year-old Dennis Michael Taylor about 7:30 a.m. Thursday on an access point on the beach, a 13-mile stretch between Surfside Beach and San Luis Pass. Taylor was from Angleton. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas church with sex offender pastor first to be ousted from SBC under abuse reforms The Galveston County Medical Examiner's office determined Taylor died of a gunshot wound, the sheriff's office said. The death is being investigated as a homicide, said said Lt. Varon Snelgrove with the Brazoria County Sheriff's office . The investigation will look in to his 30 years as a corrections officer, Snelgrove said. "We have so much of this man's life to dig through, " he said. ARRESTED: All-day crime spree comes to an end in Montgomery County Authorities say Taylor was last seen about 7 p.m. Wednesday in Freeport driving his pickup truck , a black 2018 Ford F-150. Taylor worked at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, said Robert Hurst, a communications officer at the agency. Taylor joined the agency in 1986, resigned in January 2018, but returned to work in May of that year, Hurst said. The sheriff's office is asking anyone who has information on Taylor's death to contact Brazoria County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-460-2222 or brazoriacountycrimestoppers.com. STAY IN THE KNOW: Get caught up on what's going on around Houston. From sports to news and entertainment, check out the newsletters we're offering. Peruvian authorities and a representative of the South Korean government on Monday launched the next phase of the construction of the controversial Chinchero International Airport near Cusco (or Cuzco). At an event organised by the Chamber of Commerce in Lima, the country's transport and communication minister and South Korea's interim ambassador celebrated their countries' cooperation on the project. The Korean Airport Corporation will be acting as technical adviser for the project of building the airport near Cuzco, one of the country's most popular tourist destination due to its proximity to famous archaeological sites. At Monday's event, South Korea's Interim Ambassador Sun Tae Park to Peru promised the consortium would run a clean operation and refrain for committing "any illicit act like the ones you have seen before with other companies". He appeared to be referring to a series of corruption cases that rocked the country in recent years, linked to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which secured contracts across Latin America through a network of bribes. Various former presidents have been implicated, including one who committed suicide to avoid arrest, and another who is imprisoned in the US while his extradition process plays out. The new airport, located in the Chinchero district of Urubamba province, will allow direct flights from Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Quito and Panama, among others. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2020 and be completed by 2024. Cusco is the main arrival point for tourists coming to visit one of Peru's most venerated and protected sites: the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It is on this front that the construction of the new airport has proved controversial. A group of activists, historians and archaeologists has claimed it could put in danger the conservation of such important historical and archaeological sites by increasing exponentially the amount of noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanisation. Natalia Majuf, a Peruvian art historian who started an online petition in 2019 to fight the construction of the airport, said the project puts at risk "numerous Human Heritage sites declared by UNESCO". She also denounced the lack of specific clearances acquired by the government to construct in the area. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Mike Henry has kicked off his tenure at the helm of the worlds largest miner with a 29% increase in first-half earnings. That laudable result was fueled by iron ore, a steelmaking ingredient. BHP Groups promised climate targets remain a work in progress. Its a striking contrast with BP Plcs Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney, who started in the top job this month with a green splash. BHP would do well to seize the initiative as details unfold in the critical months ahead. Looney and Henry are, in a way, brothers in arms. Both are company veterans, at the top of $120 billion-plus resources heavyweights. Both took over this year from chief executives who came in to tackle crises, and start in a better financial position than their predecessors. Both are trying to juggle competing demands for stable production, generous payouts and the need to prepare for a carbon-light future. For both, thats how success will be measured. The bar is low in the resources industry, which has long avoided tackling its responsibilities for the grim reality of a warmer climate. In that context, BHP and BP are both ahead of the pack. Melbourne-based BHP said last year it would hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its own operations, and announced it would begin to tackle carbon produced by its customers. It had already said 2022 emissions from its mines and wells would be at or below 2017 levels. Plus, the Australian company plans to tie executive compensation more closely to climate goals. London-based BP, meanwhile, has set net-zero targets by 2050 for a wider set of emissions, partly encompassing its supply chain. Only Spains Repsol SA, far smaller, has been more ambitious. Lofty vision is the easy bit. Assuming they stay in place as long as their predecessors, Henry and Looney will preside over a decade that will determine the success or failure of efforts to address climate change. They, and their companies stock valuations, will stand apart if their efforts help investors price risk appropriately, and shed light on the future shape of the companies. Details matter more than early headlines. That means clear, measurable targets for all categories of emissions. It means a plan for fossil fuel-heavy portfolios. It means a commitment to justify spending decisions with green goals in mind, as BP and Glencore Plc have agreed to do. Story continues Its a gargantuan challenge. First, because investors want everything: bumper earnings, hefty dividends and a future-proof business. That may not be possible. BHPs interim figure Tuesday already disappointed some. Then, consider much of the environmental damage is done beyond the mine gate, and is therefore harder to control. For BP, those wider emissions amount to just under 90% of the total. For BHP, its even worse: For the 2019 financial year, it said the processing of non-fossil fuel commodities added as much as 305 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and fossil fuel use added up to 233 million. Theres some double counting here, so the figures cant be combined, but Australias total, for comparison, was just under 540 million metric tons for the year through March 2019. That means credible efforts to turn BHPs operations greener, like the use of electric cars at its Olympic Dam project in Australia or the move to renewable energy at the Escondida copper mine in Chile. While welcome, such moves arent sufficient. The same goes for a $400 million, five-year climate investment program. The task over the coming months will be to come up with with measurable ambitions for the short, medium and long term, for both operational emissions and beyond. Those will need to link back to remuneration packages that also tie executives in for longer. In tandem, Henry will have to tackle BHPs portfolio. The former head of BHPs Minerals Australia arm said Tuesday that he wanted more options in future facing metals, specifically copper and nickel, used in wind turbines, solar power and rechargeable batteries. Thats encouraging, but competition is tough and scale may be smaller than the miner would prefer. Henry will also have to make a decision on the companys Jansen potash project in the coming months. The remaining assets are a pricklier problem, including the future of oil and coal. BHP has lagged behind rivals like Rio Tinto Group, which sold its last thermal coal mine in 2018. Buyers for its thermal assets, including Mount Arthur Coal and a third of Cerrejon in Colombia, are proving scarce. It may not want to make the same mistake with metallurgical coal, even if for now margins are sounder, and substitution is difficult. All of this needs to be done against a challenging background for the commodities industry, buffeted by the coronavirus epidemic sweeping China, the worlds biggest importer of coal, iron ore and oil. BHP, with a lucrative copper business and a healthy balance sheet, has options. Henry can afford to be bold. To contact the author of this story: Clara Ferreira Marques at cferreirama@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Matthew Brooker at mbrooker1@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The rest of the wall on Cabeza Prieta will be built by Fisher Sand and Gravel, which is under scrutiny by the inspector general of the Department of Defense. The companys head, Tommy Fisher, led what he called a whirlwind media campaign and paid lobbyists more than $100,000 to discuss the wall with lawmakers. The inspector general probe, which is ongoing, came after the Washington Post quoted officials saying Trump personally and repeatedly urged the head of the Army Corps to award a $268 million contract to Fisher, even after Fishers bid was rejected. The value of the contract could rise to nearly $400 million if all options are exercised. Zekelmans lobbying effort, detailed last May by the New York Times, included a $1.75 million donation by Wheatland Tube, also a division of Zekelman Industries, to a pro-Trump super PAC in 2018. Those funds made Wheatland Tube one of the largest donors to the America First Action super PAC in 2018, according to the Federal Election Commission. The only people who donated more to the PAC that year were: Las Vegas casino owner Sheldon Adelson and his wife; Texas bank president Andrew Beal; Miami casino owner Cherna Moskowitz; and Beverly Hills real estate developer Geoffrey Palmer. A couple and their minor daughter were killed on Tuesday evening when a speeding truck smashed into their motorbike near here in Madhya Pradesh, police said. All three, riding on the motorbike, were crushed by the truck coming from behind on Bhopal-Vidisha road at Muktapur village, about 30km from the district headquarters, said Salamatpur Police Station in-charge Ramesh Raghuvanshi. The victims, Anil Kewat (42), his wife Sharmila (35) and their daughter Ragini (8), died on the spot, he said. The truck driver fled with the vehicle after the incident and a search for him is on, Raghuvanshi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drugs, Ammunition and weapons - including a machine gun - were seized from a Connecticut mans home on Monday. Members of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force Northwest Office, along with members of the Waterbury Police Departments Vice and Intelligence Unit, and with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Emergency Services Unit, executed search warrants for Javon Curry, 28,, as well as his Waterbury home. State Police said the case stemmed from a number of controlled purchases of heroin investigators completed from Curry at his residence. Upon executing the warrants, investigators located a Tech-9, 9mm machine gun; a high-capacity magazine fully loaded with 22 rounds of 9mm ammo, a Kel-Tec 9mm handgun that had an obliterated serial number, approximately one ounce of crack cocaine packaged for distribution, numerous bags of heroin, approximately $1,000 in cash, packaging materials and numerous digital scales. Troopers said there were four juveniles and a newborn baby living with Curry inside the house. Curry was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a pistol/firearm having an obliterated serial number, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, ciminal possession of high capacity magazine, criminal possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics (cocaine, possession of narcotics (heroin), risk of injury Curry was unable to post a $200,000 bond and was transported to the New Haven Correctional Center. He will be arraigned Tuesday at Waterbury Superior Court. The cruise ship MS Westerdam at dock in the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 16, 2020. (Matthew Tostevin/File Photo/Reuters) Malaysia Blocks Cruise Ships from China and Westerdam Passengers after COVID-19 Case Malaysia announced that it will block all cruise ships that have traveled to China from entering the country, and that it will refuse passengers from Holland Americas Westerdam cruise ship after a woman tested positive for COVID-19. The 83-year-old woman, an American, flew to Malaysia on Friday after the cruise ship that was rejected by five countries was allowed to dock in Cambodia. She tested positive for the new coronavirus upon her arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Saturday, Malaysia authorities confirmed, marking the 22nd case in the country. Speaking during the central disaster management committee on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the decision to bar remaining Westerdam passengers from flying into Malaysia was made because they had come into close contact with the infected woman. The remaining passengers of the MS Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia will not be allowed to enter Malaysia considering that all passengers are now considered close contact of the confirmed case, Wan Azizah said in a statement. For the time being, the government has decided not to allow any cruise ship that has originated or transited China from entering Malaysia, she added. The 83-year-olds diagnosis came after all Westerdam cruise ship passengers were initially cleared by authorities in Cambodia. Her husband, 85, who is also a U.S. citizen, tested negative despite showing symptoms of the virus. The woman is in stable condition and is in isolation at Sungai Buloh Hospital while her husband is still receiving treatment and is being monitored, the health ministry said. All 143 passengers who arrived in Malaysia on the same Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight as the 83-year-old, which was chartered by the cruise ships owner Holland America Line, have all been screened, Wan Azizah said. The security checkpoint in front of cruise ship MS Westerdam at dock in the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Clare Baldwin/Reuters) Of those passengers, sixDutch and American citizenswill be examined by medical officials for COVID-19 before they are allowed to continue onto their final destination. Three other flights that were scheduled to bring more Westerdam passengers into Kuala Lumpur were canceled, Wan Azizah said. Before the Westerdam was allowed to enter Cambodia last week, multiple countries declined to let the ship dock over concerns about the new virus after seeing hundreds of cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that docked in Japan. Two Malaysians on board the ship quarantined in Japan tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18, with a further two pending results, the health ministry confirmed. Cambodia allowed the ship to dock on Thursday night. The Cambodian Health Ministry tested 20 people and all samples came back negative. There were never any suspected cases of coronavirus on board, Holland America said in a Feb. 13 statement. All guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have their ever been, the company stated on Feb. 12. The Westerdam departed Hong Kong with 1,455 passengers and 802 crew on board. The cruise was slated to run for two weeks and end in Yokohama, Japan. Holland America has said passengers on the Westerdam will be offered a full refund and that flights back home will also be covered by the firm. Worries about the new virus have mounted because of fears that with no natural immunity among the worlds population, it could spread to infect millions if unchecked. The websites of both the CDC and WHO give an estimated incubation period for the virus of up to 14 days. However, the initial results from Feb. 9 study by Chinese doctors found that the incubation for the disease could be as long as 24 days. The results have yet to be corroborated. Zachary Stieber and Reuters contributed to this report. A schoolboy has been brutally bashed by cruel bullies who kicked him so hard it severed his kidney. Adam Jay, 12, was set upon in a laneway and left for dead in Brisbane's south by three other students from his high school. His mother said she came home to find her son with the horrific injuries and rushed him to hospital, where doctors revealed the attack had split his kidney in two. Adam Jay, 12, (pictured) was set upon in a laneway and left for dead in Brisbane's south by three other students from his high school 'I came home and he yelled out "mum". I went in there and there was blood. I thought, oh my God what's happened,' his mother Monique said. The youngster - who his parents say had been bullied at school but was too scared to report it to them - required multiple surgeries following the brutal attack. Doctors said the only way he could have suffered injuries of that nature was from being kicked in the side, A Current Affair reported. The boy was waiting for his mother to get home when he was targeted by his more senior classmates, who he tried to avoid at first by hiding out of sight. 'He went around behind a group of shops (to avoid the bullies) and they thought it was alright to abuse him and kick him while he was sitting on the ground,' she said. She said she knew one of the boys who carried out the vicious assault - and that he even waved at her while she out with her dog. The youngster - who his parents say had also been bullied at school but was too scared to report it to them - required multiple surgeries following the brutal attack The attack left him so badly injured his mothers spent three weeks at Adam's bedside while he recovered Police said they were investigating the incident, and the school said they would be co-operating with Queensland Police. His mother, who spent three weeks by his bedside during his recovery, claimed the school refused to get involved with the incident because it happened off school grounds. 'The alleged assault occurred outside school grounds and during the school holidays,' the Queensland Department of Education said in a statement. 'The school has worked extensively with the student and their family, and will continue to provide all necessary support.' Advertisement NASCAR driver Ryan Newman is alert and talking after his car was hit during the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Monday, causing a fiery wreck. Newman remains at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida but Roush Fenway Racing confirmed Tuesday afternoon that he was 'awake and speaking with family and doctors'. 'Ryan and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country,' Roush Fenway tweeted. 'They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond.' Roush Fenway said he is still under care of doctors and that they would continue to provide information as updates become available. Ryan Newman is 'awake and speaking to family and doctors' following a Daytona 500 crash Monday (pictured) Ryan (left) and his family 'expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country'. Roush Fenway tweeted: 'They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond' Newman turned hard into the wall after getting bumped from behind by Ryan Blaney a few hundred feet from the finish line. Newman's No. 6 Ford Mustang then flipped onto its roof, where he was helpless as he was walloped in the driver's side by another car at 190 mph. It sent his car spinning backwards and LaJoie, who was driving behind him, then crashed into the driver's side of Newman's vehicle. Newman's Mustang flipped multiple times and began spitting out flames. He was pulled from the wreckage in front of nervous crowds afterwards and was immediately rushed to the hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. President Trump tweeted on Monday night that he was 'praying' for the 42-year-old driver. On Tuesday morning during an interview with Good Morning America, LaJoie said he it was 'very scary' what had happened. He was still under care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona, Florida on Tuesday afternoon After Newman's vehicle landed after flipping the first time, it was then struck directly by No. 32 - driven by Corey LaJoie Newman's car flew into the air after LaJoie clipped him while they sped around the Daytona 500 track at 195mph on Monday night Flames soon started shooting from Newman's vehicle before he came to a stop and emergency teams flooded the track A crowd of emergency workers pulled Newman from the wreckage and immediately put him in an ambulance The nervous crowd watched as Newman was put in the ambulance and then driven from the track to go to the hospital 'He's obviously in a serious condition because that's probably the most vulnerable spot in our race cars that was a really scary wreck. 'It was wild, I didn't even know who I hit because you're concentrating on trying to get a good finish and nobody knows how fast 200mph or how light or out of control these cars are. 'I didn't even know who I hit or what the extent of the crash was. '[It was a] very scary crash but the fact that he's still with us and trying to make a full recovery is just testament to NASCAR and how safe they're trying to make these race cars,' he said. President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday night that he was praying for Newman NASCAR released a statement, saying: 'Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. 'He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. 'We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time.' Newman has made complaints in the past about the safety of NASCAR's tracks. He's been a harsh critic of NASCAR's struggles to keep cars on the ground, even getting fined for public comments the sanctioning body considered negative. In 2010, he said fans shouldn't even go to the track to see races at Talladega. Denny Hamlin, who sped to victory unaware of what had happened on the track behind him, was criticized for celebrating so quickly when Newman's condition was unknown When the Fedex team realized what had happened and how serious it was, they cut their celebrations short in shock They then all huddled together in prayer for Newman. A screen grab of that moment is shown above Team owner Joe Gibbs (left) is pictured with Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin (right) following the race. Gibbs apologized for celebrating the victory as Newman was rushed off to hospital The Indiana native, who graduated with an engineering degree from Purdue, said earlier during Speedweeks he felt renewed in his second year at Roush Fenway Racing. 'It's all about competitiveness and fun,' he said. 'I want to have fun with my life. If I can have fun in this garage doing it and get paid what I feel like I deserve to get paid, then I'm all for it. It's got to be fun and it's got be rewarding in more ways than one. 'I'm doing it past when I said I was going to do it 10 years ago. I don't know how to give the answer anymore, I really don't. I always said 40 and I'm 42 now.' On Monday night, after the wreck, Denny Hamlin went on to win the race in his No 11. Toyota Camry for the second consecutive season, prompting NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs to wildly celebrate at the finish line. However, Gibbs has now apologized for gloating about the victory, saying he was unaware of how serious Newman's accident actually was. 'We really didn't know, we got in the winner's circle and that's when people told us,' he told assembled press later in the evening. Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who frequently watch him on from the sidelines of the race track. They are pictured in 2016 left. He and his wife, Krissie, have split after 16 years of marriage Meanwhile, Hemlin appeared somber following his victory, telling assembled press: 'I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are and number one, we are praying for Ryan'. 'It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. We are just hoping for the best.' Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who at his side in the moments before Sunday's race began, only to be delayed a day by rain. Other drivers were also stricken with concern in the aftermath of the smash, including a rattled Corey LaJoie - the driver who hit Newman's car as it was flipping. Corey LaJoie spoke on Tuesday about the crash. He clipped Ryan Newman's vehicle after it had already hit the track wall. The collision sent Newman's car flying into the air in a fiery wreck 'Dang I hope Newman is ok,' he posted on Twitter. 'That is worst case scenario and I had nowhere to go but (into) smoke.' It wasn't the first crash like this for Newman at Daytona or at another superspeedway, the Talladega track in Alabama. His car went airborne and flipped repeatedly in the 2003 Daytona 500. He landed on his roof in that one and did again at Talladega in 2009. Newman also announced last week he and his wife had split after 16 years of marriage. 'I feel just renewed in general, the team, the people, the opportunities, the sponsors,' he said. 'All that makes a big difference to me. We've got to perform better. 'Just because we performed better than they had done in the past doesn't mean it's up to my standards and my goals. 'I feel like we need to step it up and that's a big part of me wanting to continue doing what I'm doing.' Day of reckoning: Michelle Bridges, 49, was today forced to accept she wasn't 'special' in the eyes of the law - but just another drink driver It was the day Michelle Bridges, celebrity fitness guru and TV star, was forced to accept that she wasn't 'special' in the eyes of the law - but just another drink driver. Bridges, 49, brought celebrity glamour, a supportive entourage and legal firepower to a drab courtroom in Sydney's east on Tuesday. It was judgment day for the former Biggest Loser trainer, and she was hoping to escape a conviction for mid-range drink driving. But even wheeling out a heavyweight defence barrister - who insisted she was a 'special case', quoted Shakespeare and regaled the court of her achievements - couldn't win her leniency. Bridges' predicament began with a glass of wine with dinner about 8pm on January 25, the court has heard. She drank quite a bit afterwards - four vodka sodas, all apparently at home - before finishing up at 1am the next day, Australia Day. She rose that morning and took her son, four, to Nielsen Park beach, not far from her Potts Point home. The incident came while the former Biggest Loser star was reckoning with the collapse her relationship with Steve 'Commando' Willis Bridges (second from right) rose to fame with The Biggest Loser co-stars Shannan Ponton, Tiffiny Hall and 'the Commando' - her former lover Bridges was driving home at 11.25am when officers at a roadside breath stop noticed her Range Rover broke suddenly and veered into the second lane of New South Head Road. Police decided to pull Bridges over. When she wound the window down, police noticed the fitness star appeared 'nervous'. Her hands were shaking, voice was trembling and face was flushed, court documents said. The glamorous fitness trainer never suggested she was anything but guilty to the offence - proof, her lawyer claimed, that she was a 'straight shooter' The 12 Week Body Transformation founder claimed she had a swirl of mouth wash about five minutes before she was pulled over. But officers observed she seemed 'mildly affected' by alcohol, she admitted drinking 'last night' and she failed the test. Back at the police station, the wiry fitness queen admitted she had actually drank quite a lot, a statement of facts said. It wasn't long after a criminal charge was laid that the incident hit the headlines. Bridges, to her credit, never suggested that she was anything but guilty. She revealed she had been going through a 'difficult time', having just split with her high profile boyfriend, Steve 'The Commando' Willis, who she met on The Biggest Loser. That had apparently played a part in her heavy drinking. She admitted her shame and embarrassment and suffered a terrible blow to her wholesome public image. It was shame she relived again on Tuesday as she walked the media gauntlet at Waverley Court. The stress was written all over Bridges' face as she leaped out of a car about 9.15am. She powered past at least a dozen media - cameras in her face, clicking and flashing. Time to face the music: A magistrate told celebrity fitness trainer Michelle Bridges what she didn't want to hear on Tuesday - she wasn't getting leniency, and would be convicted Once inside, she, her lawyers and three supporters huddled in a conference room all morning, even through the court's lunchbreak. 'This is a special case Michelle Bridges' lawyer, Queen's Counsel Tony Bellanto Her lawyers were trying to secure her a magistrate who would knock the case over in an afternoon and bring her month-long nightmare to an end. About 2pm, it was Bridges' turn to face the music. She strode into the main court of the small complex, and sat in the front row in a black suit, next to her lawyer. Metres away sat other people accused of similarly serious, but low-level crimes. None appeared to have lawyers with them - let alone a QC. From the beginning, it was clear Bridges had an uphill battle asking the court for leniency. Tony Bellanto QC told Magistrate Allison Hawkins - newly minted, fresh from the bar - that Bridges' crime, which she was pleading guilty to, had 'cut to (her) core'. He pleaded with the magistrate for leniency, saying a conviction for Bridges would be a 'scar on the record for the rest of her life.' The drink driving charge is a rare moment of humiliation for Bridges, who has gained national fame as a celebrity fitness guru 'She's a good mother, she's hardworking', he said. She had contributed so much to the community, he said. He cited an extraordinary statistic in his submissions: 'Over 10 years, she is responsible for the Australian public losing two million kilograms in weight,' he said. 'Now that is powerful. ' Meanwhile, he argued, Bridges had written a letter of apology to the court and was remorseful. She had learned so much from completing a program for traffic offenders. She could be an 'advocate for change' thanks to her new understanding of drink driving, Mr Bellanto said. She was 'entitled' to leniency from the court 'given her capacity to make a difference', he argued. But Magistrate Hawkins said the 'absolute majority' of cases like Bridges' - mid-range drink drivers - were convicted. 'So why should I not record a conviction in this case?' she asked, 'considering there is a child in the car - which increases the objective seriousness of the case?' 'This is a special case, she's a rather special type of person,' Mr Bellanto said - drawing a sharp question from the magistrate. 'Are you advancing there is a "special tier" of justice to a person who has a special standing in the community?' she asked. A middle-aged man sitting in the public gallery muttered: 'Of course there is'. If a person is a person of good character ... it's like money in the bank Bridges' lawyer Tony Bellanto QC But Mr Bellanto had a more eloquent answer - that Bridges was of good character and that meant something in the justice system. 'If a person is a person of good character ..... (it's) like money in the bank, the law says you're entitled to draw on that.' But Ms Hawkins said she was bound by law to balance a person's good character with the community's expectation that actions come with consequences. Mr Bellanto - who was admitted as a lawyer in 1967 - closed his submissions by drawing on the work of playwright William Shakespeare. 'Oftentimes excusing of a fault, Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse,' he said, quoting the play The Life and Death of King John. The police prosecutor then only had one thing to say to the court: was the magistrate considering not handing Bridges a conviction? Ms Hawkins was blunt. 'No, I'm not,' she said, and ordered the fitness guru to stand up. Magistrate Hawkins said she accepted Bridges was genuinely remorseful. But she warned Bridges that the fact she was going through a relationship breakdown would be cold comfort if she had she injured someone in an accident. She convicted Bridges, fined her $750, disqualified her licence for three months and ordered she install an alcohol interlock device on her car. Bridges huddled with her supporters and then left the courtroom. She was just another drink driver to pass through Waverley Court - but one nonetheless expected to make a tearful statement to the media. Tearfully, she told a media pack: 'I would like to apologise to my family, friends and community for this gross error in judgment,' she said. 'The consequences of these actions will haunt me forever.' She then jumped into a waiting car. Someone else was driving. Michelle Bridges begs for leniency for 'helping Australians lose two million kilograms' as she pleads GUILTY to drink driving after blowing 0.086 in her Range Rover with her son, 4, in the car Bridges said she was having a 'difficult time' following her break-up Commando (together, above) when the incident occurred Former Biggest Loser star and celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges has pleaded guilty to drink driving. Bridges, 49, was convicted of the criminal offence in court on Tuesday, despite her legal team arguing she had a 'special case'. The fitness guru blew 0.086 when she was pulled over in her Range Rover with her four-year-old son in the car, at about 11.25am on Australia Day, as she drove through Bellevue Hill, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. But her legal representative Tony Bellanto QC argued she should not be convicted, citing the 'millions of kilograms' she has helped Australians shed. 'Over 10 years she is responsible for the Australian public losing two million kilograms in weight,' Mr Bellatoni told the court during sentencing. 'Now that's powerful - two million kilograms over ten years.' 'A conviction would act as a 'scar on her record for the rest of her life when in fact she's a good mother, she's hardworking and this has had a most profound effect on her life,' he said. 'It's a special case, she's a special person'. Magistrate Allison Hawkins rebuked the submission saying 'Are you advancing that there is a special tier of justice to a person who has special standing in the community?' The magistrate said while she appreciated Bridges had been humiliated, the fact she had been going through a tough time would have been cold comfort to victims had she had an accident. Libyas warring sides have resumed UN-brokered talks in Geneva aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire, even as eastern-based forces stepped up their assault on the capital, Tripoli, hitting its port. The targeting of the strategic facility on Tuesday appeared to be the first such attack since the forces of renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April last year to seize the city. Footage shared online show thick black smoke rising from the dock areas of Tripoli, which is controlled by the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Libya mission, called the port attack a big breach of the fragile and repeatedly violated ceasefire that was brokered by Russia and Turkey on January 12 as part of efforts to de-escalate the battle for the capital. Reporting from Tripoli, Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed said the situation was very tense around the port following the attack. Employees at the port said they have been trying to move the tankers in the port loaded with gas and fuel to prevent an environmental disaster from happening due to the multiple attacks from Haftars forces, Abdelwahed said. The GNA is accusing Haftars forces of committing war crimes by targeting civilian facilities. The government says that Haftars forces have only been targeting other civilian facilities, including Mitiga, the only operational airport in the capital. Oil-rich Libya has been splintered between competing factions and militias since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed during a NATO-supported uprising in 2011. It is currently split between two rival administrations the Tripoli-based GNA and another allied with Haftar in the eastern city of Tobruk that controls key oil fields and export terminals and is each backed by an array of foreign countries. UN Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame addresses reporters in Geneva [Fabrice Coffrini/AFP] Keep the diplomatic momentum Meanwhile in Geneva, five military representatives from the GNA and another five from Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) held indirect talks, more than a week after they ended their first round of negotiations without striking a deal that would help end the fighting in Tripoli. We hope to be able in this second round to come to some kind of consensus about what a lasting ceasefire could look like in Libya, Salame told reporters. He said he was meeting with the two sides separately but did not rule out possible joint talks at a later date. The UN envoy added the talks would focus on stopping the frequent violations of the truce, as well as helping civilians displaced by the fighting return to the capital and its surrounding area. In the previous round of talks, the UN mission said there was broad consensus between the two sides on the urgency for Libyans to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, and to stop the flow of non-Libyan fighters and send them out of the country. Salame said on Tuesday said agreeing a ceasefire was not a precondition for talks planned to start in Geneva on February 26 on finding a political solution to the long-running conflict. Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from Geneva, said the UN envoy is trying to keep the diplomatic momentum, despite the continued flow of arms to the warring sides and the absence of a durable ceasefire. On the 26th, the ambitious plan is to get representatives of all the factions in Libya here to the UNs European headquarters for talks. They are going to keep trying here despite all the difficulties on the ground, Bays said. The talks in Geneva came a day after European Union foreign ministers agreed to a naval mission that will be authorised to intervene to stop weapons shipments into Libya. Whoever can help in monitoring the arms embargo is welcome in whatever part of Libya, Salame said. What is needed is that member states of the UN come to the rescue in monitoring the violations of the arms embargo, otherwise it will not end, he added, pointing to air, land and sea violations. Jason Pack, founder of Libya Analysis LLC, a political affairs think-tank, said the ceasefire talks have so far been aimed to establish diplomatic momentum rather than stop fighting on the ground. You could say that [the ceasefire talks] are too early because until theres a blanket arms embargo thats actually enforced and sanctions on violaters, all of whats coming out of these talks is going to be just hot air, Pack told Al Jazeera. Countries including the United Arab Emirates and Egypt back Haftar, while the GNA is supported by Turkey. Last month, world powers agreed at a summit held in Berlin to end all meddling in the conflict and stop the flow of weapons but little has changed on the ground since then. On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the new EU mission should be cleared by the UN Security Council. Moscow, which is seen as aligned with Haftar, is one of the councils five permanent members, which means it has the power to veto any of its decisions on Libya. The LNAs offensive on Tripoli has failed to breach the GNAs defences. The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and forced some 140,000 from their homes, according to the UN. Powerful tribes loyal to Haftar have also largely stopped the countrys oil production, after they seized last month several large oil export terminals along Libyas eastern coast as well as its southern oil fields. The countrys National Oil Corporation, which dominates Libyas critical oil industry and is based in Tripoli, said losses from the oil closures have reached more than $1.6bn as of Monday. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Its true time really does fly. Eight years ago, I wrote an article entitled The Tragedy of the Dumb Church[1], which struck a nerve with a lot of people. It was circulated widely on the web and also resulted in invitations to speak on some nationally syndicated radio shows. In the article, I talked about how a friend of mine, who has a real heart for grounding youth in the faith, contacted all our community churches about conducting free-of-charge apologetics training for their young people. His gracious offer was sadly met with a talk-to-the-hand response from every local church. Now its my turn. Because I continue to see data suggesting that many people leave the church or consider it irrelevant because it fails to answer the tough questions that are thrown at it, I contacted the mega-church I go to about starting up an apologetics ministry. Because Im formally trained in apologetics and theology, I offered to spearhead it and help train a volunteer staff who could serve as a group ready to answer people inside or outside the church who struggle with questions about Christianity. I spoke with five(!) campus and connection pastors about it, and also offered to teach formal culturally relevant classes at the church where these issues could be openly discussed. This time, I was the one who got the shrug-of-the-shoulders response or simply ghosted on email. That experience got me thinking could it be that between the last time I wrote on this subject and now, things have gotten worse on this front for the church? In This Corner The fact is, its ugly out there and getting worse. Data from the Barna group has identified a number of disturbing trends that should cause all Christians concern. Gen Z teens are much less likely to assert religious identity than generations before them with a rise in espoused atheism also being witnessed. Almost half of practicing Christian Millennials (47%) believe that evangelism is wrong, and my bet is that their lack of confidence in not being able to answer hard questions from their unbelieving friends plays a role in this. Who can blame them? In the worldview ring, the opposing corner of Christianity has an impressive array of challengers that is certainly intimidating. First up is the current post-truth culture. Postmodernism was one thing, but dealing with a secular mood that acknowledges something is true and yet rejects it because it goes against their personal preferences or interferes with their social/political activism is an entirely different beast. Then we have scientism, which is the default fall back foundation for those who reject spirituality. Scientism is critical to and for the non-religious in order to, as Richard Lewontin puts it, not allow a divine foot in the door. For some, scientism devolves into something more antagonistic something I call hatetheism. Think of it as atheism with healthy doses of snideness, contempt, and a willingness to do anything needed to make religious faith appear idiotic and even dangerous. For example, Victor Stenger does just this when he says, Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings. Last but not the least is the relatively new voice of apatheism. On its opposition to Christianity, authors Paul Rowan Brian and Ben Sixsmith state: The greatest threat to Christianity is found not in the arguments of the atheist but in the assumptions of the apathetic. The danger is not a hostile reception of belief in God but an incurious indifference to the idea. Against these seemingly-powerful opponents to Christianity, who can blame Gen Z and others for being bullied into silence and inaction? Appallingly Superficial But are these four enemies of Christianity really the big, bad wolves they seem to be? I don't think so and heres why. If there are two words that perfectly define our day, they are: appallingly superficial. The whole world of digital Babylon exemplifies this perfectly in everyday life and they apply equally well to the religious landscape. For example, in discussing his exit from Christianity, one blogger leaning into hatetheism provided a list of books that motivated him to leave the faith. He concluded by saying that he hoped to read them one day. Seriously? This shallow attitude is both sad and encouraging at the same time. Sad, in that it shows how flippant some people take matters of religion. But also encouraging because when such an attitude is directly and lovingly confronted by the robust intellectualism, logic, and meaningfulness that has defined Christianity since day one, it disintegrates into the vapor that it is. These house-of-cards foundations are likely why apologist William Lane Craig says that he is oftentimes confronted by upset unbelievers at the end of his debates who assert that the only way their side did so poorly during the event was because it was a setup. However, they get really intellectually defrocked when they discover that Craigs opponents were not chosen by Craig but instead hand-picked by their own atheist group. The fact is, Christianity is indeed a robust, personally meaningful and intellectually satisfying alternative to its rivals who truly arent as ferocious as they appear. What You Crave Sometimes I get the argument from church leaders that theyre only responding to the desires of their members in not offering apologetics and similar, deeper theological education. They say no one is asking for it so it must not be wanted. Nothing concerns me more about the spiritual state of a church than when I hear such a thing, and heres why. Years ago, I met a great couple who hadnt been going to my church very long. Although they were both busy executive professionals, they were doing 3-4 different Bible studies each week and loving every minute of it. I remember them telling me, We just cant get enough! That kind of appetite is a telling sign that the person in question has truly been born again. It personifies Anselms motto for the Christian faith: faith seeking understanding, which means that a true faith in God and Christ prompts a hungering quest for deeper understanding of spiritual truths. Jonathan Edwards said in his great work, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, that a persons cravings will unveil their spiritual condition. If a professing faith doesnt seek the kind of understanding and holy affections to which Anselm and Edwards refer, then maybe it isnt a Christian faith. In other words, show me a church without a desire for learning about God and living it out, and Ill show you a church that is pregnant with unbelievers. Advice for the Dumb Church So what steps should the dumb church take? Here are a few suggestions I have for churches like mine: Ask yourself the question put forward by Charles Spurgeon back in the 1,800s: are you feeding the sheep or amusing the goats? Is your teaching making unbelievers uncomfortable and convicted or is their conscious never poked in the side with a spiritual elbow that causes them to wake up from the unbelieving state theyre in? Is there anyone on staff or are there members of the congregation that are capable of answering the tough questions that unbelievers and struggling Christians put forward? Are there ways of identifying and engaging these individuals over time until they are on solid footing? How seriously have you taken the educating and equipping of your saints? Can members of your body be regularly fed in your church or must they go outside for continued education in the things of God? Years ago, a man came up to Francis Schaeffer and asked him many deep questions about Christianity. After Schaeffer answered everything that was thrown at him, the man paused, then said: Thank you. Now I can worship God much better. By contrast, todays dumb church would likely not be of much help. Instead, it has contributed to the sad state about which A. W. Tozer spoke of in his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy: The message of this book . . . is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking and worshipping people. This she has not done deliberately, but little by little without her knowledge; and her unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic (emphasis mine). Let us all pray that todays dumb church takes the action needed to both overpower her enemies and equip her people so that our God is thought of and worshipped properly. [1] My original post was lost when Christianpost removed their blogging site, but one of the reprints of the post was copied and posted here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 11:55:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of murders in Brazil fell 21.1 percent from January to October 2019 compared with the same period in 2018, the country's Ministry of Justice and Public Security said Monday. According to the ministry, there were 32,843 murders in the first 10 months of 2019, down from 41,635 a year ago. The figures represent a preservation of 8,700 lives in the period. Other violent crimes also diminished in the same period. Larceny crimes fell 23.1 percent to 1,312, while attempted murders were down 6.5 percent to 28,269. Manslaughters following assault totaled 723, down 5.2 percent, and rapes were down 5.7 percent to 39,337. Air India employees don't have to worry about their job prospects after the national carrier goes into private hands. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri on Monday said that the successful bidder of the airline will have to retain its existing employees for a bargained time-limit so that they don't face any kind of uncertainty following privatisation. Puri said it at a function to felicitate the Air India crew which evacuated 647 Indians and seven Maldivians from Coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan. "I do not think anyone can run an airline without the people, the engineering staff, the cabin crew, the commander and all of you. There has not been any recruitment for years and therefore, there is no surplus (workforce)," he said. Also Read: Rajiv Bansal takes charge as Air India Chairman for second time The civil aviation minister added that the government will negotiate a lock-in period to retain the employees for a specific time frame with "whoever is the interested player." The civil aviation minister added that the government wants Air India to continue its operations under its own brand name, highlighting that airline's survival and success would hinge upon its manpower which would be an asset to the new owner. The government had on January 27 invited expressions of interest (EOI) for the sale of Air India, its subsidiary Air India Express along with a 50% stake sale in Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, which is a joint venture (JV) between Air India and Singapore Airport Terminal Services. Also Read: Air India cautions people as fake websites extract money, bank account details Allaying fears if the stake sale will be successful unlike the government's unlucky attempts in the past to dilute its stake in the national carrier, Puri said, "Don't be under the impression that there will be any problem. The amount of interest I am seeing (in Air India), I am reassured." The airline currently has a strength of 9,426 permanent workers, 4,201 contractual employees and around 2,867 employees on deputation from other companies as on November 1. Air India's net loss in 2018-19 is provisionally estimated to be Rs 8,556.35 crore. Also Read: Air India Sale: Employees to be given 3% shares under ESOP Queen Elizabeth II's nephew, the Earl of Snowdon, and his wife Countess of Snowdon have announced that they have agreed to divorce each other after 26 years of marriage. The earl, David Armstrong-Jones, is the son of the 93-year-old monarch's late sister Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. He and his wife Serena, who married in 1993, have two children Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones. "The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced. They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family," noted a statement from the couple on Monday evening. The announcement comes soon after the Queen's grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife Autumn made a similar announcement about their separation last week. Earl of Snowden's mother, Princess Margaret died in 2002 and his father, celebrity photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, died in 2017. The Queen was very close to her younger sister and shares a close bond with her children as well. Armstrong-Jones who is 21st in line to the throne founded his own company making bespoke furniture under his professional name, David Linley, in 1985. He has written books about furniture and home styling. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 'billionaire boys' club' behind Glencore is set to rake in more than 400million in dividends despite the mining giant posting its first loss in four years. Chief executive Ivan Glasenberg, division bosses Daniel Mate and Tor Peterson, and former executives Telis Mistakidis and Alex Beard will reap the $0.20 (15p) per share dividend announced yesterday, which is worth about 2billion overall. The tycoons, who collectively own more than a fifth of shares, are part of a close-knit group who became fantastically wealthy when Glencore floated in 2011. Windfall: Chief executive Ivan Glasenberg and other executives, will reap the $0.20 (15p) per share dividend announced yesterday, which is worth about 2bn overall The latest dividend announcment came as Glasenberg said he was speeding up preparations to promote a new generation of executives this year. The 63-year-old is expected to stand down and hand over the reins by 2023. Glasenberg, Glencore's second-biggest shareholder with a 9 per cent stake, will receive about 181.8million through the proposed dividend. Mate, who owns 3.39 per cent, will get 68.1million and Mistakidis, who has 3.36 per cent, will get 67.5million. At the same time Peterson and Beard, who both own 2.5 per cent, will get about 50million each. Finance chief Steven Kalmin, who became a multi-millionaire through the Glencore float, also stands to get 12million. The enormous payouts come after the FTSE 100 firm reported an annual loss of about 310million for 2019, its first since 2015. That was down from a profit of 2.6billion a year previously. Glencore largely blamed the drop on 2.2billion of charges it had taken over the closure of a copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the end of licences for its Chad oil operations and weak coal demand in Europe. After the announcement, shares fell 4.5 per cent, or 10.55p to 226.1p. The company's stock has already fallen by 25 per cent in the past year as it battles bribery and corruption probes by UK and US authorities over its operations in Nigeria, Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of Congo. That has increased pressure for a major leadership shake-up, after Glasenberg had previously said he would go within five years of 2018. Yesterday the chief executive, who has been in charge since 2002, said he wanted a 'smooth generation change'. Of the original 'billionaire boys' club', the long-time copper boss Mistakidis retired in 2018, while head of oil Beard stepped down last June. Mate remains boss of the zinc division, however, and Peterson is still in charge of coal, with Glasenberg noting they were 'the last of the older crew left'. Glasenberg added: 'Once the new generation is in place and ready to move on, then it will also be the time for me to move on.' Asked if he could step down this year, he replied: 'Don't know. Let's first get these other management changes in place and we'll move from there.' Yoo E-hwa, the eldest daughter of the late architect Jun Itami and director of ITM Yoo Ehwa Architects Co., speaks during a sign hanging ceremony Monday, recognizing her father as the official designer of the Gyeongju Tower in North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo Japan-born Korean architect Jun Itami (1937-2011) is now officially recognized as the official designer of the Gyeongju Tower at the Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, North Gyeongsang Province, after 12 years of legal battles. Yoo E-hwa, Itami's eldest daughter and architect-director of ITM Yoo Ehwa Architects Co., said she was glad to finally have her father recognized for his design. "The legal wrangling over a decade was not easy, but I am happy to take part in this ceremony. I hope the Gyeongju Tower will be remembered as a structure that represents Itami's architectural philosophy," Yoo said. The shape of the nine-story wooden tower of the Hwangnyongsa Temple is embodied in the glass tower. It has been a landmark of the ancient capital city since completed in 2007, but there has been controversy over plagiarism since its design was similar to that which Itami submitted to an open competition. Itami, whose real name is Yoo Dong-ryong, did not give up his Korean nationality while mainly working in Japan. He is known for incorporating elements from nature and the environment in his architectural designs. Since he retained his Korean citizenship throughout his life, Itami was not able to take part in national architectural competitions in Japan. So when Gyeongju City opened the competition for its signature tower in 2004, Itami gladly submitted the design, which placed second. The Gyeongju Tower, which embodies the shape of the nine-story wooden tower in Hwangnyong Temple, at Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park in North Gyeongsang Province / Yonhap New York, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "DC Power Supplies Market by Type, Output Power, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05863935/?utm_source=GNW Furthermore, the growing wireless communication & infrastructure and aerospace & defense segment in countries such as the US & Canada. Also, a lot of Chinese EV manufacturers such as AIC, FAW, Dongfeng, and Chana increase the demand for DC power supplies in the automotive segment, with the government initiatives and large manufacturers in the countries such as India, South Korea, China, and Japan give a boost to the production and development activities which might increase the global DC power supplies demand The AC-DC segment is projected to dominate the DC power supplies industry during the forecast period The AC-DC segment is anticipated to constitute the majority of the DC power supplies market share.AC-DC type of power supplies is an electronic device that receives an AC power input, rectifies it to varying DC voltage and eventually passes it through an automatic filter to obtain constant DC voltage. These power supplies are suitable for testing various electronic devices used in end-users such as consumer electronics, medical & healthcare, automotive, wireless communication & infrastructure, and avionics & defense. The rise in demand for AC-DC power supplies for various testing & measurement applications of medical & industrial equipment is expected to drive this segment in the DC power supplies market. The automotive segment is projected to dominate the DC power supplies market during the forecast period The automotive sector is predicted to dominate the DC power supplies industry based on its application and is majorly used for testing of electronic components used in the automotive industry such as electric cars, and hybrid & electric vehicles. Power battery testing, fuel cell testing, AC/DC charging station, DC-DC converter testing, on-board chargers & charging interface testing, and high power battery testing are some of the areas wherein automotive electronic testing is done using DC power supplies, which is likely to upsurge the DC power supplies market. North America is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2024 The North American region is currently the largest market for DC power supplies, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. US accounted for the maximum share in North America in 2018 and is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2024. Expansion of wireless network & the advancements in medical equipment in the US along with stringent energy efficiency regulations and standards for power electronic products in the US and Canada are likely to contribute to the growth of the DC power supplies market. Breakdown of Primaries: In-depth interviews were conducted with key industry participants, subject-matter experts, C-level executives of key market players, and industry consultants, among other experts, to obtain and verify critical qualitative and quantitative information as well as to assess future market prospects. The distribution of primary interviews is as follows: By Company Type: Tier I65%, Tier II24%, and Tier III11% By Designation: C-level30%, Managers25%, and Others*45% By Region: Asia Pacific33%, North America27%, Europe20%, Middle East & Africa13%, South America7%, *Others include sales managers, marketing managers, product managers, and product engineers. Note: The tier of the companies is defined based on their total revenue as of 2018; Tier 1: USD 1 billion, Tier 2: from USD 1 billion to USD 500 million, and Tier 3: The global DC power supply market is dominated by a few major players that have an extensive regional presence. The leading players include the AMETEK (US), Keysight Technologies (US), TDK Lambda (Japan), Chroma ATE (Taiwan), Good Will Instrument (Taiwan), Rohde & Schwarz (Germany), and B&K Precision (US), Tektronix (US), and MEAN WELL (Taiwan). Research Coverage: The report defines, describes, and forecasts the DC power supplies market based on type, output power, application, and region.It also offers detailed qualitative and quantitative analyses of the market. The report provides a comprehensive review of the major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.It also covers various important aspects of the market. These include the analysis of the competitive landscape, market dynamics, future trends, and market estimates, in terms of value, in the DC power supplies industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05863935/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ (Photo : Screenshot From Yahoo Singapore Official Facebook Page) Singapore against Covid-19 Singapore's high standards when it comes to precautionary measures have been able to save them three times more cases of Covid-19 than what they are currently experiencing. Harvard University has put together a thorough research that has supported this statement and has even suggested that if Singapore's safety measures are being met to the exact standard around the world, there would be a smaller risk of infection. Singapore's safety standards have been kept at an optimum to ensure civilian safety According to reports, the rest of the world is only able to detect 38% of what Singapore is capable of detecting. Although this statement has not yet been solidified, it is highly likely that this statement has some truth to it because the infection rate of Singapore is at an all-time low compared to neighboring countries. Read Also: Should We Trust A China Research Showing the Number of Coronavirus Covid-19 Cases is Declining? The epidemiological surveillance of Singapore is at a high standard to ensure that contract-tracing can be done by mapping their well observed data gathered by high standards of detection. Treatment in Singapore has already proven itself capable of a high success rate but what makes this possible is the intent resources and effort spent by Singapore itself to detect and identify any slight chances of this Virus as it travels from one host to another. Singapore has been strong despite neighboring countries having problems with this virus The World Health Organization (WHO) has already pinpointed 191 territories around the world with aggregated data but it seems that even though Singapore is in the hot zone, Singapore is still very well kept and the safety standards of its citizens are met with great action. Naturally, the culture of Singapore is known around the world to be much disciplined. This first world country may be the smallest country in South-East Asia but it has proven its strength in dealing with its internal matters. Read Also: Coronavirus Pathogens May Linger from Flushing Without Closing the Lid Although an attributing factor could be that the population of Singapore is drastically smaller than other countries, it is still very well respected for being able to cater to the health and safety of its citizens with the full force of their scientists and doctors. Brilliance lurks around Singapore and the Singaporeans have managed to put their great minds to good use. The relationship between Singapore and China has made their detection methods even more amazing Because of Singapore's strong business relationship with China, there is a given expectation that they would experience a bigger casualty when it comes to infection of the Covid-19 but it is not the case. Singapore is known as the perfect middle man and has survived and prospered economically because of how they treat business and relationship with other countries which pose a huge risk to them when it comes to infection but Singapore is still very capable of handling themselves. The hygienic culture of Singapore has also contributed to their defense against the spread of infection There are a few laws that are strictly being followed in Singapore like how it is illegal to spit just anywhere that have contributed to a culture that does not easily spread contamination. In fact, hygienic practices are being highly imposed in well-populated areas around Singapore. Singapore's Standards have Prevented Massive Covid-19 Breach because of their culture, efforts, and the help of technology. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Foundation is on the front lines in fighting to find loving, adoptive homes for children in foster care who are often overlooked, said Bieszczat. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national non-profit public charity, today welcomed Julie Bieszczat as a member of its board of trustees, serving a three-year term. Bieszczat is President of Barney Enterprises Management Services, which operates 11 Wendys restaurants across Indiana. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is on the front lines in fighting to find loving, adoptive homes for children in foster care who are often overlooked, said Bieszczat. Im grateful for the opportunity to serve such an important cause. Bieszczat joined Barney Enterprises in 2007, after an 11-year career with Delta Faucet Company in Carmel, Indiana. She was promoted to President of Barney in 2012. Julie is a skilled, hard-working and thoughtful business leader, with a passion for giving back to her community, said Mary Schell, Chief Public Affairs Officer for The Wendys Company and chair of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoptions board of trustees. She brings a valuable perspective to the board. Through its signature program, Wendys Wonderful Kids, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption provides funding to adoption agencies to hire recruiters who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. A rigorous, five-year evaluation revealed that the model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings. To date, more than 475 Wendys Wonderful Kids recruiters have found adoptive homes for more than 9,500 children in foster care across North America. Im excited to have Julies leadership and experience on the board, said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. She will be an important voice in guiding our work on behalf of the tens of thousands of children in foster care who are waiting for a forever family. Bieszczat earned a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University. She lives in Crown Point, Indiana. About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 155,000 children waiting in North Americas foster care systems. Created by Wendys founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit https://www.davethomasfoundation.org. Downing Street has been accused of betraying Britains most fundamental constitutional values over a deportation flight to Jamaica. The High Court heard Boris Johnson was reportedly furious over a Court of Appeal order that temporarily blocked the removal of half the offenders on board last week. The charter flight was due to depart for Jamaica with around 50 passengers, but campaigners launched a legal challenge amid concern that mobile phone outages prevented some deportees from accessing legal advice. The Court of Appeal ordered the Home Office not to remove anyone who did not have access to a functioning non-O2 sim card before 4 February, causing 25 people to be taken off the flight. Mr Johnsons chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, allegedly described the courts intervention as the perfect symbol of the British states dysfunction. A barrister representing Detention Action, a charity which supports immigration detainees, said the government attacked the order as allowing convicted criminals to escape deportation. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty Chris Buttler, representing the charity, said those criticisms were misplaced, adding: First, this case is not, and never has been, about the merits of deporting the individuals concerned. It is about the ancient constitutional right of access to justice. Second, it has been the duty of the English courts to uphold the right of access to justice since at least the Magna Carta of 1215. That is their function. To contend that this is dysfunctional is a betrayal of our most fundamental constitutional values. Mr Buttler said Detention Actions challenge centred on the right of access to lawyers, and was an example of the judicial review process working as it should. It is understandable that the government was disappointed, he told the High Court on Tuesday. But any government worth its salt appreciates that judicial review is a cornerstone of our constitution, and disappointment when results go against you does not justify an attack on the constitution or threats to dismantle it. As well as the mobile phone signal problems affecting Colnbrook and Harmondsworth detention centres since January, there were concerns that some of the planned deportees came to the UK as young children and have family ties to this country. Home Office policy states that detainees being removed by charter flight must be given a minimum of five working days to enable them to seek legal advice. Mr Buttler said evidence had emerged in correspondence with the Home Office that a number of detainees were not given new sim cards in adequate time. Man who has been in UK since age 11 and has British baby set to be deported on Jamaica charter flight Detention Action also said landlines at the detention centres were not a good enough alternative due to long queues, limited availability and a lack of privacy. The court heard the charity wrote to the Home Office to ask for evidence it had complied with the Court of Appeals order and for more information about the steps taken to address the mobile phone issues. The Home Office now has until 28 February to respond to Detention Actions case and, if the charity is satisfied with the answers, the legal challenge will be resolved without need for any further court hearings. David Manknell, representing the Home Office, told the court the matters raised were disputed and the case was now academic as the flight has departed. The government previously described the 50 people intended to be deported as serious or persistent foreign criminals who had been convicted of crimes including rape, violence and drug offences. A further eight people, who are having their cases reviewed by the Home Office after bringing individual legal actions, were also not deported and the plane eventually left for Jamaica last Tuesday with 17 people on board. Speaking outside court after the hearing, Detention Actions director Bella Sankey said she hoped the Court of Appeals order does give the Home Office some pause for thought in terms of how it goes about detaining and removing people. She added: Access to justice is fundamental, it is an ancient English right it is not a new, faddy human rights innovation, it is one of the oldest rights in our constitution. Additional reporting by PA When AMC Networks, the home of such hits as The Walking Dead and Killing Eve, hired the architecture firm The Switzer Group to renovate its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, it had the designers eliminate some private offices and add focus rooms, some of which had walls upholstered in sound-absorbing fabric. It has taken some employees time to get used to the new setup. I would see people on their phone pacing the halls, said Thomas King, the vice president for real estate, facilities and security at AMC, who oversaw the renovation. I would tell them, Go to a focus room. Some companies are tailoring their spaces to even more specific needs. In Chicago, at the headquarters of Gogo, the in-flight internet provider, a prayer and wellness room is outfitted with an ablution station that can be used by Muslims who practice foot washing before praying. Lactation rooms, also known as mothers rooms, are in part a response to legislative mandates. A 2010 amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act requires that companies of 50 or more employees provide a private place for new mothers to pump milk during the day. In recent years, states have also passed legislation strengthening the rights of nursing mothers. The rooms being designed for them are typically equipped with comfortable seating, outlets for plugging in pumps, refrigerators for storing milk and, sometimes, sinks for washing hands and equipment. Two Trees Management, a New York real estate firm, added mothers rooms to three of its Brooklyn office buildings last year in response to requests from tenants. In two of the buildings, the company converted storage rooms for the spaces; in the third, it used part of an office. The mothers rooms have been popular among companies renting small offices that lack the space to provide such rooms for their employees, said Elizabeth Bueno, the director of leasing at Two Trees. And they have become another feature, like roof decks and bike-storage rooms, that the company can promote when touring prospective tenants. [February 18, 2020] Saskatoon Police Service Renews Agreement with Draganfly Marking Twelve Years of Continued Support Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY) (OTCQB: DFLYF) (FSE: 3U8) (Draganfly or the Company), an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer within the commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and unmanned vehicle sectors, today announced that the Saskatoon Police Service have renewed their support and service agreement with Draganfly through 2020. Draganfly and the Saskatoon Police have been collaborating since 2008 on the use of RPAS in emergency services applications. During this relationship spanning more than a decade, Draganfly has supplied UAV flight services, hardware, and consulting to the Saskatoon Police Service while gaining invaluable feedback and insight into police operations. With the renewal of this support contract, Draganfly will continue to support the Saskatoon Police Services drone operations through December 2020. The Saskatoon Police utilize drone technology for numerous investigations including forensics data collection at severe and fatal vehicle accidents as well as homicide and violent crime scenes. Draganfly assists with UAV operations, while police inspectors direct the scene and data collection. Draganfly is able to efficiently capture the entire scene allowing the Saskatoon Police Service to create orthorectified 3D models and maps using photogrammetry software to take accurate measurements of the scene. This technology helps to speed up the data collection process. Rather than needing to take accurate and detailed measurements from the ground, the investigative team can rely on aerial imagery and the 3D model to fill in the gaps which can save critical and valuable time. Our investigators here at the Saskatoon Police Service have benefited greatly from our ongoing relationship with Draganfly. This UAV technology has assisted us in gathering important scene evidence for very serious investigations in an efficient and cost-effective way. Ultimately, weve been able to improve our collision and crime scene analyses and use the unique drone-only vantage point to enhance the articulation of critical evidence in court, said Staff Sergeant Nolan Berg of the Saskatoon Police Service. Draganfly has a distinguished history in working with public safety and police service organizations. In 2013 a UAV made by Draganfly was recognized for its role in locating a man who went missing in May 2013. Images from a camera on the craft led searchers to a man who had become lost in a wooded area after being in a vehicle accident. It was the first time in the world a drone aircraft was used to save someone's life and that drone now sits in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. "We are extremely pleased by the renewal of this agreement as it continues to show the confidence hat the Saskatoon Police has in Draganflys leading technology and the ability for that technology to make a difference in the community. said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. About the Saskatoon Police Service Established in 1903, the Saskatoon Police Service is the municipal police service for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, serving and protecting a community of over 270,000 in western Canada. As part of the community, the SPS provides a service based on excellence to ensure a safe and secure environment. The dedication of our staff, coupled with innovation and technology, establish the SPS as a leader in policing across the country. About Draganfly Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY; OTCQB: DFLYF; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge, UVS and software that revolutionizes the way people do business. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 21 years, Draganfly is an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer within the commercial UAV and UVS space, serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections and mapping and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money and lives. For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com . For additional investor information, visit https://www.thecse.com/en/listings/technology/draganfly-inc , https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DFLYF/overview or https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/aktie/draganfly-inc . Media Contact Arian Hopkins email: [email protected] Company Contact Phone: 1-306-955-9907 Email: [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward looking statements and certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, continue, plans or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the inherent risks involved in the general securities markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The CSE has not in any way passed upon the merits of the listing of the common shares of Draganfly and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Listing of the common shares of Draganfly is subject to satisfaction of the listing requirements of the CSE, including customary deliverables in satisfaction of the conditional approval. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Mail.apexcollege.edu.np scored 41 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 20 May 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the mail.apexcollege homepage on Twitter + the total number of mail.apexcollege followers (if mail.apexcollege has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the mail.apexcollege homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the mail.apexcollege homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if mail.apexcollege has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the mail.apexcollege homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the mail.apexcollege homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Apex College DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS google, apex college, college, chrome, google apps experience, welcome to, to your The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER GSE OPERATIVE SYSTEM Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. The language of mail.apexcollege.edu.np as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for mail.apexcollege.edu.np by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The EU today suggested the Elgin Marbles will be the price of a trade deal - as Michel Barnier dismissed the UK's call for a Canada-style agreement. The bloc's post-Brexit negotiating mandate is being extended to include a demand to 'address issues relating to the return or restitution of unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin'. The ask is believed to have been added at the request of Greece, Italy and Cyprus - and indicates that Brussels intends to play hardball. But No 10 hit back tonight, with a source saying: 'This is just not happening and it shows a troubling lack of seriousness about the negotiations on the part of the EU.' Meanwhile, Mr Barnier told reporters in the Belgian capital that the UK's position was 'not like Canada', after Boris Johnson signalled he wants the same terms as the north American country. Mr Barnier swiped at the 'polemic' coming out of Britain, saying: 'We have proposed a trade agreement with a country that has a very particular and unique close geographical proximity not like Canada, not like South Korea and not like Japan. Very particular.' The tough stance set the stage for a huge battle when negotiations get under way formally next month. Greek diplomats told Bloomberg the clause on 'cultural objects' was to do with smuggling of artefacts, but another other official suggested it was a reference to the ancient Greek statues in the British Museum, which were taken from the Parthenon in Athens at the start of the 19th century. Michel Barnier (pictured with Sadiq Khan in Brussels today) told reporters in the Belgian capital that the UK's position was 'not like Canada' The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that were mostly created by Phidias and his assistants Boris Johnson (pictured) signalled he wants the same trade terms with the EU as Canada Mr Johnson is already facing the threat that Spain will try to use the negotiations to reopen questions over Gibraltar. Many Parthenon sculptures have been housed in the British Museum since 1816 after they were bought by the government from Lord Elgin. Greece has long campaigned for their repatriation, and some UK politicians including Jeremy Corbyn have backed returning them. But the government insists they were purchased legitimately and have been painstakingly preserved in the UK. There have been warnings that giving back the artefacts would trigger requests from dozens of other countries for the repatriation of artworks in British museums. The sculptures used to be on the Parthenon at the top of the Acropolis in Athens. A LONG-RUNNING HISTORICAL DISPUTE: WHAT ARE THE ELGIN MARBLES? The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that were mostly created by Phidias and his assistants. The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803. In 1801, the Earl claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Parthenon. As the Acropolis was still an Ottoman military fort, Elgin required permission to enter the site. His agents subsequently removed half of the surviving sculptures, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum. The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost of around 70,000. The sculptures were shipped to Britain, but in Greece, the Scots aristocrat was accused of looting and vandalism. They were bought by the British Government in 1816 and placed in the British Museum. They still stand on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. Greece has sought their return from the British Museum through the years, to no avail. The authenticity of Elgin's permit to remove the sculptures from the Parthenon has been widely disputed, especially as the original document has been lost. Many claim it was not legal. However, others argue that since the Ottomans had controlled Athens since 1460, their claims to the artefacts were legal and recognisable. Advertisement They were removed by Elgin between 1799 and 1810 after he received permission from the Ottoman empire, which ruled Greece at the time. Elgin claimed he was worried about damage being done to the marbles, but their removal was criticised at the time by figures including Lord Byron. According to a House of Commons briefing paper from 2017, the UK government's position is that 'issues relating to the ownership and management of the Parthenon sculptures are matters for the trustees of the British Museum'. Last night Mr Johnson's Brexit negotiator David Frost said the UK would rather walk away from talks than accept anything that interfered with 'the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country'. The EU is insisting that there can be no 'divergence' from its rules and regulations in areas including financial services and agriculture. But Mr Frost used a speech Brussels to warn that the hardline position against this already espoused by the Prime Minister was not just posturing. He made clear the UK wanted a Canada-style trade deal. But he added that the UK is 'ready for an 'Australia-style' arrangement, with no comprehensive trade deal, if those terms are not granted. He pointed out that if the UK and EU roles were reversed and the EU was forced to follow Westminster laws 'democratic consent would snap dramatically and finally'. Mr Frost told students and academics at the Universite libre de Bruxelles: 'We bring to the negotiations not some clever tactical positioning but the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country. 'It is central to our vision that we must have the ability to set laws that suit us to claim the right that every other non-EU country in the world has. 'So to think that we might accept EU supervision on so called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing. 'It isn't a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure it is the point of the whole project. 'That's also why we will not extend the transition beyond the end of this year. At that point we recover our political and economic independence in full why would we want to postpone it? 'In short, we only want what other independent countries have.' Frost described how he started his early career in the EU hub Brussels as a euro-enthusiast but soon became disillusioned with the bloc's institutions. He added that it was perfectly possible to be both an economic competitor and political partner with the EU in the future. He said the UK was 'not asking for anything special', just a normal trade agreement that the EU has with other countries around the world. His defiant speech came after French foreign minister Jean-Yves le Drian predicted a bruising battle on a post-Brexit deal. David Frost said the UK would rather walk away from talks than accept anything that interfered with 'the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country' Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, he made clear that Brussels will defend its interests when negotiations begin next month. 'I think that on trade issues and the mechanism for future relations, which we are going to start on, we are going to rip each other apart,' he said. 'But that is part of negotiations, everyone will defend their own interests.' Mr le Drian, a close ally of president Emmanuel Macron, is the latest senior EU figure to warn that the negotiations will be difficult. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Mr Barnier have both cast doubt on Boris Johnson's aim to reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year when the Brexit transition period runs out. The EU has repeatedly warned Britain cannot expect to enjoy continued 'high-quality' market access if it insists on diverging from EU social and environmental standards. There is expected to be a particularly tough fight over fishing rights, with the EU insisting continued access to UK waters must form part of any agreement. The bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the EU's top priorities are fishing, security and maintaining fair trading conditions for European companies. A fishing boat is pictured above in the English channel London Mayor Sadiq Khan demands Britons get the right to 'opt in' for EU citizenship despite Brexit Sadiq Khan has begged the EU to grant pro-Remain Britons 'associate citizenship' of the bloc so they can continue to enjoy the benefits of free movement despite Brexit. The Mayor of London travelled to Brussels today for crunch talks with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. He is calling on the UK and EU to discuss his plans when the two sides sit down in the coming months for negotiations on the terms of their future relationship. Mr Khan argued his plan would help reconcile Leave and Remain voters and help pro-EU voters who 'still feel and want to be European'. However, the EU will almost certainly dismiss the call because it is likely to fall into the category of 'cherry picking' - wanting some of the advantages of membership without taking on all of the obligations. Mr Khan tweeted: 'It's no secret I wanted to remain in the EU, but I'm determined to ensure London thrives after Brexit. 'Today I'm in Brussels, meeting senior EU leaders to fight for a deal that protects London's economy, and the rights of all Londoners.' The Mayor's 'associate citizenship' plan would allow British voters who opt in to keep many of the rights they held before Brexit - including the right to move freely between EU member states. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan met with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels today The pair discussed Mr Khan's proposals to allow pro-Remain Britons to be given 'associate citizenship' of the EU He said: 'Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesn't mean our country's future can't be closely linked with the rest of Europe. 'The Prime Minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European. 'There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens. 'As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship.' Mr Khan met Mr Barnier for talks as well as David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament. Mr Khan also met with former chairman of the European Parliament's Brexit steering group Guy Verhofstadt who has previously called for 'associate citizenship' to be offered to the UK Mr Khan said the meeting with Mr Sassoli was 'productive' and it is 'vital that we work together to retain close ties after Brexit'. Mr Sassoli described the sit down as a 'fruitful exchange' as he said protecting citizens' rights is a 'key priority' for the European Parliament. The mayor also met with Guy Verhofstadt, the former chairman of the European Parliament's Brexit steering group, who has previously advocated a similar plan. Mr Verhofstadt is urging Brussels decision makers to be open to the concept of 'associate citizenship'. 'The Maastricht Treaty created the concept of "European citizenship" and I am in favour of using this now as a basis for people who want to keep their link with Europe,' he said. 'It is the first time in the history of our union that a member state leaves, but it is not because the UK government wanted exit that individual citizens have to lose their connection with the continent.' However, Mr Khan's plan was immediately attacked by his London mayor challengers Rory Stewart and Shaun Bailey. Mr Khan also met president of the European Parliament David Sassoli. The mayor's proposals would see UK citizens able to keep free movement rights despite Brexit Mr Stewart, who is standing as an independent candidate at the contest in May this year, said 'associate citizenship' was 'only a sound bite' and the 'policy cannot work'. Mr Bailey, the Tory candidate, slammed it as a 'gimmick' and told Mr Khan to 'focus on his actual responsibilities'. The UK left the EU on January 31 this year and the two sides are now in a standstill transition period lasting until the end of 2020 during which they will try to hammer out the terms of their future relationship. Freedom of movement will continue to apply to the UK for the duration of the transition period with the UK's new border control system due to be rolled out in January 2021. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 17, 2020 New York's Attorney General has decided not to appeal a trial judge's decision to approve T-Mobile's $26 billion merger with Sprint. We hope to work with all the parties to ensure that consumers get the best pricing and service possible, that networks are built out throughout our state, and that good-paying jobs are created here in New York, Attorney General Letitia James stated Sunday. James had led a coalition of 13 attorneys general that challenged the proposed merger of the country's third and fourth largest carriers, arguing the deal would lead to price hikes and worse service for consumers. Other attorneys general, including Xavier Becerra of California, are still weighing their options. U.S. District Court Judge Victor Marrero in the Southern District of New York rejected the attorneys general arguments last week, ruling that the deal is not reasonably likely to substantially lessen competition in the wireless industry. advertisement advertisement Regulators at the U.S. Department of Justice approved the acquisition last year, but only on the condition that T-Mobile and Sprint to divest some assets to satellite provider Dish Network, and allow Dish to use T-Mobile's network for seven years. The Department of Justice argued those conditions would enable Dish to effectively replace Sprint as the country's fourth largest carrier. The Federal Communications Commission also voted last year to approve the deal, on the theory that it would lead to expanded 5G coverage. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai noted at the time that the companies had promised to create a 5G network that will extend to rural parts of the country -- many of which currently lack high-speed broadband access -- and to avoid price hikes for three years. But consumer advocacy groups and other critics questioned whether Dish could effectively become a fourth major wireless carrier. Sprint is a significantly stronger competitor today than a new fourth competitor could be for the foreseeable future, Phillip Berenbroick, policy director at Public Knowledge stated last year. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who criticized the merger, noted last year that the Justice Department could have ensured there were four wireless competitors by simply blocking the deal. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cleveland likes to beat itself up; often the statistics support doing so. Even in good times, jobs growth trails the rest of the country. Population has been largely stagnant regionally for a half-century while booming many places elsewhere. And some corporate giants like Standard Oil, TRW and National City are no more. But heres a story less often told: Cleveland remains an economic force. The gross domestic product of Cuyahoga County tops the total GDP of 13 states. And Ohios big urban areas are the drivers that make the states economy larger than all but 20 countries in the world. Cleveland.com today launches Building from Strength a series built on research being conducted at Cleveland State University to highlight the regions still mighty (surprising to some) economic base with an eye toward the future. The idea is simple: Picking the right path forward means understanding the strengths in hand. Cuyahoga County's GDP is bigger than that of 13 states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Richey Piiparinen, director of urban theory and analytics at CSUs College of Urban Affairs, dug into the first-ever release of county-level gross domestic product data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and found a compelling case that Cleveland still wields economic power. It was totally a surprise, Piiparinen said of Cuyahogas GDP, which is the value of all goods and services produced. When you look at the numbers and see that Cuyahoga County is the top 1 percentile (nationally), its a myth that middle America has been left behind. In an upcoming report, Piiparinen will show: * Cuyahoga County with a GDP of $87.7 billion ranks 31st among 3,108 counties nationally, a standing more significant when one considers that New York City includes three of the counties ahead of Cuyahoga. * Cuyahogas economy is roughly the size of the entire states of New Mexico or Hawaii. * Cuyahoga has the largest economy in Ohio, ahead of Franklin ($86.5 billion), Hamilton ($67 billion) and all others in the state. * Ohios economy, primarily because of its big metro areas, is larger than the entire economies of countries such as Sweden, Austria and Ireland. Six of Ohio's 88 counties account for more than half of Ohio's GDP, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Ohio and its big cities have assets, and its a fact that cannot be lost in bemoaning of the past, or in a fretting about the future, Piiparinen writes in the draft of the upcoming paper: Ohio: The Future of Growth. The point is that Cleveland, the metro region and Ohio still have economic strength that others would envy. On a statewide scale, Piiparinen argues, Ohio needs to view Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati jointly as an economic force, even if the states biggest cities are many miles apart. Together, the three counties with the three biggest cities have a GDP of $242.2 billion or 40% of Ohios total. Extending to nearby counties, the three metro areas account for more than half of Ohios economy. This graphic from Cleveland State University illustrates the size of the contribution to Ohio's total private-sector GDP from the three largest counties - Cuyahoga in the center, Hamilton at right and Franklin on the bottom. The county-level GDP data, released for the first time in December, builds upon what already was known from annual reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: the big counties disproportionately drive Ohio jobs and wages. The three counties account for 28% of Ohios population, but are home to 37% of the jobs and 42% of the wage income, cleveland.com found from data covering 2018. Among Ohios 88 counties, those with the highest average wages are the big three - Hamilton ($60,140), Cuyahoga ($57,271) and Franklin ($56,374) - plus Union ($58,518) with its Honda base. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. Read previous stories Median home values in Cuyahoga County; plus tax bills on the typical house in each city, village Living to the mid-80s could become the new normal, new life expectancy projections say Donald Trump vs. Barack Obama on jobs, and jobs growth under other presidents With the new snow, see how this winter now measures up to whats usual in Cleveland Bengaluru: The outbreak of the Covid-19 (formerly called the coronavirus) virus has had a direct impact on air passenger traffic, resulting in a drastic dip in the number of travellers from the Benglauru International Airport (BIA) to Southeast Asian countries. Since the Covid-19 spread its tentacles to Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of travellers flying to these countries. A large proportion of air passengers have cancelled their flights. IndiGo, Air India and Air Asia are the major airlines flying to these countries and are reporting a drop in passenger traffic. Vishal Nahar, director of Suraksha Holidays, said that there has been a 30-40 per cent drop in bookings to Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Thailand. Flights from Kolkata and Mumbai to China have stopped completely, he added. Tourist arrivals at Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, mainland China and Macau will take a significant hit as result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, with visitor arrivals this year expected to dip about 25-30 percent. In the travel trade, it is unusual to see no enquiries for bookings during February. Usually, travellers plan their itinerary well in advance to take advantage of better deals and accommodation discounts. The coronavirus outbreak has made holiday travelers look to European countries instead, Nahar added. April-May being the vacation season, they are extremely important months for the tourism sector. If the situation doesnt improve soon, the sector will take a beating, he said. Vishwa Alampur from MakyMyTrip, Koramangala told Deccan Chronicle that there have been absolutely no enquiries for Southeast Asian countries this season. President Trump pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. on Tuesday for a conviction related to an attempt to win a Louisiana riverboat casino license, capping a long rise from ignominy for the championship-winning football mogul. DeBartolo, 73, pleaded guilty in federal court in 1998 to a felony charge of failing to report that Louisianas former governor extorted $400,000 from him to win the license. DeBartolo paid $1 million in penalties, was sentenced to two years of probation and agreed to testify against former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his son, Stephen, in connection with the case that captured national attention in the late 1990s. The FBI said DeBartolo agreed to pay Edwards, a longtime family friend, $400,000 in crisp, new $100 bills to win a riverboat gambling license to be awarded by Louisianas gaming commission. DeBartolo got the license but later withdrew from the project when he was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating the deal. Edwin Edwards was convicted in 1999 of 17 counts of racketeering, extortion, fraud and conspiracy, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Stephen Edwards and three other people were also convicted in the scheme. DeBartolo ran the 49ers from the mid-1970s until his conviction, lavishly rewarding his players with pay and praise, as well as hiring the legendary coach Bill Walsh. His stewardship was largely credited with creating the dynasty that won five Super Bowls, but he was forced to give up team ownership after the scandal in 2000 to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York. Several former 49ers lobbied Trump to pardon DeBartolo, including Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice. Speaking outside the White House after meeting Tuesday with the president, Rice said DeBartolo was the main reason why we won so many Super Bowls. So, today is a great day for him. Rice was joined by former 49ers players Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley, as well as fellow Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who was a running back for the Cleveland Browns. Asked what Trump said to the group, Rice did not directly answer. I take my hat off to Donald Trump for what he did, Rice said. The White House said in a statement that DeBartolo did not allow his conviction to define his life. He remained a generous philanthropist and passionate supporter of numerous charitable causes ... and anti-gang violence initiatives. His exceptional compassion and warmth define his character to this day. The pardon was the culmination of a long road back for DeBartolo after a deeply embarrassing saga that shook up the football world and the 49ers power structure. DeBartolos downfall began in 1997, when federal investigators issued a flurry of subpoenas in the casino scandal. The FBI had been trying to catch the cheerfully womanizing, wise-cracking Edwards nicknamed The Silver Zipper after numerous accusations of corruption throughout his four terms as Louisiana governor, and DeBartolo gave investigators the opening they sought. When he copped a plea and testified against Edwards, helping put his friend in prison, he avoided jail time but wound up an outcast from the football world he had cultivated for decades. Following his conviction, DeBartolo stayed mostly out of the public eye for a dozen years, but he began appearing making public appearances with the club around the time the 49ers made it back to the Super Bowl in 2013. The team lost, but prior to that game DeBartolo got to serve as an honorary co-captain of the 49ers when they beat the Atlanta Falcons to win the NFC championship. Three years later, DeBartolo was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. A year after that, DeBartolo and Brown were among several co-hosts for a Pre-Inauguration Day Party in Washington, D.C., the day before Trump was sworn into office. Those being honored at the bash included Trumps then-lawyer, the now-disgraced Michael Cohen, and former reality TV star Omarosa Manigault, who was an aide to Trump before leaving amid a falling-out with the president. DeBartolos comeback came as little surprise to those who watched his fall from grace and gradual return to the spotlight. When Eddie DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998, he was in disgrace and it cost him ownership of his beloved 49ers, which was possibly the worst imaginable result for him, said Tyler Bridges, whose book Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards detailed the casino caper. But hes always been a popular guy, and very generous with his money. So, Im ultimately not surprised that he was able to rehabilitate himself and win the pardon. Hes a very likable owner, and his former players still love him. Kevin Fagan and Trapper Byrne are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com, tbyrne@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @KevinChron, @trappperbyrne New Delhi: With the lockdown in China caused by deadly coronavirus getting prolonged, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday that the government will announce contingency measures after assessing the impact of the epidemic on the Indian economy. The minister met industry representatives to review the situation following concerns were raised about the prospective shortage of certain goods and a resultant increase in prices after imports from China were stopped after the outbreak of the epidemic in the neighbouring country. Addressing media persons later, Ms Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaires of different ministries on Wednesday and announce steps to deal with the (emerging) situation in consultation with the Prime Ministers Office. Industry bodies have cautioned the government about the impact of disruption in supply chain on the Indian economy, who-se annual growth has alre-ady slowed down to a 10-year-low at five per cent. We were informed that there is a possibility of massive price hikes due to shift of import of raw material from China to Middle East or Europe. Almost all industry bodies have cautioned us about price hikes on plants, machinery, petrochemicals due to congestion at the Eastern Indian ports, said the source. The minister, however, ruled out any concerns about price rise. There are no concerns about price rise so far due to Coronavirus and it is too early to talk about the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on the Make in India initiative, she said. Ms Sitharaman also denied reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment. However, there could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries. India Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) secretary general Sudarshan Jain called the situation grim and said that the pharma industry has adequate stocks of active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs) only for three months. China accounted for 67.56 per cent of total imports of bulk drugs, which are used to make medicine in the country. Most of the Indian industry is seeking a reduction in the quarantine period for people and consignments coming from China. President Donald Trump acknowledged his tweets make Attorney General Bill Barr's job 'harder' even as he defended his right to tweet about ongoing criminal cases like the one involving his longtime advisor Roger Stone. 'I do make his job harder, yes, I do agree with that. I think that's true,' Trump said Tuesday, speaking just hours after opening up a morning tweet storm despite Barr's specific admonition for him to back off from criminal cases. He lauded his under-fire attorney general who is suffering from an effort to try to press him to resign. 'I do make his job harder, yes, I do agree with that, President Trump said of Attorney General Bill Barr 'He's a very straight shooter. We have a great attorney general and he's working very hard. He's working against a lot of people that don't want to see good things happen, in my opinion,' Trump said, casting Barr as an ally against people he deems rogue prosecutors. 'That's my opinion, not his opinion. You'll have to ask what his opinion is,' Trump added. Trump defended his use of social media, and continues to believe Twitter was key to his election and governing. 'It gives me a voice,' he said of his tweets, such as one Tuesday where he decried a 'WITCH HUNT!' He hailed Barr's integrity and defended his right to be involved in cases on a day he announced a flurry of pardons and commutations, including one for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who got sent to prison for seeking to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat. 'I'm allowed to be totally involved,' Trump said before leaving Washington for a West Coast swing. 'I'm actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country. But I've chosen not to be involved. But he is a man of great integrity. But I could be involved if I wanted to be,' he said, picking up a line he also used last week amid a furor over his comments about the Stone case. Earlier Tuesday, Trump fired off a series of tweets backing a new trial for Stone on a day a federal judge held a key status hearing on the case and called the government's case 'tainted.' Trump's comments come days after Attorney General Bill Barr issued an extraordinary admonition for Trump to stop tweeting about criminal cases saying it makes it 'impossible' for him to do his job. Judge Amy Berman Jackson last week denied a request by Stone's lawyers for a new trial, while outside the courtroom the president repeatedly intervened publicly in the case on Stone's behalf. They filed a separate sealed motion seeking a new trial on Friday. President Trump ignored an admonition by his attorney general and tweeted about Roger Stone's case Trump called the case 'badly tainted' Trump tweeted comments by Judge Andrew Napolitano calling for a new trial for his longtime advisor Trump tagged Judge Andrew Napolitano and Fox & Friends Trump tweeted on a day Judge Amy Berman Jackson was to hold a scheduling conference on Roger Stone's case Four prosecutors had themselves removed from the case last week, after the government cast aside their request in a motion filed with the court that Stone serve up to nine years in prison. The government changed its position and left it up to the court to decide on jail time following an early morning Tweet by Trump blasting the sentence as excessive. More than former 2,000 Justice Department officials have signed onto a letter calling for Barr to resign. Trump tore into the prosecutors once again Tuesday morning, almost exactly a week after his explosive public commentary on the case. 'These were Mueller prosecutors, and the whole Mueller investigation was illegally set up based on a phony and now fully discredited Fake Dossier, lying and forging documents to the FISA Court, and many other things,' he said, bringing up a series of grievances about the Russia probe. President Donald Trump called the government lawyers on Roger Stone's case 'Mueller prosecutors' and said their work was 'badly tainted,' as he tweeted support for his longtime advisor getting a new trial Prosecutors spun off the Stone case from the Russia investigation, after concluding he lied about his contacts with WikiLeaks during his time as an advisor to Trump's presidential campaign. 'Everything having to do with this fraudulent investigation is ... badly tainted and, in my opinion, should be thrown out,' Trump wrote. 'Even Mueller's statement to Congress that he did not see me to become the FBI Director (again), has been proven false. The whole deal was a total SCAM. If I wasn't President, I'd be suing everyone all over the place...BUT MAYBE I STILL WILL. WITCH HUNT!' Trump also retweeted supportive comments on his position from Fox commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano who as it turns out last month said there was 'ample and uncontradicted' evidence for Trump's removal from office. Napolitano pointed out that the woman who served as the fore person on the jury has revealed to have run for Congress as a Democrat and had tweeted about the case immediately after Stone's arrest. 'Judge Jackson now has a request for a new trial based on the unambiguous & self outed bias of the foreperson of the jury, whose also a lawyer, by the way. 'Madam foreperson, your a lawyer, you have a duty, an affirmative obligation, to reveal to us when we selected you the...existence of these tweets in which you were so harshly negative about the President & the people who support him.' Napolitano continued: 'Don't you think we wanted to know that before we put you on this jury.' Pretty obvious he should (get a new trial). I think almost any judge in the Country ... would order a new trial, I'm not so sure about Judge Jackson, I don't know,' Trump wrote, tagging Napolitano and the Fox & Friends morning show. Last week, after Trump's repeated comments about the case, Barr told told ABC News in an interview: 'I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases. 'I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me,' he said. The push had no immediate effect. Trump responded Friday morning by noting that Barr had said Trump never asked him to do anything in a criminal case. Then he added: 'This doesn't mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!' More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials weighed with a letter calling on Barr to resign amid a swirl of developments. 'Mr. Barr's actions in doing the President's personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words. Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign,' according to the letter. 'But because we have little expectation he will do so, it falls to the Department's career officials to take appropriate action to uphold their oaths of office and defend nonpartisan, apolitical justice.' STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Honda SUV involved in a fatal crash on the West Shore Expressway early Sunday morning was traveling in the wrong direction on the southbound side for several miles before colliding with a minivan and a pickup truck, according to a law enforcement source. Aureliano Garcia Juarez, 47, who police say lives on Adler Road in Annapolis, Md., faces charges including second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, according to an NYPD spokesman. Following the crash, which occurred at approximately 5:40 a.m. near the South Avenue exit, Garcia Juarezs passenger, Carmelia Martinez, was transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where she was pronounced dead. The 37-year-old has been identified as his wife, the source said. Garcia Juarez, meanwhile, was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze in stable condition. Martinez was a resident of Beverly Avenue in New Brunswick, N.J. -- the same location police previously listed as Garcia Juarezs address. Police said the 63-year-old man driving the Toyota minivan suffered neck and back pain, and was transported in stable condition to Staten Island University Medical Center, Ocean Breeze. The 46-year-old man driving the Ford pickup truck refused medical attention at the scene, authorities said. Garcia Juarez could be arraigned as soon as Tuesday in Richmond County Criminal Court. The charges filed against him indicate that this is the first DWI he faces in New York, while public records show he has not been convicted of any crimes in the United States. When contacted Monday about the tragedy, a relative of Garcia Juarez and Martinez declined comment. A MAN on trial for the murder of detective garda Adrian Donohoe said he was moving laundered diesel waste at the time of the fatal shooting, the Central Criminal Court has heard. The formal alibi of Aaron Brady (29), who denies capital murder, was read out this afternoon and the court heard that it was provided to the prosecution last December. The jury was also told that Mr Brady did not want this account included in an initial voluntary statement he made 11 days after the fatal shooting because he was in fear of incriminating himself in relation to diesel laundering. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Adrian Donohoe (41), who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. The fatal shooting happened shortly before 9.30pm. Mr Brady, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies the robbery of approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. Under cross examination from Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, Garda Inspector Mark Phillips read out Aaron Brady's notice of alibi. In his formal alibi the accused said that at the time of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe he was at a yard on Concession Road, Crossmaglen. Mr Brady said that on on February 5 and 6, 2013, he presented at Dundalk Garda Station to make a voluntary statement and was asked by two gardai to account for his movements on the evening of the murder. During the course of this Mr Brady said his solicitor asked the two gardai, Insp Phillips and Det Gda Jim McGovern, if he could consult with him in private. His legal representative then indicated that Mr Brady was reluctant to account for his movements on the record out of fear of being prosecuted. In the notice of alibi the accused said that he initially informed gardai that he attended a yard on Concession Road and attempted to use a forklift, but that it didn't start and left between 10 and 15 minutes later. "This was not correct", he said, adding that he went to the yard at around 8pm that evening. Mr Brady said he arrived there with the "sole intention" of laundering large volumes of diesel waste cubes onto the back of a curtain side lorry already on site with the aid of a forklift. In his alibi he said he made contact with two men known to him by telephone who instructed him to move as many diesel cubes onto the lorry as possible. The accused said the forklift didn't start at first, but eventually managed to start it and spent between 90 minutes and two hours loading diesel cubes onto the truck. This was due to the rough terrain, poor lighting and the forklift cutting out occasionally, he said, and added that he then left and went to a separate address. Under cross examination from Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, Insp Phillips said that there are profits to be made from diesel smuggling along the Border. The witness agreed with Mr O'Higgins that Crossmaglen used to be regarded as a Republican stronghold, and that some people in the Border locality would be suspicious of the authorities. He also agreed with counsel that a person could be seen in a bad light among others for talking to Gardai about any aspect of diesel laundering. Asked if this could compromise someone's personal safety, Insp Phillips said that there could be "an element" of that. Insp Phillips agreed with counsel that Mr Brady's only previous custodial sentence was a 12 month term, suspended for six months, imposed in 2012. The court heard this sentence, for criminal damage and dangerous driving, was appealed by the DPP on the grounds of being unduly lenient and later increased to 24 months with half of that sentence suspended. Mr O'Higgins will continue his cross-examination of Insp Phillips before Mr Justice Michael White tomorrow morning. Earlier the 15-person jury continued hearing evidence of the voluntary statements Mr Brady made to gardai on February 5 and 6 2013. Insp Phillips, who was then a detective sergeant with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Harcourt Square in Dublin, told the court that he and a colleague took statements from Mr Brady over two days at Dundalk Garda Station which lasted around 10 hours in total. The court heard the first voluntary statement was made with Aaron Brady's solicitor present, and that the following day he returned without his legal representative. In the statements, read out by Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, the accused gave gardai an account of his whereabouts on the weekend of the robbery and murder. The court heard that Aaron Brady told gardai he was making the voluntary statements "to hopefully clear" his name. BOSTON - A group that opposes affirmative action urged a federal appeals court Tuesday to overturn a ruling that cleared Harvard University of discriminating against Asian American applicants. Students for Fair Admissions has accused the Ivy League college of deliberating holding down the number of Asian Americans accepted in order to preserve a racial balance on campus. But U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled in October that Harvards admissions process, while not perfect, passes constitutional muster and that there is no evidence of any racial animus whatsoever. Lawyers for Students for Fair Admissions said in a brief filed with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday that Harvard imposes a racial penalty on Asian-American applicants and that the schools transparent regime of racial balancing flagrantly violates settled law. It is quite unusual for a civil-rights defendant to confess. Yet Harvard admits that its goal is to ensure racial balance, and that it has engineered the admissions process to achieve that illegal pursuit, lawyers for the group told the appellate court. The group has said it will appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Harvard has denied any discrimination and and said race is considered only in the narrow way that has been upheld in earlier Supreme Court cases. The school said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it will vigorously defend the lower courts decision. Todays filing by Students for Fair Admissions further exposes their ultimate goal of removing the consideration of race in college and university admissions, Harvard said. Rights in a democratic society are based on the universal principles of liberty, equality and justice. These are generally entrenched in the constitutions of democratic nations. by Mass L. Usuf World-renowned Sociologist Emile Durkheim would have it that the State, the legal system and the dominant sentiments of people must be understood from the angle of their functionality for society as a whole. These should not be used as tools by politicians, political henchmen and religious leaders to achieve their ulterior motives. What Durkheim cautioned people to avoid is being fully practised by some of our folks with vested interest. Such persons expound novel theories on the subject of coexistence tailored to their advantage and not the society as a whole. Indeed, these champions try to speak like an authority on the subject. In the process, denouncing others who do not conform to their line of thinking. This is evident from the divergence in views for example between those in the government and those in the opposition, as much as those in the majority community and those belonging to the minority communities. Rights in a democratic society are based on the universal principles of liberty, equality and justice. These are generally entrenched in the constitutions of democratic nations. We are proud that our constitution too, in Chapter III, has incorporated these in no uncertain terms under the title Fundamental Rights. It is, therefore, the natural expectation of all the minorities living in this island that the government will always stand by and zealously protect the constitutional proclamations. The Objective Is Lost The line demarcating the surrendering of any right enjoyed by a minority community, to facilitate coexistence with the majority people, is not etched in stone. Nor are they dependent upon the likes or dislikes of those in the majority community. When French Statesman Maximilien Robespierre (1790) first expressed the motto Liberte, egalite, fraternite (French for "liberty, equality, fraternity"), he did not contemplate of majority or minority sentiments, likes and dislikes etc. The words, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" comprise part of the natural law, described as a basis for all human conduct. Thus, enshrined as the First Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. When the self-styled exponents of life in a plural society speak, there is one element that becomes a victim and, that is, the Objective. In the absence of this important qualitative measurement, expressions can be biased, ill-informed, threatening or calculated to mislead. Such, then, would be a dangerous opinion and certainly not an honest one worthy of any consideration. Unfortunately, it is in this exercise that many involved in politics or religion engage themselves in, craftily camouflaged under the term coexistence. It is those having opinions furthest from the objectives who would nonchalantly call to submit, surrender, sacrifice or forego a right of a person or a community linked to the noble pillars of democracy namely, liberty, equality and justice. As emphasised above, the criteria to develop these pillars were not emotions or sentiments of a majority community. These are the endowments by Providence. Lexicons explain it as a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct irrespective of caste, creed, race, nationality or religion. Confusion Replaces Objectivity Objectivity serves to understand and help navigate the direction that needs to be traversed. When the objective is not clear confusion occupies that space. When there is confusion, there is a lack in clarity. Most of the people who talk about Coexistence can be categorized as confused. Amongst this confused state, there is another class of people who want to politicise Coexistence. Such rhetoric borders on cheap threats and being spiteful on what one government had done or not, compared to what the incumbent government is doing or not doing. At a national level the choice is very clear. Either work towards salvaging the polity or allow the disintegration of the social fabric. The former is a difficult path to trek while the latter is the easiest route to choose. In fact, those who are myopic are happy to outweigh democratic principles with self-interest. Such persons also display a deficiency in the sociological values of multicultural, multiracial and multireligious coexistence thereby, unwittingly opting for the second option. Can the right-thinking people who are able to discern the impending danger keep quiet about it? Can we allow our social structure and the future stability of the country to be jeopardised in this manner? This is not an issue of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or any other. It should be of concern to every citizen of this nation. Minority Votes The minorities not voting at the last election in large numbers to the incumbent should not be a reason for grouse for anyone. The use of franchise is the absolute wish of the citizen. This is democracy. Any person worth his salt, will never articulate ones self in a manner driving a wedge between communities in the stupid fantasy of analysing facts. Constantly repeating that the incumbent President was voted to power by the Sinhala community sounds Goebbelish. These are nauseating talks provoking racism. Voting is a symbol of citizenship. To accuse a people for not voting as anyone desired, is not normal. To ask to let go any right enjoyed by the minority in the guise of coexistence is not normal. Shying away from the undeniable fact that we are living in a plural society is not normal. Being hypercritical of the minorities is not normal. These abnormalities are being normalised by parochialism and meandering semantics. Further, laden with confusion and devoid of objectivity. Collective Consciousness Every community, be it majority or minority, is bound by its collective conscience (the evolved shared beliefs, ideas, attitudes, and knowledge that are common to a people). Each community need to understand this collective consciousness and learn to promote, foster, tolerate, accommodate with equanimity the sentiments and values of the other. It has been argued that for diverse societies to function and to be fair, we need to show respect not just for individuals but also for the cultures and beliefs in which those individuals are embedded and which help give them a sense of identity and being. (Rethinking the challenge of anti-Muslim bigotry, Kenan Malik, (2017). The Role of State The State cannot act like a divisive force in this regard. The government has a great responsibility to discourage and deter all forms of hatred, hostility, bigotry, religious intolerance and religious prejudices. Each one of these are abnormal phenomenon. The State should ensure that all the organs within its power are used to function for the greater good of the nation and the people as a whole. To uphold racial amity, shared national identity, tolerance towards other religions, languages and ethnicities; To accept and live in the context of a plural society. A cohesive society cannot be built where discrimination prevails and citizens are provoked to interact with one another on that basis.All citizens must challenge such deviant views which tries to legitimise what is not normal. All must strive to ensure that common values of democracy work for everyone equally, irrespective of race distinctions. The end. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, November 10, 2019 - People walking with luggage at the Terminal 1, Pearson International Airport, Toronto. Pearson is the biggest airport in Canada Air Canada says the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft and the impact of the recent coronavirus outbreak will drag down its earnings in the first quarter of 2020. Canadas largest airline said Tuesday that it now expects its first quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment (EBITDA) to be $200 million less than during the same time last year as it continues to grapple with increased costs associated with the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jet. Those costs have been exacerbated by additional challenges, including the impact of the coronavirus, which has seen Air Canada suspend its service to mainland China, as well as higher employee benefit costs. We start 2020 with uncertainty from the on-going Boeing 737 Max grounding and the constraints it imposes, as well as emerging economic and geopolitical risks and route suspensions resulting from the COVID-19 virus, Air Canadas chief executive Calin Rovinescu said in a statement. The Boeing grounding will still be the most significant contributor to the earnings drop, Air Canadas chief financial officer Michael Rousseau said on a conference call with analysts on Tuesday. Last year, the airline was operating 24 of the Boeing 737 Max aircrafts. It is one of our most efficient aircrafts, being backfilled by less efficient aircraft, which is certainly not helping, Rousseau said. The airline said certain routes have seen a significant decrease in profitability because it has had to cut capacity due to the 737 grounding and deploy less efficient jets instead. For example, before the grounding, Air Canada was flying six daily flights from locations in western Canada to Hawaii. Those routes have been since cut in half, Air Canadas chief commercial officer Lucie Guillemette said, impacting the companys overall performance. Air Canada said its also covering the cost of retaining the approximately 400 pilots who were hired to fly the 737 Max planes and are waiting for the jet to return to service. Story continues Still, the airline said it hopes to recover the first quarter shortfall over the year. Air Canada said it will see capacity growth in the first quarter as the airline redeploys planes from Pacific routes specifically to China and Hong Kong to Atlantic routes due to the impact of the coronavirus as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions between Canada and China. Despite the challenges with the Max, Air Canada reported an adjusted net income of $917 million, or $3.37 per diluted share in 2019, up from $738 million, or $2.67 per diluted share last year. Operating income came in at $1.65 billion in 2019, an increase from $1.5 billion in 2018. Rovinescu said Tuesday that Air Canadas strong performance despite the 737 Max grounding which he called a black swan event unseen previously in our industry as well as the impact of the coronavirus, shows how far the company has come over the last decade. The magnitude of which only became apparent in early February of this year would have been an existential threat a decade ago, Rovinescu said told analysts. There is no question that we are now not only stronger than we were 10 years ago, but that we are truly transformed. Exactly when the Boeing 737 Max will return to service remains to be seen. The company released a statement on Jan. 21 saying it expected that the ungrounding of the aircraft would begin in mid-2020. Were quite confident that the Boeing 737 Max will fly again and we believe customers will regain confidence in this aircraft, Rovinescu said. Once the aircraft is ruled safe by the regulators, by Boeing and by all of our own internal safety and pilot groups, we will be fully dedicated to returning it safely to service. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Uganda has scrambled to respond to the arrival of the biggest locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in decades, while the United Nations warned that the already vulnerable region simply cannot afford another major shock. An emergency government meeting, held hours after the locusts were spotted in Uganda, decided to deploy the military to help with ground-based pesticide spraying, while two planes for aerial spraying will arrive as soon as possible, a statement said. Aerial spraying is considered the only effective control. The swarms of billions of locusts have been destroying crops in Kenya, which hasnt seen such an outbreak in 70 years, as well as Somalia and Ethiopia, which havent seen this in a quarter-century. The insects have exploited favourable wet conditions after unusually heavy rains and experts say climate change is expected to bring more of the same. Keith Cressman, the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) senior locust forecasting officer, said Kenya has received waves and waves of swarms since the beginning of the year from the Horn of Africa, and over the weekend they moved on the side of Mount Kilimanjaro across the border into Tanzania. Also over the weekend, they moved into northeastern Uganda, he told a news conference at UN headquarters in New York. Were expecting any day they will move across the border into the southeast corner of South Sudan, where another several million people face hunger as the country struggles to emerge from civil war. A medium-size swarm of locusts can eat the same amount of food as the entire population of Kenya, Cressman said, and that swarm in one day can eat the same amount of food as everybody here in the tri-state area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. So not taking action in time you can see the consequences. UN officials warn that immediate action is needed before more rainfall in the weeks ahead brings fresh vegetation to feed new generations of locusts. If left unchecked, their numbers could grow up to 500 times before drier weather arrives, they say. There is the risk of a catastrophe, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told a briefing in New York on Monday, warning that 13 million people already face severe food insecurity 10 million in places affected by locusts. The locusts are eating the vegetation that supports vibrant herder communities in the region, and Kenyas Ambassador to the UN Lazarus Amayo warned of the inherent risk of communal conflict over pastures. The outbreak is so severe it might even disrupt the planting of crops in the coming weeks, he said, adding that the locusts do wanton damage. Wyomings two current senators have endorsed a former U.S. representative to join the Senate herself. Republicans Mike Enzi and John Barrasso announced Tuesday morning their endorsement for Cynthia Lummis to replace Enzi, who is not seeking reelection. I served in the Wyoming House of Representatives with Cynthia Lummis, Enzi said in the news release. She was effective. I served in the Wyoming Senate with her. She was a leader and a successful legislator. When I came to the U.S. Senate, she became a world renowned State Treasurer, another area of expertise. Then she successfully ran for our lone seat in Congress. She was a formidable campaigner. She did a spectacular job for eight years and founded the Western Caucus that gave us the clout to preserve Wyomings Abandoned Mine Land (AML) money and much more. She is a uniter we need. Cynthia will put Wyoming first and be a force to be reckoned with in Washington. Lummis served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017. She faces competition from Republicans such as Converse County businessman Robert Short, who announced his candidacy Monday, but not Rep. Liz Cheney, who decided not to seek a Senate seat. Cheney declined to endorse Lummis on Tuesday through a spokesperson. There are a number of good candidates in the race, and others thinking about getting in, the spokesperson said in a text. Liz isnt making any endorsement at this time. Now, more than ever, Wyoming needs a gritty champion for our conservative values, Barrasso said in a statement. Filling Mikes shoes is no small task, and taking on Washingtons big spenders and bigger government will require someone that has proven they can do it and win. Bobbi and I support Cynthia because she is all these things. I know Cynthia will stand side by side with me in support of President Trump and for policies that are right for Wyoming. I will work for her, vote for her, and fight alongside her. Lummis thanked Enzi and Barrasso in the release. Wyomings congressional delegation is truly the gold standard, Lummis said. Senator Enzi and Senator Barrasso are giants in the U.S. Senate and I am beyond honored to have their support. Should I be elected as Wyomings next Senator, I look forward to working side-by-side with Senator Barrasso and Congressman Cheney on behalf of our great state. From Gillette City Hall, to the State Capitol in Cheyenne, to the halls of Congress, Mike Enzi has been a tireless champion for Wyoming his entire life, said Lummis. Hes fought for Wyomings families at every turn, been a stalwart defender of Wyoming coal and been the leader in Washington working to restore fiscal discipline and commonsense budgeting. Mike and Diana are the very embodiments of public servants. Their legacy will be felt from Wyoming to Washington for generations to come. Senator Barrasso is one of the leading voices in Washington. A true champion for critical western issues like energy, environment, public lands, rural health and transportation said Lummis. He has used his position as the third ranking member in the Senate Republican Leadership to elevate Wyoming issues to the national stage. As a relentless defender of President Trump, his voice has been absolutely critical in beating back liberal venom in Washington and getting Congress back to doing its job for the American people. I would be humbled and proud to work with Senator Barrasso again in Washington on behalf of the Wyoming people. Staff writer Nick Reynolds contributed to this report. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 6 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Coronavirus not man-made, says Chinese Ambassador dismissing the rumours India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 19: China's Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong on Tuesday dismissed the emerging rumours surrounding the origins of deadly coronavirus by saying that the infection is natural and not man made. Weidong said that the virus is originated from nature and is not man-made. He also added that coronavirus is terrible but any rumour regarding it is even more terrible. Reportedly, the rumours began to spread across the world as the number of positive cases soared in the last one month. Most of the rumours emerged as that the Chinese government had some role to play in the virus outbreak. The Congress leader Manish Tewari, earlier this week gave a hint that the virus outbreak could be possibly biological weapon developed by the China. Underlining a sentence from a 1980s fiction book that talks of the decade's "most important and dangerous" "biological weapon" which the Chinese used to call "Wuhan-400", the Congress leader posted a screenshot of a page from the book. Reportedly, the plot revolves around a Chinese military lab creating a biological weapon. Beside dismissing the rumour about the noble coronavirus Weidong on Tuesday assured that China has now become successful in controling the epidemic. Wuhan hospital director dies of COVID-19 virus after 'all-out rescue efforts' failed He also added that the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention to win the battle against coronavirus at the earliest. Today, the National Health Commission of China said the death toll due to the outbreak rises to 1,868 while the total number of confirmed cases have jumped to 72,436. Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates (pictured) may be reassigned to the Department of Energy amid rumors that she is reportedly the author of the infamous New York Times anonymous op-ed Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates may be reassigned to the Department of Energy amid rumors that she is reportedly the author of the infamous New York Times anonymous op-ed. Top officials from President Donald Trump's administration are reportedly discussing Coates' reassignment, according to a report from Axios. The possible move comes just weeks after Coates was accused of being behind the Times article, 'I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,' that was published in September 2018, as well as a book titled, A Warning, that was released in November 2019. Sources claimed that Coates had begun to fear for her job despite being recently promoted by national security adviser Robert OBrien. However, Coates, who is a former aide to Republican Sen Ted Cruz, isn't known to disagree with Trump's foreign policies, which doesn't make her a good fit for Anonymous. Coates, who is an art historian, is a political appointee to the Trump administration. Earlier this month, book agents for A Warning denied rumors that Coates is Anonymous. 'To be very clear so there is no chance of any misunderstanding: Dr Coates is not Anonymous,' Matt Latimer, the co-founder of literary agency Javelin, told Politico. Scroll down for video The possible move comes just weeks after Coates was accused of being behind the Times article , 'I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,' that was published in September 2018, as well as a book titled, A Warning , that was released in November 2019 Sources claimed that Coates (right, in 2016) had begun to fear for her job despite being recently promoted by national security adviser Robert OBrien In September 2018, the author of the Times column (pictured) was identified only as a 'senior official' from inside the Trump administration, a broad category that became the basis of a guessing game inside the capital beltway 'She does not know who Anonymous is. We have never discussed Anonymous or the book, A Warning, with her prior to its publication. She did not write it, edit it, see it in advance, know anything about it, or as far as we know ever read it,' he said in a statement. The back of the book's cover reads: 'The truth about the president must be spoken, not after Americans have stood in the voting booth to consider whether to give him another term and not after he has departed office. Coates isn't known to disagree with Trump's foreign policies, which doesn't make her a good fit for the Anonymous individual 'Hopefully others will remedy the error of silence and choose to speak out.' In September 2018, the author of the Times column was identified only as a 'senior official' from inside the Trump administration, a broad category that became the basis of a guessing game inside the capital beltway. Trump attacked the author at the time, suggesting alternatively that the op-ed might be an act of treason, and that the author might be a fictitious creation of the Times rather than a real person. 'Does the so-called Senior Administration Official really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source?' he tweeted at the time. 'If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!' Trump also tweeted at the time a single word: 'TREASON?' The Times op-ed described the president as 'impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective' in the way he manages the government, and says the author is part of an organized 'resistance' whose goal is 'to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Trump's more misguided impulses until he is out of office'. During a White House event with a group of sheriffs, Trump said the writer was 'probably... failing and probably here for all the wrong reasons'. Sarah Sanders, then the White House press secretary said in a statement at the time that the essay was 'pathetic, reckless, and selfish' and challenged the Times to 'issue an apology.' Trump attacked the author at the time, suggesting alternatively that the op-ed might be an act of treason, and that the author might be a fictitious creation of the Times rather than a real person 'This is just another example of the liberal media's concerted effort to discredit the President,' she said at the time. Since the publication of the op-ed in 2018 and the book last year, others have been accused of being Anonymous. The former speechwriter to Jim Mattis who wrote a tell-all about his time in the Pentagon has denied a suggestion he is also the author of the Anonymous op-ed and book about Donald Trump's White House - after allowing speculation to swirl for a full day. Guy Snodgrass said in November that he was not the writer, addressing head-on a claim by the man who had previously correctly outed Joe Klein as the author of Primary Colors, the 1996 roman a clef about Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. 'No, I'm not the writer,' Snodgrass told CNN at the time. 'They asked me the question, I kind of batted it away. I thought it'd be asked and we'd be done To put it to rest, no I'm not the author of 'A Warning,' I'm not the Anonymous op-ed writer.' Burma Myanmar Military MPs to Debate Charter Reform en Masse, Defend Political Power Military lawmakers at the Union Parliament in July 2016. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGONMilitary lawmakers are showing unprecedented levels of participation as nearly all have registered to join an upcoming parliamentary debate on bills to amend Myanmars Constitution, which would limit the role of the military and its leadership in politics. The Union Parliament announced late last month the submission of two constitutional amendment bills with 114 amendments proposed by the National League for Democracy (NLD) and seven other political parties. The bills were drafted by the Charter Amendment Committee over the past 11 months and signed by 351 out of over 650 lawmakers. The bills are now open for discussion but the exact date for the debate has yet to be set. Of 166 appointed military lawmakers, 164 are registered to join the debate along with 118 elected lawmakers69 from the ruling NLD and 49 from ethnic partiesfor a total of 282. The then-military government drafted and approved the current Constitution through a so-called referendum. It has been criticized at home and abroad for being undemocratic. Since taking office in 2016, the NLD government has made fixing the charter a priority. The amendment bills submitted last month include proposals that would gradually remove unelected military lawmakers from Parliament as well as removing Article 20(c), which states that the commander-in-chief is the supreme commander of all armed forces. The military, which considers itself the guardian of the Constitution, sees the proposals as a threat and the upcoming debate in Parliament will likely be heated. The bills also include proposals to amend Article 436, which grants the military an effective veto over any proposed constitutional changes. It suggests changing the requirement for approving a charter amendment from more than 75 percent of Parliament to two-thirds of elected representatives, in both Article 436(a) and Article 436(b), removing the unelected military lawmakers veto power. The bills also include a proposal to repeal Article 59(f), which effectively bars State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the current government, from becoming president. The military and its allies in the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) raised strong objections to the formation of the Charter Amendment Committee, calling the process pushed by the NLD and ethnic parties unconstitutional. Instead of working with the committee, the military and the USDP submitted five constitutional amendment bills of their own, all of which seek to protect their interests. You may also like these story: Military MPs Oppose Merging Myanmar Charter-Change Proposals Two Possible Keys to Unlocking Charter Reform in Myanmar Technavio has been monitoring the single axis solar PV tracker market and it is poised to grow by 35.95 GW during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 28% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005385/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global single axis solar PV tracker market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Declining cost of solar power generation has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, competition from alternatives of single axis tracker might hamper market growth. 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Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Single Axis Solar PV Tracker Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist single axis solar PV tracker market growth during the next five years Estimation of the single axis solar PV tracker market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the single axis solar PV tracker market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of single axis solar PV tracker market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005385/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Nigar Orujova - Trend: Last year, 47,710 cars were imported to Azerbaijan, which is 65 percent more compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijans State Statistics Committee. Despite the absence of statistics from the beginning of this year, car imports from Asia, in particular China, will be reduced, expert economist Vugar Bayramov told Trend. According to the information received as a result of the monitoring by the Fitch Ratings agency, there is global reduction in imports of Chinese-made cars in connection with the coronavirus, respectively, less cars from this country will be supplied to Azerbaijan, the expert said. Bayramov added that for now there arent so many cars delivered from China to Azerbaijan in the total number of cars imported into the country. Mostly cars are delivered to Azerbaijan from Europe, including those made in Japan, the expert noted. Given that they are mainly imported from Georgia, most likely there will be no serious reduction in car imports. There will be no sharp reduction in the total import of Chinese-made cars, said Bayramov. However, if the scale of the coronavirus expands and the problem worsens for other Asian countries, then at a subsequent stage, noticeable reduction may occur in the number of cars imported into Azerbaijan. Charles Portis, the author of True Grit who covered the Civil Rights Era as a reporter, has died in Arkansas. He was 86. Before his famous work, which was turned into the 1969 film and a 2010 remake, Portis covered the civil rights movement in the South, including the Birmingham riots of 1963 and then-Gov. George Wallaces effort to stop desegregation at the University of Alabama, according to his obituary in The New York Times. Portiss dispatches from Alabama for the New York Herald-Tribune appeared in newspapers across the globe, including the Birmingham News. One of those stories was his coverage of a Ku Klux Klan rally in Bessemer just hours before bombings at the Gaston Motel and the Ensley home of A.D. King, brother of Martin Luther King Jr. Portis wrote that he was unimpressed by the Klan rally in a story with the headline Klan Meeting Dull, In Spite Of Crosses. Story written by Charles Portis on a 1963 Ku Klux Klan rally in Bessemer. A Ku Klux Klan rally, for all its cross-burning and hooded panoply, is a much duller affair than one might expect, Portis wrote. The hooded Klan rally here Saturday night just before the bombings in Birmingham limped along for three hours with nothing but Kennedy jokes and invocations of divine guidance. A year after the 1963 riots and bombings, Portis returned home to his native Arkansas to focus on writing fiction. Among his novels is the classic True Grit, which tells the story about a 14-year-old farm girls quest to avenge her fathers murder. The novel spawned the film adaptation in 1969 with John Wayne -- who won an Oscar for his role -- and Glenn Campbell a remake in 2010 starring Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin. Jonathan Portis, the novelists brother, told the Times Charles Portis died in hospice care in Arkansas. He was in the hospice for two years; before that, he was in a facility that cared for Alzheimers patients for six years. (TNS) Cybersecurity experts warned in late 2019 that internet hacking has climbed to crisis level.And based on what they've seen in early 2020, a similar warning has now been issued: that hackers show no signs of letting up and will likely focus on the 2020 election."What's more likely is that these cybercriminals will cause disruption," said Brett Callow, Emsisoft spokesman. "Because most elections operate at the county level, local governments need to prepare."But because of this year's tense political climate, and overall spike in cyberattacks, Callow predicts cybercriminals will zero in on the election.Kim Barton, supervisor of the Alachua County, Fla., Elections Office, says the department began to look at cybersecurity preventive security measures years ago, and officials work to keep up with the latest internet security updates."Cybersecurity is an always evolving field, so our office expects that we will continually be updating our training, procedures, and systems to keep ourselves as protected as possible," she said.She said the office conducts ongoing training for employees to learn about possible threats, and how to respond in emergencies. She added that cyberexperts ensure sure their data and hardware software is up to date.Three years ago, the Department of Homeland Security classified election processes as "critical infrastructure," placing them in a highly protected category of operations considered vital to keep the United States functioning.Barton said the reclassification has allowed the office to work with cybersecurity experts from federal government agencies in the local elections office.Three years after the reclassification, the Federal Bureau of Investigation says it's now receiving a record number of complaints about internet scams and crimes.In a report published Tuesday, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center says it received 467,361 complaints in 2019, the highest number since the center was created in 2000.Florida ranked second in the nation among complaints per state, behind California, with a reported 27,178 calls to the crime center.But the numbers only reflect the organizations that publicly report they've been attacked.Callow gauges that 80-90% of organizations do not disclose that their systems have been infected with malware or worse, ransomware to authorities. The only reason Emsisoft becomes aware of them is when hackers publish the stolen data.Local governments, health and education organizations are attacked at a rate of more than one per day, he said.Last October, the city of Ocala fell prey to an email spear phishing scam, with over $740,000 of the city's funds transferred to a hacker group.Officials recovered more than $717,000, and the city's insurance provider paid $19,000 of the balance. Total net loss was $5,000.Callow stressed that local governments must focus attention and money on cybersecurity, something he says has been ignored for too long."Local governments are simply vulnerable and need to take steps to increase their security," he said.Officials from Cyber Florida, a state-funded organization that aims to inform citizens about cybersecurity, are also urging local government leaders to get serious about ransomware.The organization has held cybersecurity workshops and training for small businesses, and most recently, local governments in Tallahassee on Thursday.Kate Whitaker, spokeswoman for Cyber Florida, said the overwhelming majority of smaller cities share a similar message with the organization: They're aware of the threat, but don't have the funds or resources to combat the looming issue.She urged governments to find room in their budgets."It's always cheaper to prevent these things than to clean up later," she said. Major market players must direct their strategic focus towards acquisitions and mergers for enhanced product offerings, minimal operational costs, and increased global footprint DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Driven by an upswing in demand from food & beverages industry, the global silica sand market for glass making is pegged at a steady CAGR of over 4.5% during 2019 - 2029. Demand for enhanced aesthetic appearance, improved hygiene, better purchasing power, and greater per capita consumption are some of the growth levers steering the demand for silica sand in F&B industry, states a new study of Future Market Insights (FMI). "Preference for glass containers or bottles for packaging of food and beverage products is increasing. Manufacturers of alcoholic drinks are prominently utilizing silica-based glass bottles for packaging. Technological innovations will further propel the growth of silica sand market for glass making," finds the FMI study. Request PDF Sample of the 245-page report on silica sand market for glass making https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11037 Key Takeaways of Silica Sand Market for Glass Making A whopping 97% of glasses such as fiber, container, and flat glasses are made using high-purity silica. Glass container will remain the leading application of silica during projection period. Food & beverages industry continues to contribute a substantial chunk of revenue share to market. East Asia would remain a highly lucrative market for silica sand for glass making. Silica Sand Market for Glass Making - Top Growth Drivers Growing preference for sustainable, inert, and pure glass packaging is inflating sales of silica sand. Silica is witnessing increased uptake in pharmaceutical industry, which will be a strong growth driver. Reusability and recyclability of silica continue to encourage manufacturers to adopt silica sand-based glass products. Automotive industry is generating promising demand for silica-based light vehicle components. Solar panel installation initiatives by governments of major economies would push silica sand consumption. Silica Sand Market for Glass Making - Key Restraints Manufacturers worldwide continue to face a major constraint in terms of high input costs. Frequent fluctuations in raw material pricing is a significant barrier to wider adoption. Depreciation of currency and amendments in government policies remains a key factor hampering market growth. Glass packaging is facing intense competition from plastic, metal, and paper packaging, thereby limiting silica sand sales. Competitive Landscape Prominent players in silica sand market for glass making include, but are not limited to, JLD Minerals, Imerys Refectory Minerals, U.S. Silica, and Sibelco Group. The market is fairly consolidated, with established players holding over 45% revenue share. Influential market players are opting for partnerships with regional and local players to enhance their global market foothold, variegate product offerings, and reduce operational costs. For instance, Saint-Gobain and Hindustan National Glass announced plans to invest US$ 750 Mn in India as a part of their capacity expansion strategy. Investments in developing countries will remain the key strategic focus of leading players in silica sand market for glass making. Explore 26 tables and 126 figures in the study. Request ToC of the report at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-11037 More About the Report The 245-page study offers an in-depth market forecast and analysis on the silica sand market for glass making. The major categories encompassed by the report include purity (high purity, ultra-high purity), application (flat glass, fiber glass, glass container, special & technical, tableware), end-use (food & beverages packaging, cookware & utensils, automotive, pharmaceutical, industrial, construction, scientific instrument & analytical research) across seven regions (Oceania, Middle East & Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America). Explore Extensive Coverage of FMI's Chemicals & Materials Landscape Specialty Silica Market - Get accurate quantitative insights on specialty silica market. FMI's 360-degree analysis covers competitive landscape, challenges, opportunities, key regions, successful market strategies for the duration of forecast period (2014-2020). Fumed Silica in Paints and Coatings Market - Gather comprehensive analysis of fumed silica in paints and coatings market with in-depth commentary on segmental data, revenue statistics and key influencing factors along with market shares, key strategies and business models of prominent players. APAC Flexible Glass Market - FMI's new study offers extensive opportunity assessment and industry analysis of flexible glass market for Asia Pacific region. Get incisive data on regional forecast, market dynamics, key recommendations and market performance. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Contact: Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Market Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/silica-sand-market-for-glass-making Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/silica-sand-market-for-glass-making SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576811/Silica-Sand-for-Glass-Making-to-Gain-Solid-Traction-in-FB-Industry-Reusability-and-Recyclability-of-Silica-Driving-Adoption-Future-Market-Insights Professional photographer Stephanie Nolt (R) and her companion attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Merriam Theater, in Philadelphia, on Feb. 17, 2020. (William Huang/The Epoch Times) PHILADELPHIAThe City of Brotherly Love is no stranger to world-class art. So when local artist Stephanie Nolt, a professional photographer who runs her own business, said that Shen Yun Performing Arts is a once in a lifetime experience, shes in a good place to speak with authority. The music was beautiful. The stories were compelling, Nolt began, recalling what she had just seen of New York-based Shen Yun at the Merriam Theater on Feb. 17, 2020. Some of them were a little more tragic and some of them a little more bright and sunny. So you had a really big array of story-telling and also theatrical experience, too, she added. Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture through ancient and highly-expressive art forms such as classical Chinese dance, bel canto vocal performances, unique musical performances, and more. Chinas true culture was once almost lost. Shen Yuns efforts are considered the forefront of a Chinese cultural renaissance going on around the world today, but sadly, stifled inside China. The Chinese Communist Party has sought to wipe out the countrys profound and storied history, seeing it as a threat to its own legitimacy and power. One of my favorite musical pieces was the soloist [who played the erhu], Nolt said, adding that that performance was very touching. Yes that was amazing, Ive never seen somebody play that, so that was very gorgeous. Kai Xi is the erhu player who performed a solo piece titled Roaming Without a Care as part of Shen Yun Performing Arts Global Company in Philadelphia on Monday. Shen Yun has seven touring groups that travel the world each season, bringing an all-new performance to over 150 cities. The erhu, according to the Shen Yuns website, is incredibly expressive, capable of imitating sounds from chirping birds to neighing horses. An alto instrument with a middle-high musical range, its melodies can be tender or sonorous. In its lowest and middle range, the erhu is especially stirring and somber, a quality eminently suitable for conveying the grand pageant of Chinas history and the emotions of its people. Nolt felt positive energy from Shen Yuns performers, which sparked a hope in her for the rest of Shen Yuns audience members as well as for the rest of humanity. I hope that everybody came out [of Shen Yun] with a feeling of inspiration and beauty and maybe some thought-provoking ideas or how to treat people in the future and those around you as well. And to respect cultural differences, she said. Being a professional artist, Nolt looked at the performance with a critical eye and ultimately praised the artistic choices. I think that the backdrop was a little minimalisticit really helped to draw your eyes to the dancers and everything that was going on theatrically through the play, she said. With her artistic eye trained on the performers, Nolt noticed the couture costumes on the dancers that many say are magnificent. Oh, [the colors and costumes] are beautiful, Nolt said. The colors are bright and gorgeous and just inspiring. Nolt then continued sharing her response to Shen Yuns stories that she called compelling. Shen Yuns performance is comprised of roughly 20 short vignettes, some of which depict scenes set in China during ancient, mythical, and modern-day time periods. Nolt commented on the modern-day stories that portray the real-life persecution now going on within Chinas borders. The Chinese Communist Party, in its effort to eradicate Chinas traditions, abduct and even torture innocent spiritual believers in an effort to turn the entire nation atheist. Yes, I think that the persecution was obviously very strong and powerful and touches a soul with everybody I think, that has been through something like that or knows people that have been through things like that, Nolt said. The stories of persecution in Shen Yun are ultimately hopeful since they depict spiritual followers compassion, perseverance, and faith while dealing with the brutality. Chinas spiritual roots are present throughout the stories, however, and show up in a variety of aspects in the performance, which Nolt noticed. I think it just shows a strong root in the fact that they still work a lot with meditation and also respecting the cultural difference between the opposite sex. Does that make sense? You know there is still this man and woman separation, but at the same time really respectful of each other, the photographer said. Nolt said that she definitely felt a spiritual message from the show, and elaborated that I think the theme of [a] higher power, faith was prevalent throughout the entire experience. Id say that [Shen Yun] is something that you definitely have to see because its a once in a lifetime experience. Its not something you get to see very often. With reporting by William Huang and Brett Featherstone. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Q: When is MLive eliminating comments? A: Comments in their current form will be shut down at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb 20. Q: Why is MLive eliminating comments? A: The ability to comment on stories dates back more than a decade, well before the explosive growth of social media and before newsrooms were accessible through many other means. Also, some commenters created a toxic atmosphere, engaging in personal attacks and other undesirable behavior. Q: So, this means you dont value hearing from readers? A: Not at all. We engage with readers every day, and we are constantly looking for new ways to hear and share the diversity of voices across Michigan. We have built strong communities on social platforms, and readers inform our journalism daily through calls and emails to reporters and editors. We encourage readers to reach out to us, and our newsroom contact information is available on MLive and by clicking here. Q: Where am I going to be able to comment? A: We also have many Facebook pages and Twitter accounts where our journalists answer questions and engage in conversations. Q: Is this change because your moderators cannot keep up? A: No, although there are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of comments on MLive each day, we used a combination of human moderation, algorithms and artificial intelligence to enforce our community rules. We couldnt review every single comment in real time but we did respond to complaints. Over time, it became clear the vast majority of comments were generated by a very small percentage of users, who had a disproportionate impact on the tone of the conversations. Q: But even if someone doesnt comment, they might like to read the comments, right? A: Actually, few registered users of MLive read the comments. Weve heard the reason for that is the general tone and substance of the comments. Q: Doesnt this affect most of your audience on MLive? A: No, very few readers comment regularly. Out of an average of 10 million monthly unique users, only about 5,000 comment in a month. Across all of Advance Local news sites, just 2,340 commenters drive more than 60 percent of the comments. 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We will make every effort to include our audience in our election coverage in the coming months, and we welcome suggestions on how best to create a positive, constructive forum, either on our site or on social media. Please send ideas or feedback to contact@mlive.com. Q: Can I access my personal comment history? A: We dont have the capability to provide archived comments to readers. Q: What happens to all the comments on old posts? A: They will be removed from the website at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Q: Would you reconsider this decision to eliminate comments? A: We believe this is the best decision to improve the quality of engagement on MLive at this time and do not anticipate reinstating comments in their current form. Q: Where can I share my opinion about this change? A: Registered users can comment here for a time. You can email contact@mlive.com, or send a letter to John Hiner, vice president of content for MLive Media Group, at 111 N. Ashley St., Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. County councillors have expressed their disappointment that both the HSE and Irish Water have refused to come to their meetings to address issues in North Cork. Members of the county council's Northern Division wrote to both organisations requesting that they send officials to attend council meetings four times a year in Mallow. However, both wrote back saying they would not be doing this. "The HSE reply is very disappointing. I don't know why they're afraid to come in here. The big gripe people have if that they (the HSE) don't seem to want to engage with anyone. We are public representatives, they should at least be engaging with us," Cllr William O'Leary said. Cllr Pat Hayes, chairman of the Northern Division, agreed with him and said there should be more engagement from health officials. Cllr Frank O'Flynn then pointed out that the council had just received a similarly negative reply from Irish Water: "They say that they won't attend our meetings as they don't have the resources." "That's very disappointing. I feel very strongly on this. We only asked to meet them once every three months," Cllr Noel McCarthy said. Cllr Bernard Moynihan maintained that many villages are crying out for new housing and can't get it because Irish Water isn't upgrading water and sewerage systems and councillors can't get answers to questions about their plans for the future. Meanwhile, Cllr Kay Dawson said they keep getting the same type of replies from Irish Water about its plans to upgrade the sewerage treatment system in Mitchelstown. She was commenting on a letter received from Irish Water saying they are currently progressing the detailed design of the project: "I thought we were over the line with that and going for planning. We need a more structured answer." "We asked for this project to be fast-tracked and they said no," Cllr O'Flynn said. Cllr Hayes agreed with Cllr Deirdre O'Brien that they should write back to Irish Water seeking more detailed information: "We'll go right to the top this time and write to their chief executive officer." Officials help passengers off a plane to waiting vehicles at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., on Monday, Feb 17, 2020. American citizens who were on a cruise ship off Japan's coast who were at high risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus after landing. (Z Long/Omaha World-Herald via AP) Of all places, why are 13 people potentially exposed to a viral outbreak being treated and observed in Omaha, Nebraska? Because nearly 20 years ago, a few doctors, public health experts and officials realized that nearly no one was meeting a national need for such specialized care and figured, why not Omaha? "We all wanted to build a better mousetrap," said Dr. Phil Smith, an infectious disease expert who led the effort to create the biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medical Center. The biocontainment unit and an adjacent quarantine facility are suddenly a focus of attention because they're housing people evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan. Nearly 60 more people potentially exposed to the virus are also biding their time in quarantine at a Nebraska National Guard base largely because of its proximity to the biocontainment unit, should those under observation develop symptoms needing treatment. When doctors and officials came up with the idea of creating the unit in Omaha in the early 2000s, not everyone was on board. "There were a number of skeptics who thought this was overkill," Smith said. Back then, the biggest concern was anthrax attacks and severe acute respiratory syndrome, more commonly known as SARS. Smith said he and others were especially worried about health care workers infected while treating patients with SARS and wanted a place where staff could train more effectively and more safely treat patients during an outbreak. Law enforcement vehicles escort Nebraska Medical Center vehicles leaving Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., on Monday, Feb 17, 2020. American citizens who were on a cruise ship off Japan's coast who were at high risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus were flown to Omaha and taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus after landing. (Z Long/Omaha World-Herald via AP) They saw another advantage in being situated near the sprawling Offutt Air Force Base, given that the military typically would be part of the response to large-scale disease outbreaks. The state health department supported the idea and offered some funding, and so did the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nebraska Medical Center ponied up enough space for five double rooms in a building with its own air-handling system. The total cost was roughly $1 million, which Smith said "in modern terms is amazingly cheap." Even after the CDC commissioned the center in 2005, some still questioned devoting so much space to the treatment of patients who might never arrive. Such criticism was largely quelled when the unit was used to effectively treat an American doctor infected with the deadly Ebola virus in 2014. Earlier this year, the University of Nebraska Medical Center opened a 20-unit quarantine center within a block of the biocontainment unit, built at a cost of nearly $20 million. It's this center that is now housing a dozen people who were removed from the Diamond Princess cruise ship and flown back to the U.S. Those people are isolated in individual rooms while being monitored for signs of COVID-19. Officials help passengers off a plane to waiting vehicles at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., on Monday, Feb 17, 2020. American citizens who were on a cruise ship off Japan's coast who were at high risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus after landing. (Z Long/Omaha World-Herald via AP) "They're very nice rooms," said Shelly Schwedhelm, a nurse and executive director of emergency management and biopreparedness at Nebraska Medicine, the health network that includes the Nebraska Medical Center. "They have Wi-Fi, they have TV, they've got a small refrigerator. Just a lot of the amenities you'd have if you were going to a hotel with a lot of engineering controls." For now they can't leave the rooms, but Schwedhelm said it's possible they'll be allowed into the halls after more testing. Seeing the focus on a center he and others dreamed up, Smith said he feels a great sense of pride. "It vindicates all the work and the lobbying we had to do to keep the idea viable," he said. 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MORE than 155 Cold Storage Company (CSC) workers in Masvingo have appealed to the Minister of Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira to intervene after the new investor, Boustead Beef (Pvt) Zimbabwe, issued them with retrenchment notices. While the US$400 million joint venture deal between CSC and Boustead Beef (Pvt) Ltd had raised hopes for more job opportunities, panicky workers said they were shocked to receive retrenchment notices recently. In a petition that was handed over to the Minister here yesterday, the workers expressed disappointment over the investor saying they now doubt Boustead Beefs capacity and sincerity. The petition signed by 50 workers criticised the manner in which Boustead was conducting its business, especially at CSC Masvingo branch. Workers committee chairman Mr Marvelous Chifambi claimed the new investor has been giving empty promises. We are appealing to you Minister to facilitate the immediate retraction of retrenchment letters to all employees. We expect investment to bring jobs as envisioned by the Second Republic instead of destroying current jobs, reads the petition. We are appealing for the immediate retraction of the Boustead Beef agreement signed with Nicholas Havecroft. The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement should declare Boustead Beef Zimbabwe incapacitated. The new investor has no knowledge of the beef industry or interest to revive CSC fortunes. You should open up space for new, serious and committed investors. Mr Chifambi told Business Chronicle that the retrenchment letters were sent by the investors consultant, Mr Reginald Shoko, on February 1, 2020 and indicated that Boustead was working on behalf of CSC and Government. How far true is this? The retrenchment proposed a two-week salary for every year served and three months-notice leave days accrued. The workers are given paltry salaries using a 2012 salary schedule where cattle attendants still got ZW$101, skinner ZW$170, accounts clerk ZW$335, auditor ZW$466 and artisan ZW$475, he said. Mr Shoko would not be drawn to comment on the matter. The employees said their rights regarding the cost of living adjustments should also be respected and demanded that management prioritises Masvingo branchs re-opening as per promise. There should be an opportunity to tap into the vast wealth of cattle endowment as the province has the highest number of cattle in the country, reads the petition. In response, Minister Chadzamira assured the employees that the matter would be addressed. We thank you CSC employees for bringing this issue to the attention of the provincial leadership. We were, however, aware of the challenges bedevilling the workers and we have made strides in engaging the investor to hear their side of the story, he said. The agreement with Boustead Beef Zimbabwe was signed way back but there is no progress. As part of devolution, the re-opening of CSC and Mashava Mine are strategic as they will be our economic vanguard once they are operational. The behaviour of Boustead Beef is suspicious and we are open to a new investor who is serious. An Italian investor has inquired about the availability of CSC. We may be forced to engage the new investor as we want the company to operate so that it contributes to the provinces Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Meghan Markle has been enjoying her new life in Canada following her and Prince Harrys shocking exit from the royal family. But sources believe that Queen Elizabeth has asked the couple to return to the UK for one last public engagement before Megxit becomes official. Harry is fully expected to comply with his grandmothers wishes, but insiders think that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, might snub Her Majesty one final time. Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth extends an invitation Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent the past few months in Canada while they work out the final details regarding their royal departure. Megxit is expected to become official this spring, but Queen Elizabeth reportedly wants Harry and Meghan to attend one last event before that happens. We have heard from the Palace that their final engagements as working members of the royal family will be taking place in early March, royal correspondent Omid Scobie stated. Queen Elizabeth Requests Meghan Markle, Prince Harry & Baby Archie's Return to U.K. for Royal Event https://t.co/0ia1oD19sb People (@people) February 9, 2020 Harry is scheduled to make an appearance at the Mountbatten Festival of Music ahead of the Commonwealth Day service, which is being held at Westminster Abbey on March 10. The festival is a two-night event at the Royal Albert Hall. It is unclear how long Harry will stay at the festival, but it will be one of his last royal engagements before stepping down as a senior member of the royal family. Royal watchers are eager to see Prince Harry in action one last time, but there is considerable doubt that Meghan will join him in March. Is Meghan Markle snubbing Queen Elizabeth? It should be noted that Buckingham Palace has not confirmed that Harry and Meghan will be appearing at the Commonwealth Day service in March. The palaces official statement about the event does not mention Harry or Meghan. Luckily, the palace will announce a guest list prior to the event, so we should know more in the weeks leading up to the service. Until we get the official word, there are doubts that Meghan Markle will return to the UK at all. According to Express, insiders claim that Meghan has not confirmed to the palace that she will attend the service alongside Harry. Harry and Meghan have been staying out of the spotlight following their stunning announcement at the beginning of the year. They are currently living in a rented home on Vancouver Island and are planning on setting up a second home base in North America. What happens if Meghan Markle returns to the UK? While there are a lot of questions about Meghans upcoming trip to the UK, it is possible that she joins Harry in March. If that happens and she attends the Commonwealth Day service, then it might be the last time we see Meghan and Harry in the same room as Prince William and Kate Middleton. Apart from the service, Scobie believes that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be meeting with their charities in London during their return home. It's been a month since the couple made the announcement that they were going to "step back" from the British royal family, which resulted in Queen Elizabeth II announcing that the couple would no longer take public funds or use their HRH royal titles. https://t.co/bI5hYfBEXo NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 14, 2020 Although they are losing their royal titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will still work with their foundation, Sussex Royal. To that end, the couple will be devising a plan on how to continue work while they live in North America. As part of their plan to leave the royal family, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will no longer rely on public funding. Instead, the two will be paying for their yearly endeavors out of their own pockets. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stun their UK staffers While we wait to see if Meghan Markle returns to the UK next month, inside sources claim that the couples staffers were completely blindsided by their exit. Shortly after the announcement, Meghan and Harry fired 15 of their staffers, who apparently had no idea they were planning on leaving the royal family. A few of the staff members have already secured other jobs in the royal family, but most of them have not. It seems the final nail has been hammered in the separation of Prince Harry and his family thanks to the dismissals of their 15 staff members from the royal household who have been told they are no longer required, Neil Sean, a royal correspondent, shared. Sean added that most of Meghan and Harrys staff thought they would be hired in Canada and genuinely enjoying working for the Sussexes. Meghan, however, reportedly told them that they are moving in a different direction. The royal family has not commented on the staffing changes, though Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles are aware of the situation. Insiders also claim that Meghan Markle is the one making the decisions when it comes to running the staff and that Prince Harry has very little responsibility on that front. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 3DR Holdings, analyst firm Inside Quantum Technology and QuTech (Technical University Delft) today announced the New York City debut of Inside Quantum Technology, the premier conference dedicated to the business of quantum computing, quantum networking and quantum sensors. Following its 2019 US debut in Boston, Inside Quantum Technology ran a successful quantum technology conference and trade show in the Netherlands in 2019 and now moves to NYC this year for two days of education, conference sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities focused on opportunities for quantum computers, quantum sensors and quantum cryptography. The conference will host special end-user panels with a focus on the use of quantum technology in in financial services, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, healthcare, automotive, transportation, defense, government and R&D. With major corporations spearheading quantum computing initiatives and behemoths like Google declaring "quantum supremacy," quantum technology is regularly making headlines and becoming a priority across numerous business sectors. Inside Quantum Technology will provide attendees with thorough state-of-the-industry panels and views of the future with presentations from the sector's pioneers, from startups and early quantum leaders to large corporations and academics. Speakers include: Robert Sutor IBM Research, VP Quantum Ecosystem Development IBM Research, VP Quantum Ecosystem Development Charles Marcus Microsoft, Principal Research Microsoft, Principal Research Martin Schuetz Amazon Web Services Quantum Solutions Lab, Quantum Data Scientist Amazon Web Services Quantum Solutions Lab, Quantum Data Scientist Whitfield Diffie Co-Inventor of Public Key Encryption Co-Inventor of Public Key Encryption Chad Rigetti Rigetti Computing, CEO Rigetti Computing, CEO Whurley Strangeworks, Founder and CEO Cathy McGeoch D-Wave, Principal Research Scientist D-Wave, Principal Research Scientist Taro Shimada Toshiba Corporation, Corporate Vice President and Chief Digital Officer "As quantum technologies develop and mature, organizations are faced with both opportunities and challenges that arise from quantum's impact," said Lawrence Gasman, President of Inside Quantum Technology. "This year's Inside Quantum Technology summit will explore real-world use cases to provide actionable insights and strategies to our attendees, along with connections to the individuals who are leading the charge." Inside Quantum Technology conference session topics include: Investor and venture capital trends Quantum computing hardware forecasts New quantum sensor technologies and materials Quantum network applications and forecasts US national quantum technology policy Quantum-based cybersecurity in mobile networks and payment systems Quantum computing hardware startups: What are the opportunities? AI, machine learning and quantum computing Post-quantum cryptography Quantum key distribution Quantum technology for healthcare: imaging, therapy and planning Quantum technology for the materials sector: pharmaceuticals, the chemical industry, and oil and gas Quantum technology for automotive, aerospace and transportation planning Quantum technology in the banking and financial services In addition, Inside Quantum Technology will feature a Startup Competition for seed-stage quantum technology organizations or academic based programs, who will pitch their startups to an audience of industry execs, VCs and other investors. For additional details about Inside Quantum Technology, including the complete agenda, registration information, sponsorship and exhibition options, please visit https://iqtevent.com. About 3DR Holdings 3DR Holdings is a technology media organization with website, research and international trade show interests in the fields of 3D Printing and Quantum Computing. For more information, please visit https://3drholdings.com. About Inside Quantum Technology Founded by Lawrence Gasman and Alan Meckler, Inside Quantum Technology is the first company entirely dedicated to meeting the strategic information and analysis needs of the emerging quantum technology sector. In addition to arranging conferences and publishing articles of critical importance to the quantum technology sector, the company's consulting group, provides published reports on important revenue opportunities in quantum technology including quantum computer markets and software, quantum key distribution, post-quantum cryptography, quantum sensors, and on important verticals such as the military, the financial sector, big pharma, and more. For additional information, please visit https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com. Media Contact: Barry Schwartz, Schwartz Public Relations [email protected], 212-677-8700 ext. 118 SOURCE Inside Quantum Technology Related Links https://iqtevent.com Korea performed the worst in terms of exports last year among the world's four manufacturing powerhouses after China, Japan and Germany. The Federation of Korean Industries on Monday cited World Trade Organization data as showing that Korea's total exports in the first three quarters of 2019 shrank 9.83 percent on-year, the biggest decline after China (down 0.09 percent), Japan (down 4.5 percent) and Germany (down 5.21 percent). Korea's global market share for 20 key traded products excluding crude oil and gas rose from 4.30 percent in 2008 to 6.58 percent in 2018. Over the same period, China's share almost doubled from 11.0 to 20.83 percent, while Germany's increased 1.64 percentage points and Japan's fell 0.43 percentage point. Eom Chi-sung at the FKI said, "China, which accounts for a quarter of our exports and a third of our foreign direct investment, is expected to see growth decline due to the coronavirus epidemic, so we will have to take a more aggressive stance to boost trade this year." Advertisement NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie, who hit Ryan Newman's car during the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Monday and sent him spinning into a fiery wreck, has recalled the horrifying impact and said he did not know who he'd hit because he was going so fast. Newman remains in the hospital in a serious condition. According to a NASCAR statement released on Monday night, he is expected to make a full recovery. He was leading the famous race in his No. 6 Ford Mustang when he first hit the wall at 195 miles per hour. It sent his car spinning backwards and LaJoie, who was driving behind him, then crashed into the driver's side of Newman's vehicle. Newman's Mustang flipped multiple times and began spitting out flames. He was pulled from the wreckage in front of nervous crowds afterwards and was immediately rushed to the hospital. President Trump tweeted on Monday night that he was 'praying' for the 42-year-old driver. On Tuesday morning during an interview with Good Morning America, LaJoie said he it was 'very scary' what had happened. Scroll down for video Corey LaJoie spoke on Tuesday about the crash (left). He clipped Ryan Newman's vehicle after it had already hit the track wall. The collision sent Newman's car flying into the air in a fiery wreck. He remains in the hospital in a serious condition How it all unfolded: Newman's car was nudged up against a wall at high speeds, causing it to flip over and fall back After Newman's vehicle landed after flipping the first time, it was then struck directly by No. 32 - driven by Corey LaJoie Newman's car flew into the air after LaJoie clipped him while they sped around the Daytona 500 track at 195mph on Monday night Flames soon started shooting from Newman's vehicle before he came to a stop and emergency teams flooded the track Newman was trapped in the smoking wreckage and has to be cut from the vehicle A crowd of emergency workers pulled Newman from the wreckage and immediately put him in an ambulance The nervous crowd watched as Newman was put in the ambulance and then driven from the track to go to the hospital 'He's obviously in a serious condition because that's probably the most vulnerable spot in our race cars that was a really scary wreck. 'It was wild, I didn't even know who I hit because you're concentrating on trying to get a good finish and nobody knows how fast 200mph or how light or out of control these cars are. 'I didn't even know who I hit or what the extent of the crash was. '[It was a] very scary crash but the fact that he's still with us and trying to make a full recovery is just testament to NASCAR and how safe they're trying to make these race cars,' he said. President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday night that he was praying for Newman NASCAR released a statement, saying: 'Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. 'He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. 'We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time.' Newman has made complaints in the past about the safety of NASCAR's tracks. He's been a harsh critic of NASCAR's struggles to keep cars on the ground, even getting fined for public comments the sanctioning body considered negative. In 2010, he said fans shouldn't even go to the track to see races at Talladega. Denny Hamlin, who sped to victory unaware of what had happened on the track behind him, was criticized for celebrating so quickly when Newman's condition was unknown When the Fedex team realized what had happened and how serious it was, they cut their celebrations short in shock They then all huddled together in prayer for Newman. A screen grab of that moment is shown above Team owner Joe Gibbs (left) is pictured with Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin (right) following the race. Gibbs apologized for celebrating the victory as Newman was rushed off to hospital The Indiana native, who graduated with an engineering degree from Purdue, said earlier during Speedweeks he felt renewed in his second year at Roush Fenway Racing. 'It's all about competitiveness and fun,' he said. 'I want to have fun with my life. If I can have fun in this garage doing it and get paid what I feel like I deserve to get paid, then I'm all for it. It's got to be fun and it's got be rewarding in more ways than one. 'I'm doing it past when I said I was going to do it 10 years ago. I don't know how to give the answer anymore, I really don't. I always said 40 and I'm 42 now.' On Monday night, after the wreck, Denny Hamlin went on to win the race in his No 11. Toyota Camry for the second consecutive season, prompting NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs to wildly celebrate at the finish line. However, Gibbs has now apologized for gloating about the victory, saying he was unaware of how serious Newman's accident actually was. 'We really didn't know, we got in the winner's circle and that's when people told us,' he told assembled press later in the evening. Newman remains in the hospital in a serious condition but he did not suffer life threatening injuries Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who frequently watch him on from the sidelines of the race track. They are pictured in 2016 Meanwhile, Hemlin appeared somber following his victory, telling assembled press: 'I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are and number one, we are praying for Ryan'. Newman announced last week he and his wife, Krissie, had split after 16 years of marriage 'It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. We are just hoping for the best.' Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who at his side in the moments before Sunday's race began, only to be delayed a day by rain. Other drivers were also stricken with concern in the aftermath of the smash, including a rattled Corey LaJoie - the driver who hit Newman's car as it was flipping. 'Dang I hope Newman is ok,' he posted on Twitter. 'That is worst case scenario and I had nowhere to go but (into) smoke.' It wasn't the first crash like this for Newman at Daytona or at another superspeedway, the Talladega track in Alabama. His car went airborne and flipped repeatedly in the 2003 Daytona 500. He landed on his roof in that one and did again at Talladega in 2009. Newman also announced last week he and his wife had split after 16 years of marriage. 'I feel just renewed in general, the team, the people, the opportunities, the sponsors,' he said. 'All that makes a big difference to me. We've got to perform better. 'Just because we performed better than they had done in the past doesn't mean it's up to my standards and my goals. 'I feel like we need to step it up and that's a big part of me wanting to continue doing what I'm doing.' All global count of cases and deaths that are caused by the COVID-19 or coronavirus that had its ground zero in Wuhan is not a comforting fact. It reflects the dire risk of how fast the infection rate is escalating out of control. One other small detail is how to detect hidden coronavirus infections, which is another aspect of the alarming situation. Jeremy Farrar of the Wellcome Trust made this grim statement about the China coronavirus. Chinese researchers released the virus sequencing in January 11 wherein tests were devised to diagnose if anyone is positive for infection. China's National Medical Products Administration gave the go signal to produce the testing kits from five companies. The response was fast for production of the virus testing kits to be used to detect positve infections. Increase in the number of positive infections and supply problems with trained staff became a problem how to effectively identify infected patients. Samples were taken from the nose and throat, or lung fluid was collected for confirmed COVID-19 testing. Infection must be active to be detected by the test positively. Efforts are on the way to create tests that detect the antibodies of the coronavirus in the blood. In Hubei, the second-worst hit has 43,000 positive infections of COVID-19. As the rise in the infection rate got higher in Hubei, more medical supply shortages were announced raising an alarm. Epidemiologist Ian Lipkin of Columbia University, who went to China said the situation is overwhelming. He went into quarantine immediately to make sure. Not everyone got tested for COVID-19, and many were turned away as supplies dwindle. In this scenario, hidden coronavirus infection will remain undetected. Also read: Researchers Reveal Coronavirus May Live More Than a Week Despite Absence of Host So far, there are no confirmed African infections, because no testing is done in the area. Two labs are available in Africa for COVID-19, said John Nkengasong who leads to African CDC. Fortunately, the virus is not yet active in the region. If it had in January, it will be catastrophic for them. At Senegal in Dakar, 15 specialists were trained to conduct tests. Despite no reported cases yet, vigilance is needed and caution if it infects people in the area. All over the world, the fast rise of infections is outgaining the availability of testing kits for anti-disease organizations. The focus is not on testing but on the signs of visible infection, as American officials do this for people coming from China. Labs are in full gear to create anti-body tests, but only for mild coronavirus infection not severe ones. Immunity responses happen slowly but will help know more about the spread of COVID-19. More research is needed to know more about it, as cases rise with the infected. Testing with peptides that are from the virus will catch anti-bodies that are in the blood but are not active yet. It takes an active virus to infect host cells that starts the production of viral-antibodies which control cell machinery. A newly devised test needs blood from a positive infection, wherein doctors would wait for 3-weeks to let the anti-bodies increase. One subject has reached 21-days already, and Marion Koopmans of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands will conduct a test soon. This might help detect hidden coronavirus infection to prevent escalation into worse infections. Related Article: Red Cross Blamed for Deficient China Coronavirus Supplies @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The police is examining the case from various angles to find out whether it was a suicide or an accident. The police came to know that deceased were in a state of depression after their son was killed in a road accident three years back. They were undergoing counselling in Hyderabad. Karimnagar: Even as there is a sense of despair after a car fell under the Manair bridge and killed two people on Sunday, a search for a woman who fell in Kakatiya canal led to the recovery of a car that had sunk there and had three bodies in it. Authorities were searching for the body of a woman who fell in the canal accidentally while going on a bike with her husband at Alaganur of Thimmapur mandal in Karimnagar district on Monday. Hyderabad resident P. Venkatanarayana Pradeep came to Karim-nagar along with his wife Keerthana to attend a function on Saturday. The couple decided to offer prayers at the Sri Tapala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple situated in LMD Colony of Thimmapur mandal on Sunday. Their motorcycle accidentally fell in Kakatiya canal at Alaganur. LMD police officials Satyanarayana and Srinivas, who were on patrol, heard their screams for help. Along with locals, they rescued Pradeep, who told them his wife was in the water. Authorities stopped the water flow into the canal and conducted rescue operations to search for Keerthana, 27. Her body was after some hours of vigorous search. Meanwhile, when the water flow stopped, the police noticed a car on Monday. Under the supervision of IPS trainee Nithika Pant, the car was retrieved and brought to the surface. Police found three bodies in a highly decomposed state. Based on the documents available in the car, the three bodies were identified as belonging to one family. They were said to be relatives of Peddapalli MLA Dasari Manohar Reddy. The dead included Satyanarayana Reddy, 55, Radha 50, cousin of the MLA. and their daughter Vinaya Sri, 20, residents of Bank Colony in the city. Satyanarayana Reddy had a fertiliser shop in Karimnagar while his wife was a government school teacher and their daughter a medical student at Meghana Institute of Medical Science College in Nizamabad. The trio was missing from January 27. The family did not lodge any missing complaint. The police is examining the case from various angles to find out whether it was a suicide or an accident. The police came to know that deceased were in a state of depression after their son was killed in a road accident three years back. They were undergoing counselling in Hyderabad. Post-mortem was performed on the spot. Police registered a case and started a probe. Although the website is accessible, the work isnt finished. The associations historians plan to continue adding to it as they gather and corroborate more information. They know there are stories that still have not been told, and they have asked scholars and families with ties to enslaved people at the White House to share their histories. They expect there will be more names added to the list of the men, women and children who were subjected to slavery at the White House. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who was sacked from the Janata Dal (United) last month, on Tuesday for the first time gave his reasons for the falling out with his former boss, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Kishor debunked Kumars earlier claims that he was inducted into the party on the recommendation of Union home minister Amit Shah. I have been with Nitishji since 2014 when he was left with just two MPs, but I still had huge respect for him. He treated me like his son, and I looked up to him like my father. If he wants to be happy by telling a lie about me, which I refuted the same day through my tweet, I gift him that happiness, he said. Kishor also seemed to question his style of governance and ideological dalliance in an apparent bid to build a new narrative without disclosing his own political leanings. My political ideology is egalitarian humanism rooted in the Gandhian philosophy. I have my own thoughts and ideas and I cannot be defined by Nitishji or anyone else. I have worked with many leaders and parties opposed to the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] since the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he said. Kishor cited Kumars ideological muddle by mentioning Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse and the CMs alleged hunger for power. But the fact is that he cannot remain with Godse supporters and still claim to be championing the Gandhian ideology, he said. Kishor said even during the Lok Sabha election last year, he had differences with Kumar over his ideological positioning as well his positioning in the [National Democratic] Alliance and that the two often discussed them at great length. There is a world of difference between Nitishji of 2005 and 2019. For me, Nitishji with two MPs in 2014 commanded a far greater respect. He is a CM representing over 10 crore Biharis. He cannot be a manager just to prolong his hold on power, he added. Kishor reiterated that he would like to urge Bihar not to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, the National Population Register (NPR) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Kumar has held divergent views over the CAA and NRC, echoing his ideological and political compulsions. I welcome Nitishji and Ramvilas Paswans statements. They have also raised questions about certain aspects of the NPR. As far as the CAA is concerned, I will accept it the day anyone gets citizenship under this Act, he added. In his first interaction with the media in Patna since he was expelled from the JD(U), Kishor said he was not looking to get into any alliance to win or lose elections. Instead, he spoke about launching a campaign called Baat Bihar Ki that seeks to tap the states youth power. I will work to encourage the youth who could take Bihar forward and those who have the dream to change it to be among the top 10 states in the next decade. I have a long- and medium-term plan. Baat Bihar Ki will be launched on February 20 that seeks to involve 1,000 committed youth from across the state, he added. In a veiled reference to Kumar, Kishor said that Bihar needed a leader who could speak his mind, have the vision to take the state among the top 10 states and one who does not make compromises for power and a few seats. Had there been development in Bihar, one could have found reasons behind the compromises Nitishji made. Did Bihar get special status? Nitishji requested with folded hands before PM Modi for Patna University to be accorded central university status. But even that was also rejected, he added. Kishors comment touched a raw nerve with his erstwhile party colleagues. JD(U) MP RCP Sinha hit back at Kishor, saying Kumar did not require any certificate from anyone. People of Bihar know how much Nitishji has worked to change Bihar in the last 15 years, he said. JD(U) spokesperson Ajay Alok said that Kishor had used the name of Kumar to establish his company, IPAC. He has never been a political leader. On the one hand, he calls Nitish Kumar a father-like figure and on the other hand criticises him, he added. The BJP chose to downplay Kishors statements. We are not authorised to speak on anything and everything. Kishor is, after all, not a big political figure, said a BJP leader who did not want to be identified. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The widow of a slain Chicago Police Department commander has filed a lawsuit against the website used to sell the gun tied to her husbands death. The Chicago Sun-Times reports Erin Bauer and the nonprofit gun control group Brady filed the lawsuit against Armslist.com in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee. The 9-millimeter Glock pistol allegedly used to kill Cmdr. Paul Bauer in 2018 was sold by a Madison, Wisconsin resident to a Milwaukee resident. The lawsuit claims the gun later made its way through the criminal marketplace to Shomari Legghette, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Paul Bauer, 53. Bauer was shot six times as he chased a suspect in non-fatal shooting that took place days earlier. The lawsuit alleges Armslist negligently allowed sales of weapons without background checks. Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel for Brady, contends other websites have features preventing unlicensed sellers from selling guns to customers who are legally barred from owning firearms. We cant know what would have happened if Armslist was not negligent but we do know what did happen: someone who should not have had a gun was able to get one, and a police commander is dead, Lowy said. The lawsuit seeks both financial damages and injunctions to force Armslist to change its practices. Armslist officials havent responded to requests for comment. Legghette is scheduled to go on trial later this year. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement COLUMBIA, S.C. - A suspended South Carolina sheriff already indicted on domestic violence charges now faces 13 additional criminal charges including giving alcohol to someone under 21 and using his power to continue a sexual relationship with an employee, authorities said. The new indictments against Colleton County Sheriff R.A. Strickland were unsealed Tuesday. Authorities accuse Strickland of a broad range of misconduct and corruption, ranging from using deputies to do personal work and campaign for him while on duty, giving a $3,000 radio that could access secure police and other emergency radio traffic to someone with no official purpose and using his power to hire, fire and determine salaries to coerce an employee to keep having a sexual relationship, according to the indictments. Strickland also spent public money for expenses that were not part of his duties to go to a Myrtle Beach law enforcement conference and while he was there illegally gave prescription drugs to an employee and gave alcohol to a subordinate who was under age 21, the indictments said. If convicted of all 13 counts, Strickland could face a maximum of nearly 100 years in prison. But none of the charges require prison time if the suspended sheriff is convicted. A judge Thursday set Stricklands bond at $25,000, ordered him to wear an ankle monitor, surrender all his guns and not contact anyone at the sheriffs office, media outlets reported. Strickland was arrested in November and charged with domestic violence after state investigators said he attacked a woman in his home, punching her in the face and taking her cellphones so she could not call for help, according to an arrest warrant. Strickland took a leave as sheriff two days after his arrest that became a suspension after his indictment on the domestic violence charge. The domestic violence case against Strickland would not stand up in court because the woman who authorities said was attacked didnt come to police and was contacted first instead by the State Law Enforcement Division, Stricklands lawyer Andy Savage told WCIV-TV. Savage did not return an email seeking comment on the latest indictments.Savage said at Stricklands bond hearing that he paid back the money for the Myrtle Beach trip, but a prosecutor added that was only after The Post and Courier of Charleston wrote a story about it. Ten South Carolina sheriffs have been convicted of crimes in office in the past decade. Two others Strickland and suspended Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood are awaiting trial. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP (Bloomberg) -- New ideas are hard to come by, so it was a case of deja vu for many investors when President Cyril Ramaphosa again touted the idea of a state-owned South African bank and sovereign wealth fund. The desire for the countrys wealth, minerals, land and its banks to be owned and shared by all South Africans harks back to 1955, when the now ruling African National Congress and allies against racial segregation adopted the Freedom Charter. The government proposed a sovereign wealth fund as early as 2010, while plans to form a state bank that will improve access to credit, are yet to get off the ground. But now is not seen as the right time to push them through. The governments coffers are all but dry and its debt levels worryingly high. Besides, most state-owned entities are in disarray -- their finances plundered after years of corruption and mis-management. To actually talk about a sovereign wealth fund in our context really is quite honestly a distraction, said Cas Coovadia, managing director of the Banking Association of South Africa. What weve got to concentrate on is getting our negative fiscal situation sorted out. It should be taken off the table. The National Treasury shot down the idea of a state-owned bank last year, telling Parliament that it would be hard to justify in the absence of major market failures. At least 90% of adults use some form of financial service, the Treasury said, citing a 2018 report by the Finmark Trust. Also, only 1% of South Africans made use of the national post offices financial-services arm Postbank. Government should be getting smaller and reducing SOEs, not creating new ones, said Chris Eddy, head of investments at 10X Investments. Ramaphosa is leaving the details to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni when he presents his budget speech later this month. Fiscal Exhaustion We question how either of these can be realistically capitalized against the backdrop of weak growth and fiscal exhaustion, Absa Group Ltd. economist Peter Worthington said. The inclusion of these proposals in the presidents speech on Thursday was regrettable, he said. Story continues While creating a sovereign wealth fund could be exciting and place South Africa in the same league as Nordic and Middle Eastern nations, the timing is poor, said Peter Takaendesa, head of equities at Mergence Investment Managers in Cape Town. The sovereign wealth fund has been proposed for years at this point, but perhaps it is a sign of consistency that the government keeps bringing it up as a priority, he said. There are other things that are significantly more important, and that should be further ahead in the queue. While South Africa grapples with a moribund economy and 29% unemployment, it is also trying to turn around its ailing state-owned companies. These include its over-indebted power utility, which is struggling to stabilize supply, and its bankrupt airline. The government already owns a development bank, an agricultural bank and a lender focused on industrial projects. Though Ramaphosas speech highlighted the need to re-purpose state-run companies the decision to establish a state bank, at a time many SOEs are in severe trouble, is inexplicable, Business Unity South Africa, a lobby group, said in an email. We must also question what a state bank can do that the private banking sector cant. (Corrects name and title of analyst on sixth paragraph) --With assistance from Adelaide Changole. To contact the reporter on this story: Roxanne Henderson in Johannesburg at rhenderson56@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stefania Bianchi at sbianchi10@bloomberg.net, Vernon Wessels, Rene Vollgraaff For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The ever-growing number of satellites and orbital debris in space prompted calls for change at a House hearing, although how this will be legislated is still under consideration. At issue is the rise of privately owned satellite constellations by companies such as SpaceX and OneWeb. Satellites today are smaller and more affordable than the big machines of past decades, thanks to advancements in technology. But with fleets of small satellites comes other risks, such as more chances for them to slam into each other. And high-profile near misses are starting to become more common. "This is one of the most important and rapidly evolving issues facing our ability to operate in space," said Kendra Horn, D-Okla., chair of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, in her opening statement at the hearing in Washington, on Feb. 11. Related: 7 wild ways to destroy orbital debris Two large, defunct and uncontrollable satellites nearly collided in orbit two weeks ago, passing about 60 feet (18 meters) from each other narrowly avoiding a collision that could have sent thousands of pieces of "space junk" into low Earth orbit. And in late 2019, the European Space Agency had to redirect one of its satellites to reduce the risk of a collision; the other satellite operator, SpaceX, did not respond to requests to move its own machine out of the way. This doesn't even mention the numerous confirmed examples of space collisions and space junk over the decades that in some cases, are still causing problems today. For example, the International Space Station has changed its orbit in the past to dodge dangerous space debris. Space assets such as weather satellites, telecommunications links and the GPS navigation system for the United States are among the vital links of space infrastructure that could be knocked out if collisions continue. The U.S. Department of Defense has a catalog of more than 20,000 known space objects, Horn said, although this number has a couple of limitations. The catalog only represents unclassified satellites or objects, and it also indicates the number of trackable objects. There are some things in space that are just too small to be tracked with current technology. "Space is going to get more crowded," Horn said, as thousands of new objects join what's already in space. The SpaceX Starlink constellation could have more than 12,000 satellites alone in a few years, and (besides the collision concern) it already is raising concerns from astronomers for its bright objects blocking night-sky observations. The House subcommittee commissioned a few experts to speak on how lawmakers can address this problem, under a provision in the 2020 NASA budget to carry out research and development activities concerning space debris mitigation, and to consider a strategy for space situational awareness research and technology. The solutions proposed were diverse, but for the most part, the experts said it will likely involve using several government entities that could include NASA, the Department of Commerce and other possibilities. There may be some private industry involvement as well. Public-private partnerships One possibility is finding more sources for satellite data outside of the Department of Defense. "We need better data," said subcommittee ranking member Brian Babin (R-Texas), adding that the Department of Defense cannot release all data for national security concerns and it does not see everything. Babin suggested that the Department of Commerce could form a partnership with the private sector. It already has experience with regulating standards such as export controls, he said. It also already gives a "light touch" to emerging industries, he pointed out such as its careful relationship in the 1990s with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that assigns internet addresses, among many other functions. Brian Weeden, the Secure World Foundation's director of program planning, testified as a witness for the subcommittee. He said alerts are already coming from private industry nonetheless. It was LeoLabs, a private American company, that first sent out the alert about the possible 2020 collision in a tweet three days before the event, he said based on ground-based tracking radars. But he warned the current infrastructure is "dangerously insufficient to face the growing number of space challenges." But Commerce is not the only federal entity that could step up to help solve the space junk crisis. International collaboration Much of space law rests on precedent, taking into account how things are done in international waters or on the continent of Antarctica (where multiple countries have jurisdiction). For that reason, scholar Ruth Stilwell called for considering the "high seas" as one area where space policymakers could turn for legislation. (Stilwell is an adjunct professor at Norwich University and a senior non-resident scholar at the Space Policy Institute of George Washington University.) Stilwell called for an "international agreement on standards and behaviors," with a transition to new space traffic management taking into account the needs of various space players. Whatever the framework is, however, it would need government oversight of some sort. "You can only be a good actor with rules to follow," Stilwell added later in the hearing. "You can't expect somebody to be a good actor if rules do not exist." There is also concern that by handing space traffic control to big entities like Commerce and a few private companies, other voices (such as smaller companies) could be lost in the space world. "We need to ensure the expertise developed in small communities is not lost in the transition phase," Danielle Wood, the director of the space-enabled research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said at the hearing. While NASA does have expertise in the space domain, the agency doesn't have all the expertise that other ones have which is why Joanne Gabrynowicz, professor emeritus of space law at the University of Mississippi Law Center, called for an interagency solution. "There is no one agency who has it all," Gabrynowicz said at the hearing, referring to other government agency possibilities for managing space traffic. NASA also has numerous other things to think about, Weeden said in a separate piece of testimony including its mandate to land astronauts on the moon by 2024 and then move on to Mars. "NASA could do it, but my sense is they will be overwhelmed by all the other things," Weeden said. If people don't act quickly, there is the risk that space debris could lock out the possibility of future missions for a while, if a collision creates pieces of debris that slam into other satellites and break them up, too. (This is known as the Kessler Syndrome.) Over time the collisions would stabilize, noted Daniel Oltrogge, who is founder and administrator of the Space Safety Coalition, but the effects would still be felt. "By the time it does [stabilize], you have a huge number of small particles out there, and some fragments that are quite large," said Oltrogge, who is also chair of the space traffic management space governance task force for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. More subcommittee hearings will be coming up to discuss what to do next. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Alan Kelly and Aodhan O Riordain will go head-to-head for leadership of the Labour Party Alan Kelly and Aodhan O Riordain have both announced their intention to run for the leadership of the Labour Party Mr Kelly unveiled his leadership bid in Dublin on Tuesday with new Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith nominating the Tipperary deputy who was seconded by Cork East TD Sean Sherlock. The Labour Party will have a contest for the leadership, however, as Aodhan O Riordain is taking on the Tipperary TD. Mr O Riordain was re-elected as the party TD in the Dublin Bay North constituency. The former junior minister was a TD from 2011 to 2016, but then lost his seat and served as a Senator for the past four years. Mr Kelly is being backed by former TDs Willie Penrose, Jan O'Sullivan and Mary Upton as well as a number of councillors across the country. He said he would "relish" a contest and that it would be good for the party. He said that Labour needed to go "back to basics" and reposition itself to represent working people. He said the party would stick with its position of not going into government as it has no mandate to do so. Mr Nash was tipped to contest for the leadership of the Labour Party along with former deputy leader Alan Kelly who will announce his intention to run later on Tuesday. The Louth TD's decision not to run leaves Dublin Bay North TD Aodhan O Riordain as the only likely rival to Mr Kelly for the leadership after Brendan Howlin announced his intention to resign last week. Ged Nash said he will not contest for the party leadership despite being encouraged to do so in recent days. Mr Nash, who won back a Dail seat in Louth last week after losing it in 2016, said he wants to focus on his constituency for the foreseeable future. In a statement issued on Tuesday morning through the Labour Press Office, Mr Nash said: "I want to thank those Parliamentary Labour Party colleagues who have encouraged me to run for the position of Leader of the Labour Party. "I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Party members and supporters across the country who have been in contact with me in recent days to encourage me to contest the election. "After considerable reflection, I have taken the decision not to allow my name to go forward. "Just over one week ago, the people of Louth & East Meath honoured me with a mandate to represent them, their families and our community in Dail Eireann. "I am proud to have been entrusted with their trust and confidence. With that mandate comes enormous responsibility. My home town of Drogheda is at present faced with a particular set of complex challenges. "There is a responsibility on my local Dail colleagues and I to work night and day both locally and nationally to fix them. This is where my immediate focus must lie. "I look forward to playing a full and central role in the reorientation, renewal and revitalisation of our Party under a new leader." A new study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility in February 2020 reports a higher risk for mortality in children who were conceived by the in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique followed by freezing of the embryos, compared to those naturally conceived, but only in the first few weeks of life. Image Credit: Chinnapong / Shutterstock Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) have come into vogue in recent years as more women pursue a career for many more years before trying to conceive. IVF is the most efficient form of ART. IVF refers to a complex multistep method to overcome infertility or to ensure that a defective gene is not passed down to the next generation, by artificially creating conditions for fertilization and the very early growth of the embryo to the stage where it can be inserted into the mothers womb to hopefully grow into a live full-term baby. The fundamental principle is the retrieval of mature eggs from the ovaries, either those of the mother-to-be or a donor, to be fertilized by sperm from the father or a donor in a laboratory. The conceptus is then allowed to grow for a few days to the stage when it would naturally be implanted in the uterus. At this point, it is reintroduced into the uterus, unless a surrogate mother (gestational carrier) is used to bring the baby to maturity and birth the baby, before handing it over to the real mother. In many cases, the pregnancies end well with both mother and baby doing well. However, it is known that the risk of babies being born too small, too early, or with birth defects is higher in babies conceived by IVF. Another factor that probably contributes to the poor outcomes in some cases is the increased chances of multiple pregnancies, usually twins, with IVF. To avoid the effects of these confounding factors, the researchers looked at only singleton children born after IVF as well as other ARTs. They looked at how these children fared after birth, in comparison to naturally conceived controls. The study findings The researchers examined the data on 2.8 million children who were born in Sweden over 3 decades, and among whom were about 43,500 conceived through ART. Altogether, there were more than 7,200 infant deaths before one year of age. 114 of these had been conceived via ART. The investigators then controlled for factors such as being born to older mothers and earlier infertility. They found that compared to those conceived naturally, IVF babies had a 45% increased risk of dying within their first year of life. The risk depends on the type of ART and on the current age of the child (within the first year of life). It was highest in the first few weeks and then showed a reduction. When the pregnancy began with the transfer of a frozen embryo, the risk of the baby dying within a week of birth was twice that of naturally conceived children. The sample on which this was based was, however, very small. If the IVF was performed using a fresh embryo, or if the embryo was the result of the ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) technique, there was no higher mortality than for naturally conceived children at any point in the first year of life. The major causes for the increased mortality in this group of infants included respiratory distress, pulmonary immaturity, infections, and neonatal bleeds. One reason for these complications could be the significantly increased rate of preterm birth in IVF children, which is an indicator of a poorer outcome. Again, the reason for underlying infertility, which resulted in the use of ART could be linked to a higher chance of complications. After the first week, the risk declined until it reached almost the same level as that of the infants conceived by natural means. Implications Commenting on the findings, researcher Anastasia Nyman Iliadou, says, Our results indicate that the kind of assisted reproductive technique used may make a difference, and therefore it is important to investigate further what causes or underlying mechanisms are behind the risks. Iliadou thinks that children born following IVF must require special care in the first week of life to reduce the additional risk. However, co-researcher Kenny Rodriguez-Wallberg emphasizes that the absolute risk for each child born after IVF is minimal, and most of the deaths are in preterm infants. Moreover, they highlight the decreased risk after the first year of life. The study thus points out a negative association of IVF on the health of the infants conceived through the use of a frozen embryo, which is small though noticeable when the group is observed carefully. US financier Bill Browder, who spearheaded the United States' Magnitsky Act, an act that targets human rights violators around the world told Australia that it should bring in similar legislation. Browder said that if Australia does not enact similar legislation then it risks becoming 'a magnet for dirty money'. Sanctions for human rights violators The Magnitsky act involved targeted sanctions against human rights violators from abusers to kleptocrats. The law is named after Sergei Magnitsky who in 2008 discovered a fraud worth $230 million committed by Russian government officials. After testifying against these officials, Magnitsky was arrested and tortured. He died in jail and was later put on trial after his death. In a report submitted by Browder, he advised the Australian parliamentary inquiry that legal recompense against human rights abusers had to be sought internationally. According to his report, Browder claimed that human rights abusers keep their money in the west where property rights and rule of law exists and is upheld. This was the thought process behind the Magnitsky Act that freezes assets and bans visas of human rights violators. BREAKING: Here is my testimony to the Australian parliament calling for Australia to implement a Magnitsky Act pic.twitter.com/jK4zdDC3qO Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) February 17, 2020 Read: Chinese Human Rights Activist Who Called On Xi Jinping To Step Down Arrested Read: Kerala HC: Accused In UAPA Case Allan Shuhaib Has Right To Attend Examination The US passed the Sergei Magnitsky Accountability Act in 2012 and the Act was later expanded upon in 2016. With the help of the Act, the US has imposed sanctions on almost 100 individuals and over 100 entities from countries like South Sudan, Uganda, Iraq and Cambodia according to his report. The reports further indicated that Browder told the joint standing committee that Australia, as a champion of human rights and anti-corruption in the Asia-Pacific should also consider enacting such a law. In December last year, Australia's Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, reportedly requested the committee to inquire into the possibility of introducing legislation that implemented visa and property-related sanctions of individuals that were involved in human rights violations or those who in any way assisted in the violation of human rights. (Image Credit: @Billbrowder/Twitter) Read: House Acts To Remove Deadline For Equal Rights Amendment Read: Tamil Nadu: PMK Chief Talks About Doubling Farmer's Income, Protection Of Their Rights (with inputs from agencies) "For all the good things that the legislators are doing and this year they're doing more good to public schools than they have in years past, I'll give them credit but we still haven't had enough," Hand said. "It is not enough to just make the promise. They need to do something and the time is now." Public schools advocates specifically called for greater accountability of virtual charter and voucher accepting schools after a state audit report released publicly last week revealed two Indiana virtual charter schools misspent more than $85 million. Also, speakers drew attention to the state's ongoing debate in increasing teacher pay to better compete with surrounding Midwestern states something educators made the cornerstone of a November 2019 rally drawing more than 15,000 supporters to the statehouse and encouraged educators to be mindful of who they vote for in the fall. McCormick's position as superintendent of public instruction becomes a governor-appointed role at the end of her term. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has conceded that Ireland faces an uphill task to protect the budget of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Speaking to the Farming Independent yesterday, the Taoiseach repeated his commitment to fight to retain the current level of CAP funding. "We face a real battle as many other countries want to reduce the budget for CAP and divert it to other areas. I will be arguing in Brussels that CAP funding should be maintained at least at its existing level." Farmers have described a proposal to cut the EU budget for farm subsidies as a 'devastating blow'. EU leaders will debate the proposal which would see the proportion of EU funds spent on CAP fall to just 30pc from 36pc. It was over 70pc in the 1980s. Among the proposals that will be tabled at a critical budget summit on Thursday is one that will grant Member States more flexibility in how CAP funds are directed. It has also been suggested that 40pc of the expenditure be dedicated to climate action. IFA president Tim Cullinan said that the leaked proposal of European Council president Charles Michel would be a huge blow for Irish farmers, describing it as a 'devastating blow'. He said the Taoiseach must now focus on these EU negotiations and not be distracted by the negotiations to form a new Government. Presenting a so-called negotiating box which will form the basis of intense horse-trading between 27 EU national leaders at a summit on Feb. 20, European Council President Charles Michel proposed a budget for 2021-27 of 1.074pc of the EUs gross national income, or 1.095 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion), of which a quarter is to go towards making the EU neutral in terms of CO2 emissions by 2050. The departure of Britain from the bloc on Jan. 31 left a gap of more than 10 billion a year in the EUs funding, since it was a leading contributor to the budget after Germany. But EU officials said revenue from the plastics tax and money from the augmented carbon trading scheme, which would also incorporate the transport sector, could generate 14 billion to 15 billion euros a year more than enough to fill the gap. But the overall budget number is still too high for a group of the biggest net contributors led by Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark. These richer countries dont want an amount higher than 1.0pc and criticised the 1.07pc figure when it was presented by the Finnish EU presidency last year. The Dutch-led the charge for rich northern states unwilling to step into the Brexit breach: A smaller EU ... should have a smaller budget, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. Against that, Frances agriculture minister called it simply unthinkable to shave funds off Brussels hefty spending on farm subsidies. Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that terror has no religion and condemned what he said was a "conspiracy" by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Congress party to raise the "bogey of Hindu terror" in the country. Goyal while speaking on the reported excerpt from the ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria's book that Ajmal Kasab would have died as Samir Dinesh Chaudhari "with a red thread tied around his wrist" had LeT succeeded in their plan, said: "Why is Maria ji speaking these things now? He should have said that when he was the Police Commissioner. According to the service rules, if some information is with senior police officers, they should take action on it." Ajmal Kasab was part of the group of terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Kasab, a Pakistani national, was caught alive and was later hanged. "UPA and Congress conspired...at that time we saw another example of lies when they tried to raise the false bogey of Hindu terror. I condemn Congress and others who tried to mislead the nation over Hindu terror, for which they had to face consequences in 2014 and 2019. Terror has no religion. A terrorist is a terrorist," Goyal added. Speaking of Centre-sponsored development works in Telangana, Goyal said the Narendra Modi government has undertaken several developmental projects in the state. "Lots of new projects for doubling, tripling, new lines, electrification of lines...today, we have inaugurated 170 stations in Telangana where wi-fi is now available," he informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A father-of-three who was found asleep on street deals of crack cocaine and heroin beside a playground has received a fully suspended sentence. Damien Gray (36) was caught by gardai after they received a call that a man was asleep in Hermitage Park in Lucan. When officers arrived, they found Gray by the playground and woke him up. When he rolled over, they found a tissue packet with 5,700 of heroin in individual street deals. A further quantity of crack cocaine, valued at 300, was later found. Gray, of Shancastle Close, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply on May 31, 2017. He had 12 previous convictions, three for drug offences. Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Cormac Quinn noted that Gray was now drug-free and has not come to adverse garda attention since this offence. Judge Quinn sentenced Gray to two years' imprisonment, but he suspended the sentence in full on strict conditions, including that Gray follow all directions of the Probation Service for 12 months. At an earlier sentencing hearing, Garda Ronan Culligan told Noel Devitt BL, prosecuting, that Gray was arrested and taken in for questioning. Gray admitted that he got the drugs three or four days previously and that he was selling them because he needed money to live. He said "someone else" had wrapped the drugs into individual deals and that he was going to sell the cocaine for 30 a bag and the heroin for 20 a bag. Gray said he "owed a fella 500" for the drugs. He said he had been smoking heroin himself for the previous two weeks. Trouble Gray told gardai "there would be trouble" when officers asked him what would happen now that the drugs had been taken off him. Gray's partner told the court he was living rough at the time of his arrest because she had asked him to leave the family home because of his behaviour. He called her from the garda station, she took him home and got him help. "He is a changed man," she said, before she confirmed that Gray was not taking any drugs, that he was working and she and their children "rely on him". EDDYSTONE This country is in a crises, Gary Segars said after appearing at a council meeting with his wife, Nancy, and attorney Mike Maddren to explain a proposal to locate a Sober-living facility in the community. The Segars are involved with Sober Living, both personally and professionally. My wife and I are both in recovery, he explained. He noted their commitment to the program. Its 24/7 for us, he said. We get calls, sometimes in the middle of the night. We keep track of our residents. They must go to self-help meetings every week and if there is a relapse, they will be discharged from the house immediately and we refer them to detox. The sober living house the organization hopes to purchase is a corner house at 1401 E. 11th St. Maddren said the facility would house six residents of the same gender, two to a bedroom. There would be a live-in manager, curfew checks, zero-tolerance policy for using, crime of violence, and strict employment requirement. Residents will not be permitted to have cars and only family members of residents will be permitted to visit. The concept of sober living is people who are in recovery have already been through rehab, Maddren told council members and residents in the audience. We could have done what many people have done just moved in, but we wanted to come and talk to you. One woman in the audience asked council if there is an ordinance addressing a facility like Sober Living. Council President Bill Stewart said zoning includes an institutional zone. He said the ordinance will be reviewed. Segars, 52, grew up in Philadelphia. His wife, 42, grew up in the Scranton area. They now live in the borough. He stressed that accountability is our number-one thing. This isnt a forever thing, he said of the sober-living concept. Six months to a year tops. My wife handles the female residents. She will do one-on- one with residents. We (Sober Living) are certified as a Level 2 recovery residence. Both Maddren and Segars stressed that they want to be open and transparent with the council and the residents. Funding for residents living at the facility would be private pay or insurance. Segars said Sober Living is in its fourth year of operation and has five sober-living houses in Delaware County. Our success rate has been pretty good, considering the rate of addiction, Segars commented. GOTTINGEN, Germany, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartorius, a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry, confirmed its preliminary figures upon publication of its 2019 Annual Report today. Group sales revenue rose in constant currencies by 14.8% (reported: +16.7%) to 1,827.0 million euros. Growth was almost entirely organic as the acquisition of the cell culture media specialist Biological Industries completed in December 2019 contributed only marginally to this increase. Order intake1) also rose by 14.8% in constant currencies (reported: +16.7%) to 1,939.5 million euros. In line with its strong growth, Sartorius further increased its number of employees. At year-end 2019, the Group employed 9,016 staff members. This equates to an 11% increase or around 900 people more than a year ago. In particular, the company's customer-facing units, research and development, and production reported staff gains. "The once again very positive development of the Group shows that we have laid a strong foundation for sustained profitable growth by concentrating in both divisions on the dynamic biopharma sector," commented CEO Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg on the past fiscal year. "We will extend our already good position by focusing on fields of the future, such as biosimilars as well as advanced therapies. From a technological standpoint as well, we have taken important steps to further increase the relevance of our product portfolio for customers. We aim to raise our revenue by 10% to 13% and further increase our profitability in 2020." In December 2019, Sartorius had acquired a majority stake in Biological Industries, an Israeli company specializing particularly in the development and manufacture of cell culture media for cell and gene therapies. As a result, the Group now owns production facilities for cell culture media. The planned acquisition of parts of Danaher's life science portfolio announced in October 2019 covers, among others, the ForteBio business for label-free biomolecular characterization, as well as chromatography hardware and resins, with which Sartorius would extend its portfolio in the downstream area. The transaction is presently expected to close around the end of the first quarter of 2020. Beyond operating business development and the integration of acquisitions, additional topics are on the 2020 agenda at Sartorius. "Over the past years, we have evolved from a product supplier for various sectors into an application-oriented solutions provider for life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry. We want to underscore this transformation and communicate it even more strongly than in the past with our new brand claim of 'Simplifying Progress' and our new brand look," said Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg. In addition, Sartorius will be celebrating its 150-year company anniversary. "To mark this milestone event, we will be hosting an international Life Science Festival for the first time and look forward to discussing the latest trends and challenges in the life sciences and in the biopharmaceutical industry with leading experts in the sector." Overproportionate profit growth; increase in dividends planned Underlying EBITDA1) rose overproportionately again relative to sales, as in the prior year, by 22.4% to 495.8 million euros in 2019; the respective margin was 27.1% (previous year: 25.9%) in line with our guidance. As expected, slightly less than one percentage point of this increase was attributable to the IFRS 162) Standard required to be applied for the first time in 2019. Relevant net profit1) rose by 19.2% from 175.6 million euros a year ago to 209.3 million euros, yielding earnings per ordinary share of 3.06 euros (2018: 2.56 euros) and earnings per preference share of 3.07 euros (2018: 2.57 euros). Based on the company's positive business performance, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will submit a proposal to the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting on March 26, 2020, to pay dividends of 0.71 euros per preference share and 0.70 euros per ordinary share. Under this proposal, the total amount disbursed would increase by 14.6% to 48.2 million euros from 42.1 million euros a year earlier. The dividend payout ratio of 23.0% would be approximately at the level of the previous years (2018: 24.0%). Solid key financial indicators The Sartorius Group continued to make substantial investments in expanding its global capacity, even though, as expected, its CAPEX ratio1) decreased upon the completion of several large projects to 12.3% (2018: 15.2%). Due to strong net cash flow from operating activities and despite the intensive investment activity and successful acquisition, the company's ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA1) was 2.0 and thus below the prior-year figure of 2.4. Equity rose from 973.4 million euros to 1,081.2 million euros at year-end. In connection with IFRS 162), the equity ratio decreased slightly from 38.5% as of December 31, 2018, to 38.0%. Sartorius therefore continues to have a very sound balance sheet and financial base. Growth in all regions Sartorius dynamically increased its sales in all regions compared with the previous year. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) increased its revenue by 11.2% to 733.4 million euros, accounting for 40% of the Group's consolidated sales. The Americas region achieved a 17.4% increase in sales to 629.9 million euros, contributing around 35% to Group revenue. In Asia | Pacific, Sartorius earned sales of 463.7 million euros (+17.4%), which equates to a share of around 25% of Group revenue. (All growth rates for the regions are in constant currencies.) Bioprocess Solutions strong; Lab Products & Services robust The Bioprocess Solutions Division that offers a wide array of innovative technologies for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals exceeded its already strong prior-year performance, increasing its sales revenue in constant currencies by 18.1% (reported: +20.0%) to 1,372.1 million euros. This gain was fueled by ongoing strong demand across all product categories, particularly in project business in Asia. The division's order intake1) rose significantly as well by 18.0% (reported: +19.9%) to 1,479.3 million euros. Underlying EBITDA1) for Bioprocess Solutions increased overproportionately to sales by 24.5% to 406.8 million euros. The division's respective margin rose due to economies of scale and as a consequence of the change in IFRS 162), from 28.6% to 29.6%. The Lab Products & Services Division specializes in technologies and products for laboratories in the pharma sector and in life science research as well as in a few additional segments. It showed robust performance in a partly challenging economic environment, achieving sales growth of 5.9% (reported: +7.5%) to 454.9 million euros. The division's order intake1) increased by 5.7% (reported: +7.3%) to 460.3 million euros. Underlying EBITDA1) for Lab Products & Services rose year over year by 14.0% to 89.0 million euros. The corresponding margin was positively affected by IFRS 162) and stood at 19.6%, up from the previous year's level of 18.5%. (All growth rates for sales revenue and order intake are given in constant currencies.) Profitable growth projected for 2020 Sartorius projects that it will increase Group sales in fiscal 2020 by 10% to 13%, with the acquisition of Biological Industries, completed at the end of 2019, expected to contribute approx. 1.5 percentage points to this growth. Regarding profitability, Sartorius forecasts that its underlying EBITDA margin1) will increase year over year from 27.1% to about 27.5%. The ratio of capital expenditures (CAPEX) to sales revenue1) is expected to be around 10% (2018: 12.3%). For the Bioprocess Solutions Division, the Executive Board projects sales growth of 11% to 14%, with consolidation of Biological Industries expected to contribute about one percentage point to this gain. With respect to the division's underlying EBITDA margin1), management assumes that it will increase to around 30.0% (2018: 29.6%). The Lab Products & Services Division should increase its sales revenue by 7% to 10%, with Biological Industries projected to contribute around 2.5 percentage points to growth. For this division, the underlying EBITDA margin1) is forecasted at around 20.0% (2018: 19.6%). The above forecast does not consider the acquisition of parts of Danaher's life science portfolio, which was announced on October 21, 2019, and is currently undergoing antitrust clearance. Following the closing of this transaction, presently expected around the end of the first quarter of 2020, management will update its full-year guidance accordingly. All forecasts are based on constant currencies, as in the past years. In addition, we assume overall stable conditions regarding the global economy and supply chains. 1) Sartorius publishes alternative performance measures that are not defined by international accounting standards. These are determined with the aim of improving the comparability of business performance over time and within the industry. Order intake: all customer orders contractually concluded during the respective reporting period Underlying EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and adjusted for extraordinary items Relevant net profit: profit for the period after non-controlling interest, adjusted for extraordinary items and non-cash amortization, as well as based on the normalized financial result and corresponding tax effects CAPEX ratio: investment payments in relation to sales revenue for the same period. Since 2019 and as a result of the change in IFRS 16 accounting principles, CAPEX has been based on cash flow instead of balance sheet computation; CAPEX ratio restated for 2018: 14.9% Ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA: quotient of net debt and underlying EBITDA 2) IFRS 16 required to be applied as of 2019 regulates accounting of lease contracts. Ultimately, this has led to a somewhat extended balance sheet and thus to a slightly lower equity ratio. Further, this has resulted in reporting longer-term lease payments as depreciation and, accordingly, in a somewhat higher EBITDA, but does not entail any material changes concerning the Group's relevant net profit or earnings per share. This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future development of the Sartorius Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. This is a translation of the original German-language press release. Sartorius shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this translation. The original German press release is the legally binding version. Key performance indicators for fiscal 2019 Sartorius Group Bioprocess Solutions Lab Products & Services In millions of , unless otherwise specified 2019 2018 in % reported in % cc1) 2019 2018 in % reported in % cc1) 2019 2018 in % reported in % cc1) Sales Revenue and Order Intake Sales revenue 1,827.0 1,566.0 16.7 14.8 1,372.1 1.143.1 20.0 18.1 454.9 423.0 7.5 5.9 - EMEA2) 733.4 657.7 11.5 11.2 526.9 464.7 13.4 13.2 206.5 193.1 6.9 6.5 - Americas2) 629.9 520.1 21.1 17.4 504.9 410.0 23.1 19.3 125.0 110.1 13.6 10.4 - Asia | Pacific2) 463.7 388.2 19.4 17.4 340.3 268.4 26.8 24.8 123.3 119.8 2.9 0.8 Order intake 1,939.5 1,662.5 16.7 14.8 1,479.3 1,233.7 19.9 18.0 460.3 428.8 7.3 5.7 Earnings EBITDA3) 495.8 405.0 22.4 406.8 326.9 24.5 89.0 78.1 14.0 EBITDA margin3) in % 27.1 25.9 29.6 28.6 19.6 18.5 Net profit for the period4) 209.3 175.6 19.2 Financial Data per Share Earnings per ordinary share4) in 3.06 2.56 19.3 Earnings per preference share4) in 3.07 2.57 19.2 1) In constant currencies, abbreviated as "cc" 2) Acc. to the customer's location 3) Underlying EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and adjusted for extraordinary items 4) Relevant net profit: profit for the period after non-controlling interest, adjusted for extraordinary items and non-cash amortization, as well as based on the normalized financial result and corresponding tax effects 2019 Annual Report https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/investor-relations/sartorius-ag-investor-relations/news-financial-publications Financial calendar March 26, 2020: Annual Shareholders' Meeting April 21, 2020: Publication of first-quarter figures (January to March 2020) Current image files https://www.sartorius.com/en/company/newsroom/downloads-publications A profile of Sartorius The Sartorius Group is a leading international partner of biopharmaceutical research and the industry. With innovative laboratory instruments and consumables, the Group's Lab Products & Services Division concentrates on serving the needs of laboratories performing research and quality control at pharma and biopharma companies and those of academic research institutes. The Bioprocess Solutions Division with its broad product portfolio focusing on single-use solutions helps customers to manufacture biotech medications and vaccines safely and efficiently. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In fiscal 2019, the company earned sales revenue of some 1.83 billion euros. At the end of 2019, more than 9,000 people were employed at the Group's approximately 60 manufacturing and sales sites, serving customers around the globe. Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn. Contact: Petra Kirchhoff Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations +49-(0)551-308-1686 [email protected] SOURCE Sartorius AG Related Links https://www.sartorius.com In any US presidential primary, huge fanfare is given to the contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. But very few presidential nominations are won and lost in those four states. Its when the other states get in on the action that the candidates start to break ahead from the pack - or drop out. As the primary calendar is set for each cycle, several states usually move their primaries forward in the schedule to try and boost their importance, resulting in pile-ups where multiple states end up voting on the same day. And since most states vote on Tuesdays, the day with the largest number of simultaneous contests is dubbed Super Tuesday. This cycles Super Tuesday falls on 3 March, when voting will take place in 14 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia along with Democrats Abroad (whose voting runs for a week) and American Samoa. In total, 1,357 of the 1,991 pledged delegates a candidate needs to win the nomination outright are up for grabs on Super Tuesday. (Up till then, only 155 delegates will have been allocated.) So depending how many candidates are still in the race and how much they split the vote on the day, this could completely shake up a race thats so far looking very muddled or it could set up a long multi-candidate battle that plunges the Democratic party into chaos. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Why it matters Super Tuesday is hugely important for the current frontrunners, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, and could be crucial in deciding the future of Elizabeth Warren. With so many states up for grabs, they each have a chance not just to capture delegates, but also to win in large swing states like Minnesota, Colorado and Virginia and thereby signal that they could be strong national candidates. But the day is perhaps most critical for Michael Bloomberg. Mr Bloomberg hasnt competed at all in the first four contests and has instead ploughed vast sums into the Super Tuesday states, hoping to crash into the top tier by winning millions of votes and hundreds of delegates across the country in one fell swoop. If he fails, itll be a mortifyingly low return on investment. (Reuters) Meanwhile, for those now falling behind, 3 March may be the last gasp. Elizabeth Warren desperately needs a chance to prove she still has a hope. Ms Warrens home state of Massachusetts is voting on the day, giving her a decent chance of netting at least one victory, but shell need to win more widely than that. And if Ms Warren and Mr Biden cant win the popular vote in at least a few states (or at least come close), they will find it hard to keep selling themselves to voters and the media and, crucially, to donors, whose enthusiasm can decide whether a campaign lives or dies. The same principle doesnt apply to Mr Bloomberg, who is bankrolling his hugely expensive primary campaigns with his own funds. It also doesnt apply to Mr Sanders, currently polling ahead nationally, whose campaign is overwhelmingly funded by small donations from his supporters (averaging under $20). How do candidates win delegates? The first crucial thing any candidate must do to start winning delegates is to make sure they reach 15 per cent of the popular vote wherever theyre competing. Any less than that and they wont be allocated any delegates at all. This applies not just at the statewide level, but also across the different districts within states that award delegates congressional districts in some states, state senate districts in others. The system effectively means candidates can only run up a competitive delegate lead if they win in lots of different places. The problem Super Tuesday poses is that with so many places going to the polls at once, the campaigns will have to really stretch their resources to eke out an edge in enough places to make a difference. The nightmare scenario In a nutshell: if too many candidates do roughly as well as each other in too many places, the whole night might do nothing to thin out the field at all. California, for example, awards 495 pledged delegates in total, but distributes them in a complex way that makes it hard for one candidate to gain a real edge there even if they win the statewide vote. Most of the states delegates 271 of them are awarded at the congressional district level, with each district awarding a small number proportionately depending on the result there. (AFP via Getty Images (AFP via Getty Images) Take the states 33rd district, which includes Beverly Hills and Malibu. It awards six delegates, meaning that if three candidates each won 30 per cent of the vote (or close to it), theyd each get two. Assuming they were the last three standing in the primary as a whole, that would make the districts vote essentially meaningless. If this pattern is repeated across the states voting on Super Tuesday, or even in just a few, it could mean that with more than a third of all pledged delegates allocated, nobody would begin to pull ahead. What comes next? Just in case the big night doesnt sort things out, there are two more nearly-super Tuesdays shortly afterwards. On 10 March come six contests at once: the Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington state primaries, as well as the North Dakota caucuses. Michigan has taken on an outsized symbolic importance thanks to Hillary Clintons painfully narrow loss there in 2016, so whoever wins it will benefit from a major boost to their credibility. Then on 17 March, four big states get their turn: Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. Together they boast 577 pledged delegates, making this the biggest one-day bonanza until the so-called Acela primary on the east coast on 28 April. What if they just keep going? If these primaries dont knock out most of the candidates, the Democrats could be in trouble. Should too many of the candidates stay in the race for the long haul, they could all keep winning enough delegates to prevent anyone from reaching an overall majority. That could leave the party heading into its convention this summer without a guaranteed nominee, forcing the candidates to duke it out for support among the party elite a scenario the Democrats will be desperate to avoid. The last time the primary really went down to the wire was in 2008, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ran hard against each other right until the final contests. And it was on Super Tuesday, when Clinton and Obama split the available delegates almost evenly, that the closeness of the race became clear. What followed was four gruelling months of campaigning that some feared would leave the party badly bruised. But in the end, Clinton quickly endorsed Obama, campaigned for him, and ended up joining his cabinet as secretary of state. However, 2016 was different. While Hillary Clinton won the nomination decisively, Bernie Sanders and his supporters never fully embraced her candidacy, deeply dividing the partys base and further tarnishing Clintons reputation. Whether this years candidates will share enough goodwill by the primarys end to heal those wounds remains to be seen. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Voxnest , an audio technology company, announced today that their podcasting platform, Spreaker , will be the hosting and distribution vendor within the podcast space at six Staples Connect retail stores. Staples Connect Podcast Studios Earlier this month, Staples US Retail announced the opening of Staples Connect, a reinvented store with coworking, podcasting and community event spaces where professionals, teachers and students alike can connect and grow. The first six Staples Connects have opened in the home state Massachusetts of Staples US Retail in Cambridge, Somerville, Needham, Boston, Brighton and Danvers. One of the elements of the new stores is the Staples Connect Podcast Studios, which are dedicated spaces for storytellers to record their podcasts. Each studio features a soundproof room with professional equipment for up to four people, plus a few perks to help podcasters along the way, like a dedicated in-store specialist and discounted access to host and distribute podcasts on Spreaker. "We're thrilled to play a role in making podcasting even more attainable to creatives in the Boston area," said Francesco Baschieri, CEO at Voxnest. "With access to quality recording facilities and the addition of a tool like Spreaker on-hand for everything from editing to distributing we truly believe the Staples Connect Podcast Studios will make a big impact in their communities." "Staples customers are teachers, students, small business owners and side hustlers, and their needs when it comes to retail are evolving, so we adapted our stores to fit these needs better," said Elissa Mekal, Category Merchant at Staples US Retail. "Many of these customers are launching and recording podcasts, but struggling to find the space to record so we incorporated this space into the new store concept." The entire team behind the new Staples Connect Podcast Studios invites all Boston area podcasters to book a session and see locations here . About Voxnest Voxnest is a technology company that provides professional solutions for podcasters and the brands looking to engage with listeners. The company's comprehensive tools for podcast creation, distribution, management, measurement, monetization and advertising include Spreaker, catering to independent podcasters, Spreaker Enterprise, a turnkey platform for enterprises, and Dynamo, a standalone monetization solution that gives any podcaster, regardless of host or distribution platform, the ability to earn revenue using Voxnest's real-time, dynamic ad injection technology. The company also works directly with brands looking to deliver highly-targeted, high-impact advertising campaigns through podcasts. The company, launched in January 2018 following the merger of Spreaker and BlogTalkRadio, is led by co-founder and CEO Francesco Baschieri and is headquartered in New York. Media Contact: Ivey Amburgey [email protected] 704-620-5943 SOURCE Voxnest Related Links http://voxnest.com/ A team headed by Prof. Dr. Frank Stienkemeier and Dr. Lukas Bruder from the Institute of Physics at the University of Freiburg has succeeded in observing in real-time ultrafast quantum interferences in other words the oscillation patterns of electrons which are found in the atomic shells of rare gas atoms. They managed to observe oscillations with a period of about 150 attoseconds an attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second. To this end, the scientists excited rare gas atoms with specially prepared laser pulses. Then they tracked the response of the atoms with a new measurement technique that enabled them to study quantum mechanical effects in atoms and molecules at extremely high time resolution. Numerous chemical reactions, such as the breaking of bonds in molecules, are triggered by the absorption of light. In the first instant after the absorption, the distribution of the electrons in the atomic shell changes, significantly influencing the subsequent course of the reaction. This alteration happens extremely quickly; the timescales reach into the attosecond range. Previously-used spectroscopic technologies, which use visible laser pulses, are not fast enough to track such processes. So researchers around the world are currently developing innovative laser sources and adequate spectroscopic technologies in the ultra-violet and X-ray ranges. Stienkemeiers team has extended a technology known from the visible spectrum range, coherent pump-probe spectroscopy, into the ultra-violet range. This is the spectral range between X-ray radiation and ultra-violet light. To do this, the scientists prepared a sequence of two ultra-short laser pulses in the extreme ultra-violet range at the FERMI free electron laser in Trieste, Italy. The pulses were separated by a precisely-defined time interval and had a precisely-defined phase relationship to one another. The first pulse starts the process in the electron shell (pump-process). The second pulse probes the status of the electron shell at a later point (probe-process). By altering the time interval and the phase relationship, the researchers could reach conclusions on the temporal development in the electron shell. The greatest challenge was to achieve precise control over the pulse properties and to isolate the weak signals, explains Andreas Wituschek, who was in charge of the experimental procedure. The Freiburg physicists studied the rare gas argon, amongst others. In argon the pump-pulse causes a special configuration of two electrons within the atomic shell: this configuration disintegrates, with one electron leaving the atom in a very short time and the atom finally remaining behind as an ion. The researchers succeeded for the first time in observing the immediate temporal decay of the quantum interference, as one electron left the atom. This experiment paves the way for many new applications in the study of atomic and molecular processes after selective stimulation with high-energy radiation in the extreme ultra-violet range, says Bruder. A teacher who taught ethics at a Baptist college in Perths south has appeared in court charged with the sexual abuse of a student. Justin Limb appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face a string of offences relating to the alleged abuse of a 16-year-old girl while she was in his care at Carey Baptist College more than a decade ago. Justin Limb faced court on Tuesday. He has been charged with seven counts of sexual penetration while in a position of authority, six counts of indecent dealing and one count of being a person in authority and indecently dealing with a child. Mr Limb appeared without representation and said his lawyer had instructed him they wished to proceed to a police committal mention. MOSCOW, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The unique stone originates from Yakutia, a region in northeastern Siberia located partly within the Arctic Circle. The diamond was discovered and polished by ALROSA, the world's largest rough diamond producer by volume. For over 40 years, Larry J. West, the owner of New York's L.J. West Diamonds, has been searching for the most extraordinary natural color diamonds in the world. His magnificent collection has been featured in museums like the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and worldwide Auctions. "As global production declines, pink diamonds will become rarer and thus more valuable," said Larry West. "This is the first diamond from Russia that I have bought directly from ALROSA. It possesses excellent characteristics and will certainly take a worthy place in my collection." To establish provenance, the famous collector received an electronic passport from ALROSA that includes a detailed visual history of the diamond's extraction and production, as well as information about the craftsman's background. As part of the company's traceability initiative, a short film is automatically generated on ALROSA's digital platform based on information about each diamond available for purchase. "ALROSA deposits are known not only for their colorless diamonds, but also for a variety of rough colored diamonds. Our cutter's unique skills allow us to turn them into high-quality diamonds," said Rebecca Foerster, ALROSA's U.S. President. "A closed production cycle guarantees the origin of each stone and allows us to track its path from its birth in Earth's mantle. With these advantages, ALROSA may well become a world leader in the colored diamonds market". In September, ALROSA hosted its annual auction of colored stones in Hong Kong and sold over 200 diamonds. A digital passport that contained information about the diamond's origin accompanied all stones sold there. With an in-house cutting division and a closed production cycle, ALROSA guarantees the provenance of each diamond. Notes ALROSA is the world's largest diamond miner by volume, with 26% share of the global market. The company's operations are located in Russia's Siberia and Arkhangelsk regions. ALROSA leads the industry, directing on average 3% of its revenue toward CSR projects. ALROSA's achievements are testified by its high positions in FTSE4Good, MSCI ESG and WWF's ratings. SOURCE ALROSA Related Links http://eng.alrosa.ru/ This month, a friend forwarded me a Toronto Star article titled Loss. Grief. Acceptance. How the ancient Tibetan practice of sound baths brought me peace. He jokingly wondered why his parents never bothered to give him sound baths. I agreed. Allow me to briefly assume the role of a Tibetan cultural ambassador to inform all who are willing to listen that the practice of sound baths are neither ancient nor Tibetan. The scholarly consensus is that Tibetan singing bowls and sound baths are a thoroughly Western invention and their alleged Tibetanness a modern myth. There is no credible historical evidence, whatsoever, of Tibetans ever having used singing bowls. History tells us that these metallic bowls were originally food bowls from North India or Nepal, and today, the bowl has become an object of orientalist fetishization and a star product of the sound bathing industry. These bowls are thus as Tibetan as the white Toronto Star author who bathed in its vibrations. Needless to say, these bowls are as spiritual and sacred to a Tibetan person as the exotic English teacup is for the average North American. The Tibetan singing bowl doesnt exist and isnt real, but the racist mythologization of Tibetan people most definitely is. The singing bowl industry aggressively markets itself as reproducing an ancient Tibetan ritual. This Western practice of essentializing Tibetan culture and capitalizing on that cultural commodification forces marginalized Tibetan refugees into a tricky situation they get the economic opportunity to sell some metal bowls to fascinated white people but at the cost of being a willing participant in the orientalist imagination of Tibetanness, which in turn causes great cultural trauma and pain to the Tibetan people. Sound energy enthusiasts tend to blur a variety of New Age beliefs and claim that each Tibetan singing bowl has its own frequency, chakra, planet, energy and accumulated psychic history. Diehard connoisseurs travel across the planet hunting for authentic antique Tibetan singing bowls, which they insist have been infused with sacred ancient sound technology, unlike cheap and fraudulent modern knock offs. When confronted about their easily falsifiable claims of Tibetan cultural linkages, you find that sound healers often dismiss Tibetan peoples disavowal of knowledge by clinging onto the conspiracy theory that singing bowls are purposely shrouded in secrecy because Tibetans are guarding their ancient sound-based spiritual knowledge from prying outsiders. They insist there exists a secret lineage of metalworking shamans who pass ancient mysteries down through the centuries. This example of wilful white ignorance is so patently absurd, Im not sure whether I should laugh at its sheer silliness or cry at the exploitation of my cultural heritage by bigoted Westerners. In the Western imagination, Tibetan identity/brand is largely confined to a mythical, asexual, masculine spiritual figure. In this light, my existence as a queer, fashion-loving, atheist Tibetan woman starts to become disorienting and surreal. Now that I have made these confessions, tell me, do I still qualify as sufficiently Tibetan to the orientalist eye? Western bourgeois fantasies about Tibet and the harmful racial stereotypes they peddle simply have no need for the real Tibet and the suffering my country endures. The real Tibet is subservient to the myth of Tibet. This myth, however, has real power and it has become the dominant framework through which the West perceives Tibetan political struggle. The myth reduces Tibet to a museum exhibit. The myth conflates the politics of Tibet to a question of the survival of a dying, one-dimensional civilization. The myth prevents Tibets political concerns from being taken seriously. The myth invites sentimentalities rather than political expediency. The myth ensures Tibetans never get the institutional and governmental support we tirelessly lobby for. If you find sound baths healing, great! Good for you! But if you can, however, please kindly stop mythologizing and exoticizing Tibetans, and leave us out of your pseudo-scientific New Age nonsense. We are quite preoccupied resisting Chinas violent settler colonial rule and fighting to preserve our rich cultural heritage as it is. The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, is undoubtedly Nigeria's most stylish king. The 51 year old king who shuttles between Nigeria and Canada is a fashionista with swags. But in recent time, he has generated more than enough controversies for himself through utterances, actions, fashion and even relationship. The latest in the series of controversies surrounding Oluwo is the assault on his colleague, Agbowu of Ogbagbaa, Oba Sikirulahi Akinropo at a meeting conveyed by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Bashir Makama. Oluwo accused Agbowu of calling him unprintable names, an allegation which Agbowu has denied. I understand that some us by nature can be highly sensitive and react to minutest provocation. But when we are in a position that affords us with appurtenances such as the one Oluwo is blessed with, we must understand that it comes with responsibilities. Royalty comes with perks and drawbacks. That is why those God has blessed with such positions need not to be overly sensitive. A good king must be calm and show maturity at all times. He must be decisive and have personalintegrity. He must be hard working, energetic, well spoken, able to protect and maintain order, bless others and acknowledge the efforts of other people. Those are few qualities of a good king. The recent show of shame by Oluwo is not only a mockery of Iwo people alone; it is a mockery of our existential reality as Yoruba people. Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi once tasted the bitter pill of royalty when Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu snubbed his friendship handshake. Ojaja did not throw caution to the wind. He knew royalty sometimes has its drawbacks. Yorubas rose up in their thousands to condemn the Oba of Lagos. In the case of Oluwo who seems to have developed insatiable appetite for controversies lately, he became confrontational and even attacked another Oba who is also a representative of his people. I'm a great supporter of youths in position of power or authority and I believe that the future belongs to the youth. Unfortunately, the youthful exuberance of Oluwo has developed into full blown rascality. How can a custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition behave like people in the medieval period? Has he forgotten the concept of Omoluabi in the culture and tradition of Yoruba people? Oluwo should be sanctioned for desecrating his office as imperial Oba of Iwo. He must apologise to all Iwo sons and daughters whose his action has caused them humiliation one way or the other. And finally he must apologise to all Yoruba people. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES HALIFAX, Nova Scotia , Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVA LEAP HEALTH CORP. (TSXV: NLH) (Nova Leap or the Company), a 2019 TSX Venture 50 ranked company focused on the home health care industry, is pleased to announce that Chris Dobbin, President & CEO of Nova Leap, will present at the 2020 Spring Investor Summit (the Summit) held on March 25 and 26 at The Essex House in New York City. During the Summit, Mr. Dobbin plans to discuss the following: 2019 Annual Results 2019 annual results for the Company which will be released by mid-March; An update on the successful expansion to South Central U.S. which occurred in Q4 2019; and An update on the successful integration of the Massachusetts acquisition which also occurred in Q4 2019. Industry and Strategy The expanding Home Care market and Nova Leaps focus on dementia care; How Nova Leap has successfully employed its acquisition and post-acquisition strategies to achieve previously reported record financial results, including the best quarter in the Companys history; How promoting from within the organization has helped the Company scale; How continued investment in care professional training, including dementia training, leads to better client service; Why expanding to South Central U.S. was appropriate after the Companys success in building a regional platform in New England; The advantage of decentralized operations and the impact of positive incremental changes on operational leverage; and The Companys high insider ownership and Managements desire for the Company to become a long-term compounder through the proper allocation of capital. Announcement of Annual General Meeting (AGM) Nova Leaps AGM is scheduled to be held on April 15, 2020 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Notice has been filed on SEDAR. About Nova Leap Nova Leap is an acquisitive home health care services company operating in one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. & Canada. The Company performs a vital role within the continuum of care with an individual and family centered focus, particularly those requiring dementia care. Nova Leap achieved the #10 Ranking in the 2019 TSX Venture 50 in the Clean Technology & Life Sciences sector. The Company is geographically diversified with operations in 5 different U.S. states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Oklahoma as well as Nova Scotia, Canada. About the Spring Investor Summit The Spring Investor Summit (formerly the MicroCap Conference) is an exclusive, independent conference dedicated to connecting smallcap and microcap companies with qualified investors. The Spring Investor Summit will take place at the Essex House, featuring 160 companies and over 1,000 institutional and retail investors. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION: Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding future expansions and cost savings, the Companys expected annualized recurring revenue run rate and plans regarding future acquisitions and financings. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions, including assumptions concerning the Companys ability to integrate its acquired businesses and maintain previously achieved service hour and revenue levels, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include regulatory changes affecting the home care industry, unexpected increases in operating costs and competition from other service providers. All forward-looking statements, including any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, contained in this press release are made as of the date of this release and included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com . CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CARSON CITY, NVThe nations most successful licensed sex worker has a new mission: She wants to help Vermont legislators push forward a recently introduced bill to decriminalize sex work in the Green Mountain State. Alice Little, the Moonlite Bunny Ranch's highest-earning sex worker, is offering to fly to Vermont and meet with lawmakers and citizens in order to provide a first-hand perspective on sex work from a woman that has been safely and successfully operating as a legal prostitute in a non-criminalized environment for four years. Congratulations, Vermont, for proposing a bill that would decriminalize sex work, Little said in a YouTube video posted on February 14. I want to show my support by offering to fly out and communicate with senators and legislators and inform them a little bit more about sex work, Little said in the video. As someone thats been in this industry for the past four years, I want to help shape the future of sex work in America and ensure that we have a system that values everyone involved. Nevada legalized prostitution in the early 1970s in the form of regulated brothels located in several rural counties throughout the state. Sex workers operating as independent contractors in Nevadas legal brothels must undergo an FBI background check to obtain their license and must test weekly for sexually transmitted diseases in order to be cleared to provide sexual services. All brothel owners also undergo a highly extensive personal and financial review before being granted a license, ensuring that these business owners are aboveboard and are not connected to criminal activities, including sex trafficking. Little strongly believes in the merits of repealing the criminalization of prostitution between consenting adults, and she has successfully fought against a recent movement to outlaw legal brothels in Nevada. In 2018, an anti-prostitution group managed to get an advisory question on the ballot in Lyon County, Nevada in order to persuade commissioners to rescind the countys brothel ordinance. Little and other Nevada sex workers organized a series of town hall meetings to educate the countys voters about sex work, specifically focusing on how stigma surrounding the profession fuels misinformation and harms sex workers. Littles campaign was tremendously successful, resulting in 80% of residents voting in favor of keeping prostitution legal in Lyon County. Little went on to co-found the Nevada Brothel Association, a political lobbying group that provides a voice for brothel owners and sex workers in the Silver State. Little now wants to leverage her experience for Vermont, and assist Vermonters in combating the stigma of sex work. In her video, she thanks Rep. Selene Colburn, the bill's lead sponsor, for getting the ball rolling. Selene Colburn, thank you for proposing the bill and taking the first step forward in making American history, Little said. I want to do everything in my power to enable your success. Littles video can be viewed here. Littles tweet to Rep. Colburn is here. HARFORD, N.Y. -- It was cold Saturday afternoon when 14-year-old Johnny Robertson grabbed his coat, boots and shovel and quietly slipped out the back door of his home. Family and friends identified Johnny Robertson as the boy who fell through the ice Saturday in Harford, a small town in Cortland County. He was rushed to the hospital, but died later, state police said Monday. Johnny had been playing in his room Saturday afternoon, his father, John (J.T ) Robertson, told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Monday night. He had been outside in the backyard playing in the morning and then came in to have lunch. He went to his room to watch TV, his dad said. J.T. Robertson said he was tending to Johnnys younger siblings for a few minutes and could hear the TV blaring in Johnnys room. He called out to Johnny to see if he wanted a snack. There was no response, he said. "Usually he would tell me if he was going outside,'' J.T. said. At first, J.T. said, he wasnt worried, figuring Johnny was nearby. But he started to panic when he found footprints leading to the Owego Creek. He called 911, and his neighbors and friends in the Harford Mills neighborhood all came out to help him search. New York State Police were called to the creek, in addition to the Cortland County Sheriffs Office, the Dryden and Harford fire departments and paramedics. Johnny was found about a quarter-mile from his home on the bank of the creek. His dad said he had fallen in, took off his boots and coat and swam to the bank where he pulled himself up. He was found lying face down behind a nearby bush, his dad said. Johnny was rushed by ambulance to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, where he later died, troopers said. His dad said he died of hypothermia. "He was just the most lovable, kind kid and Im going to miss everything about him,'' his dad said. He was autistic, but he had come a long way with his speech in the past couple of years. We were very proud of him. His dad said his son taught himself how to ride a bicycle. He also loved to draw, and he was a whiz at computers. Family friend Mindy Lee Tweedie, who is raising money for the familys hospital bill and funeral expenses, said Johnny was a very happy, adventurous little boy. He brought a smile to everyones face. Johnny was often attracted to the creek by his house, Tweedie said. He loved to hunt for frogs and turtles. Hed catch them, put them in a bucket and then let them go back into the creek, she said. "He loved being outside,'' she said. Along with the outdoors, Johnny loved animals, and he would often visit Tweedie to pet her cats and horses, and talk to them quietly. "He had such a big smile, and such a gentle, sweet nature,'' Tweedie said. He would give you such a big hug hed almost crush your ribs. J.T. said his son loved Sonic the Hedgehog, and he had planned to take him to the movies to see it over winter break this week. "I know in my heart he was calling out to me,'' he said, "just like I was hollering for him. "I dont wish this upon any parent - he was just such a joy,'' he said. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The University of Guam and natural resource officials in Saipan and Rota exchanged expertise and challenges regarding watershed management last week during a workshop made possible from a National Science Foundation grant. The discussion helped to identify gaps in available resources and encourage more collaboration in management and restoration efforts in the Marianas. A watershed is a catchment area between the divides of mountains where water collects, flows through the land and into rivers and streams, and eventually discharges into a body of water. Managing watersheds is important in preventing erosion and pollution from smothering coral reefs and harming marine wildlife. Else Demeulenaere, associate director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and co-principal investigator of the funding grant -- the NSF Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science, or NSF INCLUDES, program -- led the watershed workshops on Dec. 12 in Saipan and Dec. 19 in Rota. She was accompanied by UOG graduate student Frank Roberto and undergraduate student Laura Gombar, both NSF INCLUDES fellows. The UOG team shared its ongoing watersheds projects and programs, including the Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Initiative, educational outreach efforts, and STEM internships for high school and college students. "Having the opportunity to travel to our sister islands and share our resources with their communities is an enriching experience," Demeulenaere said. "We were also very pleased to learn from our colleagues in Saipan and Rota. Their knowledge is helpful in filling the gaps in our respective workspaces, in terms of watershed management efforts, and it enhances the social and cultural ties between the Mariana Islands." The CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources and Division of Coastal Resources Management hosted the workshops and also provided experts to speak on watershed challenges unique to their islands. Attendees included professionals from the forestry, conservation, fish and wildlife, tourism, and education sectors. "As neighbors in the Pacific, it is so important that we cooperate our efforts towards sustainable living and conserving our unique biodiversity," said DCRM watershed coordinator Zachary Williams. The trips to Saipan and Rota were funded by the NSF INCLUDES program, which focuses on diversity, inclusion, and broadening participation in STEM at scale. The program is expected to ramp up in 2020, with UOG recently being awarded a $2.3 million grant to further expand STEM capacity building in island communities. ### It's hard to resist the delirious silliness of Ben Elton's The Upstart Crow an imagined life of Shakespeare that reconfigures the genius of British theatre as a harassed commuter from Stratford-upon-Avon suffering from writer's block. As a storm raged around the theatre on a Saturday matinee, the pleasure and warmth emanating from a packed preview audience was in itself a testament to the affection it engenders. This play like the TV sitcom from which it sprang deserves the love lavished upon it. It is, it's true, full of a lot of daft gags about bottoms and codpieces and a fair amount of politically incorrect historical hindsight about BAME casting and the conditions of the Elizabethan stage. But it taps beautifully into two strong British traditions of writing: the immaculately conceived vaudevillian sight-gag and the cod historical drama, while revealing great knowledge of the Bard himself. And any show that features a sad-faced, tap-dancing bear, making regular appearances from the wings, gets my giggling vote. It helps that Shakespeare is played here, as on TV, by David Mitchell, a comic actor with no previous stage credits but with a real gift for being both put-upon and sardonic. His good-natured presence, and perfect timing, ground the play in all its whimsical absurdity, and create a character at once vain ("I'm not going bald. My hair's just shy"), preposterous and endearing. We meet his Shakespeare in London, where he is struggling to write a hit after the so-called Problem Plays. "I think we all know what the problem was", says his servant Bottom (a wonderfully dour Rob Rouse). "They were shite". His landlady's daughter, Kate (a sparkling Gemma Whelan) longs to be an actress but is prevented by the conditions of the time. "You're a girl", Mitchell drawls contemptuously. "For you not to feel left out, they'd have to close the world". She's also trying to get Shakespeare to put pen (with a very long feather) to paper by persuading him to get in touch with his emotions, and leaving texts such as King Lire lying around in the lavatory. This play provides a plot of sorts, as Shakespeare flings himself on the mercy of his two neglected daughters; Helen Monks as Susanna and Danielle Phillips as Judith pitch up to point out their father's general uselessness in strong Birmingham accents and performances that brim with loving mischief. There's also a subplot which involves a pair of Egyptian Coptic Christian twins shipwrecked in this "divided, embittered and soggy land" and forced to conceal their true identity by adopting disguises as a boy (Rachel Summers) and a girl (towering Jason Callender). I think we can all guess where that is heading. The scene is completed by the arrival of the crazed Puritan doctor John Hall, who falls for Kate and in a further Malvolio-style subplot capers around the stage wearing ever larger "puffling pants" and a huge curving codpiece. In Mark Heap's capable hands (playing a different role than on TV), his every exit and entrance is an event. All the performances are beautifully pitched, switching between broad comedy and Shakespearean pastiche with ease, and Sean Foley's direction (on Alice Power's deliberately simplistic set) swings everything along with brisk efficiency and sensitive timing. The play's deep affection for all things Shakespearean shines through in wonderfully funny gags that serve as theatrical critique, including jokes about the way that putting on a tiny mask will render anyone (even a bear) unrecognisable, just as hiding behind a tiny tree makes them invisible. My favourite moments were invariably when the plot stopped, and the cast just talked often in a mad, made-up Elizabethan language of "botty buttocks" and "hang the fuzzcock on. It is entirely captivating. As Shakespeare himself might have put it, a palpable hit. NEW YORK - Greg Laurie is among Americas most successful clergymen -- senior pastor at a California megachurch, prolific author, host of a global radio program. Yet after a youthful colleagues suicide, his view of his vocation is unsparing. Pastors are people, just like everyone else, Laurie said by email. We are broken people who live in a broken world. Sometimes, we need help too. Lauries 15,000-member Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in Riverside, California, was jolted in September by the death of Jarrid Wilson, a 30-year-old associate pastor. Wilson and his wife, parents of two sons, had founded an outreach group to help people coping with depression and suicidal thoughts. People may think that as pastors or spiritual leaders we are somehow above the pain and struggles of everyday people, Laurie wrote after Wilsons death. We are the ones who are supposed to have all the answers. But we do not. There is similar introspection among clergy of many faiths across the United States as the age-old challenges of their ministries are deepened by a host of newly evolving stresses. Rabbis worry about protecting their congregations from anti-Semitic violence. Islamic chaplains counsel college students unnerved by anti-Muslim sentiments. A shortage of Catholic priests creates burdens for those who remain, even as their churchs sex-abuse crisis lowers morale. Worries for Protestant pastors range from crime and drug addiction in their communities to financial insecurity for their own families to social media invective that targets them personally. Adam Hertzman, who works for the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, witnessed firsthand the emotional toll on his citys rabbis after the October 2018 massacre that killed 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue. Somehow in the U.S. we expect our clergy to be superhuman when it comes to these things, and frankly thats an unrealistic expectation, he said. Theyre human beings who are going to feel the same kind of fear and numbness and depression that other people do. ___ Its difficult to quantify the extent of clergy stress, nationwide or denominationally. But a 2018 Gallup poll bears out a widely shared impression that clergy no longer enjoy the same public esteem as in the past. Only 37% of American rate members of the clergy highly for their honesty and ethics, the lowest rating in the 40 years Gallup has asked that question. Not very long ago, they were seen as one of the pillars of the community, said Carl Weisner, senior director of Duke Divinity Schools Clergy Health Initiative. There has been some loss of status... and that does add to stress. Yet Weisner says the challenges of ministry are often offset by the rewards. Theres a gift of meaning in the work that not a whole lot of other professions have, he said. Stress and rewards come in many forms for Rodney McNeal, 54, an Army veteran and hospitalsocial workerwho has pastored SecondBethlehem Baptist Churchin Alexandria, Louisiana for nearly eight years. Officially, the African American church has 300 members but only about 130 attend a typical service, he said. They dont understand that I get tired like they get tired, he said. They want you to be at their constant beck and call. He has attended five seminaries but never completed them. The courses, he said, didnt cover the things he sees on the job. The preaching part is the easy part, he said. HadI known the ugly side of ministry -- the hospital visits, burying the dead, being in the room when someone is dyingand trying to comfort their family... Had I knownall that,I dont think I would have accepted being a pastor. When he began, McNealrarely took time off, straining his marriage. Although he has tried to create a work-life balance, he visits sick congregants on his lunch break and, if he gets off his job at 4:30 p.m.,tries to make two or three home and hospital visits before he picks up his children at school. McNeal said pastors in small congregations get close to their parishioners; when a tragedy strikes, you are feelingthe samepains. Youhave toget them through theprocess,but nobody is there to helpyou, he said. Over the years McNeal hasopened upto two older pastors who counsel him. He also talks to his brother, who is a minister inNorth Carolina. I know what depression is, he said. Youhave tositin your car when you drive up in the driveway of the churchand get your game face on to go in there.I have contemplated walking away so many times. What keeps him going? I love seeing people just turn their lives around, he said. I will be out in the community and somebody will say Hey man, you changed my life. You helped me. ____ Episcopal Bishop Chilton Knudsen, from the vantage of a nearly 40-year career, cites several factors affecting the clergys morale -- including sex-abuse scandals that have rocked several Protestant denominations as well as the Roman Catholic church Back in the day, you were automatically assumed to be trustworthy, said Knudsen, 73. As the scandals became public, the public trust of clergy has dropped a little notch with each revelation. Even if you never had a scandal, theres still a taint by association. At the same time, the clergy has more complicated situations come across their doorstep, she said. Theres a wearing-down effect, a sense of frustration and malaise -- theyre thinking, Ive spent all these hours with people trying to do good things, and Im just getting nowhere. Another challenge, she said, is the willingness of some churchgoers to engage in clergy bashing. Sometimes your congregation is polarized -- a group who wants you gone and believes another priest will be so much better, and a group who are supportive, she said. People are acting out, circulating rumours about you in email chains -- its traumatic. The Episcopal church offers subsidized psychological counselling to its clergy, but Knudsen says the service is underused. In Baltimore, the Rev. Alvin Gwynn -- at age 74 -- has been getting help from computer-savvy millennials as he serves for a 30th year as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. His mostly African American congregation of 1,100 is flourishing, he says, and yet hes weighed down sometimes by the multiple crises of his city -- high crime and drug abuse, underfunded schools, a lack of decent affordable housing. The hardest thing is trying to keep peoples hope alive, he said. Were no longer a friendly city -- our families have been torn apart, and people dont have the interaction with the church that they once had. The National Association of Evangelicals, which represents more than 45,000 churches in the U.S., published research in 2016 detailing pervasive financial stress among its pastors. Of more than 4,200 pastors surveyed, half earned less than $50,000 a year and more than 90% worried about insufficient retirement savings. Only 20% said their congregations had more than 200 people. Yet pastors in booming megachurches can suffer as well. Jarrid Wilsons death in September was preceded in August 2018 by the suicide of Andrew Stoecklein, the 30-year-old pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino, California. A few days before killing himself, Stoecklein had preached about his own struggles with panic attacks and depression. Wilsons suicide was among the reasons that megachurch pastor Howard John Wesley recently told his 10,000-member congregation at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, that he was taking a 15-week sabbatical. Theres not been a day in these past 11 years that I have not woken up and knew that theres something I had to do for the church, that I have to be available for a call, Wesley said. Im tired. ___ For Muslim clergy in America, the stresses of being a faith leader are often magnified by awareness that their communities face prejudice and suspicion. Were framed in this idea that somehow were a fifth column trying to take the country down, said James Jones, vice chair of the board of the Islamic Seminary of America. Were asked to prove ourselves -- that we are patriotic -- in ways that other people arent. Jones, a religion professor at Manhattanville College, says engagement in interfaith activities can be valuable for Muslim clergy. We in our community have to share that more inclusive approach, he said. Not insular, harsh rhetoric. Adeel Zeb encountered anti-Muslim sentiment head-on while serving as Islamic chaplain at Duke University in 2015. The school invited Muslim students to give their call to prayer from the bell tower of the campus chapel, only to withdraw the invitation -- citing safety concerns -- amid a backlash that included death threats and outraged criticism from prominent Christian figures such as evangelist Franklin Graham. Zeb, now chaplain at the five-college Claremont Colleges network in California, described Dukes backtracking as a hard call. Students and staffs lives were being threatened, he said. You dont want to live with that on your conscience -- one of your students getting shot and killed. At Claremont, Zeb ministers to about 300 Muslim students on multiple campuses, striving to keep up with their political and cultural interests. We chaplains are having to be far more socially conscious than before -- you have to be very cautious, and hyperaware, he said. His students grew up in the post-9-11 era that kindled anti-Muslim sentiment among some Americans. Many of the students here havent seen much of the blessing or sweetness of being a Muslim in the U.S., he said. They usually see the curse of it. If they see oppression happening, they will all start feeling the pain, and start causing a ruckus, and that causes stress for me, said Zeb, who meditates and works out to cut the tension. I have to make sure theres a very strong dose of self-care, so I can be resilient. ___ In September 2017, on the first day of Rosh Hoshana -- the Jewish new year -- a security guard found a hateful, obscene anti-Semitic message scrawled on an outdoor wall of Temple Sinai -- home to the oldest Jewish congregation in Oakland, California. Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin rushed to the synagogue after getting a predawn call and devised a plan before worshippers gathered for morning services. As they arrived, she encouraged them to write positive messages on sheets of butcher paper, which were then used to cover the graffiti until a work crew could paint over it. Love Not Hate, Shalom and Stronger Together were among the scores of multi-colored messages. Looking back now, Mates-Muchin says the incident had some upsides: Her congregation was heartened by an outpouring of support from civic and religious leaders. Among those expressing solidarity was a womens mosque in neighbouring Berkeley. However, the graffiti incident -- and the subsequent deadly attacks on synagogues in Pittsburgh and in Poway, California -- took a toll. Since the Pittsburgh massacre, Mates-Muchin said. I dont begin a service without having a rough plan of where Id direct people if someone came in with a gun. During that span, her synagogue has beefed up security measures -- more lighting, security cameras and guards. For the most recent high holy days, synagogue leaders requested the deployment of armed off-duty police officers. The Central Conference of American Rabbis -- the main rabbinical organization for Reform Judaism in North America -- seeks various ways to provide personal and professional support to its members. Theres a rapid-response line to field calls from troubled rabbis, and a social worker who offers free short-term counselling. The flare-up of anti-Semitism compounds the day-to-day challenges, says Rabbi Betsy Torop, director of rabbinic engagement for the organization. Were living in a country weve felt safe in, and now we see anti-Semitism everywhere, she said. Rabbis deal with their own feelings about this -- plus the need for increased security for their congregation. It plays out in creating stress and anxiety in a lot of ways. Security worries have affected other faiths as well. Pardeep Singh Kaleka, executive director of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, said his own Sikh temple has armed guards and an evacuation plan, the result of a 2012 attack in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, that killed six worshippers, including his father, the temple president and one of its founders. He said some Sikh leaders are tempted to avoid outreach to non-Sikh faiths and communities, but he urges them to take the chance. All of us are facing uncertainty and divisiveness, he said. Its a responsibility of faith leaders to bring people together. ___ Associated Press religion editor Gary Fields contributed. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. The West Bengal Vice Chancellors' Council has thrown its weight behind the VC of Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, who was issued a show cause notice by the Governor for not inviting him to the convocation of the institute, saying he acted in accordance with new rules. The Council comprising VCs of 20 state universities said in a statement on Monday that Panchanan Barma University Vice Chancellor Debkumar Mukhopadhyay had not got any response from the Raj Bhavan when the university initially informed it about the date of the convocation. "We have been informed by the VC of Panchanan Barma University that he did not receive any response from the Raj Bhavan, which made him go ahead with the convocation programme without the presence of His Excellency. "Besides, we would like to humbly submit that the state government rules introduced on December 9, 2019 stipulate the procedure regarding conducting an inquiry, issuing show-cause or taking any penal measure against vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellors," the statement said, referring to an Act passed in the Assembly on December 9 last year. The new rule stipulates "every communication proposed to be made by the Chancellor to any state-aided university shall be routed through the (higher education) department". West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had on Thursday last issued a show cause notice to Mukhopadhyay for not inviting him to the convocation. Dhankhar had earlier tweeted that though he has the "right to preside" over the convocation, he was not invited while many ministers were requested to attend the event The Raj Bhavan, in a note, had said, "Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has invoked the process for consideration of removal of CBPBU VC Debkumar Mukhopadhyay." In a notice mailed to the VC, the governor had said, "Under Section 9 of the CBPBU Act, you have been called upon to respond within 14 days. It has been indicated that you may also avail oral hearing."State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee had refused to react to the show-cause notice issued to Mukhopadhyay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Stern family of Colorado float in weightlessness during a Fourth of July holiday flight aboard a Zero Gravity Corporation aircraft on July 4, 2010. A company that has flown over 200 research missions in zero gravity has finalized a brand new partnership with NASA. Zero Gravity Corp. (Zero-G) is a company that provides people with a once-in-a-lifetime experience of floating in microgravity on parabolic flights (flights that follow a parabolic trajectory and create the sensation of weightlessness for occupants at the top of each arc . While the flights are an incredible weightless experience that will allow paying passengers to "float like astronauts," they will also provide researchers and educators with a "zero-gravity" environment to conduct experiments or lessons. With this new agreement between Zero-G and NASA, the company will fly NASA payloads along with research teams from the agency, providing microgravity flights to test new technology and support scientific experiments. Related: TV's 'The Bachelor' takes a ride with Zero G Photos: Fun in Zero-G: Weightless Photos from Earth and Space "This is a defining moment in history," Zero-G CEO Matt Gohd said in a news statement via an email. "Breaking this barrier is a critical first step on the path that will enable NASA personnel and their payloads to fly missions on our commercial aircraft." (Full disclosure: Space.com's Chelsea Gohd is a distant relative of Matt Gohd.) One of the first payloads to fly under the new agreement will come from NASA's Johnson Space Center and KBRwyle, a private provider of engineering, scientific and technical services. The companies will fly an experiment titled "Evaluation of 0-G Rowing Feasibility and Acceptability," during which a research team will perform rowing exercises at different velocities and resistances during the "zero gravity" portions of the flight. The team will use a prototype rowing exercise device to complete the experiment and will test it out in a number of different configurations and positions. From 2008 to 2015, NASA and Zero-G had a previous contract under which the company flew microgravity missions in Texas. Though, unlike this new contract, those flights were conducted under "public use" government regulations rather than under FAA regulations. Zero-G recently revealed its 2020 flight schedule, which includes flights departing from Georgia, Texas, Nevada, California, Florida, New England, New York, Washington state and Washington, D.C. Research flights scheduled for 2020 will depart from Miami. Over the years, Zero-G has hosted 219 research missions (181 of which were conducted with NASA). The company has flown noted astronauts and scientists, including Stephen Hawking, Buzz Aldrin, Richard Garriott, Owen Garriott, Peggy Whitson and Scott Kelly. Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Latest News Sydney property prices might not drop yet, as planning problems persist NSW planning approvals have fallen off a cliff since October, showing that the supply crisis might yet continue The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed, with rentvesting and borderless investing likely to surge A non-bank lender and wealth manager has announced a new board appointment, naming a seasoned figure with over 30 years in the banking and finance world. La Trobe Financial has welcomed Dr Bob Edgar to the position, following his retirement as the deputy chief executive of ANZ in May 2009. During his time at ANZ, Edgar also acted as chief economist and managing director of strategic planning, including acquisitions and divestments. His previous roles at the bank also included chief executive of Grindlays for South Asia, managing director of finance company subsidiary Esanda, and managing director of corporate banking and institutional banking. He was a member of the banks senior management board as well. La Trobe president and CEO, Greg ONeill OAM, highlighted Edgars outstanding career at ANZ and leadership track record over the decades, dubbing him one of Australias pre-eminent bankers. His extensive experience will prove invaluable as the company seeks to capture the growth opportunities that will be presented to us over the coming years, said ONeill. Our management team, business partners, staff and customers will benefit greatly from the skills and experience Dr Edgar brings to the board. Edgar himself has called La Trobe a great Australian success story. I am delighted to join the companys board of directors and look forward to playing a part in its future success, he said. India on Tuesday issued a fresh travel advisory cautioning citizens against visiting large parts of Iraq in view of the deteriorating security situation. In the advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian citizens to specifically avoid travelling to Nineveh, Salahuddin, Diyala, Anbar and Kirkuk which witnessed escalation in tension in the wake of fresh attacks by ISIS terrorists. Indian nationals have been advised not to travel to these five provinces as they "remain unsafe" due to the prevailing security situation, the advisory said. "Those Indian nationals wishing to travel for employment and already having work permits and appropriate visas may return to their jobs in the safe areas in Iraq other than those listed as unsafe areas," it said. It also asked Indians planning to visit Iraq to inform the Indian Embassy in Baghdad or Consulate General in Erbil prior to travelling to the country. "Indian nationals wishing to travel for religious purposes, and having appropriate visa and return air-ticket, may also travel for pilgrimage to the holy places of Najaf and Karbala. "They should not extend their religious pilgrimage to neighbouring Syria and not travel by road from Iraq to Syria or vice-versa," the advisory said. India had issued a travel advisory on June 15, 2014, cautioning Indian nationals to avoid visiting Iraq in the wake of the precarious situation then developing in the country after the ISIS terrorists had taken over large Iraqi territories. As the security situation improved, another travel advisory was issued on February 4 last year allowing Indian nationals to consider travelling to the country except the five provinces. Another advisory was issued on January 8 cautioning Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Iraq in view of escalation of tension. PTI MPB ANB ANB In elegant white script against a dramatic black background, a wedding registry website celebrates the nuptials of Stephen Miller and Katie Waldman by directing visitors to charities that support asylum seekers and immigrants, "organisations that help the most vulnerable among us, people whose rights are receding faster than Stephen's hairline". Mr Miller, the chief architect of Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies that have separated children from their families and placed them in detention centres after crossing the US-Mexico border, "has made it his life's mission to strip all compassion and understanding from US immigration policy", the website says. The mock registry was created by Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, a late-night news and satire programme on TBS. An accompanying photo gallery places images of the couple between shots of children behind fencing in detention centres. Mr Miller married Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary at the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC on Sunday. The website gave the event a hashtag: #MatchMadeInHate. "As a thank you, we at Full Frontal want to get him a wedding present that we know he'll hate", the site says. 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Show all 6 1 /6 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Photos of detained migrants crowded into cells at the US border - with one holding up a sign reading simply "help" - have been released as part of a new report warning of "dangerous" overcrowding. The memo was sent to the Department of Homeland Security by its Inspector General, containing photos taken at border facilities in the Rio Grande Valley over a week in June DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Eighty-eight adult males held in a cell with a maximum capacity of 41, some signalling prolonged detention to OIG Staff on June 12 DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Overcrowding of families observed by OIG on June 11, at a border patrol facility in Weslaco, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Fifty-one adult females held in a cell designated for male juveniles with a capacity for 40 at Border Patrols Fort Brown Station DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG Full Frontal imagines the couple bonding over a "shared passion of our right to absolute superiority based on nothing but the colour of our skin" and Mr Miller's card signed "with an acronym that I believe stood for 'Katie, Katie, Katie.'" "Since that day, unlike migrant families at the border, we became inseparable." Mr Miller has wielded significant influence at Trump's White House, from instructions to issue executive orders barring immigrants from majority-Muslim countries into the US to terminating a programme that protected young immigrants from deportation after they were brought into the country as children. A trove of emails obtained by the Southern Poverty Law Center revealed his coordination with right-wing websites to publish white nationalist views espousing eugenics and far-right, anti-immigrant ideologies while serving as press secretary for Jeff Sessions. In emails, he suggested ending birthright citizenship and shaped the coverage and instructed writers and editors what to write on Breitbart, including the promotion of white nationalist literature. Dozens of lawmakers have demanded Mr Miller resign from his position. Earlier this week, Senator Kamala Harris and Congressman Joaquin Castro sponsored a resolution with seven other Democrats condemning Mr Miller and demanding his resignation. After the release of the emails in November, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez circulated a petition calling for his termination, among several calls from prominent politicians to remove him from his post. In December, 27 Democrats signed a letter calling for his "immediate removal" from the White House. The publication of the emails was written off by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham as the work of a "far-left smear organisation". Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:19:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Teacher Yan Ming records a physics lesson at a recording center in Huangpu District of Shanghai, east China, Feb. 19, 2020. All universities, primary and secondary schools in Shanghai will launch online education from March to cope with the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic, local authorities said Tuesday. A unified teaching schedule will be adopted on March 2 by all the primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, said Lu Jing, director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, at a press conference on the virus prevention and control. The online courses, recorded by over 1,000 teachers across the city, will be broadcast on TV in 12 channels. Students can watch live courses and re-broadcast on TV as well as online. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) SHANGHAI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- All universities, primary and secondary schools in Shanghai will launch online education from March to cope with the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic, local authorities said Tuesday. A unified teaching schedule will be adopted on March 2 by all the primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, said Lu Jing, director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, at a press conference on the virus prevention and control. The online courses, recorded by over 1,000 teachers across the city, will be broadcast on TV in 12 channels. Students can watch live courses and re-broadcast on TV as well as online. Lu said that online education is not a complete substitute for on-campus learning. After school reopening, the supplementary and enhanced courses will be arranged. Colleges and universities in Shanghai will conduct online courses according to their own conditions, Lu said, adding that there will be no mandatory requirements for students to attend online courses every day. The reopening date of schools in Shanghai will rely on the development of the epidemic, according to Lu. Two council members and the mayor on Friday filed an ethics violation report against Councilman Marte Martinez, a pain doctor, who has allegedly received about $5,600 from city workers compensation patients since he voted on the selection of the citys group health insurance provider in June. READ MORE: Early voting begins in Laredo, here's what you need to know Mayor Pete Saenz, Councilman George Altgelt and Councilwoman Nelly Vielma filed the report with the City Attorneys Office, which will present the allegations to the citys Ethics Commission at their next meeting. The Ethics Commission will vote on whether or not the allegations rise to the level of a sworn complaint. In June, City Council was tasked with choosing between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna to provide the citys health insurance for the next three years. In their report, the three officials note that Martinez an in-network pain management physician with Blue Cross Blue Shield was one of the six council members who voted in favor of their plan. Martinez stood to gain financially with this vote, the report states. The officials claim this is a violation of Section 2.01 of the Laredo Code of Ethics, which claims that as a general rule, an elected official or employee shall not take any action that they know is likely to affect their own economic interests. They also cite Section 2.09 which states No city official shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in any contract, purchase or sale with the city. Any violation of this section constitutes malfeasance of office. An employee or official who is found guilty of such a violation would be forced to forfeit their position with the city, the Ethics Code states. Councilman Martinez was not aware of the violation report when contacted Monday. He questioned the timing of the allegations, and he said it sounded like political pressure. I just want the process to play out. I am committed to serving as both a public servant and physician in this community, as I was elected, he said. Everything Ive done is to help the citizens and employees of Laredo, not help me. He noted that he tries to be in-network with every insurance company so as to better care for more patients. Martinez is also in-network with Aetna, and he argued that his vote wouldnt have mattered either way. And the city has to have an insurance plan, he said. The City of Laredo contracts with Texas Municipal League to administer workers compensation claims. At a date unknown to the city, TML subcontracted a network of providers with the Political Subdivision Workers Compensation Alliance, according to a document included in the report. Also included in the report is a letter to Dr. Ntakirutimana of Laredo Pain Consultants from the Alliance canceling his contract for pain management services for City of Laredo workers comp claims. The letter is dated Oct. 7, 2019 and notifies the doctor that in 90 days Laredo Pain Consultants will no longer be an Alliance contracted provider. It does not specify what caused the termination of services with Ntakirutimana. READ MORE: Congressional candidate claims censorship at WBCA air show in viral video The city does not recruit, engage or dismiss any medical provider. This is solely done by the Alliance, according to a statement of facts presented by the City of Laredo in the report. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com Dame Esther Rantzen has said privatising the BBC would harm people suffering from loneliness. The TV star said that making the broadcaster a subscription service would isolate vulnerable people. Downing Street is considering replacing the TV licence fee with a subscription model, forcing the sale of most BBC radio stations, cutting the number of television stations and reducing the amount of online content, according to a Sunday Times report. The Government is already consulting on proposals to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee and ministers have suggested it could be abolished altogether when the BBCs charter comes up for renewal in 2027. Following reports that the BBC could be forced to sell off some of its radio stations, we're debating whether it's time to privatise 'Aunty.' Dame Esther Rantzen believes that privatising the BBC would isolate people and says its a shame to polarise our nation. Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/Q9ace6VW0q Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 18, 2020 Dame Esther told ITVs Good Morning Britain: The people who ring me up and talk to me about loneliness are local radio stations and the people who depend on them and listen to them. When the BBC was described as a dinosaur, she replied: Never underestimate how greatly loved dinosaurs are, adding that many people watch by accident and find something of real value. Praising Fleabag, which was on BBC Three, she continued: If this planet survives, it will be due to two words David Attenborough. When presenter Richard Madeley said: The Government wants to tame the BBC, I would suggest, because they dont like it because it doesnt like them, Dame Esther replied: I dont think Boris (Johnson) wants to. I think Boris cares about his legacy, he doesnt want to be known as the man who destroyed the BBC. Video of the Day Referring to the Channel 4 drama Brexit: An Uncivil War, in which senior adviser Dominic Cummings was played by Benedict Cumberbatch, she said: I think there is someone called Benedict Cumberbatch in Number 10, sorry Dominic Cummings, and I think he might be the person. The EU on Tuesday put Panama back on its blacklist of tax havens after deciding the country had not done enough to meet global transparency standards. Panama, along with the Cayman Islands, Seychelles and Palau were added to eight other territories already deemed to be "non-cooperative tax jurisdictions," the Council of the EU said in a statement following a meeting of the bloc's finance ministers. They join American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Oman, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the US Virgin Islands and Vanuatu on the list. The addition of the Cayman Islands represented the first time an overseas British territory was placed on the EU's blacklist. One German conservative member in the European Parliament, Markus Ferber, said that should serve as "a warning to the United Kingdom" following its departure last month from the European Union. The European Union is concerned that Britain might want to undercut EU tax standards to gain a competitive economic advantage over the bloc. EU-UK negotiations to work out a basic future relationship are to take place this year. The European Union had removed Panama from its blacklist in 2018, shifting it to a halfway greylist after accepting the Central American's promises to comply with rules on sharing tax information in the wake of the 2016 "Panama Papers" revelations. But the EU statement on Tuesday said that it and the other blacklist additions "did not implement the tax reforms to which they had committed by the agreed deadline". Turkey -- a major trading partner that also serves as a bulwark against migration flows -- is being scrutinised by the EU under those standards, but has been given to later this year for a full evaluation. The EU standards on tax transparency align with criteria set by the OECD. They aim to fight tax evasion by ensuring the automatic exchange of fiscal information between countries' authorities. The blacklist was first drawn up in 2017 in the wake of several scandals, including the Panama Papers and LuxLeaks, that pushed Brussels into doing more to fight tax evasion by multinationals and the rich. EU member countries cannot be on the list and blacklisted countries face only limited sanctions, consisting of freezing them out of European aid or development funding. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People buy face masks at a shop in Seoul in this Jan. 28 file photo. / AP-Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Morgan Stanley Private Equity (MSPE) lives up to the Albert Einstein quote, "In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity." While the spread of 2019-nCoV has been affecting various industries, the private equity arm of the U.S. investment bank made a 12.4 billion won ($10 million) gain from its previous investment in a face mask manufacturer. According to its regulatory filing, Tuesday, MSPE sold 14.9 million of its shares in Monalisa, Feb. 3, and another 24.4 million shares the following day. The private equity firm's (PEF) stakes were sold for 8,812 won per share on Feb. 3 and 5,799 won per share the next day. As a result, MSPE turned over 27.3 billion won in cash. She celebrated Valentine's Day on Friday with her boyfriend Simon Motson. But Myleene Klass was enjoying some retail therapy on Monday, as she went shopping with her three children in Hampstead. The presenter, 41, cradled her adorable baby son Apollo, six months, as she wrapped up in a chic red coat for the outing alongside her two daughters Ava, 12, and Hero, eight. Casual: Myleene Klass enjoyed a spot of retail therapy on Tuesday, as she went shopping with her daughters Ava, 12, and Hero, eight and her baby son Apollo, six months, in Hampstead Myleene cut a casual figure as she carried her baby son on the outing, opted for comfortable black jeans and a relaxed red coat. The star kept her baby son close in a printed carrier as she strolled through the capital during the relaxing shopping trip. After visiting several shops with her brood, Myleene treated her daughters to some delicious cold beverages, before they headed home together. Casual: The presenter cradled her adorable baby son as she wrapped up in a chic red coat for the low-key outing Fun: Myleene carried her son in a baby carrier as she joined her two daughters for a spot of shopping in the capital Family: Ava looked relaxed and stylish in a black tracksuit, while Hero opted for sweet denim dungarees and a leather jacket with a fur collar Ava looked relaxed and stylish in a black tracksuit, while Hero opted for sweet denim dungarees and a leather jacket with a fur collar. Myleene's outing came after she spent Valentine's Day with her partner Simon, which was also a year to the day after they first announced they were expecting their first child together. The couple have been together for four years after being introduced through a mutual friend, and Myleene has previously referred to the PR executive as 'the love of my life'. Cute: Little Apollo looked right at home nestled in a baby carrier as he joined his two older sisters on the outing Casual: Myleene opted for a low-key look with her her statement red coat as she enjoyed the outing with her daughters Proud parent: The Classic FM host welcomed her baby son with partner Simon Motson in August She was previously married to bodyguard Graham Quinn, but he left her heartbroken when he walked out of the family home on her 34th birthday in April 2012. Myleene's ex left her just six months after the couple's wedding, after having been together for 11 years at the time. Apollo was both Myleene and Simon's third child, but their first as a couple. Relationship drama: Myleene was previously married to bodyguard Graham Quinn, but he left her heartbroken when he walked out of the family home on her 34th birthday in April 2012 Truthful: Myleene recently discussed 'navigating the complexities of a blended family', saying their 'love is very special' Defiant: Late last month, Myleene declared she's on a mission to 'normalise' breastfeeding in a candid interview with MailOnline Myleene has daughters Ava and Hero from her marriage to ex-husband Graham while Simon has a son and a daughter from his previous marriage, who are the same age as Myleene's girls. The couple have been together for four years after being introduced through a mutual friend, and Myleene has previously referred to the PR executive as 'the love of my life'. Myleene recently discussed 'navigating the complexities of a blended family', saying their 'love is very special'. Transformation: She revealed one of the major changes to her figure following her pregnancy with Apollo is having bigger boobs Happy: But Myleene also said that there isn't a place where she doesn't feel comfortable breastfeeding Used to it: She explained: 'I breastfeed at the radio, I breastfeed on the train, I breastfeed absolutely anywhere, anyone who's around me is used to me breastfeeding' Late last month, Myleene declared she's on a mission to 'normalise' breastfeeding in a candid interview with MailOnline. She revealed one of the major changes to her figure following her pregnancy with Apollo is having bigger boobs and there isn't a place she doesn't feel comfortable breastfeeding. The honey-blonde beauty explained: 'I breastfeed at the radio, I breastfeed on the train, I breastfeed absolutely anywhere, anyone who's around me is used to me breastfeeding. On a mission: 'It's important to normalise breastfeeding, it's more in this country because I think when you're abroad there's a different feel to it,' Myleene added Changes: Myleene said her body 'feels different' since giving birth, but insisting she's not trying to 'race it back to anything' Views: She seemed relaxed and happy as she stepped out in the capital with her two young daughters 'It's important to normalise breastfeeding, it's more in this country because I think when you're abroad there's a different feel to it. I just want to normalise it so it makes it easier for everyone. 'My boobs have got bigger, absolutely, that's definitely one of the changes for sure. My body feels different, there's no doubt about it. But I'm not trying to race my body back to anything. 'Apollo feeds all the time, with boys it's so different. He's never, ever full. When I'm expressing and Sim messages me going ''make sure you express another eight ounces,'' I'm like ''Where am I going to squeeze that out of?'' Sophisticated: On Tuesday Myleene also cut a stylish figure in a relaxed black tracksuit as she arrived at the Smooth Radio studios in London The death toll for the novel Coronavirus hit 1,868 in the last 24 hours in mainland China. As per the Chinese state health committee, it has increased by 98 in just one day. The committee also added that the number of confirmed cases has gone up by 1,886 to 72,436. First detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, the virus outbreak has now spread across 20 countries since December 2019. About 1,701 people have recovered from the disease, whereas, a total of 12,552 coronavirus patients have by now been discharged from hospitals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed the virus as COVID-19. The death toll for n-Coronavirus has surpassed the tolls from the SARS epidemic of 2002-03. The origin of the virus has been linked to the local seafood market of Wuhan, which is the capital of Hubei province in central China. Few of the countries currently affected by the virus include Singapore, Thailand, Japan, India, and the United States. Read: DGCA restricts foreigners, Chinese nationals entry in India with visa issued before Feb 5 DGCA restricts foreigners, Chinese nationals entry in India Amidst the scare, many countries have restricted their citizens from travelling to mainland China. Few countries have also set up health camps at airports to screen the passengers arriving from the East Asian countries. The Indian aviation regulator - Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on February 9, issued a statement saying that the foreigners, who went to China on or after January 15, will not be allowed to enter India. Read: Ministry taking Coronavirus seriously while granting Visa to Chinese wrestlers: Rijiju The circular, issued by DGCA also reiterated that all visas, as well as e-visas issued to Chinese nationals before February 5, have been suspended with immediate effect. "Foreigners who have been to China on or after January 15, 2020, are not allowed to enter India from any air, land or seaport including India-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan, Indo-Bangladesh or Indo-Myanmar land borders," the DGCA said in a circular. Read: WHO warns against novel coronavirus 'blanket measures' "No Chinese national, as well as other foreigners presently in China, are allowed to travel to India on existing Regular (sticker) visa or e-visa, which they hold (issued prior to Feb 05, 2020). In case of compelling reasons to travel to India, such persons may get in touch with Embassy in Beijing or Consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou for new visas," the circular said. The DGCA further states that the restrictions mentioned in the statement are not applicable to the aircrew. Read: Hindu Mahasabha chief Chakrapani deems Coronavirus 'an avatar of punishing non-vegetarians' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Belseran Christ (The Jakarta Post) Ambon Tue, February 18, 2020 15:18 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653001b 1 National coronavirus,Maluku,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak,student,Malaysia Free A university student identified as BN who was quarantined at Magretty Hospital, Maluku, after showing symptoms of the new coronavirus, has tested negative for COVID-19, a local health agency has announced. According to Tanimbar Islands Health Agency head Edwin Tomasoa, tests on BNs sputum samples sent to the Health Ministrys laboratory in Jakarta showed that BN was not infected by the deadly coronavirus. He added that he had expected the test to take five days. We received the results earlier than expected. We received information from Jakarta that the result is negative, Tomasoa said. We have yet to receive the written results, but we received the information directly from the lab. Edwin said BN was in good condition and that the 19-year-old no longer showed symptoms of being sick. Read also: University student becomes first suspected case of coronavirus in Maluku He is no longer having difficulty breathing, he has no fever or back pain as he did before when being treated at the hospital, he said. BN arrived in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon in poor health on Feb. 7, following a visit to Malaysia, which has had a number of confirmed coronavirus cases. He has been treated at the Magretty Saumlaki public hospital in the Tanimbar Islands since last Wednesday. (gis) Friends and relatives of Satish demanded stringent action against the DMart staff. Footage of the boys going into the shop is available but the family says there is no footage of the boys coming out. They are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter and arrest of those who were involved in Satishs death. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: An Intermediate student died after he was allegedly beaten up by the staff of DMart supermarket at Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad on Sunday night. His parents said he had been allegedly caught shoplifting by the staff and security of the store. He was allegedly thrashed by the staff severely and collapsed on the spot. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead by the doctors who examined him. According to Vanasthalipuram inspector A. Venkataiah, the victim was Lavudya Satish of Nalgonda district who was in second year Intermediate at Chaitanya Junior College, Hayathnagar. He and two friends went to D-Mart on Sunday without informing the college staff or his parents. Satish allegedly stole a chocolate bar from the store and was caught by security as he was leaving. His two friends ran away while he was beaten up by the stores security personnel. A case has been registered for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 part 2 IPC) and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Satishs grief-stricken father said that if the boy had stolen a chocolate, the store management should have handed him over to the police or called his parents. How can they beat my boy to death? he wailed. Both Sri Chaitanya and DMart are responsible for my sons death, he added. Friends and relatives of Satish demanded stringent action against the DMart staff. Footage of the boys going into the shop is available but the family says there is no footage of the boys coming out. They are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter and arrest of those who were involved in Satishs death. Police has sent the body for post-mortem to the Osmania General Hospital. They are also speaking to the friends who accompanied Satish. DMart staff and security are also being questioned. CCTV footage near and around DMart is being checked for further clues. DMart management could not be reached for comment. Three days after the latest Armenian-Azerbaijani summit, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian accused Baku on Tuesday of hampering progress towards a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh with maximalist demands. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev held a brief meeting in Munich on Saturday before participating in a panel discussion on Karabakh held as part of an annual security conference in the southern German city. The two leaders publicly traded accusations during the discussion. In particular, Aliyev again described Karabakh as his countrys integral part and branded Armenia an aggressor, prompting a rebuttal from Pashinian. Mnatsakanian appeared to refer to this verbal exchange when he discussed the Karabakh peace progress with Toivo Klaar, the European Unions visiting special envoy for the South Caucasus. According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the two men agreed that the conflicting parties should genuinely prepare their populations for peace. In that context, the Armenian foreign minister particularly stressed the importance of the leaders publicly sending signals and messages of peace to their societies and pointed out that the Azerbaijani side continues to publicly act from maximalist positions rejecting the rights of the Karabakh people, something which does not allow [the parties] to register progress in the peace process, the ministry said in a statement. The Karabakh conflict was also on the agenda of Klaars separate meeting with Pashinian. An Armenian government statement said Pashinian shared with the EU envoy his observations and views about Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks. It gave no details. Aliyev and Pashinian met in Munich two weeks after Mnatsakanian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov concluded two days of negotiations in Geneva held in the presence of U.S., French and Russian mediators. In a joint statement with the mediators, the ministers said the intensive discussions focused on possible next steps to prepare the populations for peace; principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement; and timing and agenda for advancing the settlement process. The anti-pipeline protest that closed the Thousands Island Bridge near the Ontario-New York border on Highway 37 early Monday afternoon ended about two and a half hours later. Around 40 people began demonstrating around noon Monday, according to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Cynthia Savard said the protesters were "aligned" with the Mohawk First Nation protesters near Belleville, Ont., whose blockade near and along tracks has brought passenger and freight rail service in the region to a standstill since Feb. 6. The blockade began after Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C. faced a raid from the RCMP enforcing a court injunction. The hereditary chiefs oppose the development of a liquefied natural gas pipeline crossing their traditional territory, though elected members of 20 band councils along the route support it. That protest and others across Canada prompted CN Rail and Via Rail to shut down huge sections of their railway networks. CBC The Mohawks of Tyendinaga said while the people blocking the Thousand Islands Bridge were not the same people from their protest, the two are connected. Savard said the bridge protesters were located near the toll booth on the Canadian side of the border, and were on foot, holding signs. Photos from the scene showed a line of cars backed up onto Highway 401. According to the OPP, the off-ramp from Highway 401 was eventually closed. The roads reopened at about 3 p.m. That bridge is part of a multi-crossing stretch over the St. Lawrence River about 140 kilometres south of Ottawa that includes an international border crossing. The coronavirus epidemic erupted when the slowdown of the Chinese economy had already accelerated because of the trade war with the United States. Chinas economy has now been further adversely affected, with economists assessing that the growth rate will need to be revised downward to 5%. The countrys services sector is estimated to be losing $114 billion a week. At least 22 Chinese provinces and regions, including Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Henan, Hainan and Fujian, have already set lower growth targets this year compared to the last. This combined stress on Chinas economy is poised to dilute the strategic geo-economic Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a prestige project of the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Investment in BRI has already dipped. This will dent, if not damage, the credibility of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and President Xi who promised to realise the China Dream by 2021. The adverse impact of the coronavirus epidemic on Chinas military modernisation became visible earlier this month. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) announced, on February 7, that it was suspending its military recruitment programme for the current year. The new recruitment programme, announced by the PLA in January and scheduled to begin this year, would have had two recruitment cycles. The first phase was to commence in mid-February and continue till the end of March, with the second recruitment cycle running from mid-August to the end of September. The new programme also provided that military personnel will retire twice a year. This revised programme was described as being of great significance for recruiting more high-quality soldiers. Chinas ministry of national defence said it is of great significance for improving the quality and training of enlistees and enhancing the militarys combat capability. While Li Daguang, professor at the PLA National Defense University in Beijing, said the postponement should not have much effect on the number or quality of the eventual recruits, the decision to suspend recruitment will undoubtedly upset long-term plans and training programmes. It will additionally defer employment, especially for the rural youth, at a time when unemployment has been rising steadily for the last two years. Equally impactful is the decision of certain vital military centres to slow down production. Early this month, the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, which is building Chinas third aircraft carrier, asked employees, who travelled to other cities since the virus outbreak, not to return to work until further notice, or quarantine themselves at home for the stipulated period. This will delay the construction of the new aircraft carrier and could have further knock-on effects. The impact of the virus in Wuhan, where it originated, will affect Chinas defence production. Wuhan is home to many Chinese weapons and equipment design and manufacturing institutes, such as the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, which builds submarines, and the Naval University of Engineering, which is developing advanced naval technologies such as the electromagnetic catapult, rail gun, full electric propulsion, and submarine-related technologies. The research and development headquarters of most Chinese hi-technology companies are also located in Wuhan. Chinas production of carrier-based aircraft has also been adversely impacted, with the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in Liaoning Province deciding to suspend production. Like other enterprises, it has informed its workers who travelled to other cities not to return till further notice, or quarantine themselves at home for the required period. The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation manufactures the J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, which is presently the only jet fighter available to the PLA Navy (PLAN)s carrier fleet and its mainstay. There is currently a shortfall in the number of J-15 fighter jets available to the PLAN, which wants 36 aircraft on each aircraft carrier, but can provide a maximum of only 24 aircraft. There is also a severe shortage of navy aviation pilots and efforts have been underway to train more pilots and accelerate production of the J-15 aircraft. The PLAN, which receives the highest share of Chinas military budget, is tasked to protect Chinas maritime and overseas interests. Closure of these weapons manufacturing institutes, even though temporary, will delay the PLANs ambition of becoming an ocean-going fleet and hamper its envisaged role in the Maritime Silk Route (MSR), considered an important part of the BRI. The severe economic losses that are estimated and visibly growing discontent in society could compel Chinas leadership to invest in promoting employment and the domestic economy rather than the military. There could be reduced interest in spending on overseas ports viewed as part of the MSR. This is likely to revive the debate going on for the past almost 4 months about the number of aircraft carriers that China needs. The slowdown in military build-up will delay the realisation of the China Dream. Jayadev Ranade is former additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. He is currently president, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy The views expressed are personal The scale of urbanisation in India requires one city of the size of Chicago to be built every year for the next 10 years, the head of a top American business advocacy group has said. In a panel discussion 'Smart Cities in India: Challenges and Opportunities' at India Conference organised by the Harvard University over the weekend, Mukesh Aghi, president of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) emphasised that the need of a robust public-private-partnership for funding all Smart Cities projects following the success path of Singapore. "The enormity of urbanisation in India requires one city of Chicago size to be built every year for next ten years," Aghi said. "Change in behaviour of citizens has to come in. The leaders of the cities have to be fiscally responsible too," Aghi said. Prof John Macomber, Sr Lecturer at Harvard Business School whose research focuses on the future of the cities described why different solutions are required for the developing countries. Explaining the 24 elements of smartness for the projects under Smart Cities Mission, NSN Murty, Partner & Leader (Smart Cities) at PWC India, called this to be a universal template to be effective not only in India but anywhere in the world. He cited the example of Bhopal, being an innovator in smart cities by fusing physical and digital together to create revenue generation model around street lights. Opening the discussion, Alok Singh, director, Dell Technologies, highlighted this as the new deal of the 21st century drawing a parallel with the investment in infrastructure projects in the US to come out of the Great Depression. Amit Midha, president of Global Digital Cities and APJ at Dell Technologies, highlighted the need of smart cities globally since 70 per cent of the population would live on four per cent of the land mass 2050. "Transformation engine for the progress is slow but results have been positive He quoted Indore and Mumbai showing positive results such as a double digit decline in communicable disease in hospitals and a double-digit improvement in crime cases because of the information available," Midha said. "As the time progresses the learning and experience will play huge dividends to the entire society built out of the digital nation," he added. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN RE GSE BONDS ANTITRUST LITIGATION Case No. 1:19-cv-01704 (JSR) SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION, HEARING ON ADDITIONAL PROPOSED SETTLEMENTS AND ATTORNEYS' FEES PETITION, AND RIGHT TO SHARE IN NET SETTLEMENT FUND If you entered into a GSE Bond Transaction with one or more Defendants from January 1, 2009 through and including January 1, 2019 ("Settlement Class Period"), you may be affected by new and additional pending class action settlements. This Summary Notice is to alert you to new and additional proposed settlements reached with Barclays Capital Inc. ("Barclays"); BNP Paribas Securities Corp. ("BNP Paribas"); Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ("Cantor Fitzgerald"); Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("CGMI"); Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ("Credit Suisse"); HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. ("HSBC"); J. P. Morgan Securities LLC ("J. P. Morgan"); Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. ("Merrill Lynch"); Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC ("Morgan Stanley"); Nomura Securities International, Inc. ("Nomura"); SG Americas Securities LLC ("SG Americas"); TD Securities (USA) LLC ("TD Securities"); and UBS Securities LLC ("UBS") (together "Newly-Settling Defendants"). Newly-Settling Defendants deny any liability, fault, or wrongdoing of any kind in connection with the allegations in the Action. Newly-Settling Defendants have agreed to pay a total of $337 million into a settlement fund. This is separate from the earlier settlements reached with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ("Deutsche Bank"), First Tennessee Bank, N.A. and FTN Financial Securities Corp. (together, "FTN"), and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC ("Goldman Sachs"). Newly-Settling Defendants together with Deutsche Bank, FTN, and Goldman Sachs are referred to as "Defendants." Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The Court has appointed the lawyers listed below to represent the Settlement Class in this Action: Christopher M. Burke Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP 600 West Broadway, Suite 3300 San Diego, CA 92101 Telephone: 619-798-5316 [email protected] Vincent Briganti Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. 44 South Broadway, Suite 1100 White Plains, NY 10601 Telephone: 914 733-7221 [email protected] Who Is a Member of the Settlement Class? Subject to certain exceptions, the proposed Settlement Class consists of all persons and entities who or which entered into a GSE Bond Transaction with one or more Defendants or a direct or indirect parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or division of a Defendant during the Settlement Class Period. "GSE Bond Transaction" means any purchase, sale, or other transaction in the secondary market with respect to any GSE Bond. "GSE Bond" means any and each unsecured bond or debt instrument (i.e., senior debt, subordinated debt, and junior subordinated debt) regardless of currency or credit quality, issued by Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Farm Credit Banks, and Federal Home Loan Banks. The other capitalized terms used in this Summary Notice are defined in the detailed Notice of Pendency of Class Action, Hearing on Additional Proposed Settlements and Attorneys' Fees Petition, and Right to Share in Net Settlement Fund ("Notice"), the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement with Barclays and the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement with BNP Paribas, Cantor Fitzgerald, CGMI, Credit Suisse, HSBC, J. P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, SG Americas, TD Securities, and UBS (together, the "Stipulations"), which are available at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com . If you are not sure if you are included in the Settlement Class, you can get more information, including the detailed Notice, at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com or by calling toll-free 1-877-317-7944 (if calling from outside the United States or Canada, call 1-414-961-6546). Will I Get a Payment? If you are a member of the Settlement Class and do not opt out, you will be eligible for a payment under the Settlements if you file a proof of claim form ("Claim Form"). The Settlement and Plan of Distribution have been preliminarily but not finally approved by the Court. You also may obtain more information at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com or by calling toll-free 1-877-317-7944 (if calling from outside the United States or Canada, call 1-414-961-6546). Claim Forms must be submitted online at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 12, 2020. You do not need to do anything if you submitted a timely and valid claim form in connection with the Deutsche Bank, FTN, and Goldman Sachs settlements. Any such submission will be treated as a valid and timely Claim Form with respect to these Settlements. What Are My Rights? If you are a member of the Settlement Class and do not opt out, you will release certain legal rights against Newly-Settling Defendants and the other Released Parties, as explained in the detailed Notice and Stipulations, which are available at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com . If you do not want to take part in these Settlements, you must opt out by April 22, 2020. You may object to these Settlements, Plan of Distribution, and/or application for an award of attorneys' fees, Litigation Expenses, and any service awards for Plaintiffs. If you want to object, you must do so by April 22, 2020. Information on how to opt out or object is contained in the detailed Notice, which is available at www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com . When Is the Settlement Hearing? The Court will hold a hearing at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl St., Courtroom 14B, New York, NY 10007, on June 9, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. to consider whether to approve these Settlements, Plan of Distribution, and application for an award of attorneys' fees, Litigation Expenses, and any service awards for Plaintiffs. You or your lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, but you do not have to. For more information, call toll-free 1-877-317-7944 (if calling from outside the United States or Canada, call 1-414-961-6546) or visit www.GSEBondAntitrustSettlement.com . **** Please do not call the Court or the Clerk of the Court for information about the Settlements. **** SOURCE Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP and Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. Hundreds of protesters, mostly women, are outraged in Mexico following the death of Ingrid Escamilla and her mutilated corpse published in a local newspaper. Ingrid Escamilla, 25 years old, was allegedly stabbed by a man she lived with. This is just one of the estimated more than 700 cases of femicides under investigation in Mexico. Activists claim that the number of victims is spiking in the country and it all because of their gender. The demonstration started during Valentines' Day where dozens of women went to the Presidential Palace, where the country's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lives with his family, and chanted "not one murder more" and splashed red paint on one of its ornate doors with the words "femicide state." According to the official figures, there were more than 3,825 women who were killed in Mexico last year and that rate is up seven percent since since 2018. This means that an average of 10 women were killed in Mexico last year and according to the official data, this shows a hallmark of new overall homicide data. The case of Ingrid Escamilla is just another additional number for the femicide incident in the country. One of the demonstrators also painted the name "INGRID" on one of the palace doors to give tribute to her. Meanwhile, one of the persons who joined the demonstration was Lilia Florencio Guerrero whose daughter was violently killed in 2017. In a statement she shared with the NBC News she said that it's not only Ingrid who is the victim of femicides, but there are thousands more and this is what filled them with rage and anger. She also urged the president, who was inside the palace at that time, to stop the violence against women in the country. Meanwhile, to stabilize the demonstration, President Obrador released a statement during his morning conference and attempted to reassure the protesters. He said: "I'm not burying my head in the sand... The government I represent will always take care of ensuring the safety of women." However, he did not give any details of the plans. Moving forward to the local newspapers who published the mutilated corpse of Ingrid Escamilla, the La Prensa said that they are open for a discussion to adjust the standards of their reporting that are beyond legal requirements. What made the demonstrators even more angry and mad was the caption of the report "It was cupid's fault" and the jocular tone of the report. In a separate statement, they said, "We understand today that it hasn't been sufficient, and we've entered a process of deeper review." In a developing report, a group of protesters attempted to move to the Mexican capital holding placards calling for responsible journalism. Alejandro Castillo told a news outlet that it seems to him that the president has evaded the issue constantly. "It is not a personal issue against him. We believe he has the possibility of raising several things on the agenda and has not done so," Castillo said. Later, the protesters marched toward the La Prensa, the newspaper who published the mutilated corpse of Ingrid Escamilla, and set fire to a vehicle that belonged to the La Prensa. However, when President Obrador was asked about the issue of femicides he said that media is just manipulating the story. BISMARCK, N. D. Combatting potential for under-representation of native citizens in the 2020 U.S. Census is the immediate priority for North Dakota Native Vote , the advocacy organization said in announcing its establishment here on February 5. Native Americans were not allowed to vote in this country until 1924, even though our people have been here since time immemorial, said Mandan Hidatsa & Arikara tribal member Lisa DeVille, board chair of NDNV. We experience first-hand the effects of the attempts to suppress the vote of our communities. It is up to us to take action and exercise our right to vote, participate in the 2020 Census, and be a part of the decision-making process at all levels, she said. North Dakota Native Vote is a resource to help us get there. At a recent meeting, the new organizations board of directors set priorities to counteract ongoing colonization. Photo courtesy North Dakota Native Vote The organization noted that native communities have a lot at stake because responses for the 2020 Census will primarily be internet-based. Households in tribal communities have far lower rates of home internet service or cellular data-plans, it said. NDNV will be on the ground across North Dakota, educating communities about the importance of being counted and providing information on when, where, and how to be counted, it promised. The new organization says it is dedicated to increasing civic engagement to develop a representative democracy for native communities both on-reservation and urban. It was founded during the 2018 election to fight back against a voter suppression law that went into effect just weeks before Election Day. Led by tribal members from across North Dakota, NDNV seeks to build bridges across cultural gaps [and] works with tribal communities and allies on public policy, advocacy, the legislative and electoral process, and other issues that affect the wellbeing of tribal communities, it says. The foundation of our work is to foster sustainable, positive social change in native communities through community organizing, mobilization, leadership development, education, civic engagement, and public policy advocacy. Contact Talli Nauman at talli.nauman@gmail.com Copyright permission Native Sun News Today Join the Conversation We have never forgotten & will never forget the help, which the Pakistani people extended, by sharing their own bread during our War of Independence. New Delhi: Lashing out for the second time in three days at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans extremely controversial remarks supporting Islamabad on the Kashmir issue while on a visit to Pakistan recently, India summoned the Turkish envoy in New Delhi on Monday and issued a strong demarche, saying the remarks are one more example of a pattern of Turkey interfering in the internal affairs of other countrieswhich India finds completely unacceptable. New Delhi also said the Turkish Presidents rem-arks reflect neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy and that these distort events of the past to advance a narrow minded view of the present. New Delhi also rejected the repeated attempts by Turkey to justify the cross border terrorism practiced so blatantly by Pakistan, adding that these developments have strong implications for our bilateral relationship. President Erdogan along with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have been extremely critical of India in the past few months while supporting Pakistan, after India revoked Article 370 and divided the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state into two Union Territories in August last year. In apparent response, India had also last year said it was deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in north-east Syria, asking Turkey to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and adding that Turkeys actions can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism which has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress. In his extremely controversial recent remarks supporting the Pakistani position on Kashmir, President Erdogan had compared Kashmir to the battle of Gallipoli during World War I that the Turks had fought back then. We have never forgotten and will never forget the help, which the Pakistani people extended, by sharing their own bread during our War of Independence. And now, Kashmir is and will be the same for us. It was Canakkale (Gallipoli) yesterday and it is Kashmir today, [there is] no difference, President Erdogan was quoted by the Turkish media as having told a joint session of Pakistans parliament during his official visit to the country. A Birmingham man faces up to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to not paying $1.3 million in taxes and penalties, prosecutors said. John P. Cooney, 70, filed delinquent tax returns in 2011 for the previous three years, according to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Departments Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama, who cited court documents and statements made in court. While Cooney showed on his returns that he owed about $780,000, he did not make any payments to the IRS. Instead, prosecutors said, Cooney created an LLC called GVA Advisors that was used to hold his salary and dividends from his investments. From 2013 through 2016, Cooney deposited $435,000 in an account controlled by the LLC to conceal the funds from the IRS. By 2017, Cooney owed the IRS more than $1.3 million in outstanding balance, penalties and interest. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to pay that amount in restitution. Cooneys sentencing is scheduled for May 28, prosecutors said. He faces up to five years in federal prison. SALT LAKE CITY and TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As founding member of a new ETIM North America association, DDS (Distributor Data Solutions), a technology and product content solution provider to the wholesale distribution industry, has announced the re-launch of ETIM North America as a dedicated non-profit organization responsible for maintaining and promoting the adoption of ETIM standards in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in line with the worldwide data standards initiative. ETIM International and DDS are pleased to announce the re-launch of ETIM North America ETIM is the international data model for the standardization and classification of technical product data and is used by global manufacturers, distributors and end-users doing business in dozens of countries. Developed in Europe, ETIM was established to meet growing demands for a clear, discerning information structure for available technical products. Initially developed for the electro-technical sector, ETIM has steadily expanded its activities to different industries and countries worldwide, currently offering the ETIM classification model in 17 languages. More than 20 national and regional ETIM organizations (federations) support their communities' members and translate the model into their country's language. ETIM North America was first introduced in 2015, though adoption and use of ETIM standards in North America has lagged due to a limited focus and sporadic efforts to adopt UNSPNC-based standards. However, as global business dynamics and e-commerce initiatives have accelerated, ETIM is becoming the global standard. As specialists in e-commerce product data, DDS has been instrumental in establishing the new ETIM North America association with the goal of spearheading an active community empowered by a diverse manufacturer, distributor, manufacturer representation and technology provider membership. Membership is open to all companies and associations in ETIM's focused industries. "As the founding member of the new ETIM North America, DDS will pursue more aggressive promotion of and adherence to the ETIM model and standards at a time when they are becoming essential in the global market," says DDS president Matt Christensen, also the new president of ETIM North America. "We have some catching up to do, but this initiative is absolutely relevant and beneficial to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Within North America the initial focus has been the electrical industry and we're working to finalize those standards and then moving into complementary industries." "We are very pleased to see the new ETIM North America association in position to steer the further development and implementation of our worldwide product classification standard with new energy and dedication," says Jan Janse, president of ETIM International (www.etim-international.com), the Brussels-based head of the ETIM community. "We value and support the DDS initiative and commitment, especially considering how important the North American market is for ETIM." With a large number of their manufacturing and distribution customers serving international clients, and their affiliation with various international trade groups, DDS is active and growing on a global scale. Considering the collaborative environment of ETIM, and with DDS now the leading provider of e-commerce product content to the U.S. electrical and related construction and industrial verticalssimilar to ETIM's core focusthere is a strong alignment of goals. "We're working closely with many major global manufacturers and distributors to help streamline the exchange and management of product data," adds Christensen. "Our relationships and our role in the industry, along with our focus on technology-driven solutions, give us a solid strategy for pushing adoption and demonstrating value to both suppliers and wholesalers." When asked why companies should join ETIM North America, Christensen says the "short answer" is that this collaboration "can reduce costs in the supply chain and bring more value and functionality to users of this informationwhich includes all of us. The ETIM model is already proving a stable, yet flexible standard that is future-oriented." About ETIM North America Based in Salt Lake City, ETIM North America is a non-profit regional organization responsible for supporting the implementation and adoption of the ETIM Technical Information Model (ETIM) in the North American wholesale electrical industry and related C&I verticals. www.etim-na.org About DDS Headquartered in Salt Lake City, DDS (Distributor Data Solutions) is the wholesale distribution industry's leading e-commerce product content provider, helping manufacturers and distributors deliver an exceptional content-based, customer-friendly e-commerce experience to their end-user customers. www.distributordatasolutions.com Press Contact ETIM North America Contact Jenny Christensen Mary Shaw Director of Marketing, DDS Executive Director +1 (801) 509-9895 +1 (385) 240-0444 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE DDS (Distributor Data Solutions) Related Links http://www.distributordatasolutions.com BJP leader Bishnu Charan Sethi took everyone by surprise in the Assembly on Tuesday, as he broke into a song during the Zero Hour to highlight the plight of lawmakers who were yet to be allotted government quarters in the state capital. Sethi, the BJP deputy leader in the Assembly, said "many MLAs have turned into hermits", living alone in Bhubaneswar, as their family continues to live elsewhere. He also said that seven months have passed since they assumed power, but no provisions have been made for their families, despite assurances. "We are unable to bring our family members to Bhubaneswar, as we have been given a 10x12 size room to live in," Sethi said, alleging that the people who "appease the third floor of state secretariat (the chief minister's office) easily get quarters". As part of his song, the BJP MLA also sought speaker S N Patro's intervention into the matter. "When the government is ignoring the plight of MLAs, how can common men and women expect dwelling units in rural areas," Sethi asked. Other BJP MLAs, too, stood up from their seats, in support of Sethi, and blamed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha for not paying heed to their concerns. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 80 years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the military to move thousands of Japanese-Americans into internment camps, California plans to formally apologize for its role in their detention. The resolution, introduced by State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi on Jan. 28, is expected to receive broad support this week from the rest of the Assembly. While many welcomed the measure, the latest step in the United States long reckoning with its imprisonment of American citizens during World War II, some Japanese-Americans said it was far overdue. The resolution said the California Legislature apologizes to all Americans of Japanese ancestry for its past actions in support of the unjust inclusion, removal, and incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II, and for its failure to support and defend the civil rights and civil liberties of Japanese-Americans during this period. The resolution also states that given recent national events, it is all the more important to learn from the mistakes of the past and to ensure that such an assault on freedom will never again happen to any community in the United States. A South African court Monday granted an order to Cape Town authorities to remove hundreds of refugees who have been squatting for four months on a busy street of the popular tourist destination. Judge Daniel Thulare said the city had the right to uphold its bylaws, which prohibit sleeping, washing, defecating or cooking on the streets. The city sought the injunction after around 700 foreign nationals, mainly from the DR Congo and Burundi, moved into Cape Town's central Greenmarket Square last year following a spate of xenophobic attacks. Since then, around one-third of the businesses in and around the square in the heart of the city's business district have shut down because of the occupation. The asylum-seekers initially staged a sit-in protest at a building hosting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the city in October, asking to be relocated to another country. They were evicted from the building, after which they sought refuge at a nearby Methodist church, where they stayed for a few weeks. They were asked to leave when the church became overcrowded, at which point they turned violent. Some, mainly women with children, have remained in the church, while the rest of the asylum-seekers have taken up residence on the pavements of Greenmarket. "The court needs to protect the city but also to uphold the rights of the respondents," said the judge, giving the authorities seven days to execute the order. The city had complained of "unhealthy odours from the use of streets and sidewalks as toilets", the judge said in the ruling, adding: "The smell was unbearable. The noise, fights and sexual acts in public by the respondents raised concern." In a statement the city mayor Dan Plato was "relieved that the court has recognised the need for municipalities to be able to enforce its by-laws to ensure its proper functioning". One of the refugee leaders, Papy Sukami, told AFP he was "not happy" with the ruling. The asylum seekers say they want to be given a new life in another country. Officially, South Africa is home to 268,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to government figures. They are mainly from Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Taking serious note of a complaint of a forged order copy, the Bombay High Court has called for an internal inquiry as well as initiation of criminal proceedings against the unknown accused persons. Justice G S Patel was hearing a complaint filed by two advocates claiming a document was purportedly being circulated as an order passed by the judge in December 2019. According to the complaint, the purpose of the forged order copy was to create rights in favour of a person and seek heir to two bank deposits. "The entire document is a forgery. There is no such document," Justice Patel said after perusing the complaint and the purportedly forged order copy. "The entire formatting of the documents, including the fonts, the line spacing and so on is not in the manner in which I pass my orders," Justice Patel said in his order passed on February 15. "There is no footer of the date and page number which is my invariable practice for the last several years," the judge added in the order. The court further noted that the order copy was dated December 1, 2019 which happened to be a Sunday. "There are other glaring indicators of this document being fabricated and forged," the court said. The court directed the banks to freeze the accounts immediately. It also asked the HC Registrar to obtain necessary administrative directions from the HC Chief Justice for further follow-up on the issue. It also directed the Registrar, Legal and Research, to initiate appropriate proceedings before a magistrate against the unknown persons who have forged the order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The detective who tried to persuade James Gargasoulas to surrender before he ploughed into pedestrians on Bourke Street believes the deluded driver decided to carry out his murderous rampage at the last moment. St Kilda Detective Senior Constable Murray Gentner was pleading via phone with Gargasoulas to hand himself in, after he stabbed his brother, as several police units followed him around Melbourne. James Gargasoulas on Swanston Street with Senior Detective Murray Gentner following closely behind in one of three unmarked police cars. Hours later, he drove into the CBD and mowed down pedestrians on Bourke Street Mall, killing six and injuring 27 others. Senior Detective Gentner told an inquest into the January 20, 2017 tragedy he did not believe Gargasoulas planned the killings until he reached Bourke Street. Cameron noted the Environment Agencys flawed approach to flooding. But the problem has still not been dealt with. Boris Johnson memorably described his predecessor, David Cameron, as a girly swot. Others accused Cameron of chillaxing an essay crisis prime minister with an insouciance towards keeping on top of the detail. The length of Camerons memoirs, For the Record, suggests that Johnsons swipe is closer to the mark. The good news for Johnson is that means that often, when a problem comes along, he doesnt need to pick up the phone to Cameron for advice but just reach for this useful volume and check the index. Let us consider flooding, for example. Cameron writes: Politics is about whatever nature throws at you. And as 2013 became 2014, nature threw everything it had got at Britain. Coastal storms hit East Anglia and floods inundated Kent. Rainfall turned the Somerset Levels into lakes, and lashed Wales and the south coast. Then, in February, the cliffs at Dawlish in Devon collapsed, destroying the mainline railway track and cutting Cornwall off from the rest of the country. I knew by now the dangers of a tardy response to disasters, so I visited several of the places affected. I hadnt yet made it to the Somerset Levels. This low-lying manmade environment was dredged and irrigated centuries ago. But not enough had been done to protect it. Some experts genuinely thought we should let the floods run their course. I was outraged you cant say that about someones home, someones farm. If its a place where people live then it has to be protected. Sadly, the Environment Agency had failed on that score. It seemed to worry more these days about newts and butterflies than homes and livelihoods. And while the number of homes and businesses that were flooded was just a tenth of that in the floods of 2007, the papers portrayed us as fiddling while Britain was submerged. To make up for our slow start, we had to go overboard to compensate. I visited Somerset several times and chaired a series of COBR meetings. I saw the local MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger, on a weekly basis, and promised the people living there that we would dredge all the waterways Id do it myself it I had to. Before 1989, flood defence was managed by the National Rivers Authority. Rivers were dredged regularly when needed. After that the Environment Agency took over and dredging was generally discontinued. That could mean the difference between it taking five days of heavy rain for overtopping to be a risk or just two days. Attempts to blame climate change are not convincing. Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board has kept rainfall records since 1829. The heaviest rain was in 1880. The issue is not that the rain in recent years has been heavier in the area it is neglect from the EA. The River Welland is clogged with weed while the River Witham is in dire need of being slubbed. If climate change really does mean more heavy rainfall in the future then that is hardly a reason to tolerate the EAs lamentable approach. Flood defence work has also become vastly more expensive with the Environment Agency spending 500 per vole to remove them from where flood defence work was due to start. In another case, a 20,000 repair job ballooned to 200,000 by the time badgers were moved to man-made setts which they promptly abandoned. A whistleblower blog has given abundant evidence of wasteful spending. Not that the abject failure to prevent flooding is a great triumph for animal welfare. Sheep, as well as people, have drowned. Yet the EAs funding keeps being increased. It spent nearly 1.4 billion last year. The more hopeless the performance, the more of our money DEFRA hands over. Jamie Blackett, a farmer and author, writes in the Daily Telegraph: The greater problem lies in the Environment Agency. Officials there are simply incapable of understanding that, like it or not, most of our watercourses are now in some way artificial and need human action. Their refusal to countenance dredging has resulted in millions of small mammals, insects and invertebrates being drowned, with a consequent impact on birdlife. He proposes that responsibility for river management be removed from his agency and given back to local boards. Would that not be consistent with the Governments policy of localism? The media pressure when there is a flood is on the Prime Minister of the day to visit wade about in wellington boots. Perhaps bring along a mop. Then move on to the next thing. Cameron was enough of a girly swot to identify the flawed approach of the EA and to remember to include a reprimand in his memoirs. But then when it came to actually doing something about it which would really mean the difficult and controversial task of abolishing the EA he found it easier to chillaxe. How much more unnecessary flooding must be endured before this piece of unfinished business is dealt with? Apple said Monday that due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is cutting its sales expectations for the current quarter. Last month, Apple projected record revenue for this quarter of between $63 billion and $67 billion, The Wall Street Journal reports. The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, and stores and factories across the country were shuttered to try and contain the virus. Wuhan is home to two of Apple's top 200 suppliers. Most of Apple's products are assembled in China, and the company said the factory closures will result in a temporary global shortage of iPhones. Apple also said demand for its products has dropped in China, the world's second-largest economy, due to the coronavirus outbreak. Apple is the first major U.S. company to outline ways the coronavirus has affected business, and it expects to share more information on revenue during its April earnings call, the Journal reports. More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils The family of 1 new Trump pardon recipient donated $200,000 to Trump's re-election effort last fall Trump's pardon of Bernie Kerik also apparently wiped out Kerik's $103,300 debt to taxpayers By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijan will provide earthquake-hit Albania with additional assistance in the amount of 500,000 euros. Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made this remark during an EU donors conference held in Brussels on February 17. In December 2019, President Ilham Aliyev issued an order on the provision of humanitarian assistance in the amount of 500,000 to Albania from the Reserve Fund stipulated in Azerbaijans state budget for 2019. Thus, Azerbaijan will provide a total of 1 million of aid to Albania. As a result of EU donor conference in Brussels, as much as 1.15 billion was raised as financial support for Albania to deal with the effects of a powerful earthquake. Note that Albania was struck by a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter 12 kilometers west-southwest of Mamurras town on Nov. 26, 2019. The earthquake killed 51 people, injured about 1,000 were, and left 17,000 people homeless. Moreover, thousands of buildings, including schools and medical facilities, were seriously damaged. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Guitarist and lutenist Richard Savino Photo: Rob Neep Photo: Rob Neep The stifling afternoon heat could not thwart the plans of those waiting to view an exhibition of paintings by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. For hours, the suns rays beat down on eager art enthusiasts standing outside of a historic Italian palazzo in Rome. Yet, once the blazing temperature faded with the daylight, the attendance at a complimentary classical music concert, featuring compositions from the time of the revolutionary painter, was staggeringly low. It dawned on me that we had become a visual society, said Grammy-nominated guitarist and lutenist Richard Savino, recalling this moment of enlightenment that spurred him to create a series of curated evenings in which he would integrate both art forms into a cohesive and historical experience. Visual assistance and the degree to which we have become visually dependent on almost everything has become a dominant paradigm in our life. On Feb. 22, Ars Lyrica musicians, together with Savino as guest director, will present his first concert of the sort, titled Goyas World: Reflexion y Revolucion, at the Hobby Centers Zilkha Hall. The multi-media program, which premiered over a decade ago as part of the Aston Magna Music Festival and Milano Classica, examines the life and oeuvre of Spanish artist Francisco Goya through projections of his work that are timed to select movements of music by major composers living in Spain during his lifetime, including Padre Antonio Soler, Juan Frances de Iribarren, Luigi Boccherini, Francisco Courcelle and Fernando Sor. Unlike visual art, much of the music produced in Spain from the late 18th century and into the early 19th century remains mostly unknown, largely due to the sociopolitical climate of the time and the turmoil that followed the Napoleonic invasion. Strict censorship regulations threatened the publishing industry and therefore affected many artists, particularly composers, Savino explained. In this weekends concert, the tapestry of sound is brought to life by local mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte, guest violinist Adam LaMotte and others, some of whom will play newly commissioned instruments, such as a theorbo and Baroque guitar built by Mel Wong. As the program transitions from one piece to the next, the emotions evoked by each compositional style correspond to those that might arise in response to the diverse shifts within Goyas artistic expression. His versatility, in fact, proves crucial to the structure of the evening, explained Savino, who chronologically outlined the artists life into eight phases. Goyas work from each of these periods depicts his surroundings - whether a traditional bullfight, a tavern brawl, the leisure class relaxing on the banks of Madrids Manzanares River or the horrors of war - with his characteristic, often brutal honesty, but by using different methods. He has an incredible command of painting techniques that span generations and epochs, Savino said. Embracing a new style close to caricature, Goya began to create poignant, often critical, portraits of the upper class - which displaced more light-hearted images of the decorative Rococo tradition - after a serious illness left him permanently deaf in 1792. His consequential isolation ultimately led him to create a hauntingly sinister array of 14 images known as the Black Paintings that presaged Abstract Expressionism. Soon after he completed these murals, he voluntarily retired to Bordeaux to escape the oppressive rule of King Ferdinand VII. Goyas dark visions and his bleak outlook on humanity are juxtaposed with a moment of relief - a glimmer of hope amid his descent into madness - as paintings of a woman, who accompanied him to France, reflect a yearning for the tranquility of his past, Savino explained. Like Goya, Boccherini - who composed several guitar quintets with clear influences of his adopted Spain - achieved widespread recognition as a prolific artist and suffered from ill health. Yet, unlike Goya, his masterpieces were overshadowed for well over a century. Music is kind of invisible, Savino said. Its an invisible art. You hear it; you absorb it. Integrating it with other art forms, where you can sort of influence ones total being, helps that because it puts it into a context. It really is intertwined, the arts and the humanities. Goyas World: Reflection & Revolution Goyas World: Reflection & Revolution When: 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 Where: Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby St. Details: $23-75; arslyricahouston.org When: 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 Where: Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby St. Details: $23-75; arslyricahouston.org Lawrence Elizabeth Knox is a Houston-based writer. Amid talks of the government mulling encashing of bank guarantee over default in payment of dues, Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on Tuesday met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash as he looked for options to keep the company afloat. After the meeting, Birla said he "cannot say anything at the moment." Birla, who met the telecom secretary for over an hour, was accompanied by Ravinder Takkar, MD & CEO of Vodafone Idea. He refused to respond to queries on whether or not Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) would default on payment of AGR dues or if the company could head towards insolvency. Vodafone Idea on Monday paid Rs 2,500 crore to DoT and promised to pay another Rs 1,000 crore before the end of the week. But the amount paid for now is less than 5 per cent of the dues that the DoT estimates the company owes to the government following a Supreme Court ruling that asked for including non-telecom revenues of telcos in computing statutory payments such as licence fee and spectrum charges. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop DoT from taking any coercive steps for recovery of dues from Vodafone Idea. In December, Birla said Vodafone Idea may have to shut if there is no relief on statutory dues. "If we are not getting anything, then I think it is the end of the story for Vodafone Idea," Birla had said. "It does not make sense to put good money after bad... We will shut shop." After a Supreme Court rap on February 14 for missing the payment deadline, top telecom firms Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices on Monday scrambled to pay a part of the outstanding dues. While Vodafone Idea put in Rs 2,500 crore and promised another Rs 1,000 crore later this week, Airtel paid Rs 10,000 crore. Airtel said it will clear the remaining dues before the next date of hearing on March 17 but Vodafone Idea has so far not provided a clear deadline for making all payments. Tata Teleservices paid Rs 2,197 crore, the entire outstanding it believes to have arisen after the October ruling of the apex court for calculating dues after adding non-telecom revenues. "Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd have made a payment of Rs 2,197 crore to the DoT towards licence fee and spectrum usage charges," the company said in a statement on Monday. The payment is to settle all its AGR outstanding. "TTSL and TTML have also submitted to DoT the details of calculations in support of the payment," it had said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) -- which last week drew flak for ordering no coercive action even after telcos missed the January 23 payment deadline set by the Supreme Court -- is mulling the option of encashing bank guarantees given by firms when they got telecom licences, as none of the telcos have paid the full amount. Encashing of the bank guarantees may sound the death knell for companies such as Vodafone Idea which has been struggling to garner the dues. A financial bank guarantee is equal to two quarters of licence fee and other dues. This amount could be in the range of Rs 5,000 crore each for Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The Supreme Court last week rejected a plea by companies such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for extension in the payment schedule and asked them to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licences. It threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against top executives of these firms for non-payment. Some telecom firms are already struggling with mounting losses and debt and the additional liability has raised concerns of them defaulting on existing loans. Of the estimated dues that include interest and penalty for late payments, Airtel and Vodafone Idea owe about 60 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global student microscope market 2020-2024 The analyst has been monitoring the global student microscope market and it is poised to grow by USD 335.95 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Our reports on global student microscope market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03588365/?utm_source=PRN The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by growing research requirements across industries. In addition, increasing penetration of e-commerce is anticipated to boost the growth of the global student microscope market as well. Market Segmentation The global student microscope market is segmented as below: Applicationlife science researchmaterial science researchotherstypecompound microscopestereo microscopeinverted microscope Geographic segmentation APAC Europe MEA North America South America Key Trends for global student microscope market growth This study identifies increasing penetration of e-commerce as the prime reasons driving the global student microscope market growth during the next few years. Prominent vendors in global student microscope market We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global student microscope market, including some of the vendors such as ACCU-SCOPE Inc., Bresser GmbH, Carl Zeiss AG, Celestron Acquisition LLC, Danaher Corp., Nikon Corp., Olympus Corp., Parco Scientific Co., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and United Scope LLC . The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03588365/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Election Commission: Afghan President Ghani Wins Second Term Ashraf Ghani won a second term as president of Afghanistan, the countrys independent election commission announced on Feb. 18, more than four months after polls closed. The commission said Ghani garnered 923,592 votes, or 50.64 percent, in the election that took place last Sept. 28. His main challenger, the countrys chief executive Abdullah Abdullah received 720,841 votes, or 39.52 percent. Ghani and Abdullah head a fragile national unity government that was put together under U.S. pressure after both leaders claimed victory in Afghanistans 2014 elections. Election results were repeatedly delayed amid accusations of misconduct and technical problems with counting ballots. The final vote tally was originally to be announced Nov. 7. Hawa Alam Nuristani, head of the national election commission, said previously that 1.8 million Afghan citizens voted in the election out of some 9.6 million eligible voters. Hawa Alam Nuristani, chief of the Election Commission of Afghanistan (C) speaks during a press conference at the commissions office in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Feb. 18, 2020. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo) On election day, many Afghans found incomplete voters lists, unworkable biometric identification systems aimed at curbing fraud, and in some cases hostile election workers. In Kabul, it was rare to see a crowded polling center. Afghans who had patiently lined up before voting centers were opened, in some locations found that election officials had yet to arrive by opening time. The election commission tried to launch a ballot recount in November but Abdullah halted the attempt, saying he wouldnt let his observers participate. Thousands of his supporters rallied against what they said were fake ballots and the controversial recount had seemed set to favor Ghani. In December, however, Abdullah agreed to allow a ballot recount in provinces where his supporters had stopped the process. The governments push to hold the vote in itself had been controversial. In an interview with The Associated Press before the election, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai warned the election could be destabilizing for the country at a time of deep political uncertainty. Tuesdays election results came days after U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced a truce agreement between the United States and the Taliban that could lead to the withdrawal of American troops from the country. Hawa Alam Nuristani, chief of Election Commission of Afghanistan, rear center, speaks during a press conference at the Independent Election Commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Feb. 18, 2020. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo) The agreement was expected to be formally announced Sunday and the reduction in violence would begin Monday, according to people familiar with the plan. That would be followed by all-Afghan peace talks that envision the phased withdrawal of U.S. forces over 18 months, ending 18 years of war. Ghani has been critical of the way U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has conducted the talks with the Taliban, complaining about being kept in the dark. He first ran for president in 2009, capturing barely a quarter of the votes. He ran again in 2014 in what was considered a deeply flawed and corrupt exercise. Ghani, from central Logar province, was born May 19, 1949. He holds a doctorate in anthropology from Columbia University and first went to the United States as a high school exchange student. Except for a brief teaching stint at Kabul University in the early 1970s, Ghani lived in the United States, where he was an academic until joining the World Bank as a senior adviser in 1991. Ghani returned to Afghanistan after 24 years when the Taliban were ousted by the U.S.-led coalition. He was head of Kabul University until he joined President Hamid Karzais government as finance minister. In 2010 he led the lengthy process to transfer security of the country from U.S.-led coalition forces to the Afghanistan National Security Forces, which took effect in 2014. By Tameem Akhgar and Rahim Faiez A helping hand Silverdale lifestyle block owner Aischa Parker, left, is assisted by ASAP Waters driver Rob McMillan to fill her 1000 litre container from the pump station. Aischa says with a six week wait to fill her home water tank, asking ASAP for help was the only way she could get water for her cattle. Tankers queue at the Silverdale pump station. Operators say people reliant on tank water are desperate. Both Auckland Council and the Hibiscus Coast community are rallying to help people reliant on rainwater tanks that are running dry as the paper goes to print, Auckland was due to notch up a record 40 consecutive days without rain. Although Government declared an official drought north of the harbour bridge last week, weather-wise the region has been in drought since late January (HM February 5). Unprecedented demand, and reduced flow at filling stations, including temporary closure of the pumps by Watercare, has meant delays of up to six weeks in getting refills from water tanker operators. As the paper goes to print, all 11 of Watercares Auckland water tanker filling stations are open. All the tanker operators spoken to by Hibiscus Matters have significant wait lists and Healthy Water Tanks co-owner Garry Stephenson says all are working as fast as possible to keep up with demand. He says a second outlet is needed at the 20-year-old Blue Gum pump station to speed up the filling process. Councils Auckland Emergency Management team is coordinating the biggest ever council-wide response, along with Watercare, with initial efforts targeting mainly the rural sector. The first phase sees community centres being used as hubs for filling containers for domestic use, including Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre more sites will be added. Auckland Emergency Management general manager Kate Crawford says the next phase involves distributing 10,000 litre water tanks to locations that are still being finalised. These tanks will also be used to fill up domestic water containers. At the same time, council is working with private suppliers from the countrys milk tanker fleet to see what tankers can be made available to assist. Importantly, the focus of this initiative will be to work with private operators, as alternative filling points, to reduce waiting times, Ms Crawford says. A Council spokesperson says the locations of additional fill up sites are yet to be determined but Council has definitely not discounted opening a facility on parts of the Hibiscus Coast, or placing water tanks for drinking water collection there. By putting in place this tanker option as a halfway house for independent tankers to fill up from, and increase frequency of delivery in more remote areas, the flow on effect is it will take pressure off the Watercare filling stations to increase the speed of those supplying the peninsula, the spokesperson says. Meanwhile offers of help from local residents and businesses include free fill-ups at Mitre 10 Whangaparaoa, and Mitch Boocock delivering water babies (see below). Dozens of residents took to social media to offer water, showers and the use of washing machines. However, not everyone is a Good Samaritan there are also reports of water being stolen from tanks. Council is advising everyone to conserve water, whether on town or tank supply, and Crs John Watson and Wayne Walker say the most practical solution at the moment is for the community to work together while we wait to see what further assistance Council can offer Coast residents. Local water savers Ask a neighbour on town supply if you can run a hose from one of their taps into the tank and reimburse them for the cost. Watercares water and wastewater charges mean it costs around $80 to fill a 5000-gallon tank. Containers will be filled free of charge at Mitre 10 in Whangaparaoa. The company offers up to 1000 litres per week, and says it is not guaranteed to be drinkable. Mitch Boocock is delivering free 20 litre containers of water. Private message him on Facebook (he is also on the Hibiscus Coast page). Free showers and water filling is available at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre. You dont have to be a member just talk to reception. Volunteers are needed for community filling stations. Info: ph John Watson, 021 287 5999 Watercare says what water shortage? Although Watercare is aware of the issues facing coastal and rural communities, Auckland as a whole does not have a water shortage. Levels in the source dams, springs and aquifers are currently 71 percent, a Watercare spokesperson told the paper last week. There are therefore currently no restrictions on water use. However, last week, Watercare launched a water is precious campaign to highlight the need to treat water as a precious resource and not waste it. Ideas on reducing water consumption are at www.waterforlife.org.nz The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed digital tools that will be useful to Nigerian cassava farmers in the 2020 planting season and years after. The organisation made this known in a press release signed by its Digital Extension and Advisory Services Specialist, Godwin Atser, on February 6. This development will go a long way in helping cassava farmers address the numerous challenges they face in each planting season. Nigeria ranked as the largest producer of cassava in the world, according to the Global Cassava Processing Report in 2019, showing that cassava plays a major role in the countrys economy. Cassava is food and a major source of income to many in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is also used as a raw material for products such as ethanol, chalk, food, pharmaceutical, glues and among others. Africa is a major producer of cassava in the world, but many farmers are recording low yield per hectare (less than 10 tons per ha) due to poor weed management, wrong application of fertilizers, low knowledge of cassava agronomy, and the cultivation of poor quality seeds with low genetic potential, Bernard Vanlauwe, Director for Central Africa Hub at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said. On the flip side, countries in Asia have yield of more than 20 tons per hectare. This is not cheery news. Here are the eight digital tools and their functions: 1. Akilimo Akilimo is an all-in-one agronomic advisory tool that helps cassava growers with knowledge and recommendations to intensify their cassava-based cropping systems. Akilimo has the combined 3-2-1 service of Viamo, which makes it easier for any farmer to have information through their mobile phones. Dialing 3-2-1 on any mobile phone with an Airtel sim card connect a farmer to this cassava agronomy information free of charge up to 10 times in a month. All that a farmer needs to use this service is a simple mobile phone with an Airtel sim card and the ability to press 3-2-1 on the phone, the service requires no education and no internet and the advisory service on Viamo is available in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. according to IITA. Click here: https://cassavamatters.org/akilimo/ to download the paper version of Akilimo 2. IITA Herbicide Calculator The herbicide calculator is a mobile app designed to forestall incidents of under-dosing or overdosing of herbicides. The institute says the apps have been embraced by many cassava farmers in Nigeria, Tanzania and several other African countries. The app also prevents environmental pollution and herbicides resistance arising from herbicides abuse, says Friday Ekeleme, a professor and principal investigator on Weeds under ACAI. The app helps farmers and sprays service providers to estimate correctly, the quantity of herbicides to be added to knapsack sprayers and promotes the effectiveness of herbicides. Click here: https://cassavamatters.org/iita_herbicide-calculator/ to download IITA Herbicide Calculator 3. Cassava Seed Tracker This is a web-app that provides essential features for quality seed production, access to quality stem cuttings of improved cassava varieties from the accredited seed producers and registration of seed fields for accreditation by National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC). The Seed Tracker has an android app version that can be downloaded from Google Playstore. The app provides details of improved cassava varieties released in Nigeria, the location and availability for ready access according to the organization. Also, the map-based curation features readily helps users to navigate for information and access seed sellers or buyers. Click here: https://seedtracker.org/cassava/ to access Cassava Seed Tracker 4. Cassava Matters (Cassavamatters.org) Advertisements This is an online knowledge bank for farmers, extension agents, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the cassava sector. It also serves as a collaborative platform between the Cassava Weed Management Project also known as the Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria, the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) and the Cassava Seed Systems project also known as Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Seed System for Cassava in Nigeria (BASICS). Click here to access Cassava Matters: www.cassavamatters.org 5. Cassava e-Market The Cassava e-Market is an online market place for cassava and cassava-related commodities that helps the farmers to advertise and sell their produce. Other products like processing equipment, herbicides, fertilizers and even farmlands can also be advertised and sold here. Click here: https://cassavamatters.org/e-market/ to assess Cassava e-Market 6. GoSeed Tracker The organisation explained that the GoSeed tracker is a fully-featured program for real-time tracking of cassava seed production, including planting planning, registration of seed fields, crop management, harvesting, quality assessment and quality assertion. The GoSeed tracker also serves as a digital platform for communication and networking of cassava seed producers and service providers. The tracker was developed by the IITA Business Incubation Platform (BIP). Click here to access GoSeed Tracker: https://seedtracker.org/index.php/iita-goseed/ A shocking incident from Kenya has been recently brought to light, sending chills down the spine. A 36-year-old local resident, named Dennis Mumo attempted to seal his wifes genital parts after he suspected her of cheating on him. As reported by local daily Zambian Observer, Mumo spends most of his time travelling for work. He suspected his wife of having an affair with four other men while he is away from home. To stop this, he sealed his partners vagina before leaving for his visit to Rwanda. Talking to the local police, Mumo said he got to know of his wifes infidelity when he saw a nude picture of her sent to another man. He went through her private chat messages and received affirmation about the same. After the locals heard the wife to be in excruciating pain, they tried to save her. She was rushed to hospital where doctors performed the surgery, reported Daily Mail. Meanwhile, Mumo has been arrested by the police and is currently facing charges of domestic violence with assault. He is also guilty of damaging her reproductive organs and risking to make her infertile. On the other hand, Mumo's lawyer is requesting the court to order 100 lashes of the wife for her alleged adultery. Haiti - News : Zapping... Moise will not negotiate his mandate On the sidelines of the Jacmel Carnival, President Jovenel Moise declared that he did not intend to negotiate the duration of his mandate and that he will remain in power until February 7, 2022 "I say to all the political actors who listen that I have 1 year, 11 months and a few days left in power. Those who aspire to lead the country must already enter the electoral campaign [...]". Calling again for dialogue, he warned that he did not intend to spend the rest of his mandate negotiating with the opposition, adding that it was not a threat but that he was coming when a responsible President must take the necessary decisions. Cap-Haitien : Resignation to the Carnival Committee At least 7 days before the start of the Cap-Haitien Carnival, Urlande A. Etienne, the President of the Organizing Committee for Carnival 2020 in a letter sent to Marc Georges, President of the Coordination Committee, has resigned, saying that it was up to him impossible to organize a grand carnival to meet the expectations of Capois. Kidnapping, Moise accuses the opposition On the sidelines of the Jacmel Carnival, President Moise accused the leaders of the radical opposition of being behind the increase in kidnapping cases, a strategy aimed at exasperating the population against the Government Decreasing tax revenue Mirardin Morlan, the Director General of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI), said he saw a drop in revenues, both at the end of the 2018/2019 fiscal year and at the start of the 2019/2020 fiscal year. He attributes the responsibility for this decline to the ongoing socio-political turmoil in the country. Morlan encourages residents to file their final tax return even when late arrivals have a penalty for not meeting the January 31 deadline. Assessment of the Jacmel 2020 carnival The results of the Jacmel Carnival, which took place on Sunday February 16, amounted to 20 wounded, mostly with edged weapons and 16 individuals arrested according to the National Police of Haiti (PNH). COVID-19 Global report 18 February Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the number of people infected worldwide with the Coronavirus COVID-19 (laboratory and clinical confirmed cases) amounted to 73,336, an increase of 1.526 cases, 40% lower than the previous day https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30050-haiti-news-zapping.html ; 1,874 deaths (+ 5.6%), 99 more than the day before (1,775); 13,021 people healed, ie 1,741 people (+ 15.4%) more than the day before (6.9 times more healing than death compared to 5.8 times the day before). To date there are outside China, 898 confirmed infected people worldwide (after removing duplicates) Number of deaths abroad unchanged (4): 1 in the Philippines, 1 in Hong Kong, 1 in Japan, and 1 in France. HL/ HaitiLibre MUNICH There was a lot for diplomats and policymakers to consider when they gathered at a recent global security conference in Munich: China rising, Russia meddling, Germany weakening. But the inescapable question the one that might change the world most immediately for Europe was whether President Trump would win re-election in November. Rightly or wrongly, the consensus among European diplomats and analysts is that Mr. Trump is likely to get a second term. But there was also consensus that such an event would be a significant part of a drastic, and potentially permanent, shift in global affairs for which Europe remains woefully unprepared. Mr. Trumps re-election would represent a fundamental change, said Francois Heisbourg, a French analyst. Eight years in political terms is an era, not an error. And it would undermine the reality of American democracy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeos admonishment to the Europeans to accept American leadership and reality was met at the conference with stony silence. Traditional American allies were far from assured that they would be able to depend on the United States in another Trump term. Last October the Vatican judiciary launched an investigation into financial and real estate investments which led to the suspension of 5 Holy See employees. By Vatican News The investigation which began last October and focused on five Holy See employees who were suspended, has been enlarged. A communique issued by the Holy See Press Office made the following public: within the context of a search ordered by the Promoter of Justice, Gian Piero Milano, and by the Adjunct Promoter of Justice, Alessandro Diddi, documents and computer equipment in Msgr Alberto Perlascas house and office were seized. Msgr Perlasca is a former head of the Administrative Office of the First Section of the Secretariat of State. He is originally from Como, Italy, is 59 years old, and as of July 2019 has been exercising the office of substitute Promoter of Justice at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Thus, Msgr Perlasca becomes the sixth suspect in the investigation. The communique states that, the measure was undertaken pursuant to the investigation into financial and real estate investments by the Secretariat of State, and is linked, while respecting the presumption of innocence, to what emerged in the initial interrogations of the officials under investigation who had already been suspended. The Promoter of Justices Office and the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State are proceeding with an investigation at the administrative and financial levels in collaboration with foreign investigative bodies. The investigation seeks to substantiate the allegation of specific crimes, such as embezzlement, abuse of authority and corruption. As has already been reported, the investigation was initiated by the Vatican judiciary in response to reports received from internal supervisory financial organisms, from the Vatican Bank (IOR), and the Auditor General. As specified in the communique, the principle of the presumption of innocence applies to all parties involved, even if the documentation examined in these months seems to reinforce the underlying allegations. It is possible that the investigatory phase of the process will conclude toward the beginning of summer. On opening the judicial year in the Vatican on Saturday, 15 February, Pope Francis mentioned the investigation regarding the management of funds and real estate (such as that of Sloan Avenue in London). He spoke of suspicious financial situations, which aside from their possible unlawfulness, are not in keeping with the nature and purpose of the Church, and have generated disorientation and anxiety in the community of the faithful. The Pope then added that, a positive fact is that precisely in this case, the first reports were made by internal Vatican Authorities, active, albeit with different competences, in the economic and financial sectors. This demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement actions, as required by international standards. Crawford reaffirms commitment to board diversity ATLANTA, Feb. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The board of directors of Crawford & Company (NYSE:CRD-A and CRD-B), the worlds largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers and corporates, today announced the election of Dame Inga Beale as an independent director, effective February 11, 2020. Inga brings an array of international insurance carrier experience that will positively impact Crawford strategy going forward, said Harsha V. Agadi, president and CEO of Crawford & Company. She will provide insights, counsel and perspectives that will complement those of the existing board members and from which Crawford will benefit. I look forward to partnering with Inga as we continue to deliver on our mission of restoring and enhancing lives, business and communities across the globe. Beale is the former CEO of Lloyd's of London, a post she held for five years before stepping down in 2018. She was the first female CEO in the global insurance and reinsurance market's 325-year history. Beale started her career at Prudential Assurance Company in London and is trained as an underwriter specializing in international treaty reinsurance. She worked for General Electrics insurance division for 14 years where she held numerous management roles, including leadership roles in Kansas City, Paris and Munich. Beale then headed Swiss reinsurer Converium, where she spearheaded a company turn around. In 2008, she joined Zurich Insurance Group as a member of their Group Management Board. The following year she was named the group's Global Chief Underwriting Officer. From 2012-13, she was the Group CEO at the privately held Lloyd's insurer Canopius. Beale is a Chartered Insurer and studied economics and accounting at Newbury College, Berkshire England and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to the economy. Story continues Crawford has long recognized the value of maintaining a more inclusive board of directors and proudly celebrates the legacy of Virginia Crawford, the companys first female director. With the election of Dame Inga, Crawford now has three female directors on its nine-strong board and proudly joins other leading companies who have taken the important step of having at least three female directors, stated Charlie Ogburn, non-executive chairman of the Crawford & Company board. About Crawford Based in Atlanta, Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA and CRDB) is the worlds largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to insurance companies and selfinsured entities with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries. The Companys two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights and the Companys ability to pay greater cash dividends on the non-voting Class A Common Stock (CRD-A) than on the voting Class B Common Stock (CRD-B), subject to certain limitations. In addition, with respect to mergers or similar transactions, holders of CRD-A must receive the same type and amount of consideration as holders of CRD-B, unless different consideration is approved by the holders of 75 percent of CRD-A, voting as a class. More information is available at www.crawco.com . Media Contacts: Lynn Cufley Crawford & Company +44 207 265 4067 Lynn.Cufley@crawco.co.uk A sub-group of the global terror financing watchdog inancial Action Task Force on Tuesday recommended continuation of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' for its failure to check terror funding and a final decision will be taken on February 21, sources said on Tuesday. The decision was taken at the meeting of the FATF's International Co-operation Review Group, held at the ongoing Paris plenary. "The ICRG meeting, sub group of the FATF, has recommended that Pakistan be retained in the 'Grey List'. A final decision will be taken on Friday when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan," a source said. The FATF meeting is being held a week after an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and founder of LeT, to 11 years in two terror financing cases. The Pakistani court's judgement came ostensibly to please the FATF and Western countries so that the country can exit the 'Grey List'. India has been maintaining that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. Saeed, a United Nations designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty, was arrested on July 17, 2019 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Pakistan has also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family are "missing". It has claimed that there were only 16 UN designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'. To avoid 'Black List', it needs support of three countries. In the last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan has got support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair China. The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India. The FATF had said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February, 2020. In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with FATF directions. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'Black List' along with Iran and North Korea. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. If Pakistan continues with the 'Grey List', it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. Amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnam is boosting efforts and policy reforms to build up a digital economy. Cashless and cardless payments are the first step for transformation Vietnam into a digital dragon Ousmane Dione, country director for the World Bank in Vietnam, writes about the importance of such an economy to future growth. Those who love Vietnamese street food can now try out the experience of going cashless at some of the authentic local places like those on Nguyen Huu Huan Street in Hanoi, where you can get an egg coffee and pay with your smartphone. In the past year, consumers in Hanoi have gone cashless, and even cardless meaning that sometimes you do not even need conventional bank cards. Bills can be settled using e-wallet apps or by scanning QR codes. Hundreds of thousands of small merchants across the country have joined the network of major fintech companies looking to capture Vietnams ever-growing market of young and tech-savvy consumers. In 2018, a report by Google and Temasek referred to Vietnams digital economy as a dragon being unleashed. Last year, the same report put Vietnam and Indonesia at the forefront of Southeast Asias digital economy growth, with Vietnams digital economy in particular expected to top $43 billion by 2025. Investors have also been pouring money into the country to fuel growth across many sectors. Despite much fanfare, there are still significant obstacles to harnessing the power of digital technology and increasing digital inclusiveness so that people outside the large urban centres can also benefit. As described in our recent regional report The Digital Economy in Southeast Asia Building the Foundations for Future Growth, the main building blocks for any thriving digital economy are connectivity, payments, skills, and logistics, as well as policies and regulations. Vietnams performance Connectivity: Affordable, high-speed internet is the backbone of any digital economy. Vietnam has made great strides in expanding the reach of the internet from virtually zero in 2000 to 64 per cent of the population today. The next challenge is to get the majority of people connected to 4G and 5G mobile networks, and further expand broadband fibre optic networks, particularly for businesses, schools, and large institutions. Payment: While more people are embracing cashless payment methods, the majority of transactions are still cash-based. Access to cashless payment methods is particularly limited among the population living outside cities. According to the World Banks financial inclusion survey in 2018, only 22 per cent of Vietnamese made or received digital payments in the previous year. And last year, only 41 per cent of adults had a bank account. While the usage of digital payments is growing, including through non-traditional providers, the limited usage indicates that people still lack trust in these options. Banks and regulators will need to work together to develop this enabling environment, including regulations on consumer protection, interoperability of different digital payment systems, and using secure digital payments for government services. Logistics: Vietnams logistics cost is among the highest in the world, taking up 25 per cent of GDP. Seamless logistics services are a major enabler for the growth of trade and commerce. The rise of e-commerce has led to a growing need for new types of logistics services, including door-to-door and last-mile delivery, particularly for low-value and small parcels. In the World Banks 2018 Logistics Performance Index Rankings survey, Vietnam performed relatively well, rising by 25 places to the 39th spot. It is close to catching up with other countries in the lead time for import and export indicator. However, there is significant room for improvement in the quality, efficiency, and cost of logistics services, not only cross-border services but also last-mile delivery. Labour: A study by the International Labour Organization estimated that about 56 per cent of all employment in five ASEAN countries including Vietnam is at a high risk of displacement by technology over the next decade. How Vietnam prepares its workforce now is absolutely crucial for its next stage of growth. Skill development is needed on multiple levels, particularly for advanced technical skills, soft skills, and generalised computer literacy. This will require a better understanding by policymakers of the dynamics of the digital skills labour market, and closer collaboration between the private and public sectors for lifelong learning. Solutions So given these challenges, what are the steps for Vietnam to ensure that the growth of its digital economy can benefit all, and what should the Vietnamese government do to facilitate a conducive environment for all stakeholders to participate? First and foremost, policies and regulations to protect and thereby promote trust among internet users in the digital space must be established. The cross-cutting legal and regulatory framework should cover electronic transactions, cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, data privacy, and consumer protection. The country has enacted a cybersecurity law and drafted legislation on data privacy. In this area, Vietnam and other nations will benefit from regional co-operation and harmonisation. Expanding coverage and improving the efficiency of connective infrastructure in Vietnam would be impossible without market-based regulatory reforms. To bring broadband internet to everyone, for example, Vietnam needs to promote competition along the broadband value chain and facilitate infrastructure sharing within and across sectors. Further modernisation of the regulatory framework for logistics also enables faster, cheaper, and more reliable shipping. The Vietnamese government should invest heavily to prepare citizens in various stages of their careers to adapt to new challenges of the digital age. This is where the private sector should be engaged closely given the rapid pace of change for relevant skill sets. While Vietnam already has developed a master plan for the digital economy, it should consider broadening the scope and coverage to go beyond the development of the e-commerce sector towards the whole economy. There is also a need to translate the plan into detailed, time-bound action plans, with adequate oversight over implementation and effective intersectoral co-ordination. The government can lead by example by becoming more digital itself. Vietnam is on the right track by launching numerous initiatives towards building a digital government. The rollout of an e-cabinet to streamline government business processes and a national e-services portal for public service delivery in 2019 are encouraging moves in this direction. The country is also planning the introduction of a digital ID. At this stage, the proposed digital ID scheme is to enable electronic transactions with government agencies only. But in the longer term, the national digital ID system should be expanded to facilitate greater financial inclusion (enabling people to open bank accounts with much easier know-your-customer requirements), and more efficient delivery of social services through effective targeting and information management. Digital transformation holds tremendous potential for Vietnam to achieve not only sustained but also inclusive economic growth. To reap the full benefits while managing the associated risks and vulnerabilities, Vietnam should prioritise investment and regulatory reforms to reinforce these six building blocks. The World Bank has been a partner on Vietnams journey to reduce poverty and build infrastructure and we are ready to support this exciting new phase of growth and ensure that new achievements in the digital economy will not leave anyone behind. U.S. Attorney General William Barr arrives for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Three Top Republicans Defend Barr After 2,000 Former DOJ Staffers Call for His Ouster Several top congressional Republicans defended Attorney General William Barr after hundreds of former Department of Justice officials called for his ouster in the wake of a decision to reduce the sentencing of Roger Stone. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote in a statement that the call from about 2,000 former Justice Department officials for his resignation is not warranted. Suggestions from outside groups that the Attorney General has fallen short of the responsibilities of his office are unfounded. The Attorney General has shown that he is committed without qualification to securing equal justice under law for all Americans, the three lawmakers wrote. The Attorney General has shown that he is committed without qualification to securing equal justice under law for all Americans. The nation is fortunate that President Trump chose such a strong and selfless public servant to lead the Department of Justice. Democrats and other groups criticized Barr last week after the Justice Department revised a sentencing recommendation for Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, following a Twitter post from the president that the initial sentencing recommendation was horrible and unfair. Four prosecutors in the case then resigned from the case. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to media after the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment, at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 5, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Over the past week, the group Protect Democracy organized an effort to gather more than 2,000 former DOJ staffers to call on Barr to resign. The group argued that Barr is using the department to politically help Trump. During an interview with ABC News last week, Barr said Trumps social media posts made it difficult for him to do his job, but he stressed the president did not influence his decision to intervene in Stones sentencing. I think its time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases, he said. I will make those decisions based on what I think is the right thing to do, and Im not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody, Barr told the network. And I said, whether its Congress, newspaper editorial boards, or the president, Im going to do what I think is right. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) at a press conference in the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) And McConnell, during a Fox News interview during the following morning, said Trump ought to listen to Barrs advice about social media posts. Despite his comments, a number of high-ranking Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) have called for investigations or even public hearings into the DOJ decision. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Trump admitted to reporters that I do make his job harder, yes, I do agree with that. Over the past several days, the president maintained his online criticism of the Stone case, re-posting a comment about Judge Amy Berman on Tuesday. Danish police say they have arrested 27 people for suspected drug smuggling after finding some 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine on a Bahamas-registered cargo vessel plying Danish waters. Copenhagen police said on Feb. 15 in a statement that the cocaine was seized during an internationally coordinated bust on Saturday on the container ship Duncan Island while it was sailing south of the town of Gedser. The suspects, all foreigners, are charged with serious drug crimes under Danish law and may face a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. They include the vessels international crew with Russian, Latvian, Ecuadorian, and Filipino nationals among others and remain in custody pending further investigation. Were naturally very pleased that many kilos of cocaine have not hit the street. Now we are investigating further to find out who is waiting in vain for the deliveries, said Inspector Dannie Rise, the head of the special Investigation unit at the Copenhagen police. According to Danish broadcaster TV2, the vessel was en route from Helsingborg, Sweden to St. Petersburg, Russia, when it was seized by authorities. It said the cocaine is believed to have a street value of approximately 350 million Danish kroner ($50 million). Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz claims his return from Egypt to Australia was thwarted because he was experiencing heart palpitations, shortness of breath and was sweating so profusely that airline staff stopped him from boarding a flight over concerns he might suffer a heart attack. Councillor Aziz, who has been sacked along with the entire City of Casey Council by the Andrews government, made the dramatic claim in an affidavit filed as part of a legal bid to prevent his assets being seized as the proceeds of crime. Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz Credit:James Taylor The affidavit was sworn by Mr Azizs solicitor, Jeremy Peck, of Moray & Agnew Lawyers. It says the 47-year-old is too ill with a chronic heart condition, diabetes and mental health concerns to appear in person at a hearing in the County Court scheduled for next week. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) obtained a restraining order over Mr Azizs Berwick home and loan account as part of Operation Sandon, an investigation into potentially corrupt conduct involving members of the Casey council and developer and planning guru John Woodman. MILFORD Defense lawyers for Jose Morales, the New Haven man accused of murdering his girlfriend, will begin looking through what a prosecutor described as voluminous evidence compiled by Ansonia police, state police and the FBI. On Tuesday, Kevin Smith, who with attorney Norm Pattis represents Morales, entered not guilty pleas on his clients behalf to charges of murder and tampering with evidence. Morales, a 43-year-old convicted felon from New Haven, is accused of beating to death Christine Holloway, the mother of his toddler, Vanessa Morales, and tampering with evidence Holloway, also 43 and an employee of Bright Star Day Care in Bridgeport, was found dead in her Myrtle Avenue, Ansonia, home on Dec. 2. The child remains the subject of a nationwide search. Supervisory States Attorney Howard Stein advised Milford Superior Court Judge Peter Brown Tuesday that he will begin downloading information and paperwork from the case onto a two terabyte portable hard drive that Morales lawyers provide. Brown then continued the matter until March 5. Morales is being held on $5 million bond. Smith told Hearst Connecticut Media Group he was especially interested in reviewing the video surveillance footage police seized from a Myrtle Avenue to Route 34 trip they said they believe Morales took to his New Haven home. The defense lawyer also pointed out there is an unknown third person involved in the case. During interviews with police, Morales has claimed he was in Holloways home when he saw men running toward the front door. He claimed he was feeling the effects of PCP when he tried to call 911 but was punched in the face and knocked out. DNA testing on the interior collar of a black Haines T-shirt recovered by investigators includes genetic material consistent with Holloway, Morales and an unknown third individual, according to the arrest warrant. We are interested in pursuing that unknown third individual, Smith said. Smith declined to comment on anything Morales has said about his missing daughter. Smith and Pattis are the same defense lawyers that represented Fotis Dulos against charges that he killed his estranged wife, Jennifer Farber Dulos, in New Canaan, and tampered with evidence. Fotis Dulos died by apparent suicide in early February. Bloodied evidence linked to the Holloway murder was recovered in Kiducation clothing donation bins in the parking lot of St. Michaels church. In court Morales, a heavy-set bearded man dressed in a gray sweatshirt, white undershirt and khaki pants, stood silently before Smith as his lawyer and the prosecutor did the talking. He did not look at the four members of Holloways family sitting in the front row nor in the direction of his stepfather, Marcos Garcia, seating in the back. Nor did the two families acknowledge each other. Morales is expected to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Feb. 26 to answer two charges of being a felon in possession of two stun guns. The guns were found in the bedroom of the New Haven home he shares with his mother and Garcia during a Dec. 3 search. State and federal law prohibits Morales from possessing weapons because he has a prior felony conviction. His record dates back to 1993 and includes arrests for sale of narcotics, violation of protective orders, domestic violence and carrying a pistol without a permit. Both Stein and Smith said they are trying to get the stun gun charges transferred to Milford and consolidated with the murder case. Stein issued a statement which noted that ethical rules preclude our office from commenting on a pending case. Moraless arrest came Feb. 7 after two months of questioning, searching and testing bloodstained clothing. Investigators say PCP may have been a factor in the case. During a Dec. 16 interview, a friend from East Haven told FBI Special Agent David Dillon and Ansonia Police Detective Stephen Adcox that he and Morales bought seven bags of PCP in Bridgeport on Nov. 29. He said they smoked half a bag and Morales left with two bags. Several neighbors told police they saw Morales at the Myrtle Avenue home of Holloway the weekend of Dec. 2. Morales told police he was not at the Myrtle Avenue home Dec. 2, the warrant states. The owner of the home and his mother said they were in the attached three-car garage on Dec.1 and heard a commotion upstairs, the warrant said. The mother said she heard three sounds like they were hammering something into the wall. She also said she heard sounds like furniture being moved around. Another man visiting a neighbor told police he saw Morales at the house that same afternoon, according to the warrant. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who can lead investigators to Vanessa or who turns her over to police. Authorities asked anyone with information to call the FBI New Haven Hotline at 203-503-5555 or Ansonia police at 203-735-1885. Prystaiko says joint patrols should include the National Police of Ukraine, OSCE observers, and representatives of communities living in the occupied territories. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko says the sides have not come close to creating tripartite patrols on the Ukrainian-Russian border consisting of Ukrainians, local community representatives from the occupied territories, and observers with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, but Ukraine seeks to avoid legalization of Russian-controlled forces. During a Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on Ukraine's ICTV channel on February 17, 2020, Prystaiko said the proposal to set up joint patrols in Donbas had previously been fixed in the Minsk agreements. According to him, it is supposed to attract those who are now living in the territory of Donbas. He clarified the joint patrols should include the National Police of Ukraine, OSCE observers, and representatives of communities living in the occupied territory of Donbas. Read alsoAvakov elaborates on idea of joint patrolling in Donbas "It doesn't say [in the agreements] whether it should be the armed forces who stood at the checkpoints with the Kalashnikov assault rifles in their hands. These may be new people," the minister said and added he did not want to join this discussion. "We have not even come close to this," he said. At the same time, Prystaiko is convinced the ideal situation for Ukraine would be if Ukrainian border guards regained control of the border between Ukraine and Russia in Donbas. "Until we have the capacity as a state and sufficient forces to ensure access to our border and control by our border guards, we are forced to apply methods such as joint [patrols], under the control of the OSCE, and all other options," he said. In this regard, the minister added the proposal to deploy a peacekeeping mission also applies to such options. At the same time, he was asked if the illegal armed groups would be legalized in this way. "We would like to prevent legalization of anyone on the other side of the contact line," Prystaiko said. According to the foreign minister, that is why a democratic model of holding local elections was proposed to elect local authorities (district authorities) at least at the lowest level. "We are not talking about people who will come to the Verkhovna Rada, no. We want to legalize those who will be elected at the local level. And those people who will elect them should know they are responsible now, that there will be a new head in their district," the minister said. "I won't be surprised if some of these people are the same people who are de facto heading now. We understand this, we aren't naive. But this is the path of a democratic state that we have chosen. People must choose and be responsible for the people they choose. We cannot appoint them from Kyiv," Prystaiko said. At the same time, the diplomat reiterated he had met with the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir who agreed that "the security situation does not allow holding elections as of today." Read alsoPrystaiko comments on issues set to be discussed at next Normandy Four summit Prystaiko expressed the conviction that all Ukrainian political parties were unlikely to be represented in the normal political process in the occupied part of Donbas. "We say that we cannot hold elections without this. And the question of whether we are in a hurry with the elections or not is no longer relevant since, without sufficient grounds for holding the elections, unfortunately, holding elections will not be possible," he added. As UNIAN reported on February 15, President In Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that joint patrols, consisting of Ukrainians, representatives of the occupied territories, and OSCE SMM observers, ensure security in the temporarily occupied territories during preparations for local elections. Ukrainian authorities earlier said they aimed to hold local elections throughout the country in October 2020, including the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. STAMFORD Parents of high school-age children with special needs who are worried about what comes after graduation can learn more about their options in a workshop next month. Special Education Forum: Exploring Transition Programs for College & Career Paths will be presented at 7 p.m. March 4 by the Stamford Jewish Community Center Special Needs and Inclusion Department. The hands-on workshop for parents will be at the Stamford JCC located at 1035 Newfield Ave. in Stamford. This workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are strongly suggested. Special education law attorney Lawrence Berliner and administrators from Franklin Learning Institute, Westport College Prep and Winston Transitions will help parents navigate the school process and empower them to find the right educational fit for their child. Parents can meet with professionals in the special education field and learn about postsecondary transition programs for students. The evening will begin with a panel discussion, followed by break-out sessions for parents to obtain more information and find out how programs could benefit their children. Berliner will offer his legal perspective and focus on understanding the rights of special education students. He will guide parents in finding educational solutions and placements. Representing Franklin Learning Institute will be Kinsley Rausch Sanders, dean of transitional services, and Jennifer Dziekan, college transition adviser. The institute is a residential transition program for seniors and postgraduates ages 18 to 21 at Franklin Academy in East Haddam. Students there have an opportunity to improve their executive functioning and social emotional or academic skills before making the leap to attending college or pursuing a career. Dawn Matera, co-founder, and Lauren McBeth, executive director, will represent Westport College Prep in Wilton on the panel. It provides a gap year experience for high school graduates ages 18 to 21 with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and executive function challenges and prepares students for college, work and life. John Civita, head of school, and Lauren Kellner, director of admissions, will represent Winston Transitions, which is part of Winston Preparatory Schools. It is a highly individualized academic and vocational transition program in New York City for students ages 17 to 21 with learning differences. To register, contact Rachel Berliner, public relations assistant at the law office of Lawrence Berliner, at rachel@berlinerspecialedlaw.com or 203-255-0582. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com The NSF-sponsored research could have implications in communications, medicine and other fields BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Reciprocity isn't always a good thing. In physics, for example, it concerns electromagnetic and acoustic waves. The idea is that waves travel the same way backward as they do forward. Which is fine, except that waves encounter obstacles (skyscrapers, wind, people) that cause them to lose energy. But what if you could break that rule and guide waves around those obstacles? Or have an object completely absorb the wave in a specific direction? Such functionalities could alter how electronic, photonic and acoustic devices are designed and used. University at Buffalo engineers have taken a step in this direction. Working in an emerging field known to as "spacetime-varying metamaterials," engineers have demonstrated the ability to break reciprocity in acoustic waves. A study describing their work, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, was published Feb. 14 in Physical Review Applied letters, a journal published by the American Physical Society journal. "We have experimentally demonstrated that it's possible to break reciprocity in acoustic waves with material properties that change simultaneously in time and space," says the project's lead investigator Mostafa Nouh, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Co-authors are M. Ali Attarzadeh and Jesse Callanan, both PhD candidates in Nouh's lab. To conduct the experiments, Nouh and the students built a beam that consists of a common thermoplastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS) bar outfitted with 20 aluminum resonators, each shaped like a rectangle. Motors allow the engineers to program each resonator, which are grouped in pairs of four, to spin at 45-degree angle intervals. For example, the first resonator is at 0 degrees, the second at 45 degrees, the third at 90 degrees and the fourth at 135 degrees. The next group of four follows the same pattern, and so on. The spin is both a function of space (the 45-degree intervals) and time (the milliseconds between their angular orientations). Hence the name, spacetime-varying metamaterials. When activated, the spinning resonators look like car pistons that twirl instead of pumping up and down. What they're doing, however, is changing the beam's "stiffness," which is its resistance to being deformed by an applied force. This video explains in greater detail how the system works. Before testing the beam, the team performed computer simulations that predicted reciprocity would break at very fast variations of stiffness. In other words, the faster the resonators spin, the more likely they could break reciprocity. So the engineers cranked the motors up to 2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). To see if this was fast enough, engineers sent vibrations (an acoustic wave) through the beam via a piezolelectric actuator. Using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer, as well as a thermal imaging camera (to ensure slight temperature fluctuations weren't influencing the experiment), Nouh and students found that the pattern in which the wave returned to its origin widely diverged from its initial course. "This is evidence of the wave acting in a non-reciprocal manner," says Callanan. In another test, with the resonators spinning only at 100 rpm, the beam's stiffness barely budged. Nouh and students found that the wave returned back to its point of origin the same way it left, indicating that reciprocity was not broken. "The experiments not only demonstrate our ability to break the reciprocity of acoustic waves, but confirm our hypothesis that such breakage is contingent on the speed of stiffness modulations through the spinning action," says Attarzadeh. The ability to manipulate waves in this manner, a first of its kind proof-of-concept, has many possible uses. For example, you could build a wall that allows sound to pass through easily in one direction but not in the opposite way. It could improve how autonomous vehicles communicate with one another. It could increase the resolution of medical imaging via ultrasound, which typically suffers from a limitation called "reflection artifacts" that can lead doctors to misinterpret images. But Nouh cautions the laboratory achievement is not ready for commercialization yet. For example, the beam the team built is large and would need to be scaled-down, likely through 3D printing or other nanofabrication tools. Also, the materials the team used heat up too quickly. To overcome this, more advanced and more expensive materials are likely needed. ### The work is supported by National Science Foundation CAREER award No. 1847254, the University at Buffalo New York State Center of Excellence in Material Informatics, as well as the Vibration Institute Academic Grant Program. Canadians love to talk about their cellphone bills, and today the country's telecommunications regulator will jump into that conversation as it launches nine days of hearings. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) hearings are expected to be a showdown between the nation's big mobile wireless providers Bell, Rogers and Telus and smaller providers who are bent on shaking up what some call an oligopoly-style market. The hearings, according to the CRTC, will focus on whether Canada's mobile wireless market adequately serves Canadians and its preparedness for the next phase of the communications network: 5G. Commissioners will hone in on issues such as affordability and whether the regulator should mandate the three big providers to open up access to their network to smaller carriers. These smaller carriers typically don't have an established network of cell towers and fibre optic cables. Instead, they purchase access to larger national networks through wholesale agreements. Using that approach, these smaller operators have been able to offer plans at more affordable rates. Ting, Google Fi and Straight Talk have used this model in the U.S. Mobile Virtual Network Operators The industry calls these smaller carriers Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), but Samer Bishay calls them disrupters. This Canadian CEO knows the business well because he used to lead one of them. His company, Sugar Mobile, offered customers wireless plans for as little as $19 a month when it launched. That was before the CRTC shut down the wireless upstart in 2017. Bishay, who is also the CEO of Ice Wireless and its parent company Iristel, doesn't have too many kind words about the state of the country's wireless market. "Right now, it is basically an oligopoly in Canada. We're lacking affordability, choice and flexibility," Bishay said. Greg Bruce/CBC The CRTC, which regulates telecommunications, broadcast and wireless services in Canada, ruled Ice Wireless, through its affiliate Sugar Mobile, was inappropriately using its roaming agreement with Rogers to support an MVNO business. Story continues At this hearing Bishay will call on the CRTC to reverse its position and force Canada's national carriers to open up their networks to wholesale MVNO access. "If there is no room for MVNOs in Canada, well then let the consumers make that choice," Bishay said. "Let the free market economy dictate who succeeds and who doesn't." Industry wary of mandating MVNOs If Canada moves in that direction, it will become the second country, after Norway, to regulate wholesale MVNO access. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), which represents some of the industry's big players, isn't opposed to selling MVNOs access to their networks. But, it doesn't think carriers should be forced to. At the moment, it's up to the national carriers to individually sign agreements with MVNOs. David Thurton/CBC The CWTA says Canada's existing wireless providers offer a good mix of affordable plans and reliable coverage. But the association's senior vice-president, Eric Smith, said if the CRTC forces carriers to open up their networks to MVNOs, investment in 5G could take a hit. "That's a very rare regulatory intervention around the world and would actually negatively impact the investment capacity of our network operators," Smith said. "And it would be detrimental to the quality of service that we can offer Canadians." CRTC leaning toward mandating MVNOs But all indications point to a future where, like it or not, MVNOs will play a more significant role in Canada's mobile wireless future. The federal Liberals campaigned in 2019 to slash cellphone bills by 25 per cent within two years, saving the average middle-class family of four $1,000 a year. The mandate letter for Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains instructs him to work with companies and the regulator to get more MVNOs in the market. The CRTC also acknowledged during its consultation ahead of Tuesday's kickoff to the hearings that it was leaning toward mandating MVNOs on a limited basis. According to Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa law professor and the Canada Research Chair on the internet and e-commerce, the time for MVNOs has arrived. "I think the real question is whether not they are going to jump in with both feet or just dip their toe in the water," Geist said. "If I had to guess, it is probably a more of a dip their toe in the water approach, where they open it up slightly to MVNOs and see what kind of impact that it has." David Thurton/CBC This could look like, Geist said, the CRTC directing Bell, Telus and Rogers to open up their networks to MVNOs, but on the condition that these smaller companies eventually invest in their own physical infrastructure. After the hearings, the regulator's decision is expected later this year or in early 2021. AUBURN HILLS, MI State Rep. Rebekah Warren pleaded guilty Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, to a lesser misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated, according to Oakland County District Court records. Warren, D-Ann Arbor, was originally arraigned, Jan. 30, on one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated with blood alcohol content greater than 0.17 percent, records show. Sentencing information is unavailable at this time. Police dashcam video recordings obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News through a Freedom of Information Act request show Warrens SUV crash into a barrier at 11:25 p.m., Dec. 26 on northbound I-75 in Auburn Hills. She continued driving after the impact. Her blood alcohol content was later measured at 0.212 percent, almost three times the legal limit, according to blood analysis by Michigan State Police. Michigans super drunk law, which was enacted in 2010, enhance penalties for motorists convicted of driving drunk with a BAC of .17 or more. Warren published a post to her Fans of Rebekah Warren page, saying she had made a serious mistake when she decided to drive home drunk from a gathering in Detroit on Dec. 26. State Rep. Rebekah Warren says shes owning up to drunken driving incident, wont be bullied into resigning I fully own up to my behavior in December, she wrote. I am human, and I will stumble. When I do, I strive to take responsibility and act to correct my mistakes. To those of you who have shown understanding, sympathy and support even though you may find fault in my actions as I do you have my deepest appreciation. Warren was elected in 2018 to serve a third and final term in the House of Representatives after serving two terms in the state Senate. Warren represents the 55th District, one of four state House districts in Washtenaw County. It includes parts of Ann Arbor and Milan, as well as Augusta, Pittsfield, Ann Arbor and York townships. YouTube star Friendlyjordies has slammed Channel Nine in a new clip shared online on Sunday. Jordan Shanks has accused the network of trying to block him from making money for his Married At First Sight recaps. In a lengthy post, Jordan said that the network is ran by 'boomers' and said Nine 'tried to take us down.' 'They tried to take us down!' YouTube star Friendlyjordies SLAMMED Nine this week and said the network is run by 'boomers' as he claimed they tried to block him making money from his MAFS recaps 'Well, we're back on the air, despite Channel Nine trying to take us down,' he said in the clip. 'Channel 10 was so nice about our Bachelor recaps... Nine, I don't want to sound condescending, you boomers, but do you not know how the internet works?' He went on to claim that his recaps are 'free advertising' for the network. Speaking out: He went on to say that his recaps are 'free advertising' for the network. (Pictured is Hayley Vernon from MAFS) 'We're giving you free advertising for your show,' he added. He then slammed former treasurer Peter Costello, saying: 'Do you really need the money that bad Costello?' At the end of the clip, he asked viewers to like the post so that he can continue making the videos. Jordan is a YouTube star who previously built a career as a male model, who travelled across the world posing for editorials and walking the runways. Lashing out: He added about Nine: 'You just hate me for the obvious reasons that I make fun of you CEO all the time and your entire network. How f**king petty can you be?' (pictured is bride Vanessa Romito) He modelled for eight years while studying international politics at the University of New South Wales. In 2018, he told Daily Mail Australia about his stand-up comedy shows and said performing in front of a live crowd is nothing like he remembers from his heyday as a model. 'It's completely different. But I've always had a strong performing background. I've been doing it since I was five and I have very little understanding of what public shame is, I'm just an exhibitionist,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Nine for comment in relation to this article. Column: Almost Every Part of the State Will Witness Competitive Races Born in 1983, Vu Ngoc Anh, a lecturer and researcher, is one of a few young individuals granted the title of associate professor in 2019. Anh was well known in the scientific research circle before he got the title. He invented the first unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Vietnam when he was a university student and had the airplane work made public in early 2019. Vu Ngoc Anh (middle) became Associate Professor in early 2020 NOBA ROBOTICS AQ 10 was developed by Anh and his co-workers who are students and engineers. It weighs 25 kilograms and can operate for 15-20 minutes at the speed of 0-10 meters per second. If used to spray pesticides, it can cover one hectare within 10 minutes, or 50 times faster than manual spraying. The machine can carry 10 kilograms of pesticides or fertilizers. According to Anh, the drone is mostly used to spray pesticides on rice fields. It is remotely controlled and runs with the flying mechanism similar to popular flying devices like flycam. However, as it is designed to spray pesticides in large areas, it has a container and battery. Anh was well known in the scientific research circle before he got the title. He invented the first unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in Vietnam when he was a university student and had the airplane work made public in early 2019. The spraying system can control the size of spray particles and intensity in real time. The radar system and sensors allow the drone to sense and detect obstacles. It flies automatically in accordance with set itineraries, and can operate both in daytime and at night. When the pesticide runs out, it will automatically return for recharging and continue the spraying. Thanks to the smart control unit, the machine can operate even in severe weather conditions. According to Anh, one drone has the capacity equal to that of 28 workers. One drone, carrying a 10 liter pesticide tank, needs 10-15 minutes to spray one hectare of fields, while one worker needs seven hours to fulfill this work. With the super-economical misting regime, the drone can help save up to 90 percent of water and 30 percent of pesticides. Anh said that after obtaining a masters degree and doctorate in South Korea, he decided to return to Vietnam to create personal airplanes which can be flown by anyone to help ease traffic congestion, but he later changed his plan because he realized that pesticide spraying drones are needed in agricultural production. By 2019, Anh and his co-workers had produced three drones. NOBA ROBOTICS AQ10 is the second version with a lot of improvements, used to help farmers spray pesticides. The first version of the machine was transferred to Dak Lak province. Meanwhile, the third one will be used to sow seeds for afforestation. Kim Chi Vietnamese professor awarded 2020 Sloan Research Fellowship Vu Ngoc Tam, a young Vietnamese professor working at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA, has been honoured as a 2020 Sloan Research Fellowship recipient. THE BDO Unibanks remittance office in Barcelona, Spain has organized a donation drive to the distressed victims of the Taal eruption by putting up drop-off boxes for Filipinos who want to donate in kind. These donation boxes will then be delivered to BDOs corporate social responsibility arm, BDO Foundation, in the Philippines for distribution to the affected areas. Filipinos living in Barcelona are mostly from Batangas and Cavite, the areas that bore the brunt of the volcanic eruption. Officers and staff of BDO Remit Spain have also visited Filipino communities in Barcelona, including Filipino Asian stores, restaurants, medical providers, clinics, freight forwarders, travel agencies and grocery stores to promote their donation campaign. Tapping parish The St. Agustin Parish in Barcelona tapped the parish community to spread the word on the said charitable efforts. They posted BDO Remits materials about the donation drive within the church premises and regularly announced during Sunday masses about the drop-off donation boxes were put up. We have already filled up the first box of donations and is now on our second box. More people are now donating and sending as a result of our info drive, said Gerard Ian M. Belarmino, marketing officer in BDO Remit Spain. We are receiving positive responses from our Kababayans for our efforts especially the waived fees for those who want to donate anonymously. Filipino community leaders are also grateful to us for accepting coin donations to be remitted to the Philippines. Local banks in Spain charge commissions for coin transactions. By remitting this through BDO instead, every Euro cent would be sent to the Taal victims. On Jan. 14, 2020, BDO waived its remittance fees on cash donations sent through the different BDO Remit offices abroad for the victims of the Mt. Taal eruption. The donation drive will end on March 31, 2020. Cash donations sent through BDO Remit offices will then be coursed through different foundations namely BDO Foundation, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc., GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. and the Philippine Red Cross. In turn, these foundations will facilitate the purchase and distribution of relief goods in evacuation centers that temporarily house the Taal victims. BDO has extensive remittance coverage across the globe, with overseas remittance offices and partners across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Aside from the different BDO Remit offices, the Banks global remittance partners are also receiving cash donations for the benefit of the Taal eruption victims, including Remitly, Small World, WorldRemit, Azimo, United Arab Emirates Exchange Centre, and Xpress Money. Regular remittance charges apply. S President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said he is "not afraid of military combat," accusing his US counterpart Donald Trump of plotting to invade Venezuela with the support of regional allies. "We don't want war; we don't want violence; we don't want terrorism, but we are not afraid of military combat and we are going to guarantee peace," said Maduro in a televised speech, surrounded by the armed forces high command. "Donald Trump was convinced that it is easy to get into Venezuela," said the socialist leader, accusing the US of having assembled a "mercenary force" to invade. The US is one of more than 50 countries that have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president after Maduro's 2018 re-election was widely denounced as rigged. Maduro, however, still enjoys the support of Turkey, Russia, China and Cuba. He also said there were groups of military "deserters" training in neighboring Colombia to "enter silently and attack military units." Military exercises were carried out over the weekend, Maduro added, in response to alleged attack plans orchestrated by the US, Colombia and Brazil. According to official figures, some 2.4 million soldiers and members of the civilian militia were deployed throughout the country. The practices were carried out "based on real threats, not imagined ones," said defense minister General Vladimir Padrino, who was seated next to Maduro during the president's speech. Trump vowed to "smash" Maduro's rule in his annual State of the Union address to Congress, which was also attended by Guaido, earlier this month. Trump branded Maduro as a "tyrant" during his speech and called Guaido the "legitimate president of Venezuela." After returning from a three-week international tour, Guaido said a change of government in his country was "inevitable." On Sunday, he said the military had the opportunity to make the change less "traumatic." Nicolas Maduro still enjoys the support of Turkey, Russia, China and Cuba but dozens of other countries do not recognize him as leader Food tainted by rodents, staff beating inmates and claims of a toxic prison culture are a few of the allegations being made by public officials about the state of the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in the wake of recent violence at the prison. Massachusetts state legislators who visited the Lancaster facility in recent weeks raised concerns about the safety, hygiene and health of prisoners at the maximum-security prison. Their trips to Souza-Baranowski followed an inmate-led attack on correction officers on Jan. 10, which hospitalized two of the guards and led, some inmates allege, to subsequent retaliation from a special operations tactical team stationed at the prison. Lindsay Sabadosa, a state representative in Hampshire County, visited the facility twice this month, both times with State Sen. James Eldridge. During an unannounced trip to the facility at the beginning of February, she spoke with an inmate who said he was stomped on by prison staff. The prisoner told Sabadosa he was treated at a Leominster hospital after his eye socket was damaged, according to her. We knew that that was what we were going to see, she said, so when you see that, you just have an enormous amount of frustration that this is what our prison system has come to. The state representative was one of five legislators to visit the prison on Feb. 2. Eldridge chose to do so after he received dozens of calls and emails from inmates and their loved ones claiming a universal punishment response to the January 10th attack, according to a statement from his office. He and Sabadosa, as well as state legislators Mike Connolly, Mary Keefe and Patricia Jehlen, met with 15 prisoners for six hours on their first visit. Eldridge said he heard reports that the facilitys tactical team had beat inmates with fisted gloves, used dogs to intimidate them and deployed pepper spray and tasers on prisoners inside their cells. Sabadosa said four prisoners they conducted in-person interviews with alleged witnessing assaults and provided details about the incidents, though none claimed to be attacked themselves. The state representative also had non-contact communications with the inmate who accused the prison staff of stomping on him, she said. No one should be assaulted in a prison. Correctional officers should not be assaulted. Prisoners should not be assaulted, Sabadosa said. It speaks to a lack of control and a lack of oversight. On state legislators Feb. 7 trip to the facility, they spoke with several more inmates who said they were either assaulted or that they witnessed someone else being attacked, according to Sabadosa. Roughly 30 inmates were interviewed, Eldridge said. We talked to so many, Sabadosa said. We saw Taser burns. We saw dog bites. We saw so much evidence of suicide attempts: cut wrists, ligature marks. The state representative also noticed hygiene and health issues at the facility, she said. Sabadosa claimed that when she walked through one of the cell blocks, she saw blood in inmates rooms and unknown liquids on the floor. She also heard a report of an epileptic prisoner who was resting on the top of a bunkbed in his cell when he had a seizure, fell off bed and laid in his own blood for an extended period of time. There were other reports of flooding at the facility, Sabadosa said. State Rep. Chynah Tyler, who visited Souza-Baranowski on Jan. 31, alleged she saw blackened-colored floors during her trip and heard from prisoners that they were forced to use personal items to clear water from their cells. The cells are disgusting, Sabadosa said. I was just really surprised how dirty the cell block was in general. Prisoners reported being denied access to medications, basic hygiene products and showers for more than a week as well, according to Tyler. Inmates told her the facilitys food supply was contaminated by rodents and that they went without uniforms for two weeks, she said. One expressed to me that for weeks he had been walking around the facility in his underwear, Tyler said in a statement. Three inmates who filed a civil lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston claimed prison staff took away their legal materials and limited access to their attorneys following the attack on the correction officers and the subsequent lockdown that lasted around three weeks. On Jan. 21, the tactical team searched inmates cells for drugs, weapons and other contraband, during which time, prisoners belongings were taken away and returned four days later, according to Stephen Kenneway, superintendent of the prison. The inmate telephone system was also turned off for two weeks, and contact between attorneys and prisoners was suspended. Non-contact visits with lawyers were reinstated a week after the Jan. 10 attack, and full visitation rights were returned by Jan. 24, Kenneway said during a hearing last week about to the lawsuit. The Massachusetts Department of Correction called the inmates complaints moot," as the services have been resumed, according to court documents filed by the agency. The department urged the court to deny injunctive relief to the three inmates after they submitted an emergency motion on Jan. 31. Authorities have said determining how long to limit prisoners visitation rights after an emergency is up to the discretion of administrative officials who are tasked with maintaining peoples safety at the prison. Due to the nature of DOCs sole maximum security facility, every day presents a possible changing situation, the department said in its court filings. No one at DOC wants to limit an inmates access to his attorney or to the courts, even temporarily, but the safety of the inmates, staff, and visitors must always be paramount. Programs aimed at preparing prisoners for re-entry into society after finishing their sentences were also restricted due the lockdown, according to state legislators. The facilitys superintendent told Tyler that the current prison population has spent more time in programming compared to any other populace at Souza-Baranowski in recent years, according to the state representative. However, services were limited after the Jan. 10 attack, and prisoners were not told when their regular programs would resume, she alleged. Theres no programming for most of these men. Theyre locked in their cells 24 hours a day. Anybody would go crazy," Sabadosa said. Inmates at Souza-Baranowski also alleged racial slurs were constantly being directed at them leading up to the Jan. 10 attack, according to Tyler. The prisoners expressed concerns over the lack of diversity among the prison staff as well, she said. [The] Black and Latinx prison population noted when compared to their non-Black and non-Latinx counterparts, there were disparities in the treatment of both groups, Tyler said. Eldridge noted that Souza-Baranowski falls into a district he has represented for more than 18 years and that there is a toxic culture at the prison. He alleged Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Bakers response to the recently alleged violence against the inmates has not been adequate. Sabadosa has called for an independent investigation into conditions at the facility, and Tyler requested in a letter to the governor that he begin to have access to a direct live feed into the facilitys cameras. I strongly disagree with the Baker-Polito administrations collective punishment action in response to the January 10th attacks on correction officers and believe that it makes the prison less safe for all the SBCC staff and the prisoners, Eldridge said in his statement. Whether correction officers like it or not, I represent not only the people doing the brave and difficult job of working at SBCC, but also the prisoners and both sides of the story must be heard. Baker has said he has faith in DOCs ability to properly look into the accusations, and DOC officials have stated that any violations are thoroughly investigated. Inmates have been allowed to file grievances, which are then processed by the facility, authorities said. DOC welcomes the opportunity to meet with legislators," a DOC spokesperson said. Though, not everyone has appreciated the state legislators allegations. The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union wrote in a letter to Eldridge that it is deeply disappointed with the state senators actions and comments in the aftermath of the Jan. 10 attack on prison staff. The group alleged Eldridges response has largely been one of concern for the inmates, and officials claimed he has not addressed the safety of officers. The executive board of the union also accused Eldridge of grandstanding to the media and prison rights advocates." The union wrote it would be happy to meet with the state senator to discuss policies to protect officers, though. Eldridge said in his statement he has also reached out to the legislative representative of the group to organize a meeting between correction officers and legislators. We are confident that our Officers follow the strict policies set forth by the Department of Corrections and Massachusetts General Laws, the union said in a statement to MassLive. Our officers conduct themselves in a professional manner day in and day out in some of the most dangerous environments imaginable. The prisoners who have alleged being assaulted claimed they were not involved in the Jan. 10 attack on the correction officers. Many of the inmates connected to the incident were transferred to other facilities, Eldridge said. Other prisoners were screened to determine appropriate housing placements within Souza-Baranowski, according to DOC court filings. In her letter to the governor, Tyler asked Baker to provide her office with a list of prisoners displaced from their units and name those transferred out of Souza-Baranowski since Jan. 10. The state representative added that she has little confidence in DOCs management of the situation. Among the testimonies I received were concerns that inmates were purposely moved into the wrong units, she wrote. Evidently, these actions taken by the DOC were misguided. All the accusations of assault Sabadosa heard from prisoners were allegedly committed by the tactical team, Sabadosa said. State Rep. Nika Elugardo, who visited the facility on Feb. 7, said she has outstanding questions about the tactical team and how it is held accountable for its actions. They look like theyre paramilitary quite honestly, Sabadosa said. They have dogs. They have guns that shoot rubber bullets. They have tasers, guns, pepper spray. Eldridge, Elugardo and Sabadosa all expressed sympathy for both the inmates and the correction officers at Souza-Baranowski. Sabadosa said she noticed many prison staff members who have good rapports with prisoners, adding that the focus of discussions on how to improve prison conditions should be on the safety of employees as well as those incarcerated. Many of the inmates have some form of mental illness and past trauma, Elugardo said, but they possess no tools to cope with those issues. They then turn to prison guards as their enemies. Theyre enemies to them, the state representative said. All day long, the COs have feces thrown at them. Elugardo does not blame the inmates or prison staff for the conditions at the facility, she said, but instead, she points to how the criminal justice system operates as a whole. Its a ridiculous position to pit ourselves against ourselves," the state representative said. Theyre working in a system designed to fail people. Stephen Kenneway, superintendent of the prison, detailed numerous violent incidents at the facility during a hearing Thursday about the lawsuit. More than 300 assaults have been reported at Souza-Baranowski since he became director in February 2019, and there have been roughly 600 declared emergencies as well as 240 instances of self-injurious behavior. Most recently, a stabbing was reported at the facility. A prisoner also started a fire in his cell last week after assaulting a correction officer and throwing urine in her face. The superintendent said the Jan. 10 attack on correction officers was deliberately planned and gang-related. Video released by DOC showed one prisoner punching a correction officer in the face and other inmates joining in on the assault. Kenneway also claimed that inmates continue to plan attacks on employees at the facility. Threats of murder, rape and hostage-taking were made against staff during the lockdown, according to him. Souza-Baranowski holds the worst prisoners the state confines, Kenneway said, as the prison is one of two maximum-security facilities in Massachusetts. _____________ Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364. ____________ Related Content: Ukraine has the powerful Armed Forces and they strongly responded to the provocation of the Russian Federation's formations in Donbas this morning. "There were other issues on the NSDC agenda, but we started with the provocation that happened on the contact line this morning. I want to tell you that we have powerful army. Provocations happen, and the army responded strongly," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing following the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Currently, the situation is completely controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Chief of General Staff, he added. "We are confident that this provocation will not change the course because you can sit at the negotiating table only having a strong army the course towards the end of the war and the restoration of peace," the President said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky described the morning offensive of invaders in the JFO area as a cynical provocation and an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas. This morning, the armed formations of the Russian Federation attacked positions of Ukraines Joint Forces units near Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilnyi. As a result of the battle, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and four more soldiers were wounded. The positions of Ukrainian defenders have not been lost. ol Most banks led by the State Bank have declared DHFL account as an NPA in the third quarter. Mumbai: Adani Group, KKR, Bain Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Piramal Enterprises are among the more than two dozen entities that have put in bids for crippled DHFL, the first financial services player undergoing insolvency process, according to two sources. The sources told PTI that out of the interested entities, at least 14 are keen to take over the whole operations of the mortgage lender. In November, the Reserve Bank referred DHFL, the third-largest pure-play mortgage lender, to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency proceedings. Prior to that, the company's board was superseded and R Subramaniakumar was appointed as the administrator. He is also the resolution professional under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The last date for submission of bids under the insolvency process was Monday. One of the sources said the company has received 24 bids, of which 14 are for the entire operations. According to the second source, the number of bidders was close to 30. While Subramaniakumar could not be reached for comments, calls made to a DHFL spokesperson remained unanswered. Bain Capital's Integral Investments South Asia VII fund, the US-based KKR Credit Advisors, Adani Properties, Welspun group's Astronomical Logistics, Blackstone arm BCP Topco VIII fund, Piramal Enterprises and Hero Fincorp, are among those that have bid for the entire operations of DHFL, the first source said. The source said Hong Kong-based Lonestar Asia Pacific Acquisition, Kotak Investment Advisors, Singapore-based SSG Capital Management, Varde Partners' VFSI Holdings, Aion arm Racion Revitalisation, Oaktree's India Opportunities Investment Fund and leading domestic ARC Arcil, are also looking for DHFL's full operations. As per the second source, Deutsche Bank AG, Edelweiss Financial Services, Barings' Maple II BV, Phoenix ARC, Warburg Pincus' Baywater Investment, SC Lowey Primary investments and Multiples Private Equity III, have put in their bids for part of DHFL. This list also includes Vastu Housing Finance Corporation, Asia Pragati Strategic Investment Fund, Promontoria Holding 206 BV (Cerberus), and Burlington Loan Management (Davidson Kempner), the source added. As of July 2019, the company owed Rs 83,873 crore to banks, the National Housing Board, mutual funds and bondholders. Most banks led by the State Bank have declared DHFL account as an NPA in the third quarter. DHFL was sent to bankruptcy after the government on 15 November, 2019 enabled the Reserve Bank to sent large financial services companies, excluding banks, to the NCLT for insolvency proceedings. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 04:53:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close A student learns to make jewelry at Egypt Gold near Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Jan. 19, 2020. Egypt Gold, the country's first jewelry school, was established in 2019 after a protocol was signed between the Ministry of Education and Egypt Gold Group, Egypt's most respected designer, manufacturer and distributor of jewelry, gold, timepieces, diamonds, and watches. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- In a tranquil upscale business district near Egypt's capital Cairo, students are learning how to make and design jewelry at the country's first jewelry school. The school. named Egypt Gold, was established in 2019 after a protocol was signed between the Ministry of Education and Egypt Gold Group, Egypt's most respected designer, manufacturer and distributor of jewelry, gold, timepieces, diamonds, and watches. The school provides the students with certified diplomas acknowledged worldwide. "Starting this school was a dream that came true. It will save the gold and jewelry industries from decline, not only in Egypt, but also in the Middle East and Africa," Mostafa Nassar, chairman of the board of Egypt Gold Group, told Xinhua. Nassar said the gold and jewelry industries of Egypt has been suffering from a lack of trained workforce since the 1980s, noting that the school will help solve this problem. In 1999, Nassar started a training center in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Social Affairs where hundreds of young people learned to make gold and jewelry. "Some 3,500 workers graduated from the center ... the company employed 1,400 of them, while the rest have been employed in other workshops," he noted. Nassar said that he will provide the first 600 students of Egypt Gold with small workshops where they can start their professional life, stressing he will give them raw materials "and then buy their products." "The graduates can pay back for the workshops and equipment from the profits they make," he said. "After a few years the workshops will be their own property and they can even work for other companies if they wish." Nassar revealed he is already on the process of negotiations with three foreign universities working in the field of jewelry and gold education to start the first university that would teach jewelry manufacturing and designing. "Egypt is in need of academic education in such a field which will help make our country become a regional technical educational hub," Nassar revealed. For his part, Khaled Hassan, director of Business and Enterprise Development at Egypt Gold Group, said the school applies the latest technologies in the gold industry, adding that the students will be qualified designers and makers once graduated. Hassan noted that 200 students, 130 girls and 70 boys, are attending classes currently, revealing that the school has hired non-Egyptian jewelry experts to teach the students the latest gold-making skills. The students, who came from different provinces across Egypt, believe that the school is a place that helps them build a good promising future in a country where unemployment rate stands at 8 percent. Yasmin Ibrahim, from Monufia province, said she has learned much during a short period of time at the school, adding that she enjoys the experience of being a student at a technical school. "The school will help us realize our dreams of having a job at an early age," she said as she observed a teacher drawing a design of a ring. Bladder Cancer is one of the most common genitourinary tract malignancies with greater than 80,000 patients diagnosed annually in the United States. A vast majority of these cancers are non-muscle invasive and remain localized. Muscle invasion decreases survival considerably, and management requires multimodality approaches. Most bladder cancers tend to be urothelial carcinomas and there are no clear guidelines on treating variants such as pure adenocarcinomas (1-2%), squamous cell (2-5%) or small cell ( <1%). Our article focuses on urothelial carcinomas only.For Stage II and IIIA patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), the mainstay of treatment and current standard of care is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection. Definitive chemoradiation is considered in those unfit for surgery or strongly prefer to preserve the bladder. The sentinel study for establishing the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was the intergroup study initiated by SWOG-8710, looking at MVAC therapy in Stage II and IIIa MIBC. The study showed an improvement in median overall survival (77 versus 46 months) and an improved pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. While MVAC was the regimen evaluated here, gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) combinations had proven equivalent in metastatic disease and are routinely used as well. The recently reported SWOG-1314 trial provides insights to support the equivalence of GC for neoadjuvant therapy. However, both these regimens contain cisplatin.What about the patients who are ineligible for cisplatin? This subgroup consists of a large portion of our muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients (upwards of 50% of patients with MIBC) and thus represents a huge gap in our treatment options given a lack of alternative agents. Cisplatin ineligibility has been defined as having Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2 or greater, creatinine clearance (CrCl) <60ml/min, grade 2 hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, or heart failure (NYHA Class III). While this is an internationally followed guideline, it is interesting to consider how the criteria for cisplatin-ineligible patients came about. In 2011, there was a survey sent to medical oncologists from five different countries to establish a working diagnosis, and responses from the survey were received from 65 medical oncologists. While there was substantial variability in the definition, a uniform definition was desired and thus the criteria mentioned was proposed and accepted by the NCCN. While it is very reasonable criteria and something we should all consider in our treatment approach, we must all consider the patient first and foremost prior to embarking on a specific treatment course.As per current consensus guidelines, this group of cisplatin-ineligible patients, if surgically eligible, should proceed directly to cystectomy. There is no defined role for neoadjuvant carboplatin substitution and only a minimal benefit for cisplatin splitting in those with borderline renal function. But given the knowledge that pCR confers significantly better overall survival (OS), what can we do to improve the care of these patients? Are we simply settling for up-front surgery knowing that we can potentially improve the care of these patients? In regard to the potential carboplatin substitution, there have been mixed reports of efficacy in several trials, but to date, there is not enough evidence to support the substitution of carboplatin for cisplatin. As for split-dose cisplatin, 35mg/m2 on Day 1, 2 or Day 1, 8, as opposed to 70mg/m2 on Day 1, the results from studies appear to offer a small increase in pCR, but not to the extent of those receiving standard-dose cisplatin, and thus while not routinely recommended, is worth consideration.While there are no currently approved neoadjuvant regimens in the cisplatin-ineligible group, there are a lot of trials looking at this population. We know the efficacy of immunotherapy for bladder cancer in the metastatic setting, however, the role in the neoadjuvant period is largely unknown. There have been two recent individual trials that have looked at just that population, PURE-01 and ABACUS . The PURE-01 trial looked at T2 orT3+ N0 urothelial carcinoma, and patients were given three cycles of pembrolizumab prior to radical cystectomy. While this patient population was not specifically designed to assess the cisplatin-ineligible group (92% of the patients were actually cisplatin eligible), the primary outcome of pathologic complete response was 42%, and pathologic downstaging to less than T2 was 54%, which is extremely encouraging. It is worth mentioning that patients with PDL1 > 10%, the pCR was 53%, vs just 13% in the PDL1 <10% cohort, this appears to agree with the findings of poor response to the PD-1 antibody even in the metastatic setting. The caveat to these findings is the relatively low sample size of this trial (n=50).The other neoadjuvant trial looking at immunotherapy was the ABACUS trial, a single-arm study that looked at 68 cisplatin-ineligible patients, with T2/T3+N0 urothelial carcinoma. These patients were given two cycles of atezolizumab prior to radical cystectomy. This trial, similar to PURE-01, also had a primary endpoint of pCR, and the results are similar to the PURE-01 trial, with a total pCR of 29%, with PDL1 + tumors having a 40% pCR, and the PDL1 tumors having a 16% pCR. It is worth noting that the PURE-01 trial seemed to assess more Stage III tumors, as opposed to more Stage II tumors in the ABACUS trial, and also had a longer exposure period for immunotherapy prior to cystectomy. CTLA4 combination with PD-1 inhibition has been studied in several cancers including bladder cancer in the metastatic setting. CTLA4 results in wider checkpoint blockade and appears to be of use in cases of low PD-L1 expression in other disease subtypes. Recently at ESMO 2019 , the NABUCCO trial, a single-arm trial of 22 patients, appears to show a benefit in pCR with ipilimumab/nivolumab, providing an encouraging signal for further validation. Even though the sample size is low, 40% of patients with lymph node-positive disease achieved complete responses (CR)s. Although the topline pCR rate improved, there was a large difference in PD-L1 CPS >10 vs < 10 (60% vs 22%). However, it appears to have doubled the minimal response rate in the low PD-L1 expression population.Traditional chemotherapy options continue to be evaluated, gemcitabine with vinflunine in the neoadjuvant setting appears to be equivalent to gemcitabine and carboplatin in the VINGEM trial. A recent California consortium trial showed encouraging activity with an overall response rate (ORR) approximately 50% in a metastatic setting for gemcitabine and eribulin (NCT31390274).There are several new agents which have been tested in the metastatic setting and have shown remarkable response, which will require further assessment in the neoadjuvant setting. Looking at patients with metastatic muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer, upwards of 20% harbor a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor (FGFR)signaling pathway, specifically the FGFR2 and FGFR3 receptors. Physiologically, FGFR 2/3 receptors play a role in the tyrosine kinase signaling network, which is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. This is intriguing because of an FDA approved agent targeting this pathway, erdafitinib, which is approved in the locally advanced patient who progresses beyond cisplatin, as well as in the metastatic setting harboring this mutation. In this setting, a Phase II trial (99 patients) showed an overall response rate of 32.2%. Based on the impressive response in the advanced/metastatic setting, this is a very promising option in the neoadjuvant treatment and will require more data prior to incorporation into practice. However, as an oral targeted therapy, perhaps FGFR blockade is best evaluated in an adjuvant fashion. Indeed, infigratinib, another FGFR inhibitor is being evaluated in the PROOF 302 study for FGFR altered urothelial carcinomas, focusing more on upper tract disease adjuvantly.Another recent FDA approval in the metastatic setting for MIBC is enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (PADCEV), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Nectin-4, a protein highly expressed in MIBC was approved in platinum and immunotherapy refractory patients. However, the data in combination with pembrolizumab from the metastatic cisplatin ineligible cohort in the recently reported EV-103 trial at ESMO 2019 showed a response rate approximating 70% and a clinical benefit rate of 90%. This is a major advance in the cisplatin-ineligible population and definitely merits evaluation in the neoadjuvant setting for the future. Sacituzumab govitecan is another ADC with activity in heavily treated metastatic patients that can potentially be evaluated for neoadjuvant therapy in the future.Finally, immunotherapies and targeted therapies such as infigratinib, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab among others are being evaluated in large phase III trials in the adjuvant setting, which may be a viable alternative to a neoadjuvant approach after surgery. In conclusion, while there are currently no approved neoadjuvant regimens in those who are ineligible for cisplatin, there are a lot of encouraging approaches, and several agents that warrant further investigation to optimally treat these patients.Written by: Arnab Basu, MD, MPH, FACP, ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Charlie Bodine, MD, ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Sarmad Sadeghi, PhD, MD, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaReferences: Canadian passengers of a cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan due to a coronavirus outbreak on board are still waiting to be repatriated as their American counterparts touched down in the U.S. on Monday. On Saturday, the Canadian government said it had chartered a plane to bring home many of the 255 Canadians aboard Diamond Princess, off Yokohama, Japan, where some 3,500 passengers have been stuck for 10 days amid an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. So far, more than 450 people have been infected, including 32 from Canada. Late Monday, Global Affairs responded to an email from a Canadian couple on board and told them the plane is expected to arrive in Japan on Feb. 19. The aircraft will pick up Canadian passengers who are not showing symptoms. The email reply said the departure date will be confirmed once final arrangements have been made with the Japanese government and the cruise ship company. Those who are transported back to Canada will be placed under quarantine for 14 days. There are also 330 Hong Kong residents and 35 Italians, including crew members, on board the ship or undergoing treatment in Japanese hospitals. Passenger Trudy Clement, of Callander, Ont., told CBC News Monday that she and her husband are still waiting for results from a throat swab they had taken two days ago to determine if they've contracted the virus. "It's bad enough having to be here for two weeks but not knowing anything, it's extremely stressful," she said. Watch: Trudy Clement describes the wait for news aboard the Diamond Princess: The quarantine in Canada will be good for the peace of mind of friends, family and the community, Clement said. She said all the passengers she's been able to talk to agree that Canadian aid did not come quickly enough. "If this had of been started earlier, it would have ended earlier," she said. If she does test positive for the virus, she'll be removed from the ship and taken to hospital in Japan. Story continues If not, the passengers will be tested for any symptoms when they disembark, then again when they arrive in Trenton, Ont. Then they'll face another two-week quarantine in Cornwall, Ont. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, appeared to offer assurance on Monday that Cornwall has no worries about transmission. Tam said Canadian health officials are "taking every precaution" to keep the city of about 46,000 "safe and healthy," as those quarantined stay in an isolated section of the Nav Centre, a hotel and conference training facility in Cornwall. Watch: Health minister says Canadians to be repatriated this week: Americans back home Also on Monday, more than 300 American passengers, including 14 who tested positive for coronavirus, were being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas from Japan on charter flights overnight. One plane carrying cruise passengers touched down at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California just before midnight Sunday, while another arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early Monday. The passengers will remain at the bases for two weeks. Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono tweeted earlier that Japanese troops helped transport 340 U.S. passengers on 14 buses from Yokohama port to Tokyo's Haneda airport. About 380 Americans were on the cruise ship. William Luther /The San Antonio Express-News/The Associated Press The U.S. said it arranged for the evacuation because people on the Diamond Princess were at a high risk of exposure to the new virus that's been spreading in Asia. For the departing Americans, the evacuation cuts short a 14-day quarantine that began aboard the cruise ship Feb. 5. The State Department announced later that 14 of the evacuees received confirmation they had the virus but were allowed to board the flight because they had no symptoms. They were being kept isolated from other passengers on the flight, the U.S. State and Health and Human Services said in a joint statement. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday an infected person who shows minimal symptoms could still pass the virus to someone else. Cheryl and Paul Molesky/The Associated Press It's unclear which base the 14 who tested positive for the virus went to. Officials said the evacuees who arrived at Travis Air Force Base will be housed at a different location from the more than 200 other Americans who were already being quarantined on the base, in a hotel. Those people have been at the base since early February, when they arrived on flights from China. No Travis officials will have contact with the passengers, officials said. Now that they're in the U.S., the cruise ship passengers must go through another 14 days of quarantine at the military facilities meaning they will have been under quarantine for nearly four weeks. New cases The latest updates follow the release in China's official media of a recent speech by President Xi Jinping in which he indicated for the first time that he had led the response to the outbreak from early in the crisis. While the reports were an apparent attempt to demonstrate the Communist Party leadership acted decisively from the start, it also opened Xi up to criticism over why the public was not alerted sooner. In his speech, Xi said he gave instructions on fighting the virus on Jan. 7 and ordered the shutdown of the most-affected cities. The disclosure of his speech indicates top leaders knew about the outbreak's potential severity at least two weeks before such dangers were made known to the public. The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China rose to 1,868 as of the end of Monday, up by 98 from the previous day, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday. Across mainland China, there were 1,886 new confirmed infections on Monday, bringing the total so far to 72,436. China Daily via Reuters With fears of the virus spreading further, Chinese and residents of nearby countries and territories have begun hoarding supplies of everything from masks and other personal protective gear to instant noodles, cooking oil and toilet paper. In Hong Kong, local media reported that police had arrested two men and were seeking three others who allegedly stole a load of 60 packs of toilet paper at knifepoint early Monday morning. Supplies of the commodity have become extremely scarce, with often only low-quality imports still available. Police were expected to discuss the matter later. Another 1,200 doctors and nurses from China's military began arriving in Wuhan on Monday morning, the latest contingent sent to help shore up the city's overwhelmed health-care system. The city has rapidly built two prefabricated hospitals and converted gymnasiums and other spaces into wards for those showing milder symptoms, but residents still say they are being wait-listed for beds and even ambulance rides. Wuhan has accounted for the vast majority of mainland China's 70,548 cases. Some 60 million people in that area and other parts of China are under lockdown in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading further. China appoints new Hong Kong chief known for persecuting Christians Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment China has appointed a hardliner, who is known for removing hundreds of crosses from churches in the eastern province of Zhejiang, to take charge of its office overseeing matters in Hong Kong, which might raise concerns among pro-democracy protesters and residents in the semi-autonomous city. Xia Baolong, the vice chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference who was a close aide to Chinese Premier Xi Jinping from 2003 to 2007 when he was Communist Party secretary of Zhejiang Province, will serve as the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Chinas Human Resources Ministry has announced, according to Reuters. The CPPCC effectively acts as an advisory upper house. Baolong replaces Zhang Xiaoming, who will now become a vice director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. When Xia later became the Communist Party chief of Zhejiang, he oversaw a campaign to destroy crosses from churches in the province. He was appointed provincial party head after Xi became the countrys supreme leader. Xia personally led the campaign against religious freedom in Zhejiang in 2015, when more than 1,000 crosses were removed from church roofs and entire church buildings were destroyed across the province, according to South China Morning Post. The Post quotes Wen Kejian, an independent political analyst from Hangzhou, as saying that many were unhappy with Xia in Zhejiang including government officials because of his heavy-handed dealing with dissent and Christian churches. A lot of people celebrated when he left Zhejiang three years ago. A pastor in Zhejiang, who was not named due to security concerns, told the U.S.-based group International Christian Concern, This shift [from Zhang to Xia] is not a good situation. It is possible that Xia will oppress the churches in Hong Kong. Hong Kong, a former British colony, has been a scene of protests led by university students and others for over seven months, against the increasing Chinese interference and influence. Xi now has his proteges in place over Hong Kong for the first time, Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of political science at the Hong Kong Baptist University, was quoted as saying. While that may give Hong Kong face, it is certainly going to put Hong Kong under more political pressure. Cabestan added, Xia is not a moderate and he has shown himself to be a zealous servant of Xi Jinping. We can expect that to continue. Last month, Beijing appointed Luo Huining, a Communist Party cadre and who was also a close aide to Xi, to head Chinas Liaison Office in Hong Kong. The reshuffling at this interesting moment may point to a deep distrust from Xi Jinping toward the former faction dealing with Hong Kong affairs, Time magazine quoted Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong-based academic and political commentator, as saying. Its clear that Xi Jinping wants to have a clear grasp of the situation in Hong Kong thats the major point. Well probably see some adjustment in Chinese policy toward Hong Kong. When Xia was elected as vice chairman and secretary-general of the CPPCC in 2018, professor Ying Fuk-tsang, director of the divinity school of Chung Chi College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told UCANews, Though Xia's post now will not have a direct influence on religious policy, the CPPCC as a united front institution is governed by someone who is hostile to Christianity. It is unavoidable to regard this as a setback. The last time she heard from her family was over three years ago, before China began rounding up Muslims in the countrys far west. She lived abroad and knew nothing of her familys fate until the contents of a leaked government document surfaced, describing their lives in chilling detail. Rozinisa Memettohti, an ethnic Uighur who has lived in Turkey since 2003, learned in the document that two of her sisters had been sent to indoctrination camps for having more children than the region allowed. One of the sisters was also targeted for obtaining a passport. The reality is already far worse than any of my fears, Memettohti said in a telephone interview this month. My father, my brothers and my sisters are in danger. For the past few years, authorities in the Xinjiang region have placed hundreds of thousands of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim minority groups into indoctrination camps in the most sweeping mass detentions since the Mao era. The document provides a rare, finely grained view of how the ruling Communist Party has carried out the system of detentions that has shredded the fibres of society in Xinjiang. The leaked document, a 137-page spreadsheet, outlines information that authorities in Karakax County (also spelled Qaraqash) in southwestern Xinjiang have gathered on its residents. It includes the names and government identification numbers of more than 300 people held in indoctrination camps and information on hundreds of their relatives and neighbours. Even children as young as 16 were closely monitored for signs of what Beijing considered to be wayward thinking. The document, one of numerous files kept on the more than one million people who have been detained in the camps, shows the range of behaviours that authorities see as problematic that would be normal elsewhere, such as giving up alcohol, wanting to go on a religious pilgrimage or attending a funeral. In Memettohtis case, her sisters were flagged for praying regularly and participating in routine religious ceremonies. The spreadsheet adds to a growing body of evidence on these detentions. Reports on other leaked government documents last year by The New York Times and a group of outlets led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists showed the coercive nature of the crackdown and detailed the tight controls placed on detainees in the indoctrination camps. The latest government document was leaked last year, and overseas Uighur activists shared it with several news media organizations, including The New York Times. The data in it shows how China has tried to establish dominance over Uighurs and other minority groups in the name of increasing security, said Adrian Zenz, a researcher who has analyzed the spreadsheet. This document is by far the most detailed that we have, said Zenz, a senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington. It allows us to dissect the anatomy of both the internment drive and what the government is now doing with these people. Zenz said he was confident that the document was legitimate for a number of reasons. He said he had matched the identities of 337 listed detainees, relatives and neighbours with other government documents, spreadsheets and a leaked database from SenseNets, a Chinese surveillance company, that included GPS co-ordinates along with names, identification numbers, addresses and photos. He also said that he had located three of the internment sites listed in the document based on previously identified camps, and that the language used in the spreadsheet mirrored that of official documents elsewhere in Xinjiang. The Chinese government says that its policies in Xinjiang are intended to curb terrorism and separatism, and that the camps provide instruction in Chinese language and other skills to people who might be susceptible to extremist ideas. But the Karakax spreadsheet shows how officials have monitored minute details of daily life to find targets for detention as Chen Quanguo, the Communist Party boss in Xinjiang, ordered officials to round up everyone who should be rounded up. Authorities scrutinized three generations of each detainees family, as well as their neighbours and friends. Officials in charge of monitoring mosques reported on how actively the residents participated in ceremonies, including the naming of children, circumcision, weddings and funerals. The list specified whether detainees learned about religion from parents and grandparents or elsewhere. Dozens were listed as having a heavy religious environment at home a designation that was often followed by a recommendation that they not be released. Authorities also studied how many times a day detainees prayed and whether they took part in or were even interested in religious pilgrimages. Outward signs of piety were also recorded. Wore a beard from March 2011 to July 2014, reads a description of one detainee related to several people who had been sent to camps. Officials categorized as trustworthy another man, the father of two detainees, who had cut off his beard and started drinking alcohol after a year of abstaining. The entries offer detailed explanations of why officials ordered each person to be sent to a camp information that has previously mostly trickled out through accounts by former detainees and activists. Officials dissected their movements or plans to travel, particularly to predominantly Muslim nations. Even obtaining a passport was flagged, regardless of whether it was used. One of the most common reasons cited for detention, little known until now, was the violation of Chinas birth restrictions by having too many children. Some detainees were sent to indoctrination camps for crimes like drug sales or domestic violence. Others were put into camps because they had previously served prison time, including one man who finished his sentence nearly two decades ago. The document lists cases that begin in 2017, when the mass incarceration program started in earnest under Chen, the party leader in Xinjiang. The latest listed entry is dated March 2019. Zenz, who studied the spreadsheet, calculated that about three-fourths of the listed detainees had been released. That appears to be in line with assertions by officials in Xinjiang last year that they had begun winding down the program. But the document shows that many of those released from the camps were later assigned work in tightly controlled industrial parks, and at least one person went into such work while remaining in detention. Some former inmates have described a system of forced labour in which they have been required to work for little or no pay after their release. The spreadsheet also indicates that detainees are closely monitored after leaving the camps and ordered to participate in government-organized neighbourhood activities. It makes clear that people could be sent to detention camps if their family members demonstrated attitudes that authorities deemed problematic, and that such a factor would affect the prospect of their later release. This person had many family members imprisoned and involved in many cases, and his thinking has been infected by extremism, read the notes on one detainee. Officials recommended that he be kept in the camp under strict control. Yet even as the document showed the extent of surveillance and monitoring in Xinjiang, it also revealed some gaps in the gathering of data. Memettohtis name appears in the list under entries on her two sisters, who were detained and are thought to have been released. She is described as living in Turkey in one entry, but not in the other. She also said that the date of her arrival in Turkey was incorrect. But what she found more surprising was that authorities had detained her sister Patem, whom she said was active in the local government and had served as the head of the local womens association. I felt she would always be the safest one, Memettohti said. Read more about: Inexperienced 126th New York mustered in three weeks before it surrendered on eve of Antietam In its November 1862 report on the disastrous surrender of the U.S. garrison at Harpers Ferry, Va., two days before the Battle of Antietam, the Army commission investigating singled out the performance of one regiment as worthy of special condemnation, calling attention to the disgraceful behavior of the One hundred and twenty-sixth New York Infantry. Recruited from the states Finger Lakes region, the 126th New York had been in service for barely three weeks when it was surrendered at Harpers Ferry on September 15, 1862. The 126th had been ordered to Harpers Ferry only a week after mustering in, along with the equally green 111th and 115th New York. In reality, the regiment consisted of uniformed and equipped civilians, with no training in marching, maneuvering, or in firing their weapons. Harpers Ferry seemed a relatively safe location for these regiments to gain some experience and train for field service. The 126ths colonel was 49-year-old Eliakim Sherrill, a Geneva, N.Y., farmer and former U.S. congressman and state senator. Sherrill had dabbled in the state militia but admitted when his regiment was ordered to the defense of Maryland Heights on September 12 that he knew nothing about military; that he made no pretensions to military; that he was just in the field and green, but if there was to be fighting he was ready to go. Sherrills unit drew the unlucky assignment of providing reinforcements to Maryland Heights, key to the defense of Harpers Ferry and currently threatened by an advance of two brigades of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws Division. The march to the summit was grueling for the green soldiers. As Company E Private Marcus Andrus wrote his sister: The distance from our camp on Bolivar Heights to Maryland Heights is about four miles, and over one of the worst roads to travel that ever lay out doors. We were nearly three hours in reaching there, and a more tired, hungry and thirsty set of mortals you never heard of in your life. Sherrill was missing some 200 of his men, who were on picket and could not be recalled before the regiment marched. This left him about 800 effectives. The commanding officer on Maryland Heights was 32nd Ohio Colonel Thomas H. Ford. Because Ford was physically immobilized due to recent surgery, he delegated tactical command of the troops facing McLaws advance to his major, Sylvester M. Hewitt. Neither man was a gifted leader. Ford and Hewitt had a large area to defend, but they compounded their problems with a ruinous system of detaching individual companies for various duties. That wasnt a serious problem for veteran troops but was a recipe for disaster for a raw unit such as the 126th. Individual companies and their officers had no experience in deploying skirmishers or other elemental operational duties. Hewitt took two of Sherrills companies for one mission and three others for another, halving the 126ths strength. The balance of the regiment marched north to where Union skirmishers were sparring with Confederates of Brig. Gen. Joseph Kershaws South Carolina brigade. Hewitt led the 126th to a position in rear of the skirmish line and for the first time the regiment formed a line of battle. This was not a drill field but a dense wood with gunfire exploding a short distance away. The enemy could be heard but not seen. Bullets clipped through the trees. Sherrill thought the situation worrisome enough he recalled two of his companies that Hewitt had detached. The skirmishing ended at nightfall, but resumed about 7 the next morning. Utterly unprepared for combat, the 126th greatly exaggerated the strength of the enemy in its front15,000, Private Andrus would writeand performed poorly. All we could do was skedaddle for our own breastwork, about a mile in the rear, Andrus wrote. In reality, Kershaw had only about 1,200 men, but they were experienced veterans. herrill and his adjutant, Lieutenant Samuel Barras, beat their stampeding regiment in the race to the breastwork, a log work that stretched across the summit of the mountain. The path along the mountain spine passed through an opening in the works. Sherrill and Barras positioned themselves here and managed to rally most of the regiment as it arrived behind the works. This was the best possible circumstance for the New York rookies. They had good cover and did not need to maneuver. They were also buttressed by parts of more experienced regiments, such as the 32nd Ohio and 39th New York. The battle renewed and, according to Andrus, we had a pretty lively time of it. Sherrill proved exceptionallyand rashlybrave, climbing up on the log works to shout encouragement to his men. When someone warned him he was exposing himself too much, he thundered, G_d d__m the exposure: no rebel ball can hit me. But they could. A bullet struck him in the lower jaw; a bloody, frightening wound. His fall further shook the confidence of his men, though they fought on. Minutes later it was learned that another Confederate brigade, Brig. Gen. William Barksdales Mississippians, was threatening the right flank of the barricade defenders. Shaken by the news, Major Hewitt fatefully sent orders for the men to fall back. Confusion reigned at the barricade, where some officers, knowing the strength of their cover, tried to keep the men at the works. Eventually though, the defense collapsed and everyone, rookies and veterans, streamed to the rear. Andrus was furious when he later read in a New York newspaper that his regiment was the first to run from the barricade and the cause of the Union defeat on Maryland Heights, writing, All I have to say about this is that it is a downright lie! The first ones to run were the famous Garibaldi Guards and the next were the Ohio boys. This I know to be a fact, as I was there and saw the whole of it. The truth was that any of the new regiments in the Harpers Ferry garrison placed in the position the 126th found itself would have suffered the same outcome. The commissions censure of their performance deflected responsibility from the real culprit of the debacle: a system that placed them in harms way before they were trained. Over the next nine months, the 126th would hone itself into a well-trained fighting unit and redeem its reputation at Gettysburg. Scott Hartwig writes from the crossroads of Gettysburg. This story appeared in the May 2020 issue of Americas Civil War. Thirty-one people died after an air strike by a Saudi-led military coalition against Yemen rebels on Yemen, Saturday. According to the United Nations, the Iran-backed Yemen rebels also known as Houthi, claimed to have shot down one of the coalitions war plane , thus the Saudi-led coalition decided to retaliate with an air strike. Last Friday, in an operation to support Yemen government forces, a Tornado aircraft went down in the northern part of Al-Jawf province after being shot down by the rebels. This prompted the Saudi-led military coalition to fight the rebels and take action. It can be recalled that the warring parties have a history of upsurged fighting in the north part of Yeen, which continues to worsen the humanitarian crisis of the war-battered nation. According to Yemen's UN humanitarian coordinator, Lisa Grande, preliminary reports have identified that the 31 people who were killed were civilian and there are 12 others who were injured courtesy of the air strike. She further added that should warring parties resolve to violence and force, it is stated under the International Humanitarian Law they are still obligated to protect civilians. Grande also condemned the air strikes saying that the belligerents are still failing to protect the civilians five years into the conflict. The Houthi rebels have reported through the rebel television station, Al-Masirah, that children and women are among the dead and injured after the multiple air strikes by the coalition in the crash site of the Riyadh jet. The coalition, on the other hand, referred to the deaths as possible collateral damage in a search and rescue operation at the crash site while looking for the jet's crew. Read also: France, Taiwan Confirm First Coronavirus Deaths Adding to Rising Fatality Rate As reported by the Guardian, the coalition released a statement through Saudi Press Agency saying that the crew of the jet were able to eject themselves from the plane before the crash. However, they shot at them which was also a violation of the international humanitarian law. The cause of the crash, however, remained unstated as well as the fate of the crew which is until now a mystery if they had survived. Before the air strike happened, the Houthi rebels released a footage of their "advance surface-to-air missile" which struck the coalition jet out of the sky into a crashing ball of flames. It can be recalled that the conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis took over the capital, who controls a majority of the country's northern part along the borders of Saudi Arabia. In 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of the Arab-state began to intervene when they tried to restore President Abed Raboo Mansour Haddi and internationally recognized government to power. During this intervention, the coalition has led airstrikes to hit hospitals, schools, and even wedding parties. In response the rebels used drones and missiles to strike back at the Arabian country. According to Time, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project has recorded more than 100,000 people including civilians over the course of the war. This has also resulted to the worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen with millions suffering from shortage of food and medical attention. Related article: Coronavirus Cripples Face Mask Production, Poses Challenge to Medical Professionals Worldwide @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Fire Protection Materials Market for Construction by Type (Coatings, Sealants & Fillers, Mortar, Sheets/Boards, Spray, Preformed Device, Putty, Cast-in Devices), Application (Commercial, Industrial, and Residential) - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Fire Protection Materials Market is projected to reach USD 4.0 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 8.5% from USD 2.7 Billion in 2019. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=110995901 Browse in-depth TOC on "Fire Protection Materials Market" 104 - Market Data Tables 53 - Figures 145 - Pages View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fire-protection-materials-market-110995901.html The increased emphasis on passive fire protection systems due to stricter building codes regulated by NFPA and construction regulations is a key driver for this market. The increased number of structural fire accidents globally has created a need for stringent fire safety regulations. Growing construction activities fueled by growing GDP and increased funding in PPP projects have also significantly increased the consumption of fire protection materials globally. Coatings are expected to lead the market during the forecast period. Based on type, fire protection materials are segmented into coatings, mortar, sealants & fillers, sheets\boards, spray, preformed device, putty, and cast-in devices, and others (ablative and perlite). Coatings is estimated to lead the fire protection materials market. This is due its fire proofing application in the construction industry. The growing emphasis on passive fire protection because of the increasing number structural fire incidents globally is expected to put a significant impact on this market. Growing construction activities regulated by stringent building codes and fire safety policies play a crucial role in increasing the demand for fire protection materials. Commercial construction is projected to be the largest application of fire protection materials during the forecast period. Commercial construction is projected to dominate the fire protection materials market during the forecast period. The growing demand for passive fire protection system and increased emphasis on fire safety codes and regulations are driving the market in this application. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=110995901 North America is expected to account for the largest share of the fire protection materials market during the forecast period. North America is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. The growth is mainly due to strict implementation of NFPA codes. The growing emphasis on passive fire protection system influenced by fire-stop contractors and regulatory organizations has a huge impact on this market. The key Fire Protection Materials Market players profiled in the report include Hilti Group (Liechtenstein), 3M (US), Specified Technologies Inc. (US), ETEX (Belgium), Morgan Advanced Materials (UK), Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands), Jotun (Norway), Sika AG (Switzerland), and Rolf Kuhn GmbH (Germany) Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=110995901 Browse Adjacent Markets: Foam and Insulation Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports : High Temperature Sealants Market by Chemistry (Silicone, Epoxy), Application (Electrical & Electronics, Transportation, Industrial, Construction), and Region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2022 Fire Resistant Glass Market by Type (Laminated, Ceramic, Tempered, Wired), Application (Building & Construction, Marine, and Others), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2021 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. 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Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/fire-protection-materials-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/fire-protection-materials.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg Apple Inc. is warning investors that it wont meet its second-quarter financial guidance because the viral outbreak in China has cut production of iPhones. The Cupertino, California-based company said Monday that all of its iPhone manufacturing facilities are outside Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and all have been reopened. But the company said production is ramping up slowly. The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues, Apple said in a statement. The death toll from COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, was 1,770 as of Monday. Apple says demand for iPhones is also down in China because many of Apples 42 retail stores there are closed or operating with reduced hours. China is Apples third largest retail market for iPhones, after the U.S. and Europe. Outside China, Apple said iPhone demand has been strong and is in line with the companys expectations. On Jan. 28, Apple said it expected second quarter revenue between $63 billion and $67 billion. Apples second quarter ends March 30. Apple says the situation is evolving and it will provide more information on its next earnings call in April. Beyond the chicken sandwich wars, the biggest story in fast food over the past year has been the rise of meatless burgers. Though reviews are mixed, Burger King has been a leader of that movement, both with the Impossible Whopper and subsequent attempts to bring plant-based eating to the kids menu. Well I dont know if that was the inspiration for the latest Burger King test item out of New Zealand, but it sure is something. Behold: the Burger King Chip Butty, aka Fry Burger. BURGER KING is testing a sandwich with nothing but french fries:https://t.co/cMELl6fZaV pic.twitter.com/D1taIscJk2 ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) February 17, 2020 Its pretty much exactly what it says it is, but that doesnt make it any less absurd. Essentially, Burger King decided to put a bunch of fries or chips to subjects of the British commonwealth between two buns, slathered them in ketchup and mayo, and called it a day. If you loved all the carbs of a fast food combo meal but hated the main courses protein, today is the greatest day of your life. Though the Burger King Chip Butty/Fry Burger might seem like its the product of a drunk person breaking into a BK test kitchen, the fry sandwich does have some precedent in the English world. The chip butty is something of a popular snack in England, albeit an unorthodox one by American standards. Leave it to a country not exactly known for its cuisine to think that jamming french fried potatoes between bread counts as a meal. American audiences probably wont get to form a Chip Butty opinion of their own (thank god), but it sounds like reviews out of New Zealand are mixed. A compilation of reviews from The Spinoff suggests the quality of the Butty can vary quite a bit, with some liking the amount of fries (up to 26 in one case) and the ketchup/mayo combo they got, while others were left disappointed. At least one naysayer described it as two dry carbs pretending to be something of substance or flavour, so do with that what you will. If youre passing through New Zealand and have a hankering for carbs stuffed inside other carbs, then you might as well get yourself to Burger King and spend NZ$2 on this. At that price point, its at least worth ordering one just to say you did. I just hope this thing doesnt catch on in the U.S. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will soon get around to reworking their organisational set-up and administrative priorities to regain lost ground in the wake of the Delhi electoral debacle, but theres third course available to them as well. That is to introduce the presidential form of government, which prime ministers Indira Gandhi and A B Vajpayee flirted with before abandoning it. Will Modi go further than them? N Sathiya Moorthy analyses the scenario. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Photograph: Kamal Kishore / PTI Photo. All things told, the Delhi poll victory is a positive vote for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP government, even though the share of anti-CAA votes may have consolidated more than ever. In both, there is a stronger message for the ruling BJP at the Centre, which is holding whatever states it now rules -- barring the singular exception of Uttar Pradesh among the biggies -- mostly to post-poll manipulation than a positive vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his own kind of aggressive and at times offensive politics. Delhi is Indias capital. It is also a lil India, though in terms of castes and religions, regions and language, the proportion of the local population may not exactly reflect the ground situation. The people there needed good governance, which translated as clean drinking water, functional hospitals and performing schools, all in the government sector. After fighting a constitutionally losing battle on police powers and the governor of the day, Kejriwal understood the limitations on being chief minister of a state where the Centres writ ran wider and deeper -- and also longer. He may or may not have acknowledged the realities and compulsions on this score, but that is irrelevant. Once he had understood his own limitations, it seemed to have been easy for him to work with whatever powers the Delhi state government had, and work on those weaknesses as his ultimate strength. Today after all this, if Kerjiwal and AAP were to demand more of the policing powers for the nations capital, then who knows, more voters in the state may back him. That owes to his proven track record and that of his government, if not all the ministers -- but then who in political Delhi can claim that the Union council of ministers is full of gems, and none else. But then, after his experience and exposure to political administration, Kejriwal may be the last man to demand police powers, not that BJPs Amit Shah as Union home minister, will be ready to pass it on All this does not mean that the BJP has lost the electoral race and for good, or that its Hindutva/intolerance card has not paid off in Delhi as it had hoped for. If anything, the higher poll percentage for the party this time compared to the previous one, and the AAP winner, too, losing vote share as seat share, is indicative of what really happened at the grass-roots. Yet, the fact that some of the outrageous campaign-themes of the Modi-Shah combine, and most of their MPs, including 70 ministers, each one of them addressing their back-home constituency in the capital, could not help them win the elections, has sent out a message that is still hard for the party leadership to digest first, and introspect, afterwards. The fact that Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has been made to own up the partys defeat even when the whole world knew that he was the last one at whose door the buck stops is indicative of a Congress-like mindset, which the ruling party at the Centre clearly finds difficult, to distance from even full six years after emerging as the single largest party across the country (barring those island-like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and possibly west Bengal, too). Assembly elections are due in all three states, beginning with those for the eastern state this very year. Independent of the results in these and other assembly polls, it is now a settled issue that the BJP is the single largest party in national terms and for parliamentary polls, and PM Modi is the single most popular leader. It was the case with Indira Gandhi in her time as PM (until after emergency) and of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the same chair. The post-emergency parliamentary polls of 1977 and that in 2004 proved that the popularity of the leader and his/her greater acceptance at the voter-level would not necessarily always mean that the party they head would sweep the elections again. This is because at the end of it all, parties need a local face, even for LS polls after a point as voters get tired of the prime faces and their unfulfilled aspirations and the unkept promises. Parties thus need a strong second line to win elections on a rainy day, when the face that launched the votes earlier alone would not suffice. The Modi-Shah duo not only encourage a second-line from the states, they also climbed over the ashes of a strong second-line that the BJP could boast of at the national level too. Indira Gandhi deliberately destroyed the established and well-entrenched second-line in the Congress, only because they were well-entrenched, as the vertical split in the party showed her in 1969. In organisational terms, there are two ways for the BJP to face future elections, especially to the Lok Sabha that is not due before 2024. Of course, they may have to revisit their policy priorities in between, moving away from politics (where alone they continue to be strong) and focussing on the economy (where they continue to expose their ignorance and inadequacies). The leadership needs to prepare itself to acknowledge economic realities that are at the root of a welfare State, which India still is, but fed from a different source and through a different modus than the failed socialist experience of the by-now-forgettable Congress predecessors of the Nerhuvian era. The BJP faced a similar crisis of conscience when PM P V Narasimha Rao pulled Manmohanomics out of the proverbial hat. The Vajpayee-Advani leadership was left fumbling, if not fuming, at their inherent inadequacies. Their defeatism was even more when they had thought the Ayodhya rath yatra had worked wonders for the partys poll prospects, despite the dampening Mandal issue introduced by V P Singh at too late an hour for any electoral comfort for the latter. The resultant Ayodhya demolition meant that PVN had also demolished the BJPs only vote-getter of the time. Last years Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case may have done likewise for the Modi-Shah leadership, The alternative to harping on such Hindutva political themes, apart from addressing the economics, starting with learning the basics of contemporary international scenario, and adapting to the same, is to consciously develop a strong and charismatic second-line at every level from the districts upwards. Whether the leaderships sense of over-confidence and security/insecurity would permit that, is another question they may have to ask themselves and find answers for. The issue is, if they do want a Modi government or a BJP government in 2024, of course, with Modi still at the helm. In which case, there is a third alternative. Both Indira Gandhi and Vajpayee tested the waters in their time, but obviously decided not to proceed with the same. Bringing in a presidential form of government, where the independent popularity of the individual matters more than that of the party. The leadership when Vajpayee was PM did try out the trick. Including the number two man in the government, L K Advani, hinted at the possibility of considering the presidential alternative, and second-line leaders freely spoke of the same up to a point. Arguments citing the successful (?) American experience and the advocacy of the late Nani Palkhivala apart, there was an obvious attempt at upping the stakes for the weak political Opposition of the time with no popular leader in the range of Vajpayee, who would have won direct elections hands down -- or, so seemed the BJPs calculations of the time. Though at commencement of the one-sided public discourse on the need for reviewing of the working of the Constitution in the late 90s included the need for referring the matter to a commission of inquiry, the terms of reference for the Justice M N Venkatachalaiah Commission did not contain the same. Indications were that the ruling BJP leadership was no more confident of a winning a direct presidential poll with the near-exclusive support only of the Hindi belt, as happened for the post-emergency Janata Party experiment. As was reckoned at the time, even the divided Opposition that had lost both parliamentary seats and assembly control in those states, did have more than a fair vote-share. The Opposition also controlled more vote-shares in the south and the east, where the BJP was a non-starter. Today, when the BJP has only Modi to project and Shah to strategise, the temptation of some back-bencher MPs to promote the presidential form, if only to ensure their own electoral victory in 2024, is something few of them can eschew. Of course, any constitutional amendment in this regard requires not only a two-thirds majority, which the BJP-NDA may not be able to manage at present, but may still require a majority of state legislatures too approving of the same. The latter looks like a far cry just now, and the temptation thus could be for the party strategists to manipulate the same beforehand, which they are past masters at. But before that the top two will have to decide on the future course, a combination of reworking the organisational set-up and administrative priorities, alongside a change to the presidential form -- or, the latter independent of the other two. The only caveat just then would be if the Indian voter would be buy it, or if he would vote the 1996 way, when the ruling Congress was known to be losing already and the BJP had hoped to win -- but ended up losing to a post-poll combination of victorious regional parties. But that is a tall order, on which the BJP just now can rely on, even more. Of course, the presidential form, if taken up and clears the legislative process, may still have to face judicial review. The question then would be if the change-over from the current parliamentary form of government would be violative of the basic structure theory propounded by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bhaati case (1973), or the latter would require a review -- as may have become fashionable since. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Distinguished Fellow and Head-Chennai Initiative, Observer Research Foundation. The father of AFL star Dustin Martin has been confirmed as Indigenous, in what is a major boost in his bid to be allowed back into Australia. Shane Martin, 52, may now be allowed to return to live with his son - three years after being deported from Australia to New Zealand for his links to the Rebels OMCG. The former Rebels boss flew from New Caledonia to Sydney on Sunday, claiming he had an Indigenous grandmother and that therefore a recent High Court ruling meant he had been wrongly deported. But the heavily-tattooed bikie's attempts to enter Australia were refused and he was promptly sent on his way back to his homeland. However little more than 24 hours on from what Border Force officials described as a 'stunt', an Indigenous authority has confirmed Martin indeed has Aboriginal heritage, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Scroll down for video Shane Martin (right), the father of AFL star Dustin (left) has been confirmed as Indigenous, in what is a major win in his bid to be allowed back into Australia The former Rebels boss flew from New Caledonia to Sydney (pictured) on Sunday, claiming he had an Indigenous grandmother and that he had therefore been wrongly deported in 2016 Martin, was first sent packing in 2016 with officials citing his criminal record, which included drug trafficking and assault charges. He returned to his home country of New Zealand, where he had remained until the weekend, when he quietly tried to slip back into Australia with a lawyer by his side. His move followed a High Court ruling last week that said any Aboriginal person was not eligible to be deported. Martin reportedly told border officials he had an Indigenous grandmother who lives in Tasmania. He has now reportedly uncovered certificates he and his three sons - including AFL star Dustin - received in December 2016 confirming their Aboriginal genealogy. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation confirmed their authenticity on Tuesday. '(The government is) showing disrespect to us elders by ignoring documentation Shane is Aboriginal,' Aboriginal elder Lance Le Sage told the SMH. Martin and his three sons - including Richmond star Dustin (left) - were issued with certificates in 2016 that proved they had Aboriginal heritage Shane 'Kiwi' Martin embraces Australian actress Rachel Griffiths react after Richmond's win in the 2019 AFL Grand Final For the second time in three years, Dustin won a premiership medal and the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the Grand Final KICKED ACROSS THE DITCH AND BACK 2016: March - Shane Martin is deported from Australia because of links to bikie and criminal groups December - Martin and his three sons are given certificates confirming they have Aboriginal heritage 2017: September - His son Dustin wins the Brownlow Medal, the highest individual award in the AFL - Just a few days later he leads his team Richmond to victory in the Grand Final and is awarded the Norm Smith medal as best on ground 2018: July - The High Court quashes an appeal by Martin Snr over his decision to cancel his visa 2019: September - Richmond wins a second premiership in three years and Martin is again named best on ground 2020: February - A landmark High Court ruling finds people of Aboriginal heritage can not be deported - Martin Snr returns to Australia but is booted back to NZ, despite claiming to have Indigenous heritage Advertisement Martin was sent back to New Zealand on Monday morning on the first Qantas available. At no stage has he provided any evidence of his indigenous heritage, officials said. The High Court accepts biological descent, self-identification, and whether or not a person has been accepted by an indigenous community in Australia as proof of indigenous status. Martin Snr was born in New Zealand but considered Australia home after moving to New South Wales at age 20. He joined the notorious Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, eventually rising to the role of club president and had three children in Australia, including superstar Dustin. In 2016, he was kicked out by then Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and was forced to build a new life for himself in Auckland. In that time his superstar son has won two premierships with Richmond, the highest individual honour in the AFL - the Brownlow Medal - and two Norm Smith medals for being best on ground in the Grand Final. Harris County, County Commissioner Precinct 1 candidates include Rodney Ellis, the Democratic Incumbent, and Maria T. Jackson, a Democrat who grew up in Precinct 1 and has served in various elected roles throughout her career. There is no Republican primary listed for this precinct. Primary elections start with early voting from Feb. 18-28 and primary election day is on March 3. For more information on other candidates in the 2020 primaries, visit the Houston Chronicles 2020 voter guide here. Responses from candidates have been edited for length. Why are you running for this position? Ellis: As commissioner, Ive worked hard to advance policies and services that make a difference in the lives of the people we serve. I envision a Harris County with thriving communities across the region, where people have access to good jobs, core county services, a high quality of life, and the opportunity to build a better future for their families. Harris County can and should make smarter investments with our resources to ensure we are competitive and thrive. The issues that I have fought for my entire career and the progress made in the last year through Commissioners Court is at stake in this election, and that is why I am running for re-election. Jackson: I grew up in Precinct 1 and still live there. I love the community, and I am a lifelong and dedicated public servant. The position of county commissioner is one where the service to the community should come above all others, and I want to bring that back to the office. I have the track record to show that I am dedicated to the people instead of to my own self-interest, and it will be my passion and duty to serve the people every day to bring real change to the neighborhoods of Precinct 1. More Information Harris County, County Commissioner Precinct 1 Rodney Ellis, D - Incumbent Maria T. Jackson, D There is no Republican primary listed for this precinct. See More Collapse Related: Sample ballot: Several contested races set for primary elections What are your top priorities? Ellis: Economic Opportunity for All: I want to continue building on the success of the last two years to ensure that everyone in Harris County has the opportunity to work and succeed in a strong, inclusive economy and be a part of a skilled workforce. Equitable Flood Protection and Resiliency: We have to protect families,neighborhoods and businesses from flooding. Thriving Quality of Life: We need thriving communities across the county, where people can enjoy a high quality of life no matter their zip code. Better Justice and Safe Communities: I remain focused on creating a criminal justice system that delivers fair justice, better serves victims and makes our neighborhoods safer. We can make smarter investments and build a better system with our tax dollars to ensure justice is fairly delivered, victims are served and all communities are better protected. Jackson: Here is my 6-point plan: - Better public safety - Better flood control systems - Better business opportunities and prosperity - Better education and job training programs - Better health and wellness programs - Better senior and youth programs What experience do you have that will benefit you if you are elected to this position? Ellis: I have served as an elected representative for over 30 years. In that time I have passed hundreds of pieces of legislation, created programs that have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit people and tirelessly fought for changes in government to help lift up working families. I have never shied away from talking about racial inequality, fundamental unfairness and social injustice when advancing policies and laws that are needed to address those harms. I have also mentored the next generation of leaders through the Texas Legislative Internship Program, designed to place students in offices at all levels of government and public service. Finally, I served on the board or as an advisor to several organizations that focus on advancing civil rights, criminal justice reform and fair public policy, including the Innocence Project, the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO--currently serve as President), Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, and Own Our Vote, among other organizations. Jackson: I have experience in every sector of work that a county commissioner handles. I have been a business owner, an educator, a Municipal Bond Attorney, a real estate agent and a felony court Judge. I am a wife and a mother of four boys. Moreover, I have a track record of setting goals and completing them. I achieve this by being able to work with everyone and I make sure its a better place than when I found it. Before September 30, I was the longest serving Felony Court Judge in Harris County, serving as 339th criminal District Court Judge. The types of cases I presided over ran the gamut of less than a gram drug cases all the way to capital murder and death penalty cases. During my tenure I led the reforms on DWI probationers having them report once a month instead of every 3 months. I did not allow them to drive, additionally, I required the DWI probationers to breathe in the breathalyzer with the camera three times a day to insure they were not consuming alcohol. As the Senior Administrative Judge-over the 22 Harris Felony Courts, I was one of the facilitators who led the efforts to create additional courts for defendants rehabilitation. For example, when I was first elected in 2008, the Harris County felony courts only had one drug court. During my tenure, we created four (4) Star Drug Courts, a Mental Health Court, a Mental Competency Restoration Court, a Veterans Court and the Reintegration Court. All these Courts were created to fast track non-violent offenders to receive the help and rehabilitation they need in order to become productive citizens in the community. I was a Municipal Bond Attorney where I worked on multi-million-dollar bond transactions. Soon, after I was appointed by the Mayor and City Council as a Municipal Court Judge and I served for 5 years. I have served on the Board of the Mental Health Task Force. I served as co-chair of the Security Board where I worked with all of the Major Law Enforcement Agencies. I received numerous awards and recognition for my work on the bench including being named the Best Criminal Judge of 2011 and receiving the peoples choice award for my judgeship from the D-Mar.com Business Journal for 2012 and 2013, to name a few. I have a law degree from Texas A&M School of Law (Wesleyan) and I serve on the Board of Directors for the Law School. I have always been an active resident of Precinct 1 and have participated in educational and health initiatives throughout my career. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com 'Dr Kafeel is being framed by the Yogi government because he talks about the BRD hospital all the time.' Dr Kafeel Khan was a doctor attached to the BRD hospital, Gorakhpur, in 2017 when his life changed perhaps forever after he was accused of negligence that led to the death of several children due to lack of oxygen. Dr Khan was arrested and spent nine months in prison. About two years later, an Uttar Pradesh government probe cleared Dr Khan of all major charges, prompting him to seek an apology from the Yogi Adityanath government. Gorakhpur, incidentally, is the pocket borough of Chief Minister Adityanath who was elected to the Lok Sabha from there for five terms since 1998. Subsequently, Dr Khan was also given a clean chit by a court in September 2019. The government inquiry, too, found out that Dr Khan in fact spent his own money to obtain oxygen cylinders for the patients and worked overtime during the crisis. Dr Khan has been arrested once again. He was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh special task force from Mumbai on January 29 in connection with a speech he had delivered during an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest at the Aligarh Muslim University on December 12. This time, the charges against Dr Khan are serious as he has been charged under the National Security Act. Dr Khan's elder brother Adil Khan spoke to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf about what led to Dr Khan being booked under the NSA. On December 12, 2019, when there was a protest at the Aligarh Muslim University against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Dr Kafeel went there to support their cause. He went there because when Dr Kafeel was arrested wrongly by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2017, AMU students came out in large numbers to support him. When he went to speak at AMU, Yogendra Yadav, president of Swaraj India, too was present with him. After Dr Kafeel delivered his speech, the Hindu Mahasabha filed a case against him under section 153 A (promoting enmity). (In his speech apparently, Dr Khan said, 'We (Indian Muslims) are 25 crore (250 million) strong and we cannot be scared.') He was arrested 40 days after that speech. Dr Kafeel got bail in this 153 A case. As soon as he got bail, he was booked under the National Security Act. The Supreme Court of India has said once you get bail, you cannot be charged under the NSA. But here he was arrested under the stringent law. On February 10, 2020, he had got bail. He was charged under the NSA on February 13. Dr Kafeel was not released for three days even after the first court order giving him bail. We then went to court and filed a petition for contempt of court. Parmeet Kumar, a court officer, was appointed then at the Aligarh court. He was told to go and release Dr Kafeel right then on February 12. But even after that he was not released. The excuse the authorities gave us was that the media presence was too much, so he would be released the next day at 6 am. Next day we came outside the jail at 6 am hoping he would be released. Time passed, but still Dr Kafeel did not come out of the jail. At 9 am, we came to know that he had been arrested under the NSA. This is andha kanoon (blind justice) of the Yogi Adityanath government. Dr Kafeel was highlighting the bad state of the BRD Hospital continuously. Therefore, he got into the bad books of the Yogi government. Even today, that hospital is being run by only three doctors. (Former UP chief minister) Akhilesh Yadav built a new hospital, but it has not been inaugurated. Who will work in the hospital for Rs 60,000 when you know that you will be arrested for no reason if children die? Dr Kafeel is raising issues of children dying in the hospital even today. He was cleared and given a clean chit by the courts and government, but children are still dying. So who should be held accountable? They have finished Dr Kafeel's family economically and financially. We are leading a hand to mouth existence. My own distribution business is over. We are selling our cars and also our land. We cannot do land deals as buyers have been threatened. Friends and extended family members are helping us to run our household. When my younger brother Kashif met Dr Kafeel, he was told that he is being kept in isolation. Dr Kafeel told us to carry on his fight legally so that he can come out of jail. All the allegations against Dr Kafeel Khan are false. He is being framed by the Yogi government because Dr Kafeel talks about the BRD hospital incident all the time. Yogi speaks of Ram Rajya, but there is not a single doctor who wants to work in the paediatrics ward at Gorakhpur's BRD hospital. This year the government showed 65 deaths. But the fact is that more than 1,500 children died in BRD in 2019-2020. Behavioral Signals x Neuraswitch Logos The recent industry growth in AI-powered support platforms and technology has created tremendous demand and a value-add for conversational AI - a demand that Neuraswitch is addressing by providing exceptional customer engagement through their service offerings. - Rana Gujral, Behavioral Signals CEO Behavioral Signals, a Los Angeles-based software company and leading provider in emotion artificial intelligence for speech recognition technology, announces its partnership with Neuraswitch to offer emotion and behavioral call summaries as part of their Customer Experience Analysis Solution. The solution will leverage Behavioral Signals OliverAPI and its multitude of metrics to provide an account of both the customers and the CSR/Agents emotional states during a conversation. Courtesy of Oliver ASR+, the customer solution will now be able to provide full transcriptions of the interactions in its entirety. Due to the wealth of data that is able to be extracted from emotional analysis and turned into actionable intelligence, this information will help transform conversations into Conversations that your Customers will Love. We are thrilled to work with Neuraswitch to help expand upon the offerings and capabilities within conversational AI, said Rana Gujral, CEO at Behavioral Signals. The recent industry growth in AI-powered support platforms and technology has created tremendous demand and a value-add for conversational AI - a demand that Neuraswitch is addressing by providing exceptional customer engagement through their service offerings. Our goals align well with those of Neuraswitch's and we believe this partnership paves the path to address a number of intriguing use cases and opportunities to build more applications in the future. Behavioral Signals and Neuraswitch share the commitment to providing exceptional customer service through new solutions powered by emotion artificial intelligence. This partnership not only cements the capabilities of emotional analysis but also the power of real-time data solutions to make better, faster and stronger decisions. "Partnering with Behavioral Signals and leveraging the Oliver API is a massive win for all current and future Customers of Neuraswitch as it enhances our ability to deliver superior emotional analysis in real-time and post-call," said Brian Matthews, CEO at Neuraswitch. "With call centers starting to adopt newer technologies which enhance the view of both the agent and customer, our partnership will continue to deliver solutions at the forefront of challenging the status quo." About Behavioral Signals Founded in 2016, Behavioral Signals enhances communication between humans and human-to-machine by deducing intelligent and actionable insights from voice using deep learning and NLP. Their robust Oliver API is able to not only discover genuine emotion but also predict the speakers intent via behavioral analysis. Behavioral Signals offers a new level of customer satisfaction and understanding to, but not limited to, the technology, education, retail, and healthcare industries. They have offices in Europe and Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit https://behavioralsignals.com/. About Neuraswitch Neuraswitch was founded by a team of call center professionals who wanted to redefine the customer experience by creating a unique cloud contact center solution with Artificial Intelligence built right into the platform. Neuraswitch is the creator of ConnexionsCX, a next-generation customer experience platform that leverages the power of human emotions and behavioral analytics to provide unique customer experiences. For more information, please visit https://neuraswitch.com/. The political establishment panicked in the immediate aftermath of the General Election. But the panic was short-lived. They're now in survival mode. Philip Ryan in the Independent caught precisely that sense of panic: "Micheal Martin has shocked his party members by performing a spectacular U-turn..." Micheal Martin, asked specifically about a coalition with Sinn Fein, said: "I listen to the people, I respect the decision of the people." By last Thursday, however, the panic was over. The Fianna Fail wing of the FF/FG (Profits Before People) Alliance had a new plan. Listening to the people didn't feature. We'll come to that in a moment. Meanwhile, the Fine Gael wing of the alliance was explaining why so many voted for the Shinners and the lefties. Simon Coveney said the people are "impatient". They want wrongs righted, and they want it done now. But, you see, these things take time, Simon explained. I think Simon is wrong. I think the problem is we've been far too patient. We were patient through the decade of austerity, through the 14 years since the government declared the trolley crisis to be a "national emergency". And we've been patient year after year through the housing crisis. I don't think the mass of the people are impatient, I think we're embarrassed. We're embarrassed when children have to eat their dinner off the pavements. We're embarrassed that people are still dying while sleeping rough. We're embarrassed that the hardworking young have to return home to the spare room because their wages won't come close to paying the rent on a crappy flat. We're embarrassed when a woman gives birth on the street. We're embarrassed when councils send mechanical diggers to destroy the only shelter some of the homeless have. We're embarrassed that there are half a million people on waiting lists to see consultants. We're embarrassed when Uncle Frank can't get a hospital bed to die on, and he's mortified that his terminal farts are stinking up the corridor where he's been lying on a trolley for two goddamn days. And we're embarrassed that all this is presided over by a pompous, overpaid gentry, none of whose track record comes close to that of the old Fianna Fail hacks of the 1930s and 1940s. And, oh, yes, we were embarrassed again last week when an obstetrician had to tweet the following: "Had to explain to a county council today why living in a car is not medically advised for a pregnant woman. Med school doesn't prepare you for this c**p". There are deep social problems tearing the hearts out of real people, and our gentry behave as though they're playing a board game. I think that's why so many people sought an alternative during the general election. But the FF/FG (Profits Before People) Alliance had a message for the rogue voters. On Thursday Micheal Martin told the RTE Six-One News that there are no circumstances whatever in which Fianna Fail would even talk to Sinn Fein. Why? Incompatible policies, he said. We urge Sinn Fein to cooperate with the DUP. It seems we believe that the party of irresistible republicanism and the party of immovable unionism have compatible policies. But - down here - oh, no, we're terribly picky about who we talk to. The FF/FG alliance plan is to claim they've learned a lesson. Then they'll sneer at Sinn Fein, seek to isolate the alternative virus, and kill it. Here's FF's Michael McGrath: "Sinn Fein in government would be very damaging to Ireland." He said that with a straight face. The lad from the party that inflated the Celtic Bubble, crashed the economy and bailed out the bankers and the bondholders is worried the Shinners might damage Ireland. Here's Darragh O'Brien, FF's friendly panda. He said the party "listened to the people" and now know they must act on housing and health. No kidding. The implication is that Fianna Fail didn't notice anything wrong with housing or health until they saw the election results last weekend. Well, if you say so, Darragh. Best of all was Micheal Martin. "Urgent action will be taken on housing, climate change, health," he said, as soon as he and Fine Gael work out a governing arrangement. FF and FG have had a governing arrangement since 2016. We've seen how effective their policies are. They pump hundreds of millions of public money into private sector solutions (hotels, B&Bs, breaks for builders and investors, as long as they toss in the odd "social" house or flat). The theory is: enlarge profits for those landlords and investors, and that will lead them to build more accommodation - eventually. The Shinners and the lefties have modest ideas: for instance, do what Fianna Fail did to solve previous housing emergencies - build a lot of municipal housing, at affordable rents. The FF/FG alliance hopes voters wanted no more than to give them a fright. So, now, the plan is to convince the rogue voters that there's no point resisting. The message is that if you vote for the fecky little parties, without giving them sufficient numbers to form a government, they'll be isolated, smeared and jeered at. Vote again, and vote properly this time. Margaret Thatcher had a word for that strategy - TINA. There Is No Alternative. I wish we had a left-wing party with lots of seats - one that didn't have people who punch the air with nostalgic thoughts of the 'RA. Wishing is bugger all use. So, I voted left, transferred left, because I believe that's the only chance that kid has that he won't be eating his dinner off the pavement next year. I voted for a Social Democrat, Cian O'Callaghan, who got elected. Then I voted my own politics. I gave the Sinn Fein candidate a sixth preference. She didn't need it. My own politics are well to the left of Sinn Fein, but we have to recognise talent. In February 2016, Fine Gael took a Department of Finance figure of 8.6bn and sexed it up to 12bn. FF checked the figures and okayed them. So did Labour. Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty said the figures were wrong by 2bn. He was ridiculed. What do bloody Shinners know about economics? Doherty asked the Department of Finance if Fine Gael hadn't counted 2bn twice, the department said yes, that's right. I like a minister who knows how to use a calculator. It's never pretty, decades ago or today, when a paramilitary entity fades away, while its political representatives take the parliamentary road. It's just a lot less ugly than a body in a ditch. Fianna Fail went into government just nine years after their IRA chums stopped killing people. One of their TDs was seen in a Dail corridor, checking his submachine gun. Fine Gael's first leader was a former IRA man, a card-carrying fascist, complete with the straight-arm salute. He led an armed body of fascists to Spain to kill supporters of the elected socialist government, while Hitler was helping the Spanish fascists by bombing civilians. We have dire social problems. I doubt Sinn Fein, a mildly left party, is the answer, but they currently have more support than other options. I'm not sure what the answer is. We're in political flux. Meanwhile, I know that every vote for FF and FG is a licence to leave that kid eating from the pavement. Kendra Baker / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW FAIRFIELD The town is looking to fill the last remaining vacancy on the Permanent Building Committee. We are looking for registered voters in town who would like to become members of the PBC, who are experienced architects, engineers or construction managers, said First Selectman Pat Del Monaco. The Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association on Tuesday filed a police complaint against policemen who barged inside the university's library on 15 December 2019, demanding that they be charged for offences like attempt to murder and insulting religion. New Delhi: The Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association on Tuesday filed a police complaint against policemen who barged inside the university's library on 15 December 2019, demanding that they be charged for offences like attempt to murder and insulting religion. In its complaint filed with the deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) and the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station, the association alleged that the policemen rained batons on students inside the library and used religious slurs. "In order to hide and destroy evidences of their barbarity and unlawful conduct, the officials/personnel of the police force deliberately tried to destroy the CCTV cameras installed in the campus premises, including the ones installed in the Old Library," the complaint said. It also stated that the "personnel of the police force vandalised the premises of the Old Reading Hall of the library and broke the gate which was locked from inside by the students and started abusing the students... and lathicharging them from head to toe". According to the complaint, the students who were present inside the library ran to other floors of the building and tried to lock rooms (MPhil and PhD sections) by putting benches and chairs at the entrance "in order to protect themselves from indiscriminate and unlawful brutality and violence unleashed by the personnel of Delhi Police". The association demanded that the policemen be charged with criminal trespass with the intent to cause grievous hurt, criminal intimidation, attempt to murder, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion. It also said the videos that have emerged online over the last couple of days are proof of police action on campus. Three videos of alleged police brutality in Jamia surfaced online on Sunday. While one video purportedly showed paramilitary and police personnel thrashing students in the library, the other two showed some youths with covered faces entering the library. A fourth video surfaced on Monday. In the video, the police personnel can be seen raining batons on students who are trying to escape. Women students can be seen moving out while pleading with the police personnel and one of the policemen can be seen breaking a camera. The police have maintained that they are trying to establish the exact sequence of events by analysing all the clips circulating on social media. On 15 December last year, police later entered the university, firing teargas shells and baton-charging students. They said they entered the campus as rioters had taken shelter. Supreme Court Lawyer MR Shamshad, on behalf of nine Muslims residents of Ayodhya, has written a letter to the Trustees of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, not to use the land of about 4-5 acres around the demolished Babri Masjid for the construction of Ram Temple as the graves of Muslims are there. Shamshad wrote the letter, dated February 15, to trustees K Parasaran, Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand, Jagatguru Madhavacharya Swami Vishwa Prasannatheerth, Yugpurush Parmanand, Swami Govinddev Giri, Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, Anil Mishra, Kameshwar Chaupal and Mahant Dhirendra Das, and ex-officio trustee District Collector, Ayodhya. Shamshad wrote the letter on instructions of the residents of Ayodhya, namely, Saddam Hussain, Nadeem, Mohammad Azam Qadri, Gulam Moinudin, Haji Achan Khan, Haji Mohammad Laik, Khaliq Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Irfan and Ehsaan Ali. "There can be no denial of the fact that the Babri Masjid was surrounded by Muslim graveyards from three sides," the Supreme Court lawyer said. "This was the only suit which was allowed by three Judges of Allahabad High Court in a particular manner and recently, the Supreme Court has decreed the same suit of Ram Lala in terms of prayers (A) and (B) which is essentially claim of the land covered in the area of the Babri Masjid," he added. Shamshad said that as per recorded facts, "75 Muslims were killed in the riots of 1855 and they were buried in an existing graveyard around the Mosque." "Even thereafter, this land was used as graveyard. Issue of this grave-yard was also the subject matter of claims by Muslims. However, after the 1994 judgement of Supreme Court in the Ismail Faruqui case, the dispute between Masjid and Ram Temple remained confined to 1480 sq. yards which has finally been resolved by a decree of the Supreme Court in November 2019," he wrote. He said that in 1994, the Supreme Court had upheld the acquisition of larger land admeasuring 67 acres which included the graveyard land and thus the entire land became vested with the central government. "Now, the entire 67 acres has gone in favour of 'Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra' and the trust has been assigned with the responsibility to construct the magnificent Ram Temple," he wrote. Shamshad said that at the time when the suits were filed and Ismail Faruqui was decided, the scheme was not to hand over the entire 67 acres to the temple trust. "That being the position of the trust, I state that the land of graveyard is a place where Muslims have been buried. Though the Mosque was not on the graveyard, but still, Suit of Lord Ram sough to justify (though wrongly) that the Mosque cannot be valid because it was surrounded by graveyards from three sides," he wrote. He further stated that the Act of 1993 of central government, while acquiring 67 acres of land was "not to exclude Muslims from the said land." "The object sought to achieve through the Act was also to construct a 'Mosque'. This Act was upheld in Faruqui case. The central government has acted contrary to the Act of 1993 by using the discretionary power conferred to them by the strength clarification by the Supreme Court, which has in effect reviewed the Faruqui case to some extent. This was uncalled for," he said. The Supreme Court lawyer claimed that the "central government has not considered the issue not using the graveyard of Muslims for constructing the grand temple of Lord Ram." "It has violated 'dharma'. Now, you all Trustees are persons of eminence in contemporary India and have the best knowledge and experience in the field of Hindu/Sanatan religion and practice. In view of religious scriptures of Sanatan Dharma, you need to consider whether the Temple of Lord Ram Janmsthan can have foundation on the graves of Muslims? This is a decision that the management of the Trust has to take," he wrote. "With all humility and respect to Lord Ram, I request you, not to use the land of about 4-5 acres in which the graves of Muslims are there around the demolished Mosque," he added. While concluding the letter, Shamshad wrote, "The graves may not be visible today considering the fact that the entire area has been differently treated with since 1949, when forcibly an idol of Lord Ram was placed inside the Mosque and when in 1992 the Mosque was demolished." The trust mandated by the central government to complete the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, at its first meeting is set to finalise "muhurat" for beginning construction and transparent mode for collection of funds apart from discussing future course of action. The temple trust will have its first meeting on February 19 in the capital with several key decisions on its agenda. The trust is expected to broadly finalise the timeline for the construction schedule of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The members would also be discussing the way in which funds need to be generated for the same, informed a source. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From late-term abortions to NICU: Nurse shares her pro-life conversion story Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian nurse recently spoke about the guilt she has felt for over three decades after working for well-known late-term abortionist Warren Hern, a founding member of the National Abortion Federation who has written a book on how to perform abortions. Julie Wilkinson, who worked for Hern for a couple of years during the 1980s before going on to other nursing opportunities, recounted her experiences in Tuesdays episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast. The podcast is hosted by 40 Days for Life founder Shawn Carney and former Planned Parenthood manager Sue Thayer. Wilkinson recalled that Hern now 81 years old seemed driven by a mission at a time when many abortion doctors seemed to be in the industry for the money. He feels passionate about doing abortions. That was clear to me even in the mid-80s, she explained. This was something that he sort of feels is a noble cause. Hern operates a clinic in Colorado, which is among the eight states that have no limits on abortion, and, along with New Mexico, has clinics that will perform abortions up to 32 weeks and later on a "case by case basis." While there has been a push in Colorado to ban abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy, Hern has been written about in the media as a champion for women told late into their pregnancies that their baby might have abnormalities. Last year, it was reported that Hern helped a mother from New York abort her baby at 32 weeks after the mother was told by a doctor that the unborn child was not viable. But Wilkinson, who assisted Hern in the abortion of children as late as 24 weeks of pregnancy, told the podcast that Hern aborts healthy babies as well. She recalled one time when a yuppie couple wanting to give birth to just one child aborted twins after consulting with Hern. The reason, Wilkinson said, was because twins didnt fit their lifestyle. She said the pregnancy was 16 weeks old when the twins were aborted. [Hern] sort of catered to them because anyone who had a higher level of education was something that appealed to him, she said. He put on the kid gloves, showing them everything. Sadly, they did return and decided that twins werent going to fit their lifestyle. They had perfectly healthy twins aborted. We [nurses] were all pretty shocked. Even the counselors, you could tell, we were kind of shaking our heads because [the couple are] fine and they can afford this. But they decided not to. Wilkinson said she was a bit naive when she took the job at Herns family planning clinic. She also considered herself to be a Christian at the time. According to Wilkinson, she got along with the staff, nurses, and counselors that she worked with. But she remembered Hern not being a people person. She added that Hern didnt seem to express much empathy after conducting abortions. He was very emotionally distant from the aspect of what he was actually doing, she remembered. He was much more interested in the outcome. That he was reducing pregnancy. Wilkinson said there wasnt a single moment when the scales fell from [her] eyes to help her to see the immorality of abortion. But eventually, she stopped working at Herns office because she felt the job wasnt fulfilling her career desires as a nurse. Wilkinson said that working in a place where no one is being healed and lives are being lost every day was an emotional drain. At that time, she said she was still not opposed to abortion being legal. But her thoughts on the subject shifted over time as she began working in a neonatal intensive care unit caring for premature babies. After working in the NICU, Wilkinson moved to Wyoming with her husband and got a job working in labor and delivery. After I had been there a couple of years, I believe God was working on my heart and I wasnt even aware of it, she explained. I considered myself a Christian. Dont ask why I thought that was an OK place to work. The next place I worked was at a NICU level three intensive care nursery. Thats got to be Gods sense of humor: Here, let me put you in a place where you can see babies the same size. I loved [working there]. Although she loved working in the NICU and labor and delivery, Wilkinson said it only gave her more reason to bury and hide what she experienced while working at Herns office. I thought of myself as a compassionate person. To know that I had willingly taken a check for the things I had done in Boulder is just horrible, Wilkinson explained. I know I am forgiven by God but it's still hard to take that burden off your back. I dont know if it will ever go away. Wilkinson said that for a long time she didn't talk openly about her experiences at Herns office. I saw lots of things in the clinic but I put those things in the box, she said. It was bad enough that I knew I never wanted to talk to people about it. Thats why I kept it such a secret. Wilkinson attended a retreat hosted by And Then There Were None, an organization founded by pro-life activist Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic manager. The organization provides support and counseling to former abortion workers. The retreat connected Wilkinson with others whove left the abortion industry and are going through similar emotional conflicts. She said the retreat gave her someone else to talk to. There are lots of bad things that we can do in this life. We are sinners. But being a person who willingly helps end the life of the most innocent, whats worse than that? she asked. Thats how I felt. So to finally get to talk to somebody who wouldnt have that flicker in their eyes that made me feel even worse about myself was a big deal. Because then I could start building the foundation with connections and relationships. Since Wilkinson recently began speaking publicly about her experiences working at Herns office, she said God has blessed her with some of her finest friends. God just unloads blessings when we follow His way, she said. Its too bad it took me so many years to figure out. Wilkinson played an abortion nurse in the popular 2019 pro-life film Unplanned. She also spoke about her experiences at the 2020 March for Life in Washington, D.C. What should I buy if I dont want to buy a OnePlus phone? Now we can happily point you in the direction of the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite and be on our merry way. This is, and it took a bit of time to be where it is, happens to be Samsungs long pondered yet well thought out answer to the range of OnePlus phones that you can choose from in the price band just upwards of Rs 30,000 all the way beyond the Rs 40,000 price point. For most intents and purposes, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite is an option too. But the question ishow much is it like its more expensive sibling, the Samsung Galaxy Note10? And with that in mind, we must note that Samsung is selling two variants of the Galaxy Note10 Lite in India. There is the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option that costs Rs 38,999 but why would you really not stretch that budget a tad more and pay Rs 40,999 for the 8GB/128GB option? Each variant is available in aura red, aura black and aura glow colour options, which makes it a total of six options to choose from. Not a bad start in terms of the price. Its direct competition has to be the OnePlus 7T line-upthe 8GB/128GB options are priced at Rs 34,999 while the 8GB/256GB option will set you back by Rs 37,999. A first glance, even for the uninitiated, at the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite and you get the immediate this looks like a Samsung Galaxy phone vibe. Even though it doesnt really borrow a lot from its elder sibling. But the design of the speaker grille, the placement of the volume keys and the rounded edges are pretty similar to the design language on the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Note. But this is where the Galaxy Note10 Lite stands out with its own personality. This is a Galaxy Note phone, after a long time, that doesnt have a curved display. This flat 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display does have its own advantages, and even though they look good, curved edges on smartphone displays do pose certain challenges, such as accidental touches. The flipside is that the bezels around the Galaxy Note10 Lites display arent as thin as the Galaxy Note10, but to be honest, that is not a hardship. All said and done, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite is a great phone to hold and use. ALSO READ | Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, S20 Ultra India Price Announced: Here Are All The Details Speaking of the display, and what this real estate does is tick off the basic requirements from a flagship smartphone displayit is bright, vivid colours, good viewing angles and quite sharp too. Super AMOLED displays by default tend to lean towards richer colours, which is why it is good to see the phone set to the Natural colour display mode by defaultthough you can change this to Vivid in the display settings. This is also an HDR display, which is good for video streaming. The display resolution is the same on the Galaxy Note10 Lite and the OnePlus 7T. Oh, and did we say, this has got the headphone jack too? If you are still holding on to your old headphones or simply dont buy into the whole wireless earphones or earbuds game just yet, this must be great news for you. The S-Pen has the same sort of docking mechanism as the Galaxy Note phones have had over the years, and that consistency is good to see. ALSO READ | OnePlus 7T Review: A Whole Lot of Wow, And a Hint of The OnePlus 7 Pro But with this price tag, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite does have to let go of quite a few niceties that its elder sibling has. The Gorilla Glass layer is gone. There is no wireless charging. There is no water resistance either. While the OnePlus 7T gets Gorilla Glass at the front and the back, the rest of the checklist is not ticked off by the 7T either. The Galaxy Note10 Lite tips the scales at 199 grams, which isnt the lightest around. Yet, this is a well-balanced phone that hides its weight quite nicely. If you werent in the know of this exact weight stat, youd probably hold this up and assume the Galaxy Note10 Lite weighs around 180 gramsand that user experience detail is great. For a phone with a large 4,500mAh battery, this is absolute Flip the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite over, and at the back sits the camera cluster that is bound to divide opinion. Personally, camera module layouts have never been much of a bother. After all, I dont keep looking at the back of the phone to either admire or feel hard done by whatever they may resemble. And if someone else has a problem, they can stop looking at my phone! Nevertheless, the squarish camera cluster on the back of the Galaxy Note10 Lite is surely quite big, but it is there for a purpose and thats the end of that. The three 12-megapixel cameras, a wide, a telephoto and an ultrawide, shall do the photography duties. There is no ToF module and while it may have been good to have one, it isnt really a big miss. And it is quite a big positive to see the good light and daytime photos get very close to what the Galaxy Note 10 manages. Whatever limitations are there, are because of the limitation in the data that a 12-megapixel sensor can give to the image processing to work with. Details are well reproduced as long as you arent looking at a really complex frame. Colours are less saturated and lean more towards realisticwhich is a great standpoint from which to start editing them. HDR comes into play whenever needed, and usually the camera app is spot on in that regard. ALSO READ | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra's 108-Megapixel Camera And 100X Zoom Could be Magical Youll perhaps be delighted to note that the Galaxy Note10 Lites cameras are punching above the perception, when it comes to low light photography as wellgood dynamic range, accurate colours and noise is kept well in check. Yes, the Galaxy Note10 does carry a smidgen more detail in most photos, but this triple 12-megapixel camera combination is mostly doing as well. But the OnePlus 7T with its 48-megapxiel + 12-megapixel + 16-megapixel camera on paper seems more versatile when the lighting is complicated or you are trying to frame a really complex scene. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite is powered by the Exynos 9810 chipset. There is no other way to put this, but this processor has been around for a while now. Does that blunt the performance edge? No, absolutely not. Yes, if you are to run synthetic benchmarks, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ on the OnePlus 7T will most likely be ahead. However, the real-world usage is quite different from benchmark tests, and that is where, the Exynos 9810 does still stand its ground. Apps, games, multi-tasking and staying coolall this is done by this chip without any struggles. What you get is a pretty powerful and capable smartphone, and there are no hints of any stutters or slowdowns. ALSO READ | Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Review: Playing the 'Affordable Flagship' Game One must keep in mind that the Galaxy Note10 Lite uses UFS 2.1 storage, which quite fast in its own right, is going to be a tad slower than the UFS 3.0 storage that the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ has, and also does the OnePlus 7T. But while the OnePlus 7T doesnt have a memory card slot for you to play with, you get a chance to expand the 128GB storage on the Galaxy Note10 Lite. A lot of that also has to do with the improvements under-the-hood which the One UI 2.0 brings to the table. Everything just feels snappy, there is no delay in opening apps and the dark mode adds a touch of class to the entire experience. The S-Pen, which is one of the primary reasons why you would consider a Samsung Galaxy Note phone in the first place, has the software side of things spot on. The Air Command menu pops up when you pull out the S-Pen. And then there are the usual suspects with the S-Pen functionalitythe notes app, the ability to scribble notes even when the phone screen is locked and also put your comments on screenshots, for instance. Yes, you can turn handwriting to text too. This is all fun and very productive too. You can even use this as a remote control by configuring the physical key on the stylus for certain click combinations to execute certain tasks in appssingle click to take a photo and double click to switch between the front and the back cameras for instance, in the camera app. The detailed options are available in the settings menu, which is great fun to tinker around with. Whether you need a stylus or not, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite must be on your watchlist if you are looking to buy a phone just this side of the Rs 40,000 price point. It would be quite fallacious to compare this with the likes of its elder sibling or other Android flagships, such as the Huawei P30 Pro. What the Galaxy Note10 Lite does is it goes into a battle with the OnePlus 7T and comes away as a very capable alternative. Something the OnePlus phones havent had in a long time. Samsung took their own sweet time to get this right. One might always nitpick about this or that, but the reality is that the Galaxy Note10 Lite is doing a brilliant balancing act of the price and user experience. Rotunda Rumblings Deadline day: Dont forget that today is the voter registration deadline for Ohios March 17 primary. Early voting starts Wednesday. The secretary of states website has more information, including how to register online, at this link. From Wuhan to San Diego: Ohio resident John McGory was expected to be released from quarantine on Tuesday, after spending the past 14 days at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. McGory had ended up in quarantine after leaving Wuhan, China, where he had previously lived for six years, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports. Doctor-patient privilege: The number of doctors who have been cleared by the state to recommend medical marijuana is now around 600, Hancock reports. Use our handy tool to search for a doctor by name or ZIP code. What a gas: The Ohio Consumers Counsel, the states legal advocate for residential utility customers, wants you to know that Dominion Energy is now offering unusually low prices for natural-gas service as the result of a recent energy auction, writes cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer. Dominion, which serves much of Northeast Ohio, is now offering a standard choice offer of $2.097 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas about 30 percent less than what the company offered last year. Count on this: Ever wonder what happens to your ballot after you cast it in the election? The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is offering the public a tour of its tabulation center, including a look at how ballots are moved from precincts to the tabulation center, then sorted and counted. Cleveland.coms Mary Kilpatrick has details. Barr association: Several former federal prosecutors from Ohio are among more than 1,100 ex-Justice Department employees who signed an open letter calling for Attorney General William Barr to step down, writes cleveland.coms Eric Heisig. Among them are former U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach, a Democrat who ran for Ohio attorney general in 2018. Also signing the letter was retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Rowland, who prosecuted corruption cases for decades in northern Ohio. Happy birthday: Annie Glenn, wife of the late astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday. She has stayed out of the public spotlight in recent years. You can learn more about her life and see a collection of photos here. Fun with Frank and Jane: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is among those who are unhappy that Jane Fonda will be a paid speaker at an upcoming Kent State University event commemorating the 50-year anniversary of the 1969 shooting. The anniversary of this tragedy is not the time to pay a speaker who betrayed our service-members. Just my perspective as a veteran, LaRose, a Republican, wrote on Twitter. As previously reported by cleveland.coms Robin Goist, KSU will pay Fonda $83,000 to bring her to campus on May 3 for a university discussion. Fonda, an actress, as an opponent of the Vietnam War famously traveled to Hanoi, where she was photographed while seated on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun. You got a friend in me: Michael Wager, former co-chair of the Draft Sherrod Brown campaign, is hosting a FriendRaiser for former New York Mayor Mike Bloombergs Democratic presidential campaign this weekend in the Cleveland suburb of Moreland Hills. Members of the host committee include Stuart Garson, former chair of the Cuyahoga County Democrats, Alan Melamed, a longtime political operative for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and Susan and James Ratner of the influential Ratner Family. Wager told cleveland.com that with Bloomberg self-funding, the partys main goal isnt to raise money, but to curry support among people intrigued by Bloombergs candidacy. The B Word: As is tradition for this time in the election cycle, buzz is starting to grow around the possibility of a brokered convention. Never mind that that hasnt happened since 1952. Its not stopping The American Spectators Robert Kuttner from musing on the possibility of one in 2020 given the crowded and fragmented Democratic presidential field, including putting forward a potential consensus candidate who already decided not to run for president: Sen. Sherrod Brown. Short order: The country often honors presidential giants like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington on Presidents Day, but in North Bend, Ohio, theyve got their own guy, the Cincinnati Enquirers Sharon Coolidge reports. The hometown and burial site of President William Henry Harrison who died 31 days into his first term has a parade for him every year near his Feb. 9 birthdate, possibly the only official celebration of the shortest-serving president in history. All you can eat Buffett: Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway has purchased a $500 million stake in Cincinnati-based grocery store chain Kroger, good for 2.3% of the company, the Cincinnati Enquirers Alexander Coolidge reports. Thats likely great news for one of Ohios largest companies, with the Oracle of Omahas investments often considered a vote of confidence. Lobbying Lineup Five groups that lobbied on House Bill 13, which would create a residential broadband program in the state. State lobbying forms dont require people to disclose which side theyre on. 1. AT&T 2. Charter Communications 3. DISH Network 4. Scientific Games Corporation 5. JobsOhio Birthdays Matt McClellan, community services division chief at the Ohio Development Services Agency Straight from the Source But all our votes really do count And they aint never really let it show So now Im finna break it down Because if I dont you would probably never know -Lyrics from the intro to Dayton-based rapper YelloPains My Vote Dont Count, a kind of hip-hop Schoolhouse Rock crash course on how the government works. The track features an appearance from Desiree Tims, the rappers cousin who is running for Congress in GOP Rep. Mike Turners district. YelloPains song has been positively received by younger audiences and since gone viral, leading Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley to invite him for a sitdown Facebook Live conversation. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. LONDON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindtech Global Ltd, are pleased to announce that Chris Longstaff, VP Product Management, will present a talk "Addressing the Issues of Using 'Real-Data' for Training Visual AI Systems Through the Use of Synthetic Data" at the OpenTalks.AI conference, 20-21 February 2020, in Moscow. OpenTalks.AI (https://opentalks.ai/en) is a leading conference on AI, bringing together anyone with an interest in AI, from scientists to entrepreneurs. A broad range of topics are discussed from the technical details through to the ethical and legal side of Artificial Intelligence. During his talk, Chris will look at a number of the issues we have today in obtaining adequate, high quality, data for training neural networks. This talk will describe how synthetic data offers a solution to those shortcomings. An example of the issues are the time and cost of obtaining data samples alongside the difficult issue of accurate and advanced annotations. The traditional method of gathering real-world data and annotating, cannot meet the requirements for training modern AI systems, whereas synthetic data is capable of generating vast amount of perfectly annotated data in a short time. Ethical issues are another example of a key concern around today's Artificial Intelligence systems, and the training data can be just as important as during the deployment itself. Synthetic data helps these ethical issues in a number of ways: allowing training data to be created without risk of breach of privacy and the reduction of bias in the real data set by creating additional samples for under-represented groups in the data such as young children, or sufficient ethnic diversity. Mindtech's Chameleon toolchain provides a full solution to the creation and management of synthetic data for training visual neural networks and is available for immediate licensing. The Chameleon tools are designed to help anyone implementing an AI based system to be able to generate the required training data in a fast, efficient manner, through its unique Scenario Editor that allows data scientists to immediately set up the required scenarios with a real-time preview of how the recorded data will appear. The Toolchain is being used today by partners in diverse applications including various Smart City and Smart Vision projects Contact: For further information please contact chris.longstaff@mindtech.global, or https://mindtech.global Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/971869/Mindtech_Logo.jpg Eindhoven, Netherlands -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/18/2020 -- Mobirise Ltd, one of the leading companies in the offline web design software market, lately introduced its brand-new themes for creating gadget-related and financial websites. Mobirise is the foremost HTML Website Builder that offers both free and paid web design solutions. Mobirise provides its customers with mobile-friendly website themes and templates that are powered by modern web frameworks - Bootstrap 4 and AMP Pages. Now Mobirise users have over 70 themes at their disposal. Recently, Mobirise released new themes - FinanceM4 and GadgetAMP. FinanceM4 is a financial website theme that is based on the latest Bootstrap 4. FinanceM4 comes along with three demo templates: Payment Application, Financial Accounting and Payment Services. With the help of this theme, customers can build their websites block by block, manage their websites using block parameters and a visual editor. There are more than 50 blocks: standard blocks like headers, footers, contact forms, maps and finance-focused ones such as pricing tables, testimonials, info, partners, and others. "We received a lot of emails about creating a website theme that will match finances and accounting. Now our clients have everything at their disposal to build a website like this," said Jorgen Baart, CEO of Mobirise Ltd. "We hope our website builder along with FinanceM4 will help a lot of our customers to establish their online presence with a captivating and modern looking website!" GadgetAMP is another Mobirise theme that is based on AMP Pages as opposed to FinanceM4. AMP Pages or Accelerated Mobile Pages is a web technology developed by Google Inc. that allows for building lightning-fast, mobile-first and SE-friendly websites. GadgetAMP is focused on the website creation related to Technology. It's perfect for users to build pages for game applications, gadget shops and other tech-oriented websites. Mobirise has been providing its themes as well as easy-to-use web editing solutions for over 5 years now and gained a large community of satisfied customers all over the world. Mobirise will continue producing themes and templates to cater to customers' needs. About Mobirise Mobirise is an offline website builder software with support for Windows, Mac and Android operating systems. Mobirise provides clients with easy-to-customize website templates that are powered by Google AMP and Bootstrap 4 frameworks. For more information about Mobirise: https://mobirise.com/ https://mobirise.com/extensions/financem4/ President Trump commuted the sentence of former Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday, according to the New York Times. The president confirmed the move to reporters, calling the initial sentence ridiculous, and signaled that Blagojevich had been pursued by the same group that investigated the 2016 Trump campaign. It was a prosecution by the same people: Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group . . . That was a tremendously powerful, ridiculous sentence, in my opinion, Trump said. He added that Im actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country. Blagojevich is currently serving a 14-year sentence in Colorado federal prison after being found guilty in 2011 of attempting to shop the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former president Barack Obama. The president has signaled willingness to commute Blagojevichs sentence in the past, tweeting last August that many people have asked that I study the possibility of clemency for a very severe sentence. Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has served 7 years. Many people have asked that I study the possibility of commuting his sentence in that it was a very severe one. White House staff is continuing the review of this matter. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2019 Trump also pardoned former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was found guilty of tax fraud charges in 2010, and former investment banker Michael R. Milken, who pleaded guilty in 1990 to racketeering and securities fraud charges and was known as the junk bond king for his work on Wall Street in the 1980s. Kerik took to Twitter to thank Trump for his pardon. Milken said in a statement that he and his family are very grateful to the President. Story continues We look forward to many more years of pursuing our efforts in medical research, education and public health, Milken said. Speaking to reporters, Trump praised the former financier for anincredible job in philanthropy to fund cancer research. The president also said that he has total confidence in attorney general William Barr, who criticized Trump last week for his tweets on the Roger Stone case. Asked if he was planning on pardoning Stone, Trump said I havent given it any thought. Trump also pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., who was convicted in 1998 over a gambling fraud case, earlier Tuesday. More from National Review LAGOS, Nigeria, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Africa, Nigeria's Lagos-based value airline, has added to the news that it has ordered fifty A220-300s from Airbus by also committing to lease an additional three of the aircraft from leasing company, GTLK Europe. The aircraft will allow Green Africa to set course for its planned launch of commercial operations in 2020. Deliveries of the three aircraft which are all brand new will be completed by August 2020. Green Africa has selected the A220 for its operational characteristics, financial performance and environmental benefits, with the added advantage of superior passenger satisfaction and widebody style cabin comfort. Babawande Afolabi, Founder and CEO of Green Africa, said, "It has been an incredible journey thus far a Series A round of funding backed by some of the best players in the industry; a strong management team on the ground with a nuanced understanding of the local market; a marque strategic partnership with Airbus for 50 firm A220-300s; and now a secured inaugural fleet with GTLK Europe that will help bridge the gap between now and when our Airbus order book starts delivering next year. The gTeam is beyond excited about and laser focused on getting Green Africa into the sky in 2020." GTLK Europe Chief Executive Officer, Roman Lyadov, added, "On the back of the new Airbus order for 50 A220-300s, we are delighted to be able to provide Green Africa with its very first aircraft which will equip Green Africa with the capacity it needs for launch in 2020. Green Africa will be launching operations on a high with this aircraft the A220-300 offers a state of the art platform for Green Africa to deliver on its mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable air travel to customers in Nigeria and across the broader African continent." About Green Africa Green Africa (greenafrica.com) is a value airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. The new airline will offer safe, reliable and affordable air travel to a much broader group of customers and be a significant contributor to the economic development of Nigeria and the African continent. Founded and led by Babawande Afolabi, Green Africa has received its Air Transport License from the Nigerian Government and recently placed an order for 50 Airbus A220-300s. Green Africa is anchored by a group of senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton, former Chairman & CEO of American Airlines, Wale Adeosun, Founder & CEO of Kuramo Capital, William Shaw, CEO of InterJet, Virasb Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines and Gbenga Oyebode, Founder & Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode. SOURCE Green Africa Airways ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 18 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Chairperson of the Turkmen Parliament Gulshat Mammedova has received credentials from newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Somalia to Turkmenistan (with residence in Ankara) Jama Abdullahi Mohamed, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen government. The diplomat noted the great interest of her country in the development of bilateral trade, business, cultural and humanitarian relations, including in the field of tourism and sports. The importance of dialogue at the inter-parliamentary level was noted, the report said. The Somali ambassador was also received at the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, the ministry reported. The parties expressed the interest of Turkmenistan and Somalia in establishing long-term cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. It was noted that high-level visits, as well as cooperation between the foreign affairs agencies of the two countries, play an important role in the development of bilateral relations, the report said. RK Selvamani, Mysskin, Jaguar Thangam, K.Rajam and Sai Dheena were among those who hailed the film after watching its sneak peek. Rishi Ritviks next, titled Marijuana, has caught the attention of many for its quirky content. The movie is based on real-life incidents in the city. The film, which received 52 cuts from the Censors besides an A Certificate, is against drug abuse. It shows how youth are turning criminals after getting addicted to drugs. Actually, it is an awareness film, which send out a large message, says director MT Anand, who claims that he entered the industry inspired by Mysskins films. Rishi (of Attu fame) has been paired with city model Asha Parthalom. Speaking at the audio launch of Marijuana, ace filmmaker /actor Bhagyaraj said, I asked producer MT Vijay the meaning of the title. He said it is another name for Ganja. I was addicted to Ganja for some time 40 years ago. I used to smoke it with my friends in hand-rolled cigarettes. One day, I realized that the habit would not take me anywhere as I wanted to become someone in the film industry. I gave it up without a second thought. I am sure Marijuana, which talks about the perils of drug addiction, will be an eye-opener to youngsters. RK Selvamani, Mysskin, Jaguar Thangam, K.Rajam and Sai Dheena were among those who hailed the film after watching its sneak peek. Suspected members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have taken their protests against the Nigerian government into the National Assembly where they have written several inscriptions in the toilets inside the complex. Inscriptions like Free Zakzaky were seen on the door and wall of a female toilet on the second floor of the building where the offices of all the lawmakers are situated. The toilet where the inscriptions were written, is situated right next to an admin office, believed to be in charge of the cleaning department. Although the office was locked at the time that this reporter went for inquiries, two supervisors of the Cleaning Department who gave only their first names as Caleb and Mathias, said similar writings had been cleaned in the male toilets. It did not start today. It has been going on since last year, since the last time they protested here and destroyed the gate, Mr Mathias told this reporter. We have cleaned off some of them in the male toilets. We dont know the people who do these things but we are sure they are Shiites people. Some of them gain access to this place because they dont dress like Shiites protesters. Some come like they want to see their senators and then go to use the toilets, that is when they write all those things on the walls. They write all manner of things criminals, free Zakzaky and so on The supervisors said they do not know how to stop them from carrying out such activities as they cannot monitor everyone who goes to use the toilet. They said the Sergeant-at-Arms is aware and has on many occasions, called the attention of the cleaners to take off similar writings on the wall. A cleaner who gave her name as Blessing explained that the inscriptions on the wall was first noticed last year by a colleague who brought it to their attention. It is difficult to tell who is behind such actions because of the number of people who visit the National Assembly daily and use the toilets, she said. She added that as soon as they noticed a pattern, they reported the issue to their supervisor. Three staff of the Sergeant-at-Arms who were approached for reactions declined to comment. The Shiites have for the past four years protested the detention and continued incarceration of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. They have had a series of clashes with the police during their demonstration. El-Zakzakys supporters take protest to National Assemblys toilets One of their recent confrontations with the police in Abuja led to the death of a journalist and a police officer. One of their protests in July led to the death of a journalist, a police chief, and more than a dozen Shiites. The federal government has since secured a court order to proscribe the group by categorising it as a terrorist group. And with this development, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has said any attempt at protest by the group would be scuttled and its members would be treated as terrorists a move which was condemned by Amnesty International. The government has, however, insisted it did not infringe on the rights of association of the Shiites but that it only clipped the excesses of alleged violent members of the IMN group. The leader of the IMN has been held in custody since 2015, despite a court order to release him. Dozens of Shiite members have been killed and injured during protests, by security officers, since December 2015 when Mr El-Zakzaky was arrested following a clampdown on the group by soldiers. Over 300 Shiites were killed in that clampdown. Mumbai, Feb 18 : A prominent diamond merchant jumped off the 15th floor of a commercial building in south Mumbai here on Tuesday morning, police said. The deceased has been identified as Dhiren Chandrakant Shah, 61. He is survived by his wife and two children - a son in the US and a daughter in Dubai, said official sources. According to police, Shah - one of the partners in N. Kumar & Company - jumped off the Prasad Chambers building near Opera House around 9.30 a.m., and was instantly killed. He was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on admission and the body has been sent for an autopsy. The police have recovered a brief purported suicide note from Shah's desk in which he said he was entirely responsible for the extreme step and nobody should be blamed for it. The D.B. Marg Police, which is probing the matter, has filed an accidental death report and plan to record statements of his family members later. A resident of Napean Sea Road, Shah had come to the office as usual and then left for a stroll on the building terrace from where he jumped to his death, sending shockwaves in the city's diamond and jewellery industry. FILE PHOTO: Britta Nielsen, a Danish woman accused of embezzling 117 million crowns ($17 million) of Danish government funds, looks on during her appearance at Randburg Magistrates Court, South Africa COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A Danish court sentenced a former public employee on Tuesday to 6-1/2 years in prison for embezzling $17 million in Danish government funds earmarked to support the most vulnerable in society. Britta Nielsen was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2018 with piles of cash and charged with diverting 117 million Danish crowns in state funds intended for the poor to her own accounts over a 25-year period until 2018. Nielsen, 65, who worked for the social affairs ministry for over 40 years until her arrest, admitted at her trial that the money, which among other things was spent on horses and a mansion in South Africa, became an addiction to her. Nielsen's lawyer, who during court proceedings blamed authorities for lax oversight of large amounts of government funds, said the sentence would not be appealed. The verdict followed a government tax scandal and a money-laundering case involving Denmark's biggest lender, Danske Bank. The three cases have contributed to a decline in public trust in leadership in what has long been one of the world's least corrupt countries. ($1 = 6.9059 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Mark Heinrich) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday and expressed his sympathies to those hit by the coronavirus outbreak, a spokeswoman for Johnsons office said. He offered his sympathies for those affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. President Xi thanked the UK for its support and in particular welcomed the donation of vital medical equipment to China, the spokeswoman said. She added: The Prime Minister and President agreed on the importance of the UK-China relationship and resolved to work together across a range of issues including strengthening the economic partnership, to benefit the people of both China and the UK. Earlier this month, the BBC reported that China had expressed concern to Boris Johnsons father that the prime minister had not sent a personal message of support to Beijing over the outbreak of coronavirus. Find additional latest updates about novel coronavirus on our live blog. BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) and its dermatology business, Ortho Dermatologics, one of the largest prescription dermatology health care businesses, today announced the launch of a new telemedicine platform on Dermatology.com , the first and only non-reimbursed, cash-pay prescription program in dermatology in the United States. The enhanced website will offer patients the ability to consult with a health care professional, order and potentially receive a prescription on-demand for many of the branded dermatology products available in the program. 1 Some products, such as SOLODYN (minocycline hydrochloride) extended release tablets, EFUDEX (fluorouracil) topical cream, 5%, and ALDARA (imiquimod) cream, 5%, which are for more serious skin conditions, will require an in-office visit instead. "At Ortho Dermatologics, we understand that patients with certain skin conditions, particularly acne and fine lines and wrinkles, can face multiple barriers to getting the skin care treatments they need," said Bill Humphries, president, Ortho Dermatologics. "By providing an on-demand solution where patients can conveniently consult with a medical professional online, order our clinically proven medicines directly, and receive prompt delivery, we believe we can deliver the best possible experience and access for patients." To use the new telemedicine service1 on Dermatology.com, patients are required to submit a photo of their skin-related need and other information on their health, medical history and lifestyle via their mobile device or desktop. Once the submission is placed, which takes approximately three minutes, the patient will receive an email confirmation stating that their submission is being reviewed by a health care provider. Typically within 24 hours, the health care provider will either provide the patient with a prescription for one of the company's branded prescription products available on the site, based on the assessment by the health care provider, or recommend the patient visit a board-certified dermatologist if the skin condition warrants an in-person consultation. To help these patients connect directly to a board-certified dermatologist, the site will feature a direct link to the American Academy of Dermatology Association's Find a Dermatologist locator.2 Through Dermatology.com, patients have direct access to many of Ortho Dermatologics' proven, high-quality, branded dermatology medicines. The products available on the site include some of the company's iconic brands, including Retin-A (tretinoin) cream as well as newer products such as ALTRENO (tretinoin) Lotion, 0.05%. The company also recently added four more products to the program, SOLODYN (minocycline hydrochloride) extended release tablets, RENOVA (tretinoin cream 0.02%), LOPROX shampoo (ciclopirox 1%), and BenzEFoam (benzoyl peroxide emollient foam 5.3%/9.8%), bringing the total product count to 15. The addition of BenzEFoam 5.3% also marks the site's first over-the-counter option for patients. Since its launch in March 2019, Dermatology.com has helped thousands of patients get access to branded dermatology products at transparent prices through participating pharmacies, including all Walgreens U.S. retail pharmacies. For more information on Dermatology.com, visit www.dermatology.com. Please use the following links to view full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information: Retin-A (tretinoin) cream, ALTRENO (tretinoin) Lotion, 0.05%, SOLODYN (minocycline hydrochloride) extended release tablets, RENOVA (tretinoin cream 0.02%) and LOPROX shampoo (ciclopirox 1%). About Ortho Dermatologics Ortho Dermatologics is one of the largest prescription and aesthetic dermatology businesses dedicated to helping patients in the treatment of a range of therapeutic areas, including psoriasis, actinic keratosis, acne, atopic dermatitis and other dermatoses. The Ortho Dermatologics portfolio also includes several leading medical device systems for aesthetic applications, such as skin tightening and resurfacing, laser hair removal and preventative therapeutic skin care treatments. More information can be found at www.ortho-dermatologics.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com. Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Bausch Health management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch Health's most recent annual or quarterly report and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. 1Where available by law 2 Expected to be available on the site in March 2020 /TM are trademarks of Ortho Dermatologics' affiliated entities. Any other product/brand names are trademarks of the respective owners. 2020 Ortho Dermatologics' affiliated entities. ORD.0052.USA.20 SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc. Related Links http://www.bauschhealth.com The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Emeka Ihediohas application to review its earlier decision on the Imo State governorship election till March 2, 2020. The ousted governor of Imo State, Ihedioha and his party, the PDP are praying the court to, among others, reverse its judgment on January 14 which sacked Ihedioha and replaced him with Hope Uzodinma. Ihediohas lead lawyer, Kanu Agabi, at the mention of the case on Tuesday, sought time to enable parties to file the necessary papers, a request other lawyers in the case did not object to. In a brief ruling, a 7-man panel of the apex court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, granted the request for an adjournment and adjourned till March 2, 2020. (Newser) Now that the dust has settled on Iowa and New Hampshire, a flurry of new polls suggests that the news for Joe Biden isn't as bleak as some think, according to an analysis at FiveThirtyEight. The reason? "They're not showing that any candidate has grabbed a ton of momentum," writes Nathaniel Rakich. In fact, they suggest that Democrats have a long fight ahead of them, with a distinct possibility that no candidate will receive a majority of pledged delegates in the primary season. To be clear, the news isn't great for Biden, whose Southern "firewall" appears to be weakening. In fact, the polls out of Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida "show Biden trending in the wrong direction," writes Rakich. story continues below But "paradoxically they are actually good news for his overall chances of winning a majority of pledged delegates, which have ticked up from 1 in 9 (11%) on Thursday afternoon to 1 in 8 (13%) now." That's mainly because Bernie Sanders hasn't had a surge of momentum despite his win in New Hampshire. At the Hill, Juan Williams argues in an op-ed that the Biden-is-doomed narrative is being fueled in part by President Trump, who doesn't want to face him. "The media celebrated one 'comeback kid' 28 years ago when Bill Clintonwho also lost Iowa and New Hampshirewent on to win the nomination," writes Williams. "Perhaps history will record Biden as the comeback kid of 2020." (The polls have delivered good news to another candidate, Michael Bloomberg.) An adorable lost puppy had to be dug out of a hole after getting stuck when burrowed 3ft down. The fluffy Bangkeaw puppy went missing soon after it was born in Yasothon, north eastern Thailand, last week. Its owner thought the dog had wandered off and enlisted a group of local boys, including her neighbour Sarawut Bunma, to help find it. The owner of a Bangkeaw puppy enlisted the help of her neighbours who rescued the dog using a hoe in Yasothon, north eastern Thailand, last week The group eventually heard a whimpering sound coming from underground after searching for the dog for several hours. A video of the rescue mission showed one of the teenagers using a hoe to dig at the mud that encased the trapped puppy. Sarawut said: 'My neighbour's dog gave birth but one of the puppies disappeared. She thought it had walked away and was lost. Its owner thought the dog had wandered off and asked her neighbours, including Sarawut Bunma, to help find it Eventually the puppy is freed and brought back to its mother and two siblings (pictured) The boys had to dig deep into the soil before they reached the terrified dog, and even then they struggled to pull it out 'We started looking and after a few hours could hear noise coming from underground so we knew we found him.' The boys had to dig deep into the soil before they reached the terrified dog, and even then they struggled to pull it out, in the rescue on on Thursday, February 13. Eventually the puppy was freed and brought back to its mother and two siblings. Sarawut joked that it was the first time he had found a 'puppy seed' buried underground. He added: 'Perhaps a puppy tree could have grown. He is lucky we found him in time because there was no way for him to get out.' LAHORE, Pakistan The U.N. secretary general said Tuesday that the virus outbreak that began in China poses a very dangerous situation for the world, but is not out of control. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Antonio Guterres said that the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that. Guterres said his greatest worry was a spread of the virus to areas with less capacity in their health service, particularly some African countries. The World Health Organization is looking into how to help handle such a development, he added. Egypt recently reported its first case of the virus, raising fears of its spread to the African continent. The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. China on Tuesday reported 1,886 new cases and 98 more deaths. That raised the number of deaths in mainland China to 1,868 and the total number of confirmed cases to 72,436. Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad. But Japan, Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients, raising concern of the virus spreading locally. A report saying the disease outbreak has caused a mild illness in most people raised optimism among global health authorities. The U.N. chief was in Pakistan for a conference on 40 years of refugees fleeing neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. In his interview with the AP, Guterres said that todays world is a chaotic one beset by multiple crises. He decried the horrors of Syrias nine-year-old civil war. The U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has warned that the most recent exodus of refugees there nearing 900,000 people fleeing fighting in the northwest Idlib region risks being the biggest humanitarian disaster of the 21st century. Syrian President Bashar Assad has, however, vowed to fight rebels in the country to the bitter end. Backed by Iran and Russia, his forces are making rapid progress against the last rebel-held enclaves in northern Syria. Turkey backs opposition fighters there and has sent troops in to try stopping the Syrian advance. Some 3 million Syrian civilians are sheltering in those last rebel-held areas and many of them have been forced out into make-shift shelters and camps amid harsh winter conditions. The suffering of Syrians is horrible, Guterres said. He called for an immediate cease-fire, urging Turkey, Russia and Iran to find a political solution. Turning to the Libyan civil war, Guterres bemoaned the blatant violations of a U.N.-imposed arms embargo on the North African country. Foreign powers have intervened in oil-rich Libyas conflict, apparently jockeying for control over its resources while supporting its rival west- and east-based leaders. How many countries in Libya are interfering with the conflict and independent of an arms embargo, decided by the Security Council, they go on providing both personnel and equipment to Libya? he asked. Western Libyan forces rely on military assistance from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. On the other side, Turkey, Italy and Qatar support the embattled Tripoli-based government in the countrys east. The U.N. chief put some of the blame for the state of world affairs on the three leading powers, the United States, Russia and China, calling their relationship dysfunctional. He said it has paralyzed the U.N. Security Council. It is clear that we live in the moment where chaos risks to transform our world in something much more unstable, he said. The U.N. leader, however, said U.S.-Taliban peace talks presented a chance for ending one of the worlds longest running conflicts, in Afghanistan. We absolutely need to seize this opportunity for peace, Guterres said. Millions of Afghans are still living as refugees, he pointed out. The second half of the peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban is expected to be signed on Feb. 29. It calls for Afghans on both sides of the conflict to begin negotiations over the countrys post-war future. Until now, the Taliban have refused direct talks with the Afghan government. It is in the interest of everybody to do everything possible to guarantee that there is peace, that peace becomes a reality, that it is sustainable and that Afghanistan can be integrated into international community, said Guterres. Modi and Trump are scheduled to address over one lakh people at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on 24 February,as part of the 'Namaste Trump' event Days before United States president Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Ahmedabad, at least 45 families living in a slum near the newly-built Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera area, have been served eviction notices by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The development comes days after the AMC allegedly began building a wall to hide a slum along the route the US president is likely to take. The slum dwellers have questioned the timing of the move, claiming that they have been staying at the same place for more than a decade. Officials have, however, denied any connection between the high-profile visits and the eviction notices. "You have encroached upon a plot of land belonging to the AMC. Evict the plot in another seven days with your household chattels, otherwise, a departmental action will be taken to evict the land. If you have to make any representation, you can do so on 19 February at 3 pm," reads the notice issued by the Estate and Town Development Department . Though the notice was issued on Monday, it was dated 11 February, according to which the deadline is Tuesday, says a report in the Indian Express. The slum, which reportedly houses families of more than 200 registered construction workers, is located alongside a road connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, around one-and-a-half kilometres away from the Motera stadium, which is being readied to host Trump and Modi. Modi and Trump are scheduled to address over one lakh people at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on Monday, as part of the "Namaste Trump" event. Trump is scheduled to take part in a roadshow in Ahmedabad and to visit the Sabarmati Ashram on that day. A slum-dweller, Shailesh Bilwa, on Tuesday told PTI that officials of the AMC have visited them several times in the last seven days. "We have been living here since over a decade. We had never been served any eviction notice in the past. Why was the notice served to us now?" questioned Dinesh Adravani, a daily-wage labourer who said he had been asked to vacate his shanty by 18 February. He said slum-dwellers like him had no alternative shelter if they are forced out. "We are ready to vacate, but we need an alternative accommodation, otherwise we will be forced to live on pavements. We live here with our family members comprising women and children. We pray to the government to provide us with an alternative plot where we could live," said another resident Shailesh Bilwa. He claimed that officials of the AMC have been asking them to vacate the plot for the last seven days. "Some of them even threatened to use force against us," he alleged. Meanwhile, Deputy Estate Officer (West Zone), AMC, Chaitanya Shah said the eviction notice had nothing to do with the scheduled "Namaste Trump" programme. "They (slum-dwellers) have been served the eviction notice under the provisions of the Town Planning Act and has nothing to do with Trump's visit. The plot belongs to the AMC. The notice was served as the site survey conducted in January found that the plot had been encroached upon," Shah said. The AMC had also come under criticism for the construction of a wall at Sardarnagar, which is situated along a road that leads to the Indira bridge on the outskirts of the city from the Ahmedabad International Airport. The Gujarat Congress had alleged that the wall is being built to keep the slum colony, where people live in poverty, out of sight of the US President. "The BJP government and the AMC are trying their best to hide reality from Trump. Instead of alleviating poverty, the ruling dispensation is hiding the poor by building a wall. It proves that poverty has increased manifold during the BJP's 25-year rule in Gujarat," said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. The Shiv Sena also hit out at what it termed as Modi's plan of "Garibi Chupao" and alleged that the preparations underway for the US president's visit reflected a "slave mentality" of Indians. AMC officials refuted the allegations and claimed that the construction of the wall, around four feet in height, was approved much before Trump's Gujarat visit was finalised. "This wall, around 500-meter-long and four feet high, has nothing to do with Trump's visit. A wall was already there since many years. After it got dilapidated, we decided to build a new one. An online tender was also issued over a month back, much before Trump's visit was announced. This is compound wall is surrounding our plot," Deputy Municipal Commissioner KB Thakkar told PTI. He also added that it was unclear whether the road along which the wall was being made will be used by Trump's motorcade. Another AMC official said that efforts were being made for the upgradation of the Sardarnagar township. The wall was being built to "protect a nearby green patch from garbage dumping by slum-dwellers", he said. This is not the first time that such "beautification" efforts are being undertaken by authorities at the time of visits by dignitaries or other high-profile events. Ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat summit which took place in Ahmedabad in 2017, civic authorities had covered the Saraniyavaas slum near the Indira Bridge with a green house shade cloth, leading to a feeling of alienation among the slum dwellers, said a report in the Ahmedabad Mirror. The report goes on to say that the roadsides shanties of daily wage labourers had been pulled down in Gandhinagar as part of the "facelift". Ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, around 2 lakh people across 19 sites in the National Capital had been forcefully evicted, a study by the Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) had revealed. The Public Works Department had also planted bamboos and other plants to cover up "unpleasant sites", including a slum at Nehru camp, says a report in Outlook. The Delhi government also launched a controversial drive which aimed to rid the city of beggars. With inputs from PTI Kolkata, Feb 18 : The West Bengal government has decided to provide Z category security to election strategist Prashant Kishor amid intelligence inputs that he could come under attack, sources in the state secretariat said on Tuesday. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congrees roped in Kishor to boost its electoral fortune after the BJP came up with an impressive show, capturing 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state in last year's general elections. Sources said that with Kishor slated to play a significant role in Bengal politics ahead of next year's Assembly polls, his security has been enhanced to prevent any untoward incident. Kishor has expressed his keenness to tour the districts extensively before and after the April-May statewide municipal polls in order to chalk out a detailed strategy for the Assembly elections. The intelligence reports have expressed apprehensions that Kishor could become a soft target during his district tours. The state government has decided to upgrade Kishor's security cover in view of the threat perception after assessing the reports. Persons enjoying Z category security in the state are provided pilot and escort vehicles round the clock, besides a team of 12-16 security personnel from among state police ranks. Some commandoes are also drafted into the security ring. At present, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee get Z plus category security in the state. Among those given Z category security are Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari. REDMOND, Washington, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung SDS and Duality Technologies convened AI research and industry leaders last week at the Microsoft campus in Redmond for a workshop focused on advancing standards for Homomorphic Encryption (HE). The meeting was aimed at expanding the standards defined in earlier meetings of the HE standardization community, comprised of experts representing industry as well as academia and government. HE enables computations, including machine learning and AI analysis, on encrypted data, allowing data scientists, researchers and businesses to gain valuable insights without decrypting or exposing the underlying data or models key for enabling data-driven digital transformation in all industries while complying with data privacy regulations. This is particularly useful where sensitive data is used in collaborations for instance, in privacy-preserving collaboration between multiple healthcare and research centers, or inter-bank cooperation in financial crime investigations. As a result of the workshop, additional schemes and protocols were included among HE standards, laying the foundation for a broad, interoperable secure computing ecosystem. Creating and defining clear standards is critical to fostering market adoption as Homomorphic Encryption becomes an increasingly practical solution to real-world problems. "Homomorphic Encryption is over the threshold of market-adoption. Given that multiple HE solutions are being offered some based on open source libraries and others on proprietary protocols clear and robust industry standards are critical for customer confidence and adoption of solutions using this advanced privacy-enhancing technology," said Dr. Kurt Rohloff, Co-founder and CTO of Duality. "We are excited to be collaborating with Microsoft, Samsung SDS and other leading practitioners from industry, academia and government to establish a comprehensive, interoperable standards framework that will broaden the utility and adoption of HE as the market-leading privacy-enhancing technology." Dr. Cho Jihoon, Security Research Center Leader at Samsung SDS said: "We believe this standardization meeting will play a pivotal role in making commercially applicable Homomorphic Encryption technologies, amid the rise of demand in the business sector, to cope with the latest artificial intelligence technologies and enhanced privacy regulations." International standardization bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) and representatives of the US government were among those attending the working sessions. The decisions taken will help facilitate the path towards further integration of HE into international security standards. Upcoming standardization meetings will be hosted by the UN/ITU-T and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Geneva and by Samsung SDS in South Korea. About Duality Technologies Founded by world-renowned data scientists and cryptographers, Duality Technologies is at the forefront of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), setting a new standard for privacy-preserving data collaborations. The Duality SecurePlus platform, a leader in PET, uniquely combines advanced Homomorphic Encryption and data science, enabling organizations to derive insights without exposing their raw data. Duality was recently recognized as a Gartner "Cool Vendor" for Privacy Preservation in Analytics and was named runner-up in the prestigious RSAC Sandbox competition. For more information, please visit www.duality.cloud . About Samsung SDS Samsung SDS was founded in 1985 as software arm of Samsung Group, and has been leading digital innovation and transformation for major clients for over 30 years. With the vision to become a data-driven digital transformation leader, Samsung SDS utilizes advanced technologies such as analytics platforms, AI, blockchain and cloud to serve a diverse range of industries including intelligent manufacturing, global logistics, enterprise mobility, financial services and retail. For more information, visit https://www.samsungsds.com. Duality Technologies Media Contact: Brandon Weinstock Headline Media +1-(914)-336-4878 [email protected] SOURCE Duality Technologies Related Links https://dualitytech.com Still, the pace of new cases officially confirmed in mainland China, the centre of the outbreak, has slowed over the past three days. The ripples have continued to spread around the world. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore warned on Friday that the city-state could fall into recession as a result of the outbreak. Germany, Europe's business powerhouse, on Friday reported slowing economic growth at the end of 2019, prompting fears the virus could delay a recovery. As the new week begins, China's mighty manufacturing machine which accounts for a quarter of the world's manufacturing output showed glimmers of revving up again. Airbus, the European aircraft-maker, said that it began to reopen its narrow-body jet assembly operations last week in Tianjin but that it would only "gradually increase production, whilst implementing all required health and safety measures". Airbus needs the production: It acknowledged on Thursday that it could not meet global demand for narrow-body jets, which airlines are clamouring for after the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max jet. The Tianjin plant has a targeted production rate of six jets per month. Volkswagen said that it partially restarted one of its 15 assembly plants in China on Thursday and that it planned to reopen the rest gradually. GM said that it had begun a gradual process on Saturday to reopen its more than a dozen assembly plants in China. Hyundai said it restarted most Chinese production on Monday. Loading Others were more circumspect. Caterpillar, the heavy equipment company, said it reopened most plants in China last Monday at the request of government authorities, but did not offer details, like whether production had resumed. Honda said it was trying to restart production on February 24. With the exception of factories producing medical protective equipment, which the Chinese government has asked to run around the clock, few businesses seem to be returning yet to their previous pace. Toyota said that its four assembly plants had operated on two work shifts a day before the virus spread. But it planned to reopen three of them on Monday and Tuesday with just one shift and leave closed for now the fourth and smallest, in the western Chinese city of Chengdu. The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, which has members across much of the industrial heartland in east-central China, said that the majority of its members had restarted at least some operations. But the bulk of these members are not at full production, mainly for lack of workers, said chamber president Ker Gibbs. The reopening of businesses means trying to bring together again much of China's 700 million-strong labour force after what had become a nearly three-week national holiday. China's containment efforts have effectively carved up the country. At least 760 million people slightly over half the country's population are under various kinds of lockdown. China's factories are slowly starting up again. Credit:AP Authorities have begun trying to reconnect the country. China's agriculture ministry demanded over the weekend the removal of road and highway blockages in rural areas that have prevented the movement of livestock and animal feed. The southern province of Jiangxi announced last Thursday that it would dismantle checkpoints at highway entrances and exits. But many obstacles remain. "I know the virus is serious. I can understand that this is a disaster for the country," said Ma Hongkui, a truck driver from north-western China who has been stranded for weeks with dozens of other truckers in a small town in the south-western province of Yunnan for lack of cargo. "I don't know whom to ask for help." In the city of Yiwu, a hub for small manufacturers in Zhejiang province and home to a sprawling wholesale merchandise market, migrant workers returning to jobs have to submit to a two-week quarantine. When they arrive at a train station in Yiwu, they are examined by dozens of officials in makeshift hazmat suits with thermal cameras. The local government has arranged 40,000 beds to accommodate them. Only those registered with an official list of companies and work units will be allowed to enter the city, according to a statement from the government last week. Lying would be punished with arrest. The slow and partial reopening of factories could have a knock-on effect on businesses around the world. China Weaving Materials in Jiangxi province said that its yarn factories would not open until February 20. Other companies in China need the yarn to make fabric. In neighbouring Vietnam, handbag factories are running short on fabric, zippers and various metal components that come mostly from China, said Tatiana Olchanetzky, a handbag manufacturing consultant in that country. "Some vendors might have to make workers take unpaid leave in March if materials are not arriving," she said. Loading Restarting China's factories is only part of the challenge. The country has a huge services and consumer sector, including shops and restaurants enjoyed by an increasingly affluent middle class. Those businesses have also been devastated by the outbreak, which has kept many Chinese families confined to their homes. Amy Li, the owner of a Shanghai restaurant that specialises in north-eastern Chinese cuisine, said that her eatery had little hope of reopening soon, like dozens of others nearby, and may not survive. "We don't know when we can reopen," Li said. "The future is a matter of fate." Eureka Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel T cell therapies to treat solid tumors, today announced that its Director of Strategy and Business Development, Dr. Jingyi Xiang, will be presenting at CAR-TCR Summit Europe being held at the Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom on February 25, 2020. Presentation Details Title: Novel Antibody-TCR Platform (ARTEMIS T cells) Combines Fab-based Antigen Recognition with gamma/delta-TCR Signalling for Favorable Safety and Efficacy Profile in T Cell Immunotherapy Speaker: Dr. Jingyi Xiang Event Program: Translation Track Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT About Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel T cell therapies to treat cancers. Its core technology centers around its proprietary ARTEMIS AbTCR T cell receptor platform and E-ALPHA antibody discovery platform for the discovery and development of potentially safer and more effective T cell therapies for the treatment of multiple solid and hematologic tumors. ET140202, the Company's lead asset, is currently in a Phase I/II US multicenter clinical trial in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information on Eureka, please visit www.eurekatherapeutics.com. About the CAR-TCR Summit Europe The CAR-TCR Summit Europe is the definitive platform for the European community to overcome current bottlenecks in translation, scale and delivery to build the infrastructure required to successfully treat patients around the world. Join forces with the CAR-TCR community to drive innovation. Through collaboration and frank, open conversations, as a field you can advance construct design to drive efficacy in solid tumours whilst characterizing the optimal product to improve persistence and durability. Whether you are managing clinical trials or responsible for devising pricing models, this meeting can support your whole team to develop the tools needed to engineer a cancer-free world. Find out more by visiting www.cartcr-europe.com or email info@hansonwade.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005021/en/ Contacts: Investors Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. Natalie Liu Investor Relations 510-722-8720 IR@eurekainc.com Media KKH Advisors Kimberly Ha 917-291-5744 kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com The lions share of Canadian population growth last year was just in three markets: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Recent data from Statistics Canada showed that the total urban population increase nationwide was 463,424. Toronto had the largest urban increase with 127,575 new residents in 2019. This pushed the citys total population up to 6,471,850. On a regional basis, the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo area saw the strongest upward movement with its 2.82% annual gain, reaching a total of 584,259 people last year. The United Kingdom will not be threatened into following European Union rules in the future by talk of economic rifts and is ready to trade with the bloc on basic international terms if needs be, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Europe adviser said on Monday. The UK left the EU last month and the two sides will now start negotiating a new relationship from trade to security. We are not frightened by suggestions there will be trade frictions, David Frost, Johnsons Europe adviser, said during a lecture at a Brussels university. We are not asking for anything special, we are asking for a simple free trade agreement. Should that not be possible because of the blocs insistence that the UK aligns itself with EU rules ahead, London was ready to trade with the 27-country union according to the same basic international rules that Europe now follows with Australia. The speech came as a response to one delivered recently in London by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who called on Johnson to agree to so-called level playing field guarantees of fair competition based on ambitious environmental and labour standards. For access to its market in the future, the EU demands these level playing field clauses to protect itself from any dumping from the UK. It is central to our vision that we must have the ability to set laws that suit us, Frost said. To think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level-playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing. Frost, who described himself in the lecture as one of the few Brexit-voting diplomats in the country, said the UK would not extend the current, status-quo Brexit transition period that runs until the end of this year. Frost, who said the UK would set out its own state aid system after the transition ends, described how he started his early career in Brussels as a Euro-enthusiast but soon became disillusioned. He said that any easing of the Johnson governments Brexit stance would not be supported by the general public at home and that the EU must treat the UK as an equal if it wants to have a durable and sustainable new partnership. He said it was perfectly possible for the EU and the UK to be economic competitors but political allies. The so-called new Western Sahara intergroup announced on Thursday with great fanfare by the Algerian media and Polisario at the European Parliament in Strasbourg turned out to be a mere hoax cooked up by the polisario separatists and Algerian diplomacy in a bid to deceit European MEPs and international community. The European Parliament has dealt a hard blow to the hoaxers. It denied flatly the statements made by Algeria and the Polisario, claiming that a new group was set up to support the separatists at the EU institutions. This denial was voiced by Speaker of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, who clarified EPs stand in a letter, sent to the chairman of the European Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries, Andrea Cozzolino, and to the joint parliamentary committees (EU-Morocco, EU-Tunisia and EU-Algeria). In his letter, David Sassoli said the European Parliament is committed to avoiding any confusion between its official activities and those of intergroups or any other unofficial groupings of MEPs. He went on to describe the setting of the Western Sahara intergroup as an identity theft aimed at using political deceit and propaganda against a sovereign State (Morocco), which is a key partner of the EU. These remarks expose the lies of Algerian diplomats and the Polisario, who claimed that more than 100 MEPs attended the meeting held Feb.13 in Strasbourg, for the creation of the Western Sahara intergroup. Besides, photos of this meeting show that only about 20 people, mostly staffers, trainees, two Polisario representatives and only German Social Democrat MEP, Joachim Schuster who was behind this initiative in connivance with Algerian diplomats, were present. He extended invitations to the 750 MEPs and about 2000 staffers and officials from the different parliamentary groups, but he was snubbed by his European colleagues and ended up the only MEP to show up. This is a new evidence that the Algerian and Polisario leaders are losing grounds and are in a desperate position after their successive diplomatic setbacks in their showdown against Morocco over its Sahara. The Midland Board of Review will hear property assessment appeals, by appointment only, Monday, March 9 through Thursday, March 12 at the City Assessor's Office at Midland City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth St. In an effort to expedite appeals and eliminate long waits to meet with the board, appointments will be accepted for people who wish to appeal their property assessment in person. The meeting schedule is as follows: - Jim Shaw & Daisy Carter (UK), Lisa Polini (Australia), Dee Parker Attwood (Australia), X-presion (Spain) and Angelo Seminara (United Kingdom) are the five winners of the 2020 International Hairdressing Awards - The famous British hairdresser Trevor Sorbie has been recognized with the International Hair Legend of the Year honor award, while the International Hair Influencer of the Year award, which recognizes the impact and influence in the world of social media, and has been awarded to Sam Villa. - The 2020 International Hairdressing Awards has taken place in Ifema, Madrid, on 16th February with a glittering awards ceremony and a catwalk show MADRID, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2020 International Hairdressing Awards are a wrap: about one thousand professionals from 30 different countries of the world have attended the great night of the international hairdressing industry, an indisputable consolidation in their second year. The International Hairdressing Awards took place in Madrid - Ifema Sunday night at 7:30 p.m., with a live broadcast on the Internet and a glittering awards ceremony. The winners in the five categories have been revealed; among the fifteen finalists, coming from all over the world. The winner in the Best International Men's Commercial Collection have been Jim Shaw & Daisy Carter (United Kingdom), with a collection named "Linear" and made up of styles where shape meets linear art. The award in Best International Women's Commercial Collection has gone to an Australian hairdresser, Lisa Polini, who entered with a collection named "Highland armour". The Best International Avant-Garde Collection award is for Dee Parker Attwood, another Australian hairdresser, who entered with a collection named "Shallow". The winner team in the category of International Artistic Team of the Year has been X-presion, the Spanish team who has rocked the hairdressing world with their innovative techniques. And last but not least, the Italian hairdresser resident in United Kingdom, Angelo Seminara, has been crowned for second consecutive year International Hairdresser of the Year. The candidacies have been chosen by a jury made up of five renowned hairdressers: Antoinette Beenders, Tabatha Coffey, Beverly C., Robert Lobetta and Tono Sanmartin. Also, the famous British hairdresser Trevor Sorbie has been recognized with the International Hair Legend of the Year honor award, being the second hairdresser awarded with this honorific award, for his career in the profession and for being an indisputable reference for professionals from all over the world, as well as a media icon. For the first time in 2020, the organization of the International Hairdressing Awards decided to present the International Hair Influencer of the Year award, which recognizes the impact and influence of a hairdressing professional in the world of social media, and has been awarded to Sam Villa, one of the most respected and beloved professionals and educators in the world. The great night of global hairdressing have gathered in Madrid the best hairdressers from around the world, making the Spanish city the hairdressing capital of the world. The night has run in the style of the great prizes, with purple carpet (the red carpet of the hairdressing industry), a glamorous awards ceremony and a runway show with some of the main teams of the world presenting their collections: Beauty Underground (USA), Christophe Gaillet (France), Mark Leeson (United Kingdom), Revlon Global Art Team, Saco (United Kingdom) and X-presion (Spain). The second edition In its second year, participation has registered a new record, with a 20% growth in the number of collections presented. Hairdressers from 41 countries (a growth of 55% over the previous year) have entered to participate with their photographic work in the categories of Best International Women's Collection, Best International Men's Collection and Best International Avant-Garde Collection. In addition, the hairdressers and artistic teams that had been shortlisted to participate in the categories of International Hairdresser of the Year and International Artistic Team of the Year were invited to submit their applications, consisting of a photographic collection and a dossier summarizing their professional career in the last year. The organization The International Hairdressing Awards are an independent beauty company, powered by hairdressers, which has been supported from its beginnings by sponsors of international relevance who believe in the message and mission of these awards, including Revlon Professional and Salon Look Madrid- Ifema, where the awards will take place. The two brands have made a strong bet and have combined their forces to make this event an international success. In addition, Estetica Magazine as a global media partner, with 24 editions around the world, will cover and contribute to the dissemination of this fantastic event. On the other hand, Beauty Underground has also been incorporated as collaborating firms. For more information, visit www.ihawards.com. Link to download images: https://we.tl/t-Gu9aFniWq8 Link to download videos: https://601.wetransfer.com/downloads/0d54b3164855ba41ba5e214fd2bb204c20200216211029/b1db6f4f113550e6284219194ab45d4e20200216211029/33f1ea Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1091164/IHA_Winners.jpg New Delhi, Feb 18 : Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will remain committed to the free metro ride scheme for the women here. Speaking to IANS, Gahlot said the Delhi government will pursue the Central government for the implementation of the scheme. "We are dedicated to all our promises. The government has also started working. We will be pursuing the Centre to allow us to implement the scheme. We will bear the cost burden of the scheme. We will be paying the amount to the Delhi Metro," Gahlot told IANS. Last year on June 3, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that women can "enjoy free rides on public transport" in the national capital, including the Metro and DTC buses. While the AAP implemented the free ride scheme for women in the DTC and cluster buses in Delhi in October, the same for Delhi Metro is yet to take place. The Delhi and the Central governments equally own the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and for any decision, the two need to be on the same page. Delhi went to polls this month and the AAP was re-elected. The Cabinet Ministers remained unchanged with minor changes in their portfolios. Gahlot continues to have the Transport Department in the new government as well. He said his party got a clear mandate as the party had worked for the people in the last five years. "We have been loved by the people for our work. This was the first election where votes were given for work. We have started the work already and the focus will be on the promises we have made in the elections," said the Minister and the MLA from the Najafgarh Assembly constituency. Gahlot has set a new record by being elected for a second time from the seat. Najafgarh Assembly constituency, having a sizable population of farmers and traders, had never repeated an MLA earlier. IMF mission to visit Kyiv again Ljungman 13:00, 18.02.20 805 The date has not been specified. [February 18, 2020] Penny Wise to lead 3M Canada as President LONDON, ON, Feb. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - 3M Canada today announced the appointment of Penny Wise as President. Wise brings more than 20 years of international experience at 3M and began her career at the Canadian head office based in London, Ontario. She will lead the company to deliver on the commitment to serve customers by providing a compelling, differentiated experience that fully leverages all that the 3M brand has to offer. "I am so thrilled and proud to be returning to Canada," said Penny Wise, 3M Canada's new President. "It's an exciting time to be re-joining 3M Canada and I look forward to working alongside the incredible team here to continue creating and elevating exceptional customer experiences." Wise has held a variety of senior leadership roles at 3M; in business, commercialization, brand and corporate maketing. In her most recent role based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Wise led 3M's largest business as Global Marketing Director of the Safety and Industrial Business Group. Prior to joining 3M, Wise was a marketing leader in the Canadian Hardware industry. In 2015, as the 3M International Marketing Director and Chief Branding Officer, Wise was instrumental in successfully launching a new global tagline for the company known as "3M Science. Applied to Life" and has been responsible for several successful, award-winning marketing transformation projects at the company. Wise holds an MBA from York University, with a specialization in Marketing. She also holds a Lean Black Belt in Six Sigma. Wise succeeds the former 3M Canada President, Lars Hanseid, who has taken on the new role at 3M of Vice President of Europe the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Corporate Affairs and Governance and Managing Director of 3M North Europe Region based out of London, UK. About 3M Canada At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $30 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Established in 1951, 3M Canada was one of the first international subsidiaries opened by 3M with the head office and original manufacturing site in London, Ontario where approximately 800 of the company's 1,900 employees work. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to the world's problems at www.3M.ca or on Twitter @3M_Canada. SOURCE 3M Canada Company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The cover of this timely, political cookbook plays to my personal belief that baking is a release: Punch down that dough with force. The authors, Kathy Gunst, a cookbook writer, and Katherine Alford, a chef and writer, include views and recipes from more than 40 contributors, including Carla Hall, Genevieve Ko, Betty Fussell, Naomi Duguid and Jessica B. Harris. Clever chocolate-vanilla swirl cookies, a lovely Mexican chocolate-almond cake, upside-down cake with fresh pineapple, and chocolate pudding are some highlights, with photos of the sweets alternating with shots of womens marches. To that point the writer Charlotte Druckman says to take your rage to the streets, not the kitchen. Some of the proceeds are donated to Emilys List, appropriate enough since the organizations name is an acronym: Early Money Is Like Yeast it makes the dough rise. Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury and Womens Voices by Kathy Gunst and Katherine Alford (Tiller Press, $24.99) Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice. HYPO PARTNERS NCDC TO KICK OUT LASSA FEVER. In a combined effort to ensure that the Lassa endemic remains significantly curtailed, Hypo, ... L-R: Opeyemi Awojobi, Sponsorship Manager, Tolaram Group, HannatuBitrus, Health Educator, Public Health Department, FCTA, Dr. Priscilla Ibekwe, Deputy Director, Special Duties, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Omotayo Abiodun, Public Relations Manager, Tolaram Group during the Hypo Nationwide Sanitization Campaign against LASSA Fever in collaboration with NCDC, Wuse Market Abuja. In a combined effort to ensure that the Lassa endemic remains significantly curtailed, Hypo, makers of Nigerias beloved bleach joined forces with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) toconduct a national outreach programs in major markets especially in the most tensioned states across Nigeria.The national market outreach program which is meant to cover major open markets across 11 states in the country is designed to enlighten market women and the entire public on the Lassa fever epidemic and steps to keep their environment clean and effectively sanitized towards curbing the spread of the disease.Both teams combed the entire Wuse Market in Abuja over the weekend to sensitize the marketers, shoppers and entire public about the importance of domestic and environmental hygiene in curtailing the effect of the Lassa virus.It was a detailed exercise where the public were equally presented the opportunity to ask questions and receive free products.Nigeria has registered an upsurge in the number of Lassa Fever cases since the beginning of the year, with 365 positive cases and 47 deaths reported from 23states/ 74 LGAs across the country i.e 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 74 LGAs.According to week five situation report on the disease released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the number of new confirmed cases has increased from 95 cases in week 04, 2020 to 104 cases and these were reported from 15 states across. Of all confirmed cases, 76% are from Edo (35%), Ondo (35%) and Ebonyi (6%) states.Speaking at the event at WuseMarket in Abuja, Ms. Omotunde Bamigbaiye, Brand Manager Hypo Bleach saidwe are most excited that with Hypos collaboration with Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a far-reaching impact in tackling the Lassa Epidemic is guaranteed.It has been a successful outing all the way, within 3 days into the launch of this campaign we have been able to reach out to thousands of people in Oke Arin Market Lagos, Oja Oba Market, Akure South LG, Ondo,Ekpoma Main Market,Benin and here in Wuse Market Abuja and the outreach continues till next week.The choice of marketplace for the outreach is quite strategic as it is a common knowledge that women remain the custodians of the family and managers of home affairs, so they have a huge role to play towards the success of this campaign.The idea is to have them and theentire public incorporate effective sanitization approach into their cleaning routine while taking them through step by step processes to prevent the spread of Lassa fever both at their shops and at home she said.Speaking on behalf of Dr. ChikweIhekwazu, Director General, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was Dr.Priscilla Ibekwe, Deputy Director, Special Duties NCDC who commended the efforts of Hypo Management for partnership opportunity at this critical stage when corporate support is needed to reach as many Nigerians as possible in tackling this issue of national concern.Also, commendable is taking the campaign to the high burden locations which are often hard to reach, with anecdotal evidence of the inverse care law while making the hypo product available for usage.During our meetings we reached an agreement to apply the 80:20 principle and begin the Public enlightenment campaign in areas/communities with the highest needand we are glad this is being followed strictly She stated Australias Federal Court rejected the case put forward by Australias national broadcaster, the ABC challenging the legality of police warrants used to raid their offices in 2019. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Media, Entertainment and Arts Affiliate (MEAA) notes the decision as evidence of the severe threat Australias laws pose to press freedom and the publics right to know. On February 17, Justice Wendy Abraham dismissed the ABCs legal challenge finding the Australia Federal Police (AFP) complied with the law when issuing the warrant. The ABCs challenge claimed the warrant was legally unreasonable and had no meaningful limitation to what could be searched. The broadcaster also argued Australias implied freedom of political communication limited the discretion of police in issuing warrants. The warrant authorised AFP to seize files from ABC computers regarding a series of 2017 reports known as the Afghan Files based on leaked Department of Defence documents. The raids occurred on June 5, 2019, a day after News Corporation journalist Annika Smethursts Canberra home was raided after she reported on a government proposal to give Australias cyber spies unprecedented powers. The search was confirmed by the federal police as part of an investigation into the alleged unauthorised disclosure of national security information". MEAA said: It is clear that the motivation behind these raids is to intimidate journalists and media organisations. The raids have a chilling effect on public interest journalism by demonstrating to whistleblowers that if they reveal wrongdoing, corruption or illegal activities in the public interest, they will be hunted down and prosecuted." The IFJ said: The ruling highlights the excessive power that exists in Australia to limit press freedom. In a democracy that values transparency, the law must protect whistleblowers and public interest journalism. The government plans to set up a 900-km power transmission link that will help large solar and wind energy projects in Ladakh supply electricity across the country, said Anand Kumar, secretary in the Union ministry of new and renewable energy. The move is part of Indias strategy to develop the Union territory of Ladakh. The 11,000-crore marque project seeks to resolve grid connectivity problems faced by the region. This is also expected to attract investments for setting up green energy projects in the cold desert region. The power link will initially transfer around 2,500 megawatts (MW) and will be developed in the third phase of the green energy corridors to help tap Ladakhs solar energy potential of 40 gigawatts (GW). The strategic project assumes significance as it will help supply power to the people of Leh and Kargil districts, besides defence establishments, during harsh winters and also help transmit surplus power to the rest of the country in summers. However, its construction will be a logistical challenge, considering the region remains snow covered for nearly six months with very low temperature and oxygen levels. Various options are being discussed to facilitate the power transmission project. It can be either a VGF (viability grant funding) project or a PPP (public-private partnership) project or a mix of both. It may also have a generation component, said Kumar. VGF is a grant and is at the centre of Indias infrastructure-creation plans through PPPs. Ladakh, Thar, Rann of Kutch, Lahaul and Spiti have the potential to generate 315.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind power, and will require investments of 43.7 trillion over the next 30 years to 2050, according to a study conducted by the state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. The government is also exploring the feasibility of setting up storage projects in Leh-Ladakh. The reorganization of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories has given the Centre direct control over Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This, in turn, is expected to speed up approvals for infrastructure projects. Bhutan is praised in the entire world for its carbon-neutral image and other environmental initiatives. Let us all make sure that we develop Ladakh as a carbon-neutral entity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament recently. Work on the national grid is on with green energy corridors being set up in two phases with a total investment of 47,000 crore. Power Grid, which is working to improve the capacity and efficiency of inter-state transmission networks, is setting up transmission corridors to supply power from solar parks to the national grid. The government is also trying to divide the electricity generated from hydropower projects by Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corp. Ltd and NHPC Ltd between the two youngest Union territories. There are difficulties in setting up projects in Ladakh, but investments will be made to build transmission systems, Union power minister Raj Kumar Singh had said earlier. Indias national grid comprises five regional networksthe northern grid, the southern grid, the eastern grid, the north-eastern grid and the western gridwhich are interconnected. The stability of the power grid will be important in the transmission of green energy as it will have to factor in the variation in solar and wind energy generated. Also, lower capacity utilization of solar plants at 18-24% compared with up to 80% in thermal projects means that the transmission cost per unit of power is higher for solar energy. India is running what will become the worlds largest clean energy programme with the aim of achieving 175GW of clean energy capacity by 2022 as part of its global climate change commitments. New Delhi plans to add 100GW of solar capacity by 2022, including 40GW from rooftop projects. The agreements value lies in opening the door to an Afghan peace process it will retain its salience only if it is followed by that next phase. So the details may not matter all that much. Some have criticized the possible U.S.-Taliban agreement as nothing more than a fig leaf for American military withdrawal. But if all the United States wanted to do was leave Afghanistan, it could do so without making a deal with the Taliban. And if intra-Afghan negotiations fall apart, it is hard to imagine the United States will feel bound by whatever it has agreed with the Taliban. Ultimately, America will pull out of Afghanistan on its own terms just as it invaded and dialed up and down its troop numbers in accord with American interests. On the flip side, the Taliban will only have reason to abide by its antiterrorism promises if a peace agreement helps it become part of the political mainstream and gain a stake in maintaining the legitimacy it has already begun to enjoy. Making the most of this opportunity will not be simple: The next stage of talks could easily consume a year or more. They will have to tackle much thornier questions of how to share power and security responsibilities and how to modify state structures to satisfy both the governments interest in maintaining the current system and the Talibans interest in something they would regard as more Islamic. Whats more, there are no doubt some on both sides who maintain maximalist aspirations, still hoping to exclude the other side from power by any means. These elements will be inclined either to provoke failure of the talks or to outlast American and other outsiders pressure to persevere. The most important task now is to start and generate traction in intra-Afghan negotiations, without getting distracted by those who might seek to capitalize on the fragility of the reduction in violence pledge or any cease-fire agreements that follow. It is nearly certain there will be continued violence during the talks. Patience is an absolute necessity. A peace process wont be done as fast as long-suffering Afghans hope, nor quickly enough to produce a definitive political win before the American presidential election. And a durable peace process needs a neutral mediator to manage it, help to bridge mistrust and nudge the parties toward compromises. This cant be the United States, which isnt neutral in the Afghan war. But there wont be a neutral mediator without American backing for the idea. The Champions League knockout stages finally return tonight as Jurgen Klopps Liverpool face the task of breaking down Diego Simeones rigorously organised Atletico Madrid. Despite the chaos of the clubs two-year Uefa ban for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, an angrily determined Manchester City remain betting favourites to lift the trophy in Istanbul, but will first have to negotiate the almighty task of defeating Zinedine Zidanes Real Madrid. Barcelona are still immersed in their striking rescue mission, with former Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite linked with an emergency move from Leganes in the absence of Luis Suarez, while Frank Lampards toiling Chelsea hope to revive memories of their glory in 2012 against Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germains quest for European dominance takes flight again, this time with Neymar happy and firing, against Borussia Dortmunds thrilling young side, spearheaded by Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland. Jose Mourinho is hoping to pull of another masterclass when Spurs deprived of both Harry Kane and Son Heung-min take on Julian Nagelsmanns prolific Bundesliga contenders RB Leipzig. A slightly troubled Juventus take on Lyon, with Maurizio Sarri looking to quell reservations about his management among the clubs supporters, while Valencia and Atalanta complete the last-16 draw. Click through the gallery below to see our Champions League power rankings: Champions League round-of-16 clubs Show all 17 1 /17 Champions League round-of-16 clubs Champions League round-of-16 clubs Champions League - Round of 16 Who are favourites to win this year's competition? REUTERS Champions League round-of-16 clubs 16. Lyon French side have endured a miserable season domestically, currently languishing in 11th, and face Serie A champions Juventus without star attackers Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide. REUTERS Champions League round-of-16 clubs 15. Napoli Gennaro Gattuso's side are still in transition after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti and come up against the fearsome task of facing Barcelona. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 14. Valencia The unlikely winners of Group H could certainly come through against Atalanta, however, they lack the depth to make a serious bid for a place in Istanbul and are currently without striker Rodrigo. EPA Champions League round-of-16 clubs 13. Atalanta It's been an incredible story for the Bergamo-based minnows in their debut in the competition. Duvan Zapata's return provides a huge boost and they are slender favourites against Valencia, however, it would require something monumental to reach the latter stages. EPA Champions League round-of-16 clubs 12. Chelsea Frank Lampard's side are struggling after defeat by Manchester United, with a lack of cohesion in defence and failing firepower in attack. Add the injuries to Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic and their chances against Bayern Munich seem extremely poor. EPA Champions League round-of-16 clubs 11. Borussia Dortmund Lucien Favre's side are extremely dangerous, with teenagers Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland grabbing the headlines. However, a last-16 tie against PSG provides an almighty test. EPA Champions League round-of-16 clubs 10. Tottenham Hotspur Jose Mourinho lives for this competition and these knockout ties. Even without Harry Kane, he may just have the cunning to outwit Leipzig, but it will be a hard sell. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 9. RB Leipzig Come into their tie against Tottenham in tremendous form, with Timo Werner one of Europe's most prolific striker. However, their focus on a first Bundesliga title could inhibit their chances in Europe. AP Champions League round-of-16 clubs 8. Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone's side are evolving but still have the DNA of his great, horrible sides that proved to be a tough out in seasons before. However, the task of unseating champions Liverpool will be seriously difficult. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 7. Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane has already won the competition three times as Real Madrid manager - but a tie against a fired-up, potentially last European saloon City leaves them as underdogs. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 6. Juventus Champions should be able to sweep aside Lyon in the last-16, however, there has been recent unrest under Maurizio Sarri with the club showing few improvements since Max Allegri's departure. AFP via Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 5. Bayern Munich Have been resurgent under Hansi Flick with Robert Lewandowski in unstoppable form. They should be able to break down Chelsea's defence and enter the last-eight as serious contenders. Bongarts/Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 4. Paris Saint-Germain Face a tough test against Dortmund but, with Neymar back - and happy, the club are better-placed than ever to finally clinch a coveted European crown. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 3. Barcelona Haven't quite been at their best this season but will raise their levels as the tournament progresses and will be desperate to redeem their loss at Anfield last season. Luis Suarez's absence will be sorely felt, though. AP Champions League round-of-16 clubs 2. Manchester City Remain favourites, despite the commotion caused by the club's Uefa ban. With their Premier League hopes extinguished, Pep Guardiola's side will be more determined than ever to break their European duck. Getty Images Champions League round-of-16 clubs 1. Liverpool Undefeated in the Premier League, with the title already wrapped up, Europe's most in-form team can dedicate all their efforts to securing back-to-back trophies. AFP via Getty Images Please click through the gallery above. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below. Meet Kiandra Peart, an 18-year-old creative artist and engineering student who recently won a prize award for over $10,000 thanks to her innovative sneaker designs. This young designer began painting on canvas but then she attempted in vain to save a favorite pair of worn sneakers. Not being the type of person to give up easily, she went online to see what other people were doing. Peart discovered the paint had to be waterproof and flexible. Then Peart posted her first pair of sneaker designs on social media and subsequently received requests for duplication. Initially, Peart who is from Queens, didnt receive a lot of creative ideas. Most of the characters requested were famous super heroes or cartoon characters. Still her parents Kim and Adrian Peart felt that their daughter should be paid for her work. With their encouragement she took her talent to the next level. She developed a name, a business plan and a logo. Finally, Kustoms by Ki, was created. A fully designed pair of sneaker starts at $100 and the price depends on factors such as whether the customer provides the sneakers or design. At times, customers will give her an idea and she takes it from there to create an entirely new sneaker design. In the summer of 2019 Peart, competed and won the National Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) award in the entrepreneurship category for developing Kustoms by Ki. The event which took place in Detroit was hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP.) The prize was a $50,000 investment into Kustoms by Ki and placement in a business incubator. The incubator guides Peart through the intricacies of growing a business. Even before receiving this award, Peart was a precocious high school junior who entered the Breakthrough Junior Challenge competition. This is a global competition for teens between the ages 13 and 18 who are tasked with creating a three-minute video describing a science or math topic. Peart produced a video about physics, where she described the fourth dimension and how we can visualize it. In September 2019, Peart was notified that she placed twentieth in this worldwide competition. Multi-talented Peart is a freshman at Georgia Tech University studying mechanical engineering. She plans to work in her field after college and one day, hopefully, to employ other creative minds. The future holds many possibilities for this young lady. If you would like a pair of sneakers to be designed by Kiandra Peart, you can contact her via email KustomsByKi@gmail.com or on Facebook @Kustomsbyki. Rod Blagojevich, centre, fights his way through the media scrum as he leaves the federal court in Chicago: AP Donald Trump announced he will commute the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor who admitted to trying sell Barack Obama's former US Senate seat. He was one of 11 people to be pardoned or have their sentences commuted by the president in a matter of hours. "He seemed like a very nice person," the president said of Mr Blagojevich, claiming he doesn't know him "well." Mr Trump said he wants the former governor's children to know their father "outside of an orange uniform." Blagojevich, a Democrat, has served seven years of a 14-year sentence on charges of wire fraud, extortion and seeking bribes while Illinois' chief executive. The former US House member and governor also has a tie to Mr Trump: He was a contestant on The Apprentice, a business-based reality television show the now-president hosted. Among the charges that landed Mr Blagojevich in prison was one that he sought to exchange the Senate seat for campaign donations after Mr Obama became president. Rod Blagojevich, centre, fights his way through the media scrum as he leaves the federal court in Chicago (AP) The flamboyant Mr Blagojevich became known as "Blago" and reports say other inmates refer to him simply as "Gov" on the inside (short for governor). Mr Trump made the announcement at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, where he was boarding Air Force One for a West Coast swing for 2020 fundraisers and campaign rallies. Earlier on Tuesday, the White House announced the president had signed an order commuting the sentence of John Edward DeBartolo Jr, a former owner of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, who had pleaded guilty in a corruption case involving Louisana's former governor. It also comes weeks after Senate Republicans acquitted him on charges of abusing his power towards Ukraine and obstructing Congress, with Democrats and legal experts warning he is now more willing to press the envelope and push laws to their breaking point, feeling Senate Republicans will stick by him no matter what. Story continues Former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik (AP) Trump also said he has commuted the sentence of Bernie Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner who once was a George W Bush nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Federal prosecutors convicted Mr Kerik on eight felony charges that included tax fraud and lying to federal officials. The other figures to be pardoned or have their sentences commuted are Mike Milken, Paul Pogue, Ariel Friedler, David Safavian, Angela Standon, Tynice Nichole Hall, Crystal Munoz and Judith Negron. Read more Military wives say Trumps SOTU stunt disrespected service members Trump pardons NFL executive despite corruption conviction Bolton breaks silence since Trump impeachment acquittal Trump furiously threatens to sue his investigators in morning rant Zuckerberg and Trump in mutual assistance agreement, says Soros Derek Bottler Devoy pleaded guilty to possession of a sub-machine gun with intent to endanger life A notorious Dublin criminal has pleaded guilty to possessing a sub-machine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury in north Dublin last year. Derek 'Bottler' Devoy (37), of Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11, was previously charged with possessing a RAK-PM63 sub-machine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11, last March 11. Devoy also faces two charges under Section 19 of the Public Order Act for assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant at Crannogue Road on the same date. Explosive Yesterday morning at the Special Criminal Court, the first count on his indictment - possessing a RAK-PM63 submachine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun - was put to Devoy. When asked how he pleaded to this single count, he said: "I plead guilty." Sean Gillane SC, for Devoy, asked the court to fix a trial date in respect of the two public order charges. Mr Justice Paul Coffey set June 10 as the trial date for these charges. Devoy was also previously charged with possessing an explosive substance, a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on the same occasion. The accused man was further charged with possessing a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub-machine gun in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same date at Belclare Crescent and Doon Court, Ballymun. Devoy was also charged with possessing ammunition, some 11 rounds of 9mm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. Devoy has previous convictions for attempted armed robbery, gun crime and drug dealing. Devoy has been suspected of being in the middle of a number of dangerous feuds, including with north inner city associates of the Hutch mob. It is this gang that is suspected of murdering Devoy's innocent sister Antoinette Corbally (47) in August 2017. The 48-year-old was gunned down along with Devoy's innocent pal Clinton Shannon (30) when a gunman opened fire on Devoy's mother's home on Balbutcher Drive. Mother-of-six Ms Corbally was shot after opening the door to the killer, who had seconds earlier shot Mr Shannon as he sat in a car outside the house after driving Devoy there. Topless 'Bottler' dropped a toddler he was holding and made his way to safety over the back wall of the house. Just 24 hours before his sister's funeral, a topless 'Bottler' was photographed by the Herald at her wake while wearing just tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Gardai believe that Hutch mobster Jason 'Buda' Molyneux, who himself was gunned down in January 2018 as part of the Hutch/Kinahan feud, was involved in the double murder. Molyneux was previously arrested and quizzed in connection with the murder of Bottler's brother, 'Mad' Mickey Devoy, in 2014. The church in Larne which was attacked by vandals at the weekend The Orange Order has told the Justice Minister that its halls should be included in any new legislation aimed at protecting Northern Ireland's religious buildings from attacks. Justice Minister Naomi Long has said her department's officials are currently exploring whether a scheme similar to the Places of Worship Security Fund that operates in England and Wales could be implemented in Northern Ireland. However, the Department of Justice would not commit further yesterday as to whether buildings that belong to the Order would qualify under the proposed law. Last week, Mrs Long had the issue first put to her by DUP MLA Gordon Dunne in a ministerial question. "I will consider this further once I have had the opportunity to reflect on the findings," she responded. The introduction of a Places of Worship Security Scheme would bring Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales, which both have the protection in operation. It would allow institutions to apply for money to install security measures on their properties. A spokesperson for the Orange Order said it is an organisation that seeks to promote reformed faith, and if the aim of the proposed legislation is to protect religious organisations and their property, then its halls should be included. "The reality is that while legislation may be of some help, really what is required is a change of attitude from those people who are willing to go out and attack church buildings, GAA clubs or Orange halls," continued the spokesperson. "Such negative sectarian behaviour is wrong, no matter whether it is against property or an individual. Such hate crimes are to be condemned and should be treated as very serious in nature." The Department of Justice was asked by the Belfast Telegraph if buildings belonging to the Orange Order would be included in the proposed legislation. A spokesperson replied: "The funding places of worship scheme in England and Wales is not a statute provision. "The Department of Justice is currently exploring evidence-based information in relation to attacks on places on worship in order to assess if any similar scheme in Northern Ireland is required." Ms Long confirmed that between 2016 and 2019 there were 445 recorded attacks on places of worship including churches, churchyards and cemeteries. According to PSNI data released last November on incidents and crimes with a hate motivation, there were five attacks recorded at churches or chapels between October 2017 and September 2018, and eight attacks between October 2018 and September 2019. Mr Dunne has backed moves to bring in legislation to protect churches here. He said: "Freedom of religion and belief is a bedrock value of our society." A Catholic church in Larne was targeted at the weekend in what police are treating as a hate crime. It was reported that at 11am on Sunday a paint bomb had been thrown at St MacNissi's Parish Church on Agnew Street overnight. It hit the church's perimeter wall. Sergeant Alan Lowry said: "Enquiries are continuing and at this stage the incident is being treated as a sectarian hate crime." Police have appealed for anyone with any information in relation to the church attack to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 608 16/02/20. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan interacts with Indians who were air-lifted from Wuhan following out-break of the deadly novel coronavirus, before their release from the ITBP quarantine facility, at Chhawla, in New Delhi on February 17, 2020. A total of 650 people were brought back from Wuhan in China on February 1- 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. While 406 of these are being looked after at the ITBP facility, rest are at an Army center at Manesar in Haryana. (Image: PTI) Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the world's leading desalination plant builder, said Tuesday that it plans to carry out a voluntary retirement program in the latest move to cut costs. Doosan Heavy said its employees age 45 and above are eligible for the retirement program. Currently, the number of eligible employees is about 2,600 out of its total of 7,600 employees, according to the company. Doosan Heavy said it remains unclear how many of its eligible employees will opt to leave the company in the first retirement program in five years, citing the voluntary nature of the program. It did not elaborate on when the retirement program will take effect. The company has offered to pay the equivalent of up to two years' salary and college tuition for retirees' children as well as severance pay. In addition, those who have worked for the company for more than 20 years will receive another 50 million won (US$42,000). The latest retirement program comes as the company suffered net losses for the sixth consecutive year since 2014. In 2014, some 200 office workers at Doosan Heavy left the company in a retirement program. (Yonhap) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Coal Inc. (the Company or Canada Coal), (TSX-V: CCK.H) announces that it has terminated its proposed business combination with Mijem Inc. (Mijem) first announced on November 20th, 2019. Despite having received shareholder approval to the proposed transaction with Mijem at an annual and special meeting of Canada Coals shareholders held on February 7th, 2020, regrettably Mijem was not able to raise the required $1.85 million minimum in concurrent financing required to complete the business combination. The Company will now pursue other business opportunities. On behalf of the Board of Directors R. Bruce Duncan President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: 1-905-813-8408 Website: www.canadacoal.com E-mail: info@canadacoal.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Deng Xijun (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 19 2020 The Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers Meeting on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) will be held in Laos on Thursday. This meeting is convened at a critical moment when China and ASEAN are battling the severe challenge of COVID-19. It reflects the firm resolve of China and ASEAN to fight the epidemic and the unique, friendly relationship between our two sides. It will also be a leading example of responding to epidemics through cross-border cooperation. Since the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2019, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government promptly set up a nationwide framework to mobilize personnel and resources from across the country. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login By Gwynne Dyer Bertie Ahern, who was the taoiseach (prime minister) of the Irish Republic from 1997 to 2008, was a brilliant machine politician, not a nationalist or an ideologist. In fact, if you said the word "principle" in his presence, he might have to look up the meaning. But here's what he said after the Sinn Fein Party came first in the Feb. 8 Irish election. "I think a border poll (on the unification of the Republic and Northern Ireland, which is currently part of the United Kingdom) is inevitable. If you ask me when that is, I think it's probably five years off at least but it will be inevitable over this decade." Are we about to see the final, peaceful solution to the 400-year-old "Irish problem"? Not necessarily, but the long, frozen stability of Irish politics both north and south of the border is definitely dissolving. In Northern Ireland the Catholics have finally achieved the "revenge of the cradle," displacing the Protestants as the majority population at a time when, coincidentally, the turmoil of Brexit is opening all the old certainties about the province's ties to the U.K. to question. In the south, independent from the U.K. for a century and home to almost three-quarters of the island's 6.6 million people, almost everybody is of Catholic heritage and matters have long seemed more settled. Politics was dominated by two center-right parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, neither of which gave more than lip service to the notion of unification with the north. Nobody in the Republic wanted to hear about that. The "Celtic Tiger" years (circa 1995-2008) had finally made the Republic a prosperous place, after a long history of genteel poverty. Most of its citizens had no desire to see a united Ireland if it risked bringing the north's chronic violence (the "Troubles," 1968-1999) to the south as well. In these circumstances Sinn Fein, an all-Ireland leftist and nationalist party that operated as the political front of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the "Troubles," had little attraction for voters in the Republic. It was Northern-dominated and linked to terrorism, and both of the major parties in Dublin refused to have anything to do with it. And now, suddenly, Sinn Fein ends up with more votes than any other party in the Republic. What happened? This political revolution is not driven by Irish nationalism. Few of the people who voted for Sinn Fein cared much about the north, or unification, or any of that old stuff. They voted for Sinn Fein because they were fed up with high rents, housing shortages and long hospital waiting lists. Their only alternative was to vote for the same two old parties that have been passing power back and forth for 100 years, so they ignored Sinn Fein's IRA links and voted for it anyway. Those links recently became easier to ignore because Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein's leader for 35 years and simultaneously a senior officer in the IRA (though he always denied it) finally retired in 2018. His successor, Mary Lou McDonald, definitely has no blood on her hands, and she was born in the Republic, not in the north. She's voter-friendly, not scary, and she got the votes. Irish politics is clearly now a three-horse race, in the sense that Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael each took between 21 percent and 25 percent of the vote. But that leaves each of them with fewer than half the seats they would need for a majority in the Dail (parliament). Prospects for viable coalition-making were looking grim after the election, with both traditional major parties saying they would never enter a coalition with Sinn Fein. The only viable alternative was yet another deal between the two traditional major parties but that is what the voters had just revolted against. Now it's looking a little saner, with Micheal Martin of Fianna Feil saying that he's open to talks with Sinn Fein. But the sheer tribal truculence of Irish politics is embodied in the very names of the Republic's major parties: "Ourselves Alone" (Sinn Fein), "Tribe of the Irish" (Fine Gael), and "Soldiers of Destiny" (Fianna Fail). It will therefore take some time to make a deal, but one will be reached eventually, and it will probably include a place for Sinn Fein. Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, said it plainly "We are going to have a unity referendum" and Fintan O'Toole, the best Irish political commentator of his generation, explained what that means in his column in the Irish Times. "(The voters) have gone where they were warned not to go," he wrote, "and in doing so they have redrawn the map of Irish politics to include territory previously marked 'Here Be Dragons.'" Gwynne Dyer (gwynne763121476@aol.com) has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. He is the author of "Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)." Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:28:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is to export maize grain to Zimbabwe to help address the food shortage in the southern African country, a top government official said Tuesday. Bright Rwamirama, Uganda's minister of state for agriculture told Xinhua that an agreement has been reached to supply maize grain to Zimbabwe, under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) protocol. "The request by Zimbabwe to buy maize from Uganda is healthy. We are members of COMESA," said Rwamirama. "It's good news for Uganda. Here we do farming as a business. If our farmers can sell maize to Zimbabwe, it is good news," he added, noting that whatever quantities raised can be sold off. About half of Zimbabwe's population, 7.7 million people, face starvation and will need assistance in 2020 as the country grapples with severe drought and economic meltdown, according to the UN World Food Program. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.18 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: The Czech Republic considers Georgia to be an important and strategic partner in the region of South Caucasus, a representative of Ministry of Industry and Trade of Czechia told Trend. According to the ministry, the Czech Republic appreciates the long-term cooperation between the two countries. Consumers know the traditional products of the other country, whether it is Czech glass and machinery or Georgian food products. "Trade relations between the Czech Republic and Georgia are intensifying every year. Exports from Czechia to Georgia in the past decade have been stable and growing", the representative said. In addition, regular sessions of the Czech-Georgian Joint Committee on bilateral Economic Cooperation play an important role in developing of relationships between the two countries, said the representative. According to the ministry, the Fourth Session of the committee was held during the visit of the business delegation of Czechia led by Minister of Industry and Trade Marta Novakova to Tbilisi in September 2018. The latest, Fifth Session of the Joint Committee was held in Prague in November 2019. The parties expressed readiness for better and deeper economic, trade and investment relations in the future, said the ministry. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 That resolution was introduced to the House of Representatives last week and referred to the Judiciary Committee. While the true number of Indigenous people who are murdered or go missing nationally and in Wyoming is unclear, they do face higher rates of sexual and physical violence. In some tribal communities, according to the resolution, Native Americans are murdered at more than 10 times the national average, and Native American and Alaska Native women and girls are at least twice as likely to experience rape or sexual assault and 2.5 times more likely to experience violent crimes compared to women and girls of other races. In Wyoming, according to the resolution, state officials reported 107 missing Native Americans in 2018 and 93 through the end of July 2019 to the National Crime Information Center. The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Andi Clifford, D-Fort Washakie, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Ultimately, Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, said the bill is about families ... and their loss. Ellis, one of the bills architects, is a member of the Navajo Nation and co-Chairwoman of the states Select Committee on Tribal Relations. Miners in Poland launched a blockade of a railway terminal in the country's main coal mining region on February 18 to protest an increase in Russian coal imports. The labor action involving several hundred miners at the Slawkow terminal in Silesia follows an increase in imports of Russian coal to Poland in recent years while stockpiles of more expensive coal from Polish mines have been growing. Boguslaw Zietek, head of Polands Sierpien 80 trade union, said the Slawkow terminal in Silesia is where Russian coal arrives by train and takes away our jobs and our right to pay hikes. The terminal in Silesia is linked to Poland's eastern neighbors with a broad-gauge railway that facilitates trade. Analysts point out that Polish coal mines suffer from high extraction costs because of higher wages for Polish miners, higher electricity prices, and low-lying coal deposits. Polands Treasury Ministry says that out of 16.7 million tons of coal imported to Poland in 2019, 10.8 million tons came from Russia. Coal inventories at Polish mines more than doubled in 2019 to 5.2 million tons by the end of December. Poland relies on coal and lignite to produce about 80 percent of its electricity. Polish coal miners are planning a protest in Warsaw later this month to demand pay hikes. Based on reporting by dpa and Bloomberg East Africa's worst locust plague in 70 years has reached South Sudan, panicking authorities who fear the outbreak will compound starvation in the war-torn nation. Since the swarm spawned on the Ethiopia-Somalia border, the pests have flown a path of destruction through Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan. Their number has ballooned into the billions which has left governments scrambling to stop them laying waste to crops. Around 2,000 of the desert locusts have now been spotted in the Eastern Equatorial state of South Sudan, the agriculture minister Onyoti Adigo said. The potentially devastating effects of the grass-guzzling insects was spelled out by the country's UN representative Meshack Malo. The desert locusts in this arid patch of northern Somalia look less ominous than the billion-member swarms infesting East Africa, but the hopping young locusts are the next wave in the outbreak that threatens more than 10 million people across the region with a severe hunger crisis Since the swarm spawned on the Ethiopia-Somalia border, the pests have flown a path of destruction through Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, before now reaching South Sudan At this stage 'if we are not able to deal with them ... it will be a problem,' he said. Droughts and flood following a bitter civil war have left 60 per cent of the population suffering hunger. Malo added: 'These are deep yellow which means that they will be here mostly looking at areas in which they will lay eggs.' Experts have warned the main March-to-May cropping season is at risk as eggs laid along the locusts' path are due to hatch and create a second wave of the insects in key agricultural areas. The locusts have travelled in swarms the size of Moscow and it has been said the only effective control is aerial spraying with pesticides. Adigo said: 'We are training people who will be involved in spraying and also we need chemicals for spraying and also sprayers. 'You will also need cars to move while spraying and then later if it becomes worse, we will need aircraft.' A young desert locust that has not yet grown wings is stuck in a spider's web on a thorny bush in the desert near Garowe, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia Desert locusts jump up from the ground and fly away in Nasuulu Conservancy, northern Kenya Other countries have employed aircraft to spray the swarms, while desperate locals have employed tactics like banging pots and pans or shooting at them. But UN and local authorities have said more aircraft and pesticides are required, with $76million needed urgently. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday during a visit to Ethiopia said the U.S. would donate another $8million to the effort. That follows an earlier $800,000. The number of locusts could grow up to 500 times by June, when drier weather begins, experts have said. Until then, the fear is that more rains in the coming weeks will bring fresh vegetation to feed a new generation of the voracious insects. South Sudanese ministers called for a collective regional response to the outbreak that threatens to devastate crops and pasturage. There have been six major desert locust plagues in the 1900s, the last of which was in 1987-89. The last major upsurge was in 2003-05. Ranger Gabriel Lesoipa is surrounded by desert locusts as he and a ground team relay the coordinates of the swarm to a plane spraying pesticides, in Nasuulu Conservancy, northern Kenya The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger has confirmed the death of six persons in a crash that occurred on Monday along Kutigi Mokwa Road in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state. According to the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Joel Dagwa, the accident occured at around 8.45pm and involved three articulated vehicles, including a tanker loaded with diesel from Lagos on bound to the North, a truck conveying container loaded with goods and suspected to be having over 200 passengers from the North going to Lagos and another trailer. He said that registration numbers of the vehicles were not visible as they were burnt. Mr Dagwa explained that a petrol tanker collided with two other trucks loaded with grains and scores of passengers heading to Lagos, and a container truck. The three articulated vehicles caught fire and combustible products, ignited, spilled over and burnt the three trucks to ashes. The raging inferno engulfed several shops and houses in the neighbourhood, while passengers with various degrees of injuries were taken to general hospital Kutigi for treatment. All the four corpses have been deposited at Kutigi general hospitals morgue, he said. The sector commander attributed the accident to brake failure, loss of control, speed violation and failed roads. (NAN) Democrat Scott Costello, of Highland, said he sees the impact of those jobs firsthand as the behavioral health director at a local hospital. Every day I see the types of trauma that police- and fire- men and women must address on the streets of our communities, Costello said. You have no less than an extremely challenging and often thankless job. The importance of your work cannot be overstated. Dion Bergeron, a Republican and former corrections officer at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, said he saw things I cant ever describe to another living human being because it makes it real. Mental health has a stigma despite all the money we spend on it, and law enforcement and firefighters have some of the highest rates of PTSD in the country, and that doesnt count the spouses of those brave men and women, Bergeron said. Mental health resources for law enforcement, firefighters, correction officers and their families is vital, and I will fight for that. Other candidates lacking direct, personal law enforcement experience touted their efforts on behalf of the general law enforcement community. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rio Tinto said it continues to progress options to secure domestically sourced power for the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, which it is obliged to do by 30 June 2023 under the 2009 Investment Agreement between Turquoise Hill, the Government of Mongolia and Rio Tinto and subsequent Power Sector Framework Agreement, signed in 2018. Oyu Tolgoi LLC today submitted to the Government of Mongolia a Feasibility Study for the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant (TTPP) Project, which involves building a 300 MW coal power plant. In parallel with the TTPP Project, and in consultation with the Government of Mongolia, Rio Tinto is also progressing alternative options to source domestic power, including a renewable power component. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TOKYO -- Japan plans to trial HIV medications to treat patients infected with coronavirus as the growing number of cases poses an increasing threat to the countrys economy as well as public health. Yoshihide Suga, the governments top spokesman, said at a briefing on Tuesday that the government is currently conducting preparations so that clinical trials using HIV medication on the novel coronavirus can start as soon as possible. Suga said he couldnt comment on how long it would take for the new drug to be approved. The total number of confirmed infections in Japan stood at 520 as of Monday, including 454 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off Yokohama port, according to Japans health ministry. One person has died from the virus so far. With Japans economy contracting, raising the risk of a recession, the spread of the coronavirus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies have begun to urge employees to work from home. Tokyos HIV treatment trials come as those drugs have been touted as a potential cure for the coronavirus around the world. With no therapy proven 100 percent effective against the virus so far, close to 1,900 people have died in the epidemic in mainland China. People in China have begun exploring unorthodox ways to obtain treatments, with some appealing to HIV patients and unauthorized importers for medicine. In Thailand, meanwhile, doctors said they appeared to have had some success in treating severe cases of the coronavirus with a combination of medications for flu and HIV. Diamond princess evacuations Meanwhile more than 300 Americans who had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship returned home via U.S. government evacuation flights on Monday. The ship has been under quarantine since early this month, leaving more than 3,000 passengers and crew in confinement, after a passenger who had left the ship in Hong Kong was then diagnosed with the coronavirus. Around half of the passengers aboard the Diamond Princess are Japanese with the rest foreign nationals, many of whom have expressed frustration over the quarantine. Foreign governments including Canada, Australia, Italy and South Korea are now also planning evacuations for their citizens on the cruise liner. A plane chartered by the Canadian government has left for Japan to evacuate its nationals, TV Asahi reported. Canada has said returnees from the cruise ship will undergo another 14-day of quarantine on its soil. South Korea is also sending a government charter flight on Tuesday to take its four citizens and one Japanese spouse off the boat and bring them to Korea. They have no symptoms, South Korean health minister Kim Kang-lip told a briefing. Japanese passengers who test negative will begin disembarking as early as Wednesday, the original deadline for the end of ships quarantine, Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato said. Everyone wants to return home as soon as possible, so considering that feeling, we are making preparations smoothly, so that they can go back to their home, Kato told reporters. A former Minister of Communication Dr. Edward Omane Boamah says President Akufo-Addo's performance in the corruption fight cannot be compared to that of former President John Mahama. He said Mahama's worst performance in the fight against corruption in the country is regarded as best under President Akufo-Addos current efforts. Referring to the most recent report on the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI), he indicated that the Akufo-Addo government has performed poorly in addressing corruption when compared to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) anti-graft fight in four years under Mahama, Ghana ranked 80 out of 180 countries on the 2019 global Corruption Perception Index, according to Transparency International (TI). According to the report, Ghana scored 41 out of a possible clean score of 100 the same score as the previous year, 2018. Dr. Omane Boamah, speaking on Citi TVs The Point of View on Monday stated that the current government had failed to fulfil its promise of ending corruption during its tenure in office. They [the NPP] also said they were going to eliminate corruption. The most credible institution, which is globally accepted is Transparency International. The worst performance of President Mahama administration on the CP index is better than the best performance of Akufo-Addo. So when you talk about the elimination of corruption, especially in the procurement of goods and services etc, that one too theyve not been able to achieve that, he noted. The CPI report In 2015, Ghana scored 47 and in 2016, came down to 43. In 2017, it recorded the worst performance with an average score of 40 out of 100 and rose marginally to 41 in 2018 and maintained that figure in 2019. To ensure Ghana improves on its performance, Government was advised to enforce sanctions against vote-buying, abuse of incumbency and threats to voters to ensure this year's [2020] election is held in a free and fair environment. The report also asked the Electoral Commission to also enforce sections 13 and 14 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) which deals with declaration of assets and expenditure by political parties. ---with files from citinewsroom Georgia May Jagger is quite the jet-setter. On Monday, the 28-year-old was spotted arriving at LAX airport from London after walking in the Tommy Hilfiger show in London. She continued to rock a chic style as if she was still on the runway while hauling her red suitcase and white handbag through the airport. Still working: On Monday, Georgia May Jagger was spotted arriving at LAX airport from London after walking in the Tommy Hilfiger show in London Her essentials: She continued to rock a chic style as if she was still on the runway while hauling her red suitcase and white handbag The daughter of Mick Jagger wore a pair of baggy green plaid pants with large pockets that she pair with brown boots. Georgia added a white t-shirt and black bomber jacket. As she walked she carried a gray sweater and a pair of white sunglasses. This comes fresh off the young star owning the runway in London for fashion week. On the go: As she arrived she hustled through the airport to grab her things Jet setter: Last year, Georgia opened up to Vogue about her change of scenery after moving to New York from London to be with her boyfriend, Louis Levy Stylish: The daughter of Mick Jagger wore a pair of baggy green plaid pants with large pockets that she paired with brown boots For her runway look, she rocked a stylish jumpsuit for the TommyNow show just one day before catching her flight. Her jumpsuit had a statement zipper down the middle and two patches on both sides of the zipper that read 'Unity.' The look was elevated with a pair of bright white sneakers and neon green laces. Working woman: But when she's not modeling, she also revealed that she's planning on expanding her boutique to Los Angeles Last year, Georgia opened up to Vogue about her change of scenery after moving to New York from London to be with her boyfriend, Louis Levy. 'I like to wake up with a bottle of Stoli and a cigarette,' she said about her new city. But when she's not modeling, she also revealed that she's planning on expanding her boutique to Los Angeles. Buses carrying passengers from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship leave a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. A group of Americans are cutting short a 14-day quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, to be whisked back to America. But they will have to spend another quarantine period at a U.S. military facility to make sure they don't have the new virus that's been sweeping across Asia. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) American Cruise Passengers Quarantined at US Military Bases TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.More than 300 American cruise ship passengers, including 14 who tested positive for COVID-19, are undergoing quarantine at military bases in California and Texas on Feb. 17 after arriving from Japan on charter flights overnight. A ground crew in anti-contamination suits met the chartered jet, which touched down at Joint Base San Antonio, in Texas, and passengers could be seen climbing down the stairs wearing face masks in the pre-dawn mist. Another flight landed at Travis Air Force Base in California hours earlier. The passengers will remain in quarantine at the bases for two weeks. Japans Defense Minister Taro Kono wrote earlier in a tweet that Japanese troops helped transport 340 U.S. passengers on 14 buses from Yokohama port to Tokyos Haneda airport. About 380 Americans were on the cruise ship. The U.S. said it arranged for the evacuation because people on the Diamond Princess were at a high risk of exposure to the new virus thats been spreading in Asia. For the departing Americans, the evacuation cuts short a 14-day quarantine that began aboard the cruise ship Feb. 3. The State Department announced later that 14 of the evacuees received confirmation they had the virus but were allowed to board the flight because they had no symptoms. They were being kept isolated from other passengers on the flight, the U.S. State and Health and Human Services said in a joint statement. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said on Feb. 16 that an infected person who shows minimal symptoms could still pass the virus to someone else. Its unclear which base the 14 who tested positive for the virus went to. Officials said the evacuees who arrived at Travis Air Force Base will be housed at a different location from the more than 200 other Americans who were already being quarantined on the base, in a hotel. Those people have been at the base since early February, when they arrived on flights from China. No Travis airmen will have contact with the passengers, officials said. About half of all known cases of the virus outside China have been found aboard the Diamond Princess. About half of the 3,700 passengers and crew are Japanese. Now that theyre in the United States, the cruise ship passengers must go through another 14 days of quarantine at the military facilitiesmeaning they will have been under quarantine for a total of nearly four weeks. Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Italy have been planning similar flights of passengers. Other governments, including Canada and Hong Kong, also will require the passengers to undergo a second 14-day quarantine. Japan on Feb. 17 announced another 99 infections on the Diamond Princess, raising the ships total number of cases to 454. Overall, Japan has 419 confirmed cases of the virus, including one death. The United States has confirmed 15 cases within the country in addition to the 14 who just arrived. Separately, at least one U.S. citizen died in China. Americans Cheryl and Paul Molesky, a couple from Syracuse, New York, opted to trade one coronavirus quarantine for another, leaving the cruise ship to fly back to the United States. Cheryl Molesky said the rising number of patients on the ship factored into the decision. We are glad to be going home, Cheryl Molesky earlier told NHK TV in Japan. Its just a little bit disappointing that well have to go through quarantine again, and we will probably not be as comfortable as the Diamond Princess, possibly. She sent The Associated Press a video of her and her husband boarding the plane with other Americans. Well, were exhausted, but were on the plane and thats a good feeling. Pretty miserable wearing these masks though, and everybody had to go to the bathroom on the bus, she said. Some American passengers said they would pass up the opportunity to fly to the United States because of the additional quarantine. There also was worry about being on a long flight with other passengers who may be infected or in an incubation period. One of the Americans, Matthew Smith, said in a tweet Feb. 16 that he saw a passenger with no face mask talking at close quarters with another passenger. He said he and his wife scurried away. If there are secondary infections on board, this is why, he said. And you wanted me to get on a bus with her? He said the American health officials who visited their room were apparently surprised that the couple had decided to stay, and wished them luck. Thanks, but were fine, Smith said he told them. Authorities around the world were also trying to track down passengers from another cruise liner, the Westerdam, which was turned away from ports across Southeast Asia for two weeks before docking in Cambodia on Feb. 13. One American passenger who disembarked in Cambodia tested positive for the virus in Malaysia on Feb. 15. Carnival Corp., which operates both cruise liners, said it was cooperating with authorities in trying to trace other passengers from the Westerdam. None of the other 1,454 passengers and 802 crew had reported any symptoms, it said. Those who have returned home will be contacted by local health authorities, the companys Holland America Line unit said. Hundreds of passengers are still in Cambodia, either on the ship or in hotels. Holly Rauen, a passenger from Fort Myers, Florida, said she and others will be tested by Cambodian authorities. We have no idea when we get to get home, she said. Reuters contributed to this report. Primark has opened its first-ever pop-up store at Boxpark in Shoreditch. The temporary space is opening its doors to mark the launch of the brand's new Wellness collection, which features over 75 products across womenswear, menswear, homeware and skincare. All the products in the Wellness collection are, according to Primark, "made using either organic cotton, recycled materials, or sustainable materials" and are part of a new initiative by the brand to be more sustainable. This is the most recent move from Primark in recent years to redefine its sustainability practices. It launched jeans made from 100 per cent sustainable cotton in March last year. The Rana Plaza tragedy, which killed more than 1,100 people when a Bangladeshi factory used by retailers including Primark collapsed in 2013, was no doubt a wake-up call for the company and its customers. Primark was founded in Dublin in 1969 and operates more than 370 stores. Four BJP corporators, who had joined the party just before the state Assembly polls last year, resigned from the party and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation on Tuesday. The four corporators who have submitted their resignations are Suresh Kulkarni, Radha Kulkarni, Sangita Waske and Gavli Mudrika. "I have resigned from the corporation as I was not willing to continue as a BJP corporator. My ward in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is a Muslim and Dalit dominated constituency, and people in my ward requested me to not continue with the BJP. So I have resigned. I have to remain among my people," said Suresh Kulkarni. He said that he had not resigned because any of his demands were not fulfilled. "The flyover which I had demanded has been passed and only signatures of the Commissioner are left. I have left just for my people who have asked me to leave BJP. We four have resigned and I don't know about others," he added. The four had switched sides along with few other corporators from NCP to BJP just before Maharashtra Assembly polls. These corporators are believed to be close to BJP MLA Ganesh Naik. According to one of the corporators who does not want to be named, all the four corporators are likely to join Shiv Sena. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Here's what five experts say investors should watch regarding Apple's expectations of a financial hit because of the coronavirus outbreak in China. A day after the announcement, Apple stock was down 3% at midday Tuesday. Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money," says long-term believers of Apple's bull case should buy in here. "I am surprised it's not down more because it's not just supply. It's demand. Demand has to come down because they don't do much shopping in China and with supply, it's not them. It's supply chain and some of the companies that need to give them the supplies, they can switch their six or seven plants in that Hubei area that are halted. I think there's just not a lot of people that want to sell anything. I think a lot of people thought this would happen and we're just waiting for that shoe to fall. I can't come up with a reason short term to buy it. I do think that if you believe the coronavirus is going to get better, you buy it right here." Mike Volpi, general partner at Index Ventures, says a stock reaction is to be expected as Apple gets squeezed on the supply and demand side. "Not entirely surprising. If you look at what's happening in China right now, there's over 150 million people that have some kind of a restriction can't leave their home, can't travel. That's over 10% of the population and Apple faces a bit of a double whammy in that when people can't travel and leave their homes, they can't buy phones, they can't buy iPads and so forth and at the same time, all of their production is in China, so you get hit on the supply side and on the demand side. So in some sense, not totally surprising." Daniel Flax, senior research analyst at Neuberger Berman, says overall demand still remains healthy. "I think what's important here is that people are demanding the devices which are innovative, the ecosystem remains healthy, newer growth drivers like wearables are doing very, very well for the company and so this is of course tragic for China and the people globally that are being impacted, but we see it largely as supply related and of course a little bit of demand impacted in China for the company." William Power, senior research analyst at Robert W. Baird, says demand outside of China should offset the impact. "This has been an ecosystem story for some time. We think that remains very much intact. You still got a services business that's growing mid-teens, you got a wearables business the grew north of 30%. I think one of the key comments out of the release last night was that they're still seeing very strong demand outside of China. Expectations are still in line on that front. So this really hasn't extended beyond China obviously a terrible human toll and we think ultimately is more of a temporary impact." Gene Munster, founder of Loup Ventures, says this stock reaction is less than other warnings in the past. "I think it's important to point out in the context this is the second time in six quarters that Apple's missed numbers. China was part of it back in December of 2018. At that point, if you look at the stock, that was a well-telegraphed miss but the trajectory downward was 35%. And so we're talking about one-10th of the reaction versus six quarters ago. I think that context is important because, on large, investors are viewing this as something that is transitional, this black swan type of event, and we'll move through it." Disclaimer WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) The Purdue University Senate has given its final stamp of approval on the resolution to add free feminine hygiene products on campus. Professor Audrey Rupple said they will focus on upgrading dispensaries in the gender-neutral and women's bathrooms first. In a year or so, she said they will look at putting products in men's restrooms for transgender students and staff. This resolution was first discussed at the January meeting. Leaders of the university decided to move forward with implementing this in early February. Only one member of the Senate voted against the resolution. Over half a million children have been displaced because of the violence and harsh winter weather in northwest Syria. By Vatican News A report, made public on Tuesday by UNICEF, gives details of how over 500,000 children have had to flee their homes in northwest Syria both because of intensified violence in the area, and due to freezing cold weather conditions. Ten of thousands of these children are now living in tents, and many in the open air, exposed to the cold and rain. As the weather continues to get colder in the region, organizations like UNICEF are trying to raise awareness of the plight of these children, and all those who are internally displaced without adequate protection against the elements. Last winter, at least 130 children died on their way to, or soon after arriving at, the Al Hol refugee camp in northwest Syria. 77 children have been killed or injured since the beginning of this year alone, as a result of an escalation in the violence and fighting in the area. UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, has described the situation as untenable, even by Syrias grim standards. Children and families are caught between the violence, the biting cold, the lack of food and the desperate living conditions, she says. Such abject disregard for the safety and wellbeing of children and families is beyond the pale and must not go on. Turkey has announced that it has reinforced its observation post in Idleb with addition armored vehicles reports Al-Masdar. The Turkish Army strengthened its presence in Idleb and deployed additional tanks, artillery and armored vehicles of various types. According to the Anatolia News Agency, the Turkish Army brought in more military reinforcements from various units. The agency, quoting its correspondent, indicated that the Turkish Army moved artillery, tanks and personnel carriers into the city of Reyhani in the southern province of Hatay. A convoy of 150 armored vehicles headed to the Turkish observation points deployed around the Syrian city of Idleb, amid intensive security measures. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, a few days ago, that Turkey would deal with the Syrian army if they did not withdraw from Idleb before the end of February, and that his country, would not stand silent in front of besieged Turkish control points in Idleb. In his statement, the Turkish President called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to pressure the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, to stop the attack being carried out by the Syrian army in Idleb. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. People still in quarantine due to fears of the new COVID-19 coronavirus stand on balconies of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan on Feb. 18, 2020. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images) Deputy Health Secretary: No Information Whatsoever That Coronavirus Is Chinese Bioweapon The U.S. assistant secretary for health responded to speculation that the new coronavirus strain is the product of Chinese bioweapons research. We have no information whatsoever about this being a manufactured virus, Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, told reporters Tuesday. The origins of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, are not clear, he said before adding there was a lot more work that needs to be done. Giroir said he believes the virus probably originated from an animal, as many other coronavirus strains have done. President Donald Trump has said little about the outbreak that has prompted lockdowns across dozens of Chinese cities, but other top White House officials, including adviser Larry Kudlow, have said the Chinese regime has not been transparent and wont allow U.S. medical experts into the country to study the virus. I wish we did know more. You know, this should not be about politics or for that matter, trade. This is just plain, ordinary health, public health, to help people, Kudlow told reporters last week, adding that he is disappointed with Chinas response to handling the outbreak. The virus is contained in the United States. We dont know if its contained in China. The United States offered to send assistance 1,300 deaths ago on Jan. 6, said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in an interview with CNN last Friday. We made the offer to send the CDC experts in to assist their Chinese colleagues to get to the bottom of key scientific questions, Azar told CNN. But so far, the Chinese regime hasnt approved the final clearance to allow them to go in. The World Health Organization (WHO) came to an agreement to deploy a team of experts, with U.S. officials as part of the group, said Azar. He said they are waiting to go but need China to approve them first. Chinese officials, he added, also need to give WHO full access, otherwise it wont be a useful mission. Several members of Congress have also questioned Chinas response and cooperation so far. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said that the way the Chinese Communist Party has treated its citizens in response to this outbreak is horrifying Crackdowns on transparency and information, brave doctors and ordinary citizens facing draconian punishments merely for speaking about the outbreak. its unacceptable and must come to an end. But one member of Congress has gone a step further. During an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) raised the possibility that the virus was created by the regime. Because of Chinas duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning, we need to at least ask the question to see what the evidence says, and China, right now, is not giving evidence on that question at all, he told the news outlet. We also know that just a few miles away from that food market is Chinas only biosafety level 4 super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases, the senator said. He was referring to the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, where researchers look into disease pathogens. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging Pakistani federal authorities to rescind newly adopted rules for regulating social-media content, saying they pose a major threat to journalists work. The Paris-based group on February 18 joined other media freedom watchdogs, both inside and outside Pakistan, in saying that the new set of regulations would give the authorities unflinching powers to stifle free speech and press freedom. The vague and ambiguous wording used in these regulations testifies to the arbitrary nature of the measures planned by the government, Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk, said in a statement. Bastard said that regulation of social media is necessary, but should not become a disguised form of censorship. Prime Minister Imran Khans government approved the new rules in late January, amid accusations that it has sought to censor the media, and intimidate and silence its opponents. The government has rejected the allegations. According to the new rules, reported by the media last week, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication would appoint a so-called national coordinator empowered to arbitrarily demand the removal or blocking of any content deemed to be harmful, RSF said. The rules provide for other measures designed to step up government control over social media companies, the watchdog said, citing the requirement for such companies to open offices in Pakistan. They could also be fined up to 500 million rupees ($3.24 million) if they fail to remove or block content within the stipulated deadline. Online platforms could also be required to surrender all information, private or public, about any user. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has said "these stringent but vague rules...threaten the ability of journalists to report the news and communicate with their sources." Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSFs 2019 World Press Freedom Index. The government in Goa said on Tuesday it will set up special designated picnic zones along its beaches to step up the implementation of its ban on drinking in public places. The move, announced after a meeting with tourism stakeholders, is aimed at implementing Goas law on public drinking that was passed by the legislative assembly last year but has been sparsely implemented. When implementing the ban on drinking we want to create a special zone for picnics. A lot of local groups want to have picnics along the beach and we have decided to keep one spot each along the beachsideone or two at each beach where those who want to go can go and drinka picnic zone, states tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said at a press conference. The Goa Legislative Assembly passed amendments to the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001, a year ago, banning drinking in tourist places including drinking and cooking in the open, littering and breaking glass bottles. Instead, tourists can drink inside shacks or other beachside establishments. Flouting provisions can invite a fine of Rs 2000 and in case the violation is committed by more than one person in a group, the group will have to pay Rs 10,000. However, people are seen drinking openly on the beaches and leaving glass bottles in the absence of an enforcement mechanism. Ajgaonkar said the police have now been given wider powers not just to tackle drinking but also illegal hawkers who harass tourists. Todays meeting was about ensuring a clean and safe coastal belt. Also nobody should be drowning, hawkers should not be harassing tourists, there should be no drunken revelry, breaking bottles, etc and laws are already in place, Ajgaonkar said. The minister said the government will release a mobile application in a months time and anyone can post a photo of hawkers if they find them at a banned place on the app. The police will act based on that information, he said. But I want to strictly enforce this. The beaches should be clean, no nonsense will be tolerated and if anyone like hawkers, etc come, it is your job to inform us about them. I do not want any garbage or breaking of bottles, he added. Goas travel industry body had in a presentation to the government warned that bad behaviour by tourists was causing discomfiture to locals. Public spaces are occupied by low budget tourists, who travel to Goa in large groups in buses and large jeeps and end up cooking and performing daily ablutions in public. While this not only robs such tourists of their dignity, it also serves as an eyesore and causes discomfiture to locals as well as other tourists, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa had said in a document presented before the tourism minister. Casual littering on beaches, water bodies with empty alcohol bottles, cans or plastic soft drink or drinking water bottles is choking both the states rivers, seas and lakes and also discouraging tourists from visiting Goa, it had said. Government data shows that Goa received more than 80 lakh tourists over the calendar year 2018, a figure that is expected to be surpassed this year. Foreign tourists however made up only around 900,000 of the total tourists that visited Goa. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The husband of a prison teacher exposed her affair with an inmate after finding 107 messages between the pair on a secret mobile phone SIM card, a court heard today. Melissa Frost, 36, exchanged letters, phone calls and text messages with the prisoner while having a relationship with him at Wayland Prison near Thetford, Norfolk. Her husband became suspicious that she was having an affair, possibly with a prison officer, and using a second mobile phone to contact her lover. Norwich Crown Court heard how he searched their home and discovered the SIM card which he put into his own mobile phone, so he could read the messages sent and received by his wife. Prison teacher Melissa Frost (left) pictured walking with another woman (right) to Norwich Crown Court today. She was jailed for four months after she admitted having a relationship with a prisoner at Wayland Prison, Norfolk The messages sent over two months in 2017 included expressions of 'loving and longing' between his wife and the inmate, saying how they were missing each other and hoping to be together soon, said prosecutor Martin Ivory. The convict's named was not identified during court proceedings. Frost's husband immediately reported what he found to the prison's deputy governor who began an investigation in December 2017. The mother-of-two made a 'full and frank confession' that she had been in a relationship with the inmate who was serving a five year and four month sentence for arson at the Category C jail. Frost insisted that the pair had only indulged in kisses and cuddles, rather than full sexual activity. Frost of North Walsham, Norfolk, (pictured on social media) admitted misconduct in a public office and wept in the dock as she was jailed for four months Letters between them were recovered, along with evidence that he had called her from an official prison phone using his allocation of minutes for private calls, said Mr Ivory. One of the letters was written in the names of Frost's two children, now aged five and seven, in which they thanked the inmate 'for making Mummy happy.' The letters made clear that they were talking about having more sexual activity on the inmate's release from prison. Mr Ivory said that Frost worked as a supply teacher at the prison on a zero hours contract, and had become friendly with the prisoner in July 2017, and they later began 'conversing.' He added: 'Just to make things crystal clear, it is not the case that the prisoner was using an illicit phone. The contact was over the prison phone. He added: 'She felt she was in love with him at that time, but she was not quite sure of her feelings for him at the time of the interview. Frost's husband immediately reported what he found to the prison's deputy governor who began an investigation in December 2017. 'She denied any sexual conduct, but was aware of her responsibilities for security being as she was a prison key holder. She had not discussed what was going on with any other prisoner or prison staff. 'At the time this was going on, there were difficulties in her private life.' Frost of North Walsham, Norfolk, admitted misconduct in a public office and wept in the dock as she was jailed for four months. Judge Stephen Holt told her: 'This sort of offending goes to the heart of the prison system. It opens up a prison to the danger of blackmail and contraband entering the prison system, which causes so much damage. 'I and most people have considerable sympathy for you, but this court has to give a clear message that anyone working in the prison system must expect an immediate custodial sentence for this type of offence.' Judge Holt said he considered the letter from Frost's children to the prisoner was an aggravating factor in the case. The court heard that Frost had now lost her career as a teacher, but had got a new job and was in a new relationship. David Stewart, defending, said she had made full admissions and suffered stress, worry and sleepless nights while waiting for the case to come to court. He added: 'There is no suggestion of illicit substances or items being brought into the prison which would compromise security. She was going through a rough patch at home with her former husband. 'But bearing in mind the animosity when they separated, he clearly thinks a lot of her, and speaks of her affectionately, and praises her mothering skills. 'You have to ask what the defendant has done. She had a relationship, but it was not of a sexual nature.' 825 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A small and intimidating group of self-described Bernie supporters are a stark reminder of the core reason Donald Trump has to go. Democracy and Bullying dont mix. Most of the time, authoritarianism is about leveraging and abusing power against the populace for a tyrants personal gain. Trump did it with the Ukraine. He did it again last Friday during his meeting with New York governor Andrew Cuomo and he did it again with the wedding present he gave Stephen Miller. Stephen Miller got married this weekend and Donald Trump gave him door-to door-searches in sanctuary cities as a wedding present. One of the key traits that distinguishes us from banana republics is the idea of voters freely choosing whom they want to represent them at all levels of government, including the presidency. When a faction of a candidates supporters starts threatening people, they are as much a threat to our democracy as anything Donald Trump has done. This came during a week when all the prosecutors on the Stone case quit because they didnt want to be a part of destroying the rule of law. One of them quit the Federal government, making it clear he didnt even want to watch it in silence. The rule of law means the law is applied equally to all people, regardless of whether they are the president, a recent immigrant, someone popular or someone who is an awful person. There is an elegant parallel between standing up for the rule of law and standing against voter intimidation. Both recognize the inherent equality and worth of all humans regardless of their station, ethnicity, religion or even their character. That is jarring. But for all the disturbing things that happened last week, the most disturbing was the story of the Culinary Workers Union leaders who were attacked by self-identified Sanders supporters. The original reporting came from The Nevada Independent There is one paragraph that is particularly disturbing. Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline, for instance, has come under attack for her Nicaraguan heritage, and union spokeswoman Bethany Khan was accused of being paid off by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Democratic establishment types. In tweets, the union and its leadership have been referred to as bitches, whore, fucking scab and evil, entitled assholes. We do not do this in America. We do not do this even if the political opponent is the worst person known to humanity, which Donald Trump is, but I digress. This approach does not reflect well on Bernie Sanders or on the majority of his supporters who understand that bullying is a tactic used by authoritarian tyrants. We can have all the constitutional fixes that will provide stronger remedies against abuses of power that Trump turned into an art form. We can have Medicare for all. We can assure that everyone has the financial ability to meet their needs and we can do it with free and fair elections. We can have it without resorting to attacking union leaders for making choices some dont like but which do reflect the wishes of their membership. More than anything, democracy relies on a good-faith agreement to respect differences in opinion and thought. Its the faith in democracy that keeps it alive. This is not a new problem. Whether the people doing the attacking this year are genuine Bernie supporters remains to be seen. It has, however, gotten more serious since 2016, where individuals who were less than sufficiently committed to Sanders could be on the receiving end of the so called Bernie bros. Theyve moved on to threatening women of color who lead the Culinary Workers Union, hardly a group of privilege. Even the national mainstream media is paying attention, as are some of the Democratic Partys candidates. For his part, Bernie Sanders questions if they are really his supporters. Sorry, but Im old enough to remember when Trump used a similar line about David Duke and the KKK. Beating Trump is the most important goal of this election, but its not the only goal. The reasons we think Trump should be defeated play a role in what the other goals should be. If you believe in democracy, it means condemning the anti-democratic tactic of intimidating voters, especially by attacking leaders who think for the best interests of their constituents. Belief in our democracy means condemning those tactics when used not just by supporters of an unappealing candidate, but also by supporters of someone whose policy objectives may be attractive. It means condemning those tactics even when used for someone whose policy objectives may be attractive as much as it means condemning them when the candidate is unappealing. Ironically, condemning the Bernie bros takes as much integrity as it took those prosecutors to quit the Stone case. As a result of morning hostilities, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another four were wounded. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called today's offensive by Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine's Donbas an attempt to disrupt the peace process. "On the fifth anniversary of the Debaltseve tragedy, militants and occupiers staged a cynical provocation. This morning they attacked the positions of the Joint Forces near the settlements of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilniy. They applied weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements," the president wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian defenders were able to repulse the aggressor and now the battle is over. At the same time, the Ukrainian side suffered losses. "This is not just a cynical provocation, the purpose of which is to press on the Debaltseve wound that will never heal completely. This is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas, which has begun to move forward, albeit in small, but relentless steps," Zelensky believes. Read alsoDonbas escalation: Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops, try to penetrate line of contact (Video) He also recalled that today, in connection with events in the country's east, a meeting of the NSDC has been scheduled. "We will discuss and decide on further steps. Our course towards ending the war and adherence to international agreements remains unchanged as does our determination to repulse any manifestations of armed aggression against Ukraine," Zelensky concluded. As UNIAN reported earlier, in the morning Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, employing 120 mm mortars, proscribed by Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance through the demarcation line. As a result of the battle, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another four were injured. Oluwabusayo Reuben A Nigerian caterer shocked her friends when she took to Facebook to accuse her husband, Gbadebo of domestic violence. Oluwabusayo Reuben wrote on Facebook: I think its high time the whole world knows this just incase I pass on, so yall can know my murderer. Its the man Im married to. Hes violent and he abuses me, beats me up over the slightest provocation, Im done in this marriage, the whole world got yo know this!!!!! Tonight, as I came out of the bathroom, he hit my head on the wall, punched my face, my neck, almost snapped my neck all because I didnt give him money. Every one is aware, both families are aware, the whole world got to know this, I cant take this anymore. She added: This is the last straw, Ive been enduring this for over 5 years. Friends were shocked and expressed it on Facebook. One mentioned that her husband seems cool but that she should stay away from him until she notices a real change. Another said, I thought you were happy? Jevonne Pollard (i) Age: 41 Highest level of education pursued or completed: Career experience: Beaumont Police Department 2001-2002, Patrol deputy Chambers County Sheriffs Office 2009-2013, Deputy Constable for Jefferson County Precinct 8 2013-2017, Deputy Constable for Jefferson County Precinct 2 2017-2018. Jefferson County Precinct 1 Constable 2018-present. Up to three examples of other elected office or volunteer involvement: 1. ROAR advocate 2. Southeast Texas Environment Task force Q: What are your priorities for the office and how would you put those in place? A: Our priority is helping people get restitution that are awarded in court. When someone wins a judgment, it is brought to us. We go out and help the victims get the money. I devised a specialized unit in November. Since then, we doing exceptionally well. in December and January, we raised more than $30,000 for our clients. That has been my priority the past six months. A lot of times constables offices ask for the whole amount, and people dont have that. My office reaches out to the attorneys and tells them that we will ask for the full amount, but we will take what we can get. That is how we have been able to get as much as we have over the past 90 days. Q: How do you believe your offices time should be split between patrol, process, court security and investigations? A: The mandate from the constitution is that we serve the process and bailiff the courts. Those are the main priorities. I have two deputies that are my bailiffs. That is there priority. I have deputies that do the evictions and deputies that do the specified writs. As far as patrol, i have marked a handful of my vehicles so that we have more of a presence in the community that we are in. The officers understand the needs that may arise. They listen to the radio so they know what is going on around them. Q: Several Texas counties no longer have constables, and debate about the position and its roles continue. Why do you believe the position should continue in this county? A: We are not money driven on the civil side like a private process server is. We are in it to make our constituents whole. Its a passion for us because we are elected. I believe in a large county you need a constable so you get a better service. You get people who want to help others get what deserve. Weve had lawyers tell they paid a private civil process server for six months and we got them a $5,000 check in two weeks. This is what we do. Were not profit driven. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: Im doing the job. Im doing what I said what I would do. Im doing the outreach through the office. My office is a partner with BISD. We are apart of the environmental task force. We partner with the womens shelter on a monthly basis and offers safety classes for the women. We offer active shooter classes with various churches. We are part of the DPS LESO Program. That allows us to bring military surplus equipment into the region at no cost, and these are things I have enacted since being in office. Donald Jackson Age: 47 Highest level of education: Police academy Career experience: 13 years as a patrol officer for Beaumont Police Department, 12 years in civil process Q: What are your priorities for the office and how would you put those in place? A: My priority is to bring the integrity back to the office. The democratic party doesnt want me to run a negative campaign against the other democratic candidate. I shouldve ran when she ran last time, but I didnt want to run against my friend Charlie Wiggins. Q: How do you believe your offices time should be split between patrol, process, court security and investigations? A: If you go to Harris County, they have more deputy constables than BPD has officers. They are the police for that area. They have a large precinct. In Jefferson County, each elected official runs it as they see fit.They are obligated to serve papers and bailiff the court. Certain officers are proactive police officers. When they are not kissing babies, serving papers or handing out food and toys, they are just disappearing. Not me, between my papers, I'm monitoring the radio. Q: Several Texas counties no longer have constables, and debate about the position and its roles continue. Why do you believe the position should continue in this county? A: This precinct is so large. They have a high volume of papers. BISD, a few years ago, had to layoff teachers because of a budget and now they are trying to hire more teachers. Elected officials shouldn't do that. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: I can teach firearms trainings. I am proficient with firearms. I have more certifications than she does and I have more experience. I will bring integrity back to the office. I am a police officer. This precinct is too big for her role. Some answers have been edited for length. MMHRC will help Hope Africa University in developing and delivering certain courses for medical and paramedical students Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre (MMHRC), Madurai has signed an MoU with Hope Africa University, a higher educational institution in Burundi, Africa in the areas of telemedicine, education, training, cancer care as well as specialty consultation. The MoU was signed as a result of Dr. S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre and Dr. Victor Barantota, Rector, Hope Africa University meeting in Africa a few months ago. Basis their discussion on the cutting-edge technology, medical expertise and world-class treatment offered by MMHRC, Dr. Barantota expressed much interest in visiting MMHRC. The MOU was then signed between J Adel, General Manager, Operations, MMHRC and Dr. Victor Barantota, in the presence of Dr. B. Kannan, Medical Administrator, MMHRC. According to the MoU, Meenakshi Mission Hospital will help Hope Africa University in developing and delivering certain courses for medical and paramedical students and setting up medical labs. In addition to extending its support in education and training, the hospital would also provide telemedicine, cancer care, and specialty consultation, and conduct medical camps in Africa offering world class treatment at very affordable prices. Commenting on the MoU, Dr S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre said, I believe this is a very good opportunity for cross cultural influence. It is wonderful to find a partner who believes in the same ideology of providing world class healthcare facilities at affordable range. We regard the opportunity to work with Hope Africa University mutually beneficial. In the globalised environment where pandemics are frequent, having exposure to health practices in other parts of the world is an asset for medical professionals. Dr. Yamuremye Fulgence, Director, The Van Norman Clinic, Bujumbura, a Senior Board member of the University said, We are inspired by the infrastructure and services provided at Meenakshi Mission Hospital. We want to emulate this model. In the coming months and years, our university will fully make use of the knowledge sharing arrangement for the benefit of our students and the patients we serve. Hope Africa University offers bachelors degree through its various departments including Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Midwives, Department of Nursing, Department of Physiotherapy, Department of Public Health and Health Services Management, and Department of General Medicine. Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg appears at a campaign rally at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Feb. 4, 2020. Read more Mike Mikus remembers it as a kick in the gut. Amid one of the most pivotal campaigns in the country in 2016, one many thought could decide control of the Senate, Mike Bloomberg poured millions of dollars into the contest to help Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. It helped both operationally in terms of the money spent, but it also allowed Pat Toomey to use that endorsement to create a false impression that hes a moderate, said Mikus, a consultant who worked for Toomeys Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty. Bloomberg, now a rising Democratic candidate for president, used his television ads to vouch for Toomey as a centrist problem solver. Toomey was one of the few Republicans in Congress to support expanded background checks for gun purchases, an issue on which Bloomberg has backed candidates in both parties. It was a critical endorsement in a race Toomey won by just 1.5 percentage points, helping Republicans keep a narrow three-vote edge in the Senate. Much of the difference came in the moderate Philadelphia suburbs, where Toomey pitched himself as an independent voice and where Bloombergs ads played frequently. He outperformed Trump in the Philly suburbs, and I believe the entire margin was made up right in those counties, Mikus said. A new national poll for NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marist, released Tuesday, showed Bloomberg with 19% support among Democrats and independents who lean Democratic second to Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had 31%. Bloombergs group Independence USA spent almost $6 million on ads supporting Toomey in the Philadelphia media market four years ago. The Inquirer first noted the endorsements potential consequences for Bloomberg in November, as the billionaire former New York mayor, who was first elected in 2001 there as a Republican, prepared to enter the Democratic fray. But the topic is drawing added attention now that Bloomberg is gaining traction in Pennsylvania and nationally, and it could arise Wednesday in the next Democratic debate. Bloomberg will join the debate stage for the first time and directly confront his Democratic rivals, who have increasingly attacked his record as out-of-step with the party. Bloomberg was a political independent at the time he helped Toomey, and earlier that year, there had been speculation hed run a third-party campaign for president. In 2007, the midpoint of his second term as mayor, Bloomberg left the GOP and registered as an independent. He became a Democrat in October 2018. In Pennsylvania, Toomey has become a lightning rod for liberal activists, who are likely to play a major role in the states April 28 primary. READ MORE: Mike Bloomberg helped two Republicans win big Pa elections. Now he wants the Democratic nomination for president. Bloomberg backed Toomey because of his stand on an issue that is close to Democrats hearts: tougher gun laws. Toomey had co-sponsored a bill to expand background checks. Several other gun control groups also endorsed Toomey, including one led by former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a 2011 Arizona shooting. Mike Bloombergs record on gun violence prevention speaks for itself," said Mustafa Rashed, a spokesperson for Bloombergs campaign in Pennsylvania. "He built a nationwide movement to take on the NRA and Trump and won stronger gun laws in states across the country, and he worked across the aisle to get it done. Mikes record of supporting Democrats is equally strong in 2018 he played a key role in helping Democrats retake the House as he invested in more than 20 successful seat flips, including Pennsylvanias 6th District. As president, he will unite and rebuild our country at a time when it is more divided than ever. READ MORE: Pa. Democrats are waiting for answers as Sanders surges, Biden struggles, and Bloomberg looms Democrats note that Toomeys opponent, McGinty, supported far stronger gun measures, including bans on assault-style weapons. And in the reality of the Senate, the Republican majority bolstered by Toomeys victory meant gun bills, and a host of other liberal priorities, were doomed. None would see any light as long as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) controlled the chamber. The Senate was up for grabs, and he clearly sided with Mitch McConnell, Mikus said of Bloomberg. Bloomberg, in announcing his Toomey endorsement in August 2016, said, Chances are that no candidate is ever going to be perfect for you on every issue, but when brave people buck party orthodoxy and demonstrate bold, pragmatic leadership, they deserve support from all of us." READ MORE: Mike Bloomberg is getting a serious look from suburban Democrats who just want to beat Trump Bob Brady, chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party and a Joe Biden supporter, has in the past been critical of Bloomberg for his support of Toomey. I dont think theres any flavor for him here, Brady said in November. Hes for Republicans. Were not for Toomey, naturally. But reflecting the uncertainty of the Democratic nominating contest, Brady sang a different tune in January, calling Bloomberg probably his second choice. Reached Tuesday, Brady said: Beating Trump will overcome all that, no matter who the candidate [will] be. Everybodys got baggage. The district administration in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya town on Tuesday said that the Supreme Court is aware of all facts related with the 67 acre land of Ram Janmabhoomi. The administrations response came following a letter Supreme Court lawyer MR Shamshad wrote on February 15 to the Board of Trustees of the newly constituted Sri Ram Jamabhoomi Tirath Kshetra on behalf of nine Muslims of Ayodhya urging the Trust to leave four to five acre land within the 67 acre Ram Janmabhoomi campus because it had a Muslim graveyard in it. The Supreme Court is aware of all facts related with the Ram Janmabhoomi land. I am no one to comment on the issue, said Anuj Jha, district magistrate, Ayodhya. It was after the Supreme Courts order that the 67 acre land was transferred to the Centre. We are only following Supreme Courts order, added Jha. The apex court in its judgment in the decades old Ayodhya title suit case on November 9 last year had ruled in favour of the Hindu litigants and handed over entire 67 acre land and 2.77 acre land (disputed before the judgment) to the Centre for construction of Ram temple. The court also directed the Centre to constitute a Trust for construction of the temple. On February 5, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the allotment of five acres to the states Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque as ordered by the Supreme Court. The cabinet decision came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of the trust to build a Ramp temple at the site, as required by the Supreme Court order. The 15-member Trust Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra - is scheduled to hold its first meeting in New Delhi on February 19 at the residence of Supreme Court lawyer K Parasaran, who is a member of Board of Trustees of the new Trust. (An earlier version of this report had attributed certain remarks to the Ayodhya District Magistrate, which the official said, were not made by him) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fire officials said the blaze was discovered by chance late Monday when a department unit went for fuel. The firefighters saw smoke and went to the house, found it on fire and called for help. Authorities said there had been no 911 call. In Hong Kong, knife-wielding robbers stole 600 rolls of toilet paper from a delivery worker outside Wellcome Supermarket. Police reportedly nabbed two suspects and recovered some of the toilet paper, a hot commodity as people stock up in fear of the coronavirus. From the BBC News: Other household products have also seen panic-buying including rice, pasta and cleaning items. Face masks and hand sanitisers are almost impossible to get as people try to protect themselves from the coronavirus, which has already claimed more than 1,700 lives Authorities blame false online rumours for the panic buying and say supplies of food and household goods remain stable. Pete Buttigieg and the South Bend Socialists Commentary Roger L. Simon has written about presidential candidate Pete Buttigiegs Marxist scholar father, the late Joseph Buttigieg, for The Epoch Times. Grove City College professor Paul Kengor has exposed young Pete Buttigiegs admiration for his socialist hero Bernie Sanders for the American Spectator. But no one yet has written about Mayor Petes close involvement with socialists and Marxists in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana, and beyond. Like any Midwestern town with both an industrial base and institutions of higher education, South Bend, Indiana, has long had an active socialist presence. And Mayor Pete seemed to go out of his way to find them. Many of the South Bend socialists gathered in the local branch of Jobs with Justice (JwJ), a radical community organizing group closely affiliated with the labor movement. JwJs branches nationwide tend to reflect the composition of the local activist base. San Francisco JwJ for instance tends to be dominated by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. In Washington, D.C., JwJ is more Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) heavy. Dallas JwJ has a greater Communist Party USA presence. In South Bend, JwJ was led by personalities such as Tony Flora and Paul Mishler from the DSA and Lee Gloster, who came from a Communist Party USA and DSA background. Sanctuary City JwJ promotes the labor and social policies of the U.S. socialist movementillegal immigration amnesty, the end of right to work, $15 per hour minimum wage, etc. JwJ is what used to be called a communist front. Buttigieg began working with the local JwJ at least as early as October 2014. In April 2015, Mayor Pete served on a panel at St. Joseph County Public Library entitled Five Myths about immigration and why we need deferred action for the parents of Americans. Other panelists included, Sam Centellas (of JwJ and director of La Casa de Amistad), Tony Flora (of JwJ and vice president of Indiana AFL-CIO), and Fred Everett (of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend). Joseph Carbone of the St. Joseph Valley Project JwJ moderated the Q&A portion. Buttigieg later developed strong ties to Centellas and his immigrant support group, La Casa de Amistad. Buttigieg worked closely with La Casa de Amistad from at least early 2015 until well after he hit the presidential campaign trail in 2019. Wherever it can, the left works to introduce ID cards for illegal aliens so that they can access government services, obtain drivers licenses, and, most importantly, vote for Democrats. According to the La Casa de Amistad website: We are working with South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, South Bend Common Council, and local businesses as partners in providing support to vulnerable populations that have difficulty obtaining photo identification. We are still looking for local businesses who will accept the SB ID as photo identification. In the fall of 2014 the Social Justice committee from the St. Adalberts parish started working on ideas to address concerns from parishioners who had difficulty obtaining identification. In the early 2015 the committee approached community leaders, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and common council members about the idea of a city ID program. With the support of Karen White from Common Council, and Mayor Pete and his staff plans began for a local identification program. Through the work of the committee, the Common Council and the Office of the Mayor, it was decided to launch an ID program through La Casa de Amistad using SF Global for verification. Mayor Buttigieg threw his complete weight behind this program, which effectively turned South Bend into a sanctuary city. According to the Associated Press, in April 2019, Buttigieg told a New Hampshire town hall meeting that he didnt know if he ran a sanctuary city, but he did know that the police force doesnt enforce federal immigration laws. I regard us as a welcoming city. Some conservative talk show host may say that makes us a sanctuary city. I dont know, he said at the meeting. He said South Bend welcomed all people regardless of whether they are in the country legally, AP reported. The president thinks America is full. Were not, Buttigieg said, adding that he supported a path to citizenship for the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants living in the US. Honeywell Strike Mayor Buttigieg also worked closely with his friend from JwJ and the local AFL-CIO, Tony Flora. In February 2017, on the back of the Bernie Sanders movement, many of South Bends leftist activists coalesced into a new DSA branchin which Flora played a leading role. From May 2016 until February 2017, more than 300 workers at the Honeywell International Aerospace plant in South Bend were locked out after rejecting the companys proposed contract. Labor activists and socialists from all over the Midwest came to South Bend to support the locked-out workersincluding Chicago-based Communist Party labor commission leader Scott Marshall. JwJ played a role in strike support by providing some relief for the financially struggling workers. Flora was also heavily involved in the campaign, both in his capacity as the local AFL-CIO boss and presumably as a DSA comrade. As the lockout dragged on for months, Mayor Buttigieg sided with the strikerseven sending representatives from his office to man the picket lines. When Joe Carbone of JwJ organized a picnic with area union representatives as a way to support Honeywell workers who werent taking home paychecks, Mayor Buttigieg turned up to fraternize with the workers. Part of what helps the American middle class is stability, and workers need confidence that their benefits are secure, Buttigieg said, according to the South Bend Tribune. In July 2018, even though the lock-out was long over (the workers caved), Mayor Pete turned up to a rally outside the Honeywell offices with Carbone and Flora to attack the company. Tweeted Buttigieg: I stand in support of Honeywell workers stripped of the health benefits they earned. If theres enough cash for stock buybacks, then there is more than enough to keep this companys promises to its retirees. I stand with @melforcongress in support of Honeywell workers stripped of the health benefits they earned. If theres enough cash for stock buybacks, then there is more than enough to keep this companys promises to its retirees. pic.twitter.com/dL9D640HmC Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) July 26, 2018 Palestine and Israel In April 2019, Buttigieg formally announced his run for the presidency in front of 4,000 people gathered in a re-purposed South Bend Studebaker plant. Outside the rally, Paul Mishler from JwJ and Northern Indiana DSA and a handful of others stood on a corner with a sign that read Open your hearts to Palestine and Golan. According the South Bend Tribune, Mishler said the group of peace activists wanted to push the mayor-turned-presidential-candidate to toughen his stance on IsraeliPalestinian policy, with a stronger focus on helping Palestinians. Hes a kind person and has been a good mayor, Mishler said. I dont agree with him on everything, but were out here because we want to kind of push him on foreign policy. Mishler was no doubt gratified when in October 2019 presidential candidate Buttigieg addressed the J Street convention in Washington, D.C. At the conference, Buttigieg openly supported J Streets main goal, the partition of Israel to create an independent Palestinian statethe so-called two state solution. J Street claims to be pro-Israel but is in fact a far-left anti-Israel organization committed to the creation of a Palestinian statewhich would almost guarantee the destruction of Israel. Unsurprisingly, J Street has been heavily infiltrated by leftists and socialists including former and current advisory board members Stanley Sheinbaum, Alan Snitow, and Michael Walzerall at one time prominent DSA members. Bus Drivers Strike While Buttigieg has worked closely with the DSA and the South Bend left, neither party has been keen to publicly embrace the other on the presidential campaign trail. Buttigieg is running for president as a moderate progressive. Hes all on board with leftist talking points on social issues, but hes trying to appear more moderate on fiscal issues. For instance, he has yet to embrace either the Green New Deal or Medicare for All, though both are DSA creations. Every now and then, though, he has to touch base with his far-left roots. Buttigieg made a campaign stop on Cape Cod on July 6, 2019, to meet with striking bus drivers before a fundraising event at the Marthas Vineyard Regional High School. According to the Vineyard Gazette: On Saturday, Mr. Buttigieg framed his understanding of the drivers strike within the American narrative of using organized labor to combat wage stagnation. One of the reasons everyone is following your story closely right now, Mr. Buttigieg told the roomful of drivers, is that we have a case where at least as I understand it, theres been a real resistance to making it possible to organize. So Im here to hear a little bit more about what youre up against and to also let you know that Im supportive, and make sure that I can understand your story so that I can share it. Buttigieg posed with the strikers and promised he would share the drivers story on the campaign trail. Im going to be keeping in touch, and Im going to be looking for good news from Marthas Vineyard and please let us know how I can be supportive, he said. But also know that Ill be letting others know about your story, because I think it can inspire a lot of other people in other places hang in there The eventually successful strike against the Vineyard Transit Authority was fully supported by the DSA. According to former Massachusetts labor leader Jack Clark, writing in DSAs Democratic Left journal: When bus drivers on Marthas Vineyard struck at the height of the tourist season, solidarity from longtime residents, including some DSA activists, helped them win. Founding DSA member and union-side labor attorney Jules Bernstein, along with DSA member Virginia Diamond and other progressive residents, helped lead the solidarity effort among residents An op-ed by Bernstein in the July 10 Marthas Vineyard Times, under the headline Union-busting lands on Marthas Vineyard shores laid out a strong case for supporting the striking drivers. Management, he pointed out, seemed determined to break the strike and the union to reassert total control over working conditions. Its almost inconceivable that Buttigieg didnt know that this was a DSA-supported strike. DSA members were very much in evidence through the action, manning the picket lines and packing out the rallies. Buttigieg happily posed with leading strike supporter and DSA comrade Virginia Diamond, who also serves as president of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO. Liberal Democrat? Is Buttigieg really just a well-meaning Liberal Democrat who just wants the best for America? Or is he his fathers son? Is he actually a stealth socialist who has honed the art of appearing to be whatever he needs to be to further his cause in any given situation? Buttigieg is running to secure Joe Bidens support base not Bernie Sanders. Buttigieg knows that if he can win over the moderate Democrats the hard left will have little choice but to fall in line. No sense, therefore, in scaring the moderate voters by telling them what you actually believe. Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker, and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist, and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics. He is the author of a soon-to-be published book White House Red: Communist, Socialists and Security Risks Running for U.S. President, 2020. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. MEDIA COURTHOUSE A Maryland man pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted statutory sexual assault against what he believed was a 15-year-old boy but was in fact an undercover Pennsylvania State Police Trooper posing online. Andrew Stephen Oatley, 23, of the 31,800 block of Mark Drive in Galena, Md., was arrested April 5 as part of a coordinated Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force sting that netted 10 perpetrators. According to an affidavit of probable cause written by trooper Mark Gribble, Cpl. John Sours posed as the boy on the Grindr social media application and was contacted by Oatley, who asked numerous sexual questions and requesting sexually explicit photos. Oatley also indicated he wanted the 15-year-old to have sex with him and sent a picture of his buttocks, along with a picture of his face, according to the affidavit. Sours set up a meeting place in Tinicum, where Oatley was taken into custody. At the Tinicum Police Station, Oatley said he he had driven from Delaware to his home in Maryland before heading to the rendezvous point, all the while communicating with Sours. Oatley admitted that he had sent the photos to Sours and that he was expecting to receive sex from the 15-year-old when he arrived at the meet-up location. Assistant District Attorney Diane Horn recommended a sentence of six to 23 months under the negotiated plea worked out with defense counsel William Brennan. Oatley will also have to serve three years of sex offender probation and register as a sex offender for 25 years under that plea. Sentencing before Judge George Pagano is set for April 13. Before I describe the subtle maneuvers we orchestrated on Lady Jeans behalf, I want to emphasize that these werent all my ideas. They were an amalgam of many conversations with the accountants, estate managers, attorneys, Charles Fforde and Lady Jean herself. I was merely a kind of midwife presiding over their birth. On the other hand, when I returned to Pittsburgh and discussed the maneuvers with my boss, I naturally took full credit for all of them. Some parts of our strategy were, shall we say, positive subtle maneuvers. Others were, shall we say, negative subtle maneuversand in some cases maybe not all that subtle. Its certainly true that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, but its also true that you can get further with a kind word and a gun than with just a kind word. Like everything else on Arran, each of our subtle maneuvers took about five times as long to execute as it would have taken in the United States. On the other hand, in the United States, we wouldnt have needed any subtle maneuvers. In any event, in case you ever find yourself confronted with the challenge of trying to drag a mid-sized Scottish island into the modern age, here is how you do it. Well start with the positive maneuvers. The booze gambit On my first full day on Arran, Charles Forde had driven me around the island. At one point we were standing on a promontory looking due west over the Firth of Clyde, staring into a mist as thick as cotton batting. On a clear day, said Charles, you can see Ireland from here. Of course, the last clear day was in 1722. Since I couldnt see Ireland, I turned around and looked behind me. Whats that? I asked, pointing. Charles rolled his eyes. A bothy, he said. Whisky distillery. There are one hundred fifty of them on the island, all illegal. I laughed. Sounds like Knox County, Kentucky, I said, where my family comes from. Back there we call it moonshine. Over here we call it the golden tipple, he said. Believe it or not, back in the late 1700s, Arran was the center of the whisky-making industry in Scotland. The water here is perfect for it. In fact, a friend of Sir Walter Scott once described Arran whisky as the burgundy of all the vintages, better than Islay. That got me thinking. Since it was only a few years from the late 1700s to 1835, which was the modern era on Arran, maybe good whisky could still be made. Instead of being famous for Aran Isle sweaters, like that imposter island on the other side of Ireland, we would become famous for Arran Isle booze. We approached all the larger distilleries on the Scottish mainland, and even, in desperation, approached a Japanese whisky maker, but everyone turned us down. Too dumb to quit, we kept at it, and eventually the Isle of Arran Distilleries opened at Lochranza. (Lochranza is a small town on the north coast of Arran. There is a ruined castle there, see future posts.) Several years later, the distillerys visitor center was opened and the first visitor was (perhaps youve heard of her) Her Majesty The Queen of England. The following year the initial cask of single malt whisky was tapped and the first sip of that whisky was savored by Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor. Your Humble Blogger was right behind him. It was the first legal whisky distilled on Arran in 160 years, and you can taste it yourself either by making the impossible trip to Arran or by making the shorter trip to Google, here. Promoting contiguity Back in the days of the clearances, the basic trouble was that the run-rig system of land use had broken up the land into very small parcels, most of which werent large enough to make economic use of the new farming technologies then coming online. Precisely the same problem was now haunting Lady Jean on Arran. Lady Jean controlled quite a few acres of landthousands of acres, in factthat either had never been leased out or had somehow reverted to her. Unfortunately, that land was scattered all over the island and in-between were hundreds of tenanted inholdings, making economic use of Lady Jeans land all but impossible. We could have tried to buy up the inholdings, but who was going to supply the capital for that? Instead, we decided to approach tenants who leased land contiguous to Lady Jeans land and propose a trade. The first problem we encountered was the one mentioned earlier: Too many tenants didnt live on Arran, werent much interested in their land, and were hard to get in touch with. As you probably know, many poor neighborhoods around the world suffer from a problem of absentee landlords; Arran suffered from a problem of absentee tenants. Our initial plan was to offer tenants larger and/or more fertile land if they would give us the land that was contiguous to ours. But this quickly turned out to be hilariously unnecessary. The tenants didnt care about more land (more work!) or fertile land (to graze two sheep and a goat?) What they wanted was pretty land, especially land on the coast. This was manna from heaven for us. We couldnt care less about pretty landthat and tuppence would get you a cuppa at the Douglas Hotel in Brodick. What we wanted was land adjacent to our own land. We began successfully trading land and gradually building up the size of Lady Jeans contiguous farms. In other words, this subtle maneuver worked. Unfortunately, it worked v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y, so that the additional income that was generated by larger contiguous farms took a long time to matter much. Still, every little bit helped. Next week well finish up with our subtle, and not-so-subtle, maneuvers. Passenger traffic down 4.4% in Argentina and 5.5% in Uruguay, partially offset by growth in Ecuador, Armenia and Italy Corporacion America Airports S.A. (NYSE: CAAP), the largest private sector airport operator in the world by number of airports, reported today preliminary unchanged year-over-year passenger traffic in January 2020. Passenger Traffic, Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements Highlights Statistics Jan'20(1) Jan'19(1) % Var. Domestic Passengers (thousands) 4,109 4,006 2.6% International Passengers (thousands) 2,229 2,339 -4.7% Transit Passengers (thousands) 831 850 -2.3% Total Passengers (thousands) 7,169 7,195 -0.4% Cargo Volume (thousand tons) 30.6 32.8 -6.7% Total Aircraft Movements (thousands) 71.7 74.7 -4.0% Preliminary data on 750 flights in August, 873 flights in September, 547 in October, 423 in November, 280 in December 2019 and 1,256 in January 2020 at Brasilia Airport, due to delays in the submission of information by third parties. Moreover, starting November 2019 the Company has reclassified its passenger traffic figures for Brasilia Airport between international, domestic and transit retroactively since June 2018 to return to the count methodology utilized until May 2018. Notwithstanding, total traffic figures remain unchanged. Passenger Traffic Overview Total passenger traffic in January 2020 remained relatively flat YoY, primarily reflecting declines of 4.4% in Argentina and 5.5% in Uruguay, partially offset by growth of 9.1% in Ecuador, 10.7% in Armenia and 4.3% in Italy, while traffic in Brazil remained unchanged. In Argentina, total passenger traffic decreased 4.4% YoY, driven by a 13.1% decline in international passenger traffic, reflecting more difficult macro conditions in the country. This mainly reflects lower traffic to Brazil and other neighboring countries together with the reduction in routes and frequencies made by the airlines in recent months. Domestic passenger traffic remained flat compared with a particularly strong month in the year ago period, in addition to weak economic conditions this quarter. Furthermore, the Minister of Transport announced that starting May 2020, international air traffic to neighboring countries Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay will be gradually reinstated at Aeroparque Airport. In Italy, passenger traffic growth slowed to 4.3% YoY, driven by an increase of 7.5% at Florence airport reflecting Vuelings four new routes opened last September and additional frequencies in its existing routes, which more than offset a high number of re-routed or cancelled flights due to adverse weather conditions. Passenger traffic at Pisa Airport increased 2.4% YoY, reflecting growth in aircraft movements and new flights to Brussels, Bucharest and Dublin by Ryanair and, to a lesser extent, the good performance of Air Arabias flights to Casablanca, Morocco. Furthermore, Albawings inaugurated a new route to Tirana, Albania. In Brazil, estimated figures are disclosed given delays in the submission of information for 1,256 flights out of a total of 14,247 flights, due to information systems transition. Total passenger traffic remained relatively flat YoY reflecting the full recovery of the air network previously operated by Avianca Brasil. Domestic passenger traffic grew 2.7% YoY, while international passenger traffic increased 12.6% YoY. In addition, Latam Airlines added frequencies to the Northeast and Southeast during the summer season while Gol continues to add routes and frequencies in line with expansion plan with domestic and international flights at Brasilia Airport. In Uruguay, passenger traffic declined 5.5% YoY, due to a 29.4% contraction on passenger traffic at Punta del Este Airport reflecting a reduction of Argentine passengers given difficult macro conditions, and to lesser extent, the cancellation of Avianca Airlines route to Lima, Peru, from Carrasco Airport. This was partially offset by the two additional frequencies to Madrid, Spain, opened by Iberia in July 2019. In Armenia, total passenger traffic increased 10.7% YoY, benefiting from the addition of several routes and frequencies during 2019 and higher connectivity to Moscow, Russia, coupled with the good performance of Azimuth Airlines flights to Russian destinations Rostov and Sochi. Aircompany Armenias flights to regional destinations, as well as Tarom Avias route to Bucharest, Romania also contributed to traffic growth. Moreover, in January low-cost carrier Ryanair started operating from Zvartnots Airport, opening two-weekly flights to Rome and Milan, in Italy. In Ecuador, total passenger traffic increased 9.1% YoY, driven by a 19.0% increase in international traffic, mainly reflecting the continued good performance of Jet Blues routes to Fort Lauderdale and New York, USA, American Airlines daily route to Dallas, USA, and Interjets daily routes to both Cancun and Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico. Growth was further supported by Iberias route to Madrid, Spain, opened in December, which more than offset the cancelation of Latams route to the same destination. Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements Cargo volume declined 6.7% in January 2020, mainly as a result of declines of 23.7% in Brazil, 19.4% in Ecuador and 2.4% in Argentina, partially offset by a 19.7% increase in Armenia, 7.0% in Uruguay and 8.9% in Italy. Aircraft movements declined 4.0% YoY in January 2020, driven by declines of 8.4% in Argentina, 2.9% in Brazil and 10.3% in Uruguay, partially offset by an increase of 4.8% in Ecuador, 14.9% in Armenia and 3.7% in Italy. Summary Passenger Traffic, Cargo Volume and Aircraft Movements Jan'20(1) Jan'19 % Var. Passenger Traffic (thousands) Argentina 3,642 3,808 -4.4% Italy 480 460 4.3% Brazil(1) 1,876 1,866 0.5% Uruguay 233 247 -5.5% Ecuador 385 353 9.1% Armenia 235 212 10.7% Peru 318 249 28.0% TOTAL 7,169 7,195 -0.4% (1) Preliminary data on 750 flights in August, 873 flights in September, 547 in October, 423 in November, 280 in December 2019 and 1,256 in January 2020 at Brasilia Airport, due to delays in the submission of information by third parties. Cargo Volume (tons) Argentina 18,386 18,845 -2.4% Italy 1,119 1,027 8.9% Brazil 4,612 6,042 -23.7% Uruguay 2,043 1,909 7.0% Ecuador 3,008 3,733 -19.4% Armenia 1,028 859 19.7% Peru 406 370 9.9% TOTAL 30,602 32,784 -6.7% Aircraft Movements Argentina 36,756 40,140 -8.4% Italy 4,818 4,644 3.7% Brazil 14,247 14,670 -2.9% Uruguay 3,535 3,941 -10.3% Ecuador 7,495 7,154 4.8% Armenia 2,238 1,948 14.9% Peru 2,591 2,164 19.7% TOTAL 71,680 74,661 -4.0% Corporacion America Airports acquires, develops and operates airport concessions. Currently, the Company operates 52 airports in 7 countries across Latin America and Europe (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy). In 2019, Corporacion America Airports served 83.5 million passengers. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange where it trades under the ticker CAAP. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Travel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2022 Travel Industry Wire Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - East West Petroleum Corp. (TSXV: EW) ("East West" or the "Company") is pleased to provide this further update regarding the sale of its 30% interest in Petroleum Exploration Permit 54877 and Petroleum Mining Permit 60291 (the "Cheal Permits"), to an arm's length private New Zealand company (the "Purchaser"), on the terms previously announced in a news release of the Company dated June 24, 2019 (the "Transaction"). The Company's news release of February 3rd 2020 provided an update on the regulatory concerns that had delayed closing of the Transaction and reported that Cheal Petroleum, the owner of a 70% interest in the permits and the operator, had prepared and submitted a response to local regulatory authorities addressing all concerns raised. The Company has now been advised by the local regulatory authorities that the permits will not be revoked and accordingly the Company and the Purchaser can now move forward to close the Transaction, the process will include approval to the transfer of the permits from local regulatory authorities. The Company does not anticipate significant delays for the Purchaser to obtain all necessary approvals to the Transaction. As additional information is available regarding a closing date for the Transaction the Company will provide further updates. About East West Petroleum Corp. East West Petroleum Corp. (www.eastwestpetroleum.ca) is a TSX Venture Exchange listed company established in 2010 to invest in international oil & gas opportunities. The Company has its primary focus on two key areas: New Zealand, where it has established production and cash flow and Romania where it is carried to production on an exploration program. In Romania the Company has exploration rights in four exploration concessions covering 1,000,000 acres in the prolific Pannonian Basin of western Romania with Naftna Industrija Srbije ("NIS"). The Company does not own the acres but has exploration rights. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" which reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "might", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "indicate", "seek", "believe", "estimates", "predicts" or "likely", or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including without limitation, those risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in the Company's filings on SEDAR. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Nick Demare ndemare@chasemgt.com Tel: (604) 685-9316 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52511 By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Government has decided to rename countrys premier research and policy think tank 'The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses' (IDSA) after late Union Minister Manohar Parrikar. The institute from now will be known as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The Ministry of Defence in its release said, The decision has been taken to honour the commitment and legacy of late Manohar Parrikar. It will align the vision and aspiration of the premier defence Institute with the contribution of the former Raksha Mantri and Padma Bhushan awardee. As per the institutes website, IDSA is a non-partisan, autonomous body dedicated to objective research and policy-relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security. Its mission is to promote national and international security through the generation and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related issues. Late Manohar Parrikar was Defence Minister from November 9, 2014 March 14, 2017. Parrikar, as per MoD, steered the Ministry through the tough challenges of attacks like Pathankot and Uri and responded to these with exemplary boldness. An autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence, IDSA was established as a registered society in New Delhi in 1965. Research at the Institute is driven by a comprehensive agenda and the need to provide impartial analyses and policy recommendations. Since its inception, IDSA has served as a forum to debate important aspects of national and international security. (PHOTO: Getty Images) SINGAPORE A babysitter on Tuesday (18 February) claimed trial at the State Courts to charges of administering poisons to two children under her care. Saadiah Jamari, 38, was earlier charged with feeding six poisons to an 11-month-old girl and nine poisons to a five-month-old girl over several occasions between November and December 2016. The poisons include Chlorpheniramine, (Dextro)methorphan, Diazepam, Orphenadrine, Oxazepam, (Pseudo)ephedrine, Temazepam, Triprolidine, and Zolpidem. Oxazepam, Temazepam, and Zolpidem are medicines that are used to treat problems related to sleeping, while Diazepam produces a calming effect. Chlorpheniramine and Triprolidine are used to treat allergies and (Dextro)methorphan is used to treat cough. The offences pertaining to the five-month-old are said to have occurred between 7 November and 9 December 2016 around the vicinity of an Hougang flat, while the charge relating to the second baby allegedly took place 25 and 26 December 2016. The victims and their family members cannot be named due to a gag order to protect their identity. Mother of first alleged victim testifies that baby became drowsy On the first day of the trial, the mother of the five-month-old baby told the court how she came to use Saadiahs babysitting services up until her daughter was hospitalised on the last occasion. The 29-year-old woman, who also has an older daughter, said that she sought the urgent services of a babysitter on a Facebook group after giving birth in June 2016. After Saadiah responded to her post, the mother agreed to use Saadiahs services as the nurse had stayed close to her older daughters school. Her elder daughter was about five years old then. Over eight occasions in November and December 2016, the mother placed both daughters under Saadiahs care, and would fetch them from the babysitter after work between 6pm and 6.30pm. While there were no issues with the girls over the first few baby-sitting sessions, the mother noticed a change in her younger daughters behaviour in the later occasions. The baby became drowsy and sleepy every time her mother picked her up and also had swollen and droopy eyelids. Story continues Her mood was cranky as if she wants to sleep, so when I make her milk she would throw the milk aside, recalled the mother on the stand. Her daughter would also be restless in her sleep and seemed to struggle to respond to those who addressed her. The mother initially believed that her daughter was suffering from teething problems or had a slight fever. She also considered the possibility that her daughter did not have sufficient sleep. At first I could dismiss it as one-off, after subsequent times I started to get uncomfortable, so the third or fourth time I went to the hospital to check up (and) get an opinion to validate whether there was anything wrong with her, she said, describing the babys changed behaviour as a pattern. The mother brought the girl to KK Womens and Childrens Hospital on 22 November 2016 - a day after one of the babysitting sessions - but the doctor could not find anything wrong with the girl. At the mothers insistence, the doctor did a blood test but results turned up normal as well, recalled the mother, who became emotional in her testimony. Dissatisfied, the mother left the hospital with her daughter without taking the nose drops prescribed to her. I feel upset because it is my instincts against a medical examination, its like my observation and gut instinct on what was happening to her (and) puts medical evaluation against my own judgement, said the tearful mother. Against her instincts, the mother continued to send her daughters to Saadiah for babysitting four more times. On the last occasion, on 9 December 2016, her daughters condition worsened. After the mother picked her daughter up at the usual time, she noticed that her babys eyes were really swollen and could barely open. (She was) not really responsive, more of really drowsy, looks like (she was) very sleepy (and) not really responding to you. Her hands when you lift them up, she doesnt really have control over them, the mother added. The babys head had tilted and bent backwards as if she was stoning into space. The woman had been intending to visit her parents in Johor with her daughters. However, she ended up sending her daughter to Parkway East Hospital on the same day. A blood test was administered to the baby and she was hospitalised for some five days after her glucose level was shown to be low. The baby also had to be spoon-fed milk as she could not suck the milk bottle. She gradually recovered. The mother received the toxicology results at the end of December and filed a police report on 28 December 2016. Details of the toxicology report have not been revealed in court. Shortly after the mother filed a police report, she encountered a Facebook post made by the mother of the second victim, alleging that her daughter had been drugged by a babysitter. The mother contacted the woman to provide more information about her own issue. Asked by the prosecution how her daughter was now, the mother described the four-year-old as being okay. She is attending school and childcare. She can be a bit naughty at times, happy, hyper and Im glad she is her usual self, she said. The first tranche of the trial will run until Friday. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: NSF fined $2,500 for flying drone in NDP restricted area Former police officer jailed for assaulting helper, calling her 'pig' and 'dog' YEREVAN, 18 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 18 February, USD exchange rate is down by 0.10 drams to 478.95 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.06 drams to 518.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.06 drams to 7.51 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.23 drams to 622.40 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is down by 14.33 drams to 24342.1 drams. Silver price is up by 1.41 drams to 274.1 drams. Platinum price is down by 80.12 drams to 14890.44 drams. The West Bengal Vice Chancellors Council has come out in support of vice chancellor (VC) of Panchanan Barma University in Cooch Behar, four days after Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar pulled him up for not inviting him to the institutions annual convocation on February 14. On February 13, Dhankhar had issued a show cause letter to vice chancellor Debkumar Mukhopadhyay after not being invited for the convocation. Invoking his power as chancellor of all state-run universities, Dhankhar had written to Mukhopadhyay saying he would initiate the process of removing the VC from the post. Dhankhar gave Mukhopadhyay 14 days to give his reply to the show-cause letter or appear in person at Raj Bhawan at 4 pm on February 28. Mukhopadhyay reacted, saying he did not receive any letter from the governor. He also presided over the convocation. If I receive the letter I will do whatever is necessary, he said. On Monday, the West Bengal Vice Chancellors Council stood by Mukhopadhyay saying he did not violate any rule. The Council, which comprises VCs of 20 state-run universities, issued a statement, saying Mukhopadhyay informed Governor House about the schedule of the convocation but received no response. We have been informed by the VC of Panchanan Barma University that he did not receive any response from the Raj Bhavan, which made him go ahead with the convocation programme without the presence of His Excellency, the council said in the statement. The statement also talked of the new rules introduced in December last year regarding inquiry, show-cause notice or penal measure against vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellors. The new rules say that all communication proposed to be sent by the Chancellor to any state-aided university has to be routed through the higher education department. The issue first became public on the night of February 12 when Dhankhar tweeted his displeasure at not being invited to the convocation. Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Convocation will be held on Feb 14. Ministers Partha Chatterjee, Goutam Deb, Rabindra Nath Ghosh and Binay Krishna Barman are invited for the Convocation. Chancellor, who has right to preside, has just no information! Where are we heading! Dhankhar tweeted. Shortly after Dhankhars tweet, education minister Partha Chatterjee said, He (Dhankhar) should stop cribbing like this every day. The minister, however, did not attend the convocation. On February 13, Dhankhar shot the show-cause letter, copies of which were released to the media by Raj Bhawan. Dhankhar wrote that if Mukhopadhyay failed to explain why the chancellor was not informed about the convocation he would initiate the process of removing the VC under provisions of clauses (d) and (h) of sub-section 7 of section 9 of the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Act. The education minister could not be contacted on Tuesday despite several efforts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON They met during a stint on Dancing with the Stars. And Rachael Finch seems as loved-up as ever with her husband of seven years, Michael Miziner. The 31-year-old model couldn't keep her hands off her handsome hubby as they enjoyed a day out in the Sydney beachside suburb of Coogee on Tuesday. So loved up! Rachael Finch (right) packed on the PDA with husband Michael Miziner (left) during a day out in the Sydney seaside suburb of Coogee on Tuesday The former beauty queen had been for a dip in the nearby ocean, wearing a coral toned bikini which showed off her slim figure. She wore a green and white striped towel around her waist and sunglasses covered her famous face. The beauty's brunette hair was pulled back in a bun and she went makeup-free for her day at the beach. Loved up: The 31-year-old model couldn't keep her hands off her handsome hubby A dip: The former beauty queen had been for a dip in the nearby ocean, wearing a coral toned bikini which showed off her slim figure Micheal meanwhile looked chic and casual in a navy-toned V-neck shirt and a pair of blue shorts, along with a dark blue hat. The former Miss Universe fell in love with her Dancing With The Stars partner in 2010, later marrying Michael in 2013. Speaking to KIIS FM's Hughesy and Kate the TV presenter said: 'I had my toothbrush in his house like three weeks after we met.' Back then: The former Miss Universe fell in love with her Dancing With The Stars (pictured) partner in 2010 In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Rachael claimed the courtship was 'nice' and 'respectful', and they 'didn't kiss for months'. The Townsville-born star wed Michael in early 2013, announcing her first pregnancy with the dancer soon after. In September 2013, their daughter Violet Rachael Miziner arrived. Michael and Rachael welcomed their second child, son Dominic, in April 2017. At first, I was confused about why a government (Landlord) will evict tenants (citizens, not spectators) from its property by destroying the entire property and the private assets therein. Many people posting the story don't seem to have any details besides the headline. So I have been asking for the real story. And from my understanding of the issue from my sources so far, it will appear to me that this was a callous miscalculation my the mis-managers of the trade fair authority (government of Ghana) to redistribute the trade fair property to new owners sympathetic to the government. Many private developers have a 20-year lease agreement with the government of Ghana (old government or new government makes no difference) to develop property (buildings to operate businesses). One such tenant is Raymond Archer and his printing press business which has now been demolished with all the equipment inside the building. There are many more victims who aren't getting publicity as yet. The NPP government decided to introduce ''trade fair redevelopment'' policy - which is another way of saying that the government decided to throw away the agreement between the government of Ghana (old government or new government it makes no difference) and its citizens - and make new agreements with new citizens (investors like MacDan shipping company). It is more like a new king's new law. - but this a republic, not a monarchy. A 20-year lease agreement that allows private citizens to build and operate on the state land is not the kind of agreement that you will expect a government to throw away after 10 years or less of massive investments by private citizens. That is why these tenants went to court to challenge the unlawful eviction order from the trade fair authority. But for whatever reasons that cannot be far away from political, the authorities chose to sneak at night to the trade fair centre not only to reclaim the land but to also destroy the assets of the current occupants. One does not need to be a learned lawyer to know that the action of the government is illegal and should be condemned root, stem, and branch. These business people did not occupy the land illegally. They indeed have agreements with the government of Ghana. The government has therefore not only violated tenancy agreement but has also engaged in criminal conduct of destroying the property of law-abiding citizens. No wonder the rent control department is a useless government agency. If the government cannot respect rental agreements with its citizens, how can private landlords do otherwise? The most reasonable thing would have been for the trade fair authorities to confiscate the properties pending the court resolution of the issues. Even that would have been illegal. But to utterly destroy these investments running into millions of USD is very wicked leadership and abuse of state power, to say the least. These guys employed many Ghanaians. Raymond Archer, who I have never met by the way, definitely employed Ghanaians at his company. Demolishing and destroying his private property is not an attack on him as an individual, it is also an attack on all the families who depended on their jobs with his company. And this company is just one of many that were demolished by the government. How many other companies were affected? how many families have been destroyed? Or did the trade fair authorities engage in this illegality without the knowledge of the government? is that possible? Did we elect a government to destroy livelihoods? Did we elect a government to discriminate among its citizens? Did we elect a government to enforce the Laws or to break the laws? And what are we hearing? that all this is just so that the government can pass the land over to one businessman (MacDan) sympathetic to the NPP? I hope this is a joke? Mr. President Nana Akufo Addo! This sort of impunity should not be tolerated by the people in a country under the so-called rule of law. This trend must be resisted by all well-meaning Ghanaians because it is a big shame and a disgrace and a slap in the face of a property-owning democracy and rule of law!!!! We are eagerly awaiting a reasonable explanation from the government of Ghana on this matter. At least, we-the-people deserve an explanation for this wanton destruction of private property by an NPP government that is a so-called believer in property-owning democracy! Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 16:21:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Li Laifang BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fight against the coronavirus is a major trial of China's governance system and public health emergency response, and a test of international solidarity in fighting common enemies of humanity as well. Yet the grave challenge that China is tackling, assuredly, will not disrupt the nation's development course -- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year and fully building a modern socialist country by the mid-21st century. Throughout its 5,000 years of history, the Chinese nation has never succumbed to difficulties and challenges, internally or externally, including the invasions by imperialist powers in modern times. Entering the 21st century, China has pulled through major risks and challenges such as the SARS epidemic in 2003, the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake, and the global financial crisis in 2008. Certainly, the ongoing public health crisis caused by the previously unknown, highly contagious virus, is no exception. Relying on its unique institutional strengths, particularly the highly efficient national mobilization of medics and materials and the pairing-up aid of other provinces in treating patients in affected cities in Hubei Province, China will win the people's war against the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, despite the severity of the current situation. The country's daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outside Hubei, the epicenter province of the outbreak, have dropped for 14 consecutive days. Positive results are being delivered with all the unprecedented decisive and stringent measures taken under the centralized, unified leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, such as the city lockdown and the construction of multiple makeshift hospitals. Several local officials, including the Hubei provincial health commission head, were removed from their posts following the outbreak. In another rare move, China mulls postponing its annual "two sessions" scheduled for early March -- the meetings of the top legislative and political advisory bodies -- to contain the outbreak. With the comprehensive and extraordinary measures, China has protected its own people and prevented the world from suffering a big catastrophe. In handling this international public health emergency, China is worthy of recognition and support. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday described the measures put in place by the Chinese government as "a gigantic effort" and said the efforts will allow for the progressive reduction of the disease. The control of COVID-19 is at the most crucial juncture for China. The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland had reached 72,436 by the end of Monday, and 1,868 people had died of the disease. Much remains to be learned about the virus, which is more cunning than the one that spread SARS. Critical lessons must be learned from the deadly outbreak. As leading domestic experts believe the virus probably comes from wild animals based on the finding that most early cases were related to a market in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, resolute efforts must be made to eliminate the consumption of wild animals and illegal trade of wildlife. The epidemic exposes inadequacy in China's emergency management and public health. At a meeting of the CPC central committee for deepening overall reform last week, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen areas of weakness and close the loopholes exposed by the current epidemic. The coronavirus outbreak is expected to prompt an overhaul of the country's emergency and public health management and also push the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, which is part of the nation's second centenary goal. A Chinese saying goes that trials and tribulations serve only to revitalize a nation. For 1.4 billion Chinese, achieving national rejuvenation is no walk in the park and requires even greater efforts led by the reform-minded CPC. Facing temporary difficulties, many companies in China have made rapid and flexible adjustments in operation and production. It is widely agreed among domestic economists that the outbreak will not undermine the fundamentals of China's highly resilient economy, which contributes around 30 percent of global growth. Going through the trial of the coronavirus outbreak, the united Chinese people are determined to march towards national rejuvenation in a more sound and smart way, while pursuing common prosperity and closer interaction with the world. Tens of thousands of medics in China are racing against time to save the lives of infected people at the risk of their own. Chinese people are grateful for the backing of the international community, especially the aid of urgently needed protective gear for medics from many countries. Zero-sum stragglers should refrain from taking advantage of the epidemic to slander China. Instead, they should think more about how to jointly fight common enemies such as epidemics and terrorism, which are not bound by national borders in the globalized international community. Three days before Irans parliamentary elections, the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed his call on the nation for a show of support to the clerical establishment. Khamenei told Iranians again in a Feb. 18 speech in Tehran that voting was not just a national responsibility but a religious duty as well. America and the enemy, recurrent motifs in Khameneis speeches, were central to his latest address at yet another critical time for Iran. The polls will defuse the US evil intentions, he told the crowd, describing a large turnout as a sign that Washingtons pressure campaign against Tehran has not worked. A weak parliament will adversely change the course of Irans fight against the enemies, he added in an attempt to convince Iranians that their security depends on their participation in the vote. Campaigning is underway across Iran, there there are no indications of any heated competition in the capital Tehran and the other major cities. Weeks ahead of the vote, the hard-line Guardian Council barred a majority of prominent candidates representing the Reformist camp from the race. The one-sided contest is now widely expected to produce a new parliament controlled by the hard-liners who have relentlessly opposed the policies of moderate President Hassan Rouhani and his fragile nuclear deal, one which has been in tatters since his American counterpart Donald Trump walked out of it in May 2018. At a Feb. 17 campaign gathering in central Tehran, ultraconservative speakers sharpened their attacks and warned Rouhani that the upcoming parliament will strive to bring him down. The hard-liners have long pressed the president to abandon his engagement with the West, whose promises of economic relief, they argue, have given Iran nothing. While 58 million Iranians in the countrys population of 83 million are eligible to vote in the Friday polls, many obervers doubt the country will see the same large turnout that has marked many past Iranian elections, including the one that sent Rouhani to office for a second time in 2017. In the run-up to the vote, Iranians have taken to the streets to express their discontent over economic matters and a host of other grievances. Back in November, the states response to protests over higher fuel prices turned unprecedentedly brutal. While unofficial reports have put the death toll at up to 1,500, the government continues to ignore calls to release its own report. During a Feb. 16 presser, Rouhani denied those reports and threw the ball into the court of the countrys judiciary-affiliated Legal Medicine Organization. The organization, however, took less than a day to respond that they already submitted their report to the Interior Ministry, which is responsible for making the data public. After being stranded at sea for two weeks because five ports refused to allow their cruise ship to dock, the passengers of the MS Westerdam were anything but sure their ordeal was finally over. Then the leader of Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen, agreed to let the Westerdam dock. Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam had earlier turned the ship way because they feared its passengers and crew could spread the deadly new virus from China, but Hun Sen declared he would welcome them. The first batch of hundreds of passengers who disembarked Friday saw the Cambodian leader arrive by helicopter and then personally hand them flowers as they made their way to land, The Associated Press reported. Today, although Cambodia is a poor country, Cambodia has always joined the international community to solve the problems that the world and our region are facing, Hun Sen said as the first passengers disembarked. The grateful passengers sang his praises. How wonderful it is to be here. Thank you very much to the prime minister. He has a wonderful heart, said Anna Marie Melon, from Queensland, Australia. Im very excited (to be here), she said as she waved a rose Hun Sen had handed to her. According to The AP, the passengers cheered as they walked toward waiting buses and waved goodbye to other passengers watching from the ships deck. Cambodia alone, even the United States, Guam, did not let us land, but Cambodia did, so thats wonderful. Absolutely wonderful, Joe Spaziani, from Florida, told reporters. We appreciate it very very much. Its been a long struggle and we appreciate everyone being here. He and many other passengers wore a krama, a traditional Cambodian scarf, around their necks. John Stanley, of Evesham in England, who with his wife Olive had been on the ship since it departed from Singapore in January on the first leg of its journey, recounted some of the stresses of the last two weeks. After some uncertainty, they came to accept the ships doctors declaration that none of the passengers had the feared COVID-19 viral illness. But there was concern that some peoples supplies of necessary medication would run out and there were many text messages from worried family members back home. So it was a question of being really, really thankful to the Cambodian government and really, really relieved that we can go home, Stanley said. To be honest, until wed actually gone off the ship, we didnt really believe it because we had one or two situations before where we thought we were getting off. The Westerdams operator, Holland America Line, had said no cases of the virus had been confirmed among its 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members. Some 20 passengers reported stomachaches or fever, but tests for the virus done at the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh showed none had the illness. Hun Sen said he acted for humanitarian reasons and that he wanted passengers to be able to return to their home countries. If Cambodia did not allow this ship to dock here, where should this ship go? he said. I want to inform Cambodians and the world that I coming here even for a short time means this is no time for discrimination and to be scared, but a time for everyone to be in solidarity to solve the problems we are facing now. A strong supporter of China, Hun Sen has downplayed threats from the new virus, and unlike other Asian nations, he declined to ban direct flights between Cambodia and China, saying that would disturb bilateral relations and hurt his countrys economy. Cambodia has only one confirmed case of the virus, a visitor from China, despite its popularity with Chinese tourists. The decision to let the passengers disembark also won Cambodia praise from President Donald Trump, who tweeted: Thank you to the beautiful country of Cambodia for accepting the @CarnivalCruise ship Westerdam into your port. The United States will remember your courtesy! Taking advantage of the opportunity to boost his countrys tourism profile, Hun Sen said the passengers were free to go to the beach, go sightseeing in Sihanoukville, where the ship docked, or even visit the famous centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwest. Mang Sineth, the vice governor in Preah Sihanouk province, told reporters 414 passengers were to leave the port Friday and fly to Cambodias capital before traveling to their final destinations. Three flights from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh were arranged to take all the ships passengers. He said that if the flying arrangements went smoothly, all passengers would probably be leaving Sihanoukville by Sunday. The COVID-19 illness has sickened tens of thousands of people in China and a few hundred elsewhere, including 218 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which made stops in Hong Kong and other ports before arriving in Japan last week, where it has been quarantined. The Westerdam began its cruise in Singapore last month and its last stop before it was refused further landings was in Hong Kong, where 56 cases of the disease and one death have been confirmed. Several hundred new passengers boarded the ship there for the second leg of the planned monthlong cruise. More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials, current federal prosecutors, and federal judges are urgently concerned about Attorney General William Barr's evident politicization of the Justice Department. Even "Trump voters" should be afraid of "Bill Barr's America," a "banana republic where all are subject to the whims of a dictatorial president and his henchmen," Donald Ayer, a former colleague of Barr's and deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, wrote in The Atlantic on Monday. He elaborated on CNN Monday evening. Barr was Ayer's successor as deputy attorney general before starting his first go as attorney general a year later, in 1991. In the 40 years the two men have known each other, Ayer told CNN, Barr has "always had a very strong view that the executive ought to have a great deal of power. I've never known quite how far it would go, and there was never any reason to test it, because when he was attorney general under George H.W. Bush, George H.W. Bush had no interest in being an autocrat. So now we're faced with a situation where Bill Barr has won the job of attorney general under a president who apparently does want to be an autocrat." In The Atlantic, Ayer writes that "it is not too strong to say that Bill Barr is un-American," and he elaborated on CNN. "The reason that I say that he's un-American is because I think it's fair to say, and I think most people would agree with me, that the central tenet of our legal system and our justice system is that no person is above the law," he wrote. "Bill Barr's vision is quite different. Bill Barr's vision is that there is one man, one person who needs to be above the law, and that is the president. ... He said that before he became attorney general but he's now carried it out in many steps." Ayer elaborated on the ways he thinks Barr is harming America in his Atlantic article, concluding that to prevent this "banana republic," America needs "a public uprising demanding that Bill Barr resign immediately, or failing that, be impeached." Read more at The Atlantic. More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils Trump's pardon of Bernie Kerik also apparently wiped out Kerik's $103,300 debt to taxpayers Burger King is advertising the revolting sight of a moldy Whopper MILWAUKEE, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP is investigating Front Yard Residential Corporation (NYSE: RESI) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of the law in connection with the sale to Amherst. Click here to learn how to join the action: http://ademilaw.com/case/front-yard-residential-corporation or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP alleges Front Yard's financial outlook is improving and yet shareholders will receive only $12.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion, including debt to be assumed or refinanced. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Front Yard by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a termination penalty if Front Yard accepts a superior bid. Front Yard insiders will receive millions of dollars as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of Front Yard's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Front Yard. If you own common stock in Front Yard and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or http://ademilaw.com/case/front-yard-residential-corporation. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP Related Links http://www.ademilaw.com Video PlayerClose Shaving her head for the convenience of work, Wang, 31, joins the provincial medical team to help assist rescue work in Wuhan. [gzrb.gog.cn] GUIYANG, February 17 (Xinhua) Wang Yongyan's aunt has prepared a little gift for her a wig. Wang is a nurse from the respiratory department of the People's Hospital in the city of Xingyi in southwest China's Guizhou Province. She has participated in the battle against the coronavirus in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, more than 1,300 km away from Xingyi. Before she went to Wuhan, Wang shaved her head. "She loves her long hair, and she loves taking selfies," her aunt said. "But she cut it for the convenience of work and to prevent infection." Hubei Province reported 1,933 new confirmed cases and 100 new deaths Sunday, according to the provincial health commission Monday. The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 58,182. Wuhan, the provincial capital, recorded a total of 41,152 confirmed cases. On February 4, Wang, 31, joined the provincial medical team to help assist rescue work in Wuhan. She currently works in a make-shift hospital converted from a convention center in Jianghan District. "The hospital has six medical teams from Wuhan and 10 from across the country," Wang said. "We have received more than 1,000 infected patients with mild symptoms." Guizhou's medics took charge of 15 wards at the hospital, with Wang taking care of 29 patients for six hours every day. She goes through all the wards every hour, checks the patients' blood oxygen saturation and asks about their physical conditions. "If a patient feels uncomfortable, I report to the doctor, who then prescribes medication," she said. On night shifts, she takes blood samples, collects nucleic acid testing tubes, fetches breakfast and hands out traditional Chinese medicine to the patients. For the rest of the time, she is mainly answering all kinds of questions from anxious patients, who address her as "Little Wang." "They would ask me: Little Wang, Little Wang, should I take my diabetes and blood pressure medication?" she said. "Or they would say: Little Wang, Little Wang, I need to change my mask, do you have an extra one? And when can I get out of the hospital?" "Besides medication, what they need is hope in times like this," she said. During the day, Wang tries to encourage the patients to get out of bed and exercise to enhance their immunity. "I apply for 29 masks every day, but the patients need to get out of bed and do some exercises to get them," she said. After almost two weeks in Wuhan, Wang is happy that one of the patients in her wing has been discharged from the hospital. The patient wrote a thank you note to her before leaving. "We hope that we will get through this epidemic as soon as possible," Wang said. (Source: Xinhua) Happy couple being attended by office worker at office Milk and cheese are two essentials in almost every home in the world. It makes sense to look at companies that operate in this sector. Whether or not 2020 is turbulent, it is unlikely that people will stop eating their favourite dairy products. Saputo (TSX:SAP) produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk & cream products, cultured products, and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top 10 dairy processors in the world, a leading cheese manufacturer and fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, the top dairy processor in Australia, and the second largest in Argentina. In the U.S., Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers. In the United Kingdom, Saputo is the largest manufacturer of branded cheese. The numbers game Saputo published its results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, which ended on December 31, 2019. Revenues came in at $3.89 billion an increase of $313.6 million, or 8.8%, from the same period in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was $417 million, an increase of $95.8 million, or 29.8%. Net earnings totaled $197.8 million. Revenues from the U.S. increased by $170.2 million, and Europe sales were up by approximately $196 million. Saputos acquisitions pulled their weight in 2019. For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2019, revenues totaled $11.22 billion, an increase of $959.4 million, or 9.3%, as compared to $10.26 billion for the same period last fiscal year. Revenues increased due to the contribution of recent acquisitions, including $534.5 million from the Dairy Crest Acquisition for the 37-week period ended December 31, 2019. The specialty cheese business of Lion Dairy & Drinks Pty Ltd (Specialty Cheese Business Acquisition) in Australia, acquired on October 28, 2019, contributed positively to revenues and adjusted EBITDA for nine weeks in the quarter. Higher international selling prices of cheese and dairy ingredients positively impacted adjusted EBITDA. The combined effect of a higher average block market per pound of cheese and the fluctuation of the butter market price per pound increased revenues by approximately $277 million for the nine months of 2020. Story continues The board of directors approved a dividend of $0.17 per share payable on March 13, 2020, indicating a forward yield of 1.7%. Away from dairy and dealing with a virus As more consumers begin to move away from cow-based products due to health and environmental reasons, Saputo has decided to close down two plants in Canada. Saputo CEO Lino Saputo Jr. has said that the company will look at an acquisition of a plant-based milk business to meet growing demand for plant-based beverages. However, while Saputo has been hit by lower numbers in China thanks to the Coronavirus, Saputo Jr. doesnt see this as a long-term pushback. He expects numbers and consumption to go back to pre-virus levels once the threat of Coronavirus goes away. The company is exporting products to China from different locations, and while there are delays at some ports, no batch has returned. Analysts expect Saputo to hit an average price target of $45.44 upside of just over 10%. Saputos in a business where Chinese consumption will only increase once the threat of the virus dies. And unless the rest of the world collectively decides to stop eating cheese, this number looks pretty good. More reading The Motley Fool recommends SAPUTO INC. Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 The Delhi government will enrol 17,000 entrepreneurs to develop entrepreneurial culture among students in government schools and enable them to think out of the box, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday. Sisodia held a review meeting of the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum at the Delhi Secretariat. "The minister directed the team to engage 17,000 entrepreneurs for classroom interactions with students on EMC. Last year, 4,000 entrepreneurs had interacted with 3,10,309 students and discussed their journey as entrepreneurs," an official statement said. With the intent to build the entrepreneurship skills through live project, the Delhi government plans to give seed money to the students of classes 11 and 12. "For a holistic exposure to the entrepreneurial set up, it is essential to get our students involved in field projects. We are planning to roll out the field projects in April 2020 and July 2020 for classes 12 and 11 respectively," Sisodia said. He said the Delhi government will give out seed money of Rs 1,000 to each student for their field project. They will be involved in entrepreneurial activities which will enable them to 'think-out-of-the box' and take on a solution-centric approach. The Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC) was kick-started in 2019-20 to instil entrepreneurial mindsets in students of the Delhi government schools. The EMC has been developed by SCERT Delhi with the help of teachers and NGOs and it focuses on providing real life experiences to students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Highlights Reliance Jio has plans costing Rs 129, 1299 Vodaone has plans costing Rs 129, 1499 Airtel has plans costing Rs 149, 179 and Rs 1498 The telecom giants Vodafone, Jio and Airtel have introduced many new plans ever since their prices went up in December. The companies have modified their existing prepaid plans and also removed some of the non-popular ones from their list of prepaid plans. However, despite some major alterations in the plans, the users haven't really complained about it. Interestingly, the telecom brands such as Vodafone, Airtel and Jio have plans that meet the needs of all sorts of consumers. The prices of Jio's prepaid plans are on the lower side if compared to Airtel and Vodafone while the other two telecom giants have almost similar prepaid plans for their users. Most data packs these days, come with really great internet data but not many users want so much data. Some people only use their phones for calling and have very little internet usage on a daily basis. So for them, the plans that offer 1GB or 1.5GB data per day are not very useful. In this article, we will focus on prepaid plans that offer great calling benefits and are not very expensive. If we talk about Jio, the Reliance-owned brand has two very convenient data packs with great calling benefits. One is a monthly plan costing Rs 129 and the other is the yearly plan which is priced at Rs 1299. The monthly plan comes with a total of 2GB internet data and unlimited calling benefits to all networks. The pack is valid for 28 days. While the yearly plan costing Rs 1299 offers a total of 24GB data and it is valid for 365 days. Before buying one should remember that these plans are only good if you just want to make calls from your phone and nothing else. Vodafone too has similar plans priced at Rs 129 and Rs 1499. Just like Jio, Vodafone's monthly plan costs Rs 129. It offers a total of 2GB data, unlimited calling benefits but is only valid for 24 days. Similarly, the yearly plan costs Rs 1499; it offers a total of 24GB data, unlimited calls and a free subscription to Zee5 and Vodafone Play apps. This pack is valid for 365 days. Airtel on the other hand has an interesting range of plans in this particular segment. It has Rs 149, Rs 179 and Rs 1498 plans that solely focuses on providing calling benefits. The monthly plan costing Rs 149 comes with a total of 2GB data, 300 SMSes and unlimited calling benefits to all networks. Similarly, the Rs 179 plan offers same benefits but also comes with an additional life insurance cover of Rs 2 Lakhs from Bharti Axa Life Insurance. The yearly plan by Airtel costs Rs 1498, it offers a total of 24GB data, 3600 SMS and unlimited calling benefits. The pack is valid for 365 days. Steven Chanenson, Professor of Law, was recently named a fellow by the Program in Law and Public Affairs (LAPA) at Princeton University for the 2019-2020 academic year. Chanenson was selected from a competitive interdisciplinary and international applicant for pool for the prestigious fellowship. As a LAPA fellow, Chanenson, one of the nations foremost experts on criminal sentencing, will spend the academic year in residence at Princeton examining comparative penal practices between Norway and the United States. He will also participate in law-related programs and engage with faculty and students. Steve is an outstanding member of the Villanova Law faculty and is so deserving of this honor, said Mark C. Alexander, The Arthur J. Kania Dean and Professor of Law. As a former LAPA fellow myself, I know firsthand the incredible experience Steve will have during his fellowship. He is a dedicated scholar and leader in the area of prison reform and criminal justice, and our students, and now Princetons, are fortunate to have him as a teacher and mentor. Chanenson teaches courses on sentencing, criminal law and criminal procedure at Villanova Law. He also serves as the Director of the Villanova Sentencing Workshop and as the Faculty Director of the David F. and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo Center for Ethics, Integrity and Compliance. Chanenson writes primarily in the areas of sentencing and criminal procedure with his works having been published in such journals as the Stanford Law Review, Emory Law Journal, Waseda Proceedings of Comparative Law and Yale Law Journal Pocket Part. A longtime policy advocate, Chanenson was a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing for nearly 14 years, having been appointed by three successive Governors of Pennsylvania. Chanenson, at the appointment of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, also served on a committee that advised the Supreme Court on criminal justice reforms for the First Judicial District (Philadelphia) criminal courts. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania also appointed him as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Criminal Jury Instruction Committee, which produces jury instructions published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Chanenson was awarded the Villanova Law Student Bar Associations Faculty Award for the 2017-2018 academic year, and the prestigious Richard P. Kern Memorial Award by the National Association of Sentencing Commissions (NASC) in 2016. In 2005, he received the Judge Joseph Stevens Award for Outstanding Public Service in the Field of Law on behalf of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. He was named a Truman Scholar in 1986 and has been an active member in the Truman Scholar selection process. Chanenson also served as a Fulbright Distinguished Lecturer in Law from 2008-09 at Xiamen University School of Law in Xiamen, Fujian Province, Peoples Republic of China. Since 2014, Chanenson has served as a reporter for the Criminal Records Accuracy committee for the Uniform Law Commission. An elected member of the American Law Institute, he was the Liaison from the National Association of Sentencing Commissions to the American Law Institute regarding efforts to revise the sentencing portions of the Model Penal Code. In addition, he is a Managing Editor of and frequent contributor to the Federal Sentencing Reporter (University of California Press/Vera Institute of Justice), the leading professional journal of brief commentary on sentencing law, theory, and reform. Professor Chanenson received a BA in economics and a MS in criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. He clerked for Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Supreme Court Associate Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. He also served in the Chambers of the Honorable David H. Souter, practiced at a major commercial law firm and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in Chicago. ALBANY Norman Rice is composing the final chapter in his long love story of Albany. I received word that Rice, who is 93, was in failing health and wished to see me. He had two boxes of biographical material set aside for me to peruse. The subtext was that he wanted me to make preparations to write his obituary. One does not refuse a request from Norman Rice, one of Albanys great raconteurs and a man with an astonishing knack for getting his way. Our late-afternoon reverie began to bear the mood and cadence of T.S. Eliots mournful poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. As the citys most enduring collector, former city historian and emeritus director of the Albany Institute of History & Art, Rice has indeed measured out his life with coffee spoons. Rice was hired as a 27-year-old curator at the Albany Institute in 1953, and 67 years later remains a fixture there. He acquired thousands of objects for the museum founded in 1791, one of the oldest in the country. The institute in 2013 mounted an exhibition featuring a sample of Rices favorite objects, titled Sixty Years and Still Collecting. Its just become part of my nature, he said, trying to articulate the singular pleasure of the hunt for and acquisition of a rare and beautiful art object. You need a certain attitude to devote yourself to collecting. As one of Rices around-the-clock nurses checked on him periodically and he rested on the padded seat of his walker, the setting sun cast long shadows over the Albany skyline. It gave a burnished glow to his spacious sixth-floor downtown Albany luxury condominium and its museum-like collection of books, artwork, silver, porcelain and curios. With apologies to Eliot and his poems haunting lines: Let us go then, Norman and I, through the yellow smoke of distant memory as the women come and go, talking of Michelangelo. He handed me a scrap of paper on which he had scrawled more than a dozen names, all women. These were arts patrons who had provided the philanthropy that allowed Rice to acquire work from the Hudson River School painters and other rare and valuable art objects. Widows of titans of commerce, each one had flush accounts they did not mind tapping to draft large checks at Rices urging with the goal of building up the nationally notable collections of the Albany Institute. Near the top of Rices list was Marjorie Doyle Rockwell, who died at age 84 in 1995. She was a longtime member of the Albany Institutes board of trustees and one of its largest donors. She gave a check for $50,000 to the collections committee each year, along with her Christmas card, Rice recalled. Rockwell was a distinguished collector of American furniture, paintings and Albany material. Her Loudonville home was a showcase of museum-quality pieces. She gave Rice the green light at auctions whenever he discovered a rare object related to Albanys history. When Rockwell died, she donated numerous valuable items from her collection of furniture and artwork to the institute, and also left the museum a $2 million bequest, Rice said. Rockwell was going to command a thick chapter in a book Rice had planned to write, titled The Great Women of Our Lives. He was going to collaborate with his longtime companion, James Gwynn, an artist and interior decorator who died in 2015 at age 93 after a long illness related to heart complications. I am very sorry James and I never finished our book, Rice said as he used his thumb to turn a gold-engraved signet ring on his right pinkie. The ring had belonged to Gwynn and bore his monogram. The two met through the Albany Institute, where Gwynn first worked as a teenager starting in 1936, teaching Saturday-morning art classes to youngsters. Other names on Rices list of remarkable Albany women were Fredericka Freddie Voorhaar Slingerland, who died in 2004 at age 90, and Dorothy Treat Arnold Cogswell, who died in 1984 at age 92. These and other widows were grande dames who accompanied Gwynn and Rice to museums in Paris and London, on trips to Glimmerglass Opera outside Cooperstown, and on acquisition missions to major auction houses in New York City. They were all amazing women in their own right," Rice said. "They were bright, original characters who captured the social standards of their time and constituted a golden era of the city." Our conversation felt like an elegy to fin-de-siecle Old Albany, the final whisper of a bygone era. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Rice is one of the last witnesses to this vanishing epoch the high tide of Albanys old-money prosperity, when fortunes were made in steel, lumber, paper manufacturing, banking and the mercantile trade, and remained in the capital city down through the generations. There are dozens of art objects displayed around Rices apartment some of them in a gorgeous antique curio case with an amber light that casts a lovely hue over silver, porcelain and other fine pieces inherited from family members of earlier centuries. Each one tells a story. In his bedroom, which resembles a small wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rice paused to show me the very first object he collected. While he was in elementary school in Salem, Mass., he acquired from a classmate a miniature Hitchcock chair with a cane seat. I traded my small chemistry set for the chair, Rice recalled, content in the knowledge that he got the better part of the deal. Rice is working with an archivist to organize his papers and to begin the deaccessioning process, which is as painful to his collectors impulse as the recent case of shingles he is just getting over. Im falling apart physically, he said. Luckily, my mind is still good. Rice has already given away dozens of books. As he passed numerous objects, he said they were going to the institute, along with the bulk of his collection of Albany art and material. Each night, Rice sips a small pour of Dubonnet, the French aperitif, while he nibbles on an Oreo cookie. He acquired a taste for the unusual pairing from the late Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, a world-class art collector whose passion for modern art Rice did not share. Rices aesthetic was much more in keeping with the classical tastes of another Executive Mansion inhabitant whom he knew well, Gov. W. Averell Harriman. And in his memory, the great women of Albany he loved come and go, talking of Michelangelo. Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com VANCOUVER, CANADA / ACCESSWIRE / February 10, 2020 / Auryn Resources Inc. (AUG)(NYSE American:AUG) ("Auryn" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received its environmental permit, the Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental ("DIA"), from the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines for its Sombrero copper-gold project in Southern Peru. The DIA covers an area of 1,031 hectares and allows the Company to drill up to 33 holes from 23 platforms on the Ccascabamba Sombrero Main target area, where Auryn has completed the majority of its work to-date within the 130,000 hectare land package (Figure 1). The next step required in the permitting process is to obtain the authorization for Inicio de Actividades ("Start of Activities"), which was filed with the authorities last week. Included in this step is the Consulta Previa ("Social Consultation"), which will be the government authority's confirmation that the community supports the upcoming drill program as well as future exploration activities. Auryn has prioritized efforts to achieve excellent relations within the Huanca Sancos community through a number of beneficial social programs. A Message from Ivan Bebek, Executive Chairman & Director: "We are very pleased to have received our DIA less than seven months from the start of our application. I would like to thank our permitting team and the various Peruvian agencies involved for their contributions. "We view the Sombrero district as a tier-1 exploration opportunity due to its size, the strength of mineralization on surface and the positive historical drilling results at the Fierrazo target. We have demonstrated that Sombrero is the western extension of the Andahuaylas-Yauri belt, and we believe that we may discover multiple world-class deposits within our land package. This initial program will test the first of four significant mineralized intrusive centers identified by our technical team to-date, as we continue exploring the additional intrusive centers in the coming months." Story continues Figure 1: Illustrates the proposed drill plan on the Sombrero Main target area. The DIA allows Auryn to drill up to 33 holes from 23 platforms. Michael Henrichsen, P.Geo, COO of Auryn, is the Qualified Person who assumes responsibility for the technical disclosures in this press release. On Behalf of the Board, Ivan Bebek Executive Chairman and Director For further information on Auryn Resources, please contact Natasha Frakes, Manager of Corporate Communications at (778) 729-0600 info@aurynresources.com About Auryn Auryn Resources is a technology-driven junior exploration company focused on finding and advancing globally significant precious and base metal deposits. The company has a portfolio approach to asset acquisition and has seven projects, including two flagships: the Committee Bay high-grade gold project in Nunavut and the Sombrero copper-gold project in southern Peru. Auryn's technical and management teams have an impressive track record of successfully monetizing assets for all stakeholders and local communities in which it operates. Auryn conducts itself to the highest standards of corporate governance and sustainability. About Sombrero This project consists of the North Sombrero and South Sombrero properties, comprising over 130,000 hectares owned or optioned by Auryn Resources. The copper-gold Sombrero mining concessions are located 340 kilometers SE of Lima in southern Peru and are hosted in the Andahuaylas-Yauri belt. This belt is interpreted to be on the north-western margins of this Eocene-Oligocene aged copper-gold porphyry and skarn belt that hosts the Las Bambas, Haquira, Los Chancas, Cotambambas, Constancia, Antapaccay and Tintaya deposits. The project is characterized by a strong structural control and significant copper and gold values from historical surface samples. The principal targets at Sombrero are copper-gold skarn and porphyry systems and precious metal epithermal deposits. Forward Looking Information and Additional Cautionary Language This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking information is information that includes a proposed financing and completion if a proposed loan amendment as well as information relating to or associated with the acquisition and title to mineral concessions. In addition to the stated conditions to complete the transactions forward looking statements involve other known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different (either positively or negatively) from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and the Company's registration statement on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. The Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Auryn Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/575847/Auryn-Secures-DIA-for-Initial-Drill-Program-at-Sombrero-Copper-Gold-Project-in-Southern-Peru By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Pakistan is unlikey to get any reprieve from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as a sub-group of the global terror financing watchdog on Tuesday recommended the countrys continuation in the Grey List for its failure to check terror funding. The final decision, however, will be taken on February 21, sources said on Tuesday. The decision on Pakistans continuation in the list was taken at a meeting of the FATFs International Co- operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary. The FATF meeting is being held a week after an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and founder of LeT, to 11 years in two terror financing cases. The judgment came ostensibly to please the FATF and Western countries so that the country can exit the Grey List.India has been maintaining that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. Pakistan also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family were missing. It claimed there were only 16 UN designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which seven are dead. Of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions.Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the Grey List and move to White List. To avoid Black List, it needs support of three countries. In FATFs last month meeting in Beijing, Pakistan received the support of Malaysia and Turkey, besides FATF current chair China.The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks. With agency inputs China sends over 30,000 medics to aid in battle against COVID-19 in Wuhan BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has dispatched more than 30,000 medical staff, including elite medical groups, to assist in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the epicenter Wuhan, Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC), said Monday. China has sent about 11,000 intensive care specialists into the coronavirus-hit Wuhan, making up to approximately 10 percent of the country's total number of intensive care medics, Guo said at a press conference in Beijing. Guo said three top-level medical groups led by Chinese academicians, namely Zhong Nanshan, Li Lanjuan and Wang Chen, have also joined the fight at the frontline. "Academicians' groups have provided consultations on the treatment of patients in critical condition and explored new therapies and techniques," Guo said, adding that therapies and medical techniques with good effectiveness would be added into the diagnosis and treatment plan. A total of 22 national emergency medical rescue teams and three mobile P3 laboratories had gathered in the hard-hit city with selected medical kits to improve the city's ability to treat, cure and conduct virus tests, the NHC official said. The supportive medical groups were sent by 29 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as the armed forces of China, according to Guo. As of Sunday, a total of 3,458 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery in the city of Wuhan, according to NHC's daily report. It was a shock strong enough to cause a reverberating knee-jerk, a physical blow hard enough to speed up the heartbeat and fill it with terrible fear and anger. God, so much anger! The rage I had felt at that point was so violent, I simply wouldnt have thought twice before pulling the trigger on the beasts who were making national headlines on the morning of 17th December 2012. Newspaper headlines screamed about a 23-year-old physiotherapy student getting gang-raped and brutalised by six vile creatures who dont deserve to be called humans, the Delhi sky became a reflection of the gloom that had settled over the city and its peoples hearts that morning. Reuters Details of the bone-chilling assault began surfacing as journalists worked overtime, hovering outside the Safdarjung Hospital to report even the tiniest development in the now-sensational case. All this happened while Jyoti Singh, hailed as Nirbhaya by the media and the nation, struggled on a hospital bed to fight back and reclaim the life that had been snatched away from her in a span of 45-minutes on the night of 16th December 2012. That was seven years ago, and now, it's seven years too late to delay bringing the devils to justice. Twitter But now, as the remaining four Nirbhaya case convicts await the noose ahead for their 6 am hanging on 3rd March, India is also waiting for the moment of catharsis that it has been denied for the last seven years. The Ghost Of The Past Brutalities As Jyotis family and all of us inch towards the long-standing justice, the ghosts of the past still come to haunt me. In every Asifa Bano and Disha that I come across, and the innumerable protests and public outrage that follows, I see a glimpse of the pent-up anger that has been seething within my heart; only to be overpowered by the hopelessness of the actual reality. Twitter Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied But that doesnt mean I am ready to forget the horrors that exist in our society. One where things dont stop with rape and brutality but continue to inflict pain by denying justice to victims and survivors, harassing the family with hopes of one day. By preventing just and quick trials, I am made to feel betrayed by my own providers of justice. And as many others join in to voice their dwindling faith in the countrys system of law and order, people like you and me are quick to go to the extremes to serve the justice. Justice Is A Dish Best Served Cold? Perhaps thats the reason why today we have become a nation that is rooting on death to feel alive again. When Dishas rapists were killed in an encounter, no rallies were held to protest against it. Instead, Twitter was abuzz with people hailing Karma and believing that justice had been served. And maybe there was some sense of closure to be found there too. Twitter It became our way of living at peace with ourselves, of hoping that law wouldnt go against the deliverer and fail them yet again at least this time. Finding Salvation In Death And just like that, we have turned into a nation that is now waiting for the four Nirbhaya convicts life to come to an end, once and for all. It is almost as if just like me, the country feels too burdened for having failed to bring the culprits to justice sooner. For allowing the countless mercy pleas to be filed, and to have given the convicts the room to manipulate the loopholes in our books of law. Twitter This shared sense of shame, anger and restlessness that we feel, really puts the land of ahimsa in a bad light. But guess what, who cares? You gotta do, what you gotta do to believe better late than never, right? So, here is hoping the latest Nirbhaya case execution verdict stays, and that on the morning of 3rd March, you, me and the rest of the country wakes up to a dawn thats bright enough to cast away the clouds of gloom and shame we have been living with since December 2012. Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor aka Agbor Balla Atia Azohnwi Three days after blood and tears flowed in Ngarbuh, a locality in Cameroons North West region, the countrys army has denied claims that those who died Friday, February 14, 2020 were massacred by soldiers. Contrary to reports that no fewer than 27 people were killed including pregnant women and children in a Valentines Day attack in Ngarbuh, the army says only 12 people died seven armed separatists and five civilians. In two separate communiques signed by army spokesman Colonel Cyrille Atonfack Guemo and Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo, government says the civilian deaths were the result of an unfortunate accident which happened when fuel exploded in an exchange of gunfire with separatists in the area. Minister Beti Assomo said defense and security forces indeed carried out an operation in the area in a bid to dislodge a separatist arms and logistics base. He says in an attack that ensued, seven terrorists and bandits were killed. Assomo says given that the separatist base was lodged in a civilian environment, a woman and four children died when fuel exploded in an exchange of gunfire with separatists in the area. Beti Assomo Joseph says the photos depicting scores of deaths is the handiwork of secessionist terrorist propaganda. He argues that pictures of separatists killed in Mezam Division in 2019 are now being brandished as those from Ngarbuh. He went on to hail the professionalism of Cameroons security and defense forces before warning that the Ministry of Defense reserves the right to drag authors of fake news before competent courts in keeping with relevant provisions of the law. Agbor Balla reacts Shortly after the army position on the Ngarbuh incident went viral, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Anyior alias Agbor Balla, President/Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, took to Facebook to demands for an independent commission of inquiry into the case. His words: I just read the reaction of the Ministry of Defense on the Ngarbuh Massacre. My recommendation is that, In order to lay this matter to rest, an independent Commission of Inquiry should be set up to investigate the killings. The Commission should include members of the civil society, clergy and government. The Commission should be headed by a clergy of impeccable character. The human rights lawyer had earlier on called for an end to the culture of impunity. Hear him: The death toll from the massacre in Ngarbuh-Ntubaw in Cameroon has risen to 32 with some children and pregnant women still missing. The military officers responsible for these heinous crimes must be brought to justice. These crimes clearly amount to crimes against humanity. The culture of impunity must stop. No to Impunity and Yes to Accountability. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu Visits Serbia Amid Heightened Tensions In the Balkans By RFE/RL February 18, 2020 Serbian-Russian military cooperation is on an "upward trend" and both countries are committed to "further enhancing" it, Serbia's Defense Ministry said on its website after hosting a delegation led by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on February 17. Serbia wants a strong army, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said, "because it is a guarantee of stability and neutrality." Speaking in Belgrade, Shoigu said that "for our part, we will make every effort to maintain the pace of our relations in the military sphere." Serbia maintains strong political and economic relations with Russia despite a proclaimed goal of joining the European Union. Belgrade has pledged to stay out of NATO and refused to impose sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. Russia doesn't recognize the statehood of Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Moscow has sold Belgrade fighter jets, attack helicopters, and battle tanks over the years, raising concerns in the Balkan region that has experienced bloody wars over the past three decades. In October, Serbia held joint air military exercises with Russia in which the Russian-made long-range S-400 and Pantsir-S systems were deployed. It was the first time that an S-400 battalion and a Pantsir-S battery had appeared in military drills outside Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry stated at the time. Amid the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Serbia fought wars against neighbors Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Serbia's current nationalist leadership is believed to be behind tensions that have recently flared up in neighboring Montenegro and Bosnia. A Serb pro-Russian leader in Bosnia on February 17 reiterated his call for secession. In Montenegro, NATO's 29th and newest member, minority Serbs have for months been protesting a law they say would force the Serbian Orthodox Church to relinquish property to the state. Shoigu also invited Vulin to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 20, the day when Russia observes the anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II. It was Vulin's ninth meeting between Shoigu since the Serbian official was appointed as defense minister. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30440727.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLYMOUTH, Mass. Preparations to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims arriving in the New World were in full swing in Plymouth, Mass. But then residents woke up to find that the beloved landmarks that make their city special had been vandalized. Plymouth Rock was one of them. The iconic landmark, which is inscribed with the year 1620 to mark the year William Bradford and other Pilgrims first set foot on American land, was found on Monday to be covered with red graffiti. Vandals also spray-painted the Pilgrim Maiden statue and the National Monument to the Forefathers, according to CNN affiliate WBZ. "We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town," Plymouth Town Manager Melissa Arrighi tweeted. "We will begin cleanup as soon as possible and the police are investigating." Peter Sullivan, a resident of Plymouth, discovered the graffiti on Plymouth Rock while walking around the Pilgrim Memorial State Park. He said the graffiti was everywhere. "They vandalized everything. All the statues, monuments. These people went around town all night and did all kinds of damage," Sullivan told CNN. He noted it's not the first time. Four artworks in the shape of scallop shells were also vandalized, according to the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce. The shells were a project by the chamber to celebrate the upcoming anniversary. The shells have already been cleaned by Plymouth Department of Public Works, according to the Chamber, which added that anyone with information is asked to reach out to police. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A day after British MP Debbie Abrahams was denied entry to India and deported to Dubai, sources said that she headed to Pakistan on Tuesday. Abrahams left from Dubai for Pakistan as she already had a plan to visit the South Asian nation which she had not disclosed earlier, added the sources. She is also scheduled to visit Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Abrahams has been active against India at the behest of Pakistan, added the sources. Her visit to Pakistan and PoK has been sponsored by the Pakistan Government. The Indian government clarified that Abrahams' visa was revoked as she had indulged in activities which went against the national interest of India. The sources added that the rejection of the e-Business Visa was intimated to her on February 14. Abrahams was stopped from entering India after her arrival at the New Delhi airport on February 17 (Monday) and deported to Dubai. The government sources also clarified that the grant, rejection, revocation of visa or electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of any country. It added that Abrahams was issued an e-Business Visa on October 7, 2019, which was valid until October 5, 2020, to attend business meetings. "Her e-Business Visa was revoked on February 14, 2020, on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest. The rejection of the visa was intimated to her on February 14," added the sources. The sources also added that Abrahams was not in the possession of a valid visa at the time of her travel to India and she was accordingly requested to return. "There is no provision of 'visa on arrival' for UK nationals at the airport," said the sources. It further added that in any case, a previously issued e-Business Visa meant for business meetings, can't be used for visiting family and friends, as claimed by Abrahams. "This is not permitted as per the rules and a separate visa request has to be made," added the sources. Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, had said that despite having a valid visa she was denied entry into India after she landed at the airport. Airport officials have also claimed that Abrahams was informed of her e-visas cancellation well in advance. Abrahams is the Labour Party MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 2011 and is the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Kashmir from 2018. For her part, Abrahams, 59, said that the airport officials failed to provide any reasons for denying her entry. Responding to reports she didnt possess a valid visa, she tweeted: Im sorry but that just is not the reality. Reacting to this, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi welcomed the Centre's decision to deport Abrahams, saying it was necessary as she is a Pakistan proxy known for her relations with Pakistan government at ISI. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack Indias sovereignty must be thwarted, Singhvi tweeted. A body was pulled from the Tennessee River in Marshall County this afternoon, the authorities said. Sheriffs deputies were investigating at the scene near Guntersville Dam off Snow Point Road. The body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to determine the cause of death, said Steve Guthrie, a sheriffs office spokesman. The persons identity hasnt yet been identified. Guthrie said investigators havent found any evidence to suggest foul play. He said deputies havent found any nearby missing persons cases to which the body could be connected. As of right now, we havent found anything we can link it to, he said The authorities expect to have more information in the next few days once the autopsy is completed. Stockholm: Every day 102,835 people across the world suffer serious injuries caused by road crashes, costing communities $US6 billion ($9 billion) daily. Crash, repeat, every day of the year. For the first time, these injuries have been broken down by type and size with a new big data tool to jolt policymakers into doing more to make roads safer. At a meeting in Stockholm on Monday, road safety experts were exasperated by the failure of policymakers to bridge the gap between spending on better roads and savings to the health system. Credit:iStock Launching the "new vaccine for roads" on the eve of the world's most important road safety conference, the International Road Assessment Program chief executive Rob McInerney said the 3626 people who were killed every day in road crashes a total of around 1.35 million annually were the tip of the iceberg. The annual Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm this week will consider proposals to reduce fatalities and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030. The goal of reducing road trauma by 30 per cent fell short, with an estimated 600,000 more deaths than the target. Treasury Minister to present Budget 2020 to Tynwald The Treasury Minister will present his 2020-21 Budget Statement to Tynwald this morning. Alf Cannan MHK will present his document to members at the sitting in the Legislative Buildings in Douglas during proceedings beginning at 10:30 am. Last year's 2019-20 Budget focused on taxpayers being 150 better off, or up to 300 better off for a married couple; the introduction of a National Insurance Holiday Scheme for employees who move to the Island for work and Manx students who return to the Island to work after completing their UK university courses, and benefits rising by 2.4% There was also a New Community Fund to match-fund community projects supporting the Island's UNESCO biosphere status and an increase of 1 million for the Brexit Fund to 2.5m. Meghana Sastry By Express News Service BENGALURU: Its no secret that photography is a male-dominated field. But Anna Fox and Karen Knorr, leading documentary photographers from Great Britain, have art and photography in their DNA. At a discussion at Cinnamon Boutique, Ulsoor, organised by Museum of Art and Photography, the duo voiced concerns about lack of opportunities for women who want to pursue a career as a documentary photographer/photojournalist. I cannot think of going away to Afghanistan in the blink of an eye without making arrangements back home, says Fox. Magnum agency, the biggest photo agency in the world, comprises only 6 per cent of women, of whom only one is a mother. Royal Photographic society in England has 11,000 members, of which only 2,000 are women, including me. I am the honorary chairman for women in photography, says Knorr, who was born in the US but raised in Puerto Rico. To help her take her journey further with the history of arts, her father sent her to France, where she took up painting lessons. Once, she attended an independent workshop, which was started especially for women in the 19th century as women were excluded from the fine arts academy in those days. These classes included nude life classes and women who went anywhere close to nudity were branded loose, she says. Eventually, she moved to London and started collaborating with photographers and attended a part-time school to pursue higher studies. UK-born Fox used to join her father, an amateur photographer, in printing his black and white images, which got her excited about the art. She took it up seriously and her mothers literature background helped her structure and narrate stories. Knorr and Fox agree that fine arts help understand photography better. Knorr says it helps one absorb the finer details of lighting and long drawing sessions give you an eye for detail. Many photographers refer to painting for lighting and framing as well. A reflection of my favourite artists can be found in my work, says Fox. Talking about the challenges of women in photography and why the gender ratio is so skewed, they say the society is patriarchal and the role of women in a society is defined quite differently. In economically challenged sections of the society, women are doing all kind of odd jobs to make ends meet. This does not leave them with enough time to think about themselves. All well-known women photographers dont have children, which feels like a sign, says Fox. New Delhi: A day after Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the Chief Minister, the party seems to have jumped into action with an announcement that is bound to make Hindus and bhakts of Lord Hanuman happy. Party leader and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj announced on Tuesday that AAP will now be conducting monthly "Sundar Kand" events to commemorate the Hindu deity. The reading of "Sundar Kand", a text devoted to Lord Hanuman, will be conducted by AAP workers and enthusiasts in every neighborhood in Delhi on the first Tuesday of every month. - 4:30 18 , , ( o1) pic.twitter.com/CwGAXzAW5r Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) February 18, 2020 The inaugural "Sundar Kand" reading was scheduled on February 18 at the Pracheen Shiv Mandir in Chirag Delhi in South Delhi. On Tuesdays, followers of Hanuman and Hindus in general observe fasts or curtail non-vegetarian food and alcohol as a mark of their respect for the deity. The day also coincided with the day election results 2020 were announced, making Tuesday even more special for AAP. Speaking to News18, Bhardwaj, 40, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Greater Kailash constituency said that the initiative was meant to reclaim the toxic idea of 'Hindutva' propagated by the Bharatiya Janata Party and instead celebrate the warmth of Hinduism. "The BJP thinks that only they have the moral authority over Hinduism and that all other Hindus who believe in secularism are anti-national", Bhardwaj said in a telephonic interview. "We want to change this view of Hindusim in Delhi," he added. The reading of the text will be carried out by Bhardwaj himself. Since the announcement this morning, the MLA said that several individuals and RWA organisations had already contacted him to "book" Sundar Kand sessions for their own neighborhoods with the next two consecutive sessions scheduled to be held in GK-1 and GK-2 respectively. What is 'Sundar Kand'? 'Sundara' was the pet-name fondly given to Hanuman by his mother Anjani. 'Sundara Kand' is the fifth book of Ramayana which recounts the tale of Lord Ram's triumph over evil. However, 'Sundar Kand' is distinct from the rest of Ramayana as it is the only chapter dedicated to Hanuman, the valiant, anthropomorphised monkey warrior and humble servant and devotee of Lord Ram. It is the only section of the epic text that depicts Hanuman as the hero and not Lord Ram and recounts the adventures of Hanuman instead. While the earliest version of Sundar Kand is believed to have been written by Valmiki (who is credited with the earliest retelling of Ramayana) in Sanskrit, the story also appears in Awadhi as part of the original Ram Charit Manas written by saint Tulsidas, presumably in the 16th century, much later than Ramayana. The significance of choosing Hanuman over Ram? A laughing Bhardwaj said that there was none. "The gentle Hanuman is after all a servant of Ram himself," he assured. Secular AAP's Hindu overtures While the announcement surprised some, observers of AAP would note that this is not the first time that the populist party has tried to woo Hanuman. Just after winning Delhi Legislative Assembly elections for the the third consecutive time, party chief Kejriwal led a victory march to a Hanuman temple in the city to pay his obeisance. Days before the elections, Kejriwal was also seen reciting 'Hanuman Chalisa' on a television programme. The antics were widely criticised by his opponents in the BJP, who slammed Kejriwal for his alleged soft-Hindutva overtures. According to Bhardwaj, however, these were "innocent" expressions of faith by Kejriwal who is known to be a devout believer in Hanuman. Before the elections his visit to a Hanuman temple in Connaught Place was projected by the opposition as voter appeasement, Bhardwaj said. When the media questioned temple authorities, they found Kejriwal had been visiting the temple for years, he added. The opposition, however, is not the only one crying foul over AAP's soft overtures to Hinduism. Many on Twitter slammed Bhardwaj's announcement as anti-secular. Taking to the micro-blogging site, former media advisor to CM Kejriwal, Nagender Sharma wrote, "Disappointed to see a competent legislator with progressive outlook fall into the fallacious trap of trying to outdo BJP in it's game". Disappointed to see a competent legislator with progressive outlook fall into the fallacious trap of trying to outdo BJP in it's game https://t.co/3oyQBs99fg Nagendar Sharma (@sharmanagendar) February 18, 2020 Following the polls, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party by calling Kejriwal a "follower of hanuman". "....follower of Lord Hanuman, Kejriwal brought 'Ram Rajya' in Delhi though the BJP almost fielded Lord Ram in this election," Raut said in a sarcastic editorial in the Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamna'. "The picture of Delhi was of Kejriwal as devotee of Hanuman and people of Delhi became Ram...Ram strongly stood behind Hanuman," he said, adding that there are lessons to be learnt from this election. AAP retained power in Delhi after it achieved at hat-trick and retained 62 of the 70 seats in the Assembly following a particularly vitriolic and communally polarised election campaign. The BJP, its primary rival, finished at a distant second while the Indian National Congress failed to win a single seat. In 1995, on a nameless Caribbean island, an American family is on holiday. The Thomases are no better or worse than any of the other upper-middle-class white tourists who are also vacationing in sultry Indigo Bay, with its everywhere weeping pink blooms and brazen teal water. But the night before they are supposed to go home, the older of the couples two daughters, 18-year-old Alison, is nowhere to be found. Within a couple of days, her body is found dead in a nearby cay. I started reading Saint X, the debut novel by Alexis Schaitkin, believing I was about to get yet another tale of a beautiful young woman and her mysterious death. And I was in no way averse to that; theres something mesmerizing about taking apart a persons last days, about being presented with an ideal, and then figuring out the truth of who the victim really was. And the book begins by offering what most novels of this kind offer a fetching, charismatic, somewhat volatile heroine. One who is pure enough that you feel the enormity of her loss, but slick enough to be interesting. We witness everything through the eyes of Claire, Alisons younger sister and our protagonist, who, looking back on the episode in adulthood, recognizes this duality: My sister was an innocent, blameless in her horrific fate. And it was all her fault. Claire, who was 7 when the tragedy occurred, becomes obsessed with understanding not just what happened to Alison, but who she was. But around 70 pages in, the details of this family drama start to take a back seat to the larger story Schaitkin is really trying to tell (and this is where Saint X flowers): about a single death that affects an entire community. Any death of course creates aftershocks among those closest to the deceased, but we rarely spare a thought for those on the fringes. Schaitkin does, demonstrating in no more than a few pages each how Alisons passing affects her various satellites: her teacher, roommate, a random man on holiday, an actor, the girlfriend of the suspect and so on. The connections are faint, the domino effect crystal clear. In a landmark judgment pronounced by the Supreme Court of India on Monday, a two-judge bench upheld a Delhi High Court judgment of 2010 that directed the Central government to notify permanent commissions in the Indian Army for women In a landmark judgment pronounced by the Supreme Court of India on Monday, a two-judge bench upheld a Delhi High Court judgment of 2010 that directed the Central government to notify permanent commissions in the Indian Army for women a move aimed at ensuring equality of opportunity for women. The central dispute was brought by women, engaged on Short Service Commissions in the army, who sought parity with male counterparts in obtaining permanent commissions. This decision by the Supreme Court received tremendous attention in the domestic and international media alike for the watershed moment it has ushered into the history of India's armed forces. Opposition politicians, however, resorted to political mudslinging plainly dishonest and fact-free attacks. Rahul Gandhi, former Congress party president, stated that the government had "disrespected every woman", congratulating India's women for "proving the BJP government wrong". What the Congress forgot, however, is that it was the Congress-led UPA that opposed granting permanent commission to women officers back during UPA-1. To borrow Rahul's phrase, it not only "disrespected every woman" in proceedings before the Delhi High Court which went on between 2006 and 2010, but the UPA immediately filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2010 judgment challenging the same and asking for a stay on its implementation. Monday's judgment is the final one in proceedings started by the UPA as is borne out by the case number Civil Appeal Nos 9367-9369 of the year 2011 when UPA-II was in power. In fact, the Supreme Court noted in Paragraphs 20 and 21 of the judgment that, firstly, in August 2010, the solicitor-general at the time promised that women officers would be considered "within two months". More than five months later, the additional solicitor-general asked for an adjournment of six weeks to enable a "high-powered committee" to consider the question of granting permanent commissions to women officers. Essentially, once the UPA filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, it spent seven months to tell the apex court that it would create a 'high powered committee' to decide whether to, in Rahul's words, give "respect to every woman". The Supreme Court also noted that it was eventually in February 2019 that the Narendra Modi government issued a policy decision permitting grant of permanent commissions to women officers without any ifs or buts. This policy decision, the court noted in Paragraph 52, was "a recognition of the right of women officers to equality of opportunity" one that "enforces the fundamental right of women to seek access to public appointment and to equality of opportunity in matters of engagement relating to the army". Indeed, the Supreme Court did have scathing remarks for the views which it termed as based on "sex stereotypes". As widely reported in the media and discussed by commentators, these were arguments of the "Centre". As the leader of the "Centre", Modi became the target of the attacks. The role of women in the armed forces has a long history. Section 12 of the Army Act, 1950, enacted during Jawaharlal Nehru's rule, effectively stated that no female was eligible for enrolment or employment in the regular army except if the Central government notified in the Official Gazette. Since 1992, the Central government issued notifications making women eligible for appointment as officers in specific branches/cadres of the army, a process that evolved over time. Back in 2012, when the Supreme Court was hearing the appeal filed by the UPA, the army headquarters filed an affidavit in the top court stating reasons similar to the one reported in the news recently why it did not favour women officers being given permanent commission. The affidavit, in particular, stated that most soldiers who were recruited from rural India were not yet ready to accept a woman as their leader. At that time, Rahul didn't deem the stand of his party's government as well as the army to be "disrespecting every woman". Having said that, and putting politics aside, it does not help to be in denial that the army has objections whether right or wrong, justified or unjustified. The army needs its soldiers to follow rigorous discipline in protecting us. Any disgruntlement in the ranks again, justified or not directly affects national security. The Congress-led UPA, however, kept pushing the issue under the carpet, as noted earlier, instead of trying to resolve this issue by holding a dialogue with the army. It was in 2018 that Modi took this issue up and announced it from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the Independence Day speech which resulted in the official February 2019 notification which, as noted in Paragraph 51, made the UPA's appeal predominantly redundant. The reason why the issue still persisted resulting in a scathing Supreme Court decision is because the Modi government's notification was interpreted by the army as implying that only women officers appointed on Short Service Commissions after the date of the notification (February 2019) would be eligible to obtain permanent commission. This completely negated the effect of the Delhi High Court's 2010 judgment. In the Indian system, the army is not an independent unit, but is managed and supervised by the Ministry of Defence. Therefore, the "Centre" in the Supreme Court proceedings was actually the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. This is borne out by the case title in The Secretary, Ministry of Defence versus Babita Puniya and Others. Indeed, one can argue that Modi, as the leader of the executive, could have overridden all these layers and put an end to the dispute, particularly since his government issued the 2019 policy decision which made most points in the appeal moot anyways. It must be remembered that the army consistently opposed this measure. In fact, in 2019, the Supreme Court gave the army the opportunity to apply the measure retrospectively as was always intended. The army refused. As a responsible leader, Modi avoided a direct head-on rift with the armed forces by riding roughshod over their objections. It made sense to let the apex court the final arbiter of justice and the institution which was hearing an appeal to the Delhi High Court judgment to decide the matter with the finality it commands, in particular, when the top court gave the army a chance to "take credit". What Rahul Gandhi and the Congress missed are two things. First, it was a BJP prime minister who took that decision despite the army's continuing objections that originated from the time of UPA rule. Second, it was a BJP Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi who fought for the women officers and, that too, without charging any fee while UPA simply squandered the four remaining years of its rule once it filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, preventing women this equality of opportunity. "The early bird gets the worm," but what does exactly the night owl get? Considered the "rebel" from the morning lark, they are characterized by their unconventional and up-all-night lifestyle. There are quite a lot of benefits to being a night owl. Why do you prefer nighttime to daytime? Maybe it's your dark soul or this bizarre feeling that you will miss out on something if you go to bed early. Given the high number of night owls, it is essential to understand what impact their rhythms may have on their health. 1. Night owls start their workday at around 4 PM. By the time they have worked out, showered, eaten lunch, run errands, and gone through their emails, it's easily 4 PM -- sometimes later. Night owls drink coffee in the evening to be awake for 8 hours after 6 PM. After working for 4-10 PM, they usually wrap things up at 10 PM - 1 AM. Then it's probably Netflix and chill until going to sleep at 2 AM. 2. Night owls possess "night strength." According to researchers at the University of Alberta, they tested the leg strength of nine morning people and nine night people and found that the early birds' strength remained consistent all day, but night owls' strength is the most active at night. At around 9 PM, evening types "show increased motor cortex and spinal cord excitability," according to Olle Lagerquist, co-author of the study. Also Read: Night Owls: The Benefits of Being a Nocturnal Person 3. One cup of coffee might be enough. Night owls are in no need of an excessive dose of caffeine to perform at night because the body clock of night owls are automatically adjusted to stay bright and awake in the late hours. According to a study conducted with college students from Stanford University, results suggest caffeine ingested later in the evening had more negative effects for people who wake up early than for those who regularly tend to stay up late. 4. Night owls are possibly more intelligent. They may have the upper hand when it comes to general intelligence. According to a 2013 study published in the journal "Personality and Individual Differences," morning birds outperform night owls in school, but night owls tend to score higher on inductive reasons tests that are related to general intelligence. People with higher IQs are likely to develop different thinking patterns from familiar evolutionary traits, such as circadian rhythms. Darkness brings them peace and solitude. Night owls contemplate their lives and the world around them late in the night, making them more strategic problem solvers and helping them to effectively deal with their issues. 5. Night owls may be more creative. Staying up late literally alters the way your brain works. It encourages your mind to think of solutions and ideas that are beyond the scope of traditional thinking. Night owls are more prone to thinking of creative solutions to problems than those that get up early. Related Article: Why Are Teens Night Owls? Sleep Deprivation in Adolescence Poses Risks of Psychological, Academic and Behavioral Problems @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hardliners are set to tighten control of Iran this week in a parliamentary election stacked in their favour, as the leadership closes ranks in a deepening confrontation with Washington. Big gains by security hawks would confirm the political demise of the country's pragmatist politicians, weakened by Washington's decision to quit a 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West. More hardliner seats in Friday's vote may also hand them another prize - more leeway to campaign for the 2021 contest for president, a job with wide control of government. That would open an era in which the elite Revolutionary Guards, already omnipresent in the life of the nation, hold ever greater sway in political, social and economic affairs. Allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have ensured hardliners dominate the field, removing moderates and leading conservatives, allowing voters a choice mostly between hardline and low-key conservative candidates loyal to him. "It is not a race any more. Hardliners want the presidency. This is the end of moderation for at least a decade if not more," said an official. Like hardliners, conservatives back the ruling theocracy, but unlike them support more engagement with the outside world. Faced with little choice, many voters are likely to be focused on bread-and-butter issues, in an economy hurt by US President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" policy toward Iran. With Iran facing growing isolation and threats of conflict over its nuclear stand-off with the US, and growing discontent at home, the turnout is seen as a referendum on the establishment, a potential risk for the authorities. Many Iranians are furious over the handling of November protests against fuel price hikes which swiftly turned political with demonstrators calling for "regime change", leading to the bloodiest unrest in the history of the Islamic Republic. A crackdown overseen by the Revolutionary Guards killed hundreds and led to the arrest of thousands, according to human rights organisations. The public is also livid over the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January which killed all 176 on board, mainly Iranians. After days of denials, Tehran admitted the Guards were to blame. But Khamenei's loyalist candidates are backed by core supporters of the establishment who identify in all aspects of life with the Islamic Republic, insiders said. "Their supporters believe in the establishment and they will vote because they see it as a religious duty. Hardliners will benefit from a low turnout," said the official. Two weeks before Vermont's presidential primary March 3, GOP Gov. Phil Scott endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld for the 2020 Republican presidential nomination, passing up the incumbent, President Donald Trump. "I've met with him before," Scott said of Weld. "I think a lot of him and his platform, so I would be supporting him." Scott and Weld are from the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, and both have been fierce critics of Trump. "I'm a great admirer of [Gov. Phil Scott] of Vermont," Weld said in a tweet after a news conference Saturday. "VT has been well served in the past by Republican governors, and Gov. Scott admirably extends that tradition." Scott supported impeachment proceedings against Trump. This month, after the Senate's acquittal of Trump, Scott doubled down on his dissent in a State House news conference. Im a great admirer of @GovPhilScott of Vermont, and am delighted to have his endorsement in the Republican presidential primary on Super Tuesday. VT has been well served in the past by Republican governors, and Gov. Scott admirably extends that tradition.https://t.co/gTsjMN3UKj Gov. Bill Weld (@GovBillWeld) February 15, 2020 "I believe that the president abused his powers," Scott said, according to The Associated Press. "I didnt vote for the president, and I dont believe that he should be in office." Vermont's primary falls on Super Tuesday, when a third of the Democratic delegates needed to win the nomination are up for grabs in 14 state contests. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott supported the impeachment inquiry into the actions of President Donald Trump. Aside from Trump and Weld, the only Republican presidential nominee on Vermont's primary ballot will be California businessman Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente. Story continues Weld has presented little challenge for Trump, winning just one delegate after the Iowa caucuses, where he had less than 2% support, and the New Hampshire primary, where he got 9% of the vote. Contact Ethan Bakuli at ebakuli@freepressmedia.com or follow him on Twitter @BakuliEthan. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Gov. Scott makes endorsement for 2020 Republican presidential nominee The assault by the president on our institutions is about more than the separation of powers. It goes straight to the heart of our identity and success as a nation. Historian Jill Lepore noted that the United States may have come into the nation-state business backward, forming a nation from a collection of states whose identity was not common ethnicity but a unique method of governing. When people join the American project, either by immigration or birth, they have signed on to a venture that promises a well-functioning government that will protect their rights in exchange for loyalty. The United States is in a sense a state-nation as opposed to a nation-state and relies on the proper functioning of our institutions to cohere. Under the new regulations derogation farmers will either have to train in grass measurement or hire a trained specialist to carry out at least 20 farm walks a year to calculate grass covers Up to 5,000 intensive dairy farmers could have to be trained in grass measurement by the end of next year in order to meet strict new qualifying criteria for the Nitrates Derogation. Around 2,000 farmers currently practice grass measurement, but the full 7,000 derogation farmers will have to be actively measuring grass by the end of next year to comply with the changed rules governing the Nitrates Derogation which have been introduced by the Department of Agriculture. Under the new regulations derogation farmers will either have to train in grass measurement or hire a trained specialist to carry out at least 20 farm walks a year to calculate grass covers and upload the results using software technology such as Teagasc's PastureBase system. The requirement to train more than 5,000 farmers to measure grass will put a massive strain on existing resources, given that Teagasc trained just 650 farmers last year. Teagasc's Grass 10 training course is run over two years and involves trainees being assigned to host farms, which they visit six to 10 times per year. There is little clarity around what exactly the grass measurement course will entail; however, more details are expected to be provided by the Department of Agriculture this week. The ACA has confirmed that its members will be involved in the delivery of the training course. ACA is due to meet the Department of Agriculture tomorrow to discuss the matter. "ACA members will be involved in all aspects of grassland management under the Nitrates Directive, including training," said ACA president, Owen O'Driscoll. "As the majority of Nitrates Derogation work is completed by private advisors, they will play a very important role in assisting farmers to meet the requirements," Mr O'Driscoll added. However, the cost of the course could prove problematic as Teagasc are currently offering the Grass 10 training free to their clients. Hiring in professionals to do the grass measurement will also prove expensive. It is estimated that it will cost farmers around 1,000 plus VAT for the 20 farm walks. One grass measurement specialist told the Farming Independent that his phone "had been hopping" for the last week, with calls from advisors and derogation farmers. As outlined exclusively in Joe Kelleher's column in the Farming Independent earlier this month, the requirement on grass measurement is among a raft of changes which impact the 7,000 derogation farmers, and the 5,000 farmers who export slurry annually to bring them under the 170N per hectare limit. Among the other changes are: The introduction of a compulsory liming programme; After April 15 this year all slurry on affected farms will have to be spread using the Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment, and in 2021 all slurry produced on these farms will have to spread using LESS methods; All grass-seeding from this year will have to include clover; Farmers will have to reduce the crude protein content of their concentrate feed to a maximum of 16pc between April 1 and September 15 this year, and to 15pc for the same period in 2021; Derogation farmers must attend a training programme in nutrient-use efficiency and the management and protection of water. This course must completed by the end of 2021. The current Nitrates Action Programme runs until the end of 2021 and its possible continuation will be reviewed in mid-2021 by Ireland and the European Commission. "Water quality in Ireland has not been improving and there is a fear that unless we can address this issue rapidly then the derogation that allows our most intensive farmers to stock their farms at up to 250kgs N per hectare may be in jeopardy," Joe Kelleher warned. When looking at the healthcare industry, one sector in particular has been booming: the medtech space. Over the past five years, this area of the market has outpaced the S&P 500, with the large-cap sector index achieving a CAGR of 13%-plus versus the indexs 11%-plus CAGR. The source of this impressive growth? According to research from investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, the durability of this group of stocks fueled the strong performance. Highlighting organic sales growth, analyst Amit Hazan notes that from 2009 through 2015, a period that followed the 2008 recession and included 2015s healthcare reform, earnings growth for the group remained robust and never dropped below the high single digit-plus range. Looking forward, the Goldman Sachs analyst argues that incremental contribution from a slew of new product innovations within robotics, cardiology, diabetes and other key subsectors and continued regional expansion into faster growing emerging markets will drive 6%-plus top line organic growth in 2020 and 2021. With this in mind, the analyst pointed to three medtech stocks as being especially compelling in a recent research report, kicking off his coverage of each with a Buy recommendation. Using TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we were able to take a closer look at the picks by lining up the tickers alongside each other. Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG) Earning a coveted spot on Goldman Sachs Conviction List, Intuitive Surgical has been at the forefront of robot-assisted surgery, with its da Vinci surgical system being one of the first robotic-assisted systems to receive FDA approval for general laparoscopic surgery. As of 2018, over six million surgeries had been performed using the technology all over the world. After posting a gain of 22% over the last six months, the firm believes that theres more to come in 2020. Weighing in on ISRG, Hazan points out that surgical robotics adaption is ramping up, and as a result, the total market is expected to triple by 2030. Additionally, while there could be a competitive impact from Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson, the four-star analyst thinks there will be a greater benet via market expansion than risk to ISRGs share from competition. This combined with new geographic drivers specifically in China should put growth at a steady 18%-plus. Story continues Adding to the good news, Hazan expects annual growth contribution from new products to accelerate thanks to the release of its da Vinci Sp, Ion ex diagnostic platform, IRIS augmented reality and several new advanced stage instruments in 2020 and 2021. A new robotics system could also be unveiled within the coming 12 to 18 months. Based on the above factors, earnings could get a significant boost. A combination of solid top line growth, which slightly leverages OpEx, and a very strong balance sheet should result in consistent high teens earnings growth. Hence, our sales/EPS estimates come in well above the Street, Hazan commented. In line with his bullish take, the Goldman Sachs analyst initiated coverage by publishing a Buy rating along with a $725 price target. Should the target be met, a 12-month gain of 20% could be in the cards. (To watch Hazans track record, click here) Like Hazan, other analysts like what theyre seeing. With 9 Buy ratings and a single Hold assigned in the last three months, the word on the Street is that ISRG is a Strong Buy. While less aggressive than Hazans forecast, the $668.67 average price target still implies upside potential of 11%. (See Intuitive Surgical stock analysis on TipRanks) Varian Medical Systems (VAR) Using data and technology, Varian Medical Systems has helped advance radiotherapy, radiosurgery and many other vital cancer-fighting tools. While some investors have been concerned by its inconsistent quarterly performances, Hazan believes that its medium-term growth story is healthier than it has been. The analyst expects the company to sustain oncology order growth in the high single digits or low double digits based on Ethos, Halcyon, HyperArc, several new software offerings and new EM opportunities in both China and India. As a result, Hazan tells investors that the company is in a stronger position than it was at any point during the last ten years. Additionally, VARs installed base growth has been gaining steam and it has been expanding its MSD. This in turn has enhanced its opportunities in terms of both software and service, with half of revenue now recurring. On top of this, the company has been diversifying through new interventional oncology efforts. While not very material quite yet, we expect this new segment to grow faster than the corporate average, be accretive to margins and earnings, and to diversify the Varian portfolio into new oncology channels and additional recurring revenue. We expect further investments into these markets, and believe it will be increasingly meaningful in the years ahead, Hazan stated. Despite the fact that operating margin swing has hampered the stock, Hazan points out that in the next few years, there could be a leverage opportunity. As Halcyon ramps, oncology GM should improve, while service and software mix should also drive a benet. The Proton margin drag should diminish as service sales ramp, while we expect recent M&A will increasingly be accretive each year, he explained. It should come as no surprise, then, that Hazan decided to side with the bulls, initiating coverage with a Buy rating. At $171, the price target implies shares could surge 16% in the next 12 months. In general, the rest of the Street is on the same page. 5 Buys and 1 Hold coalesce into a Strong Buy consensus rating. Based on the $159.67 average price target, the upside potential comes in at 9%. (See Varian Medical stock analysis on TipRanks) Stryker Corporation (SYK) Thanks to its cutting-edge products and services in orthopedics, medical and surgical and neurotechnology and spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes, Stryker has earned its reputation as one of the top medtech players. As the Goldman Sachs analyst is calling for another year of substantial top line growth, its no wonder investors are excited. Based on Hazans estimates, organic growth could hit 8%-plus again in 2020. This is higher than Wall Streets estimate as he thinks ortho robotic market growth and the contribution from new products within MedSurg and Neurotech appear somewhat under-modeled. He also sees less risk in store for SYK in the next year compared to other big growth companies. While acknowledging that hes somewhat concerned about a possible near-term disruption to the extremities sales force, Hazan still thinks organic growth in the orthopedic division will remain strong and that MAKO-driven share gains as well as a surgery day tailwind can fuel gains. More broadly, we are bullish on the ortho robotic market for the next few years, with the US installed base reaching 3,500 by 2025 (a 20%-plus CAGR) and SYK maintaining a dominant share. In the medium-to-long term, we expect new robotic opportunities to help SYKs hips, spine and extremities too, he noted. In addition, he pointed out, Medical where strong capital trends and new products should help drive upside versus expectations. In Spine, growth improvement is very likely as K2M turns organic, but further integration risk as well as new competition from robotics suggest downside risk. Separately, Neurotech again looks poised for above-Street results as new Aspiration product intros take hold. This played into Hazans conclusion that a stronger valuation is on the horizon as investor confidence continues to improve. It follows, then, that the analyst started his coverage of SYK at a Buy and attached a price target of $248. This conveys his belief that SYK could rise 12% in the year ahead. Looking at the analyst ratings breakdown, 7 Buys and 4 Holds add up to a Moderate Buy Street consensus. The $238.70 average price target puts the upside potential at 8%. (See Stryker stock analysis on TipRanks) Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) will enhance lending to MSMEs as well as give out more home loans, its CEO Karnam Sekar said and expressed hope that the bank will turn profitable soon. "We have devised a formula-based plan so that our recovery position is further improved. Our focus on recovery is yielding good results but our target would be on growing MSME and retail portfolios," Sekar told PTI in an interview here. The Public sector bank, which is under the RBI's prompt corrective action (PCA) currently and has been incurring losses for the past 18 quarters, posted large losses because of huge non-performing assets (NPAs) for the past 7-8 years, caused mainly on account of large exposure in the corporate sector, he said. Sekar added that the bank made the required provisioning. As a result, net NPAs (as percentage of total advances) as on December 2019 has come down below 6 per cent and that is a criterion to bring the bank out of the PCA, he said. The bank's managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) said that the next criterion is to make some profit. "So, this quarter onwards, not only this quarter but also for the coming quarters, we are likely to make profits." "In the MSME segment, we are right now in the range of Rs 31,000 crore lending portfolio, we want to grow that portfolio to Rs 50,000 crore in the medium term of 2-2.5 years. Similarly, in home loans, we are at Rs 13,000 crore level right now and we want to make it to at least Rs 25,000 crore in the similar time frame," he said. While the average ticket size for the retail home loan segment is targeted to be raised to Rs 25-40 lakh from the existing Rs 20 lakh, there will be special focus on growing MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) loans by targeting textile, automobile and small industries, he added. "With reduction in TAT (turnaround time) and improvement in service, we have good demand for our limited growth. In MSMEs, we have 250 branches with specialised people. We have trained almost 700-800 people and put them in these branches, they will focuss mostly on MSMEs, Sekar said. He said the bank has a focussed approach especially in few clusters like Tirupur and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where there are some industries, specifically engineering, automobile and textile. Detailing about the bank's stepped up recovery process, he said the bank has put in place a robust mechanism and created asset recovery branches. "We have created asset recovery branches, we have identified 16 such branches and these NPA accounts have been shifted there. These are being directly controlled from the central office." Apart from that, IOB has also started to auction the pledged properties to recover its outstanding. "We have identified more than 8,000 properties. We have been doing this on a monthly basis from July (2019) onwards, every month we go for mega e-auction. And, in this, we are seeing some good amount of success," Sekar said. He said the bank has also deployed a scheme for one-time settlement, where loans up to Rs 25 crore are eligible. Earlier, the loan amount under this was Rs 3 crore. "There is some haircut but that (one-time settlement) is also yielding good results," Sekar said. On the recovery front, he said it has gone up and the bank has been able to arrest the slippages by strengthening that department and putting up an appropriate structure to monitor from the central office. Slippages in the RAM (retail, agriculture, MSME) segment has come down. It is stablising at Rs 400-500 crore every quarter, and has an overall portfolio of Rs 1 lakh crore. "It has now come down to 1.5-2 per cent, which was earlier 3-4 per cent. We are trying to still reduce that. We are in a much better position from maybe one-and-a-half year earlier. In the corporate sector, slippages were of course there. Even in the December (2019) quarter, we have had one such big account," he said. Sekar added that going forward, we do not see such slippages because we have screened all the accounts. "For the corporate segment, it will be almost near zero. So, that ways, additional NPAs will not be there." He said the company's focus on recovery is yielding good results and the bank's actual operating profit is in the range of Rs 550 crore every quarter. "This recovery, in return, is giving the provision back to us." "In the last four-five years, we had made aggregate provision of more than Rs 40,000 crore. So, out of this Rs 40,000 crore, even if I am able to bring back 5 per cent on an yearly basis, I will be able to recover Rs 2,000 crore every year that will directly add to the profit," he said. With the net NPAs falling below 6 per cent as on December 31, 2019, and expected journey back to profits from this quarter onwards, Sekar hoped the bank would soon be able to come out of the RBI's PCA framework. IOB posted a staggering loss of Rs 6,075 crore for the third quarter ended December 2019, due to higher provisioning for bad loans. There was a net loss of Rs 346 crore during the corresponding quarter of 2018-19. While the gross NPAs have been brought down to 17.12 per cent at the end of December 2019 as compared with 23.76 per cent a year ago, the net NPA ratio improved to 5.81 per cent, which is less than 6 per cent prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18 2020 Radioactive contamination: Personnel of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) prepare to transport soil and plants that are contaminated by a radioactive isotope, Caesium-137, from a vacant plot of land near the Batan Indah housing complex in South Tangerang, Banten. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan) Activists and experts are demanding to know how radioactive materials ended up in the Batan Indah housing complex in South Tangerang, Banten, saying that such dangerous substances should not be discarded in a residential neighborhood. The radioactive waste in a populated area is quite unusual. It makes us wonder: Who threw the waste away in the [housing] complex? Dwi Sawung, the head campaigner for energy and urban issues at the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), told The Jakarta Post on Monday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Hundreds of Victorian public servants, including forest firefighters, will have to wait for months to be paid the money they are owed for their extra efforts battling this summer's bushfire crisis. The government workers, including Forest Fire Management Victoria employees who were on the fire fronts, have not been paid overtime, shift or meal allowances, or other entitlements accrued over the summer bushfire period and they are expecting to wait several months for their money. Their employer, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, acknowledged on Tuesday that there had been "some delays" in processing payments but said its workers would be paid everything they were owed. Loading More than 3500 Victorian public servants worked alongside the police, professional and volunteer firefighters, the Australian Defence Force and other agencies at the height of the disaster: fighting fires, shoring up defences and directing rescue and recovery. Nigerian military accused of burning villages, displacing civilians in Boko Haram fight Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Nigerian military has been accused by a leading human rights watchdog of razing villages and displacing hundreds of residents in its quest to defeat extremist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State. The military, however, has contested those allegations. In a report based on interviews with impacted villagers in Nigerias Borno state, Amnesty International stated last Friday that the Nigerian military has burned and forcibly displaced entire villages in response to a rise in extremist attacks in the region. The United Kingdom-based nongovernmental organization reports that the Nigerian military also arbitrarily detained six men from the displaced villages and held them incommunicado for nearly one month before being released on Jan. 30. These brazen acts of razing entire villages, deliberately destroying civilian homes and forcibly displacing their inhabitants with no imperative military grounds should be investigated as possible war crimes, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Osai Ojigho said in a statement. They repeat a longstanding pattern of the Nigerian military's brutal tactics against the civilian population. Forces allegedly responsible for such violations must be suspended immediately and brought to justice. The alleged military action comes as Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province have carried out a number of deadly attacks in northeastern Nigeria since December 2019. During a recent research mission to the Borno state, Amnesty International interviewed 12 women and men who were forced to flee from their homes in three villages near the Maiduguri-Damaturu road on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4. Residents from the village of Bukarti recounted how scores of Nigerian soldiers arrived in the late morning of Jan. 3. They said soldiers went house to house and to surrounding farmland, forcing everyone to gather under a tree and by a graveyard between Bukarti and the main road, the report explains. Soldiers also rounded up people from neighboring Matiri and brought them to the same area. "At around 3 p.m. on Jan. 3, residents said soldiers demanded that everyone walk from the village to the main road where they were forced to board large trucks. Witnesses claim that as they were loaded into the trucks, some of the soldiers returned to Bukarti. The witnesses said they then saw their village burning. According to Amnesty International, over 400 women, men, and children were transported from Bukarti and Matiri to an internally displaced person camp near Maiduguri. The next day, a similar fate struck the neighboring village of Ngariri. Residents were loaded up on trucks and taken to Maiduguri. Later, their properties were razed. Amnesty International reviewed data from remote satellite sensing that indicated several large fires burning on and around 3 January in that area. Satellite imagery of Bukarti, Ngariri, and Matiri shows almost every structure was razed, the report adds. The imagery also shows signs of burning in neighboring villages. Residents who went back to the towns afterward told Amnesty International that everything was burned. Residents said that since they were not allowed to bring anything with them, most of their possessions were also destroyed in the fires. Everything we harvested was destroyed, and some of our animals died, one farmer told Amnesty International. I had a year [of harvest] stored its what I wouldve sold to buy clothes and other things for my family. Amnesty International accused the Nigerian military of ordering the displacement of inhabitants even though their security or imperative military reasons did not demand so. The subsequent burning of their homes may amount to a war crime as well, the report asserts. The Nigerian army said at the time that soldiers from brigades 5 and 29 along with Special Intervention Battalion 2 carried out the operations in the area. The military said it rescued 461 Boko Haram captives from several villages after it was alleged that criminals were sporadically shooting and causing an uproar. The military also said it arrested six Boko Haram suspects. However, witnesses who spoke with Amnesty International refuted that, saying Boko Haram fighters had not been in their village. They say they saved us from Boko Haram, but its a lie, one resident was quoted as saying. Boko Haram isnt coming to our village. Acting Director of Defense Information Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu refuted the Amnesty International report. In a statement, Nwachukwu accused Amnesty International of distorting facts and supporting the callous acts of terrorism committed by Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province. Further, Nwachukwu said that Amnesty International is undermining Nigerias Military campaign against terrorism and disparaging the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The Defense Headquarters wishes to state unambiguously that the allegations being touted by AI are nothing but a betrayal of its lack of in-depth knowledge of the goings-on in the [northeast] theatre of operation, Nwachukwu said. Nwachukwu added that troops who are conducting counterterrorism operations in the northeast do not employ arson as an operational tactic. It is a well-known fact, going by the modus operandi of [Boko Haram], that they have more often than not engaged in the atrocious acts of looting and burning of villages, as well as destroying infrastructures, Nwachukwu said. It, therefore, beats ones imagination that AI is attributing these atrocities to [military] troops who are legitimately defending the country guided by extant rules of engagement and operational codes of conduct. Nwachukwu further argued that Amnesty International must understand that Nigeria is at war with terror and that troops have a constitutional mandate to protect lives and property even if it means conducting an evacuation to save and secure lives of civilians in the conflict. Protecting civilians by evacuating them from the line of fire during combat is not a violation of the international law of conflict or a war crime, the director added. It is rather a commendable effort by the troops to prevent collateral damage during combat. Our troops should, therefore, be commended for making deliberate efforts to evacuate civilians in order to protect their lives and property. Despite Nwachukwu's statement, three residents interviewed by Reuters confirmed Amnesty International's findings. This is not the first time that Nigerian military forces have been accused of criminal acts as Amnesty International and others have long called for the International Criminal Court in Hague to investigate alleged war crimes committed by the Nigerian military. Last year, the NGO International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) claimed in a report that Nigerian military and security forces killed at least 480 mostly Christian ethnic Igbo civilians pushing for self-determination in massacres that occurred between 2015 to 2017 as part of internal security operations designed to halt terrorist activities. Intersociety defended Amnesty International following Nwachukwus response. We further make bold to say that patterns and trends trailing the Nigerian militarys responses over such specialist reports are so despicable and condemnable that they have constantly emboldened the atrocity perpetrators and made them unrepentant and repeat-offenders, an Intersociety statement shared with The Christian Post reads. The despicable and condemnable patterns and trends have also entrenched in the military (Army, Air Force and Navy) and the intelligence services (SSS, DMI, NIA and Force CID) a culture of impunity, incompetence, incapability, inability and unwillingness. Last December, Nigeria was added to the U.S. State Departments special watch list for countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom in part because of the governments ineffective response to violence in the northeast as well as communal violence in the Middle Belt. It is a dangerous situation in too many parts of Nigeria, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters last December. The government has either not been willing to or have been ineffective in their response and the violence continues to grow. The exemption given to the Adani-developed Mundra SEZ by the Expert Appraisal Committee may or may not be accepted by the environment ministry, a senior official said. The environment ministry takes the final call on recommendations by the expert appraisal committee (EAC) on terms of reference (ToR) and clearance issued or declined to any project, the senior environment ministry official said, responding to the panels decision to exempt Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited in Mundra, Gujarat, from conducting a public hearing on its proposed expansion. All EAC decisions are recommendations which come to us. We can choose to accept or reject it. The decision on exempting the Mundra SEZ from public hearing will also come to us. We will take a decision based on what EAC had observed earlier, the official added, requesting anonymity. At a meeting held on January 28, the EAC on infrastructure and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) projects, decided that the expansion project will not be required to conduct a public hearing because the environment impact-assessment notification 2006 and subsequent amendments to it say that all projects and activities located within industrial estates or parks which are approved by the authorities are exempt from one. The project proponent applies online, the application is then put before the expert appraisal committee which has expert members; the chairman is also an expert member. There are no government members. After the EAC makes a recommendation, the environment ministry examines it. There are three or four options after that --the recommendations are accepted, they can be referred back to the EAC, or rejected; they are sent to the environment minister, who takes a call, the environment ministry official cited above said. But the terms of reference (TOF) for the expansion of the project issued by environment ministry on May 17, 2019, accessed by Hindustan Times from the ministrys Parivesh website, suggests that EAC directed Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited to actually conduct a public hearing for expansion. Public hearing to be conducted and issues raised and commitments made by the project proponent on the same should be included in environment impact assessment/ environment management plan report in the form of tabular chart with financial budget for complying with the commitments made. the TOR said. EAC subsequently changed its mind. HT reported on January 28 that the Mundra port waterfront development project was seeking an exemption from conducting a public hearing for its expansion -- a move that sparked resistance from the fishing communities in villages in and around Mundra -- and on February 14 that EAC was going back on norms laid down by itself earlier and accepting the Adani Groups plea for exemption from a public hearing. The central government takes a final decision on amending ToR or approval condition for such projects, including that of public hearing exemptions. In the present case too, the environment ministry can review the EACs recommendation. Given the longstanding history of conflicts and litigation in the area, it will be important that public hearing is conducted with full transparency, ensuring informed and maximum participation. The environment ministry may consider appointing an oversight panel to ensure that this happens, said Kanchi Kohli, legal researcher at the Centre for Policy Research. Kamlesh Gadhvi, the sarpanch of Sadau group gram panchayat in Mundra, said: We are drafting a letter to the EAC to inquire why our submissions were not considered or referred to in the EAC minutes. The environment ministry should consider our views before taking a final decision. They should also study satellite images to verify compliance with the terms of the environmental clearance granted to the project. Around 30,000 families are engaged n fishing in Kutch many of whom are impacted by the SEZ project,according to Bharat Patel, general secretary of Machchimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan, which represents the fishing community. The issues raised by the fishing community include alleged loss of common grazing land due to the port project in Navinal gram panchayat, damage to fishermens boats and nets, pending conservation plan for creeks and mangroves and pending action plan for protection of fishermens livelihoods. A senior executive at Adani Group said the group had no comment to make on the matter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:25:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Shareholders of Nissan Motor Co. on Tuesday approved a new board of directors led by current President and Chief Executive Officer Makoto Uchida, as the company faces pressure to rebuild its business and ties with Renault SA following the ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn. At an extraordinary shareholders' meeting held in the port city of Yokohama, shareholders approved the appointment to the board of Uchida, who assumed the chief executive post on Dec. 1 last year. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta, Executive Vice President Hideyuki Sakamoto and Pierre Fleuriot, lead independent director at Renault, have also won approval as new board members. The troubled carmaker last week reported a group net loss of 26.09 billion yen (237 million U.S. dollars) for the October-December quarter, a sharp decline from a profit of 70.41 billion yen a year earlier. Uchida told the shareholders that as the president, he accepts full responsibility for the sharp downturn in the company's performance, adding that a medium-term business plan will be outlined in May. The meeting is the second of the current fiscal year aimed at revamping the company's management, which also effectively marks the complete retirement of former President and CEO Hiroto Saikawa. He resigned last year for allegedly receiving excessive remuneration. The previous meeting was held last April, in which Ghosn was removed from the board after his arrest in November 2018 for alleged financial misconduct at Nissan. According to some analysts, Nissan has no option but to rebuild ties with Renault and promote joint development of cars and investment cooperation for next-generation technologies to improve performance in the challenging market environment. However, there are tensions between the two companies over the leadership of their alliance. By IANS MANESWAR: "How's the Josh," Lieutenant Colonel Manjunath asked the students camped in India Army quarantine base in Manesarand their reply was: "High Sir". It resonated across 10 barracks they were kept in after returning from China's Wuhan, the groud zero of coronavirus. All 248 students kept at the quarantine base for last 14 days will head home on Tuesday. Recalling the horrifying situation before they were air lifted and brought back, Sanjay, a student from Uttarakhand said: "The situation in China was critical. ALSO READ: 248 Indians cleared after coronavirus quarantine "It was a complete lockdown there and we were not allowed to go out of our houses. We were locked in the room for days," Sanjay said. "From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., we were not allowed to leave the premises back there. The Chinese authorities were deinfecting roads and entire area," said Rohit Tyagi, a PHD student of biological sciences at Huazhong Agriculture University. ALSO READ: Death toll in coronavirus climbs to over 1,860; confirmed cases jump to 72,436 in China They recalled that the symptoms were first seen in November but things were not clear on how serious the situation was. "Once the virus began to spread the government began to react and there were restrictions on movement and we were told to stay indoors," said another student. They said US and France were the first to react by ensuring their citizens were evacuated quickly and soon the Indian government also got them out. CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: Myths and facts you must know The students thanked Indian authorities and India Army for rescuing them. Tyagi thanked the force and said that in last 14 days we were at par with any other Indian soilder. McCabe Says He Was Unfairly Branded a Liar, but IG Report Found He Lacked Candor Under Oath News Analysis The Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a letter on Feb. 14 to the attorneys for former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, notifying them that the department wouldnt be pursuing criminal charges against McCabe for matters in a referral by the DOJ inspector general. We write to inform you that, after careful consideration, the Government has decided not to pursue criminal charges against your client, Andrew G. McCabe, arising from the referral by the Office of Inspector General, stated the letter, which was signed by J.P. Cooney, chief of the fraud and public corruption section, and Molly Gaston, an assistant U.S. attorney from the same division. The letter closed by noting, Based on the totality of the circumstances and all of the information known to the Government at this time, we consider the matter closed. McCabes attorneys, Michael Bromwich and David Schertler, issued an initial statement: We learned this morning through a phone call from the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office that was followed by a letter that the Justice Departments criminal investigation of Andrew McCabe has been closed. This means that no charges will be brought against him based on the facts underlying the Office of the Inspector Generals April 2018 report. Bromwich issued a lengthier statement shortly thereafter, in which he noted, We believe the OIG report utterly failed to support the decision to terminate Mr. McCabe. McCabe then made an appearance on CNNfor which he is a contributorand stated that being unfairly branded a liar, because that was the desired outcome by the president, had been one of the most sickening and demeaning experiences of his life. But the IG report on McCabe tells a very different story. Unauthorized Disclosure to Reporter McCabe was fired March 16, 2018, after both the Office of Inspector General and the FBIs Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) concluded that McCabe had made an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candorincluding under oathon multiple occasions, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at the time. According to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitzs report on McCabe, released in February 2018, the former deputy FBI director lied three times under oathand also lied to then-FBI Director James Comeyregarding his authorization of leaks to The Wall Street Journal in late October 2016. The OPR recommended firing McCabe, but internal FBI documents suggest that it was then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who fast-tracked the process. According to the OPR, the bureau would have been unable to reach a formal resolution before McCabes retirement on March 18, 2018, without Rosensteins intervention. The unauthorized disclosure to the news media involved then-Wall Street Journal reporter Devlin Barrett (now with The Washington Post). On Oct. 23, 2016, The Wall Street Journal published an article by Barrett, headlined Clinton Ally Aided Campaign of FBI Officials Wife, which raised questions regarding McCabes level of impartiality in the Clinton email investigation. The next day, Barrett emailed the FBIs assistant director for public affairs, noting that he was pursuing a follow-up article. Barrett had heard from sources that McCabe had allegedly instructed agents to effectively stand down on the ongoing investigation of the Clinton Foundation. According to the IG report on McCabe, Barretts email to the assistant director said that hed been told that, McCabe himself gave some instruction as to how to proceed with the Clinton Foundation probe, given that it was the height of election season and the FBI did not want to make a lot of overt moves that could be seen as going after [Clinton] or drawing attention to the probe. Barrett asked if these reports were accurate and if there was anything else I should know. According to the IG report, Barrett had sources who were adamant that McCabe gave a purported order to stand down on the CF [Clinton Foundation] Investigation before the 2016 presidential election, implying that McCabe wanted to shut down the investigation for improper reasons. The IG report notes that by Oct. 25, 2016, McCabe had been notified that Barrett was working on a follow-up story to the October 23 article that would cover McCabes oversight of the CF Investigation and potential connections with McAuliffe campaign contributions to McCabes wife. It was at this point that McCabe authorized his special counsel, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, to speak with Barrett about his follow-up story. Page told the IG that the authorization from McCabe was done orally and it was pretty general. Page spoke twice with Barrett on Oct. 27, 2016, and then once on Oct. 28, 2016. According to the IG report, Page disclosed to Barrett details about an Aug. 12, 2016, phone call between McCabe and the principal associate deputy attorney general (PADAG). The IG report notes that one of the purposes of Pages disclosure was to rebut a narrative that had been developing following a story in the WSJ on October 23, 2016, that questioned McCabes impartiality in overseeing FBI investigations involving former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and claimed that McCabe had ordered the termination of the CF Investigation due to Department of Justice pressure. The disclosure, authorized by McCabe and made by Page, effectively confirmed the existence of the CF Investigation, which then-FBI Director Comey had previously refused to do. Barretts follow-up article, FBI in Internal Feud Over Hillary Clinton Probe, was published on Oct. 30, 2016. It described how the FBI was revisiting the Clinton emails in the days prior to the 2016 presidential election. Pages account of the Aug. 12 call, along with information regarding the handling of the Clinton Foundation investigation, was also included in Barretts article: According to a person familiar with the probes, on Aug. 12, a senior Justice Department official called Mr. McCabe to voice his displeasure at finding that New York FBI agents were still openly pursuing the Clinton Foundation probe during the election season. Mr. McCabe said agents still had the authority to pursue the issue as long as they didnt use overt methods requiring Justice Department approvals. The Justice Department official was very pissed off, according to one person close to McCabe, and pressed him to explain why the FBI was still chasing a matter the department considered dormant. Are you telling me that I need to shut down a validly predicated investigation? Mr. McCabe asked, according to people familiar with the conversation. After a pause, the official replied, Of course not, these people said. The IG report notes that on Oct. 30, 2016, following the publication of Barretts second article, McCabe contacted two FBI executivesthe head of the FBIs Washington Field Office and the head of the New York Field Office. According to the report, McCabe admonished these officials for the leaks contained in the October 30 WSJ article about the CF Investigation. Notably, these were leaks that McCabe had authorized Page to make to Barrett, and as the IG report noted, at no time did McCabe disclose to either of them that McCabe had authorized Special Counsel to disclose information about the CF Investigation to the WSJ reporter. McCabe reportedly told the head of the Washington Field Office to get his house in order, regarding the leaks that were disclosed in Barretts article. McCabes Denial to Comey The following day, on Oct. 31, 2016, Comey had a conversation with McCabe regarding the article. The IG report notes that McCabe claims to have admitted to Comey that he authorized the leak regarding the Aug. 12 conversation, and also admitted that he hadnt informed Comey prior to doing so. Comey had a differing recollection of the matter. According to the report, Comey said that he had discussed the issue with McCabe after the article was published, and at that time, McCabe definitely did not tell me that he authorized the disclosure of the PADAG call. Instead, Comey said that McCabe gave him the exact opposite impression. I dont remember exactly how, but I remember some form or fashion and it could have been like, Can you believe this crap? How does this stuff get out kind of thing? But I took from whatever communication we had that he wasnt involved in it, Comey said about his conversation with McCabe. I have a strong impression he conveyed to me, It wasnt me, boss. And I dont think that was by saying those words, I think it was most likely by saying, I dont know how this [expletive] gets in the media or why would people talk about this kind of thing, words that I would fairly take as I, Andy, didnt do it. And I actually didnt suspect Andy, after conversations with [my chief of staff], my worry was, was his aide [Special Counsel] doing it. On May 9, 2017, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein wrote a memo to then-Attorney General Sessions, recommending that Comey be fired. McCabes Lack of Candor That same day, McCabe was being interviewed under oath by agents from the FBIs Inspection Division (INSD) regarding the leaks disclosed in Barretts article. According to the IG report, McCabe lied to INSD agents regarding his participation in these leaks. The report notes, According to INSD-SSA1s contemporaneous notes and testimony to the OIG, McCabe told them that he had no idea where it came from, that was who the source was who disclosed the account of his August 12 call with PADAG to the WSJ. The interviewing agents viewed McCabe as the victim of the leak and McCabe had told the INSD agents that he did not know how this happened. On July 27, 2017, Horowitz notified Rosenstein and special counsel Robert Mueller of a large number of newly discovered texts between McCabes special counsel Page and FBI agent Peter Strzok. This discovery resulted in Strzok being removed from the special counsel investigation. Horowitz had found the texts sometime earlierlikely on or before July 14, 2017. On July 28, 2017, McCabe was interviewed under oath by Horowitz as part of his ongoing review of various FBI and Department actions in advance of the 2016 Election. The primary purpose of Horowitzs interview was to determine what McCabe knew regarding the existence of the PageStrzok text messages. Some of the texts discovered by Horowitz suggested that Page had provided the information concerning McCabes Aug. 12, 2016, call to Barrett. After Horowitz showed the texts to McCabe, the following exchange took place: OIG: Which were not sure what [CF] relates to, perhaps Clinton Foundation. Do you happen to know? McCabe: I dont know what shes referring to. OIG: Or perhaps a code name? McCabe: Not one that I recall, but this thing is like right in the middle of the allegations about me, and so I dont really want to get into discussing this article with you. OIG: Okay. McCabe: Because it just seems like were kind of crossing the strings a little bit there. OIG: Was she ever authorized to speak to reporters in this time period, was [Special Counsel]? McCabe: Not that Im aware of. Later in the interview, when faced with additional texts that provided further indication that Page was talking to Barrett, McCabe told Horowitz: I was not even in town during those days. So I cant tell you where she was or what she was doing. Four days later, on Aug. 1, 2017, McCabe apparently thought differently and placed a call to an assistant inspector general (AIG); he didnt contact Horowitz. The AIG summarized McCabes call in a same-day email: McCabe stated that he believes that [Special Counsel] may have been authorized by him to work with [AD/OPA] and to speak with the WSJ for the late October article. He said he had worked with [Special Counsel] on a previous WSJ article earlier in the month when they spent the day trying to correct inaccuracies. At the time the second article was being prepared, McCabe was out of town. He believes he may have authorized [Special Counsel] to work with [AD/OPA] and speak to Devlin Barrett (the WSJ reporter) because she had previously worked with McCabe on the issues raised by his wifes political campaign and was very familiar with those issues. He said [AD/OPA] would be familiar with Special Counsels role and authority to speak. Contradicting Statements Meanwhile, on Aug. 7, 2017, INSD investigators, who werent at the time aware of the texts between Page and Strzok, interviewed Page regarding her contact with Barrett in October 2016. The IG report notes that Page told INSD agents under oath that she was a source for the disclosure of the account of the August 12 McCabe-PADAG call, the disclosure was fully authorized by McCabe, and Special Counsel and AD/OPA provided the information to Barrett in a telephone call from the FBI OPA office. The report notes that Page provided this same account to the IGs office in two subsequent interviews on September 7 and October 26, 2017, and also signed a sworn statement to this effect on Aug. 15, 2017. On Aug. 18, 2017, McCabe was again interviewed by INSD agents after they were told by Page that it was McCabe who had authorized the conversation with Barrett in advance of the October 30 WSJ article. According to notes from one of the interviewing INSD agents, McCabe this time admitted to authorizing Page to make her disclosures to Barrett, saying, Yep, I did, although the agent also noted that McCabe said he did not recall specifically doing it. This same agent told the IG: I remember saying to him, at, I said, sir, you understand that we put a lot of work into this based on what youve told us. I mean, and I even said, long nights and weekends working on this, trying to find out who amongst your ranks of trusted people would, would do something like that. And he kind of just looked down, kind of nodded, and said, Yeah, Im sorry. The IG report noted that following this Aug. 18, 2017, interview, INSD officials became concerned that there was a significant question of whether Deputy Director McCabe had testified truthfully to INSD on May 9. INSD-Section Chief told us that she recommended turning the matter over to the OIG. The assistant director for the INSD agreed with that assessment and referred the matter to the OIG. The IGs office formally accepted the referral on August 31, 2017. On Nov. 29, 2017, Horowitz again interviewed McCabe, this time in regard to his Aug. 1, 2017, call to the AIG. McCabe told Horowitz, I remember authorizing [Special Counsel] and [AD/OPA] to talk to the Wall Street Journal. When Horowitz noted that McCabes prior statement, I cant tell you where she was or what she was doing, was inaccurate, McCabe told the IG: Yeah, and as Ive said before, and she made clear, I, I was very concerned, as I think I said at that time, uncomfortable about discussing things that I thought were outside the scope that [AIG] had identified for me that day. And I felt like thats the direction that the questions were coming from. I didnt feel comfortable saying, you know, vouching for what was in [DAD] and [Special Counsel]s texts and saying what they meant. I had not thought about the Wall Street Journal article and the conversations we had around it in quite a long time. And so, I misspoke. Notably, McCabe told Horowitz that he did not discuss the Devlin texts with Page following his initial July 28, 2017, interview with the IG. However, Page told Horowitz that following McCabes July 28 OIG interview, she and McCabe discussed her text messages. Page did tell the IG that McCabe did not discuss his OIG testimony about the WSJ article, or the WSJ article itself, at that time. The IG found that McCabe lacked candor on four separate occasions in connection with the disclosure to the WSJ and that three of those occasions involved his testimony under oath. The report provided specific dates for each of these events: Lack of Candor with then-Director Comey on or around Oct. 31, 2016 Lack of Candor in interview Under Oath with INSD Agents on May 9, 2017 Lack of Candor in interview Under Oath with OIG Investigators on July 28, 2017 Lack of Candor in interview Under Oath with OIG Investigators on Nov. 29, 2017 In its report, the IG provided the legal definitions of Lack of Candor as it relates to the FBI: Offense Code 2.5 (Lack of Candor No Oath) prohibits [k]nowingly providing false information when making a verbal or written statement, not under oath, to a supervisor, another Bureau employee in an authoritative position, or another governmental agency, when the employee is questioned about his conduct or the conduct of another person. Offense Code 2.6 (Lack of Candor Under Oath) prohibits [k]nowingly providing false information in a verbal or written statement made under oath. Under both offense codes, lack of candor is defined to include false statements, misrepresentations, the failure to be fully forthright, or the concealment or omission of a material fact/information. As previously noted, Horowitz found three separate instances when McCabe lacked candor under oath, along with an additional instance in which McCabe lacked candor with his superior, Comey. By Harriet Ryanm| Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES The well-known therapist and author fatally attacked at her Hollywood Hills home this weekend had twice sought restraining orders against the former boyfriend arrested on suspicion of her murder. Amie Harwick applied for orders of protection against Gareth Pursehouse in 2011 and 2012, electronic dockets from Los Angeles Superior Court show. Police investigating her death early Saturday morning said a restraining order barring him from contact with her had expired. She had seen Pursehouse, 41, two weeks ago and recently expressed fear of him, police said. Harwick, 38, was a licensed marriage and family therapist who wrote the 2014 book The New Sex Bible for Women and was once engaged to comedian and Price Is Right host Drew Carey. In a statement Monday afternoon, Carey described himself as overcome with grief. Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime, he said. The pair ended their engagement in 2018. She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist. Court records show that Harwick obtained a temporary restraining order against Pursehouse in June 2011 but apparently did not show up for a hearing the following month. A judge in Van Nuys dismissed the order because of lack of prosecution, the docket states. Nine months later, Harwick went back to the same courthouse and got another temporary restraining order. In an April 2012 hearing on whether to extend the protective order, she and Pursehouse both gave evidence, and the judge granted her request for protection, according to the docket. What led her to seek the restraining orders and the terms of those orders were not disclosed in the dockets, and the files were not available Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday. Police were summoned to Harwicks residence early Saturday morning following reports of a woman screaming. Officers found her unconscious and mortally wounded under a third-floor balcony with injuries consistent with a fall. Her roommate, who met arriving officers in the street, said Harwick was attacked in the home and he had narrowly escaped by jumping a wall, authorities said. In a news release, the LAPD said investigators searching for clues in Harwicks home found possible evidence of a struggle in the upstairs as well as forced entry to the residence. A canvass of the area located further evidence of an intruder (suspect) entering the property and leaving after the murder, police said. Pursehouse was taken into custody by an FBI-LAPD fugitive task force in Playa del Rey on Saturday afternoon. He is being held on $2 million bail, according to jail records. AMRITSAR: The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) have invited Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to a function being organised at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to observe the anniversary of Nankana Sahib massacre on February 20. PSGPC president Satwant Singh said over phone: Pakistan had granted visa to the Akal Takht acting jathedar for February 20, but he expressed his inability to join us on this date due to a busy schedule in India. We requested him to come on February 19 and the process is underway for issuing him a visa accordingly. I hope he will come to join us on the occasion by accepting our plea as the Sikh sangat (community) here is eagerly waiting for him. The massacre, also called Saka Nankana Sahib, took place at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, the birth place of Sikhisms founder Guru Nanak, on February 20, 1921, during the British rule. Under the Gurdwara Reform Movement, more than 260 Sikh protesters were killed by the British-backed mahant (religious leader) and his mercenaries. When contacted, Jaspal Singh, the personal assistant of the acting jathedar, said, The programme of visiting Pakistan is not final as he (the jathedar) is yet to receive his passport stamped with the visa from the Pakistan embassy. Secondly, he has a tight schedule in the coming days though he is trying to manage. Just two days ago, Giani Harpreet Singh, the chief priest of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, had said that there was a sense of fear and insecurity among minorities in the country. He extended support to Muslim groups protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. Delhi Minority Commission chief Zafarul Islam Khan, who called on Giani Harpreet Singh last week, said that the Akal Takht chief had assured Muslims of support, saying Sikhs always stood for the oppressed and would continue to do so. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 20:13:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have taken active moves to combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). They contributed to hospital construction and medical material production and reinforced life and technological support, Ren Hongbin, vice chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), told a press conference Tuesday. Central SOEs pitched in on the design, construction and renovation work of over 100 designated hospitals nationwide, coupled with providing nearly 10,000 medical staff for working on the frontlines against the epidemic. To increase the supply of medical materials for epidemic control, the SOEs changed the line of production and made efforts to increase the capacity of protective suits and face masks, said Ren. Xinxing Cathay International Group's daily output of protective suits surged from 7,850 on Feb. 5 to 45,000 at present, accounting for over one-third of the country's total output, while the China National Machinery Industry Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation and China North Industries Group produced a combined output of face masks totaling 1.3 million per day. Ren also notes 26 central SOEs enlarged overseas purchases of medical supplies for donation to Hubei Province. Medicine research and development were also strengthened, with the China National Biotec Group producing novel coronavirus detection kits for 200,000 people each day and proposing to use convalescent plasma for clinical treatment. To secure the supply of basic life products and services, energy and communications firms allocated resources, built facilities and ensured power and service usage for residents with overdue bills, while dealers of life necessities guaranteed grain and oil supply, Ren said. Technological support has been provided by the SOEs in the fields of big data, artificial intelligence, 5G and cloud computing. Manufacturing companies facilitated rapid diagnosis and remote medical treatment with test equipment and robots, while electronic communications firms supported distance learning and remote working with cloud systems. by Melynda Fuller , February 18, 2020 Verizon Medias demand-side platform (DSP) now features full access to JCDecaux digital out-of-home inventory, in addition to other OOH inventory, thanks to a new partnership with VIOOH. Through the partnership, Verizon Media new reaches digital OOH screens in more than 60 cities in seven countries, including the U.K., U.S., Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Campaigns launched through the new partnership will appear in high-trafficked areas, such as shopping centers, airports and commuter transport links, including London Transport, featuring large screens in locations like Waterloo station. Programmatic OOH is on the cusp of going mainstream, of that there is no doubt," Jean-Christophe Conti, CEO at VIOOH, stated. Verizon Media was among the first global demand-side platforms to connect to the DOOH ecosystem, and is driving meaningful growth and geographic scale in the ecosystem. We want to partner with omnichannel leaders like them to help brands deliver a more targeted, unified and holistic experience to consumers, he added. advertisement advertisement Verizon Ad Platform uses rich data to match campaigns up with targeting opportunities connected to weather, location, time of day, demographics and interests, giving clients opportunities to better reach their preferred audience. Verizons DSP has grown steadily, providing marketers with the option to buy campaigns across a wealth of platforms, including video, mobile, display, native, connected TV, audio and DOOH inventory. As the Verizon Media continues to focus on its DOOH offerings, it has also expanded and refined its portfolio, including a unification of its DOOH solution in December. Ivan Markman, Chief Business Officer at Verizon Media, stated: Our customers want to be able to buy across multiple channels, formats and screens with a simple purchase and measurement structure that allows them to be creative, reach the right people and truly see the effectiveness of their campaigns. With VIOOH, we further our commitment to building products with our customers and consumers experience in mind. The mandatory closing may be closed until the end of February or more depending on the evolution of the epidemic. Schoolchildren will not go to school for another week. Photo: Zing Vietnam continues closing all school for one more week, lengthening the closure to a third consecutive week in an effort to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-caused respiratory sickness. As many as 56 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide decided to close schools until the end of February. The southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City plans to close schools until the end of March. Vietnam has more than 24 million schoolchildren. In another move, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha on February 14 proposed forced school break to be extended until the end of February on fears of the COVID-19 epidemic. The ministry has also planned to stretch out the academic year to ensure the teaching program. Meanwhile, a number of schools have launched online teaching to ensure the progress of the curriculum. Closing schools is one of measures that Vietnam has taken so far together with quarantining people at risk of COVID-19 infection, denying visitors from and traveling across China. Especially, the country has quarantined a commune of more than 10,000 people in the northern province of Vinh Phuc for having several people infected with COVID-19. So far, COVID-19 cases have been reported in four cities and provinces across Vietnam, namely Vinh Phuc with 11, Ho Chi Minh City with 3, the central province of Khanh Hoa 1, and the central province of Thanh Hoa 1. Seven of the infected people have recovered and been discharged from hospital. Hanoitimes Linh Pham Many localities prepare for end of Codvid-19 outbreak Khanh Hoa Province and many localities in Vietnam have succeeded in combating coronavirus according to the Ministry of Health. "The Centre is taking every possible step to tackle coronavirus, for which the Health Ministry had directed all states to set up isolation wards," National Centre for Disease Control Director Sujit Kumar Singh told IANS. New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) After setting up special wards in Delhi to treat suspected coronavirus patients and to check the spread of the contagious disease, the Centre has ordered the setting up of such quarantine wards in other states, a senior official said on Tuesday. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim -- adjoining Nepal -- are setting up special treatment wards, he said. These wards have been set up in such a way that the spread of the deadly virus could be curbed. The Health Ministry has directed the Director Generals of Police of these five states that no one entering India from Nepal in areas under their jurisdiction should be allowed in without proper screening. Thermal screening is being done at 10 entry points on the India-Nepal border. A meeting of Health Department officials with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of these states was held here on Monday to discuss steps to handle suspect coronavirus cases. Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital too has set up a special ward to house suspected coronavirus cases. hindi-tsb/bg He's taking on the role of William Shakespeare in Upstart Crow. And Victoria Coren Mitchell couldn't help but smile after the play's opening night, as she supported husband David at the show's after party in London on Monday. The comedian, 45, and writer, 47, put on a cosy display as Victoria nuzzled him while they posed for photos during the event. Smitten: Victoria Coren Mitchell cosied up to husband David as she supported him at the opening night of Upstart Crow in London on Monday Victoria looked sensational in a semi-sheer red gown which had puffy sleeves and was embroidered with flowers for a glamorous flair. She wore her golden tresses in a sleek, straight style and used a natural palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features. David, meanwhile, looked sharp as he teamed an open-collared blue shirt with a navy suit and smart black shoes. Sweet: The comedian, 45, and writer, 47, looked smitten as Victoria nuzzled him while they posed for photos during the event Stunning: Victoria looked sensational in a semi-sheer red gown which had puffy sleeves and was embroidered with flowers for a glamorous flair Reunited! David was also joined by his Peep Show co-star Robert Webb at the event David was supported by a number of his showbiz pals, as Konnie Huq put on an affectionate display with husband Charlie Brooker at the event. The former Blue Peter presenter, 44, looked stylish as they attended the show, an adaptation of the much loved historical sitcom of the same name. The 44-year-old was sure to turn heads in a cropped white shearling jacket, which she paired with black wide-leg trousers and a large black tote bag. Friends: David was supported by a number of his showbiz pals, as Konnie Huq put on an affectionate display with husband Charlie Brooker at the event Date night: The former Blue Peter presenter looked stylish in a cropped white shearling jacket paired with black wide leg trousers and carried a large black tote bag Stylish: Konnie wore her raven tresses loose and complemented her pretty complexion with a pared back makeup look Konnie wore her raven tresses loose and complemented her pretty complexion with a pared back makeup look. Meanwhile Black Mirror creator Charlie looked equally trendy in a green t-shirt and black over coat. He appeared in high spirits as he made his latest public appearance alongside his wife of ten years. Treading the boards: The play sees David take on the role of William Shakespeare Production: Upstart Crow is based on the 2016 BBC sitcom of the same name and which also stars (left to right) Reice Weathers, Helen Monks, Rob Rouse, David Mitchell, Steve Speirs, Ben Elton, Rachel Summers, Jason Callender, Danielle Phillips, Mark Heap and Gemma Whelan They are now parents to sons Covey and Huxley - and Charlie recently paid tribute to the TV star and their children, revealing how his whirlwind romance and becoming a parent changed him for the better. The writer told BBC4's Desert Island Discs that marrying Konnie in a Las Vegas ceremony and deciding to become a father were 'the best decisions' he ever made. Of the loved-up pair's marriage he said: 'That was absolutely the right time. It was weird because, for years, I'd not known if I'd wanted kids or a family. Leading lady: Alison Steadman, 73, looked gorgeous in a black polka dot dress and camel over coat 'That seemed like something that other people did, I couldn't perceive of that as a future. 'And then Konnie came along and quite early on she said "I want kids and a family" and this sort of thing, and I heard myself going "OK", and sort of thought, "oh, right, why have I said that?" 'It was the best decision I ever made.' Going for green: Presenter Claudia Winkleman was also there and looked chic in a green cable knit jumper Alstom agrees to buy Bombardier's rail division, photo AFP Alstom will pay up to 6.2 billion euros (US$6.8 billion) in a mix of cash and shares, according to a memorandum of understanding between the firms. The Quebec pension firm Caisse de Depot, which owns 32.5 per cent in Bombardier Transportation, will become Alstom's biggest single shareholder on completion with around 18 per cent in the French company. Alstom said it planned to move its Americas headquarters to Montreal. 'IMPROVE GLOBAL REACH' "This acquisition will improve our global reach and our ability to respond to the ever-increasing need for sustainable mobility," said CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge. "There is no idea of restructuring or threats to jobs, but rather the opposite," he later told journalists. The acquisition stood to boost Alstom's presence in markets where Bombardier is strong - notably Germany, Britain, North America - and also in China where the Canadian company's position is "unique", he said. Analysts said the French company hopes to add scale in a sector where China's state-owned CRCC is the world's largest rolling stock manufacturer. Alstom's move comes a year after the European Commission blocked an attempt at a mega-merger of its rail activities with those of Germany's Siemens, which would have created a European rail champion. Berlin-based Bombardier Transport last year posted sales of US$8.3 billion, ending 2019 with US$35.8 billion of business on its order books. Alstom's 2018-2019 sales came in at US$8.1 billion and the firm had outstanding orders of US$43 billion at the end of 2018. Heavily indebted Bombardier, which started out making snowmobiles 80 years ago, embarked in 2015 on a major restructuring and said in January it was planning a range of divestments. Last year, burdened by a debt pile of some US$9 billion - most of it long-term - Canada's top manufacturer agreed to sell off its regional jet programme to Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for US$750 million. In 2018, it had sold control of the CSeries medium-haul jet programme to Airbus which renamed it the A220. Last week, Bombardier said it would sell off to Airbus and the Quebec government - where the firm has some 14,000 staff and supports around another 40,000 jobs - its remaining 33.58 per cent stake in the programme. Bombardier also recently announced it was selling off its aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems of the US for more than US$1 billion in cash and debt. The Canadians, with a workforce of some 36,000, retain their profitable Learjet, Challenger and Global Express business jets activity. On Jan 16, Bombardier had announced it was "actively pursuing alternatives that would allow us to accelerate our debt paydown," while again revising downward its preliminary 2019 revenues. Alstom, which makes France's TGV high-speed trains, employs 36,300 staff, a quarter of them in France. CHINESE COMPETITION Between them, the two firms have a virtual monopoly on rolling stock in France and regularly work in tandem on infrastructure such as metros and the Paris RER regional train network. Adding Bombardier Transport would position Alstom as a global rival to China's giant CRCC which boasted sales of around US$30 billion in 2018. Although some 90 per cent of its sales are in China, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has been spreading its tentacles further afield notably with tram investments in Portugal. It has also intimated, according to weekend British media reports, a readiness to engage in construction of Britain's HS2 high-speed project. Alstom had already held up the Chinese threat in trying to merge with Siemens only for Brussels to rule a merged company would have had an overly dominant market position in Europe. Poupart-Lafarge, who began his career at the World Bank, has targeted "internal investment and external partnerships" but also "acquisitions" as the way ahead after the derailed Siemens merger. Alstom has focused on transport after ceding its energy interests to General Electric five years ago. It is now debt free with cash in the bank. There was also a clear signal that he wanted to expand the AAP beyond Delhi. Having registered a stunning victory, Arvind Kejriwal along with six ministers took the oath for the third time as Delhi chief minister at Delhis historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. This victory in itself was remarkable, with 62 of the Assemblys 70 seats, but what was even more remarkable was that the AAP was up against an army of very experienced BJP leaders who campaigned relentlessly against the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, some of whom engaged in a very shrill and negative campaign. But the AAP sailed against all odds to victory. The message by Mr Kejriwal in his public address after the oath made this victory far more remarkable. Mr Kejriwal said that irrespective of who voted for him or not, he considered everyone as part of his family and promised to work for all the people of Delhi. He added he forgives his opponents for their remarks against him, and wanted take everyone along with him. He also sought the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was also a clear signal that he wanted to expand the AAP beyond Delhi. In his speech, he urged people to call your villages and tell them that their son has become the chief minister, and there is no need to worry. After all, he had taken the oath as Delhis CM, so why should he ask people to call their family members in villages? This was a clear indication he would try to reach out to people beyond the geographical boundaries of Delhi. However, for the AAP, expanding the party beyond Delhi at this juncture would be a tall order. The sweeping victory in Delhi does not give any indication of the rising popularity of the AAP or Arvind Kejriwal in other states. Even in Delhi, this victory should only be seen as voters wanting Mr Kejriwal to be Delhis chief minister. There is no indication if voters would express the same political choice if there was a Lok Sabha election soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi still remains a very popular leader with the people of Delhi when it comes to heading the government at the Centre. The verdict of four elections the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections are clear evidence of the voters of Delhi expressing a spilt verdict. While in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP managed to win all seven Lok Sabha seats and cornered a huge chunk of votes, the same voters voted for the AAP in the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections in a big way. During the 2015 Assembly electio ns, the AAP won 67 seats and polled 54 per cent votes while in 2020 it won 62 seats and polled 53.5 per cent votes. The CSDS survey also indicated that one-third of those who voted for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls switched their vote to the AAP in 2020. Mr Kejriwal, in his Ramlila address, seemed somewhat on the defensive over the charge that he had only won because of the freebies. He said: I am accused of distributing freebies. But all good things in the world like a mothers love and a fathers blessings are free. Delhi loves Kejriwal. I love Delhi. This love is for free. It is true that the freebies handed out by the Kejriwal government contributed to this massive mandate, but this election remained largely focused on the development work done by the AAP government in the past five years. The CSDS governance study conducted in early December 2019 captured the mood of the people of Delhi regarding the AAP governments work in the fields of education and health and indicated widespread approval of the AAPs work. Though Delhi witnessed an acerbic campaign waged by the BJP on the basis of emotive and national issues, the voter sentiment that the CSDS survey had captured in early December did not change much. This was because voters saw the election main ly as a question of Delhis governance. In this sense, the victory of the AAP was clearly a vote for performance on the ground. The water, electricity, education and healthcare record of the government was clearly its USP. The CSDS survey indicated that three of every five of those who traditionally backed the BJP said they favoured a AAP victory due to the governments performance record. This mattered a lot for the pro-incumbency sentiment in favour of the AAP. By asking the people of Delhi to convey to friends and relatives in their villages that their son had become the chief minister, Mr Kejriwal was trying to send out the message that the people of Delhi had rejected BJP leaders equating Arvind Kejriwal as a terrorist. The Delhi elections remained focused around the face of Mr Kejriwal. During his campaign, he went to the extent of saying vote for me only if you consider me as your son, dont vote for me if you consider me as a terrorist. The AAP benefited from the fact that it had Mr Kejriwals face at the head of its campaign. The BJP, on the other hand, had no such credible, visible face. It once again depended on the charisma and charm of its top national leaders mainly Prime Minister Modi. In a state poll, this clearly worked in favour of the AAP as almost two-fifths of those satisfied with the Modi governments performance voted for the AAP. Mr Modi remains very popular with Delhis voters; yet they chose Mr Kejriwal over Mr Modi mainly because they were conscious that this was a question of who would head the state government. The BJPs last-minute efforts to polarise voters and win back the support of those who voted for it in the Lok Sabha polls six months ago didnt cut much ice. While possibly it did contribute to the BJPs rise in voteshare compared to the last Assembly election, it was not sufficient to reduce the wide gap that had developed between the BJP and AAP. At the end of the day, governance and service delivery appeared to trump the politics of emotive appeals and divisiveness. Mr Kejriwal in his address did say that the elections were over, and whether you had voted for the AAP or not, you are a part of my family clearly trying to send out a positive message of his commitment to work for all the people of Delhi as he begins his third innings in government. A 61-year-old diamond merchant allegedly jumped to his death from the terrace of a 15-storey building at Opera House in south Mumbai, police said on Tuesday. Dhirenbhai Chandrakant Shah jumped off the terrace of Prasad Chambers at around 9.30 am on Tuesday and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, an official said. The deceased's body has been sent for post-mortem to state-run J J Hospital at Byculla in Central Mumbai, he added. The police recovered a two-line suicide note in Shah's office in the same building, in which he mentions that he alone was responsible for the extreme step, the official said. The police are also investigating whether Shah, a resident of Nepean Sea Road, was under pressure due to financial losses, he said. A case of accidental death has been registered at D B Marg police station and further probe is underway, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The forward progression of the Massachusetts Senate regarding the improvement of behavioral health care access through unanimous passing of Senate Bill S.2519 is going to enrich the lives of many Massachusetts residents, but will it really include everyone? According to the United States Census Bureau, 16.5% of Massachusetts residents are 65 years of age or older, and this bill does not adequately include their needs. I am an occupational therapist providing care to local residents in a skilled nursing facility. My job is to promote functional independence and safety for those with an illness or disability. The older adult population is one of the most at-risk and underserved regarding mental and behavioral health. I often see clients with undiagnosed and/or untreated mental and behavioral issues which impede their abilities to age in place. Senator Dean A. Tran proposed an amendment to Massachusetts State Senate Bill S.2519 to pilot a program for telebehavioral health for veterans and seniors which was sadly rejected, and withdrawn. Considering this, its important to note that occupational therapy professionals are trained and skilled in providing treatment for those with mental illness across the lifespan. It is critically important to raise awareness of the role of occupational therapy professionals, and their abilities to provide adjunctive treatment for mental/behavioral health needs. Healthcare providers, teachers, governmental leaders, and the constituents of Massachusetts need to know that occupational therapy can be an access point of behavioral/mental health care to advocate for themselves and others. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported in 2018 that Massachusetts employed 4,830 occupational therapists, and at this time it appears that there is inadequate representation of the scope of the profession regarding mental and behavioral health care. Elizabeth Alicea Torres MS, OTR/L, Springfield Attorney Steven Becker of Becker Law LLC Becker Law LLCs Client Bill of Rights is front and center on its website, demonstrating the firms commitment to exceptional service and value and offering clients the option to make a 'satisfaction adjustment' to their final bill. Steven Becker, an attorney with over three decades of business and intellectual property law experience representing large corporations in-house, has announced the establishment of his own practice to serve startups, freelancers, and small- and medium-sized businesses in the metro Atlanta area. Located at One West Court Square, Suite 750, Decatur, Georgia 30030, Becker Law LLC has launched a robust new website which, together with an innovative practice model, aims to make obtaining business and intellectual property legal services as frictionless as possible. For many years, Becker aspired to open his own firm, but he wanted to provide legal services differently from the norm, transforming an attorney-centric process into what it should bea client-centric process. Ive been an in-house attorney for almost my entire career, representing Fortune 500 companies and other large organizations, Becker said. In my experience, client service from many of the law firm attorneys who represented us was lacking. For example, they usually didnt take the time to understand our business or its corporate culture, and they rarely kept me updated about the status of our legal matters. In addition, the legal advice they provided, as well as their billing, was needlessly complicated. As an attorney, I felt dissatisfied with the legal services I received from law firm attorneys, so I imagined the experience was far worse for clients without legal training. Beckers vision was to create a platform where clients can easily select the legal services they require from a menu of customizable offerings, each with competitive fixed-rate pricing clearly disclosed on the firms website. This innovative use of technology allows Becker Law LLC to offer first-rate legal services in a client-focused and cost-effective way. Clients can schedule consultations through the website, meet virtually using the firms video conferencing service, and utilize a secure client web portal for communication and access to information about their legal matters 24/7. The last thing any business needs, particularly a new business, is added costs, especially the ongoing and unpredictable expense of hourly billing, Becker notes. Youre trying to stick to a budget, and an open-ended expense like hourly legal fees just isnt an option. With my practice model, clients know exactly what theyre getting and what theyll pay for it. We offer our clients everything they might need during the business cycle, including helping them protect the intellectual property in their idea or business concept; assisting them with forming and launching their business; and drafting clear, plain-language contracts governing relationships with their employees, customers, and vendors as their business matures. We also offer monthly subscription legal services with different subscription levels to help organizations scale their need for ongoing high-quality general counsel legal services, allowing clients with all budget sizes to maintain and protect their businesses at a predictable monthly costone that is far less than the price of an in-house counsel. As part of its innovative practice model, Becker Law LLC has established a Client Bill of Rights that appears front and center on its website, demonstrating the firms commitment to providing exceptional client service and value. At the end of their legal matter, Becker Law LLC offers clients the option to make a satisfaction adjustment to their final bill based on the value of the legal services they believe they received. Few law firms are willing to back up the quality of their services this way. Complementing the legal services it offers, Becker Law LLC has also rolled out its Contract Store. Accessible from its main website, do-it-yourself entrepreneursfrom those just starting out to those with mature businessescan purchase affordable Microsoft Word template agreements, policies, and other documents. These templates contain notes and guidance designed to help clients modify them to fit their unique needs. Steven Becker is admitted to practice in Georgia, New York, and Connecticut, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the United States Supreme Court. For more information about Becker Law LLC, visit our website or call (404) 777-1657. About Becker Law LLC: During his more than 35 years of practice, Steven Becker has served as an attorney and general counsel for major corporationsincluding a $10 billion-plus subsidiary of a well-known conglomerate that boasts more than $45 billion in annual revenue. Bringing this substantial and sophisticated experience to his own law practice, Becker Law LLC can help form or expand your business, develop and negotiate business-friendly, plain-language contracts, register trademarks or copyrights, and protect your intellectual property. It also offers subscription legal services as an alternative to in-house counsel. Learn about the firm's services and how it can provide your business with the legal support it needs to thrive. The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll surveyed 426 Democrats from Feb. 14-17 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.75 percentage points. The latest national polling average calculated by The New York Times, which was released late last week, put Mr. Bloomberg at 10 percent, behind Mr. Sanders, Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren. Mr. Bloomberg formally entered the race in November, nearly a year after most of the other candidates. He failed to make the cut for the past several debates in part because he is not accepting outside contributions for his campaign. But new rules announced by the Democratic National Committee opened the door to his participation, as they enabled candidates to qualify for the Las Vegas debate, as well as the one that will take place on Feb. 25 in Charleston, S.C., without meeting a donor threshold. He is certain to face onstage criticism Wednesday night from his rivals, especially Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren, the two candidates who are not appearing at private fund-raisers and who have made targeting billionaires central to their campaigns. Last week in Virginia, Ms. Warren told supporters that Mr. Bloomberg should not be the Democratic Partys nominee because of his past remarks linking the end of redlining, a discriminatory housing practice, to the financial crisis. Both Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders previewed their arguments against Mr. Bloomberg in remarks on Tuesday. Anybody here with $60 billion, you can run for president, and you can buy the airwaves, Mr. Sanders said in a speech in Reno, Nev. That is called oligarchy, not democracy. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station Tuesday (Feb. 18) to make a special delivery of cheese, candy and science gear for NASA. The uncrewed Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft was captured with a station robotic arm by NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, one of three Expedition 62 crewmembers currently living aboard the orbiting lab. Northrop Grumman launched the Cygnus spacecraft into orbit on an Antares rocket on Saturday (Feb. 15) from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. "Cygnus capture complete," Morgan radioed NASA's Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston as he plucked the gleaming silver Cygnus from space at 4:05 a.m. EST (0905 GMT). The two spacecraft were sailing 265 miles (426 kilometers) above southeast Russia at the time. Related: See amazing launch photos of Antares and Cygnus NG-13! More: Bacteria & bone: Here's the science launching on Cygnus NG-13 An uncrewed Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-13 cargo ship is captured by a robotic arm at the International Space Station to deliver more than 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kilograms) of supplies to the orbiting laboratory on Feb. 18, 2020. (Image credit: NASA TV) Northrop Grumman named the Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft the "S.S. Robert H. Lawrence" after the late Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., who made history in 1967 as the first African American ever selected to be an astronaut when he was picked to fly for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory, a planned military space station. But Lawrence died in a training accident later that year and never had the chance to fly in space. "As the first African-American to be selected as an astronaut by a national space program, Robert defined possible against the odds when he was selected for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbital Laboratory project in 1967," Morgan said after capturing the Cygnus. "Tragically,Major Lawrence died in an aircraft training accident that same year. But while Robert never launched into Earth orbit, he remains a valuable symbol of progress and inclusion in human spaceflight, and it's our honor to welcome the S.S. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. aboard the ISS." U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., the first African-American ever selected as an astronaut, stands next to an F-104 Starfighter supersonic jet in this photo. The Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft is named the "S.S. Robert H. Lawrence" to honor the astronaut, who died in a training accident in 1967 before he could launch. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force) The Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft is carrying more than 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kilograms) of science experiments, supplies and other vital gear for the station's three-person Expediton 62 crew. In addition to Morgan, the crew includes NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, who commands the mission. Cygnus is delivering some novel science gear to the station, including 20 different experiments. Among them is Mochii, a small scanning electron microscope that is the first ever in space. It will help astronauts find out what materials are made of in orbit, rather than waiting months for an analysis on the ground. Other equipment will be used for bone loss studies and to test viruses that can target specific bacteria as a potential future medication. Among the science experiments are some very special treats for the astronauts. There's fresh fruit and candy to satisfy the crew's sweet tooth. And then there's the cheese. For the first time, NASA's Food Lab at the Johnson Space Center was able to pack some hard cheeses in a cooler-like "cold bag" for the astronauts. The station crew has been requesting Parmesan and other hard cheeses since September as an alternative to the butter-like spread currently available. But finding a fresh hard cheese just before a launch, and then keeping it fresh for the days-long trip to the station was a challenge. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: NASA TV) The Cygnus NG-13 cargo ship is connected to the International Space Station's Unity module on an Earth-facing port as a sunset begins in space on Feb. 18, 2020. Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: NASA TV) An uncrewed Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-13 cargo ship is captured by a robotic arm at the International Space Station to deliver more than 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kilograms) of supplies to the orbiting laboratory on Feb. 18, 2020. Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: NASA) This NASA graphic shows the location of the Cygnus NG-13 cargo ship on the Unity module after its arrival at the International Space Station on Feb. 18, 202. Visiting Russian spacecraft are also shown. Ryan Dowdy, food systems manager at the Food Lab, told Space.com his team was able to find Wisconsin sharp cheddar, Parmesan and Fontina cheeses (about two wedges each) from a local supermarket and develop a new process to add them as "late stowage" 24 hours before launch. They were packed in refrigerated cold bag just like the fruit (and some biological science gear) and launched to the station. Dowdy said his team was not able to find Manchego cheese, a special crew request, as previously reported, but does hope it will give the astronauts a little reminder of home. "The cheese that we do send normally in the standard menu is a shelf stable cheddar cheese spread," Dowdy said. "And that is worlds of away from a wedge of Parmesan cheese, as you can imagine. Sending this is a reminder of home." Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram. Massive Trove of Original NAA Aircraft Drawings Saved! by Richard Mallory Allnutt (Editor) AirCorps Aviation of Bemidji, Minnesota has just announced that they have acquired a massive trove of original manufacturing drawings for North American Aviation (NAA) covering types such as the P-51, T-6, B-25 and P-82. This is a remarkable development, and all due to a lone engineer at NAA named Ken Jungeberg who had the foresight to save these drawings when they were days away from destruction at North Americans plant in Columbus, Ohio during the late 1980s. But before we discuss this find, it is perhaps first worth reflecting upon what it represents The American aircraft industry produced just under 300,000 aircraft between 1940 and 1945, a staggering feat by any measure, especially considering that just 3,600 rolled off U.S. assembly lines during the entirety of 1940. While aviation companies such as Boeing, Douglas, Curtiss and their like would design the aircraft, and put them together at their factories, it was simply impossible for them to both make all of the components and subassemblies on site and keep up with production demand. They had to subcontract out the bulk of this work once a design received an order for full-scale production. Indeed, much of Americas entire manufacturing base was involved in this effort from small ma and pa furniture shops to industrial giants like Ford and Chrysler whether they were making map cases or wing panels. Some companies, such as Ford, even had their own aircraft assembly lines, like the one in Willow Run, Michigan which built B-24 Liberators. But have you ever wondered how it was possible to have such a prolific output of high quality aerial machinery when each aircraft assembly line received component parts from so many different independent subcontractors? How was it possible for all of those many thousands of parts to fit together properly in such a repeatable fashion? The answer is pretty simple; it all came down to the quality of the manufacturing drawings which the aircraft company engineers created during their design process. If you had a coherent set of accurate drawings showing how to make each part, and how to put each assembly together, then you could rely upon skilled workers at disparate factory locations to produce components whose dimensions complied with design tolerances. Of course, there were times when problems arose, but when they did, the engineers usually found solutions. But a coherent set of manufacturing drawings was key to this effort. However, every single component, from the tiniest rivet to the entire aircraft, required drawings to properly describe them. Obviously, the more complex parts and sub-assemblies required multiple drawings, sometimes hundreds. Highly skilled draftsmen and women created all of these drawings by hand by usually using pencil on vellum drafting paper. Drawings could sometimes be massive too, extending ten feet or more. The finished product was designed to be practical, fully describing the part and how it fit into an assembly. Drawings were often exquisitely beautiful too more works of art than simply functional. As an aircraft design evolved though, the set of drawings had to evolve as well, leading to many new drawings for the updated parts and assemblies. As you can imagine, given the vast number of drawings involved, simply finding room to store them became an issue, and costly too especially once a design became obsolete and went out of service. Warehousing these drawings began to require significant resources, and as the aircraft industry consolidated, parent companies often disregarded the distant heritage of their newly-acquired assets. Drawings for old designs held nothing more than historical value, and cost money to keep. So the bean counters usually had their way, and simply dumped, shredded or burned these documents documents that feel priceless today for those of us with a passion for aviation history, and doubly so to those among us who restore old planes. For the most part, all we are left with today are a small subset of the original drawings recorded on 35mm microfilm, but even this is a pale representation of what an original set of drawings would have entailed; these microfilmed drawings can be hard to read due to the often poor quality of their original photographic capture. But that is what we have left for the most part, and until relatively recently, if you wanted a set of drawings for an American-made aircraft of WWII vintage, the only real option was to contact the Smithsonians Air & Space Museum and hope that they had what you needed and then pay a small fortune for the reproduction of the appropriate microfilm. But even the microfilm has its problems, as drawings are not stored in order, or by sequence, so you might have to search across five or six different rolls of microfilm just to find the drawings for a handful of parts in an assembly, and even more if you need to find the specific version of a part. It is a tedious and time-consuming process! But then along came AirCorps Aviation with their AirCorps Library project. For a small annual subscription of just $50, you have access to serious engineering details, including manuals, for several dozen American WWII-era aircraft designs. They have also digitized the engineering drawings for a number of these aircraft too, such as the P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair and B-17 Flying Fortress. While they havent digitized everything available yet for each aircraft design its a massive process it is a fascinating resource for anyone with even a passing interest in WWII aviation. It is easy to search for the drawings you need, and they have taken the time to compile their database efficiently, so that every available drawing for a specific part number is neatly stacked in the order it was drawn, making it so much easier to find the correct version of the part you need. You can easily zoom in and out of a drawing too, so you can read the finer print with greater comfort and certainty. Speaking as someone who has actually used these drawings to create 3D CAD renditions for restoration projects though, it has been invaluable to my efforts, and well worth the small entry price. Even so, the available sets of microfilmed drawings are incomplete, and often have illegible data This is why the news about the preservation of more than 15,000 original drawings produced by North American Aviation that relate to such iconic designs as the T-6 Texan, P-51 Mustang and B-25 Mitchell is such a revelation. AirCorps Aviation has gained access to these drawings, and is presently cataloguing and copying them for their subscription library. However, the fact that these drawing still exist at all is down to the dedicated efforts of just one man, Ken Jungeberg. His name will resonate in aviation lore for generations to come due to his foresight in saving such historically important documents. For further details on this remarkable news, we will let AirCorps Aviations Ester Aube continue the story The Ken Jungeberg Collection: AirCorps Aviation announced today that they have acquired a collection of original North American Aviation engineering drawings. These drawings, part of the newly named Ken Jungeberg Collection were stored in the archives of North Americans Columbus, OH factory until 1988. Each drawing is hand-drawn in pencil on tracing vellum, and was used to develop and build the P-51, B-25, T-6, P-82, and many more. Ken Jungeberg was the head of the Master Dimensions department at Columbus in 1988 when the factory closed its doors. When he heard that North American was planning to burn all the WWII era drawings in their archive, he knew he had to do something. He began writing letters and making calls to his superiors, advocating to save the drawings. Discouraged by responses that there was nothing he could do, Ken had all but given up, until a twist of fate changed everything. A situation that would have been a tragedy under normal circumstances turned positive when a pipe burst in the archive room that stored the drawings to be destroyed. The room all but filled with water, cracking the cement foundation, and soaking the contents of the room. North American employees emptied the room, and piled the soaking wet drawings in a heap on the factory floor, where they sat for the next two weeks. It was at the end of these two weeks that Ken got the call he had been waiting for. He was told that he could have the drawings, if he came to pick them up immediately, and promised that they would never end up blowing around in a landfill. Clearly the company was still concerned with preserving the name and reputation that North American was known for. Ken rented a truck and he and several friends loaded the drawings, and took them to a barn where Ken began the monumental task of laying them out to dry. Because the drawings were done in pencil on tracing vellum (a very durable media), the information was essentially undamaged. Once the drawings were dry enough, Ken sorted, re-rolled, and boxed them up. He took many to his home, and stored the rest at his hangar at the Warren County Airport in Lebanon, OH. The drawings would remain in this same location for the next 32 years, until 2019. AirCorps Aviation learned of Kens collection in the spring of 2019, and in December of that year Ken agreed to transfer ownership to AirCorps. As the new custodian of this important collection of drawings, AirCorps plans to catalog and organize the drawings so they can be used by the vintage and legacy aviation industry for the first time in history. These drawings are going to change what we know about the amazing aircraft that North American manufactured during World War II, says Erik Hokuf, general manager of AirCorps Aviation. While microfilm and copies of aircraft drawings from this era are not uncommon, few individuals have ever seen a hand-drawn original. The drawings in Kens collection largely represent production drawings, and the experimental work that North Americans draftsmen created while developing parts and assemblies that would later be finalized. A perfect example being the drawings distinguished with the prefix 73X. These drawings were used to develop the widely popular P-51 Mustang in just 120 days in 1940, and have never been seen by the general public. Another exciting example of the experimental work being done, is a tailhook drawing for the P-51. It has been speculated that North American was thinking of modifying the Mustang for use on aircraft carriers, and drawing 109-955033 titled Design Layout Catapult Hook Install proves that this was true. While many of the drawings are considered experimental, a large number of drawings in the collection are later revisions that are still used today to manufacture warbird parts and assemblies. Its hard to understand the collection without seeing it in real life, and comparing it to the microfilm images that we are so familiar with, says Ester Aube, the Data and Library Specialist at AirCorps. Details that have been obscured by the darkening of microfilm over time, over-use, or simply deterioration, are revealed on the original drawing with crystal clarity. Aside from the obvious technical value of the drawings, its hard not to appreciate them from an artistic standpoint too. Hearkening back to a time before computers and CAD programs, the draftsmen of North American Aviation created these images with nothing but pencils, drafting tools, and their bare hands no small feat. AirCorps unveiled examples from Kens collection this weekend at the National Warbird Operators Conference (NWOC) in Mobile, AL, and hopes that others will share their feeling of excitement at viewing these technical works of art. Ken has done the vintage and legacy aircraft community a great service through his persistence, and understanding of what these drawings would mean in a historical context. We cannot thank him enough for the service he performed, and look forward to continuing to work with him as we unpack and sort the drawings, says Aube. If you would like more information about the Ken Jungeberg collection, or have additional questions, please contact: Ester Aube: estera@aircorpsaviation.com West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of veteran Bengali actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul. Calling him a "superstar of Bengali cinema", the Chief Minister said: "Saddened and shocked to hear about the demise of Tapas Paul. He was a superstar of Bengali cinema who was a member of the Trinamool family. Tapas served the people as a two-term MP and MLA. We will miss him dearly. My condolences to his wife Nandini, daughter Sohini and his many fans." The 61-year-old actor-turned-politician died of cardiac arrest early Tuesday in a private hospital in Mumbai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A scramble intensified Monday to trace passengers from a US cruise liner allowed to disembark in Cambodia despite at least one traveller later being diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus. There are fears scores of cruise goers have been scattered across the world without full health checks -- as Cambodia on Monday afternoon treated a few dozen of the passengers to bus tours around the capital Phnom Penh. Passenger Christina Kerby, whose drole tweets as the Westerdam was bounced across ports drew widespread attention, admitted she "was surprised" to be allowed on a tour of the Cambodian capital before being given the complete all-clear from the virus. "I have young kids back home (in the US) and wouldn't want to risk infecting them or anyone around me if I am carrying the virus," she told AFP. The Westerdam was at sea for two weeks during which it was barred from Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand over fears it could be carrying the virus, which originated in China and has killed nearly 1,800 people. On Thursday Cambodia, a staunch ally of Beijing, allowed the ship to dock at Sihanoukville. It was met by the kingdom's bombastic premier, who hugged disembarking passengers as he swiftly latched on to the Westerdam's PR potential for a nation more often in the spotlight for human rights abuses. His stance won applause from US President Donald Trump. But three days later one Westerdam passenger, an 83-year-old American, was stopped on arrival in Malaysia and later diagnosed with the coronavirus. On Monday Malaysia said over 130 other passengers who also took the flight with the sick American women left for the US, Europe and Australia and Hong Kong. Thailand, a flight hub already used by scores of the Westerdam passengers, on Monday mulled a ban on transit by cruise goers, as the region played catch up to the risks posed by the boat. "Passengers on ship are at risk and travel by airplane will cause risk to other passengers," health minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Monday. Cruise operator Holland America is working with national health authorities "to investigate and follow up with individuals who may have come in contact with the guest", chief medical officier Dr Grant Tarling said late Sunday. - 'Harsh reality' - Yet health risks appeared secondary to authorities in Cambodia, a poor country with a threadbare medical system. On Monday afternoon, passengers waiting for onward flights were gifted the bus tour of Phnom Penh. Photos in government-aligned media showed them smiling, giving thumbs ups and none with a mask on. "There were tons of media lining the street" Kerby said, adding she "was not expecting such a showing". Another 233 passengers and 747 crew remain on the Westerdam, which is still docked at Sihanoukville. Authorities have been allowing them to leave the vessel in groups based on their flight bookings but those on board told AFP they are now not permitted to disembark. A Sihanoukville spokesman said Monday health samples are being collected from all onboard the Westerdam "in order to be clear", adding that passengers will not go off-ship until the tests are completed. China's foreign minister Wang Yi will meet Southeast Asian counterparts in late Laos this week to discuss the unprecedented health crisis, which has battered manufacturing and tourism across the region and led to an array of travel restrictions. In China more than 70,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus while about 780 infections have been reported in other countries. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. British MP, Debbie Abrahams who was denied entry into India and deported to Dubai on Monday has criticised the Indian government. She questioned the government if the decision to deport her was taken due to her views on the Centre's policy on Jammu and Kashmir. Labour MP Debbie Abrahams asked the Indian government why her visa was revoked after it was granted to her. "Why did the Indian government revoke my visa after it was granted? Why didn't they let me get a 'visa on arrival'? Is it because I have been critical of the Indian Government on Kashmir human rights issues?" she asked. Why did the Indian Government revoke my visa AFTER it was granted? Why didn't they let me get a 'visa on arrival'? Is it because I have been critical of the Indian Government on #Kashmir human rights issues? https://t.co/aNhvFpc10D - Debbie Abrahams (@Debbie_abrahams) February 17, 2020 On the other hand, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said that Abrahams was informed of the revocation before she embarked on her journey. "The e-visa of the British MP was cancelled. She was informed of the revocation on Friday. The status of her e-visa communicated to her clearly says 'rejected'. She can apply at the nearest Indian mission or apply online for a regular visa," government sources told India Today. Abrahams chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir. She said she was travelling on a valid e-visa to visit family and friends but her visa was revoked without any explanation. As per the report, Abrahams' e-visa was issued last October and was valid till October 2020. Abrahams had said that she landed up at the immigration desk with her documents and e-visa when she was told that her visa was rejected. She said that after much back and forth, several immigration officials came to her but none of them knew why her e-visa was cancelled. "Even the person who seemed to be in charge said he didn't know and was really sorry about what had happened," she said. Debbie Abrahams had visited Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. She had said, "We are gravely concerned at the announcement by Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been removed by Presidential Order." Also read: Number of Indian students to get Canadian study permit increases 30% to 1.39 lakh in 2019 Also read: Looking forward to my first visit to India: US President Donald Trump When it comes to buying a home in a major Canadian city, it doesnt get much more affordable than Winnipeg. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When it comes to buying a home in a major Canadian city, it doesnt get much more affordable than Winnipeg. A new report from RE/MAX ranks Winnipegs as the second-most-affordable market of 16 major Canadian cities, trailing only Regina. Although the average 2019 home sale price in Winnipeg ($281,105) was $20,000 cheaper than the average price in Regina, Reginas higher average household income gave the city a slight affordability edge over Winnipeg. A Winnipeg household earning an average monthly income of about $8,000 could put a 25 per cent down payment on a $281,105 home and be left carrying a monthly mortgage payment of $1,033, according to RE/MAXs math. That would be 13 per cent of the Winnipeg households monthly income, compared with 12 per cent for a comparable household in Regina. Still, that hypothetical Winnipeg household would shoulder a mortgage burden far lighter than that of an average-income household trying to carry the mortgage on an average-priced home in Vancouver (58 per cent of monthly income) or Toronto (40 per cent of monthly income). Donnette Odidison, a broker and manager with Winnipeg RE/MAX franchise RE/MAX Professionals, said Winnipeg real estate is certainly affordable from a national perspective. Odidison said the local market has stabilized since 2008 to 2012, a period she described as a sellers market. Some Winnipeg homebuyers who overpaid to beat out other bidders back then might find their home values are still catching up to the premium they paid, she said. "The prices were going up rapidly, so people were getting bid out of a lot of houses," said Odidison. "Whereas now, the prices that people are paying, and sometimes the prices that homes are worth, are similar to that of what they paid within the last five years for their home. So, as a result, theyre not necessarily seeing the profits, the growth that they would have seen previous to now." In the past year, Odidison said her real estate brokers have found Winnipeg buyers to be "smart, savvy and definitely knowing what they want." An increased inventory of unsold homes has eased competition between buyers, she said. "People dont have to settle, they can get the type and style of home that they want." RE/MAX identified Winnipegs urban core, East Kildonan and St. James as Winnipegs most affordable neighbourhoods, and Tuxedo, East St. Paul and Headingley as the least affordable neighbourhoods. Winnipeg real estate prices grew by 1.5 per cent from 2018 to 2019, earlier RE/MAX data show. The company expects Winnipegs average home sale price to grow by two per cent this year to $292,940, with two-storey detached homes most in demand. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Local real estate professional association Winnipeg Realtors also highlighted Winnipegs overall affordability in its January data release, pointing out that more than half of detached homes and condominiums listed for sale were priced below $300,000. The volume of home sales in Winnipeg grew 15 per cent from January 2019 to January 2020, Winnipeg Realtors said, with 731 sales through the proprietary MLS database during the first month of this year. The vast majority of those January sales were detached homes, with 511 sold. The average price was $310,433. An additional 63 attached homes were sold for an average price of $268,096, plus 70 condominiums for an average price of $217,213. In January, 1,870 home listings were added to MLS, Winnipeg Realtors said. There were 4,002 unsold Winnipeg homes listed at the end of January, an almost seven per cent increase from the previous year. solomon.israel@freepress.mb.ca @sol_israel Many younger Americans are aware of new products that heat tobacco to produce a breathable aerosol, and individuals who use other tobacco products are those most likely to use them, according to a new RAND Corporation study. About 12% of the young adults surveyed were aware of heated tobacco products and 5% reported using the products at some point in their life. The devices heat -- but do not burn -- tobacco to produce a nicotine-containing aerosol that is inhaled, similar to what occurs in smoking cigarettes or vaping e-cigarettes. Previous use of tobacco products, use of marijuana or other drugs, and use of multiple tobacco products all were associated with a higher chance that a young adult had used heated tobacco products. The study, published online by the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, is one of the first to ask young adults in the U.S. about their awareness and use of heated tobacco products. "Most people don't even know about these products, but they are what we will see promoted by the tobacco industry in the U.S. market over the next couple years," said Michael S. Dunbar, the study's lead author and a behavioral scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "While some of these products are relatively new to the U.S., we found evidence that they may be making inroads among some young people." Heated tobacco products are a diverse group of devices that heat tobacco to temperatures below combustion to produce an aerosol instead of smoke. They are different from vaping products, which heat a liquid containing nicotine to produce a vapor. As with vaping products, some heated tobacco products devices -- such as dry herb vaporizers -- also can be used to consume tobacco mixed with marijuana or marijuana alone. Because they do not burn tobacco, heated tobacco products may expose consumers to lower levels of toxic chemicals as cigarettes. However, the health effects associated with heated tobacco products and their public health risks are unknown. Although versions of heated tobacco products have been available for many years, tobacco companies have just recently begun to market new-generation products as alternatives to cigarettes. Sales of these newer products are expected to increase exponentially in the future. RAND researchers surveyed 2,497 young adults during 2018-2019 who have been long-term participants in an ongoing RAND project examining multiple factors about the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs. Most of those in the study lived in California. Men were more likely to report awareness and use of heated tobacco products than women, while use and knowledge about the products were lower among those in college compared to those who were not enrolled. While some people see novel devices such as heated tobacco products as a way for those who smoke to reduce cigarette use and lower the harms caused by smoking, others see these products as yet another way to use tobacco in an increasingly diverse tobacco product landscape. More than 40 percent of those who reported awareness or lifetime use of heated tobacco products had used some other tobacco product during the past month. Among young people who currently smoked cigarettes, rates of heated tobacco product use were higher in those who were more dependent on smoking, those who currently used multiple types of tobacco products and those who used marijuana. "Earlier research suggests that using multiple tobacco products and smoking marijuana can make it harder for people to quit cigarettes in the future," Dunbar said. "Further work is needed to understand patterns and motivations for using heated tobacco products, including whether or not young people are actually using these products as a way to transition entirely off of smoking cigarettes." The study also found that a sizable proportion of people (14%) who reported using heated tobacco products said they had not previously used any other tobacco products. "This suggests that heated tobacco products may not exclusively appeal to people who already use tobacco," Dunbar said. "As these new products become increasingly accessible in the U.S., monitoring their use among tobacco-naive individuals will be critical to understanding their potential public health impact." ### Support for the study was provided by the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Grants Program of the University of California and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Other authors of the study are Rachana Seelam, Joan S. Tucker, Anthony Rodriguez, Regina A. Shih and Elizabeth J. D'Amico. The RAND Social and Economic Well-Being division seeks to actively improve the health, and social and economic well-being of populations and communities throughout the world. One of the better stories I heard recently was about a woman named Monica, whose dog Hazel disappeared three years ago from her home in Iowa. One day recently, Monica was checking out different stories on social media when she came across one that told of a brewery in Bradenton, Florida that, in trying to help the local animal shelter, agreed to put pictures of some of the dogs that are available for adoption on their beer cans. As Monica looked at the cans and the different faces of homeless dogs, she stopped suddenly and said out loud, Oh my gosh, thats Hazel! She was always getting out, Monica told CNN. She said the day they lost Hazel (now known as Day Day in the Manatee County Animal Shelter) the 60-pound dog knocked her over to get out the door and kept on going. Two years later she had made it to Bradenton, 1,700 miles away. Hazel will be reunited with Monica, who now lives in Minnesota, so dont be surprised if Hazel makes another break for the Sunshine State one day soon. Bigger bite: The first Five Guys outlet opened in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986 Global flavour: The chain came to Ireland in 2016 and now has four sites around Dublin Expansion costs at the company behind the Five Guys franchise here contributed to losses of 1.1m at the business last year. Sons of billionaire financier Dermot Desmond, Brett, Ross and Dery, brought the US fast, casual food franchise here in 2016. Today, Five Guys operates four outlets around Dublin at South Great George's Street, Blackrock, Swords and the Dundrum Town Centre. New accounts lodged by the Desmond brothers' Anart Restaurants Ltd show that the company recorded losses of 1.1m in the 12 months to the end of March last. It followed losses of 175,427 in the prior year. The 2019 loss takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 224,415. At the end of March last, Anart had accumulated losses of 1.5m. The increased number of stores last year resulted in the number of people employed rising to 96 from 49, made up of 83 store crew and 13 in management. The chain's expansion also resulted in the value of the company's fixed assets increasing to 3.7m from 978,217 last year. The company's expansion was funded from additional loans of 2.54m from group undertakings. At the end of March last, the company owed group undertakings 3.94m. A note which was attached to the accounts stated that the amounts owed due to the group undertakings were unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand. The company's cash pile increased to 184,188 from 128,223. The Desmonds also operate the Five Guys franchise in Northern Ireland. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been moved out of the solitary confinement and his health has shown improvement since then, said the whistleblowers spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson. Speaking in a news conference, Hrafnsson said that acknowledged the pressure from his legal team, public, and other inmates to get him out of isolation. Assange, who is kept in a maximum-security prison in southeast London, is fighting an extradition request from the United States on the charges of violating the Espionage Act and conspiring to hack into classified government documents. Assanges full extradition hearing to the United States is set to begin from the next week. During an interview to BBC, the whistleblowers father John Shipton had said that the Assange's long solitary confinement damaged his health. He said that the ceaseless anxiety that Julian's been under for now 10 years has had a profoundly deleterious effect. In January, Assanges lawyer had lamented that his client was not getting enough time with the legal team to discuss the case regarding extradition case. Assanges lawyer Gareth Peirce reportedly told a British court that the difficulty in getting time with the whistleblower is causing delays in the case. Read: Jeremy Corbyn Lauds Julian Assange, Asks UK President Boris Johnson To Halt Extradition Charged on 18 counts Earlier in June 2019, Julian Assange, serving 50-weeks imprisonment, appeared before the court through a video link. Earlier, he was charged on a single count of computer intrusion but later 17 counts were added including charges of espionage for encouraging, receiving and publishing national defence information in cahoots with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. Read: Julian Assange, Looking Pale & Sickly, Caught On Camera Leaving London Court In Police Van Assange appeared before the court on January 13 but remained silent during the hearing except stating his name and date of birth to the judge. He also acknowledged his supporters, present in the public gallery, who have been demanding freedom for Assange and holding protests to not let the UK extradite the 48-year-old Australian to the US. The whistleblower spent seven years in Ecuadors embassy to avoid arrest but was dragged out by the police in April last year. Read: WikiLeaks Founder Assange's Lawyer Seeks More Time With Client To Discuss Case Read: Sweden Drops Rape Investigation Against WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange (With agency inputs) The changes, executives say, are part of a broader plan to rethink the way stores and distribution centers operate as more sales move online. Walmart, based in Bentonville, Ark., has been investing heavily in advanced robots that can stock shelves, sort deliveries and scrub floors as it goes head-to-head with Amazon to stake out the future of retailing. The company also has spent billions of dollars buying e-commerce sites such as Jet.com and Bonobos, with mixed results. Last week Walmart said it would end its Jetblack personal shopping service and lay off nearly 300 employees in New York. (Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of Amazon, owns The Washington Post.) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan met with the members of the Cilicia Business Club during his visit to the Russian capital of Moscow, his Office told Armenpress. The meeting was also attended by Armenian Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toghanyan. The meeting participants were firstly introduced on the activity of the Office of the High Commissioner, its priorities and the agenda issues of the work with the Diaspora. As key directions Sinanyan highlighted the maximum engagement of the Diaspora to the Armenian life, the development of infrastructures and elimination of barriers, implementation of mass repatriation and the restoration of mutual trust between the Diaspora and Armenia. Founder of the Cilicia Business Club Nver Sargsyan introduced their main actions to be done in 2020, mainly putting the focus on the opportunities and prospects for investment programs in Armenia. An agreement was reached to hold this years Armenian Business Networking event in joint cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner. Zareh Sinanyan was also introduced on the idea of creating an offline communication platform Cilicia Tun which will serve as a place for meetings of the Diaspora-Armenian businessmen and exchange of experience in Armenia. The Club will also launch an online platform where the users can download their data, activity areas, get acquainted with each other and work jointly. Zareh Sinanyan thanked the businessmen for such an interest to Armenias business environment and expressed readiness to cooperate and assist. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Scientists from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that de novo genes -- genes that have evolved from scratch -- are both more common and more important than previously believed. Their findings appear in two studies, one which will appear in eLife tomorrow [Tuesday 18th February 2020], and one which was published earlier this month in Nature Communications. DNA, genes, and de novo orphans Over time, genes change via random mutations. Some of these changes result in serious defects and are rarely passed on to the next generations, others have little impact, and others confer significant advantages, which become favoured due to natural selection and end up being passed on to future generations. This is the main source of genetic novelty and how organisms differ from each other. However, genetic novelty can also be generated by totally new genes evolving from scratch. In the eLife study, the scientists devised a way of assessing just how frequently genes seem to evolve from scratch. Their results were surprising. Explaining de novo genes, first author on the paper, Nikolaos Vakirlis, Trinity, said: "Most of the genes in a genome have 'cousins' in the genomes of other species; genes made up of similar DNA sequences that, once translated into proteins, perform similar functions. However, some genes are unique and can only be found in a single, or small number of closely related species. We call these 'orphan genes' because they appear to have no relatives and are often responsible for unique characteristics and abilities of organisms. For example, a gene that is unique to cod fish living in the arctic allows them to survive in sub-zero temperatures." Orphan genes pose a tough evolutionary problem though. They don't look like other genes, so where do they come from? One idea is that they can originate seemingly from nothing: over long, evolutionary timescales, a completely novel gene can emerge de novo out of a region in the genome that is made up of junk DNA. Alternatively, with enough time, two 'cousin' genes can diverge so much that we can no longer identify the relationship between them. Thus, a gene may at a glance appear to be an orphan without having really emerged de novo. advertisement A new approach to assessing de novo gene frequency For a long time, scientists thought the majority of orphan genes were simply cases of 'missing relatives', which could be explained by the divergence of the sequences through mutations during evolution. The new research suggests this is not the case. Aoife McLysaght, professor in genetics at Trinity College Dublin, said: "To our surprise, at most, around one third of orphan genes result from divergence. So, in turn, this suggests that most unique genes in the species we looked at are the result of other processes, including de novo emergence, which is therefore much more frequent than scientists initially thought." Are de novo emerging genes important? In the second piece of research, published recently in leading journal Nature Communications, the scientists sought an answer to the obvious question: Are de novo emerging genes important? advertisement This may seem a paradoxical question because something that has not yet emerged fully in the world of evolution wouldn't be expected to be overly important. After all, how can a gene that was never used before suddenly appear and play a major role? This paradox can be resolved if emerging genes have high potential to be beneficial for the organism. So, while they are expected to play no particular role in their current form, random changes that affect their sequences or increase the amount of protein they produce when translated should lead to beneficial effects. The scientists tested whether this hypothesis may be true by doing a series of biological and computational experiments using baker's yeast as a model organism. And when they artificially allowed emerging sequences to be expressed at higher levels than they are naturally, the cells tended to grow faster. Importantly, growth was not enhanced by overexpressing established genes. So, emerging sequences do indeed carry the potential to be important to the cells. Anne-Ruxandra Carvunis, Ph.D., assistant professor of computational systems biology at the University of Pittsburgh, said:"Order seems like something that's hard to achieve, but our results go completely opposite to that. We found that simple order is rampant everywhere in the genome. The propensity to make simple shapes that are stable is already there, waiting to be exposed. De novo gene birth is thus becoming less and less mysterious as we better understand molecular innovation." I always change my hair after a breakup. Dark brown, bleach blond, a big chop. Its one of the most cliche things about me, after my love of fall and penchant for thinking everythings going to be okay when I look at cityscapes from moving vehicles. To its credit, the post-breakup hair makeover is a trope that follows through on its promise. Coming out of a relationship can often feel like meeting a new version of yourself, and hairpermanent enough to make you unrecognizable but temporary enough to be just hairis the perfect springboard for the kind of evolution heartbreak forces upon you. At the end of 2019, Tina, Margaux, and Nadine all ended relationships, which means that now theyre ready for new hair. I asked the three of them to meet me at Hairstorys salon in Manhattan on a recent Tuesday afternoon so hairstylist Wes Sharpton and colorist Jennifer Covington-Bowers could help them get it. As each of them sat down in the salon chair-cum-therapist couch and told their stories, the parallels between their current headspace and current hair were so dead-on it almost felt scripted. Tina, with the long straight hair shes had for years, has been holding onto an old version of herself. Margaux, with her shoulder-length brown hair that fits right in at her architecture program, has been thinking too much about what other people want. And Nadine, with long curly hair past her shoulders, feels weighed down by her own indecisiveness. Its pretty, Wes said as he fluffed Nadines hair, tilting his head, but it softens your blow. If we bring this up and youre all neck and your hair is expansive, I think whats gonna happen is suddenly youll own the room. I watch Nadine for a reaction; she smiles nervously. My vision for you is as the motherfucking boss of your life, he says. Then we both laugh, because it sounds like a line from a movie, albeit the kind you want to watch when youre feeling down, which feels about right. More on their breakups and hair makeovers below. Nadine has felt stagnant since graduation, and hopes new hair will be her first bold step of many The breakup: My ex and I met the first night I was in college, and I just graduated in May, so he was very much a part of my college experience. We didnt date for all four yearswhen I was abroad for a semester, we didnt datebut when I got back I knew I wanted to finish my college experience with him. After graduation he moved to DC and he thought I would follow him, which kind of made sense because I want to do environmental work. But I hadnt gotten a full-time job yet, so Id just been bouncing around and traveling a bit, and I still am. He was like, Well, apply to jobs! Take it seriously. Come here. What are you doing? He really didnt like being long-distance, because Im very much an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kind of person. So that eventually led to tensions, particularly because when we were in school we would spend basically every day together. And I think there was a lot of codependency, which would come to a head whenever I would get overwhelmed and realize that I needed space and he wouldnt be willing to give it to me. I also have a lot of family history with anger, and he was a little bit of an angry person, and that was something that would flair up every once in a while. And thenwithout getting too specificthe last time I visited him, there was an incident. And I was like, What am I actually still getting out of this? Because our relationship always worked best when it was just the two of us in isolation, but thats not a realistic way to live a life. Or one that I would want anyway. So I was like, I should probably stop this now. Its been very weird to adjust to not having him in my life. I had to break up with him over the phone and my sister was right there with me. So I definitely leaned on her a lot for support and then I just blocked him on everything. And now hes like, Okay, I want one more call to say my final piece. So were maybe going to do that? But while we were breaking up he was like, I have changed and I have gotten better and I want to continue to get better, and I was just like, I have a lot of growing to do as well, and I just dont think thats something we can do while were together. Im not the greatest at enforcing boundarieswhen theyre being transgressed I just tend to forgive, so I dont think he can improve if Im constantly forgiving his behavior. Before: Are you ready? Im open to anything. The one thing I do want to keep is the curls, so I dont want to shave my headI mean, I do want to shave my head, but not right now. Even though my hair isnt very exciting right now, I think because of the space that it takes up it tends to be a focal point of my appearance. I do want to do something interesting because I feel like, although I have been bouncing around, I actually feel very stagnated right now and I dont really know how to move forward in my life. I dont really have a plan. I feel like Im stuck. After: How do you feel? I feel good. Im very excited. Its shorter than I expected and shorter than Ive ever had. I think I see myself differently nowor, Im forced to see myself differently now. Also, Im bi and I feel like this is way more queer-coded than how I looked before. Because I was super hetero-presenting, that was such a challenge, and now I look a little more fun. Like, Maybe shes got something going on there. Ive been living in our family home, and Im kind of just there because I dont have anywhere else to bebut I envision myself moving to California. I havent really figured out a reason why except for the fact that I know I want to be there. But my ex is over here and he was always like, Cali is so far away, why would you do that? and Im like, because I want to. So this haircut is like the first bold decision that Ive made and hopefully now Ill start doing things more intentionally. Finally start sorting out the direction I want to go in. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Fort Lauderdale, a city with water and sewer lines old enough to crack and crumble, has been dealing with a slew of back-to-back pipe breaks of late and people want to know why. Why are so many of those vintage pipes giving way at the same time? And why now? All of these are happening really close together, which is just odd, one woman posted on social media. Fort Lauderdale residents endured six sewer main breaks in December, all the way from Rio Vista north to Victoria Park and Coral Ridge. Then in mid-January, a water main break flooded streets in Victoria Park. And on Feb. 3, the city was faced with a trifecta of pipe breaks _ two sewer pipes and one water main in different parts of the city. So what gives? Could tourist season and all those extra flushing toilets have anything to do with it? City officials say no, that it has more to do with the age of the pipes many are pushing 50 and beyond than the number of people using them. We do not believe the tourist season and pipes breaking are related, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom said. These are old pipes that need to be replaced. Commissioner Steve Glassman echoed that claim. All the experts are saying its not a capacity issue, he said. Corrosion not explosion. Its an age issue. Old pipes. Not everyone, however, agrees. A sudden population explosion can indeed put more stress and strain on the citys water pipes, says Greg Anderson, a project manager with the engineering firm SEH Inc. An increase in usage can cause pressure to change in a water main, he said. That could be enough to make a pipe crack. Whatevers causing the pipes to implode, this is clear: Its not going to end anytime soon. This is our new reality, Glassman said. This is not going to be the last break. Were still way behind the 8 ball. But we are addressing everything, and we have a plan. City officials plan to spend $600 million over the next five years fixing and replacing Fort Lauderdales water and sewer pipes. The total tally will come to at least $1.4 billion over the next 20 years, experts say. Heres more details on all three pipe breaks. Water Pipe On Birch Road A 16-inch water main pipe at the beach broke at 10 p.m. Feb. 2, drenching streets in front of the Jackson Tower condo at 100 S. Birch Road. Residents who live near the water main break on Birch Road were advised to boil their tap water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing dishes or brushing their teeth. The boil-water order applies to beach residents who live south of Castillo Street and north of Poinsettia Street. On the morning of Feb. 3, water had slowed to a trickle at the Jackson Tower and other nearby buildings, including the Ritz-Carlton. Crews began digging their way to the water pipe so they could contain the leak and make repairs, Lagerbloom said. By 2 p.m., crews had isolated the leak, shut off the valves and taken the line out of service. Residents who were not notified about the break until Monday morning are now asking why the city didnt send out alerts sooner. Im asking that question now, Lagerbloom said. And I dont know. It seems like this is a long time for us to be going without a notice. Even the city manager was one of the last to know. I learned about it this morning from the general manager at the Ritz-Carlton, Lagerbloom said. I always want to hear things like that from the staff. I am adding myself to the mandatory call list for every single pipe break in this city. Sewer Pipe Break In Harbor Beach A small sewage spill in the Harbor Beach neighborhood flooded one familys driveway when a cast-iron pipe broke early Monday morning. The six-inch sewer pipe has been on the job since 1966. It was isolated quickly and turned off, Lagerbloom said. Most of the sewage was going into the stormwater catch basin. Some of it was in the swale. Lagerbloom referred to the repairs for the smaller pipe as more routine than what crews faced with the supersized mess that flooded Rio Vista, where repairs dragged on for days. In Harbor Beach, crews were able to quickly contain the leak so that it didnt slime the roads quite like the bigger spill in Rio Vista. Sewer Pipe Break At George English Park On Jan. 30, an aging 42-inch sewer pipe that runs under the Middle River began spewing sewage near George English Park and the Galleria mall. City officials thought theyd stopped the spill Sunday when a bypass line was put in place before 4 a.m. But a diver went back down Sunday afternoon and discovered a section of the pipe was still leaking sewage into George English Lake, Lagerbloom said. Crews planned to work overnight to seal the leak. In December, Fort Lauderdale racked up one of South Floridas biggest sewage spills: 126.9 million gallons. That number will get higher once the tally is in for the two recent sewer pipe breaks, city officials say. But it was unclear how many more gallons had spilled into the waterways. About the photo: A city of Fort Lauderdale crew responds to a water main break in the area of 100 South Birch Road in Fort Lauderdale Beach. Fort Lauderdale has been dealing with a slew of back-to-back pipe breaks of late. (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Attorney Danny Russell of the Russell Law Firm. Danny Russell and the Russell Law Firm provide legal representation to clients from Baton Rouge and all of Louisiana. Danny Russell, proprietor and lead counsel for the Russell Law Firm in Baton Rouge, has been chosen by the Super Lawyers rating service for the 2020 Louisiana edition of its Super Lawyers-Rising Stars. The list is comprised of the attorneys the service deems the top 2.5 percent of Louisiana lawyers who are under the age of 40 and who have been practicing for ten years or less. The Super Lawyers service is aimed at providing information to legal consumers and employs a patented selection process comprised of multiple phases that employ a dozen markers of success in the legal profession. The determinations are made by peers, specifically high-scoring fellow attorneys who themselves are candidates for recognition by Super Lawyers. The Russell Law Firm has been operating for several years and recently moved into larger quarters to make room for its expansion. The firm notes that it provides experienced legal representation in a number of areas, primarily personal injury and family law, as well as DWI and oil and gas counsel for landowners. Mr. Russell has previously been selected for numerous honors and has been featured on numerous best-of lists including the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. In his personal injury work, Mr. Russell has represented numerous clients who have been harmed or lost a loved one in accidents, as well as help for individuals facing DWI charges. Mr. Russell says that his interest in the law began when he was involved in a car accident as a young college student where the other driver was at fault. When he learned later on that the compensation he happily received from his insurance company was actually just a fraction of the amount someone in his situation could expect, he became interested in the ability of a good lawyer to protect the rights of individuals. Danny Russell and the Russell Law Firm provide legal representation to clients from throughout Baton Rouge and all of Louisiana. Interested readers who would like to learn more about the firms services in personal injury, family law, DWI as well as oil and gas rights may call (225) 307-0088 or visit its website at http://dannyrusselllaw.com/. The firm is located near the I-12 at Southfork Avenue. Mr. Kerner is guaranteed the right to a fair and impartial jury trial by the Indiana and U.S. Constitutions, according to the filing. Based on the foregoing, the defendant believes and has good cause to believe that there is bias or prejudice against him and that he cannot get a fair and impartial trial by jury in Porter County or several adjoining counties. A few years ago, a first-grader asked me if I'd heard about what President Trump said on TV the night before. I hesitated. I was right in the middle of a lesson that had nothing to do with politics it was math but the bigger issue was how deeply to engage. "No," I finally said. "What did he say?" The student took a deep breath, looked around at his peers, and said: "Trump got on the TV and said he was going to get on a plane to come here, then when he got off he was going to shoot all the black and brown kids he could find until they were dead." I was stunned. By then, I was accustomed to Trump's provocative statements and I'll admit to entertaining the fleeting thought Wait DID he say that? before eventually coming to the understanding that the student had taken bits and pieces from all over the place and combined them into one truly alarming statement. He was misinformed, but he was also scared being a young boy of color, surrounded by stories of mass shootings, deportations, children being separated from their families, and so much more, he'd cobbled together a fear of his president personally coming to kill him. He was visibly nervous, worried enough that he took some deep breaths as I tried to gather myself to give a measured, reassuring response. It's a tricky time to be a teacher in the United States. A convergence of hyper-visible events gun violence, elections, impeachment, rumblings about war and ever-present media makes it so that students, even our very youngest, walk into the classroom with a lot of information and even more questions, along with strong emotions. Sometimes the information is inaccurate. And as much as teachers need to let students construct their own knowledge, and as much as we strive to be moderators and facilitators of learning rather than being authoritarian there are times when we have to be clear and unequivocal about facts. As a country we are grappling with serious issues of honesty, authenticity, apology, and the very fabric of truth, and kids need it all modeled consistently and decisively. Story continues So I told the student that no, Trump hadn't said that, and he wasn't in any danger. He seemed to understand. But I'd only removed an immediate fear; what still remained was a deeper worry about his safety in the world. It's become clearer than ever that the realm of politics intersects with daily life in real, tangible, immediate ways. As much as politicians sometimes seem like distant players of a game that has no real consequences for daily life, the cliches endure for a reason: Politics is life, and everything is political. And here's the main crux of the issue, for teachers: Politics affect some of us far more than others. My life experience, as a white male teacher, will never compare to what some of my students will live. They will face prejudice, discrimination, and systemic exclusion in ways I never have and never will. They don't have the luxury of avoiding topics of racism, police brutality, Islamophobia, sexism, gun violence, and the other barriers that are still insidious realities of our society. So as a trusted adult figure in kids' lives, when I come across as apolitical, it recalls Bishop Desmond Tutu's famous quote: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." So, what do teachers do when politics and classroom life collide? When students are being harmed by the words of politicians? When the actions of our leaders stand in direct contrast to our classroom, school, and broader community values? There are a number of ways for teachers to responsibly entertain debates about politics, but we have to protect our most vulnerable the ones who stand to lose the most if we invoke "both sides" and move along with our day. When teachers have robust classroom rules and agreements, and when a school or district's mission statement is thoughtful and authentic, teachers have a reference point for the tough moments. If a student comes in sharing a story of a police shooting with classmates, but has little to no frame of reference for how to talk about it, you can point to your rules a shared charter as a starting point. When this came up, as it often did, I'd ask: "Does violence match with how we've agreed to treat one another in this class? With how we've agreed to try to solve our problems?" Kids have an easy time saying that no, it doesn't. I'd follow up with other discussion points including, "What about what we've agreed to do when people need help?" and kids, always astute, can explain in detail that we have an obligation to help anyone who's hurt, whether in their body or their thoughts and feelings. This particular conversation might continue around what kids think of guns and how guns make them feel; it always ended with reassurances that their fears are real and valid, that it's not fair they have to feel this way, that some people are less afraid and that's also not fair, and that adults in their lives will protect them as much as they can. These are hard conversations to have with young kids, but by brushing them aside, we inadvertently teach kids that talking about fear is taboo. That the hard things we hear about in the news are not to be discussed, that they are secret and only for grownups, and that we can't talk about them. This only makes kids more curious, and unfortunately, less prepared and less emotionally safe. Any time political topics like this come up and gun violence is always political, as is immigration, war, and what the president tweeted each teacher has a choice about how to handle it. But staying neutral, or sweeping it under the rug, is a cop out. Kids, especially young ones, often love their teachers so much, they'll side with them on anything, so educators need to be careful you don't need to tell kids who you voted for, or what political party you belong to. But when you see injustices, unkind words, and threats to the safety of your students, just saying "everyone can believe what they want" actually does more harm than good. As James Baldwin said: "We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist." Disagreement is only valid when everyone is safe. Until then, teachers need to protect vulnerable students and in doing that, we will sometimes take political stances in the classroom. Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here. More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils Warren supporters suspect the media is trying to erase her candidacy. This poll didn't help. Obama poked Trump on the economy. Trump took the bait. In today's edition of Paris Live, we begin with the worsening situation in northwest Syria, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are fleeing the ongoing military offensive on the last rebel-held enclave. The UN has called for humanitarian corridors to be established. In India, anger is rising among activists over the use of facial recognition technology by police to keep tabs on people who are protesting against a controversial citizenship law. Security and privacy issues have also been raised in France with regards to the roll out of 5G technology. We investigate why there are concerns over the level of vulnerability of equipment suppliers like China's Huawei. On the China front, a new leak reveals information about the profiles of Uighur Muslims detained in so-called "re-education" camps in Xinjiang province. In Africa news, Zimbabwe sees its calls for sanctions to be lifted rejected by the European Union. Brussels argues that the situation has not improved enough under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. And we get a sneak preview of how Ethiopia is battling a locust invasion which has spread across east Africa at a rate not seen in years. For the second year in a row, Volkswagen Chattanooga has been certified as a Top US Employer for 2020. Volkswagen Chattanooga is one of 24 U.S. employers to receive this acknowledgement from the Top Employers Institute, a global independent human resources certification company. To be certified as a Top Employer, 600 working condition practices and indicators are assessed and validated.This recognition is a direct result of working together with our employees to enrich and improve our culture, said Burkhard Ulrich, SVP of human resources for Volkswagen Chattanooga.We actively seek employee feedback and engagement at all levels throughout the organization. As we continue to grow our Tennessee operations, our people are helping us to build a better workplace. The achievements of Volkswagen Chattanooga are inextricably linked to our team.The Top Employer Institute assessed Volkswagen Chattanoogas human resources practices and policies in the following areas: talent strategy; culture; workforce planning; compensation and benefits; talent acquisition; onboarding; learning and development; performance management; and leadership development.Our scores improved this year compared to last year in every category, said Mr. Ulrich. This recognition does not mark the end of our efforts; it confirms we are on the right track.The annual, international research recognizes employers around the world who successfully achieve the required standards for top employment practices and working conditions. AMSTERDAM HOBOKEN, New Jersey Feb. 17, 2020 January 30, 2020 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance Derk Arts support@castoredc.com registering here online academy here Amsterdam, The Netherlands New Jersey Derk Arts $6.25m the Netherlands John Ambrose, Esq john.ambrose@castoredc.com Mary Clark Hollie Vile Manel Mateus Castor@optimumcomms.com www.castoredc.com @Castor linkedin.com/company/ciwit-b-v- and/PRNewswire/ -- Castor, a health-tech company that enables medical researchers to capture standardized data to support data driven medical decision making, announced that it will provide free access to its data capture system to all non-profit COVID-19 research projects.On, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new airborne contagious coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 a.k.a 2019-nCoV), that causes the disease dubbed COVID-19, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO is providing technical guidance [] on how to conduct useful early investigations and has highlighted the need to assemble large amounts of accurate and usable data as quickly as possible.Castor has developed and made available ready-for-use electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs) based on the WHO standard CRFs, to help researchers start their study or registry in less than an hour, ensuring they capture high quality data to help drive the global research effort.By ensuring researchers capture standardized data on Castor's clinical data platform, clinical data from around the world can be easily aggregated. This approach can accelerate the work of researchers who are trying to understand the virus and disease.: "When novel strains of viruses like the Coronavirus emerge, data quickly becomes our most valuable asset. On behalf of the team, I am proud to announce that Castor is joining the fight against COVID-19 by making our data capture platform available for free for all non-profit COVID-19 research projects."A standardized approach in collecting clinical data is critical in order to better understand the natural history of disease and describe clinical phenotypes and treatment interventions (i.e. clinical characterization). For a global data collection effort to be truly successful, we need to go beyond standardized forms. The threshold for capturing these datasets should be as low as possible, to ensure anyone is willing and able to contribute valuable data."Castor encourages all non-profit COVID-19 researchers in need of standardized, high quality data to submit for a free billing code via, to start their studies by, and to visit theirto become familiar with the platform. The WHO-defined CRFs can be downloaded. [https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-ncov-crf.pdf?sfvrsn=84766e69_2]Castor's Electronic Data Capture (EDC) system enables every researcher worldwide to easily capture and integrate medical research data from any source in real-time, including clinicians, patients, devices and wearables. Researchers on the platform generate vast amounts of data from traditional and decentralized trials, and Castor recently reached milestones of 130,000,000 data points and 1,400,000 enrolled patients.Based inand, US, Castor is an international health-tech company founded by CEO, MD, PhD to leverage machine readable data to increase clinical trial efficiency. Castor's Electronic Data Capture (EDC) system enables every researcher worldwide to easily capture and integrate medical research data from any source in real-time, including clinicians, patients, devices, wearables, and EHR systems.More than 37,000 researchers across 90 countries are using Castor to supercharge their research. Castor's platform has supported more than 4,000 commercial and academic studies that cover a broad range of disease areas including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, and oncology. Researchers on the platform generate vast amounts of data from traditional and decentralized trials, and Castor recently reached milestones of 130,000,000 data points and 1,400,000 enrolled patients. Castor's goal is to make the world's research data reusable, enabling AI-driven clinical trials, and ultimately creating a future in which they maximize the impact of data through reuse.In 2018 Castor raisedin funding from early-stage investor INKEF Capital inHead of MarketingTel: +44-(0)-20-3922-1906Website:Twitter:LinkedIn: View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/castor-provides-free-access-to-data-capture-platform-to-support-non-profit-covid19-research-projects-301005826.html SOURCE Castor In the world of gambling, pornography, dark web and other internet vices, its highly important that we keep our young ones preoccupied with useful internet activities or watch them perish in the cycle of criminality. And to start it off, 51 Capital, a leading Forex Trading company, has decided to fill in the void and keep our young ones not just rewarded for using the internet but also well-educated on matters business and money making. 51 Capital has moved to empowering the youth, boosting education, literacy and awarding witty essay writers. 51 Capital, one of Africas most reputable Forex trading firms, with lush offices in Nairobi, Eldoret and others upcoming in two towns, has now launched a viral literacy campaign to award schools with the best entrepreneurial brains. Entrepreneurship is not just the preserve of the adults and the rich. Entrepreneurship is a human talent that anyone can venture into regardless of age, creed, tribe, gender or social disposition, Joe Kariuki, 51 Capital CEO says. We have therefore launched the first-ever nationwide campaign to tap into the entrepreneurial talents of the school going kids. We want to see just how well-versed they are in matters business Titled Project U&I, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that students learn entrepreneurship in school. We want to enrich the minds of our young people and empower them, by assisting them with the equipment and information needed, their website says. Participants must be 12 to 18 years old and must belong to an institution either a school or a church. By registering your school or church, youre open to an opportunity to learn and compete through 51 Business Club-PROJECT U&I by submitting a strictly 1,000-word essay on entrepreneurship. The topic for the essay is Importance of Entrepreneurship,which should be in either English or Swahili. You must show in your essay that you have done enough research on business and entrepreneurship to be ranked among the best performing. The essay will be uploaded directly to our Website by the institution., Gathoni Waweru, Head of Operations at 51 Capital, says. By participating in this project, the institutions get to gain popularity and showcase their prowess in understanding business, research and literature. 51 Capital will also give lessons on Forex Trading, how to operate Digital Currencies, business profiling, among others. The best part is that the winning student gets a years-supply of free books and wins their institution FREE computers! One of the most iconic landmarks in Disney World is receiving a face lift in 2020 to mark the 70th anniversary of the movie that inspired its creation. Cinderella Castle was first built near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom in Disney World Florida in 1971 but will be getting a major makeover this year as the classic animated movie reaches its special milestone. One of Disney World's most recognizable landmarks, the Cinderella Castle is also one of the most photographed structures in the US. The refurbishment will give the castle a new bright look, adding pink and blue towers with gold spires and accents, according to the new artwork released on Monday. The new Cinderella Castle - pictured here in a concept image - will feature brighter blue and pink towers with gold trimming The castle as it is now, painted the more traditional blue, gray and silver The Cinderella Castle was first inspired by the movie and its style 'represents a romantic conception of a French palace-fortress'. 'While the base of the castle resembles a medieval fortress typifying the Romanesque architecture and castles of the 11th through 13th centuries, the upper portion of the castle reflects the stately Gothic forms that were prominent in later centuries,' the company states. It is currently painted in traditional colors of gray, blue and gold. The Cinderella Castle is one of the two main castles that features at the beginning of every Disney movie, the other being the older Sleeping Beauty Castle. A replica of Sleeping Beauty's Castle was first built in Disneyland in 1955. Work on the 189-foot castle will begin in the coming weeks and continue throughout the summer. Activities around the castle such as 'Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire', which takes place in front of the castle, and the 'Happily Ever After' fireworks show will continue while the renovation is taking place. Completed in July 1971, the Cinderella Castle was constructed using not a single brick. Instead, it is made of concrete, steel, cement, plaster and fiberglass. The new look was released by Disney on Monday, pictured left, and looks significantly brighter than the current Cinderella Castle look, pictured right, with more pink, blue and gold The Cinderella Castle is one of two castles that feature are the start of every Disney movie The Cinderella Castle was first opened in 1971 and is one of the most recognizable buildings in Disney, as well as one of the most photographed structure in the United States When conceiving the look for the castle, researchers turned to the famous palaces of Charles Perrault's France. Perrault was the French writer who is best known for his book of fairy tales collected more than 300 years ago, including the original story of 'Cinderella' ('The Glass Slipper'). Their design took the form of a romanticized composite of such courts as Fontainebleau, Versailles, and a dozen famed chateaux of the Loire Valley. Within the design are 13 gargoyles which appear on the outside of the castle as well as 18 towers with corresponding spires. The new Orlando look will see a heavy emphasis on gold trim and the walls being transformed with a rose tint. Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle also featured more traditional colors before its redesign The Cinderella Castle's new color scheme will be similar to the recent renovation of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, California, which last year also refreshed its look to emphasize pink and blue. The Sleeping Beauty Castle was shut off for four months as work was carried out on the 77-foot tall castle. In its place, a huge painting of the original structure was etched onto fabric and attacked the the scaffolding. Ebola virus particles (red) on a larger cell. Credit: NIAID Robert Stahelin studies some of the world's deadliest viruses. Filoviruses, including Ebola virus and Marburg virus, cause viral hemorrhagic fever with high fatality rates. Stahelin, professor at Purdue University, examines how these viruses take advantage of human host cells. His latest research, which he will present on Wednesday, February 19 at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society in San Diego, California, show how Ebola interacts with a human lipid and that FDA approved drugs that alter lipids block Ebola infection in cells. Ebola virus causes a rare, often deadly, highly contagious, disease characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding. "I became interested in how these viruses are working in the body in a way that causes such harsh death," Stahelin says. Filoviruses have lipid envelopes, they take those lipids from human cells during the infection. "I was intrigued that the virus could take human lipids and use it as its protective coat." For safety reasons Stahelin doesn't work with Ebola virus itself, instead, he works with combinations of its seven genes so the virus can't fully replicate. His latest focus has been on Ebola's VP40 protein, encoded by one of the seven genes. "VP40 forms the virus's matrix layer, a layer of protein beneath the lipid envelope. So it's responsible for hijacking and taking the host lipid membrane to make the long viral envelope," Stahelin explained. Stahelin found that a part of the VP40 protein, which is made inside the host cell during infection, is important for binding to one human lipid in particular, known as phosphatidylserine or simply "PS." Disrupting that part of VP40 reduced interactions with PS, and diminished its ability to form the viral envelope. To see if targeting human PS might help against Ebola virus infection, Stahelin found two FDA-approved drugs that alter cellular lipid distributionone approved for blood pressure and the other for schizophrenia treatment. Testing these drugs with live Ebola virus, in collaboration with a high-biosafety lab, shows that these drugs "were pretty good at blocking virus replication and spread in the cell culture model for the actual virus," Stahelin said. Though an effective Ebola vaccine was approved in December 2019, Stahelin said it is challenging to disseminate vaccines in Africa, where most Ebola outbreaks occur. And in the rare instances that an Ebola patient travels abroad before showing symptoms, it would helpful to have a prophylactic treatment for anyone exposed to the patient. "These drugs alone or in combination might be effective at blocking the virus in humans. You would probably take them after symptoms, or if people are exposed and unvaccinated," Stahelin said. Explore further Study examines important Ebola protein The India government and the World Bank on Monday signed a USD 450 million loan agreement to support the programme to arrest the country's depleting groundwater levels and strengthen groundwater institutions. The World Bank-supported Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) - Groundwater Management Improvement Programme will be implemented in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and cover 78 districts. These states span both the hard rock aquifers of peninsular India and the alluvial aquifers of the Indo-Gangetic plains. They were selected based on several criteria, including the degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management, as per an official release. The programme will, among other things, enhance the recharge of aquifers and introduce water conservation practices; promote activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment; create an institutional structure for sustainable groundwater management, and equip communities and stakeholders to sustainably manage groundwater. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance said that in India, groundwater is an important source for rural and urban domestic water supplies and its depletion is a cause of concern. He said that the Atal Bhujal Yojana intends to strengthen the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and encourage behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management. The use of cutting-edge technology, involving Artificial Intelligence and space technology will further help in better implementation of the programme. The loan agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, on behalf of the Government of India and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank. Ahmad said that groundwater is India's most crucial water reserve and managing this resource is the need of the hour. This programme will contribute to rural livelihoods and in the context of climatic shifts, build the resilience of the rural economy. But its impact will also be felt globally as it stands as one of the important programmes of groundwater management worldwide. The last few decades saw exponential growth in the exploitation of groundwater through the construction of millions of private wells. Between 1950 and 2010, the number of drilled tube wells increased from 1 million to nearly 30 million. This allowed the area irrigated by groundwater to increase from approximately 3 million ha to more than 35 million ha. Groundwater currently provides approximately 60 per cent of irrigation water. Over 80 per cent of the rural and urban domestic water supplies in India are served by groundwater, making India the world's largest user of groundwater. If the current trends persist, 60 per cent of districts are likely to reach critical level of groundwater depletion within two decades, which, in turn, will render at least 25 per cent of the agriculture production at risk. Climate change will likely exacerbate current pressures on groundwater resources. The programme will introduce a bottom-up planning process for community-driven development of water budgets and Water Security Plans (WSPs). Water budgets will assess surface and groundwater conditions (both quantity and quality) and identify current and future needs. The WSP, on the other hand, will focus on improving groundwater quantity and incentivize selected states to implement the actions proposed. Such community-led management measures will make users aware of consumption patterns and pave the way for economic measures that reduce groundwater consumption. "The Programme will support on-ground actions that are based on community ownership and judicious management of water resources. Reversing groundwater overexploitation and degradation is in the hands of the hundreds of millions of individuals and communities - they need the right incentives, information, support, and resources to move to a more sustainable development and management of groundwater resources," said Abedalrazq Khalil and Satya Priya, Senior Water Resources Management Specialists and World Bank's Task Team Leaders for the programme. Crop management and diversification will be the other focus areas. Studies indicate that a one per cent increase in the area irrigated with groundwater leads to a 2.2 per cent increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Also, a one per cent increase in irrigation efficiency will reduce GHG emissions by 20 per cent. The programme will support the adoption of micro-irrigation systems, including sprinkler and drip irrigation to increase productivity and support farmers to shift to low water-intensive crops. To facilitate this process, the government will transfer a significant portion of the money (nearly 80 per cent) to local governments, including districts and gram panchayats, as incentives for achieving targets in groundwater management. The remaining funds will be used for providing technical support for sustainable management of groundwater and strengthening institutional arrangements in the selected states. The USD 450 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 6-year grace period, and a maturity of 18 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) REYHANLI, Turkey A slight man in a cotton jacket, carrying a knapsack, shivered in the cold, waiting for the Turkish border gate to Syria to open. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are trying to get out of Syria. Yahya Jamal, 21, was trying to get back in. His father had just died, he said. His family had fled their home under bombardment and were sleeping under the trees. So even though he had smuggled himself into Turkey several months ago, he was going back to Syria to help them. There is nowhere to take them, he said, his face white with shock. It is impossible to find a safe place. S haun Bailey today pledged to reopen 38 police stations closed since 2016 to boost public safety and confidence if he is elected mayor of London. The Tory candidate, pictured, insisted the pledge, which will be in his manifesto, could be achieved by the end of his first term in office. He argued police station visibility is a central plank of a safe city, as it makes reporting crime and engaging with the police much easier. Mr Bailey, who is challenging Mayor Sadiq Khan in Mays election, claims 15.4 million saved at a bloated City Hall could be spent on ensuring a minimum of two police stations per borough, with some having more. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan / PA He said: I was a youth worker for more than 20 years. I know the streets, I know how they operate and I know how to tackle crime. A strong local police presence changes the culture, it makes it harder for criminals to operate and leads to better police-community relations all good things. Liberal Democrat candidate Siobhan Benita has also vowed to reopen police stations shut by Mr Khan. We must get back to a model of community policing that works, she said. Siobhan Benita / Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images In November 2017, Mr Khan blamed government cuts for the decision to close at least 37 out of 73 police stations to make 8 million in savings. The move was criticised by crime victims including local councillor and university lecturer Paul Kohler, 60, who was attacked by four men who stormed his six-bedroom Wimbledon home and beat him in front of his terrified wife in 2014. He says he survived because police officers were able to get to his house from the local station within eight minutes of the 999 call. Police in London (Anthony Devlin/PA ) / Anthony Devlin/PA High Court judges ruled in July 2018 that plans to shut Wimbledon police station should be reconsidered. The Tories claim despite 29 of the stations closed by Mr Khan being earmarked for disposal, only three have either been sold or had their leases ended. Dozens remain in the Met estate but are not open to the public to report crimes, according to Mr Bailey. Labour have said Mr Khan has kept a 24/7 policing front counter in every borough and more police stations were closed under Boris Johnson as the previous mayor. A spokesman for London Labour called Mr Baileys criticism of police station closures staggering hypocrisy from a man who implemented massive cuts to the Met as crime and youth adviser in No 10. Officials estimated in November that the plan would generate $387 million, with an estimated $220 million being used for county road repairs. The money for the projects comes from a percentage of the secondary property tax and a portion of the taxes no longer needed to pay off bonds. Kozachik told the Arizona Daily Star on Friday that Tucson residents, who make up a little less than half of the countys population, should have a seat at the table when it comes to discussing road projects. If they want to allocate 40% of what theyre collecting on this artificial property tax increase and let us choose (the roads), we can have that conversation. But it needs to be a conversation, he said. If theyre going to talk about property tax increases and using those to fund roads, we need to be at the table, both in terms of what that increase would be and which roads are going to be fixed. ... What theyre doing is technically totally legal. Its not ethical. Cunningham called what Pima County is doing absolutely vile. Blue Origin cut the ribbon on its new rocket engine plant in Huntsville Monday and will start moving workers in Wednesday, top managers said. Its more of the fast pace the company showed in building the giant plant in just over a year. "You can see we can get some things done really quickly, CEO Bob Smith said. Twelve months to actually build this kind of facility is an amazing accomplishment for our team. The construction phase is behind us, and we are going to rapidly move into the equipment installation and process qualification phase, Huntsville site leader Eric Pacheco said. All of that is pointing to production start in the June-July time frame. The first engine through the plant with be a pathfinder BE-4. The BE-4 or Blue Engine 4 is the larger of two engines that will be built in Huntsville, and it will be live-fire tested after completion at Blue Origins test stands in west Texas. Texas is ready and available, Pacheco said when asked why not in Huntsville, where Blue Origin is renovating a Saturn V test stand on Redstone Arsenal for engine testing in Alabama. The Saturn stand needs more work, Pacheco said. And it is not expected to be ready until late next year, Blue Origin Senior Vice President John Vilja said. While testing is under way in Texas, Blue Origin will begin producing BE-4 engines at its Kent, Washington plant, for customer United Launch Alliance. Engine production will ultimately be done mainly in Huntsville with Kent becoming an engine development laboratory and reserve production facility. You dont get much of an opportunity to do what were doing, Pacheco said of the almost 400,000 square foot Huntsville plant. "A new facility, two new product lines, an internal customer and an external customer. Its a once in a lifetime career opportunity, he said. The internal customer is Blue Origin itself, which will use and reuse seven of the BE-4 engines on each launch of its big New Glenn rocket. The external customer is United Launch Alliance, which is building a new rocket to compete for military satellite launches at its factory in Decatur, Ala., about 20 miles west of Huntsville. The new Blue Origin plant will have capacity to produce 42 engines a year roughly split between the BE-4 and smaller BE-3, Smith said. It will be 2022 or 2023 before it hits that full production rate. The plant will be able to machine parts parts, weld and join parts and perform additive manufacturing, Pacheco said. And it will have a precision clean room, where turbo fuel pumps are assembled, and a large area for final assembly. Photo: The Canadian Press The jury is expected to begin deliberations today in Harvey Weinstein's trial after often-emotional testimony from multiple women who accused him of sexual assault. The panel of five women and seven men will begin to weigh the evidence that Weinstein raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on another woman, TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi, in 2006. Other accusers including actress Annabella Sciorra testified as part of the prosecution's effort to show he used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years. Weinstein, 67, maintains any sexual conduct was consensual. Haleyi, a former Project Runway production assistant, testified that Weinstein pushed her onto a bed and sexually assaulted her, undeterred by her kicks and pleas of, No, please dont do this, I dont want it. The woman who says Weinstein raped her in 2013 sobbed in court as she described how she sent Weinstein flattering emails and kept seeing him after the alleged rape because I wanted him to believe I wasn't a threat." The Associated Press has a policy of not publishing the names of people who allege sexual assault without their consent. It is withholding the name of the rape accuser because it isnt clear whether she wishes to be identified publicly. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said in her closing argument Friday that Weinstein treated the women who accused him like complete disposables and made them feel ashamed even though he was the one who was at fault. What he wants to do is he wants to get them in a situation where they feel stupid. If you feel stupid and belittled, belittled, stupid people do not complain, the prosecutor told jurors. But defence lawyer Donna Rotunno said in her closing argument last week that the prosecutors had created a universe that strips adult women of common sense, autonomy and responsibility. Rotunno suggested that, according to prosecutors, Weinsteins accusers are not even responsible for sitting at their computers sending emails to someone across the country. Phillip Winston has struggled with bipolar disorder for more than three decades, and seeing a psychiatrist every month or so is a critical part of his treatment. But when his psychiatrist retired last year, there werent any local doctors with openings to take on the 46-year-old Muskegon resident. So Winston now sees a psychiatrist based in Ann Arbor. Only instead of making the 170-mile drive across the state, Winston has his appointments via video chat. It seems sterile not to be in the same room as the doctor, Winston said, but its certainly better than a five-hour round-trip drive across state. Winston is among many patients across Michigan impacted by the ongoing severe shortage of psychiatrists, the medical doctors who play a critical role in treatment of behavioral-health disorders. While the psychiatrist shortage is nationwide, the situation in Michigan is even more acute. The state had 1,180 active psychiatrists in 2018, or 11.84 practitioners per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average, according to a December 2018 analysis by University of Michigan researchers. If youre looking to see a psychiatrist, it can be a long waiting list. Access to care is a problem, said Angela Beck, an assistant professor for U-Ms School of Public Health and lead author of the U-M study. The issue is complicated by the uneven geographic distribution of psychiatrists. Two-thirds of Michigan psychiatrists are based in the Ann Arbor-Detroit region. Of Michigans 83 counties, 33 had no psychiatrist and another 10 counties had only one. North of Mount Pleasant, the number of psychiatrists to residents is half the ratio of downstate, according to data collected by the U-M researchers. The shortage is even more severe for psychiatrists with sub-specialities. Only 32 Michigan counties had at least one child psychiatrist in 2018. Only 10 counties have at least one psychiatrist who specializes in geriatrics. Only seven counties have psychiatrists who specialize in addiction, based on the U-M analysis. And yet, mental illnesses are among the most common health problems in the United States. About one in five Michigan adults have mental-health issues in any given year, and its estimated almost half of Michigan residents will have an issue during their lifetime. Treatment for mental-health disorders typically involve both medication and talk therapy. While a psychologist or other therapist can provide the latter, patients need a psychiatrist or other medical doctor to prescribe and oversee medication regimens. The shortage impacts delivery of desperately needed mental-health services. Michigan has seen a decline in in-patient psychiatric beds; one reason is the lack of psychiatrists to staff such units. Pine Rest in Grand Rapids would like to open an urgent-care mental health center that specifically serves children and adolescents; first, it needs to find child psychiatrists to work there. Primary-care physicians with patients in the midst of a mental-health crisis scramble to find specialized help in a timely manner. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, tells the story of a family in her district with a 7-year-old who was drawing disturbing pictures -- knives and people and blood drops." They wanted to get him help, and they couldnt get an appointment at University of Michigan for eight months," she said. It wasnt a money problem. I called the University of Michigan. Theres just that kind of wait, and maybe longer, to see a pediatric psychiatrist and its almost as bad for someone who is older. Dingell said she dug into the issue more, and found hospital emergency rooms are filling up with people in a mental-health crises who have nowhere to go. There are no (psychiatric) beds and no doctors to treat them, she said. The nationwide shortage of psychiatrists is an escalating crisis and one of more severity than shortages faced in virtually any other specialty, said a 2017 report by Merritt Hawkins, a physician search firm. Dawn South of Eaton Rapids knows the issue first hand in trying to find a child psychiatrist for one of her children. She was given a list of of child psychiatrists who take Medicaid, and I was calling everyone on the list, to no avail, she said. Some didnt take Medicaid. Some werent even psychiatry practices. It was just so frustrating, she said. I ended up being on a wait list for six months with someone in Ann Arbor." Reasons for the shortage Multiple factors are behind the shortage, experts say. One is a so-called retirement drain": In Michigan, more than half of practicing psychiatrists are over the age of 55, one of the highest proportions among all physicians. Were coming up to the point where about half or more than half of currently active psychiatrists are going to age out, retire or die or whatever, go on to other things in the next five to 10 years, said Dr. Gregory Dalack, who chairs the psychiatry department at University of Michigan. The pipeline of new psychiatrists entering the field is not robust enough to replace all of that," Dalack said. In fact, it can be a challenge to convince medical students to go into psychiatry, a field that pays less than many other medical specialties. The average annual income for a psychiatrist is $260,000, according to Medscapes 2019 physician salary survey. By comparison, the average is $482,000 for an orthopedist, $430,000 for a cardiologist and $392,000 for an anesthesiologist. New doctors tend to have humongous debt for their medical education, and in the great scheme of things on average, psychiatrists salaries are significantly lower than a lot of other specialties in medicine, Dalack said. So there is some ambivalence created by trying to figure out what specialty to go into that fits your interests, but also your financial circumstances. Thats been an issue for a long time. Medical students also may be deterred by the work itself: The high caseloads; the relative lack of quick fixes and the frustration of difficult-to-treat issues; the number of non-compliant patients. Meanwhile, the demand for psychiatrists is increasing as more people seek mental-health treatment. That trend is fueled by several factors, including the opioid crisis, as well as a lessening stigma that makes people more willing to seek help and the impact of the Affordable Care Act, which has increased the number of people with insurance and also improved coverage for mental-health conditions. The bottom line is that the supply of psychiatrists is diminishing at a time when demand is increasing, exacerbating the shortage, Beck said. Over time, the shortage has gotten worse, not better, because of all these factors. Recruiting issues A Muskegon native, Dr. Gregory Green finished his psychiatry residency in 2004 and joined a private practice in Ludington. He quickly discovered the challenges of being a psychiatrist in a rural area. Its hard being in a private practice on your own, he said. He found himself contracting with community mental health agencies as far as Benzie County. I was doing a lot of one or two days a week in clinics in the more northern part of Michigan, he said. Green also helped staff an in-patient psychiatric unit at a community hospital, where he was on call almost every other weekend. Green finally moved back to Muskegon to take his current job as a staff psychiatrist at HealthWest, the community mental health agency for Muskegon County. The agency was bigger and more stable, Green said. It was a full-time job, versus piecing together part-time gigs. But while HealthWest was able to recruit Green, it still has a shortage of psychiatrists -- an issue that Green now grapples with as part of the agencys executive team. We typically have openings for psychiatrists, Green said in November. Most doctors coming out of training are in their 30s, and like many millennials, they want to live in bigger metro areas," he said "Most of my class went to Chicago, the West Coast, the East Coast, to be honest. HealthWest has tried to be creative in recruiting psychiatrists, offering such perks as a 30-hour work week, Green said. Were doing a lot of things to make this an attractive work environment. Even so, the agency currently contracts with two psychiatrists from Ann Arbor and one from metro Detroit to serve patients such as Winston through video conferencing. Tele-medicine has really opened up a lot, and obviously we wouldnt have the coverage we do now without it, so its been a good thing, Green said. In the beginning, there were a lot of things to figure out, but I think weve gotten pretty efficient with it. Maximizing resources With so many retirements looming and because it takes so many years of training to become a psychiatrist, the shortage wont be resolved anytime soon, Dalack says. Estimates are that over the next 10 to 15 years, things will get worse before they start to get better, he said. That means strategizing how to maximize the resources available, Dalack said. If youre not going to have enough psychiatrists, can you figure out ways to get people to mental health care they need?" Tele-medicine is one way to do that. Another is to have psychiatrists work as consultants for primary-care physicians so that family doctors can oversee treatment regimens, especially for people with depression and/or anxiety, the most common mental-health disorders. A great deal of treatment occurs in the primary-care setting, Dalack said. The largest number of antidepressant prescriptions come from primary-care practices rather than specialty clinics. Dalack said that U-Ms psychiatry department is involved in several programs to support primary-care physicians in treating mental-health issues. Typically, that means a social worker for a primary-care practice summarizes each case to a psychiatrist, who recommends a treatment plan. If the individuals respond and does well, great, Dalack said. If they dont, then they can be stepped up to higher levels of care." A psychiatrist can probably manage 60 to 70 patients with a half-day consultation, he said. If the psychiatrist was seeing those people individually, it would take a ton more time and may not be necessary for a good part of that population. It also benefits patients who dont respond to first- or second-line treatments, who can be stepped up to a specialty setting," he said. Its a way to reduce the queue and make sure people are getting the treatment they need at the right level and at the right time. Yet another ways to maximize resources is to rely on physician assistants and nurse practitioners who have specialized training in psychiatry and are allowed to prescribe drugs. The problem there: theres a shortage of those professionals, also. A bigger issue involved discussions about allowing psychologists to prescribe drugs. On one hand, many psychologists have had extensive experience in seeing what drugs are effective with different types of patients. On the other hand, while psychologists have extensive training in how the mind works, they lack the medical training that psychiatrists obtain. Theres a lot of discussion in the field about how important the medical training is, Dalack said. But letting psychologists prescribe is a little bit risky just because medications are complicated," especially when patients have other health issues, Dalack said. It takes a fair level of experience and knowledge to manage that over time." Still, the shortage of psychiatrists means that professional counselors such as Michelle Zukowski-Serlin are taking a bigger role in medication regimens. A clinical social worker who runs the Choices for Change counseling agency in Kalamazoo, Zukowski-Serlin said the psychiatrist shortage means that shes more often turning to a patients primary-care physician to prescribe drugs, and offering her recommendations what those medications might be. But while shes become well-versed in what drugs might work in various scenarios, Zukowsi-Serlin said she relies on psychiatrists and medical doctors to understand drug regimens in a way she does not. I dont have the background to prescribe" on her own, Zukowski-Serlin said. Not at all. I didnt have the science classes. If you ask me how a medication works, how its metabolized, Im clueless." Looking to the future Jack Buchanan spent six years in Wisconsin as an environmental researcher before he enrolled at University of Michigan medical school. He graduates as a doctor this year, and is applying for a residency in psychiatry. He says hes fascinated by the huge, huge surge of new research on the brain and the interaction between mental and physical health. He also says its a field that suits his personality. Im very much a people person, he said. "I like to talk to people. Im very curious about people interested in their stories and how they see the world. In med school, when I started kind of seeing patients and doing the different rotations, my favorite part was taking histories, Buchanan said. For most other fields in medicine, youre just trying to get as many facts as efficiently as you can that are pertinent to the diagnosis. With psychiatry, the meat of the work is in conversation." He recognizes, he said, that psychiatry is not one of the top-compensated specialties. But Im not in it just to make loads of money, and I think Ill be very well-compensated as a psychiatrist," Buchanan said. He said that psychiatry is becoming a more attractive option among his med-school peers. High demand means psychiatrists salaries are increasing at a faster pace than other doctors, and the increasing attention on mental health and brain research also are lures. Over the long term, Dalack said hes optimistic about growing the ranks of psychiatrists. Over the years, psychiatry has increased improved its profile as an attractive specialty to be in -- in part because theres theres so much burgeoning knowledge about the brain and brain function, he said. Its an area of tremendous research and a lot of excitement. But thats the long term. In the short term, the psychiatrist shortage underscores the importance of their role in mental-health treatment. I do not undervalue psychiatrists," Zukowski-Serlin said. We need psychiatrists. Related stories: Nowhere to turn: Families struggle as psych beds disappear from hospitals Demons haunt 8-year-old, and help is hard to find A moms story: My son is trying to kill me To hell and back: One womans journey to recover from severe mental illness Letter from the editor: Michigans mental-health crisis is affecting all of us She's the tattooed bombshell known for speaking her mind. And on Monday, former drug addict Hayley Vernon revealed her real feelings about her fellow Married At First Sight co-star Stacey Hampton. 'I can't stand her. It wasn't until she found out Michael had money that she wanted to be with him,' the 32-year-old told New Idea. 'She ONLY wants Michael's money!': Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon (pictured) has revealed bombshell claims about her reality TV co-star Stacey Hampton She continued: 'Stacey hates me... throughout the whole show you guys will definitely see that.' Stacey went on to say: 'I think she tried very hard to have this certain image of herself and I think that house of cards is going to come crumbling down.' It comes amid reports that the finance broker from Melbourne 'cheated' on her partner, and locked lips with Michael Goonan, who is paired with Stacey. Affair bombshell! Hayley (centre) will reportedly cheat on her 'husband', David Cannon, with fellow participant Michael Goonan in upcoming episodes Hayley and Michael, 28, reportedly shared a kiss during filming around November, with their tryst being caught on camera by an unknown third party. Fellow MAFS star Vanessa Romito claimed that Michael had instigated the make-out session in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. Vanessa also recalled the bawdy conversation that led up to the kiss. Naughty boy! Fellow MAFS star Vanessa Romito told New Idea magazine that Michael (right) had instigated the make-out session in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking 'Hayley said, "My husband doesn't want to f**k me." Michael [then] turned around and said: "I would f**k you both,"' she said. Daily Mail Australia understands that Hayley and Michael only kissed and there was no sexual contact. According to New Idea, the hook-up will be featured on MAFS in the coming weeks. Fuming: Hayley's husband, David (right), was allegedly 'out for blood' in the wake of the scandal and determined to find out what had happened Hayley's husband, David, was allegedly 'out for blood' in the wake of the scandal and determined to find out what had happened. 'The morning David found out Michael had hooked up with his wife the night before, he was absolutely ropeable and he went and confronted him about it,' a source said. Producers were reportedly forced to step in as tensions escalated, with one of the brides supposedly yelling for someone to call the police. Furthermore, a source claimed that security was 'ramped up' at the dinner parties after the incident due to fears of violence among the participants. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Nine Betrayed: 'The morning David found out Michael had hooked up with his wife the night before, he was absolutely ropeable and he went and confronted him about it,' a source said Ukraine doesn't need help in exploring issues of national identity, Prystaiko underlines, adding that the plan does not take into account international law, which requires that Russia withdraw from Ukraine and return the annexed Crimea. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has commented on the document titled "Twelve Steps Toward Greater Security in Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic Region," which was published on the website of the Munich Security Conference 2020. "This is not the first plan that is being proposed to Ukraine to somehow address something that many suggest the Ukrainian government cannot, is incapable of, or doesn't see how... There are people who sincerely want to help and offer their plan, but there are those who fulfill a certain political order. If you choose between these two extremes, in my opinion, the proposed plan is somewhere in the middle, but closer to those who carry out a certain political order," Prystaiko told a Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on Ukraine's ICTV channel on February 17, 2020. He said the plan does not reflect international law, which requires that the Russian Federation withdraw from the territory of Ukraine and return the annexed Crimea. "Well, and finally, what grinds our gears is the last point suggesting that Ukraine launch a 'new national dialogue' about identity. Well, thank you very much, we will figure out ourselves whether we need to do this," Prystaiko said. Read alsoMFA Ukraine comments on "Munich plan" for Donbas settlement As reported earlier, ahead of the Munich Security Conference 2020, the Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group stresses the need for a political solution to the armed conflict in Ukraine. With 46 signatories from 13 countries across the Euro-Atlantic region, the statement proposes 12 practical, concrete steps that can be taken now to address urgent security, humanitarian, economic, and political concerns. Security steps STEP 1: Restore the JCCC. STEP 2: Establish a Normandy-format, military-to military crisis management dialogue. STEP 3: Improve unrestricted access and freedom of movement. Humanitarian steps STEP 4: Address the problem of missing persons. STEP 5: Plan for and implement humanitarian demining initiatives. Economic steps STEP 6: Advance reconstruction in the Donbas. STEP 7: Explore free trade areas. STEP 8: Support for a roadmap on sanctions. STEP 9: Address radiological hazards. Political steps STEP 10: Direct a new dialogue among Euro-Atlantic states about building mutual security. STEP 11: Support and define areas of selective engagement between the EU and Russia. STEP 12: Launch a new national dialogue about identity. Read also"Don't take it so seriously": Ischinger on controversial "Munich Plan" for Donbas settlement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also rejects the plan, stating it is impossible without Ukraine to discuss any plans to end the war in Donbas. A day after British MP Debbie Abrahams was denied entry into India, government officials on Tuesday said that her visa was revoked last week due to her indulging in activities "which went against India's national interest". Labour Party MP Abrahams, a vocal critic of Narendra Modi government's move to scrap special status for Jammu and Kashmir, was deported on Monday soon after she landed in Delhi for a two-day visit with the officials saying that she entered the country without a valid visa. "The facts are grant, rejection, revocation of visa/electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of any country. Debbie Abrahams was issued an e-Business Visa on 7 October, 2019, valid till 5 October, 2020 to attend business meetings. Her e-Business Visa was revoked on 14 February, 2020 on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest," a senior government official said. Abrahams, who also chairs a Parliamentary Group for Kashmir, tweeted, "very disappointing that a friend can't respectfully criticise another friend. Isn't this the sign of a healthy democracy?" Earlier, Abrahams had written to India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, criticising the move on Article 370 saying it "betrays the trust of the people" of Kashmir. "Again, for clarity, I am pro-human rights and social justice. I will always speak up for people who are not afforded these rights including Kashmiris on both sides of the line of control," she said in a separate tweet adding the "key questions are why was it revoked and when". Abrahams also tweeted the e-visa issued to her. On Tuesday, officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said she was informed that her e-visa on arrival had been cancelled even before she flew to India. Despite this, they said, she flew into the country. The issue also brought differences within the Congress with senior Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi supporting the government decision to deny entry to Abrahams, describing as a Pakistan "proxy" who is close to the Pakistan government and the ISI. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," he tweeted. However on Monday, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor came out against the government saying the conduct was "really unworthy of a democracy and guaranteed to give us a far worse press than if she had been admitted". "Government claims situation is normal in Kashmir. Why is the government then so scared of critics? If things are fine in Kashmir, shouldn't the government encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs and polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a Parliamentary Group on the subject is worth cultivating?" he had tweeted. 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(TSXV:KAP) ("MinKap" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's-length non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") dated February 3, 2020 with DG Resource Management Ltd. ("DGRM"). The LOI sets out the terms of a proposed transaction pursuant to which the Company will acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Breccia Gold Property ("Breccia" or the "Property") located in Idaho, USA (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Property The Property is located approximately 40 km southwest of Salmon, Idaho and is accessible via paved highway and a network of well-maintained gravel roads. The Property hosts the historic Gahsmith Gold Mine (the "Gahsmith Gold Mine"), which is central to a significant low-sulphidation epithermal gold system. The Property consists of 80 claims covering approximately 1,650 acres within the Blackbird Mining District, and while host to the Gahsmith Gold Mine, is also contiguous to the south of the historic Musgrove Creek Mine. Gold mineralization on the Property occurs within an approximately 1,800 m portion of the Meadows Fault Zone ("MFZ") (Figure 1), with the northernmost showing referred to as the Lee Prospect, and the Breccia Gold Zone within the southern portion. Historic and recent exploration has shown the gold mineralization to be within an approximate 500 m long by 8 to 20m wide zone (the "Breccia Gold Zone") of highly brecciated and oxidized host lithologies, proximal to the MFZ. Figure 1 Location of Meadows Fault Zone and Historic Work. The Breccia Gold Zone was exploited via at least eight adits during the 1930's and early 1940's, with several thousand tons of mineralized material extracted, targeting high-grade gold mineralization within quartz veins, hosted by a wide zone of brecciation. Shipments of hand-cobbed material from the Gahsmith Gold Mine reportedly ran as high as 34.3 g/t Au (1.0 oz/ton Au), with a cutoff grade of about 8.23 g/t (0.24 oz/ton Au), however the Company has not been able to confirm this data under the conforms of NI 43-101 standards. The Property underwent some exploration in the mid- 1980's that included metallurgical testing and limited drilling, as well as surface and underground sampling. In 1987 a bulk sample of 4,621 tons of gold bearing material was collected from a bulldozer cut along a 200 ft section of the Breccia Gold Zone north of the South Adit. The material was reported to have had an average grade of 0.335 oz/t Au, however the Company has not been able to confirm those assays under the conditions of adhering to NI 43-101 requirements. Two drill holes completed in 1985 tested the zone at depth, north of the South Adit. Though assay data for these holes is unavailable, inclined hole DH-1 intersected the Breccia Gold Zone from 200 to 300 ft, while vertical DH-2 continued within the Breccia Gold Zone for its entire 100 ft length. Prospecting and surface sampling carried out by DGRM in 2018 and 2019, suggests the gold grades are relatively continuous across the Breccia Gold Zone, with higher grades associated with quartz vein and replacements, which generally occur near the center of the zone. In total, 39 grab samples were collected from the Breccia Gold Zone in 2018, these returned an arithmetic average of 6.33 g/t Au and 3.01 g/t Ag. Further sampling in 2019 included a total of 52 chip and grab samples, these returned an arithmetic average of 4.44 g/t Au and 4.83 g/t Ag (see Table 1 above for ranges and average grades). The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the Property. Table 1: Summary of Gold content for the 2018 and 2019 Grab Samples, Breccia Gold Zone Au (g/t) Range 2018 Totals 2019 Totals <0.1 6 12 0.1 - 1.0 10 12 1.0 - 5.0 12 14 5.0 - 10 2 8 >10 9 6 Upon completion of the 2018 program, samples were palletized and shipped via freight by Salmon River Stages to ALS in Reno, Nevada. Samples were bagged in the field using cloth bags, recorded and assigned a sample number. Analysis consisted of multi-element ICP (ME-ICP61) and gold by fire assay (Au-ICP22 and Au-GRA22). Upon completion of the 2019 program, both rock and soil samples were confirmed, put into pails and labelled for shipping. Samples were collected in polyurethane sample bags, recorded and assigned a sample number. Soil samples were shipped out of Cutbank, Montana via FedEx ground transport to ALS in Reno, Nevada for multi-element aqua regia digestion (AuME-ST43). Rock samples were driven back to Edmonton, Alberta (DGRM's head office) and then shipped via Purolator ground transport to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario for aqua regia multi element (1E3 (ICP-OES)) and fire assay (1A2-ICP) ALS and Actlabs are commercial laboratories and completely independent of DG Resource Management Inc. ALS in Reno, Nevada and Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario are both ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. Figure 2: 15 m west of Adit 6. View to Southeast (Sample Y099086: 84.3 g/t Au). "The opportunity to acquire and advance a significant gold asset such as Breccia, puts MinKap in the unique position of being able to explore a past producing gold mine at a time when precious metals are seeing near unparalleled interest. Historic work at Breccia has identified a significant, low sulfidation, epithermal gold system, which was tested by only a few drill holes, and several bulk samples; with the largest bulk sample having returned an average grade of 0.335 oz/ton Au," stated Jonathan Armes, President of MinKap Resources Inc. "We are looking forward to the commencement of a spring/summer exploration program at Breccia, which will include a significant drill program aimed at confirming historic grades and widths of the gold mineralization." The nature and style of mineralization observed at the Breccia Gold Zone is characteristic of low sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. Some notable examples of this deposit type include Hishikari Japan, Round Mountain Mine Nevada, and Fruta del Norte, Ecuador. Immediate exploration plans for the Property include ground geophysics and soil sampling, to be followed by a drill program anticipated to take place during summer months (permitting application has been submitted). Proposed Transaction Under the terms of the LOI, the Company may acquire a 100% interest in the Property by completing the following over a 4-year period: Issuing an aggregate of 7,000,000 common shares (the " Consideration Shares ") and 7,000,000 common share purchase warrants (the " Consideration Warrants ") over a 2 year period to DGRM; ") and 7,000,000 common share purchase warrants (the " ") over a 2 year period to DGRM; C$50,000 due on signing of the LOI; C$25,000 due upon receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Approval Date"); C$100,000 due on the first anniversary from the Approval Date; C$100,000 due on the second anniversary from the Approval Date; C$200,000 due on the third anniversary from the Approval Date; Issuing to DGRM a 2.5% net smelter return royalty ("NSR") with the Company retaining an option to acquire 1.25% of the NSR for a cash payment of C$2,000,000; and The completion of the Offering (as defined below). A finders fee is payable on the transaction The completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement and the receipt of all corporate and regulatory approvals, including that of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Concurrent Financing The Company also announces a concurrent non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.075 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $750,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit shall consist of one common share (each, a "Common Share") of the Company and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.15 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance. The Proposed Name Change The Company also intends to change its name in conjunction with the Proposed Transaction to "Ophir Gold Corp." or any such other name that is approved by the board of directors. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Further details of the transaction contemplated by the LOI will be included in subsequent news releases and disclosure documents to be filed by the Company. QP Mr. Garry Clark P.Geo, (Exploration Manager and a director of the Company), a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation. On behalf of the Board of Directors MinKap Resources Inc. For further information, please contact: Jonathan Armes President & CEO Phone 1 (416) 708-0243 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. SOURCE: MinKap Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576875/MinKap-Enters-into-Property-Acquisition-Agreement-for-the-Breccia-Gold-Property-Idaho-USA Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, 27, recorded Harvey Weinstein as he admitted to groping her in 2015, but the Manhattan District Attorney's office refused to bring charges against the movie mogul. Five years later, Gutierrez says she doesn't regret coming forward - despite the subsequent smear campaign that derailed her career An Italian-Filipina model who recorded Harvey Weinstein as he admitted to groping her before the Manhattan District Attorney's office inexplicably refused to bring charges against him says she doesn't regret coming forward - despite the subsequent smear campaign that derailed her career. Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, 27, was one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct in 2015 when she went to police and claimed he had fondled her breasts and put his hand up her skirt during a business meeting. Investigators had her wear a wire when she went to meet with the producer the following day. In the tapes he was heard apologizing for his inappropriate touching as he begged the then-22-year-old to go to his hotel room. Gutierrez investigators initially congratulated her for capturing Weinstein's damning remarks on tape and insisted that her efforts would land him behind bars. Her confidence in the justice system was soon crushed as the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance declined to bring charges against Weinstein amid intense pressure from the producer's lawyers and a vicious smear campaign the mogul's team launched to destroy her credibility. Desperate to protect herself and her family from further damage, Gutierrez signed a million-dollar non-disclosure agreement and turned over her electronic devices so her recordings of Weinstein could be deleted. But she held onto one copy of the tapes, believing that they were the one thing that could definitively prove she was telling the truth. Two years later she agreed to let Ronan Farrow publish part of her story in his bombshell expose which helped spark Weinstein's downfall in 2017. Gutierrez recounted the traumatic ordeal in an interview with The Cut last week, just as the first criminal sex abuse case against Weinstein came to a close in New York City. Gutierrez, an Italian-Filipina actress (left in 2018), met Weinstein (right in court Tuesday) at his New York Spring Spectacular show in New York City on March 26, 2015. She claims he fondled her breasts and stuck his hand up her skirt during a business meeting the next day Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance declined to press charges against Weinstein, even though Gutierrez had recorded him admitted to misconduct. Vance's office is now leading the first criminal case against Weinstein, for which jury deliberations began Tuesday Gutierrez, a former Miss Italy contestant, first met Weinstein at his New York Spring Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall on March 26, 2015. The pair met up to discuss her career the following day, after which Gutierrez went to police and claimed that he'd groped her. 'I knew the moment I got to the police station that Weinstein was dangerous,' she told The Cut in the interview published Tuesday. 'When I said his name and that he'd assaulted me, the guy at the glass door answered with: "Again?" That gave me strength; that made me just want to do something about it.' She wore a wire when she met with Weinstein the next day at the Tribeca Grand Hotel and confronted him in an effort to get him to admit on tape what he'd done. Gutierrez said she began to lose hope in her case against Weinstein when she met with Martha Bashford (pictured), who was head of the NYPD's Sex Crimes unit at the time. She said Bashford interrogated her as if she was the criminal 'Oh, please. I'm sorry,' he was heard saying. 'I won't do it again I will never do another thing to you. Five minutes. Don't ruin your friendship with me for five minutes.' Gutierrez said investigators were very supportive of her when she handed over the tapes. 'They were saying: "Ambra, you did it. You put him in jail. He's going to go to jail,"' she recalled, describing the relief she felt when she went home that night. But she would soon learn that her faith in the system was 'naive', beginning when she met with Marsha Bashford, who was head of the NYPD's Sex Crimes Unit at the time and resigned earlier this month amid Weinstein's trial. 'Bashford interrogated me like I was the criminal, with questions like, "Have you ever been a prostitute?" Or, "Have you ever gotten gifts?" Or, "Have you ever asked for a movie role?" 'And I'm like, "Did you hear the recordings?" The recordings made it clear that this person was absolutely pushing for me to go in that room and to assault me, pushing the fact that my career was going to be ruined and he's a famous person and that I'm nothing. 'So, what wasn't clear? Even if I was a prostitute - which I was not - every person has the right to not do things with people that they don't want to. I remember the moment I left that room after that interrogation, I thought: "This is not going right."' Gutierrez (pictured in 2018) says she was 'naive' to believe that the justice system would punish Weinstein based on her account alone, but says she doesn't regret coming forward Matters only got worse from there, as Gutierrez was battered with negative publicity. Tabloids branded her 'Grope Girl' and ran nasty stories about her past alongside photos of her modeling bikinis, causing her to be dropped by designers and shows. 'It was kind of easy for Weinstein, with the type of people that he knows and power to put me down,' she said. 'The public opinion at first was with me and then, after a little bit, it was against me.' 'I work with my image, so ruining my reputation was destroying me completely,' she added. The DA's office never called Gutierrez to inform her that Weinstein wouldn't be prosecuted, so she found out the news through the media like everyone else. 'I thought already that everything was falling apart and they [the DA's office] would not come to help me,' she said. 'I didn't speak much English, but I could understand what was happening, and it was all against me.' Gutierrez made the decision to sign an NDA with Weinstein's lawyers after her brother called her and said that someone had come to his work asking about her. 'My blood just turned super cold. I was shaking and everything. I'm like, "Okay, thats it." That's when I decided to sign this agreement,' she said. She vividly remembers the day she went to an office in Midtown to sign the NDA. 'There was the lawyer for Harvey, very nervous talking to me, saying: "Thank you so much for being here. We're so glad to have you, and I'm so sorry."' She said she repeatedly told the lawyer: 'I'm going to sign this, but if I hear of him [Weinstein] hurting anyone else, I would not care about [the paper] I signed.' After Gutierrez came forward tabloids branded her 'Grope Girl' and ran nasty stories about her past alongside photos of her modeling bikinis, causing her to lose modeling jobs 'I work with my image, so ruining my reputation was destroying me completely,' Gutierrez told The Cut. She is pictured during a photoshoot in 2017 Under the terms of the NDA Gutierrez had to turn over all of her electronic devices and email passwords so the lawyers could ensure that her recordings of Weinstein were removed. She had sent the tapes to five different email addresses on the day they were recorded. She told her lawyer that she forgot the password to one of those email accounts so it was never checked. Gutierrez told The Cut she wasn't sure what she was going to with the tapes, but that she knew she 'had to get those out'. 'That was the key to getting my life back,' she said. 'Being believed, getting my name back to who I was or I am right now. That I wasn't lying. I was right. I told the truth.' Over the following few months Gutierrez spiraled into a 'very deep depression'. 'I knew what the truth was, and that nobody would listen, and I didn't know how to get those recordings out. I didn't know who to trust,' she said. In 2017 she found hope in Farrow, who included her account in his scathing piece outlining sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein in the New Yorker that fall. Farrow's report and another similar expose from the New York Times were awarded a Pulitzer Prize and are credited with sparking the #MeToo movement. 'That day that those recordings came out publicly, I think I was so happy that I smiled like the whole day,' Gutierrez said. 'It was so weird. It was like I had a baby or something.' Guttierez agreed to let Ronan Farrow publish part of her story in his bombshell expose which helped spark Weinstein's downfall in 2017. She is pictured with Farrow last month during a recording for his podcast Catch and Kill Five years after her own experience, Gutierrez says she still gets overcome with emotion when she hears what other victims went through with Weinstein. 'I know what it means feeling like you're in a cage and having the possibility to talk and understand that someone would be on your side,' she said. She said she has no regrets about reporting Weinstein despite the backlash she personally endured. 'I would've done it a million times,' she said. Asked whether she is concerned that the same office that ignored her claims is prosecuting the current case against Weinstein, Gutierrez replied: 'I know, but how can you just not do what is right if everyone is watching you? 'I'm here waiting, very anxious. I really hope they get justice and they see this person getting what he deserves, because he didn't do it once. He did it too many times. It just makes my heart cry.' She said that even if the jury doesn't convict Weinstein, she still has hope for the Los Angeles case against him. And even if both cases fail to result in a conviction, she is grateful that the truth is finally out. 'People know now what's going on, and Ronan Farrow's still writing about it, and you guys are writing about it, and so many others wrote about it,' she said. 'There's more women having their strength back, the support that before that we didn't have. It's something that at least we achieved, and it's a lot already.' Weinstein is currently awaiting a jury's verdict on five counts of sexual assault. He faces life in prison if convicted. The disgraced producer has always denied any wrongdoing and says any and all sexual contact he had was consensual. Nigeria was recently in the spotlight when the Oxford English Dictionary announced that its January 2020 update included 29 Nigerian English words. The reception, in both the traditional and new media, was nothing short of sensational. Most Nigerians expressed a great sense of pride in the fact that the unique ways in which they use English were being acknowledged internationally. The Oxford English Dictionary said in the release note: By taking ownership of English and using it as their own medium of expression, Nigerians have made, and are continuing to make, a unique and distinctive contribution to English as a global language. Interestingly, the idea of Nigerians owning English is the fulcrum of my doctoral research. In it, I found that increasingly Nigerians are demonstrating a strong sense of ownership of the English language, and in particular their use of it. The inclusion of Nigerian English words in the Oxford English Dictionary is, in a sense, a recognition of the tremendous efforts by scholars of Nigerian English many of whom have produced discipline-shaping research. This has included four published dictionaries of Nigerian English. These developments indicate that Nigerian English has indeed come of age. They also validate the concentric circle model developed by Professor Braj Kachru, the father of world Englishes research. This avers that the outer-circle varieties of English (where Nigerian English belongs) is norm-developing. In other words, that Nigerian English is adding to the norms of English. I think the English, indeed the English-speaking world, should be thankful to Nigeria for this historic gift. So how were the words chosen? As the Nigerian consultant to the project which saw the inclusion of the words, I have insights into the process the team underwent in adding them. These include the rationale for adding them, and the enormous significance the inclusion holds for the English language. How, and why, new words are added The Oxford English Dictionary has a wide variety of resources to track the emergence of new words and new senses of already existing words. The Oxford English Corpus is one. This is an electronic database of different types of written and spoken texts specifically designed for linguistic research. In the case of Nigerian English and other World English varieties, for instance, suggestions of new words and senses come from the corpus, reading books and magazines written in the English varieties in question as well as looking at previous studies, and the review of existing dictionaries, if any. Once there is a list of candidates, a team of expert editors at the Oxford English Dictionary looks closely at the databases to ensure that there are several independent instances of the words being used. And how they are being used. Other factors that are considered include the time period over which words have been used, as well as their frequency and distribution. But theres no exact time-span and frequency threshold. Some words such as Brexit are relatively young but were included quickly because of the huge social impact they had in a short space of time. Others are not used frequently but are included because they are of specific cultural, historical, or linguistic significance to the community of their users. An example is Kannywood, the word describing the Nigerian Hausa-language film industry, based in the city of Kano. ALSO READ: Its clear therefore that the editors dont simply select the words or senses that appeal to them. Instead, they are guided by use, which links in with the prevailing thought in lexicography and linguistics more generally: that the remit of dictionaries and linguistic research is not to prescribe how languages should be used but to describe how languages are being used. Words are added because the Oxford English Dictionary recognises that English is a universal language. It believes that including words from varieties of English all over the world enables it to tell a more complete story of the language. These varieties also reflect the unique culture, history, and identity of the various communities that use English across the world. Nigerian English is a good example. Like other English varieties, it is a living being with its own unique vocabulary, encompassing all sorts of lexical innovations. These include borrowings from local languages, new abbreviations, blends and compounds. Failure to capture such words would deny English an opportunity to grow. It would also deny the flavour of what the speakers of these varieties contribute to the development of English. What does it mean for English? One of the reasons previous world languages such as Egyptian and Ancient Greek ceased to exert dominance internationally was their inability to keep pace with developments around the world. Perhaps this is one factor that clearly distinguishes English. It has demonstrated a capacity for growth by keeping its borders open, helping it to develop from a West Germanic dialect spoken in a small island into a world language. English is now spoken by about 1.75 billion people a quarter of the worlds population. This includes first and second language speakers. One way English grows is by admitting new words and senses not just from other English varieties but from virtually all languages of the world. For instance, English has had the word postpone since the late 15th century, but it was through India that its opposite prepone entered English in current use during the 20th century. Similarly, Nigerian English is reintroducing the verb meaning of barb, which existed in 16th century British English. This is how English maintains its dominance. In addition, the Internet has given todays Oxford English Dictionary editors wider access to non-traditional sources of linguistic evidence. This has enabled them to widen and improve the dictionarys coverage of world varieties of English, affirming Oxford English Dictionarys claim as the definitive record of the English language. Advertisements Kingsley Ugwuanyi, Lecturer/Doctoral Researcher, Northumbria University, Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The conversation Vermont, with a population of just 625,000, consumes 16 million barrels of oil a year while Uganda, with 43 million people, uses less than 12 million barrels. The Infant Mortality Rate in Vermont is only 4 but in Uganda 56 babies out of 1,000 die within the first year of life. Massachusetts, a state with a population of 7 million, uses 450 billion cubic feet of natural gas each year and last winter had to buy gas from Russia, despite most of the states policymakers railing against fossil fuels. The Infant Mortality Rate in Massachusetts is less than 4. Compare these data to the Philippines, where the Infant Mortality Rate is 15 and the population of 105 million consumes only 110 billion cubic feet of gas. Minnesota, a state with a population of less than 6 million, uses 116 million barrels of oil per year 2.5 times as much as Myanmar with 56 million people. In Minnesota, the percentage of underweight children is 4% while in Myanmar an alarming 41% under age 5 are classified as stunted in the World Bank Nutrition Study. Across the world, the pattern is clear: energy is the lifeblood of modern society and the key to a longer, better life. Based on the International Energy Agencys latest data, over 81% of the worlds energy is provided by fossil fuels and in 2040 their contribution will be still be 74%. Fossil fuels are here to stay and the only hope of reducing the debilitating energy poverty that haunts the world and claims thousands of lives each day. In the relatively small number of countries with adequate energy, people eat better, drink cleaner water, are healthier, are more educated, make more money, and thus live longer. In the many countries without enough energy, vast swaths of people live bleak lives that are painful and short. And the greatest victims of this energy poverty are always children - the most vulnerable segment of any society. Not surprisingly, the majority of these impoverished children are girls. More than 130 million girls do not attend school. If these girls were a country, they would be the 10th largest nation in the world. In spite of these prevailing energy related injustices, virtually all leading Democratic candidates for President want to institute policies to outright ban or drastically reduce export of abundant U.S. oil and gas supplies to these impoverished nations and thereby condemn their children to more of the same a seemingly unending cycle of energy poverty, illiteracy, illness and premature death. Such proposals to eliminate exports and drastically reduce the production and consumption of oil and natural gas could only come from regions where the reliability, accessibility and affordability of these fuels is taken for granted. Such hypocrisy is easy when your children are well fed, healthy, happy and schooled - like the children in the presidential candidate states of Vermont, Massachusetts and Minnesota. But what about the rest of the worlds children? You know, that massive group of babies, toddlers, older kids and teenagers who live in the shadows and economic backwaters of the world. Over 325 million of them live on less than $2 a day in places like Madagascar where 76% of the population lives in what the World Data Laboratory defines as extreme poverty and only 1 in 4 people has access to electricity. Children from the impoverished countries have little or no access to the benefits energy from oil and gas can provide so they live in huts with no lighting or refrigeration, their mother cooks with charcoal, wood or dung, they do not go to school because they have to help carry water and wood. They cannot read, they drink dirty water, have little access to medicine and millions of them die before they are five years old. They are disproportionately female, but they do not take piano lessons, learn to code, play softball, use the Internet, act in school plays or think about going to college. Tens of millions of them are married before they are 18 and in sub-Saharan Africa 75% of teenagers with HIV are female. Most of these impoverished countries have severely constrained energy resources, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Philippines, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and many others have virtually no oil resources while Uganda has 0.1% of the worlds oil and India has 1.4 billion people but only 0.3% of global oil reserves. Over 36 million children in India live on less than $2 a day essentially the population of California. There but for the grace of God go Bernie Sanders children and grandchildren, Elizabeth Warrens, Joe Bidens, yours or mine. The U.S. has proven reserves of 61 billion barrels of oil and the fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world 430 trillion cubic feet . Further, the U.S. has 24% of the worlds coal, still the backbone of the world's electric power system. We are now one of the worlds largest oil and gas producers and are on pace to potentially become the largest exporters of these essential fuels within five years. Yet, we have leading policymakers stridently proposing to hoard these resources and deny them to the rest of the world where billions struggle in abject energy poverty. Refusing to share our God-given energy endowment would be a stain on this Nations claim to be a beacon for the improvement of humanity. Frank Clemente PhD. specializes in research on the socioeconomic impact of energy policy. He has served on the faculties of the University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin and Penn State University. The opinions expressed here are Professor Clementes alone and represent no institutions. Badgers are drowning in the floods caused by Storm Dennis because - like humans - they're reluctant to leave their homes, a wildlife expert has said. The extreme wet weather has flooded many low-lying badger setts in North Wales and damaged the structures of those on high ground. Wildlife expert Mal Ingham filmed a video showing one badger in the region being forced out into the open after its sett collapsed following a downpour. A badger emerges into the open in North Wales after a deluge brought by Storm Dennis collapsed its sett. The confused badger peers around before walking over the sunken ground In the footage, the confused-looking badger - which is soaking wet and covered in mud - is seen peering around. It walks around the muddy scene before briefly disappearing from view and then reappearing. Mr Ingham, former head ranger & wildlife officer for Wirral Council, said that, like humans, badgers are 'very reluctant' to leave their homes. Mr Ingham, who has been monitoring local wildlife for over 30 years, added that the conditions will have a 'tremendous impact' on the animals. 'Normally wet weather is good for badgers, it actually helps them find food,' he said. 'But this sort of weather where it's torrential and constant, it drowns badgers even though they're good swimmers. 'If they're trapped underground they will drown. 'I hate to think how many setts have been completely flooded out.' Mr Ingham has filmed multiple videos of local wildlife using his trail-cams in North Wales. Another of his recent videos shows a badger sow moving her tiny four cubs to another burrow due to the weather. The badger walks over the collapsed part of its sett before it peers back at the camera, which was set up by wildlife expert Mal Ingham The cubs are heard screeching as the mother badger carries them. Mr Ingham said that other wildlife such as foxes and otters may find it more difficult to find food, but will be less affected as they do not keep permanent homes. Badger setts, however, often 'stay in the family' and can be up to 200 years old. 'Setts can vary massively in size, even though a section may collapse, they can move into other parts, these badgers aren't going to move,' he said. 'They are very reluctant to abandon their homes.' He added that despite the weather he was optimistic about the animals' situation. Another of Mr Ingham's recent videos shows a badger sow moving her tiny four cubs to another burrow due to the weather. The cubs are heard screeching as the mother badger carries them across the camera's field of view 'Badgers are survivors,' he said. 'Undoubtedly this sort of weather does have a very detrimental effect on them. 'We will have lost a lot of animals but badgers will survive.' The wet weather has prompted the worst floods in 200 years, forcing thousands of Britons to abandon their homes. Officials are urging residents in South Wales, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire to evacuate, warning the UK is 'not out of the woods yet'. Communities worst-hit by Storm Dennis over the weekend are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches of rain will fall in 24 hours. York, Sheffield and Leeds face up to another three inches of rain throughout Friday, which the Met Office said won't relent until the early hours of Saturday. The Prime Minister has resisted calls to chair a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra to tackle the flooding crisis, despite criticism from locals in the worst-affected areas (shown) There are still 350 flood alerts in place nationwide - including six severe 'danger to life' warnings, with the latest affecting communities near the River Severn. In Monmouth, South Wales, pensioners were carried out of their homes on inflatable stretchers, while in Ironbridge, Shropshire, a local wine bar is being used as a shelter. The Prime Minister has so far resisted calls to arrange a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee and has no plans to visit any of the areas devastated by flooding. He is believed to be staying at the Chevening Estate in Sevenoaks, Kent, with his partner Carrie Symonds while Parliament is in recess. ALEPPO On Feb. 6, Syrian regime forces and their Russian-backed militia allies took control of the city of Saraqeb, in the east of Idlib province. It marked a turning point in the military operations against the Syrian opposition in northwestern Syria, as the city is located at the intersection of the strategic M5 (that connects Aleppo to Damascus) and M4 (which connects Aleppo to Latakia) highways top objectives of the regime. The oppositions swift loss of Saraqeb came as a shock for the opposition circles. The regime forces had taken over several villages in the city's countryside along with the city of Maaret al-Numan in southern Idlib on Jan. 28. During the month of December, the opposition lost dozens of villages in the countryside surrounding Maaret al-Numan, forcing thousands to flee their towns due to shelling and fighting. Regime forces besieged Saraqeb from all sides Feb. 5, and the Turkish troops deployed in its vicinity did not prevent them from entering and taking control of the city. The regime forces then proceeded with their ground operations toward the north and took control of more opposition-held areas in the eastern Idlib countryside and the southern countryside of Aleppo, all the way to the outskirts of the city of Aleppo. The regime has already made rapid progress and has taken control of dozens of villages and towns on both sides of the highway north of Saraqeb, in addition to villages in the western and southern countryside of Aleppo, including the strategic hill of al-Eiss in Aleppo's southern countryside and tightened its control over the entire M5 highway Feb. 11. Abu al-Alaa al-Halabi, an activist in the countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, Saraqeb is one of the largest cities in the countryside of Idlib in terms of area and population, with over 100,000 residents in addition to a large number of displaced people from different Syrian areas. Halabi added, Saraqeb's location on the Aleppo-Damascus M5 highway at its intersection with the Aleppo-Latakia M4 highway gave it great importance for the regime forces, which were able to take over despite Turkish forces deployed around the city. Saraqeb was thus a gate for regime forces to enter the southern countryside of Aleppo and continue to the north and quickly take control of the M5 highway amid violent battles during which the Turkish-backed opposition was forced to withdraw due to massive air and ground shelling. Mohammed Rasheed, an activist from al-Ghab Plain in the northwestern countryside of Hama near Idlib province, told Al-Monitor that the regime forces' control of Saraqeb allowed the forces advancing from the eastern Idlib countryside to regroup with the forces in the southern countryside of Aleppo on Feb. 8. The resulting pressure cost the opposition factions many more areas after Saraqeb. Rasheed added, The regime forces that took control of Saraqeb and the eastern countryside of Idlib are militias supported by Russia, while the regime forces that were launching attacks against the opposition in the southern and western countryside of Aleppo at the same time are militias supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Losing Saraqeb meant that the regime forces had the opportunity to control the entire M5 highway. The media coordinator of the National Army affiliated with the Free Syrian Army, Yahya Mayo, told Al-Monitor that the regime forces control of Saraqeb cost the opposition areas in the southern and western countryside of Aleppo. Intensive air and ground attacks forced tens of thousands of residents to move toward the Syrian-Turkish border north of Aleppo and Idlib, fearing the regime forces might reach their towns. Ahmed Bakro, a member of the political committee in Idlib, told Al-Monitor that Saraqeb facilitated complete control of the M5 highway, which is vital for transportation and land trade in Syria and also connects it to the outside world. The regime is in urgent need of international roads at this time of great economic hardship. Bakro added, Saraqeb is particularly significant since it is an important stronghold for opponents of Bashar al-Assads regime and has been central for the anti-regime revolutionary movement since 2011. Controlling it affects morale among the opposition. Mohammed Shakib al-Khaled, the head of the Syrian National Democratic Movement who resides in the city of Idlib, told Al-Monitor, The regime forces control of Saraqeb pushes the opposition toward marginal areas near the Syrian-Turkish border. Saraqeb will be a gate to the Syrian desert from eastern Idlib and through it, the regime will restore control over large areas in northwestern Syria. The regime forces now aspire to control the Aleppo-Latakia M4 highway, which passes through Arihah and Jisr al-Shughur, two large cities in the countryside of Idlib province that are just as important as Saraqeb. Should the regime forces succeed in taking control of the M4 highway, the Turkish-backed opposition will be crammed into an area near the border with no access to major roadways that is, if the regime forces and their allies stop there and do not proceed to take over Idlib province entirely. ATHENS, Ohio Gun rights advocate Kaitlin Bennett was chased off the Ohio University campus by a large group of protesters Monday when she made an impromptu appearance, according to reports. The Athens News reports that Bennett, who gained internet fame as the Kent State gun girl," went to the campus to film a video asking students questions related to Presidents Day, which was Monday. But the News reports the appearance quickly became chaotic as hundreds of protesters surrounded her, members of her conservative activist website Liberty Hangout, and her bodyguard. According to the Athens Post, protesters yelled at Bennett, held up middle fingers, and threw water through an open window in her truck as she left. The News reports some supporters did give Bennett hugs. So Kent state gun girl came to Ohio University and it didnt end well lol. #OU pic.twitter.com/3PvGxJsfOq (@LuiD59) February 17, 2020 On Twitter, Bennett claimed the appearance resulted in a riot. She also criticized Ohio University police, saying officers let it happen, and suggested President Donald Trump should strip funding from universities that harbor terrorists. It seems like the most liberal college in Ohio is also the most intolerant, the most disgusting, and the most horrific when it comes to diversity of opinion, and thats what were showing here today, Bennett said, according to the News. Bennett and her crew were on the campus less than two hours. Bennett posted a video below (contains strong language). This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at @ohiou started a riot when @Joelpatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists. pic.twitter.com/5TMlfdto9O Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 17, 2020 Police released a statement saying there was strong language and liquids thrown, but said there was no riot, no injuries were reported and there were no arrests. Police said both Bennett and the crowd were on the campus to exercise their First Amendment rights. The department said it was given no prior notice of Bennetts arrival, but added they did not ask her to leave. Although such notice is not required, the lack of it deprived the department of the ability to plan staffing levels," the statement says. As a result, the officers on duty had to prioritize their response to the events as they unfolded, rightly putting everyones personal safety ahead of all other concerns. Bennett later tweeted that she plans to return to Ohio University with an army of gun owners for an open-carry walk through the campus. Still, one student tells the News she questions Bennetts motives. I kind of feel like she just came here to get this reaction, sophomore Liam McSteen tells the News. I think its just kind of attention-seeking behavior. I dont know if she thinks shes going to change anyones mind out here. Getty Images En espanol | You don't consider yourself the forgetful type, yet somehow you can't seem to find your car keys er, on a regular basis. Misplacing your phone or your reading glasses isn't unusual. And just where did you leave your wallet? OK, so maybe you've had a lot on your mind, or you can't remember small details as well as you used to. No worries, technology can help you find your stuff. From tiny trackers and handy apps to personal assistants that can lend a helping hand, today's software and hardware might be all you need to locate everything from your car in a crowded mall parking lot to the TV remote stuck between sofa cushions. Keep track of items tiny, even furry Wouldn't it be great if you could attach a teeny thingamajig to all your things? If you couldn't find something, you simply could open an app to see where it is. These trackers are available now. And they work quite well. Mike Bloombergs newly released plan takes a different approach. It addresses both quality and cost, in detail. Whatever else you think of his campaign, his approach to higher education is arguably the most progressive of any candidate. On costs: He focuses his spending on lower-income families, rather than also making college free for the affluent. He would make tuition at public colleges free or nearly free for in-state students from the bottom half of the income distribution. For students from the bottom 25 percent, the plan would also cover living expenses, like food, books and transportation. Community college would be tuition free for everyone. The maximum Pell Grant, the main form of federal aid for students, would double in size. On quality: Bloomberg would increase funding for colleges and vocational programs that enact policies with a track record of lifting completion rates, like the ASAP program at the City University of New York. He would create financial incentives for elite private colleges to become more economically diverse. He would increase federal funding for high school advising programs. In many of these areas, there is already encouraging evidence about what works and what doesnt. The Obama administration did a lot of evidence-based work on higher education, but the Trump administration has largely abandoned it. And the notion of free college has become so important in the 2020 campaign that the importance of good college has fallen by the wayside. Im eager to hear what higher education experts have to say about Bloombergs plan in coming days. I asked Sandy Baum and Michael McPherson two experts I trust for their initial reaction yesterday, and they praised the plan. There are some reasons for concern (like the possibility that Pell Grants would move too far up the income distribution), Baum and McPherson said. On the whole, though, Bloombergs plan seems likely to do more good than the other candidates plans. 21 Vietnamese fishermen taken for coronavirus testing in Songkhla 21 Vietnamese crew from four Vietnamese fishing boats looking for sea cucumbers have been taken ashore to a Songkhla Navy hospital by Royal Thai Navy officials last night. They are being quarantined whilst being tested for coronavirus. Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The Songkhla Naval Base Hospitals medical team has now screened the entire crew following a report that the Vietnamese boat had travelled to China since the start of the outbreak. Concerns were raised when Maritime Information Sharing Centre was informed on February 14 that foreign ships searching for sea cucumbers had also encroached into Thailands maritime zone. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam share parts of the Gulf of Thailand. Its name in Malay and Khmer translates as the Gulf of Siam. In Thai, the gulf is historically known as Ao Sayam. In Vietnamese it is known as Vinh Thai Lan. Of the fishermen brought ashore, 16 didnt show any symptoms of coronavirus while the condition of the other five, who have now been screened, is yet to be confirmed. 2020 The Thaiger Theme(s): Others. Kiev, Feb 19 : The first-ever performance of arioso for soprano "I am with You" written by world-renowned Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk to support China in its fight against the novel coronavirus was staged at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine on Monday. "I wrote it in a traditional European style. But at the same time, I introduced some elements of Chinese folklore. You can feel it in the music. It is filled with optimism that these terrible times will pass and gives the feeling that the love and light will return, and China will live a normal life again," Skoryk said. It took Skoryk five days to create the piece. The lyrics were written by the Chinese poet Wang Yongchang, the Xinhua news agency reported. The rector of the academy, Maksym Tymoshenko, noted that the academy had never donated a piece of music to a foreign country as a sign of support. He expressed the hope that "I am with you" will be jointly performed by Ukrainian and Chinese musicians. "This work is impressive and very professional. It's written with love for China, feeling the situation that is happening in the country now. I believe that this step would bring our two countries closer," Tymoshenko said, adding that the academy has long-lasting ties with China as more than 1,000 Chinese students graduate and currently study music there. "We all see how China works to combat and control this terrible virus and we understand that we must support China, both by transferring material assistance and spiritual help," Tymoshenko said. Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Mayor Andy Ezard in the Council Chamber called the Jacksonville City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was publicly announced by posting and by written notice to the local newspaper and radio stations. ROLL CALL: The following answered present: Aldermen Brandon Adams, Mike Bartlett, Don Cook, Jeff Hopkins, Jeff Lonergan, Lori Large Oldenettel, Aaron Scott, Mike Wankel, Steve Warmowski, Eren Williams; Mayor Andy Ezard; City Attorney Dan Beard; City Clerk Skip Bradshaw. A quorum was declared. MINUTES: Motion was made by Hopkins, seconded by Cook, to approve the December 9, 2019 and December 26, 2019 Minutes as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried. PETITIONS: Aid. Adams presented three (3) signed petitions in support of Jacksonvilles efforts to obtain a medical cannabis dispensary, a recreational cannabis dispensary, and an on-site cannabis consumption permit. COMMUNICATIONS: CC Bradshaw advised that he has one communication to discuss. **This request was approved. Kelsey Moore, Senior Manager - Walk to End Alzheimers, is requesting permission to use Community Park on Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 6:30 a.m. to Noon for their annual Walk to End Alzheimers. CLAIMS: Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Lonergan, to pay claims when funds are available. By voice vote, motion carried. MAYORS REPORT: 1. Reappointment of Pat Kennedy, Lauretta Scheller and Mary Mann to the Historic Preservation Commission, term expires December 1, 2022. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Oldenettel, to accept the Mayors reappointments. By voice vote, motion carried. 2. Reappointment of David Blanchette, James Pisell and Samantha Sauer to the Heritage Cultural Center Board, term expires January 1, 2024. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Hopkins, to accept the Mayors reappointments. By voice vote, motion carried. 3. Reappointment of Tom Newby to the Jacksonville Board of Managers Jacksonville Cemeteries, term expires January 1, 2025. Motion was made by Wankel, seconded by Lonergan, to accept the Mayors reappointment. By voice vote, motion carried. CITY ATTORNEYS REPORT: 1. Resolution authorizing renewal of Lease Agreement with the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Wankel, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed. 2020-R-001 Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution APPROVING RENEW AL OF LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS, AND JACKSONVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-(Term: January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024), is hereby approved. Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Page 1 of5 Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays Motion carried 10-0. 2. Resolution authorizing execution of Amendment No. 2 for the City of Jacksonville Economic Development Revenue Bonds (MacMurray College Project), Series 2017. Motion was made by Lonergan, seconded by Williams, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed. 2020-R-002 Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS (MACMURRAY COLLEGE PROJECT), SERIES 2017 - (Interest-only payments in 2020), is hereby approved. Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays Motion carried 10-0. CITY CLERKS REPORT: 1. Community Development Department Report - December 31, 2019 2. City Clerks Cash Receipts Report - December 31, 2019 3. City Clerks General Fund - Budget Report- December 31, 2019 4. City Clerks General Fund - Revenue Analysis Report - December 31, 2019 PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion. CONSENT AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA: (Items addressed under the Consent Agenda are routine or are brought forward at the direction of the Council and are enacted with one motion. If discussions were desired, that item would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately under the Committee Reports.) FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL: 1. City Treasurers Report - November 30, 2019. City Treasurer Ron Smiljanichs report for November 30, 2019, in which totals for cash receipts, cash disbursements, investments, and balances for all City bank and investment accounts were given. 2020-R-003 2020-R-004 Resolution AUTHORIZING VARIO US PAYMENTS FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $37,602.84 (Hutchison Engineering - $394; Hutchison Engineering - $18,404; Hutchison Engineering - $2,863; Hutchison Engineering - $2,242; Johnson Plumbing - $206.96; R P Lumber - $242.88; Siemens - $13,250) Resolution AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR SERVICES RENDERED -$2,341 (Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $1,228 (City Attorney); Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $1,113 (Administrative Adjudication - Asst. City Attorney) Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Page 2 of5 2020-R-005 Resolution AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND - $500,000 PARKS & LAKES: No discussion. PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS: No discussion. PUBLIC PROTECTION: 2020-R-006 Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM BOB RIDINGS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 2020 JEEP CHEROKEE FOR USE AT THE JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT - (Bob Ridings of Taylorville on State Bid - Not to exceed $29,295 - To be paid from the Drug Enforcement Fund) SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion. UTILITY: 2020-R-007 Resolution AUTHORIZING VARIO US PAYMENTS FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $19,973.02 (Benton & Associates, Inc. - $2,624; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $1,181.25; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $2,950.60; Prairie State Plumbing and Heating - $13,217.17) 2020-R-008 Resolution APPROVING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER #2 WITH PRAIRIE STATE PLUMBING & HEATING, INC. RE: WWTP BOILER/HVAC REHABILITATION PROJECT - (Net increase to the Contract Price of$3,530) 2020-R-009 Resolution AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH PITNEY BOWES GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES RE: FOLDER/INSERTER MACHINE - (5 year term with total lease payments of $24,080.40) Motion was made by Wankel, seconded by Hopkins, to accept the Consent Agenda. Mayor Ezard asked for discussion or if there were any items to be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion and there were none. ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays Motion carried 10-0. COMMITTEE REPORTS FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL: 1. First reading of an ordinance making appropriations for corporate purposes for fiscal year 2020 for the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Lonergan, to accept the first reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed. 2020-0-001 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORPORATE PURPOSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, MORGAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS (January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 - $41,128,946.63), is hereby approved. Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Page 3 of5 Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Warmowski asked for clarification on the following: City Attorney - Attorneys Fees Miscellaneous line item of $60,000: CA Beard explained that 30-50% of his bill each month is to cover his time reviewing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. He is responsible for ensuring that every FOIA request is properly redacted. Ald. W armowski wants to ensure enough funds have been added to cover his expenses. CC Bradshaw noted that the Appropriations Budget includes a 10% contingency should expenses exceed the budget. CA Beard also stated that the new cannabis law is adding to the expense and has been a burden on the Police Department, as they are now working to expunge all cannabis arrests, with the most recent expungement beginning with 2012 to 2019. The department has been mandated to have the last three years expungements done by the end of 2020. The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners line item of $10,000: CC Bradshaw explained that expenses increase each year a new hiring list is posted due to printing of applications and training materials, and psychological evaluations of new police officers. The difference of approximately $60,000 in the Combined Dispatch line item this year as compared to last year: Chief Mefford explained that the budget appears disproportionate because of the way the services are billed. The Countys fiscal year begins in September, the Citys begins in January. In order to have everyone on the same billing cycle, it was determined that the City would pay their new years invoice in September of each year. Funds were added to the line item this year to ensure that funds were available to pay for services this September for FY2021. The Overtime/Call-in Salary of $120,000 for the Police Department: Chief Mefford advised that the balance of benefit packages are paid from this fund in addition to overtime and call-in payments. CC Bradshaw explained that the departments try to stay within their total budget, and even though they may go over in one line item, they still manage to come in under budget by being under budget in other line items. General discussion ensued. An update on the grant funds that the Fire Department applied for: CC Bradshaw explained that the grant is a reimbursable grant, when funds are received they are put into the appropriate revenue line item. Mayor Ezard advised that Fire Chief Sills will be presenting his year end report and will discuss this grant at that time. The Goveia Fund: Interest continues to accumulate and the fund is nearly $5,400. These funds were to be used for a specific project that has yet to be determined. Once the project is determined, the funds will be transferred to the Parks & Lakes Department. ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays Motion carried 10-0. PARKS & LAKES: No discussion. PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS: 1. Second reading of an ordinance approving text amendment to the Jacksonville Zoning Ordinance pertaining to adult use cannabis. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Adams, accept the second reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed. 2019-0-013 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance REGARDING MUNICIPAL CANNABIS BUSINESS ZONING. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLES 2, ARTICLE 4 OF THE JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO ADULT-USE CANNABIS - Subject to a Special Use Permit, is hereby approved. Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Page 4 of5 Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 2 Nays (Cook, Oldenettel) Motion carried 8-2. PUBLIC PROTECTION: No discussion. SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion. UTILITY: No discussion. OLD BUSINESS: Ald. Warmowski has received several phone calls from residents on Audubon Drive asking the City assume responsibility of their street. He pointed out that the City has certain standards that must be met before taking over a private drive or street. This topic will be turned over to the Planning & Public Works Committee for discussion. Brief discussion ensued. NEW BUSINESS: Ald. Adams talked about the number of street lights that are out in his Ward. He recently contacted Ameren to let them know about the outages and suggested that police officers working the night shift take note of any outages and report them to Ameren. Supt. Terry Chumley advised that Ameren is aware of the situation and is in the process of replacing all lights with new LED lights so the process is taking time. Aid. Williams also has the same issue in her Ward and asked for the publics help in reporting outages. ADJOURNMENT: With no further discussion motion was made by Cook, seconded by Hopkins, to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Recorded by City Clerk Skip Bradshaw. Summary of Minutes Jacksonville City Council Meeting January 13, 2020 Page 5 of5 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 03:02:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, Feb, 18 (Xinhua) -- The desert locusts, which have already destroyed crops in Horn of Africa countries, have arrived in South Sudan, the government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said Tuesday. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Onyoti Adigo told reporters that the locusts entered the country from Uganda through the southern region of Eastern Equatoria State. Adigo said the ministry is seeking 2.5 billion South Sudanese pounds (about 20 million U.S. dollars) for chemicals, sprays and personnel to respond to the locust invasion. The entry of the desert locusts has raised concerns about the fragile food security situation in the country where it's estimated that half of the population is facing severe food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance. East Africa is seeing the worst locust infestation in decades. Enditem Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attacked Bernie Sanders on Monday in a new digital video featuring aggressive and derogatory tweets, memes and videos purportedly posted by the Vermont senator's online supporters. The nearly minute-long clip, which will not run on television, closes with a bite of Sanders calling for people "who hold different views" to "engage in a civil discourse." Text then flashes on-screen, asking, "Really?" Bloomberg launched the video in response to a recent Sanders' speech that questioned whether the billionaire former mayor's record, including his past embrace of "racist policies like stop-and-frisk'," would ultimately depress Democratic turnout in a general election campaign against President Donald Trump. The behavior of a section of Sanders campaign's young and, in many cases, very online base has fueled a backlash from the Vermont senator's opponents over its often aggressive rhetoric -- some of which has crossed the line into outright harassment. But many of Sanders' supporters have pushed back against what they describe as a bad faith weaponization of the so-called "Bernie bros" phenomenon, often noting the diversity of Sanders' support. Bloomberg's morning blitz touched off a day-long back-and-forth between the two camps. By mid-afternoon, Bloomberg's campaign manager had charged Sanders' staff with using "the very same attacks and tactics" employed by President Donald Trump. His statement to reporters went out with the subject line, "BERNIE'S NEW BRO... DONALD TRUMP." Two hours later, Sanders' tweeted an image of Bloomberg and Trump -- together -- on a golf course. The exchange could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the campaign, with the billionaire Bloomberg unleashing his massive campaign apparatus in an effort to drive down support and discredit the Democratic primary's current leader in polls and fundraising. Bloomberg has already spent in excess of $400 million since entering the race despite deciding not to contest any of the early states. He will make his first appearance on the ballot in a little more than two weeks on Super Tuesday. Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race In a statement to CNN, Sanders spokeswoman Sarah Ford condemned the ad and reiterated Sanders' call for supporters to be civil in their online interactions. "Sen. Sanders is building a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational movement for justice. We recognize that our opponents in the establishment would like to perpetuate a false myth to discount the breadth and diversity of our supporters -- and we categorically reject it," Ford said. "As the senator has said loudly and clearly, there is no room in the political revolution for abuse and harassment online, and we must live our values of love and compassion." Bloomberg campaign spokesperson Galia Slayen responded, saying in a statement, "Our campaign believes we need to unite to defeat Trump in November, but the kind of divisive 'energy' being displayed by 'Bernie Bros' is not going to get us there." Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir, in a tweet referencing the ad, took more direct aim at Bloomberg. "Candidate trying to buy the election is trying to smear candidate trying to win with a people-powered movement," he wrote. Sanders has acknowledged the harassment perpetuated by some of his online followers and sought to distance his campaign from their behavior. In February, when he entered the race, Sanders wrote a memo to surrogates urging them to keep their uniforms clean. "Let us do our very best to engage respectfully with our Democratic opponents talking about the issues we are fighting for, not about personalities or past grievances," Sanders said. "I want to be clear that I condemn bullying and harassment of any kind and in any space." Though most of his top surrogates have adhered to that request, others have, during a number of high profile incidents strayed from it. The most notable outburst came during the controversy over whether Sanders, in a private meeting with Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2018, said he did not believe a woman could win the presidency. Warren and her supporters were bombarded with snake emojis -- suggesting her campaign had intentionally leaked the account to discredit her longtime political ally turned campaign rival -- in the aftermath. One of Sanders' most prominent endorsers, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, fired back at Bloomberg over the ad on Monday, calling it an attempt to distract from the growing uproar over the former mayor's record on race relations. Jayapal, a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told CNN's Dana Bash that she "abhor(s) the online Twitter world" and has been the target of abuse herself, but that she mostly dismissed those messages "because they just aren't reflective of the real world," before pointing to Sanders' repeated calls for civility. "Bernie has consistently and recently multiple times said he doesn't want these kinds of people in the movement," Jayapal said. "But to focus on these folks really erases women and folks of color and the tens of millions of people who literally bring an incredible energy everywhere they go ... These women of color, black and brown folks, don't deserve to have Bloomberg paint us and stereotype us in this way." One of the groups singled out in Bloomberg's video, New York Communities for Change, which recently protested a fundraiser for former Vice President Joe Biden by staging a mock political funeral, apologized for their theater on Monday -- "we went too far," they tweeted -- before unloading on Bloomberg. "Our protest is now being used in a disinformation campaign by Mike Bloomberg. He is spending hundreds of millions to buy the presidency and falsely claiming that we are in support of any presidential candidate," the group said in a thread on Twitter. MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - VIA Rail received a notification from CN allowing a resumption of service in Southwestern Ontario. Beginning Thursday morning, February 20, all trains running between Toronto-London-Windsor, Toronto-Sarnia and Toronto-Niagara will resume service. For operational and safety reasons, please note that trains may encounter certain delays. Furthermore, between Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa, partial service will resume during weekdays and full service will be offered during weekends. Overview of service resumptions Route Service Starting Date Toronto- London-Windsor Full Thursday, February 20 Toronto-Sarnia Full Thursday, February 20 Toronto-Niagara Falls Full Thursday, February 20 Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa Weekdays Partial Trains 22, 24, 26 and 28 leaving from Ottawa Trains 33, 35, 37 and 39, leaving from Quebec City Thursday, February 20 Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa weekends Full Saturday, February 22 CANCELLATIONS Since all other VIA Rail services are not operating until further notice, with the exception of Sudbury-White River (CP Rail) and Churchill-The Pas (Hudson Bay Railway), VIA Rail has cancelled all affected departures until the end of the day on Thursday, February 20, and all customers will be receiving a cancellation notice. Cancellations are made on a progressive basis, depending on the evolution of the situation. As soon as we confirm that a train will be cancelled, passengers on that train will be notified by email and will be automatically reimbursed. Due to the volume of transactions that we process in these exceptional circumstances, reimbursement can take a minimum of 15 days. REFUNDS Passengers holding a ticket for which the first trip's scheduled departure has not yet passed and is no later than Monday, February 24, have the option of autonomously cancelling online for a full refund with no service charges, even if additional segments fall after February 24. Passengers may also get a refund for a return ticket scheduled after February 24, as long as the first portion of the trip was scheduled no later than that date. All details on the refunding procedure are available on our website: https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-advisory-information. All passengers are encouraged to visit our website for more information. As of February 18, 532 trains have been cancelled because of the blockades. More than 103 000 passengers have been affected. Our passengers rely on VIA Rail for regular and safe intercity rail service and we are eager to resume operations. We remain hopeful for an end to the situation as soon as possible and encourage all relevant parties to continue their efforts towards a peaceful resolution. We thank our passengers for their continued patience and understanding. About VIA Rail As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transported over 5 million passengers in 2019. The Corporation has been awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. Visit the "About VIA Rail" section at https://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail. Follow VIA Rail Twitter @VIA_rail Facebook viarailcanada Instagram @viarailcanada VIA: The Blog SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc. Related Links http://www.viarail.ca/ Feb 18, 2020 KRR Actress Isha Koppikar is making a comeback to Tamil cinema through actor Sivakarthikeyans next film Ayalaan. The actress is facing the camera in Tamil after two decades. She will portray the character Eliza, an assassin, in the flick. Isha was last seen in the film Narasimma in 2001. Sharing a working still from the movie, Isha tweeted: From the sets of my new movie with my director #ravikumar and co actor @Siva_Kartikeyan . Ayalaan is being jointly bankrolled by RD Rajas 24 AM Studios and Kotapadi J Rajeshs KJR Studios. This sci-fi is helmed by ace director KS Ravikumar. It has music by A.R. Rahman. Actress Rakul Preet Singh will be the leading lady in the project, which is a bilingual. Click the Movie button below for more info: Ayalaan Sivakarthikeyan Pictures Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. London, Feb 18 : Researchers have found that the children conceived through assisted reproductive techniques including IVF (in vitro fertilisation) had a 45 per cent higher risk of death before 1 year of age than children conceived naturally. The findings, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, link the increased risk to a higher degree of premature births in IVF children and emphasize that the risk of infant mortality is still very small for both groups. "Our results indicate that the kind of assisted reproductive technique used may make a difference, and therefore it is important to further investigate what causes or underlying mechanisms are behind the risks," said study lead author Anastasia Nyman Iliadou from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "They also show the need for extra attention and care of children conceived with IVF, especially during the first week of life," Iliadou added. Prior studies show that IVF-pregnancies come with an increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity and birth defects. These risks have partly been linked to the increased probability of twin-births after IVF-treatment. In the current study, the researchers selected only singleton children and compared mortality in children conceived through different types of assisted reproductive techniques with children who were conceived naturally. They analysed data on 2.8 million children born in Sweden over a period of 30 years. Some 43,500 of these were the result of assisted reproduction. In total, 7 236 children died before 1 year of age, of whom only 114 were conceived with assisted reproductive techniques. After adjusting for confounding factors such as the mother's age and earlier infertility, the researchers found that the children conceived through IVF had a 45 percent higher risk of death before 1 year of age than children conceived naturally. The level of risk varied depending on which type of assisted reproductive technique was used, and how many days had passed since birth. The risk gradually declined after the first weeks of life. During the first week of life, the children conceived after transfer of a frozen embryo had a more than two-fold higher risk of death than the children conceived naturally. This was, however, based on only a small sample of children conceived with frozen embryos. After one week, the risk dropped to about the same level as the naturally conceived children. Infants conceived from transfer of a fresh embryo or with the help of an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)--where a single sperm is injected into the egg--did not have a higher risk of death than naturally conceived children, irrespective of how many days had passed since birth. According to the researchers, one explanation may be that more IVF-children are born prematurely than those conceived naturally, which in itself could have negative consequences. The leading causes of infant mortality among children conceived with assisted reproductive techniques included respiratory distress, incomplete lung development, infections and neonatal hemorrhage, which are conditions often linked to prematurity. THAT amount of drugs warrants imprisonment, Judge Mary Larkin said at Newcastle West court where she was told local man Sean Bolger, 95, Assumpta Park was caught with herbal cannabis with an estimated value of just under 2,000. Mr Bolger pleaded to one count of illegal possession of drugs and one count of illegal possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply at Snows Cross, Ballingarry on November 2, 2017. Inspector Andrew Lacey said on that date, gardai were operating a check point and stopped a car, in which Mr Bolger was the front seat passenger. Gardai saw Mr Bolger throwing an item under the drivers seat which turned out to be 99.9 grammes of herbal cannabis. Gardai also retrieved 500 and a phone. Mr Bolger admitted possession of the cannabis, the inspector said. Pleading for his client, solicitor Enda OConnor said the value of the items are disputed. His client, he said, had bought the drugs for 800. It is an enormous amount of drugs, Judge Larkin said. He very much backed a lame horse, Mr OConnor said, pointing out that within five minutes of buying the drugs, he was apprehended by gardai in a random, rural area. He is on the bottom rung of the food chain, he contended. Once the vehicle was stopped, he manned up. He made admissions to the gardai. He was doing his best to secure employment, Mr OConnor said and had the promise of a job. He understands the fate in front of him he said but asked for a short adjournment. I take the view that trading with drugs of a significant amount warrants a jail sentence, Judge Larkin said but she agreed to an adjournment until May 21. I am not going to destroy your faith in him, she told the solicitor. Schools officials contended that such language was part of his job responsibilities, not speech protected by the First Amendment, and that the case should be dismissed. U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott dismissed it last week, agreeing that the manner in which Meriwether addressed the student wasnt protected under the First Amendment. President Klaus Iohannis is set to attend, starting on Thursday, the extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels, where discussions will focus on the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union for 2021-2027, according to a press release of the Presidential Administration . The objective of the extraordinary meeting is to reach an agreement among the Member States on the future budget of the Union, based on the proposal presented on February 14 by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. "At the meeting, President Klaus Iohannis will underline Romania's readiness to contribute to the advancement of negotiations to reach, as soon as possible, an agreement on the future European budget," informs the Presidential Administration. The head of state will present the priorities of Romania in relation to the future budget of the Union. "President Klaus Iohannis will reaffirm Romania's support for an ambitious budget, preferably at the level proposed by the European Commission, given that new, more ambitious objectives have been added. Also, the President will continue to plead for an adequate funding of the Cohesion Policy and of the Common Agricultural Policy, stressing that our country must benefit from consistent allocations for these two policies, as tools aimed at reducing the development gaps among Member States," said the same source. The head of state will also support the importance of providing flexible and simplified implementation conditions, which will allow beneficiaries easier access to European funds. On February 7, President Klaus Iohannis met with the President of the European Council to discuss the EU's multiannual budget. The meeting was part of the series of meetings that the President of the European Council held with the leaders of the Member States in preparing for the extraordinary meeting of the European Council to take place on February 20, where they will negotiated on the future multi-annual EU budget. Prior to the meeting, the head of state said he was determined to negotiate "really hard" for Romania to obtain as much money as possible from the funds for cohesion and the common agricultural policy from the multiannual budget of the European Union. Earlier this month, a Brazilian judge stopped the prosecution of Glenn Greenwald under Brazils hacking laws. The case against Greenwald, a journalist for The Intercept, was apparently modeled on the indictment of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, under United States hacking laws. Both cases are examples of governments using hacking laws to stifle political speechand we should expect more of the same. The public tends to think of Assanges case as a massive First Amendment attack under the Espionage Act, for passing on leaks from a whistleblower and former Army intelligence analyst named Chelsea Manning. Assange, however, was also charged with breaking US hacking laws for allegedly agreeing with Manning to crack a password to a government computer network. The case against Assange is flimsyas is the one against Greenwald. Both cases are based on the same theory, first advanced by Mike Pompeo and the Justice Department, and rooted in a case known as Bartnicki. ICYMI: Governments of the world just ramped up spying on reporters Bartnicki v. Vopper, decided by the Supreme Court in 2001, ruled that if stolen documents are delivered to journalistsin the Bartnicki case, to a radio stationthey can be published (or broadcast), as long as the journalists received them passively and did not participate in their theft. The case did not attempt to answer what happens if journalists actively pursue sources for leaks. Recently, the Justice Department has moved to fill the hole left open by Bartnickithat is, how much journalists can do to pursue a leak. The assertion is essentially that a journalist can never actively seek the release of classified documents. This is what the Assange and Greenwald cases are really about. In Greenwalds case, a hacker delivered him unsolicited information, which revealed that a Brazilian judge was in cahoots with the incumbent government to imprison Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former Brazilian president, to stop him from running again. Greenwald published the information and was later indicted for participating in the hack. Greenwald had moved from being a passive receiver of information to being slightly more active, as its distributor. He moved from being a dumbwaiter who doesnt talk to sources to a journalist who does. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Assange had many more conversations with Manning than Greenwald had with his source. After Manning dumped her leaksclassified information on US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostlyon Wikileaks, Assange encouraged Manning to obtain more information because, he said, curious eyes never run dry in my experience. That is standard journalistic behavior, as reporters encourage their sources to provide them more information on a daily basis. Surely, such encouragement is protected by the First Amendment. If Neil Sheehan, a reporter for the New York Times, had not persistently encouraged Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst, to leak the Pentagon Papers, they would likely have never seen the light of day. (I led the Times lawyers in that case.) The US government also alleges that Assange had a conversation with Manning about cracking a password to conceal Mannings identity while he obtained classified military documents. As described in Assanges indictment, however, the conversation was incomplete, and it will be surprising if the government manages to prove that Assange directly and materially assisted Manning in cracking the password. Because of the acute First Amendment implications of the case, Assanges direct and material assistance should be required before stripping away First Amendment protection for Assanges news gathering activities. The US government has, for all practical purposes, admitted that it has a weak case against Assange for hacking. In May 2019, a grand jury in Virginia indicted Assange under the Espionage Act, and federal prosecutors subpoenaed Manning, ostensibly, to fill in the blanks of the alleged password cracking conspiracy. Manning has now been in jail for most of the past eleven months for refusing to testify. She says she never will. Meanwhile, Assange is imprisoned in the United Kingdom with an extradition hearing scheduled for the end of this month. The hacking charge, it seems, was trumped up against him in order to prompt his extradition. The hacking charge against Assange also provides the US government with a PR line that makes Assange sound like just another hacker rather than a champion of free speech. The Justice Department, you may recall, first unsealed its indictment of Assange for hacking and only later did it amend the indictment to include charges under the Espionage Act. It is not untoward to suggest that the order of the release of these indictments was part of a PR strategy to get the public on the governments side before getting to the Espionage Acts more controversial charges. In any event, we can expect that governments worldwide will attempt to follow the example of the US and Brazil. Conversations between sources and reporters will be scrutinized to determine whether reporters crossed some imaginary line between passive receipt of information and active pursuit of it. Further, governments may use anti-hacking statutes to cover their tracks, allowing them to easily confuse the public and courts with laws that are vague and full of technical gibberish. The end game will be for governments, particularly authoritarian ones, to control the flow of information. In 2017, the US government classified 49 million documents. Governments cannot plug leaks of documents at that magnitudethey can only put a finger in the dike. And they can scare the hell out of journalists. THE MEDIA TODAY: A celebrity death and a political scandal spark debates about privacy Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today James C. Goodale is the former Vice Chairman and General Counsel of the New York Times. Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Lawyers for Harvey Weinstein wanted a juror in his Manhattan rape and sexual-assault trial kicked off the jury, claiming she was reviewing books on predatory older men including Kate Elizabeth Russells controversial debut novel, My Dark Vanessa during the proceedings. This juror is the same panelist who herself penned a novel involving predatory older men. Its my understanding that youre asking for juror No. 11 to be discharged and asking for alternate juror No. 1 to take her place, Justice James Burke said. Weinstein lawyer Damon Cheronis told Burke that juror No. 11 had posted a review of the book to a book-review site on January 29. The review states that she liked a lot about this novel. He argued that they believe that is in violation of the courts order not to consume media related to the trial. My Dark Vanessa is about a woman who revisits a sexual relationship she had with her English teacher when she was just 15 years old, when another ex-student makes sexual-misconduct allegations against him. On the same book-review site, the juror also said she was reading Vanessa Springoras Le Consentement. Springora, in the book, describes being sexually preyed upon as a teenage girl by author Gabriel Matzneff. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi contended that Weinsteins defense was making an end run to dump a juror they didnt want. Justice Burke brought the juror out to answer questions. So, I understand that during the course of the trial, you reviewed some books online about various topics, about child abuse and predatory older men, Burke said, noting that there was a review published about one week ago. She said that she posted about reading the French book Le Consentement, but I dont think Ive reviewed it yet. Burke thanked the juror, and she was not dismissed. She apparently is simply reading the book, so the motion is denied, Burke said of the defenses request to boot juror No. 11. Had she been dismissed, it would have changed the demographic makeup of Weinsteins jury. Alternate juror No. 1 is a man, meaning No. 11s dismissal would have left the jury with eight men and four women. Burke also ordered Weinsteins defense team Tuesday to stop communicating with the public and the press until a verdict comes down. Burkes order came after prosecutors complained that lead Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno addressed jurors in an op-ed in Newsweek this weekend. Defense team, youre ordered to refrain from communicating with the public and the press until theres a verdict in this case, Burke said. I will caution you about the tentacles of your public-relations juggernaut. After Burke said this, a Weinstein rep turned toward the audience and mouthed the word tentacle with amusement, waving his fingers to emulate sea creatures feelers. It was unclear who, if anyone, was the desired recipient of said tentacle spirit-fingers. Weinstein faces five counts in his New York case for alleged attacks involving two women, onetime Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi and former actress Jessica Mann. Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorras testimony that Weinstein raped her around late 1993 is being used to buttress the two most serious counts, for predatory sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty. UPDATE, February 19, 11:28 a.m.: Weinsteins lawyers on Wednesday again asked for juror No. 11 to be booted from the Manhattan rape and sexual-assault trial over her review of My Dark Vanessa, claiming she hadnt been straight-up with the judge when questioned about her reading habits. Cheronis cited Burkes statement to this juror Tuesday in which the judge said, I understand that during the course of the trial you reviewed some books online. The juror said, I have not, Cheronis said in court. There was a review published within the last week or so. The juror said, I dont know what you mean. Cheronis also said, The juror responded, I dont think I reviewed it yet. The attorney also maintained that Burkes questioning hadnt sufficiently probed her reviewing My Dark Vanessa. The initial answer that she hadnt reviewed any books was not candid; moreover, the following colloquy with the court only dealt with the French book, Cheronis said. Burke stood by his decision not to boot juror No. 11, saying, My finding is nonetheless that she just hasnt done anything wrong. Update, February 24: Harvey Weinsteins verdict has been announced. As we reflect on 125 years of history, we are also thinking about the future. " Larkmead Vineyards (https://larkmead.com) is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, a milestone rivaled by few wineries in the United States. Founded as a wine estate in the late 1800s, Larkmead is now under the stewardship of proprietors Cam Baker and Kate Solari Baker, who have overseen Larkmeads elevation to a world-class estate winery over the last two decades. Larkmead produces some of the Napa Valleys top rated Cabernet Sauvignon under the guidance of celebrated winemaker Dan Petroski. As we reflect on 125 years of history, we are also thinking about the future. Our family has had the great fortune to act as stewards of this great estate since it was purchased by Kates parents, Larry and Polly Solari, in 1948 and we have a responsibility to protect and preserve it for posterity, said Cam Baker. That means honoring the estates remarkable history and achieving the highest quality wines for its future. As a longstanding bastion of research and supporter of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, Larkmead is at the forefront of viticulture and climate research. In August 2019, Larkmead announced the establishment of a research block, dedicating three acres of the estate to be planted to several different grape varieties, clones, and rootstocks for trial purposes as Napa Valleys climate changes. The three-acre plot will be planted to California heritage varieties including Chenin Blanc, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel, alongside Mediterranean varieties such as Aglianico, Tempranillo, and Touriga Nacional. This research endeavor is not the first to occur at Larkmead. In 1939, UC Davis professor and eminent grape geneticist, Dr. Harold P. Olmo, planted a clonal station at Larkmead with the purpose of understanding Cabernet Sauvignon and its place in Napa Valleys terroir. In honor of the remarkable contributions Dr. Olmo made through his work at Larkmead and internationally, the Bakers made a recent gift to the UC Davis Library to fund the processing, cataloging, and digitization of the significant Dr. Harold Olmo Archival Collection at the UC Davis Library. Through the spring of 2020, Larkmead will be launching a number of initiatives celebrating the anniversary, both at the winery and in markets across the US. At the winery, Larkmead will showcase the estates history through an exhibit of images and objects from significant milestones, open to guests with tasting appointments. Larkmead will also host a series of tasting events in several national markets and at the winery, by invitation. A History Spanning Across Three Centuries Larkmead was named by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, whose father, Dr. Charles M. Hitchcock, purchased 1,000 acres in Napa Valley in 1873 and subsequently gave a portion of the property to Lillie. Having spent the Civil War years in Paris, Lillie developed a bohemian lifestyle, and her home at Larkmead soon became a haven for famous artists, poets, and writers of her day. A winery at Larkmead was leased by F. Salmina & Co. in 1895, now considered the year of Larkmeads founding as a wine estate. In 1906, the Salmina family built a new winery and by 1915, Larkmead was winning awards at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, also known as the Worlds Fair in San Francisco. Prohibition brought Larkmeads winemaking to a halt in 1920, but the Salmina family sustained their business by obtaining a license to produce sacramental wine, allowing production to continue. Following repeal in 1933, Larkmead was ready to sell wine by January 1934. In 1939, just after the start of World War II, Larkmead debuted their 1937 vintage wine the first Larkmead wine to be sold under a vintage date. That same year, Larkmead wines were featured at a lunch with President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Treasure Island in San Francisco. More importantly for the future of Napa Valley and the American wine industry, Dr. Olmo one of the 20th centurys most influential viticulturists planted a clonal station at the Larkmead estate. In the 1940s, he developed the widely-planted Cabernet Sauvignon clone FPS 02. Commonly known as the Oakville selection, this clone was fundamental in establishing Cabernet Sauvignon as Napa Valley and Californias signature grape variety. In 1948, Larry Solari, Manager of the Wine Growers Guild marketing collective, and his wife, Polly, purchased the Larkmead estate, marking the beginning of the Solari family stewardship. The Solaris began a long tenure selling estate fruit to Napa Valleys top wine producers and later wine under the name Larkmead Vineyards. During this period, Larry also served as President of United Vintners, which owned Italian Swiss Colony, Inglenook, and Beaulieu Vineyard. Larkmead transitioned to the ownership of Cam and Kate in 1993, and they began the significant replanting of the entire vineyard property to the highest quality Bordeaux varietals that continues today. We knew that our vineyard produced some of the best fruit in Napa Valley, and we wanted Larkmead to be the great Napa Valley estate that it was destined to be, said Kate Solari Baker. Our first release in the new era was the 1995 vintage, and Larkmead is now producing the highest quality wines in the Napa Valley which will continue to get even better. Committed to Larkmead being a world-renowned wine estate, in 2005 Cam and Kate built the first phase of a new state-of-the-art winery on the property so that each vineyard block could have its own dedicated vinification tank. The production facility and a farmhouse-style hospitality building were designed by renowned architect and family friend, Howard Backen. In April 2006, a new tasting room opened to the public, and in 2013, the facility was expanded to enhance micro-lot fermentation and barrel aging. Under the direction of winemaker Dan Petroski, named 2017 Winemaker of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle, Larkmeads wines have achieved numerous accolades, fulfilling the promise of this historic estate, and the best is yet to come. For more information about Larkmead Vineyards, please visit https://larkmead.com/. Follow Larkmead on Instagram via @larkmead_vineyards, Facebook via @larkmeadvineyards, or Twitter via @Larkmead. Asia Virus Deals New Blow to Cambodian City Bound to China A motorbike drives past a closed casino in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Feb. 16, 2020. / REUTERS SIHANOUKVILLE, CambodiaAn influx of Chinese that some Cambodians resented for bringing noise, dust and chaos to the port of Sihanoukville, is the cause of more pain now that it has gone into reverse. The new coronavirus has meant yet another setback for Sihanoukville after the government last year banned the online gambling that had helped fuel the spectacular growth of a once listless city into a major Chinese population center. Now things are calm and in order, unlike before, but it is bad for businesses like mine, said tuk-tuk driver Kwan Samhay, 55, as he cruised the streets looking for passengers. There are no Chinese tourists riding on my tuk-tuk anymore. More than any city in Southeast Asia, Sihanoukville exemplified Chinas growing regional presence and the complexity of economic, political and personal ties that have sprung up. Touted on the one hand as an important port and industrial center for Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, the biggest driving force for Chinese investment had been into casinosand most of all into online gambling. That stopped last year, when Cambodia banned the online casinos under pressure from Beijing, driving out tens of thousands of Chinese who had moved to the city. Before that an estimated 80,000 Chinese lived in Sihanoukville, roughly on a par with the Cambodian population. Sihanoukvilles remaining casinos had continued to draw a steady stream of Chinese customers and real estate developments had brought investors looking for an exotic opportunity. But that has almost stopped now that travellers are unable to leave China because of restrictions over the coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 1,700 people, mostly in China. Sihanoukville has had its own virus scarerecording the only case in Cambodia, but also hosting the cruise ship MS Westerdam from which one passenger has tested positive for the virus. So quiet Since the Chinese left and then the coronavirus outbreak started, the crowd in this city is very much different from before, it is now so quiet, said Kwan Samhay. Across the city, where provincial authorities reported in mid-2019 that more than 90 percent of businesses were Chinese owned, Chinese characters are peeling from the windows of abandoned restaurants, supermarkets and hairdressers. Casinos that relied entirely on online gambling are shuttered. Block after block of 12-storey buildings stand empty but for the desks where online casino workers used to contact customers across China. Local authorities say at least 7,000 Cambodians have lost their jobs since the ban on online gambling last August. For some in the Chinese business community, the ban on online gambling is a good thing and does not spell the end of the investment in the city, which also hosts a Chinese-run industrial zone and might have oil offshore. Offline casinos will continue to operate, but because of the flow of people, business is temporarily bad, said Zheng Longming, who has worked in Cambodia for more than 12 years. Sihanoukville cannot rely on online gambling to increase GDP or fiscal revenue So I think this change is positive. The departure of so many peoplenobody has a precise estimatehas reduced the strain on the city as authorities try to pave roads and fit sewer systems that had been overwhelmed by the new arrivals. While work has stopped on many buildings and cranes spike idly from half built shells, elsewhere the construction continues. For Kwan Samhay, the return of the Chinese cannot come soon enough. The grandfather who has been driving a tuk-tuk for more than 25 years used to get at least 10 customers a day, bringing in as much as US$80 (115,650 kyats). Now he scrapes by. I want the Chinese and other foreigners to come back so that it is good for my earnings, he said. If they do not come then we will face a crisis. You may also like these stories: Major Thai Coffee Brand Vows to Repay 200 Debt-Ridden Farmers Coronavirus Cases Rise Again in China as Recession Looms for Japan, Singapore Organizers Mulling Scaled-Down Tokyo Marathon Over Coronavirus Fears A 16-year-old Marshfield High School student died Monday from Influenza B complications, the Coos Bay School District said. The student, a boy who played football and baseball, first showed flu symptoms Friday, high school Principal Travis Howard said. The boys condition kept deteriorating and by Sunday the family cut short a mini-vacation to the Ashland area and took him to the Bay Area Hospital ER in Coos Bay, Howard said. He died the following morning. I think theyre still in shock, Howard said. The boys mother teaches for the school district and his father coaches baseball. The student and Howard had connected over their mutual love of the San Francisco Giants, the principal said. Last week, the two were talking about spring training. He was just a great kid, Howard said. Just a great, all-American kid. The school district did not release the boys name. The school has mobilized a crisis team to help staff and students cope with the students death, Howard said, and there is now a safe room where people can talk. As of Feb. 8, one other child has died in Oregon from the flu or complications associated with the flu this season, according to the Oregon Health Authority. That child died in December. The agency released no other information. The Coos Bay students death comes amid what appears to be a waning flu season in Oregon. The latest infection statistics show a continuing decline in the portion of ER visits for influenza-like symptoms the measure the state uses to track flu prevalence. The season started relatively early, with the first sharp increase in cases happening in early November. Cases have declined substantially since the end of 2019. But the season isnt over, Oregon Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modie said, and the state could still see a late-season bump in hospitalizations for flu-like symptoms. Children are more prone to catching Influenza B than adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its the dominant virus this season for the first time in 27 years, according to the agency. Of the 92 children in the United States who have died from the flu or its complications as of Feb. 8, 62 had Influenza B and 30 had Influenza A, the virus that usually dominates flu seasons. Judging by how past flu seasons have gone, it could be months before this one is over. A flu shot can protect people getting sick, so its not too late to get one, Modie said. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson was arrested on Friday around 2:30am after allegedly punching her face with a closed fist during a fight on Valentine's Day. Brian was booked for domestic battery and a second charge of interfering with a police officer, after he allegedly would not identify himself to authorities, according to TMZ. The incident comes just nine months after he was arrested for domestic violence following a drunken argument with Hayden, 30, at 2am in May. Mug shot: Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson was arrested in Wyoming on Valentine's Day after allegedly striking her in the face during a fight The Nashville star's boyfriend was found by cops from the Teton County Sheriff's office on the driveway in Jackson, Wyoming after someone called the police to report it. The caller was reported to have said that there was an 'intoxicated male' that was 'locked out of the home' because 'he punched his girlfriend in the face,' according to the outlet. Brian allegedly 'struck' the Hayden 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' during their fight in their bedroom, where he also 'threw' her around. Police noted that she had a 'red and swollen face' and 'a scrape and swelling on her left hand' which she believed came from his watch during their fight. Throwback: Brian was booked for domestic battery and a second charge of interfering with a police office, after he allegedly would not identify himself to cops, according to TMZ; seen January 31, 2019 with Brian in LA When authorities arrived on the scene, Brian was in the driveway and he allegedly told them that Hayden was inside the home 'saying he beat the f**k out of me.' He said that he hired a private chef to stay around that night so he 'wouldn't be accused of bulls**t' while avoiding their question on whether or not he punched the star. The police called the chef, who left their residence a little after 1 am (1.5 hours before he was arrested) and said he saw the couple arguing earlier in the evening. The couple first began dating in August 2018 after she was spotted walking barefoot out of a restaurant with Brian by her side. Prior to their outing, it was believed that Hayden was still with her then-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, who she shares five-year-old daughter Kaya. The little one has been living with Wladimir, 43, in his home country of Ukraine and Hayden reportedly travels often to see her. Mom: Hayden and ex fiance Wladimir Klitschko have a five-year-old daughter named Kaya; she lives with Wladimir in his home country of Ukraine and Hayden reportedly travels often to see her. Pictured holding her daughter in a snap she shared June 3, 2017 to Twitter It had been reported in 2019 that Hayden hadn't 'had much time with her daughter'. 'She really hasn't had much time with her daughter,' a source told Us Weekly. 'She knows the child being with her is not best for [Kaya right now]. It's a sad situation.' Hayden's mom Lesley Vogel said in 2018 that her daughter does visit Kaya in Europe while Wlad 'travels a great deal' to keep some normalcy for their little girl. 'It's heartbreaking and challenging,' an insider said. 'They didn't spend the holidays together. It's disturbing, and she'll have to figure out how to manage this. It's not an easy scenario.' Hayden's lawyer revealed the actress still 'regularly' sees her daughter, People reported in July 2019. Their debut: The incident comes just nine months after he was arrested for domestic violence following a drunken argument with Hayden at 2 am in May; pictured August 2, 2018, which is the first time they were seen together Hayden and Wladimir were in a relationship from 2009 until they split in May 2011; they reunited in April 2013 and got engaged in October of that same year. In December 2014, the duo welcomed daughter Kaya; she revealed on Live With Kelly and Michael in September 2015 that she experienced postpartum depression. One month later, Hayden voluntarily checked herself into a facility for postpartum depression and for a second time in May 2016. Soon after Hayden was seen leaving Craig's with Brian while barefoot, her mom confirmed she split from Wladimir, who is a Ukrainian former professional boxer. Though their relationship was over, they remained friends. 'We're still respectful of each other, and we still have that friendship with each other,' Hayden told Us in February 2019. 'It's not a situation that you find yourself in all that often, so it's a new one. But I think we've done a really good job.' In October 2018 - just two months after they were first seen together - Brian allegedly assaulted his father David with Hayden present, according to TMZ. The incident occurred in South Carolina at a home; cops responded to a call for assault and battery. The way they were: Prior to their outing, it was believed that Hayden was still with her then-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, who she shares five-year-old daughter Kaya; pictured December 7, 2013 at A Heart for Children Charity Gala in Berlin, Germany Another domestic violence call was placed on May 2, 2019; He was arrested for domestic violence after a drunken argument with the actress turned physical at 2 am in LA, TMZ reported. Police reportedly discovered 'redness and marks' on Hayden's body; after he was book for felony domestic violence, he was released after posting a $50,000 bond. The felony complaint said that he 'willfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon Hayden P.' He was later charged with one count of felony domestic violence on May 23, 2019 and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which could have seen up to four years in prison; the case was dismissed in September 2019. 'Our office was unable to proceed because we could not secure a material witness. The protective order also was dismissed,' a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. In a weird twist of events, Hayden was spotted holding hands with Brian's brother Zach in September while out and about in New York. A source told People at the time that the display had nothing to do with affection: 'Hayden and Zach are friends and have been for a while.' Hayden's family still doesn't 'approve of the relationship' due to many past aggressions. 'They are not fans of Brian,' a source told People magazine. 'It's clear that he has issues of his own, not to mention the anger issues, which is obviously a big one.' At the time, Hayden's attorney Andrew Brettler told the publication: 'Hayden is a strong, intelligent woman who is capable of making her own decisions.' They were last seen together in November 2019 while walking through LAX airport together. Career: Hayden's last role was in the hit series Nashville, which ended its six year run in 2018 The TV star had told TMZ at the time that 'Everything's always been OK,' despite his arrest under suspension of domestic violence in May. Defending herself against critics accusing her of being in a toxic relationship, the actress said: 'My family knows I'm smart enough to make my own decisions and thank you for being concerned, but I am A-Okay.' She also assured people that everything was fine between her and her family. In December, Hayden returned to social media following a 10 month from debuting her new pixie cut; she said: 'Channeling my inner #Kirby #Scream4 Thanks to my boys @anthonyleonard.' The message referenced her character Kirby Reed from the 2011 slasher film Scream 4, who rocked a similar haircut. 'Hayden was looking for a radical change, so last night we just went for it! It's a modern version of a classic pixie style with a little more of an edge,' hair dresser Leonard Zagami, who did the cut, told E! News in December. 'The color is silver, but not grey. She had previously been going with a super sexy blonde,' she added. Earlier this month, Hayden posted another image to her Twitter showing off another hair change - this time blonde locks and an edgy hair cut. Hayden rose to fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit sci-fi series, Heroes. More recently, she played country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Back: In December, Hayden returned to social media following a 10 month from debuting hew new pixie cut; she said of the new look: 'Channeling my inner #Kirby #Scream4 Thanks to my boys @anthonyleonard' Pat Cipollone took only a short post-impeachment break. The White Houses top attorney and other members of President Donald Trumps legal team attended a private party at the Trump International Hotel to celebrate, just hours after the Senate voted largely along party lines to acquit the president. Then Cipollone and his team of roughly 40 lawyers returned to their routine business much of which had been put on pause as the top lawyers defended the president from an effort to oust him from office. The counsels office had hoped Trump would move on, too, after the Senate trial and the president would focus on reelection, the economy or the business of governing, now that he no longer faced the intense pressure of impeachment and the sense that Democrats were out to hurt him and his family. But Trump had his own ideas. In the days since that acquittal he has engaged in a full-bore revenge victory lap. Now the lawyers, who helped to secure that big victory, are watching the emboldened president push the boundaries of their profession in ways that could reshape the office of the presidency for decades to come. Trump has fired or pushed out White House staffers who testified against him in the House proceedings, while elevating or re-hiring key aides who he views as loyal. He reminded the attorney general over Twitter that he believes he has the right to interfere in judicial matters an awkward situation for Cipollone, who remains close to Bill Barr. Trump said in a radio interview he may stop the longstanding practice of having aides listen in on phone calls with foreign leaders since he distrusts so much of his national security staff. Trumps expansive view of executive power, long supported by conservatives like Cipollone, is now being put to the test. Trump survived both the Mueller probe and impeachment. He has received almost no pushback from Republican lawmakers. And the White Houses stonewalling of congressional investigations has proven to be politically effective. Story continues White House counsel Pat Cipollone, center, with Jay Sekulow, the president's personal lawyer, at the White House on Feb. 6. It is beyond anything the presidency has achieved yet and beyond anything Nixon could have imagined, said Michael Gerhardt, a professor of jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina School of Law whose work centers on constitutional conflicts between presidents and Congress. There is literally no way to hold the president accountable in Pat Cipollones worldview. Allies of Cipollones say the arguments laid out during Trumps impeachment trial only maintained the view of executive authority that was also present under President Barack Obama. Frankly, we remained faithful to previous precedents, including precedents established by the administrations of both political parties, said one person close to the legal team. We would not view it as an expansion of executive power. We defended the president, the presidency and the Constitution, the person added. Trump was happy with the outcome of his acquittal but still views it as just a single step toward further vindication, according to several senior administration officials and Republicans close to the White House. In meetings with senior staff in recent weeks, Trump has asked repeatedly for updates on the Durham investigation into pre-election federal probes of Trump and has expressed frustration its not moving along at a faster clip. He wants anyone associated with the origins of the Mueller investigation to be brought to justice. Some of the questions raised by the impeachment proceedings about the scope of executive authority remain undecided and will be heard by the courts this spring. In the short term, the acquittal was a win for presidential power. It strengthened the hand of the presidency and showed you can stonewall and not turn over anything, but that doesnt mean it will hold, said one former senior administration official. So much of it will end up getting sorted out in the courts. Cipollones lasting legacy will be getting his client through impeachment and not messing it up, said Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel from 2014 to 2017. He had a jury that was entirely not going to convict the president, so his goal was to get through it and sound credible. Cipollone supported the Trump candidacy early on during the 2016 election. But he first came to the attention of Trumpworld late in the cycle when he helped the candidate prepare for debates. The Trump transition also considered him for the job of deputy attorney general under Jeff Sessions, a position that never materialized because Sessions instead wanted to install career prosecutor Rod Rosenstein. In the fall of 2018, Cipollone left a lucrative partnership in private practice to take the job of White House counsel because he liked Trumps policy positions and felt he wanted to serve the country that had welcomed his Italian immigrant parents. The latter may sound hokey but its how he feels, said Laura Ingraham, a Fox News host and close friend of Cipollones. Inside the White House, Cipollone quickly established himself as the opposite of Trumps first White House counsel, Don McGahn standing out as an affable presence who enjoyed spending time in the Oval Office and who tried to help implement the presidents wishes as much as he could. Whereas McGahn focused intently on judicial nominations and deregulation during his time leading the counsels office, Cipollone did not enter the job with set policy preferences. Instead, he followed the presidents lead. Cipollone helped develop the rationale for an emergency declaration that allowed the president to shift money around to fund the border wall. He worked with the president to prepare tariffs on Mexico until the U.S. and Mexico cut a deal to avoid them, and he led the counsels office through multiple investigations and eventually the all-consuming Senate impeachment trial. Cipollones allies say he runs the counsels office the most important law firm in the world as an affable leader who is a good listener, said Alan Dershowitz, a friend of the presidents and member of his legal team. He takes everyone seriously. It was a pleasure to watch. Republicans close to the White House say the counsels office functions like a tight-knit team. Inside the broader White House, however, Cipollone has clashed with acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney over the sharing of information and the best person to lead the White House impeachment strategy. Several staffers from other key offices came to view Cipollone as territorial and overly secretive with information and ill-equipped to handle the political dimensions of an impeachment trial. His allies argue that keeping tight control over information is typical behavior for any good lawyer, especially one who wants to keep the strategy secret in a White House known for leaks. Everyone had the info they needed to do their job, said a second person familiar with the legal team. During the impeachment proceedings, the presidents relationship with Cipollone had ups and downs. Trump was angry with Cipollone at one point during the House proceedings in December when several administration officials testified as witnesses, said a Republican close to the White House. Yet during the Senate trial, Trump was pleased with Cipollones made-for-TV performance including his emotional and tough exchange at one point with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler on the Senate floor. During his post-impeachment speech in the East Room, Cipollone was one of the first people Trump singled out for praise. On the legal team, Cipollone functioned like the anti-Giuliani, said one Republican close to the White House, who said Cipollone remained calm, rational and under the radar even while facing intense scrutiny. It is highly ironic that the guy who is OK with no one recognizing him or knowing who he is, is front and center on every channel in the world, said Jonathan Missner, Cipollones former partner at the law firm of Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner. Post-impeachment, several friends and allies of Cipollones say he is likely to remain at the White House through the end of the first term. No one knows exactly what he will do after November, be it return to private practice or continue to work for the president if he wins reelection. Friends say Cipollone often lets his faith guide major career decisions. Allies say he does not think much about his career legacy, and its hard to know whether the impeachment and acquittal will end up being the capstone of his time in the White House. If you go back to the Clinton impeachment, no one remembers who the White House lawyers are, one Republican attorney said. Instead, Cipollones legacy may be staying in the presidents good graces for an extended period of time. Maintaining a good and consistent relationship with the president inside the White House has bedeviled other top staffers including former chief of staff John Kelly, former national security adviser John Bolton and Cipollones predecessor, McGahn, who liked to call Trump King Kong behind his back. Pat has skills that many people do not have, said Missner, his former law partner. Whenever everyone else says, You cant do it this way, Pat doesnt think in those terms. He finds them to be silly. Just follow the path of how he helped to lead the strategy of what you just watched on impeachment. Every pundit said, You cant do this. But it worked. Daniel Lippman contributed to this report. Indosat Ooredoo has cut 677 jobs in a bid to deal with fierce competition in the Indonesia mobile market. The Jakarta Post reported that the jobs accounted for around 16% of the operators workforce, with Indosats director and chief HR officer Irsyad Sahroni saying that over 80% of those who lost their jobs were provided with severance pay above the statutory requirements. The president director and CEO of Indosat Ahmad Al-Neama told the news outlet that cutting the jobs represented a redistribution of resources that would ultimately allow the operator to offer better customer service and compete more effectively. Indosat, which is controlled by Ooredoo, is Indonesias second-placed operator with nearly 60 million subscribers, the majority of which are on 4G tariffs. It is in the midst of a debt reduction strategy which last year saw it sell off 3100 towers for IDR6.39 trillion ($467 million). The CEO of Corkpro Ghana has advised Ghanaians to use cork tiles for their homes and offices. He further disclosed that is able to last up to 40 years and it is naturally resistant to mold, mildew and termites as well as anti-microbial. About Corkpro Ghana Corkpro Ghana is a privately owned and sole authorized distributor of wicanders products based in Accra. They stock a wide range of flooring products from the world leader in flooring solutions Amorim Cork Flooring. Cork flooring has been around for centuries all over the world and Corkpro Ghana is bringing the cork flooring safe and luxurious experience to your doorstep. Wicanders is the leading brand in cork technology with a legacy that goes back to 1868. Wicanders combine the best technology with the inherent natural properties of cork for a flooring that is not only beautiful but also durable and healthy for you and our planet. What Is Cork? If you ever wondered how cork came into being, let us put you at ease. It is a 100% natural, organic material composed of the bark of the oak tree (Quercus suber). Most of us are familiar with cork, as its used in all kinds of products, from wine corks to shoes, purses, bulletin boards, flooring and more. Besides being an incredibly versatile material, cork is a natural and sustainable material. Cork is a biodegradable material, in addition its easily recyclable. Its impermeable, elastic, and buoyant, so it can be used in a variety of applications. Cork also makes great insulation for homes and it works well for sound proofing and thermal insulation. Its also hypo allergic, making it a safer alternative to petrochemical based-insulation products. Cork does not absorb water or liquids which is why its been used for centuries to float fishermens nets and as stoppers for wine bottles. Cork Tiles A cork tile is a product which is ground, processed into sheets and baked in a kiln to produce tiles that serve as flooring for offices, light commercial locations, and residences. Cork flooring is a good insulator, naturally moisture resistant, its a good option when thinking about falling and impact. Cork tiles come is a variety of colors which aids in design and creative applications. Cork tiles is very accommodating and installation over concrete, wooden subfloors and tile are easy to do. Source: Source: Kwesi Omega, Contributor Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Amid the simmering tensions with alliance partners NCP and the Congress over the transfer of Elgar Parishad to National Investigation Agency (NIA), Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday (February 18) said that the Bhima Koregaon case and Elgaar Parishad case are "two different" cases. He asserted that Bhima Koregaon case is related to Dalits and he has not transferred the probe in this case to NIA because he wants to ensure that no injustice is done to Dalits of the state. Thackeray made the statements just a day after state Minister of Minority Development and NCP leader Nawab Malik stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Maharashtra Police will be constituted to probe Bhima Koregaon case. Elgar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon are two different issues. The issue of Dalits is related to Bhima Koregaon. I have not handed over its investigation to the Centre and will not give it. I want to make it clear that there will be no injustice to Dalits, said the Shiv Sena chief. Last week, the Elgar Parishad case was transferred by a Pune court to a special NIA court in Mumbai after the Centre had transferred the probe into the case from the Pune Police to the NIA. It is to be noted that both the NCP and the Congress have criticised Thackerays decision to transfer the Elgar Parishad case to the NIA. This is not fair, we are partners and such things should be discussed. You (Uddhav Thackeray) may have power but one should use it judiciously. Our ministers are there, theyll fight, Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Live TV NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had also expressed his reservations over Thackeray's decision, saying, It was not right for the Centre to hand over the investigation into the case to the NIA. But it was even more wrong for the state government to support the transfer of the case, he had said. The case is related to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered by some people at the Elgaar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017. According to Pune Police, the speeches delivered at Elgaar Parishad conclave triggered violence near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune on January 1, 2018. Pune Police have claimed theElgaar Parishad conclave was backed by Maoists. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has warned an Indigenous Voice to Parliament must focus on service delivery for local communities and not become an "Aboriginal political elite" geared towards the corridors of Canberra. Senator Bragg, who is in the parliamentarians' working group helping federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt develop the Voice, said conservative government MPs should find it easy to support the proposal if its key purpose was to devolve power from the central bureaucracy to communities. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said the Indigenous voice to Parliament must not become an Aboriginal political elite. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Some people say it should be a kind of Aboriginal political elite telling communities what to do," he told this masthead. "It shouldn't be - it should be a bottom-up, community-led Voice." Senator Bragg's intervention comes after he spent time meeting elders and community leaders in Kempsey on the NSW Mid North Coast, and on the Central Coast. He said it was vital local Aboriginal groups, land councils and elders formed the main bodies of the Voice, and for them to focus on delivering local services. Segun Adebutu, a Lagos businessman and son of Kessington Adebutu, has said he was never detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in relation with an ongoing investigation into the nations betting industry. Premier Lotto and some of its competitors have been subjects of an anti-investigation by the anti-graft EFCC. Operatives had launched an inquiry into a petition accusing the companies of tax fraud and economic sabotage. PREMIUM TIMES first reported details of the investigationon January 28 after this newspaper learnt that the younger Adebutu was at the Lagos offices of the EFCC in response to a summon. Mr Adebutu told PREMIUM TIMES in a letter that he was only interrogated but not detained as this medium reported. He said he had only gone to the EFCC to represent the managing director of Premier Lotto, who was unavailable at the time to answer EFCC summons. He also said the ongoing EFCC investigation was not about tax fraud and economic sabotage. I was never invited to EFCC office by the EFCC operatives but voluntarily visited the office of the EFCC following a letter written to the managing director of Premier Lotto, a company in which the Adebutu family has business interest, Mr Adebutu said in his letter. The managing Director was not available at the period to honour the invitation. Following my voluntary appearance at the EFCC office nonetheless, I was interviewed by the EFCC officials and was allowed to return home after the interview, contrary to your report. I was therefore never detained as alleged in the said publication. The sources referred to in said publication obviously did not tell Premium Times the truth concerning my visit to the EFCC office. The purpose of writing this letter to you is to put the facts correctly to you with the hope that you will be kind enough to correct the misleading story touching on my so-called detention at the EFCC office. Further and for the record, Premier Lotto is a legitimate company that has been a leading player in the pools betting industry under the guide and regulatory control of various legislations, guidelines and the lottery commission, and providing employment for a lot of people and complying with its obligations as a good corporate citizen. To the best of my knowledge, no member of Adebutus family, not in the least myself, was detained by the EFCC on the issue of alleged tax fraud or economic sabotage as reported in your publication of January, 28th 2020 and the various enquiries from my friends and business associates necessitate the need to put the records straight. Multiple EFCC sources had told this medium that the leadership of Premier Lotto and those of some other betting entities were summoned by the tax fraud department of the EFCC. The investigation commenced based on a petition by a former senator, Buruji Kashamu. Mr Kashamu, who is also into the lotto business, accused players in the betting industry of shortchanging the Nigerian government. The ex-senator, who is wanted for unrelated drug-related offences in the U.S., confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that he petitioned the EFCC. All the taxpayers billions they (industry players) diverted should have been paid into the lottery commission trust fund to build infrastructure and alleviate poverty amongst the Nigerian masses, he said. The factual basis of Mr Kashamus allegations remained unclear at this time as the EFCC is yet to make its findings public. READ ALSO: P Donald Trump is coming to Gujarat, and knowing how much he likes building walls, PM Modi is getting some constructed in the state. Hiding slums so they're out of sight could be another reason to do so. According to The Indian Express report, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) served eviction notices to 45 families on February 17. These people live in a slum close to the newly built Motera stadium that will host US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24. The Indian Express The 200 slum-dwellers who work as construction workers have been asked to move out of the plot they have been living in for the past two decades for the Namaste Trump event. However, according to the report, AMC officials said the notices had no connection with the event. The AMC officials who came to serve the notices asked us to vacate as soon as possible. They told us that the head of the United States is visiting Motera stadium and they wanted us to move out, The Indian Express quoted 35-year-old Teja Meda as saying. He reportedly has been living on the plot for 22 years. The Indian Express He told the media house that he along with other construction workers are registered with Majur Adhikar Manch and they earn Rs 300 on an average daily. A total of 65 families live at a distance of 1.5 km from the Motera stadium of which these 45 have been served notices. The Indian Express quoted the AMC notices as stating that the encroached land belongs to the AMC and is part of a town planning (TP) scheme. The slum-dwellers have been asked to remove their belongings within seven days. In case of any appeals, the slum-dwellers have been asked to approach the department by Wednesday. Reuters Talking to The Indian Express Kishore Varna, assistant TDO (Motera ward) at the Usmanpura office of AMC said, These slum-dwellers had encroached upon land under one of the town planning schemes and hence were served notices. It has nothing to do with the US Presidents event at the Motera stadium. There are some elements who are trying to take advantage of the event. During the Namaste Trump event, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share a common platform at the Motera stadium next week. Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, a rights group said February 18. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International. China's ruling Communist Party has severely curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students. The death this month of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the deadly new virus before dying of it himself triggered rare calls for political reform and freedom of speech. The "Chinese government's battle against the coronavirus has in no way diverted it from its ongoing general campaign to crush all dissenting voices," said Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, in an emailed statement. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Another source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said Xu had been arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou police did not respond to requests for comment. Xu went into hiding after authorities broke up a December gathering of intellectuals discussing political reform in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, prior to the coronavirus crisis. Over a dozen lawyers and activists were detained or disappeared after the Xiamen gathering, according to rights groups -- and Xu's detention appears linked to his presence at the meeting, explained Poon. But while on the run, Xu continued to post information on Twitter about rights issues. On February 4 Xu released an article calling on Xi to step down and criticised his leadership across a range of issues including the US-China trade war, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests and the coronavirus epidemic, which has now killed nearly 1,900 people. "Medical supplies are tight, hospitals are filled with patients, and a large number of infected people have no way to be diagnosed," he wrote. "It's a mess." "The coronavirus outbreak shows just how important values like freedom of expression and transparency are -- the exact values that Xu has long advocated," Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. But the disappearance of Xu illustrates how the Chinese state "persists in its old ways" by "silencing its critics", she said. Xu -- who founded a movement calling for greater transparency among high-ranking officials -- previously served a four-year prison sentence from 2013 to 2017 for organising an "illegal gathering". "That he was a fugitive for so many days while continuing to speak out, that in itself was... a kind of challenge to (Chinese authorities)," said Hua Ze, a long-time friend of Xu who told AFP she lost contact with the Chinese activist on Saturday morning. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Australia has appointed former New South Wales premier Barry O'Farrell as the next high commissioner to India, one of Canberra's closest and most significant partners in the Indo-Pacific, an official statement said on Tuesday. O'Farrell, 60, will succeed Harinder Sidhu who has been in the office since 2016. "Barry O'Farrell is Australia's next High Commissioner to the Republic of India - one of our closest and most significant partners in the Indo-Pacific. Thanks to outgoing HC Harinder Sidhu," Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne tweeted on Tuesday. The minister said that apart from his new role, O'Farrell will also have non-resident accreditation to Bhutan. Australia and Bhutan enjoy a warm relationship, built on strong people-to-people links and cooperation on international education she said. O'Farrell served in the NSW Parliament from 1995-2015, including as the state's 43rd premier. Payne, in the statement, said that as the premier of North South Wales (NSW) during 2011-2014, O'Farrell initiated and led annual trade missions to India to promote economic, cultural and social links between NSW and the Indian states. "He has served as NSW's special envoy for India and made a significant contribution as the deputy chair of the Australia India Council Board, she said. Describing India as one of Australia's closest and most significant partners in the Indo-Pacific, she said that the two countries share "commitment to strengthening the institutions and norms that we rely on for regional openness, stability, security and prosperity. India is a significant trading partner, with two-way investment valued at 30.7 billion Australian dollars. The Government will continue to push an ambitious agenda to expand our trade and economic relationship, as outlined in the India Economic Strategy (IES), she said. Australia has strong strategic and defence ties with India, and the scale and complexity of joint activities between the two countries continue to expand, she said, adding around 700,000 people of Indian origin were living in Australia who were driving substantial education, cultural and tourism links. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jens Meyer/Associated Press KABUL Ashraf Ghani won a second term as president of Afghanistan, the countrys independent election commission announced Tuesday, but his closest opponent refused to recognize the results, declaring himself winner and potentially endangering peace negotiations with the Taliban. The Taliban also rejected Ghanis win, further putting into question a U.S. peace plan that calls for a reduction in violence followed by a more permanent agreement expected to be signed Feb. 29, between Washington and the Taliban. That agreement would pave the way for U.S. troops to return home, ending Americas longest war, and trigger negotiations between Afghans on both sides of the conflict. Moscow: In what could be perceived as a drastic step against the spread of the deadly coronavirus, Russia on Tuesday said it would ban all Chinese citizens from entering its territory from February 20. "The entry of all Chinese citizens via Russia's state frontiers will be suspended from February 20 for work travel, private travel, study and tourism," said Vice Prime Minister in charge of health Tatiana Golikova. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBC, HSBA.L), which reported weak profit in fiscal 2019, plans to cut around 35,000 employees over the next three years, reports said. Interim Chief Executive Noel Quinn said the company's staff numbers could drop by 15%. The company currently employs 235,000 people. Quinn said, 'We are looking at an endgame of closer to 200,000.' The job cuts reportedly will be in its European and U.S. investment banking businesses, particularly in fixed income. The company also plans to reduce assets worth $100 billion, and also projects $7.2 billion in charges. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. If hostage is looked after well, kidnapper cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment: SC Charged in 10 days, man gets lifer in rape case just 30 days after his arrest Just in a day: Man gets lifer for rape of 8 year old Cyanide Mohan Kumar gets life imprisonment in 19th murder case India oi-PTI Mangaluru, Feb 18: Serial killer 'Cyanide' Mohan has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for the murder of a 23-year old woman from Kasaragod district of Kerala in 2006, the 19th of the 20 murder cases slapped against him. Sixth additional district and sessions court judge Sayeedunnisa on Monday sentenced Mohan to life and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. The sentence shall commence after he serves the sentence of imprisonment in the other cases, the judge said. This is the 19th case out of the 20 murder cases registered against the criminal, who has killed several women using the deadly cyanide after befriending and raping them. Earlier, he had been awarded death sentence in five cases and life imprisonment in three cases. Two of the death penalties were later commuted to life imprisonment. According to the charge sheet in the latest case, Mohan met the woman while she was coming to work at an unit of CAMPCO. Don't deserve leniency: 41-year-old man gets life imprisonment for raping minor daughter After befriending and offering to marry her, on January 3 in 2006, he took her to Mysuru and stayed in a lodge near the bus stand. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 Like in all other cases, the next morning, Mohan asked the woman to remove her ornaments. The two went to the KSRTC bus stand where he asked her to consume a pill convincing her that it was a contraceptive. However, it was laced with cyanide. The woman, who consumed the pill in the washroom, collapsed and declared brought dead at a hospital where she was rushed by those in the room. As in previous cases, Mohan went back to the lodge and left the place along with her ornaments. He was arrested later from Bantwal in 2009, after which he admitted to killing 20 women. 4 Bangladeshi national awarded 10 years imprisonment in Burdwan blast case The judge also directed the District Legal Service Authority to take steps for awarding compensation to the woman's mother under the Karnataka victim compensation scheme. A mysterious toxic gas has killed at least 11 people and sickened several others in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police said on Tuesday. Authorities were alerted to the incident when the residents of Karachi's Keamari area began rushing to nearby hospitals with severe breathing problems on Sunday night. The source of a toxic gas leak remained unclear on Tuesday. Officials said 11 people have been killed so far, Dawn newspaper reported. Ziauddin Hospital spokesperson Amir Shehzad told the newspaper that nine deaths took place at the hospital's Keamari Campus over the course of the past two days. According to the police, two other deaths were reported at the Kutiyana Hospital. Dozens of others have been hospitalised in various medical facilities across the city. "We are still clueless about the possible cause of the incident," Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said. He, however, said that senior police officers in coordination with the doctors are trying to determine the exact nature of the incident. Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said that a ship that was offloading soybean or a similar substance could be the probable cause of the toxic gas. "When offloading from this ship is halted, the smell too diminishes," he reasoned. Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi rubbished the report that it was caused by a soybean ship as the crew and the vessel were fine. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered the Commissioner of Karachi police to submit a report on the matter on a priority basis, ARY reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra ATS chief Deven Bharti has hit back at former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria over allegations levelled against him by the latter in his book titled 'Let me say it now'. "Maria belongs to a family linked with Bollywood and, it seems, scriptwriters have a great influence on him. In addition, it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book as well as the web series, which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than placing facts," Bharti told ANI. "Moreover, for a policeman it is advisable to read the chargesheet and case diary rather than a piece of fiction. Won't comment much as the trial is in progress but would definitely tell that whole investigation team was aware of all developments and were on the same page till the investigation was with Mumbai Police," the ATS chief said. In his book, Maria has blamed Deven Bharti for misleading him during the investigation in Sheena Bora murder case in which Peter Mukerjea and his former wife Indrani were accused of murdering their daughter (Sheena). Maria has alleged in his book that Bharti never disclosed to him initially that he was acquainted with Peter. He said that he was surprised at Peter calling Deven Bharti, the then Joint CP (Law & Order), by his first name, Deven. He has suspected in his book that "someone" had briefed the Chief Minister "wrongly" in his name that Peter was not involved in Sheena's murder. Connecting Sheena Bora murder case probe with his transfer, Maria said: "When Peter informed that he had reported about Sheena's missing in 2012 to 'Deven', I was surprisingly promoted and transferred as DG Home guards." "I was informed about my transfer via a text message by the then ACS Home KP Bakshi," Maria said, showing disappointment at the manner in which he was transferred. Peter Mukerjea is one of the main accused, along with his then wife Indrani, in the murder of Sheena Bora, who was Indrani's daughter from a previous relationship. The crime came to the fore in 2015, three years after the murder. Indrani is the prime accused in the case and is currently lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail. The trial is underway in a special CBI court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Albania: Italy pledges 91 mn for quake relief, highest in EU 400 mn raised from EU. France to send 61 mn, Germany 11 mn (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 18 - Italy is the highest financial contributor among EU member states helping Albania rebuild after the earthquake that hit the country last November, with a pledge of 91 million euros in aid. The pledge figures emerged after a conference in Brussels that brought together nearly 100 delegations from the EU and its member states, as well as non-EU partners, financial institutions, and international organisations, to help Tirana recover. The collective pledge at the end of the conference came to 1.15 billion euros. Of this total, 400 million euros are from the European Union, with the European Commission allocating 115 million, EU member states contributing 180 million, and the European Investment Bank pledging 102 million. France is the second-highest contributor after Italy, with 61 million euros, followed by Germany with 11 million.(ANSAmed). MADISON, Wis., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gordon Flesch Company (GFC) has agreed to acquire Information Technology Professionals (ITP), a managed service provider based in Madison with locations in the Appleton and Milwaukee area. With this acquisition, the GFConsulting Group will become one of the largest and most capable technology solutions providers in the upper Midwest, offering services including cloud, cybersecurity and Managed IT. Gordon Flesch Company Acquires ITP, Creating One of the Midwest's Largest and Managed Service Providers Pictured: Jeff Dotzler, VP of GFConsulting Group; Mark Flesch, GFC Chief Operating Officer; Paul Hager, president and CEO of Information Technology Professionals and Patrick Flesch, GFC President Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are increasingly important in the complex and technology-driven business world, with the market projected to hit $296.38 billion globally by 2023. With the combined resources of GFC's GFConsulting Group and ITPs' team, the Gordon Flesch Company will serve more than 400+ customers and employ 70 MSP staff in locations across the Midwest. Both GFC and ITP feature prominently on the CRN Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list, which recognizes the largest and most innovative North American managed services companies. "ITP is one of the premier MSPs in Wisconsin and has a great reputation for delivering strong technical support and solutions to the customers they serve," says Patrick Flesch, President of the Gordon Flesch Company. "Their strong technical team and operational maturity will be a great addition to the current team that GFConsulting has built over the years. This acquisition underscores GFC's commitment to be the leading provider of technology solutions in the markets we serve." Founded in 2003 and currently owned by Paul Hager. "I am proud of how quickly ITP has grown, becoming one of the leading MSPs in Wisconsin in a very short time," says Paul Hager, president and CEO of ITP. "I am excited for the opportunity to begin the next chapter in our story, as we join one of the oldest and most respected technology companies in the Midwest. The combined resources and reach of our two companies will be an unbeatable combination." About the Gordon Flesch Company Gordon Flesch Company is one of the largest family-owned providers of office technology solutions in the nation. Family-owned since 1956, the Gordon Flesch Company employs more than 600 people throughout 26 offices in the Midwest, with their corporate office in Madison, Wisconsin. They deliver unique business process expertise to solve challenging problems and achieve organizational goals. This includes integrating industry-leading software and hardware to build custom solutions that are supported by technical expertise, customer service and flexible, in-house financial services. Follow us on Twitter at @GordonFlesch. About ITP With nearly 20 years of experience, ITP provides managed IT service and strategy, delivering customized technology solutions that allow ITP's clients to function at peak performance and profitability. While they serve clients of all shapes and sizes across a variety of industries, ITP is highly experienced in meeting IT needs in the legal, manufacturing and medical sectors. Contact: Connie Dettman Director of Marketing [email protected] 608.441.6336 SOURCE Gordon Flesch Company Philadelphia street sweeping crews blow trash onto South Seventh Street to be picked up by a truck. Read more Street sweeping is a delicate topic in Philadelphia. It may not arrive fully until 2023, but Mayor Jim Kenneys promise to establish a citywide program that may require some residents to regularly move their cars has spurred questions even as an evaluation is due out of a pilot program that traded parking regulations for leaf blowers. Some believe Philadelphia has long remained a big city without a proper street cleaning program because of parking politics. Former City Councilmember Frank DiCicco says he gave up efforts in South Philly because of complaints. But Kenney has prioritized cleaner and safer streets in his second term and is looking toward New York as an example. Weve made some dent in the problem with the handheld blowers and the sweepers in the middle of the street. It just isnt enough, and people need to move the cars, the mayor said in January. They move their cars in Manhattan every week; they can move their cars in Philly. Phillys been in touch with New York to answer some technical questions, said Kathryn Garcia, commissioner of New York Citys Department of Sanitation, where drivers move their cars for street cleaning in nearly all of its 59 sanitation districts. Garcia said that to have clean streets, cars need to be moved. I dont think that [car owners in New York] enjoy moving their cars, but they want the car in front of their house to move, she said. Because when the streets are clean, that, in general, makes them happy. In Philly, its not clear if residents in every neighborhood will need to regularly move their vehicles, but its worth asking who will, and how often. What will the consequences be in a city where many rely on their cars, but theres been a reluctance to ticket illegal parking and a courtesy tow problem? A look elsewhere In New York, alternate-side parking, where motorists are made to clear one side of the street, makes way for the cleaning. Street cleaning regulations have been around for decades, with a few districts without residential street cleaning still responsible for maintaining cleanliness, said Belinda Mager, director of digital media and communications at the New York City Department of Sanitation. Alternate-side rules have been a target for criticism. They have been called a scam, sparked an online petition, and even spurred Mayor Bill de Blasio to think about changes after a Brooklyn resident expressed frustration during a radio show last spring over needing to move four times a week. The method is the most effective way of dealing with keeping the streets clean, Garcia said. Its more of a burden on somebody whos only using their car like every other week; theyre going to have to move it, she said. But if youre commuting in your car, youre going to get up in the morning and go to work. And then the street sweeper will come by, and then youll come home and youll park your car. Philadelphia is the only major U.S. city without a street sweeping program. In Boston, theres a daytime street sweeping program from April until November in most neighborhoods and a yearly nighttime street sweeping program for main roads. Chicago uses mechanical street sweepers and posts parking restrictions at least a day ahead of the service between April and mid-November. Some main streets have permanent signs specifying weekly regulations, according to the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. The Philadelphia Streets Department has looked into other cities approaches but has not made calls outside of New York, according to city spokesperson Kelly Cofrancisco. Abandoned cars When Philadelphia did have a regular street sweeping program more than a decade ago, residents in Queen Village faced parking restrictions twice a month between March and December, according to signs left in the area. It wasnt something Eleanor Ingersoll, president of the Queen Village Neighbors Association, got upset about. When you grow up, or you come up, with that being the way things worked, you just do it, she said. Looking for a parking spot in the area now can be quite the feat. Sarah Anton, president of the Passyunk Square Civic Association, recognizes the tension, knowing that there always will be some neighbors who would rather not deal with the inconvenience. Anton sees the potential for street sweeping to bring attention to another problem. If anything, it might be that we identify abandoned cars by this program, which would be a good thing, she said, and would make more true parking spaces available so that theres more kind of inventory within our neighborhoods. READ MORE: South Philly neighbors are fighting over parking, and the China trade war is to blame READ MORE: Philly blesses worshipers with free parking, eliciting cyclists Old Testament wrath The Philadelphia Police Department towed 11,531 abandoned vehicles last year, a jump from 10,298 in 2018. In 2019, tows were most highly concentrated in the 15th and 25th Police Districts, stretching across parts of North and Northeast Philadelphia. The department called abandoned vehicle removal central to the mayors street-cleaning pilot program. In 2000, Mayor John F. Street led an effort to rid the city of 40,000 abandoned cars during a 40-day tow-athon. It ended up removing 32,852 cars. This is part of the process of reclaiming neighborhoods, then-Managing Director Joseph S. Martz said in 2000. The city can do what its capable of doing. Neighbors, who live there, have to do more. They have to help us be successful. We can send mechanical brooms to neighborhoods. People have to move their cars for the sweepers. Winners and losers For Erick Guerra, an associate professor in city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania, the conversation may be more about winners and losers than positives or negatives. You can probably think about how people use their vehicles, he said. So you know, the biggest losers are going to be people who use their cars very infrequently, who just kind of park them and store them in a place. And the biggest winners are likely to be people who are using their cars every day. Jonas Maciunas, principal of JVM Studio, a West Philadelphia urban design consulting firm, agrees that moving cars is fundamental to having clean streets that street sanitation is a hallmark of cities since the dawn of civilization. The question is one of political will and leadership, Maciunas said, who notes its a different era, when services like Uber or Zipcar create more options for the infrequent driver. Having an established program in Philadelphia is likely to have some ripple effects, and while not its core purpose could potentially get people to think twice about their car usage. Its important to sort of acknowledge that ball of yarn may take a while to unwind, but its not to say you shouldnt start, Maciunas said. But right now, I think weve packed the sausage really full, and its a problem because then you cant move. Founded in 2012, Dang Foods is owned and operated by two Thai brothers who grew up living between New York City and Bangkok. In New York City, they were used to being teased and feeling like they didn't fit in at school because of the food they ate. Now, through Dang, they are able to generate long-overdue awareness at scale for the Asian-American snack culture that is predominantly healthy, plant-based, and full of bold flavors and whole food ingredients. "As an Asian-American entrepreneur, I am working to shift the reputation of Asian snack food from exotic and different to healthy and aspirational; one that Asians across the U.S. are proud to share with friends," said Vincent Kitirattragarn, founder and CEO, Dang Foods. Dang Foods, committed to sharing its culture for a healthier and more flavorful world, currently offers three whole food product lines that strike the perfect balance between Eastern and Western flavors and ingredients, including Coconut Chips, Thai Rice Chips (formerly known as Sticky-Rice Chips) and the Dang Bar (low-carb and Keto friendly). The majority of Dang Foods' products are plant-based, dairy-free and non-GMO certified; the entire portfolio is gluten-free, soy-free, and made without preservatives. The three new flavors in the Dang portfolio include: Tropical Mango Coconut Chips: Using mature Thai coconuts, this new addition brings the tropical mango flavor without any added sugar. MSRP: $4.99 Using mature Thai coconuts, this new addition brings the tropical mango flavor without any added sugar. MSRP: Toasted Sesame Thai Rice Chips: A savory on-the-go-snack inspired by Northern Thai street food and made with crunchy Thai rice grains. MSRP: $3.99 A savory on-the-go-snack inspired by Northern Thai street food and made with crunchy Thai rice grains. MSRP: Peanut Butter Dang Bar: Made with healthy plant-based fats from coconut, cocoa butter, peanuts, and almond butter, this new flavor joins Dang's award-winning keto-certified line of snack bars. MSRP: $2.49 Dang Foods products can be found at natural and traditional grocery stores nationwide including Kroger, Target, and Whole Foods among others. All flavors are available online on Amazon and DangFoods.com. To learn more about Dang Foods and experience the new look and feel of the brand, visit dangfoods.com . About Dang Foods Dang Foods is the Asian-American snack brand best known for its health-forward product portfolio of Coconut Chips, Thai Rice Chips and keto-friendly Dang Bars. Inspired by Eastern and Western ingredients and flavors, Dang Foods is committed to using plant-based whole foods and nothing artificial. Founded in 2012, Dang Foods is a family-run B-Corp based in the San Francisco Bay Area. SOURCE Dang Foods Related Links https://dangfoods.com/ Coming to crush the myth of the Bernie Bro, a prominent Latinx grass-roots organization named Mijente endorsed Bernie Sanders this week. This is the groups first presidential endorsement since its founding. Mijente acts to mobilize Latinx voters, so this could be a major boon for current frontrunner Sanders. Mijente will utilize their 300,000+-person email list to assist Sanders with the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22. Nevada has the fifth-highest Latinx population in the United States, meaning this endorsement could seal the deal for Sanders. Just ahead of the Nevada caucuses is the Nevada democratic debate, airing Wednesday, Feb. 19. Just today (Feb. 18), we received confirmation that six candidates qualified for the debate, including former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, thanks to suspiciously convenient changes in the rules. They will continue to support Sanders, particularly on Super Tuesday, on which, through volunteer efforts, Mijente will canvass and seek phone bank commitments. Mijentes president and founder Marisa Franco said their endorsement decision came after much deliberation and sit-downs with several of the potential candidates. When the list was whittled down to Sanders and Warren, 70% swayed to the Vermont senators side. Something thats very appealing to people is his consistency and the concept of palabra, Franco told Politico, And what that means in our community is giving people your word. Mijentes track record is not one to scoff at. In 2016, the group assisted with the ousting of former corrupt Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, and in 2018 assisted with a near-doubling of Latinx voter turnout in Georgias governor race compared to 2014. T odays artistic landscape is constantly morphing. As the boundaries between disciplines become more and more fluid, so do the realms creatives can explore. Its these fresh perspectives that Converse is celebrating in its boundary-pushing, new Twisted Classics collection. Four talented young Londoners have joined forces with the iconic brand to mark the power of twisting what you know to break new ground. The collection which features the Run Star Hike, the CPX70 and the Logo Play riffs on an archive that has firmly embedded the American brand with the pop and countercultural fabric of the past century, and redefines what we thought we know about Converse in the process. Meet the four creatives doing the same in their own fields LAVA LA RUE Loading.... For Lava La Rue, the west London multi-hyphenate taking the underground London music scene by storm, things are just beginning. The Ladbroke Grove-based artist whos making waves with a lo-fi hip-hop sound with soul undertones is not just a rapper and musician, but also the founder of a DIY arts and music collective: NiNE8. The collective's 15 creatives make clothes, music, art and even their own music videos. See Lava La Rue at AMP London on 5 March. How do you style your Twisted Converse? "A different colourway on each foot." EASTWOOD DANSO Loading.... He may still be a student at Central Saint Martins, but Eastwood Danso already has his own eponymous fashion label. His designs, which often act as a commentary on heritage, politics and identity, have even been showcased at London Fashion Week. When I look to create, I dont think I look at anything specific, the multidisciplinary designer explains. Instead, multiple ideas coalesce: streetwear codes collide with architectural influences for a refreshing take on menswear. How do you style your Twisted Converse? "Straight trousers cargos (not cuffed!) or suit pants." RIFKE SADLEIR Loading.... While the coding world might at first seem like an inaccessible basement realm in which logic and rules reign supreme over creativity and experimentation, Rifke Sadleir is the young London web developer proving otherwise. Even though its seen as technical, code can be personal, says Rifke, whose offbeat visual style blends a playful nostalgia with a futuristic edge. Whether shes running a coding workshop at a creative tech event especially for women, non-binary and trans people, or manipulating her dad's old film photography into HTML5 canvas images, Rifke is bringing a new perspective to coding. How do you style your Twisted Converse? "Either with wide leg jeans and a long sleeved tee, or with a long, simple dress." WENDY ASUMADU Loading.... Wendy Asumadus vibrant make-up looks are a breath of fresh air. In a time when Instagram feeds can feel like the same old homogeneous style on repeat, the London-based creatives eye for bold colours, experimental techniques and abstract finishes sets her apart. People always think theres one way to look, says Wendy, whose passion for make-up was ignited during her time spent modelling. Why dont we switch it up? Why do we have to do everything the same? How do you style your Twisted Converse? "With my massive collection of flared trousers or my denim skirt." Discover the Converse Twisted Classics collection 1 /6 Discover the Converse Twisted Classics collection Logo Play With overlaid graphics and a twist on Converses legendary iconography, the Logo Play Chuck Taylors are set to be your next style statement. From 55, available in sizes UK 3-12 in multiple colourways. Buy now at converse.com Logo Play From 55, available in sizes UK 3-12 in multiple colourways. Buy now at converse.com Run Star Hike The iconic Chuck Taylors reimagined, the Run Star Hikes fuse the classic canvas high tops with a chunky platform and jagged rubber sole. 90, available in sizes UK 2.5-UK 8 in two colourways. Buy now at converse.com Run Star Hike 90, available in sizes UK 2.5-UK 8 in two colourways. Buy now at converse.com CPX70 The CPX70s combine different elements of a range of Converse models to create a stylish leather high top with a sporty edge. 90, available in sizes UK 2.5-UK 8 in two colourways. Buy now at converse.com CPX70 90, available in sizes UK 2.5-UK 8 in two colourways. Buy now at converse.com Tony Iwelu, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is dead. The ministrys head of public relations, Tony Iwelu, in a statement on Tuesday, said Iwelu was electrocuted to death by a shower rose in his hotel room in Kaduna on Monday, February 17, 2020, at about 10:30am. The statement reads: The Chief Security Officer to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Tony Iwelu died on Monday, February 17, 2020 of electric shock from a shower rose in Stone Edge Hotel, Kaduna where they were lodged after an official assignment. Until his death, Iwelu was in charge of all issues relating to the Ministers security; a job he did with utmost professionalism. There is no gainsaying that the professionalism he brought to bear in the discharge of his job, sustained him for over two decades in the service of the Minister. There is no doubt that the Late Iwelu who hailed from Delta State will be greatly missed as friends and colleagues have been expressing shock and utter disbelief since the incident took place. They describe him as a vibrant, honest, kindhearted, loyal and easygoing young man who was conscientious in the discharge of his duties. The security operative had a wife and three children. His death comes barely a day after Rotimi Amaechi was rumored to have been attack on Abuja-Kaduna road, a claim the minister dismissed as false. CHANDIGARH The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved the creation of 550 posts in the government medical colleges at Patiala and Amritsar to improve and streamline their functioning. The new posts include 66 paramedics of technical nature, 464 critical posts of nurses, technicians and class 4 employees and 20 posts of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VDRL)/Multi-disciplinary Research Units (MRU) lab projects, an official spokesperson said after a meeting of the state council of ministers chaired by chief minister Amarinder Singh. These posts would be instrumental in putting into use the medical machinery, equipment and infrastructure, lying idle due to paucity of staff, said the spokesperson. It also gave the nod for creation and filling of five new posts in the directorate of medical education and research, along with revival of the already sanctioned nine posts under its restructuring plan. This initiative would help provide the latest laboratory tests to the general public, and also meet the minimum requisite conditions, in conformity with the guidelines of the Medical Council of India, so as to make these institutions research-oriented. It may be noted that a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of adviser, health and medical education, KK Talwar, which was constituted for restructuring and revamping the medical colleges, had recommended the creation/revival of these posts in order to put into use the existing working machinery and equipment/infrastructure, and also to upgrade the facilities available in the government medical colleges at Patiala and Amritsar. MOHALI MEDICAL COLLEGE NAMED AFTER AMBEDKAR As a tribute to legendary statesman and father of the Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar, the cabinet approved the renaming of Government Medical College, SAS Nagar, Mohali, as Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences. The Union health and family welfare ministry had conveyed its decision to establish a medical college in Mohali with provision for 100 MBBS seats under the centrally sponsored scheme of establishment of the new medical college attached with the existing district/referral hospitals having more than 200-bed strength. The state government, vide its notification dated January 22, 2020, created 994 posts for the 100 MBBS seats for the institute with a permission to fill these in a phased manner as per the conditions mentioned in the notification within a period of five years. 650CR APPROVED FOR BUDDHA NULLAH The cabinet also approved a 650-crore project to undertake rejuvenation of highly polluted Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana in the first phase. Under the plan, an additional sewage treatment plant (STP) having a capacity of 275 MLD, including associated infrastructure, would be developed, which would go a long way in solving problems of the water body and subsequent pollution of the Sutlej, said a spokesperson of the chief ministers office. Pollution in the nullah is a major threat to the public health and environment. The main sources of pollution in the nullah are direct flow from industries, dairies and some slum/localities, treated effluent from existing STPs based on UASB technology not meeting the required effluent quality, and overflow from sewer lines. The capacity of the laid sewerage system and STPs is insufficient to carry the existing flows, the spokesperson said. The 47.55-km-long Buddha Nullah is a seasonal tributary of the Sutlej, which emanates from the confluence of Kum Link drain and Neelon drain near Ghumait and Koomkalan, and flows in an east-west direction south of the river. Apple is preparing to launch a new, low-cost phone, according to various reports. The company is planning to reveal the handset at the end of March despite worries that the spread of coronavirus could lead to slow supply of the iPhones. Apple has long been rumoured to be working on a new handset, known as the iPhone SE 2 or iPhone 9, which will pack new components into an older design and sell for cheaper than its existing handsets. Now numerous rumours have suggested the launch is scheduled to happen next month, at a special event devoted to the phone. As well as the new handset, the launch could come alongside a new 13-inch MacBook Air, and trackers that allow people to find missing objects. The company had been rumoured to be launching a new iPad Pro, but that could be hit by problems with supply. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Apple has already said that the spread of coronavirus is likely to affect its business, with China serving as a major market both in buying and manufacturing iPhones. That had led to suggestions that the iPhone SE 2 could be pushed back further in the year until Apple could make more of the phones. But Bloomberg has reported that the launch is still progressing as scheduled, despite the impact of the spreadly disease. It said that the phone was still on track to launch on March, but that plans to do so were "fluid". Recommended Apple warns of iPhone shortage because of deadly virus The disease could however hit a planned new iPad Pro, which had been scheduled for the first half of the year but could be hit either by delays in launching or shipping constraints once they are released. Apple has held launch events in March in the past, which allow it to reveal products away from the spotlight given to software in summer and then the new iPhones in Autumn. The original iPhone was revealed at an event on 31 March, 2016. The iPhone SE 2 is rumoured to borrow the iPhone 8's external design but add newer components, allowing it to keep up with the more modern handsets. Popular new Hyundai models like the Tucson, Sonata, Santa Fe, Palisade, Kona and Elantra are all eligible. Apple Valley Hyundai is a dealership based out of Winchester, Virginia that serves both Virginia and West Virginia. It has a Presidents Day Event going through Saturday, February 29, 2020 where potential buyers and lessees can receive 0% financing, discounted multi-year lease deals and cash discounts on purchases. The list is extensive, with 2020 and 2019 models in the Hyundai lineup eligible for at least one of the previously listed specials. Often, a single model has more than one applicable special. Popular new Hyundai models like the Tucson, Sonata, Santa Fe, Palisade, Kona and Elantra are all eligible. Both the 2019 and 2020 Kona have financing, leasing and cash specials. For example, the 2019 Kona gets 0% financing for 60 months, is available for $209 per month leasing with $2,499 due at signing and a 36-month term or receives a $2,500 cash discount. The 2020 Konda gets similar treatment, with 0% financing for 60 months, a $219 per month lease special (for 36 months with $2,599 due at signing) or a $1,500 cash discount. While not every 2019 and 2020 Hyundai model is eligible, the majority of models are. The full list can be viewed via the Specials tab on the Apple Valley Hyundai website. Apple Valley Hyundai offers an Express Delivery Service. Its purpose is to get customers in and out of the dealership with their new vehicle in under an hour. The program accomplishes this by pre-approving financing options, appraising trade-ins and more, reducing required paperwork and trips to the dealership. Those interested in the Apple Valley Hyundai Presidents Day Event are encouraged to visit the dealer website, https://www.applevalleyhyundai.com/. The dealership can also be contacted via phone by calling 855-463-5530. Apple Valley Hyundai is located at 2934 Valley Avenue, Winchester. Protestants to take Catholic communion at Calvin's Cathedral in Geneva on leap year day Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a first since the Reformation era, Protestants are set to receive communion during a Catholic mass at a historic Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland, John Calvin's adopted home. The historic Swiss church, Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant church, will hold a Catholic mass on Feb. 29, leap day, and Protestants have been invited to attend and take part, including in receiving communion. Although open communion is forbidden by Catholic doctrine, the practice is reportedly common in Geneva, according to Protest Info, a Swiss Protestant news outlet. The church became the home of French Protestant Reformer John Calvin, whose famous triangular chair continues to be kept beside the pulpit. "The decision to invite Fr. Desthieux to say mass in Saint-Pierre began as informal talks followed by an ecumenical service in the cathedral, which then matured into a discussion and a council vote, said Parish Council President Daniel Pilly," LifeSite reported. Pilly told Protest Info that he faced no opposition to the idea. "The idea appealed because it corresponds to our desire to make the cathedral a meeting place for all Geneva Christians. A space that transcends confessional boundaries, he said. "Protestants receiving communion is already done locally in many parishes during ecumenical celebrations where Protestants and Catholics invite each other to the Lord's Supper and to communion, he said. Emmanuel Fuchs, president of the Protestant Church in Geneva and a pastor in Saint-Pierre, added that the invitation indicates that "the climate in Geneva is extremely favorable and fruitful with the Roman Catholic Church. We have made notable progress in terms of ecumenism, especially with the Joint Declaration, signed in 2017, which recognizes our respective ministries. As Pope Francis said, ecumenism is achieved by walking. We are trying to walk together in the hope that when we have made enough progress, the obstacles that seem to us today insurmountable will no longer be, he said. Catholic cardinals have long opposed the practice of shared communion or intercommunion, referring to the act of those who do not profess Catholicism but partake of communion as a "desecration" of the sacrament. In addition to Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, where it is said that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses to the door in 1517, Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant Church in Geneva is considered one of the most iconic sites of the Protestant Reformation. The church began to be constructed under Arducius de Faucigny, the prince-bishop of the diocese of Geneva, around 1160, in Gothic style. ABINGDON, Va. An inmate at Red Onion State Prison already serving a life sentence for murder was sentenced last week to an additional six years in federal prison for sending threatening letters to two federal judges, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia. Mitchell Norbert Nicholas, 41, was convicted in August 2019 of two counts of mailing threats to injure another person and two counts of threatening to murder a United States judge with the intent to impede, intimidate or interfere with their performance of official duties, or with the intent to retaliate against such judge on the performance of their official duties, the release states. Nicholas was originally serving a murder sentence at Red Onion after he was found guilty of first-degree murder in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2007. While incarcerated, he mailed letters to a U.S. magistrate judge and a U.S. district court judge, which threatened to kill them, according to the release. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Singapore on Tuesday said it has set aside 5.6 billion Singapore dollars ($4.02 billion) in the coming year to help businesses and households tide through the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The Southeast Asian country has reported one of the highest numbers of coronavirus now known as COVID-19 infections outside China. As of Monday noon, Singapore has had 77 confirmed cases, 24 of which have been discharged, said its Ministry of Health. "The outbreak will certainly impact our economy," said Heng Swee Keat, Singapore's deputy prime minister and finance minister, in his speech outlining the country's budget. Economic measures that Heng announced include schemes to help companies retain workers, manage their wage bills and corporate tax rebates. There will be specific measures to help the five sectors most vulnerable to the virus outbreak, which are tourism, aviation, retail, food and point-to-point transports services. The minister also announced another 800 million Singapore dollars to support the fight against the virus, with the bulk of of the funds going to the health ministry. In addition, Heng said a planned increase in the goods and services tax will be pushed back given greater challenges facing the economy. The Singapore government had wanted to raise the GST from the current 7% to 9% between 2021 and 2025. Those measures will contribute to an expected budget deficit of 10.9 billion Singapore dollars, about 2.1% of GDP, in the coming financial year from April 2020 to March 2021, Heng said. A Forest Grove woman says the United States deserted her and her husband by not taking them home while evacuating hundreds of other Americans from a cruise ship quarantined in Japan since Feb. 5 with a major coronavirus outbreak. All right people, Rebecca Frasure wrote Monday in an email to the U.S. Embassy in Japan. Enough is enough! I know you evacuated most Americans last night, but you ABANDONED the rest of us here with nowhere to go! Frasure, 35, was on the ship Diamond Princess when she tested positive for the coronavirus, Covid-19. The disease has killed more than 1,000 people and has infected tens of thousands more, mostly in China. Since the diagnosis, Frasure has been at a Tokyo hospital while her husband, Kent, has remained on the ship. Other than a rare, light cough, shes showed no symptoms. The U.S. government offered to fly Americans on the Diamond Princess to military bases for further quarantine, but Rebecca Frasure said the embassy in Tokyo told her in an email that she couldnt be one of them because she was sick. Kent Frasure decided to stay with the rest of the people left on the ship to be near his wife. Then, she found out that 14 coronavirus-infected Americans were among those evacuated, even though only healthy people were supposed to leave. The sick passengers were allowed to board planes back to the U.S. because they had no symptoms, the U.S. State Department said. They were kept isolated on the flight. All of the passengers are now going through a 14-day quarantine at Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force base in Texas. Rebecca Frasure, meanwhile, will be at the hospital until at least Friday, she said. Thats because she needs to have two back-to-back negative tests for coronavirus, and those are scheduled for the end of the week. In a video she posted Monday on Facebook, Frasure unleashed her frustration with American officials. The U.S. government needs to come back and bring us home, she said. The last she heard, the U.S. wont be sending another charter plane to pick up Americans until March 4. Theres a way to do it, she said in the video. And they need to figure it out. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Connie Prado, the longtime South San Antonio Independent School District trustee and its current board president, is one of 10 candidates for four seats on the Alamo Colleges District board in the May 2 elections. Prado and three others are vying to replace Marcelo Casillas, who is not seeking reelection to his District 4 seat on the Alamo Colleges board. Three incumbents also are running, and two of them have drawn challengers that include an attorney and several retirees. The board oversees the districts five community colleges, an enrollment of more than 60,000 students and a $385 million operating budget. The district is currently rolling out the Alamo Promise program, an ambitious plan to offer free community college to all seniors graduating from traditional public high schools in Bexar County. Prado, 71, on the South San ISD board since 1998, has been a key participant in years of factional infighting among its trustees. Three of its board members resigned on the same night last year, saying they were being bulldozed by a Prado-led majority. The district has had seven superintendents since 2011 and is currently under investigation by the Texas Education Agency. In December, the agency announced it was expanding its investigation into complaints of board misgovernance to include its procurement and contracting processes. Prado said she plans to step down as South San ISD board president during the campaign. She would have to resign from the seat if elected. Her current term in South San ends in November. I think the infighting and the TEA investigation, all of that is the past now. The board is now in a position where everyone gets along. We have a really good interim superintendent working well with the board, Prado said. The district is now in an upward trajectory. We are moving forward. We can't continue to look in the past. She said she wants to strengthen the college districts relationships with K-12 school districts in District 4, which includes large parts of South Side and West Side. On ExpressNews.com: Texas Education Agency expands investigation into South San Antonio ISD Also seeking the District 4 seat on the Alamo Colleges board is Lorena Lorraine Pulido, communications manager for VIA Metropolitan Transit. She lost a previous run for the seat in 2014. Pulido spent several years working in communications for the City of San Antonio and teaches public relations at Texas A&M University at San Antonio. As a senior at Harlandale High School, she enrolled in the dual credit program at Palo Alto College, and returned to teach at the college after earning bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, she said. Pulido also has a doctorate from Our Lady of the Lake University in business and leadership studies. I am really excited about what is happening right now with Alamo Colleges, the steps that are being taken to help ensure that theres expansion and growth to offer more accessibility to more students, she said. One of my main (issues) is to ensure that Alamo Promise succeeds and we do receive funding to allow it to succeed and to prosper. I think thats going to be a definite game-changer. Pulido, 49, is the vice chair of the Brooks Development Authority, which oversees redevelopment of the former Brooks AFB in southeast San Antonio. Also in the race is Jose Gallegos, who said he wants to expand the Alamo Promise program to include seniors and veterans. I think that the community college district is a tremendous environment for them to compete and gain skills and knowledge that could be utilized for the remaining years theyll be living in this community, said Gallegos, 66. A retired probation officer, he earned an associates degree from San Antonio College more than 40 years ago and continued his education at Our Lady of the Lake University, Gallegos said. He is a former board member for the Bexar Metropolitan Water District. On ExpressNews.com: Alamo Promise now has commitments from nearly 6,000 San Antonio high school seniors Retired military veteran Robert Casias, 69, is also running to represent District 4. He did not respond to requests for an interview. The District 9 incumbent, Joe Jesse Sanchez, 72, has drawn two challengers to represent Northeast Bexar County on the board. He worked for decades in public education in the San Antonio, Edgewood and Harlandale ISDs, retiring in 2008 to become administrator for Bexar Countys juvenile justice academy. He was appointed to the Alamo Colleges board in 2017. One of Sanchezs goals is to forge deeper relationships with public school districts and provide updates on how students from their high schools have progressed in community college. Because of my experience being on the other side, Ive learned what I should do as a trustee versus what I used to do as an educator, he said. Leslie Sachanowicz, 62, an attorney running for the District 9 seat, said he wants to bring his years of experience teaching government at San Antonio College to the board. He also has taught law at St. Marys University, he said. A former Bexar County assistant district attorney and now in private practice, Sachanowicz is defending Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, who is running for sheriff in the Democratic Party primary, in a high profile case against charges of aggravated perjury, tampering with evidence and official oppression. Sachanowicz has made previous runs for elective office, including a county court at law bench in 2018 and state district judgeship in 2016. I have teaching experience but I would say also back-of-the-house experience as far as what some of the challenges students are faced with, he said. I learn more from the students and it keeps you current as to whats going on in terms of technology, language and culture. The other District 9 challenger, Michael John Good, 52, graduated from St. Philips College in December with a degree in construction technology and also has a bachelors in public justice from St. Marys University. He has been social worker for Texas Child Protective Services and worked in the juvenile justice system, he said. Good said he was inspired to run by his experiences at St. Philips southwest campus, which offers technical and trade courses. Should I be given the honor of being a trustee, my concerns are district-wide, but I really feel like that campus in particular is neglected, especially the trades, he said, citing a lack of food options and a bookstore with limited hours. I have some grave concerns that the students are not going to be totally prepared like they need to be when they get out in the workforce. District 2 board member Jose Macias was appointed to the seat in August to replace Denver McClendon, who resigned. Macias is running in a special election for the four years remaining in the term and has drawn a challenge from Gloria Ray, a retired U.S. Civil Service executive. The biggest priority I have is the issue of equity, Macias said. In terms of equity for minorities or for anyone in the community living below the poverty line, they really need more support. Im doing all I can to ensure that support is met. Macias, 49, is a development manager for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He said hes been meeting people in the East Side district and making sure the Alamo Colleges District is more engaged with the MLK Commission. Ray, 76, pointed to the lack of African-American representation on the board since McClendon stepped down last summer. She was among the applicants to fill the vacancy at the time. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox I believe representation is important. Its important for our young students to see themselves in positions of management and positions of planning for the future, she said. Im not saying that nobody else could do the job. I think its patently unfair that the board of nine individuals cannot find one African-American in this community eligible and able to serve the citizens of the City of San Antonio. Ray said her biggest priority will be workforce development and training. In District 8, which represents parts of northern Bexar County, trustee Clint Kingsbery is running unopposed. Kingsbery was elected in June 2014 when he beat incumbent Gary Beitzel. Except in the District 2 race, the winners will serve six-year terms. Ashley McBride covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Ashley.McBride@express-news.net | Twitter: @Ashleynmcb The New Pope Sixth Episode Season 1 Episode 6 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Gianni Fiorito/Giamni Fiorito In the land of the blind, the one-eyed priest is king. Or something like that. How else to explain the opening scene of tonights characteristically excellent episode of The New Pope, in which an eyepatch-wearing priest with the Pynchonesque name Leopold Essence approaches PR maven Sofia Dubois in the Vatican cafeteria, claims to be the second most intelligent man in the world, questions whether her financier husband Tomas Altbruck can truly be called a man, advises her to Follow the love: Thats where you will find failure, and produces a massive insect from up his sleeve for good measure? (Its not the millipede thats basically been a recurring character this season, but the effect is not dissimilar.) The one-eyed priest sees clearly, as it turns out. Several scenes later, Sofia spies on the aftermath of a cocaine-fueled orgy between her husband Tomas, high-ranking Vatican official Cardinal Spalletta, Italian finance minister Giucciardini, and an underage girl. She followed her love and found failure, just as Essence promised though his pet bug later shows up in Sofias car, just in case she didnt get the message the first time around. If Pope John Paul III was correct several episodes ago when he said the one problem facing the Church is hysterias of love a notion Essence quotes during his conversation with Sofia here, then, is a clear example. What to do about it? Thats a murkier question. From his perch as Secretary of State, Cardinal Voiello tells Brannox that the three men are laundering money. When confronted about what Sofia discovered, Cardinal Spalletta claims his orgiastic misbehavior is simply a way to keep Guicciardini, and by extension the Italian government, on the Churchs good side, lest they go through with plans to retroactively tax the Churchs real estate. So JPIII takes the remarkable step of asking Cardinal Voiello to step down rather than Cardinal Spalletta, in order to keep the scandal from leaking. But he doesnt do so directly, since he hates giving orders. I adore giving orders, Voiello replies with all sincerity. Its my whole life! And before tendering his resignation, Voiello gets a few final orders in. He sends his rival Cardinal Hernandez to Kabul, Afghanistan a place where there are no Catholics, and thus no more abusive priests whose crimes he can cover up. He sorts things out among the Vaticans cloistered nuns, arranging for therapy for a sister afflicted with kleptomania, reassigning another so shell no longer be subject to abuse by three of her peers, arranging for a breast cancer screening for the Abbess, and constructing a cover story for the pregnant nun in the form of a new program of taking in orphans. All he asks in return is that the baby be named Angelo, after him. (What if the baby is a girl? she asks. Its a unisex name, he insists.) Even as the Vatican power structure quakes, Ester, Pope Pius XIIIs ardent acolyte, faces hysterias of love all her own. In fairly short order she has excised her pimp boyfriend Fabiano from her life and taken full financial charge of the sex work she performs for Attanasio, the hirsutism-afflicted son of a wealthy aristocrat. Turns out the woman is part of a network of mothers whose sons physical conditions have stood in the way of sexual intimacy with women. So now, instead of merely visiting with Attanasio, Ester performs in front of a rapt audience of a dozen or so young, isolated men, illuminated by crashes of lightning outside. You are a saint, Ester, Attanasios mother says before she takes on these new clients. Im a whore, Ester says. Do you know what the difference is between a whore and a saint? the woman replies. None. But just as quickly as we learn of this development, its all over. Attanasios mother cuts Ester off, claiming shes growing too old. But the real issue, as Ester uncovers by sticking up for herself, is the actual, bonafide love shes begun to feel for Attanasio, and possibly vice versa. His mother more or less admits that only she is allowed to love her son in every sense, she adds, heavily implying, and not for the first time either, that before she employed Ester she tended to the kids sexual needs herself. Sex has no value because it lives and dies in the present, she explains. Love is dangerous because it looks to the future. A future without this connection to Attanasio is too much for Ester to bear. In a fit of rage, she strangles his mother on a balcony overlooking a stormy sea, as an apparition of Pius XIII looks on. The next morning, Piuss finger twitches in his hospital room, and the mother miraculously revives, sparing Ester the additional burden of murder. She and her son wind up in the arms of the idolatrous cult outside Piuss hospital room yet another port in the storm her life has become. Where does all this leave our title character? With his new team in tow Cardinal Assente is the new Secretary of State, with Cardinal Spalletta secure in his own high-ranking position he submits to an interview, broadcast live on television. But hes only a few minutes into an impromptu sermon on evil when, overcome by some physical malady, he gets up and excuses himself. Again, this is all going out live on TV. Hes just a little bit nervous, Sofia insists. You dont get it, do you, Spalletta retorts. Hes in withdrawal, damn it! Ashes to ashes, fun to funky, we know that Pope John Pauls a junkie, strung out in Heavens high, hitting an all-time low. (Apologies to David Bowie, who seems like hed be a Sir John Brannox favorite were he still alive.) Ive thought about this tumultuous, remarkable episode quite a bit, and the connective tissue seems to me to be the issue of desire. Desire can make a person beautiful through the act of feeling it, the way Attanasio became beautiful to Ester through his desire for her. Not being desired can make a person feel ugly, the way Sofia sees her own face distorted in a mirror after the truth about her husband comes out. A lifetime of not being desired, the kind of life Brannox has experienced after the death of his brother, leaves one searching for something to fill the void religion first, then drugs when that wont do. Follow the love: Thats where youll find failure. Its harsh, but at times at least, its true. VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is a rather common tool that is used by millions of users across the world. For many, VPNs are seen as effective tools to safely communicate and transfer files on the internet, and in some cases, as a workaround to location specific restriction to information imposed for specific reasons. While VPNs remain effective enterprise tools to enable remote collaboration on sensitive files, the public use of VPNs have often come across controversial scrutiny. Benefits of using VPNs in India Like other parts of the world, Indians often put VPNs to use for a variety of purposes. Put simply, a VPN masks your traffic to make it look like your IP address, or your location, is based elsewhere. Now, given the nature of this tool, it is often misconstrued that using a VPN is directly related to illegal activities. In truth, using a VPN has far greater implications than simply bypassing location restrictions, such as accessing websites that are banned for a specific area. With todays tense climate of cyber security, the biggest advantage provided by a VPN is keeping you secure as you browse online. Most VPNs that are worth their salt not only anonymise your actual internet address, but also offer industry standard 256-bit AES encryption to secure you from anyone tracking your online activity. This can be absolutely critical in helping you protect your data, especially during financial transactions. While it is not absolutely unbreakable, it is still exponentially safer to use a secure network to make your transactions, so that your passwords, card details and other such sensitive elements are not stolen. Furthermore, using a VPN can let you access region-specific websites that may be legal, but not accessible in your country. This can help you read a wider selection of articles from publications across the web, or even view content that has been made elsewhere. Is it legal? With such benefits at hand, it is absolutely crucial to note that the simple activity of using a VPN is not illegal in India. In fact, there are absolutely no laws around using a VPN in India, so as long as you are using a VPN for no illegal activities, there should be nothing for you to worry about. That said, the reason why VPNs get such a bad reputation is for their use in activities that are deemed illegal in India. The biggest and most common use case here lies in accessing content blacklisted by the Indian government (such as pornography), or torrent sites that facilitate the distribution of pirated content. The latter is the most common case of prosecution, and it is copyright infringement and creation of pirated content, and not the use of VPN, that can land you in legal trouble. What are the charges? As a result, if you are tracked down while using a website that lets you view, download and distribute content that is illegally uploaded (i.e. hosted online without paying due royalties to the creator), the Indian government may prosecute you under Sections 63, 63A, 65 and 65A of the Copyright Act, 1957 under the Constitution of India. If you are caught downloading an unauthorised copy of a movie, or streaming it from a website that hosts it illegally, then you may be subjected to legal prosecution amounting to up to three years of imprisonment, and a penalty of up to Rs 3,00,000. As a result, you as a user of the internet in India are completely in the clear to use a VPN service, and doing so is in fact recommendable given the risks of malware and ransomware floating around across various parts of the internet. However, it is important for users to exercise their judgement, and avoid accessing any website or content that can amount to copyright infringement by the definition of the internet in India. The new action treats the news organizations as part of Chinas diplomatic missions whose activities are regulated under the Foreign Missions Act. Enacted in 1982, the law is a legal tool intended to ensure equitable treatment for American diplomats serving in countries around the world, often under onerous government restrictions. It deals with such things as providing visas, acquiring property and extending diplomatic immunity in matters of criminal wrongdoing. Last fall, for example, the State Department began requiring Chinese diplomats to give notice before they have any meetings with local or state officials and with educational and research institutions. That move came in retaliation for similar Chinese government rules imposed on American diplomats. But the five Chinese news agencies whose employees are working in the United States will be exempted from that requirement, the State Department officials said. American officials have become much more suspicious of the activities of Chinese diplomats and have increased scrutiny of their travels and meetings. In September, the State Department secretly expelled two Chinese Embassy officials in Washington after they were caught driving on a sensitive military base in Virginia with their wives. The expulsions appear to be the first of Chinese diplomats suspected of espionage in more than 30 years. It was not clear why the Trump administration decided to act now on the Chinese news organizations, although the administration official said the move reflected long-simmering frustration over the forbearance shown to Chinese official media in the United States, despite evidence that the organizations serve as a front for intelligence agencies. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressionally mandated agency, warned in its report in 2017 that Chinese intelligence-gathering and information-warfare efforts are known to involve staff of Chinese state-run media organizations. In recent years, a growing number of American officials have discussed imposing strict visa reciprocity on Chinese news organizations after Beijing increasingly began limiting visas and residence permits issued to foreign journalists and curtailed the lengths of those documents. Unlike Russias information campaigns in the United States, which have been artfully tailored to sow distrust in the American government and the democratic system, Chinas media efforts in the United States have tended to reflect more traditional forms of government propaganda. Reports on CGTN or in China Daily, for example, are more likely to extol the countrys economic and diplomatic achievements than to denigrate American democracy. Cal Cunningham, the front-runner in the North Carolina Democratic Senate primary, recently emphasized his commitment to reducing tuition costs in an op-ed placed in the UNC student newspaper. But when he was in a position to directly affect tuition rates as UNCs student-body president, he voted to raise them. Cunninghams main rival for the Democratic nomination, little-known progressive state legislator Erica Smith, has endorsed Bernie Sanderss plan for tuition-free community college while attacking Cunningham from the left, casting him as an establishment candidate hand-picked by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. The newly created and mysterious Faith and Family PAC has come to play a surprising role in the primary. Given the PACs use of vendors who typically work with Republican candidates, there has been rampant speculation that it is part of an effort by Republican operatives to boost the incumbent, Senator Thom Tillis, and weaken Cunningham, his likely general-election opponent. And last week, it spent $2.4 million to run ads labeling Smith the only true progressive in the race. In response, Cunningham sought to bolster his progressive support by announcing his commitment to lowering the cost of higher education in an op-ed in the pages of his alma maters newspaper. The opportunity to pursue higher education should be available to anyone who seeks it not just a privilege for those who can afford it, Cunningham wrote in the Daily Tarheel. To achieve that, we need to lower the cost of college and reduce the burden of student loan debt, particularly for African American students, who have been disproportionately impacted by the student loan crisis. Yet when Cunningham was in a position to directly affect the tuition costs at his states flagship university where he served as a trustee on the schools board thanks to his position as student-body president he voted to raise them. As a 21-year-old senior at UNC Chapel Hill in 1995, Cunningham voted in favor of raising undergraduate tuition by $400 and graduate tuition by $600 annually. While he tried unsuccessfully to delay consideration of the tuition increase until the student body was more informed about its implications, he ultimately voted in favor of the hike because he believed it would boost UNCs lackluster position in national college rankings by increasing faculty salaries. Story continues Im hearing both Yes and No from the student body, Cunningham told the Chapel Hill Herald at the time. But Im also hearing that our tuition is so artificially low, and if our quality is suffering because of that, and we can use the increase to address those needs, students will consider that an investment. Cunningham also admitted that the vote put him in a awkward and trying and difficult situation in a Chapel Hill Herald article from that year, which quoted freshman Rayna Walters as saying Cunningham betrayed her and her fellow students. The budget, which passed unanimously, did stipulate that 35 percent of the revenue resulting from the tuition increase would be allocated to need-based financial aid, while the rest would go toward increasing faculty salaries and funding campus libraries. It would not be the last time that Cunningham backed tuition hikes. In 2001 and 2002, during his time as a state senator, he voted for budgets that raised community-college tuition costs. The 2002 budget also raised the cost of public universities by 8 percent for in-state students and 12 percent for out-of-state students. When asked for comment on Cunninghams record of support for tuition increases, his spokesman, Aaron Simpson, argued that the candidates record on the cost of higher education compares favorably to Tilliss, despite the aforementioned votes. While Senator Tillis has voted against efforts to make college more affordable, Cal actually expanded financial aid for community colleges and fought to expand need-based scholarships and aid, both in the state Senate and through his involvement at UNC. More broadly, Cals been an advocate for public education by increasing teacher pay and reducing class sizes. The 2001 and 2002 state budgets that Cunningham voted for did in fact reduce the size of kindergarten classes while providing $1 million for community-college financial aid. But a much larger sum, $14.5 billion for the 20012002 fiscal year, was spent on increasing the salaries of teachers and other state employees. Reached for comment by National Review, Smith called Cunninghams record deeply troubling and contrasted it to her own legislative history, which includes sponsoring a bill that would have frozen tuition rates for the states university system in order to prevent spiking costs. As a public-school educator and education policy leader in the NC Senate, I have advanced significant proposals for making college affordable by eliminating tuition surcharges for students who dont graduate on time, Smith said. I fought against steep tuition increases by sponsoring legislation that established four and five-year tuition lock-in rates in NCs University system schools as tools for reducing student debt. It appears once again, in [Cunninghams] privilege, his policies are not progressively informed to ensure that every American has access to affordable secondary education. More from National Review Opponents of a controversial natural gas pipeline through the picturesque Texas Hill Country lost a legal battle but vow to continue their fight against Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan. A U.S. district court judge in Austin on Friday rejected a request for a temporary restraining order that would have halted the $2 billion natural gas Permian Highway Pipeline. The pipeline is being built through the habitat of the golden-cheeked warbler, an endangered songbird, and over parts of the Edwards Aquifer, a source of drinking water to millions and home to several threatened and endangered species of salamander, fish and insects. Judge Robert Pitman said opponents failed to show a level of harm that would require a restraining order, but he ordered Kinder Morgan not to clear vegetation within the warblers range during nesting season, March 1through July 31. Construction has begun on the western end of the pipelines 430-mile route from the Permian Basin to the Katy Hub, but Kinder Morgan isnt out of the woods in the Texas Hill Country. The request for a temporary restraining order was only part of an endangered species lawsuit filed Feb. 5 by the cities of Austin and San Marcos, Hays and Travis counties, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and four landowners. The company, its subcontractors and the project also face a federal lawsuit filed by five Hill Country landowners. Midstream: Kinder Morgan obtains final pieces of right of way for controversial pipeline The endangered species lawsuit is on a path to head to trial, said Jessica Karlsruher, executive director of the Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense Coalition, a nonprofit that represents landowners who oppose the project. The coalition seeks to reform Texas eminent domain laws used by Kinder Morgan and other companies to acquire land for pipelines. The group favors the model used by power line companies in which the proposed route is discussed at public hearings and finalized by a state agency. The final routing decision should be made by public officials accountable to all the citizens of Texas, Karlsruher said. Kinder Morgan executives should not have the unilateral power to decide where to build an industrial highway that affects thousands of landowners and dozens of communities. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox Kinder Morgan defends the eminent domain process and the pipeline route, saying it was designed to affect the fewest number of landowners. The pipeline would move 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Permian Basin to the Houston area. It is expected to generate billions of dollars in annual royalties and taxes for state and county governments, school districts and landowners. It also would unlock production bottlenecks in the Permian Basin, reducing flaring, in which excess gas is burned off at wells. The pipeline route is expected to affect less than 1 percent of the golden-cheeked warblers habitat, according to a report from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. But as part of a compromise to offset that habitat destruction, Kinder Morgan has agreed to buy the 1,363-acre Igau Ranch northwest of Austin and donate it to the Texas Conservation Fund as warbler habitat. Were taking less quality habitat that were impacting, and were replacing it with very high-quality habitat, Kinder Morgan CEO Steve Kean said. From a species standpoint, I believe that it comes out ahead as a result. Taking advantage of the two-week window before the birds nesting season, Kean said the company has started clearing land along the pipeline route in the Hill Country. The company plans to stop activity when the birds return from their winter habitat in Mexico and Central America and resume work after nesting season has ended. sergio.chapa@chron.com twitter.com/sergiochapa Commitment, hard work, dedication to partnership and business excellence contributes to growth and profitability. Distributors of Nestle Ghana who exhibited these traits in 2019 have been recognized and rewarded accordingly. DANMAUD LIMITED of Accra won the top two awards of the year at the ceremony, Best Distributor Award as well as Highest Turnover Award. Other awards included brand champions for Milo, Cerelac, Ideal and more. Speaking at the ceremony, Philomena Tan, Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, congratulated all for continuously working hard to help ensure growth and development. Nestle has grown over the years to become a leader not just in the food and beverages industry but in the area of Nutrition Health and Wellness. This achievement is attributed to the dedication of our business partners who I now refer to us our business partners, who ensure that our quality and nutritious offerings reach individuals and families across the country. She entreated the partners to continue strengthening the relationship build over the years and look forward to greater achievements in 2020 under the theme, Lead Growth. The Nestle Distributor Awards is held annually to recognize distributors efforts and contribution to business success. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Constitutional Court judge Felix Tokhyan told reporters today that Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan is one of his best students. Justice Tokhyan said that he indeed had a meeting with Mirzoyan, but also with many others. Asked if he met with Mirzoyan as the Speaker or as a former student of his, Tokhyan said both. When asked if the early retirement plan for the top judges was discussed at the meeting, Tokhyan said it wasnt. Tokhyan also dismissed rumors about tensions or a crisis in the high court. There was no crisis neither when judge Vahe Grigoryan [took office] nor at any other time, he said. Voters are expected to decide in an April 5 referendum whether or not the incumbent Chairman of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan, as well as most other justices appointed under the previous constitution, should remain in office. Tokhyan, 64, is serving as Constitutional Court judge since 1997. He is the Head of the Department of Law at the Russian-Armenian University. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan in the grey list on Tuesday over the country's failure to show an improvement in terror financing and money laundering. The decision was taken after a week-long FATF plenary that examined money laundering and terrorist financing risks that countries face to set and promote global standards to tackle these risks. Pakistan was placed in the great list back in 2018, and feared being pushed into the black list. In 2019, the Paris-based global terror-financing watchdog was unsatisfied by Pakistan's crackdown on terror, hence was given additional time to make amends. Ahead of the FATF plenary meet, Pakistan was courting to Turkey, China and Malaysia to seek support against New Delhi over Kashmir and the revocation of Article 370. All three countries have publically backed their support for Islamabad. Pakistan needed the support of only three countries to stay off the black list, and needed 12 out of 39 exit votes to move to 'white list.' READ| Pakistan & Terrorism: 6 Freudian slips by Pak leaders on Osama, Hafiz Saeed & Masood Azhar that give it all away Pakistan had even legislated laws to curb terror financing. However, the FATF on Monday said several terrorist groups continue to benefit from funds raised through illegal activities and from supporters worldwide despite the international terror financing watchdog tightening the standards on flow of money. New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. Pakistan and terrorism In an attempt to show action on terrorism brimming on their soil, Pakistan, for the first time in two decades convicted LeT chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in two terror-related cases on February 12. However, reportedly, the UN-designated terrorist might be released post the FATF meet. Hafiz Saeed was arrested on on July 17, 2019 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Recently, Pakistan informed FATF that Pulwama terror attack mastermind and Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and his family had gone "missing." Pakistan had even claimed that there were only 16 UN designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions, including Masood Azhar. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. (With PTI inputs) READ| US asks Pakistan to prosecute terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar READ| Hypocrite Imran Khan refuses to admit China's detention of Uighurs A property firm has banned staff members from claiming expenses for meals that contain meat. Developer Igloo Regeneration, which bills itself as Britain's leading 'responsible real estate business', told workers the move was a bid to reduce its environmental impact. It means that any catering or meals staff buy to entertain clients or workshops must be vegetarian if they want to get their money back. The company employs 30 people and they regularly work outside of the office. Developer Igloo Regeneration, bills itself as Britain's leading 'responsible real estate business'. Pictured is the firm's officer in Clerkenwell, London Kate Marfleet, 28, is head of the firm's values team and persuaded staff to go vegetarian last year, despite some opposition. She said: 'We realised we needed the whole company to come on board, it couldn't just be imposed. Kate Marfleet, 28, is head of the firm's values team and persuaded staff to go vegetarian last year, despite some opposition 'We had some justifications as to why it was a good idea, mostly environmental. There were some reservations from staff, but most of those were based on them being unsure of the environmental impact.' Despite introducing the policy, Ms Marfleet admits that, outside of work she is not '100% vegetarian'. The company also considered a vegan policy, but decided that would be too restrictive. Director John Long told the BBC: 'We're not checking the bins. The important thing is that we want to treat everyone as a grown-up. We knew it could be controversial internally.' Igloo also doesn't provide company cars and encourages its employees to use trains when they can. Any food with meat, such as this bacon sandwich, will not be able to be claimed on expenses (stock photo) In 2018, office space sharing company WeWork said it was no longer serving red or white meat at company events. The New York-based company won't serve pork, poultry or red meat, and it won't allow employees to expense meals with those meats, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Miguel McKelvey said in an email to employees at the time. Fish will stay on the menu at the company, which was valued at $20billion in 2018. McKelvey said the change means WeWork will use less water and produce less carbon dioxide as well as saving the lives of animals. WeWork has locations in 22 countries and a total of 75 cities, including 24 in the US. With several Democratic presidential candidates still on the ballot and a number of contested races, Jefferson County Democrats are expecting to exceed their 2016 primary turnout. Early voting starts Tuesday and continues most days through Feb. 28, with Super Tuesday on March 3. Each primary is run by its respective party, but theyre both contracting with the Jefferson County Elections Department so voters can cast a ballot for either primary at all early-voting locations. Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Judy Nichols said that helps voters because they can go to any polling location, but cautioned people to be vigilant and ensure they have the right ballot Democrat or Republican as residents can only vote in one party primary. The first page of the electronic ballot shows the party youre voting for, she said. Do not cast your ballot if youre unsure. You can ask a question or request help until you cast your ballot, but you cant uncast a ballot. Nichols said she doesnt think Republican turnout will be as high as it was in 2016, largely because there isnt a well-known opponent for President Donald Trump, although shes hopeful the current amount of attention given to politics will keep turnout numbers from dipping too low. To help boost that turnout, Sen. John Cornyn will be attending a local Get Out The Vote rally at 8:30 a.m. March 2 at the party headquarters, 2825 Nall St. in Port Neches. Jefferson County Republicans also have two more local contested races, one for sheriff and another for the Ninth Court of Appeals Chief Justice. Jefferson County Democratic Party Chair Ava Graves, whos running for the seat against Joseph Trahan and Paul Martin, hopes to see more than the some 12,000 in-person voters she said the county party had in the 2016 primary. The party has a number of contested races, including the party chair race, which has the most on-ballot candidates since 1986, in addition to the well-publicized presidential primary. Visit The Beaumont Enterprise online for more information about candidates in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Mumbai, Feb 18 : Rani Mukerji has revealed what actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said to her that made her more self-confident about her height and her brilliant skill-set as an actor. Rani and Kamal's critically acclaimed movie "Hey Ram" has completed 20 years of its release in the Hindi film industry. The "Mardaani" actress goes down memory lane and shared interesting life lessons that she learnt from the movie, directed by the southern superstar Kamal Haasan. "'Hey Ram' has been one of my most major learning curves. Getting an opportunity to work with Kamal Haasan for me at that point in my career was something very special because I was always an admirer of his performance and his acting and here I was going to get directed by him. So, I think it was one of those opportunities that I didn't want to let go and I remember going to Chennai for the shoot," she said. Rani says she loved every second of just being on the sets of "Hey Ram". "What I loved about 'Hey Ram' was the discipline of the entire shoot. There was a bell that used to ring for the take to start, there was a time given for make-up, there was a time given for hair which today is very normal in the way actor's shoot," she said. Rani added: "Today, there is a shoot call, there is a call time, there is make-up time, there is hair time, there is costume time, but in Hey Ram that I actually saw a production house following every aspect of this and that was amazing. "The first shot used to be taken at 6 in the morning and pack up used to be at the time that the bell used to ring. They used to not go even one minute more than that time and even if there was a take left to be shot like even if we had rehearsed for the shot and the bell rang for pack up we would have to pick up that scene the next day, which for me was completely a new experience because of this work ethic and work discipline on a set." Kamal gave Rani invaluable lessons in building self-confidence. "I remember in those times, because I am quite short, I remember wearing these platform slippers and Kamalji looked at my slippers and said 'wow, wow what are these!' I said I was very comfortable walking in platform slippers, but, because my height is short. He said 'are you crazy?, just wear flats. You are not to be measured by how tall you are but your achievements will measure who you' are and I think that also stayed with me," she said. "From then on, I was confident about my height. To be an actor, you don't necessarily need to be tall. Being an actor is about performing, is about acting and that is the biggest lesson I learnt from Kamalji." The 41-year-old actress was seen in no make up for the film, which was a huge learning for her. "Getting to be directed by Kamalji, I think, I have learnt a lot from him. It was very, very, special. I remember the first day walking onto the set -- Kamalki looked at me and said okay now you can go and wash your face and come back. I was like what is he saying, he was like 'ya ya just go and wash your face and come back' and I remember going back; as an artiste, you always have the insecurity of facing the camera without make-up. "I remember being slightly insecure about the fact that he was asking me to wash my face and I went back just removing some of it and I went back on set and he looked at me and said no, I need you to wash your face again. I said but I have washed, he said no you have not washed!" "He said to go back and wash it as if you are leaving the set after pack-up, I said ok and I went back and actually removed all my make-up and I came to set completely stripped of all make-up. At that time, doing a film without make-up was unheard of. Kamal Ji came and he put the bindi on me and he told the makeup artist to just put little kajal in my eyes and then he said yes, 'now my Aparna is ready'." Rani said that was the first time she "understood actresses or actors don't need that much make-up". "You can actually do a film without make-up. It all depends on the lighting, the lenses the cameraman uses and I think I found a lot of confidence with the way Kamalji went through with his shoot," she said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed A hospital director at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic died Tuesday, state media said, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the coronavirus which has spread across the country. The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan late last year, has spread to more than 72,000 people and killed 1,900 in China. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. He is the first known hospital director to have died from the coronavirus. At least six other medical workers have died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected, according to official figures. Liu's death was initially reported by Chinese media and bloggers shortly after midnight on Tuesday -- but the stories were later deleted and replaced with reports that doctors were still attempting to save him. The hospital director's death has echoes of the death of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December. Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis. People took to social media once more to mourn Liu on Tuesday, with many users on the Twitter-like Weibo platform drawing comparisons between Liu's death and Li's, which was also initially reported by state media and then denied hours before being finally confirmed again. Doctors in Wuhan face shortages of masks and protective bodysuits, with some even wearing makeshift hazmat suits and continuing to work despite showing respiratory symptoms, because of a lack of medical staff, health workers have told AFP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amateur hour is over. If the chaos of the Iowa Caucuses and Trumps vicious victory lap and illegal, revenge-porn firing of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman proved anything, its that its time for the novelty candidates and the ideologues to get out of the way. Nothing is more important than removing the sociopath from the White House. Nothing. Its why as a progressive Democrat with 50 years and about as many left-wing candidates under my belt as bonafides, Im backing Mike Bloomberg and working hard for him to do well in the California Democratic Primary on March 3, with its motherlode of 495 delegates, or 25% of the total needed to secure the presidential nomination. As a political activist who came of age in the 60s in the anti-Vietnam War movement and lived on the urgency of issues and ideology in each election, in this election there is only one imperative: Beating Trump. In 1969, I was one of a nucleus of former Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy supporters who overcame our seemingly insurmountable differences in the aftermath of the election of the noxious Richard Nixon in 1968, and formed the New Democratic Coalition. We campaigned for every progressive presidential candidate from George McGovern to Mo Udall; from Fred Harris to Teddy Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson to Barack Obama. We fought for more sweeping voting rights and registration laws, tough gun control legislation, compassionate welfare reform, more funding for public education, collective bargaining rights, womens rights, LGBT rights and affirmative action programs. We won, and lost, many policy battles and elections. I was living in New York when Mike was first elected mayor of New York in the awful aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center that killed nearly 3,000 of my fellow New Yorkers, and left the rest of us with varying degrees of traumatic stress. Undaunted and upbeat, Bloomberg took control of a city still reeling from the unimaginable. Mayor Mike carried our suffering city on his strong shoulders for months, while Donald Trump, slinking toward insufferability, bragged that his building at 40 Wall Street was now, not only, the tallest in New York. It was Bloomberg, who, living around the corner from me, took the subway to work instead of a limo, buoying our spirits each day, and lifting 8 million New Yorkers out of the darkness of post-9/11 despair, with his indefatigable attitude that anything was still possible for a resilient city and its people. It was Bloomberg who regularly met with black community leaders and civil rights organizations after they had been deliberately excluded from New Yorks City Hall for the entire eight ugly years of intentional racial division during Rudy Giulianis mayoralty. The biggest knock against Mike Bloomberg by many Democratic presidential candidates this year is that the billionaire is buying the nomination with his money. Its an odd charge, since not one of my fellow Democrats complained when Bloomberg spent $110 million of his own money in 2018 to help elect 21 Democratic candidates, flipping the House of Representatives from red to blue and making Nancy Pelosi speaker. No one, except the NRA, had anything negative to say when Bloomberg contributed over $200 million to highly effective gun-control and gun-safety efforts around the country. Not one Democratic presidential candidate has criticized Mikes motivation to spend hundreds of millions of dollars perhaps billions, to not only hold the House and flip the Senate in 2020 but to build grassroots organizations and keep 500 paid staff members in place around the country between now and Nov. 3, to elect any Democrat over Donald Trump. I dont hear my fellow Progressives complaining that Bloomberg is drawing from his vast expertise in technology and spending whatever it takes to build an on-line presence to wipe out the advantage that Trump, his Russian operatives, and Right Wing trolls have over us on Facebook, Twitter and all social media. Over the past several years, Ive donated money to moderate and progressive presidential candidates including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as to Democratic Senate candidates in key states I believe we can win in 2020. My contributions have always reflected my ideals and fundamental beliefs in justice, equality and the Rule of Law. Those ideals, and not ideology, are more urgent to follow in this election than ever before. Hair-splitting purity of political belief needs to be set aside for the immediate and practical reality of preserving our Democracy. There is one unifying imperative this year: Beating Donald Trump. The best candidate to do that is Mike Bloomberg. And if he wants to spend half of his $60 billion fortune to do that, and bring along a Democratic Senate, God bless him. Steve Villano Napa TOKYO The ground rules were clear. A day before 328 Americans were to be whisked away from a contaminated cruise ship in Japan, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo told passengers that no one infected with the coronavirus would be allowed to board charter flights to the United States. But as the evacuees began filing onto two reconfigured cargo planes early Monday for departures to military bases in California or Texas, some noticed tented areas separated from the rest of the cabin. Then reality hit: After 12 days stuck on the cruise ship where more and more people were testing positive for the virus, they were now sharing planes with people carrying the same pathogen they were desperate to escape. I didnt know until we were in the air, said Carol Montgomery, 67, a retired administrative assistant from San Clemente, California. I saw an area of plastic sheeting and tape. While the planes were aloft, the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services said in a joint statement that the results for 14 passengers who had been tested two or three days earlier had come back positive just as they were heading to the airport in buses. U.S. officials, it turned out, had started bringing the passengers home without actually knowing their test results. But because the evacuation had already begun by the time Japanese officials relayed those results, officials decided to let the infected evacuees, who were not yet exhibiting symptoms, board the planes and sit in the back, separated from other passengers by plastic sheets about 10-feet-tall. The reversal was the latest chaotic turn in a two-week quarantine of the ship that has become an epidemiological nightmare. Even as the Americans were flying home and countries like Australia, Canada and South Korea were preparing to evacuate their own citizens, the Japanese Health Ministry announced on Monday that 99 more cases had been confirmed on the cruise ship, bringing the total to 454. Among them was the third Japanese public health official to contract the virus while tending to passengers and crew members aboard the ship, the Diamond Princess. The unstinting rise in infections and the scramble to bring American passengers home, even after some were discovered to be infected has led to tough questions, and some withering criticism, about the handling of the outbreak aboard the ship, home to the largest number of coronavirus cases outside China. The quarantine on the ship ended up being an unprecedented failure, said Eiji Kusumi, a doctor specializing in infectious diseases at Navitas Clinic in Tokyo. We should learn from this lesson that a quarantine on a ship is impossible, and we should not repeat this in the future. Countries around the world are now struggling to figure out what to do with cruise ships during the coronavirus outbreak. Another ship, the Westerdam, was turned away from port after port in Asia until it was welcomed in Cambodia. The cruise line insisted that no one was ill and passengers started heading home, yet one of them, an American woman, later tested positive for the virus, worrying experts that the epidemic will get only worse. After the long quarantine in Japan, U.S. authorities had strongly encouraged American passengers on the Diamond Princess to accept the offer of a flight out. Getting them off the ship took days of planning and hours of screening, checking passports and loading passengers onto buses for the 40-minute bus ride from the port of Yokohama to Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The goal was to ensure that passengers who were symptomatic remain in Japan, U.S. officials said. Medical experts examined American passengers on the ship and determined that at least 328 of them could be evacuated. Meanwhile, Japanese medical experts had done testing of the passengers, but did not have all the results ready. In the end, 61 Americans remain on board, officials said. Asked why U.S. officials began evacuating passengers without knowing their test results, Dr. William Walters, managing director of operational medicine at the State Department, told reporters on Monday that it was unpredictable when the results would come back. The Americans were put on about 15 buses to the airport. Once it became clear that some had the coronavirus, the State Department said, the infected passengers were moved in the most expeditious and safe manner to a specialized containment area in the rear of the planes. In the isolation area, they posed no additional risk, Walters said. After landing, the 14 infected evacuees went to hospitals for monitoring and treatment. Most ended up being flown to Omaha, Nebraska for medical treatment by experts at the University of Nebraska. Another five returning passengers were also put into isolation because they developed symptoms. The remaining U.S. passengers were taken either to Travis Air Force Base in California or Joint Base San Antonio in Texas, and they will remain under quarantine for an additional 14 days. When one of the planes landed in California, a line of officials from the military, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Homeland Security greeted passengers with banners that read Welcome home. After being ushered through an isolation tent, they were assigned to apartments on the base. They have flown in specialists from across the country, said one evacuee, Sarah Arana, 52, a medical social worker from Paso Robles, California. Its a phenomenal amount of resources. Im kind of blown away. Epidemiologists said U.S. officials had made a difficult decision in allowing infected passengers onboard the charter flights. You dont want to expose anyone on the plane who hadnt otherwise been exposed before on the boat, said Dr. Allen Cheng, an infectious disease specialist at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Australia is planning to take approximately 200 passengers off the Diamond Princess on Wednesday. Cheng said that Australia had decided that anyone who is sick or becomes sick in the next 48 hours will stay in Japan and stay in the hospital. With Australia and other countries preparing to help transport their citizens off the boat, the captain told the more than 2,000 people still on board that the Japanese health authorities could swab everyone for the coronavirus by the end of Monday and begin letting guests leave the ship on Wednesday. This disembarkation will be an ongoing process until Feb. 22, the captain said in an onboard announcement. The captain said the cruise line was coordinating closely with your embassies. In a briefing on Monday, Shigeru Omi, president of the Japan Community Healthcare Organization, said that Japan had made the right decision to put the ship in quarantine based on the information available when the ship arrived in Yokohama on Feb. 3. At that time, the international community was trying to contain the virus, Omi said. According to the Japanese Health Ministry, at least 71 Americans on the ship were infected with the coronavirus. Many of them remain in hospitals in Japan. John Haering, 63, a retired operations manager for Union Pacific Railroad who lives in Tooele, Utah, was taken to a hospital in Chiba prefecture last week with a fever and tested positive for the virus. He said he felt stranded as he lay in an isolation room. His wife, Melanie, left on one of the charter flights. Im happy for her that she got out of here and that shes going to get some attention in the U.S., said John Haering, who retired in November and was about a third of the way through a six-month trip around the world. But at the same time Im sad. You feel that loss of somebody leaving. John Haering, who said that he no longer had any symptoms or a fever but that a CT scan showed signs of pneumonia, was not sure how much longer he would have to stay. They did swab me today again, and Ill get my test back tomorrow, he said. I asked the doctor if the swab shows that Im negative, and he just shook his head and said, I dont know. Theres a lot of stuff that they dont know. John Haering said he had not heard from anyone at Princess Cruises, the company that operates the Diamond Princess, since he arrived at the hospital. Until Sunday, he had not heard from anyone at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, either. He received a call and a follow-up email urging him to get in touch with the cruise ship company for further information about how he will get home. Its very scary, he said. It feels like a little bit of abandonment. Tung Pi Lee, 79, a retired physician, was left in a Tokyo hospital with a coronavirus infection while his wife, Angela, flew to California on one of the charter flights. Several of her siblings and their spouses were among the 14 infected passengers who flew home. Two were taken to Nebraska, and another was in California for treatment. I am glad for my aunts and uncles to be in the U.S. and to be receiving treatment here, said JoAnn LaRoche Lee, one of Lees daughters. Had they been left in Japan, I wonder what would have happened to them. Trying to coordinate her fathers care in Tokyo with her siblings in the United States, she said, feels like a never-ending nightmare. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. UPDATE (9:05 a.m., Feb. 20): CenterPoint Energy CEO Scott M. Prochazka has since been ousted. The company said Wednesday that John W. Somerhalder II will be interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement for Prochazka. ORIGINAL STORY: H-E-B, the San Antonio-based grocery chain, was experiencing so many power outages at its Houston-area stores that three years ago it began installing its own backup generators to keep food at the right temperature. So when CenterPoint Energy, the regulated utility that distributes electricity to the Houston area, asked Texas regulators to raise rates this spring by $161 million and to boost its profit to 10.4 percent, H-E-B stepped up and said the utility didnt deserve either. The grocer took its complaints about unreliable service to the Public Utility Commission and ended up saving Houston area residents millions of dollars in transmission and distribution rates, according to regulatory filings. The increases would have raised electricity bills by $2.38 a month for Houston-area customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours of power. The administrative law judges who heard evidence last year in CenterPoints rate case agreed with H-E-B and recommended that CenterPoints profit be reduced to reflect the reliability problems. CenterPoint told the commission that it fixed the issues raised by H-E-B and that it would be arbitrary and punitive to reduce the utilitys return on equity costing it millions of dollars because of H-E-Bs complaints. Ultimately, CenterPoint negotiated a settlement with a $13 million rate hike, a fraction of its request, and a profit of 9.4 percent, even less than the 10 percent the utility has been allowed to earn over the past decade. The three-member commission approved the deal Friday. The changes mean customers using 1,000 kWh will see their upcoming April bills decline by about 85 cents compared with what they paid a year earlier. The outcome has made H-E-B an unlikely hero in a utility rate case that doesnt typically attract much attention outside of big industrial power users, consumer advocates and municipalities. During the case, H-E-B detailed its extensive problems with power outages across the CenterPoint service territory, including some that lasted for hours, and how it had to throw out refrigerated and frozen food that had thawed and spoiled. Years of power outages H-E-B testified that it has routinely faced power outages in the Houston area for years and brought the problems to CenterPoints attention in 2015, according to H-E-B testimony. Some of the outages lasted for a minute while others have lasted more than 17 hours, according to testimony from George W. Presses, vice president of fuel and energy for H-E-B. Some stores experienced more than one power outage a day, but CenterPoint did nothing to fix the problems, Presses testified. H-E-B had to come up with its own solution when CenterPoint didnt stop the outages, so the grocer began installing on-site generators three years ago. The first effort was so successful with the back-up generators turning on within seconds after each power failure that H-E-B now includes on-site generation in all new facilities in the CenterPoint service area, according to Presses testimony. H-E-B did not disclose how much it spent on back-up generation. During a recent media tour of H-E-Bs new store in Meyerland, the power went off twice, leaving reporters and H-E-B officials in the dark. Back up natural gas-fired generators automatically came on in three seconds and the lights came back on. H-E-B has documented the outages since it began installing back-up generation. From January 2017 to May 2019 in the stores with back-up generation, H-E-B experienced 521 outages that lasted for a total of 20,000 minutes or about 333 hours, according to the companys testimony. Enchanted Rock, the Houston company that installed H-E-Bs back-up generators and which also is putting them in hospitals, manufacturing plants and retirement homes, said companies want more reliability than the power grid provides. They want no outages, said Allan Schurr, chief commercial officer for Enchanted Rock, which sells excess power generated by the backup units to the Texas grid. More and more customers are taking it into their own hands. H-E-B told the commission that it didnt support CenterPoints proposed rate increase or higher return on equity because the utility has not demonstrated that it provides reliable electric service. CenterPoint should not be rewarded for providing intermittent service, according to Presses testimony. CenterPoint officials disagreed, telling the commission that the majority of outages at the 151 stores H-E-B had in the Houston area in 2015 occurred on days with bad weather. The utility spent $250,000 to make repairs that year, including replacing poles and transformers, according to testimony from Julienne P. Sugarek, vice president of power delivery solutions for CenterPoint. The two companies didnt meet again until last year, a get-together suggested by CenterPoint after H-E-B brought its reliability complaints before the Public Utility Commission. CenterPoint said H-E-Bs own backup generation had melted utility transformers and caused some of the outages, according to Sugareks testimony. CenterPoint said it offered to hire a consultant to study the issues. Neither H-E-B nor CenterPoint would comment for this story. Walmart also filed a complaint with the commission over CenterPoints request to boost its profit, calling the increase out of line, according to regulatory filings. Since 2016, the commission in other regulated utility rate cases has approved an average return on equity of 9.68 percent, according to Walmart. We are always looking for ways to save money and pass on lower costs to our customers and this equally applies to the energy rates we pay, Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield said. Paul Takahashi contributed. lynn.sixel@chron.com twitter.com/lmsixel DMK MP RS Bharathi has waded into a controversy by comparing TV media houses and journalists to those in Mumbai red light area, alleging money was their primary concern. With the Chennai Press Club and comments on the social media criticising him, Bharathi expressed regret for his statement after being prompted by DMK Chief MK Stalin to do so, though he said he had made a fair comment while speaking on the party employing political strategist Prashant Kishor. In a video that went viral on Monday, the DMK Rajya MP is heard questioning why the media had made a matter of debate, his party roping in Kishor and purportedly questions the rationale behind it discussing Stalin and his familys visits to religious places. The DMK had earlier roped in Kishors Indian Political Action Committee to help shape its campaign for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections next year. In the video, Bharathi is heard saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also used Kishors services, but questioned why that had not been debated in the media. The TV channels were making an issue out of Kishor joining hands with the DMK out of frustration, he purportedly says in the video. Hitting out at TV media houses, he said they are running their company like Mumbai red light area, alleging money was their primary concern. There is (also) a debate whether Thalapathy (Stalin) went to temple or not, whether those from his house did or not. Is that important for the country, he asked. With his remarks not going down well with many, including those in the social media, the veteran leader expressed regret, saying Stalin had asked him to do so. A wrong debate was happening in media as if DMK had been pawned to him (Kishor). There are so many issues (to be debated)..he had worked for Modi, Kejriwal..but some media made a big issue when he joined hands with the DMK, Bharathi later told reporters. I gave a fair comment that this looked like the act of some people working in red light area. But my intention is not to hurt anyone, any media house. Our leader (Stalin) came to know and asked me to express regret and I also realised that it was a mistake. So I express regret, he added. Earlier, responding strongly to Bharathis comments, Chennai Press Club Joint Secretary Bharathy Tamizhan said instances of targeting journalists and media were on the rise. The Chennai Press Club strongly condemns the lowly remarks made by senior politician Bharathi, who also holds the DMK Organising Secretary post, he said in a statement and urged DMK chief M K Stalin to reprimand such acts. He welcomed constructive criticism against the media. Williams has penned a book, called Snakes and Ladders, about her time behind bars in the hopes of shedding some light on the system A young mother was sent to jail twice for the same crime, despite believing she had served her time and turned her life around. Angela Williams, from Wollongong, south of Sydney, was 19 when she was caught breaking into a home with three men in the hopes of finding drugs. She was sentenced to 15 months' periodic detention in October 1996. Williams was shocked when she was arrested again, 10 years later, for the same crime. 'I did rehabilitate, and they put me back in there anyway,' she told the ABC. As a teenager, Williams spent five months doing short stints at the Emu Plains Correctional Centre, west of Sydney but stopped when she signed up for a 12-month rehab program. Three months later she returned to complete her jail stint but claims she was told by a police officer that if she stuck with her rehab program, she can consider it time served. Ten years rolled by and in that time Williams had turned her life around. She had kicked her heroin addiction, she had started a creative arts degree and her son was out of foster care and living with her. Then one day, in February 2010, she was hit by a postie on a bike and her began to unravel once more. While giving her statement to police about what had happened she was told there was an outstanding warrant for her 'incomplete periodic detention'. Angela Williams, from Wollongong, was 19 when she was caught breaking into a home with three men in the hopes of finding drugs She was arrested as the court said she still needed to serve the 10 months and one day remaining on her original sentence. Her time completing her rehab program did not count. Williams spent 45 days at the maximum and minimum security prison in Silverwater, and the Berrima Correctional Centre, New South Wales, before being moved to home detention. Williams was in disbelief. 'It didn't matter that I spent 13 years not committing a crime, it didn't matter that I'd given up drugs, gone to university, none of that mattered.' Her second stint in prison created a divide between her and her son. Home detention helped mend their relationship but it still took time She was then forced to spend another year trying to piece her life back on together again. 'As much as home detention prevented cracks getting wider, from the second those cops said they had to arrest me the damage had started.' Williams said home detention was much harder than she had thought. Williams (pictured) was shocked when she was arrested again, 10 years later for the same crime She felt isolated and ashamed. Unlike in prison, she was the only person in her situation. Williams has written a book, called Snakes and Ladders, about her time behind bars in the hopes of shedding some light on the system. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Corrective Services NSW for comment. Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome Speed camera locations for January 2020 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With New York City continuing to install hundreds of new cameras as part of a massive expansion of the school zone speed camera program, Staten Island drivers are feeling the effects of the expansion in their wallets, with over $1 million in fines issued on Staten Island during the month of January alone. On July 11, the number of school zones permitted to operate speed cameras increased from 140 to 750, with cameras now permitted to operate year-round on weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., including school and summer vacations. The language in the new law now allows cameras to be placed within a quarter-mile radial distance of a school, as opposed to the previous law that required the cameras to be placed within a quarter-mile of the school along an abutted street. Motorists who are photographed exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph at a speed camera location receive a $50 fine. The Department of Transportation (DOT) refuses to offer locations for Staten Island's cameras, but the most recently available city data shows that 79 locations across the borough have issued school zone speed camera violations from Jan. 1 to Jan. 27. During a recent meeting with Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), the DOT provided the assemblyman with the total number of fixed speed camera locations per borough as of February 2020, showing that Staten Island had 61 total stationary speed cameras at the start of the month. The remaining 18 ticketing locations in January can likely be attributed to the city's fleet of 40 mobile speed camera units, which are regularly moved to various school zones that lack fixed speed cameras. During the 27-day span, 23,157 school zone speed camera violations were issued on Staten Island, totaling $1,157,850 in fines, the data shows. When parsed down, these numbers represent approximately 858 school zone speed camera violations per day on Staten Island. At $50 per violation, the 858 violations per day on Staten Island represent about $42,900 in fines per day, $1,788 per hour or $30 per minute. Continue reading to see every ticketing speed camera location on Staten Island, and the number of violations issued, during January 2020. Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Amboy Road at Woodhull Avenue Total tickets: 2,895 Total fines: $144,750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Goethals Road North at Jules Drive Total tickets: 2,433 Total fines: $121,650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Rockland Avenue at Borman Avenue Total tickets: 1,608 Total fines: $80,400 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound College Avenue at Neal Dow Avenue Total tickets: 1,322 Total fines: $66,100 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Bloomingdale Road at Sarcona Court Total tickets: 1,178 Total fines: $58,900 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Manor Road at Brielle Avenue Total tickets: 1,049 Total fines: $52,450 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Decker Avenue at Hagaman Place Total tickets: 882 Total fines: $44,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Guyon Avenue at Whitehall Street Total tickets: 871 Total fines: $43,550 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Richmond Hill Road at Wellington Court Total tickets: 858 Total fines: $42,900 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Midland Avenue at Mason Avenue Total tickets: 825 Total fines: $41,250 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Richmond Road at Venice Avenue Total tickets: 632 Total fines: $31,600 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Bradley Avenue at Willowbrook Road Total tickets: 594 Total fines: $29,700 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Deppe Place at Willow Road West Total tickets: 582 Total fines: $29,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Marsh Avenue, at Elmwood Park Drive Total tickets: 483 Total fines: $24,150 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Midland Avenue, at Mason Avenue Total tickets: 403 Total fines: $20,150 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Hylan Boulevard at West Fingerboard Road Total tickets: 375 Total fines: $18,750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Armstrong Avenue at Amboy Road Total tickets: 366 Total fines: $18,300 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Hylan Boulevard at Chelsea Street Total tickets: 343 Total fines: $17,150 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Tompkins Avenue at Townsend Avenue Total tickets: 340 Total fines: $17,000 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Todt Hill Road at Helena Road Total tickets: 338 Total fines: $16,900 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Richmond Avenue at Travis Avenue Total tickets: 309 Total fines: $15,450 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Front Street at Water Street Total tickets: 288 Total fines: $14,400 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound St Pauls Avenue at Swan Street Total tickets: 286 Total fines: $14,300 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Giffords Lane and Gibson Avenue Total tickets: 267 Total fines: $13,350 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Amboy Road at Cedarview Avenue Total tickets: 262 Total fines: $13,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Hylan Boulevard at Peter Avenue Total tickets: 256 Total fines: $12,800 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Winant Avenue at Mcbaine Avenue Total tickets: 253 Total fines: $12,650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Arden Avenue at Edgegrove Avenue Total tickets: 234 Total fines: $11,700 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Hylan Boulevard at Tysens Lane Total tickets: 225 Total fines: $11,250 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Hylan Boulevard, at Cleveland Avenue Total tickets: 195 Total fines: $9,750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Ocean Terrace at Longfellow Avenue Total tickets: 184 Total fines: $9,200 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Victory Boulevard at Eddy Street Total tickets: 145 Total fines: $7,250 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Page Avenue, between Hylan Boulevard and Eastwood Avenue Total tickets: 129 Total fines: $6,450 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Hylan Boulevard, at West Fingerboard Road Total tickets: 117 Total fines: $5,850 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Richmond Terrace at Tysen Street Total tickets: 115 Total fines: $5,750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Targee Street at Dekalb Street Total tickets: 113 Total fines: $5,650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Bay Street at Maryland Avenue Total tickets: 113 Total fines: $5,650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Arlene Street, between Sommer Avenue and Commerce Street Total tickets: 96 Total fines: $4,800 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Clove Road at Ludwig Street Total tickets: 86 Total fines: $4,300 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Richmond Avenue, between Laredo Avenue and Leverett Avenue Total tickets: 82 Total fines: $4,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Katan Avenue at Rhett Avenue Total tickets: 77 Total fines: $3,850 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Forest Avenue at Greenwood Avenue Total tickets: 76 Total fines: $3,800 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Huguenot Avenue and Drumgoole Road West Total tickets: 59 Total fines: $2,950 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Travis Avenue, between Nehring Avenue and Steinway Avenue Total tickets: 56 Total fines: $2,800 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Richmond Road at Rose Avenue Total tickets: 56 Total fines: $2,800 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Union Avenue, between Netherland Avenue and Forest Court Total tickets: 54 Total fines: $2,700 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Arlene Street, from Commerce Street to Sommer Avenue Total tickets: 53 Total fines: $2,650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Amboy Road at Wood Avenue Total tickets: 52 Total fines: $2,600 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Brielle Avenue, between Wellbrook Avenue and Gower Street Total tickets: 42 Total fines: $2,100 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Luten Avenue, between Hylan Boulevard and Amboy Road Total tickets: 42 Total fines: $2,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Broadway at Winegar Lane Total tickets: 40 Total fines: $2,000 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Slosson Avenue, between Lortel Avenue and Knox Place Total tickets: 35 Total fines: $1,750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Jersey Street at Hendricks Avenue Total tickets: 34 Total fines: $1,700 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Luten Avenue, between Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard Total tickets: 32 Total fines: $1,600 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Amity Place at Amador Street Total tickets: 30 Total fines: $1,500 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Willowbrook Road, between Birchard Avenue and Forest Hill Road Total tickets: 25 Total fines: $1,250 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Targee Street at Broad Street Total tickets: 24 Total fines: $1,200 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Morningstar Road, from Westbrook Avenue to Kalver Place Total tickets: 22 Total fines: $1,100 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Arthur Kill Road at Storer Avenue Total tickets: 22 Total fines: $1,100 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Old Town Road at Oregon Road Total tickets: 21 Total fines: $1,050 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Lincoln Avenue, between Kiswick Street and Boundary Avenue Total tickets: 20 Total fines: $1,000 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Richmond Avenue at Victory Boulevard Total tickets: 16 Total fines: $800 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Hylan Boulevard, between Arbutus Avenue and Pollion Avenue Total tickets: 15 Total fines: $750 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Walker Street, between Port Richmond Avenue and Morningstar Road Total tickets: 13 Total fines: $650 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Targee Street, between Rome Avenue and Ralph Place Total tickets: 13 Total fines: $650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Slosson Avenue, between Knox Place ad Lortel Avenue Total tickets: 13 Total fines: $650 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound New Dorp Lane, between Weed Avenue and Hylan Boulevard Total tickets: 11 Total fines: $550 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Clove Road at Little Clove Road Total tickets: 11 Total fines: $550 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Bedford Avenue, between Hylan Boulevard and Mason Avenue Total tickets: 10 Total fines: $500 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Page Avenue, between Eastwood Avenue and Hylan Boulevard Total tickets: 10 Total fines: $500 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Buffalo Street, between S. Railroad Avenue and Durant Avenue Total tickets: 9 Total fines: $450 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Amboy Road, at Sherwood Place Total tickets: 7 Total fines: $350 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound on Brielle Avenue, between Wellbrook Avenue and Gower Street Total tickets: 6 Total fines: $300 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Hylan Boulevard, between Tompkins Avenue and Bay Street Total tickets: 6 Total fines: $300 Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Westbound Hylan Boulevard, between Kingdom Avenue and Cornelia Avenue Total tickets: 6 Total fines: $300 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound New Dorp Lane, between Hylan Boulevard and Weed Avenue Total tickets: 4 Total fines: $200 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Eastbound Walker Street, between Morningstar Road and Port Richmond Avenue Total tickets: 1 Total fines: $50 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Northbound Bedford Avenue, between Mason Avenue and Hylan Boulevard Total tickets: 1 Total fines: $50 Don't Edit Courtesy of Google Maps Southbound Hylan Boulevard, between Bay Street and Tompkins Avenue Total tickets: 1 Total fines: $50 Don't Edit CHICO, Calif. A hardware store employee was attacked with pepper spray after a suspect robbed the store in Chico on Monday afternoon, police said. Chico Police Officers responded to the True Value Hardware Store in the 200 block of W. East Avenue at 1:15 p.m. The store employee reported that he confronted a suspect stealing power tools. The man attacked the employee with pepper spray and then ran off on his bicycle. Police said the suspect is described as a white adult man wearing black clothing. Anyone who can identify the suspect is encouraged to contact the Chico Police Department at 897-4911 and reference investigation 20-001113. Four Labor MPs who were filmed letting their hair down at a booze-fuelled party in a Bali nightclub have defended their late-night antics, saying they like 'to get up and dance'. Footage emerged on Tuesday of Victoria Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and backbench Labor MPs Nick Staikos, Steve Dimopolous and Jackson Taylor dancing at the Bali venue on December 28. The video showed the group on the dance floor at the Motel Mexicola in Seminyak, with a bartender at one point pouring a shot directly into Mr Dimopolous' mouth. Four Labor MPs who were filmed letting their hair down at a booze-fuelled party in December Left to right: Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer Steve Dimopoulos and Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos The day after the group's boozy night out bushfires prompted an evacuation of the state's East Gippsland region. Mikakos herself was tweeting on December 29 about the emergency evacuations as the region was engulfed by flames. Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the Health Minister should have been home after East Gippsland evacuations began. 'We had massive pressure on our country hospitals, we had people being injured...the health minister should have been on deck,' he said on Tuesday. Ms Mikakos said she returned as soon as she could - having tried unsuccessfully to get an earlier flight from December 29 - not because she had to, but because she wanted to. '(With) people with names Dimopoulos, Mikakos and Staikos it would be no surprise to anybody that when Zorba is playing we like to get up and dance,' she told the Herald Sun. The footage features the group dancing at the club, linking arms and high-fiving other patrons. Pictured: Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor 'Effectively what the Liberal Party is saying today is that Scott Morrison should not have been in Hawaii and that ministers should never take leave.' Premier Daniel Andrews said it was appropriate ministers took leave. 'I'm happy to stand beside an outstanding health minister. This is not a story,' he told reporters, standing alongside Ms Mikakos. Fellow holiday-maker Mr Staikos also dismissed the significance of the story. 'The biggest revelation is that I'm a bad dancer, and I'm just glad that they didn't get footage of Footloose,' he told reporters. The footage showed a bartender at one point pouring a shot directly into Mr Dimopolous' mouth Mr Dimopolous said he had been behaving how he would around friends. 'It was a personal holiday with friends, and I felt very comfortable and safe with friends.' The three male MPs were Mr Dimopolous, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos and Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor. One witness said they behaved like there were on 'a Year 12 Schoolies trip'. The footage shows the group lifting each other up, linking arms and high-fiving other patrons. The MPs returned from their privately-funded Bali holiday on January 2, ahead of Victoria declaring a state of disaster for much of the east of the state that evening. Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos tweeted information regarding emergency evacuations in East Gippsland the day after partying Nick Staikos (left) and Jackson Taylor (right) were both filmed partying in Bali last December Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced similar backlash for heading to Hawaii for a family holiday during Australia's worst bushfire crisis on record. He defended his choice to travel by saying volunteers knew he 'would not stand there and hold a hose'. 'I am not a trained firefighter nor am I an expert like those in the next room doing an amazing job,' he said at the time. He later apologised for disappointing the Australian public. Mr Morrison admitted he had caused 'great anxiety' by leaving Australia, and said he would have done things differently if he had the benefit of hindsight. The Chief Commander of Irans Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that his countrys air defenses are more accurate than those of advanced countries and that Iran had readied hundreds of ballistic missiles for simultaneous launch after the killing of Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani by an American drone. Gen. Hossein Salami made the remarks 40 days after IRGCs anti-aircraft missiles brought down a Ukrainian civilian airliner taking off from Tehran on January 8, in what Iran said was human error. Hours earlier on that day, Iran had fired missiles at bases in Iraq hosting American forces and was anticipating a response. In an interview with Al Mayadin Arabic-language television in Lebanon, Salami called Soleimani a defenseless commander who was unarmed and added that his killing by the United States was an act of oppression. The IRGC commander threatened to continue to respond to the killing until Israels dissolution and exit of U.S. forces from the Middle East, which he said were Soleimanis goals. Speaking about Irans January 8 attack on U.S. troops in Iraq, Salami said Iran was ready to continue if the United States had responded to its missile strikes. In conjunction with our first wave of attacks, we had readied large waves of destructive missile strikes, to be launched simultaneously at other bases and targets, Salami added. He also praised Irans military accomplishments, including domestically made drones and claimed that the unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of long-range, accurate operations with the capability to evade radars and get through air defenses. U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette speaks with journalists during a roundtable in Rio de Janeiro By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's 2021 budget proposed $150 million for the creation of a U.S. uranium reserve as the administration seeks to help struggling producers of the fuel for nuclear power reactors. The money, if approved by Congress, would begin the process of purchasing uranium, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told reporters in a teleconference on the Energy Department's budget. Brouillette also said the budget represents a push by Trump to challenge the global expansion of nuclear power development by Chinese and Russian companies. Trump "has decided that we're going to meet them anywhere that they go around the world, and this ... is the very first step that we will take to put the United States back into this competitive game," Brouillette said. U.S. uranium mining firms, as well as more than two dozen western state lawmakers, have argued that nuclear generators rely heavily on adversaries including Russia, China and Kazakhstan for uranium supply from their state-owned companies, which flood the market. The budget, largely a political document that serves as a starting point for negotiations with Congress, did not outline where the reserve would be built. Budget documents said a reserve addresses immediate challenges to domestic uranium production and "provides assurance of availability of uranium in the event of a market disruption." The U.S. nuclear energy industry is suffering from high safety costs and low prices for natural gas, a competitor in generating electricity. Since 2013, nearly 10 nuclear power plants have been closed and eight more are scheduled to shut in coming years. A mining company cheered the budget. Mark Chalmers, president and CEO of Colorado based Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc said a reserve would "preserve our strategic capacity to produce uranium for national security purposes." The idea for a reserve was recommended by industry group the Nuclear Energy Institute to the Nuclear Fuel Working Group, a panel set up by Trump to spur ideas to help domestic mining. Nima Ashkeboussi, an NEI fuel expert, praised the administration for "recognizing the importance of a domestic uranium fuel supply." Story continues Trump set up the working group last year after declining to set production quotas for domestic uranium, amid concerns they could raise prices for nuclear plants in swing states like Pennsylvania ahead of next year's election. Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said he would not be surprised if a reserve gets support in Congress "at least in the Senate," which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans. The Democratic-controlled House may be more reluctant, as the proposal puts taxpayers on the hook for the costs. This year's budget, unlike Trump's last three, did not include funds for Nevada's Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, on which Washington has spent about $40 billion over decades, but which has never opened. Lawmakers in Nevada, a key swing state, oppose the project saying it could poison water supplies. Brouillette said his department would work on other options, which could be temporary. The Energy Department will release the working group's full findings in about two weeks, he said. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; editing by Diane Craft) Oil fell below $57 a barrel on Feb. 18, pressured by concerns over the impact on oil demand from the coronavirus outbreak in China and a lack of further action by OPEC and its allies to support the market. Forecasters including the International Energy Agency (IEA) have cut 2020 oil demand estimates because of the virus. Though new cases in mainland China have dipped, global experts say it is too early to judge if the outbreak is being contained. Brent crude was down $1.02 at $56.65 a barrel by 11:00 GMT after rallying in the previous five sessions. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 82 cents to $51.23. Risk aversion has returned to the markets, said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch. OPEC+ has shown no sign yet of reacting to the virus-related slump in demand by making additional production cuts. The virus is having a wider impact on companies and financial markets. Asian shares fell and Wall Street was poised to retreat on Tuesday after Apple said it would miss quarterly revenue guidance owing to weakened demand in China. This has spooked market players and triggered a sharp pullback in risk assets, said Tamas Varga, of oil broker PVM, referring to Apples statement. The IEA last week said that first-quarter oil demand is likely to fall by 435,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the same period last year in the first quarterly decline since the financial crisis in 2009. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, have been considering further production cuts to tighten supply and support prices. The group, known as OPEC+, has a pact to cut oil output by 1.7 million bpd until the end of March. The next OPEC+ meeting in March is set to consider an advisory panels recommendation to lower supply by a further 600,000 bpd. Talks on holding an earlier meeting in February appear to have made no progress, OPEC sources said. As well as OPEC+ voluntary curbs, support for prices has come from involuntary losses in Libya, where output has collapsed since Jan. 18 because of a blockade of ports and oilfields. By Alex Lawler VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. CSE:TAAL | FWB:9SQ | OTCQB:SQRMF) ("TAAL") is pleased to announce that today it has entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Tansley Equipment Limited, Fractical Sense Limited and Laser Lollypop Limited (together, the "Sellers"), three companies affiliated with Mr. Calvin Ayre, to acquire over 50,000 non-operational cloud computing units located in the United States (the "Transaction"). The aggregate purchase price (the "Purchase Price") payable by TAAL to the Sellers for the North American cloud computing assets to be acquired is approximately US$4,093,374. Closing of the Transaction ("Closing") is expected to occur on or about March 9, 2020 (the "Closing Date"). On the Closing Date, TAAL intends to satisfy the Purchase Price by issuing to Mr. Ayre that number of non-voting participating shares in the capital of TAAL (the "NVPS") that is equal to the total Purchase Price divided by the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the common shares in the capital of TAAL (the "Common Shares") trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange (the "CSE") over the ten (10) trading days preceding the Closing Date. For purposes of determining the VWAP in United States dollars, reference will be made to the daily exchange rate for Canadian dollars quoted by the Bank of Canada on the Closing Date. As of May 2, 2020, the date after which the convertible debenture currently held by Mr. Ayre and due May 1, 2020 is converted into Common Shares, the NVPS held by Mr. Ayre will be subject to an exchange agreement providing that, at any time Mr. Ayre's holdings of Common Shares falls below 40% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of TAAL, that number of NVPS that brings his holdings of Common Shares to 45% will be exchanged until such time that there are no more NVPS held by him available for exchange. At Closing, TAAL is expected to pay certain prepayments to the hosting providers who act as custodian for the cloud computing assets to be acquired pursuant to the Transaction. Such prepayments are expected to be reimbursed by the Sellers, at their option, in fiat currency, Bitcoin Core (BTC) coins or Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) coins on or about April 12, 2020. In addition, the Sellers are expected to reimburse TAAL for de-racking and packing expenses to prepare the cloud computing assets for shipping. Additionally, Mr. Ayre has agreed to a three (3) month lockup of the NVPS issued to him in connection with the Transaction, subject to exceptions for private or overthecounter trades outside of the facilities of the CSE or pledging arrangements to secure debt. Closing is subject to customary conditions, including no material adverse change in respect of TAAL having occurred, receipt of required consents and approval of the CSE (including with respect to the listing and posting for trading of the Common Shares exchangeable for the NVPS). The Agreement will be filed on TAALs SEDAR profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The purpose of the Transaction is to use the acquired cloud computing assets to support TAALs ongoing operations and blockchain infrastructure in order to generate cash proceeds. TAAL intends to upgrade the cloud computing assets acquired in the Transaction with TAAL's custom components and to optimize them using TAAL's proprietary techniques, enhancing their performance and efficiency. The cloud computing assets are expected to be deployed to support ongoing blockchain transaction processing operations and establish a significant operational footprint within North America. The cloud computing assets to be acquired in the Transaction are expected to be utilized by TAAL to offer specialized services to enterprises that require large volumes of transactions processed within North America indelibly on a reliable blockchain (also known as 'block building'). TAAL expects that Bitcoin SV (BSV) is the best blockchain to support such specialized services to enterprises for large transaction volumes because of BSVs massive scaling and microtransaction capabilities. Further to TAAL's press release of January 28, 2020, TAAL has been seeking partners to host up to 90 megawatts of computing power. The North American cloud computing assets are expected to provide that computing power. Subsequent to TAAL's upgrade and optimization program, the North American cloud computing assets are expected to be deployed after the passing of a Bitcoin network wide event termed the "Halving" which takes place approximately every 4 years. Upon Halving, the subsidy component of the block creation reward is reduced by one-half. The subsidy is expected to decrease from its current 12.5 coins to 6.25 coins per block successfully processed on the Bitcoin SV (BSV) network in April 2020, and on the Bitcoin Core (BTC) network in May 2020. Deployment of the North American fleet will occur after the Halving to ensure SHA-256 based blockchain networks have stabilized after such event and to preserve capital resources. TAAL has recently invested US$3.2 million within the last two quarters to upgrade, enhance and optimize the performance of its currently owned assets operating in Kazakhstan. TAAL expects to continue its upgrade and optimization program. About TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. TAAL is a Canadian based technology company engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the business of operating, managing and developing cloud computing data infrastructure and system technology to support global blockchain applications related to Bitcoin SV, Bitcoin Core and other SHA-256 based digital assets. For further information contact: Angela Holowaychuk President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +1 800-371-2809 The CSE accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forwardlooking information and statements include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action, disclosure with respect to the timing, success and completion of the acquisition of the cloud computing assets pursuant to the Transaction (on the terms presently contemplated or otherwise), statements with respect to the upgrade and optimization of TAALs cloud computing assets, including those acquired pursuant to the Transaction (and the success and benefits in connection therewith), statements with respect to Bitcoin SV (BSV) (and the expected benefits thereof) and, in certain cases, can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will", or the negative forms of any of these words and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets, lack of available capital, future demand for Bitcoin SV, Bitcoin Core and other digital assets and risks related to the mining thereof, integration issues, personnel and staffing requirements, technological change and obsolescence and risks that the conditions to closing in respect of the Transaction will not be satisfied. Actual results and future events and actions could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. All forward looking information in this news release is made as of the date hereof and qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. TAAL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, who were arrested near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Gulmarg last year. The charge sheet was filed against Khalil Ahmad Kayani, 34, and Mohammad Nazeem, 23, both residents of Tedaban village under Khurshidabad tehsil of Pakistan occupied Kashmirs (PoKs) Haveli Farwad Kahuta district, at an NIA special court in Jammu. The case is related to the arrest of the two accused near Nilkanth Nala approximately 700 metres on the Indian side of LoC in Gulmarg Sector of district Baramulla and recovery of arms, ammunition, grenades, IED material, including explosives and detonators, Pakistan-made medicine and eatable items etc from the forest area near LoC, at their instance by the Indian Army on 21.08.2019, a spokesperson of the agency said. The spokesperson said their investigation has revealed that Kayani and Nazeem were in contact with their LeT handler and the Pakistani army in PoK. They were engaged in the task of concealing arms, ammunitions, explosives across the LoC in the forest area of the Indian territory for the use by Pakistani terrorists to carry out the terrorist activities in India further investigation is continued in the case, the spokesperson said. The official said they were booked under section 120B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), sections 13, 18, 20, 23 and 39 of UA(P) Act, section 7 and 25 of arms act, sections 4 and 5 of explosives substances act and sections 3 and 3A of Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance, 2005. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat on Monday reignited an age-old debate over the domination of aircraft carriers over submarines and vice versa by indicating that the Indian Navy's long-standing demand for a third supercarrier will be on the backburner for a while Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Monday reignited an age-old debate over the domination of aircraft carriers over submarines and vice versa by indicating that the Indian Navy's long-standing demand for a third supercarrier will be on the backburner for a while. Rawat seemingly favoured spending on cruise missile submarines than a naval air carrier which requires a battle fleet of five to 15 other ships for its protection in the event of a war. "When we know that there would be two aircraft carriers there, and if the submarine force is dwindling, then our priority should be for submarines," Rawat was quoted as saying by ANI. The navy, however, has traditionally disagreed with such reasoning. The Indian Navy currently has one serving aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, and another indigenously built, INS Vikrant, is due to be commissioned by 2022. Both ships have a displacement of about 45,000 tonnes. However, the navy has been demanding a third carrier since over a decade now. Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh has said that the need for a new 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier remains non-negotiable so that two of its carriers can remain operational at all times, and one can be deployed each of India's three coasts in wartime. However, the argument on the balance of power between aircraft carriers and submarines is more complicated than that. There's a reason the debate remains unsettled till date. Why aircraft carriers remain the thrust of India's naval assault capabilities Experts have been predicting that aircraft carriers will outlive their utility since as early as 1945, just nine years after carriers made battleships redundant. However, the country's navy is reposing its faith in the giant while claiming that its utility outruns the costs involved. The INS Vikramaditya which is currently under service can carry over 30 aircraft including state-of-the-art MiG 29K or Sea Harriers, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. With 22 decks and a capacity of 1,600 personnel, the ship can sustain itself in the sea for 45 days up to a range of over 13,000 kilometres. The INS Vikrant, at a length of 262 meters and a width of 60 meters, will operate up to 40 aircraft and will sport a close-in weapon system (CIWS) for self-defence and Indias first domestically assembled long-range surface-to-air missile system (LRSAM). Furthermore, as former Indian Navy chief Sunil Lanba pointed out, that notwithstanding the vulnerability of the naval fleet against airstrikes, the only alternative to carriers are shore-based air operations (or airfields), which are still limited by range and that is why it is too early to write off aircraft carriers as they continue to bear huge influence at sea. The serving navy chief has also highlighted the need for a third carrier, citing utility of the platforms plenty of times. He has highlighted that while China plans to have 10 aircraft carriers by 2049, India is unwilling to push for a third aircraft carrier, notwithstanding the threat from the growing threat from Chinese expansion in Indian Ocean region. "As the navy chief, I am convinced that the country needs three aircraft carriers so that two are operational at all times. And it should be 65,000 tonnes with electromagnetic propulsion," Singh told The Week. A retired US naval officer Rear Adm. Roy Trigger Kelley also swears by the utility of these giants stating that in a time of war. In an article for Defence News, he states that while the concerns about new and improved missile warfare making this cost heavy behemoth vulnerable are valid, carriers and their supporting fleet too have improved over the years. Carriers are mobile, defendable and durable. He states, "aircraft carriers will be the most survivable airfields perhaps the only survivable airfields in the maritime area of operations." Why aircraft carrier's practical utility is often challenged The utility of defence equipment is not only gauged on the basis of the damage it can cause in event of a war, but also on the accompanying costs of maintenance and operation. And it is here that the might of aircraft carriers are challenged. Carriers are accompanied by a battle fleet of five to 15 other ships designed to protect the carrier and do other tasks the carrier is not designed to do. Furthermore, carriers are really expensive, not just to acquire, but also to operate. A single US carrier group costs $7 million a day and the carrier alone costs $100 million per year to operate. While the cost Indian Navy incurs in keeping the 20-storeyed steel megastructure afloat is not available, the restoration of the Russian decommissioned wreck Admiral Gorshkov into current day INS Vikramaditya cost the country $2.35 billion. Given these figures, the government's reluctance to back the navy's demands doesn't come as a surprise. India Today reported that the government of India already spends 28 percent of its total acquisition budget on fulfilling the requirements of the three services. Bankrolling a new aircraft carrier along with the accompanying paraphernalia and fleet will force the government to change its acquisition plans for the coming years, compelling it to waitlist a number of other urgently required weapon systems of the army and the air force. Alternatives to aircraft careers The market is already abuzz with several alternatives to these giant machines even as the defence experts remain largely divided on whether or not the naval behemoth can be dismissed as dispensable. According to an article in Defence News, US too is reconsidering its investments in an air carrier and the allied air wing and ship fleet required. The article reported that Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin is questioning the operability and utility of carriers in a mainstream war against China, its largest adversary with formidable naval power. Griffin has opined that aircraft carriers remain a determinative asset, with adversaries like China and Russia capable of measuring and understanding the limits of US naval warfare. Griffin instead favours ground-based hypersonic missiles which incorporate the speed of a ballistic missile with the manoeuvring capabilities of a cruise missile over the giant carriers, even as several defence experts remain sceptical. Other US experts favour long-range, armed drones instead of the traditional naval air fleet, which do not need a giant ecosystem to take off such as an aircraft carrier. They are able to launch from smaller flattop ships such as America. Drones also grant greater agility to the naval-air attacks as they do not run the risk of human pilot casualty, enabling greater standoff range for carriers and longer dwell time on attack missions over enemy territory. India could also utilise its existing naval fleet as carriers if it manoeuvres its fleet expansion in this direction. In 2017, the late Senator John McCain published an alternative plan for the US military that posited that costs of developing and operating aircraft carriers could be halved if the country invested in unmanned combat aircraft vehicles (UCAVs) for which much smaller carriers will also suffice. McCain argued that smaller carrier will more efficiently address daily power sea control, close air support and counterterrorism missions at a much lower cost. Missile-hauling submarines are another popular alternative, which is what Rawat also seems to back. These subs are arguably cheaper to carriers, as even though the manufacturing and procurement costs run parallel, the operative costs of the former are much lesser than the latter. Subs with an advanced stealth mechanism are capable of destroying carriers from a greater distance with cruise missiles, and can increasingly utilise targeting data provided by offboard sensors to find their prey. A submarine's stealth enables it to covertly position precision land-attack missiles within range without causing a diplomatic incident, which is sometimes all that is needed to tip the scales in a conflict. Submarines have also proved their utility historically. Royal Navy's Courageous, became the first aircraft carrier to be sunk by a submarine. In World War II also, the subs were able to cause lasting damage when pitted against aircraft carriers, who were deemed simply too expensive to risk their sinking. Postwar records compiled by the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee indicate Japan lost 686 warships of 500 gross tons (GRT) or larger, 2,346 merchantmen, and a total of 10.5 million GRT to submarines during 1,600 war patrols. Only 1.6 percent of the total US naval manpower was responsible for America's success on its Pacific high seas; more than half of the tonnage sunk was credited to US submarines. However, naysayers could challenge the diversion of funds towards submarines (at the cost of an aircraft carrier) citing the scientific challenges of bringing seamless connectivity undersea. The aircraft carrier not only faces no such challenge but can also launch a large amount of warfare within seconds. Carriers can also launch aircraft capable of detecting and attacking submarines at a range. Another article in Forbes points out that the longevity of aircraft carriers trump the 'cost' argument of naysayers. Carriers remain relevant and potent year after year and decade after decade because they are adaptable platforms on which only the aircraft and payload need to be modernised from time to time. India's INS Viraat a Centaur-class aircraft carrier was originally commissioned in 1959 as the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes and decommissioned in 1984. It was refurbished and commissioned in Indian Navy on 12 May 1987 and served for almost 30 years before finally being retired on 23 July 2016. The current INS Vikramaditya was commissioned in 2013 and its official expected life span is 40 years; it is unlikely to need any major technical overhaul for at least a decade. Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has vehemently criticised President Akufo-Addo and his government for "seeing nothing wrong" with the demolition of some factories at the Trade Fair Centre. In an open epistle to government, the journalist who has on countless occasions expressed disappointment in the government he voted for said the move to destroy the factories was inappropriate. While suggesting the demolition was politically motivated, Mr. Azuri reminded the president and his party that posterity will judge them. "They are in power and have the power to do anything. And they had to teach that arrogant brat a lesson he would never forget. After all, who in this country does not know Raymond Archer has links with the opposition NDC?," he asked. "Kudos to those behind this decision and action. Kudos to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his ministers and everyone who saw nothing wrong with this wickedness and are justifying it. "...remember power will not always be in your hands. One day, you will leave this stage. You or your descendants may pay for what you do with the power you have today." The Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited (GTFCL) on Sunday evening took tenants and owners of factories situated at the Trade Fair by surprise when it embarked on a demolition exercise backed by orders from above. The affected included Raymond Archer who was once a journalist. According to GTFCL, the exercise was to pave way for the redevelopment of the area. A statement from the outfit refuted suggestions it has targeted some businesses for demolition at the International Trade Fair Center in Accra due to political reasons. It added that occupants were given enough and prior notice. "The GTFCL wants to make it categorically clear that, contrary to what is being speculated in the media, no business or businesses have ever been targeted for demolition because of their political or other affiliations," portions of the statement read. Regardless, Azure is of the view the decision to destroy the factories was draconian. Read Manassehs full article below: That kind of mining was illegal. Those doing it knew it. They were warned, but they did not stop. The government set up a task force made up of the military, police and other security agencies. The illegal miners were given an ultimatum to vacate their sites. When that well-publicised ultimatum expired, the task force went into the forests. They caught the recalcitrant illegal miners engaging in their illegal activities. Were the excavators, vehicles and other equipment of the miners destroyed? No. They were seized. Lets come to a fairly decent and legitimate business being undertaken on government land that was rented to businesses. The government wanted to put the land to a different use so those operating there were served notices to move out. One of them went to court to challenge the decision and secured an injunction on the governments threat to demolish the businesses that did not move. According to the government, it got the injunction lifted on February 12, 2020. The businessman says his lawyers filed further processes to stay the execution and those processes were duly served on the government agency threatening to demolish his businesses. The agency denies receiving any such legal processes. In Ghana, strange things are normal so this confusion is not new. Four days after getting the injunction lifted and purportedly not receiving the other processes filed by the businessman, the government agency went to the site of the business at midnight with armed state security and demolished two factories belonging to the businessman. Other businesses were pulled down, but lets focus on this particular businessman with the two factories. According to him, the machines and other factory equipment alone cost more than $10 million. He had employed 120 people. He said even if the government had wanted to act on the court injunction that was lifted, he would have needed more than four days to remove the factory machines and equipment. Those who installed them had come from four different countries. So could the government and the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre have done things differently even if they had to enforce the law? Yes. They could have served the businessman a notice: You were challenging us in court. We have got the injunction lifted so we have the power to demolish your structures now. We, however, know that your business is not just made of blocks and roofing sheets. You have very expensive equipment and you have operated these factories for 10 years. So we are giving you a month to dismantle your equipment and we will demolish the structure. This was not what happened. They moved in at midnight and pulled everything down. They were acting with instructions from above. They are in power and have the power to do anything. And they had to teach that arrogant brat a lesson he would never forget. After all, who in this country does not know Raymond Archer has links with the opposition NDC? Kudos to those behind this decision and action. Kudos to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his ministers and everyone who saw nothing wrong with this wickedness and are justifying it. It takes a lot of courage to move in at midnight and destroy a more than GHC50 million worth of investment when that same government is desperately giving tax holidays to existing companies owned by foreigners and claiming them to be 1D1F. If you could save the galamsey excavators, why could you not save Raymond Archers factory equipment? Was it because you could not appropriate the factory equipment to yourselves as you did with the galamsey equipment? Theres one important fact you must remember. These actions poison the soul of the nation. Their psychological effect on the people and their sense of patriotism goes beyond the damage caused Raymond Archer. Also, remember power will not always be in your hands. One day, you will leave this stage. You or your descendants may pay for what you do with the power you have today. Beyond that, you should be concerned about the legacy youre leaving behind ask yourselves the most important question of life. What memory will your name evoke on the day you are lowered into the grave? Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A fire broke out on Tuesday in a chemical factory at the Dombivli area near Mumbai. At least 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The incident took place in the afternoon at the Metropolitan Company in MIDC area of Dombivli. This is a developing story. More details are awaited. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 12:52:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A 1,013-member medical team from northeast China's Liaoning is making all-out efforts in Wuhan's Leishenshan Hospital to battle the #coronavirus epidemic. Here is their story. By Feb. 18, 2020 Dale & Co. will play the live music series Backstage Pass at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Clemens Fine Arts Center (CFAC) Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 pm. Dale is Dale Bickford, who lives and works in Paducah, and performs intimate sets where the music can be "felt" by the listener. He is accompanied by two guest players during his set at the CFAC, which is the "Co." in Dale & Co. Bickford, currently a solo performer, said the audience is most certainly part of his "company", too, and he loves performing for them. "I believe music is a language and I view myself quite simply as a translator or interpreter," said Bickford. "What I do many people can do and is not to be esteemed as elite or special, in my opinionI am just a vessel, or as a friend of mine put it: 'It's a gift, you don't own it.'" Clemens Fine Arts Center Director Todd Birdsong says that the Backstage Pass series is a perfect way to showcase local talent. "The Backstage Pass series is currently celebrating its 17th year. It's an intimate, listening room atmosphere that lends itself to many of our local musicians' styles and music. And having one of Paducah's own, like Dale, return to the Clemens stage is what the Backstage Pass series is all about," said Birdsong. "Dale is a seasoned player and songwriter who is currently working on his second full length album and is about to release an upcoming EP. We are fortunate to have him playing in our series." Coffee and donuts will be available throughout Bickford's Backstage Pass concert. The series is supported by WKMS-FM in Murray and Munal's Donuts located in Paducah. Advance single tickets are $8 ($10 at the door) and $5 for students. Tickets are available at artsinfocus.org or by calling 270-534-3212. PADUCAH - Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:01:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Monday the resumption of the intra-Libyan Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks in Geneva. The latest decision was supported by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 2510. "We applaud the sense of responsibility and the serious and constructive spirit of the participants," the UNSMIL said in a tweet. "We hope that this spirit is carried into the fully inclusive Libyan Political Forum scheduled to start on Feb. 26 and urge all parties to seize the opportunity to respond positively," it said. According to the UNSMIL, the Commission constitutes one of the three intra-Libyan tracks the mission is organizing, along with the economic and political tracks. The first round of the intra-Libyan JMC talks started on Feb. 3 and concluded on Feb. 8 in Geneva. The east-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city from the UN-backed government. The fighting killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 civilians to flee their homes. The rivals agreed to a ceasefire on Jan. 12, but both parties exchanged accusations of breaching the truce. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been accused of 'greenwashing' after pledging $10billion to help fight climate change, while his e-commerce company pumps out the carbon equivalent to some small countries. The richest man in America yesterday unveiled the Bezos Earth Fund to be set up with his vast funds. Amazon paid federal income tax this year for the first time since 2016, shelling out $162 million, a mere 1.2 percent of its $13.9billion income for 2019. Earlier this month Bezos spent more than that on a Beverly Hills mansion worth $165million. 'Way to go Jeff Bezos. So how's about those next-day deliveries? Packaging waste? Amazon working conditions? And that little thing called tax?' Foreign affairs journalist Lynne O'Donnell tweeted. Berkeley economics professor and former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich wrote: 'Remember when Whole Foods (an Amazon subsidiary) announced it would be cutting benefits for its entire part-time workforce? Amazon's annual savings from this cost-cutting ploy is what Jeff Bezos ... makes in two hours.' Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been slammed after pledging $10billion of his $130billion fortune to help fight climate change, while his e-commerce company pumps out carbon equivalent to some small countries Berkeley economics professor and former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich wrote: 'Remember when Whole Foods (an Amazon subsidiary) announced it would be cutting benefits for its entire part-time workforce? Amazon's annual savings from this cost-cutting ploy is what Jeff Bezos ... makes in two hours.' Not only have people criticized Bezos for the taxes he pays, but many claimed that $10billion from his $130billion fortune was not nearly enough to offset the company's massive carbon emissions. Amazon said it emitted 44.4million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018, which is more than some small countries. Furthermore, critics questioned how the initiative would operate, it being privately funded, Bezos will be have full control and its activities will not necessarily be transparent. In outlining his project Bezos only provided rudimentary details saying it 'will fund scientists, activists, NGOs.' Bestselling author Laura Lippman wrote: 'I want to live in a country where we tax the f**k out of people like Jeff Bezos and spend his money to solve problems as we see fit.' Announcing his Earth Fund, Bezos said: 'I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change.' Many commented on the hypocrisy from a man whose company makes its billions from packaging items with papers and plastics and delivers them by burning fossil fuels. Broadcaster Greta Van Susteran wrote: 'Jeff Bezos needs to reform his own company, Amazon! They ship tiny unbreakable items in huge boxes filled w/ bubble wrap....no reason to do that.' But aside from these crude impacts, Amazon's own business interests are being funneled towards oil and gas. Amazon has landed lucrative deals with fossil fuel companies BP, Shell and Haliburton, to provide machine learning for better exploration and oilfield automation. Others drew attention to the plight of Bezos' workers around the world who have endured savage working conditions to meet cost-cutting retail demands. 'This is greenwashing,' one climate activist tweeted, 'a PR diversion away from business as usual, and the destructive modus operandi that's negatively impacting people, workers' rights, health & the planet.' Science writer Leonie Joubert said: 'Dont let this be a greenwash or reputation management. Amazon needs to pay for pollution it has already dumped into atmospheric landfill (while making staggering profits) and damage this spill is causing: polluter pays principle applies to #Bezos #amazon too.' Amazon workers in its Seattle headquarters have been vocal in criticizing some of the company's practices, pushing it to do more to combat climate change. More than 8,000 staffers had signed an open letter to Bezos demanding that Amazon cut its carbon emissions, end its use of fossil fuels and stop its work with oil companies that use Amazon's technology to locate fossil fuel deposits. Last year, Amazon officials said the company would work to have 100 percent of its energy use come from solar panels and other renewable energy by 2030. Bezos said in September last year that Amazon would pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040 and said the company would order 100,000 electric delivery trucks. He said Monday: 'Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share ... 'We can save Earth. It's going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals. 'I'm committing $10 billion to start and will begin issuing grants this summer. Earth is the one thing we all have in common - let's protect it, together.' An Amazon spokesman confirmed that Bezos will be using his own money for the fund. Bezos, the world's richest man, said in an Instagram post that he'll start giving grants this summer to scientists, activists and nonprofits working to protect the earth Amazon workers in its Seattle headquarters have been vocal in criticizing some of the company's practices, pushing it to do more to combat climate change Amazon has been criticized for creating large amounts of waste from the packaging it delivers its products in Amazon, the company Bezos runs, has an enormous carbon footprint. The online retailer relies on fossil fuels to power planes, trucks and vans in order to ship billions of items all around the world Despite being among the richest people in the world, Bezos only recently became active in donating money to causes as other billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have done. In 2018, Bezos started another fund, committing $2 billion of his own money to open preschools in low-income neighborhoods and give money to nonprofits that help homeless families. Bezos, who founded Amazon 25 years ago, has a stake in the company that is worth more than $100 billion. In response to his pledge, an advocacy group founded by Amazon workers - Amazon Employees For Climate Justice - applauding his philanthropy while also criticizing his climate change record. 'The international scientific community is very clear: burning the oil in wells that oil companies already have developed means we can't save our planet from climate catastrophe,' a statement from the group read. 'As history has taught us, true visionaries stand up against entrenched systems, often at great cost to themselves. We applaud Jeff Bezos' philanthropy, but one hand cannot give what the other is taking away. 'The people of Earth need to know: When is Amazon going to stop helping oil & gas companies ravage Earth with still more oil and gas wells? When is Amazon going to stop funding climate-denying think tanks like the Competitive Enterprise Institute and climate-delaying policy? When will Amazon take responsibility for the lungs of children near its warehouses by moving from diesel to all-electric trucking? 'Why did Amazon threaten to fire employees who were sounding the alarm about Amazon's role in the climate crisis and our oil and gas business? What this shows is that employees speaking out works- we need more of that right now. 'Will Jeff Bezos show us true leadership or will he continue to be complicit in the acceleration of the climate crisis, while supposedly trying to help?' ST. GEORGE, Utah, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedLite ID today announced the appointment of Dr. Wayne Provost as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Dr. Provost is the inventor/founder of MedLite ID. The appointment is effective immediately. Dr. Provost is associated with over 100 patents ranging from mechanical devices, dental products, medical devices and medical software products. Dr. Provost, the inventor/founder of MedLite ID, has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. The appointment is effective immediately. He founded the Innovation Guidance and Solutions Department at Dixie State University (DSU) and he is presently the Director of that program. MedLite ID was the first product to be commercialized out of that program. "For the past eleven years I have been trying to solve the infusion confusion problem healthcare providers face daily. My main goal was to relieve the anxiety and stress healthcare providers go through in an emergency situation," Dr. Provost said. He continued, "Five years ago Jeff Stewart, who presently serves on the MedLite ID Board, came into my life, and with his help, many new prototypes were constructed, and patents filed. I'm delighted Dixie State University President Dr. Richard Williams and the Provost of Dixie State University, Dr. Michael Lacourse believed in the MedLite ID product, and allowed us to incubate our product in the Atwood Innovation Plaza." "We have assembled a brilliant management team to move this product forward, and I'm extremely proud of our product of our results. We look forward to working together, as a unified team, to rapidly grow our revenue while helping to reduce the risks associated with multiple IV infusions and the stress healthcare providers face every day," Provost concluded. MedLite ID also announced that veteran healthcare operations and financial leader Steven Savage has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer. Savage was most recently CEO of Executive Performance group where he focused on group organizational performance. In this new position, Mr. Savage will lead MedLite ID's operations and finance teams through the next phase of growth. In addition, MedLite ID also added Jack Friedman to the Board of Directors. Friedman was a senior vice president of accountable care services and payer relations for Providence Health & Services and chief executive officer of Providence Health Plan. In his role, Jack was responsible for the strategic direction of accountable care delivery and financing models to improve quality, cost and access throughout Providence Health & Services' five-state region. Jack also drove strategy and operations of Providence Health Plan, serving 400,000 people. Rodney Schutt, MedLite ID's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "I'm confident in our future and in Dr. Provost's leadership as we continue to grow and deliver strong value to our customers, employees and shareholders, as well as the patients we are dedicated to. I have no doubt Wayne's deep knowledge of the problem and our solution, combined with his recognized leadership in the industry, will help realize MedLite ID's full potential as it accelerates revenue growth." "Now we have a strong leadership team in place, our focus now shifts to accelerated revenue growth and we are fortunate to have made the right additions to our team to align our world-class innovation with industry leading operational practices to drive MedLite ID's commercial reach," concluded Mr. Schutt. About MedLite ID MedLite ID is a medical device manufacturer partnered with Notre Dame and Dixie State Universities to develop a unique solution designed to light the primary medication infusion line (sometimes referred to as the safe push line) in a visually distinct and easily identifiable way to help prevent "infusion confusion", reduce the risk of medical errors and to improve patient safety. For more information on MedLite ID, please visit www.medliteid.com Contact: Terri Greulich, Director of Marketing, MedLite ID: [email protected] SOURCE MedLite ID, Inc. Related Links https://www.medliteid.com The first US evacuee from China known to be infected with the Wuhan coronavirus was mistakenly released from a San Diego hospital after an initial test found the person had not been infected, local health officials said Monday. The patient arrived in the US last week at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on a State Department flight from Wuhan, China, and was hospitalized with three others after showing possible symptoms of the virus. After an initial CDC test showed all four patients did not have the novel coronavirus, they were released Sunday and returned to the 14-day federal quarantine at Miramar, the University of California, San Diego Health said in a statement. "This morning, CDC officials advised San Diego Public Health that further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive for (novel coronavirus)," UC San Diego Health said in a statement. "The confirmed positive patient was returned to UC San Diego Health for observation and isolation until cleared by the CDC for release." Another person at Miramar was also hospitalized on Monday afternoon and was being tested for the coronavirus. Both patients "are doing well and have minimal symptoms," UC San Diego Health said. The San Diego case is the 13th to be confirmed in the US and the seventh in California. Eleven of these cases have been confirmed in people who recently traveled to Wuhan, China; the other two are instances of person-to-person transmission. International donors on Monday pledged 1.15 billion euros ($1.25 billion) to help Albania recover from a powerful earthquake last year, the EU chief announced, more than double the sum expected by Tirana. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the sum -- which exceeds the total recovery bill of 1.08 billion euros assessed by the UN -- was "beyond my wildest imagination", having begun the day hoping for pledges of only 400 million euros. The money will help the impoverished Balkan state rebuild and recover after the 6.4-magnitude quake which hit in November, killing 51 people and leaving 17,000 homeless. "Good news for the people of Albania: We've surpassed our target for the reconstruction of Albania and reached a total of 1.15 billion euros, incl. 400 million euros in EU contributions," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. "I'm overwhelmed by the support. Once again Europe stands together when it matters most!" European states and institutions contributed, along with other countries including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates as well as international financial institutions. "I am so happy and I am so so humbled by all of this," Rama said. "We need now not to fail our friends and to make reconstruction in Albania a stunning example." - Transparency pledge - Given Western concerns about rife corruption in Albania, Rama said he had asked the United States to put its contribution into an "academy of transparency" to ensure the reconstruction money was not misused. "We'll go through the necessary pains to make sure every penny of European taxpayers... will be spent well," he said. Part of the reason the quake caused so much damage, experts say, was the scourge of illegal construction, which has seen builders and engineers in the former communist state flout safety codes for decades. Rama said "what we reconstruct should be better than what we lost", suggesting that new earthquake resistance and environmental standards could be imposed. Before the pledge meeting, Albanian expectations had been dampened by what Rama called a "political earthquake" in October, when three EU states blocked Tirana from starting membership talks to join the bloc -- the second such delay in less than six months. France -- which led the Netherlands and Denmark in October's veto -- softened its opposition at the weekend after the European Commission, the bloc's executive, proposed a tougher and more political admissions process for new members. French President Emmanuel Macron said that if a commission report on Albania and fellow hopeful North Macedonia next month confirms enough progress on reforms, he would be ready to agree to start the long accession process. "They speak about dates and we are like lovers that wait for the date to get married and then the other side don't show up," Rama said. "I'm expecting nothing. If it will come, it will be a great joy, if it will not come we continue with more stubbornness and with more willingness to do what we have to do and to prove them wrong." The jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial have requested the blueprints to his New York apartment and a 'red flag list' of names he sent to a private investigator to keep tabs on his accusers as the first day of deliberations ended without a verdict. Jurors began deliberations in New York on Tuesday on charges that could send Weinstein to prison for life in a case that has become a milestone for the #MeToo movement. They will spend six hours a day for as long as it takes to reach a verdict on the five sex crimes charges against Weinstein. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to raping onetime aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. Jurors will also be examining actress Annabella Sciorra's account of a mid-1990s rape in considering charges alleging Weinstein is a sexual predator, even though the allegation is too old to be charged on its own. About 40 minutes into deliberations, the jury sent a note asking for the legal definition of terms like consent and forcible compulsion, and sought clarity on why Weinstein wasn't charged with other crimes stemming from Sciorra's allegation. The jury also asked if they have to believe Sciorra and the other woman in both cases, which the judge confirmed they did. In a separate note sent hours later, the jury asked to see a blueprint of Weinstein's Soho apartment where Haleyi was allegedly sexually assaulted. They also requested to see the 'red flag list' of names Weinstein had sent to a private investigator to keep tabs on accusers who could be a potential risk. The jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial have requested the blueprints to his New York apartment and a 'red flag list' of names he sent to a private investigator to keep tabs on his accusers as the first day of deliberations ended without a verdict. He is seen leaving court above Jurors will spend six hours a day for as long as it takes to reach a verdict on the five sex crimes charges against Weinstein Prior to jurors being sent out, Judge James Burke slammed Weinstein's lead defense attorney, Donna Rotunno, for an op-ed that was published by Newsweek on Saturday. In his sharpest rebuke to date, the judge said: 'I want to caution you about the tentacles of your public relations juggernaut'. He has now banned Weinstein's defense team from speaking to the media until after the trial ends. Rotunno told Burke that the opinion piece, titled 'Jurors in my client Harvey Weinstein's case must look past the headlines', was not intended to address the jury directly. 'This is an op-ed about the jury system as a whole, about the criminal justice system as a whole,' she said. Prosecutors said the article was 'akin to jury tampering' and demanded that Weinstein be remanded in custody because he must have directed it. The judge did not act on the request. In the op-ed, Rotunno said jurors were asked to avoid all media coverage and outside influences but questioned whether anyone thought it was 'realistically possible' in a 'high-profile case like Harvey Weinstein's'. Prior to jurors being sent out on Tuesday, Judge James Burke admonished Weinstein's lead defense attorney, Donna Rotunno, for an op-ed that was published by Newsweek on Sunday The jury is instructed on charges by Judge James Burke as they begin deliberations on charges that could send Weinstein to prison for life in a case that has become a milestone for the #MeToo movement Weinstein and his attorney Donna Rotunno watched on as the jury were given instructions on charges prior to deliberations on Tuesday The exterior of Weinstein's West Village home in NYC is seen above 'The mocking of Mr Weinstein's walker, the unflattering courtroom-artist sketches of his body, the countless critical op-eds and biased stories, and the convenient timing of the politically-motivated charges in Los Angeles were all designed to pre-determine his guilt,' she wrote. 'However, Mr Weinstein's jurors have an obligation to themselves and their country, to base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom. Rotunno said the opinion piece, published on Saturday and titled 'Jurors in my client Harvey Weinstein's case must look past the headlines', was not intended to address the jury directly 'I implore the members of this jury to do what they know is right and was expected of them from the moment they were called upon to serve their civic duty in a court of law. The facts are the facts. Harvey Weinstein is innocent. His fate hangs in the balance, and the world is watching.' Prosecutor Joan Illuzi argued the op-ed was 'completely 100 per cent inappropriate behavior'. 'This is a direct violation of the court's orders... if this is the conduct which is allowed in this court then we are all lost. There is no way the sanctity of a jury can ever exist and continue if every party is permitted to say something that would not be able to say in court.' Illuzi demanded that the jury be instructed to ignore the Newsweek op-ed. Harvey Weinstein arrived at court in New York on Tuesday as jury deliberations were expected to begin in the disgraced Hollywood producer's trial WEINSTEIN LAWYER'S OP-ED TO JURORS: The United States justice system has proven fair and effective throughout the history of our nation. But not always. The Constitution guarantees certain rights to defendants that juries have an obligation to uphold. I believe most jurors respect their duty to remain fair and impartial. Every so often though, a case comes along that dominates the headlines and pushes the limits of the system to a breaking point. For the process to work as intended and to operate in good faith, jurors must accept the responsibility of not just considering the facts, testimony and evidence, but cutting through the noise of a media and public intent on injecting their narratives into the courtroom, twisting those facts to fit their point of view. The burden of proof is on the prosecution; the media and public have no such burden. Judges instruct jurors to avoid all media coverage and outside influences in making their decision. But in a high-profile case like Harvey Weinstein's, does anyone think that's realistically possible? The mocking of Mr. Weinstein's walker, the unflattering courtroom-artist sketches of his body, the countless critical op-eds and biased stories, and the convenient timing of the politically-motivated charges in Los Angeles were all designed to pre-determine his guilt. However, Mr. Weinstein's jurors have an obligation to themselves and their country, to base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom. I expect a fair and impartial jury for Mr. Weinstein and every other American. I implore the members of this jury to do what they know is right and was expected of them from the moment they were called upon to serve their civic duty in a court of law. The facts are the facts. Harvey Weinstein is innocent. His fate hangs in the balance, and the world is watching. Advertisement Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to raping onetime aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He is also charged with predatory sexual assault over both allegations. He maintains any sexual conduct was consensual. Weinstein faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault. A unanimous verdict is needed for a conviction. Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra was brought in to testify during his trial that she was allegedly raped by Weinstein in 1993 or 1994 in her Manhattan apartment. Weinstein is not charged with attacking Sciorra but her testimony is a crucial part of the predatory sexual assault charges, which require prosecutors to establish a pattern of serious sex crimes against multiple women. Her accusation is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own. Prosecutors built their case around graphic, often-harrowing testimony from those women, along with three other accusers who were not part of the criminal case but were allowed to take the witness stand because they say Weinstein used them same tactics on them. The three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young - testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped. They testified about encounters separate from the crimes Weinstein was accused of committing. Prosecutors called the women as witnesses to try to establish Weinstein's motive and a signature pattern of behavior that legal experts described as potentially powerful evidence that might bolster the claims of Haleyi and Mann. New York law customarily prevents prosecutors from presenting testimony of 'prior bad acts' because it is generally considered prejudicial to a defendant. An exception to the law allowed prosecutors to call Dunning, Wulff and Young to show Weinstein 'had a particular intention' or exhibited a 'signature' pattern of behavior when he invited women to meet and discuss professional opportunities. Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty and maintains any sexual conduct was consensual. Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court The jury will begin to weigh the evidence that Weinstein raped onetime aspiring actress Jessica Mann (left) in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi (right) in 2006 THE CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN EXPLAINED Two main accusers: Harvey Weinstein was charged with raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his apartment in 2006. The five charges explained: Jessica Mann - first degree rape, third degree rape. Mimi Haleyi - Criminal sexual act. Weinstein was also charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault for both women, which also draws on Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra's allegations. The other four accusers who testified: Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra was brought in to testify during his trial that she was allegedly raped by Weinstein in 1993 or 1994 in her Manhattan apartment. Weinstein was not charged with attacking Sciorra but her testimony was a crucial part of the predatory sexual assault charges, which prosecutors needed to establish a pattern of serious sex crimes. Her accusation is too old to be the basis for criminal charges on its own. During the six-week trial, the three other women - costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Marie Young - testified they were enticed into meeting Weinstein for professional reasons and then groped or raped. Prosecutors called the women as witnesses to try to establish Weinstein's motive and a signature pattern of behavior that could help convict him and put him in prison for life in a case that became a milestone for the #MeToo movement. Advertisement Under New York state law, such witnesses are known as 'Molineux' witnesses. A lawyer for Weinstein, Arthur Aidala, said it was 'extraordinary to have three Molineux witnesses testify when there are only two complaining witnesses.' 'It is often difficult for prosecutors to convince a judge to allow one Molineux witness,' he said in an email. Dunning testified that the producer groped her in 2004 and offered her movie roles in exchange for three-way sex with him and his assistant, which she refused. Young, a model and actress, testified that the film producer trapped her in a hotel bathroom in 2013, masturbated in front of her while groping her breasts, and told her: 'This is what all the actresses do to make it.' On cross-examination, the defense challenged the women's credibility. In Dunning's case, Weinstein's lawyers pressed her about her decision to meet with Weinstein weeks after the alleged assault and the fact that she did not tell anyone about the encounter until years later. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said in her closing argument last week that Weinstein treated the women who accused him like 'complete disposables' and made them feel ashamed even though he was the one who was at fault. 'What he wants to do is he wants to get them in a situation where they feel stupid. If you feel stupid and belittled, belittled, stupid people do not complain,' the prosecutor told jurors. But defense lawyer Donna Rotunno said in her closing that the prosecutors had 'created a universe that strips adult women of common sense, autonomy and responsibility'. Rotunno suggested that, according to prosecutors, Weinstein's accusers 'are not even responsible for sitting at their computers sending emails to someone across the country'. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/17/2020 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Merissa Pence, a former girlfriend of star Peter Weber , claims Victoria Fuller is putting on an act on and is a "self-centered" person who thinks the world revolves around her.Merissa dated Peter for five months in 2012 and will be appearing on tonight's episode of to warn him about Victoria, as even though their "great relationship" didn't work out, she still wants the best for Peter and doesn't think Victoria is good for him, Us Weekly reported Merissa -- who lives in the same Virginia Beach area as Victoria -- said she met Victoria through mutual friends years several years after she dated Peter."We became friends when I moved back from Los Angeles about three years ago," Merissa said."Our first encounter was that she told me she was going to slash my tires because I was hanging out with one of her ex-boyfriends."Merissa clearly wasn't a fan of Victoria right off the bat, but the girls were allegedly forced to hang out with each other again since they ran in the same social circle."Virginia Beach is a pretty small town. As time went on, I became friends with a girl who was best friends with Victoria," Merissa explained."And so we all kind of started hanging out and it just became more of like a forced friendship versus like... I wouldn't, like, voluntarily go hang out with her."Merissa admitted Victoria's casting on 's 24th season pretty much sealed their fate that they'd never be sincere buddies."Obviously I had my moment because I'm like, you could possibly be with my ex-boyfriend and that's a little weird, but like, I never asked her not to go on the show or anything because that's silly," Merissa shared."But we went out one night for our friend Audrey's birthday and it turned into the Victoria Fuller Show because it was three weeks out that she was about to leave for and she just became a very self-centered person and we were all out for our friend's birthday and she was just acting crazy -- just wanting all the attention and it was very distasteful."Fame allegedly went to Victoria's head quickly, even before she actually began dating Peter and filming the show."She's like, 'Do you know who I am?' And I was just like, 'Where is this coming from?' So that just really rubbed me the wrong way," Merissa admitted to Us."And from then on... I told our mutual friend, I was like, 'Look, I'm never going to hang out with her again. She's crazy. She literally has no respect for anybody around her and I just don't want to be associated with that.'"Merissa said she's especially annoyed Victoria portrayed herself to be a shy woman who's never the most outgoing girl in a room on the show.Victoria acted quiet and meek when getting to know Peter and claimed she had trouble standing out in a crowd and getting his attention. Victoria complained the process was very challenging for her, but Peter promised the bachelorette he found her vulnerability and insecurities real and endearing."If there is a guy she wants, she's like, 'He's mine.' There is a one-way street there and nobody else is getting involved. She just thinks that the world revolves around her and she's the hottest thing that's ever hit this planet," Merissa insisted of the medical sales representative."And actually the most disturbing thing so far of all of this was the lingerie episode that she just acted like she was this coy person. The people in Virginia Beach are even seeing that that's not you at all. You're always the one in the bar wanting attention."Victoria has yet to provide a comment on her past friendship with Merissa, but she previously mentioned online rumors in an Instagram post."There will be a time & place where I can defend myself, but for now I choose to wait," Victoria reportedly wrote. "HOWEVER, bullying is NOT ok. Nor is it fair. Especially when casting judgement and basing opinions upon pure speculation, assumptions, & LIES."As for Merissa's relationship with Peter in 2012, she called it "casual.""I got to meet his parents and his brother and we would just, like, hang out at his parents' house and go out to lunch or dinner or whatever," Merissa said."We were friends for quite a while after [our breakup], but then I was in a serious relationship and Peter had started dating someone else as well, so we really didn't chat too much."Victoria will reportedly have an unprecedented hometown date during 's next episode on Monday night, and according to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone, Merissa will make an appearance and warn Peter about Victoria's character and reported scandalous past.Victoria's reported scandalous past allegedly includes several affairs with the husbands of some of her own friends. Click here to read spoilers on what happens during Victoria's unprecedented hometown date in Virginia and the rest of Peter's season.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is up against a steep challenge for her seat for the first time since 1996, according to a Colby College poll, which shows her in a statistical tie with her expected Democratic opponent. Why it matters: As one of the most centrist Republicans in the Senate during Trump's presidency, Collins has served as a pivotal swing vote on a number of key issues. She voted to confirm controversial U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and more recently she voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial. Details: 43% of those polled indicated they would vote for Maine's House Speaker Sara Gideon in the November election, compared to the 42% who supported Collins. 49% of respondents in the poll agreed with Collins' decision to acquit Trump, compared to 50% who did not. 39% of independents polled said the decision made them less likely to vote for Collins; 13% said it made them more likely to do so. The state of play: Collins is among a handful of Republicans who Democrats are hoping to unseat in a bid to reclaim the Senate majority, per WSJ. Democrats would need to pick up four seats in 2020 to achieve a majority. Methodology: The poll surveyed 1,008 registered Maine voters Feb. 1013. The margin of error is 3%. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday backed the government's decision to deport British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she was not just an MP, but a "Pakistan proxy". The Congress party has, however, not come out with any official stand on the issue and instead, asked the government to spell out the reasons for denying the British MP entry into India. Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday, with officials saying she was informed in advance that her e-visa was cancelled. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," Singhvi said in a tweet. His party colleague Shashi Tharoor had, however, tweeted in support of Abrahams on Monday. "I find it ironic that some of the same people who applauded me for going to Britain as an Indian MP & telling them off about their colonial misbehaviour, are attacking me for wanting India to grant a British MP the same privilege! If we can dish it out, we shld be able to take it," Tharoor had written on Twitter. Asked about the reaction of the Congress on the issue of denial of visa to Abrahams, party spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said the government should spell out the reasons for denying her entry into the country and justify its action. "I think the government should say what were the reasons for denying her entry and also if there was really some threat that she was bringing to India. If they can give some justification, only then I think it will be appropriate to comment on whether it was justified or not," he told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK In Arizona, a burgeoning Asian American community fields xenophobic calls about a planned night market featuring Asian street foods. In New York, a dim sum restaurant owner worries he wont make rent. In the San Francisco Bay Area, a local Asian American-owned restaurant chain is mulling temporarily shuttering one of its properties because of the downturn in trade. In major U.S. cities, Asian American businesses are seeing a remarkable decline in customers as fear about the viral outbreak from China spreads. City and health officials are trying to stanch the financial bleeding through information campaigns and personal visits to shops and restaurants, emphasizing that, with just 15 cases diagnosed in the entire country, there is no reason to avoid them. Business owners, some of whom have seen their customer traffic cut by more than half, are anxiously waiting for things to return to normal. Mesa, Arizonas freshly crowned Asian District was deep into organizing its night market when news broke that a case of the illness known as COVID-19 was confirmed at nearby Arizona State University. Xenophobic comments on social media and phone calls started almost immediately, according to Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce CEO Vicente Reid. I probably should stop picking up my phone altogether, Reid said. One lady was like, Well, arent people coming to your event that are the cause of it?' The Feb. 29 food festival, modeled after popular outdoor Taiwanese markets, was designed to get the public acquainted with the district. Mesa Mayor John Giles called the xenophobia directed at the event ridiculous. We certainly take any health crisis seriously but to make those kinds of connections is just offensive, he said. Organizers will be handing out specially made masks with playful Asian-food theme slogans like Bao to me and Insert lumpia here. The virus has sickened tens of thousands of people, mostly in China. Fifteen people have been diagnosed with the virus in the U.S., all but two who recently traveled from China. U.S. citizens have also been diagnosed abroad, including 14 who were on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan and have been brought to hospitals in the U.S. Vegetarian Dim Sum House has been a fixture in Manhattans Chinatown for 23 years, but suddenly owner Frankie Chu said he will not be able to make his rent this month. Chu said sales have plunged 70% over the last two weeks at his no-frills restaurant. Three couples trickled in for lunch on a recent weekday. Normally, Chu said he gets up to 30 customers for lunch. At dinnertime, his narrow restaurant is usually packed with about 70 diners. These days, he gets about four. Chu has sent some of his staff on vacation to cut costs. Under the circumstances, he will ask his landlord to forgive a 5% late fee normally charged. I dont know how long I can stay here, Chu said. After 9/11, it wasnt this bad. The crisis has alarmed New York City officials and business leaders, who have launched a campaign to lure people back to hard-hit communities in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. Chinatown is bleeding, said Wellington Chen, executive chairman of the Chinatown Partnership, a local business and community group. This thing is thousands of miles away. This fear is really out of proportion. Small businesses in Manhattans Chinatown have reported sales drops of between 40% and 80% the past month as the viral outbreak in China spread, Chen said. In Flushing, business is down an estimated 40%, according to the Flushing Chinese Business Association. For some businesses, its much higher. Derek Law, senior vice chairman of the America China Hotel Association, said business has dropped about 70% at a spa he owns in Flushing. New York City is home to more than half a million Chinese Americans, the biggest population of any U.S. city. Some New Yorkers of Chinese descent are frustrated at being made to feel like foreigners because of a disease outbreak that feels as far away to them as any other resident. Im probably more American than a lot of the people asking me about coronavirus. Its a little annoying to be honest, said Christina Seid, owner of the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, a neighborhood fixture that her father founded four decades ago with flavor offerings like mango and green tea. Seid, whose great-grandparents immigrated to New York from China, said business has been slower than usual but added that the winter months are never good for ice cream shops. She said she feels optimistic that things will soon return to normal, relying on New Yorkers determination to get on with life. With no confirmed cases of the virus in New York City, officials and politicians are trying to drive home the point that there is no reason to avoid any neighborhood, with many eating at Chinese restaurants and tweeting out photos under the hashtags #supportchinatown. In Boston, Mayor Marty Walsh has launched a similar social media campaign, encouraging people to share photos of themselves supporting small businesses in the neighborhood with the hashtag #LoveBostonChinatown. Allison Arwady, the Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner, said she and her colleagues continue to field rumors about threats to public health. She said the health risk is low and urged people to not fear visiting and spending time at restaurants or stores in Chicagos Chinatown. Please do not allow stigma, xenophobia or fear to control your decisions, Arwady said. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the situation is dire enough that Sunny Wongs family is considering temporarily closing one of the four restaurants they own in Oakland Chinatown. Even some of his friends and patrons have told him about hearing of untrue rumors of people getting sick at one of his restaurants. People just are clueless. They hear stories and rumors and they just dont really look for the facts in a situation, said Wong, adding that he has had to cut back hours for his workers. Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said business owners have reported a drop of roughly 50% to 75% in business. The chamber is planning a Chinese New Year celebration, with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf encouraging residents to patronize Chinatown restaurants. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently visited Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the oldest restaurant in Manhattans Chinatown. The restaurant has seen a 40% drop in business over the past three weeks, said manager Vincent Tang, whose cousin Wilson Tang took over the restaurant from his father. Normally, the restaurant fills up at lunchtime. But during a recent weekday, nearly half the tables were empty, although it was at least busier than many of its lesser-known neighbors. Were lucky to have loyal customers, said Tang, sitting near an row of green stools that he used to swing around in as a child. Usually at this time we are packed and there is a line outside. Customers at Nom Wah said they were perplexed that others were staying away. It didnt cross my mind at all, said Kate Masterson, an artist digging into dumplings with her uncle at a booth beneath signed framed photographs of celebrities like Kirsten Dunst. Its not happening here, she said of the outbreak. ____ Tang reported from Mesa, Arizona. Associated Press writers Noreen Nasir in Chicago and Terry Chea in Oakland, California, contributed to this story. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dan Steinbock (The Jakarta Post) - Tue, February 18, 2020 15:15 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20652f157 3 Opinion WHO,World-Health-Organization,coronavirus,outbreak,Wuhan-coronavirus,politics Free Over the past few weeks, countries outside China have not sent adequate case reports to the World Health Organization on time. The media, meanwhile, suffered an infodemic. Instead of battling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the WHO and its chief were targeted. The greatest virus outbreak concern now is to avoid the emergence of any secondary virus clusters, but this critical task has been complicated recently by misguided media coverage and attacks against the WHO, China and people of Chinese descent rather than the virus. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged global leaders to stop any stigmatizing and hate amid the virus outbreak. His comments in Munich followed reports that people of Asian descent have faced discrimination amid virus fears. We will all learn lessons from this outbreak, he added, but now is not the time for reclamations or politicization. At the end of January, the WHO declared the ongoing virus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). As the WHO made clear, the PHEIC declaration was not motivated by the situation in China but by the possible effects of the virus if it spread to countries with weaker healthcare systems. At the WHO, the concern was compounded when terms like virus outbreak, epidemic and pandemic got blurred even in reputable international media. Tabloid hysteria contributed to ugly instances of xenophobia, even racism, against people of Chinese and Asian descent, while leading to bullying in schools, colleges, even universities. The misinformation on a global scale compelled the WHO to declare the COVID-19 an infodemic on Feb. 2. Since media seemed to be shunning their responsibility to correct myths and rumors, the WHO had to allocate some of its scarce resources to do the job. Stunningly, it took until mid-February for some of the worlds largest technology companies including Google, Amazon and YouTube to get together when the WHO hosted a Silicon Valley meeting to discuss how to clamp down on misinformation about the virus. The struggle against COVID-19 has gone hand in hand with a battle against the WHO and its executives. Since late January, almost 380,000 people have signed an online petition to the UN for the WHO chief to resign because he allegedly solely believes" Chinese outbreak data. In contrast to those allegations, WHO chief Tedros has initiated a review process to study the causes of the virus, while stressing adherence to WHO guidelines regarding pandemics. The smear campaign is an ugly deja vu. In 2017, Tedros, a high-level Ethiopian health executive, succeeded Margaret Chan as the chief WHO. While he was considered highly qualified for the job and an innovative reformer in Ethiopia, his candidacy was attacked at the last eve of the WHO election, when odd stories surfaced about an alleged cover-up of cholera epidemics in Ethiopia. Reportedly, the allegations came from Lawrence Gostin, a US law professor who advised the rival UK candidate (and has recently resurfaced as a critic of Chinas virus struggle). In the UN, the African Union dismissed the allegations as an unfounded and unverified defamation campaign. Yet, once again, the old smear campaign stories have been recycled in the media. When attacks against Tedros went nowhere, the international spotlight focused on WHO infections hazards director Sylvia Briand when she stated in early February that we are not in a pandemic. Then she became a target of criticism. To avoid political intrigues, a pandemic declaration by the WHO requires strong evidence and relies on a tested six-stage classification. The last pandemic was the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak (swine flu), which is estimated to have killed around 150,000 to 300,000 people around the world. In contrast, COVID019 has so far resulted in 4 deaths outside China, despite weeks of diffusion. In the early 2000s, Chinas efforts to control SARS were criticized as the disease spread internationally before the global outbreak was subdued. A decade later, the Chinese response to the Avian influenza (H7N9) was significantly faster, broadly praised and the disease did not spread widely. With COVID-19, as Tedros has stated, China should be credited with identifying the virus in record time, sharing its genetic sequence quickly and flagging potential international spread. Yet, international coverage of the COVID-19 has systematically focused on China's alleged conduct, while ignoring the actual conduct of many other influential WHO member states. This discrepancy prevails even today, despite the news bomb of Feb. 4, when WHO chief Tedros said it was not China but countries outside China that had proved slow in sharing complete information about cases. The WHO was concerned that, even after almost a month of international crisis and global alert, it had received complete case reports for only 38 percent of the cases. In other words, a whopping three of five member countries had failed to provide adequate information to the WHO in a timely manner. Those reports were vital to the global organization so that it could assess the true international scope of the outbreak, while broadening and deepening containment efforts. I dont think its because they lack capacity, Tedros stated. It would be ideal, he added, if the WHO received the most up-to-date information, not just from China but the rest of the world. Even though these lost opportunities could result in potential secondary COVID-19 outbreaks outside China, international media have not yet asked the tough questions about the belated international cooperation outside China. Instead, international coverage has produced a series of headlines against the WHO. On Feb. 5, a day after Tedros had urged countries to provide complete case reports, the Financial Times reported that the influential WHO emergency committee member and veteran professor John Mackenzie hit out at Beijings reprehensible response, and accused China of not reporting coronavirus cases fast enough. The charge was not publicly supported by other committee members, nor by WHO executives. Moreover, the FT neglected to mention that Mackenzie also serves in the Australian governments Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, which plays a role in the US-led Indo-Pacific initiative aiming to contain Chinas rise, and is the co-chair of a major NGO, whose key partners include the Pentagons Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which compete against Chinese influence. On Feb. 13, the Wall Street Journal released a front-page story titled WHO Criticized for Virus Response that broadened the WHO criticism. It relied in part on critical quotes by both Mackenzie and Lawrence Gostin, the China critic who had tried to undermine Tedross WHO candidacy. Free media have a right to critical views, but not to the lack of relevant context. Like other interviewees, both were portrayed as independent, neutral observers. All interviewees represented experts from the US or its allies. Not a single major Chinese health expert was interviewed. This pattern has been typical recently even for reputable international dailies. Such purposeful selectivity fosters an impression that legitimate expertise is limited mainly to critics of the WHO. Throughout the outbreak, Tedros has admirably sought to foster an international battle against COVID-19, while garnering funds against future epidemics. The virus is a common enemy, he said. Lets not play politics here. As the number of COVID-19 cases could exceed 100,000 in a week or two and global resources should be focused on avoiding secondary outbreak clusters outside China, it is the virus that international cooperation and coverage should attack not the WHO. *** Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognized strategist of the multipolar world and the founder of Difference Group. He has served at the India, China and America Institute (USA), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). This is a short version of a commentary published by The World Financial Review and The Manila Times on Feb. 17. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. A team of IMF experts will visit Ukraine in the near future for technical consultations on policies to achieve growth and ensure stability in the country's economy, IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman has said in a statement. "A small IMF team will visit Kyiv for technical discussions on policies to achieve stronger growth and safeguard stability," the statement reads. The exact date of the visit was not specified. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in late January that Ukraine should fulfill preliminary requirements for the launch of a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program worth $5.5 billion. According to her, Ukraine and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement that stipulates the fulfillment of certain preliminary requirements. In December 2019, the IMF agreed with the Ukrainian government on a new three-year EFF program for 4 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), or about $5.52 billion. op THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Central Visayas urged overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) working in Hong Kong and Macau to attend pre-departure orientation seminars after the government exempted them from the travel ban. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Brigido Dulay, in a Twitter post on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease lifted the travel ban for OFWs returning to work in the two Chinese regions. Hong Kong and Macau are both special administrative regions of China. They were included in the travel ban imposed by the task force as a preventive measure against the new coronavirus, an infectious pathogen that causes the respiratory disease Covid-19. OFWs have to make sure to attend and listen and understand the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars to be provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration especially regarding the safety in the face of this Coronavirus Disease-2019 (Covid-19) scare, Siaton Salome, Dole-Central Visayas director, said in a text message to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, February 18. Steve Dicdican, general manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, said their operations involving flights to Macau and Hong Kong will remain restricted until the ban is fully lifted. As far as Im aware, its only a partial lifting of the ban to allow OFWs working in Hong Kong and Macau to travel back to these destinations. Until the ban is completely lifted, our operations to these destinations will continue to be restricted, Dicdican said in a text message to SunStar Cebu. Filipino travelers Initially, only Filipinos and holders of permanent resident visas traveling from China, Macau, and Hong Kong were allowed entry into the Philippines. In the recent IATF-EID resolution, Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of diplomatic visas will now be allowed entry into the country subject to the required 14-day quarantine. Story continues Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said DOH will follow strict infection control and quarantine procedures to ensure the safety of Filipino repatriates and health workers who will man the quarantine facilities. At the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the number of Filipinos traveling from Hong Kong to Cebu dropped this week, according to the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). BOQ Cebu chief Terence Anthony Bermejo said only four Filipinos from Hong Kong arrived at the MCIA on Monday, Feb. 17, while four others arrived at the airport at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Of the number, four were residents of Cebu, two were from other areas of the Visayas while the two others were residents of Mindanao, including Davao City. DOH-Central Visayas director Jaime Bernadas earlier said arriving passengers who are non-residents of Cebu can go back to their hometowns as long as arrangements were made between the regions Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and their respective local government units. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, no confirmed Covid-19 patient was confined anywhere in the Philippines although the DOH continued to monitor a total of 524 cases. Of the number, 387 were discharged from medical facilities but are still being monitored by DOH, while 137 persons under investigation (PUIs) remained in isolation in various hospitals. In Central Visayas, the DOH 7 reported that as of Tuesday, 52 of the regions 54 PUIs had been released from hospitals but were still being monitored while the two others remained in hospitals for treatment of flu-like symptoms. Those considered PUIs are persons who recently traveled to mainland China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau and showed signs of the Covid-19 and those who had contact with persons found positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV) and also showed symptoms of the disease. (WBS, SunStar Philippines) By PTI CHENNAI: "Arjun Reddy" star Vijay Deverakonda, who will be making his Bollywood debut with director Puri Jagannadh's bilingual film, says he is looking forward to play a fighter with stutter in his maiden pan-India project. Tentatively titled "Fighter", the film is being simultaneously shot in Telugu and Hindi. "I've started shooting for my first pan-Indian film with Puri Jagannadh. It's a project that required me to undergo drastic physical transformation and I've been working non-stop to pull off the character. I play a fighter and the role required me to learn mixed martial arts," Vijay told PTI. The 30-year-old actor also confirmed that he will dub his own lines for the Hindi version which will be presented by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta. The film will also be dubbed in other south Indian languages. ALSO READ| 'World Famous Lover' review: Vijay Deverakonda stars in a love story without a soul The project marks the first collaboration of Deverakonda and Jagannadh, who is best known for films such as Mahesh Babu-starrer "Pokkiri" and Amitabh Bachchan-fronted "Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap". Vijay said "Fighter", with which he will be chasing his dream of country-wide stardom, would be the beginning of a new phase in his career. "I feel I've slowly started changing and this is the beginning of a new phase in my career. With each of my upcoming releases, I want to surprise my fans. I really want to rule Indian cinema," he said. Talking about his latest release "World Famous Lover", Vijay confirmed that it'll be his last love story as he's shifting his focus on other genres. "This is one of the hardest films of my career. I'm aware of the comparisons with 'Arjun Reddy' and I didn't mind because this will be the last love story of my career. I've played three different avatars in the film, which was emotionally and physically more exhausting than I'd imagined," he added. "World Famous Lover", directed by Kranthi Madhav, opened in theatres last week to mixed response. The film also stars Raashi Khanna, Aishwarya Rajesh, Catherine Tresa and Isabelle Leite. Having charted his own path in a cut-throat industry without any backing, Vijay said he's finally living his dream. "Be it about doing my kind of films and chasing the pan-India dream, or producing a film, or launching a clothing line or buying a home, I am living my dream. I am slowly trying to influence and change a generation, and if you notice, the youngsters love me for what I do," he said. Singapore Zoos 24th rhinoceros calf has been named Dalia, after the Swahili word for gentle and tender. (PHOTO: Wildlife Reserves Singapore) SINGAPORE Hyacinth macaw chicks, a tapir calf, a giant anteater pup as well as a first-ever pair of crocodile monitor hatchlings these were among over 660 newborns welcomed at the Wildlife Reserves Singapores (WRS) attractions last year. The wildfire operator, which runs Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Safari, said on Tuesday (18 February) that the figure comprised 121 species, of which 25 are listed as threatened under the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Among the endangered species welcomed last year included 36 Santa Cruz ground dove hatchlings at the Jurong Bird Park. In December 2018, the bird park became the first and only zoological institution to successfully breed the doves under human care. A pair of hyacinth macaw chicks in Jurong Bird Parks Breeding and Research Centre. The park saw five successful hatchings of the vulnerable species. (PHOTO: WRS) The bird park also welcomed five hyacinth macaw hatchings, which are native to South America and listed as vulnerable, and three king penguin chicks. Over at the Night Safari, the attraction saw its 31st Malayan tapir calf born on 25 July last year. Named Sutera, which means silk in Malay, the calfs signature watermelon-like dappled coat has since transitioned into the two-toned coat that is distinct in adult tapirs. Since 1991, a total of 14 tapirs from Night Safari and Singapore Zoo have been sent to other zoological institutions to boost populations under human care. On 21 August last year, the River Safari welcomed its fourth giant anteater pup. Through public votes, it was named Estrella which means star in Spanish. The park also welcomed three West Indian manatee newborns, another vulnerable species. The park has bred 21 of the species so far. Singapore Zoo saw its first two successful crocodile monitor hatchlings in November last year. (PHOTO: WRS) Over at the Singapores Zoo, the attractions herpetology team welcomed its first-ever pair of crocodile monitor hatchlings in November last year, after two unsuccessful attempts. While breeding this species in captivity is already uncommon, these hatchlings are extra special in that both parents are themselves hatched under human care, which makes them the worlds first-second generation crocodile monitors to hatch in a zoo, said the WRS of the species native to New Guinea. Story continues The zoo welcomed a pair of red-shanked douc langur babies, bringing the parks breeding record for the endangered species, native to Vietnam and Laos, to 33. On 19 December last year, the zoos rhinoceros care team also welcomed a white rhinoceros calf. The two-month-old was named Dalia, a Swahili name meaning gentle and tender. The zoo has bred 24 of its species, of which 17 have been sent to other zoological institutions in Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand where they have started their own families. More Singapore stories: NSF fined $2,500 for flying drone in NDP restricted area Former police officer jailed for assaulting helper, calling her 'pig' and 'dog' Budget 2020: Singapore prepares S$6.4b for coronavirus relief measures and more The woman who was hit by a deputy U.S. Marshal suspected of drunken driving died Saturday, a little more than two weeks after the crash, according to San Antonio Police. Police said that on Jan. 31, Jonathan Jones, 40, was driving the wrong way on Loop 1604, near Babcock Road, at about 1 a.m. when he hit Taylor McCowan's small sedan head-on. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 21:07:38|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Singing folk songs, dancing freely, making jokes: Some 10,000 farmers are trying to woo viewers via livestreaming platforms with every talent they have with one goal in mind: selling more of their homegrown fruits and vegetables. This carnival-like activity might seem a bit untimely amid the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, but it's all in good faith. Held by China's e-commerce platform Taobao on Saturday, the so-called village livestreaming intended to help push sales of farm produce and keep the market stable. Besides the livestreaming stunt, China is taking a raft of steps to ensure stable food supplies, incomes of farmers and steady preparation for spring plowing. Chinese authorities have sought to ensure smooth transport of farm produce with "green channels" set up for epidemic control supplies, and urged local governments to refrain from blocking transport for food and livestock. A farm produce sales match-making alliance was launched Monday to leverage the vast networks of related enterprises. E-commerce platform Pinduoduo, one initiator, has opened specific channels and offered traffic support as well as over 1.5 billion yuan (about 214 million U.S. dollars) in logistics and produce subsidies. Efforts to secure the longer-term food supply are also in progress, with spring farming preparations kicking off in many parts of the country. Chinese authorities last week stressed the organization of spring plowing to lay a solid foundation for agriculture production. The epidemic has made sowing grain and vegetable seeds no easy task this spring, as some control measures have led to blocked transport and labor shortages in some areas, Pan Wenbo, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, told a press conference Tuesday. The ministry has issued a notice with detailed measures to encourage farmers to prepare for spring farming. An online platform has been set up to offer farmers technical support, while fertilizer enterprises are asked to resume production in a well-organized manner. To ease financial pressure, the country's agricultural policy bank has issued some 12 billion yuan of loans to ensure the sufficient supply of agricultural materials. More targeted, region-specific and coordinated measures will be rolled out to support spring plowing, according to Pan. "A missed planting season might lead to a whole year's loss," Pan said. "The plowing season waits for no man." Canadians stranded on a quarantined cruise ship were told that a flight set to bring them home is "expected" to depart Tokyo Haneda Airport on Thursday amid an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A TV cameraman films the quarantined ship Diamond Princess, background, anchored at Yokohama port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. The cruise ship will begin letting passengers off the boat on Wednesday after its been in quarantined for 14 days. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Canadians stranded on a quarantined cruise ship were told that a flight set to bring them home is "expected" to depart Tokyo Haneda Airport on Thursday amid an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Passengers will be informed of the "exact departure time approximately 24 hours before the flight," reads an email received by passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at a port near Tokyo. "It is important that you remain on the ship until you are instructed to board the assisted Canadian flight, even if you are cleared to leave because you have completed the ship quarantine," says the email received Tuesday evening local time from Global Affairs. "Please note that if you leave the ship before you are instructed to do so, it will not be possible to board the assisted Canadian flight." Should passengers choose not to return on the charter flight, they will need to complete the current quarantine being administered by Japan and follow the instructions of local authorities, it says. Canadians seeking to return to home by commercial means will be subject to the Quarantine Act, in line with a determination to be made by the Public Health Agency of Canada, it says. This could include a further quarantine of 14 days, it reads. An email sent Monday evening said it took the government time to organize this evacuation because the flight departure from Lisbon was delayed by "several hours due to overflight clearance challenges." On Tuesday, Global Affairs issued a statement saying: the plane had resumed its journey to Tokyo after "unforeseen technical issues in departing from Europe." No additional details were provided. "It will land in Tokyo where passengers will be screened before boarding as planned. More information to follow as it becomes available," Global Affairs said. Global Affairs said later in the day that 256 Canadians are on the Diamond Princess, where some 3,500 passengers have been stuck for at least 10 days. The largest number of cases outside China is among passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The Japanese Health Ministry has tested 1,723 people among the 3,700 initially on board, and 454 have tested positive, including 43 from Canada. The U.S. evacuated 338 American passengers early Monday, with most of them placed in a 14-day quarantine at military bases in California and Texas. Global Affairs Canada said on Saturday that the aircraft will bring passengers from Japan to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in southern Ontario. There they will be assessed and transported to the NAV Canada Training Institute in Cornwall, Ont., to undergo a further 14-day period of quarantine. Before boarding in Japan, passengers will be screened for symptoms, it said adding those who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to board and will instead be transferred to the Japanese health system to receive appropriate care. Experts have questioned if the close quarters have contributed to the virus's spread. Lolita and Hans Wisener of Red Deer, Alta., who have so far not shown symptoms of the virus, say they are looking forward to being on the plane. "I feel better having gotten some news because it feels like we've just been sitting and waiting for two days," Lolita Wisener said. "Things are moving even if it's slow but knowing helps. It looks like it's going to be another two days." Another passenger, Trudy Clement, said she's a bit worried although neither she nor her husband have shown symptoms. "It's the stress," she said. "It's bad enough just waiting for this day to finally come but waiting for that knock on the door to finally say you're not going because you tested positive is horrible. It's a horrible, horrible feeling." Her husband will be spending his birthday in quarantine on March 1, in Ontario. "We'll order a cake, I don't know, Clement said. "As long as we get out of here, it's fine. Home is always home." With files from The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Clinton Lacey, who became director of the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services in 2015, called the winding-down of the Jerry M. case a major milestone for the District. Standing in a courthouse hallway with about two dozen lawyers and city officials after the hearing, Lacey said, Weve reached the point where we all agree that we are at a high level now, and thats something we can be proud of. Missoula woke up to a thick coating of snow Monday morning. Since 6:30 weve gotten over an inch and a half, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Zumpfe just shortly before 9 a.m. By mid-afternoon, the agency was reporting snowfall totals ranging from 1 inch in Frenchtown to 9 inches in East Missoula. We had a pretty strong band of snow develop early this morning, and thats what was responsible for the fast accumulations and the traffic headaches, said Zumpfe. This fast buildup came on the heels of another one Sunday night that prompted the Weather Service to send out a snow squall warning to Missoula-area smartphones. The snow bands that we warned for (with) a snow squall warning last night, they also did develop suddenly, and we had to act on them, Zumpfe said. Weve been seeing a lot of storm systems coming out of the Northwest the last couple weeks. You add in cold air aloft, and that provides enough instability to allow these snow bands to form, and theyre a known heavy culprit for sudden, heavy bursts of snow to form this time of year. Snow and sun alternated through the rest of the day. The Weather Service anticipated a chance of snow through Tuesday, with highs in the mid-30s. The Montana Department of Transportation reported that at about 9:19 a.m. Monday, three semis had spun out of control on Montana Highway 35, about 9 miles north of Finley Point on the east side of Flathead Lake. The two-lane roadway was blocked in both directions until about 11 a.m. Trooper Nick Navarro with the Montana Highway Patrol urged motorists to use caution and take it slow. Roads are very slick this morning, he warned. After a fairly dry and mild winter, some Missoulians took time to enjoy the snow. Montana Snowbowl reported 6 inches of new snow at its summit, and posted on its Facebook page that "Conditions are as good as it gets anywhere!" "It's been really busy" the past week or so, said Regan Killmer, a service technician in Snowbowl's ski shop. "Rental business has definitely increased since we got the new chairlift open" earlier this winter. But while fresh snow was welcomed by many Missoulians, it only made things harder for the area's homeless population. Laurene Sarceemam and Dan Salazar have been living in a tent these past few weeks and spent the night in a corner of Kiwanis Park. Waking up, it was, like, up to here on our door, said Sarceemam, holding her hand more than a foot off the ground. Were, like, barricaded in here. Salazar had stomped out a path in front of their tent. Overnight camping is prohibited in city parks, and Sarceemam said that we were told to go to North Reserve, but that place is unsafe. They cant stay at the Poverello Center with their dog, which isn't a service animal, and said they dont feel safe there, either. They said their other attempts to find permanent shelter havent panned out. But Salazar recently started a job at a local restaurant, and theyre hoping it will get them out of their tent soon. It's tough, he said, after a night out in the snow. Its really tough. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Indian budget hotel chain start-up Oyo, valued at $10 billion in its latest fundraising round, has faced a number of gripping headlines, including multiple reports of hotel owners in India and China not getting adequate compensation from the company. In an exclusive interview with CNBC's Seema Mody on "Squawk Alley" on Tuesday, Oyo's CEO and founder, Ritesh Agarwal, dismissed those complaints and instead touted Oyo's business model. "One of the things that's consistent, if you speak to hotel owners or customers across the world, is that the proposition of Oyo is very valuable for each one of them. Everybody understands that having a large number of independent hotels improve in terms of infrastructure, provide good technology and increase the occupancy is very valuable," said Agarwal. The rise and fall of SoftBank-backed WeWork has thrust Oyo, also backed by SoftBank's $100 billion-dollar Vision Fund, into the spotlight. While SoftBank has a nearly 46% stake in Oyo, the Indian entrepreneur downplayed its control of the company, pointing to his efforts to diversify the company's board. "Oyo is a board-run company. ... Softbank, of course, has a representation on the board. But beyond that we have independent board members like Betsy Atkins who drives a large part of the decision-making." Oyo announced in late November the hiring of Atkins, CEO and founder of Baja Corporation, as an independent director to its board. Oyo has been expanding aggressively into new markets with 43,000 hotels worldwide. With Agarwal's relentless focus on expansion, Oyo's consolidated losses widened in fiscal 2019 to $335 million from $52 million. As costs rise, Oyo has announced a number of layoffs, from China and India to the U.S., where it has cut one-third of its workforce. Agarwal addressed the layoffs, saying, "At the end of every year our management regroups and thinks about things we did right and what we could improve. We as leadership acknowledged these restructuring efforts, early part of this year. There are three important perspectives behind this: Make sure we focus on locations and cities that are more profitable, we focus on making sure we reduce the duplication of efforts across countries, and third and most important we make sure that consistently we use technology to be able to be able to serve our customers." Agarwal added that after the restructuring efforts, Oyo still has more than 25,000 employees across the world. Still, the company says it is keeping its path to profitability in mind. "It's important for me to acknowledge there is very strong feedback that high-growth companies have gotten worldwide regardless of who their shareholders are ... that profitability is the direction that people want to see," he said. Oyo currently has $1 billion on its balance sheet. After India, China is Oyo's second-biggest market, with 9,000 hotels across the mainland. Marriott and Hilton both warned this earnings season that hotel occupancies in China are down significantly due to the coronavirus. Oyo, like its peers, has seen a drop in occupancy, however, it is trying to keep select locations open at reduced prices in the provinces most affected by the virus to support visiting doctors and people who've been stranded by travel restrictions, said the founder. "We're trying to keep as many of our hotels open as possible, including in Wuhan and in Hubei," said Agarwal. The virus adds to Oyo's challenges on the ground in China. In Oyo's 2019 annual report, the company's financials show that China contributed roughly 75% of its losses in fiscal 2019. Founded in 2013 by Agarwal when he was 19, Oyo has since become what the company says is the second-largest hotel chain in the world. Experts say time will tell whether Agarwal can improve the company's financials and prove to investors that its model works. CNBC's Hannah Miller contributed to this report. LUCKNOW The state government on Tuesday allotted funds to give a boost to the healthcare sector. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) was allocated 4,770 million while 9190 million was set aside for the King Georges Medical University (KGMU). This comprised a major chunk on salaries, against the proposals sent for over 10,000 million. RMLIMS was likely to have a neuro-sciences centre along with Gama Knife, which would be the second such equipment in UP for the treatment of tumours. We had proposed neuro-sciences centre, Gamma Knife and also new accommodation for faculty nurses. These getting sanctions from the government will help take treatment to a better level, said Prof AK Tripathi, director of Lohia institute. Another major push for the health sector would be a trauma centre at Lucknows Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjeee Hospital, for which 125 million were allocated. The hospital also got 5 million for expansion of the OPD complex. The hospital will get more space as the adjoining office of information department is being shifted to a new campus. This will help us build a trauma centre too, said Dr DS Negi, hospital director. Experts said the allocations had been planned keeping in view the future need in healthcare. Strengthening of the existing infrastructure, research and delivery systems will certainly bring positive change, said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, director of Healthcity Hospital. The government also allocated 81 crore for new primary health centres (PHCs) and 350 million for repair work of the existing PHCs. Besides, 500 million was set aside for upgrading the existing community health centres (CHCs) to 100-bed hospitals. Healthy people build a healthy nation, said Dr Ashutosh Dubey, senior doctor at Civil Hospital. The SGPGI in Lucknow and UP University of Medical Sciences in Saifai were allocated 820 crore and 3,090 million, respectively. Another fund of 730 million was allocated for upgrade of district hospitals across the state to medical colleges. The CG City Cancer Hospital was allocated 1,870 million. WHATS ON CARDS * NEURO-SCIENCES CENTRE RMLIMS is likely to have a neuro-sciences centre along with Gama Knife, which would be the second such equipment in UP for the treatment of tumours. * TRAUMA CENTRE Lucknows Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjeee Hospital would have a trauma centre, for which 125 million has been allocated. *OPD EXPANSION Expansion of Civil Hospitals OPD will bring major relief to patients in the state capital and those in adjoining districts, who come here for treatment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Trump will pay a state visit to India on 24-25 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He would be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump Washington: The upcoming visit of President Donald Trump to India later this month has the potential to usher in a new era of bilateral ties between the two countries, a top American business advocacy group has said. President Trump will pay a state visit to India on 24-25 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He would be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. This would be the president''s first bilateral visit in the third decade of 21st century and also the first after his acquittal by the Senate in the impeachment trial. "I believe President Trump''s upcoming visit to India has the potential to usher in a new era of our bilateral ties," Mukesh Aghi, President of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said in a statement on Monday. On the sidelines of the visit, the USISPF, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the ORF, has announced to organise a program entitled "US-India Forum: Partners for Growth". The full-day discussion will focus on the key pillars defining India and the US'' strategic, economic, and cultural partnership over the next decade. "We have an opportunity before us to make real progress on multiple aspects of the relationship whether it is upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; building upon an already strong energy partnership; developing co-production and co-development opportunities in the defence space; or strengthening bilateral trade," Aghi said. "We look forward to an extremely successful visit and some concrete outcomes from the visit," he said. The day-long programme on 25 February in New Delhi, will bring together over 500 senior business executives, members of the US-India think tank community and leading figures of the Indian diaspora to set the agenda for this strategic partnership. Discussions during the day will touch upon areas, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and Maritime Security; the US-India Defence Partnership, the US-India Energy Partnership, Elevating US-India Trade and Investment and Role of the Indian Diaspora in US-India Relations. The shed taught the teens a lot about construction and both are keen to pursue a career in the trades. Two teenagers with a natural talent for building have constructed a shed in Manly, with support from the community. Liam Hancock, 13 and his friend Troy Sharp, 12, have almost finished the shed they started work on last August in Liams familys backyard. It was constructed with found and donated materials. Around 10 people provided materials and helped in various ways, including some local tradespeople, but apart from the wiring (Troys father is an electrician) and putting on the roof, the boys completed all the building work themselves. Donated items included roofing iron, insulation, timber, cinder blocks and a window. Pallets were often acquired from the side of the road. The ceiling beams are made of decking timber nailed together and the carpet consists of off-cuts found in a skip. The fully insulated building measures 2.2m x 2.5m, with a little loft big enough for Liam to sleep in, accessed by a ladder. Both boys are home schooled and Liams mother Hanna says the project is an example of what can happen when young people get off their screens. Liam appears to have soaked up the building work that happened around him as the family lived on site while their Manly home was constructed. As well as advice from his father and others, Liam says he found YouTube how-to videos very helpful. We found it was better not to step in and offer too much advice, Hanna says. When he made a mistake, he would work out a solution himself and learn from that. Liam says the build cost around $100 in total, including paying for expanding foam, nails and silicone. Both boys say the build was so much fun that they cant wait to do it again. If there was room in the backyard, Id make two or three more, Liam says. Shane Martin, the ex-bikie boss and father of AFL star Dustin Martin, was issued a certificate confirming his Aboriginality by the Aboriginal Corporation of Tasmania in December 2016, putting further pressure on the federal government to allow him to return to Australia in the wake of the High Court's decision that Aboriginal people cannot be deported. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal that Mr Martin, his three sons including Dustin and his brother were all issued with certificates confirming their Aboriginal genealogy in December 2016. Dustin Martin's father Shane has failed in his latest bid to re-enter Australia after being deported. The corporation has confirmed Shane's grandmother was an Indigenous woman living in Tasmania before moving to New Zealand, elder Lance Le Sage said. The corporation looks at a combination of documentary evidence and oral history, Mr Le Sage said, then decides whether to confirm Aboriginality based on the person identifying as Aboriginal, ancestry research and whether they are accepted by an Aboriginal community. Casey Fleming: The Chinese Regime Uses All Sectors to Wage War on the US, and the US Must Respond How has the Chinese Communist Party used unconventional tactics to wage war on the US for the past several decades? And why did almost nobody notice? What is asymmetric hybrid warfare, and how is it central to the Chinese Communist Partys strategy of attack on the West? And, how can companies, universities, and governments effectively protect their innovation against this assault? This is American Thought Leaders , and Im Jan Jekielek. In this episode, well sit down with Casey Fleming, Chairman and CEO of the intelligence consulting firm, BlackOps Partners. He is an expert on security strategy, asymmetric hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and economic espionage, and he regularly advises the private sector as well as Congress, the Department of Justice, and the White House. Jan Jekielek: Casey Fleming, great to have you on American Thought Leaders. Casey Fleming: Its a pleasure. Mr. Jekielek: You have been interviewed numerous times by the Epoch Times regarding your expertise around China and asymmetrical hybrid warfare. When we talked about China three or four years ago, it was a very different picture. Tell us how things have changed. Mr. Fleming: I think our government has finally realized how serious the threat is from China. Before, we were looking at it like a one-off instance. It was amusing at the time, and nobody really connected the dots. What we have seen now is a ground swell. The government is all in on the China threat, and has come all in on it. They realize now that it must be a whole-of-nation approach, just as the Chinese Communist Party has a whole-of-nation approach against the United States and all of our Western allies. There has been a shift to a whole-of-nation approach, which now includes not just the government, but the private sector including business and academia. Mr. Jekielek: You almost make it sound like we are at war here, but we are not, right? Mr. Fleming: It depends on who you ask. If you ask the Chinese Communist Party, they are absolutely in war with us. They have consistently said that they are at war with the United States and it is a life and death war. To [the CCP], it is a life and death war, but people in the United States are not used to this type of war. To the United States and our western allies, you are either in a bloody battle with uniforms, tanks, planes and generals, or you are not. Our adversaries have waged what they call an asymmetric hybrid war against us. That is everything short of conventional war that we are aware of. The first thing everybody needs to understand is the war that has been waged on the United States has incidentally been around since the start of the Communist Party in China, which was 1949. In 1986, they came out with a nation-state directive called Program 863 (the naming comes from the datenamely the year 1986 and March, the third month) Ill give you my laymans terms: well basically lie, cheat and steal to global dominance. That is the war. We all have to understand that they have waged war on us. We have not waged a conventional war. But the war that is being fought is something that we are not used to. We are not used to asymmetric hybrid warfare, which is attacking from all angles and sides to weaken and take over the United States. That is what the overall end game strategy is. They want to defeat capitalism, democracy, and turn the world into their own order. We have to understand what the war is and what the fight is. That is what the whole asymmetric, different direction, hybrid warfare is about. What is hybrid warfare? Hybrid warfare is achieving military gains through non-military methods. We do not like the word war in the United States, because that means very nasty things. The bigger name is called Great-Power Competition. If you look at history, about every 70 years, a nation or a couple of nations decide to challenge the world order. That is called the Great-Power Competition. Currently, it is China and Russia. They have friends by the name of Iran and North Korea that are all allied together and are all communist. Some people regard China as a democracy, but that is not the case. China is clear, serious, oppressive, authoritarian, dictated, and communist. There are not two Chinas, there is one China and it is a communist driven command and control country with a straight line through the country. We, and our western allies, have to understand that if we put a plant, laboratory, development center, sell into China, or buy products from China, we are partnering with the Chinese Communist Party. This is absolutely the truth. [This] government is refreshing. I met with senior leaders of our government yesterday, and they underscore the seriousness of this. It is an existential threat to the United States, because the Chinese Communist Party wants to weaken us through our strength, which is the economy. Our strength is through our economy, and they want to weaken that by stealing the technology. Our adversary is all about live versus die. In other words, their philosophy is that they must live, but we must die. So when they compete, they have to win, so we can never compete again. Americans are completely foreign to that. We believe in winning and losing. For example, if my team does not win the Super Bowl, World Series, or Little League this year, the clock resets in January, and I get another shot. Mr. Jekielek: Come back, and fight another day. Mr. Fleming: Come back and fight another day. With the Chinese Communist Party, you will never come back and fight another day. What many people do not understand about the Communist Party is that they have no intention ever of coexisting with anyone. They want to absolutely dominate and control the global universe as we know it today. Teachings inside China, through the Chinese Communist Party, are that they have owned the world for 2000 years, and are going to rightfully own the world back again. The date [of their goal] is the hundred year anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, which is 2049. We have to understand our adversary. So are we at war? Not necessarily, but our adversary is certainly at war with us. If you are at war with an adversary, you have to know your adversary intimately. That is where we focus, communicate, and raise the awareness accordingly. Mr. Jekielek: Would you say that this is primarily an economic war? With what has happened recently with the tariffs, it has been described as a trade war. Has it primarily been a trade war or an economic war? Mr. Fleming: Your operative word was primary, and the answer is yes. The primary focus [for China] is defeating the US economy. They do that through financing, banking, and stealing intellectual property from every company. Whether you are doing business in China or not, if you have intellectual property, and of course you do because that is what you sell to make a profit, you are targeted by the Chinese Communist Partys military, all the operatives, all the citizens that they control, and so on. So yes, it is primarily economic, but there are over 100 different methods of asymmetric warfare. For example, drug warfare. They are behind fentanyl to weaken America. You, your family, and your cousins can order fentanyl and have it in your mailbox in three weeks directly coming from China. There is drug warfare, propaganda warfare, religious warfare, and all these types of things. We do reports on that quite a bit. We have a chart that is about forty of the main [types of warfare]. For example, cyber warfare is a key vector, but it is not the be-all and end-all. Our companies are all focused on cyber warfare, thinking that is where the focus needs to be, and there does need to be focused on that. Dont take your foot off the pedal on that, but you need to look at all the other methods that they are using to extract information. Their goal is to put your company out of business. Assistant US Attorney by the name of John Demers came out with a fantastic and accurate quote: rob, replicate and replace. So where is your company or university, in this whole rob, replicate and replace piece of it? You are absolutely in one of those stages. Rob is where they are stealing your intellectual property. Replicate is when they are selling your intellectual property/product to your customers at 30 cents on the dollar. So how long can you compete? Lastly, replace is to put you out of business. Rob, replicate and replace. So where is your company on that spectrum? Your company is absolutely on that spectrum, because you have intellectual property. Mr. Jekielek: This actually reminds me of the Segway. The iconic brand where the IP was stolen, and the competing product was reverse engineered and created. And then with its success being sold, perhaps 30 cents on the dollar, that company actually ended up buying Segway. I think this illustrates your point. Mr. Fleming: There are literally hundreds of these examples, and nobody really connects the dots. We do because we caught this a long time ago, but nobody, with the 24 hour news cycle ever connects the dots and says, this is the strategy, this is what is working, this is the execution of the Chinese Communist Party in this industry and industry sector and so on. We all hear about Huawei and the 5G technology, but we forget where Huawei came from. Huawei was born out of theft from Northern Telecom (Nortel). In 2000, Nortel was the largest company in Canada, with a worth of 30 billion dollars. It was the largest employer in Canada, the oldest company in Canada, and the big AT&T of Canada. In 2000, the Chinese Communist Party got into the network through the Chinese military, and the company executives did not take it seriously. The IT director was running up and down the hallways with his hair on fire, and they said calm down. You had a 30 billion dollar company in Canada and a zero revenue company in China that nobody had ever heard of. After 2008, there are no more employees, complete bankruptcy with Nortel and now a 30 billion dollar company in China called Huawei. Today, Huawei is a 110 billion dollar company that has plenty of money to offer. You want to get into 5G? We will pay for all of your equipment with no startup cost. We will just lease the equipment to you moving on, because they have the cash derived from selling products to Americans and western allies. Another example is American Superconductor. It was a windmill energy company that had best of breed, fantastic windmills. The technology came down to the source code inside computer chips running these windmills. China ordered a billion dollars worth of windmills in their pipeline of backlog of products to be manufactured and shipped to China. They took the first hundred million and realized that they had reverse engineered the hardware on [the windmills], but needed the software. They figured out one of seven people in the world that had the software, and spent 20,500 euros on women, alcohol, and bars in order to get the source code and chip away from a 29 year-old system engineering manager in Austria. Once they had the source code to run those windmills, they canceled 900 million dollars from this moderately sized company. Their stock went from 45 dollars a share to 4.5 dollars over a 90 day period. The US attorney at the time quoted it as corporate homicide. This is what is happening in every industry. It is rob, replicate and replace. There are literally hundreds of these examples. Another one is a very large microchip or micro processing company, where [China] stole 50% of the IP. They extracted 50% of the heart, soul and future of the company. The Department of Justice and the FBI got involved, but those secrets are gone. It is not a good day when the FBI knocks on your door. Typically your secrets are in the wind and they are not going to come back. Mr. Jekielek: We have reported a lot on how the Chinese military works with hackers, universities, and industry in this kind of circle. You mentioned that America is committed to a whole-of-nation approach. That is very new. What we know is that China very much has a whole-of-nation approach through the command and control system of the Chinese Communist Party. To me, it is difficult to imagine a whole-of-nation approach in America right now. How is this working? Mr. Fleming: It is difficult because our government is typically fragmented and separate. The private sector keeps the government at arms length, and government keeps private sector at arms length and academia and the military is on its own. We are all kinds of fragmented. What is extremely new and refreshing is that our government has realized that the Chinese Communist Party has a whole-of-nation approach to destroy the United States economy, democracy and capitalism. The only answer back is the same whole-of-nation approach. The only time I can actually remember a period like that in the United States was World War II. We are at a World War II juncture, where the government absolutely desires and wants to work with the private sector, including industry, business, and academia. We are all working singly in the same mission to combat and defend against these threats. Again, it is not just economic espionage and stealing IP, it is drug warfare, religious warfare, etc. You can find this information from my company called BlackOps, and we have a slide on this. I call it the money slide. It is basically the Chinese Communist Partys asymmetric strategy against the United States in the west. Russia plays in about six or seven of those information warfare, also known as cognitive warfare. We are all dealing with the fake news and people trying to sway public opinion now. If you control the mind, you control the country, so we all have to be aware of this cognitive warfare that is going on. It is a serious time. We as Americans, the West, and the rest of the world have enjoyed a pretty good economy. We have serious adversaries that want to take that away and make it their own to a world of oppression, misdeeds and something that we find very distasteful with the runnings and the history of the Chinese Communist Party. In my opinion, it is good versus evil, which is happening now today. Again, it is refreshing that our government, at the very high levels, says enough is enough. We are not going to allow you to steal our innovation, industry and economy. We are going to defend that very significantly. It is a unique time. I know we have been trying to get together for several months and do this interview, but now is appropriate because very recently, this sea change has happened with our country, where we are all on the same team. That to me is very exciting. Mr. Jekielek: It is absolutely. At the same time, there are untold billions of dollars of investment that are caught up in the grasp of the Chinese Communist Party. We have had experts like Robert Spalding explaining how money is very tough to get out if not impossible. Right? So that is some serious leverage against the private sector, government, academia and the US all working in conjunction. How do you see this playing out? Mr. Fleming: At some point, you have to understand where you turn the faucet off or turn the faucet down. You know that your money is at risk doing business in China, so do you continue to put good money after good money into a very risky scenario? And now, even these existential things like this coronavirus is completely unplanned for, but you can see how risky your investments are in China. Just by something that was not even planned, which is this coronavirus, that is basically freezing the Chinese economy, and the supply chain of materials and products to the United States for us to make products or sell to our customers. The question really begs to companies and to universities. We need to start looking strategically at the money that we put into the Chinese Communist country. People now understand that it does not come without attachments. It does not come without strings attached. It comes with risk, and we are seeing now with the coronavirus, the risk that comes with putting plants, laboratories, cooperation with university campuses, and sister campuses in China. It comes with extreme risk. I think that since we are a capitalist society in the United States and in the West, we are too enamored with the cash flow and the money. We dont ever want to look at the risk on the other side of it that what it may come with and I think now our government certainly is swinging to the side of being protective. It is going to force the private sector, which includes business and academia, to understand that the money in a communist regime is money that is at very high risk. This coronavirus and the trade wars are a very good window on the future of where it is coming. Each company and each university needs to realize how much risk we are willing to tolerate by these investments that were making in China. Mr. Jekielek: Lets look at the coronavirus scenario. We have had people on the show talk about the initial cover up of coronavirus and the punishment of the people who were raising the alarm. This sort of stuff is actually structural to the Communist Party and the communist system. I think this is very important for understanding how the system functions. Could you speak to that a bit? Mr. Fleming: Anything that comes out of China, as far as information, is all state-run propaganda. It is typical of every communist regime. Nothing is allowed to get out of China, and if it does, [violators] will be severely punished by the regime. You have to understand that everything that comes out of China, as far as any type of information, has to be the party line. And if it gets out through other methods such as through the people, those people will be severely punished. I think the truth is going to come out maybe a year from now. What truly happened, what the origins of the [coronavirus] are, and what the coverups have been. Even recently, the Chinese Communist Party has admitted that they did not react quickly enough and so they are actually falling on their sword a little bit, because this has become pretty serious on a countrywide basis. Mr. Jekielek: Now based on what you have seen on the information warfare side of things, do you expect them to blame America? Mr. Fleming: They already are through social media channels. They are blaming the United States for planting the coronavirus. All I can say is to let lead calmer heads prevail and see what happens a year from now what really plays out. I think the truth will eventually come out in about a year once we are all past this. I hope it does not grow any more than it has [in China], but we are hearing that the numbers are grossly under-reported both on infections and deaths. Because we are dealing with a Chinese Communist Party regime, we have learned to never take anything at face value and let it all play out. Time will always tell you what is going on. My time parameter is about a year. Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned religious warfare a couple of times as something that the Chinese Communist Party uses against the US. What is that? Mr. Fleming: That is another vector and method of asymmetric warfare to weaken the United States. They do information warfare campaigns, which is cognitive warfare to get into the minds [of people.] They do not believe in religion, and they think Americans are weak because we believe in religion. They use that against us, and fight our beliefs around religion. Expect our values to be attacked, and that social media and regular mainstream media might not be factual, and can be levied by some of our adversaries. They use anything to fight our beliefs that we were raised with as children. Whatever religions that are special to us, or that we were raised with. They know that most of us are very religious people, and so they do anything that attacks it and renders it obsolete or inaccurate to weaken our resolve. They want to weaken our resolve by challenging those religions. That is the same with any one of those attack vectors of asymmetric warfare. Mr. Jekielek: It is very interesting to think about all of this from a warfare perspective, but I am also thinking about the Thousand Talents Program. The top Harvard professor of nanotechnology was recently indicted by creating an institute and getting paid huge amounts of money for knowledge. This strikes me as something that would fit into an attack vector. How do you see this situation? Mr. Fleming: It is absolutely an attack vector. It is education warfare and propaganda warfare. The Thousand Talents Program is supported by the Confucius Institute program and the Confucius Classroom Program. Mr. Jekielek: Please briefly explain how that works, and how the Thousand Talents Program fits in. Mr. Fleming: There is a Chinese company throughout Hollywood called the Wanda Group, and it is run by the Chinese Communist Party. Every company in China is a facade, and is commanded and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. They have employees and executives that have to swear oaths to the Chinese Communist Party. If it is a large company, there are Chinese Communist Party command and control groups placed in the company headquarters. The Wanda Group influences and uses propaganda through our films. Americans love movies, and they want to make America look worse than it really is, and make China the all powerful victor in movies. In fact, for the new Top Gun movie coming out, the Chinese Communist Party had [the Wanda Group] change the trailer. Ill leave that to your viewers to figure out how they changed the trailer from the previous Top Gun trailer to the new Top Gun trailer. It might have to do something on the back of Tom Cruises jacket. That is the propaganda side. To the education piece that you asked on Harvard University, it is an influence as well as a pipeline. Starting an institute is a pipeline to send intellectual property directly to China in a firehose conduit to make that happen. The Thousand Talent Program is to pay some professors to get information directly [to China]. How else are they going to be able to destroy our economy and sell our products to our customers at 30 cents on the dollar? There is no cost for research, development, and innovation for them when they do this. For example, when you make a cancer drug, computer chip, or a super soybean, or anything, the first one costs 10 billion dollars for research and development. The second one costs a nickel. The Chinese Communist Party is trying to get rid of the cost of the first one and just go straight to the second one. It is not just money, it is also the time. For example, they say it takes ten years to develop the hybrid seed, or the DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) and then just to steal it. It takes ten years and say 10 billion dollars, but they dont care about that. They are the Chinese Communist Party. They just want to know how to mass produce the product and cut us out of the program. Mr. Jekielek: I remember that you did an estimate of what the cost of the IP theft was through your operation. Mr. Fleming: The number that the government runs on is about 600 billion per year. That is the raw innovation and research and development that is stolen out of the economy. You have to put the MBA number on that. The government just gives you the raw number, but for the business executives, CEOs, board of directors, that computer chip, hybrid seed, cancer drug, car engine, fuel system in a car, or battery was meant to power their companies for seven to ten years. For example, if they make a 3 billion dollar investment in a cancer drug, that is meant to power their company for anywhere from seven to ten years in revenue, profit and jobs. You have to take in account that number into the 600 billion dollar [raw calculation] each year. I say that the number is certainly 600 billion, but you have to factor that into the actual value of that technology in our economy and to each and every company that is losing intellectual property. For just rough math sake, 10 years worth of value on 600 billion dollars is 6 trillion dollars. This is taken each and every year out of the US economy. Maybe it is not 6 trillion dollars, and maybe it is somewhere between 600 billion and 6 trillion. Pick the number you want that fits, but it is catastrophic, if it goes on cumulatively over time in the US economy. It affects every company. I dont care if youre, you are a distributor or whatever, if you have competing products coming from China for 30 cents on the dollar, its very difficult to stay in business that way, especially when you have to pay for new products and new innovation to power your company for the next five years, and have the rug pulled out from underneath you from a very aggressive and insidious adversary who is in this for the long haul. It is a life and death fight by our adversary, and no different than World War II. I think everybody is waking up to that fact now. Some people think that it might be at DEFCON 1 level. How do you measure this? I get asked a lot, where is it on a scale of one to ten? People are expecting the answer to be at one or two. It is not. We have an intelligence group that works with expatriates coming back from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Russia. We also have a very robust intelligence network. When you add all this up, it is not a one or two on a scale of 10. It is about an 8.5 or a nine. We have to understand that as senior leaders of companies and of academia, because that is where all of our innovation is developed and transferred. Our adversaries have technology transfer institutes, so when they steal the innovation, it goes into a technology transfer Institute. They extract out how much of it can be commercial to kill the US economy and grow our Chinese economy, as well as find out what the military applications could be. It is stripped, how it can be used both commercially as well as military. It is a professional network. It is a very sophisticated network that they have to extract information and innovation from the west. Also, this is not just the United States. It is just as bad for Germany, France, Italy, UK, Australia, and Canada. Mr. Jekielek: Aside from doing advisory work with the Department of Justice and the White House, you also do advisory work in the private sector. How often are people coming to you with questions about this now? What I understand is in the past, people were not ready to admit that they had been cyber compromised because of, for example, stocks. How has the climate in the private sector changed through wanting to know how to deal with this? Mr. Fleming: It is a sea change. Three or five years ago, it was like an annoyance and almost entertaining to have our people speak at conferences. People treated it as information that was interesting and nice to know. Nowadays, however, the phone rings off the hook. People now know that there is a problem and that it is serious. They want the truth. My people in my company are not telling me the truth. They are telling me what I want to hear but not what I need to hear. Will you come here and tell me what I need to hear? And we say yes we will certainly do that for you. It has been a relief to us because all of us in our company are patriots for America and our heritage. To finally get sunlight on this now, and to have the phone ringing off the wall is exciting and refreshing to know that we are not alone in this fight anymore. It is all for one and one for all. Mr. Jekielek: Lets talk about Huawei. Huawei is a great example of a whole-of-country approach that the Chinese Communist Party hugely subsidizes. All different aspects of the Chinese economy are pushing Huawei to be the telecom giant. They are operating in 70 countries around the world currently and new contracts are being signed all the time. The US is supposed to come up with its own version, but so far has been lackluster with the development in this area. Where do you see this going? Is there going to be an American Huawei? Mr. Fleming: We will absolutely see it. I think it is lackluster now, but when the chips are down Americans perform under pressure and will impress. Huawei is run by the Chinese Communist Party. Everybody watching needs to understand that it is a communist regime. Understand that there is oppression built into it, and supporting and growing the Communist Party built into it. 5G is like a central nervous system in the technology world. The difference between 4G and 5G is a huge quantum leap. It is basically computing everywhere, so everything is going to be on the network or that nervous system. Everything you do for your company or for your family is going to be on that 5G network. If you have evil, nefarious equipment that is meant to siphon off all your IP and information, then use the information to power your artificial intelligence. The more information and data you have to feed your artificial intelligence, the better your artificial intelligence is going to be. 5G is not just a technology race about bringing revenue to the economies that are participating, but fundamentally about command and control. By having 5G in a country, if you say something or act in a way that the Chinese Communist Party does not like, they can shut down your company, and countries off the 5G network. Viewers need to understand that 5G is a weaponized technology. Thats why we and our American government are vehemently opposed to the intentions by these nefarious companies having a foothold in the 5G network. Mr. Jekielek: Right now, there have been preliminary decisions made with the UK that some aspects of the network will be run with 5G. The Chinese Communist Party has made assurances that Huawei will not be beholden to the Communist Party, and that they will follow the rules in the UK. They say that there will not be any sort of systems like the surveillance that we utilize in China, because we will follow your rules. Presumably people believe that. Why else would they choose to put this network in? Tell me about this. Mr. Fleming: If you have ever studied and know anything about the Chinese Communist Party or any communist regime, you need to understand it is plausible deniability and stealth. It is fake left and go right. They cannot be trusted. The other thing is that there might be financial gains with it as well. Mr. Jekielek: It is very cheap as it is basically just massively subsidized. Mr. Fleming: The money comes with risk. So what is your risk tolerance for the money that you are receiving from Huawei to put in a 5G network in the UK? I do not speak for the US government, but it would be very difficult for me if I were in the government, or the government intelligence community to share any information with our staunch ally, which is the British government if they are going to be installing a 5G network that goes straight to the Chinese Communist Party. Mr. Jekielek: When we were speaking offline, we talked about speaking with a certain high level official about how important it is to get the private sector involved with the whole-of-nation approach. Can you speak to that a little bit? Mr. Fleming: The government understands that the private sector is in charge of their own destiny, and that the private sector is the economy. The private sector and the economy fund our national security. The government cannot tell the private sector what to do, so the private sector has to fix themselves on this. Individual companies and universities need to understand that their business and academic environments have shifted. Their adversary has shifted the environment for them. What that means is that asymmetric warfare or hybrid warfare is the new operating environment that they are now in. They have to move to this environment to survive as a company. Think about it, a nation state and all of their resources, and their command and control is completely after your intellectual property. I think you might act a little bit differently. So you need to have a security culture in your company. We used to have sexual harassment training in the 80s, diversity training in the 90s, and now we need to have security training. Not just cyber security. Cyber security is just one vector, an important and critical vector, but only one. We have insider threats, spy issues, the Thousand Talents Program, etc. All of these are different ways to extract the corporate jewels of our economy and country and ship them straight back to an aggressive, evil nation state. Companies and universities need to understand that they are operating in a new environment under rules they are not familiar with. It is all based on Asian martial arts theory in a hybrid warfare type of thing. Corporate strategies at the strategic layer must be remolded and recast keeping in mind the hybrid warfare platform that has been thrust upon them by the Chinese Communist Party. The same thing goes for universities. The universities need to recast their one year plan, five year plan, and 20 year plan in this new environment. Its not a new environment to the Chinese Communist Party, as it has been around for them since 1986. But to [American] companies, private sector, academia, it is new. So their strategies must be recast on top of this hybrid warfare platform. There are going to be winners and losers. When you lose your technology, you lose your IP, so you are done. Youll go by the way of Nortel, American Superconductor, or you will be a shadow of what you used to be. There are hundreds of other companies that we track that nobody else tracks. That is the number one message. Where do we go from here? Companies need to understand that they need to protect their IP at all costs. This war that the Chinese Communist Party has declared on us is looked upon as a challenge. But what is refreshing is that it is a whole-of-nation approach from the United States standpoint. That gets me tremendously excited. The last time that this happened was World War II, so I am excited that we are actually moving forward so we can win this war against us. We can win it by out-innovating them because they are not innovators. We also have to protect that innovation. The way to win this is to focus on the grand innovation and out-innovate [China]. We have to have a security culture that protects the IP, corporate jewels, university jewels and research. A lot of these universities take government grants to develop powerful innovation that gets shared with companies and military applications. We absolutely have to protect it at all costs. We need to vet people who have access to it, and lock down access to it. We have to expect to be attacked, through both insider threats as well as the cyber community. Even conventional people that look like you and I, are turned spies because they were being blackmailed. So we need to lift our heads out of the cyber world and understand that this problem is a bigger problem. It is not just cyber. Another point I would like to make is one of the fallacies that we are in right now in the United States regarding the way we view cybersecurity. Information Technology, back in the day was basically thrown over the fence at the geeks. I liken it to the plumbing of a company that keeps a company running. The C levels, CEO and the board flip IT over to the geeks, and they keep everything running. We dont understand it, but they do. So thats cool. Cybersecurity came along and sounded kind of like IT, so they said okay, lets throw that over the fence to the geeks. So cybersecurity was just a box on top of the IT. That has been at the tactical layer in the organization. There are three levels of strategy in every organization. Starting from the bottom is the tactical layer, then the operational, and lastly, the strategic layer. Our adversaries, by the fact that they attack us and have issued asymmetric hybrid warfare against us, operate at the strategic layer. We are mismatched in our response back to our adversary. Their war is waged at the strategic layer against every company, university and government. We need to migrate. There are several things that universities, as well as every company needs to do. They need to move cybersecurity and their whole security strategy up to the strategic layer in the organization. Next, they have to create a security culture. We have a culture of sexual harassment training never took off in the past until we assigned it to the CEO. Same thing with diversity training, as it never took off until we assigned it to the CEO. Inside security is hybrid warfare, insider threat, and cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is not all security, it is just a single vector. There has to be an overall security culture in your organization, university or company. A key point here also, is that it is not just your company, but also your supply chain. Your supply chain is also a huge vulnerability for your company and a very big weak link. About 60% of the breaches happen through the supply chain. You have to buddy up your suppliers and give them some tough love and say if you are going to handle our IP, or company, this is what we expect you to abide by and you will be held accountable. The whole global business and academic environment is now on a hybrid warfare platform. It has been thrust upon us, and we dont have a choice. If you dont adapt immediately, put your corporate or university on a strategy, and recast on top of an asymmetric hybrid warfare platform, you will fail and you will lose. This is something thats fairly urgent. I remember when I first started in this business intelligence piece against the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian FSB. I could not believe that this was happening. But over time, it kept happening. My learning curve was flat on this. All of a sudden it hockey-sticked all the way up. Now, after a couple of years, it is more expected what they are going to do next. Its not surprising. Every person is going to go through a learning curve on this. So, everybody is going to say this is baloney. There is denial at first, and then people are going to realize everything that is happening. I think having the US government behind this now saying that there has to be a whole-of-nation approach and stressing the importance of private sector involvement will help people with the early part of acceptance and the denial piece of it. It is an existential threat. The FBI director says that it is the largest and the most significant threat to the future of the United States. You would never hear that coming out of the FBI five years ago, or in the history of the FBI. But now, there are sounding the alarm bells for people to rally together arm-in-arm, brother to brother, sister to sister, and do a whole-of-nation approach on this. Mr. Jekielek: Casey Fleming, such a pleasure to speak with you. Mr. Fleming: Thank you for having me. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking rectification of errors in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 accountancy sample question papers and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the petitioner. The petitioner, named Ravinder Nath dubey, has been teaching accountancy for the past 26 years. Asserting that accountancy examination is on March 3, the petitioner sought court's direction to immediately remove eight fundamentally and conceptually wrong answers from the CBSE's website. "If the students write these wrong answers in the board examinations, the examiners may deduct 7-8 marks of students," Dubey rued. A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Hari Shankar called the petition "frivolous" and imposed a hefty fine on him. "You are not talking about an exam paper but sample papers. The model papers are for students' practice," the bench said. When the petitioner retorted that he has come with a proof, the court said, "The fine can be increased. I don't want to do it." Cellcom looks set to face competition to purchase Golan Telecom after fellow Israeli operator Bezeq declared its interest in an acquisition. Bezeqs subsidiary Pelephone Communications submitted an offer of ILS710 million ($207 million) to acquire Golan. The offer was made on 16th Februray the same day that Cellcom revealed that it was discussing an acquisition with Golan and will expire on 15th April. The move indicates that Bezeq anticipates more consolidation in the market and is looking to shore up its position. It may have an advantage over Cellcom, as the latter operator is in the middle of restructuring its business with the aim of cutting operating costs by ILS150 million before the end of the year a process that has already resulted in staff being made redundant. Cellcom made an attempt to acquire Golan in 2015 but it was thwarted by regulators due to fears that it could reduce competition in the market. Bezeq has stated that both its board and Golans would need to approve any deal, along with the Ministry of Communications and the Commissioner for Economic Competition. The two rival bids for Golan Telecom may have been prompted by Altice Europes Hot Telecom approaching Partner Communications last month about a possible acquisition. If this proposal were accepted, it could boost competition in Israel by increasing Hot Mobiles footprint in the market. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 18:50:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Instead of queuing outside pharmacies or joining in the shopping frenzy online, foreigners in Shanghai scrambling to buy masks to fight coronavirus could make orders in a more convenient way -- dialing a "mask hotline." By calling the Shanghai Call Center at 962-288, a hotline dedicated to providing information for foreigners in Shanghai with a history of over 10 years, foreigners can make inquiries about masks, current coronavirus containment efforts and other information concerning the epidemic. Statistics showed around 100,000 foreigners stayed in Shanghai despite the coronavirus outbreak, with no cases of the novel coronavirus among them reported so far. During the Spring Festival holiday, the hotline received thousands of inquiries, most of which were about buying masks. "When communicating with foreigners, it is very important to speak accurately," said Sarah Leanne Sharman, a British who has worked in Shanghai for five years. As Sharman can speak both English and Chinese, she is responsible for helping call center agents when they have difficulties in English language communication and understanding. The 36-year-old has been busy explaining to her Chinese colleagues the proper nouns about coronavirus used by the World Health Organization in the past few days. Apart from 24-hour English services, the hotline also provides services in French, Japanese, German, Russian, Spanish and Arabic. Agents receiving calls will teach foreigners how to make appointments for buying masks at home and how to prepare for materials required for the appointments. It has been a tough job for a cosmopolitan city like Shanghai to take virus containment measures such as providing citizens with enough masks, considering its population of 24 million. Local government, enterprises and residents have made great efforts to increase the capacity of mask production. Shanghai government encouraged local mask factories to resume operations and expand capacity, offering financial support such as rent reduction and tax incentives for enterprises that have contributed to the fight against the epidemic. Some Shanghai citizens volunteered to work night shifts for mask factories while enterprises of other industries, including soybean product manufacturers and repurposed workshops, have added new mask production lines. But instead of scrambling to buy masks and watching TV flooded with coronavirus-related news, what people affected by the epidemic really want is for the fight against the coronavirus to see a turnaround, life to return to normal and to finally enjoy a deep breath outdoors without masks. China's daily new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection outside Hubei, the epicenter province of the outbreak, have dropped for 14 consecutive days, but experts remained cautious, calling for continuing efforts on strengthening coronavirus research and containment. Like many foreigners in Shanghai, Sharman's life was also disrupted by the epidemic. She now works one in every three days and cooks for herself as most places nearby are closed. Because of the epidemic, she also has not been able to walk her dog as much as before. "For me, the first thing I will do after the epidemic is to go out for dinner and take my dog to the park," said Sharman. MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc.'s shares dropped almost 10 per cent Tuesday, one day after announcing the sale of its rail business to French train giant Alstom SA. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Bombardier Transport offices are seen in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que. on Monday, February 17, 2020. Bombardier Inc. says it has reached a US$8.2-billion deal to sell its rail business to French train giant Alstom SA. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc.'s shares dropped almost 10 per cent Tuesday, one day after announcing the sale of its rail business to French train giant Alstom SA. The deal would shrink the Montreal-based transportation company by more than half as it shifts focus solely to private business jets. If approved by regulators, the US$8.2-billion transaction will help Bombardier slash its hefty debt by nearly three-quarters to about US$2.5 billion, capping a five-year turnaround plan that has seen the company shed numerous assets, including its commercial airplane division. Analysts Seth Seifman and Yilma Abebe of J.P. Morgan cited concerns about how a "pure-play bizjet" stock would fare. "Currently, we think the equity market perceives bizjets as facing structural challenges and as unappealing from a growth perspective," they said in a research note. While private jets often yield higher margins, the luxury industry is more volatile than rail, where companies can tap into massive government infrastructure contracts. "We view the business jet segment as more cyclical and overall industry business jet deliveries have been relatively stagnant over the past 10 years," said National Bank of Canada analyst Cameron Doerksen. Nonetheless, he sees Bombardier as "well-positioned," with annual revenue of US$7 billion and a backlog of US$14.4 billion. Bombardier shares fell as much as 13 per cent in afternoon trading before closing at $1.49, down 16 cents or 9.7 per cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The exchange was closed Monday for Family Day. The acquisition by Alstom whose stock dropped more than three per cent Tuesday is expected to come under intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators in the European Union. Last year, EU authorities blocked a proposed merger between Alstom and the train division of German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG, arguing the proposed tie-up would result in higher price tags on signalling systems and bullet trains. Bombardier said its net proceeds from the sale will be US$4.2 billion to US$4.5 billion, after adjusting for liabilities including pension obligations and paying the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec for its 32.5 per cent stake in the train division, known as Bombardier Transportation. The proceeds include US$550 million worth of Alstom shares. The deal makes the Caisse Alstom's single largest shareholder, converting the Quebec pension giant's investment in Bombardier Transportation into Alstom shares worth up to $3 billion, on top of an additional Caisse investment of $1 billion to hand it an 18 per cent stake in the Paris-based company. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2021 if it can overcome regulatory hurdles. Quebec Premier Francois Legault warned that Alstom could be subject to large lawsuits if it does not meet its commitments to the province following the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation. The French giant has committed to establish in Montreal its North American headquarters, which will supervise 13,000 employees. It will also set up a research centre and improve production at the La Pocatiere plant, where about 400 Bombardier Transportation employees work, and Sorel-Tracy, where Alstom has 90 workers. "These are commitments that are in writing and that are not limited in time," said Charles Emond, the new CEO of the Quebec pension fund manager. "It is not linked in time or to our (Alstom shareholding threshold). It's permanent." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:BBD.B) Stephen Booth: Checks in the Irish Sea. What they are, why the UK and EU disgree about them and how they could wreck the talks Stephen Booth is the Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange. Border arrangements on the island of Ireland dominated the first phase of Brexit, almost derailing the wider withdrawal negotiations between the UK and the EU altogether. It took the personal interventions of Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar to break the impasse, unblocking the path to the eventual UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. Agreeing how to implement the compromises they reached within the Northern Ireland Protocol could yet prove to be just as complex and politically controversial in the next phase of talks. In recent weeks, UK ministers and EU officials have been increasingly at odds over what the post-Brexit arrangements will mean for goods crossing the Irish sea. The EU insists that a strict implementation of the commitments included in the Protocol necessitates various border checks to be made on goods flowing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. However, the UK Government has ruled out intrusive checks on trade in either direction and argues that the implementation of procedures envisioned under the Protocol remains subject to discussion and agreement. To recap, the Protocol, due to come into force at the end of the transition period on 1st January 2021, avoids the need for new North-South border checks on the island of Ireland by creating a special economic status for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland remains in the UKs customs territory and will therefore be subject to the UKs independent trade policy and can be included in any new UK trade agreements. However, Northern Ireland will be subject to the EUs customs procedures to ensure that goods at risk of ending up in the EU single market, rather than being consumed in Northern Ireland, are subject to the correct EU tariffs and regulations. UK authorities are responsible for ensuring procedural compliance, but EU representatives can request to be present at customs or regulatory inspections. Northern Ireland will effectively remain in the EUs single market for goods, aligning with EU rules for agricultural and manufactured goods. Finally, the Protocol provides a mechanism whereby, after four years, Stormont can withdraw its consent for the special arrangements, in which case Northern Ireland would revert back to full alignment with the rest of the UK, after a two-year cooling off period. Confusion flows from the fact that, while the Protocol sets out the provisions of EU law that will apply in Northern Ireland, there is much left unsaid about how these provisions are implemented, supervised and enforced in practice. Exactly how trade across the Irish Sea works will therefore be determined by decisions yet to be taken in a UK-EU Joint Committee, and by the wider UK-EU trade relationship, which is yet to be negotiated. For example, if the UK and the EU achieve their stated ambition of a free trade agreement, some tariff and regulatory issues could be simplified. Ultimately, the debate is beset by the same conflicting interests witnessed in the previous talks. For the EU, having avoided the prospect of a North-South border for now, the primary concern is the integrity of its external border, which will be shifted to the Northern Ireland border. In the first instance, the EUs approach to such questions is, as ever, a legalistic one and its base case is that all the usual checks should apply. On the other hand, the Government not only wants to protect Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. It is also mindful of the potential political instability that could result from any measures that would further alarm Northern Irelands Unionist community. It therefore favours pragmatism. Indeed, it is in the New Decade, New Approach paper, which helped restore power-sharing at Stormont, that the Government commits to negotiating additional flexibilities and sensible practical measures across all aspects of the Protocol that are supported by business groups in Northern Ireland and maximise the free flow of trade. Achieving a flexible and light-touch approach to policing the Protocol will require intense diplomatic efforts on the UKs part over the next ten months. However, the UK can argue that it was the EU which previously suggested that any GB-NI procedures could be de-dramatised, with the vast majority of regulatory checks taking place in the marketplace rather than at points of entry. Indeed, Article 6(2) of the Protocol states that the Joint Committee shall adopt appropriate recommendations with a view to avoiding controls at the ports and airports of Northern Ireland to the extent possible. Since the island of Ireland is treated as a single unit for the purposes of animal health and disease prevention, there are already checks on animal imports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Reaching a mutual recognition agreement on agricultural standards, similar to that between the EU and New Zealand, could minimise the need for any further checks, though this might also depend on the degree of UK regulatory divergence. Ultimately, as the EU eventually conceded, the Protocol will only work over the long-term if there is broad-based political consent for it in Northern Ireland. Gaining this consent is going to be a difficult challenge, given the circumstances from which we have started this process. It will certainly require more political sensitivity and less legal rigidity from the EU than we have seen up to now. The Government has wisely committed to ensuring that the Northern Ireland Executive is represented at the UK-EU Joint Committee, which will also be attended by representatives from the Irish government. However, the UK must also convince the EU, and the Republic of Ireland in particular, that this is a shared political challenge and there is a joint interest in establishing workable, pragmatic solutions. Yacoub El Hillo says a 55-point road map to end the war in Libya has seen serious violations in the last 10 days. The impact of Libyas nine-year war on civilians is incalculable, a UN official has said, with rising casualties and nearly 900,000 people now needing assistance. Yacoub El Hillo said on Monday a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya agreed to by 12 key leaders at a conference in Berlin on January 19 has seen serious violations in the last 10 days with fighting in and around the capital, Tripoli. The protracted conflict is severely impacting civilians in all parts of the country on a scale never seen before, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya said in a video briefing to journalists from Tripoli. El Hillo said the increasing use of explosive weapons has resulted in unnecessary loss of life, pointing to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly health facilities, that have doubled since 2019, resulting in at least 650 civilians killed or wounded. He cited a UN mine expert in Libya who said last week the country has the worlds largest uncontrolled ammunition stockpile, with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of uncontrolled munitions across the country. Libya is also the largest theatre for drone technology, El Hillo said, stressing everyone has something flying in the Libyan sky, it seems. Gaining time The Berlin peace plan backed a ceasefire, called for compliance with a UN arms embargo, and said all countries must refrain from interfering in the conflict between the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and rebel forces led by renegade commander Khalifa Haftar. On Friday, Haftar dashed hopes for a truce, saying there would be no peace until the militias holding Tripoli had been defeated. For its part, Tripoli demanded that Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) pull back 1,000km (620 miles) to the east, something he rejected. Each time we have any kind of agreement we always saw the same pattern, said Taher el-Sonni, the GNAs ambassador to the United Nations. Its more like gaining time, then [Haftar decides to] just use force. A weak UN-recognised administration that holds the capital and parts of the countrys west is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers and military equipment to Libya and, to a lesser degree, Qatar and Italy as well as local militias. Haftars army is backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later killed. In the chaos that followed, the country was divided. Major escalation El Hillo said that, at the end of 2019, more than 345,000 people had fled their homes and become displaced, including 150,000 in and around Tripoli, since Haftars offensive began last April. More than half the nearly 900,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance are women and children, he said, and more than 30 percent are migrants and refugees. Unless we speak so bluntly and openly unless we start naming and shaming, we will have the resolutions but the reality on the ground will remain appalling, El Hillo said. 200217173748403 Analysts say Libyas combatants are readying for a long conflict as foreign weapons flood in, eastern factions close oil ports, and rival alliances wrangle over revenue from Africas largest petroleum reserves. We are not happy with what is happening now, but we have ways to escalate if the international community does not listen to us, said tribal leader Sanoussi al-Zwai, a commander with Haftars forces. There will be a major escalation If it comes to it, the world knows what escalation is, he told Reuters news agency in the main eastern city of Benghazi, without saying what an escalation would involve. Both sides are racing to rearm, receiving shipments before and after foreign backers agreed to enforce the arms embargo at the German summit. Haftars forces and their foreign backers have stopped fighter jet attacks on the capital but Western diplomats and analysts say this is a result of improved air defences supplied by Turkey rather than a genuine desire for peace. Syrian fighters sent by Turkey have helped reverse small LNA gains, restoring the front lines to roughly where they settled just after the LNA attack began in April 2019. Estimates by diplomats in Turkey of the number of Syrian fighters vary from 1,500 to 3,000, while the number of Turkish troops was seen at between 200 and 500, including special forces, conventional soldiers, and drone operators. Both sides are preparing for the next battle, said a Western diplomat. Representatives of the warring parties are scheduled to begin a second round of talks on Tuesday in Geneva under the auspices of the UN with the aim of agreeing to a lasting ceasefire. French company Alstom said on Monday it had agreed to buy the rail division of Bombardier, speeding up the Canadian firms fire sale. Alstom will pay up to 6.2 billion euros ($6.8 billion) in a mix of cash and shares, according to a memorandum of understanding between the firms. The Quebec pension firm Caisse de Depot, which owns 32.5 percent in Bombardier Transportation, will become Alstoms biggest single shareholder on completion with around 18 percent in the French company. Alstom said it planned to move its Americas headquarters to Montreal. Improve global reach This acquisition will improve our global reach and our ability to respond to the ever-increasing need for sustainable mobility, said CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge. There is no idea of restructuring or threats to jobs, but rather the opposite, he later told journalists. The acquisition stood to boost Alstoms presence in markets where Bombardier is strong notably Germany, Britain, North America and also in China where the Canadian companys position is unique, he said. Analysts said the French company hopes to add scale in a sector where Chinas state-owned CRCC is the worlds largest rolling stock manufacturer. Alstoms move comes a year after the European Commission blocked an attempt at a mega-merger of its rail activities with those of Germanys Siemens, which would have created a European rail champion. Berlin-based Bombardier Transport last year posted sales of $8.3 billion, ending 2019 with $35.8 billion of business on its order books. Alstoms 2018-2019 sales came in at $8.1 billion and the firm had outstanding orders of $43 billion at the end of 2018. Heavily indebted Bombardier, which started out making snowmobiles 80 years ago, embarked in 2015 on a major restructuring and said in January it was planning a range of divestments. Last year, burdened by a debt pile of some $9 billion most of it long-term Canadas top manufacturer agreed to sell off its regional jet programme to Japans Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for $750 million. Story continues In 2018, it had sold control of the CSeries medium-haul jet programme to Airbus which renamed it the A220. Last week, Bombardier said it would sell off to Airbus and the Quebec government where the firm has some 14,000 staff and supports around another 40,000 jobs its remaining 33.58 percent stake in the programme. Bombardier also recently announced it was selling off its aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems of the US for more than $1 billion in cash and debt. The Canadians, with a workforce of some 36,000, retain their profitable Learjet, Challenger and Global Express business jets activity. On January 16, Bombardier had announced it was actively pursuing alternatives that would allow us to accelerate our debt paydown, while again revising downward its preliminary 2019 revenues. Alstom, which makes Frances TGV high-speed trains, employs 36,300 staff, a quarter of them in France. Chinese competition Between them, the two firms have a virtual monopoly on rolling stock in France and regularly work in tandem on infrastructure such as metros and the Paris RER regional train network. Adding Bombardier Transport would position Alstom as a global rival to Chinas giant CRCC which boasted sales of around $30 billion in 2018. Although some 90 percent of its sales are in China, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has been spreading its tentacles further afield notably with tram investments in Portugal. It has also intimated, according to weekend British media reports, a readiness to engage in construction of Britains HS2 high-speed project. Alstom had already held up the Chinese threat in trying to merge with Siemens only for Brussels to rule a merged company would have had an overly dominant market position in Europe. Poupart-Lafarge, who began his career at the World Bank, has targeted internal investment and external partnerships but also acquisitions as the way ahead after the derailed Siemens merger. Alstom has focused on transport after ceding its energy interests to General Electric five years ago. It is now debt free with cash in the bank. (AFP) (Newser) The notorious crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam before being captured. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges, writes Michael Rezendes for the AP. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison, some of which describe his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind-control drug in the late 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prisonsomething his lawyers never brought up at trial. story continues below "Had I known, I would have absolutely held off on the murder charges," says Uhlar. "He didn't murder prior to the LSD. His brain may have been altered, so how could you say he was really guilty?" At the same time, Uhlar says she would have voted to convict Bulger on the long list of other criminal counts, meaning he still would likely have died in prison. (Bulger was killed in 2018.) Uhlar says her beliefs were reinforced after reading a book by Brown University's Stephen Kinzer: Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. The book digs into the dark tale of the CIA's former chief chemist and his attempts to develop mind-control techniques via LSD. In Bulger's case, the mobster and fellow inmates were offered reduced time for their participation and told they would be taking part in medical research into a cure for schizophrenia. (Read the full story.) Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, a rights group said Tuesday. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International. China's ruling Communist Party has severely curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students. The death this month of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the deadly new virus before dying of it himself triggered rare calls for political reform and freedom of speech. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International (pictured in 2013) President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic has been severely criticised by rights activists (pictured February 10 at disease protection centre in Beijing) Since the virus spawned in Wuhan late last year, it has infected over 73,000 people worldwide The 'Chinese government's battle against the coronavirus has in no way diverted it from its ongoing general campaign to crush all dissenting voices,' said Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, in an emailed statement. Another source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said Xu had been arrested in the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou police did not respond to requests for comment. Xu went into hiding after authorities broke up a December gathering of intellectuals discussing political reform in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, prior to the coronavirus crisis. Over a dozen lawyers and activists were detained or disappeared after the Xiamen gathering, according to rights groups - and Xu's detention appears linked to his presence at the meeting, explained Poon. But while on the run, Xu continued to post information on Twitter about rights issues. On February 4, Xu released an article calling on Xi to step down and criticised his leadership across a range of issues including the US-China trade war, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests and the coronavirus epidemic, which has now killed nearly 1,900 people. The number of coronavirus deaths continues to climb, but in the past few days the rate of fatalities has slightly slowed China's ruling Communist Party has severely curtailed civil liberties since Xi took power in 2012, rounding up rights lawyers, labour activists and even Marxist students 'Medical supplies are tight, hospitals are filled with patients, and a large number of infected people have no way to be diagnosed,' he wrote. 'It's a mess.' 'The coronavirus outbreak shows just how important values like freedom of expression and transparency are - the exact values that Xu has long advocated,' Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch. But the disappearance of Xu illustrates how the Chinese state 'persists in its old ways' by 'silencing its critics', she said. Xu, who founded a movement calling for greater transparency among high-ranking officials, previously served a four-year prison sentence from 2013 to 2017 for organising an 'illegal gathering'. 'That he was a fugitive for so many days while continuing to speak out, that in itself was... a kind of challenge to (Chinese authorities),' said Hua Ze, a long-time friend of Xu who told AFP she lost contact with the Chinese activist on Saturday morning. J urors at Harvey Weinstein's rape trial have begun their deliberations. The panel of seven men and five women have begun weighing five charges against the 67-year-old, including rape and sexual assault, relating to two accusers. These allegations, along with other sexual misconduct claims against the disgraced Hollywood mogul, helped drive the #MeToo movement. Weinstein denies all charges. However, if convicted, he could face life behind bars. Weinstein arriving in court / REUTERS The jury will deliberate on whether Weinstein raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on another woman TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. While considering claims that Weinstein is a sexual predator, jurors will also consider actress Annabella Sciorra's account of a mid-1990s rape even though the allegation is too old to serve as a charge in its own right, owing to the statute of limitations. Other accusers testified as part of the prosecution's effort to show that the 67-year-old used the same tactics to victimise many women over the years. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and insists any sexual activity was consensual. Harvey Weinstein indicted on new sex crimes charges in Los Angeles The trial is seen as a landmark moment for the #MeToo cause, but Judge James Burke has cautioned jurors that it is not a referendum on the movement. Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno communicated a similar message in a Newsweek opinion piece over the weekend, drawing complaints from a prosecutor who suggested she was trying to influence the jury. Ms Rotunno wrote that the jurors have an obligation to themselves and their country, to base their verdict solely on the facts, testimony and evidence presented to them in the courtroom, not critical news stories, unflattering courtroom sketches or other outside influences. Rose McGowan makes statement ahead of Weinstein trial - In pictures 1 /16 Rose McGowan makes statement ahead of Weinstein trial - In pictures Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AFP via Getty Images Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AP Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City Getty Images Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AFP via Getty Images Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AFP via Getty Images Actor Rose McGowan speaks at a news conference outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in New York AP Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AFP via Getty Images Actress Rose McGowan arrives for a press conference after Harvey Weinstein arrived at State Supreme Court in Manhattan January 6, 2020 on the first day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City AFP via Getty Images Actor Rosanna Arquette speaks as actor Rose McGowan, right, listens at a news conference outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in New York AP Dominique Huett, who says Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her, speaks at a press conference along with actresses Rosanna Arquette (L) and Rose McGowan (R) outside court on January 6, 2020 in New York City Getty Images Harvey Weinstein (centre) leaves the Manhattan Criminal Court, on January 6, 2020 in New York City AFP via Getty Images Film producer Harvey Weinstein sits in Criminal Court on the first day of his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan REUTERS Confronted about the magazine article titled 'Jurors in my client Harvey Weinstein's case must look past the headlines', Ms Rotunno said she was writing about the jury system as a whole. She insisted it was not intended to address the jury in Weinstein's case directly. Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno arrives at New York Criminal Court / REUTERS As the court session opened on Tuesday, prosecutors asked Judge Burke to instruct jurors to ignore the op-ed piece as it was "100 per cent inappropriate". He refused the request, but reiterated a previously imposed ban on both defence and prosecution from giving media interviews. "I would caution you about the tentacles of your public relations juggernaut," he told Ms Rotunno. Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon arrives at New York City Criminal Court back in January for the Weinstein trial / Getty Images In her closing arguments on Friday, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said Weinstein treated his accusers like complete disposables and made them feel ashamed even though he was the one who was at fault. What he wants to do is he wants to get them in a situation where they feel stupid. If you feel stupid and belittled, belittled, stupid people do not complain, she said. But Ms Rotunno said in her closing argument last week that prosecutors had created a universe that strips adult women of common sense, autonomy and responsibility. Ms Haleyi, a former Project Runway production assistant, told the trial that Weinstein pushed her on to a bed and sexually assaulted her, undeterred by her kicks and pleas of: No, please dont do this, I dont want it. Collaboration will leverage key capabilities from both organizations to help companies?pursue local and cross-border growth opportunities BERLIN and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapyd, a global B2B Fintech as a Service provider, today announced a new agreement with Visa (NYSE:V) that will help Rapyd expand its worldwide business operations. Rapyd will collaborate with Visa to offer fintech and payment services where both firms see opportunities to help businesses expand their core offerings with more expansive local and cross-border market solutions. Additionally, Rapyd will join Visa's Fintech Fast Track programs as an enablement partner to drive its speed to market for Fintechs through a variety of Visa payment solutions. Rapyd has become a Visa issuer in the UK and plans to expand its issuing and acquiring footprint in other key regions over time. Rapyd's unified cloud-based platform helps businesses quickly integrate Fintech and payment capabilities into any commerce application. eCommerce merchants, gig economy platforms, financial institutions, and technology providers are all looking to enable highly localized customer experiences around the world, a challenge Rapyd solves by delivering the full stack of fintech services through a single integration. For instance, as part of this new relationship with Visa, Rapyd can instantly issue a virtual Visa card that can be utilized by a gig-economy worker in Latin America to purchase goods on behalf of the platform, or disburse funds to a worker on a Visa card in Asia-Pacific, all from a single integration on the Rapyd platform. Sarel Tal, Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Rapyd noted, "As businesses look for global expansion opportunities they must contend with the complexity of integrating local and cross-border payment capabilities, including collections, disbursements, and card-based solutions. Now Rapyd can leverage Visa's offerings -- Visa Direct for real-time funds transfers, Visa Token Services for secure digital payments, and Visa's issuance capabilities - to enhance Rapyd's core issuing and acquiring services, unlocking simple, relevant payment experiences for these businesses globally." Visa and Rapyd are particularly excited to work together in key European markets, which are poised for cross-border ecommerce growth. In 2018 cross-border ecommerce revenues reached 137 billion in Europe, a 22.8% share of total online sales (EU16)1. Additionally, European cross-border marketplaces are set to grow by more than 50 percent increasing the need for innovative payment acceptance methods for customers and disbursement solutions for marketplace sellers2. "Rapyd's platform helps fintechs, merchants and marketplaces stand up payment-related services quickly and easily across multiple markets," said Matt Dill, global head of strategic partnerships and venture, Visa. "We're excited about our collaboration with Rapyd, and the many benefits we can provide to our mutual partners worldwide." About Rapyd Rapyd helps businesses create great local commerce experiences anywhere. The world's most innovative ecommerce, technology firms, and marketplaces utilize our Fintech as a Service platforms - Collect, Disburse, Wallet and Issuing - to seamlessly integrate Fintech and payment capabilities into their applications. By accessing the Rapyd Global Payments Network, businesses can access over 900 locally preferred payment methods including bank transfers, ewallets and cash in more than 100 countries. Now ecommerce, technology firms, and marketplaces can focus on growing new markets and reaching billions of consumers rather than building infrastructure. Investors include Oak HC/FT, Tiger Global, General Catalyst, Stripe, Durable Capital, Coatue, Target Global, IGNIA, and others. For more information, visit http://www.rapyd.net National Defense and Security Council will discuss and approve further steps President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the February 18 attacks an attempt to thwart the peace process in Donbas and declared his intention to respond decisively to such aggression. He wrote about it on his Facebook page. "This is not just a cynical provocation aimed at pushing a Debaltseve wound that will never heal completely. It is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas, which began to proceed with small but continuous steps," the president said. He also added that a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council would be held that day in order to discuss and approve further steps. "Our course towards the end of the war and our commitment to international agreements remain unchanged so as our determination to repel any manifestation of armed aggression against Ukraine," Zelensky said. As we reported earlier, on February 18, militants went on the offensive and attacked Ukrainian strongholds near the Zolote settlement in Donbas. According to journalist Yurii Butusov, the battle began around 5:00 a.m. The occupants were applying all weapons, including 152-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars. One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and four were severely wounded. Kolkata, Feb 18 : Over 200 Trinamool Congress workers crossed over to the BJP in Habra of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal on Tuesday in support of the CAA and alleging lack of democracy in West Bengal's ruling party. The workers switched allegiance to the BJP during a organisational meeting held by the saffron outfit at Habra, represented in the assembly by state Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick. State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh handed over the party flag to the new joinees. Speaking on the occasion, BJP's district President Shankar Chakraborty said mostly refugees stay in Habra and Ashoknagar. "They know the yeomen service that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done to them by passing the new Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Trinamool is trying to make fools out of the people. But their attempts have not succeeded. So, in the refugee dominated regions, people are coming to our side," he said. Earlier this month, the U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal published an article under the headline "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia." The French daily newspaper Courrier Picard published a print headline reading "Yellow alert" (Alerte jaune), with its online version titled "New yellow peril?" (Nouveau peril jaune); and the Australian Herald Sun ran the headline "Chinese Virus Pandamonium," with a deliberate misspelling referring to China's national animal the giant panda. Even some politicians in the West have made absurd remarks about the outbreak. That ordinary people worry about being infected is understandable. However, it is spiteful for media outlets to spread rumors and blatant discrimination. Under their incitement, many overseas Chinese and even people from other Asian countries have been stigmatized and abused. Such behaviors go against something that Western media and politicians have long advocated for "humanitarianism." The coronavirus has exposed deep-seated racism in some people's minds, which is symptomatic of a long history of discrimination. Look closely at the comments and reports that have attacked China. Some urged their governments to immediately ban the entry of Chinese nationals, some think the virus has painted a doom-and-gloom picture of China's economy and prospects, while others have accused China of violating human rights and being undemocratic. These cliches uncover long-standing biases and misunderstandings about Chinese society and the country's system. It is irresponsible and ungracious for politicians to make insensitive comments such as suggesting that the coronavirus "will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America." In an era of globalization, if the virus spreads around the world, barely anyone can remain unaffected. COVID-19 is a disaster for both China and the world. Together with the WHO and relevant countries, China is going all-out to fight the epidemic and making great efforts to safeguard regional and global public health security. This has been discussed much in our previous programs. These ridiculous words and deeds have drawn widespread criticisms. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned against the rise of discrimination as fears of the coronavirus spread; while Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the outbreak is a public health event, and anti-Chinese sentiment is foolish, illogical and unhelpful for containing the virus. Many people have seen China's rapid and tough measures to control the epidemic, and numerous countries have extended their support and assistance to China. This has made the Chinese feel warm-hearted and even more confident. Viruses do not check people's passports before entering the body, nor do they respect national borders. Battling COVID-19 and protecting people's lives and health are the common goals of all mankind. Mankind should share one heart and one destiny. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm Mankind should share sorrows when facing COVID-19 http://www.china.org.cn/video/2020-02/18/content_75718873.htm SOURCE China.org.cn The bodies of two missing girls and their mother have been found after an Amber Alert was issued Saturday and canceled Sunday. The victims, Amarah "Jerica" Banks, 26, Zaniya Ivery, 5, and Camaria Banks, 4, were found in a garage. The three were last seen early Feb. 8. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said it was called to the scene of a triple homicide. Autopsies were scheduled for Monday. Police Chief Alfonso Morales identified the victims as the mother and her daughters. The three were all last believed to be in the company of Arzel J. Ivery, 25, of Milwaukee, who was arrested Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. Police said Ivery gave investigators information that led to the three bodies. According to court records, Ivery was charged in Milwaukee County on Saturday with aggravated battery. Morales said homicide charges would be coming. He did not say how the victims were killed or when. Ivery was being held in the Shelby County Jail in Tennessee on a fugitive from justice warrant. Ivery was scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning. Police said Banks and her daughters were initially considered missing under "suspicious circumstances." The Amber Alert was not issued until Saturday afternoon. Family members spent Feb. 7 consoling Banks, who buried her infant son that day. He died from health complications, they said. They all had plans to go to brunch on the afternoon of Feb. 8. Banks' car was outside her sister's house, where she left it. Her sisters said Banks had a few glasses of wine Friday night and didn't want to drive. "She's like, 'Meka, don't forget to come get me in the morning.' I said: 'I'll come get you. I'll come get you,'" said Tameka Smith, one of Banks' sisters. "My sister, this not like her. She don't run off, she don't ignore people. No matter what she go through, she gonna reach out to me." Banks' family told WISN-TV they do not believe she would leave without telling them, the girls' school or her place of work. Banks' brother called WISN-TV on Thursday afternoon saying he was concerned for the safety of his sister and nieces. "This isnt like her. She wouldnt do this. This makes no sense," David Fields said. "She always calls (the girls' school) and the same thing about her job. If she's not going to be there, she always calls," Banks' mother, Valeria Spinner Banks, said. "Everything she does routinely was not done. So that tells you that something's not right. Something is wrong." The family told the TV station that police did not find any sign of forced entry into Banks' home or a sign of a struggle. No other details have yet been released. AGRO Merchants Group, a global leader in cold storage and logistics solutions, announced its plans to expand its cold store in Maasvlakte, in the port of Rotterdam. The strategic investment will bring the total capacity of the facility to more than 35,000 pallet spaces and will also expand the Border Inspection Point, both currently operating at full capacity. The Maasvlakte facility opened its doors in December 2016 and demonstrated the strong demand in the Rotterdam market by quickly reaching capacity. As the busiest container port in Europe and the first port of call for most major shipping lines, the Port of Rotterdam is a leading import and export hub for perishable cargo. AGRO Merchants Maasvlakte specializes in offering integrated cold storage and logistics solutions for the seafood and meat sector, including transport & distribution, customs documentation, veterinarian border inspection and bonded storage. Construction works on the expansion is expected to commence in April 2020. The Border Inspection Point extension is expected to be operational in Q3 2020 and the cold store expansion to be completed in Q1 2021. About AGRO Merchants Group AGRO Merchants Group is the 4th largest and most international cold storage operator in the world, with 66 facilities in 11 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. AGRO is dedicated to delivering superior fresh and frozen food handling solutions through our international facility network using local market knowledge with a focus on customer care and sustainability. AGROs vision is to be the leading partner in temperature-controlled logistics for the global food industry, recognized for innovative thinking, commodity expertise and ability to integrate businesses, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and respect for its rich heritage. For additional information, please visit AGROs website at http://www.agromerchants.com. Delhi, Feb 18 : The Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in December 15 Jamia Millia Islamia violence case. The chargesheet was filed before Delhi's Saket court on February 13. Protests against the newly-enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had turned violent on December 15 near Delhi's Jamia Nagar. Several buses were set afire during the violence in which police and protesters sustained injuries. The police had used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent protesters. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Ukraine and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are in constant dialogue and there is no misunderstanding between them, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii has said. He said this after a meeting with IMO Assistant Secretary-General Lawrence Barchue in Doha, Qatar, on February 18, the press service of the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry reported. "The security issue for Ukraine is the most important aspect in fulfilling all international commitments. I am grateful to IMO for its support in the development and implementation of national policies and regulations in accordance with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization and the best international practice. There is a constant dialogue between Ukraine and the IMO, and there is no misunderstanding," Kryklii said. At the beginning of the meeting, he thanked experts of the IMO Secretariat for all the assistance provided to improve the Ukrainian system of training and certification of sailors. "For Ukraine, as a maritime state with more than 150,000 sailors, improving the system of training and certification of seafarers is a priority area. At present, Ukrainian experts are working closely with experts of the IMO Secretariat to resolve any discrepancies identified by IMO experts while analyzing a report on compliance with the requirements of Regulation I/8 of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. [...] It is very important for us to have a system of training sailors that meets today's global requirements. Ukraine intends to fully comply with its obligations in the field of training and certification of sailors," Kryklii said. Barchue, in turn, noted Ukraine's active participation in the International Maritime Organization and stressed that IMO has no claims against Ukraine, there is no need for additional reports. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Ukraine has been a member of IMO since 1994, when the 1982 Convention on the International Maritime Organization was ratified. op BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain is ready to trade with the European Union on basic international terms that the bloc currently follows with Australia if a more ambitious free trade agreement cannot be reached, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Europe adviser said. David Frost, speaking at a Brussels university, said that would be the case should the bloc insist that Britain follows EU rules and regulations in exchange for a free trade deal. We are not frightened by suggestions there will be trade frictions, Frost said. Britain would also not accept EU supervision of so-called level playing field guarantees of fair competition in any new relationship between the two, he said. It is central to our vision that we must have the ability to set laws that suit us, Frost said. To think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing. Frost, who described himself in the lecture as one of the few Brexit voting diplomats in the UK, said Britain would not extend the current, status-quo transition period after Brexit that runs until the end of this year. Frost described how he started his early career in the EU hub Brussels as a euro-enthusiast but soon became disillusioned with the blocs institutions. He said that any easing of the Johnson governments Brexit stance would not be supported by the general public at home and that the EU must treat Britain as an equal if it wants to have a durable and sustainable new partnership. Infosys on Tuesday said it has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with GE Appliance, a Haier company, to streamline the latter's IT operations. As an IT services partner, Infosys will help GE Appliances modernise its IT infrastructure and run IT in managed services mode as part of the overall innovation and optimisation agenda, a statement said. As part of this alliance, Infosys will assist GE Appliances to accelerate their digital and workplace transformation through automation-driven managed IT services support across global command centres, service desks, end-user computing, IT infrastructure, and applications, it added. "We believe that with our expertise in executing large transformation programs, we will co-innovate with GE Appliances to deliver great customer experiences," Infosys Executive Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing Jasmeet Singh said. GE Appliances Chief Digital Officer Viren Shah said the company is on an ambitious multi-year journey to transform its IT landscape. "We believe that this transformation will help us innovate better and faster for our end-users and we are looking forward to working with Infosys as one of our key partners in this journey," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 Trend: A delegation of the State Air Traffic Management Corporation of the Russian Federation (State ATM Corporation) headed by Director General Igor Moiseenko visited Baku on Feb. 18, Trend reports referring to the press service of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. Meeting of the Russian delegation with the Director of Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control Department (AZANS) Farhan Guliyev was held within the framework of the visit. A Memorandum was signed by the heads of ATC Azeraeronavigation and State ATM Corporation to expand bilateral cooperation and implement joint projects. At the meeting, the parties noted the growth in air transportation volumes in recent years and in this regard, provision of safe and high-quality air navigation services is an important area of cooperation between the two organizations. The signing of the Memorandum will contribute to the joint activities of national air navigation services providers in the development and implementation of modern technologies to solve the problems of air traffic organization. "This Memorandum is a prime example of mutual support in the field of ensuring flight safety and improving the quality of air navigation services. It also allows flexibility of implementation of international requirements in the field of efficient use of airspace", Farhan Guliyev noted. It should be noted that close cooperation and experience exchange with neighboring countries play an important role in the implementation of the strategic goal of ATC "Azeronavigation" to harmonize and intergarte with the global air navigation system through continuous technical and technological development. "We welcome the expansion of cooperation with our Azerbaijani colleagues. This approach will allow us to jointly and effectively address those global and local challenges that arise in the light of increasing air traffic", Igor Moiseenko noted. Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control Department (AZANS) provides safety of flights in the Republic of Azerbaijan's airspace. During the daily period AZANS supports more than 500 flights, 300 of which are transit flights over Azerbaijan. State Air Traffic Management Corporation of the Russian Federation (State ATM Corporation) was established by the resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure safety and regularity of civil aviation flights, to form a unified system of air traffic management. Houstons lack of zoning restrictions has left many residents with neighbors they dont want: petrochemical facilities and businesses that handle hazardous materials. That unease was laid bare again last month when a massive explosion leveled a metal fabricating and manufacturing business in the northwest of the city, killing two workers, damaging hundreds of nearby buildings and homes, and terrifying their occupants. Quan Nguyen, a 49-year-old plumbing, heating and air conditioning technician whose house is a few hundred yards (meters) from Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, said the Jan. 24 blast knocked him out of bed and caused his wife to fall and hit her head while she was getting a drink of water. Some of their ceilings collapsed and the explosion shattered the windows in their sleeping sons bedroom, but thankfully none of them were seriously injured. I feel like it needs to be separated, businesses from residential areas. If they (have) businesses around here with chemicals, probably they have to be maintained more often, more inspections for them, said Nguyen, voicing a growing sentiment in a city and region that has endured six major industrial accidents in the past year that have killed three people, injured dozens of others, and forced temporary evacuations and school closures. While the accidents have stoked the debate over zoning, its highly unlikely that the nations fourth-largest city is going to embrace major development restrictions. Instead, city leaders have begun discussing other measures, including requiring such businesses to submit to more frequent inspections and to disclose more information about the types of hazardous materials they are handling. We just cant have these incidents occur without us looking for ways to mitigate future risk, Mayor Sylvester Turner said recently. Even modest new local regulations could face pushback from higher up, though, in a state that aggressively bills itself as open for business. Its unclear why Houston never adopted zoning, making it the largest U.S. city without it. Its not for lack of trying, as there have been five attempts to do so in the self-proclaimed energy capital of the world since 1929, most recently in 1993, when voters declined to embrace zoning. Lars Lerup, a retired Rice University architecture professor who studied Houston, suggested that the lack of zoning could have come about as a reflection of the states independent spirit, and the self-reliance and drive that many in the oil industry had. The lack of zoning has created a city with a highly unique urban environment, he said. Although Houston has rejected zoning over the years, it does have various land use rules and other kinds of restrictions that amount to quasi zoning, said Matthew Festa, a professor who teaches property law and land use at South Texas College of Law Houston. For example, there are rules that regulate construction around the citys airports, restrict where sexually oriented businesses can open, and set minimum lot sizes, which help restrict density. Supporters of no zoning say it has helped boost Houstons development and economic growth. But others, including community groups and researchers, say neighborhoods that are poorer or home to more racial minorities are disproportionately negatively affected by the lack of zoning. In the southeastern Houston neighborhood of Manchester, Guadalupe Ortiz has lived more 32 years across the street from a refinery. The 68-year-old widow who lives off her monthly Social Security check said her dream of moving is unaffordable. I want to sell. But people will continue living here. Where will they go? We are poor, Ortiz said. As she sat in a park next to the refinery and where she walks daily, white smoke billowed from the sprawling facility, which emits a constant mechanical hum that Ortiz says keeps her up at night. The explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing seemed to be a tipping point for many. It just raises questions about how safe are we in our neighborhoods, Houston City Council member Karla Cisneros said during a recent meeting of a committee thats discussing new regulations on businesses that handle hazardous materials. Its unclear what, if any, substantial changes could be made, as attempts could be challenged in court or by state officials who have shown an aversion to regulations. When the Environmental Protection Agency in November scaled back chemical plant safety measures put in place after a 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in the town of West, Texas, killed 15 people, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the decision, saying it would make Texans safer and restore some common sense to the regulatory process. Festa, the law professor, said he doesnt think adopting formal zoning regulations is the answer because Houston is pretty well-built and it would be economically and politically impossible to reconfigure neighborhoods. Nguyen, whose home was damaged in last months blast, said that although he wants more protections for people like him, he also wouldnt want to drive away industry or jobs. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena, meanwhile, said he is hopeful that the city can come up with changes that will improve safety, adding it will take being able to sit down and have a conversation as far as what do we want as a community in order to better protect our citizens. Related: Topics Texas Legislation Pollution The incident reportedly took place near the Harvest Home. (Google Maps) A woman was struck by a car before the driver picked her up and put her inside, according to eyewitness reports. The incident, reported by the Sutton and Croydon Guardian, closed Beddington Lane in Sutton while detectives investigate. Witnesses quoted by the paper say a man and a woman were arguing near a BP garage before the man drove a car into her, picked her up and put her in the vehicle before driving away. The Met Police confirmed on Tuesday a woman is in a potentially life-changing condition in hospital, but did not confirm she was hit by a car. Police were told that a man and a woman were seen having an altercation before she was forced into the vehicle on Monday night. A spokesperson for the Met said: Police were called at 9pm on Monday, 17 February to reports of a concern for safety of a woman on Beddington Lane, Sutton. It was reported that a man and a woman were seen having an altercation before the woman was forced into the car. Officers were later notified by the London Ambulance Service that a woman, believed to be the same individual, had been taken to hospital from a nearby address. She currently remains in hospital in a potentially life changing condition. The incident left the road closed. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) It is believed the individuals were known to each other. Enquiries continue; no arrests have been made. Eyewitnesses said he saw a couple arguing when the woman sat on the mans bonnet and refused to get off. The driver then reportedly set off and ran over her before putting the woman in the car and driving off. The victims condition when she was put in the car is unknown. BP worker Hemat, 56, said the girl had been trying to get her phone back from the man and sat on the car bonnet. He then drove off at at least 30 mph with her still on the car bonnet. Then she must have slid off the bonnet as he turned right onto the road. Dave Wightwick, the owner of the Harvest Home pub down the road, said: A local resident saw the car driving very, very slowly and the woman walking alongside it, arguing with the male driver. Story continues "He shouted Get into the car! and she was screaming and shouting. All of a sudden he deliberately swerved off the straight and narrow and hit the woman hard enough to knock her clean off her feet. She landed on her head with a whack. Two people ran over to help and the man pushed one away, he said. Mr Wightwick added: He then launched the injured woman into the cars front foot-well. One of the witnesses was crying and screaming hysterically. He shouted saying he was going to take the woman to hospital and then sped off. He wasnt hanging around. He said the man and woman had argued as if they were a couple. Mr Wightwick added: Its terrible, absolutely shocking. The guy is an absolute lunatic. He wasnt listening to reason. I hope the girl makes a full recovery. SpaceX will fly four privately-paying space tourists to orbit in its Crew Dragon capsule, the company unveiled on Tuesday. "This historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, and we are pleased to work with the Space Adventures' team on the mission," SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement. The customers will be brokered through Space Adventures, a company that's flown private citizens to the International Space Station using Russian spacecraft. The firm said this Crew Dragon mission will allow four individuals to "see planet Earth the way no one has since the Gemini program" of the 1960s. Crew Dragon is a capsule SpaceX has been developing for NASA. The spacecraft is built to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, a capability the U.S. has lacked for nearly a decade. SpaceX plans to launch its first NASA astronauts between April and June of this year. By Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's holiday hotspots, hit by billions in lost business from Chinese tourists, are turning to markets closer to home to soften the blow from travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus epidemic. To make up for foregone revenues, firms in the region are dangling discounted airfares, hotel accommodation and tour add-ons in a bid to boost domestic travellers. Home to rich culture, white sand beaches, diverse marine life, lively nightlife and affordable tours, Southeast Asia is the favourite for Chinese tourists, the region's top foreign visitors. But travel restrictions on China, the origin of the new coronavirus, since late January have led to losses in the region's hospitality sector. In the Philippines, the government and tourism players last week launched a travel campaign led by President Rodrigo Duterte. "Come with me and be my travel companion. I'll be travelling around the Philippines," Duterte said in video address, offering assurances that the virus posed no risks to local tourists in their own country. Member firms of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines are offering discounts of up to 50% on hotels, free upgrades and complimentary items like breakfasts. Other firms are offering individual customers corporate or government rates for tours and hotel accommodation, which are 15% to 30% cheaper, Arwin Paul Lingat, president of a tourism officers group, told Reuters. Manila's Golden Phoenix Hotel has slashed its rates by two-thirds, its marketing director Christine Ann Ibarreta said. LOCAL SWEETENERS China's health authorities are reporting thousands of new cases daily of the coronavirus infection, which has killed 1,868 people, mostly in China. The flu-like virus' spread has also prompted countries to shut doors to Chinese travellers, who are a major source of growth for many Southeast Asian economies. Southeast Asia welcomed more than 29 million mainland travellers in 2018, up 15% from a year earlier, data from the ASEAN Statistical Yearbook 2019 showed. That was nearly double the entire European market and almost five times the number of North American tourists. Story continues Southeast Asian airlines are making fares attractive for cost-sensitive locals. Indonesia's biggest budget carrier, Lion Air, is reducing fares by up to 60% on select flights. Philippines' largest carrier, Cebu Pacific, which has refunded 1.5 billion pesos (22 million) to passengers, is offering seats on flights for as little as $2 before taxes while Philippine Airlines [PHL.UL] launched promotional discounts of 20% to 40%. Thailand, Southeast Asia's biggest market for Chinese tourists, is now offering special packages for local elderly, which allows their expenses to be used for their children's tax deductions. The Thai government is also providing tax breaks and soft loans to help slow job losses. Vietnam, the region's second-largest market for Chinese tourists, said it would waive entrance fees to some tourist attractions when the outbreak is over. It has also simplified visa procedures for some non-Chinese arrivals. The coronavirus epidemic could wipe $5.9 billion to $7.7 billion from Vietnam's tourism earnings in the next three months. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, has also pledged to boost spending and incentives to soften the virus's business impact. Bali, Indonesia's main tourist magnet because of its aquamarine water, white sand beaches and majestic cliffs, has seen 20,000 cancellations, said Hariyadi Sukamdani, head of the country's hotels and restaurants association. In Kuala Lumpur, a 3,600-member industry group has planned for April its first ever "Cuti Cuti Malaysia" (Holiday in Malaysia) travel fair, exclusively focused on domestic tourism. "Individual hotels, airlines, travel companies, theme parks, dive resorts, have reduced their normal rates, some by 20% and 30%," Tan Kok Liang, the industry group's president, told Reuters. Despite the big push, industry experts do not expect local business to do much more than cushion the hit to the region's tourism sector. In the Philippines, government and industry officials say domestic tourism can realistically only recoup 10%-20% of the estimated 22 billion pesos ($435 million) in monthly foregone revenues. "The domestic, to be honest, will not make up for what the international market brings here," Tourism Congress President Jose Clemente told a congressional hearing. "Our objective right now is just to survive the storm...What we're trying to do is to have some cash flow." (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Additional Reporting by Orathai Sriring in Bangkok, Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi, Liz Lee and Krishna Das in Kuala Lumpur, Maikel Jefriando and Gayatri Suroyo in Jakarta, and Makiko Yamazaki in Tokyo; Writing by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty, Matthew Tostevin and Sam Holmes) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan today received USAID Armenia Mission Director Deborah Grieser and her delegation, the ministry told Armenpress. Minister Badasyan thanked for the productive cooperation and highlighted the operation of the ministrys fund Center for Development of Legislation and Legal Research through the support of the USAID. Deborah Grieser also highly valued the activity of the Fund, the cooperation with the justice ministry in the anti-corruption fight and reaffirmed the readiness to support the Armenian government in this fight. During the meeting the Armenian minister introduced the ministrys priorities, such as the creation of an Anti-Corruption Committee and Anti-Corruption Court, reforms in the Police and discussed the cooperation opportunities with the USAID partners in these areas. The meeting also touched upon issues relating to supporting the activities of the Corruption Prevention Commission and raising public trust towards the judiciary as a result of the anti-corruption fight. 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And if he wins the nomination, his flaws will have to be measured against the prospect of four more years of Trump. Advertisement Coronavirus must be kept under control or it could make flu season even more deadly, an expert has warned. There have already been 15 cases of coronavirus in Australia since the lethal virus was discovered in China in December - and doctors fear the number will grow. Professor Philip Booy, a senior fellow at the Immunisation Coalition, has warned the disease could become more widespread during flu season. 'Coronavirus and flu are both dangerous on their own, but we could have two viruses spreading at once,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'We have to keep coronavirus under control because it can lead to respiratory infections. So far we have done that but we need to keep it up.' Medical personnel scan a new coronavirus patient at a hospital in Wuhan, China on Sunday Viruses spread faster and more widely in winter because the air is less humid and people spend more time in close contact indoors. The death rate for coronavirus is estimated to be around 2 per cent while the figure for flu is about 0.5 per cent, according to data from the US. In 2019 Australia suffered an unusually severe flu season with more than 310,000 patients, peaking in July when 70,000 lab-confirmed cases were recorded in a single month. Professor Booy said this means that 2020 should be a relatively quiet year - but said 'we can never be sure'. 'Both last year and three years ago we had very big flu seasons. Because of last year being such a big season, many people have built up immunity. 'So my best guess is that we are in for a quiet to moderate season.' Professor Booy, who trained as a pediatrician in Queensland before becoming a leading disease expert, said Australia should focus efforts on containing the coronavirus. 'The travel ban has been important and now we are trying to develop a vaccine,' he said. This graph shows the number of cases of flu in the past few years. The purple line shows 2017 with its peak in August and the orange line shows 2019 with its peak in July This photo taken on February 14, shows a woman wearing a face mask walking past a charms shop in the Binondo district of Chinatown in Manila On Tuesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government will contribute $2million to help find a vaccine for the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. Meanwhile, about 200 Australians on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan have been given the option to be evacuated to an unused workers site near Darwin on Wednesday. The ship - which has had more than 450 cases confirmed, including at least 16 Australians - has been quarantined at the port of Yokohama for more than two weeks. But due to the number of recent cases on the ship, they would have to undergo another two-week quarantine period at the Howard Springs facility. Mr Morrison sympathised with the Australians stuck on the ship, saying he understood they would be frustrated at the thought of another two weeks in quarantine. 'It's unfortunate but it is absolutely necessary to ensure that we put the measures in place that have been so effective in containing the spread of this virus,' he said. The Australians on board must pass a coronavirus test before they can be brought home, and elderly people will be given priority in the evacuation. Wednesday's flight will also include New Zealanders, who will be transferred home after landing in Darwin. There have been 15 cases of COVID-19 in Australia, with eight people now recovered and the rest in a stable condition. There are now more than 71,000 cases worldwide, with 1776 reported deaths. This week we saw the China Glass Holdings Limited (HKG:3300) share price climb by 14%. But that can't change the reality that over the longer term (five years), the returns have been really quite dismal. In fact, the share price has declined rather badly, down some 63% in that time. So is the recent increase sufficient to restore confidence in the stock? Not yet. Of course, this could be the start of a turnaround. See our latest analysis for China Glass Holdings In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During five years of share price growth, China Glass Holdings moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics may better explain the share price move. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 2.0% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:3300 Income Statement, February 18th 2020 Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? We've already covered China Glass Holdings's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Dividends have been really beneficial for China Glass Holdings shareholders, and that cash payout explains why its total shareholder loss of 62%, over the last 5 years, isn't as bad as the share price return. Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in China Glass Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 27%, against a market gain of about 0.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 17% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for China Glass Holdings (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Cooper Hefner and his wife Scarlett have reunited for the first time since he left for basic military training more than two months ago after enlisting in the US Air Force. Scarlett, 29, took to Instagram on Tuesday to celebrate the Playboy heir, 28, completing basic training by sharing images of him modeling his Air Force uniform and a shaved head while they spent Valentine's Day weekend together. 'Valentine's Day was extra special this year,' she captioned the images. 'After more than two months apart I got to see my husband complete Air Force Basic Military Training. We had a lovely weekend together and I couldnt be happier.' Reunited: Playboy heir Cooper Hefner reunited with his wife Scarlett on Valentine's Day weekend after spending more than two months apart while he was in Air Force basic training All smiles: In the snapshots, he is sporting his US Air Force uniform and a shaved head In the first photo she shared, Cooper is decked out in his navy Air Force uniform and hat while giving her a sweet kiss on the forehead. Other snapshots show him holding a flag while marching with his fellow recruits and posing with Scarlett in his camouflage fatigues. The final image in the post is a picture of Scarlett at a restaurant with her husband, who is still in uniform. He is wearing a short-sleeve button-down with a navy tie, and the navy pin above his right breast pocket has his last name written in white. Cooper shared many of the photos on his own Instagram page on Monday, but he included two other pictures that weren't in Scarlett's post. In one image, he is wearing his camouflage fatigues while standing in front of a large American flag. The other shows him and two other recruits donning matching navy trench coats over their uniforms. Look of love: One sweet snapshot shows Cooper giving Scarlett a sweet kiss on the forehead Military man: In another, he is pictured holding a flag while marching with his fellow recruits Journey: Cooper also shared photos from the weekend on Instagram, writing: 'Im proud to serve my county in the United States Air Force. Im proud to be an Airman' 'A very special weekend seeing family after a few months away from home,' he wrote. 'Im proud to serve my county in the United States Air Force. Im proud to be an Airman.' Hundreds of people commented on the post and thanked him for his service, while Scarlett wrote: 'I love you and Im so proud of you.' Cooper, who is the son of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, announced in December that he had enlisted in the US Air Force. He is following in the footsteps of his father, who served in the U.S. Army as a noncombatant for two years at the end of World War II. Hugh was honorably discharged in 1946. Cooper was the CEO of Playboy Enterprises, but he left in April to start his own media company, including the digital content platform HefPost, which has yet to launch. New life: Hundreds of people commented on the post and thanked him for his service, while Scarlett wrote: 'I love you and Im so proud of you.' Announcement: Cooper was the CEO of Playboy Enterprises, but he left in April to start his own media company. He announced in December he was stepping back to be in the Air Force Looking back: Cooper joined the Air Force in March (above) and left for basic training in December, shortly after his wedding to Scarlett He and Scarlett married in December after a four-year engagement. That same month, he shared on Instagram that he was stepping back from his new business venture and was headed for basic training. 'Today I informed leadership and financiers of Stag and Hefner Media Corporation I would be stepping back from focusing on launching a new company and stepping towards greater service to community and country,' he wrote. 'In a week I depart for US Air Force basic training. A new road ahead.' A week later, Scarlett shared a photo of herself with Cooper on the day of his enlistment ceremony in March to announce his departure. 'Today Cooper left to begin his service in the United States Air Force. Im incredibly proud,' she wrote. Cooper is one of the Playboy founder's sons with his second wife, Kimberley Conrad. His older brother Marston is an author. News: Scarlett shared a photo of herself with Cooper on the day of his enlistment ceremony in March to announce his departure on Instagram Family: Cooper is pictured with his father, Hugh Hefner, in 2014, three years before the Playboy founder's death The family no longer has a business interest in Playboy nor does it have anyone running it since he left his role in April. 'Stepping away from my executive position at Playboy Enterprises was a difficult decision to come to, though it is the right decision to make,' he said at the time. 'The spirit and values of our Rabbit will remain with me always, as I with it, and I look forward to continuing to provide support in a board capacity as an adviser to the companys CEO.' In addition to Cooper and Marston, Hugh has two older children, Christy and David, who are both in their sixties. The four inherited his $35 million worth of shares when he died, but the estate sold them last year and no longer has any business interest in the company. After taking over at Playboy in 2016, when his father's health ailed, Cooper reinstated nudity on the magazine's pages, and it was under his leadership that iconic publication put its first transgender model on the front page. Given Andrew Mackenzies obsessive focus on productivity during his six and a half years at the helm of BHP, it is fitting that the results for the final six months unveiled by his successor were the cleanest and most productive of his tenure. They were clean and productive at both an operational level probably the most glitch-free of the Mackenzie era and clean and productive at a financial level. With both costs and volumes stable during the half, the driver of the 39 per cent increase in underlying earnings to $US5.2 billion ($7.8 billion), and the 15 per cent increase in underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to $US12 billion, was the $US1.5 billion benefits of higher commodity prices. New BHP chief executive Mike Henry wants to shape BHP's portfolio around the long-term trend towards decarbonisation of the global economy. Credit:Nine In an illustration of the disciplines imposed by the capital allocation framework developed by Mackenzie, his chairman Ken MacKenzie and chief financial officer Peter Beaven, BHP was able to top up its base 50 per cent dividend payout ratio, which amounted to $US2.7 billion, with an extra $US1.2 billion to produce the second-biggest ordinary dividend in its history. Almost all of that benefit from the higher prices was passed back to shareholders. The momentum for Irish unity is forward - up 2.5% in just over two years - and that could easily accelerate if Northern Ireland continues to be as polarised politically as it currently is Cock-a-hoop after topping the first preference poll in the Republic's general election, Sinn Fein sees this as an opportunity to raise a clamour about the inevitability, if not imminence, of a united Ireland. But according to the poll carried out among 2,000 people right across Northern Ireland, the facts are that republicans have a lot of convincing to do to get a Secretary of State to hold a border poll, never mind get a majority of voters to back unity. Only 29% would vote for that option if a poll were held tomorrow. That is a reassurance to unionists but they would be mistaken to merely sit back and say that the Union is in no danger. The momentum for Irish unity is forward - up 2.5% in just over two years - and that could easily accelerate if Northern Ireland continues to be as polarised politically as it currently is. Unionists and nationalists have barely a good word to say about each other's political leaders, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, although there is huge support for the restoration of the Assembly and Executive. And that is the key battleground going forward. The Northern Ireland electorate made it clear in the European and General Elections here that it wanted politicians to work together to tackle the day-to-day issues of a future Brexit trade deal, the NHS, education and infrastructure. Coincidentally, Sinn Fein's success in the Republic was not because of some united Ireland tsunami of votes but rather as a protest against the failure of the established parties to deal with social and economic issues. Sinn Fein offered a fresh vision, even if there are serious doubts about its economic credibility. In Northern Ireland, what little common ground that exists between the DUP and Sinn Fein must - in conjunction with the other parties of government - be built upon to tackle the issues which everyone agrees need to be fixed. If the parties cannot improve the state of the health service, education, infrastructure and the economy through more inward investment, the inherent fractures in the Executive will widen. The saving grace is that while the DUP and Sinn Fein retain the faith of their respective electorates, the middle ground, particularly Alliance and to a lesser extent the SDLP, has shown a significant increase in support, sufficient perhaps to show that there is a positive way forward which could fill in the cracks. An evaluation team struck by Waterfront Toronto to assess Sidewalk Labs proposal has concluded the Manhattan firms project has sufficient merit to proceed to the next phase of the approvals process. The statement by a six-member evaluation committee is based on a technical evaluation that staff of Waterfront Toronto, a tri-government agency, conducted on Sidewalk Labs proposed plans to develop a smart technology-driven neighbourhood on the waterfront called Quayside, a project calling for innovations such as data collecting sensors, wood-frame buildings and removable pavement. The technical evaluation by Waterfront Toronto staff, released Tuesday, says of the 160 solutions or innovations Google sister firm Sidewalk Labs has put forward in its master plan for the proposed 12-acre neighbourhood, a large majority 144 innovations or 90 per cent meet Waterfront Torontos objectives. Some of the innovations include a mass timber factory producing materials for the construction for wood buildings, robots that detect when trash bins are full, roofs covered in vegetation to reduce stormwater runoff, a patent pledge of Sidewalk Labs digital innovations that would support the growth of Canadian innovations, and the use of common standards for digital systems and technologies used at Quayside. The list of innovations supported by Waterfront Toronto will be prioritized, and the number may be pared down by the agency and Sidewalk Labs to fit the 12-acre Quayside, Waterfront Toronto says. There are 16 innovations the technical evaluation says dont meet Waterfront Torontos objectives for Quayside because the agency doesnt think theyre feasible on 12 acres, including a sewage waste heat recovery system through a connection to the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, a system that produces biofuels from household organic waste and recurring payments from Waterfront Toronto to subsidize the operation of advanced infrastructure. One innovation raincoats for buildings Sidewalk Labs displayed at its head office on Queens Quay that are supposed to allow year-round use of some outdoor spaces by keeping away rain, snow, sleet, etc. arent supported by Waterfront Toronto. Footings or anchors for the devices end up being fastened on sidewalks, according to plans, and would be an impediment to accessibility, Waterfront Toronto says. Sidewalk Labs also experimented with the raincoats and found they dont work. Were excited to keep looking into solutions for outdoor comfort in our building designs at Quayside, which we will review with Waterfront Toronto on an ongoing basis, Sidewalk Labs spokesperson Keerthana Rang said in an email Tuesday. And some of Sidewalk Labs proposed apartment sizes for Quayside arent supported by Waterfront Toronto because theyre too small, the latter says. Some of the 144 innovations that are supported by Waterfront Toronto require additional funding from governments and regulatory reform. Responsibility for funding the vast majority of the innovations lies with the private sector including Sidewalk Labs, the technical evaluation states. The land Quayside sits on is owned by Waterfront Toronto and the city, and is valued at $590 million, money Waterfront Toronto says it wants to reinvest in the project after a land sale, for initiatives such as affordable housing and innovations that help reduce both energy use and waste. The technical evaluation report goes on to state there is potential in Sidewalk Labs proposals for Quayside to be the beginning of a bold future on the waterfront. In my view, Waterfront Toronto has excellent material in hand to support the next stage of this process, namely to negotiate a final agreement with Sidewalk Labs for the Quayside development, evaluation committee member Sheldon Levy, former president and vice chancellor for Ryerson University, and former provincial deputy minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, states in a letter to George Zegarac, a fellow committee member and Waterfront Toronto CEO. Sidewalk Labs initial master plan, a document exceeding 1,500 pages, called for development in the Port Lands, beyond the 12-acre parcel near Queen Quay East and Parliament Street and for Waterfront Torontos commitment to help get a new LRT built to service new commuters in Quayside and the Port Lands. But after pushback from Waterfront Toronto, those proposals and others were taken off the table by Sidewalk Labs last fall. Soon after, Sidewalk Labs released its Digital Innovation Appendix, which provided details of how it intends to deploy its technology at Quayside and how it intends to collect and use data in the district. Waterfront Torontos technical evaluation began Oct. 31. The agencys board is set to decide May 20 on whether Sidewalk Labs proposal, which by then will be in the form of a draft innovation plan, should proceed to the next phase. The City of Toronto will also be voting on the project, on a yet-to-be specified date. A date of Dec. 31 has been set for Waterfront Toronto to decide whether it reaches an implementation agreement with Sidewalk Labs that would put the project into motion. Meanwhile, the evaluation committees latest findings will lead to a second round of public consultations on Sidewalk Labs proposal that will kick off Feb. 29 downtown. Read more about: He reminded that the ceasefire regime had to be established on a stable basis according to previous agreements Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, MP Viktor Medvedchuk commented on the escalation of the situation in Donbas, as NEWSONE reported. Any aggravation, any escalation is the evidence that we have no progress towards peace. If you remember not only Minsk Agreements but Paris communique dated December 9, it was established and confirmed by the head of the states-members of Normandy Format that stable, constant ceasefire regime should be established until the end of the year, Medvedchuk reminded. According to the opposition politician, the question arose why this ceasefire regime was not established on a stable basis until January 1. Today is mid of February and there is no ceasefire. According to OSCE SMM reports, the attacks from both sides of the contact line observed, from the side of Ukraine and from the side of the unrecognized republics. And it is a great amount, hundreds of attacks during the last week. We hear and read such OSCE reports every day, he noted. Medvedchuk underlined that it is necessary to follow the way of fulfillment of Minsk Agreements and on the way of fulfillment of the agreements of last, meeting of Normandy Format to stop the fire and proceed to the implementation of other issues: preparation of elections, adoption of the law on the elections and implementation of Steinmeier formula into Ukrainian legislation. Until these steps are made, I think that different cases, which, unfortunately, took place today and reported by Ukrainian mass media; they, unfortunately, will take place and there will be a ground for such actions, Medvedchuk concluded. Earlier Medvedchuk stated that if the policy of Mr. Zelensky and his team on peaceful settlement in Donbas doesn't change, there will be no peace in Ukraine and in Donbas. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stand for the national anthem prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2020. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Resistances Plague of Sheer Malice Will Fail at Stopping Trump Commentary Already a new attempt by Democrats is underway to distract and harass the president with a pseudo-legal assault. All that can be said is that with each new initiative, the stakes are reduced and the level of public interest declines. The fraud of collusion between Donald Trump and the Russians in the 2016 election endured for two years. They took advantage of the new attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who had given innocuously mistaken answers to questions about contacts with the Russians in his confirmation hearings, and they caused him to recuse on all matters to do with Russia. This Godsend left the president completely defenseless against the inquiry that James Comey, when he was fired as director of the FBI, generated by improperly leaking a memo, the contents of which are contested and were probably government property. The ensuing inquiry of special counsel Robert Mueller, almost entirely staffed with political enemies of the president, did everything to goad the notoriously impatient president into an action that could be construed as obstruction of justice. It must rank as one of the great acts of forbearance in U.S. presidential history that he cooperated so completely with this malicious and redundant inquiry. The retirement of two Never Trump Republican senators (Tennessees Bob Corker and Jeff Flake of Arizona) and the death of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and a net gain of two senators at the midterm elections enabled Trump to fire Sessions and replace him with a serious attorney general, William Barr. A former holder of the post (under George H.W. Bush), Barr required the inquiry to produce its conclusions. These were a complete exoneration, with a final somewhat desperate attempt to incite an obstruction charge. When the militantly anti-Trump chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), had the poor judgment to call Mueller as a witness, it became clear that Mueller had only a vague idea of the facts. He was a respectable front for a disgraceful assault on the presidency. Ukraine and Impeachment The Mueller fiasco had just crumbled and the clouds of dust were still settling, when Trump called the president of Ukraine and mentioned, well after more conventional matters, that the United States would like to know what really went on with former Vice President Joe Bidens son Hunter receiving $83,000 a month from a notoriously corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company (Burisma) for no apparent value received, at a time when the vice president was the person in the Obama administration responsible for policy toward Ukraine. As all the world knows, a whistleblower came snorting out of the White House undergrowth, having heard an account of the conversation, (in which Trump asked for the facts, not a pre-cooked accusation of corruption). A new controversy was quickly torqued up to an impeachment inquiry, in which the president wasnt allowed the presence of his counsel or the right to call or examine witnesses, and this burlesque rolled out two articles of impeachment (abuse of office and contempt of Congress by non-cooperation). These arent impeachable offenses, and no probative evidence was adduced that they occurred. But they were enough to enable the Trump-hating media to whip the Trump-haters in the public into a lather of recriminations, and this absurd case was sent to the Senate for trial. There wasnt much suspense about the outcome, but a considerable controversy was raised over the majority of senators declining to call witnesses that the House, which conducts such investigations, had declined to seek, but which Democratic senators now demanded the Republican majority to subpoena. The television ratings for the impeachment hearings were lower than the competing afternoon soap operas; the best efforts of the national political media to incite outrage against the president were unavailing, and his approval rating moved up several points. William Barr I was one of those who dared to hope that the Democrats would now be resigned to try to elevate a plausible candidate and remove the president in the old-fashioned way, through the ballot box. My hopes werent well placed. A new effort is being made to attack the attorney general. The Democrats are addicted now to having the president lumbered with some legal challenge that their nasty parrots in the national political media can sell as a serious question over the presidents legitimacy. In the latter days of the Mueller fiasco, the presidents sometime political assistant Roger Stone was arrested and charged with lying to federal officials, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. This wasnt effected by advising the suspects counsel and arranging for him to attend at the appropriate place and be processed as an accused person. Rather, (after notice had been given to CNN), in January 2019, 29 federal officers in battle gear, armed with M-16 machine guns, descended in the darkness at about 6 a.m. by car, boat, and helicopter on Stones home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the 66-year-old accused, with no previous charges, and without a gun or passport, was routed out of bed at machine gun-point and conveyed downtown to be charged. When his prosecutors last week recommended that Stone be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison, Trump tweeted that this was outrageous. It turned out that the Justice Department had already internally rejected the sentence request as excessive, and the prosecutors resigned from the case in response. Barr told an interviewer that the presidents tweets were making it impossible for me to do my job. Other than saying, through his press secretary, that he had the same right to self-expression as anyone else, the president has since been uncontroversial, but the minor incident has been sufficient for the Resistance to sound reveille again. Some Democratic senators and former Justice Department members have both produced petitions demanding that Barr resign. Barr is of an age where he seeks no further office, but only returned to public life because he wants to get to the bottom of how the presidents campaign was subjected to illegal surveillance based on false accusations contained in a dossier commissioned and paid for by the opposing campaign (the Steele dossier). In addition, hes seeking to uncover how a two-year investigation of an unfounded charge of collusion with a foreign power to rig a U.S. election was brought to life and riveted on the back of an administration for two years. Hatred This new endeavor wont get as far, even, as the spurious impeachment. But it reminds us of the mentality of the Resistance. These arent just people who disapprove of Trump; they are so afflicted by hatred of the president that they want to destroy his presidency without an election, no matter what damage is done to the institution of the presidency and to the country. The leaders of the Resistance are too intelligent to believe that Trump colluded with the Russians, or that he really was using taxpayers money to obtain a defamatory allegation against Biden to assist Trumps reelection campaign, or that Barr is anything but a completely reputable and honest justice official of perfect integrity and great experience. The leaders of the Resistance unleash their followers out of sheer malice, a bloodless version of the terrorist leaders who avail themselves of the suicide martyrs, while hiding in comparative comfort and safety themselves. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Reps. Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and the others all know their allegations are unfounded. But they think nothing of conducting this unceasing and thoroughly dishonest struggle against the constitutionally elected leader of the country. A more complicated case is Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). He also couldnt possibly believe that Trump was guilty of the high crime required by the Constitution to convict him, but claimed that as a religious man, his oath before God required such a vote. He betrays an animus that is difficult to reconcile with such piety. It wont work, and will fizzle quickly. Trump is likely to be reelected, at which point the insurrection of the Resistance must surely lose heart. But its occurrence is like the appearance of a deadly illness that has threatened the republic, and like Albert Camus plague, its bacillus could return at any time. Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and, most recently Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Human rights activists from Pakistan and members of Indian community living in the United Kingdom held a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London to seek justice for Mehak Kumari, a minor Hindu girl who was reportedly forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim man in Sindh. We are gathered here to demand justice for Mehak Kumari and send out a message that she is not alone in her fight. We cannot stay quiet about the way Pakistan is treating its minorities, said a protester on Monday, the second day of protest. The 15-year-old was allegedly abducted from Jacobabad district in Pakistan on January 15 by Ali Raza Solangi who later married her. WATCH | London: Protest over abduction, conversion of 15-yr-old Hindu girl in Pakistan The father of Mehak, a Class 9 student, filed an FIR, claiming that Solangi had abducted and married her forcibly. Some clerics in Pakistan demanded death punishment for the girl for retracting from her previous statement that she accepted Islam of her own free will. A court in Sindh province is yet to announce its verdict in the case and has sent Kumari to a local Dar-ul-Aman (shelter home) in Larkana district for 11 days, according to news agency ANI. According to Pakistani media, Sindh Minorities Affairs Minister Hari Ram Kishori Lal has assured Kumaris family of full support. In a telephonic conversation with the leader of a Hindu group of Jacobabad district on Wednesday, the minister said that the Sindh government fully supports the stance of the family and the Hindu group, reports in local media said. Pointing out that Kumari could not marry until she was 18 under the legislation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, Lal said that her marriage was a crime as per the law. Abduction and conversion of Hindu women has been a major issue in Sindh province where the majority of Pakistani Hindus live. India had last month summoned a senior official of the Pakistan high commission to lodge a strong protest over these cases. IVF-conceived children have somewhat higher mortality risk in their first weeks of life Children conceived with assisted reproductive techniques including in vitro fertilization (IVF) have a somewhat higher mortality risk during their first weeks of life than children conceived naturally, according to a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. The researchers link the increased risk to a higher degree of premature births in IVF children and emphasize that the risk of infant mortality is still very small for both groups. Beyond 1 year of age, the risk of mortality was similar for all children regardless of conception method. "It is important to note that even if we on a group level can see a somewhat increased risk of infant mortality after IVF, the absolute risk for each individual is still very small," says Kenny Rodriguez-Wallberg, associate professor at the Department of Oncology and Pathology at Karolinska Institutet and the corresponding author. "It is also reassuring to know that there is no increased risk of mortality in this group of children beyond the first year of life." More and more women seek help to become pregnant and the achieving of pregnancies made possible with assisted reproductive techniques have increased in recent years. In most cases, these pregnancies have a happy outcome with a healthy baby. Prior studies show, however, that IVF-pregnancies come with an increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity and birth defects. These risks have partly been linked to the increased probability of twin-births after IVF-treatment. In the current study, the researchers selected only singleton children and compared mortality in children conceived through different types of assisted reproductive techniques with children who were conceived naturally. They analyzed data on 2.8 million children born in Sweden over a period of 30 years. Some 43,500 of these were the result of assisted reproduction. In total, 7 236 children died before 1 year of age, of whom only 114 were conceived with assisted reproductive techniques. After adjusting for confounding factors such as the mother's age and earlier infertility, the researchers found that the children conceived through IVF had a 45 percent higher risk of death before 1 year of age than children conceived naturally. The level of risk varied depending on which type of assisted reproductive technique was used, and how many days had passed since birth. The risk gradually declined after the first weeks of life. During the first week of life, the children conceived after transfer of a frozen embryo had a more than two-fold higher risk of death than the children conceived naturally. This was, however, based on only a small sample of children conceived with frozen embryos. After one week, the risk dropped to about the same level as the naturally conceived children. Infants conceived from transfer of a fresh embryo or with the help of an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)--where a single sperm is injected into the egg--did not have a higher risk of death than naturally conceived children, irrespective of how many days had passed since birth. "Our results indicate that the kind of assisted reproductive technique used may make a difference, and therefore it is important to further investigate what causes or underlying mechanisms are behind the risks," says Anastasia Nyman Iliadou, associate professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet and senior lead author. "They also show the need for extra attention and care of children conceived with IVF, especially during the first week of life." According to the researchers, one explanation may be that more IVF-children are born prematurely than those conceived naturally, which in itself could have negative consequences. It is also possible that the underlying infertility leads to a higher risk of complications. The leading causes of infant mortality among children conceived with assisted reproductive techniques included respiratory distress, incomplete lung development, infections and neonatal hemorrhage, which are conditions often linked to prematurity. ### Funding for this study was provided by the EU-FP7 Health program, the Swedish Research Council, the Strategic Research Program in Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet, the Stockholm County Council and Karolinska University Hospital. Publication: "Mortality from infancy to adolescence in singleton children conceived from assisted reproductive techniques (ART) vs naturally conceived singletons in Sweden," Kenny A. Rodriguez-Wallberg, Frida E. Lundberg, Sara Ekberg, Anna L. V. Johansson, Jonas F. Ludvigsson, Catharina Almqvist, Sven Cnattingius and Anastasia N. Iliadou, Fertility and Sterility, online Feb. 18, 2020. This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Part of a restaurant ceiling collapsed inside Atlantas airport Thursday, leaving a large chunk of it draped over countertops in the dining area. One person was taken to a hospital, and a second person was treated at the scene, airport officials said. The collapse happened shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday in Concourse A, one of the closest concourses to the main domestic terminal, the airport said in a statement. It appears that the ceiling was improperly attached, and there are now plans to review construction methods and design plans at other businesses inside the airport, said Tom Nissalke, the airports assistant general manager for planning and development. At a Thursday briefing for reporters, Nissalke described the piece that fell as a floating ceiling. When asked whether the ceiling was misattached, Nissalke responded, thats how it appears, yes. Because of its weight, the structure has to be attached to the rigid roof deck, which is designed to hold the weight, he said. It was not attached to the roof deck, based on what weve seen thus far, Nissalke said. He estimated that the chunk of ceiling that fell weighed 700 to 800 pounds (318 to 363 kilograms) and crashed down as customers ate breakfast inside the restaurant. It had been that way for about the past three and a half years, he said. Airport officials say they will now delve into the design plans to find out what happened. Were reviewing drawings that were the permitted drawings, to see exactly what happened and was the construction implemented according to the plans, Nissalke said. The ceiling fell in Cat Coras Kitchen, one of several airport locations opened by celebrity chef Cat Cora, a Jackson, Mississippi native. In 2015, Cora became the first-ever female Iron Chef on the Food Networks Iron Chef America. Coras business partner, the concession firm that operates the restaurant, said in a statement that it considers the safety of its guests and employees to be deeply important. We are currently working with the airport and other partners to fully evaluate the situation, including any potential injuries and/or facility damage, said Regynald Washington, president of Atlanta-based Paradies Lagarderes dining division. The airports review will extend beyond Cat Coras Kitchen, Nissalke said, though he wasnt sure Thursday how many businesses that might be. Paradies Lagardere has partnered with Atlantas airport on many projects and its website lists more than 30 restaurants and shops in the airport. Were going to go ahead and review all the other drawings associated with this concessionaire just to see if a similar situation exists, Nissalke said. We are going to be reviewing all those other spaces. The concession company has restaurants and stores in dozens of U.S. airports, according to its website. It lists more than two dozen shops and restaurants in several major airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, Detroit Metropolitan Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. In a statement from her publicist, Cora said that she was awakened Thursday morning by a call from her partners at Paradies Lagardere informing her of what had happened. We are working with our airport team very closely to assess the situation, Cora said. Above all, we just want to make sure everyone involved is ok, she said. One person asked to be transported to a hospital, airport officials said. A second person was treated at the scene and then continued on with travel plans, Nissalke said. There are many companies involved in designing and building restaurants and other establishments inside the airport. Businesses known as concessionaires lease space from the city of Atlanta, then typically prepare a design and construct the restaurant or store using architects, engineers and contractors, Nissalke said. Photos on social media showed workers in orange vests inspecting the scene on one side of the fallen ceiling chunk, as airport travelers stood on the other side. There was no impact on operations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, authorities said. The airport calls itself the worlds busiest, averaging 275,000 passengers daily. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Aviation California Secretary of State Alex Padilla reminded voters Tuesday that they have until the end of the night to register to vote or update their voter registration for the state's March 3 presidential primary. Residents can register or update their registration information by midnight Tuesday. However, voters who miss the deadline will still have the ability to cast a primary ballot if they use the "same-day" registration process at their local elections office or polling place. Same-day registration is available Wednesday through March 3. Home sales in the San Antonio region skyrocketed last month, reflecting the strength of the local economy but also squeezing aspiring homeowners. About 2,078 homes in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area were sold in January, a 16 percent increase over the same month last year, the San Antonio Board of Realtors reports. While its typical to see a drop-off in sales in the winter months, the San Antonio area continues to attract buyers at all times of the year, said Kim Bragman, the organizations 2020 board chairman. The regions schools, stable economy and job market are attractive to newcomers, Bragman added. Prices also rose in January, with the median increasing 6 percent to $229,400. Most of the homes sold, about 57 percent, were priced between $200,000 and $499,000, with about 36 percent costing under $199,000 and about 6 percent over $500,000. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The inventory of available homes in the area, a measurement of the average time it takes for a home to be sold if no new homes are listed, stood at 3.3 months in January. Thats well below an inventory of six months, which generally is considered a good balance between buyers and sellers. While area housing is becoming pricier finding a house under $200,000 is tough the increase hasnt been as steep as in other cities, said Yvette Allen, broker and owner of Real Estate 210. San Antonio has gradually gone up in price, she said. The price upticks havent been dramatic. Were still really affordable. Proximity to family, schools and jobs remain important factors in choosing a house, but more newcomers also are prioritizing the distance to a park or greenway, Allen added. Neighborhoods such as Government Hill and around the Pearl complex are popular, as are nearby cities such as Cibolo, Schertz and New Braunfels, she said. Last year was a record stretch for the market, with 34,430 homes sold in the area, a 7 percent uptick over 2018, the Board of Realtors says. Sales increased every month besides June. madison.iszler@express-news.net PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Ingalls Shipbuilding will host a Future Shipbuilder Discovery Day on March 7 at the Haley Barbour Maritime Training Academy at the Pascagoula shipyard. The event is open to middle and high school students, as well as their parents/guardians, school administrators and Career & Technical Education instructors. Students attending will have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in trade skills and prepare for success as a future Ingalls shipbuilder. Theyll also have the chance to meet with Ingalls training instructors and senior leadership, hearing first-hand what its like to work at Ingalls. Students will be able to ask questions, become familiarized with the hiring process and learn about the benefits of a career in shipbuilding. Those attending will also be taken on bus tours of the shipyard, as well as win hourly door prizes. Online preregistration is available though March 1. To register, visit the Ingalls website. Gautier offering amnesty for unpaid court fines GAUTIER, Mississippi -- The City of Gautier municipal court is offering amnesty to those with unpaid fines. Beginning Feb. 24 and running through March 31, contempt of court warrants and failure to comply with a court order warrants will be dismissed if outstanding fines are paid in full (cash or money order, only). Payments will be accepted Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Gautier City Court is located inside the Gautier police station on U.S. 90. For more information, call 228-497-8036. Chevron presents $25,000 in scholarships to MGCCC students GAUTIER, Mississippi -- Chevrons Pascagoula refinery recently presented eight scholarship worth more than $15,000, plus another eight scholarship renewals totaling $11,000, to students enrolled in the Process Technology and Engineering programs at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier. In 2006, Chevron and MGCCC partnered to bring an innovative Process Operations Technology program to the Gautier campus. The courses train students to work at the refinery and other plants across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Five years later, MGCCC created the Maintenance Process Technologies program. This includes Instrument & Controls, Fabrication (Welding & Pipefitting) and Machinery (Precision Machinery & Millwright) programs. Nine years later, MGCCC and Mississippi State University forged a partnership to bring an Engineering program to the coast. MGCCC students can earn an Associates degree in Science from the community college and then transfer to MSU to complete their Bachelors degree. MSU now has a satellite campus at MGCCC. Since the programs began, Chevron has provided scholarships to more than 100 students. Junior Auxiliary to host annual Prom Closet Feb. 29 OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- The Junior Auxiliary of Biloxi-Ocean Springs will hold its annual Prom Closet on Feb. 20 beginning at 10 a.m. at the St. Martin location of In The Zone. Prom Closet provides gently used long and short formal dresses, accessories, and shoes to young ladies at low cost all items are $15 or less. Attendees may also enter into free raffles to win hair services, manicures, and gift certificates to help make their prom experience complete. Prom Closet is open to all young ladies as well as the general public. Last year, JABOS served over 250 young ladies. This project is about so much more than the dress it is about building their self-esteem, making them feel good about themselves and giving them the opportunity to create life-long memories, said Prom Closet chairperson Stephanie Payne. Junior Auxiliary is currently collecting donations of dresses, accessories, and shoes for this years Prom Closet. To donate items or services to Prom Closet, please email JABOSCloset@gmail.com or visit one of the drop-off locations at Handy Lock Storage in Ocean Springs and Biloxi or De Ja Vu Consignment Boutique in Ocean Springs. This is influenza-like transmission. Its like trying to stop the wind. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, describing the difficulty in containing the coronavirus. At least 45 families living in a slum near the newly-built Motera stadium in Ahmedabad have been served eviction notices by the municipal corporation ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24. While officials have denied any connection with the proposed high-profile visit and issuance of notices, residents of the slum have questioned the timing of the move, which came days after the AMC began building a wall allegedly to cover a slum on a route that the US President is likely to take while visiting the city. "You have encroached upon a plot of land belonging to the AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation). Evict the plot in another seven days with your household chattels, otherwise, a departmental action will be taken to evict the land. If you have to make any representation, you can do so on February 19 at 3 pm," reads the notice. The slum is located alongside a road connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, around one-and-a-half kms away from the Motera stadium. A slum-dweller, Shailesh Bilwa, claimed on Tuesday that officials of the AMC have visited them several times since the last seven days. "We have been living here since over a decade. We had never been served any eviction notice in the past. Why the notice was served to us now?" questioned Dinesh Adravani, a daily-wage labourer who said he had been asked to vacate his shanty by February 18. He said slum-dwellers like him had no alternative shelter if they are forced out. "We are ready to vacate, but we need an alternative accommodation, otherwise we will be forced to live on pavements. We live here with our family members comprising women and children. We pray to the government to provide us with an alternative plot where we could live," said another resident Shailesh Bilwa. He claimed that officials of the AMC have been asking them to vacate the plot since the last seven days. "Some of them even threatened to use force against us," he alleged. Meanwhile, Deputy Estate Officer (West Zone), AMC, Chaitanya Shah said the eviction notice had nothing to do with the scheduled "Namaste Trump" programme. "They (slum-dwellers) have been served the eviction notice under the provisions of the Town Planning Act and has nothing to do with Trump's visit. The plot belongs to the AMC. The notice was served as the site survey conducted in January found that the plot had been encroached upon," Shah said. PM Modi and Trump are scheduled to address over one lakh people at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on February 24, as part of the "Namaste Trump" event. Trump is scheduled to take part in a roadshow in Ahmedabad and to visit the Sabarmati Ashram on that day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Winston-Salem Spread the word On the ballot this March there is a tax issue that will be used 100% locally to fund schools and teacher supplements. Yet if you go to the polls without already knowing this, you might be confused by the language on the ballot. It says: Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all other State and local sales and use taxes. Nowhere does it mention education, and nowhere does it mention teacher supplements. It is an unfortunate reality that in order to make teaching jobs more competitive, many counties must offer supplements to the state base salary. While state school Superintendent Mark Johnson likes to claim that the average salary is over $50,000, this actually reflects many counties that pick up part of the cost of paying teachers through local funding. Currently Winston-Salem/Forsyth County offers the lowest supplement of any major urban county in the state and struggles to attract enough teachers to fill all positions. At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, hundreds of teaching positions were vacant, and many of them remain vacant even now. This is the third February in a row that Mrs. T and I have spent not in Florida, where we used to go every winter to see shows and travel around the state, but up north. Mrs. Ts doctors ordered her to stop flying a few months after we returned to Connecticut in 2017, and our idyllic visits to Sanibel Island, Siesta Key, and Winter Park have since been put on hold while she awaits the double lung transplant that she needs in order. Of course we both understood that a time was coming when wed have to hang up our traveling shoes, but wed managed to skirt the dread day for so long that we came close to forgetting its inevitability. All unknowing, we made the most out of that last trip down south. Even though Mrs. Ts illness was already putting fast-growing limits on her mobility, we still managed to eat our fill (if such a thing is possible!) oftake a sunset cruise around Captiva Island, and see wonderful revivals ofand. We even caught two memorable movies,and. In addition, I spent three days, which opened in West Palm Beach a few months later, and had the time of my life doing it. In between, we spent plenty of time sitting on the porch and watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, which in some ways is the nicest thing about our trips to Florida. It was as if we knewas we did, deep down insidethat wed better make the most of the moment. Along the way Ion the importance of taking time off from your everyday life, no matter how much you like it: Between my fathers unfortunate example and the fact that I have the good fortune to do something for a living that I love, Ive become something of a workaholicbut not a degenerate one. It took long enough, but experience has finally taught me the value of doing nothing in particular. Not only does leisure recharge my creative batteries, but it is, as Josef Pieper reminds us, good in and of itself: Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for non-activity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will destroy our cultureand ourselves. I wish Id learned that lesson sooner, but Im so glad I know it now that I feel no need to repine. To sit in a rocking chair on the back porch of a beach bungalow, alternately reading and looking out at the Gulf of Mexico: that is heaven. It reminds me of something Dr. Johnson said to Boswell: If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman. Id most likely spend mine on Sanibel Island with Mrs. T, who is both pretty and excellent company. Ah, for the (occasionally) leisurely snowbirds life we led! The weather in New York, to be sure, has been unseasonably mild so far this year, but that makes no difference to Mrs. T, for shes been in New York-Presbyterian Hospital since mid-December, and she doesnt even have a window through which to view from a distance the snow-free streets of upper Manhattan. Her plight reminds me, unlikely as it may sound, of what Hannibal Lecter says to Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs when she remarks on the precise detail of the drawing of Florence that is taped on the wall of his cell: Did you do it from memory, all the detail? Memory, Officer Starling, is what I have instead of a view. On the other hand, the memories we have are wonderful, and they are also comforting (up to a point, Lord Copper!). Most comforting of all, though, is our shared hope that once the Big Call comes and Mrs. T is fitted out with a new pair of lungs, well be able to return in due course to Sanibel, Siesta Key, and Winter Park, there to retrace our steps and revel once again in the uncomplicated pleasures of winter in south Florida. We need that hope, in some ways more than ever. It struck me the other day that ever since Mrs. T went into the hospital, our life has come to resemble Groundhog Day, an endless succession of repeat performances. In my case, I get up in the morning and spend the day writing or running errands. Unless I have a show to see, I then pick up something enticing for Mrs. T to eat and head for the hospital, where we hold hands, watch a movie or two, and talk about nothing in particular. Then I go home and go to bed, and the next day I do it all over again. I am, like Bill Murray, stuck on hold, the only difference being that I know what has happened to meand that, sooner or later, it will end. In the meantime, were clinging to our memories, but were also doing our best to get whats to be gotten out of the slow-moving present. Thats easier some days than others, but its always possible. Lest we forget, Phil Connors, Murrays character, breaks the fathomless spell and sets time moving again when, at films end, he accepts that which is and says to Andie MacDowell, No matter what happens tomorrow, and for the rest of my life, Im happy now, because I love you. To know that, of course, wont necessarily get us back to Sanibel Islandonly fate and the doctors can do thatbut it will make more tolerable whatever lies ahead for us, now and until our shared clock starts ticking once more. * * * It occurs to me that I should update you on Mrs. Ts condition, and this seems like a good time to do it. She was moved back to the ICU last week when her oxygen saturation level began to drop for no obvious reason. It wasnt a crisis, merely a matter for concern, but the doctors all agreed that it would be prudent to move her to a unit where she could be monitored more closely. She remains fairly stable as of todayindeed, we havent had to weather any major crises for more than a month. Beyond her inexplicably low oxygen numbers, Mrs. Ts biggest problem at present is severe anorexia, which is, were told the combined result of her drug regimen and the continuing need for the around-the-clock high-flow supplemental oxygen that will likely keep her in the hospital until she is transplanted (you cant get it at home). Fortunately, a cocktail of appetite-stimulating medications has got her eating again, and shes even gained back a little weight in recent days, though she still has a long way to go. If you follow me in the social media, you know that we got a Big Call last Thursday morning, our first one since August. Alas, it was a dry runthe donor lungs didnt pan outbut it did serve as a welcome reminder that Mrs. T is still at the top of the transplant list. May another donor offer come soon, this one with a happier ending. * * * Perpetual Anticipation, a number from Stephen Sondheims A Little Night Music,sung by members of the original 1973 cast: A scene from Harold Ramis Groundhog Day: A 70,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton found in the foothills of Iraq has reopened the decades-long debate as to whether the ancient humans were culturally sophisticated enough to perform death rituals. The remains, consisting of a crushed but complete skull, upper thorax and both hands, were recently unearthed at the Shanidar Cave site 500 miles north of Baghdad. Although its gender is yet to be determined, early analysis suggests the skeleton, named Shanidar Z, is more than 70,000 years old and has the teeth of a middle- to older-aged adult. The cave has also been home to remains of 10 other Neanderthal people excavated around 60 years ago, with clumps of ancient pollen surrounding one of the skeletons. A view of the entrance to Shanidar Cave (Graeme Barker/Cambridge University/PA) The presence of pollen was seen by some archaeologists as evidence that these hominid species not only buried their dead but did so with flowers, challenging the widely-held belief that Neanderthals were dumb and animalistic. The discovery of pollen captured the public imagination and the Shanidar Cave became famous as the flower burial site. Chris Hunt, a professor of cultural paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University, described Shanidar Z as a truly spectacular find. He said: The upper remains are staggeringly complete, although the skull was flattened by compression under many tons of cave sediment. Shanidar Zs left arm and ribs in Shanidar Cave (Graeme Barker/Cambridge University/PA) The body was placed in a depression on the cave floor in a semi-reclining position, with a big stone lying behind the head. Four of the 10 Neanderthals at the site were positioned in what the researchers described as a unique assemblage, raising a question as to whether they were returning to the same spot to lay their dead. Prof Hunt said: We have four bodies within an area the size of a small dinner table and chairs. If we were dealing with modern people, this might merit the use of the word graveyard, but this is a step too far for our understanding of Neanderthal behaviour. Story continues The spinal column of Shanidar Z (Graeme Barker/Cambridge University/PA) Professor Graeme Barker, from Cambridge Universitys McDonald Institute of Archaeology, said: The new excavation suggests that some of these bodies were laid in a channel in the cave floor created by water, which had then been intentionally dug to make it deeper. There is strong early evidence that Shanidar Z was deliberately buried. The team is also analysing sediment samples from Shanidar Z, along with traces of pollen and charcoal from the site, to find out more about the life of the Neanderthals. Dr Emma Pomeroy, from Cambridge Universitys department of archaeology and lead author on the study, said: In recent years we have seen increasing evidence that Neanderthals were more sophisticated than previously thought, from cave markings to use of decorative shells and raptor talons. If Neanderthals were using Shanidar cave as a site of memory for the repeated ritual interment of their dead, it would suggest cultural complexity of a high order. The findings are published in the journal Antiquity. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18 2020 Amid competition concerns, local universities have urged the government to ensure a level playing field following a plan by Australia-based Monash University to establish a campus in Indonesia. Private Universities Association (APTISI) chairman Budi Djatmiko said the presence of foreign universities in general would affect competition among top local universities, both private and state-run, that targeted students from middle to upper income families. This would consequently drive those universities to target lower-income students, further affecting smaller universities, he said. "They [foreign universities] should only offer study programs that aren't commonly available in Indonesia, so that there won't be head-to-head competition [...] otherwise, there will be [market] shifts and consequently, smaller universities won't have students anymore. That's probably what the government wants: for small universities to close down," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login PHILIPSBURG:--- It has been some time now that on-duty police officers have been experiencing difficulties locating parking due to the lack of parking space in the Philipsburg area. Several officers have resorted to parking their vehicles in front of the former government building at the Wathey Cyrus square. Minister of Justice, Mr. Egbert Doran, took note of the situation and decided to assist in alleviating the parking problem for the officers. On Monday, February 17, 2020, Minister Doran issued twenty parking passes to the Chief of Police, Mr. Carl John. The passes give access to the parking lot behind the former government administration building rendering ample parking spots for on-duty officers and also eliminating the traffic congestion in front of the building. According to recent reports in the southern African press, Namibia's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) last week launched its National Broadband Policy together with what it calls an Implementation Action Plan. Namibias Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Stanley Simaata, officially launched both initiatives, which were first outlined in October 2019. Both the National Broadband Policy and the Implementation Action Plan have the shared aim of achieving reliable and affordable broadband access infrastructure services for all. An enabling environment for universal access to broadband infrastructure is to be created and with it an informed, ICT-smart Namibia with access to quality broadband connectivity. More specifically, the policy has the ambitious aim of providing broadband speeds of at least 2Mbps to 95 per cent of the population by 2024, promoting the development of content and applications, reducing the digital divide, and providing incentives for further investment in broadband deployment. Theres a ten-year programme (to 2029) for the policy. The implementation plan is to be carried out over five years and is designed, it is claimed, to ensure effective delivery from the outset. Presenting the policy to a parliamentary standing committee on ICT and innovation, the minister described broadband as a technology that can fundamentally restructure an economy", boosting GDP growth, jobs, trade, service delivery and social development. A reliable, nationally available service is also seen as important in the light of the likely arrival of 5G technology in the timeframe of the Policys implementation programme. The contested results come at a critical time for Afghan politics. U.S. and Taliban negotiators have announced a conditional peace deal that could be signed by the end of the month. And substantial challenges to the vote may plunge Afghanistan into a political crisis just as the government needs to unify ahead of intra-Afghan peace talks with the Taliban insurgents. Michael Bloomberg has qualified to appear in his first Democratic presidential debate Wednesday night's, in Las Vegas. The multi-billionaire former New York City mayor needed to rank high enough in one more poll to make the cut, and he did it in impressive fashion in an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey released early Tuesday. Bloomberg, who's been flooding TV airwaves with hundreds of millions of dollars in ads, has yet to appear in any debates even as he's risen steadily in polls. And his Democratic rivals have said they're anxious to challenge him face-to-face about controversial aspects of his record. Bloomberg was second in the new poll, at 19%, behind only Bernie Sanders, who was the choice of a hefty 31% of those surveyed, up 9% from December, the last time those organizations conducted their poll. Joe Biden was third at 15%, down 9 points since December. Then came Elizabeth Warren at 12%, a dip of 5 points since December, and Amy Klobuchar at 9%, up 4% from December. She passed Pete Buttigieg, who grabbed just 8%, down 13% from his December showing. Read: Who has qualified for the Nevada Democratic debate so far Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey released a statement saying in part, "There's a desire in every corner of this country for a proven leader, for someone who will stand up to bullies and special interests and get things done. That person is Mike Bloomberg, and we look forward to more Americans seeing that on Wednesday night." Mike Bloomberg Campaigns For President In El Paso Mike Bloomberg at a campaign rally on January 29, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. Cengiz Yar / Getty Images To appear on the debate stage at the Paris Theater, candidates have to meet either a delegate or polling threshold, according to the Democratic National Committee. For the delegate requirement, candidates must have won at least one delegate from either the Iowa caucuses or the New Hampshire primary. For the polling threshold, Democratic contenders must clear 10% in at least four national polls approved by the Democratic National Committee or receive 12% in two single-state polls in Nevada or South Carolina. Story continues The qualifications set by the Democratic National Committee for Wednesday's debate are a departure from previous debate requirements, which demanded that Democrats meet a donor threshold. The change paved the way for Bloomberg, who's self-funding his campaign, to land a spot. He'd received at least 10% in three national polls before the latest one surveys by Fox News, Quinnipiac and Monmouth. Bloomberg isn't on the ballot for Saturday's Nevada caucuses or the upcoming South Carolina primary, the next two early-voting states. A Bloomberg spokesperson has said that if he qualified, he'd debate. So far, five of the Democrats still in the race for the nomination appear to have qualified for Wednesday's debate: Biden, Sanders, Warren, Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg. Wednesday night's debate will air on NBC and MSNBC. High school football team buys varsity jacket for special-needs student Trump campaign prioritizes Facebook in reelection bid Reuniting migrant families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border A beautiful blob and a horny pilot. Photo: ABC The pearly Virginia Beach tide is rapidly turning on Victoria Fuller, who, on this weeks The Bachelor, went through what might honestly mightve been [Chris Harrison voice] the most dramatic hometown date ever on the Eastern seaboard. After sharing a nice boardwalk walk-and-talk date with Peter Weber, a friendly ex from Webers past a fully blurred ex, for privacy reasons showed up, warning Weber how terrible of a person Fuller allegedly is. I dont think you deserve who youre on a date with right now, she explained. Theres been many relationships broken up because of her. I dont think its a good relationship for you to be in Id hate to see that come to fruition for you. When Weber asked Fuller for her side of the story later in the evening, she stormed away right before they were due to meet her family at her childhood home. Im disgusted right now, she huffed. Its so much drama all the fucking time. Fuller would still go on to receive a rose, likely because she eventually told Weber that shes falling in love with him. Kelsey Weier, a former pageant girl from Iowa who definitely got a Bachelorette edit, was sent home instead. So what the hell was Weber warned about, and why didnt he ultimately heed to the advice? In an interview with Us Weekly, Webers ex, a woman named Merissa Pence, said she ran in the same social group as Fuller when she moved to Virginia Beach a few years ago, and that they shared a forced friendship thanks to their mutual friends. Our first encounter was that she told me she was going to slash my tires because I was hanging out with one of her ex-boyfriends, Pence recalled. She just thinks that the world revolves around her and shes the hottest thing thats ever hit this planet. Actually the most disturbing thing so far of all of this was the lingerie episode that she just acted like she was this coy person. The people in Virginia Beach are even seeing that thats not you at all. Youre always the one in the bar wanting attention. Being forced to be friends a small city is one thing, but Pences cryptic comment to Weber about many relationships broken up because of Fuller deserves to be unfurled a bit more. Per Bachelor spoiler maestro Reality Steve (please dont continue reading unless you want spoilers), Fuller allegedly has a history of sleeping with her friends husbands in Virginia Beach, and that a marriage or two has been broken up because of her actions. I have never had so many negative stories and as many people contact me about one person, he wrote at the time, than I have this season with Victoria Fuller. Reality Steve also claims that the shows production crew contacted a woman whose husband cheated on her with Fuller, in the hopes she would do an on-camera confrontation. She immediately declined. As The Bachelor moves on to fantasy suites, the other scandal Fuller was embroiled in has seemingly come to its natural 5 Stages of Internet Outrage endpoint. She apologized for previously modeling for a photo shoot in White Lives Matter attire, saying that she unequivocally reject the beliefs of the White Lives Matter movement or any propaganda that supports racism of any kind. She still hasnt commented on her DWI, though. A team from the Institute of Technology, NIRMA University, Gujarat, won the 5th Mitsubishi Electric Cup, receiving a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. The two-day national level automation competition witnessed tough competition among 35 teams, exhibiting projects on the theme 'Visualizing IoT Solutions for Smart Automation'. A team from Agni College of Technology, Tamil Nadu bagged the second position, receiving Rs 75,000 and a CVR College of Engineering, Telangana team ranked third in the competition with prize money of Rs 50,000. Launched in 2016, the Mitsubishi Electric Cup is an annual event organised by Mitsubishi Electric India. This is one of the biggest national-level Automation Competition in India that challenges many engineering college teams to design, build and present factory-automation products based, innovative working models. The 5th Mitsubishi Electric Cup commenced the registration process in July 2019 and received 279 proposals from 140 institutions, over 16 states including two union territories, across the country. All the participating teams were mentored by Mitsubishi Electric Indias technical team and were provided with the essential Mitsubishi Electrics Factory Automation products such as Programable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Servo Motors, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) etc., to showcase their solution based model for smart manufacturing. The competition primarily comprised of three parts - "System Design and Presentation", "Basic Knowledge" and "Good Behaviour". System Design and Presentation required participating teams to focus on the theme of 'Visualising IoT Solutions for Smart Automation' and independently design and produce a complete set of devices/models using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products. "Our mission is to provide a platform to exhibit innovative concepts and support the students with mentorship from professionals in the field of Factory Automation," said Katsunori Ushiku, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India. The basic knowledge test involved questions on Programable Logic Controllers, Inverters, Human Machine Interfaces, Servo Motors and Factory Automation Network, aiming to examine students' understanding of Mitsubishi Electric products and factory automation technologies. Credit: CC0 Public Domain An international team of researchers carried out an experiment at HSE University demonstrating that knowledge of several languages can improve the performance of the human brain. In their study, they registered a correlation between participants' cognitive control and their proficiency in a second language. It is widely believed that bilinguals and multilinguals are better equipped to deal with multiple tasks and that they have a better attention than those who speak only one language. This would seem reasonable: bilinguals and multilinguals have to constantly switch their attention between languages they speak, and alternate between words and grammar structures that are quite different from one another. As a result, their cognitive control functionaction-monitoring and decision-making systemsworks more efficiently than that of monolinguals. Meanwhile, the scientific evidence regarding this phenomenon is rather controversial, as not all of the findings demonstrating this "bilingual advantage" effect have been replicated. According to Nikolay Novitskiy, the paper's first author, one study comparing bilingual children from the Basque Country with Spanish monolingual children found little evidence for the bilingual advantage effect. Similarly, this effect has not been observed in another study comparing the cognitive abilities of senior speakers in the region, while earlier studies had demonstrated the opposite. Several researchers maintain that the bilingual advantage has only been seen in a subset of studies, which used limited participant samples and did not rigorously control for a variety of variables including the participants' socio-economic status (SES). In other words, the reported findings may reflect imbalances in the selection of participants rather than a genuine bilingual advantage effect as bilinguals are often recruited from immigrant or ethnic minority populations whose SES may often be quite different from that of the monolingual population. When group studies use participants widely varying in their education level, income, and other factors, the observed differences in their cognitive abilities may reflect these and other uncontrolled variables rather than their language skills. "Imbalanced parameters in group experiments is a common problem in behavioral studies," said Yury Shtyrov, Professor at Aarhus University and an invited leading scientist at the HSE Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. He also notes: "It is virtually impossible to control all potentially relevant parameters in a group design, and many factors including social ones may influence the results of individual studies." In order to avoid the problem of respondents' heterogeneity, the team's study analyzed the effect of bilingualism on executive control in a homogeneous group of participants. The authors selected 50 unbalanced bilinguals for their study, all HSE University students, who did not speak their second language (English) from early childhood (unlike balanced bilinguals), but started learning it laterduring their school years. As a result, the participants' proficiency in English varied, and the researchers suggested that the relative level of proficiency in second language might correlate with an individual's cognitive control efficiency. In order to test this hypothesis, they measured the students' English proficiency and also asked them to perform on a cognitive control task. "Our working hypothesis was that a higher second language proficiency would correlate with how often participants have to use it," said Andriy Myachykov, Associate Professor at Northumbria University and a leading research fellow at the HSE Centre for Cognition & Decision Making, adding: "Therefore, the more often they must switch their attention between their mother tongue, Russian, and the second language, English, the stronger bilingual advantage effect on their cognitive control efficiency we should find." Cognitive control efficiency was tested with the help of the so-called Attention Network Test, which measures the efficiency of an individual's attention by comparing response times in conditions requiring different degree of focusing and switching attention from one stimulus to another. As such, the task measures the efficiency of main 'attention networks': alertness (readiness for the stimulus), orientation (directing attention to the stimulus), and executive control (switching attention from one stimulus to another). The results of the study demonstrated a correlation between the performance on the attention network test and language proficiency: The better the students knew the second language, the better they could perform on the executive control task. First, this study demonstrates that an approach taking into account relative levels of the respondents' second language skills rather than a group design may help researchers better understand a complex interplay between language and cognition at the level of individual speakers. Second, the study used an objective method (translation task) in order to evaluate second language proficiency while many other studies are based largely on subjective language proficiency self-evaluation and associated measures, such as the nominal length of learning a second language. Explore further Being bilingual may help protect cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis patients More information: Nikolay Novitskiy et al, Conflict Resolution Ability in Late Bilinguals Improves With Increased Second-Language Proficiency: ANT Evidence, Frontiers in Psychology (2019). Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Nikolay Novitskiy et al, Conflict Resolution Ability in Late Bilinguals Improves With Increased Second-Language Proficiency: ANT Evidence,(2019). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02825 Provided by National Research University Higher School of Economics A doctor from Mumbai has sought help from the Indian government to get his mother's body back from China, which is hit by the coronavirus epidemic. Image used for representation only. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters The body has been kept at the morgue of a hospital in Zhengzhou since January 24, when Rita Rajinder Mehra died. Dentist Puneet Mehra, 35, told PTI that the Indian Embassy in Beijing informed him on Monday that the transportation of his mother's body has got delayed in view of the restrictions on movement of people and vehicles in China after the outbreak of coronavirus epidemic in the neighbouring country. The Bandra-based doctor has, thus, sought desperate help from the central government to get back his mother's body at the earliest so that her last rites can be performed in Mumbai with due respect. According to the doctor, on January 24, he and his mother were travelling from Melbourne to Mumbai via Beijing on Air China flight. After about nine hours of the flight take-off, his mother went to the lavatory but did not return for a long time, following which Mehra alerted the crew. The lavatory door was later opened and Mehra's mother was found in an unconscious state, he said. A doctor and a nurse, who were among the passengers, and the crew tried cardiopulmonary resuscitation and later the plane made an emergency landing at Zhengzhou Airport, but she had died by then, he said. Puneet Mehra returned on February 7, but his mother's body is still at the morgue of Henan Provincial Hospital in Zhengzhou. The doctor has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, office of the External Affairs Ministry and the Ambassador of India in Beijing to help in getting back the body. "I have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and requested the government to facilitate the process of transportation of my mother's remains back to Mumbai at the earliest so that the last rites can be performed with due respect," Mehra said. He said this situation has caused a lot of stress to him and my family. "It has been over 24 days now and we are extremely shattered and going through a lot of emotional stress in this helpless situation," he said. He said the hospital in China initially issued a certificate mentioning the cause of his mother's demise as 'death before rescue'. After three days, the hospital gave Mehra another certificate mentioning the cause as 'sudden cardiac death very likely'. Later, another certificate was issued mentioning the cause as 'sudden death', he said. Mehra further said he got a reply from Arvind Kumar (Consular) at the Embassy of India in China, saying the embassy is also very concerned about the issue and has full sympathy with the family at this tragic time. But, China is also facing an equally tragic situation. The outbreak of the new coronavirus epidemic has 'completely derailed normal life' in China, particularly in Hubei and adjoining provinces, due to severity of the spread and number of deaths that have taken place so far, he said. In a bid to contain spread of the virus, the Chinese government has put up widespread and severe restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles. This has resulted in hardest obstacles in inter-provincial movement of people and vehicles. Hence, there is a delay in transportation of the mortal remains of Rita Rajinder Mehra to India by the agency hired by Puneet Mehra, Kumar said in his reply. The consular also said that as per the existing regulations in China, funeral homes in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou only are authorised to carry out embalming and anti-sepsis procedures of mortal remains of a foreigner for air transportation. As of now, the Chinese government has placed complete restrictions on the funeral homes from accepting a body from any place out of these three cities. It means these funeral homes can only deal with the body that pertains to the respective city, he mentioned. Another major obstacle in transporting the mortal remains from the morgue of Zhengzhou to Beijing is severe restrictions on inter-provincial movements, he informed Mehra. "While it is going to be our earnest endeavour with the Chinese authorities to seek their indulgence in allowing the concession in the imposed regulations to allow the mortal remains to be transported to India, yet we cannot predict at this stage whether our pursuance would melt the Chinese authorities," Kumar said. "However, we will try our hardest and hope as well as pray that we succeed. We will let you know any development or update in this regard the moment it comes to our notice," he told Mehra. On the morning of May 13, 2005, a group of armed men -- some of them recently escaped from prison -- stormed into Uzbekistan's eastern city of Andijon. They killed some government officials and took others hostage. A peaceful protest involving hundreds of locals had been going on in Andijon for several days prior to May 13. Order broke down and the armed group, the peaceful protesters, and curious residents of the city all mixed in the streets. Just seven weeks before, Central Asian leaders had watched with great concern as Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev had been ousted from power in a popular revolution in late March. Determined not to allow a repeat of those events in Kyrgyzstan, authoritarian President Islam Karimov called in the military to restore order in Andijon. It was a bloodbath. According to the Uzbek government, 187 people were killed, most of them soldiers and insurrectionists. Civilian deaths, only about 60 according to the Prosecutor-General's Office, were attributed to the insurrectionists. But eyewitness accounts pointed to a civilian casualty figure that was many times higher, with some estimates putting the figure well over 1,000 killed, with reports of mass graves being dug and bodies being flown to Russia. International calls for an independent investigation were rejected. Mentioning The Unmentionable Uzbek officials closed the book on the incident long ago and have avoided talking about the violence since. But an unlikely person just brought up the Andijon violence and admitted there were "mistakes." Deputy Prosecutor-General Svetlana Artykova gave an interview to the Uzbek news agency Qalampir on February 7. Artykova, who participated in an investigation of the Andijon violence, said "innocent" people were shot in the city on May 13. It was the first time an Uzbek government official had made such an admission. She added: "communications were bad, the commanding officer either didn't hear the orders in time or misunderstood them; there were no proper preparations...we made mistakes." Without naming anyone specifically, Artykova said some of the military personnel responsible for the massacre had been imprisoned and, "having served their sentence, returned to their normal lives." Asked why she was providing this information now, Artykova replied that Uzbekistan had changed in the last three years since Karimov had died and Shavkat Mirziyoev became president. "Back then [in Karimov's time], Uzbekistan was closed," Artykova said. "Now it is a new Uzbekistan. Now there is a new style of politics. Now there is a new political will." Artykova did not provide much more information about the Andijon events in the interview. But it is significant that she was the person who raised the topic after all these years. Artykova has spent her entire career in the prosecutor's office going back to the Soviet era when she worked in the prosecutor's office in the city of Namangan, not far from Andijon. She was later a parliament member and prior to her appointment as deputy prosecutor-general, Artykova was the deputy chairwoman of the Senate, Uzbekistan's upper house of parliament. In May 2005, Artykova was the press secretary for the Uzbek prosecutor-general and she made many of the public statements about what happened and who was responsible in the days after the violence in Andijon. That's why Artykova's comments to Qalampir cannot be viewed as a slip of the tongue by a careless bureaucrat. A New Willingness? Many are wondering if her statements signal a new willingness by the Uzbek government to come to terms with the Andijon events. There are still many questions about what happened in Andijon. The rights groups and others who have called for years for an independent probe of the deadly events cited general dissatisfaction with the results of the Uzbek government's investigation right after the violence. Artykova noted in the interview that she was part of that investigation. Though Karimov died in 2016, some officials who were involved in Andijon in 2005 are still alive. Zakir Almatov was Uzbekistan's interior minister in May 2005. Many blame him for the actions of the troops in Andijon. Almatov retired for health reasons a few months after the violence in Andijon but he resurfaced in February 2018 when he was appointed as an adviser to the interior minister. Rustam Inoyatov was the head of the State Security Service in May 2005. He was dismissed from that post in January 2018 and now, at age 75, is semiretired. Uzbekistan's prime minister in May 2005 was Mirziyoev, the current president. At the least, it seems Artykova may have opened the door to discussion of the Andijon killings after all these years of silence. Though there are still many questions about what really transpired on that day in Andijon nearly 15 years ago, Uzbek officials may not yet be ready to provide the answers. Bringing in 75 campervans, each large enough to house a family, turned the Defence Forces Army Bay training camp into a temporary home for 157 people evacuated from Wuhan in China, epicentre of the novel coronavirus. The group, who are either NZ citizens or permanent residents, or from predominantly Pacific Island countries, end their 14 day isolation period this week. The campervans were all hired from one company and driven onto the site by Defence Force personnel. Only 63 are in use. The cost, which is being picked up by the Ministry of Health, could be in the vicinity of $280,000 at commercial campervan rates. After the camp was transformed a process that took two-and-a-half days and involved a concerted effort by a number of Government agencies it was temporarily named Whangaparaoa Reception Centre by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Healths Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, says being able to use the facility was an essential part of the countrys response to novel coronavirus. The training camp was chosen because of its size and location at the end of the peninsula, and because it has its own medical facilities. Onsite staff during the isolation period included Defence Force, Police, Ministry of Health and Red Cross personnel, so that advice, support and daily health checks could be provided. As Hibiscus Matters goes to print, the Ministry of Health advises that all the evacuees are in good health. To allay any fears, the Ministry held a public meeting at the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre on Waitangi Day. I want to thank the people of Whangaparaoa and Gulf Harbour in particular, for the support theyve offered us and the people in isolation, Dr Bloomfield says. For health information on the novel coronavirus, see Health column. Imagine being ripped from everyone and everything in your life, locked in a cell, then flown across the globe to a country you barely know. You have no friends or family there, no job, and sometimes struggle to even be understood by the locals. This is your new life. Thats the situation facing some of those flown to Jamaica on a controversial charter flight this month, many of whom though they remain Jamaican nationals had lived in Britain since they were children. One told The Independent he had only a single memory of the Caribbean island: brushing his teeth as a small child. The mass deportation, which had intended to return around 50 people before the courts limited the number to 17, has shone a light on human suffering caused by Britains returns system, which sees thousands deported each year, often with limited access to legal help to defend their right to stay in the UK. One man struggling to build a life after deportation is Tremayne Brown, 26, who was on a charter flight to Jamaica in 2017. He had lived in Britain since the age of six, having moved from Kingstons Rose Town to south London with his father after his mother, brother and sister were killed by gangs. His father went to prison soon after their arrival and was later deported meaning Tremayne was put into care. No attempts were made to regularise his status in the UK. I was leaving care and I was meant to get my own place and find a job, but then my social worker told me I wasnt allowed to work, and they werent able to give me somewhere to live either, because of my status, says Tremayne. I was suddenly classed as an illegal alien. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty Tremayne had dreams to use his college qualifications to get a job in health and social care for the elderly. But he was not allowed to work. His girlfriend and their baby son needed financial support, so he was pushed into crime. I was stuck in a place where I wasnt allowed to work and I couldnt get anywhere to live. What am I meant to do? I regret it every day. If I didnt do that, I would be there with my son right now. Tremayne faces stigma in Jamaica as a deportee Aged 18, Tremayne was convicted for supplying class A drugs and commercial robbery, serving three years in jail. He did his time, then was transferred to a removal centre and issued deportation orders. He says that on entering detention he was told his removal had been cancelled, so did not contact his solicitor. But a week later, he was put on a flight. One night they came to my door and said, Pack your bags. When I was on the plane I called the solicitor and he said, Why didnt you ring me, I could have cancelled your ticket, but that it was too late. I never got the opportunity to fight my case. A young man who grew up in the hands of the British state was now being flown to a country he had not set foot in for nearly 20 years. Three years on, he is still struggling to settle. Though he lives with his father, Tremayne yearns to see his loved ones in Britain, particularly his son who, now aged six, has spent the majority of his life without his dad, having to make do with video calls. He always asks me, Dad, where are you? And if Im coming back and why I left. Its hard to explain it to him. He might hear his fathers voice and see him, but in reality you want him there in front of you. Through his childhood I havent been there. I havent been able to take him to the park. Those little things are important and have a knock-on effect on him as a child, having to grow up and say, My father wasnt there. It will make him bitter. Life after deportation Tremayne struggled to find work, largely because of his reputation as being one of the deportee boys who had their chance and lost it. His qualifications were not recognised in Jamaica, but he found a job at a holding company. He says the stigma still weighs on his shoulders. His British accent means he is constantly asked where he comes from and why he was deported. Chevon is a qualified barber but struggles to find work I have had to start again from scratch. You spend your whole life in one place and then you have to adapt yourself again. Nothing is easy, but you have to try, he says. Some days are really hard. I miss my son, I miss my foster mum, I miss the scenery. Having been a young boy and grown up there, I class myself as British. Everything I know is from Britain. I never learned anything from Jamaica. Another deportee, Chevon Brown, was forcibly removed on a charter flight last February on the basis of a driving offence he committed aged 21 something he describes as a stupid mistake. He had moved to the UK when he was 14 and has no close relatives in Jamaica. As a qualified barber who started working at the age of 16, the 24-year-old had hoped to find a job fairly easily. But he says his name has been tarnished by the insinuation by British politicians that everyone on the charter plane was a murderer, rapist or drug dealer. Chevon rarely leaves the house because he says he can feel animosity from people in the street, and he has sleepless nights worrying about his future. Ive asked for jobs, told them Im qualified, but after theyve heard my name, they dont want to employ me. They say how can they trust me when Ive been deported, he tells The Independent. People think were going to come here and cause major crimes. Most people think Im a murderer, rapist or drug trafficker, which Im not. I went to prison for dangerous driving and I completely regret it because I never knew Id be serving double punishment for one stupid mistake. Chevon, who grew up in Oxford, served seven months after admitting speeding in an uninsured car. It happened after a heated argument with his housemate, when he took the car out and drove away from police. I knew what I was doing was wrong in the moment, he says. I was genuinely scared. I wish I had stopped, given them the key, got arrested and that be that. I had no idea that this would be the aftermath of driving away from the police. If I ever come back to England I dont want any involvement with police. I just want to live a calm and peaceful life. I want to get a barbershop, get a mortgage on a house, start planning a future, get a car, all those things. But right now, Im paying two, three years after the actual thing. Ive gone to jail, done my time, and years later I still cant actually move on with my life. I feel like Im still in prison. Its worse than prison, because I cant see my family and friends. I feel like Im stuck. My whole reputation has been messed up by one silly mistake. Chevon, who is the eldest of four brothers, says his deportation is tearing [his] family apart because he was no longer able to support his father. Life after deportation: Chevon Brown My dad is getting more and more stressed. Hes got health problems. My 18-year-old brothers not listening to anyone any more. Theres been a ripple effect from whats happened to me. My little brother keeps asking me, When are you coming home? I cant give him a definite answer about that. I wanted to set a good example. But right now I feel like Im actually being a weight on my family, because of all this negative attention thats been drawn towards me. I feel more British than Jamaican. My dad brought me to England and said this was where I was going to be living for the rest of my life. So I dived into the new society and this is who I am today. Most people try to tell me to speak Patois, but I feel comfortable speaking English. When I speak the Jamaican language I feel like I have to put it on. I dont want to put it on. The level of contact goes down, and that just compounds the sense of lost connections Kewku Abodoli While charter flights to Jamaica have garnered media attention in the wake of the Windrush scandal, forced deportations from the UK take place throughout the year to countries across the globe, with 9,461 people removed in 2018 and 12,049 the year before in addition to around 20,000 individuals removed through the voluntary returns route. An estimated 2,000 of those forcibly removed are put on planes privately chartered by the Home Office, of which a total of 20 charter planes left Britain last year, with the destinations including Albania, Pakistan, Nigeria, France and Ghana. Kweku Adoboli, 39, was deported to Ghana in 2018 after having lived in Britain since the age of 12. In a highly publicised court case, he had been sentenced to seven years behind bars in 2012 after losing 1.4bn while working for Swiss bank UBS. The banker, who had a British partner at the time, was sentenced to five years in jail. Two days after he was convicted, he was informed that he was liable to automatic deportation. All the way from being arrested through to just after I was convicted immigration didnt cross my mind. The level of stress goes through the roof, says Kweku, who now lives with his parents in Accra. Suddenly, the battles not over. I cant just sit in and do my time and go home. Kwekus relationship and friendships fell apart upon his deportation to Ghana (Bloomberg/Getty) (Bloomberg via Getty) The pressure in the relationship started to go up, because now shes thinking, Okay, so Ive stood by him through this fight, now what? What if I keep fighting if hes going to get deported anyway? Kweku had left Ghana aged four, when his parents moved to the Middle East for work. He is grateful to have his parents and other relatives now in the country, but devastated at how his relationships in Britain including with his now ex-girlfriend and many friends have broken down since his return. Its the inability of being able to get on a plane and be there for someone, he explains. The distance creates massive tension in the relationship. You have to increasingly distance yourself from these really close relationships. The level of contact goes down, and that just compounds the sense of lost connections, which then leads to depression. After arriving in Ghana, Kweku spent about nine months sitting in his bedroom, unable to leave the house. He developed a number of physical manifestations of the trauma he had been through. My body started to swell up a lot, he says. We thought it was a heart problem so had a lot of heart tests. My face just blew up like a balloon, my legs were like elephant trunks, The Ghanaian national acknowledges that he was relatively lucky on his return that, unlike the Jamaican deportees, he was welcomed with open arms by both his family and the country as a whole, who gave him what he describes as a massive embrace. Because of the violence and the cruelty of what happened to me, I think Ghana went, This is a son of Ghana, a son of Africa, why should anyone be treated this way? Random people on the street would stop me. Everyone recognised me. They were all saying welcome home, he says, adding: My stamina is not back and Im still dealing with adrenal failure, so I still have to do a lot of work to deal with my stress, but Im getting back to the point where Im starting to contribute again. But Kweku still remembers what he went through on during his deportation: Of all that I went through, none of it was as bad as sitting at the back of a plane with five G4S guards. I was hyperventilating, sobbing non-stop for four hours. Branded foreign national offenders and illegal immigrants by the Home Office as they wait in cells to be taken away, these deportees are characterised as hardened criminals. But for Tremayne, Chevon and Kweku, these terms and the trauma ripple through their lives for years to come as they try to start again, thousands of miles from the place they call home. Its a common adage, following Levi-Strauss, that food is good to think with. A class assignment that includes food-centred ethnographic presentations expands the scope of such thinking into embodied and institutional memory. Below I describe such a class feast prepared by second-year social anthropology students at Sol Plaatje University in 2019 (one of two post-Apartheid South African Universities). The idea for the course assignment was inspired by an emerging trend in the social sciences toward thinking more expansively about metabolic living (Solomon 2016). Whilst food alone remains good to think with as a social fact, the concept of metabolic living recognizes biological plasticity (both neuro and genomic). This recognition and the socio-political repercussions of this burgeoning postgenomic field (Meloni, 2016) together offer novel pedagogic approaches that recognise biosocial entanglements (Youdell and Lindley, 2018:7). As pedagogic practice, eating in class both demonstrates and enacts the absorption that scholars across disciplines recognise as metabolic living: the potential for bodies, substances, and environments to mingle, draw attention to each other and even shift definitional parameters (Solomon, 2016:5). The experimental social anthropology course at Sol Plaatje University evolved over three years, from the inception of the school of Humanities in 2016. I was appointed to design and teach this course early in 2016, shortly after the #feesmustfall movement of 2015 and the 2014 #Rhodesmustfall movement. These mass protests called for free tertiary education and a process of decolonising elite institutions that perpetuate racist, colonial and Apartheid oppression through their demographics and practices, aesthetics, exclusionary fee structures, and ideologies. For part of their grade, students were asked to use meals and prepared food to teach themes from particular ethnographies they we read as a class. I contextualise the assessment project briefly, describe the feasts the students prepared, and then reflect on a few themes and questions that potentially advance decolonial teaching tactics via the gut. The first iteration of the course, taught in 2016, was influenced by the political atmosphere after #feesmustfall. Named Borders, Boundaries and Belonging, the course compared South American and Southern African experiences of slavery, spirituality and embodiment, with group projects exploring student-led protests in South America. In 2018, the course was more health/body focused, with students learning about embodiment primarily through dance, and alongside study of critical medical anthropology texts. The students read one medical ethnography (Yates-Doerr, 2015) and visited an isangoma (traditional healer) and private hospital for a field trip (see Morreira, Truyts and Taru forthcoming). Both iterations of the course had the hallmarks of a useful undergraduate medical anthropology curriculum/pedagogy that is, each gradually deconstructed concepts of health and the body across the so-called divide between biomedicine and traditional or alternative medicine, and explored the social aspects of medicine and knowledge production. In South Africa, deterministic ideas of biology were used to justify racism and segregation during Apartheid and colonialism. In the context of student-led protests to decolonise higher education in terms of access, aesthetics, ideology and pedagogy scholars are called upon to reflect how exclusionary practices are perpetuated in terms of the everyday experience of students. It is precisely in the renewed attention to the entanglement of biological and social, as Youdell and Lindley (2018:2) suggest, that we have the opportunity to foreground students experiences and institutional processes in our pedagogic practice. The third time the course was taught, in 2019, the first lecture required students to walk around the class, assessing objects that had been placed haphazardly on desks lipstick, a measuring cup, a condom. Students walked together in groups, and spoke about objects they were or were not drawn to. They were asked: how does gender, race, kinship, and your social life inform your relation to the world? We then moved through readings that situated debates around the politics of knowledge in a South African context, (notably Levines 2013 Testing Knowledge: Legitimacy, Healing and Medicine in South Africa) and explored concepts like biopower, habitus and embodiment, before moving to food and the body. In groups, students read chapters of Nir Avielis Food and Power: A Culinary Ethnography of Israel (2017); Emily Yates-Doerr The Weight of Obesity: Hunger and Global Health in Postwar Guatamala (2015) and Harris Solomons (2016) Metabolic Living: Food, Fat, and the Absorption of Illness in India. Each group gave presentations on selected chapters that dealt with food, power and the body. They groups received a budget of R 400 (about 40 US dollars) to purchase food to share with the class as part of their presentations, which included a summary of the key ideas offered in the text.[1] The use of food to think with was thus framed in terms of a concept or method of nourishment (see Truyts 2016 and Truyts 2018). Nourishment does similar work to Solomons concept of metabolic living; both call attention to the social aspects of porosity (via Landecker 2011) and the forms of memory, work and power imbricated in metabolism. This assignment was given after a close reading of Levines (2014) paper that situates a politics of knowledge around HIV/AIDS debates in South Africa within a political economy of lack, where specific modalities of healing are mobilised in the face of inequality. Students were thus prepared to question socio-political processes of life and death through attention to absorption and ingestion. The feast The group whose presentation was inspired by Avieli (2016) was late to arrive in class. Their tardiness was explained when they staggered into class with enormous platters and an eclectic combination of foods. The group focused on hummus explaining how this so-called national Israeli dish represents fraught notions of belonging. The students served take-aways that exemplified McDonaldisation, the globalisation or Americanisation of food according to principles of efficiency and standardisation (Ritzer 19983 in Avieli 2018:113) along with a meat dish. The meat prompted discussion of how eating practices can enact power reversals, as in Avielis description of how Israeli soldiers claim victimisation because they receive smaller meat portions than Palestinian prisoners (2016:146). The strength of the groups presentation lay in their enormous mishmash dish (that was pointedly not devoured by their classmates), which demonstrates what Avieli (2018) describes as taste for high volumes of diverse flavours of diverse foods. This allowed the class to reflect on the subjectivity of taste in relation to geopolitical wars where nationhood and personhood draw on global histories of violence. By cooking based on Avielis descriptions of context-specific and storied tastes, they could more easily imagine how subjectivities come to be crafted in the context of overlapping culinary and geographical territories. The group who read Yates-Doerr (2015) transformed desks into a table with a bright green tablecloth, and invited us to sit down. They poured Coca-Cola into cups, reminding us of the questions raised by non-communicable diseases with regard to body shaming, health risks, and biopower. They explained their failed attempts to make tortillas, serving shop-purchased flatbreads and playing a short video about how to make tortillas. The video slowly and artfully helped us consider how rich in memory, art and family food can be a richness that is not valued in the same way as low calorie counts. With mouth-puckering salsa, the group served a lesson in neo-liberal politics, as global public health agendas come to rest in discourse and in the body. Drawing on Solomons (2016) account of mango-madness in Mumbai, India, the third group served mango tart, a South African dessert, as well as delicious home-made samosas. Solomon does not discuss samosas, but the students chose to prepare them because one member of their group was an expert at making what is seen as a traditionally/stereotypically Indian food. We were surprised to learn that the student who had made the samosas (who was White, and Afrikaans-speaking) had been taught by her grandmother. Her grandmother. in turn, had learned from her husbands familyshe had married an Indian man during Apartheid, when race was strictly categorised and intimacy across those boundaries both forbidden and taboo. In reflecting on our surprise, we were powerfully reminded of how quickly we move to associate food with racial, gender, class and national identity as in Herzfelds description of gastro-essentialism where stereotypes of eating practices rely on static, singular iterations of eating practices that are in actuality dynamic and diverse (2016:31). Decolonising, political economy and diverse logics Davis (2012) prompts us to interrogate the conditions under which we might pursue diverse logics for their own sake. In this pursuit, what possibilities for good, or opportunities to imagine worlds otherwise, might we pass by? As students linked cruddy, ordinary experiences of diabetes, to a state of poverty where taking anti-retroviral medications hurts on empty stomachs, we reflected on the political and philosophical significance of food in relation to life. This experience of taste, the desire to consume the colourful dishes that filled the class with a mishmash of scents, the way these tastes, scents, and desires evidenced memories of community and family in flavour, highlighted the inadequacies of a calorific focus on food, bringing pressing questions of lack and inequity closer to the table. This very intimate act of eating, of accruement, is metabolic livingit is interested in staying alive (Garrido, 2007). Food is a vital and social mediator of life and death. Yet, scholars have tended to underestimate the power of nourishing food to help us understand how death is arranged socially and spatially, and how the political and social are knit together in the gut. The three feasts called into question, to quote Solomon (2016:5), how and to what extent the self and the world mix. The lessons learnt in the classroom demand we recognize that bodies, environment and knowledge are each porous, and their interface is simultaneously political and visceral (ibid.:9), particularly when we think about the beginning and end of the body and the ingestion of environment. As students quickly learn, it is much more difficult than it may appear to theorise from experiences of the everyday. Eating in class makes the flow from lived reality to theory iterative, creating more opportunities for students experiences (Youdell and Lindley 2018). With an opportunity to create experience and defamiliarise their own taste from theory, as it were, the conventional flows of learning were upturned, re-positioning students as makers, teachers, feeders, eaters, guests at the table. As we wiped off the tables and stretched in our now-tightened clothing, the students and I laughed about the perverse, belly-bulging discomfort of Saveah (from Israel/Avieli)perhaps too much rica (richness, recipes, a word hard to translate from the Spanish/ Guatemalan context, as Yates-Doerr shows), and a clear display of mango madness (connecting our South African classroom with Solomons Bandra). Desks were desks again, but there was a spirit of glee and delight in the classroom. Taking a meal togethertouching, serving, swallowing, tasting, talkinghad altered us, and helped us pay attention to the ordinary ways in which we taste, gather, condemn, and constitute ourselves as social, political and moral beings. As anthropologists and academics we would do well to attend to the ethical, political and even decolonial possibilities that emerge when we break bread at our desks. This consubstantiation is powerful if literal. It is shared in the spirit of provoking how we experience, how we know, how we define life, and more specifically, evaluate the good life. Notes [1] The funding came from an IDRC funded research project for which I am the Kimberley partner. The Nourishing Spaces project explores the links between Non-Communicable Diseases and food environments in six African cities. Traversing disciplines, nations, and sectors, it attempts to draw in stakeholders from communities, government, formal and informal retail and beyond. Works Cited Avieli, N (2017) Food and Power: A Culinary Ethnography of Israel. Oakland: University of California Press. Davis, C (2012) What Is Life Worth? A Rough Guide to Valuation. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 26(4):50317. Garrido, J.-M (2012). On Time, Being, and Hunger: Challenging the Traditional Way of Thinking Life, First edition. ed, Forms of living. Fordham University Press. Herzfeld, M (2016) Culinary Stereotypes:The Gustatory Politics of Gastro-Essentialism in The Handbook of Food and Anthropology, edited by Klein, Jakob.A and Watson, James.L. London: Bloomsbury. Landecker, H (2011) Food as Exposure: Nutritional Epigenetics and the New Metabolism. BioSocieties 6(2):16794. Levine, S (2013) Testing knowledge: legitimacy, healing and medicine in South Africa. In Levine (ed) Medicine and the Politics of Knowledge. Cape Town: HSRC Press. Meloni, M (2016) Political Biology: Science and Social Values in Human Heredity from Eugenics to Epigenetics. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Morreira, S, Truyts, C and Taru, J (Forthcoming) Place and Pedagogy: Using Space and Materiality in Teaching Social Science in Southern Africa. Third World Thematics. Solomon, H (2016) Metabolic Living: Food, Fat, and the Absorption of Illness in India. Durham: Duke University Press. Truyts, C (2016) Bracketing Time: Nourishment Beyond The First Thousand Days | Somatosphere. Somatosphere: Science, Medicine and Anthropology . http://somatosphere.net/2016/bracketing-time-nourishment-beyond-the-first-thousand-days.html/ Truyts, C (2017) One Meal at a Time: Nourishment in the Cape Winelands. MA Research dissertation in Social anthropology, University of Cape Town. Yates-Doerr, E (2015) The Weight of Obesity: Hunger and Global Health in Post War Guatemala. Oakland: University of California Press. Youdell, D and Lindley M (2018) Biosocial Education: The Social and Biological Entanglements of Learning. Milton: Routledge. Carina Truyts is a PhD candidate at the Alfred Deakin Institute at Deakin University, Melbourne where she is working on questions of genomic and postgenomic knowledge and plasticity in the global South. Her upcoming manuscript, tentatively titled Editing life: nourishment and belonging in the Cape Winelands, South Africa explores practices of everyday care and forms of life through a series of meals that draw on philosophy, science and ethnography to describe how care is materialised and enfleshed. Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] By PTI PATNA: In a blistering attack on Prashant Kishor, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday said the expelled JD(U) leader had cut his teeth as an election strategist for Narendra Modi in 2014, but was now accusing the BJP of following "Godse". In a flurry of tweets, Sushil Modi, one of the senior-most leaders of the BJP in Bihar, flayed Kishor, without mentioning him by name, for having used a derogatory term like "pichhlaggu" (underling) for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar despite claiming that the JD(U) boss was "pitra tulya" (like a father) to him. The opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar, however, lapped up the strident criticism of the Nitish Kumar government to help the five-party formation in its fight against the formidable NDA in the assembly polls due later this year. The deputy CM, who has had spats with Kishor on social media on more than one occasion when the latter was the JD(U) national vice-president, disparaged the acclaimed poll strategist as one who lived off "event management and slogan writing" and was quick to "adopt the ideology and political idiom of sponsors". "Elections are due in Bihar in a few months. Hence, all are working towards maximising their gains. While the ruling dispensation is going to the people with an account of its achievements in the last five years, the unemployed are taking out rath yatra," Sushil Modi said. He was alluding to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's proposed state-wide Berozgari Yatra, scheduled to commence on Sunday. Targeting Kishor, the BJP leader said, "The public is supreme and it will bless those who have performed. Those involved in event management and slogan writing, are now looking for a new contract. Event managers have no ideology of their own and they are quick to adopt the ideology of sponsors". "But the public is watching all this. It is taking note of people discovering the shadow of Godse, just ahead of elections, in some and pristine Gandhian secularism in others," he alleged. "The one who used to boast about having handled Narendra Modi's poll campaign in 2014, should explain why neither BJP nor Modi appeared to him as followers of Godse back then. "Nitish Kumar is with the BJP for the past two-and-a-half years. Why has he discovered Godse's legacy only eight months ahead of the assembly polls?" the deputy chief minister said. ALSO READ | Don't need additional security, says Prashant Kishor refuting threat claims At his first press conference after expulsion from the JD(U), Kishor said here earlier in the day that he was unable to reconcile with Nitish Kumar choosing to align with "followers of Godse", while swearing by Gandhi, Lohia and JP. Sushil Modi also remarked, "it is a strange hypocrisy to call somebody 'pita tulya' and using a foul word like 'pichhlaggu' for the same person," referring to Kishor's contention that he still had personal regard for the chief minister though he was saddened by Kumar's capitulation before the BJP for retaining power. JD(U) national general secretary and chief spokesman KC Tyagi, who was the signatory to the letter whereby Kishor along with another party dissident Pavan Varma was expelled last month, also reacted to the election strategist's outbursts with visible distaste. "We do not take things spoken by him seriously. Nitish Kumar has never been a pichhlaggu of anybody. By using such words, he is demeaning the people of Bihar. He has no ideological commitments towards Gandhi or Godse." "We know for whom he is batting this time. They have been defeated by Nitish Kumar at the hustings repeatedly. If he chooses to join this fight, we are game for the challenge," Tyagi said. Meanwhile, the opposition happily latched onto the stringent criticism Kishor made of Kumar, who has been declared as the NDA face in the upcoming state polls by former BJP chief and Union Home minister Amit Shah. The Congress, which has also utilised the services of Kishor, in more than one state, asked the 42-year-old poll strategist to give up his ambivalence towards the chief minister, reminding him of the "humiliating" manner in which he was expelled from the JD(U) for having irked the BJP. ALSO READ | Nitish subservient to BJP leadership, says Prashant Kishor, questions development model in Bihar "Prashant Kishor has called Nitish Kumar pitra tulya. The chief minister did not bat an eyelid while humiliating him and expelling him from the party in which he held the post of national vice-president. All this only to placate the BJP," AICC media panelist and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra told PTI. Kishor had been bitterly opposed to his party's support to the CAA, a stance that had threatened to upend the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in the state. Mishra said Kishor must utilise his talents by joining hands with the RJD-Congress alliance. RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary echoed the sentiments, saying, "We have been saying what Kishor said today about the inconsistencies of Nitish Kumar and his fall from grace following capitulation before the BJP". "His words have lent credence to the claim made by our leader Tejashwi Yadav on the floor of the assembly where he had expressed shock over the realignment, given Kumar's serious apprehensions about the Sangh and its ideology," Tiwary said, asking Kishor to give up his drift and wholeheartedly join the anti-NDA forces. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha, partners of the opposition grouping, also hailed Kishor and welcomed him to work with them. The Bachelor is heading back to the United States this week, as star Peter Weber joins each of the remaining girls, including Hannah Ann Sluss, in their hometowns, and learns of a surprise that could tear apart his relationship with one of them. Here is everything youll need to know to watch a live stream of The Bachelor online without cable as it airs. This week, The Bachelor will air only on Monday at 8 p.m., in its usual time slot on ABC. There will be no additional episode on Wednesday, Feb. 19. How to live stream The Bachelor without cable If youre a cord-cutter, you dont have cable, or youre just looking for an easy way to catch up with the series, you can live stream The Bachelor on Hulu Live TV. (To get a free trial, click the Hulu logo in the top-left corner and choose the Hulu + Live TV package.) What time does The Bachelor come on? How long is The Bachelor tonight? The Bachelor will begin airing the 8th episode of its 24th season at 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17. It will run until 10 p.m., where it will be followed immediately afterward by a brand new episode of The Good Doctor. There will be no additional episode this week on Wednesday, Feb. 19. What channel is ABC? You can use the channel finder on your providers website to locate it: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish. How to watch The Bachelor online on-demand If, somehow, you managed to miss a new episode of The Bachelor, or even if you just want to binge watch the entire season online (again), you can look for it on Hulu Live TV. (To get a free trial, click the Hulu logo in the top-left corner and choose the Hulu + Live TV package.) What is The Bachelor?' What is it about? According to the ABCs description of The Bachelor on its official website: Airline pilot Peter Weber caught the attention of Bachelorette Hannah Brown and all of America the first night they met, stepping out of the limo and expressing his desire for a co-pilot in life. While Peter seemed sweet at first glance, it became clear this charming man in uniform could bring the heat. The passion between Hannah and Peter was undeniable. After expressing his love to her and spending a memorable night in a windmill together, all of America was left shocked and heartbroken with Hannahs decision to end the relationship. Returning home from Greece, Peter was forced to confront his pain and pick up the pieces of his broken heart. Now, Peter is back to take his search for true love to new heights on the 24th season of ABCs hit romance reality series The Bachelor, premiering in January 2020. Heres a look at an upcoming scene from The Bachelor in which Kelsey comes clean about a family secret during her date with Peter, courtesy of Bachelor Nations official YouTube channel: What happens on The Bachelor tonight? No spoilers here! If you want to find out what happens on The Bachelor tonight, youll have to watch it on Hulu Live TV. (To get a free trial, click the Hulu logo in the top-left corner and choose the Hulu + Live TV package.) Who went home on The Bachelor last week? Who is left on The Bachelor? The most recent ladies to depart from The Bachelor were Kelley Flanagan and Natasha Parker. That means that Hannah Ann Sluss, Kelsey Weier, Madison Prewett, and Victoria Fuller are the final four who have yet to go home. Related stories about The Bachelor Here are some additional stories and articles about The Bachelor, including a look at the White Lives Matter scandal which has engulfed one of the series contestants: Bachelor contestant Victoria Fuller apologizes for White Lives Matter clothing scandal Bachelor Spoilers: What Happens In Fantasy Suite Overnight Dates For Peter Webers Final 3 Bachelor preview: Victoria F melts down during hometowns Cosmopolitan Bachelor recaps Joseph Rejent may be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. No one in the camp knew who the white-haired Australian in the leather shoes was. Foreigners do not tend to bring good news and they are viewed with suspicion in the shanty town. They quickly surrounded him. The visitor was Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. He arrived two weeks ago at this migrant workers camp in Lepe, in the southern Spanish province of Huelva, to find out how people in 21st-century Spain can live without water, electricity or a toilet. Alston, without letting go of his red notebook, sat down on a cable reel under the only pine tree in the makeshift settlement and listened to the concerns of the residents, all of whom are Sub-Saharan workers living in precarious conditions. His friendly attitude never wavered, he didnt frown or ask too many questions, but after his visit, he said: They live like animals. Their conditions are among the worst that I have seen in any part of the world. Around the pine tree where Alston took his notes there are some 70 shanty homes made from pallets, cardboard and plastic from greenhouses, which are the economic driver of Huelva. Seen from above, the shacks, tied together with discarded hoses from strawberry plantations, look like drug packages. Inside the stuffy shacks, residents struggle to live with as much dignity as possible. Aerial view of the shanty town in Lepe. paco puentes Around 300 people, most from Mali, live at the camp. It is the largest one in Lepe, but the Catholic charity group Caritas estimates that there are 2,000 workers living in the same subhuman conditions just in Huelva. They earn around 6 an hour. Some of them have been living in these camps for more than a decade. At the camp in Lepe, people cook by the light from their cellphones, fetch water from a tap two kilometers away and store it in plastic bottles that were once used for weedkiller. They shower outdoors with water heated on the stove, and go to the bathroom in the field. The trash, which the city does not collect, is put in garbage bags and thrown over the ravine. But there is order here. The camp is neat; there is a cooking schedule and other rules. Alcohol, drugs, bonfires and fighting are banned. Shanty towns have existed on Spains western coast for more than 20 years This is the worst place I have lived, says Karidioula Kession, a 32-year-old from Cote dIvoire who arrived in Ceuta, one of Spains North African exclave cities, in 2016. If I were to tell my family that I was living here they wouldnt believe me. Its my secret, he adds in Spanish. Kession, like most of the migrants who are now in Lepe, is one of the many temp workers who pick grapes in Logrono, apples in Lleida, zucchini in Almeria, grains in Salamanca, almonds in Tomelloso, and strawberry and citrus fruits in Huelva. They spend the year going from plantation to plantation, taking on the hardest jobs in Spains countryside. Some of the migrants, like Kession, do not have work permits, a situation their employers take advantage of. For two years and seven months, I picked zucchini in El Ejido [in Almeria] for 35 a day. My boss promised that she would hire me, but when it came time to regularize my documents, she chose another [undocumented migrant], he says. Gibril Betraure, from Mali, has had similar difficulties. Without a permit, you work very little and now I dont have money to buy food. It shames me to always be eating off my friends plate, he says as he tears away the weeds growing at the entrance to his shack. Bedbug bites This place is too difficult. There is sickness. When you arrive from work, you have to take a bath and rest a little before going for water and food, Magassa Mady, from Mali, says in Italian. Mady was given a residency permit in Italy as an asylum seeker, but has no permission to work in Spain. His hands are covered in bedbug bites, and he lives with 20 others in the only wooden construction in the camp. He shares a room with six other men. His bed, the largest in the room, is shared between two. A man sits outside a shack in the makeshift camp. PACO PUENTES It is especially hard for field workers to regularize their status. By law, they must be able to show that they have been living in Spain for three years and have a one-year work contract which is difficult to do in a sector defined by temporary contracts. They could ease up on the bureaucratic bubble these people are facing to allow them to regularize their status, says Juan Manuel Breva, who heads Caritass department for people at risk of exclusion in Huelva. Its difficult for them to register on the municipal roll when they live in a settlement, and demanding a one-year contract from them is an insurmountable barrier. According to a 2017 report from Caritas, 74% of day workers in Huelva do have residency and work permits, but that doesnt mean their conditions are any better. They have a contract and work more than undocumented migrants, but they live in the same shanty towns, get wet when it rains and also sleep in overcrowded rooms. According to dozens of temp workers at the camp, everywhere they have worked they have had a bed, a room, or a home to rent except in Lepe. What is unusual in this case, is not just the terrible conditions they are living in, but the lack of response from the authorities UN expert Philip Alston I got my papers with a contract four years ago. I make 1,200 a month, but there are no homes or rooms to rent. I have been here three months, says a Malian migrant who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2008, speaking with an Andalusian accent. The shanty towns of temp workers have existed on Spains southwestern coast for more than 20 years. The intensive agriculture industry has made millions for the region, yet no government agency or business owner has done anything to stop migrant field workers from living in such precarious conditions. According to the UN expert, every time a government official was asked about the situation, they blamed someone else. It was not their responsibility. Basically, everyone looked the other way, Alston told EL PAIS. What is unusual in this case is not just the terrible conditions they are living in, but the lack of response from the authorities. The problem is the same or worse than what it was in the 1980s, and there continues to be no solution, says Jesus Toronjo, the spokesperson for the local government in Lepe. Anyone who wants to believe that this is just the responsibility of the local authorities is wrong. This is everyones problem: the central government, the Andalusian regional government, the provincial authority in Huelva, the local governments and the business owners. In the wake of Alstons findings, the Labor and Social Economy Ministry announced that it would look for a way to ensure companies help provide workers with accommodation, and to monitor living conditions. One of the leaders of the Lepe workers camp is Mamadou Tunkara, a 45-year-old from Mali with a large mustache who has been living in this shanty town during the harvesting season for more than a decade. He jumped the border fence into Ceuta in 1999 and spent 10 years working in construction. When the crisis hit Spain, he started working in agriculture. Now he has a three-month contract and works nonstop to make 1,200, which he sends almost entirely to his family. I am lucky now because a week ago my boss let me sleep in his field, he says. Theres no solution, interjects 42-year-old Nana Keita, as he plays checkers with Coca-Cola and Fanta bottle caps. They just want us for the work. English version by Melissa Kitson. LONDON, Ohio A Willoughby man serving a sentence on burglary and trespassing charges was killed Saturday in an incident at a central Ohio prison, reports say. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman JoEllen Smith confirmed the death of Robert Leach Jr., 23, to the Associated Press on Monday. A spokesperson for the State Highway Patrol tells WBNS Channel 10 the death is being investigated as a homicide but no charges have been filed. ABC 6 reports an incident at Madison Correctional Institution broke out at 12:22 p.m. Saturday. The prison was placed in a modified movement security status because of the incident. Leach Jr. was declared dead at 12:58 p.m., ABC 6 reports. Records show Leach Jr. began serving a seven-year prison sentence in May 2017. He was convicted in Lake County on three counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary and one count of trespass in a habitation. Leach was arrested in April 2016 on suspicion of committing several burglaries at residences in Willoughby, Mentor and Wickliffe, according to the News-Herald. Police say three of the victims were sleeping in their homes when the burglaries occurred. Watches, cash and jewelry were taken in the burglaries, the News-Herald reports. To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comments page. More content on cleveland.com: Lorain man arrested on drug charges after raid on home Cat dies after being shot with pellet, found with knife wounds in South Euclid, police say Man shot wife in leg, then took his own life in Cleveland, police say Duo ran from stolen car after leading Maple Heights officers on hour-long chase, police say Trio attacked Cleveland man with car jack, tried to shove him into trunk of car, records say Strongsville priest accused in child pornography case may have participated in child prostitution, prosecutors say Feb 18, 2020 KRR Actors Atharvaa Murali and Anupama Parameswarans upcoming film, produced and directed by R Kannan has got a title now. Atharvaa took to his Twitter page on Tuesday and shared the first look poster of the film. Here it is . The First Look of my next film titled #ThalliPogathey ! , he tweeted. The film marks Malayalam actress Anupama Parameswarans return to Tamil amidst her busy schedule in Telugu films. This is the second time that Atharvaa and the director are joining hands after Boomerang. Velaiyilla Pattadhari fame Amitash Pradhan also appears in an important role. The dialogues for this romantic flick are penned by Kabilan Vairamuthu. Gopi Sundar, who is well-known in Malayalam films, is composing music. The film is set to hit the screens in April. Click the Movie button below for more info: Thalli Pogathey Atharvaa Pictures Former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke has warned that Dominic Cummings can only survive in No 10 if he vanishes from the headlines as he mounted an outspoken attack on Boris Johnsons government. The political veteran said powerful aides dont normally dress exotically and pose for the photographers before giving quite blatantly briefings all over the place and said Mr Cummings must return to being a back room operator if he wants to remain in his role. Mr Clarke, who served under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron, questioned whether the PMs top aide loves the vast amount of publicity hes getting but hes in newspapers more than the prime minister a situation traditionally regarded as absolute disaster. Speaking to the ITV News Acting Prime Minister podcast, he warned you cant govern a country and explain what youre doing for the public by the medium of leaks from an exotic aide in No10. Mr Clarke, who was expelled from the Tory party for rebelling over Brexit, said: Boris may not be interested in the detail of policy but hes not an idiot, hes a very bright man and the Cummings thing can only last if Mr Cummings personal appearances stop and he vanishes and he goes back to being the back room apparatchik which, of course, you need and what hes supposed to be doing. I dont know, hes been given a caricature personality by the media. Ive never met him, so if I ever met him Im told hes highly intelligent as well but Ive no idea whether hes the rather bizarre crackpot figure which the newspapers like to make him out to be. The intervention comes amid a fierce backlash over the appointment of No 10 aide Andrew Sabisky, who quit his post on Monday over past remarks on eugencis, race and compulsory contraception. The 27-year-old was understood to have been hired by Mr Cummings as part of a drive to recruit weirdos and misfits to work with him in Downing Street. Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng broke ranks on Tuesday by condemning racist remarks from Mr Sabisky and calling for an overhaul to recruitment processes in Downing Street. I think we should prevent racists from coming into No10 or wherever he was working. I think we do need to look at these processes, he said. Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Show all 17 1 /17 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Sajid Javid Resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Javids departure comes just one month before a crucial budget, intended to chart the course for the new government and makes him the shortest-serving chancellor for more than 50 years Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Rishi Sunak Promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Chancellor of the Exchequer after the dramatic resignation of Sajid Javid Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Esther McVey Sacked as housing minister AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Andrea Leadsom Sacked as business secretary EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Alok Sharma Appointed business secretary (previously international development secretary). He has also been put in charge of the UKs COP26 climate change summit PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Attorney General Geoffrey Cox Resigned as the government's most senior law officer AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Suella Braverman Appointed Attorney General and she will attend cabinet EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Theresa Villiers Sacked as environment secretary PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: George Eustice Appointed environment, food and rural affairs secretary. He was a farming and fisheries minister Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Anne-Marie Trevelyan Appointed international development secretary (previously parliamentary under-secretary for defence) Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Julian Smith Sacked as Northern Ireland secretary Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Brandon Lewis Appointed Secretary of Northern Ireland Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Stephen Barclay Appointed chief secretary to the Treasury PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Oliver Dowden Appointed culture secretary, succeeding Nicky Morgan Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Chris Skidmore Sacked as eucation minister Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Nus Ghani Sacked as transport minister Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/CC BY 3.0 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: George Freeman Sacked as transport minister Getty On Mr Sabiskys past writings, Mr Kwarteng said: It was completely reprehensible they were racist remarks. Outside his house on Tuesday morning, Mr Cummings failed to answer a question about whether there would be any more weirdos, suggesting people should read about superforecasters instead. He told reporters: Read Philip Tetlocks Superforecasters instead of political pundits who dont know what theyre talking about. Niamey: Fifteen women and five children were trampled to death in a stampede for food and money for refugees in southeast Niger, a regional governor said. The accident occurred at a youth and culture centre in Diffa, the main town of a region of the same name that hosts more than a quarter of a million refugees and internally displaced people, on Monday. "Unfortunately, fifteen women and five children died... in this regrettable drama," Issa Lemine, the regional governor of Diffa, said on television after visiting the injured in hospital. Aid workers confirmed the death toll and said about 10 people had been injured. The region which abuts Nigeria and Chad has been repeatedly hit by attacks by Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadist group since 2015. It hosts 119,000 Nigerian refugees, 109,000 internally-displaced people and 30,000 Nigeriens who have come home from Nigeria because of the instability in its northeast, according to UN figures released in October. The aid being distributed had been given by Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno state in northeast Nigeria, a Nigerian official told AFP. He had come to the region to visit camps for refugees and the displaced, and had already left the town when the stampede occurred. A large amount of food, cooking oil and clothing, as well as money, was due to be distributed, a Diffa municipal worker told AFP. "Thousands of people were in the courtyard of the MJC (Culture and Youth Centre) and nearby," he said. "As soon as the first people received their rations, the compressed crowd started to get excited, the organisers were swiftly overwhelmed and then it all kicked off -- women, children and the fit ones started to push," the employee said. "The weakest people fell to the ground. Some were injured and others were crushed to death." A local resident told AFP that aid workers were distributing 5,000 naira ($13.75, 12.7 euros), referring to Nigeria's national currency. Diffa governor Lemine said a successful distribution had taken place on Sunday. "Thousands of people, most of them refugees, heard about the handout and left the camps, sometimes travelling up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) to get to Diffa," the source said. A local official said he was astonished at the situation: "Normally, people who are entitled to the handouts send a representative to Diffa to pick it up. But this time, the refugees themselves decided to come and get it, travelling dozens of kilometres (miles)." Another resident said: "Even ordinary inhabitants of Diffa rushed there in the hope of getting the handout." A local journalist said the emergency services arrived swiftly, taking wounded people to local treatment centres, while bodies were taken to the morgue of the nearby Diffa hospital. Mining giant Glencore fell to a $404million loss in 2019 as the mining giant was hit by lower commodity prices and trade uncertainty. The British-Swiss multinational was severely damaged by $2.8billion in impairment charges arising from its Colombian coal, Chad oil and African copper operations, causing it to undergo its first annual loss since 2014. Reduced coal and cobalt prices, and weak European demand for coal cut total revenues at Glencore by over a quarter to $11.6billion. Net debt rose 19 per cent meanwhile, from $14.7billion to $17.6billion. Glencore says their Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions should fall 10 per cent by the end of the year while falling coal and oil output should cut its Scope 3 emissions 30 per cent by 2035 Chief executive Ivan Glasenberg stated: 'Our performance in 2019 reflected the prolonged and uncertain trade deal negotiations, generally weaker prices for our key commodities and some operational challenges experienced at our ramp-up development assets.' Despite the poor results, Glencore said it has made considerable progress in cutting its carbon emissions. In 2017, it set itself the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 from 2016 levels. It is on track to have their 'Scope 1' and 'Scope 2' carbon emissions fall 10 per cent by the end of the year, and to see their 'Scope 3' emissions fall 30 per cent by 2035, largely due to falling coal and oil output. 'Scopes' are calculations of a company's carbon footprint. Scope 1 emissions measure emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the power it buys to run operations, while Scope 3 relates to emissions generated when its products are used. A year ago, Glencore, which is the world's largest mining company, said it would cap coal output at 150 million tonnes per annum. Coal, which is highly cash generative and low cost, accounted for about a third of Glencore's core profit in 2018. In July, rival BHP said it would invest $400million over five years to reduce emissions but has not yet set Scope 3 goals. Neither have peers such as Anglo American and Rio Tinto . Chief executive Ivan Glasenberg stated: 'Our performance in 2019 reflected the prolonged and uncertain trade deal negotiations, generally weaker prices for our key commodities and some operational challenges experienced at our ramp-up/development assets' Adam Vettese, an analyst at eToro, said the progress being made to reduce emissions is about the only positive aspect of Glencore's financial performance last year. He wrote: 'Apart from its commitment to slash emissions, there is almost nothing to cheer about in Glencore's preliminary results this morning. 'While last year's trade war and weak commodity prices will have played a role in Glencore's poor recent performance, the brutal truth is that it's position as the world's number one exporter of thermal coal is becoming a millstone around its neck and is partly why it has made its first loss in 4 years. 'The world is slowly weaning itself off coal and therefore its position in the sector is no longer an advantage. Glencore has committed to lowering coal production but of course this won't happen overnight. That's why it might continue to lag its peers for some time yet.' Glencore is being investigated in Brazil in relation to the Operation Car Wash scandal, which involves claims that Brazilian politicians received bribes from the state oil company Petrobras The business has also been hurt by a series of corruption investigations that have damaged its reputation and, subsequently, its share price. They include US Department of Justice allegations that Glencore engaged in money laundering and corruption in Nigeria, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Late last year, the UK's Serious Fraud Office also opened an inquiry into suspicions of bribery, while the Brazilian government is looking at Glencore as part of its 'Operation Car Wash' investigation. Operation Car Wash is considered to be Brazil's largest ever corruption scandal in its history. It involves claims that Brazilian politicians received bribes from the state oil company Petrobras. Over 140 people have been convicted in relation to the investigation. Shares in Glencore fell 3.6 per cent this morning to 228.2p. Veteran Bengali actor-turned-politician Tapas Paul, who metamorphosed from the persona of a boy-next-door to a romantic hero and also helped the TMC make a foray in the Kolkata's film industry, died after a cardiac arrest in a Mumbai hospital early on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 61. Paul's death has led to a blame game, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) holding the BJP-led Centre guilty of "mentally torturing" him and pursuing "political vendetta" against him, a charge rejected as "baseless" by the saffron party, which said the actor paid for the "sins" of his party who had used him as a scapegoat. The two-time former Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar had a long history of heart and neurological problems, and had been in and out of hospitals during the past two years, according to the sources. Paul had gone to Mumbai in January to meet his daughter. He was rushed to the hospital on February 1 after he fell ill at the Mumbai airport on his way to the United States for treatment. He was on ventilator till February 6, his wife Nandini Paul, a TV personality, said. "He was taken off the ventilator and was recovering. But suddenly, his condition worsened and he died of cardiac arrest around 3.30 am on Tuesday," Nandini Paul told PTI. His body is likely to be brought to Kolkata on Tuesday evening, the family sources said. Paul is survived by his wife and daughter Sohini. The actor-politician was born at Chandernagore in Hooghly district, an erstwhile French colony about 35 km from Kolkata. He graduated with bioscience from the Hooghly Mohsin College. Paul shot to fame in 1980 with his debut film, Tarun Majundar's "Dadar Kirti", and left his mark on Bengali cinema with movies like "Saheb", for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award in 1981, and "Guru Dakshina". He became a household name with his leading roles in "Parabat Priya" (1984), "Bhalobasa Bhalobasa" (1985), "Anurager Chowa" and "Amar Bandhan" (1986). The actor had marked his debut in Bollywood opposite Madhuri Dixit in 'Abodh'. The 1984 film was also Dixit's first acting assignment for the big screen. "The loss of Tapas Paul who was one of the very first actors, I have worked with is felt by many. May God bless and comfort his family during this difficult period," Dixit tweeted. In a career spanning over three decades, Paul had worked with veteran Bengali actors Prosenjit Chatterjee, Soumitra Chatterjee, Ranjit Mallick and Raakhee Gulzar. His last appearances were in films like "Khiladi" and "8:08 Er Bongaon Local". Paul was inspired by TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her fight against the Left Front and had joined the party in 2000, two years after it was formed. He was elected MLA from the Alipore Assembly seat in 2001 and was the Lok Sabha MP of Krishnanagar for two consecutive terms from 2009. In 2014, Paul had courted a controversy after he threatened to kill the opposition CPI(M) workers and said he would send his boys to rape their women, if they mess with the TMC workers. His comments drew widespread condemnation, forcing him to later issue a written apology. But Paul had drifted away from both cinema and active politics after he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and jailed in connection with the Rose Valley chit-fund scam case in December 2016. After his arrest, Paul's family members had time and again alleged that the TMC did not bother to enquire about him. He was granted bail after 13 months. On his release from prison in 2018, Paul withdrew from active politics and communicated to the TMC his unwillingness to contest elections. Banerjee in her condolence message said Paul's death had left a deep void in films and politics. "Saddened and shocked to hear about the demise of Tapas Paul. He was a superstar of Bengali cinema who was a member of the Trinamool family. Tapas served the people as a two-term MP and MLA. We will miss him dearly. My condolences to his wife Nandini, daughter Sohini and his many fans," the TMC supremo tweeted. Kolkata Mayor and state minister Firhad Hakim said "Tapas Paul was not only a good actor but also a good human being. He was victimized by the central government. It is due to the vendetta politics pursued by BJP, that he became ill and passed away at such a early age". West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who also condoled Paul's demise, said "It is for people to decide why we lost such a good actor. Was it due to the kind of association he used to keep, who used him and he had to pay for their sins?" Actor Ranjit Mallick described Paul's death as "untimely". "I am yet to come to terms with the He was like my younger brother. He was not keeping well for some time," he said. Paul's colleagues in films and politics, actors Debasree Roy and Chiranjeet Chakraborty, both TMC MLAs, said they had lost a dear friend and the film industry a brilliant actor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Tuesday termed the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2020-21 "historic" and said it will play a big role in making the state a trillion dollar economy. The chief minister said though it focused on the overall development of the state, special attention has been paid to the growth of the youth and boost employment. "The budget will play a major role in achieving the goal of one trillion dollar economy for the state and meet the target of making India a dollar five trillion economy," the CM said, adding that it was a "historic" budget. "The budget is focused on the development of the youth. Though a number of programmes are already in place for them, the government has started a scheme for every educated unemployed individual. A provision has been made to boost employment in every district." he added. The BJP government on Tuesday presented a Rs 5,12,860.72 crore budget, which was its fourth under the leadership of Adityanath. "Our first budget was based on farmers, the second was on industrial development and the third for women empowerment. Today's fourth budget is for the development of youth," the chief minister said. The CM also claimed that provisions have been made to improve education in Uttar Pradesh. This budget focused on higher education as the state government is setting up new universities in Saharanpur, Azamgarh and Aligarh, he said. Setting up of Atal Medical University in Lucknow has also been included in the budget, he said, adding that the government has proposed national law and ayush universities. An apprenticeship scheme for every educated unemployed youth who wants to become self-reliant has also been started, the CM said, adding that every youth will be connected to an enterprise and till the completion of the apprenticeship, the government will provide a cash support of Rs 2,500 per month. By next year, the government will be able to carry forward the work of establishing a medical college in all 75 districts of the state, the CM said. "These colleges will be built either by the government or on PPP mode," he said, stressing that from 1947 to 2016, only 12 medical colleges were in set up in the state. The chief minister also exuded confidence that investors from all over the world wanted to invest in Uttar Pradesh. The state had received investment proposals worth Rs 50,000 crore in the Defence Expo-2020, he said. About road projects, Adityanath said the Purvanchal Expressway would be opened to the public by the year-end. In addition, the foundation stone of the Bundelkhand Expressway will be laid this month, he said, adding that funds had been allocated for the Ganga Expressway and efforts would be made to lay its foundation by year-end. Speaking on the farming sector, Adityanath said insurance has been provided for sharecroppers and an arrangement has been made for modernisation. A provision had been made to get rid of potable water problems in Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syracuse, NY -- Had former Syracuse hospital boss Sergio Garcia inflated his resume in the private sector, hed likely be fired and move on. But Garcia is accused of lying about his credentials to get a job at the state taxpayer-funded Upstate Medical University. That means, according to a new indictment, he committed two felonies: defrauding the government and lying on an official document. Garcia made roughly $400,000 in salary from the hospital in his 15-month employment in 2017 and 2018. Prosecutors now say that taxpayer money was obtained by lying on his resume. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick acknowledged that Garcias employment at a government-owned hospital gave his office an avenue to prosecute that wouldnt be there had the falsehoods occurred at a private institution. The indictment accuses Garcia of intending to defraud the state, or any political subdivision, or public authority of the state by filing the inflated resume in the public records of the state university system. Garcias arraignment on the indictment hasnt yet been scheduled. He has remained free as the case plays out. The DA first had Garcia arrested on the charges in March 2019. But the case remained at a standstill for nearly a year as Garcias lawyer, Joseph Bergh, negotiated the case behind the scenes. After all, Garcias resume also included other impressive accomplishments that were true, including stints at other health care institutions, including the St. Lawrence Health System in Potsdam and the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. Could he have earned the Upstate job on his own merits, aside from the allegations in the indictment? As negotiations dragged on, prosecutor Melanie Carden decided to indict the case last week. That means that -- absent a court-approved reduction in the charge -- Garcia will either be required to plead guilty to a felony or go to trial. Both defrauding the government and offering a false instrument for filing are the weakest forms of felony, punishable by up to a short prison sentence but not requiring any time behind bars. Garcia was Chief of Staff for former University president Danielle Laraque-Arena from March 2017 to June 21, 2018. Garcia was in charge of Laraque-Arenas office and Upstates offices of external relations, human resources, facilities and planning, and university police. He left the University in 2018 after making later-debunked claims about his work for the U.S. Department of State. But the DAs office claims that Garcias deception ran far deeper. According to Fitzpatricks account at the time of Garcias arrest, the former Upstate official is accused of: Fabricating a bachelors degree from a university in Mexico: In applying for Upstates chief of staff in 2016, Garcia claimed he had a bachelors degree from the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. In fact, Garcia never graduated from the university because he didnt complete an apprenticeship program, Fitzpatrick has said. Garcia has not graduated from any known university, the DA said at the time. Falsely claiming that he was previously chief of staff for the U.S. Department of State: On his Upstate application, Garcia said that he served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of State, and that he advised front office leadership and aided the Secretary of State. Garcias resume indicated that he was chief of staff for the entire U.S. Department of State, as he didnt qualify it in any way, Carden has noted. In fact, Garcias titles at the state department were foreign affairs officer (in 2004 and 2005) and senior adviser (in 2006), the DAs office said. After being hired in January 2017 as a vice president and chief of staff, Garcia continued to spread the falsehoods he initially stated in his application, fabricating additional details regarding his educational background and his responsibilities and experience with the State Department, the DAs office said. Garcia resigned in May 2018. At the time, news accounts linked his departure to much-publicized fabrications from 2017 about surviving a car bombing in Afghanistan while with the state department. Among Garcias fabrications uncovered by the Albany Times-Union at the time were: Narrowly escaping a bombing in Afghanistan in 2013 that killed 25-year-old foreign service worker Anne Smedinghoff; Being hired by former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to work in the State Department; Being a close friend of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Being in the White House when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred for seven days without shaving or showering; Getting a law degree from an unidentified university in Oklahoma and working for a Los Angles law firm. Garcias arrest came as part of the DAs multi-year probe of Upstate Medical University. And hes not the only one investigating the hospital. Ex-president David Smith pleaded guilty in 2018 to a pay-padding scheme that also ensnared another longtime official, Steven Brady. Those cases were brought by the state Attorney Generals Office. The university was also scrutinized for a $660,500 hush payment to another former CEO, Dr. John McCabe. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Labour members will begin voting for the new leader of the party this week. Of the original contenders, three remainright-wingers Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy and the chosen candidate of the Corbyn left, Rebecca Long-Bailey. The winner will be announced April 4. The contest was called following Labours catastrophic defeat in Decembers general election in which Boris Johnsons Conservatives won an 80-seat majority. On Friday, Jeremy Corbyns shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, was eliminated having failed to secure the backing of enough Constituency Labour Parties or three affiliatesincluding two trade unions. Leadership favourite, Starmer, won the backing of 368 CLPs; Long-Bailey, 159, and Nandy, 69. Around 580,000 Labour members will vote in the election, the majority of whom joined on the basis of Corbyns claims that he would transform the party based on opposition to the war and austerity agenda of his Blairite predecessors. After Corbyns four years in office, the Blairites are on the verge of winning back the leadership amid the threat of mass expulsions of Corbyn supporters. Last Friday, following the unprecedented intervention by the pro-Zionist Board of Deputies of British Jews, who demanded the candidates pledge to continue the witch-hunt of party members falsely accused of being anti-Semites, the remaining candidates participated in a hustings organized by the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM). The event was co-sponsored by Labour Friends of Israel that counts on the backing of dozens of Blairites. The tone for the evening was set when Jewish Labour Movement chair Mike Katz asked in his introduction why Labour had supposedly become a home for anti-Semites, racists and Holocaust deniers. An audience member shouted out Corbyn! to widespread laughter, to which Katz replied, Top prize. Moderating was ITV reporter Robert Peston who has played a significant role in furthering the filthy manufactured anti-Semitism campaign by the Labour right. Last November, he wrote an article in the pro-Conservative Spectator declaring that Labours failure on anti-Semitism called into question whether Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister having seemingly been too tolerant for too long of avowed anti-Semites. After the candidates opening statements, Peston declared that Labours disciplinary processes were shit in investigating anti-Semitism. He asked Long-Bailey, Do you regard it as anti-Semitic, to describe Israel, its policies or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact? Is that an anti-Semitic statement? Long-Bailey said Yes. Peston replied, Right, so Jeremy Corbyn presented to the NEC [National Executive Committee] a document, in which he wanted the NEC to approve, which would have said that that statement is not anti-Semitic. That was a disgrace, wasnt it? To jeers from the audience, Long-Bailey said pathetically, Well, I cant remember the exact words that were used Peston interrupted shouting at her, I dont care. Ive got the words, I covered it at the time. It was a story I reported on Long-Bailey could only fall for Pestons trick question because she agrees in all essentials with the right and, like Corbyn, has done nothing in four years to oppose a state orchestrated witch-hunt. Peston asked the candidates, What have you done to try and eliminate the scourge of anti-Semitism? In reply all competed to portray themselves as the only ones prepared to deal with the nonexistent scourge within Labours ranks and laid out how they will work with the Blairites and Zionists to expel Labour members. Long-Bailey said, We have to say sorry and Ill say sorry again tonight. Weve not tackled this issue within the party. Ive said very clearly that Ill adopt all of the Board of Deputies 10 pledges. Ill act upon the recommendation made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] and I find it quite shameful that we are now being investigated by them She favoured the Jewish Labour Movement being drafted infor them to educate Labour members in how not to be anti-Semites. Nandy continued to denounce a leadership that is still now refusing to disclose the submission that we made to the EHRC. Introduced at the event alongside Katz was Dame Louise Ellman, a Zionist who undermined Corbyn for years as part of Blairite plots to remove him and purge the partys left leaning membership. Ellman resigned from the party last October, with a few other Blairites, including Luciana Berger. Berger and another Blairite, Chuka Umunna, then left the short-lived Independent Group they founded and stood in the December General Election for the Liberal Democrats. Long-Bailey grovelled in agreement with her right-wing opponents that she would re-admit Ellman, Berger and the others back into the party. The hustings ended with the astonishing spectacle where each candidate had to answer the question from the floor Are you a Zionist? in order to win the favour of the JLM. All obliged, with Long-Bailey stating, I also agree with a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state I suppose that makes me a Zionist because I agree with Israels right to exist and right to self-determine. Starmer declared with a straight face, I dont describe myself as a Zionist but I understand, sympathise and support Zionism. Long-Baileys apologetics before the JLM were treated with distain by the JLMs right-wing membership. She received just 1.4 percent of their vote as they, as one of Labours societies, nominated Nandy, just ahead of Starmer, to be party leader. There is seething resentment among Labour members at the Zionist/Blairite witch-hunt. On Saturday, Labour-supporting website SKWAWKBOX reported that a party member based in Manchester had died within days of being expelled from the party under a new fast track disciplinary process. SKWAWKBOX wrote that she is understood to have died on Tuesday as a result of a brain haemorrhage that locals are linking to stress brought on by her summary expulsion under a new fast track process in which the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) is expelling members against whom antisemitism complaints have been made. The report added, Even more worryinglybut entirely predictablythe Manchester death above is far from the only death after expulsion that the party is having to look into. It understood from a separate source that as many as three people have died recently following expulsionand that there have been at least as many attempted suicides. SKWAWKBOX also made public comments from a source who told them that much of the supposed evidence on which members are investigated for anti-Semitism is so flimsy or irrelevant that when weve talked to our legal advisers we have no choice but to reject it as unfitas much as 90 percent of it in some cases. The Corbyn leadership moved swiftly to defend their role in now carrying out the witch-hunt on behalf of the right-wing. Labours head of complaints, Laura Murray, is the daughter of one of Corbyns chief advisersthe Stalinist Andrew Murray. She stated, This woman tragically died of a brain haemorrhage, nothing to do with her Labour Party membership and no evidence of a link. The truth about the deaths and attempted suicides will no doubt emerge in subsequent investigations. But an unanswerable refutation of the false claims of Labour being infested with left-wing anti-Semites is that the Metropolitan Police, after over a year of a criminal investigation into Labour based on a dossier supplied to it by the party right and supposedly chock full of cases of anti-Semitic behaviour, have come up with only five peoplein a party of around half a million memberswho may be prosecuted if the Crown Prosecution Service decides to do so. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Command Alkon , the leading Supplier Collaboration Platform for Constructions Heavy Work, will offer their annual Spring TRAININGDAYS Regional event. System users and administrators gather at these events to stay current on new functions and features, hone skills on administration and configuration, and to learn best practices/share tips for receiving maximum value from their systems. The training sessions, led by Command Alkon application and industry experts, will be held March 31 April 1, 2020, at the Embassy Suites Dallas Central Park. For over 40 years, Command Alkon has been about educating and inspiring the heavy work participants that we serve, said Lori Allen, Solutions Marketing Manager at Command Alkon. These training sessions are an opportunity to unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity in their operations. Product users and system administrators that attend these sessions receive personal, comprehensive training on Command Alkon products that are at the heart of their daily operations. Training offerings will be available across the following product lines: Apex, COMMANDbatch, COMMANDseries, Integra, COMMANDqc, TrackIt, and HaulIt. Registration fees are $750 per person for 1 day, and $1000 for 2 days. In addition to the wide array of classes to choose from, these fees also include lunch on each training day attended and laptops for hands-on classes. Detailed class outlines, event schedule, hotel reservations, and online registration are available here . Command Alkon holds sessions like these at locations around the globe throughout the year. Visit commandalkon.com and click on Events to stay informed about this and future learning opportunities. ABOUT COMMAND ALKON At Command Alkon, we believe in building an amazing world. As the Supplier Collaboration Platform for Constructions Heavy Work, were dramatically improving how contractors, bulk material suppliers, logistics providers, jobsite inspectors, project owners, and more interact. Our See Together, Work Together, and Grow Together capabilities deliver increased productivity, real-time visibility, keen business insights, and certainty of outcomes when building the things that matter. For over 40 years, our people, software and technology have empowered customers to achieve greater levels of quality and profitability across their projects and operations. Command Alkon is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama and has offices in locations around the globe. For more information, visit commandalkon.com . For More Information, Contact: Becky Boyd MediaFirst PR (770) 642-2080 x 214 becky@mediafirst.net Karli Langner Command Alkon (205) 879-3282 x 3968 klangner@commandalkon.com Today, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with the security forces, during which the resonant events of the last weeks in the army were discussed, where since the beginning of the year non-combat losses amounted to 13 people. The last case of a soldiers death occurred on February 14 in the NKR unrecognized Defense Army, where 23-year-old contract soldier Hayk Asryan was mortally wounded in the head. A criminal case has been opened. Secretary of the Security Council Artur Grigoryan, Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Artak Davtyan, acting directors of the National Security Service Eduard Martirosyan, prosecutor general Arthur Davtyan, chairman of the Investigative Committee Hayk Grigoryan and other representatives of law enforcement agencies whom Pashinyan urged to fight against criminal subculture in the army. Meanwhile, something is wrong with the statistics of deaths in the Armenian army. So, last Saturday, during a meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in the presence of journalists, Ilham Aliyev asked Nikol Pashinin a question about how he relates to what happened today on the contact line, when was an Azerbaijani soldier killed by an Armenian sniper? The Armenian prime minister replied literally the following: "President Aliyev said that today an Azerbaijani soldier has been killed, I will say that today on the border of the Gazakh region, [on the border] of Armenia and Azerbaijan, an Armenian soldier was wounded by Azerbaijani snipers." However, Vestnik Kavkaza did not manage to find confirmation of information about the tragic incident of February 15 on the border of the Gazakh region in the Russian-language segment of the Armenian media, although usually such reports are received quite quickly. This immediately raises several assumptions about the essence of the statement by Nikol Pashinyan. The first one. It was a spontaneous counterargument to Aliyevs statement from the series "Azerbaijanis also kill Armenians." The second one. Will the Armenian Defense Ministry misinform his prime minister or, even worse, did Pashinyan disclose secret information in the heat of the dispute, knowing the facts that are hidden from the public? This version confirms reports that on the background of tension on the contact line in the Gazakh region, the Armenian side is trying to hide its losses. The third. The number of deaths in the Armenian army recently really exceeded all conceivable indicators, which is confirmed by today's meeting at Pashinyan. See also "Vestnik Kavkaza" "Hazing: the Armenian army is dangerous for Armenia itself." The stable situation in the army, in theory, should inspire public confidence in the inviolability of the Armenian position in the unsettled Karabakh conflict, and when young children die at the hands of their brothers in arms or lay hands on themselves, what stability is there ?! In such a situation, isnt it easier to write off non-combat losses to snipers deployed on the other side of the border. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Tue, February 18, 2020 17:57 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653b0d0 1 Business Batam,Batamindo,industrial-park,Riau-Islands,factories,supply-chain,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19 Free The ongoing coronavirus crisis has begun to take its toll on industrial activities in Batam, Riau Islands, as supplies of raw materials from China - the epicenter of the outbreak - have dried up. Batamindo Industrial Park general manager Mook Sooi Wah said about half of the 68 factories operating within the park relied on shipments from China. They only have enough supplies to last them until the end of the month. If the supplies are still not replenished by then, they only have two options: connect with alternative suppliers from countries other than China, or cease operations completely, Mook told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The Batamindo Industrial Park is the first and oldest industrial park in Batam, established through a cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Singapore. The 320-hectare park is home to 68 factories owned by foreign investors and has a total workforce of about 50,000 people. Mook said the crisis would put a significant dent on industrial activities in Batam as raw materials from China were needed for about 70 percent of what was produced in the region. He added that a number of electronics factories ceased operation a few weeks ago because of the current situation. We hope [the crisis] will end soon, Mook said, adding that the supply shortage would also affect the livelihoods of factory workers, as they would no longer be required to work overtime to maintain the rate of production, causing them to earn less. Meanwhile, Panbil Industrial Estate general affairs manager Suyono Saputra said that several companies operating within the estate reported that shipments from China had likewise stopped a few weeks ago because of the coronavirus outbreak that started in Wuhan, Hubei province. The 170-hectare Panbil Industrial Estate has 25 tenants, including brands such as Philips, Shimano, and TDK. So the tenants have been using materials that were shipped [prior to the outbreak]. If we dont receive any new supplies, we will have to look for alternative [suppliers], Suyono said. There are indeed business opportunities with countries other than China, but its not exactly easy. In January, imports of raw materials and capital goods dropped by 7.35 percent and 5.26 percent year-on-year, respectively, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday. Chinas official death toll neared 1,900 on Tuesday, as reported by AFP, with more than 73,000 confirmed cases worldwide. The government halted imports of live animals from China through a 2020 Trade Ministry Regulation on Feb. 7, among a slew of other policies intended to prevent the coronavirus from reaching the country. (rfa) After facing protest from a section of parents, a government-sponsored primary school in West Bengals South 24-Parganas district has decided to remove lotus from its logo embroidered on the uniform. The parents staged a demonstration in front of the school on the southern outskirts of Kolkata last week, alleging that the school authorities were linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They were using the uniform to promote the BJPs electoral symbol, which is also the lotus, the parents said. Founded in 2001, Rania Free Primary School school is for students from Classes 1 to 4. The coeducational school is under the Rajpur-Sonapur municipal area of South 24-Parganas. We have been using this logo since 2009 because lotus is our national flower. However, since a section of parents is protesting now, we will change the logo, the schools headmistress, Bijoli Das, said on Tuesday. Das was summoned by the Sonarpur block school inspection authorities and asked to explain the presence of the logo on the uniform. According to the rules, using the logo of Sarva Shiksha Mission is a must for the school. Besides, if they wanted to use another logo of their own, that logo must be documented and used in all other documents related to the school, said an officer involved in the inspection of primary schools within Sonarpur community development block. It has been pointed out to them that they logo was being used in violation of the existing rules, said the officer, who did not want to be identified because the issue took a political turn. A local leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Ashis Chakraborty, said logo may have been created a decade ago but it was not being used in the uniform until recently. We are sure the school authorities hatched a conspiracy with the BJP to promote their electoral symbol, Chakraborty said. This incident comes at a time when BJP leaders in Malda district have been alleging that the authorities in a number of schools are removing lotuses painted on the walls. As part of education, images of the national flower, animal, bird and fruit are painted on the walls. Recently, when some of the schools are being painted afresh, they are removing lotus and keeping only the images of the peacock, mango, tiger and banyan, said Gobinda Chandra Mandal, president of BJPs Malda district unit. The peacock is Indias national bird, mango national fruit, tiger national animal and the banyan is the national tree. TMCs Malda district unit leader Ashis Kundu, who earlier served as the chairperson of District Primary School Council, denied that the government had instructed any school to remove paintings of the lotus from the paintings on the walls. However, a headmaster of a primary school in Malda town said they have been removing the lotus. We have dropped lotus because its also a political partys electoral symbol. School campuses should be free from any kind of political influence, the headmaster said requesting anonymity. A controversial Downing Street advisor who was forced to resign from Boris Johnsons government made offensive comments about sex and women on an online forum, according to reports. Andrew Sabisky, who resigned on Monday after some of his past remarks were described as racist and vile, reportedly claimed that it was a womans place to obey her husband. In posts unearthed by The National, Mr Sabisky apparently gave out sex and relationship advice under the username thedovelamenting on the website Reddit. He is said to have told one user whose Mormon wife was reluctant to have sex with him to take the lead a little bit more. Theologically speaking, she is your wife and should submit to you as unto the Lord, so if you want doggy, then it is your place to command her to get onto her hands and knees and her place to obey, the former aide wrote, according to the paper. Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Show all 17 1 /17 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Sajid Javid Resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Javids departure comes just one month before a crucial budget, intended to chart the course for the new government and makes him the shortest-serving chancellor for more than 50 years Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Rishi Sunak Promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Chancellor of the Exchequer after the dramatic resignation of Sajid Javid Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Esther McVey Sacked as housing minister AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Andrea Leadsom Sacked as business secretary EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Alok Sharma Appointed business secretary (previously international development secretary). He has also been put in charge of the UKs COP26 climate change summit PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Attorney General Geoffrey Cox Resigned as the government's most senior law officer AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Suella Braverman Appointed Attorney General and she will attend cabinet EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Theresa Villiers Sacked as environment secretary PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: George Eustice Appointed environment, food and rural affairs secretary. He was a farming and fisheries minister Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Anne-Marie Trevelyan Appointed international development secretary (previously parliamentary under-secretary for defence) Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Julian Smith Sacked as Northern Ireland secretary Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Brandon Lewis Appointed Secretary of Northern Ireland Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Stephen Barclay Appointed chief secretary to the Treasury PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Oliver Dowden Appointed culture secretary, succeeding Nicky Morgan Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Chris Skidmore Sacked as eucation minister Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Nus Ghani Sacked as transport minister Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/CC BY 3.0 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: George Freeman Sacked as transport minister Getty Later in the post, he is said to have called the woman selfish for not wanting to engage in certain sex acts with her partner. If you want a blow job you should get one, because she is your wife and your lover, the post said. On another occasion, Mr Sabisky reportedly told a man who was looking to lose his virginity that they could pay lots of money for a really good hooker. Recommended Controversial Boris Johnson aide resigns amid race controversy The National has reported that the offensive posts, which were written seven years ago, were deleted soon after Mr Sabisky was approached for comment. Downing Street has faced calls for tighter vetting for its advisors after a number of controversial comments by Mr Sabisky were discovered last week. The former advisor once suggested enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass and suggested there were racial differences in intelligence. Kwasi Kwarteng, the Conservative business minister, said he thought Mr Sabisky jumped before he was pushed over the controversy around his comments. I don't know how this man appeared on the horizon, I don't know how he was recruited, Mr Kwarteng told Sky News. What I do know is that his remarks were offensive and racist and, as soon as they came to light, he left the government pretty quickly. When Mr Sabisky announced his resignation on Monday evening, he criticised the media hysteria about old stuff he had posted online. I know this will disappoint a lot of ppl but I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination: if I can't do the work properly there's no point, & I have a lot of other things to do w/ my life, he wrote on Twitter. Caroline Nokes, a Conservative MP and chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said she was relieved about the resignation but said she was disappointed by the silence from Downing Street on the comments. I think he [Sabisky] needed to come out earlier and explain himself, he needed to apologise for those comments and unfortunately we had 48 hours of almost complete silence and no comment from Downing Street, who could have distanced themselves from his youthful comments at any point, but they chose not to do so, Ms Nokes said. Downing Street had earlier refused to condemn the remarks, a stance Labour said was disgusting. Additional reporting by PA Sydney, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Nigeria outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Nigeria-Mobile-Infrastructure-Operators-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Synopsis Nigeria has Africas largest mobile market, with about 173 million subscribers and a penetration rate of 123%. The number of subscribers fell in 2017 as consumers responded to a poor economic climate and as regulatory measures continued to oblige operators to disconnect unregistered SIM cards, though growth into 2019 was strong. The initial rapid growth in the number of subscribers had led to problems with network congestion and quality of service, prompting the regulator to impose fines and sanctions on network operators. These operators have responded by investing billions of dollars in base stations and fibre transmission infrastructure to support the increasing demand for data. The migration from the CDMA platform to GSM technology is almost complete, and though GSM still dominates the market there is a growing shift to services based on LTE. Although LTE coverage remains relatively low, investment among operators is extending the reach of services and is helping to develop consumer use of mobile data services. Efforts are also being made to encourage network sharing and to outsource the management of tower infrastructure to third parties. There remains considerable growth potential in rural areas where the provision of network infrastructure and operations is expensive, and consequently where mobile penetration is lower. The governments plan to increase broadband penetration to 70% by 2021 largely depends on mobile infrastructure. Key developments: MTN Nigeria launches services based on LTE-A; SIM card registration policy revised; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority suspends planned demolition of 8,800 mobile towers; Office of the National Security Adviser establishes committees to deal with counterfeit mobile devices; Visafone completes transfer of CDMA subscribers to GSM; MTN and Airtel apply for Payment Service Bank licence; Government commits to increasing mobile broadband penetration to 70% by 2021; Disagreements emerge among new shareholders of 9Mobile; Regulator calls for an additional 80,000 mobile base stations; MTN Nigeria awarded spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for LTE use, extends licenses for spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands to August 2021; New MTRs assigned; Additional base stations installed under the USPF program; Report update includes operator data to Q4 2019, regulators market data updates to December 2019, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: MTN Nigeria, Glo Mobile (Globacom), Bharti Airtel (formerly Zain, Celtel), 9Mobile (Etisalat Nigeria, EMTS, Mubadala), M-Tel (Nitel), Visafone, Starcomms (Capcom), Multi-Links, Reliance, InterC Network (Intercellular), Megatech Engineering (Zoda Fones), Telkom, Econet Wireless, Vodacom. Table of Contents Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile voice VoLTE Mobile data SMS MMS Mobile broadband Regulatory issues GSM licence terms Spectrum 3.5GHz 800MHz 700MHz 2.3GHz 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz 450MHz 3.5GHz 5.4GHz 2GHz Mobile Termnation Rate (MTR) Mobile tariffs Unified licensing regime Universal service Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Quality of Service SIM card registration Mobile infrastructure International gateways National mobile infrastructure plan Tower infrastructure Analogue networks Digital networks 5G 4G (LTE) 3G/UMTS 2G Other infrastructure developments Satellite mobile Major GSM mobile operators MTN Nigeria Backbone network Airtel Nigeria Backbone network Globacom Backbone network 9Mobile (Etisalat Nigeria, EMTS, Mubadala) M-Tel Major CDMA mobile operators Multi-Links Telkom Reliance Telecommunications (Reltel, Zoom) Starcomms (Capcom) Merger with Multi-Links and MTS First Wireless InterC Network (Intercellular Nigeria) Visafone Cell Communications (Cellcom) Bourdex Telecommunications Mobile content and applications Mobile money transfer, m-banking M-health Appendix Historic data Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration 2009 2019 Table 2 Change in the market share of subscribers by operator (GSM) 2011 2019 Table 3 Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers 2009 2019 Table 4 SMS traffic 2006 2018 Table 5 Mobile internet subscribers in Nigeria by operator (GSM) 2012 2019 Table 6 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2024 Table 7 Change in the number of outgoing mobile number portings 2013 2019 Table 8 Change in the number of GSM subscribers 2014 2019 Table 9 Change in the number of MTN Nigerias mobile subscriber base 2011 2019 Table 10 Change in MTN Nigerias revenue (Rand) 2010 2019 Table 11 Development of MTN Nigeria revenue by type (Rand) 2015 2019 Table 12 Development of MTN Nigerias financial data (NGN) 2017 2019 Table 13 Decline in MTN Nigerias mobile ARPU 2009 2019 Table 14 Growth in the number of Airtel Nigerias mobile subscribers 2011 2019 Table 15 Growth in the number of Globacoms mobile subscriber base 2011 2019 Table 16 Change in the number of 9mobiles mobile subscribers 2011 2019 Table 17 CDMA subscribers by operator 2011 2019 Table 18 Visafone mobile subscribers 2013 2019 Table 19 M-money inter-scheme transactions and value 2017 2019 Table 20 M-money inter-scheme transactions and value 2017 2019 Table 21 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1998 2009 Table 22 Historic - MTN Nigeria ARPU 2002 2009 List of Charts Chart 1 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Chart 3 Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers 2009 2019 Chart 4 Growth in SMS traffic 2006 2019 Chart 5 Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator (GSM) 2012 2019 Chart 6 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2024 Chart 7 Change in the number of outgoing mobile number portings 2013 2019 Chart 8 Change in the number of GSM subscribers 2014 2019 Chart 9 Change in the number of MTN Nigerias mobile subscriber base 2011 2019 Chart 10 Change in MTN Nigerias revenue (Rand) 2010 2019 Chart 11 Development of MTN Nigerias financial data (NGN) 2017 2019 Chart 12 Decline in MTN Nigerias mobile ARPU 2009 2019 Chart 13 Growth in the number of Airtel Nigerias mobile subscribers 2011 2019 Chart 14 Growth in the number of Globacoms mobile subscriber base 2011 2019 Chart 15 Change in the number of 9mobiles mobile subscribers 2011 2019 Chart 16 Change in m-money transactions and value 2010 2019 Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Nigeria-Mobile-Infrastructure-Operators-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Anonymous female tourist went one step ahead of others to get a 'perfect shot' for her partner's Instagram account, international media reported. In a video that was posted by the social media influencer who goes by the name of theleswil, a woman can be seen perilously positioning herself close to a 3000-foot drop off a rocky cliff face. According to reports, the Instagrammer and his partner did two and half hour trek to reach atop the Pedra Da Gavea mountain near Rio De Janeiro. After they reached the top of the mountain, the woman climbed atop a rock which was placed on the edge of the mountain for the Instagrammer to click and post the picture on his page. Criticised for risking her life The clip also showed the famous Copacabana beach, a wide-angle view of Rio de Janeiro city and the South Atlantic Ocean. The video immediately captured the internet's attention and garnered nearly 24 thousand views. However, it did not go down well with many users who slammed her for risking her life. Read: Taapsee Pannu Messages THIS Popular Hollywood Actor On Instagram, Says 'I Love Him' Meanwhile, an American Youtuber made headlines for faking a lavish vacation in Bali. Natalia Taylor announced to her followers that she was going to Bali for a holiday but actually went to a local IKEA store and got photographed. She then took to Instagram to post pictures of her Bali Vacation. Read: YouTuber Fakes Bali Holiday, Tells Followers To Not Believe Everything They See Read: Govinda Launches His YouTube Channel, Names It 'Govinda No. 1' The first post she made was in a vibrant pink outfit with the caption that informed her followers that she had arrived in Bali. Adding to the posts, she also uploaded Instagram stories of her getting ready for the flight, view from the aeroplane's window and pictures of Ngurah Rai Airport which she got from the internet to make it more believable. Read: YouTuber Jason Ethier Slammed By Netizens After Admitting He Faked Girlfriend's Death Update: According to CBS Philly and 6ABC, Shamar Davis, the 10-year-old boy who went missing on Friday, has been found safe. Both outlets, citing police, report he has since been reunited with his family. Police in Delaware are searching for a 10-year-old boy last seen by his mother on Friday morning. According to a release from the New Castle County Police, Shamar Davis, who goes by the nickname Bubba, went missing from the New Castle Crossings apartment complex. Police say Shamar is known to play outside with neighborhood children and visit various apartments. Shamars mother Shanyece Moses told NBC Philadelphia she hopes Shamar stopped at someones house and lost track of time. Hes absent-minded, he wouldnt think to keep track of time, she told the outlet on Monday. Shamar, please come home, she added through tears. Neighbor Pat Dallatore told CBS Philly that Shamar was a nice kid. Never been a problem. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Dallatore added Shamar comes around from time to time, looking for some of the kids in the neighborhood, and other than that hes been keeping to himself. Hes been an easy kid. Shamar is described as a black male 5 feet 4 inches, 150 lbs., with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown jacket with a white collar, black Nike sweatpants and black Nike sneakers. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the New Castle County Division of Police by dialing (302) 573-2800 or visiting the departments website at NCCPD.com, or (IM) on the New Castle County Police Facebook page. Citizens can also submit a tip anonymously by text. Send a text to 847411 with NCCDE in the text field and your tip. "We decided to evacuate any of the 14 Korean passengers aboard the Diamond Princess who are hoping to return home," said a government spokesman here. "We're in the final stage of negotiations with Japanese officials." The government on Monday said it will send the presidential plane to Japan on Tuesday afternoon to evacuate some of the Koreans marooned on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Yokohama. According to the Foreign Ministry here, nine Korean passengers and five Korean crewmembers are stuck on the cruise liner where coronavirus has so far infected 454 of some 3,700 passengers and crew on board. None of the Koreans have tested positive. The government still plans to quarantine them for 14 days as soon as they arrive. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman in Daegu tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of infections in Korea to 31. Just the previous day, two fresh infections were confirmed after a brief lull. All the three are believed to have neither traveled abroad nor come into contact with other confirmed patients. Two other coronavirus patients were released from hospital on Tuesday after making a full recovery, bringing the total number of recoveries cases to 12. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has asked why the Rohingya and Ahmadiyya Muslims, facing persecution in Myanmar and Pakistan, are not covered under the new citizenship law if the Centre is so much concerned about people facing atrocities in neighbouring countries.Terming the Citizenship Amendment Act as "divisive and discriminatory", she said it is India's tragedy that instead of external forces, the central government itself is engaged in "weakening the Constitution and dividing the country". She also hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, alleging that in 1950, when the entire country welcomed the Constitution drafted under the leadership of Dr B R Ambedkar, "the RSS was the one which opposed it". "They call them 'Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh', but it is 'Rashtriya Sarvanash (destroyer) Sangh'," Karat said. She was addressing a protest against the CAA, the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), largely attended by Muslim women, at Jaistambh Chowk here on Monday night.The protest site has been dubbed as 'Shaheen Bagh of Raipur' by the protesters. "You (Centre) are saying that you have love and concern for the persecuted people in neighbouring countries. We agree that such people should be given shelter. But only three countries - Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - are our neighbours? Are there no persecuted people in Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka?" Karat asked. She sought to know why there is no mention of Tamils in CAA, despite over one lakh Tamil refugees living in India. "Why you (government) don't have feelings for Rohingyas and Ahmadiyya facing atrocities in Myanmar and Pakistan (respectively). Why the two sects were not included in the new law. Is it because they are not Hindus? You are not concerned about persecuted people, rather you are projecting your narrow agenda," she alleged. Some (religious) communities were "selectively" included in the CAA and it does not cover the persecuted people, she claimed. Karat said the CAA is "aimed at changing the social fabric and nature of the Constitution" and it will not only affect Muslims but the entire nation. The implementation of CAA in the entire country will be a great success for the BJP and RSS towards fulfilling their agenda of making India a 'Hindu Rashtra', she said. "We can understand if external forces try to weaken our country and break it. But the tragedy of the country is that the forces sitting at the Centre are trying to weaken our Constitution and divide the country, not the external forces," Karat charged. She also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of making a "mockery" of democracy, and asked why FIR was not registered against two BJP leaders after they made objectionable remarks during campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections. "In Delhi, a Union minister said 'goli maaro', while a BJP MP said people protesting at Shaheen Bagh will enter homes and rape women. But, so far no FIR has been registered against them...how a heinous crime of rape can be linked with a religion or caste? They tried to give a communal colour to the incident of rape," Karat alleged without taking any names. Union minister Anurag Thakur made the "goli maaro..." (shoot) remark during a public meeting in Delhi, while the 'rape' comment was made by BJP MP Parvesh Verma. Karat also rejected the government's claim that the CAA has no link with the NRC and NPR. Also read: 'States refusing to implement CAA is unconstitutional,' says Nirmala Sitharaman Also read: CAA in EU Parliament: European Parliament to not vote on CAA to Thursday Garbe Industrial Real Estate just acquired two logistics properties in northern Germany for its German institutional fund (Spezialfonds), Garbe Logistikimmobilien Fonds Plus (GLIF+). The purchased assets with their combined gross lettable area of around 63,000 m are situated in Norderstedt, a well-established location in the Hamburg metro region. The two [] BRIDGETON Police are investigating two weekend incidents in which a womans purse was taken from her car and a mans car was taken from him at gunpoint. About 10:45 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to the American Legion in the first block of North Burlington Road for a car burglary, police said in a news release. The victim said the front passenger side window of her Kia Sedona was shattered and her purse was taken from the front seat. Lower Township police, firefighters honor officer fatally shot in line of duty 26 years ago LOWER TOWNSHIP Police and firefighters on Tuesday honored an officer who was fatally shot Police did not identify the victim but said her Michael Kors purse was valued at $50 and contained personal items. At 10:41 p.m. Sunday, police responded to Spruce Street and Garfield Avenue for a report of an armed robbery, according to the release. The victim said a black male approached him in an alleyway, pointing a gun at him. The suspect got into the victims car and drove away, police said. However, officers found the car parked in the 300 block of Spruce Street. Police did not identify the victim in the second incident. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President Donald Trump said he will travel to South Carolina before the state's Feb. 29 Democratic presidential primary, setting up a potential messaging war between the White House and his Democratic rivals ahead of the vote. Trump made the announcement Tuesday afternoon at Joint Base Andrews, where he took questions on the tarmac from Washington reporters before boarding Air Force One with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "I'll be going to South Carolina. They're working that out now," the president said of the potential visit, saying it will probably be Feb. 28, the day before the Saturday primary. "Look, we have a big voice and we might as well use it," Trump said. Joe Jackson, the Republican National Committee's South Carolina spokesman, could not confirm details of the trip but said Republicans would welcome the appearance. "We're always happy to have the president in South Carolina," Jackson told The Post and Courier. "South Carolina went big for President Trump in 2016 and will do so again in 2020." Trump has made a habit of making appearances in the early states holding Democratic presidential nominating contests as a means of both turning the spotlight on himself and upstaging his potential challengers. So far, the president has made stops in both Iowa and New Hampshire. On Friday, Trump plans to travel to Nevada, which will be holding its caucus Saturday. "We got more votes than any incumbent president in history, in Iowa and in New Hampshire," Trump said, adding, "I went the day before in both cases." Trump's hints of a potential Palmetto State visit come one week after Vice President Mike Pence made a multi-stop swing through South Carolina on Thursday, which included headlining a Trump campaign fundraiser in Columbia and addressing The Citadel Corps of Cadets. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! "I'm here for one reason, and one reason only: And that is that South Carolina and America need four more years of President Donald Trump," Pence said to applause at The Citadel Republican Society's annual Patriot Dinner. During his public remarks in South Carolina last week, Pence made no mention of Trump's possible visit, but Pence did say he knew Trump would be "jealous" that he got to make the S.C. stop. Should Trump be able to travel to South Carolina, he will arrive in a state that has all but cleared the way for him to receive all of the state's nominating delegates without contest. The South Carolina Republican Party's executive committee in September voted to forgo their Republican presidential primary, citing cost as the top reason for scrapping it. South Carolina is a traditionally Republican state. The governor, both chambers of the state Legislature, five of the states seven congressional districts, and both of its U.S. Senate seats are held by Republicans. In the 2016 general election, Trump won 55 percent of the vote here. Trump was also the victor in South Carolina's 2016 Republican presidential primary. The technology is part of the governments nationwide plan to boost security and surveillance. China is deploying its mass surveillance system in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As millions return to major cities and resume work, they will be subject to unprecedented monitoring. New facial recognition and temperature scanning technology have been installed in public transport systems. The government says it is being used to keep everyone safe. But concerns are growing over the big brother use of data, giving police the power to create a digital authoritarian state. Al Jazeeras Katrina Yu reports from Zhengzhou, China. Expo 2020 Dubai, which is set to attract 25 million visitors over a six-month period, is expected to see food and beverage sales of more than $545 million, with up to 835,000 meals served to visitors each hour, according to Expo 2020 and Alpen Capital, This was announced at a networking event organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the sidelines of the 25th Gulfood exhibition, reported state news agency Wam. The event brought together close to 350 participants from 60 countries, marking a 29 percent growth from last years turnout. Some 27 VIPs, including ministers, ambassadors and consul generals in the UAE, also attended the function and explored the competitive advantages and opportunities Dubai offers in the F&B industries. Atiq Juma Nasib, senior vice president of Commercial Services at Dubai Chamber, said: "Due to its strategic location and a growing tourism sector, Dubai offers immense opportunities in the F&B sector. This briefing comes at a time of rapid expansion for Dubai as the city prepares for Expo 2020.'' Nasib pointed to the UAEs leading global position in the F&B industries, where it is ranked first in the MENA region and 18th in the world for attractive investment environment in the F&B sector in the first quarter of 2020 on the Fitch Connect Risk Reward Index. This, in turn, reflects the UAEs growing appeal to investors from around the world. He called on global financiers to invest in Dubai, revealing the emirates tremendous investment opportunities in food processing, innovative agriculture and halal food, which is one of the fastest growing segments of the Islamic economy and forecasted to grow to $1.93 trillion by 2022. More food brands and products, franchises and restaurants continue to enter the local market, while consumers continue to shift towards organic and healthier options and convenient delivery apps that are changing industry norms and providing new investment opportunities. Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, senior manager Business Relations at Dubai Chamber, talked about Dubais economic prospects and outlook, and Nizami Imamverdiyev, Economic Researcher Economic Research & Business Development gave a presentation on the citys food sector outlook and opportunities. According to Euromonitor data, the sale of fresh food items in the UAE will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGF) of 5.2 percent in the 2018-2023 period. Moreover, sales of meat products are set to increase by 7 percent CAGR over the same period, while sales of grains and pulses expand by 5.5 percent, nuts by 5.4 percent, vegetables by 5 percent, fruits by 4 percent, eggs by 4 percent, and fish and seafood by 3.7 percent. The Mena region ranks first in the world in F&B consumption forecasts for the 2018-2023 period, which reinforces Dubais attractiveness to investors, given its status as a gateway for FDI in the food industries. According to Euromonitor, the US accounted for 11 percent of Dubais F&B imports in that period, followed by India at 1 percent, Brazil at 9 percent and Australia at 4 percent. Dubais top destination for exports of food and beverage in the same period were Oman with 11 percent, Iraq with 8 percent, Saudi Arabia with 6 percent and China with 3 percent. The main F&B items imported by Dubai in the Q1-Q3 2019 period were fruits and nuts, accounting for 15 percent of the total imports, followed by meat products at 13 percent, and dairy products at 8 percent. Seven Maldivian nationals, who were quarantined at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Chhawla near Delhi, were discharged on Monday night after their samples tested negative for coronavirus. These seven were evacuated from Chinas Wuhan, along with Indian citizens, by the government last month. They will depart for their home country on Tuesday. The disease has been officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The seven Maldivians had arrived in India alongside 323 Indians on a special Air India flight which had been sent to China as part of an evacuation operation undertaken by the Indian government. More than 600 Indians had been evacuated from China in two special operations. Immediately upon their arrival in the national capital, the Maldivians and the Indians were sent to quarantine facilities run by the Indian Army and ITBP, where they stayed for a period of more than two weeks. Two hundred other people, who had tested negative for coronavirus infection, have also been discharged from the ITBP facility. All the remaining people may be released by Tuesday evening, said ITBP. As a goodwill gesture, the ITBP presented a rose and a calendar to each of the person leaving the facility. There are seven children including an infant in the group, it said. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 1800 people in that country alone. At least 11,741 remain severely ill from the infection. There are nearly 800 confirmed cases in 25 countries outside China with three deaths. A team of medical experts from WHO, including from the US, will visit Beijing and the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Sichuan in south and southwest China to assess the countrys efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat asked if anyone in the present times would atone like Mahatma Gandhi if their agitation went wrong and created law and order problems. Gandhis ideals were purely Indian, therefore, he never shied from showing his Hindu credentials, Bhagwat said, asserting that India of Gandhis dreams is now being realised. Sometimes Gandhijis movement went wrong; but he knew his method was wrong and not his intent. He used to atone for that and take responsibility. But the movements that are going on today, if there are law and order problems is there anyone who will atone? Is there anyone who will take responsibility? If there is a lathicharge or firing, the ones who are killed atone, the one imprisoned have to face courts. But those who organise these movements either win or lose, he said. Criticising those who are responsible for stoking unrest, Bhagwat said, for Indias future, it is imperative to follow the follow Gandhis first lesson that honesty is everything. Honesty is not a policy, it is everything Bhagwats comments, made at the launch of a book on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi by former NCERT director JS Rajput, came in the backdrop of the nationwide protests against the amended citizenship act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The book was launched at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, where Gandhiji was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948. According to an RSS functionary, Bhagwat is the first Sangh chief to visit Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. New York, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "IoT Monetization: Review of IoT Technology and Enabling Platforms - 2019" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05810635/?utm_source=GNW As a result, there are hundreds of companies claiming some kind of IoT platform. More recently, operators have focused on seizing more of the value chain by offering more comprehensive platforms and services to support their enterprise customers.For example, with the increasingly widespread deployment of NB-IoT and LTE-M, operators can offer compelling new deployment options for customers. NB-IoT enables deployments in which tiny amounts of data may be required from thousands of sensors, such as in agricultural or smart utility metering use cases or smart cities applications for lighting, parking meters, or smart buildings. The market for IoT platforms is inherently confusing due to the various pieces required to come together to create, enable, deploy, and manage an IoT application.As a result, there are hundreds of companies claiming some kind of IoT platform. This report outlines emerging IoT value chain models for both telcos and public cloud platform providers, their current IoT ecosystem and portfolio within that value chain.It discusses the developments and deployment of IoT solutions of leading network operators including AWS, SAP, AT&T, Orange Business Services, Telefonica, Verizon and Vodafone that are at the forefront in establishing differentiated market strategies in the IoT market. The report wraps up with an analysis of key opportunities and recommendations for telcos as well as for enterprises to pursue IoT opportunities. The report is structured as follows - - Section 1: Taxonomy and Market Context.This section discusses brief overview of IoT and M2M market, key IoT market drivers for stakeholders to invest in the IoT market and telcos IoT value chain models. It also reviews the potential challenges for the telcos and public cloud providers operating in the IoT market, their current developments in the IoT industry and the opportunities ahead to climb up the IoT value chain. - Section 2: Deciphering the IoT Platform. This section discusses and examines about the different IoT platforms like device management, connectivity management and application enablement in the IoT space. - Section 3: Operator Industrial IoT Services. This section examines the developments, service and platform offerings as well as strengths and limitations of six telcos investing in the IoT space. - Section 4: Enterprise IoT Platforms. This section examines the developments, service and platform offerings as well as strengths and limitations of three leading technology providers investing in the IoT space. - Section 5: Findings and recommendations. We conclude the report with a set of key findings and critical considerations and recommendations for telcos and enterpises pursuing the IoT opportunity. Scope Some of the findings of the report include - - Security remains a primary gating factor for enterprises regardless of vertical. - Application development is a key driver of value within IoT applications. - Network operators lack the resources to pursue IoT opportunities in all verticals. That said, operators can still play a supporting role in other vertical markets. Reasons to buy - This report provides an examination of IoT market and telcos IoT value chain and platforms as well as industrial IoT opportunities to help enterprises better understand the development of the IoT market ecosystem and telco IoT service delivery, formulate effective product development plans and IoT network solutions and return on investments. - The report highlights different IoT platform, progressive approaches and service offerings offered by service providers to deliver IoT network solutions and create new revenue streams. - The report discusses concrete opportunities in the IoT ecosystem, providing a number of actionable recommendations for telcos and enterprises. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05810635/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRI NAGAR: Following in the footsteps of the National Conference, the Congress and PDP will not take part in the eight-phase panchayat polls, which will make the election a one-sided contest. State Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the party has decided not to contest the bypolls as many of the leaders are detained and the government is not allowing the leaders, who are free, to move freely. The administration is not allowing the ex-ministers, ex-legislators, vice presidents, general secretaries and district presidents to travel in the state. Even those, who are free, are not allowed any kind of political space, he said. Mir said the party will support those who contest against the BJP. The eight-phase panchayat polls, beginning March 5, will be held on party basis. It is the first major electoral exercise in J&K after scrapping of special status. Senior PDP leader and former MLC Firdous Tak said the party is not in a position to participate or boycott. Terming the bypolls as mere eyewash, Tak said the Centre and Election Commission are not serious or else they would have first solicited the release of detained mainstream leaders before holding elections. Even as the old parities are refusing to be a part of the electoral process, influential businessmen, a senior politician and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari is going to launch a new political party later this month. The party will reportedly concentrate on achievable goals and moving beyond Article 370. Ghulam Hassan Mir, the former minister, said the new party will be launched in Srinagar soon. Sources said the new party may be named either Apni Party or Aap Ki Party. Mir, who was one of the founding members of PDP before floating his outfit, said the new party will not be a Kashmir-based party. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 22:51:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic are achieving visible progress as the battle has reached a crucial time, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday. In the phone call, Xi expressed his gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II and Johnson for their sympathies with China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, noting that Britain has offered China supplies in support of the fight, which demonstrates the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples. Since the outbreak, China has always prioritized its people's safety and health, given full play to its institutional advantages, mobilized the entire country, and adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures, Xi said. Thanks to those arduous efforts, the situation is witnessing positive changes, and China's prevention and control measures are achieving visible progress, he added. Now the battle against the epidemic has arrived at a crucial time, he pointed out, stressing that China will strive to reduce the impact of the epidemic while resolutely carrying out the prevention and control efforts. Noting that the Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, broad space for domestic demand and a solid industrial foundation, Xi said that China has confidence and capacity to achieve this year's targets for economic and social development, especially such key tasks as securing a victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and in eliminating poverty. Upholding the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China is not only responsible for the safety and health of its people, but also committed to the cause of safeguarding international public health, Xi noted. China has made enormous efforts, and has effectively contained the global spread of the virus, Xi said, adding that the Chinese side will continue to cooperate with Britain and all other countries in an open and transparent manner. Against the backdrop of increasing global challenges, China and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should work together to shoulder more responsibilities and make more achievements, so as to lead the China-Britain comprehensive strategic partnership to a fresh journey in the new decade, Xi said. He said that the two sides should grasp the general direction of the development of bilateral relations from strategic and political perspectives, stick to the principle of win-win cooperation, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns on the basis of mutual respect. The two sides should also strengthen high-level exchanges, tap into their economic complementarity and carry out more practical cooperation, Xi noted. He added that the Chinese side stands ready to work with the British side to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and strengthen communication on major international and regional issues. For his part, Johnson, on behalf of the British government and people, expressed sympathies to the Chinese people over the COVID-19 outbreak, and highly appreciated China's comprehensive and effective measures to prevent and control the epidemic, timely sharing of information with the international community, and efforts to stop the virus from spreading on a worldwide scale. The British side admires China's speed and efficiency in the fight against the epidemic and stands ready to continue to provide China with support and assistance, the prime minister said. Johnson also expressed his belief that under the leadership of Xi, the Chinese people will prevail over the epidemic and minimize its impact on the country's economic and social development. He added that he loves China, and stands ready to lead the new British government to work with the Chinese side to strengthen exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation in various fields, and push for continuous achievements in the "golden era" of bilateral relations. Britain welcomes investment from Chinese enterprises and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. Britain and China, both influential major countries, share similar positions on many international issues, Johnson said, noting that both sides advocate multilateralism, support free trade and safeguard a multilateral trading system. The British side stands ready to enhance coordination with China on the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Britain and the upcoming 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in China, so as to jointly promote international cooperation on climate change, he added. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that a team of 12 international experts and 12 Chinese counterparts would begin its investigation into the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak that first made its appearance in Wuhan in late December of 2019 as a pneumonia-like respiratory infection. An open seafood market where live wild animals were sold was thought to be the origin of the infection, though evidence from initial small clinical trials suggest some patients who were infected had no exposure to the seafood market. The WHO team is being led by Dr. Bruce Aylward, whose work in 2016 included designing and implementing reforms in addressing major infectious disease emergencies. During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from 2015 to 2016, he served as Special Representative of the Director-General for the Ebola Response. The goals for the mission in China include outbreak prevention in urban and rural areas and attempting to understand the origin of the infection, as well as the severity of the disease it has caused. The Trump administrations economic adviser Larry Kudlow remarked on Thursday that the US was disappointed China had not invited in US assistance, despite Americans accounting for 13 of the 25 names that WHO submitted to China for possible participation in the expert team. It remains unclear how many Americans will be included and what their roles will be. Additionally, the teams will be limited to Beijing and the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Sichuan. Hubei province and Wuhan City are not on their itinerary, raising concerns, according to Kudlow, about the transparency of the mission. The epidemic has raised distrust and political tensions between Washington and Beijing to new heights. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has rejected the Trump administrations criticism and instead slammed the US for not providing substantive assistance and for overreacting by instituting a travel ban. WHO has been under increasing pressure for its delay in declaring the pandemic a global emergency from the start. Beijing has also come under fire by the international community, as well as its citizens, for mishandling the early stages of the outbreak by attempting to downplay the seriousness of the viral outbreak. Chinese authorities have recently acknowledged that President Xi Jinping had been aware of the developing outbreak as early as January 7. In an internal speech given on February 3, which was subsequently released and published in the partys bimonthly journal Qiushi on Saturday, President Xi stated that he had issued demands about the efforts to prevent and control during a closed-door secret meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee. He also confirmed that he had authorized the shuttering of Wuhan City and other cities in the Hubei province on January 23. I have at every moment monitored the spread of the epidemic and progress in efforts to curtail it, constantly issuing oral orders and also instructions, he asserted. The statement, however, has been mainly commented on as it confirms that Xi and the top leadership did not order public health alerts for over two weeks after being fully aware that a new virus was infecting people in Wuhan. This disclosure comes on top of concerns that the central leadership has remained detached from events that have radically affected the lives of tens of millions of people through strict lockdowns and travel restrictions. In an attempt to control the fallout on the international stage, Chinas ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai attempted to quell concerns and place the Politburo in a favorable light in a lengthy interview with National Public Radio. He said: He [President Xi] set up a central government mechanism to fight this virus, and he had made a tour in Beijing, visited two communities, encouraged people, [and] gave people good hope. Without his strong leadership, the nationwide effort would not be that strong. And he also talked with foreign leaders, many of them, including President Trump on the phone. They had a very good conversation on the phone last week. Chinese authorities intensified the restrictions on movement in Hubei province over the weekend, ordering all rural villages to stay home until further notice, impacting an additional 24 million people. People returning to Beijing must self-quarantine for two weeks. These restrictions will only further impede Chinese businesses from gearing back to full production. Rajiv Biswas, APAC chief economist at HIS Markit, wrote in an email: Even though a significant share of Chinas manufacturing plants has resumed operation this week, many plants are still operating at far below capacity due to labor force shortages. The number of people who have returned to major cities where they are employed is about 25 percent of last years figures. Chinas efforts to restart its economy is colliding with its efforts to quickly bring an end to the epidemic. Meanwhile, in Tokyos Yokohama harbor, the luxury cruise ship, Diamond Princess, continues to remain in quarantine where it has become an epidemiological nightmare. As of Sunday, 454 peoplewell over 12 percent of the 3,711 passengers and crew who were on boardhave become infected with Covid-19, the largest confirmed cluster outside of mainland China. Countries including Canada, Italy, South Korea and more recently the US, have been getting their citizens off the vessel. A day before the US was to extract 328 Americans, the embassy in Tokyo had told the passengers that no one infected would be allowed to get on the charter flights back to the US. Yet, as the passengers were being loaded on to buses and taken to the airport, 14 passengers test results confirmed they were infected. After a chaotic exchange with health experts, the US government allowed them to board, but isolated them on the aircraft. The number of Covid-19 cases globally stands at 72,436 and 1,868 fatalities. There have been two additional deaths over the weekend outside of mainland Chinaone in France and one in Taiwan. Hubei province reported 1,886 new cases and 98 further deaths on February 18. The number of new cases has continued to drop, suggesting that control measures have had a positive impact on controlling the epidemic. Concerns, however, linger as Singapore and Japan totals continue to climb and the finding of a Covid-19 case in Egypt has raised fears of the impact of the epidemic if it obtained a hold on the African continent. WHO has been placed in a precarious position as US officials have added fuel to the fire by stating that they do not have high confidence in the information coming out of China regarding the data they are sharing about the epidemic. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHOs emergencies program, said: This is a very obviously tense political environment because of the economic issues and because of everything else. Please, let our scientists get on. Let our public health professionals get on. Let them work together. An eye-catching design from Paul Costelloe at London Fashion Week Models on the catwalk during the Paul Costelloe show at the London Fashion Week February 2020 show at The Waldorf in London High-tech bodysuits might not seem, at first, to be Paul Costelloe's style. This is the Irish designer who dressed Princess Diana and made Vogue Williams's wedding dress but yesterday, showing at London Fashion Week, he unveiled a whole new element in his AW20 collection. Yes, there are still wow dresses in silks and handsome blistered jacquards from Lake Como, cute, gold metallic tailored blazers, chunky knits and cropped hooded jackets. However, it was the bodysuits and leggings with original prints, some devised by his artist son, William, which took the audience by surprise. Expand Close An eye-catching design from Paul Costelloe at London Fashion Week / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An eye-catching design from Paul Costelloe at London Fashion Week "It's an area I haven't been developing so I'm going down this new route because fashion is changing," said Paul. His philosophy is to make life easier on the treadmill of fashion and he opened his catwalk show with an oversized coat in Scottish tweed under which the model wore the graphic print bodysuit. A wrap-front tweed skirt looked equally as well over the bodysuit and consolidated this marriage of athleisure and tailored couture. His dramatic evening wear pleased the celebrity clients who attended his two fashion shows in the West End. Meanwhile, here comes the bride - and, courtesy of Simone Rocha, she is a modern romantic and utterly compelling. The Dublin-born designer opened and closed her London Fashion Week show with looks which will send women on the hunt for bridal alternatives into paroxysms of delight. Video of the Day Simone's woman demands an independent way of achieving her look whether it's a long puffball in lace or a more casual button-through smock dress trimmed with broderie anglaise. For sheer drama, it was hard to ignore the tactile beauty of her short, full-skirted dress, styled with knee-high socks, pearl-embellished flat shoes and a veil of Chantilly lace to add a touch of mystery. Expand Close Changing times: One of Simone Rochas compelling bridal designs / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Changing times: One of Simone Rochas compelling bridal designs Gleaming oyster satin shimmered seductively under the lights of Lancaster House, a former palace in St James's which has featured in many episodes of 'The Crown'. Simone's 43 looks included ivory coats with satin ribbon shoulder detail and whisper-soft tulle skirts with shoulders wrapped in pleated satin. Thackeray also said he won't block NPR but will not allow NRC in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said his government will not hand over probe in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case to the Centre. The violence was a result of the alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017. The Maharashtra government had recently okayed the handing over of investigation into the Elgar Parishad case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 'Elgar and Koregaon-Bhima are two separate topics. The issue facing my Dalit brothers is about Koregaon-Bhima and I will not give it to the Centre. I want to make it clear that there will be no injustice to Dalit brothers,' Thackeray tweeted. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar had recently publicly expressed his unhappiness over Thackeray's decision to hand over the Elgar Parishad probe to the NIA. The NCP is a key constituent of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, along with the Congress party. Thackeray also said he won't block the National Population Register (NPR) in Maharashtra. He assured that he will 'personally check the columns' in the NPR, adding there shouldn't be any problem with the exercise in Maharashtra. 'CAA and NRC (National Register of Citizens) are different and NPR is different. No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be implemented in the state,' Thackeray tweeted. NPR will happen in the state as there is nothing controversial about it, he said. Thackeray said he will not allow NRC to be implemented in the state. 'If NRC is implemented then it will affect not only Hindus or Muslims but also Adivasis. NPR is a census, and I don't find that anyone will be affected as it happens every 10 years,' he said. At around 11.55 am the chief minister reached the Raj Bhavan and met Mr Dhankhar. Kolkata: In what may herald a new chapter in the relations between the Mamata Banerjee government and West Bengal governor, the Trinamul Congress supremo on Monday called on Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Raj Bhawan amidst tussle between the two sides on various issues. This was the first meeting between them since July last year when Mr Dhankhar became the Governor. At around 11.55 am the chief minister reached the Raj Bhavan and met Mr Dhankhar. She left after an hour. Later Mr Dhankhar tweeted, Had an extremely satisfying an hourlong interaction with chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Raj Bhawan, while sharing the photos of their meeting. The governor had been eager to meet the CM one-on-one since December. But the state government cited Ms Banerjees preoccupation. The Raj Bhavan stated, Chief minister Mamata Banerjee called on the West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata today. The meeting lasted for an hour and there was interaction as regards varied issues of governance. First Lady Sudesh Dhankhar also greeted the chief minister when she arrived. The meeting was between the chief minister Mamata Banerjee and governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. No officials were present as this was one to one meeting. Ms Banerjee's visit to Mr Dhankhar came close on the heels of the governors show cause notice to Prof Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, vice-chancellor of Coochbehar Panchanan Barma University for allegedly not inviting the chancellor to the convocation recently. The governors strong step on the V-C has put the state government in a tight spot. Sources indicated that the CM had discussions on two bills The West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019 and The West Bengal State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, 2019 with Mr Dhankhar as they are yet to get Governors approval. Welcome to our spring 2020 Childrens Announcements issue! Our first feature offers a look at the proliferation of political kids books hitting shelves in time for the November election. Next, we speak with a variety of publishers about their growing IP programs. We also profile author Pam Munoz Ryan, whose forthcoming middle grade novel, Mananaland, blends magical realism and topical themes relating to immigration. Finally, we ask editors to share recent books they admire and wish theyd published themselves. All this, plus our comprehensive AZ listings of childrens and YA titles being released between Feb. 1 and July 31, 2020. Happy reading! Election Year Childrens Book Bonanza November may seem far away, but political titles for young readers are already hitting shelves. A Commitment to Proprietary IP Childrens publishers are taking control by developing new intellectual property and retaining ownership. Pam Munoz Ryan: Illuminating a Timeless Struggle Todays news inserts itself into Pam Munoz Ryans forthcoming middle grade novel, Mananaland. A Tip of the Hat We asked editors to tell us about a recent book for young readers that they didnt publish but greatly admire. Long Live the Bestseller Kings Scholastic and Penguin Random House continue their dominance of PWs childrens lists. Spring 2020 Children's Announcements: Publishers A-E Spring 2020 Children's Announcements: Publishers F-L Spring 2020 Children's Announcements: Publishers M-Q Spring 2020 Children's Announcements: Publishers R-Z Fall 2020 Children's Sneak Previews About Our Cover Artist Readers familiar with the work of author-illustrator Raul Colon may recognize the bridge in the background of this issues cover as a recurring motif. Shown from a different perspective, the Brooklyn Bridge features prominently on the jacket of Colons wordless picture book Imagine! (S&S/Wiseman), in which a boy crosses over that iconic structure from Brooklyn to Manhattan, where he visits the Museum of Modern Art for the first time. The bridge also appears on Colons poster for the 2019 Brooklyn Book Festival. To me, Colon says, it represents crossing into the imagination. Reading does exactly that. Were able to enter another world without having to physically go anywhere. The illustrator has made his share of journeys. Born in New York City, he moved to Puerto Rico with his family as a child, and to Florida as an adult in the late 1970s. Thats where I developed a lot of my portfolio, he says. In Florida, he worked at an educational TV station with other graphic artists, doing production work, building sets, designing puppets, and animating short films. This gave me all the confidence and knowledge to pursue what I wanted to do: illustrate. Colon later moved back to New York to launch his career in picture books. He is the recipient of an SCBWI Golden Kite Award, a Pura Belpre Award, an International Latino Book Award, and both a gold and silver medal in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. He now lives in Rockland County, N.Y., which he says offers an energizing color palette of green, green, green. Due out this season are two lyrical books illustrated by Colon: Child of the Universe, by astrophysicist Ray Jayawardhana (Make Me a World, Mar.), and Already a Butterfly by Julia Alvarez (Holt, June). He is currently finishing illustrations for Margarita Engles picture book A Light for All (S&S/Wiseman, 2021) about immigration and the Statue of Liberty, specifically the torch and how it informs the young people who come to this country. The duo previously collaborated on Miguels Brave Knight: Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote (Peachtree). Bridging together his work, Colon says, The number one thing I try to get across in my books is imagination. I always quote Einstein: Imagination is more important than knowledge. Its great to have knowledge, but if you dont have imagination, it doesnt lead anywhere. Echoing the invitations embedded in his titles Draw! and Imagine!, Colon adds, I hope people keep dreaming. Scientists pioneer new way to study exoplanets A team of scientists using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands has observed radio waves that carry the distinct signatures of aurorae, caused by the interaction between a star's magnetic field and a planet in orbit around it. Radio emission from a star-planet interaction has been long predicted, but this is the first time astronomers have been able to detect and decipher these signals. The discovery paves the way for a novel and unique way to probe the environment around exoplanets--planets that orbit stars in other solar systems--and to determine their habitability. Notably, follow-up observations with the HARPS-N telescope in Spain ruled out the alternate possibility that the interacting companion is another star as opposed to an exoplanet. The work appears in articles in Nature Astronomy and Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL). The breakthrough centered on red dwarfs, which are the most abundant type of star in our Milky Way--but much smaller and cooler than our own Sun. This means for a planet to be habitable, it has to be significantly closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun. Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere. The radio emissions associated with this process are one of the only tools available to probe the interaction between such planets and their stars. "The motion of the planet through a red dwarf's strong magnetic field acts like an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works," says Harish Vedantham, the lead author of the Nature Astronomy study and a Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) staff scientist. "This generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star." Thanks to the Sun's weak magnetic field and the larger distance to the planets, similar currents are not generated in the solar system. However, the interaction of Jupiter's moon Io with Jupiter's magnetic field generates a similarly bright radio emission, even outshining the Sun at sufficiently low frequencies. "We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star," says Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. "A scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io has long been predicted to exist in star-planet systems, and the emission we observed fits the theory very well." To be sure, the astronomers had to rule out an alternate possibility--that the interacting bodies are two stars in a close binary system instead of a star and its exoplanet. The team searched for the signature of a companion star using the HARPS-N instrument (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) on the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo on La Palma, Spain. "Interacting binary stars can also emit radio waves," notes Benjamin Pope, NASA Sagan Fellow at New York University and lead author of the ApJL paper. "Using optical observations to follow up, we searched for evidence of a stellar companion masquerading as an exoplanet in the radio data. We ruled this scenario out very strongly, so we think the most likely possibility is an Earth-sized planet too small to detect with our optical instruments." The group is now concentrating on finding similar emission from other stars. "We now know that nearly every red dwarf hosts terrestrial planets, so there must be other stars showing similar emission," observes Callingham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "We want to know how this impacts our search for another Earth around another star." "If we find that most red dwarf planets are blasted by intense stellar winds, this is bad news for their habitability," Pope, part of NYU's Department of Physics and Center for Data Science and a co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. The group expects this new method of detecting exoplanets will open up a new way of understanding the habitat of exoplanets. "The long-term aim is to determine what impact the star's magnetic activity has on an exoplanet's habitability, and radio emissions are a big piece of that puzzle," says Vedantham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "Our work has shown that this is viable with the new generation of radio telescopes and put us on an exciting path." ### Paper information: "Coherent radio emission from a quiescent red dwarf indicative of star-planet interaction" is published in Nature Astronomy on February 17, 2020: https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41550-020-1011-9 DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41550-020-1011-9 "No Massive Companion to the Coherent Radio-Emitting M Dwarf GJ 1151" is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on February 17, 2020: DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99 Full citation: Pope et al. 2020, ApJL, 890, L19 URL: https:/ / iopscience. iop. org/ article/ 10. 3847/ 2041-8213/ ab5b99 Additional Media Contact: Alice Spruit, ASTRON spruit@astron.nl +31 6 111 77 427 Editor's Note: Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world's foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting university campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and has 11 other global academic sites, including London, Paris, Florence, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Accra. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU is a leader in conducting research and providing education in the arts and sciences, engineering, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, social work, and professional studies, among other areas. For more, please visit http://www. nyu. edu . The international LOFAR telescope (ILT) consists of a European network of radio antennas, connected by a high-speed fibre optic network spanning seven countries. LOFAR was designed, built and is now operated by ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), with its core located in Exloo in the Netherlands. LOFAR works by combining the signals from more than 100,000 individual antenna dipoles, using powerful computers to process the radio signals as if it formed a 'dish' of 1900 kilometres diameter. LOFAR is unparalleled given its sensitivity and ability to image at high resolution (i.e. its ability to make highly detailed images), such that the LOFAR data archive is the largest astronomical data collection in the world and is hosted at SURFsara (The Netherlands), Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany) and the Poznan Super Computing Center (Poland). LOFAR is a pathfinder of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world. For more, please visit http://www. lofar. org/ . This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Rinku Gupta By Express News Service Rana Daggubati had to spend around 200 days in six different jungles shooting for Prabu Solomons tri-lingual, titled Kaadan in Tamil. The shoot involved working alongside elephants, which required special preparations. I spent a week training with elephants in Thailand, feeding them, and spending time getting familiar with them. But nothing prepared me for the actual shoot. The shots usually required Rana to be accompanied by around 20 elephants. Even though I am quite tall, I felt dwarfed next to them. Moreover, walking alongside 20 elephants, I could feel the earth shaking under their force. It was quite unnerving. When they shot near Keralas elephant corridor, the forest rangers warned them that after 6 pm wild elephants would be crossing, so shooting would have to be wrapped in advance every day. On the last day, however, the shoot got prolonged by half an hour. Suddenly they heard the forest rangers shouting that wild elephants were approaching. We all ran helter-skelter and managed to get into the jeeps for a steep drive down the slope. What we didnt realise was how dark it had gotten. Even the jeeps headlights could not penetrate the pitch darkness of the dense forest. What made it eerier was that all around us, we could see eyes staring at us. We didnt know whether they were insects, birds or animals, but they were everywhere. That day we sensed how the earth belongs not just to mankind but to animals as well, a feeling thats lost in concrete man-made jungles. It wasnt just wild elephants that tested Rana. For one stunt, he had to run across the fallen trunk of a tree and cross a ravine, swinging across a branch. Though the safety harness was in place, it was a tricky shot. Just when I reached the end and swung myself over, I noticed huge red jungle ants had started climbing onto my hand. They got into my clothes and began biting me. To make things worse, I couldnt run back to safety as I was harnessed. So I had to carefully walk backward with my body burning up with the ant bites. Due to stunts in the jungle terrain, my costumes would constantly get torn, and scratches from thorns and branches were the norm. For a large part of the shoot, I was shooting only with elephants, birds and mother nature for company, without other co-stars. It made Kaadan a tough but cherished once-in-a-lifetime experience for a nature lover like me, signs off Rana. The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Beijing Jingkelong Company Limited's (HKG:814) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. What is Beijing Jingkelong's P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 7.34. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying HK$7.34 for every HK$1 in prior year profit. View our latest analysis for Beijing Jingkelong How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Beijing Jingkelong: P/E of 7.34 = CNY1.20 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CNY0.16 (Based on the year to September 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price'. Does Beijing Jingkelong Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Beijing Jingkelong has a lower P/E than the average (21.3) P/E for companies in the consumer retailing industry. SEHK:814 Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 18th 2020 Beijing Jingkelong's P/E tells us that market participants think it will not fare as well as its peers in the same industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Story continues It's great to see that Beijing Jingkelong grew EPS by 10% in the last year. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth. While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores. So What Does Beijing Jingkelong's Balance Sheet Tell Us? Beijing Jingkelong has net debt worth a very significant 283% of its market capitalization. This is a relatively high level of debt, so the stock probably deserves a relatively low P/E ratio. Keep that in mind when comparing it to other companies. The Verdict On Beijing Jingkelong's P/E Ratio Beijing Jingkelong trades on a P/E ratio of 7.3, which is below the HK market average of 10.1. The company may have significant debt, but EPS growth was good last year. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Beijing Jingkelong. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The S&P/ASX 200 index softened by 0.2 per cent on Tuesday to close at 7113.7 but did get as much as 0.4 per cent lower in early trading. The All Ords also dropped 0.2 per cent to 7208.3. Information technology was the worst performer, down 1.2 per cent, as it took a double whammy - Apple Inc issuing an earnings warning overnight due to weak demand in China and iPhone shortages. And a sell-off in Altium shares that saw it closing nearly 8 per cent lower. Appen also dropped 4.2 per cent, and Technology One fell 2.9 per cent. However, tech companies that have not yet reported were stronger. Afterpay gained 0.9 per cent and hit a high of $40 during the day in a block trade of 600,000 shares through UBS, WiseTech gained 0.7 per cent, and Xero increased 0.5 per cent to $88.93. Futures markets were on Tuesday afternoon pointing to a 0.6 per cent decline in Wall Street's tech-heavy NASDAQ index when the market resumes trading after a public holiday. The energy sector also underperformed, mostly due to declines in oil producers like Woodside, Santos and Oil Search. While the broader benchmark eased lower, there were some strong performances from blue-chip stocks during the session. A day before trading ex-dividend, the Commonwealth Bank gained 0.9 per cent to $90.26. All of the other big four banks except for the NAB also rose on Tuesday, as did Macquarie Group which inched up 0.3 per cent to $149.14. Despite downgrading its iron ore guidance due to disruptions caused by Tropical Cyclone Damien earlier this month, Rio Tinto gained 0.5 per cent to $98.31. Ahead of its interim profit result, rival Fortescue Metals jumped 1.3 per cent to $11.06. Telstra also added 0.3 per cent to $3.73 while Woolworths rose 0.6 per cent to $43.52. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 21:39:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Somali army killed 12 members of al-Shabab extremists on Monday in an operation in the southern region of Lower Shabelle, a military officer said on Tuesday. Ismail Abdi Malik, commander of the 16th Unit of Somali Special Forces, told journalists that the army launched an attack on a base used by al-Shabab militants in Wan lawayn town and inflicted casualties. "The offensive happened successfully. There was a confrontation between the militants and the army. But the forces defeated them, killing 12 of them," Malik said. He added that the forces will maintain the offensives until the army drives the militants out of the whole region. Residents said the town witnessed clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants. Southern regions of Somalia have become the theatre of clashes between government forces and al-Shabab extremists since the militants were chased from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 by Somali army and African Union forces. Microsoft argues that it got the contract fair and square. Frank Shaw, a Microsoft communications officer, said the Defense Department ran a detailed, thorough and fair process and determined that its needs were best met by Microsoft. He said the company was disappointed with the additional delay. For its part, the Pentagon is peddling the idea that the legal delay deprived our war fighters of a set of capabilities they urgently need, even though it was Mr. Trump who originally asked to have the bidding process reviewed last summer. Some sources told me the government will seek to limit discovery to the technical record and rely on executive privilege to protect whatever Mr. Trump did or said related to the award (does the executive privilege excuse sound familiar?). That includes blocking testimony by Mr. Trump and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The fact that Amazon has been hired by the federal government many times bolsters the companys case that its loss of the JEDI project is part of the presidents vendetta against Mr. Bezos. One oddity that Amazon will surely point out is that Mr. Esper recused himself from the process citing a conflict of interest because of his sons job at IBM. Thats unusual since IBM was not considered a top contender and weirder still since Mr. Esper did not step aside until the very last moment of deliberations. And he was the one who prolonged the bidding contest upon orders from Mr. Trump. One of the most important factors in this battle compared to a lot of other fights in which Mr. Trump delays and obfuscates and makes noise to muddy the waters is Mr. Bezoss tenacity. From my time spent with him in the days of Amazons founding, I know him well enough to say that he will fight as long as it takes, and he can outmaneuver any mud that Mr. Trump can throw at him. Amazon has also been lucky since Mr. Trumps behavior in the JEDI process seems to recall how he got into trouble with Ukraine and, more recently, with the Justice Departments handling of the Roger Stone case (and really in so many instances). To that point, Amazon said in a statement, President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use his position as president and commander in chief to interfere with government functions including federal procurements to advance his personal agenda. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East TORONTO, ON - A team of researchers at the University of Toronto has successfully tested a new strategy for identifying genetic resources critical for the ongoing battle against plant pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that infect and destroy food crops worldwide. "As much as 40 per cent of global crop yield annually is lost to pests and pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing microorganisms," said David Guttman, a professor in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology (CSB) at the University of Toronto and co-author of a study published in Science. "In Canada, pathogens of the top five crops cause annual losses of approximately CDN $3.2B, even with no significant outbreaks." By focusing on the near limitless arsenal of disease-associated genes available to pathogens, and the defences available to plants, they not only uncovered new insights into the ways plants survive relentless attacks, they developed a blueprint that could one day be used to protect the health of any species grown for food production. "We wanted to know how relatively long-lived plants defend themselves against very rapidly evolving disease-causing pathogens, why disease is so uncommon even while plants are under continual attack by these highly diverse pathogens, and why domesticated crop species are so much more susceptible to pathogen attacks than wild species," said Guttman. Guttman and fellow CSB professor Darrell Desveaux, who co-led the study, addressed these questions by specifically asking how a single plant is able to fight off the attacks of a common, bacterial, crop pathogen. They did this by first characterizing the global diversity of an important class of pathogen proteins, called effectors. "Effectors play key roles in disease since they evolved to enhance the ability of pathogens to attack and infect their hosts. Fortunately, plants have evolved counter-defenses in the form of immune receptors that can recognize certain effectors," said Desveaux. "A plant is able to mount an 'effector-triggered' immune response that usually stops the infection, if it carries a specific immune receptor that recognizes a specific pathogen effector. This effector-receptor interaction has been called gene-for-gene resistance, and is the basis for nearly all agricultural resistance breeding." The team started by sequencing the genomes of approximately 500 strains of the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae (P. syringae), which causes disease on nearly every major crop species. "From these bacterial genomes we identified approximately 15,000 effectors from 70 distinct families," said Guttman. "We then reduced this complexity by identifying 530 effectors that represent their global diversity." The researchers next had all of these representative effectors synthesized and put into a particularly harmgul strain of P. syringae that causes disease when infecting the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), a common weed widely used in plant biology studies. By doing infections with each individual effector they saw how many of the 530 effectors elicited an effector-triggered immune response that protected the plant. The results were unexpected. "We found that over 11% of the effectors elicited immune response, and that almost 97% of all P. syringae strains carry at least one immune-eliciting effector," said Desveaux. "We also identified new plant immune receptors that recognize these effectors, and found that almost 95% of all P. syringae strains can be blocked by just two A. thaliana immune receptors." The results shed new light on how plants survive relentless pathogen attack. They also provide an exciting new approach for identifying new plant immune receptors, which is a genetic resource in short supply in agricultural breeding. "While wild plant species have a diverse array of immune receptors, most domesticated crop species have lost much of this immunodiversity due to intensive artificial selection," said Guttman. "Our approach enables the rapid identification of new immune receptors in wild relatives of crops that can then be moved into elite agricultural lines by traditional breeding, ultimately creating new varieties with greater ability to resist agricultural pathogens." ### Funding for the research was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Research Chairs program. MEDIA CONTACTS: David Guttman Department of Cell & Systems Biology University of Toronto +1 416 978 6865 david.guttman@utoronto.ca Darrell Desveaux Department of Cell & Systems Biology University of Toronto +1 416 978 7153 darrell.desveaux@utoronto.ca Sean Bettam Communications, Faculty of Arts & Science University of Toronto +1 416 946 7950 s.bettam@utoronto.ca Denny Hamlin sealed back-to-back victories in an incident-packed Daytona 500, winning a photo finish in a race marred by a horrific crash that left veteran driver Ryan Newman seriously injured. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin followed up his victory in 2019 with his third career win at Daytona, becoming the first racer to win the opening leg of the NASCAR season since Sterling Marlin in 1995. However, Hamlin's celebrations were muted by a last-lap crash that left Roush Fenway Racing's Newman hospitalized on Monday. The 42-year-old Newman's Ford Mustang had led on the final lap but spun out of control, hit the wall and flipped onto its roof before bursting into flames at the Daytona International Speedway. Newman's car was also sent flying into the air after being struck by Go Fas Racing's Corey LaJoie. Several ambulances sped onto the circuit to attend to Newman's stricken vehicle following the crash. Black screens were erected around the site of Newman's car as workers extracted the driver from the wreck. NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell later told reporters that Newman was in serious condition at a local area hospital, but his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. "He's in a serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are non-life-threatening," a statement from Roush Racing read out by O'Donnell said. "We appreciate the thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family at this time," O'Donnell added. Newman's fellow competitors had earlier voiced concern over the plight of the driver following the race. "I knew it was bad," race-winner Hamlin said. "I knew him crossing the track there was a bad scenario in the first place. It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but obviously someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. "We're just hoping for the best." Hamlin's team boss Joe Gibbs meanwhile apologised for celebrating the win in the immediate aftermath of the chequered flag when Newman's car was still being tended to on the track. "I was focusing on our car, and everybody started celebrating around us," Gibbs said. "Some people may have saw us and said, 'Well, these guys are celebrating when there's a serious issue going on.' "So hopefully I apologize to everybody, but we really didn't know. We got in the winner's circle, and then that's when people told us. "It just makes it so hard. Such a close-knit community. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (TNS) The largest school bond in California state history, at $15 billion, is going to voters in March as supporters try to put a dent in a $100 billion backlog of failing boiler rooms, leaky roofs and new construction projects needed at K-12 schools and universities.Proposition 13 unrelated to the same-numbered 1978 tax measure was placed on the ballot by the Legislature with bipartisan support.Supporters, which include the education establishment as well as the construction industry, would allocate $9 billion to K-12 schools, $4 billion for Californias public universities and $2 billion for community colleges.Prop. 13 would not increase individual property taxes, but instead require the state to make annual payments of $740 million out of the general fund budget, or about one-half of 1% of that budget. About $313 million of that on average would be interest on the bonds.The state is already making $3.1 billion in annual payments on school and university bonds passed in prior years, including $1.56 billion in interest.Critics question the high cost of borrowing the money, which would mean ultimately paying $11 billion in interest, almost as much as the entire bond.A lot of this is being driven by Wall Street, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. They make a ton of money off this. But is it really good for the citizens of California?School officials counter that borrowing via bonds is a standard practice for large public construction projects, spreading the cost over many years.Its a good public investment, said Dennis Meyers, assistant executive director of governmental relations at the California School Boards Association.You cant educate students in old, rundown facilities, he said.Research shows that classroom conditions noise levels, air temperature, lighting, air quality and other factors impact student achievement, with a good environment resulting in a 5% to 17% increase in test scores and lower suspension rates, according to the California Department of Education.Studies show clean air, good light, and a small, quiet, comfortable, and safe learning environment are important for students academic achievement, the departments School Facilities Division reports. Student achievement scores tend to decrease as the school building ages to as high as 9 percent, depending on maintenance factors.A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Prop. 13 with 53% support among likely voters. The measure requires only a simple majority to pass.Supporters have raised nearly $9 million while the opposition listed no contributions as of the first week of February, according to the secretary of state.To qualify for the Prop. 13 money, most school districts would need to pass a local facilities bond and then apply for matching state funds. Yet without the states help, cash-strapped districts are on their own to upgrade or build facilities, said Tony Wold, associate superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified.We have a billion dollars in need, Wold said of the East Bay district with 32,000 students. Every dollar that we have, we can leverage to make a difference for our students.Wolds district will also ask voters in March to approve a $575 million school facilities bond, increasing local property taxes to pay for it.The state money would help stretch the funding from that local bond, allowing the district to address critical needs at schools like Lake Elementary in San Pablo, where the boiler room is held together with duct tape, and wires hang from the ceiling at the front entrance, Wold said.San Francisco school officials said that at least a dozen school sites, including Lincoln and Wallenberg high schools and Marina and Denman middle schools, would be eligible for Prop. 13 funds to help modernize buildings that are decades old. That could include upgrading technology, building science labs, renovating playgrounds, installing new lighting and replacing plumbing and wiring.Prop. 13 would also allocate $500 million for charter schools and another $500 million for career-technical education.In addition, the measure would require University of California and California State University officials to prioritize life-safety facility needs at their campuses when distributing the funds and create five-year plans to expand affordable housing options for students and consider those plans for bond-funded construction projects.While university and college officials havent identified what specific projects would be funded with the bond, they highlighted seismic risks and overcrowding as issues facing the higher education systems. Six UC Berkeley buildings, including Moffitt Library, pose a severe risk to life in the event of an earthquake.In the relatively small print of the measure, the fees school districts could levy against developers would be reduced by up to 20%, which would reduce the funds home builders contribute to school construction. Since 2002, school districts across the state have raised about $10 billion from these developer fees, which are meant to offset the impact on classrooms from new housing construction projects.Coupal acknowledged the facilities needs at schools and colleges, but questioned whether it wouldnt be more fiscally prudent to use some of the states estimated $7 billion budget surplus and $18 billion in rainy-day funds to help pay for the projects, rather than doling out interest for the next 35 years.Should we not be paying for some of this on a pay-as-you-go basis? he said. It's just so much more efficient.In addition to the concerns over interest costs, state facilities bonds for schools, including Proposition 51 in 2016, have been criticized for their first-come, first-served policy, meaning the distribution of funding wasnt necessarily based on need or urgency, but rather the ability of districts to pass local bonds, meet other application requirements, and get in line quickly. The process has generally favored the larger and wealthier districts, which have more staff and expertise to navigate the process, as well as a larger tax base.In some cases that has meant some districts have used state bond money to build state-of-the-art performing arts centers, while smaller or less wealthy communities continue to grapple with leaky roofs and broken heating systems.Supporters say Prop. 13 addresses this by prioritizing more urgent projects, including those related to health and safety of students, while also ensuring low-income communities or small districts that might struggle to raise their own bond money are still eligible.Its not the full amount we need, Meyers said, but its a good way to distribute these funds. PHILADELPHIA, PA - Results from the NRG Oncology clinical study NRG-CC001 concluded that lowering radiotherapy dose to hippocampal stem cells improves cognitive and patient-reported outcomes for patients with brain metastases. These findings were presented at Plenary Sessions at the 2018 Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) and the 2019 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meetings and are now published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "NRG-CC001 provides physicians with the information needed to offer patients a safer alternative to standard whole-brain radiotherapy. Hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy with memantine should be a standard of care that providers offer for patients with brain metastases who are seeking whole-brain radiotherapy," stated Paul D. Brown, MD, of Mayo Clinic and co-lead author of the NRG-CC001 manuscript. The NRG-C001 phase III trial enrolled 518 patients, which were randomly assigned to either receive whole-brain radiotherapy plus memantine with hippocampal avoidance or standard whole-brain radiotherapy plus memantine. The primary endpoint of the trial was cognitive function failure and the trial looked at secondary endpoints including overall survival, intracranial progression-free survival, toxicity, and patient-reported neurologic symptoms. "Hippocampal avoidance during whole-brain radiotherapy in NRG-CC001 leads to a 26% relative reduction in cognitive toxicity risk following treatment. This is the first definitive and most important clinical evidence that the hippocampus is important in determining the negative effects that radiotherapy can have on cognitive function," added Vinai Gondi, MD, the Director of Research at the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center, Co-Director of the Brain Tumor Center at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville, and co-lead author of the NRG-CC001 manuscript. With a median follow up of 7.9 months, the risk of cognitive function failure was lower following hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy versus standard whole-brain radiotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.95, p=0.02). The difference was attributable to less deterioration in executive function at 4 months (23.3% vs. 40.4%, p=0.01) and learning and memory at 6 months (11.5% vs. 24.7%, p=0.049, and 16.4% vs. 33.3%, p=0.02, respectively). At 6 months, patients who received whole-brain radiotherapy with hippocampal avoidance reported less fatigue (p=0.04), less difficulty remembering things (p=0.01), and less difficulty speaking (p=0.0049), in addition to fewer cognitive symptoms (p=0.01) and less interference of neurologic symptoms in daily activities (p=0.008). There was no statistically significant difference between overall survival, intracranial progression-free survival, or toxicity between treatment arms. ### NRG-CC001 was supported by grants UG1CA189867 (NRG Oncology NCORP) and U24CA180803 (IROC) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02360215. Citation Brown PD, Gondi V, Pugh SL, Tome WA, Wefel JS, Armstrong TS, Bovi JA, Robinson C, Konski A, Khuntia D, Grosshans D, Benzinger TLS, Bruner D, Gilbert MR, Roberge D, Kundapur V, Devisetty K, Shah S, Usuki K, Anderson BM, Stea B, Yoon H, Li J, Laack NN, Kruser TJ, Chmura SJ, Shi W, Deshmukh S, Mehta MP, Kachnic LA. Hippocampal Avoidance during Whole-Brain Radiotherapy plus Memantine for Patients with Brain Metastases: Phase III Trial NRG Oncology CC001. J Clin Oncol. Feb. 14, 2020. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.02767. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32058845 About NRG Oncology NRG Oncology conducts practice-changing, multi-institutional clinical and translational research to improve the lives of patients with cancer. Founded in 2012, NRG Oncology is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit corporation that integrates the research of the legacy National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) programs. The research network seeks to carry out clinical trials with emphases on gender-specific malignancies, including gynecologic, breast, and prostate cancers, and on localized or locally advanced cancers of all types. NRG Oncology's extensive research organization comprises multidisciplinary investigators, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, pathologists, and statisticians, and encompasses more than 1,300 research sites located world-wide with predominance in the United States and Canada. NRG Oncology is supported primarily through grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is one of five research groups in the NCI's National Clinical Trials Network. http://www.nrgoncology.org LOS ALTOS, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Portworx , the container storage and data management company, today announced qualification of its Portworx Enterprise platform under Google Cloud's new Anthos Ready Storage Initiative for Anthos running on-premises. Portworx Enterprise is now available for Anthos running on-premises via Google Cloud Marketplace. Portworx Enterprise addresses some of the most common challenges associated with Kubernetes rollouts (e.g., performance, high availability, disaster recovery, backup, data security, multi-cloud migrations, and automated storage operations). Customers will also benefit from new Portworx Enterprise capabilities, including PX Backup and PX Autopilot. PX-Backup allows users to backup their entire Kubernetes cluster including data and application configurations, enabling fast recovery when needed. PX-Backup can also backup applications using Google Persistent Disk for storage in the cloud, even if the customer is not using Portworx's own container-granular storage system, PX-Store. Additionally, PX-Autopilot for Capacity Management supports the full automation of cloud storage management. With PX-Autopilot, Google Persistent Disks can be provisioned and resized on-demand when needed, eliminating the long running issue of paying for storage capacity when it is provisioned, not when it is used. "Google Cloud's qualification of Portworx CSI for Anthos running on-premises underscores the need for enterprises to work with trusted partners to handle their cloud-native investments, as opposed to discovering enterprise-grade solutions through trial and error," said Venkat Ramakrishnan, VP of Products and Engineering, Portworx. "Portworx has always been focused on building enterprise IT solutions that alleviate the challenges associated with running enterprise applications to container-based platforms. Receiving this qualification is a tremendous milestone in ensuring that Google Cloud customers can manage workloads consistently across different environments via Portworx." "We are pleased that Portworx will be among our initial partners to receive the Anthos Ready Storage qualification," said Rayn Veerubhotla, Director, Partnerships at Google Cloud. "Portworx's data storage solutions have met our qualifications to run on the Anthos platform, meaning customers can confidently leverage Portworx solutions across hybrid environments leveraging Anthos." For more information about how Anthos Storage qualification validates key storage functionality, customers should contact their Portworx account management representative or visit Portworx.com . Learn More About Portworx Portworx is the container storage company enterprises rely on to manage mission critical data services in containers. By enabling data availability, data security, backup and disaster recovery for Kubernetes-based applications running on-prem or across clouds, Portworx has helped dozens of Global 2000 companies such as Carrefour, Comcast, GE Digital, Lufthansa, T-Mobile, and SAIC run containerized data services in production. Based in Los Altos, Portworx partners with Amazon, Cisco, Google, HPE, IBM, Pivotal, VMware, and other leading enterprise software companies to accelerate container adoption. For more information, visit portworx.com or follow @portwx. SOURCE Portworx Related Links portworx.com Two mutual fund houses, UTI MF and Nippon India MF, have side-pocketed their exposures to in a bid to prevent the distressed assets from damaging the returns generated from more liquid and better-performing assets. The move comes following a rating downgrade of debt by to 'BB-', which is below the investment grade. In a statement, UTI AMC said its board of trustees approved the creation of segregated portfolio in five schemes -- UTI Credit Risk Fund, UTI Bond Fund, UTI Regular Savings Fund, UTI Dynamic Bond Fund and UTI Medium Term Fund. "With effect from February 17, 2020, securities of Ltd will be segregated from total portfolio," it added. These five schemes have exposure of Rs 186 crore in debt instruments issued by Vodafone Idea. Nippon India MF, separately, said it has decided to create segregated portfolio of securities (or side pockets) of Vodafone Idea held in three schemes -- Nippon India Strategic Debt Fund, Nippon India Credit Risk Fund and Nippon India Hybrid Bond Fund -- from Monday (February 17) to protect the interest of the investors. The fund house has an exposure of a little over Rs 227 crore to Vodafone Idea debt across these three schemes. "In light of no further relief and the Supreme Court's reiteration of the requirement to make the payment imminently, the company's operations are likely to become unviable unless there is significant equity infusion," Nippon India said in a note to investors. "The promoters of VIL (Vodafone Idea Ltd) have hinted that they will be unable to continue the operations of the company on a going-concern basis unless there is meaningful relief on the AGR dues," it added. Last month, Franklin Templeton MF side-pocketed exposure to the telecom player after rating agencies had downgraded the non-convertible debentures of Vodafone Idea to below investment grade. Prior to that, Franklin Templeton MF, which had an exposure of over Rs 2,000 crore to Vodafone Idea in six of its schemes, had marked down its investment in the securities issued by the telecom player to zero. The fund house had markdown the schemes on the same day when the Supreme Court rejected the telecom player's review plea related to over Rs 40,000 crore in (AGR)-related dues to the government. In December 2018, regulator had permitted mutual funds to create segregated portfolios, or side-pocketing, with respect to debt and money market instruments. In case of a credit event that is a credit downgrade, like below investment grade and similar, segregated portfolio may be created. Creation of segregated portfolios is a mechanism to separate distressed, illiquid and hard-to-value assets from other more liquid assets in a portfolio. All Brexit scenarios bring a range of changes and adverse impacts to citizens and business, the Cabinet has been told. Ahead of this week's key summit of EU leaders, ministers were warned that no set of arrangements being explored by the European Union will be able to replicate the status quo by Tanaiste Simon Coveney. After their deliberations, the Government agreed to continue preparedness and contingency work across all sectors to ensure that Ireland is ready for this change and is best placed to meet the significant challenges that Brexit will bring. The European Commission published its draft negotiating mandate for the EU-UK Future Relationship on 3 February. "Ireland is working constructively with EU partners to ensure a final draft that works well for the EU and that reflect Irelands core interests, with a view to the General Affairs Council adopting the mandate when it meets on 25 February. It is then expected that negotiations between the EU and UK could begin in early March," ministers were told. Mr Coveney said the next phase of Brexit negotiations will require an intensive whole of Government approach to advancing Irelands priorities and interests in the negotiations. "The Government will work together with our EU partners for the closest possible relationship with the UK, based on a balance of rights and obligations, including a level playing field for fair competition," Mr Coveney said.l A transition period will be in place until 31 December 2020. This period can be extended for one or two years by a joint decision by the EU and UK. The decision to extend must be taken by 30 June 2020. During the transition period, the EU will treat the UK as if it were a Member State, with the exception of participation in EU institutions and governance structures. The whole of thewill apply to the UK during the transition, meaning that day-to-day arrangements for citizens and businesses will remain in place. Ham radio comes to rescue during natural calamities The Hindu newspaper reports radio amateurs participated in a three-day emmergency communications training camp on an uninhabited island At an uninhabited island near the mouth of Chilika lagoon, 10 members of the Amateur Radio Society of Odisha (ARSO), with no access to electricity and communication lines, tested their skills and technology to use radio for enhancing preparedness for natural calamities. The three-day-long second annual field camp at the remote island ended on Sunday. Using amateur radio, also known as HAM radios, with minimal power supply was the theme of the camp. ARSO members reached the island on the evening of February 14 and remained cut off from the rest of the world till February 16. To simulate situations during a natural calamity, the group operated without power and conventional modes of communication, and used bamboo poles and domestic electrical wires to construct an antenna tower. Read the full story at https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ham-radio-comes-to-rescue-during-natural-calamities/article30838083.ece Chinese-Italian community subjected to assaults, insults and boycotts of businesses following deadly epidemic in China. The deadly outbreak of a new coronavirus in China has triggered a hysterical and shameful wave of Sinophobia in Italy, according to members of the Chinese Italian community and a rights group, with Italians and tourists of Chinese and Asian origin reporting acts of violence, discrimination and harassment. The incidents include assaults, calls for sexual violence, insults and boycott of businesses. What are you doing in Italy? Go away! Youre bringing us disease, a 15-year-old Chinese Italian boy was told before he was punched and kicked in the face in the northern city of Bologna on February 2, the Bologna Today newspaper reported. Days later, in the southern city of Cagliari, a hospitalised 31-year-old Filipino man told La Nuova Sardegna, a local newspaper, that he had been attacked by a group of young men who thought he was Chinese and accused him of bringing the virus to Italy. In Milan, Hongqin Zhou, whose family migrated to Italys financial capital more than three decades ago, said a taxi driver refused to drive her, telling her he feared she may have the coronavirus. The virus has become a justification to express prejudice and hate. It wasnt as bad during the SARS epidemic 17 years ago, she told Al Jazeera, referring to the 2002-2003 outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, which also originated in China. Of course, you would get awkward looks, but nothing as hysterical as this time. The new coronavirus, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, has killed more than 1,800 people and infected more than 70,000 globally. It has spread to more than two dozen countries including Italy, which has three confirmed cases but nearly 99 percent of the deaths and infections have been reported in mainland China. Italys government reacted with alarm, suspending flights to China and declaring a six-month state of emergency to combat the virus. It is one of the two countries outside China to label the epidemic a local emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, mainly because of fears the virus could spread to countries with weaker health systems. Atmosphere of hate Chinese Italians and activists say misinformation perpetuated by politicians and false claims on mainstream and social media has resulted in an atmosphere of hate. A spokesman for the Italian interior ministry declined to comment. In the central city of Florence, 22-year-old Monica Wang said she received a message on Instagram from an account she did not recognise wishing sexual violence upon Chinese people. You Chinese are destroying the world, I hope your daughters are raped and raped again so you can learn to stay wherever you came from, said the screenshot of the message Wang received on January 30. Meanwhile, some public officials have asked students of Chinese and Asian origin to stay home In one incident, the director of Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia, a famous music school in the Italian capital, Rome, said lessons for all Oriental students including those from China, Korea and Japan would be suspended because of the Chinese epidemic. They would only be allowed to return after a health check, he said. The viral outbreak has also added fodder to a long-running anti-migrant campaign by Italian far-right groups. Matteo Salvini, former deputy prime minister and leader of the far-right Lega Nord, called for the closure of all Italian borders on January 31, saying: We need to stop all travel connections with China, it should have been done long ago. In the northern towns of Como, Brescia and Varese, posters proclaiming: Coronavirus? Buy Italian. Its a moral duty were plastered to the storefronts of dozens of Chinese Italian owned businesses in late January. The posters carried the logo of the far-right Forza Nuova group. Paolo, a 29-year-old member of a union representing the affected shop owners, told Al Jazeera fears over the virus has resulted in a sharp drop in trade. Business is considerably down, said the young father, who preferred to give only one name out of fear of reprisals. We are breathing an air of hostility at the moment. Of course, not everyone is prejudiced, but Im very worried about the business and my family. This is my home, I love this place. My entire livelihood is here. The police in the Lombardy region told Al Jazeera they were aware of the posters but declined to comment further. Zejian Peng, who owns a stationery store in the southern town of Salerno, where he has lived for 29 years, said he avoided being seen in his shop because he does not want to lose clients. Weve had clients asking whether our business is Chinese, people fear they might somehow get infected. One client even reassured her husband that there were no Chinese people in the shop so it would be safe, he told Al Jazeera. My wife, who is Italian, continues taking care of the shop. Its frustrating, it makes me feel angry and helpless. For Peng, who has lived in Salerno since he was four years old, the source of the anti-Chinese sentiment is clear. All this extremism is happening because of what is being said and shared online, he said. People with no subject knowledge, but with thousands of followers on social media, say and claim facts without evidence in their posts which inevitably incite hate. Just look at what politicians say online. Amnesty International echoed that sentiment in a statement earlier this month. Scientifically incorrect information, irresponsible affirmations by politicians and incomprehensible local measures [taken against the virus spread] have led to a shameful wave of Sinophobia, said Gianni Ruffin, director general of Amnesty International Italy. On February 5, the Corriere Bergamo reported that Maurizio Esti, mayor of the northern town of Solto Collina, blamed the virus on what Chinese people eat. These f****** Chinese, they eat everything. Bats, snakes, dogs and insects, they should be the only people to die in this epidemic, she wrote on Facebook. Some observers say news outlets are to blame too. TG24, a news channel operated by Sky Italy, reported on January 25 that the coronavirus could have been leaked from a military lab in Wuhan. Despite the claim being widely debunked, TG24s director Paolo Liguori continued to stand by the report. It has been eight days since I told you about the secret laboratory and we have not received evidence that proves it false, he said on February 2, in a long monologue on the origins of the coronavirus. That claim was first made popular in an audio message on WhatsApp, in which a man claiming to be an Italian journalist in Wuhan said the virus had been leaked by accident from a Wuhan lab. It later turned out the author of the message, an Italian businessman in China, had intended it as a joke for his close friends, according to Il Resto del Carlino newspaper. Separately, influencers on social media have also spread false claims about the coronavirus, taking advantage of the panic to promote products. Giulia Calcaterra, a television star who has 750,000 followers, posted an Instagram video on January 29, blaming Chinese eating habits for the alleged epidemic. She ended the video with a promo code for an online shop that sells fitness products. Go check it out people, its important to stay healthy and fit, she said. The increase in anti-Chinese sentiment in Italy has prompted an intervention by Italian President Sergio Mattaralla. On February 6, he paid a surprise visit to Scuola Daniele Manin, a school in Rome attended by many Italian Chinese and where 45 percent of students are not ethnically Italian. Schools are for everyone, we must all learn to be together, he said. But Emanuele Russo, president of Amnestys Italy chapter, said the Italian government needed to do a lot more. Our politicians openly use racist and hate rhetoric. Anti-racist speeches and initiatives by individual politicians are not sufficient to change the racism embedded in our public institutions. Fear of the virus spread has simply shed light on the Sinophobia that was already present. We need the government to take a formal anti-xenophobia stance and criminalise acts that violate human rights he told Al Jazeera. Protection will be carried out by officers of the National Guard and National Police Ukraines Minister of Health Zoriana Skaletska said that Ukrainians, evacuated from Wuhan, would be sent for a 14-day quarantine, which will take place under the protection of the National Guard and the National Police. This was stated in a video published on the MoH YouTube channel. "The evacuation will be carried out with consideration of all the recommendations of the World Health Organization. According to the algorithms used worldwide. The plane departs from Kyiv on Tuesday, February 18," she said. It is stated that all evacuees will be provided with the necessary personal protective equipment. After arriving in Ukraine, the plane will be sent to the sanitary park. Customs controls will be carried out in biosecurity suits. As we reported earlier, Ukraine will also evacuate citizens of the Russian Federation, Germany, Belarus and other countries from the Chinese city of Wuhan. According to Arsen Avakov, Ukraine's Interior Minister, each of them will also be monitored and will have to sign their consent to the observation. Foreign countries will pay Ukraine for the evacuation of their citizens. Married At First Sight star Natasha Spencer has spoken out about suffering a 'revenge porn' attack earlier this month. The 26-year-old tells The Daily Telegraph: 'I've really been struggling this last week, given the degree of online abuse I've received as a result of this video. 'I feel awful for any woman or man who has gone through this. The Internet is a cruel place and I'm still shocked by how nasty people can be. 'I feel totally violated': Married At First Sight's Natasha Spencer (pictured) revealed on Tuesday that she's suffering from anxiety after being trolled over a leaked sex tape 'People forget that there is someone behind the Instagram account that they are attacking'. She added that she is seeking psychological help to cope with the anxiety that has arisen due to the situation. 'I have reached out to the show's psychologist for support. As anyone can imagine, I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about the entire incident. The 26-year-old tells The Daily Telegraph: 'I've really been struggling this last week, given the degree of online abuse I've received as a result of this video' She added that she is seeking psychological help to cope with the anxiety that has arisen due to the situation: 'I have reached out to the show's psychologist for support. As anyone can imagine, I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about the entire incident' 'No one should ever share private content like this without someone's consent, be it a woman or a man in the video. I feel totally violated,' Natasha said. The financial analyst earlier revealed she became a nervous wreck when she first discovered the private video was being circulated on social media. She told Woman's Day: 'A close friend of mine who works in construction told me the video was being passed around by tradies. Leak: The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey Pembroke (right) was watched by more than a million Australians The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey Pembroke was watched by more than a million Australians. Natasha said she had prepared herself for scrutiny when she signed up for Nine's reality show, but had never expected to have her privacy invaded in this way. 'I knew there would be interest in my personal life, but this has gone too far,' she said of the revenge porn leak. She told Woman's Day: 'A close friend of mine who works in construction told me the video was being passed around by tradies' Natasha, who reported the incident to NSW Police last week, added that her experience should be a warning to other young women. 'Don't do it! By all means enjoy sex, get what you want, but don't get behind the camera,' she said. The footage in question was apparently filmed last year and involves Natasha and an unidentified male. Violated: Natasha said she had prepared herself for scrutiny when she signed up for Married At First Sight, but had never expected to have her privacy invaded in this way A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command are investigating a report made on Tuesday 11 February 2020, by a 26-year-old Lane Cove woman concerning an incident that occurred last year.' A friend of Natasha's told Daily Mail Australia last week: 'She is taking this matter very seriously and is devastated. She also fears that it will have a negative impact on her career.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Nine Microsoft may have given up on the idea of Windows phones and switched to Android for its upcoming Surface Duo. But a UK company called Emperion claims to be working on a smartphone (or phone-like device) that will ship with Windows 10 on ARM software. Its called the Emperion Nebulus, and Emperion has been posting a some details to Twitter over the last few months but only recently explained that the Nebulus will ship with Windows 10 on ARM software. Windows Central and @sinclairinat0r got some more details, and heres what we know so far although there are still a lot of questions remaining. Update: Details and pictures have been removed from the Emperion website and replaced with a Coming Soon message. The Nebulus is said to feature an overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and run the same Windows 10 on ARM software that powers computers like the Surface Pro X tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Book S laptop. But Emperion is promising a few mobile-friendly tweaks including: A custom user interface Support for running Android apps within Windows The company claims that Android compatibility doesnt require an emulator, but I suspect thats because one comes pre-installed, probably something like BlueStacks or Genymotion. According to a tweet from November, the Nebulus has a 6.2 inch display, a 6,000 mAh battery, 128GB of storage, dual 13MP cameras and a 10.5MP front-facing camera. According to the Emperion website, we can also expect 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and 4G LTE. Other features are expected to include a microSD card slot with support for up to 2TB of removable storage and a USB-C port. Plug in an external display, and you should be able to switch to desktop mode and use the device like a full-fledged computer. Actually, it is a full-fledged computer, just one with a small screen, a relatively slow processor (by laptop or desktop standards), and no physical keyboard. One other thing thats may not be built in? The ability to make phone calls over a normal cellular network. Windows 10 on ARM doesnt have the telephony features typically included in mobile operating systems like Android, iOS, or the now-defunct Windows 10 Mobile. Its unclear if Emperion has come up with its own solution or if the company plans to sell the Nebulus as a data-only device that can make calls over VoIP using Skype, WhatsApp, or other services. Then again, its unclear at this point if the Nebulus is a real thing that youll actually be able to buy anytime soon. Emperion says it goes up for pre-order this year for 549 (about $710 US), but so far the company has only shown rendered images of the phone, not real-world pictures or videos. President Moon Jae-in speaks at a meeting in Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap President Moon Jae-in ordered his Cabinet on Tuesday to mobilize all available "special" means to handle the "emergency economic situations" attributable to the continued spread of the novel coronavirus. "Emergency situations require an emergency prescription. The current situation is much more serious than (we) thought," he said in his opening remarks during a weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. The president stressed that, "It is the time when special measures are absolutely necessary to use every possible means that the government can mobilize." Moon's strong call reflects his resolve to minimize the pandemic's impact on the South Korea economy that the government said was on the cusp of revival starting in the last quarter of 2019. When Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe took to the stage for an election rally in the city of Sokode this month, the crowd chanted the campaign's popular catchphrase: "Knockout blow!" It was a potent message in a city that was once at the heart of opposition to the Gnassingbe family, which has dominated the West African state for more than half a century. The 53-year-old leader himself seemed impressed: "How can I not be surprised by the welcome you're giving me today?" he asked. Through 2017 and 2018 huge protests rocked the nation of eight million people as demonstrators demanded the incumbent, who took power in 2005 after the death of his strongman father, leave office. Sokode, Togo's second largest city, was the hotbed for the unrest. Spearheaded by little-known local politician Tikpi Atchadam and his Pan-African National Party (PNP), protesters blocked roads, torched police stations and attacked soldiers. Togo. By Kun TIAN (AFP) The response from the authorities was fierce -- at least 10 people were killed in Sokode alone. More than a year after the nationwide protests fizzled out, Gnassingbe's grip now appears as solid as ever. He is all but certain to win a fourth term at the ballot on Saturday, and has changed the constitution to allow himself potentially to stay in charge until 2030. People were brought in on buses from surrounding villages for his rally in Sokode and schools were closed for the day and students pushed to attend. "Every time we use violence in order to oppose... it is always Togo that loses out," the president told the crowd of thousands. 'Live in hiding' New mayor Ouro Gbele Tchanile insists "peace has returned" to his city for good. "The election campaign period is going on without any problems -- there are no signs of tension and the crisis is in the past," the mayor told AFP. But in reality, Sokode is a city still under lockdown. Supporter: Despite visible backing for Gnassingbe, Sokode is still a city in lockdown. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP) Trucks filled with armed soldiers continually patrol the main streets and residents complain of searches in their homes, beatings in the streets and a nightly curfew. "Whoever wants peace has to prepare for war," the mayor said in his office. "Tourism stopped, business suffered a lot -- development is not possible without security." The neighbourhood of Kpalo-Kpalo, one of the PNP's former strongholds, is surrounded by troops. Activists from the party -- which drew a lot of the support from the mainly Muslim Tem ethnic group -- say a ruthless crackdown by security forces means they can now only meet in secret. Their leader Atchadam has fled Togo and is currently hiding out in neighbouring Ghana. "We are not safe anywhere, we live in hiding, we cannot speak out," a local PNP activist told AFP on condition of anonymity. "I am one of the few who can talk to you from outside prison as most of us have been arrested." 'Precarious calm' Since late November some 50 people have been arrested in a series of highly-publicised operations by the security forces. Those detained were accused of planning an "armed uprising" as part of a mysterious group called "Tiger Revolution" supposedly linked to the PNP. They were paraded on state television with mystical amulets, machetes and Kalashnikov rifles and confessed before the cameras to seeking to destabilise the country. Some in Sokode say that a hardcore of frustrated Atchadam supporters has been pushing for a violent confrontation with the authorities, despite the fact their leader always advocated peaceful protests. From his exile, Atchadam sends audio messages via Whatsapp urging people to continue the struggle -- but they fail to get an audience now the opposition network has been stamped out. October 2017: A woman at a protest rally in Lome holds up a placard reading "Faure ! How many Togolese do you still have to kill to quench your thirst for power?". By MATTEO FRASCHINI KOFFI (AFP/File) "It's true that calm has come back, but it is a precarious calm," said young PNP Mamane, who refuses to give his surname and speaks with his face covered. "The tensions could erupt at any time." Gnasssingbe has promised to create 500,000 jobs across the country by 2022 to ease the frustrations of the large number of unemployed youths in the country. But, after 53 years of his family's rule, the signs of neglect and stunted development are evident to see around Sokode. Civil society organisations backed by charity Catholic Relief Services are nonetheless looking to build on the fragile peace in the city. In an initiative spearheaded by the Catholic Church, they have brought together members of different communities, religious groups and the security forces. "The elections are the business of the politicians, we are trying to build a climate of peace before and after," Celestin-Marie Gaoua, the bishop of Sokode told AFP. "It is our youth who end up being sacrificed for the sake of politics." Opinion Article 18 February 2020 As my workshop participants and frequent readers know, I often talk about the new era of "Silent Selling," where most correspondence is happening via email, app message or text. My recent train-the-the trainer articles have focused on a "tech for touch" approach for hotel sales success, so this month I'm focusing more on the "touch" part. Advertisements Following are Six Habitudes of Hotel Sales Success to use when engaging sales prospects, clients, and meeting/function planners, where in person, over the phone, or via written correspondence. Many readers will first wonder, "What is a "habitude?" Merriam-Webster defines this as a "Habitual disposition or mode of behavior or procedure; or an essential character." To me, it's the perfect word to combine two key concepts that have been the core of my hotel sales training for years now: Create the right sales "habits" and embrace the right attitude when performing them. Following my Six Habitudes of Hotel Sales Success that are extrapolated from my conference presentations and on-site sales workshops. Be In "Hospitality" Sales! Remember that we sell an entirely intangible product: space and time! Use of our meeting and guest room "space" for a pre-set amount of time. What do our guests walk away with at departure? NOTHING! At least nothing more than logoed pens, note pads, and mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Joking aside, in the era where brands copy each other's design, decor, amenities, and loyalty programs, the "people part" truly makes the difference. Sales superstars in this business exude hospitality in every encounter or written message. Listen Reflexively Too many hotel salespeople think they know what planners are going to say next. They listen absently; instead, they are thinking of what they are going to say next before the speaker is done talking. They do not take time to "read between the lines" of emails and app messages, instead briefly scanning them on their smartphones while on the go. Alternatively, those who listen reflexively do more question-asking than talking and are especially good at asking follow-up questions. They avoid re-directing the conversation to make it all about themselves. They allow for pauses to ensure others have fully expressed their thoughts. They summarize (not just paraphrase) and restate. They use empathy statements. ("I understand." "I can imagine how that would be.") Embrace A Consultative Sales Style Regardless of what one is buying these days, consumers face an overwhelming number of choices. This is most definitely true with meeting and event planners, who likely start out at Cvent, The Knot, CVB websites, and/or the multitude of other niche-specific sites, or perhaps with a simple Google search. Having already "listened reflexively," sales superstars have positioned themselves to be sales consultants by using needs-based recommendations, suggestions and endorsements, all of which help planners reach closure on their decision. Use A Storying Approach To Narrate The Pictures Back in the early 2000s when hotel websites were basically just a digital brochure, hotel salespeople had to "paint the picture" for the planner. These days, most hotel websites feature a robust gallery of images and countless more "real traveler photos" can be viewed online. Therefore, the key is to "narrate" the pictures by using a storytelling approach to allure and entice vs. inform and notify. A storytelling approach begins by replacing the "We have, we offer" habit and instead leading with "Your attendees your guests your participants" Next, too many salespeople fall back on generic descriptors such as "beautiful, nice, great." Make a conscious effort to up your game at visually and emotionally descriptive language. Print out website descriptions and highlight new words. Insert the above generic words into Thesaurus.com and conscientiously seek out fresh alternatives. Quote And Close With Confidence Have confidence in the rates, terms, and fees you are quoting. Trust that your revenue manager is armed with historical data and accurate business intelligence. Use "rate framing" techniques, which is to mention top-tier "prevailing" (traditionally called "rack") rates to position lower rates as being a good value. Do not make concessions on rates or fees upfront, nor directly imply that you will do so later. Instead, simply express interest in securing their business and make a vague reference to flexibility(during moderate to low demand dates only.) Show confidence by always offering to secure the dates and by leaving the next step on your to-do list. Proactive Prospecting: The Ultimate Habitude Become known as a rare breed: "sales hunters" who track down new business, especially for "gap" dates! Make time for prospecting; doing so successfully requires discipline even more so than skill. Traditional prospecting methods still work if you make them a habit, such as checking back with "lost business" leads from previous years and reaching out to previous clients for repeat meetings and events. Effective prospecting for new business starts with researching before you reach out. Become a power user of the numerous online resources for making prospecting more efficient; advocate for funding to subscribe to such resources if it is necessary to do so, then show an ROI by using them habitually. The research report "Refugee Protection in Germany" by the EU project "Multilevel Governance of Migration (RESPOND)" paints a gloomy picture of the human rights protection for asylum seekers in Germany. Among other things, the authors speak of a "differential exclusion" of ever larger groups from German asylum law on the basis of more or less arbitrary criteria. Although the basic right to asylum in Germany is officially unaffected, the authors argue that the many legal exceptions and hurdles lead to the fact that the protection standards of the Geneva Convention on Refugees and the European Charter of Human Rights are becoming less and less applicable in Germany. Professor Sabine Hess from the University of Gottingen led the research in Germany. The 97-page report describes the development of the German asylum system since 2011. 25 interviews with lawyers and employees of NGOs and ministries as well as 60 interviews with refugees form the basis of the report. "Our report shows how under the impact of the so-called refugee crisis of 2015/2016 access to the asylum system, procedural standards and asylum system protection mechanisms based on human and EU law have been massively reduced," says Hess. This has partly been achieved by means of legislative packages which have excluded more and more groups from full asylum protection, and partly by the implementation of the regulations. According to the researchers, the acceleration of the procedures at the expense of thoroughness, expertise and procedural rights of fugitives and the accommodation in large accommodation facilities such as the "anchor centres" and mass reception centres also severely undermined the chances of refugees of getting a fair hearing. "The result is a highly fragmented, confusing and perforated asylum law in Germany with severely restricted procedural and protection rights", says Hess, adding that "civil society support for refugees therefore remains all the more necessary". ### The report "Refugee Protection in Germany" is published in English and can be found online at http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/619137.html, together with a German summary. Similar reports on the situation in Italy, Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Poland, the UK and Sweden are available as well at the RESPOND Working Paper Series at http://www.respondmigration.com/wp-blog. Contact: Professor Sabine Hess University of Gottingen Institute for Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology Heinrich-Duker-Weg 14, 37073 Gottingen Phone: +49 551 39-25349 Email: shess@uni-goettingen.de Internet: http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/208718.html FAIRFIELD, Calif. A Buhl man has swapped his quarantined room on a Princess Cruise ship for a quarantined room at the Travis Air Force Base Inn. Tim Pond, who left in January for a two-week cruise to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, has spent the past two weeks under quarantine in Tokyo Bay with 4,000 others on the Diamond Princess. On Sunday, U.S. authorities evacuated 300 Americans from the cruise ship and sent them to the California airbase. The travelers will be quarantined for another two weeks, Pond said. After the 9-hour flight, passengers were assigned rooms at the airbase hotel. Ponds room has a balcony where he can walk 20 steps in one direction, he said. He joked with others Monday on Facebook about the possibility of him getting lost in his new hotel room compared with his tiny cabin on the cruise ship. After several days, those quarantined might be allowed outside. The first 2 days were confined to quarters, Pond said. I think after that well be allowed limited walks outdoors but it will still be 6 feet away from anyone else to avoid close contact. At least 355 passengers on the Diamond Princess have contracted the coronavirus and 14 of the evacuees airlifted to the U.S. have tested positive for the disease, according to reports. Now that he is back in the U.S., Pond says he is getting more anxious about returning home. His parents are taking care of his dog, Skye, and his job at WinCo Foods is waiting for him. Times-News reporter Mychel Matthews would like to talk to anyone who may know someone quarantined because of the coronavirus. She can be reached at mmatthews@magicvalley.com or by calling 208-735-3233. 3P Learning Limited (ASX:3PL), which is in the consumer services business, and is based in Australia, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the ASX over the last few months, increasing to AU$0.91 at one point, and dropping to the lows of AU$0.80. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether 3P Learning's current trading price of AU$0.82 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at 3P Learnings outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. View our latest analysis for 3P Learning What's the opportunity in 3P Learning? 3P Learning appears to be overvalued according to my relative valuation model. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 56.39x is currently well-above the industry average of 20.62x, meaning that it is trading at a more expensive price relative to its peers. If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Since 3P Learnings share price is quite volatile, this could mean it can sink lower (or rise even further) in the future, giving us another chance to invest. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. What does the future of 3P Learning look like? ASX:3PL Past and Future Earnings, February 17th 2020 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With revenues expected to grow by a double-digit 11% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for 3P Learning. If the level of expenses is able to be maintained, it looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? 3PLs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question should I sell? If you believe 3PL should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on 3PL for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for 3PL, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on 3P Learning. You can find everything you need to know about 3P Learning in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in 3P Learning, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. FEBRUARY 18, 2020 The Roadrunner community and nearby residents are highly encouraged to cast their votes at UTSA, a designated early voting site for the March 3 Texas presidential primary election. Early voting will be held beginning today through Feb. 28 in the H-E-B Student Union, Bexar Room (HSU 1.102), Main Campus. The Downtown Campus community can vote early at the nearby Bexar County Elections Department (1103 S. Frio St., San Antonio). Here are the early voting times at UTSA: Tuesday, Feb. 18 to Friday, Feb. 21 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 Noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 to Friday, Feb. 28 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters should be prepared to show a valid photo ID or secondary supporting ID. Deaf and hard of hearing voters can vote using Deaflink Technology during the early voting period at the Bexar County Elections Department near the UTSA Downtown Campus. Follow #RowdyVOTES2020 for voter engagement events on campus. The UTSA Center for Civic Engagement will also be supporting students, campus and community partners who would like to foster voter participation: Faculty interested in incorporating an engaged learning component to their courses that includes voter engagement may contact Maria Alejandro . . Those interested in leading the effort to register people to vote may attend volunteer deputy registrar training classes hosted at the Bexar County Elections Department (1103 S. Frio St., Ste. 100). They will be held on March 10, April 14, and May 12. Call (210) 335-6625 for more information or to sign up for a class. The Center for Civic Engagement is working with the Bexar County Elections Department to arrange a volunteer deputy registrar training class at UTSAs Main Campus, but 30 participants are a minimum requirement. Those interested in attending a class at Main Campus should call the Center for Civic Engagement at (210) 458-2277. The combination of our best-of-breed technologies and solutions will together provide voicebot solutions which are both powerful and effective in further enhancing the customer experience. Creative Virtual, a world leader in customer and employee engagement solutions, today announced a commercial partnership with Spitch AG, the leading developer of enterprise speech solutions in Switzerland. The collaboration will utilise the best-of-breed technologies of both companies to provide their customers with innovative self-service solutions. The integration of Creative Virtuals V-Person natural language chatbots and virtual agents and Spitchs voice technologies brings an industry-leading voicebot offering to the market. These multi-lingual solutions empower organisations to improve their customer experience, increase revenue and deliver better support with seamless, omnichannel self-service. As an established leader in chatbot and virtual agent technology, Creative Virtual is proud to bring over 16 years of industry expertise and innovation to this partnership, says Chris Ezekiel, Founder & CEO of Creative Virtual. By voice-enabling our virtual agents with Spitchs powerful speech technologies, we are able to offer organisations even more ways to engage customers in their native language to improve their experience and support. The flexibility of the integrated technologies allows for unlimited customisation and is backed by the combined experience of the Creative Virtual and Spitch global teams. The partnership is already creating interest in the marketplace, with the companies currently collaborating on several projects. We are delighted to bring the voice channel to this innovative and exciting partnership with Creative Virtual, says Piergiorgio Vittori, Global Business Development Director and Country Manager for UK, Ireland and Italy for Spitch AG. The combination of our best-of-breed technologies and solutions will together provide voicebot solutions which are both powerful and effective in further enhancing the customer experience. Learn more about this powerful combination of natural language virtual agents and speech recognition by downloading the integration overview or requesting a live demo. About Creative Virtual: Creative Virtual, winner of Frost & Sullivans 2019 AI-Enhanced Customer Self-Service Leadership Award and the Queen's Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2017, is a world leader in self-service solutions that enable anywhere, anytime customer engagement between brands and their customers. Leading global organisations including Lloyds Banking Group, BT, HSBC, Chase and InterContinental Hotels Group rely on our award-winning V-Person technology to improve their customer support experience, increase sales, reduce costs and build brand loyalty. About Spitch: Spitch is an established Swiss company with consolidated presence in Italy, UK and Germany, and a leading provider of cutting-edge AI-driven voice technology solutions, delivering high accuracy and performance. In 2019, Spitch was recognized by Gartner as a cool vendor in speech and natural language, in a corresponding report. Spitch speech technology is used by such organisations as Swisscard, Abramo, Amag and Avaloq to drive efficiency and improve the customer experience in use cases such as automatic call-steering, self-service, banking applications and much more. The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the review petition filed by former Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, seeking modification of it's earlier order directing him to face the trial for allegedly not disclosing two pending criminal cases against him in his 2014 poll affidavit. A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, reserved its order after hearing a detailed submission and arguments from Fadnavis's lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi. The court bench, headed by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, in its judgement, last year on October 1, had set aside the Bombay High Court order for Fadnavis's alleged concealment of criminal cases against him in his 2014 election papers. This was challenged by Fadnavis before the apex court, by filing a review petition and seeking reconsider of the Supreme Court's October 1, last year's order. The Bombay High Court had earlier dismissed the plea filed by one Satish Ukey, seeking annulment of Fadanavis's election to the Maharashtra assembly alleging non-disclosure of all pending criminal cases against him. Ukey had later approached the Top court challenging the Bombay High Court's order. In his appeal, Ukey had said that Fadnavis while submitting his nomination from South West assembly constituency in 2009 and 2014 had allegedly suppressed the information about two pending criminal cases against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine hopes that the next meeting of the Normandy Four leaders will be held as early as this April. The next major exchange of held persons between Ukraine and Russia is expected before the summit in the Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany), says Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko. "We've made a big exchange many Ukrainians returned home. And we plan to have made a big prisoner swap by the next meeting," Prystaiko told the Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on ICTV. The top diplomat said the next exchange of held persons was planned to be carried out before the meeting of the leaders of the "Normandy Four". Read alsoRussia names condition for holding Normandy Four summit According to him, Ukraine hopes that the next summit in the Normandy format will be held as early as this April. As UNIAN reported earlier, on December 29, 2019, at the Mayorske checkpoint in Donetsk region, an exchange of held persons was held between the Ukrainian side and representatives of the occupied territories. A total of 76 persons were returned to Ukraine (12 military and 64 civilians) in exchange for 124 persons from the list drawn by the other side. Burma Myanmar Postpones Gem Emporium Amid Coronavirus Scare Buyers examine a jade piece at the jade and gems emporium in November 2018. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy Naypyitaw Myanmar has postponed the 57th jade and gems emporium due to be held in Naypyitaw in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. As most of the regular buyers are from mainland China and Hong Kong, we have difficulties in organizing this event while China still cant control the virus, U Min Thu, secretary of the central committee for organizing the emporium, told The Irrawaddy. The Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association consulted its Chinese counterparts, who agreed to the postponement because of travel difficulties. The vice chairman of the association, U Zaw Bo Khant, said the organization made suggestions to the central committee that the emporium be postponed. Travel restrictions are being imposed in China. Staff in Myanmar may have concerns engaging with Chinese traders if they come. Business owners and government officials consulted and decided to postpone the event, said U Zaw Bo Khant. Lower House lawmaker for Pyinmana Township U Than Soe Aung agreed to the postponement, saying that the event should be organized only after the virus was under control. People have concerns about the emporium. Restrictions are being imposed on the border. We welcome the postponement while we are on red alert for public health, said U Than Soe Aung. The death toll from the coronavirus in China exceeded 1,800 on Tuesday and most of the deaths were reported in Wuhan and Hubei, the center of the outbreak. Across the country, there were over 70,000 confirmed infections. The virus has spread across China and to at least 20 other countries. Myanmar recorded sales revenues of more than 400 million euros (626 billion kyats) at the jade and gems emporium in March 2019. The sales at the other emporium held in September exceeded 500 million euros (782 billion kyats). Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmar Tour Guides Object to Granting Entry to Chinese Tourists With Health Notes With Virus-Hit China Closed for Business, Myanmar Exporters Feel the Pinch Washington: Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the hallowed, 110-year-old organisation to carry on. The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as scouts by scoutmasters or other leaders decades ago but are only now eligible to sue because of recent changes in their states' statute-of-limitations laws. Two boy scout members play the bugle at the 12th World Boy Scout Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho in 1967. Credit:AP By going to bankruptcy court, the Scouts can put those lawsuits on hold for now. But ultimately they could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a compensation fund that could surpass a billion dollars. "Scouting programs will continue throughout this process and for many years to come," said Evan Roberts, a spokesman for the Scouts. "Local councils are not filing for bankruptcy because they are legally separate and distinct organisations."" BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 Trend: Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and the local mission of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched a new initiative to support business and professional associations operating in the country, Trend reports Feb. 18 referring to the agency. The goal of the initiative is to develop partnership on joint tasks between the public, private sectors and civil society, as well as to focus on organizing business partnership, as well as on the activities of business associations in this direction. To this end, on Feb. 18, a partnership event to support business and professional associations in Azerbaijan was held in Baku, which was attended by representatives of government agencies, international organizations, business associations and civil society institutions. Chairman of Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of SMEs Orkhan Mammadov delivered speech. Mammadov spoke about the work done by the state, as well as his agency, towards organizing the activity of entrepreneurs representing different areas of the countrys economy, including support for the creation and development of specialized associations and public unions. It was noted that the initiative of the agency will play an extremely important role for both the public and private sectors. USAID Mission Director in Azerbaijan Jay Singh noted that technical support for business associations is mainly intended for SMEs. As part of the initiative, USAID will evaluate and finance several projects submitted by business associations, public unions and NGOs to strengthen associations. In this regard, the creation of a consortium among business entities, public unions, business associations and NGOs will be encouraged. Panel discussions on Global models of business and professional associations and their significance, What makes business and professional associations more effective? were held as part of the summit. Experts from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the US delivered speeches at the panel meetings. The European Union must press Vietnam to end its ongoing crackdown on civil society and political dissent, human rights groups said ahead of a Feb. 19 rights dialogue between the EU and the one-party communist state. Writing in a Feb. 17 statement, Human Rights Watch said that by ratifying an EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement last week, the European Parliament missed an important opportunity to secure enforceable commitments for reforms in Vietnam. EU officials should warn the Vietnamese government during the human rights dialogue that failure to meet those commitments could result in suspension of the agreements benefits, HRW Asia Advocacy director John Sifton said. Ratified by the EU on Feb. 12, the EVFTA will eliminate 99 percent of tariffs on goods between the EU and the Southeast Asian country, although some will be reduced over a 10-year period and others will be limited by quotas. The vote to approve the agreement was made over the objections of international and Vietnamese NGOs who had urged lawmakers to postpone consent on the agreement, signed in June 2019, until Vietnams government agrees to protect the rights of workers and ensure human rights. The EU is Vietnams second-largest export market after the U.S., mostly for garment and footwear products, sending the EU U.S. $42.5 billion worth of goods and services and importing $13.8 billion worth of goods and services in 2018. Vietnam should now release all prisoners and detainees held for political offenses and abolish articles in the countrys penal code used to punish anyone who expresses views or joins an independent group that Vietnams Communist Party sees as a threat to its monopoly on power, HRW said. Numerous rounds of EU-Vietnam human rights dialogues [have] failed to persuade the country to reverse its abusive trend, even as separate negotiations for economic agreements have ended with lucrative deals, Sifton said. The EU needs to connect its economic leverage to the human rights principles it claims to champion. Agreement will enable more abuses In a separate Feb. 17 statement, the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member group the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) said that last weeks ratification by the EU of preferential trade terms for Vietnam is likely now to embolden Hanoi to continue its crackdown on civil society. The EU must seek concrete actions from the Vietnamese government to ensure that serious human rights violations dont become business as usual, the rights groups said, listing issues of primary concern as Vietnams suppression of political dissent and labor rights, its use of repressive national security laws, its handling of land disputes, inhumane prison conditions and deaths in custody, and use of the death penalty. Following last years EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue held on March 4, authorities in Vietnam continued to harass, assault, and detain labor, land, and human rights activists, with bloggers, religious followers, and government critics also targeted for repression, FIDH and VCHR said. And from March 5, 2019 to Feb. 5 of this year, authorities arrested 29 human rights activists and sentenced 42 to prison terms of up to 12 years, the rights groups said. The Vietnamese governments lack of commitment to respect its international obligations is extremely disturbing, especially at this critical time in EU-Vietnam relations, VCHR president Vo Van Ai said, adding, We urge the EU to ensure that the upcoming human rights dialogue contains specific, measurable, and time-based objectives. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 6F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 6F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Burma Rakhine Civilian in Sittwe Hospital After Alleged Beating by Myanmars Military Ko Htay Hlaing at Sittwe Hospital on Feb. 17. / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy SITTWE, Rakhine State A civilian in Rakhine States Minbya Township is being treated in hospital after allegedly being beaten by government soldiers last week. He was on Monday transferred from a hospital in Minbya for treatment in the state capital, Sittwe. Ko Htay Hlaing of Phar Pyaw Village was detained and beaten by Myanmars forces following a clash near his village last Thursday. He is receiving treatment for injuries to his head, face, lips and forearm. Ko Htay Hlaing works at a lamppost factory near his village. He said he fled with his colleagues following fighting between Myanmars military and the Arakan Army (AA) near the factory. When I went back to my home for lunch after the fighting stopped, soldiers in the village arrested me and hit me with their rifle stocks. They hit my hands asking me if I used a gun with my hands. When I said I hadnt, they hit me in my mouth, Ko Htay Hlaing told The Irrawaddy. By the time I got home, all the villagers had fled and soldiers were in the houses. They asked me to come into the house, warning that they would shoot at me if I didnt. So I went and they hit my head, accusing me of being in the AA. When I said I was not, they hit me in the mouth and I lost consciousness, he added. When he regained consciousness, he found that soldiers were on sentry around the house. The following day, he managed to escape. I said I wanted to urinate and they allowed me to go. As I walked away, two soldiers shouted at me to come back but I didnt, he said. Ko Htay Hlaing hid and his relatives eventually found him. We thought he was still in the factory. No one knew he was being beaten in the village. All the villagers were hiding at the monastery. A villager told us about him, Daw Hla May, Ko Htay Hlaings mother-in-law, told The Irrawaddy. Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun of the militarys True News Information Team denied any knowledge of the incident. Myanmar militarys Western Command spokesman Colonel Win Zaw Oo and Rakhine State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Min Than were unavailable for comment. The clash between the Myanmar military and the AA left more than 1,000 civilians stranded near Yar Maung bridge and Phar Pyaw Village in Minbya Township last Thursday. AA information officer Khaing Thukha said the clash with the Light Infantry Battalion of Brigade 55 on Thursday lasted all day with both sides suffering casualties. He said the AA had detained a prisoner during the fighting. Clashes have escalated in Kyauktaw, Paletwa, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Minbya and Myebon townships this month. The AA has reportedly launched attacks on a stronghold of Myanmars military near Mee Chaung Bridge in Paletwa Township. The military also reportedly used jet fighters and assault helicopters in the clashes. Eight civilians were killed and 51 injured in the clashes between Feb. 1 and Feb. 13, according to The Irrawaddys count. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Rakhine Delegation Meets with Myanmar Military Chief, Draws Criticism We Have Never Talked About Secession: RCSS Chief Artillery Shell Strikes School, Injuring 21 Young Students in Myanmars Rakhine State - Bitcoin investors can finally buy Bitcoin with ATM as the first Bitcoin ATM in Nigeria has finally been designed - The machine was designed in Shenzhen by the founder and chief executive officer of Blockstale, Daniel Adekunle - The Bitcoin ATM is sited at a bar and lounge in the Ajah area of Lagos PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The first Bitcoin ATM in Nigeria has finally been designed, courtesy of the founder and chief executive officer of Blockstale, Daniel Adekunle. The ATM was designed in Shenzhen, China, to serve the need of Bitcoin investors and it is sited at a lounge and bar in the Ajah area of Lagos, Wee Tracker reports. Legit.ng gathers that Adekunle said the Bitcoin ATM has a door alarm system, a remote tracker and some bio scanners, which make it more theft and vandal-proof. Bitcoin ATM. Photo credit: Wee Tracker Source: UGC Daniel Adekunle. Photo credit: Wee Tracker Source: UGC He said: For about 3 years now I have been working on the blockchain technology and BTMs (Bitcoin Teller Machines or Bitcoin ATMs) hardware, software and firmware most especially. I had my people (Africans) very much in mind since they are a little rigid when it comes to innovation and personal interaction(s) with high tech devices. In other news, a 15-year-old boy identified as Uge Chinedu has shown how creative he is by designing a building prototype. The new building prototype the creative boy designed was completed within one week. Chinedu lives with his mother at Okofia, Otolo, Nnewi in Anambra state. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Simple Azenabor, a Nigerian based in Japan and an app developer, created a Nigerian chat app called SoftTalk. According to Azenabor, who is also the founder of Prime Time Telecoms, a communication company in Japan, the chatting app will also allow users to send instant messages, videos, audios and files. The app was said to have launched on August 29, 2018 at a grand ceremony at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The messaging app works like the popular WhatsApp where signing up requires users mobile number and does not demand much data to start running. Azenabor told the media that what makes the app different from other messaging apps is that it is targeted at giving users a different experience than what is presently obtainable. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better I want to build a television set -13-yr-old aspiring engineer | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng The job placement rate for students trained by NIIT in China is over 90 per cent. A revealing excerpt from Saibal Dasgupta's Running With The Dragon: How India Should Do Business With China. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images There is much to learn from the way Rajendra Singh Pawar, a Padma Bhushan awardee, launched what has emerged as the largest Indian company in China in terms of the number of people employed. NIIT has trained over half a million learners in various IT skills and worked with over 100 Chinese universities in its twenty-one year presence in China. It has trained 38 million learners across forty countries since 1981. The mission is to bring people and computers together. It entered the Chinese market in 1997. 'As a rule, I go to a country for a short vacation if I plan to launch business in it. That's what I did in China in 1996,' Pawar once told me. NIIT already had a partner with huge infrastructure capabilities, and it facilitated the company's entry into China the next year. But the partner was to exit from the education business after the Asian financial crisis in 1999, allowing NIIT to take full charge of the China business. This is one bit of learning for Indian companies that have strong contacts with multinational corporations to facilitate their entry into China in diverse ways. 'It became very obvious to me that it was going to be useful for the Chinese society to partner with us in education and skill building,' Pawar said. IMAGE: Rajendra S Pawar. Photograph: Kind courtesy Richter Frank-Jurgen/Wikimedia Commons The Chinese were keen in the talent area. Soon, province after province, one local government after another saw NIIT as a valuable partner. Of course, there was a stiff learning curve and the company had to continually adjust itself to local requirements. 'We had to model and remodel our business to make sure that we are accepted and provided avenues to participate. Over the years, many different models have been tried with local governments and with universities,' he said. Pawar said China was too large a country for NIIT to invest the kind of money required to build a consumer brand. This is why it chose to do business with business instead of direct business to consumer interaction. 'As you know in an economy and society like China, the best way to be effective in business relations is to engage with the government,' he said. IMAGE: The NIIT technologies campus, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: Kind courtesy Puneet.1.verma/Wikimedia Commons India is a global brand in IT. China has watched India's IT growth with great curiosity. The economic value that the Indian software industry has created for the US goes into hundreds of billions of dollars. If India can add economic value to the US economy, it can certainly do the same in developing countries. I asked Pawar why he thought many Indian IT companies have not succeeded in China. 'One of the USPs is that they love what we are offering them. We are helping them to be self-sufficient, at least in IT,' he said. 'We try to put ourselves in the shoes of the customer completely,' he added. NIIT works in cooperation with universities, software parks and local governments across Chinese cities and provinces. It is linked to software parks in Chongqing, Qingdao, Haikou, Guiyang, Gui'An, Tongren and Ningxia. 'Our graduates are scattered around China in many companies, including IBM, China Telecom, NTT DATA, Hewlett-Packard, Bertelsmann, Bank of Shanghai, UFIDA software, TCS, Infosys, Tech Mahindra and Wipro,' said Kamal Dhuper, country head, NIIT China. Photograph: Reuters Job placement rate for students trained by NIIT is over 90 per cent, he said. The company jointly operates IT colleges with five universities, including Qingdao University, Ningxia University, Hainan University, Guizhou Normal University and Ningxia Normal University. The seven-semester programme is embedded in the four-year software engineering programme of these universities. Courses cover Java programming track, Dot Net programming track, Open source programming track, Big Data technologies track and courses on new technologies artificial intelligence, machine learning and NLP. Upon graduation, students can go for higher studies or opt for a job. Around 30 per cent choose to continue their studies with master's degree programmes in China and abroad. Others join industry. Typical jobs are programmer, software engineer, software testing, data analyst, data scientist, sales and marketing for technology products and associate IT faculty in training business and universities. Doing a master's programme as compared to undergraduate studies ensures a higher success rate. Students who choose to do the GNIIT programme in English with the help of Indian trainers find themselves better prepared to work in global MNCs and find it easier to get admission in universities abroad. Some of the students have also got into the academic exchange programme at NIIT University in Neemrana, Rajasthan. The big breakthrough came for the company in 2005 when the Jiangsu provincial government invited NIIT to partner with more than 50 universities and colleges to train 50,000 people with IT and English language skills in the province. By 2016, it had trained double the number of students originally envisaged. The governments in Wuxi, Chongqing, Suzhou, Changzhou, Qingdao, Haikou and Zhangjiagang have also involved NIIT to support their talent development objectives through public-private partnerships with software parks. The provincial government of Guizhou invited NIIT to develop large-scale talent for big data analytics to meet the government's vision of positioning the province as the big-data capital of China in 2015. This led to the training of over 50,000 students. The Ningxia provincial government also tasked NIIT to use the public-private partnership model through two projects to develop talent to operate a training base in a software park in the city of Yinchuan and work with universities in the province. The NIIT curricula and pedagogy is embedded in a four-year bachelor's degree programme that has been taught by the NIIT faculty since 2017. It works with local and multinational enterprises in China to provide end-to-end solutions for sourcing, training and hiring of entry-level IT workforce as well as IT professionals with prior work experience. The company has received several awards from different local governments in China. 'NIIT has helped many international and domestic companies such as IBM, China Telecom, Ford, HP, Bertelsmann, TCS, Mahindra Satyam, Infosys, Bank of Shanghai, Shanda, HiSoft, Freeborders and U Soft to source, train and hire their talent,' Dhuper said. Excerpted from Running With The Dragon: How India Should Do Business With China by Saibal Dasgupta, with the kind permission of the publishers, Penguin Random House India. The worst locust outbreak that parts of east Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war, officials announced. Around 2,000 locusts had been spotted in the country, agriculture minister Onyoti Adigo told reporters. The locusts have been seen in Eastern Equatoria state near the borders with Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. All have been affected by the outbreak that has been influenced by the changing climate in the region. The situation in those three countries remains extremely alarming, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said in its latest Locust Watch update. Locusts have also reached Sudan, Eritrea, Tanzania and more recently Uganda. The soil in Eastern Equatoria has a sandy nature that allows the locusts to lay eggs easily, said Meshack Malo, country representative with the UNFAO. If we are not able to deal with them it will be a problem, he said. South Sudan is even less prepared than other countries in the region for a locust outbreak, and its people are arguably more vulnerable. More than five million are severely food insecure, the UN humanitarian office said in its latest assessment, and 860,000 children are malnourished. Five years of civil war shattered the economy, and lingering insecurity since a 2018 peace deal continues to endanger humanitarians trying to distribute aid. Another local aid worker was shot and killed last week, the UN said. The locusts have travelled in swarms the size of major cities. Experts say the only effective control is aerial spraying with pesticides, but UN and local authorities have said more aircraft and pesticides are required. The UN has said $76m is needed immediately. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday during a visit to Ethiopia that Washington would donate another $8m to the effort, which follows an earlier $800,000. The number of locusts could grow up to 500 times by June, when drier weather begins, experts have said. Until then, the fear is that more rain in coming weeks will bring fresh vegetation to feed a new generation of the voracious insects. South Sudanese ministers called for a collective regional response to the outbreak that threatens to devastate crops and pasturage. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday backed the government's deportation of British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she is not just an MP but a 'Pakistan proxy'. New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday backed the government's deportation of British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she is not just an MP but a "Pakistan proxy". Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday, with officials saying she was informed in advance that her e-visa had been cancelled. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pakistani proxy known for her clasp with Pakistan government and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," Singhvi tweeted. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted.#Kashmir#DebbieAbrahams Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020 Singhvi party colleague Shashi Tharoor had, however, tweeted in support of Abrahams on Monday. "I find it ironic that some of the same people who applauded me for going to Britain as an Indian MP and telling them off about their colonial misbehaviour, are attacking me for wanting India to grant a British MP the same privilege! If we can dish it out, we should be able to take it," Tharoor wrote on the microblogging site. Pakistan has posted two officials from its embassy in Beijing to Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, to meet students in different universities and get an update on their well-being, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday. China accepted a request by Pakistan to allow the two-member special task force from the embassy in Beijing to go to Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province, the Foreign Office said in a statement. "On Pakistan's request, China allowed a two-member special Task Force from the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing to go to Wuhan city to meet our students and coordinate all assistance to them," FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui tweeted on Tuesday. "The officers will return to Beijing once the lockdown in Wuhan is lifted, and situation is stabilised," the tweet read. According the Foreign Office, more than 28,000 Pakistani students, including 500 in Wuhan, are studying in China. Some of them, have through social media had been persistently asking Pakistan government to help them come back. The task force, which will remain in coordination with the Chinese authorities, will be in Wuhan and "will return to Beijing once the lockdown in Wuhan is lifted in its entirety and on-ground situation is completely stabilised", the statement added. Wuhan has been under lockdown since January 23 because the city with a population of 11-million is the origin point of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The COVID-19 virus, as it is now known, has so far infected at least 70,000 people and killed 1,868. The majority of those cases are in the Hubei province. China has quarantined more than 50 million people throughout the province and all transportation in and out of Wuhan has been halted The Foreign Office staffers visited Pakistani students in four universities and also met administrative staff in each university "to get first-hand information on the health and safety needs of the students". "In the coming days, the officers will visit students in three other universities as well as the administrative staff in those universities to ensure the welfare of Pakistani students in Wuhan," it said. It added that all Pakistani students in the universities that the officers have thus far visited were "safe, healthy, and well-looked after". "Under the supervision of Ambassador of Pakistan, an 11-member core group was constituted to daily monitor the evolving situation and respond to queries/requests of Pakistani students." The embassy has also setup two hotlines for facilitation of the students in China, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Tuesday, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, begun a three-day working visit to the Western North Region. The visit dubbed: "SpeakOut Session" is to enable him interact with people from the Western North Region. However the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako is warning voters in the Western North region not to believe in the message the former President delivers to them since it would certainly be "full of lies". According to the NPP Chairman popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, he has been praying for former President Mahama not to retort to "lies" as he starts his campaign. A statement signed and issued by the NDC National Communications Officer, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, said "the SpeakOut with John Mahama will take place in all 16 regions of the country and serve as an opportunity for the NDC leader to meet, interact and listen directly to the people of Ghana." Source: ghbeyondpolitics.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Posted on: February 18, 2020 12:51 PM [ACNS, by Staff Writer] The Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches in Mexico have joined forces to support families who are campaigning for the return of tens of thousands of missing people. The missing are victims of the increasing violence spurred on by drugs cartels. Most are thought to have been killed. A year ago, Mexicos minister for human rights, Alejandro Encinas, told journalists that government estimates put the number of missing at 40,000. He said that the government knew of more than 1,100 secret graves; and that local coroners had 26,000 unidentified corpses. The figures give you an idea of the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis and the human rights violations we are dealing with, he said. A year on, and today it is estimated that some 60,000 people are missing, with more than 30,000 unidentified bodies in local morgues. In February 2019, the Mexican government announced plans to deal with the problem, including the creation of five regional forensic identification institutes. Today, work has begun only on one, in Coahuila. The government also announced plans for 15 new forensic cemeteries and the creation of a national genetic database. Campaigners say that this has not happened. In addition, the government said that they would welcome support from the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, but so far the Committee has not received the necessary authorisation to enter Mexico. Some 71 groups of relatives are currently taking part in a 15-day campaign to raise awareness of their plight and search for their graves, during what has been called the Fifth National Brigade of Search for Missing Persons (known by the initials VBNB from its Spanish name). The 15-days, which concludes on Saturday (22 February), began with an ecumenical service at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Papantla, Veracruz. A number of Anglican clergy took part in the service, including Bishop Julio Cesar Martin, the Coadjutor Bishop of Southeastern Mexico. He had accompanied the families on a march through Papantla. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Papantla, Bishop Jose Trinidad Zapata, called for more support to be provided to the families. He also said that Church groups of all denominations should support the work of the VBNP. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Bishop of Papantla, Trinidad Zapata, welcomes Dona Mary Herrera, Triny Radilla and other families of the missing to his cathedral in Papantla, Veracruz. Photo: IAM On Sunday 9 February the Anglican Bishop of Western Mexico, Ricardo Gomez Osnaya, led a vigil service for the families in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Guadalajara, Jalisco. A similar service was held in the Anglican Parish of the Sagrada Familia, in Mexico City, by Anglican priest Arturo Carrasco, who had earlier told the Synod of the Diocese of Mexico about the work of the VBNB. A spokesperson for the families, Mary Herrera from the Network of National Links, said that the campaign was non-violent action in favour of peace. They were not seeking the guilty, but were seeking their loved ones, she said, as she called for the violence to stop. Fine Gael has rejected claims of game playing from the Social Democrats which cancelled a scheduled meeting between the parties today. Senior party figures, speaking to the Irish Examiner, described the decision to cancel the meeting as "silly and counterproductive". The Social Democrats said it decided to axe the meeting after Leo Varadkar said Fine Gael was preparing to enter opposition. In light of Leo Varadkars statement yesterday evening, the Social Democrats have taken the decision to cancel todays proposed meeting with Fine Gael. It is clear to all that FG is now engaged in a game-playing exercise and we refuse to participate in what is essentially theatrics by FG, it said in a statement. While it was always the case that we were unlikely to find much common ground with FG, we intended to honour our commitment of engaging openly with all parties. Clearly Fine Gaels intention is to engage in shadow-boxing for the coming weeks and weve no interest in participating in such a charade." Mr Varadkar had said his party is preparing to go into opposition following a six-hour parliamentary party meeting. The proposal of a grand coalition with Fianna Fail has been met with significant resistance within Fine Gael. While some senior figures are in favour of a coalition, the majority of TDs and much of the membership of the party are understood to be against it. Meanwhile, Fine Gael wants to show some humility and to recognise the result of the election and how the electorate has voted, Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said. People voted for change, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Some political parties had made promises that dont reflect reality, he added. "The onus is now on the parties who got the most votes and the most seats to show leadership," said Mr Coveney adding that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald wants a government of the left and "the numbers are there". It will be difficult, but it was also difficult after the last election and Fine Gael had shown initiative at that time, he said. Irish politics is now fractured, he added, and for the first time ever there is no party with more than 25% of the vote. The new reality is very complicated," he said. Big Chinese corporations and wealthy individuals have been donating, many generously. But they also try to keep low profiles for fear of offending a government that is eager to take credit for any success and quick to suspect outside groups of challenging it. Those gaps are evident on the front lines of the outbreak, where workers have lacked the proper equipment to keep themselves safe. Doctors and nurses wear disposable raincoats instead of protective gowns. They wear ordinary, and inadequate, surgical masks while conducting dangerous throat swab tests. They wear adult diapers because, once they take off their one-piece protective suits, the suits will have to be thrown away. They get only one per day. The authorities said on Monday that over 3,000 medical workers had been infected, though not all got it from work. Ordinary Chinese people have set up social media groups to help patients find hospital beds, get volunteers to drive them to hospitals and scavenge the world for protective gear. In coordination with the government, they could do much more. Were just a small boat with very limited capacity, said Panda Yin, a designer in Beijing who organized a WeChat volunteer group of about 200 people to help find protective supplies for front line medical workers. People came to us because they know the highway thats supposed to move fast has a big black hole on it. That big black hole is the Red Cross Society of China. Unaffiliated with the Red Cross elsewhere, the Red Cross Society is one of two government-controlled organizations through which Beijing monopolizes philanthropy. The Wuhan government has insisted that all donations go through the local chapter. The Red Cross Society is notorious for corruption and inefficiency. The Chinese media have reported on many of its scandals, including one nine years ago when a person who reportedly held a senior position there shared pictures of her opulent lifestyle online. On January 1, 2019, NASAs New Horizons spacecraft flew past the Kuiper Belt object (KBO) Arrokoth provisional designation 2014 MU69, previously nicknamed Ultima Thule at a distance of 3,538 km (2,200 miles). In three new studies published in the journal Science, researchers analyzed new data and images from the historic flyby and found that: Arrokoth is uniformly red, cold, and covered with methanol ice and unidentified complex organic molecules; it has no detectable rings, and no satellites within a radius of 8,000 km (5,000 miles); it has a lightly-cratered smooth surface with complex geological features, unlike those on previously visited solar system bodies; Arrokoths binary lobes are less flat than initially inferred and have larger volumes than previous estimates suggested; the lobes were previously independent bodies formed close together that assembled into the present-day object very gently. Arrokoth is the most distant, most primitive and most pristine object ever explored by spacecraft, so we knew it would have a unique story to tell, said New Horizons principal investigator Dr. Alan Stern, a researcher in the Southwest Research Institute. Its teaching us how planetesimals formed, and we believe the result marks a significant advance in understanding overall planetesimal and planet formation. The first post-flyby images transmitted from New Horizons last year showed that Arrokoth had two connected lobes, a smooth surface and a uniform composition, indicating it was likely pristine and would provide decisive information on how bodies like it formed. These first results were published in the journal Science in May 2019. Over the following months, working with more and higher-resolution data as well as sophisticated computer simulations, the mission team assembled a picture of how Arrokoth must have formed. Their analysis indicates that the lobes of this contact binary object were once separate bodies that formed close together and at low velocity, orbited each other, and then gently merged to create the 36-km (22 miles) long object New Horizons observed. This indicates Arrokoth formed during the gravity-driven collapse of a cloud of solid particles in the primordial Solar Nebula, rather than by the competing theory of planetesimal formation called hierarchical accretion. Unlike the high-speed collisions between planetesimals in hierarchical accretion, in particle-cloud collapse, particles merge gently, slowly growing larger. Just as fossils tell us how species evolved on Earth, planetesimals tell us how planets formed in space, said New Horizons co-investigator Dr. William McKinnon, a scientist at Washington University in St. Louis. Arrokoth looks the way it does not because it formed through violent collisions, but in more of an intricate dance, in which its component objects slowly orbited each other before coming together. Two other important pieces of evidence support this conclusion. The uniform color and composition of Arrokoths surface shows the KBO formed from nearby material, as local cloud collapse models predict, rather than a mishmash of matter from more separated parts of the nebula, as hierarchical models might predict. The flattened shapes of each of Arrokoths lobes, as well as the remarkably close alignment of their poles and equators, also point to a more orderly merger from a collapse cloud. Further still, Arrokoths smooth, lightly cratered surface indicates its face has remained well preserved since the end of the planet formation era. Arrokoth has the physical features of a body that came together slowly, with local materials in the Solar Nebula, said New Horizons project member Dr. Will Grundy, a researcher at Lowell Observatory. An object like Arrokoth wouldnt have formed, or look the way it does, in a more chaotic accretion environment. The new papers are based on 10 times as much data as the first report, and together provide a far more complete picture of Arrokoths origin. All of the evidence weve found points to particle-cloud collapse models, and all but rule out hierarchical accretion for the formation mode of Arrokoth, and by inference, other planetesimals, Dr. Stern said. This is truly an exciting find for what is already a very successful and history-making mission, said Dr. Lori Glaze, director of NASAs Planetary Science Division. The continued discoveries of NASAs New Horizons spacecraft astound as it reshapes our knowledge and understanding of how planetary bodies form in solar systems across the Universe. _____ W.M. Grundy et al. Color, composition, and thermal environment of Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth. Science, published online February 13, 2020; doi: 10.1126/science.aay3705 J.R. Spencer et al. The geology and geophysics of Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth. Science, published online February 13, 2020; doi: 10.1126/science.aay3999 W.B. McKinnon et al. The solar nebula origin of (486958) Arrokoth, a primordial contact binary in the Kuiper Belt. Science, published online February 13, 2020; doi: 10.1126/science.aay6620 This is entertaining and crazy to watch. Check this out: A German court on Sunday ordered Tesla, Inc. to stop clearing forest land near the capital, Berlin, to build its first European car and battery factory, a victory for local environmental activists. The U.S. electric carmaker announced plans last November to build a Gigafactory in Gruenheide in the eastern state of Brandenburg. The court ruling, by the higher administrative court of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, comes after the state environmental office gave a green light to clear 92 hectares of forest for the plant. Planning permission has not yet been granted to build the Gigafactory, however, meaning U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk's company is preparing the ground at its own risk. So where do we go next? Who knows, but I have a few questions for the German courts. First, would they prefer that Mr. Musk take the plant to another country? I'm sure there many willing to offer him space and perhaps a tax benefit as well. Second, what about the jobs and indirect benefits of manufacturing electric cars? Who is going to replace those jobs or the other economic benefits? We will watch to see where this goes. I'm all for protecting trees or landscapes. However, unemployed people don't usually enjoy nature as much as the happily employed. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of image by Einstraus, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 2.0 and PXHere public domain image. Top Australian Spy Condemns Britain's Huawei Decision A former top spy has condemned Britain's decision to involve Huawei in the consruction of its national 5G network, warning Beijing's state-orchestrated campaign of hacks and all-encompassing intelligence laws shows Chinese companies cannot be trusted in cyberspace. Simeon Gilding, who until last month was head of the Australian Signals Directorate's (ASD) signal intelligence and offensive cyber missions, has offered a rare insight into spy agencies' decision to effectively ban Huawei from supplying equipment to Australia's 5G network, despite the company's and Beijing's protestations. Gilding was part of an ASD team that designed pages of cybersecurity mitigation measures which would "give the government confidence that hostile intelligence services could not leverage their national vendors to gain access to our 5G networksBut we failed," he wrote. Huawei's Australian arm has seized upon the UK's decision to allow the company a limited role to supply equipment for the non-core parts of the network in a bid to convince the Australian government to reverse the ban. But Mr Gilding, who led ASD's assessment of Huawei, said the UK government had "doubled down on a flawed and outdated cybersecurity model to convince themselves that they can manage the risk that Chinese intelligence services could use Huawei's access to UK telco networks to insert bad code". In a recent article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Mr Gilding said the ASD had tried to design cybersecurity controls that would give the government confidence a hostile state intelligence agency would not be able to access networks through vendors' technology but failed. He cites China's controversial 2017 laws which require Chinese companies to cooperate with national intelligence work at Beijing's behest as an insurmountable challenge. He said China had destroyed trust in cyberspace through its "scaled and indiscriminate hacking of foreign networks and its determination to direct and control Chinese tech companies. Mr Gilding said legally compelled access to 5G vendors was "game changing for Chinese intelligence agencies because hacking is an increasingly tough business", likening it asking a fox to babysit your chickens. "Old style cybersecurity evolved to deal with threats from outside the network. But none of this works if the threat is inside your network....It is simply not reasonable to expect that Huawei would refuse a direction from the Chinese Communist Party, especially one backed by law." While Huawei has complained Canberra has never told them about any security-related requirements to allow them to become involved in the 5G network, when the ban was announced by the previous government in August 2018, it explicitly nominated the risk posed by vendors "likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government". Mr Gilding also rebuffs the British view that it is possible to minimise risk by splitting 5G networks into core and non-core functions, saying the technology's full potential for high speeds will only be reached if sensitive functions happen at the edge close to the consumer. Britain's decision is based on a misunderstanding of the architectural differences between 4G networks, and full 5G networks where the distinction between "core" and "edge" disappear, Gilding wrote. "With 5G, all network functionality is virtualised and takes place within a single cloud environment. That means there is no physical or logical separation between the core and edge of the network." Huawei argues that despite being headquartered in an authoritarian country where the Chinese Communist Partys intelligence and military apparatus reign supreme, it operates free of government influence. But Gilding does not agree - he insists the problem is not with Huawei, but with the Chinese states record of cyber-attacks on Australia, and the fact that it has the power to direct private firms to follow its commands. The British decision to involve Huawei was, according to Gilding, based on the mistaken assumption that a country can apply traditional defences to stop a cyber-attack launched with the help of a company running part or all of a 5G network. IT News: Sydney Morning Herald: ZDNet: Australian Financial Review: You Might Also Read: Is Widespread Suspicion Of Huawei Justified?: By Kim Bo-eun Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo, left, and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Yoon Suk-heun / Korea Times file The Ontario government said they are looking into complaints that the new blue licence plates are unreadable in certain conditions. A Twitter account that appears to belong to Kingston police officer Sgt. Steve Koopman posted a picture of a car parked outside a McDonalds, suggesting that the new plates can be hard to read. This was taken off duty in a relatively well lit parking lot with my headlights on, Sgt. Koopman wrote, asking if police were consulted in the new the design. Theyre virtually unreadable at night. Andrew Collins, a video journalist in Toronto who also tweeted a photo of the new plates at night, says he has spoken with off-duty police officers who felt it may pose an issue. When you have crime happening, you want the most visible identifiers for a vehicle. And even if you can get a couple numbers from a plate to cross-reference with a colour or type of vehicle, you can find people, Collins said. But now, if a police officer is behind a vehicle, theres no chance that the officer is ever going to see (the plate), Collins said. Nicko Vavassis, issues manager and press secretary for the ministry of government and consumer services, said the government is aware some people have reported concerns over the visibility of licence plates, but that stakeholders, including law enforcement, were consulted and tested the readability, reflectivity and functionality of the plates. Ontarios new high definition licence plates were tested using advanced plate reader technology under multiple visibility conditions, Vavassis said, and plates were successfully read under those conditions. Vavassis said the government values the publics input and that they are looking into the potential problem. Up until now, the point of contention over the new licence plates, in particular, regarded the slogan. Yours to Discover has appeared on passenger and commercial plates since 1982, but last April the Ford government announced A Place To Grow as the slogan for the new plate designs. People across this province want change. They voted for change and theyre getting change, Ford told the legislature on April 2. In addition to the plate swap, the Tories also redesigned Ontarios trillium logo that the government used since 2006. The logo design cost $89,000. Former premier Bob Rae, whose NDP government retained the Yours to Discover slogan created under Bill Daviss Tories, recently derided Fords plan. Ive knocked on thousands of doors over four decades in public life, Rae wrote on Twitter. No one has ever, ever, ever demanded a change in the licence plate, and in particular no one has ever, ever, ever suggested we change it to an empty hot air political slogan. About 1.8 million new licence plates are issued by the province each year and there are 12.9 million active registered plates. With files from Ted Fraser and Robert Benzie David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_ Read more about: Normally bustling century-old Chinatowns from to have fallen quiet and businesses are struggling to survive as fears over the deadly novel outbreak ripple around the world. "Scaremongering is rampant" complains Max Huang, owner of the Juicy Bao restaurant in Melbourne's historic Chinese district. "Customers won't come in if they can avoid it." Huang's eatery sits among dozens of restaurants making up Australia's oldest Chinatown enclave, dating back to the influx of fortune-seekers during an 1850s gold rush. Although the epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic is more than a ten-hour-flight way, and Australia has seen just a handful of cases, the stigma of a disease that has claimed more than 1,500 lives is pervasive. Streets are notably quieter, facemasks are a commonplace and even a Lunar New Year dragon dance failed to bring in the usual crowds. Businesses report their earnings have dropped by more than half and they have been forced to cut staff hours dramatically, a situation echoed in Chinatowns across the world. At the usually buzzing Empire Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver's Richmond suburb, getting a table is now a breeze. "Usually we'd have a large line-up time of approximately five-ten tables, but today there is no line up at all," assistant general manager Ivan Yeung said. "Some people have already cancelled their parties and banquets. Many restaurants are seeing the same thing. Hopefully, this gets back to normal really soon." A ban on travellers from China has hit many neighbourhoods particularly hard. "Usually we have Chinese tourists coming at this time, but now it's like zero," said Tony Siu, manager of the popular Cantonese restaurant R&G Lounge in "They often get the sea bass or the salt and pepper crab, that are our famous dishes." In Australia, the travel ban has been compounded by almost 100,000 Chinese students being unable to fly Down Under to start the academic year. "Our main customers are from China... (so) it's very difficult," said Su Yin, whose pancake store sits downstairs from a college with a large Chinese student base. Hoping to reassure would-be customers, some businesses have tacked up notices saying they disinfect their interiors regularly to prevent disease. Others have gone a step further installing hand sanitiser for guests and giving staff face masks and rubber gloves. But such measures appear to have had limited success. Rebecca Lyu, a Chinese student living in London, has a hard time convincing friends to join her to eat or shop. "Some of my friends refused to go eat at restaurants in Chinatown because they are worried about the virus," she said. Many believe xenophobia has worsened the situation further. Fred Lo's souvenir store in is usually frequented by tourists from Europe and South America. But "for the past two weeks, there's been a lot less people, at least 50 percent less, even though nobody is sick or has even been to China," he said, adding business is as bad as it has been since he began working there in 1975. "It's unfair that a lot of people are scared of Chinese people," said Eddie Lau, president of Melbourne's Chinese Chamber of Commerce. "We tell people, 'we are fine, don't be scared.'" In London, David Tang said he had clearly noticed others avoiding him in recent weeks, but understood why people were afraid and had tried to take it in his stride. "I travel by train every morning. One day last week, all the people were standing, and I've got an empty seat next to me," he said. "I laughed about it. Ghanaians have been urged to be mindful of their utterances on political issues as the country heads to elections in 2020. Dean of Academic Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, made the call while delivering an address at a public forum organized by the Mass Action Committee (MAC). The forum held at the College of Surgeons and Physicians, Accra, on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, was on the need for a new voter register. According to him, care ought to be taken so Ghana do not take the path of other countries in the West African sub-region such as Cote dIvoire, Sierra Leone. He stated that the democratic process should give the country people who want to build Ghana and not those who want to destroy for their selfish interest. Dr. Antwi-Danso expressed worry about the foul words being used in debating electoral issues and the attack on the Electoral Commission (EC) concerning the move to compile a new voter register. He stated that the country has succeeded in building the grounds for instability, wondering why the EC continues to be attacked. According to him, globally, elections have become source of instability. Executive Secretary of Mass Action Committee, Atik Mohammed claimed Mass Action Committee is a civil society organization made up of people from different walks of Ghanas national life including academia, entrepreneurs, political and social activists, traders, farmers among others. ---Daily Guide In December, The New York Times reported a popular messaging app called ToTok was actually a spying tool used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to track users' conversations, location and social connections. The app was removed from the Google Play store in December, while Google investigated, then reinstated in early January. Google now confirms the app has again been removed, but this time declined to comment as to why. The site 9to5Google first noticed ToTok had again been pulled from Google Play on Friday. Reached for comment, Google confirmed to TechCrunch that it removed the app from Google Play but that enforcement was not done in response to any external direction or request. That means the U.S. government did not get involved here, rather that Google chose to remove the app itself -- likely for a policy violation. According to The NYT's original report, ToTok had been downloaded millions of times from both Apple and Google's app stores by customers across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America in the few months since its launch. Citing unnamed U.S. intelligence sources, the report claimed the app had been used to track its users' "every conversation, movement, relationship, appointment, sound, and image." At the time of the app's removal, Google said the app had violated unspecified Google Play policies. The app had over 10 million installs by then, app intelligence firm Sensor Tower says. In January, ToTok's website announced the app was again available for download. The updated version submitted to Google Play included a new dialog that requested authorization to access and sync users' contact list, Vice reported. Oddly, this updated version of ToTok never ranked on Google Play's charts again. Typically, third-party app intelligence firms like App Annie and Sensor Tower are able to see even very lowly ranked apps. For example, App Annie's charts track apps as poorly ranked as #1750 in any category. But after its return, ToTok never even made it that high -- even in its home market of UAE. Story continues The app was available for download, however. Google confirms it removed the app on Friday, February 14, 2020 from the Play store. Now ToTok's website points to the app's listing on a number of third-party Android app stores, but not Google Play. It also offers an APK file for direct download. ToTok remains unavailable on iOS. Varroc Engineering fell 2.43% to Rs 399 after the company said that fire erupted in the Varroc Lighting Systems India premises on the outskirts of Pune city early Tuesday morning. On 18 February 2020, at around 3:15 IST, fire occurred at Varroc Lighting Systems India (subsidiary of Varroc Engineering) plant located in Hinjewadi, Pune. The plant manufactures lighting products for four wheelers in India and contributes about 2% to the consolidated revenue of Varroc Engineering. The company has adequate insurance coverage and has informed the insurance company about the incident, Varroc Engineering said in a statement. The fire incidence took place outside the manufacturing block, which then spread to packaging area and resulted into a fire outbreak. There are no human casualties reported. The company is in the process of ascertaining the actual cause of fire and the loss caused by it. Adequate steps are being undertaken to ensure customer service at the earliest. This will have no significant impact on the company's operations, the statement added. On a consolidated basis, Varroc Engineering's net profit slumped 70.6% to Rs 29.17 crore on a 5.1% decline in net sales to Rs 2803.81 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Varroc Engineering operates as an automotive component manufacturer and supplier. The company designs, develops, and manufactures starter and wiper motors, alternators, switches, lamps, digital instruments, cluster, instrumental panel, door trims, mirror assemblies, and gears. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China sees fall in coronavirus deaths, WHO urges caution, Apple and markets take hit Tourists wearing kimono and protective masks visit Sensoji Temple in Tokyo By Sakura Murakami and Ju-min Park TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan plans to trial HIV medications to treat patients infected with coronavirus as its growing number of cases poses an increasing threat to the economy and public health, the government's top spokesman said on Tuesday. The government was making "preparations so that clinical trials using HIV medication on the novel coronavirus can start as soon as possible," Yoshihide Suga told a briefing, but added he could not say how long a new drug would take to be approved. Japan had 520 confirmed infections by Monday, including 454 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the port of Yokohama, the health ministry said, with one death from the virus. On Tuesday, there was three more cases confirmed with the virus in Wakayama Prefecture, local media reported. As the contracting economy fuels a risk of recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on the size of public gatherings while some companies are telling employees to work from home. The HIV trials come as those drugs have been touted as a potential cure for the coronavirus around the world. With no therapy yet proven 100% effective, the epidemic has killed close to 1,900 people in mainland China. People in China have begun exploring unorthodox ways to get treated, with some appealing to HIV patients and unauthorised importers for medicine. In Thailand, doctors said they appeared to have had some success in treating severe cases of the virus with a combination of medications for flu and HIV. As demand for masks skyrockets, police are investigating a theft of 6,000 surgical masks reported by the Kobe Red Cross Hospital in the central Japanese city, a hospital official told Reuters. Japanese officials have vowed to work hard to avoid disruptions to the Olympic Games, which start in Tokyo in July. But growing concern over the virus spurred Mongolia's Olympics archery team to cancel training in Japan, the Kyodo news agency said. Story continues DIAMOND PRINCESS EVACUATIONS On Monday, U.S. government evacuation flights flew home more than 300 Americans who had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. With more than 3,000 passengers and crew, the ship has been in quarantine since early this month, after a passenger who had left it in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. About half of those aboard are Japanese and the rest foreign nationals, many of whom have expressed frustration over the quarantine. The liner will receive meals from World Central Kitchen, a non-profit set up by celebrity chef Jose Andres, in a bid to reduce the burden on crew, said Rai Caluori, vice president of vessel operator Princess Cruises. Foreign governments including Australia, Canada, Italy and South Korea also plan to take citizens off the cruise liner. A plane chartered by the Canadian government has left for Japan to evacuate its nationals, TV Asahi said. Canada has said 14 days of quarantine await them on their return. South Korea is also sending a government charter flight on Tuesday to take home four citizens, and a Japanese spouse, who have no symptoms, a South Korean official said. Japanese who test negative will begin disembarking as early as Wednesday, health minister Katsunobu Kato said. "Everyone wants to return home as soon as possible, so considering that feeling, we are making preparations," Kato told reporters. Disembarkation was set for Feb. 19 to 21, Japan's vice health minister said, according to a copy of a letter circulated on Twitter by a passenger using the handle @daxatw. The letter told passengers that Yokohama health authorities would take their temperatures before they left the ship. Japan's health ministry could not immediately be reached for confirmation. (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Sakura Murakami; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Chris Gallagher in Tokyo; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Clarence Fernandez) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 10:21:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Ren Jun, Zhang Jiye NUR-SULTAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- "The East Lake, Yellow Crane Tower, cherry blossoms in Wuhan University, the Yangtze River bridge..." Ravil Budukov, 31, who has been to Wuhan twice, said he never forgets the charm of the lovely Chinese city which is now fighting the novel coronavirus disease, now known as COVID-19. "I miss the bustling pedestrian street of the Optics Valley, snack stalls of Chuhehan Street and cruise tours along the East Lake," said Budukov, a Kazak who studied in China and has worked on China-related issues in Kazakhstan since 2009. "Since the outbreak of the epidemic in China, I felt immediately obliged to do something because my life has been connected to China. I also have friends in Wuhan," Budukov told Xinhua. Since late January, Budukov has bought several batches of masks and asked friends aboard a plane from Kazakhstan's Nur-Sultan to China's Urumqi to transport the masks, which were later sent by mail to Wuhan. Budukov also organized a group on social networks to raise funds and rally Kazakh volunteers to lend help. "We must help China in the fight against the epidemic," said Budukov. Like Budukov, many Kazaks from different walks of life have backed China on the fight against COVID-19 in various ways. Recently, a Russian version of a popular Chinese music video "Wuhan Children" (Wuhanya) has gone viral on Kazakh social media. Marat Zhunisbekov, a photographer and teacher at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, posted his version of the video expressing good wishes to the Chinese people. "I was deeply moved by the beautiful lyrics and cannot hold my tears. The song must be written by those who love their homeland with full hearts," said Zhunisbekov, who has been promoting the video to rally more support for China's fight against COVID-19. "We Kazakh people have a tradition of praying for our neighbour's wellbeing, ...now that our neighbour has difficulties, we should take action to help China ride out the storm." Zhunisbekov said. "The coronavirus is an enemy of all human beings, and we have to face it all together. No man is an island. Kazakhstan will stay with China," he said. Kazakh business communities have also been helping out. In a fund-raising event initiated by Kazakhstan-China Trade Promotion Association, a total of 126 Kazakh companies donated money or medical gears, including masks, medical gloves, rubbing alcohol and other necessities. Budukov said he is confident that China can overcome the difficulties and win the battle against COVID-19. "Chinese people have shown great unity and resilience in dire times. It seems that there were no problems that the Chinese people could not cope with in Chinese history," he said. Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev once said, "After a harsh winter, spring follows, with its flowers and splendour." Budukov has a plan after the epidemic fight is over: "I will meet friends in Wuhan and appreciate cherry blossom." By Keith Zhai and Matthew Tostevin (Reuters) - When President Xi Jinping made his first state visit this year to Myanmar and signed new infrastructure contracts, there was no indication of the obstacle about to trip up China's plan for railways, ports and highways around the world: the coronavirus. Travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease, which has now killed more than 1,800 people, have idled much of the world's second-largest economy and choked key elements of Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese workers cannot get to overseas projects, and factories are cut off from the Chinese imports they need to keep running, according to more than a dozen company executives and officials. "Many factories in China remain closed; those that are open cannot reach full capacity," said Boyang Xue, a China analyst at Ducker Frontier. "Since many BRI projects tend to source equipment and machinery from manufacturers based in China, the disruptions in industrial production and supply chain will cause further delays." One giant project, China Railway International Group's $6 billion high-speed railway in Indonesia, is on a war footing. The state enterprise has set up a task force to monitor the coronavirus' spread and urged all Chinese employees who went home for the Lunar New Year holiday not to return to Indonesia, a senior executive with the company said on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media. The company has stopped more than 100 Chinese personnel, mostly skilled workers or managers, from returning to the project linking Indonesia's capital Jakarta with the textile hub of Bandung, about 140 km (85 miles) away, the executive said. "We have to focus on less-critical parts of the railway project until some of our key people come back to work," he said. "We're getting off to a very bad start in 2020. Our project has been dogged by delays and controversy, and this coronavirus brought us bigger challenges." Story continues DISRUPTION China's top regulator of state-run companies said in a Tuesday briefing that the outbreak has caused "difficulties" on some overseas projects and investments. The country "has already communicated with overseas companies, overseas owners, and governments as early as possible to gain support and understanding," said Peng Qinghua, secretary general of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Several Chinese companies in Indonesia, including Tsingshan Holding Group, GEM Co Ltd <002340.SZ> and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt <603799.SS> saw nickel and cobalt projects disrupted as Southeast Asia's biggest economy stopped flights from China in early February and denied entry to people who had been in mainland China in the previous 14 days. "The new projects may be postponed a little, but not that much," said an executive at one of the companies, who had planned to travel to Indonesia before the travel ban made it impossible. More than 133 countries have imposed entry restrictions on Chinese citizens or people who have visited China, according to the Chinese National Immigration Agency. Pakistan's $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) said the coronavirus was not having an impact, although officials said some managers had been quarantined after returning from China. The challenge of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to Belt and Road contracts follows a pushback in 2018, when officials in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere criticized projects there as costly and unnecessary. China scaled back some plans after several countries sought to review, cancel or scale down commitments, citing concerns over costs, erosion of sovereignty, and corruption. BROKEN SUPPLY CHAIN The coronavirus has also started to disrupt the supply chains that give companies access to key machinery and components. The offices of Chinese senior managers stand empty at the Cambodia Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, which describes itself as a "landmark project" on the Belt and Road Initiative and is home to more than 160 businesses and over 20,000 workers. Employees from Chinese-run factories told Reuters that most of the workers there were local, but that the greater challenge was their dependence on supplies from China. That "could elongate project timelines, for example, which might raise costs," said Nick Marro, global trade lead at the Economic Intelligence Unit and a China analyst. And although that might only affect operations in the first quarter - depending on whether the virus is contained - slower Chinese growth will have a regional and global impact, he said. In some places on the Belt and Road, the impact of the coronavirus has already arrived. Bangladesh has announced delays to several infrastructure projects, including commissioning of the Payra coal power plant, which was supposed to begin commercial operations in early February. Well over 2,000 Chinese workers work on the plant and some 40 percent of them went home for the Lunar New Year holiday, local media reported. Twenty were allowed back to work on Monday after 14 days in quarantine. (This story corrects spelling of name in paragraph 4) (Reporting and writing by Keith Zhai; Additional reporting by Fanny Potkin, Tom Daly and Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Gerry Doyle) A port in the capital of war-torn Libya was hit by a barrage of rocket fire on Tuesday, witnesses said. The Tripoli port, used by merchant shipping and the navy, was cordoned off by security forces and there were no immediate reports of casualties. "The rockets flew over our heads and hit one of the quays at the Al-Shaab port," a resident of the central district of Dahra told AFP. "So far there have been more than 15 rockets and the bombardment is ongoing." A column of smoke rising from the port area was visible from across Tripoli, the target of a months-long operation by eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar to oust the UN-recognised unity government. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strikes. Other witnesses said port workers had quickly left the area. Video shared on social media appeared to show aircraft preparing to land at the city's sole functioning airport before changing direction. The rocket fire was the latest violation of a tenuous ceasefire that came into effect in January. Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli last April, but after rapid advances his forces stalled on the edges of the capital. The fighting has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced some 140,000 according to the United Nations. The ceasefire brokered by Haftar backer Russia and Turkey, which supports the unity government, took effect on January 12. Each side accuses the other of breaking it. The UN on Tuesday welcomed a new European Union naval operation to enforce a much-violated arms embargo on Libya as the warring sides met for military talks in Geneva. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tue, February 18, 2020 18:04 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653b38d 2 News Italy,Instagram,village,travel,destination,Cinque-Terre,France,Colmar Free Perched in the Italian Riviera not far from Genoa, the Cinque Terre is a group of five villages in a national park which is a UNESCO world heritage site. According to an international listing established by Farawayfurniture.com, it is the most "Instagrammed" village destination in the world, with more than two million pictures. Travelers who post pictures on Instagram are very fond of Italian villages. The country has no less than three destinations in the top 10 of a ranking of the most-Instagrammed travel destinations. The rugged coastline of the Cinque Terre, now a destination for mass tourism, has an overall total of 2,049,711 hashtags. Some 350 kilometers to the east of this Mediterranean paradise, the second most Instagrammed Italian village in the list is Burano. Amateur photographers go to town taking pictures of the streets of colorfully painted houses, a feature of the island destination in the Venetian Lagoon, to the point where there are 1,048,053 images on the social network. The third Italian entry in the list of villages is Alberobello. Considered a must-see destination for visitors to Apulia, the village is famous for its trulli, typical southern-Italian stone dwellings with remarkable conical roofs. For its part, France has only one destination in the top 10. Surprisingly, it is not a Mediterranean village that is favored by the Instagrammers, but the small town of Colmar in Alsace. Recently, the destination in eastern France has also been in the spotlight for winning a vote that recognized it as one of the best destinations in Europe in 2020. Read also: Bali named eighth 'most Instagrammable place' in world Here are the world's top 10 most Instagrammed villages: 1. Cinque Terre, Italy (2,049,711) 2. Reine, Norway (1,614,863) 3. Oia, Greece (1,486,743) 4. Burano, Italy (1.048.053) 5. Colmar, France (995.124) 6. Hallstatt, Austria (817,211) 7. Alberobello, Italy (584,207) 8. Hobbiton, New Zealand (499.028) 9. Shirakawa-go, Japan (257.244) 10. Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia (232.785) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The presidential council of the Libyan Government of national accord (GNA)Tuesday announced it had suspended its participation in talks of the Libyan joint 5+5 military committee presently meeting in Geneva A Louisiana appeals court ruled that a former high school student who was hospitalized after being ordered to perform 200 pushups as punishment was rightfully awarded more than $180,000 in damages. Former McKinley High School student Tristen Rushing was late to band practice in 2014 and was told to do 200 pushups as punishment. He was later hospitalized with muscle and kidney issues. Tristen Rushing and his mother Melissa Rushing sued the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, McKinley High and the schools former volunteer assistant band director, Jason Jones, in 2015. The pair were originally rewarded $185,000 last September but an appeals court reduced the amount given for medical expenses. The appeals court awarded him $183,302 in total for damages, The Advocate reported. The appeal panel reduced a portion of the payment that was awarded for medical expenses. Medical testimony in the trial said Tristen Rushings muscles were so damaged that an extremely high level of enzymes were released into his system, threatening his kidneys and his life if it had been left untreated. Rushing said his arms swelled up after the incident and his urine turned pitch-black. He said was later ostracized by his band mates for reporting the incident. Jones said he was sorry and would not have ever done anything to hurt Rushing. McKinley band director Frank Williams also offered an apology. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Oredo Chief Magistrates Court in Benin on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old man, Adamu Gaji, to three years imprisonment for stealing two cows in Edo State. The police prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, told the court that the convict on June 10, 2019 at Amagbe community stole two cows belonging to one Mr Ogieriaki Omoruyi, which are valued at N700,000. Mr Omoruyi employed Gaji to take care of his cows. On the fateful day, Gaji took the cows to the bush and did not return with the two cows, he said. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 390(8) (9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, now applicable in Edo. The Chief Magistrate, Awawu Osayande, sentenced Gaji after she found him guilty of the one count of stealing filed against him. Osayande, however, gave the convict the option of paying a fine of N180,000. ALSO READ: My Wife Came Home Without Pant, Ex-Edo Commissioners Husband Tells Court A chimpanzee mom's continued presence through her son's tween and teen years boosts his odds of survival later in life DURHAM, N.C. -- Even kids who are nearly grown still need a parental figure to help them navigate the long path to adulthood -- and our closest animal relatives are no exception. A new study of wild chimpanzees finds that males whose moms were present during their tween and teen years had higher odds of survival later in life, compared with their peers who lost their mothers before they finished puberty. The results appear in the February 2020 issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Beginning in the 1960s, researchers led by primatologist Jane Goodall started monitoring the wild chimpanzees living in Gombe National Park in western Tanzania, making note of things like births, deaths, who was related to who and how the animals interacted. Using more than 50 years of data for 247 chimpanzees, a team from Franklin & Marshall College, The George Washington University and Duke University examined the impacts of having or losing a mother at different stages of a chimpanzee's growing up. Perhaps not surprisingly, they found that a mom's continued presence after weaning means better outcomes for her kids. Chimpanzees whose mothers were still around by their tenth birthdays lived longer than their orphaned peers. But at later stages of growing up, the effect was stronger for sons than daughters. Sons whose mothers were still around between the ages of 10 and 15 were more likely to survive than sons who lost their mothers during that time, whereas daughters did just fine either way. There's a good reason for mom's diminishing influence on daughters, the researchers say. In Gombe National Park, half of all chimpanzee females leave their birth families behind at puberty. But adolescent males stay put, which means mothers and sons are more likely to form lifelong bonds. Exactly how a mom's continued presence enhances her adolescent offspring's survival is still unclear, the researchers say. Compared to other mammals, primates such as chimps and humans take a long time to grow up. Young chimps continue to travel around with their moms and stay within her sight for four to five years after they're weaned. "Primates are unique in having a really long period of juvenility," said associate professor Elizabeth Lonsdorf of Franklin & Marshall College. Young adult chimpanzees have been known to turn to their moms for comfort or reassurance after tussles with other members of their group, said senior author Anne Pusey, professor emerita of evolutionary anthropology at Duke. She recalls a time at Gombe in the early 1970s when she saw a 20-year-old male named Figan hurt his hand during a tense encounter with another male. "He just went screaming to his mom," Pusey said. "The next week he traveled constantly with his mother while his hand got better." Adolescent chimps could also be benefitting from their mom's wealth of experience and knowledge about things like how to avoid predators, or how to get food, such as which fruit trees ripen when and where to find them. "There's a lot more research to be done about what mom actually does," Pusey said. But the take-home is that while a mother's role may change after the nursing years, she continues to matter even when her offspring are nearly grown, especially to her sons. "Even after infants are weaned, mothers still matter somehow," said Margaret Stanton, a visiting assistant professor at Franklin & Marshall College and first author of the study. ### This research was supported by the Jane Goodall Institute, the National Science Foundation (DBS-9021946, SBR-9319909, BCS-0452315, IOS-LTREB-1052693), the National Institutes of Health (R01 AI 058715), Harris Steel, University of Minnesota, and Duke University. CITATION: "Consequences of Maternal Loss Before and After Weaning in Male and Female Wild Chimpanzees," Margaret A. Stanton, Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf, Carson M. Murray and Anne E. Pusey. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, January 27, 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2804-7. China vowed continued efforts to expand the coverage of the broadband network and upgrade internet access among primary and secondary schools to facilitate online learning for students amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Monday. Efforts will be made to encourage three major telecommunications operators - China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom - to roll out more convenient online learning services like cloud classrooms and free livestreaming, the MIIT said. China Telecom, for instance, has provided online classes for primary and secondary schools across the country, with an average of over 10 million students watching every day. Greater support has been given to Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, enabling over 240,000 students to have access to cloud classrooms. China has postponed the spring semester due to the coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 70,000 people nationwide as of Sunday. Millions of students staying at home turned to online learning as the back-to-school season started. The MIIT said it would further pool its resources to provide greater assistance to students' online learning. Samsung's new foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip. Ryan Browne | CNBC Two new phones with folding displays, the $1,380 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the $1,500 Motorola RAZR, launched in recent weeks, and people already have complaints about them. It seems like a repeat of what we went through nearly a year ago, when Samsung seeded the Galaxy Fold to reviewers and early units broke. The phone was delayed for five months while Samsung worked on a solution, but the launch seems to have been fine after the company made changes to the hinge and screen. But the latest foldable phones are having issues of their own. Here's what's going on. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip screen seems to be plastic, not glass as advertised Over the weekend, YouTube channel JerryRigEverything called into question Samsung's claims that the new Galaxy Z Flip has a glass display. In a hardness test, JerryRigEverything found that Samsung's screen scratches like plastic and wasn't as hard or resistant to damage as glass. But, during a press conference in San Francisco last week, Samsung said the phone has a first-of-its-kind folding glass display, marketed as "Ultra Thin Glass," or UTG for short. Those claims about glass construction seemed to quell concerns that the screen would be as prone to damage as the original Galaxy Fold, though JerryRigEverything shows in his video that even a fingernail can permanently dent the screen, just like on Samsung's first folding phone. After JerryRigEverything posted its video, Samsung warned in a statement that its new folding display should be handled with care. "Samsung's first-of-its-kind UTG technology is different from other Galaxy flagship devices," Samsung told CNBC. "While the display does bend, it should be handled with care. Also, Galaxy Z Flip has a protective layer on top of the UTG similar to Galaxy Fold." You can watch the JerryRigEverything video here: One person who said he bought the Galaxy Z Flip posted a picture of damage across the fold of the screen. He said the crack occurred when he opened the phone: tweet CNBC has a Galaxy Z Flip. The screen feels more sturdy than the Galaxy Fold, which felt flimsy. CNBC's first Galaxy Fold review unit broke when we tested it. That hasn't happened with the Galaxy Z Flip. The Z Flip comes with a warning similar to that of the Galaxy Fold, with both a sticker on the screen and a start-up warning that tells users to "avoid pressing hard on the screen or the front camera lens" and to make sure there's nothing on the screen when you fold it closed. Samsung offers a one-time screen replacement for $119 if owners have a problem. Samsung also told CNBC that it will offer a free screen protector for Z Flip owners at Samsung retail locations or by mail. Samsung didn't explain why that additional screen protector isn't included with the phone out of the box, though. The Motorola RAZR is already breaking Motorola Razr with folding display Motorola Meanwhile, the Motorola RAZR, which also has a foldable display, is also breaking. Tech website Input said its new Motorola RAZR's screen is already separating from the body and is completely damaged after only a few days of use. The site said it doesn't know how the damage occurred, but it posted several images showing the display ripping off the frame of the phone, which suggests quality control issues around the border and hinge of the RAZR. tweet "We have full confidence in razr's display, and do not expect consumers to experience display peeling as a result of normal use," a Motorola spokesperson told CNBC. "If consumers experience this issue, and the device has not endured customer abuse or misuse, it will be covered by our warranty." Maybe don't buy a folding phone yet Its tempting to say this serves Sanders right, since it proves that the working class or the 10 percent of it that belongs to unions is as much of an obstacle to single-payer as the greedy insurance companies. Unions were even ambivalent about Obamacare, because its coverage expansions for the poor were to be partly financed by a very modest tax on the value of their (usually) more-generous health plans. Years of union lobbying, in de facto cooperation with insurance, fossil fuel and drug companies, as well as congressional Republicans, got that tax repealed last year. Former deputy chairperson of the erstwhile Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Tuesday suggested rewriting of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act and advocated for a public-private partnership law to tap finances. In the changing scenario in view of rising finance needs and fiscal limitation of states, rewriting the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act should be considered, Ahluwalia, the author of Backstage: The Story Behind India's High Growth Years, added. He was addressing a workshop organised by the finance department of Madhya Pradesh on 'Alternative Finance for Projects' at the Minto Hall here. There is a need for enacting a law for public-private partnership to overcome the budget constraints for socially important economic infrastructure projects, he added. Ahluwalia said designing projects, making budget provisions for them and completing them within available resources is a common practice across the world. The fact is that governments have limited financial resources for ambitious projects. They have many tasks, responsibilities, priorities and social obligations apart from economic infrastructure projects, he added. And as a result, the speed of projects slows down and starts lagging, he added. He said that there is a need to think beyond the conventional approach of relying on budgetary resources. In such a situation, states look towards the private sector for assistance. The private sector is fearful of risks and threats while the governments are bound by the welfare principles beyond the loss and profit, he added. Both have their limitations. Therefore, there is a need for a law to work in cooperation between the two, Ahluwalia said. He said that instead of managing finances for large economic infrastructural projects, the system of providing guarantee by the state should also be considered. The governments should assume the role of a friend in managing the financial risks for the projects. For example, in order to deal with the ill effects of climate change, infrastructure projects of economic importance should be given a guarantee, he opined. These may include irrigation and water conservation projects, he added. He said that considering the density of forest resources, Madhya Pradesh can raise budget resources on its basis. This process can also be adopted for sector-specific dedicated infrastructure projects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain will be lashed by more heavy rain this week in the wake of Storm Dennis, as some severely flooded areas are said to be in uncharted territory. Nine severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were in place on Tuesday morning across England and Wales. A canoeist makes his way down a road in Monmouth, Wales, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis (PA Images via Getty Images) Communities across the country are counting the cost of Storm Dennis, which brought record levels of flooding and left hundreds of properties underwater. On Monday, the environment minister admitted the government cannot protect every household from flooding. Flooded cottages in Monmouth, Wales, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (PA Images via Getty Images) A canoeist makes their way towards Lidl in Monmouth, Wales, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (PA Images via Getty Images) An aerial view showing flooding in Hereford from the River Wye following Storm Dennis (Getty Images) The River Wye reached its highest levels on record on Monday, peaking at more than 6m, with the Environment Agency (EA) describing levels as exceptional and residents in Hereford saying they had never seen anything like it. Read more: Remarkable drone pictures show Storm Dennis flooding devastation EA manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dave Throup tweeted on Monday night: Ive seen things today I would not have believed. Large parts of my home town and village are underwater tonight. This is not normal flooding, we are in uncharted territory. Ive seen things today I would not have believed. Large parts of my home town and village are underwater tonight. This is not normal flooding, we are in uncharted territory. So sorry for everyone who has flooded. Back tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/jWtvBd4DIV Dave Throup (@DaveThroupEA) February 17, 2020 West Mercia Police advised people in Upton-upon-Severn and Uckinghall in Worcestershire to evacuate on Monday evening due to rising river levels. Assistant chief constable Geoff Wessell said there was a level of relief for Upton-upon-Severn on Tuesday morning as flood defences appeared not to have been breached. He told BBC Breakfast: Its not overtopped. Preparations were made. Weve had good support from the locals to leave if they needed to. But a level of relief for us. Story continues Wessell advised people to remain cautious, not to drive through floodwater and to remain ready to leave their homes if they need to. People were being evacuated from their homes in Telford on Tuesday morning as water pressure from the River Severn caused the road surface to crack. Residents of the Wharfage, located along the river, were being taken to a cafe on the High Street in Ironbridge, while 21 cars parked in the area were brought to a nearby park and ride to save them from flooding, Telford and Wrekin Council said. The council said the river's flood peak was moving towards the Ironbridge Gorge and was expected to arrive there later on Tuesday. Read more: Major incidents declared across the UK over Storm Dennis floods The family of Yvonne Booth, who was swept away by floodwater near Tenbury in Worcestershire on Sunday, said they had been left devastated after her body was found on Monday. A Land Rover wades through flooded roads in the Wye Valley, near the hamlet of Wellesley, Hereford (Getty Images) The 55-year-old, from the Great Barr area of Birmingham, was described as a very much loved member of our family in a statement from relatives, released through police. The Environment Agency has issued severe flood warnings for the River Severn at Upton-upon-Severn and Uckinghall, the River Wye at Hereford and Hampton Bishop, the River Trent at Burton upon Trent and the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop. In Wales, there are two severe warnings in place on the River Wye at Monmouth in what Natural Resources Wales called both defended and undefended areas. Homes in Monmouth were evacuated as the organisation warned the river was expected to peak at 7.2m on Tuesday morning. Watch the video below Prime minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism for not visiting affected areas and resisting calls to chair a meeting of the governments emergency committee Cobra to tackle the flooding. Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard said it was a disgrace that Johnson had refused to visit affected communities. About 1,000 staff were on duty, with 5km of flood barriers deployed and 90 pumps in action, the EA said. It warned the flood risk continues, with further heavy rain forecast in the north of England for Wednesday and Thursday, possibly falling on already flooded areas. A rainbow appears over flooded fields in the Wye Valley, near the hamlet of Wellesley, following Storm Dennis (Getty Images) Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said Tuesday will bring a brief respite from the worst of the weather for most of the UK, with sunny spells and showers, but warned areas of Wales could see downpours. With the ground being so saturated, its not going to help the situation, he said. And theres more persistent rain coming on Wednesday. There will be wet and windy weather across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday, with the heavy rain coming back. The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice over parts of Scotland, with further warnings of persistent rain in Wales for Wednesday and Thursday, which could be extended to the north west of England. By PTI MATHURA: The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has released 500 cusecs of water into the Yamuna from the Ganganahar in Bulandshahr to improve the river's "environmental condition" in Agra, ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, officials said on Tuesday. Trump is set to visit India on a two-day trip between February 23 and 26. The main segment of the visit will take place in Delhi, though an option of having a short visit by the president to another city is being explored. The cities that are being considered include Uttar Pradesh's Agra and Gujarat's Ahmedabad. ALSO READ | 45 families in slum near stadium hosting 'Namaste Trump' event served eviction notices "Keeping in mind US President Trump's visit to Agra, 500 cusecs of water has been released from the Ganganahar to improve the environmental condition of the Yamuna. This water will reach the Yamuna in Mathura by February 20 and Agra by February 21 afternoon," the department's Superintending Engineer Dharmender Singh Phogat said. He said the department aims to maintain a certain level of water in the Yamuna till February 24. This move is likely to reduce the "foul smell" from the Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) assistant engineer Arvind Kumar said when asked about the development. ALSO READ | Namaste Trump: Activist seeks US President's intervention to save tribals living near Statue of Unity "If 500 cusecs of water has been released into the Yamuna to control pollution, it will certainly have an impact. This will also improve the oxygen level in the Yamuna in Mathura and in Agra. This move may not make the Yamuna's water fit for drinking, but could reduce foul smell from the river," he said. Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi who is associated with the Shri Mathur Chaturved Parishad that is working to clean the Yamuna, said,"The move will hardly have any impact on the river." The man is suspected of pulling the girl into a stall of a restaurant bathroom near the 600 block of North Clark Street about 8:20 a.m. Monday and touching her in an inappropriate manner, police said. 18.02.2020 LISTEN In August 2019, Toyota and Suzuki became the latest companies to formally commit to setting up car assembling plants in Ghana. This was after the Toyota Tsusho Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Ghana following a March 2019 announcement. Toyota and Suzuki (of which Toyota Tsusho is a major shareholder as of August 29, 2019) joined Volkswagen, Nissan and Sinotruk as major automobile companies that have decided to make Ghana a home. These developments are seen as an affirmation of Ghana's relative socio-economic stability over the past two decades, even with an election on the horizon. Renault, which has not made a commitment yet, has singled out Ghana for praise and views Ghana as a gateway to the ECOWAS sub-region. Ghana is a very good place to operate a business. The economic infrastructure is here. The peace and political atmosphere are also good. We can reach all over West Africa from here, said the Africa Vice President of Renault Trucks, Cyril Barille to Citi Business News in May 2018. As appealing as a stable political and economic climate is, the potential tax breaks also have something to do with these developments. Ghana will offer tax holidays of up to 10 years to auto firms that set up the local assembling plants. The full 10-year tax break will only apply to companies building whole vehicles whilst a five-year holiday will be granted firms doing partial manufacturing. When the plans are in place, the government intends to increase import duties on new and used vehicles from the current 5 to 20 percent to 35 percent. In the hope of encouraging the purchase of cars manufactured by the plants situated in Ghana. Most recently, Parliament indicated that there was some framework under consideration for the potential banning of the import of second-hand vehicles beyond certain ages and salvage vehicles. With this blueprint, the question for the average Ghanaian will be how all these translate to relatable outcomes. The establishment of these plants aligns with two agenda the Akufo-Addo administration has drummed home time and time again jobs and industrialization. With the announcement of Volkswagen's intent to set up a plant in Ghana, eyes on the local scene shifted towards Rwanda which has had a $20 million plant set up by the German car manufacturer operational since June 2018. There have been differing timelines for Ghana's Volkswagen plant to come online. But like Rwanda, the assembly plant is expected to produce about 5,000 units every year. Production may eventually be scaled up depending on the market demand. Toyata and Suzuki have similar outputs in mind. We are looking at an installed capacity of 5,000 units per year but hoping to expand as the demand increases. The products to be assembled in Ghana include the Toyota Hilux pickup, which is already popular in Ghana, Toyotas Chief Operations Officer said when the MOU with Ghana was signed. Volkswagen's assembly plant in Rwanda should also eventually create 1,000 jobs, the East African nation expects. The German carmaker also has plans to co-operate with a local company to establish a ride-sharing service in the country, which could see some more jobs and tax revenue for the State. The VW assembly plant in Rwanda has been using components shipped from South Africa to Rwanda via Kenya. As well as building cars at a plant in South Africa. VW also builds cars in Kenya, Nigeria and Algeria. We should bear in mind that it is the stagnant sales in developed economies that are forcing automakers like Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, and Nissan to look at Africa, which is considered by observers as one of the world's last untapped markets for new cars. According to the Paris-based International Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, in Africa there are on average 44 vehicles per 1,000 people compared to the global average of 180 vehicles per 1,000 people. The keyword in this is demand, especially if we hope to maximize the benefits of these plants. It is assumed that Ghana's growth as an economy is translating into pockets but evidence on the ground suggests a growing gap between the rich and the poor. This notwithstanding, if the average Ghanaian has more disposable income, they would be willing to say bye to trotros in favour of personal mobility, all things being equal. But are they going to troop to a VW showroom or turn to the second-hand car market? The Encyclopedia of Global Population and Demographics explains that vehicle sales in a region start to rise when local annual incomes reach half of the price of a new vehicle. In the US auto market, the average price of a new car in 2016 was approximately $34,000. The average price for a new subcompact car, like ones seen being used by ride-hailing services like Uber, was approximately $17,000. By this formula, local incomes would need to be at $8,500 per year for reasonable demand. This doesnt bode too well for our pockets. Turning our heads back to Rwanda, the cost of the locally assembled cars in that country is somewhat high compared to international markets. On the company's global website, a VW Tiguan is priced at $24,295 which is about $10,000 less than the pricing in Rwanda while the Volkswagen Passat retails at $37,674 in Rwanda as opposed to $25,295 on the international market. The high prices owe significantly to the importation of car parts for assembly. Among the factors that prohibit growth is logistics costs. It's quite costly to bring a container from Mombasa to Kigali, Thomas Schafer, the Chief Executive of Volkswagen Group South Africa said to Rwandas The New Times in 2018. He pegged the cost of transporting a container from Mombasa to Kigali at around $4,000. But one thing Ghana can take note of is Rwandas attempt to engage local financial institutions to ease car financing terms for citizens. More insight for Ghanas auto industry lay in Alec Erwins writing on the African auto industry in the Africa Policy review. One of his points could be a real challenge for Ghana given the whirlwind of sometimes disruptive change that accompanies any change in government. Any state intervention needs to have clarity of purpose, be consistent and sustained over many decades. An absence of policy consistency can cause the collapse of the assembly industry as has happened in Nigeria, Argentina and Australia over the last decades. Beyond this caution, Ghana also has to be thinking of elements to sustain an auto industry like energy, communications and logistics, advanced manufacturing capacity and access to markets. The latter point may be most important to the average consumer given Ghanas energy situation has been relatively stable over the last three years. Attempting auto production in a small economy with a limited market will raise costs, reduce choice and constrict the nature of assembly, Alec Erwin notes. Because of the high fixed capital costs, the assembly plants in Ghana will do well to keep in mind economies of scale if they want Ghanaians to even consider ditching the used car market for some of the newly assembled cars. Observers have pointed out that reducing the number of models produced in a plant will reduce tooling costs that would have been passed onto the consumer. It will also be more cost-effective to reduce the number of models produced in one plant in favour of increasing the number of plants in different locations. The cost of imports will also invariably contribute to the final cost and on the surface, if Ghana toes the same line and ships in components from South Africa, like Rwanda does (for its VW plants), the Continental Free Trade Agreement should mean Ghana at least is offered some reprieve and the consumer benefits in the long run. But South Africa will be competing with much larger exporting countries and it is unclear if the powers are going to sit by and let the rainbow nation reap the rewards of a growing auto industry on the continent. If things don't work out for Ghanas auto industry, it will get nasty for jobs. In 2019, slumping sales of cars triggered massive job cuts in the auto sector in India, the fourth-largest industry in the world. Companies were forced to shut down factories for days and reduce worker shifts. Reuters reported that initial estimates suggest that automakers, parts manufacturers and dealers have laid off some 350,000 workers since April of that year. Aside from the slowdown of the economy (which, granted is significantly larger than Ghanas), one of the interesting points from India's struggles has been the push to police emissions of air pollutants. India imposed BS-VI norms to regulate the output of air pollutants from combustion engines which require more investment in technology. There has also been a push towards electric vehicles which reduced the demand for internal combustion engine vehicles. In a world becoming more sensitive to the environment, the government should be thinking about a green auto industry. As the major automobile players shift towards Africa and Ghana, questions must be asked of the government's plan to align the sector with environmentally sustainable standards. But given the political expediency that accompanied Ghana's mortgaging of bauxite in sensitive ecological zones, the government may be thinking more about the green of dollar bills, not of the environment. The writer, Delali Adogla-Bessa, works with Citi TV/Citi FM/citinewsroom.com New Delhi: India's top court has ruled that women can serve as army commanders, dismissing the government's stance that male soldiers were not ready to accept orders from female officers as "disturbing". The Supreme Court also ordered the government to extend permanent service - which has only been applicable to men so far - to all women officers, signalling a move towards gender parity in the traditionally male bastion. Women cadets celebrate after their graduation ceremony at the Indian Army's Officers Training Academy in Chennai, India. Credit:AP The women will get the same opportunities and benefits as their male colleagues, including ranks, promotions and pensions, and be allowed to serve longer tenures. The court did not rule on their deployment in combat roles, saying this was to be decided by a competent authority. Until now women were inducted through a short service commission that let them work for up to 14 years. They were only allowed permanent commission in the army's legal and educational wings. DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Wine Market 2019-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global wine market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period. The wine industry valued at $157.6 billion in 2018, is estimated to reach $201.2 billion in 2025. Health benefits and premiumization of wine products along with innovation in flavor and more advanced distribution networks across the globe are the major factors that drive the growth of the global wine market. The wine contains antioxidants that, when consumed, fight with free radicals to avoid diseases such as cancer. Additionally, the growing demand in emerging economies such as China and India are also contributing to the global wine market. According to the Wine Institute of the US, the consumption of wine has been increased over the past 4 years from 919 million gallons in 2015 to 966 million gallons in 2018. However, the consumption of wine per individual has not seen a sharp increase. In 2015, the wine consumption per individual was 2.86 gallons and in 2018 the wine consumption per individual was 2.95 gallons. According to the World Health Organization, in 2016, wine holds 28% of share (in terms of volume) in the overall alcoholic beverage consumption across the globe. Barefoot, Concha Toro, Gallo, Changyu, Yello Tail, Sutter Home, Robert Mondavi, hardy's, Beringer, and Great Wall among others are the major wine brands across the globe. The prominent companies in the wine market are Constellation Brands, Treasury Wine Estates, and Accolade Wines. These market players adopt several strategies in order to stay competitive in the market. For instance, in April 2019, Bishop Cider had Launched Uncommon Wines which is a woman-powered session' wine in a can. This wine contains less than 5% of alcohol by volume, therefore, it is termed as a session beer. This report covers: Comprehensive research methodology of the global wine market. This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights. An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations. Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global wine market. Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global wine market. Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues. Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players. Key Topics Covered 1. Report Summary 1.1. Research Methods and Tools 1.2. Market Breakdown 1.2.1. By Segments 1.2.2. By Geography 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Rules & Regulations 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Company Share Analysis 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Key Company Analysis 3.3.1. Overview 3.3.2. Financial Analysis 3.3.3. SWOT Analysis 3.3.4. Recent Development 4. Market Determinants 4.1 Motivators 4.2 Restraints 4.1. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Global Wine Market by Type 5.1.1. Still Wine 5.1.2. Sparkling Wine 5.1.3. Dessert Wine 5.1.4. Fortified Wine 5.2. Global Wine Market by Distribution Channel 5.2.1. Online 5.2.2. Offline 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. North America 6.1.1. US 6.1.2. Canada 6.2. Europe 6.2.1. UK 6.2.2. Germany 6.2.3. Spain 6.2.4. Italy 6.2.5. France 6.2.6. Rest of Europe 6.3. Asia-Pacific 6.3.1. China 6.3.2. Japan 6.3.3. India 6.3.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific 6.4. Rest of the World 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Accolade Wines 7.2. Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. 7.3. Bronco Wine Co. 7.4. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Pvt. Ltd. 7.5. Carlsberg Breweries A/S 7.6. China Resources Snow Breweries 7.7. Constellation Brands Inc. 7.8. Craft Brew Alliance 7.9. DGB (Pty) Ltd. 7.10. Diageo PLC 7.11. Halewood International Ltd. 7.12. Heineken Holding N.V. 7.13. Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. 7.14. Molson Coors Brewing Co. 7.15. SABMiller PLC 7.16. Suntory Holdings Ltd. 7.17. Thai Beverage PLC 7.18. The Boston Beer Company Inc. 7.19. The Wine Group Inc. 7.20. Treasury Wine Estates 7.21. Tsingtao Beer (H.K.) Trading Co. Ltd. 7.22. United Breweries Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9umi0n Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Australia is preparing to evacuate more than 200 of its citizens from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, in Yokohama, Japan. They will face two weeks in isolation on their return home. Also, the first group of Australian coronavirus evacuees from the Chinese city, Wuhan, has been released from quarantine. The Diamond Princess has been in quarantine since February 3. Onboard the cruise liner have been about 3,700 passengers and crew, including dozens of Australian tourists. The ship has more than 450 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, including several Australians. It is the largest cluster of infections outside China, where the virus was first reported. Australian passengers must decide Tuesday if they will take up their government's offer of an evacuation flight out of Japan. Authorities in Canberra are planning to fly them home on Wednesday. They will all go into isolation for 14 days, in addition to the time they have already spent confined on the Diamond Princess. In a recorded message to passengers, Australias chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, said such precautions were essential. There is evidence of ongoing further infections in the ship, in the crew and in some passengers. Even though we think some of you probably have been well quarantined there is uncertainty about whether some of you may be incubating the virus, and if you came back into the Australian community you may expose your family or other members of the community to this infection, Murphy said. Two planes carrying hundreds of U.S. citizens from the cruise ship in Japan have arrived back home, and will face 14 days in isolation. However, some American travelers have refused to be evacuated, preferring to wait until the ships official quarantine comes to an end on February 19. The first group of Australian coronavirus evacuees from the coronavirus epicenter at Wuhan, China, has been released from quarantine Monday from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. More than 200 Australians were flown home, while other evacuees remain in isolation at a former miners camp near the city of Darwin. There are currently 15 cases of the disease in Australia. Health officials say eight patients are reported to have recovered, while the other seven are in a stable condition. Former FDA Commissioner: Japan on the Cusp of a Large Coronavirus Outbreak The former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Agency warned on Tuesday that Japan is facing a large outbreak of the new coronavirus. Japan reported 88 new casesincluding 65 patients who werent showing symptomsfrom the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama earlier Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases from the ship to 542. Officials have also confirmed at least 74 other cases domestically, mostly among patients who havent been to China recently. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA), said that Japan appears to be on the cusp of a large outbreak. There might be epidemic growth in Japan, he said during an appearance on CNBCs Squawk Box. We need to watch that very closely. Japan has had a doubling of cases in the last four days, Gottlieb said. People still in quarantine due to fears of the new COVID-19 coronavirus stand on balconies of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan on Feb. 18, 2020. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images) If you start to see this become epidemic in other nations or have other nations experiencing large outbreaks thats going to be extremely worrisome that were not going to control this globally, Gottlieb said. He added on Twitter that Singapore appears to be containing its outbreak, showing its possible. Japan, though, may be showing some signs of losing control over its spread. Singapore has the third-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases behind China and Japan. Japanese authorities said that the virus is now being transmitted locally and have advised people to not gather in crowds or attend any nonessential events, the Japan Times reported. We are seeing an increase of cases in which the route of transmission is not immediately known, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference on Tuesday. We must take measures by considering the possibility of it spreading to a certain degree. World Health Organization officials have sought to downplay fears over the new virus, explaining on Monday why theyre not classifying it yet as a pandemic. But some top public health officials said the new virus outbreak is a serious concern on the brink of becoming a pandemic. Sanitation workers disinfect a residential compound, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Bozhou in Anhui Province, China on Feb. 18, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) Unless containment is more successful than it is right now, then a pandemic will happen reasonably soon, Dr. Tony Fauci, a top official at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said during a recent appearance on CBS. Several countries are starting to get to the second and third transmission, he added. French Health Minister Olivier Veran told France Info radio Tuesday morning that theres a working assumption and a credible risk that the new COVID-19 virus could become a global pandemic, Reuters reported. At a press conference later Tuesday, he added: Were ready to face a possible epidemic. Were ready to face any coronavirus situation, and we are continuing to prepare in case the situation evolves. An epidemic is an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population in a certain area, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemics can result from a recent increase in amount or virulence of the agent, the recent introduction of the agent into a setting where it hasnt been before, or a change in the susceptibility of the host response to the agent. An outbreak carries the same definition but is often used for a more limited geographic area. Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people. The nations top annual recognition for school superintendents is in! This year, the Superintendent of the Year award goes to Gustavo Balderas, the superintendent of the Eugene 4J district in Eugene, Ore. He has held the position since 2015. The son of migrant farmworkers in eastern Oregon, Balderas was educated in Oregon K-12 schools and holds his doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Oregon. Before returning to his home state to become the superintendent in Eugene, he led the Madera school district in Madera, Calif., and the Ocean View district in Huntington Beach, Calif. Earlier this year, I had a chance to meet all four of the finalists for the award while moderating a panel for AASA, The School Superintendents Association , which runs the Superintendent of the Year award program. On the panel, Balderas spoke about some of his districts most recent challenges. Among them, he said, was making newly arrived Guatemalan families feel safe at a time of divisive, often highly charged discourse about immigrants from Central American nations. I think its impacting some of our most marginalized families, Balderas told a room of other school leaders. Just the trauma the kids have coming into our buildings, the support we need to do for wraparound services for our families. I think thats been my number one concern this past year, the impact of kids not feeling safe on our campuses, and how we as building leaders and district leaders provide that safety net for our communities, he said. Our schools are sanctuaries, and making sure all families feel safe and respected. Weve done quite a bit with resolutions but also staff trainings and community building on how to work with our most marginalized families. Among other highlights of his leadership, Balderas helped the district successfully put a $319 million bond to voters in 2018, which helped fund new school construction, along with technology and safety upgrades. Balderas highlighted the new buildings designs, which have more open spaces and collaborative work areas for students and teachers. Hes also worked to improve partnerships with teacher-preparation programs and make the leadership pipeline in Oregon more diverse. And when I pressed the finalists to complete this Mad Libs sentence: We want to prepare students for college, careers, and _____, heres how Balderas filled in the blank: The ability to have students define their own success in an ever-changing landscape that is our world, he said. The national superintendent of the year is selected from among the state superintendents of the year. Image: Gustavo Balderas. Used with permission of AASA. A new international advisory system is working to keep aircraft crew and passengers safe from space weather impacts, thanks in part to the efforts of a team of CIRES and NOAA developers, forecasters, and scientists in Boulder, Colorado. "Thunderstorms or snow can disrupt flights. What we call 'space weather' can be disruptive, too," said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist and forecaster in NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). So when the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization solicited interest from space weather centers around the globe to create a new advisory system for aviation, SWPC offered to help, on behalf of the United States. "Space weather" generally refers to the changing conditions in space and in the Earth's atmosphere that result from activity originating on the Sun. Solar "winds" can ebb and flow, buffeting Earth's magnetic field, and when a coronal mass ejection (CME) passes by Earth, it can seriously shake up that magnetic field. Such "space weather" can temporarily disrupt navigation and communications systems and can even increase radiation levels in the atmosphere. And--much as with a blizzard or looming thunderstorm--airlines can take action, changing an aircraft's flight path to avoid or lessen impacts, said CIRES solar physicist Hazel Bain, who worked on the project for the last year. A moderate radiation advisory, for example, might motivate airlines to divert planes from the polar regions, she said, since flights over the poles are more exposed to radiation than flights at lower latitudes. CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder. In late 2018, ICAO chose SWPC to be one of three forecast centers from around the world to begin issuing space weather advisories to the civil aviation community. Just 12 months later, SWPC's system was operational. "This new capability will permit flight crew and flight operations experts to make use of the most updated information possible on any solar events which could potentially impact aircraft systems or passenger health," ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu said in a statement late last year. The project focused on three main types of impact to aviation: Disruptions to satellite-based navigation; disruptions to HF radio communications, and radiation levels (see box below). About 15 CIRES and NOAA scientists, software developers and forecasters spent the last year racing to design a system that would meet ICAO's specs--that organization decided, for example, what levels of radiation would constitute a "moderate" event and what "severe" disruption to global navigation satellite systems means. For each type of impact, the team needed to develop or integrate models of the Sun-Earth environment, to support aviation 24/7. For radiation, for example, they brought in a Federal Aviation Administration model, Bain said. For satellite navigation warnings, they quickly finished a model that had been in the works already (ROTI or Rate of Total-Electron-Content Index). And for high-frequency communications, they leveraged another existing model, the CTIPe, for Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics. That was tricky enough. But the project also demanded careful attention to the user interfaces and e-tools forecasters would need to help them issue advisories on current conditions, and forecast conditions 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours out. "We built intuitive interfaces by working directly with the forecasters," said Ben Rowells, a CIRES developer in SWPC. Forecasters are interested in a space weather phenomenon called ionospheric scintillation, for example, which can impact navigation. "A forecaster can select hotspot regions on an animated data map and rapidly issue an advisory," Rowells said. Since late November, the SWPC team has been taking two-week turns with the other teams--both international consortia that developed independent advisory systems--to issue advisories. "This was revolutionary," said NOAA's Steenburgh. "While there is still more work to be done, the models and user interface were made available to SWPC forecasters through a heroic effort from virtually all parts of SWPC." In the three months since advisories began, no space weather center has issued "moderate" or "severe" warnings in any category, Steenburgh said. This lull won't last, however, as we move towards the next solar cycle maximum, estimated to arrive in about four years. ### Founder of WeMindTheGap charity and co-founder of Moneypenny awarded CBE This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 18th, 2020 The co-founder of Moneypenny has bee awarded a CBE in recognition of her dedication to bettering the lives of under-served young people and services to business. Rachel Clacher, who also founded WeMindTheGap charity, received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire from HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on February 14th. Twenty years ago, Rachel co-founded Moneypenny located on the Western Gateway with her brother Ed Reeves. Today, the company has grown to be the worlds lead provider in telephone answering, outsourced switchboard and live chat technology, with a dedicated team of over 750 employees across the UK and US. Encompassing the same values as Moneypenny, Rachel established social mobility charity WeMindTheGap in 2014, providing support through a holistic twelve-month programme for unemployed, young people aged 1825. From running programmes in Moneypennys home town of Wrexham the charity has expanded to run programmes in Manchester, Liverpool and Flintshire. By 2024, with the support of the National Lottery Community Fund, the charity will have expanded across the whole of North Wales and the North West, will directly employ 160 young people and have over 450 graduates in full time work or education. Rachel said: I am truly honoured to be receiving this CBE, and see it very much as recognition of the hard work, commitment and ambition of our amazing people at Moneypenny and WeMindTheGap. We all share a belief in treating other people as we would want to be treated ourselves, and that has resulted in us, as important and caring teams, making a huge impact in our clients and employees lives as well as the lives of under-served young people in our communities. BarcelonaWe persist. This was Carme Forcadells first Twitter post after leaving the Mas dEnric prison for the first time ever on Monday, as per Article 100.2 of the prison services rules and regulations. The former Speaker of the Catalan parliament was driven by her husband after the prison board green-lighted a regular three-day day-time leave last week so that Forcadell may do voluntary work and look after her elderly mother. Three hours later, former Catalan minister Dolors Bassa also left prison to look after a family member. Her sister and other relatives were waiting for her in a vehicle outside the facility. Forcadell, who is a category 2 inmate, will be allowed to spend nine hours a day outside, whereas Bassa has been granted an eight-hour leave, including travel time. Both of them have been granted leave in accordance with Article 100.2 after Jordi Cuixart left the Lledoners prison last week to work in his company. Ex-interior minister Joaquim Forn and Jordi Sanchez, the ex-leader of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) have also been granted leave. Forn will be allowed to spend 12.5 hours a day, five days a week, working in Mediapros legal department. This was confirmed on Catalunya Radio on Monday by Jaume Roures, Mediapros founder and general manager, who stated that Forn will work in our legal department on matters to do with public law. Last week the Catalan justice minister, Ester Capella, said that all the Catalan political prisoners will likely benefit from Article 100.2. However, the Prosecutors Office stated first its position on this benefit last week, too: it asked the prison supervising court to revoke the benefit. Unlike in its statements regarding Cuixart and Sanchezs three-day leave [granted earlier this year], this time the Prosecutor does not resort to considerations such as the convicts lack of regret, an argument that was dismissed by the supervising court when the case of Cuixarts leave was examined. As part of conservation process, Madhya Pradesh forest department has shifted 13 endangered Barasinghas (swamp deer) from the Kanha Tiger Reserve to the Satpura Tiger Reserve, a forest official said on Tuesday. With the latest translocation on Monday, the total number of swamp deer in the Satpura special enclosure has gone up from 23 to 36, the official said. "Barasingha"--the state animal of Madhya Pradesh--is categorised as "extinct". It is found only in the Kanha Tiger Reserve. In order to raise their population they were shifted successfully to Bhopal's National Van Vihar and Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR), where their numbers are increasing, the official said. Earlier, 33 swamp deer were translocated to Satpura as part of the conservation programme. Following their increasing numbers, some 20-25 Barasinghas were released in the wild, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IRVINE: In 1989, residents of cities across the Peoples Republic of China took to the streets in massive numbers to demand change. That spring protest wave often referred to as the Tiananmen Movement, in honor of the Beijing plaza that was the site of the biggest rallies lasted six weeks. During that time, it gripped the attention of audiences around the world, thanks largely to the images projected onto screens via a then still relatively novel technology of global communication: televised news reports aided by satellites. During the months immediately following the June 4th massacre that curtailed the movement, activists in several countries referred to drawing inspiration from the bravery of Chinese students and a young worker, known as the Tank Man, captured on film standing before a line of armored vehicles. (Source: Jeffrey Wasserstrom) There have been many protests in the PRC since 1989, but for a quarter century no urban movement came close to the Tiananmen struggle in terms of garnering newspaper headlines, producing iconic images and capturing the international imagination. Hong Kong broke that long dry spell not just once but twice. First, with the Umbrella Movement of 2014, a 79-day struggle that many people followed on screens, filled with images sent speeding across the globe via media delivered on the internet. And now, more dramatically, with the ongoing protest wave that began last June, known by various names, including the Anti-Extradition Law Movement or simply the 2019 struggle even as it continues in 2020. At first, it seemed that the Hong Kong protests of the 2010s would be no match for Tiananmen in many ways. The Umbrella Movement, for example, while lasting longer than six weeks stayed confined to Hong Kong rather than spreading to other PRC cities. In addition, most protest activity in 2014 was confined to three specific neighborhoods. In addition, while some participants in Soviet bloc protests in 1989 and Taiwans Wild Lily Movement the next year cited Beijing events as a source of inspiration, the Umbrella Movement did not exert the same cross-border influence. The Umbrella Movement garnered ample international media attention, in other words, but did not wield clear international impact. The latest Hong Kong protest wave has already lasted more than twice as long as the Umbrella Movement and more than four times as long as the Tiananmen struggle. A higher percentage of Hong Kong residents have participated than in any previous local movement. Some claim that, while very different than the Tiananmen struggle, Hong Kongs current movement has proved to be a match for that historic upheaval in terms of significance. I would go further and claim that, in some key regards for historians, Hong Kongs 2019 could end up more significant than Chinas 1989. I say significant despite being aware of three points: As in 2014, the Hong Kong movement has not spread to mainland cities or even neighboring Macau. There has been no single act of repression comparable to the June 4th massacre. And while producing many memorable still shots and videos, there is no iconic, globally recognized image that evokes 2019 in the way that the Tank Man photograph does 1989. Taking measure: Historians can assess protests by size, influence and accomplishments (Source: History Collection)and Shout Out UK Despite this, the latest Hong Kong events have been remarkable. It has surpassed the Umbrella Movement in terms of duration and geographical scope and protests with broad participation taking place in nearly every part of Hong Kong. China has never seen a year when crowds hundreds of thousands strong filled the streets in three seasons, but this happened in Hong Kong last year with Sunday marches that big taking place in late spring (June 9 and 16), late summer (August 18) and late fall (December 18). Numbers are not key. Adding up the biggest protests in multiple PRC cities in 1989 would produce a high total. Nor is it even a matter of numbers plus duration. In claiming Hong Kongs 2019 is more than a match for Chinas 1989, I consider less tangible factors, most notably how these PRC upheavals of different years have influenced distant places and contributed to the global repertoire of protest tactics, symbols and strategies. One special feature of Hong Kongs 2019 is the diffusion of its influence beyond the PRCs borders. Tiananmens impact was largely limited to two types of places, those under Communist Party rule or those in nearby locales, and 1989 is remembered now as a year of the protester almost exclusively because of events in Eurasia and upheaval in East Germany that led to the Berlin Wall falling that November. (Source: Jeffrey Wasserstrom) The 2019 Hong Kong protests, by contrast, were part of a more truly global year of protest. France, India, Catalonia, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Chile were just some of the settings other than Hong Kong with major protests last year, and there were climate strike actions in dozens of other locales. Moreover, in 2014 it was easy to single out places that inspired Hong Kong activists the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan, the Occupy Wall Street struggle in the United States and others but hard to point to places that looked to the Umbrella Movement for inspiration. The reverse was true in 2019. Hong Kong protesters have long been eclectic and cosmopolitan, putting new spins on slogans and symbols from varied settings. In 2019, though, the flow of influence was, for the first time, even stronger out of Hong Kong than into it. Hong Kong protesters were not the first to turn an airport into an occupy zone, but only when they did this last summer and Catalonian activists followed suit did this action become firmly part of the international repertoire of dissent. Hong Kong activists first used the slogan be water, emphasizing flexibility of tactics and associated with the late celebrity and martial arts practitioner Bruce Lee, in 2014. It was only last year, though, that it became a key local protest principle and only then that the phrase and approach to action was adopted in other places. Placing protests of different years side by side does not require choosing one as more significant. And Hong Kongs 2019 exceeding Chinas 1989 in global reach can be chalked up partly to technological changes. In the age of social media, images, tactics, slogans and songs move across borders at speeds far greater than they could in 1989, as much as it seemed then that fax machines and satellite broadcasts had shrunk the world. Still, making the case for the idea that Hong Kongs 2019, while confined to one city, has been more significant in some regards than 1989s pan-PRC protests seems a worthwhile exercise. For much of 2019, and before that 2014, when the term Tiananmen was brought into discussions of Hong Kong, this often led only to debate over whether troops might once again end up firing on protesters. This commentary shows, if nothing else, that there are other questions worth considering. Phil Hogan - European Commissioner for Trade I firmly believe that these trade agreements will create the best platform for further engagement and constructive dialogue. To not ratify the deal would be a failure and leave the European Union with fewer options to pursue a reform agenda in Vietnam and would undermine the credibility of the EU as a reliable partner. Among members of the European Parliament, the free trade agreement and the investment protection agreement with Vietnam are the most ambitious ever concluded with a developing country. The agreements will further reinforce our already strong trade and investment ties. And, they will also provide an additional opportunity to strengthen the co-operation established under other EU instruments, for example on illegal logging or fishing. The agreements will strengthen our presence in Asia, following the new generation agreements. Tomas Tobe - European Parliament Committee on Development Free trade is one of the best tools to lift people out of poverty. History proves that with all clarity, but this agreement will ensure that Vietnam can go forward on an inclusive path. Also, with this FTA, we set a very high standard as a comprehensive agreement with a developing country. And as shared by the development committee, I am very pleased that this agreement has a dedicated chapter on sustainable development, which needs to be effectively implemented. I also welcome the timetable from Vietnam on when to ratify the outstanding core International Labour Organization conventions. Moreover, I urge both parties to make full use of the provisions of the agreements in order to contribute to strengthening human rights in Vietnam and towards the sustainable development goals. I also urge the commission to work with civil society to ensure growth in Vietnam will strengthen environmental protection and labour rights. The Committee on Development recommends to give our consent to this agreement. Ywert Visser - Board member, Dutch Business Association in Vietnam The ratification of the EVFTA and the EVIPA by the European Parliament marks a historic milestone in the relation between the European Union and Vietnam. The next step is the ratification by the European Council and Vietnams National Assembly. In the meantime, the Dutch Business Association in Vietnam (DBAV) is preparing for the moment the agreement enters into force. This is expected to be in the middle of this year. The EVFTA is a comprehensive agreement and it is therefore important that Vietnam is fully prepared for the agreement before its implementation. However, companies and consumers must also do their part. One of the keys to unlock the benefits of this agreement is for companies and consumers on both sides to be alert to the possibilities and requirements of the EVFTA. This is sometimes challenging, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The DBAV will be an active participant in this process and our focus will be on sharing practical advice to companies to facilitate trade between the Netherlands and Vietnam and the EVFTA in particular. This new-generation FTA will deliver a rise in trade and investment while creating sustainable growth and mutual benefits in several sectors. In short, it will be an effective tool to improve trade relations between the EU and Vietnam. The DBAV will continue to encourage and support Dutch companies to enhance their investment to support Vietnams economic growth. Pamela Phua - General director AkzoNobel Paints Vietnam With the approval of the EVFTA and EVIPA, a new decade of sustainable foundation to improve quality in comprehensive co-operation has been opened. Among EU members, the Netherlands is the country with the largest investment in Vietnam and Dutch enterprises are hugely contributing to the sustainable development of the country. As the most notable company among that, AkzoNobel is quickly making progress to help turn Vietnams potential into a vivid and sustainable reality. Given that the accelerated urbanisation trend is coming along with complex environmental issues, Vietnam is finding new and suitable solutions. The company has developed a wide range of paint and coating products to meet customers needs. Advanced technologies that are in high esteem for their sustainable benefits are currently inherent to almost all brands in AkzoNobels portfolio. Besides that, the company is building a clear pathway to reach a sustainable future with a series of events and activities to promote smart cities, urban heritage preservation, and green architecture in Vietnam. Lynette Moey - Managing director, Bayer Vietnam The EVFTA will enhance broad relationships in many areas, resulting in the creation of jobs, transfer of know-how and expertise, and introduction of cutting-edge technologies as well as provision of many new goods and services to benefit consumers. The strong commitment to an open, fair, and rules-based trade will further widen export markets for Vietnam. The improved regulatory co-operation and coherence through the EVFTA will bring advantages to Vietnam towards international rule alignment. This not only helps Vietnam attract foreign investors but also bring advantages to its society. As we are a global company with roots in Germany with our key businesses in healthcare and agriculture and a presence in more than 90 countries worldwide, international trade is essential for our business. The companys business depends on a complex value chain with research and development (R&D) being conducted in many different places, geographically spread production, and largely nationalised regulatory environments. In agriculture, we are converting R&D into solutions for farmers that enhance productivity, create new value, and reduce the use of inputs necessary to produce a crop. Thanks to our leading positions across technology platforms including digital solutions, Bayer is best positioned to discover, combine and tailor solutions. With that, the company enables increased agricultural productivity and contributes to keeping Vietnams agriculture competitive in international markets. For the health care sector in Vietnam, there are opportunities to strengthen high-quality services through innovation and infrastructure investments. Bayer, together with the healthcare industry, is ready to join hands with the government to support such developments and share international practices to benefit the patient access to better quality of treatment in Vietnam. With its leading innovation, Bayer is ready to have further close co-operation and partnership with the government and relevant stakeholders to achieve the national action plans in the respective areas to ensure the effective implementation of the EVFTA agreements from now. Erick Contreras - Managing director, BASF Vietnam BASF, a global leading chemical company headquartered in Germany, has been active in Vietnam since 1994. Over the last 26 years, we have been proud to be part of the remarkable transformation of the Vietnamese economy into one of the fastest-growing in the region. The EVFTA was approved by the European Parliament last Wednesday, and we are very pleased with this important event. With more preferential customs duties, we will be able to offer our innovative solutions to many more local manufacturers, helping them better serve the export and local markets. Local consumers will have greater access to safe and quality goods made in Europe and vice versa, and that Vietnamese goods will be offered to many more European consumers. Last but not least, together, we can all contribute to the sustainable development of both Vietnam and the European Union. Hans Kersten - Head of Sales and Marketing DEEP C With another hurdle being cleared, it only takes the final vote in Vietnams National Assembly and ratification of the European Council before the historic EVFTA can come into force. The deal holds a special significance to DEEP C as it is a drive to attract more overseas companies to the country and encourage them to pour investment in the manufacturing sector. The EVFTA reflects that Vietnam is a trustworthy place for EU companies to manufacture, meaning we respect the labour law and we do not trade environmental health for economic growth. This is also important to DEEP C Industrial Zones because we are at the forefront of our efforts in sustainability to showcase that manufacturing and environment can coexist in harmony. On top of that, the EVFTA pledges the best import-export duties. In combination with the existing attractive investment incentives at DEEP C, it will give investors a financial advantage to participate in our endeavours. Joseph Perucca - General director at GIVI Vietnam As a European company that focuses on the global market, we welcome this challenging and important turn with enthusiasm. Looking at trade activities, the EU is currently among the top trading partners of Vietnam. We believe that important changes will be executed in the future regarding the Vietnamese manufacturing sector. At the same time, we hope that this will result in bilateral exchanges, allowing not only simplifications in processes but, more importantly, create advantages in export operations from Vietnam to Europe. Our vision for these two markets is that the possibility of real integration can really make a difference. A market reality that translates into optimistic approaches between the parties in a humanistic way, making quality products available at reasonable prices and competitive costs. I would like to emphasise a very important aspect of this agreement: the regulation of intellectual property rights. As a leading company in the sector, we deal with issues related to the protection of our images and products on a daily basis. We invest heavily in research and development and can clearly see that regulations on intellectual property can bring significant benefits, not only for companies but particularly for the end users of products or services. Oliver Brazier - Managing director, BRG Capital Investment Management We see this agreement as a very important milestone in the relationship between the EU and Vietnam and think that it will, especially in the long run, be very beneficial to both sides. In particular to Vietnam, as it allows the country more flexibility and to diversify its usual trade partners to export goods on favourable terms and receive investments. We expect that the demand for logistics, warehouses, and office space will further increase as this agreement is implemented and hope to welcome many more European investors as tenants to our projects in Vietnam. The country will further strengthen its position inside the ASEAN as a central and cost-effective hub for activities of European companies operating in the region. We hope that this agreement will also facilitate access to European investment and funding directed at the infrastructure sector, as this is an important element to actually being able to implement what the agreement promises. Alain Cany - Country chairman, Jardine Matheson I feel extremely relieved and excited with the favourable result of the vote of the European Parliament. This will be a win-win for the EU and Vietnam and the result of very hard work from both sides. I want to pay tribute to my successors at EuroCham, in particular Nicolas Audier and Jean-Jacques Boufflet who have been so active in Vietnam, alongside the government and the EU delegation to push for the final approval. I am sure their personal efforts have counted at the end. The last step is to ratify the agreement by the National Assembly in Vietnam, but this seems to be a mere formality. After almost 10 years of preparation, we can now benefit on the business side. Of course, the immediate elimination of customs duties and some non-tariff barriers will boost trade between the EU and Vietnam, and new investments from the EU will be encouraged by a better framework. In the long term, Vietnam should benefit more from the technology transfer from the EU to support its sustainable development. For full success, Vietnam needs to accelerate structural reforms and fulfill all its commitment on labour and human rights, but I feel confident this will happen. The foreign minister will be speaking at the UNGA meeting. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko at an upcoming meeting of the United Nations General Assembly set to be held on February 20 will raise the issue of introducing peacekeepers throughout the occupied Donbas. The issue of introducing a peacekeeping mission is constantly on the agenda of all such meetings, the minister told the Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on ICTV on February 17. Read alsoForeign minister elaborates on when Ukraine should start seeking alternative to Minsk deal At the same time, the top diplomat said the Russian side was always trying to have the issue dropped, since peacekeepers are not mentioned in the Minsk agreements. "I'm leaving for New York tomorrow to speak with the Secretary General and speak at the UN General Assembly, and in particular, to remind of this issue that we expect, as far as it's possible, this mission to be launched and not along the contact line, as the Russian Federation suggests, but throughout the occupied territory of Ukraine," Prystaiko emphasized. As UNIAN reported earlier, Prystaiko will take part in a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on February 20 regarding the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Things are more than a bit chaotic for the British royal family at the moment. At the end of last year, Prince Andrew was booted from the inner-circle of the royal family after his scandalous interview on BBC News Night, where he defended his two-decade-long relationship with the late financier and sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. That was just the beginning of the royal familys troubles. In early Jan. 2020, just two days after they returned to the U.K. from their extended holiday hiatus, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping down from their roles as senior working members of the royal family. The announcement came as a shock to everyone from the royal fans to Queen Elizabeth II herself. Unfortunately, with the news of a new royal divorce, the official closing of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs Buckingham Palace office, and a major mishap on the Royal Family website, it doesnt look like things are going to go smoothly anytime soon. The British royal family is very concerned about the state of the monarchy With Megxit, royal experts and the remaining senior members of the royal family are deeply concerned that it may have created a domino effect for unhappy royals to leave the fold. Its also exposed the royal family to critics whove said theyve been obsolete for years. To combat this narrative, the future Crowned Kings, Prince Charles and Prince William have been working overtime to create a more welcoming and relaxed image of the royals. This was something the Sussexes mastered. It is interesting isnt it, because we are used to PDAs with Harry and Meghan, ITV Royal Editor Camilla Tominey reflected. Have they learnt something from this? This idea of relatable, touchable monarchy that is more like us than them and less cut off and cold. We saw this a bit with the Mary Berry Christmas special with William and Kate making souffles and looking very much at home I think theyre trying to project themselves as this family unit. I think the Cambridges want to project themselves and their branding as the future so people can have faith in this institution, which, lets face it, has been rocked. The royal family is reassessing their approach Though no one can be sure how Megixt will turn out in the long-run it has opened the royal family up for some self-critique, to look at where they might have been wrong when it came to dealing with the bullying and scrutiny Markle endured. Harry and Meghans decision was certainly a big one, and must have been very upsetting for some of their family membersbut it has also opened up the opportunity for others to assess their own lives and situations, and to take radical steps to change what is not working out for them, Psychologist Dr. Becky Spelman told Express. The Royal Familys website was linked to a porn site It looks like the hits just keep on coming for the royals. Since so much is happening, it appears that things have slipped through the cracks. Daily Mail is reporting that a link to one of Prince Harrys patronages Dolen Cymru (a Welsh charity), was unwittingly sending visitors to an X-rated porn site. Instead of sending visitors to Dolen Cymru which, began in 1985 and has developed educational links, wider young peoples links, health, churches, womens organisations, visitors were sent to a site featuring live sex shows. Thankfully the error has been fixed, and hopefully, Queen Elizabeth never has to know about it. Multiple models are eligible. 2020 models included are the 2020 Accord and 2020 Pilot. There are many more 2019 models included with special leasing rates: the 2019 Civic Sedan, the 2019 Civic Hatchback, the 2019 Civic Si Sedan, the 2019 Odyssey, the 2019 HR-V and the 2019 Fit. Miller Hondaa dealer based in Winchester, Virginia, serving parts of Virginia and West Virginiais offering special leasing prices, APR rates and loyalty discounts on select new 2020 and 2019 Honda vehicles as part of their Presidents Day Event. The event ends Monday, March 2, 2020. Potential lessees and buyers are encouraged to act before the event ends. Multiple models are eligible. 2020 models included are the 2020 Accord and 2020 Pilot. There are many more 2019 models included with special leasing rates: the 2019 Civic Sedan, the 2019 Civic Hatchback, the 2019 Civic Si Sedan, the 2019 Odyssey, the 2019 HR-V and the 2019 Fit. Each leasing term lasts for 36 months. Models with the special 1.9% or 2.9% APR rates are the 2019 Civic Coupe and the 2019 Civic Si Coupe. The following models have a loyalty discount: the 2020 Pilot, the 2019 Passport and the 2019 CR-V. The 2020 Accord is available for $249 per month with $3,199 due at signing. The 2019 Civic sedan is cheaper at $189 per month with $2,999 due at signing. The 2019 Odyssey is available for $349 per month with $2,499 at signing; The 2019 HR-V is $189 per month with $2,299 due at signing. The 2019 Fit leases for $179 per month, the 2019 Civic Hatchback leases for $209 per month and the 2019 Civic Si Sedan leases for $229 per month. Payments due at signing are $2,199, $2,999 and $3,399 respectively. Each eligible model requires no down payment or security deposit. Loyalty discounts are similarly variable. The 2020 Pilot gets a $750 discount for owners of 2010 or newer Honda vehicles. The 2019 CR-V gets $500 off for 2009 or newer Honda vehicles. The 2019 Passport has a $1,000 loyalty and conquest discount for owners of 2009 or newer Honda, Toyota, Scion, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Jeep, Mazda and Volkswagen vehicles. Those interested in the Miller Honda Presidents Day Event should visit the dealership website at https://www.mymillerhonda.com/. The dealership can be reached via telephone by calling 855-463-5452. The dealership is located at 3985 Valley Pike, Winchester. Bill de Blasio's administration paid nearly $300,000-a-year to an anti-gang violence campaigner accused of threatening to shoot a New York traffic cop. Shanduke McPhatter's non-profit Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes Inc (G-MACC) has received $2.3million to reduce violence - most of it from the City. Before he was ordered to slash his paycheck to $157,828 in July, the 41-year-old former Bloods gangster was making $282,990, a mayoral spokesman told the New York Daily News. That's more than Mayor De Blasio's $258,541 salary. McPhatter was arrested on January 6 after he allegedly threatened his neighbor on Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn on December 23. 'I'm going to get my people, the Bloods, to come handle you,' McPhatter was quoted as telling the NYPD traffic cop. 'I'm going to have you killed.' Scroll down for video. Shanduke McPhatter, founder and CEO of the Brooklyn-based Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes Inc (G-MACC), was arrested a month ago on two counts each of misdemeanor menacing and harassment A week later, on January 2, McPhatter confronted the victim a second time and issued another threat. 'Hey copper, I have not forgotten what I said, I'm going to finish what I said, I'm going to shoot you,' the anti-gang activist allegedly told his neighbor. McPhatter's attorney has said his client denies any wrongdoing. Bill de Blasio said he was concerned about the allegations against McPhatter which run counter to his public persona of an advocate committed to breaking 'the cycle of incarceration and violence,' as G-MACC's official website describes him. McPhatter's salary has increased exorbitantly, leaping from a handsome $85,000 in 2016 to $115,585 in 2017, then $134,196 the following year and soaring to the staggering $282,990 sum, tax records show. 'Many millions of taxpayer dollars are allocated to community based organizations across the city and the integrity of the process is paramount,' Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told NY Daily News. 'I hope the city can come together with us in the Council to ensure this doesn't happen in the future.' Shanduke McPhatter, founder and CEO of Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes Inc, has been charged with menacing and harassment. He is accused of threatening to recruit his former fellow Bloods members to kill his neighbor McPhatter, 41 (far left), has close ties to City Hall and attended a meeting with Mayor Bill de Blasio (far right) last month McPhatter's non-profit organization has been working closely with City Hall since 2014 and on anti-violence initiatives. G-MACC's counselors have been allowed access to the city's jails, including Rikers Island, where they have been providing conflict resolution and mediation services to adolescent inmates, and teaching staff violence interruption and deescalation techniques. Until recently, De Blasio's Office to Prevent Gun Violence listed G-MACC as a resource for recently released inmates. Last month, McPhatter shared a Facebook video of himself attending a New York City Anti-Violence Crisis Management System meeting with de Blasio. Two days later, McPhatter received a proclamation from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honoring his advocacy work. McPhatter has painted himself as an advocate committed to breaking 'the cycle of incarceration and violence.' He only recently was honored by the Brooklyn Borough president for his advocacy work A spokesperson for City Hall has released a statement describing the allegations against McPhatter as 'unacceptable and of great concern.' 'To ensure G-MACC is able to serve our neighborhoods in a manner that reflects the values of our administration, we are requiring the organization to strengthen their internal protocols and procedures,' Mayor de Blasio's Deputy Press Secretary Avery Cohen stated. Besides McPhatter's personal legal troubles, his organization has been tied to a federal contraband crackdown at Rikers Island. A G-MACC counselor and McPhatter's own brother have been accused of smuggling marijuana and controlled substances into the jail with the aid of a half-dozen correction officers. One of the suspects, Jonathan 'Trigg' Medina, 29, worked as a 'violence interrupter supervisor' on behalf of G-MACC at Rikers Island. The other, James 'Jah Blize' Albert, who is said to be McPhatter's 43-year-old brother, is currently serving a 23-year to life sentence on a robbery conviction. New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Delhi Police Crime Branch has started investigating the videos of Jamia violence that are surfacing on social media for the last few days. Police suspect that these videos have been made viral to influence the investigation. A Delhi Police SIT official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS on Tuesday: "The viral videos raise a doubt that if these videos are of the riots in Jamia Nagar area, then why the people who are spreading them didn't disclose them to the SIT which is probing the matter?" The videos which have surfaced are under scrutiny. It is possible that these videos are being made viral from the Jamia Nagar area. However, a thorough investigation has been started to understand the motive behind making these videos viral, the officer said. An ACP level officer of Delhi Police Crime Branch said it would not be right to say anything on these videos as the police is first accountable for the law and order situation. We are investigating the matter and some videos have been seized also, the officer said. Another SIT officer said: "These videos are very useful in identifying the perpetrators of violence. Some of the suspects have even been arrested, those who are absconding will be caught soon." Talking about the viral videos and the involvement of Jamia university in it, Jamia Millia Islamia spokesperson Ahmed Azim told IANS: "Allegations of involvement of the university are baseless. The police should investigate the matter. The university administration has nothing to do with these viral videos." When asked about the students seen with stones in the video, Azim said the police should reveal the truth of this video also. However, he said, some news channels claimed that these videos are being leaked by the Delhi Police itself and the police should check the credibility of such claims. According to a Delhi Police official who is investigating the whole case and these videos, "These videos are suspicious. Anyone can guess that who will be benefited through this controversial videos? Nevertheless, our job is to investigate so we are doing that." The Huawei booth is shown during the 2020 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on Jan. 7, 2020. (Steve Marcus/Reuters) US Mulls Cutting Huawei Off From Global Chip Suppliers, TSMC in Crosshairs WASHINGTONThe Trump administration is considering changing U.S. regulations to allow it to block shipments of chips to Huawei Technologies from companies such as Taiwans TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, two sources familiar with the matter said. New restrictions on commerce with Chinas Huawei are among several options to be considered at high-level U.S. meetings this week and next. The chip proposal has been drafted but its approval is far from certain, one of the sources said. The measure would be a blow to the worlds No. 2 smartphone maker as well as to TSMC, a major producer of chips for Huaweis HiSilicon unit and mobile phone rivals Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. What theyre trying to do is make sure that no chips go to Huawei that they can possibly control, the second source said. The United States has said it has evidence that Huawei gear in next generation 5G networks can be used for spying by the Chinese communist state. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claim. To target global chip sales to Huawei, U.S. authorities would alter the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which subjects some foreign-made goods based on U.S. technology or software to U.S. regulations. Reuters reported possible changes to that rule in November. Under the draft proposal, the U.S. government would force foreign companies that use U.S. chipmaking equipment to seek a U.S. license before supplying Huaweia major expansion of export control authority that could anger U.S. allies worldwide. The U.S. Commerce Department declined to comment on the proposal. A Commerce spokesman said recent U.S. charges against Huawei, including conspiring to steal trade secrets, reaffirm the need for caution in considering license applications. The U.S. continues to have major concerns about Huawei. Huawei didnt respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for TSMC said the company doesnt answer hypothetical questions and doesnt comment about individual customers. The United States placed Huawei on a blacklist in May 2019, citing national security concerns. That forced some U.S. and foreign companies to seek special licenses from the Commerce Department to sell to it, but those concerned about espionage efforts by the Chinese regime in the U.S. government have been frustrated by the vast number of supply chains beyond their reach. Others in the U.S. government fear antagonizing Beijing, which just signed a trade deal with Washington. They also worry the restrictions will drive innovation offshore and benefit foreign rivals. Most chip manufacturers rely on equipment produced by U.S. companies like KLA, Lam Research, and Applied Materials, according to a 2019 report from Chinas Everbright Securities. There is no production line in China that uses only equipment made in China, so it is very difficult to make any chipsets without U.S. equipment, Everbright wrote. By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld Somebodys been watching Miami Vice reruns. Albuquerque detectives are on the hunt for thieves who used stolen trucks as battering rams to break into a jewelry and gun store Tuesday morning. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said 22-year-old Leroy Martinez of Grants has been arrested, but police are still looking for others involved. Martinez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center Tuesday and faces two counts of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, non-residential burglary, tampering with evidence and conspiracy charges. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court: Officers responded around 4 a.m. to McDade-Woodcock Inc., an electrical installation business near Menaul and Vassar NE, and found four white pickup trucks were stolen along with several tool boxes. Around 4:15 a.m. police responded to the Dads Fine Jewelers, near Wyoming and Constitution NE, after one of those trucks was driven through the wall in an apparent attempt to rob the business. Then around 5:50 a.m. officers went to Butchs Guns, near Candelaria and University NE, when another truck was rammed into the wall and a couple handguns were stolen. Police found Martinez around 7:15 a.m. in a truck wearing a McDade-Woodcock Inc. headband. In the truck they discovered several McDade-Woodcock toolboxes. Martinez told police he met up with a man he knew as Smiles at the Downs Casino and the men talked about breaking into McDade-Woodcock, Inc. and stealing the trucks. Martinez told detectives the two men went to the business and loaded the trucks with tool boxes before stealing four trucks two at a time. He said he crashed into the jewelry store but denied stealing anything or being involved in the gun store break in. Officers found two of the stolen pickups where Martinez said they had left them. An employee at Butchs Guns did not want to talk about the robbery. Were not going to say anything right now, he said, over the sound of heavy machinery. Were kind of busy. Got a big hole in our wall, right now were trying to fix it. Pat Long, owner of Dads Fine Jewelry, called the entire scheme foolish, ridiculous and not thought out. I dont think they were able to steal anything, he said. The damage is significant. Long said that when they crashed into the building, storefront security bars wrapped around the truck, trapping the pair and forcing them to climb out the windows. All the debris kept the thieves from being able to reach any of the jewelry. They didnt think this through, maybe they were thinking there was gold things hanging from the walls like things you see in old movies, he said. Long called it a bummer nonetheless as he now has to deal with insurance claims and the destruction broken jewelry cases, and a busted facade, among other things. Im really depressed when I look at the pile of rubble, he said. Its my craft and its what I do. Its how I make a living. Anyone with information is asked to call 242-COPS and inform dispatch the call is related to this case. So just about everyone has gone to a Goodwill thrift store looking for a bargain. More often than not you will be lucky to find some cool vintage clothing, some mismatched furniture that has some life left in it or maybe a vacuum cleaner that still works. And if you're really lucky, you might find a rare piece of artwork hidden behind an old picture frame or $43,000 in an old couch. But treasure hunters stand a better chance of locating hidden gems at shopgoodwill.com. WE'LL THROW IN THE SUNSHINE: You can buy this Texas island in the middle of a fisherman's paradise for a mere $25 million The website sells some of the more unique items that get donated to Goodwill stores. But instead of having to go store-to-store looking for hidden gold, you can just browse through the site. You can find everyday items likes clothing, kitchenware and toys. But you will also find high dollar-items like jewelry, which has been appraised before being put up for sale. Much like eBay, the items are offered in timed auctions, with people jockeying online to be the highest bidder before the clock runs out. Some goods are offered with "buy it now" prices, and others have a reserve, meaning if the secret minimum bid isn't met, the item will not be sold. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: What you can and cannot donate to Goodwill For a bigger bargain, many of the listings come with "one-cent shipping." Like the items sold in their stores, proceeds from shopgoodwill.com's online auctions enhance mission-driven services provided by Goodwill Industries. So take a look above at some of the available treasures. You're bound to find something you like. Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... Increase in use of opioids in pain management has boosted the growth of the global opioids market. The pain management segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 2.6% during the study period. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period, due to the presence of key players in the region. The global opioids market was pegged at $18.53 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach $22.38 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% during 20192026. Increase in use of opioids in pain management has boosted the growth of the global opioids market. However, strict government regulation toward vigorous prescription and opioid crisis across the globe hamper the market growth. On the contrary, surge in the consumption of opioids in the emerging economies is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the near future. Download PDF Report Sample with statistical info @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/3556 The global opioids market is divided on the basis of product, application, and region. Based on product, the market is categorized into codeine, fentanyl, methadone, oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone and others. The fentanyl segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period, owing to rise in use of fentanyl patch for pain relief across the globe. However, the oxycodone segment held the largest share in 2018, accounting for one-fourth of the market. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into pain management, cough treatment, and diarrhea. The pain management segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 2.6% during the study period. Moreover, the segment held the largest share in 2018, contributing nearly three-fifths of the market. The global opioids market is analyzed across various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The market across North America held the largest share in 2018, contributing nearly half of the total market. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period, due to the presence of key players in the region. For Purchase Enquiry @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/3556 The global opioid market report includes an in-depth analysis of the major market players such as Purdue Pharma, Pfizer, Inc., Sun Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Allergan, Plc, and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Scope of The Report: Report Attribute Details Market size available for years 2018-2026 Base year considered 2019 Forecast period 2019-2026 Forecast units Value (USD) Segments covered Product, and Application Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAMEA Related Reports: Narcolepsy Drugs Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Pneumonia Vaccine Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20182025 Topical Pain Relief Market: U.S. Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025 Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marketresearcht Mike Bloomberg, who built his campaign in the shadows of the Democratic race, will formally enter the fray this week after a new poll out Tuesday qualified the former New York City mayor to participate in his first Democratic debate. Bloombergs inclusion in Wednesdays debate in Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays Nevada caucuswhich he is not on the ballot ofwas clinched by a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist national poll showing Bloomberg with 19 percent, second only to Bernie Sanders 31 percent. The poll also qualifies Bloomberg for the following debate in Charleston ahead of the South Carolina primary. Bloomberg is also sitting out that contest, the final vote before Super Tuesday on March 3, when 16 states and territories cast their ballots. Advertisement Bloombergs rise in national polling shows that his strategy of sitting out the early states, waiting for Democratic attrition, and building support beyond the first four nominating contests is ahead of schedule. After entering the race just months ago, officially declaring his candidacy in November, Bloomberg has run an untraditional campaign where he has largely eschewed normal candidate stuff. With billions of dollars of his own personal wealth at his disposal, Bloomberg has poured more than $300 million into TV advertisements in Super Tuesday states, more than the rest of the field has spent combined in the entire race. The aim has been to boost his name recognition and attempt to define the onetime Republicanwho spoke at the 2004 Republican National Conventionbefore his rivals get a chance to. Because most candidates dont have endless cash, they havent yet gotten to the states that the Bloomberg campaign is blanketing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of his debate debut, Bloomberg had largely existed on the periphery of the Democratic conversation until his numbers perked up following Iowa and New Hampshire. Bloomberg had been polling in the single digits in a number of polls around the new year and he wasnt eligible for the main Democratic debate ring, on which other candidates rely to get their message out, because he didnt meet the DNC threshold that combined polling and numbers of donors to parse the candidates. The DNC, however, expanded upon its donor-polling formula for this next stage of the nomination process, and will also permit candidates to qualify to debate by registering 10 percent or more in four qualifying polls. This weeks debate brings the billionaire mayor into the fold after a week of rising criticism of his past policies and statements on race and policing while mayor. Debating isnt seen as one of Bloombergs strengths, hence his prepackaged made-for-TV candidacy thus far, and will give his rivals a chance to directly confront the now-contender on his record. Wednesdays other debate participants will be Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; former Vice President Joe Biden; and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Previous debate participants billionaire candidate Tom Steyer and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii appear unlikely to meet the threshold to debate. The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, mulled postponing its annual session as related matters were studied when its Chairperson's Council met on Monday. The third session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee was originally planned to open on March 3 in Beijing. Preparations for the session have been made, said the general office of the CPPCC National Committee in a statement. It is now a crucial moment for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, so no effort should be spared, it read. Many of the CPPCC members, especially those from the medical and health circles, are fighting on the front line of the epidemic battle. The Chairperson's Council studied matters related to postponing the annual session in order to implement the overall plan of the Communist Party of China Central Committee for epidemic prevention and control and ensure that people's lives and health are put as the top priority. According to the Charter of the CPPCC and relevant rules, the CPPCC National Committee meets in plenary session once a year. The proposal to postpone the session needs to be made by the Chairperson's Council after study. Monday's Chairperson's Council meeting also studied matters related to postponing the 10th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, which was originally scheduled to be held on Feb. 28 and 29. In addition, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will meet in late February to deliberate a draft decision on postponing the NPC's annual session. This was proposed at a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee Monday. Dubbed the "two sessions," the annual sessions of the top political advisory body and the top legislature are considered a key political event in China. The postponed annual session of the top political advisory body will embody the overall epidemic prevention and control arrangements made by the Party and the state and further rally support for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the statement read. Jeff Bezos announced today that he will spend $10 billion to fight climate change. How, exactly, will his money alter the climate? [Bezos] said the Bezos Earth Fund would help back scientists, activists, non-government organizations and any other effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world. So the money will go to scientists, activists [and] non-government organizationsin other words, the Left. I can guarantee that Bezoss billions will have zero effect on the climate, but they will enrich left-wing nonprofits, scientists who toe the global warming line, and utilities who greedily profit from foolish expenditures on wind and solar energy. I assume that Bezos is smart enough to know this, and that this is his way of sliding money to the Left without acknowledging what he is doing. The big money is almost 100% green. Recently there was a high-level meeting of greenies at a Rockefeller mansion outside of New York City. Notes from the meeting have been made public, and you can read about it here. The attendees talked about the need to get industry on their side. How? [W]hen [it] comes to power sector, look to politics relatively easy political landscape, as long as utility makes $. And the utility will make money, guaranteed, as a regulated monopoly, as long as state mandates combine with federal subsidies to force it to invest countless billions in wind and solar energy, which are terrible for the environment but great for utility stock prices. The green juggernaut marches on. Wind and solar energy hurt the environment in many ways while locking us in to fossil fuel use in the form of natural gas, forever. That is OK with me; natural gas is the best energy source for a power plant. But the many billions of dollars that go for wind and solar energy, which actually provide electricity nowhere near half the time, while usually relying on complementary natural gas plants, is a complete waste. Unless you are a utility. The only way Bezoss $10 billion could make a positive contribution is if it promoted nuclear energy, but you can be sure that isnt going to happen. The forces of reason, which point out the futility of wind and solar energy, are essentially unfunded. They have little or no corporate support and rely on grass roots donations. Truth is powerful, but is it powerful enough to overcome the Lefts massive cash advantage? Here is another example. Have you heard of Arabella Advisors? I hadnt, but check this out: Arabella Advisors (commonly called Arabella) is a philanthropic consulting company that guides the strategy, advocacy, impact investing, and management for high-dollar left-leaning nonprofits and individuals. [1] Arabella provides these clients with a number of services that ease their operations and that enable them to enact policies focused on environmentalism and other left-of-center issues. How big is Arabella? Arabella Advisors manages four nonprofits that serve as incubators and accelerators for a range of other left-of-center nonprofits. These include the New Venture Fund, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Hopewell Fund, and the Windward Fund. These nonprofits have collectively hosted hundreds of left-wing policy and advocacy organizations (referred to by critics as pop-up groups because they are little more than websites). In 2018, Arabellas four nonprofits reported combined revenues of $635 million. Altogether, between 2013 and 2018 the nonprofits reported combined revenues of just under $2.3 billion and total expenditures of $1.8 billion. *** Arabella has implemented over 300 different pop-up projects targeting a range of issues, including net neutrality, free speech, abortion access, Obamacare, and President Donald Trumps judicial nominees. The company specifically highlights projects in which it has helped its clients divest millions of dollars from traditional energy companies, invest in risky experimental companies, boycott the historically Republican-leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce, enact a ballot initiative that freed 4,000 criminals in California, and lobby for a labor union-friendly policy in Oregon that was supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Oregon Nurses Association. There is nothing comparable on the right. Why does the Left have so much money? There are several reasons: 1) Many companies are pursuing their own financial interests. For example, investor-owned utilities, which have vast financial interests that cause them to support left-wing environmental fantasies that enrich utilities but harm consumers. 2) The biggest spenders on elections and public policy are unions, especially government unions, which lobby for more government, and support politicians who will expand government, because it is in their financial interest to do so. 3) Many celebrities (Jeff Bezos may fall into this category) have more money than brains, and either have fallen for leftist prattle, orin many casesseek to protect themselves against attacks from the Left by donating to leftist causes. It usually works. This is the massive resource advantage that the forces of freedom are up against on just about every front. STEVE adds: This is the reason Im sometimes inclined to be in favor of a wealth tax. At least if we can figure out a way to target it at idiot liberal Silicon Valley billionaires. It is also cutting the cost of the vests its workers wear by 15% by making them out of recyclable materials, he said. It will save $60 million annually by changing its process for buying shopping bags, CFO Brett Biggs said Tuesday, during a meeting with investors in New York. Because of its scale as the world's biggest retailer, Walmart can save millions of dollars by making even the slightest tweaks to how it runs its business. And Walmart is on track to save $100 million annually by centralizing how it maintains the equipment in its stores to be more energy efficient, according to Biggs. "You can take a lot of small projects. ... You can scale them across the business, and they can lead to impressive savings," the CFO explained. "We are bending the curve on expenses." Walmart had said at its 2019 annual shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, that it would save at least $30 million for the year by swapping out existing stepping stools in its distribution centers with a lighter-weight version. It had also previously said it was saving $200 million by changing the light bulbs in its stores and parking lots, and saving $20 million by using a new new floor wax. That all adds up. The company also said Tuesday that its "Fast Unloader" technology, which scans and sorts packages as they come off trucks and is in more than 1,700 Walmart stores today, shaves about a third of the time off the truck unloading process when it requires 100% human labor. Biggs' comments come on the heels of Walmart reporting fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that missed analysts' estimates, hurt by weak sales of holiday toys and apparel. Walmart shares were last up about 1%. The stock has climbed a little more than 19% over the past 12 months. Walmart has a market cap of about $338.4 billion. Read the full earnings press release from Walmart. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 00:49:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- As the Iranian parliamentary election is set to fall on Friday, main streets of the capital Tehran are taking on a new look with signs displaying campaign slogans. Different political factions have been competing for influence while announcing their arrangements of candidates and programs. The reformists, as the supporters of the incumbent administration, are mainly represented by Kargozaran Sazandegi (Servants of Construction) and Etelaf Barayeh Iran (Coalition for Future of Iran). In the candidate list of Kargozaran Sazandegi, what grabs attention most is prominent cleric Majid Ansari. Ansari, was formerly vice president for legal affairs in the administration of Hassan Rouhani. He is currently a member of the Iran's Expediency Council. Etelaf Barayeh Iran's list serves as an umbrella term for the candidates from eight different parties and groups. Some figures, including sitting reformist lawmakers Alireza Mahjoub and Mostafa Kavakebian, the secretary general of Mardomsalari Party (Democracy Party), are among the senior candidates of the list. "Despite some weaknesses in the management of the current economic condition of the country, moderates and reformists' participation in the political scene of the country has provided more social and cultural freedom for the people," civil servant Maryam Nazari said. "I will vote for the reformists, though I am critical of the economic policies of them," she said. In the meantime, the principlists and those parties which have been seriously criticizing the current government, have presented a united list titled Iran-e Sarboland (Proud Iran), with Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf heading the list. Qalibaf was Tehran's mayor for 12 continuous years. Another group of the principlists has presented a list titled Jebhey-e Paydari (Resilience Front). Morteza Aqa Tehrani is heading the list. Aqa Tehrani represented Tehran in the 8th and 9th Majlis. He is now the secretary general of the hardline Jebhey-e Paydari Party. "I am supporting a Majlis which has the power and authority to challenge the drawbacks in the internal and external policies of the administration by scholarly advice and practical laws," Mahdi Eslamkhah, who majored in international relations, said. Eslamkhah noted that the current parliament, dominated by the modernists and their fellow reformists, was mainly in compliance with the policies of Rouhani's administration and "failed" to act as a powerful body to protect the economic interests of working class. According to Tehran Times daily, a survey showed that 57 percent of the electorate will vote for the Iran-e Sarboland list led by Qalibaf. Only 27 percent of the people will vote for reformists and pro-government candidates, who are backed by former president Mohammad Khatami, according to the survey. Iranians will go to the ballot boxes on Friday to elect the lawmakers for a 290-seat parliament. Nearly 58 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the 11th round of parliamentary elections. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the Iranians to actively participate in the upcoming election. The search for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's eventual successor begins in earnest this week, as her centre-right CDU party opens the race to elect a new leader after her heir apparent stepped down. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who was Merkel's preferred successor, was toppled after just 14 months as CDU leader following a row over apparent cooperation with the far-right AfD party in a regional parliament. The 57-year-old will hold talks this week with the three favourites to succeed her: long-time Merkel rival Friedrich Merz, Health Minister Jens Spahn and Armin Laschet, the premier of Germany's largest federal state North-Rhine Westphalia. After Kramp-Karrenbauer failed to unite the party behind her, fears abound that the bid to find a worthy successor to Merkel could split the CDU, as the top candidates have differences in political direction. "The problem with political giants is that they haveto end like giants... an orderly transition of power is not possible," wrote popular daily Bild on Sunday, comparing Merkel to former CDU chancellor Helmut Kohl. - Conservative roots - After nearly two decades in which Merkel has positioned the CDU firmly in the centre, the race is set to be defined by differing visions of the party's future. Merz and Spahn, both of whom ran against Kramp-Karrenbauer in the last leadership race, advocate a return to the party's conservative roots, while Laschet is more of a centrist like Merkel. Merz, a 64-year-old former lawyer and board member at the German arm of investment firm BlackRock, called Merkel's government "unsustainable" and "abysmal" last November. Ambitious 38-year-old Spahn, meanwhile, has combined social liberalism on issues such as gay marriage with a harder line on immigration. Speaking to Bild on Sunday, the leader of the CDU's parliamentary youth wing Mark Hauptmann said a "team solution" between Merz and Spahn would be "ideal". "They would speak to the conservative wing but also to the youth, and cover both rural and urban milieus," he said. Though widely seen as the continuity candidate, 58-year-old Laschet criticised Merkel's European policy in a speech Sunday, calling for a "quicker and more decisive response" to French President Emmanuel Macron's EU reform proposals. And some believe that cooperation between all three candidates may be the best way to keep the CDU united. "The CDU needs all three, regardless of which roles they take," former CDU general secretary Ruprecht Polenz told Bavarian radio on Saturday. - Electoral pressure - The contest comes as the CDU struggles to fend off electoral pressure from the AfD to the right and the Green Party, which is soaring in the polls, to the left. It has tumbled from 40 percent of the vote under Merkel in 2013 to poll at just 26 percent, according to an Infratest survey published last Thursday. Leading conservative figures have warned that the party could lose further support if the leadership question is allowed to drag out. "We need clarity, quickly," Alexander Dobrindt, the parliamentary leader of the CDU's Bavarian sister party CSU, told broadsheet Die Welt on Sunday. Kramp-Karrenbauer herself has repeatedly said she wants the question of her succession to be resolved by the summer. After this week's meetings with candidates, she will hold further talks with CDU grandees next Monday before agreeing a definitive time frame for her departure. There may yet be another twist in the tale, however. Kramp-Karrenbauer has called for her successor to also be named as the CDU and CSU's joint candidate for chancellor at the next elections. Yet CSU leader Markus Soeder said Monday that he believes the two questions should be answered separately. While the CSU would not meddle in the CDU leadership debate, Soeder said, "the question of the election candidate can only be answered together". His comments will prompt speculation that the CSU leader favours a fourth prospective successor to Merkel: himself. Security researchers have warned for many years that failure to digitally sign and validate the low-level firmware found in computers can lead to damaging compromises that are very hard to detect and fix. While the computer industry has made some progress in this area, especially when it comes to the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) in modern computers, new research shows that many peripheral manufacturers have not adopted modern firmware validation principles. Researchers from security firm Eclypsium have found computer components with unsigned firmware or improper signature validation in laptops from major manufacturers, as well as in servers. The identified devices included a network interface chipset widely used in servers, a common laptop WiFi adapter, a trackpad, a full HD camera and an internal USB hub. While these are technically peripheral devices because they communicate with the CPU over the USB or PCI interfaces, from a user perspective they are an integral part of the computers they're found in. In most cases they cannot be removed or replaced without specialized tools and advanced technical knowledge about computer hardware internals as some of these chips are soldered onto the motherboard from factory. How firmware updates When most users think of computer firmware, they think of the UEFI, which is the modern equivalent of the BIOS. This low-level software stored in a flash memory chip (EPROM) on the motherboard handles the hardware initialization during the booting process and starts the operating system (OS) installed on the hard drive. Think of it as a mini operating system that performs a limited set of functions and gets the hardware ready before the end-user OS takes over. While the UEFI can be viewed as the overall platform's firmware, most of the individual components inside computers also have their own firmware. Hard-disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) have firmware, wireless and Ethernet chipsets have firmware, sound and graphics cards have firmware, and even the CPU has so-called microcode, a set of instructions burned into its silicon during the manufacturing process. The OS talks to the peripheral components through system drivers that rely on the firmware to perform the various hardware functions. It gets even more complicated. Some components have a flash memory chip so their firmware is persistent, though it can often be updated from inside the operating system using the manufacturers utilities. Other peripherals, however, don't have persistent storage, so a firmware image for them is shipped as part of the driver package and is loaded dynamically into memory every time the OS is booted. This raises a question of who and at what stage should validate firmware updates and ensure that they come from the component manufacturer and are properly signed. As Eclypsium found, sometimes the industry does not have a clear answer. If these firmware updates methods are not secured, hackers can exploit them to upload modified firmware images that hijack or misuse the targeted component's functionality for malicious purposes. Such modifications would be very hard to detect and would persist. Researchers take control of firmware The Eclypsium researchers found that the firmware update mechanism for the touchpad and TrackPoint components used in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Gen laptops does not use cryptographic signature verification. This allowed the researchers to modify the firmware and run malicious code inside the components. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a popular business laptop and the touchpad and trackpoint used in the analyzed model were made by Synaptics, one of the largest manufacturers of such components. Because of this, the researchers believe other laptops, including models from other vendors, that use the same trackpad, are also affected. Furthermore, according to Eclypsium, Lenovo indicated that Synaptics does not have a way to correct this issue in the current generation of the affected components. A similar situation was found with the HP Wide Vision FHD camera used in the HP Spectre x360 Convertible 13-ap0xxx laptop. The HP Wide Vision FHD camera uses an USB camera controller produced by a company called Sunplus Innovation Technology (SunplusIT), which supplies such components to many laptop manufacturers. A camera update package supplied by HP included a Windows-based firmware update tool created by SunplusIT along with a firmware image that had no cryptographic signature or other authenticity validation. Furthermore, the update tool did not require elevated privileges to run, so firmware updates could be applied from a normal user account. The researchers were able to load a modified firmware image that changed the camera's USB descriptors, forcing it to identify itself to the OS as a different type of USB device--for example, a USB keyboard that could be automated to send malicious inputs. HP told Eclypsium that it's working on a firmware update and that future camera generations will have signed firmware. The researchers also managed to modify the firmware of the WiFi adapter in a Dell XPS 15 9560 laptop. This adapter, called Killer Wireless n/a/ac 1535, is produced by a company called Rivet Networks and uses a Qualcomm chip, highlighting the complex relationships in the PC supply chain. Furthermore, the firmware for this chip is provided by Qualcomm and is loaded as part of the digitally signed driver. The firmware image itself is also digitally signed. However Windows only checks the signature during the installation phase and every time the driver itself is loaded, but not the firmware image. As a result, if the firmware image loaded by the driver is replaced with a modified one that does not have a digital signature, the driver will still load it and Windows will still load the driver, which remains digitally signed. "We reported this issue to both Qualcomm, who provides the chipset and driver for the Killer Wireless card and to Microsoft, who checks that such drivers are signed," the Eclypsium researchers said. "Qualcomm responded that their chipset is subordinate to the processor, and that the software running on the CPU is expected to take responsibility for validating firmware. They stated that there was no plan to add signature verification for these chips. However, Microsoft responded that it was up to the device vendor to verify firmware that is loaded into the device." The researchers looked at the Linux Vendor Firmware Service, a portal that allows hardware vendors to upload firmware updates to be distributed to Linux computers. The portal has a list of update protocols and an indication of whether they are signed. One of those listed as not signed is for VLI USB Hub, a USB hub produced by VIA Labs that is also used in PCI expansion cards to extend the number of available USB ports in a computer. Finally, the last analyzed component was a network interface controller (NIC) that uses the Broadcom BCM5719 chipset, which is commonly found in server products from multiple manufacturers and does not validate the firmware using cryptographic signatures. The researchers also chose this chipset because several open-source projects attempt to reimplement its firmware, which is normally closed source, making it much easier to modify. The researchers demonstrated an attack and even made a video where they used modified firmware to gain access to the network traffic from the Baseband Management Controller (BMC). The BMC is a separate chip found in servers that runs its own firmware and allows out-of-band management even when the operating system is turned off. In some configurations, the BMC and the host OS are configured to use the same physical network connection, but this appears as two different network adapters with separate MAC addresses. The goal is for the OS to never see the BMC traffic, as the BMC in general should be completely isolated and independent from the host OS. The researchers were able to violate that boundary with their modified firmware. "Using this approach, we can inspect the contents of BMC network packets, provide those contents to malware running on the host, or even modify BMC traffic on the fly," they said. "This could also be used to block alerts sent from the BMC to a central logging server, selectively redirect them to a different server, copy and send traffic to a remote location for analysis, as well as make outgoing network connections to a remote command and control server directly from the NIC itself without the host or BMC being aware that any of this is happening." Why does firmware validation matter? What can be achieved with firmware attacks varies based on the type of compromised component. For example, a compromised touchpad can send malicious inputs, a compromised camera can potentially be used to spy on users, a compromised NIC can be used intercept or modify network traffic, and a compromised HDD can be used to create hidden storage. All this could be catalogued as abuse of the device's intended functionality. However, as shown by Eclypsium's research, many peripherals can also be tricked into acting as other types of devices, extending their functionality or changing how they present themselves to the operating system. Furthermore, some of these compromised components can gain kernel level access and take full control of the system. PCI devices in particular have Direct Memory Access (DMA). This is a feature in modern computers that allows a peripheral device to use and modify the system memory directly, bypassing the operating system. DMA attacks have been demonstrated over the years and even open-source tools have been created for this purpose. In one way or another, a compromised peripheral can be used as a persistence mechanism for malware infections. This is very powerful because malicious firmware will survive OS reinstallation. In some cases, malicious firmware can even be designed to block all future firmware updates, meaning the component will remain compromised permanently. Firmware attacks are a blindspot for most organizations. It is very hard to detect them at the software level, and it's hard to perform forensics investigations without removing the physical chips and dumping the code stored on them using special flash memory reading devices. Some security vendors, including Eclypsium, are trying to cover that gap by developing firmware monitoring solutions. The likelihood of firmware attacks Various firmware attacks have been documented over the years in the wild and others have been demonstrated by researchers at conferences as proof of concepts. One example of in-the-wild attacks was a malware module developed by the Equation Group, which is believed to be the NSA, that was capable of modifying the firmware of over a dozen HDD models from different manufacturers. Networking giant Cisco Systems also found malware in the wild that was capable of infecting the boot firmware (ROMMON) of Cisco IOS routers, but a small number of compromises and victims were identified, suggesting it was a targeted attack. The BlackEnergy attack that caused a power blackout in Ukraine in December 2015 involved attackers modifying the firmware of serial-to-ethernet controllers used by power substations, and the Triton malware that caused an emergency shutdown at Saudi Arabia's national oil company Saudi Aramco in 2017 was able to reprogram Triconex safety instrumented system (SIS) controllers. The Vault7 leaks of 2017 documented some of the CIA's cyberespionage capabilities and revealed several firmware implants. One codenamed Sonic Screwdriver involved modifying the firmware of Apple Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapters, which could then be used to deliver an implant codenamed Der Starke that infected the EFI firmware of Mac computers. The documents also revealed Cherry Blossom, a modified firmware that could be deployed on many wireless router models for espionage. The commonality of all these attacks is that they were all launched by sophisticated, likely nation-state level attackers with access to specialized knowledge about the internals of particular hardware devices. Furthermore, the attacks affected a small number of victims, so they were highly targeted. It's believed that developing and launching firmware attacks requires a significant investment and comes with various obstacles. The attackers need to have deep knowledge about the devices they're targeting, often exploiting functionality that is not publicly documented or is only found in service manuals. They need advanced reverse-engineering skills to modify firmware that is usually closed source and proprietary. In many cases, they also need to obtain privileged access to the targeted systems because updating firmware often requires administrator permissions, so they need to include other exploits in the attack chain. American constitutional government will die unless great spiritual awakening occurs, scholar says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Without a religious awakening, the American system of government will not last much longer, according to a renowned political scientist who is not a Christian. In an interview with Canadian podcaster and pro-life activist Jonathan Van Maren, Charles Murray, a political scientist and author of Coming Apart an analysis of the widening economic and social disparities in the United States in the last half-century said he believed that U.S. constitutional government is "dead as a doornail." Absent large-scale spiritual renewal, the U.S. might only exist for a few more decades, he said. Murray holds the F. A. Hayek Emeritus Chair in Cultural Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank in Washington, D.C. The political scientist believes that even those who call themselves conservative now believe things that the American Founders would find scandalous. At present, what is happening in the U.S. is undergoing a preview of what a "post-America" may be, he said. You cannot have a free society, a society that allows lots of individual autonomy without some outside force that leads people to control the self, Murray explained. The U.S. today is just another powerful, rich nation and the "American way of life" is now meaningless, he said. What was at the very core of the American founding the character of the American people was what in the eyes the founders made the experiment possible. Murray went to on to say that it would be great if what used to be called a "religious great awakening" would happen again and inspire substantial changes in behavior in the population, particularly if a new upper class joins in the revival of Judeo-Christian traditions. Yet the scholar is not holding out hope that such a thing will happen in the U.S. or in Europe, which is on course to die out culturally. However, he said, neither can ongoing secularization endure. I cannot believe that the secularization of society is going to continue indefinitely. We have never had an advanced culture, in the history of the world, that is nearly as secular as contemporary Europe. And I would say that is the test case, he said. He added that Americans ought to return to small towns and live "the traditional American way of life" and be active in their communities. In addition to Coming Apart, Murray is perhaps best known for his scholarship in a 1994 book he co-authored titled, The Bell Curve. His newest book, which was just released, is Human Diversity: The Biology of Gender, Race, and Class. In 2017, Murray garnered national headlines after he was shouted down and prohibited from speaking by an angry mob of students at Middlebury College, an elite liberal arts college in Vermont. The professor who had invited him, Allison Stanger, was physically assaulted and ended up in a neck brace following the attack. The protests were in part because leftist students considered The Bell Curve to be "white supremacist" because of the way he discusses racial differences in intelligence and the implications of those differences. As was widely reported at the time, the students who protested his speech chanted: "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Charles Murray, go away" and "Your message is hatred, we cannot tolerate it." Three officers, who were killed fighting in northern Syria have been buried in Tartous writes Jesr. The Military Hospital of Tartous held funerals for three officers of the Republican Guard killed during the fighting in northern Syria. The officers are Lieutenant Ali Hassan Hammoud, who was killed in Idleb; Lieutenant Wissam Hassan Khidr, who was killed in Aleppo; and Lieutenant Muhammad Abd al-Hadi Kurdi, who died in Idleb. The three were from Tartous province. Northern Syria has seen fierce fighting since mid-last month, in the Idleb and Aleppo countrysides, between rebel groups and regime forces and their allies. Dead have fallen continuously on both sides, with no accurate count of their numbers. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - Bond Resources Inc. (CSE: BJB) (the "Company" or "Bond") is pleased to announce the appointment of Elaine J. Dorward-King, Ph.D. as a director of the Company. Dr. Dorward-King's appointment is part of the continuing series of events involved in Bond's proposed transaction to acquire the rights to the Mary K Property in Idaho (see news release of November 15, 2019). Dr. Dorward-King has over 28 years' experience in the mining, chemicals and engineering industries. From March 2013 until January 2020, she served as Executive Vice President for Newmont Goldcorp, the world's leading gold mining company, initially as EVP of Sustainability and External Relations and for the last six months as EVP of Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy. Prior to joining Newmont, she worked from 1992 to 2013 for Rio Tinto, in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Dorward-King has had significant corporate Board exposure and non-profit Board service. She is acknowledged for her expertise in advancing both sustainable development and business objectives with an approach that respects differing cultures in operating communities across a global footprint. With a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Colorado State University, she continued her education and training in various programs including programs at the London Business School of Economics and Harvard Business School, Women on Boards. She has been conferred with numerous awards and honours, including the 2014 & 2016 "100 Most Inspirational Women in Mining". Dr. Dorward-King joins the Board of Bond Resources as an independent director and will serve as a member of the Audit Committee. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Robert Eadie" Robert Eadie, Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Facsimile: 1-604-602-4936 Contact: Robert Eadie The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52494 Nelson Perez, who will be installed as Philadelphia's next archbishop Tuesday, leads Mass at St. Paul Parish in Akron, Ohio, on Jan. 25. Read more More than 2,000 people are expected to fill the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Tuesday afternoon to watch Nelson J. Perezs installation as the 14th Roman Catholic bishop and 10th archbishop of Philadelphia. Heres what you need to know: Who is Nelson Perez? Ordained in 1989, Perez, 58, started his career with 23 years as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He is returning to lead the regions 1.3 million Catholics after stints as a bishop in Cleveland and Rockville Centre, N.Y. The son of Cuban immigrants who settled in New Jersey, Perez will be the first Hispanic prelate to serve in the role. READ MORE: Nelson Perez: A pastor who "smells like his sheep" Those who know him best describe him as a garrulous, down-to-earth pastor who excelled at forging personal connections with his flock during his stints at churches in West Chester and the Olney and Lawncrest sections of the city. He replaces Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who is stepping down after reaching the Vaticans traditional retirement age of 75. How can I attend? The ceremony, known as the Sacred Mass of Installation, begins at 2 p.m. Doors to the cathedral, at 17th Street on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, will open at 12:30. About half of the pews in the basilica will be reserved for clergy, Perezs family, local dignitaries, church leaders from around the globe and other invited guests. There will be space for about 1,500 members of the public on a first-come, first-served basis in either the basilica or an adjoining chapel, organizers say. READ MORE: Phillys Latinos expect new archbishop Nelson Perez to be a change agent Large screens will be erected within the basilica and the chapel to broadcast the liturgy for those with obstructed views. The entrance procession begins at 1:40 p.m. on 17th Street between Vine and Race Streets. What if I cant make it? The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is expected to livestream the event from the entrance procession at 1:40 p.m. until the conclusion at around 4 p.m. Local TV news stations are expected to broadcast, or liveetream online, all or part of the ceremony. READ MORE: As Philadelphia archbishops, Charles Chaput and Nelson Perez may differ less in substance than in style What does the ceremony entail? A process rich in pageantry and steeped in symbolism, the Mass of Installation will begin with an entrance procession of about 500 cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons and seminarians who will pass through the cathedral chapel and into the basilica, where Perez will be presented with a crucifix by cathedral rector, the Rev. Dennis Gill. As the Mass begins, Chaput will pass possession of Philadelphias cathedral church to Perez. A reading of the official papal document that appointed him to the role last month will follow. Then, Perez will then be given the crozier, or shepherds staff, of a bishop and presented to his cathedra, the high-backed throne of the archbishop in his cathedral. A procession of seminarians, nuns, students, children and representatives from various cultural groups will then greet the new archbishop. The ceremony is also expected to feature Perezs first homily delivered to the regions Catholics in his new role. Organizers say the liturgy will feature at least five languages English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog and American Sign Language. The ceremony, which is expected to conclude around 4 p.m., will end with Perez greeting members of the audience at the Communion rail at the front of the Cathedral. Suffering from cabin fever? Looking forward to the warm months ahead? Now is as good a time as any to take a boater safety course to get that out of the way. One has the option of taking a course in a classroom setting or doing it online. By 2025, all power boat operators in the state will be required to have a boater safety course under their belt or face a possible fine. The legislation, called Briannas Law (S.5685/A,4853.A) was signed into law last summer and took effect Jan. 1. Prior passage of this law, only boaters born after May 1, 1996 were required to complete a boater safety course. The new expands that requirement. Under the 5-year phase-in plan that begins this year, all motor boat operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 must complete the safety course. Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 must complete a safety course beginning in 2022. Those born on and after Jan. 1, 1983 must complete a safety course beginning in 2023. Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 must complete a safety course beginning in 2025. By 2025, all motor boat operators must have taken a boater safety course, regardless of age. Failure to do so could result in a fine between $100 and $250, depending on the circumstances. Those whove previously taken a state-approved boater safety course and dont have a certificate to prove it, wont have to take the course again. A new certificate can be obtained through the New York State Parks website at a cost of $10. Certain allowances to this law have been made for visitors to New York, persons renting a boat from a livery and persons purchasing a new boat for the first time. See the NYS Parks website about this and other frequently asked questions. The legislation mandating the taking of a boater safety course is named Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old girl killed in a boating incident in Long Islands Great South Bay in 2005. The girls mother, Gina Lieneck of Deer Park, lobbied lawmakers to pass the boater safety bill. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which administers the law, estimates that nearly one million boaters will have to take the safety course before the end of the phase-in period Jan, 1, 2025. See the NYS Parks website for dates of a boating safety class being offered near you and information about the state-approved online courses. Operators of sailboats, kayaks, standup paddleboards, rowboats, canoes and any other watercraft without a motor are not required to have a boating safety certificate to be on the water. However, it is always a good idea to take a boating course. You can find an on-the-water paddling course in many areas of the state or you may want to take a free online course. MORE NYS courts out-of-state snowmobilers with free weekend in March DEC: Record number of bears killed by hunters in Southern Zone last fall Sick of snow and ice: We think this might change your mind (video) Photo: Tatiana Rodriguez/Unsplash Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in San Antonio. Students want NEISD to acknowledge bullying at Reagan High School following teen's suicide on campus Read the full story on San Antonio Current. Have you seen this man? He's accused of robbing a person at a McDonald's. Read the full story on KENS5. California-based pop-up bringing 'vegan junk food' to San Antonio this weekend Read the full story on San Antonio Current. San Antonio-based Tuskegee Airman passes away at the age of 96 Read the full story on KENS5. South-side community working with police to push out illegal street racing Read the full story on KENS5. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Friends of the Reagan High School student who committed suicide on campus during school hours last week are speaking out about bullying the teen faced before his death. Police said the victim was leaving the restaurant when he was attacked by the suspect. Los Angeles-based Vuture Food is bringing its national food truck tour to Texas this week, with plans to stop in San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 22. Theodore Johnson passed away on Sunday, Feb. 16. The World Council of Churches condemns recent violent attacks in Burkina Faso and Cameroon, which have left 24 people dead in Burkina Faso and 5 others in Cameroon. By Benedict Mayaki In the wake of the violent attacks in Cameroon and Burkina Faso on February 14 and 16 respectively, the Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, on Monday spoke against the attacks and called for an end to violence against the innocent. I am profoundly sad that people who are gathered to worship suffer from such a senseless act of hate We condemn these senseless acts of violence. Let us strengthen our resolution to pursue peace and justice for all, dignity for all, the freedom to lead full lives for all, said Rev. Tveit. According to the UN, on 14 February in Ntumbo, a village in northwest Cameroon, 22 people, including 14 children were killed by armed men. Since then, at least 600 villagers have fled the area. In recent months, an estimated 60,000 Cameroonians have fled to Nigeria due to the escalation of violence. Churches attacked On February 16, jihadist terrorists attacked a protestant Church in the Yahgha province of Burkina Faso, killing 24 people and wounding 18 others. This recent attack comes just six days after another in the city of Sebba where seven people were kidnapped during a Christian service. Three days later, five of them including the Pastor were found murdered. The other two survived unscathed. In his message, Rev. Tveit expresses solidarity and closeness to the communities in Cameroon and Burkina Faso and encourages the WCC member churches to hold those affected in prayers. These acts of violence are attacks on our one human family and we must continue to work together for justice and peace. The July 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 took place in the region where no Buk missile systems were deployed at the time of the tragedy, according to a leaked document of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service. According to the document, sent to Dutch prosecutors, flight MH17 was flying beyond the range of all identified and operational Ukrainian and Russian locations where 9K37M1 Buk M1 systems were deployed, TASS reported. Dutch journalist Max van der Werff, who founded Bonanza Media, said that for him, "the main conclusion is that the Dutch had information about the mobile Buk positions during the conflict." "This information we had not seen before," he told TASS. "And the military, the Dutch, conclude that they have no information of any Buk missile systems close to MH17." In all, four documents have been published. Apart from the report on Buk positions, the website revealed a transcript of a conversation between German independent journalist Billy Six and Australian police officers. In this conversation, Six mentions eyewitnesses who observed Ukrainian fighter jets in the sky on the day of MH17 incident. Van der Werff refused to provide any information about who leaked the documents. The third document reveals that Australian experts working on the case were analyzing non primary images/screenshots, which, as it turns out, were altered. For example, in one of the pictures, the date when it was modified is prior to the date when the file was created. "Even after a year, the Australians did not have original photographs to test, using, like, sort of social media nonsense, cropped pictures. That was shocking for me, too," he said. The fourth document is a transcript of a conversation between Dutch police officers and an unnamed eyewitness, who says he spotted two Ukrainian air force fighter jets overhead right before the incident. A few minutes later, he heard a loud bang and saw the passenger plane coming down. The Boeing-777 passenger plane operated by Malaysian Airlines crashed on July 17, 2014, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in the east of the Donetsk Region. As a result, 298 people, citizens of 10 states, were killed in the crash. The parties to the armed conflict in Donbass accused each other of being complicit in the tragedy. File image Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of top officers on February 19 to discuss the implementation of "ten guarantees" including uninterrupted power supply, garbage-free Delhi and basic facilities for unauthorised colonies, sources said. Issues like potable piped water supply, education for every child, free bus ride scheme for different sections of society, healthcare facilities, safety of women and cleaning of Yamuna are included in the agenda of the meeting scheduled to be held at noon on Wednesday, the sources said. This would be the first meeting of Kejriwal with top officers of various departments of the Delhi government after taking oath of office on February 16. Also read Delhi Cabinet: Meet the ministers in Kejriwal's new government "All secretaries and principal secretaries have been asked to attend the meeting to be chaired by the chief minister on Wednesday," the sources said. A cabinet meeting is also scheduled to be held on February 19. After taking the charge of their respective offices on February 17, Delhi cabinet ministers said they would work to fulfil promises made in the "guarantee card" which includes reduction in pollution and expansion of metro network. Arana Taqueria y Cantina closed over the weekend, the latest change along a busy stretch of Magazine Street. It will be replaced by a new location of El Paso Mexican Grill, a Louisiana based chain with locations across the region. Meanwhile, across town on Oak Street, the last of the Mellow Mushroom pizzeria locations in the area closed its doors this week. Arana, at 3242 Magazine St., opened in 2014 when New Orleans was seeing a new wave of modern Mexican restaurants (Casa Borrega, Del Fuego Taqueria and Johnny Sanchez all opened around that time). The name, Spanish for spider, came from the nickname of chef Richard Papier. Tarek Tay, one of the owners of Arana, said he and his partners sold the business to El Paso Mexican Grill. Armando Eric, a manager for El Paso, said the new restaurant should open by mid-March, following a round of light renovations inside. Whats next for the now-former Mellow Mushroom location at 8227 Oak St. is still unknown, a manager at the restaurant said. In a Facebook message, the restaurant thanked customers for their business. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We hope to see you soon at another Shroom in the Mellowsphere, the message reads. That wont be anywhere close by. Mellow Mushroom is an Atlanta-based pizza chain with a groovy, hippie-style motif. It long had a presence in Baton Rouge near the LSU campus and later expanded to the New Orleans area, beginning in 2013. Locations in Metairie and Covington closed, and the Baton Rouge location shut down late in 2019 after nearly 20 years. The brand has dozens of locations around the country, though only one remaining Louisiana restaurant in Lake Charles. +4 Thai restaurant Banana Blossom partners with BRG for new Magazine Street project Jimmy Cho started his Gretna restaurant Banana Blossom with the flavors his native Thailand, added global riffs and soon created a unique addi +4 Former Sucre in Metairie to reopen as Viet-French bakery Chez Pierre The end for once-prominent New Orleans dessert company Sucre came abruptly. The company shut down one Monday last June, informing employees of +6 Long shuttered, that colorful hot dog spot on Broad Street snaps back to life I do not particularly crave hot dogs, not, that is, until I happen to see one, and then the need gets severe. It happens at the stadium and ba A security guard stands near the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, near Tokyo. CDC officials think that passengers who had no symptoms might have spread coronavirus illness nonetheless. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Read more Testing of throat swabs from two people with no symptoms of coronavirus illness revealed that they were nonetheless infected with the virus, according to a report from Germany published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The finding, though previously suspected, would make the job of containing the virus significantly more difficult. We discovered that shedding of potentially infectious virus may occur in persons who have no fever and no signs or only minor signs of infection, concluded the paper, authored by 20 scientists, physicians, and public health officials in Frankfurt. Purported evidence of asymptomatic transmission that was reported out of Munich and also published in the New England Journal of Medicine was debunked by further investigation. A seemingly healthy Chinese businesswoman who was linked to infections of several colleagues did have coronavirus, but her symptoms were mild and she was taking medicine to keep her fever down. But asymptomatic transmission is theoretically possible people can shed certain viruses they are carrying without showing symptoms so experts have been vigilant for signs of that phenomenon with COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday said it believes such transmission occurred among several hundred U.S. citizens who were evacuated on Sunday from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, quarantined in a Japanese harbor. Fourteen of the evacuees tested positive for the virus. All the passengers were flown to military bases in Texas and California, where they are quarantined. CDC believes the rate of new infections on board, especially among those without symptoms, represents an ongoing risk, it said in a news release. Therefore, to protect the health of the American public, all passengers and crew of the ship have been placed under travel restrictions, preventing them from returning to the United States for at least 14 days after they had left" the cruise ship. Currently, more than 100 U.S. citizens are still on the ship or in hospitals in Japan, the CDC said. READ MORE: How the coronavirus jumped to humans is a story as old as evolution The new report involved a group of 126 German citizens who had been staying in Hubei province, China, where the epidemic emerged and is concentrated. On Feb. 1, they were evacuated and flown to Frankfurt, where they were to be quarantined for 14 days, believed to be the virus maximum incubation period. Ten passengers who had symptoms or were at high risk of infection were kept in a special isolation area on the plane. The remaining 116 patients including 23 children were evaluated by a team of doctors at the Frankfurt airport. Only one of them had a fever and was transferred to a hospital, and tested negative for COVID-19. The doctors decided to offer throat swabs to test for the virus even in the 115 passengers with no symptoms, and all but one consented. Two of those passengers without symptoms tested positive, and were transferred to the hospital for further evaluation and monitoring. Although one developed a faint rash and a mild sore throat, both remained well and fever-free seven days after hospital admission, wrote the authors from University Hospital Frankfurt and the city health protection agencies. In this effort to evacuate 126 people from Wuhan to Frankfurt, a symptom-based screening process was ineffective at detecting coronavirus in two people later found to be carrying the virus, the authors wrote. As of Feb. 13, the World Health Organization reported a total of more than 74,000 cases, most of them in China, and 1,386 deaths, two outside China. The virus has spread to 24 countries. No cases have been confirmed in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, but more U.S. cases are expected among the travelers who have returned from China and remain under quarantine, the CDC has said. In order to allow students to have classes at home during the coronavirus outbreak, Chinese teachers have transformed themselves into "online anchors." Let's take a look at the teachers' live teaching "behind the scenes." Facebook on Tuesday blocked the page of an anti-government website in Singapore following a demand from authorities but slammed the "disproportionate" use of a controversial law against online misinformation. The widely criticised legislation gives ministers powers to order internet platforms and websites to put warnings next to posts they deem false, and also order pages be blocked in the tightly regulated city-state. Political website States Times Review (STR) -- which regularly posts articles critical of the government -- was repeatedly accused of circulating falsehoods but refused to comply with official demands to put up corrections. Authorities this week ordered Facebook to block the page for Singapore users. While they have ordered corrections be put up next to posts on several occasions, this was the first time they sought to have access to a page disabled. Confirming it complied with the order, Facebook said it was "legally compelled" to restrict access to the page in Singapore. But a spokesperson added: "We believe orders like this are disproportionate and contradict the government's claim that (the law) would not be used as a censorship tool. "We've repeatedly highlighted this law's potential for overreach and we're deeply concerned about the precedent this sets for the stifling of freedom of expression in Singapore." A post on the STR's Facebook page said it was shutting but redirected users to an alternative page where the site's content was available. Other tech giants, including Google and Twitter, as well as rights groups have expressed concerns about the Singapore law. But the government insists the legislation is necessary to stop the spread of falsehoods online, and had accused the STR of circulating misinformation, including about the coronavirus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest global health threats, projected to kill 10 million people every year by 2050 In order to tackle the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance, a new collaboration platform has been recently launched. The platform, initiated by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), will bring together people from civil society, governments and the pharmaceutical industry. It could mean a breakthrough for the responsible manufacturing of antibiotics and reduce the risk of the industry itself contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest global health threats, projected to kill 10 million people every year by 2050. There is growing concern that emissions of antibiotics, or their residues, into the environment are contributing to the spread of AMR, with consequences for ecosystems, as well as for human and animal health. An often-overlooked source of antibiotics in the environment is emissions from manufacturing, which is contributing to the problem, alongside the irrational use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine. Nicolai Schaaf, Programme Manager of the Pharma Team, SIWI said, Reducing emissions of antibiotics from manufacturing is a shared responsibility. This requires changes both in industry practices and when it comes to market demand and regulation. Acknowledging this as a shared objective in the fight against antimicrobial resistance is the starting point for our collaboration platform. In dialogue with Shawview Consulting and a broad network of stakeholders, SIWI has developed the proposal of a Responsible Antibiotics Manufacturing Platform (RAMP) as a multi-stakeholder collaboration. The goal is to contribute to the fight against antibiotic resistance by promoting collaboration between pioneers in the field of sustainable public procurement and the pharmaceutical industry. Brendan Shaw, Principal, Shawview Consulting said, Shawview Consulting and SIWI developed concrete action plans in partnership with state governments and industry that can take forward feasibility studies to support local company adoption of the AMR Industry Alliance's Framework. The platform will be launched in India, one of the worlds major antibiotic producers and one of the countries most impacted by emissions from manufacturing facilities. This, in combination with mis-/overuse of antibiotics, has led to extreme levels of AMR. In response to this, India in 2017 launched an ambitious National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and could now become the first country in the world to regulate industrial effluents of antibiotics. The countrys Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently announced a draft notification on environmental standards for bulk drug and formulation (pharmaceutical) industry. There is now an opportunity to take great strides towards more responsible manufacturing of antibiotics, with the new platform making it easier for business pioneers to take their work to the next level, through mutual learning and exchange of experiences. In addition, the implementation of the platform will build upon the piloting of joint technical solutions and strategic procurement leverage. After countries like Sweden and Norway, as well as the UN Initiative on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector, began requesting information about how antibiotics are produced, the progressive part of the pharmaceutical industry formed the AMR Industry Alliance and started to develop voluntary standards for responsible antibiotics manufacturing. But a lack of incentives and transparency has prevented further progress, and the new platform is an opportunity to recharge the process. Several high-level speakers will contribute to the RAMP launch. Among them is Joint Secretary Jigmet Takpa of the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who will give a keynote address. He signed the groundbreaking draft notification that can make India the first country in the world to regulate industrial effluents of antibiotics. Other speakers at the event include the ambassadors of Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, UN representatives (WHO, UNEP, UNDP), members of the AMR Industry Alliance (GSK, Centrient Pharmaceuticals), SIWI, and Shawview Consulting. RAMP has a long-term vision that by 2030 the release of antibiotics to the environment from manufacturing is minimized, and broader sustainability gains have been achieved in partnership with industry and governments, international agencies and other related stakeholders to provide a competitive advantage to the implementing companies, ensuring access to functional antibiotics that have been manufactured in a manner that does not promote antimicrobial resistance. RAMP is launched by SIWI and builds upon two earlier initiatives: Reducing Emissions from Antibiotics Project (REAP 2017-2020) and Reducing AMR Through Sustainable Antibiotic Manufacturing (RATSAM). REAP was led by SIWI and UNDP and funded by the Swedish Postcode Foundation. RATSAM was led by Shawview Consulting, with support from the global pharmaceutical industry and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). While REAP initiated changes in global supply chains, procurement practices, incentives and regulations, RATSAM developed pilot projects to help local companies and state governments to implement the AMR Industry Guidelines for sustainable antibiotic manufacturing. The key challenge is to better interlink the need for effective and resource-efficient technical solutions and the market demand and necessary incentive structures enabling the implementation of these technical improvements. A whitepaper, summarizing the key findings of the REAP project, has recently been published and will be presented at the event. The experience gained from the initial work in India will also be carried to other countries with significant antibiotics manufacturing and in need of improved industry practice. The case of India also shows how important the regulation is, as a third dimension complementing the supply and demand side of the market. KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2020 - 13:12 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus The South Korean government is evacuating by plane several citizens stuck on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Yokohama, a government official said Tuesday. After leaving for Tokyo in the afternoon, a presidential plane will return early Wednesday with four South Koreans and the Japanese spouse of one of them, according to the official. Upon their arrival at Seoul's Gimpo airport, they will be quarantined for 14 days at a temporary facility at Incheon International Airport west of the capital. The four are among the 14 South Koreans on the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess. While hundreds of passengers on the ship have been found infected with the pneumonia-causing virus, none of the South Koreans have shown symptoms of infection, the official said at a briefing to reporters. South Korea has so far reported 31 cases of infection. Twelve have recovered from the illness, now officially known as COVID-19. Related coverage: Deaths rise to 1,868 in China as nation battles against epidemic Airlines refuse to take passengers from cruise ship in Cambodia NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe, the narcolepsy market, is anticipated to reach US$ 1,532.5 Mn in 2027 from US$ 671.1 Mn in 2018. The market is projected to grow with a CAGR of 9.7% from 2019-2027. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862123/?utm_source=PRN The European narcolepsy market is expected to grow due to key driving factors such as growing research and developments and increasing awareness across the region.The market is divided into three countries such as the Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain. In Europe, narcolepsy with cataplexy is a rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 0.02% in European populations. Narcolepsy shares many features of rare disorders, in particular the lack of awareness of the disease with serious consequences for healthcare supply. Similar to other rare diseases, only a few European countries have registered narcolepsy cases in databases of the International Classification of Diseases or in registries of the European health authorities. Narcolepsy is a rare diseases which shows different symptoms in children and adults.The symptoms shown by children are not noticed that much until they reach adulthood. However, the incidences of narcolepsy in children are less and is not estimated due to the undiagnosed of the conditions.According to a study 'Clinical Characteristics and Burden of Illness in Pediatric Patients with Narcolepsy' published in 2018 stated that the prevalence of the narcolepsy among children between the age 5 years and below is 13 per 100,000. Whereas, it 83 for every 100,000 children between the age group of 5 years and 19 years. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness among the people so to reduce the symptoms of narcolepsy. Across, Europe the awareness is increasing significantly, For instance, in Ireland 22nd September is celebrated as narcolepsy day.Across the Ireland kite flying event was conducted, it displayed the about the narcolepsy. The event was successfully held and the aim to aware people about narcolepsy was fulfilled.Similarly in Italy in September 2016, University of Bologna in collaboration with Italian Narcolepsy Community conducted a narcolepsy awareness program that involved speakers from Italy, France and the US to talk about the novel findings and propagate general information to the populace regarding narcolepsy and other sleep related neurological disorders. Thus, it is estimated that the rising awareness program is likely to influence the growth of market during the forecast period. The Europe narcolepsy market is segmented as type, product and distribution channels.Based on type the market is segmented as narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and secondary narcolepsy. Based on the product the market is categorized as central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, sodium oxybate, and antidepressants. And based on distribution channel the market is classified as hospital pharmacies and retail pharmacies. In 2018, the narcolepsy with cataplexy segment held a largest market share of the narcolepsy market, by type.This segment is expected to dominate the market in 2027 owing to the rising episodes of cataplexy that are expected to be encountered among 55-60% of patients suffering with narcolepsy. The segment is also anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period, 2019 to 2027. Some of the significant primary and secondary sources for narcolepsy included in the report are European Commission, European Medicines Agency, European Union, Associazione Italiana di Medicina del Sonno and others. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862123/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Mr. Pistotnik advertises success with his verdicts and settlements atop an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer and other large commercial motor vehicles declaring "sometimes big truck wrecks can result in big case settlements." Brad Pistotnik said, "I am extremely happy being vindicated by this ruling from U.S. Federal District Judge, The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, who has dismissed this frivolous lawsuit while finding our 9.5 million dollar settlement accurate and confirms our truth in advertising." Mr. Pistotnik is a staple of the community providing service, support, and charity over three and a half decades to the fine people of Kansas. Recognized for eccentric and entertaining advertising while riding a bull to breaking down the walls of the insurance companies in the name of justice, "The Bull Attorney" has always been for the people from Kansas in their times of need. SOURCE Brad Pistotnik Law and The Bull Attorneys! Massachusetts Rep. David Nangle, who was arraigned on a host of bank and wire fraud charges, was released on bond Tuesday afternoon on the condition that he refrain from gambling activities. The Lowell Democrat pleaded not guilty in Boston federal court Tuesday to charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, filing false tax returns and making false statements to a bank. He was released on $25,000 bond and a series of conditions restricting his gambling and travel. David Nangle is a good person. He has proudly served the people of his district, his attorney, Bill Connolly, said after the arraignment. These charges are only allegations, and we will fight these charges in court. Altogether, Nangle faces a 28-count indictment that he defrauded political donors, a Lowell bank and the Internal Revenue Service over the past six years. Hes accused of stealing at least $70,000 in campaign funds alone, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling told reporters Tuesday morning. Nangle is accused of conducting multiple fraud schemes to finance his gambling habits, Lelling said. He often gambled at multiple casinos in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. According to the indictment, Nangle won a $1,221 jackpot on a slot machine at a Connecticut casino on May 2, 2018. He paid an unnamed individual to collect his winnings so he wouldnt have to report the casino winnings to the IRS, according to the indictment. After his arrest Tuesday morning, Nangle appeared beside his defense attorney as Judge M. Page Kelly read the charges against him. Prosecutors asked to restrict Nangles travel to within the state, with the exception of the occasional traveling to New Hampshire to pick up his girlfriends dogs. Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364. Related Content: A craft brewery based in Holyoke is hoping to be the gateway for European brewers into the United States. Loophole Brewery took the first step in accomplishing that goal Tuesday with its announcement of a collaboration with Baronscourt Brewing Company out of Ireland. I think its going to be a great start, Jeff Goulet of Loophole Brewing said. I foresee this really turning into a long-term thing for us and Baronscourt and for us and other breweries. The two breweries began discussing a potential collaboration two years ago. Baronscourt wanted to enter the U.S. market and Loophole acted as a solution. While producing its own beer, Loophole also offers services to craft brewers looking to enter the market without the overhead coast of opening a brewery. Baronscourt could brew from Loopholes Holyoke facility and cut down on import time and costs. Every brewer in Europe has dreams of exporting to the United States. So this is a really affordable way, Goulet said. Weve been talking, maybe this is the gateway. May the Road Rise to Meet Ewe is the first beer the two collaborated on. Its described as a mix of American culture with a nod to Baronscourts Black Sheep Stout. The brew will combine the distinctive dark malts associated with Irish stouts with an American influence, which means a boost in alcohol by volume and purified water. Normally, Loophole Brewery matches the water profile when crafting a beer made in a different location. When examining the water in Ireland, used to make Baronscourts beer, Goulet said, the amount of baking soda needed to match the water profile would have killed the yeast. The water profile in Ireland was pretty rough, Goulet said. In brewing May the Road Rise to Meet Ewe in Holyoke, it also allows for a fresher product. Goulet said after production in Europe, it could be 60 days before beer reaches the U.S. market. Its difficult for [European brewers] to compete price-wise, Goulet said. Because they have to pay for freight, taxes and duties and tariffs and god knows what else. Add that all together and put that into the price of a can of beer. The label on the can will include artwork from Jesse Morgan, an artist from Amherst. It features a lamb standing between two green fields on a dirt road. The sky is either setting or rising with violet hues. The two breweries will host a series of events for the collaboration coinciding with Mass Beer Week (March 7 14) including a special event at the John Boyle OReilly Club in Springfield on March 12. A very limited quantity of May the Road Rise to Meet Ewe has been produced. Loophole Brewing has started taking preorders and Goulet expects it to sell out before its release. Maybe we do this a couple of times then we launch Baronscourt here for them in the states, Gouet said. Then its not some strange brand that no one has ever heard of. Related Content: [February 18, 2020] After GSMA Cancels Mobile World Congress, The Silver Telegram Partners With Barcelona's Coworking Community To Host The Phoenix Events; A Networking Event Series in Barcelona For Former Attendees of Mobile World Congress and 4YFN BARCELONA, Spain and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Silver Telegram , LA-based Technology PR Agency, announces The Phoenix Events . The Phoenix Events are a networking event series for those formerly attending Mobile World Congress and 4YFN that are looking for meeting and networking spaces in the midst of the cancellation of the GSMA events in Barcelona next week. "After the cancellation of MWC there was nothing but sadness all around. Thanks to Ronjini Joshua, she has utilized all the possible resources to provide all the former MWC attendees a platform to network," says Hassan Zulfiqar, Chapter Director of StartupGrind from Pakistan. "We had founders that still wanted to go to Spain for networking opportunities and pitch events, so it is good to be able to have an event that will allow us to network and set meetings at a common location for Mobile World Congress attendees. The Silver Telegram organized and collaborate with innovative Barcelona coworking spaces to provide such an awesome networking platform within no time, very much like a Phoenix coming out of the ashes." The Phoenix events will be held at premier coworking spaces in Barcelona including BCombinator , Itnig and MOB Barcelona . The networking sessions are free for the former attendees of the Mobile World Congress and 4YFN but require registration through Eventbrite to attend here: The Phoenix Event . "After the announcement last week, I spoke with several attendees who were left with few alternatives and little time to change their travel plans for what is usually one of the biggest events of their year," says CEO and founder of The Silver Telegram, Ronjini Joshua. "I saw this opportunity to create something, Barcelona's coworking community came together very quickly to offer spaces and we are excited for everyone to see what the city has to offer." Events location and times are as follows: Tuesday, February 25 - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm CET - BCombinator (Carrer de Badajoz, 32, 08005 Barcelona) Wednesday, February 26 - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm CET - Itnig (Carrer de Pujades, 100, 08005 Barcelona, Spain) Thursday, February 27 - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm CET - MOB Barcelona (Carrer Bailen 11, Bajos 08010 Barcelona) Attendees can come to network, meet other MWC attendees and host meetings. Also, to see other events happening during the week visit our blog: Barcelona Tech Events About The Silver Telegram Established in 2011, The Silver Telegram is a public relations agency focused on building brand awareness through media relations for technology companies. The agency has worked with large brands and startups alike, focusing on strategic integrated communications programs that expand traditional PR to include social media and marketing practices. To learn more about The Silver Telegram visit the website at www.thesilvertelegram.com Media contact: Ronjini Joshua 949-295-9779 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/after-gsma-cancels-mobile-world-congress-the-silver-telegram-partners-with-barcelonas-coworking-community-to-host-the-phoenix-events-a-networking-event-series-in-barcelona-for-former-attendees-of-mobile-world-congress-and-4yfn-301006806.html SOURCE The Silver Telegram [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 24.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump blew a gasket on Monday in what was an apparent response to former President Barack Obamas tweet about how the Recovery Act he signed into law in 2009 prevented an economic depression. In a pair of tweets, Trump called Obamas factual economic reminder a con job and claims he is responsible for the best jobs numbers ever. Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2020 .ever. Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted. Fed Rate UP, taxes and regulations WAY DOWN. If Dems won in 2016, the USA would be in big economic (Depression?) & military trouble right now. THE BEST IS YET TO COME. KEEP AMERICA GREAT! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2020 Trumps latest tantrum comes hours after Obama marked the 11th anniversary of his signing of the Recovery Act, tweeting, Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history. Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history. pic.twitter.com/BmdXrxUAUf Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 17, 2020 It should be noted that on Monday, #ObamaWasBetterAtEverything was one of the trending topics on Trumps favorite social media website, Twitter. Nothing bothers Trump more than being reminded of that fact. Trumps economy isnt the best ever Donald Trump has spent the past three years as president coasting on the economic successes of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But even if we take Trump at his word (hint: dont) and give him credit for his three years in the White House, Obamas economic numbers are still better. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump has created 1.5 million fewer jobs during his first three years than Obama did in his final three years. In other words, job growth has slowed since Trump took office in 2017. Not to mention, as MSNBCs Steve Benen pointed out earlier this month, [W]hile Trump spent the year boasting that the U.S. job market was the strongest its ever been, 2019 saw job growth slow to an eight-year low. PoliticusUSAs Jason Easley also noted earlier on Monday that Trumps economy only ranks number six out of the past 10 presidencies. Donald Trumps whining about Barack Obama wont change the cold, hard data showing that the economy he inherited is still good, but it was better under the previous president. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday stepped in to save two endangered bird species - Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican - by directing the Rajasthan government to chalk out a time frame to remove overhead high-voltage power lines and lay them underground. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and comprising Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant observed that the two species were vulnerable to fatal collision with overhead power lines. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) echoed the concern and insisted that power lines would have to be laid underground to save the birds. The court then asked the Rajasthan government's counsel to obtain instructions from the authorities concerned on shifting overhead lines below the ground within two weeks. The top court observed that the state could go for underground cables in agreements with private companies. The court observed that overhead power lines obstruct the flight of the Great Indian Bustard, a larger bird, and as a consequence its movement was restricted. The Chief Justice said: "One of the solutions suggested to avoid collision of birds with overhead wires is these be laid underground." For the other bird species, the top court reckoned it faced difficulties due to power generation plants and queried the state if it is facing any issues so that the court could issue specific directions. Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni, representing the MoEF, contended that a team of ministry officials and other wildlife experts had visited Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Nadkarni said after considering all aspects, the only solution available is to take the cables underground. The counsel for petitioner MK Ranjitsinh, a retired IAS officer, said that the terms of reference for the top court-appointed panel are ready. Through these references, the panel could look at conservation efforts for the two bird species, he said. The counsel suggested experts -- Sutirtha Dutta (scientist); Thulsi Rao, Director, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB); and Samad Kottur, a lecturer in government college in Karnataka -- who could be included in the court-appointed panel. The court accepted the suggestion and directed for the inclusion of the three experts in the panel. The top court asked the MoEF to look into the terms of reference and file an affidavit on the matter. The court will further hear the matter after two weeks. In July 2019, the court took on record the possible extinction of the two bird species and constituted a high-powered committee to develop the response plan. The court had set up a 3-member panel comprising Director of Bombay Natural History Society; Asad R Rahmani, a former society Director; and Dhananjai Mohan, Chief Conservator of Forests of Uttarakhand. Wildlife activists had claimed that the two birds faced fatal collision with power infrastructure, and also depletion of their habitat and ingestion of pesticides. The top court had sought responses from the Centre and state governments on this plea. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that his government will investigate the Bhima-Koregaon violence case which was a result of the alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017. The Maharashtra government had recently okayed the handing over of investigation into the Elgar Parishad case to Centres National Investigation Agency (NIA). Elgar and Bhima Koregaon are two separate topics. The issue facing my Dalit brothers is about Bhima Koregaon and I will not give it to the Centre. I want to make it clear that there will be no injustice to Dalit brothers, Thackeray said on Twitter on Tuesday. Last week, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had publicly expressed his unhappiness over Thackerays decision to hand over the Elgar Parishad probe to the NIA. The NCP is a key constituent of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, along with the Congress party. Pawars remarks came a day after his party colleague and state home minister Anil Deshmukh said that the chief minister overruled his suggestion that the state government should oppose the Centres decision to take over the probe from Pune Police. Senior Congress leader and partys Maharashtra in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge had expressed dissatisfaction over the decision and said that the government should have discussed it with alliance partners. On Monday, the NCP had said that the state government will conduct its own probe by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The Pune Police have claimed that the conclave was backed by Maoists. During the investigation into the case, the police had arrested Left-leaning activists Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao for alleged Maoist links. KENMORE, Wash., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bastyr University, a pioneer in natural health arts and sciences, showcases the many undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level programs and career opportunities offered with industry experts on-hand during "Discover Bastyr: The Intersection of Science and Nature." The event will be hosted on February 22, 2020, from 9:00 AM 4:00 PM PST on its Kenmore, Washington campus. Designed to help prospective students find their desired career path, Discover Bastyr is comprised of unique program discussions, case studies, and interactive, hands-on demonstrations in each department, with subjects including botanical medicine, acupuncture, and nutrition. Prospective students will leave with a deeper understanding of the programs and career tracks offered at Bastyr University. The University is home to over 20-degree programs, with offerings such as Psychology, Biology, Public Health, Maternal Child Health, Midwifery, and Naturopathic Medicine. Additionally, the event will give insight into the admissions process and financial aid. Students will learn about various degree programs and be able to speak individually with past and current students as well as faculty throughout the day and during their complimentary luncheon. Attendees will be eligible for a drawing of three $1,000 entrance scholarships. Registration is free and currently open to interested community members. About Bastyr: Bastyr University is a nonprofit, private university offering doctoral, graduate and undergraduate degrees, with a multidisciplinary curriculum in science-based natural medicine. Recognized globally for its rigorous curriculum and strong research, the 42-year-old University has campuses in Kenmore, Washington, and San Diego, California. Bastyr's international faculty educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences, with an emphasis on integrating mind, body, spirit, and nature. For more information please visit: http://www.bastyr.edu/ SOURCE Bastyr University Related Links http://www.bastyr.edu The prices of the key pharmaceutical ingredients could rise if the coronavirus situation in China does not improve soon, a top company official said on Tuesday. China accounted for 67.56 per cent of total imports of bulk drugs and drug intermediates at USD 2,405.42 million to India in 2018-19. "The prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) could increase if the situation in China does not improve soon," Zydus Group Chairman Pankaj Patel said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday met the representatives of various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, electronics and IT hardware, solar, auto, surgical equipments, and paints, to review the situation following the outbreak of the deadly virus in China. She said the government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry. Describing pharma, chemical and solar equipment sectors as worst affected, the finance minister said disruptions are visible in these due to delay in shipment. "There are no concerns about price rise so far due to coronavirus," she added. She also said there were no reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment, instead the pharmaceutical industry is asking for lifting of ban on exports of certain items. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has already constituted a high-level panel to assess the impact of the outbreak of the deadly virus in China on the supply of APIs in India. According to official sources, Indian drugmakers have informed the high-level committee that they presently have stocks for the next two to three months. There has been no supply from the neighbouring country for the last 20-25 days, mainly due to Chinese New Year holidays, sources said. The prices of medicines are monitored by the government, and apart from the essential medicines whose prices are fixed by the government, the companies are allowed to hike prices of the remaining drugs by only up to 10 per cent in a year. India has a high dependence on fermentation-based APIs/ intermediates namely antibiotics and vitamins. Companies have been maintaining 2-3 months inventory of these APIs and intermediates, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) Secretary General Sudarshan Jain had earlier said. India imports bulk drugs/APIs for producing medicines, including certain essential medicines, from China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection early today amid declining membership and a drumbeat of child sexual abuse allegations that have illuminated the depth of the problem within the organization and Scouts failure to get a handle on it. After months of speculation and mounting civil litigation, the Chapter 11 filing by the scouting organization's national body was unprecedented in both scope and complexity. It was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware overnight. The exact effects on Boy Scouts' future operations are unknown, leading to speculation about the organization's odds for survival, the impact on local troops and how bankruptcy could change the dynamic for abuse survivors who have yet to come forward. Some fear that at a minimum it will prevent survivors from naming their abuser in open court. Theyre going into bankruptcy not because they dont have the money, said Tim Kosnoff, who has tried thousands of child abuse cases, including many against the Boy Scouts and Catholic Church. Theyre going into bankruptcy to hide ... a Mount Everest in dirty secrets. In court filings, the Boy Scouts said it faces 275 abuse lawsuits in state and federal courts around the country, plus another 1,400 potential claims. In a statement, the organization said: "The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting." "The BSA intends to use the Chapter 11 process to create a Victims Compensation Trust that would provide equitable compensation to victims." The group said it paid $150 million in settlements and legal costs from 2017 to 2019. The organization said scouting programs will continue "throughout this process and for many years to come. Local Councils are not filing for bankruptcy as they are legally separate and distinct organizations." It is exactly that distinction that victims' attorneys say will form the core of the legal battle ahead over which assets Boy Scouts must use to pay legal settlements and which can be shielded. The primary debate, they say, will center on property owned by the 266 regional councils and local troops. Story continues Reports of a potential bankruptcy first emerged at the end of 2018, with rumors that the nonprofit youth organization would follow in the footsteps of the Catholic Church, which has faced similar claims of abuse. But unlike the Catholic bankruptcy cases, in which more than 20 individual dioceses have filed for protection, the Boy Scouts case will play out on a national level. Many saw the Scouts increase in annual membership fees in October, from $33 to $60, as evidence of financial trouble. Then on Jan. 1, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which for 100 years was among Boy Scouts largest partners followed through on its plan to pull hundreds of thousands of Mormon youth out of Scouts in favor of its own youth program. That withdrawal caused an 18% drop in membership overnight, to fewer than 2 million. But the nonprofit organization's chief financial concern, according to victims attorneys and bankruptcy experts, is rising liability from abuse lawsuits. The suits have led to battles with insurance carriers, who refused to pay out claims saying the Scouts failed to take effective preventive measures to stop the abuse. In 2018, Boy Scouts sued six of its carriers. The problem with Boy Scouts is they're caught in a vice grip of, on one hand, having insurance companies not paying on these claims that Boy Scouts have already settled, and second having dwindling economic resources on account of paying out money for sexual abuse settlements, said attorney Paul Mones, who has tried dozens of high-profile cases against Boy Scouts. The Boy Scout logo and a uniform are displayed in a store at the Marin Council in Northern California. The scouting movement first made its way to the United States in 1909. The scouting organization has been mired in civil litigation since a landmark case in 2010 that resulted in $19.9 million in damages, the largest ever for a single individual against the Boy Scouts. That case triggered the release of more than 20,000 confidential documents, which became known as the perversion files. Those records named more than 1,000 banned volunteers, revealing that the 100-year-old organization had kept track of suspected and known abusers and failed to consistently report them to police or inform parents or the public of the extent of the problem. Critics say bankruptcy could thwart public safety While the bankruptcy filing has long been viewed by some legal experts, and even victims attorneys, as the best and most likely course of action, its a controversial move for one of the countrys most influential youth organizations. Boy Scouts currently faces hundreds, if not thousands, of abuse lawsuits. New allegations poured in as efforts to extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse gained momentum in recent years. Thirty-eight states have amended their statute of limitations since 2002, with 10 eliminating civil statute of limitations altogether and 16 reviving expired statutes, according to CHILD USA, a think tank focused on preventing child abuse and neglect. A campsite off the trail to the summit of the second highest peak in New Mexico's Philmont Scout Ranch. Last year, the national Boy Scouts of America confirmed it was using Philmont as collateral for a line of credit for insurance. New York's Child Victims Act opened a one-year window in August for lawsuits from child sexual abuse survivors previously barred by the statute of limitations. The day that window opened, hundreds of suits were filed. California, which passed one of the first pieces of legislation years ago, added another revival window beginning this year. One reason lawmakers have pushed such legislation is public safety: The legislation gives victims a greater opportunity to publicly name their abusers, who may still be a threat to their communities. Kosnoff said bankruptcy will largely thwart that public safety effort. Individuals will come forward but their avenue will be to file proof of claim in the bankruptcy which is completely confidential, said Kosnoff, who with Abused in Scouting has filed two recent suits against Boy Scouts. The Scouts, in its statement issued earlier today, flipped that, saying a settlement fund "is the best means of compensating victims in a way that is equitable and protects their identities." More: Nearly 800 accuse Boy Scouts of failing to protect them from sex abuse as new lawsuit is filed More: Boy Scouts lawsuit: Parents trust teachers and counselors, but should they? By filing for bankruptcy, the Boy Scouts can consolidate all of the lawsuits against the organization and pursue a settlement that potentially is far lower than settlements outside of bankruptcy. But Pamela Foohey, associate professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, said there are benefits for survivors who have filed suit recently and would otherwise have faced a long legal battle and dwindling resources. It stops everything and it puts it in one place for the Boy Scouts to have time to assess the breadth, the scope of the litigation, of the claims, and then deal with it collectively, Foohey said. Typically, abuse survivors will be represented on a required committee of unsecured creditors or on a separate committee established to represent their interests, she said. The committee will try to negotiate a settlement in which the nonprofit sets aside a pot of money to settle claims. To gain access to those funds, survivors will have to file a claim by a date set by the bankruptcy judge. Critics say that process can be stacked in favor of the organization by forcing victims who may not be ready to come forward to file their claims. Its a huge advantage for these entities, and it cuts survivors off at the knees, said Tim Hale, a California attorney who has settled numerous cases against the Catholic Church. The road ahead: What we know about victims, assets and the future of scouting The long history of scouting in America Founded in England by cavalry officer Robert Baden-Powell, the scouting movement made its way to the United States in 1909 thanks to Chicago newspaperman William D. Boyce. Seven years later, Congress unanimously passed a charter that helped enshrine Boy Scouts as a respected U.S. institution. From the outset, Boy Scouts has operated on a decentralized structure, much like the Catholic Church, with the National Council serving as more advisory body and much of the day-to-day operations, including some fundraising, happening at the local level. The youth organization says 110 million Americans have participated at some time in their lives, with a peak of more than 4 million members a year in the 1970s. Some of those members included future astronauts, Supreme Court justices and presidents, including John F. Kennedy and Gerald Ford. A child looks over a Norman Rockwell exhibit in Salt Lake City. Rockwell started his career creating illustrations for the Boy Scouts Hike Book. The Scouts still own about 70 of the famed artists works. The organization also has played an important role in American culture. Norman Rockwell started his career creating illustrations for the Boy Scouts Hike Book, becoming art editor for its monthly Boys Life magazine at 19. He'd go on to create dozens of works featuring Scouts, including during his stint at The Saturday Evening Post. The Scouts still own about 70 of the famed artists works. The Boy Scout mission embodied in its oath to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight inspired major contributions from other icons and business leaders as well. Irving Berlin donated royalties from his composition God Bless America to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts through his trust, the God Bless America Fund. Waite Phillips, of Phillips Petroleum Company, donated his favorite New Mexico ranch, the 140,000-plus-acre Philmont Scout Ranch, as well as Tulsas iconic Philtower building. Such properties and cultural relics have added to the national organizations holdings, which Boy Scouts valued at $1.4 billion in 2018 tax documents. In bankruptcy, Boy Scouts may be forced to sell off those assets to pay creditors or may do so voluntarily. Last year, Scouts confirmed it was using Philmont, where an estimated 22,000 scouts backpack every summer, as collateral for an existing line of credit for insurance. In the bankruptcy proceedings, Scouts are likely to argue that assets such as property owned by local troops are separate and should be left untouched. The survivors are likely to argue that the court should not allow the Boy Scouts to protect those assets. In its Tuesday filing, Boy Scouts estimated about $1 billion in assets and between $500 million and $1 billion in liabilities. But much of Boy Scout property actually is owned by regional councils across the country rather than the national council, which claimed just $240 million in land assets in its 2018 tax filings. By contrast, the USA TODAY Network found $101 million in local councils' property in New York alone. "Assets are separate theyre going to make that argument, and were going to contest it," said Kosnoff, the attorney. "Under the bylaws of the Boy Scouts they have absolute control over the assets that may be titled to the council." As the bankruptcy proceedings continue, the Boy Scouts could attempt to argue that some of its property is held in a land trust, which could protect it from a sale, said Foohey, who described Chapter 11 bankruptcy as an opportunity to reorganize a business. Whats the point of business reorganization? she asked. Its to get as much money as possible to creditors while potentially keeping the business going. How bankruptcy will affect abuse survivors The period established for victims to file claims during a bankruptcy allows the organization to sidestep windows opened by states in response to sex abuse scandals. Hale, the California attorney who works with sexual abuse victims, said bankruptcy can dissuade survivors who havent shared their stories yet since the public typically interprets bankruptcy to mean the organization is out of money. That strategy, however, has backfired for the Catholic Church. In late 2007, a federal judge dismissed a bankruptcy case filed by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego after lawyers reached a settlement that paid 144 survivors $198 million. The diocese had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just hours before the trial was set to start. The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia, is one of four High Adventure camps owned by the National Council. During the bankruptcy trial, Judge Louise DeCarl Adler ripped the diocese for being disingenuous and byzantine, and threatened to hold several church officials in contempt of court. Later, she told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the diocese should never have filed the bankruptcy claim as a way to deal with survivors. Bankruptcy is the biggest scam going, said Jonathan Little, an Indianapolis-based attorney who represents a handful of women who say they were abused by USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. In January 2018, Nassar was convicted and sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. While Nassar remains locked up, USAG continues to deal with fallout from abuse claims from hundreds of athletes. Both Hale and Little said large organizations also can be strategic or even cunning in their arrangement of assets. With USA Gymnastics, for example, the USA Gymnastics Foundation is not included in the bankruptcy filing, which is basically giving USAG $20 million to reorganize after this is all done, Little said. Secrets out: Hundreds of former Boy Scouts reveal new sexual abuse claims, exposing 150 alleged pedophiles 'No imminent actions': Boy Scouts deflects report of bankruptcy prep in face of sexual misconduct litigation In April 2019, Little filed a federal lawsuit to protect potentially thousands of survivors who might not have known about a deadline for filing claims because of the USAG bankruptcy. Little said hes trying to get the bankruptcy case thrown out. Bankruptcy is the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card for these organizations, he said. I understand theres a finite amount of resources. But they make deals with secured creditors and vendors and then they screw over unsecured creditors mainly little kids. For some survivors who have dealt with the repercussions of abuse for decades, the bankruptcy filing feels like another way to dismiss their abuse and evade accountability. I really believe something needs to be done because a lot of changes have been made and none of them are for the good, said James Kretschmer, 56, who claims a leader groped him at a Boy Scout camp when he was in middle school. Krestschmer is among nearly 2,000 former Scouts represented by attorneys with Abused in Scouting. The group launched abusedinscouting.com as well as television and Google ads last spring. Kretschmer said he came forward only after seeing the ad. In my view, I think Boy Scouts should be shut down totally, Kretschmer said. I would never put one of my children in scouting today. The revelation of the perversion files Several civil suits reviewed by USA TODAY, including two filed by Abused in Scouting, allege that Boy Scouts knew it had a rampant child sexual abuse problem as far back as the 1920s but hid the issue to protect its wholesome image. In a 1935 New York Times article, the chief scout executive detailed a red flag system for weeding out volunteers who had been removed from the organization for various causes, including moral perversion. That is the system that decades later would come to be known as the perversion files. Those files again made news in the 1980s when they were entered into evidence in civil suits in Virginia and Oregon. The Oregon case resulted in a $3.7 million verdict against Boy Scouts, the largest of its kind at that point in U.S. history. A statue of a Boy Scout in front of the National Scouting Museum at the organization's Irving, Texas, headquarters. Much of Boy Scout property actually is owned by regional councils across the country rather than the national council, which claimed just $240 million in land assets in its 2018 tax filings. According to a 1993 CBS investigation, Boy Scouts had been sued more than 50 times since 1981, paying more than $15 million in damages. Yet, when national Scout representatives were asked if they required all troops to perform background checks on volunteers, or whether video training for volunteers to help spot potential abuse was mandatory, a Boy Scout representative said no. Boy Scouts has since adopted more assertive Youth Protection trainings, background checks and messaging for kids and parents warning of potential dangers, including a How to Protect Your Child from Child Abuse insert in the scout handbook. In its statement on the bankruptcy, the organization vowed: "Scouting will continue to provide unparalleled programs to young people keeping them safe, supported and protected as it prepares them for their futures. "The BSA today has some of the strongest, expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization, including mandatory youth protection training and background checks for all volunteers and staff, as well as policies that prohibit one-on-one interaction between youth and adults and require all volunteers and staff to report any suspected abuse to law enforcement. "Additional information about the BSAs multilayered safeguards, our commitment to support victims, and our efforts to be part of the broader solution to child abuse is available at www.scouting.org/youth-safety." But many, like attorney Paul Mones who tried the 2010 Oregon case, say that even after that landmark verdict, the Scouts didnt pay adequate attention to child abuse. Boy Scouts could have gotten ahead of this early on but literally chose not to, he said. Instead of reaching out to Scouts when they had the opportunity to do so, they dug in their heels. The first thing they did, after being just hit for $19.9 million, they filed a motion to try to keep the perversion files secret. The Boy Scouts lost that case and in 2012 the Oregon Supreme Court ordered the public release of those files. That was the dam that broke the Boy Scouts, Mones said. Because the organization chose over the years to err on the side of protecting its image, Mones said, the problem persists. In December, he filed suit on behalf of a 17-year-old client who said he was abused in 2018. I believe theyve been trying to look at the problem, he said, but the problem is that its a day late and a dollar short. Cara Kelly is a reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team, focusing primarily on pop culture, consumer news and sexual violence. Contact her at carakelly@usatoday.com, @carareports or CaraKelly on WhatsApp. Contributing: Marisa Kwiatkowski, Steve Orr This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boy Scouts: BSA files for bankruptcy amid deluge of sex abuse claims Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT Police are searching for two men after five shots were fired at a third in the citys Hollow section Monday night. One of the suspects was wearing a black hoodie and the other a red hoodie pulled over their heads, according to dispatch. A nearby surveillance camera may have recorded the shooting. Iran Sentences Eight Environmental Activists On Charges Of Spying For U.S. 02/18/20 Source: RFE/RL Iran's judiciary says it has issued prison sentences for eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who also has British and U.S. citizenship, on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Iran's national security. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili says an Iranian appeals court issued "final verdicts" in their cases on February 18. Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani, received 10-year prison sentences. They also were ordered to return money that Iranian authorities claim they'd received from the U.S. government for their services. Tahbaz is an Iranian who also holds U.S. and British citizenship. Iran does not recognize dual or multiple nationalities. That means Iranians detained by authorities in Tehran cannot receive consular assistance from the other countries where they also are citizens. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government. Esmaili, the judiciary spokesman, said two other activists, Houman Jokar and Taher Ghadirian, each received eight-year sentences for allegedly "collaborating with the hostile government of America." Another three activists -- Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashan Doust, and Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi -- were each sentenced to six years in prison. The eighth activist, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, was sentenced to four years in an Iranian prison. All the activists were arrested in Iran in early 2018. A ninth activist who was arrested at the time, Iranian-Canadian national Kavous Seyed Emami, died while in custody in February 2018 under disputed circumstances. His widow was blocked from flying out of Iran but later managed to leave the country. Iran continues to imprison others with ties to the West, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman sentenced to five years on allegations of planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling in Iran with her young daughter. Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer Namazi are serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage charges. Baquer Namazi is a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan Province under the U.S.-backed shah, Mohammad Reza Rahlavi. Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail in 2017 after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence on charges of "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini has since returned to the United States and is now suing Iran in U.S. federal court. Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007, remains missing. Earlier in February, Iran's Supreme Court confirmed the death penalty for Iranian citizen Amir Rahimpour, who was convicted of spying for the CIA. Iranian state media have alleged that he had shared details about Iran's nuclear program with the CIA. With reporting by Reuters and AP South Africa's last apartheid-era president, F.W. De Klerk, on Monday apologised and withdrew a controversial statement that apartheid was not a crime against humanity, following an outcry. De Klerk, 83, shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993 for dismantling white-minority rule and ushering in democracy. But he sparked fury among many South Africans when he publicly denied that apartheid was a crime against humanity, despite the UN declaring it such. "The idea that apartheid was a crime against humanity was and remains an agitprop project initiated by the Soviets and their ANC/SACP allies to stigmatise white South Africans by associating them with genuine crimes against humanity," he said. The ANC is the African National Congress, which under Mandela fought an underground battle against apartheid before coming to power in South Africa's first democratic elections, in 1994. The SACP is its erstwhile ally, the South African Communist Party. The remarks were made on February 2 in an interview with the national broadcaster SABC, and reiterated in a statement by De Klerk's foundation. Anger reached a crescendo on Thursday when President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced to delay his annual State of the Union address after lawmakers from the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) staged a rowdy protest in parliament, demanding De Klerk be ejected from the legislature. "It is an insult to those who died and (who were) tortured... under the instructions of De Klerk to have De Klerk sitting in a democratic parliament," it said. Other critics were the SA Council of Churches, other opposition parties and civil society groups, while the ruling ANC slammed De Klerk's remarks as "blatant whitewash". De Klerk, 83, shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993 for dismantling white-minority rule and ushering in democracy. By Rodger BOSCH (AFP) A foundation set up by the revered anti-apartheid fighter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said it was "irresponsible" to debate the "degree of awfulness of apartheid" and called for him to retract his statement. On Monday De Klerk retracted his statement and apologised for the "confusion, anger and hurt that it has caused". "I agree with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation that this is not the time to quibble about the degrees of unacceptability of apartheid. It was totally unacceptable," he said in a statement issued by his foundation. Despite the end of apartheid a generation ago, racial tensions in South Africa remain high and economic inequality and poverty run deep. An umbrella group called the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa this week launched an annual campaign to tackle racism at the grassroots level. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Esther Samboh and Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 11:05 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20651b93d 1 Business omnibus-bill,omnibus-law,job-creation,Airlangga-Hartarto,Jokowi,bylaws,law,authoritarian Free The government has dismissed concerns the omnibus bill on job creation will centralize power under the president as lawmakers express concern the bill will be a setback for democracy. Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the president would only be able to revoke regulations issued by administrations below the central government, including regional bylaws and ministerial regulations, based on the countrys regulation hierarchy. [The president] will not take authorities from governors or regents, Airlangga told a media briefing in Jakarta on Monday evening. Read also: Omnibus bill has authoritarian bent: Lawmakers, experts Article 170 of the draft bill, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, stipulates that the government will be able to revoke laws simply by issuing government regulations in a bid to resolve complaints from businesspeople. The government can consult with the House of Representatives leaders to devise such regulations. The omnibus bill, submitted to the House for deliberation last week, also gives the president the authority to revoke provincial and regency/city-level bylaws as well as gubernatorial and regency/mayoral regulations that contradict central government regulations by issuing presidential regulations. According to the Constitution, a law can only be revoked by a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) issued by the president with the House's approval. In a 2017 ruling, the Constitutional Court prohibited the central government from revoking bylaws and handed that authority to the Supreme Court. The government has high hopes the bill will cut red tape and improve ease of doing business as it seeks to attract investment to boost the countrys sluggish growth. Indonesias economy grew by 5.02 percent last year, the slowest rate in around three years, as investment and exports weakened. Read also: Omnibus bill allows President to scrap bylaws, weakens regional administrations Airlangga said the proposed regulatory changes would allow the country to cut bureaucratic red tapes. Separately, Gerindra Party lawmaker Sodik Mudjahid of House Commission II, which oversees home affairs, said the bill had triggered a debate about whether Indonesia was on a path to becoming an authoritarian country. "This will be a setback to democracy. The executive will become so powerful that it will become authoritarian, he said. It's contrary to the spirit of reformasi," he added, referring to the reform movement that followed the downfall of president Soeharto. (awa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Esther Samboh and Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 13:55 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20652609c 1 Business medicine,omnibus-bill,omnibus-law,patent,pharmaceutical-industry,Airlangga-Hartarto Free The government is planning to relax rules on drug patents in the omnibus bill on job creation to boost the nation's pharmaceutical industry and encourage patent-sharing, a top minister has said. Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that current legislation obliged companies to register their patents in Indonesia in hopes of driving the local pharmaceutical industry, but that the industry had not grown as expected. Instead, the patent rule created difficulties for the industry in providing the needed medication during a health emergency. We are pushing [so] companies do not have to register their patents in Indonesia, Airlangga said on Monday evening during a media briefing in Jakarta. Allowing pharmaceutical companies to apply for patents abroad might expedite patent sharing for developing the needed vaccine or antiviral during an outbreak, such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, he said. Read also: Indonesia to get new business license regime with omnibus bill Article 20 of the Patent Law stipulates that the patent holder must manufacture its products or process them in Indonesia, which would require technology transfers, investment and/or creating new jobs. The article has been deleted in the omnibus bill on job creation. Instead, the bill stipulates that pharmaceutical companies only need to obtain licenses from the government for operating their business and developing medicines and medical devices. The government is authorized to revoke the licenses if a company's drugs and medical devices do not meet standards, with further provisions to be regulated in government regulations (PP). Meanwhile, Law No. 36/2009 on health states that medical supplies may be distributed only after a distribution license is granted and must adhere to distribution objectives. The government hopes to strengthen the pharmaceutical industrys contributions to the country through import-substituting products, said Airlangga. By Finian Cunningham February 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - This weekend 75 years ago, the German city of Dresden was razed to the ground by British and American aerial bombardment. At least 25,000 mainly civilians were destroyed in raid after raid by over 1,200 heavy bombers, indiscriminately dropping high explosives and incendiaries. It took seven years just to clear the rubble. The destruction of Dresden, a world-famous cultural center of Baroque majesty, has been long dogged by controversy. Official British and American military accounts claim it was necessary to hasten the collapse of the Third Reich; with a reasoning that resonates with US claims for dropping the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Critics say, however, that the mass bombing of Dresden was immaterial in the effort to defeat Nazi Germany. It was a wanton act of terror a war crime carried out by the British and Americans. Critics point out that most of the industrial and military targets on the outskirts of the beautiful city were largely left untouched by the bombing. British wartime leader Winston Churchill is even said to have expressed misgivings about the morality of this and other indiscriminate bombing of German civilian centers. Ardent advocates of the terror-bombing campaign said it would exhaust German morale. A classic case of ends justifying means, no matter how vile the means. There were also claims at the time that the damage to Nazi communication and transport lines would aid the advancing Soviet Red Army. But there is good reason to believe that the rationale for the obliteration of Dresden was for an altogether more sinister reason. It wasnt so much an act of terror aimed at Nazi Germany, but rather a show of maniacal power to the Soviet Union. A British Royal Air Force memo on the Dresden operation noted that it would show the Russians when they arrive what Bomber Command can do. (See caption 17 in this linked photo essay.) By mid-February 1945, the front lines of the Western and Eastern allied forces were such that the American and British ground troops had not yet entered Germany territory, while the Soviet Red Army had crossed the Oder River and were a mere 70 kilometers from Berlin, the seat of the Third Reich. Such was the keen advance of the Soviets that the Western allies were concerned that the Red Army might take all of German territory. Rather than aiding Soviet forces from the mass bombing of Dresden, Leipzig and other cities in the German east, it seems plausible that, as the above British RAF memo indicates, the Western allies were intent on demonstrating a shockingly brutal, raw power to Moscow. Not just military power, but a will power to use any means necessary to defeat enemies. There is a direct analogy here with the subsequent atomic bombing of Japan. At the Potsdam conference in July 1945 following the defeat of Nazi Germany and the carve-up of Berlin, giving the Western allies shared control of the German capital way beyond their final front lines, the American president Harry Truman relished the ability to drop a sinister hint to Josef Stalin about a newly acquired secret weapon the A-bomb. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter As with the earlier British and American bombing of Dresden and other German cities, there was arguably little military justification for dropping the atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9. Like Dresden, the military significance of those cities was dubious. The death of 200,000 civilians from the atomic inferno was not a military necessity for defeating imperial Japan, as Trumans top generals MacArthur and Eisenhower were advising him against. So if the bombing of Hiroshima or Nagasaki was unnecessary from a military point of view to end the Pacific War, why was it done? As with Dresden, the point was a monstrous display of terror by Western powers to let the Soviet Union know that nothing would be off-limits in the postwar geopolitical stand-off that was anticipated and which became the Cold War. When the A-bombs were dropped on Japan, Stalin was said to have been frozen by reports of the awesome new destructive power. The Soviet Union was not to develop its A-bomb until 1949. The terror unleashed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki seems to have had the intended effect of halting Soviet Red Army advances that were being made into the Korean Peninsula and onwards to Japan. The American troop lines were relatively remote by comparison with their Soviet counterparts, yet after the A-bombing the US was catapulted to take over both Asian-Pacific territories in the postwar period. Not unlike the precocious territorial gains that were acquired by the Western allies in defeated Nazi Germany. Thus the moral controversies about the British and American bombing of German and Japanese cities goes way beyond arguments about the right or wrong of mass murder for the supposed purpose of ending wars. That moral hazard is difficult enough. But even more fiendish is a bigger picture; one in which the cold, calculated use of terror and genocide is not about ending war, but rather to simply exert geopolitical power against a perceived rival in the postwar era. Terror for terror sake, evil for evil sake. A final note: it has become fashionable to falsify the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany by claiming that the Red Army became an occupying tyranny in eastern Europe after the wars end. Suffice to say that if the Soviets committed even a fraction of the crimes that were actually carried out by the Americans and British from their aerial bombing of civilians in both Germany and Japan, one would never hear the end of deafening Western condemnations against Moscow to this day, and for decades to come. Art & Clarity, the Napa-based photography and videography team of Lowell Downey and Janna Waldinger, have spent the past 28 years showcasing individuals, businesses, and nonprofits from the Valley and beyond. This year, Downey and Waldinger are marking their 25-year anniversary of the businesss move to Napa from San Francisco. Many years later, today, Art & Clarity remains in the same spot as when it opened in 1994, the historical Goodman House on Division Street. Waldinger said the team inspires folks to find fabulous in Napa and capture it photographically so they can share it wildly. Downey and Waldinger said they photograph and create videos throughout the Valley, the Bay Area, and beyond. They often embark on exciting journeys, including photographing different cultures from the vantage point of a hot-air balloon and shooting documentary films in Israel. The two met almost 30 years ago in San Francisco at the Hatley Martin Art Gallery, where Waldinger was then an associate director. Later, Downey and Waldinger became the directors of a San Francisco arts nonprofit organization, the Institute for Living Arts. Together, they produced art performances, created art exhibitions, and took the first ecological art exhibition from the United States to the Czech Republic shortly after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Downey and Waldinger were married for 24 years. When they settled into the Valley, both took on new roles. In 1999, Downey joined the board of the Institute for Conservation, Advocacy, Research and Education (ICARE), a nonprofit that protects Napa County watersheds and the Napa River. By 1998, Waldinger was elected to trustee for Area 2 for the Napa County Board of Education. She has held the position for 22 years. In 2019, Waldinger became the student services manager for If Given a Chance. This Napa-based program provides mentoring and financial assistance to vulnerable Napa County high school students who have overcome challenges and are seeking to attend college or complete vocational training. By spring 2019, Downey became an adjunct professor of photography at Napa Valley College. Downey and Waldinger have long photographed the covers of Napa Valley Life Magazine, a local lifestyle magazine. In 2003, they did a collaborative commission for the Napa Valley Museum to photograph the construction and variety of wine caves for an exhibit titled Underground. With every new venture, Downey and Waldinger said they have gained a greater experience and understanding of the people and way of life in Napa Valley. We have a deep respect and love for our community. Being of service is how we support a healthy community, said Waldinger. The fun of an expeditionIn 2014, Downey and Waldinger began offering Art & Clarity Adventures, customized photography classes in Napa landscapes and wineries. The two singly and jointly instruct individuals, families, and businesses. In 2017, The New York Times listed their tours as one of the top 10 photography adventures in the world. Those classes come in two versions. The shorter is a 3-hour experience called The Art of Seeing, which involves exploration in the Napa landscape to learn camera functions and how to see differently. The longer is a 6-hour experience called Make Art of My Day. Waldinger said it involves a first-class lunch, an exclusive wine tasting, several tutorials, and the creation of a leather-bound book of the photos that the guests and Downey and Waldinger have taken. Keiko Abella, a Napa resident, said three generations of her family enjoyed the 6-hour experience with Waldinger. My parents, our six-year-old, and my husband and I all learned something and had a good time. Janna is very patient and helpful. We went out to Lake Hennessey, which is beautiful, and Janna taught us how to take pictures with our iPhones as well as a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, said Abella. Abella said Waldinger is relaxed, friendly, and easy to work with. Downey said creating the photography adventures gives the two an avenue to share Napas beautiful natural world. (At the same time, were) teaching composition, light and the deep appreciation of photography to people of all ages and abilities. We enjoy customizing the adventures to our guests preferences to include the stunning landscape, architecture, wine, and culinary worlds, said Downey. Partnerships lead to friendships Waldinger said that after 25 years in Napa, the two have made lasting relationships with clients because they have been well served. I credit my father and mother for being great mentors, both artistically and in service to the community, said Waldinger. Waldingers grandfather and father were both photographers. My father, Art Waldinger, was also a building contractor. When I was five, he gave me a camera and a tool kit, said Waldinger. At seven, I became his assistant in the studio. At 14, I had camera in hand working with my father, shooting portraits, social events, weddings, and bar mitzvahs. The tool kit was early training for repairing the world, said Waldinger. Waldinger later earned a B.A. in sculpture at the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Downey gained some of his storytelling skills earning a B.A. in theater at Florida State University. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts in dramatic writing from New York University. One of the things thats different about working with Lowell and Janna is that theyre artists, said Anthony Hsu, CEO of Maxville Lake Wines in St. Helena, and a client of the business. Their approach is very deep and they communicate with you on a highly intellectual basis. Theyre also very helpful and collaborative. Yet theyre clear. They let you know exactly what theyll do, but you have a choice to pick and choose what you need, said Hsu. Nanette and Valentin Humer, co-owners of Salute Sante! Grapeseed Oil, a Napa-based grapeseed oil producer, said they first met Downey and Waldinger through their sons preschool. As our sons grew up together, we got to know them and understand they were artists, which made them wonderful photographers. We started coming to them for our product and lifestyle food shots. Inevitably, a great dinner would turn into a photo shoot. Lowell and Janna know exactly what angles to use, said Valentin Humer. Nanette Humer said one of the things she likes best about working with Downey and Waldinger is they believe in our product and we believe in theirs. We always recommend them. Nothing is just a pat shot with them. Theres always a goal, an objective behind their photos, said Nanette Humer. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to include the correct street name for the location of Art & Clarity. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com People seeking to renew or switch temporary visas, such as those for workers and students, have to jump through new hoops starting Feb. 24, answering questions about their use of public benefits during their time in the U.S. even though they are not eligible for benefits such as Medicare and food stamps, and so could not have used them. But the new policy has already sowed fear and confusion, leading some people on temporary visas to eschew services they are entitled to, such as campus health care for students. It applies to a variety of visas, including H-1Bs, which are commonly used by tech companies and others to hire skilled workers; F-1 for students; E-1 for traders and investors; L-1 for intracompany transfers, as well as to the related visas for spouses and children of those visa holders. The goal is to ensure that nonimmigrants remain self-sufficient while present in the United States, wrote U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in a policy manual. Advocates such as Doug Rand, co-founder and president of Boundless Immigration, a tech startup whose offerings help immigrants navigate the legal system, say this is the latest example of the Trump administration promoting the false narrative that immigrants are moochers. Rand worked on immigration policy in the Obama White House as assistant director for entrepreneurship. The new requirement takes effect alongside a more sweeping policy change: the administrations public charge rule making immigrants ineligible for green cards if they have used public assistance, including non-cash benefits for food or housing. Despite numerous legal challenges including ones by California and by San Francisco and Santa Clara County officials and five injunctions blocking it, that policy was allowed last month by the Supreme Court. It is widely viewed as seeking to weed out lower-income immigrants. The administration wanted to throw up similar roadblocks to holders of temporary visas, Rand said. When those holders apply to extend their visas or switch to a different category such as postgraduate students changing to work visas they will be confronted with the new questions. It is ridiculous because by definition work and student visa holders are not eligible for public benefits, he said. There literally is no reason to have this happen. Writers for the conservative Heritage Foundation website argued that the public charge rule is a rational way to reward industrious immigrants, noting that the U.S. first implemented a requirement that immigrants be able to support themselves in 1882. It is common sense and a smart choice in the best interests of the country as a whole to try to ensure that new, legal immigrants to our country are self-sufficient individuals who will be a net plus for our economy, rather than a drag on expensive medical, housing, welfare, and other public assistance programs paid for by the American taxpayer at both the state and federal level, Hans von Spakovsky and David Inserra wrote in a blog post. People applying for permanent legal status green cards will have to fill out a lengthy questionnaire about past use of public benefits starting Feb. 24. For work or student visa holders, the paperwork will consist of about two pages of additional questions. The burden on people holding temporary visas is significantly less than those applying for green cards, said Jason Finkelman, an immigration lawyer. But thats not to say there is zero burden. It is super confusing and it is scaring foreign nationals, especially those here on temporary work visas. H-1B visa holders have seen denial rates rise and processing time increase. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Sunita Sohrabji, a staff reporter at India West, a San Leandro newsweekly for immigrants from India, said shes found cases of people denying themselves benefits they are entitled to because of fears of being denied permanent residency or visa renewals. The new public charge rule impacts Indian-citizen residents who often hope to bring their elderly parents over from India after retirement to live with them, she said. The way public charge is set up, you have to prove a certain level of income, she said. Your household income cannot apply for your elderly parents because theyre not yet living here. They have to prove that they are able to earn (the required) income independently of the household theyll move into, effectively barring most people who are retired. The new rule is spreading fear among international students, said Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. For instance, some fear that using their colleges health insurance program or clinics could be defined as using a public benefit, even though that is not the case. The new rules send a chilling message, she said. The rhetoric is harsh and unwelcoming, and the policies are dense and confusing. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid MINUTES December 5, 2019, 4:00 PM 200 W. Douglas, Jacksonville, Illinois Mayors Conference Room Alan Bradish (Vice Chairman), Colton Pettyjohn, Eddie Lowe (Secretary), Larry Whewell (Chairman), Mary Watts, Guy Crumley, Ralph Hastie, Ruth Linear Nancy Harper Polly Williams, President NAACP, Brandon West, Ward 3 Alderman, Ted Huber WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER 4:03 PM GUEST SPEAKER JACKSONVILLE NAACP Polly Williams, President of the NAACP Jacksonville Branch, gave a presentation on the duties and functions of the local branch. The Jacksonville branch has worked hard to improve the community by advocating for equal rights for all citizens. Polly spoke of many community projects that the local branch has undertaken including support for local preschools, providing school supplies, personal care items and gifts. New playground equipment and sporting supplies have been provided to promote physical activities for kids. The Jacksonville branch works hand in hand with all local agencies to achieve these goals. The Jacksonville NAACP, consisting of over 50 members, meets at 6:30 PM on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Jacksonville Public Library. Polly invited commission members to attend a fund-raising soup and salad luncheon that will be held Saturday, February 8th, at Community Park. This event will also serve as a celebration of Black History Month. The monies raised through free will donations will assist with ongoing projects including scholarships. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: To approve the minutes of 11/7/19 Motion by: Ralph Seconded by: Colton Discussion: None Carried: Unanimous OLD BUSINESS Crosswalk Alan spoke with the Mayor and he will discuss this concern with the superintendent of streets. He is expecting to hear back soon and will follow up with the JCDHR with updates. Survey The Survey is complete and has had over 100 responses to date. The Spanish version of the survey is also completed and is on line. Dr Matt has been recovering from health issues which delayed the initial release of the survey. There are also the continued challenges with translation of the survey into the French language. The plan is to continue work on the French version of the survey into the next semester with an expected completion date of March or April. A copy of the survey was circulated to the commission members for review. NEW BUSINESS None HUMAN RELATIONS ISSUES None MISCELLANEOUS Next meeting date: February 6th, 2020 New Officers The JCDHR will be nominating new officers in February with voting in March. African American Museum Ruth announced her involvement in an exciting new project developing an African American Museum in Jacksonville. This museum will be on the 3rd floor of the Congregational Church and will serve as a home for historical items as well as have areas designated for educational support of local children. Ruth is actively seeking donations for office items as well as school supplies. PUBLIC COMMENT Brandon West, Ward 3 Alderman Brandon discussed activities at the Senior Center in Jacksonville and potential involvement with this activity center. Ted Huber Mr Huber wanted to clarify that JACIL and JCDHR receive the proper credit that these 2 groups were responsible for getting 911 Text for Morgan County. EXECUTIVE SESSION None ADJOURNMENT 5:04 PM Motion: To adjourn Motion by: Alan Seconded by: Ruth Carried: Unanimous On Tuesday, Pakistan's case will be raised in the International Co-Operation Review Group (ICRG), part of the FATF. The FATF is the financial action workforce, a global body that monitors terrorist funding and money laundering. The FATF believes that some countries of the world are still supporting terrorist organizations through funds raised through illegal means. Amit Shah on Babulal Marandi's homecoming, says- "His stature is the greatest" FATF had said that despite the tightening of terror funding by the organization, many terrorist groups are still benefiting from illegal activities and funds raised from supporters around the world. Death toll in China rises, number of infected people reaches to 59,989 Regarding terrorist funding, India says that some terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen are regularly supported by Pakistan. This time of India has made the whole world think. BJP's master plan to knock down Mamata, will do this work in West Bengal Mardi Gras is legendary in the United States. Few other events are so famous throughout the country. Not only that, but pretty much no other party in the US reaches the heights of this New Orleans tradition. Obviously, attending the biggest bash in the entire country usually comes with a hefty price tag. Travel, lodging, food, and fun will all add up to cost you both arms and both legs if you arent careful. Just like any other vacation, there are ways to maximize fun, and minimize financial burden. At such an overwhelming, city-wide festival, its easy to get carried away. Dont fall for the trap; here are the top 3 thrift tips for Mardi Gras to keep your wallet safe! Lodging Location, location, location. The French Quarter is death (financially) and you should avoid it. If you can, try to stay in a suburb just outside New Orleans. Prices surge around Mardi Gras, and this effect is magnified the closer you are to the actual festival. With that said, the type of hotel you go to also matters. As usual, Airbnb and Homeaway are terrific tools to avoid crazy hotel rates. You can also look toward smaller hotels/motels or even hostels if you can swing it, as the large chains around the French Quarter are inordinately expensive. If you must stay within city limits, as I said before, get lodging outside of the FQ during Mardi Gras. Food New Orleans has some of the greatest food in the world. I will never tell you to go to Mardi Gras and now blow a little cash on some amazing food. Although, a lot of the inflated food costs comes from being stuck in a massive parade area and having to buy food from overpriced stands with so-so options. When you are heading out to the heart of the French Quarter for the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and events, bring snacks in a backpack. Bring a whole lunch if you can, and save the splurge money for the must-try food joints later on in the evening. Another way to save money is akin to the lodging strategy; look outside the heart of Mardi Gras. Check out the less trafficked neighborhoods and towns nearby, and youll find hidden gems that wont break the bank. Amazing food doesnt end at New Orleans city limits, so dont be afraid to branch out while youre in Louisiana. Sightseeing One of the best vacation tips I have ever gotten is that tours are overrated. While they can be an easy way to see the hot tourist locations all in a row, they are also pretty expensive. Tours can easily ring in at around $100-200, and they dont typically give you all the time youd want at each location. Instead, consider doing some research yourself and finding a few places you really want to spend time in. The Lower Ninth Ward can be traveled by cab, and there you can see the tragic outcome of Hurricane Katrina. The best way to explore the French Quarter is just to walk around and take it all in yourself. Find what youre interested in seeing, and get there on your own. This will make sure you get as much time as you want at your desired locations, and you get to save all that tour cash. Srinagar, Feb 18 : For the smooth celebration of the Mahashivratri festival across the Kashmir Division on February 21, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Baseer Ahmad Khan on Tuesday directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to provide essential commodities in areas populated by the Pandit community on a priority basis. He further directed them to establish fisheries, lotus stems, vegetables, walnut and flower stalls in the Pandit colonies and at temples. Concerned departments have been asked to launch an intense market checking on daily basis to curb black marketing of essential commodities during the festival and to ensure availability of essential commodities like in the markets as per the notified rates and quality standards. Major congregation will be held at the Shankaracharya temple in the city where devotees perform day long special prayers. Temples in other districts will also hold similar kind of gatherings. The Divisional Commissioner directed the fisheries department to deploy mobile fish vans at various places in the city. Besides, local fishermen will install their vending shops at Habba Kadal and Ganpatyar localities. The little-known pangolin is the world's most trafficked and poached mammal because of the demand for its meat and scales. Photo by AFP/Roslan Rahman. Vietnam is becoming increasingly interested in pangolins and prominent in the rapidly growing transnational trafficking of the animal, an investigation has found. "This is very beautiful, free delivery included," an unidentified seller tells a buyer, who is in fact an undercover investigator from the Netherlands-based Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC). In a secretly filmed video in Vietnam, the two were looking at a bunch of pangolin scales. The scales, each as large as a human palm, are laid on a table at an unidentified location. The video, part of an investigation in 2016-19 by WJC, takes a look at the transnational trail pangolin scales taken through 27 countries and territories, with Vietnam having a prominent role. Last year Vietnam seized the largest volume of scales, surpassing Nigeria, the main export hub. "Our investigations in Vietnam indicate that criminals that were previously involved in the ivory trade are now also involved in the trafficking of pangolin scales," Sarah Stoner, director of intelligence at WJC, which seeks to disrupt and help dismantle illegal wildlife trade, and lead author of the analysis, said. WJC has been working closely with Vietnamese authorities since 2016 to track wildlife trade, leading to many seizures of ivory and pangolin scales. Traffickers are currently finding it difficult to sell ivory, which Stoner said could be a contributing factor to the increased trafficking in pangolin scales. Since ivory is a more expensive item than scales, large volumes of the latter must be traded to compensate, according to the analysis. Between 2017 and 2019 around 16 tonnes of pangolin scales were offered for sale in Vietnam to undercover WJC investigators, confirming large-scale trafficking was occurring. Graphics by Wildlife Justice Commission. According to WJC data, in 2018 and 2019, there were shipments of more than 500 kilograms each seized at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, and five sea ports in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Four such shipments were seized in Hai Phong in northern Vietnam, and one each at the other ports. China, which is known for having huge demand for the endangered animal, used to be the main destination country until 2018, when Vietnam surpassed it. Transit and destination Known seizure data shows Vietnam is both a transit point and destination country for the scales, though more the latter. In 2018 more than three tonnes from Africa, headed elsewhere, were seized. Besides, seven consignments each in 2018 and 2019 weighing a total of 69.6 tonnes arrived for sale in the country. The country is part of the three most prolific smuggling routes that involve China, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Hong Kong, Nigeria, and Singapore. They and Vietnam were linked to 94 percent of all contraband seized during the 2016-19 period. A direct trafficking route between Nigeria to Vietnam was identified in May 2018, suggesting traffickers have managed to strengthen their relationship or the emergence of new trafficking networks in the African country. The trafficking of scales from Nigeria to Vietnam and Hong Kong seems to be increasing, with Singapore emerging as a transit hub. The populations of all four Asian pangolin species have plummeted in the last decade driven by a global wildlife black market which has been supplying the booming Chinese demand for jewelry, artwork, traditional medicine, and exotic food. With local pangolin supply running out, wildlife traffickers are now turning to African species. Scales trafficked to Vietnam were concealed under nuts, plastic scrap, tar, timber, and frozen meat, according to seizure data in 2018 and 2019. Despite being legally protected and categorized as endangered in Vietnam, the shy, tiny creature, which resembles a scaly anteater, is still hunted for the alleged medicinal properties of its scales. Poached and skinned Two tons of elephant tusks and pangolin scales found in three containers shipped from Nigeria to Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam in December 2019. Photo by VnExpress. Medicinal markets selling drugs containing pangolin scales can be found in Vietnam among other countries, according to the WJC. It also found carved pangolin scales being sold as jewelry and accessories in Vietnam. Traders also sell the meat after to high-end restaurants. Since the animal is rare and are caught in the wild, it serves an important social function for buyers to flaunt their status, a 2015 study published by British researchers on Elviser, a conservation science journal, said. At a restaurant in HCMC, the study said, pangolins were brought in alive and killed for consumption in front of customers. One incident involved three middle-aged men who paid $700 for a two-kilogram pangolin. It is illegal to hunt, kill, possess, capture, transport, or trade pangolins in Vietnam, and they carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines up to VND15 billion ($645,000). There are eight species of pangolin, all in Asia or Africa and all at risk of extinction as a result of habitat loss and illegal trade. Significant trafficking occurs though international trade in all eight species is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Stoner at WJC thinks the drawback with Vietnamese law enforcement is that it does not permit the use of special investigative techniques such as using undercover operatives, carrying out test purchase operations and controlled deliveries, all of which are necessary strategies needed to tackle organized crime. "These limitations greatly impede the effectiveness of law enforcement interventions of transnational wildlife trafficking within Vietnam. "We urge all governments and key stakeholders to address wildlife crime as what it really is: a very lucrative and serious organized crime." Wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest global illegal trade after narcotics, counterfeiting of products and currency and human trafficking, and is worth an estimated $19 billion per year, according to the World Wild Fund. Researchers at South China Agricultural University said earlier this month that the pangolin could be an intermediary host for the new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,700 people in China. This hypothes is still to be confirmed and Stoner urges caution "as this may potentially cause an adverse effect on a species already under enormous pressure as the target of high-level wildlife traffickers." Download photo Cynthia Duarte, an assistant professor of sociology and director of Cal Lutherans Sarah W. Heath Center for Equality and Justice, will lead the program with the help of a community engagement specialist who will be hired. Photo: Brian Stethem (THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. Feb. 18, 2020) California Lutheran University is one of eight universities partnering with the state of California on a first-in-the-nation program to help students pay for college through public service targeting pressing challenges in their region. California Volunteers is coordinating the Civic Action Fellowship in partnership with Cal Lutheran; California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Stanislaus; Dominican University of California; San Jose State University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Merced; and University of the Pacific. This will enable Cal Lutheran to build on its commitments to service learning and improving our community, said President Chris Kimball. The students selected as our AmeriCorps Fellows will serve as mentors, tutors and advisers for low-income and immigrant youths throughout Ventura County, partnering with existing organizations for the important work of improving educational outcomes for at-risk populations. An inaugural cohort of 25 AmeriCorps Fellows will help local organizations increase school completion rates for students and literacy rates for adults in low-income and immigrant communities in Ventura County. Upon completion of their fellowships, the students will receive up to $10,000 in federal and state scholarships. In fall, the fellows will participate in professional development training, learn about serving vulnerable populations, and connect with leaders at the organizations where they will intern. These are Cal Lutherans Rising Scholars Academy partnership with Moorpark College, the Safe Passage program run by the Thousand Oaks Police Department and Conejo Recreation and Park District, Oxnard Colleges Omega Initiative for men of color, and the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project. In spring, the fellows will dedicate 25 hours a week for 22 weeks to activities such as tutoring, developing and running extracurricular programs, and supervising field trips for students. They will also provide Spanish and English instruction for adult language learners. Concurrently, they will take a course focused on social justice theories, educational equity and community engagement. In summer, they will complete data collection and assessment reports. Cynthia Duarte, an assistant professor of sociology and director of Cal Lutherans Sarah W. Heath Center for Equality and Justice, will lead the program with the help of a community engagement specialist who will be hired and Community Service Coordinator Madeline Liberti. Cal Lutheran will receive about $340,000 in grants to help fund the program. Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea told United Nations judges Monday that French authorities illegally seized the central African nations embassy in Paris as part of a money laundering investigation on the son of the countrys president. On the first day of hearings, before the International Court of Justice, Malabos lawyers insisted the six-storey mansion at 42, Avenue Foch was a diplomatic mission and not the home of Equatorial Guineas vice president Teodorin Obiang. France has submitted my country to treatment which is totally arbitrary, discriminatory, and consequently contrary to international law, Carmelo Nvono-Nca, who led Equatorial Guineas legal team, told judges as public hearings in the case got underway. The case before the ICJ is focused on the diplomatic status of a multimillion-euro mansion on one of the French capitals most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch. The French foreign ministry merely repeated the mantra that the building falls under the private domain which is patently false, Malabo lawyer Michael Wood added. Obiang, 51, the son of the central African nations veteran leader, has been accused by the French justice system of embezzlement and the misuse of tens of millions of public funds. He was indicted for embezzling 150 million to fund his lavish lifestyle, and was given a suspended fine of 30 million for money laundering, corruption and abuse of power. Lawyers representing France are scheduled to present their arguments this Tuesday. Judges will likely take months to issue a ruling. President Trump decided to attack former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday after all, which resulted in a brief Twitter spat between the battling billionaires. Trump had brushed off a question about Bloomberg from a reporter as he was about to board Air Force One for his four-day west coast swing. But once the president was up in the air, he let his fingers fly, dinging the ex-mayor for self-funding his 2020 presidential campaign and for being short. 'What Mini Mike is doing is nothing less than a large scale illegal campaign contribution,' Trump claimed. 'He is "spreading" money all over the place, only to have recipients of his cash payments, many former opponents, happily joining or supporting his campaign.' 'Isn't that called a payoff?' the president asked. 'Mini is illegally buying the Democrat Nomination,' Trump also said. There's no evidence that Bloomberg is paying off Democrats who endorse him and candidates are permitted to fund their own campaigns. Trump also alleged that, 'They are taking it away from Bernie again.' 'Mini Mike, Major Party Nominations are not for sale!' Trump said. 'Good luck in the debate tomorrow night and remember, no standing on boxes!' the president added, which was a knock on Bloomberg's short stature. President Trump spoke to reporters before taking Air Force One to the west coast on Tuesday. He had no advice for Michael Bloomberg who will join Democrats on the debate stage in Las Vegas Wednesday night President Trump lashed out at Mike Bloomberg on Twitter once he was en route to California Tuesday, claiming that Bloomberg self-funding his campaign was illegal and making fun of the ex-mayor for being short 2020 hopeful Mike Bloomberg will join his Democratic rivals Wednesday night on the debate stage in Las Vegas. Trump wished him good luck onstage, but added, 'no standing on boxes!' Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg responded to President Trump's tweets by asking why he wanted to run against Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the most liberal presidential candidates President Trump, still flying across the country on Air Force One, wrote back telling Mike Bloomberg 'I would rather run against you!' Mike Bloomberg then said that President Trump couldn't be trusted as he teased, 'See you in November' President Trump retweeted an animated video that showed 2020 Democratic hopeful Mike Bloomberg peering over a podium Then a giant shoe pops out of the ceiling and crushes the former New York City mayor, the video that President Trump tweeted shows Trump's tweets started a brief Twitter spat between the Republican president and the Democratic hopeful. 'Why do you want to run against Bernie so badly?' Bloomberg asked his followers, pointing to Trump's second tweet that referenced Sanders. Trump then responded with, 'Mini Mike. No, I would rather run against you!' 'Can't trust a word you say - and now you want us to believe you?' Bloomberg wrote back. 'See you in November,' the ex-mayor tweeted. Trump also retweeted a video animation that showed a too-short Bloomberg speaking behind a podium being crushed by a giant Trump foot. Trump had originally been asked on the tarmac if he had any advice for Bloomberg, who qualified for Wednesday night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas early Tuesday morning. At that point, Trump declined. 'He doesn't need that kind of advice,' Trump answered. 'He's been doing it for a long time.' The president preferred to talk about Sanders instead. 'It seems that Bernie Sanders and that whole big section of the Democratic Party - or as I call it, the Democrat Party, which is really the correct name - it seems they're being taken advantage of like they were four years ago,' Trump said. The president had been asked if he had any advice for presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg who's about to participate in his first Democratic debate, Wednesday night in Las Vegas. On the tarmac President Trump focused on Sen. Bernie Sanders as he suggested that the Vermont senator and his supporters were being treated unfairly by establishment Democrats. 'It seems they're being taken advantage of like they were four years ago,' Trumps aid President Trump was alluding to the narrative that the Democratic National Committee tipped the scales in favor of Hillary Clinton four years ago when the two were running against each other for the Democratic nomination 'He doesn't need that kind of advice,' Trump answered. 'He's been doing it for a long time,' the president said of the former New York City mayor. Trump then turned to Sanders, who should be considered the party's frontrunner for getting the most votes in Iowa, winning New Hampshire and for his strong showing in the 2016 primary campaign. 'It just seems unfair what's happening to Bernie Sanders, to be honest with you,' Trump said. 'I watched it four years ago,' the president said. In 2016, the Democratic National Committee was criticized for being too pro-Hillary Clinton during her primary race against Sanders. Overall, Sanders didn't take the nomination because he didn't have diverse support, especially among black Democrats in the south. Still, behind-the-scenes sniping about Sanders and his allies by DNC officials whose emails were then hacked firmed up the narrative that the party tilted the scale on Clinton's behalf. Trump has long complained about the way establishment Democrats treated Sanders, though with the motive to suck away some of the Vermont senator's supporters. The president is also trying to get his supporters engaged while the Democrats hold their primary contests. Trump held rallies in both Iowa and New Hampshire leading up to the first two state's caucuses and primary race. This week he's making Nevada - where Democrats caucus Saturday - his homebase as he does a multi-state tour though California, Arizona and Colorado. Trump will fundraise in California Tuesday and then hold a rally in Phoenix Wednesday night that will conflict with the Democrats' debate in Las Vegas. Trump will hold another rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado Thursday. He will hosts a noon-time rally Friday in Las Vegas. Trump is staying at his Las Vegas hotel property for the entirety of the trip, which means tying up traffic in the city daily while Democrats try to campaign. The president called his tactics 'pretty effective.' 'We got more votes than any incumbent president in history in both Iowa and in New Hampshire as you saw,' Trump told reporters outside of Air Force One. He pointed a finger at the Secret Service when asked why he's flying to Nevada every night. 'Largely the schedule is set by the Secret Service,' Trump answered. 'We do what they want us to.' And while the president will spend several days in India early next week, he promised he'd do a South Carolina event before the Democrats vote in that state on Saturday, February 29. 'So I'll be going to South Carolina, I'm working that out now, probably the day before,' he said, teasing a Friday rally. 'Look, we have a big voice and we might as well use it,' Trump added. NEW YORK Novelist Charles Portis, a favorite among critics and writers for such shaggy dog stories as Norwood and Gringos and a bounty for Hollywood whose droll, bloody Western True Grit was a best-seller twice adapted into Oscar nominated films, died Monday at age 86. Portis, a former newspaper reporter who apparently learned enough to swear off talking to the media, had been suffering from Alzheimers in recent years. His brother, Jonathan Portis, told The Associated Press that he died in a hospice in Little Rock, Arkansas, his longtime residence. Charles Portis was among the most admired authors to nearly vanish from public consciousness in his own lifetime. His fans included Tom Wolfe, Roy Blount Jr. and Larry McMurtry, and he was often compared to Mark Twain for his plainspoken humor and wry perspective. Portis saw the world from the ground up, from bars and shacks and trailer homes, and few spun wilder and funnier stories. In a Portis novel, usually set in the South and south of the border, characters embarked on journeys that took the most unpredictable detours. In Norwood, an ex-Marine from Texas heads East in a suspicious car to collect a suspicious debt, but winds up on a bus with a circus dwarf, a chicken and a girl he just met. The Dog of the South finds one Ray Midge driving from Arkansas to Honduras in search of his wife, his credit cards and his Ford Torino. In Gringos, an expatriate in Mexico with a taste for order finds himself amid hippies, end-of-the-world cultists and disappearing friends. The public knew Portis best for True Grit, the quest of Arkansas teen Mattie Ross to avenge her fathers murder. The novel was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in 1968 and was soon adapted (and softened) as a film showcase for John Wayne, who starred as Rooster Cogburn, the drunken, one-eyed marshal Mattie enlists to find the killer. The role brought Wayne his first Academy Award and was revived by the actor, much less successfully, in the sequel Rooster Cogburn. Rooster was so strong a character that a new generation of filmgoers and Oscar voters welcomed him back. In 2010, the Coen brothers worked up a less glossy, more faithful True Grit, featuring Jeff Bridges as Rooster and newcomer Hallie Steinfeld as Mattie. The film received 10 nominations, including best actor for Bridges, and brought new attention to Portis and his novel, which topped the trade paperback list of The New York Times. No living Southern writer captures the spoken idioms of the South as artfully as Portis does, Mississippi native Donna Tartt wrote in an afterword for a 2005 reissue of the novel. Portis was born in 1933 in El Dorado, Arkansas, one of four children of a school superintendent and a housewife whom Portis thought could have been a writer herself. As a kid, he loved comic books and movies and the stories he learned from his family. In a brief memoir written for The Atlantic Monthly, he recalled growing up in a community where the ratio was about two Baptist churches or one Methodist church per gin. It usually took about three gins to support a Presbyterian church, and a community with, say, four before you found enough tepid idolators to form an Episcopal congregation. He was a natural raconteur who credited his stint in the Marines with giving him time to read. After leaving the service, he graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1958 with a degree in journalism and for the next few years was a newspaper man, starting as a night police reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and finishing as London bureau chief for the New York Herald Tribune. Fellow Tribune staffers included Wolfe, who regarded Portis as the original laconic cutup and a fellow rebel against the boundaries of journalism, and Nora Ephron, who would remember her colleague as a sociable man with a reluctance to use a telephone. His interview subjects included Malcolm X and J.D. Salinger, whom Portis encountered on an airplane. He was also a first-hand observer of the civil rights movement. In 1963, he covered a riot and the police beating of black people in Birmingham, Alabama. Around the same time, he reported on a Ku Klux Klan meeting, a dullish occasion after which the grand dragon of Mississippi disappeared grandly into the Southern night, his car engine hitting on about three cylinders. Anxious to write novels, Portis left the paper in 1964 and from Arkansas completed Norwood, published two years later and adapted for a 1970 movie of the same name starring Glen Campbell and Joe Namath. Portis placed his stories in familiar territory. He knew his way around Texas and Mexico and worked enough with women stringers from the Ozarks in Arkansas to draw upon them for Matties narrative voice in True Grit. He eventually settled in Little Rock, where he reportedly spent years working on a novel that was never released. Gringos, his fifth and last novel, came out in 1991. Portis published short fiction in The Atlantic during the 1990s, but was mostly forgotten before admiring essays in Esquire and the New York Observer by Ron Rosenbaum were noticed by publishing director Tracy Carns of the Overlook Press, which reissued all of Portis novels. Some of his journalism, short stories and travel writings were published in the 2012 anthology Escape Velocity. In recent years, the author lived in open seclusion, a regular around Little Rock who drove a pickup truck, enjoyed an occasional beer and stepped away from reporters. He did turn up to collect The Oxford Americans Award for Lifetime Achievement in Southern Literature and was known to answer the occasional letter from a reader. But otherwise Portis seemed to honor Matties code in True Grit for how to deal with journalists. I do not fool around with newspapers, Mattie says. The paper editors are great ones for reaping where they have not sown. Another game they have is to send reporters out to talk to you and get your stories free. I know the young reporters are not paid well and I would not mind helping those boys out with their scoops if they could ever get anything right. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- There was a time when Australia was the promised land for Americas coal giants. Faced with the decline of coal-fired power and steel-making at home, U.S. miners bought their way into Australian resources situated helpfully on Chinas doorstep. Ultimately, it wasnt enough to stave off bankruptcy. Having emerged from chapter 11 a few years ago, Peabody Energy Corp. finds its Australian business simultaneously a blessing, curse and following a new agreement with its biggest shareholder, the ever-warm-and-fuzzy Elliott Management Corp. potential Hail Mary. To say Peabody is in the middle of a perfect storm would be something of an understatement. Its primary product, thermal coal, is the tobacco of the energy world, with demand slumping in its domestic market despite the imaginative efforts of President Donald Trumps administration to force it on utilities. Steel producers, which use higher-value metallurgical, or coking, coal, are also in a funk amid the trade war. Compounding that, a fire swept through one of Peabodys coking coal mines in Australia in 2018, taking it out of commission just as prices were peaking. And now coronavirus has ground Chinese industry to a halt, not only taking down demand for energy in general, but hitting already-weak prices for natural gas, making it even more of a cut-throat competitor to thermal coal. Unsurprisingly, Peabody just announced losses for 2019, suspended its dividend and cut capital expenditure plans. Elliott, which gained its stake in Peabodys bankruptcy, has watched the stock plummet by four-fifths since fire was reported at the North Goonyella mine in 2018. It will now put two of its own on Peabodys board, including Elliotts head of U.S. restructuring, and they will be joined by an Australian coal veteran. More importantly, Peabody has agreed to appoint a consultant to review the performance of its Australian mines. Despite the fire, the Australian mines remain the most profitable part of Peabodys business. While they only account for a sixth of tonnage, they generated more than half of adjusted Ebitda last year, even after accounting for the costs of maintaining the North Goonyella mine. Australian cash margin per ton of about $17 again, including those fire-related costs is four times that of the U.S. business. Indeed, ex-depreciation, the difference is even starker: Story continues Peabody says it has had a number of inquiries about North Goonyella. However, with the whole Australian portfolio under review, the process could ultimately lead to a sale of more or possibly all of the business. After all, an activist shareholder is sitting on 30% of the eviscerated stock and has now pushed onto the board. If some suitor could be persuaded to put a multiple of just 3 times on the Australian business adjusted Ebitda, that would equate to $1.4 billion not far short of the current enterprise value of the entire company. A bull might look at that and conclude Peabody is a bargain. Yet that math has held true for a while, and few seem to be charging in. By late Thursday morning in New York, the stock had already given back almost half of Wednesdays jump on the back of the Elliott agreement. The implication is that investors are skeptical of Peabody realizing much value in Australia or, perhaps more likely, see little value in the U.S. operations alone. Back in June, Peabody announced a joint venture with rival Arch Coal Inc. to combine their assets in the Powder River Basin. It is a textbook tactic to offset declining volume with cost savings worth $545 million to Peabody, by its own calculations. Yet the stock has dropped another 60% since then, and the entire market cap is now just $823 million. Even Arch, which has done a good job to date of returning cash to shareholders, has suffered amid weak pricing and an expansion project that will keep capex running high through this year. Beyond the ultimate result of Elliotts efforts with Peabody, the miners resort to austerity and its review carry ominous signals for this industry. The American mines constitute a low-margin, high-volume business in a market where the volume of demand is under sustained pressure. The cost of capital is rising inexorably as a result of shifting attitudes on climate change and falling prices for rival energy technologies. Peabodys Australian business may yet yield a deal that salves some investors wounds. But there is no promised land left to which this industry can turn. With assistance from David Fickling To contact the author of this story: Liam Denning at ldenning1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Gongloff at mgongloff1@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journal's Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times' Lex column. He was also an investment banker. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Qualcomms latest 5G modem isnt the leap that the X55 was last year, but it might be more important. While the Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF System touts a slew of technical and practical enhancements to take full advantage of the next-generation networks tremendous speeds, Qualcomms new modem isnt built for phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 that are already on board with 5G, its made for the one that isnt: the iPhone. Lets get the technical stuff out of the way first. The X60 is the first to support spectrum aggregation across all key 5G bands and combinations. That means X60 phones will be more futureproof than todays X55 ones, supporting mmWave and sub-6 using frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) at a wider range of deployment. Plus, it can deliver up to 7.5Gbps download speeds and 3Gbps upload speeds, far greater than even the theoretical capabilities of the current 5G networks being built. But while benefits like carrier aggregation and voice-over-NR are certainly important, the greatest improvement the X60 modem offers is in its size. Qualcomms new modem is the first to be built using a 5nm process, allowing for higher efficiency on a smaller footprint. Thats a big leap from the 7nm X50 and X55, and its unlikely anyone will be able to catch up anytime soon, including Apple. And thats precisely the message Qualcomm wants to send. Size over speed Its no secret that Apple will be climbing on board the 5G train with the upcoming iPhone 12, but what isnt so certain is which modem it will be using. Apple and Qualcomm entered into a multi-year agreement to supply chips for the iPhone, which everyone assumes will include a 5G modem, especially since Qualcomm is basically the only game in town. Qualcomm The X60 modem is expected to make its way into Android phones and iPhones in 2021. But after Apple scooped up Intels smartphone modem business scraps, reliance on Qualcomm isnt part of Apples long-term plans. But the X60 shows that Qualcomm doesnt see that path as an inevitability. By jumping to 5nm with the third-generation of its 5G modem, Qualcomm is delivering a smaller and more efficient modem, which just happens to be the very reasons why Apple would build its own modem in the first place. A smaller, more efficient modem would help Apple keep the iPhone thin without sacrificing battery life. Theres also the issue of the antenna. A recent report from Fast Company detailed Apples efforts to design its own antenna for the iPhone 12 after rejecting the QTM525 5G mmWave antenna module Qualcomm currently makes due to its size. But a new antenna is on the way with the X60 modem, which features a more compact design than the previous generation which allows for thinner, sleeker smartphones. If thats not a direct response to Apple, I dont know what is. Qualcomm wouldnt even divulge exactly how much smaller the QTM535 modem is for competitive reasons, which basically a professional nyah nyah nyah-nyah nyah to Apple. Qualcomm wants Apple to know that its antenna wont be as good. So even if the new modem and antenna arent ready for the iPhone 12Qualcomm was relatively vague about a timeline, only saying commercial premium smartphones using the new modem system are expected in early 2021Qualcomm is putting tremendous pressure on Apple to deliver a system thats better than the X60, lest we have another Antennagate on our hands. So while Apple may be hard at work at a homegrown 5G solution for the iPhone and iPad, Qualcomm isnt going to let the biggest premium phone maker get away that easily. With the X60 modem, Qualcomm isnt just cementing its lead as the 5G supplier on Android phones, its also looking to lock up the iPhone for the foreseeable future. Sure, Samsung cares about thinness and battery life, but only Apple has the wherewithal to walk away. And Qualcomm doesnt want that to happen. Bipartisan Coalition Unites Behind First Federal Financial Management Reform Since 1990 WASHINGTONAlmost as extinct in the nations capital as the dinosaurs in the National Museum of Natural History are bipartisan coalitions of legislators and advocacy groups pushing for much-needed landmark reforms in how federal officials spend tax dollars. But such a coalition has formed behind the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Vision Act of 2020, co-sponsored by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is also chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking Democrat on the finance panels taxation and IRS oversight subcommittee. Other sponsors include Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and David Perdue (R-Ga.), also a member of the budget panel. An ideologically broad-based coalition of advocacy groups concerned with federal spending abuses has also endorsed the reform package, including the Data Coalition, Citizens Against Government Waste, Project on Government Oversight, the R Street Institute, Truth in Accounting (TIA), and Taxpayers for Common Sense. Oftentimes, the federal government cannot show the relationship between dollars spent and results achieved, Enzi said in a statement announcing the reform package. This legislation will lead to better financial and performance data and increase accountability in government programs and operations. This will help improve government-wide financial management and ensure taxpayer dollars are safeguarded. Warner said, This legislation will help boost financial accountability in our government by promoting consistency across agencies, making it easier for them to carry out long-term initiatives and planning, and empowering them to make more informed and strategic policy decisions through the use of performance data. Major provisions of the proposal include measures for: Standardizing CFO responsibilities across the entire executive branch. Providing deputy CFOs new authority to ensure continuity in agency financial management operations in the event of CFO vacancies. Revising and updating government-wide and agency-level financial management planning requirements to strengthen the links between spending decisions and performance data. Requiring development of financial management performance measuring metrics to gauge progress toward improving government efficiency. Strengthening internal controls to require agency managers to identify key financial management information and annually assess progress. The proposal follows enactment by the 115th Congress of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 that required federal agencies to begin making maximum use of the extensive data they collect annually on the operations of their programs. The hope is that federal officials will rely upon such data to ensure continuation of successful programs and elimination of those that fail. Congressional staff veterans offered cautiously optimistic assessments of prospects for the financial management reforms. R Street Institute Vice President Kevin Kosar told The Epoch Times that proposals to improve the governments data and technology quality are not easily polarized. It also is the case that government systems often are glaringly in need of upgrading, and folks within the government are desperate for someone to help them improve things. Kosar worked for a decade at the Congressional Research Service. Brian Darling, former counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and now head of Liberty Government Affairs, told The Epoch Times the proposal is intended to increase accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent and is good legislation that will reform existing law to force more transparency and standardize management of federal programs. The bigger challenge Congress must face is the federal governments $23 trillion national debt and the out-of-control spending by both major parties that produced it, Darling noted. With $23 trillion in existing debt and trillion-dollar deficits for years to come, there needs to be a bipartisan effort to reform and cut mandatory programs so the federal government does not go bust in our lifetimes, Darling said. Jim Manley, former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), noted that as with many other aspects of the legislative process, urgently needed reforms to the budget process are not feasible right now, but at least some reforms might have a decent chance of getting enacted. Democratic campaign strategist Spencer Critchley said, Its good to see any handshake across the No Mans Land that has been expanding since Newt Gingrich transformed Congress in the 1990s. But ultimately, the Boots Road Group managing partner said, Its easy to blame government or politicians, as if they came from nowhere. But elected officials ultimately do represent our wishes, as in Fennos Paradox: Voters hate Congress but keep reelecting their own representatives. Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst Justin Bogie told The Epoch Times: There are no standard metrics used to measure the performance of government programs, and what data is available is often incomplete or inconsistent across agencies and programs. Better data is just the first step, though. Ultimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate agency performance. Bill Bergman, TIAs research director, said the reforms may mean more work for executive branch agencies, but they owe it to Congress, and to us. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX:FF) (OTCQX:FFMGF) (FRANKFURT:FMG) is pleased to announce that its partner, Auteco Minerals Ltd ("Auteco") (ASX: AUT), has increased its landholding near the Pickle Crow Gold Project ("Pickle Crow" or the "Project"). Auteco staked an additional 130 km2 of land contiguous to Pickle Crow, increasing the combined property's land package to over 320 km2. Dan Wilton, CEO of First Mining, stated "We are pleased to see such quick progress being made by the Auteco team to advance the regional potential of Pickle Crow. The team has added vacant, underexplored and prospective greenstone belt to the property, securing more than 30 km of strike length in a past-producing, high-grade gold district. We are excited about our partnership with Auteco, an accomplished group with a strong technical team and track record of generating value through exploration success." Ray Shorrocks, Auteco's Executive Chairman, stated "The exploration team at Auteco is looking forward to getting started on the Pickle Crow asset and the Auteco management team is currently in Ontario establishing relationships with the key stakeholders and readying for the commencement of exploration at the property. We look forward to keeping the market updated as work progresses." First Mining entered into a binding term sheet with Auteco on January 27, 2020 whereby Auteco may earn up to an 80% interest in Pickle Crow. Auteco can earn a full 80% interest in the Project by incurring a total of $10 million in exploration expenditures over five years, making cash payments to First Mining totaling $4.1 million, and issuing 125 million shares of Auteco to First Mining. Upon completion of the second stage of the earn-in (at which time Auteco would have a 70% interest in the Project), First Mining will be granted a 2% Net Smelter Returns ("NSR") Royalty, 1% of which can be bought back for US$2.5 million. Further details are set out in the announcement news release available here. First Mining has a right of first refusal over the increased landholding that has been staked by Auteco, with the option to allow some or all of the increased landholding to form part of the joint venture on Pickle Crow once formed. The Pickle Crow Gold Project is located in northwestern Ontario and is one of Canada's highest-grade historical gold mines. The mine operated from 1935 until 1966, during which time it reportedly produced almost 1.5 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 16.14 g/t. The property consists of ~190 km2 (19,000 hectares) of tenure covering a major gold province. First Mining acquired the Project in November 2015 through its acquisition of PC Gold Inc. A map showing the Project boundary and the additional ground staked by Auteco can be viewed at: https://www.firstmininggold.com/_resources/maps/2020-02-FF-NR-Pickle-Crow-Land-Tenure.pdf About Auteco Auteco Minerals Limited (ASX: AUT) is an emerging mineral exploration company currently focused on advancing high-grade gold resources at the Pickle Crow Gold Project in the world class Uchi sub-province of Ontario, Canada. The Auteco Board of Directors and Technical Management team has a proven track record of discovering gold and creating wealth for shareholders and all stakeholders in recent years. Qualified Person Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101, and she has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining Gold Corp. is an emerging development company with a diversified portfolio of gold projects in North America. Having assembled a large resource base of 7.4 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories and 3.8 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category in mining friendly jurisdictions of eastern Canada, First Mining is now focused on advancing its material assets towards a construction decision and, ultimately, to production. The Company currently holds a portfolio of 24 mineral assets in Canada, Mexico and the United States. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Daniel W. Wilton Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact: Mal Karwowska | Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: 604.639.8824 | Toll Free: 1.844.306.8827 | Email: info@firstmininggold.com www.firstmininggold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the timing of any cash and share payments set out in the binding term sheet that the Company has signed with Auteco; (ii) the timing for completion of all earn-in stages under the binding term sheet; (iii) the timing of the grant of a 2% NSR to First Mining over the Pickle Crow Gold Project; (iv) the timing for completion of all exploration expenditures required under the binding term sheet; (v) the potential for Auteco discovering and developing new project scale, high-grade, near surface gold resources at the Pickle Crow Gold Project; (vi) the timing for Auteco commencing exploration work at the Project; and (vii) funding by Auteco to conduct exploration. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: regulatory approvals; shareholder approval from Auteco shareholders; receipt of necessary financing by Auteco; the presence of and continuity of metals at the Pickle Crow Gold Project at estimated grades; success in realizing proposed drilling programs; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration and exploration drilling programs, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and mineral resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. SOURCE: First Mining Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576791/First-Minings-Partner-Auteco-Minerals-Increases-Land-Package-at-the-Pickle-Crow-Gold-Project The eight-phase poll in Jammu and Kashmir was earlier scheduled to be held from 5 March to 20 March on a party basis. The bypolls to panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, earlier scheduled from 5 March, have been postponed due to security reasons, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar said on Tuesday. By-elections to over 12,500 panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir were scheduled to be held in eight phases from 5 March. ANI quoted an official statement as saying, "Notifications dated 15th & 17th February issued for Phase 1 and 2 (Panchayat by-elections) respectively and the schedule issued on 13th February for other phases of Panchayat by-elections are hereby withdrawn. After addressing all the concerns suitable at the earliest, possibly in 2-3 weeks, fresh schedule shall be notified." The official notification cites "credible inputs from the law enforcement agencies" as the reason for deferring the polls. The eight-phase poll was earlier scheduled to be held from 5 March to 20 March on a party basis. The polling was slated for 5 March, 7 March, 9 March, 12 March, 14 March, 16 March, 18 March and 20 March. According to NDTV, Opposition parties told the Chief Electoral Officer in Jammu that there can only be a level playing field when its leaders are released from detention. On Monday, senior Congress leader GA Mir had said that the party is ready to take part in the by-elections to panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir if its leaders are released and their free movement is ensured. With inputs from PTI On my way into the Metropolitan Museum of Art recently to see Pen, Lens & Soul: The Story of the Beautiful Project, an exhibition of poetry and photography by black girls and women based in Durham, N.C., I looked up to its facade. And there I saw Wangechi Mutus stately African and divinely inspired female quartet of bronze sculptures. As I headed to show, at the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education, I began thinking that the spatial difference between these two collections was not a juxtaposition between high art for public viewing and art used for community outreach. Instead they were on a continuum, in which the black girls in the photographs and Mutus figures actively challenged the notion of who belongs in those cultural spaces. Today, more than ever, mainstream institutions are recognizing black womens work (and beauty) in new and unprecedented ways. In 2019, black women were crowned in the five major beauty pageants, including Miss World and Miss America. A recent four-week Film Forum series focused exclusively on performances by black actresses (many of whom werent even credited for their roles in early Hollywood films), while another at the Museum of Modern Art, Its All in Me: Black Heroines, opens soon. And since its unveiling at the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery in 2018, Amy Sheralds painting of the former first lady Michelle Obama has received a record number of visitors. (This summer it will go on a five-city tour, with Kehinde Wileys painting of President Barack Obama.) But the driving force, Grantham said, is making the driving public skeptical of being pulled over by anything that doesnt look like a police car. As crafted, HB 2830 forbids the use of anything thats totally unmarked for traffic enforcement. Instead, police could use what the measure calls a specially marked law enforcement vehicle. It would not need the lights on top or the markings all around. But at the very least it would have to have the name and logo of the law enforcement agency on the right door. And anyone using that vehicle would have to be dressed in an official law enforcement uniform, including shoulder patches, a badge and any other identifying insignia normally used by the employing law enforcement agency. What that means, Grantham said, is anyone who is stopped by what appears to be an unmarked vehicle can demand that the person making the stop open the right side door of the vehicle to display the marking. At that point, he said, the motorist can be assured that its a real officer making the stop and not someone playing a cop. Vivian "Jane" Mays Madjeski, 78, of Lexington Park, MD passed away on February 12, 2020 at MedStar Washington Hospital Center with her family by her side. Jane was born on September 7, 1941 in Fairmont, WV to the late Clarence Melvin Mays and Nellie Janette (Morgan) Mays. Jane moved to Maryland in the fall of 1963 once she completed her degree at Fairmont University. She started her teaching career as a science teacher at Esperanza Middle School and continued teaching in the public school system for the next 20 plus years with time at Leonardtown Middle and High School. In 1995, she began a new adventure when she accepted a position at Lexington Park Christian School (now known as King's Christian Academy) as their high school Biology teacher. She eventually transitioned from teacher to Parent Liason. She kept this title up until the day she passed. Jane was so dedicated to her job and the students she taught. She inspired so many lives and will be greatly missed. On top of her astounding career, Jane was a devoted and loving mother. She raised two children whom she also taught in and out of the classroom. Later on in life, she earned the title of "Grammy." Her grandbabies were her pride and joy. She made sure to be present in their lives as much as possible. She also loved watching her Steelers play on Sundays, doing crossword puzzles, loving on her animals, or reading her Bible. Jane was a devout Christian and we are reassured that she is in Heaven dancing with Jesus and the angels. Jane is survived by her son, Henry Robert "Robbie" Madjeski III, of Lexington Park, MD; her daughter, Sarah Jane Woode (Joshua Scott), of California, MD; her sister, Carol Rutherford (Bob), of Fairmont, WV; her brother, Fred Mays (Carolyn), of Fairmont, WV; and her grandchildren, Alexis, Aubrey, and Joshua Woode Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents. Family will receive friends on Friday, February 21, 2020 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Our Father's House Assembly of God, 45020 Patuxent Beach Road, California, MD 20619. A Funeral Service will be officiated by Pastor Jay Patterson on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Father's House. Memorial contributions may be made to The Kings Christian Academy, Development Office, 20738 Point Lookout Road, Callaway, MD 20620. Please specify Jane Madjeski Fund. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. The Bachelor franchise has had its fair share of villains over the years, but according to fans, no other contestant has been as manipulative and toxic as this seasons frontrunner, Victoria Fuller. The Virginia Beach natives relationship with Peter Weber has been all over the place these last few weeks. While many thought the Delta pilot would have given her the boot by now, he continues to keep her around since he believes theres something there. The Bachelors Peter Weber and Victoria F.| Francisco Roman via Getty Images Though Weber wants to see this romance through to the end, it appears to fans that this alleged connection isnt going anywhere, and are fed up with him for keeping this toxic relationship going. Weber just had a drama-filled hometown date with Fuller Just when we thought we were done learning about Fullers interesting past, another bombshell has come up, and many are at a point now where they just want to see her get eliminated. The shocking revelation came about during the latest episode of The Bachelor when Webers ex-girlfriend, Merissa Pence, showed up to Fullers hometown date. It was there she warned him to be careful with the Virginia Beach native, saying that Fuller has broken up many relationships in the past. I just know what a good guy you are, and I would hate for any of who you are to be affected by somebody else, Pence said. I dont think you deserve what youre on a date with right now. Of course, Weber was taken back by this claim and immediately brought the comments to Fullers attention when he met up with her later that night. Once the pilot brought Pences comment up to Fuller, she immediately got defensive and was disgusted that Weber would even think she caused those supposed breakups. Do you think that I enjoy this right now? he says, asking if she thinks there was any way he wouldnt bring this up. While he urges Fuller to tell the truth, she says it doesnt matter anymore and walks away. After trying to get Fuller to open up to him but failing, Weber ends their date early and leaves without even meeting her family. Fans think Fuller is gaslighting Weber During Weber and Fullers explosive fight, fans were in high gear on Twitter, calling her out for being manipulative and slamming him for allowing this toxic relationship to continue. It is actually extremely sad and disgusting to see the way Victoria F treats Peter. Already signs of a emotionally toxic relationship in the way she puts him down and deflects everything onto him. But do I feel bad for Peter? No b/c he sent home women better than her, one fan tweeted. Others continue to accuse Fuller of gaslighting Weber every time they have moments alone and are tired of seeing her talk/cry her way out of situations. Victoria F is so toxic its not even funny at this point. Every time peters tried to solve a conflict she turns it around on him and the problem never gets resolved. Yikes, another fan wrote. Alright Victoria F is the worst person to ever be on the bachelor in history so manipulative and conniving. Im so over her and her toxic actions, someone expressed. Some are even comparing Fullers manipulative ways to those of Bachelorette alum Luke P., who had a hard time admitting his faults during Hannah Browns season. Victoria F is like Luke P from last year. There is always that one crazy one that makes it to the end. Smh, another person shared. From these tweets alone, it is clear that fans wanted Fuller to get eliminated a long time ago. While its pretty obvious that Weber still sees their relationship going somewhere, fans hope that hell soon see Fuller for who she is and stops rewarding her toxic behavior before its too late. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Two Central New York couples have returned to the United States after spending more than a week quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan. Cheryl and Paul Molesky, of Syracuse, and Pauls brother, Pete, and Petes wife Cindy Molesky, of Rome, had been held on the Diamond Princess for days after an outbreak of COVID-19, a coronavirus, on the cruise ship. About 135 passengers aboard the Diamond Princess caught the virus, according to one of Cheryl and Paul Moleskys video diaries and news reports. The Moleskys were among about 3,700 passengers on the ship. They kept their friends and family updated in short YouTube videos. The couple left Japan and flew to Texas, where they will remain quarantined for the next two weeks, according to their nieces Facebook post. Theyre safe and still healthy, but will have to adjust to another new place of isolation, Nicole Koellhoffer wrote in her post on Monday. Please keep them in your thoughts so they remain healthy!!" Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. South Africa: KZN Premier pays tribute to Joseph Shabalala KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosas decision to honour Joseph Shabalala, the founder of the Grammy Award-winning isicathamiya group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with a Special Official Funeral Category 2. Shabalala passed away on 11 February 2020, at the age of 78, following a long illness. President Ramaphosa has instructed that the National Flag fly at half-mast until the evening of 22 February 2020. Zikalala said Shabalala, who had steered Ladysmith Black Mambazo to unprecedented international glory over many decades, deserved a fitting send-off because of his influence on isicathamiya, a genre that speaks to many South Africans. We truly applaud President Ramaphosas decision to honour Mshengu [Shabalalas clan name] with a special official funeral. As the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, we are deeply humbled that this remarkable son of the soil will be given a fitting send-off. Despite his international stardom, Mshengu has remained humble and has inspired many isicathamiya groups, who saw him as their role model. He has also contributed greatly to the empowerment of his community in various ways, said Zikalala. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has shared the stage with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Dolly Parton, and have five Grammies to their name. The group gained worldwide prominence in 1987 after their collaboration with Paul Simon on the award-winning album Graceland, which produced hits such as Homeless and Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes. The group which the late former President Nelson Mandela once described as South Africas ambassadors of song" is now led by Shabalalas sons Sibongiseni Thulani Thami and Msizi, and his grandsons. Zikalala has once again expressed his condolences to the Mshengu family, his children, friends and relatives, as well as members of the Mambazo group on their loss of this iconic artist. The memorial services are planned to take place in Ladysmith, Durban and Johannesburg, between Tuesday and Thursday. The funeral arrangements are already underway, and President Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy at Shabalalas funeral to be held in his hometown, Ladysmith on Saturday, 22 February 2020. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. After almost a decade of internal strife and proxy wars, the Syrian crisis is transitioning to a higher threshold of inter-state conflict: Turkey and Syria are on the verge of conventional warfare. The epicenter of this confrontation is Idlib, where the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is pushing ahead to reassert its territorial control over the northwest of the country. Its indiscriminate bombing of the civilian population, designed to de-populate this zone, is creating a large wave of internally-displaced people moving towards the Turkish border in fear of their lives. The United Nations puts the number at near 700,000, more than half of them children. Turkey is already host to 3.6 million Syrian refugees, arguably at the limit of its absorption capacity. The ruling AK Party views the popular backlash against Syrian refugees as a key reason for its election losses in several major metropolitan areas last year. Ankara wants to pre-empt another humanitarian catastrophe that would result in a new influx. The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has amassed troops at the border with Syria, and scaled up its assistance of proxies in Idlib in their effort to resist the regime's advance. Erdogan has issued Assad with an ultimatum, demanding that regime forces relinquish their recent territorial gains by moving east of the strategically important M5 highway before the end of February. Failure to comply could trigger a direct military confrontation between Turkey and Syria, with disastrous consequences for the region and beyond. So far, Damascus has not signaled any intention to budge. On the contrary, the Assad regime continues to advance, emboldened by Russian backing, both military and diplomatic. The Russian air force is striking opposition-held targets to pave the way for regime forces. In response to Turkey's complaints, Russia says Assad is merely responding to Ankara's failure to fulfil obligations under the 2018 Sochi Agreement. In that deal, Turkey undertook to demilitarize some of the Islamist groups operating in Idlib, and remove them from the neighborhood of the M5 highway. But since then, the areas has come under even greater the domination of the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. Now, Moscow says, the Assad regime has taken over the responsibility of cleansing Idlib, with the help of the Iranian backed Shiite militias. Faced with such an escalation, Erdogan seems to be counting on two things: first, that the show of force displayed by the movement of the Turkish army units will scare Assad off; and second, that ultimately Russian President Vladimir Putin will not risk jeopardizing Russia's deepening relations with Turkey by unconditionally backing the Syrian advance in Idlib. The rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow, which has accelerated since the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan, has been one of the surprising regional dynamics of the past few years, leading some in the West to speculate about a Turkish strategic re-orientation towards Russia and away from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These concerns have grown with every cordial meeting between Erdogan and Putin, and by Turkey's purchase of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, despite the admonitions of its NATO partners. But the true limits of a convergence of Turkish and Russian interests may have been reached in Idlib. Direct Turkish-Syrian conflict could inflict lasting damage to the burgeoning Erdogan-Putin bromance. Or, at least, that seems to be the presumption behind the Turkish president's bellicose rhetoric. Missing from this drama are Turkey's NATO partners. Through Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the U.S. has expressed sympathy for Turkey's position on Idlib-but at the same time, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien has made it clear there will be no American military role in any potential conflict. The European Union has been entirely absent from the conversation, despite the fact that more carnage in Idlib easily send more refugees towards Europe. For NATO, Syria is outside the scope of Article 5 and its commitment to mutual defense. So in many ways, Turkey stands alone in the face of humanitarian and military crises at its southern border. That is somewhat of a paradox for a country that remains a key ally for the security of the West. It is also an indication of the cost exacted by Turkey's anchorless diplomacy of the past few years, carried out under the rubric of an independent foreign policy. - - - This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Sinan Ulgen is the executive chairman of Istanbul-based think tank EDAM and a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe in Brussels. New KCI Waiting Game Upgrade New KCI parking lot allows drivers to wait for free for arriving passengers KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A new KCI parking lot is now available where drivers can wait for free for arriving passengers and await a call when the passenger is ready for pick up. The old cell phone, limo, taxi, shuttle and bus lots were near the air traffic control tower. Kansas City Grocery Fix Price Chopper's $54M Kansas City Investment Grocer making changes to stores operated by the Ball, Cosentino, McKeever and Queen families Gunsmoke Clouds Store Police: Shooting at Shawnee vape store was accidental SHAWNEE, KS (AP) - Authorities have determined that a shooting at a Shawnee store that sells e-cigarettes was accidental. Police said in a news release that officers responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m. Monday. The release says officers determined there was an accidental discharge of a firearm and that the victim was struck by the stray round. Golden Ghetto Get Well Overland Park creates mental health task force OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - City leaders in Overland Park, Kansas, voted Monday night to create a mental health task force. The group will help the city improve how it gets mental health services to the people living in Overland Park. Some of the first assignments for the task force include: Identifying barriers to mental health treatment and resources. Lindey Hotness REup Lindsey Pelas Dances In A Sports Bra & Skintight Leggings: 'I'm Back, Baby!' Despite a bout of the flu that threatened to keep her down, Lindsey Pelas took to her Instagram story on Thursday, February 13, to let everyone know that she just had a workout so good that she's still feeling its positive effects. Credit Where It's Due: Best Political Headline Of The Day Bidens Stuck Between Barack and a Hard Place | RealClearPolitics For all of the agonizing within Joe Biden's inner circle over how to cure what ails the former vice president's anemic presidential run - fourth place in Iowa, fifth place in New Hampshire, presumably another setback in Nevada this weekend - there's an obvious fix: roll out Barack Obama's endorsement post haste. Prez Trump Pardons Politico & Former Game Show Contestant Trump Has Commuted The Sentence Of Former Illinois Governor (And "Apprentice" Contestant) Rod Blagojevich President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois who was convicted of corruption over his efforts to sell off the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama when he ascended to the presidency. Midday Health Check Woman taken from Diamond Princess did not know other evacuees had coronavirus A California woman who was evacuated on a US-chartered jet from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship said she didn't know until after landing that others on her plane had tested positive for the bug, according to new reports. HQ In Kansas City Dairy Farmers of America agrees to buy Dean Foods, America's biggest milk producer, for $425 million Dairy Farmers of America announced Monday that it has agreed to buy Dean Foods, America's largest milk producer, for $425 million. The dairy co-operative will also assume Dean's liabilities as part of the deal to acquire 44 of the company's facilities, as well as other assets. Kansas City Country Stop Rascal Flatts' farewell tour coming to Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After 20 years together, country music group Rascal Flatts is going on a farewell tour, and it will be stopping in Kansas City. The group announced in January that they would be retiring, but would go on a 25-city tour to celebrate their music with their fans. Kansas City Sly Cat Time Waste A Cat in a Bowtie Named Sly Question: What purrs and has 6,000 followers on Instagram? Answer: Sly James the Cat. The Insta-famous tabby cat is known for daily posts where he dons a new outfit every day. His quirky account piqued the interest of Kansas City-based account manager Kim Jones. Tuesday Forecast For Now Your StormTrack5 Daily Forecast Colder air returns for your Tuesday with highs in the lower 40s. Morning clouds and even a few flakes of snow possible for the commute. Right now we share thisvia links concerning pop culture, community news and info from across the nation and around the world.And this is thefor right now . . . Green cover must be preserved, and people should explore alternatives to address environmental concerns, Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said on Tuesday, expressing apprehension over the drastic effects that deforestation will bring in the coming years. The court was hearing a petition filed by Association for Protection of Democratic Rights, the NGO that opposed the felling of heritage tress for the construction of five railway over-bridges and expansion of National Highway 112 in West Bengal. In response to a statement by the petitioners advocate Prashant Bhushan that things might take a turn for the worse in another 50 years, Bobde said: It is believable, very believable. The Calcutta High Court, in August 2018, gave permission to the state government to cut 356 trees for the over-bridges and highway expansion projects. The NGO appealed against that judgment in Supreme Court. We hold that felling of the 356 trees is necessary for implementing the important public project of constructing the five ROBs and the State respondents will be entitled to do so. However, this will be restricted only to the 356 trees and no other tree, the high court had ruled in 2018. Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for West Bengal, told the Supreme Court that the state, after taking into account environmental concerns, decided that it will cut the minimum number of trees required for the project. The CJI, however, voiced his concern over the rapid loss of green cover due to deforestation. Before anybody knows everything will be lost. People are not willing to explore alternatives. There could be a way to create a path without cutting trees though it might be a little more expensive, he said. As administrator of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, the states watchdog agency for judges, Robert Tembeckjian cannot discuss unresolved complaints against members of the bench. But Tembeckjian can discuss his unresolved complaint with Gov. Andrew Cuomos 2020-21 executive budget proposal and said the spending plan is shortchanging his agency $330,000. The proposed budget keeps the commissions funding flat at $6,026,000, which would cause us to freeze or reduce staff in order to cover rising operational costs, Tembeckjian testified at a Joint Legislative Budget Committee in Albany on Wednesday. "Despite the executive's recommendation that we remain flat, I would certainly hope that you would be able -- in this 178 billion dollar budget -- find as you did last year the relatively modest increase of 330,000 dollars which we're asking for," Tembeckjian said. In 2019, the proposed budget included no increase funding for the commission. The Legislature funded the commission the necessary $330,000 which helped us turn a corner, Tembeckjian said. That allowed the commission, he said, to start to begin to reverse 10 years of stagnation. The money allowed the agency to bring back stenographers to transcribe hearings, which allowed other staffers to spend time on other duties. It helped lower the average disposition time for complaints from 115 days in 2018 to 97 days last year, he said. It was the start of a two-year plan to get the agency back up to speed, Tembeckjian said. Many past cuts were one-time savings, he said, that cannot be repeated. CJC still needs help, to complete our recovery from a decade of financial constraint and decline, he said in his testimony. Tembeckjian said the governor's recent budget proposal marked the ninth time in the last 10 years that a proposed budget included zero increase in funding for the commission, which receives more than 2,000 complaints about judges annually. And at the end of last year, there was an influx in complaints, which raised the number of cases pending. All told, the commission last year removed or facilitated the permanent resignation of seven judges. Another six judges were publicly disciplined, he noted. We have a very active record but as you know, for the greater part of the last decade we were operating under-funded, Tembeckjian testified. He called it essentially regressive financing because of the commissions need to cover cost-of-living expenses, increasing costs for contracts, non-personal services and mandatory personal services. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In 2007, the commissions 51 full-time staffers handled 1,711 complaints. Over the past four years, a staff with 38 full-timers has handled between 1,923 and 2,143, Tembeckjian explained. He said he would ideally have a staff of 50 but would be happy with 46. Tembeckjians agency is not controlled by the governor or the state court system. In the past, Tembeckjian told lawmakers, he was able to speak with the governors senior staff members and reach agreement on money for the commission. But in recent years, his requests have been received without comment or discussion by the states Division of Budget, he said. During the hearing, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, a Bronx Democrat who chairs the Assembly's Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared receptive to Tembeckjian's request. Hoylman said "we look forward to supporting you again this year in the budget cycle." Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for the state Division of Budget, said the commission's funding "is being negotiated with the Legislature." Meanwhile, Hoylman asked Tembeckjian if he believed the public should have access to transcripts of commission matters. Tembeckjian noted the commission's investigations into judges and the hearings it holds are confidential -- unless the judge waives their right to confidentiality -- until the judge is discipline. "There are occasions where it would be certainly be in the public interest to make those public," Tembeckjian said. "but it would require a change in law." Deadly fighting in eastern region marks some of heaviest clashes since renewal of peace process last year. A Ukrainian soldier has been killed and several others wounded as heavy fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine, the countrys military said. Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists blamed each other for the flare-up. The violence is some of the worst since a Paris summit in December tried to narrow positions between Kyiv and the separatists on implementing a peace deal, and it comes before a possible second summit on the same issue in Berlin. Ukraines military said in a statement on Tuesday that the separatists attempted to advance into the Kyiv-controlled territory but were repelled. They also accused the separatists of using heavy shelling to try to breach Ukrainian lines. Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak, the chief of the general staff of Ukraines armed forces, said one Ukrainian soldier was killed and five others were wounded. He said four separatists were also killed, while six of them were injured. Separatist authorities in the Luhansk region, however, blamed Ukraine for starting the fighting, saying a small group of soldiers had tried and failed to break through their lines. They said the group had stumbled into a minefield which had left two Ukrainian soldiers dead and three others injured. Ukrainian forces then shelled civilian areas, they added. Cynical provocation Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement the attack was an attempt to derail efforts at the peace process. This is not just a cynical provocation it is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in the Donbass, which had begun to move through small but continuous steps, Zelenskyy said. He later said he did not believe the fighting would stymie efforts to end the conflict, in which more than 13,000 people have been killed since 2014 despite a 2015 ceasefire deal. Zelenskyy also said he would call a meeting of his Security Council to discuss the situation. Our course for ending the war and our adherence to international agreements remain unchanged, just as our determination to repel any acts of aggression against Ukraine, he said. Al Jazeeras Step Vaessen, reporting from Moscow, said the attack occurred in the early morning at a crucial location near a demilitarised zone, describing it as the heaviest fighting to take place since the peace process was renewed after Zelenskyy took office in May last year. He promised to bring peace to eastern Ukraine; it was one of his biggest election promises, Vaessen said. Then he started a process where prisoners were exchanged, there was a demilitarisation process going on [and] troops were withdrawn. Russia not involved: Kremlin 191210004114368 The Kremlin said it had seen reports of the clashes and was looking into them. It said it did not know what had triggered the violence. On Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Vladislav Surkov, a veteran and once close adviser who until recently managed Moscows relations with war-torn Ukraine. Putin fired Surkov, seen as a hardliner by many in Kiev, a week after the Kremlin said senior Ukrainian-born Russian official Dmitry Kozak was now in charge. Ukraine, Western countries and the NATO accuse Russia of sending troops and heavy weapons to prop up separatist fighters in Donbass, a charge that Moscow has denied. A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped reduce the scope of fighting, but sporadic clashes have continued and efforts to negotiate a political settlement have stalled. During a meeting in Paris in December, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany made a deal to exchange prisoners and pledged to ensure a lasting ceasefire in fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists. They made no progress, however, on key contentious issues a timeline for local elections in eastern Ukraine and when the country can get back control of its borders in the rebel-held region. CLEVELAND, Ohio Leann Alferio of Brunswick knows what its like to be pregnant with quintuplets. Just like Hannah Merton, the young woman in Barberton who is expecting quintuplets, Alferio, 38, had trouble ovulating and took fertility drugs to increase ovulation. The result was five babies, born healthy at 30 weeks gestation. Alferios quintuplets boys Giovanni and Leighton, and girls Brooklynn, Jade and Kensley are now 7 years old. Another person with firsthand experience with multiples is Katy Baddorf of Medina, mom to 7-year-old quadruplets Sam, Anna, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Baddorf had a difficult pregnancy and delivered at 28 weeks. The babies spent weeks in the hospital because they needed help breathing and eating. The first year was a whirlwind of feedings, bottles and laundry, Baddorf recalled. Every once in awhile, you throw in time for breakfast, she said, laughing. As experienced moms of multiples, Alferio and Baddorf had some advice for Hannah Merton: Color-code clothes, bottles and other equipment for each baby to make it easier to stay organized. Dont worry about dressing the kids in matching outfits. If one throws up, you dont want to change all of them, Baddorf said. Dont say no to help, although it is hard to get used to having people doing your laundry. If people want to help but you dont want strangers in your house, ask them to drop off a dinner you can microwave, or take laundry to their own house to wash and fold. Be kind to yourself, Alferio said. Be forgiving if your daily to-do list doesnt get done. I never felt like I was doing enough for any of them. Reach out to other parents of multiples. Baddorf is a member of the Emerald Valley Mothers of Multiples Club, which offers support and social activities for families with multiples. Carve out some time for your marriage. The amount of stress on a marriage [with multiples] is immense, for sure, Alferio said. Nothing you have to say to your spouse at 3 in the morning on two hours sleep will be kind, Alferio said, chuckling. She and her husband divorced, although she thinks they might have split even if multiples hadnt come along. When the kids are older, find ways to spend time with each one singly. Baddorf takes one child at a time to the grocery store, or Christmas shopping to buy presents for the rest of the family. Just enjoy this, Baddorf said about the early days with multiples. Its hard, but theyll only be babies once. More stories about pregnancy and health: Ohio gets $12 million to combat pregnancy-related deaths Pregnant women should get flu, whooping cough vaccines: Health Matters Ohio encourages kick counting and free app to pregnant moms to prevent stillbirth Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 00:43:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- South African police on Tuesday launched a manhunt for a 52 year-old man who allegedly killed his four children aged between three and nine. "We are still searching for him and we have called the search and rescue team to assist," Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo told Xinhua. He said the search was concentrated near a mountain in Ga-Phasha village Limpopo Province, where a body of one of the children was discovered. The bodies of the four children were found in two different locations with horrific injuries. The 52 year-old man alerted his neighbors about his actions. "The suspect allegedly informed a neighbor this morning (Tuesday) about the murders and also indicated to him the places where the bodies were. The police were then informed and on arrival, the lifeless bodies of three children aged 9, 7 and 5 were found in the nearby bushes," Mojapelo said. Police are investigating the motive of the killing. "Preliminary police investigations indicate that the suspect stopped the vehicle transporting the kids from school on Monday. The driver, who apparently knows the father, stopped and let the kids go with their father," he added. Enditem San Francisco, Feb 18 : Multi-billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has revealed on Twitter that Tesla is planning to offer the Solar Roof internationally "later this year". "Tesla is ramping up Solar Roof installation across the USA! Training will be provided, so no prior experience needed," Musk tweeted recently. "Looking forward to international expansion later this year," he added. Back in October, Musk has unveiled the third version of Tesla's solar-roof product and according to Musk, this third iteration of the electricity-generating house-topper will be cheaper, easier, and faster to install than its predecessors. The company said that it has increased power density in the third version of the Solar Roof tiles, reduced the parts used in the tiles by half and brought down costs substantially compared to the second generation tiles, Engadget reported. The estimated cost of a 2,000-square-foot solar roof is $33,950 and comes with a 25-year warranty. Telsa is doing the installation themselves, and aims to complete the whole job in just eight hours. Additionally, Musk said the Solar Roof is cheaper than a new roof and a separate roof-mounted solar system. Additionally, Musk also encouraged all interested to apply for a job in Tesla's Solar Roof team, according to Mashable. The company is hiring roofers and installers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah. and Virginia. A mosquito-eating fish called crimson-spotted rainbow has reportedly been deployed on Gold Coast amid plague caused by mosquitos spreading due to record rainfall in Australia. The mosquitos drastically soared in population due to rainfall ideal for their breeding, confirmed reports. Councillor Hermann Vorster told the media that the government's efforts to control the breeding of the mosquitos by spraying chemicals is hampered due to wet conditions. He added that the situation was out of control and required a different method, considering the heavy rainfall. The ground has become saturated due to rain and the low-lying areas in the city were now small inland puddles and lakes, he added. The lakes and ponds created suitable conditions for mosquitoes to breed in that are now spreading plague around in the city, he said. Hermann emphasized that the council resumed spraying of chemicals in the residential areas particularly in Northern areas to kill the mosquitos, but it has proved to be ineffective. Read Huge Jellyfish Melts On Beach Amid Heat Wave In Bushfire-hit Australia Read Australia: Hikers Spot Footprints In Blue Mountains, Fuel Rumours Of Panther Omnivores fish feeds on the larvae According to the reports, the local government has now deployed crimson-spotted rainbow fish in areas with permanent water features such as fountains, ponds, or dams to curb the breeding of the mosquitos and control plague. The blue-grey fish with a rainbow coloured tail is an omnivores fish that feeds on the larvae of the mosquitos. Patricia Dale, Professor of Environment at Griffith University, told the media that using fish to eat mosquito larvae could be very effective. She said that the council sprayed salt marshes with larvicides to prevent the mosquitos from breeding into adults and fogged residential areas with machines, but it turns out that the real problem was mosquitos breeding out of the water bodies during the rain. Patricia said that mosquito larvae mostly bred in the pool of water in the rainy season and a new technique was needed to avoid the population growth. Therefore the fishes will eat the larvae preventing the further growth of mosquitos bringing their overall population down in the city that is currently struggling with the plague. Read Australia: Hikers Spot Footprints In Blue Mountains, Fuel Rumours Of Panther Read From Australia To Canada, Women Play Key Role In Armed Forces Savers, pension funds and other clients who have placed their faith in the active management skills of Jupiter and Merian Global Investors would be entitled to ask what they stand to gain from such a merger. Performance at quoted Jupiter has been lagging amid fund outflows of 4.5 billion in 2019. Chief executive Andrew Formica is seeking to bulk up with a 370m takeover of Merian, the former fund management arm of Old Mutual. There is nothing wrong with that if savers could be assured of improved performance. Formica is a dab hand at getting bigger. He built up his previous employer Henderson with a series of deals, taking out John Duffield's stricken New Star and Gartmore before linking up with US-based Janus. Unsettled: Performance at quoted Jupiter has been lagging amid fund outflows of 4.5 billion in 2019 Most fund management deals largely are about taking out costs for the owners of the enterprises rather than jazzing up performance. The latest deal brings 22 billion of additional funds to Jupiter with annual management fees in the order of 140m. The merger aims to raise earnings of the combined group by as much as 13 per cent to 15 per cent by nudging up profit margins from 45 per cent at Jupiter to 50 per cent-60 per cent. That is all very good for battered Jupiter shareholders who ought to be winners with the share price advancing 3.7 per cent in latest trading. Merian backers should also do fine with chief executive Richard Buxton and associates in line for a 20m pay out if commercial targets are fully met. Merian investor TA Associates will acquire a 16 per cent stake in the bigger group. That might look like a case for gins and Fever-Tree all around. But there is not much joy in this for investors putting their faith in active management. As the Woodford scandal has illustrated, the only people making money in many sub-performing active funds are managers and platform operators. They enjoy supercharged personal rewards on the back of fabulous margins, which most of the corporate world can only dream of. This might be more acceptable were the managers and platform operators transparent with clients. Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) shamefully claims that its multi-asset funds which were heavily exposed to Woodford delivered value to investors. Truth is, performance has been lamentable. The over-weight exposure to the failed Woodford Equity Income Fund means that all but one of ten HL multi-manager funds lagged behind similar outfits over the last three years. The mismatch between the fantastic rewards to Hargreaves Lansdown, fund groups, high-profile managers and ordinary savers is beyond parody. That is why so many savers are choosing passive funds and quoted Exchange Traded Funds where gains are not sucked out by fees and grasping managers. The reputation of the professional savings community has never in recent times been so dismal. Up to speed Among the big decisions still to be taken on HS2 is who will be awarded the initial 2.75 billion contract to build 54 trains. The joint bid from Alstom-Bombardier could possibly be boosted by a proposed takeover of Canada's Bombardier by Alstom maker of the TGV bullet train for 5.4 billion. The others bidders are Japan's Hitachi, Siemens and Spain's Talgo. Now we are all but outside the EU, the Brussels-dictated competitive bidding rules which have been so costly for UK manufacturing could be set aside. UK civil servants and ministers have, in the past, been more punctilious about sticking to the rules than Continental neighbours. The contract with the most UK industrial heritage would be Alstom-Bombardier. In the great days of Lord Weinstock, the GEC-Alstom joint venture was a world-beating combination winning contracts from South Korea to Houston, Texas. The break-up of GEC saw production (much of it in Rugby) being run down. Bombardier, with is train-building at York, remains the nearest we have to a UK-based train maker. Given No 10's admiration for the Chinese, don't be surprised if Beijing comes up on the rails with a bid too good to be true. Web master Former Slater-Walker investment banker HJ Mark Tompkins has his hands really full as chairman sorting out the governance and finances at NMC Healthcare now that founder BR Shetty has resigned. All of Tomkins's experience from the last days of Slater-Walker directly saved from the knacker's yard by the Bank of England with the help of the late Sir James Goldsmith should be most useful. It too consisted of an arid web of complex interrelated shareholdings. What's next for Cerner's Bannister development after standstill with Kansas City? After a standstill with Kansas City, it's unclear what exactly Cerner Corp. has planned in the way of much anticipated retail development on its massive Innovations campus off of Bannister Road. The health care IT company's 290-acre campus, which stretches from 87th to 95th streets immediately east of Interstate 435, was conceived under the premise that it would help spur a revitalization of South Kansas City. Not exactly "news" but just another company that promised to rescue an ailing part of the metro and didn't live up to expectations . . . The place pretty much functions as a fortress and the economic benefit to the community hasn't been realized. Sneak past the paywall to read more: Vacationers, nature lovers and other people are using their cameras to document the effects of extreme high tides. By doing so, these men and women are helping scientists predict what rising sea levels will mean for coastal communities around the world. The volunteer photographers are taking pictures of an unusually high tide: the king tide. King tides take place about two times a year in coastal areas when the sun and Earths moon align. The alignment increases the gravitational pull that produces the normal rising and falling of the sea. The volunteers goal is to capture how high the waterline gets and where all the water goes. The volunteers then upload the images for use by scientists, policymakers and even city planners. The pictures show where flooding affects some roads, and offer clues as to whether it is safe to build new housing. The first of these King Tide Projects involving the public began in 2009 in Australia. The idea has since spread to coastal areas in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Mauritius and other nations. Flooding from king tides helps to show how rising sea levels will affect coastal communities, said Peter Ruggiero, acting chief of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute. He added that warmer ocean water and bigger storms could make those changes more intense. Skip Stiles is the executive director of a not-for-profit group called Wetlands Watch. It helped organize 700 people to document a king tide in the U.S. city of Norfolk, Virginia in 2017. For us, the king tide offers a look at where the water will be in about 2050, about 30 to 46 centimeters above normal levels, Stiles said. His groups efforts have since grown into a computer software program that uses crowdsourcing to gather images and find flooding. What were finding is theres a real appetite for this data, he said. Some of the King Tide Projects are operating under the direction of nonprofit groups, while others work with state and local governments. They all have the same goal: to educate the public and provide a clear example of how climate change will affect everyday life. Marina Psaros helped develop Californias King Tides Project. A lot of the conversation around climate change was what was happening far away and not about what people were going to be experiencing in their own lives, she said. The goal of the project was to get people thinking more about climate change locally instead of just polar bears. When Auckland, New Zealand, organized its first king tide photo event, people shared pictures of flooded areas and roads with local government officials. Some of the images were used to develop a plan to build up a popular beach that was slowly being washed away. Last year, the group expanded the program to include a series of tide gauges that citizen scientists inspected, said Ben Sheeran, founder of the New Zealand King Tide Project. Theres no eureka moment where it all comes into play, but its an evolving database of information thats there when needed, he said. I'm John Russell. Gillian Flaccus reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story align v. to organize things so that they form a line or are in a correct position gravitation n. technical : the natural force that causes things to fall towards the earth upload v. computers : to move or copy (a file or program) from a computer or device to a usually larger computer or computer network clue n. a piece of evidence; information used to solve a mystery crowdsourcing n. the act or process of obtaining information from a large number of people (usually on the internet) appetite n. hunger conversation n. oral exchange of observations, opinions, or ideas gauge n. an instrument used to measure something eureka interjection. used to express surprise or excitement when a discovery has been made WellSpan Health York Hospital has been cited by the state for failing to respond to declining vital signs of a patient who died of a slow heartbeat. The patient died Oct. 17, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. As of 1:26 p.m. that day, the patient had an oxygen level of 77 percent and a heart rate of 109 beats per minute, the health department said in the report. At 1:45 p.m., the patients oxygen level had fallen to 31 percent and the patients heart rate had fallen to 75 beats per minute. Three minutes later the oxygen level was zero and the heart rate was 28, the department said. The health department concluded the patient died of bradycardia, which is the medical term for a slow heart rate. No evidence exists that personnel responded or intervened to the alarms of patient distress, the department said. The department said it conducted an unannounced inspection as the result of a complaint. It said its investigation revealed the monitor tech was unable to respond immediately to alarming telemetry monitor due to lack of availability of the nurse. A nurse aid was sent to the patients room, but didnt inform doctors or nurses of the situation, the department said. The death happened two months after a patient died in York Hospitals emergency room after staff apparently lost track of him. In that instance, the man was examined after being brought to the ER by ambulance. He then sat in a wheelchair for 70 minutes with no further attention from staff, with video footage showing staffers walk past him several times. Staff had called his name three times but, hearing no response, concluded he had left without receiving treatment. He was eventually found unconscious and pronounced dead about an hour later, according to the health department report. Asked whether WellSpan considers the two deaths a reflection of any deeper problems at York Hospital, spokesman Ryan Coyle in written statement called the October death unique. Coyle said the death involved a fragile patient who was seriously ill and had complex medical conditions. The health department also faulted WellSpan for failing to enter the declining vital signs into the medical record of the patient who died Oct. 17. The department required York Hospital to carry out a plan of correction that includes new written policies for how telemetry monitoring staff should react and notify medical staff in the event of a declining patient. That includes requiring monitoring staff to declare a code blue when vital signs fall below certain levels. Coyle said, An internal review found a communication issue regarding vital sign monitoring had occurred while the patient was being treated by a team of physicians and nurses. Here is Coyles full statement: Months ago, WellSpan York Hospital reported an event involving a fragile patient who was seriously ill and had complex medical conditions. An internal review found a communication issue regarding vital sign monitoring had occurred while the patient was being treated by a team of physicians and nurses. In response to this incident, our teams have implemented enhanced reporting processes and protocols between nurses, technicians and physicians when monitoring patients with serious and complex conditions. This incident was unique, and our improvement efforts were specific to addressing those unique findings. Todd McFarlane talks about his first Spawn team book and the culmination of the 'Year of Spawn' The comic book icon looks back at the 'Year of Spawn' and forward to his first-ever team book The Scorched After Mike Bloombergs campaign attacked supporters of Bernie Sanderss for alleged aggressive behaviour, the wife of the Vermont senator has reacted against the New York billionaires comments. Fact is we have 2.5 million supporters on Twitter and some of them, maybe a very small number of them, are negative and speak out in ways, we tell them over and over again we dont want your support if you are going to be disrespectful, Ms Sanders told ABC7. We want you to be respectful and engage in ideas, she continued. The comments come amid frequent attacks on the Sanders campaign for having supporters that are derogatorily called Bernie Bros, and who some in the Democratic Party have attempted to paint as representative of the broader support Mr Sanders has attracted since his improbable 2016 run against Hillary Clinton. Mr Sanders and his supporters, meanwhile, have argued that the stereotype is narrow and inaccurate, and that the Bernie Bro stereotype is outdated. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters While the candidate himself recognised that his base of support may have been too white in 2016, the campaigns base is now considerably more diverse. Polls have shown, for instance, that young women make up more of his support than young men. And, polls have also shown his campaign to be more popular with people of colour than white people. But, those very online and seemingly angry supporters were attacked with renewed vigour over the past week by Mr Bloomberg and his campaign, which tweeted a video highlighting various negative messages from Twitter accounts unaffiliated with the Vermonters campaign, including many that appeared to be threatening other candidates. We need to unite to defeat Trump in November. This type of energy is not going to get us there, Mr Bloombergs tweet read. That attack was posted in response to comments tweeted by Mr Sanderss account, which featured the democratic socialist claiming that Mr Bloomberg wouldnt be able to attract the kind of enthusiasm to his campaign in spite of his money. The simple truth is that Mayor Bloomberg, with all his money, will not create the kind of excitement and energy we need to defeat Donald Trump, the tweet read. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its probe has come to know that Sudhakar Shetty, Chairman of Sahana Group, had helped in the diversion of funds from Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), sources told Zee Media. The ED probe found that DHFL chairman and managing director Kapil Wadhawan had created several shell companies and diverted fund, around Rs 2,186 crore, which were used to purchase properties of underworld don Iqbal Mirchi in Worli area through Sunblink Real Estate Ltd. The sources further informed that the ED probe also found that the money was paid to Mirchi in India, according to his brother Aslam Merchant, was around Rs 111 crore, while Rs 150 crore was paid through hawala channels in Dubai to Mirchi. Notably, payment of Rs 150 crore is not reflected in any balance sheets of DHFL. Sudhakar Shetty had direct links with 4 shell companies and indirect links in about 15 other shell companies out of 79 shell firms that were used to award fictitious loans of Rs 12,773 crore to as many as one lakh alleged bogus persons or entities. Notably, the ED is probing Kapil Wadhawan's alleged role in the money laundering case related to Iqbal Mirchi. Kapil's was arrested as the ED is investigating the transactions of Sunblink Real Estate, linked to Iqbal Mirchi, as it received a loan of Rs 2186 crore from DHFL. Kapil Wadhawan had bought shares in 5 companies identified as Faith Realtors Pvt Ltd, Marvel Township Pvt Ltd, Able Realty Pvt Ltd, Poseidon Realty Pvt Ltd, and Random Realtors Pvt Ltd. These companies were then given loans from DHFL without following any procedure, collaterals or KYC rules. In a bid to create papers or documentation for the properties bought from Mirchi, the price of the property was inflated manifolds and this amount was secured against the property. The ED suspects that part of the diverted amount has been used to make payments to Iqbal Mirchi. Earlier this month, several incriminating documents were recovered by the ED during the raid on Sahana Group chairman Sudhakar Reddy's residence and office in connection with the alleged money laundering probe against gangster Iqbal Mirchi. The documents also revealed details of monetary transactions between Sudhakar Reddy and several politicians, who include a former Haryana minister and some ex-ministers belonging to Maharashtra Congress. These lenders were allegedly part of the financial dealings with Shetty. Sudhakar Shetty had reportedly spent several crores during the marriage of a relative of a former Haryana chief minister. Shetty has been grilled by the ED sleuths over the alleged financial transactions. Shetty's residence and office were raided on January 30, 2020, and the ED recovered several bank account statements, documents related to his companies, pen drives, and computer hard disks. The ED also unearthed details related to more than 20 shell companies run by Shetty. On January 27, 2020, the ED had arrested DHFL chairman Kapil Wadhawan for his alleged role in the money laundering case related to Iqbal Mirchi. Iqbal Mirchi died on August 14, 2013, in London. Even with some forbearance, though, one has to conclude that Shipwreck directed with aplomb by Saheem Ali and played all-out by a strong eight-member cast is like the era we are living through: too much with us. The completion of the surfeit of words and conceits in this 3-hour-15-minute journey is a relief. Maybe thats the point: Examining where we are and where we have come from has to constitute a taxing commitment, a fatiguing exercise in paradox and digression. When it comes to stories of the American project, there is and always will be too much to tell. The first hearing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus corruption trial has been set for March 17, a spokeswoman for the Jerusalem District Court said on Tuesday. Israels attorney general filed the indictment against Netanyahu on January 28. Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases, after allegedly having offered political favours in return for positive press coverage and helped wealthy business contacts in return for gifts. It is the first time in Israels history that a sitting prime minister has been indicted. Netanyahu is not required to resign as prime minister when indicted. According to opinion polls, the indictment so far has not greatly changed voting patterns ahead of the March 2 parliamentary election, an unprecedented third in Israel in less than a year. There is still an apparent stalemate between a bloc of right-wing and religious parties led by Netanyahu and a bloc of centrist, left-wing and Arab parties. (dpa/NAN) TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (TSX: USA) (NYSE American: USAS) ("Americas" or the "Company"), a growing North American precious metals producer, is pleased to announce that Relief Canyon poured its first gold over the weekend and provide the Company's production outlook for 2020 and 2021 as well as operating results for 2019. As previously released, the Galena Complex is not included in any projections as the focus is on the recapitalization plan. All amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted. Highlights The Company successfully poured first gold at its Relief Canyon gold mine and has completed initial construction within the estimated budget of $28 to $30 million . to . Relief Canyon ramp up is proceeding well with approximately 200,000 tonnes stacked on the leach pad. The mine is now running 24-hours a day which will enable the operation to reach design capacity of 14,500 tonnes per day. Precious metals production is expected to significantly increase over the next two years as production ramps up at Relief Canyon coupled with an anticipated increase in silver production from the Cosala Operations starting in the second half of 2020. The Company's gold equivalent 1 production is expected to increase from approximately 14,000 ounces in 2019 to a range of 60,000 to 70,000 ounces in 2020 and 90,000 to 110,000 ounces in 2021, greater than a 300% and 500% increase, respectively, in gold equivalent production compared with 2019. The two-year outlook does not include production from the Galena Complex following the announcement of the recapitalization plan for 2020. production is expected to increase from approximately 14,000 ounces in 2019 to a range of 60,000 to 70,000 ounces in 2020 and 90,000 to 110,000 ounces in 2021, greater than a 300% and 500% increase, respectively, in gold equivalent production compared with 2019. The two-year outlook does not include production from the Galena Complex following the announcement of the recapitalization plan for 2020. Production from the Cosala Operations increased year-over-year across key metrics including ore processed, silver production, zinc production and lead production. Silver production increased by 28% to 572,036 silver ounces in 2019 from 448,150 silver ounces in 2018. Cash costs 2 and all-in sustaining costs 2 ("AISC") were negatively impacted by lower zinc and lead prices as well as increased concentrate treatment charges. and all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") were negatively impacted by lower zinc and lead prices as well as increased concentrate treatment charges. Recapitalization of the Galena Complex began in mid-October 2019 with the focus over the next 18 months on mine development, new equipment purchases and exploration to define and expand silver resources. As a result, the Company has suspended disclosure of certain operating metrics such as production, cash cost and AISC for the Galena Complex. with the focus over the next 18 months on mine development, new equipment purchases and exploration to define and expand silver resources. As a result, the Company has suspended disclosure of certain operating metrics such as production, cash cost and AISC for the Galena Complex. As of December 31, 2019 , the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $20.0 million . "Relief Canyon has successfully poured its first gold and the Company is excited to see the asset ramp up toward commercial production in the second quarter of this year," stated Americas President and CEO Darren Blasutti. "Our two-year outlook demonstrates that 2020 will be a transformational year for the Company with further significant increases expected in 2021. Relief Canyon will provide considerable exposure to gold and increase the Company's forecasted consolidated revenue to approximately 70% from precious metals based on current prices." "The Cosala Operations recently accessed the Upper Zone and is expected to increase silver production in late 2020 continuing into 2021. The recapitalization plan at the Galena Complex is proceeding well and is anticipated to provide long-term benefits for the operation starting in 2021." Relief Canyon First Gold Pour Initial construction at Relief Canyon is complete and the operation successfully achieved its first gold pour just nine months from the start of construction in mid-May 2019. The initial capital is estimated to be within the budget of $28 to $30 million. Americas began actively mining ore at Relief Canyon in early December 2019. To date, the operation has approximately 200,000 tonnes of ore placed on the leach pad. The ore crushing and stacking circuit is performing as expected and the ADR plant is now fully functioning. Relief Canyon is mining and stacking ore on a 24-hour basis. Production is ramping up and the Company expects to reach design crushing and stacking rates of approximately 14,500 tonnes per day. Approximately 150,000 tonnes of ore has been stockpiled ahead of the crusher and is waiting to be placed on the leach pad. Waste stripping is ahead of plan with mining activities focussed on the North and Lightbulb areas of the pit. Commercial production is expected before the end of Q2-2020. Consolidated 2-Year Production Outlook Table 1* Consolidated 2-Year Outlook (Excluding the Galena Complex) 2020 Guidance 2021 Outlook Gold Production (ounces) 50 60 koz 80 90 koz Silver Production (ounces) 0.8 0.9 Moz 1.0 1.5 Moz Gold Equivalent Production (ounces) 60 70 koz 90 110 koz All-in Sustaining Cost ($ per equivalent gold ounce) $900 1,100/oz $850 1,050/oz Cost of Sales ($ per equivalent gold ounce) $1,100 1,250/oz $1,000 1,200/oz Sustaining Capital Expenditures ($) $8 10 M $8 10 M * Forecasts for 2020 and 2021 include only Relief Canyon and the Cosala Operations. 2020 Guidance assumes 11 months of production from the Cosala Operations. Continuation of the blockade may impact guidance further. 2020 Guidance The Company expects to significantly increase precious metals production with the gold contribution from Relief Canyon. Consolidated gold equivalent production for 2020 is anticipated to be between 60,000 to 70,000 ounces which includes pre-commercial production gold sales from Relief Canyon. This represents a year-over-year increase in gold equivalent production of approximately 300%. All-in sustaining costs (net of by-product zinc and lead credits assuming $1.05/lbs zinc and $0.90/lbs lead) for 2020 are expected to range between $900 to $1,100 per gold equivalent ounce. Silver production from the Cosala Operations in 2020 is forecast to be between 0.8 to 0.9 million silver ounces. The Cosala Operations are expected to increase silver production throughout 2020 benefitting from higher grade silver areas in the Upper Zone of the San Rafael mine in the second half of 2020. Zinc and lead production from the Cosala Operations are expected to remain at levels similar to 2019. Production from Cosala is predicated on a resolution to the illegal blockade that has currently forced the Company to suspend mining and processing. Anticipated capital expenditures for the Company in 2020 of $8 to $10 million are related to the completion and ramp-up of Relief Canyon and sustaining capital at the Cosala Operations. This does not include capital related to the Galena Complex recapitalization plan. 2021 Outlook The Company anticipates gold equivalent production to further increase in 2021 as Relief Canyon contributes a full year of commercial production. Gold equivalent production is expected to increase to between 90,000 to 110,000 ounces in 2021 bringing the increase to greater than 500%. The 2021 outlook includes silver production from the Cosala Operations of 1.0 to 1.5 million silver ounces. Production from Cosala in 2021 is expected to fully benefit from higher grade silver areas in the Upper Zone that increasingly contribute by the end of 2020. A wider production range is provided for 2021 as a conservative measure by the Company, taking into account that Relief Canyon is a new operation and a detailed 2021 mine plan has not been formally approved. Capital expenditures for the Company for 2021 are estimated to be between $8 to 10 million. Consolidated Full Year 2019 Production Details Table 2 Consolidated Production Highlights** 2019 2018 Change Processed Ore (tonnes milled) 701,884 685,152 2% Silver Production (ounces) 1,163,618 1,417,537 (18%) Silver Grade (grams per tonne) 70 84 (16%) Cost of Sales ($ per equiv. ounce silver) $8.42 $8.29 2% Cash Costs ($ per ounce silver) $4.61 ($0.63) 834% All-in Sustaining Costs ($ per ounce silver) $12.71 $9.80 30% Zinc Production (pounds) 43,314,002 34,219,472 27% Lead Production (pounds) 26,193,098 30,466,799 (14%) Silver Equivalent Production (ounces) 5,836,446 6,286,531 (7%) ** Production and costs only include 9 months from the Galena Complex in 2019 and a full year in 2018. Consolidated production in 2019 was 5.8 million silver equivalent3 ounces including 1.2 million silver ounces, compared to production in 2018 of 6.3 million silver equivalent ounces, including 1.4 million silver ounces, representing a decrease of 18% and 7%, respectively. Production in 2019 includes only nine months of production from the Galena Complex, which is the primary reason production decreased year-over-year. Production from the Galena Complex in Q4-2019 has been excluded from the consolidated results. Consolidated cash costs were approximately $4.61 per silver ounce and consolidated AISC were approximately $12.71 per silver ounce, both representing increases year-over-year. The increased costs were primarily the result of lower realized by-product metal prices, coupled with higher concentrate treatment costs. The average zinc price in 2019 decreased by approximately 13% while the average lead price decreased by approximately 11% compared with 2018. The average zinc spot treatment charge increased by approximately 300% year-over-year. Cosala Operations 2019 Production Details Table 3 Cosala Operations Highlights 2019 2018 Change Processed Ore (tonnes milled) 613,814 544,472 13% Silver Production (ounces) 572,036 448,150 28% Silver Grade (grams per tonne) 50 47 6% Cost of Sales ($ per equiv. ounce silver) $5.89 $5.59 5% Cash Costs ($ per ounce silver) ($18.31) ($37.95) 52% All-in Sustaining Costs ($ per ounce silver) ($10.90) ($19.66) 45% Zinc Production (pounds) 43,314,002 34,219,472 27% Lead Production (pounds) 16,374,030 12,865,832 27% Silver Equivalent Production (ounces) 4,685,053 4,165,326 12% The Cosala Operations produced 572,036 ounces of silver in 2019 and 4.7 million ounces of silver equivalent at cash costs of negative ($18.31) per silver ounce and AISC of negative ($10.90) per silver ounce. Silver production increased by 28% while silver equivalent production increased by 12% over the prior year. The stronger production results were driven by higher throughput and grade as well as continued improvement in recoveries. Cash costs and AISC increased by 52% and 45%, respectively, compared to 2018. Despite the increase in production of both zinc and lead, the decrease in the prices year-over-year coupled with the increase in concentrate treatment costs, negatively impacted cash costs and AISC. Development of the incline ramp has reached the Upper Zone at the San Rafael mine. The Upper Zone contains higher grade silver areas which should benefit silver production as it starts to contribute towards the end of 2020 and for the full year in 2021. Galena Complex 2019 Production Details The Galena Complex produced 751,182 ounces of silver during 2019 and 1.4 million ounces of silver equivalent. Silver and silver equivalent production decreased by 23% and 32%, respectively, compared to the prior year. As highlighted in the Company's press release dated November 1, 2019, the Company has chosen to suspend further disclosure of certain operational metrics such as production, cash cost and AISC for the Galena Complex until the recapitalization plan is substantially completed, estimated to be by the end of fiscal 2021. Total estimated capital expenditures in 2020 at the Galena Complex will be $13 to $15 million of which Americas share is estimated to be $2 to $4 million. The capital will focus on exploration to define new silver resources, purchase of mine equipment and underground development. About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Americas Gold and Silver Corporation is a high-growth precious metals mining company with multiple assets in North America. The Company's newest asset, Relief Canyon in Nevada, USA, has poured first gold and is expected to ramp up to full production over the course of 2020. The Company also owns and operates the Cosala Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico and manages the 60%-owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA. The Company also holds an option on the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico. For further information, please see SEDAR or www.americas-gold.com Daren Dell, Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person under Canadian Securities Administrators guidelines, has approved the applicable contents of this news release. For further information, please see SEDAR or www.americas-gold.com. For more information: Stefan Axell Darren Blasutti VP, Corporate Development & Communications President and CEO Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Americas Gold and Silver Corporation 416-874-1708 416-848-9503 This news release constitutes a designated news release for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated February 18, 2020 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated June 28, 2019, and shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the base shelf prospectus. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, Americas Gold and Silver's expectations, intentions, plans, assumptions and beliefs with respect to, among other things, estimated production rates and results for gold, silver and other precious metals, as well as the related costs, expenses and capital expenditures, the Company's construction, production, development plans and performance expectations at the Relief Canyon Mine, including the anticipated timing of commercial production at Relief Canyon, the resolution and removal of the illegal blockade at the Company's Cosala Operations and the resumption of mining and processing operations. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "goal", "plan", "intend", "potential', "estimate", "may", "assume" and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of Americas Gold and Silver as of the date such information is provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Americas Gold and Silver to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. With respect to the business of Americas Gold and Silver, these risks and uncertainties include interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms or at all; the ability to develop, complete construction, bring to production and operate the Relief Canyon Project; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, currency fluctuations and energy prices), ground conditions and other factors limiting mine access, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities, labor relations or disruptions, social and political developments and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward-looking information is available in Americas filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators on SEDAR and with the SEC. Americas does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Americas does not give any assurance (1) that Americas will achieve its expectations, or (2) concerning the result or timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information concerning Americas are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. 1 Gold equivalent production throughout this press release was calculated based on an 80:1 silver to gold ratio. 2 Cash cost per ounce and all-in sustaining cost per ounce are non-IFRS performance measures with no standardized definition. For further information and detailed reconciliations, please refer to the Company's previous year-end and quarterly MD&A reports as well as our updated year-end results expected to be released in early March, 2020. 3 Silver equivalent production throughout this press release was calculated based on silver, zinc and lead realized prices during each respective period. SOURCE Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Related Links https://www.americas-gold.com/ Southwest Research Institute whose scientists work on space exploration, self-driving cars and numerous other cutting-edge projects set a revenue record in its last fiscal year, hitting $674 million, the San Antonio nonprofit announced Monday at its annual meeting. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, SwRI brought in 15 percent more revenue than in the previous year, Chief Financial Officer Beth Rafferty said. Net revenue, after expenses, exceeded $34 million for the year, up from $31.8 million in the 2018 fiscal year. We continue to identify new clients and business opportunities, and our staff (members) are energized, she said. The institute, she added, expects revenue to exceed $700 million this year. The institute has a backlog of contracts worth $560 million, up 10 percent from a year ago. Rafferty announced the figures as hundreds of the institutes 2,800 employees gathered in the company cafeteria on Southwests sprawling campus to celebrate each others work. Most of SwRIs employees work out of the San Antonio campus, but the institute also maintains a smaller campus in Boulder, Colo., focused on its space programs. The institute, founded by the late Tom Slick, an heir to his fathers oil fortune, also owns Signature Science, an Austin-based research company. The annual meeting also featured presentations on a few of Southwests initiatives, such as protecting electric grids from disruptions, machine learning and energy efficiency in autonomous vehicles. Signature Science researchers presented a program on forensic identification through protein analysis, an approach they say could be used when DNA information is unavailable. Rafferty said 60 percent of the institutes revenue comes from federal government contracts and 40 percent from U.S. corporate and international contracts. CORRECTION: This report has been updated to correct the location of SwRIs Colorado campus. Randy Diamond covers aviation, energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | randy.diamond@express-news.net Kishor would now be escorted by a team of commandoes armed with tactical weapons, sources revealed. Kolkata: Close on the heels of his expulsion from the JD-United for opposing the CAA, political strategist Prashant Kishors proximity with the ruling Trinamul Congress in West Bengal is only growing as the state government has now decided to provide Z-plus security cover to him. The development came on Monday after chief minister Mamata Banerjee gave her approval to the decision in view of the assessment of threats by the intelligence branch of the state police. Mr Kishor would now be escorted by a team of commandoes armed with tactical weapons, sources revealed. In his case, the security contingent would be drawn from the state police, according to sources in the state home department. Since the Trinamul roped in Mr Kishor after its poor show in the Lok Sabha election last year and appointed his political consulting firm: Indian Political Action Committee for partys strategy for its success in 2021, his movements have so far remained secret on most occasions. Lashing out at the Trinamul Congress, state BJP president and Midnapore MP Dilip Ghosh alleged, Mr Kishor has become the biggest asset to the Trinamul and a VIP now. Police came under fire yesterday for failing to stop a group of eco-warriors as they ripped up the lawn outside one of Cambridges most famous colleges. That officers let the protest continue undisrupted without making arrests was described as an affront not only to the law-abiding public but to democracy itself. The damaged lawn, outside Trinity College, surrounds an apple tree said to be descended from the one that inspired Sir Isaac Newtons discovery of gravity. Tory MP Anthony Browne said he was horrified by police inaction, adding: The role of the police is to uphold the law. Police officers let the Extinction Rebellion protest (pictured) outside Trinity College in Cambridge continue undisrupted, causing a Tory MP to say he was 'horrified' No arrests were made on the day of the protest, although police later accepted that a crime has been recorded for criminal damage. Yesterday, as protests by activists Extinction Rebellion continued across the city, two women an artist and her former flatmate were led away by police. Caitlin Fay, 19, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. She was also arrested during the groups protests in London in October, when she wrote on social media: Many people say our actions are inconvenient. Boris Johnson has called us uncooperative crusties. We are doing this for everyone, the planet, the children, the animals. Freelance animator Gabriella Ditton, 26, was arrested for allegedly spraying graffiti. Police could not say whether there had been other arrests. No arrests were made on the day of the protest, although police later accepted that a crime has been recorded for criminal damage Extinction Rebellion, whose street protests last year shut down large swathes of London, are targeting the university over its investments in fossil fuels and plans to turn a Suffolk farm into a business park. They threaten to continue their disruption all week. Mr Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire, was among those to criticise Cambridgeshire Constabulary for failing to curb the chaos and halt the criminal damage. I am horrified at Extinction Rebellion causing criminal damage to the Trinity College lawn and illegally blockading the roads, he said. I also find it concerning that the police have taken the stance they have I understand the difficult position they are in, but the role of the police is to uphold the law and they should do so. In a letter to the forces acting Police and Crime Commissioner Ray Bisby, he added: Extinction Rebellion are flagrantly breaking the law, yet so far Cambridgeshire Constabulary has taken no action to intervene. Protesters are seen during the ripping up of the lawn in Cambridge. Extinction Rebellion are targeting the university over its investments in fossil fuels I am aware of the need to balance the rights of peaceful protest with the rights of individuals to go about their lawful business, but in this case it is the overwhelming response of the public that the police have got the balance wrong. This type of protest is an affront not only to the law-abiding public, but to democracy itself. By causing criminal damage to the university turf, the activists were undermining their own cause, he said. Superintendent James Sutherland defended the forces response to the damage and roadblocks set up by protesters which resulted in ambulances being diverted. The law requires us to protect peoples right to peaceful assembly, he said, citing the 1988 Human Rights Act. Simply a road being blocked does not make a protest itself unlawful. Trinity College said it regrets the criminal damage done to its property beside Great Gate, adding: The college respects the right to freedom of speech and non-violent protest but draws the line at criminal damage. Academics at Trinity are actively engaged in research to understand and develop solutions to climate change. Health insurers and private hospitals are stepping up calls for government reform to help reverse a membership decline the regulator has warned is unsustainable, as tens of thousands of younger Australians drop their cover before the next premium rise. Official data released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority on Tuesday showed that 46,969 fewer people aged between 20 and 34 had hospital cover in December, compared with a year earlier. Health insurers are calling for government help to arrest the decline in membership. Credit:Gabriele Charlotte APRA said while releasing the data that the health insurance industry "continues to face risks associated with affordability and the associated value proposition of private health insurance products". Health funds are preparing to hike premiums by an average of 2.92 per cent in April, under changes approved by Health Minister Greg Hunt and announced in December, and are demanding government assistance to make premiums more affordable. RTHK: Ghani's new term as Afghan leader confirmed Ashraf Ghani has secured a second term as president of Afghanistan, according to final results of the September 28, 2019 poll released on Tuesday by the country's election commission. "The election commission... declares Mr Ashraf Ghani, who has won 50.64 per cent of the votes, as the president of Afghanistan," election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told a press conference in Kabul. "May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan... I also pray that peace comes to our country," she added. The results had been delayed for nearly five months after allegations of vote-rigging from Ghani's main rival, Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, forced a recount. The delay left Afghanistan facing a political crisis just as the US seeks a deal with the Taliban which would allow it to withdraw troops in return for various security guarantees and a promise that the militants would hold peace talks with the Afghan government. If all goes well, then Ghani is likely to be the man sitting across from the Taliban at the negotiating table in a bid to chart Afghanistan's future. Earlier this week, Abdullah's team said they would not accept fraudulent results. Current vice-president Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful Uzbek former warlord and Abdullah's ally, has also threatened to form a parallel government if fraudulent election results are announced. This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A Nigerian man identiied as Ogubie John Izuchukwu was reportedly found dead under mysterious circumstances at City Pak Apartment in Cengkareng, Jakarta, Indonesia. According to Facebook user, Sylvester Nwodo, the mans body was discovered on Monday morning, February 17. This Person died this morning In City Pak Apartment Cengkareng Indonesia .Any body that knows him should indicate,so that the family can be contacted.Plz Keep sharing so it can get to the right destination.. thanks. Nigerian man found dead in his apartment in Indonesia (photos) Nigerian man found dead in his apartment in Indonesia (photos) Nigerian man found dead in his apartment in Indonesia (photos) https://i2.wp.com/btlsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/btls-logo.jpg?resize=300%2C166&ssl=1 Share this: February 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The world is waiting anxiously to see whether the U.S. and Afghan governments and the Taliban will agree to a one-week truce that could set the stage for a "permanent and comprehensive" ceasefire and the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign occupation forces from Afghanistan. Could the talks be for real this time, or will they turn out to be just another political smokescreen for President Trump's addiction to mass murder and celebrity whack-a-mole? If the ceasefire really happens, nobody will be happier than the Afghans fighting and dying on the front lines of a war that one described to a BBC reporter as "not really our fight." Afghan government troops and police who are suffering the worst casualties on the front lines of this war told the BBC they are not fighting out of hatred for the Taliban or loyalty to the U.S.-backed government, but out of poverty, desperation and self-preservation. In this respect, they are caught in the same excruciating predicament as millions of other people across the greater Middle East wherever the United States has turned people's homes and communities into American "battlefields." In Afghanistan, U.S.-trained special operations forces conduct hunt and kill night raids and offensive operations in Taliban-held territory, backed by devastating U.S. airpower that kills largely uncounted numbers of resistance fighters and civilians. The U.S. dropped a post-2001 record 7,423 bombs and missiles on Afghanistan in 2019. But as BBC reporter Nanamou Steffensen explained (listen here, from 11:40 to 16:50), it is lightly-armed rank-and-file Afghan soldiers and police at checkpoints and small defensive outposts across the country, not the U.S.-backed elite special operations forces, who suffer the most appalling level of casualties. President Ghani revealed in January 2019 that over 45,000 Afghan troops had been killed since he took office in September 2014, and by all accounts 2019 was even deadlier. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Steffensen traveled around Afghanistan talking to Afghan soldiers and police at the checkpoints and small outposts that are the vulnerable front line of the U.S. war against the Taliban. The troops Steffensen spoke to told her they only enlisted in the army or police because they couldnt find any other work, and that they received only one months training in the use of an AK-47 and an RPG before being sent to the front lines. Most are dressed only in t-shirts and slippers or traditional Afghan clothing, although a few sport bits and pieces of body armor. They live in constant fear, expecting to be overrun at any moment. One policeman told Steffensen, They dont care about us. Thats why so many of us die. Its up to us to fight or get killed, thats all. In an astonishingly cynical interview, Afghanistan's national police chief, General Khoshal Sadat, confirmed the troops views of the low value placed on their lives by the corrupt U.S.-backed government. General Sadat is a graduate of military colleges in the U.K. and U.S. who was court-martialed under President Karzai in 2014 for illegally detaining people and betraying his country to the U.S. and U.K. President Ghani promoted him to head the national police in 2019. Steffensen asked Sadat about the effect of high casualties on morale and recruitment. When you look at recruitment, Sadat told her, I always think about the Afghan families and how many children they have. The good thing is there is never a shortage of fighting-age males who will be able to join the force. In the final interview in Steffensens report, a policeman at a checkpoint for vehicles approaching Wardak town from Taliban-held territory questioned the very purpose of the war. He told her, We Muslims are all brothers. We dont have a problem with each other. Then why are you fighting? she asked him. He hesitated, laughed nervously and shook his head in a resigned manner. You know why. I know why. Its not really our fight, he said. So why are we all fighting? The attitudes of the Afghan troops Steffensen interviewed are shared by people fighting on both sides of Americas wars. Across the arc of instability that now stretches five thousand miles from Afghanistan to Mali and beyond, U.S. regime change and counterterrorism wars have turned millions of people's homes and communities into American battlefields. Like the Afghan recruits Steffensen spoke to, desperate people have joined armed groups on all sides, but for reasons that have little to do with ideology, religion or the sinister motivations assumed by Western politicians and pundits. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discontinued the State Departments annual report on global terrorism in 2005, after it revealed that the first three years of the U.S.s militarized War on Terror had predictably resulted in a global explosion of terrorism and armed resistance, the exact opposite of its stated goals. Rices response to the report's revelations was to try to suppress public awareness of the most obvious result of the U.S.s lawless and destabilizing wars. Fifteen years later, the U.S. and its ever-proliferating enemies remain trapped in a cycle of violence and chaos in which acts of barbarism by one side only fuel new expansions and escalations of violence by the other side, with no end in sight. Researchers have explored how the chaotic violence and chaos of Americas wars transform formerly neutral civilians in country after country into armed combatants. Consistently across many different war zones, they have found that the main reason people join armed groups is to protect themselves, their family or their community, and that fighters therefore gravitate to the strongest armed groups to gain the most protection, with little regard for ideology. In 2015, the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), interviewed 250 combatants from Bosnia, Palestine (Gaza), Libya and Somalia, and published the results in a report titled The Peoples Perspectives: Civilians in Armed Conflict. The researchers found that, The most common motivation for involvement, described by interviewees in all four case studies, was the protection of self or family. In 2017, the UN Development Program (UNDP) conducted a similar survey of 500 people who joined Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and other armed groups in Africa. The UNDPs report was titled Journey To Extremism in Africa: Drivers, Incentives and the Tipping-Point for Recruitment. Its findings confirmed those of other studies, and the combatants responses on the precise tipping-point for recruitment were especially enlightening. A striking 71%, the report found, pointed to government action, including killing of a family member or friend or arrest of a family member or friend, as the incident that prompted them to join. The UNDP concluded, State security-actor conduct is revealed as a prominent accelerant of recruitment, rather than the reverse. The U.S. government is so corrupted by powerful military-industrial interests that it clearly has no interest in learning from these studies, any more than from its own long experience of illegal and catastrophic war-making. To routinely declare that "all options are on the table," including the use of military force, is a violation of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat as well as the use of force against other nations precisely because such vague, open-ended threats so predictably lead to war. But the more clearly the American public understands the falsehood and the moral, legal and political bankruptcy of the justifications for our country's disastrous wars, the more clearly we can challenge the absurd claims of warmongering politicians whose policies offer the world only more death, destruction and chaos. Trump's blundering, murderous Iran policy is only the latest example, and, despite its catastrophic results, U.S. militarism remains tragically bipartisan, with a few honorable exceptions. When the U.S. stops killing people and bombing their homes, and the world starts helping people to support and protect themselves and their families without joining U.S.-backed armed forces or the armed groups they are fighting, then and only then will the raging conflicts that U.S. militarism has ignited across the world begin to subside. Afghanistan is not the United States' longest war. That tragic distinction belongs to the American Indian Wars, which lasted from the founding of the country until the last Apache warriors were captured in 1924. But the U.S. war in Afghanistan is the longest of the anachronistic and predictably unwinnable neoimperial wars the U.S. has fought since 1945. As an Afghan taxi driver in Vancouver told me in 2009, "We defeated the Persian Empire in the 18th century. We defeated the British in the 19th century. We defeated the Soviet Union in the 20th century. Now, with NATO, we are fighting 28 countries, but we will defeat them too." I never doubted him for a minute. But why would America's leaders, in their delusions of empire and obsession with budget-busting weapons technology, ever listen to an Afghan taxi driver? Nicolas J S Davies is the author of Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Professor Tih Pius, heading the CBCHS Facebook Contrary to news on social media, no case of coronavirus has been identified in hospitals run by the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services, its Director has said. Prof. Pius Tih Pius Muffih, Director, CBC Health Services in a disclaimer dated Monday, February 17, 2020, further writes that they are not selling preventive medicine for coronavirus. Titled "Disclaimer Of False Allegation, the CBC Health Services states that the two patients who unfortunately died on Saturday at the Mboppi Baptist Hospital in Douala had a history of diarrhoea and vomiting, rubbishing rumours of a coronavirus outbreak. The disclaimer reads: About 12.30 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, the Mboppi Baptist Hospital admitted three patients with history of diarrhoea and vomiting. Later, that same morning two of them aged 38 and 40 years old (a male and female) went into Hyvolemic shock and died while the doctors were about to refer them to the New Bell District Hospital. One was finally referred to the district hospital for proper management. The DMO was alerted and he immediately came to Mboppi Baptist Hospital with his team and took all necessary precautions in case this could be cholera cases. All the staff who were in contact with those patients were given appropriate preventive care as well as disinfection of the caregivers and the two corpses. A stool sample was collected by the district team from the corpses to be analysed in Yaounde for confirmation or ruling out of Cholera. The District Medical Officer has taken his responsibilities and only the Hon. Minister of Public Health will inform the public whether these were cases of Cholera or not. The information circulating in the social media that Mboppi Baptist Hospital is dispensing medicines for the prevention of coronavirus is false and should not be respected. Please do not rush to Mboppi Baptist Hospital or to anybody to buy preventive medicines for coronavirus. The information is not true and there is no suspicion of coronavirus linked to the cases that came to Mboppi Baptist hospital, Douala last weekend. As many as 13 members, including representatives of the Union housing and urban affairs ministry and a municipal corporation, will be part of Sebi's committee on 'muni bonds' to suggest the markets regulator on policy matters pertaining to development of such debt securities. The regulator, on Friday, said it constituted a municipal bonds development committee headed by its Executive Director Sujit Prasad. The panel will suggest Sebi on policy matters pertaining to the development of municipal debt securities and facilitate municipalities for issuance of such bonds. The committee comprises representatives from Sebi, municipal corporations, lawyers, professionals and market practitioners. D Thara, joint secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Shekhar Gaikwad, municipal commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation; and G Mathi Vathanan prinicipal secretary at housing and urban development department in the Odisha government will be part of the committee. Other members of the panel include NSE Chief Business Officer Ravi Varanasi, SBI Capital Markets Head (Capital Markets) Rakesh Joshi, Crisil Ratings President Gurpreet Chhatwal and BSE Chief Trading Operations and Listing Cell Girish Joshi. The committee has been tasked to suggest the regulator on matters required to be taken up for changes in legal framework to introduce simplification and transparency in systems and procedures in the primary and secondary market. Also, the panel would recommend on matters related to regulation of intermediaries for ensuring investor protection in the primary and secondary markets as well as on measures to facilitate issuers, municipalities, for issuance of municipal debt securities. In September, Sebi had relaxed norms for the 'muni bonds' issuance to help smart cities as well as entities working in areas of city planning and urban development work, including municipalities, raise funds through debt securities. Nearly five years ago, the regulator had come out with the Issue and Listing of Debt Securities by Municipalities Regulations and since then, seven municipalities have raised nearly Rs 1,400 crore by issuing their debt securities, which are commonly known as 'muni bonds'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SpaceX will fly up to four paying customers aboard its Crew Dragon under an agreement that opens the way for private space tourism aboard a vehicle built to ferry U.S. astronauts. Space Adventures, a booking agent based in Washington D.C., did not specify any price for the private orbital flights when it announced the arrangement Tuesday. The company has previously arranged several tourist flights aboard Russias Soyuz spacecraft. This historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, and we are pleased to work with the Space Adventures team on the mission, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement. Elon Musks Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is one of two companies NASA has hired, along with Boeing Co., to fly astronauts to the space station aboard new spacecraft. According to the deal with Space Adventures, SpaceXs Crew Dragon will double as a tourism ship. SpaceX flew a demonstration mission to the space station in March; Boeings first test flight in December was cut short by a software glitch that prevented the CST-100 Starliner vehicle from docking with the ISS. NASA, Boeing and an independent review board are analyzing data from the flight to determine if a second uncrewed test flight is required. Boeing executives have also said their Starliner ship may host private tourists on some flights. Shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc., another player in the space-tourism field, surged 18 per cent at 10:17 am in New York trading Tuesday to $33.72 (U.S.), a new 52-week high. The stock has almost tripled this year. Read more about: Afghan-American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday briefed Pakistan PM Imran Khan's government on the developments in the Taliban peace deal talks during his visit to Islamabad, the US Embassy in Pakistan notified. The meetings between Khalilzad and the Pakistan government officials, expectedly found Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa in attendance. Previously, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation had visited Islamabad on January 31 and December 23, 2019. The current status of the meeting was discussed, wherein the US envoy highlighted Pakistan's support for intra-Afghan negotiations, the statement said and discussed the economic and security benefits to the region if the peace talks are successful, it added. "In his meetings with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and other government officials, Ambassador Khalilzad discussed the current status of US-Taliban talks," the statement said Friday. READ| Pakistan backs Taliban; counters India's support for democratic Afghan An ANI source close to the Islamist movement told Sputnik that both sides had discussed in Doha the reduction of violence and conditions that could spur intra-Afghan talks to begin. However, on Thursday, Khalilzad announced a "brief pause" in Taliban peace talks following an attack on Bagram airbase that killed two and wounded dozens of civilians. He said the Taliban must show a willingness to respond to Afghan desire for peace. Taliban Peace Process The talks between the two were resumed in Qatar in December 2019, three months after the US President Donald Trump abruptly halted the diplomatic efforts and called it "dead." The peace deal was expected to focus on the 'reduction of violence' through a ceasefire and intra-Afghan negotiations. The US President Donald Trump had confirmed the resumption of talks, however, had refused to give a timeline for the drawdown of US troops. "Yes," Trump told a small group of reporters at the Bagram Air Field on November 29. The US and the Taliban had appeared on the verge of signing a deal that would have seen Washington begin withdrawing thousands of troops in return for security guarantees. It was also expected to pave the way towards direct talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peace agreement after more than 18 years of war. During a surprise visit to a US military base in Afghanistan in November, Trump said the Taliban "wants to make a deal." READ| Pakistan-Taliban meet irks Afghanistan, questions legitimacy of meet Pakistan's role in peace talks Pakistan has always welcomed the announcement of the resumption of the stalled talks between the US and the Taliban. Pakistan has been playing an active and negative role in Afghanistan, a US report asserted, stating that Islamabad is attempting to weaken the government in Kabul. As per a report, Pakistan has played an active, and by many accounts, a negative role in Afghan affairs for decades. "Pakistan's security services maintain ties to Afghan insurgent groups, most notably the Haqqani Network, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that has become an official, a semiautonomous component of the Taliban," CRS, which periodically prepares reports on issues of importance for Congressmen for them to make informed decisions, said. Islamabad's Afghan policy has been motivated to counter New Delhi's influence in Afghanistan, considering India's backing for the government of the country, which has brought some democratic normalcy in the war-torn country. Islamabad, by backing the armed group has contradicted New Delhi in Afghanistan, who has significantly contributed economically, culturally to the neighbour, and been the largest regional contributor to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. (With ANI inputs) R esidents are facing emergency evacuations as unprecedented floods in the wake of Storm Dennis prompt severe weather warnings in towns and villages across Britain. Hundreds have been ordered to leave their homes as six danger to life flood warnings remain in force in Upton upon Severn, Ironbridge and Uckinghall, and on the River Wye and Lugg at Hampton Bishop. Water levels in the River Severn are on course to reach the highest level in 20 years tonight, the Environment Agency (EA) said. Police have advised residents in affected areas of Shropshire they are risking their own safety and that of rescuers if they choose not to evacuate their properties, with the local council warning of an unprecedented situation. Residents were told to flee their homes in Whitchurch, Herefordshire, as the River Wye flooded / PA The latest warning, for the River Severn in Telford, prompted the evacuation of around 30 properties as water pressure caused the road surface to crack and levels threatened to overtop the barrier. In Wharfage, Ironbridge, a town on the river, residents were told to shelter in a cafe while 21 parked cars were moved amid warnings that water levels could overwhelm the areas flood defences. Further flooding is expected with river levels forecast to rise at the Buildwas river gauge to between 6.5 and 6.7m from Tuesday afternoon. The EA said the areas flood defences are unlikely to hold back the tide. In Monmouth, Wales, the River Wye has burst its banks, hitting drinking water supplies as the storm's aftermath saw floodwater enter a treatment works, cutting power supplies. The Environment Agency has warned that the country faces an urgent situation / PA Bottled water is being dished out in the country town as water levels on the River Wye reached 7.15 metres (23ft) on Tuesday morning, branded exceptional by the EA, after homes were evacuated last night. Mountain rescue teams evacuated an elderly man from his home on a flooded road in Monmouth. A canoeist makes their way down a road in Monmouth, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis / PA Peter Morgan was trapped in his home on the A466 in the town due to rising river levels caused by Storm Dennis. Long Town and Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Teams, supported by members of the Welsh Ambulances Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), helped Mr Morgan to safety. About 25 firefighters are also helping evacuate a care home in Whitchurch, Herefordshire, that has become overwhelmed with the deluge. Elderly residents were told to flee their homes in Whitchurch, Herefordshire, as the River Wye flooded / PA It comes as the Met Office has upgraded its severe yellow weather warnings for rain, with three in force over parts of northwest England and Wales from 6pm Wednesday until 3pm Thursday. Labour has attacked the Prime Ministers resistance to convening the governments emergency Cobra committee, with shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard labelling his "refusal" to visit flood-stricken families "a disgrace". A CRPF commando, who was injured in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district last week, died at a private hospital in Raipur on Tuesday, police said. Head constable Ajit Singh succumbed to bullet injuries in his abdomen while undergoing treatment at Sri Narayana Hospital at around 11.25 am on Tuesday, an official said. Six personnel of 204th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force's elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured in a gunfight with ultras in Pamed area of Bijapur on February 10. Two CoBRA jawans were martyred and a naxal was also killed in the attack. Singh was a resident of Gandala village in Alwar district of Rajasthan, he said, adding that the body will be sent to his hometown after post-mortem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He was most recently serving as CEO of VIBE Re, where he was responsible for bringing together the existing Syndicate Holding reinsurance business under one brand. Milner has also served as president and chief underwriting officer of Axis Re London, head of global business development for Axis Re, as well as president and chief underwriting officer of Axis Re Asia-Pacific. In addition to Milners appointment, Aspen also revealed that Antoine Bdabouni has been named head of Middle East and Africa for Aspen Re; Bdabouni will be based in Zurich. Bdabouni was previously global multi-line insurance and reinsurance business development manager at Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Company. He has also held senior roles at Marsh and McLennan in the Middle East and North Africa, having served on the executive committee for that region. Before joining Marsh and McLennan, he was head of Guy Carpenter in Dubai. These appointments are confirmation of the industry-leading talent that Aspen continues to attract, said Aspen Insurance Holdings executive chairman and group CEO Mark Cloutier. Richard and Antoine will work closely with the Aspen Re leadership team to maximize value creation in our reinsurance franchise for long-term, sustainable profitability. Tough conditions: The high street retailer said sales had fallen nearly 11pc in the last six months of 2019 Retailer Laura Ashley is desperately trying to unlock more money from one of its main lenders after Wells Fargo started to tighten the purse strings. The company said its majority shareholder, MUI Asia Limited, is "discussing arrangements" that could allow Laura Ashley to draw on more cash from the US bank. Shares plummeted by more than 38pc on the news, down 1.25p to 2p. The UK-headquartered business, which was at its height as a lifestyle brand in the 1980s, has five outlets in the Republic of Ireland and four in Northern Ireland. In the Republic, sales of 7.73m last year were mainly furniture and homeware, with some fashion. The retailer's UK parent agreed a 20m (24m) loan arrangement with Wells Fargo in October. However, it is prevented from drawing the full amount unless it meets agreed criteria. "Recent movements in the group's stock and customer deposit levels have led to a reduction in the amount that the group can draw down under its working capital facility with Wells Fargo," the company said. The group said MUI Asia and Wells Fargo were "discussing arrangements" that would allow Laura Ashley to draw on more of the loan. However, "these arrangements do not involve a cash injection by MUI Asia", it said. In an update to its shareholders, Laura Ashley, which was founded in 1953, said that sales had fallen nearly 11pc in the last six months of 2019. "We acknowledge that recent trading conditions, in line with the overall UK retail market, have indeed been challenging," said chairman Andrew Khoo, who is the son of MUI Asia's owner. He added: "There is, however, a robust plan in place to turn the business around." The news will spark more questions about the future of the fashion retailer, which employs around 2,700 people, including 73 in Ireland. PA Media In the four months since Canadas October 21st federal election, the class struggle has escalated markedly. Of pivotal importance are the struggles of 200,000 Ontario teachers and school support staff, who have launched rotating regional and province-wide walkouts to oppose the Ford Conservative governments savage education cuts; and the resistance of 750 locked-out workers at the Federated Cooperatives Ltd. (FCL) oil refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan, are mounting to managements demand for massive pension cuts and other draconian rollbacks. These militant struggles are part of a global upsurge of the working class. Mass protests and strikes have erupted around the world, from Chile, Ecuador, France and India to Mexico and the United States. They also coincide with a further sharp shift to the right of Canadas capitalist ruling elite. To prevail in the struggle to defend their jobs, wages and social rights, workers must recognize they are facing not simply an especially ruthless employer or right-wing government, but a class-war assault and a political struggle. Locked in a global struggle for markets, profits and strategic advantage with its capitalist rivals, Canadian big business is determined to increase worker-exploitation and austerity and fund a vast rearmament program to prepare for increased overseas aggression and war. The unions and NDP hailed the re-election of the Trudeau Liberal government last October, claiming it could be the instrument of progressive reform. In reality, it has intensified the right-wing policies it pursued during its first term behind a din of hollow, identity-politics laden progressive rhetoric. The Liberals have strengthened Canadian imperialisms military-strategic partnership with the United States, including by endorsing Trumps illegal assassination of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, and by prioritizing adoption of his US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The latter reconfigures NAFTA to make it a more effective trade-war bloc against China and the other overseas rivals of North American capital. In the name of advancing national unity, Trudeaus Liberals have embraced the hard-right provincial governments in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan, politically strengthening and encouraging them as they mount a frontal assault on public services and the wages and jobs of the workers who administer them. The Ontario and Quebec governments have vowed to impose years of further real wage cuts on public sector workers. Alberta United Conservative Premier Jason Kenney is demanding wage rollbacks of up to 5 percent from 170,000 public sector workers. This is part of his governments plans to make the provinces corporate tax rate the lowest in the country and to slash per capita provincial spending by well over 10 percent by 2023. The criminalization of working-class opposition To impose austerity and shred workers rights, the political representatives of big business are using state repressionanti-strike laws, court injunctions and police violenceand cultivating far-right forces. The Ford government has already passed legislation (Bill 124) limiting wage and benefit increases for a million public sector workers to 1 percent per year for the next three years, and it has repeatedly threatened to criminalize all teacher job action. The Kenney government has tabled legislation empowering it to hire scabs to provide essential services in the event of a government workers strike. It has also mused about invoking the Canadian constitutions notwithstanding clause to impose wage-cutting contracts by decree. The Scott Moe-led Saskatchewan Party government, the police and the courts have all served as FCLs handmaidens in its deployment of scabs against the locked-out Regina refinery workers. Before the lockout even began, the Moe government publicly gave its stamp of approval to FCLs contingency plans, adding that it would intervene with its tool-box of legislative options only if the workers succeeded in shutting the refinery down. The police have herded scabs and oil trucks into the refinery, while the courts have outlawed all effective picketing, and imposed hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. After Unifor established a blockade of the plant, Moe demanded the police intervene forthwith to uphold the rule of law. Just three days later, police attacked the workers and dismantled the barricade. As auxiliaries in its scabbing operation, FCL boss Scott Banda has mobilized the far-right, anti-immigrant United We Roll group. This too is part of a pattern. Quebec CAQ Premier Francois Legault, who has railed against the high wages of industrial workers and openly backed Alcoa in extorting concessions from the ABI aluminum smelter workers, recently pushed through a chauvinist law (Bill 21) that attacks the rights of Muslims and other religious minorities, so as to promote reaction and divide the working class. While the ruling class presses ahead with a coordinated, carefully-worked out offensive to gut wages, cut jobs and dismantle and privatize public services, the trade unions and their NDP allies are doing everything in their power to divide and demobilize the working class. Each of the four Ontario teachers unions is pursuing its own separate strategy for bargaining and job action. There is mass popular opposition to the Ford government and support for the teachers. However, the unions are adamant that the struggle must be confined within the straitjacket of a collective bargaining strugglethat is, it must not be waged as a political struggle that seeks to mobilize the working class to defeat the Ford government and its austerity agenda. No appeal has been made to health care and other workers targeted by the governments budget cuts and Bill 124 for a common struggle. Most tellingly of all, the unions are conspicuously silent on the Ford governments plans to criminalize teacher job action. This is an unmistakable sign that they intend to use a back-to-work law to short-circuit the struggle. As for the Ontario Federation of Labour, now led by former Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) official Patty Coates, it has systematically suppressed opposition to the Ford government. The political purpose of its bogus Power of Many anti-Ford campaign is summed up by the countdown clock on the front page of the OFL website. It informs visitors that they should wait a little over two years to elect a progressive government, i.e., a right-wing, pro-austerity government led by the Liberals or NDP. Unifor has responded to the FCL-state attack with a unilateral surrender, offering the company $20 million per year in annual concessions. Initially many rank-and-file workers welcomed Unifors barricade as the start of a genuine mobilization of working-class power. But within hours of it being established, Unifor National President Jerry Dias was privately signaling to FCL that the union was ready to sign a contract effectively dictated by the company. Then when management escalated its concession demands, Unifor begged for the big business henchman Moe to intervene in the disputeno matter that his government has been supporting FCL and its scab operation from the get-go. Workers need new organizations of struggle For decades the unions have systematically suppressed the class struggle, imposing concessions and job cuts, enforcing anti-strike laws and dividing workers in Canada from their class brothers and sisters in the US, Mexico and internationally with noxious campaigns to defend Canadian jobs. Nationalist and pro-capitalist organizations, the unions proved incapable of providing any progressive response to the globalization of production and the ability of transnational corporations to shift production wherever profits are the highest. Instead the bureaucrats who staff these organizations have sought to defend their privileges by integrating themselves ever more fully into management and the state. This is as true of Unifor, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Quebec-based Confederation of National Trade Unions as it is of the unions in the US, where just 6 percent of private sector workers are unionized; of France, where the unions are financially dependent on subsidies paid by the employers and state; and Germany, where in the name of co-management the unions organize corporate restructurings that slash wages and jobs wholesale. If the Ontario teachers and FCL workers struggles are not to be sabotaged and strangled, workers must take their leadership out of the hands of the union apparatuses and make them the spearhead of a working-class counteroffensive against austerity, concessions, rearmament and war, and for a workers government. This requires the building of new organizations of working class struggle. Action committees must be organized independent of, and in opposition to, the union apparatuses. Such committees will be tasked with broadening every struggle to mobilize ever wider sections of working people and prepare defiance of anti-strike laws and injunctions through mass mobilizations, including general strike action. The struggle against austerity and war is a struggle against capitalism and therefore can only be waged as a global struggle. Workers in Canada must unify their struggles with those of their class brothers and sisters in the US, Mexico and around the world, and forge themselves into an independent political force in opposition to all the parties of the ruling elite, including the NDP. A key element in the union and NDPs suppression of the class struggle over the past two decades has been their burgeoning alliance with the Liberal Party, long the Canadian capitalist elites preferred party of government. At their respective national conventions last summer, both Unifor and the Canadian Teachers Federation provided Trudeau with a platform to kick off the Liberals re-election campaign. Both before and after the election, the NDPs Jagmeet Singh pleaded to join a Liberal-led coalition government, and with full-throated union support the NDP continues to offer and provide parliamentary backing to the pro-austerity, pro-war Trudeau government. The union and NDP leaders justify their collusion with the Liberals by arguing that the Conservatives and the right must be stopped. In reality the parliamentary system is a fraud. All five partiesthe NDP, Greens, Bloc Quebecois, Liberals and Conservativesare beholden to big business and instruments for suppressing the working class. The competition between them is merely a way of resolving disputes between various factions of the ruling elite, and, most importantly, of manipulating, diverting and defusing working class opposition. By politically straitjacketing the working class to the Liberals and to the entire parliamentary charade, the unions and NDP enable the ruling class to press forward with its class war agenda, while giving succor to the most right-wing forces. To fight for workers power and the reorganization of socioeconomic life so that social need, not investor profit, will prevail, workers must build their own party based on a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program. We urge all workers and youth who want to fight for socialism to make the Socialist Equality Party that party. Policemen disperse demonstrators during a protest against pension reform in Lille, north France, Jan. 9, 2020. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua) Challenging a taboo, the government has proposed a point-based pension system with same rules applying to all, regardless of profession or sector, to replace the current system of 42 regimes. "Today is the time for responsibility towards the French through a discussion that will take the time it needs," said the newly-appointed Solidarity and Health Minister Olivier Veran while addressing the National Assembly. PARIS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- French lawmakers on Monday began debating the government's draft bill on pension reform, which had brought crowds into the streets and disruptions to transport services in December and January. Defending a reform "whose ambition is great, even immense," the newly-appointed Solidarity and Health Minister Olivier Veran argued that an universal system "is the pillar of social protection." "Today is the time for responsibility towards the French through a discussion that will take the time it needs," he addressed the National Assembly. Challenging a taboo, the government has proposed a point-based pension system with same rules applying to all, regardless of profession or sector, to replace the current system of 42 regimes. It also plans to end a specific regime for workers of public transport companies RATP and SNCF, which allows train drivers and other staff who work underground to retire at 52 -- a decade earlier than the legal retirement age for a full public pension. Under the new system, every hour worked will earn pension rights, which will benefit gig economy workers who often do not earn enough to lock in pension rights under the current system. Demonstrators go on a strike against the French government's pension reform, Jan. 16, 2020. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua) "Our predecessors have carried out courageous reforms but always for budgetary reason ... Our reading is broader, our ambition exceeds the balanced budget. It is a social overhaul that the government is proposing," Laurent Pietraszewski, secretary of state for pension reform, told lawmakers. Willing to compromise on the disputed reform, the government has offered some concessions including a temporarily removal of "pivotal age" of 64, the most contested measure of the reform. It invited unionists to dig for another way to balance the pension deficit during a financing conference. Otherwise, the measure will be added back in before the bill is slated to be voted into law this summer. However, the sweeteners fell short to abate fierce opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's plan to overhaul pension regime. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of "France Unbowed" party, pledged "tough, relentless and long-lasting" two-week debate at the National Assembly. "We will do everything we can to prevent this law from being passed," he told local media. As the debate in the lower house of the parliament seemed to be heated, trade unions are still a long way from a deal with the government over the planned reform. Unions have planned countrywide protests on Feb. 20. During last two months, large crowds including teachers, civil servants, medical staff, drivers, police and even students had participated in seven separate days of nationwide demonstrations to pressure Macron to reconsider his reform. They say the reform would effectively force people to work longer, in particular public sector workers that have been allowed to retire earlier often because of hard working conditions. The government argued that the costly pension system, which is almost entirely borne by the state, needs to be brought into balance. A bus with a driver (L) wearing protective gear departs from the dockside next to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port in Japan on Feb. 16, 2020. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images) 88 More People Tested Positive for New Coronavirus on Cruise Ship in Japan Eighty-eight more cases of the Novel Coronavirus have been confirmed on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Japanese health authorities reported on Tuesday. Japans Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare said that the 88 cases were confirmed after testing 681 people aboard the ship. Of the 88 cases, 65 do not have symptoms of the virus. The ministry added that there are now 542 known cases on the ship, after testing a total of 2,404 passengers and crew. The Tuesday announcement came one day after the ministry announced 99 new cases of coronavirus on the ship. However, passengers who have tested negative for the virus can disembark the ship beginning on Wednesday, when the 14-day quarantine ends for the ship docked in Yokohama, Japans Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Tuesday. Kato added that samples from all passengers had been collected as of Monday, and all test results will be available by Wednesday, The disembarkment process will take about three days, according to Kato. Also on Tuesday, four Japanese nationals who were on the Netherlands-flagged cruise ship Westerdam, which is currently docked in Cambodia, have arrived at Tokyos Haneda Airport, local newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported, citing Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The Westerdam cruise ship, operated by Holland America, is now docked in Sihanoukville, a port city in Cambodia, after it was turned away by Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, and the U.S. territory Guam amid coronavirus fears. The four Japanese were tested negative for the virus in Cambodia, but will be subject to further testing in Japan, Motegi said. Meanwhile, a South Korean presidential plane landed at Haneda Airport on Tuesday to pick up four Koreans and a Japanese person who were aboard the Diamond Princess, according to South Korean outlet Yonhap News Agency. The plane is expected to return to South Koreas Gimpo International Airport, west of the countrys capital Seoul, on Wednesday morning. Hongkongers on the Diamond Princess will soon be evacuated by two charter flights organized by the Hong Kong government. The citys leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that one of the flights will arrive at Haneda Airport on Wednesday. There are about 352 Hongkongers on the cruise ship. Lam added that Hongkongers evacuated from Japan will be subject to a 14-day quarantine after they return back to the city. Five people from Macau on the Diamond Princess will also be evacuated by boarding the Hong Kong flights, local newspaper The Standard reported on Tuesday, citing the Macau government. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) President Donald Trump's $1.5 billion proposal to prop up the country's nuclear fuel industry has emboldened at least one company to take steps toward boosting operations at dormant uranium mines around the West, including outside Grand Canyon National Park. The company, Canada-based Energy Fuels Inc., announced a stock sale late Thursday and said it would use the proceeds for its uranium mining operations in the U.S. West. The Trump administration asked Congress this week for $1.5 billion over 10 years to create a new national stockpile of U.S.-mined uranium, saying that propping up U.S. uranium production in the face of cheaper imports is a matter of vital energy security. Approval is far from certain in a highly partisan Congress. Some Democratic lawmakers, and market analysts across the political spectrum, charge that the Trump administration's overall aim is really about helping a few uranium companies that can't compete in the global market, and their investors. Demand for the nuclear fuel has languished worldwide since Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster. U.S. uranium production has plummeted 96% in the last five years, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Thursday. Energy Fuels Inc., a Toronto-based corporation that is the leading uranium mining company in the U.S., announced it was selling stock and putting the nearly $17 million in proceeds into its mining operations in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Texas and elsewhere in response to Trump's 2021 budget. Company spokesman Curtis Moore said Friday that could mean opening a mine about 15 miles from the Grand Canyon's South Rim entrance. Environmentalists and Democrats have opposed uranium mining outside the national park, mainly over concerns it could contaminate water resources. Republicans say mining could bring much-needed jobs to the region. Energy Fuels had been one of the main mining companies seeking U.S. taxpayer support for domestic uranium mining. It also helped sell the Trump administration on cutting the size of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah to open more land for possible future mining, and oil and gas development. Energy Fuels has no mining claims or land inside the former territory of Bears Ears, Moore said Friday. "So, that's a hard no," he said, to any suggestion it planned any immediate uranium development there. Launching operations at the company's Canyon Mine claim outside the Grand Canyon is definitely on the table, however, if Congress approves Trump's proposal, he said. "Depending on how things go in the coming weeks and months, we may be in a position to use some of the money to put that small mine into production," Moore said. Trump made the request for a new national uranium reserve in his 2021 budget request this week. It was the latest illustration that trying to rescue the U.S. nuclear and coal industries is a political priority for the Republican president, who often invokes national security as justification. The move has a range of critics. "It's not the responsibility of the taxpayer to bail out an industry, whether that's uranium, solar, coal, what have you," said Katie Tubb, a senior energy policy analyst at the conservative Washington Heritage Foundation. The Energy Department said the plan would boost work for at least a couple of the U.S. West's nearly dormant uranium operations. Residents near another of the mines, in Utah, say they fear an increase in radioactive threats. "Whatever Trump does, we'll be standing our ground to let the people know that we're not going to give up," said Yolanda Badback, a resident of White Mesa, a town of about 200 people who are members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe near a uranium mill in southern Utah. Trump's plan would need approval from a highly partisan Congress. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat and chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, has opposed Trump's effort to make domestic uranium mining a strategic issue. His aides said they needed to see more details from the administration on the stockpile proposal. Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican and chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, backed Trump's proposal. "The United States should not be dependent on foreign imports of uranium. It is a risk to our national security," Barrasso said in a statement. Demand for nuclear and coal power sources has fallen against marketplace competition from ever-cheaper natural gas and renewable wind and solar. Trump has been unable to stop a string of coal and nuclear power plant closures. The U.S. nuclear industry has sought help from the Trump administration, including asking for taxpayer subsidies to promote use of U.S. uranium. U.S. nuclear power plants in 2018 got 90% of their uranium from Canada, Kazakhstan and other foreign suppliers and only 10% from U.S. mines. Trump in 2019 rejected a request from U.S. uranium mining operators that he set a minimum quota for domestic uranium. But he agreed to set up a task force of national security, military and other federal officials to look for other ways to revive domestic production of the whole nuclear fuel supply chain. That task force's findings are expected within two weeks. Trump's budget proposal would be part of an effort "to put the United States back in the nuclear game around the world," Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told reporters Monday. While Trump has called propping up U.S. uranium mining essential to national security, the Energy Department acknowledged in its budget presentation that "no immediate national security need has been identified" for the uranium reserve. The same document contends that the funds aren't meant to "disrupt market mechanisms." "That is exactly what it is designed to do," said Luke J. Danielson, president of Colorado-based Sustainable Development Strategies Group, which advises foreign governments about mineral policies. "The history of the government of trying to subsidize the energy sector and pick winners and losers is abysmal," Danielson added. Many Democratic lawmakers have challenged Trump's security argument for domestic uranium. Existing uranium reserves and production and trade with allies Australia and Canada were already adequate to securing the U.S. uranium supply, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, a California Democrat, said last year. Energy Fuels called the Trump proposal "a good lifeline for the industry." Moore, the spokesman, said the company is likely to benefit since it has operating mines in east-central Wyoming and southern Utah. Moore said the program should lead to production of 2.5 million pounds of uranium per year. U.S. uranium mines produced less than 174,000 pounds in 2019, according to Thursday's Energy Information Administration report. That's down from 4.9 million pounds in 2014. Energy Fuels recently laid off nearly one-third of the company's 79 employees at the White Mesa Mill and La Sal Complex mines, both in Utah, he said. At White Mesa in Utah, Badback and other nearby residents participate in a yearly protest walk to draw attention to negative impacts the mine has on an otherwise wide open and remote stretch of land. ___ Knickmeyer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, and business writer Dorothea Degen in New York contributed to this report. __ This story has been corrected to show a yearly protest walk to draw attention to negative effects of a uranium mill occurs in Utah, not Wyoming, and that the mill is located in Utah. Pakistan government on Monday for the first time admitted that former Taliban terrorist and spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, who was responsible for the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in 2012 and carrying out the deadly Peshawar Army school carnage in 2014, has escaped from prison. 'The news is true, it's true' Pakistans Interior Minister Ijaz Shah responding to a question during an informal chat with media in Islamabad said that he had read reports about Ehsans escape. When pressed to confirm or deny the report, he said, "The news is true, it's true." He added that the authorities were aware of the escape and are working on it. "A lot is being done. You will hear good news," he said when asked what was being done to arrest him. In an audio clip which surfaced on social media earlier this month, Ehsan said that he escaped the confinement of Pakistani security agencies on January 11, claiming Pakistani forces failed to keep their promises made to him during his surrender in 2017. Without revealing his current location, Ehsan said that he would make a detailed statement about the days of his confinement in the coming days as well as about his future plans. Ehsan took the responsibility of several attacks, including the 2014 attack at Army Public School (APS) that killed about 150 people, mostly students as well as the botched attempt to kill Nobel Peace Prize winner and Pakistani education rights activist Malala who. After the escape, a petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court by the families of the children killed in the school attack against military and civil officials. READ | Heena Sidhu hits out at Malala Yousafzai over her tweet on Kashmir Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan said that army chief, ISI chief as well as the federal and provincial secretaries were made respondents. The petitioner sought contempt of court action against respondents for failing to follow an order by the Peshawar High Court of April 2018 in which it barred officials from releasing Ehsan. READ | Malala Yousafzai's shooter escapes Pakistan prison, releases audio clip The petitioner claimed that the respondents had filed to steps to bring Ehsan to justice for his crimes and follow clear orders by the court. So far there was no progress on the petition as still mystery shrouds the escape of the dreaded militant as authorities did not provide complete details about it. READ | Malala Yousafzai biopic's director talks about receiving death threats READ | UN declares Malala Yousafzai 'most famous teenager of decade' (with PTI inputs) Never stopped pushing for Regeni truth - foreign ministry (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - A top Italian foreign ministry official said Tuesday Italy had never stopped pushing for the truth about Giulio Regeni, the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher tortured to death in Cairo in early 2016. "I want to confirm the all-round commitment of the foreign ministry and my personal one to contribute to the best of our abilities to the search for the truth (on Regeni)," foreign ministry Secretary General Elisabetta Belloni told the Senate. "We shall not desist from our work which often takes place behind the scenes without a media spotlight. "But I can assure you that in the last few years we have never stopped exerting pressure". Regeni, a student from Friuli in the northeast of Italy, was researching the politically sensitive subject of Cairo street sellers' unions. The union leader had fingered him as a spy to secret services. Italy has said five Egyptian security personnel were involved in Regeni's death. Regeni's father recenlty said that failings in the effort to get to the bottom of his son's death were not limited to the Egyptian side. In particular, he took issue with Italy's failure to recall its ambassador to Cairo in protest at the lack of cooperation from the Egyptian authorities. "There are grey zones both on the side of the Egyptian government, which is recalcitrant and does not cooperate as it should, and on the Italian side, which has not yet withdrawn our ambassador to Cairo," Claudio Regeni told the parliamentary commission of inquiry into his son's murder. "We have been calling for the ambassador's withdrawal for some time". The mutilated body of the Cambridge researcher into Cairo street unions was found on the highway to Alexandria on February 3, 2016, a week after he disappeared in the Egyptian capital on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak. His mother said she had only been able to recognise him "by the tip of his nose". Magistrate Giuseppe Pignatone, who was Rome chief prosecutor at the time of Regeni's killing, said Monday that the Cairo prosecutor's office hasn't made any progress on the investigation since December 2017, when Rome named the five members of the Egyptian security apparatus as suspects. At various stages, Egypt has put out several purported explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff turned ugly and a kidnapping for ransom in which the alleged gang, criminals but later found innocent of the Regeni murder, were wiped out after his documents had been planted at their lair. Judicial cooperation between Rome and Cairo prosecutors dried up after the Roman prosecutors placed the five members of the security apparatus under investigation. Last month Rome prosecutors Sergio Colaiocco and Michele Prestipino said that Regeni was caught by a "spider's web" spun by the Egyptian security services. "A spider's web was spun around Giulio Regeni by the Egyptian National Security Service in October (2015) before the kidnapping and murder," Colaiocco and Prestipino told a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Friuli-born student's death. "A spider's web in which the (security) apparatus used the people who were closest to Giulio in Cairo, including his lawyer flat mate, the street traders union representative and Noura Whaby, his friend who helped him with translations". "It was a spider's web that closed in more and more and which Giulio ended up in the middle of". Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has denied any official involvement in Regeni's death. Sisi reiterated to Premier Giuseppe Conte in Cairo last month that Egypt wants to get to the truth in the case. The foreign ministry's assertion on the push for truth comes amid a fresh case that has galvanised Italian public opinion: Egyptian Bologna university gender studies researcher Patrick Zaky who has been detained and allegedly tortured in Egypt on charges of fomenting unrest and spreading fake news.(ANSAmed). Li Ping (pseudonym), a mother infected with the novel coronavirus, gave birth to a healthy boy in east China's Zhejiang province on Feb. 8. As the baby boy was born on the Chinese Lantern Festival, his family gave him the nickname "Xiao Tangyuan" (Little Sweet Dumpling). Chen Xia (pseudonym), a mother infected with the novel coronavirus, gives birth to a baby girl in the Wuhan-based Tongji Hospital affiliated to the Huazhong University of Science and Technology on Feb. 6. Photo provided by Tongji Hospital affiliated to the Huazhong University of Science and Technology On the day of his birth, doctors from the hospital where Xiao Tangyuan was born wrote a letter to the baby: Thank you for making us believe that all our efforts will be repaid! You gave us courage and faith to move on! Two days before Xiao Tangyuan was born, Chen Xia (pseudonym) gave birth to a baby girl in the Wuhan-based Tongji Hospital affiliated to the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, six days after she was hospitalized as a confirmed novel coronavirus patient. On Feb. 5, Chen was 38 weeks pregnant when her temperature hit 38.5 degrees Celsius. After learning about her situation, Wu Jianli, the obstetrician, decided to immediately perform a cesarean section on her. The C-section was also the first operation the hospital had performed after it had been designated for pregnant women infected with the novel coronavirus. To avoid infection, the doctors were put under level-three protection, the highest level of protection against the virus, during Chens operation. The two babies were all immediately put under quarantine and observation at the neonatology departments after they were born. At Tongji hospital, three newborns have been put under medical observation at a quarantine facility. If they show no symptoms, they will be released from quarantine. Xiao Tangyuan, son of a novel coronavirus-infected mother, is transferred to the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, capital of the province, Feb. 8. Photo provided by the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine Both Xiao Tangyuan and Chens daughter came back negative in their nucleic acid tests, which are needed to determine infection. Chen Ling, director of the neonatology department at Tongji Hospital, said that to avoid mother-to-child infection, it is suggested that mothers do not breastfeed their children immediately. There was more good news to come. On Feb. 4, the first novel coronavirus-infected pregnant woman at Beijing Youan Hospital was discharged after being treated. On Feb. 5, an infected woman who was five weeks pregnant was discharged from a hospital in east Chinas Zhejiang province. Chinese governments at various levels are actively taking measures to designate hospitals with strong obstetrics and neonatal departments to provide diagnosis and treatment for pregnant women, said an official with the National Health Commission (NHC) at a news conference held by the commission on Feb. 1. An Oredo Magistrates Court in Benin, Edo State has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Wisdom Sakpra, to one year in prison for stealing the sum of N110,000. Mr. Sakpra was arrested on January 23, 2020, while robbing customers that went to First Bank in Adesuwa Junction, Sapele road in Benin. During his trial on Monday, February 17, 2020, the the police prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo told the court that the Sakpra unlawfully stole a total of N110,000, property of Andrew Igbodidi. Agbonifo explained that the convict also confessed that he had robbed another bank customer, Ehis Unemhin, close to UBA on Textile Mill Road, Benin. The convict during an investigation confessed to have used handkerchief to clean the victims face to dispossess him of the money. Sakpra said when he uses the handkerchief to clean a victims face, he usually losses consciousnesses and obeys all his instructions and directives, Agbonifo added. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel State, 1976, now applicable in Edo. The Magistrate, Ivie Akere sentenced Sakpra after the convict had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing filed against him. Akere sentenced the convict to six months on each count charge and did not give him an option of fine to served as a deterrent to others. This is coming weeks after three armed robbers were sentenced to death by hanging for robbing and stealing N7,486,300.00 from three banks in Osun State. During the robbery operation wich happened at First Bank, Union Bank and Skye Bank located on the same street in Ikirun, 32 persons lost their lives, including two policemen on duty. WORKERS at a Belfast bakery are to vote on a new pay offer from company bosses after a strike which had threatened supplies of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday today. Bakers at Allied Bakeries in east Belfast had walked out on Sunday in a row over a 3pc pay claim. The industrial action came ahead of one of the most important days of the year for the baking trade. Around 200 people are employed at the plant on Castlereagh Road which makes products such as Kingsmill bread and Sunblest pancakes, But production resumed after bosses at Allied Bakeries - which is owned by Associated British Foods - made a fresh pay rise offer to workers. Associated British Foods also owns Neill's Flour in Belfast. The multinational company owns a series of brands, including clothes retailer Primark, and posted profits of around 1.4bn (1.68bn) last year. Susan Fitzgerald, trade union Unite's regional co-ordinating officer, said workers at Allied Bakeries would be balloted on the offer "over the next day or two". "Sunday's action was very effective so we are now going to ballot workers on the offer, and they will decide if it's enough," she said. Ms Fitzgerald said the action had been one of the most "determined" ever held in Northern Ireland and had brought production to a halt. A spokeswoman for Allied Bakeries said: "We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with union officials over pay at our Belfast bakery. "As we have said throughout, we want to find a settlement to this dispute and are hopeful that our latest offer will receive the support of our employees when it is put to the ballot." Sunday's strike action also involved workers standing outside supermarkets in Belfast calling for a boycott of Allied Bakeries' products. Allied Bakeries had said it was disappointed by the strike action. "All employees involved are paid at rates above that recommended by the Living Wage Foundation and benefit from subsidised pensions, free life insurance cover as well as a range of other benefits," it said. Ingredients supplier Fleming Howden has appointed two new managers as it grows its commercial operation. The business, which was acquired by AB Mauri in summer 2018, is based in Newbridge, near Edinburgh, and distributes ingredients throughout Scotland. Thomas Mackay joined the business late last year as sales manager, linking with key account manager Chris Boland. I am delighted to join a business that has a strong reputation in its heartland and beyond, said Mackay, who has previously worked for businesses including Brenntag and Brakes Group. We are fully aware of the quality and diversity that our core range of mixes can deliver to our loyal customer base. Also joining the commercial team is former Macphie head baker Alan Leith, who last month took up the role of technical sales manager. With more than 35 years of baking industry experience, Leith brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, said Fleming Howden. At Macphie he also worked in new product development, quality, product and field applications. With a love of baking and a longstanding passion for the Scottish bakery trade, I look forward to working with our customer base, bringing new products to market, which Im sure will excite both manufacturers and their customers, stated Leith. AB Mauri managing director Andrew Pollard said he was thrilled to welcome someone with Leiths baking industry experience and knowledge of the Scottish market. With the backing of AB Mauris technical team and craft skills, were very confident of satisfying the future needs of all Scottish bakers. Many Montana farmers and ranchers welcome the decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to implement the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule, saying the new rule would provide more transparency and consistency about how regulations would apply on the farm. Environmental groups and state government are not so sanguine about the change. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which replaces a 2015 regulation, will relieve industries from having to seek permits when it comes to isolated wetlands and ephemeral streams those that run only part of the year. The new rule will take effect once published in the Federal Register. Critics of the 2015 rule implemented under the Obama administration argued that the rule was an overreach of federal authority. J.M. Peck, Montana Farm Bureau member and cattle rancher, said the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers provides farmers with clarity and an appropriate oversight on our waterways. Peck said the 2015 rule was very ambiguous and generated a lot of confusion and that it allowed the Clean Water Act to apply to waters such as farm ponds and wetlands created by irrigation ditches. Thats where it was ambiguous, and thats where farmers were very concerned about where regulatory agencies could come down. The 2015 rule really left that open to them to potentially regulate, said Peck. One of the big things for ranchers and farmers is the new rule exempts irrigation ditches and irrigation canals. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality, however, said the changes to the federal water rule have the potential to create confusion. I know that the rule is being touted as providing consistency and clarity, said Shaun McGrath, director of the Montana DEQ. I would argue that's not necessarily the case, because of the now potential lack of coverage for important waters no longer protected. It creates confusion for landowners, for farmers, for others. Under the revision, ephemeral streams that run only at certain times of the year after rain or snow would no longer be protected. Isolated wetlands also would be excluded from protection under federal law. In Montana, thats a third of the states wetlands, according to the DEQ. The confusion would be that you have a federal program that protects waters that fall under the federal definition of water of the U.S. If now a third of the wetlands in the state of Montana, which had that protection no longer have that protection, and there's no state program in place to regulate that, that's where the confusion comes in, explained McGrath. McGrath understands the federal role particularly well since he formerly served as Region 8 Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. McGrath said the state does not regulate dredge and fill permits, but has relied on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits. Historically, up until this point, that's never really been an issue because the definition, the federal definition and state definition overlaid fairly well, McGrath said. Now, because of this change under the Trump administration, ... a third of our wetlands are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act, and the state doesn't have a program in place to issue those permits. The question, becomes, well, is the wetland that I'm wanting to dredge or fill jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act, and that's something that the Corps would have to make a determination of. If they determined that it's no longer jurisdictional under this new rule, then it's possible that they wouldn't need a federal permit. But there's still the question of whether it's a water protected under state law. That's where there will be some confusion here, at least in the short term. McGrath said the DEQ is still evaluating the new rule and trying to make sure we understand the full implications of it. We know it to be the case that in states like Montana, along with other Western states, we live in an arid environment and these streams that are intermittent, that only flow seasonally, are important waters, McGrath said. Science has told us they are very important hydrologically and have an impact on downstream. So if all of a sudden wetlands no longer have protections and we're dredging and filling in them or we're discharging into them, it's going to impact downstream farmers, downstream users of the water. Some Montana environmental groups strongly criticized the new definition of the Waters of the United States, saying that the redefinition is inconsistent with the best-available science and removes protection for millions of stream miles and acres of wetlands that keep waters and watersheds healthy. David Brooks, president of Montana Trout Unlimited, a grassroots organization dedicated to restoring and protecting coldwater fisheries, said the changes to the federal water law is the most severe weakening of the Clean Water Act." The Trump administration, in passing this rule, is making the claim that there is no data to quantify the scope of waters of the United States it will impact, said Brooks. But how can you make it a rule when you dont know what the impacts are going to be? Brooks said the big picture concern is that clean water is incredibly precious to Montanas two largest industries -- outdoor recreation and agriculture. When the administration and EPA say that this is for American farmers, what they really mean is that the new rule is for industrial agribusiness, industrial polluters, and large developers said Brooks. Roy Morris, from the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited, said the organization is concerned about the revisions to the waters of the U.S., but its a very complicated situation. In the big scheme of things, what I'm concerned about is are we going backwards? And how far back are we going? said Morris. Whenever theres a change in regulation like this, who benefits from it? I think a consequence from it is that a few people may benefit in the short term, and that we all may not benefit in the long term," Morris said. Wade Fellin, program director at Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving local watersheds, said the EPA is misleading the public by claiming that this regulation simply repeals and replaces a previous agency rule. The truth is that this is an illegal attempt to reinterpret the prior longstanding regulatory definition to eliminate anti-pollution requirements for rivers, streams, wetlands and other waters that have been in place since the 1970s, Fellin wrote in an email. EPAs new rule will lead to an increase in the dumping of toxic waste in wetlands and streams across the United States and allow the destruction of millions of acres of wetlands critical to endangered wildlife. Fellin added that the changes to the federal water rule will do damage to people, communities, farmers, businesses, and fish and wildlife. This regulation effectively guts a bipartisan law that has protected the public interest since 1972, and it does so solely to satisfy powerful corporate and industrial interests, Fellin said. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 15 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday posted a 10,000 bail for the charge of conspiracy to commit sedition filed against him by the government. Trillanes, who just got back from the United States, headed straight from the airport to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 138 before noon. Department of Justice prosecutors earlier charged 11 people including Trillanes for allegedly creating and circulating the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" video series linking President Rodrigo Duterte's family to the illegal drug trade. On February 14, the court issued warrants of arrest against Trillanes; Peter Joemel Advincula, alias "Bikoy"; Joel Saracho; Boom Enriquez; a certain "Monique;" Yolanda Ong; Vicente Romano III; Fr. Albert Alejo; Fr. Flaviano Villanueva; Jonnel Sangalang; and Eduardo Acierto for supposedly violating Article 141 of the Revised Penal Code. If convicted, they could face jail terms of up to four years and two months. Villanueva and Alejo already posted bail on Friday, while Advincula posted bail on Monday afternoon. The prosecutors previously filed sedition and other complaints in connection with the video series against 36 respondents. Most opposition members were cleared, including Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, opposition senators, Otso Diretso senatorial bets as well as church officials. The complaints included cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice. However, separate charges had to be filed against Trillanes and the ten others, with prosecutors saying "the allegations of Advincula and the admissions of Trillanes bolstered the existence of a grand conspiracy between and among some respondents to commit the crime of sedition." They added that Advincula served as the hooded figure in the videos, Saracho was the narrator, Enriquez was the videographer along with his assistant "Monique", and Ong and Romano served as scriptwriters. They also alleged that Alejo and Villaneva prepared the Jesuit Communications office where the videos were taken. The respondents will be arraigned on March 17 at 2pm. 'Political cases' The conspiracy to commit sedition is the latest case filed by the government against Trillanes, who stands as one of the administration's staunchest critics. The former lawmaker expressed confidence that such "empty" case, which he claims would bring to total 19 court cases he is currently facing, will not progress in court. "Feeling ko, finile lang ito para masabing may nag-file, eh. Hindi ito pwedeng umusad sa korte kasi wala talagang laman. I'm not worried at all," Trillanes told the media. [Translation: I have a feeling that they only filed this just for the sake of filing a case. This can't progress in court because it lacks sufficient evidence. I'm not worried at all.] "Nakita niyo yang mga 19 na kaso na yan, puro mga walang laman 'yan (if you saw the 19 cases filed against me, they're all full of without substance)," he said. Trillanes only had one thing to say to Advincula when pressed for comment on the latter's allegations. "Kung ganun ang iko-conspire namin hindi ganyan, hindi dito sa taong ito. Sino ba 'yan? Di ko naman sineek out yan eh," he said. [Translation: If we will conspire, it will not be over that issue. It will not even be with this person. Who is he anyway? I did not even seek him out.] Trillanes is out on bail amid ongoing trial for several cases after the President voided his 2011 amnesty. This includes a revived rebellion case over the Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007, kidnapping charges filed by a Davao-based businesswoman, libel complaints filed by Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, and inciting to sedition cases for his past remarks against President Rodrigo Duterte. "Ako, hindi ako nagnakaw, hindi ako pumatay. Kaya 'yang mga kasong finile sa akin, mga political cases, mga harrassment cases lang...Ganito ang nangyayari pag tumindig ka laban sa isang diktador gaya ni Duterte," he added. [Translation: I did not steal, I did not kill anyone. So all those cases which were filed against me are all political cases, harrassment cases only. This is what happens when you stand against a dictator like Duterte.] SpaceX and Space Adventures have signed a deal to launch up to four passengers into Earth orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft like the one seen here. This Crew Dragon will launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in 2020. SpaceX just inked its first deal to launch space tourists into orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The private spaceflight company founded by billionaire Elon Musk has signed an agreement with the U.S. space tourism company Space Adventures to launch up to four passengers on an orbital trip aboard a Crew Dragon space capsule. The mission would last up to five days and could launch as early as late 2021, Space Adventures representatives told Space.com. "This historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, and we are pleased to work with the Space Adventures team on the mission," SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement from Space Adventures. Video: Space Adventures' SpaceX orbital spaceflight explained In photos: The world's first space tourists Under the agreement, Space Adventures will use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon vehicle to fly up to four passengers to Earth orbit. The trip will not visit the International Space Station. Instead, it will remain in orbit as a free-flying spacecraft. "This will provide up to four individuals with the opportunity to break the world altitude record for private citizen spaceflight and see planet Earth the way no one has since the Gemini program," Space Adventures representatives said in the statement. For comparison, the space station orbits the Earth at an average altitude of about 250 miles (400 kilometers). "Honoring our combined histories, this Dragon mission will be a special experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity capable of reaching twice the altitude of any prior civilian astronaut mission or space station visitor," said Eric Anderson, chairman of Space Adventures, said in the statement. To date, Space Adventures has arranged eight orbital trips to the International Space Station for seven wealthy customers: Dennis Tito in 2001; South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth in 2002; American entrepreneurs Greg Olsen in 2005 and Anousheh Ansari in 2006; Microsoft co-founder Charles Simonyi (twice) in 2007 and 2009; computer game developer Richard Garriott in 2008; and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte in 2009. In photos: A behind-the-scenes look at SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship Those spaceflights all cost tens of millions of dollars, with Laliberte's flight costing a reported $35 million for his 11-day trip. The passengers, called "spaceflight participants," flew to and from the station on Russian Soyuz space capsules under agreements between Space Adventures and Roscosmos, Russia's space agency. SpaceX or Space Adventures did not announce exact pricing for the Crew Dragon tourist flight, but the cost per seat is expected to be in the same range of other commercial spaceflight opportunities. As for timing, it's likely that the free-flying Crew Dragon flight will launch only after SpaceX begins flying NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Those trips are expected to begin later this year. SpaceX (and rival Boeing) have multi-billion-dollar contracts to fly astronauts on round trips to and from the space station. In 2019, SpaceX performed a successful uncrewed test flight to the station with Crew Dragon, following it up with a launch abort test last month. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is a reusable space capsule designed to carry up to seven people on trips to and from Earth orbit. SpaceX missions for NASA will launch the capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket, visit the International Space Station for months, then return to Earth for a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. In December, Boeing launched an uncrewed test flight of its own Starliner capsule, but it failed to reach the space station due to software and communications issues. Boeing and NASA are investigating that flight to determine if another uncrewed flight will be required. Meanwhile, Space Adventures is also working with Roscosmos to fly two space tourists to the International Space Station on a dedicated Soyuz spacecraft in 2021. Roscosmos announced the agreement with Space Adventures last year. "Creating unique and previously impossible opportunities for private citizens to experience space is why Space Adventures exists," Anderson said. "Since its maiden mission in 2010, no engineering achievement has consistently impressed the industry more than the Dragon/Falcon 9 reusable system." Editor's note: This story, originally posted at 10 a.m. EST, has been updated to include mission duration, timing and cost details from Space Adventures. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. ( HWO.TO ) (High Arctic or the Corporation) announces the departure of its Chief Financial Officer, Jim Hodgson effective February 14th 2020. The Board would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude to Mr. Hodgson for his efforts and contribution during his tenure with the Company. We wish him the best with his future endeavors. High Arctic is pleased to announce that Mr. Christopher (Chris) Ames, has agreed to accept the appointment of Vice President of Finance and Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Ames is a CPA, CA and previously held a number of senior finance positions at Precision Drilling over a 20-year period before he left to become an independent financial consultant assisting companies with financial, strategic planning and analysis, and merger and acquisitions. Mr. Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of High Arctic, said: We are very pleased Mr. Ames will be joining the High Arctic team. Chriss diverse experience in oil field services in both the domestic and International markets will be an invaluable asset to the Company as we continue to grow in our core markets and examine opportunities in other areas. About High Arctic High Arctic is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HWO. The Corporations principal focus is to provide drilling and specialized well completion services, equipment rentals and other services to the oil and gas industry. High Arctic is a market leader providing drilling and specialized well completion services and supplies rig matting, camps and drilling support equipment on a rental basis in Papua New Guinea. The North American operations provides well servicing, well abandonment, snubbing and nitrogen services and equipment on a rental basis to a large number of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies operating in Western Canada and the United States. For more information, please contact: MUNICH Sen. Lindsey Graham and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, uniting against a Trump administration idea to withdraw U.S. troops from part of Africa, pushed back during a fiery exchange with Defense Secretary Mark Esper here over the weekend, according to four people present at or familiar with the meeting. Senators and members of the House met with Esper on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who are members of the Foreign Relations Committee, led the charge, said the four people, telling Esper that Congress would not support a U.S. troop withdrawal from the Sahel region in Africa and laying out the reasons to keep the troop presence there. At one point, Graham warned Esper that there would be consequences if the Pentagon withdrew all troops from the region. Graham told Esper that he could "make your life hell," according to the four people. One member present said Graham, Coons and several other lawmakers laid out their case "forcefully." Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said the quote attributed to Graham was false. "I was in the room and that was never said," said Farah. "The secretary had a productive conversation with bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress on the future of U.S. force presence in West Africa." Graham told the Washington Post Tuesday that he did not tell Esper he could make his life hell. An aide to Graham said a person in the room does not recall the senator using those words but said there was "bipartisan agreement and support in the meeting in support of the mission." While Graham has met often with President Donald Trump and was a key supporter during his impeachment, he has repeatedly criticized Trump administration initiatives to remove U.S. troops from crisis zones. Last year, NBC News reported that during a meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 Munich Security Conference, Graham had a "tense" and "heated" exchange with Esper's predecessor, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, over Trump's decision to pull troops from Syria. Story continues Officials said that at the 2019 meeting, Graham unleashed expletives at Shanahan and told Shanahan that he should consider him "an adversary." The Sahel region is a huge expanse of western and north-central Africa just south of the Sahara Desert that extends from the Atlantic coast of Senegal across the continent to the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. It includes several nations plagued by international terrorist groups, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. More than a dozen terrorist groups with links to the Islamic State group or al Qaeda, like Boko Haram and al Shabaab, are operating in the Sahel and other parts of Africa. While the U.S. military presence in the region fluctuates, about 1,000 American troops are usually deployed in the Sahel, some at a new drone base near Agadez, Niger. The troops train local forces, provide aerial refueling to French military planes and collect and share intelligence. Among the reasons to keep U.S. troops there, the members of Congress argued over the weekend, is the small number of troops and overall low cost of the deployments. Graham told Esper that he should be able to find the roughly $50 million to fund the deployments in the more than $700 billion overall defense budget for fiscal year 2020, according to the people with knowledge of the exchange. Image: Sen. Lindsey Graham in Munich Several members told Esper that leaving would abandon a key U.S. ally, France, whose military has been leading the fight against terrorists in the region while the U.S. acts in a support role. "Isn't this the exact model the Trump administration is encouraging? Another nation leads while the U.S. supports?" a person present at the meeting asked afterward. "Does the U.S. want to leave a place where it's actually working?" Trump suddenly decided to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria several months ago, leaving the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces behind to fight ISIS and the Syrian regime. Trump reversed the decision soon afterward and kept a smaller U.S. military force in Syria in a more condensed area. The members told Esper that both French and African partners are worried that the U.S. could suddenly abandon them, as well. Later at the Munich conference, after the exchange with members of Congress, Esper praised the French for their work in the Sahel and said he had spoken with his French counterpart about the possibility of a change in U.S. support in Africa. "I give the French credit for what they've done in Africa, particularly in the Sahel. They've been the real leaders. They've been reaching out aggressively to get more European partners on board with mixed success, and I fully support that effort," Esper said. Trump campaigned on bringing U.S. troops home, and his defense secretary has supported removing some troops from Africa, South America, the Middle East and Europe to dedicate more forces to the Asia Pacific region to counter a growing China. Esper said at the Reagan National Defense Forum in December that he was looking at "all of these places where I can free up troops, where I could either bring them home to allow them to rest and refit and retrain or then reallocate them to Indo-Pacific to compete with the Chinese, to reassure our allies, to conduct exercises and training." Esper began a review to look at the U.S. military combatant commands all over the world to determine whether resources were distributed to best support the National Defense Strategy, which says Russia and China are the biggest strategic competitors to the U.S. The review is widely expected to result in a cut in the number of U.S. troops in Africa to counter China and Russia elsewhere, with emphasis on sending more U.S. forces to the Asia Pacific region. After initially telling the lawmakers in Munich that U.S. troops could be withdrawn to comply with the National Defense Strategy priorities, by the end of the meeting Esper reassured the group that he would factor their concerns into the decision-making process and would not make any sudden decisions. This is not the first time the Trump administration has heard about congressional opposition to a drawdown. Last month, Graham and Coons co-authored a letter urging Trump not to withdraw U.S. troops from Africa. The U.S. has about 7,000 troops in Africa, more than 5,000 of them based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. "Any withdrawal or reduction would likely result in a surge in violent extremist attacks on the continent," the letter warned. "A withdrawal would also abandon our partners and allies in the region." In December, Trump signed into law legislation co-authored by Coons and Graham to help stabilize fragile regions and conflict-affected areas. In their letter to Trump last month, the senators said the Sahel and the Horn of Africa were "ripe for U.S. engagement," as laid out in the new law. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics The debate over troops in Africa comes as Trump prepares to face voters in November having fallen short of his promises to end wars and bring troops home. Trump recently has increased the number of U.S. troops in the Middle East, for instance, by more than he has brought home. Many of the new deployments have been in response to increased tension with Iran. But the president has said publicly and privately to aides that he's eager to draw down the number of troops overseas. As a candidate, Trump promised to end what he called America's "endless" wars. As president. he hasn't ended any of the wars the U.S. was waging when he took office. He is within reach of a peace deal with the Taliban that aims to wind down the war in Afghanistan, but there is no final agreement yet. Last week, Trump said in an interview with Geraldo Rivera that he "would like to bring our troops back home." "It's time to come home," Trump said when asked about a possible deal with the Taliban. Martin McDonagh, the director of In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, will direct his next film at Searchlight Pictures, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. The untitled film reunites him with both Disneys Searchlight after the Oscar-nominated Three Billboards and also the UK-based production company Film4, with whom McDonagh has worked on all four of his films. McDonaghs new project is set on a remote Irish isle where two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for the both of them. No cast has yet been set for the film, but production is expected to begin later this year. Also Read: Searchlight Closes Worldwide Rights Deal for Rebecca Hall Thriller 'The Night House' McDonagh will write, direct and produce, and Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin will also produce via their banner Blueprint Pictures. Diarmuid McKeown, Ben Knight, Daniel Battsek, and Ollie Madden are executive producers. Three Billboards received seven Oscar nominations in 2017, including Best Picture, and won the Best Actress prize for Frances McDormand. McDonaghs latest play Hangmen will debut on Broadway on March 19 after first premiering in London in 2015. The deal for the untitled film was brokered by Searchlight Pictures EVP business affairs Megan OBrien, CAA Media Finance, McKeown for Blueprint Pictures and Film4 head of business affairs Cassandra Carias. McDonagh is represented by CAA and Knight Hall Agency. Variety first reported the news of the project. Read original story Martin McDonagh to Direct Next Film at Searchlight Pictures At TheWrap The NIA has chargesheeted two Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) residents associated with the banned Lashker-e-Taiba who were caught by the Army for allegedly smuggling arms and ammunition into Jammu and Kashmir from the higher reaches of Gulmarg, an official spokesman said on Tuesday. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed the chargesheet at the designated court here on February 15 against Khalil Ahmad Kayani and Mohammed Nazeem under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act, besides invoking clauses of the Jammu and Kashmir Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance, the official said. The duo, hailing from the Khurshidabad area of Haveli Farwad Kahuta in PoK, were arrested near the Nilkanth Nala, approximately 700 metres from the LoC on the Indian side in Gulmarg sector of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The Army claimed that they had recovered arms, ammunition, grenades, IED materials, including explosives and detonators, Pakistan-made medicines and eatables from the forest area near the LoC at their instance on August 20 last year. The NIA chargesheet claimed that Kayani and Nazeem were in contact with their handler in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Pakistani army in PoK, the spokesperson said. Both were engaged in the task of concealing the arms, ammunition and explosives across the LoC in the forest area of the Indian Territory for use by Pakistani terrorists to carry out attacks in India, the NIA alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has assured job security for the Filipino crew in the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess. DOLE Usec. Ana Dione. said the labor attache of the Philippines in Japan is already coordinating with the Japanese company that owns the Diamond Princess for the job security of the repatriated Filipino crew. Tutulong and DOLE diyan through our POLO [Philippine Overseas Labor Office] offices na i-secure iyong kanilang trabaho, now kung mag-desisyon sila kung babalik o hindi nasa kanila na iyon (DOLE will help through our POLO offices in securing their jobs. Now, it is their decision if they wish to return or not), she said. After the 14-day quarantine on Wednesday (February 19), the DOLE said they are prepared to repatriate the over 500 Filipino crew and passengers. Exact date ay hindi natin iyan kayang sabihin sa ngayon, (we cannot say the exact date as of now) but we are hoping that within this month, according to Dione. The repatriated Filipinos will also undergo the 14-day quarantine period, based on the protocol of the Department of Health (DOH).AAC (with reports from Dante Amento) The post DOLE assures job security for Filipino crew in cruise ship appeared first on UNTV News. AIADA Names Washington Dealer Jason Courter as 2020 Chairman Las Vegas (February 17) The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today announced that Bellevue, Washington, dealer Jason Courter will serve as its 2020 chairman. Courter, who is the CEO at Honda Auto Center of Bellevue and Honda of Kirkland, accepted the chairmans gavel during AIADAs 50th Annual Meeting and Luncheon, held today in Las Vegas. It is my mission to make sure that in 2020, AIADA channels some of the spirit and vision of its original founders from 1970, said Courter during the luncheon as he shared his vision for his year at the helm of AIADA during its landmark 50th year. We will fight to protect affordability for our customers. We will work to involve new dealers in our efforts, and we will strive to ensure that there isn't a single international nameplate dealer in the United States of America who hasn't shaken his or her congressional representative's hand in 2020. Courter has spent a lifetime in the auto industry and today runs Honda Auto Center of Bellevue and Honda of Kirkland. Both dealerships are active in their local communities supporting causes ranging from the local Boys and Girls Clubs to Bridge of Promise to Youth Eastside Service. Courter has been a member of AIADAs board of directors since 2012. Courter signaled that he will use his chairmanship to look ahead to the next era of dealer engagement amid Americas changing auto industry. The next 50 years will surely see giant leaps in technology, shifts in societys structure, and changes to our daily transportation needs. But no matter what, dealers will survive. Dealers will thrive. And dealers will continue to serve their customers. We will manage those things because we arent afraid to look far into the future and take chances on what we see there. Courter is joined in leadership on the AIADA board of directors by Howard Hakes, Immediate Past Chairman (City of Industry, California); Steve Gates, Chairman-Elect (Richmond, Kentucky); and John Connelly, Vice-Chairman (Columbus, Ohio). AIADAs 50th Annual Meeting and Luncheon included a special recognition of the associations past chairs and keynote remarks by Henio Arcangeli Jr., who is the Senior Vice President of the Automobile Division at American Honda Motor Co. AIADA dealers today represent more than half of Americas auto retail market and generate 578,000 American jobs each year with a total combined average payroll of $34 billion. For more about AIADA, visit www.AIADA.org The boyfriend of a Milwaukee woman found dead in a garage Sunday with her two young daughters was charged Tuesday with three counts of homicide in connection with their deaths. Arzel J. Ivery, 25, was arrested over the weekend in Tennessee. He told police that he strangled Amarah J. Banks, 26, with his hands in the early morning hours of Feb. 8 in her Milwaukee apartment. Image: Amarah Banks, a missing Milwaukee mother who has been found dead along with her two children in a Memphis, TN. garage. He says he then kissed the daughter he had with Banks, 5-year-old Zaniya R. Ivery, and the daughter of Banks from another relationship, 4-year-old Camaria Banks, and told them that their mother wanted them in heaven and strangled them both, according to a criminal complaint. He faces life in prison if convicted. Ivery said he argued with Banks before he strangled the two children and their mother, just hours after they had buried their 21-month-old son, Arzel Ivery Jr., who died of bronchitis on Jan. 24. After the funeral, Ivery said he went to work as a security guard, the complaint states. When he arrived at Banks' apartment after his shift, he told police she "was angry that he had gone to work and yelled at him that he did not care about the death of their son," the complaint states. He said Banks picked up a knife, stated that she did not want to live anymore and swung at Ivery, cutting his wrist. He said he grabbed her and pushed her head into the wall twice causing her mouth to bleed. Ivery told police he then strangled Banks. He said that Banks was not fighting him, "so he figured that she wanted to die" and was helping her, the complaint says. Ivery said he did not want the children to grow up without a mother, so he went into their bedroom and took Zaniya out of the room. He said he kissed her and told her "daddy loves you." According to the complaint, he "then told her that her mother wanted her in heaven with her" and strangled Zaniya. Image: He went back into the children's bedroom, woke Camaria, told her the same things and strangled her, the complaint says. Story continues He then carried all three bodies into the children's room and put them on air mattresses, according to the complaint. Ivery told police that he initially planned on dismembering the bodies, beginning with Banks, but decided against it. Instead, he wrapped the bodies in the air mattresses and dragged them to his car, the complaint states. He drove around before disposing of the bodies in a garage at an apartment building where he used to live, the complaint says. He lit the bodies on fire, but told authorities the fire did not get hot enough. He went to a gas station and obtained gasoline that he threw onto Banks and the two children causing the fire to get very hot. Ivery said he then bought a .40 caliber gun and fled to Memphis, Tennessee, where his father lived. Ivery allegedly planned to start a new life there and told his father that he had killed Banks and the two young girls. Ivery's father contacted Memphis police on Saturday and told them his son had confessed to killing Banks and the two children in Milwaukee, according to the complaint. Ivery's account contradicts what Banks' neighbors told police. A neighbor who lived in an apartment next door to Banks saw her running through the parking lot to another apartment bleeding from the mouth. The neighbor said a man who drove a car that matched the description of Ivery's grabbed Banks and dragged her back into her apartment while Banks screamed, "No, no, please don't kill me," according to the complaint. Banks and her daughters were found dead Sunday in the Milwaukee garage. They were reported missing by her family on Feb. 9. An Amber Alert was issued Saturday for the two children and their mother. During a news conference Sunday, Milwaukee police Chief Alfonso Morales defended the timing of the alert. "You have to also understand that foul play was not an initial piece of this investigation, it was a missing investigation that escalated," Morales said. A n elite group of highly skilled graduates should be hired as youth workers to stop children being lured into gang crime, the Childrens Commissioner said today. Anne Longfield said recruits should be hired under a scheme similar to the Teach First charity programme which trains teachers, and sent into schools to work directly with vulnerable pupils. She also urged councils in London to set up a hotline that parents worried about children being targeted by gangs could use to find help, and urged ministers to hold weekly Cobra-style meetings on the violent crime emergency. In an interview with the Standard Ms Longfield expressed her dismay at the threat from county lines drug trading, in which London gangs use often young recruits to ferry drugs to other parts of the country. Police and ministers blame county lines for fuelling violent crime. Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England / PA She said there were known to be about 500 county lines operating in London, involving about 7,000 to 10,000 children, including some as young as eight. But she warned that despite the scale of the problem there was a shocking level of awareness and insufficient action to tackle it. The answers, she said, include basing a police officer and a youth worker at every school in London. The latter should include recruits from a Teach First-type scheme to create a cadre of youth workers with expertise in diverting children from violent crime. Theres been lots of baby steps locally and nationally but there isnt yet the level of response that the horrific scale of the threat to kids should demand, Ms Longfield said. The extreme violence and the threat that those children are in is something that most people wouldnt be able to comprehend. We have had conversations with quite a few parents aware that their kids in various parts of London are involved or being groomed by gangs and they just are amazed that no one steps forward to help them. Mutual fund distributors, independent financial advisers (IFAs), and wealth managers are awaiting clarity on the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (SEBI) decision on Registered Investment Advisers (RIA). SEBI ruled that IFAs and wealth managers will not be allowed to use nomenclature like independent financial advisers (IFAs) and wealth managers without registering with SEBI as RIAs. In a board meet held on February 17, We are awaiting SEBIs detailed circular on this. If it wants IFAs to not be distributors then what is the procedure? Will they have to leave distributorship and register as RIA? Clarity is awaited, said Amol Joshi, a Mumbai-based mutual fund distributor. The distributor and IFA community sought details of enhanced requirements relating to educational qualification, experience and net worth requirements for registered investment advisors. The regulator approved changes to the law under which investment advisory firms, who advise clients on the buying and selling of various financial products such as stocks or mutual funds, will have to segregate their services from distribution. Fees for such services will also be streamlined. SEBI will also introduce enhanced eligibility criteria for registration as an investment advisor including for networth qualification and experience. There will be a provision for grandfathering existing individual advisers. Pure-play distributors such as bank relationship managers etc whose job is to help execute such transactions will not be allowed to call themselves financial advisors or wealth manager unless they are registered with SEBI as investment advisors. The new rules that were framed after the consideration of four consultation papers and public comments, are also aimed at bringing clarity in payment of fees and introduction of upper limit on fees charged to investors, SEBI said. WASHINGTON - Sen. Chris Murphy on Tuesday defended a weekend meeting he held with Irans foreign minister in Europe, after his actions were questioned in conservative media andas President Donald Trump suggested they may have violated U.S. law. The Connecticut Democrat said his Saturday meeting with Mohammed Javad Zarif was important because it is dangerous not to talk to ones enemies. Murphy said he wanted to see Zarif because there has been no U.S. diplomatic channel with Iran since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal two years ago. I have no delusions about Iran they are our adversary, responsible for the killing of thousands of Americans and unacceptable levels of support for terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East, he wote in a Medium post. On hearing of the meeting, Trump said it sounded as though Murphy had violated an obscure, little-used federal law known as the Logan Act that bars private citizens from conducting official diplomacy. The 1799 law makes it a felony for unauthorized Americans to negotiate with governments in disputes with the U.S. Logan Act charges have only been filed against two people, both in the 19th century, and neither were convicted. Is there anything that I should know because that sounds like to me a violation of the Logan Act, Trump said, recalling his reaction when he was told of the meeting. Did you hear about Senator Murphy met with the Iranians? Well, they ought to find out about it if its true. I dont know. Murphys meeting with Zarif was first reported in the conservative publication The Federalist. Asked about that report, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Tuesday during a trip to Ethiopia that he hoped anyone who meets with Zarif would be reflecting the U.S. position with Iran. If they met, I dont know what they said. I hope they were reinforcing Americas foreign policy, not their own, Pompeo said, noting that the U.S. has long designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism and that it had recently shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet over Tehran. Pompeo has criticized other Americans for meeting with Zarif, including his immediate predecessor, John Kerry. Perhaps expecting criticism for the meeting from the administration, Murphy wrote that he cannot conduct diplomacy on behalf of the whole of the U.S. government, and I dont pretend to be in a position to do so. But if Trump isnt going to talk to Iran, then someone should. Murphy said he raised numerous contentious issues in his conversation with Zarif on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich, Germany. The meeting came as the Trump administration seeks to increasingly isolate Iran through the re-imposition of sanctions under its maximum pressure campaign on the Islamic republic. Murphy has been a harsh critic of the administrations policy toward Iran. He said in a Medium post that he had raised the U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general in Iraq and told Zarif that despite differences, Congress and the administration are united in sending a message that any Iran-backed attack on American troops in Iraq would be an unacceptable escalation. The senator also said he had raised Irans support for Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen and Americans held prisoner in Iran. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Nagpur police commissioner on a petition filed by a Bhim Army functionary over permission to hold a rally in Reshimbaug area here on February 22. The ground in which the Bhim Army wants to hold a rally, to be addressed by its chief Chandrashekhar Azad, is close to the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Kotwali police denied permission citing law and order. The petition, filed by Bhim Army Nagpur district chief Praful Shende through his counsel Firdos Mirza, said the outfit had got permission from the CP and Berar Education Society which controls the Nagpur Improvement Trusted-owned ground. However, the petition stated, the Kotwali police station denied permission citing law and order. It sought directives from HC to the state government and police commissioner to grant permission to Bhim Army to hold the rally. Justices Sunil Shukre and Madhav Jamdar issued notices to the respondents to reply before the next date of hearing scheduled for February 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI SRINAGAR: Police on Tuesday detained a man who was working as a domestic help at the residence of ailing separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, official sources said. Sirajuddin Ganaie was taken into custody outside Geelani's house this evening and shifted to a police station for questioning, they said. Ganaie, a resident of Tral in Pulwama district, was suspected to be circulating the videos of the hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman through social media, the sources said. Police officials refused to comment on Ganaie's detention. Attorney-General Christian Porter has warned companies will soon be "absolutely and utterly compelled" to pay staff correctly after supermarket giant Coles revealed on Tuesday it had underpaid about 600 staff $20 million over the past six years. The company identified underpayments for its salaried team members across its supermarkets and liquor businesses, becoming the latest major retailer to be caught up in an underpayment scandal. In an announcement on Tuesday morning released along with the company's half-year results, Coles revealed under 1 per cent of its team members had been underpaid due to differences between their remuneration and the General Retail Industry Award (GRIA). The underpayments occurred over the past six years and primarily affected salaried department managers across its supermarkets. The company has flagged $12 million in back payments for those store members and $4 million in interest and additional costs. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had expected more widespread, angry protests than eventually took place on the streets of Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus and Hebron following the Jan. 28 unveiling of the US plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. He was hoping that such demonstrations would boost support for his leadership even as the dream of the Palestinian state he had promised his people faded away. The plan presented by President Donald Trump represents a personal blow for Abbas. Since being elected president of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2005, Abbas has been promising Palestinians that peaceful methods would lead to a state, unlike the sometimes violent tactics advocated by his predecessor, Yasser Arafat. Despite Abbas' efforts, for the past 15 years, he has endured constant blows, with none of his promises to the Palestinians being realized. In fact, peace has never seemed farther from fruition, and the occupation never deeper or more humiliating. From the Palestinians' perspective, the Trump plan legitimizes Israels occupation of their territory and legalizes the settlements built on their land. In other words, Abbas quest for a peaceful road to an independent state has been a miserable failure. According to a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey, headed by Khalil Shikaki, 64% of Palestinians support a return to armed struggle. The survey of 1,270 respondents in early February also found that most view Abbas dismissal of the Trump plan as the correct response, but at the same time also do not believe he will make good on his threats to revoke Palestinian recognition of Israel and halt security coordination with Israeli forces. In short, this means most Palestinians want an aggressive leadership, one that is not all talk, reflecting distrust of their leader at the darkest hour of the Palestinian struggle after the 1993 Oslo peace agreement. The findings reflect a realization that the dream of a Palestinian state is unachievable as long as Abbas remains in power. Israel is of course monitoring the Palestinian response to the Trump plan with great interest to see how it is affecting the already shaky ground on which Abbas stands. On the one hand, Israeli officials found it encouraging that senior Palestinian officials were unable to inspire people to turn out for mass protests and clashes with Israeli troops with the exception of several localized demonstrations. On the other hand, there is grave concern that Abbas, at the age of 84, is nearing the end of his political road. His potential successors are not yet sharpening their swords, but are closing ranks within their various camps and taking advantage of Palestinian despair over the lack of a diplomatic horizon. Israel is keen to see Abbas enfeebled, embattled and bruised, with most of the Palestinian street ignoring his calls, but at the same time wants him to carry on. From the Israeli perspective, if a decision is made to annex West Bank territories immediately after March 2 elections, it would be best to do so with Abbas in control in the hope of the move eliciting only a weak response. On the other hand, the weaker Abbas is, the nearer the battle for succession. Each wannabe successor could try to strengthen his position by encouraging sweeping, violent resistance. Any sign of weakness, as Abbas is viewed as exhibiting, would sink a candidates prospects. Three figures in particular regard themselves as viable heirs to Abbas and capable of leading the Palestinians in a different direction with a less conciliatory and ingratiating policy: Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah senior; Mahmoud al-Aloul, deputy Fatah chief; and Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah official. Majid Faraj, head of Palestinian intelligence, is another possible candidate and probably Israels preferred choice. The prospects of Faraj succeeding Abbas are not, however, good, in part because he keeps a low profile due to his job, forgoing interviews and photos. For many Palestinians on the West Bank, he is an unknown figure, lacking the power base that every contender will need when the battle of succession gets underway. One thing appears to be certain: Whoever replaces Abbas will strive for a determined, militant line vis-a-vis Israel and try to foment far more sweeping, determined and violent protests than thus far witnessed. Will the Palestinian street heed calls for popular resistance, or do people feel a sense of despair and distrust toward Abbas former proteges as well, including his bitter enemy Dahlan? It probably depends on what Israel does. Unilateral Israeli annexation, as per the go-ahead granted by the Trump plan, will likely generate a wave of protests relatively easy to contain with Abbas in power. He will rant and rail, try to mobilize international support against Israel and even appeal to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, but Israel will stay the course and do whatever it wants. Unilateral annexation under a new Palestinian leader would alter that scenario, as the successor seeks to prove he is not as docile as Abbas. Israel is all too familiar with such a scenario. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and even former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, all of whom are dismissive of Abbas and speak of him with disdain, would nonetheless prefer that Abbas remain in charge of the PA in order to maintain the status quo of a faltering entity too weak to resist. The Israelis must, however, avoid chaos within the PA if they want its next leader to be able to withstand pressure for a return to armed struggle. Herein lies a paradox. Any Israeli diplomatic or military move potentially perceived by the Palestinian public as undermining Palestinian sovereignty even if it doesn't entail immediate unilateral annexation of territory could intensify protests and radicalize the positions of Abbas' heirs. Even with Abbas having initially declared his intention to halt security coordination with Israeli forces, Israel is offering him closer military coordination in the arena of domestic Palestinian affairs in order to preserve his standing and warn rivals against taking actions with the hope of his departure. To that end, Israel is also offering an economic gift: It will issue hundreds of additional permits to allow West Bank Palestinians to work in Israel, perhaps illustrating that the current tensions do not impact business as usual. Israeli and Palestinian officials are playing a dual game. In public, including in the international arena, they are waging a highly charged, uncompromising diplomatic war. At the same time, the two sides are engaged in measures that stand to strengthen Abbas or at least limit the damage to his standing. The Legislature will launch debate Wednesday on the high-profile property tax relief and school funding reform package agreed to after months of study and negotiation in the Revenue Committee. That tax debate relatively early in the 60-day legislative session fulfills a goal shared by Revenue Committee Chairwoman Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk, who sets the legislative agenda. But Scheer on Tuesday was denied the authority to determine the order of amendments that will be considered to the bill (LB974) when the Legislature's Executive Board fell short of the two-thirds majority required to allow the Speaker to shape the debate. Voting no on a 5-4 count were Sens. Ernie Chambers, Tony Vargas and John McCollister, all of Omaha, and Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln. McCollister is one of two members of the Revenue Committee who opposed advancement of the committee's tax proposal. Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue also voted no. Linehan has described the new proposal as a plan to reduce local property taxes through a phased reduction in tax valuation while increasing state aid to schools. "It provides tax relief without hurting our schools," she said Tuesday during an interview in her Capitol office. Nebraska levies the highest property taxes in the nation, she said. "Just because you own property doesn't mean you're rich," Linehan said. "It's a very regressive tax." Looking ahead, Linehan said she believes the amended tax bill will gain the 25 votes needed to win first-stage floor approval "we're within striking distance," she said and then the bargaining will begin. The support of at least 33 of the Legislature's 49 state senators eventually would be needed to break a filibuster mounted by the plan's opponents. Early indications suggest that metropolitan Omaha and Lincoln senators are likely to band together to oppose the bill in its current form. As the Legislature prepares to tackle the tax reform issue, a bill (LB720) to enact a new business tax incentives package waits at second-stage floor consideration where its fate may be tied to the tax reform measure. The Revenue Committee is poised to send a series of amendments to the floor that would rewrite the business proposal in an effort to attract additional support from rural senators who blocked the bill during the 2019 legislative session when property tax reform fell victim to a filibuster. Unlike earlier bills, the new tax proposal would not raise income or sales tax rates or eliminate any sales tax exemptions. The current state property tax credit relief fund would remain intact. Gov. Pete Ricketts has endorsed "the general framework" of the committee's tax package while arguing specifically for a provision that would limit growth in funding for public schools to the rate of inflation. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On this day six years ago, the most tragic stage of the Revolution of Dignity began in Ukraine. February 18-20, 2014, about a hundred people were killed in Kyiv city center, several dozen people went missing, more than a thousand were injured, and hundreds were arrested and tortured. On the morning of February 18, 2014, the protesters organized a march, which was called the Peaceful Offensive, to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to stop the arbitrariness of the public authorities. The citizens called on the authorities to adopt the decisions for overcoming crisis and settling the situation in the country, primarily, to limit the powers of the President of Ukraine by amending the Constitution of Ukraine. The police officers, acting on instructions from the leadership of the law enforcement agency, together with the hired thugs, grossly violated the current legislation and used excessive violence and firearms in a brutal crackdown on the march. As a result, on February 18, 23 people were killed and 509 more were injured (in particular, 37 people received serious bodily injuries and 85 people moderate bodily injuries). In September 2014, Ukraine opened criminal proceedings on the investigation into the crimes committed during the Maidan protests. However, bringing to justice the alleged organizers of the crackdown on the Maidan is an extremely difficult process as a significant number of them fled abroad, in particular to Russia. On February 20, 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine stated that it had practically completed its investigation into the shooting of Maidan activists. The commission of experts concluded on the basis of 988 volumes of the investigation files that the deaths and injuries of the EuroMaidan participants had a direct relationship to the decisions and actions of then-president Viktor Yanukovych, chief of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Yakymenko and his subordinates. However, on 20 November 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office lost its authority to investigate those criminal proceedings as a result of the reform and began to submit the case files to the State Investigation Bureau. The Bureau should get 50 Maidan cases, and another 40 cases will be submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. ol Viewers deserted the first episode of ITV2's Love Island since the death of former presenter Caroline Flack last night, with less than two million people tuning in. The average audience of 1.93million recorded by Overnights.TV means it was only the 14th most watched episode out of the 35 broadcast during series six so far. Last night's viewing figure was also down on the audience for the previous two episodes last week, which was 1.98milion on Friday, and 1.97million on Thursday. The current record audience for this series was 2.4million for the first show on January 12, and it regularly pulls in more than two million people to ITV2. ITV said that its own figures, which include viewing on ITV2 +1, put last night's episode as the eighth most watched episode of the series so far. The broadcaster added that this expanded data showed it was the highest audience since February 9, with 2.16million and an 11.3 per cent audience share. It also said 2.4million people watched when non-TV devices are included. It comes as it was revealed the opening of the inquest into Miss Flack's death on Saturday will take place tomorrow morning at Poplar Coroner's Court in East London. Iain Stirling (pictured above with Caroline Flack in London in 2017) opened the show last night The dating programme, which has been running for five years, was not broadcast on Saturday or Sunday following Miss Flack's death in Stoke Newington, East London. The show returned last night with a tribute to Miss Flack from narrator Iain Stirling, who remembered his friend's 'passion, warmth and infectious enthusiasm'. Love Island's viewing figures for series six on ITV2 (in 000s) Mon 17 Feb: 1926.9 Sun 16 Feb: No programme Sat 15 Feb: No programme Fri 14 Feb: 1981.9 Thu 13 Feb: 1965.6 Wed 12 Feb: 1885.0 Tue 11 Feb: 2000.1 Mon 10 Feb: 1862.9 Sun 9 Feb: 2173.2 Sat 8 Feb: 507.0 Fri 7 Feb: 2357.2 Thu 6 Feb: 2169.7 Wed 5 Feb: 1958.4 Tue 4 Feb: 1860.7 Mon 3 Feb: 1946.8 Sun 2 Feb: 2079.8 Sat 1 Feb: 400.5 Fri 31 Jan: 1721.0 Thu 30 Jan: 1804.3 Wed 29 Jan: 1791.7 Tue 28 Jan: 1576.9 Mon 27 Jan: 1852.4 Sun 26 Jan: 1904.7 Sat 25 Jan: 294.6 Fri 24 Jan: 1563.6 Thu 23 Jan: 1665.0 Wed 22 Jan: 1771.0 Tue 21 Jan: 1892.1 Mon 20 Jan: 1981.8 Sun 19 Jan: 1773.9 Sat 18 Jan: 503.5 Fri 17 Jan: 1776.2 Thu 16 Jan: 1856.1 Wed 15 Jan: 1870.4 Tue 14 Jan: 2193.4 Mon 13 Jan: 2123.0 Sun 12 Jan: 2393.3 Advertisement Many fans said they did not feel right watching the programme after the TV star's death on Saturday, with some saying they felt too 'raw' to tune in. One person posted on Twitter: 'I can't bring myself to watch Love Island tonight. Feel like I'm doing Caroline and her family a disservice. It's too soon and raw.' 'I'm going to be honest. I couldn't watch Love Island. Felt weird,' said another. One tweeted: 'Couldn't even watch Love Island properly today, need to wrap it up.' Another viewer said: 'Couldn't watch Love Island, it didn't seem right and I'm not the sentimental type, but I personally don't think the show will ever be the same. It's tainted, it will always be, associated with tragedy from now on.' And another posted: 'Genuinely don't think I can watch any more Love Island. I don't know if it's a case of it's back on too soon or what. Kinda lost its appeal to me.' Others watched Mr Stirling's tribute to Flack before switching off. 'After Iain's intro I couldn't watch Love Island, it just feels too raw,' said one, while another fan said they 'sobbed' at Stirling's words. 'I can't watch the rest tonight, it doesn't seem right. I'll watch it tomorrow,' added the viewer. Another upset fan tweeted: 'I switch off Love Island, I couldn't watch it. It didn't feel right to watch it. After the beautiful tribute to Caroline flack.' Love Island continues on ITV2 and in Ireland on Virgin Media Television. Prior to her death, ITV said the door was open for Flack to return to Love Island and that its production team 'continued to offer her support'. Flack stepped down from presenting the current winter series of the ITV2 dating show after an alleged assault. The TV star pleaded not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton at a flat in North London during a court hearing in December. The shock news prompted a flood of tributes from celebrities, but it also brought questions about the decision to persist with prosecuting Flack for the alleged assault, and about the pressures faced by TV celebrities from the press and social media. Her management company criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for pressing ahead with what it called a 'show trial' even after her boyfriend said he did not support it. The tragedy has put the spotlight back on the pressures that come with TV celebrity, with Flack the fourth person linked to Love Island to have killed themself. All the 248 Wuhan evacuees, who were housed at the Indian Army-run Manesar quarantine facility since February 1 and 2, were discharged on Tuesday. The isolated people were released in two batches; one batch of 28 students were sent home on Monday and the remaining 220 went home on Tuesday, said sources from the Army. The people under quarantine, who are mostly Indian students from Wuhan, have served the mandatory 14 days quarantine, and will have to remain home quarantine for 14 more days. In case any symptoms develop they are supposed to inform medical officers at the state or district level or a public hospital , which has been duly conveyed to them, said the source. The Army had made arrangements for whoever had any symptoms they could be taken to the base hospital. About five of those under quarantine were shifted to the base hospital after they got symptoms related to coronavirus disease. However, none of the evacuees tested positive for the infection. From the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp at Chhawla in Delhi, 358 evacuees had been released till Tuesday evening. Only 48 people are now left at ITBPs quarantine facility. The remaining people will also be sent home by early Wednesday morning, said the ITBP spokesperson. The seven Maldivian nationals also left the facility, and flew back to their country, early on Tuesday morning. We are thankful to the Indian government for helping us out of Wuhan. My parents were really worried which is why I was keen on getting out of China, said Sharmeela A Gafoor, a third year PhD student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology- HUST. As India plans third evacuation from Wuhan, the ITBP facility is being readied to house at least 100 more people to be kept under quarantine for 14 days. Reality Winner A trio of PR firms is behind the push to grant clemency for Air Force veteran Reality Winner, the 28-year-old who was sentenced for leaking a classified report on Russian hacking to The Intercept. Winners family has enlisted the services of Goodman Media International (New York), The Buzzell Co. (Dallas) and TK/Communications (Los Angeles). The shops are working on a pro bono basis. GMI chief Tom Goodman is a PR veteran of CBS, ABC and J. Walter Thompson; Barbara Buzzell worked as PR chief/fashion director at I. Magnin, and TK/Cs Yusef Robb served as communications director for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Winner, a former National Security Agency contractor, served almost three years of the five-year sentence that she received in 2018. The former translator at Pluribus International smuggled a top-secret report about hacking attacks launched by Russian intelligence agencies on the 2016 presidential election. A US attorney said Winner caused exceptionally grave damage to US security because she revealed undercover sources and intelligence-gathering methods. Winners family held a press conference in Dallas on Feb. 17 and petitioned the Justice Dept.s Office of the Pardon Attorney on her behalf. Billie Winner-Davis said her daughter, who is locked up in Fort Worth, is showing signs of significant stress. The New York Times, NBC News and Fox on Feb. 17 ran extensive stories about the press conference and Winners bid for clemency. President Trump tweeted in 2018 that Winners sentence was unfair and that her actions were small potatoes compared to what Hillary Clinton did. He called for a lighter sentence for his buddy, Roger Stone, who was convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury, on Feb. 11. Trump on Feb. 18 granted a full pardon to former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. who pleaded guilty in 2016 to paying a $400K bribe to ex-Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards for a riverboat gambling license. The president also commuted the 14-year sentence of ex-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, a 2010 guest on his Celebrity Apprentice reality show. Trump told reporters that he commuted Blagojevich's sentence after watching his wife, Patti, plead for his clemency on television. T he Childrens Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, today makes some worthwhile suggestions for reducing the number of young children from London and elsewhere being drawn into gangs. Some are relatively simple, but could have a relatively quick effect, including her recommendation that local authorities should have a hotline number, or email, available that parents, or others, worried about a child being groomed might use to ask for help. Ms Longfield says the change is needed because at the moment assistance only becomes available relatively late, when children have already been dragged into crime and become victims, perpetrators or both. The current situation, where those wanting help for a vulnerable child can find it hard to contact those who can offer it, is clearly wrong. Providing an easy access route via a hotline number thats simple to publicise and simple to use seems like a good idea that council leaders and the London Mayor should consider. The same applies at national level to her other proposals. One is for the creation of a scheme to create a new group of highly skilled graduate youth workers who can be stationed in schools to assist pupils either caught up in gangs already or vulnerable to becoming so. Another is for school sites to be kept open into the evenings and weekends so community groups can use them to provide safe activities for children. Whats positive about all these suggestions, is that theyre approaching the problem of youth crime from the right direction by finding ways to keep children out of trouble, rather than focusing on law enforcement once theyre in it. Policing, sentencing, and detention all have their place. But the only long term solution remains a public health approach that successfully addresses the underlying causes of criminal involvement. The Childrens Commissioners proposals are all aimed at achieving this end. We welcome her ideas and hope others listen and respond constructively. Fight the Citys corner These are nervous times for the City and Canary Wharf. Todays news of heavy job cuts of well-paid investment bankers at HSBC comes hard on the heels of Fridays similar moves at RBS. But, worrying as it is for those facing uncertainty about their roles, we must remember these are two of the weaker players in the market. In a world where investment banks must spend ever more on technology and compliance with tough, post-financial crisis regulations, only the giants will survive. RBS and HSBC cannot compete with Wall Streets Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and the mighty JPMorgan, which invests $11 billion a year in technology alone. Only Barclays stands a chance of success and even that is in doubt. Nothing will stop this global trend. So, rather than weep about the decline of our homegrown firms, we must focus on making the City as attractive as possible to the US megabanks. That means negotiating hard with Europe for the City to remain the regions capital of finance; not trading it in for minority industries such as fishing. It means being welcoming in our visa system to talent from around the world and being open to global investment. Financial services firms pay 11 per cent of Britains taxes, funding schools, hospitals and welfare bills. Europe wants a slice of that action. We must fight for it or we shall all be the poorer. A fashionable earner Mark Fast's finale for London Fashion Week gave us a glorious return to the carefree Sixties days of Mary Quant. But we shouldnt forget the serious message that fashion, like finance, is no frivolous matter, generating 32 billion for the British economy every year. The fashion world we salute you. Listen to today's episode of The Leader: South Korea's imports of key consumer goods from Japan fell for the seventh consecutive month in January as a boycott of Japanese goods has dragged out amid their monthslong feud over their shared wartime history, data showed Tuesday. Imports of consumer goods from Japan dipped 35.9 percent from a year earlier in January to US$193.6 million, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service and released by Rep. Kim Chung-woo of the ruling Democratic Party. A growing number of South Koreans have been avoiding Japanese products since Tokyo tightened controls on exports of three high-tech materials to Seoul on July 4. The export curbs were seen as an apparent retaliation against Korean court rulings over Japan's wartime forced labor. In June last year, a month before Japan announced the export curbs against Seoul, the figure increased 18 percent on-year to $348 million, indicating the boycott movement was the main factor behind the decrease. In December, Tokyo partially lifted curbs on exports to South Korea of photoresist in an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of their summit, which ended with no notable progress. By products, imports of beer nosedived a whopping 98.2 percent on-year to $126,000 in January. From a month earlier, the figure dropped 45 percent. Japanese beer products have been some of the primary targets of South Korea's so-called boycott Japan movement, with a rising number of consumers opting for Chinese or Belgian beer instead. South Korea's purchase of Japanese passenger cars also plunged nearly 70 percent last month from a year earlier to $21.9 million, the data showed. Other major losers were cigarettes, toys and processed food, which decreased 72.9 percent, 57.4 percent and 54.7 percent, respectively. In 2019, South Korea's overall exports to Japan slipped 6.9 percent to US$28.4 billion. Imports from the neighbor, on the other hand, fell by a wider margin of 12.9 percent to $47.5 billion, making Tokyo the bigger victim in the trade spat. (Yonhap) Jetstar has cancelled one in four of its domestic flights scheduled for Wednesday as 250 workers prepare to walk off the job. The strike will affect Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide airports. The budget airline confirmed the cancellation of 48 of its 200 daily domestic flights. The Transport Workers' Union is demanding a guaranteed 12-hour break between shifts, more rest breaks, a four per cent pay rise annually and a guaranteed 30 hours of work a week. Jetstar offered workers a three per cent pay increase, but the union rejected the proposal. The budget airline has already cancelled 48 of its 200 domestic flights scheduled for Wednesday The Transport Workers' Union is demanding a guaranteed 12-hour break between shifts, more rest breaks, and a four per cent pay rise annually The airline is urging passengers to allow extra time at the airport and to expect some delays. 'To minimise the disruption caused by the TWU action, it has been necessary to proactively cancel some of our domestic flights in Australia,' a Jetstar statement read. Affected flights will be delayed by a few hours from their original departure time. 'We have developed a contingency plan that protects our customers travel,' a Jetstar spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'Most customers on impacted flights (are) set to travel within a few hours of their original departure time and all customers getting to their destinations same day. 'To achieve this we have consolidated some services and moved other customers to Qantas flights where necessary.' Any customers travelling on February 19 can also request a full refund or a no-cost change to their travel date prior to flying. The union said the the strike was called as members felt the airline was trying 'to force workers to accept an agreement which is even worse than the current agreement they are on'. TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said Jetstar workers were united and determined to fight for their jobs and their families' futures. 'Jetstar workers do not take this decision lightly and we apologise to members of the public who will be unable to fly on Wednesday,' Mr Kaine said. 'But these workers are in the fight of their lives for a decent standard of living, to be able to put food on the table and to ensure they and their kids have a future. Tomorrow's strike will affect Sydney, Melbourne , Avalon, Brisbane , Cairns and Adelaide airports 'At the moment that future is bleak.' The union claims Jetstar is trying to force underemployment on their staff. 'Jetstar workers are utterly baffled as to why they cant get a guarantee for 30 hours a week when they can see that the work is there,' Mr Kaine said. Jetstar workers went on strike twice in December and then announced a moratorium over Christmas and New Year and during the bushfires in January. Ninety-four per cent of Jetstar workers voted to take protected industrial action. 'This is not a pay dispute. This is a battle against underemployment and a battle for decent jobs at the airport,' Mr Kaine said. 'Jetstar has broken off talks and is refusing to negotiate with its workforce.' No international flights will be impacted by Wednesday's strike. New Delhi, Feb 18 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said she will discuss with the PMO about the relief that could be offered to industry but allayed any immediate worries about scarcity of any raw materials as yet on account of inventories built up by sectors as also on price rise. "There could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries," she said, adding the industry has sought easier bank payments and paperwork processes. "The government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry," she said. "There are no concerns about price rise (of medicines) so far. There is no report of shortage of masks and medicines in Indian hospitals. In fact, there was a demand from those who manufacture medical devices to remove ban on exports," she said on the impact of Coronavirus. Responding to questions, Sitharaman also said that it is too early to talk about impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the 'Make in India' initiative. She said following Tuesday's meeting, Secretary-level meetings on the impact and relief will be held on Wednesday and the Finance Ministry Secretaries will talks to the assigned departmental secretaries for pinning down the problems. "Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal will also be part of this exercise," she said. The minister added the industry has sought self-declaration by Customs from the Indian companies to release their stocks as since the necessary paperwork is not coming from China, their stocks have been held here in the ports. "The Secretaries will come with some solutions tomorrow post which hopefully we will also have a discussion with the PMO and some response will be announced at the earliest," she said. "MSMEs wants banks flexibility on repayment on delay of any supply. All the sector have stated that there is supply disruptions due to Coronavirus. But there is no talk of price rise due to these supply side issues," the minister said. The Finance Ministry had invited industry and trade members to give their feedback on the Coronavirus outbreak impacts. The meeting discussed on immediate contextual challenges and opportunities in supply chain of export & imports. During their meeting with Sithraman, pharma companies requested the government to consider airlifting of API supplies from China, in order to avoid any shortage of pharma manufacturing and availability of drugs. The worst-hit sectors among industry are electronics, textile, steel and pharma. The Indian industry which is in the grip of a slowdown is dependent on China on many raw materials like telecom and IT components, smart phones, computers and the government in Tuesday's meeting was taking stock of the fact that the production and supply chain is not disrupted for the manufacturing industry. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Tue, February 18, 2020 10:06 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206516738 2 Lifestyle London-fashion-week,London,Britain,fashion-week,fashion,climate,Richard-Quinn,Molly-Goddard,Petar-Petrov,Halpern Free Richard Quinn, the rising star of British design, on Saturday dazzled London fashion week, playing the glamour card with a sumptuous, flower-filled show. A graduate four years ago from London's prestigious Central Saint Martins, Quinn was quickly recognized for his daring and originality and big names such as Amal Clooney have worn his work. There were rich colors, dresses with trains, flowers, crystals and feathers galore at the show held at an art deco venue near Westminster in central London. Earlier in the day, different aspects of femininity lit up London Fashion Week, from the chic of Petar Petrov to the playful colors of Molly Goddard and the unabashed glamour of Halpern. Meanwhile outside the shows Extinction Rebellion protesters paraded in barbed-wire dresses. Dozens of demonstrators blocked the road near the main building hosting the catwalk shows, which began on Friday and continue until Tuesday. "We started by blocking the road, four people were wearing barbed wire dresses and attached themselves to the ground," XR spokeswoman Sara Arnold, 33, told AFP. "The system is based on obsolescence, exploitation and overproduction. This affects the planet, the people, the animals. It needs systemic change." It is not the first time "XR" activists have targeted fashion week, having covered themselves in fake blood and tied themselves to the entrance at last September's event. The movement sent a letter on Monday to the industry lobby group British Fashion Council asking them to cancel London's fashion week in September. Conscious of the accusations, the industry is this week showcasing its efforts in an exhibition dedicated to "positive fashion". Read also: Extinction Rebellion protests hit London Fashion Week Flares and thin belts Many designers concerned about the impact of fashion on the environment are choosing to use renewable or recycled materials and support local craftsmanship. But environmental activists believe this is not enough and that urgent action is needed. The protest took place on the second day of Fashion Week, which saw the first London show of Petar Petrov, who presented his women's autumn/winter 2020/21 collection. The designer, whose brand has just celebrated its tenth anniversary, unveiled the elegant and sober collection in the surroundings of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) listed headquarters located near Regent's Park. The collection was marked by extra long flared sleeves and wide trouser suits held in place by thin belts. Versatility was key, with coats worn as dresses and scarf necks and draped jackets that can be tied in different ways. 'Grew up without elegance' "I grew up without elegance, I grew up in a socialistic town and everyone had the same," said the designer, who grew up in Bulgaria and the Ukraine with his tailor mother. He inherited her love of fabrics, a legacy that has become central to the company's ethos. By contrast, Molly Goddard brought bright colors and fun to the catwalk, with candy-pink tulle dresses and frills on display. The 31-year-old Briton said she was inspired by her childhood and visiting London's vintage markets. "It was sort of the starting point for my collection, my childhood near Portobello market, it was such a fun area," she said after the show, explaining that as a child she dressed up especially to go to the bric-a-brac stalls. Their spirit is reflected in her mix of styles, with dresses and petticoats worn with mohair sweaters in an explosive palette of canary yellow, royal blue, pink, red and fuchsia, the designer's favorite color. Read also: London Fashion Week urged to sashay away from polluting sequins The glamour king Fuchsia and electric blue fabrics showered in sequins were the shimmering themes for Michael Halpern, a London-based New Yorker who has been called the "king of new glamour". The London offering of Halpern, who worked at Oscar de la Renta and Versace before launching his eponymous collection, featured short, busty dresses adorned with giant bows, or flared trousers with multicolored sequins, resulting in an overall theme of unfettered female glamour. Less spectacular, but perhaps more wearable, was the collection of South Korean designer Rejina Pyo. Working with wide shoulder designs and asymmetrical lines, Pyo went for autumnal colors black, beige and brown, and used just enough blue and green to lift the collection's overall mood. A change in the U.S. Department of Educations interpretation of how to distribute funds for a federal rural schools program based on poverty is resulting in hundreds of districts receiving significantly less funding this year, according to the AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The change prompted a letter on Feb. 14 from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who said more than 100 schools in her state will lose funding from the program because of a $1.2 million drop funds from the department. If this decision is not reversed, the department risks denying thousands of students living in rural Maine the chance to reach their full potentials, Collins said. In years past, the department distributed a part of the Rural Education Achievement Program funds for poor communities based on the percentage of students who qualify for free of reduced-priced lunch, which is often used as a proxy for low-income families. The department this year is using U.S. Census Bureau data on families in poverty instead which doesnt necessarily capture the same set of families. Several states in recent weeks have received letters from the department notifying them of the change and that they will get less money they did than last year. The REAP fund is a special program that Congress created in 2002 under the No Child Left Behind Act to help rural districts that cant compete for federal grants. Grants often require lots of paperwork for which rural districts dont have the staff to fill out. When the Every Student Succeeds Act was being crafted as NCLBs successor, advocates sought to seal in as part of the the REAP formula that dollars would be distributed based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. That effort failed. The criteria currently reads that the funds should be distributed based on the percentage of children from families with incomes below the poverty line. Sasha Pudelski, an advocacy director for AASA, questioned why the department made the change. This has been the practice up until this year and now theyre saying, Sorry, our hands are tied, we cant do this anymore, Pudeleski said. Why would they magically overturn 20 years of precedent here in distributing funding to states? AASA is still attempting to determine how many districts across the nation are being impacted, Pudeleski said. Angela Morabito, a spokesperson for the department said in an e-mail that the formula has been in place for more than a decade and that they are reviewing Sen. Collins concerns. "...We take seriously our commitment to ensuring every student is counted and appropriately supported. Theres a long-standing debate among policymakers about whats the best indicator to determine how poor a districts student body is. That debate has flared again in recent years as more districts started qualifying all their students free and/or reduced price lunch as part of an effort to expand the meal program. In Maine, district administrators told Maines public radio station that they have relied on the unrestrictive and noncompetitive REAP program to pay for technology, art and physical education teachers, and mental health counselors. Mitchell Look, the curriculum coordinator for AOS 96 in the Machias, Maine, told the station the program helped pay for programs such as physical education, music, and art . Now, if youre going to keep those programs, which you need to do, youre going to have to get it out of the local budget, which is already strapped as it is. So thats certainly going to hurt. Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . Two NGOs in France have filed a case to stop the government from awarding licences to use frequencies allocated to 5G networks. The French government wants to roll out 5G across the country by the end of 2020. The two French non-governmental organisations filed a case on 17 February in the Conseil dEtat, the countrys highest administrative court, requesting a halt to the public tender for 5G licences. The four mobile phone operators in France, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Orange and Free, have until 25 February to file an application for a licence to ARCEP, the independent organisation which regulates telecommunications in France. The two NGOs also launched a Stop5G petition on 24 January which has already collected over 65,000 signatures. Agir pour lEnvironnement, an environmental advocacy group, and Priartem, which campaigns against the dangers of electromagnetic fields, say that there are no available studies on the health and environment impact of the 5G network and the frequencies it will use. They say that ANSES, the French Agency for Health and Safety published a report on 27 January, three days after their Stop5G petition was launched, where it said it knows nothing about its potential dangers. ANSES is due to research and report on the issue in 2021, in other words after the 5G rollout in France scheduled for later this year. The NGOs say they are not against progress but they would like to see the deployment of 5G in France delayed, at least until scientists have had enough time to assess its health and environmental impact. 'Humans as guinea pigs' Stephen Kerckhove, from Agir pour lEnvironnement, told RFI that they do not want to see studies carried out after the 5G frequencies have already been allocated. We do not want a situation where humans are used as guinea pigs to assess the impact of 5G, he said. He clams that the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has already reported that there will be an eight-fold increase in the number of areas with high exposure to radio frequencies from 5G networks and that these will be, for a large part, in densely populated urban areas. Story continues It is unfortunate that there is this pressing need to go fast and bypass scientists who just cannot work at the same speed as technological innovation, Kerckhove added. Tests in France 5G technical tests are currently being carried out by the four mobile operators in over 100 different sites across France, including big cities like Bordeaux, Marseille, Lille and Paris. The government says that ANSES is closely following the tests and using the data produced to update its scientific evaluation of electromagnetic fields. The French government will allocate frequencies in the 3.4 - 3.8 GHz band for 5G network. The NGOs argue that no one knows how harmful that may be for humans as these frequencies have a very large radio spectrum and can cover large areas. But the French governments response is that it has already put in a place a series of policies and legal frameworks like the 2015 Abeille law to monitor how 5G is to be deployed in the country. Such mechanisms are designed for the protection of individuals against electromagnetic fields and are based on recommendations from the European Union and World Health Organisation. The NGOs also fear it will lead to higher energy consumption and electricity bills. Furthermore, consumers will also need to buy new 5G compatible mobile phones. 5G advantages 5G goes beyond traditional mobile broadband network. It offers superfast mobile connection, low latency (delays) and enables a greater number of devices to be connected to one another other at the same time without saturating the network. But 5G does more than just enabling fast, smooth streaming of films or revolutionising video games. It should help to develop self-driving cars, smart cities, mobile health services, innovative industrial machines such as robots working in mines. "Everybody and everything will be using 5G networks to communicate in the future, said Urve Palo, Estonia's former information technology minister (the country is a European leader in digital public services) in 2017, when EU ministers signed a roadmap to help position Europe as the lead market for 5G. France catches up on 5G 5G has been deployed in a few places, such as South Korea and certain areas in the United States. In Europe, 5G services are available in nine countries, including Spain and Britain, making France one the last large European nations to adopt the technology. Sebastien Nadot, an independent member of Parliament, told RFI that the economic stakes are high. The very strong globalised competition, with players such as the United States or China is unlikely to lead to solutions that are completely satisfactory from the point of view of health and the environment, but France must not give into an easy solution, he said. However, we need to find the balance between the positive aspects of 5G and the potential risks it contains. I think it is neither more nor less than the debate on progress." Follow Stephen Kerckhove on Twitter @skerckhove Follow Sebastien Nadot on Twitter @Sebastien_Nadot Follow Zeenat Hansrod on Twitter @zxnt It would be downright criminal if the 2020 legislative clock runs out before lawmakers approve House Bill 6, a broad anti-crime bill, and send it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her signature. Key provisions will stiffen criminal penalties for two categories of gun-related crimes a response desperately needed in New Mexico, particularly in Albuquerque, which has a violent crime rate 3.7 times the national average and had a record 82 homicides last year. The House passed the measure 59-9, and there doesnt appear to be major opposition. But like making sausage, making law isnt always pretty. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sunday objected to the bill rolling several separate proposals into one piece of legislation. They made several changes, including removing a section making it easier for police officers to receive medical treatment for post traumatic stress disorder because they felt that provision should be separate legislation. The measure must now go to the Senate Finance Committee, and if approved there it would need to go back to the House of Representatives for concurrence or a conference committee on the changes. All that has to happen before noon Thursday when the session adjourns. The proposal as it now stands would still allow for stiffer sentences for brandishing a firearm in the commission of a crime and being a felon in possession of a gun. Theres been a lot of negotiations back and forth, said Rep. Bill Rehm, an Albuquerque Republican and a co-sponsor. I think were directing this at the actual violent felon whos using a gun. It has the governors support. The crime package isnt the only important item left on lawmakers to do list as of late Monday afternoon: Repealing the tax on Social Security benefits. New Mexico is an outlier in assessing income tax on this, and that status is all the more offensive considering the billions pouring into state coffers from the oil boom in the Permian Basin. Lawmakers who appreciate the financial struggles our states seniors face 55,000 New Mexico grandchildren are being raised by their grandparents should fast-track bills that have been languishing in the Senate (SB 68, 81 and 170)/tabled in the House (HB 29, 77 and 130). Passing Opportunity Scholarships. Senate Bill 323/House Bill 14, covering college and university fees as well as the balance of tuition not covered by lottery scholarships. While standing up a new program by definition has many unknowns that will need to be addressed once the program is rolled out, getting more N.M. students through a professional certification, two-year or four-year degree is a proven way to ensure their financial independence and strengthen the states economy. Approving free medical school. House Bill 246 provides a $6 million annual appropriation in exchange for University of New Mexico graduates practicing for a set amount of time in our state. This promises to be a smart way to finally establish a reliable pipeline of local medical talent to address shortages. Passing the New Mexico Work and Save Act. House Bill 44 gives thousands more private-sector workers access to an IRA-type plan for retirement savings. In a state where the majority of these folks have zero saved for retirement and many will have to scrape by on Social Security, this is a no-brainer. Expanding spay/neuter programs via a fee from pet food companies. New Mexico spends tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars every year to catch, treat and eventually kill 20,000 stray dogs and cats. Three states have implemented similar fees and slashed their euthanasia rates without seeing prices increase for pet owners. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. EUR/USD is hitting fresh lows and has fallen into the large gap below 1.08 created in 2017. Meanwhile, EURGBP is back at the December2019 lows. Tuesdays ZEW miss in Germany does not bode well for future data releases as the coronavirus outbreak has caused the readings to dive. This is on top of already dire manufacturing and GDP data. To top it off there is potential political upheaval as Angela Merkels succession causes uncertainty. The coronavirus has rarely left the mainstream media headlines, but it seemed the market was able to overlook the outbreak and continue in its bullish trend. However, this all changed on Tuesday as Apple announced a profit warning due to the events in China. In a statement it detailed two adverse effects of the coronavirus. Firstly, iPhone production has been hindered by the reduced working schedule in place in China. Secondly, Chinese demand has understandably fallen. This wont surprise that many people but it does underline how important China is to global brands, many of which have production facilities in China or at least rely on supply chains dependent on China. Perhaps the only surprise is that the market has been able to shrug off the bad news and continue higher so long. Yet even in the wake of this news, many stocks are bouncing. Apple itself has recovered from a pre-market low of 310 to trade at 317. The S&P500 was 1% lower in early futures but is now only -0.5%. Meanwhile, currencies have been less sensitive to the virus spread and USDJPY is unchanged. The big mover among the G10 in Tuesdays session has been the Euro on yet more concerning data. Another Blow for Germany and the Euro Tuesdays ZEW releases in Germany are the first to reflect the economic sentiment in the wake of the coronavirus. Unsurprisingly, they arent great: The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany decreased sharply in February, falling 18.0 points to a new reading of 8.7 points. The indicator is thus slightly below its December 2019 level. The assessment of the economic situation in Germany has also worsened compared to the previous month, with the corresponding indicator dropping to a level of minus 15.7 points, 6.2 points lower than in January, stated the official release. It went on to detail the reasons for the sharp drop. The feared negative effects of the Coronavirus epidemic in China on world trade have been causing a considerable decline of the ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany. Expectations regarding the development of the export-intensive sectors of the economy have dropped particularly sharply. This does not bode well for data due out in the coming months, especially since German data is already so weak. As ING point out, German manufacturing is in a severe slump; there are trade wars, less demand from China and Germany's auto industry is especially suffering from major structural issues. A recession is a real possibility and the rumours from ECB sources that the ECB may ease further due to the effects of the coronavirus no longer seem so far-fetched. To top it all off, political challenges and uncertainty could upset the markets as Angela Merkels successor is far from certain. Three candidates are in the running but a clear favourite or even a clear timetable for the succession are still unknown. The Euro is understandably dropping again and EURUSD has broken below 1.08 and into the large gap from way back in 2017. The technical gap fill is at 1.07664 and we often see a bounce from these levels. Looking for a bottom does seem a little premature. EURGBP has fallen to 0.829 but has managed to hold a higher low with the December 2019 low. Tuesdays session is particularly weak as UK employment came in better than expected and pushed the GBP higher. 18.02.2020 LISTEN The Upper East Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Services says it has put in place a strategic surveillance mechanism in the region to detect suspected cases the novel coronavirus. The recent spread of the coronavirus in Egypt has killed thousands of Chinese nationals and foreigners with some Ghanaians in China calling for urgent evacuation to save lives. Speaking to Citi News, Upper East Regional Health Director, Dr. Winfred Ofosu said all health facilities and community volunteers are on high alert to identify suspected persons with symptoms of the disease. All health facilities in the region have been alerted about the coronavirus signs and symptoms so as to detect any case of the virus. We have also alerted community base surveillance volunteers so that they can detect anyone who has returned from China with the infection and symptoms like fever, cough and other respiratory conditions can easily be suspected and the specimen is taken for investigation. The good thing is that once we detect the case, we have designated a room at every health facility to quarantine the person to prevent further spread of the virus and send the specimen to Noguchi for investigations and within 24 hours the results will be ready for the necessary action, he said. He indicated that the region's porous borders possess a challenge to their surveillance. However, his outfit is on a watch-out to avert any eventuality. Our challenge is how to police the porous borders within the region, Even though we have approved borders to Burkina Faso and Togo, there are many unapproved routes that immigrants pass and we cannot police all of these, he stated. Apart from the approved borders at Paga, Widanna and Kulungugu where port heath officials screen all immigrants coming into the region, we are relying a lot more on community health surveillance volunteers to pick up cases that are suspicious of coronavirus to link them to the health system so that we can quickly carry out investigation to confirm whether or not it is the virus. He appealed to community members within the region to urgently report persons exhibiting signs and symptoms of coronavirus to the health centres for management. Even though we do not have a specific treatment for coronavirus infected persons, we have other treatment we can give to make sure that infected persons survive. citinewsroom The convocation of Assam University has been postponed even as the indefinite hunger strike by students against the rustication of a research scholar entered ninth day on Tuesday. AU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dilip Chandra Nath said the scheduled convocation of the varsity on March 1 has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing agitation. "The office of the Assam University has become functionless due to the agitation. So, no preparation work for the convocation could be done," he said. The students are on hunger strike since February 10 with a host of demands, including withdrawal of rustication order against Milan Das, withdrawal of FIR against him and assurance of no action against the agitating students. With the students sitting in front of the main gate and not allowing anyone to enter the campus, the functioning of the varsity has come to a standstill. This forced the varsity administration to hold the university Executive Council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the prevailing situation outside the campus at Radhamadhab College. The Assam University Students' Union (AUSU) president Biswarup Bhattacharjee and general secretary Aritra Babai Dhar asserted that they will not withdraw the agitation until their demands are fulfilled. Bhattacharjee claimed that nine of their striking students have been admitted in hospital after falling ill and "the university authority has not approached us yet for talks". A tripartite meeting between district administration, university authority and students' union on Monday failed to end the impasse. Das, a research scholar of Ecology and Environmental Sciences department, was rusticated on February 8 for two years and barred him from entering the campus on seven counts, including causing threats to government servants, creating hindrance to office work, damaging varsity properties and insulting the VC. The university administration also lodged an FIR against him on the same charges. Das is the president of the Assam University Research Scholars' Forum and the former president of AUSU. The agitating students claimed that the authorities did not issue any show-cause notice to Das before rusticating him. They also alleged that the authority took action against Das because of his active involvement in various agitational programmes against irregularities in the campus. A senior university official said the executive council is ready to examine the matter provided an application is made by the research scholar requesting a review of the order and an apology while assuring not to repeat such acts in future. However, the students have rejected this and said Das can only pray for cancellation of the rustication order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 600 people working in Amazon warehouses have been seriously injured or narrowly avoided an accident in the last three years, an investigation has found. The GMB trade union, which revealed the figures, has called for a parliamentary inquiry into hellish conditions at warehouses run by the tech giant in the UK. A Freedom of Information request by GMB found that between 2016/17 and 2018/19 a total of 622 reports have been made from Amazon warehouses to the Health and Safety Executive a national watchdog for workplace safety. The figures showed the number of incidents rose each year, with one case involving a worker who was knocked unconscious and stopped breathing. Mick Rix, GMBs national officer, has said the union has tried over and over again to get Amazon to improve safety for workers, without success. Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres Show all 15 1 /15 Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres One of Britain's largest centres in Dunfermline, Fife PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Peterborough AFP/Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Tracy, California Reuters Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Boves, France AFP/Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Swansea PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Madrid Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Swansea PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres 'Amazon Jobs Day', a job fair, at the centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Boves, France Reuters Amazon are spending millions on PR campaigns trying to persuade people its warehouses are great places to work, Mr Rix said. But the facts are there for all to see - things are getting worse. Hundreds of stricken Amazon workers are needing urgent medical attention. Conditions are hellish. A number of Labour MPs, including leadership candidates Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey, have come out in support of the unions call for a parliamentary inquiry into Amazon. The warehouse injuries suffered by Amazon workers are beyond appalling, Ms Nandy said on Monday. We must never stay quiet in the face of injustice. Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, said he could not remember any company recording so many injuries in his 30 years of working. I have been inside the giant Rugeley depot and heard first-hand from frightened workers of the 77 serious incidents in Rugeley alone, Mr Dromey said. Amazon purports to be a 21st century company. It behaves like a 19th century mill-owner. In a statement, Amazon has said it is a safe place to work and dismissed criticisms of conditions in its warehouses. Yet again, our critics seem determined to paint a false picture of what its like to work for Amazon, a spokesperson for the company said. They repeat the same sensationalised allegations time and time again." They added: Our doors are open to the public, to politicians, and indeed to anyone who truly wants to see the modern, innovative and, most importantly, safe environment we provide to our people. In 2019, Amazon invited customers to visit its warehouses in Milton Keynes and Peterborough in an effort to combat negative coverage of the company's working conditions. BJP legislators created a uproar in the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday over a comment by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal on Leader Of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria and staged a dharna. Amid the uproar over the comment, the House passed the Rajasthan Agriculture Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Jan Aadhaar Authority Bill, 2020, and Speaker C P Joshi adjourned the proceedings for the day. After the House was adjourned, the BJP MLAs sat on a dharna in the Well of the House. The sit-in was, however, called off after the speaker assured that the comments of the minister would be expunged. Dhariwal was speaking on the Rajasthan Agriculture Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2020 when he referred to an statement allegedly made by Kataria when he was the disaster management and relief minister in the previous BJP government. Kataria accused Dhariwal of lying and asked for proof. Opposition members then created an uproar, during which the House passed the two bills. Alleging that they were not allowed to speak on the bills, BJP members entered the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government. "Our members were annoyed with the comments of the parliamentary affairs minister who was behaving like a child. Our members were also not allowed to speak on the Jan Aadhaar Authority Bill which was an important bill and so we sat on dharna," Kataria told reporters outside the Assembly. He added that the speaker met the agitating members and assured that the comments of the minister would be expunged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fight broke out at a Bernie Sanders rally in Colorado on Monday after a white man reportedly attacked a black man for booing the Vermont senator and wearing a 'Black Guns Matter t-shirt. Sanders made a stop in Denver where he rallied thousands of supporters at the Colorado Convention Center. While the Democratic presidential candidate was speaking, two men began fighting near the stage. The men were seen on video from CBS4 pushing through a metal barrier. One man is seen picking the other man up before they both landed on the ground. Scroll down for video While the Democratic presidential candidate was speaking, two men began fighting near the stage The men were seen on video pushing through a metal barrier. One man is seen picking the other man up before they both landed on the ground One man involved contacted CBS and confirmed that he's a Sanders supporter who got into a fight with the other man. The man, who only gave his first name, Tyler (right, and in the blue jacket, left), claimed the man he was fighting had on a shirt that read: 'Black Guns Matter' Friends of both men quickly intervened and broke up the fight before it got out of hand. According to CBS, one of the men involved contacted the station by phone and confirmed that he is a Sanders supporter who got into a fight with the other man at the rally. The man, who only gave his first name, Tyler, claimed that the man he was fighting had on a shirt that read: 'Black Guns Matter.' That man was with two other men who were reportedly booing as Sanders gave his rallying call to supporters. Tyler told CBS that he tried to capture video of the man and his friends booing on his phone, when the man pushed him, prompting Tyler to retaliate. According to the station, the other man who was wearing the 'Black Guns Matter' shirt also called CBS but remained anonymous. He said he is African American and called Tyler the aggressor. The man claimed: 'He had a problem with the shirt I was wearing. I was recording the event, he walks up and calls me a racist. But I thought, "Whats he know about black lives, about discrimination, or, for that matter, the representation of the shirt."' He added that while he agrees with Sen Sanders on numerous policies, gun ownership isn't one of those. 'Black people and their ability to own firearms has historically been very restricted. The shirt I got from a conceal-carry class,' the man said. Neither one of the men were kicked out of the rally, but they were separated from one another Sanders also appeared unaware of the fight as it unfolded and continued to give his speech to supporters Earlier on Monday, Mike Bloomberg released a new web video that took direct aim at 'Bernie bros' who have lashed out online at rivals to Sanders, after Sanders accused him of trying to 'buy' the election The ad featured a series of screeds from Sanders' supporters like this one Neither one of the men were kicked out of the rally, but they were separated from one another. Sanders appeared unaware of the fight as it unfolded and continued to give his speech to supporters. Earlier on Monday, Mike Bloomberg released a new web video that took direct aim at 'Bernie bros' who have lashed out online at rivals to Sanders, after Sanders accused him of trying to 'buy' the election. The ad featured a series of screeds from Sanders' supporters. 'We know where you live. Where you work. Where you eat,' said one. One called Massachusetts Sen Elizabeth Warren a 'snake,' and another warned cryptically: 'Libs who are flirting with Bloomberg now should be aware that they are going on lists.' 'We know where you work. Where you eat. Where you live' said another. The ad specifically featured commentary on the 'Bernie bros,' who are purported to harbor sexist views and tear into anyone who gets in the way of Sanders, who had the most people caucus for him in Iowa and won the New Hampshire primary. Sanders tweeted at Bloomberg Sunday: 'The simple truth is that Mayor Bloomberg, with all his money, will not create the kind of excitement and energy we need to defeat Donald Trump.' He also tagged the mayor for 'racist policies like stop and frisk,' a policing tactic that Bloomberg has apologized for but which reemerged after video of him defending it surfaced. Monday night's brawl also came just 24 hours after protesters made a scene at another campaign rally in Nevada. Topless protesters disrupted Sanders while he was on stage. The incident came just 24 hours after protesters made a scene at another campaign rally in Nevada. Topless women mounted the stage and poured colored liquids over their bodies from containers marked 'milk' to protest the dairy industry Sanders and his wife, Jane, stood to the side as the topless protest unfolded onstage The anti-dairy demonstrators stormed the stage just as Sanders was beginning to address his supporters at the event on Sunday in Carson City. First, a fully clothed woman jumped on the stage and grabbed the mic away from the candidate to deliver their demands. 'Bernie, I'm your biggest supporter, and I'm here to ask you to stop pumping up the dairy industry and to stop pumping up animal agriculture,' she said. 'I believe in you' she continued, before the mic suddenly went dead and security moved toward her. The campaign's live video feed of the event suddenly cut out. Meanwhile, topless women mounted the stage and poured colored liquids over their bodies from containers marked 'milk.' They had the words 'dairy' and 'die' written across their nude torsos, with their bosoms fully displayed. Sanders and his wife, Jane, stepped off to the side of the stage as the women carried on. Jane laughed in amusement as Sanders looked on in peevish annoyance. Security guards intervened and dragged the topless women off the stage. Sanders quickly resumed his speech, shrugging off the bizarre protest. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Restoration Builders, Inc. ("Restoration Builders" or "The Company") announced today that it has officially acquired Alden Roofing, Inc. ("Alden Roofing"), headquartered in Pflugerville, TX. Established in 2017 in response to the explosive growth of the $210B+ insurance restoration industry, Restoration Builders has been focused on developing a nation-wide network of licensed contractors and other industry-related companies. The US-based Company is building a strategic infrastructure of teams, offices, equipment, trucks and other resources. Early revenue projection for 2020 is anticipated to exceed $100 Million. The owners of Alden Roofing, Melanie and Joshua Knox, are a dynamic team whose story began when they met while working for the same roofing company. In 2006, Melanie became pregnant with the couple's first child. Her lack of health insurance coverage sparked the desire to venture out on her own. She wanted to take better care of her own team members. The Alden family and Joshua together began Alden Roofing. When the Alden family decided to step down from their roles at the company, Josh and Melanie saw their perfect opportunity. In the ten years since taking over the reins, Melanie and Josh have grown their team to 40 associates. The customer-focused company operates under the mission of being honest and fair, and educating clients on their rights as insurance policy holders. Joshua has an extensive background in roofing installation and sales. He oversees the production and sales departments, and has served as a board member of the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. With 17 years of administrative and management experience in the construction and legal fields, majority-owner Melanie oversees corporate operations. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. In addition, she serves as President of the Central Texas Roofing Contractors Association. "I'm thrilled to announce that Alden Roofing has joined our growing team," said John Lorenz, Chairman and CEO of Restoration Builders, Inc. "The values of this woman-owned business align perfectly with our efforts to celebrate diversity and evolve the roofing repair industry. Seasonal storms in Texas can cause immense damage and disruption, and this team has a proven ability to overcome adversity through creative problem solving. I'm confident they'll make a tremendous contribution to our network's success." Roofing repair remains one of the fastest growing sectors of the $49 Billion roofing contractors' industry. Up until recently, this highly fragmented sector has been comprised primarily of local, privately held companies, with the balance of customers being insurance policy holders. About Restoration Builders, Inc. Restoration Builders is a residential and commercial contractor operating within the United States. Their mission is to protect, restore and build properties, strengthen families and support the community. They are committed locally and ready to serve wide scale for disaster response. To learn more, please visit their website at www.restorbuilders.com About Alden Roofing, Inc. With over 30 years of roofing and construction experience, Alden Roofing is a symbol of quality in the Texas roofing industry. The most important aspect of their work is making customers feel safe and secure in their homes. The Alden team believes that trained and certified roofing crews, fully educated in roofing manufacturer's installation guidelines, ensure that the highest quality roof system is applied to each customer's home. For more information, please visit: www.aldenroofing.com For further information please contact: Janet Carnell Lorenz [email protected] (425) 999-6508 SOURCE Restoration Builders, Inc. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov announced on February 11 that a modern air-defense system would be sent to the Russian military base in northern Kyrgyzstan. Although some questioned the motives for the move, Moscow and Bishkek have been discussing it for several years and placing the system at the Kant military base -- some 40 kilometers from the capital, Bishkek -- is a rather logical step in creating a unified air-defense system for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Or perhaps it's all being done for another regional security organization. Along with being in the CIS, Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are also CSTO members. In 2015, Kazakhstan received the S-300PS air-defense systems and in 2019, Russia's 201st Division, which is stationed in Tajikistan, received S-300PS air-defense systems. Of course Kyrgyzstan lies between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and was lagging behind. Kyrgyzstan still has quite outdated SA-2 and SA-3 air-defense systems. The SA-2 air-defense missile (also called the S-75 Dvina) was first deployed by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. The SA-3 systems (also known as the S-125 Neva/Pechora) were used in the 1960s. It seems an upgrade is definitely in order. The S-300PS system was first deployed in the mid-1980s and would represent a significant improvement in Kyrgyzstan's air-defense system though, as yet, Russia has not said exactly which system Kyrgyzstan would receive. Who Is The Enemy? An interesting question, however, is against whom the new system is being deployed in that part of Central Asia? The S-300PS system is designed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles. The biggest security threat to Central Asia comes from stateless militant groups who do not have warplanes or cruise missiles. But it must be noted that Russia also plans to repair the runway at the Kant air base and will reportedly station upgraded Su-25SM3 attack aircraft and drones there. Those weapons would certainly help in a campaign against militants. The countries close to Central Asia that have advanced warplanes and missiles are Iran, Pakistan, India, and China. But the latter three are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (along with Uzbekistan and Russia). But Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan also all border China. The SCO was originally the Shanghai Five (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) when it was created in 1996 and its initial purpose was to have all of the countries pull back troops and weapons from the former Soviet-China frontier. That worked so well that they decided to expand the agenda of the organization. Yet since 2015, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and soon Kyrgyzstan will have all upgraded their air defenses, which is still in keeping with original agreements to withdraw forces from the border areas. But it also hints that there is less than total trust in these agreements. Of course, Moscow might also just be ensuring that Kyrgyzstan has Russian-made, air-defense systems. Interestingly enough, the other Central Asian states -- Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- are not CSTO members but they, too, have improved their air-defense systems by purchasing China's HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, a Chinese version of the S-300. Nearly 300 civilians killed in attacks in northwest Syria with 93 percent caused by Syrian and Russian forces, UN says. The United Nations human rights chief has said she is horrified by the surge in fighting in northwest Syria and called for humanitarian corridors to assist the largest exodus of the countrys nearly nine-year war. Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday also accused the Syrian government and its ally Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. No shelter is now safe. And as the government offensive continues and people are forced into smaller and smaller pockets, I fear even more people will be killed, Bachelet said. Nearly 300 civilians have been killed in attacks this year in northwest Syria, with 93 percent of the deaths caused by Syrian and Russian forces, she said. In a statement expressing horror at the scale of the humanitarian crisis, Bachelet denounced direct hits on or near camps of displaced civilians, as well as on medical and education facilities, including two hospitals on Monday. She has previously said such acts could be war crimes. Her spokesman Rupert Colville asked whether Syria and Russia were deliberately targeting civilians and buildings protected under international law told a Geneva briefing: The sheer quantity of attacks on hospitals, medical facilities, and schools would suggest they cannot all be accidental. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Hatay, Turkey, noted Idlib in Syrias northwest is home to four million people and the situation was unprecedented. It remains to be seen whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will heed these humanitarian warnings These people increasingly believe theyve been betrayed, abandoned by the international community, he said. Meanwhile, a Turkish delegation met Russian diplomats for a second day of talks in Moscow on Tuesday, with no apparent agreement on the situation in Idlib. Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish presidential spokesman, told reporters in Ankara that the talks with Russia will continue in the coming days. Families prepare to flee a camp for the displaced, in the north of Idlib province, amid the ongoing Syrian government offensive [Aaref Watad/AFP] Children freezing The comments by UN officials came as Syrian troops pressed an offensive on Tuesday on the countrys last major rebel enclave. About 900,000 people have been forced from their homes and shelters in less than three months, leaving huge numbers to sleep rough in the thick of winter. Children have died of exposure in snow-covered camps and the UN has warned the crisis could worsen if no ceasefire is reached to facilitate the relief effort. As many as seven children including a seven-month-old have died from freezing temperatures recently, an aid group working in Idlib, Hurras Network, said. As more civilians desperately seek safety on Syrias border with Turkey, were worried that the death toll will increase given the absolutely inhumane living conditions that women and children are finding themselves in, with sub-zero temperatures, no roof over their heads and no warm clothes, said charity Save the Children in a statement on Tuesday. Largest exodus The wave is the biggest since the start of the civil war nearly nine years ago. The biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century will only be avoided if Security Council members, and those with influence, overcome individual interests and put a collective stake in humanity first, UN coordinator Mark Lowcock said on Monday. Russia, the main foreign broker in Syria, has vetoed countless resolutions on the conflict. On Monday, al-Assad promised that the government forces would press on with their offensive. The battle for the liberation of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib continues, regardless of all the hot air coming out of the north, al-Assad said, in reference to warnings by Turkey. In recent weeks, Syrian troops and allied forces backed by Russia have reconquered swathes of Idlib as well as key areas that have secured the strategic M5 highway connecting the countrys four largest cities as well as the entire surroundings of Aleppo city for the first time since 2012. According to war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), government forces made new gains in western Aleppo province on Tuesday. Regime forces are trying to push towards the Sheikh Barakat mountain, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the UK-based organisation. If they capture the area, government forces will control a vantage point over vast swathes of land in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, including areas where tens of thousands of displaced people live in sprawling camps. DALLAS, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GI Alliance announced today that it has expanded its presence in Chicago through the addition of Lawrence Gluskin, M.D. joining the Illinois Gastroenterology Group (IGG). Dr. Gluskin practices medicine at Saint Joseph Hospital and serves as Director of the Gastrointestinal Laboratory and Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology in Chicago, IL. "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Gluskin to our team," said Dr. Kevin Liebovich, Executive Board Member of IGG. "Dr. Gluskin will be a tremendous asset to our practice in our strategic expansion in the downtown Chicago market. His depth of experience and dedication to patient-centered care will further enable us to deliver high quality GI services to patients in the local community." Dr. Gluskin received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago. He completed a fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. About GI Alliance GI Alliance is a physician-led GI services organization supporting the needs of more than 350 independent gastroenterologists operating in Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona, Indiana, and Arkansas. GI practices that are part of the GI Alliance are focused on providing the highest-quality care to their patients. In addition to providing operational support for practices, GI Alliance is working to unite gastroenterologists nationwide to align interests and improve quality of care for patients. About Illinois Gastroenterology Group (IGG) The Illinois Gastroenterology Group (IGG) is a regional medical practice comprised of board-certified private practice gastroenterologists and allied professionals, dedicated to improving the health of their patients by providing the highest quality gastrointestinal care utilizing evidence-based medicine in a safe, cost-effective, compassionate manner, following clinical standards as determined by available scientific knowledge, best practice and innovative treatment. IGG joined GI Alliance in July 2019. Contact: Shannon Brush / GI Alliance [email protected] (817) 893-2391 www.gialliance.com SOURCE GI Alliance Related Links https://gialliance.com The Office said reports about the personnel reshuffle were rumors. The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in Ukraine has denied reports about Prosecutor General Ruslan Riaboshapka's resignation. "This is an act of information provocation and another attack on the PGO's reform. This shows that we are not convenient," Riaboshapka said on the PGO's website on February 18. Read alsoUkraine's prosecutor general fires subordinate who investigated Burisma "The prosecutor general's deputies and I are in the office, performing our duties," he added. The PGO said reports about the personnel reshuffle were rumors. Earlier, some media outlets reported that Riaboshapka was going to resign after a meeting at the Office of the President of Ukraine on Bankova Street. The president allegedly expressed dissatisfaction with the PGO's performance. A doctor from Mumbai has sought help from the Indian government to get his mother's body back from China, which is hit by the coronavirus epidemic. The body has been kept at the morgue of a hospital in Zhengzhou since January 24, when Rita Rajinder Mehra died. Dentist Puneet Mehra, 35, told PTI that the Embassy of India at Beijing informed him on Monday that the transportation of his mother's body has got delayed in view of the restrictions on movement of people and vehicles in China after the coronavirus epidemic in the neighbouring country. The Bandra-based doctor has, thus, sought desperate help from the central government to get back his mother's body at the earliest so that her last rites can be performed here with due respect. According to the doctor, on January 24, he and his mother were travelling from Melbourne to Mumbai via Beijing on Air China flight. After about nine hours of the flight take-off, his mother went to the lavatory. But, as she failed to return to her seat, Mehra alerted the crew. The lavatory door was later opened and Mehra's mother was found in an unconscious state, he said. A doctor and a nurse, who were among the passengers, and the crew tried cardiopulmonary resuscitation and later the plane made an emergency landing at Zhengzhou Airport, but the woman died by then, he said. Puneet Mehra returned on February 7, but his mother's body is still at the morgue of Henan Provincial Hospital in Zhengzhou. The doctor has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, office of the External Affairs Ministry and the Ambassador of India in Beijing to help in getting back the body. "I have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and requested the government to facilitate the process of transportation of my mother's remains back to Mumbai at the earliest so that the last rites can be performed with due respect," Mehra said. He said this situation has caused a lot of stress to him and my family. "It has been over 24 days now and we are extremely shattered and going through a lot of emotional stress in this helpless situation," he said. He said the hospital in China initially issued a certificate mentioning the cause of his mother's demise as 'death before rescue'. After three days, the hospital gave Mehra another certificate mentioning the cause as "sudden cardiac death very likely". Later, another certificate was issued mentioning the cause as "sudden death", he said. Mehra further said he got a reply from Arvind Kumar (Consular) at the Embassy of India in China, saying the embassy is also very concerned about the issue and has full sympathy with the family at this tragic time. But, China is also facing an equally tragic situation. The outbreak of the new coronavirus epidemic has "completely derailed normal life" in China, particularly in Hubei and adjoining provinces, due to severity of the spread and number of deaths that have taken place so far, he said. In a bid to contain spread of the virus, the Chinese government has put up widespread and severe restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles. This has resulted in hardest obstacles in inter- provincial movement of people and vehicles. Hence, there is a delay in transportation of the mortal remains of Rita Rajinder Mehra to India by the agency hired by Puneet Mehra, Kumar said in his reply. The consular also said that as per the existing regulations in China, funeral homes in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou only are authorised to carry out embalming and anti-sepsis procedures of mortal remains of a foreigner for air transportation. As of now, the Chinese government has placed complete restrictions on the funeral homes from accepting a body from any place out of these three cities. It means these funeral homes can only deal with the body that pertains to the respective city, he mentioned. Another major obstacle in transporting the mortal remains from the morgue of Zhengzhou to Beijing is severe restrictions on inter-provincial movements, he informed Mehra. "While it is going to be our earnest endeavour with the Chinese authorities to seek their indulgence in allowing the concession in the imposed regulations to allow the mortal remains to be transported to India, yet we cannot predict at this stage whether our pursuance would melt the Chinese authorities," Kumar said. "However, we will try our hardest and hope as well as pray that we succeed. We will let you know any development or update in this regard the moment it comes to our notice," he told Mehra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: James Willamor/flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Durham. Virginia teen accused of killing mother, brother arrested at Target in Durham Levi H. Norwood, 17, was arrested at the store at 4027 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. after police responded to a shoplifting situation. Read the full story on WRAL TV. Immigrants, city leaders, speak out against ICE arrests, family separations City leaders from Raleigh and Durham joined several immigrant families on Monday to speak out against recent ICE actions in North Carolina. Read the full story on WRAL TV. McDougald Terrace inspection, carbon monoxide crisis timeline Failed inspections preceded the Durham Housing Authoritys mass evacuation. Read the full story on The News & Observer. Private cameras upgrade community watch, raise privacy concerns Triangle neighborhoods are installing private license-plate readers to track visitors. And in Durham, they're sharing that data with police. Read the full story on WRAL TV. Accountant with school contracts found guilty of $2M fraud faces new lawsuit An accountant whose firm audits Durham Public Schools' books, and whose separate consulting company has had contracts with some 50 other school systems, was hit with a $2 million fraud verdict last month and now faces a new lawsuit from his former business partners. Read the full story on WRAL TV. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Billionaire Democratic presidential contender Mike Bloomberg is trailing his rival Bernie Sanders in both head-to-head and values-based measures of support, polls have found. Mr Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, came last, behind even Donald Trump, in a survey that asked potential voters whether candidates shared their values. Research by 'USA Today'/Ipsos found just 28pc of all voters surveyed agreed with Mr Bloomberg's policy positions, three points behind the incumbent president. Nearly two-thirds, or 64pc, of self-identified Democrats said Vermont senator Mr Sanders senator "shares my values". It puts him significantly ahead of Senator Elizabeth Warren on 55pc and former vice-president Mr Biden, on 53pc. Mr Bloomberg languished on 46pc. Of all adults across the political divide, 39pc agreed with Mr Sanders, with Ms Warren and Mr Trump coming closest to him on 31pc. Expand Close Race date: Donald Trump and wife Melania at the Daytona 500 race, which he started as grand marshal. Photo: REUTERS/Erin Scott / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Race date: Donald Trump and wife Melania at the Daytona 500 race, which he started as grand marshal. Photo: REUTERS/Erin Scott Mr Bloomberg (78) has spent hundreds of millions of his own dollars on campaigning while deciding not to take part in early primary voting. His campaign will kick into high gear on March 3, known as 'Super Tuesday', when more than a dozen contests will run at the same time. It is into these races that he has poured the most cash and organisational might. However, Mr Bloomberg also trailed Mr Sanders in a Yahoo News/YouGov survey that pitted Democratic hopefuls against each other in hypothetical one-on-one votes. Asked who they would pick out of Mr Sanders and Mr Bloomberg, 53pc chose the left-winger, with 38pc for Mr Bloomberg. Mr Bloomberg did beat Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, who garnered 37pc and 33pc respectively. Ms Warren ran Mr Sanders closest in the head-to-head comparison, polling at 42pc compared to 44pc with 14pc unsure. The Massachusetts senator is also Mr Sanders' closest rival on the political spectrum, vying for the progressive vote. At the weekend, an average of national polls had Mr Bloomberg in third place among Democrats on 14pc points, behind Mr Biden on 19 and Mr Sanders on 23. With the Nevada caucuses less than a week away, the other Democratic candidates were fixated on the billionaire. Mr Sanders, Mr Biden, Ms Klobuchar, Ms Warren and Mr Buttigieg accused Mr Bloombert of buying his way into the election and made it clear they were eager to take him on in a debate. "He thinks he can buy this election," Mr Sanders said at a rally in Carson City, Nevada. "Well, I've got news for Mr Bloomberg - the American people are sick and tired of billionaires buying elections!" Their attacks are a sign of how seriously the field is starting to take Mr Bloomberg, who is on the cusp of qualifying for tomorrow's Democratic debate in Las Vegas. Mr Bloomberg bypassed the traditional early voting states including Nevada, focusing instead on the 14 states that vote in the Super Tuesday primary on March 3. He has spent more than $417m (385m) of his own multibillion-dollar fortune on advertising nationwide, an unprecedented sum for any candidate in a primary. The focus on Mr Bloomberg comes amid anxiety among many Democrats over the early strength of Mr Sanders, who won last week's New Hampshire primary and essentially tied for first place in Iowa with Mr Buttigieg. Mr Sanders, who sits as an independent senator and has long identified as a democratic socialist, is hoping to notch a victory in Nevada on Saturday as moderates struggle to unite behind a candidate who could serve as a counter to him. At Mr Sanders's rally, the crowd cheered as he joked that Mr Bloomberg is "struggling, he's down to his last $60bn" and derided him for skipping the early states. It marked an escalation of the salvo he launched on Saturday. Then, he ticked off a litany of conservative positions Mr Bloomberg has taken in the past, including opposing a minimum wage hike and his opposition to a number of Barack Obama's policies while president. Mr Sanders suggested that the former mayor's past conservatism and controversial comments make him a weak candidate against Mr Trump, charging that Mr Bloomberg, "with all his money, will not create the kind of excitement and energy we need" to beat the sitting president. A stunning 14th century medieval chapel gas been uncovered in County Durham, 370 years after it was destroyed in the wake of the First English Civil War. Part of Auckland Castle, the remains of the long lost place of worship Bek's Chapel were uncovered with the help of staff and students from Durham University. Experts believe that the chapel would have been stunning to behold in its heyday featuring a timber ceiling and huge pillars with decorated stonework. The exact location of the chapel had remained a mystery since it was demolished in the 1650s despite it having been larger than the king's own chapel in Westminster. In fact, some of the pieces of carved stone making up the two-storey structure were as heavy as a small car, researchers said. Scroll down for video A stunning 14th century medieval chapel gas been uncovered in County Durham, 370 years after it was destroyed in the wake of the First English Civil War. Pictured, an artist's reconstruction of how the chapel may have appeared when it was in use Part of Auckland Castle, the remains of the long lost place of worship Bek's Chapel were uncovered with the help of staff and students from Durham University. Pictured, the chapel dig. A foundation for a column base can be seen in the foreground, with the foundations for the chapel's south wall visible to the right The exact location of the chapel had remained a mystery since it was demolished in the 1650s despite it having been larger than the king's own chapel in Westminster. Pictured, an artist's impression of Auckland Castle in the 14th Century, with the chapel on the left WHO WAS BISHOP ANTHONY BEK? Anthony Bek was the Bishop-Prince of Durham from around 12841310. Born into a family of knights around the year 1245, Bek went on to become one of the most influential men across the whole of Europe. Bek secured the favour of the then Prince Edward later to be King Edward I. He accompanied Edward on Crusade in 1270 and would serve as the King's long-running adviser. He had a retinue of 140 knights. The bishop was known for his bravery, chastity and extravagance. Bek died in London on March 3, 1311, and was buried two months later in Durham. Advertisement The team spent five months carefully unearthing the foundations of the chapel including part of the floor, the buttresses along the sides of the chapel and walls that measured 4.9 feet (1.5 m) thick by 39 feet (12 m) wide and 131 feet (40 m) long. The chapel was built in the early 1300s for Bishop Antony Bek, who was the Prince-Bishop of Durham from around 12841310 and was reportedly both a great warrior and also one of the most influential men in Europe around that time. Experts believe that the grand scale and decorations would have served as a statement to the status of the bishop-prince who held the power to raise armies, mint coinage and even rule in place of the king, Edward I. Bishop Bek had the castle itself built up from an existing 12th century manor house to serve as his main residence thanks to its proximity to his hunting estate. He added the great hall, the castle's defensive walls and the chapel the latter of which was described as being sumptuously constructed and exceedingly good, similar in scale to the size of continental chapels such as Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. However, the castle ultimately fell into the possession of one Sir Arthur Haselrig a leader of the Parliamentary opposition to Charles I in 1646, in the wake of the First English Civil War. Sir Haselrig proceeded to demolish much of the medieval structure including the chapel building a mansion on the site instead. The castle was subsequently rebuilt following the restoration of the monarchy, at which point the former banqueting hall was converted into a replacement chapel. The team spent five months carefully unearthing the foundations of the chapel including part of the floor, the buttresses along the sides of the chapel and walls that measured 4.9 feet (1.5 m) thick by 39 feet (12 m) wide and 131 feet (40 m) long The chapel was built in the early 1300s for Bishop Antony Bek, who was the Prince-Bishop of Durham from around 12841310 and was reportedly both a great warrior and also one of the most influential men in Europe of the time. Pictured, a volunteer works on the chapel floor Experts believe that the grand scale and decorations of the chapel would have served as a statement to the status of the bishop-prince who held the power to raise armies, mint coinage and even rule in place of the king, Edward I. Pictured, archaeologists John Castling (left) and Jamie Armstrong (right) with an intricately carved ceiling boss from the chapel Bishop Bek had the castle itself built up from an existing 12th century manor house to serve as his main residence thanks to its proximity to his hunting estate. Pictured, the dig site by the modern-day castle, which is a Grade I listed historic site 'This is archaeology at its very best,' commented Durham University archaeologist Chris Gerrard. 'Professionals, volunteers and Durham students working together as a team to piece together clues from documents and old illustrations using the very latest survey techniques to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of this huge lost structure.' The volunteers came from the local charity The Auckland Project, which presently owns the castle. Part of Auckland Castle, the remains of the long lost place of worship Bek's Chapel were uncovered with the help of staff and students from Durham University. Pictured, the location of the dig site at Auckland Castle, before excavations took place Bishop Bek's castle ultimately fell into the possession of one Sir Arthur Haselrig a leader of the Parliamentary opposition to Charles I in 1646, in the wake of the First English Civil War. Sir Haselrig proceeded to demolish much of the medieval structure including the chapel building a mansion on the site instead. Pictured, the modern-day castle and the dig site The castle was subsequently rebuilt following the restoration of the monarchy, at which point the former banqueting hall was converted into a replacement chapel. Pictured, a ceiling boss from the chapel, bearing carved ivy and grape designs 'Its difficult to overstate just how significant this building is, built by one of the most powerful Prince Bishops as a statement of his power,' said The Auckland Project's archaeology and social history curator, John Castling. 'Finally discovering the chapel was a fantastic moment for the whole team, which included students from Durham University and volunteers from The Auckland Project.' 'We were all surprised by the sheer scale of the chapel and its great to be able to share the reconstruction image which shows a building that would have stunned visitors, from all walks of life.' Some of the pieces of carved stone making up the two-storey chapel were as heavy as a small car, researchers said. Pictured, a large springer from the top of a column, from the chapel site 'This is archaeology at its very best,' commented Durham University archaeologist Chris Gerrard. Pictured, archaeologists Jamie Armstrong and John Castling at the chapel dig site Pictured, a large dent can be seen here in the original chapel floor. Experts believe that this was caused when the building was demolished, sending a stone from the vaulted ceiling crashing down into the floor below 'We are really looking forward to returning to Auckland [Castle] in June for another season of excavations,' Professor Gerrard added. When the researchers resume their excavations, they hope that they will be able to uncover more of the south side of the building. In the meantime, an exhibition titled Inside Story: Conserving Auckland Castle will open in the castle's Bishop Trevor Gallery on March 4 and run until September 6. When the researchers resume their excavations, they hope that they will be able to uncover more of the south side of the building. Pictured, archaeologist Peter Ryder takes notes on some of the stonework uncovered at the dig site An exhibition titled Inside Story: Conserving Auckland Castle will open in the castle's Bishop Trevor Gallery on March 4 and run until September 6. Pictured, the foundation of a column base can be seen here surrounded by rubble from the demolished chapel Pictured, researchers found the base stone for a buttress cracked in two damage possibly caused during the demolition of the chapel Beneath the stone, what is thought to be a charge hole for gunpowder can be seen File image The Supreme Court's appointment of two interlocutors to persuade the Shaheen Bagh protesters to move to another venue brought a little disappointment to the demonstrators though many of them believe there is finally an avenue to talk to the government about their dissent. Hundreds of people, especially women, have been camping at Shaheen Bagh in News Delhi for over two months in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), blocking an arterial road due to which the city has been facing traffic congestions. A section of the women protesters said the tent put up by them symbolised the venue as their "battleground for justice and equality". They said they were not averse to the idea of moving but first demanded detailed talks with the government on the CAA. "We started our protest on December 15 when the students at Jamia Millia Islamia were beaten up miserably by police. We won't be too happy to move but since it is the court's decision, we will accept it with full respect," said Shaheeda Khan, a resident of Batla House. "However, moving the point of protest won't be a decision accepted by all," she added. Ritu Khosla from the Shaheen Bagh Co-ordination Committee told PTI, "The SC's decision is welcome and we fully accept it. We will be happy to meet the mediators who have been appointed by the apex court. I don't know if the protesters would agree to move. The decision to change the venue of the protest will entirely depend on the joint decision taken by all protesters of Shaheen Bagh." The famous grandmothers or 'dadis' of Shaheen Bagh welcomed the decision saying they now expect genuine mediation with the government. "We have wanted to talk to the government for two months. We tried various times to have a dialogue and marched towards the home minister's house too. However, the police always stopped us. We are ready to talk but there should be a genuine interaction and mediation between us and the government," Sharvari Dadi of Shaheen Bagh said. The Shaheen Bagh protestors had marched towards Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence on February 16 seeking to talk to him about the new citizenship law. They were stopped by Delhi Police midway. The march had included senior citizen women, popularly known as the 'Dabangg Dadis' of Shaheen Bagh. The men at Shaheen Bagh said the SC's decision had brought a small but important victory for the protesters as the Centre will now have to talk to them. "We are happy that at least the SC thought that there should be a dialogue because the government has been avoiding a dialogue. The government may think that removal of the protest point is their victory but the victory is ours because now we will directly talk and bring a solution in rolling back the CAA," Azim Khan, a resident and shop keeper at Shaheen Bagh, said. The Supreme Court on Monday, while hearing a plea against the blockade, appointed senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and advocate Sadhana Ramachandran to mediate with the protesters and persuade them to move their protest to an alternative site where no public place is blocked. The apex court said people have a fundamental right to protest against a law but the blocking of public roads is a matter of concern and there has to be a balancing factor. The top court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni seeking directions to the Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj- Shaheen Bagh stretch, which was blocked by anti-CAA protesters on December 15. China has also established a team of drivers on its side to take over Vietnamese containers. Lao Cais initiative has resulted in 1,500 vehicles passing through the border gate in 10 days. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has praised the initiative and suggested the same method be applied at other border gates. A moon bear was rescued by the Animals Asia foundation in Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh. Fourteen wildlife non-profits have jointly called on Vietnam to scrap wildlife markets to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks, citing other global epidemics linked to wild animals. Leaders of the 14 non-profit nature and wildlife conservation organizations collectively urged the government to "identify and close markets and other locations where illegal wildlife is on sale" in an open letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Sunday. Signatories include the World Wildlife Fund (WFF), Animals Asia Foundation, TRAFFIC, Save Vietnam Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Pan Nature. The statement banks on the brunt the world has borne due to past epidemics caused by other coronavirus strains: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), both linked to wild animals. The SARS outbreak in 2002, which infected over 8,000 people and resulted in 774 deaths across 37 countries, came from a coronavirus sourced from bats through masked palm civets as intermediate host before reaching humans. In 2012, the MERS outbreak infected 2,494 and cost 858 human lives. It also came from another coronavirus passing from dromedary camels to humans. The recent African Swine Fever (ASF) that sweeped rough China, Vietnam and nine other countries and caused severe economic losses, is attributed to wild African pigs. By September 2019, it hit all 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam and led to almost five million pigs being culled. Lastest findings reveal the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) could also originate from bats that pass on the virus to humans through an intermediate host, according to the letter. "The lesson from SARS and now Covid-19 are clear: new viruses will continue to move from wildlife to people while illegal wildlife trade and wildlife consumption continue," the collective said. Research conducted in Vietnam and beyond has shown that coronaviruses exist in wildlife populations and the illegal wildlife trade provides opportunities for these viruses to jump from wildlife to people, according to the statement. The collective acknowledged efforts by Vietnam Administration of Forestry that had sent a directive to provincial authorities on controlling wildlife trade to prevent the spread of coronaviruses in early February, following the PMs directive on preventing and combating the epidemic on January 28. However, the government "should take more concrete action," it said. Besides shutting down wildlife markets, the collective also requests the government to ban restaurants illegally selling wild meat and make it mandatory for all e-commerce platforms, social media, and online newspapers to "sensor and remove all transactions and advertising of illegal wildlife products." WWF has made global calls on countries to close wildlife markets to stop future outbreaks of disease. "We believe only the highest level decision makers can drive the whole government response required to address illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam and as such we should make as many voices on the subject available for consideration as possible," said Dr Ben Rawson, Conservation and Program Development director of WWF-Vietnam. Trinh Le Nguyen, director of Pan Nature, said the statement had garnered positive response on social media. "We hope the government would consider our request and turn it into action, give specific directives to relevant departments to get rid of wildlife trade in Vietnam for good and reduce the risk of spreading disease in future," Nguyen said. Vietnam officially declared the novel coronavirus outbreak an epidemic on February 1 and has confirmed 16 cases of infection. Seven of the patients have since recovered and been discharged. Across the country, the novel coronavirus outbreak has hit tourism, hospitality, retail, and agriculture exports to China. School breaks after the Lunar New Year holiday have been extended three times until late February. As of Monday, the global Covid-19 death toll has climbed to 1,874 and confirmed infections topped 73,000, of whom over 12,000 have recovered. A huge number of passengers have cancelled their trips to stay away from these countries in the vicinity of China where several cases of the virus have been reported. Indigo, Air India and Air Asia are the major aviation companies which provide flights to these countries. BENGALURU: The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID 2019) with its epicentre in China, has led to a drastic dip in the number of travellers from Benglauru International Airport (BIA) to South-East Asian countries particularly Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. A huge number of passengers have cancelled their trips to stay away from these countries in the vicinity of China where several cases of the virus have been reported. Indigo, Air India and Air Asia are the major aviation companies which provide flights to these countries. Vishal Nahar, director of Suraksha Holidays said that there is a dip of about 30 to 40 per cent in bookings to Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Thailand. Tourism arrivals in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China and Macau will take a significant hit as result and are expected to dip by 25 to 30 per cent. Flights from Kolkata and Mumbai to China have been stopped completely. The coronavirus scare has made passengers look to European countries for travel and tourism though it is more expensive, he added. Vishwa Alampur from Makemytrip, Koramangala told Deccan Chronicle that there are absolutely no enquiries pertaining to South-East Asian regions due to the spread of the cornonavirus. Until the fear subsides, it is tough for the tourism sector to pick up inSouth-East Asian region, he said. A High Court jury is due to begin considering its verdict on a damages action by a man who claims he was unlawfully assaulted by gardai during a Shell to Sea protest in Co. Mayo. The protest held on August 20, 2011, was aimed at frustrating the approach to the Shell refinery entrance of a vehicle convoy on the public road at Glenamoy, near Belmullet. A video recording of the protest was shown during Raymond Hanrahans case against the Garda Commissioner and State. Evidence in the three-day case before Mr Justice Max Barrett and a jury concluded today and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday after hearing closing speeches and the judges charge. Mr Hanrahan (aged 50), with an address at Fairhill, Cork, claims he was unlawfully arrested and falsely imprisoned on August 20, 2011, for about three hours before being released after being charged at Belmullet garda station with criminal damage to a Garda jacket. He also alleges malicious prosecution. The claims are denied. The jury will decide the claims of unlawful arrest and false imprisonment and the judge will decide the malicious prosecution claim. In opening the case, Desmond Dockery SC, with Maura McNally SC, for Mr Hanrahan, said his clients District Court conviction for criminal damage to the jacket was overturned by the Circuit Court on appeal in 2012. That happened after the defence queried how it was being claimed the left side of Garda Justin Brownes jacket was ripped when video footage indicated an epaulette was removed from the right side of a jacket, he outlined. Counsel said Garda Browne, who in August 2011 was temporarily stationed at Belmullet garda station from Drumlish garda station, had told the Circuit Court the jacket produced must be the incorrect one and he did not know where the correct one was. Mr Dockery said the Circuit Court judge, following that evidence, allowed Mr Hanrahans appeal against conviction. In his evidence, Mr Hanrahan said his ponytail was gripped from behind and he was pulled to the ground by several gardai at about 1.20pm on August 20, 2011. That happened after he removed an epaulette, containing an identification number, from the right shoulder of the yellow high-vis jacket of a Garda he later knew to be Garda Browne, he said. Garda Browne had earlier pushed him roughly, almost causing him to fall on top of another protester, and he wanted to get his number for the purpose of making a complaint, he said. He did not know the epaulette was detachable, had touched it with his thumb and forefinger to see the Garda number more clearly and had not torn or damaged the jacket, he said. In cross-examination by Colm Smyth SC, Mr Hanrahan denied he was not ill-treated by gardai. He agreed he did not make a complaint of injury in Belmullet garda station and said he adopted a policy of saying no comment to questions from the member in charge of the station. He disagreed with counsel the task of gardai at the Shell protests was to keep the peace. In his evidence, Garda Browne said an epaulette was forcibly removed by Mr Hanrahan from his high vis jacket, he had gone after Mr Hanrahan to recover it, arrested Mr Hanrahan for the offence of criminal damage and cautioned him. In cross-examination, he agreed the high vis jacket is no longer available and he had not followed the chain of custody rules concerning evidence. He denied suggestions he had pushed back and assaulted Mr Hanrahan using excessive force and had no reasonable suspicion for arresting him on a criminal damage charge. His concern was to keep people from breaching the Garda cordon and out of the path of an oncoming tractor and this was a frantic incident which had to be dealt with in split seconds. The jury has also heard evidence from another protester and from a number of gardai. The simplest way to benefit from a rising market is to buy an index fund. When you buy individual stocks, you can make higher profits, but you also face the risk of under-performance. That downside risk was realized by China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings Limited (HKG:1728) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 46%. That falls noticeably short of the market return of around 0.7%. At least the damage isn't so bad if you look at the last three years, since the stock is down 15% in that time. Unfortunately the share price momentum is still quite negative, with prices down 10% in thirty days. However, we note the price may have been impacted by the broader market, which is down 4.8% in the same time period. Check out our latest analysis for China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Unhappily, China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings had to report a 32% decline in EPS over the last year. The share price decline of 46% is actually more than the EPS drop. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of EPS growth, the market seems to be more cautious about the stock. The P/E ratio of 5.29 also points to the negative market sentiment. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). SEHK:1728 Past and Future Earnings, February 17th 2020 It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings the TSR over the last year was -42%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings shareholders are down 42% for the year (even including dividends) , but the market itself is up 0.7%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6.7% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for China ZhengTong Auto Services Holdings (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Democratic frontrunner Bernie Sanders has thunderously championed his universal healthcare plan Medicare for All with the personal support of the woman who helped him write the damn bill. In front of a large, raucous crowd south of Seattle, the senator said healthcare was a human right, not a privilege. For much of his speech, his words were drowned out by the cheers and roars of his supporters. During debates with other Democrats seeking to become the nominee to take on Donald Trump in November, the Vermont senator has several times asserted his expertise on universal health care by declaring: I wrote the damn bill. In truth he only wrote the Senate version of such a proposal. The legislation introduced in the House of Representatives was written by congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who has endorsed Mr Sanders and appeared with him in Tacoma on Monday night. Im proud to be the person, along with Bernie Sanders, who sponsored Medicare for All, said Ms Jayapal, a Democrat who represents Washingtons 7th congressional district, located 40 miles to the north. [And] tuition for all. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters When he took the stage at the Tacoma Dome, where 17,000 people were said to have gathered to see him, Mr Sanders drew attention to many of the issues he has made central to his campaign addressing inequality, combating climate change, working towards criminal justice reform. He also dedicated considerable time on his vow to pass universal healthcare if he was elected president, an issue that could help propel him into the White House, or derail him if voters consider it too progressive. No issue has acted more clearly as a marker for the different lanes of the Democratic Party. Elizabeth Warren initially supported Medicare for All, before tweaking her position to allow consumers to stay on a private plan during a three-year transition plan. Bernie Sanders responds to New Hampshire victory Pete Buttigieg supports Medicare for those who want it, while Joe Biden would like to see existing coverage remnants of the Affordable Care Act he worked with Barack Obama to pass expanded and improved. Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege, said the 78-year-old democratic socialist. It is insane we spend twice as much on healthcare per person as Canada and any other [country] on Earth. He added: Despite all of that we have 87 million people, some of them who are here tonight, who are uninsured or under-insured. We have 30,000 people who die every year because they dont get to a doctor on time. Among those who had come to see Mr Sanders were Jessica Livingstone, 36, a nanny from Seattle, who said she had to pay $400 a month for her health insurance. She had supported Mr Sanders four years ago, when she claims the nomination was unfairly denied to him by the Democratic National Committee, elements of which had favoured Hillary Clinton. Ive been a a big Bernie supporter since 2016, she said. I think billionaires have too much money. Another supporter, Andrea Gamble, 53, an accountant, said she supported many of the senators policies. Asked if he could win the nomination and defeat Mr Trump, she said: I think people will put him over. People are more important than money. Mr Sanders appearance in Washington state, his first in the 2020 campaign, comes on the back of a virtual tie in Iowa with Mr Buttigieg, and a narrow victory over the former South Bend mayor in New Hampshire. In Nevada, the next state to vote and which holds its caucus on Saturday, Mr Sanders leads a poll published by Data for Change with 35 points, Ms Warren, 16, Mr Buttigieg on 15, and Mr Biden on 14. Donald Trump is a fraud. He sold out the working families of this country who he promised to defend, said Mr Sanders. He said that everyone would have healthcare, and yet he took 32 million people off the healthcare they had. Afghanistan's election authorities have declared incumbent President Ashraf Ghani the winner of last year's polls, but his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, has contested the final official results. The country's Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on February 18 that final official results from the September 28 presidential election show incumbent President Ashraf Ghani has been elected to a second five-year term with 50.64 percent of the vote. By winning more than 50 percent of the vote, he has avoided a second-round runoff ballot. The results come nearly five months after the election due to a lengthy recount of the ballots that was launched after Ghani's main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, raised allegations of fraud in the vote-counting process. Abdullah, who has been serving as Afghanistan's chief executive officer as part of a national unity government, took second place with 39.52 percent of the vote, according to the IEC. However, he later in the day contested the final official results and declared victory, vowing to form "an all-inclusive government." After announcing the results, which show Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one of Afghanistan's most notorious former warlords, finishing in a distant third place with 3.85 percent of the vote, IEC head Hawa Alam Nuristani said: "May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan. I also pray that peace comes to our country." Ghanis spokesman Daud Sultanzoy told RFE/RL that "the [electoral] system worked well." "Unfortunately, the pointless delay [in the announcement of the results] due to meaningless interferences put the Afghan people on hold and made them worry," he added. Abdullah's campaign spokesman Faraidoon Khwazoon said the results announced by the IEC have "no legitimacy." "This announcement is unacceptable," Khwazoon tod RFE/RL. "We stand against it." The election was mired by a record low turnout and bickering between Ghani and Abdullah during the campaign. The official turnout was 1.8 million votes out of about 9 million eligible voters. The final official results were delayed by months while election officials launched a ballot recount -- including recounts in provinces where Abdullah's supporters had stopped the process for almost a month. By winning more than 50 percent of the vote, Ghani has avoided a second-round runoff. Widespread allegations of fraud in Afghanistan's 2014 presidential election led to a political crisis between the top candidates, Ghani and Abdullah. That crisis was resolved by a U.S.-brokered power-sharing agreement that created a fragile national unity government. Under that deal, Ghani became president while a new office of chief executive officer was created for Abdullah. Steven Foster, CEO, Axiom Prepaid Holdings explains the valuable branding benefits of his company's White Label Program. Brand awareness drives buyer decisions and boosts customer loyalty. Factor in the projected continuing growth of the prepaid card market through at least 2023, and its easy to see why having ones name and logo front and center on a physical prepaid card or app is valuable." When Axiom Prepaid Holdings launched its White Label prepaid card program last year, its primary goal was to help its fintech clients capitalize on the popularity of prepaid cards to attract and retain customers. According to company executives, prepaid cards had already begun to take hold with its clients that wanted to offer their own prepaid solutions for added revenue - but the branding value was being overlooked. Brand awareness drives buyer decisions when they are choosing between merchants and it boosts customer loyalty. Factor in the projected continuing growth of the prepaid card market through at least 2023, and its easy to see why having ones name and logo front and center on a physical prepaid card or app is valuable, said Steven Foster, CEO, Axiom Prepaid Holdings - a provider of 100 percent turnkey payment solutions for consumers and businesses. Axiom creates and administers its white label Visa and Mastercard programs per the custom specs of each client and ensures all security, compliance and regulatory considerations are addressed. Clients chose the card or app design, fee structure, fund distribution channel and card features that work for their brand. The cards can be used by clients to pay commissions and distribute compensation to affiliates, customers and agents, and offer an alternative to traditional corporate payroll programs and investment advisory services. The data collected via the white label program can also help clients to assess customer behaviors and adapt the program as needed. Axioms cards are accepted worldwide at millions of ATMs and merchant locations and include rich features and functions, a graphically appealing interface, speed, and top-of-the-line security. They can be loaded within the app or via the website; and incorporate features like peer-to-peer transfers, spend tracking, multi-currency options, microloans, credit reports and a rewards program. Fraud and theft protection and around-the-clock customer service come standard. Reports show that the estimated average revenue jump attributed to presenting ones brand consistently is 23 percent. So, it stands to reason that adding in white label prepaid cards to a businesss marketing toolkit just makes good business sense, added Foster. Axiom is seeing the positive return that our white label program is bringing to clients. We plan to continually adapt our program to ensure that clients reap all of the brand building benefits associated with white labeling. About Axiom Prepaid Holdings: Axiom Prepaid Holdings was born of the desire of two entrepreneurial-minded banking industry veterans to turn the prepaid card model upside down. To make banking simple. To give consumers and businesses around the globe access to innovative, easy-to-use, digitally driven, fun, flexible and secure products and services. Today, Axiom has 9 offices and conducts business in 20 countries. Every day, the Axiom team strives to create 100% turnkey solutions to help cardholders gain economic freedoms and help businesses achieve growth and success. To learn more about Axiom Prepaid Holdings, please visit: http://www.axiompph.com. A hospital in China has been accused of forcing its female medics to shave off their hair to show their determination to fight the novel coronavirus before being sent to Wuhan to treat patients. Trending footage shows around a dozen nurses having their long locks shorn at a send-off ceremony and many of them can be seen having tears in their eyes. The clip sparked an uproar among web users, with many of them criticising the hospital's requirement. The hospital later claimed that all of the workers had volunteered to go completely bald as a way to prevent infection. Footage released by Chinese newspaper Gansu Daily shows female medics crying when hairdressers shaved off their hair before they are sent to work in coronavirus epicentre Wuhan Fifteen female medical workers from Gansu Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital were sent to Wuhan to work on Saturday and it is said 14 of them ended up have their heads shaven The video shows some nurses appearing reluctant while having their hair shorn by a team of hairdressers. A few were pictured crying during and after the process in Lanzhou, Gansu Controversy began when local newspaper Gansu Daily uploaded the footage in question to its social media account on Saturday. Fifteen female medical workers from Gansu Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital are seen getting ready to go to Wuhan in the clip and it is said 14 of them ended up have their heads shaven. They were scheduled to leave the city of Lanzhou, which is the provincial capital of Gansu, the same afternoon. The video shows some medics appearing reluctant while having their hair cut by a team of hairdressers. A few were pictured crying during and after the process. Some social media users claimed that the hospital was using the ceremony as an opportunity to gain attention from media. One such comment said it was unacceptable for the management to 'force others to sacrifice in order to promote the spirit of devotion'. Another questioned: 'Is this necessary? They could have bound [their hair] or had short hair.' The picture shows some female medics showing off their long hair before the send-off event The picture shows the workers expressing their determination after having their head shaven The hospital denied the accusation that they had forced their employees to shave their heads, claiming all nurses had chosen to go bald out of their own will and that it was a 'common practice' among medics. A spokesperson from Gansu Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital told Red Star News yesterday: 'Many web users don't know the situation, but for medical workers this is a common thing and can be observed in many places in the country. 'The most important thing is that [going bald] could prevent infection. Also, it is easy [for them] to clean.' The newspaper said many medical workers had decided to go to the hairdressers before being flown to Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak. However, one columnist from news outlet Southcn.com argued that it was 'unnecessary' for them to be skinheads. China's National Health Commission has so far sent 21,569 medical workers from around the country in 189 groups to Wuhan to help fight the coronavirus. This photo taken on January 30 shows a doctor wearing a face mask looking at scan results of a patient at a hospital in Wuhan Beijing's People's Liberation Army has also dispatched 2,600 military medics to the ground zero of the epidemic. A doctor is seen putting on a pair of protective glasses in Wuhan The author said that some female medics in Wuhan had indeed helped each other to shorten hair so they didn't have to spend to too much time looking after it, but shaving them off altogether was avoidable. The author wrote: 'Considering those going [to Wuhan] are front-line medical staff, [they] should have enough knowledge to protect themselves [against the virus], therefore they should have the right to choose their hairstyle and be responsible for it. 'If medical workers can do their jobs well with combed hair. Why must they have their hair cut?' China's National Health Commission has so far sent 21,569 medical workers from around the country in 189 groups to Wuhan to help fight the coronavirus, according to Xinhua. Beijing's People's Liberation Army has also dispatched 2,600 military medics to the ground zero of the epidemic, the Chinese state news agency said. Cayman Finance fully supports actions being taken by the Cayman Islands Government to constructively engage with European Union officials with an aim to reverse an EU decision to include the jurisdiction on a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. "The Cayman Islands has had a track record of meeting evolving global standards and that is expected to continue," said Cayman Finance CEO Jude Scott. "As an organisation, we stand ready to work with government, as it sees fit, as it cooperates with the EU to be removed from the list. We anticipate this decision will happen in the not too distant future." Mr Scott noted that the Cayman Islands Government recently introduced modernised legislation that enhanced the oversight of investment funds. This was in response to an evolution in global regulations, primarily driven by the European Union and other global standard setting bodies. "Just as approximately 30 other jurisdictions were removed after a taking the necessary actions, we look forward to the same happening with regard to the Cayman Islands. In the meantime, clients can continue to expect the usual high professional standards from their Cayman service providers that they have always received," Mr Scott added. He noted that as a premier global tax neutral financial hub, Cayman has adopted at least as many global standards for transparency as any G20 country and more, when agreements specific to International Financial Centres (IFCs) and UK Overseas Territories are included. The jurisdiction proactively shares tax information with more than 100 other governments under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Common Reporting Standard. This assists those countries in the collection of taxes, regardless of what their unique tax laws are. Cayman was recently rated by the OECD as largely compliant (the second highest of a six-tier rating) with the international standard for transparency and exchange of information the same rating given to G20 countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and EU member states Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Germany. In 2016, EU member state Italy included the Cayman Islands on a 'white list' of countries that cooperate with facilitating the exchange of tax information. Within the past year, after a review of the Cayman Islands' domestic legal framework that includes economic substance, the OECD found that the Cayman Islands tax neutral regime is not harmful and meets all economic substance requirements. The EU also came to the same conclusion, with the exception of the EU's requirement for investment funds, which the government recently introduced new legislation to address. Cayman Finance is confident that the Cayman Islands Government will take all necessary actions to address any remaining EU concerns in a timely manner to ensure removal from the list at the earliest possible opportunity. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005794/en/ Contacts: Cayman Finance Contact: Ben Meade, Communication Public Relations Manager Cayman Finance The association representing the Cayman Islands Financial Services Industry 345 769 6203 ben.meade@caymanfinance.ky ATLANTA, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle Merchant Partners (Eagle) capped another exceptional year with two exits and an add-on acquisition, highlighting the Atlanta-based private equity firm's successful strategy of focusing on founder-owned, Southeastern companies in the consumer and industrial sectors. The two exits included the sales of Chicken Salad Chick and United PF Partners, which returned more than $260 million to its investors. Chicken Salad Chick was sold to Brentwood Associates in November. Acquired in 2015, Eagle grew Chicken Salad Chick to 137 locations in 16 states. Chicken Salad Chick grew system sales seven-fold and added more than 100 new restaurants during the partnership. In December, American Securities acquired United PF Partners ("United PF"), the largest franchisee within the Planet Fitness system, from an Eagle-led partnership with JLM Financial Partners. United PF grew to more than 1 million members across 168 locations in 14 states. Eagle's portfolio company Recreational Group, a leading provider of residential and commercial surfacing products, acquired Swisstrax, the preeminent supplier of plastic modular tiles used as floor covering in garages, hangars and event spaces. This is the third add-on acquisition made by Recreational Group during Eagle's ownership and the firm continues to look for additional add-on acquisitions of complementary recreational flooring providers. Eagle is led by Partners Stockton Croft and Bill Lundstrom, who have worked together for fourteen years pursuing strategic investment partnerships across the Southeastern U.S. "We are pleased to return over $260 million in sale proceeds to our investors through these two outstanding exits," said Croft. "In 2020, we will continue to seek opportunities to invest with excellent management teams looking for an experienced and strategic financial partner to help grow their companies." Eagle also announced the promotion of Brady Sumner to Vice-President. ABOUT EAGLE MERCHANT PARTNERS Eagle Merchant Partners is an Atlanta, Georgia-based private equity firm focused on investments in Southeastern consumer and industrial companies with unique growth opportunities. For more information, visit eaglemerchantpartners.com. Media Contact Thornton Kennedy 404-210-0363 [email protected] SOURCE Eagle Merchant Partners Related Links eaglemerchantpartners.com Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa thanked his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan for initiating action against those dumping bio-medical and bio-wastes in Karnataka's districts from neighboring state Kerala. In a statement, he said, "First I would like to thank Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan for his prompt reaction and response to initiate legal action against the dumpers of bio-medical and bio-waste in our districts neighboring Kerala." The Karnataka Chief Minister has taken a serious note of the reports in a section of media on alleged dumping of bio-medical waste and bio-waste by people from Kerala in bordering Mysuru, Kodagu and Chamarajnagar districts. "I have directed deputy commissioners of concerned districts, department, and pollution control board to take stock of the situation and check surreptitious activities of individuals and agencies from Kerala who are indulging in this illegal activity. I have also directed the officials to prevent the use of this bio-medical waste by Jaggery units as fuel," Yediyurappa said. He assured that soon this activity will be checked and ended. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 18, 2020] India's mobile market has experienced very strong growth over the last six years Sydney, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on India outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Click here to access the report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Mobile-Infrastructure-Broadband-Operators-Statistics-and-Analyses Indias mobile market dominates the local telecom sector with its large subscriber base and revenue numbers, as well as the huge capital investment by operators. It has continued to be a highly competitive market in which a large number of providers have been battling to increase market share. Indias mobile market has experienced very strong growth over the last six years. The market remains highly competitive, but rather than a focus only on growth in subscribers the market is shifting to value-added. The roll-out of 4G / LTE services is driving significant shift to mobile data services across the country. Particularly strong growth was seen as newcomer Reliance Jio aggressively entered the market, initially with a free data offering. This has seen a sharp drop in ARPU amongst most mobile operators and a sharp loss of subscribers by some operators. The subsequent price war in the mobile sector intensified further and has severely hampered RCOMs business in particular, with its subscriber base nearly entirely wiped out. Slower growth is predicted over the next five years to 2024. The market will be constrained from higher growth due to very strong local competition and an increasingly saturated mobile market. Mobile broadband penetration has grown strongly in India over the past few years, driven by a strong and growing mobile subscriber base and strong adoption of 4G LTE services. Further strong growth is predicted over the few years, driven by further adoption of 4G and soon 5G services particularly as the penetration rate is well below a number of other nations. Uptake of next generation technologies such as Internet-of-things (IoT), and evolving trends such as smart cities, and new devices offering virtual reality experiences will all enhance data usage going forward. Operators will increasingly focus on infrastructure investments such as optical fibre and small cells for expanding 4G coverage and capacity. India has taken initial steps towards the eventual rollout of 5G services. and has announced plans to establish a 5G corridor in New Delhi as part of its testing of the technology. Key developments: India has taken initial steps towards the eventual rollout of 5G services. Authorities approve WhatsApps micro-payment service. 5G spectrum auction jeopardised by high reserve prices. BSNL has partnered with Ciena to conduct field trials of 5G technology. Mobile broadband penetration has grown strongly in India. Companies covered in this report include: Aircel, Bharti Airtel, Quadrant (HFCL), Vodafone Idea, Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJI), Tata Teleservices, Vodafone Essar, Videocon, Reliance, Tata Teleservices, Sistema, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (TNL), Videocon. Table of Contents Market Overview and Analysis Geographic Segments Rural Expansion Mobile Statistics Mobile Statistics and Forecast Mobile Broadband Statistics and Forecast Regulatory Issues Spectrum Overview 5G Spectrum auction 2020 Spectrum auctions 2018 Spectrum auctions 2016 Spectrum auctions 2015 Spectrum Agreements 2016 Spectrum trading rules Mobile Subscriber Verification Interconnection Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Infrastructure 5G 4G / LTE Overview CDMA 3G GSM Other Infrastructure Developments VoLTE Google - Project Loon Major Mobile Operators Subscribers by Operator Merger Activities 2016 2018 Idea - Vodafone merger RCOM / Aircel Merger RCOM / SSTL Merger Telenor / Bharti Airtel merger Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) Overview Network development 3G development 4G/5G Bharti Airtel Overview 3G 4G / LTE Telenor Vodafone Idea Overview 3G 4G / LTE Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) Quadrant Reliance Communications (RCOM) SSTL (Sistema) Aircel Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) TATA Teleservices Vodafone - Historic Overview 3G 4G Network Reach Mobile MVNOs Mobile content and applications M-Commerce Related Reports List of Tables Table 1 Mobile Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2009 2024 Table 2 Historic - Mobile subscribers (GSM and CDMA) 2002 2018 Table 3 Mobile penetration in urban and rural areas 2007; 2009 2019 Table 4 Mobile ARPU (GSM and CDMA) 2005 2018 Table 5 Mobile Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2011 2024 Table 6 GSM ARPU 2003 - 2018 Table 7 CDMA ARPU 2003 2018 Table 8 Mobile subscribers and market share 2019 Table 9 Historic - Mobile subscribers and market share 2017 2018 Table 10 Historic - Mobile subscribers and market share 2017 2018 Table 11 Historic - Mobile operators, subscribers and market share (fixed and wireless) 2016 2017 Table 12 BSNL mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 13 Bharti Airtel mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 14 Bharti Airtel mobile ARPU 2004 - 2005; 2007 2020 Table 15 Historic - Telenor mobile subscribers 2009 - 2017 Table 16 Vodafone Idea - mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 17 Idea Cellular mobile ARPU 2007 2011; 2013 2018 Table 18 MTNL mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 19 Historic - Quadrant mobile subscribers 2012 2017 Table 20 Reliance mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 21 Reliance mobile ARPU 2007 2018 Table 22 Historic - Sistema mobile subscribers 2008 2017 Table 23 Aircel mobile subscribers 2004 2018 Table 24 Reliance Jio mobile subscribers 2017 - 2019 Table 25 Reliance mobile ARPU 2018 Table 26 Tata Teleservices mobile subscribers 2002 2019 Table 27 Vodafone mobile subscribers 2002 2018 Table 28 Vodafone - mobile ARPU 2008 2018 List of Charts Chart 1 Mobile Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2009 2024 Chart 2 Mobile Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2011 - 2024 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 CDMA 3G commercial deployment in India Click here to access the report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Mobile-Infrastructure-Broadband-Operators-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] M editation is vital to help children and teenagers deal with exam stress and social media pressure, an expert has said. Will Williams, founder of Beeja Meditation, has been advising the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on how developing the skill can improve a child's academic performance as well as their general wellbeing. He has been working with 36 education ministers from around the world since last year to introduce the activity into the school day. So far, he has taught more than 1,700 British schoolchildren to meditate. The Beeja Meditation founder said that exams and social media pressures put a heavy load on the nervous system for children and teenagers. / Will Williams/Beeja Meditation Speaking to the Standard, he said exams and social media pressures put a heavy load on the nervous system for children and teenagers. He called meditation "a keystone competency", which is "vital" for resetting the nervous system and creating more connectivity in the brain for "better neuronal coherence". "We have created a world where everything is moving a million miles per hour and there is a huge chasm between what we are biologically able to process and how fast everything is moving," the Beeja Meditation founder said. "Humans are experiencing up to 30 times more stimulation than they were 100 years ago. The brain is overwhelmed by information." Will Williams, founder of Beeja Meditation, says the skill can improve a child's academic performance as well as their general wellbeing. / Will Williams/Beeja Meditation He said this constant over-stimulation, especially in younsters whose brains are still developing, causes "an amping up of fight or flight dynamics, meaning that our pre-frontal cortex is inhibited which makes it more difficult to focus." "It also means children are far more prone to anxiety and having difficulty sleeping, which will then have a corresponding impact on mood and behaviour." "Heightened pressure and stress also inhibit our memory centre - the hippocampus - making it harder to retain and recall information," he said, adding that this is very detrimental to exam performance. Mr Williams said parents and educators must get children's stress levels "back in balance" as they deal with school and exams while often staying up all night glued to screens, which further messes with their sleep. Mr Williams has also worked with Apple, Google and Sony to advise on the benefits of meditation in their workforce. / Will Williams/Beeja Meditation "A child's day consists of waking up, preparing for school, facing all those exams and roaming social media, which adds its own pressures," he said. "Their nervous system is coming under more strain and so meditation gives them a chance to switch off and then they can engage in their work." "Meditating can help children manage their anxiety and get better sleep. It helps them to think differently and it encourages greater creativity within their thinking," he said. "It also helps them reconnect to their humanity to become more compassionate and kind, which is needed in exam environments." To do this, he suggests a "quiet time" is incorporated into the school day or introducing children to breathing and visualisation techniques among other options. Mr Williams cited the Quiet Time programme in the US, which introduces 15 minutes of transcendental meditation into the school day. Three schools in San Francisco joined the programme between 2008 and 2010, and found pupils demonstrated 40 per cent less stress, anxiety and depression as well as a 10 per cent rise in school grades. Asked whether some children might push back against being told to sit still and learn this new skill, Mr Williams said: "If you give children a taste of experiencing meditation, they generally love it and engage with it." Gracie Mansion's New Website, composed by Lounge Lizard https://www.graciemansion.org/ The design approach makes use of artistic style, an intuitive layout, and a side-scrolling landing page that showcases art from exhibits held at the mansion Gracie Mansion Launches New Website Lounge Lizard Worldwide is globally recognized as a top web designer and developer. Best of Breed since 1998, they employ some of the most creative, tech-savvy, and passionate people in the industry which allows them to develop innovative strategies, award-winning web design, and craft creative applications for both startups and established clients in all industries. Lounge Lizard is excited to announce the launch of a new website for Gracie Mansion, the official online site for the home of the sitting mayors of New York City and their families. This new site was designed to help promote increased visitation from native New Yorkers, NYC metro area schools, and tourists. It also needed to provide a variety of information along with delivering useful functionality, all while honoring the rich tradition of the mansion. The design approach makes use of artistic style, an intuitive layout, and a side-scrolling landing page that showcases art from exhibits held at the mansion. White space and effective minimalism were incorporated to offset the color scheme and improve visibility along with navigation. With secondary goals of educating users on the past exhibits, the long history of both Gracie Mansion along with the elected mayors, and the 1st Ladies of Gracie Mansion, navigation and clarity were both important focuses. The responsive design ensures that any site user can quickly and easily find the information they need with a quick tap. An interactive timeline was crafted with rolling animation to take users on a journey through the years. The customized tile layout showcases the current art exhibitions with a focus on image clarity without sacrificing site speed. This new site is reflective of the Gracie Mansion brand as an iconic landmark within the rich history of New York City. Archibald Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York. The Gracie Mansion Conservancy is a private not-for-profit corporation established to preserve, maintain, enhance, and enliven Gracie Mansion. It was founded in 1981 by Mayor Edward I. Koch. The mansion has a storied history in New York, including housing the Museum of the City of New York. It became the mayoral residence in 1942 and was majorly restored during Mayor Michael Bloombergs term. About Lounge Lizard Worldwide Lounge Lizard Worldwide is an award-winning, high-end design boutique specializing in website design and development, digital marketing, mobile app development, UW/UI, and branding. Since 1998, Lounge Lizard has provided a level of expertise and experience that produces results and makes the competition envious. If you would like additional information about the Gracie Mansion website launch or other web/marketing inquiries, please contact: marketing@loungelizard.com https://www.loungelizard.com/ Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Hemlock High School hosted award-winning artist Beacon Light, a hip-hop artist from Grand Rapids. His music varies from hard-hitting 808s and creative wordplay, to poetic lyricism. He openly shares his faith in Christ in his music. Beacon spoke to the students about being the best you can be and to not allow others to define who you are. He shared with the students his personal story and performed many of the award-winning songs from his albums. Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe The man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was under curfew and on bail facing charges at the time of the fatal shooting, a court has heard. The jury in the trial of Aaron Brady (29), who denies murder, yesterday heard evidence of a voluntary statement he gave to gardai 11 days after the killing. Garda Inspector Mark Phillips, who was then a detective sergeant with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Harcourt Square in Dublin, said that a team had been sent to Dundalk to assist the garda inquiry. He agreed with Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that Mr Brady had arrived at Dundalk Garda Station on February 5, 2013, with a solicitor to make a voluntary statement. Insp Phillips also agreed with counsel that Mr Brady was not under arrest and at that stage was not a suspect. The statement was then read out by Mr Grehan to the Central Criminal Court jury. The accused told gardai he had a curfew for around 9pm as part of conditions related to criminal damage and dangerous driving charges he was facing at Dundalk Circuit Court. In his statement, Mr Brady said that when he was 18 or 19 he moved to Australia for four months and later went to the US around the time he turned 20. While there, he worked in Boston with one of his best friends, a man he had known from school, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Mr Brady told gardai that when he returned home after three months he worked with his father, Tony Brady, who had an advertising business. The accused, the court heard, told gardai that he was trying to get money together to pay off compensation in relation to the criminal damage incident. He said he had "3,000 bail up" and hoped to get 1,000 or 2,000 extra. After he finished working with his father, the jury heard, he went on the dole. He also said that he got a claim of around 4,000 from a car accident in Newry, and that he "lived off that". The court heard that at around 2.30am on January 25, Mr Brady said he and his friend went to collect his then 17-year-old girlfriend from a nightclub in Dundalk. In this statement, he said that he had a fight with her because "she was wearing some fella's" hat when she came out of the nightclub. Mr Brady said he then spent the night at a house in Bellurgan with the friend, who he had also worked with in Boston, and they woke up after midday. Mr Brady and this individual then travelled to Tullydonnell at 1pm where they collected another man, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons, the court heard. Food He said they got food along the Carrickmacross to Castleblayney Road and travelled to a closed filling station in Cullaville, Co Armagh, at around 2pm, where they were deciding what they would do for the day. Mr Brady (29), of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of on-duty Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. He has also denied the robbery of around 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Air Force gunsmiths recently completed delivery of a new M4-style carbine designed to break down small enough to fit under most pilot ejection seats. The Air Force Gunsmith Shop has completed delivery of the 2,700 GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon, a 5.56mm carbine that can be quickly assembled in emergency situations, according to a recent Air Force news release. "We were asked to design a stand-off weapon that was capable of hitting a man-size target at 200 meters," Richard Shelton, chief of the Gunsmith Shop, said in the release. "It disconnects at the upper receiver ...... and can be put together within 30 seconds if needed." The $2.6 million weapon program was developed to meet an urgent operational need to increase downed aircrew survivability, the release states. Air Force officials announced the program in June 2018 to give pilots a more capable self-defense weapon if downed in enemy territory. In the past, aviators were armed only with a pistol and maybe a knife for protection. Related: Air Force Crews Get New Rifle for Defense in Case of Crash, Ejection The new Aircrew Self Defense Weapon is based on the M4 Carbine, and weighs under seven pounds. It's designed to fit inside the seat kit of ACES 2 ejection seats, according to the release. The GAU-5A features a quick-connector barrel and handguard assembly that attaches to the upper and lower receiver of the weapon. The M4 carbine also breaks down into two main components. Two pins disconnect the M4's upper receiver from the lower receiver and barrel assembly. GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon is a 5.56mm carbine designed to break down and fit inside a seat kit attached to ejection seats. (U.S. Air Force) The GAU 5As pistol grip is designed to fold back against the collapsible buttstock to save space when stowed. It also features folding front and rear iron sights, replacing the standard M16-style A-frame front sight. The Air Force Gunsmith Shop is part of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Armament Directorate and was formed in 1958. Both military and civilian gunsmiths repair and refurbish all small arms for the Air Force, from pistols to .50 caliber machine guns, according to the release. "The most rewarding part of my job is getting [small arms] through the shop and taking a weapon that has been beat up and heavily used, and returning it to the user practically brand new," Shelton said. ""The other rewarding thing is when we work with the using community to develop specific weapons for a specific Air Force need." The Air Force also announced in 2018 that it will buy 130,000 M18 Army Modular Handgun Systems (MHS) to replace its Cold War-era M9 9mm pistol. The Army awarded Sig Sauer an MHS contract worth up to $580 million in January 2017. The 10-year MHS agreement calls for Sig Sauer to supply the service with full-size M17 and compact M18 versions of its 9mm pistol. The striker-fired MHS pistols can be outfitted with suppressors and come with 17-round and 21-round magazines. There is also an accessory rail for mounting accessories such as weapon lights. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Read More: Air Force Follows Navy in Adopting New Army Sidearm February 18 : Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar is gearing up for the release of 'Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship' with Vicky Kaushal. After having a busy 2019, the actor is all set to welcome an even busier 2020.She has Karan Johar's Takht and in her kitty. The shooting of her new film 'Durgavati' is on the floors. Bhumi Pednekar was seen interacting with the media on Monday in Mumbai at the sidelines of Daboo Ratnani Calender 2020. When asked, what is the extent of pressure she takes while doing bck to back films, on this Bhumi said, "There is pressure for always all the films. Because, my effort is always to give better performance than before." Expressing her views on women centric film, Bhumi siad, "I really feel proud that I was a part of women centric films. I am glad that all my co-actors and colleagues from this generation have taken the step to make such films." Recently the actress was seen attending the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards 2020. As per the reports, co-stars Bhumi Pednekar and Taapsee Pannu won the Critics'. The best Award For Best Actor (Female) for their stellar performances in 'Saandh Ki Aankh'. About the film 'Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship', Zee Studios presents Bhoot, a Dharma Productions Film. The film is directed by Bhanu Pratap Singh is slated to release on 21st February. It also features Vicky Kaushal and Ashutosh Rana. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday (February 18) welcomed the Centre's decision to deport British MP Debbie Abrahams, saying it was necessary as she is a Pakistan proxy known for her relations with Pakistan government at ISI. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack Indias sovereignty must be thwarted, Singhvi tweeted. Every attack on Indias sovereignty must be thwarted: Congress Abhishek Singhvi backs Debbie Abrahams deportationhttps://t.co/ufF3IxHU41 Sent from Hindustan Times Android App. Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020 Singhvi made the statements just a day after his party colleague Shashi Tharoor raised objections over the Centre's move to stop Abraham at the airport. If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldnt the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? Tharoor had said on Monday (February 17). If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldn't the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? https://t.co/vMtcAXCDb9 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 17, 2020 Notably, Abrahams, who chairs a parliamentary group on Kashmir, was stopped from entering India after her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday. Airport officials, however, claimed that Abrahams was informed of her e-visas cancellation well in advance. Abrahams is theLabour Party MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 2011 and is the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Kashmir from 2018. For her part, Abrahams, 59, said that the airport officials failed to provide any reasons for denying her entry. Abrahams returned to the UK in the afternoon. Responding to reports she didnt possess a valid visa, she tweeted: Im sorry but that just is not the reality. A study of gliding animals has challenged the idea that evolutionary innovations - adaptations that bring new abilities and advantages - spur the origin of other new body types and other characteristics in descendent species. The research, undertaken by evolutionary biologists at UNSW Sydney and universities in the US and Spain, examined the key innovation of gliding in two types of gliding animals: 'flying' dragons (family Agamidae) and 'flying' squirrels (family Sciuridae), both common to forests in Southeast Asia. "Gliding Dragons and Flying Squirrels: Diversifying versus Stabilizing Selection on Morphology following the Evolution of an Innovation," published in The American Naturalist 195, no. 2 (February 2020), confirms previous assumptions that gliding animals originated from arboreal ancestors and likely arose as a means of escaping predators some 25-30 million years ago. Lead author Dr. Terry Ord, an evolutionary ecologist with UNSW's Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, says another advantage that gliding brought was the ability to exploit a new three dimensional environment and explore more of the forest than just one tree. "From an evolutionary biologist's perspective, these types of innovation that open up new opportunities are assumed to drive even more adapted diversification," Dr. Ord says. "Suddenly there's all these new microhabitats available offering up new resources and you have new species moving into those particular microhabitats where you would expect them to adapt even more." The evolution of flight in birds, insects and bats is an example where the changes brought about by 'taking to the wing' caused an explosion in diversity. Millions of species of insects, tens of thousands of birds and more than a thousand species of bats developed greatly different shapes, sizes, behaviors and habitats since their ancestors first evolved to fly. But in the case of the gliding animals like the dragons and squirrels, the advantage of gliding has not led to a proliferation of changes to body shapes, sizes and functions. In fact, for the dragons the key innovation of gliding appears to have done the opposite. "In the case of the dragon lizards, gliding appears to be a constraint on subsequent adaptation because of the aerodynamics of having to glide," Dr. Ord says. "Basically the heavier you are, the more difficult it is to glide. So there is a constraint on general body size and shape - meaning a halt to the evolution of longer limbs and bigger heads, for example, that would normally reflect adaptation to particular microhabitats. But instead, the dragons have to glide, and that means limiting their body sizes to stay small and aerodynamic - which has what we call stabilizing selection on their bodies." Interestingly, some species of flying dragons actually did go on to evolve larger bodies, at the expense of their gliding abilities. To offset their poor gliding, they had to develop new behaviors such as flattening their bodies against the tree trunk to blend in with the bark, Dr. Ord says. "So they're almost regressing from that gliding lifestyle. But in this case, the reason why they're changing their body size is to overcome competition with other lizards." There were no such bodily constraints with squirrels, due to key differences in the gliding membranes. Whereas the ribs of the dragon lizards evolved to extend laterally as the 'wings' of the animals, the squirrels' gliding membrane developed as a flap of skin joining their wrists to their ankles. "So squirrels just evolve longer limbs which means the size of the membrane increases proportionally to the longer limbs, enabling somewhat bigger bodied animals to glide without sacrificing too much ability," says Dr. Ord. But despite squirrel body sizes not being as constrained, the body sizes and characteristics of gliding squirrels are no more diverse than non-gliding squirrels. "So again the expectation of a key innovation driving the evolution of greater diversity was thwarted in the case of gliding squirrels." Dr. Ord says his research has implications for our understanding of the way key innovations and competition come into play in evolution. "Evolutionary innovations are evocative because they're often amazing curiosities. And perhaps this has led us to infer they're also key in opening the door to even more adaptation. But it seems that interactions with other organisms - competition for resources - is a far more powerful force for generating adaptive diversity," he says. Looking ahead, Dr. Ord will be following up with research into the dragon lizards to find out how they use another evolutionary innovation, their dewlaps - the colorful flap of skin that hangs beneath their jaws - to communicate. ### Safaricom is currently in talks with a number of possible backers to help it push into the newly-liberalised Ethiopian market. Speaking to the Business Daily newspaper, Safaricoms interim CEO Michael Joseph said that the operator anticipated the Ethiopian licence fee and initial network deployment expenditure to exceed KES100 billion ($989.5 million). Last year, Kenyan media speculated that Safaricom could seek to enter the Ethiopian market by lodging a bid together with its largest private shareholder Vodacom Group. It now seems that the operator is now looking to form a wider consortium of backers, although Joseph did not identify any of the parties with which Safaricom is holding talks. After years of Ethio Telecom holding an effective monopoly, the countrys government is now selling a stake in the operator and making two new operating licences available for bids possibly as early as Q1 2020. Several international groups have expressed interest in entering the Ethiopian market subject to the licence terms. When Ethiopias government first announced that it would open up the market, MTN Group stated that it would be eager to acquire a licence, while more recently Orange and Vodacom have made their intentions clear. California Department of Insurance detectives arrested Jonathan Quezada, 28, on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and workers compensation insurance fraud after he allegedly falsified an insurance claim to receive unearned workers compensation benefits costing Californians over $22,000. Quezada was working as a cook at an IHOP in La Mesa when he fractured his clavicle. He filed a workers comp claim with his employer stating he got hurt at work while performing his normal job duties and told his employer and insurance representatives that he was cleaning grill grates in the IHOP kitchen when he slipped and fell. After receiving a referral from the Preferred Employers Insurance Co., the CDI launched an investigation which revealed Quezada lied about the circumstances of his injury. Surveillance video reportedly showed he was injured at work, but that his injury was a result of play wrestling with a coworker, not performing his normal job duties as he claimed. Quezadas allegedly false statements allowed him to receive workers compensation benefits he was not entitled to, which cost Californians $22,781. Quezada was arrested on Feb. 12, and was booked at the Sacramento County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000. The San Diego District Attorneys Office is prosecuting this case. Topics California Workers' Compensation Fraud Talent DANIA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Price Mattress is South Florida's number one source for brand name mattresses at affordable prices. Through the end of February, their Presidents Day mattress sale makes their brand name bed sets more affordable than usual. Customers should expect a stress free shopping experience with over 1000 name brand mattresses to choose from in stock. Each of those mattresses is discounted up to 70% off during the Presidents Day sale. Price Mattress pride themselves on their outstanding customer service and their affordable prices. Shoppers visiting their showroom do not have to worry about pushy sales people and buying the wrong mattress for their lifestyle. The knowledgeable team at Price Mattress is not paid on commission, so they don't feel pressure to make a sale and move on to the next customer. 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SOURCE 1/2 Price Mattress of Dania Beach and Cooper City Related Links https://954beds.com A Sinn Fein poster calling for Irish unity on the N3 road outside Co Cavan near the border with Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) Surveys of public opinion lead to cherry-picking of the results according to political preferences. Let me save partisans the bother and view the study from differing perspectives. The most important finding is on the likely outcome of a border poll, given that, via the Good Friday Agreement, public opinion informs whether the Secretary of State calls one. The survey indicates that republicans still have much work to do to persuade most voters to back Irish unity. Unionists might be relieved by the raw figures. That only 29% of respondents say they would vote for a united Ireland in a border poll tomorrow, against 52% saying they would vote for Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK, will provide a boost. Take out the 'don't knows' and the figures break down at 65% to 35% in favour of Northern Ireland's current constitutional position. The data offers an antidote to excitable recent commentary concerning the imminence of Irish unity. From a wildly different perspective, hardline republicans might claim vindication in dissenting from Sinn Fein's acceptance of the northern consent principle. Yet the Sinn Fein leadership has not claimed a united Ireland is inevitable. The party's message, reinforced by recent success in the South, is that unity is to be striven for and preparations got underway. Detailed consideration of the data offers more hope to republicans. First, only a bare majority of Northern Ireland's citizens (52%) support its maintenance, hardly a resounding endorsement of a political entity. Second, there has been a 2% rise in support for Irish unification since the 2017 election. This looks modest but that rate of increase every 2.5 years would produce a majority for a united Ireland within two decades. The pro-unity figure of 29% is the highest so far from an interview-based, non-self-selecting survey. Third, nearly 17% of respondents said they didn't know how they would vote, giving lots of electors to work upon. Fourth, when the results include only those who voted in the 2019 election - people we might reasonably assume would also show up on referendum day - things are tighter: 61% back Northern Ireland staying in the UK, against 39% wanting Irish unity. Among 2019 voters, Sinn Fein needs to convert 12 in every 100 voters to back unity to bridge that 24-point gap. Those identifying as neither unionist nor nationalist need to be won over, as only 27% would back a united Ireland. That's a big chunk (40%) of the electorate. Beyond a border poll, the survey shows some broad agreement but continuing electoral polarisation. Overwhelming support for restoration of the Assembly and Executive, with only 2% of electors dissenting, is evident. The top three election issues were Brexit, the NHS and the constitution, although DUP voters put the NHS first, and Sinn Fein voters Brexit. There is agreement on minimising Brexit fallout. Most DUP voters still back EU withdrawal but do not like possible consequences. Less than one-third view checks on goods travelling across the border on the island of Ireland as acceptable. Only one in five DUP voters accept the trade-off, checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Even though this might represent an economic united Ireland, only one in three Sinn Fein voters back such arrangements. The election began with rows about pacts. For all the noise, only 22% of DUP voters and 12% of UUP backers are opposed, while a mere 29% of Sinn Fein and 21% of SDLP voters reject pan-nationalist pacts. Only a minority of supporters of any of the five main parties support British or Irish political parties standing in the North. Has electoral spring arrived? No chance. The percentage of Catholics saying they voted DUP or UUP was zero per cent. Protestants voting Sinn Fein or SDLP? 0.2%. What about Alliance's rise? Of those declaring "no religion", support for Alliance was almost double that for any other party. The grim hostility shows in attitudes to party leaders. Asked to rate Arlene Foster on a zero (bad) to 10 (good) scale, more than half (56%) of Sinn Fein voters gave the DUP the lowest possible ranking and just 2% rated her at six or above. Then again, 40% of those same voters gave UUP leader Steve Aiken zero - and on election day the poor bloke had only been in the job for 33 days. SDLP voters are hardly more generous: 91% rate Foster and Aiken between zero and five out of 10. On the other side, three-quarters of DUP supporters rate Mrs Foster at eight or above and the same amount place Michelle O'Neill at two or below. Only 1% of unionist voters give Sinn Fein's Northern leader a positive rating (six or above). SDLP leader Colum Eastwood must feel positively loved in comparison, 9% of Unionist voters rating him at six or above. There is no consensus on some issues now under Assembly control. Only 8% of DUP and UUP voters think there should be an Irish Language Act. Just 3% of Sinn Fein and SDLP voters believe there should not. Good luck to the new commissioner. On abortion, neither the liberal Westminster provisions introduced last year permitting abortion up to 28 weeks, nor the very restrictive previous legislation, command majority support. Same-sex marriage, however, is in the rear-view mirror as an issue, with more supporters of all the main parties believing legalisation was right than think it wrong. It is constitutional, not marital, unions where arguments will continue. The new Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, will not be calling a border poll during his tenure. Given a Northern Ireland Secretary has an average shelf-life of 21 months - less if they do a good job - that is no surprise. Eventually, one of his successors will call a referendum. It probably will not be the last, though. Jon Tonge is Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool and Principal Investigator of the 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Northern Ireland election surveys For many teachers, high-stakes testing is a major source of frustrationbut theyre not necessarily quitting over it. A new study found that eliminating state testing did not have an effect on overall teacher turnover and attrition. Early-career teachers, however, are less likely to leave the profession when there are fewer required tests. The working paper , which was published by the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, analyzed the effects of changes in mandated state testing in Georgia. For eight years, all students in grades 1 through 8 were tested in reading, English/language arts, and math, and students in grades 3-8 were also tested in science and social studies. But starting in 2011, the state began to scale back the number of required end-of-year tests. Now, students in grades 3 through 8 are tested in English/language arts and math, and only students in grades 5 and 8 are tested in science and social studies. The changes gave researchers a chance to find out: Does getting rid of testing make teachers less likely to change schools or quit? You hear a lot of talk about how teachers are leaving the profession because of high-stakes testing and the related stress and time spent on so-called teaching to the test, said Tim Sass, an author of the study and a professor at Georgia State University. But, he said, that doesnt seem to be the case. The researchers compared changes in mobility over time in grades and subjects that discontinued testing with grades and subjects that are always tested. They found that the removal of statewide tests had no effect on the likelihood of changing schools within a district, moving between districts, or quitting altogether. There is one meaningful exception: Teachers with fewer than five years of experience were less likely to leave the profession when there are fewer testing requirements. For new teachers, the likelihood of leaving fell from 14 to 13 percentage points for teachers in grades 1 and 2, and from 14 to 11 percentage points in grades 6 and 7, the study found. For early-career teachers, they probably arent aware of exactly how testing plays out before they enter a classroom, Sass said, adding that veteran teachers may also be less susceptible to changing policies. On average, early-career teachers are much more mobile than veteran teachers, and also are more likely to leave the profession overall. Teacher Dissatisfaction Teachers have long expressed frustration over state-mandated standardized testing. According to the 2019 national PDK poll , more than half of teachers said they would vote to strike for more say in school standards, testing, and curriculum. (More than 80 percent of K-12 parents said they would support teachers who went on strike over these issues.) But only 1 percent of teachers pointed to testing requirements as a reason they have considered leaving the profession. Even so, federal data from 2012-13 found that 55 percent of teachers who leave the profession are doing so, at least in part, because theyre dissatisfied. And among those who cited dissatisfaction as a reason for leaving, 25 percent were referring to testing and accountability measures. A 2015 report from the Georgia Department of Education found that teachers ranked the number and emphasis of mandated tests as the most prominent reason why teachers would leave . What people say and what they do are not always the same thing, Sass said. People may express dissatisfaction, but that doesnt necessarily mean they end up quitting. ... It could very well be the case that a lot of teachers are feeling stressed and burned out, but [thats] not showing up in large reasons to actually leave the profession. The study comes as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has announced a plan to further cut down on standardized testing by eliminating four high school tests, and the 5th grade social studies test. The move is supported by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, the largest teachers group in the state. When you look at the big picture, its clear Georgia simply tests too much, Kemp said, according to the Associated Press . On test days its making students physically sick because theyre worried they will not do well. Sass said his study did not look at the effects of reducing testing on student outcomes. Hes also interested in doing further research on whether more extensive state testing requirements reduces instructional time. There could be other reasons why you want to alter the testing regime, he said. Still, further reducing tests is unlikely to make a significant dent on the outflow of teachers. Image via Getty (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines will allow citizens employed in Hong Kong and Macau to return to their jobs, partially lifting a ban imposed earlier this month to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. A government task force decided to exempt those working in Hong Kong and Macau from the travel ban subject to certain formalities, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said on his Twitter account on Tuesday. The government also lifted on Feb. 14 a days-old travel ban on Taiwan. Filipino workers returning to Hong Kong and Macau will have to make a written declaration that they know the risks of going back, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a televised briefing. The decision will allow thousands of migrant workers stranded in the Philippines to return to their jobs abroad. The Southeast Asian nations overseas workers contribute more than $30 billion in remittances comprising about 9% of the countrys gross domestic product. Virus Travel Ban Keeps Thousands of Maids From Hong Kong Jobs (2) Some 11% of Hong Kong households employ a domestic worker, a ratio that jumps to 30% among married couples with children and 43% when both parents work. The government also credits the availability of foreign domestic workers for the rising labor force participation rate for female citizens. (Updates with presidents spokesman comments in 3rd paragraph, more details in last paragraph) To contact the reporter on this story: Andreo Calonzo in Manila at acalonzo1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Muneeza Naqvi For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and Shivam Nair will co-direct "Special Ops", an action-packed spy thriller series to be mounted on international scale. Hotstar Specials and Pandey have come together for the show, which marks the digital debut of the director. Based on events of national significance spanning a period of 19 years, the big-scale production will be shot across five countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Jordan. "We have been at the forefront of creating genre-defining content and are excited to collaborate with Hotstar Specials to produce our first digital series 'Special Ops'. With a special attention to writing, we have tried to recreate real-life events that have somewhere affected our lives over the past few years," Pandey said in a statement. "We're certain that audiences will find themselves gripped by the plot and will follow the intriguing story till the end," the "Special 26" director added. The show is produced by Pandey and Shital Bhatia for Friday Storytellers, the digital arm of Friday Filmworks. The thriller, which will feature an accomplished cast and crew, has been written by Pandey, Deepak Kingrani and Benazir Ali Fida. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite receiving support from Turkey and Malaysia, it seems that Pakistan will continue to be grey-listed by the global terror financing watchdog. It will need at least three votes to make sure it is not put on the Black List; to move to the White List, it would need 10 more up-votes. Sources: Pakistan to remain in Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. Turkey and Malaysia supported Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/M0z0Ppt7rY ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2020 The decision that can serve as a major setback for Islamabad was taken at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review meeting held on February 18. A week-long meet has been organised in Paris to decide whether to put Pakistan in the Grey List or in the Black List. The decision is made after analysing if a country is following global standards set to tackle problems such as terror financing. Though the decision would not be announced formally until February 21, sources have revealed that the chances of Pakistan redeeming itself seems dim. The neighbouring nation, however, was hoping otherwise in light of the action it had taken against terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed. FATF had put Pakistan on the Grey List for the first time in June 2018 and directed the country to adhere to a prescribed plan of action to ensure it is not blacklisted like North Korea and Iran. India has been constantly urging the global watchdog to take a stronger stand against Pakistan, alleging it aids terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which launch attacks on Indian soil. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been refuting all such claims to make sure it gets financial aids from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and salvage its precarious fiscal state. Two Singaporeans returning home from the MS Westerdam cruise ship have been put in quarantine while 27 Indonesian crew members are back home in healthy condition, health officials said as stranded passengers return home amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Philippines is reportedly working on evacuating about 500 Filipinos aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess ship where dozens of new infections have surfaced almost daily. The quarantine is set to expire tomorrow but it was unclear whether Japan would extend it. About 300 Americans have already been evacuated from the ship, which was carrying 3,700 people, and are being quarantined in the United States. Fourteen were infected. Australians aboard the Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama are also pleading for Canberra to rescue them. Around 200 Australians boarded the vessel and at least 24 are among the infected. In Malaysia, Dutch citizens from the MS Westerdam cruise ship are reportedly stranded in Kuala Lumpur because some had been in contact with an infected American passenger. Two others denied were prevented from boarding an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight. Singapore reported two more cases yesterday involving Singaporeans: a 1-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man. The boy was among the second group of Singaporeans airlifted Feb. 9 from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began. The man is reported to be the second DBS bank employee and a close contact of the 50th case, which led to the evacuation of 300 employees from the banks offices in the Marina Bay Financial Center Tower 3. Singapore had recorded 77 cases of the infection as of Tuesday morning, 24 of which have recovered and been discharged. Two of the passengers are Singaporeans and are being quarantined in the city-state. The country is also bracing for more infections as more people from China; including Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long term work pass holders; are set to return to the city-state in the coming weeks to resume work or school. All of them will have to adhere to a stay-home notice introduced by the government yesterday, which requires all of them to stay at home at all times. They cannot even step out to go to the shops or buy food. Story continues Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said earlier this month there are about 30,000 Chinese work pass holders who have yet to return to Singapore from the Chinese New Year break. The two Singaporeans from the MS Westerdam cruise ship have been isolated at a government quarantine facility. Malaysia The Malaysian man who contracted the disease after attending the Grand Hyatt business meeting in Singapore has been discharged from hospital, Malaysia announced yesterday. The 41-year-old man tested positive for the virus Feb. 3 and left the Sungai Buloh hospital after making a full recovery. His mother-in-law and sister, who have been infected, are still ill. Dutch citizens from the MS Westerdam cruise ship are reportedly stranded in Malaysia after several of them came into contact with the infected American woman. Two of the Dutch citizens were turned away from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight. Thailand Another person has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease in Thailand, bringing the countrys tally to 35. The latest patient was a 60-year-old Chinese woman related to a family that saw prior instances of infection. Of all confirmed cases, 15 have been discharged from hospitals. Thailand has also enhanced screening of passengers arriving by air from Singapore and Japan, where the most infections have been recorded outside China. Thailand on Monday also barred non-Thais from the MS Westerdam cruise ship, which the kingdom had turned away last week before it was allowed to dock in Cambodia. There were 21 Thais aboard the vessel and they were to be quarantined upon returning home. Indonesia Indonesian Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto yesterday played down fears that the disease could be spread through travelers arriving from Singapore, where the number of infections is more than 70. The minister assured Indonesians, saying that both countries have a good relationship and that Singapore would inform Indonesia of any infections that may have entered the latters country. He also reminded the people that Singapore was not the epicenter of the outbreak but rather the Chinese city of Wuhan. He has also said the archipelago is shielded from infection by the power of prayer. Twenty-seven Indonesians working as crew members aboard the ship have returned home and are healthy Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said yesterday. He added that there were 362 Indonesians working on the vessel. Only 27 returned because the rest were still contracted to work. Manila The Philippines is seeing a slower rate of hospital admissions related to the COVID-19 infections. More than 400 cases that were probed have tested negative for the virus while another 22 were awaiting their results. The 49 Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan have also shown no signs of infection. Abroad, at least 28 Filipinos have been infected as of Tuesday morning. They include the 27 people aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and one in the United Arab Emirates. The Philippines is also considering lifting its travel ban for Hong Kong and Macao. Hong Kong Four more people were infected with the coronavirus in Hong Kong, bringing the citys tally to 61. The new patients are a Filipino domestic worker, a 69-year-old man, that mans colleague and the wife of an infected engineer. Five Hospital Authority staff had attended a meeting at its headquarters earlier this month with two engineers who were later diagnosed with the disease. The engineers, 54 and 45, work for an architecture firm and attended the same meetings earlier this month. Other employees are under medical surveillance but not quarantined or isolated as the two meetings were brief and attendees wore masks, Hospital Authority chief manager Lau Ka-hin told reporters yesterday. Meanwhile, the value of toilet paper rolls and face masks in Hong Kong has definitely shot up, based on rising thefts involving the paper products. Three men reportedly stole 600 toilet paper rolls early Monday morning while an Indonesian domestic worker was jailed four weeks after stealing 5,500 face masks. Related: 69-year-old man tests positive for coronavirus, bringing total number of cases to 58 Indonesian domestic worker jailed for 4 weeks for stealing 5,500 face masks amid coronavirus-related shortage Bog Roll Bandits: 3 robbers steal 600 toilet rolls from Hong Kong delivery worker at knifepoint Coronavirus-infected Filipinos in Japanese cruise ship Diamond Princess now at 27 This article, Cruise ship passengers go straight to quarantine in Singapore, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! A terrified woman who clung on to the windscreen of a BMW as it shot off at 'top speed' like 'something out of a movie' is facing 'life-changing' injuries after she was run over and forced into the front of a car, according to shocked eyewitnesses. Passersby to the suspected domestic row said they saw a couple arguing in near a BP garage in Sutton, southwest London at around 9pm last night. The driver reportedly set off and ran her over in a dark coloured BMW before forcing the woman into the vehicle and speeding off at around 70mph. A BP garage worker said he saw the pair argue before the man 'dragged' the woman back into their car by her arm when she refused to get in. 'She wouldn't let go without getting her phone back,' he explained. 'He then drove off at at least 30 mph with her still on the car bonnet. Then she must have slid off the bonnet as he turned right onto the road.' Eyewitnesses said they saw a couple arguing in near a BP garage (pictured) in Sutton, south west London at around 9pm last night Another eyewitness then saw the woman walking alongside the car as it drove down the road towards the Harvest Home pub. The pub owner, Dave Wightwick, said: 'A local resident saw the car driving very, very slowly and the woman walking alongside it, arguing with the male driver. 'He shouted "Get into the car!" and she was screaming and shouting. 'All of a sudden he deliberately swerved off the straight and narrow and hit the woman hard enough to knock her clean off her feet. 'She landed on her head with a whack.' Mr Wightwick said by the way the pair were arguing that they were likely a couple. He said: 'When he got out of the car after the collision one of the witnesses tried to stop him going near the girl, but he pushed her into the fence. The driver reportedly set off and ran her over in a dark coloured BMW 5 series before forcing the woman into the foot well of the passenger seat and speeding off at around 70mph 'It's terrible, absolutely shocking. The guy is an absolute lunatic. He wasn't listening to reason. I hope the girl makes a full recovery.' Another local resident was returning from a trip to a nearby Asda supermarket in Sutton when he overheard the pair arguing about a phone. The resident said: 'I was going to walk off, as you often hear people arguing, but then he accelerated the car at top speed while the woman grabbed onto the windscreen with both arms. It was like something off a movie.' Mr Wightwick described the male as 'powerfully-built' and 'picked her up like she was nothing and threw her into the car's footwell'. 'The girl lay slumped in the car. She was in a very bad way, probably semi-conscious. She definitely wasn't capable of defending herself,' he said. The pub owner said two women continued shouting at the man from the passenger side of the car after the incident. He said: "They were trying to reason with him to allow us to take her to hospital. But he responded shouting, 'I will take her to the f***ing hospital..' Mr Wightwick stood behind the vehicle to take a picture of the number plate, but moved out of the way when he feared for his own safety. 'He jolted the car forward and I just had a horrible feeling he was going to reverse into us, so I shouted to the other witness to get out of the way,' he said. 'He shot off up the road like a lunatic.' e woman to hospital as he had said. Police reportedly arrived at the pub at around 11.30pm, and returned to the scene of the incident early this morning to cordon off the road. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called at 21:09hrs on Monday, 17 February to reports of a concern for safety of a woman on Beddington Lane, Sutton. 'It was reported that a man and a woman were seen having an altercation before the woman was forced into the car. Officers were later notified by the London Ambulance Service that a woman, believed to be the same individual, had been taken to hospital from a nearby address. 'She currently remains in hospital in a potentially life changing condition.. It is believed the individuals were known to each other. 'Enquiries continue; no arrests have been made.' Fremantle will host at least four new cruise ships diverted to its port over the next four months as the coronavirus outbreak continues to wreak havoc on Asian routes. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has shut down ports Asia and prompted the cruise industry to cancel itineraries, reroute others and even restrict passenger and crew boardings. The Sapphire Princess will be redeployed to Australia over winter. The Queen Mary 2 berthed in Fremantle on Tuesday carrying 2000 tourists after an unscheduled diversion from the South East Asian leg of its round the world tour. The cruise ship Diamond Princess, currently docked off Japan, is home to 454 holidaymakers that have contracted COVID-19, the most cases in one location outside of China. Several fans blasted Bravo producer Andy Cohen for his Below Deck reunion hosting job. Viewers expressed frustration and disappointment after the first part of the reunion aired and hoped the second part would be different. Many fans shared on social media that they thought Cohen was favoring the men on the show. Although viewers hoped the second part of the reunion would be different, quite a few still felt as though Cohen was going too soft on the men and took to Twitter to express their disappointment. Brian de Saint Pern, Kevin Dobson, Ashton Pienaar, Andy Cohen, Captain Lee Rosbach, Kate Chastain, Rhylee Gerber |Heidi Gutman/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Even comedian Leslie Jones, who has been sharing her insights along the way wasnt happy with part one. I know as a host you got to be the devils advocate but I dont like the way you handling this Andy, she tweeted after the first part. Why not ask Kevin why he kicked sand in her face!AND WHY IS EVERYONE BEING SO FAKE!Bring the same energy you had in the show!! Viewer reaction was mixed The bulk of the online reaction was negative about the second part of the reunion. Several people thought Cohen continued to side with the men on the show. Honestly disappointed in @Andy at the Below Deck reunion. He let questions slide and did not hold these men accountable. I mean @mrjaxtaylor has been grilled harder for cheating on women who stay with him, one person shared. Some accused him of favoritism too. The #BelowDeckReunion shows that Andy Cohen should no longer host the reunions for Bravo shows. Every reunion he comes out and plays his clear favorites, in this case doing his best to downplay a season that could be the textbook definition of toxic masculinity. Another wrote, Such a frustrating reunion. Seems like @Andy just wants to be one of the brus. So incredibly disappointing to watch. But a few people thought Cohen handled the reunion well. I dont care what the haters are saying. Again I loved how Andy handled the reunion. Except, he could have told Rilley to pipe down a couple of times. She was trying to run it. #BelowDeckReunion Kate and Lee needed to be called out and he had the balls to do it! Thanks Andy. Many also didnt appreciate the final moment of the reunion either Minutes before the reunion wrapped, Cohen asked the group if they might hit the town together. But when Skippon shook her head Cohen poked, Courtney you dont think maybe you and Brian [de Saint Pern] might have a nice , Cohen started but Skippon cut him off. Dont be silly, she remarked. Dont even finish that conversation. The final moments broke out into a small argument. Courtney putting her foot down and stopping Andy from making some ridiculously snarky comment was not a moment for all you ass hats to take as a joke. And to see Andy laugh about it too was just too much, one person tweeted. Comedian Leslie Jones wasnt happy about the moment either. Skippon also shared her parents reactions too. My dad is so riled up about the reunion and every time he talks he swears and my mom is like: why are you [talking] like that? And hes like: listen, its @Lesdoggg its catchy. I need more of her. Same, Dad, Skippon tweeted. Married At First Sight's Natasha Spencer has been granted an interim apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) against her boyfriend, Steven Cook. The ADVO was taken out on February 15 and prevents Cook from approaching or contacting Spencer, according to NSW local court records. The matter is expected to be heard at Manly Local Court on February 24. Legal matter: Married At First Sight bride Natasha Spencer (pictured) has been granted an ADVO against her boyfriend, Steven Cook The 26-year-old financial analyst, who is paired with Mikey Pembroke on Married At First Sight, was pictured kissing Cook in Sydney on February 10. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Cook has behaved in a way so as to warrant an ADVO, just that an interim ADVO has been granted. The interim ADVO against Cook orders him to avoid threats, intimidation, harassment or stalking of Spencer. As seen on TV: The 26-year-old financial analyst, who is paired with Mikey Pembroke on Married At First Sight, was pictured kissing Cook in Sydney on February 10 Restrictions: The interim ADVO against Cook orders him to avoid threats, intimidation, harassment or stalking of Spencer The court document also states: 'The defendant must not intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any property that belongs to or is the possession of Natasha Spencer.' Cook was not present in court when the order was made. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Natasha Spencer and Steven Cook for comment. Unrelated: Last week, Spencer reported a 'revenge porn' attack to NSW Police Last week, in an unrelated circumstance, Spencer reported a 'revenge porn' attack to NSW Police. The footage in question was apparently filmed last year and involves Spencer and an unidentified male. A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command are investigating a report made on Tuesday 11 February 2020, by a 26-year-old Lane Cove woman concerning an incident that occurred last year.' The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Spencer's TV wedding to Mikey Pembroke was watched by more than a million Australians. It is not believed that Cook is involved in the circulation of the video. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine New Delhi, Feb 18 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits was the utmost priority of the government and assured them on their phased resettlement amid adequate security in the Valley, from where they were forced to flee by Islamist terrorists in late 1989 and early 1990. The Minister gave the assurance to a seven-member Kashmiri Pandit delegation that met him for an hour at his residence around 12.30 p.m. The delegation included Surinder Kaul, International Coordinator of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD); Utpal Kaul, GKPD India Coordinator; Anil Kachroo, GKPD USA; Taj Tikoo, President of the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS); Dileep Mattoo, President Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM); and AJKVM members Sanjay Ganjoo and Parikshit Kaul. "The Minister promised to resettle all Kashmiri Pandits in their respective districts. He also assured that the resettlement process will be done in phases amid tight security," Utpal Kaul told IANS. Kaul said that the Home Minister also assured the delegation that the age limit for government jobs vis-a-vis Kashmiri Pandits will be increased up to 50 years and the government will help reclaim and reparation of their encroached properties in the Valley. "All temples in the Valley will also be renovated," Kaul said quoting Shah. The delegation handed over a memorandum to him to thank the Union government for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution relating to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. "The delegation members expressed heartfelt thanks to the Minister for maintaining a consistent position on its promise to rehabilitate the displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley. "The delegation also thanked the minister for abrogating article 370 and 35A whose pernicious impact has destroyed the Kashmiri society, culture, civilization, economic progress and the ability to lead a peaceful life in the valley," the memorandum read. The delegation demanded the formation of an advisory council of Kashmiri Pandits to work under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs to come up with a plan for full restorative justice for the Kashmiri Pandits. "The advisory council will have representation from mainstream community bodies, youth, women, eminent community think tank members, Jagati, rural and urban residents from the community and even overseas representation," the memorandum added. The delegation requested Shah to accept the community's demand for a single concentrated rehabilitation plan, including employment and other rights, enshrined in the Constitution as well as restoration and rebuilding of temples, shrines and community assets, including crematoriums. The Kashmiri Pandits also demanded setting up of a commission to investigate the cause of the genocide and ethnic cleansing faced by them in the Valley, with proactive steps to initiate legal proceedings and secure conviction of those responsible. "The Minister gave a patient hearing to our demands and conveyed that rehabilitation of our community is an utmost priority with the government. He sought help from our community to compile a database of all the properties that have been either occupied or encroached upon so that the government can initiate redressal mechanisms to restore the property to the rightful owner," the delegation said. He assured the delegation that the temples, shrines and all other community assets will be restored and made operational at the earliest, it said. Shah informed the delegation that a massive drive is underway to generate employment and ensure heavy investment in various sectors of the new union territory's economy. MANZINI Police had to be roped in after tempers flared at William Pitcher College as students instigated a riot which saw the college closing indefinitely after fires were ignited within the premises. This comes after first-year students at the college engaged in a protest following that they have not received their monthly allowances since they commenced their studies during the month of August last year. This drama unfolded yesterday at around 11am. The students sang struggle songs and demonstrated around the premises of the institution and ignited fires within the corridors of the college, which threatened to burn down the whole institution. Allowances As a result, police had to intervene to calm the situation and after that, the college was closed with immediate effect. Information gathered from a well-placed source was to the effect that the grievances of the first-year students emanated from that they had not received their personal allowances, including their book fee allowances since August last year. According to the source, in retaliation to their plight, the students initiated a class boycott last Thursday. The source pointed out that the reason why the students resolved to boycott classes was because they could no longer cope with the hardships they were facing at the institution. As part of their boycott, they demaded the urgent payment of their allowances. The source said what added fuel to the fire was the fact that all first-year students from various tertiary institutions around the country that were sponsored by government had received their allowances. Even though the students from other tertiary institutions were not all paid at once, but after a certain period of time, they were all paid their allowances, said the source. The source further stated that given the fact that all the first-year students had been paid their allowances, the students felt as though William Pitcher College was the only institution that was left behind. This, he said, made their parents question the students honesty whenever they asked for money from them. Some parents flatly refused to give them the money while pointing out that they had received their allowances from government. Irregularities Their parents just refuse to help them with money citing that they heard the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Thulani Mkhaliphi, announcing on national radio that all first-year students around the countrys institutions have been fully paid their allowances, said the source. The source further highlighted that given that the parents of the students refused to render them financial assistance, some of them ended up running short of money to pay rent, buy food as well as to cater for transportation fees, among other necessities. Given the aforementioned irregularities, the first-year students boycotted classes on Thursday and engaged in a protest, said the source. According to the source, the student representative council (SRC) then intervened and reasoned with the students to refrain from the boycott and instead, they organised a meeting with the then Acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Norman Gamedze, which was scheduled for last Friday at around 9am. It was gathered from the source that after the SRCs intervention, the students complied with their (SRC) directive and resumed their studies, however, they argued that if nothing positive came up from the Friday meeting, they would continue with their boycott. Agreement Information gathered was that the meeting indeed took place last Friday between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the SRC as scheduled, however, during the meeting it transpired that both parties failed to reach common ground. This was said to have been due to the fact that the SRC was informed by the ministry that they had to liaise with their bursar at the college with regard to the payment of the allowances given the fact that according to their knowledge, the ministry had disbursed all first year students allowances at the college. The SRC was said to have then delivered the report to the students yesterday, who did not take kindly to the update and instead resorted to engaging in another protest which has seen the college closing with immediate effect. According to the source, before the institution was closed, the students were informed that they would be updated through the media on when classes would resume at the tertiary institution. The Principal of William Pitcher College, Philemon Gumedze, confirmed that indeed the institution had been closed indefinitely. However, he declined to elaborate on the circumstances leading to the closure of the college, stating that he preferred to withhold his comment for now given that they were still engaging with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in a bid to rectify the situation. The then Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, whose substantive position is that of Under Secretary Gamedze, confirmed that the meeting with the students took place last Friday. However, he said the meeting was stalled due to the fact that the students did not come with their bursar. He said they informed the students who were in the company of their dean of students affairs that the meeting could not proceed without the presence of the institutions bursar. This, he said, was because according to their records, they had disbursed all first-year students allowances at William Pitcher College except for only two students who encountered some glitches and the only person who could testify to that effect was the bursar. Gamedze said the students then informed him that the bursar was far away and, as result, they arranged for another meeting today whereby they would come with their bursar. I am surprised that the students have resorted to engaging in a protest because we reached a mutual agreement that we would resolve the matter once they get hold of their bursar in a meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday (today), Gamedze said. Maha Shivratri 2021: Why we must not sleep on 'The Greate Night Of Shiva' Maha Shivratri 2020: Why auspicious for women; date, mahurat India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 18: The pious and mostly celebrated festival of Maha Shivratri is round the corner, and the devotees of Lord Shiv are all waiting to celebrate it. This year Maha Shivratri falls on 21st February, and as Lord Shiv is worshiped mostly during night on the day of Maha Shivratri, so the 'Nishita Kaal puja' time is 12:09 am (Feb 21) to 12:58 am (Feb 22). Shivratri is one of the biggest festival of Hindus, devotees of Lord Shiva's on this day throng to various Shiv temples across the country to offer their prayers to the Lord. Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiv and Shakti. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night or 14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month, as per the Hindu calendar. A day before Shivratri devotees eat only one time. On Shivratri day devotees take 'Sankalp' (pledge) to observe full day fast on Shiv Ratri. Devotees also take bath twice, in the morning and evening before doing Shiv Puja or visiting Shiv temple. Shiv puja is mostly done during night. The ardent devotees keep awake all night lighting diyas (earthen lamps). On this day, devotees circumambulate the Shiv lingam and worship it by bathing every three hours with the sacred things, these are- cow milk, curd, cow urine, butter, sacred cow dung, ghee and honey. Then they offer special fruits and flowers before the lingam. These are- Dhatura fruit and flower, Bell fruit and leaves. Significance of the sacred festival of 'Vaikuntha Ekadashi' Devotees break the fast on the next morning, after the nightlong worship. The Maha Shivratri festival is also considered as an extremely significant festival for women. It is believed that unmarried women who desires for lifepartener pray for a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal husband and symbolises Shakti (strenght). In India both men and women everyone performs fast and worship the Lord of power, Shiv. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 18:49 [IST] In youth, we tend to think of doctors and hospitals as avatars of near-mythic potency and benevolence. In glum middle age, adverse information starts to emerge. A relative enters the hospital with cancer, expected to live 18 months to two years. Instead, he acquires an infection the hospital provides him at no extra charge and is dead in two weeks. Oh well, he would have died anyway, right? A friends father falls, suffers a broken hip, goes to the hospital, catches an infection, and dies. Dying of a broken hip isnt that Victorian? Is this the best we can do in modern medicine? A glance beneath the surface of what the medical profession is up to reveals a staggering array of incompetence, intransigence, and disregard for life. It was just in the past 20 years or so that doctors started to consider maybe washing their hands once in a while; before that, hand-washing was at less than 50 percent, and surgeons and anesthesiologists were ruled the leading offenders. As recently as 2009, after years of retraining by the medical establishment, hand hygiene stood at an estimated 74 percent. A one-in-four chance your doctor didnt wash his hands before he started examining you, in some of the worlds best hospitals, in 2009! Some of the worlds most expensively trained doctors have no more concern about hygiene than your four-year-old. Dr. Filthyhands is a big reason that 1.7 million patients pick up infections in hospitals annually, which contributes to an estimated 90,000 deaths each year, according to a 2009 survey by the World Health Organization. Trainee doctors are saddled with absurdly long hours as their punishment for being rookies 28-hour shifts were common until that was dialed down to 16 hours. In 2017, the panel that decides these things declared that 28-hour shifts, twice a week, were okay after all. How do you feel about having a doctor examine you while crazed by sleep deprivation? Are you surprised that a 2008 study in Oregon showed there is no significant health difference between being on Medicaid and having no insurance plan whatsoever? Imagine the immense expense of Medicaid being worth nothing in life outcomes. The top three killers in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, and medical errors. Story continues Saying all of this out loud wont win you a lot of friends among the doctors who could hold your life in their hands, which is why criticism of medical professionals (as opposed to those nasty insurance companies) tends to be whispered rather than shouted out the window a la Howard Beale. Yet Beales creator, Paddy Chayefsky, wrote a perfectly devastating satiric indictment of technologically sophisticated, bureaucratically sclerotic modern medicine. Of his two mighty satires, the one that remains spot-on is, naturally, the one that was forgotten. Chayefskys Network (1976) has aged poorly, what with its fretting about Arab petro-states taking over U.S. media, its soothsayers, its Maoist terror groups. The Hospital (1971), on the other hand, is timeless. Both films won Chayefsky Academy Awards, though only one of them really made him nervous. When he checked into a hospital for cancer treatment in 1981, he told friends that doctors are going to get ahold of me and cut me up because of that movie I wrote about them. He died soon after that, at age 58. The Hospital, which is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, had its genesis in what Chayefsky saw as the shabby treatment of his wife, Susan, in New York City hospitals in the 1960s. Nothing got him going like anger, observed the playwright Herb Gardner, a friend, in Shaun Considines biography Mad As Hell: The Life and Work of Paddy Chayefsky. Chayefsky dove into research and emerged with the head-spinning tales that he put into The Hospital. He claimed that everything that happened in the movie was taken from stories told to him by medical professionals. Thats quite something, given the slam-bang story that launches the film. As dryly narrated offscreen by Chayefsky himself, it sets the tone for a movie-length indictment far more relevant and far more chillingly credible than any of the over-the-top doings in Network: On Monday morning, a patient named Guernsey, male, middle 70s, was admitted to the hospital complaining of chest pains. He had been referred by a nursing home where the doctor had diagnosed his condition as angina pectoris. It is axiomatic that nursing-home doctors are always wrong. The intern who admitted Mr. Guernsey, however, accepted the diagnosis and prescribed morphine, a drug suitable for angina, but not at all suitable for emphysema, which is unfortunately what the old man actually had. Within an hour, the patient became unresponsive and diaphoretic and was raced up to Intensive Care, with an irregular pulse of 150, blood pressure 90 over 60, respiration rapid and shallow. The resident on duty in Intensive Care compounded the blunder by treating the old man for pulmonary edema. He gave him digitalis, diuretics, and oxygen. This restored the old mans color. He was sent to his room in the Holly Pavilion ruddy-complected and peacefully asleep. But the patient was in CO 2 narcosis, and died at 7:30 that evening. I mention all this only to explain how the bed in Room 806 became available. What happens in this single, two-bed room is the subject of a two-hour condemnation of systemic failure as seen through the eyes of a brilliant but disillusioned and alcoholic head of surgery, played with furious despair by George C. Scott. Scott was so simpatico with the self-torturing nature of his character that he missed the first several days of filming because of a bender during which he was also named the Academy Award winner for Patton while he was home asleep. Now you come to me with this gothic horror story in which the entire machinery of modern medicine has apparently conspired to destroy one lousy patient, says Scotts Dr. Bock. How am I to sustain my feeling of meaningfulness in the face of this? . . . If there was an oven around, Id stick my head in it. The Hospital is so drenched in verisimilitude that it hits you like a documentary, and after Chayefsky fired original director Michael Ritchie for making the hospital look too glossy, his replacement Arthur Heller filmed the black comedy in an aggressively dingy, dishwater-toned palette typical of early Seventies filmmaking, on location at Metropolitan Hospital on Manhattans Upper East Side. In one especially cold and consequently especially harrowing scene, a young woman who is mistaken for a 53-year-old is taken into an operating room and dies suddenly as a team of professionals around her react with hardly a shrug of remorse, although a surgeon at least frets about a potential malpractice suit. Chayefsky bores in on how, even among well-meaning doctors and nurses, the complexity of the system creates what amounts to an ongoing serial-killer scheme functioning in plain sight. To literalize the idea, he places an actual murderer in the background, arranging ironic punishment for the incompetent and the oblivious. He draws a far more perceptive and subtle parallel between madness and ordinary systemic function here than he does in Network, balancing the murderer against a blithely revenue-maximizing surgeon who bleeds his patients and Medicaid with equal gusto. (The surgeon is scheming about his various legal and financial dodges on the phone when he interrupts himself to say, I gotta cut open some guy in a couple of minutes, Ill make it as fast as I can.) Another doctor in the movie acknowledges mistakes are being made but insists things arent as bad as Bock observes: Its all perhaps coincidental, but I dont think Id call it grotesque, he says, defensively, leaving it to the audience to note how wrong he is. For every 20 movies exploring wickedness on Wall Street, there might be one about how hospitals work. But Gordon Gekko merely took your money, not your life. More from National Review Updated at 12:10 p.m. A Portland man has appealed the city auditors decision not to investigate claims that Mayor Ted Wheelers re-election campaign violated a voter-approved $500 individual contribution limit. Ronald Buel, a member of political action committee Honest Elections Oregon, said in his complaint filed last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court that he believes Wheeler has received more than $73,000 in contributions that violate the legal limit. The court appeal comes after Auditor Mary Hull Cabelleros office dismissed campaign finance complaints filed by Buel in December against Wheeler, mayoral candidate Ozzie Gonzalez and city commissioner candidate Jack Kerfoot. [Read the complaint] The office said in January it wouldnt investigate the complaints because a judge found the limit on campaign contributions unconstitutional several months after Portland voters approved it in November 2018. Honest Elections Oregon organized the Portland measure, as well as a similar one that was passed by Multnomah County voters in 2016. The Portland measure amended the city charter to limit individual or political committee donations to $500 per election cycle in city races. The measure also limited campaign spending and required campaigns to disclose advertising funders and as well as impose other restrictions. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric Bloch struck down the county rule in 2017 and did the same to parts of the Portland rule in June 2019, saying they violated the Oregon Constitutions prohibition on limiting free speech. Buel said the city should still enforce the contribution limits because the judge only deemed certain parts unconstitutional, and he believes there isnt an injunction stopping the Portland restrictions from being imposed. Such refusal completely defeats the purposes of Measure 26-200, enacted with an 87.4% yes vote in November 2018, the appeal said. Those purposes include avoid[ing] the reality and appearance of corruption, including quid pro quo corruption, in City of Portland elections. The court appeal asks a judge to order Hull Caballero to fine Wheelers campaign. Hull Caballero said Tuesday that her office looks forward to the courts decision. We have faith in our process, she said. Wheelers campaign has said they dont believe the mayor has violated any laws. The Oregon Supreme Court is expected issue a decision later this year on Honest Elections Oregons appeal to the 2017 ruling over the county contribution limits. The ruling will likely impact the Portland measure. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 08:38:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HEFEI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to shore up weak spots in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as the epidemic prevention and control have entered the most crucial stage. "Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, remains the main battlefield," said Wang Hesheng, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference Saturday. "Improving admission and survival rates and reducing infection and fatality rates are still the most urgent tasks." Currently, nine temporary hospitals with more than 6,960 beds have opened in Hubei, with 5,606 patients infected with the virus receiving treatment in these hospitals. "Our confidence has grown with the increase of designated hospitals, temporary hospitals and isolation areas," said Wang Ying, a community worker in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. For other cities in Hubei Province facing the same challenges but with limited resources, over half of China's provincial-level regions have paired up with them, offering medical staff, equipment and supplies. As of Feb. 14, a total of 217 medical teams with 25,633 medical workers had been sent to Hubei to help combat the epidemic, figures from the NHC show. "Spring is coming, along with hope. Wuhan is going to win and we can go home together then," wrote Liu Yuan, a medical worker sent to help in one of the temporary hospitals in Wuhan, in her diary. Nationwide, other regions across China have also taken tough, resolute and precise measures to curb the epidemic from the source. In east China's Anhui Province, all close contacts of the confirmed infection cases have been placed under quarantine at designated places instead of at home and all of those under medical observation will receive nucleic acid testing. Li, a close contact of a confirmed case in the provincial capital of Hefei, has checked into a new quarantine area, which offers single rooms, meals and psychological counseling services. "I feel at ease here as my family is safe from infection," said Li. According to the NHC, the daily number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases outside Hubei has dropped for 14 consecutive days since Feb. 3. As the epidemic outbreak has entered a crucial stage, the prevention and control measures have also become more precise and scientific, which greatly enhances the efficiency of prevention, said Xu Hua, a professor at the School of Sociology and Political Science of Anhui University. Chinese researchers have narrowed down their focus to a few existing drugs for clinical trials against COVID-19 and some have shown fairly good clinical efficacy. East China's Shanghai Municipality and Zhejiang Province have formulated regulations to prohibit behaviors of concealing symptoms and violating quarantine since Feb. 7. Great efforts have also been made to mitigate the shortage of medical supplies and daily necessities. "China has endeavored to combine epidemic prevention and production resumption, in an effort to meet the core demand," said Xu. More than 76 percent of mask production and 77 percent of protective suit production in China's 22 provincial-level regions had been resumed by Feb. 10, according to Cong Liang, secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission. Meanwhile, 94.6 percent of the country's major grain production and processing firms, as well as over 92 percent of more than 7,000 supermarket outlets in 34 large and medium-sized cities across the country, had also resumed operation by Feb. 7 and Feb. 10, respectively. "The shelves filled with products give us a sense of security. We will weather the storm," said Wu Yan, a citizen in Hefei. When devices are designed to be worn, small size and safety are critical ZPower, the worlds only developer of rechargeable silver-zinc microbatteries, announced a partnership today with American Equus. American Equus, a company known for its innovation of every day equestrian products, chose ZPower batteries for a forthcoming line of smart devices that are planned to launch later this year. When devices are designed to be worn and come in direct contact with horses and the barn environment, small size and safety are critical. ZPower silver-zinc microbatteries offer the highest energy density for their size, while their water-based chemistry offers zero danger of thermal runaway and their low voltage reduces the risks from ingestion. We chose ZPower batteries for their unparalleled performance and because, unlike li-ion batteries, they are non-flammable, and safer if ingested, said David Shano, founder and CEO of American Equus. Our new devices will revolutionize the well-being of horse and rider, so safety was a top priority when we evaluated potential power sources. Our batteries are uniquely suited for applications that are worn; ZPower is certified to manufacture medical devices and our batteries are currently used in medical wearables, said Glynne Townsend, President and CEO of ZPower. We are proud that American Equus chose our battery technology for its new range of devices, and we look forward to supporting American Equus through its product development and market launch. To learn more about ZPower batteries visit http://www.zpowerbattery.com. To learn more about American Equus visit http://www.americanequus.com. About ZPower, LLC ZPower, with headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Camarillo, California, is a leader in the development of rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for microbattery applications. ZPower batteries deliver unmatched performance, improve user experience and are better for the environment. ZPower is ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2008 certified, and its facility and devices are registered with the FDA. For more information, visit https://www.zpowerbattery.com. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met on February 18 with Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia. The interlocutors referred to Nagono Karabakh peace process and the recent meetings over it. The sides highlighted the real steps towards the implementation of the agreement of preparing the peoples for peace. In this context FM Mnatsakanyan particularly highlighted the public peace messages by the leaders of the countries and noted that the Azerbaijani side continues to express maximalist positions denying the rights of the people of Artsakh, which hamper the progress of the peace process. The sides also exchanged views on the multi-dimensional agenda of Armenia-EU partnership, as well as referred to urgent international and regional issues. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Mercury, lead, PCBs, volatile organic compounds the list goes on. The story of industry in the 20th Century in upstate New York could double as the story of rampant, flagrant pollution, and the environment in and around the Capital Region bears the record of this pollution in the form of toxic chemicals. Often, the federal and state governments are called upon to order the cleanup of contamination and to restore the land as much as possible to its original purity. The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) informally known as Superfund allows the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up contaminated sites and forces the parties responsible for the contamination to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led remediation work. Read through to learn about sites in and around the Capital Region that have been added to the federal Superfund list, and to see where each cleanup effort stands. Nassau is still dealing with the fallout from decades of toxic waste disposal. Over 16 years, waste hauler Dewey Loeffel buried about 46,000 tons of industrial waste in a landfill about five miles from his home. Most of the waste came from General Electric. Over time, chemicals from the unlined landfill leaked into the ground, and complaints from neighbors about dead fish and cattle mounted. The site was finally closed by court order in 1970 and sealed by the state in 1984. PCBs and other pollution spread to nearby Valatie Kill, Nassau Lake and Kinderhook Lake in Columbia County. PCB-tainted fish from those bodies of water have been listed by the state as unsafe to eat since 1980. The state took over cleanup duties in 1980, and many millions of dollars have been spent since then by the state and the federal government in efforts to reverse the contamination, the Times Union has reported. The EPA installed a treatment system for rainwater passing into the ground and through the dump. A removal action was started to address PCB-contaminated soil in Tributary T-11A, a stream that flows into Valatie Kill. The costly and continuous struggle to reverse the pollution from the landfill has taken a toll on Nassau, which has been "living with this for an entire generation." "It's like putting Band-Aids on bullet wounds," Nassau Supervisor David Fleming said in 2019. "They thought if they capped the landfill it would be fine, but it's still leaking chemicals." An independent hauler removed liquid waste from two GE plants in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward and dumped them here from 1958 to 1968. The waste, containing PCBs and trichloroethylene (TCE), contaminated the groundwater as well as a brook that supplied water to Fort Edward. GE in 1985 installed a cutoff wall and cap around the dump's disposal pit and an "air stripper" on Reardon Brook to treat contaminated groundwater. Air stripping, according to the EPA, is the process of moving air through contaminated water in an above-ground treatment system, in which volatile organic compounds are removed and either vented into the air or collected. The cleanup was officially completed in 1990, and the cutoff wall containment system was enhanced over the following years. Roughly 100 nearby residences were incorporated into a new water district that extends beyond the area of the site. The EPA says the site "no longer poses a threat to nearby residents or the environment." The air stripper, however, is expected to operate for more than 200 years. Thirty-four acres of the 68-acre site were operated as a municipal dump from 1947 to 1960, accepting industrial waste from tanneries and textile plants from 1960 to 1977 and sludge from Johnstown's wastewater treatment plant from 1973 to 1979. The sewage sludge contained chrome, iron and lead. The EPA signed a record of decision in 1993 that called for the landfill to be capped and for the expansion of the city's water supply system to provide potable water to private water supplies that may have been affected by the landfill's pollution. Remedial construction activities were completed in 1997, EPA says, and the most recent five-year review concluded that the cleanup was protecting human health and the environment. The reclamation of mercury for commercial purposes over a 43-year period left a toxic footprint on the border between Guilderland and Colonie. From 1955 to 1998, Mercury Refining Co. used special ovens to extract its namesake element a potent neurotoxin that can cause developmental disabilities in children and developing fetuses, and also can concentrate in fish, birds and invertebrates from batteries, thermometers, fluorescent bulbs, spill debris and dental amalgam used to fill cavities. The plant handled more than 7 million pounds of these mercury-tainted materials. The company then refined and sold the mercury it had reclaimed. From 1980 to 1988, batteries and other materials containing mercury were stored in drums on wooden pallets on the site. Before 1980, waste contaminated with mercury was simply dumped over an embankment into a tributary of Patroon Creek. Mercury Refining excavated and removed toxic soil and debris from the site under a 1985 consent decree with New York. But in 1999, after unsuccessful attempts to have the company comply with cleanup efforts, EPA took over at DEC's request. Thousands of tons of soil were removed in 2013 and 2014; the site is being monitored. The location of one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the Capital Region, the Luther Forest Technology Campus was once used to develop weapons with toxic consequences. The U.S. government used a 165-parcel of land on the site as a development and research facility for rocket and weapons testing for over 50 years starting in 1945, the EPA says. The surface and groundwater were tainted with volatile organic compounds and the soil was contaminated with PCBs. An investigation in the early 1990s turned up two buried compressed gas cylinders; hundreds of empty, buried and crushed drums; and several septic tanks, catchbasins and dry wells all of which were removed and cleaned out. The EPA in 1996 called for air stripping of the water supply for the site, and contaminated soil and debris were removed. In 2010 the use of the air stripper was discontinued and the technology campus was connected to the Saratoga County water supply. Construction activities on the site related to the technology campus have repeatedly unearthed drums, pails, containers and even small metal cylinders of unknown contents the last items were destroyed by controlled detonation). The EPA says active redevelopment of the site is underway. Newly built or existing buildings on or within 200 feet of the original test station that become occupied have to undergo vapor intrusion investigations. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The story of this site goes back to 1868, when the Saratoga Gas Light Co. began producing gas for illuminating purposes using coal, coke and petroleum oils, the EPA says. Gas manufacturing stopped in 1929, and the plant on the site was used to store and distribute gas until natural gas service was introduced to the region in the 1950s. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. operated the site from 1950 to 1999 as a district service center and headquarters. Early gas production left tars and other hazardous materials, and these byproducts were disposed of in various spots on the site, where numerous coal and waste beds exist. Work was completed in 2002 to remove tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil and sediment, install underground barriers to contain contaminated groundwater and place a cap to cover the soil. A system to extract and treat tainted groundwater was built and operates to this day. Additional cleanup work was finished in 2019. The winding waterway of the Hudson, which carves a path through the communities of upstate New York on its way down to the most populous city in the United States, has borne witness to hundreds of years of exploration, commerce, industry and culture. It also carries a black mark of environmental degradation caused by humans: After being polluted over a 30-year period by GE, a 200-mile stretch of the 315-mile waterway was designated as a Superfund site one of the largest in the country, the EPA says. The production of PCBs used as an insulator to prevent fire in electrical devices was banned by the federal agency in 1977. But for the preceding decades, two GE capacitor plants in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls dumped an estimated 1.3 million pounds of the substance into the Hudson's waters. Toxic PCBs moved their way up the food chain in the river as small fish tainted by the substance were gobbled up by bigger predators, who in turn collected greater quantities of the compound in their bodies. A 2002 plan called for the dredging of around 2.65 million cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment. The cleanup, which lasted from 2009 to 2015, was conducted by GE under a 2006 legal agreement, EPA says. Yet this massive, $1.7 billion cleanup effort remains a bone of bitter contention between state and federal agencies. In 2019, New York sued the federal government to ensure GE continues its cleanup of the Hudson River after the EPA announced GE will not be required to restart dredging of the Hudson River. Hoosick Falls' quest for remediation and safety have been marked by delay, disillusionment and outrage, all sparked by a search for truth following a series of mysterious cancer deaths. Elevated levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were found in the village water system in 2014 by Michael Hickey, a former village trustee whose father died of cancer. His investigation led him to the village's Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics manufacturing plant, which overlooks the Hoosic River and stands several hundred yards from the underground wells the villages water system draws its supply from. Hickey sent water samples to a Canadian lab that reported levels of PFOA that the EPA later said are not safe for human consumption. It would be start of a long road to environmental justice for the residents of Hoosick Falls. The state Health Department was aware of the presence of dangerous levels of contamination in the village's drinking water months before the public was warned and bottled drinking water was provided for residents, the Times Union has reported. And the site was only added to the state Superfund list in 2016, 17 months after Hickey began investigating the cause of so many cancer cases in the tiny Rensselaer County village and reported his findings. Even Hickey's efforts to collect and test samples were resisted by Hoosick Falls' mayor at the time, who reportedly voiced concern about the stigma that contaminated water would attach to the village at a time when it was touting its downtown for business. The Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility was built in 1961 and purchased in 1999 by the company, which was using PFOA in its manufacturing process, the EPA says. It's this chemical, together with TCE, that polluted groundwater at the plant's McCaffrey Street location. The Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2017. In 2019, the DEC offered a preliminary list of five potential options for the villages long-range water sources. Those included tapping the Tomhannock Reservoir, hooking into Troys city water system, developing test wells into permanent sources and bolstering the existing well system. DuBois at Atlanta University,1909. W.E.B. DuBois Library Special Collections, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Great Barrington Celebrates Annual Du Bois Legacy Festival GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. The Town of Great Barrington, together with community partners, welcomes nationally renowned artists and scholars to the Berkshires for the 3rd Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival on the weekend of Du Bois' 152nd birthday, Feb. 22-23. "Each year we celebrate Du Bois with scholars and artists from the local area and also throughout the country to uplift the values of W.E.B. Du Bois in his hometown," said Gwendolyn VanSant, Legacy Committee vice chair. "In Great Barrington, we celebrate his commitment to racial equity, civil rights, progressive education, and economic justice. We are joined by partners who uphold a commitment to these values in the workplaces and in our shared Berkshire community." This year, the program centers around Du Bois commitment to progressive education. "As an educator, Du Bois' impact has been profound," said Randy Weinstein, Legacy Committee chair. "His works like The Souls of Black Folk have become springboards of the reflective mind, his lasting gift to our community readying to celebrate his 152nd birthday." The festival kicks off with the exhibit "Du Bois: An Enduring Educational Legacy," created by The Du Bois Center, at the Mason Library for the duration of February. Then, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church (251 Main St.) the event takes a deep dive into the songs, poems and text that make up Du Bois's 1903 "The Souls of Black Folk." A trumpet and voice performance, led by Donna Gouger and Bob Paynter with MaryNell Morgan and Barbara Dean will accompany the community read. A book discussion follows, facilitated by VanSant, who is also CEO of BRIDGE, and Stephanie Wright, Legacy Committee member. Free copies of "The Souls of Black Folk" are available at BRIDGE in Lee, The Du Bois Center, Mason Library, Macedonia, Great Barrington Town Hall, First Congregational Church, Great Barrington, Bard College at Simons Rock, Jacob's Pillow, and more locations around the county. Email rsvp@multiculturalbridge.org for a copy while books last. On Saturday evening, at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m, at the Daniel Arts Center on the campus of Bard College at Simon's Rock, San Francisco-based choreographer, director and performance innovator Joanna Haigood will present a performance installation titled "Between me and the other world." This free performance installation is a dynamic exploration of "The Souls of Black Folk," created in collaboration with composer Anthony Brown, video artist David Szlasa, and scenic designer Sean Riley. This recontextualization of Du Bois' ideas through live performance, contemporary imagery sourced from current events and a sonic terrain that travels spirituals, jazz and a 21st century postmodern soundscape invites audiences to move through the space between projections, dancers, and vantage points. BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCQB: NWBO) (NW Bio), a biotechnology company developing DCVax personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, announced today that the 2019 Annual Shareholder's Meeting will be held on April 18, 2020, at 1:00 pm in Washington, DC. The Company encourages shareholders to attend what should be an interesting meeting. This announcement is being made to allow shareholders time to make necessary travel plans to come to Washington. The proxy information and other materials will be forwarded to shareholders in an official mailing at a later date. The Company looks forward to seeing all who can attend. About Northwest Biotherapeutics Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immunotherapy products designed to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis, in both the United States and Europe. The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax dendritic cell-based vaccines. The Company's lead program is a 331-patient Phase III trial in newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease." The Company is also developing DCVax-Direct for all types of inoperable solid tumor cancers. The Company has completed a 40-patient Phase I trial, and is preparing for Phase II trials. The Company previously conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax-L for metastatic ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania. Disclaimer Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning future treatment of patients using DCVax and future clinical trials, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Specifically, there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, risks related to the Company's ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and complete the trials on a timely basis, uncertainties about the clinical trials process, uncertainties about the timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will demonstrate safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's and Cognate's abilities to carry out the intended manufacturing and expansions contemplated in the Cognate Agreements, risks related to the Company's ability to carry out the Hospital Exemption program and risks related to possible reimbursement and pricing. Additional information on these and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics Related Links http://www.nwbio.com Delhi airport on Tuesday advised passengers to leave from home 10-15 minutes early as a road connecting it with Rangpuri on the National Highway 8 will be closed for over a year to carry out the airport expansion work. The traffic coming from Rangpuri roundabout will be diverted to central spine road, connecting terminals 2 and 3 from Mahipalpur, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said in a press statement. "A road connecting Delhi airport with Rangpuri on National Highway 8 would be closed for over a year from tomorrow afternoon to carry out construction work of Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT), under the Phase 3A expansion plan," it said. For smooth movement of passengers coming to terminals 2 and 3 from Shiva Murti, Dwarka and Gurgaon, the DIAL noted that it has built and commissioned "Radisson Bypass Road", connecting Rangpuri with the airport via central spine road. The DIAL said it has put up signage at strategic locations regarding diversion for the convenience of passengers. "The diversion is unlikely to have any significant impact on the commuting time of the airport-bound passengers. However, they are advised to take 10-15 minutes of extra time while commuting towards Delhi airport to be on the safer side," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mr. President, many believe that you cannot read and those that believe that you can claim that you cannot go beyond three lines. ... Mr. President, many believe that you cannot read and those that believe that you can claim that you cannot go beyond three lines. They say outside of that you can only comprehend cartoons. I do not share either view. I know you well enough to concede that when you consider a literary submission of sufficient importance you have the presence of mind, discipline, health, intelligence and ability to read through it very slowly and very carefully weighing up every word. And that is precisely as it should be. The first open letter that I wrote to you was in December 2015 and the following serves as the second. You will forgive me because this is a long letter and I am fully aware that your attention span or ability to keep too much information in one fell swoop may not be as good as it used to be. Nevertheless, I urge you to do your best to muster the courage, energy and intellectual stamina to stay the course and to find the time out of your busy schedule to read it from beginning to end. I have written it because our nation is entering into dangerous and precarious waters and I sense that something will give very soon. I am therefore constrained to use this medium to bring my observations to your attention. Be rest assured that I speak out of nothing but love and concern for the welfare of the Nigerian people and it is not my intention to insult you or undermine and disrespect your office but rather to shine the light of truth on all your activities to assisting and encouraging you to change your ways. You will agree with me that, no matter how bitter it may be, that truth must be told. This is a sacred obligation on our part as leaders and a matter of duty and honor. I owe you, the Nigerian people and posterity that much and I have little doubt that no matter how badly you may feel after reading it, history will vindicate me and prove me right and one day you will acknowledge and recognise the profundity, wisdom and foresight in my constant and consistent criticisms, admonitions and counsel. Outside of that it is my earnest prayer that the God of Heaven, whose I am and whom I serve, will judge between you and me. Your Excellency, please note and consider the following: You released hundreds of Boko Haram fighters from prison claiming that they are reformed and a few days later 30 of your citizens are blown up by the same Boko Haram in Borno state. Worse still, on that same day,16 members of the same family and four others were herded into a room and burnt alive by Fulani militants in Kaduna state. After these terrible events instead of rushing back home to stand with your people, you stayed in Addis Ababa, lamenting and crying about the security situation in Libya and you sent your Vice to a funeral in Nairobi. Such insensitivity, even by your own standards, is rarely seen. It took you three long days to finally see fit to leave your foreign friends, leave Addis Ababa and fly directly to Maiduguri to express your condolences to the Governor and people of Borno. Even then you could not muster the courage to go to the town of Auno where the bombing took place but only to Maiduguri, the capital of the state. Understandably you were received with boos, jeers and shouts of ba ma so (meaning we dont want) by the crowds that lined the streets and this was an eloquent testimony to the fact that the entire nation, including the north that you claim to represent and be a champion of, is fed up with you and can no longer bear your incompetence and inability to run the affairs of our nation. Worst still hours after your condolence visit Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri itself hitting one of its suburbs called Jiddari Polo. Their leader, a cowardly creature that can best be described as a psychopathic, delusional, sociopathic, mentally deranged, murderous, bloodthirsty, bloodlusting and unconciable monster by the name of Sheik Abubakar Shekau, even had the nerve to send you a public warning in a recorded message released to the public after you left in which he arrogantly and boastfully declared that you must never come back to Borno again or you would be attacked and that you should fear and serve God and not cows. He added the following, Buhari thinks he is a General but God says he is nothing. He hasnt achieved anything in the sight of God. Buhari is deceiving the people and playing to the gallery. Mr. President, he has sent his message to you and to Nigeria and we have heard him loud and clear. Yet most disturbing was not his sheer effrontery but the fact that the only thing that you had to offer the leaders and people of Borno state when you got there was a lame and self-debasing question which was I wonder how Boko Haram still survives? You went further by blaming them for not taking care of local security forgetting that is meant to be your job and not theirs. In your so-called condolence visit you refused to take responsibility for your own inaction and failure and instead you sought to pass the buck to the very victims of terror that you claim to have come to mourn! You refused to inspire and encourage them and instead you accused them of, at best, responsible behaviour and, at worst, collusion with the enemy. This is not just a case of rubbing salt in their wounds but it is more like blowing them up and killing them all over again. Worse still as you spoke your Minister of Defence, who sat just a few feet away from you, fell fast asleep! Mr. President, I really do wonder whether you have any feeling or any compassion at all? Has the milk of human kindness stopped flowing through your veins? Do you know that young students, women, infants and babies were among those that were blown up in the Auno atrocity? Yes you issued a statement immediately but you didnt show up till three days later and your Vice, who was in the country the day it happened, never showed up at all and instead jetted out to President Arap Mois burial in Nairobi! Kindly tell me what the Nigerian people have done to deserve this level of contempt? Or is there more to it than meets the eye? Forgive me Mr. President but I am constrained to ask, why do you love terrorism, bloodshed and violence so much? Why do you find it so easy to forgive terrorists that are slaughtering your own people? Are you feeding your spiritual foundation and getting your power from the spilling of innocent blood? Meanwhile, your own Chief of Army Staff has told us today that: We have defeated insurgency but we are facing the challenge of terrorism. There is no-where you will not find Boko Haram, even in Lagos here, there are Boko Haram. In Kaduna there are Boko Haram. There are more across the North East. Many have been arrested here in Lagos. We have been tracking them. We arrest them and take them into custody. I commend the Chief of Army Staff for his admission of failure but what he didnt add was that after taking them into custody you ordered him to release them and even draft some of them into the Nigerian Army on the spurious grounds that they have repented and that they have been reformed. Again the truth is that neither you or him ever defeated insurgency or anything else. Instead you encouraged and supported it! Both of you have failed the Nigerian people just as I predicted that you would and if you had any decency or honor you would BOTH resign. Aside that it takes a very mean, callous, wicked and cruel President and Commander-in-Chief to release 1,400 terrorists who have murdered, butchered, slaughtered, tortured and maimed his soldiers and terrorized his people over the last 5 years. Mr. President, I am constrained to tell you that some believe that you are a sadist! They believe that your heart is as hard as stone and your soul is as black as night. Relevant and instructive are the words of Mr. Charles Ogbu, a brilliant writer and essayist who has consistently proved that he is not only insightful but also deeply profound. Three days after the Auno bombing he wrote the following: Those who are asking for the sack of the Service Chiefs as a solution to the upsurge in Boko Haram terrorism are missing the point. Nigeria is not being overrun by terrorists because we have a set of incompetent service Chiefs or soldiers who cannot fight the terrorists. Not at all. The only reason the Boko Haram terrorists are having a field day is because we have a President and a Commander-in-Chief who shares the same ideology as the terrorists and as a result prefers pandering to them as opposed to fighting them. He went further: In fact a betting man would bet that the only difference between the Boko Haram terrorists killing, maiming and beheading Nigerians in the Northeast and our President and Commander-In-Chief is in their name and location. One is named Boko Haram and operates from the bush while the other one is named Muhammadu Buhari and operates from Aso Rock. If we were to remove the cloak of fear of detention by state oppressive forces, we would all admit they are both pursuing the same goal and doing a very good job of it. You that is reading this, you know this is exactly what is happening even if you may not want to publicly say it for whatever reason. He concluded by asking: Who rehabilitates and releases captured terrorists back into the wild at a time the terrorists are still visiting death and destruction on his country? Even America with her advanced military doesnt release arrested terrorists in the heat of the war because the chances of these terrorists going back into the wild to continue killing are very high. Mr. President, forgive me for saying so but the verdict is out and Mr. Ogbu has made a valid point. This calls for much soul-searching on your part. I urge you to bear in mind that trading in the blood of your own people and indulging in all manner of barbarity, suppression of dissent, persecution of your perceived enemies and evil comes with a heavy price. Every Pharaoh, Sennacherub, Herod, Jezebel and Nebuchadnezzar has a bad end. Every tyrant, no matter how powerful and highly placed, will eventually account to God and the people for his brutality and wickedness. Yours will be no different. Anyone that doubts that should consider the plight of the Sudans former President, General Al Bashir. As the great black American Nation of Islam leader and one of my favourite heroes, Malcom X, once said the chickens have finally come home to roost. This has always been the case and it will always be the case. It is only a matter of time. Over the last 5 years, hundreds of thousands have died under your watch and almost all have been killed by those from your core northern region. You turned a blind eye to it and even encouraged it. Today belongs to you but let me assure you that tomorrow belongs to those of us that you have killed, persecuted, oppressed and treated with disdain and contempt. On the 11th of February, at the burial ceremony of the 18 year old Christian martyr Nnandi Michael (the Seminarean that was abducted and later murdered by Fulani herdsmen) the respected Catholic cleric Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, a man of immense moral authority and intellectual vigour, courageously admonished you before the entire world, spoke the bitter truth and reflected the thoughts of millions from all over the country. Amongst many other things he said the following: This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian. He did not stop there but went on to say: We are being told that this situation has nothing to do with Religion. Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power. Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die? If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? He then said: The Fulani, his (President Muhammadu Buhari) innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country. He added: Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is on the crossroads and its future hangs precariously in a balance. This is a wakeup call for us. As St. Paul reminds us; The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. It is time to face and dispel the clouds of evil that hover over us. On our part, I believe that this is a defining moment for Christians and Christianity in Nigeria. We Christians must be honest enough to accept that we have taken so much for granted and made so much sacrifice in the name of nation building. We accepted President Buhari when he came with General Idiagbon, two Muslims and two northerners. We accepted Abiola and Kingibe, thinking that we had crossed the path of religion, but we were grossly mistaken. When Jonathan became President, and Senator David Mark remained Senate President while Patricia Ette was chosen by the South West became a Speaker. The Muslim members revolted and forced her resignation with lies and forgery. The same House would shamelessly say that they had no records of her indictment. Today, we are living with a Senate whose entire leadership is in the hands of Muslims. Christians have continued to support them. For how long shall we continue on this road with different ambitions? Christians must rise up and defend their faith with all the moral weapons they have. I assure you that these were not the words of Bishop Kukah alone but rather the Holy Spirit speaking through him. He spoke the mind and the oracles of the Living God and you would do well to humble yourself, take heed and appreciate the Lords admonition and counsel. Let us hope that you disregard the advice of the hardliners around you, learn from these words and change your dastardly ways though I doubt that you will. Whatever the case and whatever you choose to do or not to do, know this: the die is cast, Caesar has crossed the Rubicon, the horse has bolted from the stable, the cat is out of the bag, our eyes have been opened, we have lost all sense of fear and Nigeria can NEVER be the same again. Mr. President, here ends my counsel to you but let me to end this contribution with a closer look at the north that you love so much and that you seek to empower and enthrone forever. According to the World Bank 87% of poor people in Nigeria are in the North. One wonders what 58 years of northern oppression, tyranny, aggression, manipulation and hegemony over Nigeria has actually done for the northern masses. Since independence mass poverty, terrorism, religious bigotry, ethnic hegemony, Islamic fundamentalism, arrogance, born to rule syndrome, the worship of cows, ignorance, disease, hate, racism, feudalism, pedophilia, child marriage, VVF, gender inequality, male chauvinism, the persecution of Christians, the suppression of women, corruption, deceit, greed, ingratitude, a sense of entitlement, tyranny, insensitivity, bloodshed, genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass murder and gratuitous violence have all been deeply embedded in and associated with the core north. Worse still, according to UNICEF, if Nigeria were to ever break up the core north would be the poorest spot on planet Earth. I guess this is why northerners keep screaming one Nigeria and threatening the lives and liberty of those that do not share their view. Without Nigeria they would be groping in the dark, wobbling on their feet and literally starve to death. All this yet they insist that they were born to rule and that southerners and Middle Belters were born to serve them and be their slaves! Professor Yusuf Dankofa of the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University who happens to be a northerner himself put it in very clear terms and spoke the bitter truth when he wrote the following: I think the north is only interested in power and nothing more.The sweetness of power and the allure it brings is what appeals to them and not work. If not, how can a region be so decimated by its own internal contradictions and trudge on as if the region is not regressing. In the face of calamity, what you see is eerie silence, since power is with their elites who are thoroughly dependent on public treasury to survive.The poor too draws happiness from the fact that power is in the hands of their elites even if they will die of poverty and insurgency. We are happy that power is with us even though we dont know what to do with it.This mindset will definitely lead others to seek to move out of the union. You cant slow down your own progress and those of others and expect them to clap for you. Dankofa is absolutely right! What a people! What a country! Yet I do not blame the core northerners: I blame southern and Middle Belt politicians and leaders who have refused to unite and who have failed to resist them and stand up to them over the last 58 years. The history of our nation records that there were a few great men of remarkable courage, extraordinary fortitude and immense valour that not only did their best but were also gallant, fearless, selfless and outstanding in their quest to deliver our people. Some of them were martyred and others were jailed whilst all suffered an unprecedented and unbearable level of humiliation and persecution. Yet despite it all they continued the struggle. They identified and understood the problem and fought hard in their respective ways to fix it and deliver our people from northern hegemony, domination and bondage but sadly they all failed. The new generation of southern and Middle Belt leaders must NOT fail because this is the last lap. For our generation failure is NOT an option. We have no choice but to use all lawful and non-violent means to break the yoke of subjugation, servitude, slavery and bondage and to succeed in our quest for total liberation. If we fail to do so future generations of our people shall NEVER be free again. We need the prayers of the saints and the fasting and supplications of the intercessors, the Prophets, the men and women of God and the Body of Christ! We need the Holy Spirit of the Living God: the El Shaddai, the Elohim and the Adonai. We need the Man of War, the Comforter, the Lord of Hosts and the Ancient of Days! We need a great deliverer: a Moses, a Joshua, a Caleb, a David, a Cyrus, a Samson, a Gideon, a Jeptha, an Esther and a Jehu all rolled into one. We need men and women of courage to pick up the gauntlet, take up the challenge and lead us in this great and cataclysmic battle and this monumental struggle. We need to close ranks, build bridges among ourselves and forget past hurts, past disputes and past disagreements and agree to be totally and completely united. Finally, we need to look within ourselves and firmly resolve that it would be better to live a short life and die as free men than live a long one and live as slaves. We fight not for ourselves but for future generations of our family, our lineage, our loved ones and our compatriots. God forbid that they should have to live through the hell that we had to suffer called Nigeria: a land where the accursed rule over the blessed and where slaves ride on horseback whilst Princes and Kings walk around in bare feet. Industry leaders from 35 countries and 6 continents to attend the #1 metals and mining conference in the world Company presentations accessible via Webcast BMO Research analysts available for comment NEW YORK and TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Capital Markets will host its 29th Global Metals & Mining Conference from February 23 to February 26, 2020 in Hollywood, Florida. Our annual conference brings together metals and mining industry leaders and institutional investors from around the world more than 1,400 professionals representing approximately 500 organizations. The event is considered a barometer of industry sentiment for the year to come, featuring presentations from some of the world's largest metals and mining companies. Notable panel discussions this year include: ESG Implications and Opportunities; China and Commodity Market Dynamics and Innovations in Mining Technology. "The BMO Global Metals & Mining Conference is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the sector. Our firm has been a dominant force in metals and mining for more than a century, serving clients in achieving their strategic objectives," said Jamie Rogers, Co-Head of Global Metals and Mining, BMO Capital Markets. "We are honoured to again host senior executives and investors in the industry at our flagship event, reinforcing the thought leadership and deep sector knowledge associated with BMO Capital Markets," said Ilan Bahar, Co-Head of Global Metals and Mining, BMO Capital Markets. Some of the companies scheduled to present at the conference include: Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) Alcoa (AA) Anglo American (AAL) (AAL) AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) Antofagasta (ANTO) (ANTO) B2Gold (BTO) Barrick Gold (ABX) (ABX) BHP Billiton (BLT) Boliden (BOL) Cameco (CCO) Evolution Mining (EVN) First Quantum Minerals (FM) Franco- Nevada (FNV) (FNV) Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Fortescue (FMG) Ganfeng Lithium (1772) Ivanhoe (IVN) Kinross Gold (KGC) (KGC) Kirkland Lake Gold (KL) (KL) Lundin Mining (LUN) Newcrest Mining (NCM) Newmont Mining (NEM) Northern Star (NST) Nucor (NUE) Nutrien (NTR) Pan American Silver (PAAS) Polyus (PLZL) Reliance Steel & Aluminum (RS) Royal Gold (RGLD) (RGLD) Sibanye-Stillwater (SGL) South32 (S32) Steel Dynamics (STLD) Teck Resources (TECK) Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) Yamana (YRI) The event is hosted by the BMO Capital Markets' Metals & Mining Equity Research team. The bank's metals & mining specialists are part of a team of equity analysts across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. that together covers approximately 920 equities globally. With 11 analysts dedicated to the sector, our Metals & Mining Equity Research team has one of the largest coverage universes of metals, mining and fertilizer companies in the world. BMO Capital Markets has been advising companies in the metals & mining industry for more than a century. For eleven consecutive years, including this year, Global Finance Magazine has recognized BMO Capital Markets as the best investment bank for metals and mining in the world. News media who would like a copy of the agenda, access to Webcast presentations, or to request a telephone interview about the conference and market sentiment are asked to please contact BMO Media Relations (information below). About BMO Capital Markets BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American-based financial services provider offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of products and services including equity and debt underwriting, corporate lending and project financing, mergers and acquisitions advisory services, securitization, treasury management, market risk management, debt and equity research and institutional sales and trading. With approximately 2,700 professionals in 33 locations around the world, including 19 offices in North America, BMO Capital Markets works proactively with clients to provide innovative and integrated financial solutions. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO) one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with $852 billion total assets as at October 31, 2019. SOURCE BMO Financial Group : A 17-year old tribal student died under suspicious circumstances at a shopping mall here after he was caught by security guards for allegedly 'stealing' chocolates, police said on Tuesday. The parents of boy alleged that their son was beaten to death by the security guards in the incident that occurred on Sunday night while police said CCTV footage showed there was no manhandling and further investigation was on. The boy collapsed while being frisked by security guards and rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said. According to police inspector A Venkataiah, the boy, a second year Intermediate student of a private junior college and staying in hostel, had gone to the mall along with his friends when it was about to close. He had allegedly picked up some chocolates and kept them in his pocket. "The boy threw the chocolates after seeing the security personnel and collapsed when the security guards were frisking him. We have verified CCTV footage which clearly shows that the boy was not manhandled by the security, but was being questioned," he told PTI. They suspect cardiac arrest could have been the cause of death, but only a post-mortem would reveal the exact reason, he added. The parents of the boy demanded action against the mall authorities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In this Jan. 20, 2012 file photo, a visitor walks in a Vodafone store in Bangalore. Vodafone Idea is in trouble over its payments to the Department of Telecom. (PTI) New Delhi: Amid talk of the government encashing its bank guarantee over default in payment of dues, Vodafone Idea chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla met Union telecom secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday as he looked for options to keep the company afloat. After the meeting, Kumar Mangalam Birla said he cannot say anything at the moment." Vodafone Idea on Monday paid Rs 2,500 crore to the Department of Telecom (DoT) and promised to pay another Rs 1,000 crore before the end of the week. But the amount paid is less than 5 per cent of the dues that DoT estimates the company owes to the government following a Supreme Court ruling that asked for including non-telecom revenues of telecom companies in computing statutory payments such as licence fee and spectrum charges. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop DoT from taking any coercive steps for recovery of dues from Vodafone Idea. In December, Birla had said Vodafone Idea may have to shut if there is no relief on the statutory dues. If we are not getting anything, then I think it is the end of the story for Vodafone Idea, he had said. It does not make sense to put good money after bad... We will shut shop." Shares of Vodafone Idea on Tuesday tanked over 16 per cent due to a rating downgrade by CARE Ratings. On the BSE, the stock plunged 14.91 per cent to trade at Rs 2.91 in early market hours. Later it was trading with a loss of 8.77 per cent at Rs 3.12. The scrip plummeted to a low of Rs 2.85, down 16.17 per cent, on the NSE. It was trading 7.35 per cent lower at Rs 3.15. Vodafone Idea on Monday said Care Ratings has downgraded rating on its long-term bank facilities and non-convertible debentures. The downgrade is on account of significant erosion in the overall risk profile of the company in the wake of absence of relief on modification plea relating to AGR dues on February 14. The 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho has evacuated some 21 persons including a lady believed to be receiving military training from a secessionists group - Homeland Study Group Foundation, in thickets of Kpevedue and Fievue, a twin community on the Ghana-Togo border in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. The 'recruits' were rounded up in a dawn operation by the military following weeks of surveillance. Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Baba Pantoah, Commanding Officer, 66 Artillery Regiment, told the media they picked intelligence of illegal military training camp in the thickets and launched operation at dawn with over 40 military officers and men and two crime scene investigators from the Police Service. He said during the operation, five of the 'recruits' including their instructors escaped but one was arrested later. The Commanding Officer said the operations were not over and that they were on the heels of the secessionists and working hard to flush them out. The Ghana News Agency was told the 'recruits' between 19 and 30 years were told they were being trained for the Ghana Army and made to submit their academic certificates and to pay GH800 each. The thickets have natural cover and natural obstacles for 'intruders' and offer a safe haven for the 'recruits' in a valley with a stream. Justine Abotsi, 21, the only female among the 'recruits' said she came from Anlo Afiadenyigba and reported for the training ten days ago after she received calls of her selection to be trained as a farm hand for a company abroad. She said it was after she got to the training camp and had her mobile phones seized that she realised it was a military training camp. Emmanuel Tannor, 19, and six others who came from Accra to the training camp said they were told Western Togoland had attained independence and was recruiting soldiers. He said they met another group at the camp said to have completed training and going on "peace keeping". Mr Anthony Avorgbedor, Ketu North Municipal Chief Executive, said he was surprised illegal military training camp was being run in the Municipality and commended the military for the quick response. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Toronto police were called to the home of Ontario Premier Doug Ford to investigate a suspicious package, his office said Tuesday. There were no details on what exactly was in the package, but a statement from the premiers office said that it was determined to be a mixture of non-toxic materials. Police confirmed they were called to a house in the Eglinton and Kipling area in Etobicoke. They have since deemed the package safe and given the all-clear. Another source told the Star that the premiers wife, Karla, was home at the time and received the parcel in the mail. Everyone is safe, the source said. Read more about: KAMPALA Extractives firm Tullow Oil is wallowing in a cocktail of problems with job cuts announced particularly in Kenya, a market directly related to Uganda projecting its current predicament. The Standard Newspaper of Kenya, in an expansive inquiry into the companys affairs in its Tuesday, February 18 edition holds the company solely responsible for dashing Kenyas oil dream. Tullow Oil last week indicated it would lay off about 35 workers in Kenya as if continues to struggle while in Uganda, the company has already cut back on its operations and shown willingness to dispose of a huge part of its stake in the countrys oil industry. The Daily Monitor newspaper reported last week that the action, according to analysts, has been a result of deepening financial woes, especially in Ghana. Its Cape Town and Dublin offices are facing closure while the total workforce will be reduced by a third to 650, according to a Reuters report. Related The Tripura Police here on Tuesday obtained a four-day transit remand of former state chief secretary Yashpal Singh, a key accused in a multi-crore PWD scam. Kavi Nagar SHO Mohammad Aslam said the former chief secretary has been taken to Tripura. The former chief secretary had been evading arrest for almost five months. He was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad in a joint operation by the police of the two states. The Tripura Police had last year issued an arrest warrant against former PWD minister Badal Choudhury, former PWD engineer-in-chief Sunil Bhowmik and ex-chief secretary Yashpal Singh in connection with the Rs 600-crore scam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON Britain issued severe flood warnings Monday, advising of life-threatening danger after Storm Dennis dumped weeks worth of rain in some places. One woman swept away by the floodwaters was feared dead. To the east, Dennis gale-force winds also left nine people injured in Germany as their vehicles crashed into broken trees littering roads and train tracks. Flooding and power outages were reported elsewhere in northern Europe. Britain issued six severe flood warnings Monday in the central counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Environment Agency also said 205 flood warnings were in place, meaning that flooding was expected and 254 alerts, meaning flooding was possible. The storms death toll of two looked certain to rise as West Mercia police said the search for a woman missing near Tenbury in Worcestershire since Sunday had become a recovery operation. A man pulled from the water in the same incident was airlifted to a hospital, where he remained in stable condition, police said. The weather system brought winds of more than 90 mph and up to 6 inches of rain to Britain over the weekend. And the soaking is not over. We expect disruptive weather into the middle of this week bringing a significant flood risk for the West Midlands, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England, said Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at Britains Environment Agency. Forecasters said river levels in parts of northern England had yet to reach their peak. In the northern England city of York, authorities were piling up more than 4,000 sandbags as the River Ouse continued to rise. Its expected to peak on Tuesday. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Other residents in Wales and western England were cleaning up Monday after the storm flooded roads, railways, homes and businesses and disrupted travel across Britain. Britains environment secretary said climate change was making extreme weather events more common. He denied that Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government was unprepared for such storms. Well never be able to protect every single household, just because of the nature of climate change and the fact that these weather events are becoming more extreme, but weve done everything that we can do with a significant sum of money, Environment Secretary George Eustice said. Danica Kirka and Jan M. Olsen are Associated Press writers. Latvian government has signed a 1.4-million ($1.5 million) contract for the construction of the countrys pavilion at the upcoming mega Expo 2020 event in Dubai, said the European nation's economy minister Ralfs Nemiro. The government had previously approved allocation of 4.4 million from the state budget for the countrys participation in the Middle East and Asia region's biggest event. Later, however, after terminating the contract with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (the entity in charge for countrys participation in the expo), a new solution was found - renting the pavilion from the UAE, stated the minister. According to Nemiro, these costs account for the pavilions construction. "The rent contract with the UAE provides for partners from the two countries to participate in construction procurement procedures and other organisational affairs. Additionally, the UAE will be responsible for dismantling the pavilion after the expo," stated the minister. According to Nemiro, Latvias pavilion will be built on time and the idea will be similar to the one presented by Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "The structure will be adapted to Dubais climate, which is something that was not properly considered in the previous project," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Leif William Gunhus, 54, of Colorado Springs, Colo., passed away suddenly at his home on Feb. 10, 2020. He was born June 28, 1965, in Rochester, the son of Lorry and Sharon (Lang) Gunhus of West Concord and baptized at Gol Lutheran Church in Kenyon. He attended school in West Concord, where he was a very accomplished athlete in three sports, earned his Eagle Scout, and graduated in 1984, as the salutatorian of his class. After high school, Leif attended the United States Military Academy Prep School and then went on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a BS in geography in 1989. Commissioned in the Field Artillery, Leif attended Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. Leif's assignments in the U.S. Army included stations in Germany, Oklahoma, and Colorado, with tours in both Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 24 years of honorable service, Leif's decorations and badges include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. Leif had a strong sense of community and was very active in the VFWs of Kenyon and the American Legion in Colorado Springs assisting in many community activities and serving in the color guards for both units. Leif is survived by his brother, Erik (Amy Evancho) Gunhus of Tampa, Fla.; sister, Kaia (Jeff) Goodell of Stafford, Va.; nephews, Gunnar Goodell and Gus Goodell; and niece, Annika Goodell. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lorry and Sharon Gunhus; his paternal grandparents, Ole and Belle Gunhus of Kenyon; and maternal grandparents, Leora and Carl Lang of Winona. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at West Concord Historical Society. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at West Concord Historical Society with Pastor Marvin Kormann officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Gol Lutheran Cemetery in Kenyon. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials and donations to the Kenyon VFW Color guard, Colorado Springs American Legion Post 209 Color Guard, West Concord Historical Society, or West Concord Community Pool. Two underground construction packages of Ho Chi Minh Citys first-ever metro route have been joined as workers tore down a wall that separated the construction sites on Monday, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the project. The connection of construction packages CP1a and CP1b means the entire length of the metro line, which runs nearly 20 kilometers between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and the newly built Eastern Bus Terminal in neighboring Binh Duong Province, is now fully connected. Comprising Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theater and Ba Son Stations, the CP1b package, whose construction began in August 2014, has had 80 percent of the work completed. Meanwhile, 65 percent of the CP1a package, which started in November 2016 and runs from the opera house through Ben Thanh Station, has been done. Huynh Hong Thanh, deputy head of the municipal Management Authority for Urban Railways, said 71 percent of the workload for the entire metro line had been completed as of Monday. The above-ground section of the line was put into place in June 2018. The underground section of Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No.1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The agency is working hard to speed up the construction, ensuring that 85 percent of the four-package project will be completed this year, Thanh continued. The city will receive its first shipment of trains for the metro route in June 2020. The metro line is expected to be commercially launched in late 2021, he added. People work at the construction site of Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No.1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Funded in part through an official development assistance loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the metro route No.1 runs 19.7 kilometers through District 1, District 2, District 9, Binh Thanh District, and Thu Duc District, as well as neighboring Binh Duong Province. Since construction began in 2012, it has faced a multitude of problems including slow disbursement, delays, and personnel-related issues. The underground section of Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No.1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre A man works at the construction site of Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No.1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre People work at the construction site of Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No.1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 18.02.2020 LISTEN The leadership of LeadAfrique International has called on the Greater Accra President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, Mr. Emmanuel Fiemawhle, to present the Basics in Integrity curriculum. The Basics in Integrity consists of a Teachers Manual, a Students Reader and Animation series. Funded by STAR-Ghana Foundation, LeadAfrique International has worked in close collaboration with the National Council of Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) and Dr. Charles Oppong of the Department of Arts Education of the University of Cape Coast to develop this curriculum that teaches integrity in a systematic way for increased impact. Speaking during the launch, Simon Ngigi, Managing Director, Longhorn Publishers noted among other things that, theres the need for a collective effort to inculcate virtues and integrity in the younger generation. He said, we need our children to know that integrity is more than just being honest. Its about doing what is right for the right reasons and thus we must emphasize a value-based education system in order to impart integrity and ethics in our children at a young age to allow them to become better citizens. Mr. Fiemawhle also expressed great interest in this call and agreed that teaching students Integrity from an early age was the right way to go in drastically reducing, if not eradicating corruption. If the 45 members under the CHASS umbrella will find a way to teach the value of integrity in their schools, over 50,000 children and their ecosystem will live a life of Integrity, he explained. We believe our collective efforts to adhere to the principles of integrity will transform every area of the society. This has been demonstrated by Jon Hunstman in building his multibillion company. LeadsAfrique is of the view that doing the right thing,is the right thing to do which in the end will make Ghana more successful. LeadAfrique International is advocating for the integration of the integrity curriculum in Ghanaian schools for all young people to live with Integrity. Our strategy builds on proven strategies in other countries. For example, the respected Professor PLO Lumumba co-authored thirteen books on integrity in Kenya. TROY A 64-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday in Rensselaer County Court to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty in January to a sex crime involving a child, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said. Charles Romano of Schodack pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to a single count of course of sexual conduct against a child. Romano admitted that for more than three months he engaged in two or more sexual acts with a child less than 11 years old, the spokeswoman said. UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, as he visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received the UN Secretary General at Kartarpur Sahib, some 125kms from Lahore. A Sikh boy presented him a bouquet. Guterres was also briefed about the Kartarpur Corridor pact between Pakistan and India. He was told that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took this initiative to facilitate the Sikh community of India and elsewhere to visit the shrine. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. Wearing an orange scarf, Guterres visited different parts of the Gurdwara. He was served with traditional food in lunch along with Sikhs and Pakistani officials. Strict security measures were taken during the visit. Indian Sikhs in good number were also present at Kartarpur Sahib. Later talking to media persons, the UN Secretary General said the Kartarpur Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, Radio Pakistan reported. He said the opening of the corridor is a good step and it will promote tolerance and interfaith harmony. The UN chief appreciated the facilities being provided to Sikh pilgrims at the complex. Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019 in connection with the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor from the Indian side on the same day by flagging off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims, including former premier Manmohan Singh and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and urged them to focus on new technologies. He termed climate change as the major issue the world is facing today. He also inaugurated a polio campaign. Pakistan is one of the three countries where polio is still endemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) They protest against the decision to put potentially infected people at local Medobory sanatorium for quarantine Ternopil region citizens protest against the accommodation of Ukrainians evacuated from China. February 18 Unian In the Ternopil region, western Ukraine, people set up the roadblocks and protest against hosting of people evacuated from Chinese Wuhan at local Medobory sanatorium, as UNIAN reported. It is known that the roadblocks were built at the entrance to Konopkivka village, Terebovlia district, where Medobory sanatorium is situated. 15 people are on duty at the roadblocks; the police officers stay with them. In the morning on February 18, the protest was held in Mykulyntsi, not far from Konopkivka. About 300 people gathered there. All of them stood against the accommodation of Ukrainians evacuated from China to Medobory sanatorium as people are afraid of the possible infection with Chinese coronavirus and believe that the establishment is not suitable for such purposes. The local mass media started to spread information that the evacuated people will be transferred to this region for quarantine. Ternopil regional state administration could not provide any particular information and did not confirm or refute the information. The locals stated that the representatives of the control authorities came to the sanatorium to check whether it is ready to host over 90 people. As we reported earlier, Ukraine will also evacuate citizens of the Russian Federation, Germany, Belarus and other countries from the Chinese city of Wuhan. According to Arsen Avakov, Ukraine's Interior Minister, each of them will also be monitored and will have to sign their consent to the observation. Foreign countries will pay Ukraine for the evacuation of their citizens. As we reported earlier, people with symptoms of coronavirus will not be allowed to enter the board of the plane, which is expected to evacuates the citizens of Ukraine from Wuhan. On February 18, the plane for Ukrainians will set out to China; it should return on Thursday, February 20. J eff Bezos has said he will commit $10 billion (7.7bn) to help fight climate change. The Amazon chief, who is the worlds richest man, said the cash would fund scientists, activists and charities fighting to protect the environment. Bezos said climate change is the biggest threat to our planet as he announced what he called the Bezos Earth Fund on Monday. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," Bezos said in an Instagram post. Bezos is among a growing list of billionaires to dedicate substantial funds to battling the impact of global warming. The Bezos Earth Fund will begin issuing grants this summer as part of the initiative. "It's going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals," Bezos said. Counteracting climate change has become a popular cause for US billionaires in recent years. Microsoft's Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg and hedge fund manager Tom Steyer are counted among the world's wealthiest environmental philanthropists. Last year, Bezos pledged to make online retailer Amazon net carbon neutral by 2040 - the first major corporation to announce such a goal. He also said at the time that Amazon would meet the goals of the Paris climate accord 10 years ahead of the accord's schedule and invest $100 million to restore forests and wetlands. The e-commerce company delivers 10 billion items a year, has a massive transportation and data centre footprint, and has faced criticism from within its own workforce. Amazon has faced protests by environmental activists and pressure from its employees to take action on climate change. Its workers were among hundreds of employees of big technology companies to join climate-change marches in San Francisco and Seattle late last year, saying their employers had been too slow to tackle global warming and needed to take more drastic action. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an activist workers group, welcomed the Bezos Earth Fund announcement but said it did not make up for the company's consumption of fossil fuels and other activities that contribute to climate change. MELBOURNE, Fla., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh Flight LLC is pleased to announce the launch of Fresh Flight (patent pending), disposable seat covers for airplane travel, the latest travel related product designed to offer travelers a healthier option when flying. Fresh Flight seat covers provide travelers a protective barrier between them and the germs, bacteria and filth found on airplane seats. The Fresh Flight package contains a Fresh Flight clean sheet seat cover and an antimicrobial wipe, while the Fresh Flight Plus package contains the seat cover, antimicrobial wipe and a face mask to help protect against airborne particles. Both are easily affixed to the headrest on an airplane seat, taking only seconds to apply. According to an analysis done by Marketplace Host Charlsie Agro, published on 26 Oct. 2018 for "Marketplace," a CBC consumer watchdog news series, headrests and seat-pockets are among the dirtiest surfaces one can touch on an airplane. The final report claimed headrests are the dirtiest surface on airplanes, carrying hemolytic bacteria, E. coli, and the highest aerobic count (used as an indicator of bacterial populations on a surface). In another article written by Jillian Kramer, published 7 Jan. 2020 on MarthaStewart.com, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, viruses and diseases, MRSA, E. coli, for ex., can be spread through contact with an airplane's surfaces, including your seat. Driven by the desire to travel in a cleaner, healthier environment, road warrior Aaron Lew created and founded the Fresh Flight company. "I spent countless hours in dirty airplanes and always felt gross when I arrived at my destination," Lew said. "My wife, Amy, always worried about keeping our 3 children safe from germs while traveling. We're excited to bring this product to market, especially when cases of travel related illnesses are growing." The Fresh Flight clean sheets are disposable, small and lightweight enough to fit in a purse, briefcase or backpack. A Fresh Flight single package costs $8.99 and Fresh Flight Plus costs $9.99, less than half the price of similar products. The product, American made, can be purchased by visiting the company website at www.FlyFreshFlight.com. About Fresh Flight, Inc. Fresh Flight LLC, a woman-owned business, was founded in 2019 to provide travelers a healthier option to sitting on dirty, germ-filled airplane seats. Made in America, Fresh Flight products are affordable, lightweight and disposable clean sheets that are placed on airplane seats. The seat cover is another layer of a bundled approach to help protect yourself. The seat cover provides a barrier between you and the public surface. Visit Fresh Flight at www.FlyFreshFlight.com or Facebook. Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12810908 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Fresh Flight LLC Related Links https://flyfreshflight.com Libya rebels claim to have 'destroyed' Turkish cargo ship in Tripoli Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 2:52 PM Armed rebels under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar in Libya claim they have destroyed a Turkish cargo ship carrying ammunition and weapons at the port of Tripoli. "The Turkish ship loaded with weapons and ammunition [that] docked this morning in the port of Tripoli was destroyed," said a statement on the rebels' Facebook account on Tuesday, without providing more details. There was no immediate reaction from Turkey, which sides with the internationally recognized government of Libya. Other reports said that the Turkish ship, docked at Tripoli's port, had been targeted by artillery fire, and photos circulated on social media showing a large plume of smoke in the area. Ghassan Salame, the UN's Libya envoy, confirmed that the port had been attacked but did not give details. Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in Libya: the universally recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar. The rebel leader, who is primarily supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, launched a deadly offensive to capture the capital, Tripoli, the seat of the GNA, in April last year. Despite intense fighting, Haftar has so far failed to achieve his objective of ousting the GNA, and the offensive has stalled outside the capital. Last month, officials from Turkey, Russia, Egypt, France, Italy, Britain, and the United States gathered in the German capital of Berlin to help establish a permanent ceasefire in Libya. Sarraj and Haftar were also present in the summit. The final communique of the summit called on all the parties concerned in the conflict "to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire." Participants also pledged not to interfere in Libya's internal affairs and its conflict and agreed to "fully respect" the arms embargo imposed on the North African country by the UN in 2011. However, Haftar refused to sign the joint communique. The development comes just a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Libyan rebels were constantly violating the fragile ceasefire and that Haftar "must be stopped." Turkey has been reportedly transferring allied militants from Syria to Libya to shore up the government of the North African country. Formerly, the Libyan rebels briefly impounded a Turkish vessel on the suspicion that it was carrying weapons for the government. On Monday, UN Deputy Special Representative to Libya Stephanie Williams described the situation in the North African country as "deeply troubling", saying that more than 150 violations had been reported since the ceasefire was agreed last month. She also condemned the ongoing breaches of a UN weapons embargo on Libya. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 04:18:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lights up the sky over Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Oct. 7, 2018. U.S. (Xinhua/Li Ying) SpaceX plans to launch into space about 12,000 Starlink satellites by 2024, preluding a greater plan to launch 30,000 additional ones, bringing the total to 42,000. WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private space company SpaceX launched its fifth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on Monday, in an effort to build at minimum a 12,000-strong satellite network capable of providing broadband internet services. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the satellites, lifted off at 10:05 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (1505 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force, Florida, according to a live broadcast by SpaceX. SpaceX designed Starlink to provide continual internet coverage around the world, using a network of satellites in low-Earth orbit. Falcon 9's reusable first stage missed a landing on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. It didn't appear as scheduled upon the drone ship about nine minutes after the liftoff, according to the live broadcast. This first stage previously launched two supply missions for the International Space Station in May and July of 2019, and the JCSAT-18/Kacific1 mission in December of 2019. About 15 minutes after the liftoff, the satellites were deployed. They will be moved into their intended orbits and operational altitude of 550 km after checks take place, according to SpaceX. SpaceX plans to launch into space about 12,000 Starlink satellites by 2024, and has revealed a bigger plan to launch 30,000 additional ones, bringing the total to 42,000. Each Starlink satellite weights approximately 260 kg and features a compact, flat-panel design that minimizes volume, allowing for a dense launch stack to take full advantage of Falcon 9's launch capabilities, according to SpaceX. The company's internet service will be available in the northern United States and Canada at some point this year, with global coverage planned for 2021. Lady Amelia Windsor put on a stylish display as she made a quick change to flit between parties at London Fashion Week on Monday. The 24-year-old fashion muse, who is the granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, oozed understated glamour as she rocked a more daring look, before switching to a monochrome ensemble. Model Amelia, who is 36th in line to the British throne, is signed to Storm Models and has modelled for the likes of D&G. Lady Amelia Windsor put on a stylish display as she made a quick change to flit between parties at London Fashion Week on Monday. Arriving at the LOVE Magazine LFW Party, which celebrated issue 23 at The Standard, Amelia opted for a plunging lilac negligee-inspired camisole dress with lace edging Proving she can rock any look, Amelia soon swapped the look for a business inspired ensemble at the International Woolmark Prize 19/20 Final at the University of Westminster Arriving at the LOVE Magazine LFW Party, which celebrated issue 23 at The Standard, Amelia opted for a plunging lilac negligee-inspired camisole dress with lace edging. The model teamed it with diamonte sandals and a nineties style handbag, keeping her accessories simple with a single gold chain. And proving she can rock any look, Amelia soon swapped the look for a business inspired ensemble at the International Woolmark Prize 19/20 Final at the University of Westminster. Rocking a matching skirt and blazer, she teamed it with a crisp white shirt and injected a splash of colour with snake print boots. Amelia was later pictured rocking a faux fur trim checked wool coat as she left the parties with pals. Amelia was later pictured rocking a faux fur trim checked wool coat as she left the parties with pals Amelia soon swapped the look for a business inspired ensemble at the International Woolmark Prize 19/20 Final at the University of Westminster Amelia has modelled for the likes of Dolce &Gabbana and designed her own range of accessories in collaboration with Penelope Chilvers. She is represented by Storm models, which represents the likes of Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne. Additionally she has been named as a contributing editor in Tatler Magazine, and reportedly interned at jewellery house Bulgari, during her time studying at Edinburgh university. Despite most of the royals keeping their private life off social media, Amelia is a big fan of Instagram and regularly shares glimpses at her glamorous life with her followers. She previously told Vogue UK about Instagram: 'It allows anyone to be creative and imaginative. I also love that we can share all the beautiful and meaningful things we see and hear in the world. I find it so inspiring and uplifting.' The society beauty, who is 36th in line to the British throne, was also named among Vanity Fair's 2017 Best Dressed List. She is the daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, and his wife, Sylvana Tomaselli, the granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince Harry's third cousin. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematode worms or blood flukes of genus Schistosoma . It is usually prevalent in the tropical and subtropical countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2013, 261 million people sought treatment for schistosomiasis . Schistosomiasis is frequently observed among poor people with poor access to hygienic sanitation and clean drinking water. Normally, people who come in contact with contaminated freshwater get infected. The contamination occurs when infected individuals urinate or defecate in freshwater and release the parasitic worms into the water. The worms breed within snails or water buffaloes and are released into the freshwater. Individuals who bathe, wash clothes, or swim in the water, get infected when the worms penetrate their skin. Worms may live in humans for a timespan ranging from 5 to 30 years. According to WHO, 90% of infected individuals in the world are in Africa. The transmission of the disease does not occur between humans. There are 2 types of schistosomiasis: Urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma haematobium and is observed in Corsica (France), Africa, and the Middle East . is caused by and is observed in Corsica (France), Africa, and the Middle East Intestinal schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni, S. intercalatum, S. guineensis,and S. mekongi. These species have been observed in the Middle East, China, Indonesia, Brazil, certain regions of Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, the Philippines, the Caribbean, Suriname, and central Africa. Life cycle of Schistosoma worms The female worms, in humans, release eggs in the blood vessels. Some eggs infect other organs within the body and cause immune reactions. Some eggs are released out of the body through feces or urine where they survive for a week. Eggs released in water, hatch and release larvae. The larvae find snails to penetrate and mature into the next stage called cercaria. During the subsequent 4 to 6 weeks, these cercariae develop within the snails and then move back into the water to survive for 72 hours. During this period, if they come into contact with human skin, they penetrate the body, and develop into the next stage called schistosomule. The schistosomules move into the blood vessels and enter organs of the abdomen. During the next 4 to 6 weeks, these schistosomules mature, mate, and lay eggs. The eggs either remain in the organ, move out into the blood vessels, or are released out of the body to continue their life cycle if they find snails. The signs and symptoms of schistosomiasis are caused due to reaction of the human body to eggs that are released into the blood vessels. Based on the stage of the infection, the symptoms vary. In the initial stage of infection, the individual may experience itchiness and rash. Eventually, within 1 to 2 months, individuals start to develop muscle ache, fever, chills, and cough. Chronic schistosomiasis hampers the individuals ability to work and may even result in death. Schistosomiasis that affects children results in diminished learning capabilities, anemia, and stunting due to malnutrition. These effects may be reversed with adequate treatment. Clinical features of urogenital schistosomiasis are as follows: Predominant feature of blood in the urine (haematuria) Infection of prostate and seminal vesicles in males Damage to the bladder and bladder cancer observed in the later stage Damage to kidneys and ureters observed in later stages Vaginal bleeding, nodules in the vulva, genital lesions, and pain during intercourse, observed in females Infertility Clinical features of intestinal schistosomiasis are as follows: Diarrhea, blood in stools, abdominal pain Splenomegaly (enlargement of spleen) Enlargement of liver (hepatomegaly) High blood pressure in portal veins, the veins that connect the spleen, stomach and intestines to the liver Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity in later stages In rare instances, eggs may penetrate the spinal cord or brain and cause paralysis, spinal cord inflammation, and seizures. Diagnosis of schistosomiasis is based on: Detection of antigens or antibodies in the urine or blood. Detection of schistosome eggs in urine and stool samples. Intestinal schistosomiasis may be diagnosed by the Kato-Katz method that is used to detect parasitic eggs in fecal samples. In this method, cellophane, either soaked in glycerine or placed on a glass slide, is stained with methylene blue. Urogenital schistosomiasis may be detected with a filtration technique that uses polycarbonate, nylon, or paper filters. The urine tests positive for the presence of blood in case of urogenital schistosomasis. The only safe recommended treatment for schistosomiasis is praziquantel. It is a low-cost drug that is effective in treating all forms of schistosomiasis. It prevents the disease from developing into a chronic condition especially when treated in the early stages. A recent study indicated that targeting an enzyme glutathione reductase in Schistosoma mansoni could be effective in treating the condition. Another study has reported the effectiveness of breeding prawns in infected freshwater regions since they consume snails. This prevents the transmission of the parasites since prawns are not natural hosts for the parasite. Schistosomiasis is observed in certain high-risk groups in different countries. Travelers should take necessary precautions when present in these regions. Drinking water should be boiled before consumption. Bathwater should also be boiled before use. Individuals should avoid swimming in freshwater ponds. Chlorinated swimming pools or the open sea are safe places to wade or swim in endemic regions. In the event of contact with contaminated water, individuals may dry themselves vigorously with a towel to prevent the penetration of the parasites. However, this technique may not completely avoid the risk of contamination. Groups at risk of schistosomiasis should be regularly treated with praziquantel. Such groups should be monitored periodically for infection. In high-risk areas, individuals should be treated on an annual basis. High-risk groups, include individuals whose profession involves contact with water, such as farmers, women doing laundry in freshwater bodies, fishermen, and irrigation laborers. School children and other individuals living in high-risk endemic regions also fall in the high-risk group. Health Tips Individuals should avoid contact with contaminated water bodies. They should have access to safe, drinking water. Improved sanitation must be practiced. Individuals at risk should be monitored and treated at regular intervals. Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty ImagesFaith No More and Korn are joining forces for a North American co-headlining tour this summer. The joint outing will launch August 7 in Denver, and will come to a close September 17 in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m. local time. Prior to the tour, Faith No More and Korn will play a pair of stadium shows with System of a Down in Los Angeles this May. System won't be along for the ride this summer, but guitarist Daron Malakian's Scars on Broadway project will open on select dates. For the full list of FNM and Korn's tour dates and all ticket info, visit FNM.com or KornOfficial.com. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The state House endorsed a complex plan Monday to strengthen the finances of New Mexicos retirement system for police, firefighters and other public employees a top legislative priority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams. The proposal, Senate Bill 72, passed the Senate last week, but it must go back to that chamber for approval again because of a technical change made to the bill by the House. After that, it would head to Lujan Grisham, who convened a task force last year to examine ways to firm up the finances of the retirement system. Rep. Phelps Anderson, a Roswell Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, told his colleagues Monday that he knew supporting the legislation wasnt easy. The changes, while painful, would ensure the state can continue to meet its obligations to tens of thousands of retirees, he said. New Mexico has overpromised, Anderson said. Today weve got to step up and deal with that overpromise. Under the proposal, employees and employers would have to pay more into the system, resulting in less take-home pay for workers and less budget flexibility for government agencies. Retirees, meanwhile, have turned out in force this session to blast a provision that would substantially revise how their annual cost-of-living adjustments are calculated. Opponents said theres no immediate need to make drastic changes. They pointed out that the pension fund was in far better shape before the Great Recession, and they suggested it will recover as time goes by. Im just not a doomsday guy, Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, said. Were not going to owe $6 billion tomorrow. The debate didnt fall along party lines, with Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the vote. It won House approval 40-28 after three hours of debate. Anderson said this years session was a rare opportunity to set the Public Employees Retirement Association on a path to solvency. The pension system, he said, now faces well over $6 billion in unfunded liabilities. The legislation would freeze many retirees cost-of-living adjustments for two years and then move to a profit-sharing model. Annual raises would fluctuate from 0.5% to 3%, depending on investment returns and the financial health of the pension fund. Most retirees now get a 2% raise each year. There would also be phased-in increases in how much most employees and their employers must pay into the system as a percentage of the workers salaries. But some of the increases would be rolled back if the pension systems health improves. A budget bill moving through the Legislature would make a one-time $76 million injection of cash into the system. Supporters say the cash infusion and changes outlined in Senate Bill 72 would result in a $700 million immediate reduction in the plans unfunded liabilities. Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, said it was a difficult vote but important to stabilize the pension fund. Yes, there are some difficult elements to this plan where we are asking our employees and our retirees to absorb some financial distress a financial hit, she said. But we have a responsibility to shore up the financial stability of our retirement plans for our employees and our retirees. New Mexico has one of the most generous public pension systems in the country. But the state has also struggled to fully fund the system in recent years, contributing to damage to the state credit rating. Employees can generally retire at 90% of their salary. About 40,000 retirees now draw pensions from PERA, and about 50,000 employees are working and paying into the system. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "A few years ago while I was attending business school one of my assignments was to create a product," said an inventor from Cocoa, Florida. "This inspired me to develop a cooler that would employ solar technology instead of ice." He developed the SOLAR COOL, patent pending, that would preserve foods at a safe temperature for a longer period of time. This invention would allow users to enjoy cold beverages and refrigerated foods in austere locations. Additionally, it would feature a greater capacity and lower loaded weight. The original design was submitted to the Orlando sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-ORD-2745, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com Google and Amazon are the top two US companies with the highest search ad revenue share in 2019 with Google having as much as 73% and Amazon with 13%. Both these giants are no less than a goldmine for businesses and marketers. If you have to sell a product, these two are your best bet in terms of driving traffic and generating sales. Google not only has a gigantic search ad revenue share but it is the biggest search engine in the world with 92.71% market share and one of the largest ad networks. According to eMarketer, while the search advertising market share of all the other companies in the US is declining (including Googles), Amazons share is increasing and is expected to surpass 16% by 2021 while Googles share will plunge to 70%. Is Amazon becoming the new Google? Will Amazon become the top priority of advertisers in terms of search PPC? Lets dig deep and see what data and trends tell us. Google Ads vs. Amazon PPC The business models of Google and Amazon are different. Google is a search engine while Amazon is an ecommerce giant. But what makes both platforms attractive for advertisers is their ad networks. Google Ads is the largest ad network that provides advertisers the opportunity to reach their target audience with search and display ads. Amazon, on the other hand, offers an attractive PPC opportunity to merchants and advertisers who can run ads on Amazon. The users never leave Amazons platform, so the product has to be essentially listed in the marketplace. Does it limit Amazons ad network potential compared to Googles? Over 50 percent of online retail spend in the US takes place in Amazon, giving the eCommerce giant unrivaled data on purchasing behavior. Adds Noam Cohen, CEO of Ad Maven, a dominant player in the ad-tech industry, By leveraging this data, which includes incredibly granular insights on over 100 million Prime subscribers worldwide, they could soon become the biggest advertiser in the world. Amazon has created an ecosystem in which third-party sellers within their platform compete for relevancy and exposure. New research suggests that nearly half of all product searches in US now begin on Amazon. In a similar way in which companies invested billions to appear in relevant Google searches, the new battleground for Amazons sellers has shifted to search results within the eCommerce giant. This makes Amazon a perfect choice for merchants and manufacturers, especially when 46.7% of product search starts from Amazon and 34.6% from Google. Similarities in Ad Networks There are several similarities between the two companies and their ad networks such as: 1. Ads are triggered by keyword 2. Both the networks are based on cost per click 3. Ads are optimized for conversions 4. Ads are shown above the organic listings 5. Ad rank is based on CPC and ad quality 6. Auction bidding Both the ad networks work in a similar way. If you have ever run an ad campaign with Google Ads, you wont have any issues running an ad campaign with Amazon. Its much easier and straight forward than Google Ads. Key Differences There are several differences that make these two ad networks unique. Lets start with the ad types. Google offers a wide range of ad types including text, display, responsive, video, shopping ads, retargeted, and more. It has one of the richest ad format types among all the ad networks. There is hardly anything that it misses. Amazon has limited ad types which include product ads, brand ads, and display ads. Third-party sellers have limited access to ad types so not all sellers can use all the ad formats. One key difference between the two ad networks (that also related to ad types) is that Amazon never sends traffic to other sites. All the ads you can run on Amazon will promote an Amazon product, so the product has to be listed on Amazon. Google has no such restriction. It sends traffic to any URL as long as it meets their quality guidelines. This provides advertisers with a lot of flexibility. Retargeting is another differentiator. Amazon doesnt support retargeting ads while Googles retargeted ads are pretty famous among advertisers. Googles ad ranking system is based on CTR because it wants to deliver an exceptional user experience to its users. Amazons ad ranking is based on profitability. Ads that are most likely to result in a purchase will get preference because thats how Amazon makes money. Analytics is another differentiator. Google has powerful analytics that lets advertisers track behavioral, demographic, and other key data about their visitors. Amazon doesnt collect a lot of visitor data and the only that it collects is captured from Amazons website which includes purchase history, interests, and other behavioral data. Amazon Has the Potential but it Wont be Easy to Beat Google With all the differences and similarities, its evident that Amazon is growing rapidly and has a lot of potential. Its expanding and is all set to widen its reach. However, its hard for Amazon to become the new Google for its primary limitation of being an ecommerce marketplace. Yes, Amazon could become the biggest ecommerce marketplace in the world and could beat Alibaba in China and Flipkart in India but as long as it remains an ecommerce platform, its hard for it to become the new Google. Ecommerce is a big industry, but it isnt the only industry. Googles biggest advantage is that it is suitable for all types of businesses irrespective of their industry while Amazon works for retail, ecommerce, and businesses with physical products. No matter what, advertisers will continue using Google as it lets them send traffic to their preferred URL. Amazon, despite its growth and increasing search ad revenue, will be the preference of Amazon sellers only. The ad networks and the reach of both networks is enormous. As an advertiser, you should use both Amazon and Google ads to reach your target audience on both the platforms. If your product is listed on Amazon, you should use Amazon PPC along with Google Ads. If your product isnt listed on Amazon (or it cant be), use Google Ads. Around 200,000 cross-border workers are employed in Luxembourg, making up 43.5% of the workforce. The first cross-border workers came to the Grand Duchy with the onset of the steel industry, and continued to come as the finance and service sectors began to thrive. The number of jobs in Luxembourg rose steeply, as did the number of employees commuting from the border regions each day. The majority come from the areas just across the borders, with around two-thirds of Belgian cross-border workers hailing from the Province de Luxembourg. Nearly two-thirds of the German workers come from Rheinland-Pfalz, and 70% of French employees hail from the Departement de la Moselle. French employees make up half of all cross-border workers in Luxembourg, while Belgians and Germans make up a quarter each. The figures have risen sharply in recent decades - 4,000 of the 130,000 employees in Luxembourg in 1960 came from across the border each day. By 1990, this figure had risen to 25,000; nowadays there are around 200,000 cross-border employees, making up nearly half of Luxembourg's workforce. The trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Experts estimate around 60% of the workforce will be cross-border workers within the next decade. Former president of the UEL trade union, Jean-Jacques Rommes, discussed the phenomenon with RTL. Cross-border workers are represented in virtually all sectors Other than the government, each sector in Luxembourg is made up of at least a quarter of cross-border workers. However, two industries are particularly highly staffed by foreign employees. RTL Manufacturing numbers around 66% cross-border workers, however, the majority work in construction. More than 25,000 people make up 55% of the sector, while 29,000 work in trade or vehicle repair. These two sectors have registered the highest number of new recruits in recent years. In 2018, 30,000 new mechanics were hired, 55 percent of which were cross-border workers. Belgians are known to have the best training in this area while the level of education is constantly increasing. The number of Belgians who hold a master's or bachelor's degree has increased by eight percent since 2006, among the French there is an increase of 13 percent and ten percent among the Germans who hold a university degree. Just 6-8% of cross-border workers use public transport The majority of employees commuting into Luxembourg travel by car, contributing to the Grand Duchy's ongoing traffic problem. 86% of the 200,000 employees take their cars to work, while just 6% use buses and 8% use trains. The French are most likely to use public transport. According to CES, public transport links are best between Luxembourg and France. Despite this, the roads linking the Grand Duchy and France are the most heavily saturated with traffic. 80% of commuters travelling by car theoretically have the shortest commute, but take the longest time to reach their place of work. Video in Luxembourgish Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India next week, preparations are underway in Agra where the administration is beautifying the entire route from Kheria Airport to Taj Mahal. "It has been decided that the US president will be visiting Agra on February 24. So, we are clearing and beautifying the entire route from Kheria Airport to Taj Mahal," said Arun Kumar, city magistrate. Trump will pay a two-day state visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the ministry of external affairs, Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US president and Modi in Houston in September last year. During the visit, Trump, who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, and interact with a wide cross-section of the Indian society, the MEA said in a statement. The announcement of Trump's first official visit to India was earlier made by the White House which said that the US president and Modi had agreed during a recent phone conversation that the trip will "further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people". Photographs: ANI Photo. GRANTS PASS, Ore. Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office are no longer looking for assistance after a student reported a suspicious man at a bus stop on Tuesday morning. Around 7:15 a.m. a stranger driving a blue SUV approached a student waiting for the school bus in the 2200-block of Hamilton Lane. The student told the Sheriff's Office that they did not know the man driving the vehicle, and they declined to offer of a ride to school. The driver was described as a white man in his 40s with no facial hair and medium-length brown hair. "The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle, which is described as a dark blue Nissan Pathfinder with large chrome wheels," the Sheriff's Office said in its original statement. "The Sheriffs Office is asking citizens to stay vigilant for suspicious activity such as this and report strange vehicles matching the description of this vehicle." On Thursday, the Sheriff's Office sent out an update revealing that the man who had offered the student a ride to school "was in fact a family friend." "The student who was offered the ride did not recognize the person who offered a ride and did the right thing by not getting in a vehicle with someone they did not know or recognize," the agency said. Authorities are no longer looking for the blue Nissan Pathfinder or SUV tied to the incident. With an ever-increasing number of diverse eateries opening around Dublin City and its surrounding regions, today's foodie is utterly spoiled for choice with a seemingly endless variety of eclectic cuisines to explore and savour, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who decided to take off on a city safari recently, hunting for 'big game' at reasonable prices in a half-dozen of the hottest new spots - most of which were right on the mark... PAELLA BAR & CO Expand Close Paella Bar & Co, Pearse St, D2 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paella Bar & Co, Pearse St, D2 Fancy Spanish churros and hot chocolate, or huevos rotos (broken eggs) for breakfast? Then this is the place for you. New to Pearse Street, Luis Canizares has brought a cool, welcoming piece of his native Madrid to his Paella Bar, with its 'Ole Paella Bar' neon sign beckoning from the end of the room. We whirled up on a stormy Saturday morning at early brunch-time with paella on our minds. So many versions of this classic dish are just a rice-y mush, lacking that distinctive flavour, but here, with Spanish chefs in the kitchen, it was almost perfect. You can size up the portions to whatever suits the table, but we shared a portion of Marinara paella (12) for one, which was delicious, if perhaps a tad light on the seafood content - but, the starring crustacean, a Dublin Bay prawn on top, was good. Chicken croquetas (5) - four big, crispy, silky, filled balls - were also excellent, and had my friend waxing lyrical about his trips to Marbella. There's an extensive selection of tapas, with some dishes available as full portions, such as Spanish slow-braised beef and potato stew at just 12. Other choices include charcuterie and cheese boards (15-17), empanadas (5), tortillas (6.50-9), lots of Spanish wines and Sangria, plus home-made Spanish pastries and cakes galore. Perfect for 'Dart dining' - it's near Pearse Station. Opening hours vary. Monday to Wednesday, 8am to 3pm; Thursday to Saturday,10am to 10pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm. paellabarandco.com KREWE Expand Close Fare from Krewe, Capel St, D1 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fare from Krewe, Capel St, D1 Our next port of call, the vast new Krewe bar and eatery on Capel Street, also had a bright neon sign, but its smart-ass message, 'Be Nice Or Leave' said it all. Krewe claims to be "bringing the dirty south to the northside... fusing the vibrance, craic and soul of Southern & Irish hospitality". "Have you a reservation?" asked the meeter/greeter as we stared down the vast, empty room, where around a half-dozen chefs were behind a glass divide, and a number of 'hip' staff members were wandering around the floor. We'd been attracted by its New Orleans-style jambalaya and soft-shell crab, but with an overdose of different menus for different times of the day, it seemed we couldn't have either dish. We could only choose from a very average, overly egg-focused brunch menu with five choices; or from their Krewe Classics menu of wings, Cajun fish and chips, chicken tenders and a couple of other equally unexciting numbers. Almost unbelievably, we couldn't have the Lunch Menu either - which included po'boy barbecue shrimp; po'boy sweet potato; or po'boy pot roast brisket - because it was only available midweek! I won't bore you too much with the evening a la carte and the elusive jambalaya, save to say that its 8oz fillet steaks are 33, and racks of lamb are 30, with sharing versions of both available at double the price. And so, it was a (yawn) Nola Benedict (13.50) for us, which, upon finally arriving, had a burned-black waffle topped with dry-as-dust chicken, two poached eggs, and bearnaise. There's a difference between Cajun 'blackened' chicken and chicken burned to a cinder. We pointed it out to the meeter/greeter who offered to get another one, but with the friend's glass of vinho verde (7) and my bottled water (3) consumed, we'd had enough - some very 'robust' Buffalo cauliflower bites (6.95) didn't help the cause, either. So, taking our cue from the sign, we left, having coughed up 30.65. Throwing an andouille sausage in the mix, or blackened cod, isn't going to cut the mustard for real Louisiana or Creole food. I'd recommend they visit the legendary Brennan's in New Orleans and have the gumbo. krewe.ie LITTLE DUMPLING Expand Close Deliciousness from Little Dumpling, Little Mary St, D7 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deliciousness from Little Dumpling, Little Mary St, D7 Crossing the road to Little Mary Street, we squeezed ourselves into Little Dumpling, a tiny spot, and the sister restaurant of next door's Bullet Duck & Dumplings eatery. Luckily, we nabbed a vacated high table soon after we arrived, and, oh boy, were we in for some good food. The Dumplings, all of which were mouthwatering, were 6/7 per portion, and varied from three to six pieces of each type. Served on cool, retro enamel plates and in basket steamers, the spicy prawn and fish egg wontons were silky and delicious, and served with a chilli sauce. Equally flavoursome were big Castletownbere crab, prawn & pork dumplings; not forgetting a tasty bowl of soft carrot and kimchi dumplings. Our final choice, roast duck Xia Long Bao with hoisin sauce, proved to be big, plumptious pillows of heaven. For those with a sweet tooth, there are fried Nutella dumplings with marshmallows and vanilla ice-cream at just 4. They also do sides of rice, noodles, spicy home-made kimchi and miso soup at 3/4 a pop, plus wine or Prosecco at 24/27 respectively; or wine by the glass, 6; non-alcohol beer, 5; and green tea, 2.50. littledumpling.ie VANDAL Expand Close Vandal, The Masonry, Thomas St, D8 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vandal, The Masonry, Thomas St, D8 Crossing the Liffey to D8, we headed for Vandal, which is neither a thug nor your granny's wide-fitting shoes. This Vandal is a daytime oasis, with a vast, glass-covered courtyard and a snug little library, set in The Masonry on Thomas Street. Breakfasts (4.95-12.50) run from 8am to 11.30am, and include gravlax of salmon with toasted brioche; shakshuka; avocado toast with eggs, sun-dried tomato, and red pepper on toasted sourdough - plus add-ons of gravlax, hot smoked salmon or O'Neill's bacon. Besides the aforementioned dishes, Vandal's innovative all-day brunch menu (6.50- 17) has great casual goodies like moules-frites; toasties on Scandinavian porridge bread; Ox cheek and Guinness stew; Korean fried chicken burgers; as well as vegan and classic burgers. We shared a lovely mezze (14) which featured falafel, roast tomato hummus, baby carrots, tzatziki, flatbread and curried cauliflower; and the tastiest Belgian waffles (8) I've ever had, which was served with bacon, maple syrup, blueberries and redcurrants. It also has a Bottomless Brunch (18) of Mimosas/Prosecco and, like any on-trend restaurant in 2020, there's a decent selection of non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails. My friend Paul had a glass of house Verdejo (6.50) and I had a soft drink (2.75). See facebook.com/vandalireland THE CIRCULAR Our next port of call was in Rialto, also in D8. The red-bricked Circular Bar is a very interesting set-up, incorporating the brilliant Daddy's Cafe, which runs into a large, comfortable lounge bar that serves a great brunch (7-12) and pastries (3/4) from 8am to 2.30pm. Brunch choices include the real mammy special of 'mashed organic eggs in a cup' served with black and white pudding, kale and toast. There's also my favourite, a fried egg and bacon sambo; plus Turkish eggs with spiced butter, garlic yoghurt and toasted sourdough. At 4pm, they start serving Coke Lane pizzas (11-13), which can also be had in the cosy adjoining bar, The Other Hand, which also has wines on tap. See facebook.com/thecirculardublin ZAYTOON For the past 20 years, Zaytoon has been feeding the late-night crowd on Parliament Street and Camden Street with its renowned kebabs, but last year they took a massive leap forward. Reinventing Zaytoon with a new menu focused on modern Persian cuisine, they've opened two new branches - one in Swords and one in Ranelagh. I have to confess, I'd never been in Zaytoon before, but I was really impressed by the smart new Ranelagh branch, as we sat watching a chef roll out flatbreads and cook them in the tandoor oven. Shish and kubideh kebabs of chicken, lamb or salmon are served in flatbread with fresh vegetable toppings (8-14), or with rice; and, with great sharing-style platters, the menu here would certainly appeal to families, as well as groups out and about on an evening. Paul had a great looking Barg - a fillet of Irish beef marinated with saffron and spices on flatbread (14); while I had a small portion of stuffed peppers, which were filled with rice, bulgar, garlic, fresh herbs, and roasted in tomato sauce (6). Veggies will love the stuffed aubergines, as well as the vegan Persian vegetable casserole; or the Persian lentil soup. Desserts looked good, too - saffron ice cream; Parisa's carrot cake; and a lemon yoghurt cake. They also have Doogh, a traditional Persian yoghurt and mint drink, plus freshly squeezed juices, and soft drinks. See zaytoon.ie lucindaosullivan.com China on Tuesday recounted the 2003 visit of India's then Defence Minister George Fernandes to the country when it was reeling under SARS epidemic even as it urged New Delhi to review restrictions imposed on trade and movement of people between the two countries in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong referred to the gesture by Fernandes, who was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, while briefing journalists about the way China was dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. Sun said he was a director in the Asian Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry when Fernandes visited China during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic and explained how he was impressed by the Indian defence minister's approach towards China when it was facing a serious public health issue. "At that time, I received a delegation led by then-Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes who visited Shanghai during the epidemic. In an interview with PTI, he criticised the foreign media for exaggerating epidemic and creating panic among the public," Sun said. "When a journalist asked him if he was afraid of being infected, he responded that even Chinese people are not afraid, why should I be afraid," he added. After returning to India, Sun said, Fernandes took "concrete actions" to support China's efforts to combat the epidemic, adding he instructed Indian Army to donate medicine to China. "This sort of act of kindness will never be forgotten by the Chinese people," Sun said. Over 800 people died in China of infections due to respiratory virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. In the briefing, the envoy urged India to review restrictions it has imposed on movement of people and trade in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. "We hope the Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner, implement the consensus and instructions of the two leaders (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping)," he said. He hoped that India will resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between the two countries. "In this battle against the epidemic, we hope the other countries can support China. The earlier we win this battle, the earlier the supply chain will be resumed. The international community should work together and resume normal personnel and trade exchanges," Sun said. The envoy said there was a huge scope for cooperation between India and China in the public health sector. "China and India are the world's only two countries with more than one billion population. We are facing similar challenges in public health," he said. "And there's a huge potential for cooperation. We are ready to explore opportunities with India for cooperation in areas of public health and science," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States on Tuesday announced sanctions against a subsidiary of Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft over its continued trade with Venezuela in defiance of Washington's attempt to break leftist President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power. Officials in President Donald Trump's administration said Rosneft Trading SA and Rosneft vice president Didier Casimiro were targeted in the latest measures. One official, speaking on condition of not being identified, called Rosneft Trading SA "the prime culprit" in helping Maduro escape the effect of US economic sanctions. This is "sending a message that we will not stand idly by as foreign, extra-continental or other entities help the Maduro regime maintain and sustain its repression," he told reporters. "Rosneft Trading has been the overwhelming provider of trading in the Maduro regime oil and has provided the overwhelming amount of financial resources and hard currency that has been coming in to the Maduro regime. Therefore this action should have a signficant impact on the Maduro regime," the official said. Another adminstration official, who also asked not to be named, said the sanctions would hit Rosneft Trading SA business in the United States, but also send ripple effects through the company's wider activities. "The designation of Rosneft Trading and Didier Casimiro means that anyone outside the United States ... runs the risk of being sanctioned themselves," the official said. Moscow's support for the Maduro government "is having huge consequences for them," one of the adminstration officials briefing reporters said. The official said the United States is determined to bring down Maduro through its maximum pressure campaign, which currently is at "50 to 60 percent." "We hope never to have to get to 100 percent of maximum pressure," the official said, responding to a question of whether the United States could ever carry out a military campaign in Venezuela. Despite US sanctions and Washington's recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela, Maduro and his military backers retain a tight grip. More than 50 countries have joined the United States in recognizing Guido, saying that Maduro's 2018 re-election was rigged. But Maduro has survived in large part thanks to economic, military and diplomatic backing from Russia, as well as support from China and communist Cuba. Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Caracas, where he said US sanctions were illegal and "the main cause of the crisis in the Venezuelan economy." Maduro on Monday accused Trump of plotting an invasion and said "we are not afraid of military combat and we are going to guarantee peace. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pastor among 2 dozen killed after gunmen storm church service in Burkina Faso Deacon, pastor and pastor's family murdered in separate incidents Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A pastor and at least 23 others were killed and 18 others injured after gunmen attacked a church in northeast Burkina Faso on Sunday. In a neighboring community, a deacon, a pastor, and the pastors family were killed by abductors over the weekend. Col. Salfo Kabore, the regional governor, told AFP that a group of armed terrorists attacked a Protestant church in the border village of Pansi in the Yagha province during worship services on Sunday. Kabore said that gunmen attacked the peaceful local population, after having identified them and separated them from non-residents. The mayor of Boundore commune, Sihanri Osangola Brigadie, told ABC News that about 20 gunmen had attacked the church. Brigadie visited some of the victims at a hospital located about 110 miles from the attack. "It hurt me when I saw the people," Brigadie was quoted as saying. A government official who spoke with ABC News on the condition of anonymity said that both Muslims and Christians were killed in the attack and the church was set on fire. Additionally, the gunmen were said to have kidnapped three minors and forced the youth to help transport oil and rice raided from the town shops. A resident of Sebba, a nearby town to Pansi, told AFP that fleeing villagers fled to Sebba for safety. The attack comes as over 4,000 were killed by Islamic extremist attacks in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali in 2019, according to the United Nations envoy for West Africa and the Sahel Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Since 2016, Islamic extremist groups including the Islamic State West Africa Province and Ansaroul Islam have carried out attacks throughout the Sahel region of West Africa. But attacks increased fivefold in 2019. Burkina Faso has been at the center of the deadly trend. Chambas told the U.N. Security Council in January that deaths rose in Burkina Faso from 80 in 2016 to 1,800 in 2019. "Most significantly, the geographic focus of terrorist attacks has shifted eastwards from Mali to Burkina Faso and is increasingly threatening West African coastal states," Chambas warned at the time. According to the U.N., the number of people displaced in Burkina Faso rose 1,200 percent in 2019. There are about 600,000 internally displaced people in the country as it is becoming one of the worlds fastest-growing humanitarian crises. According to Open Doors, a leading Christian persecution watchdog operating in over 60 countries, the attack on the church in Pansi comes just days after an attack on a Christian community in the nearby town of Sebba. Gunmen reportedly murdered Lankoande Babilibile, a deacon of the Evangelical SIM Church in Sebba, last Tuesday. The gunmen also reportedly used Babilibiles car to abduct the churchs pastor, Omar Tindano, two of Tindanos daughters, Tindanos son and Tindanos two nephews, according to Open Doors. On Thursday, Open Doors was informed that that Tindano along with his son and nephews were reportedly executed while his daughters were released. The attack in Pansi on Sunday was the third attack on a Protestant church in Burkina Faso in addition to a number of attacks on Catholic communities. Of the attacks on the Protestant churches, Open Doors reports that the attack on the Pansi church was the deadliest. Open Doors hears from sources on the ground that the pastor was abducted now believed to be among those killed and the church building burned down, Open Doors reported Monday. There are several people who have yet to be accounted for. Last December, at least 14 people were killed when gunmen stormed a Protestant church service in the town of Hantoukoura near the border with Niger. Last April, gunmen killed a Protestant pastor and five other Christians who were leaving a worship service in Silgadji. Because of the troubling rise of violence in the once peaceful predominantly-Muslim country, Burkin Faso jumped over 30 spots to No. 28 on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians are most persecuted. Burkina Faso is losing the religious tolerance it has otherwise practiced throughout its earlier history, an Open Doors report on persecution in Burkina Faso reads. A radicalization of the Islamic population is now taking place. The recent expansion of Islamic militancy in the Sahel region threatens the developing democracy. Radical Islamic groups like AQIM [Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]and Boko Haram are clearly gaining ground, the report adds. Although the government is taking various precautionary measures to prevent the expansion of such groups, it will also need to look for grassroots solutions to combat the growing Islamist influence. New Delhi, Feb 18 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a charge-sheet against two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, who were arrested near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Gulmarg Sector, Jammu and Kashmir, last year. The agency filed the charge-sheet against Khalil Ahmad Kayani, 34, and Mohammad Nazeem, 23 -- both residents of Tedaban village in Khurshidabad tehsil under Haveli Farwad Kahuta district in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) -- before a special court in Jammu. They have been charged under the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance, 2005. They were arrested from Nilkanth Nala, 700 meters on the Indian side of LOC, in the Baramulla district, the NIA said. The army seized arms and ammunition, grenades, improvised explosive device (IED) material, Pakistan-made medicines and eatable from the forest area near LoC on August 21, 2019 at the two LeT accused's instance. "Investigation has revealed that Kayani and Nazeem were in contact of their handler of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Pakistani army in PoK. Both were engaged in the task of concealing the arms & ammunitions, explosives in the forest area for Pakistani terrorists to carry out terrorist activities in India," the charge-sheet said. NEW DELHI: The first meeting of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust, which was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently, will take place in the national capital on Wednesdsay (February 19, 2020). Zee Media sources said on Tuesday (February 18, 2020) that the first meeting of the newly-announced trust, which will oversee the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, will be held in the national capital on Wednesday. The meeting will begin around 5 pm at the residence of K Parasaran, who is the first member of the trust. All members of the trust have already arrived in Delhi for the deliberations. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the head of the Ram Janmbhumi Nyas and the most respected seer in Ayodhya, has also been invited for the meeting. There were earlier reports that the first meeting of the trust would take place in Prayagraj During Wednesday's meeting, the chairman, general secretary and treasurer and other office-bearers of the newly-appointed trust are most likely to be elected. A bank account will also be opened in the name of the trust for accepting donations for the construction of Ram temple will be accepted. During the meeting, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das may be elected as the chairman of the trust, the sources said earlier. Speaking in Lok Sabha, PM Modi had announced the setting up of an independent trust to finalise the details for the construction of a Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. Sources asserted that the trust will comprise a total of 15 members - 9 permanent and 6 nominated members. The body, to be called Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra trust, has been formed as per the directions of the Supreme Court, pointed out the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha. K Parasaran was appointed as the first member of the trust and Ayodhya District Magistrate (DM) Anuj Kumar Jha was named the convening member. The seven other permanent members are - Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Maharaj, Parmanand Jimaharaja Haridwar, Swami Govindgiri Ji Pune, Vimalendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, Dr Anil Mishra Homeopathic Ayodhya, Dr Kamaleshwar Chaupal Patna, and Mahant Dhinedra Das Nirmohi Akhara. The six nominated members will be selected by the board of trustees later. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra trust will take all decisions for the construction of a massive and grand Ram Temple on the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, added PM Modi. The decision to form the trust was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister on Wednesday. The 67.703 acres of land along with the inside and outside courtyard will be transferred to the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra for the construction of the Ram Temple. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification announcing that the office of the trust will be in New Delhi. As per the home ministry, the trust's registered office is at R-20, Greater Kailash Part-1, New Delhi. Referring to the Supreme Court order on the Ayodhya case on November 9, 2019, PM Modi said the judgement was in favour of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the decision to form the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra trust. According to the Supreme Court order, the Sunni Waqf Board will be given 5 acres of land in Ayodhya, announced the Prime Minister. "On November 9, 2019, I was in Punjab for Kartarpur Sahib Corridor's inauguration. During the inauguration ceremony, the Supreme Court judgement on Ayodhya was delivered and I got to know about the historic decision. Uttar Pradesh government has already given its approval for giving 5 acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board," he said. Announcing another major decision taken by the Union Cabinet, he declared the government will also develop the area around the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya as a major pilgrimage and tourist attraction. In a related development, the Uttar Pradesh government also issued a notification saying the government has already issued an allotment letter of a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board, as ordered by the Supreme Court in its November 8, 2019 verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute. Coty Taylor, 30, strangled six-year-old Faye Swetlik to death a few hours after she was abducted and then slashed his own neck, autopsies confirmed Tuesday. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher fought back tears in a press conference held outside Trinity Baptist Church, Cayce, on Tuesday afternoon, as she revealed the results of the little girl's autopsy. She confirmed that Faye died of asphyxiation and that her homicide 'took place within a few hours of her abduction'. The autopsy report for the man linked to Swetlik's death, 30-year-old Coty Taylor, revealed that he committed suicide by slashing his own neck. DNA evidence from the scenes the bodies were found and from inside Taylor's home showed that he abducted and murdered Faye, authorities confirmed. He is believed to be the 'sole perpetrator of the crime', said Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove. The body of Coty Scott Taylor (pictured) was found in his house shortly after the remains of the six-year-old were discovered in the woods neighboring both their homes The final moments: An aerial map shows the close proximity between Faye's home, the home of Coty Scott Taylor and the wooded area where the little girl's body was found Six-year-old Faye Swetlik was strangled to death a few hours after she was abducted, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed in a press conference (above) held outside Trinity Baptist Church, Cayce, on Tuesday afternoon Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said he discovered Faye's body at around 10:30 am Thursday after finding Faye's polka dot boot and a soup ladle with fresh dirt on in Taylor's trash can Fisher said no more details would be released around how Faye died or the condition her body was found in. But she confirmed that Faye did not die in the location her body was found but that the killer had moved her body shortly before police she was found Thursday morning. Officers also identified the 'critical pieces of evidence' located Thursday morning in a trash can belonging to Taylor's property as a soup ladle with freshly dug dirt on it and Faye's polka dot boot that she was wearing when she disappeared. Snellgrove choked up with tears as he told how Thursday was the regular sanitation pick-up day for the Churchill Heights neighborhood and said that 'all residents were obviously aware of that'. Officers followed the sanitation trucks through the neighborhood and 'methodically combed through' the trash looking for clues. After finding these items at around 10 am, Snellgrove said he called for assistance to do a search in the woods behind the homes. While waiting for assistance, Snellgrove said he discovered Faye's body at around 10:30 am. At the same time, other Cayce officers were then called to reports of a man bleeding on the back patio of 602 Picadilly Square. Police went to his aid and found Coty Taylor dead, Snellgrove said. Snellgrove also confirmed that officers had interviewed Taylor and searched the property at 602 Picadilly Square on Wednesday afternoon. He said the suspected murderer was 'cooperative and gave consent for agents to search the house'. Officers did not find anything in the search that led them to believe he was connected to her disappearance. Snellgrove also confirmed that officers had interviewed Taylor and searched the property at 602 Picadilly Square on Wednesday afternoon Fisher fought back tears as she revealed Faye died of asphyxiation and that her homicide 'took place within a few hours of her abduction' Officers had also previously searched the wooded area where Faye's body was dumped four times prior to the discovery. The suspected killer is believed to have moved his victim's body 'in the shadow of the night' to the wooded area behind the townhouses where it was found. Snellgrove said Taylor moved Faye's body late Wednesday or early Thursday 'through the cover of darkness' after panicking that the net was closing in after police had searched his property earlier that day. Authorities have not said where Faye's body was hidden between her murder on Monday and the discovery Thursday. Snellgrove also said video footage gathered from the neighborhood during the search had shown Taylor 'doing some things that were suspicious', but would not go into detail. It has also been confirmed that Taylor did have a roommate at the property and that officers have been in contact with them since the crime. The roommate did not know about Taylor's crimes and was 'not at the residence much during that time', said Snellgrove. He added that Taylor acted alone. Taylor's cause of death was not discussed during Tuesday's news conference out of respect for Faye's family, but it was shared with media after. Faye vanished while she was playing on her front porch on February 10, leading to a desperate manhunt involving hundreds of officers and members of the public. TIMELINE OF FAYE'S DISAPPEARANCE Monday February 10, at 2.45pm Faye Swetlik is seen getting off a school bus after attending first grade at Sprindale Elementary School Monday February 10, between 2.45pm & 3.44pm Faye is last seen playing in front of her Londonderry Square home in Churchill Heights when her mother discovers her missing Monday February 10, 5pm Faye's mother, Selena Collins, reports her missing after a frantic search of the neighborhood. Up to 50 officers canvas the neighborhood. Department of Public Safety's Chief Byron Snellgrove said there did not appear to be any evidence of abduction at the time, and her disappearance doesn't meet the criteria for an Amber Alert Tuesday February 11 FBI and SLED helicopter teams join more than 200 law enforcement investigators in the search for Faye. A tip hotline number is set up for the public. Community members gather at Trinity Baptist Church to pray for Faye's safe return Wednesday February 12 Cops continue to knock on doors in the neighbourhood, but admit in a press conference not everyone within their search area had been spoken to. Police also search the woods behind the homes. They also make a public appeal for the drivers of an SUV and another car seen in the area to contact them. Only one driver does Officers interview Taylor who is 'cooperative' and search his property as part of house to house searches. They find nothing to suggest he is linked to her abduction Wednesday night/Thursday morning Taylor moves Faye's body 'through the cover of darkness' late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning to the wooded area Thursday February 13 morning, 10 am Cops discover a soup ladle with fresh dirt on and Faye's polka dot boot that she was wearing when she disappeared in a trash can belonging to 602 Picadilly Square, where Coty Scott Taylor, 30, lives. The 'critical evidence' leads them to the woods neighboring an autoparts store behind the home Thursday February 13, 10.30 am Cayce Department of Public Safety Chief Byron Snellgrove discovers Faye's body in the woods behind the home of her neighbor, and near her home. Thursday February 13, after 11am Officers are called to reports of a man bleeding on the back porch of 602 Picadilly Square. Police find Taylor dead with a self-inflicted slash wound to the neck Friday February 14 Authorities reveal where they discovered Faye's body and confirm neighbor Coty Scott Taylor is linked to her death. They will not reveal more details about the deaths, but said autopsies will be performed Saturday Saturday February 15 The coroner completed the autopsies of Faye and Taylor and said results will be announced Tuesday, to give the family time to process the information The Charleston County Sheriff's Department provided a motorcade to accompany the body of the little girl from the coroner's office to a funeral home at Lexington County A vigil was held at night in Churchill Heights neighborhood where Faye's heartbroken parents thanked the community for their support Tuesday February 18 Coroner reveals Faye's autopsy shows she died of asphyxiation hours a few hours after she was abducted Taylor's autopsy shows he died of suicide by slashing his own neck DNA shows Taylor abducted and murdered Faye. Authorities believe he acted alone A candlelight vigil is held on the City Hall Front Lawn to honor the life of the little girl Advertisement The search came to an end Thursday when officers found her body in a wooded area between her home in Churchill Heights and a Napa Auto Parts store in Cayce, South Carolina. Taylor's body was found in his home just after. This latest update on the case comes after Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed Saturday that Faye's autopsy was completed but said the results would not be released at the time out of respect for Faye's family. 'They need privacy and time to process the information,' she said in a statement. A candlelight vigil is being held on the City Hall Front Lawn at 5:30 pm Tuesday after the press conference to honor the life of the little girl. The vigil will be opened by Mayor Elise Partin and will also include messages from Sarah Main, Executive Director of Lexington County Community Mental Health, and Hope Vrana, Principal of Springdale Elementary, where Faye was a first-grader. This will be followed by a moment of silence, lighting of candles and a closing prayer by Chaplain Rogerson. Faye Swetlik's heartbroken parents (center) were seen for the first time since the little girl's body was discovered by authorities near her home in Cayce, South Carolina on Thursday Hundreds of people gathered at the vigil at the entrance to Churchill Heights neighborhood out of respect for Faye Saturday night The community rallies around after the shock news: Faye's distraught parents thanked mourners for their love and support following her disappearance and murder Faye was last seen playing in front of her home in Londonderry Square at approximately 3.45pm on February 10. Her mother Selena Marie Collins called 911 to report her daughter missing at 5pm, after searching for her with friends and neighbors. In the harrowing 911 call, the distraught mother is heard gasping and sobbing uncontrollably. 'I can't find my daughter,' she tells the dispatcher. 'She was just right in front of my front porch.' Collins describes the clothes Faye was wearing to the operator - a black shirt with neon colors, a flower print skirt and polka dot rain boots. The shirt had the word 'peace' written on it. Officers launched a search for the girl that day, with 50 officers conducting a search in the neighborhood. Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins pleaded for help from the public in locating her, saying she was 'not the type of kid that will up and walk away'. Faye was a first-grade student at Springdale Elementary School. She went missing on February 10 while playing outside her home Young Faye is seen above with her grandmother, Ruth Collins, in a heartbreaking social media post Footage of Faye getting off her school bus on Monday afternoon was released by police on Wednesday In the footage, Faye (pictured) is seen getting out of her seat and walking to the front of the bus Snellgrove said there did not appear to be any evidence of abduction at the time, and her disappearance didn't meet the criteria for an Amber Alert. The following day, more than 200 law enforcement investigators were searching for Faye, after the FBI and SLED helicopter teams joined in the search. A tip hotline number was set up and community members gathered at Trinity Baptist Church to pray for Faye's safe return. On Wednesday, officers continued going door to door in the Churchill Heights neighborhood and combed the woodland area behind the homes. It has now emerged that Taylor was interviewed and his property searched on Wednesday afternoon, but officers found nothing suspicious. Authorities also release footage of Faye getting off her school bus at around 2:50pm Monday. She is seen getting out of her seat, speaking to the bus driver and then exiting the vehicle. Flowers, balloons and teddy bears are left at the entrance to the Churchill Heights neighborhood for the little girl The heartbroken community has set up a memorial for Faye Swetlik Officers also made a public appeal for the drivers of a Chevrolet Trailblazer and silver sedan seen in the area to contact them. They later managed to track down and speak to the driver of one of the vehicles. The neighborhood was closed off to everyone except residents, their visitors and delivery trucks. Any vehicle coming in and out of the area was searched and individuals were questioned by officers. Police towed two cars from Faye's home Thursday morning but didn't share details of anything that 'may or may not have been found in those vehicles'. Three days into the search, all hope of finding the little girl alive was dashed when officers searching through rubbish trucks discovered a 'critical piece of evidence' in a trash can belonging to 602 Picadilly Square, the home where Taylor lived and about 100 feet from Faye's home. The discovery led police to the woods around the back of Taylor's home where they found her body at around 10:30 am. Taylor's body was then found at his home. This is the heartbreaking moment Faye is finally brought home on Saturday, as a police procession flanks the van carrying the little girl's body The Charleston County Sheriff's Department provided a motorcade to accompany Faye's body back to Lexington County following her autopsy Saturday morning Officers gathered to pay their respects outside the funeral home after the police escort arrived Snellgrove announced the shocking news through tears at a Thursday press conference and said Faye's death was being treated as a homicide. In a press conference Friday, officers then named Taylor as the deceased man and confirmed the two deaths were 'connected' and that the community was not in any danger. Sgt Evan Antley, with the Cayce Department of Public Safety, assured the community in a press conference Friday 'that there is no reason to believe there is an active threat in the community'. No arrests were made and authorities were not seeking any other persons of interest, he said. Circumstances surrounding the deaths weren't revealed at that time but police confirmed Faye was killed elsewhere and her body was then moved to the woodland shortly before she was found. The 'critical evidence' that led them to the crime scene was also not identified at the time but was confirmed as something that was listed on Faye's missing person flier. The flier stated that Faye was last seen wearing polka dot rain boots, a pink flowered skirt, and a black T-shirt with the word 'peace' written on the front. Taylor, who did not have a criminal record and was not known to police, is not related to the little girl nor is he a friend of the family, authorities confirmed. 'He was merely a neighbor who lived at Churchill Heights,' Antley said. Both autopsies were completed Saturday but the coroner's office said the family needed time to process the information before it is revealed to the public. Faye, who loved dresses and fancy shoes, was escorted by police procession from the coroner's office to Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington, after her autopsy on Saturday. Members of the public and officers lined the streets outside the funeral home and along the procession route to greet the little girl. The child had been playing in front of her home (pictured) at the time she went missing The row of homes where Coty Scott Taylor lived (pictured) was about 100 to 150 feet from Faye's home Taylor's body was found on the back porch of his home after officers responded to reports that a man was bleeding The devastated community has rallied around Faye's family since news broke of her tragic and untimely death. Several GoFundMe pages have been set up, with one on Faye's grandmother's Facebook page standing at almost $7,000 as of Tuesday morning. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home said it will also cover the costs of Faye's funeral for free. A memorial site at the entrance to Churchill Heights neighborhood has grown each day, with family, friends and community members leaving teddy bears, flowers, candles and cards out of respect for the little girl. Hundreds of people gathered at the site for a vigil Saturday night. Faye's distraught parents joined mourners - the first time they had been seen since their daughter's body was discovered. In heartbreaking images, Faye's mom and dad Selena Marie Collins and Chad Swetlik were pictured with their heads bowed as family, including Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins, gathered around them and held candles aloft in memory of the little girl. Faye, who loved dresses and shoes, is being remembered in a vigil Tuesday evening Faye's death is being treated as a homicide and no arrests have been made The distraught parents thanked mourners for their love and support following Faye's disappearance and murder. On Sunday, community members came together to protect the memorial site from the rain, covering it with a tarp and tent as the weather took a turn. The community has spoken of the shock that such a tragedy would happen in the neighborhood. 'We never dreamed something like this [would happen] in our neighborhood. It's just unreal,' neighbor Tony Brewer told 10TV. 'I have cried so much you wouldn't believe. It's broken my heart.' COTY SCOTT TAYLOR: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR - He was 30 years old - Taylor lived at 602 Picadilly Square, a two-bed unit around 100 feet from Faye's home - Taylor did not have a criminal record and was not known to police - He is not related to the little girl nor is he a friend of the family - Officers had previously spoken to Taylor during the search for the missing girl - Taylor attended Bluffton High School from 2003 and graduated in 2007 - Beaufort County School District said he had good academics and no disciplinary record - He went to University of South Carolina Beaufort in 2007, transferred to its Columbia campus in 2008 and then withdrew from the university in 2009 - He worked at Jimmy John's restaurant in Columbia but left the company in 2015 Advertisement Another mourner, Tequila English told 10TV she has a daughter the same age as Faye and that the tragedy has been hard on all parents and families in the area. 'I have a 6-year-old. I'm certain I can relate. As a mother, I can relate to her feelings right now. She's being very strong to even be here tonight.' 'I just don't understand how someone could take the life of somebody so small it's just horrible,' another local woman said. The local community has been demanding answers this last week, with a Facebook group dedicated to the little girl's death voicing speculation over whether suspected killer Taylor acted alone. Conspiracy theories circulated online asking whether he had a roommate who may have been involved. Officers have now confirmed he had a roommate but that they do not believe they were connected to Faye's abduction and murder. Photos on rental website Apartments.com show the inside of 602 Picadilly Square where the suspected killer lived and where his body was discovered Thursday. It is listed as a two-bed, one-and-a-half bath unit measuring 1,100 square feet. The listing also details nearby schools, including Springdale Elementary School where Faye was a first-grade student. Hubbard Bowers confirmed to DailyMail.com on Monday that the firm manages the property but would not confirm when Taylor moved in or how many people lived at the address. 'This is a spacious townhome that features an over-sized living room, a spacious eat-in kitchen, and large bedrooms,' the listing on Apartments.com reads. 'Walk out the patio door to a great outdoor patio that's perfect for entertaining.' Tributes have poured in for the little girl, from family, public figures and community members. Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins has posted heartfelt posts on her Facebook page. She posted a picture of a single burning candle and a touching picture of her kissing her granddaughter's head when news of the little girl's death emerged. Lexington School District Two released a statement Thursday saying the school community was 'heart-broken' by her untimely death. Photos on rental website Apartments.com show the inside of 602 Picadilly Square where the suspected killer lived and where his body was discovered Thursday It is listed as a two-bed, one-and-a-half bath unit measuring 1,100 square feet The listing also details nearby schools, including Springdale Elementary School where Faye was a first-grade student Hubbard Bowers confirmed to DailyMail.com that the firm manages the property but would not confirm when Taylor moved in or how many people lived at the address. Officers confirmed Taylor had a roommate who they don't believe was involved in Faye's abduction and murder The property is now seen with yellow police tape across the door 'We are heart-broken with news of the death of Faye Swetlik, a first-grade student at Springdale Elementary, who went missing earlier this week. When the school community experiences a tragedy like the loss of a child, it deeply affects all of us,' it said. Some of Faye's friends in the first grade at Springdale Elementary School made Valentine's Day cards for her in the hope of her safe return. Vice President Mike Pence gave a speech to The Citadel, a military academy in South Carolina, according to Fox News. '[A]llow me to address an issue that I know is on the hearts of people all across South Carolina today,' the vice president said on Thursday. 'And as your vice president and as a father, let me say we were deeply saddened to receive word this afternoon that the remains of Faye Swetlik, a 6-year-old girl who went missing from her parents' front yard just three days ago, have been found.' The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. The number to call is 1-800-273-8255. Police motorcade for Faye Swetlik LIVE: Faye Swetlik receives a police escort home following her autopsy at MUSC. The Charleston County Sheriffs Department will travel the entire distance to the funeral home with Faye. Full Coverage: https://bit.ly/2SRqiWy Posted by WLTX News19 on Saturday, February 15, 2020 Officers pictured during the investigation. A search through rubbish trucks uncovered Faye's polka dot boot and a ladle with fresh dirt on in a trash can belonging to Taylor A community in shock: The Churchill Heights community where Faye lived and died Police officers went door to door in the desperate search to find Faye alive Dozens of Filipinos along with Malaysians and Indonesians tested positive for the coronavirus after being quarantined since Feb. 3 aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked at Yokohama, Japan, officials announced Tuesday. In Manila, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced eight new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, bringing the total number of Filipinos diagnosed on the ship to 35, all crew members. They are among more than 500 Filipinos on the ship carrying about 3,700 passengers and crew. The Filipinos who tested positive for COVID-19 were immediately transferred to Japanese hospitals and are now undergoing treatment, the foreign affairs ministry announced. It said the Japanese government was to release a plan to allow those still aboard the ship but who have not tested positive for COVID-19 to leave on Wednesday, the end of a two-week quarantine. Outside of China, the Diamond Princess represents the largest cluster of confirmed cases of the mystery virus. More than 540 on the ship have tested positive and are undergoing treatment, according to wire service reports. The embassy is coordinating with all relevant Philippine and Japanese government agencies and is meeting with senior management representatives of Princess Cruises to ensure an orderly and safe repatriation of Filipinos once they clear the Japanese quarantine requirements, the foreign affairs department said. In Jakarta, the Indonesian government announced that citizens had tested positive for COVID-19 as well. We received the information that three of the 78 Indonesian crew members on the crew ship had been confirmed (to be infected with the coronavirus), Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said. Two of those infected had been taken to a hospital in Chiba City for treatment while the third patient was in the process of being evacuated to a hospital, according to officials Retno said she will be traveling to Laos for a meeting Wednesday between Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers and Chinese officials to discuss efforts to contain COVID-19. In Kuala Lumpur, Noor Hisham Abdullah, Malaysias director-general of health, said two Malaysians on board the Diamond Princess had tested positive for the coronavirus, but he did not specify whether they were passengers or crew members. The government was awaiting notification of test results on two others, he said in a brief statement. While passengers were quarantined, crew members continued to deliver food, letters, towels and amenities and enter rooms to clean, the Associated Press reported. In addition, the crew members prepared their own meals and ate in groups in a mess hall. The outbreak of COVID-19 remains centered in China, home to more than 72,500 of the 73,300 cases reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, most of the 1,870 deaths have been recorded in China. At least four people have died outside of China after being infected with the virus, including one person in the Philippines. The latest news comes days after an unidentified American woman was the first confirmed case among passengers and crew on a Holland America Line ship, the M.V. Westerdam. The ship sailed from Hong Kong and ported in Cambodia where authorities on Feb. 13 declared the 2,200 passengers and crew to be free of COVID-19. The woman and her husband were tested twice in Kuala Lumpur after showing symptoms while being screened at the international airport after arriving a chartered flight. While he tested negative, his wife tested positive in both tests, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a statement on Sunday. She is the 22nd confirmed COVID-19 victim in Malaysia. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi discusses the fate of three Diamond Princess crew members during a press conference in Jakarta, Feb. 18, 2020. [Tia Asmara/BenarNews] Travel restriction lifted Even as the Philippines and its neighbors see cases of COVID-19 increase despite efforts by the Chinese government to lock down Wuhan, the city of 11 million that has been considered the epicenter for the outbreak, the Philippine government lifted a travel ban to regions of China. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said workers who had returned to the Philippines would be able to travel to two special administrative regions in China as long as they stated that they were aware of the outbreak. Secretary of Health [Francisco] Duque confirmed that the inter-agency task force for emerging infectious disease has decided to lift the travel ban of the overseas workers going to Macau and Hong Kong. And according to him, those OFWs going back would have to make a written declaration that they know the risk of going back to their places of work, he told reporters. For those coming back from Macau and Hong Kong, the families of Filipinos who are there can come back as well as those having permanent residence holders as well as the members of diplomatic corps and families, Panelo said. The Philippines has recorded three cases of COVID-19, including the first death outside of China a 44-year-old Chinese man admitted to a Manila hospital on Jan. 25 died Feb. 1. Thailand has recorded 35 cases and Malaysia 22, according to WHO. Meanwhile, the chairman of Indonesias Presidential Advisory Council, Wiranto, pointed out there had been no cases reported in his country, the most populous in Southeast Asia. This is because Indonesia has put maximum effort into how to mitigate the coronavirus, he said Monday during a meeting with WHO officials. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto offered prayer as a reason for Indonesias success. Praying is a very noble thing. Let other countries question it. Its our countrys right to rely on prayer, he said. Why be ashamed of relying on the almighty? These will open up many opportunities for cooperation and trade for Vietnam, but also pose many challenges that will require Vietnam to gradually change the structure of its economy. Setting realistic targets The new generation FTAs will eliminate more than 99% of tariffs and create favorable conditions for exports to the EU market, such as in textiles, footwear, agriculture, fisheries, and wooden furniture. In addition, it is expected that through EVFTA, Vietnam's exports will increase by 20% within the next two years. According to the General Statistics Office in Vietnam, during the period 2010-2018, exports to the EU market accounted for about 16-19% of all total exports. According to estimated figures, the share of Vietnam's exports to the EU market in 2017 were at 18% and in 2018 at 17%. Thus, in order for the total export turnover to increase to 20%, Vietnam's exports to the EU market must increase by around 200%. This is a very huge and unrealistic figure and given the current situation of Vietnam's manufacturing and export capacity, it is a figure that will be difficult to reach any time in the near future. Currently, Vietnam's exports are basically centered around electronics, computers, components, and phone sets, accounting for more than 40% of all total exports. For these products at present Vietnam is still basically only just a manufacturing assembly line. According to the General Statistics Office, in 2019, the strong development of the domestic economic sector in exports had a growth rate much higher than the growth rate of the Foreign Direct Investment sector (FDI), but the FDI sector still accounted for nearly 70% of total exports. Specifically, the domestic economic sector reached USD 82.10 bn, up by 17.7%, accounting for 31.2% of total export turnover; while FDI sector reached USD 181.35 bn, up by 4.2%, accounting for 68.8% of export turnover, a decrease of 2.5% compared to the previous year. According to the principle of calculating GDP based on permanent residence, all labor and production surplus of enterprises producing these products are included in GDP. However, in fact, the Vietnamese side enjoys very little in price and export value of these products. The advantage that Vietnam actually benefits from is cheaper labor. Comparatively, a foreign managers salary is equivalent to that of wages of twenty Vietnamese workers. In essence, exports in the FDI sector are those of the owner of the FDI enterprise who just borrow Vietnamese premises to export to another country or the owners home country by cashing in on the special incentives provided by Vietnam on land, taxes, and other policies. If these goods that are produced by the FDI sector are sold in Vietnam, they are actually exported to Vietnam. The profits from this mode of export are higher than the ones they produce for their own country, by taking advantage of the incentives and cheap labor costs. For Vietnam to truly benefit from the new generation FTAs such as EVFTA, the Government needs to implement concrete, harmonious and practical measures to restructure industries in the country and find ways to attract more FDI. Therefore, in terms of production, domestic enterprises and FDI enterprises are also processing manufacturers. These two economic components differ only from the basic fact that FDI enterprises can keep their profits for reinvestment, or can transfer money back home. Economic imbalance The irony is that after so many years, despite showing an imbalance that needs adjustment, Vietnam's GDP growth is still heavily dependent on the FDI sector. This shows the paradox that an increase in GDP is actually an erosion of our resources. In addition, when calculated from Vietnam's inter-industry balance sheet, it shows that the investment of the FDI sector and export of goods almost always spreads as their own surplus, but very rarely spreads to the domestic region. This also raises questions for economic observers and analysts. It seems that "two parallel economies exist" within the Vietnamese economy. The domestic and FDI economies seem independent of the Vietnamese economy. In 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 50 on the orientation to perfect institutions and policies, improve the quality and efficiency of foreign investment cooperation by 2030. In this Resolution, it was determined to actively attract and selectively cooperate foreign investment, and consider quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection as the main evaluation criteria. This is a more joyful signal than FTAs, but the Resolution needs to be expressed in law. This is what Vietnam must improve on in the near future. In addition, it is worth noting that when the new generation EVFTA is approved, it will eliminate more than 99% of tariffs. This will also reduce revenue from taxes on import of goods. The question rests on what Vietnam needs to do to fill this gap in budget revenue, and if people have to "piggyback" on the integration tax. Economic figures of the last many years show that while exports have increased GDP, neither the people nor the Government have benefited much from exports. Basically, it looks like we are merely "helping" other countries with our exports, as these countries are reaping the actual benefits. This is a difficult problem in the economy that still does not have any solution. Translated by Mathew Hung Dr. Bui Trinh, Vietnam Economic Institute Short but complex, the novel runs along two time frames about 13 years apart. The first covers those tumultuous weeks at the end of 2004 when protesters flooded Kievs Independence Square after the corrupt presidential election of Viktor Yanukovych. Miller conveys a rich understanding of the calculus of protest: the relative value of beatings and killings, depending on the victims, the symbols, the TV coverage. Hes particularly acerbic when portraying Western journalists dropping by to package this unruly situation into neat narratives for the folks back home. The higher the stakes and more imminent the carnage, he notes, the more inexpert the commentary became. One particularly obnoxious correspondent, dressed in war-zone chic, keeps prodding the diplomatic experts to agree to wrongheaded analysis that would make more sense to our readers. A Europe OE inspired Carolyn Hedleys career in travel, and 30 years later, she is still in the industry. She is the new face of Helloworld Travel Stanmore Bay her second franchise. I have owned Helloworld in Hobsonville for three years. Its a great store that is doing really well, so it was a good time to expand. Helloworld in Stanmore Bay was founded two years ago by previous owner, Mandy Bester. Mandy is still on the team, in a new role as a manager and senior travel consultant. My passion is helping clients, so I decided to go back to focussing on them rather than the business side of things, Mandy says. Between Carolyn, Mandy and senior travel consultant Sandy Theron, the team of three have over 83 years of industry experience and have travelled to a wide array of countries almost too many to count. The day before the interview, Carolyn had just returned home from Mexico. Mexico is underrated, and I definitely think more people should be travelling there. It is a beautiful place, and they have great cocktails, too, Carolyn says. It is not often we send our clients to a place that we havent been to ourselves. Despite her wealth of travel knowledge, Carolyn says travel mishaps still happen to her, too. My husbands suitcase was stolen from outside a car rental company in Rome. My daughter was on watch but it was wheeled away while she was scrolling through her phone! Being able to call your travel agent when hiccups occur is one of the major benefits of booking through a travel agent, Carolyn says. If something happens, we are just a phone call away, and our clients money is completely assured and insured. We are also monitored by the Travel Agent Association New Zealand, so even on the off chance something happened to the agency, the clients money is always safeguarded. Not all agencies are monitored though so it pays for people to check. As well as helping locals get onto their next cruise, European tour or Pacific Island holiday, Carolyn is also keen for Helloworld to play a part in the community at home. We are already sponsoring the Manly Bowling Club, and we are looking forward to being involved with more Hibiscus Coast groups and schools, she says. Harris County Public Health officials will be going door-to-door this weekend to speak with residents about their disaster preparedness. HCPH will be knocking on doors in the Cypress and Klein areas on Feb. 22 to conduct the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, survey. The survey is meant to give HCPH information on ways to be better prepare for disasters and emergencies like Hurricane Harvey and other natural disasters. Members of the medical team of the Second Military Medical University work at Hankou Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 27, 2020. The medical team from the Second Military Medical University helps Hankou Hospital on problems concerning the capability of the hospital and the serious shortage of medical staff. The medical team plans to set up respiratory wards and two 78-bed wards at Hankou Hospital. (Photo by Dong Yuchao/Xinhua) By Mei Shixiong and Sun Shaolong WUHAN, Feb. 18 -- Recentlythe Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) jointly issued a notice on honoring personnel who died in the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreaks. According to the notice, the deceased medics and epidemic prevention workers who got infected with novel coronavirus and died during their direct contact with the patients to be investigated or confirmed, and sample collection, diagnosis, treatment, nursing, etc., shall be assessed and approved as martyrs. The notice required that the assessment should be carried out based on the Regulations on Honoring Martyrs. Non-military personnel participating in epidemic prevention and control shall be assessed by respective provincial government where the dispatched unit is located. Service members and civilian employees of the army shall be assessed by relevant military departments in accordance with relevant regulations. The notice emphasized that it is incumbent to implement the preferential treatment policy, timely release the martyrs' reward and pensions, carry out condolences activities and psychological counseling for their families, and properly solve their practical difficulties. The notice also asked localities to find and spread the outstanding deeds and stories of martyrs in the combat against epidemic, so that more people will remember them. ALBANY An armchair now sits on a pedestal, displayed at the University at Albanys Science Library Atrium, afforded a position of honor. That's because it's no ordinary piece of furniture, but rather the seat author and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison used in her UAlbany office while she worked on her 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Beloved. Morrison, who was acclaimed for writing about the black American experience, was teaching writing at University at Albany during the 1980s while she penned her masterpiece about a woman who escaped slavery. (Oprah Winfrey later starred in the 1998 big-screen adaptation, directed by Jonathan Demme.) Now the chair, along with photos, letters and manuscripts connected to Morrison's time at UAlbany from 1984 to 1988 are on display as a tribute to her memory following her death in August. You can still feel her presence in that chair where she sat in her English Department office ... working, working, working on revisions to a manuscript that she called 'Beloved,' said Paul Grondahl, director of the New York State Writers Institute. The exhibit was unveiled Feb. 18, what wouldve been Morrisons 89th birthday. It was made possible through a collaboration among the Writers Institute at UAlbany and the university's M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, the Office of University Advancement, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. It is with great pride that we unveil an exhibit that shows the impact she had here at UAlbany, the Capital Region and across the world, UAlbany President Havidan Rodriguez said. Among the artifacts on display are the letters she wrote to Ralph Ellison, acclaimed author of Invisible Man, while coordinating his visit to the college. He isnt the only high-profile creative she brought to campus. Director Spike Lee came to UAlbany for a three-day symposium Morrison organized in 1988 called The Birth of Black Cinema. Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis are among the other notables she convinced to visit the university. Among the photos and letters was an actual piece of Morrisons work, a draft copy of Dreaming Emmett, the first play she wrote. It was about Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after he was accused of offending a white woman. The Writers Institute co-sponsored the premiere of the play at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany in 1986. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Rodriguez said the exhibit is one of the ways the Writers Institute and UAlbany are remembering Morrison. A few weeks ago the university hosted a screening of a documentary about Morrison, The Piece I Am, to pay tribute to her. We walked away from that film with a deeper appreciation" of the Morrison's impact as an "international inspiration (for) people from all walks of life, Rodriguez said. HOUSTON -- (Feb. 18, 2020) -- Rice University bioscientist Rosa Uribe wants to build better therapies and cures for neurodevelopmental defects and cancer, and a new grant from the National Science Foundation is helping with the next big step. A prestigious, five-year $915,475 CAREER Award will allow Uribe and her students to assemble the results of thousands of experiments about the behaviors and characteristics of specialist stem cells called neural crest cells. The cells form a number of tissues, including the nervous system that regulates digestion, and they also cause neuroblastoma, the third most prevalent form of pediatric cancer in the U.S. "This grant will help us map out various different aspects of the early formation of the enteric nervous system, which is sometimes called the 'gut brain,'" said Uribe, an assistant professor and the first woman from the Department of BioSciences to win a CAREER Award. "That really hasn't been done, quantitatively, in a completely intact, living specimen." CAREER awards support the research and educational development of young scholars the NSF expects to become leaders in their fields. The grants are among NSF's most competitive, going to fewer than 400 scholars each year across all disciplines. Uribe, a neurodevelopmental biologist, was recruited to Rice in 2017 with a CPRIT Scholar grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Her lab uses zebrafish to study the precise movements and changes of neural crest cells during embryonic development. The cells can become bone, cartilage, muscle or nerve cells. They form the cartilage and bones of the face, for example, as well as the enteric nervous system, a mesh of nerves that runs from the throat to the lower intestine and regulates digestion, hormone balance and more. Uribe said simply observing how neural crest cells develop can answer fundamental questions, like "How do stem cells know how fast to crawl through developing tissues, or when to stop? And once they stop, they have to know what flavor of nerve to turn into, because there are different types of neurons that do very specific things." To better understand why neural crest cells go down the wrong developmental path toward neuroblastoma, Uribe's lab uses an array of microscopes, cameras and computer software to observe and document everything they do, in real time, from the moment they appear about 12 hours after an embryo is fertilized until they migrate through the embryo and transform into whatever tissue they become. "So they're crawling along the different axes of the developing body of the zebrafish, and we can see this very easily because the zebrafish are transparent," she said. Her lab uses several types of genetically modified zebrafish whose neural crest cells glow in bright fluorescent colors. Using microscopes and software, the team can track fluorescent neural crest cells for hours and at scales ranging from single cells up to the whole population of cells in a complete embryo. "The CAREER Award will enable us to take high-resolution images of the cells over space and time, and then use math to quantitatively analyze the information in those images and better understand what the cells are doing," she said. "Another huge part of the research is sequencing their genomes," she said. "All the individual neural crest stem cells have their own gene-expression profiles. So we're using genomics to map out individual cells and what genes are turned on or off in them." The genomic information will help Uribe and her students understand which genetic programs the cells are using at different points in their development. "We want to understand what genetic programs they're activating when they make decisions to start migrating or stop or to turn into different types of neurons," she said. "We will have a snapshot of the genetic states that they're in while they're actively doing all of that. It's a baseline." Uribe's CAREER grant will also fund summer research experiences for first-generation college students. Each summer, two to four students from the Rice Emerging Scholars Program will be chosen to work as paid research assistants in Uribe's lab. Each undergraduate assistant would spend two summers working on the project and learning how to communicate their findings, both in writing and oral presentations. "The goal is to provide a long-term experience where they learn to think like scientists," Uribe said. "They'll be able to take what they learn with them wherever they go beyond Rice, because the skills are broadly applicable within biology and medicine." he said the knowledge gained from the CAREER project experiments will set the stage for much of the lab's future work. "The datasets will be broadly applicable to everything that we're working on in the lab, including the neuroblastoma work," Uribe said. "We'll be capturing all the states of the whole pool of neural crest stem cells that diverge and go on to different cell fates. We'll have all of those transcriptional states in our datasets, and we will be able to go back and query all levels of our dataset to propose hypotheses and design experiments in the future." ### Links and resources: More about Uribe's CAREER Award: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1942019 Uribe lab homepage: uribelabrice.com A high-resolution IMAGE is available for download at: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/02/0217_CAREER-Uribe_jf074-2AP-lg.jpg CAPTION: Rosa Uribe (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) This release can be found online at news.rice.edu. Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. A South Australian man who was shot in the head with a faulty, century-old rifle was the victim of 'a disaster waiting to happen', a court has heard. On day one of Hayden Dove Fenton's trial, prosecutors said he told friends 'I've just shot my best mate' and 'just kill me' after he shot Bailey Davenport in July 2017. Mr Davenport, 21, was left with catastrophic injuries and died in hospital a day later. South Australian man Hayden Dove Fenton (pictured when given bail in 2018) is on trial for the shooting death of his best friend Bailey Davenport in July of 2017 The Supreme Court heard on Monday that Fenton, 30, had been drinking bourbon on the morning of the shooting before he and Mr Davenport drove into a forest at Parawa, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, to chop firewood. Mr Davenport's partner, cousin and 15-month-old son also made the journey, as well as a friend of Fenton's. Prosecutor Mark Norman SC told the court the group stopped at a paddock on the way, where Fenton retrieved a rifle that had been hidden in bushland. He said the rifle had been manufactured sometime between 1904 and 1931, meaning it was up to 113 years old in 2017, and had several mechanical issues. 'Even with careful handling, that firearm rifle was prone to discharge accidentally,' Mr Norman told the jury. 'It was, the prosecution suggests, a disaster waiting to happen.' On the first day of the trial the court heard a group of friends were using a century-old rifle to fire shots at a bottle of bourbon before Davenport (pictured) was somehow shot in the head His friends immediately loaded Davenport (pictured with paramedics and a doctor desperately trying to save his life) into a car and rushed him to hospital but he died from his injuries The group had been firing shots at a bourbon bottle before the incident, although none said they saw Fenton fire the fatal shot. They loaded the injured Mr Davenport into the car and drove him to hospital, but he was unable to be saved. Mr Norman said there was no suggestion Fenton had shot his friend deliberately. 'This was a terrible accident, but it was an accident that we say was entirely avoidable,' he said. 'It was an accident we say should never have happened, it was an accident which we say Mr Fenton is criminally responsible (for).' Fenton, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of manslaughter, later told police the rifle belonged to Mr Davenport. The trial continues before Justice Mark Livesey, with the jury due to visit the forest on Tuesday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong confirmed Tuesday that a Filipina domestic worker had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). An earlier report by CNN International said the patient is a 32-year-old woman who works in Hong Kong as a household helper. She is the 61st confirmed coronavirus case in the Chinese special administrative region. The Filipina's employer, on the other hand, is the 52nd person to have been infected by the virus in the city, according to Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection. The woman was reported to have had a cough and fever on February 2. However, the patient did not go to the doctor and self-medicated instead. One week after, her employer tested positive for the virus. On the other hand, the Filipina initially tested negative but stayed at the hospital for further monitoring. She tested positive on Monday. The consulate general has sent a team to the hospital where the patient is confined to check on her condition. The Philippine government further assured that it will provide all necessary assistance to the Filipino national. The consulate team was composed of Virsie Tamayao of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Elizabeth Dy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Arnel de Luna of the Assistance to Nationals Section. PH lifts travel ban on Hong Kong Meanwhile, the Health Departments Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAFT-EID) announced Tuesday the government has allowed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to travel back to Hong Kong and Macau to return to their places of employment. READ: OFWs exempt from travel ban to Hong Kong, Macau The travellers will be asked to sign a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved, a statement from the IAFT-EID pointed out. There are over 210,000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong and another 32,000 in Macau, majority of them household workers. The government offered P10,000 cash aid to each worker stranded in the Philippines during the travel ban. They were also provided dormitory lodging and food. Filipinos infected by COVID-19 There are currently 27 Filipinos on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who have tested positive for the coronavirus. These numbers climbed up after 16 additional cases were recorded on February 15. READ: More Filipinos infected with coronavirus on cruise ship as PH plans for evacuation The M/V Diamond Princess is the cruise ship that has been quarantined in Yokohama, Japan. The IAFT-EID said that they are committed to bring home all 500 Filipino crew members on board the ship. Cases recorded in the Philippines The Philippines hasnt recorded any cases of local transmission but had three confirmed cases of infected individuals who are all Chinese nationals. The first patient who tested positive has recovered and was discharged. The countrys second confirmed case has died of an acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The body of the 44 year old Chinese has been "properly disposed of," according to the Department of Health. Apple is expected to hold a media event in late March to announce the iPhone 9, a refreshed MacBook Pro, and some other products. A new report from iPhone-ticker claims that Apple will be holding a media event at the end of March. As per the publications sources, Apple will be holding a media event on March 31. Given that the company tends to hold a media event almost every year towards the end of March, this date does seem plausible. The company will announce the iPhone 9/SE 2 at the event alongside some other products. Following the announcement, the iPhone 9 will go on sale on April 3. In 2019, Apple had held its media event on March 25 where it announced a bunch of services including Apple Card, Apple TV+, and Apple News+. Apart from the iPhone 9, Apple could release iOS 13.4 to the public on the same day. Other possible product announcements include a 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh, updated iPad Pro, and more. It is possible that Apple ends up being forced to change its launch plans for the iPhone 9 due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Another report has claimed that the iPhone 9 production and launch is still on track for a March announcement despite the virus outbreak and the shutdown in China. Yet, a lot depends on how things play out in China and whether Apples entire supply-chain is operational by the end of this month or not. [Via iPhone-ticker Student involved in illegal rally case pleads not guilty 12:05 18/02/2020 MOSCOW, February 18 (RAPSI) The Moscow Aviation Institute student Andrey Barshay, who had allegedly given a National Guard officer a poke in the back during an unauthorized summer rally on July 27, 2019, has refused to admit guilt, RAPSI reports from the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow. Earlier, the Moscow City Court has upheld the decision of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow, which extended Barshays detention until February 27. Barshay stands charged with using force against a representative of authority. The student pleads not guilty, denies involvement in the crime he is accused of, and claims that his detention is related to the escape of one more defendant in the 27 July riots case Aidar Gubaidillin. Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations. The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. (Newser) A behavioral interventionist supervisor at a Florida school was arrested after, police say, one of his employees' behavioral inventions ended with a 12-year-old boy's skull being fractured. The boy was "acting out" at lunch and was placed in the "Room of Opportunity" at the AMI Kids school in Pinellas Park last Tuesday, police say. Also in the room was 34-year-old Dontae Thomas; police say that the head injury occurred when Thomas tried to use the "arm-bar" maneuver to take the child down but instead ended up slamming the boy on the head. After the incident, the child started vomiting, losing consciousness, complaining that his head hurt, and asking for his mom, police say. Yet he was kept in the room for 90 minutes, then observed in a conference room for another 30 minutes before being sent home on the bus, WFLA reports. story continues below The behavioral interventionists' supervisor, Jarvis Delon West, was "made aware of the fact that force was used against the student, that the student was in obvious medical duress," police say, yet did not inform the student's mother of what had happened when the bus arrived at the boy's house. (West rode the bus with him, which is not normal protocol, and brought along a trash can in case he needed to vomit, Tampa Bay Newspapers reports.) She thought her son was ill, but when his condition hadn't improved two days later, she took him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with fractured skull, two subdural hematomas, and a brain bleed. West was arrested and charged with failure to report child neglect and neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm. Per Fox 13, police say there could be more arrests, but it is not yet clear whether Thomas will face charges. (Read more Florida stories.) A top ten of record-breaking US weather events of the last decade reveals Hurricane Harvey is the most extreme of the decade, and similar others were among the costliest and deadliest on record, according to magazine Weatherwise. Hurricane Harvey, the 2017 storm that devastated Texas and Louisiana, is ranked first followed by the 2012 'Frankenstorm' Hurricane Sandy. In third place is deadly Hurricane Maria which ripped through Dominica, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico in the same year as Harvey. Harvey stands out for several reasons. The category 4 storm was the wettest on record leaving much of Houston under water at one point, and the second costliest in US history at $125bn. Hurricane's Maria and Sandy were third and fourth most costly respectively, and fifth was Hurricane Irma, which is ranked in fourth place overall in the extreme weather league. This is according to the findings based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The cost of all ten events on the Weatherwise list, which claimed more than 4,000 lives and caused numerous injuries, was more than $400bn. Effects of some disasters are still being felt, with repairs to the New York City subway ongoing more than seven years after Hurricane Sandy. The research was carried out by retired meteorologist Douglas Le Comte, with over 40 years' experience writing about global weather. He said the results highlight the need to monitor extreme weather at a time of climate change. "Every year that goes by seems to bring a new round of record-breaking weather events," adds Le Comte, a Weatherwise contributing editor who worked for the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "Many disasters, such as powerful hurricanes, massive wildfires, unprecedented droughts, and record-smashing heat waves, have devastating consequences, not just in North America, but elsewhere as well. Witness the catastrophic wildfires in Australia. There's a need to track these events to gauge how our climate is shifting in a warming world." "On a positive note," he says, "fatalities from global weather events are down due to improved forecasts, warnings, and evacuation efforts, plus better building construction." The rankings were worked out according to each weather event's cost, death and injury toll, the size of the disaster, as well as its rarity by meteorological standards. Le Comte's sources included the National Hurricane Center's costliest tropical cyclones tables updated 26th January 2018 and NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) 2019 report Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters. Other events to make the top ten include wildfires, tornadoes and droughts, such as the Southern Plains Drought (ranked 7th) from October 2010 to September 2011. This persistent period of heat and dryness was blamed for 95 deaths and $14bn in losses to farmers and ranchers in states including Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. The 2011 Super Outbreak included the largest ever recorded number of multiple tornadoes from the same weather system. In April of that year, more than 300 twisters brought destruction to five southeast US states. Just one month later, another severe weather outbreak hit the central and southern states with 180 tornadoes. Together, the events claimed nearly 500 lives and left 1,150 injured. In addition to the top ten, the author highlights six other weather events, which he says could have made the shortlist. These include the 2019 Missouri River and North Central flooding that inundated millions of acres of cropland as well as many cities and towns, and the 2010 North American blizzard -- or 'Snowmageddon' -- that brought the Northeastern US to a standstill. ### Further Information For an interview, please contact: Douglas LeComte, Meteorologist Email: lecomte98@yahoo.com For a copy of the paper, visit: https://newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/embargoed-releases/ For any other queries: Krystina Sihdu, Press & Media Executive Email: newsroom@taylorandfrancis.com Tel.: +44 (0)20 7017 6928 Follow us on Twitter: @tandfnewsroom The article will be freely available once the embargo has lifted via the following link: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00431672.2020.1705698 About Taylor & Francis Group Taylor & Francis Group partners with researchers, scholarly societies, universities and libraries worldwide to bring knowledge to life. As one of the world's leading publishers of scholarly journals, books, ebooks and reference works our content spans all areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Science, Technology and Medicine. From our network of offices in Oxford, New York, Philadelphia, Boca Raton, Boston, Melbourne, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Stockholm, New Delhi and Cape Town, Taylor & Francis staff provide local expertise and support to our editors, societies and authors and tailored, efficient customer service to our library colleagues. The race to be the Republican candidate for Galveston County tax assessor-collector has political newcomer Jackie Peden challenging longtime officeholder Cheryl E. Johnson. The Republican primary will be March 3. Early voting began Feb. 18 and will continue through Feb. 28. No Democrat is seeking the office. Peden, a Friendswood accountant, said her goal if elected is to clean up the voter registration rolls. Ive been working as an election clerk for many years, and Ive noticed inaccuracies in the voter rolls, she said. We would do the paperwork to fix it, but it would never get fixed. Those same people would come back year after year after year and I said, Why isnt this getting fixed? Why do we go through this process and nothing is being done about it? And that concerns me greatly. Johnson runs on the record she has compiled as an officeholder who was first elected in 2004 and points to increased office hours, adding satellite offices and also accepting over-the-counter credit and debit cards. When it comes to voter registration, she said Galveston County has become faster and more efficient under her stewardship by going online with the Texas Secretary of State. When we enter an application (to register to vote), its immediately bumped against the (Texas Department of Public Safety) database and the Social Security database, she said. So, within seconds you are getting verification that a person is a legitimate person, should be a U.S. citizen and then can be properly registered to vote. When youre not an online county, you enter all of that information, send it to the state overnight and then you find out the next day. Peden said she is concerned about employee turnover at the tax assessor-collectors office. Id like to get in and improve morale and (turn around) high turnover, because training someone takes a lot of time and a lot of money, she said. So, Im hoping that if I can get in there, we can get good employees and theyll stay. Johnson counters that she has made the tax office a place where employees can thrive. Having grown future leaders and giving people something they might not have had otherwise, she said. Thats what Im most proud of. Peden said she has no plans to hold office for the long term. Im not a career politician and I dont plan on staying there forever, she said. I just want to get in there, get a few things fixed and then lets turn it over to someone else who can take it to the next level. Johnson said she sees more opportunities to improve the tax office. I would like it if I won (the Republican primary,) and I hope that I get re-elected so I can some of the things that need to be done, she said. John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com. Univercells, an innovative bioprocessing provider focused on increasing the availability of affordable biologics to address global health challenges, has announced up to EUR 50M financing from Gamma Biosciences, a new investment platform supported by leading global investment firm KKR, that is focused on next-generation bioprocessing technologies for the production of advanced biologic therapies including gene- and cell-based therapies. The investment will be deployed in a newly created subsidiary of Univercells focused on accelerating the industrialization and commercialization of Univercells' manufacturing technologies, including the NevoLine biomanufacturing platform and the scale-X bioreactor portfolio. With the new financing, Univercells will focus on scaling the NevoLine platform and the scale-X portfolio with a comprehensive approach to streamline production, fund innovation, enable new product and application development and drive commercial acceleration. Specifically, the investment is intended to support continued expansion into the fast-growing gene therapy segment, including new developments that will enable a range of best-in-class solutions for viral manufacturing. "KKR and Gamma will open access to an unparalleled global network, enabling accelerated production and delivery of the NevoLine and scale-X technologies and driving commercialization," said Hugues Bultot, CEO of Univercells. "Aligning with high-end sponsors such as KKR that back our mission to have a positive impact on global health is a true honor for our team. This investment builds on existing grants from the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Health Investment Fund and European Investment Bank and secures our ability to create value for the market with speed, efficacy and reliability." Both the scale-X bioreactor portfolio and the NevoLine biomanufacturing platform have been designed and commercially validated to reduce dramatically the footprint, capital and operational expenditures required to produce a variety of biologic and viral products. The investment is driven by a shared desire to make these breakthrough technologies more readily accessible and positively impact global health via effective, cost-controlled production solutions. "KKR, through Gamma Biosciences, seeks to back innovative and impactful next-generation bioprocessing technologies, which is why we are excited to be investing in Univercells and its mission to deliver affordable biologics and gene therapies globally. Furthermore, we are excited to be working with Hugues and his team, who have a fantastic track record of building innovative biomanufacturing companies." said Kugan Sathiyanandarajah, Director at KKR and Head of Europe for KKR's Health Care Strategic Growth investing efforts, and Anuv Ratan, Principal at KKR. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2020. Once the transaction is complete, Univercells' remaining business will concentrate on developing a portfolio of vaccines and biosimilars to be delivered at an affordable price and establishing its services offering. About Univercells Univercellsis a business-to-business provider focused on increasing the availability of affordable biologics to address global health challenges. The company is developing turnkey solutions for a series of vaccines and biotherapeutics to be delivered at an affordable price. By relying on proprietary core technologies and a continuous process intensification approach, production is achieved with a smaller footprint and significantly lower overall capital and operational costs. A global company headquartered in Gosselies (Belgium), Univercells benefits from the support of prominent stakeholders such as the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Health Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank. www.univercells.com About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. About Gamma Biosciences Gamma Biosciences is a life sciences tools platform created by KKR. Gamma's mission is to build a leading player in next-generation bioprocessing for advanced therapies by acquiring or investing in high-potential businesses with outstanding technology and accelerating their growth. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005465/en/ Contacts: International Media Contact White Matter Communications Beth Willers bethw@whitemattercomm.com +1 415-905-0324 @LifeScienceLove Belgium Media Contact Cecili-Z Cecile Hisette info@cecili-z.be +32 473 36 14 11 KKR Media Contact Kristi Huller or Cara Major (212) 750-8300 media@kkr.com Shares of Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. TNDM reached a new 52-week high of $87.20 on Feb 14, before closing the session marginally lower at $86.03. The stock has rallied 47.6% since its third-quarter 2019 earnings announcement on Nov 5. The company is witnessing an upward trend in its stock price, prompted by the receipt of a series of regulatory approvals and a product launch. Further, its robust third-quarter 2019 results, backed by strong t:slim X2 Insulin pump adoption domestically as well as global revenue growth, boosted the market sentiment about its fourth-quarter results (to be released on Feb 24). Currently, Tandem Diabetes is reinforcing the focus on its diabetes market, which currently holds bountiful opportunities. Let's delve deeper: Recent Approvals and Launch Investors are upbeat the FDAs approval in December 2019 for the companys t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology. The system integrates with Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), thus requiring no fingersticks for calibration or diabetes treatment decisions. Tandem Diabetes received Health Canada approval for the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Basal-IQ technology in November 2019, which will provide an option for existing pump users in Canada to add Basal-IQ technology free of charge. This can be done via a remote software update in February 2020. Investors are also optimistic about the companys commercial launch of the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology in the United States in January 2020. Other Growth Drivers Q3 Performance: Tandem Diabetes exited third-quarter 2019 on a solid note, with better-than-expected numbers. It is encouraging to note that the company registered growth, backed by the international launch of t:slim X2 along with the domestic launch of the Basal-IQ technology (which has been witnessing positive customer reception), increased supply capacity and renewal sales. Story continues Tandem Diabetes domestic and global pump shipments registered a solid uptick, driving the total revenues. Its updated sales forecast for 2019 also buoys optimism. Product Pipeline: The booming diabetes market provides a huge potential for the company to concentrate on its product pipeline. Under-development products like AID systems (a next-generation hardware platform and connected or mobile health offerings), t:sport Insulin Delivery System and t:sport cartridge line also instill optimism. Focus on International Markets: Investors are upbeat about the companys continued expansion in new geographies like Germany, France and the Benelux apart from its expanding operations in Canada. Tandem Diabetes was registered as an approved vendor of insulin pumps and supplies under the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) in Ontario. This enabled diabetic patients to obtain reimbursement for the t:slim X2 insulin pump, thus enabling the company to further expand operations. However, despite the upsides, Tandem Diabetes stock price may witness a downturn due to its heavy dependence on insulin pump sales and recurring operating loss. The company also faces tough competition from big-shots like Medtronics MiniMed as well as start-ups. Also, competitive and regulatory conditions in the markets, where Tandem Diabetes operates, limit its ability to switch to strategies like price increases. Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are ResMed Inc. RMD, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. HRC and Medtronic plc MDT. ResMeds long-term earnings growth rate is expected to be 12%. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Hill-Roms long-term earnings growth rate is estimated to be 11.1%. The company presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Medtronic currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 7.4%. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Medtronic PLC (MDT) : Free Stock Analysis Report ResMed Inc. (RMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (HRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (TNDM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Rocket Lab's U.S. launch site, Launch Complex-2 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, will serve as the jumping-off point for the CAPSTONE cubesat mission to the moon. Rocket Lab is extending its reach far beyond Earth orbit. The California-based company has won a NASA contract to launch a tiny cubesat toward the moon, representatives of both organizations announced on Friday (Feb. 14). The 55-lb. (25 kilograms) Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment spacecraft, or CAPSTONE, will lift off atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster in early 2021, if all goes according to plan. Related: Rocket Lab and its Electron booster (photos) The launch will take place from Rocket Lab's pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), which is located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. CAPSTONE will be the second lunar probe to depart from Virginia, after NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), which lifted off from MARS in September 2013. After the two-stage Electron gets CAPSTONE aloft, Rocket Lab's Photon satellite bus will fire up its onboard engine, sending the cubesat on a long journey toward the moon. About three months later, CAPSTONE will get itself into a highly elliptical "rectilinear halo orbit" around Earth's nearest neighbor the same orbit targeted for Gateway, the small space station NASA plans to build as part of its Artemis lunar-exploration program . "CAPSTONE is a rapid, risk-tolerant demonstration that sets out to learn about the unique, seven-day cislunar orbit we are also targeting for Gateway," Marshall Smith, director of human lunar exploration programs at NASA headquarters in Washington, said in a statement . "We are not relying only on this precursor data, but we can reduce navigation uncertainties ahead of our future missions using the same lunar orbit." Rocket Lab has launched 11 missions to date using the 57-foot-tall (17 meters) Electron, a vehicle designed to loft small satellites rapidly, efficiently and relatively cheaply. All of those flights went to Earth orbit, however, so CAPSTONE will mark a big leap for the company. "Small satellites like CAPSTONE will play a crucial role in supporting the return of human missions to the moon, and were proud to be supporting NASA in this unique and pivotal mission," Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said in a different statement . "In the same way we opened access to low Earth orbit for small satellites, were proud to be bringing the moon within reach to enable research and exploration." The fixed-price CAPSTONE launch contract is worth $9.95 million, NASA officials said. In September 2019, the space agency awarded Colorado-based company Advanced Space a $13.7 million contract to develop and operate the little satellite. The MARS facility is Rocket Lab's second launch complex. The first, on New Zealand's North Island, has supported all 11 Electron liftoffs to date. Electron is currently an expendable vehicle, but Rocket Lab plans to begin recovering and reusing the booster's first stage. The company successfully guided first stages back down toward Earth during the last two Electron launches and may soon take the next step: attempting to snag a falling booster out of the sky with a helicopter. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook . Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester for his contribution to innovation and philanthropy. The UK university said the award was presented to the 82-year-old industrialist in Mumbai recently during the India tour of President and Vice Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. "Ratan is inspirational. For him, philanthropy and innovation are spokes of the same wheel, each leading towards the improvement of lives which is the very same ethos we share at the University of Manchester," Rothwell said. Also Watch: Ratan Tata opens up about falling in love and almost getting married "He is an example to big business, small enterprise, to researchers and developers, those who give and those who can give more. We believe that he will be an example to our students as they grow to become global citizens," she said. The university's citation notes that under Tata's leadership, from 1991 to 2012, the group became a global name and one of the largest conglomerates in the world, with the acquisition of major international brands such as Tetley, Daewoo, Corus, Jaguar and Land Rover. "Ratan has equally made a deep impact in philanthropy through the Tata Trusts, which he chairs. Under his guidance, the different Trusts, set up over time by Tata family members since 1892, have come together as a unified operating entity to target their talent and resources to pursue important causes that are good for India. Also Read: Ratan Tata shares photo of younger self; Internet loses its mind "Some of the most important causes Ratan has championed are nutrition, sanitation, cancer care, rural poverty alleviation, and social entrepreneurship," notes the citation. The varsity said that the honorary doctorate recognised his sense of social responsibility and philanthropy. "Social Responsibility is one of Manchester's three core strategic goals sitting equally alongside our commitments to world-class research, and outstanding learning and student experience," it said. Its exciting to be able to share my marketing expertise to partners and members at the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics Community Events happening in Barcelona, Spain, said Jon Rivers Marketing Monarchs President Jon Rivers will be presenting two sessions at the extreme365, and Community Summit Europe conferences 9-12 March 2020. These events, powered by Dynamic Communities, are being held at the Fira Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. extreme365 provides the essential technical and go-to-market readiness for partners of Microsoft Dynamics Finance & Operations, Customer Engagement, plus the Power Platform applications. For more information and registration, visit https://www.extreme365europe.com/ The Community Summit Europe event brings Microsoft Business Applications users together to learn, collaborate, and connect about Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Applications. For more information and registration, visit https://www.summiteurope.com/ Rivers will be presenting the session, Why Influencer Marketing is the Next Big Thing and Why YOU Should Care! at extreme365. Influencer marketing is on the rise, and for visionary marketing, the world of possibilities is limitless. Attendees will leave with ways they can utilize influencer marketing within their company and to help their brands connect with consumers more directly, more organically, and at scale. During the Community Summit Europe, Rivers will be presenting the session Social selling tactics to attract engage and convert more. Despite what you may have heard, social media can help with selling. In the session, we will cover some of the best practices that the most successful sellers are using today, including how to get started and use social selling in your business. We are excited to have Jon join us in Barcelona, said Tony Stein, VP of Programming for Dynamic Communities. Jon has been bringing his marketing expertise to our partners and members for many years in the United States, and we thought it was time his incredible knowledge was shared to even more of the global community. Rivers has been working in the Microsoft ecosystem for many years now and started his digital marketing practice over four years ago when he saw a void in the market. You can find his blog at https://www.marketingmonarchs.com/blog, where he writes about marketing topics, especially around social media. About Marketing Monarchs Marketing Monarchs is a full-service technology-focused digital marketing company that helps partners and vendors drive high quality inbound and outbound marketing campaigns. The company activities include baseline messaging, website development, ongoing content development, and social media management. Marketing Monarchs content writers know the channel inside out and know how to grab the attention of the audience. For more information on Marketing Monarchs visit http://www.marketingmonarchs.com/ Sir Richard Branson stands outside the New York Stock Exchange ahead of the Virgin Galactic (SPCE) IPO in New York, October 28, 2019. Virgin Galactic's stock has been leaping to record highs in recent weeks, with its rally since the beginning of the year outstripping even the scintillating of rise Tesla. While Elon Musk's automaker is up more than 91% year to date, the stock of Richard Branson and Chamath Palihapitiya's space company is up nearly 150%. The stock popped again, too. Shares of Virgin Galactic climbed as much as 26% and passed $35 a share. The stock closed up 5.8%. Tuesday's jump comes after shares gained 21.2% during its previous day of trading, closing at an all time high of $28.68. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas called out the speculative space stock's climb in a note to investors on Tuesday, questioning whether the gain has been "too much too soon." "We are very constructive on the Virgin Galactic story ... we just think the share price could use a breather," Jonas said. "We must acknowledge that the move in the stock price of late appears to be driven by forces beyond fundamental factors." With the yellow mustard flowers of Mu Cang Chai terraced fields entering full bloom in February in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, the region is blessed with romantic scenery for visitors to enjoy. The regions famous terraced fields can be seen covered by yellow mustard flowers during February The vibrant yellow colour of the flowers brings a fresh look to Mu Cang Chai terraced fields as we move into the spring A view of the areas vast mountains with a number of smaller villages appearing in the background Mustard flowers in the region often bloom in clusters. For many local residents, mustard flowers represent a form of income as they can be used to squeeze oil from. Mu Cang Chai often proves popular amongst visitors in February with many keen to witness the regions flower season Indeed, February is considered to be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year in Mu Cang Chai Spring also sees pear flowers bloom. VOV CNBC names Mu Cang Chai among top travel destinations of 2020 CNBC has run an article which introduces Mu Cang Chai district in the northern province of Yen Bai as one of the top travel locations for international visitors in 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 07:56:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Kazakh folk musicians play traditional instruments in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 17, 2020. Kazakhstan's folk music ensemble "Korkyt" performed 75 pieces of works non-stop in Nur-Sultan, setting a national record. For several consecutive hours, musicians played Kazakh and international masterpieces by traditional musical instruments including dombra and kobyz. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua) Presidents Science Advisers Warn: China Outpacing the US in Scientific Research WASHINGTONFor 70 years, the United States has been the undisputed leader in science and technology, but thats now changing, according to National Science Board (NSB) member Julia Phillips. Not only are there more players globally in science and technology (S&T), but the United States has fallen victim to complacency, she said. China likely already exceeds the United States in S&T spending, and based on available data, the crossover point occurred in 2019. We must embrace these changes or risk being left behind, Phillips said during a meeting of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and the NSB at the White House on Feb. 4. U.S. spending in S&T is growing, but global spending is growing much faster, so our percentage of it is dropping, she said. The United States across all sectors spends $548 billion a year on S&T research, but China may be spending up to $200 billion more. In fact, China has accounted for almost one-third of total global growth in S&T research. They have seized the positive results from our investment into their country, Phillips said. However, the United States spends more than any other country on fundamental research, a term used by the U.S. scientific community that encompasses both basic research and applied research. Basic research is done to acquire purely new knowledge, while applied research is directed at not only acquiring new knowledge but also to direct that knowledge to a specific application, such as the creation of a new product. In 2017, the United States spent $92 billion on basic research alone; China, on the other hand, spent only $27 billion on basic research while focusing its investment into experimental and developmental research, Phillips said. These figures suggest that Chinas focus is to take existing and new knowledge developed in other countries and build upon it in practical applications for its own use. Publishing and Patents Publishing patterns show that the number of Chinese research papers has risen more than tenfold since 2000, exceeding the United States in absolute quantity, Phillips says. The United States still has a significant lead in terms of most cited research, she said, but even within the U.S. body of published research, 26 percent is in collaboration with Chinese researchers. Patent activity is another measure of a countrys research and development (R&D) activities. Chinese patent applications to the U.S. Patent Office grew explosively in the latter part of the 20th century, according to the NSB. Among Chinese patents, 63 percent relate to electrical engineering, pointing to Chinas focus on developing applications and products for machinery, radar and navigation systems, and communications systems, among others. Today, China has the largest number of international patents, according to the NSB. Some experts at the event highlighted that Chinas R&D spending and patent activity is likely geared toward developing products that can be used not only in civilian but also in military applications. PCAST member Cathy Bessant, chief technology officer at Bank of America, remarked that when it comes to S&T development, the United States needs to think about defense. When I look at the investment in other countries, I wonder how much of that investment is directed as an attack on us, she said, adding that the knowledge of what I defend every day on behalf of us and customers keeps her up at night. How much of their money is going to attack us? Different Standards and Systems From data on China, we see clearly tremendous investment in building out and owning its own information technology infrastructure, said Shannon Blunt, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Kansas. China has been running at a staggering pace and acceleration, and we feel it directly in industry, he added. The issue isnt just in information technology, but also in the policies that China is establishing, he said. Through the [One Belt, One Road] Initiative, China has 69 countries involved, and they have them developing different standards from those found in the United States and other Western countries, Blunt said. That means that we now sell into two different standards and systems. The Digital Silk Road initiative is a subset of OBOR that supports exporting digital infrastructure to BRI countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Through that infrastructure, China is using multilateral institutions to establish technological standards related to telecommunications infrastructure and promoting the principle of cybersovereignty at UN forums, according to a post on Foreign Affairs. Blunt pointed out that the Chinese regime is forcing companies to transfer our software and source codes to them when selling technology into China. In the venture capital world, Blunt says, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has helped to reduce Chinese investment into the United States, but it has also pushed it into the shadows. By the time venture capital is invited into start-ups, multiple Chinese investments are there already, he said. I suggest that the values upon which we are built are open collaboration and an open approach to science, and that cannot change. That keeps us the strongest, he said. But we have an adversary taking a completely different approach. They are working in a coordinated, collaborative world. Blunt recalled former U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattiss comment that we are engaged in an economic cold war. So when we talk about partnerships, we need to super-size it. Industry, universities, federal laboratories, the National Science Foundation we have to experiment with a structure where all of these can collaborate in an open manner. Caritas Zimbabwe working in collaboration with Caritas Internationalis and the World Food Programme (WFP) have distributed food to 300 000 drought-affected persons. Vimbai Masoso Harare, Zimbabwe Caritas Zimbabwe has pledged to continue fulfilling its pastoral mandate of accompanying vulnerable communities in the country. This time around, this solidarity is being demonstrated through emergency food aid distribution. The organisations projects are not only looking at short-term immediate food needs, but Caritas Zimbabwe is also providing seed and complementary agronomic training aimed at long-term agricultural recovery. Zimbabwe has declared a State of National Disaster The Zimbabwe Drought Response has come at a time when much of the countrys eastern provinces are recovering from the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai. As if Idai was not bad enough, the country is now facing a second complex food emergency: Last years poor harvest, adversely affected by Cyclone Idai, severe drought as well as economic challenges has led to a critical food crisis. The Government of Zimbabwe on, 6 August 2019, declared a State of National Disaster which opened doors for international assistance. Collaboration with Caritas Internationalis Caritas Internationalis launched the Zimbabwe Drought Response emergency appeal on 15 January 2020. The Zimbabwe Bishops conference had earlier resolved that Caritas Zimbabwe with the support of Caritas Internationalis launch an emergency appeal to respond to the calamity. Caritas Zimbabwe Bishop-President, Archbishop Alex Thomas, of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo then contacted Caritas Internationalis to help orchestrate the appeal. It is regrettable that the Cyclone Idai emergency came at a time when the whole country had already been affected by drought resulting in a near-total maize crop failure in the 2018/19 season. At this time even for the few who had harvested something. also have their situation worsened because the little food from own production has already been depleted. At the local level, we have started to mobilise the faithful to support the survival of the vulnerable people; however, the magnitude of the problem has gone beyond our capacity to intervene. Unless external assistance is given, this may lead to starvation.Therefore on behalf of the people and Bishops of Zimbabwe, I highly recommend this application for your positive consideration, the Bishop wrote. Rural communities are most vulnerable The Zimbabwe Drought Response appeal seeks to address the primary food insecurity problem facing rural communities in Zimbabwe. The appeal is twofold: Contribute to reduction in current urgent food needs and promote future food security. The appeal is feeding 17 000 vulnerable people in six most food insecure Dioceses of Hwange, Bulawayo, Gweru, Gokwe, Chinhoyi, and Masvingo. Harare and Mutare Dioceses have been spared from the appeal because other funding partners have opted to have bi-literal agreements to support them. More than USD 1 300 000.00 needed The drought response project will provide a blanket in-kind food distribution for eight months (until September 2020). The food basket contains grain, pulses (e.g. beans, lentils and peas) and oil at the following quantities standardised to align with WFP food expenditure basket composed of 7.5kg of grain per person per month; 0.5kg of pulses per person per month and 0.75kg of vegetable oil per person per month. The total budget for this food security Appeal is USD 1, 332, 439. 00 (EURO 1 017 915. 00). To date, the appeal has received pledges of up to 140 00 USD and only 10 000 USD. Caritas Japan, Caritas Australia and CAFOD have pledged US$10 000.00, 50 000.00 pounds and US75 000.00 respectively. Collaboration with WFP In similar food security projects, Caritas Zimbabwe is being supported by the World Food Programme to feed 261 699 individuals for four months ending April 2020 in the Districts of Gutu, Chivi, and Beitbridge in Masvingo diocese. In addition, Hwedza, Marondera, Chikomba, Murehwa in the Archdiocese of Harare then Umzingwane and Matobo in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo. Flood gates sit within the U.S.-Mexico border fence west of Naco, Arizona, on May 8, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Lawmakers Criticize $3.8 Billion Funding Shift to Support Southern Border Wall Top lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration after it announced it would shift nearly $4 billion from the military budget toward building some 177 miles of fencing across the U.S.-Mexico border, in efforts to address drug-smuggling activities. The funding move was announced on Feb. 13 by the Department of Defense (DOD). The top Democrat and Republican lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee last week criticized the move. The reprogramming announced today is contrary to Congresss constitutional authority, and I believe that it requires Congress to take action, said committee ranking member Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) in a statement following the announcement. I will be working with my colleagues to determine the appropriate steps to take. Thornberry said that the move undermines the principle of civilian control of the military and is in violation of the separation of powers within the Constitution. He added that the walls funding must come through the Department of Homeland Security rather than diverting critical military resources that are needed and in law. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) accused President Donald Trump of being obsessed with fulfilling a campaign promise at the expense of our national security. Meanwhile, a joint letter (pdf) addressed to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday, stated: As was the case last year, the Department of Defense did not request, and the Congress did not provide, any defense funds for border wall construction. This repeated maneuver to transfer funds once again is in contrast to the long-established processes involving consultation with the defense oversight committees of Congress on reprogrammings and transfers. A request was sent to Congress last Thursday, stating that the money is required to provide support for counter-drug activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has identified areas along the southern border of the United States that are being used by individuals, groups, and transnational criminal organizations as drug smuggling corridors, and determined that the construction of additional physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the United States border is necessary in order to impede and deny drug smuggling activities, reads the request, signed by acting DOD comptroller Elaine McCusker. The request (pdf), divided into two parts, seeks $2.2 billion to be diverted from defense appropriations, and $1.63 billion from the Pentagons Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund. The OCO fund is used in military operations against the ISIS terrorist group. Diverting money from the defense appropriations would affect funding for two F-35 fighters, eight Reaper drones, four Air Force C-130 transport aircraft, two Marine V-22 Osprey helicopters, amphibious ships, National Guard equipment, and Army trucks. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who has supported the construction of the wall, said on Friday he was concerned about the Guard and Reserve dollars, which are being pulled from the OCO account. These funds were intended to upgrade outdated aircraft and maintain readiness by improving equipment and weapons systems, which could affect West Virginias National Guard and Reserve units preparedness as well as manufacturing jobs in our state, Manchin said in a statement. He added that he believes the move is a direct violation of Congresss power to appropriate funds. Bob Salesses, the deputy assistant defense secretary, told reporters on Thursday that the funds are intended to help build 30-foot fencing on federally-controlled land in six border areas: San Diego and El Centro, California; Yuma and Tuscon, Arizona; and El Paso and Del Rio, Texas. He added that a review by the Pentagon concluded that all the sectors are high-intensity drug trafficking areas. The move comes as President Donald Trump extended the national emergency declaration on the U.S.-Mexico border for another year, according to a notice submitted to the Federal Register (pdf) on Thursday. This is the first time Trump has extended the declaration and follows the initial emergency declaration in February 2019. Since taking office, Trump has demanded that Congress fund construction of a wall on the southern borderhis landmark campaign promise. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- A new report from the International Monetary Fund warns that, by 2034, declining oil demand could gnaw away the $2 trillion in financial wealth amassed by the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Unless they act quickly to reform their hydrocarbon-dependent economies, these countries, which collectively account for a fifth of the worlds crude production, will become net debtors. Inevitably, the report has led to predictions that the evaporation of Arab oil wealth will bode ill for economic development and political stability in an already troubled region. Beyond the GCC, low oil prices would hamper the progress of populous, but still under-developed, oil-rich Arab countriesIraq and Algeriathat must reorganize their economies and societies toward productive sectors without the cushion of wealth salted away during the boom years. But declining oil prices and the dwindling of cash reserves are not necessarily bad news for the political economy of the Arab region as a whole. To start with, the overwhelming majority of the Arab people do not live in oil-rich countries. The most populous Arab countries are for the most part oil-poor. Many are net energy importers, with relatively diversified economic structures and external sectors. These include Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon and war-torn Syria. For these countries, lower oil prices would lower the costs of their production and improve their balance-of-payments positions. The decline in oil wealth would reinforce the incentives to diversify away from GCC-dependency by countries like Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, which have long relied on recycled oil rentsthrough workers remittances, aid and credit from the oil-rich member states. Lower oil prices may actually improve the longer-term prospects of redefining the position of the most populous Arab countries in the global division of labor. Countries like Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan already possess diversified export structures, with non-oil goods constituting the bulk of what they export. They have also developed strong trade, investment and tourism connections with powerful partners in the European Union and the U.S. For Morocco and Tunisia, lower oil prices would boost their position as energy importers and as exporters of manufactured goods. Story continues Conversely, the outlook for Egypt is significantly tougher given its dense ties with the GCC. But, the overall share of oil-related rents in the countrys GDP, including remittances and foreign aid (predominantly from the GCC), has been constantly declining since the 1990s. There is near consensus in the literature on the Arab world that oil wealth has been associated with less democracy and more conflict and repression. This does not mean that all conflict can be traced back to oil wealth, but it has played a central role in deepening and prolonging hostilities. Hydrocarbon wealth since the oil shock of 1973 has been associated with higher intensity of conflict around the Persian Gulf, with ramifications for the wider Arab world. Three Gulf wars and the ongoing tensions between Iran and an alliance of the U.S. and several Arab countries attest to this fact. Beyond the Gulf region, oil rents have often been often used to fuel arms races and civil conflict through the sponsorship of local militias along ethno-sectarian lines. Hence, lower oil prices in the long term may weaken the financial resource-base for fueling conflict in MENA, whether directly or by proxy. Since 2011, oil riches have been used instrumentally to shape the outcomes of post-Arab Spring political processes across the region. Oil-rich governments have supported non-democratic forces, be they Islamist or non-Islamist, Sunni or Shia, creating prolonged and internationalized civil conflicts. In Syria, for instance, Iran threw its weight behind the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Elsewhere, the GCC monarchies used their money power against people-power movements by backing autocrats. It may not be a coincidence that the only success story of a post-Arab Spring transition to democracy is Tunisia, which is not only oil-poor but also too small to draw much attention from oil-rich states. Less access to easy money could curb ongoing conflicts, or at least make them less intense. Its worth remembering that the end of the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s was hastened by the oil glut of 1986 and the subsequent decline in revenues for the two belligerents and their regional sponsors. Civil conflicts are more complicated than international ones, and will likely linger even with declining oil rents, as they have done since 2014 in Syria, Libya and Yemen. Still, the availability of fewer resources may hasten the conclusion of these conflictsor at least limit their scope and intensity. For much of the Arab world, and especially in the counties where hydrocarbon revenues have long represented a curse, the decline in oil wealth described in the IMF report might yet be a blessing in disguise. To contact the author of this story: Amr Adly at amradly82@gmail.com To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Amr Adly is an assistant professor at the American University in Cairo. He is the author of "State Reform and Development in the Middle East." For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The boss of a bushfire community relief organisations says Centrelink recipients who help rebuild fire-damaged communities should have their expenses paid by taxpayers. BlazeAid is a disaster relief organisation that helps to restore communities affected by bushfires. The organisation currently has 1,200 volunteers in their camps helping devastated communities in various locations throughout the country. BlazeAid president Kevin Butler believes that unemployed people and dole recipients should be encouraged to help out volunteer organisations through a government stimulus. BlazeAid founder Kevin Butler has called for government incentives for dole recipients and unemployed people to get more volunteers (pictured) helping bushfire-ravaged communities Bushfires killed 33 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes across the country over the summer period. Pictured: residents tackle an out-of-control blaze at Hillsville near Taree, NSW 'The incentive should be something like free transport to BlazeAid,' Mr Butler told The Daily Telegraph. Destructive bushfires over the summer period killed 33 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes throughout the country. Around 500 million animals and their habitats have been singed in out-of-control blazes so far this season, with more than $1billion in claims being lodged to insurance companies. Fundraising events all over the world have raised millions of dollars for bushfire relief charities, and the work of volunteers on the ground is making a huge difference to get bushfire-ravaged communities get back on their feet. Tyler Benson from Nowra on the New South Wales south coast is applying for the Newstart allowance and believes incentives for volunteers is a good idea. 'I think it's good just because there's a lot of people around this area that really have nothing to do and there's not many job opportunities,' he said. Communities around the country have been devastated by bushfires this summer, and more volunteers on the ground will make a huge difference to get local people and businesses back on their feet. Pictured: Destroyed homes and bush land in Kangaroo Island, SA 'So getting them into something like that is really a push and they're seen by others in the community it might give them a chance to get a job and be seen by others.' Changes to the working-holiday visa for backpackers will allow organisations like BlazeAid to get more volunteers helping them out. Backpackers are now able to work with the same employer for 12 months while working in bushfire zones, and will be able to count volunteering as work when applying to extend their working holiday visas. Construction work in disaster zones will also count as work under the new rules designed to support farmers and regional businesses. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told The Australian that working holidaymakers would be able to help farmers and businesses with demolition and land clearing on properties, as well as repairing dams, roads and railways. 'These hardworking Australians have been hit by the recent bushfires, but from today they can employ backpackers for six months longer, helping them at a critical time in the recovery effort,' Mr Tudge said. 'This recovery will be driven locally, by local workers and communities. But this will be a massive recovery effort and we want businesses and charitable organisations to have as many boots on the ground as they need.' The visa rule changes follow recommendations from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. 'Treat us like something between a telco and a newspaper.' This is what Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is telling European regulators and politicians as a new round of rules is being considered. As a society, which do we think is the preferable analogy? Do we want it to be like a telecoms network, where trillions of bits of data flow through without being looked at? Or a newspaper, where every last word is legally accountable and actionable? "I actually think where we should be is somewhere in between," he told global leaders and security chiefs in Munich. In large part, it is the telco model of regulation which has seen social media firms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube become the world's largest, most influential media platforms. Don't blame us, the founders say. We're only posting what ordinary people say. But with mass migration online comes a chronic need for new regulatory measures. In Ireland, we look set to appoint a new online safety commission with greater powers over social media firms. But it stops far short of treating Facebook as RTE or the Irish Independent. It can order Facebook to take posts down, but still asks the giant largely to set its own rules for a large chunk of controversial or offensive content posted there. The cold reality is that many of us haven't definitely decided what restrictions we really want from digital utilities like Facebook and Whatsapp. This is a policy shortfall that Mark Zuckerberg has been asking about more publicly in recent years, both when it comes to harmful content and political advertising. "Who decides what counts as political advertising in a democracy?" he wrote in a 'Financial Times' op-ed yesterday. "If a non-profit runs an ad about immigration during an election, is it political? Who should decide - private companies or governments?" There remains sharp division throughout our society on the right balance to strike. Some believe there should be no difference in regulation between Twitter and the 'Herald'. Others go even further, arguing that social media users should be required to upload a passport or PPS number to use Facebook. But there remains a large number of people who want minimal legal regulation, lest authorities try to seize too much control. We need to arrive quickly at a clearer consensus on this. MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm Protiviti has been named to the 2020 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the sixth consecutive time. The list is based on a survey of people who work at companies with 1,000 employees or more across the United States. Employees rate their company culture on more than 60 elements of their experience on the job, including respect, fairness of workplace decisions, camaraderie among the team and the extent to which employees trust their leaders. Administered by Great Place to Work, the survey is the largest ongoing annual workforce study in America. Eighty-five percent of the survey evaluation is based on what companies' employees report about their experiences of trust and reaching their full potential in their organizations, no matter who they are or what they do. The evaluation also includes an assessment of employees' daily experiences of the company's values, people's ability to contribute new ideas and the effectiveness of their leaders. "We take pride in our continuing presence on the Fortune 100 Best Companies list because it confirms that even as Protiviti continues to grow in size, revenues and capabilities, we are maintaining our focus on our core values of integrity, inclusion and innovation," said Protiviti President and CEO Joseph Tarantino. "Having a fully engaged, supportive workforce enables us to deliver exceptional client service and creative solutions for today's most pressing business problems." "We know that our people form the backbone of Protiviti's success," said Scott Redfearn, executive vice president, global human resources, Protiviti. "We're able to attract the best talent by offering a truly collaborative, diverse workplace where people can successfully grow their careers in a supportive environment that includes fulfilling work, a deeply-rooted culture of mentoring, and easy access to leaders who foster transparency from the top down." Protiviti was recently named to the Fortune Best Places to Work for Diversity list and offers employees a stimulating culture where differing viewpoints and experiences are valued as a way to offer clients new and unique perspectives. Employees can take advantage of a broad range of personal and professional development opportunities including extensive on- and off-the-job training, tuition reimbursement and the chance to travel and work abroad, as well as a meaningful rewards and benefits program, which includes gender-neutral paid parental leave, sabbaticals and backup childcare. "The 100 Best show the way forward," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "These companies have created Great Places to Work For Allfor everyone, no matter who a person is or what they do for the organization. As a result, they have built a path to realize the promise of artificial intelligence, and gain strength from a diversity of perspectives." To learn more about Great Place to Work and recognition on Best Workplaces lists published with Fortune, visit greatplacetowork.com. About Protiviti Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Through our network of more than 85 offices in over 25 countries, Protiviti and its independent and locally owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Named to the 2020 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index. Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services. Editor's note: Photos available upon request. SOURCE Protiviti Related Links https://www.protiviti.com System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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Now they are united in a struggle for survival. Lets go back to the very beginning. At the start of the Civil War (the real one, not the one between the hospitals), Hoboken was a port for troops shipping out and wounded shipped home, as well as an arrival port for immigrants fleeing the Irish famine. Sick, poor and hungry people were camped out everywhere. Voyaging home to visit his family, Father Anthony Cauvin, then pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Hoboken, met a young nun on her way back to Germany after visiting a congregation in Ohio. They talked about the need for medical care in Hoboken and Sister Frances Schervier agreed to send sisters to provide it. In 1863, three Franciscan sisters arrived and were welcomed into a small house provided by the parish, and two days later they treated their first patients in what grew to become St. Mary Hospital, the first in New Jersey. They wrote to Sister Frances about their success and asked for more sisters to tend to the needs of neighboring Jersey City. A year later the Franciscans opened St. Francis Hospital there. Some time later a prominent and stridently anti-Catholic contractor was injured in an industrial accident near St. Francis Hospital, and the nun in charge refused to admit him. She told him to find care elsewhere. Frustrated, furious, and in desperate pain, he instructed his men to load him onto a barge, ferry him across the Hudson, and get a doctor in New York. And he vowed to start another hospital in Jersey City where he and his fellow congregants could get care. On his return he contacted the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, won their support, and in 1872 opened Christ Hospital in the Heights. And thus began the start of a century-long rivalry and the growth of good hospital care in Hudson County. There was a place for both Catholics and Protestants, but neither hospital wanted to be burdened with patients with highly infectious diseases. Jersey City aldermen had no such qualms and raised funds to open a third hospital in 1882 which grew to become the Jersey City Medical Center, now a part of RWJBarnabas Health, offspring of St. Barnabas Hospital, which had been founded in Newark by the Episcopal church. In 1888, Bayonne civic leaders also opened a hospital, which remained independent until bankruptcy in 2007 and was taken over by three private investors who later formed CarePoint and acquired both St. Mary, by then known as Hoboken University Medical Center, and Christ Hospital. The attempted merger of Christ, St. Mary and St. Francis hospitals in 2000 had lasted only three years and resulted in the closing of St. Francis. Over the years Hudson gained and lost several other hospitals Jewish Hospital, now an Alaris-owned nursing home, Greenville Hospital, now an outpatient center for RWJBarnabas, Fairmount Hospital, which relocated to become North Hudson Hospital and then Palisades Medical Center, today a part of the Hackensack-Meridian Health System. West Hudson Hospital in Kearny closed some years ago, and Meadowlands Hospital, the newest of the health institutions opened as Riverside Hospital in Secaucus in 1986, has been reincarnated as Hudson Regional Hospital. If CarePoint hospitals close, more than 100,000 patients a year might have no place to go. The negotiations of CarePoint, RWJBarnabas, and Alaris arent just business. Theyre life or death. A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp. She was vice president for external affairs for CarePoint Health and its predecessors. Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com. Crews spent Monday cleaning up Plymouth Rock and other monuments that were vandalized with graffiti over the weekend in Plymouth, Mass. Photos on social media showed red spray paint covering the rock, which marks the area where William Bradford and the pilgrims of the Mayflower disembarked before establishing Plymouth Colony in 1620. The letters MOF and the numbers 508 covered the rock and its inscription. Vandals defaced the Pilgrim Maiden statue and the National Monument to the Forefathers, as well as a bench that honors the daughters of the colonists who arrived in Plymouth on the ship Anne in 1623 and four colorful artworks in the shape of scallop shells, said Melissa G. Arrighi, the Plymouth town manager. The floor of the Half Shell Band Stand was also damaged. The Plymouth Police Department is investigating the vandalism. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has threatened to launch a non-cooperation movement against the Uttar Pradesh government's alleged anti-farmer policies. BKU chief Naresh Tikait hit out at the state government for not clearing dues of the sugarcane farmers. Addressing hundreds of farmers who had gheraoed the district magistrate's office here on Monday evening, he said, "We will not pay our electricity bills if the state government fails to fulfil our demands. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people could look at the same facts and arrive at different conclusions, he said. Thats the judges call to make. The group initially filed the case against Harvard in 2014, and spent years in an ultimately successful battle to get access to tens of thousands of pages of internal Harvard admissions records, many of which were made public. The three-week trial, which took place in the fall of 2018, riveted spectators because of the arcane secrets of Harvard admissions that it revealed. There was the existence of a deans or directors list that included the children of wealthy donors who received special consideration in admissions. And there was the lop list, a list of students whom admissions officers felt could be cut at the last minute, to balance the composition of the class the way they wanted to. The appellate brief argues that the judge gave too little weight to the statistical analysis of bias in Harvards admissions presented by the plaintiffs, and too much credence to the testimony of Harvards admissions officers, which the brief called self-serving. A defendants insistence that it does not discriminate, however credible or indignant, is not evidence in its favor, the brief says. In presenting the case, the plaintiffs argued that because the share of academically qualified Asian-American applicants was so high, Harvard resorted to using a subjective personal rating, which trafficked in stereotypes about Asian-Americans being quiet and studious, to winnow down the number it admitted. Harvard responded that descriptions like quiet and studious had been used for students who were not Asian-American as well, and that admissions officers looked not just at the larger group, but at more disadvantaged subsets of Asian-Americans, like Cambodians or Vietnamese. Students for Fair Admissions has filed another affirmative action case against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is scheduled to go to trial in May. It is a more classic case, arguing that the university could bring in more black and Hispanic students, albeit of slightly lower academic caliber, if it used race-neutral alternatives. MARYVILLE The First Baptist Church Maryville is hosting humorous motivational speaker Dan Meers at a free luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at 7110 Illinois 162, Maryville. Dan Meers is commonly known as KC Wolf, the mascot of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs. He previously was the Fredbird mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Nobel Prize-winning journalist is coming to Kalamazoo in March to speak about her work advocating for womens rights. Tawakkol Karman, a 2011 Nobel Prize winner, will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Western Michigan Universitys Schneider Hall as part of PeaceJams annual Spring Youth Conference, according to a news release from the Great Lakes PeaceJam. Great Lakes PeaceJam, a regional affiliate of the international PeaceJam Foundation, is also associated with Seeding Change, a nonprofit with the mission of developing life-long, civically-active, and globally-aware leaders of peace and justice. Known as the Iron Woman and Mother of the Revolution by some Yemenis, Karman is a leading activist for peace, as well as the first Arab woman and second Muslim woman to win a Nobel Prize, the organization said. Her speech, titled Speak Truth to Power will highlight Karmans non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for womens rights," the organization said. The event is open to the public. A $15 suggested donation is requested from each guest. Karman grew up in a politically tumultuous country and saw the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990. She is a journalist by profession and human rights activist by nature, according to background provided in the news release. In 2005, she co-founded the group Women Journalists Without Chains. In 2007, Karman began organizing weekly protests in Yemens capital, targeting systemic government repression. Tickets are also available for purchase to attend a reception prior to the speaking event at 5:30 p.m. The $50-per-person admission includes hors doeuvres, an opportunity to meet Karman and entry to the public address. The event also features a cash bar. Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.greatlakespeacejam.com. All of the proceeds from the reception and public speech will directly benefit the PeaceJam program in Kalamazoo, the release states. Great Lakes PeaceJam, based in Kalamazoo, is administered by Seeding Change and supported through a partnership with Western Michigan University. The organization serves the youth of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. The conference, held from March 20-22, will include more than 300 students from the Great Lakes region. Also on MLive: Michigan astronaut reuniting with dog after year in space is the best thing youll see today Special service to bring together those impacted by gun violence Los Angeles, Feb 18 : "Two and a Half Men" actress Conchata Ferrell is recovering after a recent hospital emergency. She fell ill with a life-threatening kidney infection in December. Ferrell was feeling "weak and frail", which turned out to be a kidney infection that spread throughout her body and "began contaminating her blood", according to tmz.com, reports dailymail.co.uk. The 76-year-old, best known for playing housekeeper Berta on the sitcom, was hospitalised with an extended stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The actress spent all of December and part of January in the ICU while doctors tried to treat her. She has since been moved into transitional care and recovering at home, following her stay in West Virginia for a family trip over Thanksgiving. The publication reported that Ferrell is now back here and has just started walking again. She was bedridden and has been going through physical therapy with nurses several times per day. There is still no news about how she contracted the infection, but her family was there by her side with many relatives even travelling interstate to see her multiple times. Ferrell told tmz.com that her husband Arnie Anderson "hasn't taken care of anything a day in his life", but was there when she needed him. She married Anderson in 1986. Together, they are parents to a daughter, Samantha, 38, who was born in 1982. Ferrell is best known for playing Berta the housekeeper "Two And A Half Men". She starred in the show between 2003 to 2015 and received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supportive Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2007. Ferrell last starred in "The Ranch" in five episodes as Shirley in 2017. Latest updates on International Emmy Awards 2019 Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders is opening five Michigan campaign offices with less than a month before the states primary election. The campaign announced it will open field offices in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint and Detroit this week. The Vermont senator is strengthening his campaigns presence in Michigan, hiring more staff, organizing volunteers and engaging voters with only three weeks left until the March 10 primary. Sanders hopes to win Michigan for the second time after pulling off a narrow victory over Hillary Clinton in the states 2016 Democratic primary. Sanders himself has been on the ground in several other early-voting states on the heels of his victory in the New Hampshire primary and hasnt attended a public event in Michigan since October 2019. The Sanders campaign announced several additions to its Michigan team last week. The campaign hired Michael Fasullo, who worked on Sanders Iowa campaign, to serve as the Michigan state coordinator and tapped Michigan League of Conservation voters Affairs Manager Alia Phillips to serve as its state field director in January. It also added four regional field directors and four field organizers in Michigan. With the operation were building in Michigan, Bernie Sanders will not only win the primary, but he will also be the only candidate with the energy and enthusiasm to flip this state back and defeat Donald Trump, Fasullo said in a statement. We have thousands of volunteers across the state and our staff is tirelessly working to expand this multi-ethnic, multi-generational, people-powered movement. Sanders Democratic primary opponents are also putting a focus on building their campaign operations in Michigan, particularly former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The billionaire activist hired nearly 100 paid staff and has eight offices across Michigan, with plans to add two more this month. Sanders top-tier performances in Iowa and New Hampshire position him as an emerging Democratic frontrunner, with moderate Democrats split between Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. Bloomberg is skipping the first four to invest heavily in states that will vote on and after Super Tuesday on March 3. Bloomberg visited Michigan twice while the rest of the field campaigned in Iowa and New Hampshire. The two candidates have become increasingly at odds during Sanders rise. They will meet on the debate stage for the first time Wednesday, a few days before the next primary in Nevada. Former Michigan congressman and 2014 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mark Schauer said Bloombergs investments in Michigan are a game-changer. Schauer, who cast his absentee vote for Bloomberg this week, said the former New York mayor has a track record of success in office and will reach disaffected voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2016. The Bloomberg campaign is playing chess while a lot of campaigns are playing checkers, Schauer said. Bloomberg spent $3 million to support Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2014, who beat Schauer and won re-election by 4 percentage points. Schauer said hes never talked with Bloomberg about the race and has moved on. Im supporting the person that not only has a long track record of supporting Democratic values, but gives us the best chance of beating Donald Trump, Schauer said. Its really that simple. I am not looking back, Im looking forward. Sanders has accused Bloomberg of trying to buy his spot in the race by leveraging his vast fortune -- estimated to approach $60 billion -- and is emblematic of a corrupt political system that allows the rich to influence elections. On the campaign trail, Sanders also said Bloomberg cant assemble the broad support needed to beat Trump in November. The simple truth that Mayor Bloomberg, with all his money, will not create the kind of excitement and energy we need to have the voter turnout we must have to defeat Donald Trump, Sanders said at a Feb. 16 event in Nevada. Bloomberg, a former Republican, criticized Sanders of allowing his most fervent supporters to attack other candidates and hurt the party. Bloomberg purchased ads highlighting the negative energy expressed by some of Sanders supporters. Sanders campaign hasnt organized many official events during the last few months, instead leaning on a vast network of Michigan volunteers. Nearly 700 voter engagement events have been held so far, most organized by volunteers. Door-knocking campaigns, debate watch parties and phone banks scheduled this month focus on communities in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties while also reaching across the state to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing, among others. The Sanders campaign is also holding official volunteer training events to connect potential organizers with campaign staff. February meetups are scheduled in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Holland, East Lansing, Ferndale and the campuses of Central Michigan University and the University of Michigan. Sanders has kept a focus on union workers, collecting the backing of more union groups than any other 2020 presidential candidate. The Vermont senator previously joined the picket line with striking United Auto Workers union members in September. The campaign has also dispatched supporters to strikes and protests in Michigan, like a Feb. 14 protest at the Detroit Metro Airport organized by airline catering workers. Sanders secured endorsements from 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, state Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, and Michigans chapter of the Young Democrats of America. Michiganders have made 175,000 donations to Sanders, according to the campaign, totaling more than $2.8 million. FEC filings show Sanders collected $460,089 in individual contributions from Michigan residents in 2019. Notable donors include Mark Sellers, who owns the parent company of HopCat, Stellas Lounge and Grand Rapids Brewing Co. Read more on MLive 2020 Democratic presidential candidates build up Michigan campaign presence How Michigan voters can request absentee ballots for presidential primary Who is on Michigans March presidential primary ballot? Bloomberg tells Detroit hes their best chance to beat Trump Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, says that AI like the one his companies make should be better regulated. Musk's opinion on the dangers of letting AI proliferate unfettered was prompted by a report published in MIT Technology Review about changing company culture at OpenAI, a technology company that helps develop new AI. Elon Musk formerly helmed the company but left due to conflicts of interest. The report claims that OpenAI has shifted from its goal of equitably distributing AI technology to a more secretive, funding-driven company. 'OpenAI should be more open imo,' he tweeted. 'All orgs developing advanced AI should be regulated, including Tesla.' All orgs developing advanced AI should be regulated, including Tesla Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2020 In the past Musk has likened artificial intelligence to summoning the demon and has even warned that the technology could someday be more harmful than nuclear weapons. Speaking at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AeroAstro Centennial Symposium in 2014, Musk described artificial intelligence as our biggest existential threat. I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, its probably that. So we need to be very careful with artificial intelligence. Im increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we dont do something very foolish.' He continued by likening the act of creating an AI to a horror movie. With artificial intelligence were summoning the demon. You know those stories where theres the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water, and hes sure he can control the demon? Doesnt work out. Musk isn't the only high-profile CEO to advocate for regulation of AI and adjacent technologies. Last month, CEO of Alphabet, Sundar Pichai called for international cooperation on regulating AI technology to ensure that it's harnessed for good. Elon Musk (pictured) has warned about the dangers of developing AI in the past, saying its akin to 'summon the demon' Sundar Pichai said that while regulation by individual governments and existing rules such as GDPR can provide a 'strong foundation' for the regulation of AI, a more coordinated international effort is 'critical' to making global standards work. The CEO said that history is full of examples of how technologys virtues arent guaranteed and that with technological innovations come side effects. 'Companies such as ours cannot just build promising new technology and let market forces decide how it will be used, he wrote in the Financial Times. It is equally incumbent on us to make sure that technology is harnessed for good and available to everyone. Now there is no question in my mind that artificial intelligence needs to be regulated. It is too important not to. The only question is how to approach it.' Late last year it appeared the Australian economy was sailing into 2020 with an air of confidence. The Reserve Bank of Australia was adding stimulus, and better news on US-China trade tensions, some certainty surrounding Brexit and the global economy showing tentative signs of further recovery helped push equity markets to record highs. Chinese tourists inject four times as much as the second-placed Americans into our accommodation and retail sectors. Credit: However, the optimism quickly evaporated domestically because of the impact of widespread bushfires that razed the landscape last month and now globally by the onset of the coronavirus. For investors, this created some near-term volatility in equities but the market now seems to be pricing in that the worst is over. Letter trouble to BS Yediyurappa: Documents demand CM to step down from post India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Feb 18: Ahead of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurapp's 77th birthday, an unsigned letter by a "Karnataka MLA" is doing rounds within the party leaders. This letter has come at a time when several leaders from the state BJP are reportedly unhappy as they were not inducted into the cabinet. The letter, that is doing rounds, talks about Yediyurappa's age and calls for a change in the chief ministerial post. Also, the letter further stated that Yediyurappa must be appointed as a Governor and use his experience than to be serving as a chief minister of a state. The author of the four-page letter, that is available with OneIndia, stated that how Yediyurappa fought to come to power in the state. It further revealed that how the CM has become weak and inactive due to his age. Yediyurappa allocates portfolios, Ramesh Jarkiholi gets irrigation NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 With disgruntled MLAs around the chief minister, the letter also accused Yediyurappa of not allowing anyone in Veerashaiva-Lingayat community to achieve their goal and his son BY Vijayendra to be a de facto CM of Karnataka. Jessa Duggar offered her YouTube followers a quick home tour. While home tours are not particularly uncommon, Jessa decided to change things up to show her followers just how messy her tiny living space can get. Complete with a clip of a clogged toilet, Jessa took followers through the 1,000 square foot home she shares with her husband, Ben Seewald, and her three children, Spurgeon, Henry and Ivy Seewald. While some followers praised the mother of three for showing the reality of life with small kids, others were left wondering exactly when the family will upgrade to a house that is big enough for all of them, and any future Seewalds the family adds. Jessa and Ben moved into the house in 2014 The tiny house has been in the Duggar family for years. According to property records, the house was purchased back in 2007 for $100,000. The house, which Josh Duggar and his wife Anna Duggar lived in when they first got married, sat vacant after the couple moved to Washington D.C for a job opportunity in 2013. When Jessa married Ben in 2014, the tiny home was a logical move. With just over 1,000 square feet of living space, the property seemed like a perfect fit for two newlyweds. Three children later, and things are getting pretty cramped. The couple, however, decided to purchase the home from the Duggar family in 2017. They paid $100,000 for the property, exactly what the house was purchased for back in 2007, according to Trulia. Will the couple upgrade their living space? Jessa has shared more than one video about how she cleans and organizes her space, but there really is only so much one can do in a tiny house inhabited by five people. In fact, the problem is likely to get worse as the couples three children age up and need more space to spread out. If the couple adds a fourth Seewald child to the mix, which seems likely, things are going to get even more chaotic. So, will the couple upgrade their living space at some point? Neither Jessa nor Ben have mentioned moving recently, but it seems like an inevitability. Jessa, however, seems willing to hold out for as long as possible. In her video, she noted she is sentimental and loves the tiny space. The two-bedroom house isnt big enough to give the family the bedroom space theyll eventually need, though. The Seewalds, like the Duggars, would never dream of having their daughter share a room with her brothers. With the master bedroom occupied by Jessa and Ben, and Spurgeon and Henry taking up residency in the homes only other bedroom, they are one room short. When they will pack up and move is anyones guess, though. The Duggar family has no shortage of properties around Northwest Arkansas The Duggar family is known in their Northwest Arkansas neighborhood for buying up property. Some of the homes they purchase they renovate and sell. Other properties they keep and rent out and a few select homes are set aside for Duggar kids once they get married and begin families of their own. While many Springdale, Arkansas residents seem to believe the Duggar family purchases property to curry favor with politicians, they seem to have another reason for the purchase. Not only does it allow Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar to continue to control their adult children, but the price tag for absolute power isnt too high. The family is known for purchasing properties that are primarily considered unsellable. Jessa and Bens current home, for example, backs up to a busy and dangerous highway. A recent video on Jessas YouTube account proves just how loud and intrusive the highway traffic can be. The family also owns an expansive mansion that has sat unsold for months, and they have been busy purchasing swaths of land in the area, too. Its possible that, at some point, another, larger Duggar property will be made available to Jessa and Ben, but there is no guarantee its location and features will be at all desirable. The 2020 Southern California Super Doctors report recognizes the top five percent of active doctors in Los Angeles and Orange counties with two lists: Super Doctors 2020 and Rising Stars . The selection process relies on 10 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, surveying physicians in Southern California and ensuring the physicians named are the most respected and talented in their fields. "The peer review process of Super Doctors shows that our physicians are not only valued by patients and families, but also their colleagues," Eric Ramos, M.D., chief medical officer, Long Beach Medical Center. "We are proud to have a team of the best and brightest physicians that honor and respect each other's skills and provide our patients with the highest quality care." The Super Doctors peer-review-selection process asks doctors to nominate fellow physicians by answering the question, "If you needed medical care, which doctor would you choose?" In addition, candidates were evaluated based on professional achievement, as well as the Super Doctors' "blue ribbon panel review" process, where physicians in more than 30 specialties evaluate the list of nominees. "Our pediatric physicians are some of the best in Southern California and consistently provide our young patients and their families with state-of-the-art, family-centered care," says Graham Tse, M.D., chief medical officer, Miller Children's & Women's. "The Super Doctors Report reaffirms Miller Children's & Women's commitment to providing the region with specialized pediatric and maternity care." Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's physicians were recognized in areas including cardiology and pediatric cardiology, vascular surgery, pediatrics, gastroenterology and pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric surgery, ophthalmology, hematology and oncology, radiology, maternal/fetal medicine, plastic surgery, endocrinology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, neurology and more. View the complete list of physicians . About MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach: MemorialCare's Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach, are designated with the prestigious Magnet recognition. Long Beach Medical Center has been providing compassionate care with the latest state-of-the-art technology for more than 100 years and is the region's first choice for comprehensive care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Miller Children's & Women's provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex as well as maternity care for expectant mothers all under one roof. Visit memorialcare.org/LongBeach and millerchildrens.org for more information. SOURCE MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and MemorialCare Miller Childrens & Womens Hospital Long Beach Related Links millerchildrens.org Bay of Plenty We are looking for STMS' for permanent full-time roles. To be chosen as one of the successful candidates, you will have... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Seattle, WA - February 15 - For many African countries, lack of food is one of the most, pressing issues today. Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, Africa Program Lead for NASA Harvest, is helping countries there build systems to monitor crops based on NASA's and European Space Agency's free satellite data, allowing them to make life-saving decisions related to food security sooner and with a deeper evidence-base. Speaking at the AAAS meeting in Seattle on Saturday at 8 am in room 611, Nakalembe will describe NASA's involvement in agriculture and food security across the globe and new efforts to do crop health assessments using machine learning. When combined with data collected on the ground at farms, satellite data show what types of food crops are growing where and how they are doing as the growing season progresses. By comparing data from satellite images with reported crop yields from previous years, analysts can estimate how much food will likely be produced in a season. Combining satellite and ground data with weather forecasts enables us to forecast food production and get early warnings of potential crop failure from drought, floods, disease, and even pest infestations like the current locust crisis. This early warning gives organizations who respond to food insecurity more time to prepare and even mitigate shortages and famine altogether. Working with mapping and analysis tools developed by remote sensing experts at NASA Harvest's Hub at the University of Maryland, UC Santa Barbara's Climate Hazards Center, and local partners, Dr. Nakalembe trains analysts from agriculture and weather agencies in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Mali, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Mali how to use satellite data to monitor their crops. As a result, three of these countries have recently launched their own satellite-based crop monitoring programs. Nakalembe and Harvest also cooperate with local and regional groups like ICPAC to amplify this capacity building, now reaching 10 countries. This work enhances each country's efforts to know and prepare for impending events and allows regional coordination of response efforts. For example, with the current desert locust invasion and crisis in Eastern Africa, regional reporting through the ICPAC Regional Crop Monitor has provided countries with up-to-date information on extent and impact. While these achievements sound straightforward, they are anything but. Nakalembe's team faces challenges, including a lack of capacity and dedicated staff to interpret the underlying data compounded by a lack of trust in satellite data. One key to Nakalembe's success has been building trusting relationships and co-developing processes and tools with the people who use them, whether it's agricultural extension agents or the farmers they work with. "It is always work in progress, but the strength lies in ag agents actually using the data and informing their supervisors with these products. It is absolutely critical to use this type of science-based information in agriculture decisions. But many countries are not in the position to make the necessary investments, and so the support of NASA Harvest, SERVIR, USAID, Lutheran World Relief, and others is critical in making this resilience-boosting work across the Continent, and beyond," says Nakalembe. NASA Harvest is a consortium of over 50 partners run by the University of Maryland's Geographical Sciences Department on behalf of NASA Earth's Applied Sciences Program. The NASA SERVIR capacity development program also supports Nakalembe's capacity development work in Africa. ### 12:09 | Lima, Feb. 18. The gathering is aimed at continuing the dialogue to find a political and peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis. In addition, Meza-Cuadra will participate in a ceremony marking the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Andean Community, set to take place in the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias on February 19, 2020. The minister's trip to Canada and Colombia slated for February 18-22 was authorized by supreme resolution No. 017-2020-PCM , published in El Peruano official gazette. Everyone and their bot account is linking to McKay Coppins' latest Atlantic essay, "The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President." He paints a disturbing picture of how President Donald Trump's reelection campaign is using a billion dollars to "wage what could be the most extensive disinformation campaign in U.S. history." The article is shot through with disturbing implications about the effect of a well-funded microtargeting campaign on the minds of individual voters. Coppins opened the story by describing the effects of creating a new Facebook account and "liking" Donald Trump, and then describing what happened when he scrolled through the ads that were targeted to him during the impeachment trial: "I was surprised by the effect it had on me. I'd assumed that my skepticism and media literacy would inoculate me against such distortions. But I soon found myself reflexively questioning every headline. It wasn't that I believed Trump and his boosters were telling the truth. It was that, in this state of heightened suspicion, truth itself - about Ukraine, impeachment, or anything else - felt more and more difficult to locate. With each swipe, the notion of observable reality drifted further out of reach. "What I was seeing was a strategy that has been deployed by illiberal political leaders around the world. Rather than shutting down dissenting voices, these leaders have learned to harness the democratizing power of social media for their own purposes-jamming the signals, sowing confusion. They no longer need to silence the dissident shouting in the streets; they can use a megaphone to drown him out. Scholars have a name for this: censorship through noise." Watching a campaign use massive sums of money to affect the political marketplace of ideas does raise some extremely troubling questions. Little wonder that Coppins included the delicious detail that a GOP strategist referred to Trump's campaign headquarters as the "Death Star." As it turns out, that "Death Star" appellation has been used to describe other campaigns as well. On Monday, BuzzFeed's Rosie Gray noted the following about Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign: "The sheer hugeness of the former New York mayor's campaign is its defining feature. It is the Death Star of presidential campaigns. ... Bloomberg is carrying out the largest advertising campaign in the history of American presidential politics, with over $400 million spent on ads so far and counting. Bloomberg is cornering the market on available staff for other campaigns that might need them." Gray also observed that many of the controversies that have dogged Bloomberg - such as his staunch support for stop-and-frisk as mayor of New York City - have not deterred him from accumulating support among African American voters. If it seems unfair to compare Bloomberg to Trump, that's because it is. First of all, Bloomberg is much, much richer than Trump. This means he can pour far greater sums of money into his campaign. The guy is paying campaign staff heretofore-unheard-of amounts and commissioning influencers to tweet about him and create favorable memes. Political scientists tend to be skeptical about whether campaign spending tips the scales in politics (see Tom Steyer's performance to date for evidence). Simply put, however, no one has attempted campaign spending on this order of magnitude, until now. Second, unlike Trump, Bloomberg had already invested heavily into his party's infrastructure before launching his presidential campaign. As the New York Times' Alexander Burns and Nicholas Kulish have documented, Bloomberg is now "the single most important political donor to the Democratic Party." Even more than his overt political spending, however, it has been Bloomberg's philanthropy that has bolstered his standing within the Democratic Party: "It is not simply good will that Mr. Bloomberg has built. His political and philanthropic spending has also secured the allegiance or cooperation of powerful institutions and leaders within the Democratic Party who might take issue with parts of his record were they not so reliant on his largesse. "In interviews with The Times, no one described being threatened or coerced by Mr. Bloomberg or his money. But many said his wealth was an inescapable consideration - a gravitational force powerful enough to make coercion unnecessary. " 'They aren't going to criticize him in his 2020 run because they don't want to jeopardize receiving financial support from him in the future,' said Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at the good-government group Common Cause." Outside the Beltway's James Joyner is correct when he notes that Bloomberg in 2020 is what "Donald Trump claimed to be in during the 2016 campaign: he's so rich that it would be next to impossible to bribe him." Of course, there is another way to interpret that sentence: Bloomberg is so rich that it might be impossible for any political movement to influence him. Third, Bloomberg's policy positions look very different from Trump's - but to be honest, the only message I have really heard from the Bloomberg campaign is that he is not Trump. This is still a big difference! Hearing Bloomberg focus primarily on defeating Trump during his stump speech probably sounds pretty good to the majority of the country who disapprove of Trump. But there is something nagging at me in reading these accounts of Bloomberg's campaign. Trump was able to use his wealth to distort the marketplace of ideas, which was not good for the health of the republic. Bloomberg has enough wealth to drown out the marketplace of ideas entirely. That cannot be good for the state of American democracy as we know it. I have no doubt that Bloomberg would be a better and more ethical president than Trump. If Bloomberg wins, however, the lesson everyone will draw is that there are no political constraints for a mega-billionaire with a modicum of political seasoning. Countervailing institutions will matter even less. The only virtue of this scenario playing out? Watching Republicans eventually call for Citizens United to be overturned. _ _ _ Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University Tullow's output this year is expected to shrink to 75,000 barrels per day and to 70,000 bpd from 2021 Tullow Oil shares plunged on Monday after the company announced that it has abandoned an exploration well off the coast of Peru. While analysts said the move did not impact the group's overall valuation, the latest in a string of bad news from the company triggered selling and a price fall. Shares were down well over 3% in Dublin after the oil and gas explorer said it had abandoned the Marina-1 exploration well off the coast of Peru after coming up dry. Stockbrokers Davy estimated that the cost to the company of the test well was 28m (23.3m) but said it should not have an impact on the company's valuation. "We believe that at current levels there was little or no value for the well built into the stock price," Davy said in its morning note. The well in which Tullow has a 35% interest will be plugged, although the company remains committed to the region. "This is the first ever well in the deep-water section of the under-explored Tumbes basin. We will now integrate the important well information with the seismic data that we are currently reprocessing and update our prospect inventory for blocks Z-38 and Z-64," said Tullow's chief operating officer Mark MacFarlane. "Tullow is building an extensive exploration position in Peru and, while this result is not what we had hoped for, we remain positive about Peru's wider offshore exploration potential," Mr MacFarlane said. Earlier this month, Tullow indicated it is set to shut its Dublin office, with the loss of 55 jobs, as part of a major global restructuring by the oil and gas explorer. Staff at the Irish office are now mainly geology and technical specialists working on exploration prospects, an area the company is pulling back from as it seeks to maximise the return on existing assets. The company is Ireland's most successful oil venture ever. It was valued at as much as $14bn (10.8bn) in its heyday, but the market capitalisation stood at around 740m (617m) coming into this week while its debt pile was around $2.8bn (2.2bn) at the end of 2019. The Peru miss, though minor, is the latest in a run of bad news. In December, shares in Tullow Oil fell by 70% in a single day after CEO Paul McDade announced he was standing down and the group revised down its production forecasts. In the past year the company has struggled to reassure investors amid technical difficulties that hampered output in Ghana, while projects in Uganda and Kenya have faced delays, and results from wells in Guyana missed expectations. The company's latest plan is to cut a third of staff in a bid to slash administrative costs by a fifth, or around $20m (15.4m). Tullow's output this year is expected to shrink to 75,000 barrels per day and to 70,000 bpd from 2021. That's down from 87,000 a day. In Arizona, a burgeoning Asian American community fields xenophobic calls about a planned night market featuring Asian street foods. In New York, a dim sum restaurant owner worries he won't make rent. In the San Francisco Bay Area, a local Asian American-owned restaurant chain is mulling temporarily shuttering one of its properties because of the downturn in trade. In major U.S. cities, Asian American businesses are seeing a remarkable decline in customers as fear about the viral outbreak from China spreads. City and health officials are trying to staunch the financial bleeding through information campaigns and personal visits to shops and restaurants, emphasizing that, with just 15 cases diagnosed in the entire country, there is no reason to avoid them. Business owners, some of whom have seen their customer traffic cut by more than half, are anxiously waiting for things to return to normal. Mesa, Arizona's freshly crowned Asian District was deep into organizing its night market when broke that a case of the illness known as COVID-19 was confirmed at nearby Arizona State University. Xenophobic comments on social media and phone calls started almost immediately, according to Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce CEO Vicente Reid. I probably should stop picking up my phone altogether," Reid said. "One lady was like, 'Well, aren't people coming to your event that are the cause of it?'" The Feb. 29 food festival, modeled after popular outdoor Taiwanese markets, was designed to get the public acquainted with the district. Mesa Mayor John Giles called the xenophobia directed at the event ridiculous. We certainly take any health crisis seriously but to make those kinds of connections is just offensive," he said. Organizers will be handing out specially made masks with playful Asian-food theme slogans like Bao to me and Insert lumpia here. The virus has sickened tens of thousands of people, mostly in China. Fifteen people have been diagnosed with the virus in the U.S., all but two who recently traveled from China. U.S. citizens have also been diagnosed abroad, including 14 who were on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan and have been brought to hospitals in the U.S. Vegetarian Dim Sum House has been a fixture in Manhattan's Chinatown for 23 years, but suddenly owner Frankie Chu said he will not be able to make his rent this month. Chu said sales have plunged 70% over the last two weeks at his no-frills restaurant. Three couples trickled in for lunch on a recent weekday. Normally, Chu said he gets up to 30 customers for lunch. At dinnertime, his narrow restaurant is usually packed with about 70 diners. These days, he gets about four. Chu has sent some of his staff on vacation to cut costs. Under the circumstances, he will ask his landlord to forgive a 5% late fee normally charged. I don't know how long I can stay here, Chu said. After 9/11, it wasn't this bad. The crisis has alarmed New York City officials and business leaders, who have launched a campaign to lure people back to hard-hit communities in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. Chinatown is bleeding, said Wellington Chen, executive chairman of the Chinatown Partnership, a local business and community group. This thing is thousands of miles away. This fear is really out of proportion. Small businesses in Manhattan's Chinatown have reported sales drops of between 40% and 80% the past month as the viral outbreak in China spread, Chen said. In Flushing, business is down an estimated 40%, according to the Flushing Chinese Business Association. For some businesses, it's much higher. Derek Law, senior vice chairman of the America China Hotel Association, said business has dropped about 70% at a spa he owns in Flushing. New York City is home to more than half a million Chinese Americans, the biggest population of any U.S. city. Some New Yorkers of Chinese descent are frustrated at being made to feel like foreigners because of a disease outbreak that feels as far away to them as any other resident. I'm probably more American than a lot of the people asking me about coronavirus. It's a little annoying to be honest, said Christina Seid, owner of the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, a neighborhood fixture that her father founded four decades ago with flavor offerings like mango and green tea. Seid, whose great-grandparents immigrated to New York from China, said business has been slower than usual but added that the winter months are never good for ice cream shops. She said she feels optimistic that things will soon return to normal, relying on New Yorkers' determination to get on with life. With no confirmed cases of the virus in New York City, officials and politicians are trying to drive home the point that there is no reason to avoid any neighborhood, with many eating at Chinese restaurants and tweeting out photos under the hashtags #supportchinatown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo credit: puflic_senior/ - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics Photo credit: Elvin Nevazno Whether were staring into the depths of a campfire or watching a Space Shuttle burn 500,000 gallons of fuel as it rises off the launchpad, mankinds obsession with fire is so innate we almost take it for granted. Yet fire has catalyzed the human races most significant innovations; its helped us survive and flourish. At the same time, the path that took us from hunching around a lightning-struck tree for warmth to carrying lighters in our pockets has many reminders of fires volatilityfrom the epic scope of The Great Chicago Fire to the explosion of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon. Fire comes with a big fat warning sticker, but nonetheless, its mans most essential tool. Sparks of Inspiration Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images Almost every primitive culture has a story about how man came to harness fire, and many of these stories involvecuriouslypetty theft. From the famed Greek myth of Prometheus snatching fire from Zeus and handing it to man (thanks for that, bud, and sorry about the whole bird-eating-your-liver thing), to the Native American story of Rabbit stealing fire from the bloodthirsty Weasels, to the Polynesian legend of Maui taking fire from the birds during a fishing trip for his mother, our desire to control the element has always run up against our better instincts. The themes of thievery make sense. In the days of early man, fire was our most valuable possession. Sculptor Paul Manship summed up this sentiment in his art. Behind his famous statue of Prometheus in New York Citys Rockefeller Center, he paraphrased the Greek dramatist Aeschylus, noting that fire proved to mortals a means to mighty ends. Without fireand later, without combustionthere would be no skyscrapers, air travel, International Space Station, bourbon, or medium-rare steaks. The element has unlocked and enabled some of the greatest industrial and technological achievements in human history. Fuel for Survival Photo credit: Heritage Images - Getty Images Its impossible to know when the first fire was made, but we can speculate at its earliest major use: cooking, says Alan Rocke, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of the history of science and technology at Case Western Reserve University. Story continues Cooking with heat broadened early mans palate by killing off potentially dangerous microbes in formerly unsafe foods. Fish and beef are at their juiciest and free of illness-causing bacteria at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Rabbit is safe at 160F; chicken at 165F. Fire tenderizes meat (pulled pork falls apart at 205F), but at 330F it also triggers the Maillard reaction (browning) to give steak a mouth-watering sear. Harvard professor and primatologist Richard Wrangham, Ph.D., suggests that the invention of cooking fed evolution itself by unlocking energy-giving nutrients for our ancestors evolving brains and bodies. In fact, Wrangham suggests that our digestive tracts evolved as a result of discovering cooking. Human guts are 56 percent small intestine and 17 percent colon, while those respective numbers for chimps are almost the opposite: 23 and 52 percent. Translation: Chimp guts are better at breaking down plant fibers and meat collagen than human ones. We need blenders, food processors, and sweet, sweet heat to help our bodies absorb food in a way our guts can handle, says Rocke. Around 10,000 BCE, our cavemen ancestors began to ditch hunting and gathering in favor of the farming life, and our usage of fire diversified. We started baking, defending our land from predators (the flashpoint of a sabertooth-warding wooden torch is 572F), and firing pottery (clay particles fuse at 1,650F). You can do some things with bowls made from reeds, says Rocke, but to make containers useful for cooking, you need fire. Embers of Warfare Photo credit: Hulton Deutsch - Getty Images When wood reaches its flashpoint, the heat exorcises impurities like water vapor, sulfur compounds, and nitrogen compounds, leaving essentially pure carbon behindcharcoal. This substance burns hotter than normal wood, and throughout history, more heat has led to better tech. The Hittites were some of the most prolific iron producers of the Bronze Age (33001200 BCE), and evidence suggests they were among the first ancient empires to discover that they could prevent their tools and weapons from rusting by forging steel from iron and charcoal. When charcoal fuses with iron ore, it acts as a reducing agent, attracting oxygen away from the metal. It also lowers irons melting point. This lower heat threshold allowed the Hittites to produce more durable iron weapons on a mass scale. It also helped them gain trade leveragein the 13th century BCE, a Hittite king sent another ruler an iron dagger as appeasementand gave them a tactical edge over their bronze-bound opponents, including the mighty ancient Egyptians. The invention of charcoal was a great asset to society because it enabled all these high-temperature processes, Rocke says. You can do some metallurgy without charcoal, but you cant make iron or steel, both of which require a blast furnace. It isnt certain how the Hittites mass-produced malleable iron and steel, but archaeologists are confident that blast furnaces operated in China as early as the 5th century BCE. Blast furnaces liquefy metals at 3,000F. In ancient China, this meant the introduction of cast iron, the ultra-malleable, ultra-rust-resistant material the Western world has used in cannons, bridges, and, yup, the cast iron skillet in your kitchen that can withstand 2,000F. Explosion of Industry Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images No image captures the intersection of fire and modern industry better than a burning oil derricks column of flame. After Edwin Drake drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859, people began to refine that oil over a fire and distill it into some of the tentpole resources of modern life: kerosene, diesel, and gasoline, the last of which could be boiled off and condensed between 104401F. Early on, Americans used these resources mostly to illuminate our cities and homes, but in the mid-to-late 19th century, gasoline became fuel for a more adrenal, exciting purpose: helping us go far and go fast. The liquid-fuel internal-combustion engine burns a mixture of gasoline and air to create a combustion that expands gases inside the engine to push the pistons and rotate the crankshaft. This simple fire-powered design became the basis of modern transport, from the Wright brothers plane at Kitty Hawk, to the refurbished Challenger 2, which topped 448 miles per hour and broke the land speed record in 2018, to the 2,300-ton diesel engines that power container ships through the Panama Canal today. Gasoline had great advantages over electricity or gaseous fuels: energy density, weight, volume, Rocke says. You needed those differences if you were going to put your power plant [your fuel source] on a moving object. In 1900, just 22 percent of American automobiles were powered by gas; but thanks to Henry Fords mass-production methods, the invention of the self-starting ignition in 1912, and our newfound need for speed, the internal-combustion engine gained supremacy among autos. Fire was powering us toward modern life. Smoldering Dangers Photo credit: Keith Lance This modernization put fire and combustion at the crossroads of practicality and danger once again. The early 1900s were fraught with fatal conflagrations. Chicagos Iroquois Theater fire in 1903 killed more than 600 people, and in 1910, the Big Blowup wildfire in Idaho, Washington, and Montana killed at least 85 people as it reduced 3 million acresan area about the size of Connecticutto ashes. These fires prompted changes: The Iroquois fire led to the invention of the emergency exit panic bar for doors, and the Big Blowup led to the development of some prescribed-burn containment techniques. But they also served as reminders of the risks that come with implementing combustion in our everyday lives. Today, Rocke suggests the advances wrought by fire have ironically taken us past it. Many energy and power advances of the 20th century dont involve combustion: Nuclear energy relies on a physical reaction rather than a chemical one, and renewable energies like solar, wind, and water power skirt combustions literal explosiveness. We understand now there are costs of powering the world with fire, from deforestation to pollution to climate change. Going forward, we have to reconcile these downsides with fires awesome potential. Because it is awesome. Fire sparks the reaction between aluminum and ammonium perchlorate that turns solid rocket fuel into the driving force of space travel (NASAs rocket boosters reach 5,000F during launch). When fire is used to distill alcohol (which evaporates at 173F), were treated to things like Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon and Blantons Original. Every time you strike a match, the stroke of friction between the match head and the box turns the boxs red phosphorus to white, and it takes just 86F for white phosphorus to combust. Then you have fire at your fingertips. Its hard not to stare at that little flame. Simple combustion still inspires us at a basic, primal level, whether were throwing another log on the fireplace or sitting around a backyard bonfire. As Rocke affirms: Fire is so elemental, it will never go away. Photo credit: Corbis You Might Also Like A police officer accused of racial discrimination against a taxi driver who said he had been assaulted by a customer in south Belfast has been cleared of any wrongdoing. The taxi driver contacted police in May 2019 claiming he had been attacked by a customer who damaged his glasses after refusing to pay his fare. The customer went on to tell police he had been assaulted by the taxi driver, who he said had been driving too fast and refused to pull over. The taxi driver went on to make a complaint to the Police Ombudsman alleging a police officer refused to investigate his allegation - but instead had pursued the customers report about him. He said he was offered a community resolution notice (CRN) by the police officer, a measure designed for low-level offending - which the taxi driver said was inappropriate because he had been injured and his property damaged. When the Police Ombudsman investigated, however, she found that the driver and customer had both initially agreed that the matter could be dealt with by a CRN. The measure was agreed on the basis that the customer had paid the taxi fare and said they would pay for the damage to the taxi driver's glasses. The Police Ombudsman investigator said the police probe was "effective and timely, and that both parties had been treated fairly. She found no evidence to back up the taxi drivers allegations that the officer hadn't responded quickly enough to his text messages, and had not referred him to Victim Support. The Police Ombudsman also did not uphold the complaint that the officer had tried to intimidate the taxi driver by telling him that another officer wanted to speak to him about an unrelated incident, and said it was "reasonable" the taxi driver had been asked to do so to avoid having to return to the police station on another occasion. Well, at least we know. David Frost, the UK's de facto chief Brexit negotiator, made a very important speech in Brussels that stated, in terms, that the UK wants actually desires a no-deal Brexit. In contrast to his political masters, he could not have been clearer. In a thoughtful and rather candid speech he stated: In an age of huge change, being able to anticipate to adapt, and to encourage really counts. Brexit is about a medium-term belief in that reality that this is true that even if there is a short-run cost, it will be overwhelmed rapidly by the huge gains of having your own policy regimes in certain areas. Note well that he admitted, maybe as far as he could go, that there would indeed be a short-run cost to Brexit. Unspecified, and minimised, but there is the magical word cost. We have come a long way since Brexit wasnt done last autumn. Not so very long ago, a hard Brexit, the so-called cliff-edge version, the no deal scenario by which the UK would leave the EU with no agreement on future trade or security relations, was regarded with a certain degree of horror, even by many Brexiteers. During the Brexit referendum campaign, it was regarded, except by a few of the bad boys of Brexit, as an almost laughable proposition, part of project fear. They pointed to Switzerland, Norway and other countries that enjoyed close economic and trading ties with the EU, but were not required to be members. A new trade deal was supposed to be the easiest thing in history to achieve. We held all the cards, if you recall. Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA Last year it had moved a bit. There was a more sceptical tone about. Punted around by the various Tory leadership candidates but only as a negotiating tactic was the idea that the way to get a deal is to threaten no deal, and not rule it out, as Theresa May had, supposedly, foolishly done. We heard time and again, that in a negotiation about buying a house or a car or an electric kettle off eBay, you have to be prepared to walk away from a deal to get the best price. Now we know better. No deal is pretty much the expected aim of HM government, the kind of Brexit, it could be fairly argued, that few wanted or expected back in 2016. There probably never was such a thing as a soft Brexit, because being a rule-taker, not a rule-maker, is pointless, and the only option left is to go your own way. It is not a negotiating tactic at all. Here is Mr Frost again: To think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing. That isnt a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure it is the point of the whole project. Thats also why we are not going to extend the transition period beyond the end of this year. At the end of this year, we would recover our political and economic independence in full why would we want to postpone it? That is the point of Brexit. Well, it seems as though were walking away from the deal before the talks have even started with the EU. That should at least save some time. We may as well bring the deadline for the end of trade talks forward to tomorrow morning. The British, or rather Frost, argue that they should be given the same sort of treatment that the Canadians were in their recent trade deal with the EU, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. Although there are some mutual obligations, there is nothing in the CETA remotely like the kind of level playing field demands the EU is demanding of the UK. Boris Johnson says it is not fair for Europe to treat Britain in a different manner. They are right; but trade talks, like all politics, are not necessarily about fairness, whatever that is. It is about the pursuit of national, or in this case, supranational interest. And, as ever, the UK has more to lose in these talks than the EU has. The EU is much the bigger entity in population and economic strength and the bigger participant in trade talks usually ends up with the best of any deal. Moreover, the UK has already given up some of the strongest cards it had in the trade talks the divorce settlement of about 39bn, the status of EU citizens in the UK and the Irish border question. Once upon a time, David Davis, as Brexit secretary reassured us that nothing woud be agreed until everything had been agreed divorce agreement plus new trade and security deal. It didnt work out like that. All that said, the UK does still have some cards to play. There are pockets of the European economy that rely greatly on the UK some of the car factories, the fishing ports, the tourist destinations. Some would certainly lose their livelihoods in the event of a no-deal Brexit, just as some British communities would. Brexit is going to be lose-lose whatever happens; yet there is some hope that the domestic political pressure in parts of Western Europe especially will push the politicians in the EU to soften their demands about the level playing field. Maybe. If not, though, and the EU imposes tariffs and quotas and other barriers on British goods and services, then the UK will undergo a recession, and it may be a deep and protracted one. The 2020s will be, for those who remember the time, rather like the 1980s, when the country underwent another great economic experiment. There will be hard times. I look forward to Mr Frosts next candid assessment of just how painful the short-run cost will prove to be. Even though there was a scrum of the world's media outside, the birthing suite inside the famous Lindo Wing was an oasis of calm and tranquillity. So much so, in fact, that Kate Middleton has recently revealed that she 'really quite liked' the experience of natural childbirth. Speaking on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, the duchess revealed that she had used hypnobirthing techniques during her three pregnancies, in between battling bouts of severe morning sickness. "I saw the power of it really, the meditation and the deep breathing and things like that - that they teach you in hypnobirthing - when I was really sick and actually I realised that this was something I could take control of, I suppose, during labour," she revealed. "It was hugely powerful and because it had been so bad during pregnancy, I actually really quite liked labour. Because actually it was an event that I knew there was going to be an ending to. I'm not going to say that William was standing there sort of, chanting sweet nothings at me. He definitely wasn't! I didn't even ask him about it, but it was just something I wanted to do for myself." Middleton's sister-in-law Meghan Markle is also rumoured to have used self-hypnosis as a means to ease her birth last May. Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba and Gisele Bundchen are also fans of the technique, which helps a woman manage her pain during labour and childbirth. Using visualisation, relaxation and deep breathing, hypnobirthing encourages women to focus on birthing their baby, and to remind themselves that their body is designed for childbirth. The term "hypnosis" describes a state of altered consciousness, in which a person is feeling deeply focused and attentive. When you're hypnotised, you are thought to become more responsive to guidance or suggestions from within or from others. Aisling Killoran, a certified hypnotherapist and psychotherapist, (birthwithease.ie), has certainly noticed an increase in the number of women looking into hypnobirthing options. "More are seeking out a relaxed way of preparing for the birth of the baby, as they want to have a say in how their birth will play out," she notes. "They want to be heard and for there to be open lines of communication both ways, as opposed to just one way. "They seek out hypnobirthing because they want to be more self-informed, reduce the need for interventions and be more in control of their bodies and decision making, around the birth of their baby," she adds. "Also, hypnobirthing mums tend to give birth safely in a shorter amount of time, due to them being relaxed and in control." "[Hypnobirthing] keeps the woman calm, relaxed, empowered and in control from the inside out," Killoran explains. "They are more in touch with their bodies and know what's going on from the inside out versus the outside in, which reduces the fear of the unknown." Much of the breathing involved in hypnobirthing reportedly helps to stimulate the production of oxytocin, which aids the body's muscles and essentially makes the uterus work during labour. Nadia Arthurs, a registered Rotunda midwife who regularly runs hypnobirthing classes in Swords (LabourofLove.ie) explains: "When adrenaline levels go up, this has a knock-on effect on labour, which inhibits the production of oxytocin. This can make labour go on a lot longer than usual, so it's important that the more relaxed the woman is, the better." Women tap into relaxation techniques in different ways, usually between 22 and 30 weeks gestation, and those aiming for a hypnobirth will listen to an audio track during pregnancy, which will help guide meditation. One visualisation technique is called the "silver glove," in which women imagine donning a silver glove that causes their hand to tingle, go numb and relax. They can "spread" that numbness around by envisioning their hand touching other body parts. The main objective, Arthurs, explains, is to educate women on how to give birth with calm and confidence. "Some find water births, or using music is a good way to relax," Arthurs notes. "It works at different levels for different people." Several women have extolled the positives of a hypnobirth, and the World Health Organization has officially recommended relaxation techniques during labour. Yet there is scant scientific evidence to prove that hypnobirthing actually works. In the UK, a trial of self-hypnosis for intrapartum pain showed no major difference in satisfaction with pain relief or women's ability to manage labour contractions. Hypnosis training also appears to have had little or no impact on instances of spontaneous vaginal births, or women's ability to manage labour contractions. However, another study, published by The Hypnobirthing Institute in the US, noted that those who went through its programme were less likely to have C-sections or episiotomies, compared to American mothers who hadn't used hypnobirthing. Another study, published in 2013 by BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, saw that most respondents reported positive experiences of self-hypnosis and highlighted feelings of calmness, confidence and empowerment. "We actually looked at hypnosis as opposed to hypnobirthing as a whole package," one of the study's authors, Professor Soo Downe, explained on BBC Women's Hour. "680 women in total in three different hospitals said it didn't actually make a difference to their experience of pain or to their use of epidurals or to a whole range of other things. "But what it did do, women who had the experience, said they were less fearful and less anxious about childbirth. So it did seem to have an effect on that particular component." The decision to incorporate self-hypnosis or visualisation techniques during childbirth is a highly personal one, but equally important is factoring in a Plan B. Childbirth is an unpredictable phenomenon, and for Arthurs, it's particularly important to prepare those in her hypnobirthing classes for the unexpected, too. "Because I'm a midwife teaching these classes, we go over one session that is dedicated to what to expect if things don't go to plan, and what interventions might be used," she explains. "They may never be required, but it's an important part of the course to teach. The women initially find this session a little scary, but then they really enjoy it in the end. "It's really important that we take the fear out of those situations. And it's better that they prepare for what might come down the line than not." Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond appeared at the High Court today to face a string of sex assault charges, including one of attempted rape. Salmond, 65, was flanked by police officers as he entered Glasgow's High Court for the preliminary hearing this morning. He is accused of one count of attempted rape, one of sexual assault with intent to rape, 10 of sexual assault and two of indecent assault. The charges, which he has 'vigorously' denied, relate to 10 different women and cover a time period from June 2008 to November 2014. Former First Minister of Scotland is seen leaving the High Court in Glasgow after a preliminary hearing this morning Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond is pictured arriving at the High Court in Glasgow for a preliminary hearing Salmond is seen being escorted by police officers in Glasgow on Tuesday morning The former MSP is accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House, the official residence of Scotland's First Minister, during the independence referendum campaign. Prosecutors allege he placed her legs over his, repeatedly kissed her face and neck, groped her then blocked her path. He is then alleged to have pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed. The 65-year-old is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman with intent to rape in December 2013. He is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at Bute House, lay on top of her, groped her, struggled with her and pulled up her dress with intent to rape her. The first of the charges accuses Salmond of indecently assaulting a woman by allegedly kissing her mouth and groping her on various occasions around Glasgow between June 29 and July 24 2008. The 65-year-old is pictured walking through the streets of Glasgow on Tuesday on the way to his preliminary court hearing Salmond (pictured outside court today) has denied the 14 charges against him ahead of his trial in March It is further alleged he sexually assaulted a woman on various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013 at the Scottish Parliament, Bute House and elsewhere by touching her bottom and stroking other parts of her body. He is also accused of taking off a woman's shoe and trying to kiss her foot in October 2013. The indictment states that in September 2014, the month of the independence referendum, he grabbed a woman by her shoulders at Bute House, repeatedly kissed her face, tried to kiss her lips and touched her leg and face. Several charges involve Salmond allegedly groping women, including one incident at the Ego nightclub in Edinburgh in December 2010 or 2011 and another at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Glasgow in March 2012. Details of today's hearing, which follows two others in Edinburgh in November and January, cannot be reported for legal reasons. Mr Salmond was First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, before he resigned following the Scottish Independence referendum. A four-week trial is fixed for March. The former MSP (pictured outside the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday) is accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House, the official residence of the first minister of Scotland, during the independence referendum campaign Maverick No10 chief Dominic Cummings voiced defiance today despite a Tory backlash over adviser Andrew Sabisky, who was ousted over vile social media posts. Mr Cummings insisted people should not listen to 'political pundits who don't know what they are talking about' as he was challenged by reporters on whether he regretted the appointment. Mr Sabisky - a self-style 'superforecaster' - quit last night amid fury at past comments in which he talked about forced contraception of the 'underclass' and suggested black people had lower IQs. The 27-year-old is thought to have been working as a contractor on defence and other policy areas, but Downing Street has not confirmed the details or whether he went through background checks. Meanwhile, other historic posts have surfaced in which Mr Sabisky apparently advised a woman that her boyfriend liking pornography about incest, paedophilia and rape was not 'all that much to worry about'. According to Reddit posts unearthed by The National, Mr Sabisky also said he had 'a thing for incest erotica myself despite never having had those fantasies relating to my actual family'. Mr Sabisky had been one of the first 'weirdos and misfits' recruited under a drive by Mr Cummings. In a thinly-veiled swipe today, business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said there must be 'much more severe' vetting in No10 so the same mistakes could not 'happen again'. 'What I do know is his remarks were offensive and racist and as soon as they came to light he left the government pretty quickly,' Mr Kwarteng told Sky News. One Cabinet minister who lost their job in the reshuffle told ITV News that Mr Cummings 'can't afford any more Sabiskys'. But accosted by reporters outside his London home, Mr Cummings insisted the government needed 'superforecasters' rather than 'political pundits who don't know what they're talking about'. Announcing his resignation last night, Andrew Sabisky (pictured) said he joined the government to do 'real work' and claimed he was the victim of 'a giant character assassination' Mr Sabisky announced on Twitter last night that he was steeping down from his role as a Downing Street adviser Accosted by reporters outside his London home today, Dominic Cummings said the government needed 'super-forecasters' rather than 'political pundits who don't know what they're talking about' Asked whether Boris Johnson (pictured) condemned the comments yesterday, the PM's deputy spokesman merely said: 'The PM's views are well publicised and documented.' Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he did not know what checks had been carried out of what work Mr Sabisky was doing But after a major backlash he announced last night he was stepping down due to 'media hysteria' and to avoid being a 'distraction' for the government. He tweeted: 'Hey all, The media hysteria about my old stuff online is mad but I wanted to help HMG not be a distraction. 'Accordingly I've decided to resign as a contractor. I hope no.10 hires more ppl w/ good geopolitical forecasting track records & that media learn to stop selective quoting.' In another tweet soon after Mr Sabisky added that he joined the government team to do 'real work' and claimed he was the victim of 'a giant character assassination'. He wrote: 'I know this will disappoint a lot of ppl but I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination: if I can't do the work properly there's no point, & I have a lot of other things to do w/ my life.' Dominic Cummings heaps praise on 'Superforecasting' book by Philip Tetlock The book recommended by Dominic Cummings was written by Professor Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner. It has been hailed as a breakthrough in decision-making, suggesting that a certain breed of amateur forecasters tend to do better than supposed experts. The book, published in 2015, was based on data from Prof Tetlock's Good Judgement Project, which continually assessed teams on their forecasts for a range of geopolitical issues. The personality of superforecasters, rather than any special insider knowledge, is said to allow them to outperform even some intelligence agencies. Advertisement Reddit posts from seven years ago were highlighted by The National today in which Mr Sabisky, apparently acting as an agony uncle, offered advice to a woman who found 'disturbing porn' on her boyfriend's computer, including erotic fiction about incest, paedophilia and rape. Mr Sabisky reportedly told her he didn't 'see all that much to worry about here'. 'Fantasies are strange things. Unpredictable, of uncertain origin, hard to figure how they'll relate to real life. I have a thing for incest erotica myself despite never having had those fantasies relating to my actual family. So long as he's not actually breaking any laws and is restricting his viewing habits to girls 18 and up I wouldn't be too squicked.' He also reportedly told a Mormon man that his wife was 'not very Christian' for rebutting his sexual advances. 'Theologically speaking she is your wife and should submit to you as unto the Lord,' he reportedly wrote. Before the resignation, No10 refused to comment on Mr Sabisky's appointment to the role. Asked whether Mr Johnson condemned the comments, the PM's deputy spokesman merely said: 'The Prime Minister's views are well publicised and documented.' A photograph of Mr Sabisky standing in front of 10 Downing Street has emerged on Twitter. The photo was published by fellow 'super-forecaster' Michael Story on January 17 of this year. It showed Mr Sabisky alongside Mr Story and Thomas Liptay. Mr Story and Mr Liptay are both co-founders of an app designed to improve the accuracy of forecasts. Asked today whether he regretted the appointment of Mr Sabisky, Mr Cummings told reporters: 'Read Philip Tetlock's 'Superforecasting' instead of political pundits who don't know what they are talking about.' But Mr Kwarteng delivered a thinly-veiled rebuke to Mr Cummings over the row. 'I don't know how this man appeared on the horizon, I don't know how he was recruited,' he said. 'What I do know is that his remarks were offensive and racist and as soon as they came to light, he left the Government pretty quickly.' Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said she was 'relieved' Mr Sabisky had resigned, but criticised the 'silence' from Downing Street. Former immigration minister Ms Nokes told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm relieved that Mr Sabisky has resigned. Fresh controversy over Reddit posts Reddit posts from seven years ago were highlighted by The National today in which Andrew Sabisky, apparently acting as an agony uncle, offered advice to users. One exchange was with a woman who found 'disturbing porn' on her boyfriend's computer, including erotic fiction about incest, paedophilia and rape. Mr Sabisky reportedly told her he didn't 'see all that much to worry about here'. 'Fantasies are strange things. Unpredictable, of uncertain origin, hard to figure how they'll relate to real life. I have a thing for incest erotica myself despite never having had those fantasies relating to my actual family. So long as he's not actually breaking any laws and is restricting his viewing habits to girls 18 and up I wouldn't be too squicked.' On another occasion a Mormon man asked advice over his wife rebutting his sexual advances. He was told that his wife was 'not very Christian' and should 'rewire' her brain. 'Theologically speaking she is your wife and should submit to you as unto the Lord,' Mr Sabisky reportedly wrote. Advertisement 'I was disappointed that yesterday there was silence from Downing Street regarding his previous comments and it does seem that when the call went out for misfits and weirdos that was exactly what Downing Street got.' She added: 'I think he needed to come out earlier and explain himself, he needed to apologise for those comments and unfortunately we had 48 hours of almost complete silence and no comment from Downing Street, who could have distanced themselves from his youthful comments at any point, but they chose not to do so.' It follows a series of other historic posts prompted a furious reaction. Writing on Mr Cummings' website in 2014, Mr Sabisky said: 'One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. 'Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue.' In another post being circulated on social media, Mr Sabisky claimed black people had lower IQs than white people. In the article, entitled 'Disabilities by race' he reportedly said: 'If the mean black American IQ is (best estimate based on a century's worth of data) around 85, as compared to a mean white American IQ of 100, then if IQ is normally distributed, you will see a far greater percentage of blacks than whites in the range of IQs 75 or below, at which point we are close to the typical boundary for mild mental retardation.' On the issue of FGM, he reportedly wrote: 'It is still unclear to what extent FGM represents a serious risk to young girls, raised in the UK, of certain minority group origins. Much of the hue and cry looks more like a moral panic.' He also once tweeted that former defence secretaries Penny Mordaunt and Gavin Williamson - both now back in government - were 'proper morons'. A picture published on Twitter by Michael Story (pictured middle) on January 17 of this year showed Andrew Sabisky (pictured left) stood in front of the famous black door of Number 10. Neither of the other men are linked to Mr Sabisky's social media posts Mr Sabisky also made controversial comments on Twitter about women's sport If youre not someone who is particularly concerned about being a victim of fraud, you may want to be a bit more cautious. New data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reveals that Canadians were scammed out of more than $96 million last year. According to the CAFC, the centre received 46,465 fraud reports in 2019, with the highest number of reports related to extortion, totalling 10,278 recorded incidents. The top 10 most reported frauds that affected Canadians in 2019 are: Extortion (10,278 reports, 2,101 victims) Personal Information (7,642 reports, 5,262 victims) Phishing (5,053 reports, 1,384 victims) Service (3,547 reports, 1,779 victims) Merchandise (2,452 reports, 1,759 victims) Sale of merchandise (2,211 reports, 1,526 victims) Job (1,702 reports, 682 victims) Prize (1,200 reports, 318 victims) Bank Investigator (1,083 reports, 366 victims) Romance (975 reports, 682 victims) The top 10 frauds that affected Canadians in 2019, based on dollar loss, are: Spear Phishing ($21,404,827.08) Romance ($18,327,896.93) Investments ($10,719,376.29) Extortion ($9,233,115.11) Service ($7,158,372.64) Prize ($3,386,269.00) Bank Investigator ($3,237,667.43) Sale of merchandise ($2,686,904.31) Merchandise ($2,593,007.04) Timeshare ($2,477,196.56) Despite the recorded data, its estimated that less than five per cent of fraud victims actually report incidents to the department. According to the CAFC, extortion is defined as a situation where someone unlawfully obtains money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution through coercion. These scams include bomb threats, hitman, hostage ransomware and sextortion situations. Personal information fraud is when a scammer acts as a business, government agency, bank, or utility company, and asks the victims to verify personal information. Phishing fraud is conducted over email. The scammers will often send a message, pretending to be a known business, including banks and subscription services like Netflix, and encourage someone to update their account information. Spear phishing, by contrast, spoofs the email of a legitimate contact, including business executives and payroll contacts within a company. Story continues Romance scams have been particularly prevalent with the rise of online dating. In these scenarios, the fraudster gains the trust of the victims through a virtual relationship in order to scam them out of money. Using fake profiles on social media, and through popular dating apps, scammers would gain the trust of their victims over a period of time before stealing an average of $28,000 per victim, the RCMP warned last week. Never trust anyone you have not met in person, who is quick to profess their love, or who claims to live nearby but is working overseas. These are all telltale signs the person on the other end may not be who they claim. How to protect yourself The CAFC is urging the public to take a number of precautions to stay protected from scammers. The recommendations include: Create strong passwords for each of your accounts and use multi-factor authentication. Update the privacy settings attached to your social network accounts. Be familiar with the terms of service, look for a fraud protection policy and know how payment methods work before using them. Never accept money and send money to a third party. You may, unknowingly, be participating in money laundering which is a criminal offence. If something doesnt seem right, ask someone else about it. Do not trust the information on your call display because it can easily be manipulated. Do not provide your personal or financial information on demand. Do not open an attachment or click a link in an unsolicited email or text message. If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or report online at www.antifraudcentre.ca. You can also the #Take5 hashtag and tag @canantifraud on social media to encourage people to take five minutes to think about any messages before reacting, to question whether it may be a scam. The CAFC is also urging the public to use the #Tell2 hashtag to encourage people share what they know about frauds to keep more people informed. [February 18, 2020] NWN's Andrew Gilman Recognized as CRN 2020 Channel Chief WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NWN Corporation, a leading technology-enabled service provider focused on transforming the customer experience, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Andrew Gilman, NWN's Vice President of Alliances and Marketing, to its 2020 list of Channel Chiefs. This highly coveted list recognizes the top executives within vendor companies, selected annually for their exemplary leadership, influence, innovation, and the growth of the IT channel. Gilman leads alliances and marketing for NWN, which recently announced Q4 revenue and gross profit growth of 25% and 33%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis, propelled by its Solution-as-a-Service portfolio of integrated offerings. He joined NWN in July 2019 after more than 15 years leading successful go-to-market organizations for venture-backed and publicly traded enterprise technology companies. Jim Sullivan, NWN CEO, said, "Our strategic alliances are integral to the customer experience NWN delivers every day, and managing those relationships is something that sets us apart in the eyes of many customers. Andrew's role is helping us achieve record results, transforming NWN's brand and our marketing initiatives, and strengthening our partner relationships. To be recognized among the 2020 CRN Channel Chiefs confirms our strategic focus on partnerships with some of the industry's best innovators." According to The Channel Company, CRN's umbrella corporation, te 2020 Channel Chiefs have shown outstanding commitment, ability to lead, and a passion for progress within the channel through their partner programs. The Channel Chief honorees were chosen by the CRN editorial staff for their dedication, industry prestige, and exceptional accomplishments in driving the channel agenda and evangelizing the importance of partnerships. Bob Skelley, chief executive officer, The Channel Company, said, "The IT channel is undergoing constant evolution to meet customer demands and changing business environments. CRN's Channel Chiefs work tirelessly, leading the industry forward through superior partner programs and strategies with a focus on helping solution providers transform and grow. Our team here at The Channel Company congratulates these outstanding individuals for their dedication to the channel." CRN's 2020 Channel Chiefs list is featured in the February 2020 issue of CRN Magazine and can be found online at https://www.crn.com/channel-chiefs/cc2020.htm . About NWN NWN Corporation, headquartered outside Boston, is an established leader in technology-enabled services, transforming the customer experience for commercial, enterprise and public sector organizations through its solution-as-a-service platform. With 1,300 customers throughout the U.S., NWN provides a unified customer experience with integrated offerings for unified communications, security, contact center, DaaS (device-as-a-service), connectivity and advanced technology solutions. To learn more about NWN's solutions and offerings, visit www.nwnit.com . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. https://events.thechannelco.com/ Media Contact: Carissa Ryan, CTP for NWN [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nwns-andrew-gilman-recognized-as-crn-2020-channel-chief-301006339.html SOURCE NWN Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Out of the 473,682 undocumented immigrants detained after crossing the US-Mexico Southern Border with their family, at least 375,000 were freed. The group of people was freed by federal law enforcement to live in the US, reported by the Washington Examiner. The patrol agents of the US-Mexican border had arrested 851,508 individuals who had attempted to illegally cross the border from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019. Additionally, out of the undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. with their family 76,000 were unaccompanied minors. According to a report from Washington Examiner, border patrol agents told that they had released at least 145,000 family members from March to September 2019. These were the months where the total number of illegal entry and arrests to the United States of America was at its peak. Where Will They Go? The freed illegal immigrants were allowed to reside anywhere in the United States. This rule is also applicable to those who were not planning to seek asylum in the country. The Border Patrol is housed in the Customs Border Protection. The Customs Border Protection did not provide the public with any data about the total number of arrests who were seeking asylum. However, the Department of Homeland Security officials revealed last year that it has a low percentage. It was an unusual move for Border Patrol in March for freeing individuals from their detainment. It was expected that the Border Patrol should surrender their arrested individuals to the hands of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Issues with the Detainment of Families ICE identified two issues that provide difficulties in detaining families. The first issue is the insufficiency of bed space. The second issue is a court ruling that prohibits ICE from detaining families exceeding 20 days. The Condition for Being Set Free Due to the failure of Border Patrol to transfer the 145,000 families to ICE, they were released from detainment and was provided with a legal document called 'notice to appear.' The 'notice to appear' document states that the families are required to appear before a hearing. The hearing will determine whether they will be brought back to their country of origin or will be allowed to remain in the United States. From Border Patrol to ICE Additionally, 230,000 undocumented immigrant families were detained by ICE and are now freed from ICE facilities. Border Patrol had a total of 373,770 transfers of people to ICE's custody. An ICE representative revealed that ICE does not track every individual out of the 373,770 arrested people who came from the custody of Border Patrol. ICE had already deported 267,258 undocumented immigrants in 2019. This total included the 5,702 individuals who arrived in the country with at least 1 family member and the 6,351 unaccompanied minors. The remaining people were single adults who were arrested at the southern part of the US-Mexico border. The 375,000 freed illegal immigrants are part of the 3.2 million who were released by the federal immigration authorities. These people are awaiting a court trial for the decision involving their removal or non-removal in the country. Quetta: 10 people were killed and 35 others were seriously injured in a horrific bomb blast in Quetta, Baluchistan in Pakistan. According to the report of the news agency Reuters, it was a suicide blast that is being targeted by a police vehicle. At the same time, two policemen also died in the blast. According to the Pakistani media, in their report, the blast said that the blast took place in the Sharea Iqbal area of the capital of Balochistan, after which security forces have cordoned off the area. Know who is Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran? Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province, which also borders Afghanistan and Iran. Referring to a hospital official, Reuters has said that 10 bodies have been brought from the spot so far. At the same time, it is also being said that the blast happened near Quetta Press Club. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals. It is known that another tragic incident came out from Karachi in Pakistan today. It is said that in this incident poisonous gases came out of a container of vegetables, which killed at least four people and left 15 others sick. The container was airlifted from a cargo vessel in the Kemari port area on Sunday night. Human rights activists demand Chinafing's resignation due to Coronavirus According to the information, the local authorities said that preliminary investigation has revealed that as soon as people opened the container in Jackson Market, smoke started coming out of it, causing difficulty for people to breathe and fainted. It has been learned that people caught in poisonous gas were taken to a nearby private hospital where four people died and 15 others were under treatment. Police officials said that information about the cargo vessel has been sought from the port authorities and the Pakistani Navy. Akhilesh Yadav claims to form government in 2022 single-handedly The number of people infected with the new coronavirus in China passed 70,000 on Monday as international experts began meetings with their Chinese counterparts on how to tackle an epidemic that has caused global concern. The death toll jumped to 1,765 in mainland China after 100 more people died in Hubei province, where the virus first emerged in December before spreading across the country and overseas. Worries about its spread remain high and the epidemic's reach was highlighted by the US announcing that more than three dozen Americans from a cruise ship quarantined off Japan were infected. The number of new cases of the COVID-19 strain spiked last week when officials in Hubei changed their criteria for counting cases to include people diagnosed through lung imaging. The number of new cases in the province on Monday was around 100 higher than those on Sunday but still sharply down from those reported on Friday and Saturday. The latest figures came as the head of the World Health Organization said international experts in a WHO-led joint mission had arrived in Beijing and had had their first meeting with their Chinese counterparts. "We look forward to this vitally important collaboration contributing to global knowledge about the #COVID19 outbreak," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter. Mi Feng, National Health Commission spokesman, said Sunday that slowing case numbers nationally showed that China was controlling the outbreak. But Tedros has warned it is "impossible to predict which direction this epidemic will take". The UN health body has also asked China for more details on how diagnoses are being made. - Tightening movement - The scale of the epidemic ballooned on Thursday last week after authorities in Hubei changed their criteria for counting cases, retroactively adding 14,000 cases in a single day. Chinese authorities have placed about 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine, virtually sealing off the province from the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus. Story continues Even as China insisted the epidemic was under control, Hubei authorities announced on Sunday a tightening of movement across the province. This includes broad instructions that residential compounds and villages be "sealed off" from unnecessary visitors, with tenants' outings "strictly managed". Local authorities elsewhere in China have also introduced measures to try and stop the virus spreading. Beijing's municipal government has enacted a rule requiring people coming to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to official media. Outside mainland China, Taipei officials reported the island's first death from the new coronavirus on Sunday, as a 61-year-old man from central Taiwan with underlying health problems but no recent overseas travel history died in hospital. He is the fifth person outside of the mainland to die from the virus, with the other deaths in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and France. The biggest cluster outside China is on a quarantined cruise ship off Japan, with 355 infections confirmed. A top US health official on Sunday said 40 Americans from the ship have become infected and would be treated in Japan. Other Americans left the Diamond Princess into the early hours of Monday for chartered jets that would fly them home -- and into further quarantine. - Social stability - The virus spread last month as millions travelled across China for the Lunar New Year holiday, which was extended to try to prevent more infections. People have slowly started to return to work in the past two weeks, though many are doing their jobs from home and schools remain closed. With the government facing criticism over its handling of the crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the government must "increase use of police force" during the crisis. He made the comments in a February 3 speech published by state media on Saturday. A number of local officials have been sacked for their role in mishandling the outbreak. A drill rap star who performed with Drake at the O2 and went on to secure a contract with Universal has been cleared of stabbing an engineering student at a New Year's Eve party in north London. Unknown T, whose real name is Daniel Lena, had his career put on hold in July 2019 when he was charged with the murder of Steven Narvaez-Jara, 20. In January Mr Lena, 20, went on trial at the Old Bailey along with Ramani Boreland and Mohammed Musse, both aged 21. Mr Narvaez-Jara was stabbed in the chest at a party that Mr Lena had been attending. Unknown T, whose real name is Daniel Lena is pictured above outside the Old Bailey in London He denied being one of the attackers who had been described as being a young man in a white sweater and glasses. Mr Lena, who previously performed at Wireless festival, said he was 'shocked and traumatised' by the violence, but insisted that jumpers were not his style. The rapper, who has millions of online fans, had been unable to produce the items he had worn to the party in Old Street, north London, as he claimed he was sent so many clothes because of his status. A jury deliberated for more than 18 hours to find Mr Lena not guilty of murder and violent disorder. Steven Narvaez-Jara (pictured above) was stabbed in the chest at a party in north London His co-accused Boreland was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10 to two and violent disorder. Musse was convicted of violent disorder. The case was centred on events at a New Year's Eve party in Old Street, north London, hosted by 19-year-old Kinga Pawlowska who had employed two bouncers. When Musse started to 'grab girls' at the party and 'annoy people', the mood became sour. The situation escalated when he slapped one girl's bottom, which led to her boyfriend punching him in the face. Guests at the party then started to fight. Some grabbed kitchen knives, while others took planks of wood one had even managed to smuggle in a machete. Mr Narvaez-Jara - a student of piloting and engineering at the University of Hertfordshire - was stabbed in the chest and died at the scene at around 3.30am. The court heard that while Musse may have started the fight, he had either left or been dragged from the kitchen by the time the fatal blow was struck. It was alleged Boreland, who was friends with Musse, 'took his side'. All three defendants lived close to one another in Hackney and had planned to go to the party together, the court heard. Another man, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola, was also accused of involvement in the killing but died before the case came to trial. There were gasps from the public gallery as the verdicts were delivered and Mr Lena gazed up in the dock as he was cleared on all the charges against him. Overspending is a common problem for seniors. In fact, a recent study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that while average spending among single retired individuals was $5,000 below household income, median spending exceeded median income by $3,000. Unfortunately, seniors generally aren't overspending on extravagant trips or spoiling grandkids. Instead, when they spend more than their income, it's often because of a medical issue. As EBRI found, 85% of all seniors who spent at least 20% of their income on medical expenses experienced a budget deficit, compared with just 20% who spent 5% or less on care. Because medical expenses typically aren't optional, they're something you need to plan for to ensure your own expenditures don't exceed income available in your later years. How can you plan for medical expenses as a senior? Healthcare spending inevitably rises with age. Preparing for this inevitability is something you should do throughout your working life. If you have a qualifying high deductible health insurance plan, investing money into a health savings account is typically the best way to prepare for medical spending in retirement. Contributions to a HSA are tax deductible up to annual limits, and the money you put in can be invested and grow. It can be withdrawn tax-free at any time to pay for medical expenses, or withdrawn for any purpose after age 65 (but you'll be taxed at your ordinary rate). Not everyone is eligible to contribute to a HSA though. And HSA contributions alone may not be sufficient to fully fund your care as a senior. To make sure you have the money you need, consider healthcare costs when setting retirement savings goals. Research has suggested a couple may need as much as $285,000 to $369,000 to fund out-of-pocket healthcare costs in retirement. So if you think you'll need $500,000 to maintain your standard of living, you may want to set a retirement goal of $785,000 or more, with some of that money specifically earmarked for medical care. You could up 401(k) contributions to make sure you have enough, or open a separate IRA that you save in just to fund future healthcare needs. How to handle medical expenses as a senior If you're in retirement or close to it, the ship has probably sailed on saving hundreds of thousands of dollars just for healthcare. But there are still things you can do to try to keep costs down. During Medicare open enrollment, make sure you choose a plan that meets your family's needs. If you or your spouse is sick, and you anticipate needing a lot of care, your most affordable option may be to pay high premiums for the most comprehensive Medigap or Medicare Advantage Plan available. You can also ask your doctor about money saving options, or see if you can qualify for government help, such as Medicaid benefits. Don't let your medical needs mess up your retirement plans Spending more than your income on medical care as a senior could cause big problems. You could end up spending your savings too quickly, and even going into debt. It's best to plan ahead to ensure you have enough money for even expensive medical care so this doesn't happen to you. If you're already retired and struggling, making sure you can get the care you need must always be a top priority. Cutting other things from your budget or even relocating to a cheaper area could become necessary. Try to react quickly if you find yourself in this situation, to stave off a financial shortfall and avoid becoming one of the millions of Americans with a budget deficit due to healthcare expenses. The prominent civil Rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked Nigerians to publicly protest the proposed hike in the electricity tariffs as proposed by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to commence on April 1st 2020. HURIWA has also accused NERC of conniving with shylock and corrupt private sector operators in the ekectricity industry to inflict unquantifiable agony and pains on Nigerians who are at the receiving end of what can possibly be described as 'Electricity Terrorism'. Dismissing the proposed hike in electricity tariff as the biggest April Fools scam by any government agency, the Rights group asked Nigerians who are sleep-walking into involuntary servitude being imposed by the current totalitarian regime, to demand accountability from the federal government on how several billions of public fund frittered away packaged in the guise of sime dubious grants to the private entrepreneurs in the electricity power sector as a condition precedent before any national dialogue can take place on the way forward towards improving the dwindling and poor electricity power supplies to Nigerians. HURIWA stated that aby upward review of tariffs of electricity can only be an imposition of a slave tariffs for the darkness that envelopes most parts of Nigeria at night following constant failures of the Distributors to meet up with their business obligations to the consumers of electricity. Nigerians must realize that what is needed for dictatorship to take root is for the masses to accept hook, line and sinker every unimaginable and toxic policies for good or for evil introduced by government without asking intelligent questions to ensure that there is transparency and accountability always. Nigerians should ask the federal government to explain how the #37 billion grants for prepaid meter supply it gave to a private sector operator to supply meters to interested distribution companies were utilized since millions of electricity consumers are still without those meters even in the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. HURIWA recalled that in 2018, the then Power minister Mr. Babatunde Fashola, minister , disclosed that N37 billion was distributed as meter grsnts just as he made the announcement at the 28th monthly meeting of power stakeholders in Kaduna. HURIWA quoted the minister, who did not mention the name of the company, as saying that the federal government provided the fund based on the demand for meters, given the increasing power generation, transmission and distribution in the country. HURIWA recalled that the minister had stated then that: As power supply continues to increase in Generation, Transmission and Distribution, the demand for meters will increase because more power supply and consumption will likely result in increased bills.Estimated billings in these circumstances will become a major cause of distrust and conflict between consumers and DisCos, and meters are the easiest way to build the bridge of trust.On the Executive side of government, we are responding by taking advantage of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulations to deploy a fund of N37 billion toward supplying meters through private sector.I urge all DisCos who have not taken advantage of this opportunity to quickly do so, or make their own funding arrangements to contract their own meter providers to supply and install meters. I know that Yola DisCo is talking to the meter asset provider for 400, 000 meters. I know that Abuja DisCo is also indicating interest for 250,000 meters.I know that other meter asset providers are also talking to various banks and funding organisations to see how they can get into this business and get licensed by NERC. HURIWA said there is no empirical evidence to show what the unmamed company that benefitted from the political largesse of N37 billion did with this humonguous public cash given that millions of homes can't find electricity meters for their use thereby exposing them to extortion rackets run by the different regional DISCOS that stilll charge estimated billings. HURIWA also stated thus: Nigerians should also ask the federal government to render account on the #1.095 trillion federal intervention fund distributed to DisCos by the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2018 even when power supplies are still poor and indeed over 80 million Nigeria families are still without electricity power. HURIWA said: "According to public information made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s annual report for 2018, the apex bank had as at the end of 2018, granted total credit of N1.095 trillion to the power sector under three different schemes it set up. The schemes were Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (NEMSF) worth N213.417 billion meant to settle outstanding payment obligations due to market participants during the interim rules of the market as well as legacy debts owed by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to gas suppliers; the N300 billion Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF); and the N701 billion Payment Assurance Facility (PAF) extended to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) to settle invoices of generation companies (Gencos) to a minimum level of 80 per cent." HURIWA FURTHER reminded Nigerians to find out what has become of the other components of the intervention find by the Central bank of Nigeria because the official report had stated that CBN is equally expected to provide additional N600 billion as proposed by the NBET in its report of the implementation of the N701 billion PAF to the power sector soon. But according to a document obtained by a media house, which was signed by the Commissioner in charge of Legal, Licensing and Compliance Division of the NERC, Mr. Dafe Akpeneye, the regulatory agency set up the committee to review how the Discos spent these funds and also adjudicate on petitions filed by eight electricity distribution companies (Discos) against its recent tariff review and minimum remittance order to them. The document disclosed that the Discos are also expected to equally make profound explanation to the NERC on how they have spent their revenues since they took over their networks. The Rights group condemned the opaque system in operation within the Central bank of Nigeria and the Power ministry because two years after, there are no available body of knowledge yo justify or rationalise how these huge public funds were spent. HURIWA said: We call on Nigerians in their numbers to reject the decision by NERC to hike the tariffs of electricity power to be paid by Nigerians with effect from April 1steven without accounting for how government utilized the quantum of cash paid out to the private businesses in the electricity sector even without any form of improvements. HURIWA recalled that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had directed the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to hike their tariffs by average of 50 percent on April 1. Ikeja Electric (IE) Plc, which made this disclosure in its memo to the commission, noted that the directive is in order to meet the tariff shortfall funding target from 2020 by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Owing to the directive, the 50 percent tariff increase is expected to raise the average tariffs from the current level of 27.30 N/kWh to 40.95 N/kWh, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Youdeowei. The memo that was dated February 12, 2020. The power distributor titled the document: Re: Addendum to Ikeja Plcs Performance Improvement Plan and application for extraordinary tariff review of MYTO-2015. NERC, according to the IE document, said: The objective for the extra-ordinary tariff review of MYTO-2015 is to ensure Ikeja Electric adjusts its tariff in line with the commissions directive that current average allowed tariff shall be grossed-up 50% from April 2020. IE informed the commission that in line with the directive we have designed the tariffs based on the MYTO tariff model contained in the document, Ikeja DisCo Tariff Model Jan 2020 shared with IE by the commission. In this application, we intend to create a new tariff class, called Bilateral; a class that is being created for customers that IE has a signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with under a willing-buyer-willing seller arrangement. In order to provide an efficient and reliable service to customers in this tariff class, cost-reflective tariffs are required to cover the cost of service delivery. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - Mosaic Capital Corporation (TSXV: M) (TSXV: M.DB) ("Mosaic"), ("Company") is pleased to announce that Kevin Adolphe and Elan Pratzer have been appointed as directors of Mosaic. These appointments are related to the nomination rights afforded to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited in connection with its $150 million strategic investment in Mosaic that closed in January 2017. Kevin Adolphe is an accomplished real estate, asset management and financial services executive with broad expertise and over 35 years of extensive global experience. He was most recently President and CEO, Manulife Asset Management Private Markets, and President and CEO, Manulife Real Estate. Kevin commercialized Manulife's Private Asset Management capabilities to clients and investors worldwide. He profitably grew Manulife's Real Estate platform increasing the portfolio threefold to $22 billion and expanding the business into numerous new international markets. Prior to Manulife, Kevin was Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CIBC World Markets. He is a Fellow of CPA Ontario, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and YPO Gold. Kevin has served on numerous Boards and is currently a member of the Rogers Bank Board and the Trinity College, U of T, Building Committee. Elan Pratzer has over 35 years of business experience including over 25 years in executive search as a trusted advisor to many of Canada's leading business executives, entrepreneurs and board members. Elan is the CEO of ARNOAV INC. which consults to boards and CEOs on matters related to strategic human capital decisions. Elan is the former managing partner of Canada of Caldwell Partners, where he continues to conduct selective executive search engagements and remains a member of the firm's Private Equity, Financial Services and Real Estate practices. Prior to joining Caldwell, Elan was the founder and CEO of Executive Risk Group Ltd., a provider of risk management solutions for directors, officers and trustees. Elan was also previously the managing director of a private, Canadian-based merchant bank. Elan has a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto. He is a member of YPO, serves on the Board of Directors of Cambridge Brain Sciences and is on the Advisory Board of Hold it All Inc. "We are delighted to welcome Kevin and Elan to our Board as valued and highly experienced members that will offer strategic capital markets, human resources and broad corporate development experience as Mosaic continues to execute its business plan and create long-term value for shareholders," commented John Mackay, Executive Chairman of Mosaic. ABOUT MOSAIC CAPITAL CORPORATION Mosaic is a Canadian investment company that owns a portfolio of established businesses which span a diverse range of industries and geographies. Mosaic's strategy is to create long-term value for its shareholders through accretive acquisitions, long-term portfolio ownership, sustained cash flows and organic portfolio growth. Mosaic achieves its objectives by maintaining financial discipline, acquiring businesses at attractive valuations, performing extensive acquisition due diligence, utilizing optimal transaction structuring and working closely with subsidiary businesses after acquisition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT: Cam Deller Vice President, Corporate Development Mosaic Capital Corporation 400, 2424 - 4th Street SW Calgary, AB T2S 2T4 T: (403) 930-6576 E: cdeller@mosaiccapitalcorp.com www.mosiccapitalcorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52531 Crimean political prisoner, journalist Mykola Semena is already in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. "Mykola Semyana, a Crimean journalist who was unlawfully convicted by the occupying power on September 22, 2017, is finally in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. He is safe and heads to Kyiv," Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova posted on Facebook. As reported, on January 28, Mykola Semena, a journalist of the Radio Liberty project "Crimea.Realities", received documents from a district court in Simferopol confirming that his suspended sentence had been lifted and his criminal record expunged. On September 22, 2017, Semena was convicted in annexed Crimea for his journalistic activities, received a 2.5-year suspended sentence and was banned for three years from engaging in journalistic activities. ol Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - President Adama Barrow has urged Gambians to take the National Day, celebrated 18 February, as a moment to unite and deliberate on national issues, and not on partisan conflicts and interests People returning from mainland China are calling for more guidance and help from the government as they struggle to find places to self-isolate. The Covid-19 outbreak has now claimed 1775 lives, and the confirmed cases have surged to 71,335 worldwide, with a majority of them in mainland China. The government has asked those who have travelled from and through mainland China since February 2 to stay in quarantine for two weeks, but some people say they have nowhere to go. Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay says up to midnight Sunday, there have been 4386 people who have registered as being in self-isolation. Auckland woman Connie, who didn't want her surname used, was busy looking for a place to stay for her adult nephew, who's returning from Guangdong in south China on Friday. For the past 10 years, he's been living with Connie and her family of four. However, things are a bit tricky this time. "We don't have a place for him to stay in quarantine. The whole family lives in the same house. There isn't any additional space. We will have to live in the same space, using the same toilet and bathroom all the time. How can we stay away from each other? "If the government or the Healthline can give them a place - make somewhere available for them to spend these 14 days quietly, that would be good. Then it wouldn't cause any trouble to others and they have somewhere to stay. We can take care of sending food." Connie says she was told government emergency housing could be arranged for her nephew only after he was finished quarantine. Jianwu Zhang slept in his car for two nights after coming back to Auckland from Shanghai last week. He chose to stay away from his flatmates, and spent two hours in the airport calling around for alternative accommodation. "I was wanting to book a hotel. A friend was helping to make calls as well. I was also making my own calls, but we called four or five motels in Auckland, they all said I can't stay there." He finally found an estate in north Auckland with short-term accommodation. Zhang says there are things the government can improve on. "For people like me, who need to quarantine themselves, the government doesn't have clear guidelines. We don't know how to self-isolate - without somewhere to stay. We don't know whom should we contact. We don't know what to do." Auckland woman Julia Miao is among a group of volunteers who have been helping people like Zhang to look for a place to stay. She says they're searching accommodation websites, putting the message out on social media - as well as contacting schools and government agencies. But it had been hard work. "Most of them [accommodation providers] have said 'no', and very few said 'let me think about it'. Generally they will take a few days to think. I've tried very hard to follow up. But our people can't wait. We also got lots of calls from overseas asking for help - these people can't wait a few more days." Tauranga man Andy Liu, who was part of the group, says they have received 150 calls for help since late last month and calls kept coming in. The group has helped some people already, but there weren't enough volunteers to answer all the pleas for help and it could be difficult to find suitable accommodation. "I don't know what the government's plans are, but we hope every department can co-operate with each other to overcome the difficulties ... the government is the main power in this." Government response The Ministry of Social Development's group manager of client service delivery, Kay Read, says the ministry had made "a small number" of hardship grant payments related to the virus and that number was expected to increase. "We encourage people to get in touch with us to discuss their individual situation and what help is available. We will be offering all available support to assist people through this period of uncertainty." The Ministry of Health says anyone who needed assistance should contact Healthline's dedicated COVID-19 phone number 0800 358 5453, and some financial assistance was available to individuals and families. "Healthline are working to understand people's individual welfare needs, and will be regularly checking on the welfare and wellbeing of those persons registered," it says in a statement. "The ministry is continuing to work with other agencies to explore how we can further support people who are self-isolating. For example, there is already a range of support available to New Zealanders who are faced with financial hardship." According to New Zealand Customs Service, 7459 people have arrived from mainland China since February 3. -RNZ/Liu Chen Authorities at Harsul Central Jail in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district on Tuesday started a six-month spoken English course for prisoners to help them find employment and lead better lives after release, a senior official said. The first batch, being taught by advocate Mohan Korde, has 50 inmates who will be given a certificate after they clear a test at the end of the course, said Harsul Jail Superintendent Hiralal Jadhav. "There is no minimum qualification for the course. This is the first experiment of its kind in any jail in Maharashtra. English language skills will help prisoners get jobs like guides, data entry operators and translators and lead a good life once they are released," Jadhav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College here, taking the number of people held in the case to 17, police said. On February 6, a group of men broke into the college and allegedly groped, harassed and molested girl students. The attack took place during the college festival, "Reverie". The students had alleged that the drunken men, in their 30s, groped and dragged girls and performed obscene acts, while the college security staff and Delhi Police personnel kept standing there like mute spectators. They had also alleged that they were threatened by the intruders, who also made objectionable remarks and used cuss words. The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal. The accused had reportedly gathered outside the college when the cultural festival was underway. They allegedly vandalised a car and then barged into the college campus. They allegedly jumped over the barricades put up by the college security staff and misbehaved with the students, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of visiting Pakistani Hindu pilgrims have thrown their lot behind the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), describing the legislation as a much-awaited step in the right direction as it would directly impact our lives. Nearly 300 Hindus from Pakistan are on a pilgrimage to Haridwar, where they were accorded warm reception by the local residents. While one batch comprising 219 Hindu pilgrims are camping at Shadani Darbar ashram, another batch of 84 devotees are putting up at a dharamshala in Kankhal. Hindustan Times spoke to some of these pilgrims to get their views on the CAA. Teekam Das, a trader from Ghotki district in northern Sindh, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modis bold initiative. Das justified that the Act sought to provide a legal and easier route to not only the Hindus but also Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists living in the sub-continent as they could reap the benefits of Indian citizenship. The opposition from some quarters of the India society is only due to confusion, lack of knowledge about the new Act and the tougher norms for Pakistani non-Muslim nationals in getting Indian citizenship, reasoned Das. Kailash Kumar, a jeweller from Sindh province, echoed Das. Kumar pointed out that the CAA is like a beacon of hope for those living in neighbouring countries and who always longed to get citizenship of India, the land of their forefathers. Mattia Binotto has admitted that he is unhappy about Charles Leclerc's pre-season skydiving antics. Last month, the Ferrari driver admitted he had engaged in the dangerous feat without the permission of his team. "I said to myself that even if there was a problem I don't think I would have the opportunity to be scolded," Leclerc smiled. Leclerc also admitted that the team was "angry" about the episode, and team boss Binotto has now confirmed that. "Last year Charles won his first two grands prix, one of them in Monza in front of our tifosi," he told Rai 2. "Every now and then the drivers give us a little headache, for example when Charles parachuted out of a plane. Did we forgive him? No," Binotto laughed. "But he assured us that he would not do this again. I hope he understood," the Italian added. Ferrari's hopes are high for 2020, but Binotto says "it would be wrong to make any predictions". "After the winter tests last year, we were convinced that we were competitive, but it turned out in Australia that we got a cold shower," he said. "But we are a young team and there are still many areas in which we have to grow. And we also can't forget that the competition has never been as strong as it is today." (GMM) A US cruise operator is working to track down hundreds of passengers who disembarked a luxury liner in Cambodia after one traveller was later diagnosed with the deadly new coronavirus. The Westerdam was at sea for two weeks during which it was barred from Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand over fears it could be carrying the virus, which originated in China and has killed nearly 1,800 people. Cambodia, a staunch ally of Beijing, allowed the ship to dock Thursday at its southern coastal town of Sihanoukville, with authorities carrying out temperature checks on passengers before they left the ship to catch flights home. But Thai authorities on Monday said any of Westerdam's passengers transiting through the country will face "severe measures", like getting screened upon entry and exit by health officials. One traveller from the vessel was stopped Saturday on arriving in Malaysia after airport staff detected a fever. She was later diagnosed with the coronavirus. The 83-year-old American woman is under observation at a hospital while her husband, 85, is also being monitored. Some 137 passengers from the Westerdam who also took the Malaysia flight with the American have now left on commercial flights for other destinations. - 'Harsh reality' - Cruise operator Holland America said Sunday it was in "close coordination" with Malaysian and Cambodian officials alongside experts from the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company is working with "national health authorities to investigate and follow up with individuals who may have come in contact with the guest", said Dr Grant Tarling, the operator's chief medical officer. Another 233 passengers and 747 crew remain on the Westerdam, which is still docked at Sihanoukville. Authorities have been allowing them to leave the vessel in groups based on their flight bookings but those on board told AFP they are now not permitted to disembark. A Sihanoukville spokesman said Monday health samples are being collected from all onboard the Westerdam "in order to be clear", adding that passengers will not go off-ship until the tests are completed. Other passengers who have already left the ship are in Phnom Penh waiting for flights home. A tweet by passenger Christina Kerby said Cambodia's health ministry had instructed them to stay in their hotel rooms. She posted light-hearted updates when onboard the Westerdam, but on Monday said she panicked when being tested for the coronavirus by "doctors in moon suits". "It opened my eyes to the severity and harsh reality of this public health crisis," Kerby tweeted. Officials in neighbouring Thailand, which had barred the Westerdam from docking, said passengers transiting through its airports will face strict measures. They would be screened by the airlines and officials at every part of the journey, Suwanchai Wattanajingcharoenchai of the Thai Department of Disease Control said. For those who want to remain in Thailand, they would need permission from the embassy in Phnom Penh. "The foreigners... will be quarantined for 14 days," he added. In China more than 70,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus while about 780 infections have been reported in other countries. Cambodia's decision to allow the Westerdam to berth was lauded by US President Donald Trump, who called the country "beautiful" on Twitter, and US ambassador Patrick Murphy boarded the ship to greet its American passengers. Now that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have left their royal duties behind for a life in Canada, the speculation about whether the couple will be expecting a second child has simmered a bit. With the Sussexes out of the spotlight, there are fewer moments to scrutinize, but their recent flight to Canada gave fans a glimpse into a behavior Meghan has shown before when she was pregnant. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back In January, Prince Harry and Meghan made the surprising announcement that they planned to take a step back from their duties. Queen Elizabeth met with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles to figure out the specifics of the Sussexes plan and signed off on their request, though it meant the couple would give up their HRH titles and public funding. After the queens supportive statement, Prince Harry delivered an emotional speech at a January event, explaining why he and Meghan felt this was the best option for their family. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option, Harry shared in a speech he delivered in London. Prince Harry and Meghan took a commercial flight After coming under fire in 2019 for preaching about the environment and then taking private jets for their travels, the couple chose a commercial flight for their recent trip. Prince Harry and Meghan were photographed together for the first time since they made their big move away from the royal family when they stepped off a commercial flight that landed in Victoria Airport in British Columbia. Meghan carried a Prada duffel in one hand and clutched a black leather laptop case or portfolio as they exited the plane. They were all smiles after what appeared to be a business trip to the U.S., traveling without baby Archie, who was believed to have been with grandmother Doria Ragland. The two reportedly visited Stanford University in Palo Alto, California where they engaged in a brainstorming session with professors, though the details of these sessions are unknown. Is Meghan pregnant again? Royal fans havent had many opportunities to lay their eyes on Meghan lately, but some are convinced that the Duchess of Sussex is pregnant again based on the placement of her baggage when she left the plane. Fans picked apart the images of Harry and Meghan and believe that the way the duchess carried her laptop case might indicate shes trying to cover up a baby bump. To many, it was reminiscent of when Meghan carried two purple folders under her arm when she and Prince Harry stepped off a plane in Australia the same day they announced they were pregnant with their first child. At the time, Meghan appeared to try and conceal any signs of her pregnancy with the placement of the folders. One fan tweeted about the new photos of the Sussexes: Pregnant again? Does the folder say it all? and another fan noted: remember the last time she got off a plane carrying a folder she was pregnant with Archie she got off the plane yesterday carrying a folder or computer almost the same way Of course, pregnancy speculation about Meghan is an ongoing bit of gossip, so this latest analysis might not be so accurate but certainly, now that theyre living a life out of the spotlight, if and when theyre expecting, they can carry on in a more relaxed environment. PARIS, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced the appointment of Xavier Florit as its Regional Head of Corporate, Accident & Health (A&H) for Continental Europe. In this role, Xavier will have overall responsibility for the leadership, strategy and execution of the insurer's Corporate A&H division in the region. The appointment was effective on 1 January. Xavier will continue to be based in Chubb's Paris office and will report to Florian Eisele, the recently appointed Director of Accident & Health for Continental Europe, when Florian starts his role on 1 March. Xavier replaces Arjen van Dun who has left the business. He joined Chubb in 2016 and was previously Head of A&H for France. Before that he held several roles within the insurance industry working for both brokers and insurers. Florian Eisele, Director of Accident and Health, Continental Europe, Chubb said: "I am delighted that we have appointed Xavier to this important role. His knowledge, insights and understanding will help shape our A&H business across Continental Europe as we continue to drive growth." About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 30,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo.jpg Bennie Hart with his Ohio vanity plate LOUISVILLE, Ky. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be out more than $150,000 after losing a legal battle to a man who wanted to put "IM GOD" on his license plate. In November, a federal judge in Frankfort gave Ben Hart the OK to get the controversial license plate after a three-year legal battle against the cabinet. Hart applied for the license in 2016 but was denied because it didn't "meet requirements." Kentucky statute allows for personalized license plates as long as the letters do not discriminate against anyone because of their sex, race, color, religion or nationality. 'TRYGOD'? Yes. 'IMGOD'? No: Vanity plate rules, free speech butt heads In Hart's case, the court ruled that vanity plates were private speech and therefore protected by the First Amendment. On Monday, a judge ordered the Transportation Cabinet to pay out $150,715.50 in attorneys' fees and an additional $491.24 for court costs. Lawyers for the cabinet fought the costs, calling them excessive and arguing that Hart didn't actually succeed in convincing the judge that the vanity plate statute was unconstitutional on its face but merely was allowed to get the license plate he wanted. A judge overruled those arguments. The attorneys' fees will go to a team of lawyers, including lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which both backed Hart in the suit. Follow Sarah Ladd on Twitter: @ladd_sarah. This article originally appeared on Courier Journal: Kentucky transportation must pay $150,000 after losing 'IM GOD' lawuit A German citizen has been released from jail in Iran as part of a prisoner swap, the Iranian judiciary said. "We announced that we are ready to [release] this German national ... on condition that they [the German government] do not extradite our citizen to America," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said. Esmaili didn't give any details about who "this German national" was, except to say that the prisoner had been sentenced to three years in an Iranian jail for "taking pictures from sensitive places," the AFP reported. A day earlier, Tehran said an Iranian detained in Germany accused of violating U.S. sanctions, Ahmad Khalili, had returned home. Khalili flew home Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minster Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was on his way back from the Munich Security Conference. In the four years since adopting a Maltese-Westie, Vanessa Cito estimates that her rescue dog has cost her easily over $10,000. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A puppy plays at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in Charlottesville, Va., on October 12, 2018. In the four years since adopting a Maltese-Westie, Vanessa Cito estimates that her rescue dog has cost her easily over $10,000.The 31-year-old digital strategist from Vancouver includes in that calculation both initial costs such as licensing and adoption fees, and a crate, leash, and dog bowl and ongoing ones such as vet bills, food, and care while she's away. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, The Daily Progress - Zack Wajsgras **MANDATORY CREDIT** In the four years since adopting a Maltese-Westie, Vanessa Cito estimates that her rescue dog has cost her easily over $10,000. The 31-year-old digital strategist from Vancouver includes in that calculation both initial costs such as licensing and adoption fees, and a crate, leash, and dog bowl and ongoing ones such as vet bills, food, and care while she's away. She adopted her dog Toby at six years old from a rescue society after he'd spent the majority of his life locked in a cage at a puppy mill. As a result, he'd developed anxiety, decayed teeth and a dented back which rendered him both uninsurable and in need of regular medical care. While Cito says her pup's love and companionship is well worth the cost, she cautions prospective dog owners to consider expenses like these before adopting. "You have to really have your heart in the right place to do it, because it does take a lot. It's an investment," she says. Cito's story is far from uncommon. Many Canadians adopt their first pets in their 20s and 30s only to encounter surprise bills well after the papers are signed. While Cito says she's lucky to have been able to afford the costs associated with her dog, many aren't and some are even left with no choice but to give their pets up. It's a problem many rescue centres keep in mind throughout the adoption application process, including Toronto's Redemption Paws. According to founder and executive director Nicole Simone, the rescue facility vets applicants with a series of questions about their financial preparedness and requires the purchase of pet insurance in addition to its initial $600 to $800 adoption fee. Depending on scope of coverage, the average pet insurance policy costs around $1,000 per year an up front cost that can save owners in the long-term. But some pets, especially those adopted as adults like Cito's, are uninsurable due to pre-existing conditions, which leaves owners with annual vet fees in the thousands. Cito says she didn't know about Toby's health conditions prior to adopting him, and advises prospective owners to ask these questions before taking the leap into ownership. "Unfortunately, I wish rescues would be way more open with health issues," Cito says. Owners with busy schedules should also factor in the cost of paying for a dog walker or day care, which can cost between $15 and $30 per walk, or around $40 per day, respectively. And owners of puppies or dogs with behavioural concerns should factor in the cost of training programs, which typically range in the hundreds for multi-week lessons. Dog food is another universal cost that's higher than many owners anticipate. Sarah Mizzi, adoption manager at Toronto-based adoption centre Save Our Scruff, estimates monthly food costs to be around $150 depending on the size of the dog noting that the larger the dog, the heftier the costs. Add the price of treats to that and the bill climbs even more. But many dog owners find ways to stretch a buck while still giving their pets the care they need. For starters, Simone warns against getting sucked into the world of high-priced pet food. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "There's a huge industry where you're told you should be spending a ridiculous amount of money on dog food," Simone says. "Just give your dog lots of love and attention, because that's really what they care about the most." And Cito saves by making her own treats from chicken and sweet potato. "Any time I make chicken, he gets my chicken," she says. "It's a great way for us to cut costs." Simone, who admits she got roped into the world of luxury pet accessories when she adopted her first dog at 21, says 14 years later, she prefers to keep things simple. One or two high-stimulus toys are enough to keep a pet occupied for hours. "Keep it simple and just remember, financially with dogs, the thing that they care about most is you," Simone says. "They don't care about what colour their collar is, or if their jacket matches their gender, or if their dog food is raw or vegan. "At the very end, the only thing that they care about are the people who are there with them and who have given them love," Simone says. "And, you know, food." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2020 -- Growth in the fertility test market can be attributed to factors, such as increasing first-time pregnancy age, launch of advanced, easy-to-use fertility monitors with high accuracy, and increasing awareness about fertility testing. The global fertility test market is expected to reach 583.1 million by 2023 from USD 411.8 million in 2018, at a CAGR of 7.2%. Based on product, the fertility test market is segmented into OPK, fertility monitors, and male fertility testing products. In 2018, the ovulation predictor kits segment is expected to account for the largest share of the fertility test market. The large share can be attributed to their low cost and high efficacy, high preference for these kits, and rising median age of first-time pregnancies in women. Based on mode of purchase, the fertility test market is divided into two segments--prescription-based and non-prescription/OTC-based. In 2018, the non-prescription/OTC-based segment is expected to account for a larger share of the market. The large share can be attributed to factors such as the increasing patient preference for home- and remote monitoring, e-commerce availability, confidentiality, & accessibility of test results, and growing initiatives taken by leading market players to develop easy-to-use and accurate products. Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=139945432 Regional Analysis: Fertility Test Market The report covers the fertility test market across four key geographies, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The decline in fertility rate, rising first-time pregnancy age, and high prevalence of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) among North American women are few of the major factors contributing the large share of this regional segment. Additionally, factors such as the growing use of fertility monitoring devices for contraception, rising awareness about the benefits of ovulation monitors through social media, marketing campaigns, and e-commerce sites are increasing the adoption of fertility test in this region. Request for Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=139945432 Leading Companies The leading players in the fertility test market included SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH (Swiss Precision Diagnostics) (Switzerland), and Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (Church & Dwight) (U.S.),. Other players in this market include Valley Electronics GmbH (Valley Electronics) (Germany) , Geratherm Medical AG (Geratherm) (Germany), Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. (Prestige Brands Holdings) (U.S.), Hilin Life Products, Inc. (Hilin Life) (US), Fairhaven Health, LLC (Fairhaven Health) (U.S.), Fertility Focus Limited (Fertility Focus) (UK), bioZhena Corporation (bioZhena) (US), TaiDoc Technology Corporation (TaiDoc) (Taiwan), UEBE Medical GmbH (UEBE Medical) (Germany), AdvaCare Pharma (US), Ava (Switzerland), Babystart Ltd. (Babystart) (UK), and Sensiia (UK). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : 1-888-600-6441 sales@marketsandmarkets.com SmileDirectClub, Inc. has been subject to unfair attacks from the powerful American Dental Association, short sellers, and even unscrupulous journalists, but the strong underlying business has attracted investors who see through the confusion. Thats according to IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone, who spoke to TD Ameritrade Tuesday. Jannarone, who recently published a detailed article on the company, explained that the American Dental Association has repeatedly attempted to mislead the public by stating that SmileDirectClub is under review by the Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration. In reality, the FTC has gone out of its way to stand up from SmileDirectClub, filing amicus curiae briefs on the companys behalf multiple times. Jannarone also explained that Uber Technologies, Inc. and Lyft, Inc. may finally deserve another look from investors, having performed very poorly since their 2019 IPOs. He explained that consolidation and a more rational pricing environment will help both companies achieve their targets of positive Ebitda in 2020 or 2021. Jannarone also weighed in on Peloton Interactive, Inc., which recently raised its Ebitda target to near breakeven for the June fiscal year. The full interview can be viewed here. IPO Edge Contact: John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief www.IPO-Edge.com Editor@IPO-Edge.com Twitter: @IPOEdge Instagram: @IPOEdge SALEM, Ore. A bill that would impose tougher sentences on convicted criminals who leave their victims with permanent or incapacitating injuries came to the state capital on Monday, buoyed by a groundswell of support from rural Oregon communities. House Bill 4122, or "Ezra's Law," would free up prosecutors to request harsher sentences if a criminal impacts the long-term quality of life for a victim. 'Ezra's Law' would stiffen penalties for causing permanent injury https://t.co/NAW5Z0ExeB via @thebulletin Gerry OBrien (@Gerry_Obrien1) January 28, 2020 The bill's name stems from the story of a 4-year-old boy from Jefferson County in eastern Oregon, Ezra Jerome Thomas. In November of 2017, when Thomas was only two years old, he was battered severely by his mother's boyfriend, Josue Jair Mendoza-Melo leaving Thomas in need of continuous care, breathing and eating through a tube, and suffering from near-constant seizures. I was going to be able to cherish graduations, proms and even look forward to him getting married and building a family of his own someday, Tina Jorgensen, Thomas' grandmother, testified to the House on Monday. He had a whole life ahead of him. I had a life of grandma moments to share with him. Sadly, my hopes and dreams for Ezras future were taken away on November 19, 2017. Before that date, I lived a normal life. Every ounce of joy was taken from me that day. RELATED: Governor Brown to sign "Kaylee's Law" in Bend Mendoza-Melo was convicted of Attempted Murder and Criminal Mistreatment then sentenced to 12 years in prison. He now faces a number of sex abuse charges in a completely separate case that has yet to go to trial. The frustration of difficult conversations with victims created the birth of Ezras law, said Jefferson County District Attorney LeRiche. Ezras Law will serve to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and as a deterrent against assaulting the innocence of youth. The bill was sponsored by Representative Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, whose district includes Jefferson County. Nobody in this building can change the past. No one can understand the grief that comes from a judicial system that is unable to provide closure. Were here today so that future victims get the justice that they deserve, said Rep. Bonham. RELATED: (Melissa's Law) Oregon State Police finish processing backlog of untested 'rape kits' According to Bonham's office, Ezra's Law fixes a "tragic loophole" in state law, and would allow prosecutors to charge an aggravated version of certain assault or attempted murder offenses if the person responsible cause permanent injury yielding a sentence of at least 25 years in prison. While I am disappointed that the legislature couldnt take swift action in moving Ezras law during a short session, Im optimistic to see all of the momentum that is building behind this cause. Giving an opportunity for the voices to be heard and creating a work group for all the stakeholders to be at the table working will create a policy that we can all be proud of, testified Bonham. T he British government has said it is "working to organise" the evacuation of dozens of British nationals stranded on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan. Those on board the Diamond Princess, which is docked off the coast of Yokohama, have been contacted about a possible repatriation flight. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said on Tuesday morning it is "working to organise" a flight back to the UK for those on board the quarantined ship. It has faced pressure to fly home the 74 Britons on the vessel after the US chartered two planes and repatriated 340 of its citizens. Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined 1 /32 Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP Global interest: David Abel, who is on board Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, has been posting updates on social media David Abel Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), officials of the DFA-Philippines in Tokyo with Department of Health team wear protective suits as they prepare for the disembarkation of Filipino crew members on board the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama Port AP A man in a proctective clothing is seen on the sixth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads "shortage of medicine" on the cruise ship Diamond Princess Reuters Passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port are pictured in Yokohama REUTERS/Kyodo Japan David Abel of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan. PA David Abel being treated David Abel Workers in protective clothes stand before passengers disembarkating off the Diamond Princess AFP via Getty Images Quarantine operation on the eighth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA The Diamond Princess cruise ship, in quarantine due to fears of new COVID-19 coronavirus, is seen at Daikoku pier cruise terminal in Yokohama AFP via Getty Images Sally Abel being treated David Abel/Facebook Men wearing protective gear are seen near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Reuters The Diamond Princess cruise ship with around 3,700 people on board sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama after a number of passengers were confirmed to be infected with coronavirus Getty Images An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger tested positive for a new coronavirus from the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Buses carrying passengers who have been under quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off the coast of Japan, the Diamond Princess, leave RAF Boscombe Down in Amesbury Reuters An empty casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Workers in protective gear are seen on the Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images An empty atrium on the Diamond Princess cruise shi PA Workers in protective gear transfer a person under a blue sheet from the Diamond Princess cruise ship onto a Japan Coast Guard boat in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP On Monday, the Japanese Health Ministry confirmed 99 more people on board have been diagnosed with the illness, bringing the total to 454. Four Britons with confirmed coronavirus are currently in hospital in Japan, according to the latest official figures. The FCO said in statement: "Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible," "Our staff are contacting British nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements. We urge all those who have not yet responded to get in touch immediately." Buses carrying US passengers who were aboard the quarantined cruise ship the Diamond Princess / AP A Number 10 spokesman earlier said: "We sympathise with all those caught up in this extremely difficult situation. "The Foreign Office is in contact with all British people on the Diamond Princess, including to establish interest in a possible repatriation flight. "We are urgently considering all options to guarantee the health and safety of those on board." It comes after Sir Richard Branson said Virgin Atlantic was "in discussions" with the Government over whether he could help those stranded. He responded via Twitter to an appeal from David and Sally Abel. The couple are among those who have been trapped in their cabins for days, who asked the British businessman and philanthropist to charter a special plane. Their son Steve Abel renewed appeals for the Government to help his parents, who he fears may become separated in Japan. Both are still awaiting the results of their own tests for the new coronavirus, also known as Covid-19. Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said the firm has worked with authorities to send more doctors and nurses on board the ship. But there is still uncertainty over whether passengers will be able to leave the ship at the end of the 14-day quarantine period on Wednesday. Diamond Princess Cruise Passenger Matthew Smith Talks About Life In Quarantine The Government is also currently tracing British passengers who were on board Holland America's Westerdam cruise ship. The vessel is reported to have carried more than 100 passengers from the UK. All passengers were allowed to disembark on Friday, when there had been no confirmed cases on board at the time. A female guest, reported to be American, has since been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Malaysia. It is understood that the FCO is not aware of any British nationals who travelled on the cruise ship who have been diagnosed with the virus. An FCO spokeswoman said: "Our staff are providing consular assistance to British nationals in Cambodia who have travelled on the Westerdam cruise ship and are working with the operator to establish contact with those who have recently disembarked." Meanwhile, the Government has block-booked the Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel hotel as a potential quarantine zone for international visitors to the UK who develop coronavirus, or for Britons evacuated from overseas. As of Monday afternoon, 4,501 people in total have now been tested for Covid-19 in the UK, of which nine have come back positive. Coronavirus: WHO working 'day and night' to combat virus Public Health England has published guidance saying that no restrictions or special control measures are needed while tests for Covid-19 are carried out on a suspected case. While a pupil or staff member suspected of coming into contact with the virus is being tested, the guidance says no action is needed. If a case of the virus is confirmed, then health protection teams would trace those at risk. Nine people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19, with eight of those patients now discharged from hospital. Meanwhile, the death toll in mainland China rose by 105 to 1,770, in figures announced early on Monday morning. By Trend Last year, 47,710 cars were imported to Azerbaijan, which is 65 percent more compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijans State Statistics Committee. Despite the absence of statistics from the beginning of this year, car imports from Asia, in particular China, will be reduced, expert economist Vugar Bayramov told Trend. According to the information received as a result of the monitoring by the Fitch Ratings agency, there is global reduction in imports of Chinese-made cars in connection with the coronavirus, respectively, less cars from this country will be supplied to Azerbaijan, the expert said. Bayramov added that for now there arent so many cars delivered from China to Azerbaijan in the total number of cars imported into the country. Mostly cars are delivered to Azerbaijan from Europe, including those made in Japan, the expert noted. Given that they are mainly imported from Georgia, most likely there will be no serious reduction in car imports. There will be no sharp reduction in the total import of Chinese-made cars, said Bayramov. However, if the scale of the coronavirus expands and the problem worsens for other Asian countries, then at a subsequent stage, noticeable reduction may occur in the number of cars imported into Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Here is your gown, the nurse had said as she handed over a cotton frock. After hours in the hectic emergency room, we arrived in my mothers hospital room. My mother quickly assured her that she would not be needing it. She knew she was sick; she did not need the gown to confirm it. My mother unfortunately was not new to life in the hospital; she had come prepared. Before we had left for the emergency room, suspecting she would be admitted to the hospital for at least a few days, she had meticulously instructed me on what clothing to pack: comfortably fitted but loose T-shirts, sweatpants and patterned pajama bottoms. For good measure, we had also brought perfume and deodorant. Like my mom, I was not a stranger to the hospital environment. While she was the professional patient, my father and I were the physicians. For better or for worse, the white coat is a symbol of that status. We are meant to undergo a kind of identity transformation when we put it on for the first time in medical school. There are even ceremonies dedicated to this moment. In a similar way, patients step into the sick role when they don their hospital gowns. In this role, they are exposed, vulnerable and deidentified, contrary to the authority and protection conferred by the white coat. They relinquish control. Dating violence causes significant and long-lasting trauma to countless individuals throughout the United States, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is urging all Michiganders to educate themselves, their families, and communities about this widespread and pervasive issue by proclaiming February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. During this month, Michiganders are encouraged to learn more about the signs of dating violence, the impact perpetrators have on their current or former intimate partners, and how to empower and support victims. As a mom of two teenage girls, nothing is more important to me than their safety, said Gov. Whitmer. Raising awareness about teen dating violence will help my girls and young Michiganders everywhere. Victims of dating violence need to know that theyre not alone, that they are believed, and that there are resources available to help them. The Division of Victim Services within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is among the important advocates for victims. Nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States are physically abused by dating partners every year, yet only 33 percent of victims ever disclose the abuse. Forty three percent of college women and 28 percent of college men report experiencing either abuse or controlling behaviors in a dating relationship. Dating violence perpetrators intentionally use a pattern of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and/or economic coercion and abuse to control their partners. Additionally, violence in dating relationships can impact anyone regardless of their religion, culture, gender, sexuality, economic or social status. We can all play a role in ending teen dating violence by educating ourselves, empowering young people to develop healthy relationships, and developing better supportive services, said Debi Cain, executive director of the MDHHS Division of Victim Services. The MDHHS Division of Victim Services is committed to advancing this critical work by creating more and better dating violence resources for young people while connecting victims with the information and support they may need after experiencing abuse. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and needs support, call the Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522.To find a local domestic violence or sexual assault program provider near you, visit the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence provider directory. LGBTQ+ youth in crisis can reach out to The Trevor Project 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 or text/chat at www.thetrevorproject.org/help. Source: State of Michigan Cats have a rep for being impeccably clean, right? Thats the conclusion many people have drawn from watching cats endlessly licking themselvesprobably the only activity cats spend more time doing than sleeping. When folks get bit or scratched by a cat though, suddenly all that received wisdom is called into question. Do they really carry germs in their mouths? What is cat-scratch fever anyway? Is that a real thing? Or just the name of a wildly offensive Ted Nugent song? And, most importantly, should you go straight to emerg if youre on the losing end of a clash with a cat? I went to Jason Tetro, a.k.a. the Germ Guy, to find out. Anywhere from about one-third to half of cats have a particular type of bacteria in their mouths called bartonella, which we know as cat-scratch fever or cat-scratch disease, says Tetro, host of the Super-Awesome Science Show podcast. They pick that bacteria up from fleas. Despite the name, its way more likely to get cat-scratch fever from a bite than a scratch, although its possible to get it either way if the cat happens to have some bacteria in its paws. Its actually also possible to get the disease another way, namely, if someone let a cat lick their open wound. Thats pretty hard to imagine anyone letting a cat do, however, so well focus on scratches and bites instead. So once you have any kind of bite or scratch you have to wash it incredibly well with soap and water and try to make sure that youre getting rid of any potential saliva or any other biological material that may have been transferred over, says Tetro. And then what youre going to do is just wait and see if you start to get a fever. If you have headaches or migraines, you want to see your doctor right away. Tetro says its rare that bartonella henselae will cause serious infections in human accidental hosts, and that, with the exception of immuno-suppressed people, most people are safe to wait and see. If symptoms do occur though, seeking out treatment (usually antibiotics) quickly is important, since, in rare cases, it can attack the brain, eyes or heart. The other thing is that the lymph nodes, both in your neck and also in your underarms can really become inflamed and swollen and create these sort of eggs underneath your skin, he says. If that happens then you definitely want to go and talk to your doctor because that way you can get some treatment and hopefully be able to get rid of it. So, after you clean out your wound and wait, is there anything you can do to take your mind off these unsettling scenarios? Yes. First off, take some comfort in the knowledge that cat-scratch fever is way less common in Canada than it is elsewhere. Fleas are the driver, says Scott Weese, director of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses at the University of Guelph. And fleas are more common in other places than they are here. We certainly see fleas in Canada, but we dont have an environment thats as amenable to fleas as some places in the United States, where theyre more likely to survive outside through the winter. Totally indoor cats or even indoor/outdoor cats whose pet parents are diligent with flea control pose a very low risk of cat-scratch fever. What about other diseases, though? Rabies, for example? Although getting bit by a feral cat (that you havent provoked) could indicate a more serious disease (and youll definitely want to head to the doctors office to get that checked out), the last case of rabies in a domestic animal in Toronto was in 2008. Even the citys raccoons have a clean bill of health when it comes to rabies. (Distemper is another matter, but we cant get that disease from them.) Torontos bat population can carry rabies. But, with cats, the biggest threat is probably lurking in their litter, which can contain toxoplasma gondii, which is especially dangerous to pregnant women and their fetuses. Tetro says thats pretty rare, too, but there have been outbreaks. Most pregnant women are advised to get someone else to change their cats litter. All told, human bacteria is probably a bigger problem than cat bacteria. Weese says that, at least in Canada, where the flea population is comparatively low, its usually the bugs on our skin that cause the most damage: The cat might cause it by making the scratch, but the infection probably didnt come from the cat. Maybe theyre cleaner than us after all, as conventional wisdom suggests. Still you want to avoid getting nipped or nicked by a cat if you can help it. A lot of its common sense, right? says Scott Weese. Cats will usually give you a warning when theyre upset. Its when people go beyond that warning that youre going to get scratched. In other words, play it safe and just dont mess with cats. And, if you do, and are on the losing end of the battle, dont panic. Its our own bacteria we usually have to be more worried aboutnot theirs. Arti Singh, one of the six finalists on Bigg Boss 13, is happy with her performance on the show and claims to have come out of the house as a better version of herself. The television actor was praised for maintaining her dignity in the Bigg Boss house and not being part of any group. Arti is the sister of comedian Krushna Abhishek and had opened up on the show about an attempt of rape on her at her home when she was growing up. Krushna, in an interview ahead of Bigg Boss 13 finale, had played down Artis allegations, saying that there was no rape attempt on his sister but it was about to happen but the man ran away. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Arti has now said that Krushna is a protective brother and didnt want her to reveal too much about a past incident. Excerpts: Have you come out of the house as a better version of yourself? Yes, I have come out as a very confident person. I have learnt a very big lesson -- never reveal your weakness to anyone other than your parents, siblings or few close friends. No one will support you and will try to pull you down instead. Dont be so real that people can see through you. Arti Singh (centre) with her brother Krushna Abhishek and her mother (right). You have said that your worst memory on the show was your inability to control your panic attacks. I understood later that it was ok to talk about it but earlier, I wished I could have controlled it. I shouldnt have shown my weak side. I was myself scarred how people in the house would perceive me after that. Krushna Abhishek recently claimed that that you didnt face a rape attempt and said it in flow. Krushna is my brother. My brother and my mother are upset because I am yet to get married. He did not say it didnt happen, he said that I said a bit too much in flow. He was of the view that I should have spoken only 3 lines, what was the need for 10 lines. This is a normal reaction of a brother. Do you know how upset my mother was that why did I talk about it when it was over! I told my mom, we also have a responsibility towards the society, there are many kids who do not find the courage to talk about it. Sometimes a house catches fire. People say, haaye aaga lag gai, chalo atleast andar koi tha to nahi, aise to 10 ghar kurbaan. We are safe. (the house was on fire but atleast no one was inside. We are safe). What Krushna meant was atleast I was safe, nothing happened. For him it is nothing because I was safe. He will want me to cut it short, he wouldnt want me to talk about it so much. He wasnt proving me wrong and said it in a protective streak. Arti Singh with Sidharth Shukla and Shehnaaz Gill present a dance performance during Bigg Boss 13 finale. Are you happy your friend Sidharth won the show? Sidharth deservd to win and I knew he will win. His fan following is on another level. I am no one to say he didnt deserve to win. We must decide about ourselves before commenting on someone else. Kashmera said after her exit from the house that she even took shagun for Sidharth in case you expressed your liking for him. Kashmera is very wise and did not talk to me about it after she understood my decision. She knows me that if I have said no, its a no. Nothing like that is ever going to happen. This season was in news for the aggression showed by the contestants in the house. Sidharth was called the most aggressive contestant. Sidharth is aggressive. Asim is also aggressive. People are talking about what they have seen. I was the most aggressive among women. Rani Mukerji had also said it when she had entered the house. I am aggressive but in my own way, I do not cross the line. Arti Singh on Bigg Boss 13. You said one must not cross the limits. You yourself had to cut your hair for a task. Kashmera Shah had scolded Vishal Aditya Singh for crossing the limit by asking you to cut your hair. I did it because I didnt want to look weak. I had said I would do the task and didnt want to ask for mercy. I did it because I had said it. I was even ready to bleach my eyebrows. I am not weak, these people (Bigg Boss contestants) undermined me by calling me weak. Also read: Heres how Deepika Padukone reacted when Ranveer Singh handed her his black lady Salman Khan called you an independent player on the show. What was your strategy in the house? My strategy was that since it was a reality show, be real. I just wanted to be real. Everyone asked me to nominate Madhurima as they called her weak. I said how do you know she is weak? I was playing so bad initially that I would have been evicted in the first week. But God sent a saviour for me in form of Sidharth who saved me from eviction. Madhurima was standing in the same position after two months. I had said when God gave me one chance, I also need to give her one chance. I have played it from my heart till the end. Besides Rashami and Sidharth, have you made any more friends in the house? Shefali Zariwala will always be my friend. Mahira Sharma is also sweet. Follow @htshowbiz for more Marathi 'kirtankar' (preacher) Nivrutti Maharaj Indurikar on Tuesday tendered an apology over his remarks on the timing of intercourse and gender of child, seeking to end a controversy on the issue. His apology came after state minister Bachchu Kadu has said Maharashtra government will not file a case against him over the remarks. During his kirtan (sermon) at a hamlet in Ahmednagar district recently, the preacher reportedly said intercourse by a couple on an even date would beget a male child, while on an odd date would result in the birth of a girl. The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, a voluntary organisation working to eradicate superstitious beliefs, had sought a police case against Indurikar Maharaj, alleging that his comments violated provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. In a statement, Indurikar Maharaj said he was tendering an apology if anyone's sentiments were hurt by his remarks. "In the last 26 years of my delivering kirtans, I had stressed on fighting superstition and other social ills... If my remarks hurt anyone's sentiments, I apologise for it," he said. Earlier, the minister had said the state government will not file a case against the preacher. "Indurikar Maharaj is working to enlighten people through his kirtan. If he goes wrong, law will take its own course, but that doesn't mean a crime will be registered against him. We need to check his intention while making those remarks," Kadu told reporters in Osmanabad on Monday. If a notice is served, it does not mean he will be booked, the minister of state for water resources said. "Law is same for everyone. If anyone commits a mistake, he or she will be punished. But if a word uttered by mistake is played up, then it's not right. If the same thing happens with me, then media shows it as breaking which is not correct," he said. Indurikar Maharaj on Monday said some people unhappy with his work for society and the Warkari community were trying to create trouble for him by demanding filing of cases over his remark. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kim Jong-un has been pictured in public while commemorating the anniversary of his father's birth - the first time he made such an appearance in almost a month. The dictator was photographed bowing in front of statues of father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim Il-sung at the Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on Saturday. Kim has been absent from the public eye since January 25 while North Korea tries to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus as the deadly disease sweeps across Asia. Kim Jong-un was pictured at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Saturday to commemorate father Kim Jong-il's birthday The ceremony marked the first time that Kim has been seen in public since January 25 as North Korea attempts to contain a coronavirus outbreak sweeping across Asia Kim bowed down in front of wax sculptures of father Kim Jong-il (right) and grandfather Kim Il-sung (left) during ceremonies across North Korea on Saturday North Korea has officially denied having any cases, despite sources within the country suggesting otherwise. A construction worker from North Korea is thought to have died in Pyongyang on Saturday after returning from Qatar via China in January, Daily NK reported. While the exact cause of death was not recorded, sources said the man - in his 40s - was suffering from a high fever and acute pneumonia, both signs of the virus. If the infection does spread to North Korea, there are fears it could devastate the country because of its under-funded healthcare system and starved population. North Korea would also be unlikely to wipe the infection out on its own, giving the disease a safe place from which to continue mutating and spreading. The country keeps public health data a closely-guarded state secret, meaning they are unlikely to ever acknowledge infections. North Korea has officially denied having any coronavirus cases, though sources within the country have raised fears that the infection is spreading there While other civilians and soldiers were pictured wearing face masks during the ceremonies, Kim and his entourage did not have their faces covered Minister of Public Health Oh Chun-bok urged North Koreans to remain vigilant in a message broadcast on state TV on Tuesday. 'The fact that not a single confirmed or suspected case of the new coronavirus has been found in our country could cause people to be caught off-guard,' he claimed. North Korea has tightened its border with China and increased the mandatory quarantine period for high-risk people to 30 days in an attempt to stop the infection. Soldiers and civilians in the capital Pyongyang have been pictured wearing facemasks as a precaution against infection. Kim was not wearing one during Saturday's celebrations, which he attended alongside officials Choe Ryong Hae, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and Pak Pong Ju, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission. Soldiers wearing face masks take part in a flower-laying ceremony for Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang on Saturday in order to mark his birthday North Korea has been disinfecting public spaces and quarantining high-risk individuals in an effort to contain coronavirus, but claims to have no confirmed cases Almost 1,900 people have now died from coronavirus - officially named COVID-19 - around the world while more than 73,000 cases have been confirmed. Ninety-nine per cent of cases have been in China, where tens of millions of residents are in lockdown to contain the escalating crisis. The Diamond Princess cruise, docked off the coast of Japan, has the largest cluster of cases outside of China, with 542 passengers infected. Infections began in the transit hub city of Wuhan late last year, and have since spread to more than 30 countries around the world. The virus affects the respiratory system, reproducing inside cells causing a high fever, coughs and sneezes. It is highly infectious, and can be passed from patient to patient through the air. Stacey Abrams, who narrowly failed in her bid to become the governor of Georgia, has said she would absolutely serve as running mate to any of the Democratic candidates. In comments intended to up any confusion as whether she was open to being on the ticket, Ms Abrams said she was getting the question from a lot of folks. The answer is Of course Id be honoured to run for vice president with the nominee, she told ABC News. But it seems really obnoxious to say that out loud, because nobody has asked. There has been intense speculation as who might be might be a running mate for any of the candidates. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters In particular, given how a once diverse filed has been whittled into an all white affair, there has been talk of the value of asking a person of colour to run as vice president. Many in the Democratic establishment also believe it important that a woman make up one of the slots. Ms Abrams was talked about as being a person who not only brought considerable political talent and experience to the race, but also helped cement a more diverse team to take on Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Stacey Abrams flames Trump for voter suppression in Democrats' response to State of the Union Last year, it was reported Joe Biden had hoped to announce his candidacy, with Ms Abrams as his agreed running mate. I think you dont run for second place, she said at the time. On Monday, Ms Abrams, 46, who is is the award-winning author of several romantic novels, made clear she wanted to be considered for the ticket. Why should we not want someone to have the power to fix the problems and the brokenness that we have, she said. I want to do good, and there is no stronger platform than president of the United States. And thats a position I want to one day hold. She added: It would be doing a disservice to every woman of colour, every woman of ambition, every child who wants to think beyond their known space for me to say no or to pretend, Oh, no, I dont want it. Of course I want it. Of course I want to serve America. Of course I want to be a patriot and do this work. In a move that may have tailored to try and boost her chances of being selected by the eventual candidate, she declined to endorse any of those still in the race. My best service is to be in that neutral space where its not about who the nominee is its about making sure no matter who the nominee is, any person who wants to go and vote, can vote. Thats what were doing through Fair Fight 2020. Fair Fight 2020 is a multi-million dollar initiative aimed at building voter protection operations in 20 battleground states. Ms Abrams threw her weight being the project after losing the Georgia governors race to 50 49 to Brian Kemp. Had she won, she would have been the nations first African American woman to serve as governor. tech2 News Staff Apple is reportedly hosting an event on 31 March, where the company is expected to launch the much-awaited iPhone SE 2, which is rumoured to be dubbed as iPhone 9 at the time of launch. According to a report by German site iPhone-ticker.de, Apple is planning to hold a media event by March-end and 31 March is the most likely date. While there is no confirmation about the event or the launch from Apple, the March launch does sound plausible, considering that's when the original iPhone SE was launched. Further, the report also claims that after launch on 31 March, the iPhone SE 2 aka iPhone 9 will hit the markets by 3 April. If that's true, we still don't know if that sale date is applicable only for the US market or for the global market. From what we know so far, the affordable iPhone is likely to come with a price tag of $399, which is roughly around Rs 29,000. The iPhone SE-successor is also expected to feature a 4.7-inch LCD display and its design might resemble the iPhone 8's. Some reports also suggest that it might be powered by A13 Bionic chipset and will offer 3 GB RAM. It is also possible that it might sport a Touch ID home button. Besides the affordable iPhone, in the next few months, Apple is also expected to launch the new iPad Pro, which will reportedly feature a triple-lens rear camera setup that supports 3D sensing for AR. A new MacBook Pro or MacBook Air or both are also speculated to launch soon. Previous reports suggest that a 13-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new scissor-switch keyboard will be launched this year. High-end headphones are another thing that Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted. These headphones are likely to come with Bluetooth support. Additionally, Apple is also rumoured to launch AirPower charging mat soon, which has been expected since 2018 but it never saw the light of the day due to "quality concerns". This mat is reportedly capable of charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods case simultaneously. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is holding a daylong meeting with 70 columnists from across India on Tuesday in an effort to clear misconceptions about the organisation, sources said. RSS chief Bhagwat, who last year met representatives of international media organisations posted in India, is expected to deliver a keynote address that will be followed by a free-flowing conversation, they said. The 70 columnists attending Tuesday's meeting write in different languages. The meeting, in Chhattarpur in New Delhi, is a closed-door meeting and the proceedings are "strictly confidential", the sources said. Morocco is hosting 71 Japanese companies operating in the automotive industry and renewable energy. These firms are employing nearly 40,000 people, making Japan the largest foreign private employer in the North African Kingdom. The remarks were made by chairman of the Moroccan employers union (CGEM) Chakib Alj during a networking meeting between Moroccan economic operators and a visiting Japanese business delegation led by Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shinichi Nakatani. Japan is the 6th Asian supplier and the 5th Asian customer of Morocco, while Morocco is the 4th African supplier and the 8th African customer of Japan, said the CGEM Chief. Chakib Alj also stressed that trade between the two countries currently represents 4.5% of the volume of trade between Morocco and Asia and 2.7% of trade between Japan and Africa. Our bilateral relations are excellent and have been developed significantly, especially in terms of Japanese investment, he said, noting that Morocco is able to play a key role in Japanese strategy on the African continent. Stressing the need to identify opportunities and remove barriers to ensure a better presence of Japanese companies in the kingdom, Chakib Alj called for strengthen economic cooperation with Japan. Japanese private sector representative Fukushima Masao said his country is considering to further strengthen ties with Morocco. He said the visit of the joint delegation of Japanese public and private sectors aims to explore new partnerships on the Moroccan and African market. In 2018, Japanese direct investment in Morocco reached 1.56 billion dirhams (MMDH), making Japan the 5th largest investor in the kingdom. The networking meeting was attended by fifty companies representing several sectors, namely energy, finance, industry, construction, transport, logistics, education and health. The two countries also agreed on Monday in Rabat to set up Japan Desk at the Moroccan Agency for Investment & Trade. This desk will receive complaints and address all requests of Japanese investors, said Moroccan Minister of Industry, Trade, Green & Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy after his talks with visiting Japanese minister. For his part, Mr. Nakatani stressed the importance of cooperation with Morocco due to its geostrategic position and proximity to African, European and Middle Eastern markets. The Japanese minister had earlier separate talks in Rabat with Minister Delegate to foreign Affairs Mohcine Jazouli and Head of Moroccan Govt Saad Eddine El Othmani. Mr. Nakatani renewed his countrys firm backing to Moroccos territorial integrity, highlighted the attractive business opportunities offered to Japanese investors in Morocco and hailed the progress accomplished by the North African country in various sectors. Supplier News 18 February 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Groups360, a leading online global marketplace for meetings, continues to grow with the addition of Lorie Lambert to its leadership team as its newest Vice President of Engagement. Formerly Global Account Director at Marriott International, Lambert will oversee the company's strategic efforts with both the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Marriott International brands. "As we continue to expand our relationships with the premier brands in the hotel industry, inviting Lorie to the team was a logical next step," said Tim Flors, Chief Sales Officer. "After 28 years on the inside as a hotelier, Lorie is well-equipped to partner with our clients at both IHG and Marriott to leverage GroupSync and further develop solutions for both their needs and the needs of planners interested in their properties." Lambert began her hotelier career with Marriott in Dallas, climbing the ranks until her most recent role as Global Account Director for Marriott International, where she served as an integral leader of the Global Sales team. "Groups360 is changing the meetings industry, and that's something I wanted to be a part of," said Lambert. "I'm looking forward to bringing my firsthand experience in understanding the needs of major hotel brands to the team so we can continue to improve upon and build out solutions that benefit both the brands and their customers in matching the right meetings with the right properties." In August, Groups360 announced a $50 million investment on behalf of Accor, Hilton, IHG and Marriott International. Lambert's new position is a direct result of this growth as a part of the overall effort to enhance the GroupSync platform and make group meetings easier for meeting planners through transparent rates, fees and relevant meeting content across the meetings landscape. GroupSync is available at no cost to all qualified meeting planners. To learn more about Groups360 or to take advantage of the GroupSync suite of tools, visit www.groups360.com. Israel: Netanyahu trial to begin on March 17 Two weeks after elections (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 18 - The trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin in the district court of Jerusalem on March 17, two weeks after elections, said public radio Kan. Netanyahu is accused of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power. A statement from the directorate of Israeli courts said Netanyahu must appear on March 17 at the Jerusalem court to hear the charges against him and other defendants, including Arnon Moses, editor of the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot; and Shaul and Iris Alovich, the former owners of the website Walla. The hearing will be presided over by judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman (who also presided over the trial of former prime minister Ehud Olmert), Moshe Bar-Am and Oded Shaham. At the end of December, Netanyahu asked to avail himself of parliamentary immunity, but one month later he unexpectedly announced that he was withdrawing the request. In recent weeks he has been working on the electoral campaign for his Likud party, participating in rallies, giving interviews, and posting continuous updates via social media.(ANSAmed). WASHINGTON In the early days of the Trump administration, a time when weighty decisions had to be made about war and peace, the president maintained a singular focus on badgers. A new book by Daily Beast journalists Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng reportedly describes President Trumps obsession with the beloved mascot of Reince Priebuss home state of Wisconsin. Are they mean to people? he would ask Priebus, then his chief of staff. Or are they friendly creatures? Trump asked Priebus for photos of badgers and to explain how badgers work. Does it have a personality, or is it boring? How aggressive is it when threatened? Markay and Suebsaeng write: An obviously enthralled president would stare at Priebus as the aide struggled for sufficiently placating answers, all the while trying to gently veer the conversation back to whether we were going to do a troop surge. Priebus should not have been so dismissive of this line of questioning. Trump might have been offering clues into his way of thinking. Consider some of the traits the 45th president has in common with the wily mammal: Badgers are gruff and grumpy, burly and slow and awkward. The badger is a voracious eater and has a distinctive fur pattern on its head. The badger is solitary, but the male may mate with more than one female. The badger has lots of different dens and burrows. Under attack, the badger hisses, growls, squeals and snarls. Its ferocious cousin, the honey badger, is an Internet celebrity for having no regard for any other animal ... It just takes what it wants. Most intriguing: Badgers are known for their bad attitudes, but theyre willing to work alongside other animals if it benefits them. In fact, the American badger has a transactional relationship with the coyote, in which they hunt together. But the relationship of convenience ends in the winter, when the badger finds its own food underground and has no need for the fleet-footed coyote, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports. Is there a better description of Trump? He profits from alliances then leaves his partners in the cold when he no longer needs them. Winter is coming for Bill Barr. Im not going to be bullied, the attorney general told ABC News Thursday after surrendering his lunch money to Trump for the last year. I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me. Trump, in a tweet Friday morning, showed his contempt for Barrs bid for independence. Quoting Barrs claim that the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case, Trump added that he has the legal right to do so ... but I have so far chosen not to! Its too late for Barr to rehabilitate his independence now. He misled the public about the findings from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, cleared Trump of obstruction of justice, embraced Trumps claim that the FBI was spying on him, worked to discredit the Russia probe, disputed the inspector generals finding that the probe had a proper basis, commissioned another probe in pursuit of his desired outcome, declined to investigate the Ukraine allegations and announced softened sentencing recommendations for Trump pal Roger Stone after Trump demanded it. Now hes investigating the prosecution of another former Trump aide, Michael Flynn. Now, the moment Barr shows a hint of dissent, the president makes clear he will abuse him the way he abused his predecessor, Jeff Sessions. This coyote will be out in the cold as soon as he ceases to be useful to Trump. Retired Gen. John Kelly, likewise, is now telling us what a dreadful character Trump is after two years of enabling him as Cabinet secretary and White House chief of staff. This week, as reported by the Atlantic, Kelly praised Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (ousted by Trump from the National Security Council as impeachment retribution) because Vindman declined to follow an illegal order. Kelly also quarreled with Trumps description of the media as enemy of the people, Trumps treatment of North Korea, Trumps intervention in the case of a Navy SEAL convicted of posing for photos with a detainees corpse /and Trumps characterization of immigrants. Too bad Kelly didnt speak up when it would have done more good and when, on his watch, the administration put migrant children in cages. Now Kellys out in the cold. When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldnt do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head, Trump tweeted in response to Kelly. Many other former Trump officials have spoken up too little, too late: John Bolton, Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, H.R. McMaster, Michael Cohen, Rick Gates, Steve Bannon, Anthony Scaramucci, Omarosa Manigault Newman, Richard Spencer and more. They all learn, eventually, that they were wrong to think they could work with Trump and it would turn out well. It never does. Invariably, the badger returns to his burrow, leaving his erstwhile partners alone to face the harsh winter. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The government will soon announce measures to deal with the impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the domestic industry, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. The minister was addressing media after meeting representatives of the industry to review the situation following the outbreak of the deadly virus in China. Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaires of different ministries tomorrow and then announce steps to deal with the situation in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office. "There are no concerns about price rise so far due to Coronavirus," she said, adding it is too early to talk about the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on the Make in India initiative. She also said there were no reports of shortage of medicines or medical equipment, instead the pharma industry is asking for lifting of ban on exports of certain items. However, there could be some disruptions in supplies and concerns have been expressed by the representative of pharma, solar and chemical industries, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A notorious vegan activist has avoided going to jail after he was found guilty of stealing a $1500 calf from a farm in Western Australia, but says 'this is just the start'. Direct Action Everywhere ringleader James Warden, 25, and Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski, 26, stood trial in Perth Magistrates Court, accused of breaking into White Rocks dairy farm in Brunswick and stealing an 11-day-old calf in October 2018. The court heard Swiebodzinski drove the car, then Warden and Mihaela Herceg, who previously pleaded guilty, took the calf from an unlocked shed. James Warden, 25, broke into a farm and stole a calf (pictured) and named it Theo The calf, which they named Theodore, was taken to animal sanctuary Greener Pastures in Waroona but authorities later returned it to the farm. The crime was filmed on a mobile phone and clips were played in court, including one showing Warden slinging the animal over his shoulders. On Tuesday, Swiebodzinski was fined $5000 for his role. Warden was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for the crime, as well as for separately trespassing on a Pinjarra piggery and stealing a dead piglet, which he later displayed at a protest. 'By no means does this mean that animal rights activists are going to stop what we're doing,' Warden told reporters outside court. 'This is just the start of the Right to Rescue campaign, so you're going to be hearing a lot more about that.' 18.02.2020 LISTEN Come December 7, 2020, Ghana will be going to the polls to decide who becomes the President of the Republic and the Parliamentarians of the various constituencies for the year January 2021 to December 2024. As usual, campaigns have been intensified by Political Parties especially the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. For the NDC, all is set for them except who becomes the running mate to the immediate past President, John Dramani Mahama. The introduction of Independent Gane and the Ghana Union Movement, GUM is not surprising albeit it promises to make this years election captivating and competitive. There is going to be a Pastor running for President this year. The NPP will, however, be choosing their Parliamentary Candidates for Constituencies with sitting MPs and the obvious choice for the Presidential race, His Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo on 25th April 2020. The Ablekuma, Efutu, Bosomtwe and the Nhyiaso constituency are some constituencies where their contests are predictable. Constituencies such as Bantama where the current Deputy Chief of Staff, Assenso wants to snatch the seat from one of the vocal MPs, Hon. Okyem Aboagye and the Adansi Asokwa Constituency where the former NUGS President, Sammy Binfo is bringing the hell out of Hon KT Hammond who for the first time in his twenty years in Parliament will be having a primary contest, are some constituencies we should be watching out for a keen contest. The Atwima Kwanwoma constituency is one of the biggest constituencies in the Ashanti Region where the NPP has been canvassing enough votes from. It has been the stronghold of the party but much attention has not been given to it. Its probably because it has a Member of Parliament who is hardly seen speaking in the media or on the floor of Parliament. I acknowledge speaking in the media or on the floor of parliament is not the standard measure for the performance of an MP. We, however, cannot deny the fact that it has effects on the MP and to some extent the constituency. Many constituents have been using that in assessing their Member of Parliament hence there is the need for Atwima Kwanwoma to get an MP who is eloquent in advocating for his constituents. This year, the vibrant Kofi Amankwa Manu is eyeing the seat which is currently occupied by the three terms MP, Hon. Dr. Kojo Appiah Kubi. Nana Kwaku Owusu Acheampong will also be in the race but this article will concentrate more on Kofi Amankwa and Dr. Appiah Kubi since they are the favorites of the contest judging from the grounds. The Atwima Kwanwoma Primaries is similar to the upcoming General Presidential Election where the sitting President and the Oppositions leader will be meeting for the third time with each candidate having won one. The only dichotomy with Atwima Kwanwomas is that the incumbent has won all the previous two. The incumbent won with about twenty five votes margin in the last contest. The most interesting part is that Dr. Kojo Appiah Kubi won the seat in 2007 from the first NPP MP of the constituency, Dr. MK Antwi. Dr. MK Antwi won a parliamentary primary contest from Kofi Amankwas father, the late Kwasi Amankwa Manu who was the first NPP Parliamentary Candidate in 1992 when the New Patriotic Party boycotted the General Parliamentary Elections. Both candidates happen to be natives of the constituency. Lawyer Kofi Amankwa Manu comes from Foase whereas Dr. Kojo Appiah Kubi comes from Twedie. There is always a political, social or economic tension between these two communities with each community wanting to claim the bragging rights and supremacy of power. Currently, the Twedie community is the capital of the District. Not long ago, I believe we all heard the news about the shootings and killings at Foase all because the District Capital was moved to Twedie after many years of court deliberations on which community has the legal right to be the District capital of Atwima Kwanwoma District. It is one of the examples of the rivalries that exist between these two communities. This rivalry has been extended to our political realm in the constituency. Foase as a community would want to catch up with the twelve years of Parliamentary dominance over them by the Twedie community. Will there be a change or a continuation in Atwima Kwanwoma? These are some reasons why I think the Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency is also a constituency to watch out for a keen and fascinating contest this year. In my subsequent write up, I will be telling you why the Change slogan is stronger than the Toaso slogan in Atwima Kwanwoma this year. Emmanuel Kwabena Domfeh (Sir Noble), Secretary, Ahenema Kokoben NPP Youth Wing Artist Henry Bermudez in front of his 2007 painting 'The Heavens,' at the opening reception for his exhibit Wilderness in Mind, at Taller Puertorriqueno on Feb. 7, 2020. Read more Inside Taller Puertorriquenos gallery, eight large-scale works cover much of the dark walls. In the center of the room is The Jungle, an installation crafted with 2,000 paper cuttings in distinctive patterns resembling vines that grow dense like the foliage of the Amazon rain forest and Peruvian mythological creatures. Visitor Nikki Feagin said her reaction to Henry Bermudezs art and the intimacy created by the gallerys cold, dim lights gave her goose bumps. Feagin, 40, said she felt a combination of sadness and hope, looking at American Girl Getting Ready for 4th of July Parade. The piece spoke to her, she said, about the exclusion of people of color in July Fourth traditions, and how marginalized people also have the right to celebrate patriotism. Its the sorrow look in this girls eyes, wearing her hair of roses in bright U.S. flag colors, what makes you feel like shes been in the shadows for so long, that she doesnt even find herself celebrating, she said of the piece, created with paper cuttings, acrylic paint, and glitter. Feagin was one of about 100 people who visited Taller Puertorriqueno in North Philly for the opening reception this month of Wilderness in Mind, a show featuring work Venezuelan artist Henry Bermudez has been creating since he came to Philadelphia 16 years ago. Its his first solo exhibit at Taller Puertorriqueno, capturing the artistic evolution that Bermudez has experienced since he moved from Venezuela to Miami in 2003. His art reflects his fondness and appreciation of nature and religious deities from around the Americas. His most recent work has become more political, addressing race, beauty, climate change, and immigration. READ MORE: Whats the connection between Latino American artists and a German explorer? Philadelphia. There is a conversation here about needing or wanting to be included, and having these arbitrary barriers being thrown at us," Feagin said. "This exhibit invites you to find where you fall into this kind of collectiveness. Bermudezs techniques for creating art juxtapose paper cuttings adorned with acrylic paint, glitter, and charcoal sketchings. His work is on drawings, paintings, and installations. During his time in Philadelphia, the 68-year-old has flourished as a muralist, curator, and art instructor. His eight years as an art teacher at the Career and Academic Development Institute a high school dedicated to supporting youth ages 16 to 21 who are experiencing challenges such as homelessness, prior incarceration, and parenting has helped frame the vision for his art. READ MORE: This art exhibit takes a community approach to La Ofrenda by collecting Philly Latinos belongings He said his work looks to stick the finger in the sore spot of his life experiences from South America to the United States. Its about connecting and transitioning to Philadelphia, as Im an artist of the people, of popular culture, and wish I can keep reinventing myself in ways that no one will ever consider my work as intellectual, said Bermudez, who is also an instructor at the Fleisher Art Memorial. David Acosta, artistic director for Casa de Duende an art house dedicated to socially relevant work said Bermudezs themes remain thought-provoking but the artist is transitioning into 3D sculpturing. Its impressive to see how he evolves from the flat structures to the large-scale 3D use of paper and cardboard, while playing with such a naive element like glitter. Visitor Miles Rittmaster, 65, said The Rainmakers Dance was his favorite at the gallery. He said the piece pays homage to the Andean God of Rain and prompts conversations about a Western Hemisphere without borders and the effects of climate change. It grounds us on what its like to be American, in the sense of being part of the continent, as opposed to looking at where we were brought from or where our families came from. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until April 25, at Taller Puertorriqueno, 2600 N. 5th Street. The exhibit is free. FILE PHOTO: A Bombardier advertising board is pictured in front of a SBB CFF Swiss railway train at the station in Bern By Sudip Kar-Gupta and Allison Lampert PARIS/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Shares of Alstom SA and Bombardier Inc fell on Tuesday after the French firm agreed to buy its Canadian rival's rail division for up to 6.2 billion euros ($6.7 billion), a deal likely to draw scrutiny from competition regulators and unions concerned about job cuts. The cash and shares deal, announced Monday, will make the combined entity the world's second-biggest train maker after China's state-owned CRRC Corp. It is the latest attempt by Western rail firms to try to build scale as they try to compete effectively with CRRC. JP Morgan analysts said there was uncertainty ahead "during a lengthy anti-trust process." Bombardier shares were down 8.2% at C$1.52 near midday on Tuesday. Alstom shares closed 3.2% lower at 48.70 euros in Paris. Montreal-based Bombardier would use sale proceeds to cut its debt, which has been a concern for investors and rating agencies. Its net debt would drop to $2.5 billion once the deal closes in the first half of 2021. But it also leaves Bombardier as the only large pure business jet maker, as opposed to rivals in aviation which also generate revenue from military sales. "If there were a serious market downturn, they would be at a major disadvantage, since there would be no defense revenue to compensate," said U.S. aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group. Alstom executives have sought to quell concerns about any hurdles they might face over competition issues, after EU regulators blocked its attempt to merge rail assets with Germany's Siemens AG last year. Alstom's acquisition of Bombardier Transportation would give it a lower market share in signalling than the Siemens option, which had been one of the main sticking points with regulators, Alstom Chief Executive Henri Poupart-Lafarge said on Monday. The companies said they had already informally briefed EU antitrust regulators on the deal. Story continues The transaction was complementary, with Bombardier more present in Northern Europe and Alstom in the south, Poupart-Lafarge said, adding it would not affect jobs. The combined groups would have some 10,000 staff, including temporary workers, in Germany, where Bombardier Transportation has its headquarters and seven factories. France would be the second-biggest market in Europe, with some 6,730 total employees. French trade unions were initially sanguine about the transaction, saying they were reassured by the fact Alstom was still in hiring mode at the moment and that order books were full. Regarding job cuts, "the project, such as it has been presented to us, does not seem to be leading down that road, but we remain very vigilant," Patrick de Cara, a representative for the CFDT union at Alstom, said. ($1 = 0.9231 euros) (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris and Allision Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Edmund Blair and Matthew Lewis) Distillers in Texas continue to experience rapid growth, as evidenced by a soon-to-be released study by the University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development highlighting their economic impact on the state. In 2008, only six distilleries reported production in Texas. By 2017, that number had risen to 127 establishments. As of October, 162 distillers operated here. From 2000 to 2017, the industry grew at a 37 percent annual rate, far above the 4.1 percent average for Texas businesses. Exports from Texas distilleries grew from $142.5 million in 2000 to $375.5 million in 2017, nearly a 15 percent year-over-year increase. Economic output, jobs supported and tax revenues generated will appear in the final report, with an expected release date later this month. Despite some success, on-premise sales restrictions still represent perhaps the greatest barrier to higher growth rates for the industry. Consumers who visit tasting rooms are limited to two bottles per person every 30 days. Individual distillers must cap on-site sales at 3,500 proof gallons per year a short fuse for many companies. Easing such sales restrictions would give an even greater boost to an increasingly vibrant industry. Although most craft distillers in Texas are still relatively small, one case study demonstrates the potential. Now a household name, Titos vodka would certainly constitute the poster child for this emerging industry. Beginning in Austin in 1995, Titos almost single-handedly charted the then-nascent craft spirits industry. Built largely on word-of-mouth marketing, Titos now ranks as the No. 1 distilled spirit in the United States, outselling Smirnoff, Jack Daniels, Fireball and Crown Royal. According to Forbes magazine, the company is worth an estimated $2.5 billion. A key element of the craft spirits industry is the impact on the agriculture sector. Raw materials often sourced from Texas farms include corn, rye, oats, sorghum, wheat, barley, millet, triticale, jalapeno peppers, prickly pear, grapefruit, oranges, apples, lemons, limes, grapes, black-eyed peas, peaches, pears, pecans, juniper berries and potatoes. The elaborate process of producing distilled spirits generally includes prepping, mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging and blending. A growing trend among craft distillers in Texas is the use of agave for alcohol production, traditionally labeled as tequila. The production of the trademarked tequila is restricted to Jalisco and a few municipalities in other states in Mexico. However, Texas distillers have begun to produce agave spirits labeled as such, as well as a category known as Sotol. These and other trends surrounding the distilled spirits industry in Texas represent ripe opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs. The accelerating growth not only opens new markets for farmers, but also presents opportunities for distillers in the form of increasing numbers of tasting rooms across the state. For distillers, such outlets provide an appealing attraction for visitors to enjoy authentic local tourism, while boosting the Texas economy. Tom Tunstall is director of research for the Institute for Economic Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said a generation of looters was supporting a former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, whom the EFCC seeks to extradite to Nigeria to face trial for corruption. Mr Magu spoke with journalists on Monday in Kaduna, according to a report by PUNCH newspaper. Mr Magu in January had alleged that some foreign countries were sabotaging the efforts of the commission in prosecuting Mrs Alison-Madueke by giving her protection. However, he said the EFCC is working with foreign security outfits to bring the former minister back to Nigeria. EFCCs Efforts Mr Magu said he had informed the UK government during a visit to the country that Nigeria needs the ex-ministers alleged loot to boost its economy. It was unfortunate she stole not less than $2.5 billion and has a generation of looters supporting her. I was in London this year, we did an investigation together with the UK team, and anywhere I go I always call for the extradition of corrupt Nigerians to return (stolen) money. This woman (Alison-Madueke) has stolen so much, not less than $2.5 billion, but unfortunately, she has a generation of looters who are supporting her. This is not good, Mr Magu said. We are in touch with the international community, she is under protective custody, otherwise, we would have arrested her and brought her to Nigeria. Mrs Alison-Madueke was arrested in the UK where she fled to in 2015 after the then president, Goodluck Jonathan, lost the presidential election. She is being investigated for money laundering in the UK, an investigation Mr Magu referenced as taking too long. In Nigeria, the EFCC has named her in various corruption trials while properties worth billions of naira have been seized from her. Experts Reactions A Lagos-based lawyer and civil rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, said the EFCC boss was playing to the gallery as he has refused to mention names of persons that are protecting the ex petroleum minister. I think Magu is just playing to the gallery, there was a time she (Mrs Alison-Madueke) wanted to return to Nigeria to face trial, the EFCC opposed that move. The question is, is the ECC saying that the U.K government is shielding the ex-minister from prosecution or who are the people? Magu should be specific if people are frustrating efforts to put her on trial. Let him come out clearly to mention who these people are not to make a grandstanding statement in the media. The EFCC needs to understand that when they make comments like this, a large section of the country does not have confidence in what they say. He said Nigeria and the UK government have a legal treaty that the EFCC boss could leverage on in extraditing Mrs Alison-Madueke for prosecution in Nigeria. There is a mutual legal treaty between Nigeria and the U.K government. Has the treaty been revoked? Has Nigeria invoked the provisions of that treaty to demand that Diezani be extradited to the country for trial, and has the attorney general of the federation activated that process? What is the position of the AGF on the matter? He should also tell us explicitly why the UK government is footdragging on extraditing the woman to the country. It is not a matter of saying there are people frustrating the process of bringing the woman back to the country, there is a procedure under the law, have both the EFCC and the AGF activated such procedures? When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson to the AGF, Umar Gwandu, on what the office of the AGF was doing in extraditing Mrs Alison-Madueke, he first directed the question back to the EFCC chief. When our reporter insisted on knowing what the office of the AGF had done in assisting the commission, he asked for time to review the questions because he was in a meeting. He was yet to respond at the time of this report. President Trump agreed Tuesday with Attorney General William Barrs claim that his incessant tweeting, particularly as it relates to ongoing DOJ cases, makes the job of the attorney general more difficult. I do make his job harder. I do agree with that. I think thats true, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Everybody has the right to speak their mind. I use social media. I guess I use it well because here I am, Trump said. I probably would not have gotten here without social media, because I certainly dont get fair press. The attorney general expressed frustration last week after Trump complained on Twitter that the prosecutors seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation for his longtime adviser Roger Stone was a horrible and very unfair situation. Afterwards, the Justice Department submitted a revised filing stating that the prosecutors recommended lengthy sentence could be considered excessive and unwarranted, sparking allegations that Trump was influencing Barr. I think its time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases, Barr said, but added that he is not being bullied or influenced by anyone regarding any DOJ cases. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the Houses investigation into the Trump campaigns connections to Russia. All four of the prosecutors who recommended Stones seven-to-nine-year sentence either resigned or quit the case after the DOJ weighed in. Despite Barrs criticism of the presidents public remarks, Trump insisted Tuesday that he still has total confidence in Barr, whom he added has incredible integrity. Trump added that he never spoke to Barr about the Stone case. Hes a very straight shooter. We have a great attorney general, and he is working very hard, Trump said. And hes working against a lot of people that dont want to see good things happen, in my opinion. Thats my opinion, not his opinion. You will have to ask what his opinion is. Story continues Social media for me has been very important, the president added. Im allowed to have a voice. More from National Review New Delhi : A Muslim couple, holding an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act placard, got married at the venue of the ongoing protest against the act in Chennai on Monday. The couple, Sumayya and Shahin Shah, who arrived at the protest venue at north Chennai, was welcomed by the people and their marriage was solemnised by an Imam. The priest introduced the couple to the gathering and community elders blessed them. After a brief ceremony during which the tricolour fluttered in the background, the couple was showered with gifts. Shah, along with Sumayya, held an anti-CAA placard and joined those raising slogans against the 'contentious' law. The placard read: "No CAA, NPR, NRC." The newly weds have been actively taking part in the protest and decided to tie the knot at the venue, with elders agreeing to it. The bride was clad in bright red saree with prominent zari works, while the bridegroom was dressed in maroon. The protest has been on at Old Washermanpet in north Chennai from February 14, and been dubbed as "Chennai's Shaheen Bagh" in the social media. A congested neighbourhood, Muslims form a sizeable chunk of the population in Chennai. Two streets serve as a protest venue and volunteers have put up a lengthy pandal to provide shade. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nguyen Kieu Giang (Bloomberg) Hanoi, Vietnam Tue, February 18, 2020 11:08 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20651c993 2 Business Boeing-777X,Vietnam,Bamboo-Airways Free Vietnams Bamboo Airways expects to buy 12 Boeing 777X jumbo jets in the second quarter, according to Chairman Trinh Van Quyet, in what would be a multi-billion-dollar boost for the US plane-maker after it failed to win a single order for any of its aircraft in January. A deal that size would be valued at almost $5 billion based on sticker prices, though discounts are common. Quyet, who was speaking by phone with Bloomberg News, didnt provide any financial details for the deal. Bamboo Airways, which only started operating a year ago, plans to expand its fleet to 30 aircraft this quarter and to 50 by the end of the year. The company currently operates Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus SE A321neos and A320s. Its first European route -- Hanoi to Prague -- is scheduled to start on March 29. Boeings long-range, widebody 777x is capable of flying more than 400 passengers in a two-class configuration and will be critical for the company as it continues to battle with the grounding of its best-selling 737 Max. After an initial flurry of orders for the 777x, the pipeline started to dry up. January was the second month of no deals for Boeing since the 737 Max flying ban began in March following two deadly crashes. Boeing forecasts that Southeast Asia will need 4,500 new aircraft worth $710 billion over the next two decades. At the Singapore Airshow last week, senior sales executive Ihssane Mounir said the company was in discussions with customers for widebody jets and that orders were expected soon. He didnt provide any names though. A Boeing spokesperson said Monday the company doesnt comment on discussions with customers. Bamboo Airways is owned by FLC Group JSC and plans to list on either the Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi stock exchanges this year. Vietnam is one of the the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, though theres concern about overcrowding. Conglomerate Vingroup JSC last month abandoned plans to launch Vinpearl Air, saying such a move could lead to oversupply. Singaporean beauty influencer Xiaxue (pictured) has sparked outrage after claiming morbidly obese people 'don't live past 40' A controversial beauty influencer has sparked an online war with a plus-size model after claiming 'morbidly' obese people are 'disgusting', 'irresponsible' and 'don't live past 40'. Singaporean blogger Xiaxue, whose real name is Wendy Cheng, said US size-24 model La'Shaunae Steward, 23, should not be regarded as 'attractive'. The 35-year-old YouTube star said morbidly obese people should 'never be seen as attractive because death and disease isn't attractive full stop'. 'It's one thing to be chubby or fat but this is way past that. Most morbidly obese people don't live past 40,' Xiaxue said on her Instagram stories on February 14. 'They gorge themselves with 30 burgers a day and when they inevitably get a clogged artery or diabetes, taxpayers have to help foot their medical bills when their health conditions are entirely caused by their irresponsible behaviour. 'The morbidly obese (like La'Shaunae Steward) should never been seen as attractive... Irresponsibility isn't attractive. Even when they die [they] need three people to carry the corpse please.' The YouTube star has been accused of 'fatphobia' on social media after saying US size-24 model La'Shaunae Steward, 23, (pictured) should not be regarded as 'attractive' Her strongly-worded views came after Instagram posted a photo of La'Shaunae on its wall on January 14 to promote body positivity Her strongly-worded views came after Instagram posted a photo of La'Shaunae on its wall on January 14 to promote body positivity. 'F***ing stop glorifying this s*** @Instagram. Shame on you,' Xiaxue said. But Xiaxue's posts were taken down by Instagram after other users reported her for harassment. La'Shaunae hit back at Xiaxue, saying: 'Why are thin people this obsessed with letting me know indirectly they think I'm unattractive to them therefore I'm not worthy of love, a career, being visible, and literally telling me the age I'm going to die? Ok miss cleo. 'I don't owe weight loss to anyone. I don't owe anyone an explanation for why I'm fat or don't exercise. I don't have to prove my health.' Plus-sized model La'Shaunae Steward, 23, hit back at Xiaxue after she was body shamed In response, Xiaxue shared a picture of herself after she Photoshopped her face, body, arms and legs to appear 'bigger' - and she did not back down on her views Xiaxue was blasted on social media for 'spouting hate against plus size women' - as many people called for her account to be suspended In response, Xiaxue shared a picture of herself after she Photoshopped her face, body, arms and legs to appear 'bigger' - and she did not back down on her views. 'Don't gimme the whole "you are not beautiful because you ugly on the inside" bulls***. There is already a word for beautiful on the inside and it's called 'kind'. Beautiful refers to the outside unless otherwise specified,' Xiaxue said in her caption on February 17. 'PPS: Never did fat shame. All my comments were reserved for the morbidly obese only, and yes people with BMI 50 and above shouldn't be romanticised or glorified in the media. 'I maintain my stance. Morbid obesity isn't attractive because it leads to death and disease. This isn't personal against anyone so it isn't fat-shaming. And I did not ever talk about chubby or regular fat people. Stay triggered snowflakes.' Some Twitter users accused her of 'spouting hate against plus size women' - and called for her Instagram account to be suspended. Many people urged others to 'report' Xiaxue on Instagram so she could be suspended after spreading 'hateful' messages towards 'women who are learning to love their own bodies' Many slammed the beauty influencer after her controversial views, with one woman asking brands 'is this really who you're asking to endorse your products? Shame' One man called on Instagram to suspend her page for 'spouting hate against plus-size women' Many people were outraged after seeing her scathing attack against morbidly obese people It isn't the first time Xiaxue sparked controversy on social media. In September last year, she called Greta Thunberg's UN speech 'so damn cringe' 'Let's all go report this evil fatphobic person and protect/support Lashaunae,' one woman tweeted. Another said: 'Her whole demeanor is repulsing honestly and it's even sadder that shes an influencer and spewing this garbage. Her words have impact and I'm sure she's fully aware of that and doesnt care because she's too dense to see how wrong she is.' And one man said: 'Dear @Instagram, a user by the name of @Xiaxue is deliberately spouting hate against plus size women, encouraging bully and discrimination. Many have reported but her account is yet to be suspended. Do your freaking job.' It isn't the first time Xiaxue sparked controversy. In September last year, she called Greta Thunberg's UN speech 'so damn cringe' and branded climate activists 'starry-eyed idiots'. In a series of Instagram stories, Xiaxue said Greta was '(one of) these young kids who are so freaking passionate over issues that they view so one-dimensionally. 'And who cares what children think seriously. When I was a kid I was an idiot and all these kids are starry-eyed idiots who say simplistic things like "why can't we just not have wars". Is climate change gonna stop coz (sic) of her crying? Let me know.' Victor Davis Hanson is the perfect person to refute the arrogance of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who denigrated the "gray matter" needed by farmers in now infamous remarks to a group of elitists at Aspen. Hanson is not only a brilliant historian of ancient Greece and a political commentator with few if any peers, but also a fifth-generation farmer. He understands the skills and brainpower needed to be an academic or other elite member of the analytical class, and he understands the skill sets and brainpower needed to be a successful farmer today. In his mind, there is no contest. This is absolutely must-see TV. I almost stood up and cheered when I saw it. When done with Hanson's remarks, stay tuned for Mark Steyn, who follows immediately, also slamming Boomberg's arrogance. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab. A man whose rape trial sparked a heated dispute between an Orleans Parish judge and the Orleans Public Defenders was sentenced to life imprisonment as a habitual offender on Tuesday. Regan Preatto continued to protest that he was innocent of the crimes of third-degree rape and aggravated crime against nature. But as Criminal District Court Judge Paul Bonin handed down the sentence, he said he was certain that Preatto sexually assaulted a teenage relative. You have a long history of violating the law, Bonin said. I have no concerns in your case about sending an innocent man to jail. I am fully satisfied that you are guilty of both crimes for which you were convicted. Preatto, 41, was convicted in September after an unusual trial at which his accuser took the stand to say she had fabricated her claim that she was raped in February 2017, when she was 17. Prosecutors said the jury should believe DNA evidence and the womans initial statement, in which she said Preatto assaulted her in an Algiers home soon after his release from a Texas prison where he was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery. The Orleans Parish jury voted 10-2 to convict Preatto on both counts. The accuser had gone missing for the two years before the trial, according to prosecutors. They alleged that Preatto and his family had conspired to make the woman retract her claim and prevent her from testifying. Preattos defense team managed to find the woman just as the trial started. After Preattos conviction, Bonin began probing how the public defenders located her. The public defenders invoked their right against self-incrimination and refused to answer most of the judges questions. The offices chief later said his co-workers had done nothing wrong in finding a crucial witness and accused the judge of manufacturing a controversy. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up With one member of the trial defense team in the courtroom, Bonin made no mention of that dispute on Tuesday. However, he said he was certain that Preattos family had conspired to derail the case. The law provides so many rights to a person charged with a crime, so many rights to keep innocent people from being convicted, and of course one of the most important ones is the right to confront the witness against you, Bonin said. You had no right to encourage or procure the absence of a witness against you. +2 Judge delays sentencing in New Orleans rape case where public defenders invoked right to remain silent A state judge in New Orleans on Monday inched away from a courtroom showdown with the Orleans Public Defenders over their handling of a hotly Bonin handed Preatto a 25-year sentence on the two charges against him. However, prosecutors invoked Preattos prior convictions to increase the mandatory minimum sentence to life imprisonment under Louisianas habitual-offender statute. Greg Thompson, who was appointed to represent Preatto after the public defenders withdrew from the case, argued that the state had failed to prove Preatto knew what he was doing when he pleaded guilty to the Texas robbery that made him eligible for the habitual-offender statute. But Bonin said he was satisfied that Preatto voluntarily waived his rights in Texas. Preatto raised his own objection when he stood for sentencing in shackles and an orange jail jumpsuit. Your honor, with due respect, today I stand here an innocent man, he said. She can stand here and tell you today I didnt do it, but I was convicted of it. Preattos accuser was present in the courtroom when he was sentenced. Bonin repeatedly subpoenaed her for post-conviction hearings in the case, but on Tuesday he released her from her obligation after attorneys on both sides said they wouldnt seek her testimony. On Tuesday, February 11, the Office of Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb announced a grand jury indictment of actor Jussie Smollett on six counts of disorderly conduct stemming from allegations he lied to the police about being the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime in downtown Chicago. The vindictive reopening of the case against Smollett stems both from anger at the lack of prosecution of Smollett from right-wing, law-and-order elements and from the need to make an example of Smollett in order to protect the legitimacy of #MeToo-style allegations in other cases, a key concern of the Democratic Party. The charges come nearly a year after the office of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx announced it would be dropping a 16-count indictment against Smollett after agreeing to a deal Foxx described as an alternative prosecution for someone with no criminal history. Under the apparently unwritten deal, reached by Foxxs deputy, First Assistant States Attorney Joseph Magats, Smollett would forfeit the $10,000 bond paid after his arrest and perform some 15 hours of community service in exchange for dropping all charges and sealing the entire court record of the case. In January of last year, Smollett, an openly gay African-American actor, reported to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) that two apparent Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats physically attacked and harassed him. Smolletts statement to the police claimed the two men slung insulting racist and homophobic slurs, placed a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him. The media as well as many politicians and public figures accepted, unquestioningly, Smolletts allegations. However, Smolletts account quickly unraveled, and by February 13, 2019, Smollett found himself under investigation for making false reports to the police. The medias initial sympathy and support for the actor quickly turned into a spiteful campaign on the part of CPD and then-mayor Rahm Emanuel to punish Smollett and destroy him in the court of public opinion. His twin crimes were undermining the basic premise of the #MeToo campaignthat all accusations by those claiming to be victims must be believed regardless of evidenceand legitimizing Trumps claims that he and his supporters are unfairly accused of racism. Foxx, who had been approached by Tina Tchen, a lawyer and former assistant to President Barack Obama who has played a central role in the #MeToo witch-hunts, and by relatives of Smollett put in contact with her through Tchen, said she would recuse herself from the investigation on February 19. A day later Smollett was indicted by a grand jury with a class 4 felony of filing a false police report, carrying potential penalties of 1 to 3 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. On March 8, the charges against Smollett were expanded to 16 counts, brought under Foxxs deputy, Magats. Then, just several weeks later, Magats announced charges against Smollett were being dropped. Smollett did suffer more than damage to his reputation: his acting career virtually came to an end. On April 30, the producers of the television show Empire announced Smolletts character was being written out of the show. Charges against Smollett were subsequently revived as the result of efforts by retired Illinois appellate judge Sheila OBrien, who petitioned a Cook County judge to appoint a special prosecutor to look into Foxxs handling of the investigation and prosecution, including her recusal, which was ultimately judged to be illegitimate since Magats works for her. OBrien, who is close to political figures in both the Democratic and Republican parties, including indicted alderman Ed Burke, said she was visiting a friend in the hospital, a former judge, a former states attorney who is married to a states attorney, a woman who was so sickyet so upset about what happened because she took great pride in being a prosecutor, and said, Ive got to do something. The reopening of charges against Smollett is being seized upon by Foxxs opponents in the race for Cook County States Attorney. Foxx has admitted, Truth is I did not handle it well, I own that, Im making changes in my office to make sure we do better. With only 35 days left before the election, the Smollett case has become a central focus in media outlets, with her Democratic Party primary opponents calling on Foxx to resign. Former alderman Bob Fioretti said, In any other county in the state of Illinois, she would have been censured, suspended or disbarred. So there is no doubt she must resign now. Another opponent, Bill Conway, a former US Navy intelligence officer whose father is a billionaire and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, said, We here in Cook County are just tired of politically connected people. People getting better deals. Foxx, a former chief of staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, ran against previous incumbent Anita Alvarez on a platform of reforming the criminal justice system, dealing with questions of police misconduct and reducing cases of overzealous prosecutions. Foxx defeated Alvarez in the Democratic Party primary largely due to Alvarezs close involvement in the coverup of the police murder of Laquan McDonald. She has been endorsed in the upcoming March primary election by the Cook County Democratic Party, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Preckwinkle, and US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. While Webb has announced charges against Smollett, he said in regard to the actions taken by Foxx and her office that he has not reached any conclusions about whether prosecutors engaged in wrongdoing and that he was continuing to investigate. The reopening of the case against Smollett is politically motivated. His selfish opportunism has provided fodder for the extreme right, including Trump, who say the case proves that right-wing attacks and fascist provocations are nothing but scams perpetrated by the left. In the ongoing struggle to reform Alabamas jails and prisons, a handful of state legislators are taking a major step backward. On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on SB 60. The bill, introduced by Senator Cam Ward, would prohibit judges from issuing bail for a range of non-capital offenses. Because the Alabama Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all but capital offenses, the legislation would ultimately take the form of a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the people of Alabama in November. Wards bill is one of two introduced in the state legislature this session, the other originating with Representative Chip Brown in the House. Browns proposal is similar to SB 60, although it does not require a categorical denial of bail for certain offenses. Instead, it expands the categories of people to whom judges can deny bail to include people accused of offenses carrying a punishment of life imprisonment. Browns bill also eliminates the right to bail for any accused person if the court finds that there are no conditions that can ensure the persons appearance, ensure the integrity of the judicial process, or address a risk of harm to the person accused or the community at large. In other words, both bills strip Alabamians of rights in the service of expanding the carceral state. Sound familiar? The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is a cornerstone principle of American government. Pretrial detention obliterates this principle, however, by stripping the accused of her freedom before being convicted and making it exceedingly difficult to formulate a defense. Sitting in jail not only costs people their jobs, homes, and families, its also fundamentally traumatic. Expanding this abuse of state power is both unethical and inconsistent with constitutional values. After all, the accused are just that: accusednot convicted. In the past few years, Alabama has taken difficult but necessary steps to reduce its prison population. Even as a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice over the states prison system potentially looms, Alabama has unquestionably made progress reducing its prison overcrowding problems through sentencing reform and other measures. But Alabamas jails are another question. Jails house people who have been arrested but not yet convicted of a crime, and people can stay in jail anywhere from a few hours to several years. Jails often get overlooked in debates over criminal legal reform because they rarely house as many people as prisons at any one time; yet, in a given year, far more people interact with jails than they do prisons. While Alabamas prison population has decreased significantly, its jail population has moved comparatively little. In many rural counties, in fact, jail populations have skyrocketed. And since jail largely consists of pretrial detaineespeople simply awaiting their day in courtthis discrepancy is even more concerning. The two bills introduced in the legislature will only aggravate this problem at the precise moment when Alabama was starting to make progress taking on mass incarceration. Senator Wards billSB 60is most likely unconstitutional on due process grounds, having been modeled on an Arizona bill that was struck down by that states Supreme Court. Representative Browns bill, however, has a better chance of surviving constitutional muster, since it does not mandate a categorical denial of bail for certain offenses, which makes it all the more dangerous. Relying on pretrial detention will not make Alabama safer. Instead, it will divert more of the states strained budget toward locking up more of its people. This is the wrong direction. Alabamas legislators must recognizeas they have begun to recognizethat increasing public safety means investing in our communities, not incarcerating them. We cannot jail our way to a better Alabama. Chisolm Allenlundy Juris Doctor Candidate | Class of 2020 Acquisitions Editor, Alabama Law Review, Vol. 71 The University of Alabama. Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday held a Party Legislative Meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Details on the meeting are awaited. Siddaramaiah had also chaired a meeting of senior Congress leaders including HK Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, DK Shivakumar, G Parameshwara, KR Ramesh Kumar and others on Sunday, a day before the commencement of the Assembly session. On Monday, Governor Vajubhai Vala addressed the joint sitting of both the Houses of State Legislature -- the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council -- on the start of the Assembly session. The session will conclude on February 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A surging opioid crisis gripping Sydney has prompted fresh calls for a safe injection room in the city's west. Research conducted by UNSW Criminology Lecturer Dr George Dertadian found Sydney has a high rate of overdoses. The researchers analysed the distribution of overdose deaths across Sydney between 2006 to 2015 using data from the National Coronial Information System. They discovered there were 373 deaths recorded in Liverpool, Bankstown, Fairfield and Campbelltown, while Blacktown and Parramatta counted 275 each. Calls for a safe injection room in Sydney's west have been ignited after a new study revealed the area has the second highest number of overdose death's outside the city's centre (stock image) Use of opioids, a broad group of pain-relieving drugs that work by blocking messages from the body to the brain, almost doubled within the ten-year period. They also accounted for the highest identifiable drug type in fatal cases of drug toxicity. Although death rates are highest in Sydney City, Dr Dertadian said it was likely drug use was equal or higher in the west but users had less access to facilities- placing them at an increased risk of danger. Aside from reducing deaths and overdoses, he said safe injecting rooms would put people into contact with health officers that could refer them to appropriate social services. 'Several areas of South Western Sydney have visible drug markets and include areas of concentrated disadvantage,' Dr Dertadian told the Daily Telegraph. 'The best available evidence suggest that these facilities are most successful within highly marginalised populations of people who inject drugs.' The United Church has successfully run a Medically Supervised Injection Centre (MSIC) in Kings Cross (pictured) for almost 20 years Opioids depress the central nervous system, slowing down a user's breathing and heart rate which, if slowed to a certain point, can result in death. While heroin overdose deaths in Australia between 2001 and 2012 have plateaued, Dr Dertadian said pharmaceutical opioids related deaths betweeen those years were 2.5 times the amount of those related to heroin. Most deaths in the study were accidental and occurred at home. Pushes for safe injection rooms in Western Sydney have been repeatedly knocked back. The NSW government shut down the notion in 2014, while renewed calls in 2015 and 2016 were opposed by businesses and residents. Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice Stephen Tomsen, who co-wrote the research, said opponents feared an increase of crime and danger to public safety if safe injection rooms were erected. 'But these claims are not supported by decades of research at injecting facilities in Sydney, and other parts of the world such as Canada, France, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland,' he said. A medically supervised in Kings Cross has successfully reduced overdose fatalities and provided assistance to more than 15,000 people over 20 years without increasing local crime. However, a second centre that opened in North Richmond, in June for an 18-month trial, has been plagued by controversy. The North Richmond Community Health Centre (pictured) made headlines towards the end of last year when two staff members and six regular users at the facility were arrested over an alleged heroin trafficking ring Last October, staff members were charged over their role in an alleged heroin trafficking ring. It was not operated on the site. The following month, a woman high on methamphetamine was filmed stumbling through a family reserve after leaving the clinic. A woman who lives in the neighbourhood previously told Daily Mail Australia the centre had brought an increasing number of drug addicts to the area to get high. She claimed she had been spat on, witnessed drug addicts having sex in the park, and that a man urinated in the street, exposing his genitals to her to her young son. In Australia, there is currently a record number of drug-induced deaths each year, with more than 1800 people dying of a drug overdose in 2016. The previous record of 1740 deaths was set in 1999 during the peak of a heroin epidemic sweeping the nation. A California woman evacuated from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan claims her husband has tested positive for coronavirus since returning to the US. Jeri Seratti-Goldman and her husband, Carl Goldman, of Santa Clarita, were transferred to Nebraska with other 'high-risk' passengers after he reportedly developed a high fever while on an evacuation flight to the States. Carl underwent a swab test after arrival and was diagnosed with coronavirus, Jeri claims. Earlier this week, health officials reported that a passenger had been transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, one of just three such facilities in the nation, deemed qualified to handle patients of the Ebola outbreak. Little was revealed about the patient in the biocontainment unit, except that he or she had developed fever and lightheadedness, and has an underlying condition Jeri says that the patient in a 'special care unit' is her husband, who was placed there because he was unable to walk when the plane landed and suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder. Jeri Seratti-Goldman says her husband, Carl Goldman, has tested positive for coronavirus and has been placed in a special biocontainment unit in Nebraska. Pictured: Carl arrives in Nebraska and is placed on a stretcher to be taken to Nebraska Medicine The couple was vacationing on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was placed under quarantine on February 5. Pictured: Carl (far left) and Jeri (far right) with their friends during one of the cruise's stops The Goldmans were on the cruise through Southeast Asia with friends of theirs - another couple - and the trip was meant to be both a 60th birthday present and a Christmas gift for Jeri. But the dream vacation turned into a nightmare when the captain announced that a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong came down with the coronavirus four days after leaving. The ship sailed to a port in Yokohama, Japan, on February 5 where it dropped anchor and the passengers were all placed under quarantine for 14 days. Carl and Jeri, owners of KHTS radio station, shared their ordeal on a blog on the station's website and in a series of Facebook Live videos. The two were trapped in their hotel room for 12 days and were not allowed to even enter the hallway, which drove them crazy. 'I think the reason I haven't killed my husband yet is because our friends are here,' Jeri said jokingly during one video. She says she and her husband were both tested on the cruise ship before being evacuated but never heard back about their results. '[We assumed] no news was good news,' Jeri said in another Facebook video. Twelve days in, the couple learned they would be on one of two flights back to the US for an additional 14-day quarantine. Then, on the flight to Travis Air Force Base in California, Jeri says her husband developed a fever. He was placed into the isolated section of the plane along with the 14 other Americans that had been diagnosed with the illness. 'Mid-flight, Carl got a fever, a very high fever, and they isolated him immediately,' she told KETV. Because of this, the couple was deemed 'high-risk' and they, along with 11 others from the other two evacuation flights, were flown to Eppley Airfield in Nebraska. The couple, from Santa Clarita, California, were one of 300-some Americans evacuated to the US on Sunday. Pictured: Carl (far left) and Jeri (center, in black) with their friends and crew members on the cruise ship On their flight from Japan to California, Carl developed a fever and was placed in isolation, and the couple was then transferred to Nebraska. Pictured: Jeri (left) and Carl By the time they arrived, Jeri said her husband wasn't able to walk, which she says officials believe is due to his rare autoimmune disorder. Carl has Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. This causes parts of the body - or in some cases the whole body - to be paralyzed. 'Because of his Guillain-Barre...he was barely able to walk,' she said. 'They think it's the Guillain-Barre that's making the symptoms worse. So we're all being tested.' After reportedly being diagnosed with the deadly virus, he was taken to a special biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medical Center. 'I think I'm just a little out of sorts being away from my husband, and then also not having any belongings,' Jeri told KETV. 'I'd love to just take a shower, it's been two days, or just wash my hair but I don't have any basic necessities to do that.' Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says a coronavirus quarantine aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan 'failed'. Pictured: A patient in a special Nebraska Biocontainment Unit after being evacuated to the US So far, 542 people on the ship have tested positive for coronavirus, 14 of whom were Americans. Pictured: Buses carrying US passengers who were aboard the quarantined cruise leaves Yokohama port Despite the US earlier saying no infected passenger would be allowed to leave, those who tested positive were still allowed to board the planes because they did not have symptoms. Pictured: One of the two planes landing at Travis Air Force Base in California, which the Goldmans were on The State Department confirmed that, after the evacuees had been placed on buses to the airport, 14 people who were not showing symptoms had tested positive for the virus - and were then placed into isolation chambers (pictured) She says her test results have come back negative but she is still in another week of the hospital where she will be isolated for close to two weeks. Jeri says she is not allowed to see Carl so they communicate with each other over social media. 'He's been sleeping a lot, but when he wakes up, he Facebooks me, so that's a nice way to communicate,' she said. More than 73,000 people have now been infected with the virus worldwide, while more than 1,800 people have died from it. In the US, 15 cases have been confirmed 15 cases within the country and, separately, one American citizen died in China. STRATFORD - A Stratford High School student has been charged with assaulting the schools resource officer. Stefan Thomas, 18, of Woodend Road, was charged with assault on a peace officer, interfering with an officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and threatening. He was released on a promise to appear in court pending arraignment in Superior Court on March 12. On Feb. 13, police said Thomas was acting up in class and was sent to the principals office. He was suspended and ordered to leave school. However, police said, Thomas refused to leave the school building. Thomas then got into a scuffle with the resource officer who was trying to escort him out of the building. During the scuffle, police said Thomas punched the resource officer in the head and face. Additional officers were called and ended up carrying Thomas to a police car. Police said Thomas spit at officers in the patrol car and threatened to kill the resource officer while in the Police Departments lockup. The resource officer was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where he was treated for bruises and released. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Victorin was also present at the meeting. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan expressed satisfaction over the development process of the Armenia-EU relations, noting that bilateral partnership has intensive dynamics. The PM noted that at the moment Armenia is in the stage of holding a referendum on Constitutional changes and spoke about its goals. During the meeting the interlocutors discussed issues related to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Pashinyan noted that Armenia is committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in line with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs format. He highlighted the involvement of Artsakhs civil society in the confidence building measures, which will foster the establishment of constructive atmosphere and the negotiation process. The Armenian PM and the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia also exchanged views on other issues of regional importance. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Sixteen civil society figures returned to court in Turkey on Tuesday as a verdict nears in a controversial case that has been widely criticised as a crackdown on opposition voices. Among those on trial is jailed Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala, a 63-year-old who is accused of having planned and financed anti-government protests in 2013, an accusation he denies. Sezgin Tanrikulu, an opposition lawmaker, said he believes the court will deliver a verdict soon in order to not fulfill a European Court of Human Rights ruling from December which ordered Kavala's immediate release because of what they called a violation to the right of liberty due to a lack of reasonable suspicion. "They are trying to reach a verdict without hearing the defence and without gathering evidence," he said. The defendants are on trial for attempting or aiding in an attempt to overthrow the government with the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which began as a demonstration to protect the small park in central Istanbul from being redeveloped as an Ottoman-style shopping mall, and grew into into a wider protest movement across Turkey, challenging then-Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The prosecutor is seeking a sentence of life in solitary confinement without parole for Kavala, as well as two others who are also on trial. The defendants reject the accusation that they tried to overthrow the government and say the protests were an exercise of democratic rights. Kavala is the only jailed defendant, arrested four years after the protests, and has been in pretrial detention for 840 days. The prosecution argues the group acted under instructions from Kavala to organize and plan the protests, and that events escalated through social media. In addition, Turkey's President Erdogan has said Kavala funded "terrorists" in the protests. An estimated 3.6 million people joined the Gezi Park protests, according to government estimates, and thousands were injured after police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse mostly peaceful protesters. The Turkish Bar Association puts the number of killed in the unrest at 15, including a police officer, but the prosecutor's indictment against the defendants says only five were killed. On The Bachelor Monday, Peter Weber joined the final four women in their hometowns to meet their families. Well, almost all four. During Peter's final stop in Victoria Fuller's hometown of Virginia Beach, things didn't quite go as planned. And it all started with an old friend. Following his day date with Victoria, Peter ran into a woman, named Marissa, whom he dated back in 2012. "Can I say some advice? Just be careful," Marissa warned Peter. "That's all I'm going to say. I'm from here and I just know, like, what a good guy you are, and I would hate for, like, any of who you are to be affected by someone else." Marissa continued, "I know that you're a great guy, and I don't think that you deserve what you're on a date with right now." Turns out, Marissa happens to also know Victoria and, according to Marissa, they are no longer friends. "Again, I know who you are is a good person, and I don't think that you deserve that. There's been many relationships broken up because of her and I don't think it's a good relationship for you to be in." So far this season, Victoria's past just keeps coming back to haunt her, from unexpectedly going on a date with Peter to her ex-boyfriend's concert, to her White Lives Matter modeling campaign. Peter, who was visibly distraught, later confronted Victoria outside her parents' house as she found herself in yet another uncomfortable situation. After explaining his encounter to Victoria, she began to get a little defensive and, ultimately, decided she had had enough as she told the camera crew, "I can't do this." Victoria then stormed off and walked away crying as she stated, "I'm so done. I hate this. Every time. It's like I can't catch a break." Eventually, Victoria returned to Peter, where they continued to fight over the fact that whenever they face conflict, she gives up and runs away. Ultimately, Peter did not end up meeting Victoria's family. However, at the rose ceremony, despite all of the drama with Victoria, he still gave her a rose. Story continues Peter gave his final three roses to Madison, Hannah Ann and Victoria, sending Kelsey home, which was a total surprise to both Kelsey and Bachelor Nation. In fact, viewers were dumbfounded as they took to social media sharing their disappointment with Peter. he really kept Victoria over Kelsey... nobody talk to me rn #TheBachelor #TheBachelorABC pic.twitter.com/WjqRbVTUPs peters golf cart (@petersgolfcart) February 18, 2020 I feel like this is all of us watching Victoria get this rose. I MEAN #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/RjKrFamWNv April Richardson (@ApreelMayJune) February 18, 2020 THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE #thebachelor pic.twitter.com/LYP3ILRkEl bachelor (@bachelortweettz) February 18, 2020 After all that- Victoria F STILL gets a rose????? Peter my dude wyd #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/9fAc9YATbf Jenn (@jennnboc) February 18, 2020 All things considered, and I'm talking about all of human history, picking Victoria F there is the worst decision ever. Holy moly. Iowa won't forget. #TheBachelor Luggage Guy Trent (@BarstoolTrent) February 18, 2020 even though i didnt meet victorias family, i still see potential with her #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/t229uflgEV Andy Potter (@stalefarts) February 18, 2020 Hello police Victoria just got a rose and peter didnt meet the family in the hometowns episode. #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/kRnyQfxE27 Joshua Perez (@FirstSnap) February 18, 2020 Me when Peter still gave Victoria a rose after all of the crap shes put him through this season #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/cIcde8I9I5 kim (@kimrosa_) February 18, 2020 Next week we're moving on to fantasy suites, where fan-favorite Madison finally reveals to Peter that she's saving herself for marriage and Victoria continues to turn Bachelor Nation against her. The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch former Bachelor contestant Becca Tilley tasting and rating chicken strips while talking about Peter Webers season: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. By PTI NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Nagpur police commissioner on a petition filed by a Bhim Army functionary over permission to hold a rally in Reshimbaug area here on February 22. The ground in which the Bhim Army wants to hold a rally, to be addressed by its chief Chandrashekhar Azad, is close to the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Kotwali police denied permission citing law and order. The petition, filed by Bhim Army Nagpur district chief Praful Shende through his counsel Firdos Mirza, said the outfit had got permission from the CP and Berar Education Society which controls the Nagpur Improvement Trusted-owned ground. However, the petition stated, the Kotwali police station denied permission citing law and order. It sought directives from HC to the state government and police commissioner to grant permission to Bhim Army to hold the rally. Justices Sunil Shukre and Madhav Jamdar issued notices to the respondents to reply before the next date of hearing scheduled for February 20. On the other hand, police denied permission to Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad to hold a rally at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on February 21, an official said on Tuesday. The police have cited law and order to deny permission to Azad who was expected to lead the rally and speak on the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Population Register and National Register of Citizens as well as other issues. His outfit had held a march in Delhi on Sunday to protest against a February 7 Supreme Court ruling which said state governments were not bound to provide reservation in promotions in public services. Meyer Burger Technology AG (VTX:MBTN), which is in the semiconductor business, and is based in Switzerland, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SWX over the last few months, increasing to CHF0.47 at one point, and dropping to the lows of CHF0.36. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Meyer Burger Technology's current trading price of CHF0.37 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Meyer Burger Technologys outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Meyer Burger Technology Is Meyer Burger Technology still cheap? Good news, investors! Meyer Burger Technology is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is CHF0.50, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Meyer Burger Technologys beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What kind of growth will Meyer Burger Technology generate? SWX:MBTN Past and Future Earnings, February 18th 2020 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by 93% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Meyer Burger Technology. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Since MBTN is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on MBTN for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its prosperous future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy MBTN. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Meyer Burger Technology. You can find everything you need to know about Meyer Burger Technology in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Meyer Burger Technology, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. More than 99 per cent of the state remains in drought, despite record rainfall in Sydney which will see the desalination plant switched off next month and water restrictions wound back. As Sydney recovers from the worst drought on record, the situation is still "diabolical" for most of the state, in what is likely to create tensions in the Coalition ahead of the May budget. Data presented to the government this week shows 99.4 per cent of NSW is still in drought, with about one-third in the highest category - "intense drought". More than 99 per cent of NSW remains in drought despite the heavy rainfall in Sydney. Credit:Nick Moir At the same time, water restrictions in Sydney will be eased back to level 1 from March 1 and the desalination plant is expected to be switched off on March 27. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 18, 2020 | 11:24 AM | MAYFIELD A Hickman County woman charged with murder and other charges stemming from a fatal 2017 crash is back in jail. The Graves County Circuit Court Clerk's Office says Christina Weeks violated the condition of her bond by failing a recent drug test. The Commonwealth's motion to revoke Weeks' bond was granted during a court appearance on Monday. Weeks was lodged in the Graves County Jail and her bond is now set at $20,000 cash. Weeks, of Clinton, was involved in a two-vehicle collision on Oct. 18, 2017 on KY 58 West in Graves County. The driver of the other vehicle, Marilyn Armbruster of Clinton, was killed in the crash. A witness told Graves County sheriff's deputies that just before impact Weeks' vehicle crossed the center line. Deputies say Weeks was also seen on her cell phone just before impact. Weeks is facing murder, wanton endangerment, possession of controlled substance and DUI charges. A jury trial is set for July 21. British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams' e-Business visa was revoked as she was involved in anti-India activities and the cancellation was conveyed to her on 14 February, government sources told PTI on Tuesday. British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams' e-Business visa was revoked as she was involved in anti-India activities and the cancellation was conveyed to her on 14 February, government sources told PTI on Tuesday. Abrahams hit back at the government, questioning the Centre if the decision was taken due to her criticism of the Centre's policy on Jammu and Kashmir, in a series of tweets on Twitter. Very disappointing that a friend can't respecfully criticise another friend. Isn't this the sign of a healthy democracy? https://t.co/s40JRelOgM Debbie Abrahams (@Debbie_abrahams) February 18, 2020 Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday. Government officials had said on Monday also that she was informed in advance that her e-visa had been cancelled. She also attached photos of the e-visa online, claiming that she had a valid visa. This is the e-visa I was issued with by the Indian authorities. pic.twitter.com/QLwJhwFz3d Debbie Abrahams (@Debbie_abrahams) February 18, 2020 She also clarified that she was 'pro-human rights and social justice'. "I will always speak up for people who are not afforded these rights including Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control," she said. But the Ministry of Home Affairs has said the Abrahams had been informed of the revocation earlier. Government sources told India Today, "The e-visa of the British MP was cancelled. She was informed of the revocation on Friday. The status of her e-visa communicated to her clearly says 'rejected'. She can apply at the nearest Indian mission or apply online for a regular visa," Asserting that the grant, rejection or revocation of a visa or electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of a country, the sources said Abrahams was issued an e-Business visa on 7 October last year which was valid till 5 October, 2020, for attending business meetings. "Her e-Business visa was revoked on 14 February on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest. The rejection of the e-Business visa was intimated to her on 14 February," a source said. With inputs from PTI The worst day in government is still better than the best day in opposition. Those words were texted to then-Green Party leader and environment minister John Gormley by Mary Harney in October 2008, just as the coalition with Fianna Fail began to spin out of control. Ms Harney was health minister and Tanaiste, and that citizen grouping most feared by politicians - the pensioners - was literally on the streets. At the time, as economic storm clouds gathered and darkened, the Greens were working hard on a strategy to minimise the government's embarrassment for an about-face on changes to medical card entitlements for people over 70. John Gormley gained internal kudos and hung in for more than two more years. After she had retired from public life, Mary Harney, in a rare interview, admitted the aphorism was not original to her. We know not where she got it - but it comes to mind as we watch Leo Varadkar lead his battered Fine Gael rearguard into opposition. Giving the lie to Ms Harney's maxim, the Taoiseach has promised to do opposition with relish. But note also his toe in the door, just in case things change. "We will not let down the State and Republic we founded. We are willing to consider participating in a government - but only as a last resort and only if we are wanted and needed," said the man who becomes national political watchman on Thursday. So, Fine Gael and opposition is still only a maybe. Like good Catholic candidates for a bishopric, Leo & Co may be available - in extremis of national interest - to come and rescue us from anarchy. And while that might not look very elegant right now, it is the position in which we all find ourselves. The February 8 General Election was as near as dammit to a dead heat. In the tortured business of government-making, we are in the equivalent of act one of a play which has many acts to go. Those of us who have a weakness for a bit of political drama know that the strongest convictions can often be lightly held - and that might eventually include Fine Gael heading out to shrive itself in opposition. In a sense all that has happened here is that the idea of a so-called Fianna Fail-Fine Gael-Green Party "grand coalition" has moved from the number one favoured coalition-making slot. We may now put it in at number four in a list of five. But as our political drama continues, these coalition rankings, and indeed their constituent parts, will very probably change. Time is a precious tool in every political deal-maker's toolkit. And this process will take time. The old fox and inveterate deal-maker Bertie Ahern has cited Easter, which this year falls on April 12. It's hard to see it happening much sooner, frustrating as ever that prospect really is. What is needed now is the most comprehensive range of talks in recent Irish political history. The various acts in the government-making play must follow through. TORONTO - Urgent action is needed to restore rail service currently being disrupted by anti-pipeline blockades, a group of business leaders said Tuesday. Dennis Darby, CEO of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, said at a press conference in Toronto that the federal government needs to act as some $425 million worth of goods are being held up for every day the blockade goes on. This issue is beyond serious, its critical...manufacturers dont have much time before the impact becomes dire, he said. His comments come as a rail blockade continues east of Toronto to show solidarity with hereditary Wetsuweten chiefs opposed to construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline through their traditional territories in northwestern B.C. Darby said that while businesses respect the right to protest, these actions are taking place on private property and affecting the wider economy. Layoffs could be coming within days if the situation isnt resolved as manufacturing and exports are disrupted by shortages, he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Parliament Tuesday that this was a critical moment for the country and is extending his hand to the protesting First Nations to resolve the situation that cannot afford to fail. Darby said Trudeaus comments on the matter are welcome, but there needs to more concrete action as well as relief assistance for affected businesses. The Prime Ministers comments today were encouraging, but we need real action at this point to solve the crisis. Maple Leaf Foods president Curtis Frank said the company is dependent on timely transport for its perishable products and that the company, along with many producers, need a reliable network for its exports or risk losing customers. The time to act is now. We need to restore the timely movement of goods across this country now. Our viability simply depends on it. He said the company has tried to use alternatives such as trucking but many routes are already overwhelmed, while costs are already escalating. He said the spot market for trucking between Winnipeg and Vancouver, for example, has nearly doubled since the blockades started. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:MFI) The Iowa Democratic Party released new results on Sunday that indicated Pete Buttigieg would capture two more state delegates than Bernie Sanders during last weeks chaotic caucuses. The announcement comes almost a week after the first-in-the-nation nominating contest ended in mass confusion, mired by a buggy mobile phone app used to report results from 1,765 precincts forced the night to conclude without an apparent winner. Still, the numbers may not be final Sanders campaign has said it plans to ask the state party for a partial recanvass after previously identifying 14 precincts where there were inconsistencies or irregularities in the results. Its unclear how many precincts they intend to contest. Sanders isnt alone in requesting a recanvass: Last week, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called on Iowa party officials to immediately recanvass, or essentially perform a second-check of the vote. It would require the Iowa Democratic Party to review worksheets from each of the states precincts, he said. "Enough is enough," Perez wrote in a tweet. "In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to assure public confidence in the results, I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass." The results showed a tight race between Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who had 14 state delegates, and Vermont Sen. Sanders, who had 12. Sanders, however, won the popular vote, netting support from about 5,000 more caucus-goers than Buttigieg in the first expression of preferences. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren snagged third place, with eight delegates, while former Vice President Joe Biden received just six. Once projected to handily win the state, Biden called the loss a gut punch. In the week since the caucuses, both Buttigigeg and Sanders who are currently battling for first in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary claimed victory, and the momentum bump that generally accompanies it. Story continues Further complicating results were reports of inconsistencies and other flaws in the data, irregularities that could sow more uncertainty about the outcome. According to a New York Times analysis, more than 100 precincts reported results that were internally inconsistent," missing data or were impossible under the complex rules of the Iowa caucuses. In some cases, the Times reported, tallies did not add up, while in others, precincts are shown allotting the wrong number of delegates to certain candidates. Other times, the data provided by the state party do not match the same results released by the precinct. The Times reported that there was no apparent bias in favor of either Sanders or Buttigieg. State officials paid Shadow, a tech firm, more than $63,000 in two separate payments in November and December last year for "website development," according to state campaign finance records. Those payments were for the app the caucus site leaders were supposed to use to upload the results at their 1,765 precincts. But the system quickly broke down last Monday night, requiring the party to enter data manually once it was clear there was an issue. Related Articles The head of a hospital in China's coronavirus-hit Wuhan city died of the epidemic amid criticism that a number of medical staff were infected due to official attempts to conceal the key findings of human-to-human transmission of the virus, as the death toll from the disease on Tuesday soared to 1,868. Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, from where the virus originated, continued to bear the brunt as 93 more people died on Monday while five deaths were reported from Henan, Hebei and Hunan provinces. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak climbed to 1,868 on Monday while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. A top Chinese health official said the daily death toll has come down below 100 for the first time since the virus outbreak came to light in January. The daily number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reported across China Monday dropped to under 2,000 for the first time, Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC) said Tuesday. Monday also saw the new confirmed infections of COVID-19 outside Hubei reduced to a number lower than 100 for the first time, Mi told the media.. Comparing the statistics in the peak period, Mi said the first appearance of these noteworthy decreasing numbers demonstrate that the epidemic situation is improving. While officials claimed that the virus is stabilising, one of Wuhan's most senior doctors has died after contracting the coronavirus. Dr Liu Zhiming, president of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital in Hubei province died of the novel coronavirus pneumonia despite medical efforts to revive him, the state-run CCTV reported, the latest fatality among medical workers as they rush to save tens of thousands of patients at the epicenter of the outbreak. Liu was a leading neurosurgeon in Wuhan. Last Friday, the NHC said that a total of 1,716 medical workers had been confirmed contracting the infection. As of February 11, six medical workers were killed while treating patients. This included the whistleblower ophthalmologist, Dr Li Wenliang who was reprimanded by police for alerting about the virus over the social media in December. Hu Bijie, a member of China's top expert mission for medical treatment for COVID-19, told Global Times that most of the infections among medical staff occurred in the early stage of the epidemic, when people did not know the virus can be transmitted during the incubation period, and cheap and efficient test kits were not commonly used. A postgraduate student, who requested anonymity and has interned at Wuhan-based Tongji Hospital's infections department told the paper that the infection of medical staff was caused by carelessness in the early stage and was aggravated by a lack of medical supplies such as N95 masks, protective outfits and goggles. China's top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan confirmed the people-to-people transmission on January 20. Before that, Wuhan health authorities denied people-to-people transmissions on January 5, which analysts believe has misled residents and doctors and contributed to cross-infection, the Global Times report said. "We missed the perfect time to curb the infection without a correct understanding of the virus and proper voice to public. The outbreak due to cross-infection then caused a severe shortage in medical resources and escalated the danger to medical staff," the student said. The daily's report said infections among the medical staff is declining, especially after a range of measures were taken, such as the setting up of separate fever clinics and isolation wards, and the universal use of protective equipment. On Monday, China has deployed over 30,000 medical staff in Wuhan. The Chinese military is also pouring its medical personnel drawn from the Army and the Air Force. China has announced a plan to honour medical workers and other personnel who died fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic as martyrs. Meanwhile, a study conducted by Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) said "the epidemic curve of onset of symptoms" peaked around January 23-26 before declining on February 11. The study suggests that the downward trend in the overall epidemic curve could mean that "isolation of whole cities, broadcast of critical information like hand washing and the wearing of masks and mobilisation of a multi-sector rapid response team is helping to curb the epidemic'. The CCDC report also warned of rebound as millions of Chinese returned to cities to join work after prolonged Chinese New Year holidays. China "needs to prepare for the possible rebound of the epidemic", it cautioned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today sent a congratulatory message to President of Moldova Igor Dodon on the occasion of his birthday, reports the news service of the Staff of the President of Armenia. President Sarkissians message particularly reads as follows: The centuries-old friendly traditions and close cultural ties between our nations serve as a strong foundation for further development of the interstate relations between Armenia and Moldova. I am certain that, through joint efforts, we will succeed in expanding the cooperation between our countries in sectors of mutual interest. I wish you good health and success, and I wish the friendly people of Moldova peace and welfare. NSW Health has been unable to contact four Australians who returned from Cambodia over the weekend and who need to remain in self-isolation due to coronavirus fears. The department was informed of the arrival of more than 20 Australians who had travelled on a cruise ship that had one confirmed case of COVID-19 only two days after they landed in Sydney. The MS Westerdam docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Credit:Getty Images The Australians had been passengers on the MS Westerdam, which was turned away by several Asian countries before docking in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, last week. Authorities tested 2200 passengers and crew and declared them free of COVID-19. However, an 83-year-old US woman, who was entering Malaysia and who had left the ship just two days earlier, was found to be infected. LONDON - The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on European allies to ban Chinese tech firm Huawei from supplying next-generation mobile networks, with more officials visiting this week to press the case. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2019, file photo, attendees walk past a display for 5G services from Chinese technology firm Huawei at the PT Expo in Beijing. The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on European allies to ban Chinese tech firm Huawei from supplying next-generation mobile networks, with more officials visiting this week to press the case. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) LONDON - The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on European allies to ban Chinese tech firm Huawei from supplying next-generation mobile networks, with more officials visiting this week to press the case. The diplomatic push seems to be failing, however, after Britain decided to allow Huawei as a potential supplier. Germany, another close ally, is leaning toward the same decision. The visit to London by a United States delegation highlights how China's involvement in new 5G networks is an increasingly important part of President Donald Trump's battle with China over economic and technological preeminence. Europe finds itself caught in the middle. Here is a look at key issues in the debate. WHAT'S AT STAKE? If Germany, one of Europe's biggest U.S. allies, defies Washington, it risks upsetting that alliance. U.S. officials have threatened to cut off intelligence sharing with any countries that use Huawei gear, which they fear is a security risk. On the other hand, rejecting Huawei could have wider repercussions, especially for Germany's relationship with China, one of its biggest trading partners. The signs are that Germany does not intend to exclude Huawei explicitly from its 5G networks in advance, though the government has not yet finalized legislation. German government officials have said consultations should wrap up soon, without giving a timeline. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, Germany's top security official, said his country must be protected against espionage and sabotage. But he estimated that shutting out Chinese providers could delay the new networks by years. I don't see that we can set up a 5G network in Germany in the short term without participation by Huawei, Seehofer told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper in January. The Federal Network Agency, Germany's telecom regulator, has already released draft guidelines for 5G equipment suppliers that tighten up security requirements but stop short of banning specific companies such as Huawei. And a draft law reportedly includes potentially big fines for technology companies that breach security regulations. Complicating matters, European mobile phone companies have used plenty of Huawei equipment in their 4G networks. If they do not use Huawei equipment for the initial 5G rollout, which will run on 4G gear, it could result in higher costs and delays. WHAT IS 5G? Fifth-generation cellular networks are expected to usher in a wave of technological transformation. For a start, 5G promises superfast download speeds for smartphone users. But it will be more than that 5G sensors will be embedded into countless new connected devices such as thermostats and medical sensors. It also will be used for self-driving vehicles, smart factories and in critical infrastructure like power grids, presenting unprecedented new security challenges. WHAT IS THE U.S. POSITION? For more than a year, the U.S. has campaigned against Huawei over fears that China's communist leaders can use the company to tap into communications running through the networking equipment it sells globally. The American message was initially met with skepticism and now increasingly appears to be falling on deaf ears. That's forcing Washington to change up its strategy, but the result has been incoherent. Attorney General William Barr suggested earlier this month that to thwart Huawei, the U.S. government should consider taking a controlling stake in Nokia and Ericsson either directly or through a consortium of U.S. companies and private investors. But other officials, including Vice-President Mike Pence, quickly walked back that idea, saying private enterprise is the way to go. U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper suggested other ways the government could be involved. We are encouraging allied and U.S. tech companies to develop alternative 5G solutions, and we are working alongside them to test these technologies at our military bases as we speak, Esper said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. The anti-Huawei campaign expanded into a bipartisan effort after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, joined in during visits to Brussels and Munich, when she compared allowing Huawei into a network to having the Chinese state police right in your pocket." Last week, U.S. authorities added new criminal charges against Huawei, accusing the company of a brazen scheme to steal trade secrets from competitors in America. That's on top of a separate federal case with similar allegations against Huawei and senior executive Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Vancouver, British Columbia, but has yet to be extradited to the U.S. WHAT KIND OF COMPANY IS HUAWEI AND HOW DOES IT RESPOND? Huawei is the world's No. 1 provider of telecom infrastructure gear antennas, base stations and other plumbing on which cellular networks run. Mobile phone companies like Huawei because it has a reputation for cheap, quality equipment. It has few rivals, namely Finland's Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson, a point European officials use to rebuff the U.S. The Chinese company has consistently denied allegations that it could facilitate spying and insists there has never been any proof that it's behind security breaches. Huawei's chief cybersecurity officer has said that the company is just a vendor providing equipment and that mobile phone companies are the ones that operate the networks. WHAT HAS THE U.K. DONE? Britain last month gave Huawei limited access to its 5G networks, in what was seen as a snub to the U.S. The British government said it would let Huawei provide 35 per cent of a wireless carrier's radio access network of antennas and base stations, but it would not allow high risk vendors into the sensitive core the servers that act as a network's control centre. Trump administration officials indicated disappointment at Britain's decision to find a middle way. A U.S. delegation led by Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, is reportedly due in London on Wednesday to meet with officials from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government to express their unhappiness. U.K. officials are pinning their hopes on 5G and related technologies such as artificial intelligence to help boost the economy by kickstarting lagging productivity levels. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ___ Associated Press Writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. ___ For all of the APs technology coverage, visit this page. ___ Follow Kelvin Chan at twitter.com/chanman. The annual shipments also reached a record level in 2019 at 147 million units. More smart speakers and smart displays were sold in Q4, 2019, according to the latest report by Strategy Analytics. The report, titled Global Smart Speaker Vendor & OS Shipment and Installed Base Market Share by Region: Q4 2019, notes that the worldwide shipments of smart speakers and smart displays grew by 45 per cent year-on-year in the said quarter, reaching a record 55.7 million units. The annual shipments also reached a record level in 2019 at 147 million units. The top-ranked brands were Amazon and Google with a combined share of over 50 per cent. Chinese brands Baidu, Alibaba, and Xiaomi listed in the top five brands globally. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New Delhi, Feb 18 : Kabaddi superstars such as Anup Kumar and Surender Nada have inspired a generation to keep the kabaddi legacy alive in the state of Haryana. With the Khelo India University Games round the corner, India is set to witness even more talented kabaddi players in the tournament which will be held from February 22 to March 1 in Odisha. After successfully conducting three editions of the Khelo India Youth Games, the Indian government has decided to organize the Khelo India University Games to unearth more sporting talent. Mohit Sehrawat from Maharshi Dayanand University (Rohtak) said that their team is confident of winning gold in the boys' kabaddi competition. Maharshi Dayanand University won the All India University boys' kabaddi competition in December last year. "We are currently practicing in our training camps at our university. We are confident that we will replicate our All India University competition performance at the Khelo India University Games," said the 21-year-old. Another university from Haryana - Kurukshetra University, who finished third at the All India University competition, is looking to clinch gold at the Khelo India University Games. "I think Maharshi Dayanand University (Rohtak) will be a tough competition for us. We finished third in the All India University competition in December last year. The Maharshi Dayanand University clinched gold in the tournament. We have big expectations for ourselves in the Khelo India University Games. Training camps have been set up for us and our preparations are going on very well. We will definitely try to win the gold medal," said Rohit Kumar. Tasnim Samad Burondkar from the University of Mumbai expressed that the Himachal Pradesh University will pose a tough challenge in the girls' kabaddi competition. "The Himachal Pradesh University from Shimla will pose tough challenge for us. They won the All India University girls' kabaddi competition as well. We finished in the quarter-finals in the tournament, so now we are practicing very hard to win a medal at the Khelo India University Games," said the Burondkar. Philippine Move to Scrap US Military Deal Boosts China's Clout in Asia By Ralph Jennings February 17, 2020 The Philippine president's proposed cancellation of a 32-year-old military pact with the United States gives regional power China chances to strengthen its influence in Asia as U.S. military units would visit less often. Chinese naval ships, military aircraft and coast guard-escorted fishing vessels would find it easier to move around the disputed South China Sea, which lies west of the Philippines, analysts in Asia say. Naval ships also could more freely enter the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan the first-island chain. Those waters are usually considered an American sphere of influence. China, a political rival of the United States since the Cold War, already gives billions in aid and investment to the fast-growing but impoverished Philippines. More may be on the way, consecrating Chinese influence there, scholars believe. "The Chinese are going to be happy about this, seeing a big hole poked in the first-island chain," said Fabrizio Bozzato, Taiwan Strategy Research Association fellow who specializes in Asia and the Pacific. "They may also seize the opportunity in the extra-military dimension in the sense that they will increase their financial commitment to the Philippines, start building some infrastructure." The Philippine foreign secretary sent notice to the United States February 11 that it would terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with effect in 180 days. The U.S. defense sectary called the cancellation request "unfortunate." Philippines presidential office spokesman Salvador Panelo in Manila told a press briefing Thursday that "What is important to the president is, this is the time to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement to stress a point that...it is not advantageous to us because the more we rely on them, the more our position weakens and stagnate our defenses." The current agreement allows U.S. military aircraft and naval vessels free entry into the Philippines and eases immigration rules for American military personnel. The two sides will still uphold a Mutual Defense Treaty that was signed in 1951, after the United States ended colonization of the Asian archipelago. Duterte's cancellation falls in line with statements since he took office in 2016 about easing reliance on the United States and building ties with China. Most recently, the U.S. government revoked the visa of Philippine senator who as former police chief helped lead Duterte's deadly anti-drug campaign. "We can probably take into consideration how serious President Duterte was when he was talking about separating from the United States at the beginning of his administration, so there must be some degree of seriousness to that," said Herman Kraft, political science professor at the University of the Philippines. The cancellation raises questions about whether Duterte wants a military pact with China, Kraft said. Beijing maintains Asia's biggest armed forces, some of which monitor Philippine activity in tracts of the resource-rich South China Sea that both sides call their own. Absent the Visiting Forces Agreement, U.S. ships and aircraft could still help the Philippines by special invitation and four other governments that dispute China's claim to 90% of the sea. But U.S. personnel would be scouting less often, analysts say, meaning fewer chances to check China's activities. U.S. visits to the Philippines will become less "regular," said Aaron Rabena, research fellow at Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, a Manila research organization. He expects joint U.S.-Philippine military exercises to be suspended as well. The two sides do joint drills every year, often with a South China Sea focus that Beijing resents. Philippine military personnel and common Filipinos wonder what China will bring, Rabena said. Based on widespread reactions in Manila, he said, "You would see how many Filipinos really desire American help and assistance. "And they're saying 'Is (Duterte) doing this because he loves China so much? So, he's really turning us into a province now of China?'" the research fellow said. The Chinese navy worldwide had 512 ships as of 2012, according to the British think tank International Institute of Strategic Studies. It had 714 ships last year, the database Globalfirepower.com says. Cancellation of the Visiting Forces Agreement gives Beijing a "freer hand" in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands and will let it accelerate construction of artificial islets there, Bozzato said. Its three biggest Spratly holdings have more infrastructure, such as hangars and radar systems, compared to the 10 islets controlled by the Philippines. The U.S. still sees the Philippines as a key Asian ally that can help hem in China's growing maritime influence. Duterte might use the next 180 days to seek concessions from the United States and keep the visiting forces deal if he gets them, Bozzato said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid talks of the government encashing its bank guarantee over default in payment of dues, Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday as he looked for options to keep the company afloat New Delhi: Amid talks of the government mulling encashing of bank guarantee over default in payment of dues, Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on Tuesday met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash as he looked for options to keep the company afloat. After the meeting, Birla said he "cannot say anything at the moment." Birla, who met the telecom secretary for over an hour, was accompanied by Ravinder Takkar, MD & CEO of Vodafone Idea. He refused to respond to queries on whether or not Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) would default on payment of AGR dues or if the company could head towards insolvency. KM Birla says 'Cannot say anything at this point' after meeting with Telecom Secretary on AGR issues pic.twitter.com/eDvhsswhRi CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 18, 2020 Vodafone Idea on Monday paid Rs 2,500 crore to DoT and promised to pay another Rs 1,000 crore before the end of the week. But the amount paid for now is less than 5 percent of the dues that the DoT estimates the company owes to the government following a Supreme Court ruling that asked for including non-telecom revenues of telcos in computing statutory payments such as licence fee and spectrum charges. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop DoT from taking any coercive steps for recovery of dues from Vodafone Idea. In December, Birla said Vodafone Idea may have to shut if there is no relief on statutory dues. "If we are not getting anything, then I think it is the end of the story for Vodafone Idea," Birla had said. "It does not make sense to put good money after bad... We will shut shop." After a Supreme Court rap on 14 February for missing the payment deadline, top telecom firms Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices on Monday scrambled to pay a part of the outstanding dues. While Vodafone Idea put in Rs 2,500 crore and promised another Rs 1,000 crore later this week, Airtel paid Rs 10,000 crore. Airtel said it will clear the remaining dues before the next date of hearing on March 17 but Vodafone Idea has so far not provided a clear deadline for making all payments. Tata Teleservices paid Rs 2,197 crore, the entire outstanding it believes to have arisen after the October ruling of the apex court for calculating dues after adding non-telecom revenues. "Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd have made a payment of Rs 2,197 crore to the DoT towards licence fee and spectrum usage charges," the company said in a statement on Monday. The payment is to settle all its AGR outstanding. "TTSL and TTML have also submitted to DoT the details of calculations in support of the payment," it had said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) -- which last week drew flak for ordering no coercive action even after telcos missed the 23 January payment deadline set by the Supreme Court -- is mulling the option of encashing bank guarantees given by firms when they got telecom licences, as none of the telcos have paid the full amount. Encashing of the bank guarantees may sound the death knell for companies such as Vodafone Idea which has been struggling to garner the dues. A financial bank guarantee is equal to two quarters of licence fee and other dues. This amount could be in the range of Rs 5,000 crore each for Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The Supreme Court last week rejected a plea by companies such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for extension in the payment schedule and asked them to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licences. It threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against top executives of these firms for non-payment. Some telecom firms are already struggling with mounting losses and debt and the additional liability has raised concerns of them defaulting on existing loans. Of the estimated dues that include interest and penalty for late payments, Airtel and Vodafone Idea owe about 60 percent. Business confidence dropped from 103.5 points in Quarter Two (Q2) 2019 to 97.8 points in Quarter Three (Q3) as expressed by captains of industry. According to the Association of Ghana Industries' (AGI) Business Barometer Indicator (BBI), the drop in the business confidence was due to some policies introduced in the 2019 Mid-Year Budget Review. These include, but not limited to increase in energy sector levies for both diesel/petrol and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), Communications Service Tax increased by 50% and announcement by the PURC to increase electricity tariff by 11.7%. Also, the report said the effect of the exchange rate could not be downplayed as all these challenges contribute to high operational expenses. Beyond Ghana winning the bid to host the AfCFTA Secretariat, the report said there is the need to deepen the discussions on how to make local businesses more competitive. The top five challenges identified in Q3 were electricity tariff, the value of the cedi, cost of raw materials, the current tax regime and delayed payments. Overall Perception of Business Performance The report said the business environment seemed staled during the period under review. This is consistent with the drop in the confidence index. 50% of business executives asked to evaluate their business performance in Q3 attested that their business environment remained the same, while 22% said their business performance worsened during Q3. However, the 28% of the respondents reported a better performance than the previous quarter. Subsequently, when the business executives were asked about the prospects of the ensuing quarter, a significant 53% were more optimistic of the next quarter than they were of Q3, 2019. This is a result of a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, coupled with the euphoria surrounding the Christmas festivities. However, 39% of the business operators were less optimistic about the business environment and do not see any change in their business performance in Q4. The BBI is an AGI proprietary tool that measures the level of confidence in the business environment and predicts short-term business trends. It is based on the business communitys assessment of current economic conditions and perceptions and it simply expresses the state of the business climate as an index with 100 as the base index. ---classfmonline The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear a petition filed by fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya against the proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to seize his assets in India. Mallya had on Thursday hit out at Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED saying all that investigative agencies have been doing to him over the past four years is "totally unreasonable". Speaking to reporters after the third day of the hearing at the UK High Court, where he has appealed against the extradition decision of Westminster Magistrates Court, Mallya had said: "CBI and ED have been unreasonable, all they have been doing to me over the past four years is totally unreasonable. I request the banks with folded hands to take 100 per cent of your principal back immediately." Mallya said that ED attached his assets on the basis of the complaint filed by the banks that he was not repaying them. "That is clearly stated in the provisional attachment orders. I have not committed any offences under the PMLA that the ED would suo moto attach my assets. Now I am saying please banks take your money and the ED is saying -- we have a claim on these assets," he said. The fugitive liquor baron said he was mulling to honour his guarantee and pay the banks in full. "ED on one side and banks on the other side are fighting over the same asset. I have not borrowed any money from ED. In fact, I did not borrow money myself from banks, Kingfisher airlines did. I am mulling to honour my guarantee and pay them in full," he said. 63-year-old Mallya flew out from India in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The best grooming and wellness products - whether they're targeted at men, women or both - should be able to withstand the day-to-day trials of modern life. So what better way to ensure they hit the mark than testing them out on US military members who are living and working in some of the toughest conditions on the planet? This is the thinking behind BRAVO SIERRA. The wellness company, which was founded in early 2019, has just launched a new fully-biodegradable multi-purpose cleansing bar in partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation. Wellness company BRAVO SIERRA has just launched a new fully-biodegradable multi-purpose Hair & Body Solid Cleanser in partnership with The Navy SEAL Foundation Just like all other BRAVO SIERRA products, the $9.50 Hair & Body Solid Cleanser has been designed to meet the demanding grooming and hygienic needs of today's active military members. To ensure that they meet these standards, the brand works with a community of 1,000 service members who test the products out in the field, whether they're serving in Afghanistan, on active duty in Iraq, or at a military base in California. The all-in-one wash, which BRAVO SIERRA describes as 'the anti-soap', contains both Shea butter and oat flour for soft skin and healthy hair. All BRAVO SIERRA products have been designed to meet the demanding grooming and hygienic needs of today's active military members The company chose to partner with the Navy SEAL Foundation for this product because it is ideal for use outdoors, particularly in wet conditions, as it is 100 per cent biodegradable and won't pollute oceans, rivers or waterways. Despite being in bar form rather than a gel, the cleanser works into a rich lather that doesn't dry out skin or hair, and lasts between 30 and 40 washes. What makes this cleanser - and all of BRAVO SIERRA's products - even more unique is that they support the individuals that they are designed for and tested by. Five per cent of all sales from BRAVO SIERRA products are donated to the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program, which offers a complete range of community support and quality of life programs for members of the US Armed Forces, their families, retirees and veterans. BRAVO SIERRA chose to partner with the Navy SEAL Foundation for the Hair & Body Solid Cleanser as it is ideal for use outdoors, particularly in wet conditions Benjamin Bernet, co-founder and co-CEO of BRAVO SIERRA spoke to DailyMail.com about why the military ethos lies at the heart of everything the company does. He describes the military as 'the OG' of the wellness industry, as nowhere else is the drive for optimized physical, mental and emotional fitness so strong with the same unifying values of respect, service and integrity. Benjamin explains that the products are designed to support and enhance today's ultra-active lifestyle and are formulated to satisfy even the most demanding consumers. The simple idea is that if these products deliver for a Navy SEAL, a Green Beret or an army ranger, they will be excellent for you. But it doesn't matter whether you're a Special Operations member, trail runner, gym fanatic, or simply work nine-to-five in an office, the point is that the products work for everyone. Benjamin explains: 'The very simple idea is that if these products deliver well for a Navy SEAL, a Green Beret or an army ranger, they will be excellent for you. No matter whether you're at the gym or going to the office.' BRAVO SIERRA launched as a 'military-native performance wellness company' in 2019 with a range of eight personal care everyday essentials for hair, body and face. Priced between $5 and $14, all the products are clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA from start to finish. They include a Tactical Shower set of ten antibacterial body wipes for $10.50, an $11.50 face moisturizer, a Powerplant-Based Odor Protection deodorant costing $9.50 and an All Terrain Hygiene 4-in-1 wash and shave gel also for $9.50. Benjamin emphasizes how important the feedback they receive from the military community out in the field is to the brand. BRAVO SIERRA products are designed to support and enhance today's ultra-active lifestyle and are formulated to satisfy even the most demanding consumers All BRAVO SIERRA grooming products are clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA He says: 'Wherever they are, in whatever conditions hot, cold, dry, humid, access to bathrooms, no access to bathrooms, no hot water through a smartphone they can contact us and give us qualitative and quantitative feedback.' He uses the example of BRAVO SIERRA's first shaving foam. Benjamin describes how the first iteration of the foam was sent for testing, and a few men in Afghanistan responded that it didn't work for their super-sensitive skin, especially when they had to shave every day and without hot water. So BRAVO SIERRA went back to the lab and started to work on making the foam gentler and more effective for the conditions the men were living in. The new version of the $8.50 Sharper Shaver shaving foam is sulfate-free, features a foam-to-cream texture to prevent irritations, and is enriched with soothing aloe vera. The company is also focused on clean and healthy ingredients, and works closely with non-profit Cradle to Cradle, which is dedicated to transforming the safety and sustainability of products. BRAVO SIERRA launched as a 'military-native performance wellness company' with a range of eight personal care everyday essentials, including a set of ten antibacterial wipes (pictured) Benjamin explains that they work with the non-profit to create a holistic approach to ensure that their products are produced responsibly. From when the brand was first conceived, Benjamin and BRAVO SIERRA's co-founder Justin Guilbert knew they wanted their company to have a philanthropic angle. In particular, they felt it was important to give back to the community that helps them so much in their research and development. Benjamin says: 'Wherever you are on the political spectrum from very liberal to very conservative... you can disagree with the administration, but you can still [admire] someone who has chosen to serve.' Alongside the monetary donation of five per cent of sales, BRAVO SIERRA will also make an in-kind donation of the Hair & Body Solid Cleanser to the Navy SEAL Foundation. BRAVO SIERRA products are available to qualified military patrons at Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy bases worldwide, and to consumers at bravosierra.com and @bravosierra_usa. DailyMail.com may earn commissions on sales from the links on this page. Supratim Bandyopadhyay was on Tuesday appointed as chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, the regulator for promotion and development of an organised pension system to serve the old age income needs of people on a sustainable basis. The name of Bandyopadhyay was cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, an official order said. He was working as Member (Finance) in the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The order said Bandyopadhyay has been appointed for a period of five years, with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. The concept of PFRDA was conceived in 1999 when the then government commissioned a project -- OASIS (Old Age Social and Income Security) -- to examine the policy related to old age income security in India. The PFRDA Act was passed on September 19, 2013 and was finally notified in February 2014. The body regulates the National Pension Scheme subscribed by government and private employees from organised and unorganised sectors. The PFRDA consists of a chairperson and not more than six members, three of whom shall be whole-time members and appointed by the central government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a son of immigrants who came to the United States with nothing more than a few suitcases, I am a living example that the American dream is alive and well. Washington Business Journal announced Anish Sebastian, CEO and co-founder of Babyscripts, a digital health company delivering virtual care solutions for pregnancy, as a 2020 Minority Business Leader Award honoree. The Minority Business Leader Awards program is an annual event hosted by the Washington Business Journal that recognizes the top minority business owners and leaders in the D.C. community. The event honors the entrepreneurial drive, creativity and success of each of its honorees. Each of the 24 honorees was selected for their outstanding dedication to ethics, giving, and leadership. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Washington Business Journal and their Minority Business Leaders awards program" said Anish Sebastian, CEO and co-founder of Babyscripts. "As a son of immigrants who came to the United States with nothing more than a few suitcases, I am a living example that the American dream is alive and well. Improving the status quo of pregnancy care means making that dream a reality for mothers and babies all over the U.S. This recognition is a vote of confidence, not just for me as an individual, but for this vision of improving maternal health." Anish co-founded Babyscripts in 2014 with the belief that internet-enabled medical devices and big data would transform the delivery of pregnancy care. Since the inception of the company, Anish has received numerous accolades including being named a Champion of Change for precision medicine by the White House, one of the Top 40 Transformers in Healthcare by MM&M Magazine, and Healthcare Transformer by the Startup Health Academy in New York. Anish is the architect of the first "Prenatal Care Moonshot, focused on eliminating maternal mortality by 2030 through mobile/digital technology and Babyscripts. He is an established thought leader in the digital health tech space, and frequently speaks and writes on the future of healthcare. Anish joins this year's outstanding honorees and more than 275 alumni in the region, each an example of standout work in his or her field. Honorees were selected from reader nominations by a panel of judges led by Minority Business Leader Award alumni and Washington Business Journal staff. A special glossy magazine will publish in the Washington Business Journal on March 27 featuring profiles and portraits of each of these outstanding leaders. The 2019 Minority Business Leader Awards are set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 26 at MGM National Harbor. Past honorees for the Minority Business Leader Awards include Leslie Hale of RLJ Lodging, Lonnie Bunch of Smithsonian Institution, Timothy Chi of WeddingWire, Sheila Johnson of Salamander Hotels and more. About Anish Sebastian Anish is the CEO and co-founder of Babyscripts, a digital health company delivering a virtual model for prenatal and postpartum care. He is deeply passionate about the intersection of the Human Experience & Data Science within healthcare, as well as the integration of cutting edge technology into complex healthcare ecosystems. When not leading Babyscripts, Anish focuses on his other passion, The Quantified Self, a movement aimed to empower citizens to gain self-knowledge through data. The potential damage is enormous. This is a gold mine for enemies like Hezbollah and Iranian intelligence, as well as for intelligence agencies that are more or less friendly to Israel. by Yossi Melman The leaks of personal information of 6.5 million Israelis three weeks before the election is one of the worst security screw-ups in the country in the last few years. Cohen and Netanyahu. Both the first breach, which was reported about a week ago, and the more serious second one, reported Sunday, stem from criminal negligence by Elector Software a small and hitherto barely known company that developed the mobile election software being used by Likud and other parties. This app, which enables access to the countrys entire voter registry, is used to run elections and make contact with voters, according to the company. It includes voters full names, ID numbers, gender, telephone numbers and current addresses. In addition, there is information entered by party campaign staff about whether or not the individual in question supports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Beyond the severe violation of Israelis privacy, the hacking of the voter rolls has unprecedented implications for tens of thousands of employees of the Mossad, the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, the Israel Institute for Biological Research and the Israel Defense Forces especially for pilots, intelligence personnel, special forces and nuclear scientists. The damage caused by the breaches doesnt end with exposure of information: Exposure of such data also enables potentially hostile elements to access additional sources of information, and to cross-check sensitive details including license plate numbers, personal and corporate assets and confidential medical information. The potential damage is enormous. This is a gold mine for enemies like Hezbollah and Iranian intelligence, as well as for intelligence agencies that are more or less friendly to Israel. Its no secret that the Mossad and other Israeli intelligence and security organizations make use of the data in the Interior Ministrys Population Registry. This information enables them to recruit employees both in Israel and abroad. Its also well known that such espionage bodies, especially the Mossad, use fake or borrowed identities for their operations. According to foreign reports, these operations have in the past been aimed mainly at monitoring, information-gathering, infiltrating buildings, buying sensitive equipment and so forth. In the past three decades, Mossad agents have been exposed while carrying forged passports of Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Bosnia, Georgia and more. Some operatives were arrested. Some were exposed during or after operations in countries such as Jordan, Britain, Sudan, Cyprus, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and, according to foreign media, Dubai and Tunisia. The leak of such information about Israeli citizens and the possibility of connecting it to activities conducted overseas under an Israeli or foreign identity is disastrous for the intelligence community. Thanks to this information, foreign intelligence agencies can thwart operations abroad and/or catch the agents involved. Moreover, cross-checking the leaked information with documents published or stolen in the past can enable hostile agencies to identify not just living people, but also dead people whose identities are being used in secret missions to conceal or verify cover stories. That, for instance, is what Refaat el-Gammal, an Egyptian intelligence agent, did when he posed as a Jew named Jack Beaton who emigrated to Israel in the 1950s. Fortunately, the Shin Bet discovered him and turned him into a double agent who worked for Israel against his Egyptian handlers. And when the Mossad assassinated senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in 2010, it was reported that one of the operatives had assumed the identity of an Israeli who had been killed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The soft underbelly of national security that this latest breach has potentially exposed can be demonstrated by the case of the 2015 leak from a major human resources company that recruited personnel for U.S. intelligence and defense agencies. It was suspected that the information reached Chinese intelligence; as a result, the CIA had to recall some of its agents. The principle underlying the intelligence community anywhere, including in Israel, is that as soon as theres a fear that hacked information has reached hostile or any foreign parties, extra precautions must be employed so as not to endanger its personnel. For this reason, in numerous cases in the past where there was the suspected exposure of networks of agents run by Israel in foreign countries, especially hostile ones not only was the affected network shut down, but also any others with contacts to it. Whos meddling here? In the course of the groundhog day 2019-20 election campaigns in Israel, there have been several incidents emitting a nasty stench of political espionage. Even before this, then-Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich had charged in a television interview that an unidentified person had hired private detectives to keep tabs on the investigations into suspected crimes committed by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu, who has now been indicted for the crimes, and his Likud party, vehemently denied the accusations. In November 2018, a hastily constructed website in Panama published a false report that former Mossad director Tamir Pardo had claimed in a lecture at Harvard that former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had resigned because he was suspected of being a Russian spy. Thereafter, Lieberman, who is proud of having an ancient cellphone rather than a smartphone, claimed that this wasnt an isolated incident; unknown individuals had also tried to hack into his Yisrael Beiteinu partys computers to disrupt its April 2019 election campaign. Then came the bizarre hacking of Kahol Lavan Chairman Benny Gantzs cellphone before the April 2019 election and its exposure in the media. Even today, its still not clear whether Iran was really behind that act, or whether someone had leaked the information to Tehran to cover his tracks. Israel likes to boast of its cybersecurity industry and of being at the forefront of global technology. Moreover, at least seven public agencies are engaged in cyberwarfare and information security for both defensive and offensive purposes: the National Cyber Directorate, the Mossad and the Shin Bet (these three are all under the prime ministers auspices); Military Intelligence (under the IDFs responsibility); and the Defense Ministrys department of field security. In addition, there are the Atomic Energy Commission, the Justice Ministrys Privacy Protection Authority and the Central Elections Commission. Once the incidents mentioned above became known, all the relevant agencies should have conducted a thorough investigation. After all, the victims whom someone evidently wanted to smear were a former defense minister, a former Mossad director and a former IDF chief who is now running for prime minister, as well as the Israeli electoral system as a whole. However, the recent breaches involving the Elector app, despite attempts to downplay the damage, are on a completely different scale: They affect every Israeli citizen. From this standpoint, they recall the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This British company, which engaged in data mining, data analysis, data brokerage and communications strategies, used personal information purchased or leaked from Facebook to impact elections around the world. Cambridge Analytica was founded in late 2013. It is partially owned by Robert Mercer and his family, which also owns Renaissance Technologies, one of the worlds most profitable hedge funds. The familys political leanings are extremely conservative; in 2016, it helped Donald Trumps election campaign, mainly regarding identification of potential voters. Elector Software is a small, obscure firm formed just before the first Israeli election 15 months ago. Its three registered directors are completely unknown to the public. Another former manager worked in the past for Likud. The company is registered in a small European city, and now its three directors have either disappeared or refuse to talk to the media. When you combine all these facts, and others that havent been publicized theres almost no doubt that over the last year, a hidden hand has been meddling in Israels election campaigns. In any self-respecting democracy, the very day a leak such as that involving the Elector app became known, all the relevant agencies mentioned here should have called emergency meetings to determine how and why a failure of such a magnitude occurred and what its implications are. Moreover, the heads of the intelligence community, led by Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, should have convened to consider the severity of the potential harm caused to defense and security agencies both in the present and in the future. But Israel with its superfluous and unnecessary number of agencies dealing with information security, and embroiled in ego and turf wars, seems to be unmoved. Not to mention the fact that the government has abdicated its responsibilities in this arena and not for the first time. Thus, no such meetings or assessment were ever carried out, and its doubtful that they will be now, either. In response, Likud said that Elector is an outside supplier that provides services to many parties, including Likud. All professional and legal responsibility devolves upon it. Likud is making every effort, regarding data related to it and to its voters, to secure the information and ensure its complete protection in accordance with the law and accepted standards. The Mossad, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Shin Bet, the IDF, Military Intelligence and the Ministry of Defense refused to comment. The National Cyber Directorate did not respond to questions from Haaretz. Only the Central Electoral Commission said that the matter is not within their realm of responsibility. For its part, the Private Protection Authority said that any breach of privacy and leak of personal details is a serious matter. Yossi Melman is an Israeli writer and journalist. He was an intelligence and strategic affairs correspondent for the Haaretz, where this piece first appeared. Madonna's eldest child Lourdes 'Lola' Leon made a bleary-eyed departure from LOVE magazine's London Fashion Week party, held at The Standard in the English capital on Monday evening. The celebrity offspring, 23, held hands with a pal as she headed back to her hotel following the star-studded event. Earlier in the day, Lourdes put on a busty display in a Burberry bustier mini-dress and 'Lolita' nameplate necklace as she attended the British brand's AW20 presentation. Heading home: Lourdes Leon made a bleary-eyed departure from LOVE magazine's London Fashion Week party, held at The Standard in the English capital on Monday evening Clutching a bucket hat in the signature Nova plaid, the model held court front row at the Kensington Olympia fashion show beside Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin. The raven-haired beauty kept the black knee-high boots but changed into an equally short mini-dress later in the evening. Leon's LBD appeared to be inspired by Ed Hardy with the garish flame and tiger detailing, and she bundled up beneath a faux fur leopard-print coat. Busy bee: Madonna 's eldest child, 23, put on a busty display in a Burberry bustier mini-dress and 'Lolita' nameplate necklace as she attended the British brand's AW20 presentation In good company: Clutching a bucket hat in the signature Nova plaid, the model held court front row at the Kensington Olympia fashion show beside Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin Out and about: The raven-haired beauty kept the black knee-high boots but changed into an equally short mini-dress later in the evening The Love Different performer wore her waist-length raven locks down and kept her make-up minimal aside from lipstick and mascara. Lola - who used to date Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet - was supportively surrounded by a gaggle of guy and gal pals as she exited the hotel. Lourdes joined a slew of stars in attendance for the LOVE magazine party at The Standard, London, taking over the whole of the Kings Cross hotel's 10th floor, including the Decimo restaurant and also velvet-ceiling private bar Sweeties, where Honey Dijon got the crowd going. Like her famous 61-year-old mother, Leon attended the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance from 2014-2018. Bold: Leon's LBD appeared to be inspired by Ed Hardy with the garish flame and tiger detailing, and she bundled up beneath a faux fur leopard-print coat Natural beauty: The Love Different performer wore her waist-length raven locks down and kept her make-up minimal aside from lipstick and mascara Squad: Lola - who used to date Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet - was supportively surrounded by a gaggle of guy and gal pals as she exited the hotel Sometime dancer: Like her famous 61-year-old mother, Leon attended the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance from 2014-2018 '[Lola] is insanely talented. I'm green with envy because she's incredible at everything she does she's an incredible dancer, she's a great actress, she plays the piano beautifully, she's way better than me in the talent department,' the Queen of Pop said in the June edition of British Vogue. 'But she doesn't have the same drive, and again, I feel social media plagues her and makes her feel like, "People are going to give me things because I'm her daughter." 'I try to give her examples of other children of celebrities like Zoe Kravitz, for instance, who have to work through that "Oh yeah, you're the daughter of..." and then eventually you are taken seriously for what you do. The Queen of Pop said in the June edition of British Vogue: '[Lola] is insanely talented. I'm green with envy because she's incredible at everything she does' (pictured in December) Madonna gushed: 'She's an incredible dancer, she's a great actress, she plays the piano beautifully, she's way better than me in the talent department' (pictured December 2) 'You just have to keep going. But does she have the same drive that I have? No. But she also has a mother, and I didn't. She grew up with money, and I didn't. So everything is going to be different. But what can I do? I can't fixate on it. I just have to do my best.' Madonna - who mothered the strong browed brunette with Belleon Body co-creator Carlos Leon - has been forced to cancel 12 shows of her 79-date Madame X Tour due to chronic hip and other injuries. The seven-time Grammy winner's next 12 concerts will take place at La Grand Rex in Paris beginning Saturday. Using a cane: Madge has been forced to cancel 12 shows of her 79-date Madame X Tour due to chronic hip and other injuries (pictured Sunday) It will be at least a year until a true picture is painted of how the UK will operate outside the European Union Photo: AFP As we know, on January 31, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union, after 47 years of being a key member of this bloc, a process which was called Brexit. No-one can predict for sure what the consequences will be of this historic decision. Within the UK, the average ratio of supporters and opponents of this decision was almost equal, 52 to 48 per cent in favour, and uneven across regions. Each party, meanwhile, had good reasons to defend their opinions enthusiastically. Dr. Cuong Phu Nguyen, architect in the UK Whether for or against, however, Brexit now has happened. After more than three years of negotiations, the common aspiration among those in power was to conclude the lengthy and divisive process. Prime Minister Boris Johnson succeeded in breaking the deadlock in withdrawal negotiations with the EU, and overcome internal inconsistencies within the British Parliament to deliver this extremely difficult task. Recalling the above helps to understand Brexits context, its complexity, and its multi-faceted aspects. This, hopefully, can help us make objective judgments and valid predictions on the impact of Brexit. Although the UK and EU have now divorced, the relationship between them will continue to be strong and deep because of their decades of relationship and because both sides need each other. In all fields, from politics and diplomacy, security and the military, to anti-terrorism and environmental protection, the UK and the EU will still work closely together. However, there will be changes after the two sides reach an official agreement to shape their new relationship after the transitional period expires on December 31, 2020. During this period, nothing will immediately change for UK citizens living in the European Union and EU citizens in the UK, as the UK will still be bound by EU laws. There are approximately 1.3 million British citizens living and working in the EU, and over 3.5 million EU citizens are in the UK. Regulation reshuffle The freedom of movement rule, which allows EU citizens the right to live and work in the UK and gives British citizens the right to do the same in EU countries, will continue until the end of 2020. After that, the UK government is planning to pass a law to end EU citizens freedom of movement, which means they will need a visa to work or live in the UK for the long term. British immigration laws are expected to change. It is worth noting that one of the main reasons for Brexit was to control and reduce the overall number of immigrants, especially low-skilled ones. At the same time, a common aspiration is to attract truly talented people of good character, and those useful to the UK to help the economy and country thrive. By doing so, the government wants to break away from a reliance on cheap labour while boosting high skills, technology, and innovation, to benefit the UK for the future. Under a possible points-based system, the government estimates there could be a cut of tens of thousands of unskilled EU migrants coming to the UK each year, while it hopes for an increase of 65,000 skilled workers from around the world. Other details such as new charges for EU students to attend British universities are also set to be discussed as part of trade deal negotiations. Another potential change after Brexit is that from next year, the UK government will cut the minimum salary for migrant workers, to allow the National Health Service and schools to continue to recruit staff. New migrants will also be able to earn points for speaking good English or having an outstanding educational background. Even if their job offers less than the minimum salary threshold, but in a sector listed as having a skills shortage, they will be awarded double points. I think the impact of Brexit will be both positive and negative, depending on the situation and group of people. For example, for Vietnamese people with EU nationalities, such as France, Poland, and Hungary, nothing will change at first. They will still have the option to leave the UK or settle permanently. Nevertheless, those who only have Vietnamese passports but are dependants of a spouse who is a EU citizen may be affected by the issue when the right to come in with this spouse no longer exists. Another group that may be affected by Brexit is foreigners applying for UK asylum. In the past, they used to rely on EU human rights laws to stay. Now the UK government is no longer bound by EU laws, it will eventually apply its own rules. Applying for asylum may be much harder than before because it will no longer be possible for people to appeal against the decision of the British courts to European courts. Although there are many advantages of having freedom of movement and trade between EU countries, in the past it has partly contributed to the problem of foreigners, illegally crossing into the UK on cargo trucks to work illegally or grow cannabis, as the recent tragic story of our 39 fellow countrymen demonstrated. Now, I think the UK will be able to better control its borders and concentrate resources to deal more effectively with this problem. Grabbing the positives The most obvious beneficiary group from Brexit, in my opinion, are Vietnamese students and researchers coming to the UK to study and work. Before Brexit, the UK government created many policy barriers that affected non-EU international students who wanted to stay to work here after their studies. Now, if there is to be a reduction in the number of immigrants from the EU, students from the continent might no longer be entitled to preferential tuition fees, or European qualifications might not be automatically recognised in the UK as before, increasing the demand for the British labour market. At the same time, the UK government has recently updated its policy on a post-study work visa, to allow international students to stay up to two years after their studies to apply for jobs in the country. This has offered a great opportunity for international students, including Vietnamese, to enter the UK for studies and employment. A post-Brexit strategy of the UK government is to strengthen its position as a global power in research and development, innovation, and its education system. This will surely be a good sign for Vietnamese students and help strengthen the ongoing co-operation of researchers and scientists of the two countries. As for Vietnamese people who work or run businesses in the UK, the direct and indirect impact of Brexit is still unclear, at least in the immediate future. This group is directly affected by the health of the economy, which in general has not shown a post-Brexit recession shock as some early pessimistic scenarios suggested. In contrast, the real estate market in particular seems to be enjoying a Brexit bump. The value of an average home in the UK increased by 4,000 ($5,150) last December the largest monthly increase since 2007, pushing the annual rise to 4 per cent. This trend is continuing and could still be an opportunity for investors from Vietnam. In the construction industry, there is also no sign yet of stalled projects due to Brexit. Of course, everything is still ahead and the risks of the economy falling back to recession cannot be eliminated. All we can say is wait and see, at least until trade agreements between the UK and others such as the EU, the United States, and even Vietnam are signed. Hoping for the best and planning for the worst remains relevant in this case. I do hope that Brexit will bring great new opportunities for the Vietnamese community in the UK in particular, and aids co-operation for the development of the two countries in general. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the UK-Vietnam strategic partnership. As highlighted by Gareth Ward, the British Ambassador to Vietnam, in a recent article: Vietnam is an important partner of the UK and has a faster growth rate than many other countries in the ASEAN. We look forward to continuing to support Vietnam to become the gateway of the ASEAN, strengthening our relationship and at the same time contributing to the process of building a safer and more sustainable world. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 22:01:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian police said on Tuesday they have arrested 61 Ethiopian illegal immigrants in a village located near a game reserve in the country's eastern region of Morogoro. Mugabo Wekwe, acting Morogoro regional police commander, said the 61 Ethiopians aged between 19 and 35 were arrested on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. in Doma village bordering the Mikumi National Park close to the Selous Game Reserve. "The 61 Ethiopian illegal immigrants were hiding in a bush," Wekwe told a news conference adding that preliminary investigations revealed that the aliens lost contact after they were abandoned by their host. The official said police were hunting for the host, reported to be a Tanzanian national. On Feb. 9, Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi advised Ethiopian authorities to find out reasons behind the migration of its citizens to other countries, including to Tanzania. Kabudi made the advice during talks with Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu on the sidelines of the 36th ordinary session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BAGHDAD There are multiple challenges keeping Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, recently named Iraq's prime minister-designate, from forming the government of independent technocrats that he pledged. The first major hurdle is that some political blocs want to continue to hold onto their current level of representation in the Cabinet. Under the constitution, Allawi is required within 30 days to form a government and go to parliament to obtain a vote of confidence with an absolute majority of at least 165 out of 329 parliament members. The Fatah and Sairoon Shiite blocs are the only ones supporting Allawi. They have 47 and 51 parliament members, respectively. Based on that, the new government needs a minimum of 67 additional votes to win a vote of confidence. Such a number can only be secured with the participation of the Kurdish and Sunni blocs. This is true particularly since some of the Shiite blocs, such as former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's al-Nasr bloc, refused to name Allawi to form a government. A source familiar with the talks to form a government told Al-Monitor that Allawi is finding it difficult to convince the Kurdish parties in particular to give up their current share of positions in the new government. The source, who declined to be named, added, Not all of the Sunni blocs consent to a government of independents. They want to take part in naming the new ministers. The source said, Allawi is seeking to include the Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis in the government, provided that the ministers are not a part of the political blocs. In case he fails to obtain support from said blocs, he will halt his attempts to form a new government. The source also said, The Shiite sides warned Allawi that naming ministers from the Kurdish and Sunni parties would result in their nominating someone else to head the government. This is what perhaps pushed Sadrist movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr to declare opposition to the pressure placed on Allawi. Sadr said in a Feb. 11 tweet, We are hearing of partisan and sectarian pressure to form an interim government. That would result in our being less satisfied with it, and could even lead us to disavow it. We continue to call for reforms. Moreover, Hadi al-Amiris Fatah bloc indicated that the pressure placed on the prime minister-designate would obstruct Allawi's quest for the selection of independent ministers. Abdel Amir el-Debbi, a member of the bloc, said, The Fatah bloc gave Allawi the freedom to select the ministers. The other blocs need to follow in our footsteps in order for the government to be formed within the constitutional deadline, and to refrain from holding onto particular ministries under the pretext of the election results. Under the current sectarian quota system based on election results, blocs receive a certain number of seats in the Cabinet. Mahmoud Khoshnao, a top official with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, told Al-Monitor that the Kurdish blocs, namely Gorran (Change), the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the PUK, agreed that the Kurdistan Regional Government and the prime minister-designate should hold direct talks on the formation of a new government. Commenting on Allawis desire to form a government where political parties are not represented, Khoshnao said, There is nothing called nonpartisan government in a parliamentary system. Having independent ministers is something irrelevant. He further said, Allawi has the right to seek to nominate competent and experienced ministers, without their being selected from outside the political parties and blocs. The current talks are centered on the nature of the ministerial program. He added, We have not touched on particular names for the ministerial portfolios. Meanwhile, the Sunni blocs are divided. There are those allied with Fatah, such as the National Axis bloc, which agreed to the selection of nonpartisan new figures. But the National Forces Alliance, led by parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi, is not a full advocate of such an idea. It holds three ministries in the Iraqi government and refuses to sacrifice them before the talks with Allawi start, said alliance member Mohammed al-Karbouli. Speaking to Al-Sumaria TV on Feb. 10, Karbouli questioned Allawis ability to keep the promises he made the day he was designated. Karbouli underlined that his bloc did not take part in the designation of Allawi and will not be engaged in talks with him until it becomes clear which party nominated him. Karboulis remarks referred to Iraqi President Barham Salih's apparent violation of constitutional Article 76 when he designated Allawi to become prime minister, similarly to what happened when Adel Abdul Mahdi was designated prime minister in 2018. In 2018, Salih did not reveal the name of the largest parliamentary bloc that is tasked with naming the prime minister as per the constitution, and Abdul Mahdi thus turned into the candidate of all parliamentary blocs, and the blocs that nominated him (Fatah and Sairoon) pretended later on that they had nothing to do with that nomination. Abdul Mahdi submitted his resignation in November, but continues to be the caretaker prime minister pending parliamentary approval of Allawi and his Cabinet. So far, none of the blocs have officially nominated Allawi as prime minister. Yet it was leaked that the Sairoon bloc would nominate him with the approval of Fatah. But other blocs have no desire to take responsibility for a candidate who is not tolerated by the street. It also appears that Allawi is unlikely to be able to overcome the pressure from the political blocs without having to break his promises to bring about reforms. While protesters in southern and central cities are demanding new elections, Allawi's government would not be able to serve as an interim one preparing for early elections if two-thirds of the legislators do not vote to dissolve the parliament. Moreover, an as-yet unratified new electoral law that many see as inadequate and disputes over the composition of the elections commission make it seem very unlikely for Allawi to be able to hold early elections; the last elections were held in 2018 and the next ones are scheduled for 2022. All this could mean that Allawi won't be able to effect reforms or even that he will fail to form a government, in which case Abdul Mahdi would continue as prime minister. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has expressed deep concern over the offensive attempts by Russian-backed forces near Zolote in eastern Ukraine. Deeply concerned about the fresh military escalation and offensive attempts by Russian-backed forces near Zolote this morning. Minsk implementation is impossible without a ceasefire, Linkevicius wrote on Twitter. As Ukrinform reported, on the morning of February 18, Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi. The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line. According to the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters, the combat has ended. One of the Ukrainian defenders was killed, and four others were wounded. ish Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (257) By Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - The list of parties at London's International Petroleum Week, one of the world's biggest oil industry gatherings, continues to shrink as hosts such as ExxonMobil and Azerbaijan's SOCAR cancel events due to the coronavirus outbreak, trading sources said. IP Week is a key annual oil traders' gathering that takes place in February. Oil majors, national oil companies and trading firms host receptions for networking throughout the week, which is scheduled this year for Feb. 24-27. Spooked by the outbreak, several oil companies based in Asia said last week they would skip IP Week. Oil major BP then cancelled all events along with storage company Vopak and inspection company Bureau Veritas . Others are now following suit. ExxonMobil , SOCAR, Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina joint venture PetroIneos, and Polish refiner PKN Orlen are the latest to cancel receptions this week. SOCAR's event typically draws more than 1,000 people. Shell hosts several receptions, and so far only its fuel oil event has been cancelled, traders specified. "IP Week reception scheduled for February 25 at the Savoy (hotel) is cancelled due to recent developments concerning the spread of the coronavirus," SOCAR said in a note to attendees. A spokesman for Exxon said one part of its business had cancelled IP Week-related activities, without providing details. A spokesman for Shell did not immediately comment. IP Week organiser, the Energy Institute, said the main conference was "full steam ahead", but added that "common sense precautions are being taken at the venue as regards coronavirus" and delegates should follow UK government advice on the virus. Commodities pricing agency Argus, which also runs a series of events as part of IP Week, said it was planning to go ahead with them, though a spokeswoman added: "It's a developing situation and things could change." Story continues S&P Global Platts, another IP Week event organiser, will proceed with its oil and energy forum as planned, but "will continue to monitor government advice in the coming days, and will adjust plans if necessary", a spokeswoman said. China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution. Among others, Spain's Repsol has decided not to send a delegation, traders said. Repsol did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "The avalanche is rolling down the hill," one source said, referring the lengthening list of cancelled meetings and parties. (Reporting By Julia Payne, Ahmad Ghaddar and Dmitry Zhdannikov; additional reporting by Olga Yagova and Shadia Nasralla, Editing by Jan Harvey and Mike Harrison) In 1973, a teenage Debra McKenna accidentally left her future husband's ring in a department store in the US town of Brunswick Maine. Fast forward 47 years and it has been found by a sheet metal worker - buried in a Finnish forest. Ms McKenna, 63, lost the ring in Portland when she was a student at Morse High School, the Bangor Daily News reported. The ring, which had engravings identifying the school, belonged to Ms McKenna's late husband Shawn, who she dated all throughout high school and college. The couple was married for 40 years until Shawn died in 2017 after a six-year battle with cancer. Shawn gave Ms McKenna the ring before he left for college, but she accidentally left it in a department store. She said the ring was largely forgotten until the worker found it buried under eight inches of soil in Kaarina, a small town in southwest Finland. Finnish media reports that Marko Saarinen was using a metal detector when he found the blue-stoned, silver ring. "Usually my findings are bottle caps or other junk," he said. Mr Saarinen contacted the alumni association, who had no trouble identifying the ring's owner as it bore the 1973 graduation date and the initials S.M. Ms McKenna said she cried when the ring arrived in the mail at her Brunswick home last week. "It's very touching in this world of negativity, to have decent people step forward and make an effort," she said. "There are good people in the world, and we need more of them." Ms McKenna has no idea how the long-lost ring ended up in a Finnish forest. She said Shawn spent some time working in Finland in the early 1990s - but nowhere near the city where the ring was found and he had not seen the ring in 20 years at that point. Ram temple in Ayodhya to be ready by 2025, open for 'darshan' to devotees by 2023 end No graveyard in Ram Janmabhoomi, clarifies Ayodhya DM India oi-Deepika S Ayodhya, Feb 18: The Uttar Pradesh district administration on Tuesday said that there is no graveyard within the 67 acre land of Ram Janmabhoomi where a Ram temple is to be constructed. The statement comes a day after senior Supreme Court lawyer has written to the Ram temple trust on behalf of a group of Muslims in Ayodhya, asking that five acres of land around the demolished Babri Masjid where a graveyard is situated be spared for the sake of 'sanatan dharma'. "At present there is no graveyard within the 67 acre campus of the Ram Janmabhoomi," District Magistrate, Ayodhya, Anuj Jha said,reports Hindustan Times. This temple in Patna to donate Rs 10 crore for building Ram temple in Ayodhya "It was after the Supreme Court's order that the 67 acre land was transferred to the Centre. No graveyard exists at the Ram Janmabhoomi," the DM said. "We are following Supreme Court's order." The letter, written by advocate M R Shamshad, is addressed to all 10 trustees of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra. Shamshad said according to Muslims, there is a graveyard known as 'Ganj Shahidan' around the demolished Babri Masjid where 75 Muslims who lost their lives in the 1885 riots in Ayodhya were buried. "There is a mention of this in Faizabad Gazetteer also," he said. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 "The central government has not considered the issue not using the grave-yard of Muslims for constructing the grand temple of Lord Ram. It has violated 'dharma'," the letter stated. Construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya to begin in April "In view of religious scriptures of 'sanatan dharma', you need to consider whether the temple of Lord Ram can have foundation on the graves of Muslims? This is a decision that the management of the trust has to take," it said. "With all humility and respect to Lord Ram, I request you, not to use the land of about four to five acres in which the graves of Muslims are there around the demolished mosque," the letter added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 13:05 [IST] After several twists and turns, billionaire industrialist Sanjeev Gupta has finally got a presence in India. His GFG Alliance on February 18 announced the acquisition of Adhunik Metaliks, the stressed company that had been referred to the National Company Law Tribunal. The deal, which also includes Zion Steel, is worth $60 million, or about Rs 425 crore, said a statement from the company. Adhunik owed banks over Rs 5,300 crore. "The transaction marks the Alliance's entry into India one of the world's fastest growing steel markets," it said. "Today marks an important milestone in our global steel strategy with the purchase of Adhunik Metaliks and our entry into India," added Gupta, the Chairman of the Alliance. All the steel businesses of the Alliance come under its LIBERTY Steel Group. The announcement comes after the NCLAT had asked the Alliance to make a payment by February 14. And it also brings to close an often contentious insolvency process. Though GFG Alliance's bid was accepted in 2018, the case went into litigation. Similar is the case of Amtek Auto, for which again the Alliance had emerged as the largest bidder. But after it backed out of the deal, the banks had to restart the auction, and a US based hedge fund has now emerged as the favourite. Global empire Gupta, who started off in the trading business, has created a global steel empire buying loss making units across the world. LIBERTY Steel Group now produces 18 million tons a year, making it the 17th largest steelmaker in the world. "It has been a challenging journey to get us to this stage, but we now look forward to starting work in partnership with all stakeholders to revive these plants and bring employment back. On a personal note, it is great to be investing in the country where my family began in the steel industry a generation ago," Gupta said. Adhunik is an integrated steel plant located at Chadrihariharpur near Rourkela in Odisha. The plant has both blast furnace and Electric Arc Furnace steel making capability with 0.5 million tons per annum capacity, and a 34MW captive power plant. Adhunik along with Zion Steel, its associated steel rolling facility, has a combined rolling capacity of 0.4 million tons per annum. The sites produce products for the automotive, energy, engineering and oil & gas sectors. The clean, openhearted style of his dances has remained constant, as trends and fashions in contemporary dance have come and gone. Mr. Alstons choreography may not boast the extreme physicality of Wayne McGregor, or the cultural relevance of Akram Khan, or the eye-popping visual effects of Crystal Pite, to name three celebrated younger choreographers who have electrified British audiences in recent years. Nor is he remaking the wheel with each new dance: Instead, his pieces exude an assuredness and craft honed over half a century of making dances. He was almost the first of the homegrown British modern-dance choreographers and has grown into the role of elder statesman to the generations who have followed, the veteran British critic Judith Mackrell said in an email No one else does quite what he does in Britain. His interests span ballet and modern dance. After a (late) start at the then-Martha-Graham-based London School of Contemporary Dance, he created his first company, Strider, in 1972. But a fascination with the working methods of Merce Cunningham led him to decamp for New York a few years later to study with him. After his return to England, Mr. Alston went on to choreograph for, and then lead, Ballet Rambert for 13 years, before founding the Richard Alston Dance Company. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Residents of the Syrian city of Aleppo are planning a mass celebration midday February 18 in the citys central plaza in a gathering to show support and gratitude to the Syrian military, Syrian lawmaker Jirair Reisian told ARMENPRESS. Although Aleppo was generally liberated, there were areas which were being shelled by terrorist groups. Thats why the Aleppo airport wasnt being opened. Today we can already joyfully note that these areas are also liberated. Aleppo can be declared to be a safe city. The people are in jubilation, and today at midday the Aleppo residents will gather in the central square to express their support and gratitude to the Syrian army, Reisian, the Syrian-Armenian MP said. Reisian emphasized that Aleppo was fully liberated from terror due to great efforts, coherent struggle and devotion. The lawmaker noted that the people were very excited over the airports re-launch, due to its huge significance for the city. President of Syria Bashar al-Assad addressed the residents of Aleppo, expressing gratitude and noting that they are victorious, according to Gandzasar newspaper. Aleppo preserved its historic unique trait. The Aleppines, being under siege, did not give up. They persistently worked and secured their living. The city, contrary to its disastrous condition, remained busy, having its contribution to the countrys economy with its modest capabilities. I am sure that this kind of struggle and resistance stems from patriotism. Aleppo must re-emerge from the ashes of war, rise up and assume leadership in the Syrian economy, al-Assad said. On February 17, the Syrian army command officially announced that the western and north-western villages of Aleppo are liberated after heavy battles against terrorist formations. Aleppo was declared to be a safe city. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan IT services firm HCL Technologies on Tuesday said it will open a Global Delivery Center (GDC) in Hartford, Connecticut to offer digital transformation services to clients in smart manufacturing, insurance, aerospace, and defense industries. With the GDC, HCL will invest in the area and create local jobs with the help of a strong ecosystem regionally and at the state level, a statement said. The first anchor client for GDC will be Stanley Black & Decker, a diversified global industrial that operates the world's largest tool company that signed a significant global agreement with HCL, it added. "The company will bring advanced digital capabilities and help transform Stanley Black & Decker's global application and infrastructure environments to enhance the company's agility and ability to respond to emerging business needs," it said. As part of the deal, HCL will ramp up to deploy 1,000 people globally for Stanley Black & Decker, it added. "We are excited to begin this partnership with Stanley Black & Decker, and this delivery centre will be a true testament to our collective vision for digital and transformative technologies for smart manufacturing," HCL Technologies Executive Vice President for MEGALT Verticals in US Ajay Bahl said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UPPER THUMB The State Land Bank Authority announced Friday the creation of the Tuscola County Land Bank Authority. Tuscola County joins 47 other local land banks statewide, and is the third county in the Thumb to create a land bank authority. Huron County and Sanilac County have each created one. The new Tuscola County Land Bank Authority will give us the economic development tools needed to help eliminate blight, spur economic development in our county, fix title problems and deal with properties that have little or no market value, explained Tuscola Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Stephen Erickson. Although Tuscola County Commissioners recently approved forming a land bank, it was the second time that they did that. On October, 23, 2018, commissioners approved forming a land bank. They did so at the urging of state officials in that it would be beneficial to the county because 650 acres of land including the two state prisons outside of Caro, were ripe for development. However, while encouraging the county to form a land bank, the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority posted on its website that it was seeking proposals for 226 acres of land, which included the former prison camp and some of the psychiatric hospital property. That posting was also done on Oct. 23, 2018. Commissioners were surprised by the states action. It was noted that at the time, the state was interested in giving the county the property to develop if it formed a land bank. Although the state didnt directly guarantee the state land if a land bank was formed, they suggested we strongly consider developing one, noted Commissioner Kim Vaughan. After the state offered the land for sale, the countys effort to form a land bank stalled so the other necessary steps to form one were not taken. The state tried to market the land to developers. When that didnt work, the state donated some land to Indianfields Township to expand the park, and the state offered the rest of the state land to the county. Because several months had passed since commissioners first approved developing a land bank, the initial step of approving a land bank was redone to move forward, said county Controller-Administrator Clayette Zechmeister Although there is a state land bank, land banks at the local level create more opportunity for counties to return unproductive properties back to the local tax roll. Having an additional land bank in the Thumb is great news for the region, state land bank Interim Director Jeff Huntington said. The new land bank authority will help boost economic development and I look forward to working with county officials to continue revitalizing communities in the area. The state land bank works with counties across the state who are interested in beginning the process of creating their own local land bank. Unless a local land bank is created, the state assumes the role as primary resource for land within the county. The state land bank has seen an increase in the number of counties interested in exploring the benefits of land banking. Since 2010, a total of 17 county land banks have been created. This is seen as a positive sign that communities are serious about assessing their development needs and taking the steps needed to combat blight, strengthen communities and create more opportunities for local development. Besides the 2,500 properties available by the state land bank, there are many more available by local land banks. For a list of the properties go to the website Michigan.gov/LandBank. French fashion house Chanel said on Monday it has postponed plans to restage its Metiers d'Art show in Beijing amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus that has killed more than 1800 people in China alone. "Considering the current situation and following the guidance of Chinese authorities, Chanel has decided to postpone its project of a replica of the Paris -- 31 Rue Cambon 2019/20 Metiers d'art collection in May in Beijing to a later and more appropriate moment," the house said in a statement, as reported by WWD. "Chanel is monitoring the situation closely. At the foremost are the health and wellbeing of its teams and clients," the statement added. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 1800 people in that country alone, while cases have been registered in several countries across the world, including India. The collection, which was initially shown at the Grand Palais in Paris on December 4, last year, was scheduled to travel to China before another showing in London on June 4 later this year at Old Billingsgate. Prada too has said it would postpone its resort show in Japan, scheduled for May 21, as a precautionary measure amid the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Penn Stater who has literally gone farther than any other is about to receive an honor from university officials that ensures he will never be forgotten. Guion Guy Bluford Jr., best known as the first African-American astronaut to travel in space, is scheduled to have a building at the universitys Innovation Park campus named for him by Penn States board of trustees later this week. The building in question houses Penn States CIMP-3D lab, which uses powdered metals and 3D printing equipment to develop metal parts for various business applications. The additive manufacturing being developed here is an emerging technology that hold promise in its ability to use far less of very expensive metals to create a given component. The proposed Guion S. Bluford Building will commemorate the 1964 PSU graduate who, after a distinguished military aviation career, was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1978 and, five years later, became the first African-American in space aboard the Challenger space shuttle. Bluford would go on to fly on four space shuttle missions in all, logging more than 688 hours in space. Bluford, a Philadelphia native whose parents were a mechanical engineer and a special education teacher, earned a degree in aerospace engineering and an Air Force commission while at State College. He would also marry a woman, Linda, who he met during his freshman year. So, as Bluford has stated in prior interviews, Penn State was a significant institution for me. The 1978 astronaut class - which had been the first group since 1969 - broke a number of glass ceilings by including the first women, as well as the first African-Americans. In 1993, Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel, and he began a third career in the private sector, serving most recently as president of Aerospace Technology Group, an engineering consulting firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. With his expertise in aerospace engineering, Bluford was also tapped to serve as executive director of the space shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation Board in 2003. Penn State named Bluford a distinguished alumnus in 1983, and he has subsequently been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame (1997), and the U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame in 2010. In recommending the naming to the trustees, Penn States Facilities Naming Committee wrote, in part: Dr. Bluford has been a role model and advisor for many of the nations aerospace engineers, passionately inspiring those from under-represented groups both at Penn State and nationally through activities with the Society of Distinguished Alumni and two decades of service on the Committee on Minority Activities. He remains engaged with the Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, visiting annually to provide outreach to under-represented groups.... The naming of this building recognizes Dr. Blufords historical significance and signifies Penn States commitment to excellence in space systems across many domains including aerospace engineering, systems design and astrophysics, and active commitment to mentoring, equity and inclusion. Penn State spokesman Curtis Chan said a formal naming ceremony will be scheduled at a later date. White House science adviser Kelvin Droegemeier speaks on a panel at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences annual meeting in Seattle. Other panelists include moderator Margaret Hamburg, AAAS board chair (on Droegemeiers left side); Jodi Black of the National Institutes of Health; Pradeep Khosla, chancellor at the University of California at San Diego; and Mary Lidstrom, vice provost for research at the University of Washington. (GeekWire Photo / Alan Boyle) Concerns about international intellectual property theft are feeding into the formulation of new guidelines for auditing federal research funding. And the White Houses science adviser, Kelvin Droegemeier, says hes trying to make sure the guidelines dont become too restrictive. For research security in particular, I can tell you that weve developed a policy for guidance to agencies that is really good, Droegemeier said today during a town hall session at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences annual meeting in Seattle. Let me just tell you, a year ago, I was concerned about where it was going to land, because I thought it was pretty heavy-duty. It would increase burden and wouldnt actually address the challenges. Since then, the guidelines have been adjusted to respond to input received from international partners and from the Joint Committee on the Research Environment, or JCORE, which includes representatives from academia and industry as well as government agencies. The one thing that we dont want to do is build really tall fences around really big areas, Droegemeier, a meteorologist who heads the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy, told attendees. That would hamstring our research enterprises, and thats not the right approach. After the session, Droegemeier told GeekWire that the guidelines would be released soon but didnt provide a precise time frame. Research security and intellectual property theft have become huge concerns in recent years, feeding into larger U.S.-China trade disputes. The controversy over Huaweis 5G plans and the potential for security breaches is one example. A case at the University of California at San Diego, involving an eye doctor who was accused of receiving support from Chinese backers as well as U.S. federal grants, is another. Story continues Droegemeier noted that the FBI is devoting significant resources to tracking the research security issue. Weve heard from Director [Chris] Wray at the FBI that theres a little over 1,000 open cases that have a nexus to China in particular, which are a mixture of those involving private companies and academia. A lot of those are not criminal cases, theyre breaking rules on disclosure, or whatever, he said. Jodi Black, deputy director of the National Institutes of Healths Office of Extramural Research, said her office alone is working with 80 institutions on cases involving about 180 individuals. Thats a small number in the context of the entire scientific enterprise, but there are some really very egregious things, and it normalizes that bad behavior, she said. Black listed several categories of bad behavior, such as receiving funds from multiple sources including foreign sources for doing the same research. Black said Chinese funding in particular can be problematic because of the strings that are sometimes attached to the money, such as establishing a Chinese-based lab or giving preference to Chinese students for post-doctoral positions. She said the lapses extend to the peer-review process: For example, shes seen cases of reviewers forwarding pre-publication drafts to foreign colleagues, complete with annotations, as well as efforts to manipulate the scores for papers submitted by favored investigators. Thats not fair, Black said. Thats cheating. Although the details of the new guidelines havent been released, the comments made today suggest therell be more attention devoted to auditing the disclosure forms that are submitted by researchers. Microbiologist Mary Lidstrom, the University of Washingtons vice provost for research, said UW is already adding extra layers of scrutiny, including a targeted monitoring program for collaborations involving high-risk countries. This is a very streamlined process, she said. It only delays an agreement a day or two and its invisible to the researcher. Droegemeier talked up the value of spot-checking the veracity of disclosure forms. There are 54 FBI field offices in the United States. Universities are not equipped to go out and do a kind of TSA pull someone out the line and spot-check a disclosure. Those disclosures are all self-disclosures, so the accuracy depends on the degree to which people are being audited. Well, thats not enough these days, he said. People have to understand that those things are being audited and spot-checked, just like your taxes occasionally get looked at for a potential audit, Droegemeier said. Just simply knowing that, not only is it a risk-based approach, but its a behavior-based approach. Thats the approach that this policy were developing is taking. Black said that should feed into the development of a research culture that fully embraces security concerns, and heads off bad behavior before it happens. Erring on the side of disclosure, and using that as your training mantra, I think will help resolve a lot of problems, she said. More from GeekWire: Greece was hit with a 24-hour strike Tuesday over a pension reform encouraging people to stay longer in the workforce. The labour action paralysed public transport in Athens, intercity trains and ferry ship services. Civil servants are also walking off the job and journalists will stage a three-hour work stoppage against the pension reform. "This bill is practically the continuation of (austerity) laws introduced in 2010-2019," civil servants' union ADEDY said. Unions will hold street protests in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major cities later in the day. The new conservative government says the reform, to be voted by Friday, will make the troubled Greek pension system viable to 2070. The labour ministry says the overhaul -- the third major revamp in a decade -- will contain pension increases and reduce penalties for pensioners still working. Successive governments have attempted to reform the pension system, whose previously generous handouts are seen as one of the causes of the decade-long Greek debt crisis. Chronic overspending and the inaccurate reporting of the budget deficit spooked creditors in 2010, and required three successive bailouts by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to avert a Greek bankruptcy. In return for billions of euros in rescue funds, Greece had to adopt unpopular austerity reforms and pension cuts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The deaths of four family members in the central Chinese city of Wuhan who succumbed to the new coronavirus while self-quarantining in the same apartment have once again raised serious questions about the policy of staying home imposed at the start of the epidemic. Chang Kai, a notable director at Hubei Film Studios, died on Feb. 14 from pneumonia caused by the virus also known as Covid-19, according to an obituary published by his employer. He was 55. His father, mother, and older sister also died from the same illness between Jan. 28 and Feb. 14, Caixin learned from one of Changs former college classmates. The story of their deaths starkly illuminates how authorities in the disease-stricken city may have mishandled the spread of the virus by initially pursuing a policy of home quarantine in a bid to relieve pressure on overburdened, undersupplied hospitals. That policy went ahead despite concerns that it posed a risk to public health. Chen Bo, a professor at Wuhans Huazhong University of Science and Technology, told Caixin that home quarantine could spark clusters of cross-household and cross-community infections, and cause more deaths by allowing serious infections to progress without treatment. One of Changs former schoolmates told Caixin that Changs father first reported symptoms of coronavirus infection on Jan. 25, the first day of the Lunar New Year. Chang took the older man to several hospitals in Wuhan but was turned away each time due to a shortage of beds. Three days later, Changs father died. But the familys tragedy was only just beginning. On Feb. 2, Changs mother died after contracting the disease. Read more In Depth: Understaffed, Under-resourced and Overwhelmed Coronavirus Early Response The same day, Zhong Nanshan, a leading Chinese epidemiologist helping direct the response to the outbreak, said in a TV interview that it was extremely dangerous for hospitals with insufficient beds to send home people diagnosed with the virus or suspected of having it. Also on Feb. 2, authorities in Wuhan announced they were ending the home quarantine policy, and began sorting patients into confirmed cases, suspected cases, people with fevers a common symptom of both the new coronavirus and many other health problems and people who had been in contact with coronavirus patients but had not yet shown symptoms. The new policy isolated patients in each category and treated them accordingly. However, the change in approach came too late for the Chang family. On Feb. 14, hours after Chang himself passed away, his older sister also lost her battle with the virus. Changs wife, who also contracted the disease, remains in a serious condition. One of Changs former college classmates showed Caixin a message written by the filmmaker on his deathbed describing his familys fruitless search for hospital beds, his grief at his parents demise, and his own ailing health. Written in poetic classical Chinese, it ends: As I draw my last feeble breaths, I say to my family, my friends, and my son in faraway London: All my life, I was a filial son, a responsible father, a loving husband, and an honest person! Farewell to those I love and to those who loved me! Friends paid homage to the kindhearted and easygoing director. I hope this tragedy will be investigated so we can know whose fault it was, the classmate said. As of 10 a.m. Monday, China had recorded 70,636 cases of the new coronavirus, along with 1,772 deaths. Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) With so many Startups and Scaleups developing solutions to the world's most concerning issues, The Planet Calls establishes a new collaboration to enable its entrepreneurs access to onshore and offshore space in The Netherlands. The Planet Calls to Enable a "Sea Playground" by Partnering with Groningen Seaports. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 17:30:07 Press Information Idol Studios Dublin, Ireland Felipe Lodi CEO +353 86 871 9524 email http://www.idolstudios.com Published by Leslie Maliepaard +353 87 401 7783 e-mail http://theplanetcalls.com # 454 Words Dublin, IrelandCEO+353 86 871 9524Leslie Maliepaard+353 87 401 7783 DUBLIN, IRELAND - With so many Startups and Scaleups developing solutions to the world's most concerning issues, The Planet Calls establishes a new collaboration to enable its entrepreneurs access to onshore and offshore space in The Netherlands.Localised 200km northeast of Amsterdam, right at the border with Germany, Groningen Seaports not only provides the infrastructure to innovators but also a strategic physical space to nearby countries well-known for leading the way towards a circular economy.With the move, the The Planet Calls Sustainability Accelerator also aims to share ideas with companies of the calibre of the French Natural Gas Distribution ENGIE and Google, that recently opened a new Datacenter in the region, confirming that sustainable energy is one of the benefits that Groningen can offer.We look forward to working closely with Groningen Seaports to find solutions and act fast to turn this into a Plastic REVolution. One where we find true innovations in the use of plastics, resulting in avoiding plastic waste and creating a closed-loop on plastics said The Planet Calls co-founder, Leslie Maliepaard.Harbour Master Pieter van der Wal said about the partnership: "Our port is located on the Wad-den Sea World Heritage Site. That means that we constantly work on sustainable entrepreneurship. We are signatories to the 'Green Deal fishery for a clean sea' and the 'Eems-Dollard 2050' pro-gramme, in which we promote clean waters in our area." The Planet Calls signed with Groningen in December 2019 proving once again that they are going to use everything at their disposal to combat the plastic and climate crisis. By providing the ideal "office space" by the sea to their collaborators, the win-win move is vital to attracting companies to their growing portfolio of Startups and Scaleups.About The Planet CallsThe Planet Calls is a sustainability accelerator aimed at startups with promising innovation for solving global challenges. Their objective is to build a global Cleantech community for startups and investors who are creating economies and networks in service of the Planet.About Groningen SeaportsGroningen Seaports is the port authority for the port of Delfzijl, Eemshaven and the adjoining industrial sites. The organisation provides the complete package of port services to its industrial and commercial clients, from logistics and infrastructure services to the issue and maintenance of the sites in both port regions. As well as the two excellently equipped ports, Groningen Seaports manages the industrial sites around the ports and at other areas in the Delfzijl/Eemshaven region. Various clustered business sites are located on the sites, including a chlorine-related chemicals cluster with Nouryon and its alliance partners as important players.For further information, please contact:The Planet Callssocial@ theplanetcalls.com Groningen Seaportsinfo@ groningen-seaports.com The jingle used to tell us we loved football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars. These days we love Japanese utes and small Toyotas, Hyundais and Mazdas more. Mondays announcement from General Motors, Holdens US parent, that the brand will be retired and local design and engineering operations cease is doubtless based on strong financial reasoning, but poor brand management is also part of it. The numbers didnt stack up. Sales of Holden vehicles and a shift from large sedans to small and medium sized cars and sportscars and SUVs didnt help. At its peak, between 2002 and 2005, Holden sold more than 170,000 vehicles a year. By 2019 it sold less than 40,000; none of them made here. In November, it sold just 2,668 cars, down from 5,125 the previous November. Global competition from Japan, Korea and Thailand for brands like Kia and Hyundai, added to its woes. Internationally, Holden was only present in two small markets, Australian and New Zealand, which between them dont even account for 1 per cent of global sales, and require steering columns on the right hand side of car. It has made Holdens hard to internationalise. David Odom Age: 52 Education: High school Three examples of prior offices held or volunteer work: 1. Volunteer for Nederland heritage emergency service for past 21 years Q: What do you believe the sheriffs role is when it comes to advocating for policies to be set and influencing how policing is carried out in the county? (More of a philosophical question, do you let the commissioners set policy and just wait for orders, or do you actively go to them and tell them what you need?) A: I would definitely go to commissioners court and give them my thoughts on what we need. I also believe that the sheriffs office has the largest budget in Jefferson County, so working with the commissioners and keeping in communication with them is very important. Q: What are your priorities for the Sheriffs Office and how do you plan to carry them out? (If not included, Id say a follow-up to that would be How do you feel that differs from how the Office currently is run?) A: My priorities are to bring ethics and integrity back to the department. That is my number one goal. I also want to serve the people. I want to get out to these rural areas. You have places like China and Nome where the sheriffs department is the only law enforcement. All of the cities have their own police departments. Im going to listen to the rural areas concerns. Q: Last year the state legislature enacted a hemp law that some cause some district attorneys, including Bob Wortham, to announce they would stop prosecuting low-level marijuana crimes. The legislature has since clarified the intent of that law and urged law enforcement and prosecutors to simply look for a proper hemp certificate and use circumstantial evidence, instead of fully testing cannabis found in low-level cases. With all of that said, how do you feel the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office should be pursuing and addressing people with low levels of marijuana? A: Im all for cite and release for small amounts of marijuana. I would destroy the what they had and cite and release. To fully go after all of them, we would back up our crime lab and our system. If it is a large amount, we would do like we did when I was in Nederland. We would process it and charge it as any other case while we waited for it to be tested. The way the law was made ties law enforcement and DAs hands. Truth be told, we havent had any violent crimes that I am aware of from marijuana. We havent had to wrestle with someone that was high off pot like we have with people on meth or PCP or other drugs. My guess is that Texas will legalize it in the near future. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: My opponent hasnt seemed to interested in getting out and meeting with the people. Hes been invited to all the events I have been invited to, but I have only seen him at one. You have to get out and be seen. I know he has done some videos, but you have to meet with the people to know what they need. Emil Serda Age: 58 Education: High school Three examples of prior offices held or volunteer work: N/A Q: What do you believe the sheriffs role is when it comes to advocating for policies to be set and influencing how policing is carried out in the county? (More of a philosophical question, do you let the commissioners set policy and just wait for orders, or do you actively go to them and tell them what you need?) A: It has to be both. I am going to go to them to tell them what I need. Our budget is only so big. It is my job to make sure that we get the most out of every single dollar. In my time in the oil industry, I have worked with some large budgets as big as $200 million and down to $10 million. It s up to me to make that budget work. If I go to the commissioners and they say we dont have the money for something I know we will need, Ill wash cars to raise the money. Q: What are your priorities for the Sheriffs Office and how do you plan to carry them out? (If not included, Id say a follow-up to that would be How do you feel that differs from how the Office currently is run?) A: We have to reduce the crime in the area. The crime has gotten out of control. Its sad. I want to start a crime task force by pairing up with all of he local police departments, or which ever ones want to participate so that we can all get a handle on the crime. It has gotten to the point where people are afraid to go to the mall. Q: Last year the state legislature enacted a hemp law that some cause some district attorneys, including Bob Wortham, to announce they would stop prosecuting low-level marijuana crimes. The legislature has since clarified the intent of that law and urged law enforcement and prosecutors to simply look for a proper hemp certificate and use circumstantial evidence, instead of fully testing cannabis found in low-level cases. With all of that said, how do you feel the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office should be pursuing and addressing people with low levels of marijuana? A: If its a small amount of marijuana and it is a young person, I would try to get in touch with their parents and find a different way to handle it. I dont want to fill our jail with young people because of a small mistake. There was a time when I was on patrol and found a kid under a bridge who was drunk. He wasnt behind the wheel, but instead of arresting him, I called his dad, who I didnt know and talked to him about the consequences of drinking and driving. His dad came and picked him up and left the truck there overnight and he didnt drink and drive. You have to do this job with compassion. Q: Why do you believe youre the best candidate and, specifically, a better alternative than your opponent? A: I go back to the administrative part of the job. I know my opponent has a lot of law experience. He probably remembers more penal codes than I do, but I can look that up in the book. All of that is right there. I have the experience managing people and handling finances that he doesnt. Some answers have been edited for length. Rose McGowan (Credit: Matt Licari/Invision/AP) Rose McGowan has said that she regrets going after Natalie Portman and her political statement at the Oscars. The actress slated Portman, after she wore a cape embroidered with names of some of the women snubbed at this year's awards. Read more: Oscars respond to In Memoriam snub complaints McGowan spoke of her 'disgust' and said that she found the move 'deeply offensive'. I just want her and other actresses to walk the walk, he said. Natalie Portman (Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) What is it with actresses of your ilk? You A-listers could change the world if youd take a stand instead of being the problem. Yes, you, Natalie. You are the problem. Lip service is the problem. Fake support of other women is the problem. Portman later responded to the comments, saying that she agreed with McGowan that her being called 'brave' for wearing the garment by the media was wide of the mark. Brave is a term I more strongly associate with actions like those of the women who have been testifying against Harvey Weinstein the last few weeks, under incredible pressure, Portman said (McGowan is among those who have accused producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault). Rose McGowan speaks outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein at day one of the Harvey Weinstein criminal trial (Credit: RW/MediaPunch/IPX) Now McGowan has tempered her remarks. My critique shouldve been about Hollywoods ongoing culture of silence, she wrote in a tweet. Read more: Gervais slams political awards speeches I realize that by critiquing someone personally, I lost sight of the bigger picture. All voices, however spoken, are valid. Lets all keep pushing boundaries in whatever way we can, its time to get loud. My critique shouldve been about Hollywoods ongoing culture of silence. I realize that by critiquing someone personally, I lost sight of the bigger picture. All voices, however spoken, are valid. Lets all keep pushing boundaries in whatever way we can, its time to get loud. rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) February 17, 2020 McGowan has been at the forefront of the campaigning for women's equality in Hollywood, as well as being vocal over her accusations against Weinstein. In 2017, as the #MeToo movement began to take shape, she revealed that she'd received a $100,000 pay off from Weinstein over an incident of alleged sexual harrassment in 1997, and incident she later alleged was rape. A security analyst David Agbe wants government to stop hounding members of the separatist group and dialogue with its leaders. To him, the dialogue will give government the opportunity to understand the concerns of the Homeland Study Group Foundation and find amicable ways of calming them down and resolving any outstanding issue. David Agbe who is the Executive Director for Institute for Ghana Institute of Governance and Security (GIGS), believes that such move is better than arresting members of the group which he insists will amount to nothing in the long run. He further described the arrest of the members of the group as a knee jerk approach. The security analyst made the remark on Behind the News on Radio Ghana on Monday. Separatist groups are all over the world. But what we are seeing now is just a basic issue that government needs to meet with those people and dialogue with them. Government needs to engage these people and ask them what can we do for you? What is your problem? They [Government] think that this group of people cannot pose a security threat to the country so they deploy police and military men to arrest these people, bring them to Accra and put them before court and that is the end of the story. That is not the end of the story. What the people are crying for is that the place has not been developed properly. So you have to assembly those people and negotiate with them on what they want, he added. Arrest of separatists Mr. Agbe made the suggestion on the back of the arrest of some 21 suspected members of the separatists group by the Ghana Armed Forces. The suspects comprising 20 males and a female were rounded up at their alleged training camp in a forest in Kpevedui in the Volta Region during the early hours of Monday by soldiers of the 66 Artillery Regiment. Over 40 members of the group had earlier been arrested in various parts of the country and put before court. Stop arrests But according to Mr. Agbe, the arrests will not in any way end the revolt. I'm speaking from my understanding of international systems and security point of view. Government needs to pay attention to these people. It is not going to stop today; it is not going to stop tomorrow. What they are looking for in international law is called self-determination. Many people are looking for self-determination. You cannot deny them self-determination. What you need to do is to try as much as possible to negotiate to be able to bring them to a consensus telling them that whatever you are seeking for, government is ever ready to address their concerns so they should tone down. But if you keep using police and military force, it will get a point in time that you will not be able to control it, he noted. Archibald Letsa rejects dialogue suggestion But the Volta Regional Minister who also spoke on the programme rejected the suggestion insisting that government will do no such thing. I think that when the law is broken the law must be applied. They are not operating with more vigour. We are on top of the issue. The security agencies are alert. But the activities of the security agencies the issue would have been worse. This thing must be interrogated. That is why we have to leave this issue to the security agencies. We cannot allow people to be doing illegal military things on our land. Declaration of independence The leader of the Separatist movement, Mr. Charles Komi Kudzordzi alias Papavi Hogbedetor declared independence for the Western Togoland state on November 17. The Homeland Study Group Foundation, which intensified its campaign to secede the Volta Region and parts of the then Northern and Upper East Regions along the eastern border of Ghana into an independent state in 2017, has had its leaders arrested and charged with treason felony on a number of occasions. citinewsroom A New Jersey man was killed in a Tuesday morning crash in New York state, authorities said. Joseph R. Farina, 32, of Mahwah, was driving east on School Road in the town of Monroe, located in Orange County, around 7:20 a.m. when his 1996 Toyota Avalon collided with a westbound 2013 Acura TL, according to New York State Police. Farina was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The status of the Acura driver, a 67-year-old Warwick, New York, man, was not disclosed. Additional details were not released. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Billionaire presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg's flurry of ads in the Super Tuesday states is paying off as he was sitting on top of two news polls out Tuesday. Bloomberg is now tied with Sen. Bernie Sanders in the commonwealth of Virginia, with both candidates earning 22 per cent, according to a new survey from Monmouth University. The former New York City mayor has the top spot to himself in Oklahoma, another state where voters head to the polls on March 3. A poll from CHS & Associates shows Bloomberg with 18 per cent support, compared to Sanders' 17 per cent. The state polls were released on the same day that a national poll propelled Bloomberg onto the Democratic debate stage for the first time since he announced his bid for president in late November 2019. No sooner had the new polling results been released than President Trump tweeted: 'What Mini Mike is doing is nothing less than a large scale illegal campaign contribution. '...Mini is illegality buying the Democratic Nomination,' the president continued, to which Bloomberg responded 'Why do you want to run against Bernie so badly?' The 78-year-old hopeful, who has splurged $300 million of his fortune into television ads so far, qualified for the Wednesday night Las Vegas debate after receiving 19 per cent nationally in a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey, which showed him in second place behind Sanders. New Democratic National Committee rules allowed candidates to participate, for the first time, without having a minimum amount of unique campaign donors. This had previously been a barrier for Bloomberg since he's self-funding his own campaign. Now Democratic hopefuls can participate in the debates by doing well in polls or amassing delegates, since voting has started. Bloomberg already has a target on his back from the other candidates - especially Sanders, who's the rising frontrunner, and Biden, who was supposed to be the frontrunner and is trying to shake off poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. A senior official for Bloomberg's campaign told reporters in a conference all on Tuesday that only three candidates have a viable path to the nomination: Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Bloomberg. 'And of that bunch,' said Bloomberg states director Dan Kanninen, 'only Mike Bloomberg has a chance to beat Donald Trump in the fall election.' Sanders and Biden have attacked Bloomberg in recent days, with Sanders bringing up Bloomberg's 'racist' stop and frisk policy as New York City mayor and Biden referencing 'the way he talked about Obama.' His campaign said that it was seeing a 'groundswell of support across the country' and that qualifying for Wednesday's debate 'is the latest sign that Mike's plan and ability to defeat Donald Trump is resonating with more Americans.' 'Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he's the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country,' Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. But the prime-time event will be a stark departure from Bloomberg's highly choreographed campaign. And although he's campaigned in more than two dozen states, Bloomberg does not take questions from voters and delivers a standard stump speech that lasts less than 15 minutes, often reading from a teleprompter. He encounters the occasional protester, including one who jumped on stage recently in Chattanooga, Tennessee, yelling, 'This is not democracy. This is a plutocracy!' But his friendly crowds usually quickly overwhelm the protesters with chants of 'We like Mike!' Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has qualified for his first Democratic presidential debate, going up against rivals who have accused him of 'trying to buy the election' (pictured in Tennessee last week) The latest Democratic presidential nomination polling averages from Real Clear Politics. Sanders leads after impressive outings in Iowa and New Hampshire Real Clear Politics' latest averages of the betting odds for the Democratic nominee show Sanders in the lead while Bloomberg has surged into second The official response to Bloomberg making the debate was a positive one. Bloomberg is likely to face far more direct fire in the debate. 'We are expecting that he is going to have a lot of attention on him - he's going to be attacked,' a Bloomberg official told Politico Monday night, pointing out that the last time the ex-mayor participated in a political debate was in 2009. His own team, Politico reported, fears that a not-so-hot performance alongside Democratic candidates who have been debating for months could snuff out some of his polling gains, which have come from the onslaught of TV ads he's purchased in Super Tuesday states. Bloomberg has been practicing, having his aides play the Democratic candidates. For instance Bloomberg aide Howard Wolfson, who worked on Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign, has stood in for Sanders during debate prep, modeling his version after 'Statler and Waldorf,' the two cranky characters from the Muppets, Politico said. His fellow Democratic contenders have stepped up their attacks against him in recent days, decrying him for trying to 'buy the election' and criticizing his support of the 'stop-and-frisk' tactic while mayor of New York City that led police to target mostly black and Hispanic men for searches. Bloomberg has managed to avoid head-to-head contact by instead focusing on the 14 states that vote on March 3 and the contests that come afterward. He rarely mentions his rivals by name, though his campaign is centered on the idea that none of them can beat President Trump. And Bloomberg, more than anyone, has predicated his campaign on a potential Biden collapse. He's been aggressive in targeting African-American voters in the South, a core demographic for Biden's campaign. Biden said he doesn't think 'you can buy an election.' 'I'm going to get a chance to debate him on everything from redlining to stop and frisk to a whole range of other things,' Biden told reporters last week. Bloomberg has responded to claims he is trying to 'buy the election' by saying he is playing by the rules and has offered to fund the Democratic effort to beat Trump even if he doesn't win the nomination. He will likely be grilled about his support while New York mayor of a policing strategy that ensnared blacks and Latinos disproportionately. Bloomberg apologized for that policy, known as 'stop and frisk,' just before announcing he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination. His campaign has declined to comment on criticism over 2008 remarks in which he tied a housing market collapse to a ban on a discriminatory housing practice known as redlining. Bloomberg is likely to face far more direct fire in the debate than he has done so far (pictured: his biggest rivals from left to right, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire earlier this month) He has also expressed regret over making inappropriate jokes. 'Did I ever tell a bawdy joke? Yeah, sure I did. And do I regret it? Yes. It's embarrassing,' Bloomberg told ABC's 'The View' on Jan. 15. 'But, you know, that's the way I grew up.' The Washington Post on Saturday published what it said was a copy of a 32-page booklet distributed at a party in 1990 that included sexist remarks by Bloomberg, reportedly compiled by his colleagues. The Post also chronicled numerous discrimination lawsuits filed against Bloomberg LP, a major provider of news and financial information, over the last three decades. In one case, a saleswoman filed a lawsuit alleging that when she told Bloomberg she was pregnant in 1995, his response was, 'Kill it.' Bloomberg has denied making the remark, and the lawsuit was settled. The Washington Post published comments by a man who said he witnessed Bloomberg's remark. Bloomberg said in the ABC interview that his company had experienced 'very few' cases of sexual harassment given its large size, and said he thinks 'most people would say we're a great place to work.' He said the company would not release women from non-disclosure agreements that were part of legal settlements, some of which stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment. Warren has called on Bloomberg to release the women from the agreements. On Sunday, Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood said in an emailed statement regarding the allegations in the Washington Post: 'Virtually all of this has been reported over the past two decades. In any large organization, there are going to be complaints, but Mike simply does not tolerate any kind of discrimination or harassment, and he's created cultures that are all about equality and inclusion.' Tuesday's NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows Sanders leading in the Democratic primary contest, at 31 per cent support nationally. Bloomberg followed with 19 per cent support. Biden, the original Democratic frontrunner, dropped to third place with 15 per cent support natioanlly. Warren stood at 12 per cent, Klobuchar at 9 per cent and Buttigieg - the winner of the Iowa caucuses and a strong second-place finisher in New Hampshire - with just 8 per cent. Steyer, who didn't make Wednesday's Las Vegas debate, came in at 2 per cent. And Rep. Tulsi Gabbard had less than 1 per cent support. 5 per cent of respondents were undecided. The telephone survey of 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents was conducted by the Marist Poll at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points. At least one policeman killed, two others wounded in the attack that targeted a polio campaign in Dera Ismail Khan. Islamabad, Pakistan At least one policeman has been killed and two others wounded after an improvised explosive device hit a police vehicle on its way to provide security to a polio vaccination team in northwestern Pakistan, police said. The attack took place in the Kulachi area of the town of Dera Ismail Khan, about 255 kilometres (158 miles) south of provincial capital Peshawar, on Tuesday morning, police official Iqbal Baloch said. A polio campaign is ongoing here. This vehicle was going from Kolachi to Maddi when some four kilometres [2.4 miles] from Maddi, there was an IED blast that killed Constable Riaz, Baloch told Al Jazeera. Baloch said initial investigations indicated the bomb had been detonated using a manual fuse. This is a new trend we are seeing because jammers do not work on manual IEDs. Remote[-controlled] IEDs can be blocked using jammers. He said a policeman had been killed and two others wounded in the attack. A local hospital official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the toll. The attack is the latest violence to single out polio vaccination efforts in Pakistan, one of only three countries in the world where the debilitating neurodegenerative disease remains endemic. The attack brings the toll from violence aimed at polio vaccination teams and their attendant security convoys to at least 101 killed since 2012, according to an Al Jazeera tally. Many of those killed have been police officers on duty guarding polio vaccinators, who go door-to-door across Pakistan to vaccinate more than 35 million children. The vaccination effort involves more than 265,000 polio vaccinators, with a further 100,000 security personnel assigned to guard them as they go about their duties. Last year, Pakistan saw a spike in polio cases, with at least 144 cases reported from across the country, many of them in a cluster that includes the district of Dera Ismail Khan and the adjoining city of Bannu. The year marked a sharp increase in polio cases, with only 12 cases reported in 2018 and eight in 2017, according to government data. This year, 17 cases have been reported from across the country, the data shows, the majority from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Dera Ismail Khan is located. Polio eradication officials told Al Jazeera the campaign was continuing in Dera Ismail Khan district, despite Tuesdays attack. By AFP BEIJING: A hospital director at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic died Tuesday, state media said, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the new coronavirus spreading across the country. The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan late last year, has infected more than 72,000 people and killed nearly 1,900. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. China said last week that six medical workers had died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected. Liu's death was initially reported by Chinese media and bloggers shortly after midnight on Tuesday -- but the stories were later deleted and replaced with reports that doctors were still trying to save him. After initial reports of his death were denied, the hospital told AFP on Tuesday morning that doctors were giving him life-saving treatment. Liu's death has echoes of that of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December. Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis. People took to social media to mourn Liu on Tuesday, with many users on the Twitter-like Weibo platform drawing critical comparisons between Liu's death and Li's. In both cases their deaths were initially reported in state media posts -- later deleted -- and their deaths denied, before being finally confirmed again. "Has everyone forgotten what happened to Li Wenliang? They forcefully attempted resuscitation after he died," one Weibo commenter wrote. Another commenter said, Liu "already died last night, (but) some people are addicted to torturing corpses". A hashtag about Liu's death had 29 million views by Tuesday afternoon. Doctors in Wuhan face shortages of masks and protective bodysuits, with some even wearing makeshift hazmat suits and continuing to work despite showing respiratory symptoms, health workers have told AFP. Hubei province and its capital Wuhan have been the hardest hit by the virus, accounting for nearly 1,800 of the deaths from the virus so far. The ministry says it's concerned about the latest Russian attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on the international community to condemn the escalation in Donbas. "Very concerned by escalation in Donbas following the latest Russian attack. Prohibited weapons used resulting in a new wave of casualties. This is the latest breach of agreements reached at N4 [Normandy Four summit]. We call on the intl. community to condemn this escalation," Press Secretary of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kateryna Zelenko wrote on Twitter on February 18, 2020. Very concerned by escalation in #Donbas following the latest Russian attack. Prohibited weapons used resulting in a new wave of casualties. This is the latest breach of agreements reached at N4. We call on the intl. community to condemn this escalation. #StopRussianAggressionpic.twitter.com/L3QOraRc9p Kateryna Zelenko (@KaterynaZelenko) February 18, 2020 As UNIAN reported earlier, in the morning Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, employing 120 mm mortars, proscribed by Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance through the demarcation line. As a result of the battle, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another four were injured. 200 children and young people from the state-run or private foster homes operating under the General Directorate for Social Security and Child Protection in Bucharest and Ilfov will participate in creative and personal development workshops, as part of one of the smaller projects of the bigger educational programme "Ajungem MARI" [We GROW UP] developed by the Lindenfeld Association. Most activities will be carried out at the Ajungem MARI Educational Centre, a warm and welcoming space for children and young people, who feel encouraged to learn through playing and interactive activities. The project offers children the opportunity to participate in classes with teachers and specialists who will help them develop specific abilities, their creativity, communication skills or skills for working in teams. Children and the young people already chose to participate in the painting, cinema classes, in the thematic games or parks, according to a press release of the organisers. "Ajungem MARI" is the main programme of the Lindenfeld Association supporting the education of more than 2,200 children in the foster homes and disadvantaged environments in Bucharest and 24 counties, through several projects, the most important of which is focusing on training children in schools in an interactive way, with the help of 1,600 volunteers. Other projects include vocational classes, recreational and educational outings, trips, camps, financial and entrepreneurial education and professional orientation visits, all meant to help children gain trust in themselves and to help them form various skills to become responsible and independent adults. The "Ajungem MARI si Increzatori" [We GROW UP and become Confident] project is organised as part of the educational programme Ajungem MARI, financed by Pepco Romania. Normally bustling century-old Chinatowns from Melbourne to San Francisco have fallen quiet and businesses are struggling to survive as fears over the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak ripple around the world. "Scaremongering is rampant" complains Max Huang, owner of the Juicy Bao restaurant in Melbourne's historic Chinese district. "Customers won't come in if they can avoid it." Huang's eatery sits among dozens of restaurants making up Australia's oldest Chinatown enclave, dating back to the influx of fortune-seekers during an 1850s gold rush. Although the epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic is more than a ten-hour-flight way, and Australia has seen just a handful of cases, the stigma of a disease that has claimed more than 1,800 lives is pervasive. Streets are notably quieter, facemasks are a commonplace and even a Lunar New Year dragon dance failed to bring in the usual crowds. Businesses report their earnings have dropped by more than half and they have been forced to cut staff hours dramatically, a situation echoed in Chinatowns across the world. At the usually buzzing Empire Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver's Richmond suburb, getting a table is now a breeze. "Usually we'd have a large line-up time of approximately five-ten tables, but today there is no line up at all," assistant general manager Ivan Yeung said. "Some people have already cancelled their parties and banquets. Many restaurants are seeing the same thing. Hopefully, this gets back to normal really soon." - Disappearing tourists - A ban on travellers from China has hit many neighbourhoods particularly hard. "Usually we have Chinese tourists coming at this time, but now it's like zero," said Tony Siu, manager of the popular Cantonese restaurant R&G Lounge in San Francisco. "They often get the sea bass or the salt and pepper crab, that are our famous dishes." In Australia, the travel ban has been compounded by almost 100,000 Chinese students being unable to fly Down Under to start the academic year. "Our main customers are from China... (so) it's very difficult," said Su Yin, whose pancake store sits downstairs from a Melbourne college with a large Chinese student base. Hoping to reassure would-be customers, some businesses have tacked up notices saying they disinfect their interiors regularly to prevent disease. Others have gone a step further installing hand sanitiser for guests and giving staff face masks and rubber gloves. But such measures appear to have had limited success. Rebecca Lyu, a Chinese student living in London, has a hard time convincing friends to join her to eat or shop. "Some of my friends refused to go eat at restaurants in Chinatown because they are worried about the virus," she said. Many believe xenophobia has worsened the situation further. Fred Lo's souvenir store in San Francisco is usually frequented by tourists from Europe and South America. But "for the past two weeks, there's been a lot less people, at least 50 percent less, even though nobody is sick or has even been to China," he said, adding business is as bad as it has been since he began working there in 1975. "It's unfair that a lot of people are scared of Chinese people," said Eddie Lau, president of Melbourne's Chinese Chamber of Commerce. "We tell people, 'we are fine, don't be scared.'" In London, David Tang said he had clearly noticed others avoiding him in recent weeks, but understood why people were afraid and had tried to take it in his stride. "I travel by train every morning. One day last week, all the people were standing, and I've got an empty seat next to me," he said. "I laughed about it." Australia has seen just a handful of cases of the novel coronavirus, but the stigma of a disease that has claimed more than 1,500 lives is pervasive A visitor wears a face mask as she walks through London's Chinatown district A deserted Los Angeles Chinatown "Scaremongering is rampant" complains Max Huang, owner of the Juicy Bao restaurant in Melbourne's historic Chinese district The coronavirus outbreak in mainland China is affecting the production and shipping of computer hardware globally. The outbreak started in December 2019 and was first identified in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in China. To date, over 70,000 people have been infected with around 1,800 deaths. While there are strict measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus, it has a serious impact on the global economy. The tech industry, which relies heavily on Chinese factories to produce computing equipment, has been particularly hard-hit. Tech companies are closing their offices and factories in China and are preventing their employees from travelling to and from China. This is wreaking havoc across the global tech scene. The recent cancellation of Mobile World Congress 2020 is an example of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Consumers can also expect delayed launches for some tech products and shortages on computing products like VR headsets and smartphones. South African tech industry impacted South Africas tech industry is also feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The South African Post Office has warned customers who are expecting items in the post from China that they are likely to be delayed. This is a result of airline connections to and from China being suspended to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The Post Office has advised customers who intend to post items to China to wait until transport connections throughout the country are restored. Local computer hardware distributor Esquire has warned that there will be delays on the delivery of new hardware products from China in the coming weeks. Esquire said it is in constant contact with its suppliers to determine what the impact will be on its business. It warned that there will be shortages of stock in the foreseeable future as many of the production lines remain shut down. It urged its clients to be cognizant of these delays when they do tender proposals and long-term pricing or quoting on products. Esquire anticipates that the coronavirus outbreak will have adverse effects on the pricing and stock availability of computing products in South Africa. We have already seen price increases of over 20% on NAND Flash and other storage devices in the last three weeks, and we expect this trend to continue, Esquire said. Now read: SA Post Office warns of delayed mail due to coronavirus THE LAST words of a Romanian man who was stabbed to death on the streets of Limerick city this Wednesday were 'I'm dead', sources close to the family have said. The man, who was aged in his mid-50s, died following the violent incident after 1.20pm at Roches Row, which links Thomas Street and Roches Street. They are a very peaceful family. I have known them for years. The deceased was a most inoffensive person and was not in any way troublesome. I only spoke to him 24 hours before, James Walsh, a friend of the family, told the Limerick Leader. A man in his 50s who was arrested at the scene of the incident is continuing to be questioned at Roxboro Road garda station. Chief Superintendent David Sheahan, head of the Limerick garda division, said that the period of detention for the suspect was extended at approximately 3pm this Thursday for another 12 hours under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act (1984). Chief Supt told the Limerick Leader that their investigations are continuing and they are endeavouring to establish a motive for the attack. "CCTV footage has been harvested from a number of locations going to and from and scene, and gardai are carrying out door-to-door enquiries at present. We would appeal for anyone in the area to come forward and make themselves available to gardai and assist with the investigation. We will be interviewing all witnesses until we are satisfied that we have the full picture of what happened," said Supt Sheahan. A number of members of the deceased's family have already been interviewed. It is understood that the attack occurred inside the deceased's home and spilled out onto the street. The scene remained sealed off this Thursday afternoon. A number of individuals came to the man's aid, including his own relatives, before gardai and paramedics arrived. Those close the family said: The deceased's relatives saw him being stabbed many times with a large knife. His last words were 'I'm dead'. His nephew intervened and tackled the attacker to the ground, who then tried to stab him. The attacker then told him 'I'm going to kill you as well'. Two passers-by came to their assistance, and tackled the suspect to the ground until gardai arrived. The deceased is believed to be a single man with no children. His relatives moved from Romania to Limerick some five years ago and he later joined them. Leonie Kerins, director of Doras Luimni, a charitable group which supports all migrants in the Mid-West, said that the deceased and his family are known to them. "We wish to send our condolences to his family and the wider Romanian community in Limerick, and we will be available to offer them assistance in any way we can," said Ms Kerins. Gardai have recovered a weapon which they believe was used during the fatal assault . A post mortem examination will be conducted by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis this Thursday afternoon. Any witnesses are asked to contact Henry Street garda station at 061-212400. "OnPoint was founded in 1932 by 16 schoolteachers and we honor their legacy today through our continued investment in quality education for the communities we serve," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. "We recognize our region's talented educators each year to not only celebrate our roots, but also to showcase the impact of a great education." OnPoint has awarded more than $370,000 in prizes to 260 local educators and schools since it began the Prize for Excellence in Education in 2009. Winners will be announced on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at a reception with live KGW coverage. This year's prizes include: Educators of the Year: Grand Prize: Two teachers (one K8 and one 912) will have their mortgages paid for one full year and $2,500 donated to their schools. donated to their schools. Finalists: Two teachers (one K8 and one 912) will each receive a $5,000 cash award and $1,500 for their schools. cash award and for their schools. Circle of Excellence: Six additional teachers will be named to the Circle of Excellence and will each receive a $1,500 cash award and $1,000 for their schools. cash award and for their schools. Community Builder Awards: Four schools will receive $2,000 for a special project of their choice. for a special project of their choice. A fifth school, selected by community votes, will receive $5,000 . Last year's winners of Educators of the Year were Francesca Aultman, 5th grade teacher at Gilbert Heights Elementary School in the Portland Public School District, and Tori Sharpe, English, AVID and ELL teacher at Skyview High School in the Vancouver School District. Aultman is described as a "beacon of equity" for her students. She was recognized by OnPoint last year for helping students overcome their struggles, build confidence and achieve their goals. "Winning the OnPoint Prize has alleviated so much financial pressure on my husband and me; he is also a teacher," said Aultman. "This award has made everything a little bit more manageable and has allowed us to make real progress on our financial goals a huge gift. Thank you OnPoint for your support of my family and the region's education community." Sharpe inspires learning and creativity in her class and her entire community. She engages her students in the way that is best for them, whether it be through pop culture, stories, music or other creative teaching tools. "The OnPoint Prize has changed my life," said Sharpe. "It freed me up to do some of the charity work I've been wanting to do for quite some time. Courts for Kids is an organization that builds courts for kids in underprivileged areas around the world that eventually become community spaces. Because they're international trips, they're quite expensive. When I won the OnPoint Prize, it became a real possibility." Bridger Elementary School's Scholars Program was selected by the community last year to receive OnPoint's $2,000 Community Builder award. In addition, OnPoint selected four additional schools to receive the $1,000 Community Builder award. Last year's winners include Molalla High School for its Friendship Courtyard, Prescott Elementary School for its SUN School Homework project, Tucker Maxon School for its Special Needs Projector and Sound System, and Vose Elementary for its Ballet Folklorico After School Club. Information about the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education and nomination forms are now available at www.onpointprize.com. Anyone can nominate an educator, and educators may also nominate themselves. Applicants must be a full-time or job-share classroom teacher, counselor or librarian of grades K-12 in an accredited public, private or charter school located within any county that OnPoint serves (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon, and Clark and Skamania counties in Washington). For information about the campaign, additional qualifications and contest rules, please see www.onpointprize.com. In addition to the Prize for Excellence in Education, OnPoint supports regional education in many other ways, including: Helping De La Salle North Catholic High School students gain valuable real-life work experience Collecting school supplies and cash donations at branch locations for Schoolhouse Supplies; and Supporting Babies With Books, where student leaders to give out books and share the value of reading in Randall Children's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. OnPoint also partners with Financial Beginnings, Junior Achievement, and Portland Workforce Alliance to provide financial literacy and workforce development education. In 2019, OnPoint employees used 485 paid volunteer hours for financial education efforts, impacting 3,500 students. ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 392,000 members and with assets of $6.3 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 13 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932. SOURCE OnPoint Community Credit Union Related Links http://www.onpointcu.com South Africa: Mbalula engages rail stakeholders Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has met with stakeholders involved in the business operations and production of the Gibela Rail Consortium Dunnottar factory in Ekurhuleni, as part of efforts to improve the country's rail network. The Minister was accompanied by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) Administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo when he met some of the 918 staff members, of which 80% are aged 35 and under. During their visit, the Minister and Mpondo inspected specialised equipment worth R350 million at the state-of-the-art plant, which has been designed to the highest environmental standards. One of the priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his recent State of the Nation Address is to fix the commuter rail system, which the president acknowledged is vital to the economy. This plant is an important component towards achieving that priority, said Mbalula on Monday. The R1 billion investment is the most advanced train manufacturing plant in Africa and the southern hemisphere, and produces train sets for Prasa. The Minister praised the operation and noted the need to further improve operational efficiencies while also committing to work with both the shareholders of Gibela Rail Consortium (Alstom Southern Africa and Ubumbano Rail). Mbalula has also pledged to review the long-term financial sustainability of the plant even beyond the last train to be manufactured on the order book of Prasa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Express News Service Even as work is apace to build US President Donald Trumps signature campaign promisea wall on the US-Mexico borderthousands of miles away, in Gujarat, another wall is being readied for him. Ahead of Trumps visit to Ahmedabad on February 24, the local municipal corporation is building a temporary wall on the sides of the road linking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Indira Bridge to keep slum areas out of sight of the American President and first Lady Melania Trump. The 6-7 feet high wall is being erected to cover the slum at an estimated 600-metre stretch. This will be followed by plantation drive along the stretch so that the US president will not see the dirtiest places of India, a senior municipal official said. More than 500 kutcha houses, home to an estimated 2,500 people, are part of the decades-old Dev Saran or Saraniyavaas slum area. According to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the wall will be more than half a kilometre long. It is part of a beautification drive around the airport and Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. The AMC is also planting fully-grown date palms as part of the efforts to beautify the city. Modi and Trump are expected to take out a road show in Ahmedabad on February 24. A similar beautification was carried during the two-day visit of Japan PM Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe during the 12th India-Japan annual summit in 2017. Stephanie Grisham, White House press secretary, attends the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 21, 2019. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) White House Press Secretary on Calls for Barrs Resignation: There Are Obstructionists All Across This Government White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham weighed in on the calls by former Justice Department (DOJ) officials for Attorney General William Barr to resign. It didnt surprise me, to be honest with you, Grisham told Fox & Friends on Feb. 18. Its been proven time and time again. There are obstructionists all across this government who are working against the president. More than 2,000 former DOJ officials have signed an online letter urging Barr to resign following his intervention in the case of former Trump campaign associate Roger Stone. The online letter was organized by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit advocacy group staffed by former government officials, political operatives, and activists who have been opposing President Donald Trumps agenda via legal means. In their letter, the signees claim that Barr and Trump interfered with the fair administration of justice. They say that it was unheard of for the Departments top leaders to overrule line prosecutors while alleging that it was done in order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the President. It didnt surprise me. A lot of those [signees] are career [employees]. There are many people who hailed AG Barr when we first appointed him, and hes been doing a great job, Grisham said in response to the online letter. The press secretary added that Trump has made his position clear on many different cases but ultimately leaves it to the attorney general to do his work. Hes made it clear that the two things are separate, but the president will always, always tell the American people what his opinion is, she said. She added that she wasnt aware of anything about Barr potentially stepping down. DOJ prosecutors originally recommended seven to nine years in prison for Stone, who was convicted of lying to and obstructing Congress and witness tampering. The Justice Department, however, intervened in the case, calling the recommendation excessive and unwarranted. The department then filed a revised sentencing memorandum that asked for a sentence of incarceration far less than 87 to 108 months imprisonment, but didnt offer a specific prison recommendation. The departments announcement to revise its sentencing recommendation came hours after Trump weighed in on Twitter about the seven-to-nine-years recommendation. Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told media outlets that the DOJ didnt consult with the White House about Stones sentencing. She added that the decision to change the sentencing request was made before the president wrote about it on Twitter. Four prosecutors involved withdrew from the Stone case on the same day as the DOJs announcement. During an interview on Feb. 13, Barr confirmed that the actions of the Justice Department had nothing to with the president, his Twitter posts, or anyone from the White House. I have not discussed the Roger Stone case at the White House, Barr said. The attorney general also criticized the president about his Twitter posts in the wake of one of Trumps posts about the sentencing of former campaign adviser Roger Stone. To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about people in the department, our men and women here, about cases pending in the department, and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job, Barr said, and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that were doing our work with integrity. Grishams comments came hours after USA Today reported that a national group of federal judges, the Federal Judges Association, had convened an emergency meeting Feb. 18 to address concerns about Barrs handling of cases related to Trump associates. The Justice Department and the Federal Judges Association didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about the report. Petr Svab contributed to this report. A minister has demanded curbs on Dominic Cummings power to recruit No 10 staff as he attacked the racist views of an adviser forced to resign. Kwasi Kwarteng broke with Boris Johnson who had refused to condemn Andrew Sabisky by branding his past comments racist, offensive and reprehensible. The business minister also called for an overhaul of recruitment after Mr Sabisky answered Mr Cummings notorious call to sign up misfits and weirdos. I think we should prevent racists from coming into No10 or wherever he was working. I think we do need to look at these processes, he said. On Mr Sabisky's past writings, Mr Kwarteng said: "It was completely reprehensible they were racist remarks. The outspoken attack is in stark contrast to Mondays extraordinary No 10 briefing, in which the prime ministers spokesman repeatedly refused to criticise Mr Sabisky. It appeared Mr Johnson and Mr Sabisky were trying to ride out the controversy until the contractor walked out later, blaming a giant character assassination. In 2014, Mr Sabisky argued a higher rate of black Americans suffered from intellectual disability saying: It [is] simply a consequence of the normal distribution of cognitive ability. He also wrote on Mr Cummings' website One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Show all 17 1 /17 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Sajid Javid Resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Javids departure comes just one month before a crucial budget, intended to chart the course for the new government and makes him the shortest-serving chancellor for more than 50 years Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Rishi Sunak Promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Chancellor of the Exchequer after the dramatic resignation of Sajid Javid Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Esther McVey Sacked as housing minister AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Andrea Leadsom Sacked as business secretary EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Alok Sharma Appointed business secretary (previously international development secretary). He has also been put in charge of the UKs COP26 climate change summit PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Attorney General Geoffrey Cox Resigned as the government's most senior law officer AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Suella Braverman Appointed Attorney General and she will attend cabinet EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Theresa Villiers Sacked as environment secretary PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: George Eustice Appointed environment, food and rural affairs secretary. He was a farming and fisheries minister Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Anne-Marie Trevelyan Appointed international development secretary (previously parliamentary under-secretary for defence) Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Julian Smith Sacked as Northern Ireland secretary Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Brandon Lewis Appointed Secretary of Northern Ireland Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Stephen Barclay Appointed chief secretary to the Treasury PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Oliver Dowden Appointed culture secretary, succeeding Nicky Morgan Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Chris Skidmore Sacked as eucation minister Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Nus Ghani Sacked as transport minister Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/CC BY 3.0 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: George Freeman Sacked as transport minister Getty Earlier, it had been revealed that Mr Sabisky tweeted: I am always straight up in saying that women's sport is more comparable to the Paralympics than it is to men's. Calling himself a super-forecaster, he also said richer people are more intelligent, telling an interviewer: Eugenics are about selecting 'for' good things. Downing Street, as well as standing by the 27-year-old, also refused to say what vetting took place before his recruitment, or on what projects he was working. When Mr Cummings set out his staffing objectives in January, he was warned they were probably illegal and would destabilise Whitehall and accused of hubris. Speaking on Sky News, Mr Kwarteng also said: Theres no way you could apologise for some of the remarks that he has made. On BBC Radio 5 Live, he called for new processes, while also claiming Mr Sabisky had been quickly pushed out although No 10 had attempted to stand by him. Caroline Nokes, the Conservative chairwoman of the Commons women and equalities committee, criticised the silence from No 10. It does seem that when the call went out for misfits and weirdos that was exactly what Downing Street got, she said. Unfortunately, we had 48 hours of almost complete silence and no comment from Downing Street, who could have distanced themselves from his youthful comments at any point, but they chose not to do so. Should we cancel or change the way we serve Communion? The question arose in our weekly staff meeting. Fear from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak consumed the hearts of our pastors. Our church sits at the intersection of Chinatown and the Lower East Side in New York City. We have a thriving outreach to international Chinese students at nearby New York University. Several days earlier, these overseas students returned from China for their spring semester. To welcome them back, our church planned a significant fellowship event. Although there were no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York City, we canceled the event for fear of contagion. Some of our pastors had experienced the effects of the 2003 SARS epidemic on their communities in China; their worries were legitimate. Due to heightened global coverage of COVID-19, many stateside Chinese Churches scratched Lunar New Year events, prayer meetings, and other ministries. Protecting their congregations and families was a top priority. Still, the returning Chinese students desired to worship, gather for fellowship, and pray. One student in particular approached me in tears: Would I pray for the health of her family, friends, and neighbors in China? As I laid hands on her and prayed, I realized the duplicity of our churchs pending decisions. How could we say we loved our neighbors yet consider shutting our doors in their time of greatest need? If we believed in a Savior who healed the sick, bestowed sight to the blind, and touched lepers, why did we doubt his power to reign over this coronavirus? I am a former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention medical officer and global health professor. Now, as a pastor, I believe the church must lead in love rather than be manipulated by stigma. We are called to provide compassion instead of cowering in fear. Churches must trust sound theology, science, and public health instead of succumbing to rumors and hysteria from social media. Denominations, churches, and believers can play a vital role during outbreaks, epidemics, and other diseases. There are a number of steps we can take. Raise Public Health Awareness Provide educational messaging on transmission, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of the coronavirus. Despite the increasing global health crisis and panic among many in the United States, the CDC has reported only 14 individuals testing positive for COVID-19 as of February 12, with 347 negative and 66 pending results. It remains an emerging situation closely monitored by public health officials. Churches can disseminate sound recommendations while helping inform and allay concerns of members anxious over COVID-19. Many Chinese pastors in the US have begun implementing their own measures, such as wearing masks during worship, suspending handshakes, and adjusting their Communion practices. Within our own church, we debated the need to officiate Communion differently. Currently, we serve broken pieces of bread on a Communion tray together with individual flasks of juice. As a medical doctor and epidemiologist, I am open to serving Communion more hygienically; but first, pastors need to better understand the COVID-19 transmission risk. Though still under investigation by health officials, COVID-19 is a part of a large family of viruses common to animals and humans. Transmission for typical coronaviruses occurs primarily via respiratory droplets from infected persons via coughing or sneezing. Preventive measures should therefore include washing hands with soap and water, covering coughs, and refraining from touching facial orifices with dirty hands. Common sense tells us that we should stay home when feeling ill and avoid those who appear sick. Article continues below We want to lean forward and be aggressive, but we want our actions to be evidence-based and appropriate to the current circumstance, Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a January 31 press conference. For example, CDC does not currently recommend the use of face masks for the general public. The virus is not spreading in the general community. Likewise, now is not the time to change Communion, congregational greetings, and other pastoral duties. The CDC does not advise abandoning worship, fellowship, or other ministry activities. However, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services does currently require travelers from China to be monitored for up to 14 days upon arrival to the US. Depending on the individuals level of risk, some may be asked to restrict their movement or limit contact with others. As the situation unfolds, pastors should monitor federal, state, and local health department recommendations. Additional concerns should be addressed to health care professionals or local health departments. By actively keeping up to date, posting flyers, and announcing key recommendations during worship services and gatherings, churches can help congregations deal with COVID-19 effectively. Good communication will provide peace, pacify worry, and offer hope. Care for the Vulnerable In New Testament times, leprosy was among the most feared and devastating of illnesses. Lepers were typically quarantined and ostracized by the public. Jesus did not run from people with leprosy. He reached out his hand to heal. Jesus could have healed by word alone and avoided contact, but instead he extended love though the power of human touch. During Jesus earthly ministry, physical contact was a common means of his healing. With a leper, Jesus risked what others would have feared as both contamination and ritual defilement (Matt. 8:23). Like Jesus, we should not be afraid of those who are sick with COVID-19. We need to draw near when they are most vulnerable. This doesnt mean we are to be reckless in our care of the sick. While working with the Ebola outbreak with the Centers for Disease Control, health care providers took the utmost precautions to protect themselves from contracting the deadly disease. Personal protective equipment included fluid-resistant and impermeable gowns, face shields, gloves, and shoe covers. Often, it took hours preparing to see patients and then doff protective equipment. In their greatest affliction and anguish, affected patients were not allowed consolation by the hug or kiss of family members. During these lonely moments, Ebola patients were thankful for the thoughtful, human touch of health care providers, even within the limits of protective equipment. For some, this would be the last touch theyd ever receive. Jesus calls us to be his hands, feet, and voice to those who suffer illness. Sometimes, for us, this may mean consulting professionals who possess knowledge beyond our own expertise. It may mean taking precautionary measures in consideration of public health concerns. But it should never mean ostracizing those who desire to meet the Risen King. Instead of running away, we should move toward the ailing with the gospel. Combat Stigma and Xenophobia As Christians, we unify across racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Recently, CNN showed a front-page title in a French magazine article on the outbreak. In bold, block letters were the words Yellow Alert and New Yellow Peril? Though the magazine eventually apologized, the damage from the racist epithets was already done. Among the streets of Chinatown, New York, people avoid Chinese speakers and worry if it is safe to eat at restaurants in the neighborhood. Xenophobia has resurfaced over Chinese culinary habits, such as eating exotic wildlife like snakes, rats, hedgehogs, and bats. Article continues below It is all too easy to judge others based on the color of their skin, a misunderstanding of their language, or misconstrued cultural practices. Yet, as a church, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves regardless of race, ethnicity, or culture. Though circumstances may be exceedingly delicate during health crises, it is possible through honest conversations and the sharing of culture to dispel rumors. The church can take a stand against rhetoric that reinforces stereotypes while offering Christlike empathy to those at its doorsteps. Stephen Ko is the senior pastor at New York Chinese Alliance Church, an adjunct professor at Alliance Theological Seminary, and formerly a CDC medical officer and professor of global health at Boston University. Speaking Out is Christianity Today's guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the magazine. The first patient diagnosed with the novel coronavirus has been reported to be a bed-bound pensioner who had no connection to a food market in Wuhan where Beijing's officials say the outbreak began. The revelation, made by BBC, echoed with the information disclosed in a previous medical research, which has prompted Chinese people to speculate about the possible alternative sources of the deadly disease. Over the weekend, a mysterious virus lab became the centre point of Chinese social media after online accounts suggested that the lethal virus had come from there - allegations the state-run institute has denied and branded as rumours. Beijing's experts claim that the deadly coronavirus outbreak began at Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market in Wuhan. They believe the virus was passed onto humans through wildlife sold as food. The first coronavirus patient has been revealed to be a bed-bound pensioner who had no connection to a food market in Wuhan where Beijing's officials say the outbreak began. In the file photo above, a medical worker looks after a patient at a hospital in Wuhan on January 24 The 'patient zero' fell ill on December 1 - a week earlier than the date the Chinese officials said the first case emerged - and had not been to the marketplace in question, a study also revealed The virus, formally known as COVID-19, has killed at least 1,873 people and infected more than 73,330 worldwide since it emerged in Wuhan late last year. According to public notices released by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, the first coronavirus patient appeared on December 8 and most of the initial patients were linked to the seafood market. But BBC reported that the very first sufferer, also known as the 'patient zero', was a pensioner in his 70s who was bed-bound due to a stroke and suffered from dementia. The unnamed man fell ill on December 1 - a week earlier than officials' claims - and had not been to the seafood market prior to falling ill, a doctor told BBC. Prof Wu Wenjuan, a director at intensive care units of Wuhan's Jinyintan Hospital, told the news outlet yesterday that the pensioner had had to stay at home due to his health condition and had no connection with Huanan. A previous study published on peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet revealed that three out of the first four coronavirus patients had no connection to the seafood market in Wuhan The deadly Chinese coronavirus outbreak began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market in Wuhan (pictured), Chinese experts confirmed after testing samples collected from the place Scientists from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said tests proved humans caught it from animals at the market where customers chose from live animals that were slaughtered in front of them (picture purportedly shows skinned chicks at the market) Last week experts suggested the disease may have originated in snakes, which are known carriers of coronaviruses (multiple reptiles at the market) Image shows what appears to be a beaver and a small deer caged at Huanan Prof Wu is among a group of experts who last month published a bombshell study on peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet, revealing critical information that had never been released by the Chinese government. 'The symptom onset date of the first patient identified was Dec 1, 2019. None of his family members developed fever or any respiratory symptoms,' the report said. The team surveyed the first 41 coronavirus patients who fell ill between December 1 and January 2 and discovered that 14 out of the 41 patients were not linked to the market. Notably, among the first four cases treated between December 1 and December 11, only one of them had connection to the market. Chinese health officials have not publicly commented on the study. Ninety-nine per cent of cases have been in China, where tens of millions of residents are in lockdown to contain the escalating crisis. The COVID-19 virus has killed at least 1,873 people More than 73,000 patients have been infected, including nearly 1,000 outside of China Almost 1,900 people have now died from the killer coronavirus rapidly sweeping the world The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is 'working to organise' a flight back to the UK for British nationals on board the Diamond Princess, which is isolated off the coast of Japan Daniel Lucey, an infectious disease specialist at Georgetown University, said it was possible that the virus spread silently between residents of Wuhan as early as November - if not earlier - before the cluster of cases from the Huanan market was discovered in late December. 'The virus came into that marketplace before it came out of that marketplace,' Lucey told Science last month. 'Now It seems clear that [the] seafood market is not the only origin of the virus,' he wrote. 'But to be honest, we still do not know where the virus came from now.' A number of conspiracy theories have connected the novel coronavirus to Wuhan Institute of Virology. One school of theories claim that the virus had been leaked from the lab either by accident or on purpose. Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) has been the centre of conspiracy theories after the coronavirus epidemic started. One theory claims that the virus was a biological weapon engineered by China and was leaked from the lab by accident - to which China denied On Saturday, the institute became a trending topic on China's Twitter-like Weibo after accounts claimed that one of its graduates was the 'patient zero'. Sources alleged that a woman named Huang Yanling, who received her master's degree from the academy in 2015, was the first to be infected with the virus. Wuhan Institute of Virology denied the claims. In a statement, it said Huang had been working in another province and never been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. A day later, a Weibo user, who claimed to be a researcher at the institute named Chen Quanjiao, accused the institute's director Wang Yanyi of leaking the virus. The institute said the allegation was fabricated and that the web user had posed as Chen. Police stressed that the blogger was based outside of China. Shi Zhengli, a director at Wuhan Institute of Virology, said earlier this month: 'The 2019 novel coronavirus is nature's punishment for humans' uncivilised life habits. I, Shi Zhengli, use my life to guarantee, [the virus] has no relation with the lab.' Shi urged the Chinese authorities to launch an official investigation into the matter. She told Chinese news outlet Caixin: 'Conspiracy theorists don't believe in science. I hope our country's professional departments can come to investigate and prove our innocence.' A police officer stands guard outside of Huanan Seafood Wholesale market in Wuhan A list of prices for one of the businesses operating at the market showed 'live tree bears' which is the Chinese for 'koala' (circled above) Last week, a team of Chinese scientists claimed that the deadly coronavirus might have started life in a research facility just 900 feet from the Wuhan fish market. Experts from South China University of Technology said in a paper that the Wuhan Center for Disease Control (WHCDC) could have spawned the contagion. 'The possible origins of 2019-nCoV coronavirus,' penned by scholars Xiao Botao and Xiao Lei claims the WHCDC kept disease-ridden animals in laboratories, including 605 bats. The paper also mentioned that bats - which are linked to coronavirus - once attacked a researcher and 'blood of bat was on his skin.' It said: 'Genome sequences from patients were 96% or 89% identical to the Bat CoV ZC45 coronavirus originally found in Rhinolophus affinis (intermediate horseshoe bat).' It described how the only native bats are found around 600 miles away from the Wuhan seafood market and that the probability of bats flying from Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces was minimal. The report, titled 'The possible origins of 2019-ncov coronavirus', was originally uploaded to e-book and audiobook service Scribd and has been deleted. The Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in a court here in a case related to violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at New Friends Colony on December 15 last year and named Sharjeel Imam as an instigator. The police said it has attached CCTV footage, call detail records and statements of over 100 witnesses as evidence in the charge sheet placed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur. The court had on Monday sent Imam, arrested on sedition charge last month, to one-day custody of Delhi Police in the violence case. Protestors had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during the demonstration against the CAA on December 15, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and fire fighters injured. MONTREAL, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Turquoise Hill Resources today announced the submission of the Feasibility Study for the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant (TTPP) Project to the Government of Mongolia by Oyu Tolgoi LLC. Oyu Tolgoi LLC is obliged under the 2009 Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement (Investment Agreement) to secure a long-term domestic source of power for the Oyu Tolgoi mine. The Power Source Framework Agreement (PSFA) entered into between Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia on December 31, 2018 provides a binding framework and pathway for the construction of a Tavan Tolgoi-based power solution for the Oyu Tolgoi mine by June 30, 2023. The power plant would be majority-owned by Oyu Tolgoi LLC and situated close to the Tavan Tolgoi coal mining district located approximately 150 kilometres from the Oyu Tolgoi mine. Oyu Tolgoi is currently sourcing power from China's Inner Mongolian Western Grid via overhead power lines, via a back-to-back power purchase agreement with National Power Transmission Grid JSC (NPTG), the power importing entity, and the Inner Mongolian Power Company (IMPC). The Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant (TTPP) Feasibility Study is based on a 300 MW coal fired power plant to be located in Tsogttsetsii soum of Umnugovi province, with a total project cost estimate of up to $924 million, pending consideration of certain amounts yet to be finalized such as government fees, licenses and certain reimbursements per the Tavan Tolgoi Investment Agreement. It is anticipated that back-up power requirements will be provided by IMPC until such time as they can be provided within Mongolia. The project aligns with the Parliament Resolution No.73 (2018) and the government policies to develop a power plant at the Tavan Tolgoi coal fields. Oyu Tolgoi LLC has made significant progress to develop a cost competitive and optimal solution for TTPP with a fully negotiated EPC contract that is now ready for signature. The current schedule targets two units of the TTPP to be operational by June 2024. The existing PSFA specifies target dates for milestones to be achieved through mutual cooperation between Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia, several of which have now passed. In accordance with the Contingency Arrangements clause 7 4 a ii of the PSFA, Oyu Tolgoi LLC has given notice and is currently seeking a mutually acceptable alternative basis on which to proceed with securing long term domestic power supply for Oyu Tolgoi. "Certainty of safe, reliable and stable long term power supply is fundamental to the development of an underground mining project like Oyu Tolgoi," stated Ulf Quellmann, Chief Executive Officer of Turquoise Hill, "We will continue to work with the Government of Mongolia and Rio Tinto on behalf of all stakeholders to determine the preferred power solution for Oyu Tolgoi." Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Company's beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "could", "should", "expect", "seek", "may", "intend", "likely", "plan", "estimate", "will", "believe" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. These include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding the construction and timing of construction and operation of the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant, the expectations set out in the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant Feasibility Study, anticipated sources of power for the Oyu Tolgoi mine and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements and information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the availability and timing of required governmental and other approvals for the construction of the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant, present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of copper, gold and silver and projected gold, copper and silver grades, anticipated capital and operating costs, anticipated future production and cash flows, the status of the Company's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia on the continued operation, development of the Oyu Tolgoi mine and Oyu Tolgoi LLC internal governance. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and information include, among others, the risk that certain commercial uncertainties relating to the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant may not be resolved, including with the Government of Mongolia, with respect to land rights, funding, back-up power, accession of Oyu Tolgoi to the TTPP Investment Agreement and the extension of the existing Electricity Purchase and Sale agreement between IMPC and NPTG; copper; gold and silver price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; the outcome of the definitive estimate review; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; litigation risks; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); Oyu Tolgoi LLC's ability to deliver a domestic power source for the Oyu Tolgoi project within the required contractual time frame; communications with local stakeholders and community relations; activities, actions or assessments, including tax assessments, by governmental authorities; events or circumstances (including strikes, blockages or similar events outside of the Company's control) that may affect the Company's ability to deliver its products in a timely manner; currency fluctuations; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; additional funding requirements, including in respect of the development or construction of a long-term domestic power supply for the Oyu Tolgoi project; capital and operating costs, including with respect to the development of additional deposits and processing facilities; and defective title to mineral claims or property. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. All such forward-looking statements and information are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company's management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements or information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Events or circumstances could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are included in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 13, 2019 in respect of the year ended December 31, 2018 (the "AIF") as supplemented by our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 (MD&A). Readers are further cautioned that the list of factors enumerated in the "Risk Factors" section of the AIF and in the MD&A that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. SOURCE TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LTD Two class 12 students who were critically injured in an explosion inside a school's chemistry laboratory here were referred to PGI Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said on Tuesday. Five students were injured in the explosion that took place on Monday at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Matiana of Theog sub-division during the class 12 chemistry board practical examination. Two of the students, Mukul Panchta and Ajit, were referred to PGI Chandigarh from IGMC hospital here after they both sustained injuries in their eyes and face, Bhardwaj said in a statement. Mukul was successfully operated upon, the minister said, adding that Ajit is under treatment. The minister said he talked to PGI Director Jagat Ram on Monday asking him to ensure proper care of the students. The state government would bear the entire expenditure on their treatment, he said. Two other students, Bunty Sharma and Nikita Verma, were discharged from IGMC hospital after their treatment, the minister added. He spoke to the director and the Shimla deputy commissioner to provide every possible help to the injured and also talked to the students' parents. Prima facie, it is suspected that the explosion occurred as the students wrongly combined magnesium nitrate and ferrous sulphate, the school principal informed in writing to the Theog sub divisional magistrate. The laboratory was sealed and the incident was being investigated. The injured students were initially taken to primary health centre (PHC) Matiana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I hope everyones had the chance to have a good break over the summer. People lead increasingly hectic lives these days so time out is important for both physical and mental health. And this time of year, of course, is when the stunning beauty of the Hibiscus Coast is seen in its full glory. Also stunning in its own way was the recent announcement that the start date for Penlink has been brought forward to the end of next year (finished by 2025). This dovetails nicely with the $700m Northern Motorway Improvements currently occurring from Oteha to Constellation and also with our rapidly developing bus service at Silverdale and evolving ferry service at Gulf Harbour. This means that over the next few years the Hibiscus Coasts transport network will be genuinely transformed, the irony being that what was not so long ago a far flung outpost of Auckland with few transport choices, will be one of the best connected in the region served by expanding bus, ferry and road networks. Thats important because there is no one silver bullet all these improvements have an important part to play, along with practical works like the dynamic laning of Whangaparaoa Road which provides relief in the interim while the big projects are delivered. For as we all know, these transport projects do not happen overnight. They are often the culmination of years (and in some cases decades) of work from transport agencies, council staff, politicians and the community at large. It can be a tortuous path navigating the now complex planning, consenting and funding regimes with the average delivery time for a major project from the point of approval in Auckland now 10 years. This certainly gives new meaning to the old proverb patience is a virtue. In the case of Penlink we dont have that lengthy lead in time because much of this work was already done, courtesy of the legacy Rodney District Council which, although it could never afford to actually build Penlink, was responsible for much of the initial planning, land purchase and consultation that was subsequently picked up by successive governments and Auckland Council. So roll on all these transport improvements! On more immediate matters, the decision to quarantine people returning from China at the Naval base at Army Bay is an illustration of how, just as we are connected into a much wider transport network, as a country were also connected into an increasingly vulnerable world. Thats why in this instance and others, a co-operative, informed and decisive response is required to safeguard everyones interests, not just as inhabitants of one town or country but as citizens of the world. Six foreign organisations and 35 foreigners were granted red books to purchase a number of apartments in Hanoi. Hanoi has provided land use right certificates (red books) for several apartment projects to foreigners (Illustration image) Hanoi Department of Construction has published the list of six foreign organisations and 35 foreigners who received land use right certificates (red books) from the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The recipients are almost exclusively South Korean. The list of apartment projects where these rights were provided includes Vinhomes Sky Lake in My Dinh 1 commune, Vinhomes Green Bay in Me Tri commune, Sapphire 1 and Ryby 1 buildings at the office and apartment building at 136 Ho Tung Mau street. Other buildings include the Booyoung building in Mo Lao new urban area, the CT01 building in Ha Cau commune, Vinhomes Metropolis in Lieu Giai, Eco Lakeview in Hoang Mai district, and R5 building in Vinhomes Royal City in Thanh Xuan district. Previously in November 2019, Hanoi Department of Construction announced a list of 16 housing projects in which foreigners can buy. Among those, four projects in Hadong district are Ngan Ha, Him Lam Van Phuc, Hoang Thanh City, and one invested by Linh Chau Investment and Trading JSC. Two projects are located in Thanh Xuan district, one at 2A on Ha Dinh street and the other at 44 on Trieu Khuc street. Long Bien district has three projects, including B8.NXH apartment block, CT15 apartment block, and Mipec Riverside. Two projects in Cau Giay district are Dreamland Plaza and a building at 265 Cau Giay street. The five remaining projects comprise of one in Ninh Hiep commune in Gia Lam district, Goldmark City project in North Tu Liem district, Hai Dang City in South Tu Liem district, the project to rebuild a residential area at 30A Ly Thuong Kiet street in Hoan Kiem district, and a building at 16 Lang Ha street in Dong Da district. VIR Kim Oanh Legal problems hinder foreigners from buying houses in Vietnam The number of properties bought by foreigners in Vietnam remains modest. A few days before the Nevada caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has taken a 12 percentage point lead in the Democratic presidential contest, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Tuesday morning. Sanders has the support of 31 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, up 9 points from the last Marist poll in December, but coming in at No. 2 is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, at 19 percent. That's a 15-point jump since December. This poll qualifies Bloomberg to participate in Wednesday's Democratic debate, though Bloomberg won't be on the ballot in Saturday's caucuses. Bloomberg's campaign said he plans to participate if he qualifies. The billionaire media tycoon built up his poll numbers with the help of more than $400 million of his personal fortune and lots of advertising. He and the other candidates, especially Sanders, are going after each other with increasing vigor. Former Vice President Joe Biden comes in third place in the poll at 15 percent, down 9 points since December, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at 12 percent (a drop of 5 points), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at 9 percent (down 4 points), and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 8 percent (down from 13 percent). Buttigieg narrowly leads in delegates after strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. All of the candidates beat President Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchups, with Biden enjoying the biggest lead, followed by Bloomberg, Sanders, Klobuchar and Buttigieg, and Warren. Sanders leads among most categories except black voters he's a close second to Biden moderates, and voters over 45; Bloomberg gets the most support among those last two groups and is No. 3 with black voters. Marist conducted the poll Feb. 13-16 among 1,416 U.S. adults, including 527 Democrats and leaners. The entire poll, including the head-to-heads with Trump, has a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points; the Democratic rankings have a margin of error of 5.4 points. More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils Utah lawmakers move to decriminalize polygamy, crack down on porn Obama poked Trump on the economy. Trump took the bait. Turkish prosecutors investigating the military and justice ministry ordered the arrest of 228 people on Tuesday over suspected links to the network that government claims were behind the 2016 coup attempt, state-owned media reported. The 2016 coup, which resulted in the death of 250 people was reportedly an attempt against Turkish state institutions, including the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Read: 'Situation In Idlib Will Only Be Resolved When Syrian Troops Withdraw': Turkey's Erdogan Turkish armed forces under investigation In its latest move, the prosecutors have ordered the arrest of 157 officials of the Turkish Armed Forces. Out of the which, 101 are currently serving officials, a news agency reported. The investigating operation was reportedly based in the western province of Izmir and expanded across 43 Turkish provinces. Added to that, they have also ordered the arrest of 71 people as part of the investigation targetting alleged Gulen supporters in the Justice ministry. Out of the total, 33 are serving the ministry currently, the news agency reported. Read: Amid Tension, Greece, Turkey Hold Military-to-military Talks Following the failed coup, around 80,000 people have been jailed pending trial. Apart from that nearly 1,50,000 civil servants, military personnel and others have been dismissed from their jobs. According to media reports, there has also been a sustained crackdown on the followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who is accused of instigating the coup. On the other hand, Gulen had denied the claims and has condemned the coup. Many soldiers have denied their participation in the coup saying that they were told that they were participating in regular military exercises, international media reported. The Turkish president who was vacationing when the putsch happened has reportedly said that it was a failed attempt of dragging Turkey into darkness. On the other hand, a faction of the army who was involved in the coup claimed that it was an attempt to protect democracy from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Read: 'Situation In Idlib Will Only Be Resolved When Syrian Troops Withdraw': Turkey's Erdogan Read: Turkey Seeks 695 Arrests Over Links To US-based Cleric (With inputs from Agencies) The potential of an opioid drug to help numb fear memory. Credit: Tokyo University of Science Anxiety disorders such as phobias and PTSD are fairly common problems in society. One of the prime causes of anxiety disorders is the inability to overcome the fear for certain contexts when they no longer apply. Attempts to facilitate this process of overcoming fear, therefore, has been the focus of recent efforts to treat anxiety disorders. These efforts have culminated in the discovery that certain opioid compounds, called delta opioid receptor (DOP) agonists, assist in masking fear memory. Consequently, DOP agonists have been at the center of clinical explorations in this area over the last decade. In the thick of such clinical explorations, scientists from the Tokyo University of Science and the University of Tsukuba, Japan, led by Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh, first discovered the depression- and anxiety-relieving effects of DOP agonists. Subsequently, in a new study published inNeuropharmacology in 2019, they explored the potential of these agonists to help in the fear memory masking process. "We looked at the effects of DOP agonists on anxiety and fear memory, which have not been sufficiently studied so far," explains Prof Saitoh. Prof Saitoh and team applied the "fear conditioning test" to mice in their laboratory. On day 1 of their experiment, they placed the mice in conditioning chambers and inflicted footshock on them at regular intervals. This was designed to induce fear for the chamber in the mice, who would henceforth associate the chamber with painful footshocks. On day 2, the mice were given either saline ("control" group), KNT-127, or SNC80 (both DOP agonists) and released into the conditioning chamber once again. They were not given any more footshocks. On day 3, they were given no drugs or saline but re-exposed to the conditioning chamber, to test their fear memoryor whether they remembered to be afraid. When mice are afraid, they freeze. On day 2, the mice on both drugs showed significantly less "freezing" behavior. On day 3, the mice on KNT-127 showed reduced freezing behavior, but those on SNC80 did not. The scientists also examined the effects of these drugs on the activities of enzymes and pathways in the brain that are known to drive the masking of fear memory. They found that KNT-127 increased the levels of "phosphorylated" (or activated) molecules of an enzyme called ERK, which is involved in the ability to overcome fear conditioning in certain parts of the brain. Taken together, these results suggest that although both KNT-127 and SNC80 reduce conditioned fear, only KNT-127 helps suppress contextual fear memory. Further, KNT-127 performs this role by increasing the levels of phosphorylated ERK in certain parts of the brain. So, both drugs reduce anxiety in the case of conditioned fear but do so via different pathways in the brain. These observations and inferences are based on mice in a laboratory, but they clearly suggest new therapeutic possibilities for people. Prof Saitoh and Dr. Yamada say, "the fear conditioning test used in this study is also a model of PTSD. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder in which the memory (trauma) of anxiety and fear once experienced cannot be forgotten and thus impairs daily life, causing problems like insomnia and withdrawal. At present, the widely prescribed medication for PTSD takes several weeks to have therapeutic effects and is not satisfactory. There are also no potential breakthrough therapies for such disorders. Our study shows that DOP agonists, when used in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, can enhance the efficacy of treatment for anxiety disorders. It offers hope for the realization of a safe and effective new mode of therapy for PTSD and other related psychiatric disorders." Explore further Chronic opioid treatment may increase PTSD risk More information: Daisuke Yamada et al, Selective agonists of the -opioid receptor, KNT-127 and SNC80, act differentially on extinction learning of contextual fear memory in mice, Neuropharmacology (2019). Journal information: Neuropharmacology Daisuke Yamada et al, Selective agonists of the -opioid receptor, KNT-127 and SNC80, act differentially on extinction learning of contextual fear memory in mice,(2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107792 Rey Saldana, Communities In Schools President and CEO As a struggling student, I walked into the Communities In Schools office looking for help," said Saldana. "Today, I walk into the role of President and CEO with an opportunity to pay it forward." Communities In Schools (CIS), the national organization that empowers all students to stay in school and on a path to graduation, announced today that former San Antonio City Councilman and CIS Alumnus Rey Saldana has been named President and CEO. Reys track record as a successful policymaker, an education advocate and a tireless champion for young people make him uniquely qualified to carry out our strategic plan to ensure that every student in America has a community of support inside and outside the classroom, said Communities In Schools National Board Chair Elaine Wynn. Moreover, his remarkable journey from former CIS student to national leader of our organization, sends an inspiring message to all young people about the power they have to write their own success story, no matter where they start out in life. Saldana assumes the role of President and CEO of Communities In Schools in mid-March, and will lead a national office that partners with 128 independent CIS affiliates and licensed organizations to ensure all students have the academic and non-academic supports they need to realize their full potential in school and life. Most recently, Saldana served as the Regional Advocacy Director for the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, and the Chair of the San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Agency - VIA. Prior to that, he served four terms on the San Antonio City Council where he was first elected at age 24, becoming the youngest councilperson in that citys history. During his tenure, Saldana successfully campaigned for funding of the citys early childhood initiative (Pre-K 4SA) and streamlined the city and countys child truancy court. Growing up living below the poverty line, there were enough challenges to confront before I had the chance to dream, said Saldana. As a struggling student, I walked into the Communities In Schools office looking for help. Today, I walk into the role of President and CEO with an opportunity to pay it forward. Looking back, I never could have imagined this for myself. It is an extraordinary statement that I am asked to lead an organization whose mission centers on allowing more students to command their future and license their dreams. Throughout my life, and my public service, I have witnessed the fact that my situation is not unique. There are many young people out there who face barriers in life, and while there are constant challenges, what remains consistent is CISs investment in a national network of people who continue to support those children in our schools and our communities. The son of immigrants, Saldana was born and raised in San Antonio and attended South San Antonio High School where he first received supports from Communities In Schools. He holds a masters degree from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education where he studied policy, organization and leadership studies, and two bachelors degrees in political science and communications from Stanford. Saldana has a longstanding commitment to improving the academic and life outcomes for all students. He previously worked with The University of Texas at San Antonios Office of Community Engagement and served as the Chief Engagement Officer with KIPP San Antonio Public Schools. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Trinity University and Palo Alto Community College. Communities In Schools National Board Members expressed their enthusiasm for naming a President and CEO who represents the next generation of education leadership in our country. Now more than ever, we need a dynamic education leader who understands both the challenges and the opportunities that young people face in our country, said former U.S. Education Secretary and CIS National Board Member Arne Duncan. I am thrilled that hes joining Communities In Schools so we can support every student, improve our schools and strengthen our communities. Rey is the embodiment of the idea that with the right supports, any child can realize their full potential and achieve their dreams, said CIS National Board Secretary and search committee member Darilyn Olidge. Hes committed to making sure that every student can succeed in and beyond the classroom. Saldana assumes leadership of Communities In Schools at a time when the organization has undergone unprecedented growth and demonstrated a significant impact on the lives of students across the country. In the past three years, Communities In Schools has: Embarked on a new strategic plan to sustain, deepen and grow the CIS model of integrated student supports across America. Secured three record-breaking institutional grants and launched a Challenge School grant allowing CIS to serve more than 100,000 new students in 152 schools. In partnership with the CIS network, secured new public funding, allowing CIS affiliates and state offices to serve more students. Launched a business development unit that provides new opportunities for school districts and community organizations to partner with CIS for licensing or professional development. Experienced one of the largest statewide rollouts of the CIS model of integrated student supports in its history following a licensed partnership agreement with the state of West Virginia. Developed an innovative plan to implement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles into the policies, procedures and practices throughout the CIS enterprise. The National Communities In Schools Board expressed their gratitude to outgoing President and CEO Dale Erquiaga who launched the new strategic plan and spearheaded new initiatives to help improve the lives of 1.62 million children in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Erquiaga has agreed to maintain an ongoing affiliation with CIS as a Visiting Fellow. In that role he will consult with Saldana to support expansion and sector entrepreneurship strategies in support of the organizations business plan. About Communities In Schools Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national organization that ensures all students have what they need to stay in school and on a path to a brighter future. Working directly inside more than 2,500 schools and community sites across the country, we connect 1.62 million students to caring adults and community resources designed to help them succeed in school and life. With a proven mix of evidence-based practice and human capital, we do whatever it takes to empower kids to realize their full potential. The British government on Tuesday became the latest country to announce it will evacuate its citizens stranded on board a cruise ship quarantined off Japan because of the new coronavirus. Britain said it would organise a flight to repatriate its nationals from the Diamond Princess vessel, where more than 450 people have tested positive for COVID-19. That follows the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea all saying they will evacuate their citizens from the boat, with more than 300 Americans arriving back on home soil on Monday. "Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible," a British Foreign Office spokesperson said. "Our staff are contacting British nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements." There were more than 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess when it first arrived in Japan earlier this month and was put under quarantine in waters near Yokohama on February 3. All those on board have now been tested for the new coronavirus, Japan's government said Tuesday. Tokyo has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with dozens of new infections detected almost daily since the ship arrived. There are 74 British passengers and crew among them, according to UK media reports, and the government in London has also been criticised for its response. Some of the British passengers have hit out at being left stranded on the ship while other countries began to organise airlifts of their citizens. Since the COVID-19 outbreak emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, more than 72,000 people have been infected, the vast majority in China, where the official death toll is nearly 1,900. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Protesters at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday welcomed the intervention of the Supreme Court in the ongoing protests and said that they are ready to talk to government interlocutors appointed to discuss with them their concerns on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Population Register (NPR) and the proposed Register of Citizen (NRC). However, protesters said they were not ready to vacate the site of the protests. Talking to ANI, a women participant said: "We welcome the SC appointed mediators. We will discuss this with them and tell them our concerns. We will not move from here until our demands are fulfilled. We want the CAA to be repealed." Yesterday, hearing a PIL, the Supreme Court had appointed senior lawyers Sanjay Hegde, Sadhna Ramachandran and former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah to talk to protesters at Shaheen Bagh and persuade them to move their agitation to another venue. The apex court has posted the matter for further hearing on February 24. Joginder Singh, another protestor said: We are not blocking the roads, protesting is not illegal. We want the government to give it in writing that they will repeal CAA and that there will be no NPR and NRC". Another woman protester said she is hopeful that intervention by the apex court will lead to the fulfilment of demand of the protestors. "We have been sitting here for almost two months and they heeded to us now. We will not leave this place and continue our protests. We trust the SC and hope that it will lead to the fulfilment of our demands", she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra on February 18 waded into the controversy over video clips of December 15 violence at Jamia Millia Islamia saying that even Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab would be termed innocent had he entered the university library with a gun. A series of videos have emerged of the incident, two months after the alleged police brutality in Jamia Millia Islamia. In a video that surfaced online, police can be seen raining batons on students as they are trying to escape in Jamia library. In another video, some youths can be seen rushing into the library room with a few of them having their faces covered, before the police entered there. Mishra said in a Hindi tweet, "If that day Kasab had rushed in the library with his gun, he would be called an innocent...." He justified his tweet by saying that an edited portion of the CCTV footage was used to "vilify" the police. "They were not students, they were rioters. But their sympathisers blamed police while posting edited portion of the CCTV footage," he charged. Mishra earlier courted controversy during recent Assembly polls terming it as an India-Pakistan contest for which he was slapped with a ban on campaigning by the Election Commission. He was fielded from Model Town constituency by the BJP and lost to the AAP's Raghav Chadha. Delhi Police has said that its special investigation team probing the violence in Jamia Nagar area on December 15 will analyse all the video clips to establish the exact sequence of the events on the day. (With inputs from PTI) One area where this money may go is Africa, where only six labs exist that can test for coronavirus. Africa has, so far, had only one confirmed coronavirus case: in Egypt. The Egyptian Health Ministry has not identified the victim, but has said the person is a foreigner and is being treated in isolation. An estimated one million Chinese nationals live on the continent of 1.2 billion people. Caroline Flack underwent two risk assessments to find out if her bail conditions of not being allowed to contact her boyfriend could be varied. The troubled star killed herself at her home in Stoke Newington, East London, on Saturday while awaiting trial for allegedly attacking her partner Lewis Burton. She had pleaded not guilty to assault by beating at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in North London on December 23 and was due to go on trial at March 4. Under the Offender Assessment System introduced in 2001, there are two main risks considered - of future re-offending, and of serious harm to themselves or others. But the court heard how, even though her risk factor had been downgraded from 'high' to 'medium,' she could not see him until at least after the March appearance. Caroline Flack leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in North London in December 2019 At the court in December, prosecutor Katie Weiss said police had lowered the risk level against Mr Burton, but the CPS still opposed removing the bail conditions. A 'medium' risk level means the offender is unlikely to cause serious harm unless there is a change in circumstances, such as relationship breakdown or drug misuse. Former CPS chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal said prosecutors could halt proceedings if the risk to the defendant's health outweighed a public interest in them standing trial. But Mr Afzal added that they were under pressure to pursue convictions for domestic violence amid concerns that too many prosecutions were dropped. Miss Flack arrives at the Love Island villa in Majorca for series five of the show in July 2019 1.9million viewers tune in to first Love Island since presenter's death The first episode of Love Island since the death of Caroline Flack was watched by an average audience of 1.9million viewers on ITV2 last night. The audience of 1,926,900 recorded by TV ratings system Overnights.TV means it was only the 14th most watched episode out of the 35 broadcast during series six so far. The current record audience for this series was 2.4million for the opening night on January 12. The show was not broadcast on Saturday or Sunday. Advertisement The former Love Island presenter killed herself just hours after she learned prosecutors had decided to press ahead with the court case, with her trial just over a fortnight away. CPS lawyers decided to prosecute Miss Flack even after Mr Burton asked police not to proceed. A court was told she hit him over the head with a lamp. Known as an 'evidence-led prosecution', it would have relied not on his testimony but on material gathered by police such as bodycam footage taken at her home. Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard that, in the aftermath of the alleged incident, Miss Flack told police 'I did it' then warned she would kill herself. But Miss Flack's management company criticised the CPS for pressing ahead with what it called her 'show trial' even after Mr Burton said he did not support it. A court heard Caroline Flack had hit her boyfriend Lewis Burton (above, together) with a lamp Lawyers have said prosecutors may have pressed ahead with assault charges against Miss Flack due to high public concern around domestic violence. Why did the CPS pursue the assault charges when the alleged victim - her boyfriend - wanted them dropped? The Crown Prosecution Service is under obligation to investigate all domestic violence incidents if they believe they are in the public interest. For years there has been growing concern that too few domestic violence cases end in prosecution. Many involve women who have been attacked by their husbands who later withdraw their original accusations under duress or because they are simply living in fear. To try and address this, the CPS introduced reforms in 2014 aimed at greatly increasing prosecution rates. They issued guidance to police urging them to gather multiple sources of evidence rather than just relying on the victim's statement - which may be unreliable or change. One of the most important sources of evidence in domestic abuse cases is likely to be the original 999 call made by the victim shortly after the attack. Other evidence could include witness statements from neighbours, medical examinations or images from the scene captured on police bodycams or CCTV. Miss Flack was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a 'show trial' over the alleged assault on her boyfriend Lewis Burton and was worried she could not cope with the fallout. Advertisement Former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald said there would generally be 'a strong presumption' that bringing charges in any domestic violence case would be in the public interest. He said: 'There is a high public interest presumption in favour of prosecution in domestic violence cases because domestic violence is such a common crime and it's a dangerous crime. 'We have about 170 or 180 people every year, mainly women, who are killed during domestic violence incidents. There is a huge amount of public concern about these offences. 'Generally, there would be a strong public interest presumption in favour of prosecuting a domestic violence case where there is enough evidence to do so.' Miss Flack's agent Francis Ridley, of Money Talent Management, said: 'In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported. 'The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events. 'The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline.' The CPS is under obligation to investigate all domestic violence incidents if they believe they are in the public interest. For years there has been growing concern that too few domestic violence cases end in prosecution. Caroline Flack is pictured during the final episode of series four of Love Island in July 2018 Miss Flack killed herself at home in this building in Stoke Newington, East London, on Saturday Many involve women who have been attacked by their husbands who later withdraw their original accusations under duress or because they are simply living in fear. Caroline Flack was tormented over jury being shown police 'bodycam' footage Caroline Flack was said to have been tormented over the idea of a jury being shown police 'bodycam' footage taken during the night she was accused of attacking her boyfriend. The distraught TV presenter was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a 'show trial' over an alleged assault on Lewis Burton and was worried she could not cope with the fallout. Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in North London had heard in December that police found the pair at her flat in Islington covered in blood and that Miss Flack had cuts to her wrist. Miss Flack had hoped the trial would not go ahead. Friends said she was left feeling isolated and scared and was prescribed anti-depressants. One said: 'Her biggest fear was that the bodycam footage would be made public. She realised that it was going to be shown in court if it came to court. 'She felt that from that moment her life would be ruined forever. I hear that the footage is quite distressing.' Advertisement To try to address this, the CPS introduced reforms in 2014 aimed at greatly increasing prosecution rates. Sean Joyce, head of criminal justice at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, criticised the CPS over the prosecution for having a 'one size fits all' policy. Ms Flack was banned from speaking to her boyfriend before the trial, and Mr Joyce said that enforced separation can sometimes do more harm than good. He said: 'The current CPS approach is too much of a one size fits all policy, it must give greater thought to individual circumstances. 'The enforced separation between parties, in individual cases, as highlighted here, often prevents reconciliation and can do more harm than good. It's important that the CPS takes the time to reflect on this. 'If as a country we want a criminal justice system that provides justice to all parties, including the alleged victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, then it needs to be properly resourced. 'At the moment, the police, prosecution and courts often don't have the time or the money to consider properly the complex issues raised by domestic violence. 'Perversely, this can lead to inappropriate cases proceeding to trial when a robust review at an early stage would have prevented this.' Why it matters: Apple users have long enjoyed being able to use iMessage from their Macs. Microsoft and Samsung are trying to emulate that by enabling RCS support in Windows 10. This would allow owners of Samsung devices to send RCS messages to other devices that support the protocol. While it's limited to Samsung devices, support for other Android devices should come soon. Rich Communication Services (RCS) is supposed to replace the outdated SMS with one that's similar to internet-based messaging services like iMessage or WhatsApp. Google was even able to finish rolling out RCS in the United States via the Android Messages application. However, it seems that Microsoft is adding RCS support to Your Phone, the built-in Windows 10 app that allows users to link their phone to their computer. Microsoft is partnering with Samsung to allow the Your Phone app to relay RCS messages sent from Galaxy S20 phones. That said, while Microsoft is starting with Samsung phones, support for other Android phones could come in the future. Proud to announce that we have partnered with the Samsung Messages team to bring RCS messaging support to #yourphone app via #linktowindows. Starting with the #galaxys20series you will be able to send and receive RCS texts from PC if your default SMS app is Samsung Messages! Roberto Bojorquez [Microsoft] (@bojorchess) February 15, 2020 There are a few caveats to using Your Phone. First, the default messaging app has to be Samsung Messages. It doesn't appear that it works with Google's Android Messages app just yet. Also, the recipient of the message must support RCS. It's a good starting point and is a great way for owners of Windows PCs and Android phones (albeit Samsung) to gain iMessage like capabilities. The RCS collaboration between Microsoft and Samsung is yet another example of the two companies working together. Microsoft worked with Samsung to further integrate Microsoft services into Samsung's devices, such as pre-installing Microsoft apps and integrating OneDrive with Samsung's photo app. Those who don't have a Samsung phone can still use RCS on their computer via the Android Messages web client. However, this is a good first step for improving the messaging capabilities on Windows 10. by Nirmala Carvalho The Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India ends tomorrow in Bengaluru. I am at the service of God and the Church, said Archbishop of Vasai. Dialogue is the "way chosen by God to reveal himself to us". New Delhi (AsiaNews) The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) is currently holding its plenary assembly (13-19 February) in Bengaluru (Bangalore). Yesterday it re-elected Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, as its president, as well as elected Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai as its secretary general. Archbishop Machado, who heads the Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), told AsiaNews that he is at the service of God and the Church. Only doing Gods will gives meaning to my life. Between 1999 and 2008, he served as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican. He studied philosophy at the University of Lyon and spent seven years at the Taize community in France. During that time, he also served for a year in Bangladesh as a volunteer in refugee camps, later earning a Theology degree from Maryknoll College in New York and a doctorate from Fordham. Speaking about his election, he said that Indias bishops unanimously pointed to me as a man of dialogue, and this is a great honour for me from fellow bishops. Indeed, God reveals himself through us and the method of dialogue. God never imposes anything upon us; he enters into the dialogue of salvation with us. The Church of India wants to trod the path of dialogue all the way and arrive at truth and charity, noted the new CBCI secretary general. She has always faced challenges and situations, but we must be faithful to Christ and keep on the path of dialogue. Dialogue means loving people. Truth has to be respected, always done in charity, fearlessly proclaimed, but always in charity. This is the dictum of the Church. Noting that the assemblys theme is Dialogue: the way to truth and charity, he explained that The bishops want me to take up this challenge, together with the leadership, and assist Cardinal Gracias. To this end, We must necessarily follow the path of dialogue. Confrontation, compromise or even political negotiations are not Christian. Dialogue is the sacred path, the path chosen by God to reveal himself to us, and God continues to dialogue with us. SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF) (the Company or PLUS), a cannabis and hemp-branded products company in California, today announced the launch of its new PLUS CBDRelief brand into the California Adult-Use Market. Highlights PLUS enters the wellness and relief market segment with a new product launch, alongside the introduction of the PLUS CBDRelief brand. New line-up will initially include two high-CBD, low-THC gummy products specifically formulated for the wellness and relief cannabis-user. Third-party market research suggests over one-third of cannabis use occasions are for relieving pain, stress and anxiety1. The PLUS CBDRelief brand represents a significant extension beyond PLUSs core brand, which was the largest cannabis-infused gummies brand in California in 2019 and claimed the best-selling cannabis product in the state across all categories over the same period2. We have seen compelling success with our core brand and are excited to take the next step towards becoming a true portfolio of brands with the launch of PLUS CBDRelief, said Jake Heimark, Co-founder and CEO. Last year we partnered with market structure research firm, HJR Associates, and found that when consumers used cannabis, over one-third of the time it was to address pain, stress or anxiety, stated Mr. Heimark. This represents a massive market that appears, thus far, to have been underserved. We believe there are almost no edibles products in California designed to meet the needs of these consumers, and were excited to introduce products formulated specifically for that purpose. The two new products include a PLUS CBDRelief 9:1 Tropical Mango with 9mg of CBD and 1mg of THC per serving, and a PLUS CBDRelief 18:1 Tart Cherry with 18 mg of CBD and 1 mg of THC per serving. Specifically formulated to help reduce chronic subclinical inflammation, provide full-body relief and promote a calm state of mind, the proprietary blends mix high quality CBD and THC to provide powerful relief. The PLUS CBDRelief product line will deliver the highest cannabinoid content per package among gummies in the California marketplace3, while also enabling precision dosing that is difficult to achieve with other form factors like tinctures. Research suggests that people are looking to cannabis as a holistic tool for relief4. Its exciting to leverage rigorous science to formulate great products that enable people to help themselves. Research on cannabis is progressing quickly and we are driving our portfolio of products with innovative science and technologies that will support our customers health and wellness goals, noted Dr. Ari Mackler, PLUSs Chief Scientific Officer. PLUS CBDRelief products are expected to be sold in licensed retailers across California. (1) According to proprietary research conducted through HJR Associates, a third-party firm contracted by the Company (2) According to BDS Analytics GreenEdge Platform (3) According to BDS Analytics GreenEdge Platform (4) According to proprietary research conducted through HJR Associates, a third-party firm contracted by the Company Availability California THC: PLUS cannabis-infused edibles are currently available in over 360 licensed retailers across the state of California. PLUS CBDRelief cannabis-infused gummies are expected to roll-out across the state in coming weeks. Nevada THC: PLUS cannabis-infused gummies are currently available in over 30 Nevada licensed retailers, including all three MedMen locations and Planet 13. National Hemp CBD: PLUS recently launched a line of 100% Hemp CBD-infused gummies. They are available for purchase in 43 states across the country at plusproducts.com . About PLUS PLUS is a hemp and cannabis food company focused on using nature to bring balance to consumers lives. PLUSs mission is to make cannabis safe and approachable that begins with high-quality products that deliver consistent consumer experiences. PLUS is headquartered in San Mateo, CA. For further information contact: Jake Heimark CEO & Co-founder ir@plusproducts.com Investors: Blake Brennan Investor Relations Blake@plusproducts.com Tel +1 213.282.6987 Media: Megan Sekkas Public Relations megan@sekkas.com Tel +310.279.6811 The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release includes statements containing certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law (each, a forward-looking statement). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, continue, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, will, potential, proposed and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur and include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: (i) whether or not PLUS will achieve its objective of becoming a true portfolio of brands, and to what extent the launch of PLUS CBDRelief products will help PLUS achieve this objective (if at all); (ii) the extent to which (if at all) the influence of innovative science and technology will facilitate the progression of the PLUS portfolio of products to support its customers health and wellness goals; (iii) whether or not the formulation of the PLUS CBDRelief products will help reduce some subclinical inflammation, provide some full-body relief and promote some calm in its customers or at all; and (iv) whether or not PLUS CBDRelief cannabis-infused gummies will be rolled-out across California in coming weeks or at all. These forward-looking statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this press release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, the success of the Companys investments, the ability to retain key personnel, the ability to continue investing in infrastructure to support growth, the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, the continued quality of the Companys products, customer experience and retention, the continued development of adult-use sales channels, managements estimation of consumer demand in in jurisdictions where the Company exports, expectations of future results and expenses, the availability of additional capital to complete capital projects and facilities improvements, the ability to expand and maintain distribution capabilities, the impact of competition, the ability of the Company to implement initiatives and the possibility for changes in laws, rules, and regulations in the industry. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3d8ea8e-058d-4dac-81b9-5cb0bea5433d Mumbai based multi-specialty Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital was recently conferred with the prestigious 'Quality Beyond Accreditation' Award at AHPI Global Conclave 2020 organized by Association of Health Care Providers of India (AHPI). It may be recalled that the hospital was also the first to be accredited by NABH in the western region of India in 2007. Ever since the hospital has been in the forefront in ensuring ethical and quality practices for many years. The award presented by DV Sadananda Gowda - Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India was received by Dr Shashikant Pawar - General Manager - Operations & Projects, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital at the event in the presence of Dr Alexander Thomas - President of AHPI, Dr Girdhar Gyani - Member Secretary of AHPI and Dr Prem K Nair - Member of AHPI and other dignitaries. "We all at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital are happy and honoured to receive this prestigious award for our hospital, which is the recognition of excellence in quality. The operations and quality go hand in hand, where the quality systems are the measures of the process efficiency. We keep updating our hospital standard operating procedures periodically to have the process efficiency with involvement from each stakeholder," said Dr Shashikant Pawar, while commenting on the receipt of this prestigious award. "Strive to go ahead in the quality management systems by constant monitoring and validation mechanism, by benchmarking with national and international standards, creating the benchmarks internally for clinical and non-clinical departments. Hospital fosters the quality culture and patient-centric approach. The key metrics being the patient satisfaction index score constantly keeping at around 4.4 out of 5, which is remarkable in a service industry," added Dr Pawar. There is no compromise when it concerns quality and Dr Shashikant Pawar feels that in order to go beyond accreditation, hospital engages in inculcating quality standards and processes from grass root level of each and every department. We strive for continual quality improvement to elevate the bar of quality and performance excellence, and to set standard of care in all areas of healthcare provided, to make us the leaders in quality in healthcare, to stay one step ahead. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading money transfer company will offer its services at 400 Austrian Posts branches and 300 of its partners locations VIENNA, Austria, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ria Money Transfer, a leading money transfer company and subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide Inc (EEFT), and bank99, Austrian Posts new banking and financial entity, announced today a strategic partnership that enables customers to send secure international remittances from 700 of the banks post office branches and partner locations through Rias global network of 397,000 locations across 160 countries. The partnership is part of Rias strategy to become the preferred partner of post offices and large chain retailers for enabling secure remittances, transparency, and true product assortment to their customers. The partnership also opens an important new channel in Austria for Ria to offer its competitive pricing and FX rates to remittance customers while providing bank99 customers access to Rias ubiquitous global cash pickup network and industry leading account deposit network with more choice of currencies and delivery methods. Georg Polzl, Austrian Post CEO, said, Fast, secure and convenient, that is what customers expect from a money transfer. With Ria Money Transfer we have found the ideal partner for our bank99 to offer our customers not only that right from the start, but also a world-class service. This partnership presents a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our presence in Austria, and most importantly to support the Austrian Posts legacy of reducing distances and promoting equality, said Juan Bianchi, Euronet Executive VP and CEO, Money Transfer. We look forward to working alongside bank99 to continue our resolve to offer customers more choices and greater convenience. The official launch will take place on 1-April-2020 with selected branches offering the service by 4-May-2020. According to the World Bank, an estimated US$6.2 billion was sent in remittances from Austria in 2018 with top destinations including Germany, Serbia, Hungary, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Poland, and Czech Republic. Story continues About Ria Ria, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT), is a global leader in the money transfer industry. The company is steadfast in its commitment to its clients and their communities, offering fast, secure, and affordable money transfers through a network of over 397,000 locations spanning across 160 countries and online at www.riamoneytransfer.com . For more information, visit www.corporate.riafinancial.com . About Austrian Post & bank99 Austrian Post is the leading logistics and postal services provider in the country. Its core business encompasses the transport and delivery of letters, direct mail items, print media, packets and parcels as well as various logistics services and innovative online services. Customers are offered high-quality products and services in the fields of banking and telecommunications by the branch network. From April 1, 2020, Austrian Post will offer banking and financial services in more than 400 branches by bank99 and 1.350 Postal Partner will follow on May 4, 2020. Austrian Post is internationally active in nine other European countries. Contact: Stephanie Taylor staylor@eeft.com 913-327-4200 JERUSALEM - Despite objections from sexual abuse activists, the Israeli Opera will host a weeklong singing competition organized by Spanish opera star Placido Domingo in Tel Aviv later this year. Domingo, 80, has withdrawn from all U.S. performances since reports by The Associated Press last year detailed accusations of sexual harassment or other inappropriate, sexually charged conduct. While American outlets have dropped Domingo, he continues to perform in Europe. He received a standing ovation in Milan in December and had two sold out shows in Berlin in January. Domingos Operalia, an annual opera singing competition, will take place at Tel Avivs opera house from Oct. 22 to 28. The Israeli Operas decision to host Domingo in spite of the allegations against him has angered Israeli activists. The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel wrote on its Facebook page that the entire world is renouncing the serial assaulter, and only Israel receives him with open arms. But leave it to the Israel Opera to receive someone who in other places has turned into an outcast in light of his actions, and gladly announced his arrival to the country, the organization said. An op-ed piece in the Hebrew daily Haaretz called the institution disconnected and outdated for welcoming Domingo as though there was no such thing as the #MeToo movement. The Israeli Opera said in a statement that it has a very strict policy against any kind of harassment but said there has been no official report about the AP claims. Since many leading opera houses around the world decided to continue to invite Mr. Domingo to perform on their stages, it added, the Israeli Opera saw no reason not to act in the same way. Domingo spent three of his early years as an opera performer as a resident at Tel Avivs opera in the 1960s. ___ This story has corrected that the quote published in Haaretz is from an op-ed, not an editorial by the newspaper. US billionaire Mike Bloomberg has qualified for the upcoming Democratic presidential debate, marking the first time he will stand alongside the rivals that he has so far avoided by skipping the early voting states and using his personal fortune to define himself through television ads. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll published Tuesday shows Bloomberg with 19 percent support nationally in the Democratic nominating contest. The former New York City mayor, who launched his presidential campaign in November, will appear in Wednesdays debate in Las Vegas alongside former Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Fellow billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is still hoping to qualify. Bloombergs campaign said that it was seeing a groundswell of support across the country and that qualifying for Wednesdays debate is the latest sign that Mikes plan and ability to defeat Donald Trump is resonating with more Americans. Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why hes the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country, Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, centre, speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate [File: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky] The Democratic National Committee recently changed its rules for how a candidate qualifies for the debate, opening the door for Bloomberg to be on stage and drawing the ire of some candidates who dropped out of the race for failing to make prior stages. The candidates were previously required to receive a certain number of campaign contributions to qualify, but Bloomberg, who is worth an estimated $60bn, is not taking donations. The prime-time event will be a stark departure from Bloombergs highly choreographed campaign. He has poured more than $300m into television advertising. While hes campaigned in more than two dozen states, he does not take questions from voters and delivers a standard stump speech that lasts fewer than 15 minutes, often reading from a teleprompter. Bloomberg is likely to face far more direct fire in the debate. His fellow Democratic contenders have stepped up their attacks against him in recent days, decrying him for trying to buy the election and criticising his support of the stop-and-frisk tactic while mayor of New York City that led police to target mostly black and Hispanic men for searches. Bloomberg has barely crossed paths on the trail with his fellow Democrats. He decided to skip the first four voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in favour of focusing on the 14 states that vote on March 3 and the contests that come afterwards. He rarely mentions his rivals by name, though his campaign is centred on the idea that none of them can beat President Donald Trump. And Bloomberg, more than anyone, has predicated his campaign on a potential Biden collapse. He has been aggressive in targeting African-American voters in the South, a core demographic for Bidens campaign. Former Vice President Joe Biden speaking to supporters at a campaign event in Hampton, New Hampshire [File: Elise Amendola/AP Photo] Biden said he does not think you can buy an election. Im going to get a chance to debate him on everything from redlining to stop-and-frisk to a whole range of other things, Biden told reporters last week. The poll released Tuesday shows Sanders leading in the Democratic primary contest, at 31 percent support nationally. After Bloomberg at 19 percent, Biden is at 15 percent, Warren at 12 percent, Klobuchar at 9 percent and Buttigieg at 8 percent. Steyer is at 2 percent, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard is at less than 1 percent, with 5 percent undecided. The telephone survey of 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents was conducted by the Marist Poll at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV posted bail for the conspiracy to commit sedition case immediately after returning to the Philippines on Tuesday (February 18). Fresh from the United States, the former senator went straight to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 138 to pay the P10,000 bail. Trillanes said he is ready to face the charges and has been expecting this kind of treatment when he criticized a dictator, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte. Tinanggap ko na na ganito ang mangyayari kapag tumindig ka laban sa isang diktador kagaya ni Duterte. Ganito ang isa sa mga kakaharapin mo at hindi tayo natitinag diyan (I accept this situation. This is what happens if you stand against a dictator like Duterte. This is one of the things you will face and we are unfazed by that), he said. Trillanes along with 10 others were charged with conspiracy to commit sedition over the controversial Ang Totoong Narcolist videos. The former senator also warned those who are filing these cases against him. Sana ay huwag rin kayong matakot balang araw kasi talagang hindi ko rin kayo titigilan (I hope you wont be afraid also because someday, I will also be relentless), he said. Malacanang had previously brushed off Trillanes challenge. We will not waste our time responding to nonsense, thats his problem. We dont interfere with cases filed before the courts, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. The arraignment and pre-trial conference of the case is scheduled on March 17.AAC (with reports from Vincent Arboleda) The post Trillanes posts bail for sedition charges appeared first on UNTV News. Eastern Libyan forces attacked the sea port of Libyas capital on Tuesday as they targeted a Turkish vessel bringing in arms, an eastern official said, marking a new escalation in the battle for control of Tripoli. Eastern officials did not provide details about the alleged arms shipment at the port, which has remained open for food and other imports as rival factions battle for control of the capital. The eastern-based Libya National Army (LNA) faction, led by Khalifa Haftar, started a campaign in April last year to take the city, which is seat of the internationally recognised government also backed by Turkey. Authorities moved all ships including fuel tankers out of the port after Tuesdays attack, two port officials said. The Tripoli forces said the LNA had fired four missiles. Since January, Turkey has sent several ships carrying arms and heavy trucks to Tripoli and Misrata, another western port, diplomats say. The LNA, which is allied to a parallel government in the east, supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Russian mercenaries. Eastern ports and airports are out of range of the Tripoli forces. Tuesdays attack happened as officers from the Tripoli forces and LNA prepared to meet for a second round of talks in Geneva to establish a permanent truce. Both sides refused again to sit in the same room, U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame told reporters, although he said he was hopeful of making progress. So while the situation on the ground remains a situation where the truce is very fragile... nobody has so far reneged on the principle of accepting the truce and the political process is trying to find a way to move forward, he said. He added that a ceasefire was not a precondition for advancing on other matters such as how to better distribute state revenues from oil, saying economic discussions were going pretty well. It is going pretty well on the economic side, but it is harder on the military side, he said. Salame said he had received conditions from tribesmen allied to eastern forces to lift a blockade of eastern oil export ports, but said they were quite general and would have to be tackled at a U.N.-led dialogue. Tribesmen and other groups allied to the LNA joined with Haftars forces a month ago to block major ports in eastern Libya and the southern Sharara oilfield, reducing oil output by more than 1 million barrels a day. Salame had spoken to some tribal leaders to hear their conditions to end the blockade. A further round of discussions is planned in Geneva next week. Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department sleuths on Tuesday seized 137 gm of heroin and arrested two Myanmarese nationals in Champhai district on Tuesday, an official said. The two Myanmarese nationals carrying the heroin were arrested in Ngur forest on the bank of Tiau river near the Indo-Myanmar border, the department spokesman, Peter Zohmingthanga said. The contraband worth Rs 3 lakh in the local market was smuggled from Myanmar, he said. The two accused were booked under relevant section of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (ND&PS) Act, 1985, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia today hosted the subsequent session of the inter-agency working group established upon the decision of the Prime Minister of January 30, 2020 to develop the Terms of Reference for the electronic system of management of criminal cases in pre-trial proceedings, and the session was chaired by head of the inter-agency working group, Deputy Prosecutor General of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan, as reported the news service of the Prosecutor Generals Office. The organizing of activities for development of the Terms of Reference and technical specifications for the Electronic System of Management of Pre-Trial Proceedings of Criminal Cases and the timetable for development of those documents were considered during the session. The process of development of the draft of the new Criminal Procedure Code was presented, and the international practice in operating the electronic systems was touched upon. Among the attendees were representatives of the Prosecutor Generals Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice, the National Security Service, the Special Investigation Service, the Judicial Department, the Investigative Committee, the State Revenue Committee and the commission for reforms in the public administration system of Armenia. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders laughs as he addresses supporters during a campaign stop at a coffee chop in Iowa City, Iowa, February 1, 2020. Mike Segar | Reuters WASHINGTON Bernie Sanders has opened up a double-digit lead nationally over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential primary, where Michael Bloomberg's rise appears to have scrambled the race, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. The Vermont senator has the support of 27% of Democratic primary voters, a figure which is unchanged from January, the survey found. Sanders' unchanged support comes despite having won a decisive victory in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary last week, and an apparent win in Iowa's chaotic caucuses the week before. Below is a list of the NBC/WSJ results for support among likely Democratic primary voters, followed by the shift in support since the poll was last conducted in January. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.: 27%, unchanged. Former Vice President Joe Biden: 15%, down 11 pts Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 14%, up 5 pts Sen Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: 14%, down 1 pt Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg: 13%, up 6 pts Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.: 7%, up 2 pts Tom Steyer: 2%, unchanged Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii: 1%, down 1 pt Twelve points behind Sanders is former Vice President Joe Biden, whose support in the poll has plummeted to 15% in the past month, down from a previous figure of 26%. Following closely behind Biden is the billionaire former mayor of New York City, with 14% support, tied with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. During the past month, Bloomberg has climbed 5 points in the poll, a rise fueled in part by Bloomberg's decision to spend more than $400 million on a barrage of national TV and internet ads. Warren's support, meanwhile, has fallen 4 points nationally since December. Behind Warren and Bloomberg, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg grew his national support to 13% in February, up 5 points from the previous NBC/WSJ poll. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., billionaire Tom Steyer and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, all trailed Buttigieg. Sanders' 12 point lead is well outside the 4.7 point margin of error of the new survey, which was conducted between Feb 14-17 on a sample size of 900 registered voters. Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that the biggest beneficiaries of Biden's tumbling numbers were Bloomberg and Buttigieg, both moderates who are working hard to offer voters an alternative to the stridently progressive message coming from Sanders. Bloomberg will be making his first appearance on the Democratic primary debate stage this week in Nevada, despite the fact that his is not competing in the first four nominating states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Instead, Bloomberg has focused on Texas and other states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 3. His ads, however, appear to have made an impression: In January, 59% of poll respondents said they remember seeing an ad from Bloomberg on TV or social media. The survey also measured comfort levels among voters with certain qualities in a presidential candidate for the first time this month. These include a candidate "who self-funds their campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money" and a candidate who "is a socialist." Among Democratic primary voters, just 16% said they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a candidate who used his or her personal fortune to fund their campaign. Among registered voters of both parties, the survey found the same number, 16%, reported they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a self-funded candidate. The UN secretary general said Tuesday that the virus outbreak that began in China poses a very dangerous situation for the world, but is not out of control. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Antonio Guterres said that the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that. Guterres said his greatest worry was a spread of the virus to areas with less capacity in their health service, particularly some African countries. The World Health Organization is looking into how to help handle such a development, he added. Egypt recently reported its first case of the virus, raising fears of its spread to the African continent. The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. China on Tuesday reported 1,886 new cases and 98 more deaths. That raised the number of deaths in mainland China to 1,868 and the total number of confirmed cases to 72,436. Travel to and from the worst-hit central China region was associated with the initial cases of COVID-19 confirmed abroad. But Japan, Singapore and South Korea have identified new cases without clear ties to China or previously known patients, raising concern of the virus spreading locally. A report saying the disease outbreak has caused a mild illness in most people raised optimism among global health authorities. The UN chief was in Pakistan for a conference on 40 years of refugees fleeing neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. In his interview with the AP, Guterres said that today's world is a chaotic one beset by multiple crises. He decried the horrors of Syria's nine-year-old civil war. The UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has warned that the most recent exodus of refugees there nearing 900,000 people fleeing fighting in the northwest Idlib region risks being the biggest humanitarian disaster of the 21st century. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics included aliens, UFOs, astronauts and conspiracy theories. He would pair pop culture with thoughts about the cosmos. Of Buzz Aldrin following Neil Armstrong to the Moon's surface, Mr. Clewell wrote: "... History has a way of forgetting/The kind of man who's second on the scene." When he became Missouri's state poet laureate in 2010, he mentioned that he didn't expect he'd get as much attention as the state's first laureate, Walter Bargen. But Mr. Clewell was particularly well-known in St. Louis, having taught hundreds if not thousands of students and often reading at River Styx and other poetry events. He believed poetry was the kind of thing people could use in their everyday lives. Patricia Clewell said her husband saw the state appointment as a "huge honor": "Anytime poetry was recognized as something of true value, David was for that." Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1955, Mr. Clewell loved jazz as a youth and played the trumpet. He earned a vocal and instrumental music scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He went to graduate school at Washington University and earned his MFA in writing. Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice" Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 17:13:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A makeshift hospital has been delivered in Xi'an, China to tackle the #coronavirus outbreak. It's constructed in a little more than 10 days. My daughter was standing in front of the baby dolls in the toy aisle at our Pittsburgh Target. Although we go there regularly, falling prey to all the usual impulse buys mega-packs of magic markers on sale for $2.99, leftover Reeses peanut butter eggs I make it a point never to buy toys. I do not want her to accumulate and then throw away box upon box of coloured plastic. But that day was different. That day she pointed to a black baby doll, dressed for a bath with accompanying accessories. I want that one, she said. I was delighted. I was also shocked. And then ashamed at being shocked. The mix of emotions that overtook me was completely unexpected and disarming. I did not want any of it to show. Very casually, I told her she could have it. Then I asked, trying to sound as detached as possible: What do you like about that one? She looks like Noey, Elena told me, naming her best friend from school. In the weeks that followed, as my five-year-old incorporated her new doll into the routine of baby play elaborate pretend diaper changings, endless feedings of pretend mashed peas I returned often to that initial moment. I had just finished writing a long magazine feature about race, and one of the central characters, an older African American woman in Cincinnati, had talked about always preferring white dolls to black ones growing up. Several of the other characters, older white women, had not even known black dolls existed. Now, in 2019, my Mexican-American daughter wanted a black doll. We talk a lot about race at home. We talk about how her papis skin is brown, and her skin is brown, and my skin is white. We talk about how immigrants can be treated badly because of the colour of their skin. We are careful to choose books with protagonists particularly girl protagonists of colour. But still, something deeply ingrained in me was surprised that she expressed this preference so naturally, when it often seems our culture and society are constantly sending the message that white is both the norm and the ideal. When maybe it would still feel unnatural for me based on how I lived the first 18 years of my life in essentially all-white rural and suburban environments to choose the black doll. I have come to believe that what made the difference for my daughter was not necessarily our teaching, conversations, or books, but something much simpler: Recognition of her own life, her community. Some of her closest friends are African American. They are her world at school. Although our neighbourhood public school is very diverse, it is also notorious for a particular kind of contemporary racism: Most middle-class white kids end up in the gifted programme, bused out of school to study a different curriculum. We were intentional in choosing a diverse school for Elena. It is a private school, a fact about which we have felt endlessly ambivalent. This year, kindergarten, was the first year we could have transitioned to the public school system. Although our neighbourhood public school is very diverse, it is also notorious for a particular kind of contemporary racism: Most middle-class white kids end up in the gifted programme, bused out of school to study a different curriculum, then transferring on to the gifted programme in the local magnet high school, so they have a school life utterly different from that of the general population, which is majority African American. Several white parents who send their kids to this school have told me that certain students some parents are explicit in mentioning race, others not tend to have most of the discipline problems. I have heard more than one child who attends this school refer to those kids as sticking to themselves. I have heard a father say his daughter likes her class because she is one of the good kids. Despite this, I still wanted to send our daughter there. I thought it was the right thing to do. She looks Mexican My husband Jorge, a dark-skinned, newly minted American citizen, stopped me. Dont be so ignorant, he told me. Do you realise how she reads? How people see her? He meant that our girl, with her twin black braids stretching down her back, with her beautiful brown eyes and thick black eyebrows, looks Latina. I was forced then to recognise that I assume she seems white. Not because I want her to look this way, but because her skin is much lighter than Jorges and, in Mexico, she would be considered guera or light-skinned. To test my own biases I asked a group of friends how they see Elena, what they would think if they had just met her. There was an awkward pause that shocked me and said everything. She looks Mexican, one explained, and of course, clearly, I knew this, I love and celebrate this about her. I have been asked before: Where did you get your daughter? as if she were a handicraft I had brought back from vacation. But I had somehow assumed that this was not an essentialising characteristic it was like a folkloric Oaxacan blouse she might put on or take off. I thought of Elena as both mine blonde, white, Ohioan and my husbands dark, brown, Indigenous. I gave birth to her, I made her body I see myself in her. But many other people see mainly brown. [Illustration by Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] The weight of a rigged system Before Elena started school, I had the same conversation on an endless loop with many parents in my neighbourhood: Where we would send our children, what we had heard about different institutions, the benefits and downsides to each. Squirrel Hill is urban and diverse, a mix of high-end mansions in the north and humbler single-family homes, duplexes and apartments in the south, where we live. In the surrounding area, there are several private schools, a charter school so much in demand that the waiting list stretches into the hundreds, and a good public elementary, middle, and high school. I put good in scare quotes because its interpretation very much depends on the individual. The handful of white families I know who send their kids there shrug, its good, in an offhand way that suggests the closest synonym is adequate. All my friends of colour send their children to private school. For a long time, I thought we were more or less in the same boat as these white families. Maybe not quite as well off financially several of the parents worked for big tech companies but more or less part of the same social-cultural-political ilk. If it was good enough for them, why would it not be good enough for us? Why would I not also make the choice to support public schools, to take on this particular issue of social justice? I thought of my daughter like I thought of their children she comes from a stable home, we read a lot, we support her, she will be fine. I did not realise that different rules apply. The law of whiteness is the law of perpetual motion - it is a constantly reinforced assumption with real results: The white boy in a mediocre third grade is presumed to be gifted and presumed to be better behaved and then presumed to be worthy of more pay, responsibility, home loans, car loans, credit. These families all take it for granted that their kids will end up in the gifted programme, although they wring their hands about whether it is fair or not. They take it for granted that while their kids might not get the most competitive academic education possible, they will still come out on top. The realisation that this is not necessarily true for my daughter was the first time I felt the full weight of the rigged system. The law of whiteness is the law of perpetual motion it is a constantly reinforced assumption with real results: The white boy in a mediocre third grade is presumed to be gifted and presumed to be better behaved and then presumed to be worthy of more pay, responsibility, home loans, car loans, credit. Brownness is more of a constant friction, a different kind of assumption of unworthiness, of inferiority. To be married to my husband, raising my daughter, is to be caught between the two, to demand of myself a constant awareness of opposing systems while trying not to oversimplify towards one end or the other. I could not assume my daughter would be shepherded through a potentially discriminatory and academically uneven school unaffected; the diversity everyone raved about as a perk might not be a career asset for her but a method of tracking. How would our daughter be interpreted in the racial narratives of this school? Where would she fit? Would she, like most of the white kids, be profiled in to the gifted programme that is, admitted by way of a teacher recommendation if she did not have the requisite genius IQ? Would she be shunted to one part of the classroom or the other? What sort of racial narratives would she pick up? I understood that I had been thinking, of course, like a white person. Like a progressive white urban parent, caught between a question of selfish benefit for my own family or a greater social good. But Jorge was thinking like someone who has been told over the phone: Youll never get a home loan, even though his income made our homeownership possible. Jorge was thinking like someone who grew up in a rural Mexican school where he was hit with a ruler. Jorge was thinking like someone who constantly, mostly calmly and quietly, battles the assumption that he is ignorant, poor, uneducated, undocumented, or undeserving. When I brought up my ethical dilemma about public school he scoffed: White people have been hoarding opportunities forever! I didnt have any opportunities! If I can give one to my daughter, Im going to give it to her! At the intersection of identities We are privileged to have a choice, unlike many Americans, about where to send our daughter to school, although as a freelance writer and photographer we likely will not be able to afford private school much longer, and definitely not without aid. Previously, I framed our privilege in terms of ethics: Would I check it by sending my daughter to a diverse public school with poor test scores and stats but a very active and committed PTA? Would I use it to take advantage of more competitive private schools? But now I understand it differently. Elena does not have the same privilege. She exists at the intersection of many conflicting backgrounds and categories white, brown, middle-class, Mexican, American, rural, suburban, poor. How can we make decisions that take those many categories into account? There are so many ways I have been blinded and still am by my own background I have taken it for granted that my daughter will do fine in not-so-great rural public schools, like I did, or run-down urban schools, like I did, or small and high-quality suburban schools, like I did, even though she has a different heritage and skin colour. Even though we live in a very different historical moment in which millennials are worse off financially than their parents and our social safety net is increasingly thin and precarious. Even though white nationalism is at an all-time high and more mainstream than ever. Over time I have seen just how much representation matters - and not simply as a badge of honour for white kids ... but as a very real affirmation for my child of her worth and belonging. In the end, we stuck for one more year with the school she had attended, which is 40 percent students of colour, and where race does not seem as divisive an issue. One major impetus behind our decision was the fact that her teacher this year is African American and committed to running a classroom that values diversity. Their bookshelves feature kids of many races and backgrounds. They talk openly about race in ways appropriate for their educational level. This school, like any school, is not perfect, and there are elements we like more than others. When we chose it at first, diversity was one major incentive, but so was the fact that it offered one of very few full-day preschool programmes and that we received financial aid. Yet over time, I have seen just how much representation matters and not simply as a badge of honour for white kids, as diversity sounds good on a resume, but as a very real affirmation for my child of her worth and belonging. On a recent visit to her classroom, her teacher was reading the book, Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox. The kids chimed in with their enthusiastic kindergarten non-sequiturs I have a dog! I like green apples! and also with unhesitant observations about who spoke what languages two kids spoke Spanish, one Hindi, one Greek, one Italian and the colour of their skin. Elena turned to me and grinned, pinching her arm. Im brown! she said. Later, the kids all made pictures of themselves and wrote a sentence about the colour of their skin, listing colours from hot chocolate to patatoes (potatoes). A teacher who looks like her In an early Democratic presidential debate, Kamala Harris cited a 2018 study from Johns Hopkins University and American University researchers which found that a black child who has one black teacher before the end of third grade is 13 percent more likely to go to college, and a child with two black teachers is 32 percent more likely to go. Black teachers, they discovered, expected black students to do better academically, and for the students, these expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies. My daughter is not black. But she is also, I have learned, not white this sounds ridiculous and obvious, but until she started school I thought that perhaps she could read either way, as white or Latina. Now I see that the young white suburban women who make up the vast majority of elementary school teachers may unintentionally expect less of her. I also see that going to a school with other kids who look like her, with a teacher who looks like her, means she has the opportunity to internalise her own brownness as natural, unique, and good. It means that, in spite of the current paroxysms of anti-immigrant vitriol, in spite of the overwhelming predominance of whiteness as a cultural given and norm, my daughter did not see a black baby doll as other. Even when I had to hide my surprise, even when I had to confront my own background and bias, my daughter put the doll under her arm, carried her home, made her eat her pretend mashed peas, and gave her a sweet kiss goodnight. The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Tuesday called off its stir after the district authorities here assured to release pending dues of sugarcane farmers. BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait told reporters that the union decided to end the agitation after the district administration assured of taking every step to ensure full payment to farmers. Two sugar mills in the district have cleared Rs 24 crore of farmers, officials said. They said while the Titawi sugar mill cleared Rs 20 crore, the one at Rohana paid Rs 4 crore to farmers. The dues of other mills will be cleared soon, the officials said. The BKU had threatened to launch a non-cooperation movement against the Uttar Pradesh government's alleged anti-farmer policies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An audience of about 150 heard a panel of speakers in New York City on February 15 at a meeting in defense of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He is now being held under harsh conditions in Londons maximum-security Belmarsh prison pending the outcome of a request for extradition to the United States, where he faces up to 175 years in prison on trumped-up charges of violating the 1917 Espionage Act. Assanges real crime is his courageous exposure of secrecy, corruption and imperialist war crimes. The audience at the meeting to defend Assange The extradition hearing in London is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 24. A rally has been called at the British Consulate in New York City, at Second Avenue and 47th St., for 11 a.m. on that day. The February 15 meeting, held at the City University of New York Law School in Queens, New York, was organized by the Courage Foundation. Other sponsors included the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). The panel of speakers included James Goodale, the former general counsel of the New York Times during the Pentagon Papers case of 1971; Renata Avila, a member of the defense team for Julian Assange and a close friend of the journalist and publisher; Glen Ford, the executive editor of the Black Agenda Report; and Max Blumenthal, the editor of The Grayzone website. Several others appeared on video, including Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the press nearly 50 years ago; linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky; and author Alice Walker. The meeting opened with brief video greetings from Jennifer Robinson, a leading member of the Assange defense team, who stressed the international significance of the attempt to railroad the WikiLeaks publisher into an American prison. Robinson pointed to the recent attempt by the fascistic government headed by Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil to bring charges against journalist Glenn Greenwald that are virtually identical to those facing Assange. The first speaker, James Goodale, related the experience of the Pentagon Papers case, which was at first a civil action attempting to enjoin the Times and the Washington Post from publishing the classified government study of the quagmire facing US imperialism in Vietnam. Goodale explained that Richard Nixons attorney general, John Mitchell, who was later jailed in the Watergate scandal, directed that the Times and reporter Neil Sheehan be criminally prosecuted under the 1917 Espionage Act for the publication of the Pentagon Papers. However, that the effort collapsed in the face of the deepening scandal and crisis that would lead eventually to Nixons resignation. Speaking of the indictment facing Assange, Goodale warned that if it is successful, it means the end of investigative journalism. This is a case I have dreaded for 50 years. It is a case that we must all fight. A high point of the meeting was the appearance on video of Daniel Ellsberg. He warned that if the prosecution of Assange succeeds, the public will know essentially what the government chooses to tell them, however untrue and however selective and misleading. Its hard to call that a democratic republic. Ellsberg explained that both Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump had used the Espionage Act to silence dissent. Along with the other speakers, he also stressed the importance of coming to the defense of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who had already served seven years in prison when she was thrown back in jail last March, where she has been held in contempt for nearly a year after she refused to participate in the attempt to frame up Assange. Noam Chomsky declared that the vendetta against Assange reminded him of Italy under the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who silenced the voice of Italian Marxist and Communist Party leader Antonio Gramsci, who was imprisoned in 1926 and remained there under brutal conditions until his death 11 years later, at the age of 46. The second member of the panel to speak was Renata Avila, who brought greetings from Assange. Hes one of us, he should be here, she declared. Assange has a very long list of enemies. His most important ally is the people. Avila explained that most of the newspapers that had partnered with WikiLeaks in the publication and exposure of corruption and war crimes had now abandoned him. Assange was a political prisoner, she said, who had dedicated his life to the public interest, to resisting secrecy and censorship, rather than using his enormous talents to become wealthy. She warned that the extradition case could drag on until the summer of 2021, and that a powerful movement in defense of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning must be developed and strengthened during this period. Glen Ford declared that Assange and Manning are being punished because the images made available by WikiLeaks of a massacre in Iraq demolished the image of the US military as a force for good in the world. They have contributed materially to the weakening of the US war machine. US imperialism claims the power, the right to police the world, imprisoning and killing anyone who opposes its global supremacy, he added Ford also related the attack on Assange to Russiagate, the campaign to use alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election to portray Assange as an agent of a foreign power in order to frame him under the Espionage Act, while launching a campaign of censorship and other attacks on democratic rights. While Washington lies about its concern for human rights at home and abroad, the United States meddles in the internal affairs of every nation on the earth, currently targeting elected governments in Syria, Venezuela and elsewhere. Julian Assange and WikiLeaks were put at the top of the empires hit list. Assange is of course not a US citizen, he is Australian, but none of that matters in the campaign to punish him, Ford declared. The final speaker was Max Blumenthal. He spoke about the years of public demonization of Assange, speaking ironically of his portrayal as a far-right libertarian, a far-left anarchist, a Russian asset wrecking the otherwise perfectly democratic Democratic Party. Blumenthal referred to the fact that the vicious persecution of Assange is now being ignored by the mainstream press and public officials, who are complicit in the attempt to silence and destroy him. The attack on Julian Assange threatens the survival of critical, courageous, adversarial journalism. This author spoke from the floor in the brief question period after the speakers, stressing that the WSWS, the most widely read online socialist publication, has, along with the Socialist Equality Parties around the world, been in the forefront of the campaign in defense of Assange and Manning. In the past three months alone, more than 100 separate reports, statements and interviews on this campaign have been published by the WSWS. Earlier this month, the SEP held a meeting in defense of Assange in Montreal; and over the next two weeks, a series of rallies are being held by the Australian SEP and the New Zealand Socialist Equality Group, in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, as well as Wellington, New Zealand. The British SEP is holding a meeting in London next Sunday, the day before the start of the extradition hearing there. The campaign in defense of Assange and Chelsea Manning must be armed with a political strategy. Max Blumenthal, concluding his remarks on Saturday night, advanced the call for support for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the current Democratic Party presidential primary campaign, along with a pressure campaign to convince him to drop the charges against Assange once elected. Sanders, who has maintained a shameful silence on the question of Assange, is a defender of the interests of US imperialism, as he spelled out so clearly last week, in his declaration to the New York Times that he would support a preemptive strike against Iran or North Korea. Rather than strengthening, the promotion of illusions in Sanders and the Democrats disarms the campaign in defense of Assange. It only assists the effort to trap the growing resistance to inequality, dictatorship and war within the framework of capitalist politics. As the WSWS has insisted from the outset, there is only one social force that can successfully lead the fight to free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. The defense of these political prisoners is part of the struggle of the international working class against the preparations for world war and dictatorship. The working class must be mobilized independently of and in opposition to the parties and representatives of the capitalist system to advance this struggle. Gene Bishop, a retired physician, talks about facing death from another cancer caused by the treatment that saved her nearly 50 years ago. Read more Editors Note: This column was originally posted on Feb. 18 when Gene Bishop was in hospice care. Bishop died on March 5. In 1965, at the age of 18, I walked into student health services at my university and told a physician I had pains in my chest when I drank alcohol. Some doctors might have admonished me. Thankfully, he knew of a rare but characteristic symptom of lymphoma, ordered a chest X-ray, and told me to come back after final exams. Thus began my 55-year journey through cancerland. I lived there as a patient, a survivor, a person living with cancer. Now I face death from another cancer caused by the treatment that saved me all those years ago. Am I still a survivor? A triumph of medicine After final exams, I went to the hospital. An oncologist told me I had Hodgkin lymphoma, which most people regarded as almost inevitably fatal. With breathtaking confidence, he said a new treatment radiation would cure me. At age 18, I believed. My parents, as I now know, were terrified. By 1973, I was a cancer cure, going to medical school, a triumphant example of medicines advances. That idyllic period lasted through the millennium. The idea that my miracle cure would give me three more cancers, including the incurable one with which I am now living, was unimaginable. Cure implied permanence. Scientists and doctors now know that I was invisibly scarred for life, my DNA burned by lifesaving radiation. In those 55 years, Ive had thyroid cancer, breast cancer, a heart valve replacement, and a pacemaker all in the days before these became recognized late effects of radiation. With such nuclear disasters as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl in mind, I wondered whether my thyroid and breasts in my radiation might have been affected. Too long ago, doctors said when I asked about a connection. Nothing is known. Cardiologists told me I had palpitations because I was anxious. Years later, a medical journal described my symptoms as radiation-induced. I could hardly blame doctors for not knowing, but perhaps for not listening or considering. I declined to participate in cancer survivor events. I didnt think I was a real survivor. I had never had chemotherapy, so I never vomited, lost my hair, or ingested toxins. Cancer was my past medical history. I shared it when appropriate with my patients, to offer hope. A humbling legacy But in 2017, I began to have symptoms that neither my medical training as an internist, my physicians, nor my CAT scans could explain. Uncharacteristically for me, I typed Hodgkin survivors into the Facebook search field and up popped a closed group of more than 500 people around the world who had my symptoms and more. Their stories actually made me feel lucky. I had 30 years of cure without worry and needed only one new heart valve in that time. Then came a 30-pound weight loss, a biopsy, and four CAT scans that changed everything. In October 2018, when I was 71, an oncologist told me that I, a nonsmoker, had lung cancer, which had already spread, encasing my previously damaged heart. The cancer, presumably a result of that 1965 radiation, could not be cured. The best he could do was help me have more good days than bad. He said I was the humbling legacy of medicines efforts to treat cancer. Humbling legacy. I asked him to repeat the words, as they sunk in. Humbling the adjective for him, the physician. Legacy the noun for me, lung cancer my inheritance for 50 more years of life. A warning for medicine My story is a warning for medicine: Todays cures may be tomorrows illnesses. Ten years after my radiation treatment, I was one of 3.6 million cancer survivors, according to the National Cancer Institute. Today, there are 15 million survivors, ranging from those whove just been diagnosed to those who have been cancer-free for decades. For many years post-radiation, living a full life, I felt like a real survivor. Who am I now? Hodgkin cure. Breast cancer cure. Treated heart disease, able to exercise. Untreatable lung cancer. Exercise very limited by shortness of breath. Survivor? Surviving every day, figuring out what that means. Seasons of survival, the phrase of a fellow physician cancer survivor who just died of lung cancer 45 years after his chest radiation. Am I spring, summer, winter, or fall, and which is which? If I had been told in 1965 that I might get lung cancer in 2018, would I have declined treatment? Of course not. I would have been glad to live to 73, which seemed very old. Did I reject the three-drug chemotherapy regimen for my lung cancer intended to give me a few months or a few years? Did I even read about it? Of course not. But during that treatment, on the couch, good days did not outnumber bad. My oncologist was honest and clear. He wasnt sure the treatment was doing anything other than violating that more good days than bad pledge. Eight months ago, I stopped standard treatment, and I dropped out of an early clinical trial when it made me ill. New meanings Today its just me, my immune system, and palliative care to control symptoms. Very old Im not, but Ive had to adjust to new meanings for my life. I no longer volunteer at an immigrant clinic or buy theater tickets for a month from now. Im angry, I hate every moment of being sick, I wake up at night and want to throw things around the room, but my husband is already doing enough without having to clean up that mess. I havent achieved a state of bliss where I dont miss being able to ride my bike, read restaurant reviews, and think it would be fun to eat out. I worry that a new day will bring a new symptom, and sometimes it does. I dont read too much about the 2020 election, and I soak up the love and support offered to me. I feel like Im attending my own funeral people say things they were waiting to say for years an odd sort of privilege. The apologies arent necessary. What I like best are the compliments, words of thanks, admiration. Im glad to be alive to hear them. We should all hear more of that. In January, I sit in the oncologists office and accept his recommendation for hospice care. I want to receive the best life-affirming care I can, hopefully in the comfort of my home. Im very clear I dont want to vomit from chemo that might extend my life a month. Humbling legacy. More good days than bad. Cure. Medical miracle. Survivorship. Fifty-five years. Whoever imagined? And what would I change? Gene Bishop is a retired physician who lives with her husband in Mount Airy. She may be contacted at drgenephilly@gmail.com. READ MORE: Gene Bishop's physician on facing the late effects of cancer care. DBS partners Chubb to provide COVID-19 insurance to all customers DBS has partnered with Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited (Chubb) to complimentary insurance coverage in relation to COVID-19 to all its five million customers in Singapore. Both parties are also in discussions to introduce similar coverage policies for customers in the regional markets that DBS operates in, the bank said in a press statement on February 17. Photo courtesy: DBS Under the COVID-19 Hospital Cash policy, which is launching on February 24, those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive SGD100 per day of hospitalisation and a lump sum of SGD1,000 upon admission to the ICU. The policy will be available for sign-ups until Sunday, March 15. DBS/POSB customers who are Singapore Residents aged 18 and above can apply for the COVID-19 Hospital Cash policy as the main policyholder, and include their immediate family members1 as additional insured persons. There is no age limit, though the policy can only insure those who are one month and above. Family members do not have to be DBS/POSB customers. Alongside the public health measures announced by the Singapore Government, we hope this coverage which will be available to almost all Singapore residents will help to further cushion affected patients healthcare expenses during a difficult period," said Shee Tse Koon, DBS Singapore Country Head. Scott Simpson, Country President of Chubb in Singapore, added, Chubb recognises the importance of aiding customers during this critical period. In view of the evolving coronavirus situation, we want to provide DBS customers with appropriate protection, peace of mind and confidence to carry out their daily activities, knowing that in the event of the unfortunate, they are protected. The COVID-19 Hospital Cash policy will be available for customers to sign up online, or at any DBS/POSB bank branch island-wide. Schools would be required to provide free feminine hygiene products to students under a bill before the Alabama Legislature. The measure was introduced by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, the legislator who gained national attention for her bill that would mandate vasectomies for men once they reach age 50 or father three or more children. Under the feminine hygiene bill, schools that serve students in grade five through 12 would be required to provide products, including sanitary napkins and tampons, in their restrooms at no cost. The bill has been referred to the House Education Ways and Means Committee. Alabama isnt the only state considering a similar measure. Bills to provide free feminine hygiene products are also currently before lawmakers in Maryland and Massachusetts. New York, California, New Hampshire and Illinois currently require high schools to provide free tampons and pads for students. You can read the Alabama bill here. EU's Enlargement Chief 'Very Encouraged' By Reforms In North Macedonia, Albania By RFE/RL February 18, 2020 The European Union's top enlargement official has voiced optimism that North Macedonia and Albania can deliver on the reforms required to join the bloc. "I am very encouraged by my visits to both countries," Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on February 18 in Brussels. "They do not give up on reforms...and you will see that they will deliver, and if they do that, you can be confident that there should be an opening of negotiations," said Varhelyi, who earlier this month visited the region. "There is nothing but membership on offer," he added. Varhelyi's remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron, who blocked the opening of accession talks with Skopje and Tirana in October, said last week that he was willing to allow the two Western Balkan countries to begin membership talks if the European Commission gave them a positive review next month. A green light from the commission would then set the stage for a summit in May in Croatia with EU leaders and all six Western Balkan candidate countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The latest developments come amid concerns in the EU over increasing Chinese and Russian influence in the region and a sense that the 27-member bloc is not doing enough to support the six countries' transition to becoming full-fledged democracies and market economies after the wars of the 1990s. Macron's comments on February 15 at the Munich Security Conference were also likely to reassure other European leaders that France still backs expanding the EU. The commission suggested reforms to the accession process along the lines of a French proposal made in November, after Macron refused to approve the start of membership negotiations at a summit in October, saying the process of admitting new members needed to change. Varhelyi earlier this month proposed giving EU members the power to delay or reverse the accession process or to force candidates to restart entry talks in some policy areas. France, the Netherlands, and Denmark are concerned about the EU's ability to bring in a region struggling with crime and corruption. With reporting by Reuters and AF Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-s-enlargement- chief-very-encouraged-by-reforms-in-north -macedonia-albania/30441611.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gun exchanges send civilians to forests/bushes Archives No fewer than 16 Roman Catholic bishops from around the world are calling on the Cameroon government to hold urgent peace talks with the countrys English-speaking separatists and moderates. As the situation in Cameroons North West and south West Regions deepens, the clergy want the countrys Head of State, President Paul Biya to enter negotiations to find a peaceful constitutional settlement that addresses the grievances of the Anglophone community. In an open letter dated February 17, 2020, a copy sent to the Pope, the Bishops write: We, the undersigned Roman Catholic bishops from across the globe, write to respectfully urge your government to participate in proposed Swiss-led peace talks aimed at ending the violence in Cameroons North West and South West regions. We stress that we are impartial. We are motivated by our concern about the suffering of unarmed civilians, and the stability and prosperity of Cameroon. Violence and atrocities on all sides have forced 656,000 Anglophone Cameroonians from their homes, kept 800,000 children from school (including 400,000 from Catholic schools), caused 50,000 people to flee to Nigeria, destroyed hundreds of villages and resulted in a death toll of at least 2,000. Each of these lives is precious, and we mourn their suffering and wish to prevent more loss of life and innocence. There will be no military victory for any side. A lasting solution to Cameroons problems must come from a mediated process that includes Anglophone armed-separatist groups and non-violent civil-society leaders. If all parties treat each other as they wish to be treated, a solution is possible. We applaud the Cameroonian governments Major National Dialogue several months ago. However, it did not stop the violence. We believe the proposed Swiss-led talks offer the best path to an appropriate political solution through inclusive negotiations. The success of these talks will be critical in Cameroons journey towards ensuring peace and your legacy as an effective leader in a troubled region. It is our sincere hope that all interested stakeholders will join these talks and show a spirit of cooperation, pragmatism, and realism to ensure these negotiations succeed. This is what the people of Cameroon, your sons and daughters, Gods children, expect and deserve. Only true peace will allow Catholic dioceses, clinics, and schools to once again minister safely to the blessed congregants and citizens of Anglophone Cameroon. The bishops grouped under the Global Campaign for Peace and Justice in Cameroon include: Bishop Siegfried Jwara, Vicariate Apostolic, Ingwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Bishop John Keenan, diocese of Paisley, Scotland; Bishop Noel Simard, diocese of Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada; The Most Reverend Charles Hammawa Jalingo, Diocese of Tabara State, Nigeria; Bishop Mark Davies, diocese of Shrewsbury, England; Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, archdiocese of Suva, Fiji; Bishop Bart van Roijen, diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, Canada; Bishop Thomas R Zinkula, diocese of Davenport, Iowa, USA; Bishop Terence Drainey, diocese of Middlesborough, England; Bishop Antonio R Tobias, Emeritus of Novaliches, Philippines; Bishop Albert Thevenot, diocese of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada; Bishop Ray Browne, diocese of Kerry, Ireland; Bishop Jose Cabantan, diocese of Malaybalay, Philippines; Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, diocese of Tonga, South Pacific; Archbishop Donald Bolen, archdiocese of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; and Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, diocese of Waterford et Lismore, Ireland. Cameroon-Info.Net recalls that in the context of the crisis in Cameroons North West and South West Regions, a majority of parties asked Switzerland to facilitate an inclusive negotiating process. As mediator, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), offered its contribution to find a negotiated and peaceful solution to the crisis. In this role, Switzerland pledged to establish contacts and provide channels of communication with the good offices of Switzerland motivated by humanitarian considerations. In this context, Switzerland adheres to the principles of strict neutrality and discretion. Switzerland's commitment, according to its embassy in Yaounde, is not motivated by any interest other than a peaceful resolution of conflicts and it engages in facilitation processes only as long as the parties judge it useful. First lady Maesaiah Thabane charged with ordering murder of her husbands former wife amid bitter divorce. The wife of Lesothos Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is due in court in the capital on Tuesday. Maesaiah Thabane has been charged with masterminding the murder of her husbands former wife in 2017. The prime minister and his former wife had divorced acrimoniously and she had reportedly wanted to retain the privileges of the office she once had. Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller reports. - Chris Mburu collapsed and died while at his residence - The cause of death was not immediately clear - He landed the envoy job in 2018 in placements made by President Uhuru Kenyatta - The president described him as a distinguished career public servant and great Kenyan diplomat - Uhuru said Mburu was committed to building strong bilateral ties between Kenya and South Sudan Kenya's ambassador to South Sudan Chris Mburu has died. Mburu collapsed and passed on while at his residence in Juba on the night of Sunday, February 16 READ ALSO: William Ruto asks government to probe DoD, other offices over KSh 39bn scam Ambassador Chris Mburu (in white shirt). Photo: Keiyo South Accountability Forum. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Pressure mounts on DP William Ruto to resign over links to scandals The cause of Mburu's death was not immediately clear. He was appointed to the position in 2018 by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Before the ambassadorial job, Mburu had served as a director at the National Intelligence Service (NIS). READ ALSO: Magazeti ya Jumatatu, Februari 17: Utafiti watambua samaki wanaovuliwa Ziwa Victoria wana sumu The president, who led Kenyans in mourning Mburu, described him as a distinguished career public servant and great Kenyan diplomat who was committed to building strong bilateral ties between Kenya and South Sudan. Death has robbed us of a great public servant who served his country with distinction. Since his appointment as our envoy to Juba, Ambassador Mburu has worked hard to ensure free flow of trade and investment between Kenya and South Sudan, Uhuru said in a statement. Uhuru said Mburu was committed to building strong bilateral ties between Kenya and South Sudan. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook The head of state eulogised the fallen diplomat as a shining star whose service to the nation shall be dearly missed. Kenya has lost a brilliant public servant whose star was shining bright and whose service shall be dearly missed. I deeply sympathise with each one of you as you mourn and pray that God will give you the grace to accept his will, Uhuru wrote in his message to the family. The 2018 appointments saw former state house spokesperson Manoah Esipisu become Kenya's high commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK). Former Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) chairperson Sarah Serem was appointed Kenya's envoy to China while former DCI boss Ndegwa Muhoro became Nairobi's representative in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. The man who was raped by University of Nairobi students | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Changes to dormant superannuation accounts has seen thousands of accounts transferred to the Australian Taxation Office for consolidation with other existing accounts. The Protecting Your Superannuation Package Act requires super funds to send accounts to the ATO if they have a balance of less than $6000 and have had no contribution or rollovers for the past 16 months. Sally Loane, chief executive of the Financial Services Council, says Australians pay more than $2.6 billion annually in fees as a result of "zombie" duplicate accounts. Credit:Louie Douvis There is also a ban on funds from charging administration and investment fees exceeding 3 per cent a year on the balance of accounts holding less than $6000. The country's largest super fund, AustralianSuper, recently introduced a small levy to cover the cost of the fee cap on low account balances after already transferring 246,000 accounts representing more than $500 million to the ATO. Mumbai, Feb 18 : Shares of Network18, TV18, Hathway and Den Networks surged on Tuesday after Reliance Industries' announcement of consolidating the four entities into Network18. Late on Monday evening, RIL announced a consolidation of its media and distribution businesses spread across multiple entities into Network18 and said that its stake in Network18 will reduce from 75 per cent to 64 per cent upon implementation of the scheme. At 10.30 a.m., stocks of Network18 on the BSE were at Rs 30.05, higher by 4.89 from the previous close, and shares of TV18 were 14.12 per cent higher at Rs 28.70 per share. Hathway Cable Datacom was at Rs 23.10 up 20 per cent, and stocks of Den Networks were up nearly 10 per cent at Rs 59.50 per share. In its statement on Monday, RIL said: "The appointed date for the merger shall be February 1, 2020. The Board of Directors of the respective companies approved the scheme of amalgamation and arrangement at their meetings held today." The broadcasting business will be housed in Network18 and the cable and ISP businesses in two separate wholly owned subsidiaries of Network18. The company said that the restructuring would create value-chain integration, and render substantial economies of scale. Post the consolidation, Network18 will be an integrated media and distribution company with a revenue of Rs 8,000 crore and will scale-up as one of the largest listed players in the sector, according to the company. Network18 will be net-debt free at consolidated level, providing a solid base for growth as well as improved shareholder returns, the statement said. If somebody calls you to say theyre investigating financial irregularities involving your social insurance number and bank account, its a scam. Thats what I learned after I recorded a call last week from an Officer Eric Smith who, with an accent so thick it was hard to understand him, told me that bank accounts in my (phoney) name had been used for illegal activity totalling $7 million. Before he and another alleged police officer were done, they suggested I tap out my real bank accounts and hand over the money to resolve the problem. Ironically, the call came just before the RCMP announced the arrest of two Brampton residents in various transnational scams, including the Canada Revenue Agency phone scam. The Mounties said the scam involves callers identifying themselves as CRA and/or RCMP and later other federal government agencies, and intimidating victims into paying non-existent fines or taxes. It also noted that the CRA scam, which is operating out of India, has been targeting the Canadian public since 2014, and despite a number of police raids on illegal call centres in India, continues to victimize Canadians. Sgt. Penny Hermann, an RCMP spokesperson, chuckled when I told her how I strung along the scammers. She reassured me that they definitely were not police or government officials, who do not cold-call people and make outrageous allegations or threaten to show up and arrest them. While their attempts to persuade me that I was in a world of trouble may be laughable, Hermann said the CRA scam has duped victims of more than $16 million between 2014 and 2019. When I saw a 1-800 number on my phone, with no spaces between the digits, I thought it was another of those thank you for choosing X calls selling me a vacation. But when I answered, a recorded message in a flat-toned female voice said there was a problem with my bank accounts, and that I should press one for more information. Thats when Officer Smith came on and asked me preliminary questions, starting with the spelling of my name. I complied, telling him my last name was Balough, first name Joseph. I figured hed soon catch on that he was talking to Joe Blow, and the call wouldnt go any further, but Officer Smith didnt get it, allowing me to scam the scammers. He led me through a series of questions, including the last three digits of my social insurance number, before revealing that 15 bank accounts in the name of Joseph Balough had been used for $7 million worth of money laundering, international wire transactions and drug trafficking. A non-revoceable arrest warrant had been issued in the name of Joseph Balough, he said. Police would be at my door within 45 minutes. Youre scaring me! I wailed. I dont even do drugs! He soon asked me to look up the phone number of my local RCMP and give it to him, a sure tipoff that he was not who he claimed to be, then said Id be hearing from the Mounties. Within a minute, the phone rang with the same RCMP number showing. They were obviously using caller ID spoofing to mimic a legitimate police call. Hermann told me its a common tactic in the CRA scam. The alleged officer, who had barely any trace of an accent, went all-in on playing the heavy cop, asking me if I want to resolve the problem or not? When I said yes, he asked how much money I had in the bank, then said the problem would go away for just that amount. I said I couldnt draw out that much money on my bank card. He insisted I go to the bank in person and withdraw as much cash as possible. Again I wailed about being scared. Maybe I finally overplayed my hand, or perhaps he looked closely at my name and made the Joe Blow connection. He snarled f--- you! and I started laughing before he hung up. The bottom line is some good advice from the RCMP: If someone on the phone is asking for your personal or banking information, hang up and report the activity to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If the caller is threatening you or your family, hang up and contact your local police. If you receive an email or text message making suspicious tax claims and urging you to click on a link to submit information, dont interact and report the occurrence to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, through its website at www.antifraudcentre.ca, or by telephone at 1-888-495-8501. Whats broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter Read more about: More than 148,000 Syrians displaced in six days Regime forces backed by allies Iran and Russia have been trying to capture the Aleppo countryside and parts of neighboring Idlib province, a stronghold of opposition forces in the war-torn country. As Assad regime forces and its allies continue to target Idlib, northwestern Syria, an area covered by a nominal cease-fire, 148,000 more civilians have been displaced in the past six days, according to Syria's Response Coordination Group. CIVILIANS REACH TURKISH BORDER With this latest figure, the number of displaced people in Idlib and neighboring areas since January 2019 has reached nearly two million, most of them taking shelter in areas close to the bordering Turkey, which already hosts over 3.6 million Syrian refugees. Tens of thousands of people, including women and children, are in need of humanitarian assistance as the camps they take shelter in lack basic facilities. They face great difficulty meeting their food and healthcare needs. Besides a refugee crisis, their advances have also affected cooperation between Moscow and Ankara, which sent its troops to Idlib as part of the 2017 Astana and 2018 Sochi accords that sought de-escalation. However, regime forces, its allies and militias loyal to it continue to violate the cease-fire. At the same time, Peskov told journalists the Kremlin was aware of today's clash "between the 'Luhansk People's Republic' and the Ukrainian Armed Forces". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims it would be "completely wrong" to raise the issue of Russia's responsibility for the latest violent escalation in Donbas. Answering a question of an UNIAN correspondent in Russia on whether the Kremlin intends to admit responsibility for the escalation in Donbas, since Russian leadership constantly declares its "influence" on the illegal armed groups fighting Ukrainian forces, Peskov said: "No, this is a completely incorrect formulation. It shouldn't be seen like this." At the same time, Peskov told journalists the Kremlin was aware of a morning's clash "between the 'Luhansk People's Republic' and the Ukrainian Armed Forces". Read alsoDonbas escalation: Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops, try to penetrate line of contact (Video) "We don't have the details of the clash, we don't know what triggered the clash. We read there are casualties on both sides, which we find unfortunate and express our hope that soon we will be able to clarify the details of what happened before going for any conclusions," Peskov said. As UNIAN reported earlier, on Tuesday morning, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, employing 120 mm mortars, proscribed by Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance through the demarcation line. As a result of the battle, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another four were injured. The following editorial appeared in Monday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - If the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) aims to gain power, it is essential for the party to compile realistic policies and strengthen its organization. "By working together with other opposition parties to uncover problems and connecting with public opinion, we can drive (Prime Minister Shinzo) Abe's administration into a corner," CDPJ leader Yukio Edano said at the party's latest convention. The CDPJ's action policy for 2020 said it will "make every effort toward preparations for a change of government." The action policy also stipulates that the party will grill the Abe administration over the issue of the cherry blossom viewing parties hosted by the prime minister, as well as the corruption scandal over integrated casino resorts. It is one of the roles of an opposition party to point out problems in the political stance of the cabinet and its administrative management, while also urging the government to make improvements. However, the opposition party has got its priorities wrong if it does nothing but criticize the government, neglecting its original purpose of presenting policies and aiming to realize them. Politics is energized when opposition parties come up with constructive counterproposals and call for the government to engage in discussions. As the largest opposition party, the CDPJ should be aware of its responsibilities. Edano said of the CDPJ's vision for government that the party would aim for "peace of mind through mutual support" and "sharing of wealth." The vision aims to realize generous social security by redistributing income. It also called for raising taxes on high-income earners and improving the treatment of care workers and nursery teachers, among other proposals. The vision seems to lack perspective on how to boost the overall economy. How can Japan maintain the vitality of society when the population is declining? It is hoped that the CDPJ will present comprehensive and persuasive policies. It is hard to understand why the CDPJ has failed to present detailed foreign policy guidelines and national security policies, even though it has expressed its aim to form a government. The party should draw up its own comprehensive proposals on domestic and foreign affairs. The shadow cabinet of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan compiled counterproposals for every policy area until the party took power in 2009. Isn't it worth the CDPJ considering a similar system to enhance its policy-making ability? Almost 2 years have passed since the CDPJ was formed, but its foundation is still fragile. Its 2020 action policy also stipulates that the party will focus on increasing the number of its members. With an eye on the next House of Representatives election, it is also an urgent task for the party to establish regional organizations in all prefectures. Edano's term as CDPJ leader will expire this autumn. It is apparent that the party also should establish rules on the selection of its head as soon as possible. The action plan also said the CDPJ will "create a bigger platform to face off against the Abe administration," a merger with the Democratic Party for the People, among other camps, clearly in mind. Merger talks between the two parties have come to a halt, mainly because they failed to agree on how to join forces. Should they aim to merge once again, the parties will not be able to gain support if the public views the move as merely an effort to gain numbers. They should try to join forces based on policies. JNU vice-chancellor (VC) M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday appealed to the university alumni to contribute to the JNU Alumni Endowment Fund to help the institution achieve "financial self-sufficiency". Kumar's appeal came after the university's executive council approved the creation of the fund. "On behalf of JNU, I passionately appeal to the JNU alumni to come forward and generously make your contributions. "Let us keep a target of raising Rs 100 crore by the end of this year. Through your continued support in the coming years, let us target to achieve near financial self sufficiency for our university," the VC said. Around the globe, higher educational institutions benefit a great deal from contributions received from their alumni, he added. "The time has come for the university to reach out to its alumni across India and around the globe to contribute to the 'JNU Alumni Endowment Fund'," Kumar said. He said the funds generated through this can be used to grant scholarships to the needy and deserving students. "Faculty and students can be supported to participate in international conferences. Better research infrastructure can be created," Kumar said. He said the funds will also be used to invite top-notch international scholars to teach at JNU. "The university will become more autonomous if we become financially self-sufficient. We have more than 80,000 alumni. Even if each one of them contributes around Rs 5,000 in a year, that will be about Rs 400 crores. Our ultimate goal is to have around Rs 1,000 crore corpus fund in a few years," he added. Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) alleged that the executive council has decided to stop the deduction of the JNUTA monthly subscription fee from salaries. "By his decision to end what was a purely administrative arrangement the process of the voluntary subscription of JNUTA members being automatically deducted from their salaries he has only revealed that he treats the university as his private property," the body said. "The JNUTA makes it clear that this step of the VC will only serve to increase the resolve of the teachers to fight and end his misrule," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Bernie Sanders leading in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, provoking a coordinated campaign against him by the Democratic Party establishment and media pundits, a dissenting note has come from what would seem to be an unlikely source. Jackson Diehl, the deputy foreign policy editor of the Washington Post and notorious war hawk, devoted his weekly column Monday to praise of Sanders foreign policy. In his column, headlined The Sanders foreign policy you dont know about, Diehl writes: A look at Sanderss speeches and statements in recent years provides a different picture, at least in foreign policy. What emerges is a politician strongly shaped by his opposition to US military interventions abroad, but also by a conviction that the United States should do what it can to support democracy and resist authoritarianism. That distinguishes him sharply not only from Trump but also from some of the Democratic candidates cast as moderates. In the mouths of supporters of American imperialism such as Diehl, phrases like support democracy and resist authoritarianism are euphemisms for defending the global geopolitical and economic interests of the US corporate-financial oligarchy. In promoting his supposed antiwar credentials, Sanders has made much of his vote in 2002 against the invasion of Iraq. That, however, stands out as the exception rather than the rule. Moreover, following the US invasion, Sanders continued to vote for US military budgets that funded the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Diehl, who strongly supported the invasion and occupation of Iraq and has repeatedly advocated a more aggressive US intervention in Syria and the broader Middle East, is not particularly bothered by Sanders stance on the Iraq War. He hones in on Sanders 2017 foreign policy speech, staged in Fulton, Missouri, the site of Winston Churchills 1946 Iron Curtain speech, which inaugurated the Cold War against the Soviet Union. He writes: Sanders paid homage to Churchill, saying he strongly agree[d] with his famous precept that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms. He then outlined a global role for the United States as a champion of the values of freedom, democracy and justice. In that speech, Sanders also praised Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, the architects of the Korean and Vietnam wars. He issued a threat to Russia, saying, Today I say to Mr. Putin: We will not allow you to undermine American democracy or democracies around the world. Diehl, an unreconstructed liberal Cold War anticommunist, essentially makes the case the Sanders stands in the same camp. He writes: As for the former Soviet Union, he [Sanders] told the New York Times it was an authoritarian dictatorship, and thats what I believed then and thats what I believe the case to be today. He notes: That stand compares favorably with Trumps pandering to the Kremlin and other autocratic regimes. It also looks good compared to some of the declarations of Mike Bloomberg, who has said Chinas Xi Jinping is not a dictator and compared Putins seizure of the Crimea in Ukraine to the US annexation of California. Diehl goes on to hail Sanders for his support for the US coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his denunciation of Trump for partially withdrawing US troops from northern Syria last year. He adds, Meanwhile, its worth noting that Sanders does say that military force is sometimes necessary and that terrorism remains a threat. Diehls column comes less than two weeks after the New York Times published a survey of the foreign policy positions of the various Democratic presidential candidates. In that survey, the Sanders campaign told the Times that the senator, if president, would consider military force to preempt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test. (See: Sanders tells New York Times he would consider a preemptive strike against Iran or North Korea). This reply not only implied acceptance of the illegal doctrine of preemptive war proclaimed by the administration of George W. Bush, it also raised the prospect of a Sanders administration initiating a war against Iran or nuclear-armed North Korea in response to an expected weapons test, not attack, threatening to draw in the major powers and trigger a nuclear holocaust. The Sanders campaign also affirmed that the Vermont senator would consider using military force in a so-called humanitarian intervention, that he would not begin to withdraw any of the more than 28,000 US troops from South Korea, would continue giving the current level of military aid to Israel and not move the US embassy from Jerusalem back to Tel Aviv, and would consider Russia an adversary or even an enemy. In response to a question on Trumps National Security Strategy, which declares that American military strategy is now oriented toward conflict with great powers and directly targets Russia and China, the Sanders campaign implicitly signaled its agreement and attacked Trump from the right. The reply stated that Trump has refused to hold Russia accountable for its interference in our elections and human rights abuses, has done nothing to address our unfair trade agreement with China that only benefits wealthy corporations, and has ignored Chinas mass internment of Uighurs and its brutal repression of protesters in Hong Kong. The Washington Post has been unambiguously hostile to Sanders and has fully participated in the media gang-up against his candidacy. But in Mondays column, Diehl is essentially reassuring the ruling class that a Sanders administration would not mark a break from the aggressive and militarist policy of American imperialism. Indeed, the record shows that the Vermont senator has backed the majority of American military aggressions, from the 1992-93 US intervention in Somalia, to the 1999 US-led NATO air war against Serbia, to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the US war against ISIS in Iraq and the US proxy war in Syria. He also supported the US-backed and fascist-led coup that toppled the elected pro-Russian government in Ukraine in 2014 and installed a right-wing nationalist regime, which launched a civil war against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. That putsch was the signal for a massive buildup of US and NATO forces on Russias western border, in preparation for an eventual war. Those workers and youth who are attracted to Sanders because they are looking for a radical alternative to the social inequality, brutality and militarism they correctly identify with capitalism will soon learn that in Sanders they have a false prophet. His foreign policy is thoroughly imperialist and in line with the militaristic policy of the Democratic Party and the Obama White House. Sanders foreign policy says everything one needs to know about the domestic policy he would pursue as well. It is impossible to oppose the billionaire class at home when one supports its military operations abroad. CHEYENNE As Wyoming begins dipping into its savings to cover the cost of its K-12 education system, state lawmakers have begun to reckon with the question of what happens when the states rainy day fund the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, referred to as the LSRA runs out. A Sublette County lawmaker believes he has the answer, however, pushing a bill through committee that could help stabilize the states reserve accounts. Carried in the House Appropriations Committee by Sen. Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, House Bill 186 proposes a number of provisions intended to guarantee continued funding of the LSRA by shifting dividends earned from the states permanent mineral trust fund which compounds interest used to fund a number of programs into accounts like the school foundation account, the strategic investments and project account, and the LSRA itself. The legislation also proposes a tip-out from the LSRA back into the permanent mineral trust fund whenever the fund exceeds $1.6 billion, an effort to replace some of the funds taken away during tough times for the state. With most revenue options off the table, Wyoming lawmakers expect to make slow progress as session continues While diversifying the states revenue streams has been a topic for years now, the 2020 legislative session was seen by many as a crucial beginning to a conversation long overdue in Wyoming. Most important of all would be a base-level increase to the states sales tax from its current 4 percent to 5 percent, a change that could potentially generate $200 million in new state revenues in its first year, according to a fiscal note for a similar bill introduced this year. None of these provisions would take effect unless the balance of the LSRA falls below $500 million which would present an inherent issue to the states cash flow. The LSRA currently funds everything from local governments to funding gaps in a plethora of agencies, making the account one of the most critical pieces of balancing the states budget. It will be needed even more, particularly as significant sources of revenue beyond coal, oil and gas remain elusive and those traditional sources decline and are expected to fall even further, according to January projections released by the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group. But those various savings accounts will likely need saving too. Estimates released by Gov. Mark Gordons office this fall anticipate this years budget will bring the balance of LSRA down to $1.3 billion this coming biennium. By the end of 2024, Sommers said the balance of LSRA is expected to fall somewhere around $632 million. Were in a definite decline, he said Monday night. So do you wanna wait? Or do you wanna do nothing? While critics argued that the legislation could tie the hands of future legislatures, Sommers argued his legislation would not be needed forever, highlighting a number of sunsets in place on other fiscal bills passed over the years. I just dont see this being that, Sommers said. House Speaker Steve Harshman, R-Casper who was in attendance for a hearing of the bill Monday night endorsed the concept, saying it continued a trend begun with amendments to the states mineral royalty revenues and a tip-out to the states Strategic Investment Planning Account. I think weve got to keep bringing solutions and plans forward for the citizens of this state, Harshman said. The bill passed committee unanimously. A less popular solution Another bill, proposed by Rep. Tim Hallinan, R-Gillette, would have allowed the states voters to enact a constitutional amendment to tip two-thirds of the states mineral royalties to schools for up to six years. The impetus for the bill, Hallinan said, comes from what he called a lack of desire from lawmakers to cut budgets further, leaving the Legislature just three options increase taxes, raid savings or eliminate funds being added to savings accounts. We can kick the can down the road or do something dramatic, he told members of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday. That dramatic action? Put the question to the voters. Theres a $396 million deficit in the school foundation budget for the 2021-22 biennium, Hallinan said. We need to begin to address this issue. Hallinan estimated that the new revenues to some of these accounts could eliminate approximately 64 percent of the deficit facing the schools at no cost to the taxpayers, albeit imposing a significant hit to the states investment earning potential. This elicited protests from some like longtime lobbyist Marguerite Herman, who argued this shift could potentially rob future generations of greater returns from the states permanent mineral trust fund in support of short-term interests. Ultimately, the House Appropriations Committee five of whom voted against Hallinans bill on an introductory vote last week chose to go a different direction, killing the bill on a 5-2 vote. Chairman Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, who voted aye in committee after voting against it on introduction, said the committee was likely wary of the prospect of putting the question to the voters via constitutional amendment what he called a high-minded task, though a wonderful idea. He added that the idea might gain movement with future legislatures, however, adding that the closer Wyoming gets to an anticipated fiscal cliff in the states future, the more likely the bills passage becomes. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Lavrov says EU mission must not contradict UN resolutions 'On Libya, Italy told us it understands the situation' (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, speaking about the EU mission to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, that "Russia insists it must be sacrosanct to respect the accords and not undertake actions that could be seen as contradictory with respect to the UN Security Council". Lavrov spoke following the Italy-Russia meeting in Rome between the countries' defence and foreign ministers. "The mechanisms must be agreed upon with the Security Council; we can't respect the wishes of only one party or the other," Lavrov said. "Italy reassured us that it fully understands this situation," he said. "Russia understands the legitimacy of the causes that push Italy to bring order back to Libya and block the entrance of arms," Lavrov said. He said Italy "provided a detailed explanation" on Tuesday of the new EU mission.(ANSAmed). Confidence among investors in Europe's largest economy Germany fell back in February, a closely-watched survey showed, with researchers blaming the novel coronavirus for nipping a rebound in the bud. The ZEW institute's monthly barometer measuring expectations for the coming months fell 18 points, to 8.7. "Fears of negative consequences for global trade from the coronavirus epidemic in China have led to a striking fall," ZEW chief Achim Wambach said in a statement. "Expectations for export-intensive sectors fell back especially strongly," he noted. Confidence among German businesses and investors had returned to an upward trend around the turn of the year, as China and the US buried the hatchet in a trade conflict whose knock-on effects proved painful for the country's manufacturers. But infection control measures taken against the COVID-19 illness by Beijing in recent weeks have slammed the brakes on the Chinese economy, vital to Germany as both an export destination and a link in global supply chains. The 194 analysts and financial players surveyed by ZEW were gloomier about both the present economic situation and the outlook for the coming months for Germany and its eurozone neighbours. "The new judgements of the present situation and falling expectations make clear that economic momentum is quite fragile at the moment," Wambach said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy, seeking protection from a wave of sexual abuse lawsuits filed by men and boys who say the organization failed to protect them as Scouts. The monumental filing seeks to reckon with all abuse claims at once in a final court process. By seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the national umbrella of the Boy Scouts signaled that it hopes to survive after compensating what are expected to be thousands of victims. The move, while expected, is unprecedented. Never before has such a large and established nationwide youth nonprofit filed for bankruptcy. The organization filed the court papers Tuesday just after midnight local time in Delaware, where the case will work its way through a federal bankruptcy court. The path to the proceedings can be traced back a decade to Portland, victims lawyers say. A Multnomah County jury awarded $19.9 million damages to a Portland man abused as a Scout. It was the largest verdict against the group in its long history. The trial also triggered the public release of internal files kept for decades that revealed the identities and crimes of hundreds of known abusers. If the files were not released, the Boy Scouts would have, I think, been able to weather the storm, said Paul Mones, one of the lead attorneys on the case. Search the Boy Scouts perversion files by name, state or city The files informed thousands of former Scouts about the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in the organization and the extent of the groups knowledge, he said. The records prompted hundreds of lawsuits, including several in Oregon. But statutes of limitations precluded many former Scouts from filing legal claims. That changed recently when lawmakers in the populous states of California, New York and New Jersey opened a window for victims to sue regardless of when they were abused. A flood of claims followed. The bankruptcy case will halt active lawsuits and, according to lawyers familiar with bankruptcy proceedings, will likely prevent future litigation tied to past abuse. If a Portland, Oregon jury was able to award almost $20 million to one person, if more trials were had around the country, the Boy Scouts just did the math, Mones said. A Boy Scouts spokesperson could not be reached to discuss the filing. However, the group published a statement to its website. While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process with the proposed trust structure will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSAs important mission, chief executive Roger Mosby said in a statement. In the bankruptcy petition, the group said it had $1 billion to $10 billion in assets and $500 million to $1 billion in liabilities. The bankruptcy case will require all victims to file claims with the federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, which will oversee a months-long process to add up the Boy Scouts assets and determine how much victims will receive. The Boy Scouts files made public in Oregon indicate that there may be several thousand victims of sexual abuse who may come forward to file claims, Mones said. At least a handful of Oregon victims who have already sued will now have to file claims instead with in the bankruptcy case. A key issue during the bankruptcy will be how much local councils, like the five that operate in Oregon, have to contribute toward paying victims, said Peter Janci, a Portland lawyer who was also part of the 2010 Portland case. Janci and his law firm represent dozens of victims in current cases across the country and he planned to travel to Delaware to be on hand to follow the early bankruptcy proceedings. He said he expects the Boy Scouts will ask the court to extend bankruptcy protections to local chapters, without each group having to officially file for bankruptcy. Janci said he believes local councils should help compensate victims in order to be protected from future lawsuits. The same debate may also extend to organizations that sponsor Boy Scouts troops, such as churches and community clubs. The national Boy Scouts, based in Texas, reported more than $1 billion in assets in its latest tax-exempt filing. Four of the five regional councils in Oregon listed more than $56 million worth of assets in their most recent filings. The Cascade Pacific Council holds three-quarters of those assets. The Portland-based council oversees 20,000 youth and 9,000 adult volunteers. Although the branch reported more than $40 million in assets for tax purposes, the true value of its holdings is unclear. For example, it reported the value of its land at $322,000. County property records estimate the site of its Portland headquarters alone is worth more than $3 million. The council also owns land throughout western Oregon where it operates camps, including a coastal property near Tillamook. The council was at the center of the lawsuit that led to the historic verdict against the Scouts. During the trial, lawyers spent days going over the national organizations internal files that tracked reports of abuse on the local level. Mones said he clearly remembers questioning an expert witness about one specific file, in which executives had concluded that a troop leader sleeping nude with Cub Scouts was not sufficient reason to permanently bar him. You could hear the oxygen go out of the room, Mones said. It was so abhorrent to people. The Boy Scouts tried to block the files from being disclosed after the verdict. But the Oregon Supreme Court sided with several news organizations, including The Oregonian/OregonLive, and ordered the files to be made public. The files showed the public how the organization had long known about problems of sexual abuse and failed to take appropriate actions to protect children, Janci said. The timing coincided with a shift in national consciousness away from blaming rogue bad actors to the institutions who enable them, Mones said. In its wake, many churches, schools and youth groups have faced claims from people who say they were abused as children by adults in positions of power. Portland private school Catlin Gabel is in the news this year for just that reason. Some local and regional groups, including branches of the Catholic Church, have turned to bankruptcy before. Those cases provide a model for some aspects of the Boy Scouts case, such as how payments to individual victims might be determined, Mones said. Janci said the bankruptcy trustee will appoint a group of victims to weigh in on the bankruptcy plan. Eventually, the court will set a date by which all victims need to file claims. The court will decide between now and then how potential victims will be notified of their legal rights to file claims, Janci said. Mones said if people do not file claims by the filing deadline, they likely will not be able to sue the Boy Scouts in the future. He said the organization could have avoided altogether bankruptcy if leaders took steps to address sexual abuse allegations after the 2010 verdict that led to public awareness about how far-reaching the problems were. This is not just a financial bankruptcy, but it is also a moral bankruptcy, he said. -- Molly Young myoung@oregonian.com Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Read more: Caroline Flack died by suicide on 15 February. She is pictured at the BRIT awards in London in February 2015. (Reuters) TV presenter Caroline Flack was found dead in her north London home on 15 February. A lawyer for the 40-year-olds family said she took her own life. She was due to stand trial, charged with assaulting her boyfriend last year. In response to the tragic news, the Samaritans tweeted: If youre findings things tough tonight and feel like youve got nowhere to turn, were here to listen. Suicide is a leading cause of death, with one person taking their life every 40 seconds worldwide. In the UK and Republic of Ireland alone, 6,859 people died by suicide in 2018. Men are three times more likely to end their life than women, with the 45-to-49 age group most vulnerable. Read more: Why talking is so important for mental health Our research shows suicide is complex and is rarely caused by one thing, a Samaritans spokesperson told Yahoo UK. We know many people who express suicidal thoughts and feelings do not want to die; they simply do not want to carry on with the life they have and are unable to see any other way to cope with what they are experiencing. Talking can really help a person to see a way through this and we would encourage anyone who is feeling low to reach out for help. We know many people find it hard to speak openly or ask for help when they are struggling, but talking can be life-saving whether its with a family member, friend or a confidential helpline like Samaritans. How to spot when a loved one may have suicidal thoughts Suicidal feelings can affect people of any age, sex or background. Those who feel this way may have been battling emotions of worthlessness or helplessness for some time. For unclear reasons, men are more at risk. This may be due to societys expectation to get on with things. People from LGBTQ communities are also more at risk, possibly due to bullying or discrimination. READ MORE: The pursuit of happiness may cause depression Nevertheless, there are no defined warning signs when it comes to suicidal thoughts. Story continues Many of those who experience these emotions are depressed, which can lead to substance abuse, fatigue, and disturbed eating or sleeping patterns. Some also lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as sex. They may struggle to concentrate, remember things or make decisions. Some may also appear irritable, tearful or panicky. People may just act out of sorts, whether thats by being unusually quiet, confrontational or reckless. Look out for signs someone may be preparing to end their life, like making a will. Overall, Rethink Mental Illness urges people to trust their instincts if something seems alarming. Talking can help people process what they are feeling. (Getty Images) How to encourage someone to talk If a loved one seems to be struggling, we often want to help, but are unsure where to start. The Samaritans stress that you do not have to be an expert just listening can often help people work through whats on their mind. The late Reverend Chad Varah, founder of The Samaritans, said: There are in this world, in every country, people who seem to be ordinary, but who, when meeting a suicidal person, turn out to be extraordinary. They can usually save lives. How? They give the sad person their total attention. They completely forget themselves. They listen and listen and listen, without interrupting. They have no message. They do not preach. When it comes to starting the conversation, find somewhere quiet, where you will not be interrupted. Set aside plenty of time and ensure you are both physically comfortable. To show you care, put away your phone and maintain eye contact. Resolve not to talk about yourself make it all about the other person. The first attempt to start this conversation may be unsuccessful. Remember, it can take a lot for a person to open up and they should not feel rushed. If you are trying to encourage someone to discuss their feelings, try keeping a listening diary, noting the times you listened well and when you were distracted. The Samaritans encourage non-judgmental listening, where a person is safe to reflect on the emotions they are experiencing. If they pause, do not rush to fill the silence. It may take time to formulate how they feel or they may struggle to find the words to sum it up. Aim for open-ended questions that have more than just a yes or no response. Try: How are you feeling today? You could then follow their answer with: Tell me more. Show empathy by saying: I cant imagine how painful this is for you, but I would like to try to understand. Repeating their response shows they have your undivided attention. It also reassures them you have not misunderstood or made your own interpretations. If you feel you have said the wrong thing, do not panic. You could follow with: I realise that was insensitive, Im sorry. I'm still here for you. Rethink Mental Illnesses stresses that talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts does not make them more likely to end their life. Many people feel relieved and less isolated when they are asked these sorts of questions, Stephen Buckley, from Mind, told Yahoo UK. Reassure the person the feeling will not last forever, while encouraging them to get through the day rather than looking to the future. Importantly, do not tell them to cheer up or pull themselves together. Do not say they should not be feeling the way they do or that they should be grateful for their good life. This can make them feel rejected, ignored, patronised or guilty. Counsellors can help those needing extra support. (Getty Images) Where to send people who need extra support If a loved one still feels low after talking it through, they may need extra support from a counsellor. Try asking: Have you talked to anyone else about this?, Would you like to get some help? and Would you like me to come with you? If they are reluctant, ask Do you have someone you trust you can go to? and let them know they can talk to you at any time. If somebody has ongoing suicidal thoughts, you could also offer practical support like helping them access mental health services, said Buckley. The Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org The non-emergency NHS number 111 also offers health advice. For those outside the UK, Befrienders Worldwide lists helplines in different countries. If someone is speaking of attempting suicide or has hurt themselves, call 999. Caring for someone in distress can trigger low mood in itself. Ensure you reach out for support if it all gets too much. If someone tries to end their life, this is not your fault, Rethink Mental Illness adds. NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Immunotherapy Market Scope of the Study This report provides forecasts and analysis of the cancer immunotherapy market. This exclusive study also offers analytical data for the historical period (2016-2019) along with forecasts from 2020 to 2025 in terms of revenue (US$ Mn). The report on the global cancer immunotherapy market includes macroeconomic as well as microeconomic growth indicators. The study provides information on the key drivers and restraints influencing the growth of the cancer immunotherapy market, and their impact on each region during the forecast period. The report also comprises a study of the current challenges impeding the adoption rate and opportunities for manufacturers in the cancer immunotherapy market. This comprehensive study also includes value chain analysis, with a list of vendors and industry stakeholders at each node in the value chain, pipeline snapshot, and cancer epidemiology in every region. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861902/?utm_source=PRN In order to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the cancer immunotherapy market, authors of the report have included detailed competitive analysis and key players with unique selling propositions. The dashboard provides a detailed comparison of manufacturers operating in the cancer immunotherapy market, on parameters such as collective market share and geographic concentration. This detailed study on the cancer immunotherapy market offers incisive insights regarding significant dynamics influencing the movement of the cancer immunotherapy landscape during the forecast period. Authors of the cancer immunotherapy market report have taken ample care to track the latest market movements to ensure that only accurate information reaches to stakeholders. The study helps these stakeholders in gaining an edge over their competitors. This exclusive guide also tracks the current as well as future trends that are likely to influence the growth of the cancer immunotherapy market during the forecast period. To add to that, the analysis also discusses the threat of substitutes and new entrants, which provides a brief idea regarding the future growth course of the cancer immunotherapy market. The report provides a detailed competitive dashboard and company profiles of key participants operating in the global market. Some of the key players in the global cancer immunotherapy market include Amgen, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca PLC, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline Plc., F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Janssen Biotech, Inc., Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Cancer Immunotherapy Market Research Methodology A number of primary and secondary sources were consulted during the course of the study on the cancer immunotherapy market. Secondary sources include NCBI, cancerresearch.org, WHO, FDA, Google Books, articles, company annual reports, websites, press releases, and publications. The top-down approach has been used to estimate the cancer immunotherapy market by region. Market numbers for global therapy and therapeutic area segments have been derived using the bottom-up approach, which is cumulative of each region's demand. Company-level market share has been derived on the basis of revenues reported by key players in the cancer immunotherapy market space. The cancer immunotherapy market has been forecast based on current currency rates. Request research methodology of this report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861902/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com This article was originally published Feb. 18, 2020. Hollywood icon Al Pacino got back in the spotlight with his Netflix hit The Irishman. The Academy Award-winning actor has appeared in some of the greatest films of all time, including The Godfather trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, and Serpico. Though Pacino is a showbiz powerhouse, that wasnt enough to salvage his two-year relationship with Israeli actor Meital Dohan, who opened up about their vast age difference. Al Pacino and Meital Dohan | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Who is Meital Dohan? Dohan is known for her role as a rabbi on Showtimes Weeds, though she was previously a successful actor and playwright in Israel before coming came to the U.S. Dolan also appeared on the Israeli version of Dancing With the Stars, which inspired her to follow a career path in music. The whole epiphany about pursuing and focusing on music happened in a very funny way, Dohan said in 2012, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While doing Dancing with the Stars in Israel, I had a spiritual guide who told me to go back to L.A. and start with my music career. Seeing herself as an artistic chameleon, the actor made a point of consistently evolving. My whole life I was always a writer and a creator, Dohan said. Im an artist changing from role to role. Thats how I see myself. Romance with Pacino According to The Times of Israel, Dohan and Pacino met at a Hollywood after-party following a screening. The couple had been spotted sporadically over two years, keeping their relationship low-key. The two appeared at the Netflix premiere of Pacinos film The Irishman, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. His daughter Olivia was also in attendance at the event. Pacino shares Olivia and twin brother Anton with actor Beverly DAngelo, whom he dated from 1996 to 2003. Pacino also has a daughter, Julie, with acting teacher Jan Tarrant. Too many decades in between People reported that the pair parted ways after almost two years of dating. Dohan alluded to their 39-year age difference as the reason for their split. Its hard to be with a man so old, even Al Pacino, Dohan said of the actor, according to The Times of Israel. The age gap is difficult, yes. I tried to deny it, but now he is already an elderly man, to be honest. So even with all my love, it didnt last. Despite the difficulties, Dolan is optimistic that they can maintain a friendship. I had a fight with him and left him recently, but of course I really love and appreciate him, and I was glad to be there for him when he needed me, and to be a part of his legacy, she said. Its an honor for me. Im glad this relationship happened between us, and hope we remain good friends. [Correction: An earlier version erroneously said Dohan and Pacinos age difference is 36 years. It is 39 years.] VALPARAISO Portage business owner Cleon Stutler Jr. watched Monday afternoon as a photo of a young girl holding a stuffed bear was presented to the courtroom. The bear, he was told, plays a recording of her late father's voice. The girl's father was Peter Jackson, who along with his wife, Amy Jackson, was killed Sept. 19, 2018, when Stutler drove drunk and collided with their motorcycle in the area of U.S. 20 and Willowcreek Road. Stutler, 68, heard lengthy accounts of the pain and loss his actions caused before Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford sentenced him to 16 years behind bars, which could amount to a life sentence. His family wept as Stutler maintained his composure as he was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom to begin serving his time. Stutler, who had three prior drunken driving convictions, had told the court earlier in the hearing that he is an alcoholic who has had various levels of success in halting his drinking. On the day in question, he said he was following a routine of drinking alcohol at the marina in Portage since his wife would not let him consume alcohol at home. The BRIT Awards makes a return tonight as one of the first IRL events of 2021s awards season. And after a year spent swaddled in tracksuits, we have no doubt the biggest names in music will have missed the sequins and spandex theyre used to, and use tonights red carpet as an opportunity to embrace some OTT looks. Tonights ceremony, the 41st BRIT Awards, certainly wont be the first to have witnessed some major fashion moments. Geri Halliwell, AKA Ginger Spice, made BRITs fashion history in 1997 when she wore the now infamous Union Jack dress to perform at the 1997 ceremony, where the band unveiled their single, "Wannabe." Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell / Rex Features So coveted was the dress that just one year after wearing it, Halliwell sold it at a Sotheby's auction in London for 41,300. It was purchased by Peter Morton to be displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas as a piece of pop memorabilia. Another girl band moment occurred a few years later when Destiny's Child graced the red carpet in 2001 in co-ordinating green ensembles, and later changed into matching gold bikinis and knee-high boots for their performance. Then, in 2014, another iconic fashion and music hybrid moment took place at the annual ceremony, which this year returns to its usual venue of the 02 Arena. PA When David Bowie was unable to make the ceremony to collect his 'Best Male Solo Artist' gong, he asked friend Kate Moss to do the honours - and even leant her his famous Ziggy Stardust playsuit from 1972 to wear. Even off stage, the red carpet has witnessed many a high fashion moment. Adwoa Aboah wearing Sonia Rykiel in 2018 / Getty Images Vogues recent cover girl Billie Eilish was a performer at last years event, and also among the best dressed in a head-to-toe Burberry check ensemble, complete with coordinating check talons. Other highlights were Lizzos chocolate wrapper themed gown, Harry Styles slick (as ever) seventies suiting and Adwoah Aboahs angelic cowl-neck Vivienne Westwood bridal gown, which she expertly accessorised with a smoky eye and a black ostrich feather clutch. This year we can expect a series of outlandishly fabulous outfits from Dua Lipa, whos set to perform at tonights event. Judging by her recent Swarovski-studded Versace Grammys look, a healthy dose of flesh-flashing spangle could well be on the cards. Well also be on the lookout for Taylor Swift, whos set to become the first woman to receive the Global Icon Award and will surely mark the moment in her trademark Hollywood siren style. As he landed on the steep, dune-like beaches of Iwo Jima 75 years ago, one Virginia native had no idea what awaited him in the forests and mountains of the Japanese-held island during World War II. On Feb. 19, 1945, and over the coming days, more than 70,000 U.S. Marine Corps troops landed on the island, including Warren Musch, who landed about 1 p.m. that day. Quiet at first, the Japanese held their attack, waiting for the right moment to attack the landing Marines, Musch said. They waited until we had a lot of people on shore and they turned everything loose on us, Musch said. I landed on the beach right between two dead Marines. Thats when it really hit me. The battle of Iwo Jima was a five-week battle to capture the island, which held three airfields that could have been used as a staging area for attacks by the United States and allied countries during the war. Though ultimately not used, the airfields and island came under U.S. control, but the battle for it resulted in nearly 7,000 Marine deaths and the deaths of all but roughly 200 of the 21,000 Japanese forces. Musch enlisted while attending Illinois College and left for training immediately following his graduation before shipping out to Iwo Jima. Though it was decades ago, Musch said he still remembers everything about Iwo Jima. Its hard to realize it has been 75 years, he said. The battle of Iwo Jima was the first and only conflict Musch, then 23, saw during his time in the Marines. Overwhelmed at first, Musch said he somehow pulled himself together during the five-week battle. I dont know how I did it, but I was terrified at first, Musch said. Then, somehow, after the initial shock, I had no fear of getting wounded or killed. I cant explain why or how I carried on with no fear, but its how I survived the entire 36 days. As a intelligence officer for his battalion, Musch traveled from command post to command post, making him a moving target. I was a moving target and somehow, the Japanese never picked me off, he said. I must have had an angel sitting on both shoulders. Musch said he feels it was by the grace of God that he left the island without injury and, thankfully, with no serious injuries in his unit. There was a day, we were up in the top terrace and I started to raise up, but I hesitated, Musch said. I dont know why. Seconds later, Japanese machine gun fire knocked ash into my face six inches above my head. I cant explain it, but if I hadnt hesitated, I might not be here today. It saved me and those with me. Despite the horrors of the battle, Musch said, there were a few good memories, including the moment Marines captured Mount Suribachi. Four days into the fighting, on Feb. 23, Musch was just 100 yards down the mountain as Marines raised the first flag on Mount Suribachi at roughly 10 a.m., he said. Though not the flag shown in the iconic photo taken by Joe Rosenthal, Musch said it was an iconic moment for many of those watching. We were very elated, Musch said. It was a wonderful boost, because things hadnt been going well. It was a big morale booster for the troops. None of us knew (the battle) would extend for 31 more days. The flag shown in the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo was one that was raised later that afternoon. The general wanted a bigger flag, so he sent a larger one up the mountain, Musch said. By that point, I was already back at work, so I got to see the one raised in the morning. Jacksonville resident Jerry Lowe also served in Iwo Jima but was unavailable for an interview. A woman has been seriously injured in a collision in east London. The Met Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage after they were called to reports of a crash in Commercial Road at 9.10am on Monday. A 26-year-old woman was involved in a collision with a red Ford Mustang. She was rushed to the Royal London Hospital by the London Ambulance Service where she remains in a serious condition. Her family have been informed. The driver of the car, a 27-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving. He was subsequently released under investigation. Press Release February 18, 2020 De Lima finds Espenido's inclusion to narco-list 'ironically amazing' Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is puzzled on why a top police officer responsible for incidents of summary execution in the administration's drug war found himself on the list of erring officers linked to the country's illegal drug trade. De Lima said she suspects that Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, the administration's poster boy in its bloody and brutal war on drugs, has fallen out of Mr. Duterte's good graces and is suddenly taken out of the anti-narcotics campaign. "[Jovie Espenido] now in Duterte's drug list? Ironically amazing! Espenido must know a lot to make him a target himself," she said in a Dispatch from Crame. "Has he lost his usefulness? Or is he now a threat to his top boss because of what he knows?" she added. Espenido gained national prominence after then Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa was shot dead inside his cell in Albuera, Leyte in 2016. He was then the town's police chief. When he was transferred to Ozamiz City in 2017, Espenido also led a series of raids that resulted to the highly suspicious death of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 15 others. Duterte himself recognized the feats of Espenido and publicly ordered him to "go, start killing" in Bacolod City where he was appointed as deputy director for drug operations. Since Espenido was in the forefront of the controversial "war on drugs," De Lima maintained that he must know first-hand information about its sinister operations, including the conspiracy to create lies about her supposed links to the drug trade. "I'm certain that Espenido also knows a lot about the lies thrown at me, particularly my alleged links to Kerwin Espinosa," De Lima, the most prominent political prisoner of the Duterte administration, said. "He knows that I'm not and was never a protector of the latter self-confessed drug lord; that I was never in the so-called "blue book" or "pink book", or whatever it is, of alleged Espinosa protectors or beneficiaries of his illegal drug trade; and that he and Espinosa both lied when they claimed otherwise in the course of the Senate hearings," she added. News accounts initially cited unnamed high-ranking sources inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) that Espenido was included in the so-called "narco-list" of 357 police officers and officials. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied the report and called it "fake news". Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano later confirmed Espenido's name on the narco-list and vowed to have Espenido investigated for possible links to drug trade. "If the news report about his inclusion in Duterte's drug list is true, who can now protect him? Let's see how this new mystery would unravel in the increasingly messy terrain we now have under an unstable leader," De Lima said. KYIV Ukrainian officials have unveiled a monument at Kyiv's international airport to commemorate the victims of a Ukrainian airliner that crash in Iran last month. The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 737-800 crashed on January 8 after taking off from Tehrans primary international airport, killing all 176 people aboard. Three days after the tragedy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) admitted that Flight PS752 had been shot down "unintentionally" by the countrys air defenses, amid heightened tensions in the region. A memorial stone with the inscription PS 752, 08.01.2020 was unveiled on February 17 at the Boryspil International Airport outside the Ukrainian capital. The ceremony was attended by relatives of the victims, as well as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko, the secretary of the Ukrainian Security Service, Oleksiy Danilov, and UIA President Yevhen Dyhne. Representatives of other countries which lost their citizens in the crash -- Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Germany, Iran, and Sweden -- were also present. Addressing reporters, Prystayko said the investigation into the crash was still underway. "The Prosecutor-General's office addressed the Iranian side with a request to create a joint investigation group which will result in punishing all those guilty -- not only the person who pressed the button," he said. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 14:45:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 751 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CEDAR HILL, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / MOJO Data Solutions, Inc. (OTC PINK:MJDS) has brought on board new officers and directors. MOJO DATA SOLUTIONS has added Wade Decker and Noe Lopez, Sr. as its new Board of Directors and as its officers. Current Chairman and CEO Daniel Sobolewski will be resigning his positions with the company."We are excited to add these two gentlemen to the company and look forward to their thoughts and suggestions, moving forward, on how we can increase shareholder value." says Daniel Sobolewski, current Chairman/CEO of MOJO Data Solutions, Inc. (MJDS)About Wade Decker - Mr. Decker is a highly driven, performance-focused leader in the energy and facilities market space, with a diversity of experience and interests in both for-profit business and non-profit organizations. In 1984, at the age of 24, Mr. Decker founded Decker Mechanical, Inc. (DMI) a Dallas based mechanical contracting firm specializing in large, complex projects such as chilled and hot water system renovations and time sensitive projects. Mr. Decker is responsible for the day-to-day operations and overall strategic direction of the company. DMI Is known as one of the oldest mechanical contracting firms in DFW under one management, and consistently is rated as a top contractor by customers.Mr. Decker founded and/or served as a board of director of several companies including E3 Entegral Solutions, Inc., NorthStar Builders Group (2012-2016), DFW Aviation Group, LLC, and NorthStar Water Logic, LLC. Mr. Decker is also involved in some non-profit organizations, such as Emergency Volunteers Project, an organization providing first responder (fire & life safety) personnel to Israel during emergency or disaster events.About Noe Lopez, Sr. - Mr. Lopez is the owner of multiple businesses and has over 25 years of experience, specializing in technology development. Mr. Lopez was recruited by Wal-Mart in 1993 and lead the startup of multiple operations for Wal-Mart International in over 15 countries. Following his time with the retail giant, Mr. Lopez provided similar services across multiple continents for Reliance Industries in 2007 and WW Grainger in 2010.In 2012, Mr. Lopez became the President of NorthStar Water Logic where he led ground-breaking development of proprietary technology for cleaning contaminated production water, initially with a focus on cleaning flow-back water and fluids in the Texas oil fields.With over 25 years of corporate executive leadership, Mr. Lopez has taken his experience to grow Joshua Mechanical Services, LLC, a procurement and Industrial equipment service company he founded in 2015, to a $5,000,000 a-year-business.Mr. Lopez is a developer and inventor of patented and multiple patent-pending technologies and processes that range from oil and gas solutions, animal health, and vegetation soil remediation. He holds degrees in Psychology, Business, and Logistics.Mr. Decker and Mr. Lopez are co-founders and officers of TWL Water Technologies, LLC, which has rights to patents and patent-pending water technologies that Mr. Lopez and Mr. Decker have been developing for the complete restoration and renewal of contaminated bodies of water. http://www.twlwater.com Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "estimate", "project", "intend", "forecast", "anticipate", "plan", "planning", "expect", "believe", "will", "will likely", "should", "could", "would", "may," "potential", "opportunity", "desire" or words or expressions of similar meaning. Such statements are not guarantee of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those included within the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company's ability to grow its business. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company's limited operating history, the limited financial resources, and domestic or global economic conditions -- activities of competitors and the presence of new or additional competition and conditions of equity markets.Contact :Noe Lopez SrEmail: office@ twloilfield.com Phone : 877-553-1004 /469-747-4640SOURCE: MOJO Data Solutions, Inc. Director of a Wuhan-based hospital died on Tuesday morning due to coronavirus. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan city, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak, died after "all-out rescue efforts failed," Russia state broadcaster CCTV reported. Liu's death was initially announced on Monday night in a social media post by the Hubei Health Commission. However, in a follow-up message, the commission said that the hospital director was alive and battling the virus. The organisation has not commented on state television reports that Liu is in fact dead. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 1,800 people in that country alone, while cases have been registered in several countries across the world, including India. At least six other medical workers in China have died from the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Last year, when EAM S Jaishankar announced about Chinas offer to expand the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, I couldnt be happier. For I too experienced this life-changing journey in 2019 and can understand what this move could do to improve one of the holiest pilgrimages for us, Hindus. (Photo: Twitter) Now that the booking for this years Kailash pilgrimage is about to begin in a couple of weeks, I am penning this letter to share my experience along with some suggestions which, I am sure, will help make this pilgrimage of self-discovery more comfortable for those undertaking it. My experience Every year, thousands of Indians undertake the sacred Kailash Mansarovar yatra. Faith unites them. And they leave their cosy homes, trekking miles and crossing several hurdles to reach the abode of Lord Shiva. While some choose the package organised by the External Affairs Ministry, some pick private tour operators to organise their yatra. Last year too, thousands of pilgrims went to Kailash Mansarovar. And I was one of the fortunate devotees of Lord Shiva to have experienced this journey of a lifetime. I went on a 15-day yatra by taking a package from one of the travel agencies. The route of my yatra was from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, and from there to Simikot to Hilsa (close to the Nepal-China Border), from Hilsa to Taklakot in China to Darchen. True, only one in a million is able to undertake this pilgrimage. Some of the reasons include the extreme weather conditions, high altitude, rugged terrain, and dangerous trekking trails. While these factors are beyond human control, other factors such as poor administration and logistics compound the troubles. Unfortunately, Mt Kailash lies in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Although blessed by nature, it is an underdeveloped area. Thats predominantly due to the fact that for China, which is one of the least religious countries in the world, providing amenities for Kailash Mansarovar yatra isnt an act of wilfulness, if I may say so. And its pretty evident from the multiple levels of checking that Chinese immigration officers perform on the pilgrims. At the Nepal-Tibet check post, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers go to the extent of undergarments, which feels more like harassment than a security protocol. I understand Chinas repulsion towards Dalai Lama and Buddhism. But I can never understand why our belongings such as our phones go through such stringent checks that even a single image of Dalai Lama in your cellphone can cancel your yatra. China may have the highest number of convinced atheists in the world, but they shouldnt have the right to stop an earnest pilgrim from undertaking this sacred yatra, just because the country despises Dalai Lama. Now, coming to the fact that the Simikot-Hilsa route is connected only by small aircraft or helicopters which require fair weather to travel is a nightmare in itself. Imagine, if someone gets sick, and the weather isnt favourable they will remain stuck in the region as travelling in and out of these areas will be impossible during inclement weather. By Gods grace, we didnt have to undergo any such situation. But that doesnt mean our yatra was a bed of roses. Rather, it was extremely arduous. Examples abound. In Simikot and Hilsa, there were hardly any hotels, and the guesthouses were in poor condition. Pilgrims were packed in a small room. Pilgrims were forced to stay in small rooms and squalid conditions. (Photo: Sadhavi Khosla) During most of our halts, over 10 people used to lodge in one room. And to exacerbate the problems, there was scarcity of water, and people had to defecate in the open. No one wants to complete a sacred yatra with survival so tough that you find human excreta lying everywhere. But for us, one of the tasks every morning was how to relieve ourselves since there were no toilets. As if the extreme weather conditions and unhygienic accommodations were not enough no toilets and open defecation added to pilgrims difficulties. Worse, even after reaching Lake Mansarovar, you find no toilets around. Its one of the holiest lakes in the world, and after taking a dip in it, you have to live in mud houses again, without toilets. Living without urinating for five days may seem impossible to some. But pilgrims who undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have to live through this impossibility. Please note that most of the pilgrims are ladies and older people. The conditions are miserable. Elderly ladies woke up as early as 3 am to relieve themselves in the open, so that no one could see them. Even cleaning your teeth was nothing short of a tiring exercise, simply because we had to find a place to do that. Yes, we were given water to brush our teeth. But thats about it. A few suggestions I understand that Nepal is an underdeveloped country. This Hindu nation has cultural ties with India, and India also provides economic aid to its neighbour. So, its in our best interest to economically adopt the region of Nepal that connects India to Kailash. And this includes Simikot and Hilsa. I firmly believe that India must build roads, hospitals and provide basic amenities to the pilgrims in the region that connects Nepal to Kailash Parvat. After all, this uninhabited area that opens for six months becomes home for scores of Indian pilgrims every year. Mr Modi, please note that for the past few years, China has already been investing heavily in Nepal. And as I write this letter in India, Chinese and Nepalese leaders are strengthening their bilateral ties with economic cooperation being the prime focus. In 2018, eight agreements were signed between China and Nepal to develop major infrastructure projects in Nepal. While its great for the two neighbours, this is something that should be Indias priority too. For China may or may not develop the Kailash-Mansarovar stretch that connects to India. India should, thus, take the lead and invest in it. The more this region will be developed, the easier it will be to complete the yatra. After all, people from every state in the country and every part of the world undertake this enlightening and spiritual trip. In fact, talking from my own experience, we were a group of 54 people, including NRIs and people from all states of India were a part of the group. So, I see this yatra as a significant opportunity to bring more tourism to the country. As you know, 949 pilgrims went to Kailash Mansarovar through the government organised trips in 2019 and several thousand made it to Mt Kailash with the help of private tour operators. Still, the lack of medical facilities in regions like Simikot and Hilsa, and minimal tourist infrastructure with unhygienic conditions was the reality. I cant stress enough that this ultimate pilgrimage in Hinduism must not be taken lightly. I admit that freezing temperatures and dangerous trails are beyond the governments control. But a lot of things can be better organised. This trip forced me to compare it with my visit to the Kumbh Mela earlier last year. I must appreciate the Uttar Pradesh government that brilliantly managed the defecation and sanitisation situation in Prayagraj during the congregation. In retrospect, the administration made sure that people have access to toilets. Consequently, 1.2 lakh eco-friendly, portable toilets were installed during the Kumbh Mela. That was a big deal. And it showed us that nothing is impossible. So, why cant we arrange such mobile toilets during the six months of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra? PM Modi, I genuinely feel that your level of concern to make things better for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims should be high. I request you to use your diplomatic ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and arrange more facilities in Mansarovar and beyond for the pilgrims. The trek to Kailash Parvat is gruelling as it is. Be it the treacherous route that transcends the boundaries of India, Nepal, and China, the extreme weather, or the high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet the pilgrims have to adjust to so many things. Inhospitable conditions, which are under government control, shouldnt be among them. India and China should make agreements to provide basic amenities to the pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. Clean, mobile toilets, better road and air connectivity, proper lodging facilities, hot water, and good food are the bare minimum requirements that the government of both the nations should address and deliver. It will help thousands of pilgrims to better acclimatise to the elevation. Help us remember only Kailash, nothing else. As I reflect, my yatra to Kailash Parvat was the best experience of my life. It stoked my belief in Lord Shiva and his magnanimity. But at the same time, this trip was also the most challenging one in my life. For years, many who want to undertake this yatra have been complaining about the same. I hope that you, PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar, bring a change. Spiritual, beautiful, and enlightening. That is all I wish pilgrims should remember about Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. Nothing else. Therefore, I urge the Indian government to take some immediate steps to make this yatra easier. We should do more, and do it fast. Also read: Letter to PM Modi: Why India needs to go back to Gurukul An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Tuesday transferred two terror financing cases against Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed to Lahore on his request. Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, was arrested on July 17 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail here. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh held the hearing on the petition of Saeed and his close aide Zafar Iqbal, who is the secretary of Al-Anfaal Trust. Saeed in his petition requested the court to transfer two terror financing cases against him from Multan and Sahiwal cities of Punjab to Lahore so that the anti-terrorism court in Lahore could hear all such cases against him. The court accepted his plea after prosecution raised no objection on it. On February 12, Saeed and Iqbal were sentenced in two terror financing cases registered against them in Lahore and Gujranwala cities on the application of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police. Anti-terrorism court Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta sentenced Saeed and Iqbal to five and a half years each and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. A total of 11 years sentence will run concurrently. Saeed's counsel Imran Fazal Gill alleged that his client was convicted on the pressure of the Financial Action Task Force. "We are disappointed over the ATC verdict and will challenge it in the LHC," he said. Saeed will undergo imprisonment at Kot Lakhpat jail where he has been detained since July last. The CTD had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of the province. The ATC had indicted Saeed and others on December 11 in these two terror financing case in day to day hearing. Saeed had recorded his statement before the court pleadeding "not guilty". Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The US named Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. He was listed as a terrorist under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. The US welcomed the conviction of Saeed and described it as an "important step forward" for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terror financing and not to allow non-state actors to operate from its soil. The crackdown on Saeed's outfit last year followed a warning by the international terror financing watchdog to Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing and money laundering. The FATF in October last decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey List' for its failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad. If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming the move to adopt an anti-CAA resolution in the Telangana assmebly, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the issue should not be politicised on "petty political grounds" and asked the state government to drop it. The attack comes a day after the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao decided to pass a resolution in the assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act, while urging the Centre to repeal last year's changes in the law. "...in a federal structure, the states have to implement the national laws and I would urge the the government of Telangana not to politicise this issue on petty political or appeasement grounds," the Railway Minister told reporters here. He said the state government should withdraw its decision to table the resolution. The Union Minister said he felt happy when Telangana Minister K T Rama Rao, son of Chandrasekhar Rao, recently spoke at an event in Delhi about the Centre and the state working together. "But, here, a baseless proposal was passed in the Cabinet on February 16. I would like the state government to withdraw it," he said. The Cabinet meet felt that the CAA would lead to discrimination on the basis of religion in grant of citizenship and jeopardise secularism envisaged in the Constitution. Earlier, Goyal launched various development initiatives at the Secunderabad railway station here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has qualified for the upcoming Democratic presidential debate, marking the first time hell stand alongside the rivals he has so far avoided by bypassing the early voting states and using his personal fortune to define himself through television ads. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll published Tuesday shows Bloomberg with 19% support nationally in the Democratic nominating contest. The former New York City mayor, who launched his presidential campaign in November, will appear in Wednesday's debate in Las Vegas alongside former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Fellow billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is still hoping to qualify. Bloomberg's campaign said that it was seeing "a groundswell of support across the country" and that qualifying for Wednesday's debate "is the latest sign that Mike's plan and ability to defeat Donald Trump is resonating with more Americans." "Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he's the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country," Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. The debate is Wednesday in Las Vegas. The Democratic National Committee recently changed its rules for how a candidate qualifies for the debate, opening the door for Bloomberg to be on stage and drawing the ire of some candidates who dropped out of the race for failing to make prior stages. The candidates were previously required to receive a certain number of campaign contributions to qualify, but Bloomberg, who is worth an estimated $60 billion, is not taking donations. The prime-time event will be a stark departure from Bloomberg's highly choreographed campaign. He's poured more than $300 million into television advertising, a way to define himself for voters without facing criticism. While he's campaigned in more than two dozen states, he does not take questions from voters and delivers a standard stump speech that lasts less than 15 minutes, often reading from a teleprompter. He encounters the occasional protester, including one who jumped on stage recently in Chattanooga, Tennessee, yelling, "This is not democracy. This is a plutocracy!" But his friendly crowds usually quickly overwhelm the protesters with chants of "We like Mike!" Bloomberg is likely to face far more direct fire in the debate. His fellow Democratic contenders have stepped up their attacks against him in recent days, decrying him for trying to "buy the election" and criticizing his support of the "stop-and-frisk" tactic while mayor of New York City that led police to target mostly black and Hispanic men for searches. Bloomberg has barely crossed paths on the trail with his fellow Democrats. He decided to skip the first four voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in favor of focusing on the 14 states that vote on March 3 and the contests that come afterward. He rarely mentions his rivals by name, though his campaign is centered on the idea that none of them can beat President Donald Trump. And Bloomberg, more than anyone, has predicated his campaign on a potential Biden collapse. He's been aggressive in targeting African American voters in the South, a core demographic for Biden's campaign. Biden said he doesn't think "you can buy an election." "I'm going to get a chance to debate him on everything from redlining to stop and frisk to a whole range of other things," Biden told reporters last week. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., makes a point during a campaign stop late Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Denver.David Zalubowski / AP The poll released Tuesday shows Sanders leading in the Democratic primary contest, at 31% support nationally. After Bloomberg at 19%, Biden is at 15%, Warren at 12%, Klobuchar at 9% and Buttigieg at 8%. Steyer is at 2%, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is at less than 1%, with 5% undecided. The telephone survey of 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents was conducted by the Marist Poll at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points. By KATHLEEN RONAYNE, The Associated Press Up to 100 students at UCD have held a protest over prospective rent hikes on the college campus. They are set to go up 12% over the next three years. Students at @ucddublin protest over plans to hike on-campus rents by 12% over the next 3 years@ucddublin say the increase is needed to pay for maintenance of existing accommodation and to help build more@UCDSU say they won't give up until their voices are heard#VMNews pic.twitter.com/Ot4gSnq3Oz Paul Quinn (@PaulQuinnNews) February 18, 2020 Rents at UCD are currently the most expensive in the country and cost between 7 and 11 thousand. A number of other colleges and universities around the country are also raising their accommodation fees. One student from Galway said she has to sacrifice food to pay for her accommodation. She said: "When I look at my cupboard it has tins of beans, chickpeas and some spices. It comes down to 'if you're making dinner for a few days, you have to make it last, make it last for a few days, make everything last, don't go out, don't do this'. "And students should be able to have a good life in college and not to have to live in absolute misery just to make ends meet." UCD students say theyre living on beans and chickpeas to pay their rent. Theyve held a protest against planned rent hikes of 12 % pic.twitter.com/rKUVPRoS5w Stephanie Rohan (@StephGrogan3) February 18, 2020 Other students said the rent rise is too much. One said: "People are sleeping in cars, people are travelling five to six hours a day and it's not right. "Another student said: "I personally have a four-hour, at least, commute every day," while another student revealed: I am currently staying in Merville, which is the cheapest on-campus accommodation on the Belfield campus, I paid seven-and-a-half grand. Student Union President Joanna Siewierska, meanwhile, said the planned rent increases should be scrapped. She said: "We find it completely unacceptable - we're in the midst of a housing crisis, and there's no justification or reason to increase rents by this incredible amount. "We're already the most expensive on-campus accommodation provider in the country." Giulio Cerroni became the CEO of IXICO plc (LON:IXI) in 2017. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. View our latest analysis for IXICO How Does Giulio Cerroni's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? Our data indicates that IXICO plc is worth UK34m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as UK546k for the year to September 2019. We note that's an increase of 41% above last year. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK216k. We further remind readers that the CEO may face performance requirements to receive the non-salary part of the total compensation. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below UK154m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is UK250k. Thus we can conclude that Giulio Cerroni receives more in total compensation than the median of a group of companies in the same market, and of similar size to IXICO plc. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the pay is too high. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at IXICO has changed over time. AIM:IXI CEO Compensation, February 18th 2020 Is IXICO plc Growing? Over the last three years IXICO plc has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 82% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 40% over last year. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. Most shareholders would be pleased to see strong revenue growth combined with EPS growth. This combo suggests a fast growing business. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings. Story continues Has IXICO plc Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with IXICO plc for providing a total return of 115% over three years. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. In Summary... We examined the amount IXICO plc pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. Our data suggests that it pays above the median CEO pay within that group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. In addition, shareholders have done well over the same time period. So, considering this good performance, the CEO compensation may be quite appropriate. Whatever your view on compensation, you might want to check if insiders are buying or selling IXICO shares (free trial). If you want to buy a stock that is better than IXICO, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will participate in the Mahashivarathri celebrations at Isha Yoga Centre near here on February 21. Tight security cover will be made in and around the city during Naidu's visit, police said on Tuesday. Naidu is expected to arrive in the city around noon on Friday and will head to Isha Yoga Centre, some 25 km away, by helicopter as per the initial travel plan. Security will be tightened across the 25-km stretch as Naidu is expected to return to the city by road in the night and stay at Circuit House, police sources said. The Mahashivratri celebrations will commence at 6 p.m and go on till 6 a.m the next day, in front of 112-feet tall Adiyogi statue where Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will join thousands of people from all over the world. The highlight of this year's event will be performances by musicians from around the world. 'Kabir Cafe,' a band named after famous poet Kabir will perform along with drummers from Lebanon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Los Angeles, Feb 18 : Actor Chris Pratt loved fantasy while growing up, adding that he loved the look of fantasy characters -- elves, dwarfs, massive ogres and wizards. He will soon be seen in the animated urban fantasy film "Onward". Pratt has voiced the character of Barley Lightfoot, the big brother to Tom Holland's Ian Lightfoot. The actor says he can also relate to Barley's love of fantasy. "I loved fantasy growing up," he said, adding: "I had a book on dwarf culture - their weapons and their societies. There were beautiful illustrations, and I was all about just drawing as a kid, so I loved to copy the drawings. I always loved the look of fantasy characters - elves, dwarves, massive ogres and wizards." Disney-Pixar's "Onward" is all set to release the film in India on March 6. Set in a suburban fantasy world, "Onward" introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. Talking about his role, he said: "Barley is overbearing. And he tries a little too hard-he can be kind of a bumbling idiot but he's got a good heart." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 20:09 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206540315 1 National flood,North-Penajam-Paser,East-Kalimantan Free At least 422 residents of Penajam district in North Penajam Paser regency the planned location of Indonesias new capital in East Kalimantan have been affected by floods that hit the area on Tuesday morning. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBD) said in a statement that authorities were still assessing damages in the affected areas of the districts Riko subdistrict and Bukit Subur village as of 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The flood, which affected 379 people in Bukit Subur village and 43 people in Riko subdistrict, severely damaged a wooden bridge above a river in the area, preventing locals from easily crossing it by car or motorbike, the BNPB said. A joint task force comprising North Penajam Paser Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) personnel and local officials had installed safety ropes on the bridge to help residents cross it and made sure that supplies were properly distributed. Local authorities also used canoes in several areas to evacuate residents. The water level was 0.8 to 1.9 meters high, BNPB Disaster Information Center head Agus Wibowo said on Tuesday. Read also: Partial survey of new capital's site finds flood risk, low quake risk but no volcanoes Siltation and a large amount of garbage in the river were among the main factors behind the flooding in Bukit Subur, while the flood in Riko subdistrict was mostly due to high-intensity rainfall, Agus said. He said that the areas had poor cellular connections as result of the floods, which made it difficult for local authorities to submit timely reports on the situation to the agencys emergency operation center. Affected residents faced difficulties cooking meals due to a lack of resources, Agus said, adding that they were currently in dire need of food supplies, hygiene products and mattresses. According to BNPB data, North Penajam Paser regency was hit by floods at least 31 times between 2010 and 2019. A flood in 2013 saw one casualty while three houses were damaged during a flood in 2018. North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara regencies in East Kalimantan were chosen as the locations of the countrys future capital city, which is to replace the heavily populated and polluted Jakarta. The project is estimated to cost Rp 466 trillion (US$32.7 billion) with construction to begin this year. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 13:16:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 488 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Omaha, Nebraska voted, and Websnoogie won "The Best of Omaha B2B" in the category of web hosting. Websnoogie beat every other web hosting company, including a national brand, and had the most votesOMAHA, NE / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 /Websnoogie began operations in 2012 and uses its expertise to merge the gap between very high-end web products and lower-cost web services by providing high quality, but affordably priced web design, web hosting, and SEO."Websnoogie has a robust infrastructure so while affordable, customer satisfaction is excellent," according to the CEO, Rod Atwood. "It's the quality of our products, customer service, and the price point that has made Websnoogie such a great company. Our team consists of select designers and technicians that strive to create, host, and market for customers," says Rod."The price point attracts customers, but it is our down to earth attitude, knowledge base, and speed of response that keeps them with us, We really go all out for the customer, and what separates Websnoogie from other web hosting companies are things that you have to pay for with other companies, we include with our web hosting packages," adds Rod.Websnoogie's web hosting also is unique by offering free web design assistance to clients. "If it is a small problem with HTML or CSS, we will go in and fix it on the spot. Customers love these extras." Rod Atwood added. The company currently hosts many client locations in the Omaha area."Recent upgrades to the architecture allow us to easily scale our customer's business. We now can provide web hosting for anything from a single page, to large enterprise accounts." "Since switching to the platform, our SEO performance has increased," says Ben Jones, who is an owner of a computer company in Omaha, Nebraska, and a Websnoogie customer.Websnoogie proactively meshes web services with a focus on customer satisfaction and retention. The company had previously won "The Best of Omaha" for consumers and was pleased to have won "The Best of Omaha B2B".One of their past marketing slogans was "Do you want to Websnoogie?" and the answer is many customers do appreciate and recommend their services every day. As Websnoogie continues to grow, it is proving to be a formidable contender in the hosting technology sector nationwide.About WebsnoogieWebsnoogie is a web design, web hosting, and SEO company. Websnoogie has customers who are in the nationwide and worldwide markets, as well as located in different regions of the US.Websnoogie strives to ensure that all customers are happy with the quality of the products they offer, and the speed of service their products are delivered.Media Contact Information:Company: Websnoogie, LLCAddress: 14301 FNB Pkwy #104 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 United StatesContact Number: 402-813-4034Email: staff@ websnoogie.com Website: https://www.websnoogie.com/ SOURCE: Websnoogie, LLC Principal announced the appointment of Ms. Jane Conway as country head of Principal International in India. She will be responsible for leading Principal businesses in India which includes Principal Asset Management Private Ltd and Principal Retirement Advisors Private Ltd, both focused on providing financial tools, resources and information to help people live their best life. Jane has more than 30 years of financial services experience, most recently as vice president, operational risk management for Freedom Mortgage Corporation located in Iowa, United States. Previously, she had a long tenure with Principal, including leadership roles in the United States and Chile. As an experienced professional in financial services, she has cultivated management skills in developing talent, team building, stakeholder alignment, change management and operational excellence. Principal India also announced the appointment of a new member to its Board. Bharat Ravuri is the new managing director for Principal Retirement Advisors. In her role, Jane will work closely with managing director for Principal Asset Management Private Ltd, previously held by Lalit Vij, who is departing the firm and Bharat Ravuri, the managing director for Principal Retirement Advisors. Bharat comes with 25 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience in financial services. He previously worked in the United States and Japan. With a strong understanding of Indian fintech landscape, he launched MintZip, a fintech firm that helps simplify financial decisions for customers. Military medics of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrives at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Jia Qilong) WUHAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Eight transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force Monday sent 676 military medics and medical supplies to virus-hit Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province. The eight aircraft including four Y-20s, China's domestically-developed large transport aircraft, landed at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in succession on Monday morning. This was the second time for the Y-20 to take part in non-war military operations. The aircraft had been tasked with the transportation of medics and supplies on Feb. 13. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the PLA Air Force has dispatched 30 transport aircraft in four batches to carry out large-scale air delivery missions. Knesset member Nir Barkat of the Likud, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus designated pick for the countrys next finance minister, is not among his current loyalists. On the contrary, in October 2019 Barkat published an autobiography titled Running Long Distance. He held a festive and expensive book launch event in the surprising presence of the prime ministers wife, Sara Netanyahu, who came to congratulate him. However, immediately following the launch, a cover story ran in the weekend magazine of the Yedioth Ahronoth daily headlined I will be Prime Minister after the Netanyahu Era. Barkat, the wealthiest member of Israels Knesset, whose fortune is estimated at 500 million Israeli shekels ($146 million), boasted in the piece of his success as a high-tech entrepreneur and of Jerusalems flowering during his 10-year mayoral term from 2008-2018. At the time, Netanyahus standing appeared somewhat shaky after he failed twice to form a government, and the Likud was gripped by unrest. A leadership challenge was in the air. Sources close to the Prime Ministers Residence revealed at the time that the Netanyahus did not like the headline, to put it mildly. Sara Netanyahu felt cheated after having attended a party for the man who views himself as her husbands successor, and relations cooled. Barkat was added to Balfour Streets list of suspects. So what happened two weeks before the March 2 elections to make the prime minister upgrade and embrace that same Barkat? Why did Netanyahu pick him to be his next finance minister, passing over stalwart party loyalists such as ministers Yariv Levin and Miri Regev? It turns out Netanyahu discovered, inter alia through polls, that Barkat enjoys a certain public appeal. For moderate, middle- and high-class right-wing voters who advocate a liberal economy, he projects sophistication. Contrary to claims by some in the Likud, including by Barkat associates, his support is not worth two or three Knesset seats for the party. His potential support is smaller and barely equals even half a seat apparently (some 33,000 votes are needed to obtain a Knesset seat), if at all. So why did Netanyahu do it? The move is part of Netanyahus current campaign strategy of picking up even a few thousand potential voters. Netanyahu believes that if he can get out the vote of some of the 250,000 Likud voters whom, he claims, stayed home in the September 2019 elections, he will achieve a 61-seat majority for his right-wing, ultra-Orthodox bloc. Netanyahu is going out of his way to bring voters of Ethiopian origin back into the Likuds fold. He stole Ethiopian-born Knesset member Gadi Yevarkan from the opposition Blue and White party and promised an immediate airlift to Israel of 400 Ethiopians who have close relatives in Israel, a hasty promise that turned out to be problematic, cynical and not truly feasible. At the same time, he is courting cab drivers, to which end he has postponed the planned fare reform that incurred their ire. He drops by Likud bastions throughout the country every night and holds rallies like a religious preacher. Netanyahu even films emotional personal appeals to Likud supporters who do not want to vote, urging them to help keep him in power. That is why Barkats chances of being appointed finance minister after the elections, if Netanyahu forms the next government, are slim. Netanyahu has a long repertory of broken appointment promises. On Feb. 16, Netanyahu and Barkat visited the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The designated finance minister presented his plans for boosting Israels free economy and bringing down the cost of living. It was a hollow performance with no basis in reality, and it is highly doubtful that anyone believes anything will come of it. It was a gobbledygook of populist campaign promises including subsidized housing for first-time homeowners, a pledge to lower import duties and food prices and to build four new hospitals. Netanyahu stood there as though he was not the man who has been running the country for the past decade. However, until it becomes clear that none of this will pan out, Netanyahu is running a campaign that portrays the Likud and Barkat as the great hope of the Israeli economy. At the same time, the Likud is portraying opposition Knesset member Avi Nissenkorn of the Blue and White party, a former labor union leader, as plotting to take Israel back to the era of powerful trade unions and a backward economy. Netanyahu is known for his ability to focus intensely on his battle du jour and only on that at any given time. Since he has convinced himself that a 61-seat majority is at arms reach and all he has to do to achieve the target is pick up voters here and there, Netanyahu is wholly focused on the task. If he could have, he would have personally gone door-to-door to get out the vote, a despairing Likud minister told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. This skepticism notwithstanding, Netanyahu has managed to infect quite a few ministers and lawmakers with his belief in his victory. He tells them he has polls from the past weekend indicating the bloc of right-wing, ultra-Orthodox parties has picked up additional support and is currently worth 58 seats. Just three more and "we are there," he tells them. Many of them accompanying him to packed election rallies, where he shows up like a rock star, are swept up in the belief that the 61-seat target is within reach. Meanwhile, polls commissioned by various media outlets point to a deep stalemate between the two blocs. There is no significant voter movement between them, and neither side has the required majority to form the countrys next government. These are seemingly strange elections. On the one hand, it appears that nothing of any significance is happening. Nonetheless, Netanyahu flew to Washington and attended a festive White House unveiling of the deal of the century depicted as a historic occasion. Flying home from Moscow last month, he brought with him Naama Issachar, the young Israeli woman jailed in Russia on drug charges after obtaining her release courtesy of President Vladimir Putin. And as of Jan. 28, he is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be indicted. However, none of these momentous events and developments has tilted the political map. Israelis are sick and tired of elections, having endured two this past year, with a third looming there is no telling how that might impact voter turnout. The agenda is not political, with headlines dominated instead by the spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus) and preparations for possible cases in Israel. Netanyahu can find solace in his apparent success in blocking the negative effects of the corruption indictment against him. His standing within the Likud is stable, and no cracks have emerged in his solid right-wing, ultra-Orthodox bloc. Therefore, for now, the most reasonable scenario appears to herald a fourth round of elections later this year. Conservative Baptist Network launched amid 'woke' trend in SBC, emphasizing Scripture, evangelism Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Amid growing concern that the nation's largest Protestant denomination is increasingly "woke" and drifting from biblical orthodoxy, a new network has formed to emphasize evangelism and the sufficiency of Scripture within the Southern Baptist Convention. The Conservative Baptist Network, which is being launched Friday, describes itself as a grassroots effort to maintain the proclamation of the Gospel at the center of SBC life, in addition to prioritizing fidelity to Scripture and all of its implications, including presenting a vibrant, biblically-informed witness when engaging culture. The network fully affirms the longstanding beliefs of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Those involved in the network's formation, many of whom spoke with The Christian Post, say their efforts are needed given the direction and perceived future of the Convention that many devout Southern Baptists find troubling. But the network is not, they say, a new denomination, a blog or a social media page that exists solely to air grievances or a competitor with other like-minded ministries. We are concerned about the current road our Southern Baptist family is traveling. It is a road that is twisting what Gods Word is saying about things like human sexuality, biblical racial reconciliation, and socialistic justice, said Brad Jurkovich, the network spokesman and the pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, in a press release exclusively provided to CP Thursday. There are three choices that every pastor and church have to make, he explained. Those three options, he said, are to remain in the SBC and say nothing and watch it drift into obscurity; walk away entirely, cognizant of what they are leaving behind; or remain within the denomination and contend for the restoration of what has been lost in recent years. The Bossier City pastor believes many desire the third option and the CBN pastors, lay ministers and seminary professors are ready to stand alongside them. Are the apparent theological, ethical and social compromises simply indicative of Southern Baptists succumbing to the apostasy of the Laodicean Age? Are we doomed to the fate of an unrepentant church or will we open the door to let Christ in, overcome our present malaise and experience another spiritual renaissance?" Jurkovich offered, speaking to how he presently sees the spiritual status of the denomination as a whole. He further maintained that a significant number of Southern Baptists are especially concerned about the overemphasis on certain issues that have received more attention than has evangelism and spiritual renewal emphases that have helped make Southern Baptists the largest and most influential evangelical group in the nation. For many, particularly those who make a point to attend the denomination's annual meeting each year, their concern was crystallized following the 2018 gathering in Dallas when motions were made on the floor to prevent Vice President Mike Pence from speaking to the messengers. While those efforts ultimately failed, some in attendance nevertheless got up and left the convention center in protest as Pence began to speak, actions many considered disrespectful and contrary to the admonition in 1 Peter 2:11-17 about showing proper deference to governmental authority. Another contentious matter that has rankled many longtime Southern Baptists is Resolution Nine, a 2019 measure that the messengers adopted which states that what is known as critical race theory and intersectionality are useful analytical lenses. The resolution defined CRT as "a set of analytical tools that explain how race has and continues to function in society" and intersectionality as "the study of how different personal characteristics overlap and inform ones experience." The network regards these tools as fundamentally flawed because they stem from worldviews like Neo-Marxism and other ideological systems that are hostile to the Christian faith. Lorine Spratt, executive assistant to Jurkovich and an African-American layperson in the SBC, told CP in an interview Thursday that she supports the aspirations of the new conservative initiative and that she finds Resolution Nine's words on CRT offensive. "To even suggest something else is needed as a tool to engage the culture is ludicrous," she said, noting that anytime someone mentions it to her she responds by referring to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch to whom Philip explained the Gospel in Acts 8. "That man went back and evangelized his people [in Ethiopia]. And so there was no tool to help him. Philip obeyed the Lord and God did what He does." Although the text of the resolution stipulates that critical race theory and intersectionality "should only be employed as analytical tools subordinate to Scripture not as transcendent ideological frameworks," she still views what is happening in the SBC as an insidious push from increasingly vocal "woke" pockets. The influence of these theories ultimately undermines the mission of the Church, she believes, "because they are diametrically opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The word "woke," as a political term, is often said to be African-American in origin and refers to a perceived awareness about racial issues and social justice, and is often employed for other pet causes of the secular left. Spratt said she feels patronized when proponents of CRT say that they need the tool to engage her ethnicity and culture. "I say absolutely no. The Gospel is totally sufficient. Totally sufficient," she emphasized, "and the fact of its origin should tell anyone that we don't need that in the Southern Baptist Church or in the church realm at all." Asked what she makes of the argument that examples of intersectionality can be seen in Scripture, such as when Jesus ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well who was doubly marginalized in that day because she was both a woman and a Samaritan Spratt maintained that defenders of the theory only highlight passages of Scripture that dovetail with a predetermined narrative of their own design. The Jewish tax collectors were also hated and marginalized during that time, she pointed out, but "the woke" somehow never mention that instance. "I am embarrassed. I really am embarrassed that they would insinuate that an analytical tool needs to be used to deal with me. I'm insulted that they would think to use something like that to say that my culture or ethnicity ... that we need extra care. That is not true," she said. "What it does is seek to make us a victim so they can then rescue [us], so they can make themselves feel good about helping [racial minorities]. Well no, you're not helping me if you're not pointing me to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I am not a victim. I am victorious in Jesus Christ." Those affiliated with the new network remember the gains made during what is known as the Conservative Resurgence, a movement that began several decades ago and was marked by a lengthy struggle within the denomination over its theologically liberal trajectory at the time. This movement's key players have insisted that as moderate and liberal leaders of seminaries and other SBC entities were replaced with theological conservatives, the denomination flourished and in many ways became a standard-bearer of sorts for both evangelism and biblical orthodoxy in the United States. Opponents of the Conservative Resurgence often derisively refer to the movement as the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC. But some theological conservatives are now wondering, in light of growing apprehension over shifting theological winds in many churches, if their values remain represented in their agencies and if another similar resurgence may be at hand. Mike Spradlin, president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, Tennessee, said his consistent aim is to stay anchored in the truth of Scripture and that, under its authority, he speaks to every area of life with conviction. Spradlin also teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at the seminary. "To me, it's not just a new struggle, but a constant struggle," he said, noting the importance of diligence because it is easy to slip away from the Bible's essential truths. "And as a theologian I'm very sensitive when you try to add to the Gospel or add to the Bible and say: 'This is necessary for salvation or for godly living or societal change.'" Southern Baptists are losing their passion for personal evangelism and missions, he asserted. "It's kind of like the elephant in the room. Nobody wants to talk about it. As a Southern Baptist, our denomination is in decline numerically. We are also declining rapidly in baptisms, which is a good indicator that people are coming to Christ. So that should be a crisis moment for us," he said. Though the denomination has always had various camps and groups that tend to rally around particular ideas, theological paradigms, or personalities, the conflict is not new, he stressed. He continued that because of how the denomination is structured it's a collection of churches and not one singular institution frustration sometimes emerges in churches as some feel disconnected from denominational leaders, particularly if they have differing visions of what the SBC should be. Yet, he said, "we're going to choose to work together because we want to get the Gospel to the nations. I think that has always been a rallying cry in a good way. And if you want to rally Southern Baptists you'll rally them with taking the Gospel to the nations," Spradlin said. "My hope is that the Conservative Baptist Network will keep people engaged on the Great Commission, that they will stay plugged in, that they will not disconnect or just throw up their hands but they'll stay engaged and take the Gospel to the nations," he reiterated. Echoing Spradlin, Chuck Kelley, president emeritus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said the need for the network comes about particularly because of the ongoing decline of the Southern Baptist Convention, a trend he has been tracking and calling attention to for many years. "I am a simple-minded evangelist," Kelley told CP. "That is the passion of my life, that is my calling. It has been the focus of my adult life as a scholar in the academic world." "And what has really concerned me is a true crisis of the Southern Baptist Convention in evangelism and in health of our churches," he said. Before talk of the decline was more common among Southern Baptists, Kelley was sounding the alarm with presentations in various Baptist forums. Years ago when he gave one such presentation about this, Baptist Press refused to cover it because the outlet deemed it "too controversial," he recalled. The decline is now unignorable. The former NOBTS president notes that depending on whom you speak to in the SBC, their thinking about the health of the denomination varies significantly. In 2018, in the wake of a burgeoning #metoo movement and a tumultuous annual meeting, he encountered several conservative pastors who confided in him that they were not sure if they could stay in the SBC much longer because of the direction it appeared to be heading. The well-known tension over the theological orientation of the SBC between the Calvinist and traditionalist wings remain, Kelley said, but the lack of conversation about evangelism is more shocking. He hopes the efforts of the network will alleviate the "unsettledness" in the denomination and provide a "clear voice" that will show that the SBC, as it has been historically, is "committed to the inerrancy of Scripture and the Word of God, and making first things first and keeping first things first." "And evangelism is on that list of things." Lee Brand, dean of MABTS underscored the importance the network is placing on the primacy of the Bible and hopes it will be a forum where people can come together to dialogue. "I think about pastors and churches because those are the people for whom I'm greatly concerned. I want our pastors to know that we champion the position that the Bible is enough." "We want to make sure that anything we say about the Bible, that we hold the Bible in its proper esteem as not only the Word of God but enough to handle all the issues of life," he stressed. When asked how he sees the CBN as a catalyst for unity in the church, Brand said that he believes it will be a vehicle to launch a timely discussion around the sufficiency of Scripture. "We're at a very important time in the life of the SBC. We're talking about the largest mission sending agency in our country and that mission that we're on is rooted in Scripture. And I think that if it's the roots and foundation thereof I think it needs to be the focus going forward," he said. Unlike other SBC seminaries, Mid-America Seminary receives no funds through the denomination's Cooperative Program. "It's not a money issue for us, it's a matter of principle," he emphasized. Rod Martin, who serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and on the state board of missions for the Florida Baptist Convention, explained to CP that the most important thing for the new network to achieve is to offer hope to "countless" Southern Baptists, who need to know they are not alone. "There is an enormous media push in the direction of the left," he said, noting that the push is both theological and political. "It's not what it was in the days of Uncle Walter [Kronkite]. You could trust him, look at the television and he said it and it's true." Yet today, much of the purportedly mainstream press has a strong advocacy bent, he asserted, and "they might as well be Super PACs. And that [influence] bleeds over into the church." Given such widespread distrust of mass media, Southern Baptists are prone to giving up hope too easily, he said. And since Southern Baptist polity is organized around the autonomy of the local church, an ecclesiastical structure they continue to believe in, at the Executive Committee level what needs to be reestablished is the ongoing validity that the EC does not tell local churches what to do, Martin said; the reverse, that churches tell the EC what to do, is the SBC standard. "Do we need to take a stand against sex abuse? Absolutely. Do we need to take a stand against racism wherever we find it? One hundred percent. I'm completely there. But at the point at which we start becoming some other denomination ... if I want to go be an Episcopalian or a Presbyterian I'll go be one," he said. "But we've chosen to be Baptists and we have to maintain the autonomy of the local church. And we're having real issues there. But with that said, the Executive Committee's role is partly to defend the reality that the entire superstructure of the Convention is about stewarding the local church's gifts to do collective ministry, not to preach to them." Thus, the EC has to defend the rights of local churches to spend their contributions in a biblically faithful way, he said. The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will occur in Orlando in June. The plane of SkyUp Airlines (Kyiv), which will evacuate Ukrainian citizens from China, will undergo two-day processing after the flight, the airlines director general Yevhen Khainatsky has said. "The aircraft will be processed. After weathering and other procedures, our technical staff will begin to replace air conditioning filters and all other systems so that nothing is left on the plane. All this is provided for up to two days," he said in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine agency at a briefing on Tuesday. Khainatsky also noted that the flight would be performed by three crews who agreed to carry out it voluntarily. "The flight is very long. Part of the crew is already in Kazakhstan - this is a deadheading crew ... The crews agreed to voluntarily perform this flight," the director general added. [The stream is slated to start at 10:30 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Tuesday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 73,400 and killed at least 1,874 so far. Named COVID-19, the virus has shuttered commerce across much of China and is hitting company earnings, global stock markets and manufacturing across the world. WHO officials declared the coronavirus a global health emergency last month, while urging the public against over-reacting to the virus. French Health Minister Olivier Veran has reportedly said there is a "credible risk" that China's fast-spreading coronavirus could escalate into a global pandemic. Speaking to France Info radio Tuesday morning, Veran said the prospect of the coronavirus spreading worldwide was "both a working assumption and a credible risk." The United Nations health agency recognizes a pandemic as the worldwide spread of a new disease. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb warned Tuesday that the virus is spreading to other areas of the world. Confirmed cases in Japan have doubled in the last four days, he said, adding that the country appears to be "on the cusp of a large outbreak and maybe epidemic growth in Japan. We need to watch that very closely." There are at least 59 confirmed cases and one death in the country so far, he said on CNBC'S "Squawk Box." "If you start to see this become an epidemic in other nations ... that's going to be extremely worrisome that we're not going to control this globally," Gottlieb said. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. Cupertino : , Feb 18 (IANS) Apple has warned that Coronavirus outbreak will affect its business in the January-March quarter as worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained. In an investor update late Monday, the tech giant said it no longer expects to meet the revenue guidance it provided last month for the upcoming quarter. "Work is starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. As a result, we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter due to two main factors," the company said in a statement. The first is that worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained. "While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province -- and while all of these facilities have reopened -- they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated," said the company. The second is that demand for its products within China has been affected. "All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed,' it added. The tech giant closed all 42 retail stores in the country from February 1 based on the latest advice from leading health experts. Additionally, stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. "We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can. Our corporate offices and contact centers in China are open, and our online stores have remained open throughout," Apple informed. The company said its quarterly guidance issued on January 28, 2020 reflected the best information available at the time as well as its best estimates about the pace of return to work following the end of the extended Chinese New Year holiday on February 10. "These iPhone supply shortages will temporarily affect revenues worldwide," the company noted. Chinese health authorities on Tuesday said it received reports of 1,886 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 98 deaths on Monday. Among the deaths, 93 were in Hubei Province, three in Henan, and one in Hebei and Hunan respectively. Over 1,700 people have been killed to date. According to Apple, outside of China, customer demand across its product and service categories has been strong to date. "The situation is evolving, and we will provide more information during our next earnings call in April. Apple is fundamentally strong, and this disruption to our business is only temporary," said the company. Apple supplier Foxconn would keep its factories shut for some more time in the wake of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the country, according to reports. Swivel Logo The future of real estate will continue to be defined by the demand for flexibility, said Jim Breyer, founder and CEO, Breyer Capital. Swivel, Inc., an agile office leasing platform, has closed an $8 million Series A round led by Jim Breyer of Breyer Capital. Also participating in the round is JLL Spark, a strategic global venture fund investing in startups transforming commercial real estate through technology. The financing will be used to fund Swivels continued nationwide expansion and for further investment in its agile leasing platform and tenant-broker partner program. The future of real estate will continue to be defined by the demand for flexibility, said Jim Breyer, founder and CEO, Breyer Capital. Swivel is positioned to redefine the entire office leasing experience for startups and established companies alike by eliminating upfront costs and move-out penalties. Swivel brings an innovative fintech-based approach that allows landlords to streamline leasing through terms that deliver the value of flexibility to tenants, as well as their investors. Austin-based Swivel enables pre-qualified member companies to contract with its landlord partners for creative, turnkey office space on flexible terms with little or no up-front capital expenditure and no lease lock-in. Landlords use Swivels agile leasing platform to backstop their leases for member companies, eliminating the risk and uncertainty usually associated with offering more flexible lease terms. Since its network launch in 2019, Swivel has signed up more than 30 landlords representing more than 150 properties across Austin, Dallas and Houston. Backed by Swivel, these landlords have consummated agile leases with a wide variety of both venture-backed tech startups, as well as multinational companies that require flexibility for their satellite offices. Companies can learn about agile office leasing directly at swivel.work, as well as through its growing network of authorized tenant broker partners. Find Swivel on LinkedIn and Twitter: @SwivelWork, and follow Swivels blog to stay on top of company developments, news, events and happenings. About Swivel Swivel is on a mission to transform the entire office leasing experience for landlords, brokers, and tenants alike. A workspace network that features agile leasing, Swivel gives member companies the freedom to move whenever office needs change. More and more companies prefer this approach over traditional office leasing because they can get exactly the right amount of space they need, when they need it, and have greater control over one of their largest expenses. To learn more, visit http://www.swivel.work. About Breyer Capital Breyer Capital is a premier global venture capital and private equity investor focused on catalyzing high-impact entrepreneurs in the US and China. Founded by legendary investor Jim Breyer in 2006, Breyer Capital makes long-term, idea-driven strategic investments in artificial intelligence, digital health, data analytics, social media, and financial technologies. The firm prides itself on maintaining an openness to experimentation that can lead to long-term breakthrough performance and partnering with founders and teams who are passionate about building transformative companies anchored in technology. For more information, please visit http://www.breyercapital.com. About JLLSpark JLL Spark is a division of JLL (NYSE: JLL) that operates a $100 million global venture fund to invest in proptech companies transforming commercial real estate. Led by experienced Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with successful track records building and investing in tech companies, JLL Sparks strategic proptech investments offer JLL the ability to provide innovative products to real estate owners and operators. JLL Spark was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco. For further information, please visit http://www.jllspark.com. The hit truck was carrying three security agents. The national polio vaccination campaign started yesterday. 265 thousand health workers are involved and nearly 40 million children under the age of five. Already in the past the Taliban attacked the convoys of doctors. Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - One policeman was killed and two others were injured this morning following the explosion of an improvised device detonated when the vehicle carrying them passed, in the city of Dera Ismail Khan. The pickup truck is one of those involved in providing security to health workers who started the national polio vaccination campaign for nearly 40 million Pakistani children yesterday. Wahid Mahmood, deputy chief of the district police, confirms that the victim was among the agents deployed to ensure the safety of doctors and health personnel, after the convoys were attacked by Taliban in recent years. The Taliban accuse doctors and international organizations of using the campaign to sterilize children and do espionage. The two injured were transported to the local hospital and their conditions are stable. The Kulachi area, where the explosion occurred, was cordoned off and closed for transit. Mahmood Khan, chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province, condemned the attack and expressed "deep sadness over the policeman's death. Then he added: "We are close to the martyr's family." Yesterday, door-to-door vaccination of at least 39.6 million children under five years old started in Pakistan after the surge in new cases recorded last year. About 265 thousand medical workers are involved. According to the World Health Organization, the disease is one of the most serious that affects children in the early years of life. The virus in fact attacks the cells of the central nervous system, destroying the nerves, and comes to cause paralysis or death in the most acute cases. Kochi: Miffed that the cash-strapped Kerala state government spent public money on feeding and lodging delegates to the Loka Kerala Sabha, a prominent NRI entrepreneur has decided to pay back Rs 2500 for the food he had at the event. Sohan Roy, managing director of the Aries Group of companies, said he would pay Rs. 2500 for the food he had during the second edition of the Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS). I was under the impression that the food provided to delegates during the summit was sponsored by some agencies. I would have definitely avoided the dinner if I knew that the government spent nearly Rs 2000 for it. There are several catering units which can provide the food at less than Rs 500. Hence, I am returning the amount of Rs 2500 to compensate for the loss incurred by the public. If the government has no provision to accept the amount, I will transfer it to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund, Sohan Roy said in a Facebook post. I had even rejected five-star hotel accommodation provided to other delegates, considering the governments financial condition, he added. The state government is in the dock over the exorbitant expenditure it incurred for the second edition of LKS held in Thiruvananthapuram from January 1 to 3, which was attended by delegates from 47 countries and 21 Indian states. The government launched the LKS in 2018 with the objective of cultural, socio-political and economic integration of NoRKs with the state. The government spent Rs. 83 lakh for food and accommodation when the state is reeling under a severe economic crisis and finding it difficult to clear bills of many projects pending with the treasury. The food for delegates was provided by a hotel in Kovalam, and it was priced at Rs 550 for breakfast, Rs 1900 for lunch and Rs 1700 for dinner. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala criticised the LKS saying that it was an unpardonable extravaganza that fetched nothing. The United Democratic Front (UDF) representatives including 46 MLAs and 23 MPs boycotted the event in protest against the lavish spending. T he Government has pushed back on the prospect of returning ancient artefacts to EU member states as part of post-Brexit trade plans. A leaked draft EU document suggested the British government could be forced to return precious artefacts to their countries of origin as part of negotiations. However, a No10 spokeswoman drew the line at the prospect of handing back the 5th Century Greek Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, which are currently housed in the British Museum. She said: The UKs position on the Parthenon sculptures remains unchanged they are legal responsibility of the British Museum. That is not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations. The 2,500-year-old sculptures have been the subject of one of the longest cultural rows in Europe / Matthew Fearn The draft negotiation mandate, which circulated around Brussels on Tuesday, included an unexpected line on the return and restitution of high profile treasures. It suggested parties meaning the UK and EU member states would need to address issues relating to unlawfully removed cultural objects. These were understood to include the ancient marble sculptures, which Greece insists were stolen by British diplomat Lord Elgin from the Parthenon temple in Athens more than 200 years ago. Sections of the Parthenon Marbles also known as the Elgin Marbles are displayed at The British Museum / Getty Images Athenss Acropolis Museum, which holds the remaining sculptures left in Greece, has left space empty for the Elgin marbles return as part of its current display. A senior EU source confirmed that Cyprus, Spain and Italy countries which are equally concerned about trade in stolen antiquities had joined the Greek government in pushing for the cultural objects clause. According to The Times, the source said: It is not specifically about the Elgin Marbles but of course the claim by Greece is longstanding and the Greek ambassador asked for it. Londons auction houses are big traders in ancient and historical artefacts and we want to make sure that if they are stolen they can be returned. It comes weeks after Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni said Brexit would strengthen European support for her country in its ongoing claim to the marbles. Ms Mendoni argued that the ancient masterpiece had been taken from Greece as a blatant act of serial theft that was motivated by financial gain. I think the right conditions have been created for their permanent return, she added. The rise in cross-Channel tensions comes as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier rejected the UKs calls for a Canada-style trade deal. Mr Barnier reportedly told journalists in Brussels that Britain was too close a competitor to have such an arrangement. The EU deal with Canada, which took seven years to hammer out, saw import tariffs on most goods eliminated between the two, though some customs and VAT checks remain. "We remain ready to offer the UK an ambitious partnership," he said, according to the BBC. "A trade agreement that includes in particular fishing and includes a level playing field, with a country that has a very particular proximity - a unique territorial and economic closeness - which is why it can't be compared to Canada or South Korea or Japan." Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator / PA Mr Barniers hard stance emerged just hours after chief Brexit negotiator David Frost said the UK would never be bound by the bloc's rules. "To think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing," Mr Frost said during a speech in Brussels. "That isn't a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure it is the point of the whole project." He also vowed that the PM would not extend the transition beyond the current December 31 deadline. Britain and the EU are due to launch negotiations on their future relationship in early March. By the end of the year, they aim to agree a deal that covers a range of areas, including trade, security and fishing, as well as space and environmental cooperation. The national ambassadors of the EUs 27 member states are due to discuss their updated mandate for the Brussels-based executive on Wednesday. People flocking to see the famed 'firefall' effect on Yosemite's El Capitan are at risk of ruining the spectacle, a photographer has warned. The stunning trick of the light may make an appearance this month, with Instagram-ready photographers from around the world gathering at the National Park. Due to an optical illusion, the perceived orange liquid is actually water pouring over the side of the 2,000-ft-high Horsetail Falls that is illuminated by the setting February sun. For only a few days around the third week of the month, the elements are perfect for the last of the day's sun rays to strike the waterfall, creating a magical orange glow. Under clear skies and with the right amount of water, the so-called 'firefall' has the appearance of a flowing cascade of burning lava. But a lack of rain in California this season may prevent the appearance of the Yosemite National Park's rare 'firefall' that draws photographers from over the world. Scroll down for video Sunlight hits the Horsetail Fall, turning it into a 'Firefall', at Yosemite National Park, California, U.S., February 17, 2019 Horsetail Fall is nearly dry, with no precipitation in the weather forecast this season (right) compared to last year Phil Hawkins, a Fresno-based photographer told The Guardian about the euphoria of photographers at the site. 'Everyone is happy, everyone is in a good mood,' he says. 'People share equipment and food it's a photography orgy.' Paul Reiffer, a UK-based photographer, says the sheer volume of thousands of photographers is a turn off for many. 'It felt like an outside concert, with everyone and their picnic blanket trying to claim their spot,' he says. 'It's crowded to the point where you are locking tripods with each other.' But while the event draws more attention every year, its appearence is still in doubt. A dry winter has left water levels in the park low, meaning the appearance of the orange 'firefall' effect is in doubt this season possibly due to climate change. Dryer-than-usual conditions means photographers and Instagrammers alike may have to wait at least another year to get a perfect shot of the unusual natural effect. January and February have been storm-free with light snow falls, meaning water that would normally flow down the mountainside each year is sparse. Instead, the sun that usually illuminates a cascade of water will transform the edge of El Capitan into a colourful cliffside. Patrick Gonzalez, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, says the future of the firefall is uncertain, likely due to climate change. Hotter temperatures due to climate change could increase evaporation and leave the park dry, he says. 'Projections under continued climate change also show a mixed picture, with two-thirds of climate models projecting increased precipitation and the rest projecting decreases,' Gonzalez told the Guardian. The US National Park Service website says 'Horsetail Fall has little to no water' this year and has placed restrictions on access to the popular tourist site. Due to the popularity of the event and the lack of water, restrictions are in effect for any chance of sighting the firefall this year from February 13 to 27. Yosemite National Park in California spans over 1,864 miles (3,000km) and attracts 3.5million visitors a year Overcrowded riverbanks (left) create a safety hazard and damage sensitive riverbank vegetation, allowing further erosion during the rest of the year. Right: A section of riverbank collapsed under stress from spectators during February 2017 Thanks in part to social media, visitors to the sight have increased dramatically over the last decade. WHAT IS THE YOSEMITE 'FIREFALL'? The Horsetail Fall, in Yosemite National Park, the US, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and spring. If the weather conditions are right, the setting sun illuminates the water flowing down the rocky face, making it look like fierce orange lava. Because the so-called 'firefall' needs a warm enough temperature to melt snow at the top as well as the sun to set at the right angle and clear skies, the effect is not visible every year. The firefall also needs evenings with a clear sky, as even a slight haziness of cloudiness can diminish the effect. Of the millions that visit the park each year, tourists choose to travel to Yosemite around the third week of February to capture the firefall. Advertisement Last year, more than 2,200 people crammed into the woods to watch the falls on a single day, and the tourist attraction has been described as a victim of its own success. Photographers with their tripods spilled onto riverbanks in an attempt to get a good viewing spot, increasing erosion and trampling vegetation, leaving rubbish in their wake. The park service has close two of the three main viewing area this year, meaning visitors will have to park their cars and walk 1.5 miles to the single viewing spot, near El Capitan Picnic Area. Engineer Aaron Meyer, who first viewed the firefall in 2011, built a computer program that calculates the days where the lava-like flow would be at its fullest, viewable on his blog. Describing his first view of the effect, he told the Guardian: 'The clouds opened up just before sunset and it looked like someone had taken a match to the waterfall, you watched it go light up from top to bottom. 'Everyone erupted in cheers; it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen.' Under clear skies and with the right amount of water, the so-called 'firefall' has the appearance of a flowing cascade of burning lava Sunlight hits the Horsetail Fall last year. Even a slight haziness in the sky can preventing the evening sunlight from hitting the water Another photographer, Paul Reiffer from the UK, said that last year the site was full of what seemed like thousands of people jammed into small viewing areas. 'It felt like an outside concert, with everyone and their picnic blanket trying to claim their spot. 'It's crowded to the point where you are locking tripods with each other.' Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed that had Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab not been caught alive, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack would have been dubbed as the handiwork of "Hindu" terrorists. Kasab's body would have been found with an I-card bearing a fictitious Hindu name, Maria writes in his memoir Let Me Say It Now released recently. In the 624-page book, Maria writes extensively about the investigation helmed by him in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. "If all had gone well, he (Kasab) would have been dead with a red string tied around his wrist like a Hindu. We would have found an identity card on his person with a fictitious name: Samir Dinesh Chaudhari, student of Arunodaya Degree and P.G. College, Vedre Complex, Dilkhushnagar, Hyderabad, 500060, resident of 254, Teachers Colony, Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru," Maria writes. "Ramesh Mahale, Prashant Marde and Dinesh Kadam would have been on their way to Hyderabad to find more about him. There would have been screaming headlines in newspapers claiming how Hindu terrorists had attacked Mumbai. Over-the-top TV journalists would have made a beeline for Bengaluru to interview his family and neighbours," he wrote. Mahale, Marde and Kadam were senior police officers involved in 26/11 attack investigation. "But alas, it had not worked that way and here he was, Ajmal Amir Kasab of Faridkot in Pakistan, and I was asking him, Ki karan aya hai? (What are you here for?)," the former IPS officer wrote. Maria's book also mentions that Pakistan's ISI and the Lashkar-e-Taiba were ISI and the Lashkar were bent upon killing Kasab by "hook or by crook" after he was caught alive by ASI Tukaram Ombale. "As the Joint CP in charge of the Crime Branch, Kasab was now my most esteemed guest. Keeping this enemy alive was my number one priority. Anger and hostility towards Kasab were perceptible. The way the men and officers were reacting to him, I had to personally choose his guards for the entire period he would be with us," Maria writes in the book. "The ISI and the Lashkar were bent upon eliminating him by hook or by crook to obliterate the only living evidence of their heinous deed. We had received a letter from the Government of India that Kasabs security was entirely the responsibility of the Mumbai police and within it, of the Crime Branch. "Specific Intelligence inputs had been received from Central Intelligence agencies that Pakistan was intent on killing Kasab and the Dawood Ibrahim gang had been entrusted with the task. The reputation of the Mumbai police, not just my job, was at stake if anything were to happen to him," Maria wrote. Maria writes that Kasab felt Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India. "He seriously believed that Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India and mosques were locked up by the authorities. He felt that the azaan he heard five times a day in the Crime Branch lock-up was just a figment of his imagination. "When we came to know of this, I instructed Mahale to take him to the mosque near the Metro Cinema in a vehicle. When he saw the namaaz in progress with his own eyes, he was bewildered. This was not how it was supposed to be!" Maria writes in the book. In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country's history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death on November 21, 2012. President Muhammadu Buharis government appears to be in disarray as details of a leaked letter written by National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, find its way into the public on Monday. In the letter published by Premium Times, Monguno accused Buharis Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, of dangerously interfering on matters of national security by giving orders to security chiefs without due approval from the President. The letter, addressed to the service chiefs and copied to the president and ministers for foreign affairs, defence, interior, police affairs and Kyari himself, is dated December 2019. The NSA warned the service chiefs to desist from taking further directives from Kyari, who does not direct the security apparatus of the country, adding that his office was not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn in an oath of defending the country. READ BABAGANA MONGUNOS FULL MEMO: DISRUPTION OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY FRAMEWORK BY UNWARRANTED MEDDLESOMENESS References: A. SH/COS/46/2/1429 dated 13 September 2019 B. SH/COS/26/5/A/2609 dated 26 November 2019 References A and B were sent in response to the request for presidential intervention to sustain internal security operations of the police within the shortest possible time. However the contents of the 2 references were in variance with Mr Presidents verbal directives. Consequently, ONSA scrutinized the documents further and sought clarification from Mr President who has directed that Reference B be disregarded by all parties as it was sent without his endorsement. 2. While it is expected that all heads of security agencies, having spent many years in service would understand means of passing directives from the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it may be necessary to remind all, in the face of glaring breaches to that procedure. For clarification, other than direct verbal directives from the President, written directives emanating from Mr President would be conveyed with a copy of his manuscript directive or at minimum, bear his signature. Additionally, Mr President may convey directives to the heads of defence and security apparatus through the NSA who chairs the Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board and General Security Appraisal Committee on behalf of the President and the supervising ministers of defence and security agencies. It should be noted that the Chief of Staff to the President does not direct security apparatus of the Federal Republic of Nigeria his job as it relates to security stops at conveying Mr Presidents written directives. 3. Similarly, you are reminded that the Chief of Staff to the President is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country. As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with service chiefs and heads of security organisations as well as ambassadors and high commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising ministers are a violation of the Constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr President. Such acts and continuous meddlesomeness by the Chief of Staff have not only ruptured our security and defence efforts but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve. 4. As professionals, you are aware that the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires concerted and centralized effort taking into account internal, external and diplomatic factors. It is therefore detrimental to our collective security that the Chief of Staff who is a non-supervising minister holds meetings with diplomats, security chiefs and heads of agencies. 5. Pursuant to the foregoing, you are by this letter directed to desist from these illegal acts that serve nothing but the continuous undermining of our national security framework. Any breach of this directive will attract displeasure of Mr President. Babagana Monguno Major-General (rtd) National Security Adviser December 9, 2019. Former RJD MLA Ambika Singh Yadav on Sunday joined Mayawatis BSP amid much fanfare at Ramgarh, which incidentally has been the bastion of RJDs state unit president Jagadanand Singh, who has represented the seat for six consecutive times from 1985 to 2005. Yadav, a confidant of Jagadanand for long, had won from Ramgarh in 2010 after Singh was elected MP from Buxar parliamentary seat in 2009. Yadav lost the seat to Ashok Kumar Singh of BJP in 2015 assembly elections. Earlier, there were talks in political circles that Jagadanand was trying to forge an RJD-BSP alliance for easy victory of his son from Ramgarh. Scheduled castes, the base vote of BSP, have a good vote share in Ramgarh. Jagadanands son Sudhakar Singh is likely to be the RJD candidate for the seat in the 2020 assembly elections. Sudhakar had contested the seat on a BJP ticket against Yadav in 2010 and finished third. After joining the BSP, Ambika Yadav attacked Jagadanand Singh and said he was forced to go out of the party after Singh decided to allot ticket to a man (his son) who had contested against the party candidate and used objectionable words for Rabri Devi in 2010. State BSP president Bharat Prasad Bind said his no government could be formed in 2020 without his partys support. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON [February 18, 2020] Southern Asset Management Xiao Jiaqian expresses confidence in the outlook for China's education industry SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The coronavirus outbreak in China has led to the country's primary and secondary school students completing the unusual first lesson of the new school year online as internet + education has become the preferred choice of learning during these challenging days. Will the upward trend in online education-related stocks continue over the long term? How large is the market? What can investors do to leverage the opportunities? On February 11, 2020, China Southern Modern Education Equity Fund manager Xiao Jiaqian shared her views on the education industry's future in an online interview as part of a series presented by Toutiao in partnership with the Asset Management Association of China. The series was designed to provide fund managers with insights on how to address the challenges posed by the epidemic. She said, "The rapid growth of the online education sector in China is driven by several emotional factors. The epidemic has heightened awareness among practitioners and users, boosting organic trafic on online education platforms. As a result, the sector is embracing a historical opportunity. After educational organizations delayed the resumption of classroom courses, the large user base turned to online solutions, saving online platforms a significant amount in marketing expenses." "However, the opportunity varies depending on the readiness. Some online firms already have content and technologies available, while it remains to be seen whether the platforms that are still deploying necessary resources can capitalize on the opportunity." "The four major long-term drivers include constant updating to meet evolving expectations, favorable policies, technological R&D and the evolving asset securitization." "Extracurricular training and vocational organizations as well as colleges and universities are more likely to win in the competition. Taking into account industry policies and the barriers to entry, I am confident in the development of the extracurricular training and online education market, as well as vocational education, higher education and innovative technologies." "With the recent explosive growth of the online education sector, parents are increasingly familiar with the online teaching model. After we overcome the epidemic, users will further develop a habit of consuming educational content online. The potential is huge. The one trillion yuan market may soon give birth to several excellent players. We are confident in the outlook for the sector." View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-asset-management-xiao-jiaqian-expresses-confidence-in-the-outlook-for-chinas-education-industry-301006404.html SOURCE China Southern Asset Management Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A pregnant mother was verbally abused by an elderly man in a shocking road rage incident caught on camera. Chantel Lobban was on her way home from a yoga class in Walkerville, Adelaide, when she claims she was set upon by an older stranger. The mother-of-one, who is 35 weeks pregnant with her second child, said she pulled over and began filming the tirade after the man tailgated her in his car. Chantel Lobban was concerned for herself and her unborn baby when the stranger approached The mother-of-one pulled over and began filming the tirade He then approached her and shouted, before appearing to reach in to the car in footage supplied to 7News. 'Listen here you f**king b*tch,' the man said in the footage as he approached he car. He continued talking as he pointed back to the direction he walked from, but Ms Lobban cut him off by shouting at him. 'Get away from me, I'm f**king pregnant,' Ms Lobban replied. Ms Lobban said she still has no idea what she did to spark the incident. She said prior to the outburst she filmed, the man was beeping at her and followed her as she continued to switch lanes to avoid him. 'What man would do that... you can see I'm pregnant and you try and hurt me,' she said. South Australian police are investigating the matter. Ms Lobban (pictured in a progress shot of her pregnancy bump) said she still has no idea what she did to spark the incident Indias leaders are sounding the alarm over disruptions in trade and manufacturing because of the coronavirus. Indian business leaders are calling for cuts in import duties on antibiotic drugs, mobile phone parts and other items to help cope with supply disruptions fuelled by the coronavirus outbreak in China. The outbreak of the virus in China has hit Indias manufacturing and exports sectors. Hit particularly hard are medicines, electronics, textiles and chemicals. China is Indias biggest source of intermediate goods, a sector worth $30bn a year, the Confederation of Indian Industries informed Reuters news agency. Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would announce measures in the coming days after discussing them with other ministries and the prime ministers office. She did not elaborate on the measures. Sitharaman met more than 200 business leaders to assess the impact of the coronavirus and discuss plans to contain the damage. The outbreak, which has now killed more than 1,868 people in China with 72,436 infections, has disrupted supplies of raw material to other countries. India sources about up to 70 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients and close to 90 percent of certain mobile phone parts from China, according to a presentation by another industry chamber, which represents more than 250,000 companies but did not wish to be identified. Ratings agency Moodys said on Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak added to pressures on growth in Asia. The impact is felt primarily through trade and tourism, and for some sectors through supply-chain disruptions. Moodys cut its economic growth forecast for India for 2020 to 5.4 percent from an earlier estimate of 6.6 percent, and cut the forecast for 2021 to 5.8 percent from 6.7 percent, saying the revisions were also affected by weakening domestic demand. Daara Patel, secretary general of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, which represents more than 900 drug producers, said the industry was facing rising prices of raw material and supply shortages. The prices of some antibiotics, vitamins and other medicines have gone up by 15 to 50 percent following fear of disruption in supply of ingredients, he said. The pharmaceuticals industry is concerned that stocks of active ingredients for drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen could last for 15 days and two to three months for other drugs, the presentation by the unnamed industry chamber also showed. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. By Lee Min-hyung During prolonged economic downturns, companies, individual investors and even state-run organizations turn to finding alternative sources of investment for higher returns with low volatility. Alternative investment has long been regarded as a "special league" of some institutional investors, with typical investment periods spanning from five to 10 years. The areas for the non-conventional investment include infrastructure construction, aerospace, energy and real estate as opposed to traditional investment routes such as stocks and bonds. But entry barriers toward alternative investment are on a gradual decline, as major players in the area, including securities and asset management firms, are on track to launch more financial products allowing small investors to join the bandwagon. In the past, it was de facto impossible for individual investors to participate in large-scale property investment. But things have recently changed a lot with the rise of real estate investment trusts (REITs). People from all walks of life can invest into commercial real estate by buying stocks of local REITs players. Despite the slow shift in the market environment, most alternative investment is led by corporate-level investors, as it requires massive initial capital and REITs are one of the few areas open to private investors. Property investment A growing number of companies are shifting their eyes onto the overseas real estate investment by purchasing office building and logistics centers. Foreign asset management firms are also paying attention to local property markets particularly distribution centers. This is in line with the rise of e-commerce among the growing number of one-person households. Earlier in January, Deutsche Asset Management acquired a logistics center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, for 64 billion won ($54 million) from KB Real Estate Trust based in Seoul. The deal saw the KB affiliate to realize a profit of 8 billion won for three years since it purchased the 26,600-square-meter center in November 2016. The Public Official Benefit Association, a Seoul-based institutional investor, also reaped massive profits from overseas real estate investment by teaming up with foreign capital. In 2014, the organization formed a joint venture with Dream Global REIT based in Canada for equity investment in commercial building in global mega cities. Under the joint investment, both sides purchased a 50-percent stake of eight commercial building in eight cities including Berlin and Frankfurt at 360 billion won. They recently sold their stake to Blackstone, an American private equity asset management firm, generating more than 150 billion won in profits through the deal. Industry sources said Korean investment companies will continue to look for more sources of income from overseas property markets amid toughening government regulations. The Moon Jae-in administration recently said it would impose a series of regulatory steps to stop securities firms from generating what it calls "speculative profits" from the real estate investment. "A growing numbers of investment firms here will turn their eyes to overseas property markets amid uncertainties surrounding the government's planned introduction of regulations in real estate project financing," an industry source said. Outlook for the local REITs industry, however, remains rosy, as the market wins explosive attention from not just existing and emerging players but individual investors. The government also expresses its willingness to support the industry, according to the source. Infrastructure construction Overseas infrastructure construction is also coming to the fore as major sources of alternative investment for investors here. Investment companies generally take part in the overseas infrastructure projects by generating profits through stake investment. They include harbor or power plant construction and shipbuilding. "By funding such projects, strategic investors chalk up revenues as a shareholder on a regular basis or they can sell their stake to others and realize marginal profits," another source from an investment bank said. "For instance, when a financial investor funds a harbor construction project, it can win their portion of revenues after deduction of operating costs from the project, such as its maintenance and tax," the source said. "Some of investment firms prefer to sell the stake to another investor to realize profits rapidly," he said. The investment industry views demand for overseas infrastructure investment will continue to be on the rise in 2020 Kiwoom Asset Management, a Seoul-based investment firm, has recently carried out an organizational reshuffle in a way to reinforce infrastructure investment. The company created an independent unit dedicated to infrastructure investment management in this January. The team used to belong to the firm's alternative investment unit before the reorganization. The company has so far focused the investment on overseas property markets. But it aims to diversify its revenue streams into the overseas infrastructure investment amid toughening rivalry and rising price in the global property investment industry. EASTHAM, Mass. The notorious crime boss James Whitey Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped to his pending arrest. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison, some of which describe his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind control drug in the 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prison, in Atlanta something never brought up in his federal trial. Had I known, I would have absolutely held off on the murder charges, Uhlar said. He didnt murder prior to the LSD. His brain may have been altered, so how could you say he was really guilty? At the same time, Uhlar says she would have voted to convict Bulger on the long list of other criminal counts, meaning he still would likely have died in prison. Uhlar has spoken publicly about her regret before but says her belief that the gangster was wrongly convicted on the murder charges was reinforced after reading a new book by Brown University professor Stephen Kinzer: Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. The book digs into the dark tale of the CIAs former chief chemist and his attempts to develop mind control techniques by giving LSD and other drugs to unsuspecting individuals, including colleagues, and observing the effects. After Bulger was found guilty, a federal judge sentenced him to two life terms plus five years. But his life behind bars ended a little more than a year ago, at age 89, when he was beaten to death by fellow inmates at a prison in Bruceton Mills, W.Va. Michael Rezendes is an Associated Press writer. Ofcom fines Talk Radio and NTV Mir Baltic for breaking due impartiality rules Ofcom has fined the licence holders of Talk Radio 75,000 and NTV Mir Baltic 20,000 for breaking our broadcasting rules. Talk Radio is a national digital speech radio station. NTV Mir Baltic is a television channel broadcasting to the Russian-speaking community in Latvia. Under Ofcom rules, all broadcasters must remain duly impartial when covering matters of major political controversy. Talk Radio failed to do so in three episodes of the George Galloway programme during discussions about the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, and allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. An episode of the news programme Today on NTV Mir Baltic also discussed the political aftermath of the events in Salisbury, but failed to maintain due impartiality. We consider that Talk Radio's and NTV Mir Baltic's failings amounted to serious and repeated breaches of our broadcasting rules, which warranted the imposition of statutory sanctions. The respective licensees, Talksport Ltd. and Baltic Media Alliance, must now pay the financial penalties imposed on them to HM Paymaster General. Both broadcasters must also air a statement of our findings on dates and in a form to be determined by Ofcom. Big City Radio fined for failing to meet its programming commitments Separately, Ofcom has also imposed a 500 financial penalty on Birmingham-based community radio station, Big City Radio. Our investigation found that it was failing to provide the hours of original content required under its programming requirements. Additionally, our monitoring found that it wasnt broadcasting local news, travel, or sport, or any content that was aimed at, or of appeal to, the local community. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sutter Health, a not-for profit healthcare network in Northern California, today announced the launch of Ferrum's artificial intelligence (AI) powered quality platform to deliver higher quality and more consistent care to its patients. Ferrum Health's next generation technology is designed to improve quality in medical imaging, with the goal of helping Sutter find important diagnoses like lung cancers in their early stages. Ferrum's technology is helping Sutter support patients through improved outcomes, an enhanced care experience, and a reduced total cost of care over time. Ferrum's quality platform analyzes medical images alongside physicians' written notes. It uses computer vision and natural language algorithms to identify abnormalities and flags them for Sutter clinicians to follow-up with patients and change care plans as necessary. In August, Sutter Medical Foundation went live with Ferrum's AI-powered quality system in Sacramento, Calif. to improve lung cancer care, becoming the first in the country to run the technology on applicable CT scans and radiologist reports. The system analyzed documented findings that match, or don't match, the algorithm's review of the image. "For those rare instances where a nodule is overlooked, we can in a very quick time periodusually within 24 hourscontinue the care process instead of waiting until larger nodules are detected at a later medical visit," said Charles McDonnell III, M.D., a Sutter Medical Group radiologist and associate medical director of risk management. "Having a system for quality coverage of our diagnostic decisions makes us stronger, more effective advocates for our patients, and gives patients greater comfort and peace of mind." If there is a potential discrepancy (i.e., a nodule or other abnormality found in the scan but not mentioned in the report), the scan is "flagged" and sent to chest radiology subject matter experts and the department quality committee for further review. Any discrepancies that the subject matter expert finds to be actual nodules which were not found in the initial reading of the scan go back to the initial radiologist. That radiologist can then update his or her report and quickly provide the patient with recommendations for appropriate high-quality care, such as a follow-up at Sutter's Lung Nodule Clinic. According to Jason Wiesner, M.D., a radiologist and medical director of the health system's Diagnostic Imaging Service Line, estimated discrepancy rates at Sutter were already four times lower than the estimated rate of error nationally. With the implementation of Ferrum's AI technology within the pilot, this number was reduced even further. In the first 90 days of deployment at Sutter, Ferrum's AI technology reviewed more than 10,000 CT scans containing lung tissue. Eighty-three of its flagged findings warranted additional radiologist review and intervention. A subset of these patients was confirmed to have findings that needed follow-up care. "This is a testament to the quality of work done by our radiologists on behalf of our patients," Dr. Wiesner said. "We are giving our doctors and patients a safety net and ensuring we continue to provide the highest quality of care. This project shows the commitment of Sutter Health to providing the highest reliability healthcare to the communities we serve." "We've shown the profound impact that quality monitoring technologies can have on identifying opportunities to improve care and prevent potential medical errors," said Pelu Tran, co-founder and CEO of Ferrum Health. "Most importantly, thanks to the advanced work of both IT teams, it took us just a single day to deploy a platform that improved the quality of diagnostic care for Sutter patients across all of Sacramento - all without impacting their physicians' workflows. The work we've done here is the beginning of a new era in healthcare's battle against medical errors, and we're excited to continue to move the field forward alongside quality luminaries like Sutter." About Ferrum Health Ferrum Health is a health technology company that partners with leading hospital systems to reduce the impact of medical errors, modernize quality improvement and improve patient outcomes through the use of artificial intelligence. Ferrum's next-generation quality platform provides hospital systems with an additional layer of quality assurance for critical decisions across the entire continuum of patient care. About Sutter Health Sutter Health is more than 60,000 people strong thanks to its integrated network of clinicians, employees and volunteers. Headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., Sutter Health provides access to high quality, affordable care for more than 3 million Northern Californians through its network of hospitals, medical foundations, urgent and walk-in care centers, home health and hospice services. Nearly 14,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians care for Sutter patients. For more information about the Sutter Health network visit: sutterhealth.org | facebook.com/sutterhealth | youtube.com/sutterhealth | twitter.com/sutterhealth. SOURCE Ferrum Health Philps Pasties in Hayle, Cornwall, was set up in 1958 with a loan from the Lloyds Bank 100 yards down the road. The pasty business thrived and it now has seven branches across the county, including two in Hayle. But Lloyds is set to pull the plug on its historic connection with the bakery and the town - after it announced it will be closing its branch in May. Abandoned: The seaside town of Hayle in Cornwall, will be left without a bank in May after Lloyds shut's their branch It will leave Hayle, whose population swells to 50,000 in the summer, without a bank. Five years ago, it had four. 'It will affect us in a big way,' says Paul Philps, 64, whose father Sammy founded the bakery. 'Lloyds is trying to save money, but there is a balance to be struck for the community.' Bank branches are shutting at a rate of 55 a month across the UK, placing holiday hotspots such as Hayle under strain. Shopkeepers fear tourists will go elsewhere, while the elderly face arduous journeys to get to a bank. Neighbouring St Ives, which has been named one of the UK's best seaside resorts, has lost seven branches since 2015, according to Which? Rumours abound that the last bank in that town, Barclays, will be next. Barclays has shut at least 482 UK branches over the past five years, with the real total likely to be higher because the bank will not give figures. Lloyds has closed 441 UK branches in that time. The astonishing vanishing act has today prompted warnings that millions of people could be left behind if the UK becomes cashless within a decade, as predicted. For Hayle, the timing couldn't be worse. The town is second only to Newquay for the number of holiday beds in Cornwall. This is thanks largely to Towans beach, which stretches 5km across St Ives Bay. Bakers dozen: Margaret Ferrell of Ferrell's bakery, doesn't accept card payments because of the transaction fee In January, work finally began on a 250 million redevelopment of its North Quay. The first phase will build around 140 properties with views over the estuary, while it's hoped 20 new retail units will drive a boom in trade. But unlike Sammy Philps, businesses won't be able to set up shop with the help of a local bank branch. 'We've been waiting decades for Hayle to regenerate,' says resident Charlie Cartwright, 56. 'It seems to be entirely the wrong time for the bank to be closing.' Hayle shopkeepers say they have seen increased footfall since Lloyds closed its branch in St Ives in 2017, with residents making the 15-minute bus ride to Hayle to do their banking instead. But Lloyds claims its counters are 21 per cent quieter than the same time last year, prompting its decision to close the branch. A spokesman adds: 'We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause, and encourage customers to contact us so we can discuss the ways we can support them.' The announcement sparked an ill-tempered town meeting earlier this month. Councillors took turns to denounce the move as 'ridiculous' and 'a classic case of rank profiteering'. Concerns were raised that the town's two Post Offices would be unable to cope with demand. Michael Watton, 36, who runs Duckies Cafe, compares the closures to the Beeching cuts, which axed a third of UK railway lines in the 1960s. He says most cafes in Hayle, including his own, are cash only, but the closure of Lloyds may force them to start accepting cards, which incurs a fee. 'I know we're talking small percentages, but we're a small business,' he adds. 'It will make a massive difference to us.' Hayle has a large proportion of elderly and vulnerable adults. Many say they switched their accounts to Lloyds because they were told the branch would never close. Colin Roberts, 37, has learning difficulties and relies on cashiers recognising him in the branch and giving him his money, because he is unable to use a card. Getting to the next nearest branches requires a 40-minute round trip to Camborne or Penzance, but Colin cannot get there unaided. Support worker Elle Lowe-Houghton, 35, says the closure will make his finances 'inaccessible', adding: 'For adults with learning disabilities these local amenities are vital. This closure is putting vulnerable people into a corner.' A review panel, set up by ATM network Link, says bank closures are partly to blame for more retailers going cashless, as it has made it difficult for businesses to deposit takings It comes as experts today warn the UK's cash system will collapse without legislation to protect it. A year ago, the Access To Cash Review said the UK could become 'virtually cashless' by 2035. But data from UK Finance has since shown that cash use has fallen faster than expected making up less than 30 per cent of transactions and the trade body now expects the UK to hit this point by 2030. The review panel, set up by ATM network Link, says bank closures are partly to blame for more retailers going cashless, as it has made it difficult for businesses to deposit takings. It also points out that Barclays only reversed plans to stop customers accessing cash at the Post Office following pressure from campaigners and Money Mail. Meanwhile, 13 per cent of free cash machines have closed over the past year, saving banks around 120 million, according to Which? Panel chair Natalie Ceeney says: 'The UK is fast becoming a cashless society without knowing what this really means for consumers or for the UK economy. Many people may want a completely digital future, but we need to make sure that this shift doesn't leave millions behind or put our economy at risk.' No wonder the people of St Ives fear that they will be abandoned, too. A NatWest, an HSBC and a Lloyds used to be within a stone's throw of the High Street, but all have shut within the past five years. Phyllis Bennett, 87, Joyce Williams, 86, and Doreen Barber, 86, have lived in St Ives since they were born. Phyllis has to travel 40 minutes to Penzance for her nearest NatWest bank, while Joyce will soon have to do likewise when Lloyds closes in Hayle. Only Doreen, a Barclays customer, still has access to her local branch. 'We've been abandoned by banks,' she says. Alongside the seven branch closures since 2015, St Ives has also lost ten free-to-use ATMs since 2018. The remaining two Post Offices and three ATMs are spread across the town. Barclays is open only three days a week, rising to four during the summer holidays, when the town's population grows from 12,000 to around 27,000. But the bank stocks only 50 notes at this time to meet demand, which is a nightmare for the town's small businesses. 'It means you need 46 change for every customer who just wants coffee and cake,' says Graeme Parkhill, 46, of Scoff Troff Cafe. 'It's just not viable.' Margaret Ferrell, 61, of Ferrell's bakery, doesn't accept card payments because of the transaction fee, but doesn't accept 50 notes either because of the high proportion of counterfeits. Instead she directs tourists to change their money at the Post Office next door, but that regularly has queues of up to half an hour. On Bank Holiday weekends, the cash simply runs out. A Barclays spokesman says its St Ives branch has been ring-fenced until at least October 2021 as part of its commitment to more than 100 'last-in-town' and remote branches. But locals fear the reduction in Barclays's services means closure is inevitable. m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Tue, February 18, 2020 19:07 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653ccea 2 Lifestyle chanel,Beijing,China,fashion-show,fashion,coronavirus Free French fashion house Chanel said Monday it was postponing a show set for May in Beijing following an outbreak of a new coronavirus that has infected some 70,000 people across China. "Considering the current situation and following the guidance of Chinese authorities, Chanel has decided to postpone its project of a replica of the Paris 31 rue Cambon 2019/20 Metiers dart collection in May in Beijing to a later and more appropriate moment," a statement said, without giving a new date. "Chanel is monitoring the situation closely. At the foremost are the health and well-being of its teams and clients," it said. Read also: 10,000 Chinese tourists cancel trips to Bali over coronavirus fears: Travel group The "31 Rue Cambon" show was first held in Paris in December, inspired by the studio and workshop of founder Coco Chanel. The decor was created by the film director Sofia Coppola. Hundreds of trade shows and other major events in China have been cancelled in recent weeks over fears of the virus, which has killed nearly 1,800 people in mainland China since it was first reported in December. Last week, the Chinese designer Jarel Zhang cancelled the showing of his new collection during Paris Fashion Week in March "in order to ensure the health and safety of both countries and reduce the number of contacts" that could spread the flu-like disease. [February 18, 2020] Emerald Scientific Announces Leigh White as New CEO SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE Emerald Scientific, LLC (Emerald), the cannabis industrys most distinguished distributor of high-quality scientific supplies to cannabis testing laboratories, announced today the promotion of its Chief Financial Officer, Leigh White, to Chief Executive Officer. White will lead the Emerald Scientific team in their position as the premier supplier of scientific and technical supplies to the cannabis testing industry. Whites skills are ideal to lead the company in new and competitive directions as she has a background in various dynamic industries. Leigh White is a member of the State Bar of California and has over two decades of experience building and leading innovative companies in industries ranging from technology to manufacturing, scientific research to consumer products and services. She has held a variety of roles at these companies as an investor, owner, executive, board member, and advisor. All of Whites experiences speak to her aptitude for leadership, capacity to catalyze operational growth, and knowledge of STEM companies. White will be instrumental in executing strategy for Emeralds continued growth in North America, as well as expansion into international markets. What weve done here is amazing. Our team brings their heart and soul every day. Our work has a positive impact on the safety and effectiveness of the industry, and contributes to the health and happiness of society. Were meeting our financial goals, and we have new and exciting partnerships, said Ken Snoke, Founder of Emerald Scientific. This is no time or place for a founders ego to get in the way. The CEO skill set required fr Emerald to succeed for the next 5 years is different than the last 5 years. This change doesnt indicate that I wont contribute, it means that I get to contribute where I have the most positive impact. Ken Snoke, who co-founded Emerald Scientific six years ago with company President Wes Burk, will be maintaining a leadership role in company strategy and corporate culture. Having Leigh White lead as CEO is a logical move for Emerald Scientific as its culture and leadership are very much aligned with her leadership style and visions for the company, said Wes Burk, President of Emerald Scientific. Leigh has proven to be a good fit both professionally and culturally. Prior to being appointed as the CEO of Emerald Scientific, Leigh White was Emerald Scientifics Chief Financial Officer and was fundamental in launching Emeralds subsidiary in Canada, Emerald Scientific Canada, Inc., facilitating the recently announced PerkinElmer, Inc. partnership, deepening strategic relationships with major suppliers, and being a pivotal figure in the acquisition of the Emerald Conference by MJBizDaily. White is enthusiastic about the growth and expansion possibilities for the company within the next 24 to 36 months, especially for The Emerald Test to become a standard for cannabis testing labs internationally. Im honored to be leading Emeralds strategic growth and Im optimistic about the Companys continued success, said Leigh White, CEO of Emerald Scientific. Over the past five years of Emerald Scientifics existence, the Company has achieved or exceeded its growth plan from the previous year, every year. That is a testament to how dialed-in, calibrated and committed this team isIm very excited to be leading it. For more information about Emerald Scientific, visit the companys website. All products can be purchased at EmeraldScientific.com. To purchase tickets to the 6th Annual Emerald Conference in association with MJBizDaily, click here. About Emerald Scientific Emerald Scientific is a dedicated supplier of scientific supplies and equipment to the cannabis industry. Emerald provides thousands of products and technical expertise critical to producers, extractors, test labs, and finished product manufacturers. The companys products and activities support good manufacturing practice, standardized analytical testing, quality control and assurance, process optimization, and controlled cultivation, all contributing to safe and predictable outcomes for customers and patients. Emerald Scientific created the Emerald Test, which is an inter-laboratory comparison and proficiency test for cannabis testing labs. The test has been used in more than 100 labs across 11 countries. Emerald also founded The Emerald Conference, the most advanced, comprehensive and technical event in the cannabis industry. To learn more, please visit www.emeraldscientific.com. Public Relations Contact: CMW Media Cassandra Dowell 858-264-6600 [email protected] www.cmwmedia.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ALTON American Cruise Lines has announced seven dockings for its boats in Alton this year. In August, American Cruise Lines signed a five-year agreement making Alton a hub for its four riverboats America, American Harmony, Queen of the Mississippi and American Jazz and giving its passenger cruise ships priority docking for turnarounds on the Alton riverfront. America is scheduled to dock in Alton on Aug. 19, Sept. 19, Oct. 3 and Oct. 17. American Harmony is scheduled to dock in Alton Aug. 27 and Sept. 10. Queen of the Mississippi is scheduled to dock in Alton on Oct. 2. Currently there are no dockings planned in 2020 for American Cruise Lines newest boat, American Jazz, which is scheduled to make its maiden Mississippi River voyage on Aug. 17. Currently under construction at the Chesapeake Shipbuilding yards in Salisbury, Maryland, the boat looks less like a historic paddle wheeler and more like a European river cruise ship. With a 60-member crew, American Jazz will accommodate 190 passengers who will use a retractable gangway in its bow. The four-story boat boasts an atrium and 102 cabins from 250 to 800 square feet. The boat is 269 feet long and 59 feet across. The pact announced in August also calls for American Cruise Lines to promote tourism and retail activity in Alton. Brett Stawar, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, said the agreement would have an economic impact of $2.38 million over the term of the agreement. That could mean up to 80 percent of its embarking passengers could spend one night in Alton prior to a cruise. In addition, American Cruise Lines will arrange for tours in Alton, as well as shuttle services between the docked boat and the East Broadway shopping district. Based in Guilford, Connecticut, American Cruise Lines operates 12 cruise ships along the Eastern and Western Seaboards, as well as the Mississippi-Ohio and Columbia-Snake river systems. The docking announcement comes as American Cruise Lines signs a 20-year docking agreement with the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The firm currently is the countrys largest cruise line with a fleet of 13 U.S.-built ships. In the past two years, it has doubled its capacity on the Mississippi. Americans ships cruise more than 10 different Mississippi River itineraries from February to December each year. The cruise line last week also named Charles B. Robertson as the companys new chief executive officer following the death of his father, Charles A. Robertson, founder of the company. At least 45 families living in a slum near the newly-built Motera stadium in Ahmedabad have been served eviction notices by the municipal corporation ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24. IMAGE: A poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump put up in Ahmedabad ahead of the latter's visit to India on February 24. Photograph: ANI While officials have denied any connection with the proposed high-profile visit and issuance of notices, residents of the slum have questioned the timing of the move, which came days after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation began building a wall allegedly to cover a slum on a route that the US President is likely to take while visiting the city. 'You have encroached upon a plot of land belonging to the AMC. Evict the plot in another seven days with your household chattels, otherwise, a departmental action will be taken to evict the land. If you have to make any representation, you can do so on February 19 at 3 pm,' reads the notice. The slum is located alongside a road connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, around 1.5 km away from the Motera stadium. A slum-dweller, Shailesh Bilwa, claimed on Tuesday that officials of the AMC have visited them several times since the last seven days. "We have been living here since over a decade. We had never been served any eviction notice in the past. Why the notice was served to us now?" questioned Dinesh Adravani, a daily-wage labourer who said he had been asked to vacate his shanty by February 18. He said slum-dwellers like him had no alternative shelter if they are forced out. "We are ready to vacate, but we need an alternative accommodation, otherwise we will be forced to live on pavements. "We live here with our family members comprising women and children. We pray to the government to provide us with an alternative plot where we could live," said another resident Shailesh Bilwa. He claimed that officials of the AMC have been asking them to vacate the plot since the last seven days. "Some of them even threatened to use force against us," he alleged. Meanwhile, Deputy Estate Officer (West Zone), AMC, Chaitanya Shah said the eviction notice had nothing to do with the scheduled 'Namaste Trump' programme. "They (slum-dwellers) have been served the eviction notice under the provisions of the Town Planning Act and has nothing to do with Trump's visit. The plot belongs to the AMC. The notice was served as the site survey conducted in January found that the plot had been encroached upon," Shah said. PM Modi and Trump are scheduled to address over one lakh people at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on February 24, as part of the 'Namaste Trump' event. Trump is scheduled to take part in a roadshow in Ahmedabad and to visit the Sabarmati Ashram on that day. Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, has slammed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for calling for the removal of President Nana Akufo-Addo as the Co-Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates. The opposition NDC, over the weekend, called for the removal of President Akufo Addo as Co-chair of UN SDGs advocates over his failed fight on illegal mining. Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, challenged the Akufo-Addo-led government to account for all the excavators that have been seized in the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey. Speaking at a press conference at the banks of the Twifo Praso River in the Central Region, Mr. Gyamfi said the NDC will petition the UN over President Akufo-Addos appointment as co-chair of the SDG Advocates following his failed fight on illegal mining. But reacting to the issue on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Mr. Enam Hadzide laughed off the opposition party's demand saying the NDC cannot be wiser than the United Nations that made the appointment. We have to laugh over some of the issues that the NDC people raise or talk about. It is sheer jealousy that is making the NDC talk like that and I also think that their childish game is becoming too much. It is true that their Communication Directorate is run by the youth like us but sometimes, it will be advisable that they take the opinion of the elderly ones in the party. Sometimes, out of desperation, people are forced to do things that they shouldnt have done. So, in the minds of Sammy Gyamfi and his subordinates who went to organize the press conference, they are wiser than the United Nations? Or do they really understand how the UN carries out its duties? Do they know why embassies exist in the country as they know whatever goes on in the country? I mean to say that the UN knows what it was doing and the leaders know why they chose President Nana Akufo-Addo, he jabbed. The Deputy Minister for Information goaded the NDC saying they should be prepared for more surprises as President Akufo-Addo is certain to win additional honors for his remarkable performance at the helm of the country's affairs. it is not the UN alone that has appointed President Akufo-Addo as a Co-Chair of UN SDGs, if that is what worries them, then they will develop heart attacks because recently the President at the African Union Summit was awarded as the Champion of Financial Institutions and this is because Africa Union has seen the good works of the President as far as the Financial clean-up is concerned, he asserted. He mentioned that as we speak now, our Cedi which we all are hoping to see it stronger than it is now is the best-performing currency against the dollar and all is due to proper management of the economy put in place by President Akufo-Addo and his government. So, if such an honor, which has been bestowed on the President that we all have to be proud of as a country regardless of your political color, but due to politics, our brothers from the NDC will wish it is taken away from the President, then they should be prepared for more heartbreaking news because many more of such honors will be conferred on President Akufo-Addo due to his remarkable achievements in the country, he indicated. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Downtown's Barney Allis Plaza to be remodeled Hide Transcript Show Transcript DOWNTOWN PARKING. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BARN ALLI PLAZA IS IT IS HARD TO SEE AND HARD TO USE. ELEVATED FROM STREET LEVEL ON EVERY SIDE, INCLUDING TALL STAIRS ON EACH OF THE SOUTHERN CORNERS. THAT'S REALLY ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING PARK. Remember that. . . Here's the hope that KCMO can make this property useful for somebody besides hobos, combatants, skaters and protesters. Read more: One of the leaders of Amotekun, a security outfit, on Monday, visited the Ekiti state house of assembly, dressed in combat regalia. ... One of the leaders of Amotekun, a security outfit, on Monday, visited the Ekiti state house of assembly, dressed in combat regalia. The Amotekun leader, whose major purpose in the house was to attend a public hearing on the outfit, gave his submission on the security initiative. The Ekiti assembly had earlier passed the Amotekun bill transmitted by Kayode Fayemi, the governor, into law. Amotekun was originally established as a regional outfit but after a series of consultations, including a meeting with Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, the initiative was adopted as a state effort. Below are pictures of the Amotekun leader at the Ekiti parliament: In absence of a relief regarding AGR dues, Vodafone Idea will be forced to close operations, putting 10,000 jobs in danger, company's advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court. Tax exemptions in Union Budget 2020 lifted consumer confidence in February after a substantial slump in the previous month. FM Nirmala Sitharaman assures that prices will not increase in the short-term due to the coronavirus outbreak. Read for more top stories from the world of business and economy: 1. Vodafone Idea's lawyer warns 10,000 will be jobless if AGR dues kill company Mukul Rohatgi, the senior counsel for Vodafone Idea said that if the telco shuts shop, the whole telecom sector would be impacted, eventually wiping out competition and leaving just two firms in the market. 2. Tax exemption lifts mood in urban India; consumer confidence sees uptick While the Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI) employment confidence in jobs sub-index rose by 0.6 per cent over last month, the economic expectations sub-index moved up by 4.7 per cent. 3. FM Sitharaman quells fears of coronavirus impact on Indian economy Sitharaman said she would hold a meeting with the secretaries of concerned ministries on Wednesday to chalk out steps to deal with the situation in consultation with Prime Minister's Office. 4. SBI Cards IPO likely to be launched in early March SBI Cards and Payment Services, the credit card arm of State Bank of India, plans to raise Rs 9,600 crore through the public issue. SBI Cards may be valued at Rs 60,000 crore, experts say. 5. Paracetamol prices rise by 40% amid coronavirus outbreak The pharmaceutical sector in India could face shortages in finished drug formulations from April in case the supply chains from China are not restored by the first week of March. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the agriculture ministry to enrol at least 10 million farmers for Kisan Credit Cards by February 23, expressing concern over the slow progress of a programme aimed at increasing access of cultivators to formal sources of lending, according to two officials with direct knowledge of the matter. The officials, who asked not to be named, added that Modi said he was open to attending an event to distribute cards to farmers, but after US President Donald Trumps visit to India. The US president is set to visit India on February 24-25. Farmers rely on agricultural credit to purchase various inputs, from fertilizers to irrigation equipment. Lack of adequate access to institutional credit means farmers often take out usurious loans from private lenders. In a meeting held earlier this month at the Prime Ministers Office, Modi , according to the two officials cited above, said it was a matter of concern that all farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme do not have Kisan Credit Cards. PM-KISAN is a flagship income support scheme of the government for all landholding farmers, under which registered cultivators get cash transfers of Rs 6,000 a year in three instalments. The PM said the farm ministry already has details of 85 million farmers under PM-KISAN, and that not all of them have been provided Kisan Credit Cards. The farmers database generated by PM-KISAN, which makes digital cash transfers, is a first. The government has discovered its utility in managing various farm policies. It plans to use this database for more targeted delivery of schemes, including agricultural credit. Following the PMs directive, the agriculture ministry has held seven video conferences with state officials and other ministries to chalk out a strategy to distribute 10 million credit cards shortly. It has also reached out to the rural development ministry to tap 5.4 million self-help groups to help the enrolment effort. Budget 2020-21 has set a formal lending target of Rs 15 lakh crore for farmers. Under revised guidelines, standard security requirements, such as hypothecation of crops, now do not apply to small loans of up to Rs 1 lakh. This is also applicable to loans availed through the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which allows land-holding farmers to meet short-term credit requirements for cultivation. Robust farm GDP growth depends on investment and capital formation, or asset creation, in the agriculture sector. According to a Reserve Bank of India report, a 10% increase in institutional credit would increase a farming households investment by close to 3%. However, small farmers tend to depend more on informal credit. Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, small farmers can also avail a flexible limit of between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 for post-harvest warehouse needs and setting up small-scale dairy and poultry farms. For this, branch managers have been empowered to disburse the amount based on their assessment and without linking it to the value of the farmers land. Agriculture ministry officials are keen to tap self-help groups for the purpose of distributing cards, for which it has approached the rural development ministry. Their calculation is that even if one woman from 5.4 million self-help groups can get a farmer enrolled for the Kisan Credit Card scheme, the ministry can straightaway enrol 5.4 million beneficiaries, a rural development ministry official said on condition of anonymity. This years Economic Survey pointed out that challenges including credit, insurance coverage and irrigation needs to be addressed for the government to realize its stated objective of doubling farm incomes. The agricultural credit flow target for 2019-20 has been fixed at Rs 13,50,000 crore, and till November 30, 2019, a sum of Rs 9,07,843.37 crore has been disbursed. The regional distribution of agricultural credit in India is highly skewed. It is observed that credit is low in North Eastern, Hilly and Eastern States, the survey said. LAHORE UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is a practical example of Pakistans desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, as he visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received the UN Secretary General at Kartarpur and a Sikh boy presented him a bouquet. Guterres was also briefed about the Kartarpur Corridor pact between Pakistan and India. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistans Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Indias Gurdaspur district. Guterres visited different parts of the gurdwara and also partook of langar along with Sikhs and Pakistani officials. Strict security measures were taken during the visit. Indian Sikhs in good number were also present at Kartarpur Sahib. Later talking to the media, the UN Secretary General said the Kartarpur Corridor is a practical example of Pakistans desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, Radio Pakistan reported. He said the opening of the corridor is a good step and it will promote tolerance and interfaith harmony. The UN chief appreciated the facilities being provided to Sikh pilgrims at the complex. ExxonMobil says tens of thousands of pounds of unspecified flammable vapor were released during a spectacular fire at its Baton Rouge refinery last week but most of the material was consumed by the blaze and none of it escaped the plant in concentrations that could have posed a risk to people. A state senator will hold a hearing Wednesday night to explore how the industrial giant responded to the fire and whether its notices during the blaze were sufficient to ensure public safety. In a report released Tuesday required under state Department of Environmental Quality guidelines ExxonMobil said that while some "reportable quantities" of some materials were detected at the site of the fire, there was no risk outside ExxonMobil's property. "Since air quality monitoring did not detect any impact outside of the facility, assessments by (various agencies) indicated that neighbors did not need to take any action. Therefore, no alert was issued by the city or emergency response agencies," ExxonMobil said in a Q&A that accompanied its report to regulators. The company said more than 13,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide was released, along with 2,681 pounds of cancer-causing 1,3 butadiene, were among the material released. It said up to 98% of the chemicals were burned up in the blaze. No one was injured. The ExxonMobil refinery and company facilities that produce chemicals, resins, polyolefins and other material are in a lightly populated area of North Baton Rouge west of Interstate 110. Tuesday's report said winds were mainly blowing from east to west the night of the Feb. 11 fire, meaning fumes and smoke would have been carried over the Mississippi River and not into populated areas. A "reportable quantity" is a term of art in state and federal regulations and refers to the threshold amount of a chemical release that would require notification to state agencies. Other chemical totals are benzene, another carcinogen, at 33 pounds; liquid sulfuric acid at 35,290 pounds; and five barrels of oil. The precise totals for 1,3 butadiene and flammable vapor are 2,681 pounds and 62,093 pounds, respectively. All these amounts exceeded the reportable quantity threshold, but ExxonMobil said none of the 126 readings it took detected the material escaping the plant. Robert Berg, ExxonMobil's state regulatory adviser, said the flammable vapor in this case is natural gas, which initial reports on the incident say helped feed the fire. The incident also involved the release of hydrogen sulfide, but it did not exceed the reportable quantity threshold, which is 100 pounds, ExxonMobil said in the report to DEQ. The company said it began air monitoring at 11:30 p.m. around the hot zone of the fire, less than 15 minutes after the fire was discovered at 11:16 p.m. The company pointed out that monitoring results from ExxonMobil, the state Department of Environmental Quality, and a Baton Rouge Fire Department Hazardous Materials team collected air readings that were below the state's ambient air standards for volatile organic compounds, benzene, butadiene, sulfuric acid, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, a known byproduct for burning some of the compounds involved. State Sen. Cleo Fields will hold a community meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the fire at the ExxonMobil complex off Scenic Highway last week and the results of a regulatory filing that is expected to estimate chemical releases from the incident. A statement from Fields, D-Baton Rouge, says he will decide whether to introduce new legislation "necessary to ensure the safety of the states citizens" after holding the meeting and receiving other community input. Fields has invited state agencies, such as the state Department of Environmental Quality's Hazardous Materials Division, to the meeting at Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church, 6274 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge. +7 Massive ExxonMobil blaze extinguished without injury or environmental impact A fire inside the massive ExxonMobil refinery cast an orange glow across the Baton Rouge sky early Wednesday, alarming residents but causing n Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The fire was found about 11:16 p.m. Feb. 11 in what sources have told The Advocate and Reuters is the refinery's distillation unit. It took until 5:45 a.m. ExxonMobil reported to an emergency Louisiana State Police hotline that flammable human carcinogens benzene and 1,3 butadiene and other flammable or toxic chemicals were part of the release. The reporting is required by law to help coordinate the emergency response. Despite large plumes emanating from the raging blaze, though, air monitoring by ExxonMobil, Baton Rouge firefighters and state regulators did not detect harmful concentrations of any chemicals in the air inside, near or away from the plant, including in Port Allen across the Mississippi River. Fields said he decided to call a meeting after hearing from constituents concerned about the notification process and lack of clarity about the fire's cause and potential health impacts from the chemical releases. He plans to determine whether proposed legislation would be appropriate, including tightening requirements for when the public is notified about possible impacts and how facilities are monitoring emissions before and during a chemical release. "In a perfect world, there would be no accidents," he said. "Of course we can't control that. What we can do is make sure the proper actions are being taken after an accident does occur." Fields also noted ExxonMobil's long history in Louisiana. The company has been an integral part of Baton Rouge's local economy for the past several decades. "Exxon is a major employer and a big corporate citizen in our state. But we all want responsible neighbors," he said. "We're working to make sure that all our residents are safe because sick people can't work well and dead people can't work at all." +4 ExxonMobil fire released carcinogenic chemicals, report says, but monitoring found no local risk The massive fire overnight Tuesday at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Baton Rouge is suspected of releasing cancer-causing chemicals benzene and 1, Tuesday's "seven-day" report can be updated as more information becomes available. The company, DEQ and other regulators will attempt to establish a root cause for the incident and determine whether it was preventable. DEQ and others could impose penalties depending on what they find. Other chemicals that ExxonMobil officials told State Police were released were unspecified "flammable vapor," crude oil and hydrogen sulfide. That chemical, which is flammable and explosive, is responsible for the natural rotten egg smell in sewer lines at very low concentrations. In very high concentrations, at 1,000 or more times greater than what occurs with waste, people lose their ability to smell the gas and it will act as a fatal asphyxiant. Company officials told State Police that flaring necessitated by the "unit upset" from the fire had resulted in releases of sulfur dioxide that exceeded 500 pounds. Flaring is when a facility intentionally burns material for safety or environmental reasons. The Baton Rouge refinery is the company's second largest in the U.S., behind only one at Baytown, Texas, and can handle 502,500 barrel-per-day. The oil major is an important employer in the region. Its 2,100-acre complex north of the State Capitol includes not only a refinery but also chemical, polyolefins and resins plants. Combined, Baton Rouge's ExxonMobil facilities had about 7,000 workers in 2018, including contractors. More than 3,000 worked in the refinery as an employee or contractor, according to the company. Russia lost its quest to overturn the largest arbitration ruling ever after a Dutch court ruled in favor of the former owners of Yukos Oil Co. The ruling by The Hague Court of Appeal Tuesday on a $50 billion award in 2014 by an arbitration panel is the latest in a 15-year legal saga that has raged between the Kremlin and the owners of what was once Russia's biggest oil company. The court overturned a 2016 decision that found the Permanent Court of Arbitration's initial ruling misinterpreted a treaty that Russia signed, but never ratified, according to a copy of the judgment. The decision can now be appealed to the Dutch Supreme Court. "In the opinion of the court, there is no question of conflict with Russian law," a statement from the Hague court said. "The arbitration award of July 18, 2014 is back in force." Russia will continue to defend its interests in the case and plans to appeal, the country's Justice Ministry said in a statement. "The independent courts of a democracy have shown their integrity and served justice," Tim Osborne, the chief executive of a holding company for former shareholders of Yukos, said in a statement. "A brutal kleptocracy has been held to account." The Yukos affair was a pivotal moment at the beginning of President Vladimir Putin's now 20-year rule that reestablished the Kremlin as the ultimate power in Russia after the chaotic post-Soviet transition. The arrest of Yukos's founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia's richest man at the time, on the tarmac of a Siberian airport in 2003 sent a clear signal to other oligarchs that their interests were now subordinate to those of the state. The judgment is likely further to strain relations between Russia and the Netherlands, which accuses the Kremlin of involvement in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine, in which 298 people died. Putin has denied Russian involvement. In the wake of Khodorkovsky's arrest, Yukos was dismantled amid billions of dollars of tax claims that he described as revenge for his funding of opposition parties. Putin issued a pardon to free Khodorkovsky in 2013 after a decade in prison on convictions for fraud and tax evasion linked to Yukos. He now lives in London, where he campaigns in exile for an end of Putin's system. Khodorkovsky sold his claims to Yukos to his former partners, including Leonid Nevzlin, who argue that their property was expropriated by the Russian state. How Yukos enforces the judgment, which amounts to about 3% of Russia's gross domestic product, remains to be seen. After the initial ruling, a representative of the former shareholders said they may target state-owned Rosneft PJSC, which took over most of Yukos's assets and operates in 25 countries around the world. By Steve Twedt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) Physician Timothy Wongs third patient at his $35-flat-fee East Liberty practice on a January Friday was Karen W., whod driven in from New Stanton to have her sinus infection evaluated and treated. After a 10-minute exam, Karen, who asked that her full name not be printed, related a personal story that too many Americans will recognize and, like her, be tempted to turn to a medical practice like Dr. Wongs that doesnt deal with insurance claims or copays. Karen, 54, works two jobs driving a school bus and working as a secretary in Westmoreland County. She doesnt have health insurance, she said, but she used to have coverage through her employer. The plan carried a $500 monthly premium. She recalled using her insurance card once at an urgent care center near her home. Because she had not yet met her yearly deductible, the center billed her $130 for the visit even though it charged uninsured patients only $119. That is simply not fair, she told the clinic staff, who reluctantly agreed to adjust her bill to the lower amount. After that episode, she decided to drop her health plan. I was paying $500 a month for insurance that I cant even use. Compare that with her recent visit to the iHealth Clinic in East Liberty. The exam cost $35, and she paid Dr. Wong another $10 for an antibiotic. It was worth it to pay the turnpike toll and gas, she said afterward. By the following Tuesday, she was feeling better. Dr. Wong, too, is feeling better and more confident about the prospects for his approach to providing medical care, a practice model he calls direct access primary care. He may be part of a growing number of independent doctors willing to try different practice models. Just last week, the Allegheny Medical Society, a professional association of local physicians, announced plans to collaborate and support independent doctors whose numbers here have dwindled because a large number of doctors are now employed by one of the major hospital systems. But going independent carries its risks and requires a strong business sense, as well as a medical license. Since Dr. Wong opened his walk-in clinic last summer, the board-certified family physician has seen more than 1,000 patients at the two-room Centre Avenue practice. The majority of his drop-in patients have no insurance, he said. Typically, theyre dealing with minor infections or aches that would generate a major bill if theyd gone to an emergency room. An uninsured patient is a demographic Dr. Wong rarely saw in his previous professional life at Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana County or during his residency training at UPMC Shadyside, just a mile or two down Centre Avenue from his clinic. Dr. Wong, a graduate of SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, cites reports that 8.5% of Americans dont have health insurance to estimate that some 25,000 Pittsburgh residents must fall into that category. His 1,000 patients would represent 4% of that total, he said, so theres huge growth potential there. When he opened the clinic, Dr. Wongs goal was to see 20 patients a day which, at $35 each, would bring in $700 a day. He hit that mark for a couple of days after New Years. The numbers went down slightly since then. The week-to-week uncertainty, he admitted, is a little stressful. His marketing budget is less than $1,000 a month but hes been helped by Facebook and coverage by local TV and radio outlets following a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story published on Aug. 25. A day or two after WPXI aired its story, he saw 24 patients in one day his highest daily total so far. Another highlight came after an Oct. 8 broadcast on local NPR member WESA that was picked up for the national program. He recalled that the storys likes on NPRs Facebook page hit 80,000 and, for several days afterward, I can say I was more popular than Justin Trudeau, chuckled the native of Canada. Other than those periodic flashes in the spotlight, he said, Facebook has so far driven most of his patient traffic. Interestingly, hes noticed a recent influx of Russian immigrants after a favorable review by an apparent influencer in that community. Even with the periodic slow days, word about the practice is getting out, he said, adding that it usually takes about two years for a practice to establish itself. Im 95% sure were going to attain financial sustainability. A young couple committed suicide within three days of getting married in Bhongir town of Telanganas Yadadri-Bhongir district as they feared their marriage will not be accepted by their parents, police said on Tuesday. Alakunta Swamy, 23, and 19-year-old Shivaratri Uma Rani, close relatives from Jangareddipalli village of Valigonda block in the district, checked into a hotel in Bhongir on Monday night and killed themselves by consuming poison, an official said. In the morning, the hotel staff noticed them lying on their bed in an unconscious state and informed us, Bhongir inspector of police P Kasi Reddy said while speaking to HT. We shifted them to the local hospital, where Swamy was declared brought dead and Uma Rani was battling for her life. She was immediately rushed to Gandhi Hospitals in Hyderabad, where she succumbed later in the evening, the inspector said. According to Kasi Reddy, Swamy and Uma Rani had been in love for some time. Though they belonged to the same caste and were closely related, their parents had not agreed to their marriage apparently due to a dispute between their families. On February 16, the couple eloped and got married in the famous temple of Yadagirigutta. Later, they approached Ghatkesar Police under Medchal district seeking protection to them. Since both were majors, the police informed their parents, he said. The young couple decided to end their lives because they thought their parents would create trouble for them. We have booked a case of suspicious death under Section 174 of Criminal Procedure Code, Kasi Reddy said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail Canadian artist, Marcel Dzamas work raises many questions. For the conscious and the subconscious, the real and the unreal. Where does personal, intimate art exist in the age of digital revolution? Are we still acquainted with the time-honoured fairytales and can we create our own with a pinch of the present realities? Is the representation of nature getting further divided or coming together in the world of art? At the India Art Fairs12th edition held in Delhi recently, the Canadian-born artist who is known for his fantastical illustrations and hybrid characters that are inspired by day-to-day lives and real events showcased 15 works among which some were made particularly for the fair as part of the David Zwirners presentation, one of the leading international galleries in the world in the domain of contemporary art. An admirer of Indian culture and its many elements, Dzama chose themes like Bollywood dancers to regional wildlife for his visual storytelling. One of his works from 2019, A dance can be taken as a manifesto depicts a woman dancing while three tigers watch and an eagle hovers above. It makes you think if thats how nature intended it? A sense of universal celebration across species and definitely, an ode to the innocent territories of imagination. The turbulent oceanic wall titled Flowers of Romance, created by Dzama at the his booth at the Fair where many of these works were hung examined the constant and interrelated rhythm of nature and its beings. One cannot fail to notice Dzamas tribute to American Artist Jason Polan who died in January early this year. Marcel Dzama for David Zwirner at the India Art Fair 2020. (Mansi Midha) Dzama rose to prominence in the late 1990s with his representation of mystical narratives inspired by his childhood memories and fantasies, showcasing the delicate relationship between the real and the unreal, in an intricate and powerful way. He poignantly explores the elements of human action and stimulus mostly through erotic, grotesque, aggressive and absurd imagery creating an overlapping world of persistent human, animal and hybrid characters like humans with antlers or trees with hands, speckled with relative motifs. One can see strong influences of Surrealism, Dadaism and Agitprop in his work, bringing elements of reason, individualism, and half-truths and the many social and cultural battles that construct societies across communities. His strong sense of symbolism gives the viewer an open window to interpret the art in their own ways and revisit the deeply buried folktales and many forgotten stories of the past that must echo with our present and the future. Marcel Dzama for David Zwirner at the India Art Fair 2020. (Mansi Midha) In an exclusive interview, artist Marcel Dzama who believes that storytelling and art are one and the same talks about his varied inspirations, the art of storytelling, the multilayered relationship between the real and the subconscious and why drawing continues to be his favourite medium. Excerpts from an exclusive interview: Your new collection goes big on Indian culture that varies from the charm of Bollywood dancers to the many elements of regional wildlife. How did the inspiration come along? -With this new work for the India Art Fair, I referenced a few of the Bollywood films I have seen over the years. Most of the work for the show was influenced by early Indian films that I had seen while living in Winnipeg, Canada. There is a large Indian population there and there were many Indian video stores back in the 90s. I had a few lobby cards I had purchased long ago and a book of movie posters from some Bollywood films from the 1960s. Ive always loved the choreography and costumes in those films. I read Indian myths, and watched Bollywood films and listened to their soundtracks - mainly those from the 1960s by artists like Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar. I always have some animals appear and I wanted to use animals that would speak to the setting, with cobras and elephants included as part of these new works. Your art narrative holds a special place for fantasies, fairy tales and folk vernacular references. How do you think it affects your work in contemporary space? How do you deal with the juxtaposition? -I like the juxtaposition of mixing high brow and low brow culture. I try not to discriminate between popular culture and intellectual pursuits. Your work looks at the multi-layered and evolving relationship between the real and the subconscious via visual arts. How difficult is it to align the real and the subconscious and what are the related challenges to bring the two worlds together? Do you equate subconscious with unreal? -I feel that my work exists in a world of the subconscious but is sometimes infiltrated by the real. Whenever I find the news too disturbing or negative, I find that my work gets more political as an exorcism of the news of the day so Im able to sleep at night. In the times we live in now, reality seems almost more of a farce and absurd than the subconscious. Your narrative has time and again touched upon hybrid characters, often by means of the violent, erotic, grotesque, and absurd. What is your take on the term hybrid and how it impacts your idea of storytelling? -When I was in high school, there was a mentor programme where you would become a teachers assistant for the younger kids. I would get the kids in a group and ask two kids what their favourite animals were and draw the two together as a new creature. That might have inspired my first hybrid creature. But throughout mythology, there are many hybrid creatures that Im fascinated by. You have worked across many mediums, be it puppetry, costumes, illustrations, water colour, sculpture, video among many others. What particular domain remains a favourite and why? -My favourite medium has always been drawing, it is the beginning of all my other projects. Not only is it its own art form, but it also leads to creating the costumes, films and everything else. Do you read as much as you draw? What are you reading currently? -I definitely draw a lot more than I read. I find myself reading in situations where its impossible to draw, like the airport or the subway. I spend at least two hours on the subway in New York each day, so I have been getting a lot of reading done. At the moment Im reading a biography on William Blake. Whats next? -Ive been experimenting with making large pectoral mosaics and a secret project is coming soon from that. Ill be doing a New York show with David Zwirner which will feature some collaborations with Raymond Pettibon and Amy Sedaris, as well as a musical collaboration with Will Butler from the band Arcade Fire. Will and I might try to make a soundtrack vinyl record for A Flower of Evil, so I guess Ill be doing an album cover for that. But no others that I know of yet. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A family in a village in Kerala held the wedding of their daughter with the usual pomp and traditional rituals. When 22-year-old Rajeswaris wedding was fixed with Visnuprasad, her parents wished for a very simple thing. They wanted it to be held in a temple where they could enter and witness the wedding. The Bhagwati Temple in Kanhangad in Kasaragod district opened the doors for the proud parentsP Abdullah and Khadeejaon Sunday. Their love and affection for Rajeswari is being hailed as an eye-opener in troubled times. Besides many Muslim and Hindu families, several leaders of the Muslim League and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)including its Kasargod district unit secretary A Velaydhanwere also present during the ceremony. Abdullah and Khadeeja had brought Rajeswari into their homes when she was 10 years old. Her father Saravanan was a farm labourer from Tamil Nadu who had settled on the outskirts of Kasaragod. He died when Rajeswari was six-years-old and after four years, her mother also passed away. When nobody came to claim her, Abdullah and Khadeeja adopted her as their foster daughter. Rajeswari grew up in their house as the lone sister for their three boys. Though she practised some of the Muslim customs at home, her parents never wanted her to convert and insisted she should have a match from her own community. They found a groom for her in 28-year-old Vishnuprasad, a lab technician. We had saved money for her. Her brothers also chipped in. We gave her enough gold. We made it grand, Abdullah, who works in a private firm in Dubai for the last 35 years, said. Abdullahs 88-year-old mother Safiumma was also there to bless the couple. This is real brotherhood and amity. When people are building big walls over CAA and so-called love jihad, incidents like this open many eyes, P Nissar, a social worker of the area, said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StayLinked Corporation, the leader of innovative terminal emulation solutions for the supply chain industry, continued its impressive growth in 2019 by recording another year of double-digit increase in revenues and continued to strengthen its presence in the European market with an astounding 51% increase in revenues from the previous year. Padraig Regan, General Manager of StayLinked Europe and Director of StayLinked Labs, confirms that 2019 was a hugely successful year which continued to strengthen StayLinked's reputation in the region. "We've been increasingly successful over the years as our reputation for delivering great products and customer service has grown." He continues, "The numbers are great, but we're not driven by them. We're building strong relationships with our channel partners, manufacturers and ISVs. We're innovating and collaborating continually. We're being acknowledged as industry influencers and leaders. We're building for the future and the nice thing is that growth and market share will come with that. It's a very exciting time to be at StayLinked." StayLinked Reinforces Industry Expertise StayLinked announced the hiring of industry veteran Ron Caines who agreed to join StayLinked as its Vice President of Channel Sales. Ron's most recent role was as Vice President of Global Sales at AetherPal, a company specializing in remote support and interactive training for mobile devices. Prior to joining AetherPal, Ron was the Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at B2M Solutions, a UK company focused on the development of mobile device analytics. Previously, Ron was the President of Worldwide Sales and Services for Psion Corporation. "Ron's hiring comes in response to proven demand for StayLinked products around the world," said Dan Hogan, President of StayLinked. "Companies are increasingly migrating from legacy terminal emulation to the reliability and security of the StayLinked architecture and Ron's experience collaborating with partners and customers to help identify business needs is vital in increasing StayLinked's growth around the globe." StayLinked also hired Robert Adcox and John Fuller, two well-respected technical experts from the two leading supply chain mobile device manufacturers. Robert Adcox is a Strategic Systems Engineer who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and comes to StayLinked after a 9-year stint at Honeywell. John Fuller is a Senior Systems Engineer who has worked with digital systems for more than 30 years with companies such as Zebra, Motorola, Psion Teklogix, and Microsoft. "Having these two talented systems engineers elevates StayLinked's capabilities to new heights," says Justin Griffith, CTO of StayLinked. "It can't be overstated what the experience of Robert and John brings to our team, especially as we launch new products, such as SmartTEK. Additionally, StayLinked announced further expansion in Europe with the hiring of Guido Grefen as Technical Account Manager. Guido was responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting the very first StayLinked installations in Europe while at Rodata, a value-added reseller specializing in AutoID. While at Rodata, Guido maintained strong connections with StayLinked for an extensive period of time, working with StayLinked and Psion Teklogix while the two companies were OEM partners. "I'm really excited to be expanding the team again here in EMEA," says Padraig Regan, General Manager, EMEA for StayLinked. "I'm delighted that Guido is joining us. Our team is the best in the industry and Guido's knowledge and experience in this space are well-known and respected and he will prove invaluable in increasing StayLinked's growth in the region." StayLinked Releases SmartTEK, the only Android solution for TekTerm On November 1, 2019, StayLinked and Zebra Technologies officially released SmartTEK to support TekTerm TE for Android-based Zebra mobile computers. SmartTEK provides customers a migration path to easily transition their legacy devices to more modern, feature-rich mobile computers. Zebra offers the StayLinked SmartTEK solution for customers using MIS/TekRF solutions who want to migrate to Android allowing customers with SAP and IBM host applications to run on Zebra Android devices. The SmartTEK solution is also a replacement for customers using MIS/TekRF to emulate SAP applications, IBM 5250 and 3270, and VT emulations. "We continue to lead innovation in the terminal emulation space," says Justin Griffith. "This is another opportunity for us to help users not only migrate from operating systems that are being phased out, but it's also a chance for us to help customers extend the functionality of their applications and optimize their processes. We're in a position to help customers quickly bring these entrenched systems into the new world of cutting-edge technology such as hardware automation, location awareness, and IoT sensor integration." As the former President of Worldwide Sales at Psion Teklogix, Ron Caines is quick to point out the benefits the StayLinked approach brings to TekTerm users. "Customers will be able to take advantage of their tried-and-true host applications in new and exciting ways," he says. "And they will be able to accomplish this without any disruption to their current processes, or modifications to any of their host systems. For more than a decade, StayLinked was the premier Terminal Emulation solution for Psion Teklogix (now Zebra) environments and we continue to offer the most reliable server-based solution on the market. We're excited to extend and enhance TekTerm for Zebra's Android-based mobile devices." About StayLinked StayLinked is the proven market leader in Terminal Emulation for the supply chain industry and continues to drive innovation with the most advanced software solutions available for the warehouse. StayLinked enables our customers to easily migrate to state-of-the-art devices, measure and optimize productivity with cutting-edge business intelligence, and interface with ground-breaking technologies in the areas of automation, robotics, augmented reality, and location-based services. For nearly two decades, StayLinked has continued to deliver revolutionary software products with unparalleled customer satisfaction and world-class support to hundreds of partners and thousands of customers around the globe. For more information, visit www.staylinked.com, email [email protected], or call +1-714-918-7700. Press Contact: Jay Cichosz StayLinked Corporation 714-918-7709 SOURCE StayLinked Related Links http://www.staylinked.com ATLANTA, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL), a premier global consumer and commercial service company, announced today that its subsidiary, Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Inc., has completed the purchase of Clark Pest Control, Inc., based in Bakersfield, CA. Clark Pest Control was founded in Fresno, California in the 1940's by two brothers, Jim Sr. and Charlie Clark. Early in the development of their business, the brothers decided to build separate businesses by splitting up - Charlie went north to Stockton while Jim Sr. went south to Bakersfield. They continued to share the Clark Pest Control name, and their respective businesses grew. Rollins previously acquired Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Inc., in the second quarter of 2019. Jerry Gahlhoff, President of Rollins Specialty Brands states, "We are excited that the Clark Pest Control brand has been unified on the West Coast and we welcome our new team members from Clark Pest Control, Inc. to Rollins." About Rollins Rollins, Inc. is a premier global consumer and commercial services company. Through its family of leading brands, Orkin, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Clark Pest Control, Orkin Canada, Western Pest Services, Northwest Exterminating, Critter Control, The Industrial Fumigant Company, Trutech, Orkin Australia, Waltham Services, OPC Pest Services, PermaTreat, Rollins UK, Aardwolf Pestkare, and Crane Pest Control, the Company provides essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects to more than two million customers in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Australia from more than 700 locations. You can learn more about Rollins and its subsidiaries by visiting our web sites at www.orkin.com , www.pestdefense.com , www.clarkpest.com, www.orkincanada.ca , www.westernpest.com , www.callnorthwest.com, www.crittercontrol.com , www.indfumco.com , www.trutechinc.com , www.orkinau.com , www.walthamservices.com , www.opcpest.com , www.permatreat.com , www.safeguardpestcontrol.co.uk , www.aardwolfpestkare.com, www.cranepestcontrol.com and www.rollins.com . You can also find this and other news releases at www.rollins.com by accessing the news releases button. ROL-IR For Further Information Contact Eddie Northen (404) 888-2242 SOURCE Rollins, Inc. Related Links http://www.rollins.com Senator Chuck Schumer says Donald Trumps federal budget may result in a reduction in bomb sniffing dogs in airports and train stations. Mr Trumps 2021 budget includes the elimination of a $59m program that deploys bomb sniffing dogs to find explosives in crowded travel hubs across the country. The Trump administration has defended the move as essentially a redundancy elimination, arguing that state and local law enforcement agencies have their own monitoring methods. As state and local law enforcement agencies already monitor and maintain jurisdiction in these areas, the VIPR Teams efforts are duplicative and unnecessary, the White House wrote in a statement. In addition, VIPR Team performance measures fail to articulate program effectiveness, and lack demonstrable results. VIPR stands for visible intermodal prevention and response. But Mr Schumer argued against total reliance on state and local authorities, suggesting federal dog teams were a superior alternative. None of them are as good as these, none of them are as mobile as these, Mr Schumer said. These are the most highly trained dogs, and theyre the best. However the TSA says Mr Schumer's statement is inaccurate, and that proposed budget plans will not affect total TSA K9 numbers. Mr Schumer added: If the White House had its way, the K-9 teams that protect all of our transit hubs would be no more. Right now, the White House is putting forth a dangerous proposal to totally eliminate these VIPR K-9 teams, he said. And any security expert will tell you that theyre needed and theyre unique, and obviously, theyre mobile. Without the VIPR teams, the cost of securing busy travel hubs would fall onto the cities and states where the hubs are located, hoisting the cost fully onto the municipalities. This is just pushing the cost from the feds to the city, any city. But terror threats are of national concern, and New York, other big cities and transit hubs should not be shouldering the brunt of these security costs, Mr Schumer said. Mr Schumer made the same warnings two years ago when the Trump administration tried to eliminate the program from the Transportation Safety Administrations 2019 budget. Back then he described the situation as life or death. Canine teams are not a luxury. In New York City, canine dog teams can mean life or death, Mr Schumer said. A 2018 Inspector Generals report included an examination of the VIPR program that suggested the VIPR teams werent especially effective. Despite dedicating approximately $272m to ground-based activities, including VIPR operations, FAMS could not demonstrate how these activities contributed to TSAs mission, the report stated. Everittstown United Methodist Church has added a blessing box beside the driveway of its location in Pittstown, where those in need are invited to take food and toiletries donated by both parishioners of the church and other members of the community. The blessing box -- or emergency mini-food pantry -- contains non-perishable food items like cereal, cake mixes, soups, and powdered milk, as well as regular household items like diapers and paper towels. The pantry is restocked at least twice a week by members of the church, which averages approximately 20 to 22 per Sunday service according to Alicia Grey, associate pastor for Everittstown United Methodist Church. Grey described the pantry as exactly like a library box." Except that instead of free books, its free food," Grey said. Closed blessing boxCaroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The blessing box was implemented in mid-September at the instruction of vice president of the congregations church council, Bette Mayers, who said that she had seen a photo of a mini food pantry several years ago and thought it was just the coolest idea. Its little, and its easy, really, once you get the box. And I thought, You know, Im always looking for something small churches can do.' We cant always do those big huge projects that big churches can, but we can still make a difference, Mayers said. Mayers said that since formulating the idea, she had just been waiting for the right person to come along to say, I can build that for you." That individual, parishioner and Frenchtown resident Sargent Russell, came forward this past summer. (Mayers) asked in church, Could anyone help by building a mini pantry? So I said, Yes I can, Russell said. Russell said that he tinkered around in his shop for three or four days over the summer alongside Mayers son, James, who helped him cut up slabs of wood to fashion the box, its framework, the small roof over it, and a shelf that both supports the box and can be used as an additional platform to hold the items that it contains. Russell said that he volunteered to create the pantry because he wanted to be of service to the church and to Mayers in particular. That is a really good church. The people are really people that care about each other, and theyre willing to work to do some good. And a good example of that is Bette Mayers," Russell said. A person like myself, I cant devote my attention to things the way she does. But if she comes up with something I can do, thats when I do something. While Mayers initially feared that individuals might unload the entire box at one time to take all of its contents for themselves, she said that that has not happened. People are only taking what they want, or what they need. Were learning what they want and need as we go along, but hopefully that mom takes a brownie mix and has a goodie for their kid for when they come home from school. Or peanut butter to make peanut butter and crackers, or a side dish that they could add tuna to to make a meal, Mayers said. Parishioner and Holland Township resident Susanne LaCourt, who has restocked the box herself, confirmed that the pantry is often filled by both donations made to the church or made directly to the pantry itself. When I went to see what was missing on Sunday, someone had already brought some other items. So people come -- even if they dont need the food, theyll bring it anonymously and put it in the box," LeCourt said. While the church continues to set aside donations for local food pantries, Mayers emphasized that the box alone is open to individuals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A lot of food pantries are only open once a month, or every couple weeks ... But this is always there. They can always stop in to get something to make a meal if they have to, Mayers said. Its not just a building where people come on Sunday. Theres an extension here where people can come any day of the week, any time of the day, to receive a blessing, LeCourt echoed. Grey added that the box has the added benefit of securing the anonymity of its patrons. Anybody can come anonymously, because I would think that sometimes there might be people who need help but perhaps are embarrassed or ashamed, or they just cant get to the pantry during the hours that its open, Grey said. Both Grey and Mayers said the consistent usage of the pantry demonstrates the continuing existence of need throughout Hunterdon County, which they believe many of its residents might not currently recognize. Hunterdon County is a wealthy area, by all standards, but theres a lot of hidden poverty," Mayers said. We cant just assume what our neighbors are going through; we cant just assume that because were in a really nice, affluent area that everybodys doing well, that everybody has a steady paycheck, Grey added. People are using this blessing box; we dont know where theyre coming from, we dont know who they are, but obviously theres a need. So were really thankful to have the opportunity to do something to help people. Reflecting upon the United Methodist Churchs official mission to make disciples for the transformation of the world, Grey stated that the blessing box is one way of doing that." We are extending our love, extending our care and our concern for the community by recognizing what the needs are, Grey said. Exterior of Everittstown United Methodist ChurchCaroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com (The blessing box) symbolizes our love for our neighbor. It symbolizes that the church (established in 1825) is more than coming to a worship service on a Sunday morning for an hour -- that being Christians is a lifestyle and something that is active, and something that we take very seriously," she added. Looking forward, both Grey and Mayers expressed their desire for other groups of all kinds to follow the churchs lead and build a blessing box of their own. It doesnt need to be churches. Ive had a Girl Scout group ask about it. Communities can do it -- any small group that wants to get together and put one together," Mayers said. "We would love to inspire other areas to do something like this. Its not something you see very often, but were hoping that it will have a ripple effect," Grey said. And you never know ... No matter how small your group is, you can do something like this. Anybody can do this. Everittstown United Methodist Church is located at 415 County Road #513 in Pittstown. Those interested in receiving assistance to build a mini food pantry of their own can contact Sargent Russell at 252-238-9992. Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips Its no secret that in recent months, bad actors in government have publicly marred the efforts of all legislators who serve with integrity, Welch said. Restoring trust and confidence in our General Assembly demands we recommit ourselves to our fundamental belief in fairness and justice for all, free of bias or partisan influence. The Sudanese government spokesman said the US has turned from an observer to a 'direct mediator' in negotiations over Ethiopia's giant dam project Sudan is not conceding its share of surplus water from the River Nile to Egypt, a spokesman for the Sudanese government said nearly a week after a Washington-hosted meeting between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan was held to finalise an agreement over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by end of February. Faisal Mohamed Saleh, Sudanese government spokesman and minister of culture and information, dismissed reports that Khartoum was conceding its share to Egypt. This matter was not put forward in any phase of negotiations between the three countries, he said. Salehs statements came during a briefing by the Sudanese government headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdock on the latest meetings held in Washington between the foreign and irrigation ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, with the and the US Treasury and the World Bank attending as observers. Last week, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan agreed to entrust the US and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD, according to a joint statement by the five parties. The agreement will be reviewed within the coming few days and signed by the end of the month, the statement said. Faisal said the US side has shifted from an observer to a "direct mediator" during the negotiations, adding that the US is currently working on drafting a final agreement after having received proposals by the three countries. The final agreement will be presented to the three countries later for feedback, he said, adding that if an agreement is sealed, a signing ceremony attended by the heads of state and governments of the three countries would be held in Washington. Tensions have been building up between Egypt and Ethiopia in recent months after talks on the technical details governing the operation of the dam had failed to make progress. Ethiopia hopes that the massive $4.8 billion project on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas largest power exporter, but Cairo fears the project will diminish its water supply from the Nile, a lifeline for a country of 100 million people. Search Keywords: Short link: City of Cayce(CAYCE, S.C.) -- Faye Swetlik, the 6-year-old whose disappearance launched a frantic, three-day search in her South Carolina neighborhood, was abducted and killed by asphyxiation, allegedly by a 30-year-old neighbor who was subsequently found dead, authorities said Tuesday. Amid the massive search, the neighbor, Coty Taylor, was interviewed by authorities and let them search his home, Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said at Tuesday's news conference. Swetlik, a first-grader, was found dead in a wooded area on Thursday, three days after she vanished. She had last been seen playing outside her home in Cayce, South Carolina, which is just outside of Columbia. At a Tuesday news conference, Lexington County coroner Margaret Fisher wept, expressing her condolences to the girl's family. She said that the girl's death was a homicide that took place within a few hours of her being abducted. Just moments after the girl's body was found, Taylor was found dead at his nearby home, authorities said. Snellgrove said Tuesday that evidence leads authorities to believe Taylor abducted and killed Swetlik. Taylor died by suicide, the coroner said. During the massive search for Swetlik, authorities went door-to-door in the neighborhood. Taylor was interviewed on Wednesday afternoon, and he "was cooperative and gave consent" to look through his home, Snellgrove said. "Those agents did not see anything that alerted them to believe that he had knowledge or was at any way involved in Fayes disappearance," Snellgrove said. Authorities believe the 6-year-olds body was moved to the wooded area while it was dark, in the early hours of Thursday morning, Snellgrove said. Authorities zeroed in on Taylor on Thursday morning when they were following sanitation trucks through Swetlik's neighborhood, said Snellgrove. Thursday is the regular trash pickup day for the neighborhood, so as each can was emptied, investigators "methodically combed through" it, looking for clues, Snellgrove said. At about 10 a.m. Thursday, as officers were scouring through one trash can, they found a childs polka-dot boot and a soup ladle with freshly dug dirt inside, Snellgrove said. .@Cayce_DPS Director Snellgrove says a polka dot rainboot and ladle with dirt was found in the trash that caused them to search the area where #FayeSwetlik was found. @abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/JJOEGz4F4w Maria Szatkowski (@MariaSzatkowski) February 18, 2020 Taylor appeared to have acted alone, Snellgrove said. DNA also linked Taylor and Swetlik, Snellgrove added. The coroner confirmed that Swetlik did not die where her body was found and that her body had been in the wooded area for a short time. A candlelight vigil for the 6-year-old will be held outside Cayce City Hall Tuesday evening. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. By West Kentucky Star & WKCTC Staff Feb. 18, 2020 | 11:22 AM | PADUCAH Dale is Dale Bickford, who lives and works in Paducah, and performs intimate sets where the music can be "felt" by the listener. He is accompanied by two guest players during his set at the CFAC, which is the "Co." in Dale & Co. Bickford, currently a solo performer, said the audience is most certainly part of his "company", too, and he loves performing for them. "I believe music is a language and I view myself quite simply as a translator or interpreter," said Bickford. "What I do many people can do and is not to be esteemed as elite or special, in my opinionI am just a vessel, or as a friend of mine put it: 'It's a gift, you don't own it.'" Clemens Fine Arts Center Director Todd Birdsong says that the Backstage Pass series is a perfect way to showcase local talent. "The Backstage Pass series is currently celebrating its 17th year. It's an intimate, listening room atmosphere that lends itself to many of our local musicians' styles and music. And having one of Paducah's own, like Dale, return to the Clemens stage is what the Backstage Pass series is all about," said Birdsong. "Dale is a seasoned player and songwriter who is currently working on his second full length album and is about to release an upcoming EP. We are fortunate to have him playing in our series." Coffee and donuts will be available throughout Bickford's Backstage Pass concert. The series is supported by WKMS-FM in Murray and Munal's Donuts located in Paducah. Advance single tickets are $8 ($10 at the door) and $5 for students. Tickets are available at artsinfocus.org or by calling 270-534-3212. Dale & Co. will play the live music series Backstage Pass at West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Clemens Fine Arts Center (CFAC) Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 pm. On the Net: An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission to contentious plans for more than 650 homes on playing pitches beside St Annes Park in Raheny in north Dublin. The appeals board has given Pat Creans Marlet Group the green light in spite of strong local opposition against the plan. The appeals board received more than 650 objections against the proposed development. Under the Government's 'fast track' planning rules, Marlets Crekav Trading was seeking a 10-year permission to construct 657 apartments on the St Paul's College site. However, against the background of the continuing housing crisis, the appeals board has granted a five-year permission ensuring that the residential units will be built at a much faster rate. The development is made up of 378 two-bed apartments, 224 one-bed units and 55 three-bed units across nine apartment blocks ranging in height from five to nine storeys. In the grant of permission subject to 25 conditions, the appeals board upheld the recommendation of its own inspector, Karen Hamilton at the end of her 101-page report to grant planning permission. The appeals board state that the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity. Objectors claimed that the height of the apartment blocks is inappropriate and that the development is excessive and out of character with St Annes Park. Dublin City Council also told the appeals board that the application should be refused due to a number of reasons, including significant biodiversity issues at the site. Marlet has proposed that 66 of the units go towards social and affordable housing The grant of permission follows the appeals board refusing plans for a similar scheme in September 2018. The board had initially, in April 2018, granted permission for 104 houses and 432 apartments on the St Pauls College site to Marlet but that decision was the subject of a High Court challenge. The action taken by Clonres CLG, representing residents from the Clontarf area, and two environmentalists, was the first challenge to a decision made under the States new fast-track planning system. Yamaha Motor Europe Robotics division establishes Customer Service & Support Function for FA Section Published: 18 February 2020 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale With factory-backed maintenance, repair, and upgrade, Yamaha Motor delivers full lifecycle support for growing customer base Yamaha Motor Europe FA Section has opened a new Customer Service & Support function to provide expert support for customers throughout the European region. Based at the Yamaha Motor Europe headquarters in Neuss, Germany, the Customer Service & Support is ready to work with system integrators and end users to provide factory-backed maintenance, repair, and upgrade services for deployed applications. We started FA Section to bring Yamaha robot technology to Europe and in a short time have helped many companies in diverse industry sectors transform processes such as materials handling, production assembly, and packaging, said Mr. Ryosuke Nakamura, General Manager of Yamaha Motor Europe FA Section. The new service engineering department now augments our solution-engineering capabilities to provide full lifecycle support for our growing customer base. The FA Section Service Engineer Department is active from February.2020 and ready to book customer-service appointments. For further information please visit the Yamaha Motor Europe FA Section website at https://www.yamaha-motor-im.de/en/fa/. ABOUT YAMAHA Robotics FA Section Yamaha Motor Factory Automation Section (FA Section), a subdivision of Yamaha Motor Robotics Business Unit in Yamaha Motor Corporation, is focused on delivering flexible, high-accuracy industrial robots for precision automation challenges. With its roots in the introduction of robot technology to Yamaha motorcycle assembly activities, the division has over 35 years experience solving automation challenges from factory-scale to micron-level. Yamahas industrial robots are now trusted by leading corporations worldwide, in activities as diverse as semiconductor fabrication and assembling electronic products, domestic appliances, automotive components, and large liquid-crystal panels. Yamaha Motor FA Section offers a unified range of solutions for robotic assembly, including single-axis robots, SCARA, cartesian, and articulated robots. Innovations such as the LCM100 linear conveyor module; a smoother, space-saving and more versatile successor to conventional belt and roller conveyors continue to set the pace in factory automation. Core robotic technologies as well as key components and complete robot systems are all produced in-house, ensuring consistent quality and control over lead-times. Headquartered in Hamamatsu, Yamaha Motor FA Section serves customers globally through its worldwide sales network spanning China, Taiwan, Korea, south Asia, north America, Australia/New Zealand, and Europe. www.yamaha-motor-im.eu BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Proparco Group is ready to expand services and financial instruments for private banks in Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing Central Bank. On 12 February 2020, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with representatives of Proparco at the French Development Agency (Agence Frangaise de Developpement, AFD), the message said. During the meeting the sides discussed the current situation in the banking sector, in particular, issues related to introduction of normative acts regulating activities of banking and non-bank credit organizations and Basel Committee standards. "Proparco expressed readiness to expand services and financial instruments for private banks in Uzbekistan within the framework of programs on risk sharing, supporting their growth, financing small and medium enterprises. The meeting also considered planned changes in regulation of banks' activities and issues related to monitoring of their activities and privatization of banks, including changes in prudential supervision and risk management. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Omni Commerce Corp. (TSXV:OMNI)(FRA:0MZA) ("Omni" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news release of February 12, 2020, it has reached an agreement to extend the outside closing date (the "Outside Date") to March 13, 2020 (the "Extension") under the previously announced transaction agreement (the "Transaction Agreement") with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Omni ("Omni Subco") and Dreamfields Brands, Inc. ("Dreamfields"). "The further amendments to the Transaction Agreement demonstrate goodwill on the part of both Omni and Dreamfields to conclude the transaction," stated Peter M. Clausi, Omni's Interim CEO. "The extension to the closing date will allow Dreamfields to deliver its audited financial statements, and Omni's management continues to believe that its ongoing due diligence will ensure that this transaction benefits Omni shareholders. Progress has been constructive, with all parties putting forth strong efforts to close as soon as possible. Special thanks are owed to senior management of Dreamfields for efforts in moving the transaction forward.' The amendments to the Transaction Agreement were effected by way of a third amending agreement to the Transaction Agreement dated as of February 7, 2020, with Omni Subco and Dreamfields. The Transaction Agreement has been amended to provide that Dreamfields will pay a break fee to Omni in the amount of USD $50,000 if Dreamfields terminates the Transaction Agreement prior to delivering the requisite financial statements to Omni. The break fee will become mutual after Dreamfields has delivered the requisite financial statements to Omni, such that the break fee will be payable by whichever party terminates the Transaction Agreement due to the closing of the transaction not having occurred on or before the Outside Date. All other terms of the Transaction Agreement remain in full force and effect. About Dreamfields Dreamfields' group of companies operates as a California-based "House of Brands" in which it operates as a State-licensed vertically-integrated cannabis manufacturing, distribution, branding, sales and events company. About Omni Omni is a publicly listed company currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading under the symbol "OMNI". Omni is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is a reporting issuer in British Columbia and Alberta. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OMNI COMMERCE CORP. Per: "Peter M. Clausi" Peter M. Clausi, President & CEO For further information, please contact: Anthony Balic, CFO Phone: (604) 312-2425 Email: abalic@katunicapital.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, the extension of the Outside Date, the delivery of the Dreamfields financial statements and the payment of a break fee. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and ongoing due diligence review by the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Omni Commerce Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576777/Omni-Announces-New-Closing-Date-for-Dreamfields-Transaction A Cambridge University academic at the centre of a sexual harassment case has been revealed as the author of an erotic work of fiction about students. Dr Peter Hutchinson, 74, was found to have sexually harassed 10 female students in 2015 and excluded from teaching at Trinity Hallin 2017. He was readmitted less than two years after the prestigious university removed him, but was forced out after an open letter gathered 1,300 signatures in 2019. Now it has emerged that Dr Hutchinson published an erotic novel under the pseudonym of 'Barry Able' at the time of the initial complaints. Dr Peter Hutchinson (pictured) was found to have sexually harassed 10 students in 2015 and excluded from teaching at Trinity Hall in 2017 The former lecturer of modern and medieval languages told Tortoise that he is the author of the Carry On-style book, called First Time: Ooh-la-la!. His self-published book, styled as a series of 'erotic adventures' centred on the fictional Oxford college St Badley's, involves female undergraduates sleeping with men each week during the semester to qualify for membership. Its cover features an image of a single female leg, belonging to an unidentifiable Trinity Hall student, clad in a stocking. Scenes from the novel include men spying on women with binoculars, referring to breasts as a 'perky pair', and calling one woman a 'brazen hussy'. Dr Hutchinson claimed that he was not present when the book's cover photo was taken, saying: 'I don't really see a problem about using an unidentifiable photo of a Trinity Hall student, especially since she was very pleased to provide it. I recall her saying she would look forward to showing it to her grandchildren in due course!' Scenes from First Time: Ooh-la-la by a disgraced Cambridge University don Dr Peter Hutchinson Dr Hutchinson is the author of the Carry On-style erotic novel which centres around a fictional Oxford campus, called First Time: Ooo-la-la! (cover pictured) Dr Hutchinson is the author of the Carry On-style erotic novel which centres around a fictional Oxford campus, called First Time: Ooh-la-la!. These are just a few of the more raunchy moments: ''Calm down,' replied the Bursar, 'just have a look at this. That girl is exceptionally well endowed . That's what we used to call a ' perky pair ''. ''I can see one of them in the quad now. Brazen hussy. Look at the length of that skirt ! That's what we used to call...'' ''Yes, yes,' said the Dean, refocusing his glasses. 'Let's just call her a brazen hussy . Good god!'' ''You dirty pig ! What do you think you are doing? Get off me!'' ''You dirty, molesting pervert ! How dare you suggest I was encouraging you in any way whatsoever!'' Advertisement Dr Hutchinson, who retired in 2011, published an erotic novel under the pseudonym of 'Barry Able' at the time of the initial complaints, according to Tortoise (pictured, Trinity Hall) Dr Hutchinson was acquitted of the charge of indecently assaulting a police officer in 2006 (pictured outside court), saying: 'The last 12 months have been horrible for me, but I've survived because I've always known I was innocent' He also claimed that his book reflected the views of women to whom he had spoken, and offered a more 'progressive' view of women in society. 'In the opening scene, for example, an all-women's society is in control, totally liberated, it is they who are 'conquering' men, not the other way around,' he said. Concerns about these revelations follows past charges of lewd behaviour, including indecently assaulting a police officer in 2006 at Trinity Hall. Dr Hutchinson was acquitted of the charge, saying at the time: 'The last 12 months have been horrible for me, but I've survived because I've always known I was innocent and because I've had such tremendous support from so many quarters. 'I am extremely disappointed that the Crown Prosecution Service decided to bring this case and I shall be making an appropriate complaint.' Asked why the policewoman had accused him of assaulting her while making a 'pervy, Benny Hill groaning' noise, he replied: 'I wish I knew.' Dr Hutchinson was mired in controversy in 2015, after allegations of his making 'inappropriate sexual and sexist' comments in tutorials were made (pictured, Trinity Hall) A 15-year-scandal: Why Trinity Hall's Dr Hutchinson is mired in controversy even now (2005-20) 2005: Dr Hutchinson is accused of indecently assaulting a police officer - a former Cambridge University student - after inviting her for drinks at a party he was throwing at Trinity Hall. 2006: The former lecturer was acquitted of the charges, telling reporters outside Norwich Crown Court: 'I am extremely disappointed that the Crown Prosecution Service decided to bring this case and I shall be making an appropriate complaint.' 2011: Dr Hutchinson retires but teachers in a non-stipendiary role at Trinity Hall until 2015. 2015: Allegations of 'inappropriate sexual and sexist' comments made during tutorials in 2014-15 are brought forward by 10 female students. 2017: Following an internal investigation, Dr Hutchinson issues a public apology and quits. 2019: In October, Trinity Hall calls its decision to bar Dr Hutchinson from student events 'incorrect'. In November, an open letter signed by 1,300 students and alumni forces Dr Hutchinson to finally leave. 2020: Tortoise reveals that Dr Hutchinson wrote and self-published a series of 'erotic adventures' in 2015. Advertisement Dr Hutchinson said he had twice patted the police officer's bottom on previous occasions, and that she had not objected. He had sent her an email explaining how 'blondes with a certain eye colour' made him go 'weak at the knees', and said she gave the impression she was flattered. After his arrest, Dr Hutchinson told detectives that he was 'dumbfounded' and 'emotionally devastated'. He claimed: 'I just cannot understand how something which seemed so trivial was so important to her, and I cannot really see it as a sexual assault.' He accepted he had probably tried to kiss and touch the woman, adding: 'Maybe the gin had gone to my head. It was a stiff one. I think I must have found her irresistible. But I didn't use force, she's bigger than me.' Dr Hutchinson was mired in controversy in 2015, after allegations of his making 'inappropriate sexual and sexist' comments in tutorials were made. He was accused of offering a 'big kiss' to one undergraduate on her birthday and of asking a group of four students if they would 'sleep their way to the top' during a film night he hosted at his house. While discussing the subject of a dominatrix in a book, he allegedly turned to one female student and then asked her: 'Does that turn you on?' Ten students brought charges of lewd behaviour against the former Trinity Hall vice-master, who quit teaching and publicly apologised after an internal investigation ruled against him in 2017. Speaking of his 'thoughtless' and 'insensitive' comments, he said at the time: 'I said from the start I was sorry for any distress I had caused. 'I continue to deeply regret the comments I made, and the impact they had on the students concerned. At the time I did not question the comments I made as I was not made aware of the impact they were having.' In October 2019, the college said its statement was 'incorrect' and that Dr Hutchinson would now be allowed back to 'attend certain college events'. The college said Dr Hutchinson had automatically become an emeritus fellow upon his retirement, which meant he could not be banned from campus. However, he resigned in November 2019 after an open letter signed by more than 1,300 students and alumni protested the university's decision. A former drug addict who assaulted and robbed a customer at an internet cafe has been jailed for five and-a-half years. Keith ODonoghue, 31, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to an incident at Station Internet Cafe, Davis Street at around 8.30pm on October 21, 2016. Sergeant Cathal ONeill told Limerick Circuit Court the victim, who was aged in his early 40s, was on a computer at the internet cafe when he was approached by two males. The men then began to speak aggressively with the victim before assaulting him. He was accosted and punched in the face, he said adding that his car keys, which were on the computer desk, were taken by the culprits. The victims Nissan Almera Car which was parked near the internet cafe was stolen and later found burned out in the Prospect area of the city. Following his arrest a number of days later, the defendant admitted assaulting the victim and stealing his car. However, he told gardai during interview that he had abandoned the car and did not set it alight. Read also: University of Limerick researchers team up with Brazilian police to tackle child porn on dark web Brian McInerney BL said his client was highly intoxicated on the night and expressed genuine remorse when questioned by gardai. He added what happened was not premeditated and that it was an incident that developed. He said Mr ODonoghue is no longer taking drugs and is making great progress in turning his life around. He represents a moderate risk of reoffending, said the barrister. We are looking at a then and now scenario," he added. Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell noted the defendant is remorseful and has paid 1,000 in compensation to the victim who, he said, was a very bad candidate for such and assault and robbery. In addition to the prison sentence, he imposed a seven-year disqualification. Whether you like cooking, love it or are indifferent to the task, most of us can agree that washing a lot of pots and pans after dinner is a drag. Wouldnt it instead be easier if there were really only one? One skillet or one Dutch oven, one sheet pan, one pot? Wouldnt that be great? Imagine the ease of it, to come home from work and turn on the oven, line a sheet pan with foil or parchment, tip onto it some vegetables, some protein, some aromatics and sauce: Dinner, nothing else required! Thats why the editors of NYT Cooking have put together this modest (and beautiful), wide-ranging (and tightly focused) collection of recipes devoted to the celebration of one-vessel cooking, on the stovetop and in the oven. They come from the stars of our universe: Melissa Clark, Alison Roman, Julia Moskin, Ali Slagle, David Tanis, Tejal Rao, Yewande Komolafe, Colu Henry, Joan Nathan, Kay Chun even me! The majority will deliver a whole meal in a single pot, pan or skillet, full stop. For others, youll need to add only a vegetable or starchy side dish if you desire one, a salad, a basket of bread. There are vegetarian situations, and vegan ones too, lots of fish, plenty of chicken, plenty of stew. The only constant among them is our desire to make cooking easier (and wildly delicious) and to deliver you from the sadness of a sink filled with dishes. More portable, fully wireless smart home setups. Lower power wearables. Batteryless smart devices. These could all be made possible thanks to a new ultra-low power Wi-Fi radio developed by electrical engineers at the University of California San Diego. The device, which is housed in a chip smaller than a grain of rice, enables Internet of Things (IoT) devices to communicate with existing Wi-Fi networks using 5,000 times less power than today's Wi-Fi radios. It consumes just 28 microwatts of power. And it does so while transmitting data at a rate of 2 megabits per second (a connection fast enough to stream music and most YouTube videos) over a range of up to 21 meters. The team will present their work at the ISSCC 2020 conference Feb. 16 to 20 in San Francisco. "You can connect your phone, your smart devices, even small cameras or various sensors to this chip, and it can directly send data from these devices to a Wi-Fi access point near you. You don't need to buy anything else. And it could last for years on a single coin cell battery," said Dinesh Bharadia, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. Commercial Wi-Fi radios typically consume hundreds of milliwatts to connect IoT devices with Wi-Fi transceivers. As a result, Wi-Fi compatible devices need either large batteries, frequent recharging or other external power sources to run. "This Wi-Fi radio is low enough power that we can now start thinking about new application spaces where you no longer need to plug IoT devices into the wall. This could unleash smaller, fully wireless IoT setups," said UC San Diego electrical and computer engineering professor Patrick Mercier, who co-led the work with Bharadia. Think a portable Google Home device that you can take around the house and can last for years instead of just hours when unplugged. "It could also allow you to connect devices that are not currently connected--things that cannot meet the power demands of current Wi-Fi radios, like a smoke alarm--and not have a huge burden on battery replacement," Mercier said. The Wi-Fi radio runs on extremely low power by transmitting data via a technique called backscattering. It takes incoming Wi-Fi signals from a nearby device (like a smartphone) or Wi-Fi access point, modifies the signals and encodes its own data onto them, and then reflects the new signals onto a different Wi-Fi channel to another device or access point. This work builds on low-power Wi-Fi radio technology that Bharadia helped develop as a Ph.D. student at Stanford. In this project, he teamed up with Mercier to develop an even lower-power Wi-Fi radio. They accomplished this by building in a component called a wake-up receiver. This "wakes up" the Wi-Fi radio only when it needs to communicate with Wi-Fi signals, so it can stay in low-power sleep mode the rest of the time, during which it consumes only 3 microwatts of power. The UC San Diego team's improvements to the technology also feature a custom integrated circuit for backscattering data, which makes the whole system smaller and more efficient, and thus enables their Wi-Fi radio to operate over longer communication range (21 meters). This is a practical distance for operating in a smart home environment, the researchers said. "Here, we demonstrate the first pragmatic chip design that can actually be deployed in a small, low-power device," Mercier said. ### Paper title: "A 28W IoT Tag that can Communicate with Commodity WiFi Transceivers via a Single-Side-Band QPSK Backscatter Communication Technique." The student researchers include Po-Han Peter Wang, Chi Zhang, Hongsen Yang and Manideep Dunna, UC San Diego. The situation for the regime is so spoiled, that Zarif tried to open the doors of relations with countries in the region, and in particular, Saudi Arabia may be to find a way to solve some of the regimes problems. In particular, the mullahs are suffering from regional and international isolation these days. On this subject Zarif tried with lies and frivolity, to reach out to Saudi Arabia, whose oilfields his regime recently attacked with missiles and drones. He suggested they could open a window, even a small aperture for dialogue, and thus open the door for the regime to breathe while it is choking on the brink of the massive crisis. On this subject, Zarif in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, spoke about the regimes readiness to negotiate and discuss the security with Irans neighbors, according to state media: Irans Foreign Ministry emphasizes that Tehran is ready [to dialogue with all neighbors], including Saudi Arabia, saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the security of its neighbors as its own security. This political bankruptcy, especially after the elimination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Irans IRGC Quds Force, has become more apparent, so that Zarif was resorted to lying about Saudi Arabias willing to discuss, saying in the same interview that the other party had given a message for dialogue and Zarif created a lot of scandal for Khameneis crippled government: After the death of Soleimani, we received a message from Saudi Arabia that they wanted to talk to Iran. [We responded positively to their message] and said we were ready for dialogue, he added. He even said in part of his frustrating conversation, that we are even now ready to talk. It is clear that Zarif is in a hurry for dialogue and negotiations. But interestingly, the Saudi Foreign Minister has given a clear answer to Zarif about dialogue and negotiations, while this answer can be interpreted by any political observer as a humiliating response to the regime, and revealed the lies of this Khameneis top diplomat: Saudi Arabias foreign minister says no private message has been sent to Iran to ease tensions and no direct contact has been made. The Saudi foreign minister has repeated his governments past stance and calls on the regime to stop its past behavior and change its behavior. before any dialogue, Iran must change its behavior. In order to get rid of the emerging crises, the regime needs to get out of isolation and political blockade, especially while Iraq is becoming one of the main crises of the regime which are deepening its isolation. This is true because the Iraqi people sent the message to the Iranian regime that, we are not afraid of you and come and collect your mercenaries from our country and get out. Now, this is the messy situation of Khameneis regime, which has even accepted to become infamous among the public, including for its dishonesty, and tried everything to step out from the path of decline, but its too late. Read more: Zarif Accuse MEK of Terrorism, When He Is the Terrorist PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys Foundation USA, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing access to computer science (CS) and maker education, announced this week the launch of the Pathfinders Online Institute a platform to facilitate the ongoing professional development of K-12 public school teachers. While learning computer science is widely acknowledged as beneficial to students' future workplace success and cognitive development, 30% of teachers say they feel underqualified to teach the subject and another 20% say they feel overwhelmed according to a recent Microsoft survey. The Pathfinders Online Institute aims to provide a place for community building, best-practice sharing and curriculum resources for educators regardless of where they are in their teaching tenure. It builds on the professional development that the Infosys Foundation USA already provides K-12 public school teachers through its in-person multi-day Pathfinders Institutes. "We have had great success at the in-person Pathfinders Institutes which have served one thousand teachers from across the U.S. over the past two years. What we hear most from teachers is that in addition to the inspiring curriculum, they leave with a fresh network of likeminded educators who are similarly committed to bringing CS and making to their classrooms. The Foundation wants to foster those connections and continued learning," said Kate Maloney, Executive Director, Infosys Foundation USA. "That's why we created the Pathfinders Online Institute so teachers and their professional development providers can stay connected, share best practices and continue their learning throughout the academic year." "We know how critical it is that all students learn computer science skills so that they can thrive in the digital economy. The best way to reach students is through their teachers," said Ravi Kumar S., Chairperson, Infosys Foundation USA. "The Pathfinders Online Institute will allow us to reach more teachers year-round and enable them to continue to build their own skills and bring new learnings into the classroom." "The Pathfinders Institute is one of the best ways for us to connect with a diverse group of teachers to share how to integrate making and coding for social good into their classrooms. If you want to be inspired, work with the teachers that Pathfinders brings together. There's nothing like it that's what keeps bringing us back every year and we're excited to extend the connections year-round!" said Connie Liu, Founder and Executive Director, Project Invent. The Pathfinders Online Institute was launched at the Infosys Foundation USA's inaugural Pathfinders Winter Institute. The event brought together 275 K-12 public school teachers from across the U.S. for three-days of intensive professional development in computer science and maker education. The Foundation partnered with 12 professional development providers to offer teachers a diverse course offering. The Pathfinders Online Institute is currently available to alumni of the in-person Pathfinders Institutes, with widespread rollout and additional feature releases planned for later this year. More information on the Pathfinders Institute program can be found on the Infosys Foundation USA's official website. About Infosys Foundation USA: Infosys Foundation USA was established in 2015 with the mission of expanding computer science (CS) and maker education to K-12 students and teachers across the United States. The Foundation achieves impact through delivering professional development programs for teachers, partnering with leading nonprofits, and delivering innovative media campaigns that raise awareness about the Foundation's commitment to bridging the digital divide. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg SOURCE Infosys Related Links http://www.infosys.org It offers protection against measles, but many refuse it on unfounded fears It comes amid a global outbreak of cases due to declining uptake of the MMR jab Measles is even more serious than people realise, doctors have warned. The highly contagious infection begins with a fever, cough and purple rash, but can lead to deadly complications. Three people who suffered hepatitis, viral meningitis and appendicitis after contracting measles were discussed in a report published today. It comes amid a global outbreak of cases due to declining uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The two-dose jab offers maximum protection against all three infections, but 'unfounded fears' about its risks have caused many to refuse it. Measles, which begins with a fever, cough and purple rash, is even more serious than people realise, doctors have warned. Three people who contracted measles and later suffered hepatitis, viral meningitis and appendicitis were discussed in a report published today Writing in the British Medical Journal, doctors at the Mater Dei Hospital said measles can lead to 'many and varied' conditions affecting all organs. About 30 per cent of all reported cases are linked to one or more complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These occur most commonly in children under five years of age and adults above 20 years of age. Common complications include diarrhoea and vomiting, eye and ear infections and seizures, according to the NHS. Although most people with measles recover in around a week, Dr Thelma Xerri and colleagues highlighted how serious it can become. Rarer and more serious problems include pneumonia, febrile seizures and encephalomyelitis - inflammation of the brain and spinal cord which causes neurological problems. One potential complication is a progressive neurological disorder that causes permanent nervous system damage and leads to a vegetative state, doctors wrote. Multi-organ involvement could lead to disability or even cause death, the team said. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES AND HOW CAN YOU CATCH IT? Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from an infected person by coughing, sneezing or even just breathing. Symptoms develop between six and 19 days after infection, and include a runny nose, cough, sore eyes, a fever and a rash. The rash appears as red and blotchy marks on the hairline that travel down over several days, turning brown and eventually fading. Some children complain of disliking bright lights or develop white spots with red backgrounds on their tongue. In one in 15 cases, measles can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia, convulsions and encephalitis. Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society told MailOnline: 'Measles can be very serious. '[It] can cause encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain. 'Encephalitis can result in death or disability.' Treatment focuses on staying hydrated, resting and taking painkillers, if necessary. Measles can be prevented by receiving two vaccinations, the first at 13 months old and the second at three years and four months to five years old. Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital Advertisement They revealed the cases of three unidentified people who were diagnosed with measles complications in hospital in Malta in 2019. A 29-year-old man had suffered four days of an intermittent fever with chills and vomiting before going to the doctors. On the second day at hospital, he developed the typical measles rash. The man, who had only taken one of two doses of the MMR vaccine, developed hepatitis - inflammation of the liver. An 18-year-old British woman who never received the vaccine visited the hospital in Malta while on holiday. She had a rash over her stomach, face and limbs for three days, as well as a dry cough. A diagnosis of measles with appendicitis was made, and she stayed in hospital for two weeks recovering. A middle-aged man saw medics at hospital a week after being diagnosed with measles by his GP. He had been suffering eye irritation and headaches. He was found to have viral meningitis - an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The trio are believed to have suffered severe problems because the measles virus leads to a decline in immune cells. This can last for up to a month, wiping out the body's ability to fight other illnesses. All patients in the report recovered fully and were not left with any long-lasting health problems. However, full vaccination would have protected all three from the virus. The Daily Mail is campaigning to boost the uptake of childhood MMR immunisations. Dr Xerri and colleagues said: 'Measles, which was once thought to be a disappearing viral infection due to effective vaccination, has been reemerging globally, with increasing cases in adolescents and adults. 'This has been attributed to anti-vaccination campaigning in the early 21st century, which has resulted in a drop in overall herd immunity.' 'Herd immunity' is when a significant portion of the population are vaccinated against a disease, and those who are not protected are less able to spread the disease between one another. For vaccinations to be truly effective, 95 per cent of the population need to be immunised to achieve herd immunity. In England only 86 per cent receive both injections by their fifth birthday. Even small declines in uptake can have serious consequences for a whole community, which has become apparent in recent years. Experts have described outbreaks of measles as an 'unprecedented' global crisis, causing more than 110,000 deaths globally last year, most of them children under the age of five. In the first six months of 2019, 10,000 measles cases were reported in Europe. The UK used to have a 'measles-free' status until a marked increase in the number of cases in 2018. There were 991 confirmed cases in England and Wales- treble the number of 284 cases in 2017. The hesitance to take children for their jabs has been accelerated by antivaxxer myths about the dangers of the MMR jab which are spread on social media. False claims in the early 2000s which linked the MMR vaccine to autism are still rife today. The research, led by the disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield, has since been discredited. The authors of the BMJ report wrote: 'Large outbreaks with fatalities are currently ongoing in European countries which had previously eliminated or interrupted endemic transmission. 'Urgent efforts are needed to ensure global coverage with two-dose measles vaccines through education and strengthening of national immunisation systems.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: 'Measles is very easy to catch and can kill. Fortunately, we have a very safe and effective vaccine that can stop measles from spreading and save lives. 'But if youve not had your two doses of MMR vaccine then you are at risk. If youre unsure if you are up to date with your two doses of MMR vaccine contact your GP practice. Its never too late to protect yourself and others.' Natalie Romei, a Senior High student, wants to become a nurse. Specifically, she wants to work as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse. On Monday Romei got the opportunity to shadow a NICU nurse for the day as part of the Montana BioScience Internship Initiatives Immersion Day at Billings Clinic, which paired 18 high school and college students with Billings Clinic professionals. The students also conducted mock operations and scenarios at the Billings Clinic's simulation lab. The Montana BioScience Alliance program is aimed at connecting students to health care careers and future internships and to show students the wide range of careers available in the health care field. They often think of, say, a nurse, but there are so many careers on the clinical and non-clinical sides as well. We can expose students to options they might not have known of, Karen Miller, director of BillingsWorks said. BillingsWorks, part of Big Sky Economic Development, helped organize the event. Rocky Mountain College junior George Beddow said he got to see a different side to medical care while shadowing a physician's assist Monday. Beddow is a biology major and hopes to become a doctor. When you buy shares in a company, it's worth keeping in mind the possibility that it could fail, and you could lose your money. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. One great example is American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) which saw its share price drive 157% higher over five years. On top of that, the share price is up 16% in about a quarter. But this move may well have been assisted by the reasonably buoyant market (up 8.8% in 90 days). Check out our latest analysis for American Water Works Company In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, American Water Works Company managed to grow its earnings per share at 9.5% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 21% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). NYSE:AWK Past and Future Earnings, February 18th 2020 It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, American Water Works Company's TSR for the last 5 years was 185%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that American Water Works Company shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 44% over the last year. That's including the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 23% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for American Water Works Company that you should be aware of before investing here. But note: American Water Works Company may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The Grand Ducal decree concerning Duschene's retirement was confirmed on 31 January. On Monday, the Memorial confirmed that Luxembourg army General Alain Duschene will retire in September. Duschene, aged 59, joined the army voluntarily at the age of 18. In March 2008 he was promoted to deputy Chief of Staff and Colonel, before succeeding Romain Mancinelli as Chief of Defence and General in September 2017. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 : One of Kerala's tallest journalists M.S. Mani passed away at his home, here, Tuesday morning, said family sources. The veteran journalist was unwell for a while. The 78-year-old veteran was a former editor of popular Malayalam daily, Kerala Kaumudi and was presently the Chief Editor of Kala Kaumudi daily. Son of K. Sukumaran, who edited Kerala Kaumudi daily, Mani began his journalistic career in 1961 and moved to Delhi as the staff reporter of Kerala Kaumudi in 1962. He returned to the state capital in 1965 and later on took over as the Chief Editor of Kerala Kaumudi for long. He was considered as a hugely respected journalist, cutting across political circles. Mani was known for always maintaining a low profile, but all leading political personalities, looked upon him for his advice. He is survived by his wife and two children. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Mani and described his passing away as a huge loss. "His contribution to the world of journalism has always been appreciated and is also credited for building a huge talent pool of journalists. The hallmark of the veteran was even when he differed on issues, he always saw to it that never affected his personal relations," said Vijayan. The last rites would be held at his home, here, Tuesday evening. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text THE Abbeyfeale water supply, which caters for over 6,400 people, is no longer classified as a priority action area for pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency which has now removed it from its list of supplies needing remedial action. The Remedial Action List identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water and Abbeyfeale has been on the list for a number of years. In October last year, the Limerick Leader reported that, over a 21-day period, there had been six incidences where the levels of pesticide in the Feale water catchment area, which includes Abbeyfeale, had breached guidelines. The Leader also reported there had been six breaches in 2018, five in 2017, six in 2016, five and 2015 and four in 2014. But a spokesman for Irish Water said this week: The Abbeyfeale water supply was given the thumbs up by the EPA following an extensive campaign, run in conjunction with the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG), to raise awareness of responsible pesticide use in the wider River Feale catchment area. The Feale and the Deel were among eight priority catchment areas of particular concern around the country because the level of pesticides persistently exceeds the permitted levels and have been targeted for action by the EPA. The EPA had directed that the Abbeyfeale scheme should be compliant by December 2019 and that the Newcastle West scheme must be complaint by June of this year. Read also: Limerick councillors demand clarity on wastewater plant The number of water supplies in Limerick on the Remedial Action List is now down to two, from 13 supplies in 2015. The Deel catchment area, which includes over 9,600 people using the Newcastle West supply, remains a priority action area and remains on the list. Figures supplied to the Limerick Leader show that pesticide levels were exceeded five times in 2014, nine times in 2016, four times in 2017 but just once in 2018 and 2019. The supply is monitored on a monthly basis and the EPA has directed that it be fully compliant by June of this year. Irish Water is committed to ensuring that all of its customers have safe, clean drinking water. It is working in partnership with Local Authorities to address the issues affecting the water supplies which remain on the RAL and to bring them to a standard where the EPA determines that they can be removed, the spokesman said. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Susan Schneider, associate professor of philosophy and cognitive science and director of the AI, Mind and Society (AIMS) Group at UConn, has gained a national and international reputation for her writing on the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). She writes about the nature of the self and mind, AI, cognitive science, and astrobiology in publications including the New York Times, Scientific American, and The Financial Times and her work has been widely discussed in the media, such as Science, Big Think, Nautilus, Discover and Smithsonian. She was named NASA-Baruch Blumberg Chair for the Library of Congress and NASA and also holds the Distinguished Scholar Chair at the Library of Congress. In her new book, Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind (Princeton University Press, 2019), she examines the implications of advances in artificial intelligence technology for the future of the human mind. Q: What is the focus of your newest book? A: This book is about the future of the mind. It explores the nature of the self and consciousness in a not so distant future, using today's work in artificial intelligence and brain enhancement technologies. Consciousness is the felt quality to experiencewhat it feels like to be you. When you smell the aroma of your morning coffee, hear the sound of a Bach concerto, or feel pain, you are having conscious experience. Indeed, every moment of your waking life, and even when you dream, it feels like something from the inside to be you. This book asks: assuming we build highly sophisticated artificial intelligences at some point in the future, would they be conscious beings? Further, how would we detect consciousness in machines? These questions are addressed in the first half the book. The second half of the book is on the nature of the self. I illustrate that AI isn't just going to change the world around us. It's going to go inside the head, changing the human mind itself, but I'm concerned about the potential uses of invasive AI components inside of our heads. I urge that we need to understand deep philosophical questions about the self, consciousness, and the mind before we start playing with fire and start replacing parts of our brains with artificial components. When it comes to the self and mind, we are faced with vexing philosophical questions that have no easy solution. Q: You report about such experimentation with neural implants for things like Alzheimer's disease but return to the question of, if there's an artificial intelligence when does it become aware of itself? A: There are all kinds of impressive medical technologies underway, and I'm very supportive of the use of invasive brain chips to help individuals with radical memory loss or locked in syndrome, in which individuals entirely lose their ability to move. I think innovations to help these people are important and exciting. What I get worried about, though, is the idea that humans should engage in widespread and invasive AI-based enhancement of their brains. For instance, Elon Musk has recently declared that we will eventually need to keep up with super-intelligent AIa hypothetical form of AI that vastly outsmarts usand we need to do that by enhancing our brains. He also thinks doing so will help us keep up with technological unemployment that many economists claim will happen because AI will outmode us in the workforce. Musk and others talk about "merging with AI and I" through gradually augmenting intelligence with AI technology until, in the end of the day, we are essentially AIs ourselves. Musk has recently founded a company to do this, and Facebook and Kernal are also working on this. But I argue in the book and in op-eds for the New York Times and the Financial Times that the idea we could truly merge with artificial intelligence in the ways that a lot of tech gurus and transhumanists advocate is actually not philosophically well-founded. We have to think things through more carefully Q: You use examples of AI from science fiction, including one with the Star Trek: Next Generation character Lt. Commander Data, who is under attack on a planet and he uploads his brain's memories to a computer on the Enterprise. You ask: Will he still be the same Data that he was before being destroyed? Will he really survive? A: I think people assume that AIs will have the capacity to be immortal because they can just keep uploading and downloading copies of themselves whenever they are in a jam. By this they mean the android be practically immortal, living until the end of the universe. This makes them almost God-like. I am skeptical. In the book I use the Data example to illustrate that if Data found out that he was on a planet that was about to be destroyed, he couldn't upload and genuinely survive. I think the idea that you could transfer your thoughts to a different format and still be you, surviving impending death, is conceptually flawed. It is flawed in both the human case and the case of androids. Believe it or not, there are advocates of uploading the human brain to survive death at places like the Oxford Future of Humanity Institute. I am skeptical. Q: One of the points that you make in the book is that we have come far technologically but haven't heard anything yet from an alien culture. You suggest we should prepare for alien contact by including the involvement of sociologists and anthropologists and philosophers. As the NASA chair at NASA and the Library of Congress, I love to think about the Fermi paradox, which is the question: Given the vast size of the universe, where is all the intelligent life? Where is everybody? Nowadays, the question can be framed in terms of all of the intriguing exoplanet research that identifies habitable planets throughout the universe, but are these exoplanets actually inhabited (not just inhabitable), and if they are inhabited, does life survive into technological majority? Or are we alone? Why haven't we heard anything? To the extent that we even do find life out there, my guess is that we will first find microbial life. There's dozens of gloriously fun answers to the Fermi paradox. Q: In the work that you're doing with Congress, what kinds of questions are you being asked and what we should be thinking about going forward with all this technology? There's been a lot of concern over the last few years about deep fake videos. Nobody likes it; your career could be ruined by a deep fake video that has you saying something really rotten that you never said. Algorithmic discrimination is a big issue, the fact that algorithms that are based on deep learning technologies will be data-driven, so if the data itself has implicit bias, hidden biases in it, it can actually lead to a bad result which discriminates against certain groups. There are many members of Congress who've been concerned about that. That's why we really need AI regulations. AI regulation could do tremendous work. And so I do hope we move forward on all of these issues. Explore further Does artificial intelligence deserve the same ethical protections we give to animals? Maduro says US plotting to invade Venezuela, country 'not afraid of combat' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 5:37 AM Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says the United States and some of its allies are plotting to invade Venezuela and that the South American country is "not afraid of military combat." In a televised speech on Monday, Maduro said the US had assembled a "mercenary force" to invade Venezuela. "We don't want war; we don't want violence; we don't want terrorism, but we are not afraid of military combat and we are going to guarantee peace," said the Venezuelan president, surrounded by the armed forces' high command. The US has been carrying out a pressure campaign against Maduro's government and urged the armed forces to turn against him. Washington has been backing opposition figure Juan Guaido in his attempts to topple the government in Caracas, including through a recent coup that failed. The administration of US President Donald Trump has also imposed several rounds of sanctions against the oil-rich country aimed at ousting Maduro and replacing him with Guaido. Guaido is considered responsible for causing political crisis in Venezuela when he unilaterally declared himself "interim president" of the country in January last year, rejecting the outcome of the May 2018 election, which Maduro had won. Maduro said there were groups of military "deserters" training in neighboring Colombia to "enter silently and attack military units." He said military exercises were conducted over the weekend in reaction to threats of aggression orchestrated by the US, Colombia, and Brazil. Venezuela's armed forces and civilian militia on Saturday kicked off two-day nationwide military drills, dubbed the Bolivarian Shield 2020 Operation. According to official figures, about 2.4 million forces participated in the drills. The exercises were conducted "based on real threats, not imagined ones," Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino, who was seated next to Maduro during the president's Monday speech, said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The first air raids to be launched on Australia since the war began were made on Darwin yesterday by Japanese planes. Some damage was done to service installations, and shipping in the harbor also suffered. Some casualties are reported, but no details are yet available. In the first raid, which lasted an hour, 72 enemy bombers accompanied by fighters participated, and in the afternoon raid, 21 bombers took part. Four enemy aircraft were brought down. This news was contained in a statement issued by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) in Sydney last night. He said it would be a source of pride to the public to know that the armed forces and the civilians had, during the raids, comported themselves with the gallantry traditional of our stock. Troops inspect the remains of a building following the raid. Credit:State Reference Library of the Northern Territory Mr. Curtin added: "The Government regards the attacks as most grave and makes it clear that a severe blow has been struck on Australian soil. Information does not disclose details of casualties, but it must be obvious that we have suffered. We must face with fortitude the first onset and remember that whatever the future holds in store for us we are Australians and will fight grimly and victoriously." BURLINGTON Thank you. That was the phrase repeated the most on Sunday at Veterans Terrace during a program dedicated to honor the many members of Burlington Rescue Squad, who served as a volunteer community ambulance service over the past 73 years. Facing an ever-increasing call volume and a shortage of volunteers, the Burlington Rescue Squad disbanded at the end of 2019 and City of Burlington Fire Department took over the responsibilities of providing emergency medical services to the City and Town of Burlington. In thanking the members of the squad, many of whom sat on stage Sunday, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said: Your efforts the last 73 years will endure for generations to come whether that was to a pregnant woman who gave birth and now that child is going to be here for a while, or saving a parent who was able to have a profound impact on a child for many, many more years. That is the impact that will last for generations. With that, Delagrave declared Feb. 16, 2020 Burlington Rescue Squad Day in Racine County. In addition to the many people helped and lives the squad members saved over nearly three-quarters of a century, the squad also continued its service even after its dissolution, donating ambulances and equipment to other rescue squads in need throughout the region and state, including the Birnamwood Ambulance Service in northern Wisconsin. Members of Birnamwood Ambulance Service, which is near Wausau, were in Burlington Sunday to say thanks. Now they are all part of our family, said Ronald Bauch, the Birnamwood Ambulance Service director. During a surprise moment at Sundays program, members of Rochester Fire and Rescue Company, the Town of Burlington Fire Department, Kansasville Fire and Rescue Department, Wheatland Fire Department and the Lyons Fire and Rescue Department filed into the ceremony to give their thanks to Burlington Rescue Squad members they worked along side on many a call over the years. Generations of service Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who was on hand to present a resolution honoring the squad, is more than familiar with Burlington Rescue Squad. His grandfather was one of the first volunteers to join the Rescue Squad. Later on his father, Tom Vos, a longtime Burlington alderman, joined and spent 20-plus years with the squad and his cousin was an active member until the squad ended its service. Its really been a part of our family throughout the entire history of the Burlington Rescue Squad, Vos said. This all happened in the most altruistic way, they werent paid. They took the time out of their own familys lives. Growing up, Vos said there were countless Christmases, birthdays and other family gatherings where someone had to leave because of an emergency call. Without hesitation, my family and the families of all these people (who served) said, We know where you have to go. We know someone is in trouble. They need your help. And the first people to step up were the people here on the stage, Vos said. There are literally thousands of chairs that could be put into this room with the men and women that they saved because of their bravery and their selfless actions on a very regular basis, people who were having the worst day of their lives were met with the people who were well trained and willing to give the best effort they possibly could to help save their lives, Vos said. Vos said he knew many on stage didnt want recognition, that they did what they did because it was what was right for the community. But I just want to say on behalf of the Legislature and the entire community, thank you. That is the only word that really fits. Thank you. I just want to say on behalf of the Legislature and the entire community, thank you. That is the only word that really fits. Thank you. Robin Vos, state Assembly speaker and son and grandson of former BRS members Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Advertisement A new set of historical film stamps have been released by the Royal Mail to mark the release of the 25th Bond film No Time To Die. The ten stamps feature the six actors who have played 007, as well as some of the most well-known modes of transport used in the films. In true Bond spy-like style, the stamps also include hidden features which can be revealed when using a UV light. James Bond, played by Daniel Craig in 2012's Skyfall, is pictured above on one of the stamps with an Aston Martin DB5 which featured in the film. The ten stamps feature the six actors who have played 007 The six different Bond actors down the decades have been given their own face stamp. Daniel Craig is playing the spy in No Time To Die, and has also played him in 2012's Skyfall and Casino Royale, which came out in 2006. Pierce Brosnan was 007's actor in 1995's GoldenEye, while Timothy Dalton took the lead role in 1987's The Living Daylights. Roger Moore played Bond in Live And Let Die, 1973, while George Lazenby played him On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Sean Connery played the spy for 1964's Goldfinger. Iconic devices depicted on the stamps include the Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Little Nellie, the autogyro from You Only Live Twice (1967) the Bell-Textron Jet Pack from Thunderball (1965) and the Aston Martin DB5, as seen in Skyfall (2012). Royal Mail spokesman Philip Parker said: 'James Bond is a British icon, recognised throughout the world for decades. It's fitting our new stamps celebrate the six Bonds with stylish and evocative designs.' The stamps will be available today ahead of the new Bond film, No Time To Die, which will be released in April. The Bell-Textron Jet Pack is pictured above in 1965's Thunderball. Some of the most well-known modes of transport used in the films, including the Jet Pack, are used on the stamps The Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) also gets its own stamp. The design has become a Bond icon after 40 years Daniel Craig played Bond in Casino Royale, which was released in 2006. Daniel Craig is playing the spy in No Time To Die, and has also played Bond in 2012's Skyfall Sean Connery played Bond in Goldfinger, which was released in 1964. The Royal Mail said their stamps 'celebrate the six Bonds with stylish and evocative designs' Pierce Brosnan played Bond in GoldenEye, which was released in 1995. The six different Bond actors down the decades have been given their own face stamp George Lazenby played Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service released in 1969. In true Bond spy-like style, the stamps include hidden features which can be revealed when using a UV light Roger Moore played Bond in Live And Let Die, which was released in 1973. The stamps will be available from today ahead of a new Bond film which is on release from April Press Release February 18, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 720: Sen. Leila M. de Lima's on Malacanang's fallacious justification for the VFA's abrogation 2/18/20 Panelo wants us to believe that the abrogation of the VFA was a matter of principle, that Duterte thinks it's about time that we stand on our own and be self-reliant in our national defense and security. This is a lot of bullshit. Duterte's move is dictated by his desire to ingratiate himself with China. He delivered the decapitated head of the US-PH VFA to China on a silver platter as part of his strategic vision of the Philippines' pivot to China which, Duterte behooves, is now the dominant global superpower in the region. Well, Duterte's global superpower cannot even defend itself nowadays against the COVID-19 crisis, its citizens international pariahs shunned from virtually every port and airport in the world, its industries and manufacturing at a standstill, and its party leadership running around like a headless chicken after mishandling the response to its largest epidemic in recent memory. Duterte does not care about Philippine self-reliance or national security and sovereignty. He has all but surrendered the West Philippine Sea to China's incursions and island-building. It is doubtful if he is really concerned about the impending Chinese plan to island-build on Scarborough Shoal as soon as it gets over the COVID-19 crisis, the Americans and the VFA being the last line of defense against such Chinese plan. Duterte's vision is to transform the Philippines into a Chinese province and outpost along the first island chain towards the Pacific. Duterte hardly--nay--never acts on the basis of principles. He probably does not even understand the concept, but, like a true sociopath, merely mimics the behavior of someone having them. His unilateral abrogation of the VFA is all about his self-interest and grand vision to transform this country into China's substitute for Taiwan, which it continues to fail to occupy because of its strong national defense and alliance with the United States. Bato thus flatters himself too much as supposedly being the cause for the VFA's abrogation. Bato's US Visa cancellation, and the US Senate's actions versus my persecution, were just the excuse. Duterte had always planned to cut ties with the US all along, the last step towards making the Philippines a full-fledged Chinese province or satellite. This will be further affirmed in the next few days when he gives in to Beijing's demand to end the PH travel ban on China, and once again expose our own countrymen to a COVID-19 epidemic for which we are sorely unprepared. Ganyan kamahal ni Duterte ang China. Hahamakin na ang mga ka-alyado ng Pilipinas at isasakripisyo ang sariling mga kababayan sa nakamamatay na virus, masunod lamang ang utos ng kanyang mga amo sa Beijing. (Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 720, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._720) A primary school has brought a High Court challenge to planning permission for Ireland's first supervised heroin-injection facility. St Audoen's National School, Cook Street, is immediately adjacent to the Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) homeless and drug service centre on the city centre quays in Dublin. Last December, An Bord Pleanala granted MQI permission to convert a 387 sq m basement into a pilot scheme for a medically supervised injection facility for heroin addicts, operating more than nine hours each day, seven days a week. MQI claims international evidence points to the need to locate such facilities where potential clients are based. It says 42pc of homeless people are in the surrounding Dublin 1, 7 and 8 areas. The school board of management says, among other things, no account was taken of expert psychological evidence that the presence of the facility would harm the school children. It is also claimed the decision is void because permission cannot be granted for a criminal activity - the injection of heroin. Merchants Quay and the surrounding area suffer from ongoing anti-social behaviour when addicts and drug dealers congregate, it is claimed. Problems An existing Night Cafe in the MQI building is also a source of behaviour problems, it is claimed. Mr Justice Charles Meenan yesterday granted the school board leave to judicially review the board's decision following a one-side-only application by Aillil O'Reilly BL, for the school, which has nearly 200 pupils and 40 staff. The judge also granted a stay on the permission being implemented for 21 days during which time the board could apply to vary or discharge the order. The case is due to come back before court in April. In its challenge, the school says the decision is outside the powers of the board as the issue of whether the facility will harm the children is not a relevant planning matter. This is something the board has no expertise or competence in, it says. The permission proposes MQI would provide supervision of areas adjacent to its own building and this, the school says, is not a known tenet of planning law. No evidence of a policing plan was presented as part of the application, it says. The planning decision was unlawful because the Minister's licence is only for 18 months while the board has granted permission for three years and for an unlawful activity, it says. Dublin City Council refused permission for the facility on grounds including over-concentration of social support services in the Dublin 8 area, and a lack of a robust policing plan. An Bord Pleanala inspector said refusal of permission would not reduce the daily public drug use and criminal behaviour or the existing harm to the children. The inspector suggests there is a possibility the facility will "improve the area in terms of public injecting and drug-related litter". Six candidates have qualified for Wednesday's Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas, including, for the first time, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Democratic National Committee announced Wednesday. The ninth debate of the cycle, set to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at the Paris Theater, will feature the following candidates, in alphabetical order: Former Vice President Joe Biden Bloomberg Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren MORE: Democrats set to clash at Las Vegas debate with Bloomberg in their sights NBC and MSNBC are hosting the debate in partnership with The Nevada Independent. The moderators are "NBC Nightly News" and "Dateline NBC" anchor Lester Holt, "Meet the Press" moderator and NBC News political director Chuck Todd, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and host of "MSNBC Live" Hallie Jackson, Noticias Telemundo senior correspondent Vanessa Hauc and The Nevada Independent's Jon Ralston. After scrapping the individual donor threshold, candidates had two ways to qualify for this debate, either by doing well enough in the Iowa caucuses or New Hampshire primary to win at least one pledged delegate, or by meeting a polling threshold determined by the DNC. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg speaks during a campaign event at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. February 12, 2020. (Douglas Strickland/Reuters) Excluding Bloomberg, ABC News estimated that every qualifying candidate would be awarded delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer. While there was no official ballot in Iowa, Bloomberg didn't file to be on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot. The debate is just days ahead of the Nevada caucuses -- and Bloomberg, who's been running an unconventional campaign where he's essentially skipped out on campaigning in the first four early voting states, also won't be on the ballot in Nevada Saturday or in South Carolina on Feb. 29. Candidates had two ways to meet the polling threshold: Get at least 10% support in four national polls and/or polls conducted in Nevada or South Carolina -- referred to as the four-poll threshold -- or get at least 12% support in two polls conducted in Nevada and/or South Carolina, referred to as the early state polling threshold. Story continues MORE: Sanders and Bloomberg rise, Biden falls, with sharp shifts in views of electability According to ABC News' analysis, Bloomberg met the four-poll threshold, and all of his qualifying polls were national polls. In order to count as qualifying polls, the polls had to be sponsored by different organizations, or if sponsored by the same organization, be covering different geographical areas. All qualifying polls had to be publicly released between Jan. 15 and 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, and sponsored by an organization or pair of organizations from a list determined by the DNC. The former mayor's last qualifying poll came when he got 19% support nationally among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents in a NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released early Tuesday. "Our campaign is seeing a groundswell of support across the country, and qualifying for the Feb. 19 debate is the latest sign that Mikes plan and ability to defeat Donald Trump is resonating with more and more Americans," Bloombergs campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. Skeekey continued: "Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he's the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country. The opportunity to discuss his workable and achievable plans for the challenges facing this country is an important part of the campaign process." PHOTO: Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a campaign rally in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, Feb. 17, 2020. (Jason Redmond/Reuters) Bloomberg, a billionaire who's already put hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money into his campaign, including by flooding the airwaves with television ads, faced criticism from some of his rivals upon qualifying. "So here is the message, anybody here worth $60 billion dollars you can run for president. And you can buy the airwaves," Sanders told supporters at an event in Reno, Nevada Tuesday. "My friends, that is called oligarchy, not democracy." On Twitter, Warren said, "Its a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate. But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire." Buttigieg told ABC News Tuesday that Bloomberg is "definitely trying to buy the race." "But heres the thing. Its not that simple. You have to actually be willing to look voters in the eye to take questions. At some point youve got to be ready to be challenged," Buttigieg added. "And I think as the debates kick in and other parts of the process, it will demonstrate that there is a lot more to becoming president than how many ads you can put on television." Bloomberg and his campaign, however, seem unfazed by all the attention from the other Democratic candidates. MORE: ABC News Democratic debate showcases hits on ascendant Buttigieg; strong performance by Klobuchar "Since Mike launched his campaign 13 weeks ago, he's met with voters in 25 states and 62 cities. Our crowds continue to grow, and our coalition continues to broaden," Sheekey, his campaign manager, said in the statement Tuesday morning. "Theres a desire in every corner of this country for a proven leader, for someone who will stand up to bullies and special interests and get things done. That person is Mike Bloomberg, and we look forward to more Americans seeing that on Wednesday night." Only two candidates won't be on stage after failing to meet either qualifying threshold: Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and businessman Tom Steyer. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer speaks at a campaign event on climate change in Spartanburg, S.C., Feb. 17, 2020. (Meg Kinnard/AP) Gabbard had no delegates and no qualifying polls, according to ABC News' analysis; Steyer had no delegates, but one qualifying poll towards the four-poll threshold. In a statement Tuesday night, Steyer campaign manager Heather Hargreaves blasted the DNC for the lack of Nevada and South Carolina polling during the qualifying period. MORE: Businessman Tom Steyer defends status in 2020 race, drawing contrast with Bloomberg on wealth tax "The DNC is effectively shutting out contenders for the nomination who have demonstrated they can build the diverse coalition of voters that will be necessary to beat Donald Trump in November," she said. "It is shameful that Perez and the DNC will bend over backward to make space for a candidate who has chosen to ignore voters in the first four races while ignoring the voices of the first two truly diverse states in this election, Nevada and South Carolina." Steyer had previously called on the DNC to extend the qualifying period for this debate or "make sure that there is significant polling in" Nevada and South Carolina during the polling window. Ultimately, there was only one qualifying poll in the window that was not a national poll. This Nevada poll was the only qualifying poll Steyer had. ABC News' Jon Haworth and Justin Gomez contributed to this report. 6 candidates to face off in Las Vegas debate, including Bloomberg for the 1st time: DNC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This home on Traymore Lane in Rose Valley, Delaware County, was overassessed when it was built. Its owners, James and Lenore Kaufman, had their annual property tax bill reduced by about $11,000 in an appeal that led to a judge ordering Delaware County to reassess all properties. Read more Delaware County property owners have been hearing for three years that changes were likely to be coming to their tax bills. Now, the county is giving them the new property assessments that will be used to calculate future taxes. Following a lawsuit and a 2017 court ruling that found inequities in the countys property assessments, the county had to reassess its more than 200,000 parcels for the first time in two decades. A 2017 Inquirer analysis found that only about 30% of properties in the county were assessed reasonably accurately. There are people paying other peoples taxes right now, Paul Miller, senior account executive at Tyler Technologies, the company that did the reassessments, told a room full of property owners at a public meeting Tuesday afternoon. The unfair situation is that right now, people are paying the wrong taxes, and were going to correct that, and I feel good about that. Property owners started to receive their new assessments this month, and the mailings will continue through March. New values will take effect next year. At the Tuesday afternoon meeting, residents wanted to know whether their tax bills would go up or down, a question without an answer until assessments are finalized and counties, municipalities, and school districts set their budgets and millage rates in late December or early January. Reassessments generally result in a third of property owners paying less in taxes, a third paying more, and a third paying about the same, according to Miller and other experts. Changes in tax bills usually arent as dramatic as people anticipate, he said. Making sure an assessment is accurate is the only way you can control your taxes, Miller said. He encouraged residents questioning an assessment to sign up for a review meeting with staff. The new assessments should represent 100% of the July 1, 2019, fair market values of properties in the county. Local governments legally cannot use reassessments to raise revenue, so the county, municipalities, and school districts must adjust their tax rates for next year so they dont pull in more money. Countywide reassessments are politically unpopular and expensive. Delaware County Council paid Tyler Technologies $6 million to reassess properties, which included comparing homes to ones sold in their area in the last few years and examining street level and aerial photos of properties. The last countywide reassessments in Delaware, Montgomery, and Chester Counties took place in the late 1990s. Bucks Countys last countywide reassessment was in 1972. The longer properties go without being assessed, the more off-kilter their assessments become, as the market changes and properties appreciate at different rates. The countys job, said County Council member Christine Reuther, is to make sure its apples to apples again, based on what properties would sell for on the same base date. Informal assessment reviews with Tyler Technologies staff will occur from early March to mid-May. The question to ask, Miller told residents, is: Would I, could I, be able to sell my house at this price? Tyler Technologies will submit updated assessments to the county in June, and the county will notify property owners in July. Property owners can then formally appeal to the countys Tax Assessment Appeals Board free if they think their assessments are incorrect. Meg Barney, a retired public school teacher in her 60s, hasnt gotten her reassessment notice yet and doesnt know what to expect. Youve seen housing booms and busts over the last 20 years, said Barney, of Media. Theres lots of shifting. She has been living in the county for almost 40 years, so was around for the last countywide reassessment, but she doesnt remember much about it. Shes hoping for the best this time. She went to the Tuesday afternoon meeting to avoid the possibility of getting inaccurate information through rumors. The more information you have, Barney said, the more youre not afraid this is happening. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} That 4.5-cent-per-$100 increase, however, is less than the 4.74 cents per $100 charged this year to pay off bonds on the 2003 NPHS building. That, in turn, is half the districts 2018-19 bond tax rate of 9.5 cents per $100. The voter registration deadline is Friday for the mail-in school election, Rossell said. Her office in the North Platte courthouse, 301 N. Jeffers St., will be open until 6 p.m. Friday for new registrations. If school patrons register by mail, the envelope must be postmarked on or before Friday. They also may register online or while applying for or renewing drivers licenses with the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Rossell urged school patrons planning to mail back their ballots to do so before March 6 to ensure they reach her office in time. Ballots will begin to be counted March 10 after the 5 p.m. deadline, and any ballots received after that wont be counted, she said. Voters may request replacement ballots, but no ballots will be mailed after Feb. 28, she said. The Parole Board of Canada says an Edmonton man convicted of killing his wife and dumping her body nearly 15 years ago has made progress in addressing family violence while in prison. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Parole Board of Canada says an Edmonton man convicted of killing his wife and dumping her body nearly 15 years ago has made progress in addressing family violence while in prison. A parole board panel decided last week to grant Michael White, 43, four unescorted temporary absences from the Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst, Ont., over nine months. Three of the absences are meant to help him get familiar with the city of Barrie, Ont., and a halfway house there, and the other is to be spent with family, particularly the couple's now-adult daughter. The panel released its reasons for the ruling today, saying the 72-hour absences would help White develop and demonstrate the skills necessary to reintegrate society. It says White, who maintains his innocence in the death of his wife Liana White, is assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending. The parole panel says the nature of White's convictions means he is considered a high risk for future domestic violence, but notes he has taken positive steps to deal with the issue. "To your credit, you engaged relevant programming and made positive progress. Accordingly, the board considers that your risk would not be undue during the proposed absences," it said in the decision. White told the panel Wednesday he had always believed his marriage was perfect, but realized while participating in a family violence program that some of his behaviour had in fact been abusive. "From your perspective, the program was helpful. From the board's perspective, it was to your credit that you engaged in the programs, acknowledged historical problems and reportedly made gains," the two-member panel wrote. "In the board's experience, few individuals that deny culpability are willing to engage in such programming." However, White is not to see his girlfriend during his absences from prison, the board said. "Given the nature of your offending, and your relatively recent relationship with your girlfriend, there is a need for ongoing monitoring of this relationship," it said. Liana White was four months pregnant with the couple's second child when she was stabbed to death in July 2005. Her body was found in a ditch a few days later, uncovered by a search party that included her husband. Michael White, who previously worked as a mechanic and served in the military, was convicted in 2006 of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years. Alberta's highest court later rejected his bid to have the convictions overturned. At last week's hearing, White denied playing any role in his wife's death. He acknowledged acting in a way that drew police suspicion after his wife went missing, but blamed that behaviour on his emotional state. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 18, 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 16:30:58|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CANBERRA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China has remained the biggest source of international visitors to Australia in 2019, according to the statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday. There were 9.5 million international visitors to Australia in 2019 -- a new record and an increase of 220,300 from 2018, with about 15 percent, or about 1.44 million coming from China's mainland. On the other side of the equation, Australians made 11.3 million overseas trips in 2019 -- almost twice as many as in 2009. New Zealand was the most popular international destination with Australians made 1.46 million short-term trips across the Tasman Sea. "There has been a strong increase of Australian residents traveling overseas over recent years," Jenny Dobak, the ABS's Director of Migration Statistics, said in a media release. Indonesia was the second most popular destination, attracting 1.4 million visits from Australia, while China was in fifth place with 608,000. The average duration away for Australians was 14 days, compared to the average stay in Australia by international visitors of 10 days. Australians spent an average of 24 days in Britain, the most of any top-10 destination, followed by India (23 days) and China (17 days). Indian equity continued to reel under pressure on Tuesday, weighed down by banking stocks which have significant exposure to Idea debts and weak global sentiment owing to coronavirus outbreak. The S&P BSE Sensex slid over 400 points, or 1 per cent, to 40,645 levels. NTPC (down over 5 per cent) was the biggest loser. Besides, Tata Steel, NTPC, and Sun Pharma also slipped over 2 per cent each. Ailing telecom player Idea slipped over 11 per cent to Rs 2.91 apiece on the BSE after the Supreme Court dismissed its plea seeking relief from revocation of its bank guarantee. On the NSE, the broader Nifty50 index slipped below the crucial 11,950-mark, down 125 points or over 1 per cent. In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index was trading over 1 per cent lower at 15,360 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index traded at 14,360, down 167 points or 1.15 per cent. Shares of slipped 5 per cent to hit a fresh over three-year low of Rs 1,118 on the BSE on Friday despite the banks clarification that its exposure to the telecom company is standard. The private sector lender's stock was trading at its lowest level since January 05, 2017. Shares of cigarette major were trading lower for the fourth straight day at Rs 200.50, down 2 per cent on the BSE on Tuesday on concerns of earnings growth due to demand slowdown. The stock hit over three-year low and was trading at its lowest level since February 29, 2016. Thus far in February, has underperformed the market by falling 15 per cent after the hike in the National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD) announced in the Union Budget this year. GLOBAL MARKETS US stock futures slipped from record levels on Tuesday after Apple Inc said it will not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter as the coronavirus outbreak slowed production and weakened demand in China. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.20 per cent while Japan's Nikkei slid 0.59 pe cent. In the commodities market, oil prices extended gains to hit their highest levels since the end of January. Read by: Sukanya Roy Chinese families in Ireland are "putting their lives on hold" by placing themselves in isolation to prevent the coronavirus from reaching this country. Hundreds of people from the Chinese community are believed to be in quarantine at their homes after returning from China. Although they are under no obligation from the Government, many are spending a total of two weeks in solitude to avoid any chance of the coronavirus spreading to Ireland. Chinese solicitor Diyu Wu (32) and his wife said they were delighted to be able to return to their normal lives yesterday after a "gruelling" fortnight at their home in Cabinteely, Dublin. "We spent Chinese New Year in Beijing visiting family and although we were nowhere near Wuhan, my wife and I decided not to take any risk when we got back to Ireland," he said. "The HSE advised us to go to our GP and avoid hospitals if either one of us felt unwell, but luckily neither of us had any symptoms connected to the coronavirus. "Thankfully, my job was very accommodating and allowed me to work from home which I really appreciated because I was kept busy. My advice to anyone going through similar circumstances is to find ways to keep yourself occupied because two weeks is a very long time to do nothing. "Chinese people are happy to put their lives on hold because the last thing they want is to put people at risk." Elizabeth Herndon, staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and joint faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been awarded a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundations Office of Polar Projects to investigate how plants, microorganisms, and minerals compete for phosphorus in the Arctic tundra. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for life but is in short supply in some environments, putting limits on plant growth and decomposition. Herndonan environmental geochemist in ORNLs Environmental Sciences Division who holds a joint appointment with UTs Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences leads the project, which will take her to Toolik Field Station, Alaska, to conduct fieldwork. Lauren Kinsman-Costello, a Kent State University assistant professor of biological sciences and regular research collaborator with Herndon, and Michael Weintraub, professor of soil ecology at the University of Toledo, are collaborators on the project. Plants and microorganisms take up phosphorus from soil through water in the form of dissolved phosphate. Phosphate can bind to metals in the soil, limiting its availability to plants and microorganisms. Phosphorus is fundamental to what happens in an ecosystem, Herndon said. To better understand how plants, microbes and minerals compete for phosphorus, the research team will look closely at whats happening in tundra soil where warming and permafrost thaw are altering soil moisture and nutrient availability. The research will determine how soil properties can affect competition for phosphate, with broad consequences for plant growth and carbon dynamics in Arctic ecosystems. The Arctic is warming more rapidly than anywhere on the planet and there are many environmental impacts associated with that change, Herndon said. As permafrost thaws, you see ground collapse and water flowing across the landscape, which in some areas is damaging infrastructure. Plant communities are also changing. In areas where there once were only little shrubs and grasses, trees are moving inthe forest line is moving north. Specific to their research work is learning how plants access the nutrients needed to grow. Phosphorus is in limited supply, and its availability controls how much vegetation can grow in an area. The team will examine the processes at play and how the features of the physical environment where a sample is collecteda nearby hill or stream, for exampleinfluence or are affected by phosphorus. The award also supports a postdoctoral scholar and graduate and undergraduate students. Participants will design data-driven educational activities to communicate scientific results to the public. ### Herndon joined ORNL as a staff scientist in August 2019 and received a UT joint faculty appointment in November 2019. She was previously a faculty member at Kent State University. CONTACT: Karen Dunlap (865-974-8674, kdunlap6@utk.edu Amanda Womac (865-974-2992, awomac1@utk.edu) An artist devoted to his home state and everything it has to offer is set to take the next step in his music career. Jake LaCoste, a Chippewa Valley based hip-hop artist, will release his second album, Northern Nuisance, this week. He also will perform a release show Saturday at Everybuddys Bar and Grill in downtown Chippewa Falls to celebrate the release of his sophomore record. At the core of LaCostes music is his love for the state of Wisconsin and wanting to connect with those around him. He said the decision to focus his music on personal stories about his state and the people who inhabit it started with the release of his first album eight years ago and has trended more toward these topics as he continues to find his signature country-rap-rock sound. I wrote a record about eight years ago about the state of Wisconsin and some of the culture in our state, and it received a lot of positive feedback from people in the area, LaCoste said. I decided writing more records, which are descriptive about our state, was a good idea, not only for new fans, but also to help relate to people in this area in general through music. LaCostes second album has been in the works for more than a year, and he said he tried infuse the high energy and passion he delivers on stage into the recordings to show how passionate he is about the messages in his music. The young hip-hop artist said when he is on stage he often leaves a gallon of sweat and a couple of tears on stage as his songs often trend toward personal anecdotes about life and culture. LaCoste said his ultimate goal with the release of Northern Nuisance is to develop a bigger fan base and continue connecting with people throughout the Midwest and beyond. My goal with this record is to find a really a large core fan base who are from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, LaCoste said. Im just trying to touch base with as much of the culture of where Im from as much as I can with this album while also showcasing my skill as a rapper. I want to build on that and build as much of a fan base as I can in the area. IF YOU GO WHAT: Album release party for Jake LaCoste's Northern Nuisance" WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Everybuddys Bar and Grill, 19 W. Central St. DETAILS: Guest performances will include Just Jordan, Miles Blvd, Dirty Prescott Kids, SauceaLemel and Dedo COST: $7 At the end of the day, LaCoste said the main reason for making music for him is to help people. He said he wants his music to be something people can lean on during rough times and good times. Music is so important to me, because motivating other people is so important to me, LaCoste said. I take being a prolific artist as being the single most important thing in my career. I want to inspire people to chase their dreams in whatever they want to do and also shed a light on some deeper topics through the songs on my record. There are songs about darker times in my life on this record, and I feel like people can gain a lot from these stories on a therapeutic level. LaCostes new album will be available starting Saturday at his release show in Chippewa Falls. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from the participants of the international conference Turkmenistan and International Organizations: Cooperation for Peace and Development was circulated as an official document of the UN General Assembly in the official languages of the UN. The conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistans neutrality was held in Ashgabat in January this year. It was attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as representatives of international organizations, diplomats and journalists, who discussed the importance of a policy of neutrality in promoting peace, stability and security. The Appeal to the UN Secretary General adopted on the results of the conference calls for closer multilateral cooperation in order to realize the goals and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, strengthen international peace and security and ensure economic, environmental, social and humanitarian development. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Press Release February 18, 2020 De Lima calls Duterte's unilateral move to rescind VFA 'epically wrong' Senator Leila M. de Lima has denounced Mr. Duterte's unilateral decision to withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) by calling it a "gigantic geo-political blunder" that may be detrimental to the country's image in the international community. De Lima made the statement after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officially served the Notice of Termination to the United States (US) Embassy in Manila. "Duterte's termination of the VFA is epically wrong. It is a gigantic geo-political blunder and a grievous misstep that may further unsettle the functioning of our very own government - one that is supposedly built on constitutionalism and the principle of checks and balances," she said. "[The] VFA is an important cog in a whole system of defense and security arrangements with the US that includes the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) from which the Philippines has benefitted for many years," she added. The Duterte administration claimed that among the reasons why Mr. Duterte has decided to unilaterally withdraw from the VFA is due to the reported move by the US government to cancel the visa of Sen. Ronald de la Rosa, a known ally of Mr. Duterte. In his recent public appearance, Mr. Duterte has maintained that the US government has been purportedly meddling with the country's internal affairs, citing some US lawmakers' demands to release De Lima, his most prominent critic. The Senate, on the other hand, has filed Senate Resolution 37 urging Mr. Duterte to reconsider his decision to withdraw from the VFA while a thorough review of the agreement is being conducted in the Senate. De Lima, a former justice secretary, pointed out that Mr. Duterte should seek the Senate's concurrence before rescinding treaties and other international agreements as the Constitution recognizes the Senate to be integral into the treaty-making processes. "I would like to place it on record that I am in support of this measure and had I been given the opportunity to vote, I would have joined its proponents," she said in an official statement read by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on the Senate floor. "In fact, I would even go further as to reiterate my position that treaties concurred in by the Senate should likewise require the Senate concurrence before they are abrogated by the President," she added. The Senate leadership is divided upon the matter. Last Feb. 11, seven of Mr. Duterte's allies withdrew their affirmative votes and instead abstained from categorically expressing their votes regarding SR 37. The Senate resolution was, however, deemed adopted, with majority of the senators approving it. "I am praying for the spirit of independence and the sense of statesmanship to prevail among my colleagues at the 18th Congress as they are being called to assert the institutional role and prerogatives of the Senate in this current crisis, and in the face of an overreaching autocrat," the lady Senator from Bicol said. "Hindi pwedeng pabayaan lang ang isang Pangulo - lalo pa ang ganitong klaseng panggulo - to decide all by himself on vital matters like this that impinge on our national life and our standing in the international community," she added. The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday set aside Rs 500 crore for an airport in Ayodhya and Rs 200 crore for the beautification of Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple in a budget that is also big on road and metro rail projects. The Budget presented in the state assembly by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna provides Rs 2,000 crore for the new airport project at Jewar near Delhi. The Kanpur Metro Rail Project gets Rs 358 crore and Rs 286 crore has been allocated for the metro rail in Agra. It has earmarked Rs 200 crore more for metro rail projects in Gorakhpur and other cities. The 2020-21 Budget sets a target for the construction of four lakh houses for the weaker sections within a year and lists schemes to help the youth make a living. New universities will come up in Aligarh, Azamgarh and Saharanpur. Addressing reporters later, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the Budget - the fourth presented by his government - historic, growth-oriented and people-friendly. Opposition parties, however, termed it directionless and a farce. The Rs 5.12 lakh crore Budget is bigger than the one presented last year by Rs 33,159 crore. It has provisions for new schemes worth Rs 10,967 crore, Khanna said. Among the major allocations is Rs 500 crore for an airport at Ayodhya, where the construction of a Ram temple is expected to begin in the next few months. In addition, the state government will spend Rs 85 crore for the development of the pilgrim city as a tourist spot. Another Rs 10 crore will go on the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, dedicated to the author of Ramcharitmanas. The Budget allocates Rs 200 crore for the expansion and beautification of Kashi Vishwanath temple in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi constituency. Another Rs 180 crore will go on setting up a cultural centre in the holy city. The government announced two new schemes to provide employment for the youth -- the Chief Minister's Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (CMAPS) and the Yuva Udhyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA). Under CMAPS, the Centre and state government will pay a combined stipend of Rs 2,500 per month. The Budget lays emphasis on developing metro networks, airports and expressways. Besides the allocation for the metro projects, it provides Rs 2,000 crore for the 637-km 'Ganga Expressway' from Meerut to Allahabad, which the government says will be in the longest in the country. The Noida International Greenfield Airport at Jewar near Delhi has been allotted Rs 2,000 crore, which is about half of the estimated cost of its first phase of construction. The airport is expected to go operational by 2023," Khanna said in his speech. The Budget estimates total receipts of 5,00,558 crore -- Rs 4,22,567 crore through revenue and Rs 77,990 crore through capital receipts. It estimates a deficit of Rs 12,302 crore. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Budget focused on the youth. "The Budget will play a major role in achieving the goal of one trillion dollar economy for the state and meet the target of making India a dollar five trillion economy," he said. But opposition parties slammed the exercise. "The government is betraying all sections -- be they youth, farmers or women. The BJP says it wants to make the state a trillion dollar economy but it is not saying from where the investment will come," Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav told reporters. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called it a farce. The promises and claims made in the Budget appear hollow and are only on paper, she said. UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu said the Budget is "directionless" and a mere "jugglery of figures". "The Budget has nothing for the youth, farmers, women and the poor," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A medical staff sprays disinfection all over a train at Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City's District 3 to prevent new coronavirus spread, February 7, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Vietnam will keep its economy stable even as it fights the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, says Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. "The government will give up part of economic growth in return for the safety of the people, but that does not mean Vietnam will close its economic doors for the epidemic," the PM said at a government meeting on Monday as he addressed difficulties generated by the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Fighting the epidemic and developing economy at the same time is what Vietnam has been doing and will continue to do, Phuc said. Vietnam is now a "safe destination" thanks to its efforts in fighting and preventing the epidemic "very effectively," he said. He also said the weather will become warmer in the north and central Vietnam in coming days, "and beaches full of sunlight" will attract more tourists to the country. During this period, the government will continue to improve the business environment and create the best conditions for businesses and investors, he said. He urged businesses to do their best and look to take advantage of every opportunity even in the current situation and save themselves from stagnancy. Don't overdo it The PM noted that some people were worrying too much and hiding themselves from all public activities, affecting the economy; while some were too optimistic and do not follow any preventive measures advised. Both attitudes need to be avoided, he said. "People need to trust and support the government in this fight against the new coronavirus," he urged. Between late January until the 16th SARS-CoV-2 positive case five days ago, no new infections have been detected. Of those infected, seven have been discharged from hospitals and the rest are recovering. Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam told the meeting that there has been no infection among medical staff directly treating those who have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The World Health Organization said in a statement Saturday that Vietnam has responded well to the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic from the very outset, preventing its spread. As of Tuesday morning, the global death toll had climbed to 1,873, with only five outside mainland China, and confirmed infections reached 73,335, of whom 12,000 have recovered. Siemens, a global technology giant has made a commitment to put up a science laboratory for the Shia Senior High Technical School (SSHTS) in the Ho Municipality. The company, represented by a 16-member team of Siemens Staff from seven (7) nations, fundraised 18,500 Euros to finance the project. The team, called the Siemens CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Team, constitutes individuals from Siemens offices The groups aim is to help the infrastructurally deprived school to improve upon its science education. Students will now have hands-on science practical lessons. The project will be handed over to the administration of the school upon completion. At a durbar of stakeholders at Shia to mark the near-completion of the project, the team leader, Tim Richter, said the project is crucial to mark a path to facilitate a better future for the students. We have all done several individual fundraising activities to finance this project, to build together with you, the students of Shia, a new science laboratory and it has been a lot fun for us. We will follow up the development of the Shia school very closely and see how the new science laboratory is improving your lives, he said. The beauty of this project is that we work with students and the teachers in the community. Its really a matter of we-all-do-it-together. Tim said, adding that there are plans to replicate the gesture in other deprived communities in Africa. The Deputy Minister in charge of Second Cycle Institutions, Dr. Adu Twum, who graced the occasion, applauded Siemens for the initiative and their interest to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country. The government is in to support any organization that is in support of STEM education and we appreciate the work of Siemens. Well facilitate any partnership between any school and Siemens so that other schools will have similar science laboratories, he said. He reiterated the importance of STEM education and called on private entities to support government in order to create a pipeline of STEM practitioners as STEM education is key to the transformation of the country. Mr. Joy Kafui Akpebu, Headmaster of SSHTS, said the project was very valuable to the school, seeing the challenges posed by the non-existence of a science lab. It is my greatest joy to have seen this project. Since the school was established, my students have had to travel to nearby schools, about 25 kilometers away from here to access science laboratories. Even with that, the visit happens only once before they go in to write their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). So, most of them are not familiar with the science apparatus, he stated. Mr. Akpebu assured the Siemens team that to guarantee proper use and maintenance of the lab, students will be monitored and supervised to ensure they take good care of the apparatus. The Shia Senior High Technical was established 25 years ago and integrated into the assisted secondary school system in 2010 but has been challenged with inadequate facilities to aid academic work. Members of the Siemens CSR Team all work in different country locations of the same department called Siemens CFA (Corporate Controlling and Finance Assurance). The team was in Ghana for the first time in 2013, where they built two classrooms for Maranatha Primary School in Ada Foah. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Owen Bieber, who led the United Auto Workers union from the auto industry's dark days of the early 1980s to the prosperity of the mid-1990s, has died. He was 90. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/2/2020 (694 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this March 1, 2012 file photo, former President Bill Clinton shakes hands with Owen Bieber, left, with United Auto Workers union (UAW), at the 2012 UAW National CommunityAction Program Conference, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in Washington. Bieber, who led the United Auto Workers union from the auto industry's dark days of the early 1980s to the prosperity of the mid-1990s, has died. He was 90.(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Owen Bieber, who led the United Auto Workers union from the auto industry's dark days of the early 1980s to the prosperity of the mid-1990s, has died. He was 90. Neither as charismatic as his predecessor, Douglas Fraser, nor as confrontational as his successor, Stephen Yokich, the low-key Bieber had an easygoing manner that belied his 6-foot-4, 265-pound frame and the results he produced at the bargaining table. Taking over as its president in 1983, Bieber shepherded the UAW through a recession, the Reagan era, industry downsizing and rapidly expanding global competition. Bieber led the UAW through contract talks that won its members wages, benefits and job and income security that were unmatched in other major U.S. industries. Owen Bieber's death is a loss for our union and all working people," UAW President Rory Gamble said in a statement. He was not afraid of tough battles or taking a stand on controversial issues. Under Bieber, the UAW also actively supported the Solidarity labour movement, which challenged Poland's Communist government, and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Bieber travelled to South Africa twice, raising the alarm about the imprisonment of labour activists and smuggling images of torture out of the country. In 1986, he was arrested while marching at the South African embassy in Washington D.C. When former South African President Nelson Mandela toured the U.S. after his release from prison, Bieber stood at his side during a rally in Detroit. In 2003, Archbishop Desmond Tutu singled Bieber out during a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan. We came asking for help, and you gave that help and accomplished this extraordinary thing," Tutu said, according to the UAW. Bieber was born Dec. 28, 1929, in North Dorr, Mich. He joined the union in 1948 when he went to work bending wire for car seats at McInerney Spring and Wire Co. in Grand Rapids and became a shop steward the following year. By 1956 he was president of his local. In 1961, then-UAW president Walter Reuther made Bieber a member of the regional staff. He became regional director in 1974 and was elected a UAW vice-president in 1980. Three years later, he succeeded Fraser as president. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp. had to get leaner during Bieber's tenure to compete with Japanese companies that were winning over American buyers with their smaller, more fuel efficient cars. But the UAW was able to negotiate agreements that helped workers keep their pensions or kept their paychecks coming even if they were laid off. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We did what unions are supposed to do," Bieber said shortly before Yokich succeeded him as president. If you look at the rough road that workers have had to come over and live through since the late 1970s ... a worker who belonged to the UAW, who was a member of the UAW, probably that was the best thing that could have happened to them. Union membership shrunk in size by about half between 1979 and 1995, Bieber's last year as president. Bieber had hoped to unionize Japanese and German carmakers when they opened U.S. plants, but he only had one success: a GM-Toyota joint manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. GM closed that plant in 2010; it's now owned by Tesla Inc., which is also not unionized. U.S. union membership has continued to decline. In 2018, the UAW reported 395,703 members, down from 826,000 in 1995. One of Bieber's sons, Ron Bieber, is now president of the Michigan AFL-CIO labour union. Owen Bieber left behind a world that is better off because of his activism and dedication to service to others," Ron Bieber said in a statement. Owen Bieber is survived by his wife of 69 years, Shirley Bieber; five children; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The former 35-bedroom Marian Hostel in Tullamore, Offaly will house 168 asylum seekers (stock photo) A number of local councillors are "furious" after the Department of Justice announced it has given the green light to convert a hostel in Tullamore, Co Offaly into an accommodation centre that will house 168 asylum seekers without public consultation. The Department announced that the former 35-bedroom Marian Hostel on High Street in the town will begin housing an unspecified number of families under the Direct Provision system at the end of March. Officials from the department could not say how many families will move in initially but that the total complement of 168 individuals will move into the centre on a phased-in basis. Some members of the Tullamore Municipal District of Offaly County Council said they will reserve comment until they meet with officials from the department on Thursday to discuss what the department described as what supports will be in place to facilitate the new accommodation centre and its residents. But to others contacted by Independent.ie this evening, the meeting is simply a box-ticking exercise and they are furious. At this stage, its a fait accompli, Independent councillor Sean OBrien said. Im very concerned theres been no public consultation or even consultation with elected officials, he said. Mr OBrien said he and other councillors had repeatedly asked the department about what plans it had for the former hostel and had received no reply to date. Independent councillor John Leahy who has previously voiced his concern over migrants taking priority over local residents on its social housing list said he was outraged by the announcement. Theyre treating us like fools, he said. Theyre coming in and steam-rolling it through. He denied that anti-migrant sentiment or racism is behind local opposition to the plan. Its racism against the ordinary citizens, he said. The easiest thing to do is to accuse me of racism. But he said what irks himself and some local residents is the fact that many locals have been on the social housing waiting list for many years and many others are also on a waiting list to see a GP. Youre bringing in 168 people yet its very hard to get a GP in Tullamore now and theyll get houses quicker than people on the waiting list for years, he said. Youre angering a lot of people on the ground. Fianna Fail councillor Frank Moran, who is also the councils Cathaoirleach, said he shares the anger of his fellow councillors over the departments decision. No one has a problem with refugees, he said. It just galls me the way the department went ahead went ahead with this without communication, he said. Its going to create a lot of animosity in the town due to the housing crisis, he said. Its all to do with the (lack of) engagement. Its the ignorance of the department not to engage with the community, he said. There are currently around 700 people on the local social housing waiting list and the former hostel was being looked at by the council as a possible amenity that could have been converted to house single people, he told Independent.ie. Its going to cause upset but theres nothing we can do, he said. But it will be a hot topic, I can guarantee you, he said. The facility is to be managed by the private-sector care providers Bridgestock Care and will provide residents with their on cooking facilities and an on-site food hall where they can get their own groceries. Applicants can also access a range of State services and supports including healthcare, education, childcare etc, on the same basis as everyone else, according to a press release from the department. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Justice said the facility will go ahead despite local opposition. The contracts have been signed, he told Independent.ie. Tokyo: Around 500 passengers will leave a cruise ship quarantined off Japan on Wednesday after testing negative for the new Coronavirus that has infected hundreds on board, a health ministry official said on Tuesday. "The number (who will leave Wednesday) is changing, largely because it is up to passengers (if they get off)," the official told reporters. "But it will be around 500 people." Only those who have tested negative and have not been in close contact with a person infected with the virus will be allowed off on Wednesday and many disembarking will be Japanese passengers, the official said. "They will go home on public transport but they will be taken by bus to places such as stations," he added. But not all those who have tested negative will be getting off immediately because several countries have said they will evacuate their citizens from the ship, and many of those being offered repatriation are likely to stay on board until evacuation flights arrive. "Crew members will get off after all the passengers leave the ship and it's still being arranged with the ship company," the health official said. So far, 542 people on board the Diamond Princess have been diagnosed with the new corona virus, despite a quarantine that began on February 5, shortly after the vessel arrived off Japan. The quarantine was put in place after a former passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong in January tested positive. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - Canada Rare Earth Corp. (TSXV: LL) ("Canada Rare Earth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commissioning of a study to select the optimal location for the Company's proposed South American rare earth refinery (the "Study"). Canada Rare Earth has investigated various locations across nine countries over the last few years and has narrowed the scope to 6 regions within South America. The Study will consider refinery permitting, logistics and government support such as grants, tax deferrals and loans in determining the two best regions in which to situate a full spectrum refinery capable of producing: (i) a saleable rare earth concentrate, and; (ii) the complete range of commercially traded rare earths including Nd, Pr and heavy elements. Rare earths are critical inputs to electric and hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, imaging systems and strategic defence systems including jet fighters, satellites, submarines, destroyers and missiles. The Study is being undertaken by a qualified person who completed a Ph.D. in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines, was head of the Mining Engineering Department of a Brazilian university and for 8 years was responsible for the mining and ore treatment of the largest heavy mineral sand operation in South America. The CREC South American refinery initiative builds on the Company's recent announcements (December 19, 2019 and January 22, 2020) of the purchase of significant mineral sand tailings (the "Tailings") including access to existing permits and licenses necessary to process the Tailings. Management intends to utilize available, existing proprietary processing technology for the production of rare earth products including both heavy and light elements. Once the site has been selected the Company is striving for a rapid design and construction timeframe by leveraging existing designs that are proven and in production. By utilizing existing and proven technology, the Company is confident that it has a lower risk path to successful production especially compared to other rare earth processing projects dependent on process development of, as of yet, unproven technologies. The Company has not, as of this date, made a production decision as the initiative is subject to a number of factors including permitting and finance. Chris Goodman, head of Canada Rare Earth's South American operations, stated, "Many western governments and businesses are looking to Canadian and American based organizations to provide alternatives to foreign-sources of rare earths. Our company is focused on becoming the leading western supplier of rare earth products including concentrate, oxides and metals. Wherever possible we strive to source our feedstock from tailings to minimize the requirement for new mining operations whilst we work to extract value from past mining activities." Peter Shearing, Chief Operating Officer of Canada Rare Earth commented, "We are very excited to be progressing with our strategy to provide a western supply of rare earth products for companies wanting to balance their critical materials supply chain. Our South American initiative is accelerating, and we are confident in our capability to bring the new supply to market. We are placing a high priority on South America to deliver on our strategy while concurrently moving forward with the permitting of the completed rare earth refinery in Laos." Tracy A. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Canada Rare Earth, explained, "We are looking at tailings as an important component of the proprietary concentrate sources we are securing for our integrated rare earth and complementary products supply chain. Through concentrate enhancement and processing our business will add value to the products thereby enhancing value to our shareholders and stakeholders." On behalf of the Board Tracy A. Moore, CEO and Peter Shearing, COO ABOUT CANADA RARE EARTH CORP. Canada Rare Earth is developing an international supply network business based on our commodity-trading platform and existing, developing and planned processing facilities. We are generating revenues and gross profits as we develop our network based on the rare earth industry and with increasing attention directed to valuable by-products. Our business involves sourcing, adding value and selling rare earths and other mineral products in all stages and forms utilizing proprietary, affiliated and third-party sources and facilities. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. We seek Safe Harbor. For more information on the Company, interested parties should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Tracy A. Moore Chief Executive Officer tmoore@canadarareearth.com Peter Shearing Chief Operating Officer pshearing@canadarareearth.com Tel: (604) 638-8886 Website: www.canadarareearth.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52519 A South Carolina grand jury on Tuesday indicted suspended Colleton County Sheriff Andy Strickland on new public corruption and misconduct charges, alleging that he used his power as sheriff to coerce an employee into a sexual relationship and ordered deputies to work on his home while they were on duty. Continuing South Carolina's parade of sheriff scandals, the 15-count indictments also allege that Strickland gave away county property and illegally distributed the prescription drugs Ambien and Adderall. Three hours after the grand jury released its findings, Strickland was in Columbia for a bond hearing before Circuit Court Judge DeAndrea Benjamin. Joining Strickland was Charleston attorney Andy Savage. Creighton Waters, a prosecutor with the S.C. Attorney General's Office, said that Strickland directed deputies to do construction and brush clearing at his home. Strickland also ordered deputies to help him flip houses, sell used appliances even do campaign work on county time. "They actually had a name for it," Waters told the judge. "They called it a Code 48. If you were Code 48 with the sheriff, everybody understood what that meant." Waters cited another allegation that Strickland went to Myrtle Beach to pursue an affair with an employee under 21 years old, and that he gave her alcohol and Ambien, a prescription drug used as a sedative. Witnesses broke down in tears as they spoke with investigators, Waters told Benjamin. "They felt that violence might be done against them." Savage told the judge that Strickland was receiving treatment in Charleston but declined to be more specific. Benjamin set Strickland's bail at $25,000 and ordered him to surrender his firearms, undergo GPS monitoring for 90 days and have no contact with witnesses or employees. Strickland then left through the back door of the courtroom without speaking to reporters. Savage, however, said that the stream of indicted sheriffs reflects a shift of attitudes toward law enforcement nationally. "The default position today is that the law enforcement officer is wrong. The world has changed." 'Love affair' with policing The indictments marked a stunning downfall for Strickland, 40. He was the states youngest sheriff when he was elected in 2012, replacing George Malone, who opted then not to seek a third term. Strickland previously worked as a trooper for the state Highway Patrol and for short stints with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Cottageville police. After taking the reins in January 2013, he was credited with turning around a 66-deputy department suffering from low morale and a perception that it had failed to curtail gang violence. He did so, locals said, by getting involved in the Walterboro-area community where he has spent his entire life. He told The Post and Courier in 2014 that his love affair with police work started after his father died when he was 10. He started looking up to a friends dad, a trooper in the S.C. Highway Patrol. I dont come from politics, Strickland said at the time. But last years Post and Courier Above the Law investigation showed how a startling number of sheriffs across South Carolina lined their pockets on the publics dime, tried to silence whistleblowers and bullied other public officials who questioned their behavior. And, Stricklands spending and questionable behavior surfaced in the course of the newspaper's reporting. Among the paper's revelations: Strickland used $1,500 in county tax dollars for a separate hotel room during a sheriffs conference in Myrtle Beach. He spent the money on a separate room for his children, he later confirmed. Social media posts show Strickland in Myrtle Beach with his kids and a female county employee. At the time, Strickland defended the expense as "not a vacation" and told the newspaper he had nothing to hide. Then, in November, his tenure as sheriff unraveled. He was charged with domestic violence after allegedly punching a member of his household in the face several times, then preventing her from calling 911, state authorities said. Gov. Henry McMaster suspended Strickland as sheriff and installed State Law Enforcement Division Lt. Charles Ghent as an interim while Strickland's case went through the courts. Strickland placed himself on paid leave. Last month, Colleton County Council put him on unpaid leave. He earned about $80,000 a year, according to a filing with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. 'Free labor' and hotels Tuesday's indictments painted a damning portrait of a public official using his position for private gain. One count alleged that Strickland used public money on "non-official lodging expenses during a law enforcement conference in Myrtle Beach." During the bond hearing, Savage insisted that the sheriff reimbursed the county $1,500 for his Myrtle Beach trips. But a prosecutor said "that only happened after" those excursions were revealed in The Post and Courier. Another indictment count alleged that Strickland directed deputies and office staff to work on his land, home and businesses. The indictments also said he gave a radio worth about $3,000 to an unidentified person "with no valid official purpose." Doing so gave the person access to "first responder communication channels," the indictments said. Further counts described allegations that Strickland used county vehicles and tools "for personal work on his properties and businesses," and that he had deputies and staffers do political campaign work for him while they were on duty. The indictments also went to the heart of the power imbalance between a sheriff and his employees. Under South Carolina law, staffers work "at the pleasure" of sheriffs, meaning they can be fired for no reason. One indictment count described how Strickland got "free labor" to work on his properties and businesses from deputies who depended on Stricklands good graces for their continued employment. Strickland's business ventures remain murky. Public officials are required to describe their business ventures to the S.C. Ethics Commission. However, Strickland listed the sheriff's position as his sole source of income, a Post and Courier review of commission records found. Colleton County records list Strickland as the owner of five properties: a pair of mobile homes on Hayden Street; a single-family home valued at $69,000 and a $147,000 agricultural tract on Jefferies Highway; a mobile home on Glen Street; and a single-family home valued at $40,000 on Poplar Street. The Colleton County Sheriffs Office offered no comment on the indictments against their former leader. The only posts on the agencys Facebook page Tuesday concerned a missing man and a planned Cops and Kids event at a local Burger King. The Post and Courier reached out to several Colleton officials, including the five members of County Council and Walterboros mayor. None were immediately available to comment about Stricklands downfall. Tuesday's indictments raise fresh questions about how some South Carolina sheriffs wine and dine themselves on the public tab and misuse their office in other ways. The state's ethics law prohibits public officials from using their positions for their own and their family's personal gain. Sheriff Scandals In the past, 14 sheriffs have tagged for violating laws they swore to uphold. Some charges were relatively minor, others were more serious. Here's a sample of some of the scandals 2010, Lee County: Sheriff E.J. Melvin is tried on charges that he turned his office into a sprawling criminal enterprise of drug dealing and fraud. 2010, Union County: Sheriff Howard Wells is accused of concealing income from sizable loans to a person, and then trying to persuade that person to lie. He gets 90 days in prison. 2011, Laurens County: A Laurens County Sheriff's Office employee sues Sheriff Ricky Chastain, alleging that she was sexually harassed and forced out of her job after she refused the sheriff's request to have a second abortion. Chastain lost his re-election bid. No charges were filed. 2012, Saluda County: Sheriff Jason Booth pleads guilty to misconduct in office for using a prisoner to build a party shed. He's sentenced to 5 months probation and fined $1,000. 2012, Charleston County: Sheriff Al Cannon was charged with a misdemeanor after slapping a man after a high-speed chase. He was eligible for pre-trial intervention. 2012, Orangeburg County: Officials discovered that deceased sheriff Larry Williams funneled money into fake credit union accounts to buy a $70,000 RV. 2013, Abbeville County: Sheriff Charles Goodwin was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to misconduct charges that he took kickbacks. 2014, Williamsburg County: Sheriff Michael Johnson was indicted on charges he created bogus police reports to help a friend's business. 2014, Lexington County: Sheriff James Metts was sentenced to probation after prosecutors alleged he took bribes to help illegal Mexican immigrants get out of jail. 2014, Chesterfield County: Sheriff Sam Parker convicted on public corruption charges that he helped inmates get out of jail in exchange for working on his house. 2014, Darlington County: Sheriff Wayne Byrd admits in court filing that he had an affair with an employee. Byrd lost his re-election campaign in 2016. No charges were filed. 2015, Berkeley County: Sheriff Wayne DeWitt indicted on DUI charges. 2017, Greenville County: Sheriff Will Lewis indicted on obstruction and misconduct charges. A jury convicted him in 2019 on one misconduct charge. 2019, Chester County: Sheriff Alex Underwood indicted on state and federal corruption and misconduct charges. 2020, Florence County: Sheriff Kenney Boone pleads guilty to embezzlement and misconduct charge and gets a probationary sentence. 2020, Colleton County: Sheriff Andy Strickland indicted on misconduct and embezzlement charges. Still, 14 South Carolina sheriffs including Strickland have been accused in the past decade of breaking laws they swore to uphold. Other sheriffs highlighted in the newspapers "Above the Law" report include Alex Underwood and Kenney Boone. Underwood, the suspended sheriff of Chester County, now faces state and federal misconduct and corruption charges. As with Strickland, Underwood is accused of ordering deputies to work on his property. Underwood also was indicted on charges that he used public funds to fly his wife to Nevada for a sheriffs conference and siphoned money from jail accounts for personal use. And Boone, the former sheriff of Florence County, pleaded guilty last month to embezzlement and misconduct charges after prosecutors alleged he used federal narcotics money to buy bicycle equipment, electronics and clothes. Because of these and other criminal charges, government watchdogs have called for reforms. So far, South Carolina lawmakers have done nothing to slow the parade of scandals. Joseph Cranney of The Post and Courier contributed to this report. Asylum law in Germany: Fragmented, confusing and full of holes The research report "Refugee Protection in Germany" by the EU project "Multilevel Governance of Migration (RESPOND)" paints a gloomy picture of the human rights protection for asylum seekers in Germany. Among other things, the authors speak of a "differential exclusion" of ever larger groups from German asylum law on the basis of more or less arbitrary criteria. Although the basic right to asylum in Germany is officially unaffected, the authors argue that the many legal exceptions and hurdles lead to the fact that the protection standards of the Geneva Convention on Refugees and the European Charter of Human Rights are becoming less and less applicable in Germany. Professor Sabine Hess from the University of Gottingen led the research in Germany. The 97-page report describes the development of the German asylum system since 2011. 25 interviews with lawyers and employees of NGOs and ministries as well as 60 interviews with refugees form the basis of the report. "Our report shows how under the impact of the so-called refugee crisis of 2015/2016 access to the asylum system, procedural standards and asylum system protection mechanisms based on human and EU law have been massively reduced," says Hess. This has partly been achieved by means of legislative packages which have excluded more and more groups from full asylum protection, and partly by the implementation of the regulations. According to the researchers, the acceleration of the procedures at the expense of thoroughness, expertise and procedural rights of fugitives and the accommodation in large accommodation facilities such as the "anchor centres" and mass reception centres also severely undermined the chances of refugees of getting a fair hearing. "The result is a highly fragmented, confusing and perforated asylum law in Germany with severely restricted procedural and protection rights", says Hess, adding that "civil society support for refugees therefore remains all the more necessary". ### The report "Refugee Protection in Germany" is published in English and can be found online at http://www. uni-goettingen. de/ en/ 619137. html , together with a German summary. Similar reports on the situation in Italy, Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Poland, the UK and Sweden are available as well at the RESPOND Working Paper Series at http://www. respondmigration. com/ wp-blog . Contact: Professor Sabine Hess University of Gottingen Institute for Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology Heinrich-Duker-Weg 14, 37073 Gottingen Phone: +49 551 39-25349 Email: shess@uni-goettingen.de Internet: http://www. uni-goettingen. de/ de/ 208718. html This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Election Commission of India (ECI) held discussions on Tuesday with the legislative affairs wing of the Union law ministry and made a fresh push for electoral reforms, including making paid news and filing of false affidavits electoral offences. Top ECI officials also urged legislative secretary G Narayan Raju to make suitable changes in the law to link voters list or electoral rolls with Aadhaar numbers. Such linking, ECI officials say, will eradicate duplicate entries. Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora and election commissioners Sushil Chandra and Ashok Lavasa interacted with Raju, an official statement released by the ECI said. To link Aadhaar with the electoral rolls, necessary amendments would have to be made to the Representation of Peoples Act. ECI has already written a detailed letter to the law ministry on the changes. ECI officials said the law ministry is yet to revert on the proposal. ECI also pitched for having more than one qualification date in a year for a person to become a voter. Under the present rules, January 1 is the only date every year for a person to qualify as a voter. Multiple dates, ECI says, will enable more people turning 18 to apply to become voters throughout the year. ECI also pressed to make electoral laws gender-neutral for armed forces personnel. At present an army mans wife can enrol as a service voter but a woman army officers husband cannot. A bill that proposes to replace the term wife with spouse, making the provision gender-neutral, lapsed following the dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha. During the meeting, the chief election commissioner stressed the fact that more than 40 proposals of electoral reforms have been pending with the ministry for long. The crucial ones that are pending iclude making filing of false declarations a ground for disqualification and limiting the expenditure in legislative council polls. ECI wants bribery during he poll period a cognizable offence so that a magistrates permission is not required to investigate a complaint. Filing of false declaration, at present, is punishable with six months in jail. ECI, however , is keen to make it an electoral offence as a conviction under the election law serves as grounds for disqualification. A mysterious toxic gas has killed at least 14 people and sickened several others in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police said on Tuesday. Authorities were alerted to the incident when the residents of Karachi's Keamari area began rushing to nearby hospitals with severe breathing problems on Sunday night. The source of a toxic gas leak remained unclear on Tuesday. Officials said 14 people have been killed so far, Dawn newspaper reported. Ziauddin Hospital spokesperson Amir Shehzad told the newspaper that nine deaths took place at the hospital's Keamari Campus over the course of the past two days. According to the police, two other deaths were reported at the Kutiyana Hospital. Dozens of others have been hospitalised in various medical facilities across the city. "We are still clueless about the possible cause of the incident," Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said. Residents of the area protested in Keamari's Jackson Market, demanding answers from authorities on the deaths that have been caused from the mysterious gas. Memon said that senior police officers in coordination with the doctors are trying to determine the exact nature of the incident. Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said that a ship that was offloading soybean or a similar substance could be the probable cause of the toxic gas. "When offloading from this ship is halted, the smell too diminishes," he reasoned. Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi rubbished the report that it was caused by a soybean ship as the crew and the vessel were fine. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered the Commissioner of Karachi police to submit a report on the matter on a priority basis, ARY reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia will temporarily ban Chinese nationals from entering the country due to the virus outbreak centred in China that has infected more than 73,000 people worldwide, Russian authorities said. The entry ban goes into effect Thursday at midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) for an indefinite period, according to a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The government said Tuesday it took the move due to the worsening epidemiological situation in China. Russia already had cut off most Chinese visitors by closing the long land border with China and Mongolia and imposing other travel restrictions. The new entry ban won't affect travellers who need to transfer flights at Russian airports, authorities said. So far, Russia has had only three confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus two Chinese citizens who were treated and released, and a Russian national infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship now quarantined in Japan. However, Russian authorities have taken significant steps to try to keep the virus from spreading, including hospitalizing hundreds of people as a precaution after they returned from China. Russia halted most air traffic to China, suspended all trains to China and North Korea, and temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Chinese students studying in Russia were told not to return until March 1. Earlier this month, the prime minister said Russia might start deporting the foreigners infected with the virus. In the meantime, Germany is sending a second shipment of medical aid supplies to China to help the Asian giant fight the coronavirus epidemic. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the government would send 8.7 tons of aid supplies worth 150,000 euros (USD 162,000), including protection gear and disinfectants. "Germany stands firmly on the side of China in the battle against coronavirus and works closely and trustfully with the Chinese officials," Maas said. "We have the utmost respect for the efforts China has already undertaken." The virus, which emerged in central China in December, has killed 1,868 patients in mainland China and five others elsewhere. The World Health Organisation has named the illness COVID-19. China has instituted a strict lockdown on over 60 million people in central Hubei province and other nations are taking their own measures including mandatory 14-day quarantines to stop the virus from getting established on their territory. Europe has had one virus death among its 47 confirmed cases, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist in Paris who was initially turned away by two French hospitals. Italy says 14 of 25 Italian crew members aboard the troubled Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been struck under quarantine in Japan, will take an Italian evacuation military flight home. The other 11, including the captain of the ship, will stay, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. No date for the Italian air force plane's departure for Japan has been decided yet. The Russian Embassy in Japan announced Tuesday that one Russian was among the 542 people on the Diamond Princess confirmed with the virus. The statement clarified earlier reports about two Russians getting infected. On Monday, a Russian court sent a woman who broke out of a locked hospital during a 14-day isolation period back into quarantine. Russian health authorities are suing others who have defied quarantine requirements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Company Continues Drive to Positive Cash Flow in 1st Half of Year DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB:LBUY) ("Leafbuyer" or "the Company"), a leading cannabis technology platform, announced its quarterly sales increased 92% in the quarter ending December 31, 2019. The growth reflects the revenue booked in the quarter versus the same quarter of the prior year. "After a strong sales push, I'm pleased to announce Leafbuyer realized record revenue growth last quarter," said Kurt Rossner, CEO of Leafbuyer. "This is a huge step for the organization and raises our goals even higher as we continue to provide our clients with the utmost service and resources." Leafbuyer's 92% growth is nearly four times higher than the industry average of 24%, a statistic published through a report by Arcview and BDS Analytics released June 20, 2019. "As Leafbuyer aims toward profitability within the first half of 2020, these record quarters continue to be a high priority. Our sales and account support teams strive for excellence, making our products increasingly more valuable," said Rossner. The Company realizes revenue from the sales of its sophisticated marketing platforms, which drive cannabis consumers to dispensaries and product companies across the country. About Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. Leafbuyer.com is one of the most comprehensive online sources for cannabis deals and information. Leafbuyer works alongside businesses to showcase their unique products and build a network of loyal patrons. Leafbuyer's national network of cannabis deals and information reaches millions of consumers every month. Leafbuyer is the official cannabis deals platform of Dope Media, Sensi Magazine, and Voice Media Group. Learn more at Leafbuyer.com. Contacts Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. Andre Leonard, +720-432-5593 aleonard@leafbuyer.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Safe Harbor Statement This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues and any payment of dividends on our common and preferred stock, statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to several factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings. SOURCE: Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576779/Leafbuyer-Technologies-Inc-Announces-Record-92-Year-Over-Year-Revenue-Growth Municipal authorities in Modis home state of Gujarat face criticism for steps against slum residents in Ahmedabad. Slum-dwellers in the city of Ahmedabad say they have been served eviction notices by municipal authorities as the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host US President Donald Trump on February 24. The slum is close to the Motera Stadium where Modi and Trump are expected to attend an event dubbed Kem Chho Trump (How are you, Trump) along the lines of the Howdy Modi extravaganza the US president organised for the Indian prime minister in Houston last September. Tejabhai Meda, 36, who works as a labourer and earns Rs 300 ($4.2) a day, is in shock. I have been living here for the past 22 years, he told Al Jazeera. I dont know what to do. On one side, the government is saying it is helping poor people in constructing new homes but here we are being evicted from a piece of land. We are not asking the government for homes, we are saying give us a piece of land where we can live, the father of three said, adding that until last month nobody had bothered them. A view of a slum area where a wall was built as part of a beautification drive along a route that US President will take [Amit Dave/Reuters] The authorities in Gujarat state have also faced criticism for erecting a 400-metre (1,312-foot) long, two-metre (seven-foot) high wall to prevent the US leader from seeing a slum. A senior government official, however, told Reuters the wall was being built for security reasons, not to conceal the slum district, which houses an estimated 800 families. But the contractor building it said the government did not want the slum to be seen when Trump passes by the area. Meda says he, along with 44 other families, was asked by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday to leave the plot, but the municipal body has denied it. The news report is incorrect and misleading, AMC Commissioner Vijay Nehra told Al Jazeera. In fact, it can be called mischievous as it tries to link the issue with Namaste Trump event. There are no plans for any forceful evictions in the near future. An AMC official told Al Jazeera that the slum dwellers were encroaching on government land. We have asked them before as well to clear the site but they refused, saying we should follow due process and give them notices. And when we issued notices now, everybody is linking the issue with Trumps visit, Kishore Varna said. But Mina Jadhav, general secretary of Majdur Adhikar Manch, a trade union working for unorganised workers in Gujarat, linked the eviction to Trumps visit to Ahmedabad. The BJP government doesnt want the world to see that poverty exists in Gujarat. They want Trump and others to see only the big buildings, roads and that everyone here has toilets and homes, she said. They (the government) want to hide the poor people living in slums, that is why it has sent the eviction notices to these families and built a wall to shield Trump from noticing another slum. Nehra, the AMC commissioner, tweeted on Sunday that more than 100,000 participants had registered so far to greet Trump as he heads from the airport to the city centre. Trump said last week Modi had promised millions and millions of people would line his route. The event provides Trump, who was impeached in December, with the opportunity to woo hundreds of thousands of Indian-American voters ahead of the US presidential election in November. Trump is also expected to visit the humble abode of Indias independence leader Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad. Authorities in Ahmedabad expect to spend 800 to 850 million Indian rupees ($11-12m) on preparations for the first India visit by the US president, Reuters reported quoting officials. Trump, who has made his pledge to build a wall along the USs border with Mexico a feature of his presidency, will visit India on February 24-25 to reaffirm strategic ties that have been buffeted by trade disputes. Bilal Kuchay contributed to this report from New Delhi It was the kind of split-screen moment that has come to define the Syrian war. Over the past week, thousands of desperate families have been fleeing airstrikes and shelling in western Aleppo, many of them leaving their homes for the third or fourth time in a seemingly futile search for safety. At the same time, inside the city itself, crowds of government supporters took to the streets to celebrate the rout of rebel forces on its outskirts, and the Syrian army claimed a symbolic and strategic victory in the long-running battle for Aleppo. Backed by intensive airstrikes from Russian and Syrian jets, government troops captured more than 30 villages in the western countryside of Aleppo over the weekend. In doing so, they put the countrys second city out of reach of rebel fire for the first time in years and cemented control of the former commercial hubs link to the capital, Damascus. In a televised address on Monday, President Bashar al-Assad promised to push on further with the offensive. This liberation does not mean the end of the war, and does not mean the end of the schemes nor the end of terrorism or the surrender of enemies, he said. But it means that we rubbed their noses in the dirt as a prelude for complete victory and ahead of their defeat, sooner or later. Syrian regime bombards Idlib Show all 23 1 /23 Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian regime bombards Idlib Members of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, recover a wounded boy from the rubble of a building following a regime air strike on a vegetable market in Syria's last major opposition bastion of Idlib AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib The regime air strikes killed at least nine civilians, striking bustling areas of Idlib city AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib An injured woman waits to receive treatment at a makeshift hospital AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, searching through the rubble of a building AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy is evacuated AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib The wreckage of a car AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy cries as he is evacuated AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib Rescuers search for survivors EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy grimaces in pain after he was wounded in the airstrikes AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian youth stands at the site of a regime air strike in Ariha town AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Rescuers search for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Firefighters try to extinguish flames EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib Emergency services look for survivors AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A boy wounded in airstrikes is treated in a hospital AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian White Helmet civil defense workers extinguish a burning car Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian walks on the rubble of a building AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian state news reported that the city had been rescued from terrorism and shells of hatred and spite from which the city has been suffering for many years. But what was a liberation for some was little short of Armageddon for others. Some 900,000 people have been displaced since early December by the offensive in western Aleppo and neighbouring Idlib province the largest single displacement of the entire war. The vast majority of those fleeing are women and children. With no shelter available for the new arrivals, many are being forced to sleep in the open air in freezing temperatures. As many as seven children including one baby only seven months old have died from the cold and horrific living conditions in camps, according to Save the Children. Many of those who fled from western Aleppo in recent weeks were uprooted from the city itself in 2016, when rebel forces surrendered in east Aleppo after years of bloody fighting. Ahmed Aziz, a 29-year-old charity worker, was one of them. After living in the western suburbs of Aleppo since then, he left a few weeks ago with his family for the city of Azaz, near the Turkish border, when the fighting came too close. I didnt go away from my city. I lived in the countryside and it was so close, I could see the western parts of the city. I dreamed of returning, he tells The Independent by phone. That dream has now faded, he says. For those Assad supporters in my city, I find it brutal that they dance on our bodies. Those who have been killed by the government are human beings. They are people who wanted to live in a free country, he says. Civilians flee from Idlib to find safety inside Syria near the border with Turkey, 11 February 2020 (AP) The battle for the ancient city of Aleppo was one of the most consequential of the entire war. The capture of the eastern parts of the city by rebels in 2012, after the government violently cracked down on peaceful protests against Mr Assads rule, marked one of the oppositions biggest early successes, even as it failed to breach the west of the city. Despite a devastating and indiscriminate air campaign by government jets, rebel forces held out in east Aleppo for years. That changed in 2015, when Russia entered the war on the governments side. By 2016, with Moscows help, Syrian government forces besieged east Aleppo. While rebel forces were also responsible for indiscriminate shelling of the citys western half, intensive Russian and Syrian government airstrikes targetted hospitals and civilian infrastructure in the east on a much larger scale, squeezing rebels and civilians alike until they surrendered in December 2016. The biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st Century will only be avoided if Security Council members, and those with influence, overcome individual interests and put a collective stake in humanity first. The only option is a ceasefire. Mark Lowcock, United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs An array of rebel groups, jihadist militias among them, left the city for western Aleppo and Idlib province, as did thousands of civilians. The loss of Aleppo was a crushing blow for rebel forces, from which they never fully recovered. Today, again backed by Russian airstrikes, Mr Assads forces are pushing further into the last rebel-held bastion of Idlib and western Aleppo, which is controlled by both nationalist and jihadist groups who have united to fight off the attack, among them the extremist Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham. Russian and Syrian bombing has killed close to 300 civilians since 1 January, the United Nations said on Tuesday, 93 per cent of which were caused by the Syrian government and its allies. Civilians are fleeing for the Turkish border and overwhelming relief agencies. Drone footage of a displacement camp in Northern Idlib, Syria. Civilians fleeing the fighting are being squeezed into areas without safe shelter that are shrinking in size by the hour. And still they are bombed. They simply have nowhere to go, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. On Monday, the UNs under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Mark Lowcock, warned of the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century if a ceasefire is not reached. The UN has called on Russia and Turkey, which backs a number of rebel groups and has its own forces stationed in Idlib, to agree to broker another ceasefire to allow humanitarian groups to assist those in need. On Tuesday, a Turkish delegation ended two days of talks with Russian officials in Moscow with no statements made. Turkey has kept its border closed to Syrians fleeing the fighting, fearing another wave of refugees to add to the 3.5 million already in the country. That has left those displaced from the recent fighting, like Mr Aziz, with nowhere to go. TN man who returned from China dies: Coronavirus suspected India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Chennai, Feb 18: A 42 year old man from Tamil Nadu who returned from China died at a private hospital. Reports said that he died of suspected coronavirus at a private hospital. The deceased hauled from Kothaimangalam village. Sakthikumar who ran a small hotel in China, recently returned home due to jaundice and underwent treatment at his village. He was admitted to a private hospital at Madurai on Friday and passed away on Sunday. The health department officials suspect that his health could have been aggravated due to a coronavirus attack. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 Coronavirus: Paracetamol price rises by 40% in India due to shut down in China The health officials are now investigating whether his death was caused due to NCoV or due to other medical factors. He had landed in Tamil Nadu on February 4. His family members did not suspect any symptoms of coronavirus. The health department officials have secured his medical files have sent it to Chennai for analysis. The Citizenship Amendment Act and remarks over the Tukde-Tukde gang rocked the Assembly on Tuesday, with the Congress staging a walkout after Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri refused to allow a debate on the Mangaluru police firing incident and the Bidar sedition case. Moving an adjournment motion, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the law and order situation in Karnataka had completely collapsed and that Karnataka, like the rest of India, had seen protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Two innocent people died in police firing in Mangaluru. Two women were jailed in Bidar on charges of sedition. Its the essence of democracy for people to voice their opinions against the decisions of the government. Calling this sedition is against the Constitution and stifles freedom of expression, Siddaramaiah said. At this point, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai intervened to say it was the Congress that imposed the Emergency, during which all civil liberties were suspended. This led to pandemonium. You opposed Indira Gandhi then. Now that youre in the Congress, youve changed track, RDPR Minister K S Eshwarappa said. We protested against the Emergency to save Bharat Mata. To this, Siddaramaiah said Indira Gandhis Emergency was one that was declared. What were seeing now is an undeclared emergency, he said. Bharat Mata isnt your asset. All 135 crore Indians are children of Bharat Mata. The House plunged into chaos when Tourism Minister C T Ravi said some of Bharat Matas children belonged to the Tukde-Tukde gang, a moniker for left liberals. When Congress members dared the BJP to arrest the gang members, Bommai said: We will certainly arrest them all. But you (Congress) are the owners of the Tukde-Tukde gang. Siddaramaiah charged that false cases were being slapped against those opposing the CAA and NRC. Be it in Mangaluru or Bidar, the police are being misused. The police arent acting responsibly or professionally. Theyve become puppets, he said. Kageri decided to convert the adjournment motion to a short discussion and scheduled it for Wednesday. Whats important now is to take up the motion of thanks to the Governors address, Kageri said, amid resistance from Congress. At one point, Kageri said the pandemonium was a waste of time, a comment Siddaramaiah wanted expunged. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa locked horns with Siddaramaiah, saying he could not dictate to the Speaker. You have to accept the Speakers decision and cooperate. Accusing the BJP of scuttling the Opposition, the Congress staged a walkout. The Army detected and defused three mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Tuesday. The shells had landed in hamlets along the LoC in Balakote and Mendhar on Thursday last but did not explode. The bomb disposal squads of the Army detected them and defused them safely, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Tuesday asserted that infrastructure is a catalyst for development. He said the government is committed to the development of the state by strengthening infrastructure. The Centre is very liberal in investing in infrastructure to eliminate service backlogs of northeast with special emphasis on rural areas, Mukhi said at the inaugural session of North East Infrastructure Development Conclave, organised by the CII-North East, here. A well-planned infrastructure enables established businesses to expand their production levels and encourage small businesses to enter the market and as such, both Central and state governments are making concerted efforts to put in place a robust infrastructure for physical connectivity in the areas of air, water, internet and land transport, he said. He said the Union budget has allocated funds for laying new tracks and doubling of railway lines in the northeast region, the governor said. Electrification of railway lines under the Northeast Frontier Railways was also going on and by 2022 the three states of Mizoram, Manipur and Sikkim will be connected by railways, he added. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also conceived of extensive national highway projects to give a boost to the region's physical connectivity. The governor also highlighted the measures being undertaken in northeast for bringing the region closer to the rest of the country with 12 airports in the region being operative and the Guwahati Airport being revamped with a new state of the art terminus. Moreover, a seamless digital connectivity has been in use in the region by liberalising its cyber space with India and Bangladesh signing an agreement for using unspent bandwidth available at Bangladesh's Cox Bazar in Chittagong to bring in a revolution not only in the northeast but also in some mainland states, he said. Assam is nurtured by two great rivers--the Brahmaputra and Barak and both along with their many tributaries have huge potential for river transport, tourism and industry. He also said that inland waterways in Assam received a boost during the last five years. There was an urgent need for strengthening the physical infrastructure of Assam as it was the largest among the eight northeastern states, with a population of 33 million and area of 78 thousand square kilometre, the governor said. In the face of growing urban population and rising urban infrastructural needs, solutions like planning newer modes of transportation systems especially for congested areas has become the need of the hour, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Pennsylvania loosened the rules on alcohol sales in 2016, it marked an uneasy truce between those who wanted full liquor privatization, and those wanting to preserve as much as possible of the status quo. The privatizers who resented the states involvement in a retail business felt theyd won some key customer convenience changes, including the sale of wine at private retailers, that would, over time, bleed the old state store system to the point where policymakers could finally agree to kill it once and for all. Two people suffered minor injuries in a fire that destroyed a Fort Dodge, Iowa, towing and auto business in northwestern Iowa, officials said. The fire broke out in the afternoon on Feb. 14 in Mid Iowa Towing, television station KCCI reported. Firefighters arrived to find a large fire in the companys shop area, with flames reaching the roof. The building is not served by the city and did not have fire hydrants, requiring the firefighters to use 500-gallon water tanks. Officials said the lack of water and presence of a large amount of flammable liquids, coupled with high winds, caused the fire to grow and spread quickly. Two of the business employees were treated for burns on their hands. One was treated at the scene while the other was taken to a hospital and has since been released. Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said the fire appeared to have been caused by an employee using a cutting torch that ignited gasoline vapors. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Workers' Compensation Iowa Numbers Health, education and roads in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from an extra 18m in spending this financial year. Finance Minister Conor Murphy revealed 10m will go to the Department of Education to deal with immediate pressures. The Department of Health gets almost 4m to deal with pay pressures with doctors and dentists, and a further 1.3m is allocated to deal with health service pressures. The remaining 3m goes to the Department for Infrastructure to provide services to deal with road gritting and street light repairs over the winter. Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: "I am delighted that the Department of Finance has listened to my representations regarding the urgent need to fix our broken street lights and potholes, and to ensure our roads are salted during cold weather. "Services like these are vital. This additional funding is much needed and I have asked officials to work now to get the lights back on and our road surfaces improved." A man has been arrested and released on police bail after a woman claimed she was conceived during an underage rape. 'Vicky,' a name given to the woman to protect her anonymity, alleged her mother was just 13 when her father, who she said was a family friend and in his 30s at the time, raped her. She put forward the argument that DNA evidence combined with her own birth certificate and her mother's would prove the age at which her mother became pregnant and would lead to a conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse. 'Vicky' was adopted in the 1970s at seven months old. 'Vicky,' a name given to the woman to protect her anonymity, alleged her mother was just 13 when her father, who she said was a family friend and in his 30s at the time, raped her (BBC re-enactment of when 'Vicky,' who was adopted, met her birth mother) Speaking to the the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, 'Vicky' said: 'it's positive that things have progressed.' Once the woman became an adult she began searching for her birth mother and discovered from a social worker and her own records, that her conception was alleged to be a result of rape. What is CPS guidance on victimless prosecutions? Victimless prosecutions can be used in domestic abuse or rape cases when the victim has withdrawn or declines to give a statement. In 'Vicky's' case her mother, the victim of the alleged rape, didn't want to report the matter to the police. Vicky reported it and asked for it to be considered a 'victimless prosecution for alleged unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor' Victimless prosecutions are used when it is seen to be in the public interest to pursue a prosecution. In the past if the police wanted to press charges for domestic assault, the alleged victim had to co-operate. However, the law changed in 2001. A victimless prosecution case is presented to the court without any contribution from the complainant. The prosecution will rely on a range of other evidence in an attempt to prove the accuseds guilt. Advertisement However, despite the allegations, nothing was reported to police at the time. She was reunited with her mother, who didn't want to report the matter to police. 'It wasn't until decades later when the Jimmy Saville case and other historic cases were in the news that I really thought about doing anything about it,' 'Vicky' said. She decided to report the case to West Midlands police and asked them to consider a so-called 'victimless prosecution' for alleged unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, known as statutory rape. After a years-long fight for prosecutors to take up the case, she said she welcomed the development telling the BBC she was 'determined to get things changed, so that others don't go through what I've been through'. 'I wanted justice for my mum, I wanted justice for me,' she said. 'Vicky' added that her whole life has been affected by allegations that she was born of a crime and said the definition of what constitutes a victim should be looked at and changed. Previously, Vicky said that she was told by police, social services, solicitors and MPs that no case could be made as she was 'not the alleged victim of the crime.' 'It wasn't until decades later when the Jimmy Saville case and other historic cases were in the news that I really thought about doing anything about it,' 'Vicky' said According to CPS guidance, victimless prosecutions, officially termed as evidence-based, can be used in domestic abuse or rape cases, when the victim has withdrawn or declines to give a statement, but it is in the public interest to pursue a prosecution. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: 'A 73-year old man was re-arrested and interviewed last week following further evidence coming to light. He was released on bail. CPS advice will now be sought.' According to the BBC the CPS decision as to whether there will be any charges should be known in about a month. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump has called for his longtime ally Roger Stones recent conviction for witness tampering and lying to Congress to be thrown out. Trumps barrage of Tuesday morning tweets came days after his own attorney general, William Barr, sparked a furore over his apparent intervention in the case. Everything having to do with this fraudulent investigation is badly tainted and, in my opinion, should be thrown out, one of Trumps tweets said. Trump tweeted the Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitanos comment that the jury appears to have been biased against Trump. He called out Judge Amy Berman Jackson by name, saying almost any judge in the country would throw out the conviction. The president also on Tuesday made the eye-popping, and false, claim that he is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States. Many were quick to point out that Barr is in fact the chief law enforcement officer of the US government. Trump made the remarks at a military base in Maryland, in response to reporters questions on the Stone case and Barrs recent rebuke that Trumps tweets make it impossible to do my job. The attorney general is a man with incredible integrity, Trump said, but he refused to rule out the possibility of weighing in on Stones case. Just so you understand, I chose not to be involved. Im allowed to be totally involved. Im actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country. But Ive chosen not to be involved. Trump said he was not considering pardoning Stone but complained that his former associate was being treated very unfairly. Stone was convicted in November of a seven-count indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. Prosecutors had recommended a tough sentence of between seven to nine years in federal prison, but Barr reversed that decision and recommended a less harsh punishment, prompting the entire prosecution team to resign from the case. Story continues Eric Holder, US attorney general under Barack Obama, said in a statement at the time that the conduct over Stone had put at risk the perceived and real neutral enforcement of our laws and, ultimately, endanger the fabric of our democracy. Barr later denied that Trumps Twitter denunciation of the sentencing recommendation had influenced his decision; in an interview with ABC News, Barr said he had not been asked by Trump to look into the case. But the highly unusual intervention has prompted widespread outrage. More than 2,000 former justice department employees have signed an open letter calling for Barrs resignation and expressing support of the four prosecutors. Jackson said Stones sentencing would take place on Thursday, as planned. There had been questions raised about a potential delay in sentencing, as Stones lawyers push for a new trial due to the allegations of anti-Trump bias of one of the jurors. However, Jackson said the sentencing should occur as scheduled, while noting that its implementation may be delayed because of concerns raised by Stones team. Stone, 67, is the sixth former Trump aide to be convicted in cases prompted by Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Related: Roger Stone: prosecutors quit after DoJ signals plan to reduce sentence In their court filing last Monday, the prosecutors had argued that Stone who was found guilty in November of seven crimes including obstruction of justice, witness tampering and lying to Congress has shown contempt for this court and the rule of law. But the following day Trump claimed in a tweet: The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! Hours later, on Tuesday afternoon, a new court filing was released, proposing that the sentence guidelines for Stone be cut. Defense attorneys for Stone last week filed a second motion for a new trial. The first was rejected by Jackson last year. Associated Press contributed to this report Telecom stocks were trading lower on Tuesday, with Vodafone Idea dropping 15% intraday and Tata Teleservices, down 9% after telecom companies cleared partial AGR dues to DoT. Bharti Airtel stock was down 2.3% intraday. This was after the Supreme Court rejected a plea by telecom firms including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for extension in the payment schedule and asked them to deposit an estimated Rs 1.47 lakh crore in past dues for spectrum and licences by March 17. Vodafone paid Rs 2,500 crore as part payment of dues to the department of telecommunications (DoT) for adjusted gross revenue on Monday. A further Rs 1,000 crore is to be paid before the end of the week, the filing added. Vodafone stock price fell 15% intraday to the low of Rs 2.91, mere 0.30 points away from 52-week low of Rs 2.61. The stock has underperformed telecom sector by 9.63%. The stock has eroded value worth 35% in mere one week, 30% in one month, 50% year-to-date and 82% in one year. The market cap of the mid cap stock stands at Rs 9,828 crore. In another filing, the telecom company informed that Care Ratings Limited (CARE), has downgraded its rating on Long Term Bank Facilities and Non-Convertible Debentures. This was on account of significant erosion in the overall risk profile of the company while taking into cognisance of the financial impact of no relief being granted on modification plea on 14th February 2020 of telecom companies (tefcos) seeking new schedule of Adjusted Gross Revenues (AGR) dues by Hon'ble Supreme Court and significant losses to the tune of Rs 6,453 Crores in Q3FY20. Mukul Rohatgi, the senior counsel for Vodaonfe told NDTV on Monday said that the decision of paying all its dues to the government would make 10,000 people jobless and inconvenience to 30 crore subscribers. AGR dues: Telcos' payout to lower FY20 fiscal deficit to 3.5%, says SBI Ecowrap Bharti Airtel paid Rs 10,000 crore in dues to DoT and said it would pay remaining dues by March 17. The filing added that the payment of dues includes amount on behalf of merged company Telenor India and another Rs 500 crore on behalf of Bharti Hexacom Limited, its subsidiary. Bharti Airtel stock price earlier fell 2.3% to an intraday low of Rs 551, although later touched its new 52-week high of Rs 568.6 hit yesterday. The stock outperformed the telecom sector by 0.25%, as the sector has fallen 0.57% intraday. Bharti Airtel stock has risen 5% in one week, 12% in one month, 23% year-to-date and 102% in one year. The market cap of the large cap stock stands at Rs 3.09 lakh crore. The share price of Tata Teleservice (Maharashtra) Ltd hovered near the day's low of Rs 3.25 on BSE, declining 8.9% away from the previous close of Rs 3.57. The micro cap stock with a market cap of mere Rs 702 crore has fallen over 18% in one week. The stock has risen 28% in one month, 48% year-to-date and 14.5% in one year. AGR issue: FM Nirmala Sitharaman says telecom department actively engaging with telecom companies "Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited (TTML) have made a payment of Rs 2,197 crores (Two thousand one hundred and ninety-seven crores) to the DoT towards License Fees and Spectrum Usage Charges," said the company in a press release to BSE. By Rupa Burman Roy IndiGo, SpiceJet fall up to 2.5% as domestic passenger traffic growth slows in January Share Market LIVE: Sensex falls 350 points, Nifty below 11,950; PSU Bank shares decline Rupee vs Dollar: Rupee slips 10 paise to 71.42 per dollar amid coronavirus fears among investors THREE men who are accused of threatening and intimidating a potential State witness in a firearms case are to stand trial at the Circuit Court. Tyrone McMahon, aged 30, who has an address at Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston; Leon McNevin, aged 32 of the Steeples, St Laurences Road, Chapelizod and Ciaran Griffin, aged 26 of the Steeples, Ballyfermot each face a single charge relating to an incident at Raheen Square on April 27, 2016. After books of evidence were served on each of the defendants at Limerick District Court, Sergeant John Moloney said the DPP consented to the matter being sent forward for trial at Limerick Circuit Court. While Mr McNevin and Mr Griffin were remanded on continuing bail, gardai objected to a bail application made by Mr McMahon, Detective Garda Fiona OConnell said it will be alleged that Mr McMahon called to a neighbour of the potential witness and spoke to her after she was requested to attend the house. Detective Garda OConnell said it will be alleged he offered her money to withdraw her statement relating to a shooting incident which happened in September 2015. She said it will also be alleged that he asked her give evidence in court that she was stoned off her head when she made her original statement. The detective said she believes the defendant will make further attempts to intimidate the woman if released on bail. She alleged Mr McMahon is a volatile and dangerous individual and she told the court she believes he as access to firearms. Judge Marian OLeary was told the defendant was previously granted bail but that it was recently revoked by the High Court after it emerged he flew to the UK in breach of his bail conditions. Solicitor Tom Kiely said his client had returned to Ireland the following day and was not trying to evade the authorities. He said Mr McMahon disputes the allegation that he has access to firearms and he told the court he would abide by any and all conditions if granted bail. Judge OLeary said she was refusing bail in the circumstances. Donaldson said he never registered with a political party during his decades in the news business and never endorsed a candidate. In retirement, however, he has contributed money to two of them, both Democrats. In 2018, he supported Jeff Apodaca in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in New Mexico; Apodaca lost the nomination to Michelle Lujan Grisham, who won the general election. During the 2016 cycle, he contributed to Hillary Clintons campaign. (You know how that turned out.) Thirty under-graduate and post-graduate students from Jammu and Kashmir have been touring Himachal Pradesh as part of an Army initiative to give students from disturbed areas exposure to the rest of the country, an official spokesperson said on Tuesday. They visited various places in the state from February 15 to 18, he added. The students were taken to the Himalayan Nature Park, the Himachal Pradesh University Campus, the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, the Tattapani Hot Spring and the Army Heritage Museum, the official said. They met Lieutenant General Atulya Solankey, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Army Training Command. The general officer encouraged the students to broaden their horizons and evolve as responsible citizens of the country, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo credit: Kristy Sparow - Getty Images From Harper's BAZAAR Chanel and Prada have both announced that they will be postponing their upcoming shows in Asia due to the threat of coronavirus. Chanel was set to host a Metiers dArt show in Beijing this May, plans which have now been put on hold because much of the country is still in lockdown and it is not yet clear exactly how long this will continue for. In a similar vein, Prada has revealed that it will be postponing its resort 2021 show, which was set to take place in Japan on 21 May. "This decision was made as a precautionary measure as well as an act of responsibility and respect for all the people working on and planning to attend our resort 2021 show," a spokesperson for the company told WWD. "Prada extends its sincere sympathies and concern to all the people and territories affected by this situation." The occasion was set to mark the first time the Italian fashion giant had ever hosted a show in Japan. Now it seems that the resort 2021 collection will be either presented in a different location or will take place at a later date. Photo credit: Mike Coppola - Getty Images Chanel's Beijing presentation was set to be a replica of the Metiers dArt show that took place in Paris in December, suggesting that it will simply put this on hold, rather than host the show elsewhere. The French fashion house was already planning a replica show in London in June, which is still set to go ahead, according to the Business of Fashion. Shanghai and Beijing fashion weeks have also both been directly affected by the threat of coronavirus. They were scheduled to take place during the last week of March, but have been postponed for the time being. Photo credit: Kristy Sparow - Getty Images You Might Also Like He went on to say that there would be items on the boards agenda in the near future that would address the districts financial status and seek to avoid going to the voters in a referendum. TRENTON Not everyone was a fan. Certainly not former Mayor Tony Mack. Hes how the Fans of Trentons Irresponsible Blogger got its name. But now Mack and other capital city politicians may be able to rest a bit easier because the fans shuttered their online doors. What killed the Facebook group forum, in some respects: An erroneous post, made by former Paul Perez supporter Mike Ranallo, that claimed City Hall was raided by the FBI. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora was furious over the unfounded rumor, calling it absolute bullsh*t. A source at the FBI told The Trentonian, It wasnt us, when asked if special agents visited City Hall last week. The damage was done. Within days of the publishing of the notorious F.B.Lie story, the page founders decided they had enough and announced they were closing the self-policed FOTIB page. Since the decision was made to disband the popular Facebook group, at least two offshoots Trenton Orbit and Our Trenton have sprung up in its place, although those founders recognize theyll be hard-pressed to establish the same following that the FOTIB page established over the years. Co-founder and former Trenton resident Jim Carlucci recalled in a phone interview Monday how the page got started. One night in March 2012, then Mayor Mack was admonishing the legislative body for following the bad advice of an irresponsible blogger. Carlucci and others listened as Mack derisively gestured in their direction. The blogger, who twice ran for Trenton council in 2002 and 2006, recalled seeing the shocked expression on his face when a picture capturing that moment hit the newspapers the next day. My face was like, what?' Carlucci said. We kinda took it as a badge of honor. Soon after, co-founder and administrator Marge Miccio created the Irresponsible Blogger Facebook group, which served as a sort of informational clearinghouse for Trentonians starving for coverage of civic life in the capital city. The pages founders said in a goodbye post that, in the nearly eight years since it was founded, membership swelled well over 1,600. Many of those members went out of their way to faithfully lampoon the convicted felon Mack over the years, posting links to an infamous Dec. 7 interview during which Mack started into a TV camera and wished everyone Happy Pearl Harbor Day. We were really the ones who were holding the elected officials to account at that point, Carlucci said. He and others like Dan Dodson and Kevin Moriarty posted blogs about city business, some including documents theyd obtain through the state Open Public Records Act. The Facebook page wasnt just for the high-browed data geeks. Members aggregated news stories from around the region, provided play-by-play of council meetings before they were livestreamed and posted humorous cartoons poking fun of city officials. Its almost like your favorite bar closes. Everyone kinda went there and said what they had to say, said Ranallo, who along with Bill Kearney, was temporarily sidelined by the moderators from posting after it was determined the FBI raid rumor was unfounded. Ranallo said he thought hed eventually be let back in but was shocked to learn Carlucci and Miccio decided to call it quits. He and Kearney will try to fill the void with their Trenton Orbit page, hoping it becomes Fans 2.0 although it had just over 100 members as of Monday night. In a signed letter, Carlucci and Miccio explained their reasons for closing the page after a good run. The group could be harsh; it could be hysterical, but it developed a certain amount of credibility, they said. Unfortunately, entropy seems to have taken hold of the FOTIB. People join seemingly just to jeer those who offer realistic critiques of the status quo. Long time members take umbrage at the complaints from the perpetual optimists. Bloggers who used to invite thoughtful discourse with posts that were well researched and sourced moved on. This created a vacuum and we know that nature abhors a vacuum. The rough and tumble camaraderie of the original FOTIB has given away to outright rancor. There is a growing chasm between what some would call the sunshine and lollipop crowd and the, If it is so bad, why are you still here group? There has been a decrease in conversation and a marked increase in condescension. The founders acknowledged the FBI raid story brought this to a head. Carlucci said in an interview he and Miccio considered shutting down the page for a while, but acknowledged theyd gotten plenty of backchannel communication from those outraged over Ranallos post. You write something, youre getting it from 17 different people. Its like, Why do I need this?' said Carlucci, who lived in Mill Hill for more than two decades before moving to Hamilton Township. I will say, one of the reasons that we were reluctant to pull the plug was because of that situation [with the mayor], and how it would perceived. We both looked at each other shrugged and said, Its time.' Gusciora acknowledged in an interview he was one of the people who reached out to Carlucci about his longtime critics slanderous post. The mayor, also an attorney, however, denied pressuring the founders to remove the post or take down the page entirely. Gusciora, who was not a member of the page, said his critics have a First Amendment right to criticize his stewardship of the city. But the commentary under Ranallos post went too far, becoming outright accusatorial of certain city workers. Did I kill the Fans page? I have nothing to do with that page, the mayor said, adding he had no reaction to the shuttering of the page. At-large councilman Jerell Blakeley wasnt so shy about expressing his disdain for the page. He blasted those responsible for the vicious rumors about the FBI raid. And in an interview he suggested it had become an online cache for embittered supporters of losers in the last municipal election. We have bigger fish to fry in Trenton than a Facebook group of disgruntled Trentonians, he said. I understand its been a forum of amusing the angry embittered people who hate Trenton. I wish them well. They could peddle their lies somewhere else. Darren Freedom Green, a community activist and former mayoral candidate, said he saw value in what the FOTIB page brought to the community, though he didnt always agree with the posters opinions or tactics. One of the reasons I got into politics was Jim Carlucci, he said. He was very critical, clear and concise. His whole purpose was to inform to engage, to bring people to the table. The pettiness and politics is going to keep killing us. I think we need to hold ourselves responsible and then we hold our elected officials accountable. From TikTok to FaceApp, it can be hard to tell when an app has nefarious intentions hidden behind its useful or buzzworthy features. The same goes for ToTok. The New York Times reported in December that the app is being used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to spy on its users. In response, Google removed ToTok from its Play Store while it investigated. (Apple removed it from the App Store as well.) An updated version of the app reappeared on the Play Store in early January, but it was removed again on February 14th, according to 9to5Google. Google confirmed to TechCrunch that it did remove ToTok from the Play Store, but didn't say why. The company did, however, make it clear that the app wasn't pulled due to an outside request from, for example, a government agency. TechCrunch speculates that a policy violation is what caused the app to be removed. The updated version of ToTok that appeared in January added a prompt to allow the app to access users' contact list, according to Vice. Just because ToTok was removed from the Play Store doesn't mean Android users can't access it -- it's still available on third-party app stores, and ToTok's website offers an APK file to install the app directly. TEHRAN, Iran - Iran sentenced eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who reportedly also has British and American citizenship, to prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Irans national security, the judiciary said Tuesday. According to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, an appeals court issued the final verdicts. Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani, got 10 years each and were ordered to return the money they allegedly received from the U.S. government for their services. Tahbaz is an Iranian who also holds U.S. and British citizenship. Iran does not recognize dual or multiple nationalities, meaning Iranians it detains cannot receive consular assistance from their other countries. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Irans Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government. Iran is holding several foreign and dual nationals, including five U.S.-Iranian nationals. Esmaili, the judiciary spokesman, said two other activists, Houman Jokar and Taher Ghadirian, each got eight-year sentences for allegedly collaborating with the hostile government of America. Another three of the activists, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashan Doust and Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi, were sentenced to six years in prison each. The eighth activist, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, got four years. All the activists were arrested in early 2018. A ninth activist who was arrested at the time, Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian-Canadian naional, died while in custody under disputed circumstances in February 2018. His widow then was blocked from flying out of Iran, but later made it out. Iran is also holding others with ties to the West, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman sentenced to five years on allegations of planning the soft toppling of Irans government while travelling in Iran with her young daughter. Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Irans oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, both are serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage charges. Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail in 2017 after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for collaboration with a hostile government. Shahini has since returned to America and is now suing Iran in U.S. federal court. Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing. Earlier this month, Irans supreme court confirmed the death penalty for Amir Rahimpour, who was convicted of spying for the C.I.A. Iranian state media have alleged that he had shared details of the Islamic Republics nuclear program with the American spy agency. Esmaili said at the time that Rahimpor would soon be executed. Iran has in the past has sentenced alleged American and Israeli spies to death. The last such spy executed was Shahram Amiri, who defected to the U.S. at the height of Western efforts to thwart Irans nuclear program. When he returned in 2010, he was welcomed with flowers by government leaders and even went on the Iranian talk-show circuit. Then he mysteriously disappeared. He was hanged in August 2016, the same week that Tehran executed a group of militants and a year after Iran agreed to a landmark accord to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. A prisoner exchange in December saw Iran free Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-American scholar from Princeton who had been held for three years on widely criticized espionage charges. It was seen as a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the U.S. Two Australians were freed in October while Australia freed an Iranian in what appeared to be a prisoner swap. Tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S. since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal. A U.S. drone strike in January killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting Tehran to retaliate with a ballistic missile strike on Iraqi bases housing American troops. SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- South Euclid police are searching for someone who killed a residents cat that was found with wounds from a pellet gun and knife, police said. A South Belvoir Road resident reported Feb. 10 that she found her cat seriously injured. She took the cat to a veterinarian, but it died in surgery, police said. The vet removed a pellet from the cats left thigh. The vet also found cuts on the cats head and ears that had the clinical appearance of knife wounds, police said. South Euclid detectives asked anyone with information about the cats death to call the police departments tip line at 216-691-4285. To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comments page. Read more crime stories: Man shot wife in leg, then took his own life in Cleveland, police say Duo ran from stolen car after leading Maple Heights officers on hour-long chase, police say Trio attacked Cleveland man with car jack, tried to shove him into trunk of car, records say Strongsville priest accused in child pornography case may have participated in child prostitution, prosecutors say The hogs, which damage farmland at a rapid rate, have been targeted by state and federal officials for eradication. What does it take to fight Missouris feral hogs problem? Corn, patience and persistence Feral hogs have been a mushrooming problem in Missouri. But the on-the-ground fight to control them is a challenging race against their smarts, their prolific ability to multiply, and the people who introduce them to the state. Government-sanctioned hunters killed more than 10,000 feral pigs in 2019. The record number for the state represents a 12% jump compared with the year before and continues a steady climb in feral hog elimination. Yet, it remains unclear if those efforts are stopping the spread of the animals, which began after people released pigs into the wild in order to hunt them. The animals also are linked to a deadly attack on a woman in Texas in November. The MDC banned hog hunting on state land in 2016. The U.S. Forest Service recently announced the 1.5-million-acre Mark Twain National Forest is closed to feral hog hunting, too, with an exemption for licensed deer and turkey hunters who can opportunistically kill hogs in season. BERKELEY (BCN) The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating a robbery and assault of a mail carrier early Monday afternoon in Berkeley, University of California police said. Someone robbed and assaulted the worker at 12:05 p.m. in the 1900 block of Oxford Street, which is close to the University of California at Berkeley campus. Anyone with information about the robbery and assault is asked to call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at (877) 876-2455. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Sadiq Khan has begged the EU to grant pro-Remain Britons 'associate citizenship' of the bloc so they can continue to enjoy the benefits of free movement despite Brexit. The Mayor of London travelled to Brussels today for crunch talks with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. He is calling on the UK and EU to discuss his plans when the two sides sit down in the coming months for negotiations on the terms of their future relationship. Mr Khan argued his plan would help reconcile Leave and Remain voters and help pro-EU voters who 'still feel and want to be European'. However, the EU will almost certainly dismiss the call because it is likely to fall into the category of 'cherry picking' - wanting some of the advantages of membership without taking on all of the obligations. Mr Khan tweeted: 'It's no secret I wanted to remain in the EU, but I'm determined to ensure London thrives after Brexit. 'Today I'm in Brussels, meeting senior EU leaders to fight for a deal that protects London's economy, and the rights of all Londoners.' The Mayor's 'associate citizenship' plan would allow British voters who opt in to keep many of the rights they held before Brexit - including the right to move freely between EU member states. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan met with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels today The pair discussed Mr Khan's proposals to allow pro-Remain Britons to be given 'associate citizenship' of the EU He said: 'Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesn't mean our country's future can't be closely linked with the rest of Europe. 'The Prime Minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European. 'There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens. 'As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship.' Mr Khan met Mr Barnier for talks as well as David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament. Mr Khan said the meeting with Mr Sassoli was 'productive' and it is 'vital that we work together to retain close ties after Brexit'. Mr Sassoli described the sit down as a 'fruitful exchange' as he said protecting citizens' rights is a 'key priority' for the European Parliament. The mayor also met with Guy Verhofstadt, the former chairman of the European Parliament's Brexit steering group, who has previously advocated a similar plan. Mr Verhofstadt is urging Brussels decision makers to be open to the concept of 'associate citizenship'. 'The Maastricht Treaty created the concept of "European citizenship" and I am in favour of using this now as a basis for people who want to keep their link with Europe,' he said. 'It is the first time in the history of our union that a member state leaves, but it is not because the UK government wanted exit that individual citizens have to lose their connection with the continent.' However, Mr Khan's plan was immediately attacked by his London mayor challengers Rory Stewart and Shaun Bailey. Mr Khan also met with former chairman of the European Parliament's Brexit steering group Guy Verhofstadt who has previously called for 'associate citizenship' to be offered to the UK Mr Khan also met president of the European Parliament David Sassoli. The mayor's proposals would see UK citizens able to keep free movement rights despite Brexit Mr Stewart, who is standing as an independent candidate at the contest in May this year, said 'associate citizenship' was 'only a sound bite' and the 'policy cannot work'. Mr Bailey, the Tory candidate, slammed it as a 'gimmick' and told Mr Khan to 'focus on his actual responsibilities'. The UK left the EU on January 31 this year and the two sides are now in a standstill transition period lasting until the end of 2020 during which they will try to hammer out the terms of their future relationship. Freedom of movement will continue to apply to the UK for the duration of the transition period with the UK's new border control system due to be rolled out in January 2021. 4Front CEO Josh Rosen and 4Front President Kris Krane, who co-founded the cannabis company in 2011, will each present during the iconic conference's Cannabusiness track. They will speak on the future of the rapidly evolving and expanding cannabis industry. Kris Krane, who also serves as president of Mission Dispensaries, 4Front's retail division, will give a talk titled "Frenemies: Cannabis Activists & Cannabis Industry," which will explore the sometimes-strained relationship between the industry and activists within the space. His talk will examine how the two can support each other, where they clash and why he thinks the industry has an obligation to support the drug-policy-reform movement. That talk is scheduled to take place on Wed., March 18, 2020, at 11 a.m. CT at the Hilton Austin Downtown. 4Front CEO Josh Rosen will participate in a panel discussion titled "The Future of Cannabis Consumption," which will discuss consumer-consumption trends within the multi-billion-dollar cannabis industry. The panelists will discuss the rise in vape culture, the diversification of form factors for cannabis products, and the future of consumption habits. That panel is scheduled to take place on Sat., March 21, 2020, at 2 p.m. CT at the Hilton Austin Downtown. "SXSW is one of the premier cultural and technological showcases in the world and its embrace of the future of cannabis signals another step forward for the industry. Kris and I are excited to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience with this audience," Rosen said. Krane added: "Finding mainstream avenues to educate and share information have always been critical factors to the advancement of the legal cannabis industry. For decades, activists and entrepreneurs have recognized the potential of cannabis to reshape how we grow economically and societally; we are now seeing the fruits of that labor in the rise and excitement surrounding the space." For more information regarding the SXSW Conference, please visit https://www.sxsw.com/ About 4Front Ventures Corp. 4Front is a cannabis company designed for long-term success and built upon battle-tested operating capabilities at scale, experienced and committed leadership, a strategic asset base, and a commitment to being a magnet for talent. From plant genetics to the cannabis retail experience, 4Front's team applies expertise across the value chain. 4Front has invested heavily to assemble a comprehensive collection of management skills and hands-on operating expertise to capitalize on the unique growth opportunity being afforded by the increased legalization of cannabis. For more information, visit 4Front's website. This news release was prepared by management of 4Front Ventures, which takes full responsibility for its contents. The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front Ventures' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business and operations of 4Front Ventures, developments with respect to legislative developments in the United States and the proposed trading dated of the resulting issuer. Although 4Front Ventures has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front Ventures disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and 4Front Ventures does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. SOURCE 4Front Related Links https://4frontventures.com/ (Newser) John Bolton said he was willing to testify about President Trump's dealings with Ukraine during the Senate impeachment trialbut Republican senators decided not to call witnesses. The former national security adviser says he now hopes the White House won't censor the account he gives in forthcoming memoir The Room Where It Happened, reports Reuters. "I hope its not suppressed," Bolton told an audience at Duke University in North Carolina on Monday. "This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can. Well have to see what comes out of the censorship." He said it is unfair that the president is allowed to tweet, "but I can't talk about it." story continues below After the book was submitted to the White House for pre-publication review in January, Bolton was told officials had "serious concerns" about classified information it contained, the Washington Post reports. In excerpts from the book leaked during the impeachment trial, Bolton said Trump told him he wanted to freeze military aid to the Ukraine pending an investigation of the Bidens. Asked Monday whether Trump's July phone call with Ukraine's president was indeed "perfect," Bolton said: "Youll love Chapter 14." Asked about Trump's 2018 meeting with Vladimir Putin, he said: "I could read a chapter from my book and give you an answer." It's not clear whether the memoir will be released as scheduled on March 17. (Read more John Bolton stories.) Job Title: Public Health Specialist (AMR/VPH) Organization: VSF Germany Project: BMZ Funded BUILD Uganda Project Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Project Technical Manager About US: VSF Germany is an International Non-Governmental Organization, providing humanitarian assistance and development aid to agro-pastoral and pastoralists and vulnerable communities in areas where livestock is of importance. In the Horn of Africa region, VSF Germany has been implementing programmes in South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia since 1998. Effective from January 2019, VSF Germany has expanded its programme scope to Uganda. VSF Germany programmes focus on Food Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition, Natural Resources Management, Peace-building, Water and Sanitation, Protection and Response to Disasters and Emergencies. Each country program is managed through the country offices and country teams. Country programmes are coordinated and facilitated from the Regional Office Nairobi (RON). The organization is a registered charity in Germany with its headquarters in Berlin. Job Summary: The Public Health Specialist shall provide direct technical support and guidance for risk assessments including systems characterization and value chains mapping and analyses AMR and VPH surveillance systems and various training needs and training activities in target districts. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Lead the process of community and other key stakeholders mobilization for sensitization on AMR and VPH activities in the target districts Undertake rapid training needs assessments with key target groups and design suitable training programmes that address t knowledge and practice gaps in AMR /VPH control Lead the planning and implementation of training programmes that influence practice and behaviour changes in collaboration with the VSF-G Capacity Development Officer, Identify essential slaughter and equipment supply needs that enhance hygienic meat handling practices and support the procurement and distribution plans to beneficiaries Contribute to updating and review of the National Action Plan on AMR control Participate in Multi-stakeholder Platforms to assess needs, trends and patterns in AMR/ VPH practices and design extension messages that contribute to behavioral changes Conduct trainings of farmer groups and other stakeholders to disseminate good practices on rational use of antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship as informed by research results, Conduct training needs assessments and design training modules of butchers, meat vendors and other actors in the meat value chains to improve quality and safety of meat. Support and guide consultancies on VPH baseline studies and AMR poultry engendered value chain analysis and KAPs assessments to inform control intervention strategies Support the establishment of a well-functioning One Health governance structure for AMR and AMU surveillance Support and participate in the establishment of a government led system of collecting, collating, analysing, reporting and disseminating AMR and AMU data Participate in the strengthening of AMR and AMU surveillance in animals and animal products especially poultry. Conduct trainings to key stakeholders to disseminate key public health policy guidelines Support sampling for AMR and VPH studies at the field and slaughter facilities for research purposes in collaboration with the ILRI principal investigators and PhD fellows. Provide guidance and support to target districts on the use of mobile based applications for AMR / VPH surveillance activities Lead in the preparation of timely AMR/ VPH component periodic progress reports Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a Bachelors Degree in Biomedical Sciences or related fields (e.g. veterinary medicine or human medicine) from a recognized university with at least 7 years of field practice and research experience. Masters Degree in Veterinary Public Health with a focus on AMR and VPH research will be an added advantage. Three years of proven experience in the management and implementation of AMR and or Veterinary Public Health research programs particularly in Uganda. Team player, self-motivated and ability to work with minimum supervision Ability to prioritize tasks, problem solve and meet tight deadlines Creative self-starter, independent thinker with a focus on delivery of results for the project Good understanding of the AMR / VPH governance principles and priorities actions in Uganda Results Focused Teamwork with good inter-personal relations Effective Communication and focus in building Effective Relationships Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Practical hands on work experience and knowledge of the target districts and regions. Ability to write technical briefs and concise reports. Ability to occasionally work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Familiarity with Uganda national livestock sector policies and strategies. How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications with the subject line Public Health Specialist to the e-mail address: recruitment@vsfg.org and copied to admin_hr@vsfg.org. The application documents should include the following, all in one document:** Cover letter for application (max 1 page) Updated CV of not more than 3 pages and with at least 3 professional referees. Do not submit copies of transcripts, academic degrees, or recommendation letter at this stage as you will provide them up on request only. NB: Canvassing for the position through unfair means shall lead to automatic disqualification. Deadline: 28th February 2020 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Aerial view of the coastline of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. A rapid response team is trying to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes where it could cause ecological and economic damage. (photos.com) Kentucky Lawmakers Take the Lead in Funding the Removal of Invasive Asian Carp Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) secured $25 million in funds to help remove the invasive Asian carp species from reservoirs like Lake Barley and Kentucky Lake, in western Kentucky. Lawmakers held a press conference to discuss the new technique for ridding the habitat of the invasive carp to save the billion-dollar fishing industry. Senators and wildlife officials went out on the water to view the modified Unified Method removal of Asian Carp. Along with U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Representative James Comer, Rich Storm, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Dr. Jim Reilly, Director, U.S., Geological Survey (USGS) and Charlie Wooley, Great Lakes Regional Director, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service were in attendance. In this method, technology is used to corral Asian Carp through special nets. Wildlife officials using pulses of electricity and sound herd schools of Asian carp into 1,000-foot-long nets before removing them from the water. According to the Associated Press, State and federal agencies together have spent roughly $607 million to stop the invasion of Asian carp. Invasive Asian carp present a serious danger to Kentuckys waters and our $1.2 billion fishing industry, said Senator McConnell. I requested that the Trump administration deploy this advanced Unified Method here at Kentucky Lake, and it looks like it will be an important asset to protect our waters and our local economies. He told reporters that the removal of the invasive fish would take many years but must be done to preserve the fishing economy. According to Gov. Beshear, commercial fishing removed more than 7 million pounds of Asian carp from Kentucky waters last year, with the majority of that coming from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The modified unified method used here, in Kentucky lake, represents the first test of the method on a U.S. reservoir larger than 500 acres, Beshear said. The USGS has successfully implemented the same system in Missouri and Illinois. The most recent species of carp to intrude are bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp (together known as Asian carp,) and they are causing trouble in the Mississippi River and rivers and lakes within the Mississippi River watershed. Carp are a family of fish native to Europe and Asia. The common carp has been in the United States for over 100 years. These four species of fish were introduced to the United States in the 1970s to control algae, weed, and parasite growth in various aquatic environments. These captive fish eventually escaped into the Mississippi River basin and established breeding populations. These carp are slowly making their way up the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and have been found as far north as Minnesota. Asian carp cause severe damage to the native fish populations in the lakes and rivers that they infest because they dominate the food sources and space. Carp are thought to lower the quality of the water, which can kill off delicate organisms like native freshwater mussels. Asian carp are known to push out native species. Because they lay thousands of eggs and out-compete native fish species, releasing even a few carp into a body of water can damage the ecosystem. An Amazon-owned home security company has netted hundreds of police contracts including nearly a dozen in the Bay Area that could help solve neighborhood crime. But critics say the quick spread of such partnerships has skirted public oversight, turned police departments into corporate marketing machines and threatened the privacy of innocent people.Ring, well known for its popular video doorbells, has capitalized on a rise in package thefts and law enforcements growing interest in private surveillance by teaming up with police departments in San Jose, South San Francisco, Milpitas, Union City, Walnut Creek, Novato, Foster City and Hercules, as well as the Marin County Sheriffs Office. All but two of these agencies signed agreements in the past three months.Their officers have the use of a law enforcement portal on Rings Neighbors app to request and obtain videos within a specific time frame and area from users who grant permission. Residents location and identity remain anonymous. More than 900 agencies in the country had contracts with Ring as of Feb. 6, when the company last updated its information.Bay Area agencies laud the agreements, which come at no cost. The technology helped solve two package thefts in Milpitas during the holidays, police Capt. Raj Maharaj said. Five other departments said they had no examples of crimes solved yet, pointing instead to the potential benefits of their Ring partnerships.If a crime does occur, it just gets the info to those that are entrusted to help solve the crime quicker. Thats a point you cant argue, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.But some cities have raised privacy concerns about Rings services, prompting a congressional investigation last year and alarming watchdogs.The cameras, they say, intrude on other peoples privacy by recording motion detected up to 30 feet away. The rights of passersby such as dog walkers, mail carriers and children playing across the street are being violated without their consent, said Mike Katz-Lacabe, a member of Oakland Privacy, a coalition of people who are concerned about privacy and surveillance.Personally, I dont want to live in a surveillance dystopia where my neighbors are essentially spying on me on behalf of my local law enforcement, he said.The Neighbors app, Katz-Lacabe said, can also tie up police resources when theyre not needed, stoke fear and spark discrimination.I think it tends to lead to a perception that crime is greater than it is, even though its at historic lows , Katz-Lacabe said. It tends to focus on black and brown people, because the people who are buying Ring cameras oftentimes are in wealthier neighborhoods with less minorities, and in that case, anybody who doesnt look like the people who live in that neighborhood are going to be found suspicious.Though violent crime rates have fallen in recent years, property crimes increased in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties in 2017, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. San Francisco had the highest per-capita rate of property crime of any major U.S. city that year, with 6,168 crimes per 100,000 people largely because of the rise in auto break-ins.Foster City police signed an agreement with Ring in May, and the agency has sent out just one request for footage from residents, said Lt. William Sandri, a department spokesman. The residents did not reply.Still, Sandri said, the technology could help link a suspect to several crimes. Its not going to solve every crime, but it just provides us with another lead or another angle to work, he said.In late January, Oakland police sought help from the public by posting photos and video captured by a Ring doorbell camera on social media. The images showed two people violently robbing a woman on her doorstep. Although the crime remains unsolved, department spokeswoman Officer Johnna Watson said that security videos are always helpful because they can help identify a weapon and provide a suspect description.Oakland police are in the early stages of conversations with Ring about becoming a partner.San Francisco police have not signed a contract with Ring, but officers use home security footage provided by residents for investigations.Ring said that its mission is to make neighborhoods safer and that it upholds user privacy standards. No one can view video recordings without the residents permission, for example, and Ring encrypts communication between devices and the Amazon server that stores the videos, according to the company, and it does not knowingly collect information about children younger than 13.Weve seen many positive examples of residents and local police engaging on the Neighbors app and believe open communication is an important step in building safer, stronger communities, Ring officials said.Video doorbells send a notification to camera owners, who can tap in to the live stream and initiate two-way audio. The cameras capture clear footage at night, too, according to the company. Ring then stores the video on a cloud server reserved for users who pay for a separate plan.Law enforcement officers must cite a specific active investigation and can request footage only within a limited time and from a distinct area related to that case. Customers can decide whether to share all relevant footage, choose certain videos to share, decline to provide any of the doorbell recordings, or opt out of all future requests.Critics say there is no evidence that Ring cameras make communities safer, and they point to a string of high-profile hacking incidents as proof of the contrary.Fight for the Future, a nonprofit digital rights advocacy group, blasted Ring in an open letter in October signed by more than 30 civil rights groups. The letter followed a Washington Post report that 400 police agencies had entered into agreements with the company as of August.Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, said the lack of public oversight and accountability of these partnerships is a fundamental problem.If the cops in your neighborhood wanted to put a surveillance camera on everyones front door, they would clearly have to go seek approval from a city council or a mayor or some elected officials, Greer said. In this case, Amazon is ... providing a seamless process by which police can vacuum up that footage, store it indefinitely and use it for all sorts of abusive purposes without any meaningful oversight or accountability.Ring said it is careful with customer data. We maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against accidental, unlawful or unauthorized destruction, loss, alteration, access, disclosure or use, its privacy notice says.The company collects users online browsing activity, the notice says. It relies on residents to follow privacy and video surveillance laws, which vary by jurisdiction, such as posting a notice that they are recording.Another worry of critics is Rings oversight of police departments public communications, which they say relinquishes control of government employee resources. Departments must seek written approval from the company for news releases that mention Ring or include the companys logo, according to contracts obtained byLt. Mike Howard, a spokesman for Novato police, said his department allowed Ring to review its first news release to make sure it was factually correct. But the department has since avoided using Rings name to maintain control of its communications.Quite honestly, its because we dont want the appearance that Ring writes our press releases, because they dont, Howard said.Chief Garcia said he also signed a contract allowing Ring to review the San Jose Police Departments news releases, but said he would sever the contract if Ring were to request substantial changes.Although its in the contract, no one controls the message of this Police Department other than me, Garcia said.Not every local agency maintains the same level of independence. Sgt. Brent Schneider, a spokesman for the Marin County Sheriffs Office, said he planned to tell a Ring representative that he had spoken withabout Ring, as the company requested.Greer said these partnerships require the oversight of elected officials to ensure they are not being abused.I think its very Silicon Valley to assume we can either have a world with package theft, or we can live in a totalitarian surveillance state but you cant do both, she said. Given the choice, Id rather live in a world with a little bit of package theft and a little less fascism. Algerias flagship carrier, Air Algerie, was crippled by a surprise strike of its employees causing a major disruption of air traffic at Algiers and Setif airports. At least 13 international and domestic flights have been canceled as a result of the strike, which further adds to a reputation of unreliability that has been plaguing the company for years. Air Algerie saw its plans for regional expansion destroyed at the rock of inefficient leadership as it continues to titter on the edge of bankruptcy. The government promised to inject 2 billion dollars to help the company pay its debt and acquire new aircrafts. Skytrax certified the Algerian airline with only 3 stars leaving much to be desired in terms of connectivity and onboard service. Algerias flag-carrier currently deploys 58 passenger planes: 25 Boeing 737-800s, two 737-700C convertibles, five 737-600s, three 767-300s, 12 ATR 72-500s, three ATR 72-600s and eight A330-200s. LIMA, Peru, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. (f/k/a Compania Minera Milpo S.A.A.) (the " Company "), a publicly held corporation (sociedad anonima abierta) organized under the laws of the Republic of Peru and a subsidiary of Nexa Resources S.A., today announced that it has commenced an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") any and all of its outstanding 4.625% Notes due 2023 (the " Notes "). The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to the Company's Offer to Purchase, dated February 18, 2020 (the " Offer to Purchase ") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (the " Notice of Guaranteed Delivery " and together with the Offer to Purchase, the " Offer Documents "), which set forth a more comprehensive description of the terms of the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 24, 2020, unless extended or terminated earlier (the " Expiration Deadline "). Holders who (i) validly tender their Notes on or before the Expiration Deadline and do not validly withdraw on or before the Withdrawal Deadline (as defined below) or (ii) deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and all of the other required documents on or before the Expiration Deadline and tender their Notes prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date which is at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day after the Expiration Deadline, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by the Company, will receive the " Tender Offer Consideration " indicated in the table below. Accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase (including those tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedures) from the last interest payment date of the Notes up to but excluding the Settlement Date will be paid in cash on the Settlement Date (as defined below) or the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date (as defined below), as applicable. The following table sets forth certain terms of the Tender Offer: Title of Notes CUSIP No. / ISIN No. Outstanding Principal Amount Tender Offer Consideration(1) 4.625% Notes due 2023 204483 AA9; P67848 AA2 / US204483AA93; USP67848AA22 U.S.$343,000,000 U.S.$1,067.50 _______________ (1) Consideration in the form of cash per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, subject to any rounding as described herein. The obligation of the Company to accept tendered Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer is subject to certain conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. The Company will purchase Notes that have been validly tendered by the Expiration Deadline and not validly withdrawn by the Withdrawal Deadline (as defined below) (other than Notes tendered in reliance upon the guaranteed delivery procedures) and that the Company chooses to accept for purchase on the settlement date (subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer having been satisfied or waived by the Company), expected to be the third business day after the Expiration Deadline, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the " Settlement Date "). With respect to any Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures, the holders thereof will receive payment of the Tender Offer Consideration for such accepted Notes (to the extent that such Notes are not delivered prior to the Expiration Deadline) on the settlement date expected to be the third business day after the Expiration Deadline, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the " Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date "). The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any tenders of Notes for any reason. Holders will be permitted to withdraw validly tendered Notes (i) at or prior to the earlier of (x) the Expiration Deadline and (y) in the event that the Tender Offer is extended, the tenth business day after commencement of the Tender Offer, and (ii) after the 60th business day after commencement of the Tender Offer if for any reason the Tender Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days after commencement, but not thereafter (such date in clause (i) or (ii), the " Withdrawal Deadline "). The Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to extend, amend or terminate the Tender Offer at any time, subject to applicable law. Copies of the Offer Documents are available to holders of Notes from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer at (800) 884-4725 (toll free), (212) 269-5550 (collect), e-mail: [email protected], and www.dfking.com/nexaperu. The Company has retained HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (" HSBC ") and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (" J.P. Morgan ") to act as dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") in connection with the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to: HSBC at +1 (212) 525-5552 (collect) and +1 (888) 478-8456 (toll free); and J.P. Morgan at +1 (212) 834-7279 (collect) and +1 (866) 846-2874 (toll free). Neither the Offer Documents nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Company is making the Tender Offer only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The Tender Offer is not being made to, nor will the Company accept tenders of Notes from holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. If any holder of Notes is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own legal, tax, accounting and financial advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its stockbroker, bank manager, attorney, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. Any individual or company whose Notes are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Tender Offer. None of the Company, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or any person who controls, or is a director, officer, employee or agent of such persons, or any affiliate of such persons, makes any recommendation as to whether holders of Notes should participate in the Tender Offer. About Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. is a publicly held corporation (sociedad anonima abierta) organized under the laws of the Republic of Peru, and a subsidiary of Nexa Resources S.A. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, " Nexa Resources "). Nexa Resources is a large-scale, low-cost integrated zinc producer with over 60 years of experience developing and operating mining and smelting assets in Latin America. NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company and its affiliates that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to the Company's management, the Company cannot guarantee future results or events. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements. SOURCE Nexa Resources Peru S.A.A. Related Links http://www.dfking.com/nexaperu Bengaluru, Feb 19 : Playing down the simmering discontent among the disgruntled legislators who missed a cabinet berth again, Karnataka BJP on Tuesday denied any revolt brewing against Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. "An unsigned letter in Kannada circulating in the social media is bogus, as it was fabricated in the name of Santosh, a private secretary to Yediyurappa. No revolt is brewing against the Chief Minister," party spokesman G. Madhusudhana told IANS here. In the second cabinet expansion on February 6, only 10 newly-elected legislators, who defected from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in July, were inducted, leaving the party's many aspiring lawmakers miffed. "The talk of about 20 loyal MLAs ganging up against Yediyurappa is a speculation as rumour mills are working overtime. No rebellion is brewing against the Chief Minister," asserted the official. On the charge that Yediyurappa's younger son B.Y. Vijayandra was acting like a 'super or de facto CM' and medalling in the state administration, Madhusudhana said the latter was only assisting his father in party activities as he was also a party worker. "As Yediyurappa is 76 years old and ageing, Vijayandra is helping his father in party affairs so that he (Chief Minister) could be free to attend to administration," Madhusudhana said. Yediyurappa's elder son B.Y. Raghavendra is a three-time BJP Lok Sabha member from Shimoga in the state's Malnad area. With six cabinet posts vacant in the 34-member ministry, many legislators, including eight-time MLA Umesh Katti, are upset that they have not been rewarded for their loyalty to the party even six months after the BJP returned to power again in the southern state. On the purported meeting of about 20 BJP MLAs at the residence of state Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar here on Monday, Madhusudhana said it was a "get-together" as they were all in Bengaluru again to attend the budget session of the state legislature which began on Monday. "There is no crisis in the party. Our government is stable and will complete the remaining three-year term in office till May 2023," he added. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces the bought deal financing announced on February 6, 2020 (the "Offering") has closed. BMO Capital Markets acted as lead underwriter of the Offering, with participation by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Paradigm Capital Inc. (together, the "Underwriters"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued a total of 7,145,000 Common Shares (the "Common Shares"), at a price of Cdn $2.10 per Common Share for gross proceeds of Cdn $15,004,500. The Underwriters also partially exercised their over-allotment option to acquire an additional 760,000 Common Shares for additional gross proceeds of Cdn $1,596,000. Including the proceeds from the exercise of the over-allotment option, the total gross proceeds of the Offering were Cdn $16,600,500 with a total of 7,905,000 Common Shares being issued. The Underwriters received a cash fee equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to carry out early development works at its wholly owned Corani silver-lead-zinc deposit located in the department of Puno, Peru. The Offering was made pursuant to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated September 12, 2018. The terms of the Offering were described in a prospectus supplement filed on February 10, 2020 with securities regulators in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, other than Quebec, and may also be offered by way of private placement in the United States. The securities issued under the Offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Anthony Hawkshaw President and CEO For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - Investor Relations Direct: 604-628-1111 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering and continued development of the Corani Property. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release, or the effective date of the documents referred to in this news release, as applicable, and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that general economic and business conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but specifically include, without limitation, risks relating to general market conditions and the additional risks described in the Company's final short form base shelf prospectus dated September 12, 2018 and prospectus supplement dated February 10, 2020, the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52495 When a Northern California cab driver realized that his 92-year-old passenger was about to become the victim of a scam, he quickly devised a plan to save her. Two weeks ago, Roseville Cab owner Raj Singh picked the woman up from her home, and she directed him to drive her to the bank. While on the way, the woman told Singh that she received a call from someone who told her she owed the IRS $25,000, and she was on her way to withdraw the money. Immediately, Singh determined that she had been targeted by a scam artist, but the woman didn't believe him. Singh suggested the pair stop by the police station in Roseville, where an officer could talk more about the scam with her. The woman agreed, and Singh went inside to explain what was happening. An officer came out to the cab, and the woman shared more details about the call. After talking with the officer, she agreed that the call was not from the IRS, and Singh drove her back home. The woman's money remains safely in the bank. "We love this story because several times throughout, Raj could have just taken his customer to her stop and not worried about her well-being," the Roseville Police Department said on Facebook. "He took time from his day and had the great forethought to bring the almost-victim to the police station for an official response." More stories from theweek.com Mike Bloomberg is not the lesser of two evils Obama poked Trump on the economy. Trump took the bait. The family of 1 new Trump pardon recipient donated $200,000 to Trump's re-election effort last fall Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed his successor Ahmed Javed knew Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani and Peter Mukerjea socially, and that Peter also knew the then joint commissioner of police (law and order) Deven Bharti on "first name terms". Maria, who investigated some high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and also headed the probe in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, made the revelation in his memoir Let Me Say It Now released on Monday. Bharti, now Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, rejected the claim, saying it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts. Peter Mukerjea was arrested on November 19, 2015, in the Sheena Bora murder case, in which his former wife Indrani Mukerjea is the main accused. Sheena Bora, 24, was Indrani Mukerjea's daughter from an earlier relationship. The killing came to light in 2015 when Indrani Mukerjea's driver Shyamvar Rai, who had helped them dispose of the body, was arrested in another case. Rai later turned an approver in the case. As per Maria's book, Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti "on first name terms". Maria has also written that Javed knew the Mukerjeas socially, adding they were invitees to the latter's Eid party. According to excerpts from the memoir, during interrogation in the murder case, Peter Mukerjea told Maria that he had approached Deven Bharti in 2012 to complain about Sheena Bora going missing. The book mentions that when Maria asked Peter Mukerjea about "doing nothing" when he found out about Sheena's sudden disappearance, he replied, "Sir, I had told Deven!" Recalling Mukerjea's interrogation, Maria said, "That night I couldn't sleep a wink. The thought uppermost in my mind was to find out the exact meaning of what Peter had told me in the evening." "It meant that Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti on first name terms. And I had not known this all these days. Moreover, Deven Bharti had not thought it fit to tell me even once that the Mukerjeas were close to him," he says in the book. Maria claimed that whenever he would discuss with Bharti the mystery of non-registration of missing complaint or accidental death report, he would keep silent. "And this from my joint CP (L&O)? At the time of Sheenas disappearance, Deven Bharti was the additional CP in the Crime Branch," Maria wrote. "He could have done so much then itself to look for Rahul's girlfriend (referring to Sheena Bora)! It was imperative that I get to the bottom of it all, without upsetting the investigating team that was doing a good job," he wrote. While mentioning about Javed knowing the Mukerjeas "socially", Maria wrote, "Was there a deliberate attempt to discredit the probe by spreading the falsehood that I knew the Mukerjeas socially? I had categorically denied it, but the atmosphere of suspicion persisted." Maria was later appointed as director general of police (Home Guards) and Javed then took charge as Mumbai police chief. "A week after my removal, it turned out that not the previous CP but the new CP (Javed, who was later sent as ambassador to Saudi Arabia) knew the Mukerjeas socially and they were invitees to his Eid party," Maria wrote. Maria also mentioned in the book that he had conveyed to then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that he did not shield the accused as the case, undetected for three years, was unearthed by his team. "The Sheena Bora case, which was undetected for three years, was unearthed by my team. If we wanted to shield them, then why would we have detected the case in the first place?! Also, I along with my team had this detection for only 12 days before I was promoted and transferred," he wrote. "Peter Mukerjea's role and financial transactions were being parallelly probed in the case. The CBI took 90 days to bring out Peter Mukerjea's role and then arrest him!! This is sad, unfair and unjust to me and the Mumbai police team which detected this buried case," Maria conveyed in his message to Fadnavis. Rejecting Maria's claim, Bharti said, "Maria belongs to a family linked with Bollywood and, it seems, scriptwriters have a great influence on him. In addition, it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book as well as the web series, which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts." Moreover, for a policeman, it is advisable to read the charge-sheet and case diary rather than a "piece of fiction", Bharti said. "Won't comment much as the trial is in progress but would definitely tell that the whole investigation team was aware of all developments and were on the same page till the investigation was with Mumbai police," he added. A resort guard was convicted of killing a Florida woman who was vacationing in Costa Rica to celebrate her birthday and sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday. Bismark Espinoza Martinez was also ordered by a judge in San Jose, Costa Rica, to pay $50,000 in damages to the family of Carla Stefaniak, 36, who had traveled with her sister-in-law from her home in Hallandale Beach to Costa Rica, according to NBC South Florida. Stefaniak's family was not happy with the sentence, according to a Finding Carla Facebook page. "The family & friends are devastated by the news and they will need some time. This has been a long exhausting year and to end up here is heartbreaking all over again," a post said Tuesday. The family had sought the maximum sentence of 50 years, The Associated Press reported. "For me, this is another day of frustration, sadness and pain," Stefaniak's father told the Costa Rican news site CRHoy.com on Monday. Carla Stefaniak Stefaniak was staying in an Airbnb-rented room at the Villa Le Mas hotel in Escazu when she vanished the day before her Nov. 28, 2018, flight home, which she had checked into but never boarded. She had dropped off a rental car and her sister-in-law, who had an earlier flight, at the San Jose airport on Nov. 27, according to a timeline provided to NBC News. When she arrived at the AirBnB, where she was staying alone on her last night, she posted that there were heavy rains, and the "power went off." "Super sketchy," Stefaniak wrote. She later told a friend during a FaceTime call that she might ask a security guard at the Airbnb to buy her water because of the storm, the timeline says. Stefaniak was on WhatsApp until 8:20 p.m. After her phone died at 9 p.m., she made no further online posts. Her body was discovered by cadaver dogs on Dec. 3, 2018, covered in plastic bags and about 200 yards away from the Airbnb. Martinez was arrested later that day. Investigators said his story "demonstrated a lot of inconsistency" and did not match up with security video. Story continues Martinez, a Nicaraguan immigrant who arrived in Costa Rica in June of that year, had been staying in Apartment 7 at the resort, where he was working as a security guard, investigators said. Stefaniak had been staying in Apartment 8, and when investigators searched her room, they found blood. An autopsy found that Stefaniak's body had stab wounds to the neck and other areas, as well as injuries consistent with having been hit in the head. Prosecutors said during the trial that Martinez had attempted to rape Stefaniak and harmed her when she tried to fight him off, NBC South Florida reported. A witness testified that Martinez had confessed to the murder, and police said he lied, saying Stefaniak had left the resort on Nov. 28, according to the AP. Stefaniak's family sued Airbnb last year, claiming it did not conduct a background check on Martinez, who they say immigrated to Costa Rica illegally. 'Berozgari Hatao Yatra', a march called by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has received support by three ruling Janata Dal (United) leaders in Bihar. It can be considered as a big blow to the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) ahead of the Bihar assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year. Meanwhile, a poster war between both parties is underway with an aim to highlight each other's shortcomings. JDU MLA from Kishanganj district, Kochadhaman Mujahid Alam extended support to 'Berozgari Hatao Yatra' (eliminate unemployment march), which will be launched by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Alam said that there is "no doubt" that unemployment is a major issue in the state. On Monday, JDU MLC from Banka, Javed Iqbal Ansari went on to support Tejashwi Yadav's 'Berozgaari Hatao Yatra' and questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over unemployment and migration issues in the state. Echoing similar sentiments, JDU MLA from Hayaghat, Amarnath Gami had said that no government in the state has ever worked to address the issue of unemployment. "No doubt, there is unemployment in Bihar. If there was no unemployment then people would not have left Bihar to work in other states. No government has ever worked to address this issue. It is not possible to remove unemployment without the Centre's help," Gami had told reporters here. "If Tejashwi ji is taking out a 'yatra' against unemployment, he should know that the problem of unemployment will not be solved by this. For solving it, a plan should be made and the public should be informed about it," he had added. However, JDU state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh had said that RJD's 'Berozgaari Hatao Yatra' is nothing more than "a strategy to gain some publicity." The RJD is slated to hold a 'Berozgaari Hatao Yatra' in Patna on February 23. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will lead the rally in the state capital, following which it will be held in every district of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran Bengali actor Tapas Paul passed away on Tuesday (18 February 2020) at the age of 61. The later actor and politician reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest. Tapas Paul marked his Bollywood debut opposite Madhuri Dixit in Abodh in 1984. The Rajshri Productions film was also Madhuri Dixit's first acting assignment on the big screen. Remembering her first co-star Tapas Paul, Madhuri took to her Twitter to express grief on his passing. She wrote, "The loss of Tapas Paul who was one of the very first actors, I have worked with is felt by many. May God bless and comfort his family during this difficult period." The loss of Tapas Paul who was one of the very first actors, I have worked with is felt by many. May God bless and comfort his family during this difficult period Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) February 18, 2020 According to reports, Tapas Paul was visiting his daughter in Mumbai and while on his way back to Kolkata, complained of chest pain at the airport. He was rushed to a hospital in Juhu, Mumbai, but died around 4 am, according to a PTI report citing family sources. Tapas Paul was also known for his performance in Bengali films like Saheb (1981), for which he received a Filmfare Award, Dadar Kirti (1980), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Anurager Choa (1986), Amar Bandhan (1986), Guru Dakshina (1987), Uttara (2000) and Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002), among other films. Rani Mukerji-Saif Ali Khan's Bunty Aur Babli 2 To Release On June 26 Makeup Artist Pandhari Juker No More; From Nargis To Shah Rukh Khan, Pandhari Had Worked With Many A romantic marriage proposal is a significant milestone in many people's lives. Engagement rings can also cost tends of thousands of dollars and are commonly stolen in home invasions. Jewellery experts are urging engaged couples to get the girdle of the diamond engraved so they can't as easily be pawned. This microscopic serial number could be enough to get the ring returned, and save newlyweds potentially hundreds of dollars a year in insurance premiums. Roy Cohen, a third-generation diamond grader originally from South Africa, said these minute inscriptions increased the chance of a stolen ring being reunited with its rightful owner. A romance marriage proposal is a significant milestone in many people's lives. Engagement rings can also cost tends of thousands of dollars and are commonly stolen in home invasions 'It's invisible to the naked eye, it can only be seen with magnification but it's basically a serial number,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Usually what happens is, at any pawn shop, they will take a jeweller's loupe and they will actually have a look at the item. 'If there's a certificate number on the girdle of the diamond and the diamond's been sold without the certificate, usually that does raise alarm bells.' Mr Cohen, the director of Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia, said engraved serial numbers on diamonds could be checked against a database, arguing this was more effective than leaving a diamond un-engraved and relying on police detective work to find a stolen item. Jewellery experts are urging engaged couples to get the girdle of the diamond engraved so they can't as easily be pawned. Pictured is an engraving by Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia Roy Cohen, a third-generation diamond grader who has practised in Australia and South Africa, said these minute inscriptions increased the chance of a stolen ring being return to its rightful owner 'If somebody steals a diamond ring from a house in Sydney and then goes to sell it in Melbourne, there's no way that they're going to get found out because there's not a lot of co-operation between states,' he said. His DCLA company began inscribing diamond rings in Australia in 2001, following his move from Johannesburg to Sydney. It has now formed a partnership with underwriter Woodina to form Certified Diamond Insurance, which only insures jewellery with an inscribed serial number. Mr Cohen, who has three decades of experience as a diamond grader, vowed customers could save up to 50 per cent off their premiums compared to traditional home and content packages. A diamond ring worth $10,000 can be insured for $306 a year. Jewellery is the third most stolen item stolen from Australian homes, after cash and laptops, an analysis of official burglary figures by insurer Budget Direct found. As of Tuesday afternoon, the prize was unclaimed. The ticket was sold at Fast Lane Shell, 1999 E. Ajo Way , near South Kino Parkway, according to Arizona State Lottery officials. The ticket matched four out of the five numbers and the Powerball number. "This ticket's cash prize would have been $50,000, but since the ticket also had Power Play, the total cash prize tripled to $150,000," officials said. Teleange's knowledge and insights will be an invaluable asset as we continue to evolve, building stronger, healthier communities while addressing root causes and inequities." Community Health Charities announced today that Teleange Thomas, Director of Partnerships, Midwest at Candid, joined the CHC national board of directors, adding her significant expertise to an impressive roster of top executives in health and social impact. Teleange has more than 15 years of experience in community engagement and important systems change work, said Thomas G. Bognanno, Community Health Charities president & CEO. Her knowledge and insights will be an invaluable asset as we continue to evolve, building stronger, healthier communities while addressing root causes and inequities. As Director of Partnerships, Thomas plays a strategic role in elevating Candids presence and impact throughout the Midwest, a territory of 13 States (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, OK, SD, WI). Her direct responsibilities include relationship building, fund development and thought leadership. She is charged with identifying, cultivating and strengthening relationships with primary stakeholders, surfacing regional sector needs and connecting them to Candid products and existing solutions, while contributing to new Candid innovations and piloting new solutions. She is the co-architect of The Soul of Philanthropy Cleveland and Celebrate Those Who Give Black. These multimedia exhibitions, in conjunction with programming and events, amplify and sharpen the giving power of Black donors and catalyze the next generation of givers and doers, particularly in Cleveland, Ohio. Thomas is also the founder of Plattforms LLC., a women and minority owned consulting firm that specializes in the design, startup, and sustainability of social change projects and initiatives to improve humanity through socio-economic opportunity and equity-based solutions. The work of Plattforms LLC. is particularly aimed at elevating people, places, and ideas that impact people and communities of color. Thomas is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University. She is a board of director for Green City Growers, The Conservancy of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Cleveland Public Library Foundation and Policy Matters Ohio. She is a Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a Community Impact Volunteer of the United Way of Greater Cleveland, a member of Zeta-Phi-Beta Sorority Inc. (Inactive), The Order of Eastern Star (Active) and is published in numerous professional journals and academic publications, plus she has earned a host of awards and honors for her service and leadership. Thomas was elected to the national board of directors by unanimous vote at the last meeting in December and will officially start her Board duties at the next meeting in March, hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. About Community Health Charities Community Health Charities has been raising awareness and resources and empowering people to take action to improve health and wellbeing for over 60 years. We support education, treatment, and prevention for those with health challenges; bring organizations together to improve community health; provide individuals with opportunities to get involved; and increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Visit https://healthcharities.org or @healthcharities. The Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday announced the formation of a state Niti Ayog and new schemes worth 10,967.87 crore in its fourth annual budget (2020-2021) of 5,12,860.72 crore, presented in the state assembly by finance minister Suresh Khanna. A state Niti Ayog, replacing the state planning commission, will be set up on the pattern of the Centre to work out a road map for integrated and sustainable development of the state. A network will be developed for working and implementing plans at the district level, Khanna said. As this is the second last budget of the Yogi government before Uttar Pradesh heads to elections in early 2022, the budget earmarked funds for ongoing schemes to ensure their early completion besides proposing new ones for the development of infrastructure. The budget is dedicated to the youth and takes care of every section of society,chief minister Adityanath told reporters, terming the budget historic.. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said: The budget is not historic, it is a historic lie. The fourth budget in a way is the last budget of this government. All the four budgets were betrayal of the people. It has zero vision for the Ganga, cows and youth. Samajwadi Party will come back to power with 351 seats in 2022. Major allocations made in budget include 2,000 crore for development of the 637-km greenfield Ganga Expressway to connect Meerut with Prayagraj, 2,000 crore for the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar to be made operational by 2023, 500 crore for the development of an airport in Ayodhya, 92.50 crore for a regional connectivity scheme, 900 crore for the Regional Rapid Transit System from Delhi to Meerut, 358 crore for the Kanpur metro, 286 crore for the Agra metro, 200 crore for a metro network in Gorakhpur and other cities and 50 crore for setting up Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow. Two new schemes for apprenticeship promotion and entrepreneurship development -- Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA) -- will be launched in the state. A sum of 100 crore has been earmarked for the apprenticeship promotion scheme, 50 crore for setting up of a YUVA hub in every district and 1,200 crore for entrepreneurship development to make about 100,000 young self-reliant. Three new universities were announced -- for Saharanpur, Azamgarh and Aligarh -- besides the setting up of Uttar Pradesh Police Forensic University in Lucknow, a law university in Prayagraj and Ayush University in Gorakhpur. New engineering colleges have been proposed in Mirzapur, Pratapgarh, Basti and Gonda. Besides proposing 1,500 crore for the construction of residential and non-residential buildings for the police, the budget set aside a sum of 122 crore has for modernisation of the states police force. Khanna, in the 36-page speech that he read out in about an hour in the house, said the budget was dedicated to education, skill and infrastructure development and providing employment. He said the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur has been identified as a partner of the state for using new technology to conserve wildlife. A new palanhar scheme for upbringing of children of specially abled couples has been launched with a token allocation of 25 crore. Another token allocation of 30 crore has been made for setting up special integrated secondary schools in the state, he said. A sum of 40 crore has been earmarked for free treatment of patients suffering from incurable diseases, Khanna said and added that the state government has set a target of making UP a $1 trillionr economy to make India achieve its goal of becoming a $5-trillion dollar economy by 2024, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With estimated receipts of 5,00,558.53 crore and proposed expenditure of 5,12,860.72 crore the budget leaves a deficit of 12,302.19 crore. No new taxes or other measures have been proposed to meet the deficit. By adjusting receipts of 8,500 crore from the public account, the state government will be left with a negative net balance of 3,802.19 crore. The states fiscal deficit and states total indebtedness are estimated to reach 2.97% of gross state domestic product (GSDP) and 28.8% of GSDP respectively by March 31, 2021. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Oscar-winning director, Martin McDonagh, is set to make a return to the big screen with a new film about a friendship gone sour in Ireland. Three years after the release of his Oscar best picture nominee, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the writer has returned to Irish shores for the setting for his next movie. Variety reports that his as-yet-untitled feature film will centre around a long-term friendship which falls apart. The showbiz news company says a cast has yet to be finalised but that production is set to begin this year. The movie will follows two lifelong pals on a remote Irish isle. At an impasse, one abruptly ends the friendship, resulting in alarming consequences for both. McDonagh will serve as writer and director and will produce along with Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin through their Blueprint Pictures, according to Variety. Variety reveals that the award-winning playwright will also reunite with Disneys Searchlight and the UK-based Film4 the companies behind Three Billboards. The playwright with the Midas touch is back in familiar territory with the Irish setting for his latest movie. His first Oscar-wining short movie was Six Shooter, a black Irish comedy about a sad train journey where an older man, whose wife has died that morning, encounters a strange and possibly psychotic young oddball. While his movie masterpiece, In Bruges, was mainly set in its eponymous Belgian city, it centred around two Irish hitmen characters played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. His most recent film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was a drama about a grieving American mother who rents three billboards to call attention to her daughter's unsolved rape and murder. The drama won widespread critical acclaim with Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell picking up Oscars for their performances. The award-winning playwright turned filmmaker recently dropped in to the Gaiety to watch rehearsals of his dark comedy, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, which has just opened a run in the Dublin theatre. His play Hangmen is due to open on Broadway next month after winning rave reviews in the West End. The talented producer, who holds both a British and Irish passport, was born in 1970 in London to a Sligo mother and a Galway father and stayed behind in Britain when the family returned here when he was aged 22. American companies put fewer robots in place during 2019 than they did the year before, Reuters news agency reports. That is the first decrease in shipped robots since 2015. Robot shipments last year fell to 23,758. That is a more than 16 percent drop from the year before. That information comes from the Association for Advancing Automation, an industry group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robot shipments also fell in Mexico last year, decreasing 25 percent to 3,263. Shipments in Canada were about the same, with just over 3,000 robots shipped. A major goal of President Donald Trumps administration has been to get manufacturers to bring jobs back to the United States. New robotics permit U.S. companies to compete with low-cost labor in China and other countries. Some experts, however, believe there is a slowdown in manufacturing. Alexander Shikany is vice president of the Association for Advancing Automation. He said a slowdown is not likely to last a long time. He noted that orders for new robots in North America increased last year by 1.6 percent to 29,988 units. The largest driver of that growth was a more than 50 percent increase in orders from carmakers. Shikany said the car industry is making robots part of their investment for the future. U.S. carmaker General Motors recently announced that it was investing $2.2 billion to build electric trucks and self-driving electric vehicles at its factory near Detroit, Michigan. Hytrol Conveyor Company, Incorporated is a private company in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It makes conveyor belts and sold over $200 million of products last year. The company did not cut back on new robots in 2019. It spent $1.9 million last year to automate its assembly line. David Peacock is the companys president. He said the company realized three years ago that it would have trouble meeting demand without more robots. However, the investments have not cut jobs. The number of workers at Hytrol Conveyors factory has increased 18 percent over the past three years to 1,300. And the company has seen a nearly 25 percent increase in profits. Im Jonathan Evans. Timothy Aeppel reported this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story shipment n. a load of goods that are being sent to a customer, store, etc. unit n. a single thing, person, or group that is a part of something larger conveyor belt n. a mechanical apparatus for moving articles or bulk material from place to place automate v. to run or operate something, such as a factory or system, by using machines, computers, etc., instead of people to do the work assembly line n. an arrangement for assembling a product mechanically in which work passes from one operation to the next in a direct line until the product is finished Reno, Nevada, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- rfxcel, the global leader in supply chain track and trace solutions, today announced that it will release the latest version of its rfxcel Traceability System (rTS) software platform on February 18, 2020. rTS 7.0 continues the award-winning legacy of rfxcels signature full-stack solution, enabling true end-to-end supply chain traceability, environmental monitoring, and analytics from anywhere in the world. The announcement comes as the company marks its 17th year of developing leading-edge supply chain software solutions. With rTS 7.0, rfxcel anticipates building on the successes it enjoyed in 2019, which included entering the consumer goods industry, conducting major pharma pilots for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Brazilian government, enhancing its powerful Integrated Monitoring (rIM) solution, launching a MobileTraceability solution, tripling the size of its team in Russia, increasing its presence in the Middle East, and hosting its annual User Group in Reno, Nevada. rTS 7.0 can comprise up to eight discrete solutions that work in concert to harmonize, optimize, automate, and monitor virtually every aspect of supply chain operations. Though rfxcel currently provides its solutions to four industries life sciences (pharmaceutical and medical devices), food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods the fully customizable, interoperable, and scalable nature of rTS makes it suitable for supply chain visibility and security in any industry. rTS solutions include rfxcel Integrated Monitoring for real-time cold chain traceability, Serialization Processing, Compliance Management, Raw Materials Traceability, Finished Goods Traceability, Data Analytics and Blockchain Enabler. The solutions are available in a variety of languages, which speeds implementation and boosts ease of use because people can work in their native language. CEO Glenn Abood, who founded rfxcel in 2003 with Chief Strategy Officer Jack Tarkoff, said rTS 7.0 was the culmination of a year-long effort to make the platform more powerful and user-friendly than ever before. As we begin 2020 and celebrate 17 years of innovating supply chain technology and working with our customers to keep them at the forefront of their industries, we want people to know that rTS has never been better, he said. It has more features and capabilities than ever before, yet its intuitive and very easy to use. It centralizes complete supply chain control in one platform, can be accessed and controlled from virtually anywhere on Earth, and ensures companies remain informed, nimble, and compliant no matter where they do business. Mr. Abood added that the improved rTS 7.0 will be a boon to rfxcel as it continues its expansion into new industries and markets. We had some major successes in the pharmaceutical industry and the government sector last year, he said, particularly in Russia and the Middle East, where well be working with large brands and regulatory organizations. rTS 7.0 will help us solidify our position in markets around the world; in addition to Russia and the Middle East, we are leading in other key markets, such as Brazil and India. As we roll out rTS 7.0 and put it through its paces, well be able to demonstrate what rfxcel brings to the table. Jack and I were compelled to start rfxcel when we realized that it was impossible for consumers to check the authenticity of their prescription drugs. We were born out of the desire to protect people from potentially harmful pharmaceutical products. Today, so many years later, rTS 7.0 shows why were one of the best supply chain traceability solution providers for companies in any industry. rTS 7.0 will debut officially on February 18, 2020. To learn more about what it can do, contact Vice President of Marketing Herb Wong and visit rfxcel.com. About rfxcel Founded in 2003, rfxcel provides leading-edge software solutions to help companies manage every aspect of their supply chains, lower costs, and protect their products and brand reputations. Blue-chip organizations in the life sciences/pharmaceutical, food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods industries trust rfxcels signature Traceability System (rTS) to power end-to-end supply chain solutions in key areas such as traceability, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, serialization, and visibility. The company is headquartered in the United States and has offices in the EU, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, India, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Public Schools is one step away from naming a new superintendent. The school board interviewed the final three candidates for the position on Monday, Feb. 17: Darrin Slade, Erick D. Pruitt, and Leadriane Roby. I think we have some really good talent, said school board president Kristian Grant. Im excited about what weve continued to see and hear from the three finalists. The three finalists were selected from five candidates interviewed Feb. 8. Each candidate was asked the same 17 questions Monday during hour-long interviews. Prior to the interviews, the candidates gave 15-minute presentations. They were asked by the school board to explain how the district could accelerate learning and close the achievement gap for all students. Pruitt joined Chicago Public Schools in August 2019 and is the Deputy Chief of High Schools. His presentation focused on increasing equity within the district during his presentation. He said that all schools need to offer high quality options. There must be a shift in thinking about the impact of equality and equity, he said. Pruitt explained that equality is about giving everyone the same thing, whereas equity is about fairness. When we talk about fairness, are we getting not only students everything that they need, but are we also giving the adults that serve them everything they need to get the job done? Since 2014, Roby has served as assistant superintendent of Richfield Public Schools in Richfield, MN. During her presentation, she focused on literacy, including outreach community-wide. She also reviewed trend data for all 3rd graders in the district. She discussed the need for a whole community approach that includes leveraging partnerships with the city, early childhood programs, and others to make a literature rich community. Slade has been the assistant superintendent for leadership for Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri since 2018. He told the board he wanted to promote Advanced Placement (AP) classes and expand foreign language offerings. Prior to the interviews that began at 5 p.m., the candidates toured some schools and participated in focus groups with parents, teachers, students, administrators, and other members of the community. Roby said she was impressed. Their questions were challenging and tough and pointed, she told the board. I appreciate the engagement. Following the interviews, Slade said that hes the right fit for this district. I have a passionate skill set that matches the current needs of this system, he said. Although this system has done some great work and things have improved over the last couple years, I think we still have room for growth and I just think Im the leader to make that happen. Slade was among the final four candidates for the Kalamazoo Public Schools superintendent job but was not a finalist. Board member Tony Baker said during the interviews that school board members are looking for someone who will be in the district for the long haul. Roby said that shes looked carefully at Grand Rapids, and it is the district she wants to be in. I am not interested in a fly by night kind of position, she said. I have researched the district and have thought very long and hard about this being a great match for me as far as who I am as a person and the work that you all are doing. Last June, former Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal retired after seven years at the helm. This is the school boards second search to find her replacement. Ronald Gorman, Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 Instructional Support, has been the interim superintendent since July 1. There is still time for the community to offer input on the next superintendent. The interviews were live-streamed, and the video will be up all week. Click on their names to view the resumes for Roby, Pruitt and Slade. The school board encourages people to share their thoughts on the candidates by filling out online feedback forms in English and Spanish. The community has engaged in this process in a way that has been overwhelming, and that is wonderful," Grant said. "So, we have the next week to really dive through a ton of feedback, through our notes, and well still have a hard decision on Monday. The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 to make its final decision on who will be the districts next superintendent. The school board meets in the administration building, 1331 Franklin St. SE. I think that were going to have hard work to do to choose who the next superintendent is and thats good, said Grant. That is exactly where we should be. As of October, the school district reported an enrollment of 15,349 students. GRPS is the largest district in West Michigan. The board has agreed to pay the next superintendent a salary in the range of $220,000. More from MLive: Unspeakable act of mom killing her 3 daughters calls into question mental health help College fires professor charged in death of teen son with severe autism MichMash: How houses falling into the Great Lakes impacts all of Michigan Whats next for Grand Rapids area team wrestling district champions The (TDP) on Tuesday strongly condemned the government's decision to downgrade the security cover provided to party supremo N and demanded it be restored to the original level. Naidu has been provided with Z+ category of security with National Security Guard (NSG) mobile cover, while security for his son Nara Lokesh, who is a member of Legislative Council, has been dowgraded from Z to X category, the party said. "The strength of security personnel has been drastically brought down by about 50 per cent from 146 to 67," state president Kala Venkata Rao said in a statement. The party strongly condemns the politically motivated decision of the security review committee (SRC) and demands restoration of security to its original level, he said. "Further, the YSRCP-led government stands responsible for any mishap to the above leaders due to the reduction in their cover," Rao said. Rao further said the state police has found evidence that Naidu and his family members are still facing threat. The government has decided to reduce the security with "malified intentions and with a political motivation." He also said extremists had recently gunned down MLA from Araku Assembly constituency Kidari Sarveswara Rao and another leader Siveri Soma, which indicates their intention of harming political leaders. Last year, High Court had directed the state government to restore the security of Naidu with 97 police personnel. Naidu had escaped assassination attempt by Maoists in Tirupati in 2003 when he was the chief minister of undivided A team of scientists using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands has observed radio waves that carry the distinct signatures of aurorae, caused by the interaction between a star's magnetic field and a planet in orbit around it. Radio emission from a star-planet interaction has been long predicted, but this is the first time astronomers have been able to detect and decipher these signals. The discovery paves the way for a novel and unique way to probe the environment around exoplanets--planets that orbit stars in other solar systems--and to determine their habitability. Notably, follow-up observations with the HARPS-N telescope in Spain ruled out the alternate possibility that the interacting companion is another star as opposed to an exoplanet. The work appears in articles in Nature Astronomy and Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL). The breakthrough centered on red dwarfs, which are the most abundant type of star in our Milky Way--but much smaller and cooler than our own Sun. This means for a planet to be habitable, it has to be significantly closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun. Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere. The radio emissions associated with this process are one of the only tools available to probe the interaction between such planets and their stars. "The motion of the planet through a red dwarf's strong magnetic field acts like an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works," says Harish Vedantham, the lead author of the Nature Astronomy study and a Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) staff scientist. "This generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star." Thanks to the Sun's weak magnetic field and the larger distance to the planets, similar currents are not generated in the solar system. However, the interaction of Jupiter's moon Io with Jupiter's magnetic field generates a similarly bright radio emission, even outshining the Sun at sufficiently low frequencies. "We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star," says Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. "A scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io has long been predicted to exist in star-planet systems, and the emission we observed fits the theory very well." To be sure, the astronomers had to rule out an alternate possibility--that the interacting bodies are two stars in a close binary system instead of a star and its exoplanet. The team searched for the signature of a companion star using the HARPS-N instrument (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) on the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo on La Palma, Spain. "Interacting binary stars can also emit radio waves," notes Benjamin Pope, NASA Sagan Fellow at New York University and lead author of the ApJL paper. "Using optical observations to follow up, we searched for evidence of a stellar companion masquerading as an exoplanet in the radio data. We ruled this scenario out very strongly, so we think the most likely possibility is an Earth-sized planet too small to detect with our optical instruments." The group is now concentrating on finding similar emission from other stars. "We now know that nearly every red dwarf hosts terrestrial planets, so there must be other stars showing similar emission," observes Callingham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "We want to know how this impacts our search for another Earth around another star." "If we find that most red dwarf planets are blasted by intense stellar winds, this is bad news for their habitability," Pope, part of NYU's Department of Physics and Center for Data Science and a co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. The group expects this new method of detecting exoplanets will open up a new way of understanding the habitat of exoplanets. "The long-term aim is to determine what impact the star's magnetic activity has on an exoplanet's habitability, and radio emissions are a big piece of that puzzle," says Vedantham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "Our work has shown that this is viable with the new generation of radio telescopes and put us on an exciting path." ### Paper information: "Coherent radio emission from a quiescent red dwarf indicative of star-planet interaction" is published in Nature Astronomy on February 17, 2020: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1011-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1011-9 "No Massive Companion to the Coherent Radio-Emitting M Dwarf GJ 1151" is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on February 17, 2020: DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99 Full citation: Pope et al. 2020, ApJL, 890, L19 URL: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99 Additional Media Contact: Alice Spruit, ASTRON spruit@astron.nl +31 6 111 77 427 Editor's Note: Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world's foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting university campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and has 11 other global academic sites, including London, Paris, Florence, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Accra. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU is a leader in conducting research and providing education in the arts and sciences, engineering, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, social work, and professional studies, among other areas. For more, please visit http://www.nyu.edu. The international LOFAR telescope (ILT) consists of a European network of radio antennas, connected by a high-speed fibre optic network spanning seven countries. LOFAR was designed, built and is now operated by ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), with its core located in Exloo in the Netherlands. LOFAR works by combining the signals from more than 100,000 individual antenna dipoles, using powerful computers to process the radio signals as if it formed a 'dish' of 1900 kilometres diameter. LOFAR is unparalleled given its sensitivity and ability to image at high resolution (i.e. its ability to make highly detailed images), such that the LOFAR data archive is the largest astronomical data collection in the world and is hosted at SURFsara (The Netherlands), Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany) and the Poznan Super Computing Center (Poland). LOFAR is a pathfinder of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world. For more, please visit http://www.lofar.org/. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Keep Music Alive is excited to announce the 6th Annual Teach Music Week being celebrated Monday, March 16th through Sunday, March 22nd. This annual week-long holiday invites musicians, music schools, music stores and other music organizations to offer a free lesson or class to new students (both kids & adults). This year, nearly 1,000 locations in over a dozen countries will participate including the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Teach Music Week is supported the following music brands and organizations: Alfred Music, D'Addario Foundation, Casio EMI, The Les Paul Foundation, Conn-Selmer, REMO, Kala Brand Music, Hungry For Music and Music Nomad Equipment Care Music Education should be available for ALL children Teach Music Week is celebrated annually during the 3rd week of March to coincide with national Music in Our Schools Month. Anyone interested in learning to play an instrument is encouraged to seek out a participating location or musician friend to help get them started. Teach Music Week also invites public, private and charter schools to schedule activities that will encourage more students to sign up for music, band and chorus classes. Vincent James, co-founder of Keep Music Alive states: "We all know that the biggest hurdle to doing something is often just getting started. With Teach Music Week, we are hoping to inspire a new generation of musicians who will continue reaping the educational, therapeutic and social benefits of playing music, long after the month of March is over." Keep Music Alive is honored to welcome the following music brands as partners for the 6th Annual Teach Music Week: Alfred Music, Casio, Conn-Selmer, D'Addario Foundation, Hungry For Music, Kala Brand Music and Remo. Together, they will be helping to share the Teach Music Week message, inspiring more children and adults to begin their musical journey. Music & Arts, the largest music lesson provider in the country, is participating in Teach Music Week by holding an Open House Weekend Friday March 20 through Sunday March 22 featuring an Open Mic special event and complimentary Beginner Guitar Classes at all locations (www.MusicArts.com/OpenHouse) Individual locations from additional chains participating this year include Kindermusik, Gymboree Play & Music, Music Together and the legendary School of Rock. Keep Music Alive is also grateful for grant support received from the Les Paul Foundation and Music Nomad Equipment Care. For more information or to find participating locations, please visit www.TeachMusicWeek.org or contact Vincent James at (610) 874-6312 and [email protected]. Keep Music Alive is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting the value of music: educationally, therapeutically and overall making us a happier society. To support this mission, they created two international music holidays: Teach Music Week (3rd week in March) and Kids Music Day (1st Friday in October). Each year, Keep Music Alive partners with hundreds of music school and retail locations to celebrate by offering free music lessons and holding numerous community events including open houses, student music performances, instrument petting zoos, community jams, instrument donation drives and more. For more information, please visit www.KeepMusicAlive.org. Music in Our Schools Month is a registered trademark belonging to the National Association for Music Education (www.NAfME.org). SOURCE Keep Music Alive GUILDERLAND In the wake of a stabbing on Saturday outside of Best Buy at Crossgates Mall, town police, the mall and its owner Pyramid Management Group have announced a pilot program to expand police coverage at the mall. The police will now have two full-time officers at the mall, an effort is to provide a safe environment for visitors, employees and tenants. This agreement will enhance our already successful Retail Interdiction Program which has been active in the mall for over a year," Guilderland Police Chief Daniel McNally said. "The assigned officers shifts will be flexible to address current needs." ATHENS - Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis announced on Monday that planned expropriations of land for the development of five new migrant detention camps on the North East Aegean islands has been put on hold until Friday, after the controversial plans were met with stiff opposition from regional governors and local communities. After a tense week up to last Friday when a standoff developed between both sides following the government's surprise announcement that it planned to issue a legislative act to expropriate properties, land and sites in an effort to speed up the start of construction work on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, which have carried most of the burden of the ongoing refugee crisis. The council of the North Aegean Region voted to take legal action against the government, staged protests at the Ministry of Interior in Athens, and has suspended all cooperation with the government until it repeals the legislative act that will enforce the measures to build the new facilities. Speaking to state broadcaster ERT on Monday, Mitarakis said he was "putting the expropriations on hold to allow time for new talks with the islanders". Mitarakis also commented that the proposed requisitions are simply "nothing more than a lease of those premises for a period of three years", adding that the government's end goal is to close the existing "open" centers and reduce the time asylum seekers remain in the camps to below six months. The Migration Minister also stated that one of the key issues he raises with his European counterparts at the EU is for the body to contribute to opening return routes with countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mitarakis is scheduled to meet with German Interior Minister Horst Zeehofer on Thursday to discuss the German proposal for a common European asylum policy. Meanwhile, in related developments, members of the local community near the proposed site of the new migrant camp in the Karava area on Lesvos, staged a defant show of their opposition to the government's plans. Residents of the wider area gathered on Sunday in the presence of representatives of the local authorities, and created a huge Greek flag and the word "Oxi", which means "no" in painted blue and white stones. "Our movement is symbolic, it does not offend or cause anyone any harm," said the president of the Karava local community, Haralambos Tzelaidis. He added: "We are leaving the blue and white of the Greek flag here and the word "no" here to show that we are determined not to allow the proposed new center to be created, for the very specific reasons we have already discussed in detail." While Mitsotakis' New Democracy have brought in several measures to combat the ongoing issues, such as those to speed up asylum application processes, transfers of people from the islands to the mainland, as well as tougher legislative measures and border security with the help of Frontex, the Greek state is still struggling under the weight of the problem. And things are not getting any easier as vessels carrying migrants from the Turksih coast are still arriving almost daily. In March 2016 SBS announced it had won the rights to stage an Asia Pacific event for Eurovision, featuring up to 20 countries. Everything from Bollywood to K-pop was due to head to Sydney in 2017 for a regional battle on a pop-tastic scale. But 2017, 2018 and 2019 came and went and in 2020 there is still no confirmation of it being realised anytime soon. Broadcasting sources have suggested without China on board, some other nations have been reluctant to come to the party. Blink TV Director Paul Clarke, who has just completed a successful staging of Eurovision: Australia Decides, shed some light into the challenges of bringing together regional partners. All the SBS executives have taken Eurovision Asia really seriously. We were in Japan in December but ultimately it doesnt come down to just SBS being interested. It has to be some major partners as well and Northern Asian partners. Its just still in development, he told TV Tonight. But to be completely honest with you, Ive just been focused on Australia Decides because I feel that so long as youre delivering quality you will gradually win the argument of whats possible. We got quite a lot of Asian interest in Australia Decides. They loved the look of the show. We just want to build from strength to strength and well get there. The EBU has long harbored a desire to extend its Eurovision brand globally. It previously licensed rights for an Asia Pacific Contest to Asiavision Pte. Ltd., which announced an event for Macau, then Mumbai in 2010, including with an Australian entry from SBS. But those events were never realised. For Blink TV and SBS there are also resources and manpower to negotiate, with a Eurovision calendar that demands attention across Australian & European events. Part of the issue of development is these are really expensive shows to do properly, Clarke continued. SBS is a small network, but not only that, you need to know that you have the the partners who are like-minded. The Asian scene is a lot different than the European scene in terms of public broadcasting and thats just been a more difficult pathway. Im probably going too far the broad view is, we want to do it, were in development. A Rochester man charged with second-degree murder in the March homicide of Garad Hassan Roble has filed a motion to suppress evidence arguing that police illegally seized his phone. Muhidin Omar Abukar, 31, is charged in Olmsted County District Court with second-degree murder-with intent-not premeditated. He has been held on $10 million unconditional bail since his August 2019 arrest. Roble, 28, was found by a passing motorist in the pre-dawn hours March 5 on 45th Street Southeast, between St. Bridgets Road Southeast (County Road 20) and Simpson Road (County Road 1). Roble had multiple gunshot wounds, and was determined to have died from those wounds, which included at least one head wound and another to the abdomen, according to court documents. Ayub Abucar Hagi Iman, 23, was arrested in June in connection with Roble's death and charged with second-degree murder-with intent-not premeditated for his alleged involvement. He is being held on $1 million unconditional bond. A motion to suppress evidence obtained during a March 2019 interrogation was filed on Feb. 5 in Olmsted County District Court, arguing that Abukar's Fourth Amendment rights were violated when police seized his cellphone without a warrant. The motion submitted by Abukar's attorney, Kenneth U. Udoibok, asks the court to dismiss the charge against Abukar for lack of probable cause. Court records indicate Abukar hired a new attorney since the motion was filed. ADVERTISEMENT "First, because the State has failed to establish probable cause that the Defendant or his cell phone was involved in any criminality, the charge against the Defendant must be dismissed," the motion reads. "Second, being that the Defendant's cell phone was forcefully obtained without probable cause, without a warrant and without his consent, all information connected to his cell phone must be suppressed as unconstitutionally obtained in violation of the Defendant's constitutional rights." In criminal complaints for Iman and Abukar, police have said that phone records taken from Iman, Abukar and Robles phones helped place the three together at various locations although Abukars phone was turned off for a brief period between 2:08 and 2:24 a.m. on March 5. Robles phone data showed that he arrived at the spot where he was found dead at approximately 2:14 a.m., according to court records. "Since March 5, 2019, the State has not been able to place the Defendant at the crime scene," the motion reads. "Throughout the investigation leading to the March 8,2019 interview of the Defendant, the State did not consider the Defendant as a suspect. His cell phone was not considered an item of interest because there was no reasonable basis to consider that the Defendant was a suspect, let alone his cell phone being an item of criminality." Abukar and his wife were interviewed separately by police on March 8. Both were alleged to have been with Roble in downtown Rochester in the hours before his body was found. During that interview, Abukar was asked to voluntarily surrender his cell phone by signing an authorization for the search. When he refused further interrogation, Abukar's phone was "forcefully seized," according to the motion. The phone is alleged to not have been opened until after a warrant was obtained on March 12. The motion also seeks to require the Olmsted County Attorney's Office to disclose the identity of its confidential information before trial as failing to do so "would be fundamentally unfair" to Abukar because he "will be defending himself without the necessary disclosure of his accusers." On February 7, the internet realm was jammed with news of the death of the Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang, and the whole network was filled with a strong feeling of sadness. There were rumors late last night that Li died of his illness, but some people said he was still under treatment. All kinds of news made hundreds of millions of netizens worried and confused. Until the early hours of February 7, Li Wenliangs hospital (Wuhan Central Hospital) released this message on its official micro-blog: Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist in our hospital, in the fight against the new coronavirus infection, was unfortunately infected. After all efforts were made to rescue him, he died on February 7, at 2:58 a.m. We are deeply sorry and mourn for him. On the internet, people mourned for and remembered him in many ways, especially because Li Wenliang was one of the earliest discoverers of the pneumonia outbreak, and thus became one of the original eight rumor mongers. On December 30, 2019, after hearing colleagues saying that the hospitals emergency department had quarantined seven SARS patients from Wuhan South China Seafood Market, Li Wenliang posted the news for the first time in a social media group of more than 150 college alumni and explained: To define it as SARS is not very accurate. It should be a kind of coronavirus and the specific categorization is yet to be confirmed. He warned the group to watch out for prevention, but also particularly stressed on not spreading the news yet. Despite his group warning, a WeChat screenshot of 7 confirmed SARS patients from South China Seafood Market was eventually circulated and had a large number of retweets online. Ultimately, it attracted the attention of the local police and the matter temporarily ended in Li receiving an official warning from the local authority. However, as the truth of the outbreak gradually surfaced, the name of Li Wenliang, the rumor monger, began to enter the public eye. The 34-year-old young doctor was also affectionately known in the media and among the netizens as the outbreak whistleblower. Li died young and the public reacted overwhelmingly. At noon on February 7, the government announced with the approval of the Central Committee, the State Monitoring Committee decided to send an investigative team to Wuhan City, Hubei Province, to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the relevant issues concerning Dr. Li Wenliang as reflected by the public, which caused great public concern! Meanwhile on the Christian internet In the Christian online community, however, there is a different picture. Many Christian WeChat groups are retweeting a message that Li Wenliang was a Christian, like Luke in the Bible. To this end, many Christians on the internet go about telling each other, acting very exuberantly, as if this is not the time to express grief but to sing Hallelujah to praise the Lords great moment! Many brothers exclaimed how so many Christians were saying that Li Wenliang was a Christian in their WeChat moments. There are also many Christian public platforms taking the chance to launch hot tweets, raising the matter to a spiritual height by commemorating him. For instance, there are claims that Li gloriously returned to his heavenly home, he rested in the Lords arms, and some are even like this: Latest Breaking News! Dr. Li Wenliang was a brother in Christ, as if discovering the New World... For a while, in the Christian networks, the style of paying tribute to Li has completely changed, which is totally different from the former mourning scene: Because some Christians think that Li Wenliang gloriously returned to his heavenly home, they give applause and flowers not for cheering for him daring to tell the truth, but for cheering for his returned to his home. Article continues below Some of the Christian public platforms even commemorate him in Pauls voice, excavating its spiritual significance as if Li was like Paul who fought a good fight: Paul said: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayand not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Every Christian who does his duty in his job is a wonderful witness to Christ, and he is fighting that wonderful battle for the Lord. In order to further elevate, there is a message with a picture that says, Harvard Medical School in the United States, for Dr. Li Wenliang, lowered its flag at half-mast. In fact, this is a rumor, because it has been pointed out that Harvard was flying the flag at half-mast for an alumnus, Stephen P. Dretler. Just as many Christians are cheering for the sudden discovery that Li Wenliang was a brother in the Lord, there are astute Christians who have questioned where the news that Li was a Christian came from and whether it was confirmed that he was going to any church. The rumor only says that the news came from the churches in Wuhan; but given that Wuhan is so big with so many churches, it leaves out the question of the exact church. In this unusual period, rumors spread fast. By comprehensively processing the information on the network, it is concluded that Li must have been to the church, and even participated in a Bible study, but he was not baptized. Looking at his tweets, there is no trace of a Christian faith. On the internet, some brothers also pointed out that if Li was really a Christian, in a critical condition, then his church should have released a message of prayer on his behalf; but the network is devoid of any specific prayer message/request for Li, despite several of such on behalf of other brothers and sisters. So, according to these criteria, Li was not a Christian. Interestingly, the original Christian platform that announced that Li was a Christian soon issued a message in a bid to prevent the rumor by changing the Christian Li Wenliang into an interested individual (a faith seeker to Christianity). As a result, its tweet title was changed to: Remembrance of Brother Li's (a faith seeker) Glorious Return to His Heavenly Home. The cases of Christian celebrity glamour Li Wenliang was an ordinary man. Only by suffering from this unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus did he become the center of public attention, which is why his name is well known to the point of being hailed as a hero. Therefore, there is no doubt that Li Wenliang went viral. Therefore, many Christians hope that Li Wenliang was also a Christian just as the previous expectation that Yang Liwei, the astronaut, was a Christian. It is the same psychological logic. It is too wishful an expectation that people believe it will rain when they hear the wind. They seem to feel that these celebrities can give their faith glamour. At the end of the day, the fact that many Christians believe that Li was a Christian is still out of this unhealthy so-called glamour. Upon taking a closer look at some of the dominating and various false testimonies on Christian networks recently, you will find most of them are taking advantage of todays high-ranking celebrities to create attention-grabbing articles. Article continues below There are false testimonies that take CCTV as a gimmick, such as CCTV evangelism or a certain Christian appears on CCTV. Even today, a shoddy Christian platform issued a message titled Critical moment of the epidemic! Pastor spoke on CCTV conference! Those are all sensational headlines. As you click on it to read, you will quickly discover that it is an old piece of news that has been recycled to create hype, and CCTV has nothing to do with it. Can false testimonies help us evangelize? Like raising the bar? Absolutely not! Although these false testimonies pretend to promote the noble purpose of evangelism, they instead undermine the most basic and universal virtue of honesty and reduce the quality of Christianity; by extension, it vulgarizes and destroys the evangelical testimony that Christians are supposed to have, eventually turning the sacred testimony into a laughing stock. That is to say, the gospel will be damaged by the false testimonies! One brother said it quite well: God never needs false testimonies to glorify Him! Deception, Fear and Confusion in the Christian circle are all evils that dishonor God, and every believer needs to be vigilant: neither become a rumor monger nor spread the rumor! As to Li Wenliang, the man has gone. To find out whether he was a Christian, in fact, is not that important. Most importantly, the young doctor did his duty with his conscience and professionalism, and eventually got martyred in his career, an admirable sacrifice in the fight against the epidemic. That is enough to know. That should be the most appropriate memorial to Li Wenliang, who had many aspects worth learning from, even as Christians. As Christians, have we ever reflected on this? A version of this article translated from Chinese first appeared on China Christian Daily. A federal agency tasked with reviewing how banks handle customer complaints says it will finally release its report this week, a move that comes after criticism from consumer advocates worried about what might be behind the delay in making the findings public. The review by the Federal Consumer Agency of Canada, which is mandated to protect consumers in regard to financial services and products, was announced in November 2018. "There is an absolute sense of urgency with respect to releasing the report," according to Marissa Lennox, the chief policy officer with CARP, a national non-profit association that promotes financial security for seniors. As part of that review, the agency commissioned a survey that showed 43 per cent of Canadians had experienced at least one banking problem in the previous two years. Forty-one per cent who contacted their bank with a complaint said they encountered at least one barrier to resolution. The federal agency's report was sent to the minister of finance on Nov. 29, 2019. Sean Stante/Stante Media Inc./CARP The agency's spokesperson, Lynne Santerre, initially refused to put a timeline on the report's release, saying in a Feb. 4 email: "We are currently working through the various administrative processes in preparation for the public release of the report which includes editing, translation and web publishing." "We will make the report public when ready," she said. CBC has been requesting a copy of the report since June 2019. Four hours after CBC's story was published on Tuesday, the agency said it would release the report Wednesday. Lennox said in a recent interview she was concerned by the delay. She wondered if the banks are getting a preview and editing the report to show them in a more favourable light, as they did with the last FCAC report into aggressive sales tactics. Bankers assocation denies seeing report "We saw some of the recommendations in the last report were weakened or removed after it was viewed by the banks," Lennox said. "I hope that isn't happening this time." Story continues The Canadian Bankers Association said earlier this month that it has not seen the draft or final report. The FCAC said neither a draft nor the report was shared with banks. "It's hard to shape bad news into good news so it's probably being carefully written," said John Lawford, with the non-profit Public Interest Advocacy Centre. "It's probably an awkward report because there's no way to sugarcoat it." Christopher Gargus/CBC He calls the current methods banks use to handle complaints excessively complicated and "not consumer-friendly." He said financial regulators in the U.K. dealt with their own complaints about bank processes a number of years ago. There, he said, it was determined banks had different internal processes for dealing with customer complaints, many of them deemed unfair. Regulators then set one standard for all banks that included fewer steps and a strict timeline for dealing with complaints. No clear path for consumer complaints Part of the issue in Canada is each bank has its own process for handling complaints and those processes aren't always clear to the customer. Right now, there are two options when a customer is unhappy with a bank's response and wants to escalate a complaint. The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments is a national, not-for-profit and independent organization. ADR Chambers Banking Ombuds Office is a for-profit business. Banks get to decide which of the two they want to mediate complaints against them. CARP, the Consumers Council of Canada and the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights have all urged the federal consumer agency to designate one national, independent bank ombudsman to deal with customer complaints. One independent banking ombudsman recommended Lennox said the current system of two ombudsmen is not in the public interest. She thinks it's clear there is a need for a single, independent office. "The fact the banks have the freedom to choose which ombudsman office it wants to use for disputes with customers poses an inherent conflict of interest," Lennox said. "There is a conflict when an ombudsman's office entrusted with settling disputes is paid by one of the parties to that dispute," she said. According to the most recent annual reports from the two ombudsmen, the major banks pay approximately the same annual fees regardless of which they use. However, on top of those fees, ADR Chambers charges an additional hourly investigation rate of $290. Ombudsman Britt Warlop of ADR Chambers said in an email that the company is regulated by the FCAC and "is committed to serving the public good by ensuring the interests of consumers are put first and that their rights are protected." She called the company "a neutral external complaints body" with an impartial resolution dispute process that is trusted internationally. The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments was the only banking ombudsman until the Harper government changed legislation allowing ADR Chambers to do the same, effective August 2015. In November 2018, OBSI's board of directors called on the federal government to revert back to a single ombudsman. "We believe that Canada's banking industry and banking consumers would benefit from access to a single, not-for-profit banking ombudsman dedicated to accessibility, openness, transparency, independence, fairness, and efficiency for consumers and firms and that the government of Canada should establish such a system," the board said. 'We don't need another report' Lawford hopes the report will break down each bank's performance in handling customer complaints, as well as their attitude toward those complaints. "I would like to see not just a report outlining the problems, but one that says, 'Here's what they do in other countries and here's how we can change,"' Lawford said. Stan Buell, president of the national, non-profit Small Investors Protection Association, is frustrated with the slow pace in making banks more accountable to their customers. "We don't need another report, we need change," he said. MORE TOP STORIES Bleak City silk Stuart Wood QC doesnt do a knees-ups by half. Hes already sent out invites for his 53rd birthday to close friends, requesting their company at a bash in London. Stuart Wood QC and Boris Johnson. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Stuart, who represented Israel Folau during his successful campaign against Rugby Australia last year, appears to be working hard to outdo his half-century celebration at Melbournes Liberal Party canteen Bamboo House. That was in 2017, with a guest list that extended from Peter Costello and wealthy Flexigroup chairman Andrew Abercrombie to BGH Capital founder Ben Gray and Swans legend Warwick Capper. As the Financial Review reported at the time, it was a classy affair complete with an acknowledgement of the restaurants traditional owners: a Chinese immigrant family. This year, according to the missive being circulated, hes planning a major June blow-out starting with dinner at the Carlton Club, spiritual home of the British Tories. We expect even Australias High Commissioner George Brandis, the former attorney-general, will be there to celebrate Woods birthday and presumably his Australia Day honours for significant service to the legal profession. Gun-rights advocate Kaitlin Bennett was greeted by a large group of protesters who heckled and booed her when she arrived at Ohio University on February 17. Bennett, who rose to fame as Kent States Gun Girl after a photo of her with a graduation cap and an assault rifle went viral, was on campus for Presidents Day where, according to a tweet, she planned to ask trivia questions to students. Bennett said she was instead greeted by a bunch of whiny children throwing temper tantrums. Video posted of the incident shows Bennett surrounded by students shouting: Wheres your diaper?, a reference to a rumor that circulated about Bennett allegedly soiling herself at a party in February 2019. Ohio University police released a statement following the incident saying that it did not rise to the level of a riot, as Bennett alleged in a tweet. Officers were present to protect everyones rights and safety, police said. Bennett was once a correspondent for Infowars and has made a name for herself by visiting college campuses and asking students provocative questions about gender and LGBTQ rights. She said on Twitter she would absolutely be returning to Ohio Us campus again, and next time Ill bring an army of gun owners for an open carry walk through. Credit: Anya Bartek via Storyful 'In today's situation, it is not going to help anyone's case if they try to politically contest with the BJP on ideological issues.' 'Instead, it is best is to swim along the tide, present the more acceptable face of the cultural Hindu, but not be a political Hindu as the BJP or Mr Modi is.' IMAGE: Arvind Kejriwal adopted a different strategy to counter Narendra Damodardas Modi's political appeal. Photograph: PTI Photo The Narendra Damodardas Modi versus the Arvind Gobind Ram Kejriwal that began during the 2014 general election saw the two politicians lock horns in a David versus Goliath battle in Varanasi. The result was inevitable: Goliath won. But David has since bloodied the giant in the 2015 Delhi assembly election that followed and in the just concluded 2020 Delhi assembly election. The reason behind this, Nilanjan Mukhopadhay -- senior journalist and author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times and The RSS: Icons Of The Indian Right -- tells Savera R Someshwar/Rediff.com, is that Arvind Kejriwal has proved himself a quick learner. What message does the Delhi verdict send Mr Modi? The Delhi verdict is the third major setback for Mr Modi in the last nine months after he got re-elected in May last year. The biggest message this verdict has sent him is that the national issues he has been focusing on in state elections are not resonating with the people. The people, as far as state assembly elections go, are looking at local issues. There is also an additional worry for the BJP that, along with these local issues, they are also beginning to look at bread-and-butter issues, which are just not local but have huge national significance as well. And if it is not addressed by the government, then the entire political script can begin to go awry for Mr Modi. Has Mr Kejriwal's win in Delhi given the Opposition a template by which to stop Mr Modi? If so, what does this template contain? After Mr Modi became prime minister in 2014, Mr Arun Shourie had labelled the NDA government as 'a Congress government plus a cow'. In many ways, Mr Kejriwal has given a government and run a campaign which is Modi minus Hindutva. In his 2019 campaign, Mr Modi harped on micro economic deliveries, gas cylinders, electricity connection to the last mile, deliveries of subsidies, bank accounts -- all these are cited by the Modi government as major successes. Similarly, Mr Kejriwal also highlighted the economic successes of his government. The only thing which is different between them is that while Mr Modi had a larger hyper-nationalistic narrative spun around the twin events of Pulwama and Balakot, Mr Kejriwal doesn't have it. The BJP failed to draw him into the arena as far as the issue of polarisation was concerned. He was very smart in sidestepping the issue of Shaheen Bagh by saying it is a national issue which needs to be tackled and discussed at the national level, but it is not relevant as far as the Delhi elections go. This was politically very savvy. As far as your first question is concerned, does he give a model? Well, there is a model, but it isn't one where he politically contests within Mr Modi's template. In today's situation, it is not going to help anyone's case if they try to politically contest with the BJP on ideological issues; instead, it is best is to swim along the tide, present the more acceptable face of the cultural Hindu, but not be a political Hindu as the BJP or Mr Modi is. So, with Mr Kejriwal, we had this spectacle of him reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. Now, being religious does not disqualify a person from being secular, which is the same template that was used by Mahatma Gandhi. The challenge for a government or a leader like Mr Kejriwal would be that, if he ever gets into a position where he can start influencing the policies of the country, does he have the inclination and does he have the sagacity to roll back many of the corrosive decisions which have been taken since 2014? Will he accept that the insides of the nation have been badly eaten up by several divisive policies of the BJP since 2014? These are hard questions and Mr Kejriwal has not revealed his mind. So while he provides a model to defeat the BJP electorally, I cannot say at this stage if this is a political alternative for our nation or not. Do you see Mr Kejriwal remaining confined to Delhi or will he move beyond Delhi? Well, in 2014, he was a man in a hurry and it backfired on him. Today, he has shown himself as an astute leader who has understood that he made a mistake by trying to spread out too fast, too much and too soon. I think he is going to limit himself in this tenure, look to consolidating himself in Delhi and making the Aam Aadmi Party a long term political party of governance in Delhi. Mind you, this is the second election in which he has ended up with a vote share of more than 50 per cent. Mr Kejriwal has to ensure that the Aam Aadmi party continues in Delhi just the way Mr Modi ensured the permanence of the BJP in Gujarat. Once he does that, once he feels that the Aam Aadmi Party can survive in Delhi minus Arvind Kejriwal, I think he will start looking outside, just the way Mr Modi did 2012 onwards. That was when Mr Modi felt that, regardless of whether he stays in Gujarat or goes outside, two things were guaranteed. One, the Gujarat BJP unit would remain in his control and, second, even if he stepped outside Gujarat, the BJP would not lose power in the state. And that is exactly what happened. The BJP won the 2017 election, though a bit narrowly. They did have a scare, but they survived it because of Mr Modi's charismatic leadership. Arvind Kejriwal will have to reach the same point in Delhi. And I do not think this will happen within the next two or three years. I would expect him to wait out the 2024 -- or the next -- Parliamentary election, whenever it is held, as a state leader. And then, after he has secured one more tenure for the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, one can expect Mr Kejriwal to branch out. If he does it immediately, I see a huge risk. What did the BJP do wrong in Delhi, considering that they threw everything they had at Kejriwal? They did everything wrong. In 2013, when Mr Modi became the prime ministerial face of the BJP, he held meetings with BJP leaders from various states, including the BJP leaders from Delhi. He asked them why they had not returned to power after ruling Delhi from 1998 (though the BJP won the most number of seats -- 32 -- in the 2013 election, the Aam Aadmi Party -- which had 28 seats -- formed the government). After all, the BJP is historically very powerful in Delhi, right from the Jan Sangh days in the 1950s. It has controlled the municipality (for the last 12 years and, for the fourth consecutive time, won the municipal election which was held in 2017); it formed the first government in 1993 with Madan Lal Khurana as the chief minister. Mr Modi then pointed out that the BJP's Delhi unit had too many factions and that they did not have a good leader. Now, since he had provided the diagnosis, it was up to him to provide the solution as well. After all, he and Mr Amit (Anilchandra) Shah have been the leaders for the last six years. But, in the last six years, the BJP has not been able to resolve the two big issues which the party faced even in 2013. One is that there is a lack of critical single face in the party in Delhi (for the post of chief minister) and, secondly, the Delhi unit is divided into factions. This is possibly the biggest failure of Mr Shah as the BJP president, that he has not been able to set the BJP's house in order in the national capital. How will this change the Modi-Shah strategy for the forthcoming Bihar election? They can't change because they are not in the driver's seat. Nitish Kumar is in the driver's seat. They have already conceded the leadership to him and he is not going to drive down a dirty, vitriolic path; he is going to be as inclusive as he can because he wants to retain his base among the other sections of Indian society. He wants to regain some of his Muslim support also, which be very daunting task for him. But he's definitely is not going to allow any kind of vitriolic behaviour. I think Mr Nitish Kumar is going to bargain very hard. I will not be surprised if he names BJP leaders who he does not want to be present during the campaign in Bihar. Mind you, he has stated in the past that Mr Modi is not to be allowed to campaign in Bihar. Now, while he may not do it with Mr Modi, he may definitely bar some of the other motormouths of the BJP. Like Yogi Adityanath? I don't know. It is for Mr Nitish Kumar to take the names of those he doesn't want to campaign for him because it could cut into his space. He will not allow a situation where the BJP increases its core constituency but, in the process, Nitish Kumar's core constituency gets alienated from him. A man injured in a shooting that left two others dead at a South Jersey motel last month has been charged with attempted murder of the other two victims. Isa Hallman and Kapri Taylor, both 28-year-old Salem residents, were killed in a Jan. 2 shooting at Salem Motor Lodge. Rakwan Adams, 25, also of Salem, was wounded. Adams, who was arrested over the weekend, was not charged with murder in the deaths and no other arrests have been made. Authorities are hoping anyone with information will step forward as the investigation continues. The victims were fired on as they ran to room 23 at the motor lodge, investigators previously said. Shots were fired from behind a fence line adjacent to the motel property and from room 23. Hallman was found in that room and pronounced dead at the scene. Taylor died later at Salem Medical Center. Adams was treated at the medical center, airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in critical condition and released several days later. A witness reported seeing Adams firing a silver and black handgun from inside room 23 toward the front door, according to his criminal complaint, and video recovered from the motor lodge shows someone shooting from inside the room. Two handguns were recovered from that room, authorities said. A bullet recovered from Taylors body was fired from a Taurus handgun found in the room, according to the criminal complaint. Adams was arrested Saturday and charged with multiple counts of attempted murder involving Hallman and Taylor, along with two counts of aggravated assault and weapons offenses, including possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He remains in Salem County Correctional Facility. While investigators have not revealed a motive for the shooting, they believe it was connected to another incident the night before at the motor lodge involving two feuding groups. Fifteen shots were exchanged through the door of a motel room around 5:45 p.m. on New Years Day, leaving one person with a hand wound and another with a graze injury. No arrests were made in that shooting. Adams was also charged with drug offenses days after the second shooting. While he was being treated in the emergency room at Salem Medical Center, a nurse handed his clothing to Salem Police Chief John Pelura III. As the clothing was handed over, a small, clear sandwich bag containing suspected crack cocaine fell out of a pocket, according to a separate criminal complaint. Another bag was spotted sticking out of a pants pocket. In all, Adams was found with 50 heat-sealed packets of suspected crack cocaine and charged with possession and distribution of drugs, according to police. Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to contact Salem County Prosecutors Office Sgt. Ryan Donelson at 856-769-0235, ext. 18, or Salem City Police Detective Walt Christy at 856-935-0033. Two men were killed and a third wounded in a gun battle at Salem Motor Lodge on Thursday night. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Lions Club welcomes the District Governor of District 60B Lion Denise Forrest PMJF to the friendly island. She arrived on the island on Monday evening and will be here until Wednesday morning when she departs for St. Eustatius and Saba and after continues her visits to the various clubs in this area. As is customary within the Lions Club organization, the District Governor, visits all the clubs in the region for an audit Meeting and also meets, interacts and engage with club members about Lionism in general. The club has planned several activities for District Governor Lion Denise while she is on Sint Maarten. She will have courtesy calls to the Governor and the Prime Minister Offices as well as an interview on PJD2 radio station with Mr. Wendell Moore. District Governor Denise Forrest will visit the murals painted on the walls of the St. Maarten Academy School, which is a project from St. Maarten Leo Club. Later on Tuesday, she is scheduled to visit the No Kidding with our Kids afterschool program, who continues to execute some areas the Lions Club International Lions Quest program with the students. On Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. District Governor Denise will meet with President and members of the St. Maarten Leo Club (ALPHA) and St. Maarten South Leo Club South Leo Clubs for their joint Audit Meeting after which at 7:30 p.m. DG Forrest will meet with president and members of the Sint Maarten Lions Club for their 2019/2020 club audit. The year theme of the District Governor for 2019/2020 is "Service Without Boundaries: Touching Lives Transforming Communities". By PTI TOKYO: The six Indians infected with the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship off the Japanese coast were responding well to the treatment, the Indian embassy here said on Tuesday even as 88 new cases of the deadly disease were reported on the vessel, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 542. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month. The Japanese government on Tuesday said that final testing to detect positive cases of the COVID-19 have completed. Eighty eight more people tested positive for the disease, taking the number of those infected on the ship to 542. The ship was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the COVID-19 on the ship. ALSO READ: Situation critical in China, say Indian students "Till 1800 (Japan Standard Time) today, no new #COVID-19 positive cases confirmed on #DiamondPrincess since yesterday," the Indian embassy tweeted. "All six Indian crew members already receiving treatment for COVID 19 are responding well to the treatment and their conditions are improving," it said. The embassy said it is coordinating with the Japanese government and ship management company for health and welfare of all Indian nationals on board. "The embassy is in constant touch with onboard Indian nationals who are successfully braving out the situation and understand public health safety in such situations," it said in a statement. The Embassy said it was making efforts for early de-boarding of all the Indians from the ship after the end of the quarantine period and was in discussions with the Japanese government and the ship management company for the disembarkation modalities. ALSO READ: Chinese doctor treating coronavirus patients dies in Wuhan The US on Monday evacuated its 340 nationals from the ship, of which 14 had the virus. According to an AFP report, the UK government said it will evacuate its citizens on the ship. The death toll from the epidemic climbed to 1,868 on Tuesday as 98 more people died of the disease in China and the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436, officials said on Tuesday. The coronavirus outbreak originated in central China's Hubei province in December last year and has spread to several countries, including India. Many countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country. Medical staff members working at the isolation ward of the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province, on Feb. 16, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Hospital Director in Wuhan Dies of Coronavirus Infection The head of a leading hospital in the novel coronavirus outbreak epicenter of Wuhan has died of the deadly disease. Liu Zhiming, 51, was the director of Wuchang Hospital and a neurologist. State media have confirmed that he died on the morning of Feb. 18. He is the highest level health official to succumb to the virus, known as COVID-19. The director and party secretary of the publicity center within the Health Commission of Hubei first reported that Liu had died around 10:00 p.m. local time on Feb. 17 through Weibo, a popular Twitter-like Chinese social media platform. In the post, which was subsequently deleted, he described Liu as the first hospital director to have sacrificed his life to fight the virus and expressed profound condolences. Red Star News, an affiliate of Chinese media Chengdu Economic Daily, confirmed the news through multiple sources from Wuchang Hospital. Liu had been in good health over the years while working at the hospital and during his previous post as a vice director at the Wuhan Third Hospital, a doctor acquainted with Liu told the outlet. State media announced his death on Feb. 18, saying that he died after emergency treatment proved futile. Lius last public appearance was in mid-December during the high profile visit of a cardiovascular specialist when he made a speech to introduce the hospital. Dr. Liu Zhiming, head of Wuchang Hospital, has been confirmed dead from the novel coronavirus on Feb. 18, 2020. (Wuchang hospital Wechat) Just three days earlier, a nurse from the same hospital named Liu Fan (no relation with Liu Zhiming) had also died of the virus aged 59. According to the hospitals Weibo account, Liu Fan had not been assigned to work on the frontlines like the fever ward because of her advanced age. Her brother and parents were also diagnosed with the virus. Two professors from Wuhans Huazhong University of Science and Technology, including a transplant surgeon at Tongji Hospital, also died of the disease over the past two weeks. At least six other medical workers have died of the virus, according to the National Health Commission. According to a Feb. 17 medical report, as many as 3,019 health workers contracted the virus from the period between Dec. 8 and Feb. 11, although only 1,716 of them were formally diagnosed. Confusion Confusion arose just hours after the party secretarys Weibo post when Lius wife reportedly told Pear Video, a leading Chinese short video platform, that he was in critical condition and was relying on an ECMO machine (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) to support his breathing. She added that his illness had lingered for over 20 days. Liu was transferred to Wuhan Tongji Hospital on Feb. 14 and has been under intubation since, she said. The voice in the video was electronically altered. The Epoch Times is unable to independently verify the videos authenticity. The Epoch Times contacted the hospital at around 10 a.m. local time, and a staff member confirmed that he was being treated, but did not provide more information. Another hospital employee said they were not aware of the issue beyond the online discussions. China Daily and several other state run media had also run reports on Liu death, but subsequently deleted their articles and social media posts, in a fashion reminiscent of the death of Wuhan doctor and whistleblower Li Wenliang less than two weeks ago. Lius time of death was 10:30 a.m., according to Chinese state media, citing a medical team dispatched from Beijing. Death of Whistleblower Li, one of the citys eight medical professionals who blew the whistle about a SARS-like outbreak in late December, had been reprimanded by Chinese police for rumor-mongering before his death from the virus. An ophthalmologist, he became unwittingly infected while treating a patient who carried the virus. Soon, his parents also became sick. Li passed away on the morning of Feb. 7 at the age of 34, leaving his 5-year-old son and pregnant wife. The conflicting reports and backtracking of Lis death, however, sparked anger on the internet. State media initially reported that Li died of organ failure on the evening of Feb. 6, which soon ignited an outpouring of grief nationwide. Around midnight, however, the hospital said on Weibo that they were still trying to revive him. They also put him on life support. The next few hours saw online censors beginning to scrub news and web posts regarding Lis death from the internet. At 4 a.m., state mouthpiece Peoples Daily eventually confirmed his death in a social media post. On Chinese social media, people mourned for Li and accused the officials of putting out a political show to control public opinion. They wont even let him die with dignity, a person commented. Another remarked: Dont you see that you can only die if they want you to? On Feb. 11, four U.S. senators introduced a resolution in honor of Li. The authorities silenced Dr. Li the medical professional, but Dr. Li the citizen made a call for greater openness and transparency that will reverberate long after his passing. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark) said at the time. New Delhi, Feb 18 : After finding that the aviation industry is in no position to provide infrastructure to bring back Indians from the coronavirus affected places in China, the government has approached the Indian Air Force (IAF) to carry out the tough task. Following directions from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Indian Air Force has decided to fly its globemaster to China to bring back Indian nationals. Further, after it was found that the Union Health Ministry has no infrastructure to create a quarantine area for the suspected coronavirus evacuees, the PMO has roped in defence forces to carry out the work. The Indian Army's quarantine base in Manesar is vacant after 248 students, who were quarantined there for 17 days, were allowed to leave the premises on Tuesday. When the Indian Army was trying to set up the quarantine base, all civilian contractors refused to provide services. Indian Army is now fully equipped and prepared enough to treat the Indians affected by the virus. But when Indian Army was informed after a short notice on January 27 to start setting up the quarantine area for 248 students, they were taken aback after civilian contractors refused to provide waste management system while electricians and plumbers also backed out at the last moment. "We are Indian Army soldiers. We will never back out. We set up the quarantine area within two days. All the students were brought there and now all of them are healthy and have no sign of coronavirus," Major General R. Datta told IANS after all the suspected students headed for home. With no civilian infrastructure to take care of the distressed Indians in China, Indian forces have now been roped in. Saudi troops have clashed with tribal forces in eastern Yemens al-Mahra province near the Omani border, a tribal source told Al Jazeera. Saudi forces on Monday attempted to storm the town of Shahn using heavy gunfire that wounded at least one person, the source said, adding that helicopters and armoured vehicles were deployed in the assault which was repelled. There was no immediate comment from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting against Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015. In a statement, the al-Mahra peaceful committee denounced the attempted Saudi intrusion. The committee condemns these practices and violations committed by the Saudi occupation and its militias against our people, the statement said. It constitutes a flagrant violation of Yemeni sovereignty and national identity. In this dangerous turning point of our honorable history, we call on all the tribes of the province, their sheikhs and their dignitaries, and their citizens to unite alongside all the liberals of the province to prevent the Saudi occupation from imposing its domination al-Mahra, the statement continued. The isolated, eastern al-Mahra province, the second-largest in terms of area in Yemen, has largely escaped the worst of the fighting that has engulfed the rest of the country since 2015. In 2017, Saudi Arabia deployed armed forces in the province after claiming al-Mahra served as a major smuggling weapons point from Oman into Yemen for the Houthi rebel group through land crossings or by sea. Saudi forces currently control the provinces airport and main seaport, and has established more than a dozen military bases, leading to frequent tensions which have sometimes spilled over into outright clashes with some tribesmen and residents. Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Arab states which intervened in Yemens conflict in 2015 in support of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who had been forced out of the capital Sanaa by Houthi rebels. The coalition is now led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since the beginning of the conflict in Yemen, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions driven to the brink of famine in what the United Nations calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Arts Yangon Photo Festival Spotlights Some of Myanmar's Pressing Issues Beyond the Air we Breathe: Addressing Climate Change is an exhibition curated by Hossein Farmani and Susan Baraz from the Lucie Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about the consequences of climate change and pollution. It is at Maha Bandoola Park from Feb. 19 to 23. / Paul Souders Yangon The 12th Yangon Photo Festival (YPF) will open on Feb. 19 with more than 200 documentary photos raising awareness of issues like environmental threats, peace-building and social justice. The free festival, which describes itself as Asias largest photo and advocacy festival, will run until Feb. 23. It includes photo exhibitions, screenings and parties at multiple locations including Maha Bandoola Park, the Goethe Institut, Institut Francais, Yangon Central Railway Station, the Rosewood Hotel, Dala Ferries, Junction City, Myanmar Deitta and Ahla Thit art gallery. Every year, the YPF offers a unique opportunity to meet photographers from all over Myanmar and the world, make friends and discuss important issues in a party atmosphere, said Christophe Loviny, founder and artistic director of the festival. During the five-day festival, the works of famous photographers including Pascal Maitre, Steve McCurry, Franck Seguin and Fausto Podavini will be showcased with projects by Myanmars renowned photographers Hkun Lat, Hkun Li and Ko Myo, and talented young photographers from Myanmars states and regions where YPF organizes photographic training. In the last 12 years, we have trained more than 1,000 young men and women from all backgrounds, religions and ethnicities to produce short documentaries about the most important social and environmental issues affecting their lives, said Loviny. The event is mainly supported by the European Union, the embassies of the Netherlands, France and Switzerland, the International Labor Organization, the Goethe Institut and the Rosewood Hotel. Kristian Schmidt, EU ambassador to Myanmar, said: The Yangon Photo Festival has become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia and made Myanmar a place where people gather from across the region to discuss issues such as climate change and social injustice, war and conflict, hate speech and threats to freedom of expression. The EU is proud to host Hkun Lis powerful story on the worrying impact of rapidly growing banana plantations on communities in Kachin State. I am glad to see that such open discussions can and do take place in Myanmar today. The opening ceremony will be at the Goethe Institut on Feb. 19 with a photo-book exhibition by the Myanmar Photo Archive (MPA) and other photo projects by domestic and international photographers. The MPA is showing early photographs at the Rosewood Hotel, many of which were taken around the time of the buildings construction in the late 1920s. A photo village is being set up at Maha Bandoola Park and will screen documentaries on a giant screen alongside the World Press Photo exhibition. The Yangon photo night award ceremony includes a competition for the best photo story in front of a jury of domestic and international personalities on Feb. 23 at the Institut Francais. The prizes include a trip to Amsterdam for the World Press Photo Awards and Canon cameras. Since the first event in 2009, the Institut Francais has been proud to support the YPF. The photo night always attracts a vast crowd, moved by the stories that are screened, said Gilles Guillot, cooperation attache at the French Embassy and deputy director of the Institut Francais. The festival team expects more than 300,000 visitors this year. Entrance is free and schedules are on the Yangon Photo Festival Facebook page. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Pride Event Showcases National Crafts and Culture Student Film Festival Leaves Myanmar Audiences Wowed Myanmars LGBTIQ Festival is Back With a New Campaign: Love Is Not a Crime KOLKATA: Veteran Bengali actor and former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul died of cardiac arrest early on Tuesday (February 18, 2020). He was 61 years old. According to reports, Paul had gone to Mumbai to visit his daughter where he complained of chest pain at the Mumbai airport while returning Kolkata. He was rushed to a hospital in Juhu where he died around 4 am. The veteran actor was suffering from heart ailments and had been admitted to hospitals several times for treatment during the past two years. Paul, a two-term MP from Krishnanagar and MLA from Alipore, is survived by his daughter and wife. He was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam in December 2016 and was given bail after 13 months. Since then, he was not very active in films. As a romantic hero, he endeared himself to the Bengali audience since his debut film Dadar Kirti in 1980, Paul became a known household name because of his lead roles in Saheb (1981), Parabat Priya (1984), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Anurager Choyan (1986) and Amar Bandhan (1986). He was awarded the Filmfare Award for Saheb (1981). Several noted personalities from Bengali cinema, including actor Ranjit Mallick, described Paul's death as "untimely". Because of numerous accidents on that road, AAA regularly calls Indian Head Highway one of the most dangerous roads in the Washington region, with only the Baltimore-Washington Parkway listed as more deadly. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at 301-731-4422. Callers who want to remain anonymous can contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or pgcrimesolvers.com. Houston residents Nick and Diane Marson have seen Come From Away 109 times and have plans to see it at least a few more. Its not just another show to them. One of the threads in the acclaimed musical tells their love story. Its like were renewing our vows every time we see it, Nick said.. The musical, which is making its San Antonio debut beginning Feb. 25 at the Majestic Theatre, is based on the true story of the efforts of the people of tiny Gander, Newfoundland, to care for 6,579 airline passengers and crew members stranded there for a few days after most air traffic was suspended over the United States following the 9/11 terror attacks. The people opened up their homes and their pantries, providing shelter and food as well as companionship. Nick and Diane were passengers on the flight headed for Houston she lived there and he was on business from London. They met at a shelter and grew close during their time in Newfoundland. A cast of 12 plays more than 100 people in the show, including the Newfoundlanders and the folks on the planes. The shows creators interviewed the real-life people involved and wove their accounts together. The end result, say those who lived what happened in real life and those who live it onstage every night, is a much-needed story about compassion and kindness. The world seems to be so divided and kind of at each others throats, said Chamblee Ferguson, who plays Nick in the touring production. We forget how much common ground we have, and I think its something to kind of remind us. Ive often said to people, Im not a missionary, but if I were, this would be my mission work, where I get to carry out this message throughout North America. On ExpressNews.com: SA theater fans share stage door encounters with the stars That sense of mission extends beyond the casts time on stage, he said. The touring company has raised nearly $1 million for a slew of causes during its run. In addition to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which many shows contribute to, the Come From Away company has raised money to help those impacted by the wildfires in Australia and flooding in the Midwestern United States and to build a new home for the SPCA in Gander. The good works will continue during the San Antonio run. Donations of toiletries and shower flip-flops can be dropped off at the Majestic for Corazon Ministries. The organization, which is based at Travis Park Church, serves the homeless. We take it very dearly to our hearts weve got to be living the message (of the show), Ferguson said. Weve got to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Claude Elliott who was mayor of Gander in 2001 and is now one of the shows ambassadors, giving interviews and taking part in Q&As and other events to promote it believes he and his neighbors were simply doing what most people would do under similar circumstances. Youre supposed to love and comfort people not only in a time of need, but any time, said Elliott, who ended his 21 years as mayor in 2017. It does our hearts good to know that peoples lives are being changed because of this. Love and kindness is free. It doesnt cost anything. Its just as simple as people saying hello sometimes it means a lot. Elliott has watched the show 76 times all over the world. People are eager to chat with him about how moved they are by the story. It goes to show the strength of human kindness, he said. And people say to me, Wow, I wish we could all live like you people. Perhaps someday we can. (The show) is changing people. The people that see the show, they go away with a different sense, they go away with more compassion. Christine Toy Johnson, who plays Diane in the show, has been struck by the number of young people who turn up at the stage door to chat with the cast after performances. Many were born after the attacks, so they dont have first-hand knowledge of what happened then. Its very moving to me that they are taken in by this story of compassion and how they want to express that to us, Johnson said. It just reminds you of the power of theater, but also the power of community spirit, and how you can effect that. Kevin Carolan, who plays Elliott in the show, has noticed that audiences often feel a need to talk about the show afterward. There really is a great thirst that people have when they see the show, Carolan said. There are a lot of people who want to drink as much as they can from this, and get as many individual stories and just to expand on some of the stories we get to tell during the show. The Marsons story one of two older people getting a second chance at romance resonates with a lot of people who have seen the show. The couple only started sharing it publicly nearly 10 years after they got together. On ExpressNews.com: Public Theaters 2020-21 season holds Kinky Boots and Annie We had survivors guilt, Diane Marson said. We didnt talk to the media about our experience because we felt, why should we be so happy when so many people lost someone. They first opened up about it to a crew from NBC looking for human interest stories as part of the networks coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It is included in Operation Yellow Ribbon, Tom Brokaws documentary about Ganders response to those stranded passengers. That put them on the radar of the creative team behind Come from Away. Nick Marson was a little apprehensive about how the show would portray what happened in Gander. Those worries eased a lot when he and his wife saw a preview while the show was being developed. I had no idea what they had done for Nick and Diane, he said. They could have been two teenagers by the time it was done. But they almost did it word for word. Its as good as a documentary. One of the questions that comes up at nearly every Q&A, the actors and their real-world counterparts said, is whether the show is telling a true story. Some people find it hard to believe that a whole community could do so much and didnt want anything in return, Elliott said. Well, the return that we got is when we saw people leave and we said goodbye, and saw the tears of joy and the happiness on their face, we were paid in full. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Come from Away opens Feb. 25. It can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25-27, 8 p.m. Feb. 28, 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 29 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. March 1 at the Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St. Tickets range from $45 to $155 at the box office and ticketmaster.com. Info, majesticempire.com. Roger Stone, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, leaves the Prettyman United States Courthouse after a hearing February 1, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump joined calls on Tuesday for a new trial for his friend Roger Stone as a group of federal judges prepared to hold an emergency meeting on concerns of political pressure on the judiciary. Trump's tweets of a Fox News commentator's remarks that a new trial is warranted for the Republican operative came hours before the judge in his case said on a conference call that Stone's sentencing will proceed as scheduled Thursday in federal court in Washington. But Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she would postpone imposing the terms of that sentencing pending her decision on Stone's request for a new trial. The tweets also came less than a week after Attorney General William Barr said Trump's tweeting about pending federal cases such as Stone's was making it "impossible" for Barr to do his job. A group of more than 1,000 former Justice Department employees on Sunday called on Barr to resign. The former employees criticized Barr for his decision to recommend a lower prison sentence for Stone than what the trial prosecutors had first recommended last week. Trump used his Twitter feed to harshly criticize the first suggested prison term for Stone, of seven to nine years, hours after the recommendation was made . Four Justice Department prosecutors quit the Stone case after Barr sharply reduced their sentencing recommendation, with one of those prosecutors resigning altogether from the DOJ. Stone was convicted in November of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election and of witness tampering. Last week, it was revealed that the jury forewoman in his case had a number of social media posts critical of Trump, and retweeted another user's posts commenting on Stone's arrest in early 2019. MTN Ghana has organised Save a Life Blood Donation programme aimed at supporting the National Blood Bank. The event which was organised simultaneously in various centres in all the 16 regions on Val's day February 14 has been in inception since 2011. It is a period marked for the staff of MTN, their customers and the general public to donate blood to the National Blood Bank and the regional hospitals. In the Greater Accra Region, it was held in four locations namely the MTN House, MTN Graphic Road Office, Accra Academy Senior High School and Odorgonno Senior High School. The event attracted some students from Osu Salem Senior High School to donate blood. The MTN House centre had a target of 400 pints and 5000 pints nationwide which would be derived from the various centres across the country for this years exercise. This years event also coincided with the cutting of sod for the construction of a Blood Bank at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Rhoderlyn Entsua Mensah, Manager, Sustainability and Social Impact, MTN Ghana indicated that as the exercise had been going over the years they realized that some of the facilities do not even have the equipments and the right places to keep the blood being donated so as a sustainability measure we started something in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital which we are building a Blood Bank for their maternity unit at a cost of GH300,000.00. The Public Relations Officer for the National Blood Service which is an agency of the Ministry of Health and mandated to the supervision of the collection of blood, processing and distributing to the various hospital Blood Banks in the country stressed on the need to have enough blood in the Blood Banks in order to save lives. we want to commend MTN for this noble exercise which has been going on over the years and we hope to exceed our target. Captain Peter Kwame Awuah Kwarteng, Senior Biomedical Scientist at the 37 Military Hospital said they had been embarking on the campaign with MTN admonishing the general public to try as much as possible to donate blood. After successfully donating his blood, Anthony Fesu, Enterprise Architect, MTN Ghana expressed his excitement by contributing to a worthy cause of saving a life of someone who might be very close to him or not and also felt very proud as such. The said exercise was supported by all the Regional Hospitals; the National Blood Transfusion Service, 37 Military Hospital and Greater Accra Regional Hospital in the case of Greater Accra. Silverstone Auctions Features British Classics To Die For - VIDEO Jaguar and Aston Martin models standout LONDON - February 18, 2020: Silverstone Auctions Race Retro auction catalogue is an absolute delight with some of the finest classic and competition cars being offered on the 21st and 22nd February at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. At the end of last week, we all got to hear the new (lousy) theme song for the forthcoming James Bond film, No Time To Die, so what could be better than an Aston Martin DB5 in Silver Birch (but a good promo trailer). This 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is quite possibly one of the very best examples available, having undergone a meticulous and methodical restoration over a number of years. It comes from a private collection where it has been fastidiously maintained and stored. It was in 2002 when this mammoth restoration project started and was fully documented over the next ten years. The work was quite extensive including 20,000 being spent on the re-building the engine to unleaded 4.2-litre specification, thereby increasing the torque and making it more powerful, but also improving the experience. The current vendor bought the car in 2016 when the car was refinished in Silver Birch and added and correctly stored in his collection. This is certainly a car for a collector, with 5 miles since its restoration was finished in 2012 and now estimated at 725,000 to 825,000 with an extensive history file, this DB5 must be one of the best. Continuing the Aston Martin theme, the DB2 had great success in motorsport in the 1950s, its greatest moment must have been coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Le Mans in 1951. In 1953 Aston Martin replaced the DB2 with the DB2/4 and Silverstone Auctions are offering a 1954 version which does come with an entry into the Mille Miglia and was formerly owned by Philip Gould a founding member of the 1980s pop band Level 42. This car has had an eventful life, initially residing in Sussex it was bought in 1970 and underwent a full restoration before it was sold in the early 1980s. Philip Gould then owned the car later on in the decade at which point the engine underwent a rebuild, along with other work to the brakes, suspension and wiring loom. In 1997 the DB2/4 passed on to the next owner who cherished it for the next 20 years, restoring the bodywork and giving it a fresh coat of British Racing Green paint, but leaving the interior as it by now had a lovely patina. The engine was rebuilt by specialists Davron, along with the carburettors, steering, suspension among many other items which led the car to be awarded third in class at the Aston Martin Concours dElegance at Duxford in 2016. In 2016 the DB2/4 was sold to the current owner and vendor, who added it to his significant private collection. He also saw this as an opportunity to fulfill a life long dream of doing the Mille Miglia. He successfully applied for and received the FIVA papers and an entry to the event, however, personal circumstances have meant that he is unable to fulfill the dream at the moment. Having spent over 30,000 on keeping the car to the exacting standards it deserved during 2017 and 2019, it is now being offered with an extensive history file for an estimate of 145,000 to 165,000. Moving on to our next British classic, the 1965 Jaguar E-Type and one that comes with a number of upgrades by E-Type re-engineering specialists Eagle. This particular Series 1 open two-seater E-Type was supplied new to Jaguar in New York, USA before returning to the UK in the 1990s. It then underwent a full restoration, documented in the file with photographs, and was sold almost immediately after completion via Eagle E-Types in 1999. The opportunity was also taken to update this E-Type using the extensive options offered when purchasing a car from Eagle. In 2005 Eagle sold the car on behalf of the owner to its next custodian who was so taken with Eagles work that he commissioned a full Eagle E-Type and sold this car as his neared completion. Prior to its sale Eagle took the opportunity to refresh the engine and the current vendor then purchased the car in 2014. This E-Type is the best of both worlds, it comes with the original looks, drive train and bodywork but with the performance that comes from Eagles Supersport upgrade package. It also has a Jaguar Heritage Certificate, detailed history folder and offered at an estimated at 240,000 to 280,000. This is a stunning classic car prepared for modern motoring. Our final lot in this release is the 1957 Jaguar XK140 Special Equipment. Launched in 1954 the XK140 replaced the XK120 with a number of improvements and enhanced styling. In 1957 this XK140 was delivered new to Jaguar Cars in New York and returned to the UK 60 years later where it was treated to a full ground up restoration. The original engine was rebuilt by Jaguar specialists and other mechanical components were either replaced or restored. The bodywork was stripped back to bare metal and re-painted in Arctic Blue with the interior re-finished in grey with new carpets. This XK140 is now presented in sparkling showroom condition with a large history file at an estimated 80,000 to 90,000, which is a very sensible offering bearing in mind the restoration costs far exceed the estimate. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a fully restored and stylish British classic. Joe Watts Silverstone Auctions Classic Car Specialist commented: The DB5 is quite possibly the most iconic of all British cars. Known around the world and made famous in the James Bond films, when offered in this immaculate condition always sparks interest. It is also accompanied in this sale by the DB2/4 which is a very attractive Aston Martin, again a lovely classic and this one comes with a very interesting history. The Jaguars of the period offered here are very stylish and beautifully presented cars, an attractive option should you prefer. These are just some of the highest quality cars we are offering at Race Retro this coming weekend. The two-day auction will be preceded with an automobilia sale offering a selection of watches, signed prints, books, luggage and other items of automobilia. Silverstone Auctions Race Retro Show auction takes place on the 21st and 22nd February. The team can be contacted on 01926 691141 or email enquiries@silverstoneauctions.com and would be happy to talk with you about any of the Lots on offer. Alternatively, you can speak with them on the day. The alarms are increasingly sounding over Nevada's Democratic caucus, which is just five days away. Why it matters: Similar issues to the ones that plagued Iowa's caucus seem to be rearing their ugly heads, the WashPost reports. "Campaigns said they still have not gotten the party to offer even a basic explanation of how key parts of the process will work." the party to offer even a basic explanation of how key parts of the process will work." "Volunteers are reporting problems with the technology thats been deployed at the last minute to make the vote count smoother." with the technology thats been deployed at the last minute to make the vote count smoother." "And experts are raising serious questions about a tool the party has been feverishly assembling to replace the one scrapped after the meltdown in Iowa." about a tool the party has been feverishly assembling to replace the one scrapped after the meltdown in Iowa." It feels like the [state party is] making it up as they go along, said one Democratic presidential aide." The other side: We are confident that they are doing everything they can to implement lessons learned in Iowa," DNC spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa told the WashPost. The bottom line: Campaigns will be made or broken over the next few weeks, and another electoral disaster like Iowa's could create headaches that affect the entire field. Its no secret that Kylie Jenner has a massive net worth. The makeup mogul has built her empire off of the strength of her familys name and their reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Jenner propelled that success into Kylie Beauty which is now worth over $1 billion. Jenner is also one of the most-followed people on Instagram and as a result, she has showcased many aspects of her lavish lifestyle on the platform. She has given fans a glimpse of everything from her extensive car and shoe collections to the massive blow out parties that she throws for her baby daughter, Stormi and her friends and family members. Now, Jenner has just showcased her huge purse collection and you wont even believe how much her handbags are worth. Inside Kylie Jenners net worth Kylie Jenner isnt quite the self-made billionaire that Forbes touted her to be. After all, she didnt build her company from scratch. However, thats not to take away from the hard work she put in her business. Jenner told Interview Germany, I am a special case because before I started Kylie Cosmetics, I had a huge platform and lots of fans. I did not get money from my parents past the age of 15. I used 100 percent of my own money to start the company, not a dime in my bank account is inherited and I am very proud of that. Now, with the sale of Kylie Cosmetics to Coty Jenner has added to her net worth. Today, the beauty empire is worth $1.2 billion. Forbes has reported that Jenner has made $170 million in the past year, making her the second-highest-paid celebrity of 2019, following Taylor Swift. However, since she just added $600 million to her net worth, we doubt Stormi Websters mom will be second place to anyone come 2020. Inside Kylie Jenners purse collection We already knew that Jenner had a massive handbag collection that includes everything from Birkin to Chanel bags. However, we had no idea that she has a closet to house her extensive collection. Recently, the 22-year-old hopped on Instagram to showcase her purses which includes Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermes pieces. Jenner doesnt simply shove her bags in the closet. She has them all organized by color. In one photo all of the pink, red and rose-colored bags are grouped together and all of the black bags in another section. It also looks like Jenners 2-year-old daughter Stormi is also building her own bag collection. Jenners older sister Khloe Kardashian brought the adorable tot her own bag, which Jenner also shared on IG saying, I honestly cant wait until our next vacation. Kylie Jenners handbag collection is worth $1 million This isnt the first time Jenner has shown off her extensive handbag collection. In March 2018, she showcased a section of the massive closet, leaving her fans gasping at her wealth. There are at least 400 bags, mostly Hermes, lots of Birkin bags and then Louis Vuitton, lots of Chanel and some Dior and Fendi, designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard told People. Lots of them are collectors items. Shes bought some as investments and theyre treated like works of art. Fans might not agree with Jenner showing off her lavish wealth, but at least she takes care of her things. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kevin Trublet (Agence France-Presse) Ryton, United Kingdom Tue, February 18, 2020 09:03 694 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206514cb4 2 Lifestyle Britain,pubs,leisure Free In the heart of picturesque old Ryton village in northeast England, pub regulars banded together to save their favorite watering hole, in a cut-throat sector where competition is fierce. Ye Olde Cross has a history dating back to the 1800s, when Ryton grew into a small town as the wealthy escaped the grime of industry and urban sprawl of Newcastle and Gateshead, six miles (10 kilometers) away to the east down the River Tyne. The pub, which takes its name from the monument erected on the nearby village green where the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, once preached, quickly became a fixture of local life. But it was forced to call time two years ago due to competition from supermarkets and online retail giants. That caused "heartbreak" for the 7,500 locals, said one regular. Hundreds of punters then dug deep and took it into community ownership. "We raised enough money to buy the building but not much more than that," said Ted Euers, who is one of 12 directors on the pub's management committee. "So we decided that we would try and do as much of the work ourselves as we could," he told AFP. Now a handful of the most dedicated customers are helping build a new upstairs bar and create space to install a lift. Read also: Liverpool 'Beatles pub' gets top architectural listing Sector recovery Ye Olde Cross is one of a select group of about 100 pubs that are now owned by individual investors, after laws passed in 2010 that sought to protect iconic British pubs and help stop their disappearance with community-led takeovers. Like French cafes, pubs have been a feature of British life for centuries. But over the last 13 years, about 12,000 have closed across Britain -- about a quarter of the nation's drinking establishments, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). "Last year, we were seeing a pub closing every 12 hours," said Nik Antona, chairman of pressure group Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which seeks to promote real ale and safeguard pubs as part of Britain's cultural and social heritage. The collapse in pub numbers has been attributed to changes in social habits, from falling alcohol consumption, increased social opportunities for the young, high taxation on commercial property and the continued hangover from the bitter 2008 global recession. But there are signs of recovery: the ONS said in January the number of small pubs and bars -- those with fewer than 10 employees -- increased last year for the first time in 15 years. The sector also showed the highest levels of turnover since the end of the financial crisis, it added. The example of Ye Olde Cross shows what can be done, with people power and lateral thinking, making pubs not just a place to eat and drink, but also as a focus of the community. After months of campaigning, pub regulars raised some 150,000 ($194,500, 178,400 euros) from more than 300 local people who became shareholders. The pub has also been boosted by a total of 100,000 in a mixture of grants and bank loans. While the value of the shares will not fluctuate or increase in value, it does offer local investors a symbolic stake in the future of their community hub. Read also: Drown your Valentine's Day sorrows at this Hollywood watering hole Small beer Volunteer Richard holds aloft a pint of lager after tidying the pub floor, which doubles up as a yoga venue. "We don't get paid in beers," he joked. As well as yoga, the pub has also become a venue for local knitting groups, film shows and other activities, all aimed at raising cash donations to keep the place running. "It's a win-win situation," the yoga teacher added. Abigail Bennett, who runs the pub with her partner Billy, said their job was not without its demands. Most pubs in Britain are managed by pub companies or individual breweries, with premises leased out to landlords. Bennett said running a community owned pub was "much more stressful than the standard model, but much more rewarding as well. Emotionally rewarding". Last month, the UK government announced a modest tax cut of 1,000 for the smallest pubs from April this year, amid wider long-standing gripes about hefty overheads. The cut applies to so-called business rates which are levied on commercial property. Small firms have complained they are prohibitive. CAMRA's Antona said it was small beer and the government needed to do more to help. "It's a good start but it's a sticking plaster," he said. Topics : Britain pubs leisure GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Creek Mortgage Company announced that it is now offering an enhanced customer experience for Spanish-speaking home buyers. The company's expanded Spanish offerings will make the loan process easier for customers across the country and create an inclusive, comprehensive mortgage process for Spanish-speaking home buyers. According to the United States Census Bureau, the rate of home ownership among Hispanic Americans has steadily increased over the last three years. In 2018, the home ownership rate for Hispanic Americans was 47.05 percent. With the uptick in Spanish-speaking home buyers, Cherry Creek Mortgage recognizes the need to provide a Spanish loan experience with the same exceptional quality and service provided to English-speaking buyers. "We are committed to creating an inclusive mortgage experience, so supporting Spanish-speaking customers on their home ownership journey is an exciting milestone for us," said David Arnett, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "Home ownership has the power to connect and create communities, and we believe that the loan process should be simple and accessible for every customer." The initiative provides Spanish versions of its online mortgage application, customer portal, in-process communication, disclosure and closing documents, and educational materials. The company also has many Spanish-speaking loan officers available to assist customers with the mortgage process. About Cherry Creek Mortgage Company Cherry Creek Mortgage Company Co., Inc. NMLS #3001 has a 33-year tradition of serving the needs of home buyers across the country. With a reputation built on a passion for responsible lending and dedication to personal relationships, Cherry Creek Mortgage has helped thousands of customers realize their goal of home ownership. Cherry Creek Mortgage's specialized internal processes and proprietary technology deliver a digital mortgage experience with a personal touch. The company is headquartered in Colorado and is licensed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Learn more at cherrycreekmortgage.com. Media Contact: Megan Duggan [email protected] SOURCE Cherry Creek Mortgage Company Related Links https://www.cherrycreekmortgage.com Samsung has made some changes to Androids core kernel on the Galaxy A50, and Google is not happy. Google says that these changes were unnecessary, and that they threaten, rather than strengthen the phones security. Googles Project Zero Teams researcher, Jann Honn, outlined the issue with this change Samsung made to Androids core kernel. Samsungs changes included a new security feature. This new feature is supposed to restrict an attacker, its supposed to prevent it from reading or modifying user data. Advertisement Samsungs changes to Androids core kernel weakened security, says Google That sounds good, right? Well, its not, in practice, it seems. Mr. Honn says that the move is futile, and that it introduces vulnerabilities that weaken the phones security. He says that Samsungs protection mechanisms wont provide meaningful protection, while he also added that they only block straightforward rooting tools that havent been customized for Samsung phones. Mr. Honn also added that he found a bug. This bug affects Samsungs Process Authenticator (PROCA) security subsystem. Advertisement That bug has been patched, though it seems. The bug was first spotted way back in November last year, and according to Samsungs website, it has been patched. Messing around with Android kernel is not a good idea, warns Google Mr. Honn warned Samsung, and everyone else, that messing around with Androids kernel is not a good idea. OEMs usually mean well, but they tend to do more harm than good. Mr. Honn actually shared a lot more information via the Google Project Zero website, so click here if youd like to know all the details. Samsung will hopefully stay away from Androids core kernel from this point on. It seems like Google is really not impressed with what the Korean tech giant did here. Advertisement The Galaxy A50, for those of you who do not know, is Samsungs mid-range handset. This device was announced a year ago, in fact. The Galaxy A50 has managed to become quite popular across Europe, and in a number of other markets. This device brings a rather large display, a solid SoC, a large battery, and various other features to the table. The phone also has an in-display fingerprint scanner, fast charging, three rear cameras, and it actually looks quite nice in terms of design. The phone does include a plastic frame, and backplate, though. Samsung did that to keep its price tag down, which makes sense. A Missouri police lieutenant who says he was told to "tone down" his "gayness" when seeking a promotion has settled a lawsuit against St. Louis County for $10.25 million, CBS St. Louis affiliate KMOV-TV reports. Keith Wildhaber says he was turned down for a promotion 23 times, and was transferred to a precinct far from his home after he filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. "This lawsuit acknowledges what Lt. Wildhaber survived in the police department and lets us move forward as a county," County Executive Sam Page said on Monday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I think it's important to recognize that this sends a message to everyone in county government and to all of our employers in the St. Louis region that discrimination will not be tolerated." After the trial, jurors told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that key to Wildhaber's case was testimony from a witness who said a police captain told her Wildhaber would never be promoted because he was "way too out there with his gayness." In court, the captain denied talking to, or even knowing, the witness. The witness then presented photos showing the two together, including one of the captain giving her a bear hug, according to the newspaper. screen-shot-2019-10-28-at-12-21-51-pm.png St. Louis County Police Lt. Keith Wildhaber CBS affiliate KMOV-TV The jury awarded the then-police sergeant $19 million in October. Because Wildhaber could keep a larger share of the award by settling, he negotiated with the county, leaving him with a total of $10.25 $7 million of which has to be paid within 60 days. In a statement on Tuesday, Page said the settlement was a "fair compromise to both Lt. Wildhaber and the County," KMOV-TV reports. The county executive also acknowledged that the settlement "saved the County at least $11M," when compared to the original jury award. Wildhaber was finally promoted to lieutenant in December. He was also placed in command of a new diversity and inclusion unit by St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, whose leadership was called into question throughout the trial, KMOV-TV reports. Story continues Belmar announced his retirement on the same day the settlement was reached. Page said Belmar's retirement was not a condition of the settlement, and that the chief was already thinking of stepping down this year. "I believe the chief wanted to make sure we moved forward and got the department on the right track after this settlement," Page said. Wildhaber initially offered to settle with the county for $850,000 plus a promotion to lieutenant. The County Board of Police Commissioners did not accept his offer and the case went to trial, ultimately costing the county over $9 million, the Post-Dispatch reports. The county's defense centered on the argument that Missouri's Human Rights Act does not include discrimination against gay people. After the trial, the jury foreman told reporters the jurors wanted a big verdict "to send a message." In response to the massive settlement, Page said Wildhaber's experience "was a symptom of the discrimination that is pervasive in our culture," KMOV-TV reports. "It is not something that can be blamed on any one person or department. It is, however, a significant message for the County, and all of us who care about fair treatment," he said. "Discrimination isn't always obvious. It is even more likely to be quiet and insidious." Buttigieg brushes off homophobic comments from Rush Limbaugh Biden tells Las Vegas congregants that racists are "living in the White House" More than a thousand former DOJ officials call on AG Barr to resign One hundred and fifty-five years after the Civil War and 150 years after African-American men won the right to vote, there is still no monument to the achievements of their race at Pennsylvanias Capitol Complex. Well, thats about to change. In March, work is to start on a $400,000 monument that will fill that hard-to-excuse void, while simultaneously reviving the memory and luster of Harrisburgs Old 8TH Ward, the largely African-American neighborhood that was razed to make way for the current Capitol. The pillar-shaped monument will bear names of members of that once-vibrant community and will be topped with a relief map of the Old 8th, which once bustled in the shadow of Pennsylvanias original Capitol building. Statues of prominent residents of the Old 8th, starting with poet, abolitionist and womens rights activist Frances Harper and educator William Howard Day, will flank the monument. This is not meant to be dead history. It received a shot of lifeblood Tuesday morning when Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse accepted a $25,000 check from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities to help pay for site preparation. The city is kicking in a like amount to prep the site near the K. Leroy Irvis office building at 4th and Walnut streets, an edifice named for first black speaker of the state House of Representatives. Can you believe it? This will be the first monument to African-Americans on our Capitol grounds, Papenfuse said. Long overdue. A March 25 groundbreaking has been set for the monument, which organizers said also is meant to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women securing the right to vote. Dedication of the monument is scheduled for June. Those rites with be another entry as we continue to write our narrative, said Blanding Watson, vice president of the state conference of the NAACP. This is for all people of color, for women, for all the disenfranchised people who had to fight for the right to vote, said Peggy Grove, a moral and major financial backer of the project. Grove said the beginning of the end for the Old 8th came when demolition started in 1897. About 1,100 homes were raised over the next few years. Lenwood Sloan, executive director of the Commonwealth Monument Project, as the venture is officially known, called the effort an amazing grace. He urged people, especially those with family ties to the Old 8th, to come to city hall to not only view, but also to touch a model of the monument, including the 3-D map of the neighborhood, circa 1870, that crowns it. People are encouraged to run your hands down the streets, Sloan said. The oil from your hands will polish it. Organizers, who are being aided by teachers and students from Messiah College, have been and still are searching for descendants of those who once inhabited the Old 8th. More information on the project, how to donate toward it, and the to search for family ties is available at digitalharrisburg.com and monumentpaus.com. All sorts of information from old photos to family stories and anecdotes is being sought as well to help revive the memory of the long-vanished neighborhood. Let us bring it back into the light, Sloan said. India's sugar export may cross 5 million tonne in the marketing year ending September on higher demand from overseas amid global deficit of 8-9 million tonne, industry body ISMA said on Tuesday. For the current year, the government has allowed export of 6 million tonne of sugar under Maximum Admissible Export Quota (MAEQ) to help deal with the surplus sugar. India had exported 3.8 million tonne during 2018-19 marketing year (October-September) against the mandatory quota of 5 million tonne. The country's sugar production has reached 16.98 million tonne till February 15 of the current marketing year, which is much lower than 21.96 million tonne output till the same period a year ago, it said. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), global sugar prices for raw and white sugar are 20-25 per cent higher than the prices which prevailed three months ago when India started its exports against 6 million tonne under MAEQ. "Accordingly, Indian sugar exports may get accelerated in the coming months, and could achieve more than 5 million tonne of MAEQ in the whole season," it said in a statement. As per market reports, about 1.6 million tonne of sugar has been exported from India and about 3.2 million tonne of contracts have been signed for exports, it said. As per reports available, few sugar mills are not planning to export sugar against their allocated export quotas. A few of them have surrendered a part of their MAEQ to the government, it added. ISMA said the government has decided to withdraw and reallocate export quota of mills which were not able to undertake shipments. "20 per cent of export quotas of mills which have not contracted for 25 per cent of their MAEQ by end of January 2020, will be withdrawn and reallocated among the others who have exported most of the MAEQ and are willing to export beyond their original MAEQ," it said. It is understood that this process of reallocation is under active consideration and would be announced shortly, it added. As per experts in the international trade, there is an estimated deficit of 8 to 9 million tonne in the 2019-20 marketing year in the global market and that Thailand's exports are likely to be down by 3-4 million tonne due to lower production. Sharing the latest domestic sugar production details, ISMA said total sugar production has reached 16.98 million tonne till February of this marketing year, lower from 21.96 million tonne in the year-ago period. Sugar production in Maharashtra -- the country's largest sugar producing state -- dropped to 4.33 million tonne till February 15 of this year as against 8.29 million tonne in the same period last year, the data showed. Whereas production in Uttar Pradesh, the country's second largest sugar producing state, rose to 6.63 million tonne so far when compared to 6.39 million tonne a year ago. The production in Karnataka, the country's third largest sugar producing state, declined to 3.08 million tonne as against 3.87 million tonne in the said period. Sugar production in Gujarat stood at 5,95,000 tonne, Bihar at 5,08,00 tonne, Punjab at 3,72,000 tonne, Haryana at 3,51,000 tonne, Uttarakhand at 2,41,000 tonne, Madhya Pradesh at 3,51,000 tonne and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at 3,06,000 tonne till February 15 of this year, the data showed. The industry body has pegged sugar production lower at 26 million tonne this year from 33.16 million tonne in 2018-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LendingClub, a fintech company that pioneered personal loans made online, is buying a U.S. bank to give it access to a stable and cheaper source of funding, CNBC has learned. LendingClub is paying $185 million in cash and stock for Radius Bancorp, according to documents viewed by CNBC. Radius, a Boston-based online bank with about $1.4 billion in assets, is among a cohort of small lenders that have partnered with fintech firms who need the services of an FDIC-regulated institution. The move marks the first time a U.S. fintech company has acquired a bank. Fintech firms from Robinhood to Square have applied for ways to become banks as doing so would give them better profit margins and the ability to issue new products like checking accounts. Last week, mobile bank Varo Money got FDIC approval for a national bank charter, which would allow it to accept consumer deposits. LendingClub, which calls itself the biggest U.S. provider of personal loans, had been a leader in an earlier wave of fintech firms focused on marketplace lending, or matching borrowers with lenders. The company had the biggest U.S. tech IPO of 2014, soaring to an $8.5 billion valuation. But it was dealt a blow in 2016 when founder Renaud Laplanche was ousted amid irregularities with loan practices, and its shares have never recovered. Now, the fintech disruptor is poised to reinvent itself as a bank. The deal will allow San Francisco-based LendingClub to offer new products to its clients, diversify its earnings and reduce or eliminate the use of institutional funding sources, according to the documents. "What a bank charter does for LendingClub is it allows us to take what is the leading digital loan provider online and combine it with a leading digital deposit gatherer," Scott Sanborn, CEO of LendingClub, said Tuesday on CNBC. "It totally changes the earnings profile of this business." Sanborn said that the deal will help save $40 million a year in bank fees and funding costs and will allow the company to earn a spread on loans kept on its balance sheet, which is a core way banks earn money. The transaction is expected to take 12 to 15 months to close and will reach breakeven for the acquirer two years after that, according to LendingClub. JPMorgan Chase advised LendingClub on the takeover. As part of efforts to clear its path to becoming a regulated bank, the company has asked its largest shareholder, Asian investment firm Shanda, to trade its 22% stake in LendingClub for nonvoting shares. MILAN, Ill. -- The Milan village board on Monday approved the 2020 motor fuel tax resolution, which will be used, in part, to help fund some road repairs throughout the village. It uses the existing motor fuel tax from state payments to help fund maintenance and repair projects. The motor fuel tax is set by the state, and Milan receives its portion each year. However, they have to get approval from the state each year for the amount they plan to use. Finance Director Mark Hunt said the plan is to request $520,000 for 2020. Approximately $130,000 of that will be used for routine maintenance and things like salt treatments. The remaining amount, Hunt said, would be used on repairs. "$400,000 sounds like a lot, but you get out there and see it will do two or three big projects," he explained. This would take much of the reserves from that fund. "That would leave roughly $100,000 in there by this time next year," Hunt told the board. Hunt said typically they plan to use the fund for projects every four to five years and save the money up in a fund the rest of the time until there is enough for some more road projects. The off years are only used for maintenance costs. (Natural News) Article summary: 99 more passengers confirmed infected on the Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454, or 26% of those tested so far. Delta Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now confirm a couple later diagnosed with coronavirus flew on their airplanes, with flights arriving at / originating from Honolulu. Hundreds of passengers who shared a two-week cruise on board another cruise ship have already returned to their home countries, and now we find that an American woman on the ship has tested positive for coronavirus. Another 99 people have been confirmed with the covid-19 coronavirus on board the ill-fated Diamond Princess cruise ship docked near Japan, bringing the total number of infections to 454. So far, just 1,723 people on the ship have been testing, meaning the infection rate is 26% among those tested. Whats notable about this is that 11 days ago, we had calculated an infection rate of 22% based on 61 confirmed cases out of 273 tested, and in response we were of course widely mocked and accused of fear mongering for projecting that, over 800 people would eventually be infected across the ship. Now, 11 days later, we are staring at 454 infected people with about half the passengers tested so far. Suddenly the projection of over 800 people doesnt seem very far-fetched, does it? Then again, everything the mainstream media is reporting today about the coronavirus was previously reported by the independent media 1-2 weeks ago. In fact, as Paul Joseph Watson points out in this tweet, the UK Daily Mail is reporting today exactly the same thing that Zero Hedge reported last week but got permanently banned by Twitter for daring to publish: Wait, didnt Zero Hedge get banned by Twitter for basically posting the same thing? pic.twitter.com/7JnU8DUzuk Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 16, 2020 In other words, those of us who report the real news more quickly than the establishment media are labeled fake news for being faster and more accurate. Its worth noting that we are still permanently banned from Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google, Vimeo, Pinterest and every other platform you can imagine, merely for telling the truth more accurately and more quickly than the mainstream media propagandists and their Big Tech Orwellian censors. But getting back to the Diamond Princess, it now looks like the total number of eventual infections will almost certainly exceed 800, and it turns out this cruise ship isnt the only one that harbored the coronavirus (see below). Notice how Hawaii keeps popping up again and again? Our recent prediction that Hawaii would be the epicenter of the first major outbreak hub in the United States of America continues to gain more support. Today, Delta Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have both confirmed that a coronavirus infected couple flew on their planes, potentially spreading the virus to hundreds of other passengers. As The Epoch Times reports: A husband and wife from Japan departed from Oahu later tested positive for the virus, KHON2 reported. Delta told the station that Flight 611 left from Honolulu to Nagoya on Feb. 6. Delta said it is working in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Japanese authorities, according to the news outlet. The airline also is attempting to contact any passengers who might have flown on the same flight. Just as weve been warning, it looks like the island of Oahu or at least the Honolulu airport itself may be harboring coronavirus infections which might be spreading in stealth mode (incubation period) among passengers and workers. This particular flight took place on Feb. 6th, which means other infected people could still be in a symptomless incubation period. Three days earlier, the same couple also flew on Hawaiian Airlines flight HA265 from Kahului to Honolulu. Its not yet known on exactly which day this couple contracted the virus or who spread it to them, so its feasible they might have been infected by some other passenger on the flight from Honolulu to Japan. Its also possible there may be a stealth outbreak taking place right now in the Honolulu airport that simply hasnt been diagnosed or publicly admitted yet. The husband started to exhibit mild, cold-like symptoms without a fever on Feb. 3rd, says TET. Hawaii depends on tourism for the vast majority of its economic activity, and any official admission that the coronavirus is spreading anywhere in Hawaii will almost instantly collapse tourism traffic there. Health officials in Japan are desperately trying to track down everyone who shared the flight with that couple. We wish them luck. Hundreds of passengers walk off cruise ship docked at Cambodia after passenger confirmed with coronavirus infection If you thought the mad scramble to contain the virus couldnt get any more fubar, hundreds of passengers just walked off a Westerdam cruise ship docked at Cambodia after a female passenger was confirmed to be carrying the coronavirus there. Hundreds of those passengers have already flown home, after first traveling through Malaysia and Thailand, and the company that owns the cruise ship is frantically trying to alert local health departments in all the various countries that potentially cross-infected people may have just brought the virus to their home countries. Imagine the joy of working for the health department of, say, Germany, and opening up your first email of the day, Dear German Ministry of Health: We just allowed a possibly infected passenger to walk off a ship in Cambodia and fly back home to Germany, and we have no idea idea where they are now, but good luck! The ship reportedly carried 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members. The American woman who tested positive for the virus had been on the ship for over two weeks after originally departing from Hong Kong. As weve already learned from the Diamond Princess saga, cruise ships are not level-4 biohazard quarantine facilities, and passengers end up sharing all the same air, infecting each other during the so-called quarantine which is actually a non-quarantine quarantine. As I wrote in an important article on this published yesterday: Apparently, no government health authorities have yet realized that a quarantine which allows shared air among the quarantine participants is no quarantine at all because cross-infections can be initiated during any day of the 14-day quarantine. A real 14-day quarantine must secure total isolation for all participants so that each individual is isolated from all others for the entire duration of the quarantine. Thats the only way you can know they arent infected. (And technically, it needs to be 24 days, not just 14.) A 14-day cruise with an infected carrier gives the virus every opportunity to cross-infect hundreds or even thousands of passengers because they all share the same air and public spaces. Currently, over half the non-China infections around the entire world are attributed to a single cruise ship. Cruise ships and airplanes today, subways and Uber vehicles tomorrow These reports underscore how quickly the coronavirus can spread through international travel and shared transportation vessels, given how the virus can be transmitted through the air and survive on surfaces for up to 9 days. What were seeing on cruise ships and airplanes right now is, of course, going to explode globally, since government health authorities are largely unable to contain this outbreak. The next wave of the outbreak will spread through subway cars, commuter trains, buses and Uber vehicles. And guess where those are popular forms of transportation? In liberal cities. As we mentioned yesterday, high-density cities are the most likely outbreak hubs, and those cities largely depend on public transportation rather than private vehicles. This means those cities have a natural structure that accelerates the spread of pandemics such as the coronavirus. All its going to take is a single passenger on a subway in NYC, or Toronto, or BART in the Bay Area. Just one passenger will infect hundreds, and then those hundreds will infect tens of thousands. Then its completely beyond control. That process may in fact already be under way in the Honolulu airport, it seems likely. It raises the question: Where else is this virus spreading in stealth mode, totally undetected by health authorities until full-blown symptoms appear weeks later? We believe the CDC is already aware of such outbreaks taking place in Hawaii and elsewhere and is preparing to tell America that the coronavirus cannot be contained. Or perhaps they might go the China route and just pretend that infected people arent infected. Yeah, thats a genius idea Follow more podcasts from my Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com (currently posting two new episodes daily): Brighteon.com/channel/hrreport Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente still enjoys the trust of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacanang said Tuesday, despite the controversial revelation of the so-called pastillas bribe scheme supposedly operated by the agency's officials at Manila's airport. Until he (Duterte) says otherwise, the assumption is he has confidence (in) him (Morente), Panelo told reporters in a media briefing in Malacanang. A Senate investigation on Monday exposed the alleged pay-off scheme that gives Chinese nationals easy access to the country. Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the panel investigating the issue, said the foreign nationals pay 10,000 as service fee or grease money for a special entry treatment from the BI. During the hearing, Hontiveros showed screenshots of a group chat of immigration officers, where lists of names of foreigners are sent daily. Once the Chinese national arrives, the immigration officer on duty would leave his booth and tell the foreigner to follow him to an office, where the passport is processed for entry. This is a departure from the standard practice where all foreigners are screened through the Immigration booths in ports, Hontiveros pointed out. The scheme, according to Hontiveros, is worth about 1 billion, computed from about 2,000 Chinese citizens entering the Philippines per day. The operation is called "pastillas" because money would be hidden in rolled bond paper like the wrapping for the milk candy. But the lawmaker said this has been upgraded to pay envelopes for the release of kickbacks. RELATED: For 10,000, Chinese nationals get VIP treatment from immigration Hontiveros Some airport immigration officials including the terminal heads and the chief of the travel control and enforcement unit were relieved from their posts pending an investigation into the issue. Bureau of Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval earlier admitted there has been irregularity in the agency processes, adding that money-making schemes are not new practices on the ground. The Justice Department is set to launch a probe into the said VIP scheme. The Immigration Bureau has likewise created a fact-finding committee tasked to submit a report on the scheme. Malacanang, for its part, said it will await a formal complaint before further commenting and acting on the matter. You have to file a complaint with us so that we will know, so that we can act on it. There's nothing to investigate in the first place unless there's a complaint, Panelo said. The kittens, whose eyes have only begun to open, weigh in at about five ounces each. The puppies are a little more than twice as big. McCauley knows because she weighs everyone daily. The kittens still need some bottle-feeding. Eventually in about two months ITV will seriously begin to find homes for Sudie, her pups and the two kittens. Coventry, England: Jaguar Land Rover only has enough parts from China to maintain its British production for another two weeks due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the firm's boss said on Tuesday. Jaguar Land Rover's assembly plant in Castle Bromwich is one of three UK sites that may soon run out of parts from China. Credit:Bloomberg Britain's biggest carmaker, which operates three car factories in its home market making nearly 400,000 vehicles a year, joined major global companies such as Apple in warning of the impact of the virus on supply chains. Fiat Chrysler said last week it had temporarily halted output at its Serbian plant, the first such suspension by an automaker in Europe in response to the health crisis. Components made in China are used in millions of vehicles assembled around the world and Hubei province the centre of the virus outbreak is a major hub for vehicle parts production and shipments. Due to a water billing error by the city of Pearland that began in 2018, city officials are considering a plan to collect approximately $6 million in unpaid water usage from residents over the next two years. Residents got wind of the issue when some were issued two water bills in February and some were wrongly told they were past due on their bills. Addressing frustrated residents at a Feb. 17 special meeting on the issue, which can be seen at this video, City Councilman Tony Carbone said, Ive lost trust with staff, and I know citizens have lost trust with us, and that will take time to rebuild. The solution being considered called Plan B was one of three the citys staff put before the council during the meeting. Staff members and elected officials favored Plan B because it would have the least financial impact on residents regarding how quickly the money would be paid to the city. Under the plan, also called The 32/30 Plan, water meters would be read every 32 days and the billing schedule would be on a 30-day cycle until all the money due from a customer is paid. No customers would be double-billed in a single month, but the payment process wouldnt be complete until March 2022. The council directed staff members to report back with more details in anticipation of voting and implementing the plan next month. Discussion of the issue is scheduled to occur at City Council's meeting on Feb. 24. That meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 3519 Liberty Drive. It shouldnt have occurred Jon Branson, one of Pearlands assistant city managers, began the meeting by explaining how the situation started and apologizing to residents for a billing error two years in the making. He said in 2018 the city received numerous complaints about the length of the water billing cycle. Historically and according to industry standards, meter reads were conducted every 28 to 32 days. However, some customers meters werent being read until more than 32 days had lapsed. As a result, those bills had higher water consumption than usual and, in some cases, pushed customers into a higher billing tier. In an effort to fix the problem, the city decided to move to standardize the read cycle to an average of 28 days. However, it failed to change the once-a-month billing cycle, creating a gap that left some days of water usage unpaid. So over time there was a gap between when meters were read and when actual bills went out, Branson said. The change in timing between when water meters were read and when the corresponding bills were sent has led to up to a 59-day delay in the utility bills. We created the situation, were accountable, and were committed to resolving the matter, Branson said. Once city staff became aware of the problem, they moved to fix it but again made a misstep, resulting in customers in one area of the city, labeled Cycle 11, being double-billed in February. Cyle 11, which includes 12,348 customers, is east of Texas 35, in an area that extends north and south of FM 518. To exacerbate the problem, we became aware of this issue and were trying to fix it, but ended up inadvertently billing Cycle 11 twice, and we billed them prior to vetting and advertising the new schedule, Branson said. It was an error, and it shouldnt have occurred. However, some residents werent convinced the double billing was a mistake. Theres no such thing as inadvertent, said Richard Sharp, who was among some 40 residents at the meeting. When that billing went out, somebody knew about it and pushed a button on that. It was talked about, it wasnt a mistake. Somebody has to be accountable for this, and it doesnt need to happen again. Resident Denise Hewitt, who received bills for $132 and $130 in February, agreed with Sharp and then questioned how the city let the billing problem fester for two years before anyone realized it was happening. How can you get this far behind? she asked. Im paying a high bill every month (for water), and Im really insulted by this. Why didnt we see this presentation before you billed me the $130? Where was the transparency? It wasnt there. Of the other possible approaches to the problem presented by city staff members, Plan A would be a one-year fix. Over that time, customers would be billed every 25 days and face double monthly bills at some point, some paying 14 bills and others paying 15 over a 12-month period. Any bills generated beyond the 12th billing in a calendar year would not include the base rate water fee. Under Plan C, customers would be billed the full amount of what they owe for unpaid past water consumption and be offered payment plans to settle their accounts. Carbone said that over the last two years hes dealt with what he thought were one-off water bill problems. Moving forward, he said he wants clear communication about how the city plans to make things right and cautioned against a knee-jerk reaction which might force another mistake. Councilman Gary Moore said that in the future, he doesnt want any customer double-billed in one month via automated bank draft. He also directed staff to try to find a way to inform water customers how much they owe in total even if the city opts to move forward on Plan B, which does not call for residents to pay their total bill upfront. That way they would have the option to pay their bill in full should they so choose. Branson said staff would have to work on that idea since it is not possible within the current system. Councilman Luke Orlando wants staff to consider Plan B but possibly amend it to provide meter reads on 34-day instead of 32-day cycles. He said if longer read cycles push peoples water consumption higher and possibly move them into a higher tier billing bracket, those fees should be waived as well as any other penalties that might result. That would be a good step that would ensure youre paying one bill a month, were prioritizing getting caught up a little bit more quickly and theres no penalization to the victims of a mistake by the entity that made the mistake, he said. The city has nearly 40,000 water customers. Once the money is collected in full, the city plans to read meters once a month on the same day each month. Monthly bills would also go out the same day each month, somewhere between 10-15 days after the meter reading, per American Water Works Association industry standards. YEREVAN. The owner of Flash company, Barsegh Beglaryan, and the former Minister of Agriculture, Sergo Karapetyan, have been confronted over the case of diesel fuel. Beglaryan's lawyer said this in a conversation with journalists today. The legal defender reiterated that the charges brought were unfounded. "The robbing, in my conviction, does not exist," he said. Asked if there is anyone testifying against Beglaryan, the legal counsel said: "There is some evidence on which the prosecution relies, but they are unfounded." Asked if the charges were brought based solely on Karapetyan's testimony, the defense lawyer said "exclusively". He said that Beglaryan and Karapetyan were confronted. "Sergo Karapetyan has claimed, whereas Barsegh Beglaryan has denied," he added. As reported earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia has confirmed the indictment on third President Serzh Sargsyan, former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, owner of Flash company Barsegh Beglaryan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, and former head of the Ministry's Department of Crop Production Gevorg Harutyunyan, and has sent this criminal case to court. During the investigation of the criminal case being investigated at the Special Investigation Service of Armenia, it was found out that with the organization of third president Serzh Sargsyan, the impelling of the owner of Flesh company Barsegh Beglaryan, with the assistance of former deputy minister of agriculture Samvel Galstyan and head of the Agriculture Ministrys Department of Crop Production Gevorg Harutyunyan, former Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan misusedfrom January 25 to February 7, 2013the government reserve fund for state support the subsidy of 489,160,310 drams allocated for the 15,391,765 liters of diesel fuel that was sold during the implementation of assistance programs. Sargsyan, Karapetyan, Beglaryan, Galstyan, and Harutyunyan have been charged with committing the aforementioned crimes. HGS is helping Retailers & CPG Companies Realize their CX Vision in 'EPIC' Ways CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS), (Listed on NSE & BSE in India), a global leader in business process management (BPM), today announced it has been recognized in NelsonHall's Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) as a leader in CX Improvement Capability in the Retail & CPG sectors. The evaluation analyzes the performance of vendors offering customer experience (CX) services in the retail and CPG sectors. The NEAT tool allows strategic sourcing managers to assess the capability of vendors across a range of criteria and business situations and identify the best performing vendors overall, with a specific focus on cost optimization, revenue generation and CX improvement. "Boasting a sizable sector footprint and significant domain experience, HGS has evolved its offerings to focus on enhancing the buyers' journey at a subsegment level. The company is well positioned to support retail and CPG brands on their digital transformation path through best practices, multichannel delivery, analytics experience, RPA and customer-facing bots, and self-service models," said Ivan Kotzev, Lead CX Services Analyst, NelsonHall. HGS operates on the guiding principles that being brilliant at the basics and putting the customer first are critical to creating successful customer relationships and increasing business results. With significant experience in CX Improvement and a portfolio of established retail and CPG clients, the expert HGS staff can assist in the following areas: VOC analytics and data strategy to optimize for growth and personalization HGS EPIC social media services, including the use of automation Technical support, including proprietary tools, delivery models, and training frameworks Mobile camera support for product installation and troubleshooting "While clients hire HGS to address their immediate customer engagement requirements, ultimately they trust us to improve their customer experience, led by value, insights and digital innovation they cannot provide from within," said Partha DeSarkar, Global Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "HGS strives to offer the right blend of digital and traditional interaction services, and we are honored to be recognized by NelsonHall as a leader in CX improvement for our clients." NelsonHall's scoring framework for the NEAT evaluation is based on a combination of analyst assessments and client feedback across a range of requirements and business situations, principally around measurements of a vendor's ability to deliver immediate benefit and to meet future client needs. Its findings are based on rigorous, all-original research. For more information about HGS and its customer experience improvement services for retail and CPG companies, please visit us online. About NelsonHall NelsonHall is the leading global analyst firm dedicated to helping organizations understand the 'art of the possible' in digital operations transformation. With analysts in the US, UK, and Europe, NelsonHall provides buy-side organizations with detailed, critical information on markets and vendors (including NEAT assessments) that helps them make fast and highly informed sourcing decisions. For service providers, NelsonHall provides deep knowledge of market dynamics and user requirements to help them hone their go-to-market strategies. About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS): A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centers and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true "globally local" approach, with over 38,872 employees across 61 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world's leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended 31st March 2019, HGS had revenues of US $689 million. Visit www.teamhgs.com to learn how HGS can help make your business more competitive. HGS Media Contacts: Andrew Kokes +1 888 747 7911 [email protected] Emilee Markin + 1 312 720 5759 [email protected] SOURCE Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) Related Links http://www.teamhgs.com (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak canceled a trip to meet global finance ministers in Riyadh as he seeks to agree a Budget with Prime Minister Boris Johnson that could rip up spending rules and put a heavier tax burden on wealthy people. Sunak will discuss the Budget with Johnson on Wednesday and is considering measures that could include cutting the rate of pension tax relief from 40% to 20% for high earners and a so-called mansion tax on the costliest homes, according to an official. No decisions have been taken on the policies yet, and discussions are moving quickly, the official said. Sunak was propelled into the top job at the Treasury last week after Sajid Javids shock resignation as chancellor. He had considered delaying the Budget as he settled into his work, but decided to press ahead as planned with the announcement next month. The pound gained. Cracking on with preparations for my first Budget on March 11, Sunak said on Twitter. It will deliver on the promises we made to the British people -- leveling up and unleashing the countrys potential. As he focuses on finalizing the Budget, Sunak will not travel to Riyadh for the Feb. 22-23 Group of 20 meeting of finance ministers, the Treasury said. Instead, he spoke to key counterparts by phone -- including U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin -- and is planning to attend the International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington, the official said. The U.K. will send another representative to the G-20 meeting in Sunaks place, but it will be someone from the permanent civil service rather than a minister, the official added. The new chancellor took up the top job last week after Javid dramatically quit following a face-to-face argument with Johnson over who should control the U.K.s finance ministry. U.K. Spending Rules Could Be Torn Up As Sunak Reviews Javid Plan Story continues Sunak accepted Johnsons demand that the prime ministers team should have more say over tax and spending decisions, and is examining whether to keep the fiscal rules agreed last year, or potentially to loosen the purse strings to spend more on state services and infrastructure. Spending Rules Under Javids guidelines, the government pledged to cut debt, keep public sector net investment below 3% of GDP and not to borrow for day-to-day spending. The former chancellor liked a tweet on Sunday which warned that Britons are already overtaxed. But the change at the Treasury has opened the door for Johnson to rewrite or even scrap those fiscal rules, which Javid fought to establish last year. Prior to quitting, officials said Javid was planning to keep the Budget closely aligned to the costings set out in the Conservative election manifesto. The Javid plan allowed for 100 billion pounds ($130 billion) of spending on infrastructure over the next five years, but if the rules were relaxed, it could open the way for investment in more eye-catching projects as Johnson seeks to cement support for his government in former Labour heartlands in the north of England. To contact the reporter on this story: Jessica Shankleman in London at jshankleman@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, ;David Merritt at dmerritt1@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Around 100 demonstrators braved the bitter cold Tuesday in downtown Winnipeg to show support for the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs blocking construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Around 100 demonstrators braved the bitter cold Tuesday in downtown Winnipeg to show support for the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs blocking construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. "We gather in a spirit of solidarity, of peace of love and of respect," Eric Reder, director of the Wilderness Committee's Manitoba field office, said before the lunch-hour march from the Manitoba legislature to the Law Courts building and back. Les Scott from the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) The Wilderness Committee said it obtained a parade permit from the City of Winnipeg for the event. "People across this country want to get the relationship with Indigenous peoples right," Reder said in an interview. "They want to do this in a good way." Earlier this month, RCMP arrested Wetsuweten protesters in the pipeline's path, following a court injunction. Reder called the police removal of Wetsuweten supporters in B.C. a "colonial action" and "not how we build our future." He said Indigenous communities shouldn't have timelines forced on them to make decisions about their unceded lands. "It really resonates in Manitoba, (when) we see resource projects here pushed into traditional territory." "Be grounded in that spirit that brought you out today that spirit of kindness, generosity, support and love," Lisa Raven said. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) In Manitoba, in recent weeks, there have been pro-Wetsuweten protests and marches holding up road and rail traffic. On Monday, a protestor was hit by a semi at demonstration on a highway in Morris. The victim did not require any medical attention, RCMP Corp. Julie Courchaine said Tuesday. She said police are investigating, after a truck struck a person at the scene in the southbound lanes of Highway 75. "The semi that was involved was quickly stopped by officers following the incident, and information was taken from the driver before he was allowed to proceed," Courchaine said in an email. "Statements from the victim and witnesses were also taken at the scene," and police are reviewing video of the incident. Outside the legislature Tuesday, Hollow Water First Nation member Lisa Raven urged fellow demonstrators to be careful and walk with a positive sense of purpose. "Be grounded in that spirit that brought you out today that spirit of kindness, generosity, support and love," she said, using a megaphone outside the Manitoba legislature, where the northwest wind made it feel like -31 C. "There's people going about their day-to-day lives. In traffic, their priorities are getting where they want to go. It may not be welcome if they're a little bit disrupted," Raven said before the walk. The march participants were accompanied by members of the Winnipeg Police Service. A spokesman for the grassroots First Nations Indigenous Warriors told the crowd police were there to keep the demonstrators safe. "They're here to help protect us from the mean drivers on Winnipeg streets," half-joked the man identified only as Joseph. Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair rallied the marchers "to protect our water and our land." "Are you ready to change a country?" Sinclair, an Anishinaabe, asked the crowd, which cheered its reply. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Today we come together and have a chance to spend some time together walking through our home and through Treaty 1 territory and reminding every one in our community what this treaty means, what it means to be committed, what it looks like to be a family, truly." Meanwhile, demonstrators need to be careful not to turn away allies, said the president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg. "There's a fine line that you walk. When it starts affecting income and safety... I'm not against demonstrations, but I think we have to try and do these things in a better way to get better results," Damon Johnston said by phone from Ottawa. Incidents such as blocking rail lines that transport home heating fuel for an extended period of time many not help Indigenous people in the long run, he said. "We have the right to demonstrate, but are you doing it in the best way possible?" carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg man was startled Saturday night when blood began seeping through his bathroom ceiling. Adam Hockett had been in the room no more than half an hour earlier, but the next time he walked in, he saw what he immediately knew was blood leaking down on to his sink, splattering down the wall and onto the clothes hed set to dry on the shower bar. "I was hoping it wasnt what I thought it was," he said. facebook Hockett was hoping this wasnt what it looks like. It was. Hocketts fears were later confirmed: the person living in the unit directly above his had died. Police arrived at the St. Vital complex and after about three hours, after forensic identification officials arrived, the body was removed. Winnipeg Police Service Const. Jay Murray said the tenants death is believed to be non-criminal, and officers are still attempting to contact the next of kin. Hockett said his primary concern was his neighbours and their familys situation "I dont want anyone to feel bad for me," he told the Free Press but still, he found himself in an uncomfortable predicament he never could have anticipated, and temporarily, without a place to stay. Initially, he said the buildings rental agency wasnt as helpful as hed have hoped given the circumstances. He said he and his buildings caretaker called 911, and were waiting for emergency responders to arrive. He said they were able to contact the caretakers supervisor with Sussex Realty, recounting the details of the situation. Hockett said that conversation didnt lead to a resolution, so he called the supervisor himself. "He kept talking in circles, refused to give me anyone else to contact and kept telling me, just contact your insurance it is not my problem," Hockett wrote in a Facebook post. "Or wait till Tuesday." "He kept talking in circles, refused to give me anyone else to contact and kept telling me just contact your insurance it is not my problem." Adam Hockett Hockett then said he told the supervisor that "not only is it not feasible to live in that suite for three more days" due to sanitation concerns, it brought up traumatic memories of a death hed seen as a member of the American military. That, according to Hockett, led to the supervisor reiterating it wasnt his problem to deal with. Sussex Realty issued a statement late Monday saying it has been working towards a resolution for Hockett. "We are aware of the incident at one of our properties and the graphic images that have been shared on social media. The incident was understandably traumatic to the resident in question and also for the friends and family of the resident above," the statement said. Sussex said it received word of the incident Saturday evening and dispatched a professional cleaning company Sunday morning. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to those involved." The Facebook post quickly went viral, shared over 4,000 times by Monday afternoon, and Hockett said a representative from Sussex got in touch. On Monday, he said hed been offered an early release from his tenant agreement, with a prorated payment of Februarys rent, and said the company would cover the cost of cleaning his apartment and his personal property. That agreement still had to be finalized, he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. While police were called to assist with the bodys removal, Murray said the cleaning of bodily fluids in situations such as these is not the responsibility of law enforcement; secondary companies are usually enlisted to do the clean-up while co-operating with forensic investigations. Murray confirmed police and its forensic identification unit had responded, and that the chief medical examiners office had been informed of the death. However, because the next of kin of Hocketts upstairs neighbour had not yet been contacted, the exact location of the incident is not being released by police. For now, Hockett has found another place to stay temporarily, and was sent hundreds of messages offering him help. The buildings supervisor said Monday that as soon as he got clearance from police to do so, a company was brought in to decontaminate both Hocketts and his upstairs neighbours unit. "The bloods been cleaned up," he said. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Hunter Biden, son of former vice president Joe Biden, was on the board of a trade group that lobbied the Obama administration for increased U.S. aid to Ukraine, according to a report Tuesday. From 2012 through 2018, the younger Biden served as a director for the Center for U.S. Global Leadership and was connected as well with its affiliate, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, The Daily Caller reported. The two groups, which include about 400 larger corporations and non-government organizations, lobbied for increased spending abroad by the State Departments International Affairs Budget, including a special focus on Ukraine. At the time, Joe Biden was also advocating for increased U.S. spending in Ukraine. Hunter Bidens small private equity firm, Rosemont Seneca, featured other well-connected politicos as well, including his partner Devon Archer, who was a former adviser on Obama Secretary of State John Kerrys 2004 presidential campaign, and another partner, Kerrys son-in-law Christopher Heinz. Relat Video: Hunter Biden works for [Archer]. So weve got the top level politicos with us. All of my guys, is as top tier as it gets, a businessman named Bevan Cooney wrote in text messages released in connection with an unrelated criminal case against Archer. You dont get more politically connected and make people more comfortable than that. In 2013, the groups held an event honoring Joe Biden for his work supporting increased spending abroad, an event Hunter Biden was also introduced as having a very special relationship with our honoree. Bidens separate lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings while his father was vice president and in charge of addressing corruption in Ukraine has also drawn scrutiny and featured prominently in the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. That position earned Biden at least $50,000 a month for his advice on transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities. Story continues During a July 25 phone call with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump asked Zelensky to help his administration investigate allegations that Joe Biden used his position as vice president to help the Ukrainian gas company avoid a corruption probe soon after Hunter Biden was appointed to its board of directors. That phone call led to an Intelligence Community whistleblower complaint that ultimately sparked a formal impeachment inquiry into Trumps actions. Biden has said that in the spring of 2016, during his tenure as vice president, he called on Ukraine to fire the top prosecutor investigating the energy company paying his son. Biden suggested he would withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine if the country did not fire the prosecutor, who was accused by the State Department and U.S. allies in Europe of being soft on corruption. More from National Review Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday questioned the logic behind the state government's pre-budget consultations in the absence of the economic survey. "In the absence of the economic survey report, how will we know what the state's economic situation is," he said. Talking to reporters in Panchkula on the sidelines of a pre-budget meeting, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly said, "Suggestions could have been sought in writing when the economic survey is yet to be out." However, Chief Minister M L Khattar told reporters that the economic survey is tabled on the floor of the House before the budget is presented. Moreover, the government has circulated main indicators of the economy to the MLAs during a presentation in the pre-budget meeting, he said, adding that the legislators gave views rising above the party lines. He assured the MLAs that their viable views would be incorporated in the budget for 2020-21. Meanwhile, Health Minister Anil Vij said the MLAs gave 50 suggestions pertaining to the health sector. Transport Minister Mool Chand Sharma said some legislators suggested that vacancies of doctors should be filled at the earliest and the spending on the health sector should be hiked this time. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance and Planning) T V S N Prasad had said in a presentation to the MLAs that the growth rate in Haryana stood at 11 per cent, which was better than the national figures. Prasad said the state budget was Rs 73,301 crore in 2014-15, which has now increased to Rs 1,32,165 crore. "This increase in the budget reflects the progress of the state," he said, adding that the fiscal deficit of the state stood at 2.59 per cent. INLD's lone MLA Abhay Singh Chautala had on Monday rued that not more than two minutes were given to MLAs to put forth their suggestions, which defeated the purpose of the consultations. Abhay had said that the meeting should have been held two months before the budget session. Days before presenting his maiden budget, Khattar has been holding meetings with MLAs, seeking suggestions on topics like agriculture, education and health. In the BJP-JJP coalition government, Khattar has kept the finance portfolio with himself. The budget session of the state assembly will begin here on February 20 and the three-day pre-budget meetings with MLAs, which began in Panchkula on Monday, aimed at getting feedback and suggestions from them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dublin, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Distilled Spirits Market 2019-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global distilled spirits market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period. The global distilled spirits industry was valued at $384.2 billion in 2018 and is estimated to reach $478.4 billion in 2025. There has been a gradual shift of consumers' preference from beer and wine to spirits; as well as from illicit alcohol across Africa, which is a long-term trend. By volume, spirits are 53% of total alcoholic beverages, up from 48% in 2009. For instance, gin is a category benefiting from switching, starting in Europe and now accelerating in markets such as Australia, South Africa, and Brazil. In Brazil, consumer spend on the gin category has grown over 100% a year in the last five years. Due to this, the company has driven growth through the Tanqueray brand. The adoption of distilled spirits is being significantly driven by the rising purchasing power of consumers and increasing demand for beverages with natural flavors. The spirits sector is led by millennials and the young-age population who demand innovative and higher-end products. Therefore, the companies are adding natural flavors to improve the quality of the flavor of alcoholic drinks. Currently, there is a wide range of flavors available for use in spirits, beer, cider, and wine. Distilled spirits are flavored utilizing herbs, fruits, chocolates, botanicals and spices, to offer special taste in their alcoholic beverages and meet customers' requirement. The increasing availability of distilled spirits with innovative natural flavors is leading to a significant range of options for consumers that allows consumers to opt for the alcoholic beverage of their choice. The presence of several distilled spirit manufacturers includes Remy Cointreau SA, Pernod-Ricard SA, Brown-Forman Corp., Diageo plc, Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, Lapostolle SA, Constellation Brands Inc., and Berentzen-Gruppe AG among others is further anticipated to make a significant contribution to the growth of the distilled spirit market. These major market players are constantly focusing on new product launches and widening their product lines to remain competitive in the market. For instance, in April 2018, Ciroc had launched coffee-infused Skyy vodka and a watermelon-flavored vodka to expand the company's product line. Additionally, in June 2019, Diageo Plc opened the Roe & Co Irish whiskey distillery that contributes to the company's growth. Additionally, rapid R&D activities in the development of the product and product innovation are the key strategies of the company. This report covers: Comprehensive research methodology of the global distilled spirits market. A detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights. An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations. Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global distilled spirits market. Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global distilled spirits market. Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues. Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players. Key Topics Covered 1. Report Summary 1.1. Research Methods and Tools 1.2. Market Breakdown 1.2.1. By Segments 1.2.2. By Geography 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Rules & Regulations 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Company Share Analysis 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Key Company Analysis 3.3.1. Overview 3.3.2. Financial Analysis 3.3.3. SWOT Analysis 3.3.4. Recent Development 4. Market Determinants 4.1 Motivators 4.2 Restraints 4.1. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Global Distilled Spirits Market by Type 5.1.1. Whiskey 5.1.2. Vodka 5.1.3. Rum 5.1.4. Gin 5.1.5. Tequila 5.1.6. Brandy 5.1.7. Others 5.2. Global Distilled Spirits Market by Distribution Channel 5.2.1. Online 5.2.2. Offline 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. North America 6.1.1. US 6.1.2. Canada 6.2. Europe 6.2.1. UK 6.2.2. Germany 6.2.3. Spain 6.2.4. Italy 6.2.5. France 6.2.6. Rest of Europe 6.3. Asia-Pacific 6.3.1. China 6.3.2. Japan 6.3.3. India 6.3.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific 6.4. Rest of the World 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Anheuser-Busch InBev 7.2. Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. 7.3. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Pvt. Ltd. 7.4. Carlsberg Breweries A/S 7.5. Constellation Brands Inc. 7.6. DGB (Pty) Ltd. 7.7. Diageo PLC 7.8. Halewood International, Ltd. 7.9. Heineken Holding N.V. 7.10. Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. 7.11. Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. 7.12. Molson Coors Brewing Co. 7.13. Pernod Ricard S.A. 7.14. SABMiller PLC 7.15. Suntory Holdings, Ltd. 7.16. Thai Beverage PLC 7.17. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. 7.18. Tsingtao Beer (H.K.) Trading Co. Ltd. 7.19. United Breweries, Ltd. 7.20. Wuliangye Yibin Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x6lv53 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. The Con Con delegates, who arranged themselves not by party but alphabetically, were so preoccupied with the public interest that they agreed public funds could be spent only on public agencies. During deliberations on the no-aid clause, the pastor of Helenas Plymouth Congregational led the charge of preserving our public school system, preaching, thats what this issue is all about. I dont think we ought to dilute that in any way. (Diluting that is the aim of Espinoza.) Article X, Section 1, of the 72 Constitution proclaims that it is the duty of the state to develop the full educational potential of each person. That is an expensive ideal in a desolate wasteland. Public schools are supposed to be a volume business, but tell that to the Great Plains. The state of Montana has about 60,000 fewer inhabitants than the number of students enrolled in New York Citys public school system. I have volunteered in that epic system, which is to say I have had to excuse myself from a struggling student to go cry in a bathroom, so I sympathize with an urban kid who might eye a parochial school as her best chance. That school choice logic doesnt apply to Montana, where the poorest schools often have the smallest class sizes. The Montana Free Press reported that out in Prairie County, Terry High Schools sophomore class has just five students this school year. Starting in first grade, my friend Genevieve would ride her horse Croppy to the Malmborg School near Bozeman Pass; one year she and her brother Pete were half the student body. When USA Today asked Ms. Espinoza if she had any qualms about what her case could mean for public schools, she insisted, They have plenty of money. How I wish that were true. Last year, the public school district in Kalispell announced $1.7 million in budget cuts, Great Falls recently lost almost a hundred teachers, and Billings just announced about $4 million in cuts that mean canceling fifth grade orchestra and band. A Supreme Court decision on Espinoza is expected in June. If the justices rule against Montanas voters, tax credits for private school scholarship donations could surge. Revenue that might revive the Billings fifth grade band program could underwrite the fifth grade band at a pricey Kalispell private school. Kalispell is the seat of Flathead County, which between 2000 and 2015 added more than 15,000 jobs just as rural Chouteau County was losing more than 300. Overturning the no-aid clause will shovel more money into the cities (where most of the private schools are) and kick Chouteau while its down, thereby thwarting the framers plan to spare needy districts from taxing their residents three or four times as much as rich districts to provide less than half as much money per student. The public schools the framers conjured ask the taxpayers to splurge on fairness, not privilege, to pull together, not away. That beekeeper, those clergymen and moms chartered a state in a republic where a first grader on horseback is supposed to be as big and important as the mountains. As the Supreme Court justices ponder whether to upend all that over what appears to be a $150 trifle, Ill pass along this lesson of Montana winters: A collapsed roof starts with a single snowflake. Sarah Vowell, a contributing Opinion writer, is the author of The Wordy Shipmates and Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Barry Brand has been an influential figure in this town of just 13,000. He is active in the Lions and Rotary clubs, and was one the 15 members of the industry group CARP Growers (Cannabis Assn. for Responsible Producers). In August, the group agreed to donate $189,000 to the Carpinteria Unified School District. In September, he and his wife co-hosted a fundraiser for the local Girls Inc. and donated $10,000 for their table. The gala brought in over $250,000. A ustralian politicians from across the spectrum have appealed to Boris Johnson to stop the extradition hearing against Julian Assange. George Christensen, an MP for the right-wing Liberal National Party in Australia isited Assange in Belmarsh Prison on Tuesday with fellow member of parliament Andrew Wilkie - who sits as a left wing independent in Canberra. After the visit, Mr Christensen said: It is highly political whats going on it involves values that Boris Johnson as a former journalist holds dear press freedom. Ive written to Boris Johnson asking him to think again on this matter. We will see what response we get. George Christensen (L) and Andrew Wilkie (R) hold a press conference at Belmarsh Prison / Getty Images Mr Wilkie added: I walk out of Belmarsh in absolutely no doubt that hes become a political prisoner in his own country. This is madness that the UK is even entertaining having a court case. Boris Johnson should be saying to the US President: Back off. Julian Assange - In pictures 1 /30 Julian Assange - In pictures 2019 Julian Assange on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates court on April 11 Jack Taylor/Getty Images 2019 Julian Assange made a defiant gesture with his fist as he arrived at court AFP/Getty Images 2017 Julian Assange puts his fist in the air as he steps out to speak to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador Getty Images 2012 Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying Getty Images 2012 Masked supporters of Julian Assange outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge Dominic Lipinski/PA 2010 Photographers hold cameras to the windows of a Serco prison van believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Reuters 2016 ulian Assange's cat, is adorned with a tie and collar inside the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy PA 2016 Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Julian Assange at Embassy of Ecuador Getty Images 2010 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is pictured through the heavily tinted windows of a police vehicle as he arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London AFP/Getty Images 2010 Jemima Kahn leaves the City of Westminster Magistrates Court after offering to stand as surety for Julian Assange Getty Images 2010 Julian Assange of the WikiLeaks website speaks to reporters in front of a Don McCullin Vietnam war photograph at The Front Line Club in London Getty Images 2010 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures inside a prison van with red windows as he arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice Getty Images 2011 WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange arrives at The High Court Getty Images 2011 Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, shakes the hand of a supporter as he leaves Trafalgar Square after addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition Getty Images 2011 Journalist John Pilger and Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, chat before addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition at Trafalgar Square Getty Images 2012 Placards are left by supporters of Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blowing website, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy Getty Images 2015 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with Reverend Jesse Jackson outside the Embassy of Ecuador in London PA 2016 People attend a video conference of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the International Center for Advanced Communication Studies for Latin America (CIESPAL) auditorium in Quito AFP/Getty Images 2016 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up his new kitten at the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London WikiLeaks 2017 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during a press conference from inside the Ecuadorian embassy AP 2018 Supporters of Julian Assange outside Westminster Magistrates Court, London where a court decision is due on whether a UK arrest warrant against the WikiLeaks founder is still valid PA 2018 British hacker Lauri Love and his girlfriend Sylvia Mann are surrounded by media after visiting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 6th February 2018 AFP/Getty Images 2018 A cat named 'James' wearing a collar and tie yawns by the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been for over five years on 6th February 2018 AFP/Getty Images Assange is wanted in America to face 18 charges, including conspiring to commit computer intrusion, over the publication of US cables a decade ago. He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents. In a press conference with Assange supporters earlier on Tuesday, Mr Christensen said the decision to press ahead with the extradition process threatened journalism, free speech and democracy. He said: Im a conservative Im a big fan of (President Donald) Trump, big fan of Bojo (UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson), but Im a bigger fan of a free press theyre fundamentals of democracy and theyre clearly under attack when it comes to the Julian Assange case. Theres a lot of Australians who think Julian Assange is a rat bag. But hes our rat bag he should be brought home. Assange's father John Shipton said his son's condition was improving / Getty Images He added: Hes an Australian citizen that a British court is deciding whether he should be extradited to another foreign country there is something inherently wrong with that. Hes our guy. Hes an Aussie. Whats a foreign court doing trying to extradite him to a foreign nation? Assanges legal team said his health has deteriorated hugely in the last 10 years, much of which was spent in the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London as he sought refuge against extradition to Sweden to face sex assault charges which he denied and were subsequently dropped. Speaking after the press conference, Assanges father John Shipton said his sons condition had improved, but said the extradition going ahead where Assange faces up to 175 years in jail if found guilty would be akin to a death sentence. He added: The extradition ought to be immediately dropped. It has also emerged that fellow inmates at the high-security Belmarsh Prison successfully lobbied for his release from solitary confinement. Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, said: I saw him 10 days ago. He has improved, thanks to the pressure from his legal team and the general public. Amazingly, actually, from other inmates in Belmarsh Prison who on three occasions have petitioned the governor to get him out of isolation. There is more humanity, actually, among hardened criminals in Belmarsh Prison than you will find outside. The extradition hearing is due to begin next week, although a decision will not be handed down for several months and faces being appealed against by the losing side, whatever the outcome. Assange is expected to appear at the extradition hearing in person, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson said, although it is not yet known if he will give evidence in person. However, she added any decision would likely be appealed against by either side. It comes as a group of 117 doctors and psychologists called for an end to what it calls the psychological torture and medical neglect of Assange. In a 1,200-word letter published in the medical journal The Lancet, the Doctors For Assange group expresses concern over Assanges fitness for the upcoming legal proceedings. The United States is partnering with Georgia, a former Soviet Republic that gained its independence in 1991, to strengthen its self-reliance and independence by helping the country to develop its democratic institutions and build a more dynamic, diversified, and inclusive economy. One sure fire way to bolster any countrys economic growth is to support an enabling environment for young people, especially women, to succeed in the economy. And that is exactly what the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is doing in Georgia. In 2015, in an effort to encourage innovation and promote entrepreneurship among the countrys youth and women, USAID partnered with the Georgia-based non-profit organization Crystal Fund to launch the Supporting Youth and Women Entrepreneurship in Georgia, or YES-Georgia, program. Since then, YES-Georgia has helped more than 3,000 young entrepreneurs and professionals- about 60 percent of them women. Through this program, USAID provided professional skills training to some 900 young people; mobilized 230 million dollars from private and public funds to support youth-owned microenterprises and startup businesses, and assisted more than 200 young people to draft business proposals and apply for financing. In late January, while visiting Georgia, USAID Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick took the program a step further announcing an expansion of the YES-Georgia program to support women up to the age of 50. This was in line with the U.S. governments Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, or W-GDP. The program will also launch new activities to support women entrepreneurs, including opportunities to apply for financing. This new expansion will include supporting women re-entering the workforce later in life, reflecting the practical reality that female entrepreneurs often venture into business at that stage and tend to concentrate in industries with lower capital intensity and average revenue, said Deputy Administrator Glick. The long-term goal is to change the way that people think about womens participation in entrepreneurship, recognizing that many women are held back by negative gender stereotypes. So the program also includes outreach activities to reach 100,000 women and girls across Georgia through media campaigns, social networking, events, and other activities. Like the rest of the world, the people of Georgia want and deserve a stable democracy, with transparent operations built upon the rule of law, safeguarded by a healthy civil society exercising its basic freedoms of conscience, with an opportunity for all populations in society to contribute. USAID programming like YES-Georgia is designed to help Georgia progress down this path. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 21:15:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2020 shows a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China. China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have taken active moves to combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). They contributed to hospital construction and medical material production and reinforced life and technological support, Ren Hongbin, vice chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, told a press conference Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have strived to resume production to make up losses caused by unprecedented production suspensions amid the novel coronavirus epidemic. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) will stick to this year's goals of production and operation and guide enterprises to resume work in a safe and orderly manner, said Ren Hongbin, vice chairman of the SASAC, at a press conference. Over 80 percent of central SOEs' production subsidiaries have resumed operation, and more than 95 percent of the companies in the sectors of petroleum and petrochemical, communication, electricity and transport have resumed work, Ren said. The SASAC encouraged central SOEs to reduce costs and improve efficiency to minimize losses. Over 20 local state-owned assets supervisors have rolled out measures to guide enterprises in a performance review as well as budget and investment management, said Xia Qingfeng with the commission. Noting the difficulties of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid the epidemic outbreak, central SOEs took a slew of measures to support those firms, said Peng Huagang with the SASAC. SOEs ensured the supply of energy and telecommunications service to SMEs in arrears, added vitality into the industrial chain through work resumption, eased SMEs' pressure on cash flow by cutting or waiving service fees and rent and postponed delivery and payment deadlines for SMEs. Peng also noted that SOEs with overseas projects strengthened communication with local governments, and counterparties gave better play to the role of local and international staff and encouraged working remotely from China. The companies are urged to enhance health checks and monitoring of outbound employees. OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to redouble reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples Tuesday as he sought to ease tensions over nationwide blockades erected in opposition to a British Columbia pipeline project. Even as Trudeau called for patience, questions abounded over how he planned to make good on his promise. He faced demands from the Opposition Conservatives to crack down on protesters who have disrupted large parts of the countrys transportation network. Several First Nations leaders agreed in their own news conference in Ottawa that the dispute speaks to broader and long-standing concerns from Indigenous communities, but they also appeared uncertain over how the current crisis can be truly resolved. Trudeau delivered his most extensive remarks yet on the blockades and the $6.6-billion natural-gas pipeline protesters oppose in an address to the House of Commons, where MPs were preparing to hold an emergency debate on the standoff. Recognizing the crisis as a critical moment for our country and for our future, the prime minister acknowledged that people on all sides are frustrated. What we are facing was not created overnight, he said. It was not created because we have embarked upon a path of reconciliation recently in our history. It is because for too long in our history, for too many years, we failed to do so. Therefore, finding a solution will not be simple. As actions against the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet'suwet'en territory continue, it is useful to understand the difference between Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs who oppose the pipeline, and the band council members who have supported it. Trudeau acknowledged many Indigenous people feel betrayed by the federal government after decades of empty promises, as he recognized that Canadians across the country are suffering because of the blockades. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters CEO Dennis Darby, for instance, said the crisis is beyond serious and estimated some $425 million in goods is becoming stranded every day the blockade continues. It was in this context that Trudeau called for trust and patience from all sides to resolve not only the current crisis, but to also work on reconciliation to ensure similar disputes dont erupt. The opportunity is there on the table right now, he said. We are in this together: the worker, the senior, the Indigenous leader, the protester and the police officer. Let us have the courage to take this opportunity and take action together and so to build a better path for all Canadians. How Trudeau and his Liberal government might take that opportunity wasnt apparent. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet compared the prime ministers speech to the promises Trudeau made to Indigenous people during the 2015 federal election campaign. Trudeau noted the federal governments offer to have Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett meet with hereditary chiefs of the Wetsuweten First Nation, whose opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline crossing their land sparked the current crisis. However, a hereditary chief said Tuesday afternoon they wont meet until the RCMP leave the area where they arrested 28 people this month while enforcing an injunction. Chief Woos, who represents one of 13 Wetsuweten house groups, said all hereditary chiefs agree and accuse the RCMP of being bullies. The RCMP have operated a mobile detachment off a logging road outside Houston, B.C., since January 2019, after they enforced a similar injunction in the area. While the RCMP have said their major operations in the region this month have concluded, theyve also said the mobile unit will remain in place and continue patrols of the corridor to ensure everyones safety. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer pointed out that Trudeaus address didnt include a plan to end the blockades that have halted train service to parts of the country for more than a week and temporarily closed bridges and highways. Describing Trudeaus speech as the weakest response to a national crisis in Canadian history, Scheer blasted the protesters as radical activists and demanded immediate action to end the blockades, which he said were holding our economy hostage. The Conservative leader suggested many of the protesters have little connection to First Nations and are opposed to all oil and gas pipelines. The prime ministers elevation of these protesters to the same level as the thousands of men and women in First Nations communities across our country who have in good faith been trying to right the wrongs of Canadian history does a disservice to the spirit of reconciliation, he said. Scheer, whom Trudeau later barred from a meeting he called with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Quebecois Leader Blanchet and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, suggested most people in the Wetsuweten First Nation support the project. He pointed to TC Energy as having signed an agreement for its Coastal GasLink pipeline with 20 elected band councils, including the Wetsuweten band council. During a news conference in Ottawa, leaders from Mohawk First Nations in Ontario and Quebec whose members have erected blockades in support of the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs noted the councils were born out of the Indian Act, which was imposed on their people. The fact the hereditary chiefs views were not heeded by TC Energy was exactly what prompted the current crisis, they added. There were people in our community that saw the injustice being done to the Wetsuweten nation by their traditional leaders not being heard and by being overruled by a court injunction and police intervention, said Donald Maracle, chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Members of his nation on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario have set up camp next to a critical rail line, prompting CN Rail to close it to freight traffic and Via passenger trains. There should have been room for dialogue with those people, particularly when there was strong disagreement in the leadership. In my opinion, the project should not have proceeded in that climate, Maracle said. Finding a solution could be easier said than done. Maracle said it was unclear to him exactly why the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs oppose the pipeline; Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said it is incumbent on the B.C. First Nation to address its own divisions. The Wetsuweten people themselves have an obligation to sort this out, Bellegarde said. You see the hereditary chiefs on one side. Then you have the Wetsuweten people on the other side and chiefs duly elected through band referendums support the Coastal GasLink. Bellegarde and the Mohawk chiefs nonetheless linked the current crisis to the need for reconciliation, with Bellegarde calling for implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls recommendations. Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon, sitting alongside them, was alone in suggesting the blockades erected in solidarity with the Wetsuweten have had their intended impact and should be lifted, at least temporarily. Bringing down the blockades doesnt mean that you surrender, said Simon. It doesnt mean were just going to lay down and let us kick us around. But it would show compassion along with the strength. The other chiefs sidestepped questions over whether they agreed with Simon but did say work on the pipeline should be suspended. At the blockade, protesters greeted people who approached the tracks but declined to be interviewed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. With files from Ian Bickis in Toronto, Laura Osman at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Amy Smart in Vancouver. Read more about: The International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose managing director Kristalina Georgieva in Munich on February 15 discussed the preparation of a new cooperation program with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, has sent a group of experts to Kyiv. IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman reported that a team of several IMF experts would visit Kyiv to conduct technical discussions on policies aimed at achieving a strong growth and ensuring stability. A Delhi court on Tuesday sent Sharjeel Imam, who has been named as an 'instigator' by the Delhi Police in its charge sheet for violent anti-CAA sitr at New Friends Colony last year, to judicial custody till 3 March. New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday sent Sharjeel Imam, named as an "instigator" by Delhi Police in its charge sheet on violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at New Friends Colony here last year, to judicial custody till 3 March. Imam was arrested on sedition charges last month in a separate case. The police have filed the charge sheet before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, naming Imam as an instigator of the violence. It said it has attached CCTV footage, call detail records and statements of over 100 witnesses as evidence in the charge sheet. The court had on Monday sent Imam to one-day custody of Delhi Police in the case as it wanted to quiz him because an accused, Furkan, on 15 December 2019 violence case has alleged in his disclosure statement that he was provoked by Imam's speeches. The police had earlier told the court that Furkan was arrested on the basis of a CCTV footage which showed him carrying a container allegedly containing petrol. Four people were arrested in the case on 16 December and sent to judicial custody. Furkan was arrested later. Imam, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh here against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens, was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on 28 January in a separate case for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. A case had been registered against him on sedition and other charges on 26 January. Protestors had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during the demonstration against the CAA on 15 December, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and firefighters injured. The police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent mob. They entered the Jamia university campus, saying that rioters had taken shelter there. However, the Jamia students had denied that they were involved in the violence and had alleged police brutality. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal had said groups of people, who were coming from the Jamia side, gathered near New Friends' Colony and blocked the road. The protesters, around 1,500, did not pay heed to the police appeals to clear the area. The protest was being held against the contentious law which seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims religious minorities from three neighbouring countries who arrived in India to escape religious persecution before 2015. FREMONT, Calif. and OXFORD, England, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerus Endovascular Ltd., a privately-held, commercial stage medical device company, today announced that it has received CE Mark approval for its lead product, the Contour Neurovascular System, for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The Contour Neurovascular System is a unique, fine mesh braid that is deployed across the neck of the aneurysm sac and provides a combination of flow diversion and flow disruption through a single device implant. Commercial sales, via a controlled market release across the European Union (EU), are expected to begin during the second quarter of 2020. CE Mark approval was based on data generated from the company's two EU studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Contour Neurovascular System, focusing on unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The latest, completed in 2019, was conducted at six sites in Germany, Austria and Denmark, while the earlier study included four sites in the United Kingdom and Hungary. Data from the first study has been presented at a number of scientific conferences in early 2020, while data from the second, most recent study will be presented later this year. "As our clinical data experience grows, and more physicians use the System, results continue to be compelling providing additional confirmation that the Contour Neurovascular System delivers an important clinical option and represents a new, and potentially disruptive, standalone solution for the treatment of bifurcated saccular intracranial aneurysms compared to currently available technologies," stated Dr. Stephen Griffin, President of Cerus Endovascular. "Importantly, physicians who have used the System have highlighted the benefits inherent in its unique simplicity, including a simple sizing approach of the device to the aneurysm width, ease of deliverability and controlled deployment." "Congratulations go out to the entire company, including our new management team, who were instrumental in pushing these studies forward, leading to our first regulatory approval and the achievement of a number of other, as yet unannounced, key milestones," stated Dr. Sam Milstein, Chairman of Cerus Endovascular. "CE Mark approval, a critical step in our go-to-market strategy, has propelled us from the research and development stage to a commercial stage company, and we are eager to begin this next phase by making the Contour Neurovascular System available to physicians and patients across the EU in a controlled roll-out." About the Contour Neurovascular System The Contour Neurovascular System, composed of fine mesh braid, represents a unique intrasaccular advancement in the market, as it targets the neck of the aneurysm, away from the vulnerable dome. Additionally, the System is designed to be self-anchored for stability, re-sheathable for precise placement, and because it is deployed across the neck, sizing criteria are less restrictive than other commercially available intrasaccular devices, making it easier to use in the clinical setting. About Cerus Endovascular Cerus Endovascular is a privately-held, commercial stage medical device company engaged in the design and development of highly differentiated and proprietary interventional neuroradiology devices and delivery systems for the treatment of acute, life-threatening neurological conditions, specifically, intracranial aneurysms. The company's first CE Marked product, the Contour Neurovascular System, is a pre-shaped structure of fine mesh braid with shape memory properties that is delivered to the aneurysm via an endovascular micro-catheter. The company is also developing a pipeline of complementary devices, leveraging the design concept of the Contour Neurovascular System to address the broad range of sizes, types and locations of cerebral aneurysms with which a patient can present to the clinician. For more information, please go to: www.cerusendo.com. Contacts: Melody A. Carey Rx Communications Group, LLC 917-322-2571 [email protected] SOURCE Cerus Endovascular Related Links http://www.cerusendo.com Corra Group can typically turnaround Puerto Rico motor vehicle driving records and statewide criminal searches in less then a week, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis. Corra Group is providing a complete suite of Puerto Rico background checks for employment screening purposes. In most cases, the El Segundo, California headquartered background screening service is offering for Puerto Rico MVRS and criminal records, faster turnaround times than every before. Provided the client can give us the required documentation, Corra Group can typically turnaround Puerto Rico motor vehicle driving records and statewide criminal searches in less then a week, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis. A few years ago the ETA on driving records was up to around sixty days, depending on he catastrophe that afflicted the island. Criminal searches, other than in the major metropolitan districts could sometimes take up to a month. The statewide criminal search is a very good search and is put out by the Puerto Rico State Police, said Basichis. Where the county criminal searches, depending on the location, can languish for as much as a month, the Puerto Rico Statewide Criminal returns typically in less than a week. The same holds true for the Puerto Rico MVRS. Basichis cautioned that Corra Group does not provide Puerto Rico MVRS or criminal record for personal business use of as a one off order. He noted clients can access these records for job applicants solely as part of a larger volume or orders. He advised this is due to the labor intensive nature of these searches. Additionally, Cora Group can conduct education verification and employment verification for candidates in Puerto Rico and around the world, said Basichis. As for MVRS and Criminal Searches, Corra Group readily services every state in the union as well as provinces in Canada. There is a fair amount of job activity right now in Puerto Rico, said Basichis. We are engaging with clients to help them get their employment candidates to work. BACKGROUND: Corra operates as Corra Group and Corra Global Research and specializes in employment screening and corporate research, globally and domestically. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is likely to keep Pakistan in the grey list and not put it in the black list, reports said on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the global terror financing watchdog held a review meeting on whether Pakistan had taken sufficient steps and implemented its plan of action to fight terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is likely to keep Pakistan in the grey list and not put it in the black list, reports said on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the global terror financing watchdog held a review meeting on whether Pakistan had taken sufficient steps and implemented its plan of action to fight terrorism. In the meeting, Turkey and Malaysia supported Pakistan, ANI reported. Pakistan submitted a report on the action taken by it based on the FATF's guidelines to curb terror financing in the Paris meeting of the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), a part of the global watchdog. More than 800 representatives from 205 countries and jurisdictions around the world including the IMF, UN, World Bank, and other organisations, took part in the meeting, ANI reported. The FATF had in 2018 placed Pakistan on the grey list and had asked it to comply with 27 points related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing actions. The watchdog had also already granted Islamabad an extension till February 2020 during a meeting in October last year. The FATF's Asia-Pacific Group's meeting, which took place in Beijing in October 2018, analysed Pakistan's situation from a technical point of view. China, which took over as the chair of the inter-governmental organisation since July 2019, expressed satisfaction over the "visible progress" made by Islamabad, leading to speculations that it could be put in a "white" list from "grey" list, according to Pakistan media reports. The body had warned that Islamabad would be put on the blacklist if it did not comply with the remaining 22 out of 27 points to curb terror financing. The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India. The FATF had said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February, 2020. On Tuesday, the watchdog was scheduled to issue a decision on whether Pakistan had taken sufficient steps to avoid being "blacklisted." In the case of black-listing, Pakistan would face isolation from the international banking system, introducing stricter checks and safeguards on transactions involving the country. On 12 February, a week before Tuesday's meeting, a Pakistan court sentenced Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and founder of LeT, to 11 years in prison in two terror financing cases. Defence experts in New Delhi opined that Saeed's sentencing, just days ahead of the FATF meeting in Paris is "just an eyewash" to delude the international community and that the terrorist will be released shortly after the watchdog announces its decision. Last year, under pressure after the FATF review, Pakistan formally banned Saeed's JuD and other associated organisations, after years of allowing them to operate freely across the country. Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty, was arrested on 17 July, 2019 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Pakistan has also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family are "missing". Pakistan has claimed that there were 16 United Nations (UN) designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions. Pakistan needed 12 out of 39 votes to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'. To avoid 'Black List', it needs support of three countries. In last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan has got the support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair, China. In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with FATF directions. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'Black List' along with Iran and North Korea. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. If Pakistan continues with the 'Grey List', it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. With inputs from agencies During his one-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, on February 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Mangal Kewat, the rickshaw puller who had sent his daughter's wedding invite to the PM. The Prime Minister enquired about the health and well-being of Kewat and his family and also commended him on his contribution to the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan. It is important to note that inspired by PM Modi, Kewat has taken to cleaning the Ganga banks in his village on his own. Kewat, had earlier expressed glee after receiving a congratulatory letter by the Prime Minister for his daughter's wedding. "We had sent the first invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I personally handed it over at the PMO in Delhi. On February 8, we received the congratulatory letter from PM Modi, which has excited us," Kewat had told ANI on Saturday. Kewat's wife, Renu Devi and he himself had expressed the desire to meet the Prime Minister during his Varanasi visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference Socio, a leading event management platform that helps enterprises, member-based organizations, and third-party planners optimize their live events, today announced its top-rated customer service has expanded to include 24/5 support. We consistently hear from event organizers how support is their single most important consideration when choosing new technology, and we couldnt agree more, said Socio Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Yarkin Sakucoglu. When you need event support, you need it now. Not a day from now, or even an hour from now, but now. With an industry-leading first response time of less than 5 minutes, Socios support team can quickly respond to event organizers in the field via live chat and email24 hours a day, 5 days a week. While the event space is not known for great customer support, Socios continuous commitment to its customers has led to a world-class NPS score of 83. We like to tell our customers, Youre always in control, but youre never alone, Sakucoglu said. That commitment to customer success is reflected further by Socios multiple recognitions for Best Support in G2s Mobile Event App Comparison Report - Winter 2020, which summarizes user satisfaction ratings against all category leaders. We want our customers to feel like our support team is an extension of their own team, said Joe Watkins, Socio Chief Customer Officer and Co-Founder. Based in Indianapolis and Istanbul, Socios line of event management products include the customizable Socio Event App, Socio Lead Retrieval, and Socio Live Display. Socios customers include names such as Google, Microsoft, and Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) along with other major enterprises, associations, and event organizers. Its client base has grown to more than 600 customers in nearly 50 countries. In July of 2019, Socio closed a $6 million Series A funding round led by High Alpha Capital and Greenspring Associates. ### About Socio: Socio helps enterprises, member organizations, and third-party planners optimize their live events. Clients such as Google, Microsoft, and PepsiCo use Socios event management platform to power their events and facilitate millions of interactions globally. For more information, visit http://www.socio.events. A 50-metre high lighthouse is coming up in nearby Dhanushkodi as part of measures to develop the town, devastated by a deadly cyclone five decades, as a major tourist attraction. Laying the foundation stone for the Rs 7 crore project at Dhanushkodi on Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said it would give a fillip to tourism in the region and generate employment opportunities besides helping in keeping a vigil on the coastline. A lift facility would be provided in the lighthouse for the benefit public who can have a panoramic view of the Rameswaram island. A children's park would also be set up as part of tourism promotion measures, he said. Dhanukshodi, at the southern tip of this island, came to be called a "Ghost town" after the once thriving export centre to neighbouring Sri Lanka was flattened by the cyclone on December 22, 1964. Various measures, including a sound and light show, have been proposed in the town to promote it as a tourist centre. The proposed lighthouse would be the third in Ramanathapuram district after those in Pamban and Rameswaram, sources said. Mandaviya said steps were being taken by both central and state governments to develop the Ramanathapuram district. Talking about 'Sagarmala', a flagship programme of the shipping ministry, he said the Centre expected frieght traffic to increase. The Minister earlier visited the memorial of former president A P J Abdul Kalam here. He also offered prayers at the Lord Ramanathaswamy temple in the island town. Later, speaking at a meeting organised by the BJP in support of CAA, he said the Citizenship Amended Act was not against Muslims in the country. "Those protesting against the amended law are ignorant of the reality," he said. Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha MP Nawasgani were among those present at the lighthouse foundation ceremony. The MP said the new lighthouse will also help fishermen from the region and prevent them from crossing into Sri Lankan waters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Well that certainly caught everybody's attention. Not Apple's revenue warning; I mean Japan's horrendous GDP number Monday night. Japan's economy shrank at more than a 6% annualized pace at year-end. Yowza. It's not like the WSJ's Mike Bird has been warning that exactly this was going to happen when the country pressed ahead with its sales-tax hike. Here's him reacting yesterday: "Japan's government keeps hiking its sales tax, crashing household consumption and stalling minor economic expansions. It needs to stop, and the international organisations advising it to keep doing it need to stop too. And this was before the coronavirus, the culprit behind Apple's warning, hit. The Japanese economy has been the subject of endless economic analysis and study over the past thirty years, ever since its stock market's breathtaking collapse ushered in a persistent deflation. The past decade has brought one government stimulus effort after another after another to combat that. Remember when the Bank of Japan bought up all the 10-year debt (err, sorry, 44% of it) and became something like 70% owners of Uniqlo? Yep. But the sales tax just had to be raised because of Japan's high government debt. The IMF last week, before the dismal GDP print, was calling for an even higher sales tax hike! I might suggest there are lessons here for America, too, as the presidential candidates float one tax hike proposal after another, but let's not get too political about it*. The point for Japan is that its best ability to service its debt over time will come from a growing economy, and thus the sales-tax hike meant to help improve its finances has actually just worsened them considerably. As for Apple, the bears are angry the stock isn't down more after its second revenue warning in just over a year. But look: after Apple's warning early last year that Chinese demand was not as strong as hoped, the stock sank 10% that day but has since more than doubled. Doubled!!! It was in the mid-$150s last January; today it's at $325. I'll be musing over the "why"s of this with Ina Fried and Steve Kovach at the top of the show today. For now, unless coronavirus is going to be an annual event that permanently destroys the company's supply-chain and Chinese demand, the stock isn't likely to trade off much on it. See you at 1 p.m! Kelly *We will deconstruct Bloomberg's new tax plan "to rein in Wall Street" around 1:40 p.m. today. How about just shutting down the terminals? That would do it! Twitter: @KellyCNBC Instagram: @realkellyevans A Melbourne bus driver has been stood down after his refusal to allow a blind woman's guide dog onto his vehicle triggered a "very distressing", hour-long standoff in the city's north-east. Louise Pearson was boarding the 501 bus at Finlayson Street in Rosanna with her guide dog in its harness about 7.50am on Tuesday when the driver refused her entry. Louise Pearson and her guide dog were denied entry to a bus in Rosanna on Tuesday morning. Credit:Yasmin Paton, Ten News "The bus driver pulled up in front of me and he said 'no dogs on this bus'," Ms Pearson told 3AW radio. "I have a golden Labrador guide dog called Arthur and I stepped onto the bus and said 'this is a guide dog'." After the driver continued to deny her entry, Ms Pearson, who takes the same bus every day for work, called police. Former national security adviser John Bolton said the Trump administration could block his memoir that describes his interaction with the president over Ukraine. "I hope it's not suppressed," Bolton said Monday in a talk at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can. We'll have to see what comes out of the censorship." Bolton added later: "I say things in the manuscript about what he said to me," referring to Trump. "I hope they become public someday. He tweets, but I can't talk about it. How fair is that?" Bolton said he couldn't answer a question related to North Korea because it's also included in his book, which is undergoing pre-publication review by the government. The Trump administration has raised concern about the manuscript divulging secret information. The event was Bolton's first public appearance since Trump's impeachment trial was roiled over a New York Times report that Bolton would publish a memoir alleging that the president explicitly said he wanted to condition security assistance to Ukraine on an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The report raised pressure on Senate Republicans to call witnesses in the trial and undermined the White House's claim that Trump never sought a quid pro quo for U.S. military aid to Ukraine. But Trump denied the allegations - tweeting that the news emerged only because Bolton sought "to sell a book" - and Senate Republicans ultimately voted against calling Bolton or other witnesses before voting to acquit the president. At the event Monday, Bolton was asked whether he agreed with Trump's characterization of his call with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as "perfect." Bolton responded: "You'll love chapter 14." But Bolton made clear that his book covers more than Ukraine. "There are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine," he said. "I view that like the sprinkles on the ice cream sundae, meaning, in terms of what's in the book." Bolton's manuscript also reportedly alleges that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo privately acknowledged that there was little credence to Rudy Giuliani's claims that former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was corrupt. Bolton also reportedly wrote that he told Attorney General William Barr that the president had mentioned him on a call with the Ukrainian president. The Justice Department has denied that Barr knew Trump suggested the Ukrainians coordinate their investigations with the attorney general. Bolton also reportedly wrote that he told Barr that he had concerns Trump had granted personal favors to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Xi Jinping of China. Bolton's memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," is scheduled to be released March 17. But in a letter to Bolton's lawyer, the National Security Council said the manuscript "appears to contain significant amounts of classified information" and should not be published as written. Bolton said Monday that his intention isn't to reveal classified material. Instead, he said, he sought to tell readers what unfolded and allow them to decide whether it was appropriate. On other topics, Bolton criticized the administration's approach to handling nuclear proliferation in North Korea as "a big mistake" and said the U.S. pursuit of negotiations with leader Kim Jong Un is "doomed to failure." He also said Trump's approach toward Iran is too lenient and a failure. Bolton left Trump's administration in September after repeated disagreements with the president. He had advised Trump against a plan to hold peace talks with the Taliban at Camp David immediately before he was ousted, and Trump complained Bolton was "holding me back" in a campaign to depose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. One of Bolton's deputies, Fiona Hill, testified in the House impeachment inquiry that Bolton had called Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, a "hand grenade who's going to blow everybody up" for his conduct on Trump's behalf in Ukraine. Bolton has publicly sparred with Trump since leaving the White House, disputing the president's claims of success in nuclear negotiations with North Korea and defending former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly after the president attacked him in tweets. Bolton, ousted from the White House in September, is scheduled to speak again on Wednesday, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:02:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Tuesday that his country is working to limit the economic and financial crisis in the country, according to a statement by the Presidency. "We have asked the International Monetary Fund to offer its technical expertise to solve our crisis," Aoun said during his meeting with John Lorimer, British senior defense adviser to the Middle East. He also vowed to limit the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon. Aoun also thanked the British government for its support to the Lebanese army and internal security forces in building towers and equipping and training Lebanese officers in Britain. For his part, Lorimer said Britain will continue to support the Lebanese army and security forces, hoping Lebanon will be able to overcome its crisis soon. Every attack on Indias sovereignty must be thwarted: Singhvi backs Abrahams deportation India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 18: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Tuesday backed the government decision to deport British MP Debbie Abrahams, saying it was necessary as she is a Pakistan proxy. Taking to twitter, Singhvi wrote: "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted." This comes a day after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor asked why the government was scared of critics if the situation in Kashmir was normal. This is what happens if you elect an actor to become politician: Congress slam BJP's Sunny Deol NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 "If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldn't the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating?" Tharoor had said on Twitter on Monday. Days after the Indian government flew a second batch of diplomats from various countries to Jammu and Kashmir, a British MP who had previously criticised the abrogation of Article 370 on Monday claimed that she was denied entry into India, despite having a valid visa. Labour Party MP Debbie Abraham, who landed at the Delhi airport, was deported to Dubai. The Home Ministry maintained that it had informed her about her e-visa being cancelled. Abrahams chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir and was among a group of MPs who issued formal letters following the revocation of's special status in 2019. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 11:27 [IST] The Jonas Brothers are bringing their whirlwind Happiness Begins tour to a close as they took the stage in Barcelona on Monday night. The brothers - Nick, 27, Joe, 30 and Kevin, 32 - rocked out at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, with just three more dates left on their tour. They will next perform at Sud de France Arena in Perols, France on February 18, the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands on February 20 and the AccorHotels Arean in Paris, France on February 22. Tour: The Jonas Brothers are bringing their whirlwind Happiness Begins tour to a close as they took the stage in Barcelona on Monday night Winding down: The brothers - Nick, 27, Joe, 30 and Kevin, 32 - rocked out at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, with just three more dates left on their tour Nick rocked a black suit coat with a black tank top underneath, plus black pants and black shoes with no socks. Kevin opted for a silver and black scaled suit coat and matching pants with a black t-shirt under his coat and black shoes. Joe Jonas rocked a white t-shirt under a blue patterned shirt with matching pants and white sneakers. Jonas' look: Nick rocked a black suit coat with a black tank top underneath, plus black pants and black shoes with no socks Kevin's look: Kevin opted for a silver and black scaled suit coat and matching pants with a black t-shirt under his coat and black shoes The tour kicked off August 7 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, with the first leg in North America wrapping up at the Hollywood Bowl on October 21. The brothers had a short tour leg in Mexican cities Monterey, Mexico City and Guadalajara, before returning to the States on November 12 in New Orleans. Their third leg wrapped up at The Forum in Inglewood, California in December, just before the holidays, with the fourth and final leg kicking off at the Birmingham Arena in Birmingham, U.K. Kickoff: The tour kicked off August 7 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, with the first leg in North America wrapping up at the Hollywood Bowl on October 21 After their tour wraps up, the Brothers will head to Las Vegas for their new residency at the Park Theatre at the Park MGM casino. The residency kicks off April 1, with the first leg of the residency spanning eight more performances between April 1 and April 18. No plans for a second leg of the residency have been announced at this time. Residency: After their tour wraps up, the Brothers will head to Las Vegas for their new residency at the Park Theatre at the Park MGM casino Joe Jonas is also expecting his first child with his wife, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, which was reported by Just Jared last week. Nick Jonas married actress Priyanka Chopra in a lavish wedding in December 2018. Kevin Jonas has been married to his wife Michelle since 2009, and they have two daughters together. A 70,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton found in the foothills of Iraq has been described as a truly spectacular find. The remains, consisting of a crushed but complete skull, upper thorax and both hands, were unearthed at the Shanidar Cave site 500 miles north of Baghdad. Although its gender is yet to be determined, early analysis suggests the skeleton, named Shanidar Z, is more than 70,000 years old and has the teeth of a middle- to older-aged adult. The cave has also been home to remains of 10 other Neanderthal people excavated around 60 years ago, with clumps of ancient pollen surrounding one of the skeletons. The entrance to Shanidar Cave / PA The presence of pollen was seen by some archaeologists as evidence that these hominid species not only buried their dead but did so with flowers, challenging the widely-held belief that Neanderthals were dumb and animalistic. Chris Hunt, a professor of cultural paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University, described Shanidar Z as a truly spectacular find. The spinal column of Shanidar Z / PA He said: The upper remains are staggeringly complete, although the skull was flattened by compression under many tons of cave sediment. The body was placed in a depression on the cave floor in a semi-reclining position, with a big stone lying behind the head. The left arm and ribs belonging to Shanidar Z / PA Homeowners should expect flooding, ministers will say Homeowners should no longer automatically expect to be protected from major floods, ministers will announce in the coming weeks. Under a radical policy shift drawn up by the Environment Agency, flooding will be seen as inevitable due to the predicted effects of climate change. Instead of spending millions on limitlessly high walls and barriers, the government will help people to rebuild their water-damaged homes or to move away from flood-risk areas. It comes after the Environment Agency was accused of leaving parts of the country at the mercy of Storm Dennis, which continued to cause devastation on Monday. The death toll from the storm rose to five, while emergency service workers in boats had to rescue residents in Hereford as the River Wye rose to its highest level on record. People also had to be rescued in Shrewsbury after the River Severn burst its banks. Daily Telegraph Johnson put your wellies on, Leader The Sun UK Brexit chief rejects EUs level playing field approach Britains top negotiator with Brussels insisted last night the UK would never agree to EU oversight of its rulemaking in exchange for a post-Brexit trade deal, even as France sought to toughen the blocs stance in the talks. David Frost, the UKs chief Brexit negotiator, used a speech in Brussels to reject the kinds of level playing field conditions that Paris and other capitals insist must form the backbone of any future-relationship agreement. To think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to see the point of what we are doing, he said in a lecture to the Universite Libre de Bruxelles. It isnt a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure it is the point of the whole project. FT >Today: Johnson adviser quits over race and eugenics controversy A controversial new adviser to Boris Johnson resigned on Monday night after MPs and experts accused No 10 of condoning his controversial claims that intelligence is linked to race. Andrew Sabisky, who was brought into Downing Street by Johnsons senior aide Dominic Cummings as part of his appeal for misfits and weirdos, became the subject of intense media scrutiny after details emerged of his views on subjects ranging from black peoples IQs to whether benefits claimants should be encouraged to have fewer children. But amid mounting criticism within the Conservative party after No 10 stood by the appointment, Sabisky said that he would be stepping down as a contractor to No 10. He tweeted: The media hysteria about my old stuff online is mad but I wanted to help [the government] not be a distraction. Accordingly Ive decided to resign as a contractor. I hope No 10 hires more [people with] good geopolitical forecasting track records and that media learn to stop selective quoting. The Guardian Cummings misfit quits after row over eugenics and race The Times Downing Street super-forecaster quits Daily Telegraph Comment The Guardian view on Boris Johnsons government: eugenicists not wanted, Leader The Guardian Johnson at odds with Cummings over BBC licence fee Boris Johnson is at odds with his senior Downing Street advisers, including Dominic Cummings, over plans to scrap the BBC licence fee and replace it with a voluntary subscription system, The Times has learnt. The prime minister favours reform rather than revolution and is significantly less gung ho about abandoning the licence fee than Mr Cummings, his chief special adviser, who is said to be ideological about the issue. It has also emerged that John Whittingdale, a minister appointed last week to help to oversee the reforms, said that moving to a subscription model was politically utterly impossible. The culture minister said in an interview the day before he was appointed that the only way to move to a subscription system would be to turn off Freeview and move it all online. However, Freeview, Britains largest television platform, used by 18 million homes, does not have the technology to switch off particular stations for non-subscribers. The Times Halfon calls for referendum on BBC licence fee Daily Telegraph Comment The reign of Cummings is anathema to the Thatcher years, Norman Tebbit Daily Telegraph Cummings is the Marxist of Downing Street, Rachel Sylvester The Times >Today: Javid hints taxes should be lowered amid concerns of a Budget hike Sajid Javid has suggested taxes should be lowered, as MPs fear a raid on the middle classes in the upcoming Budget. The former Chancellor, who resigned in last weeks reshuffle, liked a tweet that warned Britain is over-taxed and facing the highest tax burden for a generation. It comes amid fears his successor Rishi Sunak is planning a tax raid in order to pay for the Governments plans to level up the economy. A source close to Mr Javid said that he had been on the record many, many times as being a low-tax Chancellor. It is understood that Boris Johnson has been considering several wealth taxes, including a squeeze on savings tax relief and the creation of new council tax bands for expensive homes. Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: Bercow says bullying accusers are snobs and bigots The former Commons Speaker John Bercow has described parliamentary staff members who allege that he bullied people as snobs and bigots, and claimed he is the victim of a concerted campaign to destroy his reputation. In conversation with Owen Jones at a Guardian Live event in Sloane Square in central London, he mocked those who have complained about him and denied all the allegations surrounding his behaviour. The former Conservative MP said: I was astonished when those allegations first surfaced on Newsnight nearly two years ago and for the best part of two years Ive had to put up with this issue being weaponised against me. Robert Rogers, who was clerk of the Commons for three years during Bercows tenure before becoming a crossbench peer in 2014 as Lord Lisvane, has filed a formal complaint about the former Speaker to the parliamentary commissioner for standards. The Guardian More than half of BAME MPs have experienced racism in Parliament More than half of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) MPs say they have experienced racism, racial profiling and prejudice from fellow MPs, an ITV News investigation has found. In an anonymous survey sent by ITV News to all 65 BAME MPs, 62% of the 37 respondents said they had experienced racism from staff in the Houses of Parliament while 51% said they had dealt with racism from fellow MPs. Of the respondents which include MPs from the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats several spoke of what they had experienced throughout their careers. Labours Tulip Siddiq told ITV News that when she told a fellow MP in the chamber of the House of Commons she was pregnant, her colleague said she was surprised doctors had told her she was having a daughter, as she believed that people from an Asian background are more likely to abort baby girls. ITV News Name your favourite leader, Labour rivals asked Rebecca Long Baileys efforts to dodge a tricky question over which Labour leader she most admired ended in a muddle last night. She chose Clement Attlee when asked to name the best Labour prime minister in the past 50 years during Channel 4s leadership hustings. Attlees last year in Downing Street was 1951 and he stood down as party leader in 1955. Sir Keir Starmer chose Harold Wilson on the grounds that he had brought together a fractured party, while Lisa Nandy nominated Barbara Castle as the best PM Labour never had. All three answers underlined how toxic Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown continue to be among many of the Labour members and registered supporters voting in the race that gets under way on Friday. The Times Comment Starmer has what it takes to be Labour leader, but some are unconvinced, Polly Toynbee The Guardian Commons spends 27,000 on MPs designer sofas The work and pensions secretary has criticised the Commons authorities for spending more than 27,700 on armchairs and sofas. A suite of furniture was installed over the weekend in Portcullis House, the glass-covered atrium that houses cafes, canteens and MPs offices. Three blue leather sofas, which can be bought online for 3,425 each, were obtained from Frovi, a high-end British brand. Six tan leather armchairs, at 1,795 each, and seven oak-framed blue armchairs, costing more than 1,000 apiece, were bought from Orangebox, another UK-based brand. Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, tweeted: I see House authorities have brought in sofas and luxury armchairs . . . Im not a skinflint but really? The Times More Sturgeon replaces disgraced Mackay with two ministers Daily Telegraph >Today: >Yesterday: News in Brief Specially trained: Rory Hennebry and Padraig OKeeffe with Scout, who is being donated to a South African wildlife reserve to help fight rhino poaching A specially trained Irish guard dog is to be sent to a South African wildlife reserve in a desperate bid to protect rhinos from ruthless poachers. The Dutch Shepherd, 14-month-old Scout, was trained by Rory Hennebry and Padraig O'Keeffe of Munster Canine and donated to the South African reserve where wildlife rangers have been fighting a losing battle against heavily armed poachers. The Munster Canine team has used its dogs to help in the training of Ireland's special forces, the elite Army Ranger Wing. A fully trained combat tracking dog can be worth almost 30,000, and the South African reserve now hopes that Scout will help protect the rhinos, park rangers and even reserve personnel. "Dogs like Scout live in a world of scent and that is the huge advantage they bring to a situation like this," said Rory. The rhino population at the reserve has been ravaged by poachers who slaughter the animals for their horns. The horns are hacked off the animals with an axe after they are shot by poachers with high-powered rifles. The horns are then sold on the black market - usually destined for Asia, where they are seen as a valuable ingredient in local 'medicines'. A total of 13 of the reserve's 32 rhinos have been killed over the past two years, with poaching gangs so heavily armed that ranger teams must themselves carry assault rifles for personal protection. Rory and Padraig will bring Scout from Co Cork to South Africa in April thanks to the support of Dean Lowe of Pet Express Transport. An intensive training course will then help adapt the Irish dog to his new bush environment. Padraig - a former French Foreign Legionnaire - said the campaign to help protect endangered species was something they wanted to fully support. "If the poaching of rhino continues at its current rate there will be no rhino left in the wild in the next five to 10 years," he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) The Senate probe on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal could be set on a date "much earlier" than February 27, Sen. Grace Poe said Tuesday. "We are trying to move it earlier," said Poe, who heads the Senate public services committee. She did not, however, disclose a specific date for the hearing. This comes hours after Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order to stop the ABS-CBN and any of its representatives from discussing the quo warranto case which he earlier filed against the network. Poe told reporters Monday that the Senate discussion on the ABS-CBN franchise was initially slated for February 27, even if the the House of Representatives has yet to take action on the matter. "We are trying to move it earlier. Ang hirap dito mahirap kumuha ng venue, maraming mga bills na pending, maraming mga oversight functions ang Senado...kailangan gumawa din kami ng hakbang para protektahan namin ang mga ginagawa namin dito," Poe said. [Translation: We are trying to move it earlier. What's difficult here is the venue, the pending bills, and the many oversight functions of the Senate. We also need to take action on how we can protect what we are doing here.] But with the issuance of the gag order, Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed worry that those who will be part of the Senate panel in charge of the matter "may run the risk of being cited for contempt once they express their opinion." "I hope the Supreme Court will not include the Senate or any of its committees in the gag order..." Lacson said in a statement. "They may run the risk of being cited for contempt once they express their opinions that might pose a clear and present danger in the administration of justice by directly influencing the members of the Court in rendering their votes to resolve the pending petition for quo warranto," he added. Atienza to colleagues: 'Magsara na lang tayo at wala naman tayong silbi' Meanwhile, some lawmakers in the House of Representatives have expressed their annoyance and impatience as their colleagues seemingly continue to distance themselves from the issue. "Kung hindi gagalaw ang Kongreso, magsara na lang tayo at wala naman tayong silbi," a visibily irked Atienza said in today's forum in Quezon City. He referred to House legislative franchises committee chair Rep. Franz Alvarez of Palawan and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, whom he thinks have been indifferent towards the matter at hand. "I challenge the committee chair of legislative franchises, kung di ka magtatrabaho hindi naman pwedeng lahat kami apektado, apektado ang buong bansa. [To] the Speaker, if you don't want to work, we want to work," Atienza said. [Translation: I challenge the committee chair of legislative franchises, if you do not want to work, all of us will be affected. The whole nation will be affected. To the Speaker, if you don't want to work, we want to work.] Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman also expressed a similar sentiment, noting that Cayetano should treat the other lawmakers as his "co-equals" in weighing in on the issue. "The Speaker cannot solely toll the death knell on bills or unduly delay the plenary deliberation on legislative measures. He has no monopoly over the fate of these measures," Lagman said. House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna also noted that Calida's move was another way of muzzling critics and the opposition from airing their views on the issue. "If SolGen Calida cannot take the heat then he should not have filed the harassment quo warranto case in the first place. He should have let Congress do its job in deciding the renewal issue of the ABS-CBN's franchise," he said. House legislative franchises committee vice chair Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan only told the media Tuesday that the lower chamber will hold its own hearing on the matter soon. "May sarili ring mandato ang Kongreso na hindi rin pwedeng pakialaman ng other branches of government. Sana ibigay nila sa amin ang panahon namin para maayos na pag-aralan yung prangkisang ito," he said. [Translation: Congress has its own mandate which must not overlap with the functions of other branches of government. We're hoping we will be given enough time to study this franchise.] On February 10, Calida asked the high court to cancel ABS-CBN's legislative franchise weeks before it lapses, claiming that the network committed "highly abusive practices" in violation of terms set by Congress when it approved ABS-CBN's franchise in 1995. Among them, Calida said, are the setting up of the KBO channel without a permit from the National Telecommunications Commission, and when it supposedly allowed foreign investors to control the company. Duterte has repeatedly ranted against the network, saying it failed to air his political advertisements for the 2016 elections, and vowed to see to it that ABS-CBN would be out of business this year. In December, he told the Lopezes to just sell the company to a new owner to stay on air. READ: TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise ABS-CBN's franchise is set to expire on March 30. Speaking on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami asserted that no individual born in the state was affected by the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act. He was responding to Leader of Opposition MK Stalins grouse about the fate of the Sri Lankan Tamils being ignored in the aforesaid legislation. Claiming that people were spreading misinformation about the CAA, the TN CM urged the DMK to explain who was affected by the Act. Palaniswami clarified that the state had no authority to not implement the CAA as citizenship law was solely the prerogative of the Central government. Subsequently, the DMK MLAs walked out of the Assembly. The support of AIADMK MPs was crucial for the passage of the CAA in Rajya Sabha. On the other hand, the DMK has been vehemently opposed to this legislation. Edapaddi Palaniswami stated, Anyone born on Tamil Nadu soil is not affected by citizenship law. People are cheating and spreading false information about CAA. DMK should explain who was affected by this act. The federal government will decide on the citizenship law. They do not have the authority to return it. Read: "They Didn't Have Permission": TN CM Defends Police Action Against Anti-CAA Protesters What is the CAA? The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities has been reduced to five years. Read: DMK Accuses CM Palaniswami Of 'deception' Over Giving Cauvery Districts A Protected Tag The Washermanpet protest February 14 witnessed massive protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens at Washermanpet in Chennai. As the protest turned violent, the police detained over 100 protesters. According to the police, a woman joint commissioner, two women constables, and a sub-inspector were injured in stone-pelting. However, the protesters claimed that the police resorted to a lathi-charge. In the state Assembly, the TN CM defended the police action, citing that the protests had been instigated by some miscreants. Maintaining that the governments version was false, DMK chief MK Stalin alleged that the police personnel attacked peaceful protesters. Read: 8 Cauvery Delta Districts To Be Categorised As Protected Farm Zone, No Nod For Oil Projects: Palaniswami Read: Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami Appeals To People Not To Pay Heed To False Rumours About CAA , Cookies . cookies. A Chinese security guard takes the temperature of a couple as they enter a nearly empty commercial street in Beijing, China, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) In China Mandatory Quarantine, Unfair Practices for Renters Many people left their home cities to visit families and celebrate the Chinese New Year holiday. The Ministry of Transport estimates that about 160 million people need to travel to get home so they can return to work, mainly in first- and second-tier cities. Most Chinese companies were scheduled to resume work around Feb. 10. However, upon their return, people were required to self-quarantine for 14 days, some could not take possession of their rented properties, and in the past week several companies have had incidents of newly confirmed patients who interacted with other employees before their test results were available. Such companies had to shut down and have all employees quarantined. In addition, more than 80 Chinese cities are currently in a complete lock-down state. Those who are stranded in one of these cities arent able to leave and thus cannot return to work. Renter Unfriendly Rules More than 10 Chinese cities set a rule that those who dont own a property in their city are forbidden to set foot in the city, according to Chinese state media. Renters in these cities were told they are not allowed to enter their apartments. Some rental properties were sealed to prevent entry. For instance, in Jinhua City of Zhejiang Province, each residential community has a registration site that checks property records to make sure all those who are not property owners in Jinhua wont have a place to stay. Similarly, in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province, one has to present both residential ID and a property ownership certificate to enter the city. Shenzhen places the responsibility on the landlord. If any tenant is infected with the novel coronavirus, or if the landlord fails to collect reliable information from the tenant regarding their health condition, the landlord will be held accountable, reads the rule. Many landlords are too scared to rent their properties because of this new rule. In Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, landlords were asked to notify their tenants to not return to the city. Any tenant who must come back will be placed under 14-day quarantine and subjected to 24-hour health monitoring during that time. According to a public notice In Chengdu, Sichuan Province, landlords are also advised that they should turn away any tenants returning from locations outside Chengdu. If you believe you absolutely need to accommodate your tenant, you have to meet the following criteria, the notice reads, First, the tenant must promise to self-quarantine for 14 days. Second, as a landlord you must monitor the tenant to make sure the self-quarantine is performed strictly, and provide food as well as daily necessities during the quarantine period. Third, both the landlord and the tenant must each pay 500,000 yuan ($71,468), which will be used to compensate the neighbours in cases where the tenant is infected. Further Spread of COVID-19 Among Employees Three employees of Chongqing Titanium Industry Co., Ltd. were diagnosed with COVID-19 after the company resumed daily operations. One was an asymptomatic patient who had commingled with 131 other employees. Now, the whole company is shut down. Tianying Square is a 46-story skyscraper and a well-known A-class office building in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The property manager posted a notice on Feb. 15 which read, After everyone has returned to work, an employee in a company on the 13th floor was diagnosed with COVID-19. Therefore, all employees in this company were notified to cease working on Feb. 14 and are now placed under quarantine. A salesperson working inside a shopping mall in Shenzhen was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 on Feb. 14. After he returned to Shenzhen, he worked for one day then asked for sick leave when he developed symptoms. As a result, the entire third floor of the shopping mall will remain closed until Feb. 29. Confirmed patients were also found among employees in Hailuo Cement Plant in Hunan Province and a power plant in Shanxi Province. Both companies had to immediately suspend operations. Unbearable Business Losses Beijing Benz released a company document stating that if the company does not resume normal operations, its business losses will exceed 400 million yuan ($57,135,520) every day. Xibei Restaurant, a well-known catering brand, has 400 restaurants across the country. Meanwhile, only about 100 restaurants are operating, and they offer food delivery service only. It is estimated that Xibeis losses in the past 30 days are 700-800 million yuan ($99,977,150 to $114,253,040). According to Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, the countrys total GDP in 2019 was 99 trillion yuan ($14 trillion). That means, production delay for one day would cause a total loss of 270 billion yuan ($38.56 billion). [February 18, 2020] Israel National Research Institute, Henrietta Szold, Selects Pcysys to Automate Cyber Security Validation TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pcysys announces that the National Research Institute for the Behavioral Sciences, Henrietta Szold, has chosen Pcysys' Automated Penetration Testing platform, PenTera, to automate its cyber security validation efforts. The Henrietta Szold Institute partners with many governmental and academic organizations to better the education and social systems in Israel. "The need to validate remediation efforts and ensure that patches are properly applied and stay intact is imperative to the cyber posture of an organization," says Arie Shimoni, CTO of Henrietta Szold Institute. "The fact that PenTera continuously exploits each vulnerability enables an ongoing accurate cyber security health check of the network- a practice the industry has been longing for." The PenTera platform allows organizations to perform on-demand penetration tests aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework. With PenTera, organizations have the ability to ontinuously validate their security controls with the latest hacking techniques to grow and maintain their cyber posture. The platform weighs each weakness as part of the complete attack vector to focus remediation efforts only on breachable vulnerabilities, and recommend the most cost-effective remediation steps. "We, at Pcysys, take pride in partnering with Israeli institutes such as Henrietta Szold to assist in their efforts to improve their cyber posture," says Sivan Harel, Regional Sales Director for Northern Europe and Israel at Pcysys. "Having the ability to prioritize remediation in a cost-effective manner will allow the Henrietta Szold Institute to easily update policies and grow their cyber resilience. It's the call of the hour." About Henrietta Szold Established in 1941, the Henrietta Szold Institute in Jerusalem is a public, not-for-profit organization. It is dedicated to enhancing the Israeli education and social service systems via research, training and intervention programs in the behavioral sciences. About Pcysys Pcysys delivers PenTera, an automated penetration-testing platform, that assesses and reduces corporate cybersecurity risk. By applying the hacker's perspective, our software identifies, analyzes and prioritizes remediation of cyber defense vulnerabilities. Hundreds of security professionals and service providers around the world use PenTera to perform continuous machine-based penetration tests that improve their immunity against cyber attacks across their organization networks. Contact: Aviv Cohen Pcysys CMO [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/israel-national-research-institute-henrietta-szold-selects-pcysys-to-automate-cyber-security-validation-301006475.html SOURCE Pcysys [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Courtesy of Lone Star Court Valencia Hotel Group is honoring the celebratory cocktail for National Margarita Day with specialty margaritas available on this day only. The acclaimed portfolio of properties, including Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA,, Lone Star Court in Austin, TX , Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Hotel Alessandra in Houston, TX , and Texican Court in Irving, TX are offering one-of-a-kind margarita recipes with a twist to honor this beloved tequila and triple sec based drink. One can also enjoy and make a toast at home with these Valencia Hotel Group Recipes: Mango Margarita Courtesy of Lone Star Court 1 oz Tequila oz Triple Sec 2 oz Sweet & Sour 1 oz Mango Syrup Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a tajin rimmed lowball glass. Passion Fruit Margarita Courtesy of Hotel Alessandra 1 oz Tequila oz Fresh Lime Juice Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit Orange Liquor Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, Shake and strain into a glass. El Rey Margarita Courtesy of Hotel Valencia Riverwalk 1 oz Mezcal 1 oz Grapefruit Juice oz Fresh Lime Juice oz Cointreau oz Agave Nectar Pinch of Salt Shake and strain in a Collins glass rimmed with chili powder. Garnish with a grapefruit twist. Prickly Pear Margarita Courtesy of Texican Court 2 oz Milagro Silver Tequila 1 oz Cointreau 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice 1 oz Prickly Pear Syrup Splash of Agave Nectar Sugar rim the margarita glass. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake and pour over ice. Top with champagne. Sweet Life Margarita Courtesy of Cavalry Court 1 oz Dulce Vida Blanco Tequila oz Fresh Lime Juice oz Cointreau oz Agave Nectar Add all ingredients in a shaker and pour into a glass, garnish with sea salt and fresh lime wedge. Raspberry Margarita-Courtesy of Hotel Valencia Santana Row 2 Raspberries, muddled 2 oz Patron Silver Tequila 1 oz Lime Juice oz Triple Sec oz Agave Nectar Salted Rim Combine ingredients in a glass with ice, shake vigorously, train over ice into glass. Garnish with lime wheel. About Valencia Hotel Group Houston-based Valencia Hotel Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Hotel Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Hotel Group portfolio currently includes the Valencia brands: Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA and Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. In partnership with developer, Midway, include Valencia Hotel Groups The George in College Station, TX and Hotel Alessandra in Houston, TX. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX, Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Texican Court in Irving, TX and coming soon Cotton Court in Lubbock, TX. For more information, please visit http://www.valenciahotelgroup.com The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has formally proposed a legal framework for tokenization, but also plans to label cryptocurrency transactions as suspicious activity, it said in a press release Monday, Coin Desk writes in the article Russias Central Bank Proposes New Token Framework, but Labels Crypto Transactions Suspicious. The CBR announced it had successfully piloted a platform that allows users to tokenize assets, including equities and currencies, and issue them to investors. Ivan Zimin, director of the CBR's financial technology department, said in the release the bank had now proposed using the platform as a framework in the country's upcoming cryptocurrency law, which will act as guidance for legitimate businesses wanting to tokenize assets. "Based on the results of the piloting, the Bank of Russia proposed to include in the draft federal law 'On Digital Financial Assets' the provisions necessary for the introduction and development of such decisions in the emerging digital assets market, which were supported by government bodies and businesses, Zimin said. This coincides with local media reports that the CBR is planning on updating bank guidance on what constitutes criminal activity, for the first time in eight years. According to business news site RBC, both the sale and purchase of cryptocurrencies could be considered suspicious under the new guidance. Still undergoing in-house assessment, the guidance would ask commercial banks to flag activity and authorizes them to block transactions, and even close the accounts, of any clients found to be trading cryptocurrencies. CBR's move has been met with some pushback from industry figures. Don Guo, CEO of technology and liquidity provider Broctagon, has criticized the fragmented approach. Speaking to CoinDesk, he said the two decisions on Monday will only create more uncertainty in the digital asset space. "Russia seems to have taken one step forward, two steps back when it comes to crypto," Guo said, adding it would leave "Russian traders scratching their heads" as other major economies, such as the U.S and China, continue to offer conflicting advice on how to regulate cryptocurrencies. "Where China has been advocating for bitcoin (BTC) and creating its own digital currency, other countries like the U.S. seem to be fighting a losing battle to squash it," Guo said. "Whether regulators like it or not, the adoption of digital currencies will continue, and dismissing cryptocurrencies comes with an opportunity cost." Since 2017, the Russian government has been drawing up a bill that would regulate cryptocurrencies and related activities such as initial coin offerings (ICOs) and trades with fiat currencies like the ruble. Although officials have previously indicated the bill was nearing completion, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao hinted in a speech last October that Russian officials were being indecisive. The Russian parliament passed a digital rights bill in early October that outlined basic "digital rights" in Russian law and also provided legal definitions for smart contracts and cryptocurrencies. Monday's news suggests Russia is now trying to create a regulatory distinction between asset tokenization, which can more seamlessly be integrated into existing financial law, and cryptocurrencies, which cannot be as easily supervised and managed by the authorities. In October, the CBR backed a potential ban on cryptocurrency payments, claiming they carried significant risks and could not be equated with legal tender. Reportedly one of the largest projects to ever come out of CBR's regulatory sandbox since it launched in April 2018, the tokenization platform was developed by Nornickel, a Russian mining and smelting company. Also allowing organizations to mint "hybrid tokens" backed by different assets simultaneously, the platform will go into operation once Russia's cryptocurrency bill passes into law. Advertisement The remains of three American fighter jets that flew missions over the Pacific during World War Two and then went missing have been found at the bottom of a lagoon in Micronesia. The mangled pieces of the three aircraft were discovered by Project Recover, an organization that is privately and publicly funded to help recover the remains of American GIs who were missing in action. Two of the planes are SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers and the third is a TBM/F-1 Avenger torpedo bomber. Using remote controlled submersibles, Project Recover found the pieces of metal from the planes on the floor of Truk Lagoon, according to the Fox News Channel. The aircraft participated in Operation Hailstone, a mission that was launched by the United States military in February 1944. The above image shows a propeller from a TBM/F-1 Avenger torpedo bomber lying on the seabed in Truk Lagoon, Micronesia The image above shows split-panel dive brakes from an SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber resting on the floor of the lagoon near the main debris site The photo shows a propeller of a US SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber from Operation Hailstone standing above the sand in Truk Lagoon The image above taken by a submersible shows a starboard rear viewing port and entry hatch from a US TBM/F-1 Avenger torpedo bomber in Truk Lagoon The image above from a remotely operated vehicle sent by Project Recover shows a tail section from an SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber from Operation Hailstone resting on the floor of Truk Lagoon Truk Lagoon is part of an archipelago in the Federated States of Micronesia (as seen in the map above) US bombers struck the lagoon, which at the time was held by the forces of Imperial Japan. Truk was considered at the time a valuable forward base for the Japanese navy. The Americans managed to capture the lagoon after a day of fighting, though they lost 40 men and 30 aircraft were destroyed. The three planes found by Project Recover are believed to be linked to seven men who were declared missing in action by the US military. The three aircraft flew from the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and the USS Intrepid. The team from Project Recover, which is made up of researchers from the University of Delaware and the University of California at San Diego, used technology including scanning sonars, and high definition and thermal cameras. The researchers made four expeditions to the lagoon between April 2018 and December 2019. They scanned almost 70 square miles of the seabed before finally spotting debris from the three planes. After completing archeological surveys of the crash sites in December 2019, the team is now assembling reports for review by the US government to potentially set into motion a process for recovering and identifying the remains of up to seven crew members associated with these aircraft, Andrew Pietruszka, Project Recovers lead archaeologist, said. The above file photo from 1942 shows a squadron of US Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers in flight as they patrol the coral reefs off Midway Island The image above from February 1944 shows a torpedo exploding against a Japanese tanker ship in Truk Lagoon during an attack by US torpedo bombers The search results were shared with the government of the Federated States of Micronesia as well as the Pentagons POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Finding these three aircraft was only possible with the dedication and tireless efforts of our team members and the support of the host country, said Project Recover co-founder Mark Moline. While the discovery of these sites is exhilarating and validating, these feelings are mixed with the humbling emotions of the sacrifices made by these service members and their families in protecting our freedoms. The researchers say they intend on continuing the search for more remains of aircraft and soldiers. Derek Abbey, the CEO of Project Recover, believes that 28 World War Two-era aircraft linked to 103 MIAs are missing in Truk Lagoon. Project Recover is honored to play our part in keeping our nation's promise of returning our fallen service members home and we remain committed to locating more Americans missing in action in Chuuk and around the world, he said in a statement. Last month, Project Recover unveiled high-resolution images of a missing warplane that lay at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean just off the Hawaiian cost for nearly 80 years. She is set to be at the centre of a fight to the death between Matt Damon and Adam Driver in The Last Duel. And Jodie Comer was seen getting into character as Marguerite de Carrouges on set as filming began at the Chateau de Beynac, in Dordogne, France, on Monday. The Killing Eve star, 26, put on an elegant display as she appeared to wear a white bridal gown and a light blue veil while leaving her trailer. Chic: Jodie Comer transforms into French noble Marguerite de Carrouges in a wedding dress as she got to work on set of The Last Duel at the Chateau de Beynac in France on Monday Jodie wrapped up in a black shawl to protect her outfit from the rain as she headed to a car to take her to where the day's shoot would take place. She wore her blonde locks pinned back into a loose bun, and her hair was styled with a middle parting so that her hair framed her face well. Keeping her look simple for the period drama, Jodie opted not to wear any jewellery and she highlighted her natural beauty by wearing a light palette of make-up. Getting into character: The Killing Eve star, 26, put on an elegant display as she appeared to wear a white bridal gown and a light blue veil while leaving her trailer Cosy: Jodie wrapped up in a black shawl to protect her outfit from the rain as she headed to a car to take her to where the day's shoot would take place Jodie will star opposite Matt Damon and two-time Oscar nominee Adam Driver, while the film is being directed by Hollywood legend Ridley Scott. Matt co-wrote the screenplay alongside Nicole Holofcener and his longstanding writing partner Ben Affleck, the latter of which he won an Academy Award with in 1998 for their script for Good Will Hunting. Adapted from Eric Jager's book of the same name, it follows the true story of Jean de Carrouges (Damon), a 14th century knight who embarks on a fight to the death with former friend Jacques Le Gris (Driver) after accusing him of raping his wife. While talking about the film during an appearance on Conan in November, Matt said: 'It's about the last sanctioned duel in Medieval France between these two knights, one of whom claimed the other raped his wife. Drama: The film follows Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), a knight who has a fight to the death with former friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) after accusing him of raping his wife (Jodie) 'They could not resolve what had happened, and so they fought to the death to let God decide who was telling the truth. 'We thought that it was this interesting story of perspectives, so Ben and I wrote the male perspectives and Nicole wrote the female perspectives, and Ridley Scott's going to direct it.' Originally, Matt and Ben were set to play the two leading roles in the film, but they ran into scheduling conflicts due to Ben's role in Adrian Lyne's Deep Water. As such, Adam was cast to take over the role, following his incredible year of film in 2019 with releases such as Marriage Story, for which he was Oscar-nominated, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, and The Report. Co-star: Matt co-wrote the screenplay alongside Nicole Holofcener and longstanding writing partner Ben Affleck (pictured after their 1998 Oscar win for Good Will Hunting's screenplay) The matriculation examination of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) began with a total of 15.29 lakh students undertaking the science paper in the midst of contractual teachers strike on Monday. Of the total expelled, 12 were caught using unfair practices in Nalanda, six each booked in Rohtas and Madhubani districts, three each in Saran, Bhojpur and Madhepura, two each in Arwal, West Champaran, Lakhisarai, Vaishali, Samastipur, Saharsa and Jamui. One each was expelled in Patna, Siwan and Munger. BSEB chairman Anand Kishor undertook a surprise inspection at several exam centres, including Gardanibagh Girls High School and Kamla Nehru Balika Uchchya Vidyalaya, to assess security and administrative arrangements. He said that the exam was conducted in a fair and peaceful manner, claiming that all the teachers assigned the task for invigilation were present. Students find exam easy Exam centres were seen flocked with students in group discussing and cross-checking answers after coming out of the exam hall. Anuradha Kumari, who took the exam at Bankipore Girls High School, said, The first exam was good so I hope the rest will go fine too. Questions were balanced. I found biology section the easiest. Physics was lengthy as there were more diagram-based questions. Another examinee, Manisha Kumari, said Questions were asked from key topics. I was able to attempt all. Physics numericals were easy for those who remembered the formulae. I hope to pass with flying colours. Abhishek Kumar, who took the examination at Miller High School, said, Questions matched with the practice papers. No question was out of syllabus. Multiple choice questions saved time. I hope to score marks above 80. Fake Science question paper goes viral On the first day of the examination, there were rumours about the Science question paper leaking on the social media. However, images of question paper circulating on social media did not match with the original question papers. Contractual teachers go on indefinite strike Over 4.5 lakh contractual school teachers across the state began an indefinite strike in support of their demands, including equal pay and service conditions at par with their regular counterparts. GOLD FORECAST: GOLD PRICE ACTION APPROACHES $1,600/OZ AS CORONAVIRUS FEARS BOLSTERS BULLION Spot gold eclipses $1,600/oz for the second time this year with XAU/ USD trading at its highest level since April 2013 Gold has potential to extend its advance as risk-aversion perpetuates alongside concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus Sustained demand for safe-haven assets such as gold could precede a larger pullback in the S&P 500 Index as downward revisions to global GDP growth and earnings loom over stocks Gold is set for its biggest gain of 2020 following this mornings spike above the $1,600 price level, which brings the commodity on pace for a 5% year-to-date gain. The price of gold has gained considerably over the two or so months in light of surging liquidity provided by central banks and lingering demand for bullion given its anti-risk properties. Despite the latest stretch higher, spot gold (XAU/USD) has potential to continue pressing onward toward the 2012 swing highs near $1,800/oz if the precious metal can maintain its footing above the $1,600 mark, which could be facilitated by lingering demand for safe-haven assets like bullion. GOLD PRICE CHART: MONTHLY TIME FRAME (APRIL 2009 TO FEBRUARY 2020) Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView Earlier this year, the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China blindsided investors who largely expected a modest rebound in global GDP growth. Market participants who grew optimistic on the back of a phase one trade deal between the United States and China signed last December are now left guessing whether or not their upbeat outlook will materialize as the coronavirus paralyzes the worlds second largest economy. {{TOP|Download our 2020 Top Trading Opportunities}} Businesses and economic activity came to a screeching halt across China with much of the country and its citizens on lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Correspondingly, traders are growing more pessimistic as global GDP growth forecasts are revised lower to reflect a nosedive is manufacturing, travel and consumer spending as well as the adverse shock to global supply chains. GOLD PRICE CHART & GOLD VOLATILITY: DAILY TIME FRAME (FEBRUARY 2019 TO FEBRUARY 2020) Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView In fact, the South China Morning Post recently reported that a Chinese government policy adviser stated that China may adjust its 2020 GDP growth target due to the unnerving coronavirus impact on its economy. Learn More: How to Trade Gold Top Gold Trading Strategies & Tips Specifically, the tabloid referenced that China GDP growth could slow to 3% for the first quarter and 5% for the year, which compares to the currently expected 6% growth rate for 2020 according to a recent update to the IMF World Economic Outlook. STOCKS IN THE S&P 500 INDEX MAY FALL AS GOLD PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE AMID DOWNARD REVISIONS TO GLOBAL GDP GROWTH & EARNINGS ESTIMATES Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView That said, spot gold prices may continue to edge higher with measures of volatility perking up as downward revisions to global GDP likely loom large over trader sentiment. At the same time, gold could potentially outperform the S&P 500 Index if the equity benchmark comes under serious selling pressure as earnings estimates are slashed considering stocks are trading near record highs with historically stretched valuations on balance. On that note, Apple Inc (AAPL), which is the largest component of the S&P 500 Index, announced yesterday that it does not expect to meet revenue guidance this quarter. Keep Reading: Crude Oil Price Outlook Mired by Coronavirus, Global GDP Growth -- Written by Rich Dvorak, Junior Analyst for DailyFX.com Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight B: 20200218 19:05:42 :B: :B: Stock Code: 000553(200553) Stock Abbreviation: ADAMA A(B) Announcement No.2020-6 ADAMA Ltd. Announcement on Obtaining Sanitation License of Disinfection Product Manufacturer The Company and all members of its board of directors hereby confirm that all information disclosed herein is true, accurate and complete with no false or misleading statement or material omission. ADAMA Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company") was qualified as a manufacturer of disinfectants with a hygienic permit issued by the Provincial Health Commission of Hubei on February 16, 2020. The details are as follows. Company Name: ADAMA Ltd. No. 0015 (Hubei) Hygienic Permit for Disinfectant Production (2020) Legal Representative: Chen Lichtenstein Registered Address: No. 93 Beijing Donglu Road, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province Production Address: No. 93 Beijing Donglu Road, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province Business Mode: Manufacturing Business Item: Disinfectants Business Category: Manufacturing of Liquid Disinfectants Term of Validity: Feb.16th to June 15th, 2020 Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the company has been answering the call of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs as well as the local provincial and municipal governments and doing its utmost to prevent and control the spreading. Therefore, relevant personnel have been arranged to work in emergency shifts and produce sodium hypochlorite, a disinfectant product against the disease, since January 25, 2020, which is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. As of the date to issue this announcement, the company has donated more than 200 tons of the disinfectant from its Jingzhou and Huaian sites to local hospitals and public administration and service institutions, strongly supporting the efforts of Hubei and Jiangsu provinces in preventing the contagion. The company manufactures chlor-alkali in both sites and sodium hypochlorite is one of the products along the process. To alleviate the supply shortage and continue to contribute to defeating the epidemic, it has made use of its capacity for chlor-alkali and quickly shifted the focus onto sodium hypochlorite in order to meet the market demand. It is too premature for the company to predict how much the future performance will be influenced because the actual sales of related disinfection products are affected by multiple factors such as capacity, marketing and epidemic prevention and control. It is strongly suggested that investors keep informed and pay attention to any investment risks. It is hereby announced as above. Board of Directors of ADAMA Ltd. February 19, 2020 Stock Code: 000553(200553) Stock Abbreviation: ADAMA A(B) Announcement No.2020-6ADAMA Ltd.Announcement on Obtaining Sanitation License ofDisinfection Product ManufacturerThe Company and all members of its board of directors hereby confirm that allinformation disclosed herein is true, accurate and complete with no false ormisleading statement or material omission.ADAMA Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company") was qualified as amanufacturer of disinfectants with a hygienic permit issued by the Provincial HealthCommission of Hubei on February 16, 2020. The details are as follows.Company Name: ADAMA Ltd.No. 0015 (Hubei) Hygienic Permit for Disinfectant Production (2020)Legal Representative: Chen LichtensteinRegistered Address: No. 93 Beijing Donglu Road, Jingzhou City, Hubei ProvinceProduction Address: No. 93 Beijing Donglu Road, Jingzhou City, Hubei ProvinceBusiness Mode: ManufacturingBusiness Item: DisinfectantsBusiness Category: Manufacturing of Liquid DisinfectantsTerm of Validity: Feb.16th to June 15th, 2020Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the company has been answeringthe call of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Ministry ofAgricultural and Rural Affairs as well as the local provincial and municipalgovernments and doing its utmost to prevent and control the spreading.Therefore, relevant personnel have been arranged to work in emergency shifts andproduce sodium hypochlorite, a disinfectant product against the disease, since January25, 2020, which is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.As of the date to issue this announcement, the company has donated more than 200tons of the disinfectant from its Jingzhou and Huaian sites to local hospitals and publicadministration and service institutions, strongly supporting the efforts of Hubei andJiangsu provinces in preventing the contagion.The company manufactures chlor-alkali in both sites and sodium hypochlorite isone of the products along the process. To alleviate the supply shortage and continue tocontribute to defeating the epidemic, it has made use of its capacity for chlor-alkali andquickly shifted the focus onto sodium hypochlorite in order to meet the market demand.It is too premature for the company to predict how much the future performancewill be influenced because the actual sales of related disinfection products are affectedby multiple factors such as capacity, marketing and epidemic prevention and control.It is strongly suggested that investors keep informed and pay attention to anyinvestment risks.It is hereby announced as above.Board of Directors of ADAMA Ltd.February 19, 2020 Michael Bloomberg is proposing to crack down on the industry where he made his name and fortune. The former mayor of New York and Democratic presidential candidate announced an ambitious financial policy plan on Tuesday that includes imposing a tax on financial transactions and toughening restrictions on risky banking practices. Perhaps the most surprising proposal, given the billionaire's close personal ties to Wall Street movers and shakers, is a plan for the Justice Department to create a dedicated team to fight corporate crime by "encouraging prosecutors to pursue individuals, not only corporations, for infractions". "The financial system isn't working the way it should for most Americans," Bloomberg said in a statement. "The stock market is at an all-time high, but almost all of the gains are going to a small number of people." Recently, the State Duma hosted a round table entitled The historical memory of the Great Patriotic War among the peoples of Russia. Communication of generations, organized by the Duma Committee on Nationalities and the Youth Parliament at the State Duma. But the event was overshadowed by a scandal with representatives of the Armenian diaspora. The meeting was attended by leaders and deputies of the State Duma, officials of the Federal Agency for Nationalities, members of the Youth Parliament at the State Duma, as well as experts and representatives of public organizations implementing projects in the field of interethnic relations and civil-patriotic education of the younger generation. The main goal of the round table, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, was to share experience and develop promising tasks in the field of youth policy aimed at preserving the historical memory of the feat of multinational Russias people during the Great Patriotic War. In this regard, the glorification of Nazis and accomplices of Nazism by revisionist circles in the post-Soviet space and in Eastern Europe was discussed. The Russian publicist, historian and TV presenter Dionis Kaptar, speaking at the event, expressed concern over the heroization of Nazi criminals and their accomplices in neighboring countries, especially in Poland and Ukraine, and called for a proactive stance and preventive measures. In particular, he rightly proposed actively reminding the nationalist circles of these countries that a revision of the results of World War II is fraught with re-partition of the existing borders of Poland and Ukraine. In the same context, the Russian historian spoke about the problem of the state support for the cult of Nazi accomplice Garegin Nzhdeh in Armenia - monuments are being erected to him, his ideas are being promoted. Referring to official documents, in particular, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs report "On the situation with the glorification of Nazism, the spread of neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to the escalation of modern forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," Dionis Kaptar cited the specific facts of cooperation with the Nazis from the biography of Nzhdeh. The Russian historian emphasized the fallacy of comparing Nzhdehs heroism to his contribution "to the struggle for the creation of the Armenian state" by the Armenian side. According to the scientist, this is an attempt to veil the process of the heroization of aiding Nazis, and the same is right for the political elites of Armenia, Ukraine and Poland. Representatives of the Armenian diaspora present at the round table tried to scandalize the scientists speech. The first vice-president of the Union of Armenians in Russia Lusik Ghukasyan attacked Dionysus Kaptar with an incoherent angry tirade in defense of Nzhdeh and called into question the competence of the speaker. Her attack was stopped only when a moderator intervened, but then another vice president of the organization, Levon Mukanyan, interfered trying to insult Dionysus Kaptar. Dionysus Kaptar explained how he sees opposition to the glorification attempts of Nazis and their accomplices. Speaking at a round table in the Duma, I proposed offensive actions in the media sphere and in diplomacy. For example, Moscow could remind official Warsaw that it was Poland, like Nazi Germany, that participated in the partition of Czechoslovakia. And to all those who praise collaborators, we could say that by erecting such monuments, they voluntarily or involuntarily solidify with the losers, "he stressed. In no case should we allow our victory to be stolen, thereby insulting the memory of the victors of Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. And we must not forget that it was we, all the peoples of the Soviet Union, who made the decisive contribution to the victory, " the scientist summed up. CALCI, Italy, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MMI SpA, an Italian company dedicated to improving clinical outcomes for patients undergoing microsurgery, announced today the appointment of Ryan Rhodes to the position of Global Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Rhodes brings nearly 30 years of experience in the medical device industry with over 17 years in surgical robotics. As the former President and CEO of Restoration Robotics for nearly 4 years and over 13 years at Intuitive Surgical, Ryan's expertise will drive the commercialization of the MMI robotic system for microsurgery. Giuseppe Prisco, CEO of MMI, said, "We are excited to welcome Ryan as our Chief Commercial Officer. Ryan's strength in marketing, sales and management for robotics companies will help us transition from a technology start-up to a major force in surgical robotics. His commercial acumen is perfectly timed as we prepare for our initial launch in Europe and entry into other strategic markets such as North America and Asia." "I am pleased to join MMI at this exciting moment as we anticipate our first human use. Due to the high level of precision, dexterity and skill required to perform microsurgery, I am confident that robotics will have the ability to positively impact clinical outcomes. It will be exciting to see how our robotic technology will increase patient access to these important procedures," said Mr. Rhodes. Prior to joining MMI, Ryan Rhodes served as the CEO of Restoration Robotics, the global leader in Robotic Aesthetic Surgery, which he led through a successful merger in 2019 with Venus Concept, Inc. Prior to Restoration Robotics, Ryan spent 13 years at Intuitive Surgical serving in various marketing roles including VP of Global Clinical Marketing. During his 11 years at Ethicon, Inc. (J&J Company), Mr. Rhodes served in various strategic marketing, training and sales roles. Mr. Rhodes received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from San Diego State University. For more information, please visit: http://www.mmimicro.com. The MMI system for robotic microsurgery is only commercially available in the European Economic Area. About MMI MMI S.p.A. was founded in 2015 and developed the first teleoperated robotic platform for microsurgery featuring the world's smallest wristed microinstruments. Based in Calci (PI), Italy with several locations near Pisa, the MMI team is an expanding group of 50+ motivated experts working together to make the robotic future of microsurgery a reality. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1090153/MMI_Logo.jpg HCA Houston Healthcare plans to build a 48,400-square-foot training center in Pearland Town Center. The center, at 11200 Broadway, just west of Texas 288, will provide ongoing clinical education and training for the health system's nearly 7,000 nurses and serve as a hub for new hire orientations and leadership training with space for up to 250 employees. Opening is planned by early 2021. The HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement is a significant part of our strategic nursing plan to support and grow our nurses as the differentiator at our hospitals and other facilities, Kelli Nations, chief nurse executive at HCA Houston Healthcare, said in an announcement. It certainly helps us raise the bar for nursing care in Houston. RELATED: HCA Houston Healthcare launching air ambulance service The center is designed to help standardize training across the health systems 13 Houston-area hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, freestanding emergency centers and freestanding diagnostic imaging facilities. Nurses will be able to train up to 22 weeks at the center, depending on their service line and certification requirements, according to Nations. HCA officials will hold a groundbreaking on site from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. The building will be near Dillard's on the west side of the mall. A second HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement is planned north of Houston. Pearland Town Center is owned by CBL Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn. Filmmaker Homi Adajania has said that the makers stalled Angrezi Medium and were ready to wait for an entire year as there was no alternative to Irrfan Khan. Angrezi Medium marks Irrfans return to showbiz almost two years after he was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent treatment is London and is even now being treated in Mumbai. Homi told Mumbai Mirror in an interview, There was no alternative to him, this film was meant to be made with Irrfan, so we waited for a year. Also read: Arti Singh on Krushna Abhishek playing down attempted rape on her: Normal reaction of a brother, hes upset as I am yet to get married Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that it works. We are all waiting for him and hopefully will see him closer to the release date on March 13. Irrfan and I met at the screening (of Mira Nairs The Namesake) and got along well. Hed watched Being Cyrus (Homis directorial debut) and agreed that we should collaborate, he added. The filmmaker also revealed information about Kareena Kapoors character -- she plays a cop. Kareena comes in the second half, but is pivotal to the narrative and perfect for the role. Incidentally, working with Irrfan was on her bucket list too. Recently, the trailer of the film was launched and it was received with much love and appreciation. Ahead of the trailer launch, Irrfan had tweeted a video with the message: Hello, brothers and sisters! I am with you and not with you. This film, Angrezi Medium, is very special to me. I truly wanted to promote this film as passionately as we made it, but there are some unwanted guests in my body and theyre keeping me busy. Ill keep you informed on that front. Theres a saying, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. It feels good to hear, but when life really hands you lemons, making lemons is really difficult. As we embark on the journey to release #AngreziMedium, heres a small note for you allhttps://t.co/Sr0Pp1x3dv #AngreziMedium trailer out tomorrow! Irrfan (@irrfank) February 12, 2020 I wouldnt have taken it up if it was a sequel. The soul of our film is how far a father will go to make his childs dreams come true. Being a father myself, I could understand this emotion. The franchise allowed me to pour creativity into new characters, Homi further told the daily. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) clarified that reports of some residents being served notices by the RO Hyderabad, over their Aadhaar being allegedly obtained on false pretences, were not being presented in the "correct perspective" in some media reports. "There are news items in certain section of media regarding UIDAI issuing notices of inquiry to some residents for obtaining Aadhaar on false pretence on the complaints from the State Police which suspect them of being illegal immigrants. UIDAI clarifies that these reports are not presented in correct perspective and Aadhaar has got nothing to do with the citizenship issue as such," a press release by the UIDAI on Tuesday read. The agency further said that RO Hyderabad had received reports from the state police of 127 people having obtained "Aadhaar on false pretences as in their preliminary enquiry they were found illegal immigrants", hence disqualifying them from obtaining the Aadhaar number. "As per the Aadhaar Act, such Aadhaar numbers are liable to be cancelled. Therefore, the RO Hyderabad has sent notices to them to appear in person and to substantiate their claims for getting an Aadhaar number," the release added. It further said that after the completion of the process, "if it is found and proved that if any of them has obtained Aadhaar by submitting false documents or through false pretences, then their Aadhaar is liable to be cancelled or suspended depending on the severity of the transgression. Severe errors like forged documents, etc, will lead to appropriate actions, including suspending or cancelling the Aadhaar." However, the agency clarified that this is a routine quality improvement process that is regularly taken up by it. The release went on to add that "UIDAI has postponed the personal hearing to May 2020" from February 20, as it may take the 127 residents "some more time to collect their original documents that they had submitted for obtaining Aadhaar." Through the release, the agency also said that the Supreme Court of India in its landmark decision has directed UIDAI not to issue Aadhaar to illegal immigrants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TUSTIN, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New American Funding, a leader in the mortgage industry, is pleased to announce its expansion in Washington with a new licensed branch in Seattle. The grand opening event will take place on Wednesday, February 19th, at 4PM PST. The full-service branch will allow New American Funding to better serve Seattle Washington and the surrounding communities by providing various loan options to its borrowers. The branch specializes in a wide range of purchase and refinance products, which includes Jumbo, FHA, VA, Conventional and Down Payment Assistance programs. "We're excited to be part of this community," said Branch Manager Yesenia Celestino (NMLS #1399227). "The Seattle area is an important housing market for us. We are now able to provide loan solutions to not only the Latino community across the state of Washington, but for all of our borrowers, who also include first-time homebuyers." With over 15 years of business development and mortgage lending experience, Celestino will oversee the new branch and focus on the housing needs of the community and help more families get into their dream home. Her main objective is to enhance the quality of the lending experience for all homebuyers. Regional Vice President Tony Blodgett saw the benefit of opening a branch in Seattle with Yesenia Celestino. "Yesenia is the ideal person to help lead the Seattle market," said Blodgett. "New American Funding is constantly growing, and Yesenia understands what it takes to help individuals reach their goal of homeownership." Celestino looks forward to bringing New American Funding's high-level customer support to the area while actively expanding the company's presence. The newest branch is located at 1448 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107. The branch can also be reached at https://branch.newamericanfunding.com/Seattle,WA For more information about the grand opening, contact Yesenia Celestino at [email protected] About New American Funding New American Funding is a family-owned mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 120,000 loans for approximately $30 billion, 197 branches, and about 3,200 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000's list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It has a state-of-the-art career training facility and develops innovative technology, including the GoGo LO mobile application. SOURCE New American Funding Related Links www.newamericanfunding.com President Moon Jae-in Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok By Do Je-hae There is no breakthrough in sight for South Korea's diplomatic efforts which are facing challenges that could hamper relations with its biggest partners the U.S., China and Japan. Arguably one of the most pressing concerns for President Moon Jae-in's diplomatic team has been to narrow differences with the U.S. on some key bilateral issues such as North Korea. President Moon's engagement-centered policy toward the North has raised concerns over a potential clash with Washington's consistent focus on the need to maintain sanctions on the country until it takes visible steps toward denuclearization. Moon said that he will look to engage with North Korea on projects such as tourism and inter-Korean railways, but Washington has not responded positively to these proposals for advancing inter-Korean relations. Latest news reports from U.S. media outlets such as CNN said U.S. President Donald Trump does not want a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the presidential election in November. But despite this, Cheong Wa Dae is still looking for ways to revive moribund North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks. "We do not believe that such reports reflect the policy of the U.S. government," a senior presidential aide told reporters last week. The two countries have also been at odds over the Korea-U.S. Special Measures Agreement to determine Korea's share of the cost for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed here. Due to the huge gap between the two, negotiations have not proceeded smoothly and they have been unable to set a date for the next round of talks. The mounting diplomatic tension between Korea and the U.S. has underlined the need for a summit between the leaders of the two countries at an early date. The latest visits to Washington by key Cheong Wa Dae officials suggested a possible pending summit. If realized, it would be the first time for the leaders to meet since New York in September 2019. However, another presidential aide denied Monday some media reports of a possible summit in March. In addition, the U.S. making improvements to a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile battery in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has emerged as another problem that could bring about a backlash from China, which claims the facility is being used to spy on its military, and not just North Korea. ? Moon is also facing a setback regarding diplomacy with China as his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could be postponed due to the 2019-nCoV (COVID-19) outbreak. Cheong Wa Dae had been pushing for a date in March or April, but it is likely that Xi's first visit to Korea in six years could take place as late as June. Relations with Japan have also not been going anywhere despite a Korea-Japan summit in December 2019. The foreign ministers of Korea and Japan met Feb. 15 during a security conference in Germany but parted without achieving any breakthrough on a number of thorny bilateral issues, such as a row over trade regulations and the Korean Supreme Court's rulings on compensation for Korean victims of forced wartime labor during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of the peninsula. Concerns are rising that bilateral relations could quickly deteriorate once again if Korea decides to terminate the General Security of Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan, a military intelligence sharing pact signed in 2016. Korea had decided to temporarily maintain the pact while negotiations were underway to settle their trade dispute. Extradition to the United States will be akin to a death sentence for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, his father has said. John Shipton said his son had faced ceaseless anxiety as he fights against being sent to the US on charges over the leak of classified documents. Speaking to the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme, he said: The ceaseless anxiety that Julians been under for now 10 years it has had a profoundly deleterious effect. I cant speculate onto his state of mind, but I imagine that he will be really worried because being sent to the United States is a death sentence. His comments come as a group of 117 doctors and psychologists called for an end to what it calls the psychological torture and medical neglect of Julian Assange. Assange is in a dire state of health due to the effects of prolonged psychological torture in both the Ecuadorian embassy and Belmarsh Prison, where he has been arbitrarily detained according to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionDoctors for Assange group Assange, who is being held at high-security prison Belmarsh, is awaiting the outcome of an extradition request by the US, where he faces 18 charges, including conspiring to commit computer intrusion. He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents. A full extradition hearing is due to start on February 24. Mr Shipton claimed the alleged charges against his son were political and dismissed allegations that Assange helped release the unredacted names of sensitive sources as untrue. He predicted that the judge overseeing his sons case would rule in favour of extradition, but that the decision would be appealed to the High Court. John Shipton said his son faces ceaseless anxiety (Dominic Lipinski/PA) In a 1,200-word letter published in the medical journal The Lancet, the Doctors For Assange group expresses concern over Assanges fitness for the upcoming legal proceedings. The letter says that Assange is in a dire state of health due to the effects of prolonged psychological torture in both the Ecuadorian embassy and Belmarsh Prison, where he has been arbitrarily detained according to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Should Assange die in a UK prison, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (Nils Melzer) has warned, he will have effectively been tortured to death. Australian Assange was jailed for 50 weeks in May last year for breaching his bail conditions, after going into hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations, which he has always denied. Swedish authorities later dropped the rape investigation. He has been in custody since he was dramatically removed from the embassy building in April. Around 76 percent of German companies confirmed that the coronavirus epidemic affected their activities in Vietnam, according to a flash survey conducted by GIZ/AHK Vietnam. An infographic on how the coronavirus has effected the economy in Vietnam Vietnam has drawn up scenarios for economic growth and business activities in Vietnam amid the impact of the coronavirus. 55 per cent of the companies have already put in place their own measures in preparation to the increasing risk of coronavirus. 47 per cent have banned staff from travelling to China, while 38 per cent have restricted the number of staff travelling on business to the country. 38 per cent of German companies have drafted bans regarding incoming visitors from China. 41 percent of them refuse to receive foreign visitors who travelled to China recently. For other foreign visitors, German companies still keep their doors open (52 percent). 38 percent of German companies have restricted travel to other foreign countries affected by the virus. About the effects of the measures taken by the Vietnamese government to restrict the spread of the virus in Vietnam, 44 per cent of German companies thought they are timely and represent their interests. 36 per cent of them confirmed that those measures supported them to some extent. Moreover, German companies in Vietnam offered several comments, suggestions, and solutions to AHK Vietnam, GBA Vietnam, and the Vietnamese government. They would like to receive updated information, facts, and figures on the effects of coronavirus on the Vietnamese economy. Many of them expressed their expectations that the epidemic is controlled promptly in Vietnam. According to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, up until last year, German financiers supported the country with nearly $2.1 billion of foreign direct investment in 349 projects. Currently, German investment enjoys a great reputation in Vietnam and is welcomed by the government as well as local businesses. In the first 11 months of 2019, there were 33 German-invested projects in several sectors, from trade and consulting services to chemical production. Many long-term investors such as Bosch and Siemens expanded their investment capital in Vietnam and act as typical examples of successful German investment. VIR Thanh Van Hundreds of enterprises may have to suspend production because of coronavirus Hundreds of enterprises, both Vietnamese and foreign invested, are increasingly concerned about supply of components from China. Karan Patel is one of the most popular faces on Indian television today. He rose to popularity with his portrayal of Raman Bhalla in Star Plus's hit serial Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. Patel has been a part of various hit shows including Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, etc. He will be next seen on the adventure reality show, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 as one of the contestants. Reportedly, Karan is going to be one of the highest-paid actors on the show. Read more to know more about it. Karan Patel becomes highest-paid actor for Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 When Karan Patel announced that he will be seen as one of the contestants on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10, fans could not stop gushing about it. With the show going on air this weekend, the excitement in fans cannot be contained. Karan is one of the most talked-about actors today and that has surely added to the anticipation around the show. However, as per reports, Karan Patel is one of the highest-paid actors amongst all the others that have been roped in for the latest edition of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10. A special edition of the show will be shot this time and it will feature previous contestants of the show as well. According to several media reports, Karan Patel has charged a whopping 5-6 lakhs for each episode. ALSO READ | Karan Patel Posts And Deletes First Picture Of His Newborn Daughter Mehr ALSO READ | Karan Patel's Active Wear Looks Will Surely Inspire You To Start Working Out Soon Reportedly, the special edition will be shot in Bulgaria and will have at least ten episodes. The contestants of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 will be soon flying to the location for the show. If the numbers are to be believed, then Karan will be making a staggering 50-60 Lakhs with just ten episodes. This number, however, does not come in as a huge surprise as Karan Patel is reportedly one of the highest-paid actors on Indian television. However, on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10, Karan will be moving away from his charming persona and attempt his hand at some daredevil tricks and stunts. Fans are waiting to see their favourite actors put on their best danger suits and battle it out. ALSO READ | Karan Patel Shares A Glimpse Of His New Journey As He Becomes A Father; See Picture ALSO READ | Khatron Ke Khiladi 10: Actor Karan Patel Spotted Struggling With Rats, Watch Promo Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Tuesday organised a dharna in front of Central government offices across the State protesting against 'anti-people' policies in the Union Budget 2020-21. In the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram, the dharna was staged in front of the Railway Mail Services (RMS) office. BR Anil, District Secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI) while addressing the protestors said: "The Union Budget has neglected Kerala completely. The Budget has proposals only to help corporates. There is no effort to address job creation or address issues faced by youths of the country. LDF is staging dharnas in front of Central government offices across the State in protest against the budget. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LIMERICK secondary school students have been exercising their lateral thinking language skills in the 12th All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad. Students from Salesian College Pallaskenry and Colaiste Chiaran joined over 1,000 secondary school students nationwide to take part in the preliminary round of the 2020 All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) last week. Run by the ADAPT Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Digital Media Technology, the AILO contest challenges secondary school students to apply logic and reasoning skills to solve complex puzzles in unfamiliar languages. AILO helps students to develop problem-solving expertise. The contest helps students to develop transferable skills relevant to maths, coding, and languages. Read also: University of Limerick researchers team up with Brazilian police to tackle child porn on dark web Researchers from ADAPT have run over 30 free national workshops to help students learn and prepare for the Olympiad. Speaking ahead of the round, Prof Vincent Wade, director of ADAPT said: The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) challenges students to use their lateral thinking skills to solve puzzles in languages from all over the globe. Students must analyse the data they are given to work out the rules of this new language. The top 100 students from the preliminary round will qualify for the National Final on March 11 in Dublin City University. Four students will go on to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) in Latvia in July 2020. A system of hand signs recently invented by the second batch of medical staff dispatched by east Chinas Shandong province to central Chinas Hubei, the province hit worst by the novel coronavirus outbreak, has received widespread praise in the country. The special sign language system was created on Feb.12 by medical workers from Shandong who came to provide assistance in Huanggang, one of the hardest-hit cities in Hubei province, and was developed to help medical workers communicate with each other and patients. According to Xu Jianxiu, a member of the medical team working in a makeshift hospital built to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus in Huanggang, the isolation area and semi-contaminated area where they work are closed off, and all the medical workers wear thick protective clothing, face masks and protective goggles, making it extremely difficult for them to hear each other. Most of the time we use pagers, mobile phones, or written messages to exchange information about patients with each other and give advice to patients, said Xu, adding that when they communicate with each other over the phone they have to repeat themselves several times before making their messages clear. The medical workers then used hand signs when they found it difficult to communicate through other means, said Xu, explaining that as it turned out, hand signs not only save time, but also improve work efficiency. Post-80s and post-90s members of our team suggested we make a video to systemize the signals so that we can use them to better help with our teamwork, Xu said. The final version of the hand signs, which are simple and clear, was decided upon after discussion on Feb.12, and has been quickly put into use in communication with patients. The sign language has quickly gone viral on the Internet after video and photos of it were put online by reporters. Many netizens praised the smart idea and the professional dedication of the medical workers who created it. I thought the movements were cute when I saw them for the first time. I admired the idea when I watched the video for the second time. But I wanted to cry when I watch the video for the third time, said an Internet user. Police officers in Highland, Utah, recently helped out a mother who had a baby formula emergency. Shannon Bird, who is a mother of five, called 911 just after 2:00 a.m. local time after realizing she wasnt able to feed her hungry 6-week-old baby, according to KSL-TV. The outlet reported that Birds husband was out of town, and she didnt have any formula in the house because she usually breastfeeds. She was screaming. I called my husband and we were brainstorming. I started calling neighbors and teenagers in the area and my little brother and no one was awake, Bird told KSL-TV. Ive been calling neighbors and no one will answer, Bird reportedly said on the 911 call, which was obtained by KSL-TV. Ive never been in this predicament ever. My milk just literally dried out. This is my fifth kid and this has never happened. Related Video: Influencer Talks About Giving Up Breastfeeding Her Baby Officers with the Lone Peak Police Department responded to the call, and picked up a gallon of milk on their way to Birds home. Once they arrived, and realized the baby was too young for regular milk, they headed back out for formula, KSL-TV reported. Well leave this with you, Officer Brett Wagstaff says in body-camera footage, according to KSL-TV. Well be right back with some formula for your baby shes adorable. Wagstaff and Officer Konner Gabbitas returned with the baby formula, and didnt let Bird pay them for it. Thats the same stuff we gave my daughter when she was first born, so hopefully it doesnt upset her stomach, Wagstaff reportedly told Bird. RELATED: Mother Admits She Once Judged Stay-at-Home Moms But Tearfully Reveals, I Get It Now After news of the good deed went viral, the Lone Peak Police Department praised Wagstaff and Gabbitas on Facebook, writing, So very proud of our Officers and their dedication to duty. Bird told KSL-TV that she was shocked by the gesture, explaining that she had originally called the police in order to have them protect her kids at home while she went out to buy the formula herself. Ive never not had food for my newborn, she told the outlet. It was really scary for me. Latest foldable phones still seem to be struggling with display issues.The folding display on a Motorola Razr formed an air gap and peeled off around the hinge. One Samsung Galaxy Z Flips display cracked around the fold for an early buyer. Update: Motorola reached out to Digit after this article was published and issued a statement. The company's statement reads, " We have full confidence in razrs display, and do not expect consumers to experience display peeling as a result of normal use. If consumers experience this issue, and the device has not endured customer abuse or misuse, it will be covered by our warranty. For more warranty information, please visit: www.motorola.com/device-legal. Last year, foldable phones started hitting the market and we saw numerous problems associated with the new technology. The Samsung Galaxy Fold was recalled just before it hit the shelves since multiple reviewers reported that their units folding display was malfunctioning. This year, we saw a new wave of foldable phones being introduced in the market with the Motorola Razr and the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Since smartphone companies had more time to refine the novel technology, we assumed that the next generation of foldable devices would be durable, and, maybe, affordable. However, this doesnt seem to be the case since the latest foldable phones are still falling behind, in terms of durability. The new foldable phones around the block are the Motorola Razr and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Both handsets feature a clamshell-type folding design, which means one can flip them shut from the top and open em again to get a larger, slightly taller than regular display. Previously, Samsungs first foldable phone had an issue with the folding displays hinge, where dust or dirt could waltz right in and start creating problems for the folding mechanism and the display. The new Galaxy Z Flip also seems to be facing some issues and not with the hinge this time but with the folding glass display. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip display woes JerryRigEverything's Zack Nelson recently conducted a durability test on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. While Nelson branded the device as Samsungs most durable folding phone yet, he also pointed out that the display seems to be made up of plastic and not glass. Samsung aggressively marketed a glass display on the Z Flip but it doesnt really look like glass since Nelson managed to scratch it at Mohs level 2 with deeper scratches at Mohs level 3, which is whats expected from a plastic display. Samsung responded to The Verge with a statement on the durability video. It reads, Samsungs first-of-its-kind UTG technology is different from other Galaxy flagship devices. While the display does bend, it should be handled with care. Also, Galaxy Z Flip has a protective layer on top of the UTG similar to Galaxy Fold. While the company says it has a protective layer on top of the Ultra Thin Glass or UTG, we cant really be sure since the way pixels die when Nelson uses a Mohs pick does not hint at a glass display. In a separate incident, an early buyer of the Galaxy Z Flip claimed that the folding display of his phone cracked with the first flip. Its not clear whether the handset was folded inwards or flipped out, but Samsung seems to have reached out to the user and issued a replacement in one day. Going by the image posted on Twitter by the user, it seems like the display is made of glass, but once again, we cant really be sure till we get our hands on the device and test it ourselves. Received my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip just now. Opened the box. Removed the protective/instruction film. Flipped the phone as you would do since its a flip phone and this happened. I heard the crack as well. cold weather?#SamsungGalaxy #ZFlip #samsung pic.twitter.com/j8KLL2vm8d Amir (@mondoir) February 14, 2020 Motorola Razrs screen peeling off? The Motorola Razr is already getting not so great reviews by reviewers overseas. However, this is the first instance where the phones display is reported to be peeling off. As per an article by Inputs Raymond Wong, the folding display on the Motorola Razr that they have been using for almost a week is now peeling off right at the point where the display folds. As per Wong, a giant horizontal air bubble has popped up out of nowhere and because of it, the top lamination and the display panel are being separated. As per Wong, Sometime during my 45-minute train ride from Queens to Manhattan that left at 3:08 p.m. ET, the Razr's display peeled apart at the fold. I have no idea how it happened, but I can promise you it wasn't from impact; the phone was closed in my front jeans pocket the entire ride and there's no visible damage anywhere on the device. (And no, my jeans aren't super tight.) Apparently, the more this Motorola Razr is being folded, the wider this air gap gets. Theres also no scratch on the display either or any type of physical damage, the report claims. It seems like the screen started peeling on its own, but theres no proof of that right now. Additionally, the layers separating due to the air bubble is said to have broken the touch-screen around the problematic area. The screen is said to be less responsive ever since the air gap formed around the hinge. Wong speculates that the damage mightve happened due to a change in temperature. He used the phone in temperatures nearing 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius) and then took it back to his warm apartment, before taking it out again with him into the cold weather. While this may be the cause, it is still not something we expect from a super expensive foldable phone. However, nothing is confirmed until the company issues an official statement on the subject. Foldable phones still a novelty? After coming across the recent two incidences of folding phones breaking, it seems like folding phones for everyday use might still be some years away. Noting that the Motorola Razr costs $1,500 (Rs 1.07 lakh approx) and the Galaxy Z Flip is priced at $1,380 (Rs 98,500 approx), such incidences wont inspire consumers to invest in such expensive devices, which seem very well a novelty right now. However, since these are two isolated incidences, we cant really be sure about the phones durability and will keep an eye out for more news on this front. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the UN to fulfil its commitments with the people of Kashmir and help them achieve right of self-determination as he met chief of the global body Antonio Guterres here. During his meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Prime Minister Khan highlighted the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Jammu and Kashmir following Indias August 5 decision to end the special status of the region. The Prime Minister underscored that the Kashmiri people continued to look to the United Nations to honour its commitments for the realisation of their right to self-determination, as enshrined in numerous UN Security Council resolutions, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year. Indias decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded its diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. India has defended its move, saying the special status provisions only gave rise to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The country took the decision of abrogation of Article 370, which had only given separatism and terrorism to that state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in October last year. India has rejected any third party intervention to the Kashmir issue and has maintained that all outstanding matters in Indo-Pak ties should be resolved bilaterally. Khan claimed that Indias belligerent rhetoric, intensified ceasefire violations on the LoC, and other aggressive actions were imperiling peace and security in the region, the statement said. He also highlighted the possibility of a false flag operation by India to divert global attention from its unacceptable actions in Kashmir, it said. Talking about Afghanistan, Khan underscored that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict and reaffirmed Pakistans steadfast support for peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country. Khan also highlighted Pakistans generosity in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the last four decades, the statement said. Earlier, Guterres and Khan attended the International Conference on 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The Prime Minister also stressed that climate change posed an existential threat to mankind and assured the Secretary General that Pakistan would work hand in hand with the global community to pursue swift implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. He also highlighted the landmark 10 billion Tree Tsunami. Guterres also held talks with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday. Matters of mutual interests, overall regional security situation including Afghan refugees issue, Afghan reconciliation process and the Kashmir dispute were discussed during the meeting, Pakistan army said in a statement. Visiting dignitary said that there is a need to implement UN resolutions on Kashmir, the statement said. The UN chief on Sunday arrived on a four-day visit to Pakistan during which he will also visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. Guterres thanked Pakistan for full access given to United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Kashmir, it said. He also commended the improved security situation in Pakistan and positive efforts towards regional peace and stability. The UN chief also acknowledged Pakistans contribution in UN peacekeeping missions and extraordinary achievements in counter terrorism. Separately, United States special envoy for Afghan reconciliation ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also called on General Bajwa, the statement said. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including overall regional security situation and ongoing Afghan reconciliation process were discussed, it said. Khalilzad was in Pakistan to attend the conference on Afghan refugees and discuss the Afghan peace process. He also met Prime Minister Khan. T his is the moment a pensioner fought off a robber who tried to steal his money from a cash machine. The 77-year-old was making a withdrawal from the cash point outside a Sainsbury's supermarket in Cardiff earlier this month. CCTV footage shows the would-be robber walking behind the pensioner and trying to wrestle him. However the older man fights back and squares up to the thug before the pair trade blows. The attacker is forced to back away empty handed while the pensioner is seen giving him a "come on" gesture. The attacker is described as a white man wearing a high-vis vest, a black hat with white motif and carried a black rucksack. He ran off towards Colchester Avenue in the Pen-y-Lan area of the city at around 6am on February 5. South Wales Police have launched an investigation into the attempted robbery and paid tribute to the "brave" pensioner. Detective Constable Stephen Mayne said: The victim in this case showed great bravery, however he has been left shaken. (Newser) A "ghost ship" has finally struck land after more than a year traveling the world, from the Americas to Africa and Europe, without a crew. The MV Alta cargo vessel disabled some 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda while traveling from Greece to Haiti in September 2018. The crew of 10 was rescued while the ship was towed to Guyana, but it was reportedly hijacked before it was found drifting in the mid-Atlantic last August, reports the Guardian. It's believed to have drifted north, near the coasts of Africa and Spain, before it ran aground Sunday in County Cork, Ireland, amid Storm Dennis. story continues below There's no visible pollution coming from the 250-foot ship, which remains intact despite being wedged on rocks near the fishing village of Ballycotton, per the BBC. However, a marine contractor is expected to do a more thorough inspection soon, perhaps during low tide on Tuesday morning. Until then, "Cork County Council is asking members of the public to stay away from the wreck location as it is situated on a dangerous and inaccessible stretch of coastline and is in an unstable condition," according to a statement. The owner will have a year to claim it, per the Irish Examiner. (Read more ghost ship stories.) A terrified student has offered to pay someone to kill an 'abnormally large' cockroach in his kitchen. Bhargav Chavda, 24, from Brisbane arrived home about 10pm on Monday and went to grab some food from his fridge when he spotted the cockroach. 'I went to the kitchen to grab my food and I see something flying front of me to the side and to the back, and I realised it was a cockroach,' the business student told Daily Mail Australia. Bhargav Chavda, 24, from Brisbane arrived home about 10pm on Monday and went to grab some food from his fridge when he spotted the cockroach (stock) After a tiring day at work, Mr Chavda didn't want to deal with the situation and took to Gumtree offering money in return for someone to kill the cockroach. 'Need Roach dead right now asap,' he wrote in the ad. 'Will pay $20 cash for the task. 'Location somewhere in the open in living room/kitchen. 'Bring spray etc if needed, I only have thongs, cloth, broom. 'Please respond asap, hungry af.' Mr Chavda took to Gumtree and posted an ad asking for help to get rid of the cockroach Despite the late hour, Mr Chavda received several responses but none were from somebody who wanted to kill the insect. 'Unfortunately I dont know what is wrong with the world,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'People are responding "this is funny" or "you just made my day".' Mr Chavda finally got the courage to go back into the kitchen and grab some food and then heard the cockroach fly back into the kitchen. 'I would have even paid $10 for someone to get me my food,' he laughed. He finally went to bed and was relieved to say he hasn't spotted the cockroach at all on Tuesday but is ready if it shows up again. By Yossi Melman February 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The leaks of personal information of 6.5 million Israelis three weeks before the election is one of the worst security screw-ups in the country in the last few years. Both the first breach, which was reported about a week ago, and the more serious second one, reported Sunday, stem from criminal negligence by Elector Software a small and hitherto barely known company that developed the mobile election software being used by Likud and other parties. This app, which enables access to the countrys entire voter registry, is used to run elections and make contact with voters, according to the company. It includes voters full names, ID numbers, gender, telephone numbers and current addresses. In addition, there is information entered by party campaign staff about whether or not the individual in question supports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Beyond the severe violation of Israelis privacy, the hacking of the voter rolls has unprecedented implications for tens of thousands of employees of the Mossad, the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, the Israel Institute for Biological Research and the Israel Defense Forces especially for pilots, intelligence personnel, special forces and nuclear scientists. The damage caused by the breaches doesnt end with exposure of information: Exposure of such data also enables potentially hostile elements to access additional sources of information, and to cross-check sensitive details including license plate numbers, personal and corporate assets and confidential medical information. The potential damage is enormous. This is a gold mine for enemies like Hezbollah and Iranian intelligence, as well as for intelligence agencies that are more or less friendly to Israel. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Its no secret that the Mossad and other Israeli intelligence and security organizations make use of the data in the Interior Ministrys Population Registry. This information enables them to recruit employees both in Israel and abroad. Its also well known that such espionage bodies, especially the Mossad, use fake or borrowed identities for their operations. According to foreign reports, these operations have in the past been aimed mainly at monitoring, information-gathering, infiltrating buildings, buying sensitive equipment and so forth. In the past three decades, Mossad agents have been exposed while carrying forged passports of Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Bosnia, Georgia and more. Some operatives were arrested. Some were exposed during or after operations in countries such as Jordan, Britain, Sudan, Cyprus, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and, according to foreign media, Dubai and Tunisia. The leak of such information about Israeli citizens and the possibility of connecting it to activities conducted overseas under an Israeli or foreign identity is disastrous for the intelligence community. Thanks to this information, foreign intelligence agencies can thwart operations abroad and/or catch the agents involved. Moreover, cross-checking the leaked information with documents published or stolen in the past can enable hostile agencies to identify not just living people, but also dead people whose identities are being used in secret missions to conceal or verify cover stories. That, for instance, is what Refaat el-Gammal, an Egyptian intelligence agent, did when he posed as a Jew named Jack Beaton who emigrated to Israel in the 1950s. Fortunately, the Shin Bet discovered him and turned him into a double agent who worked for Israel against his Egyptian handlers. And when the Mossad assassinated senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in 2010, it was reported that one of the operatives had assumed the identity of an Israeli who had been killed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The soft underbelly of national security that this latest breach has potentially exposed can be demonstrated by the case of the 2015 leak from a major human resources company that recruited personnel for U.S. intelligence and defense agencies. It was suspected that the information reached Chinese intelligence; as a result, the CIA had to recall some of its agents. The principle underlying the intelligence community anywhere, including in Israel, is that as soon as theres a fear that hacked information has reached hostile or any foreign parties, extra precautions must be employed so as not to endanger its personnel. For this reason, in numerous cases in the past where there was the suspected exposure of networks of agents run by Israel in foreign countries, especially hostile ones not only was the affected network shut down, but also any others with contacts to it. Whos meddling here? In the course of the groundhog day 2019-20 election campaigns in Israel, there have been several incidents emitting a nasty stench of political espionage. Even before this, then-Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich had charged in a television interview that an unidentified person had hired private detectives to keep tabs on the investigations into suspected crimes committed by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu, who has now been indicted for the crimes, and his Likud party, vehemently denied the accusations. In November 2018, a hastily constructed website in Panama published a false report that former Mossad director Tamir Pardo had claimed in a lecture at Harvard that former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had resigned because he was suspected of being a Russian spy. Thereafter, Lieberman, who is proud of having an ancient cellphone rather than a smartphone, claimed that this wasnt an isolated incident; unknown individuals had also tried to hack into his Yisrael Beiteinu partys computers to disrupt its April 2019 election campaign. Then came the bizarre hacking of Kahol Lavan Chairman Benny Gantzs cellphone before the April 2019 election and its exposure in the media. Even today, its still not clear whether Iran was really behind that act, or whether someone had leaked the information to Tehran to cover his tracks. Israel likes to boast of its cybersecurity industry and of being at the forefront of global technology. Moreover, at least seven public agencies are engaged in cyberwarfare and information security for both defensive and offensive purposes: the National Cyber Directorate, the Mossad and the Shin Bet (these three are all under the prime ministers auspices); Military Intelligence (under the IDFs responsibility); and the Defense Ministrys department of field security. In addition, there are the Atomic Energy Commission, the Justice Ministrys Privacy Protection Authority and the Central Elections Commission. Once the incidents mentioned above became known, all the relevant agencies should have conducted a thorough investigation. After all, the victims whom someone evidently wanted to smear were a former defense minister, a former Mossad director and a former IDF chief who is now running for prime minister, as well as the Israeli electoral system as a whole. However, the recent breaches involving the Elector app, despite attempts to downplay the damage, are on a completely different scale: They affect every Israeli citizen. From this standpoint, they recall the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This British company, which engaged in data mining, data analysis, data brokerage and communications strategies, used personal information purchased or leaked from Facebook to impact elections around the world. Cambridge Analytica was founded in late 2013. It is partially owned by Robert Mercer and his family, which also owns Renaissance Technologies, one of the worlds most profitable hedge funds. The familys political leanings are extremely conservative; in 2016, it helped Donald Trumps election campaign, mainly regarding identification of potential voters. Elector Software is a small, obscure firm formed just before the first Israeli election 15 months ago. Its three registered directors are completely unknown to the public. Another former manager worked in the past for Likud. The company is registered in a small European city, and now its three directors have either disappeared or refuse to talk to the media. When you combine all these facts, and others that havent been publicized theres almost no doubt that over the last year, a hidden hand has been meddling in Israels election campaigns. In any self-respecting democracy, the very day a leak such as that involving the Elector app became known, all the relevant agencies mentioned here should have called emergency meetings to determine how and why a failure of such a magnitude occurred and what its implications are. Moreover, the heads of the intelligence community, led by Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, should have convened to consider the severity of the potential harm caused to defense and security agencies both in the present and in the future. But Israel with its superfluous and unnecessary number of agencies dealing with information security, and embroiled in ego and turf wars, seems to be unmoved. Not to mention the fact that the government has abdicated its responsibilities in this arena and not for the first time. Thus, no such meetings or assessment were ever carried out, and its doubtful that they will be now, either. In response, Likud said that Elector is an outside supplier that provides services to many parties, including Likud. All professional and legal responsibility devolves upon it. Likud is making every effort, regarding data related to it and to its voters, to secure the information and ensure its complete protection in accordance with the law and accepted standards. The Mossad, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Shin Bet, the IDF, Military Intelligence and the Ministry of Defense refused to comment. The National Cyber Directorate did not respond to questions from Haaretz. Only the Central Electoral Commission said that the matter is not within their realm of responsibility. For its part, the Private Protection Authority said that any breach of privacy and leak of personal details is a serious matter. This article was published by "Haaretz"- Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday welcomed the Centre's decision to rename the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a government think tank, after late defence minister and Goa's son of soil Manohar Parrikar. The Central government has renamed the IDSA as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in order to "honour the commitment and legacy" of the late defence minister. "I welcome the decision of Union Defence Ministry to rename 'The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses' (IDSA) as 'Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses', honoring Manohar Bhai's tremendous contribution as Defence Minister of India," Sawant tweeted. Parrikar, who was defence minister from November 9, 2014 to March 14, 2017, died on March 17 last year in Panaji at Goa due to pancreatic cancer. IDSA is a non-partisan, autonomous body dedicated to objective research and policy-relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TREMPEALEAU With a Sunday morning ceremony, the Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation has celebrated completion of a long-hoped-for land conservation agreement or easement for its 19-acre Little Bluff property high above the church at Trempealeau. The congregation has concluded the agreement with Mississippi Valley Conservancy for permanent protection of the bluff, which, by a historic coincidence, was a sacred place for a religion practiced by the Mississippian Native American culture about a thousand years ago. Thats according to Danielle Benden who, with her husband Robert Ernie Boszhardt, did extensive archaeological studies of the site and village sites with help from community volunteers in the past decade. They completed interpretive programs for schools and others who visit the Little Bluff Mounds and trail that starts in the middle of the village. Both are archaeologists who worked previously with the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Their 2017 book Beneath Your Feet tells the story of the village and bluff sites. Mount Calvary pastor Joan Wittrock said that the congregations decision to protect the property is consistent with the ELCAs creation care initiatives. She noted that community support for conservation of the property dates back many years. The church welcomes the public to walk the trail to the historic bluff top site. The Little Bluff site was colonized about 1050 by more than 200 people of the Cahokia Mississippian community across the river from present-day St. Louis who came 500 miles upriver in a quest for Trempealeau Mountain the only bluff on the entire Mississippi River surrounded by water and was considered to be the source of sacred power. The Cahokia established homes and raised crops on land now occupied by the village of Trempealeau. On the bluff top, they created ceremonial mounds built to align to the cycles of the sun and probably the moon. Boszhardt found a temple site including evidence of what was likely a perpetual ceremonial fire. Boszhardt said in a telephone interview that its wonderful that the church and the conservancy are ensuring (the bluffs) preservation. He noted that one of the Mississippian village sites occupied the present church property at the base of the bluff. Victoria Hirschboeck, retired manager at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and president of the church council, said that the Friends of Little Bluff who built the trail for access to the bluff, approached the church about arranging for permanent protection with a conservation easement. After connecting with the Conservancy, which arranged funding from the Paul E. Stry Foundation for the easement transaction costs, including a complicated survey, the pieces came together. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 An expected co-operation deal between Tiki and Sendo has surprised the merger and acquisition arena in Vietnam, coming hot off the heels of the announced partnership between Vingroup and Masan late last year. Tiki has been battling for market presence with Sendo, Shopee, and Lazada The local market last week reacted to speculation about merger talks between two domestic leading e-commerce platforms in Tiki and Sendo. They have been negotiating to agree a partnership in the near future. While Tiki has kept silent about the issue, a representative of Sendo would only tell VIR, We have no comment regarding the rumours in the market. According to industry experts, once the negotiations are taking place, the relevant parties rarely issue comments, even to disclaim leaks. A VIR source revealed that discussions about the merger had been taking place since August, and only leaders of each company knew of the details. As a result, most of the shareholders have expressed surprise over the news. If the partnership comes to fruition, the M&A trend will become more dynamic thanks to that and another major deal last years alliance between local conglomerate Vingroup and food giant Masan Group. These two groups last December reached an agreement about merging Vincommerce JSC, which operates Vinmart supermarkets and VinMart+ convenience stores, and VinEco Ltd., which specialises in agricultural manufacturing, into Masan. Breaking the dominance Thanks to the huge support of Singaporean-based Sea Group and leading Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, Shopee and Lazada quickly seized the upper hand in the local e-commerce market. Through data from e-bills, Japanese-backed market research company Intage Vietnam estimated Shopees market share to be 47 per cent, larger than any other platform in the market. Lazada, with the billion-US dollar investment from Alibaba, has never been out of the top five leading e-commerce platforms in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Tiki and Sendo, with their fragmented shareholder structure, have been calling for investment to maintain their performance. At the end of 2019, 61.1 per cent of Sendos shares were held by overseas investors after getting $61 million capital in its Series C investment round. In addition to FPT, Sendos shares have been picked up by SBI, Beenext, Econtext Asia, and Daiwa. Tiki also raised capital in June and December last year. The two main shareholders are VNG with 24.6 per cent and JD.com with 21 per cent of the shares. Others include Ubiquitous Traders Pte., Ltd. (nearly 9 per cent), CyberAgent, STIC, and Sumitomo. As e-commerce platforms in the local market have been suffering tremendous losses, a merger may be a good fit for the two local companies. The step might not only eliminate one competitor but also create a new partnership with the stronger financial potential to beat foreign rivals. Previously responding to VIR, Tran Hai Linh, CEO of Sen Do Technology JSC operator of sendo.vn said, We could turn a profit next year, but for that we would need to stop investing in the market, while there is plenty of room for development in the next 10 years. Regarding Tiki and Sendo co-operation, Nguyen Viet Hung, a key opinion leader in a local technology startup, said that the partnership may happen but there is a long way to go. They have operated for 10 years and gained similar footholds in the market, so it is hard to tie things up overnight, Hung explained. However, Sendos strategy is rural-centric while Tiki has targeted the urban area. Thus, the combination will help the two companies focus on the market more comprehensively. Race projections The forecast co-operation between Tiki and Sendo foresees a reform in the market that could be a battlefield of three giants Tiki-Sendo, Lazada, and Shopee. As investment in e-commerce has yet to gain any profit, huge capital support and partnership to attain more financial power are inevitable. Hung said that the e-commerce industry will be fiercer as the competition of the big four shifts to a big three instead. To be successful in the battle, companies will have to focus more on the core values of optimising revenue and operation costs, as well as improving financial planning to grab more profits. In terms of e-commerce, companies may have to give more priority in narrowing the cash-on-delivery rate and goods-cancelling rate, as well as raise online payments by integrating e-wallets to shopping platforms, as in the case of Sendos Senpay and Shopees Airpay. VIR Van Anh Tiki and Sendo in merger talks? Tiki and Sendo may be in talks over a potential merger to break the dominance of Shopee and Lazada and their foreign backers. New Delhi: Late celebrated fashion designer Wendell Rodricks` partner Jerome Marrel on Monday penned an emotional post on social media. The ace designer died at the age of 59 on February 12 in Goa. Jerome shared the heartfelt post from the late Goa-based designer`s official Instagram handle. Sharing a rather joyful picture of the late Padma Shri winner, Jerome wrote the caption as: "ADIEU WENDELL. I want to thank all the friends who have sent a message of condolence. I will not take calls for a while but will reply personally soon. Jerome." Born on 28 May, 1960, Rodricks was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2014. For Rodricks, Malaika Arora served as a muse, he helped launch the career of Anushka Sharma after spotting her by chance in a Bengaluru mall and model Lisa Ray wore a gown designed by him for her wedding. The ace fashion designer was instrumental in reviving heritage clothes of Goa such as the kunbi saree of the Kunbi tribals of Goa and also of bringing resort wear into the limelight. The designer had also a cameo role in the film Boom in 2003 and in Madhur Bhandarkar`s `Fashion` starring Priyanka Chopra in 2008. The popular designer had written several books on Goa showcasing his love for Goan heritage. HMS Group (HMSG) Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. HMS Hydraulic Machines & Systems Group plc (the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "HMS Group") Moscow, Russia February 17, 2020 HMS Group Board of Directors meeting HMS Group (LSE: HMSG) announces today that the Company's Board of Directors held an ordinary meeting (the "Meeting") at AMATHUS BEACH HOTEL LIMASSOL, 75 Amathounta Avenue 4532 Limassol, Cyprus on February 12, 2020. All of the Company's Directors were present at the Meeting. The Financial plan (budget) 2020 was considered, discussed and approved at the Meeting. Contacts: Inna Kelekhsaeva, Deputy Head of Capital markets, on telephone: +7 (495) 730-6601, or email: capital-markets@hms.ru Alexander Rybin, Head of Capital markets, on telephone: +7 (495) 730-6601, or email: capital-markets@hms.ru About HMS Group HMS Group is the leading pump and compressor manufacturer, as well as the provider of flow control solutions and related services for the oil and gas, petrochemistry, nuclear and thermal power generation, water and wastewater sectors in Russia and the CIS headquartered in Moscow, Russia. HMS Group's products are mission-critical elements of projects across a diverse range of industries. HMS has a listing on the London Stock Exchange in the form of global depositary receipts (LSE: HMSG). Press Release Information Accuracy Disclaimer Information published in press releases was accurate at the time of publication but may be superseded by subsequent releases or other information. Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 6:29AM Microsoft promised, and now it deliveredat least for some users and with a few caveats. Following months of beta tests, there's now a unified Office mobile app showing up for some users on Android. This all-in-one productivity suite will let you edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files within that single app. It'll also allow you to go through OneDrive files, look for real-world documents with Office Lens, and read QR codes. However, the app isn't optimized for tablets or Chromebooks yet. It's not even usable in landscape mode, either. And if you're looking for an iOS equivalent, Microsoft hasn't discussed its plans for the platform yet. Source: Engadget Burma Myanmar Lawmakers Submit Bill to Amend Controversial Privacy Law Lawmakers attend a meeting in the Lower House of Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw on March 10, 2016. / Reuters YANGONThe Myanmar Lower Houses Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has submitted a draft bill to amend the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizenslegislation that rights groups have criticized as a threat to freedom of expression. The proposed amendments submitted to the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday include a reduction in the maximum prison term for a defamation conviction under the law to two years, which would make it a bailable offense. Free speech advocates and rights groups have long called for a review and amendment of the flawed law, which was enacted in March 2017, saying it curbs freedom of expression, rather than provide full protection for citizens privacy and security, which was its original aim. Over the past two years and 11 months, the law has been used to sue more than 110 individuals including activists, media and political party members, mostly by government officials, according to free speech advocacy group Athan. Athan has called for the scrapping of Article 8(f), as it has been widely used to stifle criticism of the state, state leaders and individuals by the authorities. Article 8(f), the most controversial statute of the law, criminalizes defamation. It states that No one shall unlawfully interfere with a citizens personal or family matters or act in any way to slander or harm their reputation. Violation of the law is punishable by six months to three years in prison and a fine of between 300,000 and 1.5 million kyats (about US$200 to $1,000) under Article 10 of the law. NLD Lower House member U Tin Htwe, the chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, told reporters after the parliamentary session in Naypyitaw on Tuesday that the law has been exploited to put people behind bars using the non-bailable defamation charge. Thus, the committee proposed reducing the maximum sentence in order for those accused under the statute to be allowed bail, he said. According to Myanmars criminal procedures, those charged with crimes that can be punished by three or more years in prison do not qualify for bail. But the draft bill distributed to lawmakers on Tuesday failed to include the recommendations of civil society groups. Ye Wai Phyo Aung from Athan said that without scrapping the undemocratic criminal defamation provision in Article 8(f) of the law, and greater clarity in defining the term privacy under the law, the changes would not produce better results. MPs are now more willing to listen to the voices of the public as the election draws nearer. It would be best if they amend the law to bring it in accordance with democratic norms. Otherwise the law will not change radically, even after the amendments are approved, he said. You may also like these story: Yangon MPs Draft Bill to Rein In Mismanagement of Public Funds Military MPs Oppose Merging Myanmar Charter-Change Proposals The Kx system is expected to enable the client to increase efficiency as it carries out analysis of data (stock photo) Newry software and consulting firm First Derivatives has announced a new deal with a global oilfield services company. Technology developed by the plc will be used to provide information on customers' oil and gas field clients. The Kx system is expected to enable the client to increase efficiency as it carries out analysis of data. And it's the first time Kx technology has been used by an oilfield services client. According to First Derivatives, the client, who has not been named, will gain a high return on investment. And the system is also expected to gain interest across other energy and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) markets. First Derivatives chief executive Seamus Keating said: "Making decisions at the time and place where action is required can deliver major operational efficiencies. "We believe Kx is the only technology capable of delivering this solution, enabling decision-making in real time on vast volumes of data. "As organisations increasingly look to drive action, not just reports, from the data they generate, Kx stands out for its high performance and ability to operate at the edge." Kx technology is used in a wide range of sectors including banking, manufacturing and even Formula 1 racing. Novelist Charles Portis, whose shaggy dog stories 'Norwood' and 'Gringos' earned him high praise from critics and writers passed away Monday at the age of 86. The former newspaper reporter, whose best selling Western 'True Grit' was twice adapted into Oscar nominated films, had reportedly been suffering from Alzheimer's. He died in hospice in Little Rock, Arkansas, his longtime residence. Novelist Charles Portis, whose shaggy dog stories 'Norwood' and 'Gringos' earned him high praise from critics and writers passed away Monday at the age of 86 His novel 'True Grit' was adapted as a film showcase for actor John Wayne, who played Rooster Cogburn. The role earned Wayne his first Academy Award. In 2010, the Coen brothers unveiled a less glossy version of 'True Grit,' which starred Jeff Bridges as Rooster and newcomer Hallie Steinfeld Most of his novels were set in the South and south of the border and his characters were known for embarking on journeys with unpredictable detours. For example, 'Norwood' tells the story of an ex-Marine from Texas, who heads East in a suspicious car to collect a questionable debt. Instead the main character ends up on a bus with a circus dwarf. The novel 'Gringos' features an expatriate in Mexico who seeks out order yet finds himself in the company of hippies and other unusual characters. His novel 'True Grit' made a name for Portis among the general public. In the story, an Arkansas teen sets out to avenge her father's murder. Serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in 1968, the novel was quickly adapted--and softened--as a film showcase for actor John Wayne, who played Rooster Cogburn, the drunken one-eyed marshal who the teen enlists to find her father's killer. The role earned Wayne his first Academy Award. In 2010, the Coen brothers unveiled a less glossy version of 'True Grit,' which starred Jeff Bridges as Rooster and newcomer Hallie Steinfeld as the teen who enlists him to find her father's killer. Actor Jeff Bridges (left) is pictured here with actor Matt Damon in the 2010 adaptation of 'True Grit' The movie received 10 nominations, including best actor for Bridges, bringing new attention to the novel and Portis. Born in El Dorado, Arkansas in 1933, Portis was one of four children. After doing a stint in the Marines, he graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1958 with a degree in journalism. For the next few years, he worked for a newspaper, starting as a night police reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and ending as London bureau chief for the New York Herald Tribune. His interview subjects included Malcolm X and J.D. Salinger. Portis also covered the civil rights movement. Portis left the paper in 1964, completing 'Norwood' in Arkansas, which was later adapted for a 1970 movie starring Glen Campbell and Joe Namath. Portis published short fiction in The Atlantic during the 1990s and some of his journalism short stories and travel writings were published in the 2012 anthology 'Escape Velocity.' In recent years, the author lived in open seclusion in Little Rock, stepping away from reporters. He did make an appearance to collect The Oxford Americans Award for Lifetime Achievement in Southern Literature and occasionally answered a letter from a reader. Lucknow, Feb 18 : The Yogi Adityanath government, on Tuesday, tabled its fourth budget for the year 2020-2021 of Rs 5.12 lakh crore. The budget, presented by finance minister Suresh Khanna, focuses on the allocation of funds for various infrastructure projects like Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Ganga Expressway. The budget sets aside Rs 5000 crore for a Yuva hub in every district and Rs 1200 crore for Kanya Sumangala Yojna. The UP government has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for Jewar airport, Rs 20 crore for UP Police and forensic institute and Rs 500 crore for Ayodhya airport. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, later talking to reporters, said that the budget was designed to speed up infrastructure and social welfare with special focus on education and health. The state government expects to earn Rs 37,500 crore from excise and Rs 23,197 crore from stamp and registration. The chief minister said that Rs 250 crore had been set aside for the One District, One Product scheme. For the Agra metro project, a sum of Rs 286 crore has been earmarked while Rs 358 crore has been allocated for Kanpur metro. The Yogi Adityanath government has announced a pension fo Rs 500 per month to destitute women. A sum of Rs 3000 crore has been set aside for Jal Jeevan Mission in the rural areas. With assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh just two years away, the budget is likely to lay the roadmap for the BJP-led government. The budget will increase the BJP's social outreach with focus on tribals and deprived sections of society. The state budget will provide houses for Vantagiya, Musahar and Tharu communities. Book by former PGC officer highlights unusual wildlife encounters Dick Bodenhorn has published a book highlighting some of the unusual encounters he had while working with the Pennsylvania Game Commision. Fifty-year-old Ashok Badjatya has been painting walls surrounding the Motera stadium as the city spruces up ahead of the US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to Gujarat. Badjatya and his five-member team hope President Trump and Prime Minister Modi will see their wall paintings at least once while crossing the road. Messages inscribed on the wall include 'World's Largest Democracy meets World's oldest democracy', and 'Mera Swachh Motera' along with portraits of Trump and Modi. The approximately 100 feet long wall also depicts Mahatma Gandhi, 'Charkha' along with various athlete poses. "I hope President Trump while crossing this road notices the paintings we are doing for him and our Prime Minister. Hope they feel good after seeing these paintings," Badjatya said while speaking to ANI. "I want to fight against the usage of plastic. My message is to spread 'swachhta' (cleanliness) as much as possible," he added. Currently, the team of painters is working day and night as they have been given permission to complete the entire stretch covering by February 22 the Motera Stadium, venue of the welcome event for the US first couple- President Trump and his wife Melania Trump. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston in September last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canon announces image.canon, a free service for the seamless transfer of images and movies direct to devices and web services. From early April 2020, this revolution in connected imagery will also feature free cloud storage, automatically from Canon cameras . From professionals to enthusiasts, and those who are just getting started, this cutting-edge connectivity solution will help photographers of every level capture, connect and share images with ease. Connected images Image.canon goes beyond storage, providing users with the simplest service for managing everything from their family photos to their professional workflow. The free service places users images and videos sent automatically or manually in their original quality from a Wi-Fi enabled Canon camera*, in a central hub for seamless onward delivery to devices and web services including Google Drive, Flickr, and YouTube. Adobe and Google compatability are planned to launch in June 2020. Giving photographers the tools they need to keep up in a 5G and AI enabled world, Wi-Fi enabled Canon cameras released from 2020*, will allow users to enjoy automatic background transfer direct to image.canon when connected to the internet. Free storage For fail-safe image back-up that is completely card-free, photographers can simply connect their Canon camera and enjoy free cloud storage for all their media, including raw images and 4K movies, for 30 days**. Perfect for snap-happy photographers, this gives them ample time to download to devices and transfer to their favourite services. Social media sized copies of all images are created and stored in a personal library, while users can enjoy 10GB of long term storage for their most important images and movies. Fuss-free file management Simple and intuitive, convenience lies at the heart of image.canon. By installing the dedicated PC software downloader for image.canon, photographers can quickly download images from their Canon camera direct from this hub. This process will be automated for Wi-Fi enabled Canon cameras released from 2020*, for even simpler file management. Canon users can also easily sort images and enjoy hassle-free sharing direct to their favourite social media channels or email contacts. Following its launch in early April, image.canon will make the automatic transfer of images to users accounts on services such as Google Drive possible. From June 2020, image.canon will expand both its partnership with Google to include original quality back-up with Google Photos via Google One, a membership plan for extended storage, and its partnership with Adobe Creative Cloud (membership plan). In addition to automatic transfer of images and the ability to edit images in their original quality on partnered services and applications, image.canon will make it easier for users to store and share their images. image.canon promises a revolution in connected images and movies. Giving photographers the best start for their images, this free service will transform how they store, process and share photos, with exciting plans for regular upgrades to support their creativity. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Enterprise Ireland has been rated second in terms of Top VC investors in global seed funding according to PitchBook, a leading Venture Capital and Private Equity Investment Platform. The rankings, which are based on the most active global investors by VC deal count in 2019, saw Enterprise Ireland positioned in the number two slot globally with 200 investments. 500 Startups, an early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator based out of California, took the top spot with 285 seed stage investments. Meanwhile in third place were Silicon Valleys Plug and Play Tech Center and angel investor network Keiretsu Forum which operates 50 chapters on 3 continents. Commenting on the index, Head of Investment Services at Enterprise Ireland, Leo McAdams said, "The focus of Enterprise Irelands investment strategy is to support Irish companies to start, develop and scale, resulting in an increase in exports and jobs. We are delighted to be ranked second globally by PitchBook and to take our place among the top VC investors worldwide. It is a testament to the important role that Enterprise Ireland investments play in supporting the development of our client companies." Source: www.businessworld.ie Lyudmila Denisova turned to her Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova, asking for the detainees' personal information, the reasons for detention and procedural status Ukrainian ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova reacted to today's detention of two teenagers in Kerch; the boys are suspected of preparing terrorist acts in local schools. The official posted this on Facebook. "The day of provocations staged by the aggressor state continues. The FSB detained two minor locals born in 2003 and 2004 who supposedly prepared a terrorist act in two education establishments in this city. So far, Ukrainian state authorities did not get any official information on the reasons for detention, no personal data or procedural status", she wrote. Denisova urged UNICEF, UNICEF Ukraine and members of international human rights organizations to check if the detained citizens of Ukraine have their human rights observed. As we reported, the FSB detained the youngsters in the occupied Crimea. It turned out that in November 2018, one of the detainees had a preventive conversation with the police - after he approved the attack committed by Vladislav Roslyakov in Crimean school in October 2018. "In spite of this, he (the detained teenager, - 112 International) joined the internet community of the neo-Nazis, where Roslyakov used to belong", the special service reported. Geologists say an Aboriginal tale describing the creation of a volcano in south-west Victoria could be the oldest story in existence - and they have scientific evidence to back it up. The story told by the Gunditjmara people details their version of the formation of a volcano called Budj Bim, which came into existence about 37,000 years ago. The ancient tale describes how four giant beings arrived in south-west Australia and three spread themselves across the country while one remained in one spot. The lone being crouched down and his teeth became lava while his body turned into the volcano known as Budj Bim. The ancient Aboriginal tale about the formation of the Budj Bim volcano in south-west Victoria (seen here in a 19th century drawing) could be backed up by hard facts, scientists believe Scientists believe the tale describes the creation of a real volcano that formed in Budj Bim National Park (pictured) New evidence has revealed that Budji Bim and another volcano did rapidly form in the area around 37,000 years ago, according to Science Magazine. Geologist Erin Matchan from the University of Melbourne has been working with her colleagues to examine an ancient stone axe that was found buried in volcanic rock near the region's ancient Tower Hill volcano in the 1940s. Both these rocks and the rocks from nearby Budj Bim, just 40 kilometers to the northwest, have been dated by the geology team using a well-established method that relies on measuring radioactive decay. Their findings confirmed that both volcanoes were formed around 37,000 years ago in a rapid process that could have seen them rise several metres in a matter of days. This could hold the key to the Gunditjmara story as a sudden dual eruption may have inspired the tale of the four giants. A team of geologists dated volcanic rocks found at Budj Bim Park (pictured) at 37,000 years old Ms Matchan said that there have been no other large volcanic eruptions in the meantime that could have impacted the humans in the area. The CEO of the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Damein Bell, said that the new findings highlighted their ancient connection to the land. He said: 'As with all First Nations around the world, our stories, heritage, identity and survival are connected to our traditional homelands and waters.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 04:55:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KIEV, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The representatives of the European Union (EU) and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine have condemned the escalation of conflict in east Ukraine and called for a complete ceasefire, Interfax Ukraine reported on Tuesday. The report of military escalation in Zolote area using weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, which led to casualties, is extremely alarming. This is completely contrary to the agreed ceasefire, which is still not fully respected, according to the EU representative on foreign affairs and security policy. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine also expressed its concern over the situation in east Ukraine and called for de-escalation of the conflict. "We are deeply concerned about today's reports of an escalation of the conflict in the Donbas," wrote the embassy on its official Facebook page. The Joint Forces Operation representatives reported that the attack on the Ukrainian position at the frontline in the Lugansk region on Tuesday early morning left one serviceman killed, three injured, and two shell-shocked. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the conflict escalation would not change the country's course towards ending the confrontation. The ongoing conflict in east Ukraine, which has taken the lives of some 13,000 people, started in April 2014. In her dazzling poem The Summer Day, Mary Oliver asks a poignant question: Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?We all know that life is precious, yes, and that there are moments of great serenity and gentle joy. We know the soft touch by the delicate hand of an aging grandmother, and we know the quiet glory of a sleeping newborn. The dew found blanketing the earth every morning, with absolutely no human effort, still amazes me and stirs my soul to praise. All I have to do is walk outside to find fresh mercy. Life Is Wild, Life Changes But for all its preciousness, life is also, at times, uncontrollably wild. Have you ever thought about how much a human being goes through on this pilgrimage around planet Earth? Life races along the route of the wildest roller coaster, heaving and thrusting, twisting and turning its way through all those dark tunnels of trauma. The sacred marriage that was once sealed in vows and meant to last a lifetime is ended with the stroke of a cheap pen purchased in bulk at Walmart. Some of the children who were trained up in the way that they should go are nowlike the prodigal son in Luke 15sleepwalking their way through a far country while Dad sits on the porch weeping. The business venture that seemed so unsinkable, so Titanic, is taking on water. Life is not colored neatly between the lines but is more like the confluence of two mighty rivers crashing together. The good creation that gives us groves of irrepressibly yellow aspen trees is the same creation that is sitting on top of fault lines that will soon shift and destabilize an entire region. The ecstatic celebration of a new birth is often followed by our attendance at an unexpected funeral. Scores of people think they have a game plan, a coherent and thoughtful approach to life. But we all know that a plan doesnt mean anything when something goes horribly wrong. Or, as Mike Tyson once quipped, Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.2 Where Will We Seek Wisdom? Yes, life moves on us. Things shift, disruptions occur, and economies unexpectedly tank. The sturdy life we thought we had was, upon closer examination, more like a fragile house of cards than we would like to admit. If this is true, the question then becomes, how do we become the kind of people who know how to handle whatever life throws at them? How do we learn to think on our feet and navigate the terrain we never expected to traverse? In shortand this is the question at the heart of my forthcoming bookhow do we become wise? The ancient prophets of Israel gave us a clue: This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jer. 6:16, emphasis mine) In the book of Job, we read: Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding? (Job 8:8-10) Both Jeremiah and Job tell us to pursue the older saints that have discovered The Way. Ask them where the good way is and find out what their ancestors passed on to them. Pursue the ones who have found strength in God to get back up after having fallen down. Pursue the ones who have overcome the unholy ambitions of their youth. Pursue the ones who have climbed the mountain of God. Learn from the Saints In our information age, though, this discipline of asking is in disrepair. We are largely untrained in the art of conversation. It just takes too much work. Human beings can be so complicated, so we go online for a quick search. We hope to find the right information. Maybe theres a how-to video thatll help us. But with all the crucial questions in life, you dont need a search engine; you need a sage. In the moments where critical discernment is needed, you dont need an internet pastor; you need the true communion of saints who will do the slow work of discerning the way of the Lord with you. But very few in our society will encourage you in that direction. We live in the days of the glorification of youth. We live among those who praise slim bodies instead of sound minds. We live in an age that loves pop stars and forsakes old war veterans. We follow the tabloids for news of the latest celebrity marriages while missing out on the wisdom of the old married couple sitting in the pew next to us. The extent to which we continue in this direction is the extent to which we forfeit one of Gods great gifts. Still, the ancient paths can be found. There is a life of elemental wholesomeness and vitality, a kind of life that can rise above the besetting sins and cheap seductions that have thrown many lives off course. There is a life that can weather every storm. And isnt that what all of us are longing for? So, just ask! Dont play the fool. You dont always have to learn the hard way. Look around the landscape and find someone who has a life worth emulating. Buy them a meal. Come prepared with a legal pad and four or five good questions. If youll take the time and do the work, youll find sages along the way who can save you a lot of heartache. In short, make it your goal to spend the rest of your life chasing wisdom. Daniel Grothe is the Teaching pastor at the influential New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Daniel and his wife, Lisa, live on a small hobby farm outside of Colorado Springs with their three children: Lillian, Wilson, and Wakley. Photo by Dennis Ottink on Unsplash This is almost 7 per cent higher than the current years Annual Budget 2019-20 of about Rs 4.79 trillion. In his fourth consecutive Budget, the Yogi Adityanath government sought to pursue the path of fiscal discipline, and tamed fiscal deficit at 2.97 per cent, akin to the current financial year, at Rs 53,195 crore which is within the mandated three per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor By Rasana Gasimova The Azerbaijans Central Election Commission received 177 appeals regarding the early parliamentary elections, CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov said. We have received 177 appeals connected with elections, of which 97 have already been considered, Panahov noted during the meeting held on February 17. He also noted that the CEC received 385 videos recording violations at 179 polling stations in 68 constituencies, adding that the CEC will continue to study incoming videos. Meanwhile, CEC has considered an appeal regarding the 34th Khatai Constituency No. 2 as part of the recent parliamentary elections in the country. At the meeting, it was noted that violations were observed during the elections in the constituency and that during the investigation the complaint was partially confirmed. CEC member Ilkin Shahbazov proposed invalidating the results of voting at precincts No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 18, 30 and 35 of this constituency. After the vote, the proposal was accepted. Mikhail Zabelin is the leading candidate for this constituency. Thus, election results in seven consitutiensices have been invalidated so far. Earlier, President Ilham Aliyev said that only irregularities in the proceedings took place during the election. He noted that existing violations will be seriously investigated, and those who have committed them will be punished. Note that the parliamentary elections of the sixth convocation were held in Azerbaijan on February 9 with the participation of 1,314 candidates. The candidacies of 246 people were nominated by 19 political parties, 1,057 were self-nominated, 11 - by initiative groups. Twenty-one percent accounted for female candidates while 79 percent male candidates. During the election day, some 5,573 permanent polling stations operated in 125 constituencies of the country. There were 5,329,460 registered voters. Some 883 international observers and 77,790 local observers monitored the voting process. Among the local observers, 35,152 were representatives of political parties. International observers represented 58 countries and 59 organizations. Earlier, it was noted the ruling YAPs victory in parliamentary elections according to the results of the exit polls. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (27) Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) was the pilot of the doomed flight DID THE PILOT HIJACK HIS OWN PLANE? Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah planned mass murder because of personal problems, locking his co-pilot out of the cockpit, closing down all communications, depressurising the main cabin and then disabling the aircraft so that it continued flying on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel. That was the popular theory in the weeks after the plane's disappearance. His personal problems, rumours in Kuala Lumpur said, included a split with his wife Fizah Khan, and his fury that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing. But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems and other family members and his friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job. This theory was also the conclusion of the first independent study into the disaster by the New Zealand-based air accident investigator, Ewan Wilson. Wilson, the founder of Kiwi Airlines and a commercial pilot himself, arrived at the shocking conclusion after considering 'every conceivable alternative scenario'. However, he has not been able to provide any conclusive evidence to support his theory. The claims are made in the book 'Goodnight Malaysian 370', which Wilson co-wrote with the New Zealand broadsheet journalist, Geoff Taylor. It's also been rumoured that Zaharie used a flight simulator at his home to plot a path to a remote island. However, officials in Kuala Lumpur declared that Malaysian police and the FBI's technical experts had found nothing to suggest he was planning to hijack the flight after closely examining his flight simulator. And there are also theories that t he tragic disappearance may have been a heroic act of sacrifice by the pilot. Australian aviation enthusiast Michael Gilbert believes the doomed plane caught fire mid-flight, forcing the pilot to plot a course away from heavily populated areas. IF NOT THE PILOT, WAS THE CO-PILOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MYSTERY? Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, again for personal problems, was suspected by rumour-spreaders to have overpowered the pilot and disabled the aircraft, flying it to its doom with crew and passengers unable to get through the locked cockpit door. Theorists have put forward the suggestion that he was having relationship problems and this was his dramatic way of taking his own life. But he was engaged to be married to Captain Nadira Ramli, 26, a fellow pilot from another airline, and loved his job. There are no known reasons for him to have taken any fatal action. There have been a series of outlandish theories about the disappearance of the plane Others have suggested that because he was known to have occasionally invited young women into the cockpit during a flight, he had done so this time and something had gone wrong. Young Jonti Roos said in March that she spent an entire flight in 2011 in the cockpit being entertained by Hamid, who was smoking. Interest in the co-pilot was renewed when it was revealed he was the last person to communicate from the cockpit after the communication system was cut off. DID THE RUSSIANS STEAL MH370 AND FLY THE JET TO KAZAKHSTAN An expert has claimed the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was hijacked on the orders of Vladimir Putin and secretly landed in Kazakhstan. Jeff Wise, a U.S. science writer who spearheaded CNN's coverage of the Boeing 777-200E, has based his outlandish theory on pings that the plane gave off for seven hours after it went missing, that were recorded by British telecommunications company Inmarsat. Wise believes that hijackers 'spoofed' the plane's navigation data to make it seem like it went in another direction, but flew it to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased from Kazakhstan by Russia. However, Wise admits in New York Magazine that he does not know why Vladimir Putin would want to steal a plane full of people and that his idea is somewhat 'crazy'. Wise also noted there were three Russian men onboard the flight, two of them Ukrainian passport holders. Aviation disaster experts analysed satellite data and discovered - like the data recorded by Inmarsat - that the plane flew on for hours after losing contact. Careful examination of the evidence has revealed that MH370 made three turns after the last radio call, first a turn to the left, then two more, taking the plane west, then south towards Antarctica. MH370 WAS USED BY TERRORISTS FOR A SUICIDE ATTACK ON THE CHINESE NAVY This extraordinary claim came from 41-year-old British yachtsman Katherine Tee, from Liverpool, whose initial account of seeing what she thought was a burning plane in the night sky made headlines around the world. On arrival in Thailand's Phuket after sailing across the Indian Ocean from Cochin, southern India with her husband, she said: 'I could see the outline of the plane - it looked longer than planes usually do.There was what appeared to be black smoke streaming from behind.' Ms Tee's general description of the time and place was vague and she lost all credibility when she later stated on her blog that she believed MH370 was a kamikaze plane that was aimed at a flotilla of Chinese ships and it was shot down before it could smash into the vessels. Without solid proof of the satellite data, she wrote on her blog, Saucy Sailoress, the plane she saw was flying at low altitude towards the military convoy she and her husband had seen on recent nights. She added that internet research showed a Chinese flotilla was in the area at the time. While the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage and its crucial black box data recorders remains stubbornly elusive. THE JET LANDED ON THE WATER AND WAS SEEN FLOATING ON THE ANDAMAN SEA On a flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur that crossed over the Andaman Sea on March 8, Malaysian woman Raja Dalelah, 53, saw what she believed was a plane sitting on the water's surface. She didn't know about the search that had been started for MH370. She alerted a stewardess who told her to go back to sleep. 'I was shocked to see what looked like the tail and wing of an aircraft on the water,' she said. It was only when she told her friends on landing in Kuala Lumpur what she had seen that she learned of the missing jet. She had seen the object at about 2.30pm Malaysian time. She said she had been able to identify several ships and islands before noticing the silver object that she said was a plane. But her story was laughed off by pilots who said it would have been impossible to have seen part of an aircraft in the water from 35,000ft or seven miles. Ms Raja filed an official report with police the same day and has kept to her story. 'I know what I saw,' she said. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC SYSTEMS FAILURE AND CRASH-LANDED ON THE OCEAN A catastrophic event such as a fire disabling much of the equipment resulted in the pilots turning the plane back towards the Malaysian peninsula in the hope of landing at the nearest airport. Satellite data, believable or not, suggests the aircraft did make a turn and theorists say there would be no reason for the pilots to change course unless confronted with an emergency. A fire in a similar Boeing 777 jet parked at Cairo airport in 2011 was found to have been caused by a problem with the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. Stewarts Law, which has litigated in a series of recent air disasters, believes the plane crashed after a fire - similar to the blaze on the Cairo airport runway - broke out in the cockpit. After an investigation into the Cairo blaze, Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Central Directorate (EAAICD) released their final report which revealed that the fire originated near the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. The cause of the fire could not be conclusively determined, but investigators pinpointed a problem with the cockpit hose used to provide oxygen for the crew in the event of decompression. Following the 2011 fire, US aircraft owners were instructed to replace the system - it was estimated to cost $2,596 (1,573) per aircraft. It was not known whether Malaysia Airlines had carried out the change. If either pilot wanted to crash the plane, why turn it around? So the turn-around suggests they were trying to land as soon as possible because of an emergency. THE US SHOT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT FEARING A TERROR ATTACK ON DIEGO GARCIA The Boeing 777 was shot down by the Americans who feared the aircraft had been hijacked and was about to be used to attack the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean. So conspiracy theorists claim. And former French airline director Marc Dugain said he had been warned by British intelligence that he was taking risks by investigating this angle. There is no way of checking whether Dugain received such a warning or why he believes the Americans shot down the plane. But adding to the theory that the aircraft was flown to Diego Garcia, either by the pilot Zaharie or a hijacker, was the claim that on the pilot's home flight simulator was a 'practice' flight to the island. Professor Glees said: 'The Americans would have no interest in doing anything of the kind and not telling the world. 'In theory, they might wish to shoot down a plane they thought was attacking them but they wouldn't just fire missiles, they'd investigate it first with fighters and would quickly realise that even if it had to be shot down, the world would need to know.' The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) published a report based on information received as of 19:30, 17 February 2019. The SMM saw an aircraft flying over non-government-controlled areas in the security zone. It assessed it as a swept wing four-engine turbo-prop aircraft, likely a Tupolev TU-95 or Tupolev TU-142. This was reported on the OSCE website. "At 10:00 on 15 February, while positioned in the south-western outskirts of Starobesheve (non-government-controlled, 32km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw a flying object south-east of its location flying from south-west to north-east. Based on hand-held imagery, the SMM assessed it as a swept wing four-engine turbo-prop aircraft (likely a Tupolev TU-95 or Tupolev TU-142). From 10:50-11:10, positioned in an area north-west of Liubivka (formerly Leninske, non-government-controlled, 43km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw an aircraft (likely a Tupolev TU-95 or Tupolev TU-142) east of its location flying from north to south and back again," the message says. The report states that the Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of the Luhansk region. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the Zolote disengagement area, and military hardware and personnel inside the Petrivske disengagement area. As it was reported earlier, on February 18, militants went on the offensive and attacked Ukrainian strongholds near the Zolote settlement in Donbas. As journalist Yurii Butusov reported the battle began around 5:00 a.m., the occupants are applying all weapons, including 152-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars. One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and four were severely wounded. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the February 18 attacks an attempt to thwart the peace process in Donbas and declared his intention to respond decisively to such aggression. Associated Press Writer A man convicted of strangling and shooting the wife of a suburban Dallas physician is set to die, closing a chapter in one of the area's most complex and prolonged murder cases. Former auto insurance appraiser George Anderson Hopper faced lethal injection Tuesday for the 1983 slaying of Rozanne Gailiunas, 33, who was choked with pantyhose and shot twice in the head. The mortally wounded woman _ raped, tissue stuffed down her throat, tied to a four-poster bed _ was found in her Richardson bedroom by her then 4-year-old son. She died two days later. Hopper, 49, who evidence showed received some $1,500 for the killing, would be the fourth Texas inmate executed this year if his appeals fail. Defense attorneys argued Hopper's confession was obtained improperly because detectives continued questioning him after he asked to be returned to his jail cell to think about what he wanted to do. "Any reasonable interpretation of the English language clearly indicated that (Hopper) invoked his constitutional protections," Roy Greenwood said in his petition pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Hopper's initial trial lawyer also offered little help, the appeal contends. Hopper is the last link in a complicated chain that prosecutors said was initiated by Dallas socialite Joy Aylor. She wanted Gailiunas dead because Gailiunas was dating Aylor's estranged husband, testimony showed. Gailiunas and her husband, Peter Gailiunas Jr., were separated, as were Aylor and her husband, Larry Aylor, a Dallas home builder. Rozanne Gailiunas planned to marry Larry Aylor, according to testimony. "Unfortunately, there's not anything that's ever going to undo or be able to repair the heartache and grief that this act has caused so many of us," said Dr. Gailiunas, who has remarried and practices in Dallas. "But nevertheless, to the extent this will at least start that healing process, we'd like to get it over with." Joy Aylor fled to Canada with $200,000 and her new lover, a Dallas attorney, on the eve of her 1990 murder trial. After the lawyer was arrested in remote western Canada on a drug charge, Joy Aylor disappeared to France. For two years she assumed a false identity as Elizabeth Sharp, living in a villa outside Nice. She was located after her lover's a rental car was involved in a minor traffic accident. Joy Aylor was imprisoned for two years while prosecutors negotiated with the French government. After she was returned to Texas, she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1994. Under terms of the extradition, prosecutors agreed to not pursue the death sentence, which is illegal in France. Hopper, who has been on death row since 1992, and Aylor, imprisoned near Gatesville, declined recent interview requests. Others related to the case also are in prison. Buster Matthews was sentenced to life for trying to kill Joy Aylor's husband in a separate 1986 sniper attack financed by Joy Aylor. Bill Garland, a former pest control contractor, pleaded guilty in 1995 to accepting money from Joy Aylor to arrange that unsuccessful murder attempt. Garland also pleaded guilty and received 30 years in prison for using money from her to hire Hopper. Brian Lee Kreafle, a former auto mechanic, was sentenced to 30 years after pleading guilty to soliciting capital murder and admitting to transferring instructions and money to Hopper. Authorities said Joy Aylor contacted Garland about arranging the slaying. Garland hired Kreafle, who hired Hopper. It was Carole Garland, his wife and Joy Aylor's sister, who tipped police about the plot and helped detectives by recording conversations implicating Joy Aylor. When Hopper initially was questioned, he fled police during an interview under the guise of needing a drink of water. He was picked up six months later, amid a nationwide manhunt. "Most crimes happen in a few moments of time," recalled Kevin Chapman, the lead prosecutor in the trials of Hopper and Aylor. "This one _ the crime, the coverup _ spanned five years. I had a notebook with 60 pages of dates, just dates of events, a ton of bank records, phone records, file cabinets full of stuff." Chapman, now in private business in Austin, said it was remarkable the principles all had jobs and came from good families with solid backgrounds. Joy Aylor, who worked as a decorator, had wealth and social standing. He said Hopper, married and the father of two daughters, was likable and charismatic. "I viewed it as a thrill killing," Chapman said. "He stripped her, tried to have sex with her, for $1,500. It was a power thrill deal. "It should have been a lot different. He should have been a productive member of society." By PTI NEW DELHI: In the seven months since the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, Jammu and Kashmir has grappled with an economic, psychological and emotional crisis, Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, said on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference, she said Article 370 was Kashmir's "emotional connect" with the rest of India, and the abrogation of its provisions has come at a great cost. "I am talking not just as Mehbooba Mufti's daughter, but also as an anguished Kashmiri. We all know what has been happening since Article 370 was abrogated." "It was an emotional connect for Kashmiris with the rest of the country and that was abrogated. The clampdown had had a huge cost and Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with an economic, psychological and emotional crisis," she said. She alleged the Narendra Modi government was "spreading misinformation" about the condition of Kashmiris. "I really think the government is indulging in propaganda and spreading misinformation. The rest of the country and the envoys who visited Kashmir were told that we enjoy equal rights but in reality, you can't even use VPN in Kashmir right now. I have respect for the prime minister as everybody else should have. But I feel very sad that he is being misled or he is willfully misleading the country. What rights do Kashmiris have right now?" she asked. ltija also criticised the J&K Police for registering a case against various people for defying government orders by using social media through virtual private networks (VPNs). "I will go to Kashmir and use VPN and they can file an FIR against me too," she said. Talking about the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1989, she said what happened was extremely painful, but there was no bad blood between the Hindu and Muslim communities there. "People think that Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims are at each other's throat but that is not the case," she said, while "publicly apologising" for the exodus. ALSO READ | Police description of Mehbooba as 'daddy's girl' not part of order containing grounds for detention under PSA Her mother and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was detained after provisions of Article 370 were withdrawn on August 5 last year and Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories. Admitting that Kashmiri people were angry with local leaders including her mother, and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, she said they were "angrier" with the government at the Centre. "When you talk about politicians in Kashmir being discredited, you are 200 per cent right. But, that's not something that the rest of the country should be celebrating because Kashmiris are telling the politicians, 'Look, you sided with India and what did you guys get?' "They are (saying so) because there is a sense of alienation. But they are angrier with this government. If today Amit Shah can roam about freely in the state, then I will salute him because today every Kashmiri feels that it is he who spearheaded this operation," she said. Asked if she has any political ambition, Iltija said she has not thought about it yet. She went on to say that it wasn't just in the Valley where the environment has turned "vicious", but is has happened across India and the country was headed on the path of becoming a "Hindu Pakistan". "I don't think the climate is bad only for the Kashmiris alone. But atmosphere in the entire country has become vicious. This is not the country I grew up in. I feel we are becoming a Hindu Pakistan." "When Pakistan was formed after the Partition, it was believed that it was a country for Muslims and then we saw discrimination against Shias, that they were not Ahmaddiyas. That they were not Pakistanis. I feel as a country that's the path we are going on to." She added, "First they will say Kashmiris are not good enough to be Indians, then it will be Muslims are not good enough to be Indians, then they will start a conflict within Hindus that dalits are not Indians." According to her, the Constitution was the only "holy book" that one should abide by to get through times like these. "The need of the hour is to retain what this country stands for. In today's India where so much toxicity is being spread, there should be a single holy book which should be the Constitution, and we need to uphold the principles and values enshrined in this holy book," she said. (Sharecast News) - Petrofac announced on Tuesday that Petrofac Emirates has been awarded two contracts, together worth around $1.65bn (1.27bn), with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the United Arab Emirates. The FTSE 250 company said the engineering, procurement - including novated long lead items - construction, transportation, offshore installation and commissioning contracts were for ADNOC's Dalma Gas Development Project. It said the work scope encompassed offshore packages at Arzanah island and surrounding offshore fields, located about 140 kilometres off the north-west coast of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The first package, valued at $1.065bn, would be for gas processing facilities at Arzanah island. Under the terms of the 33-month lump-sum contract, the scope of work includes inlet facilities with gas processing and compression units, power generation units, utilities and other associated infrastructure. For the second package, valued at $591m, Petrofac would lead a joint venture with SapuraKencana HL Abu Dhabi. Under the terms of that 30-month lump-sum contract, the scope of work includes three new well-head platforms, removal and replacement of an existing topside, new pipelines, subsea umbilicals, composite and fibre optic cables. The company said the Dalma project was a "key part" of the Ghasha ultra-sour gas concession, which is central to ADNOC's strategic objective of enabling gas self-sufficiency for the United Arab Emirates. "Petrofac has a strong track record in the UAE, with a presence here since 1991 and around 3,000 staff in [the] country," said chief operating officer of engineering and construction George Salibi. "We are fully committed to supporting continued and sustainable investment in Abu Dhabi's oil and gas industry through our strategic focus on maximising local delivery, and are pleased that our approach will generate substantial in-country value for the local economy. "These latest contract awards build on our existing relationship with ADNOC Group companies and we look forward to delivering this mega project in a safe, successful and sustainable manner." Petrofac said its operations in the country, established in 1991 with operational centres in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, had executed 11 major engineering, procurement and construction projects in-country to date. Recent projects included the Upper Zakum UZ750 project, Qusahwira Field Development Phase II, the Satah Al Razboot (SARB) Package 3, the contract for expansion of compression facilities at the Bab field and development of the Bab Habshan-1 project. At 1034 GMT, shares in Petrofac were up 1.59% at 370.8p. The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has released 500 cusecs of water into the Yamuna from the Ganganahar in Bulandshahr to improve the river's "environmental condition" in Agra, ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, officials said on Tuesday. Trump is set to visit India on a two-day trip between February 23 and 26. The main segment of the visit will take place in Delhi, though an option of having a short visit by the president to another city is being explored. The cities that are being considered include Uttar Pradesh's Agra and Gujarat's Ahmedabad. "Keeping in mind US President Trump's visit to Agra, 500 cusecs of water has been released from the Ganganahar to improve the environmental condition of the Yamuna. This water will reach the Yamuna in Mathura by February 20 and Agra by February 21 afternoon," the department's Superintending Engineer Dharmender Singh Phogat said. He said the department aims to maintain a certain level of water in the Yamuna till February 24. This move is likely to reduce the "foul smell" from the Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) assistant engineer Arvind Kumar said when asked about the development. "If 500 cusecs of water has been released into the Yamuna to control pollution, it will certainly have an impact. This will also improve the oxygen level in the Yamuna in Mathura and in Agra. This move may not make the Yamuna's water fit for drinking, but could reduce foul smell from the river," he said. Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi who is associated with the Shri Mathur Chaturved Parishad that is working to clean the Yamuna, said,"The move will hardly have any impact on the river. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) San Francisco, Feb 18 : Billionaire philanthropist George Soros on Tuesday called for the removal of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Shreyl Sandberg over the company's policy on political ads in the US presidential election year. In a letter to The Financial Times, Soros said that it is time for both to go. "The company doesn't need to wait for regulations to stop accepting political ads until after the November election," said Soros. He pointed towards "some kind of mutual assistance arrangement with Donald Trump" that would help him get re-elected. Facebook is yet to comment on the matter. Unlike Twitter, which has completely banned political ads, Facebook has said it will show fewer political ads to people on its platform and Instagram, but won't ban those. This is not the first time Soros has levelled such allegations against Facebook. Facebook last month refuted allegations by Soros that there is a special relationship between the social networking giant and Trump. Soros had slammed Facebook at Davos, accusing the social networking giant of helping to re-elect Trump in the 2020 US elections. "While we respect Mr. Soros' right to voice his opinion, he's wrong," Facebook had said in a statement. "The notion that we are aligned with any one political figure or party runs counter to our values and the facts. We continue making unprecedented investments to keep our platform safe, fight foreign interference in elections around the world, and combat misinformation," Facebook had said. Soros again reiterated his comments in an opinion piece in The New York Times. "Facebook will help President Trump to get re-elected and Mr. Trump will, in turn, defend Facebook against attacks from regulators and the media," he alleged. Divesting a part of government's share in LIC and corporate tax cuts are good moves by the government, but it needs to do more on the banking reforms and, stay away from protectionism to spur exports, without which high economic growth is not possible, feels former planning commission chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Talking to Annapurna Singh of DH, he says it is easy to blame it on the global slowdown but the fact is that Vietnam and Bangladesh have done very well in these times but India has not. Q. Is the govt going on the right path for $5 trillion economy? What has gone wrong with the reforms? A. It is difficult to judge what has gone wrong. But I feel, the first step is to acknowledge that we are seriously off track. We are going to get less than 5% rate of growth in 2019-20, next year we may do a little better. At this rate there is no chance of meeting the $5 trillion target by 2024-25. However that target is still being repeated as if we can achieve it. Q. Which are areas that need urgent attention? A. Let me mention a few. First, agriculture. Its performance has been worst in these six years than the previous six years. We need to have policies that increase agricultural production and productivity. We have PM-Kisan but that is just an income support for farmers. It does not necessarily ensure productivity increase. Second is banking reform. Our banks are under severe stress. The growth of credit is very low. They are hesitant to lend. They have adopted a non-risk taking behaviour. We need to implement banking reforms that will encourage the banks to get back to the job of extending credit Private investment has to be the driver of economic growth. But it is very strongly depressed at the moment and I do not see that problem being addressed. You need to talk to the private sector and work out what is worrying them and address that. Recently, Rahul Bajaj said that there is a " fear factor". The government has said that there is nothing to fear but they need to find out what is worrying private investors and engage with them. Q. Are the banks not lending because of NPA worries? A. Rise in NPAs at the time of economic slowdown is not an abnormal thing. But when NPAs arise they have to be dealt with. We have known there is a problem for some years now but we have not responded as we should have by recapitalising the banks adequately and implemented banking sector reforms. Now, the banking sickness has spread to non banking finance sector. So, you are really seeing a financial mess. We need a credible plan to handle that. Q. The government has announced many mergers? A. If you merge 10 un-reformed public sector banks to make four un-reformed PSU banks, that is not a reform. I wish the government had implemented the recommendations of the PJ Nayak Committee. Q. Do exports need attention too? A. Absolutely. No country has achieved high economic growth without a robust export performance. Our export performance for the past six years has been very poor. Indian exports in dollar terms have been flat in this period. It is easy to blame it on the world but the fact is that Vietnam and Bangladesh have done very well in these times but India has not. It is unfortunate that we have relapsed into protectionism. We are raising import duties because Indian industry is not competitive. If the Indian industry is not competitive in its own market, do you think they will be able to compete in the world markets. Raising import duties will only raise costs. Q. But, that is to promote Make in India A. That is going back to import substitution strategy of the 1970s. We know that approach will not work. The purpose of the 1991 reforms was to get away from this legacy. The Narsimha Rao government with Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister started that process, The UF and also the Vajpayee government that followed continued that process. We are now reversing the trend. The dominance of China is being questioned right now and there will be a diversification out of China for many products. India is well positioned ideally to step in and start playing a bigger role in global value chains . But I fear the move to raise import duties will kill that effort. Q. How about loans to MSMEs and Mudra loans. Do you see these piling up NPAs? A. Credit decisions should be left to the banks. Mudra loans can become non performing in a few years if they are not given after appropriate due diligence. Q. How do you see the reduction in corporate tax and its timing? A. The reduction in corporate tax rate was an important reform. We have waited for it for a long time. But it is not the move that will give any immediate boost to the economy. It will not spur private investments if those investments are held back for other reasons. Q. What is your view on LIC disinvestment? A. I think it is a good move. However, selling minority share in big corporations does not lead to any change in the management .It would be better if they bring some strategic investors to LIC. Q. Should we also privatise PSU banks? A. We should certainly end the dual regulation of public sector banks by both the Finance Ministry and the RBI. The RBI must have .the same powers over public sector banks that it does over private banks. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Daytona Beach, United States Tue, February 18, 2020 10:47 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206519687 2 Sports US,Crash,Daytona-24-Hour,race Free Denny Hamlin sealed back-to-back victories in an incident-packed Daytona 500 on Monday, winning a photo finish in a race marred by a horrific crash that left veteran driver Ryan Newman seriously injured. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin followed up his victory in 2019 with his third career win at Daytona, becoming the first racer to win the opening leg of the NASCAR season since Sterling Marlin in 1995. However, Hamlin's celebrations were muted by a last-lap crash that left Roush Fenway Racing's Newman hospitalized. The 42-year-old Newman's Ford Mustang had led on the final lap but spun out of control, hit the wall and flipped onto its roof before bursting into flames at the Daytona International Speedway. Newman's car was also sent flying into the air after being struck by Go Fas Racing's Corey LaJoie. Several ambulances sped onto the circuit to attend to Newman's stricken vehicle following the crash. Black screens were erected around the site of Newman's car as workers extracted the driver from the wreck. NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell later told reporters that Newman was in serious condition at a local area hospital, but his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. "He's in a serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are non-life-threatening," a statement from Roush Racing read out by O'Donnell said. "We appreciate the thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family at this time," O'Donnell added. Newman's fellow competitors had earlier voiced concern over the plight of the driver following the race. "I knew it was bad," race-winner Hamlin said. "I knew him crossing the track there was a bad scenario in the first place. It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but obviously someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. "We're just hoping for the best." Hamlin's team boss Joe Gibbs meanwhile apologised for celebrating the win in the immediate aftermath of the chequered flag when Newman's car was still being tended to on the track. "I was focusing on our car, and everybody started celebrating around us," Gibbs said. "Some people may have saw us and said, 'Well, these guys are celebrating when there's a serious issue going on.' "So hopefully I apologize to everybody, but we really didn't know. We got in the winner's circle, and then that's when people told us. "It just makes it so hard. Such a close-knit community." A barrier between the two underground segments of Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line 1 is removed. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Cong. The entire length of Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line 1 has been cleared with the removal of a barrier between its two underground segments Monday. The removal of the barrier, which was placed to facilitate construction of both segments, paves the way for the next phase of the project - equipment installation, officials said. The metro line project comprises four packages, three of which involve: construction and installation of the line's 2.6-kilometer (1.6-mile) underground segment (including three underground stations); construction of the line's elevated segment; and installation of the line's equipment, locomotives and trains. Huynh Hong Thanh, deputy head of HCMC's Urban Railways Management Board, said the removal of the barrier would allow for the line to be fully connected from the Long Binh Depot to the central Ben Thanh Station, with all three underground stations Ben Thanh, Opera House, Ba Son and the entirety of the underground segment integrated into the line. The barrier's removal also marks the project's phase transition from the construction of the overall structure to the installation of the rail, electromechanical and signal systems along the entire line, as well as the installation of equipment and the completion of the stations. The city has set a target for project completion to advance from its current 71 percent to 85 percent before the end of this year, and officially go into operation by the end of 2021. When completed, HCMC's Metro Line 1 will run 19.7 kilometers from Long Binh in District 9 to Ben Thanh in District 1 with a total of 14 stations. Work on the line started in August 2012, with the elevated segment being cleared in June 2018. Following the underground segment's clearance, restoration work on Le Loi Street's surface and the park in front of the HCMC Opera House are scheduled to be completed before April 30. The locomotives and trains for the line are expected to arrive in HCMC in June. The Metro Line 1 project was approved in 2007 with a total investment of VND17.4 trillion ($750 million). This was raised to VND47 trillion ($2 billion) in 2010 after design changes and fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Japanese Yen, but the increase was not approved by the relevant ministries. Last November, the National Assembly allowed HCMC authorities to approve a new total investment of VND43.6 trillion ($1.88 billion). The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on internal security of the National Assembly to overhaul the existing security ... The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on internal security of the National Assembly to overhaul the existing security setup of the National Assembly over report of possible insurgents attack. Barwa Beji who moved the motion cited a newspaper report on possible attack by the insurgents on the National Assembly. Moving the motion, Beji said that media report has it that several unknown persons have been seen around the National Assembly but claimed to be visiting their lawmaker. He called for the cooperation of his colleagues to tackle the danger. Several suspicious people have been seen around national assembly. The cooperation of the lawmakers will be really important, since those people have been linked to us, he said. The lawmaker also accused the security agents at the National Assembly of compromising the security of the Complex by collecting bribe at the gate to allow people in. We are aware of the compromise by security agents, who collects tokens to allow such people to entre. Also aware of the delay in giving identity cards to the people who are coming into the national assembly, he stated. The House, therefore, resolved to mandate the management of the National Assembly to speed up the process of issuing identity Cards to vendors operating at the national assembly and to investigate the report. The green chamber also asked the management of the complex to install CCTV camera around the complex and more shuttle should be provided. Odisha Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on Tuesday presented the annual budget for 2020-21 with an outlay of Rs 1,50,000 crore, a rise of 11.1 in comparison to the previous fiscal. While Rs 65,655 crore has been allocated as administrative expenditure, Rs 74,000 crore is meant for programme expenditure, Rs 3,200 crore for disaster response fund and Rs 7,145 crore towards transfers from the state, Pujari said in the assembly, describing it as a revenue surplus budget. The minister had presented a Rs 1.39 lakh-crore budget for 2019-20. Pujari said the outlay is proposed to be financed through revenue receipt of Rs 1,24,300 crore and borrowing and other receipt of Rs 25,700 crore. "The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 3 per cent of GSDP for the year 2020-21," he said. The total revenue receipt include the state's own tax of Rs 38,350 crore and non-tax revenue of Rs 17,650 crore, its share in central taxes for Rs 36,300 crore and grants from the Centre for Rs 32,000 crore. The capital outlay in 2020-21 is Rs 26,513 crore, which is about 4.5 per cent of the GSDP. Additionally, loans and advances, grants for creation of capital assets and other expenditure for capital formation together account for Rs 10,000 crore, accounting for 1.7 per cent of the GSDP. For the first time, the Odisha government has switched to a digital method of budget presentation to reduce printing of papers for the exercise, Pujari said, adding, the e-budget format has saved about "1,000 large trees from being felled". Pujari read out his budget speech from a tablet computer, while all MLAs, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, were provided with similar devices containing the budget document. The finance minister said nutrition budget, strategic budget and a climate code budget have been introduced this year. By separating specific sectors, focus has been given to environment, child and women and infrastructure development, he said. Pujari, like other years, presented the budget in two parts - agriculture and general. For agriculture, he collocated Rs 19,408 crore for 2020-21 and said another Rs 12,000 crore is to be invested through extra budgetary resources. To increase income of farmers, the finance minister proposed a 'Samruddha Krishi Niti-2020' in the budget. He proposed an allocation of Rs 3,195 crore for the KALIA scheme. Pujari added that construction of in-stream storage structure in all major rivers with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore over five years is a step towards transformation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vancouver, BC, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the Company, Future Farm or FFT) (CSE: FFT) (OTCQB: FFRMF) is pleased to provide an update on recent activities as it plans for its new fiscal year on March 1, 2020. The Companys CEO, Bill Gildea, thanks current and prospective shareholders for their ongoing support. Calendar year 2019 was an inflection point for Future Farm. The decision to grow hemp in Maine in 2018 and 2019 led Future Farms management team to analyze deeply the market for the sophisticated production of plant-based health and wellness products. The Company has determined that the quality of that market with respect to both profitability and growth is outstanding. In the short term, Future Farm will use the hemp biomass from its 2019 harvest to produce products in collaboration with first-rate advanced manufacturers. But the Companys real goal in the new fiscal year beginning next month is to acquire one or more operating manufacturing companies to quickly increase its share of that market. The summaries below provide a more in-depth update on the Companys various projects. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS During its second fiscal quarter of 2020, which ended on August 31, Future Farm announced that it would focus its resources on existing business operations with the highest potential for revenue growth and profitability. With the hemp crop on its 100-acre farm in Maine thriving, and robust expectations for the hemp-for-wellness product market, the Company decided to focus on hemp cultivation, the extraction of cannabinoids and product manufacturing to meet the burgeoning demand in the U.S. and global markets for pharma-quality health and wellness products. Future Farm continues to pursue licenses to grow cannabis for sale, research and development in Canada. The Company has discontinued projects related to marijuana in the United States in order to enhance its access to capital and simplify other aspects of business operations such as banking and tax planning. As an initial step in this effort, Future Farm sold its interest in FFPR, LLC, the company developing dispensaries in Puerto Rico, back to its local partner in that effort, Clinica Verde, which is owned by TCG Investments. Future Farm was a 40% owner of FFPR. Story continues CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING FLORIDA Future Farm owns a fully operational greenhouse business on approximately 10-acres in Apopka, Florida known as White Sand Nursery (White Sand). White Sand currently grows ornamental plants that are sold in large retail stores throughout North America. In response to the recent passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, the Company decided to expand its existing hemp portfolio to include a partnership in Florida. In March 2019, Future Farm was one of two applicants selected by Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) to enter into a research partnership to cultivate hemp in the state. The partnership allows Future Farm to be one of the first companies to plant hemp in Florida. FAMU's staff and students will conduct joint research with Future Farm in the areas of pharmacology, agriculture technology and biosciences to develop the ideal cultivars for Floridas various climates and soil conditions. In September 2019, Future Farm management met with representatives of FAMU at FAMUs 3,800-acre site in Brooksville, Florida in order to select a site for the partnerships first hemp farm. Future Farm selected a 10-acre parcel and will begin soil sampling and infrastructure design for the planting permit proposal. Future Farm is still assessing whether to move forward with this opportunity. HEMP-DERIVED HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS During calendar year 2019 Future Farm leased 100-acres of land in Hersey, Maine. The Company also leased a 13,000-square-foot facility in Belfast equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and equipment to germinate certified hemp seedlings. Future Farm expects its hemp operations to provide multiple revenue streams from the sale of: hemp seeds, bulk products extracted from the biomass grown in Maine, such as whole-plant extract, distillate and isolate, as well as consumer products manufactured for Future Farm business customers by subcontractors. In May 2019, the Company signed an agreement with Northeast Processing (NEP), a Vermont-based hemp processing company, to process, test and package its hemp grown in 2019 into top quality whole plant extract, distillate, isolate and other products. The partnership allows for a scalable, efficient and flexible approach to processing the Companys harvest. Future Farm expects to offer product manufacturers premium quality distillates, isolates, extracts, water-soluble products and much sought after zero-THC products. The successful 2019 season has positioned the Company to now begin soliciting orders for custom formulations, bulk orders and product manufacturing. In October 2019, the Companys hemp crop passed Maines state-mandated testing for acceptable levels of THC. Future Farm harvested its hemp in October and has completed the drying and curing phase of both the biomass for extraction and seeds. Both crops achieved yields that outpaced the Companys apparatus for seed extraction, plant bucking, processing and storage. The Company acquired more robust seed extraction and cleaning equipment to meet the demands of its harvest. It now has seeds ready for sale and biomass ready for extraction. The Company has an active sales pipeline for both hemp-derived products and its hemp seeds with projected revenue in fiscal year 2021, which begins on March 1, 2020, of at least US$3 million, against costs of approximately US$2 million. The Company has at least six million high quality Cherry Wine hemp seeds currently available for sale from this years harvest. The Company invites interested buyers to contact sales@futurefarmtech.com. RHODE ISLAND Future Farm owns a 15,000-square foot building in Providence, Rhode Island that is actively being marketed for sale as part of the Companys effort to streamline operations and focus on U.S. hemp and other plant-derived product operations. The building is located in an M-1 zone, which permits the cultivation of cannabis by right. The Company invites interested buyers to contact Greg Murphy of Remax Commercial at gmurphy@sellri.com. BREEDING AND GENETICS The core of Future Farms breeding and genetics operation are in its relationship with CEPG Consulting and Design Inc. (CEPG). CEPG is an experienced developer of controlled environment plant growth systems located in St. Johns, Newfoundland. CEPG intends to create elite new strains of cannabis and produce and sell cannabis seed, seedlings and clones. Sales will be to licensed cannabis producers and licensed cannabis retailers within Canada. The Company has a 50% interest in CEPG. In August 2019, CEPG was issued an Industrial Hemp License from Health Canada. This license, in combination with a building permit previously issued by the City of St. Johns, Newfoundland, allows CEPG to move forward with the construction of its planned hemp research facility at 148 East White Hills Rd. CEPG intends to mass-produce elite clones of cannabis plants. Through elite cloning, one may create a new harvest with exact replicas of the best performing plants to achieve specific, desired results in patients and recreational users. CEPG intends to commercialize the intellectual property it develops by selling clones. The business is in the planning phase of setting up lab operations in Newfoundland, Canada. In furtherance of this endeavour, another license application has been submitted to Health Canada as part of a potential collaboration between CEPG and The Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) to develop a research program for the characterization of elite Cannabis clones. CORPORATE MATTERS In December 2019, the Company held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. At the meeting, all resolutions were passed with the required majority. The Directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting will be incumbents William Gildea, Craig Stanley, Scott McDermid and newly appointed Director Thomas Barrette. After the Annual General Meeting, director Scott McDermid submitted his resignation from the Board of Directors in order to focus on family business. The Company thanks Mr. McDermid for his time and efforts while serving on the Board and wish him well in his future endeavors. In January 2020, the Company announced that in addition to acting as Director, Mr. Barrette would also serve as Future Farms President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Barrette is an accomplished attorney and business executive with deep experience working with companies facing challenges such as sophisticated financing needs, complex strategic partnerships with multiple parties, and significant government regulation. Mr. Barrette has been consulting with Future Farms management team for over a year, and has become an integral part of the future of the Company. Over the course of the last year, Mr. Barrette, in close collaboration with Future Farms management team, has identified that the best opportunity to create value for Future Farms shareholders is through the production of plant-based health and wellness products, including those which feature hemp-derived compounds. Pharma-quality manufacturing of hemp-derived and other plant-based health products is high margin, low risk and growing rapidly. The Company is therefore actively seeking acquisition opportunities to increase its share of that market rapidly. The Company also announces that it will strive to provide regular, quarterly updates to its shareholders in an effort to demonstrate continued transparency and disclosure. In furtherance of this initiative, the Company has made a renewed commitment to shareholder communication by retaining leading investor relations firm Renmark Financial Communications. Investors and members of the media seeking more information about the exciting strategic direction of Future Farm, or any other aspect of its business, should contact Renmark as follows: Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Investor Relations - Daniel Gordon: dgordon@renmarkfinancial.com Media - D. Elizabeth (Liz) Culley-Sullo: dculley-sullo@renmarkfinancial.com Canada: (416) 644-2020 or US: (212) 812-7680 www.renmarkfinancial.com CONCLUSION Future Farm continues to execute on its plan to focus on plant-based health and wellness products, including those derived from hemp. It is managements belief that acquisitions and capital investment in the sophisticated production of plant-based health and wellness products will fuel the continued growth of Future Farm to a cash flow positive, scalable business with a broad base of business customers. To that end, the Company continues to raise capital and look for new opportunities to expedite growth. Future Farm thanks current and prospective shareholders for their interest and ongoing support. For further information, contact Investor Relations at investor@FutureFarmTech.com. On behalf of the Board, Future Farm Technologies Inc. William Gildea, CEO & Chairman About Future Farm Technologies Inc. Future Farm Technologies is a Canadian public company that is poised to be a leading supplier of pharma-grade health and wellness products, including those made from hemp, to meet the burgeoning demand in the U.S. and global markets. Future Farms seasoned management team brings a deep understanding of operations and agriculture with the financial and regulatory expertise needed to become an industry leader in the rapidly growing market for health and wellness products made from hemp and other plants. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in its efforts to further develop its existing hemp operations, or that the Company will be able to raise sufficient capital to execute on its intended business plan and objectives. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. Mr. Trumps hotels have had mixed performance since his election, with some like the Trump National Doral near Miami showing significant declines in revenue since 2015 in part because some customers and corporate sponsors have avoided the resort, as Mr. Trump himself has acknowledged. Other Trump-branded hotels, in Panama City, Toronto and the SoHo neighborhood of New York, have dropped the Trump brand, after protests by owners or other friction. But the Las Vegas hotel has been among the better performers in the Trump portfolio, bringing in more than $30 million a year from hotel and condo sales that have been fairly steady since Mr. Trump was elected. Ty Wilfon, a firefighter from Albuquerque, browsed the Trump store with his wife and sons, who inspected chocolates made to look like bars of gold and stamped with the presidents name. A dozen miniature ones cost $21. The Wilfons had just sold a house and were visiting Las Vegas to celebrate. Im obviously a Donald Trump supporter, Mr. Wilfon said, as he looked for ties in the shop but couldnt justify the $125 asking price. With the whole impeachment thing, it makes me support Trump more, he said, calling the 2020 race pretty crazy and adding he thought Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii was the Democrats strongest candidate. Beckey and Ricky Langley, small-business owners from Washington State, had ducked into the hotel to see the scene. They called themselves moderates who had been hesitant to vote for Mr. Trump in 2016 but were won over by how the economy had performed in his first term, helping their storm-drain-cleaning business boom and making them enthusiastic about his re-election bid. Right now, I think I do identify with the Republican Party, but I think its more because of what the opposition shows, Ms. Langley said, calling Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota the only acceptable candidate in the primary race. The Democrats are just imploding, Mr. Langley said. Theyve gone so far left, so far overboard. Holden joins a growing list of businesses struggling to stay afloat in Australia after announcing they would leave the market by 2021. Considered the 'lucky country', Australia invented the Victa lawnmower, the Hills Hoist clothes line and even the ute. But more and more Australian icons have been forced to move their production overseas or have been bought by international companies. Household-name retail stores like Harris Scarfe, Bardot, Roger David, and Napoleon Perdis have also dropped like files with dozens of stores closing resulting in heavy job losses. General Motors announced on February 17 it would scrap struggling Australian car brand Holden, with engineering, design and sales operations to be wound down in the coming months HOLDEN Holden started as a saddlery in 1856 and produced its first Australian-designed car in 1948. But since the closure of local production in 2017, Holden has sold only imported vehicles, while retaining testing and engineering facilities in Australia. The company's total sales in 2019 were just 43,176, down almost 29 per cent in a total market which fell by just eight per cent. The decision to shut down the brand was made by parent company General Motors, who said its global priorities showed it couldn't justify the investment necessary to ensure the brand would flourish rather than just 'limp along'. The closure will cut about 600 jobs in Australia and New Zealand, mostly management, engineering and sales and marketing positions. About 200 jobs will be retained, largely in aftersales, including spare parts. VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATION JEANS WEST Australian clothing giant Jeanswest went into voluntary administration in January, leaving almost 1,000 workers at 146 stores in limbo. Jeanswest is an iconic Australian retail brand which opened its first store in Perth in 1972, and employs 988 people in 146 stores across Australia. Jeanswest will continue to operate while the Administrators conduct an urgent analysis of the business,' KPMG Partner Peter Gothard said. 'The Administrators will be looking at all options for the restructure or sale of this established Australian retail business and are seeking urgent expressions of interest from parties interested in acquiring or investing in the business.' KPMG's retail restructuring practice leader James Stewart said like many other retailers, the business has been challenged by current tough market conditions and pressure from online competition. 'The Administration provides an opportunity for Jeanswest to restructure so as to better respond to the challenging Australian retail market,' he said. Australian clothing giant Jeanswest went into voluntary administration in January, leaving almost 1,000 workers at 146 stores in limbo CO-OP BOOKSTORE The Co-op Bookshop will disappear in coming months after being sold to online retailer Booktopia. The demise of yet another retailer and uncertainty of about 200 jobs comes after the chain's owner went in voluntary administration at the end of last year. Co-op, which has provided university students with textbooks since it was founded in Sydney in 1959, has been sold to online retailer Booktopia. 'The Co-op business has been an iconic Australian campus bookstore chain for almost six decades. We are thrilled to be able to continue the legacy that has served Australian students for so long,' Booktopia co-founder and CEO Tony Nash said in January. The Co-op Bookshop will disappear in coming months after being sold to online retailer Booktopia COLETTE BY COLETTE HAYMAN Popular jewellery and accessories chain Colette by Colette Hayman was put into administration in January and faces an uncertain future. Administrators from Deloitte Restructuring Services said the country's dire retail climate was at the centre of the business's failure. The brand has now been put in the hands of Vaughan Strawbridge, Sam Marsden and Jason Tracy, who released a statement at the beginning of February. 'Colette By Colette Hayman has, unfortunately, been impacted by the current weak retail environment, as have many others,' Mr Strawbridge said. 'Our focus is on continuing to trade the business while we seek either a recapitalisation of the Group or a sale of the business.' The administrators are confident the brand is strong enough to secure a future and will hope to keep the 300 staff employed. The brand was founded by the 'queen of handbags' Colette Hayman in 2010, who formerly owned low-end jewellery chain Diva. Popular jewellery and accessories chain Colette by Colette Hayman was placed into voluntary administration in January DIANA FERRARI Australian footwear retailer Diana Ferrari shut up shop in 2018 but continue to run their online store. Founded in 1979, Diana Ferrari opened their first store in 2000 and said they were proud to have served their customers for the 17 years. DICK SMITH Electronics retail giant Dick Smith announced voluntary administration in 2016 and was acquired by Kogan.com. Kogan.com CEO Ruslan Kogan said on the day of the announcement: 'Dick Smith is one of the most iconic retail brands in Australia.' 'I remember as a kid always visiting Dick Smith to look for parts to upgrade my computer. There is a strong history of passion in the Dick Smith community for how technology can improve our lives, and we look forward to helping make it more affordable and accessible for all.' 'We will invest in building and nurturing the Dick Smith community, and honour the great legacy of this Australian business.' The household name still sells to customers through their online site. A generic Holden photo taken in Adelaide, Monday, February 17, 2020. General Motors has decided to retire the Holden brand in both Australia and New Zealand INTERNATIONAL OWNERSHIP ARNOTT'S Arnott's have stocked pantries around Australia for decades, growing from humble beginnings in Newcastle, New South Wales, to one of the country's biggest brands. But the iconic Australian label was purchased by U.S. giant Campbell Soup Company in 1997. In 2019, Campbell's agreed to sell Arnott's to US private equity firm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Manufacturing remained in Australia. BILLABONG Surf brand Billabong collapsed in 2012 and was later taken over by a US private equity group. Before its financial failings, Billabong was hugely successful across the country, selling clothing, backpacks, skateboards, surfboards and other products. UNCLE TOBYS After first milling oats in 1893, Uncle Tobys went on to become one of Australia's favourite breakfast brands. It was sold to Swiss giant Nestle for $890million in 2006 and most products have remained the same. SPEEDOS The famous swimming costumes continue to be a staple for Australian summers. Founded by a Scottish migrant named Alexander MacRae in 1914, the brand was snapped up by British-based Pentland Group in the 1990s. A special court on Tuesday reserved its order on regular bail of all the six bureaucrats and will pronounce order on February 19 in the INX Media corruption case. The bail application was moved by six bureaucrats who were part of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) panel which granted approval to INX Media, in the case involving former Union Minister P. Chidambaram. All these bureaucrats are currently on interim bail. The court also directed the CBI to hand over the copy of certain deficient documents to all the accused in the INX Media case, including former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti. These documents were filed along with the charge sheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). All the bureaucrats who were charge sheeted are currently on interim bail. Earlier, in its reply, the CBI opposed the regular bail petition of the bureaucrats. Last month, the court had extended the interim bail of six bureaucrats in the INX Media case till February 18. The interim bail of six bureaucrats, who were part of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), which granted approval to INX Media during Chidambaram's tenure, was extended by the court. The bureaucrats include Ajeet Kumar Dungdung, the then Section Officer; Rabindra Prasad, the then Under Secretary; Prabodh Saxena, Director, FIPB unit of Finance Ministry; Pradeep Kumar Bagga, the then Officer on Special Duty; Anup K Pujari, the then Joint Secretary, and Sindhushree Khullar, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. The agency's reply came on a notice served to it by the court on November 29 on the bail petition moved by them. The interim bail is a temporary bail for a period in which the court can ask for documents to be presented which are required to make a final decision on the bail application. Subsequently, the court can grant permanent bail, extend interim bail or reject bail application altogether. Chidambaram, who is the main accused in the case, is out on regular bail in the case. The case pertains to FIPB clearance given to Karti's INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore when his father was the finance minister. The economic offences watchdog had registered a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) case based on an FIR by the CBI and alleged that irregularities took place in the FIPB clearance to INX Media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Kim Jae-heun Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin Reports surfaced last year that Shinsegae Group will extend its partnership contract with Starbucks Korea, continuing their 20-year run. The 20-year-contract between Shinsaegae and Starbucks will see the local retail giant operating the American coffee chain throughout Korea and supplying necessary products to the franchise coffee shops. Starbucks Korea is a partnership of the Starbucks and Shinsegae Corporations and therefore affiliated by proxy with E-mart. With worsened sales performance from E-mart, Shinsegae experienced a loss in earnings during the second quarter of last year. Despite these losses Shinsegae was hoping to continue its partnership with Starbucks. Starbucks Korea CEO Song Ho-seob LUTHERVILLE, Md., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celebree School, a leader in early childhood education with 26 company-owned locations in Maryland and Delaware, today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Nirali Patel and Gopika Patel. The sisters-in-law will operate a Celebree School in Howard County, Maryland, on track to open in late 2020 or early 2021. While franchising isnt new to Nirali Patel and Gopika Patel, this will be the duos first foray into early childhood education. Nirali Patel became inspired about the impact she could have operating a preschool after a volunteer experience in India. Together, they look forward to helping their local community by educating the next generation of leaders. The Celebree School model really stands out from the competition, said Nirali Patel. Not only do the schools offer a nurturing environment for children to learn and grow but the leadership team provides an unmatched level of support to ensure success. Faculty and staff at Celebree School believe success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection that extends beyond the classroom and into the homes and neighborhoods of the students. The Celebree approach is not simply about educating the whole child, but the whole family. At Celebree School, we embody family and community, said Richard Huffman, founder and CEO of Celebree. Its wonderful welcoming Nirali and Gopika to our team as they already share a strong family bond and are eager to provide a resource to families in Howard County. Celebree School franchises come with the resources an owner needs to start and run a successful business. Opportunities to open Celebree Schools are available in Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Celebree School Grows People Big and Small starting with students who range from six-weeks to school age and extending to parents, teachers and directors. Now people who want to own their own business can be part of Celebree School and channel their passion for the community into the success of their school. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit the Celebree School website or contact Jim DiRugeris, chief development office, at jdirugeris@celebree.com or 443-391-6533. About Celebree School Founded in 1994, Celebree School is a leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs. With a mission to Grow People Big and Small, Celebree School believes success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection. Each school employs a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children and follows applicable state guidelines. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.com . Connect with us on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn . German national sentenced to three years for taking photos in sensitive areas released in exchange for freed Iranian. Iran has released a German citizen sentenced to three years in jail, Irans judiciary said, as part of a prisoner swap for an Iranian held in Germany on suspicion of violating US sanctions. The announcement of his release came on Tuesday, a day after Tehran said a jailed Iranian accused of violating US sanctions had returned home from Germany. On Monday, a German citizen returned home. He was arrested a while ago and was sentenced to three years in jail for taking pictures from sensitive places, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said in a televised weekly news conference. Iran said on Monday that Ahmad Khalili, who was arrested in Germany on a US request and subject to extradition to the United States, flew home on Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had been in Germany to attend a security conference in Munich. We insisted that first the Iranian citizen should return home then the German citizen was allowed to leave Iran on Monday, Esmaili said. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has arrested dozens of dual nationals over recent years, mostly on espionage charges. Iran said in December it was ready for more prisoner swaps with the US after it secured the return of scientist Massoud Soleimani in exchange for Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-born American held in the Islamic republic. Decades-old tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated steeply since 2018, when US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Soleimani, a stem cell researcher at a Tehran university, on December 7, also flew back home from the US with Zarif. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-19 03:49:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly discussed issues related to the expansion of the country's military cooperation with Nicosia in meetings with Cypriot officials on Tuesday, a government spokesman said. The spokesman said that Parly had a long and detailed conversation with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and later held more discussions with Defense Minister Savvas Angelides. "There was a debate on ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defense sector," the spokesman said. He added that Anastasiades welcomed the level of cooperation between the two countries, but also thanked the French minister for the support of Paris "both in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and for the defense cooperation." Cyprus recently confirmed that it purchased anti-aircraft and anti-naval missiles from France worth 240 million euros. Meanwhile, the country is upgrading a naval base on its south shores so as to accommodate the docking of French warships. It is also holding frequent naval and air exercises with French units in the region. In announcing Parly's visit to Cyprus, the French Defense Ministry said that it would provide the opportunity "to take stock of and discuss the prospects for the excellent and growing bilateral relationship between France and Cyprus." Enditem Coming to the rescue of endangered birds -- the great Indian bustard and the lesser florican, which are dying in large numbers due to collisions with high-voltage power lines, the Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Rajasthan government to consider laying underground cables. The top court said they are large birds and it is difficult for them to maneuver due to the high-tension power lines which obstruct their flight paths. The Ministry of and Forests (MoEF) shared the concern of the court and said that there is no other option but to lay power cables underground to protect the great Indian bustard (GIB) and lesser florican (LF). A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant asked senior advocate Manish Singhvi, appearing for the Rajasthan government, to take instructions from the competent authority for laying of cables underground. "It appears that one of the dangers is the presence of power lines, which obstruct the flight path of the of GIB. It is well known that the GIB is a larger bird and it is difficult for it to maneuver easily in its flight. One of the solutions suggested to avoid any collision in its flight path is that the over-head wires be laid down underground". It asked Singhvi to take instructions within two weeks and apprise the court about the manner in which the power lines could be laid down underground. At the outset, the top court said that the state government can look into modifying the contract of private companies for laying down the cables underground. "This is a larger bird which fly in a particular direction. To avoid power lines coming in the direction of flight path of the bird, it would be appropriate if they are laid down underground. Necessary changes can be made in the contract with the private companies for laying down underground cables," the bench said. With regard to LF, the top court said it is not disputed that the bird is also endangered and disturbed largely by the power generation plants. The top court said that if the Rajasthan government faces any problem, then the court can pass necessary directions. Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni, appearing for MoEF said a team of the ministry and other wildlife experts have visited Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and it is evident from their findings that underground cable is the only solution. Advocates Sugandha Yadav, Shatadru Chakraborty and Sonia Dube, appearing for Petitioner M K Ranjitsinh -- a retired IAS officer, said that they have prepared terms of reference for the top court appointed panel, which could be looked into for conservation for GIB and LF. The top court asked the MoEF to look into the terms of reference and file an affidavit in this regard. The Counsel for the petitioner suggested names of three experts -- Sutirtha Dutta (scientist), Thulsi Rao, Director, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB) and Samad Kottur, a lecturer in government college in Karnataka -- to be included in the panel appointed by the apex court as they deal largely with LF. The top court accepted the suggestion while directing for inclusion of the three experts in the panel and posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks. On July 15 last year, the court had taken serious note of alarming extinction of the GIB and the LF and constituted a high powered committee to urgently frame and implement an emergency response plan for the protection of these species. It had constituted a 3-member panel comprising Director of Bombay Natural History Society; Asad R Rahmani, former Director of Bombay Natural History Society and Dhananjai Mohan, Chief Conservator of Forests of Uttarakhand. It had sought responses from the Centre and state governments where these two species of birds are prominently found, on a plea of wildlife activists. Ranjitsinh and others had sought the court's directions for an urgent emergency response plan to protect and recovery of both the bird species. Ranjitsinh, who has served as the director of Wildlife Protection, has contended in his plea that over the last 50 years the population of the GIB has recorded a decline of over 82 per cent, falling from an estimated 1,260 in 1969, to 100-150 in 2018. "The population of the Lesser Florican (also known as the likh or kharmore) has seen a sharp decline of 80 per cent over the past few decades, from 3530 individuals recorded in 1999, to less than 700 individuals in 2018," the plea said. It added that both the birds are protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 but despite being accorded the highest level of protection under national law, the birds face the threat of imminent extinction. The plea blamed various reasons for the threats faced by the two endangered birds including -- mortality by collision with infrastructure, particularly power lines and wind turbines, depletion of grasslands, hunting, development of mines and human habitation in and around their habitats and ingestion of pesticides. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Southeast Asia's economic epicenter, Singapore, has once again been ranked as the best place in the world for East Asian expatriates living abroad. Impressive infrastructure, access to amenities, low crime rates and a large international community helped the city-state cinch pole position in this year's edition of the ECA International's global liveability index, extending its 15-year run. "Singapore has been consistently featured at the top of our liveability rankings for Asian expatriates for well over a decade, and this year is no different," said Lee Quane, regional director for Asia at ECA International. "These aspects attribute to Singapore's prime spot in the rankings, and the country will most likely continue to hold the top position in the considerable future." The data firm's annual expat survey measures some 490 locations across a range of liveability factors, including health services, housing, climate and political tensions as well as personal metrics like "isolation" levels to rate their accommodativeness for people living and working abroad. The findings are then further broken down to determine the top cities for expats from East Asia or Europe. Countries with cultural similarities and geographical proximity to an expat's home country is more likely to score highly, for example. After walking the runway at the Burberry show at London Fashion Week, Kendall Jenner spent some time with Kourtney Kardashian's ex Luka Sabbat. The 24-year-old supermodel took to Instagram on Monday night, sharing three photos captioned, 'After Burberry.' One photo featured her sitting on a couch by herself, while another featured her getting close with Sabbat, 22, and another with model Mona Tougaard. Kendall and Luka: After walking the runway at the Burberry show at London Fashion Week, Kendall Jenner spent some time with Kourtney Kardashian's ex Luka Sabbat Jenner rocked a long-sleeved butterfly print top with a matching co-ord form-fitting maxi skirt. She wore her hair parted down the middle and pulled back in a bun, with gold earrings and a brown purse dangling from a gold chain over her shoulder. The model and reality star completed her look with a pair of black heeled boots as she celebrated with Sabbat and Tougaard after the show. Models: The model and reality star completed her look with a pair of black heeled boots as she celebrated with Sabbat and Tougaard after the show Jenner also shared a photo of Sabbat by himself on her Instagram story, rocking a white dress shirt and tie under a black suit coat. Sabbat and Jenner's half-sister Kourtney Kardashian were rumored to have started dating in September 2018, when they were seen grabbing dinner at the L.A. hot spot The Nice Guy. Despite being seen together several times over the next few weeks, a source told People that there was 'nothing serious' between them. Luka's look: Jenner also shared a photo of Sabbat by himself on her Instagram story, rocking a white dress shirt and tie under a black suit coat 'It makes her feel good to have these hot, young guys who are interested in her,' the source added about Kourtney. The source added that, 'Luka is also good friends with Kendall,' and that, 'hes young and is going with the flow. If everyones saying, "Hang out with Kourtney," hes going to hang out with her.' Sabbat currently stars as Luca Hall on the Freeform series Grown-Ish, a spin-off of the ABC series Black-ish, and he also starred in the 2019 indie The Dead Don't Die. Half-sister: Sabbat and Jenner's half-sister Kourtney Kardashian were rumored to have started dating in September 2018, when they were seen grabbing dinner at the L.A. hot spot The Nice Guy In an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said that the BJP-led central government should focus on work rather than seeking political mileage out of decisions to revoke Article 370 and introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In an editorial in the Senas mouthpiece Saamana, the BJPs former ally also raised questions on Modis speech in Varanasi on Sunday that the government wont go back on the citizenship law and Article 370 despite pressure, and asked who was putting pressure on him to go back on the decisions. It said that the BJPs defeat in Delhi Assembly polls has shown that PM Modi needs to change his direction. It said that repeating the same speech may get applause but the votes get diverted elsewhere that was seen in Delhi Assembly elections. What will you do if such a thing (defeat) happens in Varanasi (Modis Lok Sabha constituency)? it asked. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said, Prime Minister Modi [in his speech] in Varanasi declared that the government will not go back in CAA and Kashmirs Article 370. No matter how much pressure, our government is firm on the decision... PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah said this in all their speeches [in Delhi polls]. This was the campaign of BJP but it didnt work and the people rejected it... Now prime minister has made the same speech in Varanasi... The only question is that who is putting pressure on Modi to go back on CAA and Article 370? He (Modi) should clarify this. While it supported the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmirs special status, the Sena slammed the Modi government and asked what had changed after the decision. It said that that when questions are raised on whether Kashmiri Pandits have returned to the Valley, Modi says that the government will not revoke the decision. We are not saying go back on the decision, but dont go back on your word either. You have given the word on the ghar wapsi of the Kashmiri Pandits. And who had given the promise to take back the Pakistan-occupies Kashmir to fulfill the dream of an undivided India? It added that the government has not fulfilled the promise to bring in industries and business to Kashmir. On the issue of CAA, the Sena said that the government should clear the doubts of the people and resolve the issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Campaign finance is sure to arise as a talking point when Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy take the debate stage together for the first time on Tuesday night in Brighton. But the Massachusetts Democrats kicked off the first round several hours before WGBH turned the microphones on. Kennedy, in a video first reported by Politico and later tweeted by the campaign, repeated a call for Markey to sign the Peoples Pledge to limit outside spending in the race, just as the senator did in years past. But thats not happening this time around, according to Markeys campaign manager, John Walsh. In an interview, Walsh said the updated pledge offered by the senator in December would prohibit negative campaigning and require the disclosure of donors, but it would not limit progressive groups from playing a role in the race. Since Citizens United in 2010, MA has led the fight against dark money in politics with the Peoples Pledge. Ed Markey swore off Super PACs in his last two races but refuses to now. Im calling on him to sign the Pledge before our first debate tonight. Democrats must lead here. pic.twitter.com/1OCFRSFdlX Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) February 18, 2020 In a tweet, Kennedy said that Ed Markey swore off Super PACs in his last two races, but refuses to now. Democrats must lead here." Kennedy argued that in 2010, the conservative Supreme Courts ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission opened the floodgates for dark money, unaccountable money, unaccountable donors and corporate interest to come in ... to tilt our policies away from the voices that matter in this country: yours. Massachusetts, he said, went above and beyond federal law when Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown in 2012 signed a pledge barring outside spending in their Senate race. Markey, a longtime congressman before winning his Senate seat, signed on to the pledge in 2013 and 2014, and Kennedy called on Markey to do likewise in 2020. In Massachusetts, we have been bold, we have been proud about our progressive values. We not only talk the talk, we walk the walk, and this is a way we can show it, Kennedy said, arguing the issue was critically important here and across the country in 2020. When we start coming up with carveouts for voices we like, it means that you create carveouts for voices you dont. Massachusetts is better than that. Walsh argued the original Peoples Pledge was outdated in the age of President Donald Trump, whos raising unprecedented amounts of money in his re-election bid. Whether groups connected to the environmental movement, womens health, LGBTQ issues or labor, Walsh said there was no chance the senator, whos pushed for campaign finance reform, signs any pledge that has the consequence of silencing progressive voices. He noted that both candidates have gained support from labor groups, and argued a campaign pledge should stifle neither the electricians and technicians who support Kennedy, nor the hospitality workers who support Markey. (Markeys) offered a pledge that achieves the goals of the Peoples Pledge no outside attack ads, no undisclosed dark money but takes into account the changing political dynamic, Walsh argued. When it comes to progressive groups, if they disclose donors and pledge no negative ads ... we want to increase their participation. Another issue sure to come up between the candidates is climate change, which was discussed in a forum at Stonehill College in November that featured Markey and labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, but not Kennedy who pushed for climate change to be among the topics in a series of debates in 2020. Related Content: (Support Free Thought) - Marina Falk received a horrifying call from school earlier this month in regard to her 6-year-old daughter Nadia. Officials from Love Grove Elementary School called Falk to tell her that police had taken her daughter because shed been acting out. Without her consent, authorities essentially kidnapped a 6-year-old girl and held her in a facility for two days. Falk never received a call when her daughter acted out. Only after she was taken by police did she get the call. I was alerted of an incident after she was Baker Acted, Falk said When Falk called police to see where her daughter was, they told her there was nothing they could do. She said the officer told her: Theres nothing else we could do. Your daughter is completely out of control, and we were not able to de-escalate the situation.' According to the school, Nadia was alleged to have destroyed school property, attacked staff and running out of school. She is six. Highlighting the reliance on the police state is the fact that this school is for mentally challenged children like Nadia. They are set up to teach children with mental disabilities yet they couldnt find another way to handle this little girl other than having her Baker Acted. In Florida, the Baker Act is supposed to confine truly mentally ill people who are dangerous a six-year-old girl throwing a temper tantrum is hardly a danger to anyone. School officials apparently thought otherwise. When a students behavior presents a risk of self-harm or harm to others, the school districts procedure is to call Child Guidance, our crisis response provider, Duval County Public Schools said in a statement to ABC News. Falk told Good Morning America that after finding out her daughter had been essentially kidnapped without her consent, she felt a lot of things, but most of all, she felt helpless. Heartbroken. I felt anger. Disappointment. But I think the biggest emotion, I felt, was helpless, Falk told GMA. Because I know that Ive done everything I could possibly do to help my daughter at this school. Illustrating the unnecessary nature of this entire ordeal is the police body camera footage of Nadias removal from school. In the video, this little girl is walking calmly with police and appears to be well-behaved as she asks police if she is going to jail. No, youre not going to jail. Youre not no bad person, youre not going to jail, the officer is heard saying on the footage. The officer is then heard telling another cop that shes fine, theres nothing wrong with her, after saying (before the footage cut off) that the school may have agitated her a little bit. After the body camera footage was released, the school responded by claiming that police were not present when Nadia was allegedly throwing her tantrum. The police officers were also not present when Child Guidance was intervening with the student, the district said. The student was calm when she left the school, but at that point, Child Guidance had already made the decision to Baker Act based on their intervention with the student. Falks attorney, Reganel Reeves said they want to sit down with school officials so Nadia can continue her education. I just dont want us to be perceived like were simply just out for money. We really want to try to resolve Nadias educational status so she can go to school, Reeves told GMA. So thats really what our goal is, not really a lawsuit at this point. Reeves then went on to note that someone must be held accountable for a 6-year-old girl being treated in this manner. Were prepared to put the state of Florida on notice and let them know that this is not acceptable. We must protect our children. So were asking for a dialog, a conversation. Since this is out here now, dont let this go in vain, Reeves said. As crazy and over-the-top as this case seems, TFTP has reported on similar instances before. In fact, it happened in Jacksonville before. As TFTP previously reported, just like Nadia, for throwing a temper tantrum, another 6-year-old named Nicholas, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, was kidnapped from his elementary school by police and imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital. Nicholas was held, including multiple stints in a seclusion room, for three days at River Point Behavioral Health. Once admitted to the hospital, the staff stayed true to their tendency of holding patients and did everything they could to use the state to force Nicholas to stay. This was in spite of his parents demands to let him out. I didnt want him to be there at all, Nicholas mom told BuzzFeed News, adding that she immediately asked the facility to release her son because he was so young and didnt need to be there. It felt like my child had been kidnapped, she said. I cant even hug my kid and tell him its going to be okay. At River Point, as reported by Buzzfeed, Nicholas would be given a bloody nose by another child, get locked in a seclusion room at 3 in the morning, and wait more than 24 hours to see a psychiatrist, according to medical records provided by his parents. His parents asked at least three times to take their son home every time, they were denied. Also, in 2018, we reported on another child in Miami, Florida who was also kidnapped from school for a temper tantrum. He was just 7-years-old. If you truly want a glimpse into how much the police state is infiltrating public schools, take a scroll through our archives, at this link. Germans Democratised Having undergone an intensive democratisation course in the United States, a special group of German prisoners of war is preparing to return to Germany. Once there, they will be expected to help in removing all traces of the Nazi regime. The democratic group had to be segregated from the other prisoners. Other German prisoners passing through New York were amazed to find the city unharmed. Times not right The GPO clock, removed during the war, will probably not be re-installed for a long time. Urgent works, such as the installation of automatic telephone exchanges throughout Australia have a priority over the re-erection of the GPO tower and clock. We would not be justified in spending 67,000 to put the clock back while much essential work is to be done, said the Postmaster-General, Senator Cameron. Escapees arrested Surging through Ironbridge at a rate of 470tons of water a second, the swollen River Severn was threatening to spill over a line of hastily-built flood barriers on Tuesday. The historic town in Shropshire was left holding its breath as the rising waters were due to peak overnight. It was one of dozens of towns and villages menaced by the floods more than 48 hours after Storm Dennis battered Britain with torrential rain and winds of more than 90mph. Environment agency flood defence barriers hold back the River Severn from flooding The Wharfage in Ironbridge The historic town in Shropshire was left holding its breath as the rising waters were due to peak overnight In Ironbridge, around 30 homes were evacuated yesterday and 21 parked cars towed to safe ground. Tractors brought hundreds of sandbags in during the afternoon. The river is expected to reach around 22ft (6.7metres) with the abnormally high levels running for at least six hours overnight. Police issued a plea to several residents who had chosen to stay in their properties to change their minds, warning them that they could be marooned. The devastation caused by the storm could already be seen in the nearby village of Jackfield, where only the roof of the Boat Inn pub was visible after the Severn burst its banks there. Last night it emerged that the storm has so far devastated up to 1,500 properties in the UK with rescue teams continuing to pull residents from inundated homes. Thousands more properties have been evacuated. Authorities yesterday admitted being unprepared for the scale of the crisis, amid warnings that the country is in 'uncharted territory'. PS: Don't drop 'em, chaps! Pensioner Peter Morgan, marooned in his home near Monmouth, throws his keys down to mountain rescue volunteers. They used a raft to reach the house and he was then wrapped in a blanket and taken to safety More floods are looming as already ravaged parts of Britain face further rain on ground heavily saturated by Storm Dennis and by Storm Ciara the previous week. Dave Throup, an Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: 'We are not out of the woods yet. 'There is quite a long way to go with this flood.' Writing online, he added: 'This is not normal flooding, we are in uncharted territory.' Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council, said that the weather chaos was 'an unprecedented situation [that came] with no warning'. He said: 'All of the modelling didn't predict the amount of water that would fall and particularly in certain locations.' Last night, there were also worries for Bewdley in Worcestershire, where the Severn is expected to reach its highest levels in more than 20 years overnight. A team of 25 firemen yesterday used boats to move dozens of residents, some in wheelchairs and suffering from dementia, from a care home in Whitchurch, Shropshire. MPs yesterday questioned why Boris Johnson has chosen to remain holed up at the Government's Chevening grace and favour mansion in Kent while the crisis unfolds and asked why he had not called a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to handle the official response. Daniel Kawczynskie, Tory MP for Shrewsbury, said: 'Given the flooding crisis in our constituencies why has Commons not been recalled?' He said that more Government funding and flood defence schemes were needed in the Shropshire town, where flood waters blocked main roads yesterday. Labour MP for Halifax, Holly Lynch, said: 'His refusal to call a Cobra meeting has really hampered the recovery of lots of different communities.' DPD delivery van marooned in flood water caused by Storm Dennis in Fordingbridge, Hants A man looks out at the flood waters approaching his business on the banks of the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire However, last night Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced he would trigger the Flood Recovery Framework, releasing thousands of pounds of aid for flooded homes and businesses. It means flood-hit homes and businesses can apply for up to 5,000 to help make them more resilient against future flooding. Households can also apply for up to 500 in financial hardship payments and 100 per cent council tax relief, while flooded businesses can apply for up to 2,500 and 100 per cent business rates relief. The Environment Agency claims that existing defences have protected at least 20,000 properties while the Government has promised to invest 4billion in flood defences over the next five years. Last night, six 'danger to life' severe flood warnings remained in place in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcester, covering the Lugg, Severn, and Wye rivers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:07:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Women's Federation made a decision published Tuesday to honor a doctor and two local officials who fought on the frontline of the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic as national-level female role models. The honor was awarded posthumously to Xu Hui, Huang Heyan and Jiang Na, according to a statement from the federation. Xu Hui was the deputy head of the Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine and a leading doctor of the hospital's special team on prevention and treatment of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. After 18 days of devoted and continuous work on the frontline against the epidemic, Xu died of a sudden illness on Feb. 7, said the statement. Huang Heyan was a local official in the town of Yunwu in southwest China's Guizhou Province. During the epidemic, Huang visited the villagers for health checkups and carried out publicity on epidemic prevention and control. "Her dedicated work has protected the health of her fellow villagers, but unfortunately Huang died of a sudden illness on Feb. 2," said the federation. Jiang Na was the deputy secretary of the Party committee and chairwoman of the Women's Federation in the town of Qianqihao in northeast China's Jilin Province and had been working at grassroots communities for 19 years. Jiang worked on information collection and epidemic knowledge publicity in the town. She died on Feb. 4 in a car accident during her trip to check on the epidemic prevention and control work and distribute drugs. Xu, Huang and Jiang are three representatives of the countless outstanding women fighting in the frontline of epidemic prevention and control, said the federation. The federation called on women across China to learn from the three comrades with their firm faith, lofty spirit and great character. I have trouble facing the fact that the Toronto Star does not align with the Wetsuweten plea and supporters. The rule of law that is behind the RCMP has no legitimacy on unceded territory. We are in a nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous communities and this means that we have no right to impose our rule of law over Indigenous rule of law. If this is not clear to the Star yet it could at least argue that in a democratic country, the rule of law does not only exist to be respected, but also as a boundary to test and discuss and that it is high time to do so. Claude Wittmann, Toronto Imagine for a minute, Pearson International Airport closed due to protests blocking vehicle access routes. Imagine for a minute, Hwy. 401 closed due to protests blocking eastbound and westbound traffic. Regardless of the protesters cause, they would be quickly cleared and commerce allowed to flow. It is obvious that our political leaders do not understand the critical role that Canadian National plays moving commerce throughout Canada. If they did, the protests would be terminated in short order. Robert H. Vokac, Alliston I have a growing, medium-sized company based in Markham. We work with three factories in China to manufacture our products. We recently hired three new full-time employees in Canada to help get a handle on our growth. Now that growth and our jobs are in serious jeopardy. The coronavirus has shut down all three factories in China. They were originally supposed to reopen following the Chinese New Year break on Feb. 3. Then they hoped for Feb. 10, then Feb. 17, and now theyve just accepted the fact that they have no idea when they will open. Without workers, the factories cant open and there are no workers. We had three large shipments due to leave China in March, arriving here in April. Those shipments were to cover our overhead for the spring. Now we have no idea when they will arrive. Like many importers, we were careful to schedule a shipment to leave China before the New Year break, allowing us to pay our bills through the winter. This shipment is now sitting in Prince Rupert, B.C., unable to move due to the ongoing rail blockades. The coronavirus and the rail blockades are a double whammy for many businesses like ours. There was no way we could budget for these two obstructions to our operation. The Canadian government has no control over the coronavirus, but it has tools to end the rail blockades. Our jobs and the jobs of thousands of other Canadians depend on the trains getting through. Jason Shron, president, Rapido Trains Inc., Markham Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has let Canadians down again with his inability to take a firm stand on the railway protests. It has cost Canadian business and great amounts of business and goodwill. Where is Jody Wilson-Raybould when we really need her? Despite her past history with the prime minister, he should reach out and seek her counsel and involvement. Wilson-Raybould is likely the most respected Indigenous leader in Canada and could solve these issues. A Northern Ireland designer is turning heads at London Fashion Week once again, with supermodel Kaia Gerber taking his latest creations to the catwalk. Jonathan Anderson (35) from Magherafelt has become one of the most celebrated names in fashion, with his JW Anderson shows among the most anticipated of the year. The son of Ireland and Ulster rugby legend Willie Anderson and English teacher Heather, he was recently described by Vogue magazine as "one of fashion's defining voices". Expand Close Some of the London Fashion Week models Getty Images for Woolmark / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some of the London Fashion Week models Yesterday Kaia Gerber, the 18-year-old daughter of modelling superstar Cindy Crawford, wore his new collection in front of famous onlookers like Iris Law and Alexa Chung. Mr Anderson launched his first menswear collection in 2008 and seven years later was the first person to be named designer of the year in both menswear and womenswear by the British Fashion Council. In an interview with AnOther Magazine last year, he credited his sporting father for his competitive edge. Expand Close Some of the London Fashion Week models PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some of the London Fashion Week models "Of course, my father is incredibly competitive and I think there is something in that. But I have taken that something to a different level, because with sport there is a friendliness in the end, whereas in fashion there's not so much of a friendliness," he said. He added: "I wanted to be one of the top 10 designers in the world because, otherwise, what's the point?" LAS VEGAS Donna Kelly-Yu is a butler dispatcher at Caesars Palace who has never been able to participate in the Nevada caucuses because of her work schedule typically 3 to 11 p.m. She'll be able to this year, however, as the state for the first time is offering early voting ahead of Saturday's caucuses, with several locations right on the Strip. Some of the voting sites stay open late, including one at the Bellagio Hotel that runs 24 hours. Early voting began Saturday and will go on through Tuesday. Twenty-six thousand people voted across the state in the first two days alone. "It's very important that everyone gets out and does it," Kelly-Yu said in an interview. "This is going to protect our standard of living, our health care. We have to make a change, and to make a change we have to be right up in it." Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents the largest segment of workers on the Strip, was influential in pushing for the nearby polling sites. That the caucuses take place on a Saturday can be challenging for the shift workers who keep the hotels and casinos running. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Nevada is one of a handful of states with caucuses, a system that has come under scrutiny in recent years over its lack of accessibility. Fifty-six percent of Saturday's voters were first-time caucusgoers. Bethany Khan, the union's director of communications and digital strategy, said in an interview that "the culinary union has been working with the party to ensure that there are many opportunities for shift workers to vote early." The union, which represents 60,000 workers on the Strip, including guest room attendants, casino wait staff and chefs, has worked with the Democratic Party to ensure that some of the early voting locations are easily accessible so workers can vote either on their lunch breaks or before or after their shifts. Nonunion Nevada voters are also able to use the sites. Story continues There are locations throughout various casinos and hotels on the strip, including the Bellagio, the Paris and the MGM Grand, in addition to the Culinary Workers Union office. The MGM and Paris locations stayed open until midnight Sunday. Several of the biggest hotels will also be open for voting on caucus day. April Displacio, a pantry kitchen worker at the Mirage Hotel and Casino who is participating in the caucuses first time, went to the union office to vote early on Monday. She told NBC News: "I came to early-vote to make sure to get my vote in. There's plenty of time, and we need to make sure our voices are heard." Early voters make their presidential preferences known by selecting three to five candidates on paper ballots. Voters then return the ballots and voter cards to the designated ballot boxes, which are transported at the end of the day to processing hubs where they are scanned and stored. The paper ballot is a change from the initial plan to use an app after tech issues delayed the final results of the Iowa caucuses. Members of the union are also encouraging others to get out and vote early by partnering with UNITE HERE, another major union representing gaming, hotel and food service industry workers. The unions are holding multiple phone bank events where members call to encourage others to register to vote, as well as walk them through the process. IMAGE: Union members help register voters Health care is at the top of many voters' minds. Lino Parede, a new father who is a laundry worker at Caesars Palace, said: "I just had a child a few weeks ago, and my health care and current insurance helped me pay for it. My copay was really low, so I want to be able to keep my current insurance, and I want somebody to protect it." Members who picketed Friday afternoon with workers fighting for a contract at the Palms Casino encouraged them to turn out for early voting or on Caucus Day. "We have culinary members mobilizing in the casinos the four early vote days, we have active phone banks where we make sure folks know where to go, and we can also register them the same day," Khan said. Charetzayda Gonzalez, a guest room attendant at Caesars Palace, is also participating in her first caucus after having had scheduling issues in the past. She said she planned to help out with the phone banks, too. "We need to work together and be united," she said. "This is the first time we are doing early caucusing, and it's really important for everybody to participate." Flynns Lawyers: IG Report Information Should Have Been Given to Flynn Years Ago Lawyers for Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn argue that some information revealed in the recent report by the Justice Departments watchdog should have been disclosed to Flynn in 2018 or earlier. The prosecutors failure to do so warrants dismissal of the case against Flynn, they said in a Feb. 18 court filing (pdf). Flynn, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump and former head of military intelligence during the Obama administration, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to one count of lying to FBI agents during a Jan. 24, 2017, interview. Both FBI agents who interviewed Flynn, then-Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Operations Peter Strzok and Supervisory Special Agent Joe Pientka, had the impression at the time that Flynn was not lying or did not think he was lying, Strzok later said, according to FBI records (pdf). Flynn asserts the government failed to disclose to him important related information. The Justice Departments Inspector General (IG) reported on Dec. 9, 2019, that Pientka, identified as Supervisory Special Agent 1 (SSA 1), had a prior and extraordinary opportunity to assess Flynns behavior. Pretextual Investigation On Aug. 16, 2016, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation on Flynn, saying there was articulable factual basis that Flynn may wittingly or unwittingly be involved in activity on behalf of the Russian Federation which may constitute a federal crime or threat to the national security. The investigation was part of a broader probe, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane, into the Trump campaigns supposed collusion with Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election. No such collusion has been uncovered. There was no articulable factual basis against Flynn, his lawyers argue, calling the investigation purely pretextual. Flynn had some Russian connections, but the same could be said for countless loyal Americans, especially those who ever worked for the government, the military, or multi-national corporations doing business in or with Russia, the lawyers said. There was no objective indicia of reasonable suspicion of any wrongdoing, they said, noting that Flynn is a distinguished thirty-three-year veteran with the nations highest security clearance, who briefed the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on every foreign contact, including those in Russia. The IG didnt find the predication for the Flynn investigation improper, but also noted how low the bar is for opening an investigation based on current FBI internal rules. U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is leading a criminal probe into the government conduct related to the Russia investigation, issued a rare statement voicing disagreement with some of the IGs conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened. Extraordinary Meeting The morning after opening the Flynn case, the FBI sent Pientka to a presidential briefing that should have immunized the Trump campaign against foreign intelligence threats. But Pientkas role was actually to observe Flynn. The FBI viewed that briefing as a possible opportunity to collect information potentially relevant to the Crossfire Hurricane and Flynn investigations, the IG report stated. Pientka told the IG that the briefing provided him the opportunity to gain assessment and possibly have some level of familiarity with [Flynn]. So, should we get to the point where we need to do a subject interview I would have that to fall back on. Pientka said he was to familiarize himself with [Flynns] overall mannerisms and, the IG wrote, this actually proved useful because SSA 1 was able to compare Flynns norms from the briefing with Flynns conduct at the interview that SSA 1 conducted on January 24, 2017. This information was useful to the defense and should have been provided to Flynn before he agreed to his plea or at least before his originally scheduled sentencing on Dec. 18, 2018, Flynns lawyers said. This extraordinary information not only magnifies by ten the importance of SSA 1s assessment of Mr. Flynns honesty but also evinces an unprecedented act of investigatory intrusion into a trusted presidential briefing, the lawyers said. The prosecutors failure to provide the information warrants dismissal of the case due to government misconduct. The truth is that were it not for the IG Report, Mr. Flynn still would not have this exculpatory information which also evinces outrageous government conduct per se and even more so in conjunction with its suppression for two years, the lawyers said. Serious Performance Failures The lawyers also emphasized that Pientka was implicated in serial failures that led to illegal spying on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. The IG found 17 serious errors in four surveillance warrants the FBI took out on Page, another Crossfire Hurricane target. Inspector General Michael Horowitz told Congress he didnt find the FBIs explanation for the causes of the errors satisfactory. He left open the possibility the failures were caused by political bias, though he said he didnt find documentary or testimonial evidence of it. Pientka was identified by the IG as one of the agents responsible for at least some of the serious performance failures. It would be truly remarkable if SSA 1s numerous serious performance failures occurred only with respect to Carter Page and miraculously avoided spilling into Mr. Flynns case, Flynns lawyers noted. Flynn Offensive Flynn was expected to receive a light sentence after extensively assisting the Justice Department with multiple investigations. In June 2019, however, he fired his previous lawyers from the firm Covington and Burling and hired a team led by Sidney Powell, former prosecutor and critic of misconduct at the Justice Department. Flynn has since asked for the court to prompt the government to hand over a plethora of information deemed by him exculpatory. The court shot down the request. Flynn then asked the district judge, Emmet Sullivan, to allow him to withdraw his plea and to dismiss the case for government misconduct and in the interest of justice. In a Feb. 12 court filing, the prosecutors argued that the misconduct Flynn alleges doesnt exist, was already rejected by the court, or isnt related to Flynns offense. A couple from Utah have been separated and quarantined on opposite sides of the world after the husband was diagnosed with coronavirus on the Diamond Princess in Japan and the wife was evacuated back to the US. Now, Melanie Haering is confined to quarantine on Travis Air Base in California, while her husband, John, remains in a Japanese hospital being treated for the virus that's infected more than 500 passengers on-board the ship. And now John has told Melanie that he's developed pneumonia as a result of the infection, making the nights she stays up late to talk with her husband from across the globe even more sleepless. More than 40 Americans on the quarantined cruise ship were diagnosed with coronavirus. More than 300 - including 14 who tested positive for the virus - were evacuated, landing in the US on Sunday night. US officials initially said that passengers positive for the infection, like John, would not be allowed back to the US until they'd cleared the virus. But authorities onboard the evacuation planes got the positive results of the 14 after they were boarding. All 300-some passengers, including Melanie, face another two weeks of quarantine, while 13 'high risk' passengers were transported to the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska. Melanie Haering (left) has been repatriated to the US from Japan after spending two weeks on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, but her husband, John (left), was diagnosed with coronavirus while on board and is now battling pneumonia from a hospital in Japan John and Melanie were among the more than 3,000 people on board the Diamond Princess when it docked and was quarantined in Yokohama Japan. Through the first few rounds of testing, they were each cleared of the virus. Although the conditions were 'not perfect,' Melanie writes on Facebook, they were grateful for their health, for the some occasional fresh air from their cabin on the ship and for the details of thoughtful solutions the crew - suddenly saddled with a totally foreign set of needs from their customers - provided, like nicotine gum for smokers. Then John got a fever. For two days his temperature was 'up and down,' Melanie wrote on February 11, but his symptoms textbook: nausea, chills, 'like a heavy case of the flu.' Over the course of the next 24 hours, John was visited by doctors three times, but he still didn't have test results. Melanie tried to keep him comfortable with cold packs, until at last doctors decided it was best to transport John to the hospital where he could be more comprehensively cared for and they could 'find out about this virus,' Melanie wrote. 'It's hard being separated from him, and as soon as I hear more information, I will pass it on,' she assured friends and family via Facebook. Melanie was among some 300 passengers flown back to the US on two cargo Melanie and John were negative through the first few rounds of testing on the cruise ship, But on February 13, Melanie learned her husband's fever and chills were in fact symptoms of coronavirus (pictured, left and right, on their vacation pre-quarantine) The next day, she got that information, but it wasn't what the couple had hoped for: 'John has tested positive for the Corona Virus!' Melanie wrote on February the 13th. While Melanie was confined to her room on board the luxury cruise liner, she had her comfortable bed to sleep in and meals brought three times a day. Like other patients in Japanese hospitals, John was being given next to nothing for free. His bed, Melanie said, is a framed mattress. Meals are delivered through a slot, and they usually consist of little more than rice or kimchi. He has to pay for water. The couple's church back in Utah arranged to send him some basics - water, toothpaste, shampoo - and Melanie planned to send one to him too, but admitted she felt 'guilty' for the relative comfort afforded her, compared to John's quarters. She kept her head up, though, saying in a video post: 'We're going to be okay, this will pass, it's just taking a toll right now.' On February 15, Melanie was given the go-ahead to go home, that night, so long as she passed her health screenings. She packed everything sh could fit into a carry-on after being given a tight weight limit for her baggage. The rest of her belongings she had to leave in her room, to be thrown away, unless she could work something out with the cruise company. That night, Melanie and 300-some other passengers broke the cruise ship's qurantine to be loaded onto the two bare-bones cargo planes equipped with isolation booths and headed to Texas and California, respectively. A nine hour flight and seven hour bus ride later, Melanie reached her room on Travis Air Base in California for her second round 14-day quarantine. 'Let the clock begin,' she wrote. Cases of coronavirus have surpassed 73,000 worldwide, although the majority are concentrated in China where all but five of the 1,875 global deaths have occurred For nearly two weeks, the Haerings were among thousands of passengers quarantined on the Diamond Princess (pictured) before John was hospitalized for coronavirus and Melanie was evacuated to the US Happy to be back on US soil, Melanie could breathe a sigh of relief - for a brief moment. Not 24 hours went by before she yesterday learned that John, back at Chiba University Hospital in Japan, had developed pneumonia. 'We are both very worried right now,' she wrote, though she took comfort in the fact that her husband had been in good health up until this development, and was on no medications. Pneumonia or none, if John tests negative for the coronavirus that's now struck 73,436 people around the world. Tuesday, his results were mixed. His swab test was negative, but his saliva test was negative. 'We don't really know what that means, they're going to test him again, but he definitely has pneumonia,' said Melanie in a Facebook video. John seems to be feeling somewhat better though, even cracking joke about his meals. Melanie is back on US soil now, quarantined in a hotel room on Travis Air Base (pictured), while her husband fights pneumonia and hopes for two negative coronavirus tests in Japan Coronavirus has struck more than 73,000 people worldwide, including 15 people in the US, not including the infected passengers evacuated from the cruise ship 'His food isn't very good that he's getting,' Melanie said. 'He told me he feels like he's going to start growing scales because he has so much fish, or something that looks like fish.' Then, last night, a very different tray slipped through the slot in John's door, some sort of spicy clam dish. 'He ate it all up and he said it was delicious and he knew it was for someone else, but he didn't care because once they put it in there, they can't take it back,' Melanie said. Later, hospital staff returned with the usual bland, fishy foods John has not developed a taste for. 'But he's going to be really quiet because it was a probably a doctor's meal or something,' said Melanie. 'I had lots of gratitude last night for him having something delicious to eat.' For her part, Melanie is on just day two of her 14-day quarantine at Travis, she said from her hotel room on the base. She's lost a bag, but is moreover happy to be back on US soil. 'The only thing missing is my heart,' Melanie wrote on Saturday as she looked ahead to her terurn to the US. 18.02.2020 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo has said unlike the National Democratic Congress (NDC), his governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not blow the State resources on guinea fowls locally called akonfem. According to him, the NPP is a party that keeps its promises unlike the NDC. We are not like those who used the countrys resources to buy akonfem; those who believe that we will not be able to fulfill our promises, the President told the chiefs and people of Buem in the Oti Region on Monday, 17 February 2020 as part of his three-day tour of the Oti and Volta regions. They keep saying that we are lying about the progress we have made on roads, the Ppresident noted, adding: That is why the media is here. You can check and find out whether or not we are lying and inform everyone, he urged the media. President Akufo-Addo commended his Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, for the work being done in improving the countrys road infrastructure. The President also promised the chiefs and people of Buem that: If God permits, and we win the next election, we will put in place structures to establish a University here as well. According to him, his government is ensuring the equitable distribution of development in each of the six newly-created regions. The President stated that every region has a regional capital, as well as all the necessary regional institutions. These new regions will be no exception. He continued: Yesterday, we inaugurated the Regional Agricultural Directorate in Nkwanta, today, we are inaugurating the Regional Educational Directorate here in Jasikan. Worawora will also have the Regional Health directorate. The Feeder Road Directorate will be in Kete Krachi. This, according to President Akufo-Addo, will bring unity, equal distribution of resources and development to the Oti Region. On the Free SHS policy, the President expressed delight at the doubling of enrolment at Bueman Senior High School, from 1,000 students in January 2017 to 2,000 students now. The school (Bueman SHS) that President Kufuor selected as a model school will now have a science resource centre. If the girls have been given a new dormitory, I think it is only fair that the boys are also given a new dormitory. The Deputy Minister is here with me, and has heard what I have said. Once we get to Accra, I believe he will commence the process to get this done, he added. While assuring the school of the provision of a new bus and pickup vehicle, President Akufo-Addo urged the first batch of Free SHS students, who are currently in SHS 3, to ensure they study hard and guarantee exemplary results in this years WASSCE. You have to excel in these exams to show the country that this policy (Free SHS) is worth investing in for our children. I believe that God will stop those who want to cancel the policy or review it, because four more for Nana means four more years for free senior high school education, President Akufo-Addo stressed. ---with files from classfmonline Hong Kong: SJ gives masks to the needy Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng today visited Yuen Long and distributed surgical masks and health information leaflets to families in need. Ms Cheng urged people to join hands with the Government to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Joined by social workers from Pok Oi Hospital, she went to Long Shin Estate and visited elderly families to learn about their living conditions. She distributed face masks, food, leaflets and other items to them. Noting the difficulties faced by the public in purchasing masks, Ms Cheng said masks that were donated to the Government have been passed to various non-governmental organisations for delivery to the underprivileged. She also appealed to the public to maintain good personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease effectively. This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says Nigeria is at ri... COVID-19 better known as coronavirus. Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says Nigeria is at risk of the outbreak ofCOVID-19 better known as coronavirus. At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, she said drug insecurity exposes the country to danger, lamenting the effect of a country importing most of its pharmaceutical products. Nigeria imports at least 70 percent of its drugs annually from China and India. Such imports reportedly gulped $402.8 million in 2018. Speaking at the briefing on the upcoming African Medicine Quality Forum (AMQF) meeting in Abuja, Adeyeye said Nigeria should start praying because it is exposed to great risk following the outbreak in China. Seventy percent of our drugs are imported and the alarm I am sounding now is one everybody should take seriously. We have drug insecurity because of the coronavirus, NAN quoted her as saying. India is already feeling it because they buy most of their materials and active ingredients from China. If India is feeling it, we should start praying because we dont manufacture anything here except water. We import almost everything active and non-active ingredients, equipment etc. So it is a scary thing, and I have been emphasizing this from day one; we need drug security. Since we import 70 percent of our drugs, then, we are in trouble if such things happen. As of Sunday, the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China reached 1,770, with more than 70,500 cases reported. Last week, the federal government opened three centers where the disease can be tested in the country. Copenhagen in Denmark and Bern in Switzerland have been ranked as the most 'liveable' cities in the world, according to an annual study. Global mobility experts, ECA (Employment Conditions Abroad) International looked at a variety of liveability factors including health services, housing and utilities, access to a social network and leisure facilities, infrastructure, climate, personal safety, political tensions and air quality to create the list. Copenhagen and Bern took the top spot thanks to having clean air, good facilities, and low crime rates. They were followed by The Hague in the Netherlands, Geneva in Switzerland, Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and Stavanger in Norway, Yahoo news reported. Canada was revealed as the most liveable country outside Europe for UK expats, with the cities of Toronto and Vancouver the highest ranked non-European locations on the list. Patna: Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Tuesday questioned the Nitish Kumar government's development model, even as he sneered at the chief minister for making ideological compromises to stay in an alliance with the BJP. Kishor, who has been vocal about his opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said Kumar needs to spell out whether he is with the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi or those who support Nathuram Godse. Speaking at a press conference here, he said, "Nitishji has always said he cannot leave the ideals of Gandhi, JP and Lohia... At the same time, how can he be with the people who support the ideology of Godse? Both cannot go together. If you want to stay with the BJP, I don't have any problem with it but you cannot be on both sides." "There has been a lot of discussion between me and Nitishji on this. He has his thought process and I have mine. There have been differences between him and me that the ideologies of Godse and Gandhi cannot stand together. As the leader of the party you have to say which side you are on," he added. In a direct assault on Kumar's model of governance, Kishor said Bihar was the poorest state in 2005 and continues to be so. There has been development in Bihar during the last 15 years, but the pace has not been as it should have been," the former JD(U) leader said. He challenged Kumar to a debate with him in an open forum on data points pertaining to the state's development. "People are asking what has Kumar done for Bihar's development and what will he do if his JD(U) wins the upcoming state polls," he said. Kishor, the architect of several successful political campaigns, announced the 'Baat Bihar ki' programme, aimed at making Bihar one of the 10 best states in the country. It will be launched on February 20. He said he will work towards developing young leaders in the state. In January, the JD(U) had expelled Kishor from the party, saying his conduct in recent past has made it clear that he does not want to abide by the party's discipline. The party had also accused Kishor of using "insulting words" against the Bihar chief minister. A global terror financing watchdog has asked Pakistan to further tighten its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to the task, media reports said on Tuesday. The International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), a sub-group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), evaluated the performance of Pakistan during its ongoing meeting in Paris which would continue until February 21. "The FATF has expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by Pakistan to curb terror financing and demanded that the country further tightens its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to task," The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Citing the recent conviction of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistani officials said that the judicial system in the country was fully independent and the courts were taking decisions on merit, which were being implemented. The Paris-based FATF observed substantial progress made by Pakistan in the implementation of 14 of the 27 recommendations about the country's anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) mechanism, Dunya News TV reported. READ| US to Pakistan: Hold Hafiz Saeed accountable for 26/11 attacks "Pakistan has adopted an effective strategy in the financial sector to curb terror financing and enhanced cooperation between institutions to combat transfer of funds to terrorists," it reported. The meetings of Paris-based FATF began on Monday but the plenary session, which will decide whether to keep Pakistan on the grey list, begins on Wednesday. Pakistan on 'grey list' The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan in the grey list on Tuesday over the country's failure to show an improvement in terror financing and money laundering. The decision was taken after a week-long FATF plenary that examined money laundering and terrorist financing risks that countries face to set and promote global standards to tackle these risks. Pakistan was placed in the great list back in 2018 and feared being pushed into the black list. Pakistan was placed on the 'grey list' by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'black list' along with Iran and North Korea. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'grey list' and move to 'white list'. To avoid 'black list', it got the support from the three countries- China, Malaysia and Turkey. In the previous FATF review held in October, it was found that while Pakistan has made significant improvements, but it will have to take "extra measures" for "complete" elimination of terror financing and money laundering. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. With Pakistan on the grey list, it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. (With PTI inputs) READ| Hafiz Saeed most likely to be released after FATF verdict, say sources CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelan authorities suspended a Portuguese airline on Monday days after it carried opposition leader Juan Guaido and his uncle home from an international tour aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido's flight to Caracas on TAP Air Portugal ended his three-week tour through Europe and into the Trump White House. Venezuelan authorities arrested Guaido's uncle upon landing, accusing him of trying to bring a small amount of explosives into the nation. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said the carrier's flights into and out of the country had been suspended for 90 days, hours of the transportation minister said they had opened an investigation into serious violation of local regulations. Guaido, 36, rose to prominence a year ago, claiming presidential powers and vowing to end Maduro's rule amid a historic economic crisis. Guaido says Maduro's government has targeted his uncle, Juan Jose Marquez, as a means to attack him. Venezuela also issued a letter of protest to the French government on Monday, saying its ambassador in Caracas, Romain Nadal, interfered in the nation's internal affairs when he went to greet Guaido upon his arrival at the airport. France and the European Union recognize Guaido as Venezuela's interim president until fresh elections can be held. A small delegation of foreign diplomats went to greet Guaido, who violated a travel ban by Maduro's government, risking the possibility of arrest upon his return. Venezuelan authorities said in their letter that the French ambassador employed a provocative strategy by going to greet Guaido, abusing his privileges and violated international conventions and customs." Guaido visited the French President Emmanuel Macron on his trip, which also included a White House meeting with President Donald Trump. Backers of Guaido consider Maduro's 2018 election fraudulent because the most popular opposition leaders were banned. According to sources in the family of the deceased, he had landed at Tiruchy airport from China on February 4, travelling via Thailand and Kuala Lumpur. PUDUKKOTTAI: A-42-year-old man from Tamil Nadu who returned from China and who is from Kothaimangalam village in Pudukkottai district, died of suspected Coronavirus attack, at a private hospital at Madurai on Saturday. Official sources said on Monday that the victim Sakthikumar, who runs a small restaurant in China recently returned home due to jaundice and underwent treatment in his village. However, due to manpower shortage to run his eatery there, he returned to China recently, despite his jaundice. Sakthikumar again returned home as his health turned bad and was admitted to a private hospital at Madurai on Friday. But unfortunately he died on Saturday. Public health department officials suspect that poor Sakthikumars ill-health could have been aggravated possibly by Coronavirus attack and are investigating. After his sudden death, public health department have now camped at his village, some 100 kms from the district headquarters town of Pudukkottai, to thoroughly investigate whether Shakthikumars death was caused by nCoV or was due to other medical factors, sources added. According to sources in the family of the deceased, he had landed at Tiruchy airport from China on February 4, travelling via Thailand and Kuala Lumpur. His family members did not suspect any symptoms of Coronavirus, though he had been making frequent trips between India and China. For an average Tamil-speaking family, they were unable to immediately recall the name of the Chinese town. Family sources said that he had a history of several health complications, involving his lungs and liver-related ailment for the last two years and had been treated at a private hospital in Thanjavur. They further said Sakthikumar died due to his prolonged illness of his lungs and liver, besides the jaundice he was recently suffering from. So, he lost his life and not because of any other reason, family sources said. The social media was needlessly playing it up to divert attention, they said. Meanwhile, the health department officials secured all the medical files related to his treatment in the last two years and have sent the same to Chennai for clinical analysis. The police seized his passport and are investigating. Shock in TN health circles The first suspected death due to the novel Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu has come as both shock and surprise as the State was among the first to put in place an extensive surveillance at all airports to check all passengers arriving from China and its neighbouring countries for presence of any symptoms of the disease. State Health minister, C Vijayabaskar had only last week said that more than 700 passengers who arrived at different airports in the State from China and neighbouring countries, where the nCoV infection has been reported, have been quarantined in their homes. All of them were free of any nCoV symptoms and so far not a single case had tested positive for the virus in Tamil Nadu. The minister had said that even the passengers who had travelled with the girl from Kerala, who had tested positive for the virus, were also under observation by doctors. Mr. Vijayabaskar appealed to the people to stay calm and not panic as there was no threat of the virus spreading in Tamil Nadu. Further, for the safety of doctors and para-medical staff, the government had provided enough medical equipment including respiratory masks, he had disclosed. The Madras High court, hearing a PIL few days back, had also asked the State government to file a detailed report on the preventive steps taken so far. It is in this backdrop, the first suspected death from nCoV has somewhat rattled the medical fraternity. In Sakthikumar's case, sources said he comes from an agriculturist's family who had gone to China to set up an eatery there. Sakthikumar, after a few trips, had recently returned home on February 4 as his jaundice turned severe, but had been missed by the elaborately set-up surveillance system at the airports. Unlike in the case of other China returnees, Sakthikumar had eluded the airport scans, possibly because he had said he was suffering from 'jaundice'. After his sudden death, public health department have now camped at his village, some 100-km from the district headquarters town of Pudukkottai, to thoroughly investigate whether Shakthikumar's death was caused by nCoV or was due to other medical factors, sources added. B oris Johnson and his Government have been slammed by opposition MPs and flooding victims after it was revealed the Prime Minister had no plans to visit areas worst-hit by the recent storms. The criticism comes after what has been described as unprecedented flooding, which has left parts of the UK virtually underwater. Thousands have had to be evacuated after more than a month's worth of rain fell over the weekend during Storm Dennis, and on Tuesday more than 400 flood alerts and warning remained in place. People in Hereford had to be rescued from their homes amid flooding / AFP via Getty Images Labour has attacked Mr Johnson's resistance to calling an emergency Cobra emergency meeting, with shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard labelling his "refusal" to visit flood-stricken families "a disgrace". In another wave of criticism today, Mr Pollard told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We need a different approach and thats why ministers need to recognise that their response so far hasnt been good enough. "Yes, more money is needed, but its a different approach thats needed most of all." He added: If we are to protect communities and give those communities that are currently underwater more reassurance, Im afraid governments going to need to have a more comprehensive strategy than what weve seen to date. Downing Street said on Monday the Prime Minister was receiving regular updates while staying at the Chevening country estate in Kent. The new Environment Secretary George Eustice has also claimed that ministers have a "firm grip" on the situation. RSPCA Cymru workers rescue sheep from a flooded field in St Asaph in Denbighshire / PA It is not the first time Mr Johnson has been condemned for his response to widespread flooding. The Prime Minister was heckled when he visited flood-hit communities in December after refusing to apologise for not visiting sooner. Residents affected by the recent floods, who have had to watch their homes and property become submerged in floodwater, are again asking "Where is Boris?" Drone footage reveals damage of Storm Dennis Robin Williams, 62, from Pontypridd - where 600 people have been displaced - asked journalists: "Where's Boris? Where's the help?" Another Pontypridd residents Tracey Waites, 49, told MailOnline: "We haven't seen anyone. There are no politicians down here helping. Where are they?" A man uses a plank of wood to paddle a kayak on floodwater near his house in Ross-on-Wye / AFP via Getty Images The local MP Alex Davies-Jones for Labour told the Guardian: "Where is he? Hes the Scarlet Pimpernel you can never find him in an emergency. She said: Why hasnt Cobra been convened? This is a massive national emergency in my book. "Parts of Wales have been hit that have never been hit before thats whats so shocking about this. We need to understand why this has happened. "The UK government needs to wake up and realise serious things are happening here in terms of climate change and our planet and it needs to address them now. Seven "danger to life" flood warnings in now place for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire with concerns that another two inches of rain could fall on Tuesday in Wales. Houses in the Welsh village of Crickhowell have been submerged in water after the River Usk burst its banks. A major incident was declared in Wales after the rain led to multiple landslides. Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire / PA St Ives, a market town in York, is was also flooded by the River Ouse. The River Wye in Herefordshire is the highest it has been since records began. The body of 55-year-old Yvonne Booth from Birmingham was discovered on Monday after she was swept away by water when her car became stuck on a bridge, while the bodies of two men were also pulled from rough seas off Kent on Saturday. A walker died in a fall in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday, while a man in his 60s died on Sunday after being pulled from the River Tawe near Trebanos Rugby Club in Wales. Police said his death was not being linked to the bad weather. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused the Prime Minister of "pretending that the floods were not happening". Labour leadership candidate Sir Keir Starmer also said it was an appalling decision not to hold a Cobra meeting. Mr Starmer called the flooding a "stark reminder that the Government is not doing enough to get to grips with the climate crisis". He added that ministers should not be "ducking their responsibilities". Rachel Cox among the debris left by flooding in her home in Nantgarw / PA Number 10 has said flood defences are a devolved matter and problems in Wales are the remit of the Welsh government. Dame Kate Barker, of the National Infrastructure Commission, said the causes of flooding will only get worse with climate change and said the government needed "to go further" than the 4 billion they have already committed to investing in the issue. In our National Infrastructure Assessment in 2018, we recommended a national standard of resilience to flooding, to focus attention on delivering the long-term solutions required, including traditional flood defences, green infrastructure and better spatial planning. Two people were killed and 38 others were injured in a highway pileup in southwestern Korea which is battling against snowy weather, a news agency reported. According to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency, 30 vehicles were involved in the tragic accident. The agency added that the pileup also involved a chemical truck carrying nitric acid that flipped and caught fire inside a tunnel. Read: Peeved At Sanitation Worker's Death In Accident, Domestic Helps Stage Protest Read: UP: Three Killed In Road Accident Case is under investigation Kim Jun-ho, an official from Korea Expressway Corporation reportedly said that its workers had removed all snow in that area adding that the organisation wasnt exactly sure whether the accident was caused by icy roads or reckless driving. Talking to a news agency, Police official Jeon Gwang-hun has said that he could not reveal further details as the case was under investigation and cause of the accident was yet to be discovered. Read: 7 Minors Hurt In Chicago Shootings, Including 3 Accidents Read: South Korea To Evacuate Citizens From Cruise Ship Quarantined In Japan (With inputs from PTI) Dancer Sharanya Chandran celebrates love and togetherness through her recent Bharatanatyam performance. The Delhi audience recently felt the same at an evening celebrating love and solidarity at the Double Bill Dance Concert organised by the India International Centre, where Bharatanatyam dancer, Sharanya Chandran celebrated love with enchanting dance performances. We all have once felt the sheer passion for love, the feel, and the strong vibes in our lives. And we all have related ourselves to that feeling while watching an artist performing through expressions, gestures and body movements. The Delhi audience recently felt the same at an evening celebrating love and solidarity at the Double Bill Dance Concert organised by the India International Centre, where Bharatanatyam dancer, Sharanya Chandran celebrated love with enchanting dance performances. Titled Love in the time of Kama presents a unique motif of the Ardhanareeshwara where Shiva and Shakti, reside side by side, complementing their energies and capabilities through her solo Bharatanatyam performance. Talking about her performance, the disciple and daughter of Padma Shri Geeta Chandran, Sharanya says, "I look at it as not to opposites but the two forces which came together and how they unite, this is the concept through the love of union and united souls, more philosophical nature. It is different aspects and facets of two halves. Ardhanareeshwara - a composition of poet Vidyapati of Mithila. In this composition, Vidyapati brings alive the balances between Yog and Bhog - the virile and beauteous - between creation and destruction; and while in the iconography, they exist as two distinct parts, they merge eventually, creating an undivided reality that brigs alive all our philosophic challenges of today. It was followed by a Thanjavoor quartet Varnam in the ragam Kamboji set to Adi talam. The nayika (heroine) who is desperately in love with Shiva-Brihadeeshwara and concluded with the presentation with Katana Bhedana. The Kalidas of Maithili, Vidyapati, has written the Nindastuti where Shivas attributes are made fun off. Vidyapati uses Radha as the main character who is tormented by cupids arrows while she awaits for Krishna. Unable to bear her torment any longer, she blames cupid for mistaking her for Shiva and compares different aspects of her own beautiful self with similar aspects of Shiva, which she says are so very different from her. Sharanya, recipient of Swami Haridas Sangeet Kala Ratna Samman, adds, It was a unique experience and was very enriching. It had lyrics and one had to go beyond it as well. It has a reference of texts, sources and the ideas that are beyond the line in which the poet has explored. It is more within the frame in which the poet has conceptualised it. So that going beyond and staying in the frame was fun for me. The learning process and experience of dancing was very special for Sharanya, she shares, My mother is completely different when she as a guru, she is a friend and confidant as a mother and as a guru, she treats me no different from any other student. Its always been the case that I have been a part of group classes and got no special privileges from the beginning, so, I think it really helped me to get that seriousness in dancing. It has been amazing as she goes very much beyond the grammar of dance, she is a musician, she loves poetry, architecture and so many other things that she knits together, some of our classes are just storytelling, some classes are just how you knit music and dance together, and some classes are just watching everybody else dancing, so its a very holistic learning process under her. Sharanya loves multitasking, besides being a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she is also a trained economist and a development policy professional. Todays DNA is that something which is inevitable. I dont see these two things mutually exclusive, one gives me the energy to do other better and I have always sort of love dance, not only Bharatnatyam but also all kind of dances and listening to music. However, I never thought I would be serious about (dancing) of it as I am today. The first articulated Neanderthal skeleton to come out of the ground for over 20 years has been unearthed at one of the most important sites of mid-20th century archaeology: Shanidar Cave, in the foothills of Iraqi Kurdistan. Researchers say the new find offers an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the "mortuary practices" of this lost species using the latest technologies. Shanidar Cave was excavated in the 1950s, when archaeologist Ralph Solecki uncovered partial remains of ten Neanderthal men, women and children. Some were clustered together, with clumps of ancient pollen surrounding one of the skeletons. Solecki claimed this showed Neanderthals buried their dead and conducted funerary rites with flowers. The 'flower burial' captured the public imagination, and prompted a reappraisal of a species that - prior to Shanidar Cave - was thought to have been dumb and animalistic. It also sparked a decades-long controversy over whether evidence from this extraordinary site did actually point to death rituals, or burial of any kind, and if Neanderthals were really capable of such cultural sophistication. More than 50 years later, a team of researchers have reopened the old Solecki trench to collect new sediment samples, and discovered the crushed skull and torso bones of another Shanidar Neanderthal. The discovery has been named Shanidar Z by researchers from Cambridge, Birkbeck and Liverpool John Moores universities. The work was conducted in conjunction with the Kurdistan General Directorate of Antiquities and the Directorate of Antiquities for Soran Province. The find is announced today in a paper published in the journal Antiquity. "So much research on how Neanderthals treated their dead has to involve returning to finds from sixty or even a hundred years ago, when archaeological techniques were more limited, and that only ever gets you so far," said Dr Emma Pomeroy, from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology, lead author of the new paper. "To have primary evidence of such quality from this famous Neanderthal site will allow us to use modern technologies to explore everything from ancient DNA to long-held questions about Neanderthal ways of death, and whether they were similar to our own." Ralph Solecki died last year aged 101, having never managed to conduct further excavations at his most famous site, despite several attempts. In 2011, the Kurdish Regional Government approached Professor Graeme Barker from Cambridge's McDonald Institute of Archaeology about revisiting Shanidar Cave. With Solecki's enthusiastic support, initial digging began in 2014, but stopped after two days when ISIS got too close. It resumed the following year. "We thought with luck we'd be able to find the locations where they had found Neanderthals in the 1950s, to see if we could date the surrounding sediments," said Barker. "We didn't expect to find any Neanderthal bones." In 2016, in one of the deepest parts of the trench, a rib emerged from the wall, followed by a lumbar vertebra, then the bones of a clenched right hand. However, metres of sediment needed carefully digging out before the team could excavate the skeleton. During 2018-19 they went on to uncover a complete skull, flattened by thousands of years of sediment, and upper body bones almost to the waist - with the left hand curled under the head like a small cushion. Early analysis suggests it is over 70,000 years old. While the sex is yet to be determined, the latest Neanderthal discovery has the teeth of a "middle- to older-aged adult". Shanidar Z has now been brought on loan to the archaeological labs at Cambridge, where it is being conserved and scanned to help build a digital reconstruction, as more layers of silt are removed. The team is also working on sediment samples from around the new find, looking for signs of climate change in fragments of shell and bone from ancient mice and snails, as well as traces of pollen and charcoal that could offer insight into activities such as cooking and the famous 'flower burial'. Four of the Neanderthals, including the 'flower burial' and the latest find, formed what researchers describe as a "unique assemblage". It raises the question of whether Neanderthals were returning to the same spot within the cave to inter their dead. A prominent rock next to the head of Shanidar Z may have been used as a marker for Neanderthals repeatedly depositing their dead, says Pomeroy, although whether time between deaths was weeks, decades or even centuries will be difficult to determine. "The new excavation suggests that some of these bodies were laid in a channel in the cave floor created by water, which had then been intentionally dug to make it deeper," said Barker. "There is strong early evidence that Shanidar Z was deliberately buried." CT-scans in Cambridge have revealed the petrous bone - one of the densest in the body; a wedge at the base of the skull - to be intact, offering hope of retrieving ancient Neanderthal DNA from the hot, dry region where "interbreeding" most likely took place as humans spilled out of Africa. Added Pomeroy: "In recent years we have seen increasing evidence that Neanderthals were more sophisticated than previously thought, from cave markings to use of decorative shells and raptor talons. "If Neanderthals were using Shanidar cave as a site of memory for the repeated ritual interment of their dead, it would suggest cultural complexity of a high order." ### BJP, Cong spar over 'Tukde Tukde Gang', 'Bharat Mata' in K'taka assembly India oi-PTI Bengaluru, Feb 18: The Karnataka assembly proceedings on Tuesday saw the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress sparring over 'Tukde Tukde Gang' and 'Bharat Mata'. While hitting out at ruling party legislators, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah said that "Bharat Mata is not the property of BJP". Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, slamming the Congress, called them the "owners" of the 'Tukde Tukde Gang'. Siddaramaiah, while making a preliminary submission seeking to move an adjournment motion on the law and order situation in the state, attacked ruling BJP both in the state and Centre for an "undeclared emergency" in the country. He also accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution and democracy,to which Minister K S Eshwarappa referred to the Emergency declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and reminded the former Chief Minister that he had opposed it while in the Janata Dal. "We (BJP/RSS workers then) were put behind bars for hailing Bharat Mata and calling ourselves as her sons", Eshwarappa said. Reacting to this Siddaramaiah said, "Bharat Mata is not your property. You have not taken on lease. All 135 crore Indians are her children." Intervening, Minister C T Ravi hit out at Congress for supporting the 'Tukde Tukde Gang', resulting in heated arguments between the treasury and opposition benches. K'taka new minister's portfolio allocation will be done on Monday: BSY Taking strong exception to the remark, Congress MLA Priyank Kharge questioned who were the 'Tukde Tukde Gang' and why the BJP governments, both at the centre and state, were not arresting them. Referring to the Home Ministry's written reply in the Lok Sabha recently that it had no information on any group called the 'Tukde Tukde Gang', Kharge asked BJP to question Union Home Minister Amit Shah about them. "...who and where are they? Ask Shah." Retorting to it state, Bommai said, "you people- Congress are owners of 'Tukde Tukde Gang'. To which Kharge said, "Arrest us then, slap sedition charges against us. I challenge you." A war of words broke out between the two sides, and Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri intervened to carry forward the proceedings. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 19:12 [IST] It was a chance sighting while stuck in lousy traffic and now a piece of Torontos music history has joined a growing collection of glowing gems chronicling the citys neon past. In January, music historian Nicholas Jennings was driving east along Queen Street West near Roncesvalles Avenue when the glow from a storefront window suddenly caught his eye. He immediately pulled over and made an urgent call to an old friend. In the window of Classic Vintage Audio & Props, plugged in and illuminated, was the sign for the old Record Nook, a vinyl record store that operated during the 1960s and 1970s and served as a gathering place for the Jamaican community and fans of reggae, jazz, soul and calypso. Jennings, who has written extensively about music, thought it would fit well into the collection of neon signs being assembled by the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (BIA). Executive director Mark Garner agreed wholeheartedly. The Record Nook sign was a monumental find. (Its) a huge win for cultural heritage in the city, Garner said, noting the sign was stored for decades in the basement of the convenience store that succeeded the record store before it was sold to Classic Vintage Audio. For years, the sign adorned the Record Nook at 1400 Bathurst Street, which opened in 1968 and closed sometime in the 1970s. It was owned and operated by Jamaican-born reggae legends Jackie Mittoo and Lord Tanamo and featured the works of artists like Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd, Leroy Sibbles, Stranger Cole, Ernie Smith and Carlene Davis at a time when Toronto had the biggest reggae music scene outside of Kingston, Jamaica. The sign joins a collection of almost 30 others, gathered over the past five years, and now stored in various locations around the city, including the BIAs Dundas Street West offices, and as far away as Orillia, as it awaits a final destination a permanent neon museum to showcase Torontos illuminated past. You find these neon signs and its like, Oh my God, I remember this place, said Garner Some recent acquisitions include the sign for the Canary Restaurant on Cherry Street on the edge of the West Don Lands, which closed in 2007, and one for the now defunct Crescent Grill, which hung next door to the iconic El Mocambo on Spadina Avenue for decades. More recently, the group has snagged the Freds Not Here sign for the King Street West eatery from owner Fred Luk after the restaurant closed last year. The Sea Hi Famous Chinese Restaurant at Bathurst and Wilson once located on Dundas Street West in the citys oldest Chinatown district will offer its neon marquee for free to the collection after it closes its doors later this month, after 59 years in business. A lot of the signs come our way because people want to tell the story of the family or the venue in some capacity, Garner said. Next up? Wrangling the sign for Filmores Hotel, a rather notorious strip club/hotel on Dundas Street East, which opened in 1980. The business will soon move to a new location after the building was sold to Menkes Development. Were after the Filmore sign. A lot of people may not like it, but its an iconic sign to Torontonians, Garner said. The BIA has also acquired two large signs from the Hard Rock Cafe at Yonge-Dundas Square, which opened in 1978 and closed in 2017. The Hard Rock guitar sign weighs more than a tonne. To move that around and to put it on display is monumental. One thing Ive learned, if Ive learned one thing in the last five years, is that neon is not cheap, Garner said, noting many of the signs in the collection require careful and pricey restoration. Neon lighting, using glass tubing filled with neon or other inert gases, made its debut in 1910 in Paris. Neon signs, initially used in outdoor advertising, soon began to sprout up in places like New Yorks Times Square, and had their heyday in cities around the world from the 1920s to 1960s. As their collection grows, Garner believes hes found the ideal location for a permanent home for what is tentatively called Neon Museum Toronto. Its Old City Hall, which reverts to the city when its main tenant, the provincial courts, vacate the building at the end of 2021. Tentative plans approved by city council for the 121-year-old landmark include a museum of Torontos history as part of its redevelopment. Its the spot. Its got to be the spot, Garner enthused in a recent interview. As Old City Hall repurposes, give us 10,000 square feet and well program the heck out of it, put signs in there and tell all those stories. Its an iconic building with great heritage, Garner said. Were looking for a bricks and mortar location, trying to find a spot in our patch which is the Yonge-Dundas neighbourhood since Yonge Street was the most iconic place for neon, he added. A pop-up museum last year in the Junction community, in concert with Slate.com, drew more than 4,000 visitors over three days, suggesting theres a strong public interest, Garner said, adding negotiations are underway with several developers whove expressed interest in playing host to future pop-ups. We just keep putting more signage into storage until we can ultimately get that bricks and mortar (location). Otherwise, were going at it with pop-ups, Garner said. But one sign that almost certainly wont likely be part of the collection: the one for the Gasworks, a legendary rock n roll bar on the east side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesley, that closed in 1993. We know where the Gasworks sign is but the current owner wants a significant amount of money for it, Garner said. ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SCOPE Conference -- Curavit was founded to help realize the potential of decentralized trials. Mssrs. Morse and Hanaman come to Curavit with over twenty-five years of experience, founding, building, and running successful technology-enabled healthcare companies. https://curavitclinicalresearch.com/abou t The $70 billion global clinical trials market continues to grow , while the success rate of trials continues to decline, often due to lack of enrollment and participation by patients and doctors. , while the success rate of trials continues to decline, often due to lack of enrollment and participation by patients and doctors. New technologies and new approaches offer an opportunity to both increase success rates and decrease the costs of traditional clinical trials. offer an opportunity to both increase success rates and decrease the costs of traditional clinical trials. Virtual clinical trials take advantage of these trends and opportunities. of these trends and opportunities. Just a small percentage of trials today, virtual trials are projected to increase geometrically due to their advantages. "Curavit is the result of our desire to solve growing challenges to the important work of drug discovery," said Joel Morse, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Curavit. "By combining experience, technology, and solid execution, we will bring cutting-edge research to previously untapped and underserved patient populations." Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder Dave Hanaman added: "We are fortunate to have worked with some of the most respected companies and visionary people in the life sciences industry, and are honored by the support we are receiving from them for this effort." ABOUT CURAVIT Curavit Clinical Research takes a clean sheet approach to clinical trial design and execution. Optimized on a new "virtual" - or decentralized - model, the company supports patients' participation from wherever they live, across the country, and around the globe. Curavit teams with distinguished principal investigators in specific therapeutic classes, works from archetypal investigational sites in major research hubs, leverages best-in-class industry standard patient data platforms and mobile health devices to collect, manage and protect patient data. By applying advanced data analytic algorithms to patient information and real-world evidence, Curavit partners with healthcare entities to identify, qualify, and enroll patients in approved clinical trials. Curavit plans to open its first site in Boston this summer. Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/curavit / Follow: https://twitter.com/CuravitClinica l SOURCE Curavit Clinical Research Related Links http://curavitclinicalresearch.com Spokesman: World seem to be less calm after assassination of General Soleimani IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 18, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman said after the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani, the world would be less calm because his presence was an obstruction of the activities of the terrorist groups, which was also important for the international security. Abbas Mousavi in an interview with the Croatian daily Vecernji list described the various aspects of Iran's foreign relations, and stressed the importance and continuation of good relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the countries of the Balkans, in particular Croatia. The spokesman responded to a question that this year is the toughest year for Iran because of the US sanctions, adding that Americans and some Westerners have been doing the wrong analysis for the past 41 years. Their pressures have been constant for the past 40 years and nothing new for our government and nation. Asked if you believed that the US would assassinate Commander Qasem Soleimani? He said the loss of Soleimani is not compensable. "We did not expect him to be assassinated, but unfortunately, it happened." You saw the sympathy and love of Iranians and many in the world for him said the spokesman. Much sympathy was expressed in other countries, from India to even the US and many European countries. No one expected this magnificent funeral. Mousavi also in response to questions about Iran's response to the US terrorism and whether it can be expected that the Iranians will retaliate for the assassination of General Soleimani, he said that the loss of Gen. Soleimani cannot be compensated. He was a soldier of peace. Gen. Soleimani's friends are sad, how and in what way they take revenge is their decision. 9455**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose urged Kent State University to rethink actress and activist Jane Fonda as a speaker for the 50th anniversary of the May 4 shootings. LaRose tweeted on Monday that the university, which will pay Fonda $83,000 to speak on May 3, should rescind its offer because of Fondas controversial history with the Vietnam War. Fonda, now 82, was dubbed Hanoi Jane and roundly criticized in 1972 after a trip to North Vietnam, when she pleaded for U.S. pilots to stop the bombing on the Voice of Vietnam radio and posed with North Vietnamese troops on an antiaircraft gun. Fonda told Business Insider in 2018 that she is still confronted by veterans about her anti-war activism and the visit. Fonda will speak on May 3, the day before the 50th anniversary of May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard killed four students and injured nine others when they opened fire on a crowd protesting the Vietnam War. The university previously told cleveland.com that $83,000 is consistent with other university speakers and will come from unrestricted funds, not tuition dollars. Tickets are free to see the speech, but were all reserved within 36 hours of the announcement. LaRose offered his perspective as a veteran, claiming Fonda betrayed our service-members. He is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret with more than a decade of service, according to his website. LaRose was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. Theres still time to right this wrong @KentState rescind your invitation to @Janefonda. The anniversary of this tragedy is not the time to pay a speaker who betrayed our service-members. Just my perspective as a veteran. RETWEET if you agree.https://t.co/mGUPPBIzu5 pic.twitter.com/jhUwnQCTxF Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) February 17, 2020 LaRose is very active on Twitter this week, as the deadline for voter registration in Ohio is Tuesday. He followed up on a criticism to his statement on Fondas visit which claimed he was ignoring free speech. Of course Im all for free speech, he wrote on Tuesday. Jane Fonda can come to campus and give a speech for free anytime but we shouldnt be paying her $83k to travel to Ohio and speak at such a solemn occasion as this. Of course Im all for free speech. @Janefonda can come to campus and give a speech for free anytime but we shouldnt be paying her $83k to travel to Ohio and speak at such a solemn occasion as this. https://t.co/u1kxJCusgh Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) February 18, 2020 The universitys May 4 Advisory Committee recently posted a statement on its website about the criticism and notes theyve received over Fondas appearance. Part of the statement reads: "We take to heart the painful feelings expressed by those for whom Fondas visit to Hanoi as a young activist in 1972 had a profound impact. We are equally moved by those who expressed their high regard for Fondas atonement after the incident and her life-long activism in support of human rights and civil rights. As a diverse group of individuals who have confronted and learned from our own missteps and growth over the last 50 years, the Advisory Committee finds value in both views of the speakers contribution to a program that is emblematic of long-standing divisions in our country and the difficulty we have reconciling our differences." ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Way Worldwide today launched a new Text-to-Pledge campaign to help ensure that the 2020 Census is fair and accurate. Powered by 211, a nationwide service that connects those in need to a variety of local support services, people can text PLEDGE to 211-211 and opt-in to receive information about, and text reminders to participate in the 2020 Census. Text-to-Pledge will also address questions and correct misunderstandings about the 2020 Census. United Way aims to educate and gather pledges to be counted from more than 1 million individuals, particularly in hard-to-count communities during the 2020 Census. "United Way understands that collecting accurate census data is critical in determining the allocation of federal funds and of fair congressional representation. Many of the programs that are vital to the health and well-being of our communities, such as SNAP, rely on an accurate count," said Suzanne McCormick, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. "This once-a-decade count is equally critical for emergency planning, response, preparedness and disaster recovery to help identify where and how much help is needed. United Way fights for every person in every community and is committed to ensuring that everyone is counted." The Text-to-Pledge platform is designed to maximize participation in the 2020 Census and seeks to engage communities that are historically hard-to-count. These communities include urban and rural areas with large, low-income populations, people of color, immigrants, non-English speakers, migrant workers, formerly incarcerated people, young children, the elderly, those who are disabled, renters, the homeless, LGBTQ, and those living in mobile homes or multi-unit residences. About United Way United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 8.1 million donors worldwide and $4.8 billion raised every year, United Way is the world's largest privately funded nonprofit. We're engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org . Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited. About 211 211 is a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services. Last year, the 211 network responded to over 12 million requests for assistance across the U.S. The service is available to over 94% of the U.S. population, including in Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, and is also available in most of Canada. Individuals in need or who are looking for information for someone else can call 211 from a cell phone or landline or visit 211.org for more contact options. Media Contact Southerlyn Reisig Director of Public Relations United Way Worldwide 202-664-2314 ext. 321 [email protected] SOURCE United Way Worldwide Related Links https://www.unitedway.org "They're a different kind of signage on the side of the road. They tend to stick out a little bit more than billboards, so consumers do pay a little bit more attention to anything that's novel or different from the formats they're used to," he said. New Digital Asset Platform on the Jamaica Stock Exchange ready for issuers to tokenize their equity in a regulated environment Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - Canadian FinTech Blockstation has announced that qualified issuers may now utilize its Digital Asset Platform to conduct capital raises via Tokenized IPO on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE). This news is the latest milestone in Blockstation's partnership with the JSE, one of the first exchanges to offer end-to-end support for the compliant listing, trading, clearing and settlement of digital assets such as security tokens. "We are excited to officially launch the Prospectus+ Smart Listing Accelerator Portal for issuers to tokenize their equity and list on a regulated stock exchange," said Marko M. Hafez, CEO and Co-Founder of Blockstation. "The portal features low costs, short timelines and international reach, making Tokenized IPOs suitable for companies of all sizes and an attractive proposition for issuers who never would have considered going public in the past." On the platform, issuers may create their prospectus and submit for review by the Financial Services Commission of Jamaica. Four companies from around the world have already started the process: BRED, a private equity fund in Burlington (ON), Canada; Lotus Energy, an energy firm in Melbourne, Australia; WiPay, a cross-border remittance company in Port of Spain, Trinidad; and VeleV Capital, an investment firm in Toronto, Canada. Tokenized IPOs (also known as Security Token Offerings, or STOs) enable issuers to conduct an IPO by utilizing the blockchain, realizing significant efficiencies and cost savings throughout the offering lifecycle from disclosure to issuance to corporate actions and governance. Features of the platform include: Built-in Know-Your-Client (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) functionality to satisfy regulatory obligations Prospectus+ Smart Listing Accelerator Portal streamlines the creation of complete and compliant disclosure documentation Centralized digital filing and communication between all stakeholders to complete the IPO Real-time reporting and trade monitoring to mitigate abusive market tactics Dramatically reduced costs and timelines to conduct an IPO "Blockstation's platform incorporates familiar compliance rules to ensure a fair marketplace. We have spent considerable time and effort in our quest to move forward with Blockstation and to date, the training and support they have provided have been excellent," said JSE Managing Director Marlene Street Forest. To learn more about Tokenized IPOs and see if your company qualifies, visit: blockstation.com/tokenize -30- About Blockstation Inc. Blockstation, a leading Canadian FinTech company founded in 2014, provides one of the first digital asset trading solutions for stock exchanges. It provides the end-to-end and compliant listing, trading, clearing and settlement of digital assets and security tokens for the entire ecosystem of broker-dealers, investors, issuers, depositories and regulators. Blockstation enables stock exchanges to quickly meet investor demand for digital assets and attract new listing and trading revenues. The solution fits existing IT infrastructure, trading processes, risk management and regulatory frameworks. www.blockstation.com Blockstation media contact: Michael Spiar Content Manager michael.spiar@blockstation.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52361 Two soldiers armed with assault rifles jog in the main battle area inside the ruined city of Marawi in the southern Philippines, Jan. 29, 2019. The Philippine governments delay in rebuilding Marawi nearly three years after pro-Islamic State militants ransacked the southern city is encouraging recruitment of new fighters and could provoke an uprising among displaced residents, the head of a local NGO warned Tuesday. Many residents who remain uprooted are frustrated, especially young people who lost relatives and friends during the 2017 takeover by Islamic State-linked fighters and battle with government forces, said Drieza Lininding, chairman of the Moro Consensus Group of Marawi. Not only does it encourage recruitment of ISIS militants, but what I fear most is in the near future is that those affected by the displacement might organize and rise against the government, Lininding told BenarNews, using the other acronym for the Islamic State (IS). His group an association of young professionals, academics and activists is the main NGO that has been pushing for the government to rehabilitate the lakeside city, which was destroyed during the five-month battle and heavy bombardment by the Philippine military. In Linindings opinion, IS-linked militant groups could exploit the slow rebuilding of Marawi to recruit disillusioned youths into their ranks. That is what we fear the most, that instead of them being swayed away from militancy, the opposite can happen, he said. Lininding was reacting to a report publicly released last week in which the lead inspector-general for the U.S. Operation Pacific Eagle-Philippines (OPE-P) said that extended delays in Marawis reconstruction, combined with corruption tied to efforts to rebuild the city, was aiding the extremists recruitment drive. The OPE-P is the overseas counterinsurgency operation designated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to support the Philippine militarys campaign against IS fighters in the countrys south. Public anger at the Philippine governments extended delays in providing for the reconstruction of Marawi has allowed extremist elements to regain a foothold in the city, the report said, citing a U.S. Department of State cable from last November. Reconstruction, it noted, continued to be delayed this quarter due to multiple government corruption scandals, it said, referring to the last three months of 2019. Extremist recruitment has outpaced the public benefits of rehabilitation in Marawi since the ISIS insurgency was defeated there in October 2017, the report said. The cable pointed to a public perception that politically well-connected government contractors are enriching themselves at the expense of Marawi residents, and this has reinforced extremist anti-government narratives and contributed to terrorist recruitment, the report added. Philippine air force jets pounded Marawi in airstrikes during the 2017 battle to wrest the city from the militants who seized it in May that year. Officials said more than 1,200 people were killed, most of them militants, in the fighting that ended in October 2017. While militants who survived the aerial bombings were chased out of Marawi, many have been engaged in recruitment drives to build up their forces, presumably for another large-scale attack, according to security analysts. The OPE-P report quoted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as saying that an estimated 7,490 housing units were occupied, under construction or planned for construction for Marawi residents, but an additional 4,455 units would still be needed for tens of thousands of evacuees. Philippine government and military officials who were contacted by BenarNews on Tuesday declined to comment on the findings of the U.S. report. The OPE-P quarterly report, which covers the last quarter of 2019, was submitted to the American Congress earlier this month. However, it was unclear whether the joint anti-terror campaign would proceed after President Rodrigo Duterte decided last week to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the Americans. Adopted in 1999, the VFA allows for joint military exercises and operations after the U.S. vacated two of its largest overseas military installations the Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base. In 2017, some of that training was put into action as U.S. intelligence officers aided Philippine troops in their successful battle against militants in Marawi. Analyst: Theres a possibility of recruitment Local militants were likely hobbled by the death of Abu Dar or Humam Abdul Najib, one of the militants leaders expected to succeed Isnilon Hapilon, the overall IS regional leader who was killed during the Marawi siege, a security analyst said. Abu Dar was killed in March 2019 during a gun battle with security forces in the southern province of Lanao del Sur. After his death, the overall IS leadership in the southern Philippines was transferred to Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, a little-known militant based in Jolo island, where recent terror attacks have been concentrated. Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, said theres a possibility of recruitment into militant groups even though the IS may have lost its appeal in Marawi after it was largely defeated in the Middle East and following Abu Dars death. Filipino officials, however, have expressed concern over the possibility that a new armed group from the Maranao ethnic clan from Lanao province could emerge to capitalize on unhappiness with the pace of Marawi rebuilding, Jones told BenarNews. In short, we have a lot of simmering frustration, but no clear outlet for the anger, she said. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Philippine military chief Gen. Felimon Santos ordered troops to end the IS in the south. I am 100-percent sure we can achieve our mission, Santos told military commanders during a visit to the southern city of Zamboanga. Let us maintain the momentum and let us not relax, let us not put down our guards and continue until we finish them. BenarNews staff in Washington contributed to this report. A batch of 200 Wuhan evacuees, who had been quarantined at an Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Manesar, Haryana will be discharged on Tuesday after they tested negative for COVID-19 infection. There were more than 400 people who were quarantined at the facility after returning from Wuhan but were cleared after tests showed that they had not contracted the virus. READ: Coronavirus Death Toll Increases By 98 To 1,868 Within 24 Hours In China Relief and Joy... Inmates at ITBP Quarantine facility, Chhawla, New Delhi happy after being declared negative in #coronavirus tests leave for their homes pic.twitter.com/qJV8xpV0AV DD News (@DDNewslive) February 18, 2020 The Indian government conducted an evacuation of Indian students from Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, in the wake of the alarming escalation of the epidemic. More people evacuated The final samples of all the people quarantined at the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in the national capital were collected by a team of doctors on Friday. These people were brought from China to India after the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak. The ITBP had made arrangements for food, bed, medicine and other requirements of all those housed at the quarantine centre. A total of 650 people were brought back from Wuhan in China on February 1 and 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft after the novel Coronavirus outbreak. Among those quarantined were seven citizens of Maldives. READ: Coronavirus: Delhi Govt's Maharishi Valmiki Hospital Suspends Biometric Attendance Earlier on Sunday, Vikram Misri, India's Ambassador to China has reiterated the country's support for China and its people at a time of crisis due to the spread of the Coronavirus. He also stated that the country will be supplying medicines to China to help the country combat the virus.' READ: WHO, China Expert Teams Begin Field Inspections Into The Novel Coronavirus On Monday, PM Modi wrote a letter to congratulate each and every member of the medical team who had assisted in the evacuation of Indians from Coronavirus hit Wuhan. The letter which was addressed to Manu Joseph, the Nursing Officer of Safdarjung Hospital, congratulated the medical staff for their "life-saving" efforts to help in the evacuation process. READ: 406 People Quarantined At ITBP Facility Test Negative For Coronavirus (with inputs from agencies) Michael Bloomberg has qualified for his first Democratic debate appearance, after a new poll showed him behind frontrunner Bernie Sanders. With just days to go before the Nevada caucuses, the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey put Mr Bloombergs support at 19 per cent nationally meaning he is polling second behind Bernie Sanders, who leads on 31 per cent. Mr Bloombergs breakthrough in the new poll meant he reached the qualifying requirement of having four Democratic National Committee-approved national polls showing him attracting more than 10 per cent of support. He will now join the other candidates on stage on Wednesday night. He was not previously eligible for the debates because candidates had to demonstrate they had received donations from a certain number of individual donors, and as a self-funded candidate, he is his campaigns sole donor. However, that requirement was abolished at the end of January. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Having decided to skip the first four states in the primary calendar, Mr Bloomberg has put hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money into a massive nationwide advertising campaign, including a minute-long spot during the Super Bowl that cost him roughly $10m. He has also hired hundreds of staff in more than 30 states, including the 14 states voting on 3 March as part of the all-important Super Tuesday. His campaign has lately been dogged by controversy, including over the stop-and-frisk policy he implemented while mayor of New York. Amie Harwick, who once was engaged to actor and comedian Drew Carey and was popular on social media, where she discussed her work as a therapist, had previously filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, but it had expired. She also voiced fears after encountering him just two weeks before. Read more A Hollywood sex therapist who was a native of Lansdale and a former fiancee of the comedian Drew Carey was killed over the weekend, and police in Los Angeles have arrested an ex-boyfriend in connection with the slaying. Amie Harwick, 38, who graduated from North Penn High School in 1999, died early Saturday morning. Police responded to her home in the Hollywood Hills and found Harwick gravely injured on the ground under a third-story balcony. According to Los Angeles police, she was taken to a local hospital and died of her injuries, which were consistent with a fall. At the scene, investigators encountered Harwicks roommate, who told them Harwick had been assaulted inside, and found evidence of forced entry and a struggle in the home. They also learned Harwick had previously obtained a restraining order against ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, 41, of the Playa del Rey section of the city. According to police, the restraining order had expired, and Harwick ran into Pursehouse about two weeks before she was killed. She had expressed fear to those close to her. Pursehouse was arrested Saturday and faces murder charges. He is held on $2 million bail. Harwick was a noted family and sex therapist in the Los Angeles area. She authored numerous articles, and in 2014 published a book titled The New Sex Bible for Women. According to Deadline Hollywood, Harwick and Carey, host of The Price Is Right, got engaged in 2017 and broke it off about a year later. Tapings of Price Is Right were postponed following Harwicks death. Carey released a statement to the Los Angeles Times saying he was overcome with grief. Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime, he said in the statement. She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist. According to her website, Harwick attended college in California, earning degrees from California Polytechnic State University, Pepperdine University, and the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Ridley Corporation Limited (ASX:RIC). Over the last twelve months Ridley has recorded a ROE of 8.5%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each A$1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made A$0.08 in profit. View our latest analysis for Ridley How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for Ridley: 8.5% = AU$24m AU$277m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does Return On Equity Mean? Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. Does Ridley Have A Good ROE? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, Ridley has a higher ROE than the average (6.8%) in the Food industry. ASX:RIC Past Revenue and Net Income, February 18th 2020 That's clearly a positive. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. One data point to check is if insiders have bought shares recently. Story continues How Does Debt Impact ROE? Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Ridley's Debt And Its 8.5% ROE Although Ridley does use debt, its debt to equity ratio of 0.57 is still low. I'm not impressed with its ROE, but the debt levels are not too high, indicating the business has decent prospects. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. But It's Just One Metric Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Miami, FL, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The beauty space is always changing from new makeup and contours to new types of body enhancements and facial procedures. Whatever it is its a dent in our pockets except if we are rich. Dr. Jhonny Salomon Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Science in 1987. During his undergraduate studies, he was named Latin American Scholar; His consistent nomination to the Deans List earned him an early acceptance in Medical School through the Modular Medical Integrated Curriculum. In 1991 he received a Doctorate of Medicine from Boston University where he was awarded a grant from the School of Medicine and was pledged in the Honor Medical Society. His General Surgery Residency was served at the University of Connecticut where he received a Degree in Categorical General Surgery in 1995. He was a resident in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island from 1995 to 1997. He was then granted a fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, in 1997 and 1998. Dr. Salomon has been Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery since 1999. Dr. Salomon shared the following tips with us: Whats In? Muscle Tightening Devices & Fat Removal Devices To maximize results, were continuing to curate patient treatment plans by combining various noninvasive technologies. We use both Coolsculpting and EMSculpt in our practice and often combine the two. Coolsculpting works to freeze and remove fat while EMSculpt tightens and tones the muscles in the abdominals, buttocks, arms and legs. Body Banking Body banking is a term used for repurposing the fat removed during liposuction. Rather than discarding the fat, we reprocess the fat and inject it to other areas for added enhancement. This is something that is done to the pecs and deltoids in men. For women, we can use this fat to increase breast volume, and treat depressions in the skin caused by cellulite. ThermiVa for Vaginal Rejuvenation ThermiVa has become the gold standard for vaginal rejuvenation treatments. In as little as three treatments, patients notice increase tightness, vaginal lubrication and increased libido. Whats out? Textured Implants Were seeing a decline in the use of textured implants as patients and surgeons are moving more towards using smooth implants. Cookie Cutter Procedures Gone are the days of standard cookie cutter procedure plans especially as it applies to the face and nose. Considering each patient is very unique in their anatomy, its important for surgeons to approach each case uniquely. The advancements in non invasive procedures allows a surgeon to combine various procedures in conjunction with a surgical procedure to maximize results while maintaining a natural appearance. Overdone Breast and Buttocks Work While breast and buttocks procedures are still very popular, its important to maintain a natural appearance in line with the patients natural anatomy. For more information, visit: https://www.drjsalomon.com Contact: Shazir Mucklai Imperium Group shazir@imperium-pr.com The legislation calls for an expansion of early-childhood education for 3- and 4-year-olds and would raise standards for teachers. It also proposes more dual-enrollment programs that allow students to take high school and college classes at the same time, as well as apprenticeship and career and technology programs that allow students to receive certification during high school; additional interventions for students who fall behind; and more supports for students who have disabilities, come from low-income families or are English-as-a-second-language learners. The Sri Lankan Tamils in India should be bestowed a category of citizenship which will help them do business and get job opportunities, the Tamil Nadu government said on Tuesday. There is a good scope for them to be given the Overseas Citizen of India status, the government informed the Assembly. Tamil Culture Minister K Pandiarajan, replying to a question of breach of privilege against him in the Assembly on the issue of citizenship to Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, said the government was committed to the welfare of Lankan Tamils. DMK legislator Thangam Thennarasu wanted Speaker P Dhanapal to initiate action against Pandiarajan for breach of privilege for "misleading," the House and giving "wrong information," over dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. The main opposition party had all along been batting for Indian citizenship for Lankan Tamils. The DMK MLA, who is also a former minister, said dual citizenship was not possible at all and there was no provision in law to implement it. Still, the minister mislead the House in his remarks made last month with an intention to thwart Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils, he alleged and sought action. Explaining the government stand, Pandiarajan, cited Governor Banwarilal Purohit's address to the House last month in which the State had said that Centre will be urged to provide dual citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. While DMK's stand was that citizenship should be given to those living in and outside of refugee camps, former Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa stood for dual citizenship and she had made the demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, he said. 'Amma' had said giving Indian citizenship for them after they lose their Sri Lankan citizenship will preclude the opportunity to retrieve their assets in the island nation, he recalled. Tamils should hence be bestowed a category of citizenship which will help them do business in India and get job opportunities, he said apparently indicating that such a move would also help them retain their rights in the island nation. "There are two classifications and one is dual citizenship under which people could vote in both the countries and another is Overseas Citizen of India category," he said, adding there was a "good chance for them to be bestowed with OCI (status)." Though under OCI, a beneficiary cannot vote in elections they could still buy properties and get job opportunities in private sector, he noted. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said recently two lakh Sri Lankan Tamils have been given the OCI status since 1984 and there was no impediment in more people getting it, he said. The former chief minister of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka, C V Wigneswaran has endorsed the stand of Tamil Nadu government as "very appropriate." Till civil disturbances broke out in 1983 in Sri Lanka, India had given citizenship for 4,51,432 people from the island nation, he said, adding this has been quoted by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament. "There are only 59,000 people in camps now of the about one lakh refugees who came here and the number of refugee camps have fallen to 107 from 113." Of the remaining 40,000 people, 10,000 persons went to Lanka through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and others had gone to several other countries, he noted. Stressing the distinction between a repatriate and a refugee, he said a recent court directive has made it clear that the Centre was the competent authority to classify refugees and repatriates. Chief Minister K Palaniswami has taken up this issue of classification with the Home Minister, he said. After Pandiarajan's explanation, when Dhanapal ruled that there was no breach of privilege in the minister's remarks, DMK members led by Deputy leader Duraimurugan staged a walkout. On January 8, the minister had told the House that "dual citizenship for Tamil refugees is possible." To facilitate dual citizenship for Tamil refugees from the island nation, the Central government should go in for a treaty with Sri Lanka, he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Why Making Ruweng An Administrative Area Is Important "As the national first Vice President, Dr. Riek should focus on supporting the people of Ruweng and help them by rekindling strategies of reconciliation and trust building among all the people across ethnic divides of the former Greater Unity State." By James A. Mayik Introduction: The people of Ruweng communities have been unanimously asking South Sudans Presidency to curve their territory out of Unity State and make them an independent administrative area since 2014. This quest for an independent administrative area was motivated by a pattern of horrific insecurity which traces as far back as 1991. By declaring Ruweng an Administrative Area (RAA) on the 14th of February 2020, it is critically important to acknowledge that the Presidency of South Sudan has positively responded to the popular demand of the Ruweng people which was launched in 2014. My sincere thank goes to President Salva Kiir, 1st Vice President Taban Deng Gai, and Vice President, Dr. James Wani Iga. This decision which formed RAA will save so many lives and help the Ruweng Dinka rebuild their shattered past. An Administrative Area, in accordance with the popular definition of South Sudans social context, and for those who may not be in the know, is administered directly under the national Presidency. Its leadership is the equivalence of a State governor and reports directly to the President of the Republic. Below is the ethnography and context of the Ruweng people in relation to the wider South Sudanese communities. Ethnography of the Ruweng Dinka: Little to no literature is available on all the ethnic groups of South Sudan. The reason for lack of research literature on the people of South Sudan is not accidental. It can be attributed to the fact that the people of this part of the world, South Sudan in general, have been at war with each other for decades. South Sudan had been at war with the Sudan government since 1955. Ruweng Dinka people, on their part, are no exception. As a result of wars, most parts of South Sudan are impenetrable due to lack of roads and infrastructure. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 after its people voted overwhelmingly in an internationally supervised referendum. In South Sudan, Ruweng is home to Dinka Panaruu and Alor Kur Kuot. They are members of the many Dinka language groups of South Sudan. Although Dinka nationalities form the majority among South Sudans 64 ethnic language groups, the Ruweng Dinka territory of Panaru and Alor had been contained within Unity State. Unity State is dominated by the western Nuer ethnic group in the Republic of South Sudan. The Ruweng Dinka, as Douglas Johnson stipulated in his briefing over the Heglig oil dispute between Sudan and South Sudan back in 2012, is neighbouring the Ngok Dinka (Johnson, 2012). Long time ago at some point in the past, they were administered as part of Kordofan Province. In Johnsons own account, the Ruweng Dinkas current location in Unity State, and the disputed location of Panthou/Heglig, is the outcome of a series of administrative transfers in the early twentieth century. The independence of South Sudan forced the Ruweng Dinka to be geographically lumped into the Western Nuer who subsequently had been at each others throats with them for decades. Whoever claims that the Ruweng Dinka and their neighbors had co-existed peacefully since time immemorial is not telling the full truth. There are times when this co-existence had been peaceful but there are also times when it had been bloody, just to tell the truth. Crude traditional weapons had been used to hack each other to death over grazing pastures and cattle rustling. These conflicts were worsened when modern weapons emerged as tools to fight the civil war between South Sudanese and the Sudan government. It is in this context that mistrust and fear has built up to a level where I feel, in my opinion, that time is needed for unity to be made attractive again. Why is it Important for Ruweng Dinka to have their own Administrative Area? Owing to a long period of running ethnic violence in South Sudan which is marred by revenge killings between the Dinka and Nuer, the Ruweng people have paid a hefty cost of being Dinka minority among the Nuer majority in Unity State. Their quest for an independent administrative area is not because of the huge oil reserves lying under their land. It has a lot to do exclusively with the personal security of their people. Before South Sudans independence during the civil war with the Sudan, the freedom fighters who hailed from Panaru and Alor were administered under Dr. Rieks zonal command. Dr. Riek Machar, the current opposition leader of the SPLMIO, was the commander of the north western front. When Dr. Riek split off from the SPLM/A movement in 1991, a twisted tribal undertone affected so many fighters and their families from the Ruweng Dinka. Most of them (members of the Ruweng Dinka) were rounded up and killed in cold blood. This tribally motivated killings worsened when a huge number of attackers from the Western Nuer crossed over to the Ruweng land. Although such attacks were short of what can be described as genocide at the international standard, the horrors were deplorable. When peace came in 2005, the euphoria of the peace agreement engendered reconciliations and the two ethnic groups lived side by side again until 2013. In December 2013 at the onset of South Sudans ongoing civil war, teachers, professionals, lawyers, police officers, army personnel, State government officials including law makers, and executives who hailed from the Ruweng Dinka were rounded up and killed in cold blood. With these recent horrors and those dating back to 1991, the questions of trust and personal security of the Ruweng Dinka within Unity State have been raised to South Sudans Presidency. It is important to know that this decision taken on the 14th of February 2020, was not abrupt. It has been given a thoroughly regurgitated thought for over six years. Below is one of the many South Sudans ethnic maps featuring the original location and home of the Ruweng Dinka (unable to post the map at the moment). The Ruweng Dinka territory was part of the greater Unity State until 2015 when South Sudans Presidency split the country into 32 administrative units or States as the many strategies used to manage the civil war. Like many other places, Ruweng territory also became one of the 32 States. The Issue of Internal Boundaries: South Sudans opposition claims that making Ruweng territory an independent administrative area will engender more disputes because of unclear ethnic boundaries. The rationale for their claim is that Ruweng has no clear boundaries with their Western Nuer neighbors. This argument is illogical because the problem of boundaries is not only limited to the Ruweng Dinka and their Nuer neighbors alone. It is a common problem of all South Sudanese and Sudanese on the other side of the border. Even the international boundaries between South Sudan and Sudan are not yet agreed upon. A lot of areas are still disputed. In line with an agreement signed on March 13, 2012 between Sudan and South Sudan and mediated by the African Union, demarcation was promised. That promised demarcation of the boundaries, however, has been put on hold for many reasons some of which are attributed to disputed boundary lines. In accordance with the aforementioned agreement, the demarcation process was or will take into account African best practices which shall seek to maintain the sanctity and cohesion of communities in order to foster peaceful co-existence between the neighbors (African Union, 2012). That means, talking about unclear boundaries as the reason to put the physical security of the Ruweng people at risk by returning them to Bentiu after the horrendous ethnic cleansing of 2013 and 1991 clearly shows the opposition is tribal in character. As shown in the map above (not yet posted but available), every ethnic group in South Sudan knows their traditional boundaries. It is my personal conviction that the discovery and production of oil resources in the area has fuelled these tribal territorial conflicts. These fights over the land royalties received from the oil companies must be separated from the fears of insecurity and distrust created by the recent historical violence of a revengeful nature. The latter, security from revenge attacks is the main reason why Ruweng Dinka folks want their own independent administrative area. As a fragile State, fractured by layers of so many ethnic conflicts, South Sudan can go back to war any time. The former (royalties from the oil companies) cannot be the reason why the Ruweng Dinka need an independent administrative area because after all, those royalties have hardly ever come through to the local people who deserve them the most. Dr. Riek Machars Statement on the Formation of RAA: In reaction to the compromised position of the government of South Sudan, made public by the Presidency, to revert the country back to 10 States plus 3 independent Administrative areas on the 14 of February, 2020, Dr. Riek Machar made the following observations about RAA in particular: Ruweng Administrative Area is part of Unity State. Dr. Riek continued to claim that, Ruweng Administrative Area, as per the 32 States, has serious boundary issues with the neighboring communities of Leek Nuer, Bul Nuer, and Jikany Nuer. Dr. Rieks final statement is serious and must be seen with a keener eye because it is tribal and blatantly partial - It (Ruweng Administrative Area) has annexed northern areas of Bul, Leek, and Jikany, (Machar, 2020). First of all, Dr. Riek Machar himself does not come from Jikany, Leek, or Bul. Who has given him the right to fight for a tribal land? He comes from Dok Nuer (Leer) and should not be involved in petty fights of the neighboring villages. This statement seriously compromises Dr. Riek Machars position as an impartial national leader everyone should look up to for impartial judgements. This statement is supposed to simply come from a lightweight Nuer villager called Riek Machar Teny-Dhorgun from Bentiu. It shouldnt come from our national First Vice President designate. Statements like these increase fears of the people of Ruweng that Dr. Riek Machars leadership has been tribal in character and content all along. Conclusion: In conclusion, curving out the Ruweng Dinka territory as an independent administrative area should not be such a stumbling block capable of preventing the formation of South Sudans Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU). As Dr. Luka Biong Deng advised Dr. Riek Machar (the opposition leader), unlike other minority ethnic groups in other states, the people of Ruweng were exceptionally affected by incidents in 2013 and that created great mistrust (Biong, 2020). Dr. Biong made a great point here in that having their own administration, the Ruweng people will administer themselves while gradually building trust with their neighbors. As the national first Vice President, Dr. Riek should focus on supporting the people of Ruweng and help them by rekindling strategies of reconciliation and trust building among all the people across ethnic divides of the former Greater Unity State. The oil revenue from the area should be used to support projects of reconciliation, human development, and local economic reconstructions. This decision from the Presidency which formed RAA was in line with the demand of the people of Ruweng. It should not be twisted as a partisan politically motivated decision. If the oppositions claim to be fighting for democracy is genuine, its leaders, therefore, need to understand that meeting the demand of the Ruweng people fits the democratic standard they claim to be fighting for and in accordance with the best international practice. References: Johnson D. (2012) BRIEFING: The Heglig oil dispute between Sudan and South Sudan African Union (2012) Agreement between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan on the Demarcation of the Boundary. Addis Ababa, March 13, 2012 Biong L. (2020) Advise to Dr. Riek Machar on the way forward. Sudan Government Gazette. Alteration of Boundaries between Kordofan and Upper Nile Province, 546. May 15, 1931. Sudan Archive Durham vol. 1931; The National Archives, Kew, FO 867/43. Machar R. T. (2020) Press Statement on President Salva Kiirs Resolution on the Meeting of the Presidency of ITGNU on the Number of States and their Boundaries. Hardly a day goes by without a new expression of support in Russia for seven men who were given harsh prison sentences last week in a case that many observers in Russia and abroad contend was fabricated by the Federal Security Service (FSB). On February 18, a group of more than 200 animators issued an open letter declaring "we cannot remain indifferent to the fact that young people are being punished for crimes they did not commit." One day earlier, several hundred Russian artists, museum workers, and gallery curators across the country also issued an open letter "angrily condemning" the convictions and, particularly, the alleged use of torture by investigators in the case. The letter called for the convictions to be thrown out and the case, widely known as "the Network," reinvestigated from the beginning. On February 16, several dozen members of the Association of Independent Public Monitors, a group of lawyers that monitors law enforcement and prisons, issued a similar statement "demanding an objective investigation into torture in the Network case." These letters of protest echo like-minded initiatives by scientists. All these reactions and more came in the first week after a district court in the provincial city of Penza on February 10 sentenced the seven defendants to prison terms ranging from six to 18 years after convicting them of belonging to a terrorist organization and plotting attacks aimed at destabilizing the country. The case was known as "the Network" because that is the name investigators imposed on the group that they claimed the now-convicted suspects were involved in; all seven men have said that no such organization existed. Several of the men say they were beaten and subjected to electric-shock torture to extract confessions. Human rights groups and activists contend that the case was fabricated by the state to send a signal to members of society who express political views that run counter to the positions of the government. In addition to the open letters, there have been single-person pickets the only form of protest that Russian authorities do not claim requires permission from the state -- in Moscow, Penza, and elsewhere aimed at drawing attention to the case. There have also been numerous demonstrations in cities across Russia. On February 18, activists in Irkutsk, in Siberia, applied for permission to hold a demonstration against the Network convictions on March 1. On February 17, at least 13 independent bookstores in at least nine cities shut their doors for a one-day strike to protest the Network verdicts. The following day, police in Tula visited the Svidetel (Witness) bookstore and its owner was asked to go to a police station to give an explanation. "I refused," she said, according to a local media report. "I said I would not go without a written summons." 'Punitive Practices' When Sergei Mironov, a parliament deputy and chairman of the party A Just Russia, issued a February 17 statement denouncing the "sad regularity" of cases of "punitive practices of law enforcement organs in relation to their own citizens," political analyst Yekaterina Schulmann wrote on Facebook that the public reaction to the so-called Network case has been "amazing" and "is proceeding vigorously." "If this doesn't give a chance to [those caught up in the Network case], then it might help [the defendants] in the New Greatness case," Schulmann wrote, referring to an ongoing similar case in which eight alleged members of a group called New Greatness have been charged in Moscow with extremism. That case has drawn criticism from activists who say the entire group was a sting operation created by an FSB agent. "Keep in mind, citizens, that pickets must be single-person and letters must be collective," Schulmann wrote. In recent months, Russia has seen at least a few cases in which the authorities may have been moved to act by similar widespread expressions of discontent. A drug charge against investigative journalist Ivan Golunov was dropped in June following a massive outcry and accusations that the case had been entirely falsified to punish him for his journalism. Several high-ranking Moscow police commanders were dismissed after the case, for which prosecutors have since apologized. In December, Moscow student and blogger Yegor Zhukov was given a three-year suspended sentence for purportedly "inciting extremism online." The sentence came after a months-long campaign calling for his freedom and despite a request from prosecutors that he be given a harsh prison term. "The fact that I'm here nowis thanks to you," Zhukov told supporters after his release. "This is your victory." In September, the Moscow City Court reduced actor Pavel Ustinov's sentence for supposedly assaulting a law enforcement officer from 3 1/2 years in prison to a one-year suspended term. That decision also followed a significant public outcry, including from numerous prominent cultural and artistic figures. President Vladimir Putin has said repeatedly that he cannot interfere in court cases, but Russian courts are widely considered to lack independence, and rights groups and government opponents contend that the outcome of many high-profile cases is decided in the Kremlin. On February 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin had been informed about the public outcry over the Network case. Peskov noted that there are still several stages of appeals remaining in the case and urged the public to "wait for the results of the appeals." Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Maria Chernova A reckless sightseer got soaked by a huge wave after he risked his life trying to get a 'Storm Dennis selfie'. The tourist positioned himself on the seafront at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, on Monday in the hope of getting a dramatic weather shot. But he was dwarfed by a huge wave that came crashing over the sea wall and was soaked through. Winds in the region reached 70mph as the fourth named storm of the year battered large swathes of Britain, tragically killing five people. Retired photographer Gren Sowerby, 70, who caught the moment on camera, slammed the man's dangerous actions. A tourist positioned himself on the seafront at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, on Monday in the hope of getting a dramatic weather shot during Storm Dennis but he ended up drenched He said: 'The guy was daft - you don't get that close to breaking waves, it's just stupid 'I can't understand people like that, he just wanted to get a selfie but is it really worth it? He got a right soaking. He was fast to move back afterwards.' Luckily, in this case, the only thing the man suffered was a drenched ego and no medical treatment was required. RNLI lifeguard manager Kester Sheppard said: 'It's like a fire. If you could see a fire burning, you wouldn't walk towards it would you? Don't go too close.' Police in Australia have been urged to re-examine a remote well in the hopes that the remains of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio might be hidden there. Limestone well, on the million-acre Neutral Junction station in Australia's Northern Territory, was examined by officers searching for Falconio's body after he was ambushed on a nearby highway by gunman Bradley John Murdoch in 2001. But now farm owner Charlie Frith has suggested that officers did not inspect the well fully because it was flooded and has asked them to come back and look again. Peter Falconio (left) was ambushed by a gunman as he drove across Australia with girlfriend Joanne Lees (right) in 2001. It is thought he was murdered, despite his body never being found A farmer who owns land close to where Mr Falconio (right) was ambushed has urged police to come back an re-examine a well where he believes the remains could be hidden Mr Frith told the Mirror that officers would have been unable to get to the bottom of the well without specialist equipment, and may have missed an opportunity to wrap up the mystery of what happened to Mr Falconio's body. He said there are times of the year when water in the well is lower, and that it would be 'relatively easy' to reach the bottom at these times. 'I think it would be good for the Falconio family to clear all possibilities up,' he said. Mr Frith explained that while the well is located in a remote area, there is a road that connects it with the Stewart Highway where Mr Falconio was attacked along with girlfriend Joanne Lees on 14 July 2001. He admits he did not own the land where the well is located at the time the police search took place, but says he has been told the search was not fully completed. Frank Pangallo (left), a journalist-turned-politician, has previously accused police of failing to follow up on a tip that a van similar to killer Bradley Murdoch's was seen near the same well on the night of the murder He is not alone in thinking that limestone well could contain Mr Falconio's remains. Frank Pangallo, a politician who reported on the murder as a journalist, believes the police also failed to properly examine claims from a local who saw a van matching Murdoch's near the well on the night of the attack. In 2011 he twice visited the well in order to try and search it, but on both occasions found that it was flooded and could not get to the bottom. As part of a new four-part Channel 4 documentary into the killing, Mr Pangallo will also insist that police properly inspect the well. Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator on the case, insisted to the Mirror that the well was properly searched. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both 28 at the time and from Huddersfield, were driving along Stewart Highway in an orange VW camper van on the evening of July 14 when they were flagged down by another driver. Farmer Charlie Frith believes police were unable to properly search the well because it was flooded at the time, meaning they could not reach the bottom Ms Lees was dragged from the VW camper van (pictured) she was sharing with Falconio after he was shot. She was tied up by the killer but was able to escape and survived Ms Lees said the man lured Mr Falconio to the back of the vehicle by saying that sparks had been coming out of the exhaust, before she heard a gunshot. She said the man then tied her up and dragged her to his Toyota four-wheel drive, but she managed to escape into the bush while he was distracted. Ms Lees spent five hours hiding from the man as he searched for her, before eventually flagging down a passing trucker who took her to safety. Murdoch was identified as a suspect early on in the investigation but police did not begin to seriously link him to the crime until a 2002 arrest for rape and kidnap which he was later acquitted of. Investigators arrested Murdoch for Falconio's murder in 2003 and put him on trial in 2005, despite the murder weapon and his body never being found. He was convicted in December that year largely based on DNA evidence and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years before he can be considered for parole. Murdoch insists that he is innocent, and has launched a series of appeals. Dewi Parry, 29, a member of Betws-yn-Rhos Young Farmers Club for 12 years, was elected as the national Chairman of the Federation at the Council meeting on 16 February at the Quality Hotel in Coventry. Supporting Dewi in his role will be two newly elected Vice Chairmen Rachel Goldie from Yorkshire and Edward Dungait from Northumberland. Dewi, an Assistant Manager at builders merchant CL Jones in Llanrwst, was the Vice Chairman of Council in 2019-20 before being elected to the leading role. He has also been an active member of Clwyd Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and the NFYFCs Board of Management. During his time as Vice Chairman, he has participated in meetings and events to help shape NFYFCs new strategy. In January, key figures from across the organisation joined together to help progress NFYFCs strategic plan. This event, coupled with the feedback from clubs and counties who took part in Vision:2023 club sessions in 2019, has helped to form a more focused plan of action for the 88 year old Federation. Digitalisation features high on the agenda for change as well as clearer guidance on the role of the national body, county federations and clubs. NFYFCs Chairman of Council Dewi Parry said: YFC is an amazing organisation, and its 598 clubs make such a positive impact on the lives of so many rural young people across England and Wales. Im excited about the changes we have been discussing for the Federations future and delighted to be at the helm during a year when they will start to be introduced. British agriculture is facing unprecedented change, as we are too, as a nation, following our departure from the EU. It feels only right that NFYFC is also making a transformation. The organisation has meant so much to so many over the last 88 years and we now need to ensure it remains relevant for future generations. Listening to YFC members, its clear what is needed from our organisation to ensure we retain its strong position in the hearts and minds of our rural communities. Dewi and his two Vice Chairmen will be responsible for leading the Federations Council and ensuring its members continue to develop their local clubs and enhance the image of YFC. Elizabeth Warren's campaign settled on a message -- and she isn't changing it now, even as her path to the nomination begins to look narrower. In the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, the Massachusetts senator began to frame herself as the one candidate in a fractious field with the credentials to unite the Democratic Party ahead of a general election showdown with President Donald Trump. But Warren finished a disappointing third, despite having what many regarded as the best ground game in the state, and is now staring down another potential finish outside the top two in New Hampshire. But as she bolts around the state, Warren has continued to tie her "unity" pitch, along with a consistent assertion that the women in the race are the party's best bets, into the anti-corruption message that has defined her now more than 13-month-old campaign. Unlike her rivals, Warren has not thrown more than a glancing blow at the other candidates, as she and her team insist their organization is in it for the long haul -- and confident of their prospects as the campaign moves into more diverse states. Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race "We have one job in November: beat Donald Trump," she said at her event in Lebanon on Sunday night. "I was thinking about this and I was thinking about unwinnable fights, because I think they tell us a lot about ourselves, who we are, and the kind of country that we want to have ... Well they're only unwinnable if you don't get in the fight and fight it." She went on to tell the story about how she wanted to be a teacher and how her mother, echoing the conventional wisdom of a bygone generation, tried to manage her expectations. "You have to remember, I grew up in an America that wasn't telling little girls they could run for president, it was telling little girls, 'get married and find a nice man to take care of you,'" Warren said. "So the whole time I was growing up, I would talk about how I was going to be a teacher and my mother would talk about, she'll outgrow it." She also recalled her triumph in another "unwinnable fight" -- her 2012 campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts. "I started out down 19 points, and I had never run for anything before. But every time I got knocked down, I got back up," Warren said. "And I got knocked down again and I got back up. Even on Election Day, people were saying, too close to call, not sure if we're going to do this. I beat him by seven and a half points, there's another unwinnable fight." New Hampshire and beyond But if Warren is going to get back up in the 2020 Democratic primary, New Hampshire seems unlikely to give her a hand. In CNN's latest poll of the state, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, Warren stands at 10% -- 19 percentage points off the leader, Sen. Bernie Sanders (29%), and about even with former Vice President Joe Biden (11%), whose own campaign is facing an existential crisis ahead of Nevada and South Carolina. Warren's fundraising, too, has also shown recent signs of flagging. In the final quarter of 2019, Warren announced raising $21.2 million in the final quarter of 2019, falling about $3 million short of what she had raised in the prior quarter, when she was in the middle of a summer surge. And last week, it took five days for her campaign to raise $2 million, per an email to supporters. Comparably, Sen. Amy Klobuchar took in $3 million over a two-day period, following a lauded debate performance. Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg have been reporting massive hauls that could allow them to comfortably compete deep into the primary calendar. As she attempts to revive the momentum she enjoyed during a buoyant summer, that put her in the top tier of hopefuls last fall, Warren has kept a packed schedule in New Hampshire, with more events than she did in the days before the Iowa caucus, when she was locked down in Washington for Trump's impeachment trial, with a late flurry of unscheduled stops and town halls. She also received a late joint endorsement from the grassroots veterans organization Common Defense on Monday, which is also backing Sanders. "Elizabeth Warren grew up in the same type of working class family that many veterans did," US Air Force veteran Kathryn Smith, a Common Defense organizer, told CNN. "We also trust Elizabeth, as commander-in-chief, will end the forever wars in a responsible and expedient manner ... As veterans, our children shouldn't have to fight the wars we fought." Despite the headwinds facing her campaign, Warren has retained the support of many progressive groups. Others, like Justice Democrats, have so far declined to issue an endorsement, a quiet affirmation that her strong standing within progressive circles remains intact. Asked recently if she was changing her strategy, post-Iowa, following reports she had canceled ad buys in Nevada and South Carolina, Warren said the reasoning was more mundane. "It's about the fact that we completely finance our campaign through grassroots, and I just always want to be careful about how we spend our money," she told reporters last week. Campaign downplays early state out comes The campaign might be sagging, but it hasn't been caught by surprise. In a memo released to the press shortly before the caucuses, Warren's campaign manager, Roger Lau, touted her nationwide organization and promised to leave troops behind in states, like Iowa, they believe could come into play this fall. He also warned supporters, 10 days out from the first round of voting, that those investments might not pay off in the early state contests. "We expect this to be a long nomination fight and have built our campaign to sustain well past Super Tuesday (in March) and stay resilient no matter what breathless media narratives come when voting begins," Lau wrote. But the narrative around Warren, on the eve of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, has been less "breathless" than muted. The moderate candidates have sucked up most of the oxygen, with Biden attacking Buttigieg, who has shifted his focus to the former vice president, while Klobuchar has taken aim at both. Warren made wave with her criticism of Buttigieg's handling of race relations in South Bend during Friday night's debate, but her strong showing didn't set off a shift in the polls. Instead, the progressive most likely to profit off the moderate infighting appears to be Sanders. Warren's most vocal organized backers, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, are also being careful to manage expectations -- and pointing to the contests that follow New Hampshire. "I'm actually looking more at South Carolina and Nevada," PCCC co-founder Adam Green said on Sunday night. "As other candidates beat each other up and Biden collapses before South Carolina, Warren will be in a prime position to pick up support going into the next couple of states." Warren has woven distinct and robust policies targeted at the African-American community and women of color into her tapestry of "plans." As the contests shift away from mostly white Iowa and New Hampshire her supporters are hoping those efforts will sway an electorate that has not yet coalesced around any one candidate. While it's unclear right now where Warren stands in South Carolina and Nevada -- most of the polling has focused in Iowa and New Hampshire -- her campaign has invested in the final two early contests. It has 10 offices in South Carolina and eight in Nevada, as well as a significant ground game in both states. Warren has already begun shifting to do local press in Nevada, with a radio interview with KCEP Monday morning. "We're expecting more moments like last year's She The People forum (last April in Houston), when Warren was the only candidate to earn a standing ovation from women of color in the crowd," Green said. "As long as we are strong enough coming out of New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina present good opportunities for Warren." The nine Korean carriers slashed the combined number of flights to Jeju from 1,225 a week to 802 since the outbreak. Korean Air reduced flights from 209 to 169 a week and Asiana from 187 to 96. It is a heavy blow since flights to Jeju had been one of the last money-making routes for Korean airlines. Korean airlines have cut back on flights to Jeju Island by 35 percent since the coronavirus outbreak. The move is due to a sharp decline in the domestic visitors to the southern resort island amid fears of infection because of the large number of Chinese tourists there. Low-cost carriers have been hit particularly hard since they are wholly dependent on short and mid-haul flights, and Jeju was among the most lucrative along with flights to Japan, China and Southeast Asia. But all of those routes have been impacted. Jeju Air cut the number of weekly flights to Jeju from 230 to 150, Jin Air from 140 to 56, T'way Air from 182 to 112, Eastar Jet from 168 to 131, and Air Busan from 70 to 56. Fly Gangwon, which opened recently, will cut flights to Jeju from 14 to seven a week. Only Air Seoul will maintain its 25. The latest outbreak has sharply exposed the weaknesses of the domestic airline industry. Domestic carriers rely on international flights for more than 90 percent of their revenues, while routes to Jeju are the only lucrative ones at home. In contrast, airlines in the U.S., China and Japan can rely on domestic routes for more than 50 percent of their revenues and are therefore less sensitive to issues like coronavirus. Airlines here have gone into emergency mode. Jin Air said Monday that it will offer unpaid leave for a year to workers who apply. Earlier, Jeju Air, T'way Air and Air Busan had their management forego salaries and sought applicants for unpaid leave. A major fire broke out in a chemical factory at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Dombivli, around 31 km away from Mumbai Tuesday afternoon, fire officials said. No one was injured in the fire at the Metropolitian Eximch Ltd that began around 1 pm, officials said. The fire department dispatched four fire tenders to put out the blaze. The fire spread following explosions in the factory, fire officials said. The fire fighting is underway. Explosions have been reported from the site of the fire. It is a chemical company. The fire is spreading across the facility and releasing thick smoke. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, said Dilip Gund, chief fire officer, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation. An activist claimed that the facility which caught fire is one of the five highly hazardous units in Dombivli MIDC. This particular company is one of the highly hazardous units in Dombivli MIDC. According to the right to information inquiry I filed earlier, this company has been listed as highly dangerous. Recently when the state chief minister visited Dombivli I had given the list of these unsafe companies asking him to make provisions to shift them to some other place for safety reason, said Raju Nalawade, secretary, Dombivli housing welfare association.Chemical company in near Mumbai catches fire, explosions fan blaze SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The hallowed site where Holden launched the first Australian-made, mass-produced car may be lost to development after Victoria's Planning Minister asked to take over its application for heritage listing. One day after Holden announced it would leave Australia by the end of the year, The Age can reveal that the future of its original site, opened in Fishermans Bend in 1936, is also under threat. The art-deco administration building in 1963. Credit:Wolfgang Sievers Planning Minister Richard Wynne has used his powers to intervene in a recommendation by Heritage Victoria to protect a number of buildings on the General Motors Holden site. Some of those buildings are located where the University of Melbourne to construct a new engineering and design school at the site. We're in the midst of winter and many Britons are likely to have been daydreaming about a summer holiday since January. Some, who play the Avios game, could be looking to earn enough air miles to pay - or part pay - for the next trip. As a rule of thumb, the best way to earn points, the 'currency of British Airways', is through general credit card spending with cards provided by American Express or HSBC. However, the airline has a number of bonus partner offers which allow travellers to bag more points without spending more than you usually would when sorting out your holiday. Back-to-back: A holiday you've already booked or are about to book could help pay for the cost of another one with a few simple steps 1. Flights The best example of this is that by purchasing flights with British Airways or 15 partner airlines, including American Airlines, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines Qantas or Qatar Airways, you will earn bonus air miles which can subsequently be put towards future flights. You do not need to book these flights through British Airways' website, you could use a website like Expedia, provided you have a British Airways Executive Club account, the part of BA which deals with reward flights and Avios redemptions, you can link the flight you've booked to that and earn the points. If you book the flights using a credit card which gives you points for your spending, be that Amex's Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, BA's own free or premium Amex card, or HSBC's World Elite Mastercard, you can get the points from that spending added on too. Some credit cards also give extra points when you put flights on them. The Amex Gold Card for example usually gives you one point for every 1 you spend, but this doubles when it comes to flights. How many points you get for buying flights depends on the exact airline, but as a general rule it depends on how far you fly and what class you have booked. For example, flying the lowest fare class in economy with BA would net you Avios points equivalent to 25 per cent of the miles flown. A return flight to Prague from London Heathrow, for example, would earn you 159 points, and one to Rome 225. The lowest far class of business class, meanwhile, would net you Avios points equivalent to 150 per cent of the miles flown, and first class 250 per cent. You would thus earn 956 Avios flying to Prague in business, and 1347 flying to Rome. If a BA economy flight to Prague hypothetically cost 100, and you paid for it using BA's free Amex credit card which offers one Avios point for every 1 spent, you would end up with 259 Avios points for 100 of spending. British Airways and its partner airlines - including American Airlines and Iberia - will give you air miles when you book flights with them. Here's how much you'd earn flying to some destinations BA's partners American Airlines and Iberia work on a similar basis, with a slight variance on the percentages. With American Airlines, you earn 25 per cent of the mileage in the lowest level of economy, 125 per cent in business, and 150 per cent in first. London Heathrow to Miami return flying with American Airlines would net you 1106 Avios points in the lowest fare class of economy, 5531 in business, and 6638 in first. Iberia meanwhile offers 25 per cent for economy, and 150 per cent for business. A return flight from London Heathrow to Madrid on Iberia would net you 197 Avios points in economy and 1179 in business class. You can work out exactly how many Avios points you would get from a prospective BA flight by checking the airline's flight calculator on its website. Watch out for: If you're using a high interest credit card like the Amex Gold Card, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, or the British Airways Premium Amex Card to pay for your flights, make sure you pay off your balance every month, or it'll wipe out any points you've earned. Also make sure you shop around for flights - you may be able to use a budget airline for a cheaper price, so forfeiting the points would be wise. >>>Think you've got enough Avios points for a flight? Check out our guide for where you can go How do you spend yours? Do you have any top tips on how to spend Avios points? Let us know in the comments below or contact us: editor@thisismoney.co.uk 2. Travel money While those after their travel money might be wary of using Travelex after it was hacked on New Year's Eve, which caused problems for some customers looking to pick up money they'd ordered beforehand, you can earn Avios points for using it. Provided you follow the link on BA's own Executive Club website to the Travelex checkout, and enter your membership number, you can get one point for every 1 you spend above 300 and one point for every 2 you spend below this. For example, ordering 1,000 worth of euros would get you 1,160, while 1,000 worth of dollars would get you $1,263.60. You can choose to have the money delivered to your home provided you've purchased 600 or more in foreign currency, or arrange to pick it up at a Travelex bureau de change, including one at the airport you're flying from. You will get your Avios points credited to your Executive Club account within 14 days of collection or delivery. Provided you follow the link through British Airways' website and enter your Executive Club membership number, you'll earn air miles on what you spend Watch out for: While you can book flights with an Avios-earning credit card, do not make a Travelex purchase this way. According to Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points, 'purchases at Travelex need to be made with a debit card or cash. 'If you use a credit card it goes through as a cash advance transaction and you get hit with the 3 per cent card fee.' Cash transaction fees are determined by credit card issuers, and can vary. However Travelex insist a customer will earn Avios points regardless of whether they use a debit or credit card. Also, make sure you bring the card you used to make the payment when you come to collect your order, as well as any paperwork they have emailed you. You should also shop around for a better currency rate - Travelex, via BA, might not offering the top deal. If you are picking up money at the airport with Travelex to earn some Avios points on your spending, make sure you bring the card you purchased your holiday money with 3. Car hire BA also has tie-up deals with two of the largest car hire companies around; Avis and Budget. You can earn three Avios points with every 1 you spend at Avis, for a minimum of 500 on a one or two-day rental or 700 on a three or more day rental, and two Avios points for every 1 spent at Budget, for a minimum of 250 points per rental. As a nice bonus, paying for an Avis rental with a British Airways credit card, be it the free card or the one with the 195 annual fee, will net you a bonus 250 Avios points. Those renting a car with either Avis or Budget can earn Avios points for every 1 they spend, provided they include their membership number This is on top of the fact that because this is credit card spending, you will earn Avios points for the booking purchase anyway. You'll earn even more points on some credit cards, like Amex's Gold Card, which give you twice as many points when you use them to pay for a hire car. For both bonuses, you must include the British Airways Executive Club membership number of the renter at the time of the reservation, and you must show your card when you collect the card. You will get your Avios points credited to your account up to eight weeks from the date of the rental. Watch out for: Make sure you leave plenty of time for your booking. Research from TravelSupermarket found drivers save an average of 59 per cent booking their car rental online ahead of their holiday, as opposed to booking it at the airport when you arrive on holiday. Also, it is vital to shop around. Avis and Budget might not offer the best deal at your destination. 4. Pre-holiday shopping When ticking off your holiday to-do list, you might need to pick up anything from sun cream to a new hat; a whole new holiday wardrobe or a suitcase to carry it all in. Regardless of what you're buying, there's a high chance you'll be able to turn the spending on those holiday essentials into more air miles. British Airways has a huge number of partner retailers on its website, and provided you log in through its website you can earn Avios points on what you spend. For example, you can earn one point for every 1 spent at Debenhams, two for every 1 spent at Superdrug if you're looking to pick up anything from suncream to mosquito spray, three for every 1 spent at Asos, up to four Avios points for every 1 you spend at M&S, five for every 1 spent at TK Maxx, and a whopping 10 for every 1 you spend at H&M. BA also has a separate tie-up with Tesco which means you can earn 600 Avios points for every 2.50 you earn in Tesco Clubcard vouchers. Watch out for: Again, make sure you shop around, there's no point getting two Avios points for every 1 you spend if you're spending twice or three times as much than you would want to. And always make sure you check the terms and conditions. And while BA has tie-ups with over 800 retailers, there may be a shop you use a lot that it doesn't, for example Boots. Donald Trump is threatening to sue those involved in investigations into his 2016 campaign and presidency, yet again weighing in on a federal criminal case as he thumbs his nose at concerns he is politicizing the Justice Department. The president also used several Tuesday morning tweets to suggest the case of his convicted friend and former adviser Roger Stone and any other one stemming from probes of all things Trump should be "thrown out." The judge in Mr Stone's case, Amy Berman Jackson, has set a Tuesday teleconference hearing with the Stone camp and federal prosecutors to discuss the status of his case. That set off a firestorm last week when Mr Trump wielded the power of his office post-Senate acquittal in a more muscular way by tweeting that the Justice Department should come down from a planned nine-year sentencing recommendation for Mr Stone on counts of lying to Congress and obstructing justice. But, in Mr Trump's telling, his longtime friend should soon be a free man. He called the prosecutors in Mr Stone's case "Mueller prosecutors," referring to the Russia election meddling probe led by former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III. That investigation concluded with Mr Mueller stopping shy of recommending Mr Trump broke any laws, but saying if wrongdoing had not occured his final report would have said so; it did not. (That final summary also stated Mr Mueller and his team found no direct cooperation between Mr Trump's 2016 campaign and Russians.) But that did not stop the president on Tuesday morning from contending that "the whole Mueller investigation was illegally set up based on a phony and now fully discredited Fake Dossier, lying and forging documents to the FISA Court, and many other things." He did not provide supporting evidence as he added his view that the Mueller probe was a "fraudulent investigation" and "badly tainted," calling for it anything related to it to be "thrown out." "The whole deal was a total SCAM. If I wasn't President, I'd be suing everyone all over the place..." Mr Trump claimed, before adding this threat: "....BUT MAYBE I STILL WILL. WITCH HUNT!" But Democrats see the situation differently. "Trump abused his power to coerce Ukraine into announcing investigations for his personal benefit by freezing military aid," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California tweeted last week. Mr Schiff and other Democrats also have panned Attorney General William Barr, who stepped in to back his department away from the nine-year sentencing recommendation after Mr Trump's tweet. (Mr Barr contends he thought there was an internal agreement within the agency to offer Ms Jackson options for a more "flexible" sentence for Mr Stone.) "Barr admits he intervened in the sentencing of a man who lied to Congress to cover up for the President," Mr Schiff tweeted. "He's only upset that Trump's tweets made the political nature of his intervention obvious. Barr fools no one. He's a witting accomplice to Trump's attack on the rule of law. Our industry comes to Campus Connex to dial into the latest in student housing and Im happy to be part of advancing the field on an important topic like PropTech. Georgianna W. Oliver, founder of Tour24, the on-demand platform that automates the process for apartment tours, and Package Concierge, the trusted provider of automated locker systems, has been selected to speak at the National Apartment Associations Campus Connex Conference in New Orleans tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19. Olivers panel, The Future is Here Self-Guided Tours, will discuss self-guided tours from a holistic perspective and answer questions about concerns, benefits and how to get started. Being at the top of the PropTech game will be essential for management companies in the coming years, and there wont be a shortage of innovation to choose from - annual investment in U.S. PropTech companies has grown five times more quickly than investment in all U.S. businesses since 2013. Conference attendees can expect to hear from Oliver and Greystar Director of New Product Development Leah Rimpler on how technology enhancements like self-guided tours are here to stay, lessons learned over the past several months and best practices for future success. WHO: Campus Connex Attendees WHAT: The apartment customer experience is being disrupted in a big way, and that disruption has implications for staffing and how the multifamily industry does business. In this session, moderators will facilitate three separate panels on the three technologies that impact the industry including digital leasing assistants, self-guided tours, and smart home technology. WHEN: Wednesday, February 19 at 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Hyatt Regency New Orleans - 601 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 Im thrilled to be speaking on such an exciting, important topic in the multifamily space, said Oliver. Our industry comes to Campus Connex to dial into the latest in student housing and Im happy to be part of advancing the field on an important topic like PropTech. For More Information About the Event: Campus Connex Conference About Tour24 Tour24 is the on-demand platform that automates the process for apartment tours. Created by the founders of Package Concierge, a Gibraltar Industries Inc. company that creates leading automated package locker systems, Tour24s transformative technology integrates with smart-home providers to deliver self-guided property tours and serve as an extension to leasing teams. With Tour24, prospective residents can tour apartments on their own schedule, reducing the time it takes to find a new home and driving more leases for properties. For more information, please visit http://www.tour24now.com. Follow us on Twitter @Tour24now. About Package Concierge Package Concierge is the trusted provider of automated locker solutions. With over 55+ million package transactions, Package Concierge combines expertise and technology to seamlessly automate processes for multifamily housing, retail and other industries. As the only vertically-integrated solution, Package Concierge products are built in the USA and powered by proprietary software to deliver on security, design and functionality. By collaborating with customers to understand and address their evolving needs, Package Concierge delivers the highest quality solutions to optimize operations and enhance user experiences. Learn how automated lockers and package rooms can easily integrate with your systems to transform your package management at http://www.packageconcierge.com. Falling one place to 11th in the global index of emerging logistics markets, Viet Nam was still seen as a clear winner in the US-China trade war. A view of a building in the heart of Ha Noi by Hoan Kiem Lake. Viet Nam is among the three logistic markets with most potential in the globe. Photo vtc.vn According to the recently released 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, with an overall score of 5.52 out of 10, Viet Nam fell behind several Southeast Asian peers, including Indonesia (4th), Malaysia (5th) and Thailand (9th). As the worlds leading logistics company, Agility, ranked 50 countries by factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors. The three factors considered in the ranking were: domestic logistics opportunities, international logistics opportunities and business fundamentals. At the same time, China remains the world's leading emerging logistics market, followed by India and UAE. Slipping one place, the report stated that Viet Nam performed well in international opportunities, ranking fourth globally, while it stood 21st in domestic logistics opportunities and 20th in business fundamentals, which includes regulatory environment, credit and debt dynamics, contract enforcement, anti-corruption safeguards, price stability and market access. The report said: "Viet Nam and Indonesia also saw their international logistics opportunities scores improve, with gains made via a combination of volumes won as manufacturers switched production locations from China, as well as moderate increases in domestic demand." Despite leading its Southeast Asian peers in the business fundamentals sub-index, Malaysia followed Viet Nam, Indonesia and Thailand in international logistics opportunities. Malaysia saw sea freight exports to the US rise 24 per cent in the first eight months of 2019 as a result of the trade war, but its wider sea freight market remains small by comparison with its neighbours which each have a sea freight market around three times larger. The group of six markets identified by survey respondents as having the most potential as future logistics markets was unchanged in 2020, with India and China maintaining a marked lead and Viet Nam still third thanks to its improved infrastructure and domestic market in recent years, in addition to the export growth it has seen as trade shifts from China. Though fewer survey respondents this year suggested Southeast Asia as a region would benefit from the US-China trade war, most of them thought the benefit was narrowing to a few markets, adding that Viet Nam both in terms of survey sentiment and trade data emerged as a clear winner. If businesses are going to relocate from China, Viet Nam and India are the most likely investment destinations, according to 48 per cent of those surveyed. Mexico and Cambodia were the lowest rated relocation options amongst survey respondents. The report also said: While growth in some regional markets remains robust including key export markets like Viet Nam as well as in more nascent manufacturing locations such as Cambodia export growth has slowed. According to the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association's latest survey, there are around 30,000 logistics companies in the country, including 4,000 international ones. The industry has been growing at 12-14 per cent annually and is now worth $40-42 billion. VNS EVFTA to boost Vietnam's logistics industry development The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will boost the demand for logistics services and significantly impact on Vietnam's logistics industry, said a trade official. Albany NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/18/2020 -- Key Highlights Transparency Market Research has published a new report that provides detailed information about the overall working dynamics of the global oil storage market. According to the research report, the global oil storage market is expected to exhibit a healthy CAGR of 4.78% for the forecast period of 2019 to 2027. The volume sale of the market was at around 1,581 million cubic meters in 2018. With the given rate of growth, the global oil storage market is expected to achieve the volume of 2,407 million cubic meters by the fall of 2027. Read report Overview@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/oil-storage-market.html Key Driver of the Global Oil Storage Market Increasing demand of refined products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation turbine fuel is likely to drive the demand for global oil storage terminals. The rising number of automobile sales especially in developing economies such as China, India, and Brazil would be a key factor for the growth in the demand for diesel and gasoline. Moreover, growing construction industry and industrial segment in developing and under-developed economies is likely to boost the demand for diesel in near future. Growing aviation sector and domestic & international air traffic would result in an increase in demand for aviation turbine fuel across the globe. Thus, in order to meet growing demand for petroleum products the investment in their production and storage is also growing, which in turn would drive the oil storage market during the forecast period. Request PDF Brochure@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2421 Lower crude oil prices and increasing demand for petroleum products has resulted in a surge in investment for crude oil refineries across the globe. Moreover, existing refiners are investing heavily to upgrade their oil storage infrastructure in order to take advantage of the price movement in crude oil market. Governments across the globe are also planning to take advantage of the crude oil price drop and increase their strategic oil reserves to act as a contingency reserve in case of any emergency. Middle East and Africa to Remain Dominant Over Forecast Period In terms of geographical segmentation, the global oil storage market, there are five major regional segments viz. South and Central America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. Of these, the regional segment of the Middle East and Africa is currently the most dominant one and is expected to remain so over the course of the mentioned projection period. The growth of the regional segment is driven by the strong contributions from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Nigeria among others. The Middle East and Africa region is expected to exhibit a healthy CAGR during the forecast period of 2019 to 2027. Competitive Landscape to Remain Consolidated in Near Future The competitive landscape of the global oil storage market is highly consolidated with only five companies occupying the majority of the overall market share. These five companies are Royal Vopak NV Kinder Morgan Inc. Oiltanking GmbH Buckeye Partners LP NuStar Energy LP. These companies cumulative accounted for more than 60% share of the overall market in the year 2018. The research report on the global oil storage market expects the competition in the global market to only intensify over the course of the mentioned period of forecast. One of the prime reasons behind this intensifying competition is the growing amount of investments put in by some of these leading brands in the market. It is expected that the entry barriers for new players in the oil storage market to remain high. Thus the threat of the same is expected to be a moderate one. Moreover, in order to bolster their existing hold on the global market, these leading companies are adopting the approach of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships. Such moves allow these companies to expand and improve their current infrastructure for crude oil storage and also their terminal networks. It also helps them to raise more funds for the optimization of their storage facilities and develop new pipelines. Global Oil Storage Market Key Developments In October 2019, Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state oil company for its contribution in the 2.5 million tons facility in Karnataka, India. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd is an Indian government owned company which is charged with the building strategic oil storage reserves in India. Only Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) is the foreign oil company which stores crude oil in India's strategic reserves, at Mangalore and Karnataka. A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting which has started in Paris is expected to review the situation of Iran's commitment to international regulations against money laundering and financing terrorism also called the AML/CFT. The FATF meeting attended by over 800 delegates from 205 countries will continue until Friday February 21. International organizations such as the UN, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are also represented at the meeting. In a public statement issued in October 2019, the FATF gave Iran four months "for the sixth and last time" to ratify the bills relating to the campaign against money laundering and funding terrorism. Out of the four bills required by the FATF, Iran has already accepted two, but the other two bills have been going back and forth between the Iranian Parliament, the constitutional watchdog Guardian Council and the Expediency Council that arbitrates between the Parliament and the Guardian Council. During the past months, Iranian hardliners have been pushing to reject the two remaining bills, namely Palermo (the international convention against funding transnational organized crimes) and CFT (The convention against financing terrorism). The Rouhani administration in Iran has been advocating the FATF bills and the parliament (Majles) has cooperated with the administration by approving the bills. However, bills approved by the Majles need to be double-checked by the hardliner dominated Guardian Council. Over the past year, the Expediency Council has been holding the bills after differences broke out between the Majles and the Guardian Council. Iranian hardliners have said repeatedly that the FATF commitments will prevent Iran to send money to its regional allies such as the Lebanese Hezballah and Palestinian HAMAS, who are designated as international terrorist groups by the United States and some other countries. According to the FATF, "in November 2017, Iran established a cash declaration regime. In August 2018, Iran has enacted amendments to its Counter-Terrorist Financing Act and in January 2019, Iran has also enacted amendments to its Anti-Money Laundering Act." However, "in October 2019, the FATF noted that there are still items not completed and Iran should fully address: (1) adequately criminalizing terrorist financing, including by removing the exemption for designated groups attempting to end foreign occupation, colonialism and racism; (2) identifying and freezing terrorist assets in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions; (3) ensuring an adequate and enforceable customer due diligence regime; (4) clarifying that the submission of STRs for attempted TF-related transactions are covered under Irans legal framework; (5) demonstrating how authorities are identifying and sanctioning unlicensed money/value transfer service providers; (6) ratifying and implementing the Palermo and TF Conventions and clarifying the capability to provide mutual legal assistance; and (7) ensuring that financial institutions verify that wire transfers contain complete originator and beneficiary information." The FATF which had earlier suspended its counter-measures against Iran, warned in October that "If before February 2020, Iran does not enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, then the FATF will fully lift the suspension of counter-measures and call on its members and urge all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures," in line with the Financial Action Task Force's recommendation. During the past months, while Rouhani and his cabinet ministers have been urging for the final ratification of the FATF bills, the bills' opponents said that the commitments will reveal Iran's secrets. The administration warned hardliners that without these bills, Iran may not be able to conduct financial transactions with its allies such as Russia and China. The administration also warned Irans currency might fall if the bills are not ratified. During recent days, the U.S. dollar jumped again reaching 143,000 rials, crossing Iranian central bank's "red line" of 140,000 rials. Rouhani warned on Sunday that his administration was no longer able to have these bills ratified. The hardliners, who were earlier willing to ratify the bills on the condition that Iran enforces its own definition of terrorism, have further hardened their position after the targeted killing of Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani on 3 January. On 8 January, hardliner daily newspaper Vatan-e Emrouz wrote that "With the terrorist act of U.S. government in killing Martyr Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and the double standards of the FATF the risks involved in accepting its regulations have become clearer for Iran." The daily charged that FATF should use countermeasures against the United States for "assassinating" Soleimani. According to the paper, "One should note that basically the FATF's definition of terrorism is far from reality and it is a tool that has been created under imperialism. Experience proves this. Nevertheless, one can regard this institution's reaction to the assassination of Martyr Soleimani as a test for the definition of terrorism." New Delhi: Delhi's Patiala House Court has issued a death warrant for the third time for the execution of Nirbhaya convicts on Monday, 17 February 2020. On the other hand, if there is no legal impediment, then 4 accused will be hanged at 3 am on March 3, 2020. Meanwhile, the culprits have again started tricking to avert punishment. Counsel for the convicts told the court that Pawan Gupta wants to file a corrective petition and mercy petition. Akshay Kumar also wants to file a new petition about being a minor at the time of the crime. UN chief Antonio Guterres visits Pakistan due to this reason It is also being said that expressing satisfaction at the issuance of the death warrant, Nirbhaya's mother hoped that now the culprits would get the punishment. Special Public Prosecutor Rajeev Mohan, appearing for Tihar Jail administration in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana, said that all the legal options of Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Mukesh Kumar Singh have been exhausted. At the same time, it is being said that Pawan has not filed a corrective petition yet. There is no pending plea of a convict, so a death warrant should be issued. Brinda Karat targets Modi government, says 'Why Ahmadia and Rohingya not included...' On this matter, the lawyer Ravi Kazi provided on behalf of the court said that Pawan wants to file a corrective petition and mercy petition. He has not used any legal option so far. This petition was filed by Nirbhaya's parents and the Delhi government to fix a new date for hanging the four convicts. Recently, the Supreme Court said that no plea of the culprits is pending and the mercy petition of three has been rejected by the President. The fourth did not opt for mercy petition, in which case the lower court can issue a new death warrant. Significantly, on January 22, 2020 and February 1, a death warrant was issued, but both of them could not be hanged. Cruise Diamond Princess: 88 people infected by Coronavirus, these many Indian citizens are on board A newborn babys first photoshoot can be a moment for mothers to savor. But when it was baby Luna Musas turn to pose for the camera just a couple of weeks after birth, the beautiful baby didnt seem to share this sentiment. Baby Luna, who hails from Westerville, Ohio, didnt scream or cry during the photo session with photographer Justine Tuhy. She made some of the sourest facial expressions, some might say, that the internet had ever seen. She was just wide awake, very content, just staring me down, Tuhy told TODAY Parents. The babys dad, Christian Musa, told Good Morning America that the expression is so characteristic hes invented a name for it. Shes been mean-mugging since day one, he said. Lunas seemingly angry face has since become a meme of sorts after Tuhy posted the pictures on Facebook. Luna was born on Nov. 15, 2019, and her father believes that the circumstances surrounding her birth may have something to do with the displeased expression. I remember when I first laid eyes on her after her birth, that was the face she was making, dad Christian told TODAY. She was born via C-section at 41 weeks, so we assume she is annoyed she was evicted. As for photographer Tuhy, when she saw Lunas dark, foreboding eyes looking at her, she was impressed. Its just luck if I can catch them smiling Sometimes I can get them to smirk a little bit, she said. I always wonder when theyre that awake, What are they thinking exactly? Do you love this or majorly dislike it? With Luna, the answer seemed to be pretty clear. Baby Lunas parents, who are used to being on the receiving end of her mean-mugging, were delighted to be able to share it with the world. I used to do a mean-mug [face] in my office as a joke with my colleagues, Christian said. Now whenever he wants to indicate his displeasure with something going at work, he can simply send a photo with his daughters trademark scowl. Tuhy herself was impressed with the viral response to her photo session with Luna. All I was doing was my job. Miss Luna did all the incredible work with her silly facial expressions, she told GMA. Soon after the photos spread all over the internet, Christian Musa was surprised to see where his daughters mean mug was turning up. Weve seen her face on Game of Thrones characters, Baby Yoda, everywhere, Musa said. Meanwhile, parents around the country took to Facebook to add their own pictures of kids who seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed and their grumpy expressions. Tuhy watched the whole thing happen in amazement. Im super blessed to have captured this special moment for the family that they can cherish forever, she told GMA. Many commenters on Facebook sympathized with Christian and Lori Musa about the future of their grumpy girl, explaining that their kids expressions hadnt changed much since their early days as grouchy newborns. However, the Musas are laughing about the whole thing and hope that Luna can channel her mean face into her professional life. I love the mean mug that has gone viral, Musa told GMA. To me, she looks like she is planning to take over the world. He told others in the chat that he was going to be on the news and commit a mass shooting in Shorewood, according to a complaint filed by prosecutors in U.S. District Court in Toledo. Your browser does not support the audio element. A Vietnamese American who was confirmed the seventh patient of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Vietnam this month has fully recovered and will soon be discharged from the hospital where he has been receiving treatment, a hospital representative said on Monday. T.K.H., 73, was admitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases in District 5 on January 31 with symptoms including a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Tests later showed he was positive for the novel coronavirus now named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, making him the seventh confirmed case in Vietnam. H. was put on a ventilator and prescribed antibiotics and antiviral drugs, said hospital director Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau. After two weeks of treatment at the infirmary, he tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 for five consecutive times between February 12 and 17, Chau said. His vital signs, including body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure, were all within the normal range as of Monday. A COVID-19 patient is allowed to be discharged from the hospital only after their fever has ceased for at least three days and at least two samples, taken one day apart, test negative for the virus, according to a treatment guidance issued by the Ministry of Health. In H.s case, the Vietnamese American still needs to be sampled and tested by the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute to verify the hospitals test results, Chau told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. H. is Vietnams oldest COVID-19 patient so far and the third case reported in Ho Chi Minh City. He left the U.S. on January 14 and arrived in Wuhan on January 15. He was at the airport in the central Chinese city for two hours, waiting for a connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City. He landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16. He stayed in Room 202 at Trieu Han Hotel at 382/1-3 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. During his stay in the southern metropolis, the man developed symptoms including a fever and coughing and was taken by hotel staff to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases on January 31. The novel coronavirus disease, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), has killed 1,873 people and infected over 73,400 globally since it first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post. To date Vietnam has confirmed 16 cases of the viral infection, including 13 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, seven have fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Another six people are expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday evening, raising the number of recoveries in Vietnam to 13 out of 16 patients, Vietnams national COVID-19 committee said on Monday. In Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Department of Health reported on Monday that 24 people were in quarantine at a makeshift hospital in the suburban district of Cu Chi, 23 were monitored in other districts isolation zones, and 837 more were under home quarantine. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Couples from Bengali and Assamese speaking Hindu communities in Assam could get monetary incentives if a proposal by the states linguistic minority board is accepted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. The Assam Linguistic Minority Development Board (ALMDB) submitted the proposal to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal earlier this month and it could be included in the states annual budget to be presented next month. To strengthen ties of brotherhood between both communities and to take the state forward, the board has asked the government to provide couples of inter-community marriages with some cash incentive, said Alok Kumar Ghosh, chairperson of ALMDB. Ghosh said the amount, which is yet to be decided, would be given to couples from financially weak families in Assam in order to help them set up some small business. There are instances of families getting ruined because of such marriages due to opposition from family members. Our idea is to give them some support. Hopefully, it will be accepted and included in this years budget, said Ghosh. It is for the government to decide the amount. If the couples are given around 30,000, they would be able to open a paan shop or a small beauty parlour, he said adding the scheme would not benefit non-Hindu Bengali speakers. Last year, the Assam government had announced a cash incentive of 30,000, or the price of 10 gm of gold then, to brides from poor families in the annual budget. The board has also asked the government to set up statues of Assamese literary doyen Lakshminath Bezbaruah and his Bengali wife Pragyasundari Devi, niece of Rabindranath Tagore, in 15 cities of the state to promote brotherhood among both communities. A statue of Assamese cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika, who also sang many numbers in Bengali, at Siliguri in West Bengal, is also proposed. According to the 2011 Census, there are more than 90 lakh Bengali speakers in Assam and according to some estimates, nearly 30% of them are Bengali speaking Hindus. The All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation welcomed the very good suggestion. If implemented, it will increase bonds between both communities. It will also be a relief to couples victimized due to such inter-community marriages, the federations general secretary, Samrat Bhowal, said. However, the All Assam Minority Students Union criticised the BJP government in the state for what it said was an agenda to polarise people. This is another attempt by the BJP government to divide people of Assam on communal lines. If such a proposal had been given purely on the economic condition of the couple, it would have been a welcome step, the unions president, Rejaul Karim Sarkar, said. This is a part of the BJPs agenda to polarise Hindu votes by targeting Muslims in Assam ahead of the assembly polls next year. It would create more problems in the state, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DURHAM, N.C. John R. Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Trump, suggested on Monday that his unpublished book contained far more revelations than just the campaign to pressure Ukraine for help with domestic politics but said he was fighting censorship by the White House. In his first public appearance since the Senate impeachment trial in which Republicans refused to hear his testimony, Mr. Bolton said that the White House was trying to keep him from publishing important parts of his new memoir by terming them classified. He said he was pushing back but feared that a pre-publication review could stop the book from being published next month. For all the focus on Ukraine and the impeachment trial and all that, to me, there are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine, I view that like the sprinkles on the ice cream sundae in terms of whats in the book, Mr. Bolton told an audience at Duke University during a forum on foreign policy on Monday evening. This is an effort to write history and I did it the best I can. Well have to see what comes out of the censorship. Im hoping ultimately I can get the book published, Mr. Bolton said at another point. I hope its not suppressed. Reminded that the president had assailed him on Twitter, Mr. Bolton said: He tweets, but I cant talk about it. How fair is that? FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government's backtrack this week on health-care reforms has damaged the image of Premier Blaine Higgs and his minority Tory government, a local political scientist says. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Kevin Vickers, the former House of Commons sergeant-at-arms, announces his intention to run for the leadership of the New Brunswick Liberals, in Miramichi, N.B. on March 15, 2019. New Brunswick Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers says he will vote against next month's provincial budget and try to defeat the Tory minority government. Vickers says he can't support the budget given the "gross incompetence" of the government last week in it's handling of health reforms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government's backtrack this week on health-care reforms has damaged the image of Premier Blaine Higgs and his minority Tory government, a local political scientist says. Donald Wright with the University of New Brunswick said Tuesday that Higgs's reputation as a "steady, competent fiscal manager" is at risk and an early election could be coming. "Suddenly this has blown up in his face. He has retreated in the face of politics, and he looks weak," Wright said. Higgs announced late Sunday he was cancelling next month's planned overnight closures of emergency departments in six community hospitals. The move was part of a plan to address a shortage of human resources in the province's health-care system, as well as its aging population. But Higgs said there were too many gaps in the proposal and the two regional health authorities advised him to put it on hold. Instead, the premier will visit the six communities and convene a health summit in June. Health Minister Hugh Flemming defended Higgs on Tuesday, saying he put the affected people before politics. "Those people are entitled to a fair understanding and a fair level of communication from their premier as to what this is about," the minister said. "Blaine Higgs is a big enough man that he didn't put his brand before what he believed was the right thing to do." Flemming said the changes weren't communicated well, but he wouldn't lay blame on the health authorities or government staff. Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said Tuesday he would vote against next month's provincial budget and try to defeat the minority government. "We will not support this budget, given the gross incompetence shown by this government in the last week," Vickers said. Vickers said Higgs is blaming others and throwing top bureaucrats "under the bus." He said he'd recall Liberal member Daniel Guitard from his role as Speaker, if needed, to have the numbers to defeat the government on the budget vote expected March 20. Even with Guitard back on the Liberal benches, the outcome would hinge on the votes of three Green members, three People's Alliance members and one Independent. Wright said all the parties will be staking their positions ahead of the budget, which is set to be unveiled March 10. "Everybody will be retreating into their caucuses trying to read the tea leaves and trying to make the best situation possible for their electoral success," Wright said. Green Leader David Coon issued a statement Tuesday, saying it is a defining moment for health care in New Brunswick and calling on both major party leaders to release detailed proposals. "The system is in crisis. Instead of playing politics, Mr. Vickers needs to show us his plan. Premier Higgs needs to present his full plan," Coon wrote. People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he also wants to see the budget, but he may not be able to continue supporting the government on confidence votes. "We haven't seen the budget and I want to be open-minded to what those numbers are in the budget, but I can tell you my confidence in government certainly has been shaken," he said. "I think at the end of the day it's going to be up to the electorate to decide." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. FORT MYERS, Fla. and DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interop Technologies, the most technically advanced RCS solution provider globally, has been selected by RINA Wireless (The Rural Independent Network Alliance), to deploy their complete Rich Communication Services (RCS) Suite to deliver enhanced messaging capabilities for 10 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in North America. To date, Interop Technologies has enabled 21 operators to secure their place in the RCS messaging ecosystem. "Not only will this agreement help grow subscriber adoption of RCS in North America, it will increase the critical operator momentum needed to expand the greater RCS economy while extending the ubiquity and interoperability of RCS globally," said John Dwyer, President and CEO of Interop Technologies. RINA Wireless will receive Interop Technologies' complete, secure and standards-based cloud RCS suite (https://www.interoptechnologies.com/rich-communication-services), including on-network P2P capabilities, interconnection for global reach and ubiquity, as well as an RCS business messaging (https://www.interoptechnologies.com/rcs-business-messaging) (RBM) platform to capitalize on the growing business to consumer (B2C) messaging market. Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are shifting the face of customer service through conversational commerce interactions, and the Interop RBM Platform provides opportunities for MNOs to capitalize on the latest technical advances being developed for the native messaging channel. Dennie Mecham, Chief Operations Officer for RINA Wireless, says: "RINA Wireless has long provided quality wireless network services and the latest technology to our members in a prompt and complete manner. With the advancement of 5G in the marketplace, the continuation of adding services such as RCS we believe is vital. Partnering with Interop is critical and further highlights RINA's technology leadership." This partnership advances RINA Wireless's competitive capabilities, making latest technologies like RCS an option as soon as devices become commercially available and ensuring customers in rural areas that are supported by RINA Wireless have access to the latest technology innovations. Mecham added: "We're thrilled to expand our partnership with Interop to deliver best-in-class network technology to our customers, and further advance the availability of RCS Services to end users in our rural communities. Now RINA Wireless end users in states like Utah, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Oregon will have access to RCS as soon as they can pick up an RCS compatible device." Interop Technologies' fully managed cloud solution can be deployed by MNOs today in order to grow RCS adoption and usage momentum with reduced costs and low risk, then migrate to a private cloud or an in-network, fully owned option when a subscription-based licensed deployment makes sense for their business. About Interop Technologies Interop Technologies is a global leader in Rich Communication Services (RCS). Through its GSMA-accredited (https://www.interoptechnologies.com/news/interop-technologies-achieves-worlds-first-gsma-universal-profile-2.0-a2p-rcs-accreditation), end-to-end RCS solution, the company is committed to putting mobile operators back in the center of their subscribers' mobile lives by delivering industry leading, standardized and Telco-grade technology with the highest level of deployment flexibility and lifecycle management available. Interop Technologies' has world headquarters in Fort Myers, FL, and offices in Irving, Texas, as well as an EMEA regional headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Interop also owns and operates geo-redundant network operations centers in N. America and Europe. Learn more about our industry leading communication solutions for mobile operators at www.InteropTechnologies.com (http://www.InteropTechnologies.com). About RINA Wireless RINA Wireless is an LLC company that hosts multiple carriers/operators for many of their wireless needs in several states. RINA Wireless is owned and operated by carriers for carriers, much like a cooperative, to keep switching/core costs affordable for rural and regional carriers. RINA Wireless has been hosting carriers since 2005 and has a team of professionals to handle any needs that wireless carriers may have. RINA Wireless can provide your IMS, VoLTE, VoWiFi, CBRS, LTE, 5G NSA and now RCS services making any companies wireless deployments much easier and affordable. www.rinawireless.com (http://rinawireless.com/) Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. Good Times star Janet Dubois passed away in her sleep and was found dead on Tuesday. TMZ first reported the news, saying they had spoken with Dubois family. Dubois was the face behind Willona Woods in Good Times and the voice behind the opening theme song to The Jeffersons. Dubois date and location of birth are disputed, but TMZ reported her age as 74. Some sources list her place of birth as Brooklyn, others list it as Philadelphia. Two years after her Broadway debut, Dubois film and television career began with 1966s A Man Called Adam, but she is best known for her role on Good Times." As Willona Woods, Dubois played the mother of Janet Jacksons Penny Gordon Woods. Dubois help found the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in 1992 and won two Emmy awards for voiceover work. According to TV Guide, she was also the first African-American actress to have a regular role on a soap opera. TMZ said Dubois was survived by three children. The son of TV judge Glenda Hatchett is suing the hospital where his wife died after giving birth to their second child following a C-section that left her bleeding internally for ten hours. Charles Johnson said staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles told him wife Kira 'was not a priority' and by the time they took her back to surgery she had more than three liters of blood in her abdomen. Kira, 39, died in April 2016 after the scheduled c-section delivery of her second son. A lawsuit alleges that the doctors in charge of Kira's care failed to properly respond to her symptoms and adequately treat her when she started bleeding after the birth. Speaking with CNN Johnson said: 'I can see the Foley catheter coming from Kiras bedside begin to turn pink with blood. 'I just held her by her hands and said, "Please, look, my wife isnt doing well". This woman looked me directly in my eyes and said, "Sir, your wife just isnt a priority right now".' Charles Johnson, pictured, said staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles told him wife Kira 'was not a priority' and by the time they took her back to surgery she had more than three liters of blood in her abdomen Kira, 39, died in April 2016 after the c-section delivery of her second son, pictured shortly after the birth. A lawsuit alleges that the doctors in charge of Kira's care failed to properly respond to her symptoms and adequately treat her when she started bleeding after the birth Charles says when they finally took Kira back to surgery she had 'three and a half liters of blood in her abdomen from where shed been allowed to bleed internally for almost 10 hours'. He added: 'Her heart stopped immediately.' Kira, a successful businesswoman who could speak five languages, gave birth to the couple's second son Langston at 2.33pm on April 12 and was taken to recovery at 3pm where she was able to 'skin to skin' bond with the baby. Johnson is now helping to raise awareness of maternal mortality with the help of charity Every Mother Counts and his own site 4kira4moms. Figures released in May last year show America was the most dangerous place to conceive in the developed world, with double the rate of maternal and fetal mortality compared to any other peer nation. Data from the CDC revealed 700 women die a year from pregnancy complications - a third during gestation, a third during or immediately after delivery, and a third up to a year later. But experts say most could have been prevented, particularly the 34 percent caused by heart conditions, and the 12.5 percent caused by infections. The report came days after guidelines from ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) warned that 'racial bias and overt racism' was driving the issue, since black women are more likely to suffer and die from heart issues in pregnancy than white women. Kira's husband Charles S. Johnson IV (pictured with their first son Charles V) has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai and the doctors in charge of his wife's care The couple had welcome their first son in September 2014 before becoming pregnant with their second child in 2015 Charles added: 'We are in the midst of a maternal mortality crisis that isnt just shameful for American standards. Its shameful on a global scale. 'There is a failure and disconnect for the people who are responsible for the lives of these precious women and babies to see them and value them in the same way they would their daughters, their mothers, their sisters. 'If I can simply do something to make sure I can send other mothers home with their precious babies, then, its all worth it. What I try and do is wake up every day and make Mommy proud. 'The tragic death of this magnificent young woman who had become my daughter was absolutely so unnecessary,' Judge Hatchett said in 2017. 'The complaint speaks for itself and I trust this lawsuit will spare other families the enormous pain that we are suffering.' Kira was the daughter-in-law of TV judge Glenda Hatchett. 'The tragic death of this magnificent young woman who had become my daughter was absolutely so unnecessary,' Judge Hatchett said in 2017 In a statement to Dailymail.com in 2017, Cedars-Sinai said it was deeply saddened by the death and the toll it is taking on Kira's family. 'While federal privacy laws prevent us from responding directly about any patient's care without written authorization, we can share the following: 'Cedars-Sinai is firmly committed to the highest levels of quality, has a comprehensive program to review any problems in patient care, and takes action any time it needs to make changes to maintain our high level of quality. 'Any time there are concerns raised about a patient's medical care, we conduct an investigation to determine exactly what happened, including reviewing hospital procedures and the competency of healthcare providers, and make changes as needed to ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality medical care.' NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- INTRODUCTION The first monoclonal antibody, Orthoclone OKT3A, was approved in 1986 by the FDA. Since then, a number of antibody therapeutics (more than 100) have been marketed for the treatment of patients suffering from various disease indications, primarily malignant tumors and other rare disorders. Despite the success, these drugs are associated with several limitations, such as increased patient resistance and a general lack of understanding of in vivo mechanisms of action. The aforementioned challenges and impending patent expiries of some of the blockbuster monoclonal antibodies have compelled the researchers and pharmaceutical companies to redesign these drugs and / or find new analogues. To further improve the specificity, efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibodies, the focus has gradually shifted towards the development of next generation recombinant antibodies, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific and multispecific antibodies, and antibody fragments and antibody-like proteins (ALPs). Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02530816/?utm_source=PRN Bispecific antibodies are a novel class of antibody therapeutics that act by simultaneously binding two separate and unique antigens (or different epitopes of the same antigen). The primary mechanism of action of these therapeutics involves redirection of immune effector cells for effective killing of cancer cells by antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and other cytotoxic mechanisms, such as antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Having unique biological and pharmacological properties, as well as their availability in different formats, bispecific antibodies have emerged as promising agents for therapeutic use. Advancements related to protein and antibody engineering techniques have led to the production of close to 50 new formats in the recent years. Till date, two bispecific antibodies, namely BlincytoA (2014) and HemlibraA (2017), have been approved for therapeutic use. It is worth mentioning that, in 2019 (till September), BlincytoA and HemlibraA generated revenues worth USD 232 million and USD 930 million, respectively. The growing popularity and therapeutic potential of bispecific antibodies can also be correlated to an exponential increase in the number of clinical trials; the cumulative count of trials has increased from 51 studies in 2014 to over 300 studies in 2019 (till September). More than 300 bispecific drug candidates are currently in clinical / preclinical stages. In fact, multiple licensing agreements, between drug developers and technology providers, have also been inked in the past few years to advance the development of pipeline drug candidates. SCOPE OF THE REPORT The aBispecific Antibody Therapeutics Market (4th Edition), 2019-2030a report features an extensive study of the current market landscape, offering an informed opinion on the likely adoption of these therapeutics over the next decade. The study features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various stakeholders engaged in this domain. Amongst other elements, the report includes: a A detailed review of the overall landscape of bispecific antibody therapeutics, including information on drug developers, phase of development (marketed, clinical, and preclinical / discovery) of the pipeline candidates, target antigen, type of antibody format, mechanism of action, target disease indication(s), therapeutic area, broader disease segment, route of administration, mode of administration and patient segment. a A comprehensive list of novel technology platforms that are either currently available or being developed by various firms for the generation of bispecific antibody therapeutics, along with detailed profiles of key technologies. The chapter also includes an insightful competitiveness analysis, featuring a three-dimensional bubble representation that highlights the key technologies that are being used for the development of bispecific antibodies, taking into consideration the early stage (discovery, preclinical, IND and phase I) and late stage (phase II and above) development activity based on the technology (in terms of the number of drugs across different phases of development), number of partnerships established related to the technology and size of the developer company. In addition, it consists of a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of technology developers engaged in this domain. a Detailed profiles of marketed and clinical stage (phase II and phase III) bispecific antibody therapeutics. Each profile features an overview of the drug, details of the developer, along with its financial performance, mechanism of action and targets, dosage information, current clinical development status, development process, as well as details on annual sales (wherever available). a Key takeaways from the bispecific antibody therapeutics pipeline, featuring a [A] grid analysis, representing the distribution of the pipeline (on the basis of mechanisms of action of product candidates) across different therapeutic areas and stages of development, [B] a five-dimensional spider-web analysis, highlighting the most popular mechanisms of action based on a number of relevant parameters, including number of bispecific antibodies in early stage (phase I) and late stage of development (phase II and above), number of ongoing clinical trials, target therapeutic areas and the number of companies that are developing these molecules, [C] a two-dimensional scattered plot competitiveness analysis, for the various target combinations for clinical-stage bispecific antibodies and [D] the chapter also includes an insightful summary representation using the logos of different industry stakeholders, highlighting the distribution of companies based on the company size. a An analysis of the big biopharma players engaged in this domain, featuring a heat map based on various parameters, such as number of bispecific antibody therapeutics under development, target antigen, type of antibody format, mechanism of action and target therapeutic area. a An analysis of recent partnerships and collaboration agreements inked in this domain since 2016, covering research collaborations, product and technology licensing agreements, product development and commercialization agreements, manufacturing agreements, mergers / acquisitions, joint ventures, product development agreements and other deals. a A review on the key steps involved and challenges associated with the manufacturing of bispecific antibodies. In addition, it includes a list of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract research organizations (CROs). The chapter also highlights the key considerations for bispecific antibody developers while selecting a suitable CRO / CMO. a A clinical trial analysis of ongoing and planned studies related to bispecific antibody therapeutics, taking into consideration a number of relevant parameters, including trial registration year, trial recruitment status, trial phase, trial design, disease indication(s), focus therapeutic area, most active industrial and non-industrial players, and geographical location of the trial. a A review of the key promotional strategies that have been adopted by the developers of the marketed bispecific antibodies, namely BlincytoA and HemlibraA. It includes a detailed comparison of both the drugs based on the information available on their respective websites, such as patient support offerings, informative downloadable content, and product visibility in scientific conferences. a A discussion on important, industry-specific trends, key market drivers and challenges, under a SWOT framework, featuring a qualitative Harvey ball analysis that highlights the relative impact of each SWOT parameter on the overall market. One of the key objectives of the report was to estimate the existing market size and the future opportunity for bispecific antibody therapeutics, for the next decade. Based on multiple parameters, such as target patient population, likely adoption rates and expected pricing, we have provided an informed estimate on the evolution of the market for the period 2019-2030. The report also features the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity across [A] key therapeutic areas (genetic disorders, hematological malignancies, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, eye disorders and skin disorders), [B] different mechanisms of action (T-cell retargeting / activation, cytokines retargeting / neutralization, dual ligands blocking and others), [C] key targets (CD3 x CD19, CD30 x CD16A, Factor IXa x Factor X, IL-13 x IL-4, IL-17A x Albumin, IL-17A x IL-17F, IL-1? x IL-1?, Psl x PcrV, TNF-? x HSA and VEGF-A x ANG-2), [D] type of antibody formats (asymmetric, fragments, symmetric and others), [E] key players (AbbVie, Affibody, Affimed, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Merck, Roche, Sanofi and Taisho Pharmaceutical) and [F] key geographical regions (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific). In order to account for future uncertainties and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, namely conservative, base and optimistic scenarios, representing different tracks of the industryas growth. The opinions and insights presented in the report were also influenced by discussions held with multiple stakeholders in this domain. The report features detailed transcripts of interviews held with the following individuals (in alphabetical order): a Martin Steiner (Chief Executive Officer, Synimmune) a Ludger Groe-Hovest (Chief Scientific Officer, Synimmune) a Jane Dancer (Chief Business Officer, F-Star) a Siobhan Pomeroy (Senior Director, Business Development, Cytom X) a Yinjue Wang (Associate Director, Process Development, Innovent Biologics) All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The data presented in this report has been gathered via secondary and primary research. For all our projects, we conduct interviews with experts in the area (academia, industry, medical practice and other associations) to solicit their opinions on emerging trends in the market. This is primarily useful for us to draw out our own opinion on how the market may evolve across different regions and technology segments. Wherever possible, the available data has been checked for accuracy from multiple sources of information. The secondary sources of information include: a Annual reports a Investor presentations a SEC filings a Industry databases a News releases from company websites a Government policy documents a Industry analystsa views While the focus has been on forecasting the market over the period 2019-2030, the report also provides our independent view on various technological and non-commercial trends emerging in the industry. This opinion is solely based on our knowledge, research and understanding of the relevant market gathered from various secondary and primary sources of information. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 2 provides an executive summary of the key insights captured in our research. It offers a high-level view on the current state of the market for bispecific antibody therapeutics and its likely evolution in the mid to long term. Chapter 3 provides a general overview of antibodies, including their historical background, structure, and the different types of antibodies available, along with their mechanisms of action. In addition, the chapter highlights the evolution of antibody-based therapeutics over the last few years. It also features a discussion on bispecific antibodies, elaborating on the different bispecific formats that are currently available, mechanisms of action of various products / product candidates and their applications. Chapter 4 provides information on over 300 bispecific antibody drug candidates that are either approved or in different stages of development (clinical and preclinical / discovery). It features an analysis of drug developers on basis of various parameters, such as year of establishment, company size and geographical location, phase of development (marketed, clinical, and preclinical / discovery stage) of the pipeline molecules, target antigens, type of antibody format (symmetric antibody format, asymmetric antibody format, fragments and others), mechanism of action, target disease indication(s), therapeutic area, broader disease segment (oncology / non-oncology), route of administration and patient segment. Chapter 5 includes a list of innovative technology platforms that are either currently available, or being developed by various firms, for the generation of bispecific antibody therapeutics, along with detailed profiles of key technologies. Each profile contains details on the technology, including the pipeline molecules being developed using the technology, its advantages and partnerships established related to the technology. The chapter also includes an insightful competitiveness analysis, featuring a three-dimensional bubble representation that highlights the key technologies that are being used for the development of bispecific antibodies, taking into consideration the early stage (discovery, preclinical, IND and phase I)and late stage (phase II and above) development activity based on the technology (in terms of the number of drugs across different phases of development) and the size of the developer company. In addition, it features a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of technology developers, along with the symbol representation for drug portfolio for each technology. Chapter 6 provides detailed profiles of marketed drugs and mid to late stage (phase II and phase III) candidates. Each profile provides information on the drug overview, including route of administration, developer, highest phase of development, primary indication, therapeutic area, special designation (if any), key targets, mechanism of action, technology used, current status of development, information on clinical studies and key clinical trial results of the drug, antibody format (if available) and construct (if available). It also includes an overview of the developer, its financial details and annual sales of the drug, in case of approved drugs. Chapter 7 is a compilation of key insights featuring a grid analysis, representing the distribution of pipeline (on the basis of mechanisms of action of product candidates) across different therapeutic areas and stages of development, a five-dimensional spider-web analysis, highlighting the most popular mechanisms of action based on a number of relevant parameters, including number of bispecific antibodies in early stage (phase I) and late stage of development (phase II and above), number of ongoing clinical trials, target therapeutic areas and the number of companies that are developing these molecules and a two-dimensional scattered plot competitiveness analysis, for the various target combinations for clinical-stage bispecific antibodies. It also presents a detailed logo landscape of the companies engaged in the development of bispecific antibody-based products, distributed based on the status of development of their pipeline candidates and size of the company (small, mid-sized and large companies). Chapter 8 highlights big biopharma players engaged in this domain, featuring a heat map based on various parameters, such as number of bispecific antibody therapeutics under development, target antigen, type of antibody format, mechanism of action and target therapeutic area. Chapter 9 features the different partnership models and the most common forms of deals / agreements that have been inked amongst players in this market between 2016 and 2019 (till September). It also presents an analysis of the various collaboration agreements signed in this domain, based on the year of partnership, type of partnership, therapeutic area, most active developers (in terms of number of partnerships), most active contract manufacturers (in terms of number of manufacturing agreements) and regional analysis. Chapter 10 highlights the key manufacturing steps involved, and challenges associated with the manufacturing of bispecific antibodies. In addition, it consists a list of CMOs and CROs involved in this domain along with the details on their headquarters, year of establishment and other specific information, such as scale of operation of CMOs and research services offered by CROs. The chapter also highlights the key points that bispecific antibody developers need to consider while or selecting a suitable CRO / CMO. Chapter 11 presents an analysis of the various clinical trials of bispecific antibodies registered across the world (which have last update of 2019). The analysis was done for clinical trials across various parameters, such as trial registration year, trial recruitment status, trial phase, trial design, disease indication(s), focus therapeutic area, most active industrial and non-industrial players, and geographical location of the trial based on the number of trails and number of patients enrolled. Chapter 12 is a review of regulatory guidelines issued by the ICH, WHO and FDA related to the development of bispecific antibodies. In addition, it provides details related to the responses of the various pharmaceutical industries to the FDA guidelines. Chapter 13 highlights the key promotional strategies that are being implemented by the developers of the marketed bispecific antibodies, namely BlincytoA and HemlibraA, and comparison of both the drugs based on the information available on their respective websites. The promotional aspects covered in the chapter include the drug overview, details provided on the product website (covering key messages for patients and healthcare professionals), patient support offerings, informative downloadable content, and product visibility in scientific conferences. Chapter 14 provides a discussion on important industry-specific trends, key market drivers and challenges, under a SWOT framework, featuring a qualitative Harvey ball analysis, that highlights the relative impact of each SWOT parameter on the overall bispecific antibody therapeutic market. Chapter 15 presents a comprehensive market forecast analysis, highlighting the future potential of the market till the year 2030. It includes future sales projections of bispecific antibody therapeutics that are either marketed or in advanced stages of clinical development (phase II and phase III). Sales potential and growth opportunity were estimated based on the target patient population, likely adoption rates, existing / future competition from other drug classes and the likely price of products. The chapter also presents a detailed market segmentation on the basis of key therapeutic areas (genetic disorders, hematological malignancies, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, eye disorders and skin disorders), key mechanisms of action (T-cell retargeting / activation, cytokines retargeting / neutralization, dual ligands blocking and others), [C] key targets (CD3 x CD19, CD30 x CD16A, Factor IXa x Factor X, IL-13 x IL-4, IL-17A x Albumin, IL-17A x IL-17F, IL-1? x IL-1?, Psl x PcrV, TNF-? x HSA and VEGF-A x ANG-2), [D] type of antibody format (asymmetric, fragments, symmetric and others), [E] key players (AbbVie, Affibody, Affimed, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Merck, Roche, Sanofi and Taisho Pharmaceutical), and [F] key geographical regions (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific). Chapter 16 summarizes the entire report. It presents a list of key takeaways and offers our independent opinion on the current market scenario. Further, it captures the evolutionary trends that are likely to determine the future of this segment of the bispecific antibody therapeutics industry. Chapter 17 is a collection of interview transcripts of the discussions that were held with key stakeholders in this market. The chapter provides details of interviews held with Martin Steiner (Chief Executive Officer, Synimmune), Ludge Groe-Hovest (Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Synimmune), Jane Dancer (Chief Business Officer, F-Star), Siobhan Pomeroy (Senior Director, Business Development, Cytom X) and Yinjue Wang (Associate Director, Process Development, Innovent Biologics). Chapter 18 is an appendix, which provides tabulated data and numbers for all the figures included in the report. Chapter 19 is an appendix, which provides the list of companies and organizations mentioned in the report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02530816/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com South Africa: Working together to grow the economy Cabinet has called on all sectors of society to partner with government in implementing the Programme of Action (PoA) which seeks to ramp up the countrys ailing economy by fixing the economic fundamentals. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosas State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, wherein he informed South Africans of governments elaborate PoA. According to the President, fixing the fundamentals and deepening the reforms that government has already made, should put the country on course to achieve inclusive growth. As we fix the fundamentals, as we deepen the reforms we have made, we pursue critical areas of inclusive growth, he said. The President made these remarks when he delivered his SONA during a joint sitting of Parliament last Thursday evening. The next few months will see the implementation of measures that will fundamentally change the trajectory of energy generation and procurement in the country, a Cabinet statement said on Tuesday. During his speech, President Ramaphosa highlighted plans to boost local production that will empower small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). Over 1 000 locally produced products will be procured through these SMMEs. These initiatives will form part of the innovative ways to support youth entrepreneurship and self-employment. The new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses to be built this year will assist in bridging the gap between youth unemployment and skills. The Youth Employment Service, together with the TVET colleges and the private sector, will ensure that more learners receive practical workplace experience as part of their training. Cabinet has welcomed the announcement to set up the SheTradesZA platform which will assist women-owned businesses to participate in global value chains and markets. The District Development Model that was piloted last year in one metro and two district municipalities will this year be rolled out in all districts and metros. This will give effect to a holistic service delivery model that encompasses one plan supported by all three spheres of government. The Presidents address has inspired all to unite and forge ahead towards overcoming our challenges and build a thriving South African democracy. Cabinet invites all sectors of society to partner with government in implementing governments PoA. During the debates in Parliament this week, members of the Executive will further unpack the PoA to be rolled out in the current financial year and beyond, Cabinet said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Right-hander Miles Mikolas, one of the Cardinals top starters, is dealing with flexor issues at the outset of spring training. Mikolas underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection after last season, but its possible hell need another one, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Surgery doesnt seem to be on the table at this point, though the Cardinals should make an announcement on Mikolas status in the coming days, Hummel writes. This is no doubt a less-than-ideal start to the spring for Mikolas and the Cardinals, who made a significant investment in him a year ago. Then fresh off a great return season to majors after dominating in Japan from 2015-17, the Cardinals signed Mikolas to a four-year, $68MM extension in February 2019. That deal wont take effect until this year, giving St. Louis all the more reason to hope hell get past his current injury troubles unscathed. Now 31 years old, Mikolas didnt thrive in 2019 to the same extent he did in the previous season. He performed well nevertheless, though, and was perhaps the Cardinals most effective starter after budding star Jack Flaherty. Mikolas turned in 184 innings of 4.16 ERA/4.27 FIP ball with 7.04 K/9, 1.57 BB/9 and a 47.4 percent groundball rate. If healthy, Mikolas will again join Flaherty, Adam Wainwright and Dakota Hudson in the Cardinals rotation. Meanwhile, Carlos Martinez figures to head back to the rotation after a year spent as a reliever. Thats a strong quintet on paper, but if Mikolas or someone else ends up unavailable to open 2020, the recently signed Kwang-hyun Kim could have the inside track to begin as the No. 5 for the reigning NL Central champions. An edit-a-thon dedicated to Romanian culture and the Constantin Brancusi Day on February 19 will be organised on Friday at the Complutense University of Madrid, on the 144th birth anniversary of Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi, the founder of modern sculpture and one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Edit-a-thon is an interactive activity involving students and the general public interested in promoting the Romanian culture through the use of the Internet and consists in a preliminary study of some topics of Romanian culture and uploading the materials on February 21 in a computer lab of the Complutense University.Organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Madrid, in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid and with the support of Wikimedia Espana, the event will take place at the headquarters of the Faculty of Library Sciences, 15:00hrs-21:00hrs, with the participation of students, the master and doctoral students and the 4th year students of the faculty mentioned above.Dean of the Faculty of Library Sciences Jose Luis Gonzalo Sanchez-Molero; co-director of Wikimedia Spain Ruben Ojeda de Roza; ICR Madrid Director Maria Pop, and Iuliana Botezan, professor at the Faculty of Library Sciences, will attend the opening of the edit-a-thon.The objective is to create a database of quality articles about personalities of Romanian culture, important historical and cultural events, Romanian scientists and fundamental works, translated from Romanian into Spanish. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday denounced corruption in Angola, second leg of his current African tour. In Angola, an oil-rich country whose people remain impoverished, Pompeo met with President Joao Lourenco, who is making strides against corruption, including actions against close relatives of the former leader. The oil-rich nation is ranked as one of the worlds most corrupt nations, in 165th place on a list of 180 countries, according to anti-corruption group Transparency International. The Angolan government is seeking to claw back billions of dollars looted from state coffers. Here in Angola, damage from corruption is pretty clear, Pompeo told a group of businessmen following his meeting with the President. This reform agenda that the president put in place has to stick, he said. At a joint news conference in Luanda, Foreign Minister Manuel Augosto said he wants to believe that Pompeos presence is a sign of President Donald Trumps support, and hopes it signals a new chapter, a whole new relationship between the two countries. US oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron have significant stakes in Angolan oil fields. Weve got a group of energy companies that have put more than $2 billion in a natural gas project. That will rebound to the benefit of the American businesses for sure, but to the Angolan people for sure as well, Pompeo said. Pompeo arrived in Angola late Sunday after a visit to Senegal, that was marked by the signing of five memorandums of understanding on private sector partnerships between Senegalese and American companies. The deals include the building of a major road in Senegal and a new burns center hospital. Pompeos talks with Senegalese officials also covered the increasing terrorism threat in West Africa and the likely reduction of American troops in the region. Pompeo said in this connection that Washington will consult with West African countries, France and others on the security issue to make sure that we will get it right collectively. The Secretary of State will also travel to Ethiopia as the Trump administration tries to counter the growing interest of China, Russia and other global powers in Africa and its booming young population of more than 1.2 billion. After his African tour, Pompeo will travel to Saudi Arabia and Oman. A COUNTY Limerick farmer who faces the prospect of having more than 120 acres of land seized and sold by AIB, says he plans to initiate Judicial Review proceedings following a circuit court ruling this week. Michael O'Brien who lives in Bulgaden, Kilmallock has been fighting a court battle for several years in an attempt to keep the lands which are believed to be worth over 1m. AIB first initiated court proceedings against the 53-year-old bachelor almost a decade ago after he failed to make repayments on a commercial loan which was taken out to fund the establishment of a horse-transport businesses in Spain which ultimately failed. The matter has been before several different judges over the past twelve months and last month Mr OBrien failed to attend in court for a review of the case. This week, Judge James ODonoghue was told the defendant hasnt paid a penny of the monies he owes to the bank. Addressing Limerick Circuit Court on Tuesday, Mr OBrien - who recently discharged his legal team - sought an adjournment of the proceedings until early next month. He said this was facilitate the hearing of a motion which he has filed seeking to have the proceedings against him struck out. The application (for an adjournment) was opposed by lawyers representing AIB, who submitted the case has had a very troubled history. Having viewed a number of court orders relating to the proceedings, Judge ODonoghue said he was not willing to allow any more dilly dallying. Granting AIBs application for possession, he commented: You cant have it all sir. Speaking following Tuesdays decision, Mr OBrien told the Limerick Leader he intends initiating Judicial Review proceedings against the decision. While I accept the decision (of Judge ODonoghue), I dont agree with it and I believe he was wrong, he said. Following an earlier hearing, the 53-year-old said he was prepared to go on hunger strike or drive nails through his hands outside the Dail in a crucifixion style protest if his land was sold out from under him. I fully stand by those comments, he confirmed this week. The defendant previously told Limerick Circuit Court he has no liquid cash to repay the debts, but was willing to sell a portion of the lands if a binding, rock solid legal document was produced by the bank. Never will a square inch of it be sold [without my consent]. I wont walk out of here [his house] without an awful battle. Im prepared to go all the way. I will go on hunger strike or be crucified before my land is taken, he told the Limerick Leader. Affidavits previously lodged with the court show Mr O'Brien deposited the title documents relating to 58 acres of his land in April 1999, by way of equitable mortgage to be held as continuing and collateral security. Then in April 2002, he deposited the title documents relating to a further 64 acres of land. A judgement for 128,335.19 with interest accruing was secured by AIB against Mr OBrien in October 2007.The defendant has been ordered to pay the legal costs of AIB associated with proceedings against him. The Huawei saga heats up. A new proposal on the table suggests the US may block chip sales to Huawei by revising US regulations to do so. The US is considering the idea of revising its Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) to block global chip sales. The regulation says that any product based on US technology must comply with US regulations. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), for example, finds itself in the crosshairs. The reason pertains to the fact that TSMC uses US chipmaking equipment to produce its chips. TSMC is one of Huaweis biggest chip sellers. As such, TSMC stands to lose along with Huawei if the proposal goes through. The new revision to the FDPR would also require chipmakers, like other companies, to receive a US license before selling to Huawei if theyre using US chipmaking equipment. Advertisement Rule Revision: Continuing the Huawei Ban The Foreign Direct Product Rule revision continues the Huawei saga as one of the major acts against Huawei since last year. In May 2019, US President Donald Trump placed the company on the US Entity List and forbade companies from buying and selling to Huawei. Since then, Trump has been meeting for talks with Beijing, with foreign trade deals delaying the taxation on Chinese/American goods. And yet, in the midst of that, the Trump administration has been sitting quiet. Trump has gone so far as to say at one point that Huawei isnt on the negotiating table just yet. Despite Trumps refusal to move forward, Congress isnt sitting still. Congress has approved funds for small American carriers to upgrade their telecom equipment and ditch Huawei. Congress has considered legislation that would ban any company from making money from patents while under a US ban (including Huawei). With this proposal, Congress would close another loophole instead of waiting for Huawei to exploit it. The Shenzhen manufacturer is currently suing American carrier Verizon Wireless for network trade theft. The US resolve against Huawei: greater than ever Some say that the US has been on the fence about blocking Huawei because Huawei would take its money and business elsewhere, particularly to China. And yet, that doesnt seem to be the case, at all. Recently, the US Government gave Huawei another reprieve, though it is only 45 days instead of the standard 90 days from past reprieves. Huawei doesnt have much longer to access Android software or goods and services before the ban arrives in full force. Advertisement The 45-day reprieve was for small American carriers rather than for Huawei. Small US carriers must replace their Huawei telecom equipment by way of US subsidies to avoid complete network shutdown when the Ban takes place. American legislative measures and smaller reprieves signal that the jig is up. Perhaps Trump hasnt had a change of heart about Huawei; maybe his stance toward Huawei has been for the benefit of American companies until stricter measures could be taken a reinforcement of his MAGA slogan. Nick Grimshaw has paid an emotional tribute to Caroline Flack following her death on Saturday. Speaking on his Radio 1 show, the DJ, 35, described the presenter, 40, as 'one of his favourite people,' as he recalled learning the 'really brutal' news of her death. Nick them pleaded with his listeners to 'reach out if they're struggling,' and ended his tribute by sending his love to Caroline's friends and family. 'She was one of my favourite people': Nick Grimshaw has paid an emotional tribute to Caroline Flack following her death on Saturday (pictured together in 2015) Speaking at the start of his show Nick's voice cracked with emotion as he paid tribute to Caroline following her death. He said: 'I just wanted to start the show by saying something about our friend, Caroline. I just feel really weird today, I feel really sad. I'm obviously very shocked about what happened this weekend. 'It's such a tragedy and really brutal news to receive. I'm sure you know she was one of my favourite people to have on the show, one of my favourite people full stop. I just thought she was brilliant, I thought she was so wicked. 'I know a lot of you listening were also big fans of Caroline. It's been very tough for me and her friends, anyone who knew her personally. And anyone who enjoyed watching Caroline and seeing her on the telly and hearing her here on Radio 1.' Sad: The DJ paid tribute to Caroline on his Radio 1 show on Monday, describing the news of her death as 'really brutal' (pictured following an appearance on his show) Nick then re-iterated Caroline's statement to 'be kind,' adding: 'I think it's a good lesson for all of us. You never know what someone is going through. 'So I think kindness is key, and I think the other thing we can take from this is to take care of your mental wellbeing, I think it's so important. 'So if you are struggling, or going through anything, or having a hard time, I think the best thing you can do is just reach out and talk to someone, it really helps. 'There's a tendency to think you're alone, or a crazy person, but you're not. And the reality is, most people struggle and feel down from time to time, I know I do, and talking to people is key. 'So I think those are the lessons we can learn from this, being kind to one another and speaking to someone if you need it.' Pals: Nick and Caroline worked together on 2015's The X Factor, which she hosted alongside Olly Murs while he appeared on the judging panel (pictured in 2016) Nick finished his tribute by sending love to Caroline's friends and family, and admitted he struggled to choose which song he could play as a tribute to Caroline. The presenter then said he settled on a track that reminded him of his pal, Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes. Nick and Caroline worked together on 2015's The X Factor, which she hosted alongside Olly Murs while he appeared on the judging panel. Caroline took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat. It came just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, something she denied. Her management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the 'show trial' after Lewis said he did not want to press charges. Close bond: Nick finished his tribute by sending love to Caroline's friends and family, and played a song that reminded him of her (pictured in 2015) Caroline had been described by friends as feeling 'she was on her own' and 'couldn't see a way out,' according to The Mirror. The TV presenter's death was confirmed by a lawyer for the family. The Flack family said in a statement: 'We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February. We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.' A worried producer friend had been staying with the star but found she couldn't get back into her flat after returning from the shops, a source said. She called Caroline's father Ian who gained entry to the flat where he found the star's body. If you have been affected by this story, please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. Experts have warned people who submit saliva samples to trace their family tree or figure out their risk of health conditions lose control over what happens to their genetic information after they die. The use of DNA profiling information after customers die is 'unclear' and the private data could be made public or have other unknown uses. DNA kits provided like AncestryDNA, 23andMe and a host of other firms now offering to dissect people's genetic code for a fee. Meanwhile social media profiles such as on Facebook can be hijacked as part of a wider effort to control people's digital databases after they die, experts say. The issue of how websites use our data after we die was raised at the annual conference of the Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle this week. Scroll down for video Close-up of collection kit for personal genomics technology company 23AndMe on a retail store shelf Professor Stephanie Fullerton, professor of bioethics and humanities at the University of Washington School of Medicine, spoke of the growing number of people signing up for DNA tests. She described DNA as this amazing thing, unique to each person and their family, but added: Its being held by for-profit companies, in the context of direct-to-consumer genetic testing practices. Its being developed and contained in hospital settings from the context of genetic testing and medical practices. And in some cases, what happens with that information after we die is very unclear. A recent study found that Facebook could have nearly five billion dead users by 2100. Experts say it is now relatively common for peoples social media pages to be used after their death by family or friends who know their password, or to be hacked by unscrupulous strangers. MyHeritage offers it saliva-based DNA testing kits for 79, which it says reveals 'the ethnic groups and geographic regions you originate from' Dr Faheem Hussain, a clinical assistant professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University, said: It is a design flaw with global implications, when we talk about how we are dealing with this phenomenon of digital afterlife. He added that powerful companies hold our digital data, our private data, during our lifetime and after our lifetime. Dr Hussain raised the situation of people being approached with job interview offers after their death from the employment site LinkedIn, and said friends and family members may find situations like this distressing. He said: Long story short, I can have a fake me living happily ever after. DNA is scrutinised at home, with kits like AncestryDNA, 23andMe and a host of other firms now offering to dissect your genetic code for a fee Currently social media sites allow peoples pages to be turned into a memorial after they die, with an appointed loved one looking after the account. But experts say it is down to people to set this function up before they die which many often do not think about doing. On DNA data, which is freely given to firms by people trying to find relatives or research their Viking heritage, Professor Fullerton said: Almost all of us will be invited to participate in these kinds of tests and exchanges of information at some point in our lives. And so we need to be thinking about this now thinking about how we want to dispose of this information. Last year, a panel of experts at Harvard Law School warned of the dangers of genetic snooping becoming the new way to invade privacy and how a person's identity can now be pieced together with relative ease. DNA analysis also has the potential to pave the way for the extremely private genetic information of high profile people routinely making its way into the public domain. The U.K. government announced 28 million ($36.47 million) in funding on Tuesday for five projects focused on hydrogen production. The funding is part of a 90 million package which in turn comes from a 500 million innovation fund. The Hydrogen Supply program, as it's known, will focus on five "demonstration phase projects." These include what the government described as two "low carbon hydrogen production plants," one in the northwest of England and the other near Aberdeen, Scotland. There will be also be a scheme looking to use offshore wind power to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. The EU has described hydrogen as an energy carrier with "great potential for clean, efficient power in stationary, portable and transport applications." One of the benefits of using hydrogen fuel cells is that the only by-products are water vapor and warm air, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center. When it comes to real-world applications, hydrogen buses have been deployed in London, while European railway manufacturer Alstom launched what it described as the world's first hydrogen fuel cell train in 2018. Major automobile manufacturers that have released hydrogen fuel cell models include Toyota and Honda. It may have potential, but there are environmental challenges when it comes to large-scale hydrogen production. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), while demand for hydrogen continues to grow, it's "almost entirely supplied from fossil fuels." In terms of its environmental impact, the IEA states that hydrogen production is responsible for carbon dioxide emissions of roughly 830 million tons each year. It's within this context that the generation of hydrogen using renewable sources such as wind power is becoming increasingly important. A great deal of work needs to be done to re-balance how hydrogen is produced, however: Last October, Wood Mackenzie said its research showed that "less than 1% of all hydrogen produced today comes from renewable electricity." In a statement sent to CNBC via email, Rebecca Williams, head of policy and regulation at trade body RenewableUK, said that green hydrogen had "the potential to be a gamechanger in the energy sector, accelerating the transition to net zero emissions." After using facial recognition to boost school attendance, Tamil Nadu has also started rolling out an AI-based crop pest detection and mitigation solution to help farmers address crop disease. It is also exploring the use of a Predictive Services Delivery using blockchain technology to provide services to citizens when they need them, such as a reminder of a baby's first vaccination -- rather than waiting till citizens seek out these services themselves. *IMAGE: Getting futuristic with blockchain. Photographs: Kind courtesy xresch/Pixabay.com Students turning up late is a common problem in government schools in Chennai. With students meandering in at various times of the day, teachers waste a lot of time checking attendance during different periods. Now, in a pilot project at a school in Triplicane in Chennai, the moment pupils arrive, an AI-enabled facial recognition system marks their arrival and the time. The school has seen an 85 per cent fall in stragglers. A brainchild of the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency or TNeGA, the pilot, tested in several schools, will now be implemented in 3,000 government schools across Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has also started rolling out an AI-based crop pest detection and mitigation solution to help farmers address crop disease. It is also exploring the use of a Predictive Services Delivery using blockchain technology to provide services to citizens when they need them, such as a reminder of a baby's first vaccination -- rather than waiting till citizens seek out these services themselves. These are just a few examples of the innovative solutions that TNeGA is pursuing for a digital future and backing the efforts is Chief Minister K Palaniswami's decision to increase the budget for e-governance initiatives from Rs 25 crore last year to around Rs 400 crore. "Low cost, indigenous, scalable solutions for improved governance is our motto," said Santhosh K Misra, CEO, TNeGA and commissioner of e-governance. An IAS officer and an IIT Kanpur alumnus, Misra is leading a team of a dozen professionals at the new Centre of Excellence in Emerging Technologies which is developing these new systems. Their mandate is simple: Use every new age technology ranging from AI, machine learning, blockchain and the Internet of Things to help the government perform better. Part of this involves steering the government towards evolving policies that are based more on data and analytics than on unproven assumptions and guesswork. While TNeGA is working on many ideas, some have already been implemented, such as the facial recognition system for student attendance. This indigenously developed solution costs only Rs 3,000, including the hardware. So far, it has shown 99.5 per cent accuracy. "It is saving nearly an hour every day that used to be wasted by teachers doing periodic attendance checks and freeing up that extra time for the core educational activities in schools," said Misra. IMAGE: An AI-enabled facial recognition system marks the arrival time of the students in Chennai. Photographs: Kind courtesy TNeGA/tnesevai.tn.gov.in Identifying pests in 24 hours The Pest Identification System developed by TNeGA aims to mitigate agricultural losses by offering farmers faster pest diagnosis and solutions. The interface of the system is an app called Uzhavan. A farmer can photograph a pest-infected crop on his mobile phone and upload it through the app. The system at the backend processes the picture using an AI-enabled image processing algorithm to identify the pest or disease. A message is sent to the farmer suggesting what he can do to get rid of it in less than 24 hours. Every day about 500 farmers post requests on Uzhavan for help. The app is currently being used by over 500,000 farmers. Its usefulness is huge given than nearly 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu's population depends on agriculture. As to the rest of the country, its possible usefulness can be gauged from the fact that India's per hectare cereal productivity is almost half that of China and the UK (around 3,000 kg/ha vs 6,000 kg/ha) owing to crop diseases causing a significant loss of productivity. Chat Bot Anil One of the first things that TNeGA did was to try and understand why citizens did not access government services digitally. It roped in IIM Tiruchirappalli for this purpose and the findings showed that most citizens are simply not familiar with keyboards. TNeGA collaborated with Anna University to launch "Anil", an automated virtual assistant which can talk to people in Tamil. The smart assistant guides people step-by-step on how to apply electronically for birth, income, or community certificates. In the future, TNeGA hopes to make the process voice-based. Getting futuristic with blockchain One of the state government's most futuristic projects is the Blockchain Backbone infrastructure to improve the efficiency of e-governance services. TNeGA has earmarked Rs 40 crore to build this blockchain platform which will be offered to all government departments. Known as Nambikkai Inaiyam (which roughly translates to Trust Link), the platform is a state-wide infrastructure that can be leveraged by all government departments for intra-department exchanges and for providing services to citizens. Alongside this, TNeGA is also creating a Zero Knowledge Proof-Based Predictive Services Delivery platform for all government services. The idea is to provide these services in advance of when citizens are likely to need them, obviating the necessity of applying for them. "For example, when a child's birth certificate is issued, the system at our end will send the vaccination information through an SMS when she becomes six months old. "Likewise, when she turns five, her parents will be alerted through mobile message to create her Aadhaar card," said Misra. The application software used for issuing certificates will be suitably modified so that the document issued will electronically hit the makkal number (citizen number) already created by TNeGA for 70 million people in the state and electronically reach a 'Citizen Vault' -- a kind of storage folder -- to be created for each resident. People can view their certificates or documents in their "vault" using their mobile number and user ID. From birth to death and all the other documents a person needs in between these two events -- proof of education, caste, income etc -- a system on blockchain will, without human intervention, prompt the software of each department to issue the relevant document as and when appropriate. "The state's mission is very clear. "As a government, we have to offer citizens convenient procedures and services that ease their life and not make them run from pillar to post seeking essential certificates or documents," said Misra. The state has allocated a budget of Rs 90 crore for the Predictive Services Delivery project which is presently in the blueprint stage but is likely to take concrete shape over the next year. Vittal Raj, founder and senior partner at Kumar & Raj and an expert on cyber security and business technology, praised TNeGA's work. "A good governance model, technology architecture and human capital are among the critical success factors for successful e-governance, not to forget the need for political and administrative will," he said. Raj added that TNeGA's plans for Nambikkai Inaiyam which will digitise all services on a blockchain backbone-based trust platform, was a classic example of how emerging technology can be applied to lay a "robust foundation to achieving visionary goals for good governance". Still more ideas are being formulated such as using technology to detect internal bleeding from CT scans, a blockchain-based solution for tamper-proof preservation of registration documents, and an Internet of Things-based monitoring of the drinking water supply in rural areas. Bengaluru, Feb 18 : A second Kambala racer has emerged faster than Srinivas Gowda, the jockey hogging limelight across the country for 'eclipsing' Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt's 100m record. "Nishant Shetty hailing from Bajagoli Jogibettu village broke Gowda's record at Venoor Kambala (buffalo race). He covered 100m in just 9.51 seconds," said a Kambala organiser. Bolt currently holds the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds set in 2009. Shetty achieved the feat on Sunday and joined three more Kambala racers who have sprinted 100m within 10 seconds. Shetty ran 143m in just 13.61 seconds, starting to be dubbed as Kambala's second 'Bolt'. The other sub-10 seconds Kambala sprinters are Iruvathur Anand (9.57 seconds), Gowda (9.55) and Akkeri Suresh Shetty (9.57). Gowda, 28, a construction worker, took just 13.62 seconds to cover a distance of 145m in the Kambala event in Aikala village near Mangaluru in which jockeys have to sprint barefoot through paddy fields with buffaloes. He took just 9.55 seconds to run a distance of 100m and netizens were quick to point out that he was faster than eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa honoured on Monday Gowda with a reward of Rs 3 lakh. LANSING, MI -- More than 30 people last week weighed on proposed rules for Michigans marijuana industry, including the recreational market that opened Dec. 1. While many comments focused on a clause that would force businesses to sign an agreement, referred to as a labor peace agreement, with unions, an array of others addressed concerns ranging from strict testing requirements to an upcoming March 1 rule that will further limit caregivers sales to the licensed market. Heres a breakdown of what the public had to say, not including comment on the union issue, which MLive previously covered in another story: Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association Director Steve Linder said his trade organization will oppose the rules in their entirety if the state moves forward with a requirement that bars growers and processors from selectively deciding who they sell to, which could mean they are forced to sell product to competitors. Controlling the supply chain is really not the role of government, Linder said. Michigan Cannabis Industry Association Director Robin Schneider said her nearly 200 licensed members would like as many opportunities as possible to retest marijuana that fails testing, especially if it can be brought to within acceptable limits with more drying time, UV lights or a use of willow machine. Schnedier said her members would like the rules to allow processing facilities the ability to freeze and store marijuana. Currently rules would only allow that to occur at a grow facility, she said. Schneider wants clarity as to under which circumstances the growers would be forced to sell their products. We understand the intent is to stop stockpiling during a shortage but our members want clarity to exactly what that threshold would be, she said. Rick Thompson, publisher of the Michigan Cannabis Industries Report, said the state is infringing on private citizen marijuana rights in an effort to give big businesses an advantage. He said the scope of the definition offered for a consumption establishment is too broad and could make ordinary citizens into accidental criminals. The proposed rules define a consumption establishment as: A person that allows consumption of marijuana products on the premises of a non-residential location and charges a fee for entry, sells goods or services while individuals are consuming on the premises or requires membership for entry. Thompson takes issue with rumors hes heard that events like Ann Arbors Hash Bash and Monroe Street Fair, both events where marijuana consumption is prevalent, will be required to obtain event permits under the rules. Theres no admission charge, nor are there vendors selling cannabis at either event, therefore, these seem not to meet the requirement, he said. A lot of businesses are in the pre-qualification phase of the licensing process, which is the preliminary, first step. Once a business is pre-qualified, it has a year to complete its business licensing, which includes having a final inspection of their property. A speaker said the year deadline is not enough, especially for growers and processors who need to construct or build out a large facility. He would like that state to allow for a longer, year extension. Speaker Brandon Campbell wants clarification on the plant count for micro-businesses. The proposed rules allow a micro-business, a self-contained marijuana business that grows, processes and sells its own marijuana, to grow up to 150 plants. Only female plants that produce marijuana flower are counted in the total. Campbell said he would like to see a new license category for caregivers, who arent regulated or taxed under the licensing system and are consequently forced to operate in a gray area. Miranda Burnham, a student at Oakland University in the Environmental Health and Safety Program, said current laws limit marijuana waste to disposal by composting, landfills, in-vessel digestion and incineration. New technology from Canada offers the ability to run cannabis waste into water that ... can be reused for human consumption or plant consumption. Shed like the state to explore this and other waste disposal methods. Roma Thurin, an attorney and partner with the Thurin Law Group, would like businesses with multiple licensed facilities to be allowed to use one camera system throughout their licensed facilities. Currently, each separate facility requires a separate camera system, she said. Thurin would like a requirement that any contractor be supervised at all times while inside a licensed facility be removed for screened contractors. Thurin said new testing standards should come with a grace period. Kelly Young would like local municipalities to be able to establish their own zoning rules without being trumped by the state zoning rules. Allison Ireton of Ann Arbors Huron Valley Law, criticized the pace at which the state implements testing changes and the lack of lead time. My clients would appreciate a heads up and the ability to provide feedback, she said. She is also requesting more re-testing opportunities for total yeast and mold. Currently failed marijuana is only allowed one retest for yeast and mold. Ireton said 100 percent of marijuana that fails for medical use but passes for the recreational market, since some of the testing standards are different, should be able to be sold in the recreational market. Currently, the rules only allow for half to be transferred for recreational use. As of March 1, caregivers will be banned from selling anything but marijuana flower to licensed businesses. Mary Rose Angelo, a caregiver who owns an organic and vegan marijuana edibles line, is asking for an extension to at least allow caregivers like herself enough time to obtain micro-business licenses without losing their source of income in the meantime. Jeffrey Hank said the nickel, copper and chromium testing limits need to go. He said hes heard the push for stricter testing is the result of a conspiracy by large companies to push out smaller, outdoor growers and caregivers, since outdoor product is more likely to fail for the presence of those metals due to soil content. Hank said the rules should allow for food and drink in marijuana consumption establishments. Brandon Massay recommends grow limits be established by power usage, rather than plants, since he said power usage correlates more closely to the weight of a flower harvest than the plant count. Travis Klinger, a city commissioner from Sturgis, recommended allowing provisioning centers and retail stores the ability to allow on-site consumption. Carie Massay wants testing to only be required if marijuana transfers between entities that are not under the same ownership, since its an unnecessary cost burden and bogs down testing facilities. Marijuana attorney Matt Abel believes a 90-day requirement for marijuana special event applications should be reduced, he recommended about 10 days. One Ukrainian serviceman died, and several more were wounded, as Russian militants landed artillery strikes on Ukrainian positions The Office of Prosecutor General of Ukraine started a criminal investigation due to the fact that Russian mercenaries landed attacks on Ukrainian military emplacements in Donbas. This is mentioned on the website of the authority. The investigation claimed that the occupants opened fire from the Minsk-banned weapons. The enemy used 120 mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns. Using the artillery cover, Russian occupants began offensive actions and tried to break through the disengagement line. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv was ready to disengage forces in Donbas on the sectoral basis. On the morning of February 18, positions of Ukrainian forces came under intensive fire, as Russian mercenaries used Minsk-banned heavy artillery. The government troops delivered a powerful artillery attack in return. One Ukrainian serviceman deceased in action. Vadym Skibitsky, the representative of the Main Department of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry claimed that the current military potential of the Russian Federation near the border with Ukraine grew threefold. Eliot Porritt was always good at remembering a face, even as a child sitting at home with his father watching old films. 'I could always spot obscure actors and it became a bit of a game recalling which other movies they had appeared in,' he says. Now, as Detective Sergeant Eliot Porritt of the Metropolitan Police, he puts his unlikely superpower to good use, identifying criminals in a crowd or caught in the act on CCTV. DS Porritt is a 'super recogniser', one of just seven officers in a specialist unit at Scotland Yard dedicated to that very small percentage of the general population possibly just 1 per cent who possess an exceptional ability to identify unfamiliar faces. They might remember four times as many faces in pictures or crowds as a normal person. These faces can belong to pickpockets operating in darkness during pop concerts, robbers captured on poor-quality CCTV in corner shops or suspects in the street partially obscured by hats or hoods or shadows. One person who is a 'super recogniser' is Andy Pope (pictured), a police community support officer who patrols transport hubs in the West Midlands armed only with his spectacular photographic memory 'You can't train somebody to be a super-recogniser,' says DS Porritt. 'You either have it, or you don't.' One person who definitely has it is Andy Pope, a police community support officer who patrols transport hubs in the West Midlands armed only with his spectacular photographic memory. That may not sound like a blockbuster job, but yesterday he hit the headlines when it was revealed, incredibly, that the 42-year-old has used his exceptional gift to catch almost 2,000 suspects including 16 in just one day. They included one unsuspecting criminal whom he spotted two whole years after seeing his picture, and another whom he recognised simply from a mole on his face. 'I'm fortunate faces stick in my memory,' Pope says modestly. Meanwhile, DS Porrit's small Scotland Yard team has become a world leader in super-recognition using the police's vast database of CCTV images to build evidence against previously unidentified criminals and connect them to previously unsolved crimes. So instead of a thief being convicted for a single offence and getting off with a slap on the wrist, he goes to prison on multiple charges because the super recognisers have spotted him at work often sporting a very different appearance in video recordings of crimes that have been stored for months or even years. The term 'super recogniser' was coined in 2009 by American psychologist Richard Russell, who believes certain behaviour can indicate if a person possesses the gift. One of the officers involved was PC Gary Collins (pictured), widely regarded as the Met's top super recogniser 'If you have experiences where you often recognise people out of context, that's an indicator.' So what is going in the head of a super recogniser? Researchers think it has something to do with part of the brain called the fusiform gyrus, which displays greater activity when faces are being studied. It may be enhanced in super recognisers. 'People who are better at face recognition are using a holistic whole-face process, whereas people who are less good use a feature-by-feature approach,' says Dr Josh Davis, a Reader in Applied Psychology at the University of Greenwich. 'I suspect super recognisers are using a combination of both but the funny thing is that they find it difficult to articulate what they are doing.' Super recognisers would be useless without raw material and that is supplied by owners of the estimated 420,000 CCTV cameras in London. The Met has a database of some 70,000 pictures of crimes in progress supplied by banks, stores and shops, and catalogued by the software company 3rd Forensic. This library is unmatched in the world. The Met has a database of some 70,000 pictures of crimes in progress supplied by banks, stores and shops, and catalogued by the software company 3rd Forensic (stock photo) Aided by algorithms and facial recognition technology, recognisers begin their search broadly before homing in on one or more suspects. So a typical trawl of the database would begin with search words such as 'male, bald, glasses'. This would pull up all men fitting that description. More importantly, it's frighteningly effective. When I visited the Scotland Yard unit, I was told it secures an 82 per cent charge rate. The remaining 18 per cent of investigations ended for a variety of reasons, and in only 4 per cent of cases were the super recognisers judged to have been wrong. DS Porritt was studying three images of a woman, caught on camera shoplifting, when I visited him. Two clear images are taken from different angles and the third is very grainy. 'To me, it is fairly obvious that they are the same person but it might not be obvious to someone who is not a super recogniser,' says the officer. 'I'm concentrating on lines under the cheekbone and around the nose, and also the chin features that cannot be altered.' Acute observations such as these have been crucial to solving cases in recent years. The Scotland Yard unit's formation owes much to the London riots of 2011. On that occasion, super recognisers identified more than 600 suspects from some 5,000 images, two-thirds of whom ended up in court. One of the officers involved was PC Gary Collins, widely regarded as the Met's top super recogniser. Collins had realised soon after joining the police force in 1995 that he had a gift: 'I was very good at looking at pictures on walls and going out on patrol and saying, "That's that person".' He recalls 'stopping people once and remembering them years later'. When the riots started, Collins was off work. 'I was watching Sky News and I immediately recognised some people.' Collins cut short his holiday to go into work. 'I spent six months going through the CCTV,' he says. 'The figures in the footage would often have their faces covered there were lots I identified just by their eyes.' Stephen Prince was one of them. During the riots he had broken into shops, thrown petrol bombs and set fire to cars. He had covered his face with a red bandana and had a black woollen hat pulled low over his forehead. But PC Collins got him. 'The last time I'd seen Prince was about six years earlier,' he said. 'But I was positive it was him I knew it straightaway from his eyes.' Prince was arrested, found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. But super recognisers are not simply confined to the office. In October 2013, one such team was sent in to combat Eastern European gangs stealing mobile phones at pop concerts. At a previous event 140 phones had been stolen, but when super recognisers were deployed, just five phones were taken over two nights. Even murders have been solved by recognising a suspect in different locations and then finding the body as a consequence. What about disguise? 'I haven't come across a Moriarty character who can deceive everybody,' DS Porritt says. 'We can always recognise them.' So criminals beware. The police may not have found you yet. But they certainly haven't forgotten you. HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of former state Secretary of Aging and longtime senior advocate Teresa Osborne to the position of Manager of Advocacy and Outreach. In her new role, Osborne will lead advocacy, community education and outreach work throughout Pennsylvania for AARP, the nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. "Teresa Osborne is an accomplished advocate for older Pennsylvanians who has built strong relationships with elected officials, community-based organizations and the statewide aging network," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh. "She will play a leadership role in helping AARP expand its impact and relevance throughout the commonwealth and fight for issues that matter to 50+ residents and their families." Prior to joining AARP, Osborne most recently served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission, and served as Pennsylvania's 10th Secretary of Aging from 2015-2018. As head of the Department of Aging, Osborne managed Pennsylvania's senior pharmaceutical assistance program, along with an extensive network of home and community-based services that are provided under the Older American's Act, while also working as a visible advocate for nearly 2.9 million state residents age 60 and older. Scranton native Teresa Osborne has spent more than two decades advocating for older Pennsylvanians and other vulnerable populations at the state and local government levels. She began her career as a care manager for Meals on Wheels of Northeastern Pennsylvania before serving as the Executive Director of the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging, Executive Director of the Lackawanna County Department of Human Services, and Executive Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. She is also a former Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese of Scranton. "It gives me great pleasure to congratulate former Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne on her new position with AARP. Her dedication to the senior population of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is exemplary. When called upon, she shared her expertise with my constituency in all facets of elder needs; such as grandparents raising grandchildren, senior scam prevention, and senior health and safety. I look forward to working with Teresa in her new professional endeavor," said State Representative Karen Boback (R-117) who serves on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Aging and Youth Committee. "Teresa Osborne is a natural born advocate who has dedicated her life to helping people," said Diane Menio, Executive Director of Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE). "Her wealth of experience at all levels of the state aging network and compassion for the well-being of older adults will make her a particularly effective voice for AARP in Pennsylvania." Teresa Osborne earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree and Masters of Health Service Administration from Marywood University. "I am grateful for the opportunity to join the AARP staff and volunteers who are so committed to AARP's mission of empowering others to live and age healthy and well with the dignity and respect they deserve," said Osborne. CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP PA (717) 237-6481 or [email protected] Or Jacklyn Isasi, AARP PA (267) 825-9928 or [email protected] SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania Related Links http://www.aarp.org Ukrainian units delivered an adequate fire response to the enemy attack. Russian-led forces' attack on Ukrainian positions near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilny is over. Ukraine has not lost its ground, but suffered losses, the Joint Forces Operation HQ said on Facebook. In particular, one Ukrainian has been killed and another four have been wounded, the press center says. It is noted the Ukrainian units delivered an adequate fire response to the enemy offensive and retained full control over the situation. Read alsoDonbas escalation: Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops, try to penetrate line of contact (Video) At the same time, one invader was killed and another five were seriously wounded. "The enemy requested a ceasefire," reads the report. Reserve units from the Joint Forces are in full combat readiness. The situation is fully controlled. "We continue to defend Ukraine from the aggressor," the JFO HQ said. A man has died after he ran a red light and slammed into two cars while driving through a busy intersection. A 32-year-old man driving a white Toyota crashed with a Holden Barina and Mitsubishi Pajero at the intersection of Gympie and Rode roads in Chermside, Brisbane about 8.15 on Monday night. The Toyota was flung into the sky and flipped several times before smashing into the ground and killing the driver. A 32-year-old man has died after crashing into two cars in Chermside, Brisbane on Monday night The driver was treated by emergency service crews but died shortly after the crash and five others were taken to hospital. The 57-year-old driver of the Pajero was rushed to hospital in a critical condition with injuries to his face, neck and chest. Another man aged in his 50s was sent to hospital in a stable condition and neck and back pain. Two males and a female were also taken in stable conditions. Two other cars were damaged in the crash and wreckage was seen sprawled across the street for 100 metres. A resident who heard the crash said it was so loud it 'shook the house', The Courier Mail reported. Gympie Road was closed in both directions and police are still investigating. After Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said there is no need to worry if the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is implemented, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that the Shiv Sena chief was entitled to his view and that the alliance partners may discuss the issue. He underlined that the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP's) stand is clear over the new citizenship law and it stands firm in opposing the CAA. "Whatever Uddhav Thackeray said, that is his view. He is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he has his own views. Yes, in Maharashtra we are in a coalition government and opinion and views of the parties on certain issues may differ, but we can sit and discuss on it as far as CAA is concerned," said Pawar, whose party is a major alliance partner of Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government - an alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. "The three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will sit and discuss it. Soon we will be having a detailed discussion on it and we will try to convince Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about it," Pawar added. Pawar further stated that there can be a difference of opinions in a coalition government. "We have the experience of running a coalition government at the Centre during the UPA regime. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had 29 parties. In fact, we had the Left front parties too with us which always had different views, but we managed to go along with them," he said. Uddhav Thackeray earlier today said that there is no need to worry if the CAA is implemented.He reiterated that the Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in the state. "CAA and NRC both are different and NPR is different. No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be implemented in the state," said Thackeray while speaking to reporters. Many non-BJP state governments, including Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan have refused to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed NRC in their respective states. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trax Buys In-Store Shelf Analyst Qopius AsiaPac-headquartered retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax has acquired Paris, France-based AI-driven, in-store, shelf monitoring solution Qopius for an undisclosed sum. Qopius' hardware-agnostic computer vision platform helps retailers monitor on-shelf inventory in real-time, enabling them to identify out of stocks, compliance, inventory levels and price integrity. This platform uses retail data integration and analytics to allow store managers and staff to take appropriate action at the right time. According to Trax, the acquisition will help retailers embrace data and digital innovation to cut costs and boost sales at every shelf. As part of the deal, Qopius will broaden Trax's reach within the grocery retail space; and through the combined platforms, Trax claims it will offer a 'holistic' approach to improving store operations efficiency through continual shelf monitoring. Trax CEO and co-founder Joel Bar-El (pictured) adds that the key to retail success involves capturing shelf data in real-time, enabling employees to fix merchandising and availability issues 'faster than ever before'. 'Qopius' proven expertise in digitizing supermarket shelves across Europe and phenomenal talent make it a strategic fit for Trax,' Bar-El states. Web sites: www.traxretail.com and www.qopius.com . Agra, Feb 18 : The 10-day long annual Taj Mahotsav that will kick off here from Tuesday later, is likely to face a series of challenges, tourism industry leaders here have said. The theme this year is "Sanskriti ke rang, Taj ke sang." It will be inaugurated by state Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari. The cultural extravaganza started in 1992, for tourists visiting Taj city, has not been much of a success as it has been reduced to a local fair, they said. Senior hotelier Surendra Sharma, founder president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association, said the original purpose of the Mahotsav has not been achieved. "They invite a couple of Bollywood celebrities and a handful of handicrafts dealers to put up stalls at the Shilpgram complex near the Taj Mahal. The foreign tourists find nothing attractive. Online shopping these days has made it possible for everyone to buy anything from anywhere." Two problems, the fair will face this year are the Corona virus scare that will keep the tourists away from crowded places and the visit of the US President Donald Trump to Agra on February 24. Security concerns will also make it difficult for the crowd to visit the fair and move freely in this sensitive area, say hotel owners of the area. Entry for foreign tourists will be free, but the locals will have to shell out Rs 50 per person. Tourism Department officials said the Shilpgram complex was being decked up. More than a hundred stalls will showcase a variety to handicraft products from different parts of India. The department has also asked all hotels here to inform tourists about the fair and guide them to the venue. The fair ends February 27 with a Bollywood night. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! istock You can leave your umbrella at home through Friday, but light rainfall is in the forecast for Phoenix later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone. Saturday's forecast shows the greatest possibility of rain at 83 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.45 inches. The immediate forecast also has a light breeze in store for today. Winds are expected to climb up to 24 mph on Saturday, while today will be calmer with a top speed of just 7 mph. Temperatures will be warm through Friday, with a high of 83 degrees on Thursday, then turn milder beginning on Saturday. Skies will be cloudy today and mostly cloudy on Wednesday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has unmasked the conspiracy of Pakistan behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in his book 'Let Me Say It Now', revealing startling facts about terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive. Narrating one such incident, the former top cop claimed in his book that he made Kasab chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' twice. Maria mentions that while he was returning from the hospital, along with Kasab he ordered his convoy to stop at a place and took Kasab out of the car. He then told the terrorist to bend and touch the ground with his forehead to which Kasab agreed. Maria wrote that he then asked Kasab to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' (Long live India) and he raised the slogan. But Maria was not satisfied and made Kasab do it again. A terrorist who had shed the blood of India was forced to raise the slogan praising India. In 2008, ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists from Pakistan attacked different areas of Mumbai killed 166 people. READ | Former Mumbai top cop unmasks Pakistan's conspiracy of projecting 26/11 terror attack as Hindu terrorism In his book, Maria also writes that Kasab was made to believe that Muslims in India were not allowed to offer 'Namaz' (prayers) and all mosques in India were locked. Even in jail, the Muslim prayers that he heard he considered it to be a figment of his imagination. When Rakesh Maria came to know about this, he asked one of his companions to take Kasab to a nearby mosque. When Kasab saw that prayers were being offered in that mosque, he was surprised and he could not believe it. Maria further writes in his book that he asked Kasab what would he achieve by shedding the blood of the people and why did he do it. In response to this, Kasab said, "Sir, you don't know, our master has told us that when you are killed in jihad, your dead body will start to glow and there will be fragrance coming out of it. In heaven, God will welcome you, there will be beautiful women and you will get all the comforts. A good life is possible only in heaven and not on earth." After this Maria got very angry and took Kasab to the hospital where the bodies of the remaining nine terrorists were kept. Taking Kasab there he asked, "Here are your jihadi friends who are in heaven. Your master had said there will be a glow and fragrance. Where is that?" According to Maria, seeing this, Kasab's remained speechless and a foul smell was coming from the bodies making it difficult to stand there. The top cop kept asking these Kasab repeatedly he didn't reply. Maria then told Kasab, "If what your master said was true then why didn't your master die for jihad?" Kasab didn't apologise for his actions, probably because he realised that it was too late and he had fallen a victim to the conspiracy of his own master. A 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a complete stranger as she walked through Penneys on Cork's Patrick St, a court has heard. Michael Toner, 51, from MacSwiney Quay, Bandon, Co Cork, denied the sexual assault but a jury convicted him of the offence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Toner faced sentencing before Judge Brian OCallaghan yesterday having been remanded in custody for the past week. Garda Don McCarthy said there was a victim impact statement in which the teenager said she was with her mother on Jul 3, 2018 when the man walked into her path and grabbed her private part. I was very upset and crying. In the beginning I was thinking about it all the time...I hope he would be seen for who he is and for what he done, she said. Niamh Stewart, defence barrister, characterised the offence at the lower end of the sexual assault offences and consisted of touching outside her clothes: He has never been before this court before. He has severe depression. He has been in custody for the last week. He has found it very difficult. He is on medication. He will be on the Sex Offenders Register. He will lose his house, he will be homeless when he gets out and he will lose his job. His life is basically turned upside down, Ms Stewart BL said. Judge Brian OCallaghan asked if there was any explanation for this behaviour. Ms Stewart said none was available. Judge OCallaghan said: I have in mind remanding him in custody until the next sessions and requiring a probation report. This court is troubled, that a man of 51, without any explanation whatsoever, would do this. The judge said he needs to get a report on the possibility of any further offending: This is a particular case that requires some effort to find out some more information on this mans background and where this offence came from. Having lived 51 years on this planet he had nothing of this nature. Where did it come from? Sentencing was adjourned until Apr 22. Online retailer In The Style has raised 100,000 in donations for the suicide prevention organisation The Samaritans by selling Caroline Flack t-shirt. In the Style, a UK-based label, printed 10 t-shirts with the inspirational quote shared by Caroline before her untimely death on Saturday, which read: 'In a world where you can be anything, be kind'. Now the online retailer is struggling to keep up with demand from fans, and has had to restock the tops due to 'unprecedented' demand. After waiving delivery charges to ensure all proceeds go to charity, the retailer announced it's raised 100,000 since yesterday. The presenter, 40, took her own life in her London flat after suffering from depression for months, and just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, something she denied. UK-based online retailer In The Style raised 100,000 in donations for the suicide prevention organisation The Samaritans by selling Caroline Flack t-shirt (pictured) following her untimely death The beloved TV personality Caroline Flack, 40, took her own life and was found dead in her London flat on Saturday (pictured at the Brit Awards in London on February 21 2018) The t-shirts are available in three colours: white, grey and black, and cost 10 each. 'We are completely overwhelmed by the support for the #BeKind tee,' the brand wrote on Twitter. 'We have already raised over 100,000 for The Samaritans in just a few hours! 'Sorry to anyone who hasnt been able to support yet - the demand has been unprecedented! We will have more stock on by 12pm today for you. The brand announced it would be rolling out the shirts yesterday on Instagram and other social media platforms. 'In light of recent tragic events and the ongoing mental health battles faced by so many we feel its so important as a brand to use our platform to raise further awareness to mental health and the impacts surrounding this,' the post read. In the Style said they had been completely overwhelmed by the number of sales they made for the Samaritans, raising 100,000 for the charity 'You honestly NEVER know what goes on behind closed doors and being kind costs nothing. We have created a "Be Kind" tee and will be donating 100 percent of ALL profits to @samaritanscharity,' it went on. 'We want to be very clear that as a business In The Style will make no money whatsoever. We have also waived all delivery charges for purchases on the tee, as this is solely to raise money and awareness for a very worthy charity.' 'Hopefully in light of such devastating news, we can all learn a very valuable lesson that in a world where we can be anything... be kind.' Caroline took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat. The UK retailer vowed they would not be making a profit on the charity t-shirts sold for Samaritans, and promised delivery charges would not apply It came just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, something she denied. Her management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the 'show trial' after Lewis said he did not want to press charges. He had said she hit him with a lamp at her former home in Islington in December before asking the CPS not to press charges. The TV presenter's death was confirmed by a lawyer for the family. The Flack family said in a statement: 'We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February. We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.' If you have been affected by this story, please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. WASHINGTONNational security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russias ambassador to the U.S. Flynns departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shakeup in the presidents senior team of advisers. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides. Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy during the transition. Vice-President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser. Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador. The Justice Department warned the Trump administration about embattled national security adviser Michael Flynns contacts with Russia, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday night. One of the people said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. The person said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump A Trump administration official said the White House has been aware of the Justice Department warning for weeks. The official would not say if the president had been briefed on the matter. Both people insisted on anonymity to discuss the matter. The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between the Justice Department, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the Trump administration. The White House earlier said U.S. President Donald Trump was evaluating the situation regarding Flynns conversations with Russias ambassador to the U.S., deepening the uncertainty surrounding Flynns future in the new administration. Read more: Is Trump ready to fire his national security adviser for apparently lying about contact with Russia? White House mum on Russia allegations, but defends travel ban as Trump faces test from North Korea Flynn apologized privately for the controversy to Vice-President Mike Pence, according to a White House official. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, No, absolutely not. Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition. Earlier Monday, White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had full confidence in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out his daily functions. The conflicting signals created confusion at the White House, with reporters crowding around Spicers office for hours Monday afternoon seeking information on Flynns future. Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to launch an investigation into Flynns ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said that if Pence were misled, I cant imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward. She said it would also be troubling if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office. Its illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynns conversations also raise questions about Trumps friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election. The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and chief of staff Reince Priebus. Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the presidents own tweets sometimes muddy the days plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work. Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, not a good job, a great job. But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser. Flynn sat in the front row of Trumps news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynns future from a pair of reporters, and he ignored journalists shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room. Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administrations national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia. In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event. Flynn spoke with the vice-president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak. The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity. The controversy surrounding Flynn comes as the young administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Koreas reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan. The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trumps immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nations refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Read more about: The number of Indian students to be granted study permit by Canada is on a rise. For the second consecutive year, the number of study permits to be issued to Indian students exceeded 1 lakh. The number of Indian students to bag study permits increased by 30.3 per cent to 1.39 lakh from the previous year's figure of 1.07 lakh. The figure reflects an increase of 68.3 per cent over two years. In 2017, 82,990 study permits were granted to Indian students. In 2019, Canada approved over 4 lakh study permits, out of which 1.39 lakh - amounting to 34.5 per cent - were issued to Indian students. In 2018, Canada had issued a total of 3.55 lakh permits, which signifies an increase of 13.8 per cent in permits issued in 2019, mentioned in a report in The Times of India. The highest number of student permits was bagged by Indian students, followed by Chinese students who bagged 21 per cent of the overall permits. While the number of Chinese students to bag Canadian study visas declined over three years, the inflow of students from India is on a rise, as mentioned in the report. In 2019, the number of Chinese students to be granted study permits was 84,710, less than the previous year's 85,165. Multiple factors have added up to this surge in the inflow of Indian students. One of the primary factors is uncertainties relating to optional training programs (OPT) for international students in the US as well as the issue of H-1B visa after the completion of studies in the US. Canadian permits allow students to work part-time and fund their studies. They also offer a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) for a maximum of up to three years. Moreover, the education in Canada as well as work experience also add up to the points required for the Express Entry route for permanent residency. Canadian study permits are not visas but a document required for international students to study at a designated educational institution. The document is valid for the entire duration of the course plus another 90 days to enable the students to leave Canada or to apply for an extension. Also read: Trump's visit to India will be 'delightful spectacle', 'utterly successful', say experts Also read: Looking forward to my first visit to India: US President Donald Trump City officials in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are preparing for the annual celebration of Carnival amid threats of coronavirus. Rio de Janeiro receives over one million visitors annually. This year's Carnival is worrying people due to the continued threats of the deadly Coronavirus. Carnival, which falls on the 21st until the 26th of February sees nearly seven million attendees. Officials have been busy training health workers and setting up "contingency plans" on how to identify possible carriers and how to contain the threat. Patricia Guttman, a municipal health official, voices her concern over the mass of people expected to arrive from all over the world to attend the festivity. "It's worrying because there a lot of people moving around and a lot of tourists coming into the country from all parts of the world," she told Reuters. 120 hospital beds have been freed up to be used for suspected coronavirus patients. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in South America. Thirty-four Brazilians who were evacuated from the epicenter of the virus outbreak in China are currently being held in quarantine at a military base. Health workers from Rio de Janerio received training on Wednesday. They were taught how to properly identify a potential carrier of the virus. They were also trained to apply face masks to potential patients while wearing protective plastic suits to protect themselves. City officials from Rio de Janeiro insist they are fully prepared for Carnival. What is Carnival? Carnival is a festivity in Brazil which is also called "The Greatest Show on Earth." The festival begins on a Friday and lasts until Tuesday, a day away from Ash Wednesday. Carnival used to be celebrated on the streets with samba performances until 1984 when the construction of Sambodromo finished. The Sambrodomo can seat up to 90,000 people at a time and stretches nearly 700 meters. The Marques de Sapucai Avenue can also accommodate 5,000 participants. Carnival is an illustration of the rich samba culture of Brazil. Top samba schools are given the honor of performing in front of millions of people at the Sambrodomo. A panel of 40 judges presides over the festival as they watch every movement and every sequin and thread of the performers. The champion is announced on Ash Wednesday. Samba is known for being an exotic and sensual dance. The colorful costumes form a part of a story. The preparation of costumes takes performers months. Samba schools were formerly street bands that developed into groups, and then clubs, and then associations before they became schools. Samba schools help support poor sectors in its surrounding area, thus creating a close relationship with its host community. Samba schools are a source of labor and income for some. Labor jobs such as building floats, sewing costumes, and ensuring the safety of the dancers are some of the tasks offered. Carnival bring in flocks of tourists yearly. It is a multi-million dollar industry. Festival-goers come in hoards and are known to dance along with the participants. They are also encouraged to bring their own garb to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of Carnival. (Photo : Screenshot from: NASA Space Flight Official Website) (Photo : Screenshot from: Tech Crunch Official Website) Another routine mission for the company, SpaceX had just launched a Falcon 9 rocket, sending a new batch of satellites into Earth's orbit, but for the first time ever, its attempt on landing the Falcon 9 booster did not go as planned. The booster was supposed to be caught by SpaceX's drone ship after delivering the said payload, but unexpectedly, it missed the floating platform and failed to land, losing it at sea. Read Also: [WATCH] This Is How Destructive The 'Potentially Dangerous' Asteroid That Is Approaching Earth Over The Weekend Would Be This is not the first time it happened SpaceX had lost a bunch of rocket boosters over the past years. In fact, in December 2018, The Falcon 9 booster also missed its landing at Cape Canaveral, plus so many other incidents. Though, launch accidents are not new to SpaceX. They even made an entire blooper video about all their failures and accidents. What is SpaceX? The company, 'SpaceX' has been designing, manufacturing and launching the world's most advanced rockets and spacecraft. Which was founded in 2002, with the only goal of giving a chance for people to live on other planets besides Earth. The company has gained attention from people all over the world for a series of historic milestones. Currently the only private company that is capable of returning a spacecraft from low Earth orbit, which was done in 2010. SpaceX made history again in 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft was the first and only spacecraft to deliver payload to and from the International Space Station. The company has first successfully achieved the first reflight of an orbital rocket in 2017, and they now regularly launch flight-proven rockets. In 2018, SpaceX began launching the Falcon Heavy, which was the world's most powerful operational rocket. SapceX is one of the world's most fastest-growing providers of rocket launch services and the company has already secured over a hundred missions on its profile, representing over $12 billion on their contract. These do include the commercial satellite launches as well as some of the United States government missions. SpaceX's Dragon has also been flying numerous payload resupply missions to the space station with a series of contracts from the Commercial Resupply Services. It also was designed from the start to fly and carry humans to space and will soon fly astronauts under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Upon elevating on the achievements of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX is currently working on the next gen of fully reusable launch vehicles that will soon be the most powerful ever built in the history, that it is capable of carrying humans to Mars and other planets and locations in the solar system. Read Also: Is Earth's Doomsday Near? NASA Warns Killer Asteroid May Arrive on Earth in 5 Days SpaceX, believe it or not, has gotten better at launching and catching rockets compared to their previous attempts over the past few years. It is also just another learning curve and stepping stone for SpaceX to keep improving their company and what it stands for by learning from both the past and present mishaps. Read Also: The 'Dance of Avoidance: How Neptune's Moons Avoid Collision [Video] 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We are not asking that you stop standing up for your communities, your rights and for what you believe, Trudeau said in Parliament during a speech that was interrupted by heckling. We only ask that you be willing to work with the federal government as a partner in finding solutions. Pia Miller and her boyfriend Patrick Whitesell are going from strength to strength. On Tuesday, the pair looked more loved-up than ever in photos shared by the 36-year-old actress on her Instagram. The former Home and Away star and the millionaire Hollywood agent, 55, are on holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. 'Happy!' Former Home and Away actress Pia Miller (right) shared two loved-up Instagram snaps with her millionaire Hollywood agent boyfriend Patrick Whitesell (left) as they enjoyed a getaway in Cabo, Mexico on Tuesday In the snaps, which she captioned simply with the word 'happy', Pia cuddled up to Patrick as they embraced alongside a pool with a stunning sea view. Appearing to be at a luxury resort, the pair could not keep their hands off one another. Pia looked relaxed in a simple white T-shirt and black shorts worn with sneakers, her brunette hair down. Lovely: In the snaps, Pia cuddled up to Patrick as they embraced alongside a pool with a stunning sea view Patrick meanwhile opted for a chic and simple ensemble consisting of a crisp white T-shirt, blue jeans, sneakers and sunglasses. Earlier this month, the Australian actress attended The Academy Awards in Los Angeles on the arm of her dashing American beau. Clearly excited to be in attendance at this year's star-studded awards show, Pia shared a video of herself on the red carpet with Patrick. The big time: Earlier this month, the Australian actress attended The Academy Awards in Los Angeles on the arm of her dashing American beau Loved up: Pia was first linked to the Hollywood power agent in August last year, following her split with her longtime fiance, Tyson Mullane, 31, in April Pia was first linked to the Hollywood power agent in August last year, following her split with her longtime fiance, Tyson Mullane, 31, in April. The couple made their public debut at a Halloween party in Los Angeles in October, amid reports they started dating back in May. She finally made their relationship Instagram official on Christmas Eve, sharing a loved-up photo with him outside of the Louvre in Paris, and captioning it 'P'. RISHIKESH, India, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rishikul Yogshala has delightfully declared its Yoga Teacher training programs and salubrious yoga retreats in India and Nepal for the year 2020. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8693351-rishikul-yogshala-india-nepal-yoga-2020/. Rishikul Yogshala with its open arms invites yoga seekers from around the globe to come and immerse in the beautiful practice of yoga, and get to deepen personal knowledge and experience purifying energies to live a healthy lifestyle. The aim is to let students walk into a healthier life, and since 2010, Rishikul Yogshala has been helping and molding its students towards a better lifestyle and living. The vigilantly designed schedule and curriculum of the school allows yogis to go deep into their practice. Here the yoga fanatics can discover their own journey by using the knowledge, techniques, tools, and space that they will get through meditation, intense yoga sessions, spiritual practices, and extensive yoga retreats. Rishikul Yogshala offers 200 hour, 300 hour and 500 hour yoga teacher training, along with various kinds of retreats that will allow yogis to transform, grow, and develop in their personal fields. The first 200-hour program is considered as the foundational stage from where the yogis take their first step into their beautiful journey. The main focus of this training is to develop a strong base through asanas, meditation, alignments, adjustments, philosophies, and pranayama. The next in line is the 300-hour teacher training program, which helps to advance the practice and knowledge for higher level. For almost 10 years, the schools has been providing its learners excellent experiences, authentic deep-rooted programs, nourishing yet delicious food, and decent Vedic style accommodation with a hygienic environment. The devoutly determined team, built upon the grounds of respect, personal growth, faith, and deep relationships is pleased to be a part of this organization. Rishikul Yogshala provides its trainees with the best gurus who offer an insight into deep-rooted yoga and how it helps mould people lives by uplifting the spirit, improving the mind, and making the body healthier. About Rishikul Yogshala Rishikul Yogshala is honored to help the yogis aspire their dreams, and for almost 10 years, guiding the students towards a better future. The Yoga Alliance approved school has earned huge admiration for its well-qualified mentors, carefully designed curriculum, and well-defined amenities. It is an excellent place for all the yoga fanatics who are thoughtfully looking towards changing their life into a healthy one by achieving peace, calmness and good health. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_xTxT5iL58 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1090715/Rishikul_Yogshala_Photo.jpg Contact: info@rishikulyogshala.org A tribal in Malkangiri district of Odisha was killed by his neighbour on Monday allegedly for practising black magic, according to the police. Police said Ura Padiami, a resident of Nuaguda village under Malkangiri police limits, was attacked by his neighbour Deba Kabasi with a sharp hatchet at his home. Padiami suffered serious injuries in the attack and died on the spot. Kabasi had lost his father on Sunday and his brother a month ago under mysterious circumstances. Following the death of two persons in the family, Kabasi suspected that Padiami was practising sorcery to harm his loved ones. He visited Padiamis house in the morning and hit his head with a sharp weapon, said a police official in Malkangiri. Kabasi was arrested soon after the murder. New Delhi: A sub-group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Tuesday recommended the continuation of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' for its failure to check terror funding and a final decision will be taken on February 21, sources said. The decision was taken at the meeting of the FATF's International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary. "The ICRG meeting, a sub-group of the FATF, has recommended to retain Pakistan in the 'Grey List'. A final decision will be taken on Friday when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan," said a source. The decision -- whether Pakistan will continue in the 'Grey List' or put in the 'Black List' is being made at the week-long FATF plenary currently on in Paris. The plenary is examining the money laundering and terrorist financing risks that countries face to set and promote global standards to tackle these risks. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October last year or face the risk of being placed on the 'Black List' along with Iran and North Korea. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to the 'White List'. To avoid the 'Black List', it needs the support of three countries sources said it has support from Turkey and Malaysia so far. At last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan has got support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair China. According to reports in Pakistani dailies, FATF has asked Islamabad to further tighten its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to task. "The FATF has expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by Pakistan to curb terror financing and demanded that the country further tightens its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to task," said The Express Tribune newspaper in a report. Citing the recent conviction of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Pakistani officials said the judicial system in the country was fully independent and the courts were taking decisions on merit, which were being implemented. The FATF observed substantial progress made by Pakistan in the implementation of 14 of the 27 recommendations about the country's anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) mechanism, Dunya News TV reported. "Pakistan has adopted an effective strategy in the financial sector to curb terror financing and enhanced cooperation between institutions to combat transfer of funds to terrorists," it said. Have tightened standards on terrorist financing: FATF The report about the grey-listing came a day after FATF said several terrorist groups continue to benefit from funds raised through illegal activities and from supporters worldwide despite the international terror financing watchdog tightening the standards on flow of money. India has maintained that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. Without naming Pakistan, the FATF said in a statement that terrorists use various methods to gain financing, including using social media to identify new followers and to solicit financial or other forms of material support. Individuals sympathetic to humanitarian causes or vulnerable to violent messaging are often targeted, it said. "The FATF has tightened its standards on terrorist financing which has helped disrupt access to funds for groups such as ISIL and Al-Qaida. However, various groups still benefit from funds raised through illegal activity and from supporters worldwide," the Paris headquartered FATF said. The FATF said it is monitoring terrorist financing risks and works to help authorities trace funding to strengthen prosecutions. "The FATF is also monitoring illicit financing via new payment methods, such as cryptocurrencies," it said. Last week, an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Saeed to 11 years in two terror financing cases. Saeed, a UN designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty, was arrested on July 17, 2019 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Pakistan has also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family are "missing". Pakistan has claimed that there were only 16 UN designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions. The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India. The FATF had said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. (With inputs from PTI) Katie Hill, the former California congresswoman who resigned last year amid a personal scandal she believes was fueled by her ex and an allegation that she was having an affair with a staffer which she denied now seems to have found a bit of humor in at least one part of her story. On Saturday, she shared a PEOPLE article about HGTV featuring its first throuple (a man and two women) who appeared on House Hunters. Hill, 32, jokingly added in a tweet: You know, Im gonna take at least partial credit for enough of society knowing this term for it to be on House Hunters. Just sayin. Riffing on the articles headline, she continued: Also representation matters has been like my tagline since the beginning so I will take it. In a sign of time passing maybe burdens lessening it was a far lighter tone than Hill had used last year when discussion the personal and professional turmoil that cut short her tenure in Congress. As she wrote in a December column for The New York Times, her breaking point almost came with the publication in the conservative blog Red State and British tabloid The Daily Mail of personal text messages and nude photos revealing, among other things, a sexual relationship shed had with a female campaign staffer. She wrote in the Times that she contemplated suicide soon after her resignation. Both outlets reported that shed been in a consensual three-way relationship with a female campaign staffer and her now-estranged husband (she admitted being involved with the campaign worker, calling it inappropriate). Hill wrote in her Times op-ed in December that she believed Kenny Heslep, whom she was divorcing, was the source of the images and the leak was revenge for her leaving. Heslep, who did not previously return PEOPLEs calls for comment, has reportedly denied he was the source and told his parents his computer was hacked. Story continues More than half of the victims of cyber exploitation (also known as revenge porn) contemplate suicide in the aftermath, Hill wrote in the Times. Many have attempted it, and some tragically have succeeded. Katie Hill | Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty The former representatives decision to leave office capped off a 10-day scandal not only involving the photos and anonymously sourced details about her relationships with the campaign staffer and her husband but, more serious, the allegation that she was having an affair with her male legislative director. In early 2018, in the shadow of the rise of the #MeToo movement, Congress passed new rules forbidding relationships between lawmakers and their staffers as a way to combat sexual harassment and misconduct on Capitol Hill. Hill is one of the first openly bisexual members of Congress and was given a top position on the House Oversight Committee after flipping a district in Republican control for more than 20 years. The House Ethics Committee said in October it was going to investigate, as Hill repeatedly denied the affair. During the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage, I became involved in a relationship with someone on my campaign, Hill said in a statement. I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen against my better judgement. For that I apologize. Since leaving office, Hill has become a major voice for fighting cyber exploitation, which more and more lawmakers have sought to address. She also recently announced the launch of a group called Her Time, to support female candidates who wish to run for political office. Im excited were starting that work, Hill said last week. And Im going to dive all the way in on it. [February 18, 2020] eClinical Solutions Market Size to Hit US$ 13.6 Bn by 2026 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently Published Report On "eClinical Solutions Market Size, Share & Growth 2019 - 2026": Acumen Research and Consulting. The eClinical solutions market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 13.5% during the forecast period 2019 to 2026 and reach the market value of around US$ 13.6 Bn by 2026. North America held the maximum share of the global eClinical solutions market in 2018 and is also anticipated to observe its dominance during the forecast period. North America consists of the U.S. and Canada. Both countries have high admeoption of innovative software solutions for clinical research. Furthermore, high government funding to support clinical trials, local presence of prominent players, presence of sophisticated infrastructure, and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiac disorders are some of the other factors that contributed to the dominance of the region in 2018. Get Free Report Sample Pages for Better [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1637 However, Asia Pacific is witnessing the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to increasing outsourcing number of trials to countries such as India, China, Korea, and Japan due to the low cost and presence of a large patient population. Thereby, this outsourcing boosted the adoption of eClinical solutions in these regions. Presence of emerging economies, government funding for the research & development, and investment by multinational players are expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period. Based on the product the market has been segmented into ECOA, EDC & CDMS, Clinical Analytics Platforms, Clinical data integration platforms, Safety solutions, CTMS, RTSM, and eTMF. The electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management system (CDMS) accounted for the maximum share of the eClinical solutions market in 2018. However, the electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA) is anticipated to observe the fastestgrowth during the forecast period.This can be attributed to the increasing importance of high-quality clinical data. Collecting data by using eCOA platforms enhance the quality of derived information, streamline data collection procedures, and offers effective data analysis. View Detail Information with Complete [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/eclinical-solutions-market Based on the delivery mode, eClinical solutions market is ivided into the web-hosted, licensed enterprise (on-premise), and cloud-based mode. The web-hosted segment dominated the market in 2018 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This can be attributed to benefits associated with a delivery mode such as lower investment, easily customizable, a greater level of interoperability, and easy accessibility. The cloud-based system is anticipated to drive the market at the fastest rate in the coming years. Easy data backup and availability of real-time data are some of the advantages of a cloud-based system. Based on the development phase of the clinical trial, phase III segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2018. The complexity of the phase increases with an increase in the number of patients, which enhance the demand for computer-based solutions for clinical data management, thereby the adoption of eClinical solutions for phase III clinical trial is more. Browse More Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Industry Research [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/industry-categories/healthcare-and-pharmaceuticals Key players operating in the eclinical solutions market are IBM Watson Health; Oracle Corporation; Medidata Solutions Inc.; Cinven; DATATRAK International, Inc.; PAREXEL International Corporation; CRF Bracket; ERT; eClinical Solutions; and OmniComm Systems Inc.Partnerships or collaboration between technology and CRO, pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical companies and acquisitions are the key strategies being adopted by the market players to accelerate their growth in recent years. Some of the key observations regarding the eClinical solutions market include: In June 2019 , DassaultSystemes, a France based software company acquired Medidata Solutionsto expand its client base in the life-science industry. Medidata's market experience in clinical trials complements the company's life sciences solutions on the 3DEXPERIENCE collaborative platform. , DassaultSystemes, a based software company acquired Medidata Solutionsto expand its client base in the life-science industry. Medidata's market experience in clinical trials complements the company's life sciences solutions on the 3DEXPERIENCE collaborative platform. In May 2019 , Great Point Partners, an equity firm, invested in Axiomto increase service offerings for phase I to Phase III clinical trials. Axiom is a Toronto based growing firm specializes in data management, electronic data capture, electronic patient-reported outcomes, and clinical trial management systems for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clinical trial sponsors, invested in growing eClinical solution company. , Great Point Partners, an equity firm, invested in Axiomto increase service offerings for phase I to Phase III clinical trials. Axiom is a based growing firm specializes in data management, electronic data capture, electronic patient-reported outcomes, and clinical trial management systems for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clinical trial sponsors, invested in growing eClinical solution company. In September 2018 , Genster merged its clinical research tech companies CRF Health and Bracket. The newly formed company named a CRF Bracket. Combining the experience of both the teams in clinical trial technology is expected to help in accelerative innovation, maintaining focus on expert service, and scaling a powerful business. , Genster merged its clinical research tech companies CRF Health and Bracket. The newly formed company named a CRF Bracket. Combining the experience of both the teams in clinical trial technology is expected to help in accelerative innovation, maintaining focus on expert service, and scaling a powerful business. In July 2018 , OmniComm Systems, Inc., a global provider of clinical data management technology, launched its new subsidiary called OmniCommeClinical Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and established its office in Bengaluru, India to expand international presence. Launch of the new subsidiary was a result of the company's acquisition of the Acuity advanced clinical analytics platform from Algorics. , OmniComm Systems, Inc., a global provider of clinical data management technology, launched its new subsidiary called OmniCommeClinical Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and established its office in Bengaluru, to expand international presence. Launch of the new subsidiary was a result of the company's acquisition of the Acuity advanced clinical analytics platform from Algorics. In October 2016 , Cinven acquired Bioclinica to enter in the clinical trial sector. Bioclinica provides clinical trial services and technology to pharmaceutical companies and CROs. Request for [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-customization/1637 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. Buy this premium research [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/1637 If you would like to place an order or have any questions, please feel free to contact at [email protected] | +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 About Us Acumen Research and Consulting (ARC) is a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services to information technology, investment, telecommunication, manufacturing, and consumer technology markets. ARC helps investment communities, IT professionals, and business executives to make fact based decisions on technology purchases and develop firm growth strategies to sustain market competition. Among the industries served include aerospace and defense, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductor and electronics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced materials, banking, finance services and insurance (BFSI), and others. Our collective industry experience of over 100 years has helped us to offer appropriate market information and our global reach and regional connects ensures appropriate insights into regional markets to guarantee apt delivery of information. Our regional market intelligence helps our clients to identify potential opportunities and develop growth strategies across regions and countries. Our services are geared towards offering best market research to our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Frank Wilson Acumen Research and Consulting 17890, Castleton St #218, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 United States Tel: +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eclinical-solutions-market-size-to-hit-us-13-6-bn-by-2026--301006561.html SOURCE Acumen Research and Consulting [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FILE PHOTO: A man stands as a woman walks past a sign of Vivendi at the main entrance of the entertainment-to-telecoms conglomerate headquarters in Paris By Emma Pinedo and Elvira Pollina MADRID/MILAN (Reuters) - A regional court in Madrid has upheld the suspension of broadcaster Mediaset's plan to merge its Italian and Spanish divisions under a Dutch holding company after rejecting the Italian company's appeal, a document seen by Reuters showed on Monday. Mediaset, controlled by the family of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wants to merge its Italian and Spanish units under the Dutch holding firm MediaforEurope (MFE). It would use the new entity to pursue a European growth strategy to tackle growing competition in the industry from streaming rivals such as Netflix . But French media group Vivendi , a major shareholder in Mediaset, is fighting the project in courts across Europe. Vivendi, led by French billionaire Vincent Bollore, says the governance structure of the new entity would strengthen Berlusconi's grip on the company. A Spanish court suspended the merger in October as a precautionary measure after Vivendi brought a legal challenge. Mediaset's Spanish unit Mediaset Espana appealed the suspension but the Madrid regional court rejected its appeal. A Vivendi spokesman said the company was satisfied with Mondays decision. Mediaset did not comment. BUMPY ROAD The Spanish court's decision did not consider amendments to MFE bylaws that helped Mediaset to free the project from a court suspension in Italy, the court decision seen by Reuters showed. . But a Spanish commercial court, which will hear the wider case filed by Vivendi against the Mediaset reorganisation plan, will take MFE's bylaw changes into account when it rules on the merits of the case. A new court hearing originally set for Tuesday in Madrid was postponed without a new date, two legal sources said on Monday. A third source said that the court had given Vivendi up to five more days to submit further documents. This delay poses a potential threat to Mediaset, which faces a March deadline to see its Dutch holding company plan through. If the deadline is missed, the decisions of a shareholder meeting last year that approved the project will no longer be valid under Dutch laws. But Mediaset aims to submit revised plans, including changes to the MFE bylaws, to authorities in the Netherlands, securing more time to complete the project, two sources familiar with the matter said this month. (Additional reporting by Paola Luelmo in Madrid. Writing by Jose Elias Rodriguez and Emma Pinedo, editing by Andrei Khalip/Keith Weir/Jane Merriman) YEREVAN. Past daily of Armenia writes: Apparently, the visit to Germany did not go smoothly, to put it mildly, for [PM] Nikol Pashinyan. And it is not only about the "fight" with [Azerbaijan President Ilham] Aliyev, the opinions about which are not unequivocal. First of all, the [Armenian] authorities wanted to show that Pashinyan enjoys the full support of Europe, but this goal could not actually be achieved. In particular, our diplomatic sources inform that during the private meeting in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked numerous questions to the Armenian Prime Minister regarding [ex-President] Robert Kocharyan's case. The questions were so numerous and subjective that Pashinyan was initially surprised, and then annoyed, moreover that there were openly critical tones in the diplomatic wording of the questions. According to the same sources, Merkel emphasized that Kocharyan's case gives the impression of political persecution, and if the Armenian authorities do not give clear and conclusive answers to the raised questions and dispel any doubts in the next couple of months, the German Foreign Ministry will have to include the issue on the agenda of bilateral relations as a matter of priority. New Delhi, Feb 18 : In a series of videos that have emerged over the weekend attempting to give a fresh narative to the Jamia violence, a new set released on Tuesday showed alleged rioters hurling stones from inside the Jamia Millia Islamia campus here, adding yet another dimensiona to the attritional war between students and police. The video war is over what happened at the university on December 15, 2019, while students were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)-- with both sides pointing fingers at the other for provocating the violence that spilled all over the country. The source of the videos and their authenticity could not be established by IANS. The videos -- and there are several of them -- bear the date December 15, 2019. That is the day when there was a confrontation between the police and students and the police allegedly caned students inside the university library. The new set of videos that emerged on Tuesday showed alleged rioters hurling stones from inside the university campus. The time shown on the videos indicate they were recordings of happenings that evening. In one of the videos, people can be seen hurling stones from the central library gate, which has been in the news ever since the video war broke out. Other videos that entered the public domain on Tuesday showed a large crowd entering what appears to be the hallway of the university's central library. Many of them were seeing running inside the library. Some were seen carrying chairs as well. Neither the university administration nor the police have commented on the authenticity of the latest videos that have entered the public domain. After a delay of around five months, Afghanistan's election commission on Tuesday declared incumbent president Ashraf Ghani as the winner of polls conducted in September 2018. After weeks of assessments, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday completed the partial audit of the 300,000 disputed votes, a decision which was made by the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission after weeks of assessments, Tolo News reported. The slim win gives Ghani another five-year term as president. Based on the preliminary results that were announced late last December, Ghani was narrowly declared the winner while Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah got 39 per cent of a total of over 1.8 million votes. According to New York Times, the vote, held last September amid a record number of Taliban attacks intended to destabilise the election, had itself been repeatedly delayed and marred by uncertainty as a peace deal between the US and the Taliban over the future of Afghanistan was nearing finalisation. But President Donald Trump terminated the talks just weeks before the election was expected, opening the way for voting to proceed. Now, with those negotiations resumed and a conditional date announced for the signing of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban, the fresh political crisis risks derailing that fragile process, which was expected to open the way for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban over the country's political future. However, opposition parties immediately protested the result, threatening a full-blown political crisis on the cusp of a United States peace deal with the Taliban. Nearly one million of the initial 2.7 million votes were purged owing to irregularities, meaning the election saw by far the lowest turnout of any Afghan poll. Ultimately, only 1.8 million votes were counted - a tiny number given Afghanistan's estimated population of 35 million and a total of 9.6 million registered voters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cant serve notice on Nithyananda, he is on spiritual tour, cops tell Karnataka HC K'taka HC directs local court to speed up rape-accused, self-styled godman Nithyananda's trial India oi-Mousumi Dash Bengaluru, Feb 18: The Karnataka High Court has declined the plea to transfer the trial of rape-accused godman Nithyananda from a local court of Ramanagaram district of Karnataka. The HC on Monday, declining a petition filed by the main complainant against him ordered this. As per report, in 2019, the petitioner, Lenin Kurappan, moved the HC urging for the trial of rape-accused godman Nithyananda to be moved from Bangalore Rural to Bangalore City, citing inordinate and unwarranted delays in the trial proceedings. However, the bench headed by Justice BA Patil, halted the petitioner for dragging the trial and also blamed Kurappan of having a deprecate attitude. The High Court also directed the lower court to speed up the trial that has been continuing since 2010. Interpol issues Blue Corner Notice to help locate controversial godman Nithyananda Nithyananda is an accused in an alleged rape case filed against him in Karnataka. Earlier, an FIR was also registered against the self-styled godman on the charges of alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Interpol also issued 'Blue Corner Notice' against the controversial godman on the request of Gujarat Police. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 21:31 [IST] By introducing a centralized system for storing and processing citizen data, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) of the Philippines is taking the next step into a digital and service-oriented future. German company DERMALOG has supplied the agency with this latest technology MANILA, Philippines and HAMBURG, Germany, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippine Land Transportation Office (LTO) has launched a new system to digitize and centralize all its services at its headquarters in Metro Manila. LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante attended the successful opening of the pilot project on February 17. The new system, which is now operating in Metro Manila for the first time, integrates all LTO services in a single database and digital platform. It includes all relevant data of Philippine citizens for driver's license, car registration and even for penalty payment of committed offenses in one single system. This allows LTO to provide faster services and leads to significant cost savings in the future. Thanks to the new solution, LTO employees can process citizen requests faster, as they obtain all information at a glance with just a few clicks. "The new system is one of the key steps on our way to becoming a frontline government agency showcasing fast and efficient public service for a progressive land transport sector," said Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante from LTO at the ceremony on Monday. The new digital platform of the Land Transportation Office was supplied by the German company DERMALOG including a new, state of the art datacenter in Metro Manila. DERMALOG has already provided the new driver's license and system to the Land Transportation Office in 2017. With a total of 32 security features and additional biometric features, it is the most secure document in the Philippines today. Up to 20,000 licenses are issued by LTO per day and about 14 million citizens already hold the new biometric driver's license. With the new digital platform, LTO and DERMALOG continue their successful cooperation. - Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) - Press contact DERMALOG Identification Systems GmbH Sven Bockler Press Relations +49(0)40-4132270 info@dermalog.com www.dermalog.com Former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke has predicted Dominic Cummings will not last long as Boris Johnson's top adviser unless he 'vanishes' and returns to being a 'back room' operator. Mr Clarke suggested the PM's 'exotic aide' will only survive in the job if his 'personal appearances stop'. The veteran former Cabinet minister said it was always an 'absolute disaster if the chief adviser became the story in the newspapers'. His comments come amid growing scrutiny over the appointment of Andrew Sabisky who was recruited to Number 10 as part of Mr Cummings' appeal for 'misfits and weirdos' to join the government. Ken Clarke, pictured in Westminster in September 2019, said Dominic Cummings must return to being a 'back room' operator if he is to last as the PM's top aide Mr Cummings, pictured in London today, is facing scrutiny over the appointment to the government of Andrew Sabisky Mr Sabisky, who once suggested enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies creating a 'permanent underclass', announced he was standing down as an adviser last night amid a furious backlash at a number of his remarks. Ministers today suggested Mr Sabisky had 'jumped before he was pushed' because of a slew of 'reprehensible' past comments. MPs are now demanding to know what the process was for hiring Mr Sabisky with Mr Cummings facing questions over his role. Mr Clarke told ITV's Acting PM podcast that Mr Cummings needed to stop appearing in public in order to remain in post. He said: 'Oh you can't go on like this, you can't govern a country and explain what you're doing for the public by the medium of leaks from an exotic aide in No10.' He continued: 'To be the back room power behind the scenes which is pretty well every PM in my time has needed somebody like that. 'They don't normally dress exotically and pose for the photographers before giving - quite blatantly - briefings all over the place about what their views are on everything.' Mr Clarke said Mr Cummings has 'got to get out of the newspapers' and simply act as the PM's eyes and ears. He said: 'Boris may not be interested in the detail of policy but he's not an idiot he's a very bright man and the Cummings thing can only last if Mr Cummings' personal appearances stop and he vanishes and he goes back to being the back room apparatchik which he, of course, you need and what he's supposed to be doing.' He added: 'It's always been regarded as an absolute disaster if the chief adviser became the story in the newspapers.' Mr Clarke was stripped of the Tory whip last year after rebelling against the government over Brexit. He stepped down as an MP at the general election. Mr Sabisky said he did not want to be a distraction to the government when he announced he was stepping down last night. Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng described the past remarks made by Mr Sabisky - which included a suggestion that black Americans have a lower average IQ than white Americans - as 'offensive' and 'racist'. Taiwans TSMC, which supplies chips to Chinas Huawei and US phone maker Apple, is caught in the middle of the dispute. The United States is considering changing US regulations to allow it to block shipments of chips to Huawei Technologies from companies such as Taiwans TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, two sources familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency. New restrictions on commerce with Chinas Huawei are among several options to be considered at high-level US meetings this week and next. The chip proposal has been drafted but its approval is far from certain, one of the sources said. The measure would be a blow to the worlds second-largest smartphone maker as well as to TSMC, one of the biggest producers of chips for Huaweis HiSilicon unit and mobile phone rivals Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc. What theyre trying to do is make sure that no chips go to Huawei that they can possibly control, the second source said. Huawei is at the heart of a battle for global technological dominance between the US and China. The US is trying to convince allies to exclude its gear from next-generation 5G networks on grounds its equipment could be used by China for spying. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claim. To target global chip sales to Huawei, US authorities would alter the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which subjects some foreign-made goods based on US technology or software to US regulations. Reuters reported possible changes to that rule in November. Under the draft proposal, the US government would force foreign companies that use US chipmaking equipment to seek a US license before supplying Huawei a large expansion of export control authority that could anger US allies worldwide. The US Commerce Department declined to comment on the proposal. But a Commerce spokesman said recent US charges against Huawei, including conspiring to steal trade secrets, reaffirm the need for caution in considering license applications. The US continues to have major concerns about Huawei. Huawei did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for TSMC said the company does not answer hypothetical questions and does not comment on individual customers. The US placed Huawei on a blacklist in May last year, citing national security concerns. That forced some US and foreign companies to seek special licenses from the Commerce Department to sell to it, but China hawks in the US government have been frustrated by the vast number of supply chains beyond their reach. Others in the Trump administration fear antagonising Beijing, which just signed a trade deal with Washington. They also worry the restrictions will drive innovation offshore and benefit foreign rivals. Most chip manufacturers rely on equipment produced by US companies like KLA, Lam Research and Applied Materials, according to a report last year from Chinas Everbright Securities. There is no production line in China that uses only equipment made in China, so it is very difficult to make any chipsets without US equipment, Everbright wrote. The coronavirus outbreak will present some uncertainties ahead, but demand has held up reasonably well for Australian miner BHP thus far, its CEO said Tuesday. BHP reported earnings for the six months that ended in December, with the company's underlying attributable profit up 39% from a year ago to $5.19 billion, boosted by higher iron ore prices. But, that number came in below profit estimates of $5.28 billion by analysts, Reuters reported. The company also announced an interim dividend of 65 cents per share, a 10 cent increase from last year. "At this point in time, for all of our products, we've seen demand hold up reasonably strong," Mike Henry told CNBC's "Street Signs." Henry took over from former BHP boss Andrew Mackenzie on Jan. 1. "We're moving all our products, prices have held up, in part because of some other supply-side disruptions and we haven't seen any impact on receiving payment," Henry said. "So far, the impact on our markets has been muted." The fast-spreading coronavirus, first detected in late December, has already infected more than 70,000 people and killed over 1,800, most of them in China. In an effort to contain the disease, Beijing put most of China under quarantine, which meant many factories had been shut for an extended period of time following the Lunar New Year break and workers stayed at home. Analysts have warned about global supply chain disruptions in various sectors as a result. Henry explained that if the virus outbreak situation continued beyond the current quarter which ends in March, then BHP would have to revisit some of its outlook. In its earnings report, the company listed the coronavirus as one of the major uncertainties to its economic and commodities outlook, stating it may have to revise growth downwards if the situation persists. For its part, BHP sells the iron ore mined in Australia to Chinese customers to make steel. Henry explained that while there has been some build up in steel inventories, blast furnace steel production "held up a bit better," and iron ore inventories are not at excess capacities. He added BHP can ramp up production as needed to meet Chinese demand. File image Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has been summoned for questioning by the Income Tax Department on February 18, CNBC TV18 has reported. The I-T Department is investigating hawala and cash transactions worth Rs 400 crore reaching the Congress. According to the report, the I-T department issued summons on February 11 under Section 131 of the I-T Act, and Patel was supposed to appear on February 14. However, he did not appear for questioning stating health issues. Patel told the I-T Department that he was facing breathing problems and admitted to Metro Hospital, Faridabad. After the United States evacuated its citizens from the quarantined cruise ship off the Japanese coast, the United Kingdom has decided to follow the suit and repatriate British nationals. The British government announced on February 18 that it will arrange a flight to evacuate its citizens from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship on which at least 450 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea have already announced that they will evacuate all of their citizens from the ship. The total of infected persons onboard the quarantined cruise ship has increased to 454 with 99 new cases, as per the latest report. The Diamond Princess cruise is docked in Yokohama, a port city close to Tokyo, and will be under quarantine till February 19. Earlier on February 17, 40 US citizens, who were infected with the deadly virus, have been evacuated using two chartered flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Around 380 Americans were present on the ship of which 340 were transported from Yokohama port to the airport on 14 buses, informed Japans Defense Minister Taro Kono. Read: China: Gym Instructors Livestream Their Workout Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Emperor's birthday celebration cancelled In view of the coronavirus threat, Japan has also decided to cancel a public gathering to celebrate the birthday of its new Emperor Naruhito. The imperial household agency, in a statement, said that the visit by the general public to the palace for Emperors birthday has been cancelled in light of various situations. The decision to cancel the gathering comes after the government warned its citizens to avoid crowds and non-essential gatherings. Japans Health Minister Katsunobu Kato has urged the public, especially elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, to avoid non-urgent, non-essential gatherings. Read: Singapore Airlines To Cut Flights As Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Demand According to the latest report, 1,886 new cases of coronavirus infections and 98 more deaths have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to 1,868. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including Japan and the Philippines, have also now reported deaths related to COVID-19. Read: Maldivians Evacuated From Coronavirus-hit Wuhan Discharged From ITBP To Return Home Read: Diamond Princess Cruise Ship In Japan Confirms 99 New Cases Of Coronavirus (With agency inputs) by Nirmala Carvalho The 32nd Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India-Latin Church is underway. The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India condemns a new abortion bill. Bishop of Lucknow reiterates the importance of dialogue. A new English Lectionary and Querida Amazonia are presented. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Mumbai yesterday reiterated that Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. The Church has been unwavering in its protection of the sanctity of human life, from conception until natural death. Card Gracias, who chairs the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), made the statement in his address to the 32nd plenary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI)-Latin Church, currently underway in Bengaluru (Bangalore). In his address, the prelate again condemned abortion as well as Indias new abortion bill, which extends the period to end a pregnancy to 24 weeks. Bishops have the responsibility to spread Christs message about the dignity of all human life, he said. Giambattista Diquattro, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, opened the plenary assembly. He invited the faithful to live every aspect of their daily in accordance with Gospel values. The followers of Christ, he noted, have the responsibility to promote the Gospel values of mercy and compassion. The Bishops in our country should encourage the faithful to deepen the values of the Gospel in their lives. Bishop Gerald John Mathias of Lucknow told AsiaNews that dialogue is an inevitable imperative and an urgency particularly in situations where there is a climate of distrust, suspicion and intolerance. When there are adversaries and hostile people, there is a greater need for dialogue. In his view, the Catholic Church must be in the forefront of dialogue and make situations conducive for dialogue; eventually, people will witness that dialogue is creating a new way of being, [and that] a new relationship is being created and fostered through dialogue Ultimately, dialogue fosters a civilisation of harmony, understanding and good will among people. We may not always succeed, the journey may be long and also fraught with difficulties, but the Catholic Church must take the initiative to foster dialogue. The Catholic Church in India, through its educational and health apostolate is already immersed in dialogue. The poor, the needy, the marginalised, the destitute, and even the rich are all beneficiaries of Catholic educational institutions as well as healthcare and social services. Without discrimination of any caste and creed, our apostolate selflessly serves each one, and this is a concrete [form of] dialogue of Life. Even people hostile to us are welcomed into our institutions, and this too is way of dialogue. The CCBI, which is structured in 132 dioceses with some 190 bishops, is the fourth largest bishops conference in the world. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman, who is CCBI president, urged all those present to pray continuously for the speedy recovery of all people affected by the deadly coronavirus. At the end of the day, the new English Lectionary was presented to the public, together with the Book of Gospel, the Rite for the Administering Marriage, the Rite of Administering Sacrament of Confirmation and Querida Amazon, the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Pope Francis released last week. Karachi, Feb 18 : A toxic gas leak in Karachi's Keamari area has killed at least 14 people even as its source remained unclear on Tuesday, a media report said. Sindh health department officials confirmed the death toll, two days after residents from adjoining areas rushed to hospitals complaining of breathing difficulties. Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, belonging to residential areas close to the affected area, gathered in Keamari's Jackson Market, demanding answers from the authorities on the deaths that have been caused from the mysterious gas, Dawn reported. Addressing a press conference along with Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Tuesday afternoon, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said multiple theories were being considered but thus far the source of the gas and its nature was still unknown. He added that an investigation was still ongoing. Dr Ziauddin Hospital spokesperson Amir Shehzad told Dawn.com that nine deaths took place at the hospital's Keamari Campus over the course of the past two days. According to the police, two other deaths were reported at Kutiyana Hospital. Meanwhile, officials from the Sindh health department added that two more deaths were reported at Civil Hospital Karachi while one more was reported at Burhani Hospital. Dozens of people have been hospitalised in various medical facilities across the city with officials confirming that over 250 individuals were discharged after treatment. Shehzad said approximately 250 patients had been brought to Dr Ziauddin Hospital with 100 brought in on Monday alone. He said most patients were released after being treated, adding that five patients had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) whose condition was also improving. The lineup for the Geneva International Motor Show just keeps getting better and better. Aside from the i30 they are going to showcase at the 2020 GIMS, Hyundai is also displaying their newest concept vehicle, the Prophecy. By definition, prophecy means a divinely prediction designed to inspire. Hyundais Prophecy resembles the same thing, a futuristic beacon of what cars could become in the future, strongly inspiring designers and car enthusiasts alike. The Prophecy follows Hyundais Sensuous Sportiness design principle, the new era of Hyundai design that will be carried through all future Hyundai vehicles. Defined by the harmony between the four fundamental elements of proportion, architecture, styling and technology, the aim of the design principle is to bring instinctive beauty and create emotional value and desirability in Hyundai vehicles. From the few teaser photos shown, the rear end of the vehicle gives off some Porsche vibes, thanks to its wide hips. The LED light strips frame the rear fascia nicely, making it look futuristic and retro at the same time. The cars overall shape is fluid and curvy, making it a nice centerpiece for their 2020 Geneva Motor Show display. Prophecy does not follow trends. It accentuates timeless beauty that will stand the test of time, said SangYup Lee, Head of Hyundai Global Design Center. Its iconic design stands to expand Hyundais design spectrum toward even broader horizons. There isnt much that is known about the vehicle yet, aside from the few teaser photos and from the fact that it will be fully electric. The Hyundai Prophecy concept EV will premiere on March 3 at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. Along with this, Hyundai Motor will also be showcasing electrification strategies under the concept of Real Progress is in the Air, which is inspired by new brand vision (Progress for Humanity) and exhibition contents. Also Read: The post Hyundai Prophecy Set to Debut at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. A train guard has delivered a disturbing warning to passengers after a child had his finger taken off in a horror accident. The warning was given over the train's speaker system as it travelled through Sydney on Saturday, with the audio recorded by a passenger and uploaded to YouTube. The austere warning came over the train's speaker system on Saturday (pictured: the moment the incident was announced) 'A few months ago where a child had their finger completely taken off by his ring getting caught on the train,' the guard said. 'So please, in future, do not run your hands along the train as it is coming in to the platform.' One viewer commented: 'Luckily I don't wear rings.' 'Safety message for people rushing to the doors closing,' wrote another. Daily Mail Australia contacted Transport New South Wales for comment. The warning came days after a train driver was allegedly ordered to drive over a dead body on the tracks while en route to the Central Coast, north of Sydney. The train had come to a halt as police investigated a self-harming incident on the tracks. Under such circumstances, passengers are usually ordered off the train before it is sent to a maintenance yard, The Daily Telegraph reported. After police conducted their inspection, a replacement crew was told to move the train forward for removal of the body. Lawyers for NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, 28, petitioned for Trump to grant her clemency on Monday National Security Agency whistleblower Reality Winner is petitioning Trump for clemency. Winner was sentenced to five years and three months in jail in 2018 for violating the Espionage Act after she leaked classified information on Russian interference in the 2016 election to the press. The former US Air Force intelligence specialist and her supporters filed a petition on Monday to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which is under the Justice Department, to request her early release from prison, according to Huffington Post. Her lawyers said Winner had 'suffered enough' and called on the president to 'do the right thing'. During a press conference in Dallas on Monday, Winner's lawyer Alison Grinter rallied for her release along with her family members, saying Winner has 'suffered enough' and calling on Trump to 'do the right thing' 'Our country was attacked by a hostile foreign power,' Alison Grinter, Winners attorney, said during a Monday press conference in Dallas. 'Our national healing process cannot begin until we forgive our truth tellers and begin the job of rebuilding what was taken from us election security, accountability for those who endeavor to undermine our democracy, and safeguarding the American right to government by and for the people.' 'None of this can begin in earnest while we are still punishing those who tell us the truth,' Grinter added. The attorney said she will submit 4,500 letters of support for Winner as part of the clemency application. Winner's family hopes Trump will show her mercy and pardon her. He has previously criticized her sentence as 'so unfair'. 'Gee, this is "small potatoes" compared to what Hillary Clinton did,' Trump tweeted in 2018. Winner's family hopes Trump will show her mercy and pardon her. He has previously criticized her sentence as 'so unfair' 'Gee, this is "small potatoes" compared to what Hillary Clinton did,' Trump tweeted in 2018 on Winner's sentence 'This president has been willing to use his pardon power without regard to many of the conventions that have been put together to guide and advise a president on pardons and commutations,' Grinter said to the New York Times. 'We know the president pays attention to Twitter and media, and we are hoping that the president sees this for what it is and that is an opportunity to put right a great injustice,' she added. Winner's mother Billie Winner-Davis, said her daughter's health and well-being is at stake in prison and that she is 'losing hope'. 'Reality is not receiving any kind of treatment or care for her anxiety or her bulimia,' Winner-Davis said. 'Every day that passes, I feel like we are losing a little piece of my daughter and who she is.' She says Reality is 'not a threat to anyone' and 'doesn't deserve this.' Winner's mother Billie Winner-Davis, said her daughter's health and well-being is at stake in prison and that she is 'losing hope'. Reality pictured with mother in this undated photo So far the 28-year-old has served out 30 months of her prison sentence. She pleaded guilty to breaching the Espionage Act by smuggling a top-secret report about Russian hacking into her pantyhose and shared it to a news outlet believed to be The Intercept Winner's stepfather Gary Davis says he feels like she has been 'singled out'. 'She was a nobody and they used her for a patsy and an example,' he said. So far the 28-year-old has served out 30 months of her prison sentence. The former military contractor and former American intelligence specialist from Texas was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of leaking a classified intelligence report. She pleaded guilty to breaching the Espionage Act by smuggling a top-secret report about Russian hacking into her pantyhose and shared it to a news outlet believed to be The Intercept. That document is believed to have detailed Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software. She was handed down the longest sentence ever imposed in federal court on a journalistic source under the Espionage Act. Empathic Workplace provides an innovative approach to facing contemporary issues in today's workplace with greater empathy. The company's multi-faceted workshops give learners the opportunity to discover and practice essential skills to bring empathy to difficult conversations, employee interviews, and workplace communications. The meaningful partnership with Mursion adds virtual reality simulations to this dynamic method of learning more compassionate behaviors. Powered by a blend of artificial and human intelligence, Mursion delivers real-time simulations that call for learners to be fully present in the moment. This realism offers a scalable and tailored experience for companies that want to enable and exercise skills such as the empathy-driven practices designed by Empathic Workplace and transform them into daily behaviors. Simulations engage emotional, cognitive, and behavioral faculties for transformative, ongoing learning that is also scalable, consistent, and cost-effective. "Emphasizing empathy in the workplace and empowering employees to learn essential skills are at the core of what we do," says Mursion CEO Mark Atkinson. "Our partnership with Empathic Workplace is a continuation of our mission to provide high-impact learning tools and techniques and presents us with another purposeful platform to extend our reach." Empathic Workplace's workshops are rooted in the expertise of Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Certified Forensic Interviewer Angela Nino, as well as the improvisational training techniques of Lisa Bany, a veteran instructor at The Second City in Chicago and Founding Director of the Improv Therapy Group, Empathic Workplace's sister company. Combined with Mursion's VR simulations that are specially designed for the modern workplace, empathic skills and capabilities are cultivated and sustained. "We believe a workplace culture is built in everyday moments and tested during the difficult ones," says Nino. "The Empathic Workplace approach will be further enhanced by introducing Mursion's virtual reality simulations to give learners opportunities to immerse themselves in this emotional intelligence training for iterative practice and long-term results." To experience a virtual reality simulation live and see how it can be applied to managing conflict in the workplace, schedule a demo. About Empathic Workplace Empathic Workplace helps organizations create and maintain an empathic workplace culture. The company utilizes intention and improvisational techniques to heighten the emotional intelligence of everyone within an organization. Empathic Workplace presents workshops, lectures, and demonstrations for executives, managers, and employees to gain knowledge of the foundational principles that build an empathic workplace. About Mursion Powered by a blend of artificial intelligence and live human interaction, Mursion provides immersive VR training for essential skills in the workplace. Mursion simulations are designed for the modern workforce, staging interactions between learners and avatars to achieve the realism needed for measurable, high-impact results. Drawing upon research in learning science and psychology, Mursion harnesses the best in technology and human interaction to deliver outcomes for both learners and organizations. Media Contact: Christina Yu [email protected] SOURCE Mursion Related Links https://www.mursion.com We all know who Bernie Sanders is: an unreconstructed Jewish lefty from Brooklyn. Think hes crazy to still believe all that stuff after a century of lefty horrors with over 100 million dead? Dont. Most people stick with the faith of their fathers. Case in point, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, red-diaper baby extraordinaire. His father, Joseph Buttigieg from Malta, was the guy that translated into English the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci, he of the march through the institutions, and Mayor Pete helped the create the books index for Dad. I know. Youd think we buried Marxism with the Cold War. But the truth is that it appeals to the educated Gentry because it promises a life of meaning and power for intellectuals and politicians. And the Cultural Marxism of the Frankfurt School, from Horkheimer to Gramsci to Marcuse, really goes one better for intellectuals and scribblers. For it invites them to switch from the boring job of planning tractor production to the exciting job of creating new religions that hype all kinds of millenarian panics, from the horror of toxic masculinity to the True Prophecy of runaway global warming. When you are directing the economy there is a clear verdict on your brilliant ideas: are people better off than before? But when you are creating religions out of whole cloth there is no downside. Our people are the good guys and everyone else is heretics and witches. Never mind if our people are suffering and miserable: On to the Millennium! Of course, if you are a Commoner you might not see the searing truth of all this. You might think that you are just the punching bag for a bunch of spoiled Gentry rich kids that need to Get A Job. And you might think that Donald Trump is just the guy to teach those Gentry rich kids a lesson. But sooner or later we Commoners have to tell the SJW wokerati to take their murderous ideas and put em where the sun dont shine. If we dont do it with Trump, then well have to do it later, and I dare say there will be a butchers bill to pay. But there is hope. Heres a woman that looks like a POC academic that has #WalkedAway (H/T: RedState). She just couldnt take the left-wing canceling in her online knitting circle -- seriously -- and one day she ended up outside a Trump rally in New Hampshire As I waited, I chatted with the folks around me. And contrary to all the fears expressed, they were so nice. I was not harassed or intimidated, and I was never in fear of my safety even for a moment. These were average, everyday people. They were veterans, schoolteachers, and small business owners who had come from all over the place for the thrill of attending this rally. They were upbeat and excited. In chatting, I even let it slip that I was a Democrat. The reaction: Good for you! Welcome! And then when she got inside, people were dancing to the music! Really, you must read the whole thing. The assumption of almost everyone on the Old Right, the dissident right, and the #NeverTrump right is that John Judis and Ruy Teixeira were right in The Emerging Democratic Majority, that all the minorities and immigrants were a lost cause, and bound to vote Democratic forever, because identity politics. But what if Trump is right, that a significant fraction of the liberal Gentrys Clients are ready to become Commoners, to #WalkAway from their ethnic enclaves and become 100 percent Americans? And what if the more adventurous among them take their heart in their hands and dare to show up at a Trump rally and find out that the folks are real friendly and ordinary folks just like them? Put it this way: before we all hunker down in the trenches of Civil War II and sally forth on the next Big Push, lets see if Trump can in fact convert some minorities from Clients into Commoners. If he succeeds and gets a 55-45 majority of the popular vote it will be Katy bar the door. All the experts will have to go back to their drawing boards, or at least their cutesy fair-trade coffee houses. Back in the day, in his Making of the President books, Theodore H. White spent half the book parsing the Democratic vote into Italians and Irish and Catholics and Jews and even Germans. Today, for some reason, we dont divvy up the white ethnic vote anymore; we just talk about the deplorable white working-class vote. I wonder why. I say that the natural tribe of the Commoner -- the average American who just wants to obey the law, go to work, and follow the rules -- is the nation. Suppose I am right? And suppose we teach Bernie and Pete a lesson. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. T wo Canadian property investors have agreed to buy nearly 300 rental flats in east London in a 100 million deal, as demand for rented accommodation rises. Joint-venture partners Realstar and QuadReal, the property arm of a Canadian pension fund, said they have bought Pioneer Point in Ilford. The purchase, from investor Kennedy Wilson, includes 294 apartments, residents lounges and a communal cinema room, as well as shops. The new owners have already teamed up on over 400 million of deals in the capital. Ryan Prince, UK boss of Realstar, which will manage the homes, said: We believe that properly managed, large-scale residential rental assets are a critical element to help solve Londons housing needs. Commitment to invest comes as more people struggling to get on the housing ladder look to lease properties for longer. A woman who claimed she was trafficked here after being involved in prostitution in Nigeria as a child has won her High Court case over being refused international protection. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) effectively stated, because the woman had "managed to sustain herself" working as a prostitute for a period, she would be in a better position than some to resettle in Nigeria if returned there, Mr Justice Max Barrett said. The period at issue included part of her childhood when she was a victim of child sexual abuse, he noted. It is for the woman to determine how she now chooses to live her life but the notion Ireland could countenance the return of any woman, in this case an accepted victim of child sexual abuse, to any country by saying she could sustain herself by returning to prostitution is "so egregiously offensive to the inherent and natural human dignity of women", and of men in the case of male prostitutes, that the IPAT's reasoning cannot be held to have "any legal weight", he said. The IPAT was obliged, but had failed, to assess the woman's claim she is at risk of persecution by family members in Nigeria arising from her involvement in prostitution if she is returned there, he ruled. In a judgment today, he quashed the IPAT refusal and directed it to reconsider the woman's application in line with his findings. Now in her twenties, the woman sought judicial review against IPAT and the Minister for Justice over the IPAT refusal of protection in 2015. She had sought protection on two grounds. The first was she had worked as a prostitute in Nigeria as a minor, was disowned by her family for that and feared their reaction if returned there. The second was she was trafficked to Ireland and forced to work as a prostitute here and feared the response of the traffickers if returned to Nigeria. IPAT accepted she worked as a prostitute in Nigeria and was disowned by her family for that but had not accepted they had attacked and targeted her. Nor did it accept she was trafficked to Ireland or faced threats from any traffickers if returned. The judge said IPAT erred in finding it was not obliged to assess the forward-looking fear of family as actors of persecution, solely on the basis of the woman having acted as a prostitute. IPAT was required to investigate the womans claimed fear of her family members in circumstances where it accepted she had made such a claim. IPAT unlawfully failed to assess whether she had a well-founded fear of persecution by her extended family and conflated this with its assessment of a well-founded fear of being persecuted on the basis of being a victim of trafficking, he found. IPAT came to an unreasonable decision by relying on country of origin (COI) information dealing only with the risk faced by victims of trafficking returned to Nigeria without due regard to COI concerning the risk faced by women from familial/societal factors, he said. IPAT also failed to provide adequate reasons for preferring certain COI over other COI, he ruled. The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters held its Annual Environmental Summit at Trinity College in January. CLCV has been hosting this event for 20 years. It was a sign of the times that this years summit drew a standing room only crowd of over 330 attendees, bringing together state officials, 30 state legislators, representatives from NGOs such as Sierra Club and Save the Sound, local officials, and a host of concerned citizens from all over the state. The summit panels addressed a wide range of environmental issues that will either be coming up in the legislature or should be including toxins and pollutants in our health stream, climate change, conservation, and transportation initiatives. One of the most useful takeaways included position papers given to every attendee which explained the issues, suggested solutions, and included contact info for people to get involved. Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz noted that the governor and she are committed to insuring that Connecticut remains a leader on climate action, and were committed to lead by example and reduce the carbon footprint of state government. With a stunning lack of leadership coming from the White House, said Bysiewicz, and not just lack of leadership backward movement in the face of this global threat Governor Lamont is stepping up and working with other Northeastern Governors to collaborate and address this pressing issue. Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, gave an overview of the work DEEP had been doing on issues such as the Long Island Sound Blue Plan, offshore wind, and PFAS remediation. She caused a stir with her proclamation, Natural gas is not a bridge fuel; its a fossil fuel, hinting that Connecticuts relationship with the ISO would be scrutinized by DEEP to see if membership was serving the best interests of the states becoming zero net energy by 2040. Dykes stressed how important water is to Connecticut, and that managing our water resources should be primary. We believe that water is a public trust. The Governor cares about clean air, clean water a safe and healthy environment in a future free from the threat of climate change. When the Commissioner confessed that climate change was what kept her up at night, more than a few in the audience breathed an assent of solidarity. The town of Fairfield was well represented, with State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey and State Sen. Tony Hwang both clocking in. Tara Cook Littman, an Environment and Food Policy Advocate, spoke on the pervasiveness of pesticides in our environment, specifically asking for a ban on Chlorpyrifos, a dangerous neurotoxin. Several other Fairfield residents attended the summit and gave some of their takeaways. Lori Scala said she was proud to be a part of the CTLCV 2020 Summit. This amazing group of speakers and panelists not only gave us some great information on ways to make more of an impact but reconfirmed the seriousness of our situation and the damage that has been done and continues to be done. Reducing our individual carbon footprint is important, but we need to do more. We need to stand up and fight for the changes that need to be done to start reversing this damage. Charles Stebbins, who serves on the Board of Connecticut Audubon, was enthusiastic about the event. This was a special opportunity to share ideas with legislators, advocates and activists. Great to see the youth panel ... it was the highlight of the session in light of Greta Thunbergs Right Livelihood Awards and The International Childrens Peace Prize. It was my first summit ... and I look forward to 2021! Mary Hogue, member of the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force, a board member of CTLCV, noted The annual CTLCV Environmental Summit was an amazing amalgam of government, corporate, nonprofit entities and private citizens convening to educate and exhort each other to do better and move our state to a higher standard. This year, we raised the bar on the Summit by hosting our first youth panel and attracting so many people new to the Summit that it was overflowing. CTLCV continued their tradition of pulling together the environmental community to create a clear, comprehensive overview of the issues and making it accessible to all. Daphne Dixon, Executive Director of Live Green CT, and also a SFTF member was encouraged by Commissioner Dykes remarks and is hopeful that Connecticuts transition to electric vehicles will come quickly. Ron Blumenfeld, also of SFTF said, "The summit was an eye-opener for me. I was inspired by the depth, breadth, and level of commitment of the environmental movement in Connecticut." The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah sister properties Al Wadi Desert and Al Hamra Beach have welcomed Adrian Hearn as the new director of sales and marketing. Hearn has more than 17 years of experience working in luxury hospitality and has recently returned to The Ritz-Carlton brand following a three year period as director of sales at the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates property in Dubai. He is now responsible for directing and developing the overall commercial marketing and sales strategies of The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert and The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach. Hearn brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the brand where his experience in hospitality ranges from corporate business hotels to five-star luxury destination resorts. Previously with The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa and The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai in JBR, the team under his leadership successfully sustained the hotels' performances and positions as leading luxury resorts whilst reinforcing the positioning of the properties as the hub for large events, conferences and destination weddings. He also spent time at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Dubai looking after regional sales. After his graduation from the University of Central England in Birmingham, he moved to the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain to work as a department trainee before a small stint at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in California as a private butler. He then moved back to the England to work in the Starwood sales office and Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh before moving back to the Middle East. With his many years of experience spanning the GCC and Mena region and his home land the UK, he looks forward to working closely with the various stakeholders and tourism boards to maintain the strong positioning of The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah sister properties not only as the ultimate choice for destination dining but also for twin-centre, mid-week and extended stays as well as a place to enjoy the nature, outdoor activities and the wellness experiences that the properties have to offer. Under his guidance, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, a 101 villa desert property and The Ritz- Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, a 32 villa luxury beach resort, will strengthen its position as the place to be for culinary discoveries, eco-tourism and activities for both the local community and beyond. Hearn commented: I am delighted to return to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton brand where over the next few months we hope to position the properties for more than just destination stays. I am pleased to continue my journey by creating #RCMemories for all of our guests and crafting the exceptional and timeless service with the very successful team of Ladies and Gentlemen for which The Ritz-Carlton is globally recognised. Ras Al Khaimah is a rapidly emerging tourist destination and we are very confident that our luxury travellers would always choose to stay with us as we pride to provide the finest and genuine service." - TradeArabia News Service Turkey's civil society swung from hope to despair Tuesday after counter-terror police detained leading rights defender Osman Kavala just hours after a court ordered his release from jail. Kavala and eight other defendants were acquitted by a court outside Istanbul in the highly controversial "Gezi Park" trial. But within hours, a new warrant from the Istanbul prosecutor's office called for his arrest as part of an investigation into a failed 2016 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, and under the charge of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. After his release from the heavily-guarded prison complex in Silivri outside Istanbul, where he has spent more than 800 days in pre-trial detention, the official Anadolu news agency said Kavala was taken by police to an Istanbul hospital for health checks before being formally detained. The judge had earlier said there was "not enough concrete evidence" that he and the other defendants sought to overthrow the government. Seven other defendants, who remain on the run, were not formally acquitted. Kavala, the only defendant kept in jail throughout the trial, faced a life sentence without parole if convicted for his alleged role in orchestrating the "Gezi Park" protests of 2013 that presented the first major challenge to Erdogan, then prime minister. News of a fresh arrest came as supporters waited for him to be released from the Silivri court and prison complex, and was met with shocked silence, while his wife Ayse Bugra was visibly upset. Kavala has became a symbol of what critics say is a crackdown on civil society under Erdogan, and received loud cheers as he left the packed courtroom in Silivri. - 'Cynical and outrageous' - The mass protests of 2013 began over plans to demolish Gezi Park -- one of the only green spaces in Istanbul's centre -- but quickly spiralled into broader demonstrations against the government. Critics have called the Gezi trial "a mockery" in which the prosecution failed to present any evidence of wrong-doing by the defendants. And the re-arrest of Kavala on new charges sparked condemnation from rights advocates. "This is a vindictive and lawless move, further demonstrating that Turkey's justice system is under tight political control," Emma Sinclair-Webb, of Human Rights Watch, told AFP. Amnesty International slammed the "cynical and outrageous detention" and called for his immediate release. "This decision smacks of deliberate and calculated cruelty," Amnesty's Turkey campaigner Milena Buyum said in a statement. "It is time for Turkey to end the relentless crackdown on dissenting voices." - Criticisms - In December, the European Court of Human Rights heavily criticised the quality of the Gezi Park prosecution. It ruled that the 657-page indictment against Kavala lacked "facts, information or evidence" to raise even the suspicion that he helped organise the protests, let alone attempted to overthrow the government, and called for his immediate release. The Turkish court still put Kavala and the other defendants through two more hearings in December and January. Among the criticisms of the trial was the fact that defence lawyers were denied the chance to cross-examine the key government witness, identified as Murat Papuc, when he gave evidence in December after he claimed his life was in danger. Lawyers also decried the inclusion of testimony from a police officer convicted of kicking a Gezi Park protester to death in July 2013, who now portrays himself as a victim of the demonstrations. The defendants received support from Ekrem Imamoglu, the new high-profile mayor of Istanbul who took control of the city out of the hands of the ruling party last year. "The acquittal of all the defendants in the #GeziPark trial is a true source of joy, and restores trust in the Turkish judicial system. I salute all those who stand to defend our city's history, culture and nature," he tweeted. Kavala's supporters say he was targeted because he worked to build bridges across Turkey's often fractious ethnic and social divides, in contrast to the combative rhetoric favoured by Erdogan's ruling party. Turkish sociologist Ayse Bugra, Osman Kavala's wife, reacts after Istanbul prosecutors issued a new arrest warrant for him The Gezi protests erupted over plans to demolish an Istanbul park but grew into a broader rally against the government Security was high around the courthouse before the decision The acquittal was greeted with cheers Korea Times file South Korea's financial watchdog will likely focus its first on-site probe into a major hedge fund fiasco on its operator and three major sales agents, industry sources said Tuesday. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is scheduled to launch the inspection into South Korea's largest hedge fund Lime Asset Management Co.'s suspension of fund redemption early next month. Citing a cash crunch, Lime froze withdrawals from a trade financing fund worth an estimated 244 billion won (US$206 million) in October, sparking an outcry from angry investors. The Lime scandal began to unfold in July last year when the FSS began probing Lime's suspected irregularities, forcing spooked investors to scramble to withdraw their money. The watchdog's upcoming inquiry is widely expected to center on suspected fraud and misselling by Lime and Shinhan Investment Corp., a major sales agent. Lime, the top hedge fund by assets under management, is suspected of having concealed investment losses and inflated investment returns in a bid to keep its customer base. In addition, the hedge fund was allegedly involved in a Ponzi scheme to cover losses and engaged in misselling or selling products to customers without providing adequate information or explaining the high risks involved. According to the sources, FSS investigators will scrutinize whether Shinhan Investment was involved in fraudulent practices or misselling while serving as a sales representative. Also subject to the field inspection are two major lenders, Woori and Hana banks, which are suspected of misselling in the investment scandal. Depending on the results of the field inspection aimed at finding ways to help victims, the financial watchdog can launch a formal probe that may result in disciplinary action against those institutions and top executives. Meanwhile, the FSS is slated to conduct a formal investigation into Daeshin Securities Co. over its suspected misselling concerning the Lime fiasco. Daeshin will be the first brokerage house to be probed. Market watchers said Lime customers and banks stand to lose big from the hedge fund's botched investments. Lime has halted withdrawals of funds worth an estimated 1.7 trillion won, including the trade financing fund in question. Hana Financial Investment estimated the local banking sector could suffer up to 270 billion won in losses from the Lime scandal with Shinhan Bank alone likely to lose some 228 billion won. In a separate report, eBEST Investment & Securities Co. warned the Lime fiasco will likely escalate investor jitters and lead to tougher rules on hedge funds, having a negative impact on the whole financial sector. The FSS has pledged to reform the way local hedge funds manage investment risks in the wake of the Lime episode. (Yonhap) With all set to visit India next week -- around the same time US President Donald Trump is making his first official visit to this part of the world -- the software giant is looking forward to further consolidate its position in the country. At a time when the Indian government is focused on across sectors and modernise its IT infrastructure, Microsoft may take Nadella's visit as an opportunity to showcase how it can help government achieve its goals across Cloud, (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), smart cities, industrial automation and robotics etc. "Government engagement is a major focus for Microsoft top management in India for the past two decades, and all the more now with expanding digital plans and also rising nationalist resistance to global digital and tech companies," leading tech policy and media consultant Prasanto K. Roy told IANS. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on several occasions stressed on the importance of leveraging emerging technologies like AI and ML to solve India's critical problems. The National Crime Records Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs, for example, is inviting bids from tech companies to build hardware and software infrastructure that can help the country fight crime with automated facial recognition system. "It goes without saying that India is an important, and I must add, crucial market for global technology companies, including Microsoft," Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR). "Microsoft's biggest R&D centre outside of the US is based in India, and it has made recent moves to further tap into the engineering talent pool available in India through its new R&D hub. This, in turn, will enable Microsoft to maintain its technology leadership," Ram said. Microsoft launched its India operations in 1990 and for the past 30 years the company has played a major role in of the country. On Monday, it announced the launch of its third India Development Centre (IDC) in Noida, after opening two such premier engineering and innovation hubs in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. "I foresee a further impetus to Microsoft's efforts in India with its cloud and emerging tech stack offerings, including AI," Ram said. While Microsoft is yet to reveal Nadella's forthcoming itinerary, the Hyderabad-born Microsoft CEO is expected to have key engagements in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The company is organising 'Future Decoded Summits' in Mumbai and Bengaluru, respectively. At the summits, Nadella will share his vision for the future of technology and how Indian organisations can lead in an era of digital transformation. The events would also see addresses by industry stalwarts and Microsoft executives, including Jean Philippe Courtois, EVP and President, Global Sales-Marketing and Operations. Whether we will see Trump and Nadella sharing the space together is still under the wraps. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It is an annual practice for Apple to hold a launch event in March and unveil a bunch of new products for the year. While it has skipped the event on some years, 2020 does not seem to be on that list. Rumours around the event this year are already ripe and a whole list of expectations from the event is floating on the internet. The most hyped among the expected arrivals is the next version of the budget iPhone - the iPhone SE 2. Also termed as the iPhone 9, as Apple skipped the terminology after 8 and proceeded to reveal the X, the iPhone SE 2 has a highly anticipated arrival at the March event. Apple iPhone SE 2 (Image: OnLeaks) Rumours on the internet suggest that the iPhone SE 2 will be based on the iPhone 8 in terms of design. It will, however, come with upgraded internals like the touch ID fingerprint sensor as well as a 4.7-inch IPS LCD Retina display. The phone is expected to be powered by Apples own A13 Bionic processor. The smartphones arrival was also confirmed in a recent tweet by Evan Blass. As per him, the new budget iPhone would be arriving sometime after mid-March and might be named the iPhone 9. No official confirmation for the device is available as of now. In addition to the iPhone SE 2 (or the iPhone 9), Apple has been hinted at to come up with a refreshed iPad Pro model as well as a wireless charging mat, courtesy - analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. For now, the anticipated date for the launch is March 31, followed by the availability of the iPhone SE 2 starting April 3 as per some reports online. (Representative Image: Reuters) Earlier, reports about a possible delay in the launch cycles as well as availability of iPhones were doing the rounds, citing the Coronavirus outbreak in China. It is true that just like other smartphone manufacturers, Apple is reeling with a shortage in supply chain due to the factory shutdowns in China. That, however, will not be having any impact on the launch cycles of Apple products. Read all about it here. ST. LOUIS The latest data U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data shows St. Louis regional ports moved from the third position into the second position for inland port total tonnage in the 2018 rankings. The port system handled 37.4 million tons of commodities over the course of 2018, a 13.2 percent increase over the prior the year. Just 1.1 million tons separated it from the top position the Port of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky despite a drop in its total tonnage for the year. The St. Louis region which continues to rank as the most efficient inland port district in the nation in terms of tons moved per river mile, according to the St. Louis Regional Freightway. During 2018, the St. Louis regions barge industry handled more than 534,000 tons per mile along the 70 miles that make up the port system. The system has the second highest concentration of port facilities per mile of all inland ports, contributing to growing awareness of a 15-mile stretch of the Mississippi River through southwestern Illinois and eastern Missouri at St. Louis known as the Ag Coast of America. For you as a region to come up to No. 2 for total tonnage is a real accomplishment, said Ken Eriksen, senior vice president with IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. But its not surprising as St. Louis has been gaining for a while. Eriksen said several things contributed to the positive trends for the St. Louis regions port system, among them being just one set of locks between St. Louis and Asia: the Panama Canal. He said the deeper draughts allow for barges to be loaded heavy. Rail access in the region from both sides of Mississippi River includes six Class I railroads. Corn can come to the river all the way from Minneapolis. Eriksen said there is growing demand from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand to source from the Mississippi River system, which is recognized for better soybeans with higher protein and better oil quality. The St. Louis region has become a vital spot on the map from the grain perspective, Eriksen said. Crude oil was also up significantly over 2017 and iron ore more than doubled, likely tied to the resumption of operations at U.S. Steels facility in Granite City. SCF Marine Inc. which provides integrated logistics and barge transportation services on the U.S. Inland Waterways as well as in South America and has operations in the St. Louis Port District is seeing firsthand the impact of the growing volumes of commodities moving through the region. The increased demand for transload capacity resulted in increased operational hours, demand for barges and labor needs, said Tim Power, president of SCF Marine Inc. Because St. Louis is an important intersection point for all Class I railroads, multiple interstate highways and the river transportation system, we are able to pull grain from surplus regions in the west and north, funneling grain to the river system via our ports. The regions commitment to investing in its freight network is key to accommodating continued growth in tonnage. We know when we do not invest in infrastructure, nothing moves, said Eriksen. When we do, it creates the opportunity for optionality. Infrastructure is everything. It supports rolling and floating assets alike, he said. We see more coming into the St. Louis area to take full advantage of the optionality here and get the most favorable price. Mary Lamie, executive vice president of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, said more than $1 billion in infrastructure projects are moving forward across the region. Investment in infrastructure is key to supporting the barge industry and critical for maintaining global competitiveness, so its very encouraging to see public and private funding advancing some of the regions highest priority projects, said Lamie. On top of that, continuing investments in the ports and river terminals along the Ag Coast of America have created a highly competitive shipper and carrier market featuring greater efficiencies and lower costs. Both Eriksen and Power said they believe any improved trade relations with China would benefit the St. Louis region. The St. Louis to New Orleans barge route is one of the most efficient logistics export streams in the U.S., and there typically is an abundance of corn in the region, Power said. St. Louis is directly tied to U.S. export markets, including China, so any increase in trade volumes would improve operational conditions. Planned closures on the Illinois River waterway system later this year are expected to impact commodity flows for 2020. But given the strength and flexibility of the St. Louis regions port system and surrounding freight network, there is potential for that impact to be positive. As with any closure, flows will adjust as needed, said Power. Given the close proximity to the lower Illinois River, increased volume through the St. Louis regions port system is likely. With the length of the projected closure, a large volume of products will need to be rerouted or stored until the river re-opens, he said. The menu for The Anvil Pub & Grill is in its final stages. If all goes according to plan, the new upscale British pub will open next week in the Lee Branch shopping center along U.S. 280. The restaurant is the brainchild of Sedesh Boodram, Gerrit French, Colin Feather and Preston Hooten. Boodram, who will direct the culinary program, was the chef de cuisine at Hot & Hot Fish Club for a number of years before moving on to consult with a number of restaurants and private events. In an email to AL.com, he described Anvils cuisine as upscale British, thoughtfully seasonal, with a global twists sourced from local farms. Hooten -- whose resume includes management positions at Cheesecake Factory and Umami Burgers, as well as the culinary team at OvernBird -- will be Anvils beverage director. French will direct operations for the restaurant. "We chose Lee Branch because of its location in north Shelby, French told the Birmingham Business Journal in January. This part of Birmingham is continually growing and we feel its under served when it comes to the food and environment we look to provide. The Anvil Pub & Grill will feature lunch, dinner and brunch. The restaurants Instagram account shows a play on British favorites: Scotch eggs with fennel slaw, braised short ribs accompanied by Yorkshire pudding and Yorkshire Tea Pot de Creme with shortbread biscuits. Anvil isnt limited to solely British fare. Boodram has designed a menu that will heavily feature interpretations of Southern, Indian and Caribbean cuisine, including Kimchi fried chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala and house-smoked jerk chicken wings with cilantro cream. Heres a look at the menu: Bar Snacks (Courtesy, Anvil Grill & Pub) Lunch (Courtesy, Anvil Grill & Pub) Dinner (Courtesy: Anvil Pub & Grill ) (Courtesy: Anvil Pub & Grill) Brunch (Courtesy, Anvil Pub & Grill) DETAILS: The Anvil Pub & Grill| 611 Doug Baker Blvd. Unit 103| Birmingham, Ala.| (205) 637-7100| https://www.theanvilpub.com/ Mohammad Mustafa, a second-year MA student who got injured during the protest at Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year, has filed a compensation case of Rs 1 crore against the Delhi Police in the High Court. "I would like to ask the government if a person is not safe in the library, where else is he or she is safe? I would like to ask the Delhi Police what was my crime. I have filed a compensation case worth Rs 1 crore against the Delhi Police," Mustafa told ANI on Tuesday. This case comes in the backdrop of a viral video released by Delhi Police on Sunday showing those present in the Jamia library trying to hide their faces with handkerchiefs. Prior to that, in a CCTV footage, policemen in riot gear are seen barging into the library and beating students with batons. "That day, I was studying in the library from morning onwards. Around 6 pm, police entered the premises without any warning and started lathi charging at everybody. I was beaten too even though was not connected to any protest," Mustafa said. He further said, "I have three demands. First is compensation. Second is an FIR and third is an independent inquiry in the matter." The university administration, however, clarified that they have not released the video while the Delhi Police said that they will investigate the matter. On Monday, Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan had said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will look into the matter. In December last year, violence at Jamia Millia Islamia created a widespread furore over police allegedly using force on students. The university administration has maintained that these were not students but outsiders, who set buses and vehicles ablaze on the varsity road. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly four years back when the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) came into effect, the perception was that the corporate defaults would come down drastically as the law enforces separation of the promoters from their bankrupt businesses. According to the latest data of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), the number of new cases admitted to insolvency courts has increased by 30.29 per cent to 3,312 in the three months until December 2019. In the calendar year 2019, the number of cases soared by 123 per cent. Of the 3,312 companies admitted for insolvency resolution, the process is going on in 1,961 cases. The resolution process ended in 40.8 per cent of companies. In 17.2 per cent of companies, the resolution plan has been approved or went for review or the company has withdrawn the insolvency petition under Section 12 A. The liquidation process has started in 23.6 per cent (780 companies) of bankrupt companies. Also Read: Axis Bank files insolvency plea against Vidarbha Industries Power Manufacturing is one major category under which a large number of loan defaulted companies are parked. Of the 1343 manufacturing companies, which admitted for insolvency resolution, 340 have been referred for liquidation after finding no qualified buyer. In 95 cases, the resolution plan has been approved; 77 sent for review or appeal, and 52 companies withdrawn from insolvency resolution process under Section 12 A of IBC. The process is on in 779 companies. It is interesting to note that the defaults in manufacturing companies have soared when the government is offering more policy supports to the sector, besides enhancing the public investments. Led by a 1 per cent contraction in manufacturing, India's GDP growth has decelerated to a six-and-a-half-year-low of 4.5 per cent in the September quarter. Manufacturing is important because it is the only way through which low-income nations can prosper to higher levels. The broader manufacturing category in the IBBI report includes metals, textiles, food and beverages and machinery and equipment. Also Read: Is LIC being pushed to the brink? NPAs double to Rs 30,000 crore in 5 years The IBBI data shows that the companies in real estate and renting business have been affected the most because of the slowdown in the economy, besides the ones in construction. There are only a few non-affected sectors, which include information technology (IT) and the allied services, while IBC does not cover the bankruptcy in banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sectors. Though gross financial mismanagement is considered one of the reasons for ending up in bankruptcy, the sectoral turbulences have also played a part in many cases. In mid-2016, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had first asked the banks to take the 12 big loan defaulters to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and try under IBC. The lenders had an outstanding claim of Rs 3.45 lakh crore in these companies. So far, the resolution process has been completed in seven companies, including the recent one- Bhushan Power & Steel sold to JSW Steel. The lenders have realized Rs 1.13 lakh crore from the sale of the seven companies. Also Read: Bank frauds fall sharply to Rs 5,244 crore in first three quarters of FY20: Govt As the world migrates to clean energy production so as to reduce environmental degradation, environment experts in Kenya are opposing the construction of a coal plant in Kenyas coastal region of Lamu County, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The experts say the government project comes at a time where world is changing its ways of tapping clean energy and the coal plant will have negative impacts on both environment and human beings. Lamu county lies in the northern side of the coastal Kenya and this is the area government is planning to construct the 1,050-megawatt project that will boost power supply to the nearly completed Lamu port project. Hamisa Zaja a United Green movement organization secretary-general says the project is likely to cause harm to both aquatic creatures and human beings. She said the plant will emit gases that are going to be poisonous to agriculture produce which is highly dependable by area residents. Coal is found around the beaches and initially Lamu residents depend a lot on fishing, so the coal production and aquatic lives are two different things, we will lose a lot of fish and affect the economy, said hamisa Zaja. According to Abdhala Fadhili an investor and economist in Lamu county, government should look for an alternative way of producing its power rather than the coal plant project. Abdhala added that area economy will also be affected once the project become operational in 2027, as agriculture produce will no longer have a better market, as well as tourist, will shift to other places with clean environment. We dont need coal project in lamu, this is a corrupt project, because world is changing and this project will not be relevant, it has bad effects to environment and our Lamu economy will be affected including tourism and agriculture, we will have poor health and all these will affect lamu, said Abdhalla Fadhili. United green movement organization secretary-general Hamisa Zaja whom we heard her story first, insist on the government to create awareness to the Lamu area residents on the impact of the coal plant project, so as to reduce the environmental risks. Hamisa adds that the National environment management authority-Nema had failed to inform the public about the likely health effects of the effluence emitted from the plant which, she said, could trigger breathing difficulties, premature deaths and acid rain that could poison the soil and kill fish. At first you will see crops degrading and those working around the area will in-heal the fumes, some will get skin diseases, we will have more effects to profits, and we have seen many countries no longer using coal as they use other alternatives. Added Hamisa zaja. The coal plant will be developed by a consortium called Amu Power that includes Centum Investment and Gulf Energy. The project sponsor is the Amu power company, which has a power purchase agreement with electricity distributor Kenya power. In 2019 Kenyan judges halted plans to construct the country's first-ever coal-powered plant near the coastal town of Lamu, after National Environmental Tribunal ruled that authorities had failed to do a thorough environmental assessment. Government spokesperson Cyrus oguna said the coal plant will be using the best technology that will not have any environmental risks and it is the first of its kind to be used in Kenya. The technology we are using is the best in the world; it is a technology that has never been used in Africa before therefore Kenya will be the first one to use this technology, and can it mention it is called ultra supercritical, and it is known to be environmentally friendly. Said Oguna. Critics and area residents have been staging demonstrations to oppose construction of the coal plant project. They say the plant would have dire economic and health effects to the locals. We really oppose construction of coal power plant because it is poisonous, it is dangerous to environment and to human health, and this is an outdated project. If the project goes ahead, Kenya will have to import the coal, which goes against its ambition to use clean energy. At least two-thirds of Kenya's electricity is currently generated by renewable resources and it has pledged to reduce its small carbon footprint by nearly a third over the next decade. A Gold Coast mother has been accused of dressing her nine-year-old daughter in a Playboy bunny costume before allowing multiple men to sexually abuse her. Stockport District Court heard on Monday that the young girl was allegedly molested by her mum's 'friends' at her home every other day over a one-year period between May 2014 and May 2015. The alleged abuse only came to light when the girl wrote a note saying her mum used to 'come in with friends and touch me improperly', to her psychologist, who reported it to the police. Stockport District Court on the Gold Coast heard a nine-year-old girl was allegedly molested by her mum's 'friends' at her home every other day over a one-year period from May 2014 (stock image) She later told authorities her mum would 'undress her and be naughty' and one day awoke to find herself wearing a 'Playboy outfit' with bunny ears, The Courier Mail reported. On one occasion, the mum - whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim - allegedly gave her daughter a drink that made her feel drowsy. The court heard the girl once had woken up in her bed to find she was undressed and there was an unknown man on top of her as her mum allegedly held her hands. She claimed each of the men were different during the alleged incidents, and said she had heard her mother asking the men for money. The girl's father had been in custody at the time of the alleged abuse. The mother was charged with three counts of rape, maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, indecent treatment of a child and deprivation of liberty. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. [February 18, 2020] SIEM Leader Exabeam Achieves Record Momentum and Growth, Moves to Expanded HQ Exabeam, the Smarter SIEM company, today announced record growth in 2019, ending the year with billings in excess of $100M and a growth rate that eclipsed the growth rate for the SIEM market overall. Team expansion in the U.S. fueled the move to a new, expanded headquarters in Foster City, California. The company added several hundred new enterprise customers in 2019 in industries ranging from financial services and healthcare to aviation and manufacturing, to name a few, as the global demand for a next-gen security management platform continues to surge. Highlights of Exabeam's momentous year include: New, expanded headquarters: As Exabeam grew its customer base and sales organization, operational support and back office teams also expanded. Corporate headquarters have moved to a new, larger space in Foster City, California in February 2020, on the heels of opening offices in Atlanta, Tel Aviv, Singapore and Mexico City last year. As Exabeam grew its customer base and sales organization, operational support and back office teams also expanded. Corporate headquarters have moved to a new, larger space in Foster City, California in February 2020, on the heels of opening offices in Atlanta, Tel Aviv, Singapore and Mexico City last year. Recognized innovation: The company successfully obtained its Common Criteria (CC) Certification that enables it to compete for more federal and international government contracts. The rigorous and lengthy CC Certification process means existing and future Exabeam customers will have confidence that all products have been tested for the features and security levels claimed. The company successfully obtained its Common Criteria (CC) Certification that enables it to compete for more federal and international government contracts. The rigorous and lengthy CC Certification process means existing and future Exabeam customers will have confidence that all products have been tested for the features and security levels claimed. Impressive investor funding: The company closed a $75M Series E funding round jointly led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and new investor Sapphire Ventures. Anders Ranum, managing director at Sapphire Ventures, marked Exabeam as a company "solving the problems that legacy SIEM vendors don't seem to realize they have," and noted its customers are "buying its full platform as a replacement for the offerings that once dominated the market." The company closed a $75M Series E funding round jointly led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and new investor Sapphire Ventures. Anders Ranum, managing director at Sapphire Ventures, marked Exabeam as a company "solving the problems that legacy SIEM vendors don't seem to realize they have," and noted its customers are "buying its full platform as a replacement for the offerings that once dominated the market." Welcoming new managed securit services providers (MSSPs): The company's partner program added more than 30 new partners in 2019 with a large number of new MSSPs offering Exabeam's solutions as a managed service. The company's partner program added more than 30 new partners in 2019 with a large number of new MSSPs offering Exabeam's solutions as a managed service. Expanding cloud footprint: Amid growing market desire for cloud capabilities and a commitment to help existing customers migrate to the cloud, Exabeam acquired SkyFormation, a leading Israel-based cloud application security company, and launched its Exabeam SaaS Cloud in February 2019. Dozens of customers deployed Exabeam SaaS Cloud in 2019, and several others have continued to deploy Exabeam on Google (News - Alert) Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Exabeam also announced it will host Exabeam SaaS (News - Alert) Cloud on Google Cloud Platform, which means its customers will be able to take advantage of the full functionality of the Exabeam Security Management Platform, including a data lake, behavioral analytics, case management and security orchestration and incident response automation, in the cloud. The company was also named a Google Cloud security partner in 2019. The relationship between Google Cloud and Exabeam will accelerate cloud adoption, scalability and quick time to value for Exabeam's users. In addition to these highlights, the company reported impressive sales numbers for 2019. It saw a rapid increase in the number of customers purchasing multiple products, and it continues to win new deals from competitors Splunk and IBM (News - Alert) in head-to-head situations, demonstrating Exabeam's continuous dedication to modernizing security operations and ousting legacy systems. Exabeam has a win rate of over 70 percent in replacement deals against legacy vendors such as Splunk, IBM, McAfee (News - Alert), RSA, LogRhythm and Micro Focus. The company is enabling unmatched efficiency and longevity for a growing number of users. Research conducted by The Ponemon Institute (News - Alert) in August 2019 found Exabeam reduced analysts' time spent on a given task by an average of 51 percent, compared to 31 percent for other SIEMs. "The fact that, in just five years of selling, we're regularly displacing many of our largest competitors and continuing to secure major funding from new and existing investors is proof that delivery of modern, efficient and predictably priced solutions is just what the industry needs," said Nir Polak, CEO, Exabeam. "In 2020, we plan to continue to drive out traditional legacy vendors and present organizations with a better way to detect, investigate and respond to security incidents. We'll continue to grow our global presence and stay focused on delivering the best solutions for current and future customers, both on-premises and in the cloud." Google Cloud's Director of Partnership, Manvinder Singh, shared his optimistic outlook. "We're excited about the traction we're seeing with the Exabeam solution," said Singh. "Customers can deploy Exabeam on Google Cloud to get an enhanced view of the security of their core infrastructure and to identify advanced threats, further helping improve data security. As a Google Cloud partner, Exabeam has been shown to increase security operations center efficiency, and we're confident customers will continue to see that value." About Exabeam Exabeam is the Smarter SIEM company. We help security operations and insider threat teams work smarter, allowing them to detect, investigate and respond to cyberattacks in 51 percent less time. Security organizations no longer have to live with excessive logging fees, missed distributed attacks and unknown threats, or manual investigations and remediation. With the modular Exabeam Security Management Platform, analysts can collect unlimited log data, use behavioral analytics to detect attacks, and automate incident response, both on-premise or in the cloud. Exabeam Smart Timelines, sequences of user and device behavior created using machine learning, further reduce the time and specialization required to detect attacker tactics, techniques and procedures. For more information, visit?https://www.exabeam.com. Exabeam, the Exabeam logo, Threat Hunter, Smarter SIEM, Smart Timelines and Security Management Platform are service marks, trademarks or registered marks of Exabeam, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners. 2020 Exabeam, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005224/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bengaluru: An anonymous letter seeking the replacement of Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa because he is too old (77) has left the BJP rattled. Adding grist to that mill was a meeting held at former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettars residence, which was attended by five BJP MLAs. These developments have come soon after Yediyurappa inducted into the ministry 10 MLAs who had defected from the Congress and JD(S), leaving out many old-timers who wanted those plums. Sources said that during the meeting at Shettars residence, some of the MLAs complained that work pertaining to their constituencies was not being done. They were also peeved that Yediyurappas son B.Y. Vijayendra was interfering in the day-to-day administration. There is a possibility that this small group will grow bigger after the budget session of the state legislature if the chief minister fails to address these grievances, said sources. The MLAs who met Shettar included former ministers Umesh Katti and Murugesh Nirani. According to sources, the MLAs wanted Shettar to take the lead to resolve their grievances and claimed that the family members of Yediyurappa were taking advantage of his age and interfering in the administration. The four-page letter, which was sent to the BJP central leadership, has also been sent to newspaper offices but the state leadership seemed clueless about its existence. Some BJP sources maintained that the meeting was not intended to push for an alternative leader but was held as the MLAs felt the chief minister was too old to perform to expectations. According to them, Yediyurappa was becoming too dependent on his assistants and could not speak without written material before him. However, Shettar ruled out any dissident activity. The MLAs came to meet me to discuss work pertaining to my department, he said and dismissed media reports that they had expressed their anger against Yediyurappa. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday said that the deportation of British MP Debbie Abrahams was necessary as she is a Pakistan proxy, and she was on her way to Pakistan from India. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," Singhvi said on Twitter. Speaking to IANS, Singhvi insisted that the deportation was the right step. "She had plans to visit to Pakistan after coming to India," said Singhvi citing that she was also informed about this before she undertook the visit to India. This has come a day after a tweet from senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who had opposed Centre's move to stop Abraham at the airport. A UK opposition member of the British Parliament Debbie Abrahams, who is critical of New Delhi's Kashmir policy, has alleged that she was "unjustifiably denied entry to India" on Monday. In a statement that was released on Twitter, Abrahams, who chairs a UK parliamentary group on Kashmir, said when she arrived at the Delhi airport at around 8.50 a.m. on Monday, she was told that her e-visa issued in last October has been rejected. She claimed that her visa was valid till October 2020 and she was visiting her Indian relatives. She was accompanied by her Indian members of staff. The Indian government on Tuesday confirmed that Abrahams' visa was "invalid". Narrating her side of the story, she said the immigration official in New Delhi "looked at his screen and started shaking his head. Then he told me my visa was rejected took my passport and disappeared for about 10 minutes. "When he came back he was very rude and aggressive as he shouted -- 'come with me. I told him not to speak to me like that...; was then taken to a cordoned off area marked as a Deportee Cell. He then ordered me to sit down...; I refused. I didn''t know what they might do or where else they may take me, so I wanted people to see me. He disappeared again when I rang my sister-in-law's cousin, Kai, who I was meant to be staying with. Kai got in touch with the British High Commission...; he tried to find out what was going on (sic)," the British MP said in her statement. "After lots of different immigration officials came to me, I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a 'visa on arrival' but no-one seemed to know. Even the person who seemed to be the in-charge said he didn't know...; was really sorry about what had happened," Abrahams said. The parliamentarian said she was now "just waiting to be deported... unless the Indian Government has a change of heart. I'm prepared to let the fact that I've been treated like a criminal go; I hope they will let me visit my family; friends." Abrahams has been critical of the Indian government over its revocation of special status of Jammu & Kashmir on August 5, last year. "The reason I got into politics is advance social justice and human rights for all. I will continue to challenge my own government and others on these issues," she tweeted. The government officials were not available for a comment. The morning attempt by the Russian occupation forces to penetrate the fragile line of contact in Donbas is seen as a sort of a "greeting" and a rather expected one, too to Ukrainians from the neighboring "fraternal nation", which has been desperately trying to rise from its knees, on the occasion of several tragic anniversaries in the modern history of Ukraine. It's about massacres in the center of Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity and the Debaltseve battle: KGB successors love symbolism, so another violent and deadly act, which President Zelensky delicately and diplomatically branded a "provocation", that would match the corresponding dates could well be foreseen. This is all happening against the background of cheerful reports by European and Ukrainian diplomats following the publication of hardly realistic documents on sites of security conferences with dubious effectiveness. This morning, the intentions of the "Russian world" propagators to remind Ukrainians of the cost of resistance successfully coincided with a good opportunity to show a somewhat euphoric Ukrainian political elite that the "Ukrainian world", which Ukrainian politicians promised their Ukrainian voters when attempted to be achieved through diplomatic methods, is only possible on Russian conditions. As soon as Kyiv officials of different levels (even ministers) started telling on live TV that the implementation of "peace plans" and "joint patrolling" following some kind of arrangements reached in Munich would take place in line with Ukrainian law and under Ukrainian government control, the "greeting" came from the east. Among other things, insatiable and blood-thirsty warmongers and death traders with today's offensive with the use of their cannon fodder explicitly showed their attitude to the idea of the public dialogue platform "Donbas Peace", dictating the tone and sort of emphasizing the relevance of its presentation (tentatively scheduled for tomorrow, the day following the attack on Ukrainian troops). Another thing remains unclear has enough evidence already amassed for the Ukrainian president and his entourage to finally see something in Putin's eyes anything other than his unbearably bloody desire for peace? However, these things all seem to be obvious. But, of course, European partners, eager to resume trade with the Russian Empire as soon as possible, will pretend to believe Moscow's assurances that "they are not there," and that "they don't control" the occupied areas of Donbas. This is also obvious. Another thing remains unclear has enough evidence already amassed for the Ukrainian president and his entourage to finally see something in Putin's eyes anything other than his unbearably bloody desire for peace to stop pretending that anyone can agree on anything with Russia? Will the president's reserves of humor, mentioned by his spokesperson, last long enough to talk about difficult things while Ukrainians are dying on the front lines? Both the public and, in fact, Ukrainian authorities urgently require intelligible answers to these questions. That's because if the public might dwell in illusions that complex issues such as war or economic development can be resolved by simple solutions, the government has no right to do so. Bidding farewell to illusions is inevitable, but it may come too late for Ukraine, perhaps so late that the process of bidding this farewell will last longer than the state of Ukraine as such. Indeed, suggesting that there is still time for trying to play games with an experienced Kremlin cheater would also be an illusion. Mykhailo Gannytskyi is an editor-in-chief at UNIAN AM Best continues to hold a stable market segment outlook on the insurance markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Key factors supporting the outlook include potential premium growth following the rollout of mandatory health insurance in Oman and Bahrain, as well as short-term growth opportunities arising from the 2020 World Expo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, extensive reinsurance support, advances in risk management and improved regulatory sophistication across the region, are factored into the outlook. A new Best's Market Segment Report, titled, "Market Segment Outlook: Gulf Cooperation Council," notes these factors are partially offset by a heightened risk environment due to elevated geopolitical risks. This increases the potential for volatility in hydrocarbon prices, which may in turn affect public spending in the region. The outlook notes that the balance sheets of GCC insurers generally remain well-capitalised and capable of enduring catastrophe stress scenarios, although insurers are vulnerable to shocks in investment markets, which may become more severe if economic and political instability increases. Balance sheet strength could come under pressure for some insurers if earnings decline and shareholder dividend expectations do not adjust. That said, AM Best believes that those insurers that are innovative, have capital buffers, are able to rationalise their dividend policies, and have preferential access to business are in a better position to withstand the pressures of the current operating environment. To access a complimentary copy of this market segment outlook, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=294449. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218006127/en/ Contacts: Jessica Botelho-Young, CA Senior Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0310 jessica.botelho@ambest.com Salman Siddiqui Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0331 salman.siddiqui@ambest.com Edem Kuenyehia Director, Market Development Communications +44 20 7397 0280 edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com Press Trust of India Tech giant Microsoft on Monday said it has set up a new development centre in Noida, its third such facility in India, that will serve as an engineering and innovation hub for the company. The announcement comes ahead of the visit of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella slated for later this month. "The centre will build on Microsoft's commitment to tap India's world-class engineering talent to create solutions for global impact," Microsoft said in a statement. The India Development Centre (IDC) represents Microsoft's strategy of globally shared development to build products and services for driving digital innovation, it added. "The IDC-NCR will play a critical role in Microsoft India's expansion and growth story. The facility will open opportunities for thousands of engineers, with plans to expand to a full-fledged development centre, similar to IDC facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad," the statement said. The company, however, did not disclose the investment being made for setting up the centre. The IDC-NCR will be home to the company's engineering teams across various technology groups, including Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Research Group, Cloud and Enterprise Group, and Experience & Devices Group, along with Core Services Engineering and Operations, the statement said. The IDC-NCR will also house Mixer, Microsoft's live streaming gaming platform team, becoming the first centre to host the gaming team outside the company headquarters in Redmond, United States. "We have built a strong engineering presence in India over the past two decades and we are excited to be expanding to Noida," Kurt DelBene, executive vice-president (corporate strategy, core services engineering and operations) and chairman of the IDC advisory board, said. Rajiv Kumar, managing director at Microsoft India Research and Development, said the centre creates opportunities for engineers to do meaningful work that will have impact across the world. "We are excited to tap into the engineering talent available in this part of the country to create a truly pioneering organisation that will build innovative solutions for global impact," he added. Microsoft India Development Centre is one of Microsoft's largest research and development centres outside the Redmond headquarters. Set up in Hyderabad in 1998, IDC drives Microsoft's strategy of globally shared development to build products and services. The Trump administration on Tuesday announced it will impose sanctions on Russian oil company Rosneft for helping Venezuela circumvent U.S. sanctions on the socialist countrys oil exports. Administration officials said that Rosneft Trading SA, a subsidiary of the Kremlin-run Russian oil giant, of playing a critical role in facilitating Venezuelas export of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil last year despite U.S. sanctions against doing so. The new sanctions, which will freeze assets of the Rosneft subsidiary in the U.S., will also apply to its vice president Didier Casimiro and any individual or entity doing business with them. The White House said in a statement Tuesday that all property of the Rosneft subsidiary that is in the U.S. or owned by an American will now be frozen and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The sanctions allow 90 days for companies connected with Rosneft to extricate themselves and their interests. The U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, which crack down on the Switzerland-based brokerage firm of the countrys state-owned oil and natural gas company, Petroleos de Venezuela, are intended to hobble President Nicolas Maduros socialist regime and oust him from power. Today we sanctioned Russian-owned oil firm Rosneft Trading S.A., cutting off Maduros main lifeline to evade our sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector, said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Twitter. Those who prop up the corrupt regime and enable its repression of the Venezuelan people will be held accountable. Cuba, Russia, and China have afforded aid to Venezuela amid the harsh sanctions from the U.S., helping Maduro retain power in the country gripped by economic turmoil. More from National Review At this point, active fighting, apparently, is over This morning, militants attacked the positions of Joint Forces next to the four settlements: Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutor Vilnyi. The HQ of Joint Forces Operation (JFO) stated that the fire had been carried out with weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements, including 120-mm mortars. Along the way, the enemy tried to advance through the line of demarcation. According to journalist Yurii Butusov, the occupants were applying all weapons, including 152-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars. The battle itself began at 5:00 a.m. He specified that the militants had covered the military dispositions of the 72nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades on the broad front in Zolote - Orikhove Novotoshkivka area of disengagement. There was a close fight with the Russian assault group at one of the strongholds. Advisor to the Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Vitalii Shvedov stated on his Facebook page that the shelling had been heard in Lysychansk, and there had been a direct hit in the building in Novotoshkivske. At about 10:00 a.m., JFO HQ reported about the end of fighting activities in four settlements. However, one of the Ukrainian soldiers was killed, another four were slightly injured. The staff stressed that the positions of Ukrainian soldiers had not been lost. However, Censor, referring to one of the JFO fighters, reports the forced withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from two strongholds. And the TSN correspondent from the scene reported that, according to preliminary information, as a result of the attack, fighters of the 72nd Brigade had to leave one of their strongpoints. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to these events, calling them "not just a cynical provocation, but an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas." Related: OSCE spot Tupolev aircraft in Donbas Lithuania also responded to the situation. Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius expressed deep concern on his Twitter page and recalled that the implementation of Minsk agreements is impossible without a ceasefire. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council where today's escalation in Donbas was discussed. Following the meeting, a briefing was held at which Zelensky himself and Ruslan Khomchak, Chief of General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, addressed recent events. Zelensky's main theses: - We have a powerful army, provocations take place. - This provocation will not change commitment to the cessation of hostilities. Khomchak's main theses: - It was not a provocation. - The militants fired at the positions of the 72nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades. - The battles (mostly) were fought at the 72nd Brigade's post "Bania". - As a result of the attack, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, three were injured, two more were concussed. - The enemy requested silence at 10 a.m. - As of now, all positions are under control. It is also worth noting that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) published a report based on information received as of 19:30, 17 February 2019. The SMM saw an aircraft flying over non-government-controlled areas in the security zone. It assessed the aircraft as a swept-wing four-engine turboprop aircraft, likely a Tupolev TU-95 or Tupolev TU-142. Purdue President Mitch Daniels and Steve Klinsky, CEO and founder of ModernStates.org, talk with assembled media about Purdue Fast Start, a program aimed at access and affordability for Hoosier families. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Partnership with ModernStates.org can help families save thousands of dollars a year on college tuition Free online courses and exams can save students up to one full year Five exams can save almost $11,000 and assure admission into Purdue Partnership with ModernStates.org philanthropy and Klinsky family creates affordable on-ramp to college for all Indiana residents and sets a new role model for nation WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. In a move aligned with Purdue Universitys land-grant mission, President Mitch Daniels announced Tuesday (Feb. 18) the Purdue Fast Start program, designed to help Indiana high school students earn access to up to a year of college credit through free online courses and the corresponding College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. The program is the result of a partnership with ModernStates.org, a philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible. Modern States will offer the free, high-quality online courses and pay the test fee for up to 10,000 CLEP exams taken by those enrolled in the Fast Start program. Fast Start is available to all residents of Indiana but will be especially beneficial to students in rural Indiana and those enrolled in inner-city schools that often lack access to the full offering of Advanced Placement courses, and those for whom college education is less affordable. Purdue will assure admission to students who pass a minimum of five CLEP exams through the program. Too many young Hoosiers miss out on college either because of its cost or simply a disbelief that they can succeed there, Daniels said. Our Purdue-sponsored high schools are one attempt to open a new pathway to Purdue, and this new venture is another, with special relevance to rural and small-town youth. Steve Klinsky, CEO and founder of Modern States, said, Modern States and my family are pleased to partner with Purdue to make college more attainable for students throughout Indiana. Purdue has long been a leader in innovations to help students, and we hope this effort will both help families throughout the state and create a model for many other universities nationwide. The College Board, which administers Advanced Placement exams as well as the CLEP exams, announced earlier this month that the biggest shortage of advanced placement courses is in rural America. The Fast Start program is an on-ramp to helping these students attain their educational goals, leading to better jobs and higher earnings for their lifetimes. Purdue continues to lead in making college more affordable for all families, said David Coleman, CEO of the College Board. In this visionary partnership with Modern States, Purdue opens up college pathways for all students. At this time when lower- and middle-income families are struggling with the cost of college, the College Board strongly supports the use of CLEP to speed students toward successful graduation. CLEP exams can help students receive credit for up to 30 hours of general education courses, or about one full year of college credit. However, many students have been blocked in the past by lack of courses to learn the material and the $89 test fee per course. Today, ModernStates.org provides the necessary courses for free to everyone; the more than 30 courses are like a digital public library, and a new $1 million gift to Purdue from Steve and Maureen Sherry Klinsky will cover the cost of 10,000 CLEP exam fees for Indiana students. Maureen Sherry Klinsky is a trustee of Modern States. Fast Start will allow Hoosier students to take the online courses and CLEP exams at no cost, meaning a participant could easily save their family thousands of dollars on tuition by providing the equivalent of a full semester or even a year of college for free. Passing five CLEP exams the equivalent of one semester can save students and their parents a semester, and almost $11,000. Passing 10 CLEPs the equivalent of one full year can save more than $21,000. Every individual CLEP passed is a big savings as well. The Fast Start option also can move them toward early graduation and early entry into the workforce. Purdue Fast Start will offer support to high school students enrolled in the program, helping guide them through taking courses and tests, and navigating admittance to Purdue. The students also will have access to Purdue alumni and friends for mentoring if desired. Once Fast Start students accept admission into Purdue, they will be known as Klinsky Scholars. The program officially launches in the fall of 2020, with the first students being granted admission for the fall 2021 semester. As Purdue Fast Start begins outreach to prospective students this spring, Purdue Extension, which has offices in every Indiana county, will be a vital resource in helping reach students and their families. This is a great opportunity for us to improve the lives of Indiana residents by working with students to increase educational attainment all across the state, said Jason Henderson, senior associate dean and director of Purdue Extension. ModernStates.org, with 200,000 registered users, is the largest free college for credit program in the nation. Students can access the Modern States expansive library of online courses, taught by top college professors, at no cost. The professors who teach Modern States courses include experts from Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Tufts, George Washington University, American University, State University of New York and other leading universities. Those who successfully complete a Modern States course will receive a voucher to pay for the corresponding College Board CLEP exam and be reimbursed for test center fees. Students who pass a minimum of five CLEP exams are then assured admission to Purdue. Administered by the College Board, CLEP exams are similar to Advanced Placement exams. CLEP has historically been taken by adults, especially active duty military and veterans. Passing scores on CLEP exams are accepted for credit by more than 2,900 colleges and universities, and the exams have been used for more than 50 years. For more information, go to the Fast Start website at https://purdue.university/faststart, or call 765-494-1776 or (for hearing impaired) 800-743-3333. === Additional voices: From Teresa Lubbers, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education The commission supports efforts for students to demonstrate competencies in different ways, leading to credit and advance standing awarded by institutions. Purdues Fast Start program provides a way for all students, especially students from rural and inner-city areas, to save time and money and increase the likelihood of college completion. From Indiana State Rep. Bob Behning, chair of House Education Committee Purdue continues to be an innovative leader in making higher education a reality for many students. This is an excellent opportunity to get ahead in courses, save money and learn, even if you dont pursue college in the future. This partnership will also go a long way to help students in more rural communities access courses not traditionally available at their school. From Indiana State Sen. Jeff Raatz, chair of Education and Career Development Committee Purdue Fast Start offers a unique opportunity for high school students across Indiana to earn college credit. The use of online courses corresponding to CLEP exams provide a meaningful path forward for students pursuing college credit. This program will benefit students in all areas of our state, whether they plan to enroll at a university after high school, or choose to pursue technical education to advance their career. From Jason Bearce, vice president of education and workforce development for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Given that 99% of jobs created since the last recession have required at least some education beyond high school, we welcome efforts like Purdue Fast Start that offer students affordable pathways to earn postsecondary credentials aligned with Indianas workforce needs. From Christopher Lagoni, executive director, Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association The Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association has been advocating for the use of the Modern States Education Alliance college courses to provide college credit opportunities for our member schools for multiple years. We promote the use of CLEP to help students earn college credit. We are excited to support Purdue's Fast Start Program and the innovative methods it uses to remove barriers for all students to access high-quality college credit no matter where they live or the size of the school. === About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the #6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. About Modern States The Modern States Education Alliance is a NYC-based philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible for everyone. Its first initiative is Freshman Year for Free: more than 30 online college courses available tuition-free for credit, from top university professors available to anyone with an Internet connection. Students can use these courses to earn college credits by preparing for and taking AP and CLEP exams, as offered by the College Board. Learn more at ModernStates.org. About Steven and Maureen (Sherry) Klinsky Steve Klinsky, the founder and CEO of the ModernStates.org education philanthropy, is a New York-based businessman and education reformer. He serves as chair of Harvard Universitys Program for Education Policy and Governance and, with his wife, Maureen, endowed the Professorship of Leadership and Progress at Harvard Law School. He attended public schools in the Detroit area, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 27 months in part by passing credit-bearing exams, before earning his law degree and MBA at Harvard. Maureen Sherry Klinsky attended public schools in Rockland County, New York, and finished Cornell in three years using college-level courses passed during high school, before earning her Master of Fine Arts from Columbia. Steve is the founder and CEO of New Mountain Capital, a growth-oriented private equity firm that has added or created over 43,000 jobs at its companies with no bankruptcies or missed interest payments ever. Maureen is a best-selling novelist and writer under her maiden name, Maureen Sherry. Together, they live in New York and have four children. Media contact for Purdue: Tim Doty, 765-494-2080, doty2@purdue.edu Media contact for Modern States: Jennifer Leckstrom, 215-681-0770, jleckstrom@rosecomm.com Source: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu Australian passengers of a cruise ship that was refused permission to dock by several Asian nations for fears it would spread coronavirus say they are not sure how they will get home, despite being cleared of the illness. The Westerdam cruise ship, operated by Holland America Line, eventually docked in Cambodia last week where authorities declared the 2200 passengers and crew free of coronavirus and began releasing passengers. An 83-year-old US woman entering Malaysia who had left the ship just two days earlier was found to be infected. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age spoke to six Australians who had disembarked the cruise liner in the port town of Sihanoukville last Saturday. They are now staying in Sokha Phnom Penh hotel, along with about 450 other passengers, including up to 39 Australians. They are awaiting confirmation from the cruise line about when they will be allowed to leave and to where. Bryan and Mary Walsh from Mount Gambier, Brian and Anne Stock from Brisbane and Sandy and Mike Smith from Bli Bli are among 39 Australians hoping to return after being quarantined in Cambodia. Credit:Nara Lon A whiteboard with information for guests quarantined in the hotel, seen by The Herald and The Age on Tuesday, said the results of 30 samples from hotel guests were still pending, but all others had tested negative. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 Trend: Azerbaijan Digital Hub program, implemented by AzerTelecom, backbone internet provider connecting Azerbaijan to the international internet network, was presented at the plenary session dedicated to the development of digital economy in Azerbaijan, foreign experience, current risks, and possible solutions, held in the framework of international conference titled Digital Economy: modern challenges and real opportunities on February 13-14 in Baku. Fuad Allahverdiyev, General Director of AzerTelecom, spoke at the event which took place at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) with the participation of local and foreign experts, where he presented Azerbaijan Digital Hub program, whichs aim is to turn Azerbaijan to the digital hub in the region and discussed the digital transformation processes in the modern era. Fuad Allahverdiyev noted that digitalization opens up new opportunities for development in societies and countries, and the issue of the digital economy is important to our country. He also named the large infrastructure projects carried out under the program, highlighting a joint project with Azerbaijan Railways CJSC to build fiber-optic cable lines in the country, as well as the project of construction of Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic cable between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries through the bottom of the Caspian Sea. Mr. Allahverdiyev added that these projects will form a digital silk road between Europe and Asia through Azerbaijan, ultimately helping the country become a digital hub and shape the digital economy. Other speakers at the event made presentations on relevant topics and exchanged views on different experiences in digitalization and the digital economy. The international conference was organized by the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Ministry of Education, the Alliance of Science and Technology One Belt, One Road and with the sponsorship of Bakcell. AzerTelecom is the telecommunication operator in Azerbaijan and the subsidiary of Bakcell, the first mobile operator and the fastest mobile internet provider in Azerbaijan. AzerTelecom connects Azerbaijan to the global Internet network through the diversified network. The company provides a range of advanced telecom services to local and foreign companies. AzerTelecom is a member of Digital Trade Hub Consortium of Azerbaijan. The Consortium of the Digital Trade Hub of Azerbaijan is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) established to develop the digital infrastructure and platform for cross-border e-Trade in Azerbaijan and strengthen the position of the country as the Digital Hub in a regional and global scale. An agreement for the establishment of the Consortium was electronically signed with Asan Imza between the PASHA Bank, B.EST Solutions and AzerTelecom representing the private sector and the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication of the Republic of Azerbaijan representing the public sector at the 3rd Digital Trade Forum titled Digitalization of the Silk Road on October 9, 2019, in Baku. The Consortium aims to develop the infrastructure for cross-border e-services, contribute to application of advanced digital services and infrastructure in the Azerbaijan and support the digital transformation of the country. The Consortium provides an unprecedented opportunity to connect Azerbaijan to global markets and promote Azerbaijan as the new Digital Hub between Europe and Asia. Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.'s (HKG:322) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding has a price to earnings ratio of 28.73, based on the last twelve months. That means that at current prices, buyers pay HK$28.73 for every HK$1 in trailing yearly profits. Check out our latest analysis for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding How Do I Calculate Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding: P/E of 28.73 = CNY13.60 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CNY0.47 (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. Does Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding has a higher P/E than the average (15.7) P/E for companies in the food industry. SEHK:322 Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 18th 2020 That means that the market expects Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding will outperform other companies in its industry. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Story continues Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding saw earnings per share improve by -9.5% last year. And earnings per share have improved by 47% annually, over the last three years. Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). Is Debt Impacting Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's P/E? The extra options and safety that comes with Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's CN6.1b net cash position means that it deserves a higher P/E than it would if it had a lot of net debt. The Bottom Line On Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's P/E Ratio Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's P/E is 28.7 which is above average (10.1) in its market. Earnings improved over the last year. And the healthy balance sheet means the company can sustain growth while the P/E suggests shareholders think it will. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. KAMPALA Uganda Airlines, the fledgling national carrier of Uganda, is set for flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials have confirmed. The airline will open a route between Entebbe, a town on the shores of Lake Victoria, and Kinshasa, DRCs main tourist destination on the Western coastline. In a short notice, Uganda Airlines announced that commercial flights to Kinshasa are coming soon. Hello DR Congo! Bonjour DR Congo! Kinshasa coming soon.Tres bientot.Eza koya.Hivi Karibuni, the statement reads. Uganda Airlines relaunched operations in August 2019 and now flies from Entebbe to Juba, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mogadishu, Nairobi, and Mombasa. It is hoped the latest route will help to boost trade and tourism between Uganda and DR Congo. Kinshasa is the largest city in DR Congo. Until its revival, Uganda had been without a national airline since a previous incarnation of Uganda Airlines collapsed in 2001. Meanwhile, privately-owned Air Uganda ceased operations five years ago. Uganda Airlines currently has four Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft in its fleet in a two-class, 76-seat configuration, with 12 business class and 64 economy seats. It also has two Airbus A330-800neos on order, which it intends to use to build its international long-haul network. The aircraft will feature a three-class cabin layout comprising 20 business, 28 premium economy and 213 economy seats. Speaking earlier this month, Dr. David Kakuba, director-general of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, said the arrival of the new wide-body aircraft would allow the carrier to add countries like England, India and China to its network. Related Many security professionals have long held that the words "mobile security" are an oxymoron. True or not, with today's mobile usage soaring in enterprises, that viewpoint may become irrelevant. It's a reasonable estimate that 2020 knowledge workers use mobile devices to either supplement or handle much of their work 98% of the time. Laptops still have a role (OK, if you want to get literal, I suppose a laptop can be considered mobile), but that's only because of their larger screens and keyboards. I'd give mobile players maybe three more years before that becomes moot. That means that security on mobile needs to become a top priority. To date, that usually has been addressed with enterprise-grade mobile VPNs, antivirus and more secure communication methods (such as Signal). But in the latest Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report always a worthwhile read Verizon eloquently argues that aside from wireless, the form factor of mobile in and of itself poses security risks. From the Verizon report: Users are "significantly more susceptible to social attacks they receive on mobile devices. This is the case for email-based spear phishing, spoofing attacks that attempt to mimic legitimate webpages, as well as attacks via social media. The reasons for this stem from the design of mobile and how users interact with these devices. In hardware terms, mobile devices have relatively limited screen sizes that restrict what can be accessed and viewed clearly. Most smartphones also limit the ability to view multiple pages side-by-side, and navigating pages and apps necessitates toggling between themall of which make it tedious for users to check the veracity of emails and requests while on mobile. Mobile OS and apps also restrict the availability of information often necessary for verifying whether an email or webpage is fraudulent. For instance, many mobile browsers limit users ability to assess the quality of a websites SSL certificate. Likewise, many mobile email apps also limit what aspects of the email header are visible and whether the email-source information is even accessible," the report said. "Mobile software also enhances the prominence of GUI elements that foster action accept, reply, send, like, and such which make it easier for users to respond to a request. Thus, on the one hand, the hardware and software on mobile devices restrict the quality of information that is available, while on the other they make it easier for users to make snap decisions. The final nail is driven in by how people use mobile devices. Users often interact with their mobile devices while walking, talking, driving, and doing all manner of other activities that interfere with their ability to pay careful attention to incoming information. While already cognitively constrained, on screen notifications that allow users to respond to incoming requests, often without even having to navigate back to the application from which the request emanates, further enhance the likelihood of reactively responding to requests." In short, users dealing with email on a mobile device an incredibly common happening in corporate campuses are far more susceptible to a phishing attack then on a typical desktop device. You can be confident this point has not been lost on cyberthieves and cyberterrorists. They already know the likely OS of a device that clicks on one of their evil phishing attacks, which makes them quite happy. What to do about this? First, all phishing/malware training must now prominently feature mobile-only training. Yes, training only helps so much, but it's a good start. Secondly, when you are testing your own people by trying to trick them into clicking, design the tricks to assume mobile. Your success rates will go up and people will learn faster what would have happened had your test been a real attack. Third, pressure handset manufacturers and the two mobile OS giants Google and Apple, of course to address the most shameful part of Verizon's concerns, which is that "many mobile browsers limit users ability to assess the quality of a websites SSL certificate. Likewise, many mobile email apps also limit what aspects of the email header are visible and whether the email-source information is even accessible." Although both points are critical and should have been addressed long ago, it's the email header part that is the most irresponsible. Granted, most consumers rarely bother to check even on desktop devices, but Fortune 1,000 employees need to told that checking is mandatory before clicking. Although some phishers are sophisticated and make the attempt to craft reasonable-appearing fake domain names, most don't bother. And with the expectation that far more of those messages are going to be seen via a tiny mobile screen over the next couple of years, I'd guess that most will continue to not bother. I'm still impressed by phishing attempts I see every day and a quick peek at the email header makes everything quite clear. Hence, full headers musts be easily accessed on any mobile device and there is no reason not business-based, not marketing-based, certainly not security-based for Apple and Google to not fix this. Let both firms know that this will influence which phones you'll buy later this year and you'll have their attention. As for SSL certs, I suppose it can't hurt to fix that glaring hole. But unlike email headers, the very crappy tactics most cert issuers use to verify the authenticity of the request makes me more worried that cyberthieves will turn this to their advantage and trick cert-issuers (not that difficult) to give them legitimate credentials for not-so-legitimate domains. So, yes, certificate verification is important (not so sure how much any browser can do to "assess the quality of a website's SSL certificate," but if they think of a way, by all means do so), but I'd first like to dramatic improvements in certificate firm verification methods. It's not merely "verify that you are who you claim to be" (unless you have a constantly updated list of bad guys, not sure of the point) nor is it making sure that you own the domain for which you want a certificate. You need to verify that, but that is a remarkably low bar. I want the cert outfits to look at the domain and see if it close to someone else's well-known domain. I'm not suggesting that you decline all such requests, but at least reach out to the owner of the well-known domain to see if there are issues. And perhaps question the requester far more closely. If a cert is supposed to make a user comfortable to click, let's put some robust and intelligent authentication into the process. And then make it easy to check a cert's authenticity. With today's verification methods, a major cyberthief is more likely to trick a cert player into issuing a real one than is using a fake one. Both problems need to be addressed. Babachir Lawal is a former Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation. He was appointed in August 2015 and sacked in October 2017 over allegations of contract fraud. He hit public limelight recently when he was alleged to have called the Yorubas, troublemakers. In this interview with select journalists in Abuja, he addresses certain allegations against him. He also spoke on the rising insecurity in the North-east, workings of the National Assembly as well as the internal party crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC). Excerpts: Q: What is your reaction on the trending issue that you called the Yorubas troublemakers? Is it that your message was not well-understood? Or a political move to smear your image? Has your position on the regional security outfit (Amotekun) changed? Babachir: They got the message but they twisted it to achieve their specific goals. What did I say then (on Amotekun), I said that any part of Nigeria that is safe is beneficial to everyone, the problem I see, however, is that there is no proper stakeholder management because the processes leading to major policy positions like that need to be properly debated in the public domain so everyone understands his role and second is what protection he expects to get from the system. In this case, as I said the last time I was surprised, this process, proper consultation has not been done. To the extent that certain sections of the country felt like that this security outfit was targeted at them. Most importantly, consequent upon that, so many other regions started talking about their own security outfit. If not properly handled it can lead to problems. If the North-east has its own security outfit and they do not handle the stakeholder management everywhere and some certain portions of the nation feels that it was targeted to exclude them from their legitimate businesses and movement within the North-east that is not good, it will bring social dislocation. That has been my position. In this particular case of Amotekun, this was not done. For the attorney-general to come out and say its illegal, that is to say there was no proper consultation. I take note of the fact that out of the six governors involved in this, five are APC, they have direct access to AGF, to the IGP, to the president and indeed to the vice-president who is from their side. So it looks like the government was ambushed and hence the reaction from the attorney-general but as you can see, it appears that they have retraced their steps so proper consultations were done and I think things are being done properly. Q: Insecurity in the North-east has been on the rise and people are calling on the president to replace the service chiefs. Others are saying you cannot change a winning team at the middle of a game. Where do you stand? Babachir: My own understanding of these dynamics is this, Nigerians are entitled to complain if they are not getting results from their leaders. Generals appear from the public, therefore, they are accountable to the generality of Nigerians. However, in government, there is a bigger picture. Nigerians must take note of the fact that it is not always possible for the total information to be available out there in the public domain information on which government takes decisions. The president has access to all the relevant information necessary to take the decisions. When you talk of security, you must also factor in that the president is a retired major-general of the Nigerian army. He has been involved in so many incidents as a young officer, he was in the battlefield in Biafra. I remember when he was general commanding officer infantry division, when Chadian rebels invaded Nigeria, it was General Buhari who drove them out and followed them up to Chad itself before the political class intervened and we withdrew to Nigerian borders. So he has information that not everybody has and he is an expert in this field. So, while we have to criticise, we must concede to him, the right to take the decision on the facts available to him and based on the fact that the bulk stops on his desk. As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces the implication of this is that all other positions of authority in the political domain are donated by the president. Q: As a Nigerian and one who has been in government, what is your position? Babachir: I am from the North-east and it is for the president to decide whether his service chiefs are doing the job for which he appointed them. He appointed them so it is for him to decide and its for Nigerians to let him know that their understanding of the goals of the service chiefs are not being achieved. It is all part of the dialogue in a political system. The voter has a right to say what he thinks he/she has to say. The leader has the right to take a decision based on what he thinks is the correct thing to do. Q: Will you say this government or the president has failed to tackle insecurity in the North-east? Babachir: The perception that insecurity is on the increase, I contest that. At one time Boko Haram was occupying vast territories of this country in the North-east in which nobody had access to it. In Adamawa State that I know very well, seven local governments at one time were totally under the control of Boko Haram. But now it is not so. Im not a security expert but I seem to think that Boko Haram simply changed tactics and are going after soft targets, they are no longer going after hard targets. Initially, they were attacking the military and taking over territories and instituting governments but now they dont do that anymore. They attack soft targets which makes it difficult to predict. Guerilla warfare is difficult to fight. But the longer it takes, the more the government side develops the competence to handle it. It might be more pronounced now because of the targets they are attacking. Anybody who does not see anything good in government, this is an opportunity to promote divisive tendencies. That is the way I see it. Advertisements Q: Soldiers have complained of poor welfare despite the billions allocated to the army annually. Why the gap and how can we right this wrong? Babachir: I was an ex-soldier. In our time, even when we went on holidays, they calculate the necessary allowances and give us. They also give us food. They are entitled to these things. I dont see them with these type of things again. There are so many things that needs to be improved upon by the military themselves because if you make bad policies and laws just because you wont be a victim, you dont know when it will catch up with you or a relative. I have a theory that part of our economic crisis and lack of resources is because of the of money being pumped into the military for all these insurgence. A single bomb cost millions of naira, bullets and rifle too. While I am not the security expert, I feel there is a need to upgrade our military. Something is wrong. They must deploy the technology. This war can only be fought with technology. We dont fight wars with infantry men again, they use drones and the likes. We must also call in those who are culpable. This Boko Haram works with money, who gives them the cash? They buy arms, who gives them the money? They are fed, who gives them food? All these are things that must be looked at holistically. I conceded to the president that as a general, he knows what he is doing. And we must concede that to him too. Q: Lets take you to APC. There is a National Reconciliation Committee in place. Do you have confidence in the Bisi Akande-led reconciliation committee to resolve issues affecting the party? Babachie: I have a high regard for Chief Bisi Akande. He is a very senior member of the party. He is a very senior politician in Nigeria with tremendous track record in governance but I read about the reconciliation committee in the papers like every other person and i started wondering, who are they reconciling? In my state, Adamawa, for example, who are they going to reconcile? And that is the same thing all over the country. They must tell us where the frictions are and where they need reconciliation. This APC is funny. As we speak, the chairman and his loyalists have suspended the deputy national chairman (North), the whole north, the chairman, national vice-chairman (North-west) which is the largest geographical zone with seven states has been suspended, he is no longer attending National Working Committee (NWC) meeting. The national secretary of the party who is from the north, from Yobe, has left to become governor of Yobe State as we speak, there is no firm decision to his replacement. For more than one year or so, a very substantial part of the country are not represented in the decision making. The other deputy national chairman of the party who is from Ekiti has moved to become a minister. So the whole NWC has been decimated. Key people, two deputy national vice-chairmen are not in the NWC. The auditor-general has left to pick up a political appointment. That again is vacant. So when you go to reconcile a decimated house, who and who are you reconciling? Senior stakeholders of the party have been suspended. I dont know whether Okorocha has returned to the party. I dont know if Chief Amosun has been returned to the party. Definitely, these are aggrieved people as regards the manner they were suspended and given their position in the political system. So the reconciliation is between them and who? Could it be between them and the national working committee that took the decision or the chairman of the party. Again, in politics, sometimes it is better not to reconcile, somebody must lose out. In democracy, the number is important, the bigger the merrier. I believe if anybody can do it, it should be Chief Bisi Akande. If we know what they are going to reconcile. In Adamawa for example, the time for reconciliation has passed since the time we had acrimonious congress and then the primaries which we took divergent positions and views that led to APC losing the election. So what are you going to reconcile now after we have lost the election. It is no more beneficial. Q: All appears not to be well with the party, what do you think is APCs fate if it continues like this up to 2023? Babachir: APC, in this form, lost Rivers; on this form APC , lost Zamfara. APC lost Adamawa, APC lost Oyo State and you can trace it to the party itself, its internal conflict and its management issues. READ ALSO: So APC needs to put its house in order in terms of election, whether you win or not depends on the candidate, how good he is and how popular he is and things like that. So I believe someone from APGA or ADPA has the capacity to win an election. Independent candidates do win election without any party structure in other countries. The party is just a platform. As you can see, the management system of the party can do it. Look at what happened in Bayelsa. The court disqualified somebody because he did not have a certificate. Why was this thing not detected by the screening committee. The (party) constitution has screening committee. I remember during our time at the NWC in those days part of the screening is what have you contributed to the party. You bring your certificates, it is verified and it is returned to you and when eventually you are submitting the form after you have sworn an affidavit that the documents you are submitting with the forms are genuine, you sit with a party executive and there is a checklist. If I turn up with a certificate bearing six different names, why did the party not detect it? The system has a mechanism for that but in this case the mechanism didnt work. Q: Are you saying the party under Oshiomhole is not doing a thorough job? Babachir: No human being can do a thorough job, Oshiomhole I believe is doing his best. He could improve his style, it is important that if he listens to me, he could improve his style, improve his communication skills with the people, personal skills with the party leaders, rank and file. Im quite close to members of the NWC, they always complain about not being carried along. The chairman of a party is not an executive president where whatever you say is, you need to carry everyone along. That is the essence a national vice-chairman North-east for example, he is for North-east and there are things unique to the area which he is aware of, which his own exco has brought to him for processing at the national secretariat. If he does not get the proper hearing and opportunity to present those things, they are disenfranchised. Like I said, there is no reason why almost the whole north has been disenfranchised in the NWC. Why? Last month, there was major acrimony over the national secretary. So why are they doing like this? It is not for the generality of the party members to solve this problem, it is Oshiomhole and his working committee but it is not working. Q: What is the way forward for the party? Babachir: The party has to be reorganised, there is no running away from it. If we are going into 2023 with APC as it is First of all, there has to be confidence restored in the NWC that they have the capacity to be impartial and fair in the decisions they take on behalf of party members. As I speak, I dont think there is any APC member that can confidently tell you that he expects the NWC to be fair and just in some of the cases because we lost election on account of this. There was a decision that sitting national legislators should be given automatic tickets especially the senators, what informed that decision? I dont know but it didnt work out that way in implementation. In some states, they got automatic tickets, there were no primaries. In other states, they were not given the tickets to contest. The party must have rules that are properly adhered to, that everybody knows these are the rules and whoever runs foul of it faces the consequences. I think we must refill the vacancies that there with credible people to augment the other credible people that are still there if there are any. Q: The Senate has just set up the constitution amendment committee, what will you like to see in the amendment? Babachir: Im not a constitutional expert but I know if I had my way in the setup of this country, the governors in the middle are just parasites that are taking the major share of the resources that are supposed to the go to states, they abuse it. If I had my way, there would be federal government and local governments, such that the resources that are due to the state, would be shared equally with the local government at that level and a lot of things will be done. In the case of the federal government, we understand why it has to be federal government. There are some institutions that have to be national in itself. The army for example, the federal police must be there, foreign affairs must be there but the states, we can devolve the powers back of the states to the local governments. At the local government, they are closer to the people, because they are closer to the people, people are able to monitor them. People are able to get in touch with them, people are able to check their excess if any. If I had my way, the National Assembly will be single and not bi-cameral as it is and then we will reduce the number (of lawmakers). Another option will be to return to the parliamentary system, where everybody in the parliament is an elected official that is accounted to the people. The presidential system is so expensive and the presidential system has concentrated power and authority on one person and whoever else he chooses to delegate that authority to. In a place like Nigeria where we have different aspirations, different belief systems and different world views, decision making needs to be decentralised. Q: There have been complaints about the funds allocated to the National Assembly especially the recent N37 billion for renovation. What is your position on this issue? Babachir: To justify that amount, they ought to give a bill of quantities. Before you appropriate that type of money, you must show a breakdown of the expenses. Its not the final amount that matters but the justification for how this money is going to be deployed at the beginning, not after. If the National Assembly asks for N37 billion, they must show the bill of quantities, how they arrived at this figure. The things with the National Assembly is, they are the ones appropriating the money and they have this mindset and arrogance that they will take care of themselves first because they are appropriating the money there are constituency projects, there are special aides. That is where the problem comes. For every other person, before you can increase your salary, you have to go through Salaries and Wages Commission or RMAFC for political office holders. But the National Assembly doesnt have that limitation. Their salaries are fixed. They can decide which allowances they give themselves. Thats where the weakness came. Part of the problems I had with the National Assembly was the constituency projects. The projects is run by Ministry of Special Duties or Office of the Secretary General to the Government the first problem I ran into was, I inherited project of about fifty something billion. Debts were piling up because fund releases for the projects were not been made accordingly. Thats the problem. It also has its advantages because, if they are not there, some parts of Nigeria will never feel the presence of government but the implementation is the problem. I support the National Assembly when they say they do not carry out the contract (s), it is the executive that carries out the contracts. The National Assembly has the right to allocate to itself what the think they need for themselves. Restoring 10 per cent of the vegetation destroyed in this season's bushfires would require more than $800 million in new seeds "magnitudes" more than the funding available so far. Paul Della Libera, the director of seed services at Greening Australia, said 18 million hectares had burnt this fire season across the country. Even though much regeneration would happen naturally, the challenge for restoring especially threatened species remained huge, he said. Environment minister Sussan Ley (centre) and Greening Australia staff Kathleen Ward and David Warren sort paper daisy seeds at one of the group's facilities near the Hawkesbury River in western Sydney. Credit:Kate Geraghty "You cant have bushfire recovery without seed, just as you cant build a national road network without concrete," Mr Della Libera said. The national capacity to produce seed "doesnt exist at the moment in the way that we need it to". Based on standard rates of seed per hectare for restoration, the fire response needs 1400 tonnes. That tally compares with about 40 tonnes a year for rehabilitation of landscapes outside the mining industry, with Greening Australia handling about one-10th of that, Mr Della Libera said. Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. By Nam Hyun-woo Helixmith CEO Kim Sun-young Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko will mention in his speech at the UN General Assembly meeting the need to deploy a peacekeeping mission in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. "I leave for New York to talk with the Secretary-General and deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly, in particular, to remind that we are waiting for, as far as it is possible, this [peacekeeping] operation to be deployed not on the contact line only, as suggested by the Russian Federation, but throughout the occupied territory of Ukraine," Prystaiko said on the air of the Freedom of Speech TV program on ICTV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. In this context, he noted that the issue of peacekeeping mission deployment was raised at every Normandy format meeting at the level of leaders or ministers, as well as at the Trilateral Contact Group meetings in Minsk. ol STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan received today Armenias minister of high technological industry Hakob Arshakyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. A number of issues relating to the development of scientific sectors in Artsakh and the cooperation between the two Armenian states in this context were discussed. The meeting was also attended by Artsakhs minister of economy and productive infrastructures Levon Grigoryan. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Specially protected lefty-approved minorities now have a specially lefty-approved excuse for out-of-control temper tantrums, disobedience, destructive behavior, and illegal actions that normally would be condemned. They were triggered i.e., someone said something or did something that was so upsetting, so reprehensible, so insensitive that the triggerees are absolutely not responsible for their subsequent normally socially unacceptable actions. All responsibility is on the triggerer no matter the reason. And so it is not surprising to learn that when a Chicago Public Schools teacher, perhaps triggered by a Hispanic student sitting during the triggering Pledge of Allegiance, allegedly "aggressively" asked if the student's "legs were broken," further inquiring "whether or not he received free lunch at the school, going on to say the students were disrespecting those who died in order for them to have that lunch," and concluding with telling the student to "return to the country you came from," the teacher was removed from the school after triggered student sit-ins i.e., rioting and other disruptive behavior. But of course. The school is now in "healing" mode, according to the principal, "providing cultural training for all staff." But no "cultural training" is needed for the triggered sitting students and their supportive friends. Senn High School (photo credit: Klio 0701). Senn Principal Mary Beck sent a letter to parents and families Thursday informing them that the teacher had been pulled while Chicago Public Schools' Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP) looks into the allegations made against him. "At the conclusion of OSP's investigation, a final determination will be made regarding whether it is appropriate for this individual to return to Senn," Beck wrote. "I will update the school community when a final determination is made. "I know this week has been difficult for our school, and I want you to know that the concerns our students have expressed have been heard. I'm committed to implementing the agreements I made with our students to heal our community." The principal made no mention of the concerns of the unhealed teacher, who apparently is not a member of "our community." Senn High School, like the city of Chicago itself, is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multicultural high school, not particularly outstanding but not particularly terrible, with a liberal multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multicultural faculty and staff, as city educators tend to be, located in an equally multi-, multi-, multi-liberal neighborhood. Indeed, the only unusual aspect of this incident, that is surprisingly reassuring to me, is that a teacher in liberal Chicago believes that students should stand for the Pledge and appreciates the sacrifices of earlier generations. OK, OK, maybe the teacher shouldn't have allegedly inquired if the students pay for their own lunch, suggested they don't love the United States, or suggested they leave it and return to their native s-holes, but it is also surprisingly reassuring to hear that a Chicago teacher, who certainly would know of the risks, would utter those words. He must have been triggered. Maybe he is only a few generations removed from legal, white skinnon-privileged immigrants whose family immigrated to the USA, learned the language of their new country, and worked long hours in unpleasant jobs while struggling to provide their children with food and other necessities. Maybe he has family members or knows those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Until recently, that could describe a large portion of the population of industrial cities such as Chicago. So yes, the teacher could have been triggered by culturally insensitive students who couldn't bother to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to a country that probably provides them with a free lunch among other benefits. But pointing all this out is culturally insensitive to a politically correct minority, which has superior triggering rights because of being a politically correct minority. Got that? No? I don't, either. Bermuda has returned to the European Union's (EU) 'white list' of fully cooperative tax jurisdictions. The decision was made by EU Finance Ministers at the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Brussels this morning. Bermuda's global industry groups have welcomed the news and applauded the efforts of Bermuda's government in securing a successful result. The private sector worked collaboratively with government officials, along with the active involvement of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, to implement reforms specifically relating to collective investment vehicles (CIVs). Bermuda's Economic Substance Amendment (No. 2) Act 2019 came into effect at the start of 2020 to address EU requirements. Roland Andy Burrows, CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), Bermuda's independent economic development public-private partnership, said: "This outcome is testament to Bermuda's commitment to meet and exceed the highest international standards of regulatory compliance and economic substance. Combined with our world-leading achievements in the Financial Action Task Force assessment, together with Bermuda's EU Solvency II equivalence and status as a NAIC Reciprocal Jurisdiction in the U.S., Bermuda's blue-chip transparency and outstanding offering to global business is second to none. I thank Bermuda's government, regulator and all our industry stakeholders for continuing to ensure Bermuda maintains its world-class regime." Stephen Weinstein, Deputy Chair of the BDA, added: "ECONFIN's decision is a positive step that will benefit consumers and communities worldwide, reinforcing their efficient, level playing field access to the Bermuda's unrivaled risk management expertise and substantial financial capacity. We appreciate the efforts of Bermuda government officials, from the Cabinet to the professional staff of its world class agencies, who have engaged to educate global stakeholders regarding Bermuda's regulatory standards and market practices." Bermuda's global industry associations, representing sectors ranging from re/insurance, captive insurance, trusts and family offices to asset management, all echoed those comments and welcomed the EU decision: John Huff, President and CEO, Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) "The Bermuda Monetary Authority, Bermuda Finance Minister, Bermuda government and Bermuda business community once again demonstrate internationally-recognised regulatory enforcement. From EU Solvency II equivalence, U.S. Reciprocal Jurisdiction status, Financial Action Task Force compliant anti-money laundering regime and now EU Economic Finance 'white list' designation recognising Bermuda's solid work on EU tax good governance and our economic substance framework, Bermuda's robust regulatory environment is world-class." Patrick Tannock, Chairman, Association of Bermuda International Business (ABIC) "A key component of our value proposition as a jurisdiction is our commitment to transparency and compliance and the collaborative mindset of key stakeholders to ensure that Bermuda remains an international business domicile of choice. The Government, industry and regulators have worked collaboratively over the past two years to build on Bermuda's proven record to meet the EU requirements for economic substance. Today's announcement is further confirmation that Bermuda is a high-quality international business jurisdiction, recognised as meeting and exceeding international standards in compliance, regulation and transparency." Ronnie Klein, Executive Director, Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers (BILTIR) "BILTIR is very pleased with the announcement today that Bermuda is officially off of the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) 'grey list'. We applaud the Council's reasonable approach of using facts to make its decision. Along with recent affirmations of being NAIC qualified, Solvency II equivalent and a leader in the fight against anti-money laundering, Bermuda continues to shine as a beacon for the growing life insurance and reinsurance sector." Sarah Demerling, Chair, Bermuda's Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) "AIMA Bermuda has been working with the BMA and the Registrar of Companies in recent months to ensure that Bermuda's funds regime complied with EU standards. This morning's news, recognising Bermuda as fully compliant, was very welcome for the jurisdiction and is testament to the hard work of the Committee and also reflects the importance that the jurisdiction places on its commitment to tax transparency and EU tax good governance principles worldwide. It also follows the recent 'excellent' endorsement from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. We are very proud of these successes." Leah Scott, President, Bermuda Association of Licensed Trustees (BALT) "BALT is pleased to learn that Bermuda has now been removed from Annex II ('grey list') and added to the 'white list'. It is impressive that, as a jurisdiction, we have honored our commitment to fair taxation by implementing, ahead of the agreed deadline, all the necessary reforms to comply with EU tax good governance principles. Congratulations to the Minister of Finance, and all those who have provided the necessary expertise, skill and support to get Bermuda back to her place of prestige." CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005986/en/ Contacts: Nicola Stevens Director of Communications PR nstevens@bda@bm +1 441 292 7774 A Holden car dealership in South Australia had been on the brink of opening a state-of-the-art showroom when General Motors announced it was axing the brand. City Holden in Adelaide's CBD was among those left high and dry after GM revealed it was 'retiring' the iconic Australian brand by 2021 due to plunging domestic sales and a decision to get out of the right-hand-drive vehicle market. The family-run business is one of the best performing dealerships in the country and consistently turned over about $100 million a year across four locations. City Holden in Adelaide (pictured) was blindsided by the decision to axe the Holden brand City Holden was expecting to open the new $6.5 million 'dealership of the future' on Railway Terrace at Mile End in May this year, they told The Advertiser. Dealer principal Julian Newton described the new centre as a move towards a boutique showroom experience with a focus on technology. Mr Newton said: 'There'll be screens and interactivity, iPads, screens. Essentially having a representative range on the floor but being able to showcase the whole lot through technology. 'I'm really excited by what we're doing down there. It's such a great move into the future and it's the next stage of City Holden and the Newton family,' he said. GM and Holden have pledged to work closely with all their workers to offer generous redundancy packages to about 600 staff across Australia and New Zealand. Most of the jobs will be gone by June. 'We are all hurting,' Holden interim Chairman and Managing Director Kristian Aquilina said in an open letter published in newspapers across the country on Tuesday. The decision to close the brand comes amid plunging domestic sales with demand for Holden vehicles down by almost 29 per cent to just 43,176 in 2019, in a total market down just eight per cent. GM has committed to providing compensation to Holden dealers to allow them to transition to other brands or close down. They will also have the opportunity to continue as dedicated Holden service centres with the company to maintain a supply of spare parts for at least 10 years for the 1.6 million Holden cars now on Australian roads. But with 185 retail outlets in Australia and 31 in NZ, hundreds of workers could lose their jobs in the months ahead if dealers are forced to shut. The ceo of the Shannon Group has called on Government to allow Shannon Airport to access funds from the State's regional airport programme. Addressing Clare County Council's February meeting, Mary Considine said that currently, five airports have access to funds from the programme but Shannon is not one of them. She said that by the end of this year, Shannon Airport will have spent 25m on security and safety from its own resources. Ms Considine added that "this is a huge commitment and doesn't create any additional revenues for Shannon". The recently appointed CEO stated that if the airport was able to access funds for such work from the regional airport programme, it would free up funding for the hub for route development down the road. Ms Considine told councillors that the airport was projecting a return to passenger growth this year based in part on Aer Lingus increasing its capacity out of Shannon by 20pc. She said the 20pc includes two new routes to Barcelona and Paris Charles De Gaulle. Ms Considine also called on the incoming Government to provide additional funding toward route development. She stated that Budget 2020 was a really good first step but more funds were needed, particularly to further develop air services into EU hubs. She concluded: "We are not looking for handouts; this support is going direct to airlines." Dramatic CCTV footage captured the remarkable moment a 77-year-old man fought off a mugger who tried to steal from him outside a supermarket in Cardiff. The unnamed victim stopped outside the branch of Sainsburys in the Welsh capital to get some cash on February 5. Footage captured on the stores security cameras showed him getting out the car in a seemingly empty car park to withdraw some cash. As the elderly victim walks away from the cash point, he is intercepted by the attempted mugger, wearing a high-vis jacket, who grabs him and shoves him against a bin. The attempted mugging took place outside a Sainsburys store in Cardiff. (SWNS) The penioner, however, then starts to fight back - shoving his attacker away before throwing punches at the man. As the two men pivot quickly around, the pensioner is left facing the CCTV camera outside the Sainsburys store in Cardiff, Wales - and can be seen shouting, "Come on, then". The pensioner successfully fought off the suspect, who made off empty-handed towards the path leading to Colchester Avenue. South Wales Police said the victim was using the cash machine when he was approached by the individual who demanded the cash and his bank card. READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK: Detective Constable Stephen Mayne, from South Wales Police, said: "The victim in this case showed great bravery, however he has been left shaken. "We would encourage anyone who knows him [the suspect] to please come forward." The suspect was carrying a black ruck sack and was wearing a high-vis vest and black hat with a white motif on the front. Gaborone (Botswana), 18 February 2020 (SPS) - Saharawi Ambassador to Botswana and Permanent Representative to SADC, Mr. Malainin Mohamed, presented Today his governments condolences to the High Commission of Mozambique to Botswana, on the sad occasion of the passing away of the late Mozambican and Pan-African leader Marcelino Dos Santos. The Saharawi Ambassador signed the book of condolences expressing Saharawi governments condolences on the occasion of the sad loss of one of Africas great sons, an intellectual and a freedom-fighter who has always supported all African nations rights to peace, freedom and independence. Marcelino dos Santos was born on 20 May 1929 in Lumbo, Mozambique. He studied in Portugal and France and was among the first Pan-Africanists to advocate among African students in Europe for the liberation of African countries from colonialism. He was a founding member of FRILIMO and played a crucial role in the leadership of Mozambiques liberation as a brilliant communicator and representative of his country and movement in all international forums, then as a member of the FRILIMO highest leadership assuming ministerial positions. He passed away this Tuesday 11 February 2020 at the age of 90. (SPS) 062/SPS/SADREMBW An eco-friendly funeral alternative prepares to launch next year in America after a successful pilot. Recompose, a public benefit corporation founded by Katrina Spade aims to offer funeral alternatives and burial methods. According to their website, the service they offer "gently converts human remains into the soil." Washington State Governor Jay Inslee legalized the process known as "natural organic reduction"--- the process that converts human remains into soil. The law was signed on May 21, 2019, and will go into effect on May 1, 2020. Recompose's "human composting service" will be the first of its kind in the world when it launches in Washington state in 2021. This funeral alternative claims the process minimizes waste and pollution that normal processes emit. It also claims to emit lesser carbon footprints. The pilot study saw six dead bodies fully decomposed within 30 days. The process involves placing the body of the deceased in a reusable hexagonal steel container along with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. The body is slowly rotated and goes through carefully controlled conditions until it fully breaks down into soil. Natural Organic Reduction turns out two cubic yards of soil within 30 days. The process was also found to have destroyed many varieties of disease-causing organisms. Pharmaceuticals and other drugs were also reduced by the process. At the end of the process, the containers are screened for non-organic materials to ensure all that remains is soil. Families are able to take home some of the soil created after the process is finished. Katrina Spade, Recompose's founder, credited climate change as a big factor why people are now interested in the funeral alternative. "The project has moved forward so quickly because of the urgency of climate change and the awareness we have to put it right," she told BBC. The process has taken Professor Lynne Carpenter Boggs, a soil scientist, four years to perfect. The results of their study in 2018 deemed the process safe and effective. All six subjects in the trial were volunteers who had given their consent before their deaths. How much will the service cost? According to their website, the pricing for their funeral alternative service is still in the works. They did, however, state they are aiming to make the service available at a price of $5,500. Their services will include transportation of the body of the deceased, a death certificate, and the process itself. Recompose states they hope to make their services affordable and a permanent death care option. Who can avail of the service? The service is open to everyone except those who have died of prion disease or a highly contagious disease. Recompose is currently only offering the funeral alternative service to humans. How did Recompose start? Recompose started when Katrina, the founder, was attracted natural burials and the idea of it. In 2014, she received funding from Echoing Green Climate Fellowship. She began collaborating with researchers after she founded her non-profit Urban Death Project. From 2014 to 2016, Spade and her team raised awareness of the problem of a toxic industry and researched laws and legalities surrounding death care. They worked with Western Carolina University in performing several model human decomposition studies. Spade closed Urban Death Project and founded Recompose in 2017 in hopes of piloting the eco-friendly recomposition system. Recompose|SEATTLE aims to open by early 2021. The Minister for Social Protection acted unlawfully in not having any appropriate process in place for determining a Jobseeker's Allowance application by a homeless woman and others with "transient accommodation arrangements", the Court of Appeal (COA) has declared. The declaration, made today, relates to when the woman applied for the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) in 2016 but, in its recent judgment on her case, the COA noted it had heard "nothing" on behalf of the Minister to address the "simple" question of where a homeless person will apply for JSA in the future. Last month, the three-judge COA granted an appeal by the woman, who held onto her part-time job after becoming homeless, over being refused JSA for several months in 2016 because she could not give an address in the relevant social welfare catchment area. That refusal was outside the power of the Minister, the COA ruled. The woman, an EU citizen who came here from Latvia nine years ago, was earning between 60 and 180 weekly in 2016 as a sales assistant in a Dublin shop and was also entitled to access social welfare payments because of her low earnings. After becoming homeless in early 2016, she resorted to couch surfing with friends in Dublin and other locations, used hostels other nights when she had money to do so and slept rough in Dublin Airport and two rail stations. The COA had rejected arguments the case had become moot or pointless because some 2,450 in arrears of JSA were later paid to her. Mr Justice Robert Haughton, giving the court's judgment, said it would make declarations to ensure "all possible support" to homeless people who have entitlements and because the woman might again find herself homeless and seeking JSA in the future. Today, it made two declarations. It declared, by virtue of a letter dated September 14, 2016, from Clondalkin Intreo Centre to the woman's solicitor, Eileen McCabe, the Minister acted outside her powers in requiring the woman, in applying for JSA, to provide evidence she was currently residing in a particular Intreo catchment area. It also declared that, on the date of that letter, the Minister acted unlawfully in failing to have in place, or publicise, any appropriate process for inviting, making, receiving and determining applications for JSA for a person with transient accommodation arrangements such as the woman. She had appealed after losing High Court proceedings over not being paid JSA between April and September 2016. She got the allowance in January 2017, with payments backdated to April 2016. In November 2015, she moved to shared accommodation in Clondalkin and applied to have her JSA processed by the Department's Intreo office there. She had to leave her Clondalkin accommodation in February 2016 because she could not afford the rent and claimed the Clondalkin office told her in May 2016 it could not deal with her case because she was homeless and she should contact the Department's homeless unit which told her it did not process JSA applications. In July 2016, when she looked for housing assistance, Dublin City Council referred her to South Dublin County Council which referred her back to DCC which put her in emergency accommodation. Due to "open drug use" and incidents of violence, she left that to stay with friends and, if she had enough money, in hostels or elsewhere. While Democratic presidential contenders are beating up on Michael Bloomberg for his record of supporting stop-and-frisk policing tactic that targeted minorities, a state official has come out in support of a smartly executed form of this practice. Brandon Flood, secretary of the state Board of Pardons, recently shared on WHP580s Ken Matthews Show (around the 25:50 mark in the recording of the interview) that his personal opinion is that it could help to combat urban gun violence. It can be smartly done and I think weve exhausted other options. At the end of the day, if its not working we can always discontinue it. Again, thats me. Thats Brandon Floods position, said Flood, who last year received a pardon for his drug dealing and illegal handgun possession convictions. He also was a victim of gun violence, having survived getting shot three times in uptown Harrisburg 14 years ago. Flood said he came to his position on this controversial policing tactic that Bloomberg has since apologized for supporting in the wake of the unsolved murder of his friend Ernest Egypt Warren in November and the uptick in shootings and homicides in Harrisburg, which is off to its deadliest start in years logging four murders already this year. Stop and frisk is a two-part process, said Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo. Police can detain someone for questioning if they believe there is criminal activity afoot. However, a pat-down only should occur if the person is believed to be armed and dangerous. The law is clear about that, he said. These are the limited circumstances that allow this. When police do a pat-down and the circumstances dont warrant it, the evidence gets suppressed and any charges filed get tossed out by a judge. Where this tactic has become an issue is when it gets applied disproportionately to minorities. Flood said he understands stop and frisk runs up against concerns about racial profiling and the constitutional protection against illegal search and seizure. But he said he believes the tactic narrowly applied to searching for illegal guns could help to stem the shootings and murders happening in Harrisburg and perhaps other urban areas. If its not a freaking gun on that person, were not even going to take you in, he said, explaining his position about how the policing tactic could serve as a zero tolerance policy for illegal gun possession. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who appointed Flood to his position to oversee the day-to-day operations at the pardons board, distanced himself from Floods position on stop and frisk but indicated Flood is entitled to his opinion. Any member of my staff is free to share their opinion as a private citizen, Fetterman said in a statement. Those personal views are distinctly their own and are in no way affiliated with the PA Board of Pardons or my office, which oversees the board. Stop and frisk has been highly criticized in New York City, where Bloomberg implemented it during his time as mayor, and in Philadelphia, among other places, for unfairly and disproportionately impacting minorities. The American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuits in both cities as a result. A 2011 settlement agreement reached between Philadelphia and the ACLU of Pennsylvania requires the police department to collect data on all stops and frisks and store it in an electronic database. It further requires police training to ensure stops are made only when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct; searches are made when there is suspicion the suspect is armed and dangerous; and that no stop is based on the suspects race or ethnicity. Records indicate thousands of the stops occur every year in Philadelphia, and according to the ACLU of Pennsylvania. They involve far more black Philadelphians than white ones. Andy Hoover, a spokesman for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said while he was not speaking directly about Floods idea about stop and frisk, he did share the groups general view of the tactic. We dont need more individual contact between police and residents, Hoover said. That can lead to bad outcomes. Alex Domingos of Harrisburg, who is an organizer for ACLUs Campaign for Smart Justice, echoed those sentiments. Its essentially giving up our liberty, he said. In places where it has been used, its been pretty much a disaster. He said he can understand the concern Flood expressed about gun violence in the city and knows Flood cares about the community and making it safer, but he disagrees that stop and frisk is the answer. The same goes with Rep. Jake Wheatley, a member of the PA SAFE Caucus which is focused on addressing gun violence. I think urban communities are over-policed already, Wheatley said. I dont think empowering more opportunities to have law enforcement just unnecessarily stop citizens and have them do as they will, I dont really support that. Wheatley believes attacking the root causes as to why people commit violent acts is the better way to go. He suggested a strategy that entails investments in good education, high-quality jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, among other areas, could accomplish that. But he added Flood is entitled to his own opinion. Moreover, he said some have drawn a correlation to the practice and a decline in criminal activity and murders in New York City from the time Bloomberg took office until he left so he can understand why Flood might support it. He just doesnt share that perspective. Flood said his idea would first start with renaming stop and frisk which can make people become apoplectic at the mere mention. He suggests calling it the Focus-Identify-Recover-Eradicate initiative, or FIRE. The way he envisions it, police could search anyone that they suspect to be in possession of an illegal firearm. Other contraband that is discovered during the searches would be confiscated but the suspect would not charged for that to avoid filling up the prisons or the collateral consequence of a criminal record, he said. Further, the searches would only be conducted intermittently or as the incidence of crime dictates and not citywide, but in high-crime areas. Data from the stops would be reported and collected to be monitored by a citizens advisory board. That board also would field complaints about police conduct during the searches. After a two-year period, the city would evaluate the policys successes and deficiencies to determine whether it should continue, be modified or change. As someone who is the victim of gun violence and used to both carry and sell illegal firearms in the city, I know personally how easy it is to procure illegal guns in the city, Flood said in an emailed explanation of his position. Moreover, I also understand that there are scores of Harrisburg residents who know exactly what people are in possession of illegal guns, yet they choose to turn a blind eye. That said, if the residents are disinclined to police their own communities when it comes to the proliferation of illegal guns, then we have to explore other alternative, albeit controversial methods. Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter said he was unfamiliar with what Flood was proposing but is planning to meet with him to discuss ideas to reduce crime and help the citys young people. I would need to research the ideas, Carter said of Floods proposal, adding that any changes in policy could have legal ramifications that would need to include the district attorneys office. Staff writer Christine Vendel contributed to this article. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A woman who was shot in the head last week was sent home with a band-aid and a bullet still lodged in her skull after doctors said the injury was just a graze. Shakena Jefferson, 42, was shot in the head by a stray bullet as she walked to get groceries with her wife near their home in Southwest Miami-Dade last week. Jefferson was rushed to the nearby Jackson Memorial South Medical Center, but doctors sent her home without giving her an X-ray, according to Janet Medley, the victim's wife. The hospital put a band-aid over the wound after deciding it was just a graze. Shakena Jefferson, 42, is pictured after being rushed to Baptist Hospital in Kendall, Miami for emergency surgery on Friday Jefferson is pictured at the door to her Miami home while recovering from last week's shooting The couple are pictured here before the incident in Miami last week. Jefferson (right) was told the bullet wound was just a graze and was dismissed without undergoing an X-ray Medley said Jefferson was still complaining about the pain days later. 'When we got home, she started complaining about, "Bae, I got a headache. I got a headache. I got a headache,' Medley told WSVN. Medley took her wife to the Baptist Hospital in Kendall, where they located the bullet and performed emergency surgery. Medley told NBCMiami her wife 'still feels like the bullet is in her head.' The couple told ABC they were planning to take action against the original hospital for their oversight. Janet Medley (pictured) said her wife 'still feels like the bullet is in her head' after the drive-by shooting in Miami last week Clive Khouri, another victim of the shooting, said that he was kissing his boyfriend in his car in Southwest Miami-Dade last week when the ATV drove up and let fire 'They put the Band-Aid on her head, gave her antibiotics and just sent her home,' Medley said. Jefferson was one of three victims after a group of men in an ATV opened fire on a vehicle on Southwest 191st Lane near 113th Place, local10 reported. Clive Khouri said he was kissing his boyfriend in his car when the shots started. He said that he tried to 'speed off' but that the suspects 'kept trying to shoot'. Khouri sustained a minor injury but his boyfriend was rushed to hospital in critical condition after being shot in the head. All of the victims were gay but Miami police are not treating the incident as a hate crime. Flyers right winger Travis Konecny reaching for the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets center Riley Nash on Oct. 26. The Flyers rallied for a 7-4 victory. Read more The Flyers would climb into third place in the Metropolitan Division by defeating the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They would fall out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot below the two wild cards if they pick up one point (or less) and Carolina defeats Nashville. Such is life in the oh-so-crowded playoff race. Goalie matchup Carter Hart (17-12-3, 2.59 goals-against average, .906 save percentage) will make his third straight start for the Flyers and just his second career appearance against the Blue Jackets. Hart, 21, has a 4.15 GAA and .790 save percentage vs. the Blue Jackets. He will face an attack that has scored just 155 goals, second fewest in the Eastern Conference. Hart will be opposed by Elvis Merzlikins, who is 12-8-6 with a 2.21 GAA and .928 save percentage. Merzlikins, 25, who is having an outstanding rookie season, has never faced the Flyers. In his last 10 games, he has a 1.69 GAA and .941 save percentage. First-period blues The Flyers have been outscored, 63-50, in the first period this season. The minus-13 goal differential in the first period is third worst in the NHL. In their last three losses, they have been outscored by a combined 6-0 in the opening period. It hasnt been all year, but there have been a few games in the first where we havent played our best right away, captain Claude Giroux said after Tuesdays morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. We have to come out hard because we know they will. After struggling in opening periods, the Flyers have gotten stronger later in games. They have outscored opponents, 75-54, in the third period. That plus-21 differential is third best in the league. Ghost update Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere skated for the third straight day and said his surgically repaired left knee was feeling good. Definitely a step in the right direction, he said. Gostisbehere will not play Tuesday and is doubtful for Thursdays game in Columbus. He said he did not know if he needed a rehab stint with the AHLs Phantoms, and there seems a slight chance he would be available Saturday against Winnipeg. Asked if he could play Thursday, Gostisbehere said he was huffing and puffing during drills Tuesday. For me, wind is a big factor right now, so I have to get that back. Gostisbehere needs one point to reach the 200 mark in his career. Breakaways Giroux has 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 31 career games against the Blue Jackets. He has 234 power-play assists and needs one more to break Bobby Clarkes franchise record. James van Riemsdyk and Giroux have five-game point streaks. The Flyers are 30-0-3 when leading or tied after two periods; they are 2-20-4 when trailing after two periods. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Fluor Corp. (FLR) said that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an investigation of the company's past accounting and financial reporting. The SEC has asked documents and information related to projects for which the company recorded charges in the second quarter of 2019. Responding to the SEC's data requests, the company is reviewing its prior period reporting and related control environment. So, the company does not expect to complete and file its annual report on Form 10-K prior to the end of February. Meanwhile, the company said it has decided to retain the Government segment which will cease to be reported as a discontinued operation in the first quarter of 2020. But, the company noted that its plan to sell the AMECO equipment business remains unchanged. It is the company's intent to have made significant progress with one or more potential buyers by the end of the second quarter. For 2020, Fluor expects adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, which includes the Government business, to be in the range of $1.40 to $1.60 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $1.51 per share for 2020. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. * Deal follows failed Alstom-Siemens combination * Rail firms trying to face up to Chinese competition * Deal values Bombardier unit at 5.8-6.2 billion euros (Recasts with deal confirmation, details) By Gwenaelle Barzic and Allison Lampert PARIS/MONTREAL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - France's Alstom said on Monday it had agreed to buy the train division of Canada's Bombardier for up to 6.2 billion euros ($6.7 billion), in the latest bid by Western rail companies to bulk up in the face of Chinese competition. Alstom, the maker of TGV bullet trains that speed between French cities such as Paris and Nice, said it would pay a mix of cash and new shares for the deal, adding the combined businesses were complementary geographically. Rail firms are trying to build scale to compete with China's CRRC Corp, the world's largest train maker, but they also face potential antitrust hurdles. Alstom was blocked last year by European regulators from merging with Germany's Siemens, while a previous flirtation between Siemens and debt-laden Bombardier to combine some train businesses fell apart in 2017. The French government, which had criticised the EU's veto on the Siemens merger, immediately welcomed the transaction. "This deal will allow Alstom to prepare for the future, against the backdrop of increasingly intense international competition," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a statement, adding he was due to discuss it with the EU's antitrust boss Margrethe Vestager on Tuesday. The companies said they expected the deal to close in the first half of 2021, after clearance from regulators. Under the terms of the transaction, one of the Bombardier division's shareholders, Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, will become the lead investor in Alstom with an 18% stake. The deal gives Bombardier's rail unit an enterprise value - equity plus debt - of $8.2 billion. Train makers are eyeing consolidation to reduce costs through scale and improve thin rolling stock margins. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin and has plants worldwide including at Derby in central England, Mannheim in Germany and Crespin in northern France, close to an Alstom site. European regulators had argued the Alstom-Siemens deal could hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. Some analysts have said there could be less opposition to a deal this time as Alstom and Bombardier have a lower combined European market share in high-speed rail and signalling. BOMBARDIER DEBT An agreement with Bombardier unites companies with an estimated $17 billion in combined revenues. They would be able to reach annual cost savings of 400 million euros from the fourth year, Alstom said. The deal will help Bombardier improve its financial position. It faced a cash crunch in 2015 while bringing a new plane to market, and has been considering selling assets. It said on Monday it would receive net proceeds of between $4.2 and $4.5 billion from the transaction, once a portion goes to Caisse, and added it would use the funds to pay down some of its $9.3 billion in debt. Last week, Bombardier sold its stake in the A220 passenger jet programme to Airbus and the Quebec government. It has been struggling to contain higher rail costs generated by problematic contracts in its nearly $36 billion order backlog. The deal risks leaving Siemens out in the cold following several years of exploratory talks alongside Bombardier and Alstom on rail joint ventures. A source close to Siemens said there was no sign the firm was planning any type of counterbid, given EU regulators' tough stance on its previous attempts. Germany's IG Metall union called on the German government to look at the matter and raised concerns about an Alstom-Bombardier deal, saying it "would not accept any consolidation at the expense of Germany" should EU regulators allow this combination. State-owned Deutsche Bahn is a big customer of both firms. ($1 = 0.9229 euros) (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Matthieu Protard, Michel Rose, Laetitia Volga and Maya Nikolaeva in Paris, Alexander Huebner in Munich and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Writing by Sarah White; Editing by David Holmes and Mark Potter) Police in Kazakhstan's southern region of Zhambyl have arrested three ethnic Dungan brothers who allegedly were involved in a road-rage brawl thought to have triggered ethnic clashes that left 11 people dead. The Prosecutor-General's Office said on February 18 that the three brothers from the Voingui family had been charged with assaulting police. Their case has been sent to the Qordai District Court. Prosecutors say police stopped a car driven by one of the brothers in the village of Sortobe on February 7. They said the man was told to follow them to a nearby police station because he had failed to produce a valid driving license and registration documents for the car. But authorities say the man refused to do so and, instead, ran inside a private house where two of his brothers were. The Prosecutor-General's Office says all three brothers then ran out of the house and attacked the police. Video of the clash shows the three brothers, apparently unarmed, trying to punch police officers while authorities attempt to restrain them. The video was posted on social media by witnesses who presented the incident as being linked to a February 7 road-rage brawl between two groups of men in separate vehicles. Kazakh authorities said earlier that the road-rage brawl sparked wider violence between local Kazakhs and Kazakh citizens from the ethnic Dungan minority, a Muslim group of Chinese origin. The deadly violence in the villages of Sortobe, Masanchi, Auqatty, and Bulan-Batyr left 11 people dead and dozens injured, including 19 police officers. More than 30 houses, 17 commercial buildings, and 47 vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the ethnic clashes. More than 20,000 people, mostly Dungans, fled villages where the violence erupted. Many of them ended up in the neighboring Kyrgyz region of Chui, where the majority of ethnic Dungans in Central Asia reside. Kazakh officials say the majority of the displaced Dungans returned to Kazakhstan several days later. It is not clear how many Dungans from Kazakhstan remain in Kyrgyzstan. Many senior regional officials, including the local police chief, were sacked by Kazakhstan's central government in the aftermath of the clashes. Dungans, also known as Hui, are Sunni Muslims who speak a dialect of Mandarin that also uses words and phrases borrowed from Arabic, Persian, and Turkic. Their ancestors fled from China to Central Asia, which then was part of the Russian Empire, in the late 19th century after the Chinese governments violent crackdown of the Dungan Revolt of 1862-77. The total number of Dungans now living in former Soviet republics is about 120,000. Most reside in Kyrgyzstan's northern region of Chui and Kazakhstan's neighboring region of Zhambyl. With reporting by Tengrinews and Kazinform She's become known for daring fashion choices. And Anya Taylor-Joy made another bold style statement as she arrived at the Good Morning America studios in New York City on Monday. The Emma star, 23, looked sensational in the Halpern ensemble which consisted of a black puffball dress with a leopard print trim which she teamed with matching tights and heeled shows. Wow! Anya Taylor-Joy made a statement in a striking leopard print puffball dress as she arrived at the Good Morning American studios in New York City on Monday Anya displayed her stunned alabaster complexion as she arrived at GMA in her statement dress which boasted an elegant off-the-shoulder neckline and long sleeves with the leopard trim. The dress them fell into a black puffed skirt with a shimmering effect, which heavily contrasted with the animal print. Anya teamed the statement dress with matching printed tights and strapped shoes with a block heel, creating a look that was hard to miss as she headed into the studio. The acclaimed actress pulled her straight blonde tresses into a low up-do, and added an extra pop of colour with a statement red lip. Jaw-dropping: The Emma star looked sensational in the Halpern ensemble which consisted of a black puffball dress with a leopard print trim Jaw-dropping: Anya was the centre of attention as she sported the gorgeous dress with a leopard print sleeves and trim across the neckline Anya appeared on GMA to chat about her role in the period drama Emma, which the latest adaptation of the iconic Jane Austen novel. It tells the story of the 'handsome, clever and rich' Emma Woodhouse who spends her time meddling in the love lives of her friends and those around her. The film also stars Bill Nighy, Miranda Hart and Mia Goth, and is the directorial debut for fashion photographer Autumn de Wilde. Big star: Her outing comes as she continues to be praised for her performance in the latest adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, which was released on Valentine's Day Anya has spoken openly about the film's level of male nudity, and recently said that they 'weren't shy' about including such racy scenes in the picture. Speaking on the UK chat show Lorraine, she explained that there is a scene in the film when Lovesick star Johnny Flynn - who plays George Knightley - rips off his clothes in a nod to the famous Colin Firth scene in Pride and Prejudice. She said: 'We weren't shy about [male nudity] in the film. We thought it was about time that we utilise the female gaze! It was time for that.' Turning heads: The dress flowed into a shimmering black puffball skirt, and to make the look even more eye-catching, she teamed it with leopard print tights and matching block heels Of the period drama and the choice for the male costumes, Anya went on: 'It was also interesting, because no one really knows how the men got dressed... 'You see a lot of scenes of women pulling the corsets and all of that, but the whole production of men getting dressed too, you couldn't do it by yourself if you were wealthy, and so it was interesting.' Anya's rise to fame began when she was 16 on a shopping trip to Harrods, when she was spotted by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Models and the woman who similarly discovered Kate Moss. After embarking on a catwalk career, ambitious Anya broke into the film business in 2015 in the horror movie The Witch. The old Marian hostel on High Street, Tullamore, will open its doors as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers before the end of this month, the Offaly Express can confirm. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the newly named Marian Hostel Accommodation Centre will open as an accommodation centre for people in the International Protection process, also known as asylum seekers, in February 2020. The centre will eventually be home to 168 people, made up of small families and single people. Residents will move into the centre on a phased basis while their claims for international protection are being examined. The centre will consist of the Marian Hostel as well as dedicated spaces for families and singles. The Department says "this will ensure additional privacy and comfort for all residents." The centre will facilitate independent living for residents. This means that all residents will have access to cooking facilities and an in-house food hall where they can get their groceries using a cashless points-based system. The centre also features a dining area and recreational spaces. The centre has an onsite laundry facility and will also provide an outsourced service for larger items when required. Families will live in a dedicated area of the centre, with its own cooking and recreational area, while single individuals will live in a separate area of the centre, also with their own cooking and recreational space. Staff will be on-site 24/7 and will be available to answer any questions the community may have, the Department said in correspondence circulated to councillors and the Chief Executive of Offaly County Council today. Following a regional procurement process, the Marian Hostel was offered to the Department of Justice and Equality by Bridgestock Care. Bridgestock Care will employ up to 20 locally based staff who will oversee management, reception, catering, housekeeping and general maintenance of the centre. Bridgestock Care has committed to sourcing all supplies from within the locality, wherever possible. Tullamore previously accommodated international protection applicants when Bridgestock Care managed an accommodation centre on Church Road from 2004 to 2006. Cllr Sean O'Brien has expressed concern with the way he says the centre is being opened without any public consultation. "I am very concerned with how this new refugee centre has been foisted on the people of Tullamore without an ounce of consultation. I do not have a problem with assisting refugees as they have been through a horrific experience and need help, but the Government should have called meetings and explained what was proposed and listened to local concerns," he said. "My main concern is that there seems to be plenty of resources for these centres but there is nothing for the hundreds of local people who are looking for a place to stay and a home," he added. "Every day of the week I get calls from people seeking help with housing and they are in a desperate state. I have raised this at every Council meeting and only last Tuesday we had a long debate about the urgency of the housing problem. I have a very serious issue with the approach of the council management and the Government with regards to providing public housing with a mere handful of houses for local people," continued Cllr O' Brien. "People locally who are homeless are being told to go to centres in Athlone and Longford. I asked last year that the Council purchase the Marian Hostel and use it to provide badly needed accommodation for local people but they refused. Questions were asked about Government plans for a refugee centre but no answers were given, yet these plans were being nurtured in the background. "I got a call from Minister Flanagan's office today to state that the contract had been signed for this centre in Tullamore. I have to suspect that this announcement was delayed until after the recent election," concluded Cllr O' Brien. A meeting with Department officials and councillors from the Municipal District of Tullamore will take place in Council buildings this Thursday, February 20. Officials from this Department, along with the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE will attend to answer questions. Representatives from the company who own and will be running the centre, Bridgestock Care Ltd, will also be in attendance. . A man charged with serious sexual offences who allegedly raped a 13-year-old he met on Snapchat while on bail will have his legal proceedings "urgently reviewed" by the state Attorney-General. Jason Humphreys was charged last year with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, one count of sexual touching without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choking a woman. Jason Humphreys was arrested at a truck stop in Panania on Monday afternoon. Credit:NSW Police Media He was granted bail ahead of a trial for those charges in the District Court. Police will allege while he was on bail, he met a 13-year-old girl on Snapchat, groomed her and repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted her. But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: At a time the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) threatens to strain the ties between Bengalis and Assamese in Assam, a government body has decided to offer financial assistance to couples who entered into inter-community marriages. The Assam Linguistic Minority Development Board (ALMDB) said the financial aid would be provided keeping in mind the welfare of the families. Some couples are deprived of property rights by their families for inter-community marriage. Some others face a social boycott. As a result, they suffer a lot but they have the right to live. We want to do something for these families. They can earn a living by opening a paan shop etc, ALMDB chairman Alok Kumar Ghose told journalists. He said they would soon decide on the amount of aid to be given stating that it could be Rs.20,000 or Rs.50,000. Marriages between Bengalis and Assamese are common in Assam. People from the two communities also work in partnership in various other fields. The All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation welcomed the ALMDBs move but the All Assam Minority Students Union alleged it was divisive. Ghose has no doubt the move would go a long way. Bengali and Assamese people share a bond of amity. We want to consolidate it further. The Bengalis in Assam feel proud to identify themselves as Bongobhasi Assamese. Their mother tongue could be Bengali but they consider themselves as Assamese, Ghose said. He said the Bengalis in Assam never sought the CAA as they had already got assimilated into the Assamese society. Bhupen Hazarika had brought Bengalis and Assamese closer to each other. He had sung the same songs in both Bengali and Assamese. As a mark of respect to him, we have decided to erect his statue in Siliguri, West Bengal, Ghose said. The New York Times Jeff Bezos, Amazons chief executive and the worlds richest man, said on Monday that he was committing $10 billion to address the climate crisis in a new initiative he called the Bezos Earth Fund. The effort will fund scientists, activists and nongovernmental organizations, he said in a post on Instagram. Bezos, who has been pushed by Amazon employees on climate issues, said he expected to start issuing grants this summer. Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet, he wrote. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share. Bezos has in the past done little philanthropy. With a net worth of $130 billion, he long preferred to focus on Amazon and other private ventures, such as Blue Origin, which makes rockets. Bezos also owns The Washington Post. More recently, Bezos has ramped up his giving. His largest donation to date was $2 billion, unveiled in September 2018, to help homeless families and build a network of Montessori preschools, an effort that he announced with his then-wife, MacKenzie. After the couple divorced last year, MacKenzie Bezos said she had signed the Giving Pledge, which asks the worlds richest people to commit to giving away at least half their wealth during their lifetime or in their wills. Jeff Bezos has not signed the pledge. In September, Jeff Bezos unveiled the Climate Pledge, in which he said Amazon would meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement 10 years ahead of schedule and would be carbon-neutral by 2040. As part of the pledge, he said Amazon was ordering 100,000 electric delivery trucks from Rivian, a Michigan-based company that Amazon has invested in. At the time, Bezos said Earths climate was changing faster than predicted by the scientific community five years ago. Those predictions were bad but what is actually happening is dire, he said. Bezos made that pledge after Amazons employees agitated on climate change. For a year, workers pressed Amazon to be more aggressive in its climate goals, staging walkouts and talking publicly about how the company could do better. With vast data centers that power cloud computing, and a global network for shipping and delivering packages, Amazons own effect on the environment is substantial. In September, the company revealed its own carbon footprint for the first time, disclosing it emitted about 44.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018 the equivalent of burning almost 600,000 tanker trucks worth of gasoline. That would put them in the top 150 or 200 emitters in the world, alongside oil and gas producers and industrial manufacturers, Bruno Sarda, president of CDP North America, a nonprofit organization that encourages carbon disclosures, said in an interview at the time. Amazon employees cheered the companys Climate Pledge, but continued to push executives to stop providing cloud computing services to the oil and gas industry. They argued that making fossil fuel exploration and extraction less expensive would make it harder for the global economy to transition toward using more renewable energy. Amazon has resisted the pressure, saying in a policy statement that the energy industry should have access to the same technologies as other industries. Some employees have also said Amazon has retaliated against them for their activism. Amazon has said the employees should channel their ideas through internal forums, like company meetings and lunch sessions with the sustainability team. The workers, through their group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, said on Monday that although they applauded Bezos philanthropy, one hand cannot give what the other is taking away. As employees, here is our statement to Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund announcement (as an image): pic.twitter.com/opgcCpa67D Amazon Employees For Climate Justice (@AMZNforClimate) February 17, 2020 They added, The people of Earth need to know: When is Amazon going to stop helping oil and gas companies ravage Earth with still more oil and gas wells? When is Amazon going to stop funding climate-denying think tanks like the Competitive Enterprise Institute and climate-delaying policy? Margaret OMara, a professor at the University of Washington who studies the history of tech companies, called the new Bezos fund a very powerful statement and said the Amazon chief executives actions followed the steps that other tech moguls, such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, had taken to address the warming planet. Philanthropy, she added, typically comes in the wake of amassing great fortunes. This is yet another reminder that we are in a second Gilded Age, she said. Bezos provided only rudimentary details about what the Bezos Earth Fund would do and did not directly address priorities that he would support, other than any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world. As history has taught us, true visionaries stand up against entrenched systems, often at great cost to themselves. We applaud Jeff Bezos philanthropy, but one hand cannot give what the other is taking away. Amazon Employees For Climate Justice (@AMZNforClimate) February 17, 2020 Since at least high school, Bezos has seen space exploration as a way to preserve the Earth. He has posited the idea that heavy industry could be in space, leaving the planet cleaner for human use. If you want to protect the Earth, save the Earth, we have to go to space, he said in a speech a year ago. The new fund will provide donations, rather than make investments that Bezos would expect to see a profit from, according to a person with knowledge of the plan who was not authorized to speak publicly. The new fund is not connected to Amazon. The donation is one of the largest known commitments made by an individual, according to a database run by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Even if Bezos were to spend all $10 billion immediately, he would still remain the worlds richest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This month, Bezos sold more than $4 billion in Amazon shares as part of a prearranged trading plan, according to regulatory filings. Amazon declined to comment on the share sales. Bezos has also been spending his fortune in other ways. He recently agreed to pay $165 million for a Beverly Hills estate owned by David Geffen, the media mogul and co-founder of DreamWorks. Separately, Bezos Expeditions, which oversees The Post and Bezos charitable foundation, is buying 120 undeveloped acres in Beverly Hills for $90 million, though the deal is not complete. Karen Weise c.2020 The New York Times Company Central African Republic (CAR) government confirmed that 12 militiamen were killed in a clash with the United Nations peacekeeping forces on February 18. CAR has been a hotbed of inter-communal violence since 2013 and armed groups still control a large part of the mineral-rich nation. CAR President Faustin Archange Touadera recently called on international partners to help clamp down on groups violating the terms of a peace deal that was signed a year ago between the government and 14 rebel militias. On February 7, five leaders of a predominantly Christian militia were handed life sentences for their crimes against humanity, slaughtering dozens of Muslims in May 2017. Read: India Calls For Making Selection Of UN Peacekeepers More Stringent Read: UN Peacekeeping Helicopter Crashes In Central Africa, 3 Dead: UN Force Guterres welcomed decision Apart from the five leaders, 28 militia members were given prison sentence ranging from 10-15 years for several violent crimes, including the murder of civilians as well as 10 UN peacekeepers. It was hailed as a major step forward in the fight against impunity there. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had welcomed the decision, saying the verdict is an important demonstration of the determination of the authorities of the Central African Republic to bring to justice those responsible for serious crimes, which is crucial." Read: UN Peacekeeping Helicopter Crashes In Central African Republic, 3 Dead Read: Indian Army Officer On UN Peacekeeping Mission Goes Missing In Congo (With inputs from agencies) CAMBRIDGE, England, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of the IDTechEx Show! Berlin, May 13-14, 2020, IDTechEx looks back at the stories of some companies propelled to success by the IDTechEx Launchpad initiative. The IDTechEx Launchpad is an area of the exhibition intended to break down the barriers to success for small, innovative businesses. Set up with startups and young companies in mind, it is free for eligible researchers and companies to participate and demonstrate their state-of-the-art technologies to over 2,500 people at this international event. IDTechEx This year, IDTechEx takes note of the electrifying success stories of previous Launchpad exhibitors. Past Launchpad participant UbiQD recently won 'NASA follow-up for hydroponics in space'. The New Mexico company developing quantum dots for optical applications has won a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract from NASA. Vaporsens, a high-technology company based in Salt Lake City, who was a Launchpad exhibitor in 2017, was contracted by the Department of Homeland Security to create a device for first responders. DHS provided nearly $3 million to small businesses for the research. cosinuss exhibited in 2017 and has recently been featured in Forbes. Their device, degree, is a combination between a wearable in-ear thermometer and an assisting app that can track body temperature and provide intelligent treatment suggestions. Continuous temperature tracking as offered by these hearables could help pediatricians reliably monitor a child's health. VSParticle cofounder Aaike van Vugt was listed in 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2019', just one year after his Launchpad debut, and has unveiled a Nanoparticle Generator. The Dutch tech company has developed a device that can create and print materials with quantum properties. Saule Technologies first attended an IDTechEx Show! through the Launchpad initiative in 2017. Their inventive solar energy solutions have seen them rocket to success they now have perovskite technology featured in the Henn-na Hotel in Japan, the world's most innovative hotel. IDTechEx welcomes Launchpad applications from early-stage startups, universities, newly spun-out companies, research labs and government labs who will be demonstrating a working prototype or product that highlights new advances in any related event topic of wearable technology, printed and flexible electronics, graphene, electric vehicles or sensors. It can include, for example, e-textiles, smart eyewear, stretchable electronics, innovative sensor systems, flexible displays, smart packaging and more. For more information and to apply please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Launchpad2020 Media Contact: Jessica Abineri Marketing Coordinator [email protected] +44(0)1223 812300 Related Images idtechex-launchpad-do-you-have-an.jpg IDTechEx Launchpad: Do you have an innovative & emerging product? Visit www.IDTechEx.com/Launchpad2020 to apply now. Related Links IDTechEx Show Connecting Emerging Technologies With Global Brands | 13 - 14 May 2020 | Estrel Convention Center, Berlin, Germany Further IDTechEx Research SOURCE IDTechEx Related Links http://www.idtechex.com/Launchpad2020 Depending on which hotel you book, a "staycation" could offer a more luxurious vacation. That's because the 2020 edition of the Forbes Travel Guide was just released and four local lodging accommodations have that coveted "4-star" rating next to their names. The four hotels that earned the prestigious title this year: Four Seasons Hotel Houston; The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa; Hotel Granduca; and The St. Regis Houston. Mike Bloombergs past comments about race have once again stirred controversy after a newly unearthed interview from 2011 showed the presidential hopeful saying black and Latino males dont know how to behave in the workplace. Mr Bloomberg was serving his third term as New York City mayor when he made the comments in an interview with PBS NewsHour. The interview was about a new $127m initiative meant to empower black and Latino men, which Mr Bloomberg was spearheading at the time. There's this enormous cohort of black and Latino males, age, let's say, 16 to 25, that don't have jobs, don't have any prospects, don't know how to find jobs, the former mayor said. He went on to suggest the cohort of black and Latino males he was referring to don't know what their skill sets are, [and] don't know how to behave in the workplace where they have to work collaboratively and collectively. The former mayor also touted New York Citys historically low crime rates under his tenure in the interview, describing it as particularly important to black and Latino kids, and their families and their neighbourhoods, because thats where the crime is. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters The comments quickly went viral online after the interview was resurfaced earlier this week. Donald Trumps supporters quickly jumped on the video, including the presidents eldest son, who wrote in a tweet: Bloomberg is everything the media claims Trump is, and they wont do anything about it. What a disgrace. The newly revisited interview also showed Mr Bloomberg saying: If you look at where crime takes place, it's in minority neighborhoods. If you look at who the victims and the perpetrators are, it's virtually all minorities. He added: This is something that has gone on for a long time, I assume its prevalent elsewhere, but its certainly true in New York City, and for many, many years people said there was just nothing you could do about it. Mr Bloomberg, one of the last Democratic candidates to launch a presidential bid during the 2020 election, has garnered significant support in recent weeks among black and brown voters. He appeared to have taken support from former Vice President Joe Biden, who analysts said previously maintained a stronghold of diverse supporters in states like South Carolina. But with his rise in the polls have come questions about his support for a controversial stop-and-frisk programme the New York City police department implemented under his tenure, which targeted minority communities and was later ruled unconstitutional. A previous recording of the former mayor speaking at the Aspen Institute in 2015 also caused trouble for his presidential campaign after it showed Mr Bloomberg seemingly defending the programme and explaining why he wanted to put all the cops in minority neighbourhoods. Ninety-five percent of murders- murderers and murder victims fit one M.O., he said. You can just take a description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16-25. That's true in New York, that's true in virtually every city. Mr Bloomberg has since apologised for supporting the controversial policy. The former mayor also launched a new initiative under his campaign titled Mike for Black America, telling a crowd of supporters: We're going to triple the wealth of black families to substantially close the racial wealth gap. We did it in New York City, we can do it here, he added. UPDATE: 12:43 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 - Congressman Doug LaMalfa has shared a statement after announcing legislation that would reinstate and strengthen the Federal funding prohibition on needle programs. LaMalfa released the following statement: Needle exchange and distribution programs as they exist today are doing nothing to get people off drugs, and our communities are suffering from these failed initiatives. By reinstating and strengthening the Federal funding prohibition on needle programs, this bill will serve as the first step to completely eliminating them. Our communities deserve more than their government pandering to drug addicts, when we could be working to rebuild our infrastructure or finding solutions to our housing crisis. The best hope of keeping drug addicts healthy while keeping our neighbors safe is to get them into treatment. By settling for harm reduction rather than helping people overcome drug addiction, law-abiding citizens deal with the fact that they may be exposed to a used needle in our parks, on our sidewalks, and virtually anywhere that an addict can sit-down and shoot-up. --- CHICO, Calif. - On Tuesday, Assemblyman James Gallagher sent a letter urging the California Department of Public Health to revoke authorization of the North Valley Harm Reduction Coalition (NVHRC) syringe distribution program. He said in part, The situation in Chico is nothing short of alarming, said Gallagher. Over the weekend, it was discovered that syringes and shoot up kits are being handed out to children. At first glance, this appears to be in direct violation of the California Health and Safety Code. Gallagher added, Additionally, it appears that NVHRC is not abiding by the conditions of its agreement with the State of California. Sensible people in Chico all agree that discarded syringe litter is not being picked up by NVHRC within a reasonable time frame, said Gallagher. In fact, in many cases, police officers are being dispatched to collect discarded needles because NVHRC isnt answering the phone. Clearly, this organization is not capable of managing this program responsibly. The state needs to step in to help stop this insanity. A full copy of Gallagher's letter can be read below this article. Congressman Doug LaMalfa has released a statement saying he is calling for a halt in the funding of needle programs, exemplified in Chico. According to the Center for Disease Control, the programs are in place to "prevent transmission of blood-borne infections, stop substance use and support public safety". RELATED: Hundreds of protesters show up for Chico City Council After sending a letter to the Director of the CDC, Congressman LaMalfa said the following: Needle exchange programs were created with the intention of helping drug users in hard-to-reach places recover from addiction while limiting diseases spread through sharing needles. In reality, these programs have quickly become a danger to our communities. The needle distribution program in Chico serves as a good example of a poorly run program that hands out needles to drug users with zero supervision or concern for how or where they plan to use them. This has led to more infected needles in our neighborhoods with no real sign of it stopping anytime soon. Our parks, shopping centers, and even parking lots are being littered with potentially dangerous biohazards. I, personally, have never been a fan of any of these programs as I believe they send a wrong and dangerous message. At any rate, we cannot risk the safety of law-abiding people by carelessly passing out free needles to those who abuse drugs. Ive asked the Centers for Disease Control to cease any funding for needle exchange programs and completely re-evaluate their approach. RELATED: Needle Distribution Controversy in Chico Action News Now spoke with the North Valley Harm Reduction coalition who said the federal government has little funding available for syringe programs and they receive theirs from the Public Health Department. "Our program has only been operating for three months, syringe litter has been a problem for much longer," they said in response to the Congressman calling out the Chico program. "We are not the only one in his district." By Kiley Russell Bay City News Foundation Santa Rosa High School senior Rocio Jimenez has a plan and it involves dahlias, a college degree and a marketing career. Jimenez, a 17-year-old Santa Rosa native, is the oldest of four siblings and will be the first in her family to attend college -- the University of Oregon, if all goes well. "I definitely feel like I'm going to a community college and then transfer to a four-year university," she said. Jimenez's path to college readiness cuts right through Santa Rosa High's agriculture program, which is part of the school's "career technical education" (CTE) class offerings. The CTE classes are designed, in part, to provide college prep course work to kids who would otherwise have a good chance at missing out on applying to a four-year university. In the past, agriculture classes were considered an alternative to college-track course work, but about 15 years ago the Santa Rosa City Schools district began working with the California Department of Education to tweak the curriculum so it would meet the entrance requirements for the University of California and California State University systems. Jimenez, president of her school's Future Farmers of America chapter, said she became interested in the agricultural programs as an incoming freshman due mainly to the social events, academic competitions and the leadership and career training opportunities. And, after participating in a school marketing competition involving an event for a local dahlia farm in which her team placed fifth in the state, Jimenez began connecting the dots to a possible career path. "It helped me go into that route of maybe considering a career," Jimenez said. "I understand it very well and I'm passionate about it." Jimenez's personal triumph is cause for optimism among educators at the district, where just 15 percent of Latino students met the UC/CSU course requirements in 2017, according to the Bay Area Equity Atlas, an online repository of data focused on the metrics of inequality in the region. That compares to 51 percent of Asian or Pacific Islander students, 40 percent of white students, 22 percent of African American students and 29 percent of all students, according to the atlas, which was developed by a partnership that includes PolicyLink, the University of Southern California's Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and the San Francisco Foundation. And while Santa Rosa City Schools officials are taking steps to address the problem, the district still ranks 70th out of 73 Bay Area school districts when it comes to college readiness, according to the Equity Atlas. The district, however, is not alone in its struggles to prepare its most vulnerable students to compete for coveted spots in the state's four-year universities because, while college readiness among all populations of Bay Area high school students increased from 44 percent to 52 percent between 2010 and 2017, students of color continue to lag behind their peers due to persistent, historical institutional barriers. For example, in 2017, 70 percent of the region's Asian or Pacific Islander students and 60 percent of white students met the UC/CSU course requirements, while only 36 percent of Latino, 34 percent of Native American and 32 percent of African American students hit that mark, according to the atlas. This persistent achievement gap starts early in students' high school careers and grows worse as they progress towards graduation. Even among students of color who are academically prepared, there is a dropoff of UC/CSU course completion rates as they progress through high school, according to a 2017 report from the Public Policy Institute of California, "Improving College Pathways in California." "It has huge implications for racial disparities," said PPIC research fellow Niu Gao, one of the report's authors. "The black and Latino gap widens quite a lot by the time students graduate from high school." According to the report, the statewide completion rate gap for college prep courses among API students, the highest performing student group, and African American and Latino students more than doubles by graduation. Part of the problem is that it's left to individual school districts to decide for themselves if college prep classes should be included as graduation requirements. "Academic preparedness is only a small part of the vast disparities we're seeing and those institutional factors - placement, counseling, progression - they play a huge role in terms of student course-taking behavior," she said. For example, Gao's report notes that among students who passed algebra 1, only 66 percent move on to the next course in the sequence. "These students are left out," Gao said. "These students failed to stay on track." If districts don't institute automatic placement requirements that put qualified students into the right classes, those students can fall victim to the subjective decision making of teachers and academic counselors, she said. "Those counselors, they have separate expectations for students based on where they came from," Gao said. "It goes back to bias, when everything is based on people's subjective criteria." In an effort to curb such abuses, at least in the state's math classrooms, the California Legislature passed the Mathematics Placement Act in 2015. The law requires districts to "develop and adopt ... a fair, objective, and transparent mathematics placement policy for pupils entering grade 9." In addition, in Jimenez's district, students who graduate in 2022 or later will be required to meet new graduation standards, which include a third year of math and a second year of language course work that meets the UC/CSU requirements. "We understand what the problem is," said Santa Rosa City Schools Superintendent Diann Kitamura. "We understand and we know that there are best practices that will gain greater access to students." Prior to the changes, many underserved students of color weren't being offered college prep courses and students entering high school had to choose between a college prep path or a career path. "The default involved a number of factors that revolved around ethnicity and color of skin," she said. Kitamura, who came to the district seven years ago, called the practices "shocking" and said the changes are designed to eliminate subjective decision making about which students progress though the college prep course work and which do not. "There is no adult meddling, so to speak," she said. "It does eliminate the adult decision about the student because they are all required to take those courses." Also, in an effort to change the way it educates and builds relationships with students of color and their families, the district is considering adopting some form of ethnic studies, and has provided "unconscious bias" training to hundreds of teachers, and hundreds more have attended training sessions at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, Kitamura said. "Moving an institution is very, very difficult, but I think that our numbers, our numerical and our qualitative data do indicate we're moving the needle," she said. "It's just slow. It's a slow methodical process because of the number of stakeholders who have to be involved in true change." For Santa Rosa High agriculture teacher Lisa Piehl, two of the key elements to moving that needle are ensuring that the courses students are interested in comply with the UC/CSU requirements and making sure those same students remain engaged and inspired. "It's about letting them have the opportunity to meet the graduation requirements, meet the UC requirements, and still be able to take the specialized courses or something that interests them and meets their human need to enjoy it," said Piehl, an 18-year classroom veteran. "Keeping that alive given all of the stuff the 21st Century teen has to go through, it's tough. It's tough to do." For students like Rocio Jimenez, however, that approach can have life-changing implications. She's nearly done with her college course requirements, thanks in large part to the school's agricultural classes that include biology, earth sciences and, via the floriculture class, fine arts. "All of our courses are more hands on," Jimenez said. "You learn visually and by doing it. I feel like that's what helped me the most in continuing to take the courses I'm taking." Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Two alleged drug peddlers were arrested with 27 kilograms of poppy in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur and Ramban districts on Tuesday, police said. A police party intercepted a Punjab-bound truck on the highway at Chenani belt of Udhampur and recovered 23 kilograms of poppy from the vehicle during a search, the police said. The truck driver, Hardeep Singh, was arrested on the spot and a case was registered in the matter, they said. During routine checking on the highway in Ramban's Chanderkote, a police party found a pedestrian moving around suspiciously with a bag and immediately signalled him to stop, the police said. The man tried to flee. The alert police team chased the suspect and nabbed him, they said. Following a search, four kilograms of poppy was recovered from his bag. The accused has been identified as Mool Raj and a case has been registered against him, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has called for the sacking of the director of broadcasting for Hong Kongs public broadcaster, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) warns against the political interference and meddling by the former chief executive in Hong Kongs media. RTHKs political news satire program Headliner, was the subject of Leung Chun-Yings (CY Leung) ire after an episode broadcast on February 14 about Hong Kongs police response to the coronavirus. He subsequently posted on his Facebook account on February 16 calling for RTHKs director of broadcasting, Leung Ka-Wing, to be fired for allegedly defaming police and threatening legal action from Hong Kongs government. RTHK is also accused by the Hong Kong Police of providing the public with false information and interfering with the ability of the government to combat the coronavirus. RTHK staff responded to a Hong Kong Police complaint, noting the program reflected questions and concerns of the broader public. While no longer in leadership, CY Leung remains an influential voice in Hong Kong and remains the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, which advises the government on policy issues. He is also known for his routine and sustained campaigns against media outlets. In 2019, CY Leung notably waged a public campaign against Hong Kong media outlet Apple Daily, which led by pro-democracy entrepreneur Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and known for its strongly anti-Beijing editorial stance. During the Apple Daily stoush, CY Leung regularly uploaded images of advertisers from the media outlet to his Facebook to put pressure on businesses not to buy ads. In March 2019, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) issued a statement raising concerns about CY Leungs comments over his disappointment with its coverage. CY Leung led Hong Kong from 2012 to 2017, when he was succeeded by Carrie Lam. The IFJ said: Commentary and satirical news is an important component of political review and media coverage. The IFJ calls on the former leader CY Leung to respect media independence and to refrain from threats against Hong Kongs public broadcaster. Such efforts reflect poorly on political leadership and serve to undermine Hong Kongs press freedom which remains enshrined in its constitution. AUSTIN Democratic Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, a fixture in the Senate for more than a decade, announced Tuesday he is vacating his post in April to take on a new endeavor as dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs. The former Austin mayor and lawyer, known as a champion of open government and transparency, told Gov. Greg Abbott in a resignation letter that his last day as a senator will be April 30. He first was elected to the Senate in 2006. Watsons departure marks the second major Democratic resignation in the past year. In September, Senate Minority Leader Jose Rodriguez of El Paso announced he wont seek re-election. Background: Legislators file bill to restore Open Meetings Act Watson said in a statement Tuesday that the job at the Hobby School of Public Affairs is an extraordinary opportunity. This is a chance to build a world-class public affairs and policy school essentially from the ground up, Watson said in a statement. It is transformative work at a creative and ambitious university, located in one of the countrys largest and most diverse cities. Watsons salary at the university will be $375,000 a year, a Hobby School of Public Affairs spokeswoman said. Abbott soon will have to schedule a special election for the remainder of Watsons four-year term, which ends in 2022. Watsons District 14, which mostly lies in Austin, leans Democratic. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox While Watson said only such a unique opportunity could have springboarded a decision to leave his longtime home of Austin, he was also highly complimentary of his new city. It is humbling to get to help build and shape such a transformative institution, Watson said. And it is thrilling to get to do it in Houston, with its far-reaching role in health care, energy, education, culture and other areas that are central to life in Texas and beyond. The city provides a tremendous point of leverage for the schools vision and the urgency to realize it. As the day progresses, the strength of the brain's global signal fluctuation shows an unexpected decrease, according to a study published on February 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Csaba Orban and a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the Faculty of Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and N.1 Institute of Health at the National University of Singapore. Circadian rhythms govern diverse aspects of physiology including sleep/wake cycles, cognition, gene expression, temperature regulation, and endocrine signaling. But despite the clear influence of circadian rhythms on physiology, most studies of brain function do not report or consider the impact of time of day on their findings. To address this gap in knowledge, the team analysed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of approximately 900 subjects who were scanned between 8 am and 10 pm on two different days as part of the Human Connectome Project (HCP; http://www.humanconnectomeproject.org/). Multiple studies have shown that the brain's global signal fluctuates more strongly when one is drowsy (e.g. after insufficient sleep), and fluctuates less when one is more alert (e.g. after coffee). Based on known circadian variation in sleepiness, the authors hypothesized that global signal fluctuation would be lowest in the morning, increase in the mid-afternoon and dip in the early evening. Instead, they observed a cumulative decrease in global signal fluctuation as the day progressed. This global decrease was most prominent in visual and somatosensory brain regions, which are known for expressing dynamic fluctuations within individuals over time. Across the whole brain, time of day was also associated with marked decreases in resting-state functional connectivity - the correlated activity between different brain regions when no explicit task is being performed. "We were surprised by the size of the overall time-of-day effects, since the global fMRI signal is affected by many factors and there is substantial variation across individuals. At the present moment we don't have a good explanation of the directionality of our findings. However, the fact that we also observed slight time-of-day-associated variation in the breathing patterns of participants suggests that we may also need to consider clues outside of the brain to fully understand these effects," said Csaba Orban, first author of the study. Based on the findings, the authors recommend that researchers explicitly report the time of day of fMRI scans and other experimental protocols and measurements, as this could help account for between-study variation in results and potentially even failure to replicate findings. "We hope these findings will motivate fellow neuroscientists to give more consideration to potential effects of time of day on measures of brain activity, especially in other large-scale studies where subjects are often scanned throughout the day for logistical reasons," said Thomas Yeo, the study's senior author. ### This work is one of the first studies to come out of the recently established Centre for Sleep and Cognition at the National University of Singapore. The Centre's director, Michael Chee, a co-author of this study, believes the results will stir broader interest in the effects of time of day or circadian variation on human physiology. In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Biology: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000602 Citation: Orban C, Kong R, Li J, Chee MWL, Yeo BTT (2020) Time of day is associated with paradoxical reductions in global signal fluctuation and functional connectivity. PLoS Biol 18(2): e3000602. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000602 Funding: We are currently supported by Singapore Ministry of Education Tier 2 (MOE2014-T2-2-016), National University of Singapore (NUS) Strategic Research (DPRT/944/09/14), NUS School of Medicine Aspiration Fund (R185000271720), Singapore National Medical Research Council (NMRC/STaR/015/2013; CBRG/0088/2015), NUS Young Investigator Award, and the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship (Class of 2017). Our research also utilized resources provided by the Center for Functional Neuroimaging Technologies, NIH P41EB015896 and instruments supported by NIH 1S10RR023401, NIH 1S10RR019307, and NIH 1S10RR023043 from the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Our computational work was partially performed on resources of the National Supercomputing Centre, Singapore (https://www.nscc.sg). Data were provided by the Human Connectome Project, WU-Minn Consortium (Principal Investigators: David Van Essen and Kamil Ugurbil; 1U54MH091657) funded by the 16 NIH Institutes and Centers that support the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research; and by the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience at Washington University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Antibiotic-resistant superbugs could render chemotherapy ineffective within the next decade, experts have warned. British oncologists have seen a rise in superbug infections among cancer patients in the past year alone, some of which are deadly. A predicted 65,000 cancer patients could develop potentially life-threatening drug-resistant infections after surgery in the next decade. Cancer patients may be more vulnerable to emerging superbugs because their immune systems have been made weaker by treatment. Therefore, routine medical interventions, such as chemotherapy and other surgeries, may become less safe to use - thereby 'ineffective' - because of the infection risk. Half of oncologists surveyed fear strong cancer-killing chemotherapy drugs may be unviable within ten years. Cancer patients are at risk of getting antibiotic resistant superbugs that could render chemotherapy ineffective in the future, oncologists have warned (stock, chemo treatment) Bacteria can become resistant - known as a superbug - over time. This is accelerated by people taking incorrect doses of antibiotics or unnecessarily. The survey of oncologists was carried out by the Longitude Prize, which was set up to develop a diagnostic test which can identify which antibiotics are needed for patients on the spot, removing guess work. One in four oncologists in the UK have seen an increase in drug-resistant infections in the last year, The Times reported. A survey of 100 cancer doctors found that 95 per cent were worried about the rise of superbugs in their patients. Some 46 per cent of those surveyed said they believed drug-resistant infections could make chemotherapy unviable. WHAT IS A SUPERBUG? Infections become drug-resistant when the microbes that cause them adapt and change over time, developing the ability to resist the drugs designed to kill them. One of the most common types of drug resistance is antibiotic resistance. In this process bacteria not humans or animals become resistant to antibiotics. These bacteria are sometimes called superbugs. The result is that many drugs, such as antibiotics, are becoming less effective at treating illnesses. Our overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and plants is speeding up this process. Without antibiotics that work, routine surgery like hip replacements, common illnesses like diarrhoea, and minor injuries from accidents, even cuts, could become life-threatening. Routine medical interventions, such as chemotherapy, organ transplants and other surgeries, are becoming less safe because of the infection risk. Source: Wellcome Trust Advertisement The average cancer doctor in the survey had 23 per cent of their patients develop an infection during treatment. More than a third required surgery for their cancer, with five per cent of those patients developing a drug-resistant infection. Infections become drug-resistant when the microbes that cause them adapt and change over time, becoming stronger and able to resist the drugs designed to kill them. Specialists estimate around 70 per cent of bacteria that can cause infection are already resistant to at least one antibiotic that is commonly used to treat them. Bugs are able to adapt partly because antibiotics have been doled out unnecessarily for decades, helping bugs learn how antibiotics work. Cancer patients are a prime example - they are flooded with drugs as a precaution while doctors wait for slow diagnosis results. As drug-resistant infections are becoming more common, modern medicines are at risk of failing, such as antibiotics. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a 'post-antibiotic' era. Other drugs, such as those for chemotherapy, or interventions such as organ transplants may become too risky because it leaves patients with a compromised immune system. If resistance to bacteria keeps rising, the risk of taking some forms of chemotherapy may be so high that some patients may hesitate to take the treatment. Because chemotherapy is the first line of treatment for many cancers, it is a major concern that it could one day become less valuable. Antimicrobial resistance kills around 700,000 a year. But experts say predict the death toll could reach ten million a year globally within the next 30 years. The 13th edition of world's largest amateur car rally wrapped-up in Freetown on Sunday. The Budapest to Bamako race saw 700 participants make their way through four European and four African countries before arriving to Sierra Leone's capital. The rally is not celebrated for its speed but rather for its endurance and navigation of remote areas, and ultimately its charity that helps raise money for West Africa. They drove into town on a quiet Sunday morning; their vehicles and bikes covered in dust after a gruelling 8,063km journey dubbed 'The World's Last Great Adventure'. They had just covered the last 83 km in the Budapest - Bamako rally to reach the finish line at the National Stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 16 February. Four European countries The rally began back in the Hungarian capital, Budapest on 31 January. Its 700 participants travelled through four European countries (Hungary, Slovenia, France, and Spain) and through four African countries (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Conakry) before entering Sierra Leone. It is a very difficult rally, it is a challenging rally, it's not a timed event, it is [a] navigational and endurance event; you have to take care of your car for two weeks and you just have to make the best of your team and just try to deal with whatever conditions come your way, said Andrew Szabo, the Hungarian-born founder of the Budapest-Bamako rally. Szabo has been organising rallies for 15 years. This rally is all about going on an incredibly long adventure and a long drive where every day is different. You go through the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where you cut through the Sahara, where you cut through the sand dunes of Mauritania, get through the Sahel belt of Senegal, head down to Guinea and finally arrive here to the tropical [and] beautiful beaches of Sierra Leone, he said. Adventure and charity For most of the rally members, the rally is about adventure and charity. We just [came] up with this idea that we should participate in the next Budapest Bamako Rally, recounted Szaboccs Safian, also known as Safi, who calls himself the 'butterfly man' and is a member of team 161. Safi and his team members decided to participate because it [would] be fun basically to drive all the way from Europe down to Africa where we actually work a lot we really enjoy staying here but [this] would be a new experience for all of us to come together. Driven to race Yes we are actually supporting a charity you know because with the Gola Forest there are a lot of fring[e] communities and some of the communities formed together a kind of educational programme, added Safi when explaining what else drove them to participate in this year's rally. The organisation they support is called EduKids, which is run by an international board he explained. While the charity is unable to save the forest directly, the idea is to educate future generations so they will understand why conservation and bio-diversity is also important. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that Iran helped regional countries fight terrorism and achieved great success to establish sustainable security in the region, Trend with reference to IRNA reports. Referring to good achievements made in the international campaign against terrorism during his visit to Syria and Lebanon, Larijani said that Iran and Syria enjoy close cooperation in fighting terrorism. Fortunately as a result of efforts made, terrorism has been hit seriously in the region. He noted that all Syrian officials and important figures emphasized Iran's vital role in fighting terrorism. He said that he held talks with Syrian and Lebanese governmental and parliamentary officials on establishing economic cooperation. Thanks to Iran's capacities and the possibility of cooperation in trade, agriculture and industrial fields, negotiations have been held with the Syrian and Lebanese officials. He noted that thanks to establishment of security in some areas in Syria, the grounds have been prepared for investment. Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani pointed to some investment models that were proposed by both sides aiming to create tranquility for businessmen and industrialists. Elaborating on agenda of his visit to Lebanon, Iranian lawmaker said he had negotiated with Lebanese elites on the role of Resistance and the position of Iran. Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - European Union (EU) foreign ministers have agreed to restart the naval operation in the Mediterranean to track down ships that violate the arms embargo on Libya BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey's export of steel to Turkmenistan increased in January 2020, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on Feb. 18. In January 2020, Turkeys export of steel to Turkmenistan amounted to $6.5 million, which is 1.6 times more compared to the same month of 2019. In 2019, steel export from Turkey to Turkmenistan increased by 84.07 percent compared to 2018, and amounted to $92.1 million. Last month, export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 4 percent, amounting to $1.1 billion. Turkeys steel export amounted to 7.8 percent of countrys total export in January 2020. From January 2019 through January 2020, Turkeys export of steel amounted to $13.7 billion or 7.6 percent of countrys total export for this period. Turkeys foreign trade turnover in 2019 exceeded $374.2 billion. Turkey's export increased by 2.1 percent in 2019 and amounted to $171.5 billion compared to 2018. In the meantime, Turkey's import dropped by 9.1 percent and amounted to $202.7 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu : The target of USD five trillion economy is incomplete if people of the country do not have quality of life due to lack of affordable healthcare, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said here on Tuesday. Speaking at an interactive session with leaders of top pharmaceutical companies at BioAsia, Goyal said he would call for a meeting of pharma industry leaders in the second week of March to discuss the sector's problems. He also said price control regime on some drugs and medical devices are here to stay. "Innovation cant be seen only in the context of change... innovation will provide you an opportunity to reach out to the remotest corners of the countryto all the people that we saw yearning for a betterquality of life, for better healthcare, longer life expectancy... In that sense the USD 5 trillion economy will be incomplete if our people do not have quality of life if youre not able to provide affordable healthcare to every single citizen of the country, he said when asked about the governments ambition in terms of pharma and life sciences industry. Goyal said the Indian pharma industry, which is currently pegged at USD 40 billion, would reach USD 100 billion soon, backed by the capabilities of the sector. Telangana Minister for IT and Industries K T Rama Rao moderated the session. On the slashing of weighted average deductions to 100 per cent from the earlier 150 per cent and 200 per cent that was available for research and development by the firms, he said the income tax rates would help encourage, but that is not the only factor for investments. "That is not the only factor that determines whether an industry will come to a country, whether an industry will flourish in a country or not. One must recognize that there are several dimensions to India, Goyal said. He said India has the power of talent, demography and leadership,all of which culminate into the "power of opportunity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Josh Horwitz SHANGHAI, Feb 17 (Reuters) - China's government is enlisting the help of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd to expand colour-based systems for tracking individuals affected with the coronavirus nationwide. On Wednesday, Alipay, the payment app operated by Alibaba's financial division Ant Financial, released a feature in collaboration with the government that assigns a coloured QR code representing the health of residents in Hangzhou. Users in the city fill out an online form reporting their ID number, whether they have travelled outside Hangzhou recently, and any symptoms they might have that suggest an illness, such as fever or a heavy cough. After filling out the questionnaire, users receive a colour-based QR-code, a type of barcode, on their mobile phones indicating their health status. Users with a red code are instructed to remain quarantined for 14 days and provide regular check-ins via DingTalk, a workplace chat app also run by Alibaba. Users with a yellow code are instructed to stay inside for 7 days, while users with a green code may travel freely. State media reports describe the system as a tool to be deployed at travel checkpoints, such as train stations or highways. It's also being used at the neighbourhood level. Two Hangzhou residents told Reuters that their apartment complexes have asked to view their QR codes as they enter the building. Another Hangzhou resident told Reuters that she was asked to show her QR code before entering the local supermarket. On Sunday, Alipay announced it is working with the government to take the service nationwide. Tencent, makers of the popular messaging app WeChat, announced a similar QR-code based tracking feature on Saturday, in collaboration with a division of China's National Development and Reform Council (NDRC). In a social media post published Saturday, the company said the system is currently in use in the southern city of Shenzhen and will soon be deployed across the greater Guangdong province. Story continues The measures come as the Chinese government takes unprecedented measures to control the movement of people to curb the spread of the virus. Localities are increasingly relying on neighbourhood committees, often at the level of residential compounds, to track infections. Enforcement has been patchy and inconsistent - some buildings will prevent individuals from outside cities from entering, others prevent all non-residents from entering. Local security guards often record an entrant's temperature using a pen and paper. (Reporting by Josh Horwitz and the Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Khanh Hoa Province and many localities in Vietnam have succeeded in combating coronavirus according to the Ministry of Health. The national steering committee to prevent and combat the acute respiratory disease caused by Covid-19 held a meeting on February 17. Photo VOV The national steering committee to prevent and combat the acute respiratory disease caused by Covid-19 announced on February 17 the situation in various localities. Thanh Hoa hadn't detected new cases in 23 days and Khanh Hoa hadn't found any new cases in over 30 days since the first case was detected on January 17. Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said, "Khanh Hoa has carried out preventive measures in accordance with the guidelines. We are working with the Khanh Hoa authorities to complete procedures which will be submitted to the Ministry of Health's approval to announce the end of the outbreak." Thanh Hoa Province also only registered one confirmed case since January 24. If no new cases are found in the next five days, Thanh Hoa authorities will also seek the ministry's approval to announce the end of the outbreak. According to Tuyen, the control and preventive work at Son Loi Commune, Vinh Phuc Province, has been carried out effectively and there is no new cases detected in the past seven days. Four patients in Vinh Phuc tested negative twice. The three-month-old child that is being treated at the National Children's Hospital has tested negative once. "Even though the results are good, we still have to keep a close eye on the development to implement measures that are suitable to the situation in each region," he said. Vietnam hasn't found any new case in the past week. Seven out of 16 confirmed cases have been cured. The authorities have also planned to open schools again. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said depending on the situation, six more patients will also be released soon. Hospitals are re-checking patients that already tested negative twice. Dtinews Vietnam sees positive signs in fight against COVID-19 Vietnam has seen positive signs in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), heard a meeting of the national steering committee for prevention and control of the disease on February 17. Kathleen Stubbs last month joined large property group, JLL, as its CIO for Australasia, replacing long-standing tech chief, Andrew Clowes. Stubbs joins JLL as the company reported its tenth consecutive year of revenue and profit growth for 2019 when it made its largest ever investment in technology, systems and people. Stubbs spoke to CIO Australia about her new role and technology plans across the organisation. CIO: You have spent the past four years in London as global head of service delivery and infrastructure at Knight Frank. Why did you decide to come back to Australia? Stubbs: I was the CIO for Knight Frank in Australia for three years before I took on the [role in London]. It was a fantastic opportunity, I loved working for Knight Frank in London. I returned home primarily for family reasons and a bit of personal ambition as well. I have two children going into high school so this was a pivotal time. CIO: Your background is quite technical. Youve been a database administrator and a programmer. Many CIOs and digital chiefs have strong business backgrounds. What type of CIO are you and have you had to acquire those business skills throughout your career? Stubbs: The things I did earlier in my career were hugely beneficial for me because they gave me a good understanding of data and how to use it. So I think thats been a huge grounding for me. I did feel as though I needed to go back and learn a lot more about business which is why I went and did my masters [degree] at the University of New South Wales. It [the degree] gives you quite a broad spectrum of understanding around the way businesses functions and strategic planning. When I look at whats changing within the world and how I am connecting back in for me its a personal development factor, learning about the tools and what our business is doing and then making sure things are fit for purpose. Making sure that the things you are doing, everybody is on board and driving in the same direction. CIO: What are some of the technology projects that you are going to be focusing on this year? Stubbs: Im spending the first 30 days listening to the business and understanding the challenges that exist within my team and the business learning about what noises we are making about technology across the business, where we want to stretch ourselves into other opportunities, and where weve got to make sure that our core infrastructure is functioning. So I am currently formulating a strategythere wasnt one left behind so I am actually developing and listening what the business has got so I can pick up and then formulate something that will be successful for us for the next 12, 18 months and 24 months. A lot of our core services are stablised and have been looked after by Microsoft and Office 365 and there are core deliveries there. The majority of our core infrastructure is [in the cloud] so now is the opportunity to innovate and understand what we can do for our clients. We have [adopted] very much a SaaS (software-as-a-service) model; we do err towards making sure everything weve got on the board is SaaS, we are looking at more commoditised products that are being delivered to us as opposed to us standing up our infrastructure to deliver it ourselves. I dont think thats an unfamiliar model to most organisations in this day and age. And we want to focus on making sure that our products will deliver value to our clients. CIO: You have a locational intelligence program in place where you present data such as traffic analysis, imagery and logistics information to solve complex real estate problems. Where is this heading and are animation and virtual reality technologies being used? Stubbs: That was a great starting platform and we have continued to develop it. Our business is a lot more geospatial-literate so they are now using the tools and functionality that we built into these systems to make sure that they are benefitting our clients. Weve also been able to ingest and use a lot more high volume data so that we are now able to look at the quality that is coming out of these systems to make sure that we can do solid visualisations in 3D modelling and make sure that we are start to use that for AR and VR. VR is mainly being used on building refurbishments where [clients can walk through models]. Augmented reality is the future predictions part where autonomous vehicles come into buildings and drones landing on the top for deliveries; its looking at how that will pan out for you in the next 10, 20 or 30 years. CIO: Theres a big push from the tech sector to encourage women to pursue careers in IT its even seen as a panacea to the global technology skills crisis. Is enough being done to strike a better balance between both sexes in the tech sector? Stubbs: There isnt enough being done. If you are still sitting at 10 per cent [the number of women in c-level tech roles] then the numbers tell a story. It would be great for more women to be able to particpate in this industry, theres a challenge there especially at the senior levels where there is quite a lot of unconcious bias. Its something our whole society needs to tackle, it cant just be done by one organisation, the government could do more. A great example is Finland where to help tackle [the issue of] women staying employedmen now have the same parental leave as women do. Thats a great example because its about women feeling supported and being encouraged to stay in the workforce for long enough to actually become a senior leader. We tend to struggle with those level of unconscious bias and a lack of support. Thankfully throughout my career I had a supportive family so I was able to stay [in the workforce]. I went to university with a good cohort of women, quite a few of them were brilliant but the majority of them have dropped out of the workforce. They were technologists but they dropped out because of family reasons, because of feeling unsupported, and because of unconscious bias in the workplace. Australia does do a fair bit, we are a leader in that area but I still think theres more to be done because the numbers do tell a story. Representative image The government will propose names of 10 more wetlands, including two from Haryana, to be declared as sites of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The two wetlands in bird sanctuaries Sultanpur and Bhindawas in Haryana have never been considered before. The names of the wetlands will be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat at the ongoing 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Migratory Species and Wild Animals (CMS COP 13) being held at Gandhinagar. Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines. If the proposal to include 10 new wetlands is approved by the Ramsar Secretariat, India will have 47 sites protected internationally. We are working on declaring 10 more sites as Ramsar sites and in the process are trying to bring more areas under the Ramsar site conservation plan. A combined proposal is being sent to the Ramsar Secretariat, an Environment Ministry official said. There are over 170 countries party to the Ramsar Convention and over 2,000 designated sites covering over 20 crore hectares have been recognized under it. "The new wetlands being proposed for inclusion are - Lonar from Maharashtra which is a unique wetland and the only crater lake in the country, a site from Bihar-Kanwar lake, two sites from Haryana which doesn't have a Ramsar site till now -Sultanpur and Bhindawas. Uttarakhand also has sent a proposal for its first Ramsar site-Asan and the rest are from Uttar Pradesh, said the ministry official. The Convention, signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, is one of the oldest inter-governmental accord for preserving ecological character of wetlands. Also known as the Convention on Wetlands, it aims to develop a global network of wetlands for conservation of biological diversity and for sustaining human life. In January this year, 10 wetlands in India were recognized by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance which are Nandur Madhameshwar in Maharashtra, Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal in Punjab. Six sites from Uttar Pradesh were declared as Ramsar sites which are Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and SarsaiNawar. The other Ramsar sites are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. By John Pilger February 18, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - On Saturday, there will be a march from Australia House in London to Parliament Square, the centre of British democracy. People will carry pictures of the Australian publisher and journalist Julian Assange who, on 24 February, faces a court that will decide whether or not he is to be extradited to the United States and a living death. I know Australia House well. As an Australian myself, I used to go there in my early days in London to read the newspapers from home. Opened by King George V over a century ago, its vastness of marble and stone, chandeliers and solemn portraits, imported from Australia when Australian soldiers were dying in the slaughter of the First World War, have ensured its landmark as an imperial pile of monumental servility. As one of the oldest diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom, this relic of empire provides a pleasurable sinecure for Antipodean politicians: a mate rewarded or a troublemaker exiled. Known as High Commissioner, the equivalent of an ambassador, the current beneficiary is George Brandis, who as Attorney General tried to water down Australias Race Discrimination Act and approved raids on whistleblowers who had revealed the truth about Australias illegal spying on East Timor during negotiations for the carve-up of that impoverished countrys oil and gas. This led to the prosecution of whistleblowers Bernard Collaery and Witness K, on bogus charges. Like Julian Assange, they are to be silenced in a Kafkaesque trial and put away. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Australia House is the ideal starting point for Saturdays march. I confess, wrote Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, in 1898, that countries are pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a great game for the domination of the world. We Australians have been in the service of the Great Game for a very long time. Having devastated our Indigenous people in an invasion and a war of attrition that continues to this day, we have spilt blood for our imperial masters in China, Africa, Russia, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. No imperial adventure against those with whom we have no quarrel has escaped our dedication. Deception has been a feature. When Prime Minister Robert Menzies sent Australian soldiers to Vietnam in the 1960s, he described them as a training team, requested by a beleaguered government in Saigon. It was a lie. A senior official of the Department of External Affairs wrote secretly that although we have stressed the fact publicly that our assistance was given in response to an invitation by the government of South Vietnam, the order came from Washington. Two versions. The lie for us, the truth for them. As many as four million people died in the Vietnam war. When Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975, the Australian Ambassador, Richard Woolcott, secretly urged the government in Canberra to act in a way which would be designed to minimise the public impact in Australia and show private understanding to Indonesia. In other words, to lie. He alluded to the beckoning spoils of oil and gas in the Timor Sea which, boasted Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, were worth zillions. In the genocide that followed, at least 200,000 East Timorese died. Australia recognised, almost alone, the legitimacy of the occupation. When Prime Minister John Howard sent Australian special forces to invade Iraq with America and Britain in 2003, he like George W. Bush and Tony Blair lied that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. More than a million people died in Iraq. WikiLeaks was not the first to call out the pattern of criminal lying in democracies that remain every bit as rapacious as in Lord Curzons day. The achievement of the remarkable publishing organisation founded by Julian Assange has been to provide the proof. WikiLeaks has informed us how illegal wars are fabricated, how governments are overthrown and violence is used in our name, how we are spied upon through our phones and screens. The true lies of presidents, ambassadors, political candidates, generals, proxies, political fraudsters have been exposed. One by one, these would-be emperors have realised they have no clothes. It has been an unprecedented public service; above all, it is authentic journalism, whose value can be judged by the degree of apoplexy of the corrupt and their apologists. For example, in 2016, WikiLeaks published the leaked emails of Hillary Clintons campaign manager John Podesta, which revealed a direct connection between Clinton, the foundation she shares with her husband and the funding of organised jihadism in the Middle East terrorism. One email disclosed that Islamic State (ISIS) was bankrolled by the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, from which Clinton accepted huge donations. Moreover, as US Secretary of State, she approved the worlds biggest ever arms sale to her Saudi benefactors, worth more than $80 billion. Thanks to her, US arms sales to the world for use in stricken countries like Yemen doubled. Revealed by WikiLeaks and published in The New York Times, the Podesta emails triggered a vituperative campaign against editor-in-chief Julian Assange, bereft of evidence. He was an agent of Russia working to elect Trump; the nonsensical Russiagate followed. That WikiLeaks had also published more than 800,000 frequently damning documents from Russia was ignored. On an Australian Broadcasting Corporation programme, Four Corners, in 2017, Clinton was interviewed by Sarah Ferguson, who began: No one could fail to be moved by the pain on your face at [the moment of Donald Trumps inauguration] Do you remember how visceral it was for you? Having established Clintons visceral suffering, the fawning Ferguson described Russias role and the damage done personally to you by Julian Assange. Clinton replied, He [Assange] is very clearly a tool of Russian intelligence. And he has done their bidding. Ferguson said to Clinton, Lots of people, including in Australia, think that Assange is a martyr of free speech and freedom of information. How would you describe him? Again, Clinton was allowed to defame Assange a nihilist in the service of dictators while Ferguson assured her interviewee she was the icon of your generation. There was no mention of a leaked document, revealed by WikiLeaks, called Libya Tick Tock, prepared for Hillary Clinton, which described her as the central figure driving the destruction of the Libyan state in 2011. This resulted in 40,000 deaths, the arrival of ISIS in North Africa and the European refugee and migrant crisis. For me, this episode of Clintons interview and there are many others vividly illustrates the division between false and true journalism. On 24 February, when Julian Assange steps into Woolwich Crown Court, true journalism will be the only crime on trial. I am sometimes asked why I have championed Assange. For one thing, I like and I admire him. He is a friend with astonishing courage; and he has a finely honed, wicked sense of humour. He is the diametric opposite of the character invented then assassinated by his enemies. As a reporter in places of upheaval all over the world, I have learned to compare the evidence I have witnessed with the words and actions of those with power. In this way, it is possible to get a sense of how our world is controlled and divided and manipulated, how language and debate are distorted to produce the propaganda of false consciousness. When we speak about dictatorships, we call this brainwashing: the conquest of minds. It is a truth we rarely apply to our own societies, regardless of the trail of blood that leads back to us and which never dries. WikiLeaks has exposed this. That is why Assange is in a maximum security prison in London facing concocted political charges in America, and why he has shamed so many of those paid to keep the record straight. Watch these journalists now look for cover as it dawns on them that the American fascists who have come for Assange may come for them, not least those on the Guardian who collaborated with WikiLeaks and won prizes and secured lucrative book and Hollywood deals based on his work, before turning on him. In 2011, David Leigh, the Guardians investigations editor, told journalism students at City University in London that Assange was quite deranged. When a puzzled student asked why, Leigh replied, Because he doesnt understand the parameters of conventional journalism. But its precisely because he did understand that the parameters of the media often shielded vested and political interests and had nothing to do with transparency that the idea of WikiLeaks was so appealing to many people, especially the young, rightly cynical about the so-called mainstream. Leigh mocked the very idea that, once extradited, Assange would end up wearing an orange jumpsuit. These were things, he said, that he and his lawyer are saying in order to feed his paranoia. The current US charges against Assange centre on the Afghan Logs and Iraq Logs, which the Guardian published and Leigh worked on, and on the Collateral Murder video showing an American helicopter crew gunning down civilians and celebrating the crime. For this journalism, Assange faces 17 charges of espionage which carry prison sentences totalling 175 years. Whether or not his prison uniform will be an orange jumpsuit, US court files seen by Assanges lawyers reveal that, once extradited, Assange will be subject to Special Administrative Measures, known as SAMS. A 2017 report by Yale University Law School and the Center for Constitutional Rights described SAMS as the darkest corner of the US federal prison system combining the brutality and isolation of maximum security units with additional restrictions that deny individuals almost any connection to the human world The net effect is to shield this form of torture from any real public scrutiny. That Assange has been right all along, and getting him to Sweden was a fraud to cover an American plan to render him, is finally becoming clear to many who swallowed the incessant scuttlebutt of character assassination. I speak fluent Swedish and was able to read all the original documents, Nils Melzer, the United Nations Rapporteur on Torture, said recently, I could hardly believe my eyes. According to the testimony of the woman in question, a rape had never taken place at all. And not only that: the womans testimony was later changed by the Stockholm Police without her involvement in order to somehow make it sound like a possible rape. I have all the documents in my possession, the emails, the text messages. Keir Starmer is currently running for election as leader of the Labour Party in Britain. Between 2008 and 2013, he was Director of Public Prosecutions and responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service. According to Freedom of Information searches by the Italian journalist Stefania Maurizi, Sweden tried to drop the Assange case in 2011, but a CPS official in London told the Swedish prosecutor not to treat it as just another extradition. In 2012, she received an email from the CPS: Dont you dare get cold feet!!! Other CPS emails were either deleted or redacted. Why? Keir Starmer needs to say why. At the forefront of Saturdays march will be John Shipton, Julians father, whose indefatigable support for his son is the antithesis of the collusion and cruelty of the governments of Australia, our homeland. The roll call of shame begins with Julia Gillard, the Australian Labor prime minister who, in 2010, wanted to criminalise WikiLeaks, arrest Assange and cancel his passport until the Australian Federal Police pointed out that no law allowed this and that Assange had committed no crime. While falsely claiming to give him consular assistance in London, it was the Gillard governments shocking abandonment of its citizen that led to Ecuador granting political asylum to Assange in its London embassy. In a subsequent speech before the US Congress, Gillard, a favourite of the US embassy in Canberra, broke records for sycophancy (according to the website Honest History) as she declared, over and again, the fidelity of Americas mates Down Under. Today, while Assange waits in his cell, Gillard travels the world, promoting herself as a feminist concerned about human rights, often in tandem with that other right-on feminist Hillary Clinton. The truth is that Australia could have rescued Julian Assange and can still rescue him. In 2010, I arranged to meet a prominent Liberal (Conservative) Member of Parliament, Malcolm Turnbull. As a young barrister in the 1980s, Turnbull had successfully fought the British Governments attempts to prevent the publication of the book, Spycatcher, whose author Peter Wright, a spy, had exposed Britains deep state. We talked about his famous victory for free speech and publishing and I described the miscarriage of justice awaiting Assange the fraud of his arrest in Sweden and its connection with an American indictment that tore up the US Constitution and the rule of international law. Turnbull appeared to show genuine interest and an aide took extensive notes. I asked him to deliver a letter to the Australian government from Gareth Peirce, the renowned British human rights lawyer who represents Assange. In the letter, Peirce wrote, Given the extent of the public discussion, frequently on the basis of entirely false assumptions it is very hard to attempt to preserve for [Julian Assange] any presumption of innocence. Mr. Assange has now hanging over him not one but two Damocles swords, of potential extradition to two different jurisdictions in turn for two different alleged crimes, neither of which are crimes in his own country, and that his personal safety has become at risk in circumstances that are highly politically charged. Turnbull promised to deliver the letter, follow it through and let me know. I subsequently wrote to him several times, waited and heard nothing. In 2018, John Shipton wrote a deeply moving letter to the then prime minister of Australia asking him to exercise the diplomatic power at his governments disposal and bring Julian home. He wrote that he feared that if Julian was not rescued, there would be a tragedy and his son would die in prison. He received no reply. The prime minister was Malcolm Turnbull. Last year, when the current prime minister, Scott Morrison, a former public relations man, was asked about Assange, he replied in his customary way, He should face the music! When Saturdays march reaches the Houses of Parliament, said to be the Mother of Parliaments, Morrison and Gillard and Turnbull and all those who have betrayed Julian Assange should be called out; history and decency will not forget them or those who remain silent now. And if there is any sense of justice left in the land of Magna Carta, the travesty that is the case against this heroic Australian must be thrown out. Or beware, all of us. The march on Saturday, 22 February begins at Australia House in Aldwych, London WC2B 4LA, at 12.30pm: assemble at 11.30pm Visit http://johnpilger.com/ John Pilger 2010 - 2020 Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== ==== Doctors for Assange worry he may die in UK prison having effectively been tortured to death ==== ==== The State of the Union served as President Donald Trump's moment to grandstand his administration's achievements to Congress while also introducing guests he brought in from across the US. Among them that evening was army spouse Amy Williams and her two children. Mr Trump introduced them to the room towards the end of his speech by commending her for carrying on while her husband, Sergeant Townsend Williams, was deployed in Afghanistan over the past seven months. But then, in what people call typical Trump grandeur given his history in reality TV, he revealed Mrs Williams's husband had returned from deployment and was there that evening. Congress stood to cheer, people wiped tears from their eyes, and others high-fived while looking on at an emotional reunion between the couple and their two children. Chants of "USA, USA" reverberated through the House of Representatives chamber, all during the intimate family moment. AP People watching from home shared the reunion video far and wide on social media. But what was largely left unsaid was the sucker punch the moment left some service members and their spouses feeling, all of whom have experienced how agonising homecoming reunions can be. Rebekah Sanderlin of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a spouse of an active service member in the Army Special Forces, whom she did not name due to his position. Together, the couple have experienced an estimated 20 deployments during their almost 17-year-long marriage. These reunions started out just between the two of them but then later included their three children: Bo, 15, Rudy, 11, and Lucy, seven. For her, when watching the State of the Union, she felt the raw emotions Mrs Williams must have been going through. She described the moment as "reunion porn". "I don't criticise that couple at all," Mrs Sanderlin said. "Everybody has their own approach and far be it for me to decide for someone else. What made me want to say something was I was seeing a lot of discussion online [about the moment]. There didn't seem to be much understanding of the depths of the issue. Story continues "There are a lot of us who refer to this as reunion porn because the show is for the benefit of the viewer, not the participant." In a Twitter thread, Mrs Sanderlin detailed for her followers the reality of homecoming reunions for a lot of military families, including the awkwardness a couple can feel towards each other. She wrote: "It's awkward. Because this is, effectively, a stranger. You haven't seen him in so long, and so much has happened, to both of you, since he left...You need to process that it's really over. He really did make it home. You never let yourself dare to believe that would happen. You need a minute. You need a day...You need no one watching." When detailing past reunions, Mrs Sanderlin admitted she had no clue as to the range of emotions she would feel once her husband returned. "The first time he deployed we had been married for two weeks," she said. "Since it was our first experience with that I just wasn't prepared for the rawness of the emotions that I felt. We were newlyweds. I wasn't expecting there to be conflicting emotions." Spouses can experience a level of abandonment by their service member. Upon the service member's return, it can be made more confusing by the moments that were missed the months they were away. "The reintegration period after a deployment in a lot of ways is worse than the deployment," she added. "You have to learn to be a family again, you have to learn to be a couple again." sotu-soldier-surprise-military Her take on the president's surprise resonated with other military families who also felt a similar awkwardness. Linda Tirado of Nashville, Tennessee whose spouse, Tom Tirado, is a retired Marine Corps sergeant said she experienced conflicting emotions during their own homecoming reunions. "This person is a world away and going through insanely traumatic s***," she said. "You don't know who is going to come home, but you know it is not going to be the same person who left you." Her frustration with the State of the Union came from Mrs WIlliams being blindsided by Mr Trump and his administration. The White House and Williams family were unavailable to comment on this story. "This woman did not give her consent to have her reaction in the public eye on an international level," Mrs Tirado said. "It's fine if you found [the moment] heartwarming, it is heartwarming. Thank God that man came home safely ... But that still doesn't justify the lack of consent, the exploitation of this reunion. "It just was ridiculously offensive that you would take that moment and turn it into a show." Neither of the military spouses thought Mrs Williams had a clue her husband was home, making it gut-wrenching to endure. "For military families, we were all thinking, 'OK this is great they are home.' But we know that they have a solid six months of fighting ahead of them," Mrs Sanderlin said. "They're facing a long road. No couple reintegrates without fighting." sweeping moment. You want to rush into each others arms. You want everything to be like your wedding day. You want your kids to recognize him - desperately - but youre terrified that they wont. Especially since hell be in uniform & they arent used to that, & there are so Rebekah Sanderlin (@rsanderlin) February 5, 2020 After watching the State of the Union, Mrs Tirado also shared her thoughts with her own Twitter following. She confessed she would be angry at her Marine husband for showing up unannounced. "Imagine rocking up to your whole family who thought you were in mortal danger and you've been safe for entire days, and you do it live at the State of the Union," she wrote. "I'd be f***ing homicidal and I make no apologies, how the f*** dare you." She believed the heartwarming moment still could have a place during the State of the Union, but wanted the administration to instead allow the family to reunite privately before the address and then walk in together. "They didn't not have to surprise her with it and get her candid reaction when she's sitting there with two kids," Mrs Tirado said. Compared to the viral reunion videos people typically see on YouTube, Mrs Tirado thought the lack of consent during the State of the Union was a big red flag. You need granny panties, a glass of wine, a good laugh and some long conversation with him. You need to be you again. Us again. Together again. You need no one watching. /end Rebekah Sanderlin (@rsanderlin) February 5, 2020 "You get your viral videos but those are filmed and posted with consent," she said. "Those people are emotionally prepared to be reunited." Other people online echoed similar sentiments as both women, accusing Mr Trump of using this moment to get an emotional reaction without thinking of how it would exploit the wife and her two children. Gold Star families which refers to people who lost loved ones in military service were also in attendance, and it added another layer of discomfort to the reunion surprise. "They don't get to have that reunion," Mrs Sanderlin said. She made it clear, though, her frustration towards the moment was not focused on Mr Trump or his administration. Instead, she hoped the public would take these viral reunions and use them to better understand what service members and their family members go through during deployment and when they're reunited. "My goal is for people to think more about all the stuff that is going on for this family beyond that they are back together," she said. "And I would hope that maybe the next time they hear the troops are being deployed they think about all the stuff that will happen to the family before they get the reunions." Read more Trump attacks Obama as Bloomberg qualifies for first debate Harvey Weinstein lawyer op-ed slammed in courtroom Just 2% of women in legal profession believe it has true equality Bernie Sanders surges ahead of rivals in new national poll Mike Bloomberg is the Donald Trump of the Republican Party CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A group of Kent State students and local activists recently delivered a list of demands to President Todd Diacons office, including critique of the universitys handling of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the May 4th shooting. The coalition, which includes members of the Students for a Democratic Society and Black United Students, submitted the demands in a letter delivered to Diacons office Feb. 11. The coalition also requested that the university sever its partnership with Philadelphia-based food service provider Aramark, increase the minimum wage for student workers, increase staffing for psychological services and decry a rising presence of white nationalism on campus, among other actions. This is Diacons first year as president, though hes been with Kent State since 2012 and previously served as vice president, leading academic affairs across all eight campuses. The university is headed into the national spotlight as the campus recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Kent State May 4 shootings. In the letter, activists describe that when the university took over May 4 commemorations last year, officials said they would work with members of the existing May 4 Task Force. Since then, the coalition said the planning process lacked transparency and did not follow through on working with students and community members, creating a private invitation-only committee. The most immediate thing is that these commemoration meetings are opened up to the public and theres more student involvement, said Colt Hutchinson, the president of Students for a Democratic Society. With the other demands as long as we have a genuine discussion and a ... plan of action, I would consider that to be a win. The letter also addressed the coalitions problems with Aramark, which the university uses for dining services. Several criticisms in the letter include Aramarks profiting from contracts with for-profit prisons and its ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While we are all honored to be Kent State University students, we are deeply troubled with the path the University is taking and we can no longer set idly by, the group wrote in a email sharing the letter with cleveland.com. Our four demands clearly outline what we feel are the most pressing issues on campus and resonate with the general student body. Members from the seven groups involved in the letter walked to Diacons office to deliver the letter together, Kent Wired reported. Diacon was not in his office when activists arrived to drop off the demands. The schools interim dean of students accepted the letter and Diacon contacted the group to set up a time to meet, university spokeswoman Emily Vincent wrote in an email. Students were there for less than five minutes, and Diacon met the organizations timeline for a response, Vincent added. On Thursday, Diacon told student media that hes looking forward to meeting with the students. He reiterated at our 50th anniversary celebration of Black History Month this past Saturday that he is looking forward to meeting with them and having conversations with our students. Vincent said the university did not have further comments on the coalitions problems with the May 4 celebration. Obviously he has agreed to meet with us and hearing what we have to say, but hopefully that translates into him actually doing something," Hutchinson said. Read the full letter below. This story has been updated to include comment from student organizers of SDS. When Neil Young released his anti_Iraq war album Living With War he bemoaned the fact that no one else was releasing music protesting at this and other injustices so that it fell to an elder statesman of rock like him to do it. Fast forward nearly two decades and the world is still full of injustice, war and poverty but the protest song traditions are being upheld in some style by New York duo The Last Internationale. They have left their label to keep editorial control of their music, gone through being evicted from their flat and more but its the quality of their music and lyrics that lets you know these guys are the real deal. Their second album Soul On Fire is soaked in sixties and seventies influences, gritty and rough around the edges, bluesy, soulful sounds taken from whats gone before and brought right up to date with a steely passion. Delila Paz has a voice that will stop you in your tracks and when paired with Edgey Pires masterful, imaginative use of fuzzy, edgy guitar licks and heartfelt lyrics about life, love and the injustices of life in the modern world the result is stunning. Soul On Fire is a triumphant return after five years of hell and hard work since their debut We Will Reign and after successful support slots with The Cult and Rival Sons March will see them play a select few UK headline dates. These shows are going to be incendiary. Tue 17th Mar 100 Club, London (UK) Wed 18th Mar Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (UK) Thu 19th Mar Exchange, Bristol (UK) Sat 21st Mar Night People, Manchester (UK) Sun 22nd Mar Stereo, Glasgow (UK) Millions in Hubei province have been told to stay home, in the latest measure to control the spread. China has tightened restrictions on movement in Hubei province as it continues to battle the coronavirus. Sixty-million people have been told to stay at home unless there is an emergency, and the use of private cars has been banned indefinitely. Hubei and the city of Wuhan have been hit hardest by the outbreak, which has now claimed 1,665 lives in China. But China has announced a drop in new cases for a third consecutive day and says it is controlling the spread. The virus is a new strain of coronavirus and causes an acute respiratory disease which has been named Covid-19. In another development, some 400 Americans are being taken off a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which is quarantined in a Japanese port. Of that group, 40 are infected with the coronavirus, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says. What are the new Hubei measures? Although people have been ordered to stay at home, they will be allowed to leave in an emergency, In addition, a single person from each household will be allowed to leave the building every three days to buy food and essential items. On housing estates, one entrance will be kept open. It will be guarded to ensure that only residents can enter or leave. All other businesses will stay closed, except chemists, hotels, food shops and medical services. Vehicles used for the delivery of essential goods are exempt from the car ban. Meanwhile, authorities in the capital, Beijing, have ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment. China's central bank will also disinfect and store used banknotes before recirculating them in a bid to stop the virus spreading. What is the latest on cases? On Sunday, authorities reported 2,009 new cases - down from 2,641 on Saturday, and 5,090 the day before. New cases spiked earlier in the week after a change in the way they were counted but have been falling ever since. In total, more than 68,500 people have so far been infected in China. National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the figures showed China was managing to curb the outbreak. "The effects of epidemic prevention and control in various parts of the country can already be seen." The commission's daily bulletin also reported 142 more deaths nationwide, the vast majority in Hubei. However Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that along with a drop in infections within Hubei there had been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered. The proportion of infected patients considered to be in a "serious condition" has dropped nationwide from more than 15% to just over 7%, according to China's State Council. Taiwan has now reported a death from the illness - a taxi driver, 61, who had not travelled abroad recently but had diabetes and hepatitis B, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said. The minister said many of his passengers had come from China. Outside China, there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four others have died outside China - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan. Where else has been affected by coronavirus? The Diamond Princess contains the largest cluster of coronavirus cases outside China. The Americans are being taken off the vessel and most are expected to be flown to the US on two government-chartered planes. But the 40 who are infected will be taken to Japanese hospitals, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Face the Nation on CBS. The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in Japan's port of Yokohama since 3 February after a man left the ship in Hong Kong and was found to have the virus. The Japanese authorities say the number of new cases of coronavirus on board the ship has risen by 70 to 355. Other evacuation flights will repatriate residents of Israel, Hong Kong and Canada. Meanwhile, a plane carrying 175 evacuated Nepalis, mostly students, has arrived in Kathmandu from Wuhan. It is the latest country to fly its citizens out of Hubei province. BBC A recent poll by CreditCards.com found that 44 per cent of respondents were committing some form of financial infidelity with their current partner. They admitted to such deceptions as hiding a chequing, savings or credit card account, having secret debt or knowingly spending more than their partner would be comfortable with. The biggest reason given for financial cheating was a desire to maintain some privacy or control over their money. But financial dishonesty is a major breach of trust. That is because money matters are rarely about money. More often than not there are underlying issues such as greed, selfishness, generosity (or lack of it) and core values at play. Thats why when a spouse is caught financially two-timing their partner, it can take a long time to rebuild the trust in that relationship. Below are four steps to building financial trust with a partner as well as red flags to look out for. Have a joint net worth statement Drop the finger pointing, name calling or dwelling on past indiscretions. Sit down with your partner and create a list of all your combined assets and liabilities. To determine your net worth, subtract the liabilities from the assets. For example credit card debt is a liability and a property you own is an asset. Growing your net worth is what will make your dreams a reality. To do this, start tracking your progress each month asset growth and liability reduction. Financial transparency is key in this step. Even if you find it painful, it will build trust. So put all those secret accounts on the table. Build a budget together Whether or not you have joint accounts, having a household budget that includes money for debt reduction, savings and fun activities, keeps people honest about costs. Use the budgeting exercise to talk through whos going to pay which bills. Overspenders and savers can live in harmony, but only if theyve got a plan and stick to an agreed-upon budget. There are thousands of free budgeting templates online. Everyone needs a little privacy Its healthy for each partner to have the freedom to spend on whatever they want, so long as the household bills are paid. An easy solution is to allocate a certain amount within your budget for each partner, like an allowance. Some partners prefer to take this money out in cash, while others use a separate credit card (often prepaid with the set allowance). Establish a threshold for declaring expenditures In my home, spending anything over $400 requires a conversation. This includes car repairs, baby items, gym memberships and the like. Having a threshold forces us to talk about the expense and review it against our budget. This way we prevent any big surprises. If we dont agree, we dont proceed with the expense. Spot the signs of financial abuse When one partner calls all the financial shots this lack of balance creates an unhealthy relationship. Examples on common forms of financial abuse include withholding money for essentials such as groceries, not allowing a partner to have a credit card, debit card or cash, blocking access to online banking and designing a financial plan without input from the partner. This can also including being verbally or physically abusive in regards to spending choices, hiding accounts and money for selfish purposes and spending excessively without consultation. If you are experiencing financial abuse, a therapist can help you and your partner establish healthy financial boundaries. In extreme cases, help might involve filing for divorce. More often than not, good financial communication and a smart financial plan will motivate a couple to stay financially faithful and work toward your goals as a team. Just remember, recovering from financial infidelity takes time because youll both need to prove through your actions that youre financially trustworthy. LS Lesley-Anne Scorgie is a Toronto-based personal finance columnist and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @lesleyscorgie CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acutus Medical today announced FDA clearance and CE Mark of SuperMap a revolutionary addition to its AcQMap 3D Imaging and Mapping System. SuperMap is a high-fidelity, high-resolution mapping algorithm for both stable and transient arrhythmias. SuperMap's user interface effortlessly guides electrophysiologists to quickly create exquisitely detailed whole-chamber maps of the left or right atrium using its unique non-contact roving "hover-map" approach. This allows electrophysiologists to diagnose and treat arrhythmia patients rapidly, consistently and potentially more effectively. Adding the SuperMap mode to the AcQMap system enables users to visualize any atrial rhythm in under three minutes. Rapidly mapping and re-mapping the whole heart chamber facilitates a new procedural workflow in EP ablation -- by making it practical to execute an iterative "map, ablate, re-map" approach to diagnosis and therapy. With this groundbreaking addition, Acutus Medical delivers the only EP imaging and mapping system to offer three mapping modalities: contact mapping, non-contact mapping and non-contact hover mapping -- known as SuperMap. Initial Experience EU* "In less than three minutes, the AcQMap System can map the entire chamber to clearly identify re-entrant circuits, regions of slow conduction and focal origins. The Automatic Beat Grouping algorithm of SuperMap is helpful to map alternating or changing atrial tachycardias by categorizing and displaying multiple tachycardias occurring at the same time," said Dr. Tom Wong, Electrophysiologist, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, England. "Dynamic atrial substrate characterization is an emerging diagnostic strategy involving mapping of sinus and paced rhythms to identify clinically relevant areas of slow conduction, lines of block and critical zones of irregular activity. These areas may correlate with arrhythmia initiation or maintenance. SuperMap is the ideal tool for implementing this strategy. Within seconds, I can review the maps and identify zones of slow conduction," said Dr. Gian-Battista Chierchia, Electrophysiologist, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. First Cases US "It is critical to map repetitive rhythms in patients with irregular heartbeats. This approach is extremely helpful in identifying areas of low amplitude which may indicate scar. I am looking forward to integrating new technology into my workflow for the treatment of any arrhythmia," stated Gregory Feld, MD, Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Program at UC San Diego Health. "We recently completed an extraordinary case with the Acutus system and SuperMap. We captured three whole-chamber maps, targeted three ablation sites, and the patient left in sinus rhythm -- all in the span of one hour," said Arjun Gururaj, MD, Electrophysiologist, Nevada Heart & Vascular Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "These are notoriously complex atrial tachycardias that the EP community knows about. SuperMap can show potential sources and likely mechanisms in those complex cases in minutes as opposed to hours with conventional systems -- because we are seeing things that we couldn't see before. Now we may be able to do something about it in far less time with better acute results. It has amazing potential." Vince Burgess, President & CEO of Acutus Medical commented, "We have invested heavily in developing a unique, multifunctional mapping system that provides physicians with the visual information needed to effectively diagnose and treat patients. With three distinct and unique mapping modalities in one system, physicians can feel confident in tackling any atrial arrhythmia accurately and efficiently. We are committed to improving patient outcomes, expediting procedures times and further developing our full suite of products for the global electrophysiology community." *The AcQMap System with SuperMap was CE Marked in October of 2019. About Acutus Medical Acutus Medical is an arrhythmia care company focused on developing a full suite of innovative technologies and products for the global electrophysiology community. We are committed to providing physicians and patients with tools that improve procedural efficiency and facilitate excellent outcomes. Acutus' lead product, the AcQMap, is an advanced cardiac imaging and mapping system that provides real-time arrhythmia visualization displaying the heart's true activation pattern, turning the chaos of a complex arrhythmia into a clear vision for electrophysiologists. At Acutus, we know that seeing is better than believing and that diagnosing and treating patients with atrial arrhythmias requires eliminating the unknown. Founded in 2011, Acutus is based in Carlsbad, California. SOURCE Acutus Medical By Rasana Gasimova Hungary may start importing Azerbaijani gas in 2023, Hungarys Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Siyarto said at a press conference on the results of the 7th meeting of Azerbaijani-Hungarian intergovernmental commission held in Budapest on February 15. The 1-2 billion cubic meters of gas that Hungary will annually receive from Azerbaijan will significantly increase the country's energy security. Hungary may start importing Azerbaijani gas in 2023, Siyarto, local media reported. He noted that Hungary will be able to purchase Azerbaijani gas due to the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor nearing completion and the increase in the countrys gas production to reach 45 billion cubic meters per year. Siyarto recalled the agreement signed between the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL and the American Chevron, as a result of which MOL acquired a 9.5 percent stake in the project to develop a block of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli fields and a 9 percent stake in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the largest pipeline in Azerbaijan and the region. He noted that these are the largest investments that Hungary made in the Caucasus. For his part, Azerbaijani Labor and Social Protection Minister Sahil Babayev said that Azerbaijan and Hungary are discussing the creation of a Business Council to expand contacts and mutual investments between the business communities of the two countries. "The volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary amounted to $35.7 million in 2019. Hungarian companies engaged in trade, transport, agriculture and services are successfully operating in the country, it is important to expand investment cooperation," Babayev said. He noted that the existing potential for cooperation between the two countries will allow further developing relations, particularly noting the importance of energy cooperation, as well as exploring cooperation potential in the field of renewable energy sources. During the meeting the sides exchanged views on further cooperation in the field of non-oil exports. They also discussed the possibilities of expanding ties in the field of education and science, cooperation in the field of agriculture and food security, building import-export potential in these areas, as well as cooperation in health, culture and transport. The Global Wellness Summit is the foremost gathering of international leaders in the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Its hard to imagine two better chairs for our Tel Aviv Summit. Both are experts in the business of wellness and its investment landscape, and both are passionate aboutand have long done business inIsrael. The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy, today named the co-chairs for its 14th-annual conference being held in Tel Aviv, Israel, this fall. Amir Alroy, co-founder of Welltech1, Israels first wellness innovation micro-fund and hub, and Omer Isvan, president of Servotel Corporation, one of the worlds leading advisers in the investment and development of hotels, resorts and mixed-use developments, will be instrumental in creating the agenda for the annual conference on the business and future of wellness. 2020 is the first year that the GWS will be held in the Middle East, taking place in Tel Aviv, which boasts more start-ups than any place on Earth after Silicon Valley and is rapidly becoming ground zero for new health and wellness technologies and concepts. Alroy and Isvan bring uniquely relevant expertise in whats unfolding in wellness innovation and investment across the worldand in Israel. Amir Alroy is a wellness expert with deep business and technology experience. He co-founded Welltech1, which invests in and accelerates wellness start-ups, increasing their viability and connecting them to global partners. He was the founder and CEO of Cloud 9 Wellness Clubs, exclusive professional personal training clubs in Israel. He also served as COO of Arizen Real Estate Development, specializing in real estate development worldwide. Prior to that, he served as COO of A.Y.R.A.D, a family holding company mainly invested in hi-tech and real estate. Im thrilled to help create the 2020 GWS, which will have the most powerful focus in its history on wellness innovation across all industry sectors. My goal is to immerse attendees in the best and brightest ideas being developed by companies all across the wellness spectrum and have them meet the leaders that are shaking up the industry, noted Alroy. Im also excited to welcome them to Israel, not only the Start-Up Nation but also a beautiful, vibrant, ethnically diverse culture of warm people. Omer K. Isvan, president of Servotel Corporation (headquartered in Turkey), leads what is widely recognized as one of the top advising companies in the global investment and development of hotels, resorts and integrated mixed-use destinations. His experience spans 43+ countries and numerous projects, and he has advised investors in every step of development, from greenfield stage to asset management. Hes a frequent keynote speaker on hospitality development at leading conferences and universities and a Global Wellness Summit advisory board member. Its a great honor to be selected as co-chair to help build an event that will give delegates a powerful new knowledge base and business leadsboth through exceptional content that explores the newest frontiers and trends in wellness and the Summits unique networking opportunities, said Isvan. Tel Aviv, with its exciting lifestyle, entrepreneurial vibe, Mediterranean setting and cutting-edge wellness and health technology, is a fitting location for this conference known for its energizing spirit. Its hard to imagine two better chairs for our Tel Aviv Summit. Both are experts in the business of wellness and its investment landscape, and both are passionate aboutand have long done business inIsrael, noted Nancy Davis, GWS chief creative officer and executive director. Its because of them that we will be able to strike new ground, including having our first Wellness Innovation Pavilion, which will showcase amazing companies and start-ups that are inventing the future of wellness, health and sustainability. Registration is now open, for more information click here. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Michelle Gamble: michelle.gamble@globalwellnesssummit.com About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. The 14th-annual Summit will take place in Tel Aviv from November 1013, 2020. Posted on: February 18, 2020 12:51 PM [ACNS, by Staff Writer] A group of 76 pilgrims have walked the final journey of Archbishop Janani Luwum to commemorate his martyrdom. The pilgrimage began at the place of Archbishop Jananis arrest, Namirembe, on 29 January and ended in Mucwini in Kitgum, where he is buried, on 14 February. The journey was 500km long (approximately 310 miles). The pilgrimage was organised by the Church of Uganda, but was open to all Christians who wanted to join. The former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Representative for Children and Armed conflict, Ambassador Olara Otunnu led the pilgrims to Kitgum. Janani Luwum was the third Archbishop of what was then the Church of the Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Bogo-Zaire. He was the Primate from 1974 to 1977. On 16 February 1977, he was arrested on false charges by former President Idi Amin and was shot and killed later that day in an attempt to silence religious leaders who challenged Amin on a number of issues. Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, the Primate of the Church of Uganda, said during the launch of the Pilgrimage on 18 December 2019, that the main purpose and importance of this foot pilgrimage is to evoke the spiritual and historical milestones of this searing martyrdom; grateful remembrance and thanksgiving for the extraordinary life, martyrdom and example of Archbishop Janani Luwum; an opportunity for renewal and deepening of our faith; coming together of Christians from various denominations in unity, humility and fellowship; emulating the witness and example of Archbishop Janani as a role model for our world today. He also thanked the Government of the Republic of Uganda for declaring 16 February as a public holiday to commemorate the life and martyrdom of Archbishop Janani, and for always supporting preparations ahead of the day. The brutal killing of a seven-year-old girl in the suburbs of Mexico City has sparked renewed anger about rates of femicide in the country. Fatima Cecilia Aldrighetts family have accused the police and government of failing to protect the girl after her body was reportedly discovered wrapped in a bag on 11 February. Her mother, Maria Magdalena Anton, said the family had been forced to wait hours to submit a missing person report by investigators after Fatima was taken from school. Justice has to be done, for my daughter and for all women, she told journalists. A $100,000 reward for information about the individual who collected her from school has been offered by the prosecutors spokesperson Ulises Lara. Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Show all 10 1 /10 Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Journalists record as police spray fire extinguishers during a protest against rising femicide in Mexico on 14 February 2020 AP Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Protesters face off against a line of riot police during a march against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February AFP/Getty Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico A masked protester stands in front of the president's palace in Mexico City during a protest against rising femicide rates acros the country on 14 February AP Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico People march in the streets at a protest against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February Reuters Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico A protester wields a street sign during a march against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February AP Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico A protester holds up a copy of 'La Prensa', a newspaper which is subject to demonstrations after publishing grpahic photos of murdered woman Ingrid Escamilla EPA Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Protesters destroy a van belonging to newspaper 'La Prensa' during a protest against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February EPA Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico People march in the streets at a protest against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February Reuters Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico A protester spray paints the shields of riot police officers during a protest against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February EPA Femicide protesters march on president's palace in Mexico Protesters batter a van belonging to newspaper 'La Prensa' during a protest against femicide in Mexico City on 14 February EPA Classmates of Fatima left flowers, candles and balloons outside the school on Monday. The killing has reignited anger about the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the country with the hashtag #JuticiaParaFatima tweeted tens of thousands of times and local residents shouting and holding placards as they called for justice. It comes just days after the chilling killing of a young woman, allegedly stabbed to death by her partner, sparked mass outrage in Mexico after photos of her mutilated body were leaked to the press. Ingrid Escamilla had her organs and skin removed in what is believed to have been an attempt to hide evidence of her grisly murder. The man, who has been arrested and purportedly confessed to killing Escamilla with a knife, mutilated her body and flushed part of her corpse into a sewer. Leaked images of the 25-year-olds body were splashed on the front page of Mexican newspaper Pasala alongside the caption: It was cupids fault. Protesters descended on the streets of the Mexican capital on Friday and graffitied femicide state in blood-red spray paint on the exterior of the country's presidential palace as they shouted not one more murder. Femicides, defined as the gender-motivated killing of women, are prevalent in Mexico and more than 700 cases are currently being investigated. According to official data, an average of 10 women were killed a day in Mexico in 2018. Some 44 per cent of women have suffered violence from a partner and 66 per cent of women have experienced some form of violence during their life, according to the Mexican Institute of Statistics and Geography. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has claimed demonstrations over the killings were a bid to divert the spotlight from his social programmes. This issue has been manipulated a lot in the media, he said on Monday. I dont want the issue just to be womens killings ... We are working so that there wont be any more womens killings. Patna, Feb 18 : Expelled Janata Dal-United Vice President and top election strategist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday said that he has "no intention" to join politics but said he will launch "Baat Bihar Ki" campaign involving those who believe in his vision to bring the state among the top 10 states of the country. Addressing a press conference for the first time almost 20 days after his expulsion from the JD-U for differing on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Kishor said, "I have no intention of joining another political party or coalition." "My sole focus is that in the next 100 days I'll launch this programme 'Baat Bihar Ki', who want Bihar to be among the top 10 states in India," Kishor said, adding that it would reach out to people who believe that the state is in the need for new and powerful leadership. According to Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) sources, the 'Baat Bihar ki' campaign is aimed to mobilise one crore youth over the next 100 days. Kishor also said that he wants to create a political force in Bihar for the betterment of the state no matter how much time it takes. KIshor-led (I-PAC) however, in the intervening period added another successful election to its scorecard with AAP's stunning win in Delhi. "We want a strong leader who doesn't hesitate in speaking for the betterment of the state and doesn't become someone's follower while compromising on the development of the state," he said in an apparent jibe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for again aligning with BJP after the party broke the alliance in 2013. Kishor also released the data which he claimed showed very little progress in the state between 2005 and 2015 and questioned why Nitish Kumar's government had failed to make much difference in Bihar. He said Bihar has failed to make any significant progress when compared to other states. "Nitishji worked in the field of education. He distributed cycles, school dress, even admission increased in the schools. But he failed to provide quality education. In the education index of the Indian Government, except Jharkhand, Bihar is the most backward state," the former JD-U leader said. He also hailed the JD-U President for providing electricity to every household and said, "Electricity has reached every house today but in terms of household electricity consumption, Bihar is the country's most backward state. Household consumption per family in the country is 900 KW, but in Bihar it is 200 KW. People are poor and they can't use more than a bulb and fan." He further said that Nitish government constructed roads in the state, but people are incapable of buying a vehicle to use those roads. "Vehicles ownership in Bihar is one-fourth of the country's figure," he said. Slamming Nitish Kumar, Kishor said, "For how long will you (Nitish) keep harking back to the situation prevailing under Lalu Prasad Yadav's rule? Isn't it time that we look ahead and think of developing the state that can match the likes of Gujarat, Maharashtra or Karnataka? "Can we not develop Bihar into a state where people from Surat in Gujarat come to find employment? How long will people of this state keep going to other states in search of employment?," Kishor questioned. He said Bihar, stands where it was in 2005. "There is no one to question Nitish Kumar's governance model. I urge Nitish Kumar or any of his ministers to debate with me in open forum on data points pertaining to Bihar's development," he said, daring the Bihar JD-U leaders. He further said that there is not a state with an IAS officer who is not from Bihar. "Bihar has among the most engineering students and graduates in the country but Bihar does not have opportunities for them. Why, and till when will people from Bihar move to other states in search of jobs?," he said. Kishor first entered the political arena in 2011 when he met then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and helped him stitch his third consecutive win in the Gujarat Assembly polls in 2012. However, it was his active involvement in Modi's 2014 Lok Sabha campaign "an election that is a textbook case for everything done right" that catapulted him to instant fame with his "chai pe charcha" campaign. After the success of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the Bihar polls in 2015, Kishor was a hot property which every political party vouched for. And the results of Punjab in 2017, Andhra Pradesh in 2019, West Bengal by-polls in 2019, and now Delhi in 2020 will put him further in demand. The only failure for Kishor was in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, where the Congress and the Samajwadi Party combine lost to the BJP despite the campaigns like "Khat pe charcha" and "UP ke Ladke". Following the success of Kishor in several states, the most recent to join the bandwagon is Tamil Nadu's DMK, which has also roped in I-PAC to design its campaign. This month, the administration is expected to try to squeeze Huawei even further by closing a loophole that has allowed the firm to continue buying parts and products from American companies, despite a Trump administration ban on selling to Huawei. While the Pentagon initially opposed the effort, fearing it could hurt defense suppliers, it has now reversed its position amid pressure from other administration officials. But the effort to handicap Huawei has been complicated by the lack of an alternative to the company, which offers low-cost telecom equipment partially subsidized by the Chinese government. Right now the only real competitors are Nokia and Ericsson, two European firms that claim they have deployed more 5G networks than Huawei, but are clearly struggling to match its prices or keep up with the Chinese firms research and development. That has sent the administration scrambling to present European and other nations with another option. Over the span of 10 days, Attorney General William P. Barr, Vice President Mike Pence and other officials have offered differing American strategies to build a credible competitor to Huawei. Yet at times, they have contradicted one anothers ideas, often in public. In private meetings, Mr. Trump has been urging American firms to get into the competition themselves. But the administration is deeply divided internally over whether the United States needs to invest in the technology or leave the market to sort it out. Mr. Barr further confounded things with a speech this month where he called for American acquisition of Nokia and Ericsson through American ownership of a controlling stake, either directly or through a consortium of private American and allied companies. We and our closest allies certainly need to be actively considering this approach, Mr. Barr said. American officials have gently walked back Mr. Barrs comments. Asked about the prospect of a controlling stake, Robert Blair, an assistant to Mr. Trump for international telecommunications policy, told The New York Times that we are focused more on putting everyone in the tent than putting U.S. taxpayer dollars in the midst. Mr. Pence, in remarks to CNBC, said the best response to Huawei was to free up airwaves for use in 5G networks operated by American carriers. Credit: Liu zishan via Shutterstock Science fiction has struggled to achieve the same credibility as highbrow literature. In 2019, the celebrated author Ian McEwan dismissed science fiction as the stuff of "anti-gravity boots" rather than "human dilemmas." According to McEwan, his own book about intelligent robots, Machines Like Me, provided the latter by examining the ethics of artificial lifeas if this were not a staple of science fiction from Isaac Asimov's robot stories of the 1940s and 1950s to TV series such as Humans (2015-2018). Psychology has often supported this dismissal of the genre. The most recent psychological accusation against science fiction is the "great fantasy migration hypothesis." This supposes that the real world of unemployment and debt is too disappointing for a generation of entitled narcissists. They consequently migrate to a land of make-believe where they can live out their grandiose fantasies. The authors of a 2015 study stress that, while they have found evidence to confirm this hypothesis, such psychological profiling of "geeks" is not intended to be stigmatizing. Fantasy migration is "adaptive"dressing up as Princess Leia or Darth Vader makes science fiction fans happy and keeps them out of trouble. But, while psychology may not exactly diagnose fans as mentally ill, the insinuation remainsscience fiction evades, rather than confronts, disappointment with the real world. The case of "Kirk Allen' The psychological accusation that science fiction evades real life goes back to the 1950s. In 1954, the psychoanalyst Robert Lindner published his case study of the pseudonymous "Kirk Allen," a patient who maintained an extraordinary fantasy life modelled on pulp science fiction. Case studies from the edge. Credit: Schnoodles blog, CC BY Allen believed he was at once a scientist on Earthand simultaneously an interplanetary emperor. He believed he could enter his other life by mental time travel into the far-off future, where his destiny awaited in scenes of power, respect, and conquestboth military and sexual. Lindner explained Allen's condition as an escape from overwhelming mental anguish rooted in childhood trauma. But Lindner, himself a science fiction fan, remarked also on the seductive attraction of Allen's second life, which began to offer, as he put it, a "fatal fascination." The message was clear. Allen's psychosis was extreme, but it showed in stark clarity what drew readers to science fiction: an imagined life of power and status that compensated for the readers' own deficiencies and disappointments. Lindner's words mattered. He was an influential cultural commentator, who wrote for US magazines such as Time and Harper's. The story of Kirk Allen was published in the latter, and in Lindner's book of case studies, The Fifty-Minute Hour, which became a successful popular paperback. What if Hitler had written science fiction? Credit: Amazon Critical distance Psychology had very publicly diagnosed science fiction as a literature of evasionan "escape hatch" for the mentally troubled. Science fiction answered back, decisively changing the genre in the following decades. To take one example: Norman Spinrad's The Iron Dream (1972) purports to reprint a prize-winning 1954 science fiction novel. The novel is apparently written, in an alternate history timeline, by Adolf Hitler, who gave up politics, emigrated to the US, and became a successful science fiction author and illustrator. A fictional critical afterword explains that Hitler's novel, with its "fetishistic military displays and orgiastic bouts of unreal violence," is just a more extreme version of the "pathological literature" that dominates the genre. In her review of The Iron Dream, the now-celebrated science fiction author Ursula Le Guindaughter of the distinguished anthropologist Alfred Kroeberwrote that the "essential gesture of SF" is "distancing, the pulling back from 'reality' in order to see it better," including "our desires to lead, or to be led," and "our righteous wars." Le Guin wanted science fiction to make strange the North American society of her time, showing afresh its peculiar psychology, culture, and politics. The Vietnam War reimagined. Credit: Wikipedia, CC BY In 1972, the US was still fighting the Vietnam War. In the same year, Le Guin offered her own "distanced" version of social reality in The Word for World is Forest, which depicts the attempted colonization of an inhabited alien planet by a macho, militaristic Earth society intent on conquering and violating the natural worlda semi-allegory for what the U.S. was doing at the time in south-east Asia. As well as repudiating the worst parts of the genre, such responses implied a positive model for science fiction. Science fiction wasn't about evading realityit was a literary anthropology which made our own society into a foreign culture which we could stand back from, reflect on, and change. Rather than ask us to pull on our anti-gravity boots, open the escape hatch and leap into fantasy, science fiction typically aspires to be a literature that faces up to social reality. It owes this ambition, in part, to psychology's repeated accusation that the genre markets escapism to the marginalized and disaffected. Explore further Literature online: Research into reading habits almost in real time This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) today announced $5.45 million in grants to teams of educators and researchers working together to improve school practices by applying the science of learning and development. They will be focused on school practices that help students develop self direction and curiosity. Nine teams of educators and researchers will receive grants from $425,000 to $650,000 to support local projects, and participate in a multi-year collaboration designed to strengthen connections among educators, schools, and communities nationwide. "Unlocking the power of advanced educational research depends on not only sharing with educators, but learning from, validating, and valuing their experiences and insights," said Sandra Liu Huang, head of education at CZI. "We are excited to support these collaborations between educators and researchers to advance whole child-focused school practices and help improve student outcomes." The nine teams awarded grants are: Black Teacher Collaborative (BTC) : Middle school teachers at Fannie C. Williams Charter School in New Orleans will participate in the BTC Teacher Fellowship 2.0 program, a two-year fellowship designed to shift teachers' mindsets and practices in order to have a positive impact on Black students' self-direction, curiosity, and academic tenacity. Researchers and partners at the University of Wisconsin and Hampton University , an HBCU, will evaluate how, and whether, building teachers' racial identity impacts Black students' racial identity, love of learning, and intellectual excellence as they relate to self-direction, curiosity, and academic tenacity. : Middle school teachers at Fannie C. Williams Charter School in will participate in the BTC Teacher Fellowship 2.0 program, a two-year fellowship designed to shift teachers' mindsets and practices in order to have a positive impact on Black students' self-direction, curiosity, and academic tenacity. Researchers and partners at the and , an HBCU, will evaluate how, and whether, building teachers' racial identity impacts Black students' racial identity, love of learning, and intellectual excellence as they relate to self-direction, curiosity, and academic tenacity. Student-Driven Learning Through Classroom Discourse: The Boston Debate League will partner with the Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development and the Henderson Inclusion School to build a framework for implementing and scaling a debate-inspired classroom program, where students lead their own thinking and conversations through evidence-based discourse. The Boston Debate League will partner with the of Education and Human Development and the Henderson Inclusion School to build a framework for implementing and scaling a debate-inspired classroom program, where students lead their own thinking and conversations through evidence-based discourse. Self-Direction through Citizens of the World's Learning Fellowship: Citizens of the World Charter Schools, in Los Angeles and Kansas City, Mo. , will study the impact of peer-mentoring experiences and a structured curriculum on students' self-direction and curiosity in grades 6-8 classrooms. Citizens of the World Charter Schools, in and , will study the impact of peer-mentoring experiences and a structured curriculum on students' self-direction and curiosity in grades 6-8 classrooms. Integrating Student-Led Assessment Practice and Self-Regulated Learning Research: In collaboration with national nonprofit Battelle for Kids and George Mason University , Frederick County Public Schools (VA) will examine how student-led assessments strategies contribute to the development of a student's agency and curiosity. In collaboration with national nonprofit Battelle for Kids and , Frederick County Public Schools (VA) will examine how student-led assessments strategies contribute to the development of a student's agency and curiosity. Strategic Literacy Initiative: The Environmental Charter Schools network in Los Angeles will collaborate with WestEd's Strategic Literacy Initiative to deepen and sustain the practice of pairing metacognitive conversations (which make internal thought processes visible to students and teachers) with the reading of complex, discipline-based texts to bolster curiosity, self-direction, and academic skills. The Environmental Charter Schools network in will collaborate with WestEd's Strategic Literacy Initiative to deepen and sustain the practice of pairing metacognitive conversations (which make internal thought processes visible to students and teachers) with the reading of complex, discipline-based texts to bolster curiosity, self-direction, and academic skills. Land-Based Learning to Support the Whole Child: The Native American Community Academy in New Mexico will pilot, assess, and refine a learning framework developed to provide Native youth with educational opportunities that integrate the study of land and students' Native cultural contexts. The Native American Community Academy in will pilot, assess, and refine a learning framework developed to provide Native youth with educational opportunities that integrate the study of land and students' Native cultural contexts. Nez Perce STEP Evaluation Project: The Nez Perce Tribe Education Department, in partnership with the Idaho State Department of Education, will explore the impact of culturally responsive teaching practices on student engagement in Idaho's Lapwai and Kamiah School Districts through the Nez Perce STEP program, which trains Native teachers on culturally competent pedagogy and effective family engagement practices. The Nez Perce Tribe Education Department, in partnership with the Idaho State Department of Education, will explore the impact of culturally responsive teaching practices on student engagement in and Kamiah School Districts through the Nez Perce STEP program, which trains Native teachers on culturally competent pedagogy and effective family engagement practices. The Role of Enhanced Mindfulness Practices for Educators in Promoting Self-Direction: New Village Girls Academy (NVGA), which pairs daily mindfulness with project-based learning, will partner with the University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California to evaluate whether teachers' ability to self-regulate helps to co-regulate with students and impact the richness of student-led work. New Village Girls Academy (NVGA), which pairs daily mindfulness with project-based learning, will partner with the and to evaluate whether teachers' ability to self-regulate helps to co-regulate with students and impact the richness of student-led work. Asset-Based Dialogic Teaching to Promote Curiosity and Self-Direction: Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Education will explore the impact of dialogic teaching, a process where teachers pose critical problems for inquiry, reflect upon students' responses, and engage students in conversation, at Tucson Magnet, Cholla, and Pueblo High Schools in Tucson, Ariz. "We're excited to support the work of these teams to expand the definition of student success beyond academics by translating the science of learning and development into exemplary, replicable practices," said Brooke Stafford-Brizard, director of whole child development at CZI. "Each of these teams have demonstrated the potential to not only improve student outcomes locally, but to inform their peers and the broader education field." CZI launched its Request for Applications for Effective School Practices to Support the Whole Child in August 2019. Today's announcement builds on CZI's efforts to expand the definition of student success beyond academics to include the identity, physical, mental, cognitive, social and emotional development of individual students. Each project reflects elements of Comprehensive Student Development (CSD), a research-based framework designed to ensure that every young person enters adulthood with the knowledge, skills, habits, and agency to thrive in a changing world. CZI is committed to ensuring every young person enters adulthood with the skills and abilities they need to reach their full potential -- and each teacher is equipped with the mindsets, tools and practices they need to support their students' learning and development. Learn more about CZI's education work at https://chanzuckerberg.com/education/ . About Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Founded by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is a new kind of philanthropy that's leveraging technology to help solve some of the world's toughest challengesfrom eradicating disease, to improving education, to reforming the criminal justice system. Across three core Initiative focus areas of Science, Education, and Justice & Opportunity, we're pairing engineering with grant-making, impact investing, and policy and advocacy work to help build an inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone. For more information, please visit www.chanzuckerberg.com . SOURCE Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Related Links chanzuckerberg.com President Trump on Tuesday exercised his pardon power, granting clemency to or commuting the sentences of nearly a dozen people convicted of crimes, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and junk bond pioneer Michael Milken. Trump also referred to himself as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, a title typically reserved for the attorney general. On Tuesday morning, the White House announced Trumps pardoning of former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. for his involvement in a 1998 corruption case against former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards. Ohio pastor Darrell Scott, a longtime Trump supporter, told the Associated Press that he submitted a package to the president advocating for DeBartolos pardon. Speaking on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One en route to a fundraiser in Beverly Hills, Trump announced that he had commuted Blagojevichs sentence. The former governor is serving a 14-year sentence on federal corruption charges. President Trump addresses the media before boarding Air Force One on Tuesday. (Evan Vucci/AP) He seems like a very nice person, Trump told reporters. I watched his wife on television. Patricia Blagojevich had appeared on numerous Fox News shows to appeal for her husband, who was once featured as a guest contestant on Trumps reality show The Apprentice. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was convicted for abusing his powers as governor by seeking campaign contributions in exchange for filling the Illinois Senate seat left open when Barack Obama became president. For months Trump had been considering a pardon for the former Illinois governor, who the president said was treated very, very unfairly. The president also told reporters that he had granted clemency to former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik for corruption and financier Michael Milken for regulatory crimes. Kerik, who served more than three years in federal prison for tax fraud and for making false statements, appeared on Fox News Monday night. He was New Yorks top cop under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is now one of the president's attorneys. Story continues From left, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, President Trump and former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Paul Beaty/AP, AP, Mike Segar/Reuters) After Trump boarded Air Force One, the White House announced full pardons for four others Ariel Friedler, Paul Pogue, David Safavian and Angela Stanton and the granting of commutations to three more: Tynice Nichole Hall, Crystal Munoz and Judith Negron. Munoz and Hall were both convicted of drug-related crimes, while Negron went to prison for Medicare fraud. In a statement, the White House noted that Sheldon Adelson and Tom Barrack, longtime backers of Trumps campaign, were among those who advocated for clemency for Milken. The granting of pardons and commutations comes two days before Trump ally Roger Stone is due to be sentenced for lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering in a case stemming from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. On Twitter earlier Tuesday, Trump called for all cases stemming from the Mueller probe to be thrown out. Trump was asked by reporters about the public rebuke from Attorney General William Barr, who said in an interview last week that such tweets make his job impossible. The president said he agreed. I do make his job harder, Trump said. I do agree with that, I do. Hes working against a lot of people who dont want to see good things happen, in my opinion. The president reiterated his claim that he has the right to intervene in the Stone case. Im actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country, Trump said. I could be involved if I wanted to. Read more coverage from Yahoo News: ANKARA, Turkey Talks between Russia and Turkey meant to reduce tensions in northwestern Syria did not yield a satisfactory result for Ankara, but both sides agreed to continue negotiations, a spokesman for Turkeys president said Tuesday. Turkey and Russia support rival groups in the Syrian conflict and for the past few years have been closely coordinating their moves in Idlib province. A truce reached between the two countries collapsed in late 2019, leading to an offensive by Russian-backed Syrian troops who captured wide areas in the last rebel stronghold and triggered one of the civil wars worst humanitarian crises with about 900,000 people fleeing their homes. A Turkish delegation ended two days of talks with Russian officials in Moscow, and Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said both sides agreed to meet again. We did not accept the document and map that was presented to us, Kalin said, adding that Turkeys position was for a return to the lines laid out under a cease-fire agreement for Idlib in 2018. Briefing journalists after a Cabinet meeting, Kalin also said it was out of the question for Turkey to move the positions of its observation posts. Turkey will continue sending in reinforcements to protect the region and civilians, Kalin said, adding that Ankara would respond to any attack against its troops in the strongest way, like we did in the past weeks. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that both sides noted their adherence to the existing agreements that envisage measures to reduce tensions, ease the humanitarian situation and continue the fight against terrorism. The end of the talks came hours after the U.N. human rights chief urged Syrian government forces and their allies to allow safe corridors in conflict areas in northwestern Syria, where a military offensive has unleashed a massive wave of fleeing civilians in one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the long civil war. Michelle Bachelet told reporters in Geneva it was cruel beyond belief that civilians live under plastic sheeting in freezing conditions while getting bombed. Her appeal came after a day after Syrian President Bashar Assad pledged to press ahead with a military campaign in the northwest that hasdisplaced many people from their homes since the start of December, according to U.N. officials. Many of the civilians are sleeping in open fields and under trees in freezing temperatures. Children and families are caught between the violence, the biting cold, the lack of food and the desperate living conditions. Such abject disregard for the safety and well-being of children and families is beyond the pale and must not go on, said Henrietta Ford, executive director of the U.N.s children agency. About half the regions population had already fled other parts of Syria, and displacement refugee camps are full. Aid organizations, including the U.N. World Food Program, have been forced to stop food distribution temporarily because the fighting has disrupted the movement of trucks bringing supplies to the region. Backed by Russian air power, Syrian government troops have made swift advances, seizing dozens of towns and villages in Idlib province and nearby rural areas around Aleppo. In the past week, Assads forces have secured a strategic highway known as the M5 and consolidated control over Aleppo province for the first time since 2012, dealing a severe blow to the opposition now fighting to hold its last bastion in Idlib. Turkey has restarted joint patrols with the Russian military in northeastern Syria after a two-week hiatus due to the escalation in Idlib, the Russian military said. The governments rapid advances have sparked rare clashes between Syria and Turkey, which backs Syrias rebels and has troops in the region to monitor a 2018 cease-fire deal. Turkeys president has warned Assad to halt the advance and sent thousands of troops and equipment into the opposition enclave to try to stall the Syrian government offensive. Already home to more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, Turkey fears a new influx of people may overwhelm its borders which it has kept sealed in recent years. The resumption of joint patrols in Hassakeh, in eastern Syria, was a possible sign of easing tensions. The U.N. Human Rights Office said it recorded 298 civilian deaths in Idlib and Aleppo, where the government offensive has been concentrated, since Jan. 1. It said 93 percent of those deaths were caused by the Syrian government and its allies. In addition, 10 medical facilities and 19 educational facilities were either directly hit or affected by nearby strikes, the U.N. office said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried suffering of Syrians as horrible in the 9-year-old civil war. In an interview with The Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan, Guterres called for an immediate cease-fire, urging Turkey, Russia and Iran to find a political solution. Bachelet also urged all parties begin an immediate cease-fire and ensure the protection of all civilians. She called on the Syrian government and its allies to allow humanitarian corridors in conflict areas to permit the safe passage of civilians. No shelter is now safe, Bachelet said. And as the government offensive continues and people are forced into smaller and smaller pockets, I fear even more people will be killed. Syrian opposition activists, meanwhile, reported airstrikes on several rebel-held areas Tuesday, including the outskirts of the town of Atareb and Daret Azzeh. ___ Keaten reported from Geneva. Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Kathy Gannon in Lahore, Pakistan, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed. NATO Secretary General discusses North Macedonia Accession with Prime Minister Spasovski NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 18 Feb. 2020 The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski of North Macedonia on Tuesday (18 February 2020) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and discussed with him the accession process of North Macedonia to NATO. Mr. Stoltenberg said that NATO is looking forward to welcoming North Macedonia in the Alliance in the coming weeks. Noting that North Macedonia has been participating in all NATO meetings as an invitee after the Accession Protocol was signed by all NATO Allies in February of 2019, he said that once all Allies have ratified the Accession Protocol, North Macedonia will become the 30th member of the Alliance. The NATO Secretary General said that membership in NATO will be good for stability and prosperity in North Macedonia and will contribute to the security of the Western Balkans and of the whole Euro-Atlantic area. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that North Macedonia's accession to NATO demonstrates that commitment to reforms pay off, and that NATO's door remains open. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Josef Mengele was the embodiment of evil, prowling the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in the 1940s for his helpless victims, with the Nazi being obsessed with anomalies and carried out the most sadistic experiments on those prisoners, a new book reveals. Known as the Angel of Death and the most notorious war criminal of all time, Mengele was a medical monster and intent on destroying the perceived enemies of the Aryan race the Jews and creating the ideal German community. Captivated by oddities, victims of Mengele's medical experiments were chosen based on different eye colors, growth anomalies such as a clubfoot or a hunchback, giantism or dwarfism, twins and gypsies. A choice 'specimen' he sent to his lab for study was the head of a 12-year-old boy he was going to dissect. This detail was discovered in a document by author David Marwell, former chief of investigative research at the Department of Justice's Office of Special Investigations, hired to do a global search to find Mengele in the 1980s. 'This only reinforced my notion of him as a wildly sadistic, grotesque monster,' writes Marwell in his new book Mengele, Unmasking The 'Angel of Death'. Josef Mengele (pictured in 1942) was the embodiment of evil, prowling the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in the 1940s for his helpless victims with the Nazi being obsessed with anomalies and carrying out the most sadistic experiments on them, a new book reveals Obsessed with anomalies, victims of Mengele's medical experiments were chosen based on eye color, growth oddities such as a clubfoot or a hunchback, giantism or dwarfism, twins and gypsies. The Ovitz family (pictured) were subjected to gruesome experiments at his hands due to their dwarfism. Pictured l-r: Rosika, Franzisca, Avraham, Markus, Frida, Elizabeth and Pualina Mengele took his turn on the ramp where the starved and exhausted prisoners arrived at the camp in trains or cattle cars. Mengele decided who was going to be a victim of his medical experiments. Pictured: Prisoners arriving to Auschwitz 'Mengele stalked the nightmares and haunted the daydreams of legions and emerged as the embodiment not only of the Holocaust itself but also of the failure of justice in the wake of the war that allowed so many Nazi murderers and accomplices to escape justice,' Marwell adds. Mengele focused on identical twins, physical twins and gypsies. With 732 pairs of twins to experiment on, Mengele once impregnated one twin with the sperm from a different twin to see if she would produce twins. When there was only one baby, one survivor claimed he tore the baby out of the mother's uterus and threw the child into an oven and walked away. David Marwell, former chief of investigative research at the Department of Justice's Office of Special Investigations, was hired to do a global search to find Mengele. He wrote his findings in the new book Mengele, Unmasking The 'Angel of Death' Mengele put pairs of twins in small wooden cages and painfully injected them daily in the back with bacteria that caused an infection of the mouth or genitals, leading to gangrenous boils. He applied painful clamps to children's limbs to induce gangrene, injected dye into their eyes, gave them injections in the spine and spinal taps with no anesthesia. He did blood tests and transfusions from one twin to the other. Typhus and tuberculosis were given to one twin but not the other. If one died, the other would be killed with an injection of chloroform to the heart to study and compare the effects of the disease. Mengele operated without anesthetics for procedures removing organs, performing castration or amputation. He injected prisoners in the heart with chloroform or phenol that instantly caused blood coagulation. Victims were purposely killed for just after-death measurements and examination Organs, eyes, blood samples and tissues were sent to a lab for further study and to be dissected. All victims suffered unbearable pain and an agonizing death. Mengele also injected eyes of people who had different color pupils to see if he could change the eye color. He pinned hundreds of human eyes to the wall like a butterfly collection. Mengele took his turn on the ramp where the starved and exhausted prisoners arrived at the camp in trains or cattle cars, packed so tightly that the dead ones were still standing. Known as t he Angel of Death and the most notorious war criminal of all time, Mengele (pictured) was a medical monster and intent on destroying the perceived enemies of the Aryan race the Jews and creating the ideal German community. He had earned a PhD in anthropology from the University of Munich before joining the Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene and working with a German geneticist 'Mengele stalked the nightmares and haunted the daydreams of legions and emerged as the embodiment not only of the Holocaust itself but also of the failure of justice in the wake of the war that allowed so many Nazi murderers and accomplices to escape justice,' Marwell writes. Pictured: An undated file photo of the main gate of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, in Poland. Writing over the gate reads: 'Arbeit macht frei (Work liberates)' Each SS officer on duty on the ramp decided with the flick of a wrist to the left or the right who among the 430,000 Hungarian Jews deported to the Auschwitz II concentration camp in 1943 were going to live and work, and who were going to be sent to the gas chambers. Mengele decided who was going to be a victim of his medical experiments. Mengele was always there sober, unlike the other officers, culling inmates, determining fates and searching through new arrivals to find twins or anyone with unusual traits. Reportedly some 3,000 twins were pulled from the masses, mostly children, but only 200 survived. 'The vast majority of people who encountered Mengele on the ramp shortly after arriving in Auschwitz did not survive', the author notes. The camp became the perfect lab for Mengele to pursue his own perverted scientific interests that he viewed as a cutting edge endeavor. Prisoners from Auschwitz including children selected by Mengele were sent to other concentration camps to serve as subjects for tuberculosis experimentation and were infected with the disease. 'The children were hanged from the heating pipes in a school in Hamburg to hide evidence of these experiments', Marwell reports. Prisoners suffering from schizophrenia and depression were subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The goal was to treat incapacitated prisoners so that they could return to the work force. Most of the experiments were unsuccessful and led to the death of the prisoners. Mengele had earned a PhD in anthropology from the University of Munich before joining the Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene and working with a German geneticist. The science Mengele (center) was pursuing at Auschwitz was consistent with what was being carried out in the scientific establishment. But his 'research was criminal and monstrous and pushed scientific research across ethical boundaries', writes the author With thousands upon thousands of helpless victims, Auschwitz was the ideal lab for Mengele - and his deeds proved to be the darkest nightmare of modern history. Pictured: Mengele's hand written notes in mostly German, Spanish, and Portuguese Most of Mengele's twisted experiments were almost exclusively done in pursuit of his own pseudo-scientific specialization, instead of being conducted for practical scientific reasons. Arriving at Auschwitz allowed Mengele to pursue his work unchecked 'to protect and 'improve' the German race', all part of the Nazis rhetoric to create a new racial order and safeguard German blood. With thousands upon thousands of helpless victims, Auschwitz was the ideal lab for Mengele - and his deeds proved to be the darkest nightmare of modern history. The author finds it difficult to accept testimony about some of the experiments attributed to Mengele creating a Siamese twin by 'sewing together' two twins, or making boys into girls or girls into boys or even connecting the urinary tract of a 7-year old girl to her own colon as reported by other authors. 'Given Mengele's ambition, it is clear that he pursued his science not as some renegade propelled solely by evil and bizarre impulses but rather in a manner that his mentors and his peers could judge as meeting the highest standards', writes Marwell. The science he was pursuing at Auschwitz was consistent with what was being carried out in the scientific establishment. But his 'research was criminal and monstrous and pushed scientific research across ethical boundaries', writes the author. By the beginning of 1945, the Soviets were advancing on Auschwitz and the SS evacuated inmates by embarking on death marches in the bitter winter to other camps and then blowing up the crematorium complexes. Mengele put pairs of twins in small wooden cages and painfully injected them daily in the back with bacteria that caused an infection of the mouth or genitals, leading to gangrenous boils Prisoners from Auschwitz including children selected by Mengele were sent to other concentration camps to serve as subjects for tuberculosis experimentation and were infected with the disease. Pictured: Children at the camp in January 1945 Mengele believed to the end that Hitler's weapons would rescue the Germans from defeat. He was wrong and the Third Reich collapsed. Mengele was soon on the run. He was able to join up with a German military field hospital and dressed himself as a German Army officer, ditching the SS uniform. He developed a cogent cover story, eliminated his service in the SS and tried on different names. Mengele had cleverly avoided getting a tattoo when he was in the SS, the very blood-type tattoo he had implemented. An old school friend he visited gave him a discharge certificate he had in the name of another physician and now the Angel of Death was Fritz Holmann. He disappeared working on a farm 12-14 hours a day earning some money. The young woman he had married and bore him a son publicly declared her husband dead. But living in the forest, Mengele stayed in touch with his family. He needed their financial help to leave Germany. The preferred route was through an Italian port, so Mengele crossed into Italy by way of Austria and secured false documents. With a new ID issued in the name of Helmut Gregor by a Nazi-oriented group in South Tyrol, and money that arrived from his father which would pay for a guide, Mengele was set to travel to Argentina. The trip was confirmed with the issuance of a Red Cross passport. 'A Red Cross passport was an essential element in the escape of so many Nazis for departing Italy and gaining entry to South America'. Mengele almost didn't make it when the official who was expected to issue a visa for him wasn't there. An 1949 immigration document, reads the name of Helmut Greger, the name which Mengele used when he entered in Argentina, shortly after the World War II ended In 1985, Germany, Israel and the United States formed a cooperative effort to find Mengele although they had all searched for him on their own. The Angel of Death was finally located in June 1985 dead. He had died in a swimming accident in 1979 and his body buried in Sao Paulo. Pictured: Mengele's house where he reportedly lived from 1973-1979 He was interrogated, accused of committing horrific crimes against Italian prisoners of war but continued to say he was from South Tyrol. His contact finally showed up and Mengele was on his way on the North Queen to Argentina traveling as Helmut Gregor to a new continent in 1949. He went to the theater, concerts and attended lectures with sophisticated people for nearly a decade before he was forced to change his name and disappear. By the time the German justice officials produced an extradition request to the lethargic bureaucracy of Argentina, Mengele had been gone for months and settled in Paraguay in 1960. With his contacts, he was one step ahead. In 1985, Germany, Israel and the United States formed a cooperative effort to find Mengele although they had all searched for him on their own. There were leads that he was living in Ethiopia, Argentina, Egypt, Peru, Chile, Brazil and Ecuador. Family members were surveilled to learn anything. The Angel of Death was finally located in June 1985 dead. He had died in a swimming accident in 1979 and his body buried in Sao Paulo. The author was there when they exhumed the body and held his bones in his hands. 'Among the last written words of his life, Mengele was unrepentant to the end and expressed no remorse'. January 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Roger Stone, former adviser to President Donald Trump, departs the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington on Nov. 15, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Judge Wont Delay Stone Sentencing, Will Weigh New Trial Request A federal judge is keeping former Trump campaign associate Roger Stone on track to be sentenced on Feb. 20. She said, however, she wont send him to prison before considering his request for a new trial. Stone was convicted of lying to and obstructing Congress and witness tampering. A new team of prosecutors have requested substantial prison time for Stone, but said it should be far less than the seven to nine years requested by the previous team, which withdrew from the case after the Justice Department nixed their sentencing recommendation as excessive. On Feb. 14, Stone filed a sealed motion for a new trial, alleging juror misconduct. On Feb. 18, he amended the motion. The same day, the government filed an opposition to the original motion, also under seal. The motions havent been unsealed by the court, but likely pertain to the lead juror on the Stone case, Tomeka Hart, a former Democratic candidate for Congress who repeatedly made disparaging comments on Twitter about President Donald Trump and his supporters. Stone, a conservative campaign strategist, has known Trump for decades and has been one of his most loyal supporters. During the jury selection process, Hart said that Stones affiliation with the Trump campaign would absolutely not affect her ability to judge him fairly and impartially. During a Feb. 18 teleconference, District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with the new prosecutors and stayed the course on the sentencing. I think that delaying the sentencing would not be a prudent thing to do under all the circumstances unless Im required to do so, she said, according to Politico. The defense wanted a brief delay of the sentencing. Jackson also said that she wont execute the sentencing and send Stone to prison before addressing his new trial request. She said she was considering holding a hearing on it. The new prosecutors on the case are John Crabb, deputy chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorneys office in the District of Columbia, and J.P. Cooney, deputy chief of the fraud and public corruption section in the same office (pdf). Cooney was responsible for the plea deal for former congressional IT staffer Imran Awan, who was let go with no prison time after admitting to one count of bank fraud (pdf). Twitter Comments Trump has drawn ire, including from his Attorney General William Barr, for criticizing the sentencing of Stone on Twitter. More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials called on Barr to resign, alleging Barr intervened in the Stone case as a favor to Trump. The Justice Department said the case wasnt discussed with the White House. Barr said Trump hasnt asked him to do anything about any case. TrumpStone Stone said it was he who originally conceived, back in the 1980s, the idea that Trump should run for president. He resigned, however, from Trumps 2016 presidential campaign in August 2015. I am a strategist and a campaign cannot have two strategists, he told BBC in 2018. Trump said he fired Stone. I really dont want publicity seekers who want to be on magazines or who are out for themselves, Trump told The Washington Post at the time. This campaign is not about them. Its about victory and making America great again. Stone continued to assist the campaign after being fired and has supported Trumps presidency. Update: The article has been updated with information about the new prosecutors handling the Roger Stone case. Ecologists estimate the recent drought and huge bushfires have killed thousands of koalas in NSW, pushing the marsupial to "endangered status" in the state. Steve Phillips, an ecologist and managing director of the Biolink consultancy, said his team used surveys of known koala sites in northern NSW to estimate more than 6000 koalas died in the fires. One of the lucky ones: a female koala recovers at the Native Wildlife Rescue Centre in Robertson, eastern NSW. Credit:John Moore/Getty Images Losses of koala habitat were as much as 85 per cent in the Wardell and Rappville regions, he said. "They've gone - they've been taken out ... It's pretty significant as these are big numbers." Memorial events have been announced throughout the country. A vigil for those killed in bloody clashes at the Maidan Square during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 has been held near the Heavenly Hundred Memorial downtown Kyiv. Six years ago, during the Revolution of Dignity, a peaceful procession heading to the Verkhovna Rada turned into a bloody confrontation between activists, Berkut riot police troops, and the so-called titushkas (hired armed thugs), according to the Ukrainian TSN TV news service. Twenty-three protesters we killed and hundreds were injured. Memorial events are announced throughout the country. Read alsoZelensky: We need real results of investigation into Maidan killings As UNIAN reported earlier, on January 22, a procession was held downtown Kyiv to commemorate the first killed participants in the Revolution of Dignity, the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, namely Serhiy Nigoyan, Mikhail Zhiznevsky, Roman Senyk, Yuriy Verbytsky and Oleksandr Badera, who died in January six years ago. On November 21, 2013, the third real revolution began in Ukraine. It lasted 94 days and became the bloodiest one in the history of independent Ukraine. Up to 4 million Ukrainians took part in these events. The first Maidan activist died after being beaten by Berkut officers on December 22. Three more died on Hrushevskoho Street in late January. The bloodiest events unfolded on February 18 and lasted several days. As of March 2014, the Heavenly Hundred list of Revolution heroes included 105 people. A total of 13 law enforcement officers were killed from February 18 to February 20. In swamp news, Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates is reportedly being pinned by senior officials in the Trump administration as the so-called "Anonymous," the hideous little operative deep within the Trump administration who claimed to be the anti-Trump "resistance" on the inside, brazenly writing an essay in the New York Times to 'assure' us that the Trump administration was full of such people. Here's the Daily Mail's summary: Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates may be reassigned to a position in the Department of Energy from the National Security Council In recent weeks, it has been rumored that Coates is author of anonymous op-ed The infamous op-ed was published in the New York Times in September 2018 Last year, the same Anonymous person published tell-all book called, A Warning Despite the rumors about Coates, she isn't known to disagree with the president's foreign policies, which doesn't make her a good fit for Anonymous Since I have known Victoria since the heyday of the early blog years, blogger-to-blogger, have since visited her in Washington, and seen her around on social media since, I find the whole thing shocking. And based on what I know of Victoria, I don't believe it. First, there is the main reason cited by the Daily Mail, that she doesn't disagree with President Trump on foreign policy. She would have to then secretly disagree which, based on what I know, isn't her. Here's the bitter little bureaucrat's 'Anonymous' essay, something couldn't sound less like Victoria, who unlike this person, is a smooth and elegant writer. To be clear, ours is not the popular resistance of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous. But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic. That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trumps more misguided impulses until he is out of office. The root of the problem is the presidents amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making. Although he was elected as a Republican, the president shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright. This person hates Trump on stylistics grounds, the hallmark of a NeverTrump, deluding himself he's concerned about morals. The person writing this is Russia-obsessed and praises John McCain as the model anti-Trump he really wants. Russia? McCain? Victoria has never brought up such topics at least around me, McCain's not someone she's ever talked about, let alone admired. The person writing sounds as though he longs for the good old days of President Bush, again, the neocon stuff, the American power thing, not something Victoria is associated with. Victoria, in fact, was never one of those people, a diehard Bushie. She comes from the Ted Cruz branch of Republicanism, not the Bush people. She had an earlier connection with Donald Rumsfeld, who left the Bush administration with some acrimony. Last time I met with her in Washington, Trump had been elected and she was thrilled to be working in his administration. She had no offhand sniggers or superiority complex the way the Washington elites did. She never so much as hinted she wanted to save Trump from himself, as the essay writer said he or she was about. She was a fully prepared loyalist to Trump with no eye-rolling, she was very onboard and she understood well why Trump got elected. The 'Anonymous' writer brings up the Russians in that so-very-recognizable way visible from leftists who were at the time bruiting around the Steele dossier and claiming Trump colluded with the Russians to steal the election from Hillary Clinton, then obsessed themselves with getting a special prosecutor appointed to investigate Trump, and then impeaching Trump after all previous efforts failed. The last time I saw Victoria, in early 2017, I brought up the Russians and asked her if she agreed with Trump's position that it would be a good thing if U.S.-Russian relations improved. She shrugged, smiled and said 'sure - it was worth trying,' she would be all in for it if Trump wanted to try it. It didn't sound like it was a terribly interesting topic to her, number one, and two, she didn't have that hardened, calcified, hatred of Russia you find in many Capitol Hill circles. She waI kniw the person s focused on Israel stuff, where her new assignment would be, Russia didn't even interest her, based on what she said to me. This Anonymous character, on the other hand, is focused hard on Russia, with a Vindman-like obsession, a country which, objectively speaking, is a place we often have conflicting interests with, but is hardly America's biggest enemy. The Anonymous writer was obsessed with Russia, an odd thing for someone who's supposed to be all so very informed about national security. Compared to Iran, China or North Korea, Russia is small potatoes but not this guy. I am not privy to Victoria's exact assignment, but I know she went to work on the Israel stuff instead. The Anonymous writer talks again and again about steadying the ship, and saving Trump from his worse impulses, but think about what went on in the Israel desk during these past three years. Photo credit: Jean Beaufort Hollister Biosciences Inc., the creator of California's #1 hash infused pre-roll HashBone, announces the launch of Rebel Hemp Company's smokable hemp products. VANCOUVER, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Hollister Biosciences Inc. (CSE: HOLL, FRANKFURT: HOB (the "Company", "Hollister Cannabis Co." or "Hollister") through its hemp division, Rebel Hemp Company, is proud to announce the launch of its premium hemp pre-rolls. Hollister has entered a letter of intent ("LOI') for a proposed offtake agreement (the "Agreement") with Mountain Financial Solutions LLC ("Mountain Financial"). Under the terms of this Agreement, Hollister will purchase 1,000 pounds of hemp from Mountain Financial for use in various smokable hemp products - specifically, Rebel Hemp Company's premium hemp pre-rolls. Rebel Hemp Company's pre-rolls will be sold as singles and in packs. All hemp pre-rolls for Rebel Hemp Company will be manufactured by Hollister, using the smokable hemp sourced from Mountain Financial's farm in Paso Robles, CA. The selected CBD-rich hemp strains will provide smokers with a consistent, flavorful and relaxing experience. Ronald Hodge, of Mountain Financial Solutions, spoke about the Agreement: "We are happy to announce our agreement with Hollister Cannabis Co and look forward to a long lasting relationship. I have known Carl for over 20 years and he's one of the best in the business." Carl Saling, Founder, CEO and Director of Hollister Biosciences Inc, shared: "We are very excited to be working with Mountain Financial Solutions LLC. Their unique high CBD hemp strains are just what we were looking for to launch our smokable hemp pre roll line." About Mountain Financial Solutions LLC Mountain Financial Solutions, LLC is located in the Paso Robles wine region of California. They currently grow multiple strains of smokable hemp on a 100 acre farm, surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Their flower is considered the highest quality hemp in California. About Hollister Biosciences Inc. Hollister Biosciences Inc. is a California based vertically integrated cannabis company with a vision to be the sought-after premium brand portfolio of innovative, high-quality California-grown cannabis and hemp products. Hollister uses a vertically integrated, high margin model, controlling the whole process from manufacture to sales to distribution or seed to shelf. Products from Hollister Cannabis Co. include HashBone, the brand's premier artisanal hash-infused pre-roll, along with solvent-free bubble hash, pre-packaged flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vape products, and full-spectrum high CBD pet tinctures. Hollister Cannabis Co. additionally offers white-labeling manufacturing of cannabis products. Our wholly owned California subsidiary Hollister Cannabis Co is the 1st state and locally licensed cannabis company in the city of Hollister, CA birthplace of the "American Biker." Website: www.hollistercannabisco.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com SOURCE Hollister Biosciences Inc. A campus protest against the Kent State gun girl Kaitlin Bennett was not a riot, according to Ohio University police. Ms Bennett, who helps run a conservative website called Liberty Hangout and who often appears on Alex Jones InfoWars programs, was driven off the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio on Monday by a student protest according to the Athens News. She said the students started a riot and claims the police let it happen. This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus, she tweeted. Leftists at @Ohiou started a riot when @joelpatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists. Ms Bennett is best known for open-carrying an AR-10 rifle during her graduation from Kent State University. Ohio University police rejected Ms Bennetts claim in a statement issued Monday. Early this afternoon an activist appeared unexpectedly on the Ohio University campus in Athens and engaged in Constitutionally protected activity. She drew a large crowd of people, many with opposing viewpoints, who also chose to exercise their first amendment rights, the statement read. Ohio University police officers were present throughout the incident to protect everyones rights and safety; other than keeping streets and other public rights of way clear, no police officers asked anyone to leave at any point. The statement continued: Contrary to allegations circulating on social media, the incident did not rise to the level of a riot. There was strong language, and allegations that some unknown person(s) in the crowd splashed water, but there were no reported injuries or violence, and no one was arrested during the event. Ms Bennett said she would return to campus with an army of gun owners for an open carry walk. She went on to complain that the protesters had thrown projectiles and poured hot coffee on us. Ms Bennett was met on Twitter with the usual pushback from liberal and leftist accounts, but she was also condemned by the Libertarian Party for calling the college students who protested her terrorists. MONTREAL - The man who alleges he was sexually assaulted by former Quebec media star Eric Salvail was grilled under cross-examination Tuesday, accused of lying in an effort to attract attention. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Former radio and television personality Eric Salvail walks the halls of the courthouse in Montreal on Monday, February 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - The man who alleges he was sexually assaulted by former Quebec media star Eric Salvail was grilled under cross-examination Tuesday, accused of lying in an effort to attract attention. On the second day of Salvail's trial on charges of sexual assault, harassment and unlawful confinement, his lawyer, Michel Massicotte was unrelenting as he sought to poke holes in the story of the alleged victim, Donald Duguay. Massicotte invoked Duguay's media appearances and his creation of an internet site devoted to victims of sexual assault. "Is it not correct to say that through all this, what you were seeking and are still seeking, is attention?" the lawyer asked, to which Duguay, 47, replied no. "And is it not correct that to obtain this attention, you are ready to lie and to say falsehoods?" Duguay, who has had the standard publication ban on the identity of alleged victims in sexual assault cases waived, calmly denied the accusation. On Monday Duguay told the court he and Salvail, now 50, both worked in the mailroom at Radio-Canada when he first experienced unwanted advances from Salvail in 1993. He testified that from their first meeting, Salvail made inappropriate comments and tried to seduce him. He said he was "outraged" and asked Salvail to stop, but he said in the next days Salvail persisted, grabbing his buttocks a few times and inviting him for "a little quickie." The court heard that the two men were no longer working in the same department by Halloween 1993 when Salvail followed Duguay into a washroom, dropped his pants to expose himself and rubbed himself against Duguay's buttocks. He testified that Salvail grabbed him and held him against his will, and it was only when he threatened to scream and report Salvail that he loosened his grip, and Duguay was able to flee. Massicotte questioned Duguay's account, wondering why he would not have properly defended himself against Salvail when he was vulnerable with his pants lowered, and why Duguay had not fled earlier when he had the chance. Massicotte also raised several instances when Duguay's testimony differed from previous statements he had made in declarations to police and during the preliminary hearing last fall. He pointed to Duguay's description of the bathroom at the Radio-Canada building in Montreal where the assault is alleged to have taken place and the precise actions of the two men during the washroom altercation. Duguay has testified that he suffers from post-traumatic stress, and different scenes were reconstructed with the aide of a psychiatrist or psychologist, meaning these details only fell into place later on. Salvail, who has pleaded not guilty and opted for trial by judge alone, was one of Quebec's most popular entertainers until he departed show business in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct were published by Montreal's La Presse. He had his own TV production company, hosted a popular talk show on Groupe V Media and was a fixture on afternoon radio in the province. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. Though most people are aware of the ways in which animals are (mis)treated in slaughterhouses, no one really talks about it. Now, horrifying images that have surfaced from a Thai slaughterhouse have put the disgusting conditions in which animals are treated in the spotlight, and they're not easy to see. Here, pigs are clubbed to death. Jo-Anne McArthur The gruesome pictures showing pigs dying of injuries in a pool of blood, screaming as workers beat them to death are going viral. The images have been captured by 43-year-old Jo-Anne McArthur, founder of We Animals Media, which is dedicated to ending animal cruelty. Jo-Anne McArthur She spent quite a lot of time exploring the Thai slaughterhouse. I wasn't the first to be welcomed here; the owner of the facility thinks it's important for people to see the process of slaughter and once welcomed a group of veterinary students to spend a morning here too. He said that many of them vomited, Daily Mail quoted McArthur as saying. Jo-Anne McArthur She further said, On this particular day, I was welcomed and escorted through the slaughterhouse doors with an invitation to spend the morning taking photos. I explored the circuit; the holding pens, the kill floor, and the area where the animals are gutted, dismembered and packed into trucks. She captures horrifying images of terrified pigs coerced into a pen with iron nails and electric rods. They were stuffed in the smallest of spaces. Talking about the pigs she said, Some screamed. Others seemed mute and immobile. Others shook. Many tried to escape when they were prodded or dragged soaking wet to the kill floor. Fear is recognisable across most species, and with the pigs here, it is undeniably palpable. The photojournalist captured the pigs being struck repeatedly with huge, wooden clubs. After that their throats were sliced open with a knife. Apparently the reason for the clubbing is to humanely stun the animals before slaughter. However, since pigs have thick skulls, stunning them only terrifies them more and does not really accomplish the purpose. Jo-Anne McArthur Amid the chaos, pigs were left to bleed out for a minute or so in groups before another worker would jam a hook into their leg and then heave the animal into a vat of boiling water. The men would then set to scraping the pigs clean of hair, using sharp knives in a shaving motion, then deftly severing their heads and hooves. While men did the slaughtering and butchering, it was Burmese women in the back rooms who emptied and cleaned the pig intestines and organs, she explained. The photojournalist hopes that these images will have an impact on some and have them change. The fight to stop seismic blast-testing and drilling for oil and natural gas offshore South Carolina just won one more round. U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel of Charleston has denied the Department of the Interior's motion to dismiss lawsuits filed by several groups, including the South Carolina Attorney General's office. What it means is that the case will continued to be tried, said attorney Amy Armstrong with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, one of the drilling opponents. Meanwhile, the department at any time could issue permits to start the work anyway a possibility that opponents say they are ready to fight. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson called the case "vital to South Carolina and its beautiful coastline and natural resources." In denying the motion to dismiss, Gergel's cited a legal precedent that an executive order alone cannot remove property in this case, offshore tracts from federal protection designated by an earlier president. The Obama administration in 2016 decided not to allow exploration leases off the East Coast. President Donald Trump's administration resumed the process of permitting the practice shortly after he took office in 2017. The ruling follows a January decision representing a major win for drilling opponents. In that ruling, the federal agencies in charge of approving seismic testing for offshore oil and gas in the Atlantic were ordered to show conservationists how they arrived at their permitting decisions. It meant staff will have to disclose emails, memos, attachments and other communications on various discussions the groups expect to provide insight into how the agencies moved toward opening areas off the coast, including South Carolina. The other drilling opponents challenging the Trump administration include 10 states, 19 municipalities in South Carolina alone, at least eight environmental groups and the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce. Six seismic testing companies have a total seven permit applications pending at the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that could include work off South Carolina. The testing involves using loud air gun blasts to map the oil and gas reserves under the ocean floor. The blasts have been shown to disrupt and injure sea creatures such as whales. Seismic tests are a precursor to offshore drilling for oil and natural gas. The issue pits environmentalists and a multibillion-dollar tourism industry against potential new revenue and jobs. The work is widely opposed in South Carolina and elsewhere along on the East Coast. The Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 15 filed a charge sheet against two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists before the agency special court, Jammu. The two terrorists are identified as Khalil Ahmad Kayani (34) and Mohammad Nazeem (23), both residents of Haveli Farwad Kahuta district in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The case is related to the arrest of the two accused near Nilkanth Nala, approximately 700 metres inside the Indian side of LoC, in Gulmarg Sector of Baramulla district. Recovery of arms, ammunition, grenades, IED material including explosives and detonators, Pakistan made medicine and eatable items were made from them in the forest area near LoC, at their instance by the Indian Army, on August 21, 2019, the chargesheet stated. Investigation revealed that accused Khalil Ahmad Kayani and Mohammad Nazeem from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), were in contact of their Handler of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Pakistani army in PoK, NIA said in a release. Both were engaged in the task of concealing the arms, explosives etc. across the LoC in the forest area of the Indian Territory to be used by Pakistani Terrorists to carry out the terrorist activities in India. The accused have been charged under section 120B of IPC, sections 13, 18, 20, 23 and 39 of UA(P) Act, sections 7 and 25 of Arms Act, sections 4 and 5 of Explosives Substances Act and section 3 and 3A of Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance, 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haiti - FLASH : Police protesters set fire to Champ-de-Mars On Monday, several hundred police officers, mostly in plain clothes and some hooded wearing red T-shirts identified as PNH, led by Yanick Joseph coordinator of the movement who advocates a union within the police, holding up signs and photos of police officers killed on duty, demonstrated in the streets for the 3rd time, to demand better working conditions and the creation of a union within the National Police of Haiti (PNH) to defend their interests. The peaceful walk started from the airport crossroad before crossing the streets of Delmas and Petion-ville to reach the headquarters of the PNH General Inspection in Petion ville. The police made graffiti on the walls of the institution and on private vehicles before leaving, firing shots into the air. In the early evening on the Champ-de-Mars on the sidelines of a demonstration organized by the police, hooded men claiming to be the police offciers and wearing red T Shirts with a PNH inscription, launched Molotov cocktails on several stands intended to the festivities of the National Carnival 2020 (23, 24, 25 February 2020) at the Champ-de-Mars. Grandstands to accommodate the presidency, dignitaries and distinguished guests, as well as the stand of the Town Hall of Port-au-Prince, which was practically completed, were completely destroyed, the fire spread to almost all the stands under construction in proximity. Bursts of automatic weapons were also heard in the Champ-de-Mars area. Police demonstrators said they planned to disrupt the carnival festivities if the General Police Directorate did not authorize the creation of their union. Although pro-union leaders within the PNH have distanced themselves from these acts of extreme vandalism, other police have confirmed that colleagues have followed through on threats to boycott the carnival. It should be noted that during these acts of destruction, no police force intervened to put an end to it... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29986-haiti-flash-rebel-police-attack-staff-and-destroy-equipment-at-the-igpnh.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29977-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29334-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29309-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29287-haiti-social-police-will-take-streets-this-sunday.html TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre YOUNG digital natives at one of the most tech-savvy schools in the country led a day of highlighting the dangers and safe elements of the internet. Pupils at Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh in Limerick city hosted the Safer Internet Day on Monday, showing off their efforts to engage in technology in safe and creative way. Patrick Looby, 2nd Year, is one of the ambassadors of the initiative. He said: During Safer Internet day 2020 we dont want to tell students that the internet is bad and that they shouldnt use their phone, but to educate them on how to combat issues that they may encounter while on social media. Really it is to guide students, parents and teachers on what to do if a case of cyberbullying or anything of that nature is brought to their attention. Teacher Ciara Ni Dhrisceoil said that the school embeds technology in everything they do at the school with great care and consideration. We believe that wellbeing is core to the success and happiness of our students and we embrace the mindful and effective use of technology, not only in the classroom but beyond. Internet Safety is an ongoing topic that we discuss and reflect on with our students and Safer Internet Day is a focal point for all students, teachers and parents to reflect and discuss the ways in which we engage with social media and the internet in general, she said. Guest speakers during the day included psychologist Dr Maureen Griffin and local gardai with advice for the teenagers. The students also launched a website, entitled Ar Saol ar Line, which means Our Lives Online, featuring multimedia and social content. Stranger Things, the hit sci-fi series on Netflix, has aired three seasons thus far. A fourth season is in the works, and a recent teaser trailer let fans in on a big secret about David Harbours Jim Hopper. But that scene wasnt exactly what you think. Read on to learn where it was filmed and what we know about the upcoming season. Stranger Things 3 ended on a cliffhanger In the third season of the series, Hopper sacrifices himself in order to save Joyce, Eleven, and seemingly everyone in Hawkins, Indiana. The finale scene shows El, now living with Byers, reading a letter her surrogate father wrote her, as she and the family prepare to leave Hawkins. But an end-credit sequence was what had everyone talking. In a prison in Kamchatka, Russia, two guards take a man from his cell and feed him to a Demogorgon. But what fans fixated on was the very first line one instructs the other to move to the next cell, saying, Not the American. Season 4 has begun filming When Season 3 of Stranger Things was released back in July 2019, fans knew there would be a long wait before we heard anything about Season 4, which was officially announced in Sept. 2019. Harbour himself was busy with another notable project he is the Red Guardian in the upcoming Marvel film Black Widow. But in early 2020, it was revealed that filming was to begin really soon according to star Finn Wolfhard. And now, not only do we know that shooting has begun, but weve seen a first look. The teaser reveals Hopper in Russia A teaser trailer, titled From Russia with love, answers multiple questions, though it brings about plenty more. In it, we see prisoners at work on a railroad track in a frozen tundra. The camera pans in to reveal Hopper, with a freshly shaven head and an angry look. A press release came with the trailer, which reads: Were excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper. Although its not all good news for our American; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human and other. Hoppers footage was actually shot in Lithuania As it turns out, shooting has been going on for much longer than we were aware. In fact, the shots seen in the trailer which were filmed in Vilnius, Lithuania, including the Lukiskes Prison are from a shoot which has since ended. Director Shawn Levy spoke to Go Vilnius, the tourism agency of the city, about his experience filming there: My adventure here in Lithuania in bringing the reveal of the American to life has been a huge challenge but an even bigger inspiration, and we are so thankful to the city of Vilnius and the beautiful country of Lithuania for their hospitality. The Duffers and I have been working alongside the brilliant Netflix team for months to pull off this surprise. All the hard work was worth it, however, to bring our fans this epic reveal theyve been hoping and waiting for. And this is only the beginning. When is Stranger Things Season 4 due out? David Harbour in Stranger Things Season 3 |Netflix Though they appear to be done filming all of the Russia scenes for Stranger Things Season 4, theres plenty of work to be done. We believe filming in the U.S. will continue for months. Because of this, dont expect another summer release date. But were hopeful Season 4 will be out before 2020 comes to a close. Scientists in Antarctica have recorded a new record temperature of 20.75 degrees Celsius (69.35 Fahrenheit), breaking the barrier of 20 degrees for the first time on the continent, a researcher said Thursday. Wed never seen a temperature this high in Antarctica, Brazilian scientist Carlos Schaefer told AFP. He cautioned that the reading, taken at a monitoring station on an island off the continents northern tip on February 9, has no meaning in terms of a climate-change trend, because it is a one-off temperature and not part of a long-term data set. But news that the icy continent is now recording temperatures in the relatively balmy 20s is likely to further fuel fears about the warming of the planet. T h e reading was taken at Sey- mour Island, part of a chain off the peninsula that curves out from the northern tip of Antarctica. The island is home to Argentinas Marambio research base. Schaefer, a soil scientist, said the reading was taken as part of a 20-year-old research project on the impact of climate change on the regions permafrost. The previous high was in the 19s, he said. We cant use this to anticipate climatic changes in the future. Its a data point, he said. Its simply a signal that something different is happening in that area. Still, he added, a temperature that high had never been registered in Antarctica. Accelerating melt-off from glaciers and especially ice sheets in Antarctica is helping drive sea level rises, threatening coastal megacities and small island nations. The news came a week after Argentinas National Meteorological Service recorded the hottest day on record for Argentine Antarctica: 18.3 degrees Celsius at midday at the Esperanza base, located near the tip of the Antarctic peninsula. The previous record stood at 17.5 degrees on March 24, 2015, i t said. It has been recording Antarctic temperatures since 1961. Israels energy and environment ministries have agreed that the minister of energy will not grant new licenses to companies to explore for and mine oil shale in the country, due to environmental concerns, Israels Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Tuesday. As Israel aims to move to more environmentally friendly energy sources, it will no longer issue new licenses for oil shale because of the ecological and environmental impact of such mining projects, the two ministries said. Israel is believed to have deposits of oil shalea rock containing significant amounts of organic material in the form of kerogenlying under 15 percent of its territory. The country, however, will not be extending a license to Rotem Amfert, a unit of Israel Chemicals, for oil shale exploration at Mishor Rotem after 2021, according to the energy ministry. The ministry will also review two already issued licenses based on the new environmental criteria, it said. Rotem Amfert, which operates a small power plant at Mishor Rotem with the oil shale it is mining from the nearby area, sought a few years ago permission to explore what it believed were huge oil shale resources in the Negev area, but has met stiff opposition from environmentalists. Currently, Israel is pinning its hopes in the energy sector on its huge offshore natural gas resources. The Leviathan gas fielddiscovered in 2010together with other fields discovered offshore Israel in the past decade such as Tamar, Karish, and Tanin, is expected to help Israel become energy independent. A senior official at Noble Energy said at the beginning of December that Leviathan was set to begin gas supply to the local market within three weeks and to start exports to Egypt and Jordan shortly after that, in a major milestone for the energy landscape in Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean. Noble Energy announced first gas at Leviathan on December 31, while Israeli natural gas exports to Egypt started in the middle of January. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: (Natural News) As a drastic precautionary measure, the European nation of Croatia has implemented a new ban on all small packages shipped from China to Croatia using the Croatian Post (Hrvatska posta), as well as anything ordered and sent from China using AliExpress. Even though the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) has yet to reach Croatia as far as government authorities are aware, the goal is to prevent this from ever happening by implementing preventative measures like this that nip that possibility in the bud, rather than have to respond to an outbreak after the fact. While this certainly isnt good news for the Croatian economy which, like our own, relies on a steady supply of Chinese imports, it could save lives, which is apparently the bigger priority here. Experts predict that the economic impact of this decision will be felt in the form of higher prices for many consumer goods, and especially technological products. At the same time, decreased demand for oil in China due to the outbreak there has resulted in lower gas prices for Croatians, as well as for Americans and many others. As the worlds biggest importer of oil, China in many ways sets the price of oil for everyone else based on its own demand, which has plummeted to historic levels as factories remain shut down all across the communist nation. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, hones in on how communist China is knowingly fudging the numbers for infections and deaths from Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) in an attempt to minimize the true economic fallout of this global emergency: Suspension of all KLM, Lufthansa LH, and Turkish Airlines flights to China affecting delivery of Chinese goods to Croatia and elsewhere Part of Croatias decision to suspend all small shipments from China stems from the fact that major airline carriers throughout Europe, including KLM (The Netherlands), Lufthansa LH (Germany), and Turkish Airlines (Turkey) have all suspended their flights to China until further notice, which also impacts air shipments of packages. The postal items from China to Croatia come exclusively by air, and although the carriers have primarily suspended flights because of the passengers, the shipments cannot reach Croatia, the Croatian Post explained, at the request of Croatian news outlet Poslovni Dnevnik, in a statement. What about the shipments that were already slated to be sent from China to Croatia before the ban was issued, you might be asking? Theyre all sitting in warehouses in China, according to reports, and will not get sent out unless the ban is lifted or Chinese merchants figure out another way to get them there that doesnt involve airplanes. About one million shipments come from China on a monthly basis, and the total number of packages has been growing steadily in recent years, by up to 20 percent annually, says the Croatian Post. While the greater economic impacts associated with the ban might seem dire, it could actually boost Croatias own native economy by increasing sales at local online retailers in other words, more people will be forced to buy local, at least for the things they can get that are still made in Croatia rather than in large, outsourced Chinese factories. Anyone who works with suppliers who will not be quarantined could profit in this situation or, for example, those who have a supply of limited goods, says Sime Essert, CEO of Nabava.net, an online company that compares the prices of more than 200 stores throughout Croatia. Its worth remembering the explosion of graphics card prices when the Bitcoin mining mania started. More breaking Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) news is available Pandemic.news. Be sure to also check out the H.R. Report channel at Brighteon.com for more Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) coverage. Sources for this article include: Total-Croatia-News.com NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com JERUSALEM The criminal trial for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin March 17, court officials announced Tuesday, shaking up the final stretch of a contentious election campaign and hurting the longtime Israeli leaders hopes of forming a new government after the vote. The announcement means that Netanyahu will appear in the Jerusalem court as a defendant just two weeks after the March 2 election. After a campaign in which Netanyahu has worked feverishly to divert attention from his legal woes, the final days of the race are almost certain to play into the hands of his opponents by focusing on the looming trial. Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. He is accused of accepting lavish gifts from billionaire friends and offering regulatory favors to local media moguls in exchange for positive news coverage. Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister, has denied any wrongdoing. In a brief statement, the court said Netanyahu is expected to attend the initial hearing. The March 2 election is Israels third in under a year. Like the previous elections in April and September, the upcoming vote is seen largely as a personal referendum on Netanyahu. The previous elections ended in deadlock, with both Netanyahus Likud Party and the rival Blue and White, led by former military chief Benny Gantz, unable to secure parliamentary majorities. Opinion polls have predicted a similar outcome in the third. Netanyahu is desperate to remain as prime minister, a position he can use as a bully pulpit to rally public support. He has repeatedly sought to portray himself as the victim of a witch hunt by overzealous police, hostile prosecutors and the media. With the exception of the prime minister, Israeli law requires public officials to resign if charged with a crime. That means that if Netanyahu is forced to give up his position, he would go on trial as a private citizen. Netanyahu last month gave up an attempt to seek immunity from prosecution after concluding he did not have enough support in parliament. Throughout the current campaign, Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to make voters forget about his trial. Instead, he has sought to paint himself as a global statesman uniquely qualified to lead the country through tumultuous times. He boasts of Israels emergence as a natural gas exporter, his strategy of confronting archenemy Iran and warming behind-the-scenes alliances with former Arab foes in the Persian Gulf. But more than anything, he points to his close friendship with President Trump, bragging that it gives Israel a unique opportunity to push its international agenda. Josef Federman is an Associated Press writer. Mumbai: Actor Hrithik Roshan has opened up about what his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, told him he should keep in mind while working with different directors. The father-son duo has worked together the blockbusters "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai", "Koi Mil Gaya", "Krrish" and "Krrish 3" as director and actor. "People often ask, 'you work with different directors'. My father said that 'you must have four things -- mutual respect, a strong head, courage and tolerance'. My responsibility lies till choosing the director. After that, I have to only listen (to the director)," said Hrithik, who has worked with directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Zoya Akhtar, Ashutosh Gowariker, Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Siddharth Anand among others. Is there a dream role? "There is no favourite dream role in my life. My favourite is what I do," he replied. On his "closest character", he said: "My life has two characters each on two ends that are closest -- 'Super 30' and 'Koi Mil Gaya' on one end and 'War' and 'Dhoom 2' at the other end." Islamabad: Pakistani students in China, stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak, finally got a visit from diplomats of their country checking on their well-being, the countrys Foreign Office said on Tuesday. China accepted a request by Pakistan to allow the two-member special task force from the embassy in Beijing to go to Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province, the Foreign Office said in a statement. "On Pakistans request, China allowed a two-member special Task Force from the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing to go to Wuhan city to meet our students and coordinate all assistance to them," FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui tweeted on Tuesday. "The officers will return to Beijing once the lockdown in Wuhan is lifted, and situation is stabilised," the tweet read. According the Foreign Office, more than 28,000 Pakistani students, including 500 in Wuhan, are studying in China. Some of them, have through social media had been persistently asking Pakistan government to help them come back. The task force, which will remain in coordination with the Chinese authorities, will be in Wuhan and "will return to Beijing once the lockdown in Wuhan is lifted in its entirety and on-ground situation is completely stabilised", the statement added. Wuhan has been under lockdown since January 23 because the city with a population of 11-million is the origin point of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The COVID-19 virus, as it is now known, has so far infected at least 70,000 people and killed 1,868. The majority of those cases are in the Hubei province. China has quarantined more than 50 million people throughout the province and all transportation in and out of Wuhan has been halted The Foreign Office staffers visited Pakistani students in four universities and also met administrative staff in each university "to get first-hand information on the health and safety needs of the students". "In the coming days, the officers will visit students in three other universities as well as the administrative staff in those universities to ensure the welfare of Pakistani students in Wuhan," it said. It added that all Pakistani students in the universities that the officers have thus far visited were "safe, healthy, and well-looked after". "Under the supervision of Ambassador of Pakistan, an 11-member core group was constituted to daily monitor the evolving situation and respond to queries/requests of Pakistani students." The embassy has also setup two hotlines for facilitation of the students in China, the statement said. Television presenter Caroline Flack arrives for the BRIT music awards at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, on Feb. 25, 2015. (Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo/Reuters) Love Island Hosts Death Sparks Petitions to Change UK Press Laws The death of former Love Island host Caroline Flack has sparked a number of petitions calling for changes to UK laws regarding how the media operate and to ensure that the mental health and human rights of celebrities are respected. Flack took her own life on Feb. 15 at the age of 40. Her body was reportedly found by her father in her east London flat. The ITV host was due to stand trial at Highbury magistrates court on March 4 where she faced domestic violence offenses after being accused of an attack on her boyfriend Lewis Burton on Dec. 12 at a flat in Islington, north London. She had denied the charge. Caroline Flack attends the ITV Palooza 2019 at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Nov. 12, 2019. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) Burton has repeatedly expressed that he did not want the case against Flack to go ahead and did not consider himself a victim. He also criticized the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for not allowing him to have contact with her until the trial. In the wake of the TV hosts death, three notable petitions have been launched in a bid to change laws regarding celebrity culture and reporting, as well as calling for a full investigation into journalistic practices. The first of them calls on the UK government to launch an inquiry into the British press. It has so far reached 218,632 signatures and will now be considered for discussion in parliament. This campaign is calling on our government to launch an inquiry into the British press and their practices following the maltreatment of those in the public eye including Caroline Flack, Harry and Meghan Markle, to name a few, the campaign says. The headlines, harassment, and trial by media has to end and they must be held accountable. A second petition named Exploiting people in the public eye was launched by British actress and friend of Flack, Stephanie Davis. The petition calls for new and stricter laws around safeguarding celebrities and people in the public eye, which it says should be put in place to prevent the newspapers, magazines, all forms of media and paparazzi from: Releasing information that there is no evidence for and is therefore false Printing source quotes from anyone or an unreliable source Invading privacy and sharing private information that is detrimental to the celebrity, their mental health, and those around them Paparazzi taking and printing images without permission Releasing an individuals private medical or health related information or their sexual orientation Releasing articles about leaked explicit photos, videos, and revenge porn Stricter legal boundaries regarding unwanted trespassing nearby the property where the individual resides or is visiting Davis said the petition would ensure that celebrities mental health and human rights are being respected appropriately, safely, and with a duty of care. It will also help their family and friends mental health as they are affected also as unwanted negative attention is then attracted toward them and invades their privacy too. The actress added that the petition, which has already received 519,925 signatures, would also help prevent self harm, suicide, substance abuse, and poor mental health. A separate third petition on website 38Degrees is calling for the creation of Carolines Law and has so far accrued 671,326 signatures. It is calling for a law that would make it a criminal offense, not dissimilar to corporate manslaughter, for the British media to knowingly and relentlessly bully a person, whether they be in the public eye or not, up to the point that they take their own life. Just hours after Flacks death on Saturday, her management released a statement criticizing the CPS for pursuing her case despite her boyfriend calling for it to end. The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events. the statement said. The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. ITV has also been criticized and questioned over its treatment of Flack, although the broadcasting company said they remained in close contact with the former host and offered her support after she stepped down from the role following her arrest. Caroline Flack during the Love Island Live photocall at ICC Auditorium in London on Aug. 10, 2018. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Flacks death has also resulted in fresh scrutiny of the Leveson Inquiry, a judicial public inquiry launched in 2011 into the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal. The Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid News of the World was subsequently shut down. The inquiry was led by Lord Justice Leveson, and a series of public hearings were held throughout 2011 and 2012. However, plans for it to move on to a second phase focusing on media relations with the police were later dismissed by former Prime Minister Theresa May. Flack is the fourth person linked to the ITV2 dating program to have killed themselves. Sophie Gradon, a 2016 contestant, was found dead at her home in 2018 at the age of 32. Her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who had found her body, killed himself three weeks later at the age of 25. Mike Thalassitis, who appeared in the 2017 series, was 26 when he was found dead in a park in Edmonton, north London, on March 16 last year. Suicide Hotlines If you are in an emergency in the United States or Canada, please call 911. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255. Youth can call the Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868. In the United Kingdom, call Samaritans at 116 123, Papyrus at 0800 068 41 41, or Childline at 0800 1111. In Australia, the suicide prevention hotline at Lifeline is 13 11 14. You can also visit the Lifeline website at lifeline.org.au. Youth can contact the Kids Helpline by phoning 1-800-551-800 or visiting headspace.org.au/yarn-safe If you are in an emergency in India, call Befrienders IndiaNational Association at +91 33 2474 4704. Scotland will attend Caricom summit in Barbados to spur speedy climate action New Delhi, Feb 17(UNI) Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will reassure Caribbean leaders that the Commonwealth will keep fighting for bold climate action on the global stage. According to a statement here, Ms Scotland will attend the inter-sessional conference of heads of government of the Caribbean Community in Barbados this week as a special guest. Of 15 Caricom members, 12 are in the Commonwealth. Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will highlight that despite ambitious pledges, countries are receiving limited funds to improve response to climate change. Open source The International Monetary Fund's expert team will visit Kyiv in order to discuss technical policies aimed at achieving economic growth and stability. Permanent Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Ukraine Gosta Ljungman informed about it, the press service of the organization reports. "A team of several IMF experts will visit Kyiv in order to conduct technical discussions of the policy aimed at achieving strong economic growth and providing stability," Ljungman said. As we reported earlier, Ukraine's National Bank (NBU) expects the conclusion of the new cooperation program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon after the adoption of necessary bills by the parliament is conducted. Due to the new program with the IMF, official involvement and preservation of interest of the non-residents to the bonds of domestic government loans, the annual growth of the international reserves of Ukraine will remain, despite the period of time of peak payments for external state debt. In 2020, they will surpass $29 billion and will continue to increase in 2021-2022, the message said. A California man who had been missing for days was found dead Monday at Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort, officials said. The man, identified as 47-year-old Tim Bauters of Sunnyvale, was the second person to die in the resorts Heather Canyon area over the weekend. The Hood River County Sheriffs Office received a call from Bauters family Monday afternoon saying he had been expected to return home but never showed up. Bauters had been in Oregon on a work trip, and the last known communication he had with family was Friday, officials said, when he said he was at the resort. Bauters was believed to be snowboarding alone, but he was in good shape and had been to Mt. Hood Meadows multiple times, officials said. Security at the resort confirmed his rental car was still in the parking lot, and the sheriffs office initiated a search from the air while ski patrollers narrowed the search area based on the last lift he rode. About 6:15 p.m. Monday, staff at the resort reported they had found his body in the Heather Canyon area. He was an avid outdoorsman, said Bauters colleague, Christopher Packal. He said Bauters, a physical engineer with Slurry Waste Solutions, had been at the companys Hillsboro facility, and because of the long weekend, decided to take Friday off to do some snowboarding. He traveled a lot and always tried to work in something outdoors, Packal said. Packal said Bauters was supposed to work on Saturday, but when the usually communicative man didnt show up or call, friends and family knew something was amiss. Bauters was a Belgium native, Packal said, who did his Ph.D. at Cornell and then moved to the west coast a few years ago. He had a wife and two young kids. Its very shocking, Packal said. You cant be around Tim without knowing Tim. He was loud, lots of laughter hes irreplaceable. On Sunday, Ryan Zeitner, a 45-year-old man from Portland, suffered fatal injuries after he fell while snowboarding on the same part of the mountain. Heather Canyon, located on the east side of the resort, is home to some of Meadows most rugged terrain, which is sought after by advanced skiers and snowboarders. Its home to steep slopes, wide-open bowls and tight trees and gullies that can be accessed through gates that are open or closed, depending on daily conditions. All areas of Heather, as the canyon is known, are considered extremely difficult double black diamond terrain. Meadows trail map warns that Heather and two other areas of the resort Clark Canyon and Private Reserve arent patrolled on a regular basis and have avalanche danger at all times. Skiers in in those areas should also be aware of waterfalls, creek holes and unmarked obstacles in those areas, the map warns. Its unclear exactly where in the canyon the snowboarders died, and officials from the resort did not immediately respond to questions about conditions in the area before Bauters went missing or when Zeitner suffered his fatal injuries. Sean Weagle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said conditions were relatively benign, at least by mountain standards, on both days. A couple of inches of snow fell on both Friday and Sunday mornings, and temperatures were in the 20s with winds around 20 mph. There was some cloud cover on both Friday and Sunday, Weagle said, which could have affected visibility. Bob Scott, Zeitners uncle, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the two had been to the mountains together many times and that Zeitner was an excellent snowboarder. Scott, who lives in Bend, said the two men had grown close after Zeitners father died suddenly of a heart attack a few years ago. He was like a son to me," Scott said. Zeitner grew up in Eugene but moved to Portland and worked for Comcast, Scott said. Well-liked with a large circle of friends, Zeitner brought his happy-go-lucky attitude to everything he did, Scott said. He got married a few years ago and was raising his 2-year-old son with his wife, Amanda. Scott had last seen Zeitner around Christmas, when they talked about, among other things, the challenges of fatherhood. He was looking forward to teaching (his son) how to do everything, Scott said. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 @sfkale Jayati Ramakrishnan contributed to this story. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Paris: The French Parliament has started debating President Emmanuel Macron's divisive plan to overhaul the pensions system, a process that is expected to take several months. Changing and streamlining the retirement system is a priority for Macron and has been met with anger in recent months from unions, triggering street protests and France's longest transport strike in decades. The final vote, after the legislative process through the National Assembly and the Senate, is not expected before the northern summer. Women protest against French President Emmanuel Macron's pensions reform bill. Credit:AP Further protests have been called for Thursday, but, in a sign of the relative weakening of the unions, a call for a metro strike on Monday was largely ignored. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Americas top diplomat on Wednesday asserted that South Africas plan to allow expropriation of private property without compensation would be disastrous for the countrys economy and its people. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the comments in an address in Ethiopia on the final day of an Africa visit largely aimed at countering Chinas influence on the continent of more than 1.2 billion people. Be wary of authoritarian regimes and their empty promises, he said, without naming names. They breed corruption, dependency and instability. There was no immediate government response in South Africa to Pompeos comments. Land is a sensitive issue in South Africa, which is one of the worlds most unequal countries in part because of the legacy of the former racist system of apartheid that ended in 1994. Some members of the ruling African National Congress and the populist opposition Economic Freedom Fighters have pressed for redistribution of land, arguing that it will help right past wrongs in which many black people were forced off their property. Critics have warned against what happened in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where sometimes violent land seizures from white farmers scared away some investors and deepened that once-prosperous countrys economic collapse. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week in his state of the nation address said the government plans to accelerate land redistribution this year. The government also plans to table an expropriation bill that outlines the circumstances under which expropriation of land without compensation would be permissible, he said. Ramaphosa has called land redistribution necessary to redress a grave historical injustice. South Africas government calls the dispossession of land by the 1913 Natives Land Act apartheids original sin, and one which continues to shape land ownership today. The president also has attempted to soothe investors by saying there will be no chaotic or illegal land grabs, mindful of the need to not scare away business in a country with unemployment at a decade high of 29%. This is not the first time the Trump administration has spoken out on South Africas moves to redistribute land. In 2018, President Donald Trump claimed that South Africa was seizing farms and that many farmers were being killed. In fact, farmers have been killed for more than 20 years in what is widely seen as part of the countrys high crime rate, and experts say white farmers have not been the target. The secretary of state is the first Cabinet official to visit Africa in 18 months. He also stopped in Senegal and Angola on a trip that seeks to reassert U.S. interests on a continent that many have accused the Trump administration of largely neglecting. China, Africas top trading partner for a decade now, is a major U.S. concern. Numerous other global powers have turned their focus to the continent of more than 1.2 billion people, many of them young. Analysts have said a key task for Pompeo is countering the recent messaging out of Washington. New visa restrictions target Nigerians, Sudanese, Tanzanians and Eritreans, and the Pentagon is considering cutting the U.S. military presence on the continent even as Islamic extremism spikes in West Africas Sahel region. Peace in Africa will be won by Africans, Pompeo told reporters Tuesday. ___ Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed. The Boy Scouts of America urged victims to come forward Tuesday as the historic, 110-year-old organization filed for bankruptcy protection in the first step toward creating a huge compensation fund for potentially thousands of men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, photo, a statue stands outside the Boys Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Wilmington, Delaware, is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. (AP Photo/LM Otero) The Boy Scouts of America urged victims to come forward Tuesday as the historic, 110-year-old organization filed for bankruptcy protection in the first step toward creating a huge compensation fund for potentially thousands of men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders. The Scouts resorted to Chapter 11 in hopes of surviving a barrage of lawsuits, many of them made possible by recent changes in state laws to allow people to sue over long-ago sexual abuse. Bankruptcy will enable the organization to put those cases on hold for now and continue operating. But ultimately the Boy Scouts could be forced to sell some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a victims' fund that could top $1 billion. In this Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, photo, James Kretschmer speaks during an interview in Houston. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Wilmington, Delaware, is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. Kretschmer of Houston, among the many men suing for alleged abuse, says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Boy Scouts estimated 1,000 to 5,000 victims will seek compensation. "The BSA encourages victims to come forward to file a claim as the bankruptcy process moves forward, the organization said in a statement. James Kretschmer of Houston, one of those suing, said he was molested by a Scout leader in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. The bankruptcy, he said, is a shame because at its core and what it was supposed to be, the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organization. But you know, anything can be corrupted, he added. And if they're not going to protect the people that they've entrusted with the children, then shut it down and move on. FILE - This 1916 file photo shows the three founders of Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton, Lord Robert Baden, Powell Daniel Beard. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Wilmington, Del., is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. (AP Photo, File) More than 12,000 boys have been molested by 7,800 abusers since the 1920s, according to Boy Scout files revealed in court papers. Evan Smola said two new victims had already called his law office in Chicago on Tuesday morning, bringing the firm's total to 319. The opportunity to tell your story is a cathartic and healing experience," Smola said. It's very painful when they actually do it, but getting it off your chest is a big step. It will be up to the court to set a deadline for filing claims. The amount of money each victim will receive is likely to depend on what assets are turned over and how many people come forward. FILE - In this Aug. 9, 1967, file photo, two boy scout members play the bugle at the 12th World Boy Scout Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Wilmington, Del., is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. (AP Photo/Jack Kanthal, File) The filing in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen, given the Scouts' 50-state presence. The organization listed assets of $1 billion to $10 billion and liabilities of $500 million to $1 billion. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children, said Roger Mosby, the Boy Scouts' president and CEO. While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process, with the proposed trust structure, will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSAs important mission. The Boy Scouts are the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organization that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians, businessmen, astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies. FILE - This July 22, 2013, file photo shows one of the twenty-three original, Boy Scout-themed Norman Rockwell paintings during an exhibition at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Wilmington, Del., is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) I'm sad for all the victims who were preyed upon by people entrusted with their care. I'm sad that no amount of money will undo their trauma, said Jackson Cooper, an Eagle Scout who is now a prosecutor in Louisville, Kentucky. Whatever consequences come for BSA are no concern of mine. I only hope, if they continue to operate, they build robust systems to protect the young people in their care. The Boy Scouts finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sex-abuse settlements. The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from a peak of more than 4 million during the 1970s. Its membership rolls took a big hit Jan. 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favour of programs of its own. The financial outlook worsened last year after New York, Arizona, New Jersey and California relaxed their statutes of limitations to make it easier for victims to file claims. Teams of lawyers across the U.S. have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts. FILE - In this April 13, 2010 file photo, Kerry Lewis, left, leans into his lawyer Paul Mones after the verdict against the Boy Scouts of America was announced in a sexual abuse case in Portland, Ore. The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy protection as it faces a barrage of new sex-abuse lawsuits. The filing Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Wilmington, Del., is an attempt to work out a potentially mammoth compensation plan for abuse victims that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. "There are a lot of very angry, resentful men out there who will not allow the Boy Scouts to get away without saying what all their assets are," said lawyer Paul Mones, who represents numerous clients suing the BSA. "They want no stone unturned." (Jamie Francis/The Oregonian via AP, File) Most of the new cases date to the 1960s, '70s and '80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted mandatory criminal background checks, abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during all activities. Many of the lawsuits accuse the group of negligence and coverups. Wayne Perry, a member of the organizations national board and past president, said Scout families wont notice any differences as a result of the bankruptcy. He touted the protections now in place for young people. Today, we are really, really good. Were we always good? No, nobody was good 50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago, Perry said. Amid the crush of lawsuits, the Scouts recently mortgaged some of their major properties, including their national headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico. One unanswered question is whether the Boy Scouts' 261 local councils and their campgrounds and other assets will be dragged into the case, even though the Boy Scouts said the councils are legally separate entities and they were not part of the bankruptcy filing. Mike Pfau, a Seattle-based attorney whose firm is representing scores of men nationwide, said the plaintiffs may go after the local councils' property holdings, too. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. We believe the real property held by the local councils may be worth significantly more than the Boy Scouts assets, he said. He said one question will be whether the Boy Scouts transferred property to their local councils to try to put it out of the reach of those suing. Perry said he hopes the court remembers that the Boy Scouts are teaching leadership and life skills to children. You have to take into account the balancing of the victims, but (also) the fact that the kids today who are joining Scouting had nothing to with those bad behaviours of criminal acts of perpetrators who are long gone, he said. Plaintiffs' attorneys trace the Boy Scouts fall to 2010, when a jury awarded a former Scout nearly $20 million in a lawsuit in Portland, Oregon. The trial led the Oregon Supreme Court to release 20,000 pages of confidential Boy Scout files on 1,200 people after The Associated Press and other news organizations fought for their disclosure. Until last spring, the organization had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths. But in May, the AP reported that attorneys for abuse victims had identified multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts. The next day, the Boy Scouts acknowledged the truth. ___ McCombs reported from Salt Lake City. Associated Press video journalist John Mone also contributed to this story. Another post claimed a Winston-Salem officer bought a car seat for a residents child who was unrestrained. That actually occurred in Westland, Mich. And yet another post showed a photo of a Winston-Salem officer comforting a dog that had been hit by a car. In actuality, the photo came from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office in Florida. Jose Gomez, a Winston-Salem police spokesman, said field commanders who worked over the weekend got several calls from media outlets about the Facebook posts. "(One) field commander looked at the information that was being provided and was immediately able to tell that the uniform was not correct, and he didn't recognize the officer," Gomez said. "Having as many employees as we do, it took some steps to verify that. But there were immediate red flags." Last Friday, the page published a post about actress Susan Sarandon campaigning for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at Krankie's Coffee in Winston-Salem. It used, without permission, a photo taken by a Winston-Salem Journal photographer, pulled excerpts from a Journal story, then made up false quotes disparaging Sarandon from the "mayor of Winston-Salem." A government department has revealed no funding has been committed by the UK and Irish governments despite pledges outlined in the New Decade New Approach document. DUP MLA Gary Middleton asked the Minister for the Economy, Diane Dodds MLA, what funding has been committed by the UK and Irish Governments towards realising 10,000 undergraduate places at the Magee campus, as outlined in New Decade, New Approach. In response, the department said: No funding has, as yet, been formally committed by the UK or Irish Governments towards increasing undergraduate places at the Magee Campus as outlined in New Decade, New Approach. The Department of Finance remains in discussions with Her Majestys Treasury (HMT) on the UK Government financial package associated with the priorities in New Decade, New Approach. The Foyle MLA said clear commitments to Magee were enshrined in the document, which successfully got MLAs back into government, and he believes these vows must be upheld to ensure growth of the North West economy. The New Decade New Approach document gave a clear commitment that the Executive will expand university provision at Magee, including through the establishment of a Graduate Entry Medical School. To realise the 10,000 student campus target, the Executive committed to bringing forward proposals for the development and expansion of Magee. Mr Middleton added: It is important that these commitments are upheld. The expansion of the University is a key milestone for the growth of our economy in the North West. All efforts must be made to secure the necessary funding and to allow for the development to take place. The North West must not be left behind. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are you registered to vote? Potential voters have until 9 p.m. Tuesday to ensure theyre registered to cast a ballot in the March 17 Ohio presidential primary. The election is high profile, and will give Ohioans the chance to pick which Democratic contender will face off against President Donald Trump in the fall. Registering to vote in Ohio is easy: You can do it online here. Youll just need to provide your name, Ohio drivers license or identification card number, date of birth, address and social security number. You can use the online portal to update your voter registration, if youve moved. You also register to vote in person at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, located at 2925 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, which is open late today until 9 p.m. You can register to vote at all public libraries across the county. Early voting starts Wednesday, and continues until the day before Election Day. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot here. Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is encouraging voters to vote early this year, as the primary falls on St. Patricks Day. You can early vote during these dates and times at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections: February 19 to March 6 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. March 7 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 9 to March 13 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. March 14 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 15 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. March 16, 2020 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. February 19 to March 6 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. March 7 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 9 to March 13 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. March 14 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 15 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. March 16, 2020 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Read more on this subject: Ohios presidential primary election falls on St. Patricks Day, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is urging early voting Learn how your vote is counted at the Board of Elections tour Cuyahoga County Board of Election to shut down election myths during public forums After the polls close on Election Day, heres how the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections counts your vote Cuyahoga County Board of Election unveils new vote logo Lydia Bright has been putting the finishing touches to her Essex home before her baby arrives. The 29-year-old star was joined by her mum Debbie and younger sister Roma for an afternoon of DIY on Monday, working together to create her dream home just in time for the birth of her first child. The TV personality previously revealed building work won't be completed before her baby girl's due date, February 25, after having to 'wait forever' for planning permission. Due date approaching: Lydia Bright has been putting the finishing touches to her Essex home before her baby arrives Lydia, who is expecting her daughter with ex-boyfriend Lee Cronin, was seen laughing and joking with her loved ones as they all chipped into the building work. The make-up free beauty sported a blue tracksuit and navy trainers, wearing her blonde hair pulled back in a high bun. The down-to-earth star was seen polishing a radiator cover and chucking some rubbish in a skip. Family effort: The 29-year-old star was joined by her mum Debbie and younger sister Roma for an afternoon of DIY on Monday Helping hand: The sisters were seen working together to create her dream home just in time for the birth of her first child Natural beauty: The make-up free star sported a blue tracksuit and navy trainers, wearing her blonde hair pulled back in a high bun Lydia has been teasing glimpses of her newly-renovated abode as she goes along, having thus far completed her loft bedroom and en suite bathroom. Explaining that her tiler dad Dave had been a godsend, Lydia shared the finished results with fans, branding her aesthetic 'traditional, minimalistic and space savvy'. Speaking on The Brights Podcast late last year, Lydia said: 'I'm hoping my house is semi-done so we can move back home and everything will be perfect for her. Sister act: Roma was happy to help her older sister out with her renovations Devoted mum: Former TOWIE star Debbie was naturally happy to lend Lydia a hand 'The finishing touches and things can happen when we're there. I just want to be in my house with my baby. 'I'm hoping she's going to be a bit late. They say the first baby comes late don't they?' Lydia continued: 'Really I'm due 25th Feb but if she could come mid-March, that gives me a bit more time. 'I just need planning permission. I'm lucky I have Debbie and Dave's to stay at. I just want a roof over my and my baby's head.' Getting her hands dirty: Lydia has been teasing glimpses of her newly-renovated abode as she goes along, having thus far completed her loft bedroom and ensuite bathroom Room with a view: Lydia enthused, 'The first room of my home is complete. I am so beyond happy, my brand new bedroom. I cant wait to star gaze at night' Bathroom done! Explaining that her tiler dad Dave had been a godsend, Lydia shared the finished results with fans, branding her aesthetic 'traditional, minimalistic and space savvy' Vintage touch: Lydia completed her en suite bathroom with a beautiful mirror Explaining that her tiler dad Dave had been a godsend, Lydia shared the finished results with fans, branding her aesthetic 'traditional, minimalistic and space savvy'. However, Lydia admitted on Instagram in December that work would unlikely be completed in time before her little one's arrival. The reality star shared a snap of her loft conversion and wrote: 'One month ago after waiting FOREVER for planning permission, project family home finally began. 'Still a long way to go and I dont think it will be completely ready by the time you arrive Dinky. But I promise to make it the best home for us to build our life together.' Race against the clock: Lydia admitted on Instagram in December that work would unlikely be completed in time before her little one's arrival Enemy troops used proscribed weapons, which resulted in the death of one Ukrainian soldier with another five wounded. Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasyl Bodnar has called on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to inform the international community about a recent attempt by Russian-led forces to advance near the town of Zolote, Luhansk region, in Ukraine's Donbas. "[I] called on the OSCE to immediately inform the international community about an attempted Russian offensive in the Zolote area. [I] drew attention to the use of prohibited weapons by the Russian Federation's armed forces," Bodnar said on Twitter on February 18. Read alsoEU calls on Russia to make illegal armed formations in Donbas observe full ceasefire He also informed about his meeting with Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Yasar Halit Cevik over escalation in Donbas. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupying forces on Tuesday morning attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas, using 120mm mortars proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Under fire cover, the Russian invaders began their offensive operation and attempted to advance across the contact line. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another five were wounded amid the fight. The enemy's casualties included four killed and six wounded. CALIFORNIA - Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote in Californias presidential primary without needing to submit a provisional ballot. If you want to check your registration status for the primary, CLICK HERE. Californians can register online, at local or state elections offices, and at voter registration drives. For a list, CLICK HERE. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill last week to let Californian voters change their party affiliation and update their address at polling stations on Election Day by signing a form. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Feb. 25. Just contact your county elections office or visit any polling place or vote center. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked or dropped off at a ballot box by March 3. For Butte County, all registered voters will receive their ballot by mail. There are places in and around Butte County for voters to ask questions and drop-off ballots. For a list, CLICK HERE. OPEC producer Kuwait aims to have 100 percent of the executive, technical, and supervisory jobs in its oil sector held by Kuwaiti nationals by early 2021, Middle East Monitor reports, quoting Kuwaits Supreme Petroleum Council. The decision is aimed at preventing the appointment of expatriates for the sectors main jobs, a senior Kuwaiti energy official told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, as carried by Middle East Monitor. Kuwaits government will also look to increase the number of domestic firms operating in contracts with state-held firm Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) by 80 percent, according to the official. Kuwait will start to gradually carry out the plan for 100-percent Kuwaitis at top oil jobs in the second half of 2020, aiming to reach its goal before the start of the countrys next financial year in April 2021. Nearly three years ago, Kuwait announced plans to increase its crude oil production capacity to 4.75 million bpd by 2040, compared to a current capacity of 3.15 million bpd. This past Sunday, Kuwaits Oil Minister Khaled al-Fadhel announced the start of trial production at the two fields that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait share and that hadnt pumped oil in nearly five years due to a dispute between the neighboring countries. Total production is expected to reach 550,000 bpd by the end of the year, al-Fadhel said. Kuwaits plans to raise production capacity in the long term is at odds with estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the oil-rich Middle East producers and exporters need urgent reforms to boost non-oil revenues and non-oil economic growth, if they were to keep the immense wealth they have amassed from oil in the past few decades. Kuwait has a huge sovereign wealth fund, which could help it stave off the total wealth depletion until 2052, according to the IMF. But Kuwait is heavily dependent on oilthe oil and gas sector accounts for about 40 percent of its GDP and a whopping 92 percent of export revenues, according to OPEC. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Science and technology popularization institutes across China jointly launched an online science popularization campaign Monday to help fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. The campaign includes quizzes on COVID-19 related knowledge in the aspects such as virology, clinical medicine, epidemiology, preventive medicine and policies and regulations on epidemic control. Quizzes on other infectious diseases such as SARS and Ebola and the conservation of biodiversity are also included. The campaign is led by organizations including China Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and the Beijing Museum of Natural History, and jointly hosted by 150 science and technology organizations. Netizens can log on to the website of the campaign, answer the quizzes from Feb. 17 to 28, and win prizes, including entrance tickets to museums, tickets for science popularization movies and souvenirs from these venues. "Some of my relatives and friends felt worried and confused about the novel coronavirus. The online campaign provides an interesting way to help us understand the basic knowledge about the epidemic and how to contain it," said Zhou Qi, a 30-year-old netizen. "To me, the precise information about the epidemic and advice to protect us from it would be the best prize," she said. A few museums in the Yangtze Delta River area launched the first round of online science popularization quizzes campaign since early February, attracting over 30,000 netizens participating within two weeks, said Gu Qingsheng, deputy director-general of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. According to Gu, the development of epidemic control and precise knowledge to contain the epidemic are people's top concerns now. As the domain quiz-designer, the Shanghai Natural History Museum, a branch of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, published the analysis on easy-to-get-wrong quizzes on its WeChat public account. "Judging from the results of the first round of the quiz, we found that the majority of respondents have basic knowledge about the epidemic, but they still need more information on wildlife animal protection and the latest policies to contain the epidemic," said Gu Jieyan, deputy director of the Shanghai Natural History Museum Management Committee. Museums and science venues across China have strengthened online science popularization by maintaining online exhibitions and increasing science popularization programs on the internet since the epidemic outbreak. "Though museums and venues are temporarily shut down, we will never stop science popularization, that's why the online quiz campaign has broadened across China," Gu Qingsheng said. "We're planning to launch online live programs to make sure audiences can enjoy the museum at home." "With the latest technologies, science and technology venues can broadcast their latest research outcomes and knowledge to the public in a timely manner, which is a new trend in recent years," according to Gu Qingsheng. "I believe online science popularization will have greater development in the future," he said. NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the success of 12 years of investment, Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a doubling of its support for global road safety, committing another $240 million from 2020 - 2025 to save 600,000 more lives and prevent up to 22 million injuries in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The six-year reinvestment in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety is expected to double its impact to date. Since 2007, the initiative has saved an estimated 312,000 lives and prevented up to 11.5 million injuries. The reinvestment also includes a new awards competition to shine a light on low- and middle-income countries that have made exemplary progress in road safety. Road traffic injuries are the 8th leading cause of death globally and the number one killer of people ages 5-29. More than 1.35 million people die and up to 50 million are seriously injured in road traffic crashes each year. Additionally, the economic losses are staggering - a recent report released by the World Bank found that reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by half could add 7-22% to GDP per capita in 5 selected low- and middle-income countries over the next 24 years. "As Transport and Health Ministers from around the world gather in Sweden this week for the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, we should keep in mind that these deaths and injuries are completely preventable. After more than a decade of working with our international and in-country partners, we know which policies and interventions are saving lives," said Kelly Henning, Director of Public Health at Bloomberg Philanthropies. "By increasing our commitment, we can double our impact by leveraging the many lessons we've learned and adopting new approaches that we believe will accelerate progress." Over the past 12 years, Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested $260 million to curb deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes. That investment has led ten countries (China, Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya, Brazil, Turkey, and India) and 12 localities to change their laws or policies to reduce at least one road safety risk factor. Over 3.5 billion people are now covered by a new road safety law or policy since the Initiative began. Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health at World Health Organization, said "The price we are paying for our mobility is unacceptable. We need to do much more to save lives on our roads. This new investment is excellent news that comes at a critical time when world leaders convene to decide on achieving a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths by 2030. This support from Bloomberg Philanthropies will catalyze action to help achieve that target." The lessons learned from that 12-year investment include: Adopting best-practice road safety laws and enforcing them well saves the most lives. Stronger legislation accounts for 75% of the 312,000 lives saved by the Initiative to date. Speed is the most critical risk factor, but there has been little progress on speed management. A 5% reduction in average speed can result in 30% fewer fatal traffic crashes. Strategic communications campaigns coupled with police enforcement are key to effectively implement road safety laws and change road user behavior. Best-practice enforcement increases seat-belt and helmet use and reduces speed and drinking and driving. The new funds will help achieve the Initiative's goals in the following ways: Increase efforts to strengthen national road safety laws in 15 countries that account for roughly 60% of all road traffic deaths globally. Countries that have already committed to the partnership include Argentina , Bangladesh , Brazil , Colombia , Ecuador , Ethiopia , Ghana , India , Malaysia , Mexico , Uganda , and Viet Nam . , , , , , , , , , , , and . Support up to 30 cities to effectively implement best-practice road safety activities, including running hard-hitting media campaigns to raise road user understanding of risk factors, training police in best practice enforcement, and redesigning high-crash, high-fatality corridors and intersections. Some cities that have already committed to the partnership include Accra , Addis Ababa , Bengaluru, Bogota , Buenos Aires , Cali , Guadalajara , Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , Kampala , Kumasi, Mumbai , New Delhi , Quito , Sao Paulo , Salvador , and Recife . , , Bengaluru, , , , , , , , Kumasi, , , , , , and . Help more governments regulate vehicle safety standards and raise consumer awareness to demand safer cars, so that all top-selling cars meet the UN safety recommendations in targeted low- and middle-income countries. Reduce deaths on high-mortality roads, including interstate highways, through reduced speed limits, wider use of helmets and seatbelts, and fewer drivers speeding and drinking and driving. Improve and enhance collection of road crash data to more accurately capture fatalities and injuries, measure impact of policies, and prioritize interventions to reduce deaths and injuries. Launch the "Awards for Outstanding Excellence in Road Safety" to identify and promote exemplary road safety efforts that are saving lives in low- and middle-income countries, and to increase media and government attention to the high burden of road traffic fatalities and injuries. The road safety awards program will recognize leaders in: Best practice policies Excellence in road safety data systems Speed management Infrastructure designed to protect vulnerable road users Innovation or best practice in road safety enforcement Vehicle safety Partners will include the World Health Organization, National Association of City Transportation Officials Global Designing Cities Initiative, Global Road Safety Partnership, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, World Resources Institute, Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, World Bank's Global Road Safety Facility, Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), Vital Strategies, and International Association of Chiefs of Police. About Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 510 cities and 129 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. SOURCE Bloomberg Philanthropies Related Links https://www.bloomberg.org The government has renamed the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses on Tuesday. The decision has been taken to honour the commitment and legacy of late Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. "It will align the vision and aspiration of the premier defence institute with the contribution of the former Defence Minister and Padma Bhushan awardee," the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs the executive committee of the institute's society. "An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, throughout his career, the late Manohar Parrikar showed a tremendous fighting spirit, taking on the odds with fearlessness," the ministry said. Parrikar was Defence Minister from November 9, 2014 to March 14, 2017 and steered the ministry through tough challenges of attacks like Pathankot and Uri and responded to these with exemplary boldness. An autonomous body under Ministry of Defence, IDSA was established as a registered society in New Delhi in 1965, dedicated to objective research and policy for relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security. Its aim is to promote national and international security through the generation and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related issues. To achieve its goals, the institute undertakes scholarly research, policy-oriented research, dissemination of research findings, training and capacity building and public education. IDSA has a well-qualified multi-disciplinary research faculty drawn from academia, defence forces and others representing a diversity of views. Research at the institute is driven by a comprehensive agenda and the need to provide impartial analyses and policy recommendations. Since its inception, IDSA has served as a forum to debate important aspects of national and international security. The institute conducts several national and international conferences every year and regularly holds roundtables and workshops on important developments. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 17:20:06|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A big data analysis platform used to find close contacts of novel coronavirus patients or suspected cases has received more than 150 million checks since it was launched on Feb.8. By inputting names and ID card numbers after scanning QR codes, individual users can check whether they took the same flights, trains or buses as those with confirmed or suspected cases. Receiving data support from the National Health Commission, Ministry of Transport, China Railway and Civil Aviation Administration of China, the platform has also served more than 80 organizations. Information security and privacy are protected on the platform, said Wu Manqing, general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers will discuss on Monday a document that calls for a more growth-friendly fiscal policy, a move that could lead to Germany's spending more as fears of a downturn grow amid uncertainty from the coronavirus outbreak. The 19-country euro zone has for years stuck to a "broadly neutral" fiscal policy in its annual recommendations, despite repeated calls from the European Central Bank and slow-growth states for it to invest more. But weak growth last year in Germany, the bloc's largest economy, and fears of a new downturn, fuelled by the coronavirus outbreak in China, are pushing Berlin to soften its stance. Until now, Germany has preached austerity to reduce fiscal imbalances in high-debt countries, like Italy and Greece. "If downside risks were to materialise, fiscal responses should be differentiated, aiming for a more supportive stance at the aggregate level," the European Union document says, confirming a Reuters report earlier in February. Euro zone finance ministers will discuss the document in Brussels later on Monday, according to the meeting's agenda, and are expected to adopt it on Tuesday, EU officials said. China's coronavirus outbreak is among the main downside risks facing the euro zone economy, according to forecasts released last week by the European Commission. Eurogroup head Mario Centeno said before the meeting that the outbreak's effects on the euro zone economy were expected, at present, to be "temporary", but he said constant monitoring was necessary to gauge its long-term impact. Italian Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri told reporters it was too early to gauge the economic impact of the coronavirus. Regardless of the virus, Gualtieri said "data of the last quarter of 2019 confirm the need that we have at euro area level a supportive fiscal policy, supportive to growth and in particular to investments". Story continues In the last three months of the year, the German economy stagnated due to weaker private consumption and state spending, data showed last week, renewing fears of a recession. The EU document stresses that higher spending would need to comply with EU fiscal rules which mandate deficits below 3% of gross domestic product, among other requirements. It is also not clear how the euro zone defines a downturn that would trigger more expansionary policies. The ultimate decision on turning the recommendation into more spending lies entirely with national governments. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has said in past months Germany would spend more during an economic crisis, but despite last year's slowdown it has posted large budget surpluses in the first nine months, Eurostat figures released in January show. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Editing by Larry King and Helen Popper) Advertisement There was a sudden flurry of excitement and the ship rapidly changed direction. 'The Ross seal is now located at four o'clock,' a voice over the PA system informed us. I was on an expedition vessel in Antarctica and one of the continent's rarest seals had just been spotted alone on a chunk of ice. Seal of approval: A photo of the Ross seal, a creature which is notoriously hard to spot Little is known about the Ross seal, as the species lives mainly on the densest pack ice. Because it often assumes a posture with the head raised and mouth open the creature is sometimes called the 'singing seal' Lo and behold, I peered through my camera lens and saw the large-eyed creature lolling in the grey light of day. It looked very different from the other seals dotted around, the Weddell and Crabeater, with a smaller head, shorter snout and beautiful streaked patterns running down its neck. Living up to its nickname, the 'singing seal', the flippered mammal assumed an upright posture with its head raised and mouth open. Its large black eyes shone like glass marbles. The assistant expedition leader on board the Hondius ship, Sara Jenner, explained that they had received word that a Ross seal was in the area but it was pretty much like 'looking for a needle in a haystack'. A report by the ICUN notes that estimations for the global population of Ross seals ranges from 20,000 to 220,000 but 'early estimates were based on very limited sampling and were highly speculative' However, thanks to the eagle-eyed crew, we managed to find the mysterious pinniped as we bobbed along in the Crystal Sound channel, which is located within the Antarctic Circle on the west coast. Sara added that none of the expedition staff on board the ship had ever seen a Ross seal and between them, they had more than 40 years of experience navigating these icy waters. After spending quite some time admiring the elegant animal, we ventured on our way with the ship swivelling back on course. The Ross seal was spotted in the Crystal Sound channel (pictured), which is located within the Antarctic Circle on the west coast A map showing where the Crystal Sound area in Antarctica is located Later that evening during a daily recap, the Hondius's other assistant expedition leader, Pippa Low, explained that the Ross seal - named after the British polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross - is so rare because the species lives mainly on the densest pack ice during the spring-summer and far offshore in open water for the rest of the year. A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) notes that estimations for the global population of Ross seal ranges from 20,000 to 220,000 but 'early estimates were based on very limited sampling and were highly speculative'. It adds that the seals 'depend on sea ice for reproduction and at some time in the future they could be adversely affected by a reduction in sea ice due to continued climate warming'. The Antarctic weather was certainly relatively balmy at times, with a mix of sunshine and rain, and while we were there, the highest temperature on record for the continent was recorded. Scientists from Brazil say that temperatures surpassed 20.7 degrees Celsius on Seymour Island and the World Meteorological Organization is currently verifying the data. Pippa, still enthralled by the rare seal encounter earlier that day, concluded: 'To see this little guy within 10 metres of the ship was just incredible. It was a fantastic sighting.' Vince Reffet, known as Jetman, takes part in a flight in the Emirati city of Dubai. AFP Photo Dubai: Daredevil Vince Reffet has soared into the skies above Dubai in the latest "Jetman" stunt, taking off from the ground and climbing to 1,800metres (nearly 6,000 feet) in a feat reminiscent of Marvel's "Iron Man" and hailed as a world first. Reffet and his collaborators, known as "Jetmen", have literally scaled new heights with the help of jetpacks and carbon-fire wings, staging a series of aerial displays that send them tearing through the skies at breakneck speed. In an awe-inspiring flight captured on viral video, the Frenchman on Friday hovered five metres above the crystal waters of Dubai's coast before shooting off into the air and skimming the city's skyline. "We accomplished another world first in 100 percent autonomous human flight with @jetmandubai, who took off from the ground before soaring to a high-altitude flight of up to 1,800m!" tweeted Expo 2020 Dubai, the mammoth trade fair that will open in October. The Jetmen had previously launched themselves into the air by jumping down from high platforms. "It's the result of extremely thorough teamwork, where each small step generated huge results. Everything was planned to the split second, and I was overjoyed by the progress that was achieved," Reffet said in a statement. "One of the next objectives is to land back on the ground after a flight at altitude, without needing to open a parachute. It's being worked on." Reffet's carbon fibre wings are powered by four mini jet engines. The equipment, which is controlled by the pilot's movements, is capable of reaching speeds of 400 kilometres (250 miles) per hour. On Friday, Reffet hovered five metres above the crystal waters of Dubai's coast before shooting off into the air and skimming the city's skyline. The Jetmen have pulled off a series of eye-popping flights in Dubai, soaring in tandem above the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa, and alongside an Emirates Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airplane. Last year, Reffet and fellow Frenchman Fred Fugen also flew through the famed "Heaven's Gate" archway in the mountains of China's Hunan province. The FATF had recently said that from Sunday February 16, more than 800 representatives from 205 countries and jurisdictions around the world, the IMF, UN, World Bank and other organisations, will arrive for FATF Week in Paris, France, and that there will be six days of meetings which will focus on global action to follow the money that fuels crime and terrorism. (Photo: ANI Representational ) New Delhi: A sub-group of the global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Tuesday recommended continuation of Pakistan in the Grey List for its failure to check terror funding and a final decision will be taken on February 21, according to news agency reports. The decision was reportedly taken at a meeting of the FATFs International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary. The ICRG meeting, sub group of the FATF, has recommended to retain Pakistan in the Grey List. A final decision will be taken on Friday when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan, sources were quoted as stating. Other government sources meanwhile told this newspaper that any decision by a sub-group would have to be placed before the FATF plenary for endorsement. Pakistan is trying to wriggle out of the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force by September this year. The FATF had recently said that from Sunday February 16, more than 800 representatives from 205 countries and jurisdictions around the world, the IMF, UN, World Bank and other organisations, will arrive for FATF Week in Paris, France, and that there will be six days of meetings which will focus on global action to follow the money that fuels crime and terrorism. It had also added that progress by Pakistan and other countries that present a risk to the financial system will be evaluated. New Delhi is also keeping a close watch on developments and will be reminding the world about how Pakistan has failed to live up to its promises of ending support to terror groups. Pakistan is trying to wriggle out of the grey list with the help of its all-weather friend China and other nations like Malaysia and Turkey besides certain Western nations whom it is trying to convince. The FATFs grey list comprises nations like Pakistan who are seen to have failed to fulfil their obligations to combat terror-financing. In what was seen as a desperate attempt by Islamabad to convince the world about its intentions on tackling terror, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court had last week convicted Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on terrorism-related charges. President Klaus Iohannis and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak, on a visit to Romania, have tackled the way the two national minorities are integrated in the Romanian and Slovak society, respectively, thus contributing substantially to the improvement of the links between the two countries. The Romanian President has welcomed the Slovak high guest at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, the talks between the two dignitaries focusing on strengthening the bilateral collaboration, as well as on the European and regional agenda, the Presidential Administration informs in a release sent to AGERPRES. Klaus Iohannis brought to mind the high quality of the relationship between the two countries, a relationship built on historical and cultural affinities and political, economic and security converging interests. The two high dignitaries expressed their commitment to continuing the enhancement of the bilateral relationship, the political dialogue included. President Klaus Iohannis and Minister Miroslav Lajcak appreciated the way the two national minorities are integrated in the Romanian and the Slovak society, respectively, thus contributing considerably to the development of the connections between the two countries. Furthermore, current topics on the European and regional agenda, with a stress on the Western Balkans situation were tackled. The two high officials expressed hope that the European Commission's proposal to review the methodology on the enlargement policy will contribute to making the accession process more efficient. The President of Romania and the Slovak minister have also reiterated the support for the opening as soon as possible of the accession negotiations to the European Union of North Macedonia and Albania. OPERATION CHASTISE The RAFs Most Brilliant Attack of World War II By Max Hastings Operation Chastise, about the so-called Dambusters raid, carries the subtitle The RAFs Most Brilliant Attack of World War II. In terms of sheer daring, and in terms of the inventive power that went into the famous bouncing bombs, this cannot be denied. Yet the tale told by Max Hastings, a renowned military historian and journalist, is more complex and less celebratory than the books cover implies. His account of the events of May 16-17, 1943, will keep you on the edge of your seat, but his analysis of their causes and consequences is equally deserving of attention. As early as 1938, British planners had determined that Germanys reservoirs and dams were a potential weak spot in the Nazi war machine. But it took the inventor Barnes Wallis vegetarian, Christian and campanologist to devise the weapon that could exploit this vulnerability. He faced the skepticism of Sir Arthur Harris, commander in chief of Bomber Command, who believed that large-scale bombing could end the war by destroying civilian morale, and who therefore had little interest in precision targeting. However, Hastings turns the conventional wisdom that Wallis faced a lonely battle against uncomprehending officialdom on its head. What is remarkable, he suggests, is that in the midst of the maelstrom of war and in the face of limited resources, both Whitehall and the military seized upon an unproven idea and quickly tried to put it into effect. Why? Because Wallis, just like Harris, was overpromising. He argued that the destruction of Germanys natural resources offered a means of rendering the enemy utterly incapable of continuing to prosecute the war. It didnt turn out quite like this in practice, of course, and in fact a better choice of targets might have created a longer-lasting impact on German industry. Having concluded that May 26 was the last date in 1943 on which the selected dams could be attacked, the British faced a race against time to perfect the technology, produce specially modified bombers and ready the aircrews. It was all a huge extravagance and essentially a gamble, a piece of military theater, Hastings suggests, rather than serious strategy. Even if it worked, it could be done only once because after the Germans had become aware of the threat, they could easily devise countermeasures. First lady Kim Jung-sook talks with a vendor at Dongwon Traditional Market in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. She talked with and listened to vendors, who have suffered a drastic drop in visitors as people avoid crowded places because of the 2019-nCoV, or COVID-19, coronavirus. Yonhap South Korea President Moon Jae-in said the government should make an all-out effort to boost the economy as it comes under pressure from a coronavirus outbreak. "(The government) shouldnt quibble over whether anything is unprecedented or not, rather, we should take every possible measure we can think of on the table to deploy them," Moon said today in a cabinet meeting. He added that the economy is in an emergency situation and needs a boost to stimulate domestic demand, Reuters reported. In 2015, South Korea drew up a supplementary budget to help cushion the economy from the effects of an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). NGO distributes face masks to migrants in Taiwan's Yilan fishing ports by William Yen February 18,2020 | Source: CNA An NGO that helps migrant workers distributed more than 1,000 medical grade face masks to migrant fishermen in the fishing county of Yilan on Saturday in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Members of the Migrant Workers' Concern Desk at Saint Christopher's Church in Taipei distributed the 1,100 masks, along with around 200 donated jackets and jumpers to hundreds of migrant fishermen in the county's Wushi, Nanfang'ao, and Daxi harbors. Father Gioan Tran Van Thiet, assistant parish priest at the church, who visits migrant fishermen in Yilan on a weekly basis, said the masks were donated by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia. "We received the masks just a little over two weeks ago because the donors saw news reports that we are trying to give migrant fishermen face masks because of the coronavirus outbreak," Thiet said. He said fishermen, who live and sleep in cramped conditions on fishing boats, can be vulnerable to infections. "If one person catches the virus, then they may pass it on to the whole crew," Thiet said. Nguyen Van Va, a migrant fisherman in Yilan originally from the Vietnamese province of Nghe An, said he really appreciates the masks and was unaware that Taiwan has implemented rationing. "My employer did not tell me anything," he said. "The last time I purchased masks was last year and this year I have been working long hours and I didn't have time to go and buy masks." Demand for face masks has surged amid fears over the spread of the acute respiratory disease, and shortages have forced the government to ration mask purchases to two per person every seven days at pharmacies contracted by the national health insurance (NHI) system. An Indonesian fisherman, identified only as Ori, said even with the rationing it is still difficult to buy masks because of the long queue. Meanwhile, Judito Deputado, a Filipino worker on a sightseeing vessel, said he has still been unable to buy any masks because they are all sold out. "I am concerned about the coronavirus because it is a global epidemic," he said. Since the coronavirus surfaced in Wuhan in December, it has caused more than 67,000 infections and 1,500 deaths worldwide, mainly in China. Taiwan has 18 confirmed cases to date. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency last month. Marites Lopez Hingpis, a caregiver in the county's Nanfang'ao Township, who also received a face mask that day, said she frequently needs to accompany her patient to hospital but her employer does not provide her with face masks. However, the Ministry of Labor issued a statement Jan. 30 addressing measures against the coronavirus that indicate employers are required to provide face masks to their employees if their employees' jobs involve them visiting hospitals. There are over 2,000 migrant fishermen in the Yilan area, according to the Yilan Migrant Fishermen's Union. Central News Agency Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Dr Simon Cameron is heading up the research at Queens University New mums across Northern Ireland are being offered the opportunity to help scientists better understand the miracle of breast milk. Queen's University in Belfast is asking women to become involved in a series of important studies aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates. As part of the recruitment drive, the university is taking part in an event at the NI Science Festival this weekend where breastfeeding mums will be invited to express and donate samples for research. Researchers will also be on hand to speak to mums to find out the best way for them to donate samples in the coming months and years as the university establishes a host of crucial breast milk studies. The NHS and World Health Organisation recommend that children are breastfed until the age of two and beyond. Despite this, breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland are the lowest in the UK. According to official figures, only 7% of children in Northern Ireland are breastfed past six months. Scientists at Queen's are hoping to set up a series of projects to improve understanding of breast milk and encourage more mothers in Northern Ireland to breastfeed. Dr Simon Cameron, who featured in the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary Breastfeeding Uncovered, is heading up the research. "We are looking at long-term studies and we want to speak to mums about how they might like to be involved in our ongoing research and how best they can comfortably donate milk on a regular basis," he told the Belfast Telegraph. Dr Cameron said there are numerous different areas the team are hoping to examine, including how breast milk adapts to protect newborn babies from infection. Scientists believe there is a connection between the saliva in the baby's mouth and the breast tissue which alerts the mum when their baby has come into contact with bacteria. Women then produce milk with antibodies that help protect the baby from infection. "Mums can develop antibodies that can pass through the milk," continued Dr Cameron. "For me that's one of the most fascinating areas, this chemical molecular bond between the newborn and the mother. "Mums' bodies also detect changes in temperature and produce more water in the milk to keep baby hydrated." The Queen's academic added: "We understand that these things happen, but we don't really understand the mechanism that allows this to happen. "We really want to build up breastfeeding as a really valuable exercise and it's really about building up the evidence base to do this." Dr Cameron is appearing at this weekend's event at the invitation of Breastival, which is hosting two talks on breast milk. The second Breastival event will feature Dr Lesley Dornan from Ulster University and Breastival co-founder Dr Jennifer Hanratty, who will describe different cultures' attitudes to breastfeeding. Breastival, which has been held since 2016 and is back for a second year at this weekend's NI Science Festival, aims to normalise what has sometimes been a controversial subject in Northern Ireland. Ms Hanratty explained: "We know that culture has a big influence on how families choose to feed their babies. "In Northern Ireland, where bottle feeding is the norm, it seems that we don't really value breastfeeding." She added: "So, when women face challenges, because breastfeeding isn't always easy, support comes in the form of a bottle and breastfeeding is instantly undermined." Tickets for both talks, which take place at the Black Box this Saturday, are available by logging on to the NI Science Festival website. Further information can be found by logging on to www. nisciencefestival.com Paris, Feb 18 : French train maker Alstom announced on Monday that it had reached a deal with Canadian train and plane maker Bombardier for the acquisition of its rail unit, Bombardier Transportation. "The price for the acquisition of 100 percent of Bombardier Transportation shares will be 5.8 billion to 6.2 billion euros, which will be paid via a mix of cash and new Alstom shares," Alstom said in a press release. The French company said a memorandum of understanding had been signed and the deal is "a unique opportunity to strengthen our global position on the booming mobility market", the Xinhua news agency reported. Bombardier ended the past financial year deep in the red. Its Berlin-based rail unit, Bombardier Transportation, is 32.5 per cent owned by the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ). After the transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2021, CDPQ will become a major shareholder in Alstom with around 18 per cent stake. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the deal. It "will allow Alstom to prepare for the future, against the backdrop of increasingly intense international competition," he said in a statement. A merger between Alstom and German rail manufacturer Siemens was blocked by European regulators last year on competition grounds. French media said the deal with Bombardier will face less opposition from regulators. A worker carts a bin loaded with medical waste to a storage facility at the Youan Hospital in Beijing, China, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) First Case Confirmed in Californias Napa County: Coronavirus Updates From Feb. 18 Countries around the world are taking measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, as the death toll continues to rise. This page has updates from Feb. 18. For updates from Feb. 19, click here. First Case Confirmed in Californias Napa County The first case of the new coronavirus has been confirmed on Tuesday in Napa County, California, and a second person in the county is under investigation, according to a news release. The release states that the two patients are not Napa county residents; they had been under quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked off Japan and were among those who were evacuated to the United States. The evacuated group from Japan was flown to the Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. Health officials identified seven among them as needing testing or hospitalization, and five of the seven were sent to local hospitals in Solano County. The two remaining patients were transferred to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa county because there was a shortage of isolation beds in Solano county. The patient in Napa county confirmed to have COVID-19 had tested positive for the virus in Japan, but doesnt currently have any symptoms typically associated with the virus so far, according to the release. The other patient, who is under investigation, is experiencing symptoms suspicious of the virus and is currently being tested. This patient had tested negative for the virus while in Japan. Both patients are under federal quarantine. The city and state of origin for both patients is not known at this time. Napa County Public Health Officer Karen Relucio said that there is minimal risk for Napa County residents and that the two patients at the medical center are in isolation, and are receiving medical care and undergoing testing. No Information Whatsoever That Virus Is Bioweapon: US Official The U.S. assistant secretary for health responded to speculation that the new coronavirus strain is the product of Chinese bioweapons research. We have no information whatsoever about this being a manufactured virus, Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, told reporters Tuesday. The origins of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, are not clear, he said before adding there was a lot more work that needs to be done. Giroir said he believes the virus probably originated from an animal, as many other coronavirus strains have done. Read more here. Chinese Regime Hints of Political Infighting Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently called out Hubei officials for not following his instructions to stem the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Previously, local officials complained that they were unable to disclose details about the outbreak because the central government did not allow them. Meanwhile, state-run media published, then quickly deleted, a report about Gao Fu, current director of Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention, being disciplined for violating Party rules. Read more here. China Pulls Out of Tennis Tournament in Romania China is no longer participating in the Davis Cup to take place next month in Romania due to travel restrictions amid the new coronavirus outbreak. Statement regarding the Romania v China, P.R. Davis Cup World Group I tie: The Davis Cup Committee has accepted the withdrawal of China, P.R. from their Davis Cup World Group I Play-off against Romania on 6-7 March. (1/2) ITF Media (@ITFMedia) February 18, 2020 The increased restrictions in response to the current Coronavirus outbreak have resulted in the China, P.R. team being unable to travel to this tie. Romania will advance to play in World Group I in September, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Twitter. The China team was set to play against Romania on March 6-7. WHO Reports 92 Cases of Person-to-Person Transmission World Health Organization (WHO) officials reported 92 cases of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus in countries other than China on Tuesday. In the past 24 hours alone, 110 new cases outside China were confirmed, including 99 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship thats docked in Yokohama, Japan, WHOs chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva. Still, officials have not yet seen the sustained local transmission except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Tedros said. But officials dont have enough data to make a meaningful comparison on the severity of disease or the case fatality rate, he also said. Russia to Ban All Chinese Citizens Russias government announced it would ban all Chinese citizens from entering its territory, according to a statement from the Kremlin on Tuesday, which added that new restrictions will go into effect starting Thursday. From 12 a.m. local time on Feb. 20, Russia will temporarily suspend the passage of citizens from China to enter its territory for the purpose of employment, for private, educational, and tourist purposes, said a statement from the Kremlin carried by state-run news outlet TASS. The move is designed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, from spreading inside Russia. Several weeks ago, Russia announced it would close its 2,500-mile border with China amid fears of the virus. Health Minister Tatyana Golikova told TASS that documents, registration, and invitations to enter Russia to work will be suspended for Chinese nationals. This entails documents for foreign workers, private purposes, and education. Read more here. A family wearing a face mask walk in Biblioteka Imeni Lenina metro station in Moscow, Russia on Feb. 7, 2020. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images) Britain to Evacuate Citizens From Cruise Ship British officials said theyre working on a plan to evacuate citizens who are quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible. Our staff are contacting British nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements. We urge all those who have not yet responded to get in touch immediately, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement. Japans health ministry said earlier Tuesday that 88 more people have tested positive for the new coronavirus on the ship. There are now 542 known cases on the cruise ship. David Abel and his wife, Sally, a British couple, have emerged as two of the most visible people on the ship, repeatedly posting on Facebook and YouTube about their life under quarantine. They said Tuesday that they were among those who tested positive. There is going to be a time of quiet. We have been proved positive and leaving for hospital soon. Blessings all xxx, Abel wrote on Facebook. WHO Reports 92 Cases of Person-to-Person Transmission World Health Organization (WHO) officials reported 92 cases of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus in countries other than China on Tuesday. In the past 24 hours alone, 110 new cases outside China were confirmed, including 99 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship thats docked in Yokohama, Japan, WHOs chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva. Still, officials have not yet seen the sustained local transmission except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Tedros said. But officials dont have enough data to make a meaningful comparison on the severity of disease or the case fatality rate, he also said. First Coronavirus Patient Had No Link to Wuhan Seafood Market: Report The first coronavirus (COVID-19) patient in China did not have contact with a wild animal and seafood market in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak began, according to a new report. The unidentified man, known as patient zero, was a pensioner in his 70s who was bedridden from a stroke and suffered from dementia. He fell ill on Dec. 1, 2019one week earlier than what was reported by Wuhan health authorities, who said the first patient appeared on Dec. 8. The revelation is consistent with a Jan. 24 study published in The Lancet analyzing the first 41 cases of coronavirus patients who fell ill between Dec. 1, 2019 and Jan. 2, 2020. He lived four to five stops [public transport stations] away from the seafood market, Wu Wenjuan, a co-author of The Lancet study, told the BBC. And because he was ill, he basically didnt go outdoors, she said. Read more here. A police officer wearing a mask stands in front of the closed seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Jan. 10, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters No Known Cases in North Korea: WHO There are no signals or indications of any known COVID-19 cases inside North Korea, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. North Korea shares a border with China, where the virus emerged late last year. But theres no reason to believe that there are cases in the country, Dr. Mike Ryan, a top WHO official, said at a briefing. He said that WHO was sending supplies to North Korea. There was also a one-on-one meeting between WHO and a representative from North Korea planned for Feb. 19 in Geneva, where WHO is based. The United States said last week that it was ready to help North Korea prevent cases of the virus. Director of Hospital at Virus Epicenter Dies A hospital director in the novel coronavirus outbreak epicenter of Wuhan has died of the deadly disease. Liu Zhiming, 50, was the head of Wuchang Hospital and a neurologist. State media have confirmed that he died on the morning of Feb. 18. He is the highest level health official to succumb to the virus, also known as COVID-19, so far. The director and party secretary of the publicity center within the Health Commission of Hubei reported that Liu had died around 10:00 p.m. local time on Feb. 17 through Weibo, a popular Twitter-like Chinese social media platform. In the post, which was subsequently deleted, he described Liu as the first hospital director to have sacrificed his life to fight the virus and expressed profound condolences. Read more here. Dr. Liu Zhiming, head of Wuchang Hospital, has been confirmed dead from the Novel Coronavirus on Feb. 18, 2020. (Wuchang hospital Wechat) Japan to Test HIV Medication as Potential Treatment Japan is preparing to hold clinical trials using HIV medication as a potential treatment for the new coronavirus, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters at a press briefing. The National Center for Global Health and Medicine is leading preparations so that clinical trials using HIV medication on the novel coronavirus can start as soon as possible, he said. Suga said he could not comment on how long it would take for the new drug to be approved. Japan keeps reporting new cases and the largest cluster outside of China is among the passengers of a cruise ship docked in Yokohama. The United States evacuated more than 300 Americans who were on the ship and other countries are now preparing to fly their citizens out. Domestic Helper Gets Infected Hong Kong officials announced the 61st confirmed coronavirus case in the city, the first known infection of a domestic helper. The new patient, a 34-year-old Filipino, is a domestic helper employed by an infected patient, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection. On Feb. 2, she began having a cough and fever and was hospitalized on Feb. 14. After the announcement, Filipino authorities said that overseas Filipino workers could return from Hong Kong and Macau. The policy change is an exemption to a travel ban on domestic workers. One of the only deaths from the new virus outside of China took place in the Philippines, which has three confirmed cases, all among Chinese nationals. Employees of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (front and back) wearing face masks as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, guide Jockey Zac Purton (C) of Australia during the Hong Kong Gold Cup day at the Sha Tin racecourse on Feb. 16, 2020. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images) Shanghai to Start Online Courses Liu Jing, director of Shanghais education committee, said on Tuesday that all the citys schools will remain closed, according to Chinas state-run media. He added that online courses will be provided to students, starting with those in primary and secondary schools on March 2. Taiwanese Company Working With NIH to Develop Vaccine Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics signed a contract with the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) on Sunday to cooperate on the development of a new vaccine for COVID-19, according to TechNews. Medigen has been working with NIH since 2015 to develop vaccines, including one for dengue fever. The company will obtain the candidate viruses for the vaccine from NIH for experiments and clinical trials in Taiwan. Taiwan Thanks 105 European Lawmakers for Bid to UNs WHO Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has thanked 105 lawmakers from more than 10 European countries for voicing support for Taiwan becoming an observer at the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan has continually sought to become a WHO member. But Beijing, which views Taiwan as a renegade province that is part of its territory, has sought to diminish the islands sovereignty by blocking it from joining international organizations such as the WHO. From 2009 to 2016, Taiwans health ministers took part in the WHA as observers. However, since 2017, Taiwan has been barred by China from taking part in the assembly and its meetings. On Feb. 16, Taiwans government-run Central News Agency reported that these 105 lawmakers had sent letters to WHOs secretary general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, voicing their support for Taiwans participation in the upcoming WHA. The 73rd WHA is scheduled to be held in Geneva from May 17 to 21. Taiwan has 22 known cases of coronavirus with one death, but has been excluded from taking part in recent meetings about the novel coronavirus outbreak held by the WHO Emergency Committee. Israel Bans Foreigners from 4 Regions in Asia Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said on Monday that foreigners who traveled through Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, or Thailand in the past 14 days will be banned from entry, according to local newspaper The Times of Israel. Before the announcement, the Israeli Ministry of Health had required from Feb. 16 all travelers from the four Asian jurisdictions to be quarantined at home for at least 14 days. In late January, Israel banned entry for foreign nationals who had recently traveled through mainland China, the paper reported. 1-Year-Old Baby With Coronavirus Recovers, Discharged A 1-year-old child who contracted COVID-19 after being evacuated from virus epicenter Wuhan, China, made a full recovery and was discharged from a hospital in Singapore. The child was evacuated on Feb. 9 without symptoms. The child was quarantined when he entered Singapore, the Ministry of Health said on its website. In a Tuesday update, the childcalled Case 76by health authorities fully recovered from the infection and was discharged from the hospital, according to the ministry. Read more here. People Can Disembark From Cruise Ship Soon Japans Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters on Tuesday that people abroad the cruise ship Diamond Princess can disembark on Feb. 19 if they test negative for the virus and are experiencing no symptoms, according to local outlet NHK. People still in quarantine due to fears of the new COVID-19 coronavirus stand on balconies of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan on Feb. 18, 2020. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images) The ship has been docked in Yokohama for 14 days. Samples from all passengers had been collected as of Monday, and all test results will be available by Wednesday, Kato said. The disembarkment process will take about three days. NHK stated that there were about 3,200 passengers and crew members remaining on the quarantined ship as of Monday. Over 400 individuals had already been removed from the vessel after testing positive for the virus. Officials said that more passengers from the Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia will fly home on Tuesday. Today more than 300 tourists will fly from Phnom Penh to Dubai on a (Boeing) 777 airplane, I have learned from the ships crew, Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech. An American woman who had been on the Westerdam cruise ship tested positive for the virus at the weekend after a special flight chartered by the cruise line reached Malaysia, prompting renewed scrutiny for the hundreds of passengers and crew still on board or ashore in Cambodia. He said samples from the remaining passengers were being flown by helicopter for testing in the capital, Phnom Penh. Once health officials have confirmed negative results, the tourists will be allowed to disembark. Holland America Line, which is owned by cruise giant Carnival Corp, said 255 guests and 747 crew are still aboard the Westerdam, which docked at the port of Sihanoukville on Friday, awaiting clearance. We anticipate this will take several days and greatly appreciate the thoroughness of all authorities involved in resolving this situation, a statement from the cruise line said. Another 406 passengers who had been transferred to Phnom Penh have tested negative for the infection. Cleared guests may travel home, and arrangements are being made for those guests, the company statement said. Some 1,455 passengers and 802 crew boarded the cruise ship when it set sail on Feb. 1 from Hong Kong. South Korea Evacuates Citizens From Cruise Ship A South Korea presidential jet will take off at around noon local time on Tuesday and land in Japans Haneda Airport to pick up South Korean nationals confined on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, local newspaper The Korea Times reported, citing the countrys vice health minister Kim Gang-lip. The plane will return to Gimpo International Airport, which is located west of South Koreas capital Seoul early Wednesday. None of the 14 South Koreans on the Diamond Princess cruise, including nine passengers and five crew members, are thought to have contracted the novel coronavirus. According to The Korea Times, only five of the 14 South Koreans will board the plane while the rest want to stay in Japan largely due to their residential status and lack of connection to South Korea. Of the 14, 11 are permanent residents in Japan, the paper reported, citing the countrys foreign ministry. Mask-clad commuters get off a train at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stop in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan Report New Infections South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Tuesday a new case of novel coronavirus, bringing the national total to 31. The new case involves a 59-year-old Korean woman whose test results just returned positive. She does not have any recent travel outside of the country. Malaysias Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah wrote on his official Facebook page on Tuesday that two Malaysians on the cruise ship Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus. The two are under isolation under the care of Japanese authorities. The cruise ship, which has been quarantined in Japan since Feb. 4, remains docked in Yokohama. At least 454 passengers and crew members have tested positive for the virus among the almost 3,700 that were abroad the ship. Singapores Ministry of Health announced on Monday two new cases of infection, bringing the countrys total to 77. One new case involves a one-year-old Singaporean boy who was among a group of Singaporeans repatriated from Wuhan on Feb. 9. He did not have symptoms of the virus when he was onboard the flight home. The boy tested positive on Feb. 16. The second case involves a 35-year-old Singapore man with no recent travel history to China. He tested positive on Feb. 17. However, the man did come in contact with the countrys 50th confirmed casea 62-year-old Singaporean man who also did not travel to China recently. Of the 77 cases, 24 people have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital. Four patients are in critical condition. Taiwans Centers for Disease Control reported two new cases late Monday night, bringing the total known cases on the island to 22. The two new patients, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 30s, are both relatives of the islands first death from the virusa taxi driver living in central Taiwan. They both tested positive on Feb. 17. Chen Shih-chung, Taiwans health minister, said on Monday that the dead taxi driver might have contracted the virus from a Taiwanese businessman working in eastern Chinas Zhejiang province. The taxi driver picked up the businessman on Jan. 22, the latter having a serious cough at the time. However, the businessmanwho was not tested for the virus back in Januarytested negative for the virus when authorities tracked him down for a health check a few days ago. For updates from Feb. 17, click here. Frank Fang, Cathy He, Zachary Stieber, Eva Fu, Jack Phillips, and Reuters contributed to this report. Employers will be urged to hire more Australians over the age of 45 to ensure fairness for older workers, in a major statement from Labor on new ways to expand the economy as the population ages. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will also outline policy ambitions to retrain older Australians who lose their jobs, citing research that claims a $33 billion economic boost from getting more of these workers into jobs. Anthony Albanese says Labor will expect business to do more to create opportunities for older workers. Credit:AAP The speech lays down a core Labor position on training policy, age discrimination and aged care including a commitment to act on all the findings of the royal commission into the abuse of older people in aged care homes. A new debate on population and ageing is looming with the government's release of an updated Intergenerational Report within months, updating figures for population growth. The government has said that British MP Debbie Abrahams visa was revoked as her activities went against Indias national interest. Ms Debbie Abrahams was issued an e-Business Visa on 7th October 2019, which was valid till 5th October 2020 to attend business meetings. Her e-Business Visa was revoked on 14 February 2020 on account of her indulging in activities which went against Indias national interest. The rejection of the e-Business Visa was intimated to her on 14th February, Home Ministry sources said asserting that granting, rejection or revocation of visa/electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of a country. The sources further said that the British lawmaker was not in the possession of a valid visa at the time of her travel to India and she was accordingly requested to return. Also Watch l British MP Debbie Abrahams denied entry into India, Singhvi calls her Pak proxy In any case, previously issued e-Business Visa meant for business meetings, cant be used for visiting family and friends, as claimed by her. This is not permitted as per the rules and a separate visa request has to be made, said sources. Abrahams, meanwhile, took to Twitter to question he cancellation of her visa. Very disappointing that a friend cant respectfully criticise another friend. Isnt this the sign of a healthy democracy? she said on Twitter. She had also questioned why the Indian government did not give her a visa on arrival, to which the sources replied, There is no provision of visa on arrival for UK nationals at the airport. Amrahams has been a vocal critic of Indian governments decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of special status. The Labour MP, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group for Kashmir, was denied entry on Monday after she landed at Delhi airport and deported to Dubai from where she had flown into the Indian capital. A Home Ministry spokesperson in New Delhi said the British parliamentarian had been duly informed that her visa was cancelled.When contacted, Abrahams told PTI she had not received any emails before February 13. After that, she had been travelling and was away from office. Abrahams was among a group of MPs who issued formal letters following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status under Article 370 in August last year. We are gravely concerned at the announcement by Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been removed by Presidential Order, the Opposition MP had noted in her letter to the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the time. Press Release February 18, 2020 Villanueva on alleged 'pastillas' racket: 'Happy days are back for corrupt' The allegations of a new racket involving payouts to immigration officers at the NAIA by travel agencies representing foreign workers only show that "happy days are back for the corrupt," according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva reiterated the pressing need for suspending Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) given the latest incident involving the Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel facilitating the entry of Chinese nationals, most of whom are believed to be on their way to work at online gambling firms. "It's clear that from what is happening now that happy days are back for the corrupt," said Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development, in a statement. "The government is having trouble regulating these POGOs. They are not paying taxes, they are challenging the bounds of our laws, they are not creating jobs for Filipinos," he added. "We call on the government to suspend POGO firms until it is able to rein in wayward companies who skirt around our laws." The latest allegation of corruption could probably be the fourth incident in a string of illegal activities involving BI personnel starting in 2016, according to the senator who started the legislative inquiry into the influx of illegal foreign workers that year. Public hearings into the influx of illegal foreign workers in the 17th Congress resulted to the arrest of BI deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who are accused of extorting and receiving P50 million from casino operator Jack Lam. Argosino and Robles have subsequently been charged before the Sandiganbayan awaiting trial. The senator also uncovered a racket in the BI's satellite office in Taguig where immigration staff ask for a P5,000 expedite fee to speed up the processing of special working permits (SWP). The expose also triggered a review of the BI's charter, with Villanueva questioning the agency's authority to issue SWPs. As an offshoot of the inquiry, the government organized an interagency task force on foreign workers, chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment, which sought to unify the efforts of different agencies on the issue. Villanueva likewise cited a report in July last year where a number of immigration agents were accused of running an "escort service" for illegal foreign workers. Agents reportedly fetched foreigners, who allegedly plan to stay in the country to work in POGO companies, right after disembarking the plane and whisked them through different queues. "We are dismayed that it appears the rise of POGOs are triggering the rise in corruption among government workers and crimes in general," the senator said. "The instances are already overwhelming and the only logical solution our government should do is to suspend POGOs." At the Senate labor committee last week, representatives of the government's economic cluster said the proposed POGO suspension would have minimal impact to the country's gross domestic product, which is estimated to be around 0.04 percent of GDP only. Estimated foregone revenues from POGOs are at least P50 billion in taxes on corporate income, withholding, and franchise, among other levies due to the government. New Delhi: 'Mehandi Laga Ke Rakhna 3', Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav's upcoming film, has set YouTube on fire as in just a few days, the video garnered over three million views (and very much counting). Actresses Sahar Afsha and Aamrapali Dubey also star in the film, which is about love and heartbreak. In the trailer, Khesari romances with Sahar. It is love at first sight for Khesari and he woos Sahar by all means and later gets successful. However, his family fixes his wedding with another girl. Will the duo be able to get back together? Well, the audience will have to wait to know more about it after the film releases. The trailer doesn't show a glimpse of Aamrapali Dubey, but trust the makers to reveal her look soon and it will be worth the wait. Isn't it? Watch the viral trailer of Mehandi Laga Ke Rakhna 3. Aamrapali, however, had earlier shared a still from a song picturised on her and Khesari. Thanking the producer of 'Mehendi Lagaake Rakhna 3' Prashant Nishant for the song, Aamrapali wrote, "Thank you so much my dear friend and now also a big wonderfull producer @prashantnishant for having me on the set of your upcoming and most awaited film MEHENDI LAGAAKE RAKHNA 3 for a special song opposite the very handsome superstar @khesari_yadav I wish the whole team all the very best may this film be a huge success @rajnishmishra11 @saharafsha1." Khesari Lal Yadav was recently seen in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 13'. 'Mehendi Lagaake Rakhna 3' is directed by Rajnish Mishra. Joint Press Release Outside trading hours - Regulated information* Brussels, Budapest, Bratislava 17 February 2020 5.45 p.m. CET KBC acquires OTP Banka Slovensko (Slovakia) Today, Belgiums KBC Group and OTP Bank, the Hungarian parent company of OTP Banka Slovensko (Slovakia), reached agreement for KBC to acquire ownership of 99.44% of the shares in OTP Banka Slovensko, a mid-sized Slovakian bank focusing on retail, micro SME and SME customers. The remaining shares are held by a number of private individuals. The acquisition will have a limited impact (-0.2%) on KBCs solid capital position, keeping KBCs excellent CET1 ratio well above regulatory minimum capital requirements. At the end of 2019, the CET1 ratio stood at 15.7%1 (Basel III fully loaded, Danish compromise). The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval from the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) and to the authorisation of the National Bank of Belgium (NBB), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic. The parties involved in the transaction expect the deal to be finalised mid-2020 (in the second or third quarter). After obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, KBC Bank will become the new parent company of OTP Banka Slovensko. The future merged entity will substantially strengthen CSOBs bank-insurance franchise in Slovakia and enhance its cross-selling potential with CSOB Poistovna, CSOB Leasing and CSOB Asset Management. The next logical step is the legal and operational merger of CSOB Bank and OTP Banka Slovensko, which will further consolidate CSOBs current position of fourth on the Slovakian banking market in terms of assets, with a market share of approximately 12.6%. KBC believes in the positive impact of cooperation and looks forward to welcoming OTP Banka Slovenskos employees into the KBC and CSOB family when the transaction closes. OTB Banka Slovenskos brand name will remain in place for a certain period going forward to ensure a seamless transition for customers and staff until the merger is completed. Story continues In the meantime, OTP Banka Slovensko, with the full support of CSOB, will continue to honour its commitments to the market and to provide professional service of the highest level to all its customers, who will not have to take any action as a result of the transaction. The merger will not affect the grants system of The Bethlen Gabor Foundation2 awarding or the option for Hungarian-speaking customers of OTP Banka Slovensko to be served in their own language at locations with a Hungarian population. Johan Thijs, KBC Group CEO, welcomes todays agreement: This deal is a further execution of our strategy, which focuses on becoming the reference bank-insurance group for retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises and midcaps in KBCs core markets. Through CSOB Bank, we have been present in the Slovakian banking market since 2002. Acquiring OTP Banka Slovensko will allow us to substantially strengthen our share of the Slovakian market, while enabling us to benefit from economies of scale and increased visibility in this highly competitive market. It will also create opportunities for us to provide high level, complex financial services to a wider range of customers, who will undoubtedly benefit from this merger. Sandor Csanyi, OTP Bank Chairman and CEO, commented: OTP Group continually works towards increasing its market share in the CEE region through organic growth and acquisitions. The Group has followed this strategy throughout the almost twenty years it has been present in Slovakia. However, as it was unable to increase its market share to the optimum level, management took the decision to sell this group member. This deal will enable our group to focus on markets where we can achieve a higher market share in the future. From the very beginning of the sales process, it was of crucial importance for OTP Banks management to come to an agreement with a partner that would be able to continue providing OTP Banka Slovensko customers with the innovative financial solutions and high standard of services they have become accustomed to, and where ongoing professional advancement and a stable employer background would be available to our Slovakian colleagues. I am fully convinced that the change in ownership will offer numerous opportunities for customers and colleagues both now and in the future. I would like to thank the management and staff of OTP Banka Slovensko for their professional and devoted work during the nearly two decades in which our subsidiary bank has been a stable market player providing high-quality services in Slovakia. Daniel Kollar, CEO of CSOB Bank Slovakia and Country Manager concluded: Todays announcement is another milestone for CSOB in Slovakia. It will allow us to substantially strengthen our current market position and help us fulfil our role in the economic fabric of Slovakia and in society as a whole. We are convinced that the customers and employees of OTP Banka Slovensko whom we all warmly welcome to CSOB and KBC will benefit significantly from this future merger. We guarantee our new customers access to high quality, modern and innovative financial services enabled by digital technologies, as well as a personal and professional approach. At CSOB, we believe in dynamic collaboration initiatives between employees and advocate adding valuable insights to and gaining them from our teams, even across borders. With this in mind, let me take this opportunity to encourage, and invite, our new colleagues from OTP Banka Slovensko to embrace our community and to share their ideas and experiences with us. Full press release attached 1 After pay-out of dividend and approval of the announced share buy-back by the European Central Bank and AGM/EGM 2 The Bethlen Gabor Fund (Hungary) is a dedicated public money fund. Its main task is to promote individual and community prosperity, material and intellectual growth in the homeland of Hungarians abroad and to provide support for the preservation of their culture. The Bethlen Gabor Fund operates a transparent tendering system for the use and effective allocation of grants. OTP Bank grants drawdown of the funding and managing an account for awarded applicants free of charge. Attachment The American Heart Association's annual Houston Heart Ball always feels like an extension of Valentine's Day. Gala-goers often reach for pink or red dresses and romantic accessories, and last Saturday's soiree -- held on Feb. 15 at Hilton Americas-Houston -- was no exception. Take Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, auction chairwoman for the second year in a row, who complemented her ruffled, ruby gown with heart-shaped diamond earrings courtesy of Tenenbaum Jewelers, the evening's specialty sponsor. Her tablemates matched in jewel-tone fuchsia and crimson looks. In support of Mitchell's efforts, they dutifully monitored and bid on auction items, which ranged from a Jared Lehr morganite necklace valued at $32,000 to Louisiana State University and Houston Rockets game day packages. She leads a jet-set life and busy Kim Kardashian made a very brief trip to Paris this week. The star was spotted leaving the city's Charles De Gaulle airport on Tuesday after only arriving the day before. Ditching her usual glam look, the mum of four went make-up free as she departed from the VIP terminal with husband Kanye West. Off again: Kim Kardashian made a very brief trip to Paris this week as she was spotted leaving the city's Charles De Gaulle airport on Tuesday after only arriving the day before Kim covered up in a loose-fitting black leather jacket from Versace layered over a red top and accessorised with dark shades. Leaving her long dark locks loose, the star hid any sign of jet-leg after her brief jaunt to Europe behind her glasses. Kanye meanwhile was even more low-key, pulling his hoodie over his head as he strolled to their airplane. The couple had a short visit to Paris, where they own an apartment, after last being spotted in Kanye's home city of Chicago on Sunday. Casual: Ditching her usual glam look, the mum of four went make-up free as she departed from the VIP terminal with husband Kanye West Undercover: Kanye meanwhile was even more low-key, pulling his hoodie over his head as he strolled to their airplane Kim has been by Kanye's side as he takes his Sunday Services across the US. Meanwhile on Saturday, the KKW Beauty founder shared a photo and quick video of the couple lounging poolside at an unknown destination with the vast ocean as the backdrop. 'Little slice of heaven for Valentine's Day. Surprise Trip,' Kim K captioned the snap that showed Kanye in the background staring out into the gorgeous horizon. VIP: Kim covered up in a loose-fitting black leather jacket from Versace layered over a red top Helping hands: Kim and Kanye were joined by members of security who helped unload their luggage Feeling the jet lag: Kanye kept covered up as he sauntered out of the VIP terminal Whirlwind: The couple had a short visit to Paris, where they own an apartment, after last being spotted in Kanye's home city of Chicago on Sunday The sweethearts getaway was likely in California, considering Kim was photographed earlier in the day getting in a workout with her personal trainer in her hometown of Calabasas. Last year, Kanye surprised his wife for Valentine's Day by hiring saxophonist Kenny G to perform a private concert in their living room. When asked about V-Day 2020, she maintained she didn't need anything too extravagant. 'I would be happy with just, you know, honestly chilling and just as long as we're together and spending time together.' In a first of its kind of joint operation, India and the US stopped about 500 shipments of illicit, and potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs and combination medical devices from entering America in January, the US Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday. Operation Broadsword targeted packages entering the US through an International Mail Facility (IMF) from January 28 through January 30, it said. During Operation Broadsword, investigators from both governments examined more than 800 shipments, which identified approximately 50 different FDA-regulated products, including medications intended to treat and or mitigate serious diseases, such as various forms of cancer and HIV. Many of the shipments, which included opioid drugs products, had been transshipped through third-party countries to conceal their point of origin and avoid detection. Health risks are further compounded when products are sent through such third-party countries, which undermines protections afforded via regulated pharmaceutical supply chains, the FDA said. "A bilateral enforcement exercise like Operation Broadsword allows us to closely work with our US counterparts so as to share best practices, develop intelligence, better target suspect consignments, consignors and other bad actors at both ends, said Balesh Kumar, director general, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for the Government of India. With standards and regulations varying in each country, US consumers face hazards when they order drugs and other FDA-regulated products from unauthorized foreign sources and receive them through the international mail system, said FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn. Consumers and physicians purchasing medicines cannot be assured the products they are receiving are legitimate, safe or effective if they are obtained from outside of the FDA-regulated pharmaceutical supply chain, he said. The operation was a collaboration between the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Office of Criminal Investigations, Forensic Chemistry Center and Division of Northern Border Imports along with India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and US Customs and Border Protection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stacey Abrams is openly stating her desire to run on the Democratic ticket as the party's vice presidential nominee and says she 'absolutely' wants to run for president. The former candidate for governor from Georgia, who lost her 2018 bid 50-49 per cent, told hosts of ABC's 'The View' she would be 'honored' to be on the ticket, saying it would be a 'disservice' to women and minorities to fein disinterest. She said it would be a 'disservice' to minorities and women to say otherwise. 'The first time I was on here, I got the question about running as V.P. during the primary," she said on the show Monday, "and I, apparently famously, said No, because you dont run for second in a primary.' Former Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams says she 'absolutely' wants to run for president 'However, Im not getting that question a lot from folks, and the answer is, of course I would be honored to run for vice president with the nominee,' she said. Abrams said it would be 'really obnoxious for me to say that out loud since no one has asked me.' She spoke after candidates in the winnowed presidential field are putting a premium on putting gender or racial balance on the ticket at a time when the party also may have to come an ideological gulf between progressives and centrists. 'What I want people to understand is that, the issue is, as a woman of color, especially as a black woman, this is an unusual position to be in,' she continued. 'It would be doing a disservice to every woman of color, every woman of ambition, every child who wants to think beyond their known space for me to say "No," or to pretend, Oh no, I dont want it."' Abrams says she would be 'honored' to be selected as a vice presidential candidate She said it would be a 'disservice' to minorities and women to conceal her views She made her comments on ABC's 'The View' Abrams was narrowly defeated in her 2018 run for the Georgia governorship After several women and minority candidates dropped out, leading white male Democratic contenders may decide to choose a woman, a minority, or someone of another ideological stripe as their running mate She acknowledged: 'Of course I want it. Of course I want to serve America. Of course I want to be a patriot and do this work, and so I say, Yes. She answered, Oh absolutely,' when co-host Whippie Goldberg asked if she could see herself seeking the presidency despite traditional political norms that encourage candidates to be coy. 'When someone starts off in the mailroom and says I want to be CEO, we never say, Oh my gosh thats too much ambition,' she said. 'Why should we not want someone to have the power to fix the problems and the brokenness that we have? I want to do good and theres no stronger platform than president of the United States and thats a position I want to one day hold,' she concluded. Former Vice President Joe Biden said last month before coming in a disappointing fourth place in Iowa that he would consider putting Abrams on the ticket. 'Theres at least nine women I can think of who are fully capable of being president,' he said at the time. Biden continues to poll well in South Carolina, thanks in part to strong support from black voters there. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has gained in the polls nationally, is facing criticism for past support for stop-and-frisk policies as well as allegedly fostering a hostile work environment for women at his company. Boris Johnson has finally spoken to President Xi Jinping about the spread of the deadly coronavirus almost two weeks after China accused the UK of 'over-reacting' to the crisis. Downing Street confirmed this afternoon that the two world leaders had spoken this morning. Mr Johnson 'offered his sympathies' to those affected by the outbreak while President Xi thanked the UK 'for its support' in responding to the disease. It is believed to be the first time the two men have spoken about the epidemic since it began at the start of this year. The phone call comes almost two weeks after China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, issued a stinging rebuke to the British government over its handling of the outbreak. Mr Liu claimed ministers had unnecessarily sparked a public 'panic' after the government suggested all 30,000 UK nationals in China should leave the country if they are able to. Chinese President Xi Jinping, pictured in Beijing on February 10, and Boris Johnson today discussed the coronavirus outbreak for what is believed to be the first time Mr Johnson, pictured during a Cabinet meeting last week, 'offered his sympathies' to coronavirus victims during the call with President Xi A Number 10 summary of the call between Mr Johnson and Mr Xi stated: 'The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi of China this morning. 'He offered his sympathies for those affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. 'President Xi thanked the UK for its support and in particular welcomed the donation of vital medical equipment to China. 'The Prime Minister and President agreed on the importance of the UK-China relationship and resolved to work together across a range of issues including strengthening the economic partnership, to benefit the people of both China and the UK.' The two men also discussed the COP26 UN summit on climate change which is due to take place in Glasgow in November this year. Number 10 said the leaders had 'resolved to work closely together on the issue of climate change'. 'They agreed that biodiversity and climate change are two sides of the same coin and must be addressed in tandem if were to protect the planet for future generations,' a spokesman said. Speaking today Mr Liu said Mr Johnson and Mr Xi had a 'very good conversation' and that the PM had expressed 'high appreciation of the efforts made by China' to combat coronavirus. Mr Liu also said Mr Johnson had told Mr Xi that he 'loves China and he wants to work with China'. The call came after Stanley Johnson, the Prime Minister's father, discussed environmental issues with Mr Liu two weeks ago in an unofficial capacity. He reported back to ministers that Chinese officials were concerned that Mr Johnson had not sent a personal message of support to China's leaders. Mr Liu told a press conference earlier this month that Beijing believed many countries had 'over-reacted' to coronavirus as he took aim at the UK's response. China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming accused Britain and other nations of 'over-reacting' to the coronavirus outbreak at a press conference he gave on February 6 He also appeared to confirm that Mr Johnson and Mr Xi were yet to speak on the issue. He said since the outbreak the two governments had maintained 'very close contact' before mentioning interactions between Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill and their Chinese counterparts. However, Mr Liu made no mention of Mr Johnson. As of yesterday afternoon, 4,501 people in total had been tested for Covid-19 in the UK, of which nine had come back positive. The death toll in mainland China rose by 98 to 1,868, in figures announced early this morning while the number of people infected globally stands at 72,436, according to the country's National Health Commission. The Congress' youth wing will hold a national level speech competition in New Delhi to press for the creation of a 'National Register for Unemployed' instead of the Centre's "divisive" National Population Register and National Register of Citizens, a functionary of the outfit said on Tuesday. The 'Young India Bol' competition will be held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on March 23 to coincide with the martyrdom day of revolutionary Bhagat Singh, said Indian Youth Congress (IYC) spokesperson Sanjeev Shukla and its MP chief Kunal Chaudhary. "We are organizing speech competitions at different levels to pick contestants for the national level Young India Bol competition. Winners will get mementos. Instead of NRC and NPR, the Union government should come out with a National Register for Unemployed," they said. They said unemployment had hit the youth hard and the job market was continuously shrinking, while the Narendra Modi government was indulging in divisive of CAA, NRC and NPR to divide the nation on religious lines. Giving details of the competition, Shukla and Chaudhary said people in the 18-35 age group were eligible to participate and the speeches can be in Hindi, English and vernacular languages. "Applications can be forwarded by February 28 on the website http://bit.ly/SpeechonNRU," they informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prior to joining House of Saka, Bachorski spent nearly three decades as a Senior Operations and Finance Executive at Constellation Brands, Inc. a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest and most respected beer, wine and spirits companies in the world. Most recently, Sue served as SVP, Operation Services, Global Wine & Spirits, which supported 24 production locations in 5 countries including Supply and Demand Planning, Procurement, Logistics, Warehousing and Distribution, Environmental Health and Safety, Quality and Research and Development. Her prior roles include serving as SVP, CFO Constellation Wines North America and SVP & CFO Pacific Wine Partners where she led her teams through multiple acquisitions, business combinations and organizational re-alignments. In 2018, Constellation Brands, which boasts more than 100 brands in its portfolio including Robert Mondavi , Corona , Svedka Vodka, High West Whiskey and Casa Noble Tequila, famously invested $4B in Canopy Growth, a Canada-based cannabis company, with an eye on capturing a piece of the rapidly emerging infused beverage sector. According to a recent report on the global cannabis-based 'alcoholic beverages market,' this sector, which includes non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beers, wines and spirits, is expected to grow by 19% or $155 million between 2020 and 2024 making it the fastest growing segment of the cannabis industry. "After spending my career in the alcohol beverage industry, I am eager to bring my knowledge and experience to the cannabis industry - especially in the infused beverage sector," stated Bachorski. "I am thrilled with the opportunity to join the House of Saka and I am eager to help the company continue to carve out its niche in this exciting space." For its part, House of Saka could not be more pleased with their newest C-Suite recruit. "A talent acquisition such as Sue's is paramount to delivering on House of Saka's mission to produce and market the best-selling, most highly-regarded infused beverages in North America," explained Tracey Mason, co-founder and CEO for House of Saka, Inc. "We believe this addition to our team will provide the additional know-how and competitive advantage we need to flourish for years to come." About House of Saka, Inc: Based in Napa Valley, California, the House of Saka creates and manufactures infused luxury products targeting the female consumer. Their portfolio includes the Napa Valley-inspired, alcohol-free luxury infused beverages, Saka Vinfusions, and a pending line of infused beauty and wellness products under the banner House of Saka Beauty. The company boasts an all-female leadership team guided by an all-female advisory board with more than 100 years of collective experience in wine, cannabis and luxury branding. For more information, please visit houseofsaka.com or follow us on social media @InfusedSaka and @InfusedLuxury. SOURCE House of Saka, Inc. Related Links www.houseofsaka.com Rakesh Maria's book Let Me Say It Now reveals details of the investigation into the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Mumbai: Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) planned to project the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack as a case of 'Hindu terror' and Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was scripted to die as Samir Chaudhari in Bengaluru. In his memoir Let Me Say It Now released on Monday, Rakesh Maria says Pakistan's InterServices Intelligence (ISI) and LeT were striving to eliminate Kasab in jail as he was the key witness linking them with the attack. Dawood Ibrahim's gang was tasked with eliminating him in prison. While describing LeT's plan to project the 26/11 attack as 'Hindu terror', Maria writes, "If everything went according to plan, Kasab would have died as Samir Chaudhari and the media would have blamed 'Hindu terrorists' for the attack." The terror organisation also planted fake ID cards with Indian addresses on the terrorists, he says. On the photograph of Kasab released after the terror attack, Maria writes, "It was the handiwork of central agencies. The Mumbai Police tried hard to not disclose any details to the media fearing for the country's security." In the photograph, Kasab was seen wearing a red thread on his right wrist, the kind worn by Hindus. This led many to believe the theory that the perpetrators were planning to blame the 26/11 attacks as 'Hindu terror'. "There would have been screaming headlines in newspapers claiming how Hindu terrorists had attacked Mumbai. Over-the-top TV journalists would have made a beeline for Bengaluru to interview his family and neighbours. But alas, it did not work that way and here he was, Ajmal Amir Kasab of Faridkot in Pakistan," Maria says in the book. Tukaram Omble's heroism Rakesh Maria also says that martyred Mumbai constable Tukaram Omble's heroic feat of capturing Kasab alive was key to foiling this plan. According to the book, "Kasab joined the ranks of LeT to commit robberies and had nothing to do with jihad. Such, however, was the indoctrination, that Kasab was made to believe that Muslims were not allowed to offer namaaz in India." He was, thus, shocked when his visit to a mosque near Metro cinema was facilitated, Maria mentions in the book. According to the former police official, Kasab was given week-long leave and Rs 1.25 lakh before being sent on the mission to strike Mumbai. He (Kasab) gave the money to his family for his sister's wedding, he adds. In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country's history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death on November 21, 2012. The quarantined ship Diamond Princess is pictured through barbed wire at Yokohama port. (AP) Thousands of cruise ship passengers across the world have been quarantined in recent weeks after outbreaks of coronavirus onboard. A total of 542 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship currently carrying 3,711 people outside the Japanese port of Yokohama. While another ship with 3,600 passengers was also quarantined because of fears the disease may have spread widely among those onboard. But why have cruise ships provided such a dangerous breeding ground for viruses? Passengers being unloaded from another infected ship in Cambodia. (Getty) Passenger behaviour partly to blame? Professor Bill Keevil, from the University of Southampton, said he believes the passengers themselves are often unwittingly responsible for the spread of infection on cruise ships. The problem is that some potentially ill passengers, having looked forward to their holiday and spent a lot of money, do not want to miss out and board ship anyway, he told Yahoo News UK. Alternatively, someone may innocently board the ship without any symptoms which subsequently develop onboard. They are required to immediately declare this and isolate themselves. The present coronavirus cases reported on the cruise ships are therefore not unexpected and isolating all the passengers in their cabins, while frustrating, is the best option until they can be taken off and housed in a more comfortable facility until the incubation period has passed. Passengers are seen on the deck of the Diamond Princess. (Getty) Are cruise ships susceptible to outbreaks? Professor Keevil argues the outbreak of illnesses on cruise ships is a well-known phenomenon within the industry. He argues that more needs to be done to improve safety measures. READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK: The cruise industry are well aware of the spread of disease onboard ship, considering that you can have hundreds or thousands of passengers in a relatively confined, isolated environment for days or weeks, Professor Keevil added. Story continues They maintain regularly cleaning practices but still get occasional outbreaks of disease, particularly norovirus which is very hardy and highly infectious. They rely on the honesty of the passengers declaring if they are unwell or have had a recent illness as they board ship. Which infections do cruise passengers catch? Dr Connor Bamford, a researcher in virology at Queens University Belfast, said common infections spread easily on passenger ships because of the number of people living in close quarters. He also said the conditions mean more dangerous infections like coronavirus are just as likely to spread. The viruses we worry most about are those than easily spread from one person to another and cause disease, such as influenza viruses or the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Viruses like these can be spread through the respiratory route, he told Yahoo News UK. While some viruses, like seasonal influenza viruses, can spread by aerosols - very small drier droplets that can stay suspended in the air - most viruses are spread better in times of close contact that may bring infected people into closer and longer contact with uninfected people. This is very likely true of SARS-CoV-2. What do experts advise? Dr Bamford said while it may be impossible to avoid close contact conditions on cruise ships, passengers can limit the risks by observing good hygeine. One of the reasons why transmission is more effective at closer contact is due to simply increasing the probability of spread but also by enhancing it as larger infectious droplets from coughing dont spread far and land quickly on surfaces where they may be picked up unsuspectingly by uninfected people, he added. One remedy for this is to practice good hygiene such as covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and by thoroughly and regularly washing your hands. Police say a driver died after running a stop sign and crashing into another car on Constitution and 2nd NW Monday evening. Officer Daren DeAguero, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, wrote in an email that an Infinity was traveling northbound on 2nd when a silver Nissan ran a stop sign as it headed east on Constitution. The driver of the Nissan was not wearing a seatbelt and died on scene from injuries sustained in the crash, DeAguero wrote. The other driver was evaluated for minor injuries. He said APDs motor unit is investigating the crash. He did not identify either driver. The MBBS students and interns of Government Medical College took out a rally and held a signature protest against the meagre stipend on the Patiala campus on Tuesday. They even blocked the Sangrur-Patiala highway for around 15 minutes. Over 250 students and interns gathered at the college and raised slogans against the Punjab government and the hospital administration and took out a rally on Government Rajindra Hospital premises. Students and interns alleged that the MBBS course fee has seen a significant hike over the past couple of years. However, the stipend given to the interns during their compulsory internships has witnessed no change in the past 10 years. They are receiving just 9,000 per month as a stipend. Birgurman Singh, an intern, said, The stipend amount was the same for his seniors, who used to pay just 13,000 fee for MBBS course. Now, we pay 80,000 fee and yet get 9,000 as stipend. If they have hiked our fees, then they have to hike our stipend. The stipend is much higher in the neighbouring states. Inters of MBBS colleges in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi are getting nearly double of what is given to interns in Punjabs medical colleges, he added. The MBBS students and interns across state are protesting against the state government over the issue and are organising rallies as a show of strength against the injustice against them in the form of meagre stipends. Dr Harijinder Singh, principal of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, said, The state government is working on the issue. The government had planned to hike the interns stipend from 9,000 to 15,000 and the process is underway. Once the proposal is accepted, students are likely to get a hiked amount as stipend. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Non-Ionic Surfactants Market Market Overview Non-Ionic Surfactants are surface active wetting agents that helps to reduce water surface tension. These surfactants offer superior wetting & detergency, emulsification, rinseability, low toxicity, and good handling properties. Some of the most commonly used non-ionic surfactants includes ethoxylated alcohol & alky-phenols, fatty acid esters, and glycerol esters among others. The product finds application in cleaning, food additives, cosmetics & personal care products, coatings, and pharmaceuticals among others. The global non-ionic surfactants market is driven by rising demand for detergents form industries and households. The product is being increasingly used for hand dish washing, laundry, and hard surface cleaners owing to good wetting and detergency properties. Surging demand for cosmetics & personal care products across the regions is augmenting the market growth. Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share in the non-ionic surfactants market in 2017 and is expected to grow at significant rate during the review period. Growing industrialization and urbanization coupled with changing lifestyles and rising disposable income is another important factor driving the market growth in this region. Furthermore, rapidly growing cosmetics & personal care industry as a result of increasing demand for the cosmetics from the working population for personal grooming and appearance is fuelling the demand. Furthermore, in the developed nations, the product consumption is growing in pharmaceutical industry owing to rising geriatric population coupled with high per capita income. Increasing R&D investment in pharmaceutical industry is stimulating the product demand in these regions further. Regional Analysis: Geographically, Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Non-Ionic Surfactants Industry. Increasing per capita income of the growing middle class especially in household, and personal care industry is reason to drive the non-ionic surfactants market in this region. Upgraded lifestyle, increasing cost of living and rising population have fostered the adoption of surfactants in various industries, such as personal care, soaps & detergents, and pharmaceutical industry; thereby, boosting the growth of the this industry. North America holds the second position for non-ionic surfactants market and is another profitable market in terms of value and volume after APAC. UK, Canada, and United Mexican States led the demand for non-ionic surfactants in this region. Europe accounted for the third largest share in the global non-ionic surfactants market in 2016. On the other hand, Latin America, Middle East & Africa is another growing market for non-ionic surfactants and likely to show better growth rate over the forecast period. Non-Ionic Surfactants Market- Competitive Landscape The global Non-Ionic Surfactants is at nascent stage and is expected to witness considerable growth owing to rapidly expanding industrial base in the Asia Pacific region during the review period. Some of the growing trends notices among the market players includes new product invention, capacity expansion and acquisitions. For instance, BASF SE will expand its alkyl polyglucosides (APG) production capacity at sites in China, U.S., Ohio, and JInshan. This will help the company to meet the customer demands for surfactants with different specifications in the Asia Pacific region. Industry/ Innovation/ Related News: Feb 9, 2018- BASF SE will expand its alkyl polyglucosides (APG) production capacity along with two production improvement projects at sites in China, US, Ohio, and JInshan. The capacity expansion at Jinshan site has been started in order to meet the need for surfactants in personal and home care applications in the Asia Pacific region. July 31, 2017- Croda International Plc, a specialty chemical company acquired Enza Biotech having technology for making non-ionic sugar-based surfactants from carbohydrates. March 24, 2017- Evonik launched next generation Grind Aid non-ionic surfactant under the brand name Carbowet GA-200 with low-zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). This product will help to comply with the regulations set by the environmental protection agency to reduce VOC emissions. December 08, 2015 - Croda International Inc, announced nearly USD 140 million investment in North America to produce 100% sustainable non-ionic surfactants form bio-ethanol. Segmentation: The Global Non-Ionic Surfactants market is segmented on the basis of type, application, end users, and region. Based on the type, the market is segmented into alcohol ethoxylates, fatty alkanolamides, amine derivatives, glycerol derivatives, and others. Based on application, market is segmented into cleaners, emulsion, additives, and others. On the other hand, based on end user, the market is segmented into food & beverages, paint & coatings, oilfield, textiles, personal care, household, and others. Based on region, this market is segmented into APAC, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. View Full Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/non-ionic-surfactants-market-3837 Related: Chemicals And Materials Market Research Report Click for Reports Infographics Click for Videos Student Huang Yahui takes online course at her home in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, February 17, 2020. The beginning of the spring semester of 2020 in Beijing is delayed due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. Middle and primary school students in Beijing, under the instruction of teachers, started to take online courses supplementarily on Monday, the original starting date of the spring semester. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao] BEIJING, February 17 (Xinhua) Millions of Chinese students are restricted to their homes due to a nationwide epidemic control mechanism started on Monday to provide online learning, as the new school semester originally scheduled for February 17 is currently postponed without a specific date. Primary and middle schools in China are required to open online curriculums by using official educational websites to ensure that 180 million students "are occupied with the guided study at home." The Beijing municipal education commission said that "it is not a holiday in the traditional sense, nor does it mean that the new school semester has started online." China has postponed the start of the new school semester over safety concerns as the country fights a novel coronavirus outbreak that has infected 70,548 people as of the end of Sunday. A total of 1,696 people had died of the disease. Zhang Ziqing, a 14-year-old girl living in Daxing District, Beijing, turned on her computer at home at 8:00 a.m. and began her first day of "online school study." "I communicated with teachers via online office software called Fastmeeting. Each teacher took 15 minutes to guide us on how to study online. Assignments were given such as reviewing Chinese, mathematics and English," said the Grade-8 student from the Daxing South Campus of the Middle School of the Capital Normal University. Schools in Xicheng District in downtown Beijing required students to log on bdschool.cn, a digital education website, which offers multimedia courseware from primary schools to senior high schools. Students can click on their respective course links based on class schedules given by their teachers, while teachers give guidance and requirements via online group chats such as Wechat. A middle school's daily course schedule can last from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with breaks for self-learning, eye exercises and class meeting. According to the municipal commission, students are mainly taking courses to "review knowledge rather than taking new classes during the online study sessions." Many Beijing schools on Monday assigned the tasks asking students to think about what they have seen and heard in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Students can present their knowledge and thoughts in the form of writing, painting or video clips. The municipal education authorities have entrusted the Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education of the Beijing Normal University to develop an online platform for senior students in junior high and senior high schools, where veteran teachers started to give lectures with interactive question and answer sessions from Monday. In southern China's metropolitan of Guangzhou, the curriculum of online school classes cover physical exercise, reading, anti-epidemic education, aesthetic education as well as math, science and English. Each class lasts no more than 15 minutes. While primary and middle schools are testing the waters of online teaching, higher-learning institutes such as Beijing's prestigious Peking and Tsinghua universities officially set off the teaching work in the spring semester on Monday through various online tech means. Song Xin, with the Teaching Development Center of the Peking University, said the center provides technical support and services to ensure teachers and students rely on online platforms to start teaching, peer discussions and teacher-student exchanges. On Monday, the university offered 563 undergraduate classes with 290 of them in form of live streaming. There are 101 classes using recorded online video courses via the university's website, and 96 discussion classes held via online group chats. The university adopts the software of the "ClassIn" system and Canvas Network to support the online teaching. "The epidemic situation poses a challenge to us, but it is also an opportunity to comprehensively promote the digitalization and informatization of teaching," said Qiu Yong, principal of Tsinghua. Zhang Bingyin, a teacher of the Water Conservancy Department of Tsinghua, has equipped his laptop with a Logitech HD webcast camera and a Wacom e-writing tablet that the school has purchased for teachers for online teaching. "New tech has given me tricks to interact with students during online courses. For example, the 'Rain Classroom' app, a new smart big-data teaching solution, helps me test students' mastery of my course content and randomly calls the roll to pick students to speak via Tencent's office meeting software," said the teacher. Fan Jingtao, a teacher in the automation department of Tsinghua, set up a teaching platform at his home. Via a laptop, he gave the course of "C + + Programming and Training" to 330 students. The course was "heavily interactive," he said, as it was integrated with in-depth interactive discussions and repeated tests. Student Huang Yahui takes online course at her home in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, February 17, 2020. The beginning of the spring semester of 2020 in Beijing is delayed due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. Middle and primary school students in Beijing, under the instruction of teachers, started to take online courses supplementarily on Monday, the original starting date of the spring semester. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao] Student Huang Yahui takes online course at her home in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, February 17, 2020. The beginning of the spring semester of 2020 in Beijing is delayed due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. Middle and primary school students in Beijing, under the instruction of teachers, started to take online courses supplementarily on Monday, the original starting date of the spring semester. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao] Student Huang Yahui takes online course at her home in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, February 17, 2020. The beginning of the spring semester of 2020 in Beijing is delayed due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. Middle and primary school students in Beijing, under the instruction of teachers, started to take online courses supplementarily on Monday, the original starting date of the spring semester. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao] (Source: Xinhua) The news outlets will be required to provide lists of their staffs, including names, ages and addresses, and update them when there are changes. They also must get State Department approval to purchase or lease real estate, though that requirement does not apply to individual employees who buy or rent housing. 1-Year-Old Baby With Coronavirus Recovers, Is Discharged From Hospital A 1-year-old child who contracted COVID-19 after being evacuated from virus epicenter Wuhan, China, made a full recovery and was discharged from a hospital in Singapore. The child was evacuated on Feb. 9 without symptoms. The child was quarantined when he entered Singapore, the Ministry of Health said on its website. In a Tuesday update, the childcalled Case 76by health authorities fully recovered from the infection and was discharged from the hospital, according to the ministry. Chinese students wear masks as they wait to take a train after Chinese New Year break in Beijing, China on January 31, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The baby was among 174 Singapore nationals and their family members who were evacuated from Wuhan, the Straits Times said. According to the Ministry of Health, the boy was warded in an isolation room at the KK Womens and Childrens Hospital until he was discharged. So far, at least 81 cases of COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus with origins in Wuhan, have been confirmed in Singapore by the ministry, reported Channel News Asia. Four new cases were announced on Tuesday, and overall, four patients are in critical condition. Three of the new cases are linked to the Grace Assembly of God church. The fourth is a family member of a previous COVID-19 patient, said officials. This transmission electron microscope image shows the virus that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab in February 2020. (NIAID-RML/CC BY 2.0) World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a Tuesday press conference, said he has been very impressed with Singapores health ministry in its attempts to curb the spread of the virus, adding that his U.N.-backed organization has not found evidence of community transmission. The city-state is leaving no stone unturned, testing every case of influenza-like illness and pneumonia. So far they have not found evidence of COVID19 community transmission, he said. Outside China, there have been 827 cases of the disease and five deaths, according to a Reuters count based on official statements. More than half of those cases have been on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan. Inside China, tens of thousands of people are suspected to have been infected, although social media users and citizen journalists inside the country say the true number is actually much higher. The ruling Chinese Community Party, meanwhile, has been faulted by U.S. officials for not allowing U.S. experts to enter the country to study COVID-19. A nurse (L) looks at a one-year-old boy as his father and mother (R) speak to the media during a ceremony marking their release after recovering from the COVID-19 coronavirus, at the Youan Hospital in Beijing on Feb. 14, 2020 (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Economic Impact South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the economy was in an emergency situation and required stimulus as the epidemic had disrupted demand for South Korean goods. Singapore announced a $4.5 billion financial package to help contain the outbreak in the city-state and weather its economic impact. And Singapore Airlines Ltd. said it would temporarily cut flights in the three months to May, as the epidemic cuts demand for services touching and transiting the key travel hub. Japan, where the economy was already shrinking and the epidemic has created fears of recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies are telling employees to work from home. Reuters contributed to this report. Hands down, the hardest part of my job is letting an employee go. Even the word fire makes people cringe and lower their eyes. But as any business leader knows, sometimes, the right thing to do for the company is to dismiss an employee. It is, after all, pretty common. Forty percent of Americans have lost a job, according to a recent Harris poll. So how can you make the dreaded process go smoothly, both for the employee and the person doing the firing? By doing it respectfully. A study of nearly 20,000 employees around the world from Harvard Business Review and Tony Schwartz found that being treated with respect was the most critical thing they wanted from their employer. They ranked it higher than recognition and appreciation, providing useful feedback or opportunities for learning, growth and development. This respect should extend to when things arent working out. Here are my four strategies for terminating a contract with compassion and integrity. Related: When Is It Time to Fire an Employee? 1. Make sure you offer opportunities for improvement first At my company, Hint, we have two types of terminations: performance-based and attitude-based. If a staff member isnt meeting clear criteria, we would never just let them go. We make sure their manager has an extensive conversation with that employee to let them know where they missed the mark. Together, theyll strategize ways for the employee to succeed. That way, the employee is aware of their performance and becomes part of the solution. We then give the employee a timeline typically between 30 to 90 days and schedule check-ins along the way, helping us gauge whether a staffer can continue with the company. They usually show progress, because goals are broken down into manageable milestones. A study from the University of Michigan found that 76 percent of participants who wrote down their goals and actions and provided weekly progress to a friend achieved their goals. But if the employee still hasn't made progress by the end of the trial period, its time for that hard conversation. Were especially careful when an employee appears to have a negative attitude or exhibits toxic behavior. Recent research from Harvard Business Review shows that one bad employee can corrupt a whole team. The study looked at how employees act when they are around someone who misbehaves. It found that 37 percent of those studied were more likely to do something dishonest if they worked with someone with a history of bad behavior. If this happens, we have a transparent but kind conversation with the sour-attitude employee. We may tell them, When you say this, your attitude impacts the organization this way. Or we may ask, How can we teach you to start a phrase differently so that it's better received? 2. Consider all the alternatives and CYA Before we let someone go, we make sure they wouldn't be happier elsewhere in the company. Sometimes, an employee doesn't realize they're headed toward burnout until you have an honest conversation about their output. I often suggest moving someone laterally or to another department when they show signs of dissatisfaction. Maybe they've got a great skillset, but they've been in sales for many years, and an opportunity in marketing would be a breath of fresh air. Or perhaps they're in logistics and would enjoy a career pivot. No matter the course of action, it's essential for managers to document everything to stay compliant with termination laws and to show the employee why things arent working out. Empower your managers to take detailed notes on a problem employees performance or attitude so that everything is in writing. Saying someones not a good fit can open you up to legal risk, so focus on issues with performance or behavior. 3. Work with HR to ensure that termination is handled correctly My company has recently doubled in size. That means I dont personally fire anyone anymore; thats in the jurisdiction of our Director of People. I work closely with her so that I'm involved in the process, and I suggest you do the same at your startup. Whether its an entry-level hire or someone more senior, a leader needs to be aware of anyone who isn't pulling their weight on the team and understand why. If you decide to fire the employee, develop a termination plan with HR to ensure youre following the law and your companys procedures. You might have an HR rep present at any meeting where you discuss an employee's future at the company. Or you might hire an outside party for an independent review or show your best practices. Related: 9 Reasons Talented Millennials Get Fired 4. Be as transparent as possible with the employee When youve exhausted your options and its time to let an employee go, do it swiftly. Be as clear and detailed as possible. Explain logistics like how the final paycheck will be handled, any severance pay and how company property should be returned. Make sure youre not waffling or giving them the impression that you might change your mind. Transparency is critical. Employee distrust is pervasive in the U.S. workforce, according to the American Psychological Associations 2014 Work and Well-Being Survey. Its research found that nearly one in four workers dont trust their employer, and only about half believe their employer is open and upfront with them. Be prepared to answer any questions during the termination meeting, and remember to show empathy. Consider scheduling a termination at the end of the workday, where you may even walk the person out when its closing time. At Hint, we help bridge the gap between an employee's last day and their next career move. We discuss what a transition will look like and help as much as possible. The support may include introductions to different firms, providing a reference and keeping the lines of communication open after their last day. Not all firings will be amicable, but they needn't entail bridges burned. Related: 4 Ways Diversity Is Directly Linked to Profitability How the 'Gratitude Effect' Can Reshape Your Life and Its Direction How to Dazzle Your Audience in the First 7 Seconds of Your Speech Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Omaha, Nebraska voted, and Websnoogie won "The Best of Omaha B2B" in the category of web hosting. Websnoogie beat every other web hosting company, including a national brand, and had the most votes OMAHA, NE / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Websnoogie began operations in 2012 and uses its expertise to merge the gap between very high-end web products and lower-cost web services by providing high quality, but affordably priced web design, web hosting, and SEO. "Websnoogie has a robust infrastructure so while affordable, customer satisfaction is excellent," according to the CEO, Rod Atwood. "It's the quality of our products, customer service, and the price point that has made Websnoogie such a great company. Our team consists of select designers and technicians that strive to create, host, and market for customers," says Rod. "The price point attracts customers, but it is our down to earth attitude, knowledge base, and speed of response that keeps them with us, We really go all out for the customer, and what separates Websnoogie from other web hosting companies are things that you have to pay for with other companies, we include with our web hosting packages," adds Rod. Websnoogie's web hosting also is unique by offering free web design assistance to clients. "If it is a small problem with HTML or CSS, we will go in and fix it on the spot. Customers love these extras." Rod Atwood added. The company currently hosts many client locations in the Omaha area. "Recent upgrades to the architecture allow us to easily scale our customer's business. We now can provide web hosting for anything from a single page, to large enterprise accounts." "Since switching to the platform, our SEO performance has increased," says Ben Jones, who is an owner of a computer company in Omaha, Nebraska, and a Websnoogie customer. Websnoogie proactively meshes web services with a focus on customer satisfaction and retention. The company had previously won "The Best of Omaha" for consumers and was pleased to have won "The Best of Omaha B2B". One of their past marketing slogans was "Do you want to Websnoogie?" and the answer is many customers do appreciate and recommend their services every day. As Websnoogie continues to grow, it is proving to be a formidable contender in the hosting technology sector nationwide. About Websnoogie Websnoogie is a web design, web hosting, and SEO company. Websnoogie has customers who are in the nationwide and worldwide markets, as well as located in different regions of the US. Websnoogie strives to ensure that all customers are happy with the quality of the products they offer, and the speed of service their products are delivered. Media Contact Information: Company: Websnoogie, LLC Address: 14301 FNB Pkwy #104 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 United States Contact Number: 402-813-4034 Email: staff@websnoogie.com Website: https://www.websnoogie.com/ SOURCE: Websnoogie, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576324/Websnoogie-Wins-The-Best-of-Omaha-B2B-For-Web-Hosting Foreign firms are struggling to resume work in virus-hit China as they face disrupted supply chains, rising inventory and quarantine rules meant to contain the deadly epidemic, the EU chamber of commerce said on Tuesday. With many pharmaceutical companies globally sourcing from China, pharmacies may also face a shortage of antibiotics and other drugs if the epidemic is not resolved soon, said Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Firms in China have seen a slow restart to work after the Spring Festival break in late January, with residents encouraged to stay home to reduce the spread of a virus that has killed nearly 1,900 people. "The whole process is stuttering to get back as the magnitude of the challenges is just huge," Wuttke added. "How long this is going to last is anybody's guess." Many cities have imposed travel restrictions too, with about 56 million people in the hard-hit Hubei province virtually sealed off from the rest of the country. Wuhan, a city in Hubei and the epicentre of the outbreak, is a hub for US, European and Japanese carmakers and electronics suppliers. More recently, Beijing now requires people arriving in the capital to go into a 14-day self-quarantine. This makes it tough for foreign experts to come in if production plants are down, delaying their recovery, said Wuttke. In a call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Xi stressed that the epidemic's "impact on the Chinese economy is temporary", according to state media. "We believe that through hard work... we will still be able to achieve the economic and social development goals and tasks that we have set out," Xi added. He emphasised a similar point in a call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But companies continue to face problems, including the range of permits needed to transport goods, which vary by city, region and district. This has become a "logistical nightmare" and problems moving goods lead to rising inventory, said Wuttke. Supply chains remain disrupted, with many firms relying on other enterprises for parts, said Paul Sives, who chairs the EU chamber's southwest China chapter. Not all suppliers have permission to resume production. It does not help that companies require massive amounts of masks -- that they cannot easily procure -- for employees before they can restart operations, he said. Manpower problems add to this situation, with some workers unable to leave their residential compounds freely. "Drivers for many companies are still on vacation and some of them, when they come back, have to be subject to 14 days of quarantine," said Wuttke. A survey of 109 manufacturing firms by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai released on Monday found that almost 80 per cent of respondents did not have enough staff to run a full production line. Over 40 per cent of surveyed firms said a lack of staff was their biggest challenge in the next few weeks, and almost 60 per cent expect demand for their goods to be lower in coming months. Over a third of surveyed firms said a clearer explanation of requirements was the most important thing government officials could do to speed up factory opening approvals. On Monday, Apple announced it would miss its March quarter revenue forecast, and that global iPhone supplies would drop due to the virus epidemic in China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as China claims that the coronavirus pandemic is more or less under control now, its manufacturing sector still has a long road to recovery ahead of it. Companies are bracing for delays in production schedules as most of the factories remain closed, even after an extended Lunar New Year Holiday. There is a chance that Apple might have to delay the launch of its next generation of iPhone, whereas Tesla's Giga Shanghai facility is operating with limited workforce. Several companies have partially opened some of their facilities in China, whereas others are waiting to resume operations after weeks of hold-up. Here's how the companies have suffered due to the coronavirus epidemic: Foxconn Foxconn's sprawling plant in Zhenghou, where half of world's iPhones are produced, resumed a part of its production on Tuesday. Foxconn is the biggest assembler of iPhones in the world. It also makes smartphones for Huawei, as well as Kindle e-book readers and Echo smart speakers for Amazon. It also supplies parts to HP, Dell and other major electronics brands. The company is also China's largest private employer. The company had shut down all operations in China at the beginning of February due to the coronavirus scare. ALSO READ: FM Sitharaman quells fears of coronavirus impact on Indian economy Tesla Tesla's ambitious Giga Shanghai facility based out of Shanghai partially resumed production on February 10, 2020, with limited workforce and assistance from government authorities. Instead of 100 shuttle buses that used to ferry workers to the factory on a usual day, only 40 buses are plying in and out of the Tesla facility. In Tesla's quarterly investors call on January 29, 2020, CFO Zachary J Kirkhorn said: "At this point, we're expecting a 1 to 1.5 week delay in the ramp of Shanghai built Model 3 due to a government-required factory shutdown. This may slightly impact profitability for the quarter, but is limited as the profit contribution from Model 3 Shanghai remains in the early stages. We are also closely monitoring whether there will be interruptions in the supply chain for cars built in Fremont." The first car rolled out of Tesla Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai on December 30, 2019. Since then, the factory is expected to maintain a production rate of 3,000 units per week and churn out 150,000 vehicles per year. ALSO READ: Apple to miss revenue target; China shutdown impacts iPhones supply Apple Apple is feeling the heat due to its dependence on Chinese manufacturing sector. In its investor update on February 17, 2020, the Cupertino tech giant clearly said that it does not expect to meet the revenue guidance for the March quarter. Apple reported 18 per cent of its revenue in March quarter last year from Greater China, and 15 per cent in quarter ended December 31, 2019. Apple has given two reasons for this. First, worldwide iPhone supply has been temporarily constrained due to the coronavirus outbreak, adversely affecting its worldwide revenues. Second, demand for Apple products within China has been affected. All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed. Additionally, stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. Volkswagen Volkswagen has opened only one out of its 15 assembly plants in China, as on February 13, 2020. The company has said that the rest would be opened gradually. As per Standard & Poor's, the German automobile major produces and sells over 40 per cent of its cars in the Chinese market. ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Paracetamol prices rise by 40% amid outbreak of deadly virus Disney Disney said that two of its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong have been closed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, and will remain closed until further notice. Disneyland in Hong Kong has been closed since January 26, whereas Shanghai Disney Resort stopped operations on January 25. The company is losing substantial revenue as this crisis has surfaced in the middle of tourist season. Disney estimates that at its Shanghai resort, closure will reduce operating income by $135 million in Q2, while at Hong Kong Disneyland it estimates the closure will lower operating income by $40 million. Airbus Global aeronautics major Airbus recently said that it has been allowed by local authorities to restart operations at the Tianjin Final Assembly Line. "Airbus is constantly evaluating the situation and monitoring any potential knock on effects to production and deliveries and will try to mitigate via alternative plans where necessary," the company stated. Honda Japanese auto major Honda has revealed plans to restart production at its Wuhan facilities on February 24, after a delay of one week from its original plan. Honda has three plants in Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, with a capacity to produce 6 lakh units per year. ALSO READ: Coronavirus outbreak: Enough drugs for any contingency, Indian pharma industry assures govt Toyota Toyota has partially resumed operations in coronavirus hit China from February 17, 2020. Toyota's factory in Guangzhou and Changchun resumed productions on Monday, two weeks later than it originally planned. Meanwhile, its facility at Tianjin has resumed production from Tuesday. Singapore Airlines As coronavirus turns into a pandemic, Singapore Airlines said it has cancelled flights to destinations across its network on weak demand amid coronavirus. The airline and its regional carrier SilkAir will reduce flights to cities like London, New York, Tokyo, Sydney and Johannesburg from March to May. The airline said it will cancel 21 flights on the Singapore-London route in May alone. Moreover, Singapore Airlines this month reduced flights to mainland China by suspending or cancelling routes to Chinese cities. The airline said it would fly directly to San Francisco without a stop in Hong Kong. ALSO READ: Infographic: Inside Coronavirus-hit Chinese economy By Abdul Kerimkhanov Azerbaijans population increased by 85,651 people or by 0.9 percent year-on-year to reach 10,067,108 people in January 2020, the State Statistics Committee told local media. The number of babies born in 2019 was 141.179, which is 1.6 percent more compared to 2018. The birth rate for every 1,000 people for the specified period was 14.3. Boys accounted for 53.2 percent of children born, while girls - the rest 46.8 percent. During the reporting period, 3,356 twins, 108 triplets and 8 quadruplets were born in the country. The number of death in the reporting period was 55.916. The mortality rate for every 1,000 people was 5.6. By comparison, the mortality rate was 5.8 in 2008. The population density in the country is 116 people per square kilometer. Some 52.8 percent of the country's population lives in cities, and 47.2 percent in rural areas. At the same time, 49.9 percent of the population are men, 50.1 percent are women. On average, per every 1,000 men there are 1.004 women in Azerbaijan. For the reporting period, 63.869 marriages were registered in Azerbaijan (an increase of 2.2 percent compared to 2018) and 17.148 divorces (an increase of 15.4 percent). In 2019, the relevant structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan registered 2,042 people who came to Azerbaijan for permanent residence, and 1,654 people who left the country. Azerbaijan's population reached 10 million in 2019. The country celebrated the birth of its ten millionth citizen who was born in Agdam region in April. It should be noted that Azerbaijans population rose by six million in the past two centuries in the period between 1897 was and 1997. Since early 2003, the country's population increased by over 18 percent or 1,731,000 people. The number of births exceeds the number of deaths by 2-2.5 times. In addition, the country has seen positive migration balance. In 2018, the number of visitors to the country for permanent residence has been twice as much as the number of those leaving Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan ranks 90th worldwide for the number of population and the median age in is 30.7 years. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz One of the things we have lost -- or forgotten -- during the presidency of Donald Trump is empathy. Understanding that we are all, at root, far more alike than we are dissimilar and that caring for one another -- at a basic human level -- is something that transcends our political parties. Or should at least. Which brings me to Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing statement Friday night in the eighth Democratic debate in New Hampshire. Which, if you missed it, well, you shouldn't. Here's the key chunk (it's long but worth it): "And I will tell you this, there is a complete lack of empathy in this guy in the White House right now. "And I will bring that to you. If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent, I know you, and I will fight for you. If you have trouble deciding if you're going pay for your child care or your long-term care, I know you, and I will fight for you. If you have trouble figuring out if you're going fill your refrigerator or fill your prescription drug, I know you, and I will fight for you." "I do not have to biggest name up on this stage, I don't have the biggest bank account. I'm not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people. I'm asking you to join us at amyklobuchar.com. I'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this, because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me." That's really, really powerful. And a remarkable antidote to Trumpism, which, to paraphrase its belief system, goes something like this: It's a kill or be killed world. The strong -- or the most cunning -- survive. Everybody else is relegated to "loser" status. And if you don't like that, well then you are one of the precious snowflakes who belongs in the "loser" pile. Klobuchar's reminder is one about our common humanity, and the idea that the President of the United States is supposed to lead us on a moral front -- to remind us how we are all in this together. Trump has, in his first three years in office, totally abandoned the idea of the presidency as a beacon of moral leadership. That abandonment is most obvious in his assertions that there were good people on both sides of the Charlottesville, Virginia, race riot but it's obvious in dozens of other ways too -- attacking Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, looking the other way after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of the Saudi government, attacking a Gold Star family during the 2016 campaign. The list goes on and on (and on). To be clear: Klobuchar's closing argument in a debate that aired on a Friday night just days before the New Hampshire primary isn't any sort of guarantee that her numbers -- whether in the Granite State or anywhere else -- will suddenly surge. (Tracking polls in New Hampshire do seem to suggest some Klobuchar momentum, however.) And even if she experiences an uptick in Tuesday's Democratic primary, she still has a very tough road to the nomination. But none of that changes this basic fact: If you were searching for an encapsulation of the opposite of Trumpism, Klobuchar did it better than any Democrat I have yet seen. Which matters, whether or not it fundamentally alters her trajectory in this race. GP Petroleums, a part of the UAE-based GP Global, on Tuesday said it plans to invest Rs 100 crore in a new plant at Saronda in Gujarat to process over 3 lakh kilo litres of lubricants. This second blending plant of GP Petroleums Ltd (GPPL) would help the company cater to the entire gamut of the domestic lubes market, a release said. GPPL currently has a plant in Vasai near Mumbai with an annual capacity of 80,000 metric tonnes and houses a storage facility of 15,000 metric tonnes, which is one of the industry's largest in the country. The new plant will manufacture specialty value added products, in addition to the automotive and industrial lubricants catering to the entire value chain. "We at GPPL are bullish about the growth of the Indian lubricant industry and aim to be one of its fastest growing players. The new facility will accelerate our growth engine, which will be led by the automotive segment in tier-2 and tier-3 cities and towns. "We already have a robust partnership with over 500 distributors across India which will be strengthened further in the next few years," GPPL Chief Executive Officer Prashanth Achar said. GPPL is the sole representative of Spanish oil giant Repsol in India and also has an agreement with GP Global MAG Lube to manufacture and market IPOL lubricants across the world. Apart from the home grown IPOL brand, the plant may blend Repsol branded automotive products as well, the company said. "The new plant is part of our global growth strategy to produce and market 500 million litres of lubricants across the world through both organic and inorganic routes. "India is a very important market for GP Global and we are confident of securing a higher market share in both automotive and industrial segments in the coming years," said GP Global Group's global head for lubricants and base oils, Sudip Shyam said. The IPOL and Repsol brands offer motorcycle, car and speciality oils besides diesel engine oils. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KALAMAZOO, MI A newly announced partnership at Western Michigan University will put its aviation students on a fast-track to what one recent graduate calls an almost seamless transition to a career with one of the worlds leading airlines. The new program, called Aviate, will offer students in WMUs College of Aviation a path to a career as a pilot with United Airlines. Were looking forward to accepting top talent from a top school, said Captain Curtis Brunjes, Uniteds managing director of pilot strategy. Weve chosen our partnerships carefully. If WMU aviation students are looking to get into a career with a major airline, they can apply to the Aviate program. Once accepted, students will complete their four-year degree, then a minimum of 1,000 hours of teaching time, then work two years with a United Express Aviate partner before transitioning to United as a first officer, Brunjes said. The new program, first announced in January, was officially launched during an event Monday, Feb. 17, at the WMU College of Aviation facility at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek. Related: WMU partners with United Airlines to fast-track aviation students in careers Future, current and former aviation students attended alongside United Airlines representatives and university officials to learn more about and discuss the new program. College of Aviation freshman Shaun Windhorst from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, said he was excited to hear about Aviate and plans to apply for the program this summer. He added he already holds a private pilots license. Eau Claire has two flights a day and they are both United, Windhorst said. Im excited to see we can take a structured program like this that accelerates the whole process. Westerns College of Aviation also has Propel, a partnership with Delta Airlines. That program has about 60 students, said Dave Powell, dean of the College of Aviation. The aviation school has 1,150 students now and has been growing each year, Powell said. A retired United pilot himself, Powell said WMUs program keeps growing and getting better. He also spoke about the advantage the partnership can offer Westerns students. Its great to get in with a major (airline) early, Powell said. There is a lot of earning potential. Twin brothers Joshua and Tim Carpenter said they both graduated from WMU in 2013 and are now working as first officers for United in San Francisco. The two said they are ambassadors for the airline, and began working on a Boeing 757 about seven months ago. When you come out of school, the transition into the airline is almost seamless, Joshua Carpenter said. His brother said they came to Mondays event to answer questions from future and current students, an opportunity he wishes he had when he was a student. WMU is one of four universities with the Aviate partnership. Others include the University of North Dakota, Embry-Riddle University and Florida Tech. The College of Aviation is growing every year at WMU and the need for pilots is increasing, Brunjes said. He added that United plans to hire 10,000 pilots within the next decade. We built (Aviate) to create the fastest path to work with a major airline, Brunjes said. We are partnering with quality institutions to produce the best pilots. Also on MLive: Western Michigan College of Aviation announces $20M building expansion Coronavirus outbreak prompts WMU decision to ban university-approved travel to China Nobel Prize-winning Yemeni journalist will speak in Kalamazoo A hospital director in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, the epicenter of a new coronavirus outbreak, died from the disease on Monday, state media reported on Tuesday. Liu Zhiming, Director of Wuchang Hospital, died from infection with the new coronavirus, which has so far spread to more than 72,000 people across China, the state-owned newswire China News Service said on microblogging site Weibo. His death comes as more medical personnel on the front lines of Chinas battle against Covid-19 are falling ill with the disease. China reported last week that more than 1,700 medical workers have been infected, and at least six have died. A total of 72,436 infections and 1,868 deaths have so far been reported across the country, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday. In the previous 24 hours, medical authorities counted 1,886 new cases and 98 deaths. Both the number of new infections and deaths dropped slightly from the past few days. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday the number of new coronavirus infections in China appeared to be declining, though it was too early to tell if the reported decline would continue. Chinas renowned epidemiologist, Zhong Nanshan, said he expected the outbreak to peak by middle-to-late February, later than initially estimated, according to Southern Metropolis Daily. READ ALSO: Mr Zhong said he expected the situation to be stable by the end of April. Cities continued to tighten their restrictions meant to curb the spread of the virus. Beijing on Monday cordoned off its hutongs, traditional alleyways in the centre of the city, with community members restricting non-residents access. The Beijing International Automobile Exhibition, which was supposed to take place from April 21 to April 30, has been postponed due to the outbreak, the organisers said in a statement. (dpa/NAN) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jesus had much to say about money. Its one of His most discussed subjects, more than faith and prayer combined. He encouraged radical generosity, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor (Matt. 19:21), decried idolatry, You cannot serve both God and Money (Matt. 6:24), eschewed materiality, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19) and called for stewardship, From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48). For Jesus, finance has spiritual implications; as He says to the Pharisees who loved money, according to Lukes author You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your heart (Luke 16:14). Honestly, Jesus views on money are pretty unmistakable: The way we engage with money matters. There are plenty of opportunities for Christians to examine whether their own financial habits line up with the words of Christ. But how often do we stop to consider whether the system we are a part of is compatible with Scripture? Is capitalism Christ-like? In a recent article for Desiring God, Rick Segal tackles this very question. Segal delves into the history of capitalism, beginning with the Father of Capitalism, Adam Smith. In his seminal economic work, The Wealth of Nation, published in 1776, Smith argued that the best economic system is that which allows for a free exchange of goods between people driven by their regard to their own interest. Smiths vision put production in the hands of private owners. No government overreach, everybody striving after and profiting from their own self-interest thats capitalism in a nutshell. Smiths capitalism, Segal goes on to argue, is actually rooted in Christian or at least Christ-adjacent ideals. Segal insists that Smith, in championing self-interest, was not sanctioning selfishness, but describing something far more akin to the self-love that Jesus refers to in Mark 12:31, Love your neighbor as yourself. Essentially, by pursuing your own happiness, you are better able to contribute to the happiness of those around you. If there is selfishness and greed because of capitalism, Segal says, that is not inherent to Smiths system but is the result of corrupted capitalism. Segal likens Smiths system to Christian Hedonism (an idea popularized by pastor and writer John Piper), which is the belief that lifes fulfillment is found in the pursuit of joy rooted in God. In fact, in Segals opinion, if Smith made any mistake it was detaching his economic system from the ultimate purpose of glorifying God. Segals solution: a capitalism with the church as the cultural foundation beneath it. Ultimately, Segal argues that Christian principles are best articulated in capitalist society. Segal is quick to admit that capitalism, as it is currently practiced, is in need of reform redeemed as he puts it. But at no point does he suggest that byproducts of capitalism (oppression, wealth disparity, corporate corruption, consumerism, rampant selfishness) are inherent to the system. In his mind, capitalism isnt the problem. Many Christians throughout the ages would take issue with that premise. The entire Social Gospel movement of the early-20th century, for instance, sprang out of pastoral concern for the way that capitalist practices hurt the disenfranchised. Social Gospelers set about the task of bringing the Kingdom to earth, tackling issues like racial inequality, poverty, factory conditions and lack of unions. One of the movements most prominent voices, Walter Rauschenbusch, a pastor and writer, was blunt; he went as far as to call capitalism and its effects sinful. In his most famous work, The Social Gospel, Rauschenbusch writes: To find the climax of sin we must not linger over a man who swears, or sneers at religion, or denies the mystery of the trinity, but put our hands on social groups who have turned the patrimony of a nation into the private property of a small class, or have left the peasant laborers cowed, degraded, demoralized and without rights in the land. When we find such in history, or in present-day life, we shall know we have struck real rebellion against God on the higher levels of sin. The wealth disparity that Rauschebusch describes has only grown wider, and plenty of people point to capitalism as the cause. One such person is Thomas Piketty. Piketty is an economist who analyzed centuries of income tax data from America, Britain and other Western countries. He published his findings in his groundbreaking book, Capital in the 21st Century, and the conclusion he arrives at is sobering: if we continue on this path, were looking at a world where the majority of wealth is held by the smallest fraction of people. Piketty believes these flaws are inherent to the system. As he writes, Capitalism automatically generates arbitrary and unsustainable inequalities that radically undermine the meritocratic values on which democratic societies are based. Translation: capitalism is a danger to democracy. Segal makes a similar claim in his article, but about a different economic system socialism. Sure, capitalism has its issues, but whenever socialist policies have been enacted throughout history, they invariably lead toward gulags, killing fields and long marches. He concludes his article by emphasizing, Better that we should breathe freely of a chastened capitalism than to gasp on the thin air of a coercive socialism. Its a common argument, especially in America, and especially by Christians. But does it hold water? Many would say no. Walter Rauschenbusch was one. Although he saw the hazards of socialism in action, he also resonated with socialist ideas of human dignity and cooperation. He believed Christians ought to join in it exactly to avert the hazards. A more contemporary example, though, is theologian and scholar David Bentley Hart. In a recent op-ed for the New York Times, Hart puzzles over the fact that only in Americais the word socialism freighted with so much perceived menace. While Americans hold onto their Cold War preconceptions, Every other free society with a functioning market economy understands socialism to be an ordinary, rather general term for sane and compassionate governancefor the purpose of promoting general welfare. Not only has democratic socialism been effective in Germany, Canada and Britain, but it is also, Hart notes, historically and ideologically grounded in deep Christian convictions. To hear Hart tell it, socialism could not be more Christ-like. Hart makes a good point. We shouldnt be afraid of socialism. It can and does work. But I think Segal is right, too: we shouldnt write off capitalism simply because its been employed poorly. Are they both compatible with Christianity? Absolutely. As weve seen, you can find central tenets of Christ in both systems. The real issue, as ever, is the human heart. Jesus knew this and stressed it. The systems, on their own, are fine; its when the people with power stop treating human beings as holy that the systems become dangerous. People first, always. If we cant grasp that, it doesnt matter what economic system we take part in. We will repeat history and once again miss an opportunity to bring heaven to earth. Kem Daryl, Africas first coronavirus patient, has narrated how he decided to remain in China to avoid bringing the disease into the c... Kem Daryl, Africas first coronavirus patient, has narrated how he decided to remain in China to avoid bringing the disease into the continent. The 21-year-old Cameroonian student, whose country shares a border with Nigeria, was living in the Chinese city of Jingzhou when the deadly virus broke out in Wuhan, spreading to other provinces. According to BBC, Daryl was placed under a 14-day quarantine, having suffered fever, a dry cough, and flu-like symptoms. Unlike many, Daryl began to show signs of recovery after two weeks in isolation at a local Chinese hospital as he was treated with some antibiotics typically used for HIV patients. No matter what happens, I dont want to take the sickness back to Africa. When I was going to the hospital, I was thinking about my death and how I thought it was going to happen, he said from his varsity dormitory, where he was being quarantined. The computerized tomography (CT) scan carried out on him had thereafter showed no sign of the illness, making him the first African person who, despite known to have been infected with the deadly disease, recovered in no time. Daryl said he had no intention of leaving China, irrespective of the available options, as even his medical bills were being taken care of by the Chinese government. I dont want to go home before finishing studying. I think there is no need to return home because all hospital fees were taken care of by the Chinese government, he said. Lai Mohammed, Nigerias minister for information, had said that citizens in Wuhan, a Chinese city where the virus is known to have broken out, were unwilling to return home. Africa recorded its first case of coronavirus last Friday after a foreigner who had been put in isolation at a hospital in Egypt tested positive for the disease. Medical experts also warned that countries in the continent with weak health systems may struggle to cope with a potential outbreak. While coronavirus has killed over 1,770 and infected more than 72,000 people, two recently suspected cases in Nigeria had tested negative after medical investigations were carried out. Against the backdrop of a string of Muslim leaders quitting the BJP in Madhya Pradesh in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), senior party Leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said those who wanted to leave need excuses. He said "99.99 per cent" of BJP workers who hail from the minority community support the CAA. Commenting on the ongoing war of words between top Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh, Hussain dubbed Kamal Nath as a "Kamchalau" (stop-gap) chief minister and said the "house of the Congress has caught fire from its own lamp". The BJP national spokesperson further said a chunk of the minority community workers (as compared to other parties) are with the BJP. "Still, those who have to go only need excuses," the former Union minister said when asked about some Muslim leaders quitting the saffron party in recent past. Hussain said "99.99 per cent" of BJP workers belonging to the minority community support the party's stand on the CAA. "The CAA does not apply to 130 crore citizens of India. There is no threat to citizenship of any Indian by this law," he said. Referring to senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia threatening to take to the streets if the government failed to meet the demands of guest teachers, Hussain said, "The Congress house has caught fire from its own lamp". The BJP leader termed as "unfortunate" Kamal Nath's statement of not implementing the National Population Register (NPR) in the state. "It has become fashionable for some state governments to make such statements, while the NPR is a normal process to be completed before the Census," he said. When asked about AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's statement regarding reservation of a seat for Lord Shiva in the inaugural run of Kashi-Mahakal Express, Hussain said issues related to people's faith should not be turned into a controversy. In January, as many as 80 Muslim leaders of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh had resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest over the CAA, calling it a "divisive" measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 2,000 former prosecutors at the Justice Department have signed a petition calling on Attorney General Bill Barr to resign over 'political interference' in cases tied to President Trump. In a public letter, 2,003 DOJ alumni said the attorney general should step down from his post due to his handling of the case with Roger Stone, a longtime friend of Donald Trump. 'Each of us strongly condemns President Trump's and Attorney General Barr's interference in the fair administration of justice,' the letter reads, and welcomes other former employees to join in signing the petition. The disgruntled former employees also urged current department workers to report any unethical conduct they witnessed. The letter is the latest in a crisis of confidence at DOJ after prosecutors recommended Stone received nine years in prison. Scroll Down to Read The Letter They specifically note the recent handling of the Roger Stone case, when Barr urged prosecutors to recommend a lesser sentence for the president's longtime friend DOJ prosecutors recommended that Stone received up to nine years in prison fro lying to Congress and obstruction of justice But Trump tweeted that he would not 'allow this miscarriage of justice!' Stone was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign, when he was an informal Trump advisor. Democrats accuse it was part of a 'coverup' to protect Trump. After Barr and other DOJ leaders intervened and pushed for a lesser sentence, four prosecutors quit the case. And some criticized Barr for only intervening after the president publicly denounced the recommendation. After Barr urged a reconsideration, the DOJ filed an updated sentencing memo suggesting Stone should receive less prison time. Trump went on a Twitter rant over the decision, but Barr says his decision was not influenced by the president and even admitted that the frequent tweeting makes it harder for him to do his job. 'I'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody ... whether it's Congress, a newspaper editorial board, or the president,' Barr said in an interview with ABC News. Trump went on a Twitter rampage bashing the decision, and Barr said that did not affect his decision, but did admit Trump's tweeting did get in the way of him doing his job 'I'm going to do what I think is right. And you know,' he added, 'I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.' White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grishman said Trump wasn't taking the interview comments to heart. 'The president wasn't bothered by the comments at all and he has the right, just like any American citizen, to publicly offer his opinions,' Grisham said to Fox on Thursday. Those who signed the letter calling for Barr to resign were gathered by Protect Democracy, a group that has been critical of Barr's leadership at DOJ and in particular of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Courte Partners, LLC ("GCP") announced today that its fourth investment fund, Green Courte Real Estate Partners IV, LLC and its affiliates, acquired its eleventh land-lease community, Highland Manor, a 382-site all-age community located in Independence, Missouri, approximately 13.5 miles east of Kansas City. GCP plans to increase occupancy and stabilize the community by investing in new home inventory, amenities, and other capital improvements and by implementing a robust marketing and sales operation led by GCP's in-house, national land-lease community management platform. Bill Glascott, GCP's Chief Investment Officer, said, "Highland Manor is the fourth land-lease community that we have acquired from this seller since 2005. We specialize in creating custom transaction structures tailored to meet sellers' unique needs, and we are especially proud of the credibility we have established with our many longstanding relationships in this industry." Chuck Crook, Chief Operating Officer of GCP's land-lease community operating company, added, "Highland Manor is well located in a growing market and offers an attractive housing option and a compelling value for working families. We are excited to expand our portfolio with a second land-lease community in the Kansas City market." About Green Courte Partners, LLC Green Courte Partners, LLC is a Chicago-based private equity real estate investment firm focused on building industry-leading companies within niche real estate sectors, including near-airport parking facilities, land-lease communities, and active adult/independent senior living properties. The firm combines focused investment strategies with a disciplined approach to transaction execution, operations, and asset management. Green Courte's goal is to invest in high-quality real estate assets that will generate attractive risk-adjusted returns over a long-term holding period. For additional information, please visit Green Courte's website at www.GreenCourtePartners.com SOURCE Green Courte Partners, LLC Texas Southern University has proposed a slate of reforms that would give regents greater oversight as the school tries to recover from a period of turbulence and financial mismanagement. School leaders said the long-range plan will help the school overcome problems such as declining enrollment and low graduation rates. If the plan is approved, the state would provide nearly $40 million in supplemental funding over the next two years. TSU, the state's largest historically black university, recently submitted the reorganization plan to Gov. Rick Perry's office and Legislative Budget Board. The Houston Chronicle obtained a copy under the Texas Public Information Act. Drawing from ideas proposed earlier this year by the governor's TSU advisory committee, the plan recommends giving regents tighter controls over the university management. It also prioritizes the hiring of a permanent president. TSU officials hope the increased oversight will help the school rebound from a financial scandal that included the firing of President Priscilla Slade last year. Slade was accused of misspending university money to decorate her homes. She was indicted but avoided conviction when the jury in her trial deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial. The allegations against Slade coincided with reports that revealed a pattern of financial mismanagement at TSU and prompted Perry to call for a state takeover of the university that was later put on hold. The nine-member board of regents has since been replaced. Members of the Legislative Budget Board told the Chronicle they were still reviewing the plan and did not offer any comment. Under the reforms, the board would receive regular reports and audits. Glenn Lewis, board chairman since May, said the regents' workload would increase, but their "primary responsibility is having an administrative team in place that we can trust and rely upon." The plan recommends balancing the budget and paying delinquent bills, such as financial aid to the U.S. Department of Education. It also recommends strengthening the school's advising and counseling programs for students to improve their chances of success. It does not recommend implementing entrance requirements, which would be a break from the school's commitment to accepting all applicants. "We're not concerned with your previous record, as long as you're committed from this point on," Lewis said. "If you're committed, we can work with you." The plan suggests that TSU can reduce its responsibility for remedial education courses by possibly transferring some of those duties to Houston Community College. TSU estimates that about 70 percent of first-time freshmen arrive on campus without the skills needed to do university-level work. More than half do not make it to their sophomore year. ___ Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com Less than one year after introducing wide-ranging tax cuts, Armenias government announced on Tuesday plans for further tax reforms which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said will involve bold measures. Finance Minister Atom Janjughazian presented a strategy of such reforms at a meeting of fellow cabinet members and other senior officials chaired by Pashinian. They will improve tax collection, create favorable conditions for continued economic growth and help to boost living standards in the country, he said, according to a government statement on the meeting. We are going to make very bold decisions ranging from property tax to other changes in taxation, the statement quoted Pashinian as saying. The logic behind those bold decisions is that state revenues must rise in a way that will allow the economy to develop so that they rise further in the future. People must change the attitudes towards payment of taxes existing in modern-day Armenia, Pashinian went on. For that purpose, he said, Armenians must be certain that the government does not steal from them and spends taxpayers money efficiently. The statement gave no details of the measures cited by Pashinian or the reform concept proposed by Janjughazian. The government pushed through the Armenian parliament last June a bill that introduced a flat personal income tax, cut the corporate profit tax rate from 20 to 18 percent and made more small businesses eligible for preferential taxation. At the same time, it raised excise taxes collected from tobacco and alcohol. Government officials have expressed confidence that despite these tax cuts, which took effect on January 1, Armenias tax revenues will continue to rise significantly this year. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) collected just over 1.5 trillion drams ($3.2 billion) in various taxes last year, up by more than 16 percent from 2018. The head of the SRC, Davit Ananian, has attributed the sizable increase to the SRCs continued efforts to improve tax administration and combat tax evasion. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea Huni-Valley constituency in the western region Hon. Lawyer Barbara Oteng - Gyasi says she is certain to emerge victorious on the ticket of the NPP due to her massive projects in the constituency. She noted that her selfless leadership and the transformational legacy in Prestea Huni-Valley Constituency will speak for itself during the upcoming 2020 campaign to retain her seat. Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi emphasised made this statement on Monday, February 17 at the New Patriotic Party's office at Bogoso when she filed her nomination forms to contest the upcoming parliamentary primaries on April 25. The enthusiasm and the supports showed by the delegates and her sympathisers to file her nomination forms at the party's office has irreversibly renewed her trust for the party. She said, her charismatic leadership role has brought unprecedented benefits on social and infrastructural transformation adding that, the youth in the municipality had secured jobs in her three-year tenure of office as MP and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. She indicated that the Sankofa Gold Mine which was collapsed under the NDC regime will soon see first gold pour which will also go a long way to create employment for the youth in the constituency. The Lawmaker touted her achievement in roads upgrade, hospitals, schools and the introduction of social reliefs such as the Obaapa Micro Loan scheme. She urged all NPP delegates in the Constituency to vote her as their candidate to retain the seat for the ruling party to complete and do more projects for the constituents. The MP said, construction works on Bogoso hospital, expansion of Prestea government hospital and Huni-valley health center will soon be commissioned to foster health care delivery in the constituency. Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi also said the president has really transformed Ghana and therefore needs four more years to do more. The analysis indicates a decline in the population of 79 per cent species in the last five years. The groups that show the greatest decline are raptors, migratory shorebirds and habitat specialists, among others. Mumbai: The population of Indian peafowl, Indias national bird, has increased dramatically over the past decades but there has been a drastic decrease in the population of 50 per cent of the other bird species at the same time. These are the findings of the State of Indias Birds 2020 report, which assesses the status of 867 species of Indian birds. The report identifies species that need conservation and those that are doing relatively well using the database created by birdwatchers on the online platform, eBird. The analysis indicates a decline in the population of 79 per cent species in the last five years. The groups that show the greatest decline are raptors, migratory shorebirds and habitat specialists, among others. Dr Dhananjai Mohan from the Wildlife Institute of India said, Earlier, many conservation decisions pertaining to birds were not based on much evidence; this report helps to bring much-needed data to bear on these issues. Bird species showing the highest decline include white-rumped vulture, richards pipit, Indian vulture, large-billed leaf warbler, pacific golden plover and curlew sandpiper. Meanwhile, the population of house sparrows is roughly stable across the country as a whole. However, there is a gradual decline in abundance of this species in six of the largest metros including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. In all, 101 species of birds raise high concerns about conservation. The report highlights common species that are declining sharply; these need conservation attention before their numbers reduce further, said Dr R. Jayapal from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. The report relies on more than 10 million observations contributed by over 15,500. In the light of insufficient data on some species, the report calls for greater collaboration between researchers and the larger public. Dr Girish Jathar from the Bombay Natural History Society said, Gathering such information across a huge country like India is impossible without the participation of birdwatchers. If the finance minister's tax proposals have stimulated demand at all, it's for CAs, notes Kanika Datta. Photograph: ANI Photo In the space of three days, two significant speeches were delivered, one in the world's largest democracy and the other in the world's most powerful one. Both took place against the backdrop of heightened political challenges for the incumbent government. Both will be remembered for reasons other than the content of the speeches. And both point to a depressing decline in the standards of public oratory. The first by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the second Budget of Narendra Damodardas Modi's second term when economic growth has dwindled was a record two hours and 43 minutes long, would have been longer had the deliverer not taken ill, and was notable for one thing: It failed expectations all round. Three oceans away, the impeached US President Donald Trump took 78 minutes to deliver the final State of the Union of his first term, marginally shorter than his 82 minute 2019 harangue. The duration of SOTU 2020 took in over 100 interruptions for applause (from Republicans only) and some orchestrated reality TV moments (an Afghanistan veteran's 'surprise' return to his wife and children). But Mr Trump's calculated theatrics, including the studious non-mention of impeachment, came to nothing. It was a fuming Nancy Pelosi, dressed in her trademark suffragette-white pantsuit, who stole the show by conspicuously tearing up her copy of the speech on the podium behind the president. That's what you get for dissing Pelosi by ignoring her handshake. No one dissed Ms Sitharaman, with many Opposition MPs swarming around her in concern as she faded out with two pages to read. And she certainly did her best to deliver a stirring message. Wearing a stunning gold-yellow sari, she quoted, within the hour, an excerpt from a Kashmiri poem (adroitly avoiding the poet's Urdu nom-de plume, as my colleague Aditi Phadnis pointed out), one saying from a 'wise old Tamil Woman Saint Poet' and a Kural or Tamil sacred verse. She even managed to throw in Kalidasa in the business end of the speech, universally known as Part B, which covers the tax proposals. Each literary reference was explained, painstakingly, each proposal and achievement repeated at least twice. But if there was an overarching significance to this hard-working hard-sell it was lost on her exasperated auditors. The finance minister's school elocution-contest cadences bears a good part of the responsibility for the aching boredom. But TV failed us too. The Congress has chosen to absent itself so the Doordarshan camera people had few options to offer the watching public. They couldn't pan out for long shots because that would have revealed the yawning gaps on the Opposition front benches. In Budgets past, it was possible to take a break from ministerial intonations about helping farmers, poor, women, lower castes and other worthy tokenism with some minor distractions. Sonia Gandhi's unerring taste in saris, for example. Her son's struggles to look intelligent. The thickness of the late Sushma Swaraj's hair despite the Formula 1 track of sindoor. The sadhus and sadhvis. Turbans and hats. Yawning backbenchers. The constant procession of transcribers and translators under the Speaker's platform. This time, apart from Ms Sitharaman's emphatic and interminable repetitions, we were treated, mostly, to close-ups of the prime minister's expressionless face. About an hour in and the going got tough for those of us at the coalface of the Budget speech. Economic journalist Puja Mehra tweeted that the Budget was certainly stimulating coffee consumption. An hour later, even multiple caffeine fixes failed. By the time Part B came round, the flagging pens and empty notebooks were marshalled wearily, but the minor excitement over the income tax reconfiguration soon descended into confusion (which continues today). The finance minister said she was offering chartered accountant-mukt tax proposals. If her tax proposals have stimulated demand at all, it's for CAs. Successive finance ministers have chosen to make an annual report on the state of the Union's finances into the equivalent of a SOTU because, like the latter, it enjoys a captive audience. But SOTU is recognised as a political progress report that the country's chief executive delivers to the US congress (interestingly, its rules stipulate that each address must contain a Budget message). This year, the US fact-checkers's toothcomb discovered more misleading statements in Mr Trump's SOTU rather than the outright whoppers of earlier speeches (though he didn't disappoint on that front either). Ms Sitharaman's problem is that the many documents that accompany every Budget will offer grist for the sceptics's mill for much longer. Manmohan Singh said the Budget was so long he could not absorb anything (it is unclear if the taciturn former finance minister and prime minister was making a joke). But rest assured, despite nearly three hours of rhetoric, it is the numbers that will, ultimately, speak for themselves. Actions, not words, matter in implementing 2020 economic plans The government will provide up to 40 trillion won ($34 billion) in financial aid for 1,000 "innovative" companies over the next three years. It will also promote dialogue between existing and future businesses to help address their conflicting interests while carrying out large-scale regulatory reform in major industrial sectors. These were the core points of a joint administrative briefing made by four economy-related ministries to President Moon Jae-in, Monday. Moon's economic team seems to have decided to focus on innovation-driven growth to upgrade the country's economic growth pattern amid the dwindling working-age population caused by a low birthrate and rapid demographic aging. One of the most salient points in this year's economic report was a system to exempt the providers and recipients of financial support from taking responsibility even if the loans or debt guarantees turn sour provided there are no grave legal problems involved. Both lenders and borrowers have often shied away from using the financial support system for fear of penalties in the case of failure, losing the right investment timing and burying innovative ideas or products. The "mechanism for grand social compromise" is equally noteworthy. Most innovative industries pushed by the government to hasten the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will inevitably clash with traditional sectors. As seen in the struggles of "Tada," a ride-hailing service, such conflicts will hinder the expansion of a new services market based on technological innovation. To resolve disputes between interest groups, however, promoting social dialogue for compromise alone will not suffice unless all involved parties are ready to meet each other halfway. In an opening speech, President Moon told his economic team to maintain the momentum for growth despite the concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak. Reinvigorating the economy by minimizing the fallout from COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) may be more urgent than exchanging armchair arguments. China's economic growth in the first quarter is likely to plummet, and Korea will be unlikely to get out of its economic slump anytime soon. The government, while making sure to maintain the dynamics for innovation-based growth, should make strenuous efforts to ensure momentum for recovery. When asked if the Azerbaijani government is ignoring Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyans and the international intermediaries call to Armenians and Azerbaijanis to prepare for peace for a full resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, taking into consideration the fact that Azerbaijani presses have been releasing Armenophobic articles following the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the discussion that followed and have even offended Pashinyan and his family members, particularly his son, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that its too early to draw conclusions. When asked if it wasnt possible to dodge a meeting with Ilham Aliyev, taking into consideration the fact that Azerbaijan recently held parliamentary elections that can be considered a failure due to the lowest voter turnout in the countrys history and that it was more important for Aliyev to distract the peoples attention from that failure, the deputy parliamentary speaker stated that Armenia never dodges meetings since it has nothing to hid and is trying to resolve the conflict through peace as soon as possible and added that Armenias decision to participate in the discussion was the right decision, especially if we take into account the fact that the proposed format was unequivocally appropriate. Right after the meeting in Munich, Azerbaijans state-run media outlets began their anti-Armenian revelry and continue to this day. Aztv, the national radio and Azertaj state news agency constantly claim that Aliyev scored a brilliant victory over Pashinyan and even offend Pashinyan and some of his family members, particularly his son. By Ngaire Woods OXFORD Before the coronavirus exploded into the news, a report by the World Health Organization warned that the world was not prepared for "a fast-moving, virulent respiratory pathogen pandemic" that could kill 50-80 million people, cause panic and instability, and seriously affect the global economy and trade. The experience of the last 200-plus years has shown that only governments acting in concert can effectively fight such a pandemic and even then, only with the trust and compliance of their citizens. This points to three challenges facing political leaders in the fight against the new coronavirus, now known as COVID-19. The first challenge is that politicians are torn between looking decisive and adopting science-based measures that require careful explanation to a skeptical public. For example, governments in several countries, including India, Nigeria, Japan, and the United States, have recently instituted highly visible temperature checks on all passengers arriving at their airports. But feverish travelers can simply mask their condition by using fever-reducing drugs. Furthermore, Chinese researchers suspect that COVID-19 is contagious for up to 24 days before the person carrying it develops a fever. The United Kingdom's government, therefore, is focusing on informing all arriving passengers about what to do if they experience symptoms after leaving the airport. More seriously, on Jan. 31, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced a temporary entry ban on all foreign nationals who had been to China in the past 14 days, unless they were immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Many other countries have imposed similar measures, but the effect could be exactly the opposite of what was intended. Closing off China might seem justified. But doing so unilaterally, without building trust with other governments, makes it likelier that other countries such as China's smaller neighbors will not notify the world when the virus spreads to them, owing to fear of being closed off and the massive economic costs this would imply. The golden rule in fighting pandemics is to encourage affected countries to notify others immediately of any infection. Chinese researchers rapidly identified COVID-19, and after international urging shared its viral sequence, thus spurring global cooperation in the race to create a vaccine. In so doing, China complied with international rules that aim to ensure that countries work together to combat infections, rather than harming themselves or unnecessarily harming others through protectionist measures. The second challenge for governments relates to communication. Accurate, trusted information is vital in fighting a pandemic. But in most of the world, citizens do not trust politicians to tell the truth, so they turn instead to social media and other sources of information. Such platforms can facilitate greater transparency and instant reporting, which governments must not quash, as local officials in Wuhan initially did by threatening doctors who reported the new coronavirus. But social media also gives rise to "infodemics" of fake news and rumor that endanger public health. The WHO currently must refute claims that mouthwashes, nasal sprays, and sesame oil can prevent people from being infected with COVID-19. Likewise, online anti-vaccination campaigns in recent years have fueled an entirely preventable resurgence of measles. On a positive note, the WHO is working with social media companies to ensure that reliable public information appears first when people search for news about the coronavirus. They also are cooperating in attaching warnings to the posts of groups promoting conspiracy theories and rumors about the virus, and in removing posts that endanger public health. All responsible politicians must support such efforts. Equally, politicians and social media companies need to combat xenophobic reactions, which pandemics spur all too easily. There are already reports of a wave of discrimination against East Asians since the COVID-19 outbreak. Stigma and discrimination make it harder to combat infectious diseases, because they increase the likelihood that affected people will avoid seeking health care. Crucially, the fight against COVID-19 requires infected people to trust public authorities enough to identify and help to track down everyone with whom they have been in contact, thereby enabling appropriate isolation measures to be put into place. This is less likely in an atmosphere of stigma and discrimination. Finally, preparedness is key. Governments must commit resources ahead of time and have a ready-to-go command structure in the event of a global public health emergency. But politicians often are loath to invest in disease prevention, finding it much easier to claim credit for a shiny new hospital. More insidiously, they can cut funding for preventive programs in the knowledge that future governments will face the consequences. The good news is that governments have begun to take pandemic preparedness seriously in the wake of previous outbreaks of SARS, H1N1, MERS, Ebola, and Zika. Following the Ebola crisis in 2014, for example, U.S. President Barack Obama's administration established a directorate for global health security and bio-threats within the White House National Security Council. It also introduced a system for coordinating international, national, state, and local organizations, both public and private, to confront a global epidemic, under the direct authority of the president. The bad news is that Trump unwound and dismantled these preparations last year. He also cut funding for efforts by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help other countries prevent infectious-disease epidemics. But when other countries cannot identify and contain a virus, it is more likely to reach the U.S. As COVID-19 continues to spread, the public must rely on international cooperation among governments to fight the disease effectively. But mounting pressures on political leaders risk pushing them toward more nationalistic, short-term measures that are less effective or even counterproductive. Ngaire Woods is dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. Her article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). As the Democratic Party field of presidential candidates somehow manages to simultaneously shrink and become more complicated, the March 3 Massachusetts primary takes on growing importance. The Bay State is one of 14 states to hold primaries on Super Tuesday, which has become a de facto nomination semifinal. The day will feature votes in California, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota (home of rising contender Amy Klobuchar) and Colorado. Big states, swing states - and Massachusetts, where a Democratic victory in November is about as sure a bet as the 2020 election offers. The Bay State is not a national Super Tuesday headliner, but its results will matter much more than usual. Every delegate will count in a hotly contested race with the possibility of a brokered nomination. Massachusetts will send 114 delegates to the Democratic Convention, and 91 will be pledged, based on the March 3 results. According to the office of the Secretary of State William Galvin, the Massachusetts Democratic ballot lists 15 names. Tom Steyer and Tulsi Gabbard are acknowledged long shots, but theyre still running and Steyer, in particular, has been pushing hard in Nevada and South Carolina. Latecomer Michael Bloomberg, who grew up in Greater Boston, is on the Massachusetts ballot. So is former Governor Deval Patrick, who dropped out after a tiny showing in New Hampshire, and several other candidates who have called it quits. There is, of course, U.S. Senator and favorite daughter Elizabeth Warren, who needs an uptick and whose appeal at home will be tested against popular opponents. It may surprise voters that the Republican ballot contains not only President Trump and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, but former Illinois U.S. Rep. Joseph Walsh (who quit the race on February 7), and California businessman Roque Rocky De La Fuente, a 2016 presidential nominee for both the American Delta Party (which he created himself) and the Reform Party. How will Warren do against Vermonter Bernie Sanders - in her home state? What can Joe Biden expect? Is there sustained impact in the momentum of Klobuchar, the staying power of Buttigieg and the perceived appeal of Bloomberg? How will the presence of other names, and the votes of non-enrolled voters who belong to neither major party, affect the numbers? These are all important questions with unresolved answers. The Massachusetts primary results will be closely watched by all the candidates who still hold out hope. Right now, thats all we know for sure. A lucrative contract for the procurement of defence equipment for the Nigeria Police Force appeared to have triggered the raging confrontation at the highest levels of the Buhari administration, PREMIUM TIMES can report. Freshly obtained documents showed how the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, tackled President Muhammadu Buharis chief of staff, Abba Kyari, for allegedly overriding a previous directive of the president in a contract to procure equipment for the police from the United Arab Emirates. In the December 9, 2019 letter that was addressed to the police affairs minister and police inspector-general, Mr Monguno, a retired major-general, described Mr Kyaris action as reckless and irresponsible, warning that it was capable of ridiculing Nigeria as an unserious nation before a reliable international partner. Mr Monguno warned in the letter that Mr Kyari has been getting away with disregarding presidential orders to impose his own decisions even though he had no constitutional power to issue directives on matters bordering on security. The NSA said only himself, as the head of multiple national security panels, and the defence minister have constitutional roles to act on security matters. The documents appeared a part of a series of circulars issued between Mr Monguno and Mr Kyari between May and December 2019. The first part of the documents to leak was first published by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday afternoon. It detailed how Mr Monguno accused Mr Kyari of hampering efforts to resolve insecurity in the country, sparking nationwide uproar and call for the president to take charge of his administrations security measures. The first memo also carried the same December 9, 2019 date, but was addressed to all crucial offices of national security coordination. The latest memo appeared to have been sent to inform the police affairs minister and the inspector-general on the background of the equipment and how Mr Kyari might be frustrating the procurement process. It was not immediately clear which equipment were being procured by the Buhari administration from the Emirati, but Mr Monguno disclosed that the International Golden Group, a Dubai-based defence and security dealer, was the firm agreed between Mr Buhari and the UAE Crown Prince in 2016, the memo showed. Neither the president nor anyone in his cabinet has commented on the crisis at the presidency since Monday. Mr Kyari and two presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, rejected requests for comments on the memo Monday afternoon. They also did not return similar requests based on the latest documents that shed additional light into the rancour. Nigeria has been grappling with multiple security problems, most of which security experts have said should ordinarily be handled by the police. The military has been locked in a decade-long battle with Boko Haram insurgents ravaging the countrys northwestern flank and the neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Mr Buharis repeated promises to curtail insecurity have come short for the most part, despite billions spent on military procurement and capacity-building efforts. Mr Monguno, who has continued to act as the NSA even though his appointment has not been renewed for Mr Buharis second term, has been at the centre of coordinating efforts to combat insecurity. But his labour, he said in the memo, has been regularly frustrated by Mr Kyaris meddlesomeness, which has pitted the chief of staff to not just the NSA but other key administration officials over the years, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The implication for the raging fall-out between the top aides of the president has dominated debates since the first memo was published on Monday. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded a thorough investigation into the fallout, lamenting its potential detriment to national security. See documents below: The first fingernail tattoo started off as a joke by a man who lost the tips of two fingers in a construction accident in 2018. But that shifted after Eric Catalano, an auto finance manager turned tattoo artist, finished with his needle. "The mood changed in here," Catalano recalled as he stood in his Eternal Ink Tattoo Studio. "Everything turned from funny to wow." When Catalano posted a photo of the inked fingernails online last January, he thought maybe 300 people would like the realistic tattoo. He had no idea the image would be viewed by millions of people around the world. Even "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" tracked him down to feature the viral tattoo: a pair of fingernails that looked so real no one could believe their eyes. The viral photo pushed Catalano, 39, further into the world of paramedical tattooing. Now people with life-altering scars come from as far as Ireland to visit Catalano's tattoo shop in this rural village about 30 miles outside St. Louis. They enter Eternal Ink looking for the healing touch they saw online. With flesh-toned ink and a needle, Catalano makes his clients feel whole again with an art form and industry that picks up where doctors leave off. Catalano is known for his talent with intricate fingernails and filling in the blanks left empty by accidents or surgeries, but other paramedical tattoo artists also are trying out flesh-toned pigments to camouflage imperfections, scars and discolorations for all skin colors. Using tattoos to blend in rather than stand out is a relatively new field. A school started outside Atlanta about four years ago has trained more than 100 aspiring paramedical tattoo artists. Because the work is considered cosmetic, though, it typically isn't covered by medical insurance. Still, the mostly unregulated industry continues to grow even as health care professionals debate the safety of tattoo ink. Many people are willing to pay out-of-pocket for that final piece of healing. Leslie Pollan, 32, a stay-at-home mom and dog breeder in Oxford, Mississippi, feels this service is priceless. She was bitten on the face by a puppy in 2014. She underwent countless surgeries to correct a scar on her lip. "I went to plastic surgeons that were supposed to be the best in Memphis," Pollan said. "They gave me no hope, so I started looking for other options." She ultimately traveled six hours for a paramedical tattoo session with Catalano. He used ink and his tattoo needle to camouflage Pollan's lip scar, giving her back a piece of her confidence. "You don't understand until you've been through it," Pollan said. "It really made me have a different outlook on life." A booming business More than 500 miles from Catalano's shop, industry expert and paramedical tattoo trainer Feleshia Sams, 41, shows artists and health professionals how to cover stretch marks, surgery scars and discolored skin with flesh-toned pigment in the course she launched at the Academy of Advanced Cosmetics in Alpharetta, Georgia. While a tattoo license is required for such work, separate paramedical tattoo training is not. Catalano is self-taught. He uses the techniques he picked up years ago while helping breast cancer survivors who wanted tattoos of areolas the dark area around nipples after having mastectomies. Those tattoos are among the most common paramedical requests. His grandmother had breast cancer. Her battle with the disease is one reason Catalano is so dedicated to helping those with the diagnosis. "Cancer took away a part of my body I can never get back," said Sarah Penberthy, a breast cancer survivor who came from Festus, Missouri, for areola tattoos. "I felt like I wasn't even human." Penberthy, 39, said she was grateful for her life but still felt incomplete until Catalano stepped in. He tattooed nipples and a creative design of a ship's anchor on her chest that says "I REFUSE TO SINK." Catalano now does up to eight reconstructive tattoos each "Wellness Wednesday," drawing in nail beds on finger amputees and mocking up belly buttons after tummy tucks. Catalano doesn't charge for paramedical tattoos. A GoFundMe page established last year brought in more than $12,000, allowing Catalano to donate his skills for the time being. "Financially it doesn't make sense, but it's just something that I love to do," Catalano said. But the single father of three will need more to keep things going. He wants to find other ways to fund his work. Elsewhere, the business of paramedical tattoos is supported by the booming interest in cosmetic and plastic surgery, Sams said. Americans spent more than $16.5 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2018. After tummy tucks, breast augmentations and other procedures, some patients want to cover their scars. "It's going to take off even more so than what we've seen in the past," said Sams. "We're providing students with a nontraditional way to make a career." She added that one of her graduates reports a six-figure salary after establishing a business of her own. Every time I see that emotion, I'm 100% sure this is something that I can't stop doing." Eric Catalano Trial-and-error tattoos Catalano's first fingernail client, Mark Bertram, 46, lost the tips of two fingers at work when his hand became trapped in a fan belt. "It's life changing but it's not life ending," Bertram said. "Doing work is harder now. Everything is just a little different." He can't tie his shoes with ease, type on a keyboard or hold food the same way anymore. But after two surgeries and occupational therapy, he decided to make light of his new condition by asking Catalano to create the fingernail tattoo. The idea made everyone in the studio laugh until they saw the final result. Bertram has returned to the shop for a touch-up. The maintenance helps his nails keep their realistic look. The ink in fingernail tattoos, however, doesn't always absorb into the scar-tissued skin. The two fingernail tattoos that Jose Alvarado, 44, of Pingree Grove, Illinois, got from Catalano in November wore off within weeks. Alvarado had become an amputee 16 years ago when he damaged two fingers on the job at a printing factory. He endured two surgeries after the accident and had decided to visit Catalano's tattoo studio from his home outside Chicago after seeing the artist's work online. Although he was upset when the tattoos first wore off, he said, he'd like to try them again because he liked how it looked. Catalano's not sure why they work for some and not others. Getting the same results for people with darker skin tones is also a challenge because the color of their nail beds doesn't match the color of their skin. And paramedical tattoos of any kind for people of color can be more difficult to execute, which is one reason Sams created a line of 30 skin-colored and undertone pigments for trained professionals that she sells online and at her school. Catalano tracks the ink he uses as he continues to figure things out along the way. "It may not be a one-size-all thing that fits everybody," he said. Catalano still does regular tattoos out of the studio he established more than 10 years ago. His rate of $100 per hour for those tattoos has stayed the same while he donates his paramedical work every Wednesday. "Every time I see that emotion, I'm 100% sure this is something that I can't stop doing," he said. Libya: Salame says port of Tripoli attacked 'Fragile situation, truce often violated but not renounced' (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - UN special envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame said in a press conference in Geneva that there was an attack on the port of Tripoli on Tuesday as the situation on the ground in Libya "remains fragile" and the "truce is continually being violated". Salame held the press conference on Tuesday following the second round of talks between the Libyan government of Fayez al-Sarraj and representatives of the forces of General Khalifa Haftar. "The principle of the ceasefire hasn't been renounced by either of the two parties and the political process is beginning to make headway," Salame said. "As long as the truce continues to be violated, as it was today against the port of Tripoli, it is very, very difficult to imagine a dialogue and a negotiation between the two parties," he said.(ANSAmed). EU competition regulators have widened their investigation into additional incentives granted by Spanish authorities to Ryanair and other airlines operating at two airports in Catalonia, concerned that they may have an unfair advantage. The European Commission launched an investigation in 2013 into marketing schemes offered to airlines operating at Girona-Costa Brava and Reus airports, about 120km from Barcelona. Spanish public authorities subsequently offered the carriers additional marketing deals, which will now be included in the ongoing investigation. "Through these additional marketing agreements, as well as through the other marketing agreements already under investigation, Ryanair and other airlines received payments in the form of 'marketing incentives' since 2004," the commission said. The EU competition enforcer said its preliminary view was that the marketing schemes might constitute state aid. It will now seek feedback from interested parties before deciding whether the incentives comply with the bloc's state aid rules. Companies have to pay back aid if this is found to be illegal. Reuters The Eastern Regional Minister and MP for Nkawkaw, Eric Kwakye Darfour, has called on Ghanaians to desist from using illegal way of mining also known as galamsey. He says it is badly destroying the environment and pollute water bodies. According to him, the Akufo-Addo led government will be using a measurable effort in regulating illegal mining in the country. He indicated that several attempts were made to minimize, if not eliminate, illegal activities in the small scale mining sector. Contrary to the impression created in the minds of some people, Eric Kwakye Darfour stated, We are not fighting to put people out of work by seeking to end galamsey. Since the Almighty has blessed us with precious minerals, there will be mining in our country. Eric Kwakye Darfour told Kwaku Dawuro on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7. This present generation does not own the earth, we hold the lands in trust for generations yet unborn and we cannot destroy it. They will be providing an update on its fight against illegal and irresponsible mining in the Eastern Region. He envisaged that a sustainable small-scale mining regime would protect the environment and protect the workers as well. Despite the rise from 0.50 per 1000 in 1988 to 3.0 in 2015, India still has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world. It is the educated and affluent who have the means and the social support to go through with a divorce. Once upon a time, the male patriarchs perception of an ideal wife was one who stayed barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Today, at a time when millennials are beginning to rethink the institution of marriage itself and redefining the idea of partnership, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made a rather bizarre and archaic statement about divorce. While addressing a meeting of RSS workers and their families in Ahmedabad, he said that divorce cases, are more in educated and affluent families because with education and affluence, comes arrogance, as a result of which families fall apart. The irony is that while the first part of the statement may be somewhat true, it is ridiculous to suggest that the arrogance of the rich and the educated is the main cause of divorce. The truth lies elsewhere: It is the educated and affluent who have the means and the social support to go through with a divorce. Those who are less privileged and need to get out of bad marriages stay trapped in them for several other obvious reasons. Arrogance has nothing to do with it. What Bhagwat was really talking about was matru shakti, not divorce. Women, he said, needed to stay in their families and be the cohesive force; they are the apparent glue that holds together families, and through them, societies. They need to be enlightened and not confined to their homes, but they should not break out of the family and become independent. Archaic though he sounds, Bhagwat is not alone in his perception. In the sanskari bubble in which he lives, financially independent and empowered women are suspect. I once heard a renowned Sanskrit scholar publicly warning husbands against allowing their educated and employed wives to have separate bank accounts. Giving them too much freedom would disrupt families, he warned. Despite the rise from 0.50 per 1000 in 1988 to 3.0 in 2015, India still has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world. But, as legal experts and counsellors dealing with divorce cases point out, it is not because levels of marital discord or domestic violence are low in the country, or because traditions and family values hold sway. It is because most women do not have access to legal aid. The marginal increase in divorce rates can be attributed to financial independence and a stronger sense of self-worth, which have given many educated women the courage to take a decision which can have many social and monetary repercussions. Although both men and women suffer when there is a painful divorce, more often than not it is the women who bear the brunt of such decisions. Infidelity, alcoholism, sexual incompatibility, dowry harassment are just some of the triggers which lead to the break up of marriages. An NRCB survey of women in violent marriages in India shows that women who belong to scheduled castes between the ages of 15 and 24 with no formal schooling, whose husbands also have no formal schooling and who live in nuclear families, are the most abused, both physically and psychologically. Yet these are the women who do not have access to the means required to get a divorce. The husbands of many of these women are also alcoholics who don't support the family. A lack of resources and faith in divorce as a concept deters such women from leaving their husbands, and even when they do, they may choose to stay single or move on to other partners. In either case, divorce does not come into the picture. In countries like the US, divorce rates are now beginning to plummet, not because couples are now willing to stay in dysfunctional marriages, but because they dont want to get married at all. Millennials in particular find marriage messy and would rather just live in together. Millennials in India are also getting there. Like their counterparts abroad, they dont want to get married. But importantly, unlike in the West, in India it is only the educated and affluent millennials who have the social and financial support which enables them to reject marriage or walk out of it. For the majority of the young, marriage is still mandatory. Underage marriages are still the norm, especially in less privileged households. Additionally, women still bear several children before they reach the age of 20, and their circumstances force them to work and support their families. According to the last National Family Health Survey, every third woman aged above 15 has faced domestic violence of various forms across our country. Most times the perpetrators of this violence have been the husbands. Thirty-one percent of married women have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence at the hands of their spouses. The survey reported that among married women who have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, 83 percent reported their present husbands as perpetrators of the violence. Every third married woman who has experienced spousal violence spoke of violent assaults resulting in eye injuries, sprains, dislocations, burns, broken bones and broken teeth. Yet, only 14 percent of the women who experienced this violence sought help to stop it. But the silver lining, according to the survey, is education not income or even age. The report found that women who went to school as children were more likely to report physical violence. Although schooling does not automatically reduce spousal violence, it gives the women an important tool to fight back with. Despite a bankruptcy declaration by Boy Scouts of America, scouting will continue in Massachusetts and troops across the state even have the potential to grow their numbers, council leaders said Tuesday. Gary Savignano, scout executive for the Westfield-based Western Massachusetts Council, sounded a hopeful note Tuesday reacting to the national organizations Chapter 11 filing. Each local council there are five in Massachusetts is its own legal entity, Savignano said. Many had seen the bankruptcy filing by Texas-based Boy Scouts of America coming for years as the organization deals with claims of past sexual abuse by scout leaders. The Associated Press said it is potentially one of most complex bankruptcies ever seen, and could result in a huge compensation fund for victims. We are our own separate entity. This doesnt affect our mission here providing scouting, Savignano said. We are looking forward. We are going to highlight all the things that scouting has done locally not just last year, or ... in the last several years. Scout Executive Todd Lamison of the Heart of New England Council in Lancaster said much the same thing. Heart of New England Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects are taking place as usual, Lamison wrote in an email. In short, there should be no change to the local Scouting experience. Lamison said he wants people to know that Heart Of New Englands camps Treasure Valley Scout Reservation in Rutland, Camp Split Rock in Ashburnham and Camp Wanocksett in Dublin, New Hampshire along with its properties and all local contributions are controlled by the council. Lamison didnt respond to a follow-up email asking for current membership numbers for the Heart of New England Council. Savignano said the bankruptcy filing doesnt imperil the Western Massachusetts Councils Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell. The Western Massachusetts Council sold its Chesterfield Scout Reservation in 2018. Nationally, the Boy Scouts of America have already mortgaged major properties to secure a line of credit. That includes its headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico. Savignano said the Scouts have polices and procedures in place now to prevent abuse. This is something weve been aware of, he said. We take our youth protection very seriously. One incident is one too many. The Western Massachusetts Council has 3,000 participating youth boys and girls from kindergarten to age 21 in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. There are 140 local scouting units in towns across the four counties. Eleven of those groups are co-ed, following a 2017 policy change by Boy Scouts of America allowing girls to join. Savignano said membership has been relatively flat over the last several years but he has a robust membership plan focusing on rural hilltowns and urban neighborhoods in Springfield and Holyoke. Were excited we are hoping to grow, said Savignano, who came to the Western Massachusetts Council in October from the Heart Of New England Council. There are many other options for children and many more activities for families to have children get involved. He said scouting, with its emphasis on learning, leadership and character, has much to offer. We have a strong message and a strong program. We believe our program is more relevant today than ever, he said. Chuck Eaton, chief executive of the Spirit of Adventure Council, which is Boy Scoutings body in Boston and some of its surrounding suburbs, also worked Tuesday to dispel any confusion. The national organization of the Boy Scouts of America is the only entity involved in the Chapter 11 filing, Eaton wrote in a statement. The Spirit of Adventure Council which provides programming, financial, facility and administrative support to local units and individual Scouts in our area is separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties and all local contributions are controlled by our council. He also pointed to scouting's protection and protocols, but said Massachusetts has rules that are even tighter. Scout volunteers in Massachusetts must also pass an additional CORI background check. So, in our state, all volunteers and staff are subjected to two background checks in addition to all the training, Eaton said. Nationally, membership has dropped below 2 million, down from a peak of more than 4 million during the 1970s, according to The Associated Press. Got a news tip or want to contact The Republican about this story? Email newsdesk@repub.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. The 7th Steering Committee (SC) Meeting of the WCO-Finland ESA Project II took place from 4 - 6 February 2020 in Port Louis and hosted by the Mauritius Revenue Authority. The WCO-ESA Project II, To progress the Trade Facilitation (TF) agenda within the framework of the WCO Mercator Programme in the East and Southern Africa Region, 2016 - 2020 is funded by the Finnish Government. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Philiso P. VALASHIA, Commissioner of Customs Services and ESA Vice-Chair, BURS and attended by SC members from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mauritius, Finnish Customs, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, ESA ROCB and the WCO Secretariat. The Steering Committee was presented the Mid-year Progress Report, Financial Report 1.7. 31.12.2019 and a Budget Plan 1.1. 30.6.2020. A total of 15 national activities (13 national in EN and 2 national in FR) were conducted over the reporting period. The meeting was also presented with the findings and conclusions of the Mid-Term Evaluation Report and the WCO Management Response. Conclusions of the Report confirmed that the project has generally met all the 7 criteria applied in the evaluation: Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact, Sustainability, Coordination and Cross-Cutting Objectives. The Vice-Chairs office informed the meeting that the proposal for the possible 3rd phase of the project will be finalized by the end of February 2020. The proposal will take into account the developments within the WCO-ESA Project II, already existing TFA Mercator Implementation Plans, Regional Strategy and Implementation Plan, Regional Structures and Governance, AfCFTA and recommendations from the Mid-Term Evaluation Report. For further information please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. ETTRICK, Wis., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- If you've ever wanted to spend a day on the water learning fishing tips and tricks from a top professional bass angler, you're in luck. Lure Lock, makers of the revolutionary tackle box system featuring their patented Tak Logic gel technology is giving one lucky winner the opportunity to spend a day on the water with Bass Pro Tour/Major League Fishing angler and Lure Lock Pro Andy Morgan. Andy Morgan 2019 Bass Pro Tour Win on Lake Chickamagua. PC: Bass Pro Tour To register for this once in a lifetime trip simply upload or post a photo or video explaining why you want to spend a day on the water with Andy Morgan. Videos and photos can be uploaded to one or all the following locations; Lurelock.com, the Lure Lock Facebook page, or the Lure Lock Instagram account. Website: https://try.lurelock.com/andymorgan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lurelock/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lurelock/ The promotion will run through May 4th. No purchase is necessary to participate in the promotion. The winner of this fishing trip will be headed to one of the most popular bass fishing destinations in the United States, Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, TN, where Morgan won a Bass Pro Tour event in 2019. For official rules and full details of the prize package, please visit lurelock.com. "Without a doubt the Lure Lock boxes are the most innovative and helpful product on the market for anglers to organize and take control of their tackle," said Morgan. "When I won the Bass Pro Tour event on Chick last year, I needed to have all my tackle perfectly organized as I was fishing shallow water and didn't want to have my tackle jostling around cases, the TakLogic Technology kept everything secured and in place." Lure Lock boxes are offered in three sizes LL1, LL2 and LL3, and are available with and without the Tak Logic Technology liners, along with the new Deep and Thin boxes. The innovative tackle boxes, along with the award-winning Lure Locker are available at Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Academy, Sportsman's Warehouse, Scheel's, Mill's Fleet Farm, Field & Stream, Tackle Warehouse, Tackle Direct, and many other fine retailers. Lure Lock is also sold at www.lurelock.com. For more information about Lure Lock please visit http://www.lurelock.com, or contact Glenn Walker at [email protected] with media or marketing requests. About Lure Lock Lure Lock is owned by Tak Logic, LLC and is located in Ettrick, Wisconsin. Lure Lock tackle boxes feature a Patent Pending technology all made in the USA. For more information, call 608-525-3636. Media Contact: Glenn Walker 715.442.2078 [email protected] SOURCE Lure Lock Related Links https://www.lurelock.com LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Super Hi-Fi announced today that it has joined the NVIDIA Inception program, a virtual accelerator designed to nurture startups revolutionizing industries with advancements in AI and data science. Super Hi-Fi offers a suite of AI technologies designed for digital music experience providers across a variety of industries, such as on-demand music streaming, terrestrial and internet radio, business and retail music providers, and digital fitness music platforms. The Super Hi-Fi platform allows customers to tailor their audio products to the listener by dynamically creating rich, personalized audio segments based on listener and brand preferences. Super Hi-Fi currently powers iHeartRadio, Peloton, and Napster, and partners with Universal Music Group, The Associated Press, and TargetSpot. Joining the NVIDIA Inception program will provide Super Hi-Fi the support needed to accelerate the development of their next-generation platform services through enhanced access to go-to-market support, expertise, and preferred pricing on NVIDIA GPUs. Super Hi-Fi's machine learning algorithms, which currently process over 300 million audio transitions per month, improve the listening experience for consumers. These unique algorithms also produce billions of data points and deep listening analytics that can drive other key business and product metrics. "We joined the NVIDIA Inception program because AI and ML are at the core of our entire value proposition at Super Hi-Fi," says Brendon Cassidy, Super Hi-Fi CTO, and chief scientist. "We are solving a very unique problem for the digital music ecosystem, which requires extremely cutting-edge science. The NVIDIA Inception program provides us access to the right resources in order to bring the next generation of our platform to market." About Super Hi-Fi Super Hi-Fi uses artificial intelligence to improve the digital listening experience. Super Hi-Fi transforms gaps between songs into relevant and personalized content. The company's patented technology is capable of understanding the infinite nuances within music with the expertise of a human DJ to improve transitions between content and create better extensions of digital brands. The result is perfectly transitioned streams of music, podcasts, interviews, news, weather, advertisements, and other audio content. Based in Los Angeles, California, Super Hi-Fi is integrated by digital brands like Universal Music Group, Associated Press, Peloton, and iHeartRadio. For more information visit: www.superhifi.com Media Contact Laura Hernandez JCUTLER MEDIA GROUP [email protected] SOURCE Super Hi-Fi Related Links http://www.superhifi.com The federal judge overseeing Roger Stone's case has decided to go ahead with sentencing for Donald Trump's longtime political advisor despite a personal intervention by the president who complained online the case was 'tainted.' Judge Amy Berman Jackson held a scheduling call on the case with lawyers on Tuesday after Stone's team sought a retrial. Although she is willing to listen to their latest request, she said she won't stall Stone's sentencing which has provoked an extraordinary clash between career prosecutors and the White House that has brought new scrutiny on the attorney general. 'I am going to keep the sentencing where it is,' Jackson said, even as Stone's lawyers sought to delay proceedings. 'I think that delaying this sentence would not be a prudent thing to do under all of the circumstances,' she added. Stone was found guilty of witness tampering and lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign. Trump tweeted on a day Judge Amy Berman Jackson was to hold a scheduling conference on Roger Stone's case Roger Stone (R), the former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Court House with his wife Nydia Stone (L) on July 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. Stone appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson in USA v. Stone Jackson said she would rule on the Stone team's request for a new trial later and that the longtime political trickster won't begin serving any sentence until that happens. Stone's team had sought a new trial in a sealed motion filed Friday. Jackson previously denied Stone's request for a new trial based on what his team said was 'bias' of one of the jurors who is employed as a lawyer for the IRS. The juror had also been shown a Wall Street Journal article about the case. Jackson's decision Tuesday came despite some powerful outside commentary by the president of the United States. Trump just hours earlier fired off a series of tweets backing a new trial for Stone, a longtime advisor, calling the government's case 'tainted.' Trump's comments come days after Attorney General Bill Barr issued an extraordinary admonition for Trump to stop tweeting about criminal cases saying it makes it 'impossible' for him to do his job. Judge Amy Berman last week denied a request by Stone's lawyers for a new trial, while outside the courtroom the president repeatedly intervened publicly in the case on Stone's behalf. They filed a separate sealed motion seeking a new trial on Friday. President Trump ignored an admonition by his attorney general and tweeted about Roger Stone's case Trump called the case 'badly tainted' Trump tweeted comments by Judge Andrew Napolitano calling for a new trial for his longtime advisor Trump tagged Judge Andrew Napolitano and Fox & Friends Four prosecutors had themselves removed from the case last week, after the government cast aside their request in a motion filed with the court that Stone serve up to nine years in prison. The government changed its position and left it up to the court to decide on jail time following an early morning Tweet by Trump blasting the sentence as excessive. More than former 2,000 Justice Department officials have signed onto a letter calling for Barr to resign. Trump tore into the prosecutors once again Tuesday morning, almost exactly a week after his explosive public commentary on the case. 'These were Mueller prosecutors, and the whole Mueller investigation was illegally set up based on a phony and now fully discredited Fake Dossier, lying and forging documents to the FISA Court, and many other things,' he said, bringing up a series of grievances about the Russia probe. President Donald Trump called the government lawyers on Roger Stone's case 'Mueller prosecutors' and said their work was 'badly tainted,' as he tweeted support for his longtime advisor getting a new trial Prosecutors spun off the Stone case from the Russia investigation, after concluding he lied about his contacts with WikiLeaks during his time as an advisor to Trump's presidential campaign. 'Everything having to do with this fraudulent investigation is ... badly tainted and, in my opinion, should be thrown out,' Trump wrote. 'Even Mueller's statement to Congress that he did not see me to become the FBI Director (again), has been proven false. The whole deal was a total SCAM. If I wasn't President, I'd be suing everyone all over the place...BUT MAYBE I STILL WILL. WITCH HUNT!' Trump also retweeted supportive comments on his position from Fox commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano who as it turns out last month said there was 'ample and uncontradicted' evidence for Trump's removal from office. Napolitano pointed out that the woman who served as the fore person on the jury has revealed to have run for Congress as a Democrat and had tweeted about the case immediately after Stone's arrest. 'Judge Jackson now has a request for a new trial based on the unambiguous & self outed bias of the foreperson of the jury, whose also a lawyer, by the way. 'Madam foreperson, your a lawyer, you have a duty, an affirmative obligation, to reveal to us when we selected you the...existence of these tweets in which you were so harshly negative about the President & the people who support him.' Attorney General Bill Barr Napolitano continued: 'Don't you think we wanted to know that before we put you on this jury.' Pretty obvious he should (get a new trial). I think almost any judge in the Country ... would order a new trial, I'm not so sure about Judge Jackson, I don't know,' Trump wrote, tagging Napolitano and the Fox & Friends morning show. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell issued a statement last week saying: 'Public criticism or pressure is not a factor' in sentencing. Howell is the chief judge of the court where Jackson sits. He said in the rare public statement: 'The Judges of this Court base their sentencing decisions on careful consideration of the actual record in the case before them; the applicable sentencing guidelines and statutory factors; the submissions of the parties, the Probation Office and victims; and their own judgment and experience.' Stone has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and started the hashtag #RogerStoneDidNothingWrong. Last week, after Trump's repeated comments about the case, Barr told told ABC News in an interview: 'I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases. 'I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me,' he said. The push had no immediate effect. Trump responded Friday morning by noting that Barr had said Trump never asked him to do anything in a criminal case. Then he added: 'This doesn't mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!' More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials weighed with a letter calling on Barr to resign amid a swirl of developments. 'Mr. Barr's actions in doing the President's personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words. Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign,' according to the letter. 'But because we have little expectation he will do so, it falls to the Department's career officials to take appropriate action to uphold their oaths of office and defend nonpartisan, apolitical justice.' Cape Town based startup Zindi has registered 10,000 data-scientists on its platform that uses AI and machine learning to crowdsolve complex problems in Africa. Founded in 2018, the early-stage venture allows companies, NGOs or government institutions to host online competitions around data-oriented challenges. Zindi opens the contests to the African data scientists on its site who can join a competition, submit solution sets, move up a leader board and win for a cash prize payout. The highest purse so far has been $12,000, according to Zindi co-founder Celina Lee. Competition hosts receive the results, which they can use to create new products or integrate into their existing systems and platforms. It's free for data scientists to create a profile on the site, but those who fund the competitions pay Zindi a fee, which is how the startup generates revenue. Zindis model has gained the attention of some notable corporate names in and outside of Africa. Those who have hosted competitions include Microsoft, IBM and Liquid Telecom . The South African National Roads Agency sponsored a challenge in 2019 to reduce traffic fatalities in South Africa. The stated objective is "to build a machine learning model that accurately predicts when and where the next road incident will occur in Cape Town... to enable South African authorities... to put measures in place that will... ensure safety." Attaining 10,000 registered data-scientists represents a more than 100 percent increase for Zindi since August 2019, when TechCrunch last spoke to Lee. The startup which is in the process of raising a Series A funding round plans to connect its larger roster to several new platform initiatives. Zindi will launch a university wide hack-competition, called UmojoHack Africa, across 10 countries in March. "We're also working on a section on our site that is specifically designed to run hackathons...something that organizations and universities could use to upskill their students or teams specifically," Lee said. Story continues Lee (whos originally from San Francisco) co-founded Zindi with South African Megan Yates and Ghanaian Ekow Duker. They lead a team in the companys Cape Town office. For Lee, the startup is a merger of two facets of her experience. "It all just came together. I have this math-y tech background, and I was working in non-profits and development, but I'd always been trying to join the two worlds," she said. Zindi That happened with Zindi, which is for-profit though roughly 80% of the startup's competitions have some social impact angle, according to Lee. "In an African context, solving problems for for-profit companies can definitely have social impact as well," she said. With most of the continent's VC focused on fintech or e-commerce startups, Zindi joins a unique group of ventures such as Andela and Gebeya that are building tech-talent in Africa's data-scientist and software engineer space. If Zindi can convene data-scientists to solve problems for companies and governments across the entire continent that could open up a vast addressable market. It could also see the startup become an alternative to more expensive consulting firms operating in Africa's large economies, such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya . WASHINGTON - On Monday, former President Barack Obama commemorated the 11th anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $800 billion stimulus, with a tweet, boasting that it paved "the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history." Obama's tweet did not sit well with President Donald Trump, who brags constantly about being responsible for the "greatest economy in the history of our country" and has touted economic growth as a main talking point in his bid for reelection. Trump fired off back-to-back tweets Monday evening, writing, "Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration." Trump went on to attack Obama for having the "WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression," adding, "NOW best jobs numbers ever." The president concluded his missives with an all-caps declaration: "THE BEST IS YET TO COME. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!" Monday's Twitter spat sparked an online frenzy among supporters of Trump and Obama over who should get credit for the current robust economy, which grew 2.3 percent in 2019, according to federal data released last month. Conservatives, including prominent commentators and at least two Republican lawmakers, backed Trump and echoed his criticisms of Obama. An October 2019 Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 44 percent of Americans said the economy had improved under Trump. Within that group, about four in five said Trump deserves at least a good amount of the credit. "President Trump reversed every single failed Obama-era economic policy, and with it, reversed the floundering Obama/Biden economy," Kayleigh McEnany, the Trump campaign's national press secretary, said in a statement emailed to The Washington Post early Tuesday. "Obama and [former vice president Joe Biden] orchestrated the worst economic recovery in modern history," McEnany said, later adding: "It's no wonder Democrats seek to take credit for the Trump economy after eight years of betraying blue collar workers and inflicting pain upon the middle class as Americans everywhere suffered. But the failed days of Democrat stagnation are over, and the soaring Trump economy is here to stay." Meanwhile, Democrats rallied behind Obama, praising the Recovery Act and launching the trending hashtag "#ObamaWasBetterAtEverything." "THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA!" tweeted Scott Dworkin, co-founder of the super PAC Democratic Coalition. "A REAL president." This isn't the first time Trump and Obama have taken aim at each other in public over the economy. Trump has repeatedly attacked his predecessor on Twitter and crowed that the economy is now the "best," "strongest" and "greatest" the United States has ever seen. On the other hand, Obama has argued that Trump inherited the strong economy created by his administration. "When I walked into office 10 years ago, we were in the middle of the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes," Obama said during a 2018 campaign rally for Nevada Democrats. "That was the last time that the other party was in charge of things." "By the time I left office, wages were rising, uninsurance rate was falling, poverty was falling and that's what I handed off to the next guy," Obama continued. "So when you hear all of his talk about economic miracles right now, remember who started it." Among those rising to Obama's provocation Monday were Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and actor James Woods, a prominent pro-Trump tweeter. Scalise highlighted a well-known quote by Obama from his 2012 presidential campaign, tweeting, "I believe the saying is: 'You didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.' @realDonaldTrump made that happen." "The notion that you did anything but destroy this nation's economy is beyond hilarious," Woods tweeted, referencing Obama's post. But as conservatives and Trump went after Obama, a handful of journalists fact-checked the president's tweets. NBC News senior business correspondent Stephanie Ruhle tweeted that growth of the country's gross domestic product hit 4% four times during the Obama administration and unemployment rates dropped 2.5% - accomplishments that have not been matched under Trump. In fact, a number of Trump's flattering assessments of the economy have not been supported by data, despite unemployment rates being at a 50-year low, steady economic growth and high consumer confidence, The Post's Heather Long reported. "The broad consensus among economists is that the U.S. economy is doing well, but these are not unprecedented times," Long wrote, noting that "where Trump goes too far is in touting this economy as the 'best ever' and trying to portray the end of the Obama era as dire and himself as the hero flying in on the Trump jet to save the day." The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday set aside Rs 500 crore for an airport in Ayodhya and Rs 200 crore for the beautification of Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple in a budget that is also big on road and metro rail projects. The Budget presented in the state assembly by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna provides Rs 2,000 crore for the new airport project at Jewar near Delhi. The Kanpur Metro Rail Project gets Rs 358 crore and Rs 286 has been allocated for the metro rail in Agra. It has earmarked Rs 200 crore more for metro rail projects in Gorakhpur and other cities. The 2020-21 Budget sets a target for the construction of four lakh houses for the weaker sections within a year and lists schemes to help the youth to make a living. Addressing reporters later, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the Budget the fourth presented by his government historic, growth-oriented and people-friendly. Opposition parties, however, termed it directionless and a farce. The Rs 5.12 lakh crore Budget is bigger than the one presented last year by Rs 33,159 crore. It has provisions for new schemes worth Rs 10,967 crore, Khanna said. Among the major allocations is Rs 500 crore for an airport at Ayodhya, where the construction of a Ram temple is expected to begin in the next few months. In addition, the state government will spend Rs 85 crore for the development of the pilgrim city as a tourist spot. Another Rs 10 crore will go on the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, dedicated to the author of Ramcharitmanas. The Budget allocates Rs 200 crore for the expansion and beautification of Kashi Vishwanath temple in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi constituency. Another Rs 180 crore will go on setting up a cultural centre in the holy city. The government announced two new schemes to provide employment for the youth -- the Chief Minister's Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (CMAPS) and the Yuva Udhyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA). The Budget lays emphasis on developing metro networks, airports and expressways. Besides the allocation for the metro projects, it provides Rs 2,000 crore for the 637-km 'Ganga Expressway' from Meerut to Allahabad, which the government says will be in the longest in the country. The Noida International Greenfield Airport at Jewar near Delhi has been allotted Rs 2,000 crore, which is about half of the estimated cost of its first phase of construction. The airport is expected to go operational by 2023," Khanna said in his speech. The Budget estimates total receipts of 5,00,558 crore -- Rs 4,22,567 crore through revenue and Rs 77,990 crore through capital receipts. It estimates a deficit of Rs 12,302 crore. Opposition parties slammed the exercise. "The government is betraying all sections -- be they youth, farmers or women. The BJP says it wants to make the state a trillion dollar economy but it is not saying from where the investment will come," Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav told reporters. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called it a farce. The promises and claims made in the Budget appear hollow and are only on paper, she said. UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu said the Budget is "directionless" and a mere "jugglery of figures". "The Budget has nothing for the youth, farmers, women and the poor," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No to school choice bill Nebraska has one of the most comprehensive school choice programs in the nation. A Nebraska student can choose to go to any public school in the state if there is room at that school, at no charge to the students parents or to the welcoming school. In fact, dollars follow the student to the school of choice. If the student and parents wish to opt for religious or private education, there are multiple options around the state and local communities the student can attend, either by scholarship from the private or parochial school or by paying tuition. In the Omaha area alone, there are 13 school districts from which parents and students can choose schools to attend, and a host of parochial and private institutions as well. DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Data Center Market in APAC - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The APAC data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 3% during the period 2019-2025. Key Market Insights The report provides the following insights into the data center market in APAC during the forecast period 2020-2025. It offers comprehensive insights into current industry trends, forecast, and growth drivers in the APAC data center market. The report provides the latest analysis of share, growth drivers, challenges, and investment opportunities. It offers a complete overview of segments and the regional outlook of the APAC data center market. The study offers a detailed overview of the vendor landscape, competitive analysis, and key strategies to gain competitive advantage. The APAC data center market is witnessing steady growth with continued investments from hyperscale and cloud service providers. In 2019, China and Hong Kong led the market in terms of data center development, followed by India, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. Apart from these countries, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia made a sizable contribution toward growth. The implementation of 5G has commenced in several countries, which will have a significant impact on the market with telecommunication providers partnering with service providers in establishing edge data centers throughout the forecast period. The market is also witnessing significant investments in submarine cable projects from telecommunication service providers, and government entities with hyperscale operates are continuing to invest millions in improving submarine connectivity across regions aiding in the growth. The introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads is expected to contribute over 40% in the infrastructure investment in APAC by 2025. Artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads will increase the demand for liquid-immersion and direct-to-chip cooling techniques that can support the density of up to 200 kW. Over 30% of Australian enterprises are involved in the use of AI-based infrastructure solutions as experimental as well as production workloads. The average size of a facility in the APAC region has increased considerably in the last two years. Several operators are involved in land acquisitions for future development, which, in turn, is propelling growth. ODM infrastructure solutions and all-flash storage arrays contribution to the market will continue to grow. APAC Data Center Market: Segmentation This research report includes detailed segmentation by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, tier standards, and geography. With the adoption of IoT, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, the demand for high-performance computing infrastructure is increasing. The demand for supercomputers is also increasing with the adoption increase in investment towards cryptocurrency mining. Moreover, the increasing development of facilities in China and Hong Kong and the implementation of a high-speed 5G network will boost the data center network market. Over 50% of the business IT budget is spent on the migration to cloud-based services in Australia, with IaaS spending leading the chart followed by SaaS. The Australian market will also witness the increased demand for managed data center services. IT infrastructure spending will be dominated by cloud-service providers. The increasing adoption of IT infrastructure is a major driver in the data center market in India, with high adoption of servers, storage, and networking infrastructure. Around 70% of startups in India are adopting IoT in their business. Healthcare and manufacturing are popular verticals attracting a lot of investor interests. The IT Infrastructure market in Japan is gaining traction with the increasing popularity of cloud-based services, IoT, and AI. In Japan, the majority of facilities are having blade types of servers developed for the high-density computing environment. The increasing usage of social media platform in the region will lead to the development of new facilities to store data, which increase the demand for high-capacity storage solutions. The construction of data centers with power capacity over 20 MW will increase the demand for high-capacity electrical infrastructure. Most facilities support rack power density of 510 kW; however, it is expected that new facilities will support a capacity of up to 20 kW during the forecast period. Multiple facilities with a power capacity of more than 10 MW are being implemented in Australia. Data center providers are investing in DRUPS systems with a capacity of around 1,500 kVA. Service providers are featuring lithium-ion batteries, which are likely to increase adoption in the market. The market in India has witnessed the installation of energy-efficient power infrastructure. The contribution of the power infrastructure segment is high because of the growth in the installation of 2N power infrastructure solutions among extensive facilities. The operators are also being prompted to support renewable energy sources to power their IT infrastructure. Several APAC countries do not support the use of free cooling systems. The operators in this region are still highly dependent on traditional air-based cooling techniques in small facilities that are built as part of commercial complexes. The use of dual water feeds in data centers with on-site water treatment plants is fast gaining popularity in the region as a few countries such as India suffer from acute water shortage for cooling purposes. The increasing demand for ASHRAE and Uptime Institute certified infrastructure is likely to increase the importance of metrics such as power usage effectiveness, water-usage effectiveness, and carbon usage effectiveness during the forecast period. The use of air-based cooling will continue to co-exist in the APAC region because of the growth of small facilities. China is leading in greenfield construction. There will be more likely to have brownfield developments in Hong Kong due to the space shortage during the forecast period. In terms of physical security, most service providers prefer four layers of safety, with a few engaging in the implementation of five-layer ones due to the increasing demand for colocation services. Australia is witnessing an increase in the construction of greenfield data center projects. Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, and Sydney are some of the major cities in Australia, where greenfield development is likely to increase. The need for DCIM software to monitor facilities will continue to grow as the need to improve operational efficiency is growing. The general construction market will witness an increased construction of data centers in Japan. However, the cost of developing new facilities in the country is high. The rest of the APAC market will witness the entry of new construction services providers with greenfield construction growing. Telecommunication service providers and government agencies are the major investors in Southeast countries. Multiple facilities are being developed in this region as part of commercial buildings in major cities. This scenario will change in the future years as more standalone data center developments will be witnessed in regions such as Southeast Asia, India, and Rest of APAC during the forecast period. However, with the increase in greenfield development, the need for skilled labor will also grow. The labor shortage is not higher in APAC countries than in European and American regions. Mega data center development will provide a major boost to the revenue growth for local construction contractors and suppliers. In the APAC region, several under-developed projects fall under the Tier III category. This trend is likely to continue during the forecast period, with many operators expected to move to the Tier IV category based on the growth in rack power density and critical applications. Data centers in Japan are likely to adopt the Uptime Institute's Tier III or Tier IV design with a minimum of N+N redundancy across infrastructures. Most facilities developed were Tier III and Tier IV standards in 2019. Insights by Geography The deployment of data centers in China & Hong Kong is likely to exceed supply due to the increasing demand for cloud-based services, big data analytics, and IoT. China is the world's largest IoT market, with 64% of the 1.5 billion global cellular connections. The market in Hong Kong is witnessing investments YOY, which is aiding the country to emerge as one of the major data center hubs in the world. The submarine cable deployment in Australia will boost facility growth. In 2019, submarine fiber cable projects were INDIGO-Central and INDIGO-West, which connect Australia, Indonesia, and Singapore will contribute to the increase in network traffic. The data center market in India is one of the fastest-growing in the APAC region. India witnessed continuous investment in cloud adoption and big data analytics from small and medium-sized industries in 2019. Government initiatives such as Digital India are the major contributor to the data center investment growth in the market. The market has also witnessed an increase in the number of new service providers offering hosting, storage, colocation services, and disaster recovery services. Key Vendor Analysis The APAC data center market is witnessing a steady growth in terms of IT infrastructure procurement, greenfield, brownfield, and modular data center development as well as the high adoption of efficient, scalable, flexible, and reliable infrastructure solutions. Moreover, the market has a strong presence of vendors in the three categories: IT infrastructure, support infrastructure, and data center investors. From the IT infrastructure perspective, the contribution from APAC based infrastructure providers as well as global providers is almost equal. The increasing competition will prompt vendors to reduce the price of solutions, namely, SSD's and Ethernet Switches to gain major shares. The market is witnessing the growth of data centers that are keen to reduce power and water consumption and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. This will increase the demand for energy-efficient and innovation power and cooling infrastructure solutions. Partnership with facility operators will play a vital role in gaining market share. It is because the majority of the providers in the regions have planned to invest millions of dollars in new facility development. Key Data Center Critical (IT) Infrastructure Providers Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Cisco Dell Technologies Huawei IBM Inspur Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Eaton Rittal Schneider Electric STULZ Vertiv Caterpillar Cummins Key Data Center Contractors AECOM Arup Aurecon CSF Group DSCO Group M+W Group Nikom Infrasolutions NTT FACILITIES Group Key Data Center Investors Apple AWS (Amazon Web Services) GDS Holdings Google Digital Realty Equinix NEXTDC NTT Communications ST Telemedia Global Data Centers (STT GDC) Other Prominent Critical (IT) Infrastructure Providers - Arista, Atos, Broadcom, Extreme Network, Hitachi Vantara, Inventec, Juniper, Lenovo, NEC, NetApp, Oracle, Pure Storage, Quanta Cloud Technology (Quanta Computer), Super Micro Computer, and Wistron (Wiwynn). Other Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers - Airedale Air Conditioning, Alfa Laval, Asetek, Bosch Security Systems (Robert Bosch), Cyber Power Systems, Delta Group, Euro-Diesel (KINOLT), Green Revolution Cooling (GRC), Hitech Power Protection, KOHLER (SDMO), Legrand, Nlyte Software, Mitsubishi, MTU On Site Energy (Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG), Socomec, and Trane (Ingersoll Rand). Other Prominent Construction Contractors - DPR Construction, Corgan, CSF Group, Cundall, Faithful+Gould, Flex Enclosure, Fortis Construction, Hutchinson Builders, ISG, Larsen & Turbo (L&T), Linesight, LSK Engineering, Nakano Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, and Red-Engineering. Other Prominent Data Center Investors - Bridge Data Centres, Canberra Data Centres, Chayora, China Unicom, CtrlS, FPT (Frasers Property Thailand), Global Switch, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ), Keppel Data Centres, Neo Telemedia, Pi DATACENTERS, Reliance Communications (GLOBAL CLOUD XCHANGE), Sify Technologies, Space DC, Tenglong Holdings Group (Tamron), and Yotta Infrastructure. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gedtjv Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Prashant Kishor in viral video: With or without Modi, BJP will be centre of Indian polity for decades 'Baat Bihar Ki': Prashant Kishor set to launch new plan to mobilise 1 crore youth India oi-Deepika S Patna, Feb 18: Prashant Kishor, the political strategist who was expelled from the Janata Dal(United) by party boss Nitish Kumar for his stand against the citizenship law, is set to launch a campaign titled 'Baat Bihar Ki' beginning February 20, reports suggest. The campaign will be aimed at reaching out to people "who believe in the need for a new leadership for Bihar". "There have been many discussions between me and Nitish ji about the party's ideology. Nitish ji always told us that the party can never leave the ideals of Gandhi ji... But now the party is with those who are soft on Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse... For me Gandhi ji and Godse cannot go hand-in-hand," Kishor told reporters. JD(U) expels Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma for 'anti-party' activities On expulsion from JD(U), the poll strategist said, "I have had good relations with Nitish Ji. I have immense respect for him. I will not question his decision. NEWS AT 3 PM, FEBRUARY 18th, 2020 Prashant Kishor and former Rajya Sabha member Pavan K Varma, once the closest aides of Kumar, were sacked aftey questioned Nitish Kumar's stand on the citizenship law that enables the government to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim-majority countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. A group of Louth parents have hit out at crippling childcare costs and have called on the incoming Government to reform the current childcare system following a protest held at their childrens creche, Aladdins Cave in Ardee. The parents comments came in wake of massive nationwide protests held in Dublin on February 5. Tens of thousands of childcare workers and parents marched through Dublin city centre to fight for better pay and conditions in the Irish childcare sector. One parent, who filled out the Dundalk Democrats questionnaire, said: Childcare costs are currently very expensive and its like having a second mortgage. They are currently half of my monthly wage. When the Democrat asked another parent if they found childcare costs prohibitive the mum replied: Yes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford. Its 60% of my income, whilst one of the other parents, whos childcare costs take up 25% of the familys income told us: They have a large impact on our finances. Another parent told The Democrat: Yes, childcare costs have been (prohibitive) for years. And the balance of finding childcare to suit working hours was a challenge recently when my husband returned to work. Indeed all of the five parents who spoke to the Dundalk Democrat agreed that their childcare costs caused significant strains on their finances. Whilst all of the parents were unanimous in their support for childcare workers, they all felt strongly that the Irish Government needs to do more to support working parents. One parent called for the Government to act on the following recommendations: Reduce the taxable income for working parents via tax credits. Introduce incentives to encourage parents to return or remain at work eg. back to work tax credits, additional tax credits during summer months. Increased salaries for childcare workers and funding for creches and Montessori schools. In Ardee, Aladdins Cave Montessori school and creche, a family run business established in 1990 that caters for children from 2 months to 12 months providing full daycare, part daycare, Montessori school, toddler play groups and afterschool care, held their own in-house protest on February 5. A spokesperson for the creche explained: We could not close our service on the day of the protest due to the complex child care needs of some of our parents. We fully support the protest as childcare is in total crisis countrywide. Services are closing at an alarming rate due to the ever-increasing demands made upon the sector by the regulations. We are tied in knots with the regulation and legislation that is being heaped upon us with little consultation or engagement. Childcare workers are leaving the profession due to low pay and it is next to impossible to recruit staff. Something has to be done soon! Our particular service has been seriously impacted by high insurance costs, rates, and water rates, increase in heat and light and general costs. There is nothing left to give staff pay increases for their valuable work. We are totally underfunded and cannot continue like this indefinitely. "Staff are required to have qualifications but this cannot be reflected in their pay due to the low investment in the sector. We want our business back, we have been running Aladdins Cave for over 30 years now and have always done an excellent job, but now the state has taken over. "Our every move is dictated by state legislation and regulation. We are currently unable to plan for the future as we dont know what lies ahead. I would ask the upcoming government to increase investment in Early Years immediately before it is too late. The Together for Early Years Alliance says the sector has reached crisis point resulting in poor pay and unsustainable services. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 13:23:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SYDNEY, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A cruise ship which was left in the lurch by the COVID-19 outbreak has been put to good use by providing humanitarian support and assistance -- starting with relieving Australian firefighting personnel. Cruise company Royal Caribbean confirmed on Tuesday that their ship, Spectrum of the Seas, would embark on two complimentary trips out of Sydney as a way of thanking those who battled the country's recent bushfire disaster, the majority of whom were volunteers. "We are in a fortunate position to offer these brave and selfless members of the Australian community the opportunity to join us for a few days and let them relax and unwind in the company of other volunteers and first responders," Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said. The ship is currently excluded from sailing to China due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and Bayley explained that the company hoped to make the best of a devastating situation by using its resources for humanitarian efforts. A similar relief service will be offered to firefighters from the United States, who battled California's recent devastating wildfires and will be treated to cruises aboard the ship, Celebrity Millennium, during the months of March and April. The company had also recently completed a shipment of over one million surgical masks to China in order to help with the virus recovery. "At Royal Caribbean, we consider ourselves fortunate to be able to use our ships in a positive way during difficult times," Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said. "We admire the all-out efforts of the Chinese government and people to address this crisis, and we want to bring our resources to bear to help their efforts." Bayley added that when circumstances improve, the company will dedicate a ship to China to offer complimentary journeys for responders and medical personnel whose heroic efforts helped to defeat the virus. In 2018, Tiffany Haddish offered to date Brad Pitt if he was still single in 2020. And during the Oscars this year, when the two met up at the Vanity Fair viewing party in Beverly Hills where they posed side by side, the question was begged if he asked the beauty out. Now the Girls Trip star has told Harper's Bazaar what transpired. 'You could tell he was scared of me,' started the comedienne as she laughed. 'He was like, "Oh, sh*t, Tiffany Haddish is here," and doing his eyes shifty. I was like, "Aint nobody f**king with you. Youve got too many kids."' Fun times: Tiffany Haddish dressed up as Holly Golightly from Breakfast At Tiffany's for Harper's Bazaar magazine Classic scene: Audrey Hepburn played Holly in the 1961 movie based on a story by Truman Capote Brad co-parents five of the six children he helped raise with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. 'Men got to work for it, you know?'Haddish added. 'They like the hunt. Cant make it too easy.' Tiffany also talked about how some A list women in Hollywood have helped her out. She particularly likes Meryl Streep. Not a match? Haddish offered to date Brad Pitt if he was still single in 2020. And during the Oscars this year, when the two met up at the Vanity Fair viewing party in Beverly Hills where they posed side by side. She said he had 'shifty' eyes 'She smells like success. She introduced me to Steven Spielberg. I was bowing and stuff: "Hello, Mr. Spielberg." He was like, "You are so delightful. I just love it. You are so funny. You really bring great energy to a room." I was like, "Oh, thank you I can do that on set too."' And Salma Hayek also urged her to speak up for herself on their movie set. They costar in Like A Boss. 'She was telling me how to go about it. It was the best learning experience. I couldve been fired that day. It very well couldve been like, Fire Tiffany. Well get somebody else. That was a chance that I was willing to take. Funny lady: 'You could tell he was scared of me,' started the comedienne as she laughed. 'He was like, "Oh, sh*t, Tiffany Haddish is here," and doing his eyes shifty. I was like, "Aint nobody f**king with you. Youve got too many kids."' Like reel life: Here Audrey is seen with her cigarette in a holder as she enjoys a croissant 'You have to say what you believe. When you have that bad feeling, honor that because thats the truth. Your emotions are your compass through life.' Tiffany dresses as Holly Golightly from the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffanys for the shoot by Eric Ray Davidson. The story is based on the Truman Capote novella. Audrey Hepburn took on the role of Holly, a social climber with a heart of gold. Her faves: Tiffany also talked about how some A list women in Hollywood have helped her out. She particularly likes Meryl Streep and Salma Hayek Haddish was like Holly until she landed the 2017 comedy Girls Trip. Now she is starring in Bad Trip, with Eric Andre. The movie star grew up in South Central, a difficult neighborhood in Los Angeles. with her four younger siblings. Her father left the family when she was three, and after her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her pal: Tiffany posing with her co-star Salma Hayek as they visited Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live The children ended up in foster care. Also in her interview, Haddish talked about her bat mitzvah on her 40th birthday: 'I learned Hebrew and everything. I was doing those bar mitzvahs for like 11 years, so I was always learning things.' She also said a pop icon turned her on to PopSockets: 'Taylor Swift was the first one that got me into these things. She was like, Here, get some memorabilia from my concert. I was like, What is this? And she was like, "You put it on your cell phone."' Representatives with Houston, TX-based MyBioGate announced today that the company is actively seeking coronavirus treatment projects from companies around the world as a not-for-profit action by the company to help tackle the humanitarian crisis. If your company has a project or technology to treat the condition, and would like to seek Chinese partners or investors, get in touch with us as soon as possible, said Miao Guo Smith, Vice President of Operations and spokesperson for MyBioGate, We have extended the submission deadline again to February 28, however, prolong to the situation, it is very urgent. MyBioGate is calling for all projects that may be of a solution to the current 2019 nCoV outbreak, explained Guo and added, As of today, We have currently received the details of over 260 projects. After the internal screening, 107 projects have been submitted for the second round of review by Chinese professionals. The projects are being professionally reviewed 24/7 by the experts. Guo went on to highlight that this is a human tragedy, and its a not-for-profit action from the company, and all staff from the company are doing their best to help find a solution to the coronavirus situation. Currently, 35 physicians and scientists on the frontier have joined MyBioGate COVID-19 Project Review Committee, including Dr. Cao Bins team who is leading the Remdesivir clinical trial in Wuhan; experts from the National Clinical Laboratories; professors from Wuhan Institute of Virology, and other domestic and international universities; scientists from MNC engaged in anti-viral drug research and development (BMS, Gilead, etc.). MyBioGate is seeking projects in Drug, Medical Device, Diagnosis, and Vaccine categories. As the breakout is a serious threat to public health, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, also known as CFDA) has announced to accelerate approval speed for projects associated with the treatment of the virus. Guo also urged that if any coronavirus treatment project is in any of the following stages, please send the details by completing this form: Research Pre-clinical IND Phase I Phase I/II Phase II Phase II/III Phase III Phase IV Approval Marked Prototype Technology Platform Guo also asked those interested in submitting the project to explain the competitive advantage of their respective projects. Owing to time constraints and the urgency of the situation, the deadline for this application is February 28. If your project is found interesting to our China partners, we will contact you right away to move forward, highlighted Guo. Regarding the company, Guo highlighted that MyBioGate is a cross-border healthcare consulting firm that works with biotech and medtech clients, and the Chinese pharma companies and investors. MyBioGate helps innovative healthcare projects connect with Chinese capital, market, and expert resources. MyBiogate also organizes various China Focus events worldwide to bring together investors, pharma leaders, and innovators from China and around the world for an exclusive partnering event designed to inspire, educate, and foster cross-border investment and collaboration in leading biopharma innovations. For more information about MyBioGates services, please visit https://en.mybiogate.com/services/ About MyBioGate MyBioGate is a healthcare consulting firm. We offer marketing, strategy, and execution support to help healthcare innovation grow by taking advantage of Chinas huge market potential. We help innovative companies with China-Landing services and help them find reliable Chinese investors and partners. MyBioGate is committed to linking healthcare innovations in China and overseas. We share global healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, investment trends, KOL opinions, important events and conferences, in-depth research and analysis, allowing Chinese medical and health companies and investors to gain insight into trends and seize investment opportunities. Our China Focus forums, Global Healthcare Innovation Competitions, and roadshows to China provide innovative companies who intend to enter China market with platforms for exposure to potential investors and partners. Contact Details: Feier Chen Marketing Manager 7707 Fannin Street Ste. 200 Houston, TX 77054 United States Phone: (832) 497-2220 Email: feier.chen at mybiogate.com Source: MyBioGate Inc. (en.mybiogate.com) ### Coles is being sued by local tobacconists who claim they are are being put out of business because the supermarket giant is selling cigarettes for less than the market price. Former local tobacconists Anthony, Rebecca and Michael Rachelle are taking the Australian retail giant to the Victorian Federal Court on Friday after being forced to shut down their businesses. The trio claim they were forced to close down because they couldn't compete with Coles' incredibly low cigarette prices. The trio claim they were forced to close down because they couldn't compete with Coles' incredibly low cigarette prices (stock) In their statement to the courts, the trio claim that Coles is using its market power to sell cigarettes from the top three companies - British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Australia and Phillip Morris - at below market price. '[Coles] has used its substantial degree of market power in the market of acquiring and supplying tobacco products to consumers in Australia, for the purpose of or likely having the effect of substantially lessening competition in the market,' The Age reported the statement as saying. The Rachelles claim their customers were convinced they were being overcharged because they could get the same products far cheaper at Coles. They say this resulted in so much damage to their stores' finances and reputations that they were forced to close down and sell the businesses. The Rachelles claim their customers were convinced they were being overcharged because they could get the same product far cheaper at Coles (stock) Michael Rachelle said he had to sell his business for $10,000 after paying more than $70,000 to set it up. Anthony Rachelle made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into franchising in 2018, stating he and other tobacconists were bullied by the cigarette companies. He claimed Coles was selling their British American Tobacco products for almost $40 less than the wholesale price he is charged by his supplier. Mr Rachelle did not specify which product he was charged that price for. The trio told the publication that they will be representing themselves in court after spending more than $12,000 to get a solicitor. 'Any further representation was going to be completely beyond the realms of anything we could afford, so we're just winging it at the moment,' Mr Rachelle said. 'We sold our businesses for next to nothing as the value of them was destroyed.' Coles at Wynyard Station (pictured) sells Winfield Original 20 packs for $33.95 - slightly more than a nearby tobacconist but less than a convenience store in the same area EzyMart on George Street (pictured) sold both Winfield Original and Crush for the same price Daily Mail Australia visited the EzyMart convenience store on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD and a nearby tobacconist to compare the price for some of their cigarettes to what is on offer at Coles and its main competitor, Woolworths. The results showed that while Coles' cigarette prices were less than the convenience stores', Woolworths was cheaper overall. EzyMart on Kent Street sells Winfield Original 20 packs - a British American Tobacco product - for $34 while a pack of 25 goes for $41. Their Winfield Crush 20 pack is sold for $35 and the 25 pack for $42. EzyMart on nearby George Street sold both Winfield Original and Crush for the same price - a pack of 20 costs $35 and and a 25-pack is $45. The King of the Pack tobacconist on Sussex Street told Daily Mail Australia that they change their prices every Monday. They sell Winfield Original 20 pack for less than EzyMart at $30.80 and a pack of 25 goes for $37.80. Woolworths at Wynyard Station (pictured) sells Winfield Original 20 packs for just $28.95 - less than all other stores Daily Mail Australia visited Coles at Wynyard Station sells Winfield Original 20 packs for $33.95 - slightly more than King of the Pack but less than EzyMart. The Winfield Original 40 pack is sold in Coles for a whopping $54.95. Woolworths at Wynyard Station sells Winfield Original 20 packs for less than the other stores at just $28.95. Their pack of 25 is $34.95 - the same as what a pack of 20 goes for at the convenience stores. King of the Pack (pictured) on Sussex Street in Sydney sells Winfield Original 20 packs for $30.80 and a pack of 25 for $37.80 From September, Australians will be paying one of the highest prices in the world for a packet of cigarettes, with a 25 pack of Marlboro Golds costing an eye-watering $48.50. The cheapest pack will be about $29. The price hike will be the eighth consecutive yearly increase, and is part of the government's attempt to reduce tobacco use. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles for comment. UPDATE: Public-safety offices open. Munitions that appeared to be explosives determined inert by state police bomb squad. WYOMING, MI Department of Public Safety headquarters is closed Tuesday, Feb. 18, after a resident found military munitions and brought them to the station. The closing will not affect response by police or firefighters. A resident found munitions in the house of a relative who died and with the best intentions brought them to our facility for disposal, police Capt. James Maguffee said in an email. He did not specify what items were brought in. Their volatility is unknown but in an abundance of caution, we are closing the building to public access while we determine the best way to safely handle the items, he said. Police expect to provided further information shortly. Family sickened by young mothers severe brain injury in road-rage encounter Man, horse killed in crash, state police trooper injured Unspeakable act of mom killing her 3 daughters calls into question mental health help Rawat said that Navys eastern and western command could be combined under one commander, the Peninsular Command as India face threats like 26/11. New Delhi: India will have a peninsular command for maritime security, a separate J&K theatre command, and air defence command, said Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat on Monday. He said that India will start rolling theatre command by 2022 but air defence command will be the first to be set up by the beginning of 2021 and a peninsular command by end of 2021. Gen. Rawat said that by the end of 2020 directive will be issued to set up a study group for the theatreisation, under which personnel and assets from army, navy and air force in an area will come under single commander to effective strike at the enemy. He said under the study J&K could be a single theatre command. Currently Kashmir Valley till Akhnoor is under Indian Armys Northern Command and the rest of the Jammu region comes under Western Command. Gen Rawat said that there could be 2-5 theatre commands along the western and northern borders. He said that there could be either one command for China or two separate commands one east of Nepal and another west of Nepal. Gen. Rawat said that Navys eastern and western command could be combined under one commander, the Peninsular Command as India face threats like 26/11. The commander will focus on the whole Indian Ocean Region. The Commander will be free to transfer ships from western to eastern command as per the threat perception and will be in better position to manage the security of the region as he will be on ground, said Gen. Rawat. He said that a study will be set up on 31st March 2020 and the peninsular command is expected to take shape by end of 2021 and some of the assets of army and air force will also be transferred to it. He said that study has been initiated for setting up a air defence command which will be under Air Force and will be responsible for the air defence of the country. The study will be submitted by 31st March this year and it will take at least one year to set up the command, said Gen Rawat. He said most of the air defence assets of army, navy will be transferred to the new command so that there is better co-ordination and quick reaction during an air attack on the country. The Chief of Defence Staff also said that government plans to have a separate training and doctrinal command modelled on similar structure in the US, while a separate command will be set up to take care of logistical requirements of the three services. The objection of the preliminary investigation body regarding the decision of the prosecutor conducting oversight over the case regarding Ara Babloyan (ex-speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia) and Arsen Babayan (ex-deputy chief of staff of the National Assembly of Armenia) on disapproving the indictment and returning the criminal case has been rejected due to the fact that it is groundless, as reported Head of the Public Relations Department of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia Arevik Khachatryan. As reported earlier, the Prosecutor Generals Office hadnt approved the indictment for the case of Ara Babloyan for the second time and had forwarded it to the Special Investigation Service for further investigation. Based on the application filed by deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia Arman Babajanyan, on October 28, within the scope of the criminal case instituted by the Special Investigation Service, former speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan was charged with possession of the powers of the Constitutional Court and official fraud. A lot at 1525 N. American St. in Philadelphia, where a charter school cofounded by Philadelphia labor leader John J. Dougherty had planned to build a new building. The latest plans call for a six-story residential building with commercial space on the ground floor. Read more The Philadelphia charter high school backed by the citys electrical workers union has abandoned its plan for a new building on the South Kensington lot where apartments with coworking offices for local entrepreneurs had been planned. Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter High School (PETCHS) is no longer pursuing the proposal for a $21.1 million classroom building at 1525 N. American St., school chief executive Erin Dougherty said in an email. A six-story residential building is instead being planned at the property, according to the Department of Licenses and Inspections. PETCHS was founded in 2002 by John J. Johnny Doc Dougherty, business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Erin Dougherty, John Doughertys daughter; and Michael Neill, director of Local 98s apprentice training program. The school currently occupies the upper stories of 1420 Chestnut St., a historic Center City office building. It was approved in July for a loan of up to $22 million through the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID) to finance the proposed new building near the corner of American and Oxford Streets. READ MORE: Big Philly landlord to cash in on some holdings, as opportunity zone designation boosts values The new school was slated to be a 60,000-square-foot building with about 40 classrooms, as well as a broadcast lab, green space, one or more multimedia rooms, a life skills center, a cafe, and parking," according to PAIDs agenda. The property is owned by a business founded by the late developer Sean Schellenger in partnership with property investor Sean Frankel. Schellenger and Frankel once proposed an apartment building at the site with free ground-floor coworking space for nearby residents to start new businesses, a project they named Techadelphia." READ MORE: Phillys rapidly changing neighborhoods may be skewing the count of underwater mortgages The current proposal calls for a building with 110 apartment or condo units and ground-floor commercial space, according to L&I, which issued a zoning permit for the project this month. It was not immediately clear whether the new project was being proposed by Frankel or another developer who has the land under contract. Frankel did not respond to an email. Rustin Ohler of the firm Harman Deutsch Ohler Architecture, who filed for the zoning permit, did not respond to a phone call. Erin Dougherty said PETCHS was not affiliated with the proposal. She did not respond to a followup email asking whether the school still planned to relocate from its Center City home. READ MORE: $103 million sought from Comcast Technology Center contractor after cost overruns and Four Seasons delay The schools lease at the building runs until July of next year, said Adriano Calvanese, a vice president overseeing commercial leasing for landlord PMC Property Group. John Dougherty and seven codefendants, including City Councilman Bobby Henon, were charged last year with counts including wire fraud, falsifying records, and accepting illegal payments. Dougherty and his codefendants have denied the allegations against them. BEIRUT/GENEVA: Government air strikes have hit hospitals and refugee camps in northwest Syria and killed about 300 civilians as President Bashar al-Assad`s forces press an assault against the last rebel stronghold, the United Nations said on Tuesday. UN officials said relief agencies were overwhelmed by the humanitarian crisis as nearly one million civilians, most of them women and children, had fled towards the Turkish border in bitter winter conditions to escape the onslaught. "Civilians fleeing the fighting are being squeezed into areas without safe shelter that are shrinking in size by the hour. And still they are bombed. They simply have nowhere to go," UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said. Syrian and Russian warplanes meanwhile kept up raids on the town of Darat Izza in Aleppo province on Tuesday, witnesses said, a day after two hospitals there were badly damaged. At Al Kinana Hospital, blown-out walls and dust-covered medical cables and supplies were strewn about the hospital after two staff were wounded on Monday, witnesses said. Ankara said talks with Moscow on Idlib were "not satisfactory" and Turkey would deploy more troops to the region. Turkish and Russian officials held a second day of talks in Moscow with no apparent agreement on Idlib, where the latest push by Russian-backed Syrian government forces has killed several Turkish troops. Russia said both sides restated their commitment to existing agreements aimed at reducing tension in Idlib. A statement did not mention Turkey`s demand for Syrian government forces to pull back. Turkey says it cannot cope with a new refugee influx in addition to the 3.6 million Syrian refugees already stranded inside its borders. Appearing on national television on Monday, Assad said the rapid military gains presaged the eventual defeat of the nine-year-old insurgency against him although it could still take time. The rebel factions include Turkish-backed rebels and jihadist militants. POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville, asked if Syria and Russia were deliberately targeting civilians and protected buildings, said: "The sheer quantity of attacks on hospitals, medical facilities, and schools would suggest they cannot all be accidental." The attacks could constitute war crimes, Colville told a briefing in Geneva. The UN human rights office said it had recorded 299 civilian deaths since Jan. 1, about 93% caused by the Syrian government and its allies. The swift advance of government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, through northwest Syria has caused the biggest displacement of the war as people flee towards a shrinking pocket near the Turkish frontier where insurgents hold their last strongholds. A UN spokesman, David Swanson, said close to 900,000 people have fled conflict zones in Idlib province and western Aleppo since December, more than 80% of them women and children. Many have been unable to find shelter and are sleeping outside in freezing temperatures, burning plastic to stay warm and at risk of disease and death. "Only half of all the health facilities in the northwest are still functioning now," Swanson said. Hurras Network, a Save the Children partner in Idlib, said seven children including a seven-month-old baby had died from freezing temperatures and bleak conditions in displaced person camps. About 525,000 children are among those trapped, the UN Children`s Fund (UNICEF) said. FULL CONTROL The Syrian army said on Monday it had taken full control of dozens of towns in the Aleppo countryside. The M5 highway linking Damascus to Aleppo, the focus of recent fighting, was re-opened to civilian traffic on Tuesday after government forces recaptured it last week, the Syrian Observatory war monitoring group reported. The opposition said air strikes in southern areas of Idlib province had left dozens of towns and villages in ruins in what is called a "scorched earth policy". The Russian and Turkish delegation's meeting in Moscow was trying to reconcile their differences over Idlib, which have raised questions over the durability of their cooperation. Turkey has sent thousands of troops and convoys of military equipment to reinforce its observation posts in Idlib, established under a 2018 de-escalation agreement with Russia. Moscow has accused Turkey of flouting their agreements and failing to rein in militants it said were attacking Syrian and Russian forces. In one positive note, Turkish and Russian troops have restarted joint patrols near the border that had been halted since October, a Russian defence ministry official said. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said the WHO was sending essential medicines and supplies across the border, including trauma kits for Idlib. Seven Maldivian nationals evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan were discharged from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)-managed quarantine facility in Chhawla on Monday night. Having tested negative for coronavirus, all seven Maldivians will be departing for their homeland on Tuesday. The seven Maldivians had arrived in India alongside 323 Indians on a special Air India flight which had been sent to China as part of an evacuation operation undertaken by the Indian government. A total of 640 Indians had been evacuated from China in two special operations. Immediately upon their arrival in the capital, the Maldivians and the Indians were sent to quarantine facilities run by the Indian Army and ITBP, where they stayed for a period of more than two weeks. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 1800 people in that country alone, while cases have been registered in several countries across the world, including India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) File image Political circles in West Bengal were abuzz on February 17 with speculation that poll strategist Prashant Kishor is likely to be accorded 'Z' category security by the state police. However, both the state secretariat and top leadership of the TMC remained tight-lipped. Repeated calls to Kishor also went unanswered. The development comes amid hearsay that the architect of several successful political campaigns might join CM Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2021 assembly polls. Hitting out, CPI(M) Legislative Party leader Sujan Chakraborty asked why was Kishor being provided 'Z' category security at the expense of the state government despite having no relation with public life in West Bengal. "Is @PrashantKishor being provided Z Category security? At the #GoWB expenses? Why? No relation with public life in #Bengal. Is it planted by @AmitShah ? Seems the closeness with @MamataOfficial is causing one insecure! Highly deplorable & conspicuous!" he tweeted. The JD(U) last month expelled Kishor, who was its vice-president, saying his conduct in the recent past had made it clear that he did not want to abide by the party's discipline. Kishor, like the West Bengal chief minister, has been a strong critic of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR). According to TMC sources, Kishor shares a very good rapport and working relation with Banerjee. After its dismal performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the TMC hired Kishor to strategise and fix the lacunae before next year's assembly elections. Kishor's strategy worked for the party in the November bypolls as it won all three assembly seats. In a blistering attack on Prashant Kishor, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday said the expelled JD(U) leader had cut his teeth as an election strategist for Narendra Modi in 2014, but was now accusing the BJP of following "Godse". In a flurry of tweets, Sushil Modi, one of the senior most leaders of the BJP in Bihar, flayed Kishor, without mentioning him by name, for having used a derogatory term like "pichhlaggu" (underling) for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar despite claiming that the JD(U) boss was "pitra tulya" (like a father) to him. The opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar, however, lapped up the strident criticism of the Nitish Kumar government to help the five-party formation in its fight against the formidable NDA in the assembly polls due later this year. The deputy CM, who has had spats with Kishor on social media on more than one occasion when the latter was the JD(U) national vice-president, disparaged the acclaimed poll strategist as one who lived off "event management and slogan writing" and was quick to "adopt the ideology and political idiom of sponsors". "Elections are due in Bihar in a few months. Hence, all are working towards maximising their gains. While the ruling dispensation is going to the people with an account of its achievements in the last five years, the unemployed are taking out rath yatra," Sushil Modi said. He was alluding to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's proposed state-wide Berozgari Yatra, scheduled to commence on Sunday. Targeting Kishor, the BJP leader said, "The public is supreme and it will bless those who have performed... those involved in event management and slogan writing, are now looking for a new contract. Event managers have no ideology of their own and they are quick to adopt the ideology of sponsors". "But the public is watching all this. It is taking note of people discovering the shadow of Godse, just ahead of elections, in some and pristine Gandhian secularism in others," he alleged. "The one who used to boast about having handled Narendra Modi's poll campaign in 2014, should explain why neither BJP nor Modi appeared to him as followers of Godse back then. "Nitish Kumar is with the BJP for the past two-and-a-half years. Why has he discovered Godse's legacy only eight months ahead of the assembly polls?" the deputy chief minister said. At his first press conference after expulsion from the JD(U), Kishor said here earlier in the day that he was unable to reconcile with Nitish Kumar choosing to align with "followers of Godse", while swearing by Gandhi, Lohia and JP. Sushil Modi also remarked, "it is a strange hypocrisy to call somebody 'pita tulya' and using a foul word like 'pichhlaggu' for the same person," referring to Kishor's contention that he still had personal regard for the chief minister though he was saddened by Kumar's capitulation before the BJP for retaining power. JD(U) national general secretary and chief spokesman K C Tyagi, who was the signatory to the letter whereby Kishor along with another party dissident Pavan Varma was expelled last month, also reacted to the election strategist's outbursts with visible distaste. "We do not take things spoken by him seriously. Nitish Kumar has never been a pichhlaggu of anybody. By using such words, he is demeaning the people of Bihar. He has no ideological commitments towards Gandhi or Godse. "We know for whom he is batting this time. They have been defeated by Nitish Kumar at the hustings repeatedly. If he chooses to join this fight, we are game for the challenge," Tyagi said. Meanwhile, the opposition happily latched onto the stringent criticism Kishor made of Kumar, who has been declared as the NDA face in the upcoming state polls by former BJP chief and Union Home minister Amit Shah. The Congress, which has also utilised the services of Kishor, in more than one state, asked the 42-year-old poll strategist to give up his ambivalence towards the chief minister, reminding him of the "humiliating" manner in which he was expelled from the JD(U) for having irked the BJP. "Prashant Kishor has called Nitish Kumar pitra tulya. The chief minister did not bat an eyelid while humiliating him and expelling him from the party in which he held the post of national vice-president. All this only to placate the BJP," AICC media panelist and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra told PTI. Kishor had been bitterly opposed to his party's support to the CAA, a stance that had threatened to upend the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in the state. Mishra said Kishor must utilise his talents by joining hands with the RJD-Congress alliance. RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary echoed the sentiments, saying, "We have been saying what Kishor said today about the inconsistencies of Nitish Kumar and his fall from grace following capitulation before the BJP". "His words have lent credence to the claim made by our leader Tejashwi Yadav on the floor of the assembly where he had expressed shock over the realignment, given Kumar's serious apprehensions about the Sangh and its ideology," Tiwary said, asking Kishor to give up his drift and wholeheartedly join the anti-NDA forces. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha, partners of the opposition grouping, also hailed Kishor and welcomed him to work with them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amie Harwick, a Hollywood family and sex therapist and the former fiancee of Drew Carey, was killed Saturday at her Hollywood Hills home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspect has been identified as 41-year-old Gareth Pursehouse, a former boyfriend of Harwicks and a resident of Playa Del Rey. He was arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder with bail set at $2 million. On Saturday, February 15, 2020, around 1:16 a.m. Hollywood patrol officers responded to a radio call of a, Woman Screaming, in the 2000 block of Mound Street in Hollywood Hills, LAPD said in a statement to TheWrap Monday. When officers arrived, they were met by a roommate who was in the street. He informed officers that the victim was being assaulted inside of her residence. The roommate had jumped a wall and went to neighboring residences to call for help. Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2020 (Photos) When officers went to make entry, they found the victim on the ground beneath a third story balcony. The victim was gravely injured. She suffered significant injuries consistent with a fall. The victim was unresponsive. The Los Angeles Fire Department transported the victim to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries. The investigation revealed possible evidence of a struggle in the upstairs as well as forced entry to the residence. A canvass of the area located further evidence of an intruder (suspect) entering the property and leaving after the murder. Authorities say they learned that Harwick had recently expressed fear about a former boyfriend and had previously filed a restraining order against this person. That restraining order was expired at the time of her death and Harwick had seen Pursehouse two weeks ago. The investigation is ongoing and the case will be presented to the District Attorney for filing consideration on Wednesday, according to LAPD. Harwick, well-known as a Hollywood-based family and sex therapist, appeared in the 2015 documentary Addicted to Sexting. She was previously engaged to The Price Is Right host Carey, though it is unclear when that engagement ended. Read original story Amie Harwick, Sex Therapist and Drew Careys Ex-Fiancee, Murdered in Hollywood Hills Home At TheWrap STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The alleged wrong-way driver charged in a fatal crash early Sunday morning on the West Shore Expressway remained hospitalized Tuesday morning, with an arraignment in Criminal Court in St. George pending. It was unclear when he would be arraigned. Aureliano Garcia Juarez, 47, who police say lives on Adler Road in Annapolis, Md., faces charges including driving while intoxicated, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and reckless driving, according to an NYPD spokesman. His passenger, Carmelia Martinez, was transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where she was pronounced dead. The 37-year-old has been identified as his wife, a law enforcement source said Monday. Garcia Juarez, meanwhile, was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze in stable condition. Martinez was a resident of Beverly Avenue in New Brunswick, N.J. -- the same location police previously listed as Garcia Juarezs address. The suspects Honda SUV was traveling in the wrong direction on the southbound side for several miles before colliding with a minivan and a pickup truck, according to a law enforcement source. The crash occurred approximately 5:40 a.m. on Sunday, near the South Avenue exit. Tens of thousands of university workers, as well as students, are being forced to bear the burden of the Australian governments reactionary travel ban on all non-permanent residents from China. Chinese international students are unable to begin their studies this year, so university managements are imposing cost-cutting measures, particularly affecting casual academics. Following the lead of the Trump administration, the Liberal-National Coalition government imposed the travel ban on the pretext of protecting Australians from the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese province of Hubei, despite the World Health Organisation saying such measures are counter-productive in the global effort to combat the virus. Last week, the government extended the ban for at least a further week, and further extensions are likely, preventing an estimated 107,000 Chinese tertiary and high school students from entering Australia to start or resume their courses. Even if the affected students could return to Australia this month, they would have to undergo self-isolation for 14 days, as required by the federal government. As well as severely disrupting the lives and future of these students, the ban is threatening an estimated $3 billion a year in fee revenue that the universities extract from Chinese international students. Over the past decade, the universities have increasingly exploited international studentsoften being charged more than $30,000 a yearas cash cows to offset government funding cuts, leaving the public universities vulnerable to any disruption to what has become their business model. The Greens-backed Labor government of Julia Gillard cut $2.7 billion from tertiary funding in 2013, initiating a cost-cutting drive that the Coalition government has intensified ever since, including by a freeze on funding for domestic undergraduate students. As a result of Labors supposed education revolution, international tertiary and secondary school students have become Australian capitalisms second biggest foreign exchange earner, valued at some $32 billion annually. Universities have been transformed into money-making businesses. As of last October, there were more than 730,000 international students in Australia, up from 250,000 in 2012, with 28 percent hailing from China. Of the 200,000 Chinese students enrolled in high schools, English language schools and universities, more than half are still offshore, including approximately 85,000 university students. Many may now transfer their enrolments to countries, such as Britain and Canada, that have not imposed punitive travel bans. One industry survey said a third of these students are considering such a shift. In response to the loss of enrolments, university managements are imposing recruitment freezes, increased staff workloads and sudden deadlines for academics to transform their courses into online presentations that the universities hope can be delivered in China. The University of Wollongong, for example, has about 1,000 students stranded by the travel ban. Staff members received an ominous email last week from vice-chancellor Paul Wellings announcing an expenditure control process across the full spectrum of university spending. Wellings provided no detail but warned that at this stage it is too soon to say with certainty what the scale of this impact will be. Most of all, casual teachers at all universities are having their expected teaching hours scrapped, reduced or postponed, leaving them without income for at least six months. As the result of the decade of funding cuts, poorly-paid casual or sessional staff now do more than half the teaching and research in Australias public universities, up from 40 percent at the turn of the century. Repeated trade union-negotiated enterprise agreements at each of the universities have prevented a unified fight back by university workers, helping managements casualise their workforce. Only 6.4 out of every 100 new positions created at Australian universities between 2009 and 2015 were tenured teaching or research jobs. Various reports suggest up to 80 percent of undergraduate courses in some universities have been taught by a casual academic. By mid-2018, an estimated 94,500 people were employed at universities on a casual basis. This makes tertiary education one of the biggest casualised workforces in Australia, together with the retail, hospitality and service industries. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) which covers academic staff and some professional staff, has written to university vice-chancellors to ask them to guarantee the income of casual university teachers denied work by the travel ban. That is, far from proposing any action by university workers to oppose the massive job cuts, the union is appealing to the same managements that are inflicting the cuts. NTEU national president Alison Barnes said the union had heard reports of contracts not being issued to casual staff since the travel ban was announced. Academics also reportedly had been given unrealistic deadlines of mere days to move entire curricula to online delivery only. Federal Education Minister Dan Teehan claims that progress is being made in negotiations with Chinese authorities to allow Australian educational institutions to transmit online courses, but the Chinese government has condemned the travel ban. The Chinese embassy in Canberra said the governments decision to extend the initial 14-day travel ban by another week was an overreaction indeed, adding: The World Health Organisation has repeatedly stressed that it does not recommend putting travel and trade restrictions on China. Along with casual academics, students, both international and domestic, are bearing the greatest brunt of the hammer blows to the universities. Their basic right to a first-class education, free to all, is being denied. While Chinese students are most directly hit, thousands of classes will be affected, and conditions will worsen for all students. No doubt there will be moves to increase domestic fees to offset the revenue collapse. Council of International Students Australia president Ahmed Ademoglu told the media that his members felt exploited and would discourage future students from enrolling in Australia. He said international students were aggrieved by the detention of Chinese students at Australian airports. One Chinese international student told the WSWS: The travel ban has affected the lives of thousands of students. It has become the governments nationalist dog whistle, although they are still trying to deny it. Undoubtedly, after experiencing many serious crises, the Australian government is planning to take this opportunity to show its strength and toughness. Therefore, those groups without a voice, like international students and workers, have become their best targets Students lives in Australia have also been greatly affected. A friend of mine has been told by the landlord that he cannot continue to rent his house, even though he is in good health and is willing to pay the rent when he is not in Australia. Chinese students and workers were being victimised, he said. This is a dangerous signal that the capitalist government will use the slogan of national interest to divide us. This will have a devastating effect on society, especially as international relations become increasingly tense and social issues get sharper. Upload electronic designs in popular CAD formats to view and share in your browser EMBEDDED WORLD - Today Altium, a global leader in PCB design software, announced the launch of a new cloud-based application that redefines the way that printed circuit board designs are shared between designers, part suppliers, and manufacturers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005188/en/ Visually stunning, interactive CAD centric renditions of user PCBs, including Schematic, PCB, 3D and BOM, all easily available through a browser on any web-enabled device. (Graphic: Business Wire) The A365 Viewer, powered by the Altium 365 cloud platform, is a brand new, and innovative way to view and share electronic designs through a browser on any web-enabled desktop, phone or tablet. Schematics, PCB layout, and 3D visualization provide an interactive eCAD experience with no downloads or installations required. The A365 Viewer is part of Altium's cloud strategy and newly launched Altium 365 cloud platform. Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication Until now, designers have been forced to share their PCB designs through PDFs or static images. With the new A365 Viewer, an interactive experience is created that retains all of the key relevant information that's typically lost when sharing static files. For example, the A365 Viewer allows users to search for, select, cross-probe and inspect components and nets while moving seamlessly between schematic, PCB and 3D views of their board. Using the A365 Viewer requires no CAD tools or experience. The A365 Viewer is designed to work with multiple eCAD formats, currently supporting Autodesk Eagle and Altium Designer. Other popular PCB design software formats will be supported in the near future. Easily Embedded on Your Website Anyone can easily embed the viewer on their website, free of charge, by visiting https://www.altium.com/viewer/ As an example, a well-known developer of electronics hardware and software kits, Arduino, is helping engineers and makers to easily and quickly visualize the PCB designs and assemblies available in their product kits, by embedding the A365 Viewer on the Arduino website. "Adding the Altium 365 Viewer has significantly enhanced the user experience when navigating the product documentation in our website. Now Arduino users can freely browse schematics, PCB layout and even 3D models of the Arduino boards and modules online, without the need to download or install anything additional. The capability of being CAD-agnostic will shorty allow Arduino to add the online design viewer to every product page, including the ones designed in Autodesk Eagle." Fabio Violante, CEO, Arduino Built-in Design IP Protection The A365 Viewer protects the IP rights of design owners while retaining the CAD design details via a new process called Published Design Impression (PDI). The Viewer processes the design source files to create a Published Design Impression, or PDI. The PDI is a CAD-aware, perishable snapshot of the design that captures limited information such as components, net connectivity and basic geometrics, excluding design primitive data that would be required to fully comprehend and author changes to the design. The design sources are discarded immediately after being used solely for the purpose of creating a PDI. The design is available for the duration of the user's browser session and is automatically removed when the browser tab is closed. Altium is demonstrating its A365 Viewer at the Embedded World 2020 trade show, Hall 4 stand 371, taking place at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center on February 25-27. To learn more visit: https://www.altium.com/viewer/ ABOUT ALTIUM Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products. The growing demand for smart and connected products is driving advancements in electronics technology. Design trends are demonstrating the need for minimizing power, reducing package size and energy consumption, and prioritizing high-speed design. For over 30 years, Altium has been delivering software that maximizes the productivity of PCB designers and electrical engineers, from idea to board. Users are at the center of Altium's R&D and business operations. With its unique Business-to-User approach, Altium is focused on developing software that is easy to use and implement, with solutions that enable innovation and deliver industry-leading user productivity. Products include Altium Designer, Altium Concord Pro, Altium 365, Altium NEXUS, CircuitMaker, CircuitStudio, Octopart, and TASKING. To learn more about Altium, visit www.altium.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005188/en/ Contacts: Masha Petrova pr@altium.com EZULWINI Some individuals should be in jail for committing public funds without Parliament authorisation for the Kellogs Project. Kwagangeka , (an offence was committed) was the word used by Deputy Speaker Phila Buthelezi. This transpired yesterday during a parliamentary oversight workshop held for Members of Parliament (MPs) which was meant to equip them on how to debate the budget speech and the budget allocations. Performance It was revealed last week, through a report tabled by Chairperson of the Finance Sessional Committee MP Thandi Nxumalo, that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade had already committed about E18 million of taxpayers money towards the construction of factory shells for the investor. MP Buthelezi, who was making the presentation, said if they were in a different country, someone would have been locked up and they would be visiting those people at the Sidwashini Correctional Facility. He said it was crucial for the MPs to be vigilant when scrutinising quarterly performance reports and the Book of Estimates. The MPs said perhaps the ministers, in this instance, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg were still new and did not know the procedures, but that the officers who approved this knew how government operated and therefore they should fry for it. Structure The MPs unanimously agreed that action needed to be taken against those who had deliberately broken the law. Government, through the Commerce Ministry, has budgeted about E220 million for the project. Hosea MP Mduduzi Mabuza said it did not make sense that government would say it was fetching investors yet it took the very money from the taxpayers to construct factory shells. Speech On top of that, they are given a tax holiday, he said. Mabuza added that if government would give him a free structure, just like it did with the investors, he would be able to employ more than 200 emaSwati and pay them even better than what some investors were currently paying local workers. The MPs spoke unanimously that heads had to roll with regard to the committed money. They are expected to debate the budget speech tomorrow. The respiratory epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has highlighted an urgent need for Vietnam to boost its economic restructuring and diversify its markets. Carrots are processed for export at Hung Viet Argricultural Joint Stock Company, Hai Duong Province. Viet Nam needs to boost its economic restructuring and diversify markets to increase resilience against external shocks. The epidemic is an opportunity for Viet Nam to look at its strong points and weak points, and to accelerate the restructuring process, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said during a recent interview with zing.vn. It is time for Viet Nam to built an economy more independent and resilient to adapt to changes, Dung stressed. The epidemic has been taking its toll on the Vietnamese economy. The ministry pointed out that a number of sectors would be affected such as travel, transportation, agricultural, forestry and fishery production, industrial production, trade and investment. The ministry also forecast lower economic growth rates in 2020 than the Governments targets. According to the ministrys latest report, if the epidemic was brought under control in the first quarter, GDP growth rate for 2020 would reach 6.25 per cent, 0.55 percentage points lower than the Governments target. The Vietnamese economy would grow just 5.96 per cent this year if the epidemic continued until the second quarter. Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the epidemic was seriously affecting production and business operations, urging firms to take action to minimise the economic damage caused by COVID-19, not just wait for Government support. The Ministry of Planning and Investment predicted that if the epidemic prolonged to the end of the first quarter, revenue from international tourists would decrease by US$2.3 billion in 2020 and $5 billion if the epidemic lasted to the end of June. Agricultural production has also suffered heavily. China is the largest market for Viet Nams agricultural produce, accounting for 22-24 per cent of the countrys agro-forestry-fisheries exports. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong was quoted by Viet Nam News Agency as saying that challenges must be turned into opportunities. Cuong stressed that the ministry would focus on pushing agricultural restructuring and developing markets for agricultural products. Farmers must cooperate with firms to build value chains for sustainable development, he stressed. Researchers from the Training and Research Institute st the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam recently pointed out that developing and implementing a strategy to diversify markets and trade partners was needed for Viet Nam to reduce dependence on single markets. Economic restructuring must also be strengthened, researchers said, adding that the focus should be on quality, creativeness, inclusiveness and sustainable development. It was also necessary to enhance the economys resilience to external shocks by enhancing competitiveness, improving production capacity and developing domestic markets. To cope with the COVID-19 epidemic, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries to reorganise production and take advantage of trade deals to diversify and expand international markets. Developing the domestic market and improving domestic purchasing power were also important, he said. VNS Economic bailout package proposed A bailout expected to be implemented by the government will contribute to helping the economy out of difficulties. The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs 650 crore for rejuvenation of the highly-polluted Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana and decided to levy one per cent additional stamp duty on registration of sale or purchase of urban properties. The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh. Under this ambitious project, an additional sewerage treatment plant with 275 million litres a day capacity, including associated infrastructure, would be developed and it would go a long way in solving problems of the stream and subsequent pollution of the Sutlej river, according to a government statement. The main source of pollution in Buddha stream was the discharge of waste from industries, dairies and some slums into a 47-km drain, of which 14 km passes through Ludhiana, the statement said. Taking serious view of pollution in the drains, streams and rivers in the state, the National Green Tribunal has already directed the state government to take proactive steps to immediately address this problem. Last month, the government had said that under the first phase of this project, augmentation and refurbishment of the sewage treatment facility and dairy effluent treatment would be carried out. The second phase would include the reuse of treated effluent besides the landscaping and beautification along the drain. Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to levy one per cent additional stamp duty on registration of sale or purchase of urban properties to finance water supply and improvement programmes in urban areas of the state, the release said. In another decision, the cabinet approved creation of 550 posts in the government medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar with an objective of further improving and streamlining the functioning of these institutions. The new posts would comprise 66 paramedics of technical nature, 464 critical posts of nurses, technicians and class IV employees, said a government release. These posts would be instrumental in putting into use the medical machinery, equipment and infrastructure, lying idle due to paucity of staff, it said. The cabinet also gave its nod to the renaming of upcoming government medical college in Mohali as Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Tuesday that the deportation of British MP Debbie Abrahams was necessary as she is a Pakistan proxy. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack Indias sovereignty must be thwarted, Singhvi said on Twitter. The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted.#Kashmir#DebbieAbrahams Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020 This comes a day after a tweet from fellow Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who had opposed the governments move to stop Abraham at the airport. If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldnt the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? Tharoor had said on Twitter on Monday. Watch l British MP Debbie Abrahams denied entry into India, Singhvi calls her Pak proxy Abrahams, who chairs a parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India on arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday, with officials saying she had been informed in advance of her e-visas cancellation. Abrahams, the Labour Party MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 2011 and chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Kashmir from 2018, and her aide Harpreet Uppal arrived at the airport in an Emirates flight from Dubai at 9 am. A statement issued on her behalf said Abrahams, 59, was told by immigration officials her e-visa, issued last October and valid till October 2020, had been rejected. She said the officials didnt cite any reasons for denying her entry. An official of the home ministry, who asked not to be named, said Abrahams e-visa was cancelled and she was informed regarding the decision in advance. He added that she didnt have the visa when she landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Abrahams was put on a return flight to the UK in the afternoon. Responding to reports she didnt possess a valid visa, she tweeted: Im sorry but that just is not the reality. She intended to make a personal visit to New Delhi to meet Indian relatives before travelling to Pakistan for a three-day official visit as a member of the all party parliamentary group for Kashmir. Abrahams told the UK media she wouldnt be surprised if the denial of entry was linked with her work with the group. She has been critical of the Indian governments decision to revoke Jammu & Kashmirs special status last August. In a petition, she called on the UK government to use all diplomatic and economic measures at its disposal to exert influence on India to recognise that Kashmiri people must be at the heart of any changes to constitutional arrangements in the region. A plane carrying Canadians from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan will leave the region by week's end, the federal government says, as the number aboard sickened with the novel coronavirus continues to rise. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Minister of Health Patty Hajdu responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Monday, February 3, 2020 in Ottawa. With more Canadians expected to arrive home and be quarantined over fears of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu is visiting the military base where several hundred people are waiting out the incubation period. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld A plane carrying Canadians from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan will leave the region by week's end, the federal government says, as the number aboard sickened with the novel coronavirus continues to rise. More than 450 people from the Diamond Princess, held in the port of Yokohama, had tested positive for the virus known as COVID-19, among them 43 Canadians at last count. Authorities in Japan and here say only people who are examined and found healthy will be allowed to fly to quarantine in Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday that Canadian officials were waiting on final authorization from those in Japan before the plane ferrying people home is able to take off. Departure is now likely to happen Thursday or Friday, he said. The plane was en route to Japan after some unforeseen technical issues prior to takeoff Tuesday, Champagne said. "The plane right now is in the air and will be there on the 19th," he said. Canadians who are sick will remain in Japanese health facilities, he said. But not everyone who is healthy will travel: Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said some aboard the cruise ship have indicated they plan to stay with ill family members. She said their travel home, whenever it happens, will be tracked and they, too, will be subject to quarantine rules when they land. Hajdu said there are others aboard the cruise ship who officials are still trying to get in touch with. In all, there are 256 Canadians aboard the ship. Those who have requested and been cleared to fly will arrive at CFB Trenton for health examinations before being moved on to a Nav Canada training centre in Cornwall, Ont., which includes a large hotel. Hajdu said the amount of time they stay in quarantine will be unique to each person based on the symptoms they show and whether they test positive for the virus. "In every circumstance, we'll be considering that particular person's health and the risk of further infection," Hajdu said at a press conference in nearby Belleville, Ont. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "What we're trying to do as a country is do our global part in containing the spread in Canada and I will say that I am very proud of the work that's been happening at all levels of jurisdiction to reach that goal together." She had just visited an existing quarantine site at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, in southern Ontario. More than 400 Canadians and family members airlifted from Wuhan, China, are waiting out the COVID-19 bug's two-week incubation period. She met health workers, Canadian Armed Forces members and staff from the Red Cross, who are all trying to keep the people in quarantine healthy and not too bored while they wait out the incubation period for the respiratory illness. So far, no cases of COVID-19 have been detected there. Most cases of the virus are mild, but the illness can be deadly, especially in people who are already in poor health. Eight people in Canada have tested positive for the virus, out of about 350 cases tested at the country's premier microbiology lab, and none has died. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020. The presidents tweets come just days after two extraordinary pleas related to the Justice Departments case against Mr. Stone. On Thursday, Attorney General William P. Barr complained publicly that the presidents tweets undermined his work at the department. And on Sunday, more than 1,100 former federal prosecutors called on Mr. Barr to step down from his post after he interfered to lower a sentencing recommendation from the Justice Department for Mr. Stone. Four prosecutors working the Stone case, which stems from the special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling, quit in protest of the Justice Departments actions. Later Tuesday morning, Judge Jackson is expected to hold a conference call with lawyers on the case, including the four prosecutors. Mr. Stone was convicted last year of lying to Congress and witness tampering in an effort to prevent investigators from learning how officials from Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign sought to benefit from the release of documents stolen from Democrats. Portuguese doctors have joined the Catholic Church to protest against the decriminalising of euthanasia. Politicians are preparing this week to debate proposed legislation aimed at decriminalising the practice. The Portuguese Doctors' Association opposed the change, saying it violated key principles of the medical profession. Demonstrators in Porto on Saturday waved placards saying: 'Euthanasia isn't a RIGHT. Rights don't kill!' Lawmakers will begin debating five draft laws on euthanasia, including one introduced by the ruling Socialist Party, on Thursday. Several similar bills failed by a slim margin in May 2018. A boy holding up a placard reading in Portuguese: 'Euthanasia isn't a RIGHT. Rights don't kill! Rights protect life', during a protest by an anti-euthanasia group in Porto on Saturday Protesters belonging to the anti-euthanasia Simavida ('Yes to Life') Association gather for a demonstration. The Portuguese parliament is set to debate a bill legalising the practice of euthanasia Proponents of the bill, which was inspired by a 2016 petition signed by over 8,000 people and promoted by groups defending the right to a 'death with dignity' for those seriously ill, said the fight had only just begun. Although the Socialist Party (PS) was strengthened in Portugal's October elections, the outcome of the debate is uncertain because neither the PS nor the main right-wing opposition party have signalled to their lawmakers how they should vote on the issue. The Catholic Church, which predominates in Portugal, is campaigning against the draft bills both among its faithful and those of other religious denominations. Unlike in 2018, this time the Church advocates a referendum on the issue in the belief that a majority would reject euthanasia, but parliament is unlikely to back the idea. Miguel Guimaraes, the group of doctor's president, said late on Monday: 'We do not agree, because that goes against medical practice and violates the code of conduct of the Order of Doctors.' An anti-euthanasia protester belonging to the Simavida ('Yes to Life') Association holding a placard reading in Portuguese: 'No to euthanasia, yes to palliative care!' in Porto 'Doctors learn to treat patients and save lives. They are not prepared to take part in procedures leading to death,' he said after meeting with Portugal's conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The ruling Socialists in neighbouring Spain last week won support from lawmakers to discuss a bill legalising euthanasia. The vote was an initial step toward approving a proposal that has been championed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who said the party had spent 'years' working on right-to-die issues. As in Portugal, euthanasia is fiercely opposed by the Catholic Church and rightwing groups in Spain. So far Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are the only European countries to have legalised euthanasia. One crucial facial expression during Sarah Ristevskis exclusive 60 Minutes interview has revealed why she has unshakeable support for her father and contempt for those who investigated her mums tragic death. In Sunday nights interview, Sarah said she stood by her father Borce, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year after his wife Karen disappeared from their Avondale Heights home in Melbournes northwest in June 2016. The body of the 47-year-old was found eight months later, wedged between two logs in a nature reserve at Mount Macedon. It had long been a mystery what happened to her, with Borce never revealing why or how he killed his wife. Sarah Ristevski and her dad Borce plead for help to find Karen right after her disappearance. Source: AAP Despite his guilty plea, resulting in him being jailed for 13 years, Sarah has stood by her dad who apparently lied about having anything to do with the death of Karen and even acted as a pallbearer at her funeral. Body language expert and founder of My Alcomy, Sophie Zadeh, told Yahoo News Australia that Sarah leaked an expression in the interview that could reveal why she stuck by her father throughout the horrific ordeal. She pointed to the moment Sarah had her first interaction with police as crucial to understanding why she continues to support her father a decision that has come under scrutiny. My mum doesnt play the pokies Sarah told 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes about the moment she and her father reported Karen missing. It was at that pivotal point, about 10 minutes into the interview, Sarah cracked and could no longer conceal her emotions. Sarah said a police officer at the station was quite rude and she felt police didnt take us seriously when reporting the disappearance. She says the officer said something along the lines of shes probably at the pokies. Sarah Ristevski talks about reporting her mother's disappearance to police. Source: 60 Minutes At this point, Sarahs eyes narrow. This facial movement stems from the emotion of anger. She gasps for breath and cries. Her emotion flits between sadness and distress, Ms Zadeh said. She continues with, my mum doesnt play the pokies, again we see anger in the narrowing of the eyes, followed by a high blink rate, indicating a high level of stress and an eyelid flutter as she states, It was hard and very stressful. Story continues What we can take from this part of the interview is something we shouldnt ignore. This is Sarah expressing genuine and extreme emotion as she recalls her initial interaction with the police. This is where she formed her opinion that they were the enemy. Why Sarah supports her killer father Ms Zadeh questioned whether or not Sarah would still support her father if she felt police were more understanding while they made the first missing persons report. Research shows that first impressions are typically lasting because they are followed with confirmation bias, where we absorb and interpret the information that backs up our initial opinion, she said. I have to ask If Sarah had been treated differently by the police from the outset, building a level of trust, would this have played out differently? Sarah expressed both fear and contempt later in the interview, while she talked about two officers coming over, forensic people in the house and the media outside. She genuinely feels negative emotions towards the enemy. Karen Ristevski disappeared from her Avondale Heights home in 2016. Source: 7 News Ms Zadeh believes Sarah felt compelled to protect Borce because of their common enemy. However, I believe this stems from Sarahs initial feelings about the police, which were then, most likely reinforced by her father. Sarahs behaviours that raised red flags Ms Zadeh said it was clear Sarah was uncomfortable during the interview, obvious by her slightly raised shoulders and having her hands clutched together at times. She claimed while Sarah was being honest during the interview with behaviours reflecting her words, there were some red flags raised at times when there was a mismatch between the two. One of these occurrences was when she was asked whether her dad was telling her he was worried. She answered with, we were both worried. The mismatch in behaviour came with an initial head shake, which then turned into a nod, Ms Zadeh said. Non-verbal behaviour trumps words because our sentences are cognitively constructed and generally, our non-verbal behaviour stems from our subconscious. Borce Ristevski carries his wife's coffin at her funeral. Source: AAP Ms Zadeh said there was a similar mismatch in behaviour and words when Hayes asked Sarah if she asked her father if he had anything to do with her mothers death. As Sarah answered the question, saying she asked him and her father said no, she nodded her head at the same time. Something is amiss here, Ms Zadeh said. Maybe he said, No, but deep inside she knows he did. Expert reveals most significant moment According to Ms Zadeh, it was obvious the sadness Sarah felt over the loss of her mother through her concealed and obvious expressions of emotion throughout the interview. However, perhaps the most significant part of the interview for me came at the end when Sarah was asked what she wants people to know about her, she said. She replied by saying she is more than Sarah Ristevski, that she lost her mum while expressing sadness, which then turned into combined fear and sadness as she said her father is in jail. The emotion of sadness stems from loss and while Sarah is still grieving for her mother, she is now also grieving for her father and fears for the future. While she feels this, she is perhaps not ready to fully admit the reality of the situation. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- Oprah Magazine has dubbed the Village of Skaneateles the top small place to visit in the United States. The village topped Oprah Magazines list of 60 unheard-of towns readers should visit across the country. The magazine noted Skaneateles Lake and the Waterloo Premium Outlets -- which is less than an hour away -- as part of the villages draw. With beautiful and serene surroundings, you can spend the days of summer relaxing in a kayak or hiking the trails, Oprah Magazine said in its January story. Plus, there are premium shopping outlets not far from town. Skaneateles was one of two Upstate New York communities on the list: The magazine recognized Corning in the Southern Tier as the 26th best small American place to visit. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Nothing makes us happier than finding out that our country was represented on an international platform and gained victory. We have something to be super proud of right now, since Mumbai's extremely talented dance group by the name of V Unbeatable, has won the 15th season of America's Got Talent. Twitter The dance group went super viral last year after participating in the show's previous season. Even though they didn't win the show, they stood fourth in the finale back then. This year, they've brought laurels to the country by finally winning the show's latest season. Just like they received a standing ovation last year for giving out a super talented performance, judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Alesha Dixon and Howie Mandel along with the host Terry Crews were up and about from their seats to celebrate with the group. The group's name comes from a tragic story of their friend, Vikas, who lost his life after an injury left him paralysed during a rehearsal performance. This is their way of paying a tribute to their late friend. Twitter The act that finally won them their dream trophy was a dance performance on Ranveer Singh's song, Tattad tattad' from the film Ram Leela along with musician Travis Barker's amazing solo drum performance making the whole thing mind blowing. America's Got Talent's official Twitter account announced the group's win to the entire world as well. The dance group also shared a heartwarming video on their official Instagram account to celebrate their win. Along with this, everyone on the internet is congratulating them for the win and telling them that they deserved it. Congrats, we love you guys!!! Detroit Youth Choir (@DycOfficial) February 18, 2020 You deserves this @v_unbeatable ! It doesn't matter you win or not in India but what matters is you win for india...! You rock it! You got what you deserves!@AGT @v_unbeatable FennyD (@FennyP27) February 18, 2020 Righting a wrong from the last season of AGT Isaiah Stephens (@IsaiahStephens) February 18, 2020 V unbeatable is Unforgettable! Unbelievable! Undeniable! Unexplainable! Unmistakable! Un-replaceable! Un-describable! Un-core, Un-CORE! #AGTChampions Anne Humphrey The AH (@TheAHShow) February 18, 2020 This was epic, great job guys. You put your heart and soul into it Tarakeshwar Reddy (@tarakreddy) February 18, 2020 This is an amazing group and they deserved to win! They have proved over and over that they have talent and an amazing talent! Alina810 (@Alina99033551) February 18, 2020 Getting international recognition is a big deal for anyone and a story like theirs, is one for the books. Two people (L) are discharged from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi after receiving treatment for the Covid-19 infection, February 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Thuy Quynh. Two natives of Vinh Phuc Province who were infected with the Covid-19 were discharged from a hospital in Hanoi Tuesday. The man, 29, and the woman, 55, were treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi after they tested positive for the new coronavirus. Nguyen Thanh Hai, health department director of Vinh Phuc, home to most Covid-19 infections detected in Vietnam so far, said two patients had no fever or cough, and their health was stable. Tests have revealed they are free of the new coronavirus and are eligible to be discharged from the hospital, he said. Both were among eight workers of Japan-invested Nihon Plast Company sent to Wuhan City, epicenter of the new, deadly pneumonia virus outbreak. They returned to Vietnam on January 17. Six of them have tested positive for the virus and two others are awaiting the test results. The man developed symptoms on January 21 and was confirmed positive for the new virus on January 30. The woman developed symptoms including fever, headache and a runny nose on February 2. On February 9, blood test results confirmed her positive for the virus and she was sent to Hanoi for treatment. She tested negative after one week of treatment. Eleven of the 16 Covid-19 infections confirmed in Vietnam so far have been in Vinh Phuc. Of the remaining five, three were found in Ho Chi Minh City, one in Khanh Hoa and another in Thanh Hoa. Nine patients have been discharged, including six of the workers returning from Wuhan. Starting February 13, Vinh Phuc Province has locked down Son Loi Commune, where eight people have contracted the new coronavirus. Provincial authorities have established a field hospital with 300 beds and a 200-bed facility at a military school in the province. Medical experts have confirmed there is no specific medicine or vaccine to treat the novel coronavirus, though Vietnam has enough capacity, experience and confidence to treat patients. The WHO said Saturday Vietnam has responded well to the epidemic from the very outset, preventing its spread. Vietnam declared the nCoV outbreak an epidemic on February 1. As of Tuesday, the global death toll had climbed to 1,873 and confirmed infections topped 73,000. Nearly 12,000 patients have recovered. A woman missing for five days in bushland has been found alive after sleeping in a banana sack in a cave. Chinese student Yang Chen, 26, was feared drowned after disappearing last Wednesday in the Tallebudgera Valley in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Her disappearance triggered a huge search effort involving police, divers, dog squads, park rangers and local volunteers. Rescuers battled through poor weather conditions before finding Ms Chen yesterday perching barefoot on a steep 50-metre ravine. Authorities at the scene where Ms Chen was found / Queensland Ambulance Service She later told them that she had survived by drinking water from streams and sleeping in a banana sack in a cave to avoid heavy rainfall. Acting senior sergeant Mitch Grey of the Water Police today said it was the most difficult search he had been involved in because of the downpours. Queensland Ambulance Service Shes very, very lucky that we found her alive, he said. Theres no doubt our police dive squad definitely risked their lives to scale that cliff face. "There was no trail there, what they did to get her out of there was nothing short of amazing. Ms Yang Chen was taken to Robina Hospital for medical treatment A pothole dubbed the 'Mount Lucas crater' appears to have been filled after a number of cars were damaged on Sunday night and Monday morning. One motorist said the pothole was located at the island on the way into Mount Lucas from the Edenderry side and was three foot long and two foot wide, and therefore "unavoidable." At least eight motorists were forced to replace tyres or have wheel rims fixed at Darcy's garage in Mount Lucas after hitting the 'crater.' One of the victims, Rhona O'Neill, said: "I had no chance in the dark at 7pm on the way to Tullamore last night [Sunday]. We missed Legally Blonde The Musical because of it." Rhona said it was the second tyre she had to replace in less than six months "due to the dire state of Offaly roads." Midlands 103 presenter Will Faulkner also posted a warning to motorists on Monday morning after hitting the pothole and causing serious damage to the rim of one of his car's wheels. Another weary motorist said: "My tyre was done too at 6.40am on Monday. I got such a fright and am so angry to have to fork out for new tyre or possibly wheel. The roads are an absolute disgrace." Another urged people to report all serious potholes on www.fixmystreet.ie. The pothole had been filled in Mount Lucas when the area was visited by an Offaly Express reporter on Monday afternoon. At a time when he deadly coronavirus has claimed 1,868 lives in mainland China, the country's envoy to India Sun Weidong on Tuesday assured that the epidemic is now under control. He also said that the number of confirmed cases outside Hubei province is steadily coming down. "The epidemic is generally now under control. As of February 17, outside Hubei province, the number of confirmed cases has been declining for 14 consecutive days across China," Sun assured a group of people gathered for a daily press conference in the capital. "This is a cumulative drop of over 50 per cent. The epidemic in Hubei and Wuhan is being managed more effectively. There is a rapid increase in the cure rate from 1.3 per cent to 8.2 per cent. Over 12,000 people have recovered and are being discharged from hospitals," he added. The envoy also said that China and India have been keeping close communication on the epidemic. He also recalled a letter of condolence recently sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Xi Jinping, expressing his recognition of the tremendous effort made by the Chinese government to deal with the outbreak. Appreciating India's efforts to stand by China amid such a tragic time, Sun stressed, "The Indian side assured the readiness to stand by China and provide the assistance that India can, to face this challenge. At these difficult times, I am deeply touched by the kindness of the Indian friends. All these reminded me of the time when Dr. Kotnis saved many lives and made great contributions to the Chinese people's liberation cause." Dwarkanath Shantaram Kotnis, also known by his Chinese name Ke Dihua, was one of the five Indian physicians dispatched to China to provide medical assistance during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. Known for his dedication and perseverance, he has been regarded as an example of Sino-Indian friendship and collaboration. On being asked whether there is a possibility that the virus was released from the Wuhan Institute of Virology accidentally but not from the seafood market, Sun noted, "We still do not have enough knowledge. This virus originated from nature, not man-made. The virus is terrible but any rumour regarding it is even more terrible." The death toll from the novel coronavirus has reached as almost half of China's 1.3 billion-strong population remains subject to varying forms of travel restrictions and other quarantine measures, CNN reported. According to China's Health Commission, since the outbreak began in December, more than 12,500 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. According to an analysis by CNN of Chinese government orders, some 780 million people are still living under some form of restrictive movement, including all of Hubei, the northeastern province of Liaoning, and China's two most important cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Restrictions include everything from self-quarantines to limits on who can come and go from neighborhoods. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman was gored while sitting in the crowd at a Thai bullfight after the animal broke into the stands and charged at her. Khun Nam, 57, required first aid to an inch-long cut on her face after being battered by the bull during a fight in Trang province, southern Thailand, on Monday. Video captured from the opposite stand shows panicked spectators fleeing after the bull managed to smash through a wooden barrier and into the seating area. Khun Nam, 57, was left needing first aid after she was charged by a bull that broke into the crowd during a fight in southern Thailand on Monday afternoon People can be seen climbing up metal poles surrounding the concrete seating area in order to escape the enraged animal. As bullring staff try to corral the creature back into the ring, it sets its sights on Ms Nam before charging at her. More footage from a different angle shows how the animal drove her into a corner and up against a metal pole, causing the cut. But she was lucky to escape further injury after the bull's horns narrowly missed one of her arms and got tangled in her t-shirt instead. Fortunately for Ms Nam, the bull soon fled out of the stands and into a paddock next to the bullfighting ring, where it was recaptured. Bull fighting is a growing sport in southern Thailand, but is vastly different from its Spanish counterpart. In Spain, the bull fights with people in a highly stylized display that typically ends with the animal being killed by a matador. Video captured the bull rampaging around the stands after breaking through a safety barrier during a contest in Trang province, southern Thailand, on Monday Ms Nam (pictured left moments before being charged, and right moments after) suffered an inch-long cut to her face during the attack but escaped worse injury after narrowly being missed by the animal's horns In Thailand, bulls are pitted against one-another to see which is stronger. The animals typically survive. The sport is thought to have started with contests between cattle farmers to see who owns the strongest bull. However, the contests have now expanded into spectator events and are attracting a growing number of tourists. Management of the events is still haphazard, with few rules governing safety. One of the spectators at Monday's fight - Anutin Wattana - said that people attend bull fights in the region to place bets on which animals will win. Two bulls manged to escape the ring during Monday's fight alone, and he has called on the organisers to strengthen the fences to prevent it happening again. He said: 'One of the bulls ran away after it broke loose but another one rammed into the audience. 'Fortunately the woman was only slightly injured but the organisers should really be concerned about the safety.' A Chinese PLA Navy fleet with a destroyer conducted a live-fire drill in late April. The exercise followed new standards and focused on enhancing the unit's capabilities of searching for and attacking targets in close cooperation with other warships. (Photo/81.cn) A warship fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently conducted an air defense exercise in the far seas of the Pacific Ocean, a move experts said on Monday showed the Navy's high capability in the Pacific waters. The far sea joint training fleet under the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy, featuring guided missile destroyer Hohhot, guided missile frigate Xianning, electronic surveillance ship Tianshuxing and replenishment ship Chaganhu, held air defense drills at an undisclosed area in the Pacific Ocean, media reported on Sunday. Beijing-based military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times on Monday that the drills demonstrated the Chinese Navy's high capability of joint fleet air defense in the waters of Pacific Ocean, and further improved this capability through training. China may face aerial threats from the US from the Pacific Ocean, so the Chinese Navy's drills in these waters could lead to a higher capability of defending against potential hostile attacks, pushing the defense line farther away from the mainland, analysts said. Using a combination of missiles and the close-in weapon system for the first time, the fleet successfully intercepted multiple waves of incoming target drones, reports said. This is a test of the Chinese warships' capability to detect targets and apply a multidimensional air defense system, which is practical in real combat, according to Wei. Missiles can intercept targets from a longer distance, but missiles might not be able to shoot down a large number of targets, that is when the close-in weapon system will release a barrage of bullets to clean up the remaining targets, Wei said. The drills achieved the goal of testing the weapon systems' performance, the procedures of air defense combat and the results of the fleet's previous basic trainings, said Lu Tao, head of the exercise's directing team, CCTV reported. Tuesday, February 18, 2020 The White House Chief Digital Officer Ory Rinat will deliver a keynote on A Digital-First White House: Speaking Directly to the American People at the 8th annual NYC CDO Summit on May 6, 2020 at Columbia University, presented by IDC. Want to get an inside look on how the Trump White House is using the power of digital media data, social, video, web, and more to convey its message? If you didnt attend our DC CDO Summit in Washington just after the 2016 election, you missed a lot (see power-packed agenda): The fireside chat between Gerrit Lansing , Chief Digital Officer for the Republican National Committee (RNC), and Jonathan Swan , National Political Reporter for Axios, on The Startup That Won The White House . The panel with Gary Coby , former Director of Digital Advertising and Fundraising at the Donald J. Trump for President Campaign 2016, and one of Trumps top tech advisors. They revealed some of the digital, data, analytics, and social media strategies and tactics that the Trump campaign used to win the White House in 2016. What has the White House done since the election, and whats on the horizon? Get an inside look Find out how The White House has been leveraging digital and data, straight from Ory Rinat, The White House Chief Digital Officer and Deputy Assistant to the President, when he speaks at the 8th annual 2020 NYC CDO summit on May 6th 2020 at Columbia University, presented by IDC. Mr. Rinat will be joined by Sara Fischer, Media Reporter for Axios in a fireside chat. This is a rare opportunity for you to learn about The White Houses digital and data strategy. The White House has built new approaches to digital that allow audiences to engage directly. It has leveraged user-generated content with tools like CrisisNextDoor.gov. With resources like findtreatement.gov, it has made digital solutions a key part of the policy process. What does the next decade of digital government look like? How can the government pioneer digital solutions and not just follow the private sector? You will learn: How The White House uses digital channels to reach Americans directly How they manage a wide range of social media platforms and stay nimble Why they rebuilt WhiteHouse.gov from the ground up, and saved money doing it Why the Trump approach to modernizing government digital approaches is a policy victory Register now to secure your spot Before joining the administration, Rinat oversaw digital strategy for The Heritage Foundation and its news site, The Daily Signal. Rinat was previously a director at Atlantic Media Strategies, the digital consultancy of The Atlantic. There, he developed overarching digital and communications strategies for clients including Fortune 100 corporations, non-profits, advocacy organizations, and think tanks. Previously, Rinat was the National Journals Director of Special Projects, and co-authored the Washington in the Information Age study on media habits. Mr. Rinat has served as the research director on a United States Senate race, and led a national coalition on a presidential campaign. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Georgetown University Law School. Mr. Rinat will be joined in a fireside chat by Sara Fischer, Media Reporter for Axios. She joined the company in 2016 as a founding staff member. Revue cited her weekly newsletter, Axios Media Trends, as the second-most popular media newsletter in the market and deemed it a must-read by media industry leaders. She was also recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Media list and to the 2019 Folio 100 in their Creator category. Ms. Fischer previously worked as Digital Producer for the Washington Post; Global Advocacy & Political Advertising at the New York Times; Breaking News reporter for CNN Politics; and Business Development Associate at Politico. You wont want to miss this! Register now to secure your spot and to hear from Ory Rinat, Chief Digital Officer at The White House. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Want to learn more about how Chief Digital Officers are shaping the public sector? The CDO Summit and CDO Club has been at the forefront of covering the intersection of digital and government. Click here to watch Obama for Americas Digital Director Teddy Goff shares the secrets of his success at the 2014 NY CDO Summit. Mr. Goff was named the 2013 Chief Digital Officer of the Year by the CDO Club for his work as Digital Director for Barack Obamas 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. The CDO Summit is the place to be to learn about the latest developments in digital and the public sector. Secure your spot now. Topics from these NYC CDO Summit speakers and more, coming soon More Speakers Coming Soon! Register for the 2020 NYC CDO Summit here > Register Today for the 2020 NYC CDO Summit In Partnership with IDC our 8th Year at Columbia University Were excited about returning to NYC again, our 8th consecutive year: Speakers : World class Chief Digital/Chief Data Officers, Chief Analytics Officers, CMOs, CIOs, CTOs, CEOs, CHROs. : World class Chief Digital/Chief Data Officers, Chief Analytics Officers, CMOs, CIOs, CTOs, CEOs, CHROs. Agenda : Equal time for DIGITAL, DATA, and ANALYTICS . : Equal time for . Awards : US Chief Digital/Chief Data Officer of the Year awards, and 1st-ever US Chief Analytics Officer of the Year award. : US Chief Digital/Chief Data Officer of the Year awards, and 1st-ever award. Partners : Alliances with IDC, and Columbia Universitys School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). the Columbia Video Network, and more. : Alliances with IDC, and Columbia Universitys School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). the Columbia Video Network, and more. Sponsors : IDC, Oracle, Pactera, Sansan, Ellig Group, more. : IDC, Oracle, Pactera, Sansan, Ellig Group, more. Venue: Roone Arledge Auditorium, Columbia University, NYC. Save your seat to guarantee your spot at our May 6, 2020 Summit. Regular Registration: $795 (Available Now) Register for the 2020 NYC CDO Summit here > Thank You NYC CDO Summit 2020 Partners: The state defense order has grown by 16 percent compared to last year. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Danilov said that the report of Colonel General of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak on the events that took place in Donbas this morning was heard at the Councils meeting. The issue of coronavirus and the readiness of our systems to accommodate our airplane were discussed. The next question was the approval of the national security strategy of Ukraine. The fourth question was the approval of decision on the main indicators of the state defense order for 2020, 2021 and 2022. The only thing I can say is that the state defense order has grown by 16 percent compared to last year and we expect to spend more than one billion dollars on the order this year, said at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The NSDC Secretary denied the allegation that the new defense order puts an end to Ukrainian missile development programs. "We clearly understand that our missile shield must be strong and everything related to missile development programs will be funded in accordance with all our regulations adopted earlier," Danilov assured. ol Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam lost his battle to ban the sale of assault weapons on Monday after several Democrats join Republican senators in a vote to shelve the bill for the year Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam lost his battle to ban the sale of assault weapons on Monday after lawmakers, including several Democrats, on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to shelve the bill for the year. Four Democrats, most moderates, joined their Republican counterparts in rejecting the legislation, which would have banned the sale of some semiautomatic firearms, including AR-15-style rifles. It would also have banned the possession of magazines that can hold over 12 rounds. The Democrats included Virginia Senators R. Creigh Deeds, John S. Edwards, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chap Petersen and Scott A. Surovell. The committee vote drew praise from gun advocates, but is a big blow to Gov. Northam, who was fighting for a number of gun control measures. Pictured here are Virginia Democratic Senators John Edwards, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (left) and R. Creigh Deeds, two of the senators who voted to shelve the bill Gun rights advocates celebrate outside the Senate committee meeting after learning the bill has been tabled A spokesperson for the governor said he's disappointed by the outcome, but plans to continue the fight next year. Gun control was a key issue for Democrats during last year's legislative elections when they gained control of the General Assembly for the first time in over two decades. The issue continues to draw heated debate in the state, with gun owners, especially in rural communities making their voices heard. Last month tens of thousands of gun-rights activists--some in tactical gear--from around the country descended on the Capitol in Richmond and the surrounding area to protest. More than 100 counties, cities and towns have also declared themselves as Second Amendment sanctuaries, promising to oppose any 'unconstitutional restrictions' on guns. Gun rights advocates protest outside the Capitol in Richmond, Virginia Protester holds a sign at a January 20 rally organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League A protester holds a sign at the January 20 rally calling Virginia's governor a tyrant In Virginia gun owners argued the governor was trying to seize commonly-owned guns and accessories from law abiding citizens. The governor said that wasn't the purpose of the bill and that banning the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would help prevent mass murders. While earlier proposals to ban the possession of assault riles or require owners to register have failed, the governor was hoping this bill would win enough Democratic votes to pass. However moderate Democrats in Virginia's Senate said they were uncomfortable with the legislation. Lawmakers said it wasn't clear what types of guns would constitute an assault weapon. Senators have now asked the state crime commission to study the issue. While this bill was tabled, lawmakers in the House and Senate have advanced other measures that are expected to be passed in the coming days, including bills that would require universal background checks on gun purchases and enable localities to ban guns in public buildings, parks and other areas. Other bills would limit handgun purchases to once a month and allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism. Travel off the beaten path this decade and experience these 20 attractions along Floridas Space Coast. Families mapping out their 2020 vacations still have time to add Floridas Space Coast to their itinerary and discover some of the unique and hidden gems in Brevard County. This subtropical, 72-mile coastline along the Sunshine States Atlantic seaboard offers something for all ages and interests, allowing for plenty of opportunities to check off those bucket list items. Adventure seekers can hang 10 in the East Coasts surfing capital, nature lovers can venture through bioluminescent waters and foodies can take their taste buds on a tour of the best local eats. Travel off the beaten path this decade and experience these 20 attractions along Floridas Space Coast: Experience and Engage 1. Take in the beauty (and take Instagram-worthy photos) From idyllic beaches to breathtaking murals along the walls of popular destinations in downtown Melbourne and Cocoa Beach, there is a lot to see along the Space Coast. Have your camera and hashtags ready! 2. Cheer on Melbourne Beachs Caroline Marks at the 2020 Summer Olympics* As one of the East Coasts top-ranked surfing destinations, the Space Coast is one of the best places to cheer on womens and mens surfing competitors during the 2020 Olympic Games. Professional surfer Caroline Marks, who calls Melbourne Beach home, will surely be one to watch during the sports Olympic debut! 3. Run a 13K in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 13* Take off your space boots and put on your running shoes for the once-in-a-lifetime 13K race in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 13, the seventh crewed mission to the moon. Not ready to make the giant leap? The Saturn 5K might be your preferred model launch point. 4. Watch the launch of the Mars Rover Mission* Its called the Space Coast for a reason, and with more than 18 total launches planned for 2020, visitors can catch a glimpse of something thats truly out of this world. The Mars Rover Mission has an expected launch date of July 2020, so check the news for the latest updates. 5. Slingshot around the Space Coast Get ready to buckle up and see all that the Space Coast has to offer from the front seat of a 2019 Slingshot GT. Space Coast Slingshots provides guests with a number of rental options that fit into even the busiest of Cape Canaveral vacation plans. Whether you're interested in self-guided adventures around the city or prefer a guided experience to learn about the local hot spots, Space Coast Slingshots has just what you're looking for. 6. Visit nationally acclaimed Cape Canaveral Named one of the top 20 places to visit this year by Airbnb, Cape Canaveral is the fastest growing cruise port in Florida and home to the industrys top cruise lines and fishing charters. Experience one-of-a-kind waterfront dining with some of the freshest seafood in Florida. Ready to set sail? Check out the ports newest cruise ships, including the Carnival Mardi Gras and the new Cruise Terminal 3 that is slated for completion in June 2020. 7. Tour the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum* This brand-new museum has no shortage of fascinating finds. Learn about the old lighthouse lenses and Native American culture, as well as space history and maritime facts. Theres no better way to shine a light on some of the coasts richest history than by visiting the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. 8. Learn to hang 10 in Americas East Coast Surfing Capital With several different surf schools throughout the region, this is the perfect location to suit up and give surfing a try. Are you more of a land-dweller? Watch some of the best surfers in the world catch a wave at places like Sebastian Inlet Pier, 2nd Light at Patrick Air Force Base, or at various surf contests going on throughout the year. If you want to learn more about the history of surfing on the Space Coast, spend an afternoon perusing the Florida Surf Museum. Dive Deep with Nature 9. Go wild with watersports on Cocoa Beach* Take a trip on the wild side with Wildlife Watersports, situated in the serenity of Cocoa Beach's pristine Banana River Lagoon. From glass-bottom kayaks to CraigCats to pontoon boats and everything in between, this is a thrill-seekers paradise. No matter your age or ability, there is something for everyone at Wildlife Watersports. 10. Light up your vacation with a bioluminescence tour Experience one of natures most magical wonders with a tour of the Space Coasts bioluminescent waters. Take a see-through kayak to watch the water below sparkle with luminescent organisms. With several tour options available, youll be able to find the right fit for you and your family. 11. Explore the Merritt Island Wildlife Conservation and Education Center* Come see the beauty that is the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and discover new trails at Parrish Park for sights you have to see to believe. Consisting of 140,000 acres, the Refuge provides a wide variety of habitats for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals, making it the ideal location to experience the beauty of the Space Coast. 12. Cast a line in the Space Coasts diverse waters Floridas Space Coast offers great fishing year-round from Mosquito Lagoon south to Sebastian Inlet. The 500 species of fish inhabiting our oceans, inlets and lagoons make it a fishing hotspot! 13. Trailblaze through Titusville Titusville has become the hub of three converging multiuse trails: the East Coast Greenway, Coast-to-Coast Trail and the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Trail. As one of Floridas designated Trail Towns, Titusville features long-distance, non-motorized recreational trails and welcomes hikers, bicyclists, skaters and joggers with restaurants, shops and lodging. 14. Walk on the wild side at Brevard Zoo* The Brevard Zoo is the perfect place to celebrate the Roar-ing Twenties. Kayak past giraffes or explore the newest exhibit, Rainforest Revealed. Brevard Zoo offers a unique look at wildlife in an environment that is fun for the entire family! Take a Bite 15. Take your taste buds on a food tour Explore Brevard Countys thriving food scene with walking tours in Historic Cocoa Village, Downtown Cocoa Beach, Downtown Melbourne and Port Canaveral. 16. If youre running on empty, come refuel* 4th Street Fillin Station, a gastrobar and grill in Cocoa Beach, is a thoughtfully designed, eclectic local restaurant constructed inside a working Mobil gas station. Yes, you read that right! You couldnt pick a better spot to get your fill of good food. 17. Enjoy a birds eye view of cruise ships at Junkanoo Island Kitchen, Port Canaveral* Sip frozen drinks and cold beer while feasting on coconut shrimp, roasted jerk chicken and grilled mahi from the spacious waterside daiquiri deck. 18. Sip brews in Historic Cocoa Village* If youre looking for more of a crafted experience, look no further than Historic Cocoa Village. Home to several microbreweries known for their locally inspired creations, theres no better spot to sip brews and take in the picturesque views of Floridas Space Coast. Not sure where to start? Check out the newest craft brewery, Bugnutty Brewing Co., or enjoy the recently constructed patio at the Village Idiot Pub. 19. Arrive to dinner by boat at Frigates Waterfront Bar and Grill, Melbourne* Come by land or by sea (literally!) and visit the perfect place to nestle beneath the tropical palms and enjoy an upscale menu while listening to the relaxing rhythms of island music. 20. Looking for a place to stay? * Keep an eye out for the grand opening of eight new hotels on the Space Coast. To see a full list of accommodations, please visit this website. New for 2020. Jammu, Feb 18 : Amid demands from mainstream parties for the release of their leaders ahead of the Panchayat by-elections, the Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission (EC) held a meeting with political parties on Tuesday in Jammu to hear their concerns. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar told IANS that the concerns of the political parties were heard in the meeting. The parties have raised the issue of the detention of their leadership, asking how elections can be held in their absence. PDP leader Surinder Choudhary said the party boycotted the meeting because it believes the polling can't take place if the leadership remains under detention. "We have said elections are possible only when all the detained leaders of all the political parties are released," Choudhary said. "Party president has to sign the nomination papers of the candidates, how can that happen when he or she has been detained," he added. Voicing similar concerns, Panther's Party leader Harshdev Singh asked how elections can be conducted on a party basis when most leaders are in detention. "The BJP wants to do a one sided election," Singh said. National conference leader Ratan Lal Gupta said the party is of the view that the situation is not conducive for holding elections. "The meeting should have been called much earlier to know the view of political parties about holding the bypolls," Gupta said. The Election Commission (EC) last week announced by-elections for over 12,500 vacant Panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The eight-phase polling will be held from March 5 to March 20 on a party-basis. The polling is scheduled for March 5, March 7, March 9, March 12, March 14, March 16, March 18 and March 20. Panchayat elections were last held in 2018 that were boycotted by the PDP and the NC. The polls were announced at a time when three former chief ministers - Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continue to be under detention since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year. They were first detained under CrPC 107 and 155 and on February 6 the stringent PSA was slapped on them. The allegation was initially put forward by RFE/RL's investigative project "Schemes". Russian President Vladimir Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov on Monday said Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, did not visit Oman in early January 2020, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was there. "No, he [Patrushev] was not [there]. This is absolutely false information," he told journalists, answering the question on whether Patrushev flew to Oman in January. As UNIAN reported earlier, Zelensky was spotted in Oman on January 5 a number of media outlets reported that he was there on vacation with his family, publishing a photo of him. Read alsoZelensky's trip to Oman: President's Office to sue journalists of Skhemy project A few hours later, the President's Office confirmed that Zelensky was staying in Oman: they noted that the president had traveled there with his family at his own expense. At the same time, the President's Office reported of "highest-level meetings" that were scheduled for the head of state "for the coming days." On February 13, RFE/RL's investigative project "Schemes" published a report claiming that the chartered plane used by Zelensky to urgently return from Oman to Ukraine on January 8, 2020, in the wake of the downing of a Ukrainian plan in Iran had allegedly arrived to Oman from Moscow, Russia. This was the plane used by Secretary of the Russian Security Council Patrushev to arrive in Oman, journalists alleged, referring to their sources. Delta Enterprise Corp.'s earlier trade mark In rejecting the applicant's third head of appeal - which had sought the Court to take 'any other measures that it may consider appropriate - the Court emphasised that the clarity and precision of each head of claim are of utmost importance. It is not open to applicants to seek un-enumerated heads of claim as an insurance option, in order to safeguard 'legal certainty and a sound administration of justice. In respect of the intervener's second head of claim, seeking a confirmatory judgment, the Court again stated that its role in this area is to conduct judicial review of decisions of the Boards of Appeal. The Opposition Division of the EUIPO rejected Delta Sport's application in respect of some of the goods in classes 20 and 28 on 6 July 2017, which Delta Sport sought to appeal. On 17 April 2018, the Fifth Board of Appeal rejected the appeal in its entirety. A further appeal followed.The applicant alleged infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001, claiming that:That provision prevents registration of a mark where there is opposition from the proprietor of an earlier mark and there is a likelihood of confusion between that earlier mark and the mark applied for in the territory in which the earlier mark is protected. This goes to the core function of trade marks as an indicator of origin, because a risk that the public would believe the goods or services covered by the respective marks come from the same or economically-linked undertakings is sufficient to create a likelihood of confusion. The Court identified a number of factors to be considered in a holistic assessment of that risk in light of theperception.Likelihood of confusion includes two cumulative conditions: that both the marks at issue are identical or similarthat the goods or services covered are identical or similar. Even if there is only a low degree of similarity between the goods or services, that could be weighed against a high degree of similarity between the marks - or vice versa. Taken together with the condition that consumer perception may be assessed within only a part of the European Union for an EU trade mark to be refused registration, this cumulative, holistic assessment may constitute a relatively high bar for the applicant for a new mark to clear.The Court reaffirmed the settledtest when assessing the actual likelihood of confusion. The average consumer may be more or less attentive depending on the category of goods or services. Like the conditions identified above, this is far from a mechanical assessment.The relevant public here could be identified as Spanish-speaking consumers throughout the EU (including Spain), with the caveat that if there was a risk of confusion only in one Member State (Spain, the most likely Member State for any risk of confusion to arise), then the application for registration should be refused.The Court moved to a series of specific comparisons of the types of goods identified within Classes 20 and 28; for instance, it drew on assessments about the classes of consumers who might buy both sleeping bags and mattresses for travel or activities to state thatAt [71], it again took the view that the applicant's argument had been insufficiently 'concrete' to displace the Board of Appeal's assessment in relation to certain goods in Class 20. Like its procedural findings above, this indicates that applications to the General Court should be as clear and precise as possible both in terms of identifying heads of appeal and argumentation.The Court applied the settled test of abased on thevisually, phonetically or conceptually (bearing in mind distinctive and dominant elements) to the average consumer of the goods or services in question. This includes the general position that two marks will be similar if they arein respect of at least one aspect. If one mark consists of the earlier mark plus an additional word, that will indicate a level of similarity between the marks.Whether the common word element 'delta' supports the finding of an average degree of visual, phonetic and conceptual similarity by the Board of Appeal was therefore the next issue considered by the Court. The Court noted that, if the common element is one which is so widely used that it has lost distinctiveness for that class of goods, or if it is descriptive or weakly distinctive, it is unlikely that there will be a real risk of confusion in the public mind such that the goods will be perceived as coming from the same source.The Court determined that the applicant's evidence concerning undertakings active in various countries or internationally - without evidence of how the relevant public perceives the mark - was not sufficient to prove their argument that the word 'delta' had become 'almost generic' for the goods at issue in the Spanish-speaking market. The importance of clarity and precision is again underscored.Similarly, the argument that the word 'delta' could denote the symbol delta, conferring abecause of its mathematical meaning of 'difference', was rejected because there was no evidence that a significant part of the public would actually understand this reference.The additional word elements 'colchon' (colchon, mattress) and 'sport' in respect of the earlier Spanish mark and the mark applied for, respectively, were each deemed not to be distinctive in relation to the relevant categories of goods. Similarly, the small heart contained within the earlier mark was not prominent or distinctive enough to displace the word 'delta' as the dominant element of that mark. Moreover, because of the low distinctiveness of the subsidiary word element 'colchon' in the earlier Spanish mark, consumers would focus their attention on the distinctive element, i.e. 'delta'.The Court stated that the mark applied for fell within thecategory because it is made up of simple colours and geometric shapes. It would therefore not be understood as a trade mark by consumers unless it had acquired distinctiveness through use (which is not at issue here).Therefore, 'delta' was assessed as having an average degree of distinctiveness and 'sport' as having a weak or average degree of distinctiveness (depending on the class of goods). In addition, 'delta' is the part of the mark to which consumers would pay more attention because it is placed at the start. The earlier marks were assessed as having aAn average degree of phonetic similarity between the earlier EU mark and the mark applied for was found, and a weak degree between the earlier Spanish mark and the mark applied for due to the qualification added by the words 'colchon' and 'sport' respectively. The Court also supported the Board of Appeal's finding that there was an average conceptual similarity between the marks.The Court therefore affirmed the likelihood of confusion or association in theof the relevant consumers assessed by the Board of Appeal, with the action being dismissed in its entirety. Tensions in the Middle East are high following the U.S. governments assassination of Qassem Soleimani, Irans high-ranking military leader. Iran retaliated in the early hours of January 8, launching more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. In addition to missiles and military maneuvers, Iran is also no stranger to cyber warfare. In 2016, the U.S. charged seven hackers linked to the Iranian government with executing large-scale coordinated cyberattacks on dozens of banks, as well as a small dam outside New York City. Two days before the missile strike, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a bulletin warning of Irans ability to carry out attacks with temporary disruptive effects against critical infrastructure in the U.S., and for American companies to be prepared for cyber disruptions, suspicious emails, and network delays. Just one day after DHS released the bulletin, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said his state has seen a spike in attempted cyberattacks from Iran on state agency networks at the rate of about 10,000 per minute. Financial institutions should remain vigilant regardless, but the escalating situation in the Middle East serves as a catalyst to ensure your institution is fully prepared to deal with a cyberattack from a foreign adversary. Here are some things you should be doing right now: Reduce Your Attack Surface This is an excellent time to take inventory of your technical assets, because every device and piece of installed software you have increases your attack surface, leading to much higher risk. Eliminating unused devices reduces the amount of assets you must manage and protect. However, getting rid of unused software may be even more important, as all software has the potential for vulnerabilities. Whitelisting your applications is a fantastic way to accomplish this. Cut Access to Systems Whenever possible, take the time to reduce the number of administrators to systems, including all local admin rights. You should also restrict access to systems or data on a need-to-know basis. This includes keeping an eye on third-party access, which is something that Christopher Krebs, director of the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, tweeted about recently. Backup Your Data The frequency of ransomware attacks is on the rise, and this is an enormous concern for financial institutions in this country. Cyber criminals prefer ransomware attacks because they pose little risk while providing a quick pay out. Ransomware attacks depend on the ability to hold your data captive, but these attacks become far less threatening if your data has been duplicated and stored elsewhere. Make sure you are backing up your data regularly and consistently testing those backups to make sure they work properly. A.B.U. (Always Be Updating) We are nearing the end-of-life date for two widely used operating systems: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 2008 Server Service Pack 2. Support for both systems ends after January 14, and there is high probability that hackers are already sitting on vulnerabilities for these systems, ready to strike once the support date passes. Unpatched software is a huge risk, too. So make sure you install all operating system and application security patches in a timely fashion. Monitor Your Network One of the biggest challenges community institutions face is monitoring for suspicious activity. Security systems and tools are critical, but neither take the place of eyes on glass. One of the wisest investments you can make is partnering with a managed services provider (MSP) that offers around-the-clock assistance in monitoring for suspicious activity. These same providers can also assist with administrative functions, such as system and software updates. In addition, a qualified MSP can offer practical advice and answer questions to make sure your institution is doing everything it can to prevent attacks. Secure Your Perimeter Youre only as strong as your weakest link, and if your weakest link is your perimeter security, youre basically leaving the front door wide open. Its no longer optional to simply deploy firewalls and intrusion prevention systems. Financial institutions must go above-and-beyond typical security measures to keep their systems safe and should consider taking advantage of enterprise-grade security solutions. Train Your Employees Social engineering remains one of the top ways to compromise a network while remaining undetected, and therefore, should be toward the top of your list when it comes to cyber training. While email is often the focal point of such trainings, we shouldnt forget that phone calls and dropped USB drives are still very successful attack vectors, too. Additionally, strong email and web filtering is critical, as they stop many attacks before they start. In Conclusion: Preparation Is Key In response to notifications from DHS, the Federal Reserve, FBI and other governmental agencies, CSI has updated security monitoring and response correlation rules to identify potentially malicious activity as identified by these agencies and will notify customers if any traffic is detected from any agency-supplied sources. Ask yourself this: If you live in an area that is susceptible to hurricanes, and you do nothing to prepare, are you negligent when the storm hits your house? Cybersecurity is the same thing, and you need to do everything you can ahead of time to prepare your institution to weather a cyberattack. For more information on what CSI is doing to thwart the increase in potential cybersecurity threats from the Middle East, contact CSI Managed Services. The conservative gun-rights activist known as 'Kent State Gun Girl' is calling on President Trump to strip government funding from Ohio University, claiming that they 'harbor terrorists' because students protested her visit. Kaitlin Bennett, 24, went viral in May 2018 after posing with an AR-10 rifle immediately after her graduation from Kent State University. She has continued to court controversy as she visits college campuses to talk about gun rights and make videos in which she questions students, traveling to Ohio University's Athens campus on Monday where she was met with angry protesters. The gun-loving Ohio woman posted videos on Twitter after her visit in which she claims a 'riot' started because of her presence on campus and that students 'were throwing things at me all day, dumped hot coffee on me, & vandalized @Joelpatrick1776's truck right in front of the cops'. Police denied any riot took place, and said there were no arrests. Kaitlin Bennett first found fame in May 2018 after posting these photos condemning Kent State University's 'insulting' anti-gun laws that banned her from carrying a gun while a student Cell phone footage from Bennett's Monday visit shows toilet roll being thrown at her Bennett, 24,posted this video to Twitter which shows two police officers keeping watch as angry protesters heckle and swarm the car she is trying to leave in with Joel Patrick This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at @ohiou started a riot when @Joelpatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists. pic.twitter.com/5TMlfdto9O Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 17, 2020 She wrote: 'This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at @ohiou started a riot when @JoelPatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists'. Bennett, who is also the founder of right-wing group Liberty Hangout, shared the video of her with radio host and self-proclaimed 'black redneck' Joel Patrick as they tried to leave the campus by car. A group of angry protesters swarmed around shouting and swearing as the driver honks the horn to try to make them move. A woman can be seen throwing the contents of her water bottle over the car and other liquids are thrown as two police officers stand by the car as it makes its way out. She later posted a further video in which she walks around the campus with her security guard and a large number of protesters follow her. Further posts by students show the large crowds that followed Bennett around to protest her presence on campus. Bennett has accused the campus police of lying about the level of violence shown against her on Monday, posting a video in which she claims hot coffee was poured on her Bennett branded the protesting students as 'a bunch of whiny children' after her campus trip Students posted pictures of the protests that followed Bennett as she moved around campus 'So Kent state gun girl came to Ohio University and it didnt end well lol,' one student wrote. 'And in todays news, the only thing Kents gun girl accomplished was uniting our family against bigotry, racism, and fascism. I love #ou and all my bobcat family,' posted another. Bennett has claimed that the university police did nothing to stop the 'violence' against her. 'The @oupolice lied and said that no violence happened and that there were just "allegations that some unknown person splashed water,"' she wrote. Ohio University Police released a statement shortly after the visit in which they refuted Bennett's claims that her arrival led to a riot. 'She drew a large crowd of people, many with opposing viewpoints, who also chose to exercise their First Amendment rights,' the statement said. 'Ohio university police officers were present throughout the incident to protect everyone's rights and safety; other than keeping streets and other public rights of way clear, no police officers asked anyone to leave at any point in time. 'Contrary to allegations circulating on social media, the incident did not rise to the level of a riot,' university police said. 'There was strong language, and allegations that some unknown person(s) in the crown splashed water, but there were no reported injuries or violence, and no one was arrested during the event.' The Ohio University police argued that there was no 'riot' during Bennett's visit Kent State 'gun girl' is heckled when she's confronted by protesters at Ohio University Kaitlin Bennett claims she was on Ohio University's Athens campus on Monday in order to film a President's Day video asking students about the American presidents and their history Students followed Bennett around and booed her as she tried to film the video They also highlighted that although 'not required', they had received no warning that Bennett was to visit the campus which 'deprived the department of the ability to plan staffing levels'. 'As a result, the officers on duty had to prioritize their response to the events as they unfolded, rightly putting everyone's personal safety ahead of all other concerns,' the statement continued. Bennett responded with a further call for Donald Trump to removed the school's funding, saying that protesters 'threw projectiles' and poured 'hot coffee on us'. She added: 'I've been contacted by the FBI 4 times for credible threats against my life. I've received millions of death threats the last two years. I've been assaulted numerous times and rioted against twice. But nothing the left does will make me go away. Their hatred makes me stronger.' Bennett claims that she went to the Ohio University campus to film a video, tweeting: 'I went to @ohiou to ask President's Day trivia questions like "who were the first 3 presidents". It's not my fault the students there are a bunch of whiny children that have to throw temper tantrums because someone they disagree with shows up.' The gun rights activist claims the encounter will only encourage her to do more Bennett repeating called on President Trump to cut funding for Ohio University On Tuesday she made a further call for Trump to strip funding posting a a picture of a person screaming on the ground and adding: '@ohiou after @realDonaldTrump takes away their federal funding for letting students terrorize conservatives.' Bennett's first claim to fame came in 2018 after she protested Kent State University's policy which does not allow its students to carry guns on campus. As visitors are allowed to carry guns, she slung a AR-10 rifle over her shoulder the day after her graduation to condemn the school's 'insulting' anti-gun policies. Photos show Bennett, wearing a short, white dress with the rifle strapped over her back. In her hand, her graduation cap read: 'Come and take it.' 'Now that I graduated from Kent State, I can finally arm myself on campus,' Bennett wrote in the post. 'I should have been able to do so as a student - especially since 4 unarmed students were shot and killed by the government on this campus.' She was referring to a 50-year-old incident when Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on Vietnam War protesters, killing four and wounding nine others. The photos, which have been shared thousands of times, provoked a fierce debate on social media where many criticized Bennett's stance that students should be able to carry because 'the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.' Kaitlin Bennett, 24, first found fame in May 2018 after posting these photos condemning Kent State University's 'insulting' anti-gun laws that banned her from carrying a gun while a student On her website, Liberty Hangout, which posts inflammatory messages and fake news posts on Facebook, Bennett continues to espouse her pro-Second Amendment views and belief that students should be able to carry weapons on campus. This is not the first time a college campus has reacted unkindly to Bennett. In May 2019, she claimed that 'a group of liberals @RutgersU called 911 to try having me kicked off campus because they didn't like that a conservative was talking to students in front of a communist's memorial'. '5 cops showed up because someone they disagreed with engaged in free speech. Very progressive!' she added. Bennett was interviewing students about student debt for InfoWars, the far right conspiracy site run by Alex Jones. An ancient 3,200-year-old Canaanite temple has been discovered in Israel which was part of a biblical city destroyed by Joshua. Inside, archaeologists found various statues of different gods, including two bronze figurines said to be 'smiting'. The temple, from about the 12th century BC, was once part of the powerful Canaanite city of Lachish. This city was mentioned in the book of Joshua, with Lachish supposedly delivered by God into the hands of Israel, where '[they] put it and all the people in it to the sword'. Scroll down for video The team of archaeologists found a temple with two large pillars leading to a larger entrance area in what was the city of Lachish The team found a mixture of pottery, storage boxes and statues in the ruins of the ancient 3,200 year old temple and are now examining them in more detail WHO WAS BAAL? Baal was worshipped widely by a number of Bronze Age communities, particularly in the Middle East. A depiction of the priests of Baal at the altar with the prophet Elijah He was prominent amongst the Canaanites and may have arose as a figure for worship in their cities. Baal was seen as a fertility god, in fact known by the title Lord of the Earth and the God of Rain and Dew. This was particularly important for the Canaanites as the rain and dew were vital for fertile soil. Worship of Baal became popular in Egypt from about 1400 BC. Advertisement Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Southern Adventist University in Tennessee say this is a 'unique opportunity' to study the Canaanite's. The Late Bronze Age temple had two pillars and two towers leading to a large rectangular hall - unusual for the period, according to Professor Yosef Garfinkel. They found a host of other objects in the temple, including two bronze figurines said to be armed 'smiting gods' - housed near the altar. 'The settlement is mentioned in both the Bible and in various Egyptian sources and was one of the few Canaanite cities to survive into the 12th century BCE,' Hebrew University explained in a statement. The layout was common in the earlier Bronze Age and similar to bible descriptions of the First Temple in Jerusalem said to have been built by King Solomon. It was a rare discovery for the researchers - who say a find along these lines and of this scale only happens every few decades. 'Only once every 30 or 40 years do we get the chance to excavate a Canaanite temple in Israel,' Garfinkel told the Times of Israel. The site of Lachish, where the temple is located, was first found by William Foxwell Albright in 1929. He is considered the founding father of Biblical archaeology. Garfinkel's team started excavating the site nearly seven years ago in 2013 - then spent longer examining the findings. 'We uncovered the temple and we dedicated three or four years to it, because it is very rare to find Canaanite sites in Israel,' Garfinkel told the Jerusalem Post. 'This kind of structure was only discovered in Megiddo, Nablus and Hazor. But this is the first time we revealed such a large monumental symmetrical kind of temple.' Among the discoveries were pieces of jewellery with Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting rulers and gods from the Nile country They found some objects showing Egyptian pharaohs that were covered in gold leaf as well as bronze cauldrons and daggers Two tiny figurines depicting 'smiting gods' were found by the altar of the temple. These figures were of either the god Baal or Resheph 'What we found sheds new light on ancient life in the region. It would be hard to overstate the importance of these findings.' The temple had small rooms along the sides that would have been used for storage, in fact they found boxes with wheat inside them. As they moved further into the remains they found an 'inner sanctum' with columns and nearly 10ft high standing stones in a circle of smaller stones. In the temple the team found an amulet inspired by the Egyptian goddess Hathor who was worshipped by miners and said to welcome the dead to the afterlife. It wasn't just Egyptian gods represented in the temple, they also found statuettes of Baal - a god not worshipped in the country and of purely Canaanite origin. It was one of two statues of smiting gods and the type of figurines are found in the area in temples from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. They are usually of Baal or Resheph, who are both known as war gods, 'although it is impossible to identify our figurines with either due to the lack of clear attributes.' Weapons and jewellery were among the items discovered at the 12th century BC Canaanite temple at Lachish Four pieces of a gilded bronze situla bearing an engraved hieroglyphic inscription were found within the remains of the temple They also found bronze cauldrons, daggers and axe heads adorned with imagery common to Egypt including bird images, scarabs and a bottle inscribed with the name Ramses II - a powerful Egyptian pharaoh. During the period the template originated the people of Lachish controlled large parts of the Jusean lowlands and the city was one of the most important in the area. Canaanites and ancient Egyptians had a mutual influence on one another, according to Garfinkel, at one point up to about 1549 BC the Canaanites actually ruled Egypt - but that changed with the rise of King Tutankhamun and Nefertiti. A significant amount of pottery was uncovered in the Canaanite temple including urns, bowls and other containers When the famous rulers came to power ancient Egypt also came to the height of its success and violently swept over what is now Israel. The city of Lachish where the temple was found had a very bloody history - first arising as a powerful Canaanite stronghold around 1800 BC. It lasted a few hundred years before being destroyed in 1550 BC by the Egyptians as they rolled over the region during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III. By Khanh Vu HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam expects to export 6.75 million tonnes of rice this year, up 6% from last year, Vietnam Food Association Vice Chairman Do Ha Nam said on Tuesday. "Demand is seen rising this year as Vietnamese rice is more competitive in terms of prices," Nam told Reuters, adding that the coronavirus epidemic in China had had no impact on shipments of Vietnamese rice to China. Nam said rice exporters from Vietnam have over recent years sought to expand their markets to reduce their reliance on China, adding the Philippines was currently the largest market. "Vietnam is producing more fragrant rice to tap new markets, such as South Korea and Africa," Nam added. Traders based in Ho Chi Minh City said a delegation from the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines will visit rice production sites in Vietnam in March to work on food safety issues, paving the way for more shipments. Rice exports from Vietnam, the world's third-largest shipper of the grain, rose 4.2% in 2019 from a year earlier to 6.37 million tonnes. (Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Edmund Blair and David Evans) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the allegations by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno ... The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the allegations by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), Monguno in a circular from his Office on Monday accused Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari of hijacking the coordination of security leadership. He accused Kyari of sidelining him in making strategic decisions in national security operations. PDP, reacting in a statement by its National Publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said Mongunos statement had validated its position that President Muhammadu Buhari had abdicated the responsibilities of his office. The opposition party further reiterated its call on Buhari to resign, adding that the NSAs letter further exposes the fact that our nation has been on autopilot under President Buhari, Following Mongunos revelation , we reiterates earlier position that President Buhari should waste no further time in relinquishing his position as President since it is now obvious that he has become overwhelmed by official duties. The PDP holds that security is the most important element of governance, followed by the welfare of citizens and since President Buhari has relinquished these statutory responsibilities, he has no other reason to remain in office. The NSAs letter further exposes the fact that our nation has been on autopilot under President Buhari, whose abdication of serious matters of state is directly responsible for the untold suffering, anguish, pain and escalated insecurity in the country. The PDP describes the Gen. Monguno revelation as a national tragedy which showcases the fact that Mr. President Buhari has become so irredeemably overwhelmed to the extent that the responsibilities of his office, including presiding over very sensitive security matters, have now been taken over by his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, who functions as a defacto President. Nigerians are invited to note the verdict by the NSA, who, in support of the position of the PDP, affirmed that such situation is responsible for the failure of government to defend Nigerians and find solution to the worsened insecurity under President Buharis watch. Our party recalls that even the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, had severally alerted that strange elements had usurped the functions of the president and urged Nigerians to speak out for their country. It is now clear that the demand by Nigerians calling on President Buhari to resign was borne out of patriotism and love for our country, the party said. Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed? You voted: Education technology leaders are increasingly called upon to help prepare students for the future workforce. And for Chris Smallen, the chief technology officer of the Lenoir City School District, not far from Knoxville, Tenn., that means helping the district create maker spaces for students of different ages and offering a virtual learning program that allows high-achievers to get core credits out of the way so that they can concerntrate on advanced placement courses. Education Week chatted with Smallen about his work. Tell me a little bit about what youve done on maker spaces. How do you differentiate for different age levels? The district has a maker space at each of its three schoolselementary (which goes from kindergarten to 3rd grade), middle, and high school. Each of the spaces emphasizes different skills. At the elementary level, the maker space, housed in the school library, includes green screening, simple robotics, simple coding, plus some very tangible objects like Legos and kinetic sand, just to get students to engage in design thinking, Smallen said. Time in the maker space is often awarded to classes and students for good and on-task behavior, making it a classroom-management boon. At the middle school level, students are exposed to more sophisticated tools, including higher-level robotics, 3D printers, lazer cutters, and modular electronics. Those are things you would typically see coming out of high school engineering environment, Smallen said. Were conquering it in middle school. Middle school kids helped design an assisitive-technology for students with disabilities, for instance. Our kids are seeing that bigger picture of heres how I can help in my community, he said. Engineering volunteersmany of whom live in a nearby retirement villagecome out at least once a week to help students use the equipment and place engineering lessons in a real world context. Local manufacturing engineers drop by once a month, also to provide some assistance and perspective. At the high school level, students have access to audio-visual rooms where they can make their own podcasts, or practice with a teleprompter. There are also t-shirt presses, a sewing machine, and a 3D printer. The high school level maker space is also staffed by students working at the schools technology help desk, which helps to fix student Chromebooks and other devices. The help desk also provides support to local independent businesses, including helping with their social media accounts. But much of the engineering focus in the middle school maker space switches to engineering classes at the high school level. Whats the overall goal of your maker space and engineering program? We really want to not limit students. We know that students are preparing for careers that havent even been developed yet. We really want to offer lots of different options, and especially from my standpoint, a lot of creative options out there. Thats why we want to introduce kids very early in their academic career to things like coding, engineering, design thinking. When we talk with our businesses and industry, and I go on a lot of visits to our local manufacturing plants, we want to be able to evolve as well. How has virtual learning enabled you to expand your course selection? The district started off with 32 credits the first semester the program was offered, to about 15 students. But it was a big hit. Last spring, about 278 credits were offered, to about 150 students, Smallen said. Right now, the school is offering close to 20 classes online, including some Advanced Placement offerings, such as biology and art history. What we were found was that we had some very motivated kids, Smallen said, who wanted to take AP classes, participate in the band or honors chorus, and be part of the districts STEM academy. It wasnt for them to fit their required courses around all that activity. The district started allowing them to take some of these required courses for graduation online, for a $100 for a full semester course, or $75 for a half semester course. The classes are led by the districts teachers, who get extra pay for their work, about $100 per student. The program now also serves many students who are part of the areas sizeable homeschool population, as well as homebound students who may not be able to come to school because of an anxiety disorder or a physical problem, in addition to regular district students. What are the big challenges in offering so many virtual courses? We started out offering everything for free. And that really starting eating into our budget. And now we are having to charge kids. And then trying to do grow and do so in a way that we feel comfortable and were not growing so fast that we make mistakes along the way. I really have tried to do this very slowly, he said. The district has learned what kinds of kids will be most successful in online courses, typically those who have 2.8 GPA or better, and have a parent or guardian at home who can monitor their efforts. The district has even allowed middle school kids to take high school level courses online, if they show they are ready for the work. I actually had a 6th grader who completed Spanish One and Spanish Two last year and made an A, he said. Are there any downsides to offering so many virtual courses? No because weve really found that most kids need flexibility. And most colleges and universities are offering online programs now. We think thats gonna kind of become the norm moving forward. Our students, having had those experiences at the middle and high school level, it will benefit them moving into their college years. Theyll know what it takes to be self-motivated. If youre thrown into that and youve never been a part of that world, its really easy to get distracted by the television. Were really trying to build responsibility into this program and what it takes to be successful in managing yourself and being disciplined. This interview is part of a series of Q&As with education technology district leaders. Got a story to tell about your district? Want to participate? Email aklein@educationweek.org. Five people died and 43 were wounded in a 30-car pileup in a tunnel on a highway between Suncheon and Wanju in southwestern Korea on Monday. One of the vehicles involved was a tanker filled with toxic nitric acid, which leaked onto the highway, causing a hazard for rescue workers. Police said icy roads caused by heavy snowfall caused the tanker to topple over. Around 5.6 cm of snow fell in the area on Monday. The 24-ton truck carrying 18,000 liters of nitric acid approached the tunnel, but skidded and toppled near the entrance. Cars behind slammed into it and 18 caught fire. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. TEXAS- Feb 18, 2020- GoodFirms lists the top Cloud Computing Companies in Texas for Feb 2020. It is a well-known B2B search portal for IT and software development companies. It has a collection of reviews, ratings and rankings for thousands of leading software companies around the globe. GoodFirms also has 700+ surveys which help the business owners to make important informed decisions. Their reviews and ratings are based on an in-depth analysis of significant parameters like quality of products/services, experience in the industry, past projects, client reviews, etc. GoodFirms has listed Biz4Solutions, a leading provider of world-class software services, among top Cloud Computing Companies in Texas. Biz4Solutions is known for providing cutting-edge technical solutions, mobile and web-based apps, etc. using advanced technologies like Cloud Computing Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, IoT, RPA, etc. It has delivered outstanding solutions to global clients using Cloud Solutions and so, GoodFirms considers Biz4Solutions as the best Cloud Computing Service Provider in Texas. For more details, click here- https://www.goodfirms.co/cloud-computing-companies/texas. Mr. Ashish Rangnekar, CEO- Biz4Solutions LLC, shares his thoughts, "Building products that bring smiles on faces of kids, students, patients and many other customers across the world is only possible because of smart work done by team Biz4Solutions. Thanks to all employees at Biz4Solutions for taking pride in what you do- your energy is contagious and every customer testimonial is a testament to your work ethic. You set us apart from the competition and I cannot thank you enough for the exceptional customer experiences you provide on a daily basis." About Biz4Solutions LLC: Biz4Solutions LLC is a Texas-based software company, established in 2011. Today, it caters to world-wide companies in sectors like healthcare, education, transportation, hospitality, water, etc. Their team is highly professional, delivers work within strict timelines, and has a thorough knowledge of several emerging technologies. Biz4Solutions develops highly competent software solutions to ensure that they exceed customers expectations and their clients are happy. Contact: Ash Rakars, Email - sales@biz4solutions.com Call +1 407 401 9289 Address - 8404 Warren Parkway #721, Frisco, Texas Website - https://www.biz4solutions.com/ In the wake of Medical Council of India stripping the specialist tag of over 1700 post-graduate Diploma holders in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) course from Indira Gandhi National Open University between 2006-13, the experts in the health fraternity are outraged and have written to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists in a letter to the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, have brought to the notice in bringing PGDCC into the mainstream as large number of clinical cardiologists, would become available at a time when the burden of cardiovascular disease is progressively increasing. The two year PGDCC course was not a distance-education course but a full time in-house resident training program similar to any other MCI recognised diploma in the country. The said course was conducted after an all-India entrance exam in 77 tertiary care hospitals including many teaching government medical colleges in India. The PGDCC course was conducted along with DM and DNB cardiology program and teaching faculty remained the same for both PGDCC and DNB/DM cardiology. The PGDCC curriculum and syllabus was designed by the famous cardiology Professor, Dr.George Cherian who was instrumental in the launching of DM cardiology course in India. MCIs major objection was over the evaluation of the training program in accordance with the MCI Act 1956. MCI claims that IGNOU had not obtained the NOC before starting the course. Dr Rajesh Rajan, *Chairman - IACC Board of Governors* said, It is an irony that MCI is snatching the tag of specialist from PGDCC cardiologist on extremely bizarre grounds. The government of India along with IGNOU launched this diploma course. The then Union Health Minister Dr.Anbumoni Ramdoss inaugurated this course. Now they say that this course is not recognized. University Grant Commission in a notification in 1992 says that the certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded by IGNOU are to be treated equivalent to the corresponding awards of the universities in the country. Dr. Rajan says, "On one hand government of India launched historic projects like 'Ayushman Bharat' to help the poor and needy and on the other hand MCI destroys the government project by not giving recognition to PGDCC doctors, of which the majority are working in Rural India and practicing preventive cardiology. Indians have realised that prevention is much better than cure. When the country needs 88000 thousand cardiologists to take care of our entire population according to world health organization (WHO) standards with great empathy we in India have only 4000+ cardiologists including PGDCC doctors. Prime Minister and Health minister should question the intention of MCI to destroy the Rural health sector of India. IACC submitted a project named *Mission Early Detection and effective management of cardiovascular diseases in rural India-* 'MEDIA' i.e. to start a cardiac ICU in all 600 districts in India especially rural India and to make use of this 1706 clinical cardiology specialists". In the letter by IACC, it is stated that as per the honorable High court vide its judgment dated 17.09.2019, it is an unjustified act by the MCI; it may suffice to state that, in any event, the MCI, and the union of India cannot seek to piggyback on the 2000 Regulations, which states that an institution intending to start a Postgraduate Medical Education course or to increase the admission capacity shall obtain prior permission of the central government under section 10A of the Act and its not applicable in the case of PGDCC. Dr Rajesh Rajan says, The letter says that IGNOU applied twice to GOI/MCI recognition, however, on both occasions, MCI refused to review the merit of the case by quoting 10-A and missing nomenclature and that IGNOU had not taken prior permission from MCI before starting the course under PGMER 2000, both of which have been quashed by the Honorable Delhi High Court. We are aghast by the neglectful behavior of MCI and at the same time it is a clearcut contempt of Delhi High Court. It is also worth mentioning the fact that a near-identical case- Diploma in Cardiology from C.S.J.M University, G.S.V.M Medical College, Kanpur, has been recognized by MCI-BOG & it has been added to the nomenclature of the MCI very recently in September, 2019. Website: www.accindia.org Punjab Food Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Tuesday appealed to Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer AffairsRaosaheb Dadarao Danve to formulate an effective policy to check damage of foodgrains because of shortage of space. "Pertaining to shortage of foodgrains storage capacity in Punjab, they (the Centre) should formulate an effective policy to check damage of foodgrains in the state. Due to this reason (space shortage), Punjab is now unable to bear annual loss of more than Rs 2,000 crore," Ashu said during a meeting with Danve in Ludhiana. Danve is on a two-day visit to Punjab, a government release said here. Although Punjab has been the food bowl of the country for the last several decades, the responsibility of managing storage of procured foodgrains is also on the state, Ashu said. "Due to limited resources, Punjab is unable to increase the storage capacity on its own and the union government should assist the state government in this regard," the release said quoting Ashu. He appealed to Danve that the union government should formulate a nation-wide effective policy in this regard, so that foodgrains produced in Punjab are not damaged. He said Punjab is asked to manage storage of foodgrains for up to three years whereas foodgrains are not stored in Rajasthan for more than three months. "If the union government formulates a policy, foodgrains from Punjab can be stored in other states like Rajasthan," Ashu said while advocating sale of foodgrains from Punjab to Afghanistan or other South Asian countries. He also sought to quicken the movement of foodgrains through trains. "For lifting of foodgrains, special permission is granted for only 10-12 goods trains daily, which should be increased to at least 20," he said. He also demanded that under the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) scheme, approvals for construction of godowns with at least 20 lakh metric tonne capacity should be granted. Giving details about the current storage situation in the state, Ashu said around 95 lakh metric tonne of foodgrains from previous years were being stored in the state, out of which around 36 lakh metric tonne was lying in open (covered area plinth) and around 60 lakh metric tonne was stored in godowns. He said around 130 lakh metric tonne of wheat was expected to arrive in mandis in April, and Punjab would be unable to store fresh crop due to shortage constraints. Danve, while appreciating the Punjab model of Public Distribution System, said if foodgrains are distributed to beneficiaries for a collective period of six months in the entire country, then the problem of storage as well as damage of foodgrains would be resolved automatically. "With the adoption of this system, 600 lakh tonne of foodgrains can reach the households in one go and the beneficiaries will be benefitted to a large extent," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Africas richest woman, Isabel dos Santos, is accused of using US firms to move allegedly ill-gotten money offshore. The United States is the worlds most complicit country in helping individuals hide money from the rule of law, according to a new report from the Tax Justice Network (TJN). The networks findings come as Angola accuses Africas wealthiest woman of siphoning public funds and moving the money offshore with the help of western consulting firms. The scandal has become known as the Luanda Leaks. Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of Angolas former president, is worth an estimated $2bn, according to Forbes magazine. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) claims dos Santos used an army of Western advisors to hide assets from tax authorities. Isabel dos Santos, too, took advantage of a US secrecy jurisdiction. The Luanda Leaks documents show that dos Santos used a Delaware company to buy property in Portugal. Delaware is one of the easiest places to create a low-taxed, secretive company, said Fergus Shiel, Luanda Leaks project manager at the ICIJ. Africas first female billionaire is accused of using international tax havens to move and store her assets. In a televised interview, dos Santos told Al Jazeera the allegations levied against her are untrue. Calculating financial secrecy In the The Financial Secrecy Index, TJN ranks nations by how much their financial systems allow people to hide and launder money extracted from other countries. The 2020 index found that the US increased its financial secrecy by 15 percent, and overtook Switzerland as one of the top destinations for people looking to hide money. Now holding the top spot is the Cayman Islands, where financial secrecy jumped 24 percent. The index ranks countries on a scale from 1 to 100. Zero means full transparency, while 100 means cloaked in full secrecy. The score is combined with the volume of financial activity conducted in the country by non-residents. Secrecy causes communities in developing countries to lose vital funds while other communities get pumped with dirty money. Mark Bou Mansour, Tax Justice Network Also on the top 10 list are Hong Kong, Singapore, Luxembourg, Japan, the Netherlands, the British Virgin Islands and the United Arab Emirates. And while lower-income countries supply only one percent of financial secrecy measured, they are the most vulnerable to feel the sting of its consequences. Financial secrecy keeps drug cartels bankable, human trafficking profitable and tax abuse feasible, TJNs Mark Bou Mansour told Al Jazeera. Secrecy causes communities in developing countries to lose vital funds while other communities get pumped with dirty money. There is some good news, however. The global total of all financial secrecy shrunk by seven percent since 2018, meaning less room for money laundering, tax evasion and huge offshore concentrations of illicit and untaxed wealth, according to the TJN report. Hiding money in the UK and US Increasing levels of financial secrecy in the US are largely due to the passing of a new law permitting the establishment of non-charitable private foundations without the need for disclosure, the report said. The US has also yet to sign onto the Common Reporting Standard, which is maintained by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and which currently has 105 signatories. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom increased its secrecy score by four points, more than any other country, with the trend extending to its network of satellite jurisdictions made up of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. This includes the top-ranked Cayman Islands, as well as the British Virgin Islands, which ranked ninth, and Guernsey, which ranked 11th. The report also claims OECD members are responsible for nearly half of the worlds financial secrecy. Isabel dos Santos The 2020 report ranks Angola as the second-most internally secretive country in the world. Angola is currently investigating former first daughter Isabel dos Santos as part of a campaign launched by President Joao Lourenco to root out corruption. For the first time in the history of its financial secrecy rankings, TJN has placed Angola on its list. Angolas billionaire former first daughter, Isabel dos Santos, has been charged with money laundering and mismanagement during her stewardship of state-owned oil firm Sonangol [Miguel Reipa/ AFP] Earlier this year, the ICIJs team of 120 reporters in 20 countries was able to trace how an army of Western financial firms, lawyers, accountants, government officials and management companies helped [dos Santos and her husband] hide assets from tax authorities. Based on a trove of more than 715,000 files, our investigation highlights a broken international regulatory system that allows professional services firms to serve the powerful with almost no questions asked, said the ICIJ. What the Luanda Leaks shows is that secrecy aids the flow of money from poor countries to rich ones, Sheil told Al Jazeera. The Luanda Leaks also highlights how that such secrecy can provide cover for unscrupulous deals. If the richest nations in the world, ones like the US, wanted to end the abuses afforded by secrecy, they could do so, Shiel added. Meanwhile, dos Santos has denied all accusations made against her. This is a very concentrated attack. It is an attack that has been very well coordinated. Its an attack coordinated with foreign media that is working with the Angolan authorities to create a false perception of my business, dos Santos told Al Jazeera. Islamabad: The Pakistani government has given the first statement on the Taliban terrorist Ahsanullah Ahsan, who released an audio clip of his freedom after escaping from Pakistan jail. The Pakistan government has admitted after a month that Ahsanullah Ahsan, a former Taliban spokesman who fired on Malala Yousafzai in 2012 and carried out the horrific attack on a military school in Peshawar in 2014, managed to escape from jail last month. Director of hospital in Wuhan died from Corona, most patients admitted in this hospital Absconding Taliban terrorist Ahsanullah Ahsan released an audio clip on social media on 6 February, in which he said that he managed to escape from the captivity of Pakistani security agencies on 11 January. He accused the Pakistani security force of vandalism. He said that Pakistan Security Force has failed to fulfill the promises made to him at the time of his surrender in 2017. Death toll in China rises, number of infected people reaches to 59,989 Pakistan's Interior Minister Ejaz Shah, while answering a question during informal talks with the media in Islamabad, said that he had read the news of the escape of Ahsanullah Ahsan. When pressure was made to confirm or refute the news, he said, "The news is true, it is true." He said that the authorities are aware of his escape and work is going on. FATF announced, 'India demands action against Pakistan ...' Mother Pukka, aka Anna Whitehouse, is making it her mission to get flexible working introduced into every workplace When Anna Whitehouse aka blogger and influencer Mother Pukka returned to work after her first child was born, she was in for a shock. Speaking on White Wine Question Time, Anna revealed it was while working for LOreal that she was hit with a brick wall of inflexibility that eventually led her to quit her job. I was on the tube and I was 12 minutes late for nursery pick-up, she said. I was sat on one of those tiny primary coloured chairs meant for an infant and told off by my daughter's key worker. Then charged a pound a minute after 6pm and it was like this self-flagellation exercise. I just thought in that moment: I quit. I can't do it. It's not me; it's the system. I worked hard to get here, and I cannot build up my girls to do their ABCs, their GCSEs, their A-levels to have the same door slammed in their face. I realised it was just across the board and that was where Flex Appeal started. Anna started her #FlexAppeal campaign back in 2016 and has since been campaigning to ensure more flexible working conditions for everyone who wants them. She believes we have a way to go until we reach the work/life balance experienced in some European cities. I used to work at Tommy Hilfiger in Amsterdam, she told podcast host Kate Thornton. I remember at 5pm, the London and New York offices were phoning in going, We must have this conference call! as is the panicked way of big organisations. And my boss just went, 'No. Amsterdam won't do it. We'll be there in the morning.' And I was just like, Thank God for that. He just walked out the door and the next morning we had the conference call and it was fine and he just went, 'It's shoes, it's handbags: it's fine!' I remember seeing in that moment a human owning other people's lives because it meant that whether you had children or not, it wasn't to do with that. [...] It was about living outside of work. Story continues Last year, Annas Flex Appeal kicked up a notch with the Flex For All petition, which is demanding that the law be changed so that flexible working options are obligated to be published in all job adverts, as well as allowing all employees the right to ask for flexible working during their employment. MP Helen Whately, who is championing the flexible working bill that takes these requests into consideration, had the first reading of the bill passed last summer. Anna believes everyone will benefit from a bill like this being passed even those fathers who often get dismissed when requesting flexible working hours. I heard from a guy a couple of days ago who asked his boss if he could leave to pick up his kid from nursery two days a week just [permission to] leave on the dot at five, she said. And his boss said, 'Well can't you Missus do that?'. He was like, 'Oh, well my Missus is a brain surgeon.' It was just that wonderful moment of this kind of unconscious kind of bias and these gender stereotypes and construct around us. This is Annas next aim: to amplify the voice of men in this battle. Talking about her husband and fellow flex champion, Papa Pukka, Anna said: I feel like my husband, behind the scenes, is sort of desperately trying to be an ally, but he's a bit scared. She believes its up to us all to push boundaries just like one very famous actors ancestor did way back in 1843. It was Sir Ian McKellen's great-great-grandfather who pioneered the two-day weekend, which was something I found quite fascinating, she told Kate. He was a knackered factory worker who just went, guys six days a week; this ain't working. Weekends didn't exist until one person pushed the boundaries of what our normality is no one was questioning it. I think we feel like we're cogs in a machine. That owner and pet mentality: that's the battle. While some industries naturally lend themselves to remote and flexible working, is this something that can work for every company? Anna believes it is, citing a matron she spoke to at the Birmingham Womens Hospital who uses ward-led rostering, where her team of nurses sort out their own roster. Heart Radio DJs Lilah Parsons and Anna Whitehouse appear on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time She said it works because then they work as a team, Anna revealed. They sit down, they talk as a team and she said the difference is instead of me saying we need someone to cover Sonia's shift, Sonia is messaging me going, I've changed my shift with Tracy or Barry or whoever it is. She said it's taking work away from me and it's working. There's fewer deaths on wards that work flexibly. Hear Anna Whitehouse talk more about flexible working, porn and the joy of community, alongside her radio DJ pal Lilah Parsons on this weeks White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify. DARIEN The family of one of the teens accused of cheating on Darien High Schools exams has hired an attorney to investigate and possibly challenge the school districts handling of the penalties for his client. Darien Schools Superintendent Alan Addley said several students entered the Language Arts and Social Studies faculty offices and copied the answers to the multiple-choice portions of those exams. It was determined that these answers were widely disseminated through social media, Addley said, adding that up to 280 to 300 students could have been impacted. The pervasiveness and issues of fairness of the incident led the administration to believe the most reasonable action is to re-administer the multiple-choice parts of the exam, he said. Addley said this is consistent with practices of other standardized tests such as the SAT and AP exams, though several parents objected. Mark Sherman, a Stamford attorney hired by one of the families whose 16-year-old son was implicated in the scheme, said the punishment imposed by the school included a range from retaking the exam to suspension. While the district showed measured discretion and compassion in setting the punishment ceiling for the accused students, we are looking into the disparate treatment of these students, especially in the context of federally mandated due process accommodations that should be considered, Sherman said. Sherman said he will examine whether the punishment was appropriate and was fair and equitable in the context of penalties meted out to other similarly situated students received in this dumpster fire of a discipline process. I also want to reassure that among these deliberations, the administration has been reflective and considered the integrity, fairness, disruption, stress and reasonableness, Addley said at a recent Board of Education meeting that was attended by more than 100 people. Addley said the needs of all the students, including the students that violated the academic policy were taken into consideration. Many parents objected to the retaking of exams, which were administered last week. Addley said the multiple-choice answers for World Studies and English exams were breached and widely distributed to the sophomore class, compromising the exams integrity. Board of Education Chairman Tara Ochman said his panel does not handle student discipline and does not determine or govern the day-to-day runnings of the school. However, given the level of concern Ohman said the board opted to hear a report about what happened and to allow the public to speak during a meeting this month. One parent said her son who is a sophomore worked hard to study for the two exams and was more of a math and science kid. These two midterms were the ones he stressed about the most, and when they were done, he felt a weight had been lifted off him, she said. Re-administering the tests nearly a month after the initial tests, while also interfering with other classwork is not an acceptable solution, she said. She pointed out that the high school handbook does not cite a retesting policy for students who have been accused of dishonesty, let alone a student not accused. She also said there were a lot of rumors about what happened and the punishment. The only way to dispel those rumors is for the administration to tell us exactly what happened and what the punishment was for those students, she said. This can be done without identifying them. I think you owe it to the students who were affected and the students who honestly studied for those exams, she said. Another parent pointed out the event leading up to the answers being disseminated was breaking and entering. If someone punches someone in the hallway, or does something illegal, is that not grounds for expulsion? Why is this not grounds for expulsion for the students involved? he asked. Pace Flaherty, one of the students who spoke, said he created a petition to hold the Darien public school system more accountable for violations of academic integrity. The petition received more than 276 signatures in 72 hours. A lot of students in my grade and in the school are feeling like the students got away with these acts with a slap on the wrist, he said. And that is very insulting to us as we have to retake our midterms, which also sounds like a consequence that has fallen onto us. NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Date sugar market is anticipated to witness a notable upsurge during the forecast period 2019 to 2029, conferring to a new study. The study promotes crucial trends that are presently determining the growth of date sugar market. This newly published and perceptive report sheds light on vital dynamics, which are likely to convert the future of date sugar market, in turn generating worthwhile opportunities for key companies as well as evolving players who are interested in the manufacturing of date sugar. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861896/?utm_source=PRN Date sugar market study is a detailed market intellect on key revenue progression factors, challenges, industry trends, and opportunities, which will eventually influence the growth of date sugar market. The report primarily conveys a summary of the date sugar market, considering present and upcoming sugar alternative industry scenarios, to reveal striking sides relating to the acceptance of date sugar across prominent regional markets. A detailed assessment on few of the date sugar raw material suppliers accessible in the report allows the report readers to obtain detailed findings that have resulted from date sugar supply chain analysis, business execution, and value chain analysis across the regional markets incorporated in the report. A list of prominent companies functioning in date sugar market provided in the report enhances reliability of this ample research study. Date sugar Market: Report Summary and Scope The study offers a comprehensive overview on diverse features that are inducing demand, revenue generation and sales in date sugar market across the globe. A comprehensive estimate on date sugar market has also been made accessible by the experts, who have considered the market estimates on the basis of a likely scenario, an optimistic scenario, and a conservative scenario regarding sales of date sugar during the forecast period. Analysis and estimation of price point comparison by region and by product with the global average price has been included in this study. Date Sugar Market: Analysis on Market Size Evaluation Predictions of date sugar market, encompassing current as well as forthcoming projected values estimates and analysis on region-wise demand trends and price indexes have been assimilated in the report. Market estimates at the regional and global scale for date sugar are available in terms of "US$ Mn." A Y-o-Y growth contrast on prominent date sugar market segments, along with the market attractiveness valuation computes understandings brought in the report. Metrics mentioned above are also followed based on date sugar applications where date sugar witnesses a steady demand. Date Sugar Market: Scrutinized Assessment on Regional Segments Weighted sections have been elaborated in the report on date sugar market, which delivers projection on the regional markets. These chapters brighten the regional macros (political economic, and business environment outlook), which are expected to have a significant impact on the growth of date sugar market during period of forecast. Country-specific valuation on demand for date sugar has been offered for each regional market, along with the market scope estimate and forecast, price index, price point assessment, and impact analysis of dynamics of prominent regions and countries. For all regional markets Y-o-Y growth estimates have also been incorporated in the report. Date Sugar Market: In-depth Analysis on Competitive Landscape The report ends with a section on the competition scenario of date sugar market, along with the profiles of major companies contributing to the market expansion. Essential and up-to-date data as well as information correlated to the market performers, who principally engage in the production and supply of date sugar, has been brought with the help of a detailed dashboard view. Market share analysis and comparison of prominent players provided in the report permits the report readers to plan preemptive steps to advance their businesses. Company profiles have been shared with the report, which exerts essentials such as product portfolio, along with an all-inclusive SWOT analysis on each player recognized along with the company policies identification and analysis. The company presence mapped and presented through the matrix for all the prominent players of the market functioning in date sugar market offers readers with actionable intellect, which helps in thoughtfully presenting the market status, and making decisive predictions on the competition levels in date sugar market. Major companies operating in global date sugar market, include Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Date Lady, Naturalia Ingredients SRL, Now Foods, Barry Farms, Teeccino, Clarks U.K. Ltd., Chatfield's Brands, and Glory Bee. Request research methodology of this report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861896/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Russia today said it will ban all Chinese citizens from entering the country due to the virus outbreak centred in China that has infected more than 73,000 people worldwide. The temporary entry ban comes into effect from Thursday at midnight Moscow time for an indefinite period, according to a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The Kremlin said it took the move due to the 'worsening epidemiological situation' in China. Russia has taken drastic measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak which has claimed nearly 1,900 lives in China and around the world. It has already closed its 2,650-mile border with China and Mongolia as well as imposing other travel restrictions. There have been no more coronavirus cases in Russia since two women, who returned from China recently, were treated and released from hospital. Medical worker recording a patient's condition at Jinyintan Hospital designated for new coronavirus infected patients in Wuhan today A TV cameraman filming the quarantined ship Diamond Princess anchored at Yokohama port in Yokohama, near Tokyo today. The cruise ship will begin letting passengers off the boat on Wednesday after it's been in quarantined for 14 days Chinese nationals visit Russia as tourists or live there for work or study and many transit through Russian airports en route to the West. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of health, Tatiana Golikova, said: 'The entry of all Chinese citizens via Russia's state frontiers will be suspended from February 20 for work travel, private travel, study and tourism.' She added that the decision was taken 'because of the worsening of the epidemic in China and the fact that Chinese nationals are continuing to arrive on Russian territory'. The new entry ban will not affect travellers who need to transfer flights at Russian airports, authorities said. Apart from the two Chinese citizens in Russian who were treated and released, a Russian national was also infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship now quarantined in Japan. However, Russian authorities have taken significant steps to try to keep the virus from spreading, including hospitalising hundreds of people as a precaution after they returned from China. Russia halted most air traffic to China, suspended all trains to China and North Korea, and temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Chinese students studying in Russia were told not to return until March 1. Earlier this month, the prime minister said Russia might start deporting the foreigners infected with the virus. A nurse preparing medicines for patients at Jinyintan Hospital designated for new coronavirus infected patients in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province where the outbreak began Alla Ilyina, who broke out of the hospital on February 7 after learning that she would have to spend 14 days in isolation instead of the 24 hours doctors promised her, being escorted by a bailiffs form a court after a session in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday Yesterday a Russian court ordered a woman who escaped from a coronavirus quarantine to return back to the hospital. Alla llyina was admitted to the hospital in St Petersburg on February 6 with a sore throat and was tested for the strain, officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation, because she had returned from China five days earlier. She broke out of the hospital the next day by disabling an electronic lock in her room after finding out she would have to spend 14 days in isolation instead of the 24 hours that doctors promised her. In an Instagram post, Ilyina said doctors told her that she tested negative for the virus but still had to remain quarantined for two weeks. In the meantime, Germany is sending a second shipment of medical aid supplies to China to help the Asian giant fight the coronavirus epidemic. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the government would send 8.7 tons of aid supplies worth $162,000 (150,000), including protection gear and disinfectants. 'Germany stands firmly on the side of China in the battle against coronavirus and works closely and trustfully with the Chinese officials,' Maas said. 'We have the utmost respect for the efforts China has already undertaken.' The virus, which emerged in central China in December, has killed 1,868 patients in mainland China and five others elsewhere. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19. Ilyina, who escaped from a hospital in St. Petersburg, where she was being kept in isolation for possible inflection by the new coronavirus, was ordered by court on Monday to return back to the quarantine for at least two days China has instituted a strict lockdown on over 60 million people in central Hubei province and other nations are taking their own measures - including mandatory 14-day quarantines - to stop the virus from getting established on their territory. Europe has had one virus death among its 47 confirmed cases, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist in Paris who was initially turned away by two French hospitals. Italy says 14 of 25 Italian crew members aboard the troubled Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been struck under quarantine in Japan, will take an Italian evacuation military flight home. The other 11, including the captain of the ship, will stay, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. No date for the Italian air force plane's departure for Japan has been decided yet. The Russian Embassy in Japan announced Tuesday that one Russian was among the 542 people on the Diamond Princess confirmed with the virus. The statement clarified earlier reports about two Russians getting infected. On Monday, a Russian court sent a woman who broke out of a locked hospital during a 14-day isolation period back into quarantine. Russian health authorities are suing others who have defied quarantine requirements. Amazon hit back after a union attacked its safety record. (PA) Amazon (AMZN) has defended its safety record after more than 600 reported injuries or near-misses at its UK warehouses in the past three years. Analysis of official data by the GMB union suggests the retail giant reported 240 serious injuries to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) watchdog in 2018-19. A further 230 incidents were reported in 2017-18 and 152 the previous year, according to the GMB, which submitted freedom of information requests to UK local authorities. Only the most serious incidents have to be reported to the safety regulator. Firms have a duty to report when incidents leave workers away from or unable to work for more than seven days running. Fractures, crushing and amputation also have to be reported. Read more: Amazon warehouses face Black Friday protests The GMB said incidents included a Manchester worker who suffered head injuries and an intervertebral disc prolapse after boxes fell on them. A Leicestershire worker is said to have suffered internal bruising after being knocked down and wedged under a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). But an Amazon spokesperson said official figures showed it had more than 40% fewer incidents than similar transport and warehousing businesses. Its warehouse and workforce numbers have also expanded over the period the number of reported injuries has risen. He said its 17 fulfilment centres were open to visitors who wished to see its modern, innovative and, most importantly, safe environment. But Mick Rix, national officer at the GMB, claimed conditions were hellish, calling for a parliamentary inquiry and meetings between the union and the company. A previous GMB investigation also claimed more than 600 ambulances had been called out to warehouses in three years. Read more: UK deterring skilled workers as government plans immigration shakeup Rachel Reeves, a Labour MP and chair of the Commons business select committee, said she wanted to hear from Amazons workers and management about what is going on in their warehouses. Story continues Profit must never come before the safety of consumers & employees, she wrote on Twitter. But Amazons spokesperson said: Amazon is a safe place to work. Yet again, our critics seem determined to paint a false picture of what its like to work for Amazon. They repeat the same sensationalised allegations time and time again. It comes a day after the companys founder announced he would spend $10bn (7.7bn) of his personal fortune on finding new ways to tackle climate change. Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest man, announced the launch of the Bezos Earth Fund on his Instagram account. The company has also said it plans to use fully renewable energy by 2030. The Mumbai Police detained gangster Riyaz Bhatti, an aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at the Mumbai international airport Monday evening when he allegedly tried to escape to United Arab Emirates (UAE), a top police official said. Bhatti was arrested by Unit One of the Mumbai crime branch in two cases of extortion registered against him in Amboli and Juhu police station, on October last year and was released on bail as per the court direction and on the condition that he will not leave the country, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Santosh Rastogi. The Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him already and he was detained by airport authority and Mumbai police was informed. A police team from Unit One brought him to the unit office for legal process. We will produce him in court, the police officer said. This is not first time that Bhati tried to flee from the country. He was earlier arrested on October in 2015 at the same airport when he tried to fly to South Africa using a fake passport in the name of Bhatti Phoolji. Bhattis original passport expired in 2006 but could not be renewed as he did not get police clearance on account of the criminal cases registered against him at Oshiwara police station. Bhatti later managed to get a fake passport from Rajasthan with the help of his relative and had gone eight times abroad and travelled out of the international airport in Mumbai 10 times between 2009 and 2012 using the fake passport, police said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A Hindu fringe group threatened to demolish Sheesh Mahal in Shalimar Bagh if the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) continues with restoration of the monument. Commissioned by Shah Jahans wife Akbarabadi Begum, the 17th-century palace is linked with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who was coronated here in 1658. Four years ago, the Aurangzeb Road was renamed Dr APJ Adbul Kalam Road in the city. After visiting the heritage site on Monday, United Hindu Front (UHF) international working president Jai Bhagwan Goyal cautioned the ASI to wrap up work immediately. The archaeology department should abandon its scheme or UHF will demolish the structure and the department will be responsible for it, Goyal, also a Delhi BJP member, said. ALSO READ: Delhi BJP objects restoration of 'Sheesh Mahal'-Mughal emperor Aurangzebs coronation palace Work on the project began last year following the intervention of Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, who took a personal interest in restoration of the monument. In August, the L-G directed all stakeholders to complete the project by December 2020. It is objectionable that the department spends tax collected from the Hindus on its (Sheesh Mahal) redevelopment. Any road or structure, named after Aurangzeb or any other cruel Mughal ruler should not exist, said Goyal. An official of ASI said that the government agency was aware of the development but added that no discussion had taken place, so far. The state administration was busy in preparations of swearing-in ceremony of the new government. There may be some discussion in a day or two in the L-Gs office because he was himself monitoring the project, the official said. Prior to the fringe groups threat, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on Saturday had opposed the restoration of the palace as well. Similarly, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor had written to Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel urging him to review the decision of revamping Sheesh Mahal. Kapoor had also suggested Shalimar Bagh be renamed after martyr Abdul Hamid, who has posthumously conferred Param Vir Chakra for his action during the India-Pakistan War of 1965. One opposition after another Prior to the fringe groups threat, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on Saturday had opposed the restoration of the palace as well. Similarly, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor had written to Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel urging him to Kapoor had also suggested Shalimar Bagh be renamed after martyr Abdul Hamid Kapoor who was conferred Param Vir Chakra. ATYRAU, Kazakhstan -- Three Kazakh opposition activists were detained by police while they were traveling to Almaty to take part in the founding congress of a new opposition group. Detained opposition activist Talghat Ayan told RFE/RL that police on February 18 stopped him and two other activists, Rustem Kazhimov and Daria Ulzhaghalieva, at a railway station in the western city of Atyrau and took them to a nearly police station. "Police told us that we were detained for questioning in an unspecified criminal case," Ayan said, adding that he was waiting for his lawyer to arrive while Kazhimov and Ulzhaghalieva were being questioned. According to Ayan, 30 activists initially were planning to travel to Almaty to take part in the founding congress of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, which has been scheduled for February 22. But Ayan said 10 of those activists already have changed their minds about attending the event because of pressure from Kazakh authorities. Some activists complain that they also are being pressured to stay away from the new party's founding congress by various forms of intimidation, including violent attacks either threatened or carried out by unknown persons. An activist in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen, Muratbai Zhumaghaliev, told RFE/RL that unknown persons set his car on fire during the early morning hours of February 17. Zhumaghaliev said he believes the apparent arson attack was linked to his political activities. He said the fire was an attempt to prevent him from travelling to Almaty to take part in the new party's congress. The founder of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, Zhanbolat Mamai, has said that the new party's campaigners also have been facing different types of pressure across the country ahead of the congress. Kazakh law requires the participation of at least 1,000 people in the founding congress of a political party for the party to be officially registered. OAKLAND (BCN) A group of state legislators and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley announced the introduction of a bill Tuesday that would give the state attorney general and local district attorneys the power to reprimand utility companies for failure to comply with safety regulations. Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, and Sens. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, introduced the Utility Accountability and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2020 in an effort to hold utility companies like PG&E accountable when their equipment is found to have started a wildfire due to improper safety practices. Currently, only the California Public Utilities Commission has a similar authority. The group of legislators argued that while climate change is partially to blame for recent deadly fires across the state, utility equipment has also played a part in the severity of disasters like the Camp Fire. "We've brought this bill forward because our state is facing dire circumstances," Bauer-Kahan said. "Four of the five largest wildfires in California's history have been in the past seven years. In 2019 alone, we endured over 30 wildfires that burned 1,000 acres or more, with a number of those fires started due to downed electrical lines and faulty equipment." According to Bauer-Kahan's office, the bill is modeled after the authority bestowed to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The DTSC shares safety enforcement duties with district attorneys around the state. Under the bill, the state attorney general or a district attorney would have the authority to take utility companies to court and hold them liable for up to $100,000 per day for each violation. Utilities could also be charged with criminal violations for failing to maintain proper safety standards. "Our job is to ensure the safety of our communities," O'Malley said. "And this legislation gives us the tools to prevent further catastrophic loss of life and property by ensuring the utility companies abide by the laws." Bauer-Kahan is the principal author of the bill. In addition to Glazer and Hill, the bill is cosponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Assemblymembers David Chiu, D-San Francisco, Tim Grayson, D-Concord, Marc Levine, D-Marin County, Monique Lemon, D-Santa Barbara, Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach, Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. Bauer-Kahan's office expects the bill to go to committee next month. PG&E said in a statement that it is "reviewing the bill and has not taken a position. We share the Legislature's focus on safety and recognize that California's utilities must take a leading role in reducing the risk of wildfire in the communities we have the privilege to serve. We will continue working with all stakeholders toward long-term safety and wildfire solutions for our customers." Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Flash Mahbub Uz Zaman, Bangladesh's ambassador to China, offered support in a video to the Chinese people who are waging a relentless war to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. He expressed sympathy and confidence in the ability of the Chinese government to contain the novel coronavirus and prevent a further outbreak. . Mission Photos: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline Bad news for fans of Katz Bagels: after 27 years, it's closing its doors in the Mission. The neighborhood fixture at 3147 16th St. (between Guerrero and Valencia) will shutter a little more than a month from now, on March 24. Mission Local was first to report on a closure notice posted in the bagel shop's windows. The notice doesn't specify a reason for the closure, but calls recent times for the shop "challenging" and "complicated." The note is likely written by owner Michael Katz, whose father, Burt, founded the bagel shop. In it, he thanks his father "his amazing portraits that adorned these walls for so many years," and his mother for "listening to me during these recent complicated times." A Hoodline reporter stopped by on Monday to speak to Katz, but the shop was closed. The goodbye note in the window. Katz's note is tinged with a bit of nostalgia, noting that San Francisco in the 1990s was "a great place for small business ... we were really lucky to be here." Recent years have been tougher on the business, which made an unsuccessful foray into serving pizza in the mid-2000s. Two sister locations in the Financial District (606 Mission St.) and the Lower Haight (663 Haight St.) are no longer in operation. Last year, the Mission location of Katz briefly shuttered after a Health Department inspection found a severe rat infestation. But despite these setbacks, "we can only be grateful for all the support we have received through the years," the note concludes, thanking customers, neighbors and employees for their contributions. Photo: Dan Toulgoet A crisis is bubbling up in the condo sector, with insurance companies hiking building insurance premiums to unprecedented levels, leaving condo owners (and their renters) on the hook for huge bills. The cost of stratas building insurance is passed to homeowners in their maintenance fees and, if the unit is rented, it is likely to be passed on again to tenants. Whats more, insurers are being so picky about their risk exposure that some poorly maintained or older strata face losing their insurance coverage entirely. This would mean that not only would owners lose everything in a major event such as a fire, flood or earthquake, but also they would not be able to sell or remortgage their homes, even if there was no such catastrophe. A lack of competition in the insurance market across North America, combined with massive payouts that insurance firms have had to shell out due to increasing severe-weather events damaging buildings, have led to the premium increases. Insurance brokerage Hub International said in a recent note, Strata and condo corporations should budget for a minimum 35 per cent increase even on properties with no history of losses and full updates (roof, plumbing, heating, and electrical). Stratas with losses or those that have not undergone updates should expect greater increases. The cost of reconstruction appraisals also continues to rise, equating to as much as 5-10 per cent of the building value. These two factors combined will continue to drive premiums up through 2020. Insurance firms finding it hard to make ends meet have resulted in a reduction in the current number of insurers operating in the market, which has two effects on premiums. The first is a simple lack of competition allowing insurers to offer less competitive prices. The second, more serious, issue is that many of these fewer insurance firms are now at capacity, and can pick and choose which buildings they insure, while those they turn down are left out in the cold. Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association of B.C. (CHOA), told Glacier Media, There is less competition and much higher demand on the insurance. The risks are being very closely monitored. Because there are fewer insurers taking on a greater load of the risk, theyre being very picky about who theyre insuring, and at what value. Compound all that together, and you can hear the cash registers ringing in the background. Increasing construction costs, especially in expensive cities like Toronto and Vancouver, are also adding into these premium hikes and refusal to insure, as the financial risk is greater for the insurance companies. Gioventu added, Another problem is that the value of reconstruction of buildings in high-density markets, where construction costs are high and values are high, the price of construction of these properties is at an all-time high. He said the issue is most acute for buildings that have a history of insurance claims. "What about those buildings that are not getting their insurance renewed. If they have a history of claims or are not keeping their building maintained or repaired, the insurance company just isn't willing to take on the risk, regardless of what you're willing to pay. So now, all of a sudden, no sales, no mortgages, and if there's a loss in the building, everyone loses everything. It's a terrifying thought." CHOA has been receiving increasing numbers of calls for help from member strata corporations, said Gioventu, and he predicts this is only going to get worse throughout the year. He also said that he is in discussions with the B.C. government about the problem, but is not optimistic they can help. Short of creating a provincial insurance program for strata buildings, which represents trillions of dollars of risk and they would never take on, theres not much the province can do, he said. Gioventu said that strata corporations can mitigate the risk of losing their insurance, and reduce their premium hikes, by making sure the building is well cared-for. "Strata corporations seriously need to make sure that they have depreciation report, and are engaging in it, that they are maintaining their properties and not seeing special resolutions for repairs defeated in their meetings. Look at your building systems. If your plumbing hasn't been replaced and it's 35 to 40 years old, I'd be moving pretty quick. They also need to be looking at bylaws that could make a difference in terms of the risk to the property." However, Gioventu did have some optimism for the future. Weve got fewer players [in the insurance sector] right now, but industries go in cycles. In an interview with Glacier Media, Sam Hanson, president of development company South Street, agreed. South Street is developing a one-million-square-foot residential and commercial community with three levels of underground parking in the downtown core of sea-level Richmond. When asked if he was concerned about building insurance, Hanson said, Weve had a meeting with our insurers to discuss this, and we are looking at higher premiums than anticipated. But they explained that the marketplace for insurance is like any other market. It goes up and it goes down. As the cost of insurance goes up, more players start to enter the marketplace, and they start to compete with each other, and prices will come down. He added, Right now there have been all kinds of natural and manmade disasters that have caused insurers to pay out lots of money, and they raise their prices to cover what they have to pay out. Its just the normal course of business. So yes, right now there is a tremendous issue, but how long it will last, I dont know. According to our insurers, it is cyclical and it will eventually go the other way. Ark Invest CEO and Tesla bull Cathie Wood said Tuesday that she wasn't concerned over Wall Street skepticism about the electric-auto maker, saying demand from China and falling battery costs would drive the stock higher. Wood said earlier this month that she believed the stock could hit $7,000 per share during the next five years. The name has risen about 100% so far this year, peaking at more than $960 per share. Tesla's rapid rise has left Wall Street analysts wary, with many setting price targets below where the shares currently trade. According to FactSet, 45% of analysts have a sell rating, but Wood said the skepticism doesn't change her opinion of the company. "What we have here is a wonderful wall of worry. The best wall of worry I've ever experienced in my career with a stock or with the market," Wood said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Falling battery costs will drive further adoption of electric vehicles, Wood said, citing a Reuters report that Tesla was in talks with Chinese company CATL to use noncobalt batteries at its Shanghai factory. Electric vehicles accounted for about 2% of global auto sales last year, according to a note from Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas. "We are now seeing, and more people now believe, that battery costs are falling at such a rapid rate, that within two years the average electric vehicle from just a sticker price point of view, will drop below the average combustion engine car in price," Wood said. Tesla's climb has been a wild ride in 2020. After beginning the year at around $420 per share, the name spiked to $968 per share in early February before falling back a little to around $800 recently. Wood credited the stock's success this year to strong profit numbers and the faster-than-expected opening of Tesla's factory in Shanghai. She said she would not be surprised if Tesla opened another factory in China fairly soon. The stock rose 7.3% on Tuesday after getting a pair of price target raises from analysts at Morgan Stanley and Bernstein. Wood said on Twitter last week that the secondary offering from the automaker supported the bull thesis. Wood said that Ark Invest does sell shares of Tesla periodically because it does not want to hold more than 10% of its portfolio in one stock. Disclaimer BEREA, Ohio -- A Berea Municipal Court judge set bond at $200,000 for a 23-year-old man accused of severely beating a 4-year-old boy. Bryan Morris appeared Tuesday morning for a bond hearing before municipal court Judge Mark A. Comstock, Brook Park police said. Court records do not say when Morris is expected to make his next court appearance. Morris surrendered to police Saturday morning and currently lodged in the Cuyahoga County Jail. Jessica Jordan, 24, the mother of the boy, is also in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $100,000 bond. A Cuyahoga County grand jury is reviewing her case. Morris beat the boy Feb. 6 and left bruises and marks on his head, face, neck, arms, buttocks and hip, police reports say. Jordan did not call police after she found her son was beaten, reports say. Authorities have still not disclosed the relationship between Morris and Jordan nor have they given an update on the boys condition or where he is staying. Read related crime stories: Brook Park man accused of beating 4-year-old boy surrenders to investigators, police say Warrant issued for Brook Park man accused of beating 4-year-old boy, police say If youd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments section. By Rasana Gasimova The economic reforms in Azerbaijan focus on the development of the non-oil sector, and the country has succeeded quite well in this area, Chairman of Azerbaijans Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMEs) Orkhan Mammadov has said. He made this remark at a joint business summit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) on supporting business and professional associations held in Baku on February 18. Mammadov noted that small and medium-sized businesses have always played an important role in the successful development of the countrys economy, noting that the economic reforms have been focused on the development of the non-oil sector, and Azerbaijan is successfully moving towards its goals in this area. "Azerbaijan ranked 25th in the latest report on business development and became one of the most reformed countries," he said. Mammadov emphasized that Azerbaijan ranks second in the development of transport and road infrastructure. He added that increasing the share of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in gross domestic product (GDP), employment and exports in Azerbaijan is a strategic goal. By 2025, it is planned to increase the share of SMEs to 60 percent in GDP, 70 percent in employment and 40 percent in exports, Mammadov said. "Today, as an agency, we are working on the development of SMEs in various sectors of the economy. To this end, we have managed to establish close cooperation with foreign partners. We also work with the USAID, and they provide us with the necessary support, he added. Speaking at the event, Mission Director for USAID in Azerbaijan Jay Singh said that Azerbaijan has a unique potential that business and professional associations can help identify and demonstrate in the international arena. Singh said that the USAID mission provides support and creates conditions so that these associations can unite. Two years ago, our main mission was to focus on the private sector, as there is great potential, he noted. Singh noted that all efforts were aimed at supporting the development of the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan. "We consider the creation of associations as a measure of mutual economic interest. I would like us to work together to create these associations. We successfully held two trade exhibitions in the states of Illinois and Oklahoma. Furthermore, for example, in 2017, USAID supported the Azerbaijan Association of Exporters and contributed in expanding its activities," Singh said. President of AmCham Azerbaijan (American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan) Nuran Karimov said that AmCham is one of the oldest and biggest associations represented in Azerbaijan with 200 members. He also informed that Azerbaijani government accepts half of proposals from the associations White Paper document. If young businessmen want to create any associations, we invite them to cooperate. We can share our experience and were not competing here, but serving the same purpose, Karimov noted. The co-chairman of the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) Reza Vaziri also spoke at the event, noting that signing of the memorandum in April 2019 created the basis for promoting trade and commerce between the two countries. Among the achievements reached during a short period are: two US agricultural forums, two trade missions, the signed cooperation document, the cooperation agreement between the Azerbaijani city of Gadabay and Stillwater city in Oklahoma (US), Vaziri said. Note that USAID began assisting to Azerbaijan in 1991 with humanitarian relief for over 800,000 internally displaced people and refugees affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In 1998, USAID transitioned from providing immediate humanitarian relief to supporting Azerbaijans longer-term economic, social and democratic development goals. Today, USAID continues to assist the people of Azerbaijan through programs that support the development of Azerbaijans non-hydrocarbon sector, further the integration of Azerbaijans economy into regional markets, and create economic opportunities between the United States and Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Ozzie Tapia, LPA Design Studios This award reflects the great team at LPA and our collective mission to make a positive impact on communities. To be able to work together to create environments and buildings that will serve and inspire people for generations is very satisfying," Tapia said. LPA Design Studios associate Ozzie Tapia has been named a recipient of the 2020 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Young Architects Award, one of the highest honors bestowed on up-and-coming architects. The Young Architects Award recognizes architects who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and have made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers, according to the AIA. Only 22 architects in the country were honored with the award in 2020; Ozzie is the only recipient based in California. Tapia primarily works on K-12 and higher education campuses, where he is helping to reshape the role of the architect with an integrated design process that emphasizes collaboration, student involvement and high performance. I am deeply honored by this recognition, Tapia said. This award reflects the great team at LPA and our collective mission to make a positive impact on communities. To be able to work together to create environments and buildings that will serve and inspire people for generations is very satisfying. Tapias influence can be seen in a new generation of educational facilities that operate more efficiently and directly address the fast-evolving needs of students and educators. His leadership has helped LPA earn numerous industry awards, including a 2019 Honor Award from the AIA Orange County Chapter for the design of the Tarbut VTorah Lower School, a private K-12 school focused on a student-centric curriculum; and Merit Award from the AIA San Diego chapter for the Palomar College Learning Resource Center, a modern reinterpretation of a library. Tapias work also reflects LPAs focus on high building performance and sustainability. Last year, LPA was one of only 16 firms in the countryand, by far, the largestto meet the AIA 2030 Commitment of a 70 percent reduction in fossil fuel use in new buildings. Ozzie has flourished within our integrated design team, LPA Chief Executive Officer Wendy Rogers said. His leadership and ability to find opportunities to improve designs by engaging the multiple disciplines elevates the work we do. Tapia was born in Lima, Peru, and immigrated with his family to the United States as a teenager. He earned a bachelor's of architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, before joining LPA as an intern and model builder in 2002. I am fortunate to be part of a firm that mentors young designers and entrusted me with built work opportunities early in my career, Tapia said. Tapia is the 2020 Vice President/President-Elect of the AIA Orange County Chapter Board of Directors. He is also a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at schools around the state, inspiring the next generation of architects. The presentation of the Young Architects Award will take place at the annual AIA National Conference in Los Angeles in May. About Founded in 1965, LPA specializes in creating innovative environments that work better, do more with less and improve peoples lives. An integrated design firm with six studios in California and Texas, LPAs team includes more than 400 in-house architects, master planners, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and research analysts, working across a wide array of sectors. For more information, visit https://lpadesignstudios.com/ FEBRUARY 18, 2020, NEW YORK -- A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a mechanism by which regulatory T cells, which suppress immune responses, adapt their metabolism to thrive in the harsh microenvironment of the tumor. This mechanism, the study finds, is exclusively engaged by regulatory T cells (T regs ) that reside in tumors and could be disrupted to selectively target such T regs and boost the effects of cancer immunotherapy. "It has long been known that the T regs found in tumors protect cancer cells from immune attack, so countering T regs would be an important strategy for cancer immunotherapy," says Ping-Chih Ho, associate member of the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, who led the study. "But a major hurdle to such interventions is that the systemic suppression of Treg activity can cause severe autoimmune reactions. We have discovered a potential approach to overcoming that problem, one that selectively targets T regs in tumors and could therefore prevent such adverse effects." T regs play a critical role in healthy tissues, where they prevent autoimmune disease and aid wound-healing. But, when recruited into tumors, T regs also thwart anti-cancer immune responses--and immunotherapy. The current study, published in Nature Immunology, identifies a protein that drives the metabolic adaptations of intratumoral T regs . The researchers show in a mouse model of melanoma that targeting that protein with an antibody significantly boosts the efficacy of immunotherapy without causing autoimmune side effects. The cores of tumors are often acidic and starved of oxygen and vital nutrients, which forces resident cells to adapt their metabolism to survive. Ho and graduate student Haiping Wang suspected those adaptations might also reveal vulnerabilities unique to intratumoral T regs . To find those vulnerabilities, they analyzed a dataset of Treg gene expression in breast tumors and blood compiled a few years ago by the laboratory of Ludwig MSK Director Alexander Rudensky. They found that those and other intratumoral T regs expressed high levels of genes involved in lipid uptake and metabolism--particularly CD36, a receptor involved in lipid import. An analysis of T regs from human melanoma patients conducted by Ludwig Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) researchers Taha Merghoub and Jedd Wolchok yielded similar results. To explore the role of CD36 in intratumoral T regs , the researchers generated mice that lacked the CD36 gene only in their Treg cells and engrafted them with melanoma. "We found that the tumor burden was reduced in CD36-deficient mice," says Wang, "and the number and functionality of T regs declined only within tumors, not in the other, healthy tissues of the mice." CD36 deficiency induced in intratumoral T regs a form of cell suicide known as apoptosis that was driven by a decline in the health and number of mitochondria--the power generators of cells. Further study revealed that CD36 fuels the activity of PPAR, a protein essential to the genesis and function of mitochondria. Treating mice bearing melanoma tumors with an antibody to CD36 resulted in a decline of intratumoral T regs that was not seen in genetically identical control mice. When this antibody was combined with an immunotherapy known as PD-1 blockade, which stimulates a T cell attack on cancer cells, tumor growth slowed significantly, prolonging the survival of the mice. "By targeting CD36 with an antibody, we don't just create trouble for intratumoral T regs , we also create trouble for the tumor's ability to maintain an immunosuppressive microenvironment and hamper immunotherapy," says Ho. Ho's lab is now working to translate these findings into a potential cancer therapy while exploring how CD36-targeting might be combined with other interventions to more extensively disable T regs selectively within tumors. They are also exploring which other types of solid tumors harbor T regs that are dependent on CD36 for survival. ### This study was supported by Ludwig Cancer Research, the Swiss Cancer Foundation, the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, the European Research Council, the Cancer Research Institute, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the US National Institutes of Health, the Research Foundation--Flanders, the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation, Swim Across America, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition to his Ludwig post, Ping-Chih Ho is an associate professor at the University of Lausanne. About Ludwig Cancer Research Ludwig Cancer Research is an international collaborative network of acclaimed scientists that has pioneered cancer research and landmark discovery for 48 years. Ludwig combines basic science with the ability to translate its discoveries and conduct clinical trials to accelerate the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Since 1971, Ludwig has invested $2.7 billion in life-changing science through the not-for-profit Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the six U.S.-based Ludwig Centers. To learn more, visit http://www.ludwigcancerresearch.org. For further information please contact Rachel Reinhardt, rreinhardt@lcr.org or +1-212-450-1582. Former White House aide Anthony Scaramucci who famously served only 11 days before being fired has claimed that Donald Trump is unhinged over former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Awwww its getting around. @realDonaldTrump is unhinged about @MikeBloomberg, Mr Scaramucci tweeted. His feelings regarding Mr Trump changed following his short-term stint at the White House. Now, Mr Scaramucci appears to support Mr Bloomberg, who he believes will trounce Mr Trump in a general election. Its not surprising Mr Scaramucci supports Mr Bloomberg. He comes from the same world as both Mr Trump and Mr Bloomberg; he formerly worked as a financier for Goldman Sachs in New York City and went on to found capital investment and management firms. Mr Scaramucci claims his change of was due to Mr Trumps divisive rhetoric. The former communications director was once a staple on Fox News and used to lavish praise on the president, predicting the president would get a win in healthcare because the president has really good karma. Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Show all 13 1 /13 Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Bolton Trump claimed to have fired Bolton, his national security adviser, while Bolton claimed he offered to resign. An anonymous White House source that Bolton's departure came as a result of the national security adviser working too independently of the president AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Anthony Scaramucci Scaramucci lasted only six days in his role as Trump's communications director before being fired by John Kelly, the incoming chief of staff Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rick Perry Rick Perry announced his resignation just as he became embroiled in the president's impeachment scandal. The White House said Mr Perry was asked by Donald Trump to work with Rudy GIuliani in regards to Ukraine. AP Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rex Tillerson Tillerson, Trump's first secretary of state, was fired after a series of clashes with the president over policy Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Mattis Mattis served as secretary of defense from the beginning of Trump's administration until retiring on 1 January 2019. However, the president later claimed that he had "essentially fired" Mattis Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Comey Comey was fired as director of the FBI early in Trump's presidency after serving in the role for four years prior. His dismissal is widely thought to have been related to the Russia investigation Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Reince Priebus Priebus, Trump's first chief of staff, was forced out after six tumultuous months AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out David Shulkin Veterans affairs secretary Shulkin claims that he was fired, the White House claims that he resigned Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Kelly Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, was forced out after 17 months in office. His departure was a confused affair though it is clear that Trump wanted Kelly out AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Michael Flynn Flynn lasted 24 days as Trump's national security adviser before being fired for lying to the FBI Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Lee Cisna Cisna served as director of citizen and immigration services between October 2017 and June 2019 before being asked to resign amid a major personnel change in the department of homeland security Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Madeline Westerhout Westerhout served as Trump's personal assistant after leaking private information about his family AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Mira Ricardel Ricardel was forced out of her role as Deputy National Security Advisor after first lady Melania Trump publicly called for her to be fired The former White House aide has backed Mr Bloomberg since at least November, when he told CNNs Chris Cuomo that Mr Trump would be intimidated by him. I think the president would be very intimidated by a guy like Michael Bloomberg, Mr Scaramucci said. Hes a New Yorker. He could stand the onslaught of the presidents bullying. Hes worth probably five to eight times the presidents net worth. He could spend a fortune defending himself and getting ads up in all areas of the country. While Mr Scaramucci has been very vocal in his support of Mr Bloomberg, he has not commented on any of his many controversies, including the candidates long history of misogynist comments, his use of non-disclosure agreements to silence women in the workplace who claim he fostered a hostile work environment, for overseeing Stop and Frisk and suggesting that a lack of redlining caused the 2008 financial crisis. Regardless of Mr Scaramuccis political loyalties, he hasnt had a terribly impressive record when it comes to predictions. Recommended How Anthony Scaramucci turned against Trump In October, he told Variety that Mr Trump was unravelling and that he predicted at some point Mitch McConnell would turn on him. In the next three to six weeks, there will be more damning information related to the president, Mr Scaramucci predicted last October. Hes aware of it. I believe that McConnell will eventually go to him and say Hey man. Youve gotta take one for the team ... youve gotta go back. Hell probably end up back at Mar-a-Lago or something. Quite the contrary: Mr McConnell remained absolutely loyal to Mr Trump throughout the presidents impeachment. More than 2,000 former Justice Department officials have signed an online letter urging Attorney General William Barr to resign following his intervention in the case of former Trump campaign associate Roger Stone. The online letter was organized by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit advocacy group staffed by former government officials, political operatives, and activists that have been opposing Trumps agenda via legal means. Some of the groups actions include helping to shut down Trumps voter integrity commission, suing to block Trumps border emergency declaration, and a running campaign to have Trump prosecuted for obstruction of justice. In their letter, the signees claim that Barr and President Donald Trump had interfered with the fair administration of justice. They say that it was unheard of for the Departments top leaders to overrule line prosecutors while alleging that it was done to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the President. It is even more outrageous for the Attorney General to intervene as he did hereafter the President publicly condemned the sentencing recommendation that line prosecutors had already filed in court, the group wrote in their letter. Prosecutors originally recommended seven to nine years in prison for Stone, who was convicted of lying to and obstructing Congress and witness tampering. The Justice Department, however, intervened in the case, calling the recommendation excessive and unwarranted. The department then filed a revised sentencing memorandum that asked for a sentence of incarceration far less than 87 to 108 months imprisonment, but did not offer a specific prison recommendation. The departments announcement to revise their sentencing recommendation came hours after Trump weighed in on Twitter about the seven to nine years recommendation. Justice Departments spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told media outlets that the DOJ didnt consult with the White House about Stones sentencing. She added that the decision to change the sentencing request was made before the president wrote on Twitter about it. Four prosecutors involved withdrew from the Stone case on the same day of DOJs announcement. Around 2,000 former department officials have signed the letter as of Monday, which the group says is vetted to the best of [their] ability. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to our request to comment. This comes as the attorney general is under new scrutiny after allegations that his actions are politicizing the Justice Department. On Monday, the Atlantic published an op-ed by Donald Ayer, the former deputy attorney general under George H. W. Bush, who accused Barr of acting as the presidents personal advocate than as an attorney general in several high profile cases such as during former special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe. He also alleged the attorney general is un-American and is working to tear down the institutional system built up after the Watergate scandals. During an interview on Feb. 13, Barr confirmed that the actions of the Justice Department had nothing to with the president, his tweets, or anyone from the White House. I have not discussed the Roger Stone case at the White House, Barr said. The attorney general also criticized the president about his Twitter posts in the wake of one of Trumps posts about the sentencing of former campaign adviser Roger Stone. To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about people in the department, our men and women here, about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job, Barr said, and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that were doing our work with integrity. I think its time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases, he added. Petr Svab From The Epoch Times contributed to this report. Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast/Getty Family tragedy led me to write The Coldest Warrior. My uncle Frank Olson died sometime around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 28, 1953 when he jumped or fell from his room on the 13th floor of the Statler Hotel in New York City. The New York Medical Examiners report contained that ambiguous description of how Frank came to land on the sidewalk early that morning. Frank Olson was a highly skilled Army scientist who worked at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, a top-secret U.S. Army facility that researched biological warfare agents. He had gone to New York to see a security-cleared psychiatrist in the company of a CIA escort. Olsons sealed casket was delivered to his wife, my aunt, two days later. She was discouraged from viewing the body because, she was told, he had suffered disfiguring facial injuries. Olson was buried the next day. She received an expedited pension shortly after that. That was all the family knew for 22 years. Then, in June 1975, one bit of new information came to light. Buried inside a report by The Rockefeller Commission, which had been established by President Gerald Ford to investigate allegations of illegal CIA activity within the U.S., was a two-paragraph account of an army scientist who had been unwittingly given LSD and died in a fall from a hotel window in New York. The similarity of the case drew the familys attention and, after consulting the CIA, the Army confirmed the scientists was Frank Olson. Headlines followed in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Suicide Revealed. Within 10 days the family was sitting in the Oval Office receiving an unprecedented personal apology from the president of the United States for Olsons wrongful death. Within a year, the family received a $750,000 monetary settlement for which they had to sign a broad release of claims against the U.S. government. 515292630 "(Original Caption) President Ford met privately with the family of Dr. Frank Olson and apologized on behalf of the U.S. Government for the scientist's suicide after he was secretly given LSD by the CIA. Pictured in the Oval Office are left to right: Nils Olson, Lisa Olson Hayward, Mrs. Frank Olson, The President, Eric Olson, and Gregory Hayward, (Mrs. Olson's son-in-law)." Bettmann/Getty The Sinister Scientist Behind the CIAs Mind-Control Mayhem The case might have ended there, but Eric Olson, Franks eldest son, became increasingly uncomfortable with the official narrative. He had his father exhumed in 1994 by a respected forensic pathologist who found no disfiguring facial injuries. But he did find a suspicious hematoma on Olsons left temple, which led him to conclude that Olson had been stunned by a blow to the head in the hotel room. To the conflicting theories that Frank Olson jumped or fell another possibility was added: He had been thrown out the window. Story continues In the years that followed, information about the nature of Olsons work came to light. As Acting Chief, Special Operations Division at Fort Detrick, he was liaison to the CIAs Technical Services Staff, the agencys R&D unit, which gave him visibility into some of the CIAs most sensitive operations. He was involved in, or aware of, the use of anthrax against North Korean civilian populations; top secret programs Artichoke and MKULTRA, which involved extreme interrogation techniques; cooperation with Japanese and Nazi war criminals to benefit from their banned medical research methods. Olson was a man who knew some of the CIAs darkest secrets. Slowly, over time, with a drip of information assembled by Eric, a new narrative emerged. Olson was a man whod grown uncomfortable with the nature of his work, showed signs of being a security risk, and then was made unstable when drugged with LSD at an offsite business meeting intended to test his trustworthiness. He had become a man who knew too much. This revised narrative shed new light on earlier events. Olsons rushed burial and the expedited pension approval were meant to stop the family from asking questions. Later, the speedy presidential apology, the $750,000 payment, and their waiver of claims conspired to continue the cover-up. Handout Frank Olsons death has come to embody our collective fascination with the Cold Wars darkest secrets, and it has shone a bright light on the dubious privileges men in the CIA gave themselves in the name of national security. The murkiness of the case, even at a distance of 66 years, still attracts great interest. Errol Morris explored the case in his 2018 Netflix mini-series, Wormwood, and award-winning former New York Times reporter Stephen Kinzer addressed the case in his 2019 bestselling Poisoner-In-Chief, a biography of Sidney Gottlieb, Olsons CIA boss. The Olson case continues to interest us for many of the same reasons that we are drawn to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post reporter and Saudi citizen executed in Turkey by agents of the Saudi government, and former FSB officer Aleksandr Litvinenko, poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in 2006 on orders from the Kremlin. Extra-judicial executions have one thing in common: The killings are done by individuals acting under orders from government authorities without sanction of any legal process. Olsons death remains officially classified as undetermined, but all the evidence that has emerged over several decades points toward murder and none of it points away. Like a black hole, existence is proven by evidence that points to existence and not by direct observation. Among the things that have become known: Three months before his death Olson spent two weeks with his brother-in-law (my father) reroofing a family cabin in the Adirondacks. My father saw a man who was in a deep moral crisis. He wasnt suicidal. He was a man who had begun reading the Bible to find answers to disturbing questions. On Feb. 23, 1954 (three months after Olsons death), the CIA and the Department of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allowed the CIA to withhold information relating to criminal activity if disclosure compromised intelligence sources and methods. In 1975, Senator Bella Abzug questioned Lawrence Houston, CIA general counsel at the time of Olsons death, and an author of the memo. She asked, with specific reference to Olson, In other words, the Memorandum of Understanding, in your judgment, gave authority to the CIA to make decisions to give immunity to individuals who happened to work for the CIA for all kinds of crimes, including murder. Houston answered, Yes. Mossad, which started using targeted killings in 1962, for decades included the death of Frank Olson in its assassination training program as an example of the perfect murderperfect due to the skill with which it had been made to look like a suicide. I caught up with Stephen Kinzer over lunch last fall after he became aware of my new novel, The Coldest Warrior, which is based on the Frank Olson case. The novel, unlike Kinzers chapter on the case, treats the death of the Olson character (renamed Wilson) as a murder. I tell the story from within the CIAmurder, cover-up, and a power struggle among CIA factions trying to deal with the repercussions of the case. The novel puts a human face on the Cold War by showing the psychological burdens of its characters. Honorable men who work in covert operations inevitably bring some of the darkness into themselves, suffering the moral hazards of a line of work that sanctions lying, deceit, and murder. Doubt and paranoia are bred in a culture of secrecy, as is a sophisticated amorality in men at the top of the intelligence bureaucracy. Kinzers account of the Olson case stops at the precipice of knowledgewhere every account has stopped because that is where the trail of evidence ends. The rules of journalism dont reward speculation. Toward the end of our lunch, Kinzer agreed that the CIA was capable of murder in 1953; he agreed that the CIA believed the top-secret projects Olson knew of, if made public, would threaten national security and embarrass the agency; and he agreed that the CIA believed Olson was a security risk. Kinzer paused at the end of our discussion. In my gut, he was murdered. Gut. The instinct for truth. I wrote The Coldest Warrior with the freedom that fiction enjoys to imagine the world beyond the precipice of knowledge. Albert Camus said it well: Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. In this undated photo distributed on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, workers in protective suits disinfect a facility against a new virus at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. AP North Korea's official newspaper reaffirmed Tuesday that there has been no confirmed case of the new coronavirus on its soil amid speculation that Pyongyang might be concealing an outbreak. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, carried an article in which a public health official emphasized that there has been "no single confirmed case" of COVID-19 infection. He said the nationwide preventive measures, including the swift implementation of an emergency quarantine system launched immediately after the outbreak in China have paid off in blocking the flow of the highly contagious virus. "As a result, we have no confirmed case of the new coronavirus so far," he was quoted as saying. (Natural News) As the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread and kill throughout China, American health officials are becoming increasingly worried that the disease will blossom into a pandemic on U.S. soil. And if that happens, they arent sure there will be enough supplies to handle the number of people sickened by the virus, in part because a lot of supplies U.S. health authorities need are made in China. Or, at least, they were before much of the workforce became quarantined and their factories idled. As reported by The Epoch Times, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already monitoring medical product supplies for possible disruptions caused by the virus outbreak amid a chronic shortage of supplies already. In some parts of the country, for example, there are already shortages of masks which are in short supply globally as well, because of the spread of the virus. We are proactively reaching out to manufacturers as part of our vigilant and forward-leaning approach to identifying potential disruptions or shortages, Stephan Hahn, FDA commissioner, said in a statement on Friday. Hahn added that officials wont sit around waiting for makers of drugs and devices to report shortages that U.S. health officials are already game planning for them. He said the U.S. has been in contact with hundreds of medical device and drug makers to assess and monitor for indications and early warning signs of potential manufacturing discontinuances or interruptions due to the outbreak. In addition, the FDA is also working with global regulatory bodies and manufacturers to try and figure out what the most pressing supply issues and concerns are in relation to raw materials that originate in China. Clearly, U.S. officials are concerned the Wuhan coronavirus is likely to gain a foothold. Patients are on edge As Natural News reported: In her notes, FluTracker.coms Sharon Sanders highlights how the CDC now suspects that the incubation period for the novel coronavirus could actually be 24 days instead of 14 days, which is something we also reported. The CDC is also sending test kits all across the country, though this could turn out to be mostly useless as these test kits were found recently to produce lots of false negatives. Already, there are signs that medical equipment and devices are running short. The Epoch Times reported that 96 percent of pharmacists in the U.S. are reporting selling surgical masks faster than they can restock them. Nearly 40 percent added they cannot obtain enough respirator masks, according to a recent survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association. Many pharmacists are also reporting shortages of gloves, hand sanitizers and surface sanitizer compounds. Patients are on edge and they are preparing, said the associations president, Brian Caswell, in a statement, the Times reported. CDC officials said last week that some of the agencys partners were alerting officials that higher-than-usual demand for face masks and N-95 respirators was occurring at an increasingly rapid pace. This, despite the fact that the agency is recommending no one wear masks unless theyve got the virus or are under suspicion of having contracted it and have been in contact with other people. Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the CDCs top official, also said that the agency has been in regular contact with healthcare industry partners, equipment makers and distributors to keep track of protective gear supplies. But, as the World Health Organizations chief, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters last week, there is a chronic shortage of such equipment. Were sending testing kits, mask, gloves, respirators, and gowns to countries in every region. However the world is facing a chronic shortage of personal protective equipment, he said, noting that demand for equipment was 100 times more than normal. Shortages are likely to continue, however, as long as Chinese manufacturing is stunted due to the outbreak. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com WILTON - Two Vermont women are facing felony drug possession charges after police allegedly found 104 grams of fentanyl and 30 bricks, or 45 grams, of heroin in their vehicle, State Police said. Sue E. Hutting, 61, of New Haven and Brittany N. Grover, 35, of Salisbury, were stopped by police on the Northway on Thursday, police said. During the stop, the troopers alleged they saw hypodermic needles, drug paraphernalia and narcotic residue inside of the car. The search also recovered a locked safe. Police later obtained a warrant to search the safe and in which they allegedly found fentanyl and heroin. A recent regime decision has come into effect, demanding that all real estate sales in Syria are sold through public banks reports Alsouria Net. The Assad regime government has started implementing a decision for real estate in Syria to be bought and sold through public banks, in accordance with a decision recently issued by the cabinet. The semi-official Al-Watan newspaper on Monday quoted Issam Quli, Director of Tax Legislation in the Real Estate Authority, as saying that as of a day earlier he had started recording and establishing instances of purchases and sales and property transfers in accordance with the new mechanism. He said that, the new mechanism requires a bank notice to transfer the value of the sold property, or a part of it, from the sellers account to the buyers account, noting that, the first operation in the implementation of Decision No. 5 was registered in Damascus, and the process of establishing the transfer of ownership took no more than a few minutes. He pointed out that, the only addition to the process of transferring ownership and registration in the real estate gazette is the banking notice of the movement of the amount from the sellers account to the buyer. Transferring the price or part of the price from the buyers account to the sellers account is not an acknowledgment of the price being taken, according to Quli, because the procedures for acceptance, and acknowledgment of receipt, acquittal, sale and purchase take place before the Real Estate Documentation Office or the notary public. In the event that the contract between the two parties is not registered, despite the transfer of the price or part of it to the sellers account, he said that, the seller must return the sum to the buyer in a consensual manner, or the buyer will resort to the courts. What is Decision No. 5? Last January, the Assad regime government issued a decision mandating the completion of contracts for the purchase of real estate and cars in Syria by payment through public banks, starting in mid-February. Decision No. 5 obliges authorized public authorities to register the ownership of real estate and vehicles of all kindsincluding at the real estate registry and with the public transport directorates in Syrian citiesand for the notary public not to document sales contracts before obtaining a notice of payment of the property or vehicle, or part of the amount, into the bank account of the owner, the owners heirs, or to the court, in the absence of heirs. The move falls within the framework of the Assad regimes attempts to limit all commercial transactions to Syrian pounds and not the US dollar. Over the past few days, the independent lawyer, Aref al-Shaal, explained the regimes goals with the decision. He said that the decision was an attempt to have the cash resulting from these sales deposited in banks, and for them to be controlled through the banking operations, to determine the ceiling of the withdrawals and to determine the ceiling of withdrawals being applied so far. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. By Noah Browning LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices were little changed on Monday as concerns over the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak in China were offset by hopes that potential output cuts from major producers could tighten crude supply. Brent crude was at $57.23 a barrel, down 9 cents, by 1525 GMT after rising 5.2% last week, its biggest weekly gain since September 2019. U.S. By Noah Browning LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices were little changed on Monday as concerns over the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak in China were offset by hopes that potential output cuts from major producers could tighten crude supply. Brent crude was at $57.23 a barrel, down 9 cents, by 1525 GMT after rising 5.2% last week, its biggest weekly gain since September 2019. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 2 cents to $52.07 a barrel, after a 3.4% gain last week. "Nothing goes down forever, as they say, and oil appears to have finally shaken off its bearish malaise," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. "Virus anxieties were put on the back burner. Investors cheered a salvo of stimulus measures from China's central bank ... sentiment was given a supportive jolt by expectations of a supply response from the OPEC+ producer alliance." The International Energy Agency (IEA) said last week the virus was set to cause oil demand to fall by 435,000 barrels per day (bpd) year-on-year in the first quarter, in what would be the first quarterly drop since the financial crisis in 2009. Oil rose last week for the first time since early January on optimism that Chinese economic stimulus measures could lead to a recovery in oil demand in the world's largest importing country. There are some indications of prompt demand for oil as the front-month Brent futures market has shifted to a backwardation, when near-term prices are higher than later-dated prices, from a contango. Investors are also anticipating that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, will approve a proposal to deepen production cuts to tighten global supplies and support prices. The group, known as OPEC+, has an agreement to cut oil output by 1.7 million bpd until the end of March. A technical committee earlier this month recommended the group reduce production by another 600,000 bpd because of the impact of the coronavirus, though oil prices' first weekly gain since early January on Friday may give the producers pause. "The more recent strength that we have seen in the market may also make OPEC+ complacent when it comes to taking action," ING said in a note. "Already the group has failed to bring forward the meeting that was originally scheduled for early March. And if the market consolidates around current levels, OPEC+ may see little need to rush a decision." (Reporting by Noah Browning and Florence Tan; Editing by David Evans, Jan Harvey and Helen Popper) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. So far, Indias slowing growth was largely Made in India, the result of serial mis-steps by the prime minister. Now any green shoots that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was hoping to see are likely to wilt under the Coronavirus epidemic from China. On Monday, global rating agency Moodys said Indias economy is likely to expand at a lower pace of 5.4 per cent in calendar 2020 than the earlier estimate of 6.6 per cent as a result of the disruptions to global trade networks caused by the virus. As Akash Prakash points out in his column here, the health risks of the ... On Monday morning, River Oaks Elementary School celebrated the life of a student who lost his battle with cancer last year with their annual Pennies for Patients fundraising campaign. Grenita Lathan, the Houston Independent School District interim superintendent, joined children at River Oaks Elementary for the program, presented by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The program shared examples of how the students fundraising efforts impact patients and their families, and supports cancer research. Hip Replacement Market 2020 Global Industry Analysis to 2026 is latest report on Global Hip Replacement Market, published by Fortune Business Insights. According to report Hip Replacement to rise at 5% CAGR and Reach $10.51 Billion by 2026. Report segments market for Hip Replacement Procedure (Total Hip Replacement, Partial Hip Replacement, and Revision & Hip Resurfacing), End User (Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Orthopedic Clinics, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2026. Some of the companies operating the global Hip Implants Market are; Stryker, Smith and Nephew, DJO Global, OMNI, Exactech, MicroPort Scientific Corporation, Zimmer Biomet, ConforMIS, Wright Medical N.V. Get Sample Hip Replacement Market Report Global Hip Replacement Market Highlights: As per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of the global population was suffering from degenerative joint disease in 2018. Furthermore, by 2050 an estimated of 130 million people are likely to get infected by degenerative joint disease. This could be a key growth enabler for the overall market. The market is witnessing rising prevalence of hip diseases, backed by rising obese population and increasing accidents. This might compel people to opt for hip replacement surgery. The market in Asia pacific is likely to progress at a promising CAGR. Governments of some Asian nation are emphasizing on the improvement of healthcare infrastructure. This is further expected to increase the growth rate in the market. Hip Replacement Market Segment Analysis: Hip Replacement Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Procedure (Total Hip Replacement, Partial Hip Replacement, and Revision & Hip Resurfacing), By End User (Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Orthopedic Clinics, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Hip Replacement Market Regional Insights: To over an executive level blueprint, the report classifies the global market on the basis of various segments. In the global market, North America held a considerable share in 2018. The incidence of hip injuries is increasing in the region. Hence, North America is likely to remain a lucrative market for hip replacement implants through the forecast period. Moreover, as stated by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. approximately 30 million people were suffering from osteoarthritis in 2018. This is expected to contribute towards the North America markets expansion. Hip Replacement Market Growth And Restraints Analysis: Advent of Robot Assisted Surgery to Change the Market Game. Increasing adoption of minimal invasive procedure surgeries and increasing healthcare expenditure are a few factors expected to drive the market. Moreover, introduction of robot assisted surgery has changed the whole scenario. Hospital and specialty clinics are adopting the technology on a rapid basis. This is likely to enable growth in the global market. In 2019, Bristol Universitys research team stated 6 from 10 implants are capable to provide strong support for over an age of 25 years. Such research helps in raising awareness about hip implant surgery and increase the market growth. On the flip side, risk associated with implant such as joint infection, hip dislocation, and other is a major factor that may restrain the global market. Several cases of device damage have been reported. Therefore, the growth in the global hip replacement implants market might be hampered. OrthoGrid to Gain Higher Share with its Innovative Stratgies. In 2018 OrthoGrid Systems, Inc. overhauled its distribution plan to enhance the availability of its HipGrid product portfolio in Asian nations, majorly in Japan. The product launch is attributable to increasing competition in the market. Several other companies are focusing on the expansion of their product portfolio, which is expected to bode well for the overall market. Speak to Analyst Highlights of the Report: In-depth analysis of various insights, namely, Hip Replacement Market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and other related challenges. Comprehensive details of key market players, their core competencies, and Hip Replacement Market share. The potency of suppliers and buyers to make better business decisions. Lists out the market size in terms of volume. Key questions answered in the report: What will the market growth rate of Ophthalmic market in 2026? What are the key factors driving the global Ophthalmic market? Who are the key manufacturers in Ophthalmic market space? What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Ophthalmic market? Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Ophthalmic market? What are the Ophthalmic market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Ophthalmic industry? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Ophthalmic market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Ophthalmic industry? Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Continued Related News: Catheter Securement Devices Market Scoliosis Management Market Allergic Rhinitis Treatment Market Empty Capsules Market About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com John Blessing has received a couple of highly prestigious and competitive awards during his time at the University of North Georgia (UNG). The senior pursuing degrees in political science and history became UNG's first Truman Scholar and Rangel Scholar, which both were awarded last spring. Blessing received another designation Feb. 11 when he represented UNG at the University System of Georgia's (USG) 2020 Academic Recognition Day in Atlanta. He received a letter of commendation from the USG Chancellor Dr. Steve Wrigley and signed resolutions from the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives. "It was a great day. It was nice to have Dr. Anastasia Lin and my close friends there as I was recognized by the Board of Regents," Blessing said. "This is my last semester, so it felt like attaining highest honors by UNG before I left!" The 23-year-old from Gainesville, Georgia, said the bonus was driving to the event with Lin, assistant vice president for research and engagement, and Dr. Richard Oates, vice president of UNG's Gainesville Campus. Blessing said Lin played a large role in helping him earn the Truman and Rangel scholarships through her leadership of the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Scholar awards up to $30,000 for undergraduate students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or public service. The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program in Washington, D.C., designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs. It comes with a $3,200 stipend along with having tuition, travel, and housing costs covered. "Dr. Lin is the greatest mentor. I wouldn't be anywhere without her," he said. "And Dr. Oates is delightful and has a lot of energy. Spending time with him was one of the most exciting parts." Blessing was selected as UNG's representative since he demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to public service and global leadership, said Dr. Steven Lloyd, vice provost and professor of psychological science at UNG. "His commitment to positive social change through leadership in several student organizations, organizing multiple large-scale events and engaging in numerous political campaigns is commendable and noteworthy, especially given their individual and collective impact on our campus community and beyond," Lloyd said. "In short, he is an excellent representative of UNG and its values and clearly deserving of this recognition." Since enrolling at UNG, Blessing was named a Newman Civic Fellow and designated as a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. He founded three student organizations, including the United Students Organization, the Philosophy Club and the Guild of Tabletop Games. Blessing also worked on an undergraduate research project with Dr. Dwight Wilson and UNG student Lana Goitia. As a student, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA, which earned him the HOPE scholarship along with others. Blessing credits UNG with all of his success. "UNG gave me a shot when I didn't have a shot at going to college," he said. "I didn't have a high GPA and I thought financially college wasn't for me. To be recognized by the institution that got me where I am today makes me feel incredible. I feel I owe UNG so much." An Indiana man with 'CRIME PAYS' tattooed on his forehead is arrested for the second time in two months after another police chase. Officers from the Terre Haute Police department pursued 38-year-old Donald Murray in a short chase on Monday morning. After apprehending Murray, officers charged him with possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, reckless driving, maintaining a common nuisance and auto theft. Donald Murray, 38, was arrested for the second time in three months on Monday after another high-speed police chase in Terre Haute, Indiana Murray featured on an episode of LivePD in December and he and his 'CRIME PAYS' tattoo went viral. In the December incident, Murray was charged with criminal recklessness and resisting arrest. WTHITV reported at the time that Murray sped off after being pulled over for not having his headlights on at night. The high speed chase ensued after he was spotted driving without any lights and ended after the suspect drove the car into a tree before fleeing the scene on foot in the December crash He crashed the vehicle involved and escaped from police. A passenger was left behind at the scene but the witness said they did not know the driver's name. Cops were tipped off about his identity by a viewer who had watched the drama unfold on Live PD, a show that airs on A&E. He left a passenger at the scene who told cops that he didn't know his name however the wanted man is easily identifiable with a 'crime pays' head tattoo Those who spot Murray shouldn't have any trouble knowing whether its him as he has a face full inkings one of which reads 'crime pays'. A mug shot shows the markings that easily identify him down to his neck. Another splashed on one side of his face appears to read 'playboy'. Murray was arrested a few days later and remanded in custody. He was then released on his own recognizance just over a month ago. General Motors announced Sunday that it will be ending its sales, design, and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retiring the historic Holden brand of vehicles in those countries. The company also revealed that it would be winding down the sale of Chevrolets in Thailand and selling its Rayong assembly plant there to Chinas Great Wall Motors Company. According to media estimates, roughly 1,500 jobs are to be impacted in Thailand, and a further 600 in Australia and New Zealand, with undoubtedly more to be affected downstream. One hundred and eighty-five Holden dealerships will also be eventually closed. GMs moves are the latest retreat for what was once the worlds largest manufacturer. The company has spent the last several years shrinking its global footprint, as it faces declining sales and ferocious competition to dominate emerging technologies, including electric and autonomous vehicles. The wave of closures and layoffs at GM is part of an escalating jobs massacre worldwide in the auto industry. Hundreds of thousands of auto and auto parts manufacturing jobs were destroyed last year, and roughly 100,000 more job cuts are currently planned in 2020 and beyond by automakers. In 2017, GM ended production in Europe with the sale of its Opel and Vauxhall units to PSA Group. That same year, GM ceased assembly operations in Australia with the closure of its Elizabeth plant in South Australia, the last auto plant left in Australia, ending the 70 year history of auto manufacturing in the country. Since then, the company has also exited India, Russia, Vietnam, South Africa, and Indonesia, in addition to closing plants in the US (Lordstown), Canada (Oshawa), and South Korea (Gunsan). The press release Sunday announcing GMs latest moves said that the company is taking decisive action to transform its international operations, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, drive significant cost efficiencies and take action in markets that cannot earn an adequate return for its shareholders. Ive often said that we will do the right thing, even when its hard, and this is one of those times, GM CEO Mary Barra was quoted as stating. We are restructuring our international operations, focusing on markets where we have the right strategies to drive robust returns, and prioritizing global investments that will drive growth in the future of mobility, especially in the areas of EVs and AVs. In a formulaic and wholly unconvincing profession of concern for the lives which will be devastated by the companys decision, she continued, While these actions support our global strategy, we understand that they impact people who have contributed so much to our company. We will support our people, our customers and our partners, to ensure an orderly and respectful transition in the impacted markets. The press release added that the moves in South East Asia and Oceania build on earlier changes revealed at the beginning of the year, i.e. that GM would sell its Talegaon manufacturing facility in India; significant restructuring actions implemented in Korea; and investment in and continued optimization of South American operations. The moves out of Australia, New Zealand and Thailand are expected to incur charges of $1.1 billion for the company in 2020. GMs announcement found a tepid response by investors, with its stock down 1.5 percent by the end of Monday. The company told analysts earlier this month that its restructuring efforts outside China are aimed at producing profit margins in the mid-single digits, effecting an increase of $2 billion compared to 2018. GMs further exit from a number of markets follows its announcement earlier this month of a slump in profits for 2019, with net income down 17 percent year-over-year to the still substantial amount of $6.7 billion, and lowered earnings forecasted for 2020. The decline in profits for 2019 was largely due to the 40-day-long strike by GM workers in the US, which was shut down and betrayed by the United Auto Workers union on terms dictated by the company. The end of GM Holden The end of GMs iconic Holden marks the final strangulation of what was once one of the countrys most popular vehicle brands and an employer for thousands of workers. GM Holdens former assembly plant in Elizabeth, South Australia Holden began as a saddle producer in 1856. Moving into automobile production at the beginning of the 1900s, it was later acquired by GM in 1931. While the company once operated assembly plants in a number of Australian states, it began to shed jobs and shutter factories beginning in the early 1980s, even as billions in tax incentives continued to be handed over by successive Australian governments. By the late 1990s, GM Holden assembly operations had shrunk to just one facility in the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth, with engines being produced at the Fishermans Bend plant in Melbourne. Then, in the mid-2010s, GM, Ford and Toyota all announced that they would be ceasing production in Australia entirely by 2017, following earlier exits by Mitsubishi, Nissan and Leyland, signaling the end of the countrys auto industry and the further devastation of working class communities. These moves were part of a global restructuring of the auto industry which has continued to this day. The transnational auto companies have attempted to sustain their profits by offloading ever-greater costs onto the backs of workers, shedding jobs wherever possible and deepening the exploitation of those who remained. Critical assistance was rendered to the companies by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), which, like their counterparts in other countries such as the UAW and Unifor, promoted nationalism and xenophobia and worked to block opposition by workers to the closures. Including related industries and services, an estimated 150,000 jobs were destroyed. In the areas surrounding the former auto factories, social misery has followed. In Elizabeth, site of GMs last and now-shuttered Holden plant, the unemployment rate stood at over 30 percent by 2018, and was over 60 percent for young workers aged 15 to 24. At the time, GM executives were at pains to assure the public that the companys presence would continue in some form. Although Holden manufacturing was no longer, GM still continued to employ a skeleton workforce to sell imported cars under the Holden brand. Holden is here to stay, said GM Holden CEO Mike Devereux, in a slogan which was to be used as part of ad campaign. The brand is going to be a part of the fabric of this country for a very long time. This, of course, has turned out to be yet another cynical and empty promise on the part of the corporate giant. For his part, the right-wing Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisonwho has pushed through massive tax cuts and cuts to social spendingfeigned outrage over GMs decision to end the Holden brand, saying, Australian taxpayers put billions into this multinational company. They let the brand just wither away on their watch. While GM has attempted to present its withdrawal from markets where it is less profitable as an effort to retrench to those where it is better positioned, the developing slump in auto sales globally, which significantly accelerated in 2019, threatens to erupt into full-blown crisis, sparing no region. In China, now the worlds largest auto market, sales fell 9.6 percent in 2019 and are expected to fall as much 10 percent in the first half of 2020 alone, exacerbated by the impact of the novel coronavirus, which has caused massive disruptions to production and everyday life. GM announced over the weekend that its plants in China were only just beginning a staggered reopening. A 22-year-old New Jersey woman stabbed her mother to death Sunday during an argument in Rahway, authorities said. Malika Jones was arrested at a home on the 100 block of East Albert Street just after 3 p.m,, the Union County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday. Her 57-year-old mother, Inell Jones, was pronounced dead shorty after police arrived. Jones is charged with first-degree murder and two weapons offenses. She is being held at the Union County jail ahead of a first appearance. Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutors Office Sgt. Danika Ramos at 908-451-7739 or Det. Christopher Scuorzo at 908-472-0492. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A summit to further Indo-French cooperation in the corporate sector; develop and structure collaborations in education and research; stimulate connections between research and industry and encourage the mobility of students and scholars between the countries, has been planned at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). SPPU will host an Indo-French Knowledge Summit in March 2021 to further cultural interactions and create more partnerships in the future between the two countries. SPPU vice-chancellor Nitin Karmalkar and Sonia Barbry, Consul General of France, in Mumbai, announced on Tuesday, that the Knowledge Summit will be in its third edition. The first summit, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, was held in 2018 in Delhi. Last year, the second edition of the Indo-French Knowledge Summit was dedicated to higher education, research and innovation and took place at the Universite de Lyon in France. Karmalkar was one of the participants of the summit last year. At least 300 participants from the Indian and French academia, research organisations, corporate houses, competitive clusters and startups were present for last years summit. Karmalkar said, The summit has a series of interactive sessions, allowing participants to deepen scientific and academic cooperation between the two countries and launch concrete initiatives in aviation, aerospace, smart cities, electric mobility, urban planning and architecture, agriculture and food processing, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and mathematics, valorisation of natural resources from plants, marine sciences and enhancement of employability and entrepreneurship. The vice-chancellor is also keen on the memorandum of understanding (MOUs) which will be signed during the summit in 2021. In 2019, there were around 15 agreements between French and Indian participants during the summit. According to Barbry, the continued partnership between India and France has resulted in a sharp increase in Indian students choosing France for higher studies over the past two years, with the current intake of Indian students at 10,000 and she expects that after the third edition, the number of students studying in France will increase to 20,000 by 2025. There are already more than 500 partnerships between business schools and engineering colleges in India and France. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex may have moved on from their royal duties, but that doesnt mean that the experts havent stopped analyzing the drama surrounding their departure. Their bombshell announcement to step back was followed by the queen making arrangements for their new life and they were off to Canada to raise their son Archie. One royal expert is weighing in on how much of a role Meghan played in Harrys decision making. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry and Meghan felt they had no other option but to leave Their announcement might have blindsided many but in hindsight, the writing was on the wall, as they had suffered from so much public and media scrutiny. Once the queen issued a statement of support, signing off on their exit from the royal family, Prince Harry opened up in an emotional speech about how their decision was so necessary. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option, Harry shared at a dinner for supporters of Sentebale. Expert claims the Sussexes exhibited deception Richard Kay, editor for the Daily Mail, unpacked the Sussexes royal exit, writing that while their departure wasnt that surprising, even so there was a ruthlessness to the news that they have given marching orders to virtually all their Palace staff whose only crime had been to serve the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with nothing short of absolute devotion. Kay further shared that the couples initial statement that they would divide their time and responsibilities with the idea of a half-in, half-out existence was nothing less than half-baked. It now looks like little more than a slice of royal deception, Kay writes, sold to us to make their departure from these shores somehow more palatable. Has Harry lost a lot after their exit? In his article, Kay shares how privately, many in the royal household questioned how practical such an arrangement could possibly be, calling the recent staff firing, a personal tragedy. This move to shut down their office and let go of their staff is the latest sign, Kay notes, that Harry has lost a terrifying amount. Courtiers believe they do not just signal an ending of the Sussexes links to Britain, but also a power shift towards Meghan, Kay writes. In a little over a month Harry has lost a terrifying amount. He has broken with his family, his friends and his way of life. He will never again wear the military uniform he so treasured. By parting company with his dedicated London secretariat he is now effectively severing his royal connections, too. Cutting ties with their British staff means they will rely on a U.S. team with the PR company Sunshine Sachs, as well as Meghans former agent, lawyer, and business manager. Without the familiarity of his London advisors, Harry is likely to become ever more dependent on Meghans team, Kay worries. The inescapable conclusion is that, by issuing redundancy notices to their staff, Harry and Meghan have themselves slammed the door shut, Kay writes. What happened when you were 9? It was the day we buried my father's father, Edward St. Lawrence Gates. After the funeral, my father took my brother and me upstairs in his parents house and showed us his father's scrapbooks. After going through six or seven of these scrapbooks, he found the 1888 obituary of the oldest Gates we've ever been able to trace: Jane Gates. He had us look at this obituary and it said: Died this day in Cumberland, Maryland, Jane Gates, an estimable colored woman. And then he showed us her picture, and he said she was a slave; she had been a midwife. He said, I never want you to forget her name or her image." That night, the last thing I did before I went to bed was look up the word estimable in the dictionary because I didn't know what it meant. And then I thought, Wow, that funny-looking lady is estimable. Maybe I'm estimable, too. The next day, July 3, 1960, I did my family tree. I interviewed my parents in front of our little black-and-white TV set. I only traced my father's side and my mom's side, I didn't know anything about your mother's father's mother's side. I just wanted to know how I was related to this lady who was a slave. The impact of slavery can make tracing one's ancestry particularly meaningful for African Americans. Why is that? It's important because that knowledge was systematically taken away from us. If you need to know one reason why it's important to restore that knowledge, it's because it was important enough for slaveholders to take it away. They wanted to decenter us, to keep us from understanding our roots. How do guests on the show tend to react to learning about their family history? They're all so deeply moved. Often people cry. The things that you learn are so shocking. We did Jeffrey Wright and Queen Latifah last month. It turns out that Queen Latifah, whose name is Dana Owens, is descended from a long line of Owens who have been free since 1792. That means that no one in the Owens line of Latifah's family tree suffered the indignities of slavery after 1792. What do you hope audiences take away from the stories you share? The overall message of Finding Your Roots is that we're a nation of immigrants. Even Native Americans migrated here 16,000 years ago across the Bering Strait. African Americans were unwilling immigrants who came here in chains. But now with DNA we can tell the multiplicity of places that their ancestors came from, including the fact that the average African American is 24 percent white or European and one-third of all African American men are descended from a white man, like I am. Jane Gates children were fathered by a man of Irish descent, and we know that through my Y-[chromosome] DNA. So we deconstruct the notion of race. There is no racial purity. At the level of genome, we're 99.9 percent the same. Along those lines, you now feature guests of all backgrounds, not just African Americans. How did that come about? JERUSALEM - Israels military will set up a special branch in its general staff dedicated to threats from Iran, it said Tuesday. The military said it will appoint a major general to head the command, which is part of a broader restructuring in the general staff. A statement by the military offered few details about the new command, saying the nature of the new branchs work was yet to be determined. But the move highlights the importance Israel places on the threats it views coming from Iran. Iran has forces based in Syria, Israels northern neighbour, and supports Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. In Gaza, it supplies Islamic Jihad with cash, weapons and training, and also supports Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules the coastal territory. Israel also accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons a charge Iran denies. Israel has repeatedly struck Iran-linked targets in Syria in recent years and has warned against any permanent Iranian presence on the frontier. But its battle against Iran has increasingly come out of the shadows, with Iranian and Israeli forces coming into direct confrontation. In November, the Israeli military said fighter jets hit multiple targets belonging to Irans elite Quds force, including surface-to-air missiles, weapons warehouses and military bases. Israel has also struck a number of Iranian military targets in Syria, including munition storage facilities, an intelligence site and a military training camp, in response to an Iranian missile attack a day earlier. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment While I am very sorry to hear of the painful divisions your denomination has been experiencing since the General Conference in 2019, I am writing to assure you that there is hope for the future through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ah, but what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Does it, perhaps, change with time or is it like Jesus himself the same; yesterday, today, and forever? The Anglican ministers who founded your denomination in the 18th-century (e.g., John Wesley and George Whitefield) had a very clear understanding of the Gospel. The early Methodists were in complete agreement with Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Lutherans over the doctrine of Justification, but they felt that the doctrine of Sanctification had been neglected. To be clear, Wesley saw Justification as an instantaneous experience of the new birth (or regeneration) and Sanctification as the process of becoming more holy. As Wesley preached, he offered people not only the hope of immediate forgiveness of sin, but also the hope of gradually learning to sin less. This is traditional methodism and it has changed millions of lives for the better. There is, sadly, a new methodism that would not only leave people in their sins, but even affirm and celebrate those sins. These are not the old sins of thievery, drunkenness, fornication, etc., but the very abomination that caused Sodom and Gomorrah to be wiped off the face of the earth: Homosexuality. You will probably remember that before Sodom was destroyed, God graciously offered his people a way of escape. A man named Lot took that way of escape, but his dear wife, looking back, was turned into a pillar of salt. This is the kind of pain that modern Methodists can expect to feel due to the recently announced Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. This protocol is essentially a way for traditional Methodist congregations to withdraw peacefully from the United Methodist Church. While the traditionalists should be thankful for a peaceful way of escape, they should also brace themselves for the pain that will undoubtedly be experienced. Friends will be lost. Families will become divided. The faith of many will be shaken. Our Lord Jesus predicted such pain as part of the Gospel he preached: Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division the father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father etc. [Luke 12:51-53] At this point, you may be wondering, Why in the world would a Presbyterian Minister be writing an open letter to Methodists? Here is the reason: My denomination experienced a similar division in the 1930s during the so-called Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy. When it became apparent that progressives had taken over the power structures of the church, there was only one option for those who continued to hold to the old tenets of our faith: Separation. Our exodus from the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. cost us everything. Church buildings were lost and Ministers pensions were forfeited. We walked out of that Sodom with only the clothes upon our backs. Though it was a very difficult time, not a single minister or member regretted it; as they were once again able to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all of its saving and sanctifying fulness. Traditional Methodists are faced with a similar predicament today, but God has graciously prepared a much easier path; as the protocol allows for churches to keep their property and pastors to keep their pensions. There is, therefore, nothing to lose. Well, there is one thing that will be lost: The name United Methodist Church. To be sure, it is sad that progressives always get to keep the denominational names, but anyone who understands theology and history knows that the new denomination will be the continuing Methodist Church. Take heart, my dear neighbors and friends. Be thankful for a peaceful path out of your compromised denomination. As those who remain will continue to celebrate sin, you will soon be free to celebrate Wesleys cherished doctrines of Justification and Sanctification once again. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. [2 Corinthians 6:17-18] [February 18, 2020] Modernization of the Canada Periodical Fund: Adapting to the Digital Era The Government of Canada is modernizing the Canada Periodical Fund to better meet readers and media needs in this digital era GATINEAU, QC, Feb. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of fostering strong and dynamic magazine and community newspaper sectors that meet the evolving needs of readers. The industry is facing major challenges due in part to declining advertising revenues and distribution in an increasingly digital marketplace. This is why the Government is taking steps to modernize the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) by prioritizing activities that will lead to the production of quality Canadian editorial and journalistic content, regardless of the platform used to offer it. One of the goals of this modernization is to help publishers of paid-circulation magazines and non-daily newspapers develop the tools they need to contribute to our economy and reach readers wherever they are. Two of the three components of the CPF will be modernized: the Aid to Publishers (ATP) component and the Business Innovation (BI) component. In order to help publishers adapt to the changes, the modernized CPF will be implemented over five years. The Government of Canada has long sought to strengthen the capacity of the Canadian magazine and community newspaper industries in all regions by supporting viable publishers. With this modernization, the Government is continuing its efforts to support the periodical industry, which plays a vital role in Canada's identity, as well as its economy. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Canadian Heritage to discuss the envisioned changes to the CPF in order to be prepared for the first application intake under the modernized Fund in the fall of 2020. The modernization of the Canada Periodical Fund is part of the federal government's strategy to support journalism in Canada. In addition to these changes to the CPF, the Government launched in 2019 the Local Journalism Initiative, which is administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage, as well as three new fiscal measures, which are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. For more information on the modernization of the Canada Periodical Fund, see the attached backgrounder. Quotes "I am proud that our government supports the magazine and community newspaper industries through the Canada Periodical Fund. It is even more important to ensure the viability of these industries in this digital age. The funding and support we are providing will not only ensure that professional editorial and journalistic content gets created, but also help make Canadian magazines and community newspapers more competitive by reaching Canadian and international audiences on digital and print distribution channels." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage Quick Facts The $74.3-million Canada Periodical Fund provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals to enable them to overcome market disadvantages and continue to provide Canadian readers with the content they choose to read. The Aid to Publishers component of the CPF provides funding to eligible Canadian print paid magazines and non-daily newspapers to enable them to produce high-quality content for Canadian readers. In 201920, it provided funding to 403 magazines and 326 newspapers, including 17 Indigenous publications, 73 ethnocultural publications, and 22 official-language minority publications. In 201920, the ATP component provided a total investment of $799,384 to 22 paid-circulation official-language minority community magazines and newspapers. Of these publications, 3 were magazines and 19 were community newspapers. The Business Innovation component of the CPF provides financial support to eligible small and mid-sized printed magazine and digital periodical publishers. It encourages innovation to adapt to changing market conditions and contributes to the diversity of content sought by Canadian readers. In 201819, this component provided funding to 88 projects, including 14 ethnocultural publications, 17 export projects, and 8 digital startup publications. Projects supported may include the adoption or use of new media, mobile applications, advertising and promotional campaigns, web design and development, and expansion into new markets. How we will proceed? In 202021, the formula-based ATP component and the BI component will remain the same while the government continues to support publishers with the upcoming transition. In subsequent years, starting in 202122, the funding provided will gradually shift from rewarding print circulation to rewarding investment in editorial and journalistic content and reaching readers, regardless of the distribution channel. Because more and more readers continue to consume content in a digital format, a new sub-component of the ATP will be created to fund qualified publishers who distribute digital-only content with no other associated print products. The new ATP formula will be fully implemented in 202526. The modernization of the BI component will include broadening its types of eligible periodicals and a $1-million increase in its budget as of 202122. Associated Links Canada Periodical Fund Local Journalism Initiative Information about fiscal measures administered by the Canada Revenue Agency BACKGROUNDER The Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) has three components: Aid to Publishers (ATP) The Aid to Publishers component provides funding to eligible Canadian print paid magazines and non-daily newspapers to enable them to overcome market disadvantages and continue to provide Canadian readers with quality content. Business Innovation (BI) The Business Innovation component offers support for projects to eligible small and mid-sized printed magazine and digital periodical publishers. Collective Initiatives (CI) The Collective Initiatives component funds projects for organizations designed to increase the overall sustainability of the Canadian magazine and non-daily newspaper industries. The main changes coming to the Canada Periodical Fund can be summarized as follows: 202021: Current program 202126: Modernized program Rewards print circulation Rewards investment in editorial and journalistic content, and ability to reach readers Focuses on print in the ATP component New ATP sub-component for digital-only periodicals in 202122 Focuses on small and mid-sized magazines in the BI component Allows broader range of periodicals to apply to the BI component BI component budget of $1.5 million BI component budget of $2.5 million To help publishers adapt to the changes, the modernized ATP component will be implemented over five years. Over this time, circulation will decrease in importance while the creation of editorial content will increase in importance: In 2020 21: 0% editorial / 100% circulation (no changes status quo) 21: 0% editorial / 100% circulation (no changes status quo) In 2021 22: 15% editorial / 85% circulation 22: 15% editorial / 85% circulation In 2022 23: 30% editorial / 70% circulation 23: 30% editorial / 70% circulation In 2023 24: 45% editorial / 55% circulation 24: 45% editorial / 55% circulation In 2024 25: 60% editorial / 40% circulation 25: 60% editorial / 40% circulation In 2025 26 and beyond: 80% editorial / 20% circulation 26 and beyond: 80% editorial / 20% circulation There will be no transition for the ATP digital-only sub-component that will be implemented in 202122, nor for the BI or CI components. SOURCE Canadian Heritage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Philip Pullella (Reuters) Vatican City Tue, February 18, 2020 20:02 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20653f8d0 2 Art & Culture Sistine-chapel,Raphael,Vatican,Vatican-City Free Putting more masterpieces in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel to join his ceiling frescoes and Last Judgement wall might seem as superfluous as adding more diamonds to the Crown Jewels. But the creator of those masterpieces is Raphael, Michelangelo's Renaissance contemporary and rival, so the Vatican has made an exception for a brief stay. For the first time in centuries, all 12 tapestries designed by Raphael have been hung on the lower walls of the Sistine Chapel as part of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the artist's death. "They were conceived for this space and so we thought it was the best way to celebrate," Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, told Reuters. The tapestries, which were weaved in Brussels by the famed studio of Pieter van Aelst from Raphael's sketches, depict scenes from the Acts of the Apostles, such as The Stoning of St. Stephen and St. Paul Preaching in Athens. For the next week, they are back in the Sistine Chapel, where they were between the time Michelangelo finished painting the ceiling in 1512 and when he began painting the massive Last Judgement wall behind the main altar in 1536. All 12, made with silk, wool and gold and silver thread, have been painstakingly restored by Vatican Museum conservationists in the last 10 years. Read also: 'Sistine Chapel of the UK' re-opens in London after renovation "Universal importance" "This place is of universal importance, not only for visual arts but for our faith," Jatta said, standing in the Sistine Chapel. "So we really want to share this beauty with people, even if only for one week". Seven of the tapestries, commissioned by Pope Leo X, were hung in the chapel on St. Stephen's day, Dec. 26, 1519. Raphael was probably there to see them but he died four months later at the age of 37. The others were finished after his death. "The last record that we have of all of them being hung in the Sistine is from the late 1500s," Alessandra Rodolfo, the curator of the exhibition, told Reuters. Previous exhibitions, some of which lasted only a few hours or a day, included only the 10 larger tapestries, some measuring about six by five meters. Two of the twelve are narrow and hung vertically as borders. A selection are normally on display on rotation behind glass in climate-controlled spaces in the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums' conservationists and restorers allowed all 12 of the delicate tapestries to be put on show at the same time for only a week, in part to protect them and in part because some will be on loan to other museums. One will be going soon to Rome's Quirinale Palace's Scuderie museums and another will be going to the National Gallery in London later this year. "It's exactly what Pope Francis is asking us, which is to share and to be a museum open to everybody and to share our beauty," Jatta said. LeCount R. Davis, CFP prepares the next generation of financial advisors to be integrated into the finance industrys diversity and inclusion plans to effectively serve the unrepresented and underserve communities. The author and certified financial planner announces the release of his debut book ONE STEP BACK TWO STEPS FORWARD (published by AuthorHouse). This financial self-help and autobiography details the authors experiences as a financial adviser with a cause to serve the communities who are unrepresented and underserved. He incorporates religion and economics to prove a point that God does play a role in the process of attaining their respective goals and taking forward steps to combat social-economic problems faced by the communities. Visit https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Back-Steps-Forward/dp/1728342430/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9781728342436&qid=1579159498&s=books&sr=1-1 to learn more about the book. The objective of this book is to inspire and motivate the next generation of financial advisors to be integrated in the financial services, the industrys diversity and inclusion plans to improve the social-economic conditions of our communities, Davis explains. Here is what certified financial planner Alexandra Armstrong CFP has to say about the book: His book is an inspiration and must-read [not only] for any aspiring financial planner but also for corporate executives of planning firms who are committed to increasing diversity among the planners. If they take his advice, they will [become] successful. ONE STEP BACK TWO STEPS FORWARD By LeCount R. Davis, CFP Hardcover | 6x9 in | 160 pages | ISBN 9781728342436 Softcover | 6x9 in | 160 pages | ISBN 9781728341088 E-Book | 160 pages | ISBN 9781728341071 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author LeCount R. Davis, CFP is a certified financial planner and registered investment adviser. He is the chairman emeritus for the Association of African Financial Advisors (AAAA). He lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife Jewel. He is dedicated to his vision and mission that God blessed him to provide the African American people with the financial guidance and advice necessary to improve their social-economic conditions. He has a bachelor and masters degrees in accountancy from Southeastern University in Washington, D.C. and a diploma from the College for Financial Planning at Denver, Colorado. He was the first black person to receive the certified financial planning designation. AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121. EDITORIAL: Career Paths: The prospects for job growth will only improve once students learn more about manufacturing in the region TICKERS: TOMZ Source: Fincom Investment Partners for Streetwise Reports (2/18/20) Fincom Investment Partners profiles TOMI Environmental Solutions, whose SteraMist disinfectant technology kills the coronavirus. TOMI Environmental Solutions Inc.'s (TOMZ:OTCQB) products kill pathogenssafely and effectively. Not just the coronavirus: Ebola, MERS, C. diff spores, sepsis, norovirus, anthrax, Staphylococcus, MRSA, Legionnaire's and Zika. The kill list also includes food borne illness such as E. coli and salmonella. Simple. Safe. Effective. Fast Tomi's lead product, SteraMist, is a propriety two-step process that aerosolizes and activates a 7.8% hydrogen peroxide solution, along with a "secret sauce," producing a fine aqueous mist. You probably have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide (HO) in your medicine cabinet; it's the world's safest natural sanitizer. SteraMist's hydrogen peroxide concentration produces a highly effective, germ-killing aerosol. SteraMist is unique in that the mistmore like a fog"atomizes" the liquid and quickly covers hard to reach surfaces, with the same velocity and characteristics of a gas. This works faster and with less saturation than ordinary sprays. (Source: Tomi) Speed and portability are primary advantages: SteraMist can clean a room in minutes. The SteraMist hospital "terminal clean" protocol is 55 minutes. Competitive products, we believe, are generally far more caustic or take up to eight hours. All are superior to bleach hand scrubbing. SteraMist is proven to kill all known bacteria, spores and inactivate all known viruses on surface by a "six log" or 99.9999% reduction, the highest standard. Ready to rollout: in China & worldwide On February 4, 2020, after a lengthy three-year registration process, the next level began: "TOMI Receives China CDC Registration Making SteraMist the Disinfection Industry Standard in China." Tomi's news release noted: "SteraMist is now the industry standard for disinfection throughout all of China. This registration allows China to take advantage of SteraMist disinfection and decontamination in a variety of verticals such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, commercial and residential, schools, and throughout the community." Long, proven history The Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) Platform was developed in response to the Congressional 2001 anthrax attacks, via a DARPA grant, after U.S. government officials saw the desperate need for a superior cleaning solution. In June 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted TOMI the first ever solution and technology combination registration. Registrations in all 50 states were secured. Further claims were received for C. difficile spores and H1N1 (swine flu), in addition to registration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a disinfectant medical device and further addition of microbes to its efficacy with the EPA. SteraMist's successful "proof of concept" in multiple commercial applications over many years confirm the technology is now primed for mass rollout. Tomi has taken careful steps to project its global IP, especially in China, and in 2017 received enhanced design patents. This author has followed Tomi for five years; San Diego-based technology incubators Titan (SteraMist inventor) and Maxwell Technologies (recently acquired by Tesla) since the mid-1990s. We have witnessed SteraMist applied and we believe the technology is "the real deal." Global awareness increasing We know the current coronavirus is just a bad flu. Most critically, we believe this outbreak now changes (finally) behavior standards in Asia, and globally. Blanket travel bans; locking down entire citiesnot exactly efficient. Pathogens can mutate rapidly, even if a vaccine is developed. Limited value. Pills do not kill pathogen spread via surface contact, like doorknobs. What's next? Tomi's solution kills everything, not just coronavirus: Ebola, C. diff, various "superbugs," E. colieven bedbugs and ordinary mold and mildew. One protocol to kill them all. SteraMist solves multiple, mutating problems, now and in the future. As of this date, Tomi remains off the radar; almost no press coverage, hardly a whisperyet given landmark China CDC approval, this represents an opportunity. ..with enormous applications: Vertical opportunities include: every hospital, school, airplane, restaurant (both front and kitchen) hotels, commercial and residential properties, gyms, food harvesting and transportation, etc. Our thesis: life has changed in Asia. Forever. We know Tomi and SteraMist had an Asian conglomerate's interest after the MERS outbreak, but the interest faded (it always does) with the virus. Nobody wants to invest in safety. Until We believe an attitude change would benefit TOMZ shares, which could appreciate significantly. Simple solutions often the best SteraMist contains a high concentration of Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS). ROS cause damage to pathogenic organisms via mechanisms such as oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids leading to cellular disruption and/or dysfunction. (source: Tomi) The unique physiochemistry of the Activated Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide (AIHP) allows these ROS to exist in high concentrations without rapidly recombining and losing their reactivity. The ionizing effect also leaves the room smelling fresh (Photo: Tomi) San Diego-based technology incubator Titan Corp received the DARPA contract. Although Titan landed its first related patent in 2005, the technology was not a fit with a primary defense communications business, which included 4400 translators in Iraq. In 2005, L3 communications purchased Titan for $2.65 billion. However, since L3 is primarily a defense electronics contractor, SteraMist was "orphaned," TOMI founder Dr. Halden Shane bought the patents in 2013. Giant, global opportunity Healthcare associated infections affect over 2 million patients annually, in the U.S. alone, adding an estimated $30 billion in costs. We have no idea what the total costs will be in China, but it will not be cheap. Time is money in healthcare, as in every business, so disinfecting a room, or entire ward, by hand, with bleach or caustic agents, or competitor's solutions (as we believe) with up to a six or eight-hour treatment time is not cost effective. OK, find and kill the virus? The approximate post terminal clean for SteraMist hospital treatment is 55 minutes; a short time to assure that environmental surface contamination will not pass to the next patient or hospital staff. We believe SteraMist should be incorporated as part of the routine cleaning process. Although Tomi does not currently make any such claims, we further believe the potential exists (given its gas-like, low corrosive vapor) for SteraMist adaption in densely packed locations vulnerable to airborne transmission, including factories and offices. Travel We hope this is a no brainer. Tomi can safely and rapidly disinfect an aircraft, hotel room, etc., with faster coverage, safer, less labor, less liquid and less corrosion. Complete coverage is not an easy application. A small miss can transmit. Competition Compared to competitors, based on our understanding, SteraMist technology has a quicker and higher kill level, in a shorter time, leaves no residue, is eco-friendly, is not effected by humidity, is not caustic, does not blister painted surfaces, contains no silver ions, requires no humidify alteration prior to use, has a shorter treatment time, is quicker to exhaust due to the production of the reactive oxygen species verses nebulization of higher concentrates of hydrogen peroxide, contains no bleach, rooms require little or no prep prior to treatment, and converts to oxygen and water. In addition, SteraMist replaces traditional formaldehyde, ultra-violet devices, quat ammonia products, hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV), peracetic acids and silver ions/anions products, glutaraldehyde, chlorine dioxide and titanium dioxide as decontamination solutions. UK-based Steris (NYSE: STE) develops and markets multiple products in the sterilization business, including Vaprox, a vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) decontamination device, used mostly in clean rooms and pharmaceutical processing. Steris now trades near a $13 billion market cap; Tomi a miniscule fraction. Steris was built through a series of acquisitions. After repeated company visits, several years ago, we patiently waited for the right moment. It has arrived. Our vision for Tomi is more a buyout or licensing play. The company has survived while being chronically undercapitalized for years. Although managed in a classy, professional manner, Tomi has not the talent depth and operational experience for a global roll-out, in our opinion. The founder/CEO is turning 75. Tomi has developed slowly, seemingly a snail's pace, the past six years, and acts more akin to a private club than an aggressive tech start-up. However, we argue the tsunami tailwind affords Tomi an epic moment. A quick pivot, or a gorilla partner, and Tomi could soon deserve a valuation in the biotech realm. Tomi still looks cheap (chart source: Stockcharts) We do not know the exact float, but insider ownership is high: 3rd party reports show 41%; there are also several large long-term investors. The current effective float could be only 10% or 20%, which means any whiff of success would probably require a dramatically higher share price to reach orderly market stability. There is a $5 million note due in April, which the company believes it can easily refinance. Food safety E. coli outbreaks at Chipotle, and others, chopping off billions in market value, are now a seemingly continual chain of food safety problems. This is a huge opportunity for Tomi. SteraMist's advantages are its portability; it can be deployed near harvest, without side effects. The company is currently working toward a direct food and crop application using a 1% acceptable concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Most interesting, the initial emphasis is on the profitable organic market. The objective is to prevent/and or minimize food decay without harsh chemicals. We like organic. In the future, potential exists for a restaurant industry application of a brief spray at day's end. While scrubbing is fine, this added layer of final protection reaches all surface areas: safe for food and humans. Portable pandemic treatment SteraMist best performs, and outshines, in the most difficult cases. Only good fortune kept Ebola from greater global carnage. SteraMist's portability, ease-of-use and "6 log kill" make it an ideal solution component. This was successfully demonstrated in its 2015 deployment to Monrovia, Liberia, to decontaminate the Ebola treatment center. Mosquito-borne illness Mosquitoes are crafty buggers. Although Zika is now "forgotten," the opportunity remains. SteraMist kills mosquitoes. While fumigation may be acceptable outdoors, indoors it creates serious problems. SteraMist is ideal for a rapid, safe indoor mosquito abatement, since repeated poison fumigating is unhealthy. Conclusion Prompt SteraMist adaption allows authorities to rapidly provide citizens with an immediate, highly visible, long-term solution, not just for coronavirus, but a vast array of pathogens. The SteraMist solution could become an integral component in health preservation globally. Given the timeliness, this report is intended only as a brief overview. Tomi has a wealth of additional information on the company's website at www.tomimist.com, in addition to posted 10K and Qs. Please review. Investors may like what they see. Tomi Environmental Solutions is an unknown, timely opportunity. Frederick Lacy, President of Fincom Investment Partners, began as a Chicago commodity broker in 1984. In 1987 he joined Bateman Eichler, Hill Richards in Los Angeles, focusing on small to mid-cap equities, ultimately "retiring" in 2000 as a Managing Director of Investment Banking. Mr. Lacy has been involved in numerous investments, from arranging start-up capital for what became Petrohawk, which sold for $15 Billion, to mobile payments in India. Several long-time clients were founding investors of Cheniere Energy. Mr Lacy's decades in California technology includes arranging an early $13 million VC financing for "permanent ledger" software (now commonly known as "blockchain") led by top-tier fund Upfront Ventures. Other investments include 3D holographic display technology, early mobile applications, power conversion, along with multiple consumer health-related products: Canadian Glacier bottled water, Kinetin skin cream, a proprietary oxidative-stress formula, and UV purification systems. In 1989 Mr. Lacy hosted "the Venture Capitalist" which aired on (now) CNBC, and has followed the natural foods industry for 35 years. [NLINSERT] Disclaimer This report is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation of any security purchase or sale. Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment decisions. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, Fincom Investment Partners cannot guarantee its accuracy. Do your own due diligence. Any opinions or estimates constitute our best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. We recommend investors conduct thorough investment research of their own, including detailed review of the related Companies' filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. Fincom Investment Partners and its officers and directors own shares in Tomi Environmental Solutions and may buy or sell shares at any time without prior notice. Streetwise Reports Disclosure: 1) Frederick Lacy and Fincom Investment Partners disclosures are above. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. BJP President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday appointed Saroj Pandey as the central observer to oversee the election of the BJP's legislature party in Delhi. The BJP MP will hold a meeting with newly-elected Delhi MLAs to find a consensus candidate. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 18 : BJP President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday appointed Saroj Pandey as the central observer to oversee the election of the BJP's legislature party in Delhi. The BJP MP will hold a meeting with newly-elected Delhi legislators to find a consensus candidate. Sources say Vijender Gupta, who has won against Aam Aadmi Party's Rajesh Bansiwala by a margin of over 12,600 votes from Rohini constituency, is likely to emerge as the consensus name. The BJP has got eight seats in the Delhi elections where the Aam Aadmi Party swept back to power with 62 seats. Last time, the BJP managed just three seats. A party communique in this regard has been issued by BJP leader Arun Singh. In 2015, the BJP won 23.2 per cent of the total 12,177 polling booths in Delhi. This year, it won 35.1 per cent of the total 13,747 polling booths, an increase of 12 percentage points. The BJP's vote share jumped from 32.3 per cent in 2015 to 38.5 per cent. Former party president Amit Shah conceded that polarising comments like "desh ke gaddaro ko", as uttered by union minister Anurag Thakur, during the peak of the Delhi election campaign could have played a role in BJP's debacle in the national capital. Extraditing WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange to the US would be akin to sentencing him to death, his father has said. John Shipton said he feared the worst for his son's health should the US lawyers win their battle to see Assange face 18 charges over leaked defence cables a decade ago. Assange's extradition hearing is due to open in London next week, though a decision is unlikely to be handed down for several months - and even then, it is likely the losing side would appeal. The hearing is due to open against a backdrop of allegations from Assange's supporters about his treatment in Belmarsh Prison, including a spell in solitary confinement, they said. John Shipton (pictured) said he feared the worst for his son's health should the US lawyers win their battle to see Assange face 18 charges over leaked defence cables a decade ago Following a media briefing in central London, Mr Shipton said: 'The extradition is a death sentence - it's the culmination of 10 years of lies, physiological torture of every sort. 'His condition has improved, I saw him last week. 'They have a (fitness) schedule (at Belmarsh) - you could hardly say it's fresh air. 'It's four walls with a grille on the top and you can stand in the rain.' Asked if his son's treatment amounted to torture, Mr Shipton said: 'Absolutely.' He added: 'The extradition ought to be immediately dropped. 'If that's not done then the minister concerned can give me a ring and I'll go out to the jail and pick up Julian as I have a home here ... he has substantial support in the community so he can come home and fight his case from house arrest or bail. It's no problem.' Wikileaks founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court, London, where he was appearing for an administrative hearing relating to his extradition to the United States in January earlier this year Mr Shipton said footage of his son being 'dragged out of the (Ecuadorian) Embassy' - where he spent several years seeking refuge against extradition to Sweden over sex assault charges which he denied and were subsequently dropped - was the lowest moment of the last 10 years. But he said he was able to offer a little levity during his prison visits through 'gossip' about women. He said: 'Mostly when we first go in we gossip a little about friends, and children and the women in our lives and the mothers of our children, that brings the fruits of ordinary life into the jail.' Mr Shipton declined to elaborate on any love interest for his son, following previous speculation linking him with former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, one of his many celebrity supporters. But he said such high-profile backing helped keep Assange's cause in the forefront of people's minds. He said: 'I imagine Julian finds it moralising, helpful. 'I imagine that his morale may increase because high-profile supporters mean that newspapers and television channels report it, journalists take notice and become assistants in reporting what has happened.' Mr Shipton said he and his son plan to conquer Spain's Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route upon Assange's release. He said: 'Julian decided to do it without me - he does it without me in his cell. 'In 18 months, I hope we do it together.' He is the Vice-President in recent memory that one cannot wish away in this our Republic. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President in the current government, was once again in his best elements last Tuesday with country, kinsmen and women on his mind. Dr Bawumia was speaking at the governments Town Hall meeting and Results Fair in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi. He went to the fair to account to the entire people of Ghana, his governments fulfilled or yet to be fulfilled promises. Manifesto promises From the A to Z of their manifesto promises and on topics from the economy through to education, health, to agriculture, industry, jobs, foreign policy, electricity, water, the banking sector and many others, the Vice-President did what he does best as the great communicator that he is. He was on point with his message, commanded interest, succeeded in drawing his audiences attention and for the over two hours that he was on his feet, he got me spellbound, glued to my radio and later my television set. I did not want to miss his delivery for anything else. His message of the day was a serious one and he made sure that being on top of issues, he brought every bit of it alive. As he went through his delivery with a body language that said it all, his modest smiles and similes were graciously applied. Going through the governments tick-off list, he took cognisance of where he was standing, his immediate audience and quickly connected where necessary by using the Twi language to illustrate some of his points. That he is an effective communicator who succeeds in carrying his audience with him is in no doubt. In our current dispensation, he is a great asset to his party, particularly as they head towards the competitive December general election. Dr Bawumias recounted list of achievements and what is in the pipeline are for the people to judge. However, for me as a citizen and not a spectator, what perhaps excited me most was his delivery on the banking crises. Banking crises I had never had the reality of the situation that confronted the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and for that matter the financial industry so well explained as he did. He juxtaposed the action taken by the BoG with the crises that could have accosted the nation in terms of credibility in the banking sector, job losses and total investment losses should the BOG not have taken the bold step to clean up the mess. The icing on the cake for investors who have been caught in the web of the financial sector crises was the Vice-Presidents assurance last Tuesday that no one would lose his or her investment. Though yet to be fulfilled, it was great news, especially coming on the heels of a recent promise by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that every investor would be paid their locked-up investment. Payments Dr Bawumia in his delivery in Kumasi emphasised that each investor would be paid the full amount saved at the time of the collapse. He went on to explain that the government had asked the receiver of the collapsed banks to speed up the validation process for payments to be effected. My heart was lifted up and one is inclined to believe that many others who have had their investments locked up for a year or more would rejoice at the news. On January 4, 2020, this same frustration of locked up investments in collapsed financial institutions was on my mind when I had cause to write an open letter to the receiver in my column in the Daily Graphic. In the open letter entitled: Best New Year gift to consider, I appealed to the receiver to add to his list of considerations and pay off locked-up investments of all senior citizens as a matter of priority. Most of them had faith in the regulated financial institutions and, therefore, entrusted their life savings in the investment instruments that were available. They took decisions for their money to work for them in retirement. The waiting period has been treacherous and far too long for depositors. Hearts have been broken and disappointments and grief have taken over. The Vice-President has, however, reiterated the Presidents words and assured all investors that not a pesewa of their locked-up investment would be lost. Now hope was rekindled last Tuesday and suffering investors would be counting the days thanks to the Bawumia factor. Source: Vicky Wireko - E-mail: [email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Customs officials at the airport here have seized gold worth Rs 85.37 lakh from passengers in the last two days and arrested a Sri Lankan national in this connection. Acting on a specific information, the air intelligence wing sleuths recovered gold worth Rs 35 lakh concealed in paste form a Sri Lankan national who arrived from Colombo on Monday. He was arrested as the quantum of the gold seized from him was over Rs 20 lakh, the Customs department said in a release. In another incident, the officials recovered the yellow metal concealed in the rectum of a passenger who arrived from Abu Dhabi on Monday Night. The value of the gold seized was Rs 18 lakh. The sleuths recovered gold worth Rs 21 lakh from two passengers from Kuala Lumpur on Monday night. The officials cut opened the containers the passengers were carrying and recovered thin gold rods concealed inside fish pieces, it said. In another incident, the officials recovered the precious metal concealed in pockets of a passenger from Kuala Lumpur. The value of the gold seized from him was Rs 11.37 lakh. In all the incidents, the quantity of the gold seized under the Customs Act was 2 kg. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SARAJEVO - Authorities in the Una-Sana Canton in northwestern Bosnia, located on the border with the EU country of Croatia, said there is still no coordination between state and local institutions in the face of the "illegal migration" crisis, said media sources citing Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic. Estimates place the current number of illegal migrants in this part of Bosnia at about 5,000, of whom 3,500 are being hosted in reception centres and the rest are staying in private homes if they have money or, if not, in dilapidated structures in city centres. Although the number of crimes committed by migrants continues to grow, there aren't enough funds to increase the number of police officers. This year's mild winter facilitated illegal migrants in crossing the route towards the western Bosnian borders, resulting in an increasing number of daily arrivals, currently at about 80 on average per day. However, the canton's president said "the worst is yet to come". In 2014, an undercover female investigator told the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario that Fernando Vigon-Campuzano had touched her inappropriately during a massage. The college chose to handle the case behind closed doors cautioning the massage therapist and ordering him to take additional training. At the time, none of this was posted to Vigon-Campuzanos profile on the colleges website and he was allowed to continue to practise. Two years later, Vigon-Campuzano sexually assaulted two women during massage therapy sessions. He was convicted by a judge in criminal court this past January, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for March. Critics have said the criminal conviction demands an explanation from the college as to how it handled the 2014 case and why it allowed Vigon-Campuzano to continue to practise, with the public kept in the dark. Its like the colleges are just begging to be taken over and lose their right to self-regulate when you hear of an incident like this, said medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte. Of course they owe the public answers, and if theyre not prepared to give it to the public, it should certainly be demanded by the minister of health. Vigon-Campuzano was convicted in January by Superior Court Justice David E. Harris of two counts of sexual assault stemming from incidents at two different massage therapy establishments in 2016. One of the complainants identified as Ms. M.-B. due to a standard publication ban in sexual assault cases testified that Vigon-Campuzano massaged her inner thigh, near her vagina, and that she was confused whether this was appropriate or not. He stopped after she told him not to touch her in that area. She also testified that he started massaging her breasts even though she said she did not want a breast massage. Soon after, he also put his hand on top of her vagina and moved his hand using small quick motions, as if to stimulate vibrations, according to the judges decision. Among the defences arguments regarding her credibility was that Ms. M.-B. tipped Vigon-Campuzano after the session, and that this belied her testimony that she was sexually assaulted, according to the ruling. But the judge rejected that argument. I do not agree. She testified that she was in shock and just wanted to get out of there. The tip was an automatic action of neutral importance, the judge wrote. The other complainant, identified as Ms. H, testified that Vigon-Campuzano pressed into her vaginal area with his hands and inserted two or three fingers into her vagina. She testified she was shocked and confused and the session ended shortly after. She was also extensively cross-examined about giving Vigon-Campuzano a tip, but the judge found it had no weight on her credibility. Vigon-Campuzano also testified and unequivocally denied touching Ms. M.-B.s breasts and vaginal area and Ms. Hs vagina, according to the ruling. His lawyer, Jennifer Myers, declined to comment to the Star. The case raises the question of whether the assaults could have been prevented. The fact Vigon-Campuzano had a prior history with the college first emerged in October 2016 after the assaults. It became public after one of the two women complained to the college and Vigon-Campuzano signed whats known as an undertaking, promising to surrender his licence and never reapply. The undertaking, which is posted on his college profile, says he acknowledges being cautioned and ordered to take remedial training in 2014 with respect to inappropriately draping a female client and sexually touching a (female) undercover investigator. The college has refused to publicly provide further details on the 2014 case, such as why its complaints committee, which operates behind closed doors, did not send the allegations to a public discipline hearing, which hears from witnesses testifying under oath. The complaints committee decision, obtained this week by the Star, provides some insight. An undercover investigator was sent in after the college received an anonymous letter from a woman in 2014 who said she felt uncomfortable that Vigon-Campuzano draped her in a way that sometimes exposed sensitive areas during the session. The investigator, using the pseudonym Ms. M.S., reported that Vigon-Campuzano insisted on treating parts of her body that were of no concern to her, according to the committee decision. He also did not use proper draping techniques, according to the investigator, leaving her gluteal and pubic areas exposed. She reported he touched her inappropriately when he worked very close to the genital area, according to the decision. She stated that she could feel his hand move over top of pubic hair. He also made contact with her breasts while massaging her sternum. The committee found the concerns about his conduct to be serious and require significant action, and chose to caution Vigon-Campuzano and order him to take remedial training. The committee found a public discipline hearing was unwarranted because it didnt appear Vigon-Campuzano had a sexual intent. Inappropriate draping that results in the exposure of sensitive areas of a clients body is serious, the committee wrote. In addition, massaging these areas without first obtaining informed client consent could be perceived as crossing appropriate clinical boundaries and possibly as sexual abuse. In this situation, however, there did not appear to be any evidence of sexual intent on the part of Mr. Campuzano. It appears, instead, that Mr. Campuzano lacked attention to college requirements. The college pointed out to the Star that, at the time, the law prevented colleges from posting cautions and orders to take remedial training on a members profile. It could only post information if the case had been sent for a discipline hearing. A new law enacted by the Ontario government in 2017 now allows colleges to post more information about a members conduct. The college said it has also made changes of its own since 2014, including expediting cases involving allegations of sexual abuse and requiring written consent for the treatment of sensitive areas. It said it has also taken steps to improve its decision-making processes, including training on risk assessment and on the considerations to apply in sexual abuse cases. The college acknowledges that the process and our actions would likely have been very different if the new provincial legislation was in place at the time of the original investigation in 2014, the college said in a statement to the Star that also confirmed the college is investigating Vigon-Campuzano over his recent conviction. We are sorry that this happened, and believe the changes we have made better protect Ontarians receiving treatment by the massage therapists we regulate. Harte, the medical malpractice lawyer, points out there was nothing in the old law that prevented the college from sending Vigon-Campuzanos case to a discipline hearing in 2014. The colleges position makes no sense, he said. The fact an undercover investigator came in suggests theres a reasonable basis to refer this to discipline. If they just had an anonymous complaint, thats one thing, but if they have an investigator and the investigator goes out and confirms the concerns, they need to err on the side of caution and refer to discipline, even if they lose. Hearings set to begin just two weeks after general elections are held, the countrys third vote in less than a year. An Israeli court has said the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin on March 17, two weeks after national elections are held. Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust under a number of cases in which he is alleged to have accepted lavish gifts from billionaire friends and exchanged regulatory favours for more positive media coverage. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt. In a brief statement on Tuesday, the court said Netanyahu is expected to attend the initial hearing. Under Israeli law, a sitting prime minister is only required to step down once convicted of an offence and after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. Israel will hold parliamentary elections on March 2, its third vote in less than a year, after two elections failed to yield a conclusive result. Netanyahus campaign has sought to divert attention away from the corruption charges while his main challenger, former military chief Benny Gantz, has sought to highlight it. He argues that Netanyahu is unfit to serve as prime minister while fighting the legal charges. Gantz had refused after September elections to join a unity government led by Netanyahu, saying he must first settle his differences with the judiciary before taking power. Pre-election polls indicate that neither Gantz nor Netanyahu has a clear path to a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu has heavily emphasised his relationship with United States President Donald Trump in seeking to shore up support with his nationalist base in Israel. Gantz himself recently met Trump at the White House, where he welcomed the presidents strong support for Israel. Last month, Trump unveiled his so-called Middle East plan, which heavily favours Israel on key contentious issues including borders, the status of Jerusalem and illegal Jewish settlements. The plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the occupied West Bank to Israel. It was made without the input of Palestinians, who have rejected it, and who broke off ties with the Trump administration after it controversially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in late 2017. India will send a C-17 military aircraft to Wuhan on February 20 to evacuate more Indians from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city and also provide medical supplies to China, military sources said on Tuesday. The C-17 Globemaster, the biggest military aircraft in the Air Force, will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, the sources told PTI. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the government till now has evacuated 640 Indians from China by sending to Air India planes. Last week, India had announced that it will send medicines as well as other medical supplies to China. Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong has appreciated India for extending solidarity and expressing readiness to assist China to deal with the epidemic. He also said there is no case of infection as of today among the remaining Indians in Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, and authorities are taking "good care" of them. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak climbed to 1,868 on Monday while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Association of Christian Lawmakers (@ChristLawmakers) asked its 254 Twitter followers to vote on this polling question: "Do you believe America would be better off if more Christians served in elected office?" So far 35,013 people have voted. 6.7% voted yes and 93.2 voted no. It's all the fault of "Satanists and Atheists," they say. Four persons, including a junior police officer and a civic volunteer were arrested in connection with the snatching of one-and-half-kg gold valued at Rs 50 lakh, the police said on Tuesday. All the four were produced before a local court on Tuesday and remanded to police custody for six days. The snatching had reportedly taken place here in May, 2019 when the yellow metal was allegedly being taken to Kolkata from Malda, the police said. A verbal complaint was lodged with the Malda police after the incident but the written one was submitted six months later in November that year. The police investigation was launched after it, the police said. Malda superintendent of police Alok Rajoria said the time gap between the verbal complaint and lodging of the written one had created suspicion and led to the arrest of the assistant sub-inspector of police, the civic volunteer and two others. The police said the investigations have revealed that the incident was preplanned by a Kolkata-based businessman, who was himself present during the alleged snatching and had even lodged the complaint. The businessman was among those arrested, the police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANILA, Philippines Personnel from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) intercepted an airsoft gun inside a hand-carry bag of a departing passenger at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The suspected illegal item was detected on the x-ray screen at the final security screening checkpoint on Thursday (February 13) by Security Screening Officer (SSO) Ma. Stella Patanao, the x-ray operator on duty. A passenger of AirSwift flight number T6 106 bound for El Nido, Palawan identified as Aira Abrina Cabailo claimed the bag which was subjected to a manual inspection. One piece of airsoft gun and several gun pellets were recovered from Cabailos bag, according to OTS. Under airport policy, airsoft guns are allowed only inside checked in baggage. The item was seized and turned over to the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group for appropriate handling. Meanwhile, Cabailo was allowed to continue with her scheduled flight without undue delay. The post Departing passenger stopped at NAIA Terminal 4 for carrying airsoft gun appeared first on UNTV News. A quarantine zone for people suspected with the new coronavirus in the Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Khanh Hoa Province. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuoc. Khanh Hoa Province, home to tourism hotspot Nha Trang, can be declared free of Covid-19 after recording no new patient for 30 days, the Health Ministry stated Monday. Khanh Hoa had recorded one patient, a 25-year-old hotel receptionist in Nha Trang whod interacted with two infected Chinese persons, on January 17. The province has since gone 30 days without detecting another case. The woman was discharged from hospital on February 4. Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said at a government meeting on measures against the current Covid-19 epidemic that Khanh Hoa has deployed appropriate measures to fight the disease. The ministry has instructed Khanh Hoa authorities to complete documents to declare the end of its epidemic status, Tuyen said. Thanh Hoa Province in north-central Vietnam, which recorded one infection, a 25-year-old woman who was among a group of eight employees of Japanese-invested Nihon Plast Company Limited returning from China's Wuhan City, ground zero of the epidemic, will also be eligible to end its epidemic status if no new cases are recorded in the next five days. The woman was discharged from hospital on February 3. Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa and the northern province of Vinh Phuc declared their Covid-19 epidemic statuses on February 1. Vinh Phuc has reported 11 patients so far, including five of the employees returning from Wuhan. Localities would be eligible to announce the end of their epidemic statuses if there are no new cases in the last 28 days and preventative measures against the disease have been properly deployed. Its been only seven days since Vinh Phucs last case, a 50-year-old father of a worker from Wuhan, who has also infected her mother, sister, cousin and neighbor. Vietnam has been lauded by the World Health Organization (WHO) to have responded well to the Covid-19 epidemic from the very outset, preventing its spread, in a statement Saturday. While the U.N. health agency said it highly evaluated Vietnams ability to address urgent public health issues, it also urged Vietnam to stay on high alert and be ready to respond should more infection cases be detected. The country has recorded 16 infected cases so far. Seven have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The global death toll of the epidemic has reached 1,776, with one each in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, the Philippines and the rest in mainland China. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acumen Research & Consulting, a global provider of market research studies, in a recently published report titled "Pallets Market (By Product: Plastic Pallets, Wood Pallets, Metals Pallets, Others; By Application: Glossary Manufacturing, Logistics and Transportation, Others) Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Opportunities and Forecast, 2019 - 2026". The global pallets market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.8% during the forecast period 2019 to 2026 and reach the market value of around US$ 84.56 Bn by 2026. Free Download Sample Report Pages for Better [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1760 In 2018, Asia Pacific dominated the regional market with a maximum market share The Asia Pacific accounted for the high market share of the pallets market and the region is also expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. The region is experiencing the maximum growth owing to the presence of testing device companies, favorable reimbursement policies in the rapidly growing population. The Asia Pacific is followed by the North America region in the business market. The North America region is expected to exhibit a second-largest share in the pallets market. North America is expected to account for the second-largest in the global market during the forecast period. An increase in adoption of the pallet, growing disposable income and an increase in innovation and development in pallet products is expected to enhance the regional market growth in the global pallets market during the forecast. Few of the players profiled in the report operating in the market are Spruce ImpexPvt Ltd., Totre Packaging, Gee Enterprises, Spanco Enterprises, Swift Technoplast Private Ltd., Loscam Australia Pty Ltd., Pilco Storage Systems Private Ltd., Brambles Ltd., SchoellerAllibert, Rehrig Pacific Company, and CABKA Group. These players are implementing various strategies such as new product introduction, attainments, and collaborations, in order to apprehension in height revenue share in pallets business. The companies are involved in mergers and acquisitions and new product development for expanding their market share and also for gaining competitive advantages over its competitors. The presence of a large customer base along with the growing demand for pallets is additionally accelerating the regional market growth. Moreover, innovation and expansion in pallet usage and growing development, increasing the demand for logistics & transport and increasing awareness about maintaining health among the customer are expected to enhance the market growth in the global pallet market in the future. This also expected to open investment opportunities in the global market for the manufacturers in the coming years. View Detail Information with Complete [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/pallets-market Furthermore, increase in demand, innovation and development in pallet, rising concerns about usage of pallet, and rising spending capacity is also estimating to boost the market growth. Moreover, changing lifestyles of consumers across developed countries, growing industry and emergence of new product development in Metals Pallets products are expected to create opportunities for the manufacturers in the global market over the forecast period. However, rigorous government regulations towards pallet quality and safety & quality concerns of pallet are expected to hamper the growth of the global pallet market. Plastic pallets have dominated the type segment in the year 2018 and the segment is projected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period from 2019 to 2026. The Plastic Pallets segment accounts of the largest share in the market in 2018 and will appear decent growth rate over xx % during the forecast period. The major factors that are driving the growth of Metals Pallets segment is the extremely high strength alongside with reduced weight, exclusive design, high production, and a huge resources availability. This is probably to heighten the dominance of the Metals Pallets segment rather than other in the global market over the forecast period. Explore More Related Reports, Click [email protected] Chemicals and Materials Based on application, the market has been segmented into glossary manufacturing, logistic & transport and others. The Logistic & transport accounts of the largest share market share by volume in the period 2018. In addition to that, escalating demand from packaging and automobile industry is yet another factor to act as a growth driver for the global pallet market in coming future. The limited availability of raw material and high cost of raw material are the two major challenges for the global pallet market.The quality of products which grows the demand for pallet in application type. The major factors that are driving the growth of this segment are increasing consumption in logistic and beautiful appeal of product with efficient marketing styles. Some of the key observations regarding pallets industry include: September 2019 , PalletOne, Inc., America's largest new pallet manufacturer, has purchased Bay Wood Products Inc., a pallet and crate manufacturing business located in Baldwin County on the Alabama Gulf Coast. , PalletOne, Inc., America's largest new pallet manufacturer, has purchased Bay Wood Products Inc., a pallet and crate manufacturing business located in Baldwin County on the Alabama Gulf Coast. October 2019 , The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) announces the release of PDS 6.0, the most advanced software tool in the world that considers the interactions between a flexible wood pallet and corrugated boxes. , The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) announces the release of PDS 6.0, the most advanced software tool in the world that considers the interactions between a flexible wood pallet and corrugated boxes. January 2019 , Germany's Kion Group AG plans to magnify its industrial unit in Summerville, S.C. , in a move to escape a 25% tariff that the U.S. levied on forklifts imported from China . Request for [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-customization/1760 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. Buy this premium research [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/1760 If you would like to place an order or have any questions, please feel free to contact at [email protected] | +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 About Us Acumen Research and Consulting (ARC) is a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services to information technology, investment, telecommunication, manufacturing, and consumer technology markets. ARC helps investment communities, IT professionals, and business executives to make fact based decisions on technology purchases and develop firm growth strategies to sustain market competition. Among the industries served include aerospace and defense, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductor and electronics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced materials, banking, finance services and insurance (BFSI), and others. Our collective industry experience of over 100 years has helped us to offer appropriate market information and our global reach and regional connects ensures appropriate insights into regional markets to guarantee apt delivery of information. Our regional market intelligence helps our clients to identify potential opportunities and develop growth strategies across regions and countries. Our services are geared towards offering best market research to our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Frank Wilson Acumen Research and Consulting 17890, Castleton St #218, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 United States Tel: +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com SOURCE Acumen Research and Consulting New Delhi, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2020 -- India-visa-gov.in brings the latest updates from the Government of India with regards to Coronavirus. The GOI has announced cancellation of eVisa India or India Visa Online for Chinese visitors so as to protect the country from any kind of impact to the local population as well as the tourists. China along with another 24 countries have registered cases on this outbreak. So far India has registered only 3 cases of Indian passengers and they have been dealt with in the most cautious and precautionary manner. The three patients have now recovered after being quarantined for 14 days in their respective homes in Kerala. The Government was also proactive in evacuating around 600 Indians living in Wuhan, China. These patients are being closely observed in the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services Center. All the airports across the country are also being observed for travelers with symptoms of any kind of flu. Lab testing facilities have been set up across the country by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The GOI has also advised tourists not to visit China so as to prevent any further outbreak. At this point India has no Coronavirus and in order to keep it that way, the visitors from China to the country are also not allowed even if these travelers have applied through physical paper. Any kind of visa has been currently suspended and cancelled for visitors from China. India being the most prepared and precautionary country has the resources to deal with any kind of anticipated outbreak. Tourists visiting from other countries can make their plans without any worries and make the most of their holidays in India. For any visa related issues or queries, click on the link below. To know more about Indian Visa Update ,visit https://www.india-visa-gov.in/news/coronavirus-in-india-14-february-2020 About India-visa-gov.in India-visa-gov.in is a private website specializing in online visa applications services and aims at helping tourists and travelers with visa procedures. A team of travel agents and experts are available 24/7 to assist the visitors with their queries. Contact Website: https://www.india-visa-gov.in/ Mumbai, Feb 18 : Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has made certain sensational revelations about the infamous Sheena Bora murder case in his new book "Let Me Say It Now" that has triggered off potential political storm. Among the cloak-and-dagger style disclosures are Maria's SMS exchange with the former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the circumstances leading to his abrupt "shuntings" from the case probe and the role of prominent individuals. The 63-year-old high profile IPS officer -- who earlier handled the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes -- had personally investigated the Sheena Bora murder case, but mid-way during the probe was transferred via a SMS message from then Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K.P. Bakshi. In a SMS to Fadnavis Maria expressed his displeasure at how he and his team which probed the case for only 12 days before he was promoted and transferred at a time when (media baron) "Peter Mukerjea's role and financial transactions were being parallelly probed in the case" although it took the CBI 90 days to bring out (Peter Mukerjea's) role and then arrest him, which he said was "unfair and unjust to me and the Mumbai Police team which detected this buried case". He discusses his two top colleagues, Deven Bharti, now the Additional DGP, ATS and Ahmed Javed, now the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia While Maria was interrogating Mukerjea in Khar Police Station on the disappearance of Sheena Bora, the latter informed him that he had told 'Deven' - the then Joint Commissioner of Police (L&O), stunning the entire investigating team. Maria himself was shaken at Mukerjea's revelation and how he was on first-name basis with the Jt.CoP Deven Bharti, but nobody said anything, though he (Maria) admits to spending a sleepless night attempting to fathom its complete ramifications, etc. When Maria contemplated confronting Bharti on the issue, the very next morning (September 8, 2015), Maria was transferred. Besides, Javed knew the Mukerjea couple (Peter and since recently his ex-wife Indrani) socially and were invitees to his Eid party. "Did the CM and the (then) Additional CS (K. P. Bakshi) know about this before the new CoP (Javed) took charge," Maria now wonders. Maria refers to an enquiry into the role of Raigad district Police as Sheena Bora's remains were found in the Gagode forests, lapses whether there was any attempt to destroy evidence, and asks a pointed question: "What happened to that enquiry?" Referring to a TV interview in which Fadnavis suggested that (Maria) was misleading by giving a clean chit to Peter Mukerjea, Maria defended himself by saying he had never told him (ex-CM) that Peter Mukerjea was not under his scanner. He spoke to Fadnavis only once to inform that Mukerjea was not in India at the time of the crime but his involvement was being probed, and at another time the CM informed him that Maria was promoted to make Javed as the CoP and ultimately to facilitate his appointment as an envoy. Maria sought Bakshi's permission to clear the ascandalous and defamatory aspersions' case on his role, but the latter never replied and three months later Maria retired on January 31, 2017. Now, he wonders whether there was a deliberate attempt to malign the probe by spreading the falsehood that he (Maria) knew the Mukerjeas socially and though he had categorically denied it, suspicion hung in the atmosphere. He decided to finally write his memoirs to ensure that his name did not go down in history as a police commissioner, who allegedly misled the CM in order to shield Peter Mukerjea. To the media queries after retirement whether he regretted the handling of the Sheena Bora case, Maria said that the Police Commissioner's post is not a showpiece, he is not meant for cutting ribbons, inaugurations and Page 3 events, his job profile included preventions, detection and investigation of serious crimes besides maintenance of law and order. It's going to be a cold night for many Albertans. Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning Monday afternoon for most of central and northern Alberta, stretching from High Level to Hanna, including the City of Edmonton, Lac La Biche, Fort McMurray, Camrose, Peace River and Lloydminster. Windchill values are expected to be near -40 overnight, but the cold snap isn't likely to last long. "This is not expected to be a long-lasting event, as temperatures begin to improve tomorrow," according to an advisory from Environment Canada Edmonton itself may be spared from the coldest temperatures. "While areas near Edmonton city centre may not quite reach -40, much of the surrounding and outlying areas are expected to," the advisory said. The weather agency advises that frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin. People should watch for cold-related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. In Edmonton the temperature is expected to drop to -25 C Monday night. Tuesday is expected to be mainly sunny with a high of -12 C and a low of -15 C. Wind chill will be -32 in the morning and -18 in the afternoon. By Pamela Barbaglia LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Veteran banker Jean-Eudes Renier is taking on a new role as chairman of Bank of America's global industrials investment banking unit as a part of a leadership reshuffle aimed at bolstering the bank's client coverage. Renier, who has been co-heading global industrials investment banking out of London for more than a decade, will drop management responsibilities to focus entirely on building relationships with key clients, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. He will report into Jim O'Neil, who runs the Wall Street bank's corporate and investment banking business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Greg Kelly, who used to run the team with Renier, will become sole head of global industrials investment banking and will remain based in New York, reporting into the bank's co-heads of global investment banking, Jack MacDonald and Thomas Sheehan. As part of the new structure, Justin Anstee will become head of industrials for EMEA, while Diego Fortunati will take the helm of EMEA industrials M&A, according to a second memo. This memo - which was sent by Greg Kelly and Matt Cannon, who runs EMEA investment banking - said Anstee would focus on covering clients in the region, while Fortunati would battle to win advisory mandates and execute on deals in the highly competitive M&A market. The pair will have different managers, with Anstee reporting into Kelly and Cannon, while Fortunati will continue working for his current bosses, Luca Ferrari and Eamon Brabazon, who co-head M&A in EMEA, the memo said. Ian Ferguson, who chairs UK and Ireland corporate and investment banking, will expand his remit to work closely with the various product and regional teams to ensure the bank keeps growing its advisory business across EMEA. (Reporting by Pamela Barbaglia; Editing by Mark Potter) Two women were electrocuted here when they came in contact with an energised steal water pipe passing close to high-tension wires. Police said the incident took place in Hakim Pura Colony on Rawli Road in Murad Nagar on Monday. SP (Rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said Chandni had gone to the terrace of their house to dry their wet clothes when she came in contact with the steal pipe of a water tank. After hearing Chandni's screams, her aunt Sakina tried to drag her away but fell unconscious after receiving an electric shock. Their neighbours immediately informed the electricity department to shut down the power supply after which both were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead. As the of their death spread in the area, locals create a ruckus. Some of them damaged electricity poles and cut wires. Police and officials of the electricity department assured of shifting the power lines from the colony, Jadaun said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ANN ARBOR, MI No Defense is a film about Michigans longest-known site with PFAS pollution, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. Its about a community thats waited years for cleanup, and the people affected people who are suffering, who are blowing the whistle, and who are fighting the United States militarys war on water, the film description states. The documentary directed by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Sara Ganim is making its debut at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor Wednesday, Feb. 19. The one-night-only showing starts at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and film subjects. Admission is free and tickets can be reserved online. About 600 are reserved already, Ganim said. This documentary tells the story of the Americans who are fighting against one of the largest-known polluters in the country the United States military, the description states. For decades, its been documented that a category of chemicals known as PFAS are harmful to life, yet the military continues to mandate its use at hundreds of sites across the country, contaminating surface water and drinking water. The film is produced by Emmy-award-winning journalist Lennart Bourin, with Robert P. Ufer as executive producer. Ganim said shes calling Wednesdays screening a preview because the film is still going through final editing. Her team started shooting it less than four months ago, she said. Theyre unveiling a draft of the film Wednesday as a prelude to a PFAS symposium at UM the next day. The film features several people, including Oscoda families and veterans affected by the pollution, experts and Oscoda Township supervisor Aaron Weed, Ganim said. We really wanted to tell the stories of veterans who obviously were affected, she said. Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Air Force the polluter, which contaminated the area by using chemical-based firefighting foam at Wurtsmith declined to be interviewed for the film but provided written statements, Ganim said. The facts about what has happened in Oscoda are not really in dispute, but the feds are saying it could take several more years of study before cleanup, Ganim said. The state discovered widespread PFAS contamination at Wurtsmith in 2010. Academic researchers first found the compounds at a former firefighting area on base in the late 1990s. Activists are upset the Air Force has been able to delay implementing widespread cleanup for so long. There are two pump-and-treat systems that filter contaminated water though granular activated carbon (GAC), but theres been disagreement between the Air Force, the state and local officials about how much of the plumes those systems are actually capturing, MLive reported last July. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, last year the Air Force remains proactive in remediation efforts consistent with federal law. The film raises the question of whether theres a conflict of interest with the regulator and the polluter both being the U.S. government, Ganim said, adding she made the film in hopes of raising awareness about the problem and people affected. It is widespread and there is a major issue stemming back to our United States government, and thats the same entity thats lagging on regulating these chemicals, she said. So when you put these two facts together, it really paints a picture why all of us are dealing with outdated drinking water laws. People who live around Wurtsmith are still being affected by plumes leaching from the site and theres a lack of urgency from government officials to address it, Ganim said. People have been exposed through both drinking water and surface water, and consumption of fish and wild game, she said, adding there are people whose lake is polluted and they dont want their kids to swim in it now, and there are unknown effects from foam washing ashore. Ann Arbor, which also is dealing with PFAS pollution in its drinking water, is promoting Wednesday nights documentary screening through the citys A2Zero website. The University of Michigan School of Public Health website lists UMs Michigan Center on Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease as one of the sponsors. READ MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE: Air Force refuses to follow Michigan PFAS law Oscoda residents say enough after 9 years of PFAS with no cleanup plan Military must stop dragging its feet and work with states on PFAS cleanup in 2020 'Avoid PFAS foam, new Michigan signs warn Angry with PFAS delays, Oscoda residents give the state an earful PFAS investigation will accelerate at long-closed Michigan military base Air Force pledges to be proactive on PFAS in Oscoda CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Automotive V2X Market by Connectivity (DSRC, and Cellular), Communication (V2V, V2I, V2P, V2G, V2C, and V2D), Vehicle (Passenger Car, and Commercial Vehicle), Propulsion (ICE and EV), Unit, Offering, Technology, and Region - Global Forecast to 2028", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Automotive V2X Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.2% to reach USD 12,859 million by 2028 from an estimated USD 689 million in 2020. The demand for safe and connected vehicles, increased EV sales, government regulations to curb emissions, and need to reduce traffic congestion are driving the overall Automotive V2X Market. OEMs, in collaboration with automotive V2X players, have installed V2X in their models, which is expected to drive the growth of the Automotive V2X Market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive V2X Market" 136 - Tables 50 - Figures 182 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=90013236 OBU is expected to hold the largest share of Automotive V2X Market, by unit The increase in sales of vehicles equipped with V2X is the key factor driving the OBU segment, as every vehicle will be equipped with OBUs for V2X communication. Some of the top players in the Automotive V2X Market offering OBUs are Denso, Cohda Wireless, and Savari, among others. OBUs are the main units used for all communications such as V2V, V2I, and V2P. ICE segment is estimated to be the fastest and largest Automotive V2X Market, by propulsion The growth of the ICE segment is due to the fact that V2X directly helps in improving fuel economy, which further helps reduce pollution. The pollution caused by transportation is a major issue faced across the globe. The optimization of traffic by application of the V2X would enable the reduction of fuel consumption. The number of ICE vehicles equipped with V2X is high, and more vehicles are expected to be launched during the forecast period. This would also drive the ICE V2X market. Request FREE Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=90013236 North America is expected to be the fastest Automotive V2X Market, by region The growth of the North American Automotive V2X Market can be attributed to the high sales of vehicles equipped with V2X, such as Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz E-Class in the region. The presence of top V2X players such as Qualcomm Technologies, Harman International, and Savari would also contribute to the growth of the North American Automotive V2X Market. The Automotive V2X Market is dominated by globally established players such as Robert Bosch GMBH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (US), Autotalks Ltd. (Israel), and Delphi Technologies (UK). In September 2018, Autotalks announced the launch of the V2X solution. The second generation V2X chipset is the only available solution capable of supporting both DSRC and C-V2X direct communications (PC5 protocol) at the highest security level. In April 2019, Qualcomm Technologies partnered with Audi AG, Ericsson, SWARCO Traffic Systems GmbH, and the University of Kaiserslautern to demonstrate the world's first cross-border C-V2X direct communication in San Diego, California. Browse Related Reports: Connected Motorcycle Market by Service (Driver Assistance, Safety, Vehicle Management & Telematics, Infotainment, Insurance), Network (Cellular, DSRC), Calling Service (eCall, bCall), End User, Communication, Hardware, and Region - Global Forecast to 2027 Truck Platooning Market by Type (DATP, Autonomous), Systems (ACC, AEB, FCW, GPS, HMI, LKA, BSW), Sensor (Lidar, Radar, Image), Services (Telematics- ECall, ACE, Tracking, Diagnostics, & Platooning- Pricing, Match Making), Region - Global Forecast to 2030 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/automotive-vehicle-to-everything-v2x-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/automotive-vehicle-to-everything.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg A bill to require cities to get approval from the Legislature before passing new occupational taxes or license taxes moved a step closer to passing today despite opposition from the mayors of the states 10 largest cities. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on an 8-2 vote approved the bill by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Evergreen. Sells bill has already passed the House. Todays committee vote puts it in line for consideration by the Senate. The bill comes at a time when Montgomery, under new Mayor Steven Reed, is considering an occupational tax as a possible source of revenue. Reed spoke out against the bill at the committee meeting today. Also, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson forwarded an open letter to lawmakers on behalf of the mayors of Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Hoover, Decatur, Dothan, and Madison. Our opposition to the bill extends beyond a possible ban on new occupational taxes, the letter says. We are opposed to the bills assault on local governance. No municipal official desires to irresponsibly raise taxes. (The letter is attached to the end of this article.) Sells said he is opposed to occupational taxes on people who work in a city but live outside it. Sells said those people have no voice in electing the city officials who would impose an occupational tax. He said those employees living outside a city use the citys infrastructure but also bring tax dollars when they shop and spend money in the city. The Legislature has moved to restrict the authority of cities several times in recent years. Lawmakers passed a bill to block a minimum wage increase approved by the Birmingham City Council. The law prohibited any city from passing its own minimum wage. Lawmakers also passed a bill prohibiting cities and other government entities from moving historical monuments in place on public property more than 40 years. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Birmingham violated that law when it place a plywood screen around a Confederate memorial in Linn Park. Theres a hypocrisy that exists that many in state government dont want the federal government interacting when it relates to Medicaid expansion and other things that would help our state, but at the same time they turn around and claim the authority from cities and municipalities who have duly elected their representatives to make decisions on a local level," Reed said. Its really about who can chart the future for our cities and for our communities," Reed said. Is that best done in the Legislature, or is that best done in our city councils, county commissions and our mayors offices? That presents a dilemma that I think has only been exacerbated by the bill here today. And from our standpoint, people want first-class services, they have to be willing to invest in them. Indigenous leaders say the father of AFL superstar Dustin Martin does not have Aboriginal heritage, but may still have a case to return to Australia. Shane Martin, 52, was deported to New Zealand in 2016 with authorities citing his criminal record and former links to the Rebels bikie club. He returned to his birth country, where he had remained until Sunday night, when he quietly tried to slip back into Australia with a lawyer in tow. He claimed he had an indigenous grandmother and that therefore a recent High Court ruling meant he had been wrongly deported. Shane Martin (right), the father of AFL star Dustin (left) has claimed to be Indigenous, in what is a major win in his bid to be allowed back into Australia Michael Mansell, chair of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, said he did not believe Mr Martin was a Tasmanian Aborigine The Age reported on Tuesday that Mr Martin and his three sons, including Dustin, were issued certificates confirming their Aboriginality by the Aboriginal Corporation of Tasmania in December 2016. But that organisation was deregistered two years ago, according to Michael Mansell, chair of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, who said he had never heard of the body. Mr Mansell said he did not believe Mr Martin was a Tasmanian Aborigine. 'No, of course he's not,' Mr Mansell told The Australian on Tuesday. But he said Mr Martin might still have a legal case because of the High Court's ruling and the government's previous willingness to accept people as Aboriginal based on their own testimony. 'The effect is that if someone like Shane Martin says ''well, I'm an Aboriginal'' and the federal government accepts it, then the High Court says you can't kick them out of the country,' Mr Mansell said. The former Rebels boss flew from New Caledonia to Sydney (pictured) on Sunday, claiming he had an Indigenous grandmother and that he had therefore been wrongly deported in 2016 Martin and his three sons - including Richmond star Dustin (left) - were issued with certificates in 2016 that proved they had Aboriginal heritage Another Indigenous leader Heather Sculthorpe, chief executive of community service organisation Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, said there is no evidence Mr Martin has Aboriginal heritage. 'We would never have certified Shane Martin to be Aboriginal, we have never seen any evidence that he is Aboriginal,' she said. 'No one in Tasmania has ever heard of him to be Aboriginal.' Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton slammed the door shut on Martin after his failed bid to return to Australia on Sunday. 'Part of the reason that we kick out people with severe criminal histories, like Mr Martin, is that we want to make sure that people don't commit crimes again in our country,' Mr Dutton told the Nine Network on Tuesday. 'I think he's got a spurious claim but that is a claim for him to put,' he said. Mr Dutton is confident the court decision won't create an avenue for the father of Richmond's Brownlow medallist to return. 'We have now cancelled the visas of about 5000 people, many of them involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs, who are the biggest distributors of amphetamines, ice in our country, destroying lives,' the minister said. 'It's a very clear message that if you come to our country as a Kiwi, a US citizen, as citizen of anywhere else in the world and you commit crimes in our country, you can expect to be deported.' Shane 'Kiwi' Martin embraces Australian actress Rachel Griffiths react after Richmond's win in the 2019 AFL Grand Final For the second time in three years, Dustin won a premiership medal and the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the Grand Final KICKED ACROSS THE DITCH AND BACK 2016: March - Shane Martin is deported from Australia because of links to bikie and criminal groups December - Martin and his three sons are given certificates confirming they have Aboriginal heritage 2017: September - His son Dustin wins the Brownlow Medal, the highest individual award in the AFL - Just a few days later he leads his team Richmond to victory in the Grand Final and is awarded the Norm Smith medal as best on ground 2018: July - The High Court quashes an appeal by Martin Snr over his decision to cancel his visa 2019: September - Richmond wins a second premiership in three years and Martin is again named best on ground 2020: February - A landmark High Court ruling finds people of Aboriginal heritage can not be deported - Martin Snr returns to Australia but is booted back to NZ, despite claiming to have Indigenous heritage Advertisement Mr Martin was sent back to New Zealand on Monday morning on the first Qantas available. At no stage has he provided any evidence of his indigenous heritage, officials said. The High Court accepts biological descent, self-identification, and whether or not a person has been accepted by an indigenous community in Australia as proof of indigenous status. Martin Snr was born in New Zealand but considered Australia home after moving to New South Wales at age 20. He joined the notorious Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, eventually rising to the role of club president and had three children in Australia, including superstar Dustin. In 2016, he was kicked out by then Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and was forced to build a new life for himself in Auckland. In that time his superstar son has won two premierships with Richmond, the highest individual honour in the AFL - the Brownlow Medal - and two Norm Smith medals for being best on ground in the Grand Final. FATF sub group recommends continuation of Pakistan in 'Grey List'; final decision on Feb 21 International oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 18: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Tuesday has recommendded the constitution of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' , as the country has failed to check terror funding. The final call in this matter will be reportedly taken on February 21. The decision was taken at the meeting of the FATF's International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary. On Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there are no 'safe havens' for terror groups. "The ICRG meeting, sub group of the FATF, has recommended that Pakistan be retained in the 'Grey List'. A final decision will be taken on Friday when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan," a source said. The FATF meeting is being held a week after an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and founder of LeT, to 11 years in two terror financing cases. The Pakistani court's judgement came ostensibly to please the FATF and Western countries so that the country can exit the 'Grey List'. India has been maintaining that Pakistan extends regular support to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, whose prime target is India, and has urged FATF to take action against Islamabad. Saeed, a UN designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty, was arrested on July 17, 2019 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Pakistan has also recently informed FATF that JeM founder Masood Azhar and his family are "missing". It has claimed that there were only 16 UN designated terrorists in Pakistan, of which "seven are dead". Out of the nine who are alive, seven had applied to the UN for exemption from financial and travel restrictions. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'. To avoid 'Black List', it needs support of three countries. In the last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan has got support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair China. The FATF plenary held in October 2019 had noted that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India. The FATF had said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February, 2020. In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with FATF directions. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'Black List' along with Iran and North Korea. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. If Pakistan continues with the 'Grey List', it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 19:47 [IST] They get a heck of an education as far as maple sugaring and how the process has been taking place over the years, from the first people that went about making it, the Native Americans in this area, the Pottawattamie and the Miami in this region, and how the early settlers went about doing it with kettles and such. And then how the Chellbergs did it at the turn of the century. The happiness of parenthood might sound simple to most people, yet for approximately one million infertile couples in Vietnam, it would be an impossible dream if there were not doctors like Tang Duc Cuong. Tang Duc Cuong (left) consults a patient at IVF Hoe Nhai. Photo hanoimoi.com.vn Praised for having golden hands, the 38-year-old doctor of Hanoi-based Hoe Nhai Centre for Assisted Reproduction (IVF Hoe Nhai) has helped hundreds of people struggling to have their own babies. His name has been googled for years and become well-known among infertile couples in Hanoi. Youth and early success, therefore, have become a motivation for Cuong to research new methods, combining both Western and oriental medicine in treating infertility. In many other hospitals, doctors of these two approaches usually do not meet on common ground. Here at IVF Hoe Nhai, we consult each other to offer the best possible treatment direction for each patient, Cuong told Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper. Despite his tight schedule, the doctor never misses a call or message, as he said on the other end of the phone line, one might be drawing on all their strength to reach out for help. Although infertility treatment is now approachable, to win over complexity is still a real challenge to many people, said Cuong. If I miss a call or forget to answer a text, they might never start their treatments. The endeavours of Cuong and his partners help IVF Hoe Nhai achieve a success rate of up to 80 per cent, compared to 50 and 60 per cent at other assisted reproduction centres in the country. Its reputation has gone beyond Vietnam, Cuong said, with patients from several other countries including India, Poland and China coming to the centre in the hope of becoming parents for the first time. IVF Hoe Nhais Facebook fanpage has received a lot of thank-you notes left by couples who underwent treatments and had successful deliveries. At the age of 47, Van Thuy Duong, vice principal of private school Luong The Vinh in Hanoi, had gone to famous hospitals in Vietnam and Thailand in an attempt to have another baby. She had failed until she met doctor Cuong. From my own experiences, I think infertile Vietnamese couples do not need to go abroad to make their dreams come true, said Duong. Here at IVF Hoe Nhai, besides modern medical facilities and affordable prices, doctors thoroughness makes it feel like home, she added. Working with older patients, Cuong stressed the significant role of innovations in embryo screening to ensure healthy babies. This helps patients avoid multiple pregnancies, which is usually associated with several complications, he said. Talking about his aspirations in 2020, Cuong said he and his partners at IVF Hoe Nhai were striving to have the centre certified by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee while pursuing the path of harmonising eastern and western medicine in infertility treatment. About 7.7 per cent of Vietnams population, equivalent to a million people, suffers infertility, according to a report by World Health Organisation. Nearly 50 per cent of them are under 30 years old. According to HCM City Association of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, 20 years after the first time In-Vitro-Fertilisation (IVF) was introduced in Vietnam, there are 24 centres offering the intervention nationwide. The average success rate is from 40 to 60 per cent. Thailand and Singapore are among popular destinations for infertile Vietnamese couples to undergo IVF. VNS Where life starts blooming Doctor Nguyen Thi Nhas email inbox is full of photos of babies with beaming smiles and heart-touching messages of gratitude. Hollywood family and sex therapist Dr. Amie Harwick plunged to hear death after authorities said she was assaulted in her home. Her ex-boyfriend has been arrested as a suspect in her death. The 38-year-old former Playboy model was found unresponsive in her home early Saturday with injuries consistent with a fall, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department. "On Saturday, February 15, 2020, around 1:16 AM, Hollywood patrol officers responded to a radio call of a 'woman screaming' in the 2000 block of Mound Street in Hollywood Hills," the statement read. Deadline reported that the doctor's roommate escaped their apartment by jumping over a wall and then going to their neighbors to call the police to inform them that an ex-boyfriend was attacking her friend. When LAPD arrived, they found Harwick's body on the ground after falling from a third-floor balcony. She was immediately rushed to the hospital after being "gravely injured," but Haarwick later died from her injuries, according to the police's statement. The LAPD also found evidence of a struggle and forced entry into the home of the therapist. There was also evidence of a suspect entering and leaving the property after the murder was found. There was a surveillance video that led the police to the suspect. The suspect in the case is Harwick's ex-boyfriend, 41-year-old Gareth Pursehouse, according to Deadline. He is a resident of Playa Del Rey in Los Angeles and was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to detectives of the case, Harwick had previously filed a restraining order against Pursehouse, but it had expired two weeks ago. FOX6Now reported that Harwick was concerned about Pursehouse and recently expressed "fear" about her former lover. Harwick filed for a protective order in 2011 and then petitioned for another one the following year. The second was dismissed for what the docket listed as "lack of prosecution," which often means the person seeking it did not follow up. Just days before the death of Amie, she posted on Instagram and reflected on moving on from past relationships. "When a relationship ends, one or both partners may feel that they have not had what they feel is closure. Moving on, moving forward, and taking care of yourself after the end of a relationship often means accepting that you may not have the ideal closure," she wrote on the caption. Meanwhile, Harwick's ex-fiance Drew Carey broke his silence about the tragic incident. The "Price is Right" host told Us Weekly that he is overcome with grief, "Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime." Carey shared that his ex was "a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women and passionate about her work as a therapist." The two went public with their relationship in June 2017 and was engaged in January 2018. However, in November 2018, they split and called off their engagement. Carey's gameshow taping has been canceled because he is grieving for his former lover, per TMZ. Those who knew Amie Harwick remembered her on social media as a caring professional who helped empower women in their relationships. In 2014, Harqick was able to release a self-help book entitled, "The New Sex Bible for Women." New Zealand Post has temporarily suspended all mail to and from China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The delay is due to NZ Post's airline partners suspending flights into China. "Given the current suspension of many airline services into China, NZ Post is currently not accepting any mail or parcels for delivery into China," the company says in a statement on its website. "This temporary service suspension will be reviewed regularly and once China is able to receive mail and parcels, we will recommence sending these items." NZ Post says people waiting for parcels from China should expect 'significant' delays. "Chinese Government requirements have resulted in the suspension of many services and many senders within China have suspended business in an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19. The suspension of many flights which carry mail and parcels out of China is also contributing to these delays." The suspension took effect on February 17 and New Zealand Post says some of its clients had seen parcels with a "sterilised" label on them. 'It's our understanding that these may have been sterilised within China (either by the sender, or by China Post) to prevent the spread of the virus locally where packets and parcels are handled more frequently by local delivery and logistics team members. "The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Covid-19 does not survive for long on objects. It is therefore safe to receive mail and parcels from China, without risk of contracting the new coronavirus. Please see the WHO factsheet specifically addressing this issue, and confirming it is safe to receive mail and parcels from China." New Zealand Post says the service suspension will be reviewed regularly and once China is able to receive mail and parcels, it will recommence sending items. -RNZ This photo taken on February 17, 2020 shows a member of the medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan, China. STR | AFP | Getty Images The coverage on this blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. All times below are in Eastern time. Total confirmed cases: More than 73,400 Total deaths: At least 1,874 6:04 pm: Hubei province reports 1,693 new cases China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 1,693 confirmed new cases and 132 deaths over a 20-hour period , the local health authority said, according to a CNBC translation of the statement in Mandarin. The new cases bring the total number of infections for the province to 61,682, including 44,412 in the city of Wuhan alone, where doctors first identified the COVID-19. Officials said 9,128 patients have been discharged from local hospitals while 43,471 are still hospitalized, of which 9,289 are critically ill. Kopecki 5:48 pm: CDC places travel restrictions on Princess Cruise passengers The CDC said it is prohibiting any passengers or crew from the Princess Cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan from returning to the U.S. for at least 14 days. There are still more than 100 of the original 3,700 people still aboard the Diamond Princess ship or in hospitals in Japan. They will need to wait 14 days after disembarking from the ship without showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 before they will be allowed to fly back to the U.S., the CDC said. "While the quarantine potentially conferred a significant public health benefit in slowing transmission, CDC's assessment is that it may not have been sufficient to prevent transmission among individuals on the ship," the agency said. "CDC believes the rate of new infections on board, especially among those without symptoms, represents an ongoing risk." Kopecki US passengers embark in a plane at the Haneda Airport, in Tokyo on February 17, 2020 after disembarking in Yokohama from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where people are quarantined on board due to fears of the new COVID-19 coronavirus. KAZUHIRO NOGI | AFP via Getty Images 5:26 pm: Too early to tell whether the outbreak is slowing in China China may be reporting fewer new cases of coronavirus and fewer COVID-19 deaths, but it does not mean the country's outbreak is slowing, immunologist Anthony Fauci told CNBC on Tuesday. "I think we need to give it a few more days to determine if that's real or if that's the variability that you generally see," Fauci, a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, said on "Closing Bell." Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, was referencing reports Tuesday that the number of new daily cases in China fell below 2,000 for the first time since Jan. 30. Chinese officials also reported 98 deaths, the first time the daily toll was below 100 since Feb. 11. Stankiewicz 4:50 pm: Dow falls for third day as Apple issues virus warning The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for a third-consecutive day as investors weighed a stark warning from tech giant Apple. Apple cautioned it does not expect to meet its quarterly revenue forecast, citing slowed production and weakened demand in China as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The most valuable company in the U.S. initially said it expected to report net sales between $63 billion to $67 billion in its fiscal second quarter. Apple also finished the session well off its lows of the day, closing 1.8% lower. Imbert 4:41 pm: Raymond James says 'worst is yet to come' on market impact Raymond James said China's delayed response is inciting comparisons to the Soviet Union's response to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and that the economic and market impact could get worse. China's "slow reaction and continued unanswered questions appear to be sowing real concerns among the Chinese people," wrote a team of Raymond James analysts led by Chris Meekins in a note to clients, which is amplifying concerns over General Secretary Xi and the Chinese Communist Party's grip on power. Raymond James said that following conversations with government officials and academics, it believes the "worst is yet to come" and that the "market is underappreciating the potential dangers and what the key government leaders on the virus are saying." Stevens 4:37 pm: Whether US can contain virus is not yet known, NIH's Fauci says 3:54 pm: Hospitality chain Oyo keeps China hotels open Indian hospitality chain Oyo said it's keeping as many hotels as possible open in China despite the outbreak, its CEO told CNBC's "Squawk Alley." In the outbreak's epicenter of Wuhan, the hospitality chain has locations open at reduced prices to accommodate doctors and those stranded by travel restrictions. There are even available rooms at Oyos surrounding the Wuhan hospital that was built in less than two weeks. However, it's too early to tell how the outbreak will impact business, according to Oyo CEO Ritesh Agarwal. Oyo has 9,000 hotels in China, making the country its second-biggest market. Miller 2:55 pm: Mondelez has reopened plants in China, expects coronavirus to hurt financial results Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put said today at a conference that the company has reopened its four plants in China, but they are not running at full capacity yet. The Oreo-maker expects to see some impact on its revenue and margins as a result of lower Chinese demand for its snacks during the Lunar New Year holiday, but Van de Put said that the company's outlook "is still the best we can give you." None of its employees have been sickened by the outbreak. Lucas 2:25 pm: GM, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota resume auto production in China General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota Motor on Tuesday confirmed that they've reopened their factories or are beginning to restart production in China following an extended holiday shutdowns due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Michael Palese, a spokesman for Fiat Chrysler, said the company's plant in Guangzhou, located hundreds of miles south of the coronavirus epicenter in Wuhan, has resumed production this week. The company's second assembly plant in China is "expected to resume operations soon," he said in an email. Wayland 1:40 pm: WHO reports 92 cases of human-to-human cases outside China World health officials have confirmed 92 cases of human-to-human transmission in 12 countries, director-general of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news briefing. Singapore "At the moment, we don't have enough data on cases outside China to make a meaningful comparison on the severity of disease or the case fatality rate," he said. "However, we have not yet seen sustained local transmission, except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship." Feuer 1:22 pm: J&J expands partnership with HHS to develop therapeutics Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceutical will expand its existing partnership with the HHS' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop treatments for the disease. The collaboration will enhance Janssen's ongoing work with global partners to screen a library of potential antiviral molecules that could fight against the disease, as well as identify medicines that might be used safely and effectively to reduce the severity of the illness and treat infections, HHS said. There are currently no vaccines or therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the virus. Higgins-Dunn 12:45 pm: More American evacuees complete quarantine Nearly 160 Americans evacuated from Wuhan on a government-chartered flight completed their 14-day federal quarantine order at a San Diego base, Matthew Gregory, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, said. He added that the evacuees will be screened once more for the virus before their final release, and the Department of Health and Human Services will make travel arrangements. About 60 more evacuees at the base are due to be released from quarantine on Thursday. Two passengers who had been quarantined at the base tested positive for the virus and are receiving treatment from UC San Diego Health, U.S. health officials said last week. Feuer Dr. Kong Yuefeng, a recovered COVID-19 patient who has passed his 14-day quarantine, donates plasma in the city's blood center in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Barcroft Media | Getty Images 12:11 pm: Stocks down more than 250 points after Apple's coronavirus warning The Dow fell 255 points midday after a warning from tech giant Apple stoked worries over the coronavirus and its impact on corporate profits and the global economy. The S&P 500 dipped 0.7% while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.4%. Apple had said it does not expect to meet its quarterly revenue forecast, citing slowed production and weakened demand in China as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Imbert 11:39 am: One health expert says coronavirus outbreak will likely get worse before it gets better Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of New York City's Special Pathogens Program, joined "Squawk Box" to discuss the coronavirus outbreak and how health officials are working to prevent spread of the illness. 11:16 am: Jaguar Land Rover faces shortage of parts due to coronavirus Jaguar Land Rover only has enough auto parts from China to continue production in Britain for the next two weeks because of the impact of the coronavirus on its supply chain, the company's CEO said. Britain's largest automaker, which has three factories in the U.K., has had to fly in parts from China in suitcases. Sales have come to a halt in China, and it is unclear when they will resume. The firm's Chinese factory is slated to re-open next week. Miller 10:37 am: Sanofi teams up with the federal health agency to develop vaccine Sanofi joins a list of about a dozen drugmakers that are working on a vaccine or anitviral treatment to combat the deadly virus. The French drugmaker is working with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it said. The company plans to further investigate an advanced pre-clinical vaccine candidate previously developed against the SARS virus in the early 2000s, which it believes could protect against the latest coronavirus. Reuters 10:13 am: WHO to provide update on coronavirus World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference at 10:30 am ET to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak. Watch here. Robins 9:57 am: Walmart CEO says 'too soon' to forecast impact from coronavirus Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said it's too early to tell what the effects of the coronavirus will be on the retailer's financial results. "We are still operating our stores [in China]. Almost all of them are open ... but operating on reduced hours," with a focus on selling food and consumables, he said. Walmart's current full-year forecast doesn't include impacts from the virus. Thomas 9:29 am: Fund managers slash China growth outlook Continuing worries over the impact the COVID-19 outbreak will exert on economic growth have caused fund managers to cut their China GDP expectations to the lowest level in more than four years. Investment professionals now see China's $12.2 trillion economy rising an average of just 5.2% over the next three years, according to the Bank of America Global Research Fund Manager Survey for February. While that's a level that much of the developed world would envy, it's well off China's average quarterly gain of 6.6% over the previous three years and well below the 10.6% gain of 10 years ago. It is also the lowest outlook since September 2015. The pessimistic view coincided with a lower though still largely positive outlook for the rest of the world. Cox 9:03 am: Coronavirus is more fatal in men than women, major study suggests Men have a higher risk of death than women if they contract the new strain of coronavirus, Chinese researchers have concluded, in the largest study on the outbreak to date. In research published Monday analysts studied 72,314 patient records from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The records detailed 44,672 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, 16,186 suspected cases and 889 cases where the carrier of the coronavirus displayed no symptoms. Patients were categorized into three groups depending on whether their symptoms were mild, severe or critical. The vast majority of confirmed cases were recorded in people ages 30 to 69, according to the research. Most of those diagnosed with the coronavirus formally named COVID-19 had reported "Wuhan-related exposures," while 81% of the confirmed cases were classified as mild. Taylor 8:53 am: Holiday Inn owner IHG sees revenue fall in China InterContinental Hotels, IHG, warned that fewer travelers are booking its rooms in China because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The owner of the Holiday Inn chain has been highlighted by analysts as among the European companies most directly exposed to the epidemic. The group had begun to see an impact on bookings in late January and has now closed or partially closed 160 of its 470 hotels in Greater China, it said . The company's annual results on showed that revenue per available room (RevPAR) had already declined by 4.5% last year in Greater China while performance in European and U.S. markets was little changed. Based on current disruption the impact equates to about $5 million a month for IHG's mainland China business, Chief Executive Keith Barr said on an analysts call, describing the decline as "a short-term blip". Barr added that the region contributes less than 10% of group profit. Reuters 8:07 am: Chip stocks dive after Apple's coronavirus warning Apple's suppliers and partners are getting hit hard following the iPhone maker's revenue warning due to the coronavirus epidemic in China, underscoring fears about the financial fallout of the outbreak. Qorvo, a radio frequency chip supplier for Apple, fell nearly 2.5% in early trading. Credit Suisse estimates 30% of Qorvo's revenues come from Apple. Chip company Skyworks Solutions, with about half of its sales from Apple, fell 2.4% and Lam Research slid 4%. Other chip suppliers like Broadcom, Micron and Intel, fell 1.2%, 1.8% and 1%, respectively. About 20% of Broadcom's revenues come from Apple and about 5% of Micron and Intel's come from the iPhone maker. Semiconductor companies Nvidia and Xilinx dropped 0.5% and 1.9% in early trading. Apple said Monday that it does not expect to hit its quarterly revenue forecast due to lower iPhone supply globally and lower Chinese demand as a result of the coronavirus. Fitzgerald 7:56 am: Haagen-Dazs closes about half of Greater China stores on coronavirus fears General Mills said nearly half of its Haagen-Dazs ice cream shops in Greater China had been temporarily closed, amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the world's second biggest economy. The epidemic has forced companies with significant exposure in China to temporarily shut stores. Some have also warned of a hit to their earnings. General Mills said it could not quantify the impact of the outbreak on its fiscal 2020 results at the time, although it reaffirmed its forecast for the fiscal year ended May 31. The Greater China region accounts for about 4% of the company's net sales, with Haagen-Dazs shops and other food service outlets making up about 40% of that. The Minneapolis-based company said Haagen-Dazs stores that remained open were operating under severely restricted hours. The company operated 525 Haagen-Dazs ice cream parlors and franchised 365 more outside of the United States and Canada, as of May 26, according to a regulatory filing. Reuters 7:25 am: Gottlieb warns Japan is on the 'cusp' of an outbreak Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the public should start focusing on COVID-19 cases outside of China when considering the global risk. He said Japan appears to be "on the cusp of a large outbreak and maybe epidemic growth in Japan. We need to watch that very closely. They've had a doubling of cases just in the last four days" with a total of 59 confirmed cases and one death so far, he said on CNBC'S "Squawk Box." "If you start to see this become an epidemic in other nations ... that's going to be extremely worrisome that we're not going to control this globally," Gottlieb said. Bursztynsky 6:15 am: German investor confidence falls sharply amid coronavirus fears German investor confidence has sharply deteriorated amid intensifying fears that China's coronavirus outbreak will significantly hamper world trade, according to a new survey. The ZEW Research Institute said its monthly survey showed economic sentiment fell to 8.7 in February, down from 26.7 in January. Analysts had anticipated a reading of 21.5 this month. "The feared negative effects of the Coronavirus epidemic in China on world trade have been causing a considerable decline of the ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany," ZEW President Achim Wambach said in a statement. "Expectations regarding the development of the export-intensive sectors of the economy have dropped particularly sharply." Meredith. 5:20 am: China's state-owned companies face operational challenges at home and abroad The coronavirus has brought "unthinkable" challenges for Chinese state-owned enterprises' operations, an official of the state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission said. The official, Ren Hongbin, also said the immediate goal is to assist in virus control efforts, including production of medical supplies. "The assets supervision commission will not change the production and operational targets, and reform goals set at the beginning of the year," said Ren, deputy director of the commission, according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks. However, its goals will be more difficult to achieve now that the coronavirus has disrupted economic activity nationwide. Commission officials also said the virus has created difficulties for state-owned enterprises' overseas projects that the agency needs to handle, alongside the resumption of work in mainland China. Cheng 4:40 am: Japan says 88 new cases confirmed on Diamond Princess cruise ship Japan has reported another 88 people aboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total number of on-board infections to 542. Japan's public broadcaster NHK, citing the health ministry, said that 65 of the 88 people found to have contracted COVID-19 had no symptoms. A total of 2,404 passengers and crew members have been tested for the virus, the health ministry said, with 542 infections. The ship is quarantined in Japan's port of Yokohama. Meredith. 4 am: French health minister warns there is a 'credible risk' of coronavirus pandemic WASHINGTON Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York has qualified for Wednesdays debate in Las Vegas, the first time the billionaire will appear onstage alongside his Democratic presidential rivals. A national poll from NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist released on Tuesday showed Bloomberg with 19% support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, putting him in second place behind Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had 31%. That was a substantial surge since the groups poll in December, when Bloomberg received only 4% support. The survey was the fourth national qualifying poll since mid-January that showed Bloomberg with at least 10% support, enough to earn him an invitation to the debate stage before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. Bloomberg will face off against Sanders; Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; former Vice President Joe Biden; and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The debate, which will air Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern time, will be hosted by NBC News, MSNBC and The Nevada Independent. Bloombergs 19% mark was his highest level of support in any debate-qualifying national poll to date. The latest national polling average calculated by The New York Times, which was released late last week, put him at 10% nationally, behind Sanders, Biden and Warren. Sanders support has also increased since the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll in December, when he had 22%. The new poll is the first debate-qualifying national poll released this year showing Sanders with more than 30% support. In the new poll, Biden had 15%, Warren 12%, Klobuchar 9% and Buttigieg 8%. The poll surveyed 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents by phone Feb. 13-16 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Bloomberg formally entered the race in November, nearly a year after most of the other candidates. He failed to make the cut for the past several debates in part because he is not accepting outside contributions for his campaign. But new rules announced by the Democratic National Committee opened the door to his participation, as they enabled candidates to qualify for the Las Vegas debate, as well as the one that will take place on Feb. 25 in Charleston, South Carolina, without meeting a donor threshold. Bloombergs campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that Bloomberg would take part in the next debate. Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates onstage and making the case for why hes the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country, Sheekey said. The opportunity to discuss his workable and achievable plans for the challenges facing this country is an important part of the campaign process. More for you Super Tuesday 2020: Why are dropped out candidates on my California ballot? Also on Tuesday, Monmouth University released a poll of Virginia voters showing Bloomberg and Sanders tied at 22% each and leading the field. With 99 delegates at stake, Virginia is the fourth-largest prize on the Super Tuesday calendar, and Monmouths is the first poll to have been taken there since the summer. It is one of the first polls of any state in which Bloomberg has broken 20%, reflecting the intense focus that he has put on the states that vote March 3. (The Virginia poll has no effect on qualifications for this weeks debate.) Tom Steyer, the other billionaire seeking the Democratic nomination, has participated in the five most recent debates, but he is unlikely to be onstage in Las Vegas. He would need to receive 10% support in four national qualifying polls, or 12% in two polls taken in Nevada or South Carolina, before the deadline. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, the only other candidate still in the race, has not reached the threshold in any qualifying polls, either. Candidates are also able to qualify for the Nevada and South Carolina debates by winning at least one delegate in the Iowa or New Hampshire contests; that is the path Klobuchar and Buttigieg, who have not met either polling threshold, followed to get their invitations to the stage in Las Vegas. Bloomberg has spent over $300 million on TV advertising nationwide more than the rest of the field combined. He decided to skip the first four nominating contests, held in states where campaigns traditionally spend a year organizing supporters, to focus instead on the delegate-rich primaries that take place beginning on Super Tuesday, March 3. Bloomberg has seen his standing steadily rise in national polling as voters have been saturated by his television advertising. His rivals have been torn between attacking him and battling one another in the early-state contests. Now Bloomberg is certain to be the target of onstage attacks from his rivals, especially Sanders and Warren, the two candidates who are not appearing at private fundraisers and who have made cultivating the wrath of billionaires central to their campaigns. Last week in Virginia, Warren told supporters that Bloomberg should not be the Democratic Partys nominee because of his past remarks linking the end of redlining, a discriminatory housing practice, to the financial crisis. Over the weekend other Democrats joined in. Sanders told a crowd in Carson City, Nevada, that Americans were sick and tired of billionaires buying elections. Biden attacked Bloombergs record as mayor on NBCs Meet the Press. And Klobuchar denounced Bloomberg for not sitting for as many interviews with the news media as she had. Bloomberg, who has emerged in recent years as a leading financial benefactor for Democratic candidates and some liberal causes, such as gun control and environmental protection, entered politics as a Republican when he first ran for mayor in 2001. He endorsed President George W. Bush and spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention. He has backed other Republicans as well, including Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who was ousted by Warren in 2012, and Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, a gun control ally, in 2016. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. BAY CITY, MI - A new industry will soon call Bay City home and create some new jobs. City Manager Dana Muscott said during the State of Community address on Tuesday that Bay City will be the new home to Wilkinson Minerals. The company purchased property at 101 Picard St. in Bay City - a site east of Independence Bridge along the Saginaw River - for a planned $50-60 million investment, according to Muscott. They plan to hire 50-75 people during construction and 50-100 permanent employees, which will be living wage jobs. So that is huge for Bay City," Muscott said Tuesday, Feb. 18. Wilkinson Minerals is a Mayville-based company founded in 1948 and has been involved in the production and sale of calcium chloride solution. The company currently produces 150,000 tons of calcium chloride solution annually and will make available ASTM specification liquid beginning in the second quarter of 2020. Wilkinson Minerals will use recently acquired property in Bay City to expand their operation and start producing products in liquid, flake and pellet forms. The Bay City facility is expected to produce up to 500,000 tons of products annually, with the first deliveries of flake and sodium chloride expected in 2022. Wilkinson Minerals was recently acquired by Junction Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Houston, Texas. Bay Citys Economic Development staff assisted the company and the city worked with Bay Future to make the project a reality. City staff in collaboration with Bay Future has been working on this project for nearly a year and we are pleased to see that it has come to fruition by the dedicated commitment of not only our Economic Development staff but all of the departments involved, said Muscott. Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has claimed his successor Ahmad Javed knew Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani and Peter Mukerjea socially, and that Peter also knew the then Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Deven Bharti on first name terms. Maria, who investigated some high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and also headed probe in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, made the revelation in his memoir Let Me Say It Now released on Monday. Bharti, now Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief, rejected the claim, saying it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts. Peter Mukerjea was arrested on November 19, 2015 in the Sheena Bora murder case, in which his former wife Indrani is the main accused. Sheena Bora, 24, was Indranis daughter from an earlier relationship. The killing came to light in 2015 when Indranis driver Shyamwar Rai, who had helped them dispose of the body, was arrested in another case. Rai later turned an approver in the case. As per Marias book, Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti on first name terms. Maria has also written that Javed also knew the Mukerjeas socially, adding they were invitees to the latters Eid party. According to excerpts from the memoir, during interrogation in the murder case, Peter Mukerjea told Maria that he had approached Deven Bharti in 2012 to complain about Sheena Bora going missing. The book mentions that when Maria asked Peter Mukerjea about doing nothing when he found out about Sheenas sudden disappearance, he replied, Sir, I had told Deven! Recalling Mukerjeas interrogation, Maria said, That night I couldnt sleep a wink. The thought uppermost in my mind was to find out the exact meaning of what Peter had told me in the evening. It meant that Peter Mukerjea knew Deven Bharti on first name terms. And I had not known this all these days. Moreover, Deven Bharti had not thought it fit to tell me even once that the Mukerjeas were close to him, he says in the book. Maria claimed that whenever he would discuss with Bharti the mystery of non-registration of missing complaint or accidental death report, he would keep silent. And this from my Joint CP (L&O)? At the time of Sheenas disappearance, Deven Bharti was the Additional CP in the Crime Branch, Maria wrote. He could have done so much then itself to look for Rahuls girlfriend (referring to Sheena Bora)! It was imperative that I get to the bottom of it all, without upsetting the investigating team that was doing a good job, he wrote. While mentioning about Javed knowing Mukerjeas socially, Maria wrote, Was there a deliberate attempt to discredit the probe by spreading the falsehood that I knew the Mukerjeas socially? I had categorically denied it, but the atmosphere of suspicion persisted. Maria was later appointed as Director General (Home Guards) and Javed then took charge as Mumbai police chief. A week after my removal, it turned out that not the previous CP but the new CP (Javed who was later sent as ambassador to Saudi Arabia) knew the Mukerjeas socially and they were invitees to his Eid party, Maria wrote. Maria also mentioned in the book that he had conveyed to then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that he did not shield the accused as the case, undetected for three years, was unearthed by his team. The Sheena Bora case, which was undetected for three years, was unearthed by my team. If we wanted to shield them, then why would we have detected the case in the first place?! Also, I along with my team had this detection for only 12 days before I was promoted and transferred, he wrote. Peter Mukerjeas role and financial transactions were being parallelly probed in the case. The CBI took 90 days to bring out Peter Mukerjeas role and then arrest him!! This is sad, unfair and unjust to me and the Mumbai Police team which detected this buried case, Maria conveyed in his message to Fadnavis. Rejecting Marias claim, Bharti said, Maria belongs to a family linked with Bollywood and, it seems, scriptwriters have a great influence on him. In addition, it appears to be a marketing strategy for the book as well as the web series, which attempts to grab more eyeballs rather than place facts. Moreover, for a policeman, it is advisable to read the charge sheet and case diary rather than a piece of fiction, Bharti said. Wont comment much as the the trial is in progress but would definitely tell that the whole investigation team was aware of all developments and were on the same page till the investigation was with Mumbai Police, he added. (Newser) A Miami woman wounded in a drive-by shooting was sent home from a hospital with a Band-Aid and antibiotics days before she was found to have a bullet lodged in her head, according to family. Shakena Jefferson was among three gay victims of the Feb. 11 shooting, which police are investigating as a possible hate crime. Doctors initially told Jefferson, who was released from the hospital within hours, that she'd suffered a graze wound near her left temple. But three days later, she still felt something was wrong. "She couldn't remember anything. She kept on repeating the same thing over and over," wife Janet Medley tells ABC News. "She was having these terrible headaches and she felt something moving in her head." Medley says she rushed Jefferson to another hospital on Friday. There, an X-ray showed a bullet in her head. story continues below The 42-year-old underwent surgery the next day. She remained in Baptist Hospital of Miami on Monday. The pair now plan to sue the first hospital they visited, which WPLG identifies as Jackson South Medical Center. "They put the Band-Aid on her head, gave her antibiotics and just sent her home," says Medley. "We could have done that ourselves." Miami-Dade police have so far made no arrests in the shooting, in which gunmen on ATVs opened fire on a vehicle carrying two men as Medley and Jefferson were leaving their home. The passenger of the vehicle was left in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. "Some of the guys probably saw us kissing in the car," driver Clive Khouri tells WPLG through tears. "When I tried to speed off they kept trying to shoot, shoot, shoot." (Read more drive-by shooting stories.) OYO Hotels & Homes, the world's leading hospitality chain, has today announced its financial results for FY 2019 (April 2018 to March 2019). As per audited financials, the company's consolidated revenue stood at USD 951 million, which is 4.5X (Year-over-Year) higher from FY2018 when the company reported a revenue of USD 211 million. As a six-year-old young start-up, OYO's across markets today is seen to evolve through three key growth stages. In stage one, when we start our operations in new markets, the focus of the company is on scale and presence; in stage two, when we have achieved scale and presence, the focus is on creating a strong brand resonance and ensuring improved gross margin, for the value proposition we bring in while continuing to invest in accretive growth. In mature markets like India, where OYO is in the third stage of its growth journey, the focus of the company is to maintain strong brand preference while ensuring we have a clear path to profitability, enabled by accretive growth, operational excellence, and strong gross margin. In this context, this FY 19, operations in India contributed to nearly 63.5 per cent or USD 604 million of these consolidated figures as the clocked a 2.9X (Y-o-Y) growth. Nearly 36.5 per cent or USD 348 million was contributed by the company's operations outside India, primarily China, signifying its strong commitment towards building a sustainable global business at scale with improved operating efficiencies. The company reported an increase in both daily guest check-ins' across its network as well as an increase in hotels and asset owners across the world. With over 43,000 asset partners, OYO hosted over 180 million guests from 120 plus nationalities between January - December 2019. In FY 2019, OYO had a primary presence in China and India. The inherent costs of establishing new markets, including those related to talent, market-entry, operational expenses among others, resulted in an increase in OYO's net loss percentage in the near-term, which grew from 25 per cent in FY18 to 35 per cent of revenue in FY19 to USD 335 million. At the same time, in mature markets like India, the company reduced its losses from 24 per cent to 14 per cent of revenue in FY19 to USD 83 million. "We have crossed an important milestone of achieving global revenue of USD 951 million in FY 2019, a 4.5 times increase on a Year-on-Year basis. OYO's relentless focus on offering an exceptional guest experience, delivering value to asset partners and constant technological innovation supported by the hard work and perseverance of every OYOpreneur has been the core propellers behind this performance. As we work towards consistently improving our financial performance, ensuring strong yet sustainable growth, high operational and service excellence and a clear path to profitability will be our key to our approach in 2020 and beyond. The company's increased focus on corporate governance and building a high-performing and employee-first work culture will also drive this next phase of sustainable growth for us. We look forward to adding value to the experience of travellers and asset partners across the globe", said Abhishek Gupta, Global CFO of OYO Hotels & Homes. In 2019, OYO also continued to build a loyal guest base, with over 90 per cent revenue coming from repeat and organic user base with repeat alone contributing to 73 per cent of revenues. Since China and other international markets were in development and investment mode during that time, they contributed to 75 per cent of the losses for FY19 (USD 252 million). These markets constituted 36.5 per cent of the global revenues. While consistently improving operating economics in mature markets like India where it's already seeing an improvement in gross margins, the company is determined to bring in the same fiscal discipline in emerging markets in the coming financial year. Sustainable growth with impact The company's gross margin in India increased from 10.6 per cent in FY18 to 14.7 per cent in FY19 indicating the strength of its business model and a positive correlation between market share and economics. The OYO app is now among the top 3 hotel booking apps globally with over 2.3 million downloads till October 2019 which has now increased to 10 million-plus downloads. The company continues to delight its guests keeping in mind customer preferences, and its average ratings on OTA (Online Travel Agency) platforms were 7.5+/10. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook on Tuesday blocked the page of an anti-government website in Singapore following a demand from authorities but slammed the "disproportionate" use of a controversial law against online misinformation. The widely criticised legislation gives ministers powers to order internet platforms and websites to put warnings next to posts they deem false, and also order pages be blocked in the tightly regulated city-state. Political website States Times Review (STR) -- which regularly posts articles critical of the government -- was repeatedly accused of circulating falsehoods but refused to comply with official demands to put up corrections. Authorities this week ordered Facebook to block the page for Singapore users. While they have ordered corrections be put up next to posts on several occasions, this was the first time they sought to have access to a page disabled. Confirming it complied with the order, Facebook said it was "legally compelled" to restrict access to the page in Singapore. But a spokesperson added: "We believe orders like this are disproportionate and contradict the government's claim that (the law) would not be used as a censorship tool. "We've repeatedly highlighted this law's potential for overreach and we're deeply concerned about the precedent this sets for the stifling of freedom of expression in Singapore." A post on the STR's Facebook page said it was shutting but redirected users to an alternative page where the site's content was available. Other tech giants, including Google and Twitter, as well as rights groups have expressed concerns about the Singapore law. But the government insists the legislation is necessary to stop the spread of falsehoods online, and had accused the STR of circulating misinformation, including about the coronavirus outbreak. Singapore has reported 77 cases of the virus, which has killed hundreds and infected tens of thousands in China. The website had been run by Alex Tan, who says he is an Australian citizen based overseas. It is the second time that Facebook has taken action under the law. In November, the social network put up a correction next to one of Tan's posts after an official demand. sr/qan FACEBOOK GOOGLE Twitter New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking rectification of errors in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 accountancy sample question papers and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the petitioner. The petitioner, named Ravinder Nath dubey, has been teaching accountancy for the past 26 years. Asserting that accountancy examination is on March 3, the petitioner sought court's direction to immediately remove eight fundamentally and conceptually wrong answers from the CBSE's website. "If the students write these wrong answers in the board examinations, the examiners may deduct 7-8 marks of students," Dubey rued. A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Hari Shankar called the petition "frivolous" and imposed a hefty fine on him. "You are not talking about an exam paper but sample papers. The model papers are for students' practice," the bench said. When the petitioner retorted that he has come with a proof, the court said, "The fine can be increased. I don't want to do it." Jackson Carlaw removes rival Michelle Ballantyne from shadow cabinet Jackson Carlaw has removed Michelle Ballantyne from his new shadow cabinet in a reshuffle, after she criticised his interim leadership during her campaign. Carlaw was elected Scottish Conservatives leader over Ballantyne last week, winning by a 75 per cent majority, after a bitter campaign that saw her accuse him of trying to undermine my campaign through secret recordings, leaks to the press and tall tales from the shadow cabinet room. In a reshuffle announced on Tuesday, Ballantynes social security portfolio was handed to Graham Simpson, who now becomes shadow cabinet secretary for housing, communities and social security. Ballantyne was instead nominated as convener of the Economy, Fair Work and Culture Committee, subject to election by the Scottish Parliament. Peter Chapman has been stripped of the rural economy portfolio, with new party chairwoman Rachael Hamilton appointed shadow secretary for rural economy and tourism. Gordon Lindhurst has also been removed from the shadow cabinet, with the economy, fair work and culture brief handed to Maurice Golden. On Friday, Carlaw announced his joint deputy leaders would be Annie Wells and Liam Kerr. Wells has also been announced as shadow cabinet secretary for environment, climate change, land reform and COP26, and Kerr stays on as shadow justice secretary. Liz Smith has been replaced as shadow cabinet secretary for education by Jamie Green, with Smith moved to the position of chief whip. Murdo Fraser has been made constitution secretary with Adam Tomkins taking the newly-created role of shadow cabinet secretary for strategy. Donald Cameron has moved to become shadow cabinet secretary for finance. Carlaw said his new shadow cabinet was designed to take on the SNP leading into the 2021 Holyrood election, and will "take the Scottish Conservatives into government after it". Weve got the best people fighting in the best places, and theyre going to bring us onto the next level, he said. I said during the leadership campaign that I wanted to press the positive case for the union across all areas of political debate, and thats exactly what Murdo Fraser one of Holyroods most senior and respected MSPs will be doing. I also promised to prioritise areas like housing such a critical area for young people across the country which is why Ive included that role within the shadow cabinet. Its simply not enough for us to be a strong and effective opposition anymore. We need to prove to the people of Scotland that were a government in waiting, and thats exactly what I intend to do over the next 15 months. Today I've announced my Shadow Cabinet team We'll work flat out to beat this failing SNP government at next year's election. Were ready to hit the ground running & offer Scotland a genuine alternative to Nicola Sturgeon's tired, listless and constitutionally obsessed regime. pic.twitter.com/5DP2QO7TsE Jackson Carlaw MSP (@Jackson_Carlaw) February 18, 2020 The Scottish Conservatives shadow cabinet in full: Leader Jackson Carlaw MSP Deputy Leaders Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice - Liam Kerr MSP; Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, Land Reform and COP26 - Annie Wells MSP Chief Whip Liz Smith MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance Donald Cameron MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution and External Affairs Murdo Fraser MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Strategy Adam Tomkins MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health Miles Briggs MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education Jamie Greene MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Maurice Golden MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Business, Infrastructure and Transport Dean Lockhart MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism Rachael Hamilton MSP Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Communities and Social Security Graham Simpson MSP Authorities in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi say at least 14 people have been killed by an apparent toxic gas leak. Officials said hundreds of others have been hospitalized with breathing difficulties and burning eyes following the deadly incident, which began on February 16 in the coastal neighborhood of Kamari. "Most of the patients were suffering from choking and breathlessness," Pakistani emergency services official Seemin Jamali said. Local authorities said residents of Kamari began falling sick and rushing to hospitals on the night of February 16. The Associated Press quotes hospital officials who said on February 18 that they had treated about 650 people. Authorities said an evacuation of Kamari residents was planned for February 18 and that they would be taken to safer areas. The cause of the leak remains uncertain, but officials said there was no evidence of sabotage. "We are still clueless to find out the possible cause of the incident," Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper on February 17. One official noted that a ship at the port was offloading soybeans or a similar cargo at the time, which could have been the cause toxic gas leak. Nasir Shah, the provincial information minister, said local officials have sought assistance from the navy's chemical and biological department to help determine the source of the leak. Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, with numerous oil refineries situated nearby, along with a key naval installation. Based on reporting by AFP, Dawn, and AP A deliveryman in Hong Kong on Monday was robbed at knife point for toilet paper, as the city copes with ongoing shortages of basic household and cooking supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak, the New York Times reports. What's happening: Some Hong Kong supermarkets began selling out of sanitary towels, frozen dumplings, cooking oil, bottled water, bread, shower gel, cleaning products and noodles in the first week of February, South China Morning Post reports, while canned goods started to run low. Shoppers scouring for toilet paper at three different supermarkets in Sham Shui Po were turned away in early February, per the Morning Post. Where it stands: Retailers say "there is no genuine shortage" of toilet paper and have dispelled rumors that mainland manufacturers would stop producing it, per the Times. But, "bulk packs of toilet paper are snatched off supermarket shelves almost as soon as they are restocked." The big picture: High-tech industrial parks in Shenzhen, one of China's manufacturing hubs, were not allowed to reopen until today, per the Washington Post. Businesses have been slow to restart, per the Wall Street Journal, as many workers are still stuck in their hometowns and factories remain idle. Hong Kong has sealed most of its border with China but has avoided a complete shutdown, per the Post. Go deeper: DUBLIN, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market (3rd Edition), 2019 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market (3rd Edition), 2019-2030 features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future opportunities associated with cell therapy manufacturing. It focuses on both contract manufacturers, as well as developers with in-house manufacturing facilities, offering in-depth analyses of the various business entities that are engaged in this domain, across different global regions. One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future size of the cell therapy manufacturing market. Based on parameters, such as number of ongoing/planned clinical studies, cell therapy manufacturing costs, target patient population, and anticipated adoption of such products, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and mid to long term, for the period 2019-2030. In addition, to account for the uncertainties associated with the manufacturing of cell-based therapies and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base and optimistic tracks of the market's evolution. Market Insights Till date, more than 20 cell-based therapies have been approved (recent examples include Zynteglo (2019), Alofisel (2018), YESCARTA (2017) and Kymriah (2017)), while over 500 product candidates are under development. In fact, there are over 1,000 active clinical studies of cell therapies, worldwide. Over the last few years, such therapies have garnered significant attention within the biopharmaceutical industry. Several companies and venture capital funds/investors have already invested a lot of capital towards the development and commercialization of this emerging class of therapeutics. Despite the optimism, the growth in this domain is still hindered by various development and manufacturing related challenges, primarily due to the limited availability of expertise and infrastructure to produce cell-based therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapies. The growing number of product development initiatives in this domain, coupled to the fact that there are multiple marketed products, have led to a substantial rise in the overall cell therapy manufacturing demand. As a result, developers have turned to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to fulfil their cell therapy development and production requirements. A wide array of industry players, including well-established companies, mid-sized firms and start-ups, as well as academic institutes, are contributing towards fulfilling the aforementioned demand, offering GMP grade manufacturing services for cell therapies. In addition to cell therapy manufacturing companies, there are several other players that claim to have developed novel technology solutions, aimed at improving the existing cell therapy manufacturing process. Many CMOs are also actively expanding their cell therapy manufacturing capacity either through collaborations or acquisitions, in order to offer a wide range of services to their respective clients. As a result of the ongoing efforts aimed at mitigating the existing challenges in this domain, the cell therapy manufacturing market is expected to witness significant growth in mid-long term. Amongst other elements, the report includes: A detailed review of the overall landscape of companies that are engaged in the manufacturing of cell-based therapies, including information on the type of cells manufactured (including immune cells (including T cells, dendritic cells, NK cells), stem cells (including adult stem cells, human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and others), source of cells (autologous and allogeneic), scale of manufacturing, type of cell cultures (adherent and suspension), purpose of production (fulfilling in-house requirements and contract services), manufacturing capabilities/services offered (including R&D, cell culture development, quality testing, packaging, labelling, cell banking, cryopreservation, fill/finish services, and regulatory affairs management), location of headquarters and location of their respective manufacturing facilities. An analysis of the various expansion initiatives undertaken by service providers, in order to augment their respective cell therapy manufacturing capabilities, over the period 2015-2019 (till October), taking into consideration parameters, such as year of expansion, type of cells, scale of operation, purpose of expansion (facility expansion and new facility), location of manufacturing facility, and most active players (in terms of number of expansion initiatives undertaken). An analysis of the recent partnerships focused on the manufacturing of cell-based therapies, which have been established in the period 2014-2019 (till November), based on various relevant parameters, such as the year of agreement, type of partnership, type of cells, and scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial). Informed estimates of the annual commercial and clinical demand for cell therapies (in terms of number of cells produced and area dedicated to manufacturing), which were further analyzed based on type of cells. An estimate of the overall, installed capacity for manufacturing cell-based therapies based on information reported by industry stakeholders in the public domain, highlighting the distribution of the available capacity on the basis of scale of operation (clinical and commercial), size of the organization (small, mid-sized and large firms) and key geographical regions ( North America , EU and Asia Pacific ). , EU and ). An in-depth analysis of cell therapy manufacturers using three versatile representations, namely [A] a three-dimensional grid analysis, presenting the distribution of companies on the basis of type of cells manufactured, scale of operation and purpose of production, [B] a logo landscape based on the type of cells manufactured, geographical location of manufacturer ( North America , Europe and Asia Pacific ) and type and size of organization (non-industry players, and small, mid-sized and large companies), and [C] a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of cell therapy manufacturing facilities of both industry and non-industry stakeholders. , and ) and type and size of organization (non-industry players, and small, mid-sized and large companies), and [C] a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of cell therapy manufacturing facilities of both industry and non-industry stakeholders. A detailed analysis of the various factors that are likely to influence the pricing of cell-based therapies, featuring different models/approaches that may be adopted by manufacturers while deciding the prices of their proprietary offerings. An elaborate discussion on the role of automation technologies in improving current manufacturing methods, along with a comparative (qualitative) analysis of cost differences between manual and automated processes. A qualitative analysis, highlighting the various factors that need to be taken into consideration by cell therapy developers while deciding whether to manufacture their respective products in-house or engage the services of a CMO. A discussion on cell therapy manufacturing regulations across various geographies, including the North America (focusing on the US), Europe and Asia (focusing on Japan ), featuring an analysis of the diverse certifications/accreditations awarded to manufacturing facilities by important regulatory bodies across the globe. (focusing on the US), and (focusing on ), featuring an analysis of the diverse certifications/accreditations awarded to manufacturing facilities by important regulatory bodies across the globe. Elaborate profiles of key players (industry and non-industry) that offer contract manufacturing services for cell-based therapies; each profile includes an overview of the company/organization, information on its manufacturing facilities, service portfolio details, recent partnerships and an informed future outlook. A discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, which are likely to impact the industry's evolution, under a comprehensive SWOT framework, which includes a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative effect of each SWOT parameter on the overall market dynamics. Insights generated in a market-wide survey, featuring inputs solicited from experts who are directly and indirectly involved in the development and/or manufacturing of cell-based therapies. Key Topics Covered 1. PREFACE 1.1. Scope of the Report 1.2. Research Methodology 1.3. Chapter Outlines 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 3.1. Context and Background 3.2. Introduction to Cell Therapies 3.2.1. Comparison of Cell Therapies and Other Biotechnology Products 3.2.2. Classification of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) 3.2.3. Current Market Landscape of ATMPs 3.3. Overview of Cell Therapy Manufacturing 3.4. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Models 3.4.1. Centralized Manufacturing 3.4.2. Decentralized Manufacturing 3.5. Scalability of Cell Therapy Manufacturing 3.5.1. Scale-up 3.5.2. Scale-out 3.6. Types of Cell Therapy Manufacturers 3.7. Key Manufacturing-related Challenges 3.8. Factors Influencing Cell Therapy Manufacturing 3.9. Automating Cell Therapy Manufacturing 3.10. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Supply Chain 3.11. Future Perspectives 4. MARKET OVERVIEW 4.1. Chapter Overview 4.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturers (Industry Players): Overall Market Landscape 4.2.1. Analysis by Location of Headquarters 4.2.2. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facility 4.2.3. Analysis by Type of Cells Manufactured 4.2.4. Analysis by Source of Cells 4.2.5. Analysis by Scale of Operation 4.2.6. Analysis by Type of Cell Culture 4.2.7. Analysis by Purpose of Production 4.2.8. Analysis by Manufacturing Capabilities/Services 4.3. Cell Therapy Manufacturers (Non-Industry Players): Overall Market Landscape 4.3.1. Analysis by Location of Headquarters 4.3.2. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facility 4.3.3. Analysis by Type of Cells Manufactured 4.3.4. Analysis by Source of Cells 4.3.5. Analysis by Scale of Operation 4.3.6. Analysis by Type of Cell Culture 4.3.7. Analysis by Purpose of Production 4.3.8. Analysis by Manufacturing Capabilities/Services 4.4. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Role of Logistics Service Providers 5. REGULATORY LANDSCAPE 5.1. Chapter Overview 5.2. Current Scenario 5.2.1. Regulatory Guidelines in the US 5.2.2. Regulatory Guidelines in Europe 5.2.3. Regulatory Guidelines in Japan 5.2.4. Conditional Approvals 5.3. Regulatory Accreditations for Cell Therapy Manufacturing 5.3.1. Facilities Approved by Regulators to Manufacture Cell Therapies 5.4. Summary of Guidelines for Clinical-Stage Manufacturing of Cell Therapies 5.5. Existing Challenges to Clinical-Stage Manufacturing 5.5.1. Variability in Regulatory Guidelines across Different Geographies 5.6. Conclusion 6. ROADMAPS FOR OVERCOMING EXISTING CHALLENGES 6.1. Chapter Overview 6.2. Roadmap for the US 6.2.1. Cell Processing 6.2.2. Cell Preservation, Distribution and Handling 6.2.3. Process Automation and Data Analytics 6.2.4. Process Monitoring and Quality Control 6.2.5. Standardization and Regulatory Support 6.2.6. Workforce Development 6.2.7. Supply Chain and Logistics 6.3. Roadmaps for Other Geographies 6.3.1. Europe 6.3.2. Asia Pacific 7. AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR CELL THERAPY MANUFACTURING 7.1. Chapter Overview 7.2. Automation of Cell Therapy Manufacturing Processes 7.2.1. Closed Systems 7.2.2. Single-use Systems 7.2.3. Modular Systems 7.3. Case Studies 7.3.1. Roadmap to Developing an Automated Cell Manufacturing/Processing Device 7.3.2. Automating Cell Therapy Manufacturing 7.4. GMP-in-a-Box 7.5. List of Automation Service Providers 7.6. Comparative Analysis of Manual and Automated Processes 7.7. Concluding Remarks 8. PROFILES: INDUSTRY PLAYERS 8.1. Chapter Overview 8.2. Service Providers in the US 8.2.1 Cognate BioServices 8.2.1.1. Company Overview 8.2.1.2. Service Portfolio 8.2.1.3. Manufacturing Capabilities 8.2.1.4. Partnerships 8.2.1.5. Future Outlook 8.2.2. FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics 8.2.3. KBI Biopharma 8.2.4. Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions 8.2.5. Waisman Biomanufacturing 8.3. Service Providers in Europe 8.3.1. BioNTech Innovative Manufacturing Services 8.3.2. Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult 8.3.3. Lonza 8.3.4. MaSTherCell 8.3.5. Roslin Cell Therapies 8.4. Service Providers in Asia Pacific 8.4.1. Cell Therapies 8.4.2. Japan Tissue Engineering (J-TEC) 8.4.3. MEDINET 8.4.4. Nikon CeLL innovation 8.4.5. WuXi Advanced Therapies 9. PROFILES: NON-INDUSTRY PLAYERS 9.1. Chapter Overview 9.2. Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine 9.2.1. Overview 9.2.2. Operating Segments 9.2.3. Service Portfolio 9.2.4. Manufacturing Facilities and Capabilities 9.3. Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, National University of Ireland 9.4. Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility, University of Pennsylvania 9.5. Guy's and St. Thomas' GMP Facility, Guy's Hospital 9.6. Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine, Stanford University 9.7. Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, University of Minnesota 9.8. Newcastle Cellular Therapies Facility, Newcastle University 9.9. Rayne Cell Therapy Suite, King's College London 9.10. Scottish National Blood Transfusion Services Cellular Therapy Facility, Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine 9.11. Sydney Cell and Gene Therapy 10. ROLE OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 10.1. Chapter Overview 10.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Service Providers: Non-Profit Organizations 10.2.1. CellCAN 10.2.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Cooperative Research Center (CTM CRC) 10.2.3. National Cell Manufacturing Consortium (NCMC) 10.2.4. California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) 10.3. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Affiliated International Societies 11. PARTNERSHIPS 11.1. Chapter Overview 11.2. Partnership Models 11.3. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: List of Partnerships 11.3.1. Analysis by Year of Partnership 11.3.2. Analysis by Type of Partnership Model 11.3.3. Analysis by Year and Type of Partnership Model 11.4. Analysis by Type of Cells 11.5. Analysis by Scale of Operation 11.6. Geographical Analysis 11.6.1. Continent-wise Distribution 11.6.2. Country-wise Distribution 11.7. Most Active Players: Analysis by Number of Partnerships 11.8. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: List of Acquisitions 11.8.1. Analysis by Year and Type of Cells 11.8.2. Geographical Analysis 11.8.3. Ownership Change Matrix 12. FACILITY EXPANSIONS 12.1. Chapter Overview 12.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: List of Expansions 12.2.1. Cumulative Year-wise Distribution 12.2.2. Analysis by Type of Cells 12.2.3. Analysis by Scale of Operation 12.2.3. Analysis by Purpose of Expansion 12.2.4. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facility 12.2.5. Analysis by Region and Purpose of Expansion 13. CAPACITY ANALYSIS 13.1. Chapter Overview 13.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology (Industry Players) 13.2.1 Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Installed Global Capacity (Number of Cleanrooms) 13.2.1.1. Analysis by Size of Manufacturer 13.2.1.2. Analysis by Scale of Operation 13.2.1.3. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facility 13.2.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Installed Global Capacity (Cleanroom Area) 13.3. Key Assumptions and Methodology (Non-Industry Players) 13.3.1. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Installed Global Capacity (Number of Cleanrooms) 13.3.1.1. Analysis by Scale of Operation 13.3.1.2. Analysis by Location of Manufacturing Facility 13.3.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Installed Global Capacity (Cleanroom Area) 13.4 Concluding Remarks 14. DEMAND ANALYSIS 14.1 Chapter Overview 14.2 Key Assumptions and Methodology 14.3 Cell Therapy Manufacturing: Overall Annual Demand 14.3.1. Analysis by Type of Cells 14.3.2. Analysis by Scale of Operations 14.3.3. Analysis by Geography 15. COST PRICE ANALYSIS 15.1. Chapter Overview 15.2. Factors Contributing to the High Price of Cell Therapies 15.3. Pricing Models for Cell Therapies 15.3.1. Based on Associated Costs for T-cell Therapies 15.3.2. Based on Associated Costs for Stem Cell Therapies 15.3.3. Based on Availability of Competing Products 15.3.4. Based on Target Patient Segment 15.3.5. Based on Opinions of Industry Experts 15.4. Cell Therapy Cost Optimization 15.4.1. Role of Cost of Goods Sold 15.4.2. Role of Automation 15.4.3. Role of Cell Therapy Contract Manufacturing Organizations 15.5. Reimbursement-related Considerations for Cell Therapies 15.5.1. Case Study: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) Appraisal of CAR-T Therapies 16. MAKE VERSUS BUY DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK 16.1. Chapter Overview 16.2. Make versus Buy Decision Making: Analytical Output 17. MARKET SIZING AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS 17.1. Chapter Overview 17.2. Scope of the Forecast 17.3. Forecast Methodology 17.4. Input Tables and Key Assumptions 17.5. Overall Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030 17.5.1. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030: Distribution by Type of Cell Therapy 17.5.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030: Distribution by Source of Cells 17.5.3. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030: Distribution by Scale of Operation 17.5.4. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030: Distribution by Purpose of Production 17.5.5. Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market, 2019-2030: Geographical Distribution 17.6. Market Opportunity in Commercial Scale Manufacturing of Cell-based Therapies 17.7. Market Opportunity in Clinical Scale Manufacturing of Cell-based Therapies 18. KEY INSIGHTS 18.1. Chapter Overview 18.2. Cell Therapy Manufacturers: Grid Analysis 18.3. Cell Therapy Manufacturers: Logo Landscape by Type of Cell Therapy 18.3.1. Logo Landscape: Immune Cell Manufacturers 18.3.2. Logo Landscape: Stem Cell Manufacturers 18.4. Cell Therapy Manufacturers: World Map Representation of Location of Manufacturing Facility 18.4.1. Industry Players 18.4.2. Non-Industry Players 19. SWOT ANALYSIS 19.1. Chapter Overview 19.2. Strengths 19.3. Weaknesses 19.4. Opportunities 19.5. Threats 19.6. Comparison of SWOT Factors 19.6.1. Concluding Remarks 20. CONCLUSION 20.1. Chapter Overview 20.2. Key Takeaways 21. SURVEY ANALYSIS 21.1. Chapter Overview 21.2. Seniority Level of Respondents 21.3. Type of Cell Therapy 21.4. Scale of Operation 21.5. Source of Cells 21.6. Type of Cell Culture System 21.7. Availability of Fill/Finish Services 22. INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS 22.1. Chapter Overview 22.2. Lion TCR 22.2.1. Company Overview 22.2.2. Interview Transcript: Victor Lietao Li, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer 22.3. Cell Therapies 22.4. CiMaas 22.5. Gracell Biotechnologies 22.6. Glycostem Therapeutics 22.7. Kadimastem 22.8. Bio Elpida 22.9. Center for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy/C3i 22.10. Waisman Biomanufacturing 22.11. RoslinCT 22.12. Yposkesi 22.13. University of Minnesota 23. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA 24. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 3P Biopharmaceuticals A2 Healthcare Accellta Acerta Pharma Adaptimmune Adva Biotechnology Advanced Cell Therapy Laboratory, Yale School of Medicine Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute Advent Bioservices Agios Pharmaceuticals Ajinomoto Akron Biotech Alberta Cell Therapy Manufacturing, University of Alberta Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals Alliance for Regenerative Medicine AlloSource Altor BioScience American Productivity & Quality Center American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy American Society of Mechanical Engineers Amgen Amsterdam Biotherapeutics Unit Andalusian Initiative for Advanced Therapies Angiocrine Bioscience Anterogen Aokai (Suzhou) Biomedical apceth Biopharma Argos Therapeutics ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Asahi Glass Company Asterias Biotherapeutics AstraZeneca Asymptote Atara Biotherapeutics Athersys Atlantic Bio GMP ATVIO Biotechnology Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society Austrian Network for Gene Therapy Autolus Azellon Cell Therapeutics Bavarian Nordic Bayer Be The Match BioTherapies Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Berkeley Lights Bio Elpida BioCision Bioinova BioLife Solutions Biological and Cellular GMP Manufacturing Facility, City of Hope biologistex CCM BioNTech Innovative Manufacturing Services Biosafe Group bluebird bio Boehringer Ingelheim Bone Therapeutics Brammer Bio Bristol- Myers Squibb British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Caladrius Biosciences California Institute of Regenerative Medicine Cancer Research UK Capricor Therapeutics CardioCell Celgene Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Cell Manipulation Core, Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center Cell Medica Cell Tech Pharmed Cell Therapies Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, University of Utah Cell Therapy Facility, UMC Utrecht Cell Therapy Manufacturing Cooperative Research Center Cell Therapy Suite, University of Birmingham Cellab CellCAN Cellectis CELLforCURE Cellin Technologies Cells Cure Foundation Cells for Sight Stem Cell Therapy Research Unit, University College London Cellular Biomedicine Group Cellular Therapeutics Cellular Therapy Core, University of Texas Cellular Therapy Integrated Services, Case Western Reserve University Celyad Censo Biotechnologies Center for Biomedical Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, McMaster University Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine Center for Gene and Cell Processing, Takara Bio Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University for Biological Engineering, Centre for Cell and Vector Production for Cell and Vector Production Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, NUI Galway for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, NUI Galway Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Centre for Stem Cell Research for Stem Cell Research Centre for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy (C3i) for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy (C3i) Centre multidisciplinaire de dveloppement du gnie tissulaire multidisciplinaire de dveloppement du gnie tissulaire Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University of Genomics and Policy, Cesca Therapeutics Chemometec Chiesi Farmaceutici Children's Medical Research Institute Children's GMP, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital China Life Health Industry Group China Regenerative Medicine International CiMaas City of Hope Alpha Clinic for Cell Therapy Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility, University of Oxford Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility Clinical Research Facility, South London and Maudsley and Maudsley Closed Cell Systems Cognate BioServices Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Cook MyoSite CRISPR Therapeutics Cryoport Cryosite CureCell Cynata Therapeutics Cytonome Cytori Therapeutics CyTuVax DanDrit Biotech DCPrime Dendreon DiscGenics Eli Lilly EMERCell Emory Personalized Immunotherapy Core European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Ferrologix Fibrocell Finnish Gene Therapy Society Fisher BioServices FloDesign Sonics Fortuna Fix Fosun Pharma Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy Foundation of Croatian Association for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI French Society of Cellular and Gene Therapy Froceth FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics Gamida Cell Gates Biomanufacturing Facility GC Cell GE Healthcare GenCure Gene and Cell Therapy Lab, Institute of Translational Health Sciences Genentech Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Research Alliance German Gene Therapy Society Gilead Sciences GlaxoSmithKline Glycostem Therapeutics GPB Scientific Gradalis Great Ormond Street Hospital Cellular Therapy Laboratories, University College London Guy's and St Thomas' Facility Facility Haematological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine Harvard University Stem Cell Institute Stem Cell Institute Health Sciences Authority Hielscher Ultrasonics Histocell Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions Holostem Terapie Avanzate Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston Methodist Institute of Technology, Innovation and Education Houston Methodist Research Institute Human Islet and Cellular Transplant Facility Human Stem Cells Institute Immatics Biotechnologies ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Immunocore Immunovative Therapies IncoCell Tianjin Innovate UK Innovative Cellular Therapeutics IntelliCell BioSciences Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami of Medicine, International Cellular Medicine Society International Society for Cancer Gene Therapy International Society for Cellular Therapy International Society for Stem Cell Research International Stem Cell Corporation Invetech Iovance Biotherapeutics IQVIA Stem Cell Center Irish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Irish Stem Cell Foundation Israeli Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Isto Biologics Japan Society for Gene Therapy Japan Tissue Engineering Jazz Pharmaceuticals JCR Pharmaceuticals John Goldmann Centre for Cellular Therapy, Imperial College London Juno Therapeutics JW CreaGene Kawasaki Heavy Industries KBI Biopharma Kiadis Pharma Kids Research Institute Kite Pharma KMC Systems Kolon TissueGene Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine , University of Stanford , University of Stanford Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Lion TCR Lonza Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Marken MaSTherCell Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine MedCision Medigene MEDINET MEDIPOST Medistem Panama (Stem Cell Institute) MedPost MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Hospital Merck Mesoblast Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia Millennium Pharmaceuticals Millipore Sigma Miltenyi Biotec MNX Global Logistics Moffitt Cancer Center Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, University of Minnesota MolMed Mustang Bio Nantes University Hospital National Cell Manufacturing Consortium National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Sciences for Biomedical Engineering Sciences National Eye Institute National Gene Vector Laboratory National Institute of Health Research National Institute of Standards and Technologies National Stem Cell Foundation National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia Neon Therapeutics Netherlands Cancer Institute Networks of Centres of Excellence Neuralstem NewLink Genetics NHSBT Blood and Transplant, Birmingham Nikon Nikon CeLL innovation Nohla Therapeutics Northwest Biotherapeutics Norwegian Radium Hospital Novadip Novartis NuVasive Octane Medical Group Oncobiomed Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine Onyx Pharmaceuticals Opexa Therapeutics Orchard Therapeutics Orgenesis Orthofix Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Ges Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa Oxford BioMedica Oxford MEStar Pall PAREXEL PCI Services PCT Cell Therapy Services The Peter Couche Foundation Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Pfizer PharmaBio PharmaCell Pharmicell Pluristem Therapeutics Praxis Pharmaceutical Production Assistance for Cellular Therapies Promethera Biosciences Provia Laboratories Puma Biotechnology Q-GEN Cell Therapeutics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Rayne Cell Therapy Suite, King's College London Regenerative Medicine Foundation Regenerative Medicine Institute Regenesys Regeneus Reliance Life Sciences ReNeuron RepliCel Research and Development Center for Cell Therapy, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation Riyadh Pharma Robertson Clinical and Translational Cell Therapy, Duke University Roche Diagnostics RoosterBio Roslin Cells Roswell Park Cancer Institute Royal Free Hospital, Centre for Cell and Gene Tissue Therapeutics for Cell and Gene Tissue Therapeutics Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Saint-Gobain SanBio Sartorius Stedim Biotech SAVSU Technologies Scinogy Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine for Regenerative Medicine Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service Cellular Therapy Facility Servier Shanghai Sunway Biotech Shenzhen Sibiono GeneTech SHIBUYA Sistemic Smilow Center for Translational Research Smith & Nephew & Nephew SOTIO Spanish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Spark Therapeutics Stage Cell Therapeutics Stanford Children's Health, Stanford Health Care Stanford Medicine Stemedica Cell Technologies Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Swedish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Sydney Cell and Gene Therapy Syngen Biotech Takeda Pharmaceutical TAP Biosystems TargetAMD TC BioPharm T-Cell Factory Terumo Terumo BCT TESARO Texas Children's Hospital Texas Medical Center The Children's Hospital at Westmead The Elisa Linton Center for Rare Disease Therapies The Michael G. Harris Cell Therapy and Cell Engineering Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center The Netherlands Society of Gene and Cell Therapy The New York Stem Cell Foundation The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute The Philip S Orsino Facility for Cell Therapy, Princess Margaret Hospital The University of Texas Health Science Center Health Science Center Therapeutic Cell Production Core, Seattle Children's Hospital Thermo Fisher Scientific ThermoGenesis TiGenix Tokyo Electron TrakCel Trinity Partners Turkish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy TVAX Biomedical TxCell Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust UC Davis GMP Laboratory UCLA Human Gene and Cell Therapy UCLA-UCI Alpha Stem Cell Clinic UK Stem Cell Foundation University Hospital Basel University Medical Center Groningen University of California University of Leeds University of Manchester University of Newcastle University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Tennessee University of Wisconsin-Madison Upstate Stem Cell cGMP Facility, University of Rochester Vaccinogen Valeant Pharmaceuticals Vecura, Karolinska University Hospital Vericel Vineti Vitruvian Networks VivaBioCell Waisman Biomanufacturing Westmead Hospital Westmead Millennium Institute World Courier WuXi Advanced Therapies WuXi AppTec Wyeth Xellbiogene Yposkesi Zelluna Immunotherapy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r2szhz Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com People with alcohol use disorder know that when it comes to immediate satisfaction, nothing works quicker than liquor. New ways to help people resist the siren call of alcohol have not kept pace -- which leaves health care providers stuck with the same intervention and rehabilitation options they have had for decades. But now, Virginia Tech scientists are studying whether people battling alcohol use disorder might gain some relief by "pre-experiencing" the future. The research is supported by a new $3.45 million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health. Principal investigators are Warren Bickel, a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Stephen LaConte, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and an expert in advanced neuroimaging. "People who have problems with alcohol have a decision-making process focused on immediate outcomes, and they make choices that aren't very healthy for them," said Bickel, who is also the director of the institute's Addiction Recovery Research Center. "When time is short, reinforcers, such as alcohol, that offer brief, intense, and reliable rewards have greater value. Instead, we want to explore ways for people to mentally construct how they will feel at future events, and this lowers the value they place on alcohol." Using behavioral analysis, an in-laboratory drinking situation, neuroimaging, and computational modeling, the new approach dives right into efforts to understand the decision-making of alcohol use and abuse. Study volunteers will belly up to an experimental bar, where they "self-administer" alcohol. But it's not exactly party time. "We have safety limits," said Bickel, who is also a professor of psychology in the College of Science. "There's only a limited amount they can drink in our bar lab during the window of time that we give them. And, of course, study volunteers won't be able to leave until they're no longer affected by alcohol. These are long and demanding sessions." The researchers plan to engage research study volunteers with a new intervention that applies a reinforcer called episodic future thinking to get people to concretely think about future events that will influence their immediate decisions. The study contains a multisite neuroimaging component, where LaConte, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in the College of Engineering, will oversee functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and particularly an innovative form of functional brain imaging called real-time fMRI, which LaConte has pioneered to further understand the events that occur in the brain during risky decision-making. "A major focus of my lab centers on real-time fMRI, with research applications targeted at improving basic understanding of normal brain function as well as exploring the potential for rehabilitation and therapy for neurological and psychiatric conditions," LaConte said. "I am extremely excited to serve as co-principal investigator with Dr. Bickel, and I am certain we will make advances. With a solid foundation in episodic future thinking interventions and my lab's experimental and technical success with real-time fMRI, I am optimistic about our combined potential for future innovations and discovery." LaConte and Bickel will work with Samuel McClure, an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University and director of its Decision Neuroscience Laboratory. McClure's lab will relate neuroimaging findings to computational models of brain function and decision-making to describe decisions in terms of neural processes. "Alcohol, food, sex, drugs, and gambling all have a relatively comparable profile -- they are brief, intense, immediate, and reliable," Bickel said. "But when people go down the addiction road, they give up things like employment, relationships, and education, which have a very different profile. Those things are lower intensity, variable in nature -- you have good days and bad days at work, for example --and they accrue in value only if you invest in them over time." In a large time-frame, long-term behavior reinforcers, such as building relationships with loved ones, gain influence while the immediate value of alcohol reinforcement decreases. In episodic future thinking, research volunteers describe upcoming events in their lives, and talk about what they are going to see, hear, feel, smell, and feel. Then, like a story, they put a title on it. "We systematically use the titles they gave us as reminders," Bickel said. "It opens up their door to the future. All of a sudden, things that at first had no relevance now have larger relevance. And in the process, how much they value their substance use drops." Bickel has seen this work before in research studies where scientists measured how much people normally drank during their daily activities and then introduced episodic future thinking to the mix. "If someone said a month from now I'm going to go to my nephew's birthday party, we would text them reminders, 'Nephew's Birthday Party,'" Bickel said. "It worked. People who were drinking an average of six beverages a day cut their consumption nearly in half, only because we were texting them with the titles they wrote for themselves during episodic future thinking." "We still have more to understand about the nature of alcohol use disorder and believe the results of our studies will positively impact public health," Bickel said. "I feel very strongly that we are at the front edge of something important." ### Pat Ryan is the latest individual to be named the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer of the Month. Ryan volunteers at the Jimmy Dean Museum on the Wayland Baptist University (WBU) campus one day a week. She makes sure each person entering the museum is greeted and signs the registry book. She also answers the phone and gives out information about the various displays. She also served for several years with O. T. (her now deceased husband) delivering Meals on Wheels for the elderly and disabled who are home-bound and physically unable to prepare their own meals. She also recently joined a Home Ministry group organized through her church, who recognized a special need within their church community. According to each persons needs, volunteers either personally visit someone homebound, send a thoughtful greeting card, or place friendly phone calls. Thank you, Pat, for being so considerate of the needs of others and serving in the Plainview community for so many years. Life Pat McCaskill Ryan is a native of Plainview. She has a younger sibling, Marion Coker, who now lives in Norman, Oklahoma. Ryan graduated from Plainview High School, attended Texas Tech University and later received her degree in Education from Wayland Baptist University. While attending Tech, Ryan was employed as a secretary to a band director. She also met her husband during those years and they married on Aug. 22, 1950. The couple celebrated 62 years of marriage together before O.T. passed away in November 2012. They had four children: Patty Blake and Terry of Cedar Hills; Scott of Euless; Mark and Cynthia Ryan of Garland; and Kirk of Frisco. Pat and O.T. also enjoyed their five granddaughters, five grandsons, three great grandchildren, and one newborn great-great granddaughter. The Ryans both maintained careers in education. O.T. focused on music and Pat became a school teacher for Plainview ISD. After retiring from teaching, Pat Ryan chose a different career path. She successfully received her Realtor License and spent 29 years employed with Billington Real Estate. She enjoyed her second career because she was able set her own schedule and she was recognized for several accomplishments during her tenure. Ryan enjoys doing crossword puzzles, easy ones, as she stated, to keep her mind alert. She has been a life-long member of the First Baptist Church. She is also a member of the Pastors Class. Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth speaks out for legislation that he says would shorten the duration of appeals by death row inmates. Ainsworth is joined by lawmakers at the Alabama State House. Posted by al.com on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said today he is proposing legislation carried by two state lawmakers to take away one step in the appeals process in death penalty cases. Ainsworth held a news conference at the State House with Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, and Rep. Connie Rowe, R-Jasper, who will sponsor a bill that says death penalty cases would no longer be appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. Only the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals would handle appeals in death penalty cases at the state level. Currently, cases are reviewed by both courts. Ainsworth said he was motivated to sponsor the bill because of the deaths of seven Alabama law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty since January 2019, including Huntsville drug task force agent Billy Fred Clardy III, a husband and father of five who was shot and killed in December. Ainsworth said Alabama inmates sentenced to death spend an average of about 14 years on death row. Forty-nine of the 175 inmates on death row in Alabama have been there at least 20 years. Justice should be swift but not stagnant, Ainsworth said. Ward said crime rates overall are down in Alabama over the last few years but that the murder rate is up. Weve got to do something to push back on this, Ward said. "Ive always been an advocate for criminal justice reform. But let me tell you something. Public safety comes first." Rowe spent 27 years in law enforcement, including serving as Jaspers police chief. Rowe said she spent much of her time helping victims cope with the legal system. In capital cases, its seeing if you can live long enough to see justice served in a death penalty case, Rowe said. That doesnt always happen. Rowe noted the case of Gregory Hunt, who was convicted in the 1988 murder of Karen Sanders Lane in Walker County. Hunt remains on death row, where he has been since 1990. Her parents have both passed away, Rowe said. "Her sister, her only sibling, lives to see if the death penalty is ever played out in the state of Alabama." But some lengthy death penalty appeals have resulted in reversals. Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on Alabamas death row until a U.S. Supreme Court ruling granted him a new trial in 2015. Prosecutors dropped the case. Walter McMillian spent six years on death row for a murder he did not commit. His story is told in the movie Just Mercy, about Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson, who fought to overturn McMillians conviction. Ainsworth said he believes if his bill passes that adequate safeguards would remain in place. What were staying is that 14 years is too long, he said. And we want obviously, justice thats fair but also swift and expedited. In addition to eliminating the appeal to the state Supreme Court, the bill says the Court of Criminal Appeals would give death penalty cases the highest priority and expedite them to the extent possible. A newly-wed couple along with other protesters raise slogans against CAA at Washermentpet in Chennai on Monday. (Photo: DC) Chennai: The anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protest in Washermenpet continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. Around 1,000 persons gathered at Lalgunda street at Washermenpet, raising slogans against CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). The protesters said that they will continue the stir until the State governme-nt passes a resolution against implementing CAA. Police security was beefed up at the protest site.The protesters also demanded action against the police personnel who lathicharged agitators on February 14. Marriage held at protest site: At Chennais Shaheen Bagh, a couple decided to marry during the anti-CAA protests that have entered the fourth day in Lala Gunda area in Old Washermanpet in Chennai on Monday. The couple, M. Shahensha and S. Sumaya were already engaged and decided to get married at the protest site. Speaking at the protest, the groom reportedly said that he agrees to the wedding but disagrees with the CAA. The protesters have stood firm on their demand that the protests will continue until a resolution against the National Population Register and CAA is passed in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday held a roadshow in Mumbai to invite investors to attend a wellness summit to be held in Dehradun in April to explore the state's huge potential in the wellness sector. Describing Uttarakhand as a centre of culture and spirituality, Rawat said Rishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world and there is a renewed emphasis by the state government on connecting yoga with tourism. "Giving a fresh lease of life to our spiritual and cultural heritage is our priority. Industries related to herbal and medicinal plants which abound in our state have a great future in Uttarakhand. They can generate ample employment opportunities for the hill areas," an official release quoting the chief minister said. There are more than 20000 yoga trainers in the state, he said. Better infrastructure, connectivity and availability of natural resources in abundance and a conducive atmosphere makes Uttarakhand an ideal investment destination, he said. A wellness summit is proposed to be held in Dehradun on April 17-18 to provide a platform to investors to explore the possibilities of investment in the state. PTI ALM http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg We bring the World to you"Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you. http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg We bring the World to you" Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ivanka Trump, adviser to the president of the United States, commended, Sunday in Dubai, Moroccos efforts in the field of womens empowerment. Speaking at the opening session of the Global Womens Forum 2020, Ivanka Trump said Morocco has succeeded in recent years in introducing important legislative reforms that serve the interests of women and increase their level of empowerment. Ms. Trump has lately commended Moroccos commitment to empowering women on many occasions. Since her visit to Morocco in November 2019 to promote the Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative launched by the White House in 2019 to help women in the developing world, Ivanka Trump published several tweets commending Moroccos commitment to advancing women rights through improving their access to land ownership. The American Presidents adviser was especially satisfied with Moroccos legal reforms, regarding the structure and administration of communal lands, in favor of women. The visit was a chance to reiterate the US appreciation to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI on critical issues such as peace and security in the Middle East, as well as to ensure peace, stability and development for Africa, Ivanka had said while in Morocco. Most recently, on Feb. 12, Ms. Trump expressed again her satisfaction with Moroccos efforts to support the Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP). Morocco is one of two African countries that have made significant progress in the first year of the W-GDP. The second African country mentioned then by Ms. Trump was Cote dIvoire. We commend these governments for carrying out these important and bold reforms, she said. In her address before the Global Womens Forum 2020, Ivanka Trump also referred to the W-GDP, recalling its main axes, mainly providing vocational training to women, empowering women to succeed as entrepreneurs, and breaking down the barriers that hinder womens participation in the economy. The initiative, which aims to reach 50 million women worldwide by 2025, has reached, in just one year and since its launch last year, around 12 million women worldwide, Ms. Trump said. Besides Morocco, she also praised the efforts of five other Arab countries to empower women, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Tunisia. The World Bank Group announced, at the opening of the GWFD 2020 Sunday, two new initiatives to improve access to start-up financing and e-commerce markets for women entrepreneurs, reported Gulf News. At the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Summit held during the GWFD, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and We-Fi launched the ScaleX program to give incentives to accelerators to support start-up businesses led by women, the media outlet added. The program will incentivize emerging markets accelerators to work with women-led businesses by providing performance-based payments of $25,000 for every woman entrepreneur that raises $1 million from investors in start-up funding. These bonuses provide an avenue for venture capital funds to commit to investing in women entrepreneurs in emerging markets and will catalyze a total of $40million into women-led startups in its pilot phase. The mayor of Denver, voicing concern about the very real risk of injury to children, says he will veto a measure passed by the City Council that would have repealed the citys 30-year ban on pit bulls. The mayor, Michael Hancock, said he had received passionate comments from thousands of residents on both sides of the issue but could not in good conscience sign the repeal, which passed the City Council last week. At the end of the day, I must ask whether passage of this ordinance would make our homes and neighborhoods safer or pose an increased risk to public safety, Hancock wrote in a letter to the City Council, which he posted on his Twitter account. I have concluded that it would pose an increased risk. Pit bulls were banned in the city and county of Denver in August 1989, after what Hancock said were several fatal attacks, including one that he said killed a 2-year-old. Hancock said he remained concerned that the proposed repeal does not fully address the very real risk to severe injury that can result from attacks from these particular dog breeds, especially should they happen to a child. The reality is that irresponsible pet owners continue to be a problem, he wrote, and it is the irresponsible owners and their dogs I must consider in evaluating the overall impact of this ordinance. The measure passed the City Council on a 7-4 vote, two fewer than the nine required to override a mayoral veto. Under the proposal, owners would have been required to apply for a breed-restricted license and register their pit bull with Denver Animal Protection. Councilman Christopher Herndon, who sponsored the proposal, said that if the override fails Tuesday, he will seek to have the ban repealed on the November ballot. Im disappointed the mayor is choosing to disregard the science on the issue of breed-specific legislation, Herndon said in a statement. Research tells us breed-specific legislation is ineffective at keeping communities safe and experts in the field from the local level to the national level agree it is no longer best practice. Michael Levenson is a New York Times writer. By PTI LAHORE: UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, as he visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhik Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board officials received the UN Secretary-General at Kartarpur Sahib, some 125kms from Lahore. A Sikh boy presented him a bouquet. Guterres was also briefed about the Kartarpur Corridor pact between Pakistan and India. He was told that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took this initiative to facilitate the Sikh community of India and elsewhere to visit the shrine. The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. Wearing an orange scarf, Guterres visited different parts of the Gurdwara. He was served with traditional food in lunch along with Sikhs and Pakistani officials. Strict security measures were taken during the visit. Indian Sikhs in good number were also present at Kartarpur Sahib. Talking to media persons, the UN Secretary-General said the Kartarpur Corridor is a practical example of Pakistan's desire for peace and inter-faith harmony, Radio Pakistan reported. ALSO READ | Imran rakes up Kashmir again, urges UN to look into 'poor human rights situation' in Valley He said the opening of the corridor is a good step and it will promote tolerance and interfaith harmony. The UN chief appreciated the facilities being provided to Sikh pilgrims at the complex. Talking to the state television after his visit, Guterres said: "This is a very emotional moment. And I cannot be here without having a very strong feeling. It is wonderful to see the interfaith dialogue. It is wonderful to see in the same shrine today Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, maybe Hindus -- all worshipping in harmony and in peace". He further said this is the best symbol that "we can give for a world in peace and for a world in which there is a mutual respect and there is the acceptance of what is different recognising that diversity is a blessing, is a richness, not a threat." "When we see so many parts of the world fighting in the name of religion, it's necessary to say that religions unite us for peace and the best symbol is this shrine". Later in the day, he visited Badshahi Masjid and had dinner at Hazuri Bagh area outside the Lahore Fort. "I've been to Amritsar, today I'm here, to pay tribute to the contribution of the Sikh community all over the world for our planet. I'm a Christian but I feel very much at home when I am in a Sikh shrine and where I can pray to God here together with the Sikh community," he said. Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9, 2019, in connection with the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor from the Indian side on the same day by flagging off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims, including former premier Manmohan Singh and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. ALSO READ | Debbie Abrahams a Pakistan proxy: Singhvi backs Modi government on British MP's deportation Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Earlier in the day, Guterres addressed students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and urged them to focus on new technologies. He termed climate change as the major issue the world is facing today. He also inaugurated a polio campaign. Pakistan is one of the three countries where polio is still endemic. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov met with U.S. Under Secretary of State, Ambassador Nathan A. Sales and U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. Kristina Kvien, the press service of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry has reported. "Today, February 18, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov met with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ambassador Nathan A. Sales and U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. Kristina Kvien," the statement reads. In particular, Ambassador Sales expressed his condolences over the death of a Ukrainian soldier on Tuesday as a result of the escalation of the conflict in Donbas. The United States expresses its sincere condolences to the Ukrainian people in connection with an attack by Russian-backed forces and the escalation of the conflict in Donbas. For the United States, the issue of territorial integrity of Ukraine remains a priority, he said. The parties also discussed bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism measures and identified practical steps for cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and the radicalization of society. I am grateful to our American partners for their strong support in the fight against aggression against Ukraine and fruitful partnership in continuing the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Avakov said. On the morning of February 18, Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi. The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line. According to the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, and four others were wounded. ish The US and the Taliban, at war since 2001, are on the verge of agreeing a landmark withdrawal deal to be signed in Qatar, an insurgent source told AFP on Tuesday. An Afghan official suggested the deal could be inked on February 29 in Doha, depending on the success of a violence reduction period agreed last week after long negotiations between Washington and the jihadists. The US wants to reduce its military presence in Afghanistan, which currently numbers between 12,000 and 13,000, with President Donald Trump keen to make good on a promise to bring troops home after 18 years of war. "All the arrangements have been finalised and the leadership council has given a go ahead signal to the Taliban negotiating team," a Taliban source in Pakistan said. There have been previous false dawns in Afghanistan, with a deal all but complete in September before Trump nixed it at the last moment amid continued Taliban violence. The Taliban source said the jihadists would meet the US negotiators in Doha on Sunday to agree a date and location for the signing ceremony. Both sides were close to agreeing to hold the ceremony during the last week of February, he added. "Even last time, we were committed to sign the deal, but it was US President Trump's decision to backtrack from what both the teams had agreed in Doha," the Taliban source said. "(The signing) is going to happen this time." The Afghan official suggested the ceremony would "take place in Doha if the violence reduction period goes smoothly". Masoud Andarabi, Afghanistan's acting interior minister, said at a workshop in Kabul on Tuesday that the violence reduction period "begins in the next five days". The Kabul government did not comment on his announcement. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said the Taliban's sincerity in entering the violence reduction agreement was unproven. "That's the billion dollar question," Ghani said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. But, he added, "you're not going to find an answer to this question unless you engage in the peace process." Ghani was named on Tuesday the winner of Afghanistan's presidential polls held in September 2019. His rival Abdullah Abdullah contested the final results, vowing he would form his own parallel government. (AFP) ZH ZH ZH All 248 people at an army camp in Manesar and another batch of 100 at an Indo Tibetan Border Police facility, quarantined at these two places after being evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan earlier this month, were discharged on Tuesday, officials said, even as more Indians will be brought back from China by an Indian AIr Force aircraft. IMAGE: A total of 647 Indians and seven Maldivians were brought back from Wuhan on February 1 and 2 . Photograph: ANI Photo The remaining people housed at the ITBP camp will be released by Wednesday, the officials A total of 647 Indians and seven Maldivians were brought back from Wuhan on February 1 and 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China and kept at the two quarantine facilities. On Monday, a batch of about 200 people were discharged from the ITBP camp, which housed a total of 406 people, including seven Maldivians. All 248 persons, mostly students, who were quarantined at the army camp left for their homes after being declared fit on Tuesday. "All of them have tested negative for the respiratory virus in the subsequent tests after the completion of the 14-day quarantine period," an official source said. Military sources said India will send a C-17 military aircraft to Wuhan on February 20 to evacuate more Indians from Wuhan. The C-17 Globemaster, the biggest military aircraft in the Air Force, will carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, the sources said. Last week, India had announced that it will send medicines as well as other medical supplies to China. As the inmates left the quarantine facility on Tuesday, they thanked the Indian Army for the arrangements made at the camp, particularly the food, and raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', sources said. "Due to the fear of coronavirus spreading rapidly, we appealed the Indian embassy in China to rescue us. Our university also provided support to us. The documentation process took around eight days after which Indian Army evacuated us on February 1 on an Air India flight," said a student wearing a mask after being discharged. So far 317 people out of total 406 have left the ITBP centre after being declared free of novel coronavirus by the doctors. All those who were discharged have been provided with conveyance till airport, railway stations, or bus stands. Among those who will leave the facility on Wednesday are a few families. All released persons were advised to remain self isolated for the next 14 days at their respective places, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said. They were also advised the dos and don'ts during the period. On Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had also visited the ITBP facility and interacted with the evacuees. India has so far reported three confirmed cases of the virus, all in Kerala. Two of the three medical students who had tested positive for novel coronavirus infection have now been discharged, Vardhan said on Monday. The condition of the third one is stable, he said. China's National Health Commission on Tuesday said the death toll due to the outbreak has climbed to 1,868 while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Nargiz Ismayilova - Trend: Azerbaijan has a unique potential, Mission Director for USAID in Azerbaijan Jay Singh said at a business summit on the issues of supporting business and professional associations in Baku, Trend reports. These associations can help identify this unique potential and demonstrate it in the international arena, Singh said. Singh said that the USAID mission provides support and creates conditions so that these associations can unite. Two years ago, our main mission was to focus on the private sector, as there is great potential, USAID mission director said. Singh noted that all efforts were aimed at supporting the development of the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan. "We consider the creation of associations as a measure of mutual economic interest. I would like us to work together to create these associations," Singh said. "We successfully held two trade exhibitions in the states of Illinois and Oklahoma. Furthermore, for example, in 2017, USAID supported the Azerbaijan Association of Exporters and contributed in expanding its activities," USAID mission director added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IsmailovaNargis The first look of Sivakarthikeyans upcoming Tamil science-fiction film Ayalaan has been released. In the poster, Siva introduces his friend from another world. Tipped to be a film centered on a lost alien who finds a friend in Sivakarthikeyans character, the film has been directed by Ravi Kumar. Rumoured to have been shelved a year ago, Ayalaan was revived after it went back on the floors last week. 24 AM Studios, the makers of the film, recently shared a picture from the sets and wrote on its Twitter page: Happy to have kick started the last two schedules of our production no 5 after a brief gap; starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by Ravi Kumar. Thanks to all those who supported us throughout. The film features Rakul Preet Singh as an astronomer. If everything goes as planned, the film will hit the screens next year. Isha Koppikar, who returns to Tamil cinema after two decades, will be seen playing an assassin in the movie. Talking about her character, Isha told Times of India: Its a femme fatale role, something that Ive always been waiting for. It is full of action, and I love the Lara Croft kind of roles. I think I have that kind of a strong image and this role falls completely in my scheme of things. I always believe that there cannot be an effective protagonist without a strong antagonist. In this, Sivakarthikeyan is the protagonist and I am the antagonist. For me, it is a fantastic opportunity; especially an actress gets to play such a role opposite such a huge star. Also read: Asim Riaz chats with Bohemia, parties with Himanshi Khurana and Rashami Desai after Bigg Boss 13 finale Ravikumar had spent over a year on the films pre-production. The film took a lot of time to materialise due to the exhaustive research work. It has already been confirmed that the film will have music by double Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, who has even agreed to croon the opening song of the album. Recently, Sivakarthikeyan revealed that he has decided to forego his remuneration for the project. He also confirmed that he will reunite for Ravi Kumar for another project to make up for the time lost on this project. Last seen on screen in superhero film Hero which bombed at the box-office, Sivakarthikeyan also has Tamil comedy Doctor in his kitty. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop LED street lights raise RF pollution fears ABC TV News report on fears in Toledo, Ohio, that the installation new LED street lights will generate considerable RF pollution and interference "The Universe is full of noise," Mike Kehr WA8SYD, an instructor for amateur radio licensing, said. "When you turn the radio on and hear that it has sound and there's no signal there, that's the noise of the universe." The noise that the amateur radio community is concerned about is LED lights. Kehr says the lights make a lot of electrical radio noise and, "that noise can rise to the level of actual interference." Watch the TV news report at https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Are-LED-Lights-A-Threat-To-Communication-567847131.html - Bernardo Silva could be facing the exit doors at Manchester City this summer - The Portugal international has made it clear that he left his country too soon - Silva played for Benfica before making a move to Monaco from where he joined Man City Manchester City star Bernardo Silva has stated that he left Portuguese side Benfica too early and could be making a return to his native country later in his career. In 2014, Silva only played three games for Benfica before making a move to join French side Monaco where he spent three seasons. READ ALSO: Paul Pogba: Juventus ready to offer Man United KSh 16 billion plus 2 players for Frenchman READ ALSO: Frank Lampard: Chelsea fans want manager sacked after defeat to Man United Silva then joined the Citizens in the summer of 2017 where he went on to win two Premier League titles at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola. He has also won two League Cups and FA since he joined Manchester City. READ ALSO: Eliud Kipchoge hangs out with sprint legend Michael Johnson But despite all the success at the Etihad stadium, Silva seems to be missing life in Portugal, opening door to Benfica return. ''I have this emptiness of having left a little early which I have already said many times in which I think I will go back," Mail Online quoted the Portuguese. PAY ATTENTION: Install Pitch Football app for FREE to easily access stats, news and live updates ''If they want me there, I will go back," he further added. Already this term, the 25-year-old has played 34 games for the Citizens, finding the back of the net seventimes and setting up seven other goals. Meanwhile, a number of Man City stars are understood to be contemplating leaving following the club's recent ban by UEFA from European competitions for two years. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news. I cheated on my wife, now I am paying the price - Caleb Odhiambo | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The Greater Accra Regional Organiser of the opposition NDC, Anthony Nukpenu has chided President Akufo-Addo for losing the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey. According to him, the razzmatazz around the campaign was a ploy by the Nana Addo-led government to get party bigwigs into the mining space to fund the party. The fact that President Akufo Addos fight against galamsey has failed is no longer in dispute. The spectacular failure, of the supposedly anti galamsey fight, underscores what we all know to be the truth that President Akufo-Addos policies and offerings most at times are instituted of self-aggrandizement and an avenue for crocked members of his party and government to line their pockets through corrupt means." Anthony Nukpenu told Kwaku Dawuro on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7. He stated that President Akufo-Addo has failed Ghanaians after promising them in 2016 that he would clamp down on illegal mining and regularise small scale mining and make way for more employment in that sector. Anthony Nukpenu indicated that all signs point to all directions that the president has failed to clamp down on illegal mining. According to him, the people involved in this illegal activity have backing from the political powers of society so "we wont win the fight against galamsey." The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) also recently described the governments fight against galamsey as a failure. This week the European Space Agency will begin testing a new kind of spacecraft partially made from cork in the hopes of finding a safer way to re-enter the atmosphere. Called QubeSat for Aerothermodynamic Research and Measurements on Ablation, the vessel is made up of a series of cubes stacked on top of each other and measures around a foot in height. The main shaft is made of titanium that's coated with silicon carbide. On Wednesday, the ESA will launch a small satellite from the ESA on a six month journey to re-enter the Earth's atmospher The satellite is powered by four thin solar panel strips that fan out behind it like a shuttlecock, according to a blog post on the ESA's website. The QubeSat originally reached the ISS on December 5th as part of the cargo carried by SpaceXs Dragon capsule, and this Wednesday it will be launched on an orbit that will have it re-enter the Earth's atmosphere within six months. To help the QubeSat survive this process, ESA engineers designed it with w a cork nose, which they hope will protect it as slowly descends through the Earths atmosphere. Atmospheric re-entry is a violent process and most smaller satellites dont survive the trip. With temperatures that can exceed several thousand degrees Celsius, a satellite the size of the QubeSat would likely have been blasted apart and burned upon re-entry but the ESA believes that using cork for its nose could help it survive the trip. The satellite's nose is made from specially treated cork, which ESA engineers hope will keep the satellite in tact during descent by directing all the heat toward the nose, where the cork will absorb it and burn it off After burning, the satellite's cork nose will be charred and then flake away while leaving the main body in tact--at least that's the theory ESA's engineers hope will play out The cork is designed to carry unwanted heat away from the main satellite body as it descends through the atmosphere, with the material first swelling, then catching fire and becoming charred. The charred cork flakes away while decreasing the amount of heat absorbed by the rest of the satellite, in a process called ablation. This approach has been used to help larger capsules re-enter the atmosphere, but its rarely been attempted with a vessel as small as the QubeSat. The satellite is around a foot long and is powered by four strips of solar panels that fan out at its rear The satellite was delivered to the ISS on December 5th in SapceX's Dragon capsule The ESA points out the cork being used isnt the standard material youd find on pinboards or stuck in champagne bottles. Its a custom mix created by Amorim, a Portugese compant that specializes in the industrial uses for the material. The company also helps convert into a construction material for homes and a core material for surfboard. Around 50 people were admitted to a hospital after consuming food at a wedding ceremony in Sonpur on Saran district on Monday. "Almost 50 people have received treatment at the hospital here. We have also sent a team of doctors to the wedding place, as there are chances of other people who had consumed food getting sick," SS Pandey, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) told reporters here. The people who got sick after consuming food at the wedding also includes children. The official also said that some sick patients had returned to the village after getting treatment. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jaipur, Feb 18 : The Rajasthan government is facing tough times with corruption cases tumbling out from different ministries one after the other. After facing much flak post the death of over 100 children in Kota's JK Lon Hospital after which the health ministry was found misusing National Health Mission funds, another ministry has come under Anti Corruption Bureau's radar with eight transport department officials arrested on Sunday on charges of running a racket with agents and a cash amount of Rs 1.5 crore, property documents and lists of illegal transactions were seized from their residences. Meanwhile, state transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on Tuesday came out strongly in his defence claiming that he need not give any clarification to anyone in the matter. "I need to bring the fact out that ACB comes under our government and not vice-versa that is government doesn't come under ACB. In fact, ACB sleuths never take any step on its own without CM's or minister's direction," said Khachariyawas. Speaking on his meeting with Gehlot, he said, "I need not give any clarification to any one as we have been meeting CM and Deputy CM on different issues." Soon after Khachariyawas' statement, Gehlot told media, "We have been repeatedly asking the administration to stay sensitive, transparent and accountable. However, it can't be done by me saying the same repeatedly. For this, our Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs and the bureaucracy need to come together and take a pledge that the people who have made us sit on higher positions here should be listened to on priority. The government feels that there should be a sense of sensitivity, transparency and accountability in administration." Officials meanwhile confirmed that 22 phones were being tapped since last four months after which 18 teams were formed to arrest the accused which included eight transport officials and seven brokers. Congress workers told IANS that Khachariyawas once was in the good books of Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's camp but was being quietly observed by Gehlot's camp for his alleged corrupt deals. Gehlot has also called for the files for scrutiny fearing which Khachariyawas joined Gehlot's camp a few months back. However, till then, it was already late and his files had revealed all hidden secret deeds being made by his ministry. As ACB comes under the state home ministry, eyebrows are being raised on whether this is another masterstroke of Gehlot who has been known for his political acumen which has silenced his rivals, said a senior Congress leader on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the opposition has started demanding resignation of Khachariyawas. Former health minister Kalicharan Saraf demanded resignation of the minister. He said, "If there is some morality in the chief minister, he should immediately remove Khachariyawas from the ministry. He should demand resignation from him immediately," said Saraf adding that there is massive corruption in the department from top to bottom and hence Khachariyawas should resign to clean up the system. What is embarrassing for the ruling party is that the ACB team under the state government is raiding one of the state ministries whose officials were collecting monthly recoveries illegally via brokers from vehicle owners to ply their vehicles on roads, said another Congress worker. At the Perelman conservation lab, Teresa Lignelli, senior conservator of paintings, discusses treatment for Titians 1558 portrait of Archbishop Archinto. Read more When "Old Masters Now: Celebrating the Johnson Collection" opens Nov. 3 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, it will indeed feature many Old Masters, all part of the museum's holdings for a century. John G. Johnson, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer at a time when Philadelphia lawyers had a national reputation for shrewd success and impeccable taste, amassed one of the great collections of Western art in the country. When he died in 1917, he left all 1,500-plus works to the city. Botticelli, Bosch, Titian, Rembrandt, Manet Johnson collected them all, and they arguably provided the DNA for the museum's entire collection of Western art. "Old Masters Now," roughly 100 works mounted to commemorate the centenary of both the Johnson collection and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, will close Feb. 19. Don't imagine all these paintings will be entirely familiar even those that have been on view for most of the last 100 years. This is an exhibition about how familiarity breeds curiosity and how curiosity fuels change and sometimes transformation. You can return to a work of art again and again, and know it for the first time. Conservation, restoration, and scholarship have altered the Johnson collection, in some cases radically to the point where Johnson himself might not recognize what he was looking at. The great collector, for instance, thought he had acquired 10 paintings by Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516), a painter of little interest to other American collectors at the time. Scholarship and scientific analysis have knocked nine off the list they may be great paintings, but they're not by Bosch. A major feature of the exhibition will showcase the invisible work of curators and conservators that changes perceptions and even the physical works of art. Take Rogier van der Weyden's Crucifixion, with the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist Mourning (c. 1460), for example. The gilt-background diptych that Johnson acquired not only now has no gold, but it is no longer even considered a diptych. The museum, thanks to a director's nagging curiosity, believes the Crucifixion amounts to a spiritual door that once sequestered an enormous sculptural altarpiece, now lost. The paintings were restored in 1993 to their original look, with a deep blue background and no gold. Their use as elements in an altarpiece received scholarly publication in 2012. Instead of being paintings on a wall, the paintings were themselves doors into the heart of a great altar, which Mark Tucker, the museum's director of conservation, argued would have been "a carved, gilded, [and] immensely intricate opulent interior." It was Tucker's curiosity that kept nagging, year after year, and that led to a new and revelatory interpretation. "This was one of the major altarpieces of the 15th century," he said. "No one even knew it existed. We know it existed because of what survives here. "New questions get raised with every generation," he said. "Everyone brings different eyes, a different sensibility, different training. So every generation that comes along is going to want to revise and update." Out of storage after 40 years: What on earth is it? Recently, at the museum's conservation lab in the Perelman Building, a large, five-panel painting by Joos van Cleve, Descent from the Cross (c. 1518-20), was laid out in pieces on a table a patient still in the midst of resuscitation necessary for its star turn in the Johnson exhibition beginning next month. The painting had been in storage for four decades, until Christopher D.M. Atkins, associate curator of European art before 1900, was poking around one day a few years ago. "We pulled this thing," Atkins recalled. "What on earth is it? This is really cool. What is this? Why is this not up? What can we do? Then we talked with Mark: 'OK, we can tell its condition is spotty. What's really going on? What do we really need to do so we can display it?' " The painting had been relegated to storage, partially because of its "spotty" condition and partly because it was deemed a mere copy of van der Weyden's 1435 painting of the same name, now in the Prado. Atkins doesn't see it that way, although he acknowledges that the figures mimic the ones in van der Weyden's painting. "So it's a copy in that sense," Atkins said. "But the obvious difference is placing the scene within the landscape setting." Van der Weyden's painting has a gilded, nonspecific background, whereas van Cleve set his Descent in a very particular Flemish landscape, with unusual rock outcroppings and contemporary Flemish dress and appointments. "We understand copies and replicas and drawing inspiration so directly from the past in a different way today," Atkins said, referring to views of earlier generations of curators. "I'm super-excited. Unfortunately, we couldn't just put it out. It needed a lot of treatment." Lucia Bay, an assistant conservator, has been working on the van Cleve for a year. Because the painting is on five separate panels, it has broken apart more than once over the centuries, losing paint each time. Cleaning and varnishing have also taken a toll, and the panels have warped. Bay decided to have a supportive mold cast for the painting. Ingenious springs secure it while allowing movement. "Wood that's painted on one side, the face and the back are going to respond differently to humidity," said Bay. "So it's very typical for a 500-year-old painting on panel to have a slight convex curvature, a slight belly to it." After the show, Atkins said, the painting will go into the museum galleries. "It's a significant addition by an artist of this stature, but also it plays so well with our collection," he said. "This is an important addition to our collection." An extra measure of Titian Across the conservation lab, lying face down on a large table, was Titian's Portrait of Archbishop Filippo Archinto, removed from its stretcher, resting. The Titian is a mainstay of the collection, a masterpiece almost continuously on view since the museum took possession of it in 1917. In 2015, in preparation for lending it for exhibition in Germany, conservators examining the painting realized that a planned thorough treatment of the work the last was done in 1950 would be a bit trickier than thought. "It had these strips that were nailed down to all four edges, and when we took those off, we discovered that two centimeters of painting of Titian had been folded over and nailed to the edges of the stretcher," said Teresa Lignelli, senior conservator. "Yes, it quickly became more complicated." Probably when the painting went to auction in Paris in 1863, it was removed from its original stretcher and glued to a backing canvas for support. The problem was the new stretcher didn't quite fit. The solution: Fold the Titian over the stretcher and tack it on. "These edges were considered unimportant in the grand scheme of the composition," Lignelli said. She has been removing the edges of the backing canvas, thread by thread, knocking out tacks without damaging paint, and then relaxing the edges of the canvas to ease creases 150 years in the making. The whole work will be reassembled on a newly made stretcher with new margins woven into the backing canvas. Old varnish will be cleaned off, new varnish applied, abraded areas will be built up by careful retouching, which will also address tack holes. X-rays of the painting confirmed, Lignelli said, that "the composition that we've now restored is what was there originally." But the major change the painting has endured over time will not be altered in any way by conservators. Titian used a blue pigment called smalt to give the archbishop's robes their distinctive purple color. Smalt, however, degrades over time, and what was once purple is now simply red. Lignelli wouldn't think of changing that. "There's not much we can do about it in the sense that that degradation, that change is what you would call an inherent vice of the materials he was using," she said. "It's part of the painting's history." "Old Masters Now: Celebrating the Johnson Collection" On exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Nov. 3 to Feb. 19. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.; Wednesday & Friday main building open until 8:45 p.m. Closed Monday. Admission: $20 (adults), $14 (students and youth 13-18), free for children under 13. Pay What You Wish Admission First Sunday of the month, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesday, 58:45 p.m. Information: or 215-763-8100 www.philamuseum.org. Dua Lipa was pictured smoking outside her trailer while in her white dressing gown as she took a break from filming a new music video on Monday. The 24-year-old had slipped the robe on over yellow swimwear as she sported a full face of make-up and wore her blonde locks in an elegant chignon. Dua was pictured walking down the street ahead of arriving on set, wearing a T-shirt, a leather jacket and a plaid Burberry scarf. Taking a moment: Dua Lipa was seen smoking in her dressing gown as she hung out in her trailer during a break from shooting her new music video in New York She wore black jeans and a pair of trainers and carried a colourful handbag in her hand. During filming, Dua posted a photograph of herself wearing a rainbow coloured swimsuit from her own range of merchandise. The one-piece had a cartoon face of her on the front and her signature beneath. Chic: The 24-year-old had slipped the robe on over yellow swimwear as she sported a full face of make-up and wore her blonde locks in an elegant chignon She captioned the Instagram snap with the words: 'Filming smthn 4 u in the newww merch #Physical' Another snap saw her sticking her tongue out playfully, wearing her two-tone black and blonde hair in a half-up, half-down style. When she's not working, Dua is often seen on the arm of her boyfriend, Anwar Hadid, 20, whose sisters are supermodels Gigi and Bella. The pair reportedly moved in with each other after just two months of dating. Bright thing: Dua took to Instagram and shared this swimsuit snap with the words: 'Filming smthn 4 u in the newww merch #Physical' Fun: Another snap saw her sticking her tongue out playfully, wearing her two-tone black and blonde hair in a half-up, half-down style An insider recently told The Sun: 'Dua and Anwar are spending all of their time together so it just made sense for them to rent this place. 'Shes always at his when shes in LA and he stays with her in London so this felt like the natural step. 'Once she comes back with new music she will spend more time in New York so its good for her to have a base there and it makes sense to him because a lot of his family live there.' The couple are believed to have connected with each other over their musical talents, with both of them confessing they are a fan of one another. Presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday announced sweeping reforms to the way Wall Street does business. Among his proposals is a 0.1% tax on all financial transactions, meaning that the federal government would exact a duty on all transactions, including stocks, bonds and payments on derivative contracts. The tax would be phased in over time, scaling up from 0.02% "to monitor and minimize any unintended consequences." The former New York City mayor also proposed setting a speed limit for trading and banning payments for priority access to customer orders, which takes aim at high-frequency traders. "The financial system isn't working the way it should for most Americans," Bloomberg said a press release. "As president, I will toughen the Volcker rule, protect Americans from predatory and discriminatory practices and harness the power of the financial system to spread opportunity and drive economic growth in every community." The campaign says its proposed transactions tax would be designed to help raise revenues needed to address wealth inequality across the U.S. It also targets the very industry where Bloomberg made his billions by selling information terminals to traders. The plan his team released Tuesday included statistics detailing inequalities he's promised to remedy, including $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, discriminatory lending against people of color and what he categorized as reckless and exploitative ultra-fast trading. He's also proposed a variety of other duties on the wealthy as part of his $5 trillion tax plan. But in proposing the transaction tax in particular, Bloomberg moves closer to other progressive candidates like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has for years championed a similar tax and is doing so again in 2020. There has been a lot of head-butting in Nevada over unions, health care and civility in politics ahead of the Democratic caucuses on Saturday. But the White House hopefuls vying for votes in the early caucus state have shown a rare bit of unity over what may be the biggest energy and environmental issue in Nevada. Every major candidate for president has joined Nevada's crusade to stop the completion of a long-delayed nuclear waste storage site under Yucca Mountain some 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The nation's ever-growing pile of radioactive waste from years of building nuclear weapons and producing electricity at nuclear power plants needs to be sequestered permanently somewhere. But, according to the Democratic candidates, just not at the spot in the rural highlands of Nevada that Congress designated three decades ago. The issue has become a crucial box to check for Democrats in the state, which has only gotten increasingly left-leaning and important to the national fortunes of the Democratic Party with each presidential election cycle. "It's not a surprise that no one would support Yucca" said Rodney Ewing, a professor of nuclear security and geological sciences at Stanford University. The candidates, though, largely still don't have an answer to the question of where to put the nation's over 90,000 tons of nuclear waste, if not under Yucca. The three senators still fighting for the nomination - Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar - each backed a bill last year that would bar the federal government from moving the waste into Nevada without permission from the governor. The Sanders campaign featured Yucca in its first campaign video in Nevada in May. The two billionaires funding their own campaigns, Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, also oppose using Yucca as a dumping ground for nuclear waste without the state's consent. Joe Biden, noting his opposition to the Yucca project during his time as senator and vice president, said in a statement "there would be absolutely zero dumping of nuclear waste in Nevada." And the campaign of Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said he wants to ensure Nevadans "have a voice in choosing storage sites." "If Nevadans oppose storing waste at Yucca Mountain," Buttigieg spokesman Chris Meagher added in a statement, "Pete's administration will not support it." The one, lonely supporter of the project in the Democratic field, Andrew Yang, just dropped out of the race last week. Nevadans who balk at burying waste in their own backyard - and outsiders who want to be in their good graces - argue the mountain's rock is too porous and the area is too volcanic and earthquake-prone to suit such long-term storage. Yet without a place to permanently store it, the highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel has been left to linger at sites scattered across 35 states. It can't stay in those spots forever. Some of the waste remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years. And there's the rub: No Democrat has named another specific spot to permanently put the waste. The campaign of former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg wants to bring together nuclear scientists, geologists and other experts "to find alternatives for long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel." Biden wants to establish a new agency to incubate technology startups and other projects that look into the issue of nuclear waste storage. And Warren has proposed studying how to safely and cheaply store waste as part of a $400 billion clean energy program. The opposition to Yucca among Democratic White House hopefuls is nothing new. "The Democratic position starts at 'no" and goes to 'hell no'" on the Yucca repository, said Erik Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada at Reno. Republicans tend to be more supportive of the project. The issue isn't always a dealbreaker for presidential candidates. George W. Bush, who wanted to put the waste at the Nevada site, won the state in 2000 and 2004 against Al Gore and John Kerry, both of whom opposed the project. Congress first approved of using Yucca as a nuclear waste repository back in the 1980s, but Nevada lawmakers - most notably former Senate majority leader Harry Reid, D, - made careers out of stalling the project. Ever since then, the fate of the project has pinballed from administration to administration, with Bush in support and Barack Obama in opposition to entombing the waste in Nevada. "This issue just will not die," Herzik said. After years of his administration throwing its weight behind the Yucca project, President Donald Trump himself just switched positions, too. In a single tweet this month, Trump said he no longer wants to put the waste in Nevada. Trump lost the state to Hillary Clinton four years ago by only a 2.4-point margin. Those wild swings between presidential administrations mean the problem needs a different sort of solution, according to Ewing, the Stanford professor. He led a 2018 study that recommended moving responsibility for disposing of the nuclear to an independent not-for-profit corporation. Ewing, that is, says we need "to remove the federal government" from the job. R ishi Sunak today ruled against delaying the Budget which will go ahead on March 11 as planned. The Chancellor has decided not to attend the G20 summit of finance ministers in Riyadh this weekend so that he can work round the clock on getting his tax and spending package ready in time. It mean missing the chance to see other finance chiefs, including US Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, but sources say he has had phone calls with all his counterparts and will be seeing them at the Spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund in April. Mr Sunak announced his decision via Twitter saying: Cracking on with preparations for my first Budget on March 11. It will deliver on the promises we made to the British people levelling up and unleashing the countrys potential. It was accompanied by a picture of the Chancellor busy at his desk in shirtsleeves poring over documents. The Prime Minister and Mr Sunak will meet in Whitehall tomorrow to discuss progress, described as a regular and routine meeting. Mr Sunak has been in the job for just five days, following the surprise resignation of Sajid Javid in protest at a No 10 power-grab over the Treasury. A Budget delay to March 18 or 25 was mooted, amid speculation that Downing Street was pressing for higher day-to-day spending. The Times reported today that the pair may discuss whether to loosen the governments fiscal rules, extending the period for current spending to be balanced from three years to five. New Zealanders who try to return home independently from the Diamond Princess could be prevented by the government from boarding commercial flights. Eleven New Zealanders are among thousands of passengers due to leave the cruise ship tomorrow after spending two weeks confined to their cabins because of a corona virus outbreak. The Australian government has offered to take New Zealanders to Darwin on a flight out for its citizens, but they must agree to undergo two weeks quarantine when they get home. Two other New Zealanders remain in hospital in Japan with the virus, they won't be on board the flight to Darwin and there is no timeline for when they will return. The flight from Japan to Darwin is unlikely to leave before Wednesday evening. At a press conference this afternoon, Health Minister David Clark says any passengers who choose not to take the flight to Australia will not be able to return to New Zealand for at least two weeks. New Zealander Wren Manuel had initially said he and his wife would not take the Australian flight because they did not want to be quarantined again. But since learning they would have to be quarantined no matter where they were, they decided to take the flight to Darwin. He was frustrated that the government had not evacuated New Zealanders earlier and lessened the time they would have to be isolated. However, David defended the need for further quarantining once passengers returned to New Zealand. "Those people coming back from the cruise ship have been in a situation where the infection rate is far higher than it is in China. "We are concerned for their well-being but also for their families and the community so we want to take a precautionary approach, as we have all along with this outbreak, we are yet to have a confirmed case of Covid-19 in New Zealand and part of the reason for that is because we are taking such a careful approach and putting public health and safety as our number one concern. The advice I have received is that we need to make sure we're taking a cautious approach here too." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says anyone who did not come home on the Australian flight would need to undergo quarantine in Japan. "We need to keep in mind that if they try and fly commercially then that exposes a number of other people to risk. Some of the passengers were distressed about having to be quarantined again, she says. "I understanding how frustrating that will be for many of them... but unfortunately there has been such a rate of transmission, despite some incredible efforts from all those involved, that we do need to put public health and their health first." The government was considering chartering a commercial flight from Darwin to New Zealand, she says. When that flight happens has not yet been decided. David says it was most likely the returning passengers would go to the centre at Whangaparaoa where 157 people who travelled from Wuhan are due to finish their quarantine tomorrow. Rowan Quinn/RNZ. NAJAF, Iraq - When Iraqs top Shiite cleric underwent surgery for a fractured bone last month, it sent shivers around the country and beyond. May God heal Iraq, read a photo of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that circulated online. Frantic supporters shared prayers. Anti-government protesters hung photos of the black-turbaned cleric with a long white beard and bushy eyebrows, declaring, The hearts of the revolutionaries are with you. Al-Sistanis well-wishers included officials from both Iran and the United States, the bitter rivals for influence in Iraq. The incident put into focus the question: what will happen after al-Sistani, who turns 90 this year, is gone? The question has gained added importance for an Iraq deeply embroiled in U.S.-Iranian tensions and gripped by months of anti-government protests. Al-Sistanis death would rob Iraq of a powerful voice whose sway among followers and positions against foreign intervention are believed to have curbed further Iranian influence. He sought to restrain Iranian-backed Shiite militias accused of abuses and moderate the government, repeatedly stating that the Iraqi people are the source of authority. Iran, analysts say, will likely try to exploit the vacuum to expand its influence among Iraqs Shiites. The Iranians dont want another al-Sistani ... They dont want somebody who is strong, who overshadows their own supreme leader, said Abbas Kadhim, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council. While none of al-Sistanis potential successors are in Irans pockets, Tehran can benefit from a weak figure. If this person is silent and doesnt intervene, people will look elsewhere for guidance, Kadhim said. Irans post-al-Sistani ambitions may be complicated by Iraqs wave of protests since October, which showed a vein of resentment among Shiites to Tehrans power. Many Iraqis have also been angered at how U.S. and Iranian hostilities have played out on their soil, including last months U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. One cleric in the Shiite holy city of Najaf said he felt scared for Iraq when he learned of al-Sistanis surgery. When he dies, Iran could use its revolutionary slogans to try to attract followers to its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he said. But he argued that al-Sistanis support for peaceful protesters strengthened Najafs hand among the public against Irans forays. Things werent that complicated for Iran before, he said. Al-Sistani has been a counterweight to Iran, not only in politics. He represents a school of thought in Shiism opposed to direct rule by clerics, the system in place in Iran, where Khamenei has the final word in all matters. Al-Sistani and Khamenei both hold the rank of marja taqlid or object of emulation, a figure that pious Shiites revere as a spiritual guide. But the majority of Iraqs Shiites follow al-Sistani, as do many in Iran and around the world. Fending off Iran is a concern for many in the Najaf Hawza, the esteemed institution of Shiite religious learning from which al-Sistanis successor will emerge. Iran ... wants a political stance (in Iraq) that supports it, said a senior cleric there. Its the Hawza that creates balance. Politicians have lost that balance. If the Hawza loses it too, then Iran will have won both on the religious front and on the political front. Another senior cleric said it would be stupid not to worry about Iran. But its all about resistance. Either an outside body can penetrate, or you can stop it. All the clerics spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding succession and because Hawza senior clergy rarely talk to the media. Al-Sistani doesnt make public appearances and doesnt deliver sermons his messages are put out by intermediaries. He has been recovering from his surgery and this month has resumed receiving visitors at his modest home near Najafs gold-domed Imam Ali Shrine. An AP reporter had a rare visit with him in July. With a scorching Najaf sun beating down, scores lined up outside the narrow alley leading to his home. In a sitting room, al-Sistani spoke with the reporter softly and deliberately in accented Arabic, a relic of his Iranian origin. A dark robe draped around his slender, slightly hunched figure, he made eye contact and gesticulated with one hand, seemingly in good health. Despite the modest trappings, al-Sistani is a larger-than-life figure to whom millions of Shiites look for guidance on even the smallest questions of life. Under his leadership, the Hawzas ranks swelled after dwindling under the repressive rule of Saddam Hussein. Would-be Shiite clerics from around the world flock to the Hawza, learning from the faiths most respected scholars, whose influence in turn resonates around the Shiite community. Religious classes are dispersed among mosques or buildings in the run-down alleys of Najafs Old City. The Hawza prides itself on in its independence, governed by centuries-old traditions and unwritten rules. Status is earned by years of building up a reputation for religious knowledge and respect among students and peers. The system for al-Sistanis succession is complex and informal: no one is appointed and there wont be an immediate declaration of a successor. It can take months or even years until one cleric garners enough followers and influence to gain consensus as the new leading object of emulation. A group of the Hawzas eminent clerics known as Ahl al-Khibra or the people of expertise, guide the process, steering the faithful toward a figure based on piety and superiority of knowledge. The most likely contenders, if they outlive al-Sistani, are two grand ayatollahs Afghan-born Mohammed Ishaq al-Fayadh, who is 89 or 90, and Najaf-born Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, who is in his 80s. Given their advanced age, observers have floated possible candidates from the younger generation. Al-Sistanis influential son, Mohamed Reda, could play a role in shaping the succession if he threw his weight behind a candidate who he thinks will follow in his fathers footsteps, said Baghdad-based analyst Sajad Jiyad. Its important for him that al-Sistanis school is cemented. Still, some question if a figure as broadly accepted as al-Sistani will emerge or how long that can take. The senior clerics who spoke to the AP and who belong to the Ahl al-Khibra were confident the Hawzas cloistered ways and deeply entrenched traditions were difficult for Iran to penetrate and that no successor can veer far from al-Sistanis path. Our Sunni surroundings wont allow for Iraq to become a Shiite religious state, said one of them. The international community wont allow for another Iranian copy in Iraq, nor does our social reality, he added, referring to Iraqs diverse religious and ethnic groups. Iran has tried. It was believed to have been trying to build a following in Najaf for an Iranian cleric close to its supreme leader as a potential successor of al-Sistani. But the cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, died in 2018. Even as he shunned a direct rule by clerics, al-Sistani weighed in actively throughout Iraqs turbulent times, helping shape the rise in power of the countrys Shiite majority. His positions forced Iraqs post-Saddam American administrators to significantly revise their transition plans. In 2004, it took his return from London, where he was treated for a heart condition, to end fighting in Najaf between a Shiite militia and U.S. and Iraqi forces. Still, his influence had limits. He spoke out against reprisals against Sunnis during times of sectarian bloodshed in the mid-2000s but that didnt stop the vicious killings. In 2014, thousands heeded his calls for Iraqis to take up arms against the onslaught of the Sunni Islamic State group. That helped defeat the militants; but it also filled the ranks of Iranian-backed Shiite militias accused of abuses against Sunnis, which have become a significant political force. Anger at Irans influence has helped fuel the current protest movement, the largest seen in Iraq. Protesters complain of corruption by politicians and many reject both Iranian and American interference. Al-Sistani has voiced support for the demands of peaceful protesters and denounced the crackdown against them. He has also spoken out against all foreign intervention and called for an Iraq that is ruled by its children with no role for outsiders in its decisions. Clerics in Najaf said the word outsiders was seen as a harsh message to Iran. Many protesters view him as a protector and sympathizer. But their attitude is complicated, given many of them dream of Iraq moving beyond sectarian allegiances. At a march in Baghdads Tahrir Square, the epicenter of protests, 24-year-old Yassir Kadhim carried a banner with the clerics image. As long as he supports the protests, we will continue. We will continue to death ... because the blood of martyrs has been spilled, he said. But while he follows al-Sistani, he said he would carry on protesting regardless. I went out for the sake of this homeland, not for anyones sake. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Abu Dhabi had witnessed a 57 per cent growth in its industrial facilities last year which rose to 66 from the 2018 figure of 42 facilities. The combined investment value of these units surged to Dh6.3 billion ($1.7 billion), according to official data released by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). The latest edition of the annual Industrial Activity Report issued by the Industrial Development Bureau of the ADDED highlights key statistics showcasing the local industrial sectors performance in 2019. A total of 1,552 industrial licenses, comprising 811 with Production status; 535, Under Process; and 206, Industry Pioneers, were released by the end of the year. Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, the undersecretary of ADDED, said the report reflects the significant role played by IDB in fostering a business-friendly environment in Abu Dhabi and ensuring a positive and preferable investment environment for the local industrial sector. Al Balooshi pointed out that IDB continued to design solutions to the challenges facing the industrial sector through the implementation of strategic initiatives that support the industrial investors. He underlined the positive impact of the Electricity Tariff Incentive Programme on the industrial sector. ETIP was launched last year as part of the Abu Dhabi Governments accelerator programme 'Ghadan 21', he stated. A new initiative to be launched this February is also expected to contribute to the sectors growth by reinforcing public-private partnerships and increasing the private sectors contribution to Abu Dhabis gross domestic product. Al Balooshi attributed the growth in the issued industrial licences in Abu Dhabi over the past three years to IDBs ongoing efforts, noting a 530 per cent growth in 2019 to reach 139 newly issued licenses compared to 22 licences in 2016. He emphasised ADDEDs keenness to facilitate licensing procedures for industrial facilities, with the aim of attracting more foreign and local investments to the industrial sector. Buoyed with the 2019 growth in the number of issued industrial licences in Abu Dhabi, ADDED said it aims to double the number in the Al Ain City, and Al Dhafra. "Under the Industrial Pioneers category, the 2019 Industrial Activity report recorded a 11.2 per cent growth compared to 2018, which reflects the industrial investors interest to seek investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi. The number of industrial facilities with Production status also increased in 2019 by 57.14 per cent compared to the figures issued in 2018," observed Al Balooshi. The IDB report also highlighted a 5.7 per cent increase in industrial licence renewals applied by facilities with Production status. A total of 732 licences were issued last year compared to 696 licences in 2018. Those with Under Process status saw a cumulative growth rate of 9.53 per cent since 2016. An increase of 3.32 per cent was posted in 2019 in comparison to 2018, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Clayton Williams, a West Texas oilman who derailed his 1990 campaign for governor with a spate of crude remarks, including an offensive comment about rape, died on Friday at his home in Midland, Texas. He was 88. Denise Kelly, a family spokeswoman, said the cause was complications of pneumonia. A successful entrepreneur who had never run for political office, Mr. Williams, a Republican, made one memorable try in 1990 in a marquee matchup against Ann Richards, the state treasurer and, like Mr. Williams, a larger-than-life figure. She had come to national prominence at the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she said that the Republican presidential nominee, George H.W. Bush, had been born with a silver foot in his mouth. The Associated Press would later call the Williams-Richards face-off the biggest, bruisingest, costliest, craziest, nastiest, noisiest, wildest, woolliest Texas governors race ever. Mr. Williams spent lavishly, casting himself as an independent cowboy type who had risen from humble roots to become a powerful business tycoon. He promised to get tough on crime and make Texas great again. The polls pointed to an easy victory. Zurich has leveraged its own MindFIT program as part of a collaboration with OnePath, to bring to customers the platforms range of resources to help improve mental health through a detailed library of initiatives and tools. Zurich also worked with its various mental health partners to promote the resources available via its e-wellbeing hub, offered by MindStar, as well as encouraging the use of its Tackle Your Feelings mental health program. Read more: GB leader tackles mental health response and prevention strategies for hospitality TAL, a life insurance specialist, announced earlier this week it would be launching a new course through its Risk Academy to help advisers supporting clients dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster with a significant mental health focus. TALs head of mental health Glenn Baird will be joined by Nicole Sadler, head of policy and practice at Phoenix Australia for a Q&A about the different effects natural disasters can have on mental health as well as how to navigate difficult conversations. In a recent announcement, Baird discussed the mental health aspects of such disasters, and what TAL was trying to do to mitigate this. Studies show that those impacted can experience adverse changes to their mental health due to the stresses brought about by the effects of natural disasters on their income, accommodation or personal relationships, Baird said. The Risk Academy course will include a Q&A session between advisers and Nicole Sadler, a clinical psychologist, and we will discuss the different effects natural disasters can have on mental health as well as how to navigate difficult or upsetting conversations. Allianz Australia is another insurer dedicating its resources to this cause. It recently announced a free counselling service for Australian customers and their immediate families who have been impacted by the catastrophe. Run in partnership with independent counselling service Assure Programs, the program will offer any Allianz customer and each family member or partner access to three free, independent counselling sessions, available over the phone or in person at over 400 locations throughout Australia, with a professional psychologist. Helen Silver, chief general manager of corporate governance and conduct at Allianz Australia, explained to Insurance Business the necessity of rolling out the program. At Allianz we are continually looking at how we can improve outcomes for our customers, she said. We have extended our employee assistance program to include customers affected by bushfires because we appreciate the emotional toll these events can have. This can occur immediately, or a little while after the event. Allianzs support doesnt stop at insurance, we are committed to providing the necessary assistance our customers and their families need through this hard time, she explained. We recognise the mental health impacts of distressing events like the bushfire crisis can be huge - even the impact of witnessing the devastation can be long lasting. And while we often look at the help insurers are doing in a physical sense to help affected customers, the work some do in the mental health field sometimes goes unnoticed. But do insurers have a duty to help those customers with mental health problems as a consequence of natural disaster events? Read more: Perfect storm of change impacting mental health of financial advisers Insurance Business spoke to Paul Muir, founder of Compliance Advocacy Solutions and an expert on the General Insurance Code of Practice, who believes that the new code would point to the need to ensure care for potentially vulnerable customers. Within the new Insurance Council of Australias (ICA) code of practice, problems with someones mental health would fall into the extra care and vulnerability part of the code, explained Muir. This part of the code ensures that insurers take extra measures at all opportunities to help their customers that fall into this category. Part nine of the code includes guidelines as far as mental health is concerned, and these parts of the new code were put into place by the ICA to respond to situations such as this, he said. And while Muir explained that no-one expects insurers to turn into counsellor, it has become more normal to help those customers affected by disasters and this will only continue moving forward. There is no expectation on those in the industry to become counsellor, but the key will be to help those vulnerable customers, especially in the first instance of such an event, Muir explained. But, to be fair, insurers have been doing a lot of work in this field anyway they have been moving down this pathway already. ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nadarra Lighting (Nadarra), a start-up lighting designer and manufacturer, headquartered in Rochester, NY, has developed modern, eye-catching, decorative light fixtures, geared towards the hospitality industry, which utilize OLED light panels. Nadarra made a conscious decision to utilize OLED light panels, due to the technologys wellness component. The formation of this new company leverages partnerships in Rochesters backyard. Nadarra will source its OLED light panels exclusively from OLEDWorks, as a member of their Channel Partner Program. The Channel Partner Program provides early adopters expanded access to OLEDWorks OLED light technology, engineering mindshare, marketing and sales advocacy, and more. Nadarra is among the first companies in the United States, exclusively dedicated to manufacturing decorative light fixtures that use OLED light panels. Nadarra Lighting was an early adopter of OLED light and has an impressive portfolio of OLED luminaires, says John Rubens, Vice President of Customer Success at OLEDWorks. Weve always believed in the potential for OLED applications in the hospitality space, and Nadarra has brought that belief to life. Were excited to see what we can do together this year as our partnership expands, and they develop new fixtures in unique designs. Nadarra has designed and manufactured specification-grade, decorative OLED light fixtures, geared towards the hospitality industry, with plans to expand product and market offerings in upcoming years. The company is focused on the health and wellness of light. Nadarra believes that light needs to be understood as something that can directly impact emotional and physical well-being. With health and wellness being a main component of the hospitality and tourism market, Nadarra saw a need to develop light fixtures that could assist interior designers, architects, owner/operators, and other key hospitality personnel, to bring health and wellness to their guests, through light design. OLED technology poses no blue light risk to your eyes, and is circadian rhythm friendly, leading to better overall health and well-being. The company has future plans to target other health and wellness industries, such as senior living, and long-term care facilities. In addition to the health and wellness of light, Nadarra is passionate about the creative freedom that OLEDs unique form factor brings to interior designers, architects and other professionals in the hospitality industry. All of Nadarras current OLED light fixtures are designed to behave as eye-catching focal points within a space. Nadarra believes that OLED technology, and LED technology can work well together. That the combination of the two will provide for an unforgettable end-user experience. By utilizing Nadarras OLED light fixtures, alongside LED ambient lighting, designers now have another tool to address issues with light, and enhance the customer/guest experience. Bill McDonnell, founder of Nadarra Lighting, is passionate about creating a commercial space for OLED light technology. Bill states, lighting impacts us in so many ways throughout our day. We need to be aware of how light impacts us beyond allowing us to see, but how it impacts our emotional well-being. Believe it or not, lighting is very personal and needs to be viewed and applied in our life that way. We design light fixtures, which utilize OLED technology, so we can be a lighting solution that not only looks good, but also makes you feel good. The Formation of Nadarra comes as OLED technology continues to gain traction in the market. New research and development is allowing for continued advancement in streamlining processes and procedures, and ultimately leading to a lower price point. OLED was first invented at Kodak in 1987 by chemists Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke. In recent years, OLEDWorks has been an industry leader in continued research and advancement in the OLED field. It was an obvious choice to exclusively partner with OLEDWorks for our OLED light panels, states McDonnell. Not only are they the industry leader, producing the highest quality OLED light panels in the world, they are a true story of entrepreneurship and teamwork, right in Rochester. About Nadarra Lighting Nadarra Lighting is headquartered in downtown Rochester, New York. The company has an in-depth focus on the health and wellness of light, selling decorative OLED light fixtures that look and feel good. Nadarras OLED light fixtures are geared towards the commercial industry, and more specifically the hospitality industry. Those interested in learning more about Nadarra and OLED technology can visit the companys website at www.nadarralighting.com. For more information, industry updates, and advancements in OLED technology, follow Nadarra on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter - @Nadarralighting. About OLEDWorks OLEDWorks is a global leader in the development and production of innovative organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting solutions. Founded in 2010 in Rochester NY by many of the original pioneers in the OLED industry, OLEDWorks creates reliable, beautiful and cost-effective OLED light engines that inspire architects, designers and manufacturers around the world. By producing the worlds best performing OLED panels and combining rapid product innovation, OLEDWorks simplifies and enriches your illuminated space. Free from blue light hazards, OLED is the healthy and beautiful light solution. Sustainable and environmentally responsible, OLEDWorks OLED light engines enhance the well-being of our world and its inhabitants. OLEDWorks invites the architectural lighting community to Experience OLED Light at Light + Building 2020 and attend a 30-minute roundtable at LEDucation on March 17-18 to discuss the health and well-being benefits of OLED light. For More Information, Contact: Stephanie Weaver Marketing Director P: 585.673.1300 E: stephanie@nadarralighting.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6f8e42e-6fb1-4981-bd5a-80ff3e9ad879 The fire broke out on the 8th floor of the GST Bhavan and gutted the 9th floor as well. Smoke billows out of the GST Bhavan after a fire broke out on its eighth floor in Mazgaon, Mumbai on Monday. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav) Mumbai: Thousands of employees were evacuated from the GST Bhavan in south Mumbai after a major fire broke out in the multi-storey building on Monday, but no casualty was reported, civic officials said. Nearly 3,500 staffers were working in the building in the Mazagaon area when the fire broke out around 12.30 pm, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said. The fire broke out on the 8th floor of the GST Bhavan and gutted the 9th floor as well. The Mumbai Fire Brigade declared it a level-2 fire initially, but it was escalated to level-4 later. Over 20 fire engines were pressed into service to put out the inferno and cooling operation was underway. Mr Pawar assured a probe into the fire but clarified that no records were lost in the blaze due to digitization of documents. Firefighters battled for almost three hours to douse the flames, which started on the eighth floor of the 10-storey government-owned building, the officials said. Speaking to media persons at the spot, Pawar said the fire spread rapidly due to presence of papers and wooden material in the building, from where thick smoke billowed out. The fire engulfed the entire ninth floor of GST Bhavan building, said Mumbai's chief fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale. He said the building was smoke-logged and hence firemen used breathing apparatus sets to put out the flames. According to the Fire Brigade, a portion of the building was under repair. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said scores of employees were evacuated from the fire-hit building, but no casualty was reported. Though some staffers blamed short circuit for the fire, the officials said the exact cause was under investigation. The building was earlier known as the Sales Tax Bhavan, but since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax regime in 2017, it was rechristened as GST Bhavan. Last week, a massive fire had partially gutted a three-storey commercial building in suburban Andheri. State parks officials are looking for volunteers to help keep the state's waterways clean and Bay Area residents interested in volunteering can get training nearby, the officials said Thursday. Designated as dockwalkers, volunteers will be tasked with distributing boater kits that provide educational materials on clean boating practices. Dockwalkers are part of California's Boating Clean and Green Program. For the past 19 to 20 years, dockwalkers have taught more than 20,000 boaters about keeping waterways clean from oil, fuel, sewage and marine debris. State officials said the level of recreational boating activity in California is one of the highest in the country. Even a small amount of pollution from the each of the roughly 4 million motorized and non-motorized boats can cause serious harm to marine life and waterways. "We urge any water enthusiast who wants to make a difference in keeping our waterways clean to become a Dockwalker," Vivian Matuk, manager for the Boating Clean and Green Program, said in a statement. Videos describing what dockwalkers do are available at http://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29211. The videos also tell stories of successful dockwalking. Anyone 15 years old and older can become a dockwalker by taking a free, three-hour class and opportunities to get the training are available throughout the state starting next month. Opportunities are available until May. Interested persons must register ahead of time. The training qualifies as community service. In the Bay Area, training classes will be held in Brisbane on March 11, in San Rafael on April 4, in Vallejo on April 11, and in Fairfield on May 11. State officials encourage marinas and yacht clubs to participate. Facilities that participate will receive tools and educational materials to help them operate a clean facility and limit impacts to water quality. Through the dockwalker program, marinas and yacht clubs can get points toward the Clean Marina designation. Participation also counts toward a nomination as a club of the year. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. OTTAWA The Pallister government pushed the federal government to beef up boat inspections at the U.S. border, as zebra mussels wreaked havoc on Manitoba. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The Pallister government pushed the federal government to beef up boat inspections at the U.S. border, as zebra mussels wreaked havoc on Manitoba. "Manitoba is concerned with the (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) capacity to implement the aquatic invasive species regulations," reads a briefing note the Free Press obtained through access-to-information laws. "In particular, they would like increased federal assistance to control for (such species) at the Manitoba-U.S. border," reads the document, prepared for the top DFO bureaucrat, for a Feb. 15, 2019, call with her counterpart in the Manitoba government. The document notes that instead of spending more on border checks, the federal government would try to "better leverage our existing resources." The department says it has since launched an unspecified pilot project with the Canada Border Services Agency at Manitoba crossings. The zebra mussel, which has spread across the Great Lakes since the 1980s, is an invasive species that breeds rapidly and latches onto metal surfaces. "They can get incredibly high densities, and they clog intake screens and a variety of infrastructures," said Scott Higgins, a research scientist at the International Institute for Sustainable Development. He said zebra mussels are "the poster child for aquatic invasive species" because they throw off fish ecosystems and jam up Manitoba Hydro infrastructure. Zebra mussels were found in Lake Winnipeg in 2013, while larva were found last August near a generating station in the Nelson River, as well as in Shoal Lake last spring. In an email, DFO said in the past 12 months, it has helped Manitoba craft response plans and research the issue. The department has also collaborated with border guards on a pilot project to stop overland spread of the species in Manitoba, and has two invasive-species experts in Winnipeg. "DFO has prioritized a number of key projects to support Manitoba," wrote spokeswoman Holly Foerter. Zebra mussels can spread on boats that arent sufficiently decontaminated with hot, high-pressure water, because their embryos arent always visible to the human eye. However, Higgins said the mussels most likely arrived in Lake Winnipeg on driftwood floating up the Red River from the United States, rather than on boats driven into Manitoba. "Theres no evidence to suggest that they came across the land border," said Higgins, who used to work for DFO before the institute took over the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario. He said officials should be more worried about mussels already in Lake Winnipeg spreading north and west, because theres sufficient calcium in Prairie waters for the species to thrive. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Its really hard to find these things; its like finding a needle in a haystack but if that needle gets into your lake, it can wreak havoc," Higgins said. "Theyre extremely hard to eradicate, if not impossible." Manitoba Hydro has monitored for zebra mussels since the 1990s, and hasnt yet found them in generating stations. This year, the Crown corporation will install traps and design equipment to treat stations for the mussels. The province would not make a minister available for an interview to explain whether Ottawas response is enough to address its concerns. A spokesman for the agriculture department noted collaboration with border services on enhanced aquatic invasive species protection at the Canada-United States border. He added the province expanded operations at six key watercraft-inspection stations last year. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China Tue, February 18, 2020 20:10 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20654103b 2 World coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,outbreak,doctors,medical-practitioners,medical-issues,Education Free Children of China's frontline medical workers battling the deadly coronavirus will be awarded extra exam points when applying for schools and higher education, local officials said Tuesday. Doctors and nurses in Hubei province -- where the outbreak originated and which has reported the majority of deaths -- have been lionized online and by state media. China's schooling system places a major emphasis on exams, and even younger children face extreme competition to get into top schools that parents believe will raise their chances of getting into a good university. The measures will "further care for the province's frontline medical staff" and encourage them to be more "resolute" in their fight to contain the virus, the province said in a statement. Children of medical workers applying for high school this year can receive an additional 10 points in their entrance exams, while younger children will be prioritized for admission at public kindergartens, according to officials. Although millions expressed their grief online when whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang died -- with other medical workers' deaths similarly mourned on a smaller scale -- Chinese social media users complained it was unfair to reward only medical staff in Hubei. "Bonus points are already unfair, but only offering it to Hubei staff makes it even more unfair to other provinces because they all went there to help," one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform wrote. More than 32,000 medical workers from elsewhere in China have been sent to the province as reinforcement, Hubei's government said at a press conference Tuesday. Others argued the children themselves were undeserving of the reward. "It is not appropriate for the child to benefit from their parent's devotion," one user wrote. "This would lead to education unfairness." Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat is learned to have told a group of columnists on Tuesday that "openness" is a characteristic of Hindus and it should be preserved, adding that the community needed to be "awakened", but not against anyone. Bhagwat held the day-long closed-door meeting in Delhi's Chhattarpur area with 70 columnists from across the country in an effort to clear misconceptions about the organisation. Few columnists who were present at the meeting were of the opinion that it was "fruitful discussion" on wide-ranging topics. "Openness is the characteristic of Hindus, that must be preserved," a columnist quoted Bhagwat as saying. Underlining that Hindus should be united and alert, Bhagwat said there was no danger as long as Hindus are organised and alert. "Hindus are to be awakened, but not against anyone. They need not to be reactionary. We don't classify anyone. We don't doubt anyone," the RSS leader said, as per the columnist. On the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and protests against it, Bhagwat reiterated that the law could be disliked or demanded to be changed, but buses cannot be burnt or public property destroyed. "That is not democracy. But now they are waving Indian flags, holding the Constitution and even saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. So who's changing? Who's winning?" Bhagwat quipped. Last year, the RSS chief had also met representatives of international media organisations posted in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/2/2020 (693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial Should law enforcement officers be held to a higher moral and ethical standard? The answer, to most citizens, would seem obvious, but a recent case in a Winnipeg courtroom might lead some to believe police and the public have very different views on the matter. In Court of Queens Bench last week, lawyers for the Winnipeg Police Service and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba offered starkly differing views on how, and how much, information should be handed over by police when the conduct of officers is being investigated. Of particular interest in the case is the question of whether police cadets civilian employees of the police service can be compelled to hand over their notes to IIU investigators. The court action follows a lawsuit launched by the IIU last April after nine fruitless months of demanding internal police files related to the death of an individual in police custody. In July 2018, Matthew Fosseneuve was hit with a Taser stun gun by police after allegedly threatening officers with a brick; he became unresponsive and was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two cadets witnessed the incident. The IIUs requests for access to their notes, and to interview the cadets directly, were denied. The police service employed a very narrow definition of the Police Services Act, which governs law enforcement in Manitoba, as its justification for refusing those requests. Police lawyer Shannon Hanlin argued last week that because the act does not spell out the specific obligations of the police service in relation to disclosing information to the IIU, the police service cannot be compelled to hand over documents. In legal terms, she might be correct (the Police Services Act is under review). But it is, by any measure that might be applied by a civilian population hoping to place its trust in the police service, an alarming position. Even more troubling is the police lawyers assertion that since the IIUs job is to investigate, it should do its own legwork rather than asking police to turn over notes and documents. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. IIU lawyer Samuel Thomson, not surprisingly, saw things differently: "We suggest this is against the very purpose of the IIU." The Queens Bench case is the latest episode in the ongoing struggle in which the police service has frustrated the efforts of the independent watchdog agency. The depth of the dispute became clear in 2018 when hundreds of emails between the police service and the IIU obtained by the Free Press under freedom of information legislation showed numerous instances in which police either failed to inform the IIU that an officers conduct was under investigation or resisted IIU requests for information or documents. At the time, police Chief Danny Smyth said his intention was "protecting the rights of our officers and making sure that the process is fair for them." Perhaps the chief, and the legal team deftly arguing the finer points of law on the services behalf, should be reminded that the police services first duty is to the public. If an officers conduct requires investigation, Mr. Smyth and the force he commands should provide immediate access to all materials that will allow the IIU to get to the truth of the matter. If the police services own documentation shows no offence has been committed, the IIUs work is properly done. If wrongdoing is exposed, accountability must follow. Its that simple. Its the duty of the police to uphold the law even when it turns out one of their own has broken it. The woman who was involved in a famous string of murders that inspired the movies Natural Born Killers and Badlands was denied a full pardon on Tuesday despite some of the victims' families' claims that she deserves it. Caril Ann Clair, who went by Caril Ann Fugate at the time, was 14 in November 1957 when she accompanied her boyfriend, 19-year-old Charlie Starkweather, on a two month killing spree that left 11 people dead. Caril was convicted in just one of the deaths and later had her life sentence reduced. She was released from prison in 1976 but now wants a full pardon, claiming she too was a victim of Starkweather and that he took her captive, forcing her to take part. Starkweather was executed by electric chair in 1959. Clair was charged in only one of the killings, and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Her sentence was later reduced and she was paroled in 1976. In her pardon request, Clair, who now lives in Hillsdale, Michigan, said the Nebraska Board of Pardons has a chance to right a historical wrong. But on Tuesday, the Nebraska Parole Board turned her down, saying she was guilty of the crime she was convicted of. Scroll down for video Clair was 14 when she accompanied her 19-year-old boyfriend, Charlie Starkweather (left, together before the killings), on a bloody journey that left 11 people dead. Starkweather is seen in jail in 1958 Caril Ann Clair, who went by Caril Ann Fugate at the time, was 14 in November 1957 when she accompanied her boyfriend, 19-year-old Charlie Starkweather, on a two month killing spree that left 11 people dead. She is shown, left, in the 50s, and right, in the last known photograph of her taken in 2006, after she was released from prison having served her sentence In her appeal, she asked the parole board to 'relieve the burden' of her guilt by pardoning her. 'The idea that posterity has been made to believe that I knew about and/or witnessed the death of my beloved family and left with Starkweather willingly on a murder spree is too much for me to bear anymore,' Clair wrote in her 2017 application, which the board is scheduled to consider. 'Receiving a pardon may somehow alleviate this terrible burden.' The families of the victims are torn over whether or not she is innocent. (Left to right) Merle Collison, Robert Colvert and C. Lauer Ward, 48 were among the victims Housewife Clara Ward, farmer August Meyer and maid Lillian Fencil were also slain Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts announcing the decision to turn down the request on Tuesday. He said it was not the state's job to alleviate her of her guilt Liz Ward, whose grandparents C. Lauer Ward and Clara Ward, said she deserves to be pardoned. She says she has reviewed all the trial evidence and that she believes Caril is telling the truth. 'Carole Fugate is not guilty. I've been through the archives. 'I've read every piece of paper. I've read the trial transcripts, all thousand pages of them. 'Why we are inclined to believe his story while the girl's is swallowed,' she told KEVTV. David Ellis, however, whose cousin Carol King, 16, and her boyfriend, Robert Jensen, 17, were also killed, did not want to see her pardoned. 'She's guilty. I think she was guilty of the murders and I don't think a pardon is appropriate. Liz Ward, whose grandparents C. Lauer Ward and Clara Ward, said she deserved to be pardoned. She was disappointed with the decision David Ellis, whose cousin Carol King, 16, and her boyfriend, Robert Jensen, 17, were also killed, did not want to see her pardoned. He is shown with Paulette Neemann, another of King's relatives 'It's left a scar on me. Sixty-one years has gone by. 'I can't forget it. Nebraska can't forget it. She's trying to forget it... she's had 61 years to get her story straight,' he said. They both attended the hearing. In her request, Clair said a pardon would represent only a formal forgiveness of her crime, which she says she committed in mortal fear. 'When I was 14 years old, I was abducted and held captive by Charlie Starkweather. 'I was terrified and did whatever he wanted me to,' wrote Clair, who acknowledged that she was present when one of the victims was shot and that she did hold the money taken from him. 'I lived in constant fear for my family's safety. Because I loved them with all my heart,' Clair wrote. Clair (pictured in prison in September 1973) acknowledged that she was present when one of the victims was shot and that she did hold the money taken from him Clair admitted taking $4 from Robert Jensen's (left) wallet just before he and his girlfriend, Carol King (right), were shot to death. Starkweather then left their bodies in a storm cellar The infamous saga, inspired the 1982 Springsteen song Nebraska and the 1973 film Badlands starring Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen. It also inspired movie Natural Born Killers, starring Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis. The spree began in November 1957 when Starkweather robbed and shot dead 21-year-old gas station attendant, Robert Colvert, in Lincoln. His body was later discovered on a country road. At the time of his death, Colvert had been recently been discharged from the US Navy. On January 21, 1958, authorities say Starkweather went to Clair's house and killed her three family members after her mother and stepfather told him to stay away. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis in Natural Born Killers Starkweather said Clair was home the entire time, but she said she wasn't and that when she got home, he met her with a gun and told her that her family was being held hostage and wouldn't be killed if she obeyed him. Her boyfriend killed her stepfather Marion Bartlett, 57 and his 35-year-old wife Velda. Their bodies were found in an outbuilding. Their two-year-old daughter, Betty Jean, had been clubbed to death with the butt of a gun and her body stuffed in a cardboard box. The two then went on the run, and Starkweather killed seven more people as they made their way to Wyoming. Their first stop was to the home of August Meyer, Starkweather's friend. Starkweather shot and killed Meyer in his stables before beating the man's dog to death. That same night, 17-year-old Robert Jensen and his girlfriend, Carol King, 16, became the next victims. Clair admitted taking $4 from Jensen's wallet just before he and King were shot to death. Starkweather then left their bodies in a storm cellar. One of the main factors in Clair's conviction was that she was holding a shotgun at the time. Authorities also said Starkweather brutally raped King before killing her. One of the main factors in her conviction was that she was holding a shotgun at the time. Starkweather then stole Jensen's car and drove back to Lincoln, Nebraska. He selected the home of C Lauer Ward, 48, as their sanctuary, killing the local businessman, his wife, Clara, 46, and their maid Lillian Fencil, 51. Starkweather then used Ward's Packard to drive head to Washington state, but they never made it that far. Instead, they stopped in Douglas, Wyoming, which is nearly 470 miles west of Lincoln, to ditch the Packard. After ditching the vehicle, they came across Merle Collison, 37, who was napping along the highway in his car. Collison became the last victim. He was shot dead while sitting in his car. Starkweather and Clair were arrested the same day. Though 11 people were killed, Starkweather only went to trial for the murder of Collison. While the United Kingdom Parliamentarian Debbie Abrahams alleges that she was deported from India and was not granted Visa on Arrival, government sources have told Republic World that there is no such provision for UK citizens to get Visa on Arrival in India and also that her visit to India was aimed at Anti-India activities. Read: Indian High Commission issues statement on Debbie Abrahams: 'She didn't hold a valid visa' Her e-Business Visa was revoked on February 14, 2020, on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest. The rejection of the e-Business Visa was intimated to her on the same day, sources said. Sources say that Debbie Abrahams was granted an e-Business Visa on October 7, 2019, which was valid till October 5, 2020, and was given to her to attend business meetings. In any case, previously issued e-Business Visa meant for business meetings, can't be used for visiting family and friends, as claimed by her. This is not permitted as per the rules and a separate visa request has to be made, the sources said. Read: 'Rulebook & due process followed': MHA sources on UK MP Debbie Abrahams being deported The grant or rejection of the visa is the sovereign right of any country, and the government of India reserves the right to grant/reject the visa to any foreign national. Grant, rejection, revocation of visa / electronic travel authorization is the sovereign right of any country, the sources said. 'Politely requested to leave' Sources said that when Abrahams arrived in India she was not in the possession of a valid Indian visit and she was politely requested to return. Abrahams was not in the possession of a valid visa at the time of her travel to India and she was accordingly requested to return, sources said. Read: Pak proxy; clasp with ISI: Cong's Singhvi backs Modi govt deporting UK MP Debbie Abrahams Adding that there was no provision of 'visa on arrival' for UK nationals at the airport. Sources said that Abrahams had violated several rules of the visa that was issued to her. Sources also say that Abrahams has been indulged in several Anti-India Activities as she has been openly working on the behest of Pakistan in spreading the fake narrative on Kashmir. Ms. Abrahams has been indulged in several anti-India activities and has been spreading misinformation as far as Kashmir is concerned. Though she calls herself a pro-human rights activist, she has kept her eyes and ears shut when it comes to gross human rights violations in PoK, Baluchistan and the forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan a source said. Read: Deported British MP Debbie Abrahams not aware of visa cancellation; will go to Pakistan OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California BanCorp (OTCQX:CALB), the holding company for California Bank of Commerce (CBC), today announced that Frank L. Muller has joined the banks Board of Directors. Muller joins the board as a respected business leader in the Sacramento Valley with an extensive background in business and agriculture. He is the owner of M Three Ranches, LLC in Woodland, California and was the previous President of Muller Ranch, LLC. We are pleased to have Frank join us, said Steve Cortese, Chairman of the Board of Directors. As the bank expands its presence throughout Northern California, his familiarity and knowledge of the regions economy will be tremendously beneficial. For more than 20 years, Muller has served on the Board of Directors for Pacific Coast Producer, including as Chairman for the past 15 years. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and California Custom Foods. As an active member of the community, Muller spends his time volunteering with Yolo County 4-H and Yolo Arts. Both programs enrich the lives of the community through agriculture, animal, arts and science projects and events. He received a bachelors degree in agriculture and managerial economics from the University of California, Davis. It is a privilege to be working alongside the banks esteemed executive team and my fellow board members, said Frank Muller. I look forward to leveraging my agriculture background and expertise within the board. For more information about California Bank of Commerce, visit www.californiabankofcommerce.com . About California BanCorp and California Bank of Commerce California BanCorp, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, California Bank of Commerce, offers a broad range of commercial banking services to closely held businesses and professionals located throughout Northern California. The stock of its parent company, California BanCorp, trades on the OTCQX marketplace under the symbol CALB. For more information on CaliforniaBanCorp and California Bank of Commerce, call us at (510) 457-3751, or visit us at www.californiabankofcommerce.com . Contact California Bank of Commerce California BanCorp Steven E. Shelton, (510) 457-3751 President and Chief Executive Officer seshelton@bankcbc.com Thomas A. Sa, (510) 457-3775 Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer tsa@bankcbc.com Media Contact The European Union will launch a new naval and air mission in the Eastern Mediterranean to stop more weapons from reaching the warring factions in Libya, foreign ministers agreed on Monday. The agreement was reached after Austria lifted its veto. We all agree to create a mission that blocks the flow of arms into Libya, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio told reporters. The UN-recognized government in Tripoli is under attack from the forces of Gen Khalifa Haftar, which control most of eastern and southern Libya. Gen Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) has support from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and Russia, while the Tripoli government has the backing of Turkey, Qatar and Italy, among others. The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes. The EUs new naval and air mission is to operate in the eastern Mediterranean, away from the migrant-smuggling routes from Libya, which have caused bitter divisions in the EU. Austria led opposition to renewing EU naval patrols off the Libyan coast, but finally accepted a new mission with a different mandate from Operation Sophia, which had sought to stop people-smuggling gangs. On Monday, Libyans from a number of cities have gathered in the capital, Tripoli, to celebrate nine years since the beginning of an uprising that eventually toppled Muammar Gaddafi after 42 years in power. Waving flags and playing music, the large crowds took to the streets to mark the 2011 uprising that began in the coastal city of Benghazi. 150 Shares Share Ever since the publication of the infamous 2016 BMJ opinion piece claiming medical error should be considered the third leading cause of death in the U.S., the debate on the true incidence of deaths caused by medical error has been raging. Many, including me, felt the estimate of 251,000 deaths per year from medical error was grossly inflated. For example, the paper extrapolated the number of deaths from three outdated studies with a total of just 35 deaths, and medical error was not well-defined. A new paper in BMJ Open Access by investigators from the U.K. looked at 70 studies involving 337,025 patients mostly treated in general hospitals. Of that total, 47,148 suffered harm, with 25,977 (55%) of harms judged as preventable. The authors concluded, The pooled prevalence for preventable patient harm was 6% (95% confidence interval 5% to 7%). A pooled proportion of 12% (9% to 15%) of preventable patient harm was severe or led to death. Ill do the math; 12% of 6% is 0.72% or just over 2400 preventable severe harms and deaths. A recent literature review on the website Healthy Debate Canada cited three papers estimating the incidence of preventable deaths due to medical error ranged from less than 1% to 5.2% and said: This would correspond to 15,000-35,000 deaths per year in the U.S., an order of magnitude lower than the BMJ estimate. Even one preventable death is too many. However, inflated figures like 251,000 deaths or even 440,000, as a 2013 paper claimed, undermine public confidence in medical care. Some examples. The Canadian authors said calling medical error the third leading cause of death in the U.S. enabled supporters of the NRA to say doctors are more harmful than guns. Naturopaths and alternative news sites warned about the dangers of our health system. I blogged about an article from RT, the English language Russian news website, headlined Medical errors kill hundreds of thousands each year in the U.S. From Healthy Debate: In-hospital deaths from medical error are a small subset of all medical errors, and non-fatal errors cause considerable harm to patients. Considering that most of health care occurs in the ambulatory setting, there is an even larger potential for error to cause harm outside of hospitals. Focusing too much on in-hospital deaths from error may direct attention away from other areas of quality improvement. Medical error is not the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Will people stop saying it is? I doubt it. A 2018 paper published in Science looked at 126,000 story links tweeted by 3 million people and found falsehoods were 70% more likely to be retweeted than the truth. Skeptical Scalpel is a surgeon who blogs at his self-titled site, Skeptical Scalpel. This article originally appeared in Physicians Weekly. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Customs and Border Protection agents check pedestrians as they exit Mexico into the customs area of the United States on the east side of the San Ysidro port of entry in Tijuana, Mexico, on Nov. 19, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) SWAT Teams Necessary to Remove Illegal Immigrants From Sanctuary Cities: DHS Secretary The SWAT teams that will be sent into so-called sanctuary cities are necessary because the jurisdictions are giving federal officers no assistance, Department of Homeland acting Secretary Chad Wolf said on Tuesday. What we found in these sanctuary jurisdictions is that local law enforcement does not work with the department, Wolf said during an appearance on Fox & Friends. So what used to take one or two officers going into a jail setting and picking up an individual thats on a final order of removal, we now have to go into communities with many, many officers. Many sanctuary policies limit local law enforcement from cooperating and communicating with federal immigration authorities. All sanctuary policies shield, in some way, illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal immigration enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), helped Customs and Border Protection (CBP), another agency in DHS, during the crisis at the border last year, Wolf said. Now CBP is returning the favor. Their SWAT job is not their only job, Wolf said during an appearance on Full Court Press over the weekend. These are Border Patrol agents, CBP agents that are specially trained to do additional duties above and beyond what they do every day. The teams that will be sent into sanctuary cities are officially known as Border Patrol Tactical Units. According to a fact sheet from DHS, the units have a cadre of full-time members in El Paso, Texas, and other members who arent full-time dispersed throughout the United States. When called to deploy, the teams can do so immediately, the federal agency stated. The unit was created in 1984 in response to riots at federal immigration facilities. The unit can conduct surveillance, gather intelligence, and conduct various operations. The teams wouldnt be required if sanctuary cities provided help for federal immigration enforcement, Wolf said on Tuesday. In these sanctuary cities, they provide no resources to help us do our mission. Should they decide to honor detainers and help ICE, we would not have to call on these additional resources, he said. Customs and Border Protection agents patrol the Colorado River at the intersection of California, Arizona, and Mexico, on May 25, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) The plans have attracted opposition from some lawmakers and former government officials. This administration seems to think they can intimidate local law enforcement officials or act independently when operating in their jurisdictions, John Cohen, a former DHS official during President Barack Obamas administration, told ABC News. That is a dangerous strategy that will fail. In a joint statement, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said that the efforts should be shut down. Because this initiative is unnecessary, unwelcome, dangerous, menacing, retaliatory and unlikely to achieve its stated goal, we write to demand that you reverse course and to pose questions to better understand your rationale for employing paramilitary-style immigration personnel equipped with stun grenades and enhanced Special Forces-type training, including sniper certification in Boston and elsewhere in the United States, the senators wrote in a letter to top immigration officials. The Trump administration announced other efforts against sanctuary cities last week. Attorney General William Barr said that the Department of Justice will take significant actions against efforts by so-called progressive local and state governments that obstruct immigration federal law enforcement activities, effectively shielding criminal aliens. These policies are not about people who came to our country illegally but have otherwise been peaceful and productive members of society, Barr said. Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes. This is neither lawful nor sensible. Janita Kan contributed to this report. Barnes & Noble in Braintree is closing. The bookstore will close this Saturday. The news comes just after home furnishings and decor retailer Pier 1 announced it was closing its Braintree location along with eight others across Massachusetts. Pier 1 is situated next to the Braintree Barnes & Noble. Pier 1 has not disclosed when it is closing its Braintree location. For 26 years Barnes & Noble has been in business in Braintree. The closing comes after failing to come to an agreement on a new lease with property owner W.P. Carey, according to a sign posted in the store and shared by customers on social media. The sign says the store is looking for other new locations in the area, however. For the time being the companys management has said that employees will be offered jobs at other locations. The closest stores to Braintree are in Hingham and Walpole. After 26 years of business, the @bnbooks in Braintree is closing for good on Saturday. Here's a look at the sign posted in the store. #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/TC1LAiB2yY Mike Saccone (@mikesacconetv) February 17, 2020 Pier 1 Imports announced that it is seeking Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, as part of an attempt to find a buyer. We have worked to establish an appropriately sized and profitable store footprint, operating structure and merchandise assortment, Robert Riesbeck, Pier 1s CEO said in a statement to the Patriot Ledger. Todays actions are intended to provide Pier 1 with additional time and financial flexibility as we now work to unlock additional value for our stakeholders through a sale of the company. Pier 1 Imports has been having issues since the beginning of last year and announced Monday that it will close 450 locations nationwide including the Braintree location. Pier 1 has not put out a list of all the stores it will close. But Business Insider compiled a list by comparing an older list it had with the Pier 1 website after the stores that are to be closed had been removed. MUMBAI: BJP's estranged former NDA ally Shiv Sena has made yet another stinging attack on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and accused it of trying to take political mileage over issues like Article 370 and Citizenship Amendment Act. In a strongly-worded editorial in its mouthpiece ''Saamana.'' the Maharashtra-based party raised question maks over PM Narendra Modi's remarks made in Varanasi that the government won't go back on the citizenship law and Article 370 despite extreme pressure from all quarters. Attacking PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the ''Saamana'' editorial said that the two have been repeatedly claiming that the government won't go back on Article 370 and CAA but we want to know what who has been pressurising the Centre to go back on the same. The editorial also asked what has been the outcome of the government's decision. ''Protests are still happening over CAA and the mystery over the situation in Kashmir continues. Even after removing the Article 370, Kashmiri Pandits are still suffering. There has been no marked difference in their situation post removal of Article 370,'' the editorial said. Giving a piece of advice to the BJP-led NDA dispensation, the Shiv Sena said that PM Modi and his trusted aide Shah should cut the rhetoric on Article 370 and CAA as it didn't work in the recent assembly elections in Delhi. ''The government should not claim that Kashmir has been made part of India after scrapping Article 370. This is wrong as Kashmir has long been an integral part of the country due to the valour and sacrifices of our soldiers,'' the editorial said. While extending full support to the Centre over CAA and Article 370, the Uddhav Thackeray's party said that there is no disagreement that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan should be kicked out of the country, at the same time, the government should do more work and talk less. In its editorial published on Monday, Shiv Sena had claimed that the ongoing preparation for the much-awaited visit of US President Donald Trump is a reflection of the "slave mentality" of Indians. Trump's India trip is like the visit of a "Badshah" (emperor), an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. Taking a dig at the construction of a wall on a plot having several slum structures in Ahmedabad ahead of Trump's visit there, the Sena said the US President's trip would neither stop the fall of rupee's value in forex market nor offer betterment to those (slum dwellers) behind the wall. "Before Independence, British King or Queen used to visit one of their slave nations like India. The kind of preparations going on from taxpayers' money for the arrival of Trump is similar to it. This reflects the slave mentality of Indians," it said. The Sena also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) move to build a wall on a plot to "hide the slums" on the route through which Trump's convoy would pass. "Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had once given the slogan 'Garibi Hatao', which was ridiculed for a long time. It seems now Modi's plan is 'Garibi chupao' (hide poverty)," the Marathi publication said. Advertisement A pamphlet published in 1849 offers a guide to Philadelphias gay houses and brothels, including reviews rating the best madams and working girls who can make a man happy. The pamphlet is titled A Guide to the Stranger, or Pocket Companion for the Fancy, Containing a List of the Gay Houses and Ladies of Pleasure in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. It offers a correct list and description of the greater portion of the Houses of Ill-Fame in Philadelphia. According to Flashbak, the pamphlet contained reviews of brothels as well as bed houses, or rooms rented by the hour. A pamphlet A Guide to the Stranger, or Pocket Companion for the Fancy, Containing a List of the Gay Houses and Ladies of Pleasure in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection offers reviews of prostitutes in Philadelphia in 1849 The guide offers reviews of women like Miss Mary Blessinton, who is described as a young and beautiful creature and 'as snug a lump of flesh and blood as ever man pressed upon his bosom. A review of Mary Spicer claims that she is a 'keeper of a house of ill-fame' and recommends that men 'keep aloof.' At the time the pamphlet was written, there were an estimated 10,000 prostitutes working in Philadelphia, it was claimed It also included the names and addresses of landladies and madams as well as the quality of the services that were offered. One entry reads: Miss Josephine Somers of 4 Wood Street, near Eleventh Street, who was described as an accomplished lady and her brothel a Temple of Venus. Another entry recommends that men pay a visit to a madam known as Miss Sarah Turner of 2 Wood Street. According to the pamphlet, Turner was a perfect Queen. At this house you will hear no disgusting language to annoy your ear; everything connected with this establishment is calculated to make a man happy, the entry reads. The young ladies are beautiful and accomplished; they will at any time amuse you with a fine tune on the piano, or use their melodious voices to drive dull care away. Stranger, do not neglect to pay a visit to this house before you leave our quiet city of sisterly affection. Men were also encouraged to seek the services of a Miss Mary Blessinton, who is described as a young and beautiful creature who is as snug a lump of flesh and blood as ever man pressed upon his bosom. Her bed and house and first class, the pamphlet says. The pamphlet even contained a map of the city which highlighted the brothels. The above image shows an engraving depicting a street scene in Philadelphia during the 19th century Brothels marked with the letter X were considered woeful since a single visit might be the cause of utter ruin and disgrace. The pamphlet was written to appeal to businessmen, travelers, and rural workers who visited Philadelphia at the time. The pamphlets author, who is anonymous, estimated that there were 10,000 prostitutes working in the city. Laws against prostitution in the United States were only enacted in the early 20th century. Brothel prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada. In 2009, Rhode Island banned prostitution, which was legal in the state simply because there was no law on the books against it between 1980 and 2009. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Jesse Wilson, founder, and CEO of Tell the Winning Story, is giving two workshops in Colorado. Tell the Winning Story empowers individuals and groups, from lawyers to businesspeople, to master the power of breakthrough communication with high-impact presentations and effective collaboration. Tell the Winning Story has contributed to several significant successes, including a recent $90 million verdict involving Werner Trucking. The first Colorado workshop, sponsored by The Bussey Law Firm, is a two-day affair May 8-9 at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs. The second, sponsored by The Hyman Law Firm, P.A., is a one-day event on August 26 in the same location. Jesse Wilson, communications specialist, jury trial consultant, and Juilliard trained actor and director, teaches workshop attendees to become master storytellers and "dig into" what he refers to as "the eight fundamentals of breakthrough communication." Wilson explains that whatever your specialty, whether criminal defense, personal injury, or medical malpractice, powerful communication is paramount to success in the courtroom. "Telling your client's story involves digging deep into who they are at the core and discovering a rhythm and style that is all your own," says Jesse Wilson. "If you're in a street fight, you go back to the fundamentals to survive. Same holds true with effective communication. It's easy to get 'lost in your head,' but when it comes to commanding the courtroom stage, the fundamentals of getting your audience to not just listen, but care, are timeless because they work." Jesse Wilson's foray into trial advocacy began after attending the Juilliard School. He co-founded a unique "theater-behind-bars" program for prison inmates called Lessons From The Stage. Through this program, he and his partner Dave Fein empowered inmates to delve into their creativity and sensitivity to explore and express emotions in a healthy way while developing and improving communication, human connection, and leadership skills. The transformational experience affected Jesse Wilson profoundly, and it was not long before he was providing more extensive trial skills training to trial lawyers, public defendants, and law schools. Tell the Winning Story offers many workshops and speaking engagements around the country on topics from master storytelling and trial advocacy to recovering and transitioning from incarceration to the outside world. True to its roots, Tell the Winning Story continues to empower people from all walks of life in overcoming various challenges. To learn more about Tell the Winning Story and the newly-released "The 8 Fundamentals of Breakthrough Communication," available on Trial Guides, visit the website: https://www.tellthewinningstory.com/the-8-fundamentals-of-breakthrough-communication/ CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7865519491 SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576742/Tell-the-Winning-Story-Presenting-Two-Workshops-in-Colorado By Express News Service State-owned government transport provider Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has floated a fresh tender to acquire 1,000 electric vehicles from automobile manufacturers in its effort to turn its entire fleet electric by 2030. The tender comes three years after the agency had floated an ambitious 10,000-EV tender in 2017, but sources say the total number of vehicles procured under it is substantially less. Despite the lower than hoped for electrification of its fleet, EESL has received EV deliveries from companies like Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra. The latest of these deliveries came from new auto market entrant MG Motor, which delivered the first batch of its new ZS electric SUVs last month. Under the new contract, EESL is calling for quotes for two different categories of EVs. Under the first category, the government firm is calling for 750 four-wheeled sedans with a standard three-year warranty and comprehensive annual maintenance costs (AMC) for three years. Under the second category, it requires 250 four-wheeled sedans with a standard six-year warranty and comprehensive AMC for six years. According to the tender document,bidders will be expected to design, manufacture, supply and maintain the cars at the required locations in the country. They must pay an earnest money deposit of Rs 2.1 crore for bidding in the first category and Rs 70.6 lakh for the second. The company also added that small and medium enterprises will be exempt from paying the tender document fee and EMD. All applicants must also be car manufacturers registered under the Indian Companies Act, with experience in the field of manufacturing, sale, and service of internal combustion engine cars for the last three years. Earlier this month, Tata Motors had said that it has bagged an order from Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd for supplying the electric version of its sub-compact sedan Tigor, as part of its tender with EESL. These units are to be deployed by the company in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The Tata and Mahindra groups had been the first companies to secure orders from EESL under the 2017 tender. To supply Tigor EVs Tata Motors has bagged an order from Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd for supplying the electric version of its sub-compact sedan Tigor, as part of its tender with EESL. Tata and Mahindra had been the first firms to secure orders from EESL A Washington state woman who unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Colorado Springs in 2019 has been accused of trying to kidnap a three-week-old baby. The 38-year-old who, according to authorities went by several aliases, was released on a $50,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday. Juliette Parker and her teenage daughter are suspected of posing as photographers and drugging a new mother to try and steal her infant. Parker was released Sunday afternoon on a $50,000 bond, reports CBS News' Carter Evans. juliette-parker-cupcake-kidnapping.jpg Authorities say Juliette Parker, who advertised on Facebook as a baby photographer, and her teenage daughter drugged a new mom in an attempt to snatch her infant. CBS News Since her arrest, authorities tell CBS News more than 10 people say Parker came to their homes to take photos. Investigators believe she was searching for the baby she wanted to steal. Authorities say Parker used social media to lure in unsuspecting moms, offering free maternity and newborn photos. She said she wanted to build her portfolio, but detectives allege her real motive was much more sinister. "She wanted a girl," said Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. "She wanted them five weeks and younger so she could raise it herself, take it out of state and pretend it was a newborn of her own." A mom in Washington state answered the post, inviting Parker into her home three times. Police said the woman spotted Parker taking selfies with the baby and wiping down her fingerprints from items she touched inside the home. During the third visit, authorities said Parker and her 16-year-old daughter gave the woman a cupcake. The mom suddenly began vomiting and feeling numb and drowsy. She ordered the two to leave and called 911, only to realize her house keys were stolen. "Basically she was drugged," said Troyer. "They put drugs in a cupcake, she ate it, and they attempted to take her kid." juliette-parker-facebook-post.jpg Juliette Parker's Facebook ad. CBS News Story continues Parker and her daughter were arrested at their house about 40 miles south of Seattle. Parker has been charged with attempted kidnapping and assault. Her attorney declined to speak with "CBS This Morning." Authorities haven't released details about Parker's daughter because she is a minor. As for the alleged victim, she's been released from the hospital. Victoria Morris, who met Parker after responding to the Facebook post, said something seemed off about her: "She used her sleeve to open the front door. And when she came into the house, she wouldn't even sit in a chair; she sat on the ground." Parker took photos of the expectant mother and was supposed to be inside the delivery room with her. But as it turns out, Morris gave birth on the day Parker was arrested. "I was in shock, but I also ... I didn't want to believe it, to be honest, 'cause I was just upset about it," said Morris. "I do think this should be a warning to other moms. It makes me anxious to know that people like that can be so manipulative and really work their way into your life, and it's so easy to get caught up in it." Authorities say the 38-year-old Parker, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Colorado Springs last year, operated under several aliases, including "Juliette Noel" and "Juliette Gains." In a Ballotpedia candidate survey she filled out for the 2019 mayoral race, Parker described the qualities she had that she felt would make her a successful officeholder: "Honest, good moral code & compass, caring, respectful, smart, understanding, common sense, passionate, ethics, ability to think outside the box." The Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. is asking anyone who believes they are a victim to contact them by calling (253) 798-7724. Jeff Bezos pledging $10 billion of his fortune to fight climate change Buttigieg brushes off homophobic comments from Rush Limbaugh Biden tells Las Vegas congregants that racists are "living in the White House" KANKAKEE (AP) In an effort to greatly expand the district charged with protecting the Kankakee River, a large percentage of county voters living less than a mile from the rivers banks will be asked to tax themselves. The citizen-initiated referendum, commonly called a back-door referendum, seeking approval for the tax which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $24 a year will be on the March 17 primary ballot. Its projected the tax would produce $450,000 annually. Of the 66,060 registered voters in Kankakee County, 24,009 live within the proposed district, county officials noted. There are approximately 15,000 separate properties in the footprint of the proposed expansion area. The proposed taxing district would provide cash to address sedimentation, bank stabilization, logjams and, of course, flooding along the countys portion of the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers. Early voting for the March 17 primary began Thursday. The referendum question seeks a for or against vote. The question reads: FOR joining the Kankakee River Conservancy District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, or AGAINST joining the Kankakee River Conservancy District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness. The proposed tax does not have a sunset clause. Officials of the Kankakee Iroquois Ford Association of Realtors who were contacted were unaware of the referendum. At issue, of course, is increased flooding happening along the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers within Kankakee County. The so-called 100-year floods have been taking place at rapidly increasing frequencies and, without addressing the impact the rivers are having, damage will only rise. The Momence Conservancy District, formed in 1952, covers the 8 miles from the Indiana state line to the Momence city limits. The goal is to wrap the entire length of the river from the Indiana line to the Will County line into the Kankakee River Conservancy District which would be a total of about 45 miles of river. The Kankakee River Conservancy District and the Kankakee River Basin Commission in Illinois received certification on the referendum from Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Cunnington. If approved, the district would include all or significant portions of Momence, Sun River Terrace, Aroma Park, Sammons Point, Kankakee, Bradley, Limestone and Bourbonnais and reach the Kankakee-Will County line at Wilmington. To have the referendum placed on the ballot, 300 signatures were needed. The groups collected 571. Everyone can see what is going on with our river, said Les Burton, conservancy board president. We are getting more rain than ever and flood events are more frequent. Within the past 10 years, the area has dealt with extreme flood events four times. Burton noted the Indiana Legislature has given the Indiana conservancy organization about $2 million annually to keep the sand out of the river and stabilize the banks. Illinois, he said, has sent nothing to Kankakee County to resolve this issue. We have to help ourselves, so those people who love the river and live by the river have to take control of what we can can control, Burton said. We cant address this with $10,000 per year. Residents living near the river have faced rising flood insurance costs, not to mention to cost of flood cleanup. Ken Munjoy, spokesman for the Kankakee River Basin District, said: It is important to realize that we are, for the most part, the people that are on the river almost daily. The flooding has affected most of us and we are not asking anyone to do something that we are not willing to do ourselves. This is historic in our county, something people will look back on in 50 and 100 years and point to this moment, knowing we were the ones that started the healing process of our river. We will never have a better chance to impact our greatest asset. A girl wears an improvised masks made out of toilet paper in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, Feb. 11, 2020. The panic following the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in China has caused face mask supplies to run out, leading people to get creative with homemade protection. EPA Mainland China reported 1,886 new virus cases and 98 more deaths for a total of 1,868 in its update Tuesday, following a report that 80% of cases have been mild, prompting guarded optimism from health officials. The latest figures come after health officials in China published the first details on nearly 45,000 cases of infection with the coronavirus that originated there, saying more than 80% have been mild and new ones seem to be falling since early this month. A total of 72,436 cases have been reported in mainland China as of Tuesday, although a spike in recent cases was due to a broader definition in the hardest-hit region based on doctors' diagnoses before laboratory tests were completed. Monday's report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention gives the World Health Organization a ''clearer picture of the outbreak, how it's developing and where it's headed,'' WHO's director-general said at a news conference. ''It's too early to tell if this reported decline will continue. Every scenario is still on the table,'' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. China may postpone its annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year, to avoid travel while the disease is still spreading. The standing committee for the National People's Congress will meet Feb. 24 to deliberate on a postponement of the meeting due to start March 5. The new disease, called COVID-19, first emerged in December in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province, and has spread to more than two dozen other countries. The new study reports on 44,672 cases confirmed in China as of Feb. 11. The virus caused severe symptoms such as pneumonia in 14% of them and critical illness in 5%. The fatality rate for these confirmed cases is 2.3% _ 2.8% for males versus 1.7% for females. That's lower than for SARS and MERS, which are caused by two similar viruses, but COVID-19 ultimately could prove more deadly if it spreads to far more people than the others did. Ordinary flu has a fatality rate of 0.1% yet kills hundreds of thousands because it infects millions each year. The COVID-19 cases include relatively few children, and the risk of death rises with age. It's higher among those with other health problems _ more than 10% for those with heart disease, for example, and higher among those in Hubei province versus elsewhere in China. Cases seem to have been declining since Feb. 1, but that could change as people return to work and school after the Chinese holidays, the report warns. Beijing has sought to forestall that by extending the Lunar New Year holiday, imposing tight travel restrictions and demanding 14 days off self-quarantine for anyone returning from outside their immediate region. Hundreds of cases have been confirmed outside China, with a significant number on a cruise ship quarantined at a port near Tokyo. Japanese officials on Monday confirmed 99 more people were infected on the Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454. The Health Ministry said it has now tested 1,723 people on the ship, which had about 3,700 passengers and crew aboard. Outside China, the ship has the largest number of cases of COVID-19. Japan has 518 confirmed cases, including the 454 from the cruise ship, and one death from the virus. The U.S. evacuated 328 American passengers, with most of them now in a 14-day quarantine at military bases in California and Texas. Fourteen of them have the virus and were taken to hospitals in California and Nebraska. Any quarantined passengers who shows symptoms of the virus will be taken to a hospital off the base ''for containment and specialized care,'' according to a statement from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Scott Pauley. The CDC rather than the Department of Defense is responsible for all parts of the quarantine operation. (AP) The Gujarat government on Tuesday signed an MoU with State Bank of India (SBI) to facilitate approval of loans to entrepreneurs in the MSME sector with ease and within a short time-frame. As per the MoU, the top public sector lender will provide working capital to entrepreneurs seeking to start new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) within a short time -frame after providing theoretical approval within 15 days of making an application, the government said in a release here. The MoU was signed between principal secretary M K Das and SBI Ahmedabad circle general manager Ramesh Kumar Agarwal. Within 15 days of making an application, the bank will provide theoretical approval to the project. Start-ups can submit an application on either the MSME portal or to the local nodal agencies, it said. The SBI decided to help MSME entrepreneurs in Gujarat looking at their high recovery rate, said the release. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, also present at the MoU signing event, said the number of applications for MSME loans has increased this year compared to a year ago. Even the experience of banks in terms of loan recovery has been very good, he said. The state government had, in October last year, announced that MSME units will no longer be required to take various approvals to begin operations for the first three years. The government said MSME units exempted from taking approvals for the first three years, can start operations after getting an acknowledgment certificate from the state nodal agency by submitting 'declaration of intent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump tried driving a bigger wedge between moderate and progressive Democrats Tuesday, by alleging 2020 presidential hopeful, Sen. Bernie Sanders, was being treated unfairly by the party. 'It seems that Bernie Sanders and that whole big section of the Democratic Party - or as I call it, the Democrat Party, which is really the correct name - it seems they're being taken advantage of like they were four years ago,' Trump told reporters before he departed on a four-day west coast swing that will have him on the ground in Nevada in the lead-up to the Democrats' caucuses. The president had been asked if he had any advice for presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg who's about to participate in his first Democratic debate, Wednesday night in Las Vegas. President Trump spoke to reporters before taking Air Force One to the west coast on Tuesday. He had no advice for Michael Bloomberg who will join Democrats on the debate stage in Las Vegas Wednesday night Instead President Trump focused on Sen. Bernie Sanders as he suggested that the Vermont senator and his supporters were being treated unfairly by establishment Democrats. 'It seems they're being taken advantage of like they were four years ago,' Trumps aid President Trump was alluding to the narrative that the Democratic National Committee tipped the scales in favor of Hillary Clinton four years ago when the two were running against each other for the Democratic nomination President Trump said that Michael Bloomberg (pictured) 'doesn't need that kind of advice' when asked about the former New York City mayor appearing on the Democratic debate stage alongside his rivals for the first time since he announced his bid 'He doesn't need that kind of advice,' Trump answered. 'He's been doing it for a long time,' the president said of the former New York City mayor. Trump then turned to Sanders, who should be considered the party's frontrunner for getting the most votes in Iowa, winning New Hampshire and for his strong showing in the 2016 primary campaign. 'It just seems unfair what's happening to Bernie Sanders, to be honest with you,' Trump said. 'I watched it four years ago,' the president said. In 2016, the Democratic National Committee was criticized for being too pro-Hillary Clinton during her primary race against Sanders. Overall, Sanders didn't take the nomination because he didn't have diverse support, especially among black Democrats in the south. Still, behind-the-scenes sniping about Sanders and his allies by DNC officials whose emails were then hacked firmed up the narrative that the party tilted the scale on Clinton's behalf. Trump has long complained about the way establishment Democrats treated Sanders, though with the motive to suck away some of the Vermont senator's supporters. The president is also trying to get his supporters engaged while the Democrats hold their primary contests. Trump held rallies in both Iowa and New Hampshire leading up to the first two state's caucuses and primary race. This week he's making Nevada - where Democrats caucus Saturday - his homebase as he does a multi-state tour though California, Arizona and Colorado. Trump will fundraise in California Tuesday and then hold a rally in Phoenix Wednesday night that will conflict with the Democrats' debate in Las Vegas. Trump will hold another rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado Thursday. He will hosts a noon-time rally Friday in Las Vegas. Trump is staying at his Las Vegas hotel property for the entirety of the trip, which means tying up traffic in the city daily while Democrats try to campaign. The president called his tactics 'pretty effective.' 'We got more votes than any incumbent president in history in both Iowa and in New Hampshire as you saw,' Trump told reporters outside of Air Force One. He pointed a finger at the Secret Service when asked why he's flying to Nevada every night. 'Largely the schedule is set by the Secret Service,' Trump answered. 'We do what they want us to.' And while the president will spend several days in India early next week, he promised he'd do a South Carolina event before the Democrats vote in that state on Saturday, February 29. 'So I'll be going to South Carolina, I'm working that out now, probably the day before,' he said, teasing a Friday rally. 'Look, we have a big voice and we might as well use it,' Trump added. First batch of 200 Wuhan evacuees, including 7 Maldivians out of quarantine The first batch of evacuees, including seven Maldivian nationals, from Chinas Wuhan who were quarantined at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Chhawla near Delhi, were discharged on Monday night after their samples tested negative for coronavirus. These seven were evacuated from Chinas Wuhan, along with Indian citizens, evacuated by the Indian government from China last month, will depart for their homes today. Two hundred other people, who had tested negative for coronavirus infection, have been discharged from the ITBP quarantine facility on Monday. The seven Maldivians had arrived in India alongside 323 Indians on a special Air India flight which had been sent to China as part of an evacuation operation undertaken by the Indian government. More than 600 Indians had been evacuated from China in two special operations. Immediately upon their arrival in the national capital, the Maldivians and the Indians were sent to quarantine facilities run by the Indian Army and ITBP, where they stayed for a period of more than two weeks. A total of 406 people, including 192 women, 204 men and seven children were evacuated from China and kept at the ITBP Chhawla camp for 17 days. Doctors say they took precaution beyond the usually required quarantine of 14 days. All inmates were screened three times and were given discharge certificates only after they tested negative in all of them. A team of 44 doctors, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialists in quarantine facilities looked after the group. Chief Medical Officer Dr AP Joshi, who has been with the ITBP since 1997, calls this his toughest assignment till date. We were given two days to get this facility ready. There was no electricity and water connection then. The building was barely ready. Plus, there was the complication of the virus itself. My 82-year-old father would call me three times a day to check. My juniors and friends were all worried for my safety. But we managed it all successfully. Words are not enough to describe the feelings right now, CNN-News18 quoted Dr Joshi as saying. As a goodwill gesture, the ITBP presented a rose and a calendar to each of the person leaving the facility. There are seven children including an infant in the group, it said. The disease, which has been officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 1,800 people in that country alone. At least 11,741 remain severely ill from the infection. There are nearly 800 confirmed cases in 25 countries outside China with three deaths. A team of medical experts from WHO, including from the US, will visit Beijing and the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Sichuan in south and southwest China to assess the countrys efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19. By West Kentucky Star & WKCTC Staff Feb. 18, 2020 | 02:05 PM | PADUCAH Daniel P. Murphy, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at Black Pioneers in Healthcare. Murphy is the Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Diversity at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. Additionally, the program will feature a special performance from the Paducah Tilghman High School African American Leadership Club. Dinner will be available for attendees. The free event is open to all and registration is not required. For additional information concerning Mercy Health visit mercy.com. Mercy Health Paducah is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministrys quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital is a 359 licensed-bed facility accredited by The Joint Commission and was named as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission. Lourdes is home to the regions largest multi-specialty physician network, Mercy Medical Associates, which consists of more than 100 providers serving in over 30 locations throughout western Kentucky. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit. The mission of Mercy Health Paducah is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit mercy.com. Mercy Health, Lourdes Hospital is celebrating Februarys designation as Black History Month with a free event, Black Pioneers in Healthcare, which will take place Friday, Feb. 28 from 4 to 6 pm in the Borders Community Room of the Marshall Nemer Pavilion on the hospitals campus. Kenan Thompson presents the award for outstanding drama series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles in 2018. Thompson of Saturday Night Live and Hasan Minhaj of Netflixs Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj will headline this years White House Correspondents Dinner. Read more The White House Correspondents' Association announced Monday that Kenan Thompson will headline its annual dinner on April 25, with former host Hasan Minhaj joining him as a featured entertainer. Thompson is the latest in a long line of "Saturday Night Live" stars to land the gig; his current castmate Cecily Strong hosted five years ago, and former castmate Seth Meyers did so a few years before. President Donald Trump did not attend the dinner when Minhaj hosted in 2017, making him the first president to skip the event since 1981, when Ronald Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt. Enlisting professional comedians to anchor the night marks a return to tradition, as the WHCA took a left turn last year by inviting historian Ron Chernow instead. His remarks, while taking digs at the absent president, remained quite tame - a clear effort on the organization's part to quell any anxieties sparked by the previous dinner's host, former "Daily Show" correspondent Michelle Wolf. Wolf's edgy routine proved controversial, largely over her joke that former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders "burns facts and then ... uses that ash to create a perfect smokey eye." On his decision to choose Chernow, former WHCA president Olivier Knox said he "felt that the dinner needed a reset." Knox's successor, Jonathan Karl, chief White House correspondent for ABC News, said in a statement Monday that he was "thrilled" to have Thompson and Minhaj perform. Kenan and Hasan are two of the most engaged and engaging entertainers in America, he stated. Were looking forward to a lively evening honoring the most important political journalism of the past year. Vodafone Idea will have to close operations in India if it pays all its pending dues to the government overnight, according to Mukul Rohatgi, the senior counsel for Vodafone Idea. The telecom operator which on Monday paid Rs 2,500 crore as part of its AGR dues appealed the Supreme Court (SC) that the department of telecommunication (DoT) should not take any forcible action and call forth any bank guarantees as it would further hinder its operations. If the telecom operator shuts shop in India, the move would render 10,000 people jobless and trouble 30 crore subscribers, Rohatgi told NDTV. Also Read: Airtel, Vodafone Idea subscriber? Should you port out He also said that it would impact the whole telecom sector, eventually wiping out competition and leaving just two firms in the market. Rohatgi further said Vodafone Idea owe the government Rs 7,000 crore, and after adding the interest, penalty and interest on penalty the total amount would be between Rs 23,000 to Rs 25,000 crore. He added "the government should not rock the boat by encashing the bank guarantees, or the company should close tomorrow (Tuesday)". The SC's direction to the telecom companies to pay up all their unpaid dues to the government has hastened the crisis for the loss-making firms. Also Read: Vodafone Idea to drop brand 'Idea' from postpaid services "The companies have been telling the Department of Telecommunication that there is no way they can pay these dues overnight. And the government should also wake up to the situation, otherwise, this sector which is very, very stressed, will have only two operators, which is like semi-monopoly, which is what we call oligopoly," he said. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel and Tata Group also made part payment of their dues Rs 10,000 crore and around Rs 2,197 crore, respectively, on Monday. While Bharti Airtel has to pay nearly Rs 25,586 crore more to the government, Tata Teleservices still owes Rs 13,800 crore to the government. The Supreme Court (SC) has set the deadline for all the payments on March 17. Also Read: AGR-hit telcos set for another jolt; must pay additional service tax, GST on unpaid dues San Jose Diridon Station reopened Tuesday morning after a bomb threat closed the station and delayed Caltrain service for more than an hour. The busy transit hub was closed after authorities received a bomb threat at about 6:30 a.m., according to Caltrain and the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office. A bomb squad swept the station but found nothing and declared it safe to reopen at about 7:45 a.m. China on Tuesday called on India to review restrictions related to the novel Coronavirus outbreak with a humanitarian spirit so that normal trade and travel between the two countries could be resumed. Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong told a briefing on the Coronavirus epidemic there were no reports of infections among Indian citizens in China, and that the Chinese embassy has established a contact mechanism with Indias health ministry to maintain close communications on the situation. We hope the Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner, implement the consensus and instructions of the two leaders [President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi], handle with Chinas much-needed items in a humanitarian spirit, and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between our two countries, Sun said. He noted that the WHO hadnt recommended any travel and trade restrictions, and countries around the world need to maintain normal flows of people and trade and refrain from overreaction. Most Indian airlines have stopped flights to China, and New Delhi has cancelled all e-visas and normal visas issued in the recent past to Chinese citizens, who are required to make fresh applications for travel documents so that they can be screened. As with other countries, Chinas trade with India too has been hit by the Coronavirus-related restrictions. Noting that more than one million people travel between India and China every year and bilateral trade is currently worth more than $90 billion, Sun said China is a significant player in the global supply chain. Therefore, Chinas early victory over the epidemic will be beneficial to the development of both China and India as well as the global economy. It will help bilateral economic and trade cooperation get back on track. In this context, helping China is actually helping yourself, he said. China, he added, attaches great importance to the health and safety of foreign nationals and will take good care of the Indian citizens...like our own. The Indian students in Hubei province are in good health have sufficient daily necessities, accommodation and food. So far theres no report of infection for the Indian citizens in China, he said. India has so far operated two flights to evacuate hundreds of its citizens from Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, which are the epicentre of the epidemic. The outbreak has so far claimed nearly 1,900 lives and infected more than 72,000 people in China. Sun said he hoped the epidemic wouldnt affect bilateral ties or activities related to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Year of China-India cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We need to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders during the second informal summit in Chennai [last year]. We need to maintain high-level exchanges, hold institutional meetings and a series of celebratory activities, expand personnel exchanges and trade, and scale bilateral relations to a new height, he said. The envoy acknowledged Modis appreciation for Chinas help in evacuating Indian citizens from Hubei that was conveyed in a letter sent to Xi. The Indian side assures readiness to stand by China and provide the assistance that India can to face this challenge, he said, adding external affairs minister S Jaishankar too had said in a phone conversation with foreign minister Wang Yi that it was important to evaluate the outbreak in an objective and rational manner. Sun also invoked historic contacts between the two sides to underscore the need for cooperation, including the work done by Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis in the Sino-Japanese war of 1938 and former defence minister George Fernandes visit to Shanghai during the 2003 SARS epidemic, when he had criticised the foreign media for exaggerating the situation. In response to a question, Sun rejected reports that the Coronavirus had originated in a Wuhan laboratory. Based on the analysis of genomic sequence, what we could know now is that this virus originates from nature [and is not] not man-made. The virus is terrible, but rumour is more terrible, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Ghana Health Service on Monday launched its emergency Hotlines in Accra in relations to the Coronavirus or Convid19 which has currently taken over 18000 lives in China with Africa recording the virus in Egypt. The Emergency Hotlines are: 0558439868 0509497700 Speaking to Kessbenfm.com exclusively, Dr DaCosta Aboagye, Director of Health Promotion at the Ghana Health Service reiterated the need to have these emergency Hotlines available to the Ghanaian public to report on some suspecting cases. The event was launched at the Greater Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) Teleconsultation Centre. The Ridge Hospital and that of the Tema General hospital have been selected by the Ministry of Health to deal with the Coronavirus cases. Dr DaCosta Aboagye explained that the Ghana Health Service under the Ministry of Health in consultation is working in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, West African Health Organisation, US Centres for Disease Control and other Development Partners, discussing and reviewing our strategies day by day. So far, all advice through consultations and engagements is not encouraging us to undertake mass evacuation of Ghanaian citizens in china including the students as yet . The Sub Regional consultation- the West African Health Organisation is engaging member states and has not recommended evacuation yet, he stated. Dr Aboagye said we are reviewing the situation by the hour and when it becomes necessary, we will tow the next line of action as appropriate, including evacuation as the minister of health has already assured. The Government of Ghana is much concerned about our citizens in China especially the Ghanaian students, and is working to ensure their protection, safety and wellbeing as we continue to supply basic needs. We want to assure the public that, as per the management of all outbreaks which is a dynamic activity, we will continue to monitor the situation and act as appropriate . We will further wish to advise Ghanaians to delay non-essential travels to China Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A man and a woman whose allegations have led to a criminal indictment against a former Montgomery County priest are behind a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for its handling of their accused abuser. The suit, filed Monday in federal court, also takes aim at the Vatican for allowing Manuel La Rosa-Lopez to be ordained to the priesthood in 1996, even though church leaders including former Bishop Joseph Fiorenza were aware as early as 1992 that he had been accused of molesting a young parishioner at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 23:22:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Credit rating agency Fitch said Tuesday that Lebanon's situation indicates that the country would restructure its debt, local TV channel LBCI reported. "Lebanon's debt restructuring may take various forms, and negotiations with Eurobonds holders are likely to be complicated," Fitch said. Lebanon is experiencing a deteriorating financial situation with a public debt surpassing 89 billion U.S. dollars. It has already asked International Monetary Fund for technical help to advise on the steps and measures that should be taken by the country to minimize its losses. The country is currently witnessing several debates among officials and experts to decide if it has to repay the 1.2 billion dollars of Eurobonds due on March 9 or it can avoid this heavy obligation amid serious financial deterioration. Lebanon has never defaulted on its debt but the country is currently experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis with a budget deficit estimated at no less than 10 billion dollars in 2019. On Dec. 12 last year, Fitch downgraded Lebanon's credit rating for the third time in a year to "CC" from "CCC." Sitting in rows of desks, women from the US and Canada gathered in a basement classroom at Wheaton College last summer to consider what topics they would like the Christian Women in Science (CWiS) group to address. Some men also came, wondering how they could support women. One participant asked to discuss what we can achieve because of who we are instead of in spite of who we are. The parent organization of CWiS, the American Scientific Affiliation, has slowly grown in female membership since it began nearly 80 years ago. In 2013 it launched the womens network, which today has about 200 members and aims to build an online community while providing mentorship to younger women pursuing science careers. Of 1,989 US biologists and physicists 7% identified as Christian women Science is not awash in female Christians, but it is rich in female Christian role models. Perhaps more women than ever lead top science-and-faith organizations. First, the ASAs own executive director is Leslie Wickman, an aerospace engineer. Jennifer Wiseman, a physicist, is the director for the Dialogue on Science Ethics and Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). And Deborah Haarsma, also a physicist, has served as president of BioLogos since 2013. Reflecting this shift, CT interviewed 12 scientists who are respected in their fields and whose work reflects not only who they are as women but who they are as Christians. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Nearly six years after the fall of the regime of Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovych, Ukraines Euromaidan Revolution of 2013-2014 is increasingly becoming a subject of historical analysis, albeit one still fraught with political controversy. This is clear in Mychailo Wynnyckyis book, Ukraines Maidan, Russias War: A Chronicle and Analysis of the Revolution of Dignity, published last year. Wynnyckyj, Associate Professor of Sociology at the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, was a participant in the protests held on Kyivs main square, the Maidan. Wynnyckyj prefers the term Maidan to Euromaidan, as the latter suggests that the protest movement was merely about having Ukraine sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, when from December 2013 onward this was a revolution aimed at overthrowing Yanukovych. Wynnyckyj openly admits that his account may be one-sided, and to be fair to the author, it is an academic memoir. Throughout the book, he reminds readers that he supported the protests at the Kyiv Maidan. Not only did Wynnyckyj take part in protests there, he worked with other Maidan activists trying to spread the message of the Maidan to other regions of Ukraine (devising with them a banner in Russian, Understand us. Were fed up! [Poimite nas. Zadolbalo!], displayed across one of the Maidans main barricades and photographs of which spread worldwide). Later, after Russia began its war with Ukraine, he and other patriotic Ukrainians helped donate money and supplies for Ukraines military forces, including its volunteer battalions. He served as an advisor in Ukraines Ministry of Education, implementing key reforms which he identified with the spirit of the Maidan. Wynnyckyjs memoir differs significantly from others on the Maidan and its aftermath as he offers valuable first-hand observations of events in Kyiv. During the Maidan protests, his Facebook postings (Thoughts from Kyiv) became mandatory reading for understanding events in Ukraines capital. The first part of the book is a chronology of events covering the Maidan protests, the overthrow of the Yanukovych regime, and then Russian military intervention, first in Crimea, then in the Donbas region. Much of this chronicle comes from Wynnyckyjs Facebook blog, as well as his other personal observations and observations of friends of his. He makes use of general press articles from the time, including many in English from journalists and foreign observers. Wynnyckyjs chronology is unmatched in its detailed analysis of the implosion of the Party of Regions and the Yanukovych regime itself. The resignation of Mykola Azarov as Prime Minister at the end of January 2014 brought a split among seven different factions within the Party of Regions. Some supported closer ties with the European Union and a peaceful resolution of the countrys political crisis, while others insisted on closer ties with Russia and a violent suppression of the Kyiv Maidan. The second part of the book is an analysis of the significance of the Maidan Revolution, also called the Revolution of Dignity. Here Wynnyckyj stresses that the Maidan was a revolution as understood by Hannah Arendts On Revolution (1963), where a dramatic shift in values and ideas, rather than a shift in social and political structures, took place. Wynnyckyj sees Ukraines creative class its advertisers, computer programmers, managers (particularly in investment firms, agrobusiness, and the IT industry), university professors and journalists as the revolutions driving force. As they entered Ukraines post-Maidan government and parliament, this group replaced the Yanukoyvch-era oligarch clans that were on the decline. They stood for values such as self-reliance, fairness and a sense of social responsibility. Wynnyckyj, whose PhD dissertation from the University of Cambridge focused on small entrepreneurs and large industries controlled by oligarch clans in post-Soviet Ukraine, makes a compelling argument: that the Maidan sped up the decline of oligarch-controlled manufacturing industries in Ukraines east and south which had dominated Ukrainian political life for decades. In Ukraines west and centre, small entrepreneurs focused on service industries and digital technologies have increasingly become the engines of the countrys economic growth. Committed activists from their ranks, as well as investment bankers, have formed the core of a reform movement in post-Maidan Ukraines government. According to Pavlo Sheremeta (p. 275), the interim governments Minister of Economic Development, the ideological rigour of the new government officials appointed after Yanukovychs ouster in early 2014 surprised even IMF officials. The latter said they had never met government ministers from developing countries who were more liberal than the IMF. Wynnyckyj sees their ideology as akin to that of libertarianism in removing state interference (and thus corruption) as much as possible from peoples lives. Wynnyckyj underscores the global dimensions of the Maidan Revolution. He focuses on Russias role in fomenting unrest in Crimea and Donbas in what was called the Russian Spring. He highlights Russias use of heavy weaponry and regular military units in crushing Ukrainian forces in Donbas in the summer of 2014. Wynnyckyj sees Russian military operations in Ukraine paving the way for its intervention in Syria the next year (2015). He stresses that only a hardline approach to Russian military aggression (such as providing further military aid to Ukraine and not compelling Ukraine to make political concessions) will prevent further Russian expansion into Ukraines affairs. Wynnyckyj sees the fate of the Maidan as a turning point in the history of Western civilisation. A postmodern phenomenon, the Maidan suggested new ways of conducting politics, where heterarchy (in which power is located in several areas rather than one), rather than hierarchy, affected social relations, where social relations became more horizontal and less vertical, and where personalism (in which individuals acquire a sense of obligation to serve the larger community), rather than individualism, became important for social interactions. Wynnckyjs book offers a nuanced and informed perspective on Ukraines Euromaidan Revolution, yet it remains a perspective of only the creative class made up of his friends and former students in Kyiv. It equates the Maidan with Ukraine, yet polling data suggests that nearly half of Ukraine did not support the protests throughout their duration. In a nationwide poll conducted from 24 January to 2 February, 2014, nearly half of those polled (46%) said that they did not support current protests going on in Ukraine, while roughly the same number supported them (47%). This was already after violence against protesters had become lethal. Likewise, the ascending scale of violence did not undermine Yanukovychs popularity; a poll taken from 17 January to 26 January 2014, indicated that he remained the most favoured potential candidate in a future presidential election. Wynnyckyj refers repeatedly to millions of Ukrainians who brought about the end to the Yanukovych regime (e.g. on pages 351-352), yet the protests that he chronicles never reached more than 500,000, or 900,000, in the early days of December 2013, and their numbers dropped to the tens of thousands thereafter. He recalls his Facebook post from 30 November 2013, where he suggested Ukrainians have a general strike (p.71), yet no such strike ever occurred. It is not clear who these millions of Ukrainians overthrowing Yanukovych were. Wynnyckyj hardly discusses what Maidan protests took place outside Kyiv, and thus the role of Ukraines regions in supporting or opposing these protests remains murky. Wynnyckyjs chronology shifts from discussing Ukrainians grievances with Yanukovych to Maidan protesters grievances with the political opposition and Yanukovych. Kyivs protest camp, rather than Ukraine, thus becomes the centre of the story. Wynnyckyj himself admits that many of the post-Maidan government reforms failed to be implemented fully. The austerity measures of post-Maidan governments, as well as conflict with Russia, caused a drastic decline in peoples standard of living. The value of the hryvnia to the US dollar plummeted from 8 to 27 (as of 2018). In 2015, the average salary of Ukrainians was 190 US dollars a month (a little over 6 US dollars a day). From 2014 to 2017 (before even visa-free travel with EU countries began), over 25 percent of all working age, economically active citizens (those not students, pensioners, mothers on maternity leave, or those disabled and unable to work) left Ukraine for employment abroad. Discontent with these reforms was real. A 2018 Gallup poll found 91 percent of Ukrainians claimed government corruption was widespread. Ukraines national government was the least trusted in the world (9 percent), far below the median for former Soviet republics (48 percent) and the global average (56 percent). Even the Yanukovych administration did not have such a low rating, though admittedly confidence in that government was also extremely weak (no higher than 24 percent). Yet Wynnyckyj sees this discontent threatening Ukraines revolution with a leftward turn to the social question and populism, which, as Arendt once suggested, was a leftward discursive shift from idealism to materialism that led to the guillotine in France and terror in Russia, as he puts it (p.362). Given that the reforms have stymied and that the new political elite was swept from power in elections in 2019 (first for president, then for parliament), can one even say there was a revolution in Ukraine? Wynnyckyj himself admits that by 2018, the values central to the Maidan Revolution had not yet received institutional expression (p.322). This suggests that a key tenet of Arendts definition of a revolution has failed to materialise. As Wynnyckyj quotes from Arendt, [O]nly where change occurs in the sense of a new beginning, where violence is used to constitute an altogether different form of government, to bring about the formation of a new body politic, where the liberation from oppression aims at least at the constitution of freedom can we speak of revolution (p. 18). While Wynnnyckyj claims that a new body politic emerged out of Ukraines Revolution of Dignity (p. 18), it is not clear that this new body politic embraced most of, let alone all, of the people of Ukraine. While Wynnyckyj views the Maidan Revolution as the birth of the nation (243), it seems as if what he is describing is the birth of a specific community the Kyiv Maidan and its positioning of itself as spokespersons for that nation. Here, he suggests that symbols from such right-wing nationalist movements as the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and its leader, Stepan Bandera, and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) have received new meaning. Still, outside the community of Maidan believers, it is not clear that those new symbols have brought Ukrainians together and bridged regional divisions. Since this books publication, Ukraines post-Maidan government and parliament lost to political novices promising an end to the war in the Donbas and more effective reforms. In April 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian and television producer with no political experience, won the final round of presidential elections with 73% of the vote. In July 2019, Zelenskys political party, Servant of the People, just formed in time for early parliamentary elections, won an outright majority, a total of 254 of 450 seats. Both elections were unprecedented in independent Ukraines history, where presidents won bare majorities, and where political parties in parliaments always had to form coalition governments. While it is still not clear what changes these political forces will bring to Ukraine, the Maidan Revolution has ended, and a new era has begun. Read the full article here. Right-wing activists accused the police of trying to protect the youth despite the fact that a non-bailable case was lodged against them. In a day of dramatic developments, the Gokul Road police in Hubballi arrested three Kashmiri students of KLE Institute of Technology, Hubballi, who are facing sedition charges and produced them before the 3rd JMFC court on Monday. The court has remanded them in judicial custody till March 2. (Photo: File) Hubballi/Bengaluru: In a day of dramatic developments, the Gokul Road police in Hubballi arrested three Kashmiri students of KLE Institute of Technology, Hubballi, who are facing sedition charges and produced them before the 3rd JMFC court on Monday. The court has remanded them in judicial custody till March 2. Earlier on Sunday, the three engineering college students who had shouted pro-Pakistan slogans on the anniversary of the Pulwama massacre on February 14, were initially released under section 169 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). But the police detained them again following protests from activists of Hindu organisations. On Monday, a tense situation prevailed on the court premises as a mob tried to attack the three students, identified as Ameer, Basit and Talib from Shopian district of Kashmir. They threw slippers at the police van which was carrying the youths demanding stern action against them. Lawyers present at the Hubballi court also shouted slogans such as Bharat Mata Ki Jai when the police produced the youth before the court. Activists of Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organizations surrounded Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner R. Dilip demanding the immediate arrest of the trio. Right-wing activists accused the police of trying to protect the youth despite the fact that a non-bailable case was lodged against them. Meanwhile, Union minister and Hubballi-Dharwad Lok Sabha MP Pralhad Joshi said in a press release that the police had caused a lot of confusion in the sedition case without clarifying their action on the arrest of the youth. He demanded that the youth should not be spared for raising slogans in favour of Pakistan. The sedition case lodged against the youth is a serious one. People wear protective masks following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, during their morning commute in a station, in Hong Kong, China on Feb. 10, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Hong Kong Leader Increases Funds to Tackle Coronavirus HONG KONGHong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Feb. 18 increased a relief fund to tackle the impact of the coronavirus outbreak as she urged residents to accept the governments quarantine plans for returning passengers from a cruise ship stranded in Japan. Lam said the government would increase handouts to tackle the outbreak to HK$28 billion ($3.60 billion) from HK$25 billion pledged previously, to ease the impact on the Chinese-ruled citys battered economy. Lam last week announced one-off payments to businesses across the Asian financial hub and the Hospital Authority. The coronavirus has killed one of 60 patients in Hong Kong. Anger has been brewing over Lams handling of the crisis, with critics calling on her to shut the entire border with mainland China and some medical workers going on strike. Lam has said a full closure of the border would be impractical, inappropriate and discriminatory. The virus has opened up a new front for protesters, coming after months of demonstrations over the perceived erosion of Hong Kong freedoms by Beijing. Hundreds of protesters marched in multiple neighborhoods over the weekend against plans to turn some buildings into coronavirus centers. More than 300 Hong Kong passengers on the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess will be sent to a newly built public housing estate for quarantine when they arrive in the city from Japan on Thursday, Lam told a media conference. We currently dont have any back up plan, our construction works for other quarantine centers need time, and we have a few projects ongoing, Lam said in response to a question on public anger at the decision to house the cruise passengers in an area in the citys New Territories. The government is sending aircraft to bring back the passengers to Hong Kong where they will have to do a further 14 days of quarantine. They are among some 3,700 passengers and crew on the cruise ship, owned by Carnival Corp., which has been quarantined in Yokohama since Feb 3. Separately, Hong Kongs Department of Health said it was prosecuting two people who tried to flee the city while they were meant to be in quarantine. The government imposed a mandatory two week quarantine period for anyone entering Hong Kong from the mainland from Feb 8. People who break quarantine rules risk a HK$25,000 ($3,200) fine and six months jail. Hong Kong citizens who have visited the mainland are meant to stay at home while non residents must remain in their hotel or in government isolation centers. Travel restrictions and other efforts to contain the virus have added to economic strains brought on by months of protests, with tourist arrivals plummeting and residents staying away from shops at a time when the city is mired in its first recession in a decade. By Donny Kwok and Clare Jim Chicago, IL, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Chicagoland vice president, Erica Horndasch, and community manager, Lea Marcou, will be hosting an educational session at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Illinois Chapter Conference and Expo. The Conference and Expo will be held on February 21, 2020, from 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The event will host more than 1,500 industry professionals and homeowner volunteers, 200 exhibitors, and will offer educational sessions on legal updates, innovative trends, hot topics, and industry best practices. Attendees will have the opportunity to share, learn, network, and discuss challenges and solutions. Associa Chicagoland is excited to host an important educational session at this years CAI conference, stated Stephanie Skelley, Associa Chicagoland president. Erica and Lea will help business partners build better relationships with community managers in order to gain trust and earn new business. I look forward to all the sessions and encourage everyone to attend. Please join the Associa Chicagoland team at the educational session - Secrets to Manager Relationships from 2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Business partners will hear feedback from community managers on what the best vendors do well and what frustrations vendors can avoid. With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected: Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa A Paterson man was shot and killed early Tuesday in the city, authorities said. Police responded to a report of shots fired at 1:33 a.m. in the area of 12th Avenue, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said. When officers arrived, they found a crime scene but no victim. Shakeem Ricks, 25, had already been taken to St. Josephs University Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead, Valdes said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the prosecutors office tipline at 1-877-370-PCPO or the Paterson police at 973-321-1120 Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. While it wasnt an official visit, the first occupant of the White House to land on the shores of India was Ulysses S Grant, and likely not the last with, lets say a dodgy sense of aesthetics. The 18th President of the United States, Grant served two consecutive terms in office between 1869 and 1877 and was also the Commanding General of the US Army when the Civil War was won. Soon after his term ended, Grant and his wife Julia set forth on a two-and-a-half-year world tour that aimed to project the US as an outward looking power ready to engage with the world. Grant arrived in ... Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. London: New research indicates facial expressions may not be the reliable reflection of a person's innermost emotions they were once thought to be. Based on preliminary findings presented at a science conference in the US, scientists have gone as far as to say "it might be more accurate to say we should never trust a person's face". Aleix Martinez, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State University in the US, said: "The question we really asked is: 'Can we truly detect emotion from facial articulations?' "And the basic conclusion is, no, you can't." He also described the technology many companies use to recognise facial muscle movements and assign emotion or intent to those movements as "complete baloney". A Massachusetts chemical manufacturing plant re-opened Friday, a day after at least six explosions at the facility forced workers to evacuate and blew a hole in the roof. Seqens North America, formerly PCI Synthesis, in Newburyport, in a statement Friday said the problem was isolated. Most of the facility was untouched and is completely operational; the affected suite represents one small, isolated room, the company statement said. We want to thank the authorities for their quick work in ensuring the facility is safe and ready to re-open so that we can get back to work. The company makes chemicals used in medicines. Firefighters responding to an alarm at 4:30 a.m. Thursday encountered heavy black smoke and evacuated the building after hearing three explosions, officials said. There were about 10 workers in the building at the time. Three more explosions took place about 15 minutes later, including one that blew a 5-foot-by-8-foot hole in the roof, officials said. No injuries were reported and there was no public health threat. The cause of the explosions remains under investigation, but the company on Thursday blamed the problem on a mechanical issue from our steam line. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Massachusetts Chemicals MILWAUKEE, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP is investigating Legg Mason, Inc. [NYSE:LM] for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of the law in connection with the sale to Franklin Resources. Click here to learn how to join the action: http://ademilaw.com/case/legg-mason-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP alleges Legg Mason's financial outlook is improving and yet shareholders will receive only $50.00 per share of common stock in an all-cash transaction. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Legg Mason by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a termination penalty if Legg Mason accepts a superior bid. Legg Mason insiders will receive millions of dollars as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of Legg Mason's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Legg Mason. If you own common stock in Legg Mason and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or http://ademilaw.com/case/legg-mason-inc. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP Related Links http://www.ademilaw.com Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday handed over the Petroleum Exploration Licenses (PEL) to Vedanta Limited for exploration of hydrocarbon resources in three exploration blocks in the state. The three blocks are spread across 74.4 sq km of area in the districts of Changlang, Tirap and West Siang. The exploration in these blocks consists of two phases initial exploration phase and subsequent exploration phase and the exploration period of each phase is of three years with a provision for an additional one-year extension, sources at the CMO said. The grant of licenses for the blocks would lead to an increase in the exploration activities in the hydrocarbon sector in Arunachal Pradesh. In course of time, these exploration activities would reveal the potential of hydrocarbon reservoir of the state, which in turn would benefit the state in terms of revenue, employment and infrastructure development through CSR activities, the sources added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She's so smitten with her boyfriend Scott Dobinson that she's angling for a proposal during their trip to Universal Studios Florida. And Scarlett Moffatt was putting on a giddy display as she enjoyed an action-packed day of rides at the theme park on Monday with her partner of one year. The TV personality, 30, was seen screaming in delight as she took a spin on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, looking like she was having the time of her life. Whee! Scarlett Moffatt was putting on a giddy display as she enjoyed an action-packed day of rides at Universal Studios Florida on Monday Scarlett was also accompanied by her Gogglebox family - mum Betty, dad Mark and little sister Ava. Recovering from the high speed ride, Scarlett steadied herself as she cosied up to boyfriend Scott, posing for some sweet snaps together. The pair puckered up while striking a pose in front of the Universal sign, looking happier than ever during their blissful break. Scarlett beamed with delight as she joined forces with her family for another holiday picture. Pucker up: She's so smitten with her boyfriend Scott Dobinson that she's angling for a proposal Group getaway: Scarlett was also accompanied by her Gogglebox family - dad Mark, little sister Ava and mum Betty Snap happy: Recovering from the high speed ride, Scarlett steadied herself for some photo opportunities Full speed ahead: The TV personality, 30, was seen screaming in delight as she took a spin on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Holiday to remember: Scarlett looked like she was having the time of her life Making memories: Scarlett and her man posed up a storm at the theme park Scarlett took to Instagram to hint that her police officer beau should propose at thge theme park. The star shared a sweet loved-up snap of herself and Scott outside Hogwarts castle at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. She penned on her Instagram Story: 'Imagine being proposed to feeling like real life Hermione! Hint hint ha!! @universalorlando.' (sic) Scarlett went on to share a sweet selfie together during a meal out at STK, they were also joined by her parents, Mark and Betty, and younger sister Ava-Grace. rt GIF. Engagement? Scarlett has teased engagement plans with her boyfriend Scott Smitten: The star hinted that her police officer beau should propose during a day out to Universal Studios The reality star also posted a picture of herself and Scott in a lift, which she captioned: 'My love @scottdobby,' followed by a hea In January, Scarlett and Scott celebrated their one-year anniversary with a romantic getaway to Barcelona, Spain. She penned: 'One official year of being @scottdobby girlfriend. I can safely say the best year of my life. 'Lovely little trip to Barcelona (one to tell the kids one day ha!) next trip is with all the Moffatts (so excited for that especially as sometimes I feel like my family love you more than they love me ha!) Night out: Scarlett went on to share a sweet selfie together during a meal out at STK, they were also joined by her parents, Mark and Betty, and younger sister Ava-Grace 'Its took me to the ripe age of 29 to find the one, so dont panic if youre turning 30 or older and feel like wow I dont have a family yet! Love happens in mysterious ways & at mysterious times #love #anniversary #barcelona.' In October, the couple moved in together after nearly nine months together and Scarlett admitted that she believes Scott is 'the one'. She told The Mirror: 'It's only happened in the last few weeks and it's so new we are still laughing and smiling about it. 'I think he's the one, but I feel that whenever I say that in public I doom my life! I'll just have to hope he is. I've had some absolute a***holes in the past. My family really like Scott. 'I've had boyfriends my mum hasn't liked and, when you are younger, you see that as a challenge.' Mumbai, Feb 19 : Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar, whose digital content production wing Dharmatic has collaborated with streaming giant Netflix for a venture named "Guilty", has said that his upcoming edge-of-the-seat thriller film has intrigue, resonance and relevance, combined by some terrific performances. "Guilty" is led by women in all departments -- be it in acting, direction, writing and production -- and Johar declares he will continue collaborating with female talent in future, too. At the trailer launch, Johar was accompanied by the film's director Ruchi Narain, writers Kanika Dhillion and Atika Chohan, and cast members Kiara Advani, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Taher Shabbir. Srishti Behl Arya, director, International Original Film, India, Netflix, was also present, as were Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions, and Somen Mishra, head of creative development at Dharma Movies. On the female-centric cast and crew, Johar said: "It's quite interesting that it is such a strong female-led narrative, led by a mainstream female actor, directed by a woman, creatively nurtured by a strong woman and all of us at Dharma are such strong feminists including Somen (Mishra), Apoorva (Mehta) and me that we feel proud to tell this story and want to continue telling stories led by women, created by women and nurtured by women." In "Guilty", Kiara essays a musician's girlfriend. The story explores the different versions of truth that emerge when a smalltown girl accuses her college heartthrob of rape. "We are really excited to tell the story of 'Guilty'. It has intrigue, resonance, relevance and more than that, 'Guilty' has a strong narrative and storytelling along with terrific performances. We are excited to actually have a film that is led by a solid mainstream star but also bring new talent to the table along with a very strong filmmaker," declared Johar. After her grand web debut with Karan Johar's segment in the anthology "Lust Stories" (2018), Kiara returns to the digital space with "Guilty". Talking about his collaboration with Netflix, Johar said: "This is the first time that Dharmatic and Netflix has come together. All of you know that Netflix is a tremendous global platform and they really encourage and nurture strong content, so to collaborate with them was really an honour and also a privilege to be able to tell stories we really want to with the abundance and the craft and creativity." "Guilty" will stream on Netflix from March 6. Pakistan to consider importing insecticides from India to fight locusts FILE PHOTO: A desert locust is seen in a grazing land in Nakwamuru village, Samburu County By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan is likely to import insecticides from arch-rival India to brace itself for any locust attacks this summer, bypassing a ban on trade between the neighbouring nations. A copy of Cabinet agenda for a Tuesday meeting seen by Reuters has the import option on it. Pakistan severed all diplomatic and trade ties with New Delhi in August after India revoked the special status of Kashmir, a disputed territory between the two rivals, who have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region. "Yes definitely, there is a fear of locust attack in June- July, this is the reason we are planning and preparing in advance," Dr Falak Naz, Director General Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, told Reuters. China, currently battling the coronavirus outbreak, is the other place from where Pakistan can import the insecticides. Pakistan declared a national emergency over locust swarms early this month after the food ministry gave a briefing to parliament, warning that the country was facing the worst locust infestation in two decades. Desert locusts, large herbivores which resemble grasshoppers, are said to have arrived in Pakistan from Iran, and have already damaged maze, cotton, wheat and other crops. Khusro Bakhtiar, the national food security minister, quoted by local English language newspaper The Express Tribune, said in the briefing that the locust swarm was currently on the Pakistan-India border. "Action has been taken against the insect over 0.3 million acres (121,400 hectares) and aerial spray was done on 20,000 hectares," he said. Swarms of desert locusts have invaded eastern Africa, ravaging crops, decimating pasture and deepening a hunger crisis. United Nations says hundreds of millions of the insects have swept over the Horn of Africa in the worst outbreak in a quarter of a century. (Writing by Asif Shahzad; Additional Reporting by Syed Raza Hasan in Karachi, Pakistan; Editing by Toby Chopra) According to the estimates by the Ministry of Economy, at the end of 2019, GDP is expected to grow at a level of about 3.3-3.5% Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine mpe.kmu.gov.ua Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers published a report on its activities for 2019. According to the report, the government is just laying the foundation for further reforms in many areas. The current Cabinet credits itself to ensuring the availability of medicines, improving the quality of education and protecting orphans. "In order to prevent a decrease in the level of well-being of Ukrainians, we have created conditions for reducing the number of payments for thermal energy, which has already become a reality for a significant part of households," the document reads. In addition, considerable attention has been paid to ensuring macroeconomic stability, increasing investment attractiveness and improving the business environment. Dynamics of GDP in Ukraine and the EU countries in the II and III quarters of 2019, as% of the corresponding quarter of the previous year: So, in 2019, the Ukrainian economy grew at a rapid pace. In Q2 and Q3, GDP growth rates exceeded 4% and were among the highest in Europe. At the end of 2019, GDP is expected to grow at a level of about 3.3-3.5% (estimates by the Ministry of Economy). Dynamics of GDP in 2014-2019,% In 2019, wages continued to grow at a rapid pace. In 2019, the nominal average monthly wage of regular employees increased by 18.4% to UAH 10,497 (430 USD). Real wages increased by 9.8%. The dynamics of nominal wages in 2018-2019 Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers The growth of the average monthly wage was caused, first of all, by the influence of high competition for skilled labor with foreign employers and the high economic activity of business entities, as well as in the context of an increase in the level of state social standards, in particular, the minimum wage. The dynamics of real wages in 2018-2019,% Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers The growth rate of real wage growth in 2019 continued to exceed the growth rate of labor productivity. Dynamics of labor productivity in 2014-2019, cumulatively in% of the corresponding period of the previous year Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers In accordance with the increase in the cost of living in 2019, the minimum pension was also increased by 9.4%. The average pension as of January 1, 2020, amounted to UAH 3083 (126 USD), which is 16.5% more compared to January 1, 2019 (UAH 2646 or 108 USD). Raising the level of pension provision Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers The increase in income levels of all segments of the population, the growth of economic development indicators contributed to the reduction of poverty indicators. The absolute poverty level (incomes below the actual subsistence minimum) according to the first half of 2019 decreased by 6.2 percentage points and amounted to 25.5% compared to 31.7% in the first half of 2018. High dynamics of growth in the level of wages, combined with the influence of a further increase in the length of insurance required for retirement, and the continued positive dynamics of economic development contributed to an increase in the supply of labor on the labor market. The level of population participation in the workforce has been growing for the second year in a row. Dynamics of construction in 2018-2019,% Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers Positive development trends in 2019 continued in other areas of economic activity, in particular in agriculture and transport. According to preliminary data from the State Statistics Service, in 2019, agricultural production increased by 1.1%. The growth was recorded both in crop production (by 1.3% versus 10.7% in 2018) and in livestock production (by 0.5% versus 1.5%, respectively). The dynamics of crop production indicators was formed under conditions of obtaining record volumes of production of grain crops and sunflower against the backdrop of favorable weather conditions for these crops during the growing season, ripening and harvesting. Dynamics of the value of exports and imports of goods and services in 2018-2019, cumulative % of the corresponding period of the previous year Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers According to the calculations of the Ministry of Economy and the State Statistics Service, in September-November 2019, compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the positive dynamics of export of goods was accelerated by 4.9% compared to 4.2% in September-November 2018. This happened, in particular, due to the restoration of positive dynamics of export of seeds and fruits of oil plants (by 54.1% against a decrease of 13.4% in September-November 2018) against the background of a record crop of sunflower and fertilizers (32.7 times against a decrease of 91.3%, respectively) in the conditions of resumption of work of Odesa trade factory. At the same time, the growth rate of the export of machine-building products accelerated over this period (up to 4.1% against 2.3% in September-November 2018). The expansion of domestic demand contributed to the increase in imports of goods and services. The value volumes of imports of goods and services according to the National Bank in 2019 compared with 2018 increased by 7.1% (by 12.8% in 2018), mainly due to an increase in the volume of imports of engineering products (an increase of 21% for aggregated Machines, equipment, vehicles, and devices group versus 17.9% in 2018), including in the context of continuing processes of modernization of production facilities. At the same time, amid falling prices for energy resources, there was a decrease in their value of imports (a 7.3% decrease in the aggregated Mineral Products group versus a 13.5% increase in 2018). Such export-import dynamics formed a negative balance of trade in goods and services (according to the National Bank) in 2019 at the level of 12,117 million USD (minus 11,367 million USD in 2018). Despite the fact that overall economic development in 2019 was positive and the expected GDP growth for 2019 is higher than the indicator taken into account in budget calculations for 2019 at 3%, the fiscal year 2019 was full of challenges that the Government faced. According to the State Treasury Service, the state budget revenues for 2019 amounted to 998.3 billion. UAH (40 billion USD) and increased compared to the corresponding period of 2018 by 7.6%, At the same time, the decrease was due to VAT on imported goods (230 million USD). Revenues of the State budget of Ukraine for 2015-2019 Press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers Expenditures of the state budget for 2019 amounted to 430 million USD and increased compared to 2018 by 87 billion UAH (3,5 billion USD), or by 8.8%. Excluding debt servicing expenses, the state budget expenditures in 2019 amounted to 953.6 billion UAH (39 billion USD) and increased compared to 2018 by 83.2 billion UAH (3,4 billion USD), or by 9.6%. The expenditures of the general fund of the state budget for 2019 amounted to 953 billion UAH (39 billion USD) and increased compared to 2018 by 68.8 billion UAH (2,8 billion USD), or 7.8%. Dynamics of decrease in the value of UAH borrowings depending on the maturity of bonds (as of January 28, 2020) For the second year in a row, Ukraine is among the countries with the greatest progress in the annual ranking of the Institute of International Finance, evaluating the quality of interaction between sovereign issuers and international portfolio investors and the quality of dissemination of data from developing countries. Ukraine received 40 points out of 42 (3.5 points more than in the previous year) for evaluating practices in investor relations and 36 points out of 44 (4 points more than in 2018) for the openness of data. According to an operational assessment, public debt at the end of 2019 decreased in relation to GDP to 43.8% (at the end of 2018 it amounted to 52.2% of GDP). The share of government debt denominated in national currency was increased to 41% compared with 33% at the beginning of the year. In 2019, Ukraines credit ratings were improved: from B- to B (Standard & Poor's) from B to B, and the outlook was improved from stable to positive (Fitch), the outlook was improved from stable to positive (Moody's), from CCC + to B (Rating and Investment Information). All payments on the repayment of public debt were made on time. Thus, the general situation that developed in the Ukrainian economy in 2019, despite the persistence of a number of significant problems and risks, indicates the gradual formation of a qualitative basis for further sustainable economic development. Thus, from the beginning of its activity, the Government has focused on two important areas - the systematic solution of acute Ukrainian problems and the creation of conditions for increasing the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian economy. The Duppy Share extends into spiced rum sector The Duppy Share is launching a Spiced variant in the UK, marking the first line extension since the brands launch in 2015. The Duppy Share Spiced is flavoured with pineapple and kola nut and it is being launched exclusively in Selfridges. It has been developed with Robin Honhold, former head of operations at Mr Lyan and co-founder of drinks innovation team A/O, with the aim of creating an accessible, versatile craft rum with a blend of spices that is designed to stand up in mixers such as ginger, soda and cola. The new expression uses a carefully-blended base of aged rum from distilleries Worthy Park (Jamaica) and Four Square (Barbados). It features pineapple and kola nut with supporting notes of ginger, vanilla, clove and nutmeg, as well as brightness form grapefruit, orange and basil. Founder, George Frost, said; When making a rum its all about creating a great tasting liquid that stands out from the crowd. Spiced rum is booming in the UK, with sales topping 10 million bottles in 2019, and I saw a massive opportunity to create a spiced rum that focused on adding depth of flavour and complexity that consumers dont usually get or expect from other spiced rums. Spiced rum has had a bad reputation in the past for being super sweet and packed so full of flavourings that you cant even tell that its a rum. We wanted to forge a different path to advance the category and show consumers how good a spiced rum can be. As if we were making a gin, in making The Duppy Share Spiced we worked with the brilliant Robin to ensure that the balance of spices and botanicals was just right. The result, we believe, is a fantastic rum, that happens to have been pimped with some extra flavour. Founder, George Frost, said: When making a rum its all about creating a great tasting liquid that stands out from the crowd. Spiced rum is booming in the UK, with sales topping 10 million bottles in 2019, and I saw a massive opportunity to create a spiced rum that focused on adding depth of flavour and complexity that consumers dont usually get or expect from other spiced rums. Spiced rum has had a bad reputation in the past for being super sweet and packed so full of flavourings that you cant even tell that its a rum. We wanted to forge a different path to advance the category and show consumers how good a spiced rum can be. As if we were making a gin, in making The Duppy Share Spiced we worked with the brilliant Robin to ensure that the balance of spices and botanicals was just right. The result, we believe, is a fantastic rum, that happens to have been pimped with some extra flavour. Related articles: The European Union's competition chief left the door open to the possibility of the U.S. government taking a stake in two of the continent's top 5G players Nokia and Ericsson as long as there is no risk to security. U.S. Attorney General William Barr said earlier this month that the government should consider taking a controlling stake in Nokia, Ericsson or both in order to "blunt" Chinese firm Huawei's "drive to domination" in next-generation mobile networks known as 5G. Nokia and Ericsson are two of the biggest networking equipment makers and direct competitors to Huawei. Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition commissioner, told CNBC Tuesday that it's up to the "businesses to answer if they are for sale or not" but it's up to European lawmakers "to make sure that every risk is assessed." "Here in Europe we are neutral on ownership, you can be state owned or privately owned, what is important for us is that you act as a market operator that you have a real business case for what you do," Vestager told CNBC's Silvia Amaro. "So, you know, I have no specific point if the U.S. state would want to buy a stake, and I don't know if there is a stake in Nokia, Ericsson that is for sale," she added, essentially leaving the door open to a move. British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams' e-Business visa was revoked as she was involved in anti-India activities, and the cancellation was conveyed to her on February 14, government sources said on Tuesday. Asserting that the grant, rejection or revocation of a visa or electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of a country, the sources said Abrahams was issued an e-Business visa on October 7 last year which was valid till October 5, 2020 for attending business meetings. "Her e-Business visa was revoked on February 14, 2020 on account of her indulging in activities which went against India's national interest. The rejection of the e-Business visa was intimated to her on February 14," a source said. Abrahams was not in the possession of a valid visa at the time of her arrival at the IGI airport in New Delhi on Monday and she was asked to return, the sources said. There is no provision of 'visa on arrival' for UK nationals at the airport, sources said, dismissing Abrahams' contention she should have been granted a 'visa on arrival'. Sources said, as per the rules, previously issued e-Business visa meant for business meetings, can't be used for visiting "family and friends", as stated by the British MP. "This is not permitted as per the rules and a separate visa request has to be made," a source said. Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday. Government officials had said she was informed in advance that her e-visa had been cancelled. The Labour Party MP had said that despite having a valid visa she was denied entry into India after she landed at the airport here. She was among a group of British MPs who issued formal letters expressing concerns over the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 in August last year. "We are gravely concerned at the announcement by Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been removed by Presidential Order," the Opposition MP had noted in her letter to the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the time. Cong's Singhvi backs govt on British MP's deportation, says she is 'Pak proxy' Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday backed the government's decision to deport British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she was not just an MP, but a "Pakistan proxy". The Congress party has, however, not come out with any official stand on the issue and instead, asked the government to spell out the reasons for denying the British MP entry into India. "The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted," Singhvi said in a tweet. His party colleague Shashi Tharoor had, however, tweeted in support of Abrahams on Monday. "I find it ironic that some of the same people who applauded me for going to Britain as an Indian MP & telling them off about their colonial misbehaviour, are attacking me for wanting India to grant a British MP the same privilege! If we can dish it out, we shld be able to take it," Tharoor had written on Twitter. Asked about the reaction of the Congress on the issue of denial of visa to Abrahams, party spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said the government should spell out the reasons for denying her entry into the country and justify its action. "I think the government should say what were the reasons for denying her entry and also if there was really some threat that she was bringing to India. If they can give some justification, only then I think it will be appropriate to comment on whether it was justified or not," he told reporters. A new reminder of the Black Death plague that decimated Europe has been unearthed in a Lincolnshire burial site - the remains of dozens of people wiped out 650 years ago. As the world focuses on the spread of coronavirus, the archaeologists' discoveries shed terrifying new light on the humanitarian disaster that befell the world in the 14th century. A mass grave containing 48 skeletons, including 27 children, was found on the site of a former monastery hospital at Thornton Abbey. Scientists have been working at the site since 2011 but the number of bodies it contains has only recently become clear. In addition to the skeletal remains, a Tau Cross pendant was found at the scene that was believed to have treated St. Anthony's fire a skin condition that made victims feel as if their limbs were on fire. It has been over 650 years since the Black Death spread through Europe, but archaeologist are still finding haunting reminders of its rampage. A mass grave of 48 skeletons was recently discovered at the site of a 14th century monastery hospital at Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire This graphic shows the placement of the bodies in the mass grave, discovered in Lincolnshire It is estimated, that some 200 million people lost their lives to this horrific plague. Dr. Hugh Willmott from the University of Sheffield's Department of Archaeology, has been working on the excavation site in Lincolnshire since 2011 The Black Death, which ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353, was caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis that can cause several forms of plague and can be transmitted to humans by fleas. Black rats, which were abundant along trade routes, acted as carriers of the plague when fleas hitched a ride on their backs. It is estimated, that some 200 million people lost their lives to this horrific plague that spread across Europe and Asia. The disease is widely thought to have arrived in Europe after being transported from the plains of central Asia via Crimea transported on merchant ships. The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30 to 60 per cent of Europe's population and in total, the plague could have reduced the world population from an around 475 million to between 350 to 375 million in the 14th century. Such a large burial ground at Thornton Abbey suggests the community was all but wiped out by the sheer number of plague victims, scientists said. Researchers believe that victims of the Black Death fled the overcrowded cities and overwhelmed hospitals in Lincolnshire, only to die at the abbey and its hospital shortly after arriving. Dr Hugh Willmott from the University of Sheffield's Department of Archaeology, has been working on the excavation site in Lincolnshire since 2011. The Black Death, which ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353, was caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis that can cause several forms of plague and can be transmitted to humans by fleas The mass burial of bodies, known to be victims of the Black Death, has been discovered at the site of a 14th century monastery hospital at Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire The presence of such a large burial site, containing both male and female adults, as well as 27 children, suggests the local community was overwhelmed by the Black Death and was left unable to cope with the number of people who died He said: 'Despite the fact it is now estimated that up to half the population of England perished during the Black Death, multiple graves associated with the event are extremely rare in this country, and it seems local communities continued to dispose of their loved ones in as ordinary a way as possible.' 'The only two previously identified 14th century sites where Yersinia pestis [the bacterium responsible for the plague] has been identified are historically documented cemeteries in London, where the civic authorities were forced to open new emergency burial grounds to cope with the very large numbers of the urban dead.' 'The finding of a previously unknown and completely unexpected mass burial dating to this period in a quiet corner of rural Lincolnshire is thus far unique, and sheds light into the real difficulties faced by a small community ill prepared to face such a devastating threat.' Dr. Willmott added: 'While skeletons are interesting, they just represent the end of somebody's life and actually what we are interested in as archaeologists is the life they led before they died.' 'One of the ways we can connect with that is through the everyday objects they left behind. In addition to the skeletal remains, a Tau Cross pendant was found at the scene that was believed to have treated St. Anthony's fire a skin condition that made victims feel as if their limbs were on fire The Black Death devastated European populations from 1346 to 1353 and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people The team are sending the remains to a lab and there DNA samples will be analysed. Dr. Diana Mahoney Swales, from the University of Sheffield's Department for Lifelong Learning, who is leading the study of the bodies, said that once the skeletons return to the lab the scientists will be able to start learning who these people are Among the skeletal remains was a small gold pendant called a Tau Cross. This piece was believed to cure St Anthony's fire, which is a skin condition that makes the person feel as if their limbs are on fire. The pendant is circular with a 'T' in the centre that is etched with different designs. The team is sending the remains to a lab and there DNA samples will be analysed. Dr. Diana Mahoney Swales, from the University of Sheffield's Department for Lifelong Learning, who is leading the study of the bodies, said: 'Once the skeletons return to the lab we start properly learning who these people really are.' 'We do this by identifying whether they are male or female, children or adults.' 'And then we start to investigate the diseases that they may have lived through, such as metabolic diseases like rickets and scurvy which are degenerative diseases for the skeleton. 'However for diseases such as plague, which are lethal, we have to use ancient DNA analysis to investigate that further.' Credit: CC0 Public Domain Doctors prescribe more branded medications after marketing visits by the makers of those drugs, new research co-authored by a Cornell University economist confirms. But while the 4% average monthly increase in sales of those drugs in the year following such marketing represents a substantial return on investment, it is well below what some previous studies have suggested, said Colleen Carey, assistant professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell. Additionally, the study found that drug firms' "detailing" visitsa controversial practice involving in-kind payments to doctors, commonly mealsdoes not lead them to prescribe higher-quality drugs, as industry advocates have argued. "We took seriously the claim that there is educational value to these marketing encounters," Carey said. "We just don't find any evidence for it." Carey is the author, with Ethan Lieber of the University of Notre Dame and Sarah Miller of the University of Michigan, of "Drug Firms' Payments and Physicians' Prescribing Behavior in Medicare Part D," released Feb. 17 as a working paper by National Bureau of Economic Research. Leveraging new data and an improved study design, the paper is the first to track doctors' prescribing behavior before and after payments related to all drugs, not just a single drug or class of drugs. It also accounted for which doctors were already likely to prescribe these medications based on their patient mix, and therefore be targeted for detailing. The analysis showed that doctors shared similar prescribing trends before any payments occurred. But in the month after receiving a payment, doctors increased the number of patients taking the drug marketed to them. "The prevalence of the practice implies that the financial impacts are economically large," the researchers wrote. The researchers estimated that for every additional dollar spent on detailing visits, drug firms could expect to reap $2.64 in increased drug revenue over the next yeara 164% return on investment. Previous estimates were much higher, ranging from 200% to 1,700%, according to the study. It's easy, Carey said, to see why detailingnow banned by some academic medical centersis a good investment: The visits are cheap, and the drugs are expensive. "You don't need a big behavior change for these visits to make economic sense for the drug firms," she said. "For a lot of these drugs, if you get the doctor to prescribe it once more over the next year, you would have broken even." Overall, doctors' interactions with drug firm sales representatives increased firm revenues, but the study did not find that they improved prescribing quality. "We do not find clear evidence that such payments are harmful to patients," the researchers concluded, "only that they do not seem to be obviously helpful." Explore further Payments to physicians may increase opioid prescribing More information: Colleen Carey et al. Drug Firms' Payments and Physicians' Prescribing Behavior in Medicare Part D. NBER Working Paper No. 26751 Issued in February 2020 KYODO NEWS - Feb 18, 2020 - 22:41 | World, All The Chinese government announced Tuesday that 696 items imported from the United States will be exempted from the additional tariffs for one year, including pork, soybeans and liquefied natural gas. The move announced by the State Council's Customs Tariff Commission, effective March 2, comes after the United States last Friday rolled back some of the punitive tariffs it has imposed amid its trade war with China, as an interim trade deal between the two countries took effect the same day. The latest development comes as China wrestles with the outbreak of a new coronavirus that has hit economic activity in the country and the region. Based on the "phase one" deal, the United States halved the 15 percent tariff rates imposed on $120 billion of Chinese imports in exchange for Beijing's commitment to purchase substantially more U.S. products and strengthen its intellectual property protections. But the coronavirus outbreak has created uncertainty as to whether China will be able to buy additional U.S. goods and services to the targeted level. China has agreed to boost its purchases of U.S. goods and services over the next two years by at least $200 billion, including $32 billion on agriculture alone, in a move that is expected to help the United States reduce its trade deficit with the Asian country. China has also promised to pursue financial services liberalization, while committing to address allegations of forced technology transfer and currency manipulation to boost exports. The United States, however, will maintain a tariff rate of 25 percent for approximately $250 billion of Chinese imports -- roughly half the amount China sold to the United States in 2018. The move means that $370 billion of Chinese goods will continue to be affected by punitive levies imposed by the United States since the tit-for-tat trade war started in July 2018. China, for its part, had already said it would lower tariffs on about $75 billion worth of goods imported from the United States, effective last Friday. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 17, 2020 / In looking at the valuation of a public company, an equity analysis report is an important tool that helps investors determine if they should buy, hold, or sell shares of a company. These reports are written in detail by financial analysts who detail the industry, compare the company to its peers and competitors, review the management team, and analyze its past financial performance. The report ends up with a forecast for the future of the company and a recommendation of whether to buy or sell its stock. In this article, Lisaveta Ramotar looks at why an Equity Analysis Report is important to financial planning and what you need to know before you read a company's Equity Analysis Report. "Many people have asked me my opinion on how a company is doing," Lisaveta Ramotar says. Rather than use the news media as your source or to guess at the outcome, she recommends going to the company's Equity Analysis Report. "It tells so much, and I won't invest without it," she says, "but there is one thing that most people don't know." Lisaveta Ramotar explains, the Equity Analysis Report is probably the most important tool there is to understand how a company is doing. There are long reports that go into minute detail as well as short 1-2 page summary reports which usually focus on a small part of the company, and there are quarterly reports and other reports with different names, "but what I recommend you look at first before you look at anything else," she explains, "is to learn who did the research." Lisaveta Ramotar says this small bit of information is critical to know because these reports have different uses depending on who wrote it, and there is the potential to be slightly biased. For example, there are firms like asset management companies who create reports for their portfolio managers' use only, she says. These aren't distributed to the general public, so it's unlikely you'll see these. But other firms like investment banks produce reports to go to their clients with a bias towards persuading the clients to buy, says Lisaveta Ramotar. The investment banks know that when they create a report for a public company, that company is more likely to use their bank to execute their trades for that stock. For these reasons, investment banks are more biased towards companies that they would recommend people buy stocks in. It's something we know as analysts, Lisa Ramotar says, but most of the people I've talked to aren't aware of it. "It's just something to keep in mind as you're managing your portfolio." Lisaveta Ramotar has a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Toronto and was awarded the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship for graduate studies in the United Kingdom where she was awarded a Masters In Project Analysis Finance and Investment. Lisaveta Ramotar was the General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board the country's gold trading and regulatory body and has extensive central banking experience working as an economist at the Bank of Guyana. Lisa Ramotar is experienced in the private sector and business development in transitional economies and has extensive experience in credit and foreign exchange risk management and regulatory and policy development. She lives in Toronto, Canada where she has completed 2 out of 3 levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst program towards earning her CFA designation. CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7865519491 SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576722/Lisaveta-Ramotar-Talks-About-the-One-Thing-You-Must-Know-Before-Reading-a-Companys-Equity-Analysis-Report Italy's Foreign Minister on Tuesday insisted that a new European mission in Libya will use planes, ships and eventually soldiers on the ground to stop the flow of arms into the country. Speaking after a meeting with the Russian Foreign and Defence Minister, Luigi Di Maio said that 27 European countries had agreed to patrol the skies above Libya via satellite and planes, as well as patrolling military ships, to stop any weapons arriving by sea. "If we want to achieve the objective of a ceasefire in Libya, to stop this war, which is not a civil war but a proxy war, we have to stop the arrival of arms," di Maio said. European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to launch a new maritime effort focused on enforcing the UN arms embargo around the North African country. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. Since then the country has seen fierce fighting between rival governments - with forces in the west backed by United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and Russia, and the Tripoli-based government in the east supported by Turkey, Italy and Qatar. The fighting for Tripoli has taken a heavy toll on migrants and refugees sheltering in detention centers in the capital. The United Nations says Libya's warring sides have resumed talks in Geneva aimed at salvaging a fragile cease-fire in the North African country. The current cease-fire was brokered by Russia and Turkey on 12 January, but there have been repeated violations by all sides. Following the meeting between the Russian and Italian ministers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: I'm convinced that by turning to (UN) Security Council our colleagues will be able to get the decision that will satisfy them and that will be in compliance with the norms of international law, including the prerogatives of the Security Council." Libyas warring sides resumed UN-brokered talks in Geneva on Tuesday, more than a week after they ended their first round of negotiations without striking a deal to pause the fighting that has concentrated around the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The Union government began on Tuesday a review of the economic consequences facing India due to the coronavirus outbreak and is likely to announce some measures soon to tackle disruptions feared to hit several industries that depend on raw materials from China, where factories have ground to a halt and ports shuttered in an effort to contain the swiftly spreading disease. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman met on Tuesday representatives from industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, banking and automobiles and is scheduled to hold meetings with secretaries of different ministries on Wednesday before discussing the issue with the Prime Ministers office (PMO) later. Secretaries [of ministries of the government] will work out solutions for specific sectors. In consultation with the PMO, the government will soon decide [on those measures], she said. Several industries have said that they fear their supply chains will dry up if the shutdown in China continues, a worry that has resonated across the globe as governments as well as multinational companies pare back their growth and revenue estimates. The most prominent of the latest concerns expressed was by Apple which on Tuesday said it expects a shortage of parts for its widely selling iPhones, which could hit sales. Since first coming to light on December 31, the virus Covid-19 has infected close to 74,000 people till Tuesday and had led to nearly 1,900 fatalities, defying near-total lockdown in parts of central China where the pathogen first started spreading. Tuesdays numbers represented the fewest new coronavirus infections since January and the lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution. In a briefing to reporters in Delhi, the Chinese ambassador to India appealed for New Delhi to relax restrictions India has restricted the entry of people from China and allow normal flow of people in order to restore trade. According to Sitharaman, three sectors pharmaceutical, chemicals and solar equipment -- were particularly vocal about their concerns. Stock of raw material is not presented as a problem [in the meeting with the industry] shipping lines are on the course But, the question is, what would happen if this [spread of coronavirus in China] continues [for long], she said. The minister added that thus far there have been no concerns of prices rising due to coronavirus , and said that there are no reports of shortage of either medicines or medical equipment. In the case of the pharmaceutical industry, India imports 70% of its raw material for drugs, called Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), from China making it particularly vulnerable to the crisis. Officials from pharma firms said that while the situation is under control for now, there could be a shortage of drugs as commonly used as azithromycin or paracetamol if Chinese factories do not resume production in the coming weeks. If the situation doesnt improve in next two-three weeks then pharma companies will begin feeling the pinch. It will, however, still take about a few months before consumers bear the brunt. At least three months, Id say, said Sunil Attavar, chairman and managing director, Group Pharma. According to government data presented in Parliament in 2018, India imported APIs worth 18,372.54 crore in 2016-17, of which about 12,254.97 crore was from China alone. At the meeting, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) presented a report and suggested a cut in import duties to help ease sourcing. It classified six segments as essential for imports pharmaceuticals (including antibiotics), auto parts, fertilisers, medical devices, inorganic chemicals and textiles. There is a strong case for removing the higher customs duties imposed on certain products that primarily are sourced from China but may need to be sourced from other countries now, it said. The Budget has raised import duties on several products, particularly raw materials to boost domestic manufacturing. Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong told a briefing on the epidemic there were no reports of infections among Indian citizens in China, and that the Chinese embassy has established a contact mechanism with Indias health ministry to maintain close communications. We hope the Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational and calm manner, implement the consensus and instructions of the two leaders [President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi], handle with Chinas much-needed items in a humanitarian spirit, and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between our two countries, Sun said. Analysts too said the length of the disruptions will be key. The impact of Coronavirus on Indias economic growth and both trade challenges and opportunities depend on whether the threat of the virus would continue for some more time. Many of the inputs supplied from China, including for our pharmaceutical industry, are likely to be disrupted affecting supply of drugs within India and their exports, said DK Srivastava, chief policy advisor, EY India. China also imports significant amount of raw materials for producing manufactured products within China. This demand for raw materials may also dry up quickly, he added. It may be an appropriate time to provide relief for customs duties on goods that have been affected: for example, providing a cushion against the price hike for API imports in the pharmaceutical sector, said Niraj Bagri, partner, Dhruva Advisors. Wed love to give you some idea of Toomeys topics at the show but thats a mystery even to her. I dont know what Ill be talking about, she admitted. She never plans her shows. However, she is convinced that the audience will probably laugh at whatever comes out of my mouth. [February 17, 2020] CJC Expands Cloud Propositions With Launch of DACS in the Cloud Solution LONDON, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CJC, the leading independent market data technology consulting and services firm, is delighted to announce the launch of a DACS in the Cloud solution to the capital markets community. This solution can be offered at varying levels of service from simple cloud deployment with remote management, to a fully managed, technical and commercial solution. CJC have unrivalled, global experience and expertise in managing and supporting Refinitiv's TREP market data distribution platform, of which DACS is a major component. We currently manage 150 DACS globally, so we understand the kind of challenges enterprises face in four key areas; migration to appropriate versions of the product, global consolidation of regional platforms, upgrades of operating systems and hardware, and database maintenance. By leveraging public cloud technology, the CJC solution provides agility and operational efficiencies, while reducing costs. As part of CJC's broader capabilities, we provide cloud-based managed services for multiple marketdata solutions, including Refinitiv's TREP, BCCG's One Platform and Push Technology's Diffusion Server. Our approach deconstructs the traditional installation, allowing us to deploy and manage using cloud native technologies, including Kubernetes, Virtual Machines (VMs) and Containers, to accelerate deployment and ongoing management. Deployments provide full isolation between customer environments for security and compliance, as well as a full audit trail. CJC's DACS in the Cloud solution uses the above approach while preserving all DACS functionality, with management and monitoring 24/7 by our global support operations. Peter Williams, CTO at CJC commented; "We are delighted to launch our DACS in the Cloud solution into the capital markets. The launch forms part of a wider enablement programme for customers and partners to deploy complex market data workloads into the cloud, as well as accelerate cloud strategies throughout the industry. This has all been made possible by our Cloud Tools, which were developed to provide automated deployment and management of cloud-based applications. We are now partnering with major cloud providers and software vendors to provide the initial solutions for a marketplace of managed financial solutions." About CJC Ltd. CJC is a global market data technology consulting and services firm, primarily operating in the capital markets sector. We have two lines of business; Technology focuses on transitioning clients' market data systems to modern technology architectures using a design, build and operate methodology. Our Commercial Management business focuses on helping clients address the complexity of vendor and exchange sourcing, licensing and obligatory reporting of market data. www.cjcit.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/869683/CJC_Logo.jpg For further information, please contact: Peter Williams ([email protected]) +44 (0) 203-326-7600 For press enquiries, please contact: Carl Kemp ([email protected]m) +44 (0) 203-326-7600 SOURCE CJC Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The jurors were not in the courtroom at the time. As in many high-profile cases, jurors have been reminded every day by the judge not to follow any news media coverage of the case. The judges order came just before he gave the jury final instructions. The panel of seven men and five women began deliberating at 11:30 a.m. A half-hour later, the jurors sent a note to the judge asking for definitions of legal terms like consent and forcible compulsion, as well as written definitions of the charges against Mr. Weinstein and whether they could find him guilty of certain combinations of charges. Mr. Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty in State Supreme Court in Manhattan to five felony charges, including rape, criminal sexual assault and predatory sexual assault. The main charges in the indictment rest on the testimony of two women: Miriam Haley, a former production assistant who said the producer forced oral sex on her at his home in 2006, and Jessica Mann, a former actress who accused him of raping her in a Midtown Manhattan hotel in 2013. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Malacanang on Tuesday said the governments intelligence-gathering processes may be subject to irregularities noting how even the controversial drug watch list may be exposed to some flaws. PLtCol Jovie Espenido, a police officer recently tagged in the governments so-called narco list, earlier claimed he was a victim of failure of intelligence by his superiors. It could be trueIt's not unexpected that there may be some flaws in intelligence-gathering. That happens, Panelo told reporters. Espenido, in a recent interview with online news site Rappler, pointed to poor intel and unverified information as reason for his inclusion in the controversial list. Panelo noted Espenido who previously led operations against drug-linked politicians "could be" a victim of black propaganda. Sometimes, they're even intentional. You're being fed with the wrong info coming from those who are against a particular officer, the spokesperson said. Espenido is among the 357 policemen on President Rodrigo Duterte's drug watchlist, the Interior Department earlier confirmed. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, however, said the list is still subject to validation. The chief executive will eventually have the final say in clearing the names of those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, he added After the validation body formalizes its recommendation, pupunta na 'yun kay Presidente. Pag inaprubahan na 'yun, then clear na siya. Drugs kasi ang pinag-uusapan natin eh, it's really very serious, Ano said in a media briefing Monday. [Translation: After the validation body formalizes its recommendation, that will be sent to the President. Once the President approves it, then hes already cleared. Were talking about drugs, its really very serious.] 'Espenido not involved in illegal drugs' Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile said he believes Espenido is not involved in illegal drugs. "Na-validate ko ang information na 'yun. After ng hearing na 'yun, pinuntahan ko si Kerwin Espinosa. Sabi niya: Pasensya na sir, nasabi ko lang kanina 'yun sa hearing na si Espenido ay tumatanggap ng pera sa father ko dahil sa sama ng loob ko, napatay ang tatay ko sa loob ng presohan," Dela Rosa said. [Translation: I validated that information. After the hearing, I talked to Kerwin Espinosa. He said: sorry sir, I only said that Espenido received money from my father because of hard feelings, that my father was killed inside prison.] Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when former Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was suspected to be involved in drugs, was killed while in detention in November 2016. Espenido also led the drug operations in Ozamiz City in 2017, which led to the killing of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and the arrest of his children Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog and Reynaldo Jr. The Philippine National Police earlier said the body targets to finish the adjudication and validation process for the narco list within a month. CNN Philippines' Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report. By SA Commercial Prop News Malibongwe Ridge is an extension to Cosmo City and will incorporate the informal settlement of Itsoseng and will be a mixed use, sustainable integrated development. Basil Read Developments a division of JSE-listed construction group Basil Read, on 11 March 2013 broke ground on a R1,85 billion Malibongwe Ridge mixed-use development, close to Cosmo City in northwest Johannesburg. The mixed-use development, adjacent to the groups Cosmo City development, would comprise affordable housing for over 5 500 families, as well as churches, clinics, parks, schools, commercial and retail opportunities. The entire development is expected to be completed within five years. The R1.85 billion affordable housing project is being developed for the Gauteng department of local government and housing and the City of Johannesburg by Codevco, a Basil Read subsidiary. Codevco's scope of work includes constructing 3,240 low-income housing units with rental rooms, as well as 244 low-income freestanding houses, 669 finance-linked, partially subsidised houses, 604 bonded houses and 754 rental or "social" housing units. In February, Basil Read Developments concluded another major sale at its Klipriver Business Park for R15 million to Chinese Investor, New Hope South Africa (Pty) Limited. The R390 million Klipriver Business Park is located on the farm Waterval and comprises a gross land size of 143ha and development land size of 118.9ha with 96 saleable erven which will be developed in four phases. The Klipriver Business Park covers the entire R59/R550 interchange and is accessible to all major road networks (N1 and N3) and rail network. It is considered to be the new major growth node of Gauteng Basil Read was awarded a road contract worth R279m by the South African National Roads Agency Limited, to rehabilitate the national route 5, section 4, between Vaalpensspruit and Winburg in North West. HISTORY will be mandatory for first year post-primary students from September, Education Minister Joe McHugh confirmed today. Following his decision to give History special core status on the Junior Cycle curriculum, the Department of Education has issued a directive to schools to take effect from the 2020/21 year. History will join Irish, English and Maths as a compulsory subject for incoming first years, but it will have slightly less tuition time than the other three. Students may sit a maximum of 10 subjects in the Junior Cert, now renamed the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA), which means that they can now select a further six subjects, the choice depending on what their school offers. Instead of opting for an additional six full subjects - as well as the compulsory four - students can replace one/two of them with two/four short courses, such as Mandarin or Coding, which were rolled out as part of the Junior cycle reforms.. While Irish, English and Maths are accorded 240 hours over three years History is being allocated 200 hours, the same as for the other 17 full subjects on the curriculum While Minister McHugh previously suggested that he would like History to have 240 hours, it would not have been possible to restructure the curriculum to accommodate that in September. This is the first time that History has been mandatory for post-primary Junior Cycle students, although practically all schools offered it and it was mandatory in more than two-thirds. With the reformed Junior Cycle encouraging schools to take advantage new curricular options, such as short courses, there was a concern that, over time, History would suffer. Shortly after taking office in 2018, Mr McHugh announced that he wanted the National Council for Curriculum and assessment (NCCA) to review the status of History, to make it compulsory. The NCCA stuck with its original advice and in its report to the minister last year, recommended that it remain an optional subject, but Mr McHugh decided to go ahead with change and asked the NCCA for a further report on its implementation . The NCCA is also being asked to develop a short course in History for certain students with general learning difficulties/needs. Students in this category will not be required to study the subject ahead of the new short course being made available in September 2021. Announcing the implementation arrangements today, Mr McHugh said he was confirming the new core status for History for all students entering Junior Cycle from this September and thanked the NCCA for its support and advice. He said he believed that there is an obligation on leaders and older generations to ensure we provide the opportunity for the next generation to gain an understanding of our past the good and the bad. We need to afford young people the chance to learn from our chequered history and appreciate how knowledge of the past can shape the future. Schools that dont have a tradition of teaching History , or others that dont have enough teachers in the subject, have been invited to apply for extra teaching hours to ensure that they can offer it to all first years in September. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 15:15:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said on Monday that he is committing 10 billion U.S. dollars to combat the impact of climate change. Bezos said he is launching the Bezos Earth Fund, a global initiative to support scientists, activists, non-government organizations and other efforts to protect and preserve the planet. "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," said the CEO of the world's largest online retailer, adding that he will start to give out grants this summer. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," he noted. Bezos' commitment is one of the biggest charitable pledges ever made among the world's wealthiest people. The new fund will be the Amazon CEO's latest philanthropic move in the fight against climate change. Last September, Amazon unveiled a comprehensive plan to achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2040. The company has also promised to transition to 100 percent renewable energy to power its entire corporate infrastructure by 2030. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 16:02:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sri Lanka Dr. Razia Pendse has commended Sri Lanka at the way it has controlled a possible outbreak of COVID-19 in the island country, local media reported Tuesday. Expressing her views on a talk show, hosted by the "Independent Television Network (ITN)", Razia said that she admired the steps taken by Sri Lanka to control the virus through educating the public and easing unnecessary fears and carrying out quarantine in an effective way. According to Sri Lanka's Health Ministry, the only confirmed coronavirus patient, a 43-year old, has been fully cured but she continues to be warded at the island's Infectious Disease Hospital under further observation. The ministry said three more suspected cases were admitted in hospital, out of which two were foreign nationals. "Persons suffering from common flu or seasonal influenza are advised to wear face masks in order to protect family members, co-workers and the public," the ministry was quoted by local media as saying. As Indian Head Park is a smaller village than Westchester, administrative duties will not take up his entire workday, Stelter said. He said he looks forward to spending more time in the community, going out on calls and meeting residents. Global Affairs Canada has confirmed to the Star that 32 Canadians on-board the Diamond Princess cruise ship have now tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. There are 256 Canadians on the ship. An evacuation of Canadian passengers to a Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario is slated to take place soon, per Global Affairs. In an earlier statement Global Affairs said that passengers would be screened before going on the evacuation aircraft, and those who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 would be transferred to the Japanese health-care system. In an email to the Star on Monday night, Barbara Harvey, a spokesperson for Global Affairs, wrote that the government is working closely with Princess Cruises and the Government of Japan to assist in this evacuation. Currently 4 members of the Standing Rapid Deployment Team (SRDT), 3 experts from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and 7 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) medical personnel are being deployed to Japan to support the evacuation, Harvey said. Fifteen Canadians on-board the ship had previously tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The aircraft will bring passengers from Japan to a Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, after which passengers will be assessed and transported to the NAV Canada Training Institute in Cornwall, Ontario, to undergo a further 14-day period of quarantine, wrote Harvey. Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be eligible for the flight. If there is space permitting on the aircraft, non-Canadian immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will also be accommodated to prevent the separation of families, according to Harvey. Those Canadians choosing not to return on the charter flight will be forced to complete the current quarantine being administered by Japan and follow the instructions of local authorities. Canadians seeking to return to Canada by commercial means will be subject to the Quarantine Act upon their return. On Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a written statement that, in light of the extraordinary circumstances facing our citizens on the Diamond Princess, we are taking action to return Canadians home from Japan, while ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to prevent and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. 1 of 2 OMG! Cat owners putting face masks on their pets to prevent coronavirus Some worried pet owners are taking human-sized surgical masks and cutting two eye holes out for their cats to wear. Other cats are given masks that only cover their mouths, leaving their eyes fully exposed, according to a report. One Beijing-based online retailer told reporters that he is selling 10 times more specially-made masks for dogs than usual. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has no evidence that suggests pets can be infected by the COVID-19, but Chinas National Health Commission claims animals may get infected if it comes in contact with a person carrying the virus. If pets go out and have contact with an infected person, they have the chance to get infected, spokesman and epidemiologist Li Lanjuan said. By then, pets need to be isolated. In addition to people, we should be careful with other mammals especially pets. Read More... External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will inaugurate the Indian pavilion at the Berlin International Film Festival for which three feature films and one documentary from the country have been selected, an official statement said on Monday. The Information and Broadcasting ministry in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will participate in the 70th edition of the festival, which will be held from February 20 to March 1. The film festival will also see an India Pavilion which will provide a platform to popularise Indian cinema in the overseas market and facilitate new business opportunities, an I&B ministry statement said. This year in Berlin, three Indian feature films -- Pushpendra Singh's 'Laila Aur Satt Geet', Prateek Vats' Eeb Allay Ooo!, Akhsay Indikar's 'Sthalpuran' as well as one short documentary film -- Ekta Mittal's 'Gumnaam Din' -- have been selected. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar will inaugurate the Indian pavilion at Berlinale, the statement said The Indian delegation, through various interactions, will seek to promote the ease of shooting films in India through Film Facilitation Office (FFO) that facilitates Single Window Clearance for filmmakers and provides the platform for 'Cinematic Tourism' in India, the statement said. The delegation will exhibit India as a post-production hub and promote collaborations for films with international production houses, it added. The delegation has meetings scheduled with officials from countries, including Israel, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, United States of America and Rwanda. The delegation will also meet officials from Locarno Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Festival, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Throwing his weight behind Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget numbers, Reserve Bank Governor has said that there is no reason to doubt that the government will be able to cut to 3.5 per cent of the GDP in the fiscal beginning April 1. In an interview with PTI, Das said the government has remained within the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Committee for the budget deficit. Sitharaman missed deficit target for the third year in a row, pushing shortfall to 3.8 per cent of the GDP in the current fiscal as compared to 3.3 per cent previously planned. The target for the coming fiscal year starting April 1, has been fixed at 3.5 per cent. The is the shortfall in a government's income compared with its spending. It essentially means that the government is spending beyond its means. "With regard to the fiscal management of the government, the government has remained within the recommendations FRBM committee," Das said. "So, therefore, the excess fiscal deficit has been restricted to 0.5 per cent. The government has adhered to that and a large part of the financing of fiscal deficit next year will come from small savings." The FRBM committee headed by N K Singh had recommended fiscal deficit to be cut to 2.8 per cent in 2020-21 fiscal and to 2.5 per cent by FY2023. The panel had suggested an "escape clause" in case of overriding consideration of national security, acts of war, calamities of national proportion and collapse of agriculture severely affecting farm output and incomes. Under this, a deviation from the stipulated fiscal deficit target can be taken but not in excess of 0.5 percentage points in a year. Das said there is no reason to doubt that the fiscal deficit for the next year would be met. "There is no reason for anyone to doubt that number. The Budget has been presented just about a fortnight ago. There is no reason to disbelieve that number," he said. The fiscal slippage announced in the government's new FY2021 budget is modest relative to its previous targets. The said the Budget for 2020-21 had announcements that certain bonds will be opened up for non-resident investment without any limit. "Besides, an announcement has been made in Budget for raising limits for corporate bonds from 9 per cent to 15 per cent," he said. "So, therefore, there are a lot of foreign resources which are going to come into India. Indian corporates are also accessing a lot of money from foreign sources today through ECB." The RBI, he said, will ensure that its borrowing programme is undertaken in a non-disruptive manner. "So, as the debt manager of the government, the RBI will definitely try and ensure that the borrowing programme is undertaken in a non-disruptive manner," he said. Sitharaman's second budget contains some measures which may support GDP growth in the medium-term, including reduced individual income tax rates, some easing of restrictions on foreign portfolio inflows, continued focus on public infrastructure spending, and schemes of which the details remain to be announced to encourage manufacturing in the electronics and textiles sectors. Rating agencies have also backed the budget numbers. Fitch Ratings earlier this month said that the assumptions in the budget, including nominal growth of 10 per cent and a rise in revenues by 9.2 per cent were "broadly credible" although there were risks to the downside. "In particular, reductions in the corporate tax rate, as previously announced, and new cuts in income tax rates are likely, in our view, to cause tax revenues to fall in the short run, before any potential medium-term benefits materialise; the divestment target appears optimistic, at over three times the estimated realisation in FY20," it had said. The government in September last year cut the corporate tax rate to 22 per cent from 30 per cent and in the budget for 2020-21 announced reduction in personal income tax rates for those who were willing to give away present exemptions and rebates. Indian economic growth plunged to an 11-year low in the July-September quarter when it clocked 4.5 per cent expansion. "Greater fiscal transparency around off-budget financing is welcome, as the new budget now explicitly recognises borrowing from the National Small Savings Fund of 0.8 per cent of GDP in both FY20 and FY21, e g to finance food subsidies, although this is not incorporated in the headline figure (which would be 4.6 per cent of GDP in FY20 instead of 3.8 per cent)," Fitch had said. Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) led a group of U.S. congressmen in challenging Defense Secretary Mark Esper over the Trump administrations Africa policy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, NBC reported Tuesday. Graham and the other lawmakers, including Senator Chris Coons (D., Del.), expressed concern over a possible directive to withdraw U.S. troops from Africas Sahel region. Graham told Esper he could make your life hell if the directive were followed, while an aide to Graham told NBC the senator emphasized bipartisan agreement and support in the meeting in support of the mission. Esper is currently conducting a review of all U.S. troop commitments abroad in a bid to return as many soldiers as possible back to the U.S. Currently there are about 1,000 U.S. troops in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara Desert that stretches from the Atlantic coast of Senegal to Eritrea on the Red Sea. Lawmakers including Graham want to keep the troop presence in part because the group of 1,000 is small and at $50 million is comparatively inexpensive to maintain. The soldiers largely support a French troop presence that combats offshoots of Al-Qaeda and ISIS, including Nigerian terror group Boko Haram. The secretary conveyed that the review of AFRICOMs mission and force presence is still ongoing and he encouraged members of Congress to not prejudge the outcome, a defense official told NBC. He also spent the week discussing with our European allies how they could have a stronger role in the region, and stressed that a full-scale withdrawal is not under consideration. Graham has previously challenged the Trump administration after its withdrawal of American troops from northern Syria, in preparation for a Turkish assault on the Kurdish region of the country. This impulsive decision by the president has undone all the gains weve made, thrown the region into further chaos, Iran is licking their chops, and if Im an ISIS fighter, Ive got a second lease on life, Graham said in October. More from National Review Our Ladys Hospital in Navan will not take stroke patients The HSE move to stop treating stroke patients at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Co Meath, has been described as "very concerning". An emergency meeting of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign is due to be called to "mobilise people" on this matter. The bypass of patients came into effect at 8am yesterday, according to a directive sent to ambulance and call centre staff. "Patients with signs and symptoms of stroke (including transient ischaemic attacks) should not be brought to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan," it says. "Instead, these patients should be transported to the next nearest hospital emergency department that provides stroke thrombolysis." These hospitals are listed as Dublin's Connolly and Mater hospitals, the Regional Hospital in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, and Cavan General Hospital. It adds that all "self-presenting patients to Navan with subsequent confirmed stroke" will be brought by ambulance to the Mater Hospital. The rationale behind the decision was that "stroke patient outcomes are optimised by treatment in centres with higher volumes of stroke treatment". Meath West Aontu TD and chairman of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign Peadar Toibin expressed his concern. "This is a significant downgrading of the hospital and comes on the back of significant disinvestment of services," he said. "I'd be very concerned for patients of stroke in Meath who need to get to hospital as fast as they can. "Time is of the essence in these cases and often, delays in the response times of ambulances can be lengthy as it is, without more time being added to get to a hospital further away. Threats "It's another foundation taken away from the emergency department. "Government policy wants to close it and there have been many threats in the past. "If an ambulance has to travel to Dublin and wait with a patient, it is out of action for hours, which means it will lead to even lengthier ambulance response times. "As chair of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign, I'll be forced to call an emergency meeting to mobilise people on this issue." The move was met with "disappointment" by stroke victim and radio DJ Gerry Stevens, who is currently broadcasting a series of podcasts with stroke victims and medics. "It's not good. Time is brain, and the more minutes you lose, the more damage you do to your brain," he said. "I was three minutes without oxygen. Two more minutes would've left me needing treatment in a care home due to the level of damage to the brain." Gerry (52), from Duleek, Co Meath, suffered a stroke in November 2017 and spent three months in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda - the closest hospital to his home. "Minutes are critical," he said. "It's not the direction you want to go in at a time when 2,000 of the 10,000 who suffer stroke each year in Ireland die. "One in five will suffer a stroke at some stage. "The quality of life and how much of you that comes out the other side depends on time, and we need more investment, not less, in local services." The Supreme Court on Monday struck a blow for gender parity in the army, saying that women should be considered for command roles, and that all women officers are entitled to permanent commission. It asked the army to give them permanent commission within three months. In a judgment hailed for creating a new equality paradigm in the armed forces, the top court, upholding a 2010 Delhi high court verdict, ruled that women officers who joined the Indian Army through Short Service Commission (SSC) are entitled to permanent commission (PC) even if they have more than 14 years of service. The bench of justices DY Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi also held that there cannot be an absolute bar on women officers being considered for command appointments, paving the way for their elevation to such roles. To be sure, the case was only about permanent commission and command roles in non-combat streams of the army. Defence minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the judgment. I wholeheartedly welcome Honble Supreme Courts judgement on giving the Women officers permanent commission in the Armed Forces. PM Shri Narendra Modi has supported the idea of permanent commission for women & announced the change in policy in his Independence Day speech in 2018, he tweeted. A permanent commission allows officers to serve in the army till they retire, unlike the SSC, which is for a specific period of 10 or 14 years. Women can only join the armed forced through SSC; they are not offered ab initio permanent commission in any of the forces. There was no immediate response from the Indian Army. The Union government proposed in February 2019 that permanent commission should be given to SSC-recruited women officers with less than 14 years of service. It also decided that these could only be given in staff appointments and not in command roles in specific non-combat streams. These appointments were to start in April. Before this, PC was available to SSC-recruited women officers in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps (AEC) which belonged to the Services stream. All serving women officers on SSC shall be considered for the grant of PCs irrespective of any of them having crossed 14 years or, as the case may be, 20 years of service; The option shall be granted to all women presently in service as SSC officers, the court ruled on Monday. It took the Union government to task for the restriction on command roles, called its decision one that perpetuated gender stereotypes, was against constitutional values and disturbing, and treated women as the weaker sex. In the affidavit filed by the central government in May 4, 2018, it had submitted that restrictions on the employability of women in the Army are inescapable due to the peculiar operational compulsions of the Army. The Union government also stated that measures to eradicate the divide between men and women officers in as many streams as possible were being adopted in an incremental manner. To cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army men and women who serve as equal citizens in a common mission, the court said. The judgment came after a petition by the defence ministry challenged a 2010 verdict of the Delhi high court, which ruled that SSC women officers in Indian Army and Indian Air Force should be granted permanent commission at par with male SSC officers. Mondays case was regarding the army. Similar cases concerning Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are pending before the Supreme Court. To be sure, the judgement does not mean that all women officers will be given command roles. Currently only some male officers make it to command roles, based on a stringent selection process. The central government, during the pendency of the appeal in the Supreme Court, issued a communication on February 25, 2019, granting permanent commission to SSC women officers of the Indian Army in eight non-combat streams. This was, however, limited to staff appointments only. The top court said: An absolute prohibition of women SSC officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently does not fulfil the purpose of granting PCs as a means of career advancement in the Army the Army has provided no justification as to why women across the board should not be considered for any criteria or command appointments. The judgment will immediately impact 322 women officers in the army. It will also have a bearing on the careers of women who join the army now. In February 2003, Babita Puniya, an advocate, instituted a petition in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation before the Delhi high court for the grant of permanent commission to women SSC officers in the army. On September 26, 2008, the defence ministry issued a circular envisaging the grant of permanent commissions prospectively to SSC women officers in the JAG department and the AEC . The circular was challenged before the Delhi HC by Major Sandhya Yadav and others on the ground that it granted permanent commissions only prospectively and only to certain specified cadres. The Centres contentions were largely surrounding three points the technical issue of terms of tenure under SSC; that male soldiers are not mentally schooled to accept women in command roles; and women are not fit for command rules, which might involve combat, because of their physiological differences with men. The submissions to this Court are based on sex stereotypes premised on assumptions about socially ascribed roles of gender which discriminate against women, the judgment said. It added that the reliance on the inherent physiological differences between men and women rests in a deeply entrenched stereotypical and constitutionally flawed notion that women may not undertake tasks that are too arduous? for them. Reacting to the verdict, Lieutenant Colonel Seema Singh, one of the petitioners, said: The army is one of the best organisations to work with; it makes you feel at home, and is the kind of place to fight for and thats why we went to court. The women who have and will come after this will have to prove the judgement worthy. Its now on us. Appearing for the Centre during the course of the hearing earlier this month, senior counsel R Balasubramanian reiterated the armys stand that only SSC women officers with up to 14 years of service were to be considered for permanent commission. As per the proposal, women with more than 14 years of service would be permitted to serve up to 20 years without consideration for permanent commission, and then released subject to pensionary benefits, and women above 20 years of service would be released with pensionary benefits immediately upon the completion of the case in the Supreme Court. This was on the basis that women with more than 14 years of service were inducted under the Women Special Entry Scheme for a short period. Since their employment was for a limited period, they were imparted shorter pre-commission training of 24 weeks. Hence, the centre argued that those officers had limited exposure and responsibility. The Supreme Court dismissed the proposal and observed that the Union governments policy of 2019 in allowing SSC women officers permanent commission was in furtherance of the mandate of Constitution. It added that there was no reasonable justification to restrict PC only to women with up to 14 years of service. The court also noted that though the Delhi high court delivered its verdict in 2010, the Centre failed to implement the order for nine years even though the Supreme Court did not stay the high court judgment. This situation of women officers with service above 14 years has come to pass plainly as a consequence of the failure of the Union Government to comply not only with the directions of the Delhi High Court but also those which were issued by this Court on 2 September 2011. In this view of the matter, we see no reason or justification to deprive SSC women officers of the grant of PCs on the ground that they have crossed 14 years of service, the court ruled. The argument that male soldiers were not ready for woman commanders did not find favour with the court, which held that if the army has cogent reasons for excluding women from a particular criteria or command appointment, it may provide them to the relevant authorities. However, such a justification, the court said, must take place on a case-by-case basis, in light of the requirements and exigencies of a particular appointment. There cannot be a blanket non-consideration of women for command appointments, the court said. The court also rejected that argument that it would be a greater challenge for women officers to meet the hazards of service owing to their prolonged absence during pregnancy, motherhood and domestic obligations towards their children and families. Such arguments, the court said, are founded on a strong stereotype which assumes that domestic obligations rest solely on women. Advocate Aishwarya Bhati, who represented women officers in the matter, termed the judgment a watershed moment for women across the world. The next goal is to push for combat goals, she added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with several other opposition leaders and womens rights groups, welcomed the verdict and criticised the stance of the central government in the case. The Govt disrespected every Indian woman, by arguing in the SC that women Army officers didnt deserve command posts or permanent service because they were inferior to men. I congratulate Indias women for standing up & proving the BJP Govt wrong, Gandhi tweeted. Major Navdeep Singh, advocate in the Punjab & Haryana high court, told HT: Its a beautiful judgment by the Supreme Court. In my personal opinion, the well-rounded decision by the Delhi HC should not have been challenged by the Govt. I can, however, say with certainty that the current army chief, who is a very mature and balanced professional, will find ways to assimilate woman officers in appropriate roles equitably. Aerospace and mechanical engineers will use elevated wind tunnel capacity to expand experiments on vehicles traveling at the speed of sound -- and much faster The University of Arizona College of Engineering wind tunnels are getting $1.7 million in upgrades, which will boost the capabilities of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in high-speed aerodynamics research. With the designation of the university as a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2018, last year was the first time researchers could apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority-Serving Institutions Science Program. Through the program, assistant professor Stuart "Alex" Craig received $450,000 from the Office of Naval Research, and Jesse Little, associate professor and associate department head for graduate studies, received $600,000 from the Army Research Office. In addition, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research awarded $125,000 to Craig, $285,000 to Little and $245,655 to aerospace and mechanical engineering professor Hermann Fasel as part of the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program. "Hypersonics is a key part of the university's strategic plan," Little said. "Our department has a legacy in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, and we are building on decades' worth of research done by colleagues. When we're done, across a few different facilities, we will be able to experiment from Mach 0 to Mach 5, at scales relevant for real problems, not just theoretical ones." Exploring the Transonic Range The speed of sound is about 761 mph in standard conditions at sea level. Mach 1 refers to flows at the speed of sound. Subsonic flows are below Mach 0.8, supersonic flows are Mach 1.3 to Mach 5, and hypersonic flows are Mach 5 and above. The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering has wind tunnels that operate in each of these ranges, including the subsonic and supersonic tunnels in Little's Turbulence and Flow Control Laboratory and the hypersonic wind tunnels in Craig's Boundary-Layer Stability and Transition Laboratory. The tunnels are used to learn more about how aircraft behave in flight. The transonic range, from about Mach 0.8 to 1.3, is complicated because it contains a mixture of subsonic and supersonic behavior that makes experimentation difficult. The environment is so sensitive, in fact, that just inserting a model into a traditional wind tunnel operating at transonic speeds can spoil the test conditions. However, because transport aircraft, rotorcraft, turbomachinery and various projectiles operate at transonic conditions, experimentation in this range is critical. The Army Research Office grant will fund construction of a specially designed test section to extend the Arizona Supersonic Wind Tunnel, which is currently being installed in Little's lab, to transonic conditions. The existing design enables Mach numbers from 1.75 to 4. The transonic portion will be added in late 2020. "We already have a lot of projects at low subsonic conditions as well as supersonic and hypersonic," Little said. "Now, we'll be able to expand this to the range that's in between, giving this university a nationally unique experimental capability." For example, aerospace and mechanical engineering researchers will now be able to study unsteady and separated flows, which are prevalent on components such as the blades of helicopters in the transonic range. They'll also be able to apply active flow control - the ability to manipulate a flow field for a desired change - in experiments at transonic conditions. "The ability to conduct experiments in transonic flow regimes is critically important to uncovering the complex physical behaviors at play; there's a mix of subsonic and supersonic behavior happening simultaneously, which presents an exceptional challenge," said Matthew Munson, program manager for fluid dynamics at the Army Research Office. "Investment in this type of infrastructure is essential to making discoveries that will inform development of future Army and Department of Defense systems. It also provides students at the University of Arizona with an uncommon opportunity to be trained in this largely unexplored area of science." Creating a Flightlike Environment Craig's research focuses on boundary layer transition - the shift from laminar, or smooth, to turbulent in the flow of air around an aircraft. This type of flow affects how much friction and heat vehicles experience when flying at a high Mach number. "Designing a vehicle that can survive that heat is a really big part of the challenge," Craig said. "To do so in such a way that the vehicle is not so heavy it can't fly is another." He uses the Mach 5 Ludwieg Tube wind tunnel in his lab to conduct experiments. However, the tunnel can only produce a noisy flow, meaning that the velocity and pressure of the air flow fluctuate. The Office of Naval Research grant is funding a nozzle that enables the tunnel to produce quiet flow, which more closely approximates what occurs with flight in Earth's atmosphere. "What you need is to mimic a flightlike noise environment," Craig said. "A conventional wind tunnel can't do that, but this nozzle can. The nozzle brings the free-stream quality of this wind tunnel more in line with what it is like when an aircraft flies around in the atmosphere." There are only a few other tunnels in the world with this capability, but they all operate at higher Mach numbers - 6, 8 and 10. This will be the only tunnel in the nation that can produce quiet flow at Mach 5, filling a gap for the study of cruise missiles and other objects that fly at this speed. "There's a whole class of vehicles that are completely underserved if you exclusively focus on Mach 8 or higher," Craig said, adding that much of his research is also transferable to higher Mach speeds. Supporting Future Engineers The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program selected 172 researchers to receive funding out of 724 proposals submitted. Craig's funding will further his work in measuring hypersonic boundary-layer pressure and Little's will support high-speed imaging for aerodynamic and structural measurements. Fasel's grant will fund high-fidelity direct numerical simulations of laminar-turbulent transition. This computational infrastructure complements experiments in both Craig's and Little's facilities. While trained graduate students will be the primary operators of the new equipment, it will also be used to demonstrate concepts taught in undergraduate courses. Additionally, high school students in university outreach programs, such as the College of Education's Upward Bound program and Engineering 102 High School introductory course, will have opportunities to tour the facilities and see examples of data acquired in high-speed wind tunnel experiments. "This type of early experience with technology for testing the various flight conditions encountered by aerospace systems is key to generating and maintaining student interest in STEM careers," said J. Jill Rogers, assistant director of the university's Engineering 102 High School program. The Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority-Serving Institutions Science Program awards are the result of a merit competition administered by the Army Research Office under policy and guidance of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to increase the capabilities of historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to perform defense research. The Army Research Office is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory. "These projects align with so many of our top priorities," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. "By leveraging our status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, researchers in the College of Engineering have secured support that will enable them to create real-world conditions that are critical in aerospace experiments. At the same time, they will be using these state-of-the-art wind tunnels to spark the interest of high school students and undergraduates, who hopefully will imagine their future selves in facilities like these, pursuing STEM degrees or working as engineers." ### BLOOMINGTON Two Decatur restaurant owners are planning to bring their "signature" chicken wings to Bloomington. Brent Sloan and Craig Wilson are partnering with the owners of Mickey's Kitchen to open BC Wings at the former Mickey's Kitchen location, 1709 S. Veterans Parkway, Suite A, Bloomington. BC Wings the B is for Brent and the C is for Craig doesn't have a specific opening date but Sloan hopes to open soon. It will be the second location for the duo, which opened a BC Wings at 3790 E. William Street Road in Decatur in October. It marked a return to the Decatur market for BC Wings, which operated in the Quick Shop 66 strip mall at 1320 N. Water St. for eight months. Sloan said the business closed, with plans to relocate, after experiencing unexpected issues at the previous location. Sloan said they are getting settled into the new Decatur location at Brush College Road and William Street Road, which was selected because of its proximity to the city's largest employers and the center of the city. The Decatur restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offers online ordering and delivery through DoorDash. Sloan also expects the business to begin offering a small selection of beers for dine-in customers very soon. Wilson and Sloan are veteran Decatur restaurant owners with more than 20 years of experience between them. They're each established through their other businesses Sloan's Calzones for Sloan, and Sliderz Bar and Grill, Woody's and Pass the Buck for Wilson. Asked why Sloan and Wilson wanted to expand BC Wings to Bloomington, Sloan said: "We really like that area. The business we're bringing in at that location has great potential. "The way we do our chicken wings is different from how anyone else does it," Sloan said. "I think the people of Bloomington-Normal will love it." Remember Swartz Restaurant? A look at restaurants form the Herald & Review archives Have you opened a business? Have you expanded or moved to a new location? Have you taken ownership of an existing business? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to contact Scott Perry at sperry@herald-review.com or call (217) 421-7976. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. She's set to stun when she makes her appearance as CIA agent Paloma in No Time to Die, Daniel Craig's final film as James Bond. And Ana de Armas spoke of her initial fears of portraying an 'unrelatable' woman in the spy caper, as she spoke in Vanity Fair's March 2020 issue on Tuesday. The actress, 31, explained her reservations about taking the part, saying: 'Obviously I was jumping all over the place and very excited. Candid: No Time To Die star Ana de Armas admitted to Vanity Fair on Tuesday that she feared portraying an 'unrelatable' Bond girl would 'ruin' all the hard work she'd put into her career 'But I needed to be sure it wouldn't jeopardise all the work I'd been putting in, that it wouldn't ruin everything. And the Bond women have always been, for me at least, unrelatable.' Paloma is described as a CIA agent who helps Bond in his new mission, after he was brought out of retirement by Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright). The film also stars Rami Malek as the new villain Safin, Christoph Waltz as Blofeld, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris a Eve Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q. Concerns: Ana explained that while she was 'very excited' to play Paloma, she 'needed to be sure it wouldn't jeopardise all the work I'd been putting in, that it wouldn't ruin everything' Going on to talk about her role as Marta Cabrera in Rian Johnson's whodunit Knives Out, which she also starred in alongside Daniel Craig, Ana admitted she nearly didn't take the part because the nurse was initially described as 'Latina caretaker, pretty.' But take the part she did, and Ana was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy category. And her co-star Daniel gushed about working alongside her in No Time To Die, saying she was 'the real deal' and had 'came in and just nailed it' despite having 'very little to go on.' Ana will next portray Norma Jean aka Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's Blonde, and she revealed she the director told her she'd landed the part after one audition, but she had to prove herself to 'the money people' to secure it. 'I knew I could do it. Playing Marilyn was groundbreaking,' she explained. 'A Cuban playing Marilyn Monroe. I wanted it so badly.' Read the full feature in the March issue of Vanity Fair available on newsstands Friday 21st February. A view of Sri Lankas historic Galle Fort, home to a multi-ethnic community. Credit: Kapila Silva The preservation of Asia's historic urban fabric is a passion for Kapila Silva, a Sri Lanka native and University of Kansas associate professor of architecture. But he has long believed that laws protecting historic buildings cannot, alone, solve the problem. Rather, Silva asserts, in order to be sustainable, preservationists must take into deep consideration the context of the site and the desires of contemporary users. That perspective clearly informs his latest work on the subjecta new book he edited and co-wrote, "The Routledge Handbook on Historic Urban Landscapes in the Asia-Pacific" (Routledge, 2020). When Silva accepted editorship of the project, he reached out to his international network of colleagues in the field for ideas on chapters, themes and places to feature. The book wound up with 37 chapters written by 48 different writers and co-writers. Silva penned the introduction and co-wrote two of the chapters. "The interesting thing is that the authors come from different academic, professional and cultural backgrounds," Silva said. "Whatever they write ... always challenges what you believe in your subject area and your discipline. Then, as an editor, you try to make sense out of all these diverse perspectives, to bring them under some kind of a conceptual umbrella and make the reader see how they are connected to each other." The book contains an extensive survey of places from Australia to Iran to Nepal, including the ghats (stepped terraces) lining the Ganges River in Varanasi, India; the historic port town of Tomo on Japan's Seto Inland Sea; and the Galle Fort in Silva's native Sri Lanka. Other chapters are more thematic, like ones on rural development and the "Sensory Heritage of Asian Cities." Silva's KU colleague Mahbub Rashid, professor of architecture and interim dean, wrote a chapter on urban landscape management in Kolkata, India. And former KU lecturers Farhana Ferdous and Julie Lawless collaborated with Silva on the chapter "Sustainable Urbanism and Historic Urban Landscape Conservation." "It doesn't mean that you can preserve the environment and then just leave it like that, and expect nothing will happen for the next 150 years," Silva said. "That's not the case. Things change in these locations. People change, governments change, the way people value these historic environments change. The global economy or global climate also have impacts on these places. "You cannot just study a place and consider that our study of this place is done. There's always another issue coming up someday. So it's very important to regularly study historical monuments and the conservation of historical environments." Silva said the new book is a look at how the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach adopted in 2011 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has worked out over the past decade in the Asia-Pacific region. He believes it's a move in the right direction. "In urban environments, if they are not the archaeological sitesif people are living in those placesthere are a lot of issues," Silva said, "meaning, the social and economic development of those places, trying to add modern technology and modern transportation, retrofitting those places to accommodate modern amenities and people's change of lifestyles. And then, eventually, with the climate crisis, we need to design cities in a very sustainable manner," recognizing their larger ecological and political settings. In the short term, Silva said, governments need to permit more changes to historic landscapes, and their architecture, in hopes of preserving their essence. "People are living there, and they want to make changes," Silva said. "So these are emerging, evolving places, and we need a completely different approach ... within which we understand cities as ecosystems. They have their own kind of life. We need to ... somehow balance our conservation requirements with the need for socio-economic development." "The professional stance about conservation of history at all costs in the urban environment is pretty limited. It shouldn't be at all costs. We need to be very enlightened about it and do the best we can to preserve as much as possible." Explore further Conforming to standards could improve Sri Lankan urban quality of life More information: "The Routledge Handbook on Historic Urban Landscapes in the Asia-Pacific" (Routledge, 2020). "The Routledge Handbook on Historic Urban Landscapes in the Asia-Pacific" (Routledge, 2020). www.routledge.com/The-Routledg p/book/9781138598256 Loading the player... India emerges as world's 5th largest economy, overtakes UK and France, says report India emerged as the world's fifth largest economy by overtaking the UK and France in 2019, says a report. A US-based think tank World Population Review in its report said that India is developing into an open-market economy. The report further said that in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, India's GDP (PPP) is USD 10.51 trillion, exceeding that of Japan and Germany. Coronavirus: Paracetamol prices rise by 40% amid outbreak of deadly virus Prices of paracetamol that is commonly used as an analgesic have gone up by 40 per cent due to the coronavirus outbreak in China. The cost of an antibiotic used to treat several bacterial infections, azithromycin, has also risen by approximately 70 per cent, as mentioned by Pankaj R Patel, chairman of Zydus Cadila, as mentioned in a report in Bloomberg. Slowdown Blues: Revenue growth in personal care segment hits 10-quarter low The personal care industry recorded a revenue growth of 2.1 per cent in the December quarter of 2019-20, registering the slowest growth in the past ten quarters. This was a sharp drop from the revenue growth of 10.9 per cent in the year-ago quarter. The second quarter of the current fiscal had recorded an increase of 5.5 per cent. Coronavirus impact: Hero MotoCorp says production to suffer by 10% in February India's largest two wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Friday said the Coronavirus outbreak in China is likely to impact its planned production for the month of February by 10 percent since supplies of some components to its manufacturing facilities in India have taken a hit. Reliance Industries consolidates media, distribution businesses into Network18 Reliance Industries has announced consolidation of its media and distribution businesses into a single entity, Network18. Under the Scheme of Arrangement, TV18 Broadcast, Hathway Cable & Datacom and Den Networks will be merged into Network18 Media & Investments. The restructuring will create value-chain integration and render substantial economies of scale. It will also simplify the corporate structure of the group by reducing the number of listed entities. Govt estimates LIC's market valuation at Rs 13-15 lakh crore The government seems to have estimated the valuation of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) at around Rs 13-15 lakh crore.Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian, in a media interaction, indicated that the government may easily mobilise Rs 90,000 crore by divesting 6-7 per cent stake in the state-owned insurance giant. This is the first ever statement by any government functionary after the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced about LIC IPO in her budget speech earlier this month. Also read: SBI Cards IPO likely to be launched in early March Also read: AGR dues: Vodafone share price falls 15%; Bharti Airtel flat post partial payment to DoT In order to promote the Make in India program, industry must adopt international quality standards and scale up production to remain globally competitive, Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways, Govt of India, said. Speaking at 'DPIIT-FICCI Partnership Forum on Public Procurement for Make in India', organised by FICCI and DPIIT, Mr Goyal said, "We will have to align ourselves with the world standards. We want imports to be curbed and international quality standards have to be adopted both for domestic industry and imports." Highlighting the US-China trade dispute, Mr Goyal said, "There are sectors in which India has competitive advantage and let us start looking at scale. Commerce ministry and DPIIT should identify these sectors and make it publicly available to see the business opportunities to exploit." He urged the industry and DPIIT to identify the bottlenecks acting as deterrent so that Make in India can be successful. He also urged the industry, especially PSUs and large companies to start paying advance to vendors at the time of delivery of goods which will help the MSME sector. "DPIIT should identify 100 PSUs and 250 private companies to start the process and we will monitor to see how many companies take it forward," Mr Goyal added. Commerce & Industry Minister also emphasised on the need to change and expand the current basket of exports to achieve the $1 trillion target. "The basket is changing but it is not changing fast enough. Can we collectively look at changing our basket of exports to include more value added products. Import substitution or exports, both are equally important." Mr Goyal also stressed upon the need to adopt latest technologies like AI and machine learning in manufacturing sector in order to become value added producers to change the basket of exports. Mr Goyal said that the government has identified few champion sectors like textiles, fisheries and IT, to expand and become a world leader in exports. He added that we need to identify sectors in manufacturing and services also. "All of us should get out of the mindset of subsidies. It is decremental to India's long-term growth," he added. He further highlighted that in order to promote the domestic industry for high quality products, government will layout roadmap to phase out imported manufactured goods. To further promote the business and reduce bottlenecks, Mr Goyal said that industry should also become whistle blowers. "I want more of you (industry) to become whistle blowers and we want to change all this," he added. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Used equipment experts now providing USPAP compliant appraisals VANCOUVER, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. sees more used equipment than almost anyone, with 500,000+ assets sold in 2019 alone. The company is considered an industry expert when it comes to equipment pricing and valuationin fact, Ritchie Bros. data is almost always listed as a source of values for any appraisal in the industryso the launch of its own Appraisal Services offering seems like a natural next step. "We have been providing appraisal services for a while now, but we're adding USPAP compliant appraisals to our menu and formally bundling all of these under a new Ritchie Bros. Appraisal Services umbrella," said Lee Danhauer, Vice President, Ritchie Bros. Appraisal Services. "These new 'compliant' appraisal reports conform with standards set out by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and are conducted by our expert team of in-house accredited appraisers." Mr. Danhauer continued, "We believe we have the team and the technology in place to become a leader in the appraisal industry. Like the Inspection Services offering we launched late last year, Ritchie Bros. Appraisal Services will be connected to our RB Asset Solutions technology, with RB Asset Solutions' inventory management system acting as a central hub that links to our many services." Ritchie Bros. Appraisal Services products include: Ritchie Bros . USPAP compliant appraisals: managed and reviewed by accredited appraisers who have earned credentials from the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and comply with the ethics, standards, and regulations set forth by the Appraisal Foundation in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Several values are provided depending on the client's needs; these might include fair market values (FMV), orderly liquidation values (OLV) and forced liquidation values (FLV). managed and reviewed by accredited appraisers who have earned credentials from the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and comply with the ethics, standards, and regulations set forth by the Appraisal Foundation in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Several values are provided depending on the client's needs; these might include fair market values (FMV), orderly liquidation values (OLV) and forced liquidation values (FLV). Ritchie Bros . appraisals: standard appraisals, often considered the industry benchmark, primarily based on Ritchie Bros . transaction data from its public and private marketplaces. Over the past 20 years, Ritchie Bros . has done approximately 3,000 'conventional' appraisals, inspecting 420,000+ assets, valued at a total of $14 billion . For more information about Ritchie Bros. Appraisal Services, contact Lee Danhauer at +1.336.414.5045. About Ritchie Bros.: Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The company's suite of multichannel sales solutions also includes RB Asset Solutions, a complete end-to-end asset management and disposition system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com. Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media. SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Vape and e-cigarette users have been warned by the government to only use batteries or charging devices that are recommended by manufacturers to avoid accidents. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) say that failure to do so could potentially cause fire risks or even explosions. The warning comes as the number of people using the smoking-devices grows rapidly: between 5.4 and 6.2 per cent of all adults in Britain now use a vape or e-cigarette. This equates to between 14.9 and 18.5 per cent of current smokers. The campaign has been launched following a series of incidents that have seen devices catch fire, including one that exploded in a teenagers mouth leaving him with shattered teeth. Another incident in 2018 saw a man in Florida die when his vape exploded and gave him 80 per cent body burns. The London Fire Brigade said they attend an average of 24 fires per week caused by batteries, cables or chargers. Many vapes and e-cigarettes are powered by 18650-style batteries, which are slightly larger than the common AA battery. The OPSS and CTSI have said that these batteries are widely available to purchase but that consumers should be vigilant about checking the voltages. They have also urged users to solely use the charger supplied with the device, and not a phone charger or other equivalent. New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Show all 12 1 /12 New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters New smoking graphics proposed by the FDA Reuters Product safety lead officer at CTSI, Mark Gardiner, said: There have been numerous reports of hazardous failure modes of the devices containing these batteries, resulting in serious injury and also death. Where products are supplied with the battery already installed, the manufacturer of this device has generally added a battery management system to ensure safe charging and discharging. Gardiner said that problems can arise when unsuitable batteriesare either used by the retailer before the point of sale or consumers put in an unsuitable replacement without realising. Both the London Fire Brigade and OPSS have also said vape and e-cigarette users should not charge devices overnight. Its important when replacing a battery that you check what type of battery you have and if manufacturers say it is safe for vape use, added Gardiner. The OPSS also advised that vape and e-cigarette users should unplug the device when it is fully charged and keep spare batteries away from metal items which could cause a short circuit. The chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association has warned that a number of Irish companies are going to be impacted by the coronavirus. Simon McKeever told RTE radios News at One that markets are being affected by the virus as it is difficult to get items into and out of China. He also said that members are also beginning to see a slow down in payments from China as businesses have closed because of the virus. The lack of components from China will have an impact at micro level for a number of Irish companies, he said as the production of source items has come to a halt. Its not easy to find alternatives in such a short period of time. His members are saying that the difficulties caused by the virus will have an acute impact in four to six weeks and even if the peak of the virus has passed, there could still be a six to eight week tail back as logistical systems get back on line. Freight companies are also having to ship into other countries as Chinese ports are full, he said. Meanwhile, a small number of Irish people are on board two cruise ships where the virus has been detected, the government said. Simon Coveney said his Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with citizens on the Diamond Princess in Japan and the Westerdam off Cambodia. Hundreds of people in China have died from the infection, known as Covid-19, which has struck down thousands. Among the deaths was Wuhan health chief Liu Zhiming, who had mobilised all the resources of his hospital in the citys Wuchang district since the outbreak began to deal with the thousands of sick people arriving daily, threatening to overwhelm the local healthcare system. That dedication appears to have cost him his life, with Wuhans health bureau announcing on Tuesday that he became infected and died despite all-out attempts to save him. - Additional reporting Digital Desk Now police said they are looking for Waldons accomplice. According to a community alert issued by the department, that person was described as a man about 20 to 30 years old. ST. LOUIS A coalition of activists that supports Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner condemned the head of the St. Louis police union Monday for divisive comments that have brought deep distrust between police and the citys black community. The Justice Coalition, made up of groups like the Universal African Peoples Organization, the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, contends that Jeff Roorda is not a credible mouthpiece for the St. Louis Police Officers Association. The group, which held a news conference in front of the associations headquarters, said Roorda went too far when he suggested on a radio show in September that Gardner should be removed from office by force or by choice. The activists want him removed from his post. (Roordas) public voice has contributed to a harsh and deep distrust within the African American community and law enforcement, and hampers all of our desires for fair and effective public safety, said the Rev. Darryl Gray of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. His voice is loud when it comes to being divisive and destructive and when it comes to impeding the character of black elected officials. Is this the voice of the St. Louis Police Officers Association? Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket: Walmart (WMT) The retail giant reported quarterly profit of $1.38 per share, missing estimates by 5 cents a share. Revenue also fell short of forecasts, and Walmart gave a full-year forecast that was short of the Street's outlook. CFO Brett Biggs told CNBC the quarter started and ended strongly, and that the New Year has started also started off well. Separately, the retailer announced a 1.9% increase in its annual dividend to $2.16 per share. Apple (AAPL) Apple warned that it would not meet its prior revenue projection due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company said the virus had limited iPhone production as well as cutting demand in China. HSBC (HSBC) The bank announced that it would shed $100 billion in assets, and revamp its U.S. and European operations in a move that will result in 35,000 job cuts over the next three years. DuPont (DD) The chemical maker named Executive Chairman Edward Breen as CEO, replacing Marc Doyle. Breen had been Chairman and CEO of DowDuPont prior to the company splitting into three separate entities last year. Conagra Brands (CAG) The food producer cut its 2020 forecast, citing softer-than-expected performance across its categories. The company noted consumption declines in the food industry in general. Conagra expects full fiscal year earnings of $2.00-$2.07 per share, compared to a consensus estimate of $2.09 a share. Franklin Resources (BEN) Franklin announced a deal to buy rival asset manager Legg Mason (LM) for $50 per share, compared to Legg Mason's Friday closing price of $40.72. Franklin will also assume about $2 billion in Legg Mason debt. Advance Auto Parts (AAP) The auto parts retailer reported quarterly earnings of $1.64 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 a share. Revenue was slightly below estimates, however, and a comparable-store sales increase of 1.1% was just shy of the 1.2% increase that analysts were expecting. Medtronic (MDT) The medical products maker beat estimates by 6 cents a share, with quarterly earnings of $1.44 per share. Revenue came in below Street forecasts. Medtronic also raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast to $5.63-$5.65 per share, compared to a consensus estimate of $5.60 a share. The company warned the coronavirus would hurt its current quarter results, although it added that the size of that impact is currently difficult to quantify. Xerox (XRX) Xerox plans to host a dinner this week for shareholders of HP Inc. (HPQ), according to Reuters. The dinner is being labeled a "charm offensive" by some, as Xerox tries to convince the computer and printer maker to accept a $35 billion takeover bid. General Motors (GM) GM will exit Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand in order to cut costs and move out of what it considers underperforming markets. The automaker will take a total of $1.1 billion in cash and non-cash charges in connection with the move. General Electric (GE) GE could be prevented from continuing to supply engines for a new Chinese passenger jet. That's according to Reuters, which said the government is considering such a move. Kroger (KR) Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) revealed a $549.1 million stake in the grocery chain in its latest quarterly Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Berkshire also took a new stake in Biogen (BIIB), and reduced stakes in Wells Fargo (WFC) and Goldman Sachs (GS). Pier 1 Imports (PIR) Pier 1 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, just a few months after the home furnishings retailer announced plans to close up to 450 stores. Dell Technologies (DELL) Dell is near a deal to sell its RSA cybersecurity unit to private-equity firm STG Partners for more than $2 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. In week two as the executive director of the citys housing secretariat, Abigail Bond has already been through her first round of budget questioning and answering to council members on key issues like how to tackle chronic homelessness. Shell be responsible for implementing the newly approved 10-year HousingTO action plan that includes the goal of building 40,000 new affordable units by 2030. Arriving in Toronto after nearly a decade in Vancouver most recently as the citys managing director of homelessness services and affordable housing programs Bond brings with her a tool kit of things that appear to be working. As residents grapple with a growing crisis, she sees a way forward. The Star sat down with her to discuss whats next. It feels like youre coming to us from the future and that you may have some insight into the crisis were experiencing. In terms of the housing challenges and issues that people are facing its actually quite similar the low vacancy rates, the high cost of rents, how rents are increasing over time, just the general difficulty that people are having accessing homes and the fact that everybody is talking about housing are very familiar to me. They remind me exactly about Vancouver. Im able to think about some of the things that I was working on in Vancouver, some of the things that weve done in recent years and if theyre not happening here, or if things are happening in a different way, thinking about trying to transport some of those things or think about what a made-in-Toronto solution might be to some of those same issues. One of the things that came up at planning and housing committee this week was the report on supportive housing and you were asked about what Vancouver had attempted. Can you tell me more about that? The focus on supportive housing was critical in Vancouver over a number of years and several different provincial governments actually. And one of the reasons for that is because its a cost-effective way to respond to homelessness. Its really one of the most successful and only ways to respond to chronic homelessness in particular and so successive governments at the provincial level came up with programs to provide supportive housing, which relied on a very strong partnership at a municipal level where we would provide land and the provincial government would come forward with money to build the buildings and also to provide operating subsidies, which enabled non-profits to then manage them and provide supports for people who are living in shelters or out on the streets. So, its a very effective partnership which delivered over 2,000 supportive housing units, 600 of which in recent times were developed in a kind of modular construction. What are modular units? Theyre prefabricated? There are many different companies that make modular housing and its actually not that new in some ways. Its been used in many parts of Canada, up north for some of the worker camps for many, many years. And its basically off-site construction, so it means that the modules themselves are constructed in a factory, which means that they dont have some of the issues on a site you might have in terms of workforce or the amount of time. It means you can, if you wanted to or needed to you, have around-the-clock production of those units. The ones that we used in Vancouver were fully formed down to the window blinds were in, the furniture was in, everything was in and the units would get driven down from the factory and then craned in to the site in a matter of days. And then it was a couple of weeks to actually kind of put the finishing touches to the building so that they fit in with the community and the context. We have city-owned sites identified and going through the planning process for eventual affordable housing. Is there an opportunity to do the same thing here? Myself and my team were looking at all options right now. I know that there was an interest from council to actually do something more permanent in a modular format and certainly also in Vancouver theyre also starting to look at that now, so not just the temporary kind of options. So were going to look at a number of different sites. The most important piece is the fact that its actually providing home. The modular is kind of an interesting aspect to the construction, but its really just the means to an end. I wonder how challenging it is to arrive in a city where councils already approved these 10-year targets and youre being asked to deliver them. For those of us who work in housing, were pretty nosy about whats going on in other cities. We like to see all the innovations, all the conversations that are going on. So I was kind of watching to see what was happening in Toronto. It was a long conversation with community and many of the things which I see in the plan resonate for me in terms of they came out of important conversations that were happening between stakeholders, with the public, with council and so Im pleased to see the variety of options and the variety of approaches that are in the plan and so I feel like my job is now to take those things and start to roll them out as real, concrete actions. The plan is a great platform for me to start with because it would have been hard, I think actually, to come in and have the depth of conversations quickly that you were able to have with your community and the city was able to have over an 18-month period. So, Im actually very pleased to see the work thats been done and one of the reasons I wanted to come is its an exciting time for housing in terms of the city and the alignment with other levels of government. So, Im pretty excited about the opportunity. On that interplay with other levels of government, theres this constant conversation about programs not being funded adequately. What I see in the HousingTO plan is similar to the approach I think that was taken in Vancouver which was, it clearly lays out all of the things that the city can do, the things that were in control of, the areas that we want to really push for ourselves and then it goes beyond that to really a level of ambition that requires other levels of government to kind of get on board in order to deliver what residents really need. So we will continue to do what we can do and part of that is trying to bring other levels of government to the table. On the policy side, what is within the citys control? A motion was moved recently asking the city to consider rent control on units created on city-owned land. I see that theres a requirement for us to report back in the fairly short term about the rent control. Those are the things that were in control of in terms of both the land aspect and the requirements that we put on partners or the expectations that we have on the partners that will work with us. One of big things that I want to see happen in Toronto is for us to take a big step forward in terms of the amount of rental housing supply. I feel that theres room for improvement. Ive certainly seen that theres been an increase in the amount of rental thats being constructed but we need more and over a sustained period of time if were going to start see an impact on vacancy rates and also on stabilization of rents because rent control is one thing, but actually in a healthy rental market you would actually see some of those things self-regulate if we had enough supply. The 40,000-unit, 10-year target seems like a lot and also not enough at the same time. Can we actually do this? It seems like there was a lot of thought that went into that 40,000 target, both in terms of what the demand might be and how the city might actually deliver on it and so Im just understanding what that work was and the approaches both through Housing Now and also the Open Door policy, which both support the delivery under that 40,000. Its going to be really important for us to report back to council regularly about progress that were able to make and each time we do that theres an opportunity to take a bit of a step back and think about, are the approaches were taking working? Are they working fast enough? Do we want to tweak the approach or the target at any point? You were working in the non-profit sector in the United Kingdom. How did working on these issues outside of government help shape how you see these challenges? I started working in community, so right from day one I think one of the reasons why I feel in love with the housing world is because I could see really clearly how the delivery of a home for somebody just changed peoples lives and how issues that they had in their home, whether it was issues around rent or issues or with their neighbours or whatever, was very stressful and difficult. And I hadnt really understood that until I worked in community, that you cant do anything in life without a place to live. It really defines almost all your decisions, how youre able to show up in the world, how youre able to progress your potential, live your dreams, all of those things. And I was really lucky early on in my career to kind of work in communities where that became obvious, work with organizations who had strong mandate around the delivery of homes to make a difference in peoples lives. It seems like a lot of responsibility too when youre on the governance side. On a cold day like today, there are a lot of people who are displaced. Does that weigh on you? Its one of the biggest motivating factors. For many of the people who work in housing, you often find youll have a very similar approach. Its often very rooted in a strong value system about equity and about who should have access to housing. Housing can be a very complicated area to work in, but at its essence its very simple. Its that really, and as the plan demonstrates, housing is a human right and we should be working to give people the opportunity to exercise those rights. With a plan like this and the kind of investment, it gives me hope for the future that were going to be able to make a difference. This interview has been edited and condensed. Fake News And The 2020 Presidential Election Massive digital misinformation is becoming pervasive in online social media to the extent that it has been listed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the main threats to our society. Facebook has recently removed two separate networks of fake accounts originating in Iran and Russia, for "engaging in foreign or government interference". The Russian operation, which Facebook linked to the country's military intelligence services, focused primarily on Ukraine and neighbouring countries. A small Iranian operation used accounts and personas on Facebook and Instagram to post content about US politics and the 2020 presidential election. Both operations attempted to directly contact politicians, public figures and journalists, a tactic used by several other information operations in the past. Rumor and false stories have probably been around as long as humans have lived in groups where power matters. Until the printing press was invented, news was usually transferred from person to person via word of mouth and some letters that might be read by the post delivery person. The ability to have an impact on what people know is an asset that has been prized for many centuries. Jonathan Swift complained about political fake news in 1710 in his essay The Art of Political Lying. He spoke about the damage that lies can do, whether ascribed to a particular author or anonymous: False- hood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect. Swifts descriptions of fake news in politics in 1710 are remarkably similar to those of writers of the twenty- first century. Now many Americans and Europeans currently believe that the creation and spread of made-up news and information is causing significant harm to the nation and needs to be stopped. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging tech companies to take tougher action to battle fake news on the coronavirus. and fake news, misinformation, and disinformation will also be major concerns in the 2020 presidential election. According to research by the Pew Research Center, half of American adults describe misinformation as a very big problem.Soon there will be another US presidential election and a question from the last election continues to be asked: Did fake news help Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House? Just weeks before the first votes of the 2020 presidential election, Americans report a high level of concern about how secure that election will be and worry about the perils of disinformation. Fake news has now become a commonplace phrase for news that suggests conspiracy theories, incorrect ideas and speculation. The weaponisation of micro-targeting was pioneered in large part by the data scientists at Cambridge Analytica. The firm began as part of a nonpartisan military contractor that used digital psyops to target terrorist groups and drug cartels. In Pakistan, it worked to thwart jihadist recruitment efforts; in South America, it circulated disinformation to turn drug dealers against their bosses. Cambridge Analytica was dissolved in 2018, shortly after its CEO was apparently caught on tape bragging about using bribery and sexual honey traps on behalf of clients. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke Mark Zuckerberg promised to do better, and rolled out a flurry of reforms. But then, last fall, he handed a major victory to lying politicians: Candidates, he said, would be allowed to continue running false ads on Facebook. Recently US Congress and the FBI have been investigating whether fake news affected the 2016 Presidential Election and they believe that there was a lot of fake news with that intention. Their next question which is far harder to analysis is whether the fake news affected peoples votes. Facebook says that 126 million Americans were given Russian fake news stories that were aimed at affecting their opinions and changing their voting. But it wasnt just the Russians buying Facebook use for fake news. Twenty of the most popular fake news stories were created by Americans which were opened and read by nearly 9 million people. The researchers asked the voters how much they believed in three statements, each of which, according to independent analysis, had been promoted by fake news but were actually false: that Hillary Clinton was in poor health due to a serious illness that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump that, during her time as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton approved weapon sales to Islamic jihadists Although most people didnt think that these statements were true, there was a very strong link between the belief that they were true and the way people voted: Among those who believed none of the three fake news stories, 89 percent cast ballots for Hillary Clinton in 2016; among those who believed one fake news item, this level of electoral support fell to 61 percent; but among those who had voted for Obama in 2012 and believed two or all three of these false assertions, only 17 percent voted for Clinton. It is argued by some analysts that if these percentages of voters, even 17% of former Obama supporters, had voted for Clinton in the states that went from a Blue to a Red in 2016, instead, it would have changed the outcome of the election. Now the presidents re-election campaign is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar ad blitz aimed at shaping Americans understanding of the recently launched impeachment proceedings. Thousands of micro-targeted ads had flooded the Internet, portraying Trump as a heroic reformer cracking down on foreign corruption while Democrats plotted a coup. That this narrative bore little resemblance to reality seemed only to accelerate its spread. Right-wing websites amplified every claim. Pro-Trump forums teemed with conspiracy theories. Most experts assume that these regulations will be overhauled sometime after the 2020 election. For now, campaigns from both parties are hoovering up as many cellphone numbers as possible, and Parscale has said texting will be at the center of Trumps reelection strategy. The mediums ability to reach voters is unparalleled: While robo-calls get sent to voicemail and email blasts get trapped in spam folders, peer-to-peer texting companies say that at least 90 percent of their messages are opened. Forty-one percent of those surveyed by Marist Poll, have said they believed the US is not very prepared or not prepared at all to keep November's election safe and secure. Americans do not blame journalists the most for creating made-up news and information, but put most responsibility on them to fix it. The public singles out two groups of people as the primary sources of made-up news: Political leaders Activist groups. Close to six-in-ten US adults (57%) say political leaders and their staff create a lot of made-up news, and about half (53%) say the same thing of activist groups. CITS: LA Times: The Atlantic: Marist Poll: Nieman Lab: PEW Research: American Libraries Assoc: BBC BBC: You Might Also Read: Publishers Spread Fake News: Facebook, Free Speech & Fake News: HOT SPRINGS, Ark., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Valley Spring Waterfive-time gold medal winner at Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting and favorite of renowned chefs and foodies throughout the United Statesis proud to announce their partnership with the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF). The five-day event, showcasing the talents of eminent chefs, wine and spirits producers, and culinary personalities takes place February 19th through February 23rd at various locations throughout South Florida. The Mountain Valley Spring Co. has delivered its authentic American natural spring water to home, office and retail customers throughout South Florida for more than 70 years. Mountain Valley will be the exclusive spring and sparkling water sponsor at 4 signature events at the Festival's North Venue hosted by celebrated chefs including Giada De Laurentiis, Dario Cecchini, Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri and Andrew Zimmern. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample the brand's signature spring, sparkling and flavored sparkling waters and enter for a chance to win complimentary three-month, six-month and one-year home/office delivery. "Mountain Valley places a premium on the brand's relationships with discerning chefs and culinary tastemakers," said Stephan Williams, Director of Marketing. He added, "We're thrilled to support this event and such an exceptional lineup of talent." Now in its 19th year, the Festival attracts more than 65,000 guests annually to 100+ events. Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN VALLEY SPRING WATER The Mountain Valley Spring Water Co. is the authentic American natural spring water. Headquartered in Hot Springs, AR., the iconic brand has been serving consumers since 1871, bottled at the same spring location. Sourced from a natural spring originating from deep within a granite-based valley, the water is known for it its unique mineral content and crisp taste profile. International award-winning Mountain Valley Spring water is delivered directly to home and offices across the country and can be found in fine retailers, restaurants, natural grocery and traditional supermarkets. DS Services, a subsidiary of the Cott Corporation, owns The Mountain Valley Spring Co. About the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world's greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, SOBEWFF has raised more than $30 million for the School. In September 2018, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the sixth year in a row. The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about the Festival, visit sobewff.org or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com. SOURCE The Mountain Valley Spring Water Related Links https://www.mountainvalleyspring.com Royal Caribbean will offer free cruises to firefighters as it redeploys a massive ship to Australian waters. Cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas is coming to Sydney after the deadly coronavirus saw it unable to cruise Asian waters. The details are expected to be released in the next week but there is reportedly two cruises on offer for those who battled the blazes over the devastating bushfire season. The Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas is giving away free cruises to firefighters 'It is our privilege to offer two complimentary sailings on board our newest super liner Spectrum of the Seas from Sydney in the coming weeks, as a way of thanking the incredible first responder community who worked tirelessly over the bushfire season,' a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement. 'We are in a fortunate position to offer such brave members of our community and their families the chance to join us for a few days to relax and unwind. 'We will be announcing further details in the coming week following consultation with the relevant authorities, including cruise schedules and the booking process.' The billion dollar cruise can house up to 5,622 passengers and offers 20 restaurants. Those on board can also pass the time by swimming in the pool, surfing in the wave pool and trying a skydiving simulator. The ship has not been in Asian waters for two weeks making it safe to travel on. Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said the trips were a way for the 'brave and selfless' firefighters to relax. Firefighters can choose between swimming in the pool to dining in one of the ship's 20 restaurants 'We are in a fortunate position to offer these brave and selfless members of the Australian community the opportunity to join us for a few days and let them relax and unwind in the company of other volunteers and first responders,' Mr Bayley said. 'By welcoming and accommodating them aboard Spectrum of the Seas, we hope to recognize their contribution and offer them our hospitality.' Mr Bayley also said that when it was deemed safe, Royal Caribbean would be offering a complimentary cruise to China to support first responders and medical personnel who were affected by the deadly coronavirus. Firefighters are seen hosing down trees as they battle against an inferno in Nowra in New South Wales on New Year's Eve For months thousands of firefighters were working day and night to tackle the raging bushfires that tore through Australia. Many volunteers were forced to quit their jobs to help out while some firefighters tragically lost their lives. Firefighters Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. A volunteer firefighter, Samuel McPaul, 28, died when he was battling a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, on December 30. A 'fire tornado' caused his 10-tonne firetruck to roll before he was killed. Fires tore through more than 11 million hectares across the country, killing 33 people. Hundreds of graduate teachers in government schools will be assigned a mentor in a scheme to stop young teachers leaving the profession. The Andrews government is set to launch the mentoring scheme for 700 early-career teachers next year, at a cost of $73.4 million. The Australian Education Union has campaigned on the issue of mentoring as a way to ease the pressure on graduate teachers. Credit:Martin Hunter It will be piloted in primary schools in north-eastern Melbourne, western Melbourne and Gippsland, with another 350 teachers to join the scheme in 2021 and 350 more in 2022. Each teacher will have an allocated mentor and classroom cover so they can complete a new, specialised professional development program. We all know the royal family follows a specific etiquette when addressing Queen Elizabeth II. Most of us have seen photos of several royals bowing or curtseying to Her Majesty over the years, but many have wondered if the queens husband of more than seven decades actually has to bow to her. Heres the answer to whether or not Prince Philip bows to his wife and when the monarchs young great-grandchildren will begin to bow and curtsy to her. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip | ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP via Getty Images Does Prince Philip bow to Queen Elizabeth and who bows to him? Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Just about every member of Englands most famous family bows or curtsies to someone. The etiquette rules for doing so are a bit complicated and depend on their rankings and who is present at that time. For example, blood princesses are the women who are born into the royal family rather than those who marry into it. The blood princesses include Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Charlotte. The ladies only have to curtsy to a female who married into the family when they are accompanied by their husband who takes on a higher rank. So Anne would not curtsy to Camilla Parker Bowles when she enters a room unless Camilla is with Charles because the future king outranks his sister. When it comes to the princes, William, who is second-in-line to the throne, only bows to his father, the queen, and Prince Philip. And every prince, with the exception of Philip, bows to Charles since he is the heir apparent. So does the Duke of Edinburgh have to bow to the woman hes been married to for more than 70 years? According to Womans World, the answer is yes. Every member of the family, including Prince Philip, must bow to the monarch. When do the Cambridge kids start bowing to their great-grandmother? Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte looking through a window | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images At some point the queens great-grandchildren will get with the program and start bowing and curtsying to her as well. But when exactly will that be happening? Very soon if not already, according to royal historian and founder of Royal Musings, Marlene Koenig. Certainly by age five, Koenig previously told Hello! magazine. She added that curtseying and bowing is etiquette. You bow or curtsy the first time you see the sovereign and then again when you leave, Koenig explained. At Christmas at church, we saw the Cambridges and Prince Harry and Meghan curtsy and bow when the queen arrived and left. Other royals including Charles did not because they had come from Sandringham and had already seen the queen. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges oldest son, George, is over the age of 5, so he may already be bowing his head to the queen now. As for Charlotte and Louis, they still have a few more years to go before they give their great-grandma a proper greeting. Read more: With Prince Philip Out, Do Any Other Royals Live At Buckingham Palace With Queen Elizabeth II? As part of trilateral cooperation between Afghanistan, India and China, 10 senior Afghan National Police Officers are undergoing training at the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI), Ghaziabad, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. The programme which commenced on Monday is specially focussed on various aspects of community policing. "Under the trilateral cooperation between India, Afghanistan and China, a capacity building programme for a team of 10 senior Afghan National Police officers started in India on February 17, 2020 at Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI), Ghaziabad," the ministry said in a statement. The programme is aimed at strengthening the collaboration of India and China on Afghanistan, it added. In 2018, an understanding to launch a joint programme of Afghan personnel was reached during an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held in April at China's Wuhan city. Accordingly, a joint programme for Afghan diplomats was held at Foreign Service Institute in November 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tripoli Libya (PANA) - The overwhelming majority of Libyan public opinion has vigorously condemned the various forms of continuous external interference in the internal affairs of Libya, stoking fire at the expense of the present and future of Libyans Apple is warning investors it won't meet its second-quarter financial targets. It is because the coronavirus alert in China has cut production of iPhones. All of its manufacturing facilities are outside Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, and all have been reopened. Shares slipped in Asia on Tuesday as the impact from the outbreak deepened, with news of Chinas possible postponement of major events coming alongside Apple saying it would fail to meet its profit target since the virus has affected iPhone production. But the firm says production is ramping up slowly. - Additional reporting Press Association New Delhi: Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Tuesday (February 18) said that deadly coronavirus is now under control, asserting that his country has put in place multi-level control and prevention mechanisms and will win the battle against the epidemic. Addressing a press conference on the Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic, Sun Weidong said "China has full confidence that it will win the battle against coronavirus epidemic," adding that the outbreak has not been able to impact the strong fundamentals of China's strong economy. He said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases outside Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, is coming down. "China and India have been keeping close communication. Recently, Prime Mnister Narendra Modi sent a letter to President Xi and offered assistance to China what India can. We appreciate this effort. We have provided all required information to India," he said. On a question if the virus explored from laboratory or from Wildlife animal market, he said "Currently, we do not have much information about this epidemic, but what I can say that this virus is originated by nature not man made." The envoy said "epidemic is preventable, controllable and curable. We are doing every thing that we can," adding "China has allocated RMB 80 billion to contain the disease and the government has sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations following the epidemic." "China economy is strong like a mountain. It is easier to shake the mountain than China," said Sun Weidong, adding "With the strong support of International community we will overcome this problem." The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan late last year, has spread to more than 72,000 people and killed 1,900 in China. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans criticism of India over Kashmir, while addressing the Pakistan Parliament, was dubious. New Delhis intolerance of criticism domestic and foreign of its decision to end Jammu and Kashmirs autonomy in August through a questionable and undemocratic process, and its subsequent oppressive policies, is far from ebbing, as three recent high-profile examples show. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans criticism of India over Kashmir, while addressing the Pakistan Parliament, was dubious. His criticism is undercut by the fact that he heads an Islamist party. Mr Erdogan also foolishly compared Pakistans so-called resistance on Kashmir to the Battle of Gallipoli in the First World War where Turkeys heroic resistance threw up Kemal Ataturk as a young military hero, whose mantle and heritage of secularism in an Islamic society the Erdogan regime has tried to destroy. And yet two Indian statements within three days on Mr Erdogan point to a paranoia. British Labour MP Deborah Abrahams was deported from Delhi airport on Monday on shallow technical grounds only as she is a known critic of India on Kashmir. Her Kashmir stance is not always well-founded, but to deny her entry shows a streak of meanness and highlights the desire to look strong by being rough with critics. This does not behove a democracy. At last weeks Munich Security Conference, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar was acerbic with US Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong ally of President Trump who Mr Narendra Modi woos, for merely expressing the hope that as a democracy India would deal with the Kashmir issue differently from how the Russians or Chinese might. Earlier, the minister used sharp language against India-origin US Congresswoman Premila Jaipal for criticising the governments actions on Kashmir. While individual Western legislators have been sought to be punished, the government has gone all out to gain the approval of foreign parliaments and governments for its actions on Kashmir, which have faced sharp domestic criticism. These the government has sought to quell and disregard. Until last spring, Justin Faircloth supported his family of three by working on the assembly line at the Honda plant in Talladega County. But his life was upended when he found out that he was dying. In April 2019, the 33-year-old Odenville man was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver. He underwent several rounds of chemotherapy. But in December, Faircloth was booked into the Etowah County Jail on a probation revocation after being arrested and charged with crimes including drug possession and resisting arrest in the preceding months. Since then he has been transferred to state custody. But he has not received chemotherapy or other necessary cancer treatments since October, according to his oncologist, Dr. Aasim Sehbai of Alabama Cancer Care in Anniston, who says that Faircloth's condition is worsening with each passing day. I havent received any treatment. They havent even let me speak to my doctor since the 17th of January, Faircloth said in a call from Limestone Correctional Facility last week. "They have me in [general] population and I have no immune system. I have problems digesting and I've got some bleeding in my stool." Faircloth's situation is extreme, but it demonstrates the difficulty many inmates have getting access to sufficient medical care in jails and prisons across Alabama. For years, inmates and their loved ones have complained about inadequate care. Many have sued the Alabama Department of Corrections and local sheriff's offices for failing to provide needed treatment and protect people in their care from illnesses, medical complications and even death. Beginning in December, Faircloth was held for a month in the Etowah County Jail in northeast Alabama, less than 40 miles from his wife, Amber, and their four-year-old daughter. He was transferred next to Kilby State Correctional Facility, a state prison near Montgomery, where he was incarcerated for two weeks. Then he was transported to Limestone, a state prison near Athens in north Alabama. He remains behind bars at Limestone, over 100 miles from his home and family. The Alabama Department of Corrections, like the Etowah County Sheriff's Office before it, has not taken Faircloth for the chemotherapy and other treatment he needs to slow the progression of his cancer, according to Sehbai. Today, Faircloth is one of dozens of inmates housed in a crowded open section of a dorm at Limestone. He says that he has lost over 20 pounds in recent weeks, that he is cold, dehydrated and hungry, and that he has experienced a wide range of symptoms since his incarceration, from severe pain and constipation to lightheadedness and nausea. Over the first four months of his incarceration, Faircloth says he did not have access to the opioid painkillers, anti-nausea pills and other medications most people with stage 4 cancers rely on to keep the symptoms at bay. Instead, he says he was sometimes given ibuprofen, the anticoagulant Eliquis, and Colace, a stool softener. Earlier this month, he was put on hydrocodone, the first time he has been able to take a painkiller stronger than ibuprofen since he was booked into the Etowah County Jail in December. Sehbai has repeatedly called for Faircloth to be released, or at least given access to adequate treatment. "I feel like his care has been compromised. If he doesnt get treatment, which is already delayed, he can really die in the next month or two," Sehbai said in a phone interview late last month. "With proper treatment he could live two or three years, even up to five years. One way or the other, he needs to get treatment." Justin Faircloth receives a chemotherapy treatment last year.Courtesy Amber Faircloth 'Kindly be lenient' In Alabama, inmates serving long sentences who suffer from severe medical conditions can be released from jail or prison before their sentenced terms only under specific circumstances. Sometimes, as AL.com and ProPublica reported last year, sheriffs urge judges to grant their release from local jails on medical bond in order to avoid paying their medical bills. But once they reach the state prison system, the only ways prisoners can typically be released early are if they are pardoned, if a judge grants their release, if the Department of Corrections grants them a medical furlough, or if they are paroled by the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles either via the normal parole process or medical parole. Allowing inmates to be released from prison early due to medical issues is often referred to as compassionate release. In a Jan. 13 letter to Etowah County Circuit Judge Sonny Steen, who presided over Faircloth's case, Sehbai made a plea for mercy. Steen did not respond to requests for comment, and Sehbai said he did not receive a response from the judge. "I will request that the Judge kindly be lenient with him as he has advanced stage 4 colon cancer and a short survival," Sehbai wrote to the judge. Four days later, Faircloth was transported to Kilby. Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton said in a phone interview that the judge made the call to move Faircloth to state custody. He said Steen determined that Faircloth should remain behind bars because he is a chronic offender. A self-described former drug addict, Faircloth has been charged with numerous crimes over the course of his life, including theft, burglary, drug possession and manufacture, writing bad checks, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and others. He was arrested three times over the four months before he was taken into custody in December, for charges including resisting arrest, drug possession and violating probation. "He's using his sickness as an excuse to get out of jail over and over again. In layman's terms, he just ran out of his chances. So the judge revoked [his probation] and says he has to serve his days," Horton said. "Judge Steen said, basically, because of his offenses, he can't just keep cutting him loose and hoping he'll do the right thing.'" The earliest date Faircloth can be released, barring such an intervention, is April 1, 2031, according to the DOCs online inmate records. Without treatment, hell be lucky to make it to 2021, Sehbai said. DOC spokeswoman Samantha Rose said via email that while the department "can present a request for medical furlough as established with specific eligibility criteria" as outlined in state law and departmental regulations, "ADOC does not have the authority to release an inmate under a compassionate release, that is a decision made by the courts when requested and petitioned by the inmates attorney." Last month, the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles sent an email response to a written request by Amber Faircloth for relief for her husband. "The Board can only consider someone for parole if they are eligible under the law. Mr. Faircloth's file is being processed and he will receive a notice with his parole consideration eligibility date," the letter, which was signed only by "Board Operations Staff," states. "However, for any health-related concerns you need to contact the Alabama Department of Corrections. The Bureau of Pardons and Paroles cannot arrange for any health-related treatment." Justin Faircloth holds his daughter last year.Courtesy Amber Faircloth 'Cancer don't wait for nobody' Justin and Amber Faircloth were in relatively good spirits when they sat down for a late breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Trussville one chilly day in October. His medical bills were piling up because he had recently lost his Medicaid coverage due to a slight monthly income increase. He had already been billed for tens of thousands dollars worth of life-saving procedures and treatments, and he was warily anticipating future costs totaling many thousands more. A month later, the couple laid out copies of some of those bills on the table in a booth at a Waffle House in Irondale, a ten-minute drive from the house in the hills on the outskirts of Birmingham where they were temporarily staying. The numbers were eye-popping: $16,233.87 due to Regional Medical Center in Anniston for charges incurred between April and June; $742 for an October ambulance ride; a $1,314 balance with Surgical Clinic of Anniston. Faircloth had no insurance, he was very sick and he was facing jail time. His wife was struggling to care for him, make a living and provide for their young daughter. Im really concerned. His liver is just destroyed. He has no immune system with stage 4 colon cancer. It would be bad even if he just got a cold, she said. And yet the Faircloths were quick to laugh as they discussed their lives over waffles and orange juice, and they seemed hopeful about the future, despite all the challenges they faced. They were unaware that the worst trials were yet to come. Today, Justin Faircloth is behind bars and his wife has dedicated most of her non-working hours to trying to find a way to get him proper medical attention. Calls to advocacy groups and lawyers have gone unanswered or led nowhere. The letter Sehbai sent to Judge Steen, which noted that Faircloth had not had a chemotherapy treatment since October, has gone unanswered. Rose, the DOC spokeswoman, said via email that Faircloth "will continue to receive his prior free world care treatment and any future treatment as ordered by his treating physicians while" he remains in state prison. But that has not been his experience to date, according to Sehbai and Amber Faircloth, who said that the department waited until nearly a month after he was transferred to state custody to take him to an initial screening appointment on Monday at a cancer treatment center in Huntsville that he had never visited before. "They took Justin to a different cancer treatment center and they took his blood and didnt know anything about his medical stuff and said it could be another two weeks to a month before a chemo treatment," she said Monday. Justin Faircloth confirmed that version of events. They didnt transport me to any of my prior providers. I havent seen Dr. Sehbai since the Monday before I went to Etowah County, he said in a call from Limestone last week. "It's all new faces and they have no clue what's going on with me. [The doctor at the Huntsville cancer center] was asking me what side the cancer was on and what was going on." If Faircloth doesn't receive chemotherapy for another full month, that would bring the time since he has gone without a chemo treatment to more than five months. "I'm not receiving the proper medical care. By now, I shouldve already had at least three treatments since I've been locked up and I haven't received one," he said. Theyre doing enough to make it look like theyre doing something. But [the Huntsville doctor] told me it could be another month before I get treatment. And I said, You know, as well as I do, that cancer dont wait for nobody. At least 45 families living in a slum near the newly-built Motera stadium in Ahmedabad have been served eviction notices by the municipal corporation ahead of the scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24. While officials have denied any connection with the proposed high-profile visit and issuance of notices, residents of the slum have questioned the timing of the move, which came days after the AMC began building a wall allegedly to cover a slum on a route that the US President is likely to take while visiting the city. You have encroached upon a plot of land belonging to the AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation). Evict the plot in another seven days with your household chattels, otherwise, a departmental action will be taken to evict the land. If you have to make any representation, you can do so on February 19 at 3 pm, reads the notice. The slum is located alongside a road connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, around one-and-a-half kms away from the Motera stadium. A slum-dweller, Shailesh Bilwa, claimed on Tuesday that officials of the AMC have visited them several times since the last seven days. We have been living here since over a decade. We had never been served any eviction notice in the past. Why the notice was served to us now? questioned Dinesh Adravani, a daily-wage labourer who said he had been asked to vacate his shanty by February 18. He said slum-dwellers like him had no alternative shelter if they are forced out. We are ready to vacate, but we need an alternative accommodation, otherwise we will be forced to live on pavements. We live here with our family members comprising women and children. We pray to the government to provide us with an alternative plot where we could live, said another resident Shailesh Bilwa. He claimed that officials of the AMC have been asking them to vacate the plot since the last seven days. Some of them even threatened to use force against us, he alleged. Meanwhile, Deputy Estate Officer (West Zone), AMC, Chaitanya Shah said the eviction notice had nothing to do with the scheduled Namaste Trump programme. They (slum-dwellers) have been served the eviction notice under the provisions of the Town Planning Act and has nothing to do with Trumps visit. The plot belongs to the AMC. The notice was served as the site survey conducted in January found that the plot had been encroached upon, Shah said. PM Modi and Trump are scheduled to address over one lakh people at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on February 24, as part of the Namaste Trump event. Trump is scheduled to take part in a roadshow in Ahmedabad and to visit the Sabarmati Ashram on that day. Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the hallowed, 110-year-old organization to carry on. The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as scouts by scoutmasters or other leaders decades ago but are only now eligible to sue because of recent changes in their states statute-of-limitations laws. By going to bankruptcy court, the Scouts can put those lawsuits on hold for now. But ultimately they could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a compensation fund that could surpass a billion dollars. 'Scouting programs will continue throughout this process and for many years to come,' said Evan Roberts, a spokesman for the Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday as it works to create a victims compensation fund that could surpass $1billion, which is to be paid out to men who allege they were abused as children The organization is expected to sell off its many assets to fund payouts to victims 'Local councils are not filing for bankruptcy because they are legally separate and distinct organizations.' The Boy Scouts are just the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organization that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders. 'We always slept naked': Two Texas Scouts describe horrific sex abuse during overnight camping trips TEGNA Privacy Policy Two North Texas men spoke out last week about the abuse they say they suffered during their time in the Boy Scouts decades ago. John said he was sexually abused by his troop leader in Amarillo in the 1960s, when he was just 12 years old. The most important thing in my life was making sure that nobody knew about thisI subconsciously thought that if I ever had to tell this story, it would kill me, he told WFAA-TV. The sad thing about that is it's exactly the opposite. If you never tell the story it will kill you. John said that the abuse took place during an overnight camping trip. And the next day it was like Well, nothing happened. Except now, I was in a situation where he expected that to happen again, and again and again. John, who asked to remain anonymous, said that he was abused by two different scout leaders. It happened about 10 or 12 times, he recalled. David, another Boy Scout who was in the same Amarillo troop 20 years after John, is one of more than 800 former Scouts who have filed lawsuits against the organization. I was a kid, David told WFAA. I didn't know it was something that was weird. I thought this was just part of how the boy scouts operate, maybe this is part of becoming a man. Like John, David said the abuse also started on an overnight camping trip. You know real Indians sleep in the nude, David said he was told by his abuser. So, we always slept naked. But that night was the first night he touched me, he snuggled up next to me, he tried to perform sodomy on me, and this is with a bunch of other boys around. And then after that it was just multiple times over the years with me and these other three guys that I know of. Advertisement Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians, business leaders, astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies. The Boy Scouts' finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sex-abuse settlements. The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from more than 4 million in peak years of the 1970s. The organization has tried to counter the decline by admitting girls, but its membership rolls took a big hit on January 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - for decades a major sponsor of Boy Scout units - cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favor of programs of its own. The financial outlook had worsened last year after New York, Arizona, New Jersey and California passed laws making it easier for victims of long-ago abuse to file claims. The Boy Scouts has seen its membership drop significantly. The number of youths currently taking part dropped below 2 million. In the 1970s, it reached its peak of more than 4 million Teams of lawyers across the United States have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts. Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s, '70s and '80s; the organization says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018. The Boy Scouts credit the change to an array of prevention policies adopted since the mid-1980s, including mandatory criminal background checks and abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders be present during all activities. In many ways, the crisis parallels the one facing the Catholic Church in the US. Both institutions boast of major progress over recent decades in combating abuse. whether by priests or scout leaders, but both face many lawsuits alleging negligence and cover-ups, mostly decades ago. Among the matters to be addressed in bankruptcy court: the fate of the Boy Scouts assets; the extent to which the organization's insurance will help cover compensation; and whether assets of the Scouts' more than 260 local councils will be added to the fund. Files maintained by the Boy Scouts list more than 7,800 alleged perpetrators of sexual abuse 'There are a lot of very angry, resentful men out there who will not allow the Boy Scouts to get away without saying what all their assets are,' said lawyer Paul Mones, who represents numerous clients suing the BSA. 'They want no stone unturned.' Amid the crush of lawsuits, the Scouts recently mortgaged the major properties owned by the national leadership, including the headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico, to help secure a line of credit. Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts have kept confidential files since the 1920s listing staff and volunteers implicated in sexual abuse, for the avowed purpose of keeping predators away from youth. Another lawsuit filed by parents claims that a Boy Scout leader convicted of sexually abusing two children in his troop had previously been accused of singing naked in front of several young boys years earlier but the allegation was never investigated. Michael Kelsey, 41, a former assistant scoutmaster of Fishkill, New Yorks Troop 95, was accused of the stunt long before his 2016 conviction for first-degree sexual abuse, a $320 million civil lawsuit filed in March 2017 suggests. Allegations against former Florida troop leader and teacher Gary Stroup (left) and former troop leader Carmine Charles Robert Falco (right) were brought to light in the latest lawsuit According to an affidavit signed and filed in Dutchess County Supreme Court by one troop members mother, Kelsey, then 34, performed the song Hakuna Matata from Disneys The Lion King with his hips gyrating and penis swinging about on April 13, 2012, in a locker room after a night time swim in Millbrook, New York. All of this occurred not only in front of my son, but also in front of the other boys present at the time, the woman claimed in the affidavit. The mother said when her son informed her of the incident, she immediately complained to the troops den mother, who told her Kelseys behavior was a serious issue and that Troop 95 would launch an investigation. However, she later received a call from the Troops leader Richard Robins, who is said to have told her that her son was misreporting what happened on the evening in question. [Robins] basically told me that he talked to the other boys and they didn't see or hear anything, the mother told NBC News earlier this week. 'He said maybe my son misunderstood what he saw. I said, My son misunderstood a naked man singing 'Hakuna Matata? Its my position that they are protecting their own, the mother of the boy told NBC, adding: It was all hush-hush. The mothers complaint was soon brushed aside, but similar shocking claims would arise two years later when two 15-year-old boys accused Kelsey of molesting them during an over-night summer camping trip. He fondled one boys genitals for 10 to 20 minutes as he tried to sleep in his tent on the first night of the trip. Kelsey then struck again later the same evening, this time against a different boy, who repeatedly batted Kelsey's hand away as he tried to molest him. Michael Kelsey, 41, a former assistant scoutmaster of Fishkill, New Yorks Troop 95, was accused of the stunt long before his 2016 conviction for first-degree sexual abuse, a $320 million civil lawsuit filed in March 2017 suggests Kelsey, a disbarred attorney, was found guilty in 2016 and sentenced to seven years in prison. In the aftermath of his sentencing, and hundreds of other similar instances of abuse involving Boy Scout leaders, the affidavit involving the 'Hakuna Matata' incident has now become part of a $320 million lawsuit filed by the parents of Kelseys victims. According to a court deposition, the files as of January listed 7,819 suspected abusers and 12,254 victims. Last year, a suit filed in Pennsylvania State Court contains hundreds of shocking sex abuse allegations that took place in 48 states over a period of eight decades. Former troop leader and teacher Gary Stroup was banned from Boy Scouts after being accused of groping 11-year-old boys in 1989 and repeatedly petitioned to get back into the organization. Carmine Charles Robert Falco is now serving a live sentence for sexually abusing at least six scouts over a 20-year period between the 70s and the 90s - during which time BSA was aware of the allegations against him. Until last spring, the organization had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths. But in May, The Associated Press reported that attorneys for abuse victims had identified multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts. The next day, Boy Scouts chief executive Mike Surbaugh wrote to a congressional committee, acknowledging the group's previous claim was untrue. James Kretschmer of Houston, among the many men suing for alleged abuse, says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. The image above shows Boy Scouts and their leaders arrive by bus at Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve near Glen Jean, West Virginia, for Boy Scouts of America's national Jamboree in July 2013 Regarding the bankruptcy, he said, 'It is a shame because at its core and what it was supposed to be, the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organization.' 'But you know, anything can be corrupted,' he added. 'And if they're not going to protect the people that they've entrusted with the children, then shut it down and move on.' Ahead of the Chapter 11 filing, lawyers said that because of the organization's 50-state presence, as well as its ties to churches and civic groups that sponsor scout troops, a bankruptcy by the Boy Scouts would be unprecedented in its complexity. It would be national in scope, unlike the various Catholic Church bankruptcy cases, which have unfolded diocese by diocese. 'A Boy Scout bankruptcy would be bigger in scale than any other child abuse bankruptcy we've ever seen,' said Seattle-based attorney Mike Pfau, whose firm is representing scores of men nationwide alleging they were abused as Boy Scouts. Illustrating the depth of its problems, the organization in 2018 sued six of its insurers for refusing to cover its sex abuse liabilities. The insurers said their obligation was void because the Scouts refused to take effective preventive measures such as warning parents that boys might be abused. CORK students have condemned University College Cork's (UCC) decision to raise rents for on-campus residences by 3pc. UCC is among five other universities that plan to increase their on-campus student accommodation rates for the upcoming academic year. University College Dublin (UCD), NUI Galway (NUIG), and Dublin City University (DCU) are applying a 4pc rise, University of Limerick (UL) is implementing a 3.5pc-4pc rise, while Maynooth University is raising rents by 3pc. The increase means UCC students are now facing rates from 5,640 up to 6,364. UCC Students' Union President, Ben Dunlea, told Independent.ie that the SU "fully condemns" the university's decision. "UCC Students' Union fully condemns UCC's planned increase of 3pc over its five accommodation blocks. Two student representatives from the Union sit on the Board and vehemently disagreed throughout this process that any such increase should be implemented. "It's important when reviewing such proposals that the wider implications are adequately appreciated. This year alone, we witnessed the UCC Student Assistance Fund running out of support funds faster than any recent year and a Food Bank having to be established in order to support those who are unable to purchase the bare essentials. "UCCs decision here would mean that UCC Accommodation has increased 19pc in three years, a rate that cannot be supported. "Given the national context of a third of students in Ireland facing severe financial problems, this decision by UCC would seem to indicate a chasm of priorities emerging between UCC and its 22,000 students, one that will likely come to a head over the coming weeks." In a statement, UCC said it is applying the 3pc rent increase to secure funds for refurbishing, security, and maintenance costs. "Due to major refurbishing work, the rise in security and maintenance costs, and the investment required to provide additional accommodation for students, Campus Accommodation UCC has decided to raise its campus accommodation rates by 3pc for 2020/21. Income generated by Campus Accommodation is exclusively used by the company to meet such costs. "UCC is extremely conscious of the financial challenges faced by students and has decided to undertake to review the applicability of the 2020/21 increase for students in receipt of student assistance funding," a spokesperson said. The announcement comes as students at University College Dublin (UCD) held a rally today against a decision made by the university to increase on-campus accommodation rates by 12pc over the next three years. The demonstration follows a proposal by the college to impose a rent increase of the maximum 4pc for each of the next three years after the cap was applied to student apartments last August to ensure rent predictability, in the same way as it does in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). UCD students will pay some of the highest on-campus room fees in the country, with apartments available from 6,000 to 9,150 once the 4pc is applied. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has faced a series of crises in recent months, including anger over the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel, a cyberattack that hobbled City Hall and revelations that she owes nearly $100,000 in unpaid taxes. According to a new poll, while her approval rating has slipped since 2018, a slight majority of New Orleans residents still back her, though her disapproval numbers have shot up. About 53% of voters said they approve of the job Cantrell is doing, down slightly from the 57% who supported her more than a year ago, when she was six months into the job. The poll, a survey of 441 registered voters taken Feb. 10 and 11 by veteran political scientist Ed Chervenak and pollster Tony Licciardi of My People Vote, also showed that a majority would vote for her if an election were held today. The results suggest that Cantrell has handled a series of difficult events in recent months fairly well in the eyes of most voters. But there were worrisome signs for her and her administration. +2 Facing IRS tax liens, LaToya Cantrell says her financial situation is too 'complicated' to discuss Faced with almost $100,000 in federal tax liens, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Friday blamed most of the debt on penalties and interest Cantrell's approval rating is well below the levels that former mayors Ray Nagin and Mitch Landrieu notched at the same point in their first terms. In addition, the poll showed the number of people who disapprove of her work has surged, along with a sharp drop in the number of voters who were on the fence about her job performance. In 2018, about 26% of voters were undecided on whether they approved of her work. That percentage dropped to 5%. Over the same period, the number of voters who disapprove of her job performance has jumped from 17% to 42%. "Shes above water in her approval rating, but it seems like shes burned a lot of her political capital as well," said Chervenak. +2 4 months after Hard Rock collapse, protesters say 'no real progress' has been made Sandwiched between Duncan Plaza and the City Hall office of the mayor whose name was plastered on protest signs, a small gathering of people W Kristine Breithaupt, a spokeswoman for Cantrell's political action committee, Action New Orleans, said the poll was good news for the mayor even as she questioned its methodology. The survey could have offered voters more answers to choose from and could have been done through live interviews, not robocalls, she said. "Regardless of the validity of this poll, it shows continuing strength for the mayor, especially among African-American voters," said Breithaupt, who also said that internal polls done for the mayor's team showed higher approval ratings. Cantrell fared far better with black voters than white voters, with two-thirds of black voters approving of her performance but only 36% of whites doing so. Voters were similarly split along racial lines on the question of whether to re-elect the mayor. About 44% of voters who don't identify with either race said they approved of Cantrell and would grant her a second term. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Perhaps surprisingly, women of all races were less likely to approve of Cantrell's performance than men. About 49% of women approved of the mayor, compared with 58% of men. Men were also more willing to vote her back into office about 53% said they would while women were split down the middle on that question. Cantrell, who won the mayoral runoff in 2017 over Desiree Charbonnet with 60% of the vote, notched the 57% approval rating six months into her term, according to a poll Chervenak conducted in October and November of 2018 for the University of New Orleans' Survey Research Center. Since then, Cantrell has focused most of her political energy on the city's pressing infrastructure needs. In 2019, she reached a deal for more money for the Sewerage & Water Board and other infrastructure projects from the city's powerful tourism industry, and also convinced voters to approve $500 million in bonds for infrastructure spending. Violent crime has tumbled over the past two years, although high numbers of auto burglaries and thefts have upset many residents. But in recent months, a series of crises have taken up much of the Cantrell administration's attention. The collapse of the unfinished Hard Rock Hotel in October and the delays in demolishing it and retrieving the bodies of two workers still on the site have raised the ire of residents. The cyberattack that struck in December forced officials to shut down the city's computer network. Then, news broke that Cantrell and her husband had a series of federal tax liens on their Broadmoor home totaling $95,000. She responded by saying the matter was too complicated to get into and comparing her financial situation to that of many other New Orleanians who are struggling to get by. Cantrell makes more than $174,000 a year as mayor, while her husband, a lawyer, has also reported a six-figure income. In releasing the poll, Chervenak cautioned that the results are just a snapshot of public opinion that can change rapidly. Still, he noted that they are an indicator of the public's response to a mayor's leadership. Mayor LaToya Cantrell owes more than $95,000 in back taxes; IRS puts liens on her home New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell owes more than $95,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes over the course of six years, accord On the question of whether residents would vote for Cantrell again, half of voters said they'd re-elect her, while 44% said they would not, with 6% unsure. "Statistically speaking, the respondents in this poll are split on this question," Chervenak and Licciardi wrote. Democrats were far more likely to approve of Cantrell than were Republicans. She received her highest levels of support in City Council Districts D and E, which comprise Gentilly, New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward, among other areas. Hard Rock distances itself from New Orleans hotel collapse, criticizes lack of progress Hard Rock International has slammed Mayor LaToya Cantrell for the long delay in tearing down the wreckage of the New Orleans hotel that was to Districts B and C residents mostly approved of Cantrell but were split on the question of whether to re-elect her. Those areas include Broadmoor, the Central Business District, Central City, Algiers, the French Quarter and Bywater. District A's residents had the least love for Cantrell, with less than a third saying they would re-elect her. The district covers Carrollton, Hollygrove, Lakeview, City Park, Gert Town, Lakewood, parts of Mid-City and the university area of Uptown. The survey has a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points. An injunction application filed by businessman Jonathan Holm against ongoing works at the site designated for the construction of the National Cathedral has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Mr Holm had prayed the court to put a freeze on the works ongoing at the site until a substantive case he had filed against the project as far as the acquisition of the property had been determined. However, the highest court of the land, chaired by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, dismissed the application. According to him, the argument by the plaintiffs lawyer, Mr Bright Akwetey that an injunction would avert the incurrence of cost by the state should the matter go against it, is already taken care of the law. In December last year, the businessman went to the Supreme Court to challenge the governments decision to give out land and other forms of support for the building of a national cathedral. Mr Holm sought to a declaration that the land designated by the President of the Republic for the construction of the cathedral was compulsorily acquired under Section 3 of the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 (Cap. 134) from the Osu Stool by virtue of Certificate of Title dated November 29, 1910, for residential purposes for public officers and has been used for the public purpose for which it was acquired and, therefore, the user cannot be changed to accommodate the national cathedral, which is not a public purpose or a project in the public interest within the meaning of Article 295 of the 1992 Constitution. Also, he sought a declaration that if the land acquired under the Certificate of Title dated November 29, 1910 for residential purpose is no longer required for the purpose for which it was compulsorily acquired, the Lands Commission is enjoined by virtue of Article 20 (6) of the Constitution to grant the Osu Stool the first option to re-acquire the land is also being sought by the plaintiff. Joined to the suit as defendants were the Attorney General and the Lands Commission as an entity. Mr Holm further prayed the court for a declaration that it will constitute a violation of the fundamental rights of the people of Osu to be denied the first option to re-acquire the land under Article 20 (6) of the Constitution if the national cathedral is constructed on the land compulsorily acquired under the Certificate of Title dated November 29, 1910 for residential purposes for public officers. He also wanted an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the President of the Republic and the Executive from appropriating the land under reference for use to construct a national cathedral, in violation of Article 20(5) and (6) of the Constitution and in breach of the trust expressly created by Section 3 of the Public Lands Ordinance, 1876 (Cap 134) and Article 257 (1) of the 1992 Constitution in respect of lands compulsorily acquired for stated public purposes is also being sought. The plaintiff further prayed the court to grant an order confirming that the original public purpose for which the land was compulsorily acquired by virtue of the Certificate of Title dated November 29, 1910, is still valid. A declaration that there is no law in Ghana that allows the user of any public land compulsorily acquired under Section 3 of the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 (Cap 134), Section 3 of the Public Lands (Leasehold) Ordinance of 1950 (Cap 138), the State Property and Contracts Act, 1960 (CA6), Section 7 of the Administration of Lands Act, 1962 (Act 123), Section 1 of the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125), Section 45 of the Provisional National Defence Council (Establishment) Proclamation (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Law, 1982 (PNDC Law 42), for a stated public purpose to be changed from the stated public purpose for which the land was compulsorily acquired to any other purpose not stated in the acquisition instrument unless the original public purpose is varied, the plaintiff prayed. Further orders The writ, which invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and filed on his behalf by Mr Bright Akwetey, a legal practitioner, also sought a declaration that it constitutes a violation of the Principle of Eminent Domain and also a violation of Article 20 (5) & (6) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, as well as all known laws on compulsorily acquisition of land for public purposes in Ghana, for the Executive to take or convert a public land already in use for the stated public purpose for which it was compulsorily acquired for any other purpose not stated in the acquisition instrument. Apart from Mr Holms case against the cathedral, a similar case filed by the Acting General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Mr James Kwabena Bonfeh Jr., had also been dismissed by the same Supreme Court in January this year. In March 2017, Mr Bomfeh Jr. invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, arguing that Ghana was a secular state, and, therefore, it was wrong for the state to be excessively entangled in any religion or religious practice. However, a seven-member panel of justices of the Supreme Court said the case filed raised no legitimate issue requiring enforcement and interpretation. The court also indicated that the state had not excessively entangled itself in religious activities by supporting the project. The court thus held that nothing prohibited the government from lending such support to any religious group. ---classfmonline WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for allegedly shooting at a rival gang member over the summer. Eric Antwan Hamilton II, 19, was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on charges of trafficking stolen weapons, criminal gang participation and intimidation with a weapon on Feb. 6. The time will run consecutive to a two-year sentence for punching a detention officer at the Black Hawk County Jail where he was being housed in October 2019. Police allege Hamilton, who was allegedly a member of 4L, was a passenger in a vehicle on June 8 when he noticed a member of Del Mob walking in the 300 block of Fowler Street. Hamilton told investigators that gang member shot at the vehicle, and he shot back to scare him. But police said there was no evidence the other person fired a weapon. No injuries were reported, but two vehicles parked nearby were hit, police said. Officers seized a .22-caliber Ruger pistol during the investigation. Crime photos for 2016 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mary Kay Inc., a long-time leader in global female empowerment, is proud to announce Monique Coleman has been named the brands first-ever Pink Changing Lives Honoree. Pink Changing LivesMary Kays global commitment to celebrate the individuals and organizations that improve womens and girls lives around the worldhas supported more than three million women and their families by partnering with over 2,000 organizations and donating over $15 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005216/en/ Monique Coleman has been named Mary Kay Inc. first-ever Pink Changing Lives Honoree. (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.) Mary Kays Pink Changing Lives cause empowerment program donates funds to organizations focused on supporting cancer research, helping end hunger, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying communities, and many other programs empowering women and girls. In 2020, Mary Kay created the Pink Changing Lives Honoree program to celebrate influential women from around the world who change livesand historyfor the better. Long before Monique Coleman first graced the silver screen as Taylor McKessie in Disneys High School Musical, she was a young girl with big dreams of changing the world. Coleman is an advocate for improving the social and economic well-being of young people, most notably being appointed the first United Nations Youth Champion in 2010. As Youth Champion, Coleman raised awareness around the most serious challenges facing young women the world-over, including poverty, domestic violence, sexual assault and lack of educational resources. Nearly 16 percent of the worlds population are between the ages of 15 and 24*, said Sheryl Adkins-Green, Chief Marketing Officer of Mary Kay. When selecting our first-ever Pink Changing Lives Honoree, we searched for someone who could give a voice to that often-underrepresented 1.2 billion people - particularly teens. Ms. Coleman, a trailblazer and tireless youth advocate, unapologetically embodies our mission. Over the years, Coleman has supported various charities including Thirst Project, Shes The First, Global Kids, Lollipop Theater, Better Youth, WeDay, Playworks, Allstate Foundation, and UN Foundations Girl Up Campaignto name a few. During her tenure as UN Youth Champion, she embarked on a self-initiated tour of 24 countries to encourage people to act on the most pressing issues facing young people today. Young girls today, especially those who live in under-served communities, face unprecedented challenges, and at the same time, unparalleled opportunity, said Coleman. I feel the most important work I do is the work I do to help others, so Im honored to be recognized by Mary Kay as their first-ever Pink Changing Lives Honoree. Its my hope that organizations like Mary Kay continue to help girls around the world tap into their potential now and into the future. About Mary Kay One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 56 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements and fragrances. Mary Kay is committed to empowering women and their families by partnering with organizations from around the world, focusing on supporting cancer research, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Mary Kay Ashs original vision continues to shineone lipstick at a time. Learn more at MaryKay.com. *Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. 2019 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200217005216/en/ The Chinese Communist Party calls it "discourse management". It's more than mere censorship and bigger than propaganda. And Beijing is pretty good at it. The party uses it to control its own people, but also to manage foreign governments. Take the new coronavirus, for instance. It may be a made-in-China global pandemic, and China might have bungled its handling of it, but that's somehow irrelevant and China's government says it's "unhappy" with Australia. Come again? Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: The outbreak is classified by the World Health Organisation as a global health emergency. It was created in China, of course. The consensus among virologists is that the likely cause was the Chinese authorities' persistent tolerance of unsafe animal and food handling practices. After the 2003 outbreak of a novel coronavirus, the SARS epidemic, the Chinese government banned all trade in wild animals. Once the crisis had passed, the authorities relaxed the ban, announcing 54 types of exemption. In other words, it was going to happen again one day. Then, once this outbreak was discovered, the Chinese authorities seriously mismanaged it. This is now the subject of frenetic blame-shifting inside China. Last year's winner. Salton Sea Infrared, by Janet Harvey. GRC is soliciting submissions in 3 categories that help raise awareness of the benefits of geothermal energy. The winners will be announced and prominently displayed at the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo being held in Reno, Nevada, USA from October 18-21. Geothermal provides our communities long-term jobs and economic benefits while supplying low-cost, low-impact energy with innovative technologies. For the 2020 photo contest, GRC is soliciting submissions in 3 categories that help raise awareness of the benefits of geothermal energy: Jobs: Providing long-term, wage earning jobs Low Impact: Providing low geographic impact, water use & emissions Innovation: Showcasing research & development of new technologies Awards will be presented to the winners at the GRC Annual Meeting. Winners of each category will receive $100. The award checks will be drawn from a U.S. bank. More information on the GRC Geothermal Photo Contest, including a Submission Form, can be found on the GRC Annual Meeting & Expo website. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2020. About the Geothermal Resources Council: The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) will be celebrating 50 years of service to the global geothermal energy community in 2022. The GRC is dedicated to advancing geothermal development around the world through education, research, and outreach. For more information, please visit GRC Website. Get your daily geothermal news at Global Geothermal News. Become a fan on Facebook. Join the geothermal community on LinkedIn. Follow GRC on Twitter @GRC2001 and #GRCAM2020. Check out GRCs YouTube Channel. See geothermal photos on GRCs Flicker page. Some traditional rulers and indigenes of Ayedire and OlaOluwa local councils of Osun state on Monday protested against the physical as... Some traditional rulers and indigenes of Ayedire and OlaOluwa local councils of Osun state on Monday protested against the physical assault of Dhirulahi Akinropo, agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, by Abdulrasheed Akanbi, oluwo of Iwoland. Akanbi had attacked Akinropo over a disagreement during a meeting convened by the assistant inspector-general of police (AIG), Zone 11, to resolve a prolonged land dispute. Defending his action, the oluwo accused Akinropo of attempting to stick his staff of office into his eyes. But on Monday, some monarchs in the Iwo traditional council and aggrieved indigenes of the state staged a protest at the state secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, demanding that Akanbi be suspended for peace to reign in Iwo. They were received by Rasaq Adeosun, special adviser to the governor on local government and chieftaincy affairs, and Funke Egbemode, the state commissioner for information and civic orientation. In a communique issued after an emergency meeting on Sunday, the mornachs also asked Gboyega Oyetola, the state governor, to suspend Akanbi as chairman of the council. They also called for the creation of separate traditional councils for Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa LGAs. The traditional rulers asked the police to conclude their investigation and arraign Akanbi in court. The state government had said appropriate action would be taken over the brawl between the two monarchs. Ever since Senate Republicans acquitted him in his impeachment trial, Donald Trump seems to feel free to do anything he wants, with no regard for the Constitution or decades of precedent. The latest example is his Twitter tantrum over the sentence federal prosecutors recommended for his longtime friend and political fixer, Roger Stone, followed quickly by Justice Department officials intervening to seek a shorter sentence for Stone. Anyone who questions how unusual these events were should consider the fallout: All four of the prosecutors who had made the original recommendation withdrew from the case, and one resigned from the Justice Department. And now, more than 1,100 former federal prosecutors have signed a letter asking for Attorney General William Barr to step down. Historically, the Justice Department has guarded its independence as the protector of the Constitutions rule of law and the principle that no one, not even a high government official, is above the law. Thats one of the bedrock principles that has made our democracy what it is until the era of Trump, anyway. President Donald Trump speaks during a Keep America Great campaign rally in Wildwood. Read more Democratic outside groups are ramping up negative advertising against President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, in an effort to weaken him in a key battleground state he won by the slightest of margins in 2016 as their own presidential primary drags on. On Tuesday, the liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century said it had launched a $10 million advertising campaign in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan targeted at working-class voters in rural areas, who were key to Trumps victory. And starting next week, another Democratic super PAC, Priorities USA Action, will begin airing anti-Trump commercials on TV in the Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Altoona-Johnstown, and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre media markets. The group has reserved about $5.9 million worth of airtime through early July, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics. The activity on the airwaves comes as the Democratic presidential primary shows signs it may be prolonged. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is set to make his first appearance at a debate on Wednesday night as he rises in national polls, and in surveys of states that vote in March. Priorities USA which has pledged to spend $150 million on the 2020 campaign before the partys convention in July has also booked ads in other battleground states like Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the New York Times reported last month. In 2016, Priorities didnt run its first TV ad until May. Neither group has booked ads in the expensive Philadelphia market. Bloomberg has bought the most airtime of any candidate or outside group in Pennsylvania, having spent almost $16 million on broadcast, cable, and radio commercials, according to Advertising Analytics. The Trump campaign has spent about $500,000 on the airwaves in the state. Trump won Pennsylvania by about 0.7% of the vote in 2016, which, along with similarly close victories in Michigan and Wisconsin, helped elevate him to the White House. The American Bridge commercials feature self-identified Trump voters who say they have soured on the president. Now I voted for Donald Trump, but ever since he got in office, hes been dividing the country, a National Guard veteran identified only as Steve from Wayne County, says in one Pennsylvania ad. "I dont think the president understands service. As a former soldier its difficult for me to criticize the man at the top, but its important that everybody be held to account. Ill vote for more Republicans, he says in the 30-second spot, but not Donald Trump. Based on information provided by American Bridge, The Inquirer confirmed through Wayne County voting records that he voted in 2016. American Bridge spent $4 million on a similar ad campaign late last year. One of the ads faced criticism after a TV station in Erie found that a man identified as a regretful Trump voter hadnt actually voted in 2016. American Bridge president Bradley Beychok said the group had undertaken a massive and unprecedented effort to strategically target the voters Donald Trump needs most in battleground states. It said surveys showed the earlier ads decreased Trumps favorable ratings and increased support for Democrats. With a wide-open Democratic field and a potentially months-long nominating process, we need to take the fight to Donald Trump right now," Beychok said in a statement. "We will continue to elevate the voices of local voters hurt by the presidents failed policies and broken promises, and up the ante to deny Donald Trump the swing-state margins he needs in 2020. * Shetty steps down as co-chair, Tompkins to stay as sole chair * Shares fall as much as 9%, among top FTSE 100 losers * Two directors related to Shetty also resign * Shetty previously flagged potentially inaccurate reporting of his NMC holdings (Adds details on Shetty, shares, background) By Pushkala Aripaka Feb 17 (Reuters) - NMC Health's founder BR Shetty has resigned as co-chair of the troubled UAE healthcare group, the latest twist in weeks of turmoil that has seen the company's shares collapse as doubts emerged about top investors' holdings. Its shares fell again on Monday, by as much as 9%, after the company also said that Chief Investment Officer Hani Buttikhi and another director had resigned. The directors were linked to Shetty and other top partners. NMC, the United Arab Emirates' largest private healthcare provider, operates clinics and hospitals, specialized maternity and fertility clinics, and long-term care homes across 19 countries, treating over 7.5 million patients in 2018. UK businessman HJ Mark Tompkins would now be the group's sole chairman, the company said in its brief statement on Monday, which did not divulge details on why Shetty stepped down. Indian billionaire Shetty had already said last week that he was "stepping back" from board duties after he informed NMC of a potentially inaccurate reporting of his holdings as the company also battles a short selling-attack from Muddy Waters. Shetty had joined NMC's board in 2011. He and NMC could not be immediately reached for further comment. Last week, NMC vice chairman Khalifa Butti Omeir Bin Yousef also stepped down from the board as NMC also said that there had been a series of complex shareholder dealings involving Shetty, Bin Yousef and another top investor, Saeed Butti Al Qebaisi. NMC has been thrown into turmoil since short-seller Muddy Waters raised questions over the group's finances late last year, and this year when the share arrangements emerged. NMC on Monday did not provide any further details on Shetty's shareholdings. Refinitiv data shows he is NMC's second-biggest shareholder. Born in the southern Indian state of Karnataka in 1942, Shetty founded http://www.brshetty.com/journey-br-shetty.html NMC in 1975. His other ventures include UAE Exchange, Neo Pharma and BRS Ventures, and at one point Shetty had also hoped to make an Indian film epic https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nmc-health-shetty-film-idUSKB N18V0ST. NMC listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2012 and was added to the blue chip FTSE 100 index in 2017. The company's shares pared some losses and were down about 2% at 759.8 pence by 1012 GMT. They have fallen around 70% in value since Muddy Waters' claims in December, drawing an expression of interest in the company from private equity firm GKSD Investment. NMC is also conducting a separate review to look into the short-seller's claims. (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta/Patrick Graham/Susan Fenton) A $27 million rescue package has been launched for tourism operators crippled by the novel coronavirus as 38 Queenslanders return home from quarantine on Christmas Island. The deadly virus has already sucked about $100 million from the state's tourism industry, with insiders estimating that could surge to more than $1 billion in losses over the coming months. Australias hotels, restaurants, tourism operators and some of our most popular attractions face a combined $1 billion loss in revenue for every month the Chinese travel ban remains in force Credit:James Alcock Health Minister Steven Miles said, as of Tuesday morning, the total number of coronavirus cases was 71,902 worldwide and the death toll had climbed to 1775. "A total of 38 Queenslanders who were evacuated from Wuhan and have been in quarantine on Christmas Island are due to arrive home to Queensland by tomorrow, some arrived yesterday," he said. Real estate tycoon John McGrath auctioned off a $1.83million home despite his licence expiring less than a week earlier. The McGrath Estate Agents founder took control of proceedings at an auction in Stanmore, in Sydney's inner west, on Saturday. But the famous real estate pioneer, who rarely makes an appearance at auctions, was not authorised to conduct the bidding. According to the Office of Fair Trading, Mr McGrath's property licence expired on Monday February 11. Real estate tycoon John McGrath auctioned off a $1.83million home despite his licence expiring less than a week earlier The three-bedroom home on Harrow Rd sold $175,000 above the $1.65million reserve as a crowd of 70 watched on. Mr McGrath decided to call the auction to instead of colleague Jon Craven, news.com.au reported. 'When the Michael Jordan of real estate shows up, you let him do his thing,' Mr Craven said. Sellers Karen James and Bruce Lawson were reportedly 'delighted' with the result. Under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002, a licence lapses if it is not renewed on time. The former licence holder has three months in which they may apply to have the licence 'restored'. A spokesperson from NSW Fair Trading said: 'Mr John Damien McGrath's licence expired on 11 February 2020.' 'McGrath Head Office contacted Fair Trading on 17 February 2020 to disclose Mr McGrath had performed the work of an auctioneer over the weekend after his licence had expired. 'Fair Trading has provided Mr McGrath with education in line with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy and will monitor the progress of Mr McGrath's application.' UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the reports of the deaths of at least 20 people, among them women and infants, during a stampede for food and cash in Nigers Diffa region on Sunday. The assistance was being distributed independently by visiting Nigerian authorities for Nigerian refugees hosted in the area. Four refugees are among the dead, while many others are injured. It is feared that the number of victims could rise as more information on casualties is received from hospitals and health centres in Diffa. We are shocked and saddened by these deaths, said UNHCRs Representative in Niger, Alessandra Morelli. We appreciate all efforts by individuals trying to help refugees, but we strongly appeal for these efforts to be coordinated with local authorities in Niger as well as with humanitarian actors. UNHCR, which was not involved in Sundays distribution, has been providing protection services and assistance to refugees and those internally displaced in south-east Niger and has an aid distribution mechanism in place to ensure that this can be done in a safe and effective manner. This region, bordering Nigerias Borno State, currently hosts 263,000 people who have been displaced by violence in the Lake Chad Basin, of whom almost half, some 120,000, are refugees. Refugees are overwhelmingly women and children from Nigeria, with a few thousand arriving recently from Chad. UNHCR is providing emergency assistance to survivors in the form of medical care and psychosocial support and remains ready to support local authorities in their response to this tragedy. In Niger and in the Lake Chad Basin, UNHCR leads the international response to protect those forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It has continuously been advocating for enhanced coordination between humanitarian and development actors in areas hosting forcibly displaced populations. For more information on this topic, please contact: Michael Wood has accepted the post of President of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU). Mr Wood is Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, a historian and television documentary maker whose books and programs on British history, India and China have become hugely popular with large audiences over many years. SACU has said that it is thrilled to have such a prominent new president working actively in promoting a better understanding of China. Mr. Wood will hold two public talks for SACU in his new post as president. In the Spring, there will be one on his co-production between CCTV and BBC - Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet - which he describes as 'a road movie in the footsteps of Du Fu'. The film features readings of Du Fus poetry by Sir Ian McKellen. In autumn, he will be talking about his soon to be published book, The Story of China. SACU was founded in 1965 by, among others, the renowned Sinologist Joseph Needham. His major work, Science and Civilisation in China, was the first to educate Western audiences on the historical significance of the many discoveries and inventions in China which predated those in the West, in some cases by centuries. SACU has been working for over 50 years to promote friendship and understanding between the peoples of China and the UK. At its 50th anniversary celebration event, the Chinese ambassador said that SACUs mandate is "to advance China-UK understanding and friendship. It is the mandate to carry forward, in this new age and with new ideas, the lofty cause of bridging gaps and strengthening bonds." SACU appreciates that an understanding of history as well as working with the power of film and the media are necessary for it to advance its mandate in this new age. We, therefore, see Michael as a great asset to help us in the continuing delivery of our mission, being an eminent historian and filmmaker and also someone with a profound understanding of and affection for the peoples of China. SCHENECTADY Shift Marketing, a Toronto-based firm best known for its direct marketing campaigns for auto dealers, is celebrating its acquisition of The Stockade Consulting Group in Schenectady at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m. at 650 Franklin St. in Schenectady. The Stockade Consulting Group allows Shift to enter the higher education market while also giving the Canadian company a U.S. office location. Shift is keeping the Schenectady office staff in place, including executive vice president Palmer Fargnoli. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/18/2020 -- Employee recognition software help organizations to provide formal recognition to support the objective and strategic goals of individual department and unit. This software plays very important role in employee recognition programs. Through this HR technology organization can ensure their workforce is satisfied and engaged. These technologies having strong opportunity due to increasing organization concern towards building happy and productive workplace, employee engagement strategies, and best incentives for retaining top-notch talent. With increasing maturity of industry players of Employee Recognition Software market, identify possible future growth areas, potentially disruptive trends, and showcase important product innovations and research taken up by key competitors. Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Employee Recognition Software Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Employee Recognition Software Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are Bonusly (United States), Kudos (Canada), Terry Berry (United States), SABA (United States), Motivosity (United States), Ultimate Software (United States), Peoplecart (India), Hoopla (United States), Loyalty Gator (Canada), Wishlist Rewards (United States) and High Fives (India). Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/3522-global-employee-recognition-software-market Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report: 1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report? Following are list of players that are currently profiled in the the report Bonusly (United States), Kudos (Canada), Terry Berry (United States), SABA (United States), Motivosity (United States), Ultimate Software (United States), Peoplecart (India), Hoopla (United States), Loyalty Gator (Canada), Wishlist Rewards (United States) and High Fives (India). ** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc. 2) Can we add or profiled new company as per our need? Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey. ** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Upto 3 players can be added at no added cost. 3) Can we get more level of segmentation to meet our market intelligence objective? Yes it can be provided, however ETA would vary and final confirmation would be given only after checking data in data repository. 4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible? Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client. ** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time and quote will vary. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/3522-global-employee-recognition-software-market Market Drivers - Increase Social & Public Celebration - Increasing Trend of Unified Culture - Eliminating Geographical Limitations Market Trend - Change Speed - Working with Purpose - Digital from the Inside Out Opportunities - Strong Opportunity in Future, Due To Increase Increasing Healthy Businesses Need in Organizations Reducing the Cost of Turnover Challenges - High Implementation Cost To comprehend Global Employee Recognition Software market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Employee Recognition Software market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas. - North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. - South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. - Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. - Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Russia. - Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia. Get Reasonable Discount on This Premium Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/3522-global-employee-recognition-software-market Major Highlights of TOC: Chapter One: Market Overview Chapter Two: Executive Summary ---------- Free of Cost Chapter Three: Market Dynamics ------ USD400 Market Drivers, Market Challenges, Market Trends, Restraints & Opportunities Chapter Four: Market Factor Analysis ------ USD400 Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power Chapter Five: Global Employee Recognition Software, by Market Segmentation and Geography (value, volume**) (2013-2018) ------ USD1400 Global Employee Recognition Software Application (Small and Medium Enterprise, Large Enterprise), Pricing (Free Trial, Monthly Subscription, Annual Subscription, One-Time License), Deployment (Web-Based, Cloud-Based), Recognition (Bonuses, Written Praise, Verbal Praise) Global Employee Recognition Software Region North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others) Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others) Chapter Six: Global Employee Recognition Software - Manufacturers/Players Analysis ------ USD1200 Competitive Landscape, Comparative Market Share Analysis (2017-2018), Peer Group Analysis (2018), BCG Matrix, Company Profile, Product/Service Offering Matrix Chapter Seven: Global Employee Recognition Software, by Market Segmentation and Region (value, volume**) (2019-2024) ------ USD1400 ------ Sections same as Chapter Five ------ Chapter Eight: Company profiles / Competitive Landscape [12 Players] ------ USD1250 Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer ** If applicable Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report. AMA also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia. The Neanderthal skull, flattened by thousands of years of sediment and rock fall, in situ in Shanidar Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit: Graeme Barker The first articulated Neanderthal skeleton to come out of the ground for over 20 years has been unearthed at one of the most important sites of mid-20th century archaeology: Shanidar Cave, in the foothills of Iraqi Kurdistan. Researchers say the new find offers an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the "mortuary practices" of this lost species using the latest technologies. Shanidar Cave was excavated in the 1950s, when archaeologist Ralph Solecki uncovered partial remains of ten Neanderthal men, women and children. Some were clustered together, with clumps of ancient pollen surrounding one of the skeletons. Solecki claimed this showed Neanderthals buried their dead and conducted funerary rites with flowers. The 'flower burial' captured the public imagination, and prompted a reappraisal of a species thatprior to Shanidar Cavewas thought to have been dumb and animalistic. It also sparked a decades-long controversy over whether evidence from this extraordinary site did actually point to death rituals, or burial of any kind, and if Neanderthals were really capable of such cultural sophistication. More than 50 years later, a team of researchers have reopened the old Solecki trench to collect new sediment samples, and discovered the crushed skull and torso bones of another Shanidar Neanderthal. The discovery has been named Shanidar Z by researchers from Cambridge, Birkbeck and Liverpool John Moores universities. View of the entrance to Shanidar Cave, in the foothills of the Baradost Mountains of North-East Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit: Graeme Barker The work was conducted in conjunction with the Kurdistan General Directorate of Antiquities and the Directorate of Antiquities for Soran Province. The find is announced today in a paper published in the journal Antiquity. "So much research on how Neanderthals treated their dead has to involve returning to finds from sixty or even a hundred years ago, when archaeological techniques were more limited, and that only ever gets you so far," said Dr. Emma Pomeroy, from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology, lead author of the new paper. "To have primary evidence of such quality from this famous Neanderthal site will allow us to use modern technologies to explore everything from ancient DNA to long-held questions about Neanderthal ways of death, and whether they were similar to our own." Ralph Solecki died last year aged 101, having never managed to conduct further excavations at his most famous site, despite several attempts. In 2011, the Kurdish Regional Government approached Professor Graeme Barker from Cambridge's McDonald Institute of Archaeology about revisiting Shanidar Cave. With Solecki's enthusiastic support, initial digging began in 2014, but stopped after two days when ISIS got too close. It resumed the following year. "We thought with luck we'd be able to find the locations where they had found Neanderthals in the 1950s, to see if we could date the surrounding sediments," said Barker. "We didn't expect to find any Neanderthal bones." In 2016, in one of the deepest parts of the trench, a rib emerged from the wall, followed by a lumbar vertebra, then the bones of a clenched right hand. However, metres of sediment needed carefully digging out before the team could excavate the skeleton. During 2018-19 they went on to uncover a complete skull, flattened by thousands of years of sediment, and upper body bones almost to the waistwith the left hand curled under the head like a small cushion. The bones of the Neanderthal's left hand emerging from the sediment in Shanidar Cave. Credit: Graeme Barker Early analysis suggests it is over 70,000 years old. While the sex is yet to be determined, the latest Neanderthal discovery has the teeth of a "middle- to older-aged adult". Shanidar Z has now been brought on loan to the archaeological labs at Cambridge, where it is being conserved and scanned to help build a digital reconstruction, as more layers of silt are removed. The team is also working on sediment samples from around the new find, looking for signs of climate change in fragments of shell and bone from ancient mice and snails, as well as traces of pollen and charcoal that could offer insight into activities such as cooking and the famous 'flower burial'. Four of the Neanderthals, including the 'flower burial' and the latest find, formed what researchers describe as a "unique assemblage". It raises the question of whether Neanderthals were returning to the same spot within the cave to inter their dead. A prominent rock next to the head of Shanidar Z may have been used as a marker for Neanderthals repeatedly depositing their dead, says Pomeroy, although whether time between deaths was weeks, decades or even centuries will be difficult to determine. "The new excavation suggests that some of these bodies were laid in a channel in the cave floor created by water, which had then been intentionally dug to make it deeper," said Barker. "There is strong early evidence that Shanidar Z was deliberately buried." CT-scans in Cambridge have revealed the petrous boneone of the densest in the body; a wedge at the base of the skullto be intact, offering hope of retrieving ancient Neanderthal DNA from the hot, dry region where "interbreeding" most likely took place as humans spilled out of Africa. Added Pomeroy: "In recent years we have seen increasing evidence that Neanderthals were more sophisticated than previously thought, from cave markings to use of decorative shells and raptor talons. "If Neanderthals were using Shanidar cave as a site of memory for the repeated ritual interment of their dead, it would suggest cultural complexity of a high order." More information: Emma Pomeroy et al, New Neanderthal remains associated with the 'flower burial' at Shanidar Cave, Antiquity (2020). Journal information: Antiquity Emma Pomeroy et al, New Neanderthal remains associated with the 'flower burial' at Shanidar Cave,(2020). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2019.207 Lindsey Graham threatened Mark Esper, claiming he could make the Defense secretary's life 'hell' if he decides to move forward with a plan to remove troops from Africa. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, which include Republican Senator Graham, met with Pentagon Chief Esper during on the outskirts of the 2020 Munich Security Conference last week, four people familiar with or present at the meeting told NBC News. The House and Senate members, led by Graham and Democrat Senator Chris Coons who aren both on the Foreign Relations Committee are pushing back against a Donald Trump administration initiative to withdraw U.S. troops from the Sahel region in Africa. The sources said the lawmakers laid out their case 'forcefully,' explaining that Congress would not support a U.S. withdrawal from that area. At one point, according to those at the meeting, Graham told Esper he could 'make your life hell.' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham threatened Defense Secretary Mark Esper, saying he could make his life 'hell,' according to sources at a meeting where the two were present The comments supposedly came as a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged Esper not to move forward with a plan to withdraw U.S. troops from the Sahel region of Africa Esper's office pushed back on the claim that Graham made the threatening comments, claiming: 'that was never said' and lauding the conversation as 'productive' But the Pentagon pushed back on the sources claim that Graham made this assertion. 'I was in the room and that was never said,' Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Garah said. 'The secretary had a productive conversation with bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress on the future of U.S. force presence in West Africa,' she continued. An aide to the South Carolina senator also said a person present during the discussion described 'bipartisan agreement and support in the meeting in support of the mission.' The Africa region in question includes parts of western and north-central Africa and encompasses several nations muddled by international terrorist groups. More than a dozen terrorist groups with links to ISIS or al Qaeda, like Boko Haram and al Shabaab, are operating in the Sahel region. About 1,000 U.S. troops are usually deployed in that area with the main goal of training local forces, providing aerial refueling to French military planes and collecting and sharing intelligence. The bipartisan group argued over the weekend that one of the main reasons to keep the small number of troops is that it is relatively low cost. The sources with knowledge of the exchange said Graham told Esper he absolutely could fund the roughly $50 million in deployments in the $700 billion 2020 defense budget. Graham, who is on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Esper could surely find the $50 million it cost to deploy in Africa in the $700 billion Defense budget for fiscal year 2020 Graham is a Trump ally and staunch defender of the president, and in opposing the administration's plan, he is deviating from his previous support of most Trump initiatives. But this isn't the first time Graham has sparred with Trump's Defense Secretary over foreign defense issues. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February of 2019, Graham butted heads with then-Acting Department of Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in what was described as a 'heated' exchange. The 'tense' interaction, which officials at the 2019 meeting said was filled with expletives from Graham, was over Trump's decision to pull troops from Syria a move the senator has vehemently come out against several times. According to reports from last year, Graham issued a veiled threat at Shanahan during that meeting as well, telling the then-acting secretary that he should consider him 'an adversary.' The genesis of a trend is often hard to pinpoint. Did it originate from the collection of a particular designer? The perfect outfit of an influencer? Or even a blockbuster movie or cultural moment of some sort? But in the case of fashions love-in with the collar, the task is simpler. This time last year, Ganni launched an oversized collar poplin blouse that felt so fresh and fabulously OTT it was instantly added to the wardrobes of Instagrams most stylish. The white version totally sold out online and the green and white striped version the brand has dropped pre-Spring is, Ganni tells The Standard, already 65 per cent sold by mid-season, making it another best seller. Then back in December, new Spanish brand La Veste, launched by Spanish stylist Blanca Miro and designer Maria de la Orden in 2018, dropped the School Shirt - a similar silhouette to Gannis poplin blouse, this time in green and blue gingham with crafty embroidered collars. At its AW20 show in Copenhagen in January, Ganni continued the brand's riff on the ruff, this time further elongating the silhouette into a collar so lengthy it felt more akin to a lapel, or perhaps a sailor collar sans-knot. These were styled over baggy suits and leather puff sleeve dresses, while detachable frill-edged leather and denim versions were tied over shirts and jersey dresses. Weve been doing the Peter Pan collar since Pre Spring 2019, so sort of way before the trend really took off. Its become such a staple shape for us. Ditte Reffstrup, Creative Director of Ganni tells The Standard. Its a great styling piece adding lots of personality to your look. For our latest FW20 we reworked the collar to create a more deep cut v-neck version. And theres something slightly more sexy to come. Ganni AW20 / Imaxtree Miu Mius Resort 2020 runway at Paris's Hippodrome dAuteuil was also chock full of fabulous collar action. From Ganni-esque lacey lapel shapes to squarer shapes in black and white lace. Camille Charriere was spotted on the streets of London Fashion Week this weekend wearing the brands exaggerated collar silk blouse in black. Miu Miu Resort 2020 / Imaxtree And just as the street style were getting hot about the collar, so too were Londons runways flooded with next-level neck trimmings. Emilia Wickstead, Erdem and Victoria Beckhams AW20 shows were punctuated with prim and pointy collars, while Rejina Pyos silk shirts came with slouchier shapes that brilliantly offset the proportions of chunky cuffs. 16 Arlington AW20 / Imaxtree At 16Arlington, the brainchild of young British design duo Marco Capaldo and Federica Cavenati, jumpsuits and leather trench coats were given structural sharpness with collars of a menacing, almost vampiric, pointiness. Whether a back-to-school vibe or a quick fix sartorial seriousness, if theres one trend thats set to stick through its second autumn, you can bet your bottom dollar its the collar Shop the look: Miu Miu exaggerated collar silk top, 763, shop it on Moda Operandi here / Moda Operandi Feathery striped cotton-poplin blouse, 150, Ganni. Shop it on Net-a-Porter here / Net-a-Porter Frilly collar tee, 18., Monki. Shop it here Silk-organza trimmed checked sequined stretch-knit blouse, 2745, Rodarte. Shop it on Net-a-Porter here Lopez Obrador attempted to link Fatimas death to what he called a deeper erosion of values. He said Monday that femicides are a product of the selfishness and accumulation of wealth in a few hands left by neoliberal policies. He asked protesters not to vandalize the National Palace, as they did last week, when they painted the words Femicide state on its walls. Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) The Mauritian Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail will, in collaboration with the University of Mauritius, set up a National Road Safety Observatory to serve as a centre of excellence for road safety in Mauritius, PANA learnt Tuesday from the Government Information Services (GIS) Women facing sexual harassment on a daily basis, is sad but true in our country. From workplaces to public ones, we have been subjected to harassment. In spite of the government taking steps to make public transport safer for women (read: women-only compartments), no place is safe for them. However, women have had enough and it's time for such culprits to be shamed and brought to justice. Twitter (Representational image only) The most recent incident highlighting the disgust and trauma that sexual harassment brings to a person is that of a 21-year-old girl who was travelling from Bengaluru to Hassan in a KSRTC bus. According to TOI, the conductor came and sat next to the girl when she boarded the bus. He then started touching her inappropriately and told her to keep quiet or else it will be her who'll be tainted. TOI The girl decided to gather proof of the same and started recording the bus conductor's lewd actions on her phone. However, when he learnt that she was recording him, he reportedly snatched her phone and took her number so that she could 'stay in touch' with him. The girl got up near Belur Cross and slapped the conductor on his face and got off the bus. Then she boarded another bus and forwarded the video to her parents and friends. After filing a police complaint, the girl and her family and friends waited at Yeshwantpur bus stand for the bus to return from Hassan and thrashed the conductor once they found him. TOI He was later handed over to the police. He has been recognised as Esubu Ali Tallura, 33, who hails from Belagavi. Reports also add that he has been suspended by KSRTC along with pending departmental investigation. Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation (GACCF) http://www.globalaccf.org, the leading global cancer care organization providing oncology education programs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), announced today that it is partnering with Radiating Hope and Rad Global Adventures to climb the snowcapped African volcano of Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and money to advance cancer care for the worlds neediest patients. The Climb for Hope team of 25 climbers from a wide range of backgrounds and skill levels, including cancer survivors and caregivers, will hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro on June 15, 2020 to support the GACCF in its work to develop sustainable cancer education programs, with a focus on radiation oncology. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the African continent's highest peak at 19,340 feet and the worlds largest free-standing mountain. The nine-day trek starts in dense tropical rainforest, before passing through some of the mountains best features the Shira Plateau, the infamous Barranco Wall, and scenic Karanga Valley on the way to the summit. Each team member has committed to raising $10,000 to support the GACCF. Their goal is to raise more than $250,000. Donate here: http://www.globalaccf.org/climb-for-hope/. In many locations across LMICs, delay in adopting advances in radiotherapy and lack of medical personnel is the limiting factor that impact improvements in cancer care. For example, the U.S. has on average one radiation oncologist per 71,000 people, whereas Tanzania has only two radiation oncologists, equaling one per 24 million people. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is a perfect metaphor for what a cancer patient goes through when batting the disease, said Tonya Steiner, Executive Director of Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation. Its symbolic of the journey you embark upon after being diagnosed with cancer. Theres the diagnosis, figuring out a treatment plan and the treatment itself, which is the equivalent of trekking to the summit. You just keep climbing, pushing yourself further, overcoming the strain that comes with the journey. Thats why were asking colleagues, friends, and family to help us raise money to support our goal to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not for the faint of heart. Mental toughness is just as essential as physical strength. The GACCF team will walk more than 5-10 miles a day for the duration of the climb. Climbers will endure difficult and perilous conditions, walking up 45-degree inclines with decreasing oxygen levels and face relentless winds that can be present throughout the hike. Once they reach the summit the GACCF team will display prayer flags purchased by sponsors and dedicated to cancer patients who have faced the struggle of cancer head on. High at the summit, the flags will be flown as a symbol for cancer patients globally. Prayer flags have a long tradition of representing strength, hope, and well-being for the people they honor. Joining the GACCF climbing team will be GACCF Ambassadors, Zoleka Mandela and Omarosa Onee Manigault Newman, along with GACCF executive director, Tonya Steiner and Radiating Hope executive director, Tom Ladd, a veteran mountain climber. This will mark Ladds fifth hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro on behalf of cancer patients. Three days prior to the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, GACCF will sponsor the Greater Horn Oncology Symposium (GHOS) on June12-14 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. GHOS is a multidisciplinary oncology conference dedicated to increasing awareness of cancer care in the Greater Horn of Africa to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer, particularly radiation treatment in Africa. The forum will bring together local physicians and community leaders as well as doctors from North America and Europe to learn about ways to advance cancer care in this region. Just as recent media coverage reports the largest-ever single-year drop in cancer mortality in the United States, millions of individuals world-wide receive inadequate cancer therapies with little hope for survival. This health care crisis is expected to grow, impacting millions more, despite tragically underfunded and inadequate resources and recovery efforts. Recognizing the immediate need and call for action, the GACCF is the leading global medical humanitarian organization to bring hope and modern cancer care to the worlds most vulnerable patients. Cancer, in its many forms, continues to impact everyone, no matter where you live within the world. In 2018 alone, approximately 17 million new cases of cancer were with close to 10 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. And while one-third of the planets total population is expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, cancer incidence and mortality will continue to increase at alarming numbers in LMIC nations. To learn more about how to support the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, visit http://www.globalaccf.org/climb-for-hope. About Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation: The Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation (GACCF) offers training, technology, access, and hope; specifically for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in South America, Africa, South and East Asia. The Foundations cancer care professionals help to implement and oversee training courses and workshops in collaboration with local partners such as universities, hospitals or governmental institutions that enhance cancer treatment through radiotherapy treatment. These regional programs aim to overcome the lack of trained professionals who treat cancer patients in the near term. By empowering local faculty to deliver training, the GACCF education programs encourage self-reliance and sustainability. To support the success of these programs, the GACCF provides project management, financial support, and professional teams from within and outside the region. For more information visit: http://www.globalaccf.org. Media Contact: Dwain Schenck (203) 223-5230 dwain@globalaccf.org (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp. is in talks to sell a unit that makes chips for home internet access gear to MaxLinear Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. No final decision has been made and Intel could keep the connected home division, the people said, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Its not clear how much the potential deal is worth. A representative for Santa Clara, California-based Intel declined to comment. MaxLinear didnt respond to requests for comment. Intel, the worlds largest chipmaker, is looking at reducing its footprint in areas where it isnt competitive, Chief Executive Officer Bob Swan has said. The company sold its smartphone modem business to Apple Inc. in a $1 billion deal last year. Swan has pointed to the money-losing memory business as an area where he might look for a partnership. MaxLinear, based in Carlsbad, California, provides broadband and networking semiconductors. Its shares fell 4.3% to $17.57 at 12:14 p.m. in New York trading Tuesday, giving the company a market value of about $1.3 billion. Intels connected home business makes chips that enable WiFi and manage data traffic for consumers. The chips provide wireless connections in home routers and gateways. Competitors include Broadcom Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. Throughout its history, Intel has created units that push new technologies as a way to further its central processor unit. The connected home initiative is part of an attempt to make sure Intels computing chips find their way into the increasing number of smart gadgets being used in households. To contact the reporters on this story: Liana Baker in New York at lbaker75@bloomberg.net;Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Liana Baker at lbaker75@bloomberg.net, ;Alistair Barr at abarr18@bloomberg.net, Michael Hytha, Matthew Monks For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The first Harris County Precinct 3 commissioner race in three decades to not feature an incumbent has drawn intense interest from the Republican and Democratic parties. Steve Radack, who has held the seat since 1989, announced at the filing deadline in December he would not seek a ninth term. The departure of the plainspoken conservative from Commissioners Court ensures a new face will represent the west Harris County precinct, which is among the fast-growing areas in the region. Three Republicans former Houston city councilwoman Brenda Stardig, Spring Valley Mayor Tom Ramsey and former West University Place mayor Susan Sample cast themselves as natural successors to Radack. Stardig, 58, said she effectively would manage growth in the precinct with a focus on developing communities in its sprawling 464 square miles. Its like Small Town U.S.A., trying to make sure all the elements are there, said Stardig, who grew up in Spring Branch. The gathering places, the faith-based organizations, places where people can meet each other and build stronger, safer communities. Stardig pointed to her experience as a council member, managing municipal utility districts and working with the Houston Police Department to target gangs, game rooms and other types of crime. She said she would be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and ensure funds from the $2.5 billion flood bond are spent in the highest risk watersheds rather than the equity guidelines adopted by Commissioners Court in August, which prioritize projects that help the greatest number of people. Ramsey, who has served as mayor of the small municipality of Spring Valley Village since 2012, said he wants Commissioners Court to return to the basics of maintaining road, bridge and flood control infrastructure as well as keeping property taxes low and neighborhoods safe. Ramsey, an engineer by training, was a partner at Klotz Associates, Inc. until 2015. He said he is concerned about the growth of county government and its associated costs under County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Commissioners Court in the past year increased the size of several county departments, including the public defender and fire marshals offices, as well as Pollution Control Services. The budget approved on Feb. 11 includes new employees for the health department. Youre going down a path you dont want to go down, Ramsey said. Youve seen that in Houston, where theyve struggled with their budgets many times, being unable to cover expenses. Ramsey, 67, said he opposed the unsuccessful effort by the three Democrats on Commissioners Court last fall to enact a property tax increase to raise revenue ahead of a state-mandated property tax cap. The trio said the influx of cash was necessary to ensure the county could continue to provide services for residents. In a screening with the Houston Chronicle editorial board, Sample cited her leadership of West University Place during Hurricane Harvey, and said she helped implement drainage improvements in the area. Sample, 56, said she was eager to drop the curtain on the current Democrat circus on Commissioners Court. Ramsey is the choice of Radack and the other Republican Harris County commissioner, Jack Cagle. Stardig has the support of the Houston Association of Realtors, Houston Realty Business Coalition and Houston Police Officers Union. Ramsey leads his opponents in fundraising, having raised $352,965 since last July. He had $242,243 cash on hand Feb. 3. Stardig raised $67,950 during that period and had $84,332 to spend. Sample raised $41,784 and had $28,934 left. Despite his endorsement of Ramsey, Radack last year did not make any contributions from his $1.6 million campaign account to the candidates campaign through the end of December. He did, however, donate to other Republican candidates and gave $12,250 to the Harris County Republican Party in the final six months of 2019. Democrats optimistic Though long a conservative precinct, the Harris County Democratic Party believes recent election results portend a potential victory here. Radack won eight elections in a row in the traditionally conservative precinct, including a 15-point trouncing of his 2016 opponent at the same time Hillary Clinton won Harris County. Democrats are optimistic, however, because of how well many of their candidates ran in Precinct 3 during the 2018 midterm elections. Former Rep. Beto ORourke won more votes in the precinct than incumbent Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate race, according to research by Democratic consultant Kier Murray. Four of the candidates Michael Moore, Morris Overstreet, Kristi Thibaut and Diana Martinez Alexander tussled in a candidate forum in Bellaire on Jan. 22. Two other candidates, Erik Beto Hassan and Zaher Eisa, also are on the ballot. They did not attend the forum or a candidate screening with the Houston Chronicle editorial board. Moore, the former chief of staff to former Houston mayor Bill White, has the support of Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. The 57-year-old Moore pitched himself as the most experienced candidate who is ready to work with fellow Democrats, who took control of the court in 2019, to transform county government. He cited flood control and managing explosive growth as top priorities. Were going to add 2 or 3 million people in the next five decades. Weve got a $5 billion budget, Moore said. I have the experience from helping manage the city of Houston. Morris Overstreet, the first African American elected to statewide office in Texas, served as a judge on the Criminal Court of Appeals for eight years in the 1990s. An engaging speaker, Overstreet, 70, drew applause from the forum audience when he said the countys public defenders budget should be increased to the sum the district attorneys office receives. Kristi Thibaut, 55, cited her experience as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, where in 2008 she won election to one term in District 133, in west Houstons Energy Corridor. I think this race is going to take somebody who is tried and true, who has beaten a Republican in the past, who has fought very hard in this narrow 50-50 district and has actually won, Thibaut said. Im a bulldog and a fighter. Alexander,46, an educator, cast herself as the activist candidate. Similar to Hidalgo, Alexander said the election of Donald Trump as president in 2016 encouraged her to run for office. She said she would be an advocate for working people and singled out climate change as an issue she would focus on. If we dont tackle that, then nothing else matters, Alexander said. Moore leads his opponents in fundraising with $213,672 cash on hand as of Feb. 3. Thibaut was the next-closest candidate, with $28,622 available to spend. Election Day is March 3. Early voting in both primaries begins Tuesday. Correction: A previous version misstated Sample's age. zach.despart@chron.com By Saumya Joseph Feb 17 (Reuters) - Alstom SA on Monday agreed to buy Bombardier Inc's train business for up to 6.2 billion euros ($6.7 billion), days after Airbus SE agreed to buy out Bombardier's remaining stake in the A220 passenger jet program, helping the company improve its financial position. Here is a timeline of Bombardier's evolution from a company selling snowmobiles decades ago, to a plane and train maker in recent years, and now just a business jet maker after the Alstom deal. The information is sourced from Bombardier's website and other publicly available information. 1937-1959: Joseph-Armand Bombardier launches the seven-passenger B7 snowmobile, founds the L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitee and launches the world-famous Ski-Doo. 1970: Bombardier ventures into the railway business with its purchase of motor scooter and tram maker Lohnerwerke and its subsidiary, the engine manufacturer ROTAX. 1974-1982: Bombardier wins its first mass transit contract to manufacture 423 cars for the city of Montreal's subway system and then goes on to win a $1 billion U.S. contract to supply 825 subway cars for the New York City Transit Authority. 1986: The company expands into the aerospace industry with its buyout of Canadair, maker of Challenger wide-body business jets and the CL-215 amphibious firefighting aircraft. 2001: Bombardier buys Germany-based DaimlerChrysler AG's subsidiary, propelling it to the position of a global leader in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. 2008: Bombardier launched C-Series program and announces the appointment of Pierre Beaudoin as president and chief executive officer. 2010: Concerns crop up over delays with the C-Series jets, which promised market-beating performance when launched due to new engine technology and a lighter airframe. 2015: Beaudoin steps down as CEO, handing over the reins to Alain Bellemare as the company copes with mounting cost overruns for the C-Series. In October, Quebec announces $1 billion in investment in the C-Series. Story continues 2017: Canadian government announces C$372 million aid package for Bombardier in the form of repayable loans. Later that year, Airbus SE takes a majority stake in Bombardier Inc's C-Series jet program for $1. 2018: Under Bellemare's leadership, Bombardier pares down repeatedly by selling off its 148-hectare Downsview manufacturing site in Toronto, its Q400 turboprop aircraft program, among others. 2019: Bombardier announces plans to sell off factories in Northern Ireland and Morocco as it consolidates its commercial plane-making business and later agrees to sell its regional jet program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Feb 2020: Airbus teams up with the Quebec government to buy Bombardier's 33.5% stake in the A220 passenger jet program - formerly known as the C Series - completing the Canadian firm's exit from civil aviation. (Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru Editing by Matthew Lewis) BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Tuesday said that the three parties in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government are trying to implement three parallel decisions regarding the Bhima Koregaon case. "All three parties are speaking different languages and it is shocking that in the Bhima Koregaon case, these three parties are trying to implement three parallel decisions. Uddhav Thackeray has handed it over to NIA while Sharad Pawar says the Home Ministry belongs to us, he asks NCP home minister for SIT parallel enquiry. Meanwhile, Congress says that they will bring a proposal in the cabinet to have a different Commission," said Somaiya. "The present Thackeray-led MVA government means a three parallel government. One government is run by Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar is also running NCP government simultaneously and thirdly, Rahul Gandhi is running a third parallel government in Maharashtra," he added. A Sessions Court on Friday passed an order in Bhima Koregaon case, transferring all records and further proceedings of the case to Special Investigation Agency (NIA) court, Mumbai. All the accused in the case will be produced before the special court of NIA in Mumbai on February 28. On January 1, 2018, violence had erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle. One person lost his life while several others were injured in the incident. Police had filed 58 cases against 162 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RTHK: Singapore announces US$4.6bn boost to fight virus Singapore unveiled US$4.6 billion in financial packages on Tuesday to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has battered the city-state's economy and sparked fears of a recession. The financial hub has reported 77 cases of the virus, one of the highest figures outside mainland China, where the pathogen has killed hundreds and infected tens of thousands. Tourism and trade are both expected to be hard hit by the virus in Singapore, an open economy with close links to China that is badly affected during any global shock. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced financial packages worth a total of Sg$6.4 billion (US$4.6 billion) as part of the annual budget, and warned that the full impact of the outbreak is yet to be felt. "The duration and severity of this outbreak and the impact on the global economy are still unclear," he said. "We must be prepared... the economic impact may be worse than we projected." Sg$5.6 billion was earmarked to help companies and families ride out the looming slowdown, with a large chunk set to go to firms in the most affected sectors including aviation, tourism and retail. There was also money to help families, which will come in the form of cash payouts and grocery vouchers for the needy. An additional Sg$800 million was set aside to support virus-fighting efforts, with most going to the health ministry. The packages would result in an overall budget deficit of Sg$10.9 billion, Heng said, but added that the government had enough surpluses to fund it. Authorities had rolled out a financial package totalling Sg$230 million during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002-03. The trade ministry said on Monday that growth this year could be between -0.5 and 1.5 percent, with analysts saying this means there is a higher risk of a recession. Singapore has banned travellers from mainland China, the city's biggest source of tourists. Global supply chains have also been severely disrupted after the virus closed manufacturing operations in China, impacting export-dependent economies such as Singapore. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 17:46:09|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close CHENGDU, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- In a chat group on WeChat, a patient made a wish: after recovering, he wanted to see giant pandas at the giant panda breeding base. The patient is in a make-shift hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province. When Zhang Zhihe heard about the wish, he was determined to make the dream come true in a "special" way. "I wanted to make a video of the giant pandas so that the patient can see them," said Zhang, director of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. "I believe that the chubby bears will bring joy and strength." The number of captive pandas stood at 600 globally as of November last year. There are fewer than 2,000 pandas living in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi. The project began on Sunday when Zhang and his team started to choose a panda for the video. They also wrote a script for the video, which included all the inspirational words they wanted to share with the patients. The video's star turned out to be female panda Chenglang. She was born only 42.8 grams and was about the size of a human thumb, making her the lightest giant panda baby at birth in the world. Experts at the center had never seen such a small panda before and worried about her growth. Now, Chenglang has grown into a healthy female panda weighing 18.7 kg. "When she drank milk for the first time, Chenglang displayed a strong sense for survival," said a member of Zhang's team. "This is why we chose her to be the leading character in the video: we want her to bring comfort, strength and confidence to the patients suffering from the virus infection." Zhang said all the giant pandas are waiting for patients to recover and visit them in Chengdu. The video took 36 hours to make and will be presented to the patients soon. "Besides the video, we also plan to do a live-streaming session for the patients," said Zhang. "We hope to give inspiration to people through the images of the warm, cute pandas." "I am really touched by what they did for the patients," said Li Xin, with Sichuan's national emergency medical rescue team. "Even though the patients could only see the panda in the video, I am sure it will bring them comfort." She's one of the final four contestants vying for the heart of ABC's Bachelor Peter Weber. And just as she's weathered a 'white lives matter' scandal, Victoria Fuller is now being called out for her DWI arrest in 2017. PageSix.com reported Monday that the 26-year-old Virginia native was sentenced to a year in jail for driving while intoxicated in her hometown of Virginia Beach on August 25, 2017. The sentence, however, was suspended and she was ordered to serve 24 months of probation, the outlet said. More controversy: Just as she's weathered a 'white lives matter' scandal, Bachelor contestant Victoria Fuller is being called out for a DWI arrest which PageSix.com revealed on Monday Court case: PageSix.com reported the 26-year-old, seen in her mug shot, was sentenced to a year in jail for driving while intoxicated in Virginia Beach on August 25, 2017. The sentence, however, was suspended and she was ordered to serve 24 months of probation, the outlet said This past weekend, Fuller apologized for allegedly modeling 'White Lives Matter' clothing in now-deleted Instagram posts. In response to the controversy, Cosmopolitan magazine yanked its digital cover featuring Fuller. Weber, 28, also addressed the fallout, telling People, 'I in no way support that kind of campaign.' Fuller denied racial motivations in her work for the campaign. She stated: 'I want to say that I unequivocally reject the beliefs of the white lives matter movement or any propaganda that supports racism of any kind.' 'I would like to specifically apologize to people of color that are affected by racism daily,' she said. 'It was never my intention to add fuel to the racial fire in this country.' Sorry: This weekend, Fuller apologized for allegedly modeling 'White Lives Matter' clothing in now-deleted Instagram posts. 'I in no way support that kind of campaign,' she told People Backlash: When the photos surfaced, fans slammed her on Twitter and called for ABC to drop her from the reality TV dating competition Fuller modeled the clothing for a Marlin Lives Matter organization in an effort to save the species and other pieces included 'blue lives matter,' a frequent retort to the Black Lives Matter movement in defense of police officers. Though along with the 'white lives matter,' slogan, other clothing, not modeled by Fuller but included in the campaign, featured designs similar to a Confederate flag. Fuller said she has learned from the controversy, and that moving forward, she hopes to speak out against racism. She said: 'This has truly been an educational moment for me and I hope to be a voice against racism moving forward. I hope I can be shown grace as I navigate through this process.' A selfless teenager who has been caring for her sick parents since she was eleven has revealed she has no regrets about putting her life on hold to look after her family. Caitlin Mottram, now 19, has spent the last eight years as a full-time carer for her father Drew, 65, and mother Alison, 59, at their home in Liverpool in Sydney's west. The remarkable teenager told 9News: 'I do get overwhelmed but you just have to pick yourself up again.' Caitlin Mottram, 19, has been caring for her sick parents since she was 11-years-old Her father suffers from a number of complex conditions including renal failure, diabetes and cirrhosis, while her mother has has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Caitlin described the sacrifices that she is forced to make due to the demanding role, including missing out on school and time with friends. She said: 'My friends go out during the day, late at night, out clubbing. And I want to do that but at the same time I don't because I would rather be at home making sure Mum and Dad are okay.' The nineteen-year-old manages her education by studying part-time at TAFE and says she feels it's only right she puts her family first. 'I see how other teenagers are with their parents ... and I find it's better being a carer because your parents raised you and now it's your turn to help them out in their time of need,' Caitlin explained. Her father, who worked as an equine chiropractor, became seriously ill in 2013 when he was kicked by a horse. Mr Mottram underwent a hernia operation and surgeons discovered he needed a liver transplant during that surgery. Her father Drew (pictured left) and mother Alison both suffer from complicated illnesses His health deteriorated after the transplant and Mr Mottram has not been able to work since the operation. He described his daughter as 'extremely helpful' and 'very considerate' for helping him get out of bed, administering medication, cooking and driving him to doctor appointments. She also picks him up when he falls and helps her father to get dressed, shower and move around. Mr Mottram expressed his deep gratitude towards his daughter and said: 'Without Caitlin's assistance, we couldn't even afford to live here and eat.' In future Caitlin hopes to finish her studies in childcare and one day own her own daycare centre. The activists of various Sikh organisations on Tuesday took to the streets demanding status of holy city for Amritsar and removal of meat shops, liquor vends and tobacco stores from the vicinity of the Golden Temple, bus stand and railway stations. Joined by former Akal Takht jathedarsGiani Joginder Singh Vedanti and Giani Gurbachan Singh the activists marched on the Heritage Street carrying banners. They urged the Punjab government to remove these shops and vends as it hurt the sanctity of the city and religious sentiments of the devotees visiting the Golden Temple. They demanded that chhabeels (free water kiosks) should replace these shops. They also handed over a memorandum to Akal Takht, demanding that a resolution raising these issues be passed by Panj Singh Sahiban (five Sikh clergymen) and forwarded to the Punjab government. The state government should pay attention towards the deteriorating condition of the old walled city, where the Golden Temple is situated. Golden Temple is sacred and supreme Sikh shrine, therefore its sanctity should be maintained at every cost, said Giani Gurbachan Singh. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 14:05:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday applauded China for its efforts to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), expressing his confidence in China to win the fight against the virus soon. "We would like to congratulate the People's Republic of China on its efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19, and we also thank China for taking care of Cambodian students there, including 23 in Wuhan city," he said in a speech during a graduation ceremony of nearly 2,000 students at the National Institute of Education here. He also extended his profound condolences to the Chinese government and people over the loss of lives and wished the patients a speedy and full recovery. On Monday, Sun Yanrong, deputy head of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, told a press conference that Chinese experts, based on the result of clinical trials, have confirmed that Chloroquine Phosphate, an antimalarial drug, has a certain curative effect on the COVID-19. Hun Sen welcomed the news. "If it is true and the (antimalarial) drug really can cure the patients, I think the difficult situation will be over in the near future, so we are really happy to hear this news," he said. He hoped that China will soon win the fight against the virus, saying that China's rapid development is a boon not only for the Chinese, but also for the people around the world. Detectives have charged a second man after a ram raid and theft at the Louis Vuitton store in the heart of Brisbane last week. It will be alleged a stolen white BMW station wagon was reversed repeatedly into the security doors of the Queen Street store about 4am last Thursday. Police said the two men covered their faces during the theft. Credit:Nine News Queensland Two men got out of the car and stole several luxury items, including handbags that sell for thousands of dollars each. The burnt-out vehicle was later found in Tiffany Street, Browns Plains, about 22km south of the Brisbane CBD. 18.02.2020 LISTEN The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has launched an initiative to end witch-hunting and witch persecution in Nigeria and in Africa in the year 2030. Media establishments are critical to the realization of this objective. Waging an effective campaign against witchcraft accusation, witch persecution and killing has become necessary because for too long witchcraft accusation has been a form of death sentence in our communities. The notion that people could harm others through occult or spiritual means exists and persists among the local population including the young and the old, educated non-educated, those in rural and urban areas. Some of the ways suspected witches are believed to perpetrate occult harm include turning themselves into goats, cats or birds or displaying some strange behavior, winking or cursing or threatening the supposed victim. Not surprisingly, some years ago, the police in Kwara state arrested a goat after members of a vigilante group brought the goat to the station believing it was a car thief who turned into a goat in order to evade arrest. Claims of people turning to cats or birds are often reported in the media. Those who are believed to engage in witchcraft are treated without mercy; they are lynched, tortured to confess and admit to witchcraft. They are ostracized and abandoned. Alleged witches are subjected to horrific abuses including violent exorcism and trial by ordeal. These atrocities are still taking place in our society today. Last year, relatives beat severely a young man in my community in South eastern Nigeria after accusing him of killing the mother though occult means Witch persecutions happen at scales, which many cannot imagine. The consequences are severe, and health damaging. In fact survivors live with the trauma for the rest of their lives. Recently, a university student from Bayelsa recounted to me how, as a child, the father and his siblings severally accused him of witchcraft and abused him. They used pepper, cocoyam leaves and razor blades to torture and compel him to confess to killing the mother, and destroying the sisters marriage and perpetrating other misfortunes. They later took him to pastors and prophets where he was chain and forced to undergo dry fasting. In December, a woman burnt a 10-year-old girl following accusations of witchcraft in Lagos. And in Plateau, a parent set two children ablaze based on suspicions of witchcraft. A pastor flogged the son to death over witchcraft allegation in Delta state. These cases are actually the tip of the iceberg of abuses linked witchcraft belief that take place in Nigeria. Most cases of witch persecution target vulnerable members of the population-children the elderly, women and people living with disabilities. They happen within the family, in rural areas and are largely unreported. Nothing has shown the toxic nature of witchcraft fears and anxieties better than the reaction of Christian students to the conference on witchcraft that took place in Nsukka in November. Christian students, with the support of CAN and the PFN opposed the event and staged a parallel prayer conference against witchcraft. Unfortunately, dispositions to violence and persecution related to witchcraft beliefs have largely been reactive. Any time there is a reported a case of witch persecution or killing, the police would launch an investigation, some human rights groups may issue statements, and some media houses some editorials if any at all. And after a while, nothing is heard about the incident and it becomes business as usual until another incident of witch persecution. There has not been a proactive initiative to tackle abuses that are linked to witchcraft beliefs and accusations and wean our society from witchcraft fears and anxieties. Thus in January, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches was launched and its goals have been articulated in the decade of activism declaration. The main objective of AfAW is to achieve a critical mass of advocates for alleged witches and help bring an end to witch persecution in the region in the next ten years. Abuses linked to witchcraft accusations are not only taking place in Nigeria but are also happening in other African countries. Alleged witches are lynched in Kenya, stoned to death in Malawi and banished to make shift shelters, or the so called witch camps in Ghana and Burkina Faso. In fact in Burkina Faso, they call, alleged witches, Soul eaters (Mangeuses dAme) to stress the vicious nature of their operations. AfAW is working to protect, defend, and rehabilitate alleged witches, male or female, young or old, children or elderly persons. We have rolled out a campus, Who is afraid of witches on campuses? This program aims at dispelling witchcraft fears and anxieties and mobilizing a critical mass of student advocates for alleged witches. We have held an event at the university of Ibadan this month and there are plans to organize more events in our tertiary institutions. We will directly intervene to ensure that alleged witches are safe and that no harm comes to them wherever we can. AfAW will also campaign to educate and enlighten witchcraft accusers and believers. At AfAW, we are of the view that witchcraft accusers are mistaken in their understanding and interpretation of misfortune. To realize a witch-hunting free Africa, accusers must be reasoned out of their mistaken notions and the accused must be shielded from harm. To this end, AfAW needs a balanced reporting from the media and the journalists. Incidentally, the media have been instrumental to reinforcing and valorizing witchcraft notions and ideas. Many media agencies present reports on witchcraft in ways that confuse facts with fantasies, reality with illusions and hallucinations, truth and falsehood, subjective, inter-subjective and objective experiences. Many newspapers publish headlines such as A Witch crashlands in a church compound. An old woman turns to a bird in Lagos etc. These reports do not usually contain critical comments and viewpoints on these superstitious claims. This culture of media reporting must change. Critical perspectives must be integrated in reporting news on witchcraft. In fact media agencies must partner with AfAW in dispelling witchcraft fears and anxieties and in ending witch persecution in Africa in 2030. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (February 17) attended the European Unions (EU) meet of foreign ministers in the Brussels and defended the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying that the critics of the new legislation have been misled by politics of a very passionate democratic society. Addressing the event, Jaishankar compared the CAA rules to immigration and refugee resettlement policies across Europe and asserted that national or cultural criteria is used as the benchmark to grant citizenship by many member states of the EU too. No European country ever said that anybody, anytime, from anywhere in the world can to Europe because they feel its nice here. There are persecuted religious minorities who came to India because here they find many people who have the same faith, he further said and mentioned that some of Indias neighbours have Islam as state religion," he said. Jaishankar also responded to allegations by the EU Parliament that the CAA would lead to the largest statelessness crisis in the world,' and asserted that CAA would, in fact, reduce statelessness by granting citizenship to thousands of religiously persecuted minorities. It may be recalled that the members of the EU Parliament had drafted an anti-CAA resolution in January and the phrase largest statelessness crisis was used in the draft. For its part, India had defended the new law, calling it an entirely internal matter, remarking that it would not be right for one legislature to pass judgement on another. The voting on the anti-CAA resolution did not take place in the EU Parliament as Friends of India prevailed over those of Pakistan'. More than 2,000 former officials of the US Department of Justice have signed an online petition calling on Attorney General William Barr to resign. The number of signatures doubled in 24 hours after the petition was first made public on Sunday. The campaign against Barr is the latest round in the ongoing political warfare in Washington, erupting after the failure of the Democratic Partys impeachment drive against President Trump. That ended with a vote in the Senate that fell far short of the two-thirds required to remove him from office. Trump has since gone on the warpath, firing or removing officials who testified against him in the House impeachment inquiry, as well as seeking to quash the remaining cases that arose from the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. That 22-month probe found no proof of a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign in the 2016 election. The move against Barr was launched after he intervened into the ongoing case of Trump crony Roger Stone, overruling the prosecutors who had recommended a lengthy jail term and urging the judge to impose a lighter sentence. All four prosecutors involved in the case resigned in protest, one of them leaving the Justice Department entirely, the other three withdrawing only from the Stone case. Stone was convicted last November of seven counts of lying to Congress, lying to the FBI in the Mueller probe, and witness-tampering. Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson is scheduled to sentence him on February 20, but Stones attorneys filed a motion last week seeking a new trial, claiming bias in the federal jury that heard the first case against him. A hearing on that motion is to take place in Jacksons courtroom today. Stone testified falsely before Congress and the Mueller probe, boasting about having been an intermediary between Trump and WikiLeaks, although he actually had no contact with the anti-secrecy organization. WikiLeaks made public documents that damaged Clintons 2016 campaign by exposing her closed-door speeches to Wall Street audiences, in which she promised to serve their interests, as well as emails by Democratic National Committee (DNC) operatives in which they discussed how to undermine the campaign of Clintons main primary rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Two of the four Justice Department prosecutors who brought the case against Stone had been part of the Mueller investigation, and there was a concerted effort to exaggerate the significance of Stones actions in order to push the fabricated narrative that Russian agents had hacked the DNC and Clinton campaign email servers and supplied the leaked documents to WikiLeaks. This was used in the campaign of vilification and persecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently in prison in London awaiting the start of hearings next Monday on the US request for his extradition to face espionage charges. In reality, despite media claims to the contrary, there was no connection between WikiLeaks and the Trump campaign, and there is no evidence to support claims that Russia supplied the leaked material. (WikiLeaks operates a drop box which is designed to allow anonymous deposits of documents). Stone himself is a despicable right-wing provocateur with a record of slanders and dirty tricks going back to the campaign of Richard Nixon in 1972. The prosecution alleged that he had sent death threats to a potential witness against him, Randy Credico, a comedian and liberal activist whom Stone knew and claimed was an intermediary with WikiLeaks. Although Credico testified that he never took the threats to himself (and his dog) seriously, given Stones record as a blowhard and fabricator, they became the pretext for escalating Stones jail sentence from 15-21 monthsthe standard for a first-time perjury convictionto 79 years in prison. Barr did not intervene in the case because the lengthy jail term was particularly onerous for a 67-year-old man. Federal, state and local prosecutors seek draconian sentences for impoverished defendants from the working class all the time: it is an essential aspect of the repressive functions of the capitalist state. Stone is a wealthy political operative and a longtime crony of President Trump, who was howling on Twitter about the injustice allegedly being carried out. In intervening on Stones behalf, however, Barr crossed the line that has been maintained since the Watergate scandal of 1972-74, which ended with the forced resignation of Stones first political boss, President Nixon. According to this tradition, now nearly half a century old, the president may not interfere with the decisions of rank-and-file prosecutors in the Department of Justice. Even in the Trump administration, there were formal rules limiting contact between the Justice Department and White House on criminal matters: only the president, vice-president and White House counsel could speak to the Department of Justice, and then only to the attorney general and his closest aides, not to prosecutors at work on pending cases. Trumps intervention was not a secret effort to subvert the legal system, in the style of Nixon, but a brazen effort trumpeted to his 60-million-plus followers on Twitter. After Barr issued a mild reproof last week, suggesting that such tweets made it difficult for him to do his job, Trump replied, again publicly on Twitter, that he had every right to intervene in any criminal case, although he claimed not to have done so yet. It is this assertion of sweeping and unconstitutional executive authority that sparked the response among former Department of Justice officials, in a petition organized by a group called Protect Democracy, which previously campaigned to defend Special Counsel Mueller from Trump threats. The group includes officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations going back three decades. The petition declares that President Trump and Attorney General Barr have openly and repeatedly flouted the principle that political interference in the conduct of a criminal prosecution is anathema to the Departments core mission and to its sacred obligation to ensure equal justice under the law. The petition continues: [I]t is unheard of for the Departments top leaders to overrule line prosecutors, who are following established policies, in order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the President, as Attorney General Barr did in the Stone case. A person should not be given special treatment in a criminal prosecution because they are a close political ally of the President. Governments that use the enormous power of law enforcement to punish their enemies and reward their allies are not constitutional republics; they are autocracies. The language of the petition indicates that the former prosecutors and other officials are concerned both that Trumps actions are a threat to democratic rights, and that his intervention has discredited the federal justice system as a whole and weakened it in the eyes of the American people, thus undermining the authority of the capitalist state machine. Significantly, the petition in effect calls on Department of Justice employees to rebel against Trump and Barr by following the example of the four prosecutors who resigned. It advises that Justice Department employees should be prepared to report future abuses to the Inspector General, the Office of Professional Responsibility, and Congress; to refuse to carry out directives that are inconsistent with their oaths of office; to withdraw from cases that involve such directives or other misconduct; and, if necessary, to resign and report publiclyto the American people the reasons for their resignation. This appeal demonstrates that the same forces that instigated the impeachment inquiry against Trumpthrough the actions of an anonymous CIA whistleblower who filed a complaint against the president with the Intelligence Community Inspector Generalare still engaged in political warfare with the White House. The CPI(M) on Tuesday slammed the government over FIRs being registered against social media users in Jammu and Kashmir and said that while it was "touting normalcy" in the union territory, it was charging people who used the Internet which was their basic right. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday registered a case against various people for defying government orders on use of social media. The union territory's administration on January 14 had issued an order banning all social media sites to curb their misuse by miscreants for propagating false information and rumours. In a tweet, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "Government takes selected foreigners on guided tours of Kashmir, touting normalcy there. But Indian leaders are stopped and locals charged under terror laws for using social media, when Internet is a basic right of all Indian citizens. Shame on the govt and its thinking". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) February 12, 2020 04:44 pm News Staff -- For a Congress that failed to support U.S. primary care and protect family medicine patients in its December budget deal, there's no time like the present -- or like an upcoming National Resident Matching Program deadline -- to take up unfinished business. That was the stern message the Academy handed House and Senate leaders in a Feb. 10 letter lobbying for long-term funding for the crucial Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. "The AAFP calls on Congress to immediately pass legislation that would reauthorize and fund the Community Health Center, Teaching Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs," said the letter, which was signed by Board Chair John Cullen, M.D., of Valdez, Alaska. The correspondence ushered in a new AAFP Speakout campaign, through which Academy members can add their voices to stress the urgency of the Academy's message. The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "We urge you to prioritize passage of the health extender policies and not wait until May to take action," the letter added, referring to the May 22 funding deadline that Congress set in December during negotiation toward a $1.4 trillion spending package. In a separate letter to the same legislators, dated Feb. 11, 49 of the Academy's state chapters joined the call for immediate reauthorization of full THCGME funding. Both letters repeated the Academy's 2019 appeal for passage of the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act (H.R. 2815 and S. 1191. ) "Your positive action in the next few weeks will create stability in these important programs and avoid any further disruptions caused by lingering uncertainties associated with future program funding," the Academy's latest letter said. Among the disruptions already looming: the Feb. 26 deadline for medical school resident applicants to submit their rank order lists to the National Resident Matching Program Main Residency Match. Future physicians making a pivotal career decision must now weigh the historic success of the THCGME program against the possibility that centers challenged by short-term funding patches could close. The benefits of the program are not in doubt. As the Academy told Congress in a Sept. 12 letter, it "has successfully trained over 1,000 primary care physicians and dentists who, in return, have established practices and provided high-quality care to millions of Americans." "Failure to act in a timely manner only further impacts these programs, which results in decreased access to primary care for millions of people," the Academy said in its Feb. 10 letter. "We look forward to working with you and your colleagues to ensure a long-term solution is acted upon well before the May deadline." - Through his lawyer John Khaminwa, Miguna Miguna filed an application seeking to stop the two airlines from operating in Kenya - He argued the application was informed by the fact that the airlines facilitated his illegal, arbitrary and forced exclusion from entering Kenya - He accused the airlines of allowing themselves to be used as agents of impunity for the Kenyan government - The case is set to come for hearings and directions on Monday, February 17 Lawyer Miguna Miguna has launched a vicious legal battle against Air France and Germany's Lufthansa over cancellation of his flights to Kenya. In his court documents, the exiled lawyer who lives in Canada wants the landing rights of aircraft owned or operated in Kenya by Lufthansa Group and Air France suspended. READ ALSO: Naughty DJ Mo tickles fans after he was spotted thirsting over wife's huge backside Lawyer Miguna Miguna when he was barred from boarding plane to Kenya. Photo: Miguna Miguna Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Pressure mounts on DP William Ruto to resign over links to scandals Through his lawyer John Khaminwa, the vocal revolutionist said the prayer was informed by the fact that the airlines facilitated his illegal, arbitrary and forced exclusion from entering Kenya despite clear court orders. The case is set to come for hearings and directions on Monday, February 17, at a court in Milimani. Khaminwa applied for restraining orders seeking to stop any airborne vessel or aircraft from the two airlines from landing except for the purpose of facilitating Miguna's transportation into the country. Miguna Miguna's lawyer John Khaminwa during a past court session. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Cyrus Omondi: Body of Kahawa Wendani MCA arrives from India The orders are to be implemented by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's Director-General Gilbert Kibe and Kenya Airports Authority acting managing director Alex Gitari. "The airlines have willingly, and with great alacrity and glee, allowed [themselves] to be recruited as agents of impunity and oppression by the Attorney-General and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs to contravene the Kenya Constitution, Kenya law, the laws of the European Union and international laws including the international aviation law and the human rights law," he said. The 58-year-old revolutionist's highly anticipated return on January 7 came with hitches after the government issued a red alert against his travel forcing Lufthansa Air to cancel his flight. READ ALSO: TUKO.co.ke named best digital news platform during 3rd Digital Tech Excellence Awards He had boarded the plane from Canada to Berlin Germany and was expected to board another plane at Frankfurt Airport to Nairobi. However, he was informed an international red alert had been issued preventing him from flying to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) or any other African country. The former Nairobi gubernatorial candidate who rose to fame through his hard tackles in debates later boarded an Air France plane to Kenya but was also ejected shortly before takeoff. The self-styled general of the defunct National Resistance Movement (NRM) returned to Canada after spending some days in Germany where he was stuck. Self-styled politician Miguna Miguna was deported to Canada in 2018 after the mock swearing in of Raila Odinga. Photo: Miguna Miguna Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Unemployed nurse turns to selling oranges on streets after looking for job in vain Miguna had planned to return into the country after he was deported unceremoniously by the Kenyan government following the mock swearing in of his foe and Opposition leader Raila Odinga in which he played a key role. After several legal battles, in December 2019, High Court Judge Chacha Mwita ruled that his deportation to Canada was illegal and that his rights and his fundamental freedoms were grossly violated. Mwita compelled the government to immediately return Miguna's Kenyan passport and any other identification documents taken from him. The government was also ordered to facilitate his return into the country given it was the same government that had deported him illegally. However, the government refused to honour the court orders and instead issued a red alert against the man with the same name twice. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly Source: TUKO.co.ke Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. is denying a Pentagon cloud-computing contract valued at as much as $10 billion was unfairly tailored for the e-commerce giant. In a court filing made public Monday, Amazon countered rival Oracle Corp.s claims that bidding for the lucrative cloud deal was tainted by relationships between its employees and former Pentagon officials. Oracle is appealing a July ruling from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that dismissed its legal challenge of the cloud contract based on claims that the bidding violated procurement law and was marred by conflicts of interest. Amazon Web Services, the companys cloud unit, has filed a separate lawsuit challenging its loss of the contract known as Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, which was awarded to Microsoft Corp. in October. Amazon claims it lost the bid after interference from the White House and is seeking to interview President Donald Trump in that case. Oracles lawsuit claims that Amazon offered two former Pentagon employees jobs at the company while they were working on the contract. In one case, Deap Ubhi, who had worked at Amazon before joining the government, allegedly helped craft the JEDI procurement for weeks after accepting a job offer in October 2017 from AWS, according to the lawsuit. Amazon argued that Oracles lawsuit is based on suspicion and innuendo and that neither employee that Amazon hired disclosed any competitively useful information to the company. Government lawyers have also argued in court that the employees input on the JEDI procurement was minimal. Representatives for the Pentagon and Oracle didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in July that the Pentagons contracting officer properly determined the relationships had no adverse impact on the integrity of the acquisition process and that Oracle didnt have standing to challenge the contract. The Pentagon eliminated Oracle and International Business Machines Corp. from the competition in April 2019. Story continues Last week a federal judge temporarily blocked Microsoft from working on the Pentagon cloud project while Amazons lawsuit is litigated. The Pentagons JEDI project is designed to consolidate the departments cloud computing infrastructure and modernize its technology systems. The contract is worth as much as $10 billion over a decade. To contact the reporter on this story: Naomi Nix in Washington at nnix1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A Napa vintner with roots in the Chinese city of Wuhan has donated 12,000 medical masks to one of the citys hospitals. Acumen Napa Valley founder Eric Yuan, for which Wuhan is home base, this week orchestrated the donation, according to Diana Schweiger, Acumens sales and marketing director. Wuhan, located in Chinas Hubei Province, is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. As of Feb. 12, the virus is said to have infected more than 45,000 people and killed more than 1,110 individuals worldwide. As China enforces a transportation lockdown on impacted regions, including Wuhan, movement in and out of cities has slowed and the availability of basic medical supplies, like the masks donated by Acumen, has dipped, Schweiger said. Shes been coordinating with Yuan, currently in Wuhan, where he lives with his wife and children, to have the masks delivered directly to hospitals in the city. Nobody has them, Schweiger said in an interview of the 12,000 donated N95 Respirator Masks, which are recommended for health workers in proximity to the virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acumen worked with SF Express, Chinas largest parcel delivery company, to get the masks to Wuhan, she said. In the wake of the outbreak, airlines operating out of Bay Area airports have cancelled scheduled flights to China, forcing Acumen to fly their shipment out of Los Angeles, according to Schweiger. The winery, which owns two vineyards on Atlas Peak, worked with one of their wine carriers to ship the two large palates containing the masks to Los Angeles International Airport, where they were shipped to China on Feb. 8. Because of (Erics) deep roots in Wuhan, we are in a unique position to quickly provide these masks to some of the people who need them the most urgently, Schweiger said in a press release. Yuan is a developer in the country and runs a business with more than 500 employees there, she said in an interview. Acumen will also donate 50% of its proceeds from online sales as well as sales from its downtown tasting room, the winery announced in a press release. Schweiger noted that the money will be used to purchase more supplies in the United States so they can ultimately be shipped to Wuhan. Very limited stock of medical goods is available in the city, Yuan told Schweiger. Theres nothing to buy, Schweiger said, relaying word from Yuan. Well buy things here and then ship it to the Red Cross there. We have the resources to get more over there, now that weve figured out the system. The masks will be delivered to the Wuhan Tongji Hospital, the press release said. (Its about) saving lives, Schweiger added, of the winerys donation. (The situation) is just heart-wrenching. You can reach Sarah Klearman at (707) 256-2213 or sklearman@napanews.com. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 107 other civic bodies of West Bengal are likely to be held in mid April, official sources said. The state government is keen on holding the elections between April 12-26, they said. "The suggested dates for KMC elections is April 12 whereas the date for elections to 107 other municipalities across the state is April 26. Nothing has been finalised but discussions are on over completing the election process by April," a senior official said. Suggestions have been made that elections for Bidhanagar and Durgapur municipal corporations be held after October, he said. These elections are being tipped as "mini assembly polls" ahead of the crucial 2021 assembly polls in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress is in power in most of the 108 civic bodies where elections are due. The BJP has demanded deployment of central forces for free and fair municipal elections. "The state police personnel has turned into cadres of TMC. We want deployment of central forces for free and fair elections," state BJP vice president Jaiparkash Majumdar said. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and senior Trinamool leader Tapas Roy said his party would make a clean sweep in the polls as it has done a lot of development work. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting with chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of party-run municipal bodies on February 20 to finalise TMC's strategy for the civic polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 18, 2020] U of M Twin Cities, Helmsley Charitable Trust and health care system partners aim to increase cardiac arrest survival rates MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and health care systems across the Twin Cities, announce the creation of the Minnesota Mobile Resuscitation Consortium (MMRC) and its mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) vehicles. This is a collaborative initiative to treat cardiac arrest as quickly as possible in Minnesota. The MMRC, made possible by an $18.6 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, aims to save the lives of cardiac arrest patients in scenarios which traditional resuscitation efforts have failed. Every 10-minute delay in treatment for these patients increases the chances of mortality by 15-to-25%. "This program carries a message of hope. It is a remarkable effort that brings the University's incredible resources closer to people's homes, giving them a better chance at recovery, and, at the same time, training the next generation of physicians," said Jakub Tolar, dean of the Medical School and vice president for clinical affairs. In December, specially trained teams began serving people across the Twin Cities by using SUVs equipped with the critical life-support equipment. The SUVs meet the patient at participating emergency departments to be placed on ECMO. This type of heart-lung machine eliminates the need for ongoing CPR and allows physicians to treat the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest. Since the program's launch, 20 cardiac arrest patients have been served by the MMRC SUV response teams across the Twin Cities which has exceeded initial expectations. The MMRC health care system partners include M Health Fairview, Regions Hospital (HealthPartners), and North Memorial Health Care System, with contractual partnership for physician services with Hennepin Healthcare and Lifelink III for clinicians. MMRC is the first program of its kind in the U.S. to serve multiple health care systems. "The consortium of hospital systems and experts is built to get patients where they need to be to deliver the lfesaving therapies and expertise as quickly as possible," said Jason Bartos, an assistant professor in the Medical School. "It's unified, organized and it's a community resource we can use to provide the best possible outcomes for our patients." The MMRC is an extension of the University's ECMO resuscitation program that started in 2015 under the leadership of Demetri Yannopoulos, director of the Center of Resuscitation Medicine and a professor in the Medical School. The U of M has more ECMO experience than any other organization in the U.S., having treated more than 300 cardiac arrest ECMO cases since its inception, with a 40% survival rate comparatively higher than the average survival rate of less than 10% at other locations that treat similar patient populations. "Helmsley chose to fund this revolutionary work to bring the success Dr. Yannopoulos has shown beyond the walls of the medical center," said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "His work has been a game-changer and this program has the potential to change the way we treat cardiac arrest worldwide." "Our goal is to expand the University's ECMO resuscitation program and extend the bundle of care to more Minnesotans by providing quicker access to impactful treatment," said Yannopoulos. "This effort is not possible without cooperation from people across the Twin Cities, including all the EMS systems. It is not going to end here. We really need to take the next step to work at a state level to bring these resources to people in the more rural community." The Helmsley Charitable Trust's Rural Healthcare Program awarded the University an $18.6 million grant to fund the majority of the costs for the first three years. In addition to the Helmsley grant, more than $1.2 million in equipment and training funds have been contributed from industry and donors to support this broad community effort to reshape the management of cardiac arrest. Other recognized donors are Zoll Medical, Stryker Emergency Care, Getinge Incorporated and General Electric. The next phase of the MMRC's program will include larger mobile ECMO trucks equipped with medical equipment and virtual reality technology to help experts attend to patients remotely. This will allow experts to administer treatment on-site in the vehicle, shortening the time to treatment and broadening the area served by the program. About the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs The Office of Academic Clinical Affairs is reimagining health by driving innovation and discovery through collaborations across the University of Minnesota, advancing interprofessional care and training, and being a strong partner to the state, industry and community. About the Helmsley Charitable Trust The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $2.6 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley's Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $418 million to organizations and initiatives in the upper Midwest states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, and Montana. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org. Media note: Please find multimedia assets here. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/u-of-m-twin-cities-helmsley-charitable-trust-and-health-care-system-partners-aim-to-increase-cardiac-arrest-survival-rates-301005763.html SOURCE Helmsley Charitable Trust [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MOBI tirelessly brought together major US/Japanese car OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, united in a common goal, to solve seemingly intractable problems from traffic congestion to securely sharing vehicle telematics, using the power of blockchain technology in less than 2 years of existence! Attendees of The Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative [MOBI] on May 19th-20, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA will have access to two days of specialized speaker sessions from key industry players in the mobility and blockchain sector, emerging technology demonstrations, and networking opportunities. The events topics will focus on The New Economy of Movement, enabled by the convergence of connected vehicles, smart cities, decentralized finance, and other rapidly emerging technologies. Together, these technologies give cities the ability to manage and maintain infrastructure on distributed ledgers, charge for road use, congestion, carbon emissions, and solve many of the most intractable urban mobility challenges. In this ecosystem vehicles have a digital twin, are able to communicate with other vehicles, and can pay for infrastructure as they move. Users are rewarded for greener transportation methods through their vehicle wallets. One day people are going to wake up and realize that there are better ways to get around, ways that are simpler, cheaper, more sustainable, appealing, and more fun than the ones they chose yesterday, said Tram Vo, MOBI Founder and COO. If existing mobility companies dont create the standards, payments, and platform for this new mobility, others will quickly fill the void, and todays mobility leaders will have permanently forfeited their natural competitive advantage. MoCo Los Angeles 2019 laid the groundwork for assessing the value potential of blockchain and the role of a cross-industry and public participation to develop standards for future mobility ecosystems. The 2019 speaker roster was stacked with the worlds largest OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, technology companies, consulting firms, academic institutions, and innovative thinkers. MOBIs partner OEMs - BMW, Daimler, Denso, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and others discussed the importance of testing use cases for a blockchain-based Vehicle Identity, a Connected Data Marketplace, and Electric Vehicle Grid Integration. Daimler, ZF, and Filament shared insight on their research on car wallets. And MOBI offered a first-look into the Citopia application for smart-city infrastructure in the exhibition hall. Other specialized industry sessions were led by speakers from the Tapscott Group, Tendermint Labs, SilaMoney, Amazon Web, the City of Los Angeles, Toyota AI Ventures; and many more. MoCo Los Angeles 2020 will provide an equally diverse set of innovative minds. MOBI tirelessly brought together major US/Japanese car OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, united in a common goal, to solve seemingly intractable problems from traffic congestion to securely sharing vehicle telematics, using the power of blockchain technology and they did all this in less than 2 years of existence! Sumita Jonak, Blockchain and Innovation Researcher, University of Texas/National Security Agency MoCo Los Angeles 2020 will also offer exclusive looks into MOBIs recently launched working groups. The Supply Chain working group, chaired by OEMs, BMW and Ford, is focused on researching the potential of blockchain technology across automotive supply chains. The Finance, Securitization, and Smart Contracts working group, chaired by the global law firm, Orrick Herrington LLC and RouteOne, was created to assess the potential value proposition of blockchain, work on standards, and potentially, help coordinate logistics necessary to carry out a pilot program for use cases in finance and securitization. MoCo Los Angeles 2020 aims to foster collaboration between the public and private sector to leverage emerging technology - AI, IoT, and blockchain - for the future of mobility. As OEMs, private businesses, and cities are pushing to innovate, MoCo Los Angeles 2020 provides an environment in which forward-thinking companies can exhibit their research and technology, network with other industry players, share their vision, and spark important dialogue. MoCo Los Angeles 2020 is currently open for sponsorship. For press, exhibition, and sponsorship inquiries, please email communication@dlt.mobi. About MOBI MOBI is a nonprofit foundation formed to accelerate the adoption and to promote standards in blockchain, distributed technologies for the benefit of the mobility industry, consumers, and communities. MOBI and its partners are creating simple, standard and digital ways of identifying cars, people, and trips, of paying for mobility services, and securely exchanging and monetizing data in ways that preserve property rights and privacy. MOBI is an open, inclusive body that acts as a partner to entities in the emerging ecosystem of pay for use, on demand, connected, and increasingly autonomous mobility services. MOBI itself is technology and ledger agnostic. For additional information about joining MOBI, please reach out to Griffin Haskins, griffin@dlt.mobi or visit http://www.dlt.mobi. Over the weekend, a pair of big stories gripped neighboring European countries. On Friday, in France, Paris mayoral candidate Benjamin Griveauxthe former top spokesperson for the government of Emmanuel Macrondropped out of the race, after a sexual video he sent to a woman who isnt his wife circulated online. Then, on Saturday, in the UK, Caroline Flacka TV personality who hosted the reality-dating show Love Island and won the British version of Dancing With the Stars, in 2014was found dead at her London home. A lawyer for Flacks family said she had killed herself. She was 40. Late last year, Flack ceased hosting Love Island after she was charged with assaulting her boyfriend; in the months since then, shed faced a barrage of negative coverage from Britains notoriously voracious tabloids. We shouldnt presume to know the intimate details of Griveauxs marriage. And, as is always the case when covering suicide, we should be careful not to speculate about Flacks state of mind. Still, in their respective countries, both stories sparked urgent debates about privacy, its limits, the medias role in policing them, and whether social media has ended the concept altogether. ICYMI: Governments of the world just ramped up spying on reporters The sexual video of Griveaux was first posted by Pyotr Pavlensky, a Russian political performance artist, on a website called Pornopolitique. In past works, Pavlensky sewed his lips shut in solidarity with Pussy Riot, the dissident punk group; nailed his scrotum to Red Square, in Moscow, as a metaphor for the apathy, political indifference and fatalism of modern Russian society; and, after seeking asylum in France, set fire to its national bank. His partner, Alexandra de Taddeo, is believed to have been the initial recipient of the Griveaux video; today, both Pavlensky and de Taddeo were set to face a judge on charges that they violated Frances strict privacy laws, including one precluding the nonconsensual diffusion of sexual images. (According to Le Parisien, de Taddeo has said that she does not know how the video made it to the internet. Pavlensky also faces charges that he pulled a knife during a New Years party.) France, its safe to say, is no stranger to political sex scandals. During a debate on France 24 about the Griveaux affair and the right to a private life, however, Pierre-Jerome Henin, a PR professional who has worked as a journalist, noted that French politicians dont tend to resign over consensual private conduct. After Griveaux did just that, figures from across the countrys political spectrumfrom the far left to the far right, and including Anne Hidalgo, the moderate leftist who Griveaux was trying to displace as mayor of Pariscriticized the breach of his privacy. Several decried what they call the Americanization of French public life, and some journalists made a similar point. In a column, Philippe Val, the former director of the public broadcaster France Inter and the controversial satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, called the Griveaux video an antidemocratic bomb. The opacity of private life, Val wrote, is an essential part of the democratic conditiona necessary corollary for the transparency we demand in state affairs. As CNNs Tara John, Martin Goillandeau, and Pierre Bairin put it, The French do not care about the extramarital affairs of their politicians; but they do care about being told that they should. Americanization, in this context, could just as easily read Britishization. When it comes to the private lives of public figures, the Brits have always been more prurient than the French, with the countrys vibrant tabloid industry in the vanguard. Flacks career has been a testament to that dynamic; as CNNs Rob Picheta notes, it was boosted, at least in part, by a media ecosystem that thrives on judgment and is quick to identify winners and losers. Flack became very familiar with both sides of that equationmost recently, the darker one. As recently as Friday, The Sun published a mocking Valentines-themed story referencing her alleged assault of her boyfriend; on Saturday, as word of her death swelled, the Valentines story was removed. On her radio show Sunday, Laura Whitmore, who knew Flack and succeeded her as host of Love Island, called out Flacks recent vilification by the press. She lived every mistake publicly, Whitmore said. To the press, the newspaperswho create clickbait; who demonize and tear down successweve had enough. Online, a petition calling on the British government to end tabloid harassment of celebrities quickly accumulated hundreds of thousands of signaturesenough for it to be considered for debate in Parliament. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Its unlikely any legislative action will be taken, though. And as The Guardians Jim Waterson writes, For all the publics anger at celebrity news outlets whom many are blaming for hounding a woman to her death, privately people are flocking to tabloid sites to read every possible detail about her. The website of the Daily Mail, for example, has published tens of stories on Flack since her death, including video of her former fiance looking downcast, and interior photos of the apartment where Flack killed herself, which, we were told, offers character living space in a superb location. Too often, it seems, were as happy for the beasts inside us to be fed as news organizations are to feed them. One-size-fits-all approaches to privacy arent helpful; they neglect not only the nuances of individual cases, but legitimate legal and cultural differences in different parts of the world. Most American journalists probably wouldnt hesitate to call Griveauxs sex video and Flacks alleged assault newsworthyboth stories, after all, involve powerful people in their respective public spheres. But prurience, however its motivated, can have a personal cost, and news organizations the world over should keep that front of mind, whatever theyre dealing with. In Flacks case, lines clearly have been crossed. In the wake of her death, Tim Jonze, a culture editor at The Guardian, asked readers to remember some of the last, haunting words she ever posted on social media: In a world where we can be anything, be kind. Such advice isnt often given to journalists; if anything, were told we need to be the opposite. But scrutiny and kindness can coexist. Flacks deathin all its tragic complexitymakes it urgent that we think on how. Below, more media news from the UK and France: Other notable stories: ICYMI: McClatchy, Tribune, Buffett, and the need to think outside the box Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. EDWARDSVILLE After almost 30 years, the Nickel Plate Depot is scheduled to move again. The train station, which used to be on the rail line with the same name, is scheduled to move to the south side of the Lewis and Clark Community College Campus (L&C), between the main drive and Madison County Trails Nickel Plate Trail. According to Matt Taul, the citys street superintendent, the city has funds set aside for engineering, stabilizing, moving and building a new foundation for the depot. Alderman SJ Morrison said Taul also said the move is perhaps a month away. The response from the community, businesses and individuals has really been encouraging, Morrison said. The desire to see the historical structure preserved, it adds to the charm and character of the area and reinforces the citys history. Morrison is part of the Board of Conductors for the group and said the station has been approved to go on 100-foot by 75-foot section just southwest of the Leclaire Room. The 7,500-square-foot site will be striking to the complex and contrast with the colleges brick buildings. It was originally located at 508 S. Fillmore St., on the northwest side of what is now the Nickel Plate Trail. Last Tuesday, 194 students at St. Marys School in Edwardsville collected change for the station and presented Morrison with a check for $1,355. I want to thank the students and families of St. Marys School for this significant contribution, he said. Special thanks to Debbie Caulk for championing the cause and to all of the young people who brought in their coins during Catholic Schools Week. These kids will be able to tell their children and grandchildren that they played a part in helping to bring this station back to life. In addition, the Edwardsville Rotary Club will soon present his group with a check for $12,500. The fundraising goal for the station is $100,000; to date, with end-of-year donations and the more recent contributions noted previously, the group has about $55,000. Once again, the Rotary Club of Edwardsville is coming alongside another great community project and playing a vital role in its success, Morisson said. Im proud to be a part of such a generous organization. As Morrison noted, railroads were fundamental to Edwardsville, for passengers and freight. Now that the rails have become trails, moving the former depot to its approved location is a perfect fit. He said the new location will be ideal for the station because it will be more visible from Troy Road/Buchanan Street and the Nickel Plate Trail, it will have great parking access at L&C and there will be an adjacent MCT bus turnaround. Im grateful to the Edwardsville community for the tremendous support weve received for the Nickel Plate Station and am humbled by their generosity. After the station has been moved and its exterior updated, the next steps will involve adding utilities and an air handling system, building an ADA-accessible restroom and restoring the facility inside and out. The goal is to partner with the Edwardsville Childrens Museum to operate the facility as a satellite location. The organization is looking to expand and age up through displays, activities and exhibits for older kids in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In August 1883, the Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad built, at that time, an unusually large train station overlooking the fields and coal mines south of Downtown Edwardsville. During its more than 80 years of service, this unique station welcomed thousands of visitors and newcomers to Edwardsville, witnessed historic events, sent local troops off to war and played host to commuters, travelers and merchants. Its fascinating history and remarkable stability prompted the Goshen Preservation Alliance (GPA) to save the station from the wrecking ball in 1989 and move it to a safe location in 1991. In 2000, the GPA cleaned, painted, repaired and installed a new chimney, flashing and roof, adding decades to its survival. At that time, it was also opened to the public for tours. Last March, the city of Edwardsville acquired the station and initiated a partnership with the Edwardsville Childrens Museum to breathe new life into this local treasure. Morisson encourages individuals who are interested in learning more about the station or the project to visit its website, www.NickelPlateStation.org. Interested contributors should make their checks payable to Edwardsville Community Foundation and write Nickel Plate Station in the subject/memo line. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735 NASHVILLE - Tennessee inmate Nicholas Sutton was placed on a death watch early Tuesday ahead of his scheduled execution later this week for the decades-old killing of a fellow inmate. Meanwhile, Suttons attorneys made two last ditch appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. One asks the justices to put the execution on hold to consider the fairness of Suttons sentencing. The second asks them to stay the execution while they consider whether the fact that Sutton was handcuffed and shackled at his trial unfairly prejudiced the jury against him. Inmates on death watch are kept under 24-hour surveillance in a cell beside the execution chamber, the Tennessee Department of Correction said. Sutton is scheduled to be put to death Thursday evening in the electric chair. Sutton, 58, was sentenced to die in 1986 for killing Carl Estep in a conflict over a drug deal while both were incarcerated in an East Tennessee prison. Sutton already was serving time for three murders he committed when he was just 18, including that of his grandmother. His attorneys have asked Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to commute his death sentence, arguing that Sutton dramatically reformed himself in prison. Supporters speaking out for him in his clemency petition include seven current or former prison workers and the relatives of some of his victims, including Esteps daughter. Lee has not yet said whether he will act on the clemency petition. In addition, Suttons attorneys on Tuesday filed two petitions with the U.S. Supreme Court. The first asks the justices to consider whether the statute that allowed prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Sutton based on previous convictions was unconstitutionally vague. The second claims that heavy security measures at Suttons trial made him look dangerous to jurors, unfairly prejudicing them against him. The attorneys have asked the court to stay Suttons execution pending a review of the claims. Sutton has chosen the electric chair, an option in Tennessee for prisoners whose crimes were committed before 1999. If the execution moves forward as planned, Sutton would be the fifth person to die in the states electric chair in a 16-month span. C oronavirus has hit the UK with the Department of Health confirming that thousands of people have been infected. Public Health England said anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate for seven days. If someone in a household develops symptoms, the rest of the inhabitants need to self-isolate for 14 days. The first British person to die of Covid-19 was confirmed to be on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan on February 29. Here's everything you need to know about the virus - including symptoms and NHS guidance. Sneezes should be caught in a tissue / PA What is coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). The strain that has recently emerged is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The respiratory disease has been named Covid-19 by WHO. It is thought to be transmitted in droplets from coughs and sneezes and can survive for a limited time on surfaces. What are the symptoms of coronavirus? According to the NHS, the main symptoms of coronavirus are having a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath. New research suggests loss of smell and taste may also be symptoms of the disease. People with the virus will typically show flu-like symptoms, including a fever and a cough, that can progress to severe pneumonia. This can then cause breathing difficulties. The World Health Organisation has also stated that some patients may also experience aches and pains, as well as nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Who is most at risk? Those with weakened immune systems, the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease are more at risk. What measures should you take to protect yourself? Simple steps go a long way to helping people avoid catching and spreading germs, such as coronavirus. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Comply with lockdown rules of staying at home and only leaving the house for infrequent shopping trips and for exercise Catch sneezes and coughs with a tissue, then bin it immediately, making sure you wash your hands afterwards or use antibacterial gel Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands Avoid those who are unwell Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /44 Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures AP Buckingham Palace AP Piccadilly Line tube AP Big Ben AP Millennium bridge AP Wembley Stadium AP St Pancras International train station AP Downing Street AP Victoria Station AP Regent Street AP The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bath PA Bath PA London's Waterloo station PA London Bridge PA London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA London's Buckingham Palace PA London's Tower Bridge PA London's Leicester Square PA London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA London's Criterion Theatre PA London's Palace Theatre PA London's Phoenix Theatre PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA Bournemouth beach PA Bath PA Bath PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bournemouth beach PA Hand washing advice: Public Health England launched an advertising campaign to encourage Brits to wash their hands more effectively. The Government said this will help slow the spread of the virus. The nation should wash their hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing and before eating or touching food. You should wash your hands for 20 seconds each time, using soap and water or hand sanitiser. Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do." Is there treatment available? As the infection is relatively new, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus at this time. Medics try to relieve symptoms and keep the infected alive. The UK has become the largest contributor in the international effort to find a coronavirus vaccine and Boris Johnson announced a 210 million donation during a virtual summit with G20 leaders at the end of March. The Prime Minister said the money will help the whole word fight the Covid-19 strain and urged other countries to step up and help defeat the virus. During a daily press briefing, Cabinet member Michael Gove said thousands of ventilators will be distributed to hospitals across the nation. How to self-isolate and NHS guidance on calling 111 The latest NHS guidelines state that you should not go to your local GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you are displaying signs of coronavirus. If you have symptoms like a fever or a continuous cough, you are advised to stay at home for 7 days. You should only call 111 if you feel you cannot cope with the symptoms, you do not get better after 7 days, or your symptoms worse. If you are staying at home you are advised to do the following: Try to keep at least 2 metres from other people, particularly older people or those with long-term health conditions Ask friends and family and delivery services to deliver things like food shopping and medicines but avoid contact with them Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds Try to sleep alone if possible Stay away from older people and those with long-term health conditions Drink plenty of water and take painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to help with your symptom Technavio has been monitoring the industrial high voltage motors market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.45 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005373/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Industrial High Voltage Motors Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Emergence of customized industrial high voltage motors has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, issues associated with the failure of industrial high voltage motors might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Industrial High Voltage Motors Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Industrial High Voltage Motors Market is segmented as below: End-user Oil and Gas Industry Chemicals and Petrochemicals Industry Utilities Sector Water and Wastewater Treatment Industry Others Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR32176 Industrial High Voltage Motors Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our industrial high voltage motors market report covers the following areas: Industrial High Voltage Motors Market size Industrial High Voltage Motors Market trends Industrial High Voltage Motors Market industry analysis This study identifies use of smart sensors with industrial high voltage motors as one of the prime reasons driving the industrial high voltage motors market growth during the next few years. Industrial High Voltage Motors Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the industrial high voltage motors market, including some of the vendors such as ABB Ltd., General Electric Co., Hitachi Ltd., Hyosung Corp., Meidensha Corp., Regal Beloit Corp., Siemens AG, TECO Electric Machinery Co. Ltd., Toshiba Corp. and WEG SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the industrial high voltage motors market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platforms Industrial High Voltage Motors Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist industrial high voltage motors market growth during the next five years Estimation of the industrial high voltage motors market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the industrial high voltage motors market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of industrial high voltage motors market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005373/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent a memo to all Apple employees, addressing the impact of the Coronavirus spread, including sharing concern for all Apple employees, customers, partners and suppliers in China. This follows a note to investors which suggested that Apple will not be able to meet the revenue estimates for Q2 2020. Apple had in the last earnings call estimated between $63 billion to $67 billion in revenue in the quarter, owing to strong iPhone and wearable sales and the consistent growth that Services continue to register. However, with close to no production happening in China, the estimates will have to be realigned, according to the memo published by Bloomberg. According to last count, the death toll from the Coronavirus has touched 1,873 in mainland China with as many as 72,436 officially confirmed cases, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health. Globally, there are 73,334 cases confirmed with Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong worst hit after China. Also Read | Coronavirus Scare Has People Searching For Answers; Google Lists The Common Questions Also Read | This Scary Map Shows How Coronavirus May Be Spreading Globally Through Wuhan Travellers In the memo to employees, Tim Cook says the priority remains the health and safety of the employees, partners and everyone linked with the companys supply chain. He believes this disruption is temporary and Apple remains strong fundamentally. Here is the full memo written by Tim Cook, as obtained by Bloomberg. Team, The response to COVID-19 has touched the lives of so many in the Apple family, and I want to thank everyone for their dedication, empathy, understanding, and care. Today, we more than doubled our donation to support the historic and global health response. Our paramount concern is with the people who make up Apples community of employees, partners, customers, and suppliers in China. I also want to recognize the many people across our teams who have been working around the clock to manage Apples global COVID-19 response with diligence and thoughtfulness. Corporate offices and contact centers have reopened across China, and our stores are starting to reopen, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated. This afternoon, I shared this update with our community of shareholders and investors to note that we do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter. Outside of China, customer demand across our product and service categories has been strong to date and in line with our expectations. Apple is fundamentally strong, and this disruption to our business is only temporary. Our first priority now and always is the health and safety of our employees, supply chain partners, customers, and the communities in which we operate. Our profound gratitude is with those on the front lines of confronting this public health emergency. Tim In the era of globalization, human beings are living in a global village where they share the same welfare and responsibilities. The threat posed by any infectious disease is against the entire human race, regardless of nationality, region, ethnicity or group. This is a new challenge faced by the human beings. History cannot be rewound. We should move forward bravely and fight the epidemic. Only by achieving the final victory over the battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia, can the world, which is shared by all human beings, enjoy a bright future. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that scientific research must be stepped up to defeat the epidemic. We need your collective knowledge, insight and experience to answer the questions we dont have answers to, said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) when addressing a research and innovation forum on the novel coronavirus. His remarks echo the voice from the international community which is coordinating global research power, discovering the focus of research, and developing therapeutic schemes and vaccines. Pulling wisdom to draw the WHO R&D Blueprint, experts from across the world are offering sample tests for countries and regions incapable of such technology, and sharing the latest achievements on epidemiology. The entire science world is conducting cooperation on the most urgent issue, which is closely related to the safety and lives of the people from each country. Cooperation and solidarity are the sharpest weapon against the epidemic, and concerted efforts on scientific research will provide the strongest support. Cooperation is especially important when many countries around the world are seeing the danger posed by the novel coronavirus. The WHO research and innovation forum on the novel coronavirus held recently was attended by over 400 deputies, signaling a positive and vital signal to the world when the novel coronavirus pneumonia has spread to over 20 countries and regions. To combat the epidemic calls for coordinated actions of the science world. To cut the spread of the novel coronavirus with the sword of science is a mission that allows no hesitation. China, battling on the frontline, has rapidly integrated scientific power and increased efforts on R&D to enhance development of targeted drugs. It has always followed the principle of opening cooperation and actively conducted international collaboration, making unique contribution to the prevention and control of the epidemic. Chinas endeavors aim at the current difficulty, and also an effective mechanism of global synergy for scientific research, epidemic control and clinic treatment. It is recognized by the international society that China has demonstrated its sense of responsibility through its active actions and openness in scientific research as a science power of major influence. Building of a people-oriented community with a shared future for mankind is a major undertaking of the time. In the epidemic, China maintains close cooperation with the world and the world chooses to stand with China. It is for the wellbeing of the human race. China identified the pathogens in record time, shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus with the world, and helped other countries create diagnosis kits to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. By maintaining close cooperation with the German health department, carriers of the novel coronavirus were quickly discovered and quarantined in Germany. Such open, transparent and responsible practice received high appraise from the WHO. Chinese scientists have gained rich first-hand experiences, which made them important participants and contributors to the WHO R&D Blueprint. So its that kind of solidarity we need, solidarity, solidarity, solidarity, said Tedros. The awareness of the shared destiny and the spirit of cooperation urged by the WHO are indispensable for human beings to cope with public health challenges. The battles against viruses in human history proved that only through scientific cooperation and sharing the results with the world can people be protected. It will not be forgotten that Chinas wide practice of inoculation against smallpox in the 16th century had benefited many countries on the Eurasian continent. It will not be forgotten that China launched its largest-ever overseas medical aid mission when Ebola virus broke out in West Africa in 2014. China was the first to send emergency materials by charter planes and the first to send medical teams to the epidemic zones. It has donated a total of more than $120 million and sent over 1,200 medics to the epidemic zones and 13 surrounding countries. China tested virus samples, sent mobile biosafety labs, aided fixed biosafety labs, and trained local medical and public health personnel. Chinas practices, addressing both the urgent demand and long-term issues, were hailed by African countries and the international society. Diseases are public enemy of all the people across the world. Its a major test of the wisdom and capability of the international society in preventing and controlling the current epidemic. Tedros also repeatedly called on the world to not politicalize science. When racing against the epidemic, the world must join hands and find a solution to eliminate the virus as soon as possible. China is accelerating its actions to build a strong power against the epidemic, and so are the global scientists that respond to the call of justice. By West Kentucky Star & Mercy Health Staff Feb. 18, 2020 | 11:02 AM | PADUCAH Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital will accept six college students to participate in the program that offers students a unique look into the medical field in order to inspire them to pursue a career in health care. Each selected participant will receive a $500 Lisa Lasher Future Physicians Scholarship upon completing the program. To apply, students must meet the following criteria: Be at least 18 years of age. Have a high school diploma or GED. Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program with a concentrated focus on pre-medicine. Preference will be given to students that have completed at least two years, however all applications will be accepted and reviewed. Maintain a 3.5 GPA will need a copy of current transcript from university. Must be available for orientation on June 9, 2020. Must be available June 15 - July 24, 2020. More than two absences during this time period will result in dismissal from the program. Have not previously participated in the program. Applicants must provide the following: Resume 200-word essay - Using Mercy Health Lourdes Hospitals core values, write an essay on how these values have been demonstrated through work and/or educational pursuits. Please refer to www.mercy.com/Paducah for core values. Two letters of reference one must be from a professor or TA. Interested applicants should send all documents to bngates@mercy.com. Deadline to apply is March 4 and applicants will be notified by March 18. This is the twelfth year Lourdes Hospital has provided the Future Physicians Program. For additional information concerning Mercy Health visit mercy.com. Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital is once again hosting its Future Physicians Program and applications are now available. On the Net: John Piper, Al Mohler address why God only answers certain prayers for healing Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Theologians John Piper and Al Mohler have weighed in on why God answers certain prayers for healing in this life, but not all, and the role faith plays in the outcome. On an episode of his DesiringGod podcast, Piper responded to a reader who asked if greater faith would have saved his father from dying of a brain tumor. [My] answer is that I dont know. I dont know, Piper said. What I do know is that I would go insane if I had to figure that out every time I preached that when I preach, Ive got to know what would have happened if Id done things differently. And when I preach, its not just whats at stake here on Earth; its whats at stake eternally. Eternal lives are at stake when I preach, not just my dads few years of life on the planet. I cannot bear the burden I cant bear it of having to answer the question, What if? What if? What if? So it is with our prayers for those we love, whether physical healing or spiritual salvation. Would more faith heal? Would more faith save? Maybe, but maybe not, he continued. There are several instances in Scripture where Jesus healed when there was no faith, Piper contended. He healed in response to little faith; He healed in response to great faith; He withheld healing for lack of faith, the pastor said. I think the way forward is to seek to grow in faith and to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, according to 2 Peter 3:18. Never, never, never be content with what you already possess in faith. Always want more of all that God has to give. But realize that faith is a gift, and you can never presume that God owes it to you. Piper further explained that God decides who lives and who dies, and He decides when, adding: Our main job is to trust His promise. And His promise is not to heal everyone we want healed. His promise is to do good to those who trust Him (Romans 8:28), and to conform us to Christ (Romans 8:29), and to give us the grace we need to persevere in love and holiness to the end (2 Corinthians 12:9). Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, also weighed in on the issue of healing on a recent episode of the Gospel Coalition podcast. The theologian suggests that it is always right to pray for healing, adding that the entire biblical worldview is that we will be ultimately healed in eternity. Its always right to pray, its the right thing for the Church to do, he said. Theres nothing wrong with praying that God will heal me ... the entire biblical worldview is that, by the power of the Gospel and the promise of Christ, we will be healed, we will be perfect. Mohler referred to the hymn O for a Thousand Tonguesto Sing by Charles Wesley, which says, And leap, ye lame, for joy, pointing to the truth that one day, every tear will be wiped away. Its one of those reminders of the fact that one day that will be so, he said. Until then, we have to back up for a moment and remember that God is not absent from our sickness and God is not absent from our suffering. Its not as if were living a secular life and we just need a supernatural God to intervene. If we actually believe in God, we believe He has been sovereign over all of this. Mohler also noted what Jesus says in John 9:3 about the blind man who is healed, that it was neither mother or father who sinned, but that the works of God may be shown. According to Mohler, Jesus was indicating that every moment of the blind mans life was meaningful because God had a perfect plan. I have been sick, I have been at the point of death, and the Lord has rescued me, he explained. At times I was unconscious and could not pray for myself and others prayed for me. That gives me a renewed sense that God has a purpose in that for me, which points to the earthly future. But I also have to know theologically and biblically, my soul is to be secure in the fact that Gods purposes are going to be made perfect in me, even if my earthly horizon is brief. Bryan Chapell, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois, added that when God rescues, that brings God glory. Additionally, when there is faith through a time of no earthly rescue but confidence in the eternal rescue, that gives God glory as well. God always answers prayers for healing, He simply may not answer in the timing that we may be asking, Chapell said. God may heal in this life imperfectly, but He will always heal the Christian perfectly when we are with Him. A 2016 study from the Barna group found that the majority of American adults (66%) believe people can be physically healed supernaturally by God. Evangelicals are the most likely of any group to believe people can be physically healed supernaturally by God almost nine in 10 (87%) agree strongly. Practicing Christians follow suit: six in 10 (61%) agree strongly. When discussing why God heals some individuals and not others, the nature of God's goodness is often called into question, Bill Johnson, senior leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California, said, in a 2016 interview with The Christian Post. "The conflict [in the church] is over the goodness of God," he said. "That spirit of accusation is welcomed in many circles as the voice of reason, the voice of discernment. My prayer is that through an arresting revival in the nations, we will see another Great Awakening that dismantles the tsunami of the demonic that thrives on our self-righteous theology and corresponding division it creates." When people pray for things that don't come to pass, particularly for supernatural things like healing or miracles, the tendency for some is to jump to the conclusion that it was not God's desire to do it. And that's a grave mistake, he said. "It's easier for people to say, 'God just doesn't do that anymore' than for them to set aside their life and pursue that kind of breakthrough," Johnson said. Subscriber content preview Photo from Hines [enlarge] Seattle-bound Expedia is vacating the 20-story Tower 333, which Amazon will move into later this year. Equity Commonwealth said in its fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday that it will sell Tower 333 in Bellevue to an undisclosed buyer for $401.5 million. The sale of the tower, at 333 108th Ave. N.E., is expected to close in March. . . . It is not at all clear whether US President Donald Trumps deal of the century will ever be implemented, but the very fact that it has been made public is having an impact on the mood in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Remarks made by the president, when the plan was first revealed on Jan. 28, did not fall on deaf ears. Many people in Israel have come to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose of the plan was the immediate, unilateral annexation of the territories by Israel. Meanwhile, in the PA, many are convinced that the plan moves the Palestinians even further away from realizing their dream of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. It now looks like the number of people on both sides who no longer believe in a two-state solution is increasing and will continue to grow, even if only gradually. Back in September 2018, Trump said that both parties Israelis and Palestinians can decide on their own whether they would prefer two states or a single state. At the same time, support among the Palestinians for the idea of a single state was increasing. In 2002, when Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi proposed his solution to the conflict, which he called Israetine (his proposal for the name of a new state, in which both peoples would enjoy full equality), the idea of a single, democratic state from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River was met with derision and ridicule in Israel, the PA and the Arab world at large. A lot of water has flowed down the Jordan River since then. It now seems as if the younger generation in the PA and a significant number of Israelis, including both settlers and supporters of the left, have adopted the idea of a single state as their final default solution, capable of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to a new poll published Feb. 11 by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), headed by Khalil Shikaki, support for a two-state solution stands at less than 40% for the first time since the signing of the Oslo Accord. About 61% of respondents no longer believe that a two-state solution is viable, given the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Shikaki tweeted as much just two weeks before the release of the deal of the century, saying that only 28% of Palestinians supported the idea of a single-state solution, but that number skyrocketed to 37% after the plan was released. In an article published in Haaretz upon the release of the deal of the century, Israeli-Arab journalist Nabil Armali wrote, Actually, the Palestinians no longer have any tools with which they can fight against Israel, apart from describing the potential damage that some envisioned single state would cause. Armed struggle doesnt have a chance, and it is not worth depending on support from the Arab states or the Arab street. There has also been a dramatic shift among Israelis regarding the question of a possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The younger generation is having a hard time connecting with or believing in the idea of a two-state solution. A survey of Israelis and Palestinians conducted by Tel Aviv Universitys Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Studies, together with the PSR, published its findings in January 2018, noting that most Israelis and Palestinians no longer support a two-state solution. The survey also found that some 33% of Jewish Israelis expressed support for the idea of a confederation. For several years now, Emanuel Shahaf, a former member of the Mossad, has been promoting the notion of a Jewish-Arab federation. The idea is that a future federal entity would be divided into states, similar to those of the United States, and thereby grant equality to all of its residents. Shahaf told Al-Monitor that the Trump plan proves it is impossible to create two states here in a reasonable manner. You just look at the map and realize that it is impossible to use it to create two states, he said. If the occupation continues, it will lead to an apartheid government, so of course, that is untenable. I dont believe that a two-state solution would resolve the conflict, since it fails to resolve the most basic problems. Shahaf contends that his vision has a certain amount of support among the left, meaning within the Labor and Meretz parties, but also among supporters of the right, at least on a municipal level. A survey conducted in January by the Smith Institute examined Israeli attitudes to the idea of a federation. According to its findings, about 18% of Jewish Israelis supported the idea of a federation, a significant number when considering it is a rather anonymous initiative without any government backing. Another 33% had no opinion on the matter, while 49% of Jewish Israelis completely rejected the idea. Shahaf claims that most people know nothing about the existing initiatives supporting a federation or confederation, so the public has a hard time positioning itself in response to them. Another initiative, which has been around for about eight years, includes the idea of two sovereign states united in a confederation. Known as A Land for all, the initiative is advocated by journalist and media professional Meron Rappaport, with support from people on the left such as Avi Dabush (Meretz), but also from the religious Zionist movement, such as poet and intellectual Eliaz Cohen and Michal Froman, daughter-in-law of late Rabbi Menachem Froman who lives in the settlement of Tekoa. There is a very basic and real debate between those who think that there should be sharp separation between us and the Palestinians, with Us here and them there, as a solution to the conflict, and those who think like us in A Land for all that the solution can actually be found in a partnership between two independent states, Israel and Palestine, and between the people living here, wrote Rappaport in an opinion piece in February 2019. Ostensibly, this initiative by Rappaport and the members of A Land for all offers the perfect solution. It includes freedom of movement, justice, security and sovereignty for everyone. On the other hand, it is doubtful that this idea can be implemented in the complicated reality of the Middle East, where the desire for any compromise whatsoever between the two parties has been dwindling over the years. Col. (Res.) Shaul Arieli, who studies the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is convinced that the idea of a confederation would have disastrous results. Instead, he continues to claim that the only viable option is a two-state solution. The question is what will happen a few years down the road, assuming that no real progress is made to find a solution to the conflict. The younger generation, which will come to power here in a decade, tends not to believe in the traditional formula of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground is constantly changing: New West Bank outposts are being established, existing settlements are expanding and Palestinian lands continue to be confiscated. It is entirely possible that Israel and the PA are marching quickly to the point of no return, where a single, binational state awaits. If that does, in fact, happen, it would be prudent to begin as soon as possible to examine the various initiatives that describe what such a state would look like. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Celebrated poll strategist-turned-politician and former JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor feigned ignorance that he was accorded the z category security by West Bengal government assessing the threat to his life there ahead of polls. Speaking to the media on Tuesday in Patna, Kishor said that he doesn't need security as he has always been visiting rural India without a bodyguard. He also categorically said that he doesn't face a kind of threats. "I think I don't need any kind of security cover. I work on the ground for the people," he said, adding that he was not informed whether accorded security or not. He said that he would continue to oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens as a political activist. The owner of a Gloucester County auto body shop defrauded customers by charging for repairs that werent completed and for work on vehicles still under warranty, authorities said Tuesday. Following a three-month investigation, New Jersey State Police arrested Ramon Torres IV, 28, of Millville, who owns ASAP Autoworx in Washington Township. Pennsylvania State Police contacted New Jersey detectives in November about allegations of unlawful business practices and theft by Torres, according to police. Torres was charged Feb. 11 with seven counts of theft by deception and released pending a court date. Investigators believe there could be other victims. Anyone who believes they were defrauded by ASAP Autoworx is asked to contact NJSP Detective II Christopher Scafidi, of the Motor Vehicle Crimes South Unit, at 609-414-3143 or by email at lpp7337@gw.njsp.org. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The House of Representatives has reportedly decided to purchase Toyota Camry 2020 model for members as official cars, otherwise called utility vehicles. Punch reports that a source in the chamber, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the resolution was reached at an executive (closed-door) session held on February 5, 2020. According to him, the National Assembly have resolved to purchase 400 exotic cars worths billions of Naira after rejecting a proposal to patronise Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM), a Nigerian brand based in Nnewi, Anambra State. It is Toyota Camry 2020. Manga will supply 300 of the vehicles. The person who supplied the Senate will supply the remaining 100. Someone suggested Innoson. I feel he was being sarcastic. He is from Anambra, the lawmaker said. About 14 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeeps were said to have already been shared to the presiding and principal officers as well as chairmen of select House committees. Giving the breakdown of how the vehicles would be shared, the source said the 400 saloon cars would be allocated to each of the 360 members and some top management staff, Chiefs of Staff to the two presiding officers as well as some of their special advisers and assistants. Another member of the House, who also declined to be named, said some of the vehicles had been supplied while new members who did not get committee appointments would be the beneficiaries of the first batch. When contacted on Sunday, a representative of Elizade Nigeria Limited, a foremost Toyota brand distributor, said the Camry 2020 model had yet to arrive in the country. The representative, however, said the 2019 model was N26.75m and N35.75m (for V6 engine), so the 2020 model is expected to be costlier. A check on the website of Toyota showed that the price of the car, depending on the variants, is between $25,000 (N9,000,000 at N360 to a dollar) and $35,000 (N12,600,000), excluding the cost of shipping, import duty which is 70 per cent of the net cost and other clearing charges and taxes at the port. For instance, those with higher specification, as the National Assembly usually goes for higher range of vehicles, are XLE at $29,455; XLE V6 at $34,580; XSE at $30,005 and XSE V6 at $35,130. Meanwhile, KanyiDaily recalls that Anambra lawmakers rejected Toyota Prado SUVs from the state government as their official vehicles, preferring instead, the locally manufactured Innoson Jeep so as to save cost. The lawmakers were said to have argued that it is an unnecessary waste of funds to purchase the Toyota Prado Jeeps for 30 members of the house, which will cost the state almost N1billion, when a similar vehicle produced by Innoson Motors, would cost much less. The World Health Organisation has warned the global financial response to the deadly coronavirus isnt meeting demand and urged nations to understand the severity of the threat at hand. Speaking from Geneva on Monday WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said acting now was essential in preventing the virus from spreading further outside of China where the virus has killed over 1800 people. We have not seen the urgency in the funding that we need, he said, after previously stating WHO needs US$675 billion ($1.005b) to fight the virus. Commuters wearing protective masks walk through a station in Hong Kong. Source: Getty We have a window of opportunity now. We need resources now to ensure countries are prepared now. We dont know how long this window of opportunity will remain. Lets not squander it. While new cases outside the epicentre region of Hubei have been declining for the last 13 days, Mr Tedros said the apparent drop in new cases must be interpreted very cautiously. Trends can change as new populations are affected. Its too early to tell if this reported decline will continue, he said. Every scenario is still on the table, he said. There were 115 fresh cases outside Hubei announced on Monday, sharply down from nearly 450 a week ago. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned time to act is running out. Source: Getty There are 1348 cases outside of mainland China, including 454 passengers from the cruise ship Diamond Princess docked in Japan, where WHO are continuing to focus on containing the virus. Proportionate measures needed Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHOs emergencies program, urged for proportionate measures to be taken in response to the virus. So if we are going to disrupt every cruise ship in the world on the off-chance that there may be some potential contact with some potential pathogen, then where do we stop? We shut down the buses around the world? There was no such thing as zero risk, Ryan said, calling for basing decisions on cruise ships and meetings on solid evidence. The Diamond Princess remains in quarantine in Yokohama. Source: AP Measures should be taken proportionate to the situation, based on public health science and evidence. And blanket measures may not help, Tedros added. Story continues Inside Hubei, where 58,182 people have been infected, an unprecedented lockdown was implemented for its 58 million residents in an effort to curtail the spread. Australian government offers research funding Mr Tedros warning comes as the federal government will give $2 million to Australian researchers to develop a vaccine for coronavirus. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the cash pool for grants at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne on Tuesday where experts have been working to understand and respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. Researchers from across the country will be able to apply for money from the Medical Research Future Fund in hope of developing a coronavirus vaccine and for research into it. On Monday, more than 200 Australians who were quarantined on Christmas Island following their evacuation from Wuhan have since returned home. Two hundred Australians will be evacuated from the Diamond Princess on Wednesday and taken to quarantine near Darwin. with Reuters and AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The former US national security adviser John Bolton during a lecture at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake The former national security adviser John Bolton gave a lecture Monday at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, his first time speaking publicly since the start of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. On multiple occasions, he referred to his coming book, "The Room Where it Happened," according to reports, but did not delve into the substance of the manuscript. Asked about the July 25 call between Trump and the president of Ukraine, he said, "You'll love Chapter 14." He also referred to the subject of Ukraine in his book as "sprinkles on the ice-cream sundae." The manuscript parts of which were previously reported on by The New York Times is under review by the White House National Security Council, which said in a January letter that it contained "TOP SECRET level" classified information. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. "You'll love Chapter 14," the former national security adviser John Bolton said Monday of his new book. Bolton, who left the White House in September, was giving a lecture at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, his first public talk since the start of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Ukraine was one of the topics discussed, and his responses mentioned the manuscript for his coming book, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir." Bolton, The Atlantic reported, mentioned "Chapter 14" after being asked whether the now-infamous July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "perfect," as Trump describes it. During the call, which prompted a whistleblower complaint, Trump asked Zelensky to do him "a favor" and discussed former Vice President Joe Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory into the 2016 election. "For all the focus on Ukraine and impeachment trial: To me there are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine," Bolton said during the talk, CNN reported. "I view that like the sprinkles on the ice-cream sundae, meaning, in terms of what's in the book." Story continues Bolton's book is scheduled to come out March 17, but it's undergoing a review by the White House National Security Council. "I say things in the manuscript about what he said to me," Bolton said at Monday's talk, Bloomberg News reported. "I hope they become public someday. He tweets, but I can't talk about it. How fair is that?" In a letter dated January 23, the White House wrote to Bolton's lawyer saying: "The book appears to contain significant amounts of classified information. It also appears that some of this classified information is at the TOP SECRET level." The White House also cited a nondisclosure agreement to argue "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information." In early February, a spokeswoman for Bolton acknowledged receiving an update from the NSC, and, according to CNN, she noted "serious concerns that the process has been thoroughly breached and that it is more about suppressing Ambassador Bolton's book than about classification issues." Bolton on Monday said he did not intend to share classified information and added that he hoped the book was "not suppressed," Bloomberg News reported. "This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can," he added. "We'll have to see what comes out of the censorship." Bolton in Durham, North Carolina. Reuters As an unpublished manuscript, the book has already made waves, with suggestions that Bolton knows more about the pressure campaign in Ukraine that prompted Trump's impeachment and Senate trial. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. According to a New York Times story about the manuscript that emerged during the impeachment trial, Bolton wrote that Trump directly linked the withholding of nearly $400 million in congressionally mandated military aid to Ukraine to efforts to get Zelensky to announce investigations into Trump's political rivals. The news increased pressure on Republican senators to vote in favor of calling witnesses like Bolton to speak at the trial; he had already said he would testify if subpoenaed. Trump denied the Times report in a series of tweets, saying, in part: "I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book." Republicans in the Senate ultimately blocked witnesses from testifying, and earlier this month the Senate voted to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment against him: obstruction of Congress and abuse of power. In addition to hinting more about Ukraine, Bolton discussed his misgivings about the Trump administration's approach to North Korea. Read the original article on Business Insider Bolton: Trump's 'diplomatic outreach' to North Korea a failure Iran Press TV Tuesday, 18 February 2020 6:44 AM John Bolton, former national security adviser to the US president, has denounced Donald Trump's "diplomatic outreach" to North Korea, calling it a failure. Bolton said "the pursuit of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, the meetings with him and the efforts to get a deal with North Korea are doomed to failure. North Korea in the last 30 years has on four separate memorable occasions publicly committed to getting rid of nuclear weapons and just never seems to get around to doing it." The former national security adviser said "it was perfectly evident that North Korea policy was going to fail." Bolton made the remarks at a forum on foreign policy on Monday in his first public appearance since Trump's impeachment trial in which Republicans refused to hear his testimony. Rounds of negotiations between the US and North Korea have ground to a halt as the US refused to offer any sanctions relief despite Pyongyang's unilateral steps to show its goodwill in denuclearization efforts. Bolton also hinted that his unpublished book contained far more revelations than just the campaign to pressure Ukraine for help with domestic politics. He raised concern about his unpublished book being "suppressed" by the White House that informed him in January that his book manuscript contained classified information and could not be published. "I hope, ultimately, I can get the book published. I hope it's not suppressed." Bolton told the event at Duke University in North Carolina. "For all the focus on Ukraine and the impeachment trial and all that, to me, there are portions of the manuscript that deal with Ukraine, I view that like the sprinkles on the ice cream sundae in terms of what's in the book. This is an effort to write history and I did it the best I can. We'll have to see what comes out of the censorship," he noted. The New York Times reported last month that that Bolton wrote in his manuscript that Trump wanted to continue freezing hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine and pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, a charge that fueled Trump's impeachment. On December 18, the Democratic-led House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstructing Congress relating to his actions in Ukraine. The Republican-led Senate, however, acquitted Trump largely along party lines on February 5 in only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history. Bolton left his post in September following some policy disagreements with the President. Trump said he fired him. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address One day they're the country's representatives, with big salaries, their own private secretary and offices in one of Dublin's most iconic buildings, the next they're out on their ears. What happens to TDs after they lose their Dail seat? Well, they can always sidestep into the Seanad. I get it. It must be hard to try to pick up the pieces of your pre-Leinster House life and maybe even struggle to make ends meet. Having had the country's attention on you, you are suddenly isolated and excluded. Having had a certain status, you are now ignored. One-time Progressive Democrats leader and minister Michael McDowell has been joined in the Seanad race by some of the recent electoral rejects. Fine Gael TD Noel Rock has announced his intention to run in the Seanad election, and the Green Party's Saoirse McHugh, who missed out on securing a Dail seat in Mayo, also plans to run. Solidarity politician Ruth Coppinger is also giving it a whirl in the upcoming Seanad election after losing her seat in the Dail. This is despite her being a very vocal campaigner for the abolition of the Seanad ahead of the 2013 referendum and previously saying that she doesn't even support the Seanad as an institution. Is this really what we had in mind when we voted very narrowly (52pc-48pc) against abolishing the Seanad in 2013, despite the wishes of Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Fein to get rid of it? Seanad reform is something that's continually talked about - we've had around 14 different reports published over the past 80 years. But why change anything when it is clearly suiting political parties to use the Seanad as a kind of second prize if you lose your seat, and as a training ground for young and aspiring TDs? Don't forget that more than a third of the last Seanad's 60 senators, including 11 former TDs, contested a Dail seat in the recent general election. Fine Gael had the most senators running, at 13. Fianna Fail had four, Labour three and Sinn Fein had two. The Green Party had one. Now, there have been some fine Seanad members over the years, like Mary Robinson, Garret FitzGerald and Conor Cruise O'Brien. WB Yeats was a senator, as was playwright Brian Friel. Many leading academics and scientists have served in the upper house too. But there has been far too many wannabe TDs and failed TDs taking up seats in a chamber that often seems to exist as a kind of halfway house for politicians either on their way into or out of the Dail. There are just 60 seats in Seanad Eireann, although most countries of our size make do with a single-chamber parliament. Eleven of them are shared out as Taoiseach's nominees. Last time round Enda Kenny made a good few of his Fine Gael party colleagues who had been defeated in the 2016 election senators. These were former health minister James Reilly, John O'Mahony, Michelle Mulherin, Paudie Coffey, Ray Butler and Frank Feighan. The remaining 49 seats are filled through the Seanad electoral panel system, and again this means that many rejected ex-TDs of all parties can be elected to the Seanad by their friends in county councils and the five panels. There is a preconception that our Seanad is a powerless talking shop and one of the most pointless things in Irish politics. But the 1922 Constitution envisaged a two-house parliament. The Dail, directly elected by all citizens, would enact legislation, while the Seanad, with 60 members, would represent various social groups, "citizens who shall be proposed on the grounds that they have done honour to the Nation by reason of useful public service or that, because of special qualifications or attainments, they represent important aspects of the Nation's life". It would oversee legislation. It still does this. The Seanad can comment on bills passed in the Dail and hold them up for 90 days. It can't block them but it still provides a very useful safety guard. The way we elect senators is a bit elitist and, like every government body in this country, the Seanad still struggles with representing Ireland's diverse population and different demographics. But it's important that senators are elected in a different way to TDs, so that the upper house isn't a mirror of the Dail. The very fact that the same faces are rotating between the two houses is what makes our Seanad pointless, not the institution itself. Apart from issues around diversity, our Seanad shouldn't exist as a safe space where TDs who lose their seats are able to sit back, recuperate and then make another attempt on the Dail five years later. The rest of us don't get a back-up job if we are fired. Why should publicly rejected politicians have this kind of parachute? If a Dail candidate has been rejected by the Irish people, then they have no place in the Oireachtas. Let them try again next time and see if the Irish people want them to play a part in public life. If you are one of the few that has a Seanad vote, think carefully before you mark your ballot paper this time. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment spoke at the Catalyzing Womens Entrepreneurship: Creating a Fender Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem workshop With the aim of supporting women entrepreneurs, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), with sponsorship from the Canadian government, in co-ordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment have introduced the project ofCatalyzing Womens Entrepreneurship: Creating a Fender Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. The project has been deployed in five countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Nepal, and Samoa. In Vietnam, the project will last for four years from 2020 to 2023 with the three major components of building policies and a legal framework; enhancing women businesses' approaching and using financial services; applying technological solutions at women's business. Over the years, the number of enterprises whose owners are women has accounted for about 25 per cent of the total in Vietnam, with equal or even better business results than the ones owned by men. While men entrepreneurs can persuade investors or their families to believe in them, women have to prove themselves by real working effectiveness. They have to cope with a lot of barriers regarding finance, technology, and land, Vu Dai Thang, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said at the event. According to DM Thang, the project will help enhance women entrepreneurs position and unleash their potential so that they can grow stronger. This will be an important resource to help Vietnam implement more effectively policies and activities to promote the development of women-owned businesses through creating an increasingly favorable business environment for female businesses," he emphasised. At the workshop, the consultations focused on difficulties in accessing finance and solutions, initiatives to promote women to use financial services to start a business, as well as institutional and policy difficulties. The workshop also spent a lot of time discussing the project's Draft Work Plan in 2020. According to MPI data, female-owned enterprises and households account for less than 30 per cent of the total number of businesses in Vietnam, mainly operating in the field of commerce and services. About 60 per cent of women-owned enterprises are micro-sized (under 10 employees). In addition to the common constraints of the business sector, women-owned businesses also face major barriers stemming from social prejudice. (Photo : Depositphotos) Lack of sleep is a significant problem that affects students of all ages. This issue persists in higher education and causes many college students to underperform. When you don't get adequate sleep, your ability to function is greatly affected and this causes you to make poor decisions. This spills into all aspects of your life, including your driving skills. Drowsy driving causes over 70,000 injuries annually and fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem. Getting more sleep is the answer, but many drivers and students overlook this because they don't appreciate the impact of being fatigued. Because of this, college students must get sufficient sleep as they have many demands expected of them. Now we'll take a look at a few of the most important reasons for college students to get more sleep so that you can make it a priority in your life. College Students Are Sleep Deprived One thing that is true for most college students is the fact that they are likely sleep deprived. What this means is that they are not getting adequate sleep. College students need a minimum of seven hours of sleep every night, but eight to nine is much better for their energy levels. There's a lot a college student might need to take care of every day depending on their situation. As a result, they may sacrifice precious sleeping time for the sake of spending more time relaxing. For example, a busy student might finish their homework and studies late at night. Many students enjoy unwinding before bed, so they might opt to play some video games before sleeping. If this happens, they'll end up staying up late despite needing to get up in the morning. This will cause them to be fatigued the next day, which drastically affects their functionality. However, there are also legitimate reasons to lose out on sleep. Needing to stay awake just to finish an assignment, having a work shift, or dealing with an emergency can all cause a student to neglect the need to sleep. Regardless of what causes a student to lose out on sleep, this can be dangerous and should be corrected to make their life easier. Difficulty Fulfilling Obligations The first problem you might face as a fatigued college student is difficulty fulfilling your obligations. If you're lucky, then you're a full-time student that has nothing they need to focus on aside from school. This means that you'll only need to attend class and complete assignments. However, many college students also have a job. This can be either part-time or full-time, with a greater time requirement if you work more hours. Work cannot be neglected because it will cause you to get fired, so this often becomes a priority. On top of this, several college students also participate in extracurricular activities. This can include things like clubs, sports, or anything else academically-related done outside of class. Trying to juggle several different obligations, like schoolwork, a job, and extracurriculars, there's very little time left for you to spare. Your free time will be extremely limited, which can cause you to forsake some sleep to gain more. Even if you don't have much downtime, the time where you aren't tending to an obligation might be so slim that you can't possibly get enough sleep. Imagine a scenario where you have class six hours a day, work for eight, and spend two hours getting ready and traveling between obligations. That already only leaves you with eight hours and that doesn't include any time to complete homework or feed yourself. In this situation, sleep deprivation is inevitable and cannot be avoided. The fatigue that you suffer with will cause you to struggle to meet every obligation that you have. You might be too tired to attend a class or perhaps decide to call out of work. When you have less energy, it's much harder to take care of all of your responsibilities. Poor Academic Performance A harsh reality of sleep deprivation is that it translates to poor academic performance. Students who get less sleep have a tougher time learning concepts and remembering them later. This means that their ability to learn is hampered. Drowsy students also might neglect to complete homework or attend class. Alternatively, they might sleep through a lecture. If you aren't well-rested, you can't perform at your optimal capabilities. This will directly affect your grade point average and how well you understand the information that you're being taught. Students that do get adequate sleep are much better prepared to digest information. They perform better on homework, exams, and overall comprehension. Impaired Driving Students facing fatigue also have impaired driving skills. Driving while you're tired is incredibly dangerous because it can be as detrimental as being intoxicated. You simply aren't able to fully pay attention and you might be fighting to stay awake. If this is happening, then you're likely more focused on not falling asleep than you are looking for potential hazards. You might get lucky and not get into an accident, but you're left vulnerable to any that are coming your way. Being drowsy impacts your reaction times, judgment, and driving ability. It's never safe to drive while fatigued and it makes you more likely to cause an accident in this state. They're Still Developing As a final reason, college students are still developing and need sleep to help this process. There's a possibility that this growth is physical, but mental and emotional maturity is affected the most. The human brain continues to develop until roughly 25 years old, so this would mean that many college students are younger than this. Inadequate sleep makes growth difficult because you aren't spending enough time in a deep sleep. This is the phase of the sleep cycle where the human growth hormone is released. With poor sleep, your mental growth may be stunted. Sleep is one of the best things you can do for your body and neglecting this will impact your present and future. Closing Thoughts Many people are chronically fatigued, but this is prevalent amongst college students. This is because many students have a lot to take care of, which may not leave enough time for adequate sleep. It's vital that students get adequate sleep because being fatigued affects their ability to fulfill obligations, academic performance, impairs their driving, and challenges their growth. Sleep may not seem important to you, especially if you have a lot of obligations. You might be tempted to stay up late and have fun, but this can be detrimental to your daily life and isn't worth the tradeoff. Make it a priority to get at least eight hours of sleep every night and you'll begin to appreciate how much better you feel and perform in all aspects of life! SHIMLA: Four Class 12 students of a government school near here were injured when an explosion occurred while they were appearing for the practical exam in the chemistry laboratory on Monday. Police said the students of Government Senior Secondary School, Matiana, 47 km from here, wrongly mixed magnesium nitrate with ferrous sulphate, leading to the explosion. The injured students were identified as Nikita Verma, 17, Bunty Sharma, 17, Ajit Kumar, 17, and Mukul Panjta 17. Acid and pieces of glass damaged the eyes of Mukul and Ajit, who were referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, from Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. Their condition is said to be stable at PGIMER. Nikita and Bunty were discharged from the Shimla hospital. Theog deputy superintendent of police Kulwinder Singh said the laboratory has been sealed and the matter is under investigation. Education minister Suresh Bhardwaj has announced that medical expenses of the victims will be borne by the state government. He spoke to the parents of the injured students and assured them of all assistance from the government. Uber Ahmad Ahmad, 53, was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm, theft, and illegal use of weapons in the early hours of Sunday An Uber driver in Louisiana has been arrested for shooting at passengers after they left his vehicle mid-ride because he was going the wrong way. Ahmad Ahmad, 53, picked up two people from a bar in downtown New Orleans at 12.04am Sunday and had been requested to take them to the Kenner area, about 15 miles away. But when the driver started going over the Mississippi River Bridge (Crescent City Connection) toward the Westbank and into Jefferson Parish, the pair complained to driver that he was going the wrong way. According to a police report, Ahmad and the passengers got into an argument and the driver stopped the car on the US 90 in Algiers. A call was made to police at this point, although it is not clear by whom. During the verbal altercation one of the passengers ordered another Uber and when that driver arrived they switched cars. He picked up two people from a bar in downtown New Orleans just after midnight on Saturday but when they complained he was going the wrong way, they got into an argument and he ended up shooting at them However Ahmad stopped them from going anywhere by opening the passenger side door and removing the key from the ignition, the incident report from the New Orleans Police Department states. The altercation then became physical between Ahmad and one of the passengers. It's unclear who started the fight. Ahmad ended up going back to his vehicle, retrieving a handgun, and fired shots at the passengers. As the victims fled the scene, Ahmad left in his car. Police say he later returned to the location and was arrested. He was booked into Orleans Parish jail on aggravated assault with a firearm, theft, and illegal use of weapons charges but has since been released. It's unclear whether he has an attorney to comment on his behalf. The driver went over the Mississippi River Bridge (Crescent City Connection) toward the Westbank and into Jefferson Parish, then stopped the car on the US 90 in Algiers The victims have not been publicly identified, nor have their genders and ages. Authorities did not disclose whether there were any injuries. Uber has a no firearms policy. When contacted by DailyMail.com, the company said it had already been made aware of the incident. Uber told DailyMail.com in a comment: 'Whats been reported is unacceptable and would be in clear violation of our community guidelines. Were looking into the matter and have removed the drivers access to the Uber app.' Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Fourth District detectives at 504-658-6040. Lifting of travel ban for HK, Macau OFWs 'right thing to do'--Recto The decision of the government to allow Filipinos to return to their work in Hong Kong and Macau is a step in the right direction. This will save the jobs of thousands of Filipinos who were vacationing in their home country when their government imposed a travel ban to those two places. The lifting of the ban, in effect, rescues these stranded workers from unemployment and their families from penury. In their appeal to be allowed to travel back to their waiting employers who value their services, they warned that injury from certain loss of income is greater than the possibility of being infected by the virus. As to the latter, the SARS-tested health system of Hong Kong is in a better position to treat coronavirus patients than our hospitals here, and the HK government has assured us that they will take good care of our people. Our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau form one powerhouse when it comes to sending money to their loved ones back home. About a quarter million of them remitted close to P100 billion from 2018 to 2019. This economic contribution is so great that the government could either subsidize or shoulder the plane fare of the stranded OFWs, because the cost is a small fraction of their remittances of about 1 billion pesos every 10 days Lucknow District Magistrate (DM) Abhishek Prakash has written to city Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey, asking him to provide standard security in courts. This comes three days after Bar Association General Secretary Jitu Yadav, along with a few others, were arrested in a case pertaining to the hurling of a crude bomb at lawyer Sanjeev Lodhi's chamber in a Lucknow court complex on Thursday. "The security of the collectorate must be ensured as there are 12 courts which function within the collectorate complex. These courts usually hear sensitive matters -- like land, graft, murder and corruption. Litigants along with their advocates usually remain present there in the courts," the DM said in the letter. "This often leads to tense situations. Hence, there should be proper security as per the prescribed standards." he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook's Terragraph WiFi technology is delivering high-speed broadband to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This week, AeroNet, Puerto Rico's internet service provider, announced a six-month Terragraph pilot meant to deliver reliable, affordable high-speed service. It's now live in and near Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Jose in Old San Juan. San Juan's infrastructure and UNESCO world heritage sites have made it challenging to provide fiber connectivity through Old San Juan. But that makes it an ideal city to test Facebook's Terragraph system, the 60GHz millimeter-wave wireless tech that blasts internet through buildings along a network of short-distance cell towers. This offers an alternative to costly fiber-optic lines, and the Terragraph device can be attached to existing infrastructure, like street lights and utility poles. "Looking ahead, we are excited about the potential opportunities Terragraph provides to expand high-quality gigabit internet experience throughout the island of Puerto Rico," said Gino Villarini, AeroNet's founder and president. Facebook first announced Terragraph in 2016, and last year, the startup Common Networks began using it to deliver 5G home broadband in Alameda, California. It has also been tested in San Jose, and Qualcomm is putting Terragraph tech in its chipsets, so that manufacturers can build 60GHz broadcast equipment. Transgender patients say they feel 'forced' to transition using hormones bought from the dark web because NHS waiting times are so long. Some patients spend as long as three years on a waiting list before they finally see a specialist at a gender identity clinic, a BBC investigation has found. And, desperate to start transitioning to the opposite sex, patients admit they are turning to unregulated sources to find testosterone and oestrogen pills. They may be putting their health at serious risk with the DIY approach by taking untested drugs from unknown, unregulated sources often outside the UK. But one said she felt like she had to choose between taking a gamble on the medications or killing herself. NHS England, which has a target waiting time of 18 weeks for a first appointment, said demand for gender identity services is rising and there are not enough suitably qualified doctors. Transgender patients wait up to three years to get an appointment at a gender identity clinic after referral (Belfast). A Freedom of Information request by the Victoria Derbyshire programme shows patients in Nottinghamshire wait a maximum of two years and nine months (145 weeks). NHS Highland's gender identity clinic, in Scotland, has the shortest maximum wait of 32 weeks. Some countries have target times - NHS England's is 18 weeks An investigation by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme showed the differences in wait times across the UK. The longest wait from referral to a gender identity clinic was in Belfast, where patients waited a maximum of three years (166 weeks), treble the target time of one year (52 weeks). Second worst was Nottinghamshire, where waits stretched up to two years and nine months (145 weeks) just for an appointment. This was followed by Northumberland, where people could face up to two years and five months (127 weeks). The NHS in England has a target time of 18 weeks. In Wales, where there is no waiting time target, patients may have to wait up to two years (104 weeks). The NHS Highland gender identity clinic, in Scotland, has the shortest maximum wait of 32 weeks. Kara said she was 'absolutely petrified' of the effects the unregulated pills could have on her, but that she felt 'forced' to buy them because she has been waiting to see a specialist for two years Britain's first gender identity clinic, at the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust in London, did not provide waiting time data but the BBC reported a suggestion that waits may be as long as two years. A law student who only gave her first name, Kara, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme she began buying hormones online last summer to transition from male to female. She has been waiting to see a specialist at an NHS gender identity clinic, to ask to be prescribed the tablets on the NHS, for two years. It is not clear where she lives. But she said she was 'absolutely petrified' of the effects the unregulated pills could have on her. 'I don't know anything about the tablets [that I buy] specifically, if they are what they say they are,' she said. 'So it's kind of a guessing game with your life. 'I was so low before, it basically felt like a choice between suicide or self-medicating, because I couldn't deal with the thought of further masculisation.' Another patient, Lucas, who began transitioning six years ago aged 29, also decided to use testosterone bought online. When his GP referred him, he had been told he would face a two-and-a-half year wait for an appointment, so he took matters into his own hands until then. A patient known only as Lucas claimed he knows of at least one person who has taken their own life due to the 'distressing and dehumanising' wait to be seen 'I suspect a few of the doses were effectively nothing,' he said. 'For example, I didn't actually start growing any facial hair at all until I moved onto prescribed testosterone.' Lucas claimed he knows of at least one person who has taken their own life due to the 'distressing and dehumanising' wait to be seen. More than 13,500 transgender and non-binary adults are on waiting lists for NHS in England, previous BBC research has found. And this growing demand is pushing more to venture into the dark world of unregulated medicines. NHS DOCTS OVER-DIAGNOSING GENDER DSYPHORIA IN CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE NHS psychologists are 'over-diagnosing' children with gender dysphoria over fears staff will be branded transphobic if they don't, it has emerged. Ex-clinicians fear scores of youngsters could unnecessarily be being put on puberty-blocking drugs that warp their hormones every year. The concerns were raised by six psychologists in December 2019 who have resigned from London's children's gender-identity service in the past three years. They all claimed they were under such immense pressure they could not properly assess patients, in what they fear may be a 'medical scandal'. One of them has admitted that looking back, they may not have given hormone-warping drugs to all of the children they diagnosed with gender dysphoria. One psychologist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Sky News: 'Our fears are that young people are being over-diagnosed and then over-medicalised. 'We are extremely concerned about the consequences for young people... For those of us who previously worked in the service, we fear that we have had front row seats to a medical scandal.' People with gender dysphoria experience discomfort or distress because there's a mismatch between their biological sex and identity. Almost half of children treated at the GIDS are prescribed hormone-blockers that halt puberty. It is a fully reversible form of treatment because puberty will resume when the patient stops taking the drugs. This gives children the time to consider whether they truly want to make the transition to the opposite sex. But the drugs interfere with natural hormone production and can cause mood swings. Thirty-five psychologists have resigned from London's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust since 2016. Data shows the number of children treated at the service has exploded by more than thirty times in the space of a decade. Advertisement Many of the websites selling the hormones are not based in the UK meaning they may be produced away from Britain's strict regulations and demand payment by Bitcoin or bank transfer. It is illegal to sell testosterone drugs, but it is not illegal to buy or possess them for personal use. And many patients may turn to oestrogen hormones which are intended for menopausal women in order to get their dose. There are huge health risks of taking hormones without doctor supervision, experts stress. Those who take oestrogen could experience a pulmonary embolism, whereby a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks an artery. Liver damage could also occur if patients are not being monitored. They may also feel disheartened if the drugs do not give the desired effect, because they are actually fake. The Royal College of General Practitioners, which represents GPs, raised concerns about the consequences of rapidly increasing referrals in 2019. It reported gender identity clinics in England have seen a 240 per cent overall increase in referrals over five years. In a statement, the RCGP said: 'There is an urgent need to increase the capacity of gender identity specialists and clinics and expand the understanding of gender variance issues across the entire health system.' It is understood that wait times are part due to a lack of medical professionals wanting to specialise in trans healthcare. A new Royal College of Physicians pathway had been established for this reason. NHS England told the BBC in a statement: 'As more people feel able to seek support and treatment, the demand for gender identity services has greatly increased. 'In recent years we've increased investment to respond to the rising demand, with staff working hard to support patients to get the right care as quickly as possible. 'From the spring a new service will be piloted in London that will increase capacity in gender identity services.' A spokesman for the Scottish government, of which NHS Health Scotland is a branch, said long waiting times for patients were 'unacceptable'. He said: 'Gender identity clinics are a very specialised resource, and while people are waiting to be assessed they still have access to a full range of community mental health and well-being services appropriate to their situation and needs.' NHS Wales and Belfast NHS Trust have not yet responded to requests for comment. Ireland can become an international leader in the fight against financial crime which is costing the global economy 3.2 trillion every year, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has said. A new report, Economic Crime in a Digital Age, commissioned by the ACCA and EY, focuses on the challenges business faces in fending off breaches from sophisticated attackers. A key asset, for those involved in criminality, is their ability to adapt and evolve their approach with technologies such as blockchain and AI, which makes it extremely difficult for global regulators and policymakers to keep pace. Aidan Clifford, ACCA Irelands technical director, said Irelands expertise within financial technology along with its understanding of the challenges involved, places it in an informed and privileged position to be a global leader in addressing the challenge. Tech advances and, in particular, fintech advances and criminality go hand-in-hand with its expanding scope, exposing more potential victims of economic crime in single attacks, with criminals benefiting from operating internationally in a way regulators cannot, he said. The producers of the report conducted a number of interviews with experts who were unanimous that mass mailing and the availability of harvested lists of email addresses have hugely increased the number of victims that a scammer can target in a single attack. If you send out 1,000 emails and only one comes back, that one could get you significant amounts of money, Anthony Harbinson, Northern Ireland Department of Justice director of safer communities, said. Mr Clifford said a coordinated, structured approach to leveraging these tech hubs globally, such as Ireland, would help plug global skills and knowledge deficits within the global community. For the Irish economy, seeking that global collaboration and positioning our credentials would further broaden the reach and contribution of our tech sector, sitting comfortably alongside the growth within cybersecurity and mitigating against the industrys overexposure to US FDI at a time of international trade and export uncertainly. A group of human rights activists and Indian diaspora representatives have been staging protests outside the Pakistan High Commission here as part of a "Justice for Mehek Kumari" campaign, a minor Hindu girl who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan. The campaign has called for protests on social media since Sunday and gathered outside the Pakistan mission in central London with placards reading "Stand up for Human Rights". "We are here in support of Mehek Kumari,, said one protestor. Kumari, 14, was reportedly abducted last month by a man in the Jacobabad district of Sindh province in Pakistan. She has claimed being forcibly converted to Islam, leading to radical clerics issuing a death sentence against her. Another protestor outside the Pakistan High Commission said: As a young lady living in London, I feel privileged being able to get an education and have the freedom to go around. "Someone like Mehek Kumari can't relate to that and I feel that every woman should be able to do all that. Shame on Pakistan for not giving her the same opportunities." Others in the group joined in with Shame, Shame Pakistan slogans and called upon Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action against this biggest form of child abuse. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country. Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vistara and United Airlines have implemented the codeshare agreement signed in June 2019, with effect from 14 February 2020. The agreement enables United Airlines to codeshare on Vistara-operated Indian domestic flights starting 28 February 2020. Passengers on both airlines have been enjoying the ability to earn and redeem frequent flyer points/miles on either of the frequent flyer programs since the beginning of February. Vistaras Chief Commercial Officer, Vinod Kannan said, Vistara today connects the length and breadth of India, and we are delighted to offer the countrys only five-star flying experience to customers of United on their Indian domestic flights. The US continues to be one of the biggest source markets for foreign travellers into India and the region, and this partnership allows us to provide a seamless travel offering for customers to and from the US. The codeshare agreement enables United Airlines to put its UA designator code on 68 Vistara-operated flights to 26 destinations every day, including but not limited to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Udaipur, and Varanasi. Since 1 February 2020, members of Vistaras and Uniteds frequent flyer programmes, Club Vistara and United MileagePlus, have been able to earn and redeem their CV Points/United MileagePlus miles when flying on either of the airlines network. This means Club Vistara members can now earn and redeem CV Points on flights operated by United Airlines, and vice versa. "We are excited to offer our shared customers the option of building a seamless itinerary when planning travel to cities beyond New Delhi and Mumbai, said John Gebo, United's senior vice president of Alliances. United has connected customers to India for more than 15 years with daily flights between New York/Newark and Delhi and Mumbai and our new service between San Francisco and New Delhi. Our relationship with Vistara opens up even more options for customers to travel between our East and West Coast hubs and multiple destinations throughout India. As Indias highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, winner of several Best Airline awards, and the only 5-star rated airline in India (Apex 2020), Vistara has consistently raised the bar for operations and service delivery in the Indian aviation industry in a short span of five years. The airline is poised to grow its fleet by adding more than 40 narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including Airbus A321neo and Boeing B787-9, in the next three years. A 51-year-old domestic worker has won the chance to spend 10,000 euros in 10 hours. Maria Jose Guerrero held the lucky ticket in the draw organised by the Torremolinos local traders' association, ACET. On Thursday she had the task of touring local shops and businesses that belong to the association to spend her winnings. She could buy anything she liked, with a limit of 500 euros in any one establishment, with one item allowed of up to 1,000 euros. She also had to spread her purchases among the town's four main commercial areas: El Bajondillo, Playamar and Los Alamos; El Calvario; the town centre; La Carihuela, Montemar and El Pinillo. Maria Jose planned her shopping spree ahead to make the most of her ten hours. She said her first stop would be the local travel agency to buy a ticket to Beijing; her son is about to move there to work. The lucky shopper lives in Malaga city but often goes shopping in Torremolinos where her husband works. She filled in the winning ticket in the restaurant Casa Juan - Los Mellizos during her great-nephew's birthday party. MUSKEGON, MI -- A panel of speakers from across the community will share information and resources about housing in the Muskegon area. On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Muskegon Heights Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority will host a Housing Barriers Program from 5:30-7:30 p.m. inside Muskegon City Hall, 933 Terrace Street. Topics of discussion may include eviction, homelessness, and safe and affordable housing, according to organizers. Maria Ladas Hoopes, chief judge for the 60th District Court who oversees the eviction prevention program, will be a featured speaker. Pamela Kemp, of the Muskegon Heights Housing Commission, as well as representatives from the nonprofit Community enCompass and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be part of a panel discussion. The event is free and open to the public. Read more: Michigan Supreme Court justice visits Muskegons eviction prevention court On-demand rides among Muskegon County bus changes up for public discussion After community outcry, Muskegon food truck can return - for now Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 18:18:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Oaktree Capital Management, a global asset management firm focused on alternative markets, has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing, according to the municipal finance regulator. The subsidiary was set up in Chaoyang District of Beijing on Friday, according to the Beijing Local Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau. Oaktree Capital chose to set up a subsidiary in Beijing because the business environment of the city's finance sector is very attractive to foreign-funded firms, said an executive with the U.S.-based firm. Despite the fact that China's economy is temporarily hit by the coronavirus outbreak, Oaktree Capital will not change its prospects on the long-term growth of the Chinese economy, said the executive. The establishment of Oaktree Capital's subsidiary in Beijing is of great significance for the further opening-up of Beijing to foreign capital, said an official with the Beijing finance regulator. Founded in 1995, Oaktree Capital manages over 120 billion U.S. dollars in assets for its clientele across the world. Yaounde, Defence Ministry spokesman has admitted that Ngarbuh massacre of 14 February 2020 was an unfortunate accident. They promise investigations. Over three dozen unarmed civilians were murdered by Cameroon soldiers in Ngarbuh, Ntumbaw Subdivision Northwestern Cameroons in what defence ministry spokesman described as propaganda. He said the military set out to destroy separatist resources and merchandise, and contraband petroleum products from Nigeria. They were also out to kill terrorists hiding in the area. According to defence military spokesman, petrol stored in houses caught fire leading to many deaths. The English speaking part of the Cameroons has been fighting to get their complete independence from the Oppressive French majority for three years. Government forces have used scorched earth methods, terrorising unarmed communities. Over 15,000 civilians have been killed with over 450 villages burnt down. Some 60,000 people have escaped to Nigeria with hundreds of thousands living as internally displaced persons. The list if massacres is growing in what many are slowly describing as a genocide. The Alabama Senate is likely to vote this week on whether to allow medical marijuana legislation to advance in Montgomery. And if AL.com readers are any indication, Alabama appears ready for the bill to pass. Thats according to a poll of AL.com readers over the weekend. The online poll was hardly scientific, but the results were resoundingly one-sided. More than 2,200 people responded. The vast majority not only backed the legalization of medical marijuana, but backed recreational marijuana, too. The current bill, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, would allow people with certain health problems to obtain a legal cannabis card and use cannabis for medical purposes, though with plenty of restrictions. Melsons bill wouldnt allow the smoking or vaping of medical marijuana. Instead, the bill would allow oral tablets, gelatinous cubes or lozenges, topical creams/oils, suppositories, patches, nebulizers and inhalers. But most readers on AL.com support far more. Nearly 84 percent of respondents said they think Alabama should legalize all marijuana, for both recreational and medical purposes. Another 13 percent said they think the state should allow medical marijuana but not recreational. That leaves just 3 percent of AL.com readers who responded who said they think marijuana shouldnt be legal in any form. Perhaps the AL.com results shouldnt come as a surprise. Scientific polls on the publics view of marijuana show large shifts over recent decades, according to research from the Pew Research Center and Gallup. Both agencies show that roughly two thirds of Americans today think marijuana should be legal. Thats across party lines. There is a slight gap in terms of political party affiliation, with Democrats seeming to be more in favor of legalization than Republicans - but the majority of both parties favors legalization, according to Pew. The more significant gap instead seems to be based on age. And thats where pollsters can track the changing attitudes over time, as most Millennials support legalization. There isnt even much of a political divide, with 71 percent of Millennial Republicans and 78 percent of Millennial Democrats in favor of legalization. In fact, the majority of every generation except one backs legalization. Most of the Silent Generation, meaning those born before 1945, are opposed. However, theres no talk in the Alabama legislature about allowing recreational marijuana in Alabama. (You can read the medical marijuana bill here.) And marijuana, despite public opinion and shifting state laws, remains illegal on the federal level. If the bill passes, Alabama would become the 34th state to approve marijuana for medical purposes. That includes the 11 states and Washington, D.C., that have also approved recreational marijuana. And Alabama lawmakers are not alone in the Southeast in considering a policy that would catch up with the rest of the country. Kentucky lawmakers this month also advanced a bill that would approve medical marijuana. Alabama is among a minority of states where medical marijuana is illegal. Could that change? | Ramsey Archibald Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald. Read more Alabama data stories here. [February 18, 2020] Unstoppable Domains Announces Unstoppable Blockchain Browser to Open the Internet Unstoppable Domains, a company building blockchain domain names, is announcing the launch of the Unstoppable Blockchain Browser to enable easy access to the decentralized web. Typing in a .crypto domain and viewing a decentralized website works just like typing in a .com. Users can also participate in making a website more decentralized. With the click of a button, visitors store and share websites to a p2p network that no one person or company controls. Unstoppable Domains CEO Matthew Gould explained, "We believe that a decentralized web is critical for protecting free speech around the world. The Unstoppable Blockchain Browser is the first browser that makes visiting decentralized websites as easy as a traditional .com website. All browsers should embrace the decentralized web." Domain and hosting companies are frequently used to shut down unpopular political speech around the world. In Catalonia, Spain, the .cat registry, which was being used by pro-independence websites, was raided by Spanish police right before a vote. Blockchain domains are different from regular domains in key ways: No Custodian - Domains are stored by the owner. No 3rd party can move or seize them. - Domains are stored by the owner. No 3rd party can move or seize them. Payments - Domains can be used as a payment gateway for cryptocurrency payments. These are cheap, almost instant, and can be sent anywhere in the world. - Domains can be used as a payment gateway for cryptocurrency payments. These are cheap, almost instant, and can be sent anywhere in the world. Censorship resistant websites - No company, government, or other group can take a website unless they are the owner of it - No company, government, or other group can take a website unless they are the owner of it No Renewals - Pay once and it's yours ... forever To learn more, visit unstoppabledomains.com/browser About Unstoppable Domains Unstoppable Domains is a San Francisco-based company building domains on blockchains. The company is backed by Draper Associates and Boost VC and has received grants from the Ethereum Foundation and Zilliqa Foundation. Follow them on Twitter, and join the conversation on Telegram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005320/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Foreign Office 'working to organise' evacuation flight for Brits stranded on virus-hit cruise ship Dozens of British nationals stranded on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan are waiting to find out if they will be evacuated. Those on board the Diamond Princess, which is docked off the coast of Yokohama, were being contacted about a possible repatriation flight. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said this morning it was "working to organise" a flight back to the UK for those on board the quarantined ship. Flood warnings spark evacuations as severe weather continues Severe flood warnings have sparked evacuations as Britain continues to take a battering after Storm Dennis wreaked havoc at the weekend. Homes have been evacuated in Monmouth, Wales, after a flood alert for the River Wye was declared. Water levels are predicted to reach 7.2 metres when the peak passes through the Monmouthshire county town by 7am this morning. The Met Office also warned of snow and ice in northern England and Scotland, with yellow alerts in place for much of the day. Nandy says she wants to see Meghan become Queen Lisa Nandy said she would like to see "Queen Meghan" when quizzed about the Royals in a Labour leadership debate. When asked if they would vote to abolish the monarchy, all three candidates said that it was not a pressing issue. Lisa Nandy was the only one of the hopefuls to say that she would vote to get rid of the monarchy as she is a "democrat". Later she said: "I'd quite like to see Queen Meghan." Love Island returns with tribute to Caroline Flack Love Island last night returned to ITV2 with a tribute to former presenter Caroline Flack. Following the presenters death at the age of 40, bosses made the decision to pull Saturday nights Unseen Bits show and Sundays regular programme. As the show Returned to screens, the broadcaster played clips of a serene beach as Iain Stirling offered kind words about his good friend and former colleague. The tribute ended with a photo of Flack on screen as Stirling said: Im going to miss you, Caz. Ozzy Osbourne cancels US tour over medical treatment Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled his tour of North America to undergo medical treatment. The 71-year-old former Black Sabbath front man recently revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had previously been recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at home. He had been set to embark on the US leg of his No More Tours 2 tour in May, but will instead travel to Europe for medical treatment. The UK leg of the tour is set to begin in Newcastle upon Tyne in October. On this day... 1478: George, Duke of Clarence, was murdered in the Tower of London. According to legend, he drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. 1546: Martin Luther, father of the Reformation, died at his birthplace at Eisleben, Germany, aged 62 - supposedly of overwork. 1678: John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress was published. 1911: More than 6,000 letters and postcards were flown five miles from Allahabad to Naini Junction in India by Henri Picquet - the first official airmail. 1915: Germany's blockade of Britain by submarine began. 1930: American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto from a series of pictures taken the previous month at Lowell Observatory. Elton John intends to play his remaining shows in New Zealand and Australia, his tour promoters said Monday, a day after illness caused the singer to lose his voice and cut short a performance. Video clips posted online by fans at Sunday night's performance showed John breaking down in tears as he told the cheering crowd he couldn't go on any longer. The 72-year-old singer said he had walking pneumonia and was assisted off stage. Tour promoters Chugg Entertainment said John was resting and doctors were confident he would recover. They said a concert planned for Tuesday in Auckland would be delayed until Wednesday on the advice of doctors. "Elton John was disappointed and deeply upset at having to end his Auckland concert early last night," the promoters said in their statement. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cleveland could weather two years of recession without cutting services, thanks to economic recovery in the city, an increase in the citys income tax and cautious spending, Mayor Frank Jackson said Tuesday. Jackson, in a budget presentation to City Council said cited an anticipated $46 million in reserve funds it expects this year that would help the city to maintain services during any decline in city revenues. We believe that sooner or later there will be a downturn in the economy, Jackson said. Were building this [budget] in a way that we believe we could maintain it for two years a level of services that are constituents are used to. Jacksons presentation formally kicks off weeks of budget hearings during which council members review the spending plans for each city department. The city charter calls for council to approve a 2020 budget by April 1. What else did Jackson say? Jackson warned that Cleveland still must be careful with its spending. A recession would drive down income taxes. Cleveland lost $25 million in revenue in one year during the last recession. And the city also must be wary of other changes, such as moves at the state level that could lead to less revenue for the city. We must always be vigilant in terms of this, he said. Jackson cited previous cuts, such as reductions in local government funding under Gov. John Kasichs administration. And the city could face new challenges, including one proposal that would lower income tax rates assessed on people who work in Cleveland but live outside the city. Cleveland voters approved increasing the citys income tax from 2% to 2.5%, beginning in 2017. That provided an additional $80 million to $85 million a year in revenue. What are the numbers? The budget calls for about $1.84 billion in spending for the year, up slightly from 2019s estimate of $1.82 billion. That includes spending in enterprise funds -- the Cleveland water department, Cleveland airports, Cleveland Public Power and the citys sewer service -- which generate their own revenue. General fund spending for most city services police, fire, EMS, street maintenance, garbage pickup, recreation programs is forecast at about $670 million, up from $646 million in 2019. The city finished 2019 with about $43 million in cash. Jackson expects about $46 million in reserve at the end of 2020. How will the money be spent? This is primarily a budget of delivering services, Jackson said, but added, Just because you have money doesnt mean you can just spend, spend, spend. But there could be money for projects. As extra revenue became available in 2019, the city set aside cash for one-time projects rather than borrowing and adding to its debt. Some examples: $14 million for demolition programs. $13 million for street resurfacing. $8 million for new vehicles. $5 million for lead abatement. $3 million for IT development. That means the city is in a better position this year if it needs to sell bonds for projects, Jackson said. But if revenues remain strong, he intends to continue that same cash approach in 2020. What happens next? Cleveland City Council has budget hearings scheduled every day for the next two weeks to vet the mayors proposals. More from Cleveland City Hall Cleveland, neighborhood non-profit target 14-block, East Side commercial strip for growing new businesses Street projects to force one-way traffic on major Cleveland roadways, detours for at least seven months Cuyahoga County elections board grants Cleveland request to cancel charter issues to cut City Council seats, members pay Cleveland plan for reducing single use bags could involve fees to protect retailers, exemptions for the poor Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson signs legislation to eliminate fines, jail time and court records for low-level marijuana possession Get insider texts about Cleveland City Hall on your phone from Robert Higgs. Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with cleveland.coms City Hall reporter, just like you would with your friends. Sign up here and give it a try. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Today Apple announced that its prior financial forecast, provided during its January earnings cycle, is no longer valid. In a letter to investors today, the technology giant said that it "do[es] not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter" due to impacts stemming from the coronavirus that has shuttered large parts of China, and is reverberating through the global economy. In its letter Apple said that its prior guidance was based on its "best estimates about the pace of return to work following the end of the extended Chinese New Year holiday on February 10." As China's return to work has proved halting, and the coronavirus itself more intractable than some anticipated, the company's change in guidance is almost unsurprising. The Cupertino-based firm cited two key reasons for the change in guidance: First, that "worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained." This is not surprising given what we've learned about Foxconn's less-than-quick return to capacity at various factories. Apple also said that "demand for our products within China has been" impacted by the virus. (Apple has moved away from hardware revenues as the key driver of its financial health in recent quarters, but the company's services push is still nascent compared to its iPhone incomes.) The American hardware company also said that it "is more than doubling our previously announced donation" to help combat the disease. How investors will deal with Apple stock after this news will help detail what is ahead for other companies that have large manufacturing operations or concentrated sales in China. If Apple's shares falls sharply following this announcement, it could inspire fear and bring down other stocks that investors view as newly risky. In reverse, however, if Apple shakes off what investors could read as a short-term disruption to production and sales, other stocks could maintain short-term price integrity. Story continues Regardless, after Singapore cut its economic growth forecast, and Apple is part of that mix, the chance of the coronavirus having a modest impact on the global economy is fading. This is not the first time that Apple has changed its guidance. A year ago the company reduced expectations due to trade tensions. Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to review its judgement of October last year in which the court asked the BJP leader to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of pending criminal cases against him in his 2014 poll affidavit. Fadnavis, through his lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, said that he did not give any false information and was wrongly prosecuted. This will seal my fate. It is an important question as it affects Article 21 (of the Constitution). This is a matter which requires a re-look, Rohatgi told the three-judge bench on behalf of Fadnavis, according to news agency PTI. PTI further reported that Fadnavis told the court the issue will have very far reaching consequences for other candidates fighting elections and the top court needs to re-examine its October 1, 2019 decision. What if cognisance was taken in an offence yesterday and I file my poll affidavit tomorrow? asked Rohatgi. Fadnavis made the submission that the provisions under Section 33(A) of the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA) were wrongly invoked against him since he did not hide any information. I have not given any false information in my form. The concealment of information as alleged is liable for prosecution under some other law. But not under the section I have been prosecuted under, Fadnavis told the bench of justices Arun Mishra, Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose. In its judgement last year, the apex court had set aside the Bombay High Court order which gave a clean chit to Fadnavis and held that he did not deserve to be tried for the alleged offence under the RPA. During arguments, Rohatgi said that a candidate can be criminally prosecuted for violating the two conditions of not disclosing cases where charges have been framed and where he or she has been convicted. The court reserved its order on Tuesday. The two cases of alleged cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998 but charges were not framed. In a post called Jeff Sessions: The Open Questions, Scott critiqued a post I wrote about the demonization of John Bolton. My post was called Its John Boltons turn. My post objected to the treatment by some conservatives of Sessions and Bolton. Scott discussed both ex-Trump administration officials. I replied to the portion of Scotts post pertaining to Sessions here. Now, I will reply to the portion pertaining to Bolton. If I read Scotts post correctly, he questions whether Bolton has been demonized (or, if you prefer, vilified) at all. In an email to me, Scott said I was arguing with shadows. This, though, is what President Trump had to say about Bolton in a tweet I quoted in my post: For a guy who couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying Dont do it, sir, takes the job, mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V., and many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Trump casts a giant shadow. Within two days of his attack tweet, conservative commentators were piling on. Lou Dobbs called Bolton a RINO and a tool for radical Democrats and the deep state. Rodney Howard-Browne, a conservative pastor who has visited the White House to lay hands on Trump, lamented not physically assaulting Bolton when he had the chance. The pastor added that Jesus Christ would have beat the crap out of Bolton for disobeying President Donald Trump. Rush Limbaugh referred to Bolton as the next Christine Blasey Ford. It was these sorts of denunciations (and there were others) that I had in mind when I wrote my post. I cant tell from Scotts email and his post whether he thinks Bolton should be attacked in harsh terms like those used by Trump. If he doesnt, then we are in agreement on the main point I tried to make in my post. It is clear that, at a minimum, Scott thinks Bolton was wrong to seek the publication of his memoir of service in the Trump administration before the upcoming election, and that doing so was a betrayal of trust. But thats not the same thing as believing that Bolton should be denounced the way he was in Trumps tweet and the attacks that followed. As to whether Bolton should have sought publication of his book, Scott cited with approval an article by Boltons longtime friend and associate, Fred Fleitz. The article criticized Boltons decision but did not demonize Bolton. Scott deems Fleitzs criticism of Boltons decision unanswerable. I respect Fleitz (as I respect Bolton) and knew he had expressed this view. However, I dont agree with it. The public benefits from truthful accounts by former administration officials about the policies a current administration has employed or is employing. This is particularly true if a president isnt telling the truth about his policies. Suppose an ex-Obama administration official had written that, contrary to the White Houses claims, the president was orchestrating the IRSs policy of withholding tax exempt status from conservative organizations. I wouldnt criticize that ex-official for blowing the whistle, I would praise him or her. In Boltons case, assuming that accounts of what he has written are true, the former national security advisor is contradicting Trumps claims about the withholding (for a brief time) of aid to Ukraine. That issue the matter of quid pro quo was at the heart of the impeachment proceedings. It remains in dispute (though probably not in serious doubt). I think the public would benefit from Boltons first-hand account. There is, to be sure, a potential downside to books like Boltons. Fleitz identifies it. Such insider accounts might deter future candid discussions between the president and members of his staff. However, Boltons is not the first insiders book about the Trump administration. There is The Briefing by Sean Spicer, Unhinged by Omarosa Manigault Newman, Team of Vipers by Cliff Sims, and A Warning, by an anonymous White House official. There has also been non-stop leaking about presidential conversations (which I dont approve of). These books werent written by members of Trumps national security team. However, special procedures protect against the breaching of national security through books like Boltons. Fleitzs point wasnt that Boltons book threatens national security. It was that it makes candid discussion less likely because the revelations might affect the next election. But the same is true, potentially, of revelations in the other books. Yet the publication of these books does not appear to have deterred candid White House conversations. I gather, for example, that Trump and Bolton communicated candidly about key matters such as Ukraine policy. I gather, too, that extensive leaking in past administration hasnt prevented candid White House conversations. Even so, reasonable people can disagree with me as to whether the benefits of a book like Bolton outweigh the potential risks. I didnt argue that Bolton should be immune from criticism for seeking to publish his book. My argument was that he shouldnt be demonized. I also wondered why President Trump has selected so many people for key positions whom he later found severely wanting and, in some cases, saw fit to demonize. Im still wondering. The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill today to prohibit smoking or vaping in vehicles carrying children 14 and younger. The bill, by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, passed by a vote of 78-19. The original bill covered only smoking, but House members approved an amendment by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, adding vaping. Hollis initially opposed Drummonds amendment but relented after a few minutes. Todays vote sends the bill to the Alabama Senate, which could give it final passage. The bill would impose a fine up to $100 for violations. Violations would be a secondary offense, meaning that police could only charge a driver if they stopped them on probable cause for a separate offense, such as speeding or not wearing a seat belt. Several lawmakers said it was common sense for parents to avoid smoking in cars with their children. But they said they thought it was government overreach to make it against the law. Hollis said the bill wasnt aimed at restricting the rights of adults, but protecting children from second-hand smoke. Hollis has previously proposed similar bills but none has made it all the way through the Legislature. SWAT team and police entered into the condominium where Fort and Williams were found dead. Police said that during the investigation, it was determined that Fort and Williams were in a domestic relationship. The reason for the shooting has not been determined. Police believe the incident was not a random act of violence, and that there is no further threat to the community. During the incident, police advised residents in the apartment complex to stay inside of their unit until it was safe. Its in an apartment complex so you have a lot people in a confined area, Ledwell said. We dont know if this person is going through a mental health crisis. Our ultimate goal is to negotiate with them and get them out safely to avoid a situation like this. It just appears that everything went so fast and so fluid that we never had a chance to set up any type of communication with them. Police are still investigating. Concord police is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call police at 704-920-5000 or Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers at 704-93-CRIME. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a wave of sentence commutations and pardons, including for disgraced financier Michael Milken, who was convicted in 1990 of securities fraud. As part of his clemency blitz, Trump also commuted the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of federal corruption charges, including for an attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat previously held by then-President Barack Obama. Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was one of the seven people granted presidential pardons on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony tax fraud and lying to the government. Former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., who was convicted in a gambling fraud scandal in 1998, was also pardoned. Trump also granted clemency to Ariel Friedler, Paul Pogue, David Safavian, Angela Stanton, Tynice Nichole Hall, Crystal Munoz and Judith Negron. We have commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, Trump told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. I dont know him very well. Ive met him a couple times. He was on for a short while on The Apprentice years ago. He seemed like a very nice person. Dont know him, but he served eight years in jail. It was a long time to go. Trump on commuting sentence for Blagojevich: "It was a prosecution by the same people -- Comey, Fitzpatrick -- the same group." pic.twitter.com/gXigT20Fdc Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 18, 2020 Blagojevich served as the states Democratic governor from 2003 to 2009 before he was given a 14-year prison sentence in 2012. Blagojevich was convicted a year earlier on 18 felony corruption charges related to his illegal use of campaign finances and attempts to exchange bribes for political favors. The most brazen of his crimes, however, was his attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat held by Obama when he was elected president. In a 2008 phone conversation wiretapped by the FBI, Blagojevich joked... Continue reading on HuffPost ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 18 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean for today: CAIRO - Conference entitled 'From Freedom of Worship to Freedom of Religion and Belief: Promoting Partnership between States, the International Community, and Religious Institutions' organised by the Italian embassy. BEIRUT - Amnesty International will be holding an international press conference on human rights in the Middle East. MOSCOW - Talks on the crisis in Idlib, Syria, continue between Russian authorities and the Turkish delegation led by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal. ZAGREB - Swearing in of new president Zoran Milanovic. ROME - Informational conference organised by the Italian-Arab Chamber of Commerce to illustrate the multiple opportunities for Italian firms offered by the Ras al-Khaimah (UAE) emirate. BARI - Exhibition entitled 'By Sea: Landings and Shipwrecks' (until March 30). (ANSAmed). Bella Hadid has now joined her older sister Gigi on the list of supermodels to have graced the front cover of LOVE magazine. The 23-year-old was seen celebrating her success on Monday as she signed copies and embraced her model friends at Dover Street Market during London Fashion Week. Earlier in the night, Bella, one of the world's most in-demand models, was front and centre for Burberry's AW20 showcase. All you need is love: Bella Hadid was seen celebrating her success on Monday as she signed copies and embraced her model friends at Dover Street Market during London Fashion Week Joining her sister Gigi and best friend Kendall Jenner, Bella donned pieces from the Brit label's newest collection and stunned as she did so. The American star - who is the younger sister of fellow model Gigi Hadid - spoke out about her early modelling career in the latest issue of LOVE called #CHAOSANDCONTROL. She told the publication: 'In my opinion I started modelling way too young. I was still growing and my confidence wasnt fully matured. Cover-girl: Bella Hadid has now joined her older sister Gigi on the list of supermodels to have graced the front cover of LOVE magazine Model family: The American star - who is the younger sister of fellow model Gigi Hadid - spoke out about her early modelling career in the latest issue of LOVE called #CHAOSANDCONTROL 'I didnt love myself, or didnt necessarily think I was worthy of all of the recognition I was getting. 'When I was younger, I would see photos of myself that I hated and would be mortified that people wanted to work with me, because I was so self-conscious.' Instead the model said that she had only been interested in fashion if it involved horses, such as when her supermodel mother Yolanda bought her new Hermes riding saddle for Christmas one year. Supermodel mother: Yolanda Hadid (left) came along to support her daughter Bella (centre) with Editor-in-Chief LOVE Katie Grand (right) Champagne celebrations: Bella Hadid signs copies of LOVE Magazine at Dover Street Market with Editor-in-Chief LOVE Katie Grand (left) However the star did develop a passion from photography from the age of nine to seventeen. Bella told LOVE how she enjoyed dressing up her friends, doing their 'dark and deadly' make up and building sets to photograph them in, creating 'characters'. Bella began to model at the age of 16 but said she has only in the last few years become comfortable with herself in front of the camera. During Burberry's runway earlier on Monday Bella flashed a glimpse of her cleavage through the peekaboo neckline of her form-fitting tan coloured dress. Wrapping up: Bella left to attend another LFW event after the signings were over. The model wore a calf length leather and fur look coat Long day: After walking in the Burberry fashion show and attending the LOVE magazine signing Bella attended the PAMPARA Photographic exhibition Stepping out: Yolanda couldn't keep the smile off her face as she stepped out to support her daughter Proud mama: The TV personality was in high spirits as she stepped out in style The pencil length frock boasted long sleeves, which the model ruched up to her elbows, and unusual cut-out shoulders. She strolled along in a nude pair of pointed shoe boots and carried a coordinating handbag over her shoulder. Bella's raven bob was styled sleek and straight and her make-up look finished off with a pop of pink lipstick. Ready for the runway: Earlier in the night, Bella, one of the world's most in-demand models, was front and centre for Burberry's AW20 showcase DETROIT (AP) A California company says it will build and sell Chinese-designed automobiles in the U.S. at the end of next year or early in 2022. HAAH Automotive Holdings says it has an agreement with large Chinese automaker Chery Automobile to provide the vehicles, which will be assembled in a U.S. factory. HAAH says the first vehicle sold will be a midsize SUV. It's the latest effort to bring passenger vehicles designed in China to the United States, but other efforts so far have seen limited success. GAC Motor of China has appeared at the last two Detroit auto shows to tout plans to enter the American market. But its plans have been delayed until June of this year. General Motors Co. and Sweden's Volvo Cars export Chinese-made vehicles to the United States. China's BYD Auto sells battery-powered buses to U.S. transit companies. Other Chinese brands have announced U.S. sales plans but have struggled to meet safety and emissions standards. HAAH of Irvine, California, says it will sell Geely-designed autos under the Vantas brand name. The company will develop a U.S. dealership network and have flexible online sales. HAAH will be recruiting dealers at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention, which starts later this week in Las Vegas. Chery and HAAH are reviewing sites for a U.S. factory but have not reached a decision, the company said. It is considering existing buildings as well as undeveloped sites. Initially the SUVs will be assembled from kits to hit HAAH's on-sale target date. But the plant will move to full manufacturing over time, HAAH said. The company didn't give an estimate of how many people the factory will employ. HAAH also has a partnership with Chinese automaker Zotye Auto, which plans to start selling vehicles in the United States in 2020. (Newser) A local official says at least 20 people died in a stampede in Niger as they were being given food and goods at a refugee camp. Diffa governor Issa Lamine says 15 women and five children were killed and 16 others were injured Monday at the camp in the southeast for people who fled unrest in neighboring Nigeria, the AP reports. Those who hadnt received food on Sunday stampeded early Monday at the distribution center, Lamine says. Boko Harams decade-long insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has killed tens of thousands and forced many more from their homes. An offshoot affiliated with ISIS also carries out attacks. (Read more Niger stories.) Photo for illustration (Source: VNA) According to the Organizing Board, troupes from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have signed to join the festival. The festivals theme is Lan Len Mai Hoa Thung (Dragon Climbs Mountains), a traditional dance which presents a dragon heading to the highest mountain. In the dance, a performer jumps from the lowest iron pole, around one metre high, to the highest one of at least 1.7 metres. There are 10 poles 1-3 metres apart. Cho Lon is used to refer to entire area of District 5, District 6 and a part of District 11 of Ho Chi Minh city. District 5 and District 6 are the main living areas of Hoa (Chinese-Vietnamese) ethnic community in the city at present, reported VNA. Dragon dance is part of the traditional lifestyle of the Hoa community. About 440,000 Hoa people live in HCM city./. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I often cut designs into my grandchildren's hair, but it is a time-consuming process," said an inventor from Ontario, Calif. "I realized that there had to be a faster, easier way to make custom designs in short hair, which led me to develop this convenient toolkit." She developed the patented ROTATIONAL HAIR CUTTING DEVICE to make it easier to cut high-tech, custom designs into short hair. The design enables the user to work quickly and efficiently, which saves time and effort. The tool is very easy to control due to its sleek design. It eliminates the need to rely on a conventional set of clippers to create intricate designs. Furthermore, the invention allows a variety of designs to be created with minimal effort. The original design was submitted to the Orange County sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-OCM-1340, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com A tomb discovered under the Roman Forum could be the resting place of the city's legendary founder Romulus. Archaeologists are believed to have uncovered an area devoted to the first King of Rome and a rock sarcophagus, measuring 4.6ft, which are believed to date back to the 6th century BC. Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park Alfonsina Russo told The Times: 'This is an extraordinary discovery. The forum never ceases to yield amazing fresh treasures.' Tomb discovered under the Roman Forum (pictured) could be the resting place of the city's legendary founder Romulus What is the Roman Forum? The Roman Forum, known as the Forum Romanum in Latin, was the heartbeat of both Ancient Rome and its continent-straddling empire. Historians believe people first began meeting in the Forum in 500BC when the Roman Republic was founded. The area is situated between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill. The Temple of Julius Caesar is the most striking monument and was built a couple of years after Ancient Rome's most famous leader was murdered in 44BC. Advertisement The underground temple is buried beneath the entrance stairway to the Curia and was the place where Roman senators voted with every presumed to belong to one. Scholars believed, according to Ms Russo, that the temple's altar has been positioned where ancient Romans believed Romulus was buried. Yet no bones were found in the coffin. The finding had taken place near the Lapis Niger, an ancient black shrine in the Roman Forum, according to Andreas Steiner, editor of the magazine Archeo. The shrine, discovered in 1899, has a Greek inscription referring to how the sacred ground must not be disturbed. In Roman mythology, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were left in a basket on the River Tiber. The pair survived and were discovered under a fig tree and a she-wolf suckled them. Romulus later killed his brother Remus in a fight on what became Palatine Hill in 753BC. The pair survived and were discovered under a fig tree and a she-wolf suckled them Pictured: The Capitoline Wolf statue in Rome LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- National Tenant Network, Inc. founder and CEO Edward Byczynski is pleased to announce that NTN Northwest, Marcia Gohman, CEO and Mike Gohman, President, is awarded NTN's 2020 CEO Award for creating and maintaining impressive product and marketing techniques in 2019 which positively impacted NTN's national footprint and served as a catalyst for NTN business nationwide. The annual audit reviews each NTN franchise's performance, considering revenue growth as well as the market challenges addressed by each office. Since its opening in June, 2000, the NTN Northwest office has consistently offered its subscribers in Oregon and Washington expertise in rental risk management and knowledge of current legislation critical to Fair Housing compliance. National Tenant Network serves its subscribers through 35 regional offices across the country, maintaining local contact and providing superior customer service and data quality. NTN's comprehensive products and services are specifically designed for property owners, managers and investors. This year, the company celebrates 40 years of service to the industry. For information on how to make your life easier as an NTN subscriber, go to www.ntnonline.com or call 800.228.0989. Media Contact: NTN, Inc. Edward F. Byczynski PO Box 1664 Lake Oswego, Or 97035 Phone 1.800.228.0989 E-mail [email protected] Web site www.ntnonline.com SOURCE National Tenant Network Major players must accelerate development of natural and eco-friendly ingredients to minimize the risk of health hazards and pollution, which are associated chemical based disinfectants. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / Global hospital disinfectant products & services market will hit revenues of US$ 30 Bn in 2020, witnessing a steady CAGR during 2019 - 2029. The industry is rising on account of growing concerns over post-treatment infections acquired at hospitals and clinical settings, as suggested by a new study of Future Market Insights (FMI). "Bloodstream infection (BSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP], urinary tract infection (UTI), and surgical site infection (SSI) are some of the common intricate hospital associated infections. Offerings of companies in this industry, thus, must be in compliance with associated medical regulations," says the FMI report. Key Takeaways of Hospital Disinfectant Products & Services Market Study Liquid disinfectants remain top-selling product category, accounting for two-fifth of overall revenues. Low and medium income economies will be the lucrative pockets of investment for hospital disinfectant products and services providers. Natural and eco-friendly disinfectant formulations will represent the product differentiation strategy of manufacturers. Download Sample Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-10993 Top Market Growth Drivers Government-organized health and hygiene campaigns will continue to drive sales in developing regional markets. Greater emphasis of leading players on enhanced digital marketing of their key offerings will ramp up their marketability. Development of favorable healthcare policy framework will significantly push demand for disinfectant products and services. Key Restraints to Market Growth Government policies that demand an increase cost of production for manufacturers to meet quality standards continue to limit market growth. A sizeable number of hospital facilities are still not compliant with the regulatory standards, which remains a key threat to the growth of market. Competition Landscape of Hospital Disinfectant Products & Services Market The market for hospital disinfectant products & services represents a moderately consolidated landscape. Major manufacturers are primarily focusing their efforts on product improvements with novel ingredients, and enhanced production processes. Reducing the chemical content of disinfectant product formulations would be a significant developmental strategy of leading market players. Some of the key players operating in hospital disinfectant products & services market that are covered in this FMI study, include but are not limited to, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Becton, Johnson & Son Inc., Colgate Palmolive Company, and Dickinson and Company. Request Report Mythology: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-10993 More About the Report This Future Market Insights study of 300 pages offers actionable insights on global hospital disinfectant products & services market. The market analysis is based on product type (liquids, gels and lotions, spray and foam, wipes, devices, surveillance provider services, and others), applications (skincare, surface cleansers, surveillance providers, disinfectant instrument accessories, water cleaners, and air cleaners), across seven regions (Middle East & Africa, Oceania, East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America). Explore Extensive Coverage of FMI's Retail & Consumer Products Landscape Driving Protection Gear Market- Learn more about what factors are shaping up the global driving protection gear market that has be projected to reach revenues worth US$ 10 Bn by 2020. Waterproof Socks Market - FMI's report on waterproof socks analyzes the progress of this industry during a preset forecast period, along with analysis of the essential market dynamics. Men's Skincare Products Market- Learn about the factors driving men's skincare sales and what developments are gaining importance by the leading manufacturers in industry. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Contact: Name: Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Research Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/hospital-disinfectant-products-and-services-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/hospital-disinfectant-products-and-services-market SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576804/Sales-of-Hospital-Disinfectant-Products-Services-to-Reach-US-30-Bn-in-2020-Eco-friendly-Product-Formulations-to-Gain-Traction-Reports-Future-Market-Insights The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Louth has been in consultation with the Ardee Business Park about working from home initiatives and making additional spaces available for coworking purposes, members were told at the Louth County Council February meeting. Cllr John Sheridan raised the matter in the chamber, when he sought an update on whether the local enterprise office had applied for funding from central government for home working initiatives. Chief Executive Joan Martin invited Head of Enterprise from the Local Enterprise Office, Mr Thomas McEvoy, who was at the meeting, to share an update on how the initiatives were progressing. Mr McEvoy told the meeting, were in discussions with the Ardee Community company and there is a border enterprise development fund which has launched, the closing date is March 24. The company is considering whether to put an application in. But were taking to them about adding some additional space for coworking purposes, he added. Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat following the meeting, Cllr Sheridan said he welcomed the update. "This was a big issue I raised during my [local] election campaign," said Cllr Sheridan. "So many people of my generation are commuting to Dublin for jobs. We have a brilliant centre in Louth Village at the moment. I received information last year that there was talks that the Ardee Business Park was to have a centre there. "Im delighted with the reply today that it is still in planning, because there are people who are leaving early everyday and commuting on local buses and all the rest", the Fianna Fail TD continued. "And if they can work from home its keeping money in the local economy and even for childcare reasons, people are getting to spend more time in the area", he added. By Andrew MacAskill and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - Jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is no longer being kept in solitary confinement and his health is improving, his spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson told reporters on Tuesday. Assange, 48, is in Belmarsh high-security prison in London, fighting an extradition request from the United States where he faces 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. He could spend decades in prison if convicted. His supporters had expressed concern about the state of his health after he appeared confused during a court hearing in October, struggling to recall his age and name and saying he was unable to think properly. Assange was moved from solitary confinement in the medical wing to a different part of the prison with 40 other inmates after his legal team and prisoners complained that his treatment was unfair, Hrafnsson said. "I saw him about 10 days ago - he has improved thanks to the pressure from his legal team, the general public, and amazingly, actually from other inmates in Belmarsh Prison to get him out of isolation," Hrafnsson said ahead of an extradition hearing that starts next week. Australian-born Assange made global headlines in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff. WikiLeaks later angered the United States by publishing caches of leaked military documents and diplomatic cables. Assange has consistently presented himself as a champion of free speech being persecuted for exposing abuses of power. But his critics paint him as a dangerous figure complicit in Russian efforts to undermine the West. He fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted for questioning about allegations of sex crimes which have since been dropped. He spent seven years holed up in the embassy until Ecuador decided to stop giving him refuge and he was dragged out last May. Story continues Earlier, a group of doctors representing 117 physicians and psychologists from 18 nations called in a letter for an end to what they described as "the psychological torture and medical neglect of Julian Assange". His father, John Shipton, said Assange's long confinement indoors had damaged his health and feared that sending his son to the US would be akin to a "death sentence". "His situation is dire, he has had nine years of ceaseless psychological torture where false accusations are constantly being made," he told reporters. (Writing by Estelle Shirbon/Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Stephen Addison) Beijing will convert an industrial building into a new mask factory in six days to meet the surging demand amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The factory, being constructed by the China Construction First Group, is expected to produce 250,000 masks per day. Construction started Monday with workers alternating shifts to ensure the project is completed by Saturday. To protect workers from potential infection, the construction company will take temperatures on a daily basis and set aside rooms away from the living areas for workers with symptoms, according to Song Chao, a project manager with the company. As China battles the epidemic, masks have been in great demand by medical workers, disease control personnel as well as the general public. The government has encouraged medical supply manufacturers to step up production among other measures to fill in the supply gap. Barrister Legenju Vitalise Nkemngong Facebook Barrister Legenju Vitalise Nkemngong, who says he is of the Bangwa Consortium, has taken to Facebook to question the disturbing silence of the Cameroon Bar Association regarding the bloody incident at Ngarbuh in Cameroons North West Region. The former senior partner at Veritas Law Offices in Buea writes that the Bar Association worldwide is celebrated as being that last hope for the voiceless in face of aggression by the powers that be against its own people. His words: There is an age old adage that Staying mute enface injustice is clearly siding with the Oppressor. The current Leadership of The Cameroon Bar (just like most Francophone politicians in Cameroon nowadays Kamto inclusive) rose to power particular based on their rhetoric as the messiahs to see the innocent Anglophones out of the massacre meted on them by the Regime. On the 14th of February, 2020 while Francophones joined the rest of the World to celebrate Love on Saint Valentines Day, We the Southern Cameroonians rose up to the gruesome Massacre of over 27 Civilians including Children and pregnant women in Ngarbuh Village, Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. While Activists in and outside Cameroon, Civil Society Organizations, National/International media houses and some UN Agencies have issued statements condemning such heinous Crimes against Humanity against a people, The Cameroon Bar Association has stayed mute. The Bar Association Worldwide is celebrated as being that last hope for the voiceless in face of aggression by the powers that be against its own people. The question is not just issuing a statement but the spontaneity of such a statement is of fundamental importance. The Bar that is, and that the Bar that ought to be leaves much to be desired. In the coming months or thereabout, they will come again calling us Nos Frere de NOSO and talking big of how Common Law friendly they are. I recall how swiftly the Bar has acted when issues touch on their brothers East of the Mungo like the colleague who was tortured by the Gendarmes in Yaounde etc, from the lukewarm attitude of the Bar and by extension Francophones towards the sufferings of the Anglophones, Can we genuinely say again that: WE ARE ONE PEOPLE AND ONE COUNTRY? It is time for our Anglophone Bar Council Members to put aside their indifferent/ideological differences and loyalty to the Francophone led Bar, and side with their people. We need them now more than ever. God Bless the good peace loving people of the Southern Cameroons. Global temperature increases are affecting grapevines, and vineyardists are looking for answers. As temperatures rise, the results are increased variability and extreme weather conditions. Exactly how the Napa Valley and other wine-growing regions respond and work to help alleviate the human-made causes of the problem present both a challenge and an opportunity. Because of changing climatic conditions, in the last few years theres been a big shift in how vineyard owners plan new vineyards and manage their existing vines, said Caleb Mosley, senior viticulturist at Napas Michael Wolf Vineyard Services. With the anticipation of even higher temperatures in the future, were looking for ways to deal with extreme weather events while at the same time exploring ways to reduce our carbon footprint. The future: increased variability and extreme conditions The greatest cause of recent climate change is greenhouse gases, including C02 and nitrous oxide, both of which can be generated through a host of human activities, including agriculture. The result of increased levels of greenhouse gasses, according to experts, is that temperatures in California have risen 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895. That trend is expected to continue. Based on ensemble modeling [an evaluation of 10 to 20 different climate models], we predict that within 20 to 30 years local temperatures will rise 1 to 1.7 degrees overall, with a 2.0 to 2.2 increase of temps during the growing season, said Gregory Jones, director of wine education and professor and research climatologist in the Department of Environmental Studies at Linfield College in Oregon. That might not sound like a lot to some, but this will have a big impact on many agricultural products such as wine grapes. As the climate changes, agricultural crops that have grown in one location may become ill-suited to thrive under newly changed conditions. Perhaps this is nowhere more apparent than within the world of vineyards, where particular grape varietals are inextricably linked to the localized microclimates and where unpredictable and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, high winds, severe frosts and fires render producing a consistently high-quality crop difficult or even impossible to grow. Hotter in the summer and warmer in the winter High temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summers growing season can cause a grapevines metabolism to shut down and also result in sunburned grapes, which reduces their ability to synthesize flavor and color chemical compounds. However, warmer temperatures during the winter months also have a negative effect. Grapevines normally go dormant during the winter and require a certain number of chilling hours the number of hours with temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in order to maintain dormancy, even if there is a warm day or two. When that number of chill hours (roughly 150 for wine grapes) isnt met, a vine can prematurely begin to grow new shoots earlier than normal, making it susceptible to frost events. Another problem with less-cold winters is the increased spread of disease. Prolonged below-freezing periods can reduce the numbers of disease-carrying pathogens in an area. Without this natural hindrance many worry that insects, viruses, molds and fungi newly arrived to the region will thrive and bring with them a host of new problems. Higher temperatures change where and which grapes can be grownEven as global temperatures rise, vineyards are now being planted in locations that wouldnt have been hospitable even a generation ago. Historically vineyards have been limited to between 30 to 50 degrees latitude, basically ranging between southern California and northern Washington state. However, these historic limits are now shifting. In England (55+ degrees north latitude) wine grapes are now being grown, and the same goes for Canada, northern Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and even Norway (60+ degrees north latitude). The shift is also rendering some existing vineyard locations warmer, causing earlier harvests and changing which types of varietals are being planted. In France hotter temperatures over the last three decades have hastened harvests in Burgundy, pushing them on average two weeks earlier than theyve been over the last six centuries. Locally, vintners such as Dan Petroski, winemaker at Larkmead, have embarked on what they refer to as their 21-year plan that attempts to explore varieties other than Cabernet Sauvignon that might be better suited for hotter temperatures, such as Aglianico and Tempranillo. To better understand how grape growers might combat rising temperatures, UC Davis is at the forefront of research. Our scientists have developed molecular markers to determine water stress levels and solar radiation damage, said Kaan Kurtural, assistant cooperative extension specialist in viticulture with the universitys Department of Viticulture and Enology who runs the departments Napa Valley Oakville Station, a 40-acre research vineyard. We are also exploring different farming practices to protect grapes during high-heat events, such as using shade cloth. We are also evaluating various methods to decrease carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration within the vineyard itself. Sequestering carbonBecause plants and animals (including soil microbes) are made mostly of carbon, when they grow and remain intact, carbon is sequestered in place. However, practices such as burning old discarded vines after removal or tilling soil can release carbon back into the atmosphere. Beyond maintaining the highest quality in the vineyard, resilience is our goal now, Mosley said. Most vines are currently being replaced every 20 to 30 years, but we are looking to increase that to 50 years plus, which increases the carbon permanence of the vines. This requires that we use longer-term thinking when it comes to improving soil health, using no-till farming, picking the appropriate cover crops and rootstocks, and making sure that our vineyard practices are in balance with the plant and vineyards needs. The Napa Valley and its community are on the leading edge when it comes to how to best address climate change in the vineyards, Mosley said. There are a lot of great practices out there already being shared between growers, scientists and vintners, but theres still a lot of work to be done. Readers of this column are familiar with this historical truth, but its worth repeating in light of the ongoing conservative crack-up over Chinese communications giant Huawei. For clarity on the matter, it should be stated right away that if youre selling a desirable good, youre selling to EVERYONE. For background on whats blindingly basic, back in 1973 Arab country members of OPEC announced an embargo on the U.S. Crucial about this wholly symbolic gesture is that Americans consumed every bit as much OPEC oil during the embargo and by some accounts more as they did before it. That they did was a statement of the obvious. Though Arab OPEC members ceased selling their oil to us, those they sold to didnt. Theres no accounting for the final destination of any good. The previous truth explains why Apple iPhones are all over Iran, and why Mercedes-Benz cars, American music, and Nike shoes can be found in North Korea in the hands of those with means. Though Germany has an embargo in place against North Korea, and though the U.S. has trade embargoes against both countries, ownership of Apple, Mercedes and Nike products is global. Many of those owners arent constrained by what is once again wholly symbolic, and an all-too-typical gesture of economically confused political types. Oh well, just because theyre clueless about economics doesnt mean readers should be. Which brings us to the ongoing attempts by the Trump administration to suffocate Huawei. That these actions are nakedly protectionist doesnt seem to concern the foreign policy establishment, along with all too many Republicans who would be writing opinion pieces similar to this one (minus the erudition, mind you.) if it were President Hillary Clinton vandalizing basic economics. Needless to say, its the stance of the Trump administration along with the Pentagon (in a sense) that the federal government should, according to the Wall Street Journal, reduce the flow of U.S.-made products to Huawei out of national-security concerns. These actions reveal an impressive level of economic ignorance on the part of the Administration, a need to make empty political gestures, or both. Stated simply, short of U.S. technology companies ceasing the sales of their wares altogether, there will be no cessation of technology sales to Huawei. An economically confused federal government can levy all manner of export controls on U.S. companies vis-a-vis Huawei, but that same government cant control those whom U.S. technology companies are free to sell to. History supports this basic truth, and 1973 is far from the only example. During World War I, the U.S. embargoed Germany, but the embargo in no way limited U.S. exports to Germany. Out of nowhere, there was a surge of U.S. exports to Scandinavian countries, only for those goods to find their way to Germany. Considering U.S. tariffs foisted on China more modernly, does anyone think the surge in U.S. exports to Vietnam is just some random coincidence? Policymakers, pundits and economists should put a sign up on the mirror they look into the most: if youre selling your goods youre selling to EVERYONE. So long as U.S. technology companies are creating desirable products, and so long as those products are useful to Huawei, theyll reach the Shenzhen-based company. The only reasonable way they wont is if Huawei, properly offended by the routine insult of its business practices, chooses to find other suppliers. About the odds of this happening, thats for technology experts to answer. Still, its not unreasonable to point out that market share is generally hard won. How sad that Republicans in Washington, though historically averse to planning exchange among private businesses, are so eager to plan it now that one of their own is in the White House. How damaging for U.S. businesses and their future growth that politics could get in the way of future growth and development thanks to reduced sales care of the federal government. But thats a slight digression. Back to global exchange, the simple economic truth that producers of desirable goods and services are trading with EVERYONE rates another brief mention as it applies to Huawei. Its said that the unspeakable house arrest of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfeis daughter (the equivalent of Chinese authorities arresting the son of Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos) Meng Wanzhou is largely a consequence of Huawei doing business in Iran. Ok, but everyones doing business in Iran, including U.S. companies; their sales there a function of those not barred from transacting with individuals inside the country. Hard as they try, governments cant rewrite economic reality. Which brings us to the latest shameful comment about Huawei that comes to us care of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Scott told the Journal that We know Huawei is supported and controlled by the communist regime in Beijing. Scotts obtuse ramblings are extra sad given that Scott himself saw his own company (Columbia HCA) mugged by the feds back in the 1990s. This sad bit of history rates mention when its remembered that Scott knows, or at least used to know, that innovative companies are never hatched or controlled by government. Scotts entrepreneurial ways from the past showed just how much his vision was not a creation of federal control (they could never have built the impressive business that Scott did), only for the feds to insert themselves in $631 million fashion anyway. The main thing is that assuming government control of Huawei, what are Republicans so worried about? They routinely make a correct case domestically that the truly talented rarely bring those talents to Washington, and they dont because its a known truth among Republicans that government suffocates genius. As a rule. Indeed, how many times have Republicans pointed out that the Post Office, the DMV, the Passport Office and anything else controlled by our democratically elected governments are an inept disaster? Yet the Chinese government can somehow control a company so effective that it operates in 177 countries around the world? A company so effective that cellphone companies stateside freely acknowledge that their operations would cease sans Huawei technology? Dear Republicans, what about Huaweis genius speaks to government control? Of course if it is government controlled, what does the latter say about our routine disdain for government and government-run companies over the decades? Back to reality, it should be stressed yet again that if Huawei really is a puppet of the communists, then Americans neednt fear it rolling out 5G technology or any other kind of technology that participants in the most dynamic economy in the world (that would be the U.S. economy) would want in the first place. Of course, if Huawei isnt a puppet, as in if its actually a brilliant company, Republicans should relax. No innovative company would risk it all to please government. Only failing companies would, at which point Republicans once again would have no need to fear Huawei penetration stateside. This is a truth Republicans surely used to know. Amazon boss Bezos has announced he is committing $10 billion to a new fund to fight climate change His company is often criticized for its environmental record, but Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and the world's richest man, said Monday that he was committing $10 billion to a new fund to tackle climate change. In a post to his 1.4 million followers on Instagram, the e-commerce tycoon said the Bezos Earth Fund would "fund scientists, activists, NGOsany effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world." "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," said Bezos, whose net worth is estimated to be around $130 billion. Hundreds of Amazon employees last month signed a blog criticizing the online retail giant's climate policies and demanding it do more to tackle climate change. Amazon has been accused of creating vast amounts of waste from the packaging it uses for doorstep deliveries, as well as for the greenhouse gas emissions from huge fleets of vehicles. The company, which in December said its workforce had hit 750,000, has also been denounced over its carbon footprint because of the high energy consumption of its server farms for its lucrative cloud computing activities. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share," Bezos said in his announcement on Monday. Amazon's carbon targets Bezos, who maintained his status as the world's richest person despite an expensive divorce last year, said his new foundation would begin issuing grants later this year. Last September, he said Amazon would pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040 and vowed that the company would order 100,000 electric delivery trucks. Rather than make investments that the business guru might profit from, the fund would allocate grant money to projects, The New York Times said, quoting unnamed sources familiar with the initiative. Bezos divulged few details on his social media post, which attracted overwhelmingly positive responses from his followers. Bezos has often clashed with US President Donald Trump, who regularly attacks climate change activists, recently calling them "perennial prophets of doom." The fund was described as Bezos's biggest philanthropic commitment. Fellow billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, now devotes much of his time to his charity foundation and a venture fund that makes investments aimed at helping curb emissions and reverse climate change. The New York Times said that even if Bezos spent the full $10 billion immediately, he would still be the world's richest person. Last week, he reportedly agreed to buy a Beverly Hills mansion built in the 1930s by Hollywood movie mogul Jack Warner for $165 million, a record price for a California home. 2020 AFP Julia Donaldson shouldnt have a worry in the world. The 71-year-old is probably the most successful and loved childrens picture book author alive, worth a reported $50 million or so. The Gruffalo's author Julia Donaldson. Credit:Oli Scarff/Getty Images Her characters the Gruffalo, Zog, the Highway Rat, the witch (and cat) from Room on the Broom are instantly familiar to children, and her books rhythmic, witty verses are burned into the brains of parents around the world. But she worries that along the way, she made a mistake. That, without realising it at the time, she made too many of her characters male, characters that had no reason to be any gender in particular. We voting Americans need to sort out our thinking and do so before next fall. I am so tired of hearing reasonable, intelligent people express anti-Trump attitudes based on truly flimsy grounds. A relative said to me that shed never vote for Trump because hes an a**hole. I have had other people voice similar concerns in more genteel terms - they dont like his tweeting, his braggadocio, his unpredictability. Okay, okay. At first, I didnt either. Now, its true that Trump can be a jerk. But so was Julius Caesar. So was Winston Churchill. So was George Patton. For that matter, so was King David, who was appointed by God to be king of Israel, and who was that countrys best king despite his dalliance with Bathsheba and his setting up her husband for certain death on the battlefield. Davids multiple wives and their offspring caused much upheaval in the country, but David, whom history still regards as a great king, brought peace and prosperity to his country throughout most of his lengthy reign. Perhaps it would clarify things if we were to define our terms and priorities. Is greatness usually measured by hairstyle? By smooth talk? By delicate sensibilities? What are the attributes of a truly great man? What does tradition tell us? Im an English teacher, so I think in literary terms. Lets look to the epic hero to find a standard for the epitome of human greatness. It seems to me that a person who would willingly take on the leadership of the greatest, wealthiest nation on earth would qualify as either a madman or a hero. Agreed? Reach back to your college lit class - what are the official attributes of an epic hero? An epic hero has to be involved in a battle of epic proportions and he has to be winning that battle. An epic hero has to be strong physically and mentally. He has to be wise, fearless, and tenacious. He needs to be kind to women, children, and the poor. He has to be of the aristocracy - the butler never rises to the rank of epic hero. He has to be selfless, risking his life for others. An epic hero is honest, saying directly what is on his mind. Is that such a different list from what any country would want for a president? Now, lets hold the Donald up to that standard. Is he fighting an epic battle? Thats pretty obvious. And hes fighting it with little support. I think of Beowulf and that nasty fire dragon. Only our hero and his trusty sidekick Wiglaf fought the beast - everyone else cowered back in the charred village. I think of Beowulf fighting Grendel barehanded, for no weapon could harm him. What about today? The entire western world depends on Trump being successful in cleaning out American government, in draining the fen of nicors. Definitely an epic battle. Is he strong? Not in the bench-pressing-250 sense of the word. But this man works 20 hours a day, subsists on only a few hours of sleep a night, and always appears energetic and cheerful. Hes 73 years old - about the same age as Beowulf was when he fought that fire dragon - and while Trumps not fighting with a sword and buckler, hes fighting a whole swampful of monsters. Is he strong? Not in the bench-pressing-250 sense of the word. But this man works 20 hours a day, subsists on only a few hours of sleep a night, and always appears energetic and cheerful. Hes 73 years old - about the same age as Beowulf was when he fought that fire dragon - and while Trumps not fighting with a sword and buckler, hes fighting a whole swampful of monsters. Is he strong mentally? This question is almost funny. That his detractors say hes an intellectual slug while he appears to be effortlessly saving the nation -- economically, morally, and diplomatically -- makes it a hilarious allegation. Does he sound like he went to Harvard? No. Is he a member of Mensa? Dont think so, but who cares? Hes running mental rings around his enemies and thats what counts. Wisdom? Not as the Old-Man-of-the-Mountain; hes no ones guru; he doesnt sit around with his forehead resting on his fist pondering the meaning of life - he doesnt hold still long enough. But he certainly understands people - ordinary folk. He knows what makes people tick, even Chinese people, North Korean people, Iranian people, so his dealings with other world leaders have been hugely successful. He knows that people want to love their own country; that theyd rather work productively than be handed other peoples money. He knows that a strong relationship with God is what holds this country together. He knows that military readiness is essential and that borders must be maintained; that national sovereignty is important. Is he fearless? Tenacious? He has to be given full marks on these. For over three years hes been dueling with the left -- people who want to impeach him, imprison him, kill him -- all while running the country with breathtaking expertise and nonstop success. Some see his tweets as offensive and unnecessary, but I see them as his Excalibur, his sword. He just says what he needs to say and doesnt fear the repercussions. When there is push back and horror at something hes said, he just keeps on keeping on. We would expect that hed be daunted by all the attacks and therefore be unable to function, to get anything done, but on he goes, checking off one accomplishment after another. Tenacious. Kind to women, children, and the elderly? One can go back 20 years and fault him for once using the word pu**y and for his divorces. Yes. But right now? His lovely wife seems happy in his presence; he appears to be thrilled with her. His children are all productively helping him with his agenda. Now and then a story leaks out where he - as a private individual - provided housing or assistance for just regular folks who were in need - Saeed Abedini comes to mind. Trump doesnt treat underlings with disdain - a pleasant change from our last president. Is The Donald of the aristocracy? Yes and no. Hes fabulously wealthy -- though not as much so as he was before he became president. He has a gold-plated penthouse in Manhattan and a palatial estate in Florida. Hes tall and handsome; his wife is a fashion model who speaks five languages; his kids behave with great nobility. However, he didnt go to Harvard; he wasnt inducted into Skull and Bones; he actually worked and built things for a living, unlike the elite. For these faux pas, he cannot be forgiven. Is he selfless? Yes. Its true hes enjoying the crowds adulation at his rallies. He loves, like the typical epic hero, to list his accomplishments; he can do an excellent boast. He likes winning. But note that, unlike others who go to Washington, hes not making money either doing his job, or taking advantage of his position. He donates his salary every quarter, and so far the only people better off because of his presidency are the American people in general. I know -- Trump is odd. I have no idea why his skin is that color. His Elvis hair is a total wonder, though I have to admit Im growing fond of it. His speech cadences are noticeably non-Ivy-League. He repeats himself. He says, I can tell you that much, much too often. He tweets -- aggressively. But nowhere in literature is the hero expected to be cocktail-party sophisticated. Nowhere does it say he cant be eccentric. After all, most truly great people are. Deana Chadwell blogs at www.ASingleWindow.com. She is also an adjunct professor and department head at Pacific Bible College in southern Oregon. She teaches writing and public speaking. ST. LOUIS ( ChurchMilitant.com) - A former monk and self-described "fixer" for the Catholic Church claims Missouri is uniquely favorable to predator priests. Speaking to St. Louis' Fox 2 News this week, Patrick Wall noted that "Missouri law has been very favorable to the Church," explaining that has fueled the creation of "treatment" centers - housing offender priests - in the state. MANILA, Philippines Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday reiterated that there is no need for Congress to waste efforts legislating a law that will allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Sotto issued the statement after the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) said that it recently approved in principle a resolution authorizing the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for alleviating severe forms of epilepsy. The Senate President said he will not raise any objection to DDBs announcement but his support will border on the assumption that the use of such is in medicine form and conforms with the DDB-PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) guidelines and permit. The DDB move proves the law being proposed in the HOR is unnecessary. There are more important proposed legislations that our honorable counterparts at the HOR should spend their time on, Sotto said. I hope they give priority to measures that will have more impact on the most number of our countrymen, he added. The House of Representatives in January approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to legalize and regulate medical marijuana in treating chronic or debilitating medical conditions. The bill also proposes the establishment of Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers which will be authorized to supply, sell, and dispense cannabis to qualified patients through S3-licensed pharmacists. According to Sotto, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is already authorized under the countrys Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, which he noted sets down the policy that the government shall aim to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs. He pointed out that the policy is implemented through a circular issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) providing the guidelines for the issuance of a compassionate special permit. Story continues DDB chairman Catalino Cuy earlier clarified there is no need for a separate medical marijuana law since mechanisms already exist to allow the use of dangerous drug compounds in medicine form. Cuy also said that cultivation and production of marijuana for medical or for any other purposes is still illegal in the country under Republic Act 9165. The post Sotto: No need for Congress to pass law for medical marijuana appeared first on UNTV News. (Newser) A hospital director on the front line of the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in China has become one of its latest victims. Chinese authorities say 51-year-old neurosurgeon Liu Zhiming, director of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan died Tuesday morning, the New York Times reports. He was one of the most senior medical workers in the city. "From the start of the outbreak, Comrade Liu Zhiming, without regard to his personal safety, led the medical staff of Wuchang Hospital" in the fight against the epidemic and made "significant contributions," the city's health commission said. More: Study says most cases are mild. More than 80% of the coronavirus cases confirmed in China have been mild, according to a new study from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 13.8% were classed as severe and only 4.7% were considered critical. The study, which analyzed 44,672 confirmed cases, found that the death rate is closely linked to age, the BBC reports. Some 15% of COVID-19 patients over 80 died, while the rate was less than 1% among those 40 to 49. The study found that more than 3,000 health workers in China have been infected. The overall fatality rate was 2.3%2.8% among men and 1.7% for women. story continues below Infected "rounded up." According to state media, house-to-house checks are being carried out in Wuhan to "round up" all infected patients, the Guardian reports. Factory buildings are being converted to quarantine centers for people with mild symptoms. According to state media, house-to-house checks are being carried out in Wuhan to "round up" all infected patients, the Guardian reports. Factory buildings are being converted to quarantine centers for people with mild symptoms. More cases confirmed . China reported another 98 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,868. China reported more than 1,800 new infections and Japan reported 88 more on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 542. . China reported another 98 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,868. China reported more than 1,800 new infections and Japan reported 88 more on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 542. Economic fallout . South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned Tuesday that the outbreak in China has created an "emergency situation" for the country's economy, the AP reports. "The current situation is much worse than we had thought, Moon said. "If the Chinese economic situation aggravates, we will be one of the hardest-hit countries." Analysts warn that other countries in the region will also be hit hard, with the outbreak expected to push Japan into recession. . South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned Tuesday that the outbreak in China has created an "emergency situation" for the country's economy, the AP reports. "The current situation is much worse than we had thought, Moon said. "If the Chinese economic situation aggravates, we will be one of the hardest-hit countries." Analysts warn that other countries in the region will also be hit hard, with the outbreak expected to push Japan into recession. Evacuees taken to Omaha . At least 13 patients who tested positive for coronavirus or are suspected of being infected are now at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. One of them is in a biocontainment unit. The patients were among more than 300 Americans on the Diamond Princess who arrived back in the US on two flights Monday. "I am being tended to by two nurses in full hazmat suits and the doctor who visited me was also in a hazmat suit," Carl Goldman tells CNN. "My wife and I are in separate wings of this facility and we're talking to each other via FaceTime." He says he has tested positive for COVID-19, but his wife has not. . At least 13 patients who tested positive for coronavirus or are suspected of being infected are now at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. One of them is in a biocontainment unit. The patients were among more than 300 Americans on the Diamond Princess who arrived back in the US on two flights Monday. "I am being tended to by two nurses in full hazmat suits and the doctor who visited me was also in a hazmat suit," Carl Goldman tells CNN. "My wife and I are in separate wings of this facility and we're talking to each other via FaceTime." He says he has tested positive for COVID-19, but his wife has not. Film director dies in outbreak. Deadline reports that film director and executive Chang Kai, 55, died Saturday after becoming ill with the virus. His father, mother, and sister have also died in the outbreak. (Read more coronavirus stories.) LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his estranged wife Marina Wheeler have reached a financial agreement for their divorce, court records showed Tuesday. Lawyers for Johnson and Wheeler attended a brief private hearing at the Central Family Court in London. Judge Sarah Gibbons barred the media from reporting financial details of the settlement. The judge gave Wheeler permission to apply for a divorce decree that will formally end the couples marriage. Johnson and Wheeler, a lawyer, married in 1993 and had four children. They announced in September 2018 that they had separated and planned to divorce. Johnson, 55, now lives with 31-year-old partner Carrie Symonds in the prime ministers official residence, 10 Downing St. Nicola McLean revealed that Caroline Flack told her she was 'really sad' and sent worrying messages to her 'close friends' the night before her death. The former glamour model, 38, appeared on Dan Wootton's talkRadio Drive Time show on Monday, to talk about the former Love Island presenter, who took her own life on Saturday aged 40. She then claimed that Caroline admitted she planned to plead guilty in her forthcoming court case after being charged with assault following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton - despite believing herself to be innocent. Worrying: Nicola McLean, 38, revealed that Caroline Flack sent worrying messages to her 'close friends' the night before her death Nicola explained how Caroline had been posting on her Instagram Stories to a select number of people, and one post indicated that 'she wasn't in a great way,' leading to private messages between the pair in which the TV host admitted she was 'sad'. In her heartbreaking chat, the I'm A Celebrity star said: 'She'd made her Instagram to just her close friends, so there were not very many people on there, and she posted something where I could tell she wasn't in a great way. 'She'd been doing a lot better so I'd felt like she'd done really, really well. She went LA and she'd done really well, and was seemingly a lot more positive. 'And that post I knew so I messaged her, as anyone else would do and she was sad. She was really sad and she told me, she said 'I'm sad.'... Shocking: She claimed that Caroline admitted she planned to plead guilty in her forthcoming court case after being charged with assault following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton 'She was just sad. She really was. She just wanted to be with Lewis. She wanted the charges dropped. She felt like it was unfair.' On the forthcoming trial, Nicola continued: 'She would say, 'I'll plead guilty so this all goes away', but she did not want to plead guilty because she did not think she was, and neither do I.' Caroline took her own life on Saturday, after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat. Last photo: Caroline is pictured on Valentine's Day, hours before the presenter's body was found at her London home A cry for help? Nicola explained how Caroline had been posting on her Instagram Stories to a select number of people, and one particular post indicated that 'she wasn't in a great way' It came just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis, something she denied. Her management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the 'show trial' after Lewis said he did not want to press charges. He had said she hit him with a lamp at her former home in Islington in December before asking the CPS not to press charges. Reaching out: 'I messaged her, as anyone else would do and she was sad. She was really sad and she told me, she said 'I'm sad.' She was just sad. She really was' explained Nicola Tragedy: Caroline was found dead inside her London home by her father Ian on Saturday after taking her own life while the friend who was staying with her 'popped out to the shops' Caroline had been described by friends as feeling 'she was on her own' and 'couldn't see a way out,' according to The Mirror. It was also understood she had been struggling with her mental health and using anti-depressants before her death. The TV presenter's death was confirmed by a lawyer for the family. The Flack family said in a statement: 'We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February. We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.' Gone too soon: Caroline killed herself at her new flat in Islington, north London hours after finding out she would face trial over the alleged assault of boyfriend Lewis Burton last year (pictured in February 2019) A worried producer friend had been staying with the star but found she couldn't get back into her flat after returning from the shops, a source said. She called Caroline's father Ian who gained entry to the flat where he found the star's body. Love Island also released a statement, they said: 'Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news. 'Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.' Following Caroline's death, many fans have taken to social media to demand that Love Island be axed, after she became the third person associated with the show to take their own life. Former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, took their own lives in March 2019 and June 2018. Among fans calling the show out was This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who paid tribute to Caroline while insisting there needs to be 'repercussions.' He wrote on Twitter: 'Caroline Flack .... Dear God. Shocked beyond belief. May she have found peace. #Rip Has to be repercussions for Love Island now surely?' which garnered more than 27K likes. Eamonn later added: 'Meaning out of respect, can the series continue?' (sic) A CPS spokesperson issued a statement, they said: 'Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Caroline Flack. Given the tragic circumstances, we will not comment on the specifics of this case at this stage.' If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has filed its chargesheet in connection with the December 15 violence in and around Jamia Milia University and New Friends Colony in south Delhi, sources said on Tuesday (February 18, 2020). According to sources, in its chargesheet, which was filed before Delhi`s Saket court on February 13, the Delhi Police has named 18 persons in connection with violence in Jamia Milia and New Friends Colony. The 18 people, named in its chargesheet, have been charged with rioting, damage to public property and obstruction to the public servant. Sharjeel Imam, a former JNU student, who had been arrested by the Delhi Police and booked in a sedition case earlier, has been named as the instigator behind the violence in Jamia University and the New Friends Colony on December 15 last year. In its chargesheet, the Delhi Police also placed the CCTV footage, details of the call records and the statements of over 100 witnesses who were examined by it in connection with the case as evidence. The investigation conducted by the Delhi Police revealed that empty bullet cartridges that were found during the violence belonged to 3.2 mm pistol. Delhi Police will also release more photographs for identification in the rioting. The chargesheet was filed before Delhi`s Saket court on February 13, the sources said. So far, 17 arrests have been made in connection with the case - 9 from NFC and 8 from Jamia Milia University. According to Delhi Police, all of them are locals. Meanwhile, no Jamia University student has been chargesheeted in connection with the case. Chargesheet was filed in Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court under Sections 307, 147, 148.149 186 353 332 427, said sources. At least 95 people were injured during the violence, out of which 47 are police personnel, the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police stated. In its chargessheet, the Delhi Police said that it was also probing the role of Popular Front of India (PFI) into the December 15 violence in the national capital. Protests against the newly-enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had turned violent on December 15 near Delhi`s Jamia Nagar. Several buses were set afire during the violence in which police and protesters sustained injuries. The police had used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent protesters. Military medics of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrives at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Jia Qilong] WUHAN, February 17 (Xinhua) Eight transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force Monday sent 676 military medics and medical supplies to virus-hit Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province. The eight aircraft including four Y-20s, China's domestically-developed large transport aircraft, landed at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in succession on Monday morning. This was the second time for the Y-20 to take part in non-war military operations. The aircraft had been tasked with the transportation of medics and supplies on February 13. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the PLA Air Force has dispatched 30 transport aircraft in four batches to carry out large-scale air delivery missions. Military medics of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrives at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Jia Qilong] A transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrives at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Jia Qilong] Military medics format after they deplaned a transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Li He] Military medics format after they deplaned a transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Li He] A transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrives at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Li He] (Source: Xinhua) (SOUNDBITE) (French) FARMER, JEAN-CLAUDE PETTE, SAYING: "All we know is that unfortunately, if you look at the prices we sell our produce for, we need those subsidies to survive right now. That's the only thing we know for certain." French dairy and crop farmer Jean-Claude Pette relies on European Union subsidies to keep his farm afloat. But he worries support could be cut....as governments seek ways to plug a budget hole left by Britain's departure from the bloc. Pette - who receives more in subsidies than he earns in a year- says President Emmanuel Macron must insist on those payouts being left untouched when EU leaders meet this week to thrash out the bloc's next seven-year budget. EU leaders are already divided over spending priorities. With hot topics like climate change and immigration on the agenda... French farmers worry that their more traditional needs will be overlooked. But Macron has tried to reassure farmers and said there can be no reduction to the Common Agricultural Policy budget. Making financial support for farmers more environment-focused might be one way to get round the so-called ''frugal four'' - The Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark. But this could be tough for Macron to sell to farmers already exasperated at being cast as polluters. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FARMER AND BREEDER, JEAN-CLAUDE PETTE, SAYING "It's fine to make the CAP greener, but there comes a time where in terms of farming efficiency, you reach limits. Farming doesn't have to be environmentally friendly, even if it's possible to have a kind of farming that is eco-friendly, such as organic farming and so on. But organic farming isn't the answer to all the agricultural demands." Pette, who joined hundreds of other French farmers in blocking highways leading into Paris in November, said that could mean aid payments wouldn't even be enough to offset losses. Attorney General William Barr waves as he walks on stage to speak at the National Sheriffs' Association Winter Legislative and Technology Conference in Washington on Feb. 10, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) Progressives Disrespect Americans and Disdain America Commentary If youre looking for an issue that illuminates how severely divided the American polity is, you need look no further than to sanctuary cities and states. Just last week, Attorney General William Barr announced that the Justice Department will take multiple actions against local and state governments that are actively disobeying and thwarting national immigration laws. It only took a few days for a group of 2,000 former DOJ employees to call for Barrs resignation on an unrelated issue. You may think the timing is coincidental, but in the swamp of D.C. politics, there are very few coincidences. Progressives are rallying to the defense of their comrades. Liability and Discrimination Whether state and local units of government have the right to overrule the federal governments stance on immigration is a major constitutional question. At the root of our federal system, each state has surrendered some degree of sovereignty to Washington. That is particularly true in the establishment of policies toward foreign countries. Although the Constitution doesnt explicitly mention immigration, Article I, Section 10, Clause 1 makes it plain that U.S. foreign policy is a single, coherent policy set by Washington. The founders understood that it would be chaotic and totally impractical for 50 separate state governments each to craft its own foreign policies. Apparently, though, progressives disrespect the American system of federalism and the Constitution that is supposed to govern us. Sadly, progressives are also failing to faithfully perform the first function and responsibility of every unit of government in the U.S. system: to protect the lives of citizens. Instead, they flout federal laws designed to vet immigrants in order to cull those with criminal records, contagious diseases, or involved in anti-American causes. I emphatically agree with progressives that most immigrants arent a threat, but that provides no justification for state or local officials to thwart the efforts of the federal government to screen out such individuals. But I just as emphatically reject the progressive desire for open borders. Progressives seem to believe that every human being is born with the right to come to the United States any time they want. Such a notion disrespects every American citizennative-born or foreign-bornwho appreciates what a privilege it is to be an American. Progressives dont respect U.S. citizenship. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address, expressed support for attaching legal liability to officials who shelter and hide undocumented aliens. Why is this not a law already? Why should U.S. officials enjoy immunity and impunity for helping non-Americans break immigration laws who then go out and commit crimes? Look: If a private citizen gave refuge to someone who had already broken a law and was hiding from being arrested, and that law breaker then attacked or robbed someone, wouldnt such a citizen be charged as an accessory or with aiding and abetting a criminal? Theres no way, in a free republic built on equality before the law, that government officials should be exempt from the laws that apply to the rest of us. Apparently, progressives believe theyre better than the rest of us and dont respect the American republic. But it gets worse: One of the specific practices that Attorney General Barr has targeted in his sanctuary cities investigation is legal discrimination in favor of illegal immigrants. Barr decried the actions of certain district attorneys who have adopted policies of charging foreign nationals with lesser offenses for the express purpose of avoiding the federal immigration consequences of those nationals criminal conduct. In practice, this often means treating a noncitizen less harshly than a citizen for the same crime. Besides mutilating the principle of equal justice, it adds the insult of making U.S. citizenship a disadvantage while illegal immigrants receive special treatment. (We see the same dynamic in play when progressives advocate providing free comprehensive health care to undocumented immigrantshealth care that the already heavily indebted American taxpayer is expected to pay for.) Progressives have preached for generations that discrimination is wrong. Then why discriminate against U.S. citizens? Against Americans Progressives have forgotten the fundamental purpose of U.S. governmentnamely, to make life better for Americans, not for non-Americans (for whom we may wish for the best, but which we have no duty to supply). We supposedly have a system of representative government; if so, that system is in a state of disrepair when elected officials dont prioritize the interests of those they nominally represent. It gives me zero pleasure to say thisindeed, it grieves mebut I have come to the conclusion that progressives love neither America nor Americans. This was evident throughout President Trumps SOTU address, but never more starkly and horrifyingly than at the end. The presidents closing statements were inspiring: We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers. Our most thrilling stories are not yet told. Our grandest journeys are not yet made. The American Age, the American Epic, the American adventure has only just begun. Our spirit is still young, the sun is still rising, Gods grace is still shining, and, my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come. Any person who loves the United States should have enthusiastically cheered that sentiment, even if they believe that their strategies and policies would be more effective than Trumps at achieving those aspirations. Yet all the progressives in Congress could do was to glower sullenly. They may try to rationalize their churlish conduct by claiming that it was their antipathy for Trump that kept them from cheering the prospect of a bright future for America and Americans, but sorry, people: If your dislike for one man outweighs your love of country, then yours is a feeble love indeed. Frankly, I dont think progressives do share Trumps positive, optimistic view of America. Instead, they want to obliterate our borders, dismantle our Constitution, devalue U.S. citizenship, bankrupt our treasury, and strip away our liberties in the name of some fantastic ideal global, socialist utopia. Theyre the contemporary iteration of the Vietnam-era anti-American left. They dont simply disagree with current policy; they have been seduced by an illogical non-sequitur: that because we arent perfect, America is on the wrong side of history and therefore worthy of condemnation. The short-sighted, self-destructive rejection of America parallels the short-sighted, self-destructive rejection of capitalism. Just as capitalism can be faulted for not being perfect, but shouldnt be condemned, but rather respected as (by far) the best of imperfect alternatives, so a more balanced, rational appraisal is that the United States, while clearly not perfect, has done more to uplift, prosper, and bless more people than any other country on Earth. Tragically, though, progressives want to penalize us and take Americans down a few notchesto punish us, as it were, for our prosperity and achievementsin the name of some wacky theory of global social justice. Like Karl Marx, who presented himself as a friend of the people but in practice made clear his contempt for most human beings, so todays progressives claim to be the champions of the people, yet espouse policies (whether Sen. Elizabeth Warrens dozens of plans or AOCs one grand central plan, the abominable Green New Deal) that will bring impoverishment, despair, and servitude to millions. If you dont think theres much at stake in this years election, think again. This election is of existential significance; it will be for all the marbles. It will provide a stark choice between two competing visionsone that is pro-Americans and pro-America and one that disrespects U.S. citizens and disdains the America that most of us love. Mark Hendrickson, an economist, recently retired from the faculty of Grove City College, where he remains a fellow for economic and social policy at the Institute for Faith and Freedom. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. PROXIDRUGS, the regional network led by Goethe University, aims at developing active molecules for selective intervention, opening new therapeutic avenues. Within the "Clusters4Future" ideas competition, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has now selected the project for funding in the concept phase - as one of 16 finalists out of 137 proposals submitted. "The body has developed an ingenious mechanism for disposing of superfluous or harmful proteins. We wish to seize this to break down disease-relevant proteins," says PROXIDRUGS coordinator Professor Ivan ?iki? from the Institute of Biochemistry II at Goethe University, explaining the project's rationale. Developing better therapies for diseases such as cancer, heart or inflammatory disease is the goal of the alliance of biochemists, chemists, clinicians and pharmacists from Goethe University, the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME) and TU Darmstadt. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research will support the project with funds of up to 250,000 during the six-month concept phase starting in May. If the alliance then qualifies for the implementation phase, up to 5 million will be available per year for PROXIDRUGS. With this funding scheme, the Ministry wants to turn scientific hotspots into powerful regional innovation networks. "Goethe University at the heart of the Rhine-Main region, a top location unique in Germany, bundles academic and industrial expertise for the development of innovative therapeutic concepts," says Professor Simone Fulda, the University's Vice-President, praising the consortium's approach, which is based on reprogramming of the cell's own systems. Proteins destined for degradation are usually marked in an enzymatic reaction with the small protein ubiquitin. The cell's "shredder", the proteasome, recognizes this signal and breaks the respective protein down into its individual components, which are then recycled. At the focus of PROXIDRUGS is a novel class of drugs acting through a proximity-based mechanism: The corresponding molecules exhibit two functional units - one for the selective binding of the respective target protein and a second one to dock onto the required enzyme. In this way, any unwanted protein that has a suitable binding pocket can in principle be marked with ubiquitin and flagged for degradation. First molecules based on this principle, called PROTACs (Proteolysis Targeting Chimeric Molecules), already exist. A major advantage is their high specificity and catalytic mode of action - meaning that each molecule can carry out multiple reactions, such that only a small amount of active drug is needed. First trials with PROTACs in prostate and breast cancer are currently underway. The researchers in the PROXIDRUGS alliance now want to create new molecules in this very promising class of drugs, e.g. for diseases that until now cannot be treated with small molecules. One of the aims of the PROXIDRUGS alliance of Goethe University, TU Darmstadt and the Fraunhofer IME is to bundle existing expertise in basic and clinical research, in pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the Rhine-Main region within one network. "Translation of our results to the clinic will be challenging," says ?iki?. "However, thanks to close collaboration with regional companies, which have already shown great interest in the project, and the involvement of University Hospital Frankfurt, I'm confident that we'll master this challenge." ### Further information: http://www.bmbf.de/zukunftscluster An image and the logo can be downloaded under: : http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/85772916 Image Caption: Diagram of PROTACs' mode of action. A PROTAC is bifunctional and comprises a ligand (L, green) for the enzyme E3 ligase and a binding domain (L, red) for the target protein, connected via a short linker region (black). (Graphik: IBC2/GU) Further information: Dr Kerstin Koch, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Tel.: +49(0)69-6301-84250, Email: k.koch@em.uni-frankfurt.de http://www.biochem2.de Aktuelle Nachrichten aus Wissenschaft, Lehre und Gesellschaft in GOETHE-UNI online (http://www.aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de) Die Goethe-Universitat ist eine forschungsstarke Hochschule in der europaischen Finanzmetropole Frankfurt. 1914 mit privaten Mitteln uberwiegend judischer Stifter gegrundet, hat sie seitdem Pionierleistungen erbracht auf den Feldern der Sozial-, Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Medizin, Quantenphysik, Hirnforschung und Arbeitsrecht. Am 1. Januar 2008 gewann sie mit der Ruckkehr zu ihren historischen Wurzeln als Stiftungsuniversitat ein hohes Ma an Selbstverantwortung. Heute ist sie eine der drei groten deutschen Universitaten. Zusammen mit der Technischen Universitat Darmstadt und der Universitat Mainz ist die Goethe-Universitat Partner der landerubergreifenden strategischen Universitatsallianz Rhein-Main. http://www.goethe-universitaet.de Herausgeberin: Die Prasidentin der Goethe-Universitat Redaktion: Dr. Anke Sauter, Referentin fur Wissenschaftskommunikation, Abteilung PR & Kommunikation, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Telefon 069 798-13066, Fax 069 798-763-12531, sauter@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de Viruses get a bad rap. Admittedly, much of that is deserved, what with the novel coronavirus (or COVID-19 if you prefer) which has much of China in a lockdown and the rest of the world in a panic. Highly infectious and showing no real signs of subsiding, this latest viral variant, according to the US Centres for Disease Control, will probably be with us beyond this year. On a larger scale, its not as bad as it is being made out to be as its fellow viruses (Im thinking of smallpox) have in the not-so-distant past devastated entire civilisations. But amidst all the panic and apocalyptic fear-mongering, we forget the debt that we owe viruses. After all, without these strange, mysterious entities (they cant exactly be classified as life forms) you and I would not be you and I, or at least not in any currently recognisable form. Because viruses, along with making us sick and occasionally killing us, have helped us evolve. Over 65 million years ago a tiny shrew-like creature an egg layer according to scientists was infected by a particularly sneaky retrovirus that didnt just make its way into the hosts genome but managed to get into its sperm or egg cells, ensuring that the mutation it caused would be passed on to every subsequent generation. Countless generations later, this infection led to the development of the placenta in this creature and others similarly infected, thus allowing for the development of a foetus inside the mothers body. Without this ancient chance encounter humans may well have been egg layers. This sort of viral tough love has been a constant feature of our evolution, forcing us to adapt or die. According to scholar David Enard, When you have a pandemic or an epidemic at some point in evolution, the population that is targeted by the virus either adapts, or goes extinct. Indeed, we may have to thank our little viral friends for the existence of life as we know it; while traditional scientific thought has it that viruses appeared fairly late in the evolutionary timeline, after the development of cells, the discovery in 2014 of a giant frozen virus in Siberia, dubbed the Pithovirus, is causing a rethink. But the origin of viruses, and, indeed, viruses themselves, remain a mystery. Along with the Pithovirus, other giant viruses have also been discovered such as the Megavirus which contains 1,120 genes (the HIV virus only has nine) leading us to believe that these may be an entirely new domain of life. Essentially, the viral chicken may have come before the cellular egg. We know that viruses are gene stealers, acquiring and transplanting genetic material from and to a variety of hosts. Fair enough, but what should we think when we find a virus that has no recognisable genes whatsoever? Say hello to the Yaravirus, which contains genes that no scientist has ever seen before! Which begs the question: exactly where did these genes come from? Did they somehow mutate beyond recognition in the virus itself or are they the legacy of a hitherto undiscovered form of life? While the eventual answer may be far more mundane, the fact remains that what we do not know about viruses dwarfs what we do know. And some answers may well be found in outer space, as the growing field of astrobiology includes those who believe that viruses may, in fact, have come from outer space. In fact, one controversial claim is that influenza itself was seeded by dust from comets passing near the earth, some perhaps even eons ago. Others are scouring the heavens and heavenly bodies for extraterrestrial viruses which could, if discovered, provide proof of life on other planets. Meanwhile, back on earth we are busy harnessing the strange abilities of viruses for our own ends. Given that these sneaky little packages of genetic material are very good at unlocking cells to deliver their payload, scientists are aiming to create treatments for diseases like Huntingtons, which is caused by an error in the genetic code, by using redesigned viruses to deliver a corrective dose exactly where it is required. In practice, this is even cooler than it sounds: a young girl called Emma, who suffered from leukemia, was treated by having her blood cells infected by a specially modified virus of the same family as the HIV virus (yes, thats right) and then re-injected into her bloodstream. Her cancer went into remission. Less spectacular, yet no less promising, is the research being done on Bacteriophage viruses, which infect and destroy specific bacteria, and the day perhaps isnt far that viruses, long reviled as scourges, may well be hailed as saviours. Putting Pinterest on notice, Facebook is testing an app that bears a strong resemblance to the pin-based platform. Dubbed Hobbi, the photo-heavy app is designed to capture and organize your creative process, according to a description on Apples App Store. Hobbis strong similarity to Pinterest -- which is designed to help people visually organize all manner of personal projects -- was not lost on early reviewers. Just a clone of Pinterest, one App Store user wrote this week. Facebook cant do anything original, another App Store user quipped. First noticed by The Information, Hobbi will only be offered in select markets, including Spain, Belgium and Colombia. The new app was developed by Facebooks New Product Experimentation (NPE) unit, formed last summer to dream up new consumer-facing products. advertisement advertisement Reached for comment, a Facebook spokesperson said the company had no additional information to share about Hobbi. Facebook has good reason to be following Pinterests lead. Surpassing Snapchat, Pinterest recently established itself as the third-largest social-media platform among U.S. consumers, according to eMarketer. Pinterest saw domestic membership grow by 9.1% to 82.4 million users last year, according to the research firm. Along with a successful IPO in 2019, Pinterests success has been due to its broad appeal, according to eMarketer forecasting analyst Nazmul Islam. While Snapchat has a young core audience that it caters to, Pinterest has a more universal appeal, and its made significant gains in a wide range of age groups, Islam noted in a recent report. This year, Pinterests U.S. following will increase to 86 million users, compared with Snapchats 83.1 million U.S. users, eMarketer predicts. As of December 31, Facebooks family monthly active users -- including those from WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and its flagship platform -- totaled 2.89 billion worldwide. Workers from Indonesias National Nuclear Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency decontaminate the soil in a residential area near Jakarta, Feb. 17, 2020. Indonesian officials confirmed Tuesday that radioactive material had contaminated a piece of land in a residential complex near Jakarta, sparking public health concerns as nuclear authorities vowed to investigate its source. An elevated level of the isotope Caesium-137 was detected during a routine radioactivity test near a multi-family housing in Serpong, about 30 km (18 miles) west of Indonesias capital, according to Bapeten, the nations Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency. This is unusual because its not a place for dumping nuclear waste, Research and Higher Education Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro told a news conference on Tuesday. Around 5,000 people, including 1,000 children, live in the Batan Indah residential complex, local officials said. Nine people who live near the contaminated site have been put under observation and contamination test results are expected to be completed in the next three days, according to Bapeten, which has been regularly checking activity levels in the area since 2013. Caesium-137 is used in medical radiation therapy devices for treating cancer and in industrial equipment to measure the thickness of materials such as paper or sheets of metal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The contaminated land within the complex is about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) from a research nuclear reactor operated by the Center for Scientific and Technological Research. The contamination is not from the nuclear reactor, Bambang said. Theres no contamination of radioactive [material] at the nuclear facility. Management [at the reactor] has been very good, so theres no way any contamination can find a way to another area, because its quite far, he said, adding that police and nuclear authorities were investigating. Bapeten, in a statement on Friday, said it had detected radiation levels of 140 microSv per hour in the location, alarming residents who raised questions about its source. The safe level is 0.11 microSv per hour, authorities said. Workers have excavated the soil that was exposed to radioactive waste, Bapeten chief Jazi Istiyanto said. He said he suspected that the contamination came from waste from industrial use. This cannot be classified as a nuclear accident, but pollution of radioactive waste. Its a far cry from the Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents, he said, referring to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan that was triggered by the 2011 earthquake, and the nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986. Jazi said Bapeten would collect the data on users of radioactive isotope Caesium-137 throughout the country to help with the police investigation. Questions raised on Jakartas plans to build nuclear plants The discovery of radioactive waste in a residential area raised questions about the governments plans to build a nuclear power plant, said Greenpeace, the environmental conservation group. This incident is a bad precedent for the government and Batan because they have failed to maintain public safety from the danger of radioactive waste, Greenpeaces climate and energy campaigner Hindun Mulaika said in a statement. Not only must nuclear reactors be safe from technical errors, human and natural disasters, the disposal of nuclear waste also needs special attention, she said. This incident is a strong warning to governments that are aggressively promoting nuclear use in the energy sector. Indonesia has no nuclear power industry, although it has conducted feasibility studies in West Kalimantan province. Results on those studies, as well as infrastructure reviews, are expected to be completed in the next two to three years, officials said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 14:01 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206526c92 1 World COVID-19,coronavirus,Indonesian-citizen,cruise-ship,yokohama,Japan Free Three Indonesian crew members aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored off the coast of Japan have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease resulting from the novel coronavirus, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has confirmed. According to my last communication with the Japanese ambassador in Jakarta, we have obtained information that three of the 78 Indonesian crew members aboard the cruise ship were declared confirmed [for COVID-19], Retno told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday. The minister added that two of the people found to have the illness had been taken to a hospital in Chiba, Japan. The third was waiting to be taken to the hospital as of noon on Tuesday. A team from the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo has gone to Chiba to ensure that the Indonesian citizens receive proper treatment from Japanese authorities, Retno said. We have also contacted the families of the three Indonesian crew members, she went on to say. The Diamond Princess, which was initially carrying 3,711 people, has been quarantined off Yokohama since last week after a passenger who disembarked last month in Hong Kong was found to have the new coronavirus. Among the people onboard were 78 Indonesian nationals who were part of the ships crew. On Tuesday, Japan confirmed that 446 had tested positive for COVID-19, Retno said. (kuk) A new Twitter filter will automatically screen direct messages for unsolicited nude photos. The tool wasnt developed by Twitter, but by Kelsey Bressler, a software tester in Seattle who released the free plugin earlier this month. Called Safe DM, it uses artificial intelligence to analyze image attachments that come through a persons direct messages on Twitter. Safe DM is a new plugin for Twitter developed by Seattle software tester Kelsey Bressler When the plugin detects a nude from an unknown sender, it will automatically delete the image and the block the sender. Bressler decided to develop the plugin after receiving an unwanted photo of a strangers penis over Twitter last year. She described the act as the virtual equivalent of flashing someone in the street You're not giving them a chance to consent, you are forcing the image on them, and that is never okay, she told the BBC. To maintain privacy, Bressler says the plugin only scans image attachments and doesnt actually record the text from direct messages. Bressler claims the plugin is 99 percent accurate, though it takes a few minutes to complete its analysis so messages may still appear visible during that period. The plugin will automatically scan direct message image attachments to identify unsolicited penis photos and automatically delete them Twitter has a Non-consensual nudity policy that prohibits sending unwanted nude images to strangers, but its main enforcement mechanism is reporting users who send them, This means those receiving unwanted photos end up having to look at them in order to report the problem. According to one study, more than 50 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 44 have received an unsolicited nude from a stranger. The phenomenon is acutely gendered, with 46 percent of millennial women saying they had received an unwanted picture of a penis. Bressler began working on the plugin in 2019 after receiving an unsolicited photo of a penis from a stranger through a Twitter direct message Twitter currently prohibits sending non-consensual nude photos, but its primary enforcement mechanism relies on reporting users, which means targeted accounts, overwhelmingly women, still have to look at the unwanted imagery Only one in four men between the ages of 18 and 29 admit to having sent a nude photo of themselves to someone, suggesting that perhaps those mostly likely to send unsolicited photos could be serial offenders or repeat harassers. Last year, Texas passed a law to criminalize sending unsolicited nude photos, classifying the act as a Class C misdemeanor with a penalty of up to $500. Many people especially women get unwanted sexually explicit pictures by text or social media. It's disgusting," Governor Greg Abbott wrote in a Twitter post announcing the new law. Now, it's illegal in Texas. Bressler says the plugin in could eventually be expanded to work with other websites and services as well. We would like to roll this out on other social media platforms and are discussing where to go next, she said. The vast majority of farmers that were members of the Knowledge Transfer Scheme are set to ditch their discussion groups with no payment now on offer as the scheme has come to an end. This is despite the scheme being hailed as a huge success and research suggesting that farmers who are members of discussion groups will have more profitable business. Some 100m was invested in the scheme which came to an end in July and saw some 19,000 farmers participating in discussion groups in various farming sectors. Teagasc-organised groups accounted for some 12,000 of the participating farmers. In a statement to the Farming Independent, Teagasc said the scheme was effective in encouraging farmers who hadn't participated in groups in the past to join discussion groups for the first time. "This was particularly the case for cattle and sheep farmers where Teagasc added new groups. "Dairy farmers showed less interest and some pre-existing dairy groups opted not to participate in the scheme," it said. However, while it said it was too early to say how many farmers will discontinue being in groups now that payment has stopped, it expects it will be in the order of just 10pc. It is expected that the attrition rate for groups organised by private advisors will be equally as large. Farmer participants who completed all of the requirements of the programme received a payment of 750 per annum, while facilitators received a payment of 500 per participant for each year of the three-year programme. Responding to queries on a possible return of the scheme in the future the Department of Agriculture said knowledge transfer remains a key component of the draft regulations currently being discussed at EU level for the next round of CAP. While the financial provision for the entire suite of schemes in the RDP is currently fully allocated, the EU Commission has recently presented proposals for the transitional rules for the period between the current CAP regime and its successor. It said these proposals include, the option to extend the current RDP in certain circumstances. Agreement on this regulation is not expected until Summer 2020 and is subject to agreement on the EU budget. The arrangements for specific schemes will be clarified when there is further clarity on the proposed regulation and subject to normal budgetary considerations, the Department said. The author was a talented young pianist and progressed quickly into difficult repertoire. His various teachers the matronly babysitter, the no-nonsense technician, the almost sadistic taskmaster, and finally, esteemed pianist and composer Joseph Fennimore, who ultimately becomes his mentor guided him through the paces. Kennicott experienced emotional hardship during his formative years, most of it centering on piano lessons and his mothers unrealized artistic ambitions. It was a small house, full of wayward people, run by a strong but capricious woman who often said she didnt want to be a mother. Indeed, suffering from depression and severe anxiety, among other things, Kennicotts mother showed an unhealthy investment in her sons talent, and her behavior proved profoundly damaging to a quiet and awkward boy. She raged over Kennicotts imperfect playing, which contributed to a few years of debilitating stage fright. During one harrowing and pivotal episode, the author attempted to please his mother by shoveling snow from their walk, only to find that when finished, and expecting praise, hed failed in her eyes simply by depositing his snow boots on the front porch instead of the back porch, a rule he was unaware of. Were not animals, she said sobbing. We dont live in a barn. This set off a beating that left Kennicott lying on the floor, staring out the window watching snow fall, in an out-of-body state. Then and there, he vowed to emotionally disconnect from his mother. I made my own rules that afternoon. I set myself against my mother, never to be seduced by her occasional kindness, never to speak with her of anything that mattered, never to trust her. I saw with clarity that she would tear me apart if I didnt root her out of my life. [February 18, 2020] Keller Williams Reports Year-End Results Keller Williams ("KW"), the world's largest real estate technology franchise by agent count and the U.S. leader in units and sales volume, achieved significant growth and technology milestones, and topped franchise and corporate culture rankings in Q4 '19 to round out FY '19. "We are winning because we're truly in partnership with our agents through KW Labs," said Gary Keller, co-founder, chairman and CEO, Keller Williams. "We are in direct contact with them on a minute-by-minute basis. And, it allows us to innovate in real time." Keller Williams is home to 159,372 agents in the United States and Canada and 9,945 agents operating outside of the United States and Canada, for a total of 169,317 agents worldwide, as of Dec. 31, 2019. Leveraging Command, KW's smart CRM-plus solution, as the communications hub, the new neighborhood-based consumer home-search app experience will also launch in February 2020. Year-End Technology and Q4 '19 Industry Highlights Command, a smart CRM-plus suite of apps hosted on the Keller Cloud platform, was made available in Q1 '19, and had 116,740 active users, as of Dec. 31. By Q4 '19 end, agents added 43.4 million contacts. As of Dec. 31, agents have created a cumulative 627,554 unique designs via Designs, a real estate-centric graphic design app that was released in late Q2 '19. As of Dec. 31, agents have tracked a cumulative 786,412 deals across phases of a sales pipeline (appointment, active, under contract, and closed) in the Opportunities app of Command, up 93.3% from Q3 '19 end. In Q4 '19, active users of Opportunities app hit 74,282, up 33.3% from Q3 '19 end. In Q4 '19, Franchise Times ranked KW No. 18 in the annual Top 200 ranking of franchises. ranked KW No. 18 in the annual Top 200 ranking of franchises. In November, Newsweek ranked KW the No. 1 brand in real estate for customer service. ranked KW the No. 1 brand in real estate for customer service. In Q4 '19, Indeed ranked KW No. 1 in its listing of Top-Rated Workplaces for Veterans. ranked KW No. 1 in its listing of Top-Rated Workplaces for Veterans. In Q4 '19, Austin Business Journal honored Gary Keller with their Legacy CEO Award. honored Gary Keller with their Legacy CEO Award. In December, Glassdoor ranked KW No. 29 out of 100 "Best Places to Work" in 2020. United States and Canada (production in FY '19) As of Dec. 31, agents closed 1,133,311 transactions, up 3.4% over FY '18. Agents closed $351.2 billion in sales volume, up 5.7% over FY '18. Agents took 749,629 new listings (new market inventory), up 0.5% over FY '18. Listings taken volume totaled $263.9 billion, up 3.3% over FY '18. Agents wrote 1.2 million contracts (projected closings), up 3.2% over FY '18. Contracts written volume was $385.8 billion, up 5.6% over FY '18. Keller Williams Worldwide Momentum (News - Alert) (production outside the U.S. and Canada in FY '19) Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW) is home to more than 9,945 international agents and 226 market centers operating outside of the United States and Canada, as of Dec. 31, 2019. Agents closed 32,427 transactions in FY '19, up 20.0% over FY '18. Agents closed $4.9 billion in sales volume, up 7.9% from FY '18. Agents took 89,669 new listings (new market inventory), up 23.3% over FY '18. Listings taken volume totaled $29.7 billion, up 28.1% over FY '18. Agents wrote 42,394 contracts (projected closings), up 32.7% over FY '18. Contracts written volume was $4.3 billion, up 13.2% over FY '18. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW regions include: Argentina; Belgium; Belize; Bermuda; Cambodia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Czech Republic; Dubai, UAE; France; Greater Shanghai, China; Greece; Honduras; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Mexico; Monaco; Morocco; Nicaragua; Northern Cyprus; Panama; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; Southern Africa; Southern Cyprus; Spain; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Turks and Caicos; United Kingdom; and Vietnam. About Keller Williams Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams, the world's largest real estate technology franchise by agent count, has more than 1,060 offices and 183,000 associates. The franchise is also No. 1 in units and sales volume in the United States. In 2019, Fast Company named Keller Williams the No. 1 "Most Innovative Company" in real estate. In 2015, KW began its evolution into a technology company, now building the real estate platform that agents' buyers and sellers prefer. Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders. For more information, visit kw.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005906/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) , the largest global industry consortium developing collaborative approaches to combat online abuse, today announced it has awarded Cristine Hoepers, Ph.D., the general manager of CERT.br , the Brazilian national Computer Emergency Response Team, with the annual Mary Litynski Award. The award, now in its tenth year, honors the memory of the woman who helped shape M3AAWG into the leading organization dedicated to fighting online abuse such as malware, DDoS attacks, election security attacks, and more. M3AAWG presented Dr. Hoepers with the award during its 48th General Meeting, held this week in San Francisco. The meeting brings together representatives of more than 200 member organizations from around the world, including AT&T, Comcast, Google, Microsoft, Orange, Twitter, and Verizon, in a four-day series of working sessions and educational panels. Dr. Hoepers has been general manager of CERT.br, which is maintained by the non-profit Brazilian Network Information Center ( NIC.br ) since 1999. Her work in incident management, Internet best practices development, and information security training has reduced online abuse in Brazil and across Latin America, and increased Internet resilience. From 2005 to 2013, she led the technical coordination of anti-spam efforts in Brazil, with a focus on minimizing the abuse of open proxies and open relays, as well as reducing direct delivery via botnets. Dr. Hoepers also researches the use of honeypot technology to better understand attackers tools and behavior. She earned her Ph.D. in applied computing at the National Institute for Space Research in Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil. A lesson learned from more than 20 years of fighting email spam globally is that the industries have to recognize and own the problem, as any new technology or service has the potential to be abused, said Dr. Hoepers. We are already seeing several forms of abuse starting in other platforms and services, and those industries should be proactiveonly the criminals gain if one tries to deny there is a problem. M3AAWG is a key player, with not only the technical expertise of its members, but with the ability to reach these industries and engage them in the fight. "M3AAWG is honored to recognize Dr. Hoepers for her wide-ranging contributions to fighting Internet abuse in Brazil and beyond, said Amy Cadagin, executive director of M3AAWG. "Her dedication to research, best practices, and educating usersfrom government entities, to major corporations, to the publichas helped make the online environment safer for all." Past winners of the Mary Litynski Award include the following cybersecurity experts and advocates: Dave Piscitello, a central figure in developing the ICANN Domain Abuse Activity Reporting system Dave Rand, co-founder of the first reputation-based anti-spam company Michael Moran, assistant director of INTERPOLs Vulnerable Communities Unit for his work on behalf of Internet-based child abuse victims Rodney Joffe, an influential cybersecurity advocate, for anti-spam, anti-bot, and DDoS work Jayne A. Hitchcock for her advocacy on behalf of cyberbullying and cyberstalking victims About the Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) The Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) is where the industry comes together to work against bots, malware, spam, viruses, denial-of-service attacks and other online exploitation. M3AAWG (www.m3aawg.org) members represent more than one billion mailboxes from some of the largest network operators worldwide. It leverages the depth and experience of its global membership to tackle abuse on existing networks and new emerging services through technology, collaboration and public policy. It also works to educate global policy makers on the technical and operational issues related to online abuse and messaging. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., M3AAWG is driven by market needs and supported by major network operators and messaging providers. Media Contact Josh Tammaro m3aawg@launchsquad.com +1 617-945-1915 New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti addresses a joint press conference at the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) in New Delhi on Feb 18, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti addresses a joint press conference at the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) in New Delhi on Feb 18, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 18 : Iltija Mufti, daughter of detained former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday said she is not yet ready to join politics. Speaking at the Indian Women's Press Corps here, Iltija said she doesn't think she will be a good politician. She said her mother wants to keep a check on what she speaks. "I am not ready for politics," she said. "I don't think I will be a good politician." Hitting out at the Centre for banning social media in Kashmir, she said it is "absurd" that Kashmiris are not allowed to access social media. The J&K government has banned all social media sites in Kashmir to "curb their misuse for propagating rumours and false information". On Monday, the J&K police said it has registered an FIR against social media users who defied government orders and misused social media platforms. "I will go to Kashmir and use VPN, let them slap an FIR on me," she asserted. She said former Chief Ministers, her mother and Omar Abdullah, acted as a buffer in Kashmir which the government has removed by abrogating Article 370. She dared Home Minister Amit Shah to go to Kashmir. "People are angry, if Home Minister Amit Shah walks on the streets in Kashmir, I will salute him," Iltija said. She said Kashmiris should sue the Modi government. She said her faith in the Indian judicial system has been shaken and she said she could even approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "I think the government should be sued, when British left India, they bled us dry. We should demand compensation. We have lost Rs 18,000 crore," she said. "Don't mind approaching the international court. If we can't rely on Indian courts where can we go?" Iltija questioned the BJP and said if the party feels her mother is anti national why did they enter into an alliance with her party in 2014. "Was the BJP sleeping?" she asked. "Was it in coma?" She said the BJP had struck an alliance with the PDP and said that it will not touch Article 370. She said people in Jammu are also unhappy with the abrogation of Article 370 and claimed that if elections are held in Jammu right now the BJP would be wiped out. She said that her loyalty is with the country and not with the BJP. "If speaking against the BJP makes me anti-national, I don't mind being called one," she said. Iltija asked that "if Kashmir has gravitated towards Pakistan in the past seven months, then who is to be blamed?" The US-led Defender Europe exercise involves 20,000 US troops, more than those of all its NATO allies put together. Athens, Greece In contrast to its ongoing redeployment of forces in the Middle East, the United States appears to be surging to the fore of European defence. The US-led annual Defender Europe exercise, which is months long and lasts from February until July, will involve 20,000 US troops more than those of all its NATO allies put together, and more than at any time in the past quarter-century. The overarching goal of the event is to demonstrate the ability of the US to lift and shift a division-size force over long distances, said Tod D Wolters, NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe earlier this month. The planning in itself is deterrence, he said. Defender Europe will involve army, navy and air force exercises across eight European countries stretching to the European Unions eastern border with Russia. Although US officials do not say it is designed to counter a Russian threat, the demonstration of US force capability comes after years of piecemeal reinforcements of NATOs eastern flank following Russias annexation of Crimea in March 2014. At the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw, allies agreed to deploy four multinational battalions to countries at risk of a Russian invasion. Called the Enhanced Forward Presence, the forces are stationed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Last September, Romania announced it would spend 2.5 billion euros ($2.7bn) to rebuild the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase to house 8,000 to 10,000 troops, F-16s, refuelling aircraft and other assets. Since the annexation of Crimea, it has operated as a US forward base, launching air patrols over the Black Sea. The following month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed an enhanced defence pact with Greece. One of its provisions is that US forces are to build a new navy and air force base in Alexandroupoli in northeast Greece, which will supply NATO allies Bulgaria and Romania. That route bypasses the Bosphorus, controlled by Turkey, suggesting that the US is looking for alternative routes. Greece is the beneficiary of the deteriorating US relationship with Turkey, whose dependability as an ally many US diplomats, congressmen and military leaders have begun to question. Not only do the two disagree on using Kurdish militias at the front lines of the war against the ISIL (ISIS) group in Syria; the US sees the purchase by Turkey of Russian S-400 surface to air missiles as a breach of alliance. Once a dependable democratic ally, Ankara is increasingly a pro-Russian autocracy with ambitions for greater regional influence, and possibly even predominance, recently wrote former US ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman and General Charles Chuck Wald in a joint article that called for giving Greece a more pivotal role in US regional deployments. We have staging areas much closer [than other EU members] to the Middle East, which is obviously a flashpoint, but it means [the US] can withdraw assets from the areas themselves and keep them on a standby basis, if and when things allow, Efthymios Tsiliopoulos, analyst at Defence-point.gr, told Al Jazeera. They still need to be in-area, in the region, so they can be easily deployable. The US is also pursuing Russia through energy. Greece will import more than 60 shipments of mostly US liquefied natural gas (LNG) this year. Some of that capacity is bound for the Balkans, where the US hopes to break a traditional Russian gas monopoly. Greece is the only country in southeast Europe with an LNG terminal, and two more are planned. It is now building a new pipeline to take 5 billion cubic metres of LNG into Bulgaria and beyond. Croatia will eventually be the USs other main entry point, with three LNG terminals under construction. Another three are being built in Poland, which has flatly refused to take any Russian pipeline gas. Plaintiffs in Connecticut alleging sexual abuse during their time as Boy Scouts will see their lawsuits stall now that Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy, one lawyer said. For those that havent gotten justice this is like doomsday, said Brooke Goff. Goff said shes represented 33 plaintiffs against the Boy Scouts over the course of her career. In one case currently in the discovery phase, four plaintiffs claim they were physically, mentally and sexually abused between 1974 and 1976 while they were Boy Scouts. The effect of the Boy Scouts bankruptcy will be to freeze the case in time, Goff said, and to affect any potential monetary judgment. This is probably going to be the beginning of the end of scouting litigation, she said. The Boy Scouts issued an open letter to victims, signed by National Chair Jim Turley, in which he apologized for any abuse. I am sorry, Turley wrote. I am devastated that there were times in the past when we failed the very children we were supposed to protect. Turley said a compensation fund has been set up for victims, and encouraged all victims of abuse to come forward. I want you to know that we believe you, we believe in compensating you, and we have programs in place to pay for counseling for you and your family by a provider of your choice, he said. Goffs cases are not the only pending litigation filed in Connecticut against the Boy Scouts of America, and she said she suspects the number of potential victims to be far higher than people suspect. I know that there were tens of thousands of victims in Connecticut who never came forward, she said. The museum, located by the Giza pyramids, is scheduled to be completed later this year Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has approved Law 9 of 2020 to restructure the Grand Egyptian Museum and turn it into an economic public authority affiliated with the tourism and antiquities ministry. Under the law, the museum authority will be tasked with displaying archaeological collections and preparing digital documentation on, recording, securing, maintaining, and restoring the artifacts, said Atef Moftah, the general supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum project. The authority will also be tasked with organising cultural and scientific activities, and acquainting Egyptians with ancient Egyptian civilization. He added that the authority will have an independent budget similar to the budgets of economic bodies. The museum structure, under the new law, will be made up of the board of trustees, headed by the Egyptian president, in addition to the board of directors and a chief executive. The museum, located by the Giza pyramids, is under construction. It is scheduled to be completed later this year. Search Keywords: Short link: Interior Minister Ijaz Shahs comments on Monday were the first official acknowledgement of Ehsanullah Ehsans escape. Islamabad, Pakistan High-profile Pakistan Taliban leader Ehsanullah Ehsan, who acted as the groups spokesman and claimed responsibility for some of its deadliest attacks, has escaped from military custody, Pakistans interior minister confirmed, more than a week after the commander first claimed he had escaped. Interior Minister Ijaz Shahs comments to reporters on Monday were the first official acknowledgement of the escape of former Tahreek-e-Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, and Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (JuA) spokesman Ehsan. In custody since February 2017, when he surrendered to security forces, Ehsan had been held by the military and made a televised confession in April 2017. In an audio message released on February 6, Ehsan claimed that he surrendered to authorities under an agreement, but escaped after Pakistans treacherous institutions imprisoned me, along with my children. Ehsan confirmed the authenticity of the audio message in a phone interview with Al Jazeera. He said he had escaped in mid-January, and that he would be releasing further details at a later time. Speaking on Monday, Interior Minister Shah did not directly comment on how the escape occurred, but when asked if Ehsan had indeed escaped, he said: This is correct, that is correct. Pakistans military, in whose custody Ehsan had remained since his arrest three years ago, did not offer comment. Whereabouts unknown The Pakistan Taliban has been fighting the government since 2007, carrying out scores of deadly suicide bombings and other attacks on civilian and security targets. Ehsan split from the organisation in August 2014, joining breakaway faction JuA, led by former Pakistan Taliban commander Umar Khalid Khorasani. JuA also carried out a number of high-profile attacks, including high-casualty attacks targeting a Pakistan-India border crossing, Christian churches and an Easter celebration in Lahore and on mosques, police officials and court buildings. In April 2017, Pakistans military announced that Ehsan had surrendered himself to security forces, but offered scant details on the circumstances of his capture or conditions of his surrender. On Friday, Ehsan shared an image of a document he claimed was part of his surrender agreement. The document says he was guaranteed immunity from prosecution, would be held in a secure location and provided a monthly stipend. Pakistans military did not respond to a request for comment on the alleged agreement. The military has claimed it would prosecute Ehsan in the past, but no cases or court proceedings were initiated during the period of his incarceration. In his audio message released earlier in February, Ehsan said he fled captivity along with his family because the military violated the agreement. We bore the difficulties of imprisonment for three years with great patience, but eventually we were forced to plan our escape from there, he said. Asked via telephone in what ways the agreement was violated, Ehsan said he would divulge further details later. He did not provide details on how he escaped from prison or his current whereabouts. Ehsans surrender came at a time corresponding to a drop in violence in Pakistan, after the military undertook widespread security operations across the country particularly in the northwestern districts where the Pakistan Taliban and its allies were based to root out the group. Today, the military says the majority of the Pakistan Taliban fighters have been displaced into eastern Afghanistan. Violence has dropped sharply, but sporadic attacks targeting both civilians and security forces continue periodically. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) A former top leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines was arrested Tuesday for alleged murder, authorities said. The Philippine National Police said Rodolfo Commander Bilog Salas was arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on orders of Presiding Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina from the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32. Salas, 72, was reportedly former chairman of the CPP and had also served as commander of its armed wing, the New People's Army, He and 37 others including Jose Maria Sison -- CPP founding chairman who is in self-exile in the Netherlands -- were charged with 29 counts of murder for their purported involvement in a mass killing in Inopacan, Leyte in 1985. In 2006, soldiers reportedly discovered a mass grave in Inopacan town. It was said to contain skeletal remains supposedly of communist rebels "purged" by their colleagues in 1985 on the suspicion they were informants of the military. The PNP said Salas was also caught in possession of illegal firearms. Confiscated from his home were gun accessories, one unit of .45 caliber pistol and 174 bullets, authorities said. Salas is under police custody, PNP said, without disclosing where he is being held. Police added he will face another complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. After the court released the arrest order in August last year, Sison in a Facebook post called the supposed mass killing a "fake" plot. He said authorities under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo collected bones from various cemeteries to frame the communist rebels for murder. He reiterated that he and the other suspects were in jail during the time of the supposed killings. He accused President Rodrigo Duterte of using the case to justify a mass arrest, and to drive public attention away from the controversial release of almost 2,000 heinous crime convicts, whom Duterte ordered to surrender. The new headquarters of Garz & Fricke in Hamburg-Harburg. Garz & Fricke recently announced the acquisition of Keith & Koep. Appropriately, the HMI specialist officially opened the new company headquarters in Hamburg-Harburg. Already in October 2019, the employees moved into the new company headquarters at Schlachthofstrae 20 in Hamburg-Harburg. Now the official inauguration of the new company building followed with 500 invited guests. Located in the immediate vicinity of the Hamburg-Harburg railway station and the technical university, the building comprises service and production areas, offices and laboratories with a total area of 8,000 m2. With a clear material flow structure and a new SMT assembly line, the company is adaptable and can react flexibly to new customer orders with high volumes, the company stated. In his opening speech, Matthias Fricke particularly mentioned the HMI expert's expansion in recent years. Among other things, a management team has been established, development has been merged and sales and marketing have been strengthened. Furthermore, the Stuttgart-based company e-GITS was acquired in 2019, followed this year by the embedded specialist Keith & Koep. This enables Garz & Fricke to supply its customers with single board computers, HMI modules, application software and System on Modules (SoMs). Arm-based embedded boards in particular are the focus of the new acquisitions. Manfred Garz explains that the SoMs are intended to win new customers in the United States in particular. According to the managing director, Garz & Fricke was able to increase its sales and expects a further increase in 2020. Products from the embedded systems sector make a significant contribution to this, as does the new cashless payment system KarL4. Reuters Facebook warned of threats to innovation and freedom of expression on Monday, ahead of the release of a raft of rules by the European Union this week and in the coming months to rein in US and Chinese tech companies. The social media giant laid out its concerns ahead of a meeting of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg with EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and EU industry chief Thierry Breton in Brussels on Monday. Vestager and Breton are due to announce proposals on Wednesday aimed at exploiting the bloc's trove of industrial data and challenging the dominance of Facebook, Google, and Amazon. They will also propose rules to govern the use of artificial intelligence especially in high-risk sectors such as healthcare and transport. Other rules will be announced in the coming months. Referring to the possibility that the EU may hold internet companies responsible for hate speech and other illegal speech published on their platforms, Facebook said this ignores the nature of the internet. "Such liability would stifle innovation as well as individuals' freedom of expression," it said in its discussion document. "Retrofitting the rules that regulate offline speech for the online world may be insufficient. Instead, new frameworks are needed." It suggested instead that authorities could require companies to set up a system for reporting content, publish enforcement data periodically and also define what is illegal content. Such requirements should not be too onerous, Facebook said. (Also read: Facebook delays its dating service rollout in EU as regulators raise concern over data protection) "A regulation requiring companies to 'remove all hate speech within 24 hours of upload' would create still more perverse incentives," it said, suggesting that regulators balance safety with freedom of expression and privacy interests. It urged regulators to understand the capabilities and limitations of technology in assessing content and allow internet companies the flexibility to innovate. Zuckerberg's visit came on the heels of visits by Alphabet Chief Executive Sundar Pichai and Microsoft President Brad Smith to Brussels last month. Modified On Jul 15, 2020 01:19 PM By Sonny for Honda City 2017-2020 The outgoing fourth-gen compact sedan is available on discount right now Update: Honda has launched the fifth-gen City in India with prices beginning from Rs 10.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). You can read more about it here. The fifth-gen Honda City is due to arrive in India by April 2020. However, if youre a fan of the current-gen City , it is readily available with a BS6 petrol engine. Moreover, depending on where you live, you can also avail certain discounts from ongoing offers, particularly if you dont mind a BS4 diesel variant. The current-gen City is offered with a 1.5-litre BS6 petrol engine making 119PS/145Nm mated to a 5-speed manual with the option of a CVT automatic. The new-gen City will feature the same petrol engine while getting a BS6 version of the 1.5-litre diesel engine making 100PS/200Nm, same as the BS6 Amaze . Let's take a look at the benefits of buying the outgoing fourth-gen Honda City as compared to waiting for the new fifth-gen City. Fourth-gen Honda City: BUY for proven reliability, ongoing discounts, long-term use The Honda City is said to have set the benchmark in the compact sedan segment in terms of comfort, space and durability. If youve been looking to upgrade to this segment, this would be an opportune moment as the outgoing BS6 Honda City petrol is being offered with discounts worth up to Rs 72,000. Similar offers are available with older BS4 diesel and petrol variants of the City as well. If you intend to keep the car for more than 5 years or do an extensive number of kilometres or use it as a chauffeur-driven vehicle for city errands, getting your hands on a fourth-gen Honda City at discounted prices makes sense. It features auto AC, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls, and rear AC vents as standard. The better-equipped variants also get 6 airbags, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a sunroof, and LED headlamps. Honda City 2020: HOLD for latest tech, sportier looks, fuel-efficient petrol and first-ever diesel automatic Honda has given the City a redesign for its fifth-generation. It looks sportier than before with its new shape similar to that of the second-gen Amaze. The new City, in its Thailand-spec, is longer and wider than the current model even though it has a slightly shorter wheelbase. It gets new, improved LED headlamps and tail lamps. The new City will likely feature a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with connected car technology so that you would be able to remotely pre-cool the cabin and lock-unlock it among other things. Honda has given the new cabin a more premium look. It is also expected to have a digital instrument cluster, if you fancy that. In terms of engines, the 2020 Honda City will feature the same petrol powertrain as the current model. However, the existing BS6 petrol engine is expected to have a new 6-speed manual (offered with a 5-speed manual right now) and a mild-hybrid tech as well so the fuel efficiency should noticeably go up from the current 17kmpl mark. The BS6 diesel engine is expected to see the introduction of a CVT automatic option. So, if youve been waiting for a diesel-AT Honda City, the wait is nearly over with the fifth-generation of the compact sedan expected to launch by April 2020. Related: Honda City 2020 To Make India Debut on March 16 The new City will likely be priced at a premium over the current-gen model, especially in the higher trims. Honda has priced the outgoing fourth-gen model between Rs 9.91 lakh and Rs 14.31 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). However, if youd like the latest that Honda has to offer in this segment and probably get a good return by selling it in the next 3 to 4 years, the 2020 City is worth the wait and the extra cost. Read More on : City diesel A lawsuit filed Jan. 26 against the city of Midland alleges a culture of discrimination and harassment toward African-American employees within the police department. One of the plaintiffs in the case, Demetrius Lee, was charged in August 2018 with abuse of official capacity. The lawsuit claims that charge was retaliation for speaking out about racism within the department. The suit filed with the Midland County District Clerk names the city, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman and former Lt. Kyle Sullivan as defendants in the case. Sullivan retired in March of last year. Lee, a former sergeant in the traffic enforcement division, and Robb Wilson, a former parking enforcement officer, are requesting monetary damages, as well as exemplary damages against Herman and Sullivan. Sullivan allegedly fabricated evidence, at the direction of Herman, which led to Lee being investigated for misconduct, according to the suit. In April 2018, an internal affairs investigation was launched against Lee for running a drivers license check, according to the suit. It states the incident occurred a month after Herman was promoted to interim chief. Although it has been regular course of business for individuals within the MPD to run drivers license checks on individuals when they have a need to do so Lee was singled out for discipline on this matter, ostensibly at the direction of Herman, the suit states. A month later, Lee and Wilson met with then city councilman John Love and then Midland mayor Jerry Morales and city prosecutors to discuss their beliefs that theyd been subjected to a hostile working environment on the basis of race, according to the suit. The two men reported various items of illegal and questionable conduct that had been occurring in the City of Midland Police Department, including racial discrimination and disparate treatment of officers, unfounded internal affairs investigations, and acts of retaliation, the suit states. Lee was charged in August 2018 with abuse of official capacity, under the subsection of misuse of government property. A lawyer for the former officers, Robert Hogan, said the charge is still pending and awaiting a trial date. Lee was suspended following the charge against him and later resigned amid the investigation, according to the suit. Wilson alleges in the lawsuit that he did not receive a position as a police officer because of his race. The suit states Wilson was hired as a parking enforcement officer in April 2017, although he believed he was qualified to be a police officer. He was thus limited in his pay and opportunity for advancement, although other individuals, with lesser qualifications, were hired by and advanced within the Midland Police Department, the suit states. Wilson was also disciplined for violating General Orders although he was never trained on them, according to the suit. Additionally, it states he was expected to respond to incidents he did not have the proper training for. Defendants intentionally undertrained and underpaid Wilson in an effort to exploit his minority and protected status, the suit states. It is not clear from the lawsuit if Wilson resigned from the department or his position was terminated. A city spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the citys policy to not comment on pending litigation. Kangana Ranaut heaped praises on Alia Bhatts Raazi back in 2018 but her sister Rangoli Chandel has very different views on the film. In yet another one of her weekly Twitter rants against Alia, she now targeted her for lifting Filmfare Awards each year by catering to liberals. Rangoli was responding to a news piece on Tuesday about Alia feeling honoured how Oshos secretary Ma Anand Sheela was happy about the actor playing her in a biopic. Alia ji played a Muslim spy in Raazi who goes to Pakistan, gets pregnant and starts crying that she wants to go home. Country and nationalism be damned. Bollywood liberals get their best actress. In Gully Boy she played a burqa-clad woman and that was enough for the liberals to crown her best actress again, she wrote in multiple tweets. Now Alia is playing a pimp in Gangubai Kathiawadi. According to Hussain Zaidis book, Gangu was a prostitute but when she grew older, she began supplying girls to top gangsters, she said adding that she might find competition in Ananya (Panday) now. ALSO WATCH | Kangana Ranaut as Air Force pilot in first look of Tejas However, in 2018, Kangana had called Alia the undisputed queen of Bollywood after watching her in Raazi. I have no words to express performance of Alia (Bhatt) in the film. She is so good, she said. But things changed when Alia did not return her compliments. These girls send me their trailers like Alia sent me the trailer of Raazi and said, Please watch it. For me, it was not a Karan Johar film or Alia film, for me, it was a film on Sehmat Khan, the girl who has given her everything to the country, she said. Rangoli Chandel speaking about Alia Bhatt on Twitter. A lot has happened between Kangana and Alia since 2018. Kangana has repeatedly attacked Alia for delivering mediocre performances and being a part of the nepo gang. Soon after her Filmfare Best Actress win for Gully Boy on Saturday, Rangoli tweeted, Alia got award for her mediocre performance last year, she has a long way to go but still she was in the lead role, how do you get lead role award in a supporting role is beyond me. Also read: Milind Soman shares emotional post on dads death: Never had a great deal of affection for him In between all this, Alia has never given any inflammatory comments against either Kangana or Rangoli. Follow @htshowbiz for more Delhi Police received 55,556 distress calls from across the city to report incidents of snatching between January 1 and December 15, 2019, but only 5,898 snatching cases were registered in the capital during this period, according to official data analysed by HT. The calls are in the log of the police control room (PCR) and largely account for residents dialing 100 many of them to report the snatching of chains, cellphones and bags by men riding motorbikes. The data shows that only 10.6% of these cases appear to have been converted by Delhi Police into first-information reports (FIRs), which are mandatory in cases of snatching, regarded as a heinous street crime under Section 356 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Several experts, including former police officers, described this variance in the numbers as disturbing, and saw it as an attempt to hide how unsafe Delhi streets really are. Advocate LN Rao, who retired in 2015 as a deputy commissioner of police in the city after serving for over three decades, said it was alarming that the police refused to acknowledge how snatching had become a serious crime. Its is a disturbing trend. By downplaying these cases, police are aiding criminals. The investigating officers who are assigned the case after getting information from control room are the ones who ensure that a case is not registered, he said. Multiple incidents over the past year have highlighted the menace of snatching in the capital. Several of the reported cases on Delhis roads made headlines, and in some of them, including one in Defence Colony on July 13, 2019, a 22-year-old man was stabbed to death for trying to resist a snatching attempt. No one was arrested in thecase. Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik told HT in an interview soon after taking office on January 30, 2017 that snatching was Delhis single-biggest law-and-order problem. Since then, the police have highlighted curbing snatching as one of their successes. According to official data, snatching cases declined from 6,932 in 2018 to 5,898 in 2019. But retired Indian Police Serve officer Vikram Singh, who was director-general of Uttar Pradesh police between 2008 and 2010, said the control room data was a better reflection of the ground reality. Snatching is a worrisome crime in Delhi. By not registering a case, you (Delhi Police) are not even trying to diagnose the problem. We have seen that when police register a case and launch a probe, the criminals change their area of operation. By not filing a case or acknowledging the crime, you are allowing criminals a free run. Police should diagnose the problem, the area of problem and fix it, he said. Police can launch a probe and arrest snatchers only after an FIR is registered at the police station in the area where the crime takes place. The anomaly in the data corresponds with another concern that of several snatching incidents being registered as theft in a bid to mask the heinous-crime numbers. Last September, HT went through multiple FIRs through the year, and reported that in at least 100 cases between January 1 and September 20, victims complained to Delhi Police that bike-borne assailants snatched their belongings, but police registered cases under Section 379 (theft) of the IPC instead of Sections 356 and 392 (robbery). In the Delhi Police crime table classification, snatching and theft fall under different heads. While the first -- force used to commit the theft of property -- is a street crime, the second is not. A reflection of this trend is visible in official data. The total number of theft cases recorded in Delhi between January and December 15, 2019 was 165,524 as against 116,502 in 2018 -- up 42%. Whether many of the snatching calls to PCRs led to theft cases being filed was unclear. But former IPS officer Singh said that the anomaly suggests that the police may have approached the complainants and told them to file theft complaints or missing reports. The victims in those remaining 50,000 cases (which were not registered as snatching FIRs) must have been told to file a case of simple theft, thereby downplaying the case, the force of the assault and the severity of the offence. A crime is made to look like it never happened somebody losing his or her phone, wallet or bag is not a crime. But snatching involves the use of force, he said. There were also two high-profile snatching cases reported last year. In one, the victim was a city judge and, in the other, the niece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both cases were cracked within hours. Delhi police in November said that of the over 4,000 snatching cases they filed in the first 11 months of 2019, they had solved 50% of the cases and arrested over 3,000 persons. In response to the difference between the calls received and cases registered, Delhi police spokesperson Anil Mittal said, It is incorrect to say that police do not register FIRs. Many times, the PCR team visits the spot but the victims leave the spot. This may be one of the reasons why the calls are more than the cases. Also in some cases, the same victim makes multiple calls. That may be the reason for the increase in the calls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Growing up in Delaware County in the 1970s, my parents did not splurge on a home library. Middle-class families could not afford such luxuries, but even if we could, why would we? The Marple Public Library in Broomall was only two miles away. It housed every book imaginable along with newspapers, magazines, and comfortable chairs. All I needed was a library card and this wonderful place lent me a maximum of seven books at a time. My mother took my brothers and me to the library almost every weekend. I plowed through the Little House books, read every Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins book in order, learned about life from Judy Blume and reveled in the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. I also began a lifelong fascination with Abraham Lincoln, methodically checking out every book available about his youth, his presidency, and what America was like in the 19th century. As a child, I never paid an overdue library fine or lost or damaged a library book. In our household, that simply was not an option. We cared for library books as if they were priceless treasures and returned them on or before the due date. My brothers and I never dared to suggest that we would return a book late and just pay the fine. Such a carefree attitude toward due dates and personal responsibility had no place in my parents determination to raise responsible children. However, there was more to it than that. Those books had to go back on the library shelves so that others could enjoy them. I remember my mother putting herself on waiting lists for new releases and best sellers. In those days, the library would purchase only a few copies of new books and depended on patrons reading and timely returning so that the next person in line could enjoy them. Those library trips instilled a lifelong love of reading and learning, but also important citizenship lessons. As a 10-year-old, I did not necessarily understand that it was a taxpayer-funded government resource, but I understood that libraries were there to be treasured and shared by everyone. We never thought to question the system of fines. Today, libraries provide much more than books. Here in Philadelphia, we can use the Free Library of Philadelphia for a variety of resources, including computers, classes, career assistance, and even small business assistance. These shared resources help level the playing field, providing those Philadelphians with limited financial resources access to vital services. The privilege of the library comes with a responsibility to follow the rules. With the unabashed support of Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, the Free Library ended the policy of charging fines for overdue books on Valentines Day. Siobhan A. Reardon, president and director of the library system, indicated that almost 88,000 Philadelphia library-card holders owed fines. Now, materials can be borrowed and returned on the library patrons schedule, without fear of consequence or repercussions. Who are these 88,000 library patrons who had their fines eliminated? Mayor Kenney makes a broad assumption in taking the patriarchal and, frankly, pedantic position that only the poor were not returning library materials and paying fines. Nevertheless, all is forgiven because the mayors logic appears to be that if people do not follow the rules, simply eliminate the rules. The Kenney administration has not been shy in simply ignoring what it deems ideologically inconvenient. If you entered the country illegally and commit a crime in Philadelphia, our sanctuary city status means that law enforcement will not report you to federal authorities. If you possess, use, and even overdose on illegal drugs, the Kenney administration wants to provide a place for you to do so. Gun violence and homicides continued to plague Philadelphia in 2019, while retail theft increased 20% over 2018. Kenney and his politically aligned district attorney, Larry Krasner, respond by crowing about the success of their criminal justice reform agenda including the decision to change the rules they deemed inconvenient: the elimination of cash bail and the prosecution of certain crimes. The message is clear: Ideological convenience and even the coddling of lawbreakers trump personal responsibility and good citizenship. What will be the Kenney administrations next frontier in the lowering of expectations for Philadelphians? I hope that, despite the arguably bigoted message that City Hall continues to send, the people of Philadelphia recognize that these privileges require good citizenship and a prioritization of personal responsibility. Linda A. Kerns is an attorney and a cofounder of Broad + Liberty, where a version of this piece originally appeared. She can be reached at lkerns@broadandliberty.com. A pickup driver who was impaled by a pole managed to call 911 on his own early Tuesday morning after hitting a deer near Willis. The driver, in his 20s, was driving along Texas 75 near Shepherd Hill Road around 4 a.m. when he hit a deer and ran into a chain-link fence lining the property of a trailer sales company. A two-inch-wide pole lodged through the mans body, police said, but he was conscious enough to call 911 for help. Remains of 'a centre of power' for the ancient Scottish tribe known as the Picts have been discovered in Perthshire, dating back more than 1,000 years. Archaeologists uncovered evidence of the powerful Pictish society who feasted, drank, played games and enjoyed riches forged through trade links with Europe. The team from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust uncovered evidence of metal and textile production from between the 7th and 9th centuries at King's Seat Hillfort. They also uncovered glass beads and pottery alongside pieces of Roman glass that were recycled and reused as gaming pieces. A decorated spindle whorl, which was used in textile production found at the excavation site King's Seat Hillfort near Dunkeld The King's Seat hillfort is situated on a prominent hill top above an important bend in the River Tay at Dunkeld in Perthshire The trust said the wealth of finds suggested the site had been a stronghold of the elite in the local population. They would have had 'influence over the trade and production of high-status goods,' said David Strachan, director of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust. 'We have uncovered lots of evidence of how people were living and working, and the remains of a building with a large hearth on the summit, with fragments of glass drinking vessels, gaming pieces, animal bone and horn. 'They paint a vivid picture of high-status people gathering and feasting, decorated in the latest high-status jewellery and ornamentation.' Strachan added that crucibles, whetstones, stone and clay moulds found indicated that craft production took place at the hillfort, which is near Dunkeld. The Picts were a confederation of Celtic-speaking people who lived in eastern and northern Scotland during the Late British Iron Age and Early Medieval periods. Fragments of pottery of the kind made in continental Europe and Anglo-Saxon glass beads suggested the Picts were trading far afield from their centre of power. Spindle whorls spherical objects used in textile production were found alongside evidence of metal-working. A glass gaming piece found at the site, suggesting the Picts lived a life of enjoyment and pleasure Archaeologists said the artefacts uncovered were in keeping with other high-status, royal sites of early historic Scotland. This includes other Pictish sites such as the royal centre of Dundurn in Perthshire. 'What's particularly interesting is that evidence of this activity has been found in all of the trenches,' said Cath MacIver, project manager at AOC Archaeology, the archaeological contractors of the protected site. 'There must have been a lot of iron and other metalworking going on here making the site an important centre for production not just the home of a small group of people making items for their own use.' Archaeologists at Kings Seat Hillfort. Over three years, volunteers have joined professional archaeologists to survey and excavate the site The Picts have long been regarded as enigmatic savages who fought off Rome's legions before mysteriously disappearing from history. They are described as wild tribesmen who refused to sacrifice their freedom in exchange for the benefits of civilisation. They built a highly sophisticated culture in northern Scotland in the latter half of the first millennium AD. The name makes its first known appearance in the works of third-century orator Eumenius, and is assumed to come from the Latin word pingere, 'to paint', suggesting they painted or tattooed their bodies. A picture of the Kings Seat in Hillfort. The Picts that occupied tis area more than 1,000 years ago were a confederation of Celtic-speaking people who lived in eastern and northern Scotland What they called themselves or the language they spoke is unknown, but they were the last people on these islands to trace their lineage through their mothers. Writing in 731, The Venerable Bede, an English Benedictine monk, said the Picts had come from mainland Europe, presumably Scandinavia, to Northern Ireland to ask for land, but the Irish sent them on to Scotland. This indicates the myth that the Picts were given Irish wives, on condition that they became matrilineal they traced their family history through their mother's side. Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) worked with AOC Archaeology Ltd and Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society on the study site. While King's Seat Hillfort has been known about for at least the last century, and is designated as nationally important, little has been understood about its history. Over more than three years, volunteers have joined professional archaeologists as part of the PKHT to survey and excavate the site. Freelance writer Jack Meyer releases The Odyssey of the Western Spirit (published by Trafford Publishing) to answer important questions beyond theories. The book gives a general theory as to how mankind moved from the scarcity of primitive life to the present world of technological abundance. It gives a specific view of psychological life that recurs in the institutional structures of religion, capitalism and romanticism. The book answer three main questions: What is the general condition for the possibility of human existence? What are the specific conditions for the possibility of human existence as that has developed in the history of the Western world? Where do we go from here? Meyers approach to writing the book is descriptive, rather than journalistic in order to tell a more profound story that implicates the readers. As conflict and division becomes more evident, Meyer steps outside these theories to take a new naive look in the hopes to have a greater clarity with respect to the problems humanity face today. The Odyssey of the Western Spirit includes a proposal of a new political party that would stand in between the ideological of the left and right. The author believes that it is timely in a world of fundamental chaos. To know more about the book, visit https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Western-Spirit-Scarcity-Abundance/dp/1490796231. The Odyssey of the Western Spirit By Jack Meyer Hardcover | 6x9 in | 428 pages | ISBN 9781490796239 Softcover | 6x9 in | 428 pages | ISBN 9781490796246 E-Book | 428 pages | ISBN 9781490796321 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Jack Meyer is an unaffiliated freelance writer from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Not having taught in a university, he was freed up to a broader perspective that is possible from within the limits of the disciplines of academia. Trafford Publishing, an Author Solutions, LLC, author services imprint, was the first publisher in the world to offer an on-demand publishing service, and has led the independent publishing revolution since its establishment in 1995. Trafford was also one of the earliest publishers to utilize the Internet for selling books. More than 10,000 authors from over 120 countries have utilized Traffords experience for self publishing their books. For more information about Trafford Publishing, or to publish your book today, call 1-888-232-4444 or visit trafford.com. One in five Brits would abolish the monarchy, according to a YouGov poll. (Getty Images) One in five Britons would abolish the monarchy according to a poll conducted by YouGov. But overall, support for the Queen and her descendants remains high despite the scandal around Prince Andrew and the forthcoming exit of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan. YouGov polled more than 3,100 people and weighted the results, finding that 62% of British adults think the country should still have a monarchy. But 22% thought it should not, and 16% did not know. The poll came after Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy said she would vote to abolish the monarchy in a referendum. However, she said it was not a priority and admitted shed like to see Queen Meghan. Lisa Nandy's comments on abolishing the monarchy sparked the YouGov poll. (Getty Images) The south, excluding London, had the biggest support for the monarchy, at 69%, but all English and Welsh regions were above 50%. However most of the objection comes from Scotland, where 44% of people said the monarchy should stay, and 34% think it should be abolished. Male and female support is about equal (61% and 64%), though a higher percentage of men (25%) think it should abolished, compared to women (18%). The Cambridges and the Cornwalls made a rare joint appearance in February. (Getty Images) Conservative voters are most likely to support the Queen, at 82%, but even a majority of Labour voters (52%) back the monarchy, which might be a blow to Nandys support. Leave voters are also more likely to support the institution, at 73%, but remain voters are fans too, with 57% in favour of keeping the Queen. Brits are still in favour of the royal family. (Getty Images) In the oldest age bracket (65+), 77% of people support her, and in the youngest (18-24) theres 57% support. Interestingly support wanes among those aged 25-49, dropping to 52% but picks back up to 69% in those aged 50-65. The results might buoy Her Majesty who has been facing a difficult year, with the divorce of her oldest grandson, Peter Phillips, and her nephew the Earl of Snowdon, the latest in a series of blows to The Firm. Prince Harry and Meghan are likely to spend most of their time in North America. (Getty Images) She is preparing to say goodbye to grandson Harry, who is likely to spend the majority of his time in North America following his decision with his wife Meghan to step back as senior members of the royal family. Story continues And she has had to pull her son Andrew back from the front line of royal work after an interview in which he failed to show remorse for his friendship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Watch the latest Royal Story videos from Yahoo UK (Photo : REUTERS/Katherine Taylor/File Photo) FILE PHOTO: Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin speaks during the JFK Space Summit, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 19, 2019. Amazon.Com Inc. Chief Executive Jeff Bezos committed $10 billion to start a new fund to combat climate change, the most significant philanthropic move to date for the world's richest man. His climate commitment follows a bold pledge Amazon made after its workers, and other tech giants were urged to do more to cope with climate change. ALSO READ: Amazon Interested In Buying Slack For More Than $9 Billion Amazon's move was lauded but move not enough Amazon Employees for Climate Justice lauded the effort but called on the company to do more. The organization usually coerced the business enterprise to do something on climate change, demonstrating outside its Seattle headquarters and writing open letters to the agency. "When is Amazon going to forestall supporting oil [and] fuel groups ravage Earth with still extra oil and fuel wells?" the organization said in a statement. The institution has been critical of Amazon's work with oil-and-gasoline businesses as part of its Amazon Web Services cloud-computing unit. Amazon to help protect the natural world In his Instagram account, the Amazon founder said he would assist scientists, activists, and other stakeholders in their effort to "to help hold and protect the natural world." Mr. Bezos, who provided a few pieces of information about the fund, said Bezos Earth Fund would start rolling out offers this summer. Climate change, according to Mr. Bezos, is the most significant risk to our planet. He added he wants to work alongside others to increase known methods and discover new ways of combating the devastating impact of climate on the planet. Amazon, which ships billions of items each year, said it would lessen the emissions it creates by airplanes, vehicles, and trucks to ferry its packages throughout the globe. The organization plans to reserve 100,000 electric delivery vehicles. Bezos said it might instantly become one of the most prominent foundations in the U.S., as well as one of the most significant economic commitments to fight climate change. ALSO READ: Amazon Wants To Let Couriers Into Your Home While You're Away: 'Amazon Key' Service Explained Tech giants join Amazon in climate pledge Tech firms from Microsoft to Alphabet Inc.'s Google have joined Amazon in making climate pledges in the latest months. Large groups committed to curb greenhouse-gas emissions and buy green electricity have grown to be pertinent to their recruiting and retention efforts, particularly among younger workers. Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, according to a report by Wall Street Journal, said U.S. businesses signed deals for a record 9.3 gigawatts of renewable energy in 2019. ALSO READ: Amazon Prime Now Adds Whole Foods Groceries For Free 2-Hour Delivery Mr. Bezos is an investor and board member in Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion fund co-chaired by way of Mr. Gates and the philanthropist John Arnold. The fund objectives to put money into promising experimental electricity technologies. Mr. Bezos' other personal philanthropic arm is his Bezos Day One Fund, which launched in 2018 with a dedication of $2 billion toward investment nonprofits that useful resource homeless families and developing nonprofit pre-schools in low-earnings communities. He previously indicated that he sees his $1 billion-a-year investment of Blue Origin, his rocket company, as a vital charitable endeavor. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The research finds that more than 80% of cases are mild and the sick and elderly are most at risk. Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 70,000 cases of Covid-19, in the biggest study since the outbreak began. Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) found that more than 80% of the cases have been mild with the sick and elderly most at risk. The research also points to the high risk for medical staff. The findings put the overall death rate of the Covid-19 virus at 2.3%. In Hubei, the worst affected province, the death rate is 2.9% compared with only 0.4% in the rest of the country. China's latest official figures released on Tuesday put the overall death toll at 1,868 and 72,436 infections. Officials said there were 98 new deaths and 1,886 new cases in the past day, 93 of those deaths and 1,807 of the infections were in Hubei province - the epicentre of the outbreak. More than 12,000 people have recovered, according to Chinese authorities. What does the study tell us? The paper by the CCDC, released on Monday and published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, looked at all 72,314 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed across China as of 11 February, including confirmed, suspected, and asymptomatic cases. While the results largely confirm previous descriptions of the virus and patterns of infection, the study includes a detailed breakdown of the 44,672 confirmed cases across all of China. Some of the conclusions reached include the following: Some 80.9% of infections are classified as mild, 13.8% as severe and only 4.7% as critical. The highest fatality rate is for people aged 80 and older, at 14.8%. For children up to 9, there have been no fatalities and up to the age of 39, the death rate remains low at 0.2%. For the next age groups, the fatality rates increase gradually: For people in their 40s it is 0.4%, in their 50s it is 1.3%, in their 60s it is 3.6% and their 70s it is 8%. Looking at the sex ratio, men are more likely to die (2.8%) than women (1.7%). Identifying which existing illnesses put patients at risk, the study finds cardiovascular disease at number one, followed by diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and hypertension Pointing out the risk for medical staff, the paper says that a total of 3,019 health workers have been infected, 1,716 of which were confirmed cases and five had died by 11 February, which was the last day of data included in the research. On 13 February, China broadened its definition of how to diagnose people, including "clinically diagnosed cases" which previously were counted separate from "confirmed cases". What does it say about the future? Looking forward, the paper found that "the epidemic curve of onset of symptoms" peaked around 23-26 January before declining up to 11 February. The study suggests that the downward trend in the overall epidemic curve could mean that "isolation of whole cities, broadcast of critical information (e.g., promoting hand washing, mask wearing, and care seeking) with high frequency through multiple channels, and mobilization of a multi-sector rapid response teams is helping to curb the epidemic". But the authors also warn that with many people returning from a long holiday, the country "needs to prepare for the possible rebound of the epidemic". China's response to the virus has seen the lockdown of Wuhan - the largest city in Hubei - and the rest of the province as well as severe travel restrictions on movements across the country. What's happening with the cruise ships? The virus has spread beyond mainland China to countries around the globe and two cruise ships are now confirmed to have been affected. The Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama on 3 February, after a man from Hong Kong tested positive. More than 450 of the 3,700 people on board have since become infected. The US has begun evacuating its citizens from the vessel. On Tuesday South Korea joined the list of the countries also planning to get their residents out which already includes Canada, Australia, Israel and Hong Kong. A second ship, the MS Westerdam was turned away by multiple ports around Asia over fears it could be carrying the virus. It was finally cleared to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after no cases were found on board. Disembarking passengers were personally welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. No one was quarantined. However days later, a woman who had been on the ship tested positive after arriving in Malaysia. Huge efforts are now being made to track down the passengers, who have moved on to many different countries including Malaysia and Thailand, but also further afield to US and Canada. Several countries have said they will not admit foreign visitors who were on the ship. There are still 255 guests and 747 crew on board the MS Westerdam, while more than 400 passengers have been sent to a hotel in the capital, Phnom Penh, to await test results. BBC The financial burden on health systems would drastically increase if new European expert guidelines for cholesterol-lowering treatment were implemented, according to a new simulation study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the European Heart Journal. The findings highlight an urgent need for cost-effectiveness analysis given the current cost of the proposed treatment for very high-risk patients, the researchers say. In August 2019, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) recommended that low-density lipoproteins cholesterol levels (LDL-C), also described as the "bad" cholesterol, should be substantially lowered to prevent cardiovascular disease, especially in very high-risk patients. The guidelines carry significant weight for clinicians and authorities and are often used as a reference point for treatments in Europe and elsewhere. For patients with a very high risk of cardiovascular disease, such as those with a recent heart attack, the new guidelines recommend both lowering the LDL-C level by at least 50 percent and having a LDL-C level of less than 1.4 millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/L). This is a sharp reduction compared to previous guidelines presented three years earlier. To reach these targets, the organizations recommend combining lifestyle modifications with the low-cost cholesterol-lowering drugs statins and ezetimibe. If the LDL-C goal isn't reached despite the use of these therapies, adding a new type of high-cost cholesterol-lowering drug known as a PCSK9 inhibitor is recommended. In this study, the researchers predicted the implications of the new guidelines by calculating how many patients would be eligible for expanded therapy. Using Sweden's national registry for heart disease patients, SWEDEHEART, the researchers studied more than 25,000 people who suffered heart attacks between 2013 to 2017 and whose cholesterol levels were measured during follow-up visits after six to 10 weeks. The researchers found that more than 50 percent of the patients would be eligible for PCSK9 inhibitors as they would not have reached the LDL-C targets with only high-intensity statins and ezetimibe. When use of two currently approved PCSK9 inhibitor drugs (alirocumab or evolocumab) was simulated in those patients, around 90 percent of all patients attained the LDL-C target. The annual cost of treating a patient in Sweden with PCSK9 inhibitors is more than 4,500 euros compared to only around 30 euros with statins or ezetimibe. "PCSK9 inhibitors are clearly effective cholesterol-lowering drugs which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events but they come at a substantial cost," says Ali Allahyari, resident physician in cardiology and doctoral student at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, and first author of the study. "If half of the patients with heart attacks would be eligible for this drug, the financial burden on health systems throughout Europe and other countries using the ESC/EAS guidelines may be substantial unless the cost of treatment is reduced." Using previous analyses, the researchers looked at to what degree lowering one's bad cholesterol can help reduce the risk of having another severe cardiovascular episode. They estimated that using the PCSK9 inhibitor drug alirocumab to prevent one major adverse cardiovascular event, such as another heart attack, would cost around 846,000 euros in Sweden (8.9 million Swedish kronor). "Many new therapies are being tested and introduced in cardiovascular medicine today," says Peter Ueda, intern physician and postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Medicine in Solna who led the study. "Our analyses highlight yet another situation for which we need to consider what we deem reasonable in terms of the number of patients being treated, the expected health gains and cost." ### In addition to Ali Allahyari and Peter Ueda, authors of the study affiliated with Karolinska Institutet were Tomas Jernberg and Pia Lundman, both at Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital. The researchers behind this study were funded by The Heart Foundation for Danderyd Hospital, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and the Swedish Society for Medical Research. Some of the researchers have received grants or fees from MSD, Novartis, Astra-Zeneca, Sanofi, Bayer, Aspen and Amgen outside the submitted work. Publication: "Application of the 2019 ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia guidelines to nationwide data of patients with a recent myocardial infarction: a simulation study," Ali Allahyari, Tomas Jernberg, Emil Hagstrom, Margaret Leosdottir, Pia Lundman, Peter Ueda, European Heart Journal, online Feb. 19, 2020, doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa034 Sixty is the new 45, 80 is the new 60, and 100 is well, really dang old. But even centenarians know that once you stop learning, you star... Chinas southern province of Hainan has launched the first specially designed insurance product to cover losses incurred by businesses as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the banking and insurance regulator said. The scheme has set aside 200 million yuan ($28.7 million to cover payouts, according to a notice released by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on Sunday. The Hainan government will subsidize 70% of the premium for the 100 key businesses designated eligible to take this insurance. The six-month insurance, co-launched by 12 leading insurers including PICC, China Pacific Insurance Co., and Ping An Insurance Group, provides cover for production losses, wages paid to employees in quarantine and fees incurred due to the suspension of operations as a result of the epidemic, according to the notice. The notice did not name the businesses or which sector they were engaged in. There are lingering concerns that the resumption of business operations will lead to more cases of coronavirus infection, and cause production to come to a standstill due to the quarantine policies, according to the notice. The insurance will play its role of social stabilizer, and help companies to come through difficult times. China has grounded flights, cordoned off cities and suspended transport links over the past three weeks in a national effort to slow down the spread of the virus. Many factories are yet to re-open, disrupting supply chains in China and beyond for everyone from smartphone makers to car manufacturers. To counter mounting pressure on the economy, regulators have injected funds into the financial system to shore up market confidence. They have also begun speeding up the approval and launch of cheap life insurance products. ($1 = 6.9812 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Cheng Leng, Ryan Woo; editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Photograph: A traffic police officer stands guard outside the Wuhan Livingroom, a makeshift hospital in Wuhan, central Chinas Hubei Province on Feb. 15, 2020. Photo by Xinhua/Li He via Getty Images. Topics Carriers COVID-19 New Markets China The attorney general then had lunch with Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel and a longtime friend and colleague, in what officials said was a previously scheduled get-together. While Mr. Barr has been incredibly frustrated and has a limit to what he will put up with, people who know him said they doubted he would give in so quickly. An abrupt departure by Mr. Barr would roil a Justice Department on track to deliver several initiatives important to Mr. Trump, including an overhaul of the F.B.I., a criminal investigation into the origins of the Russia inquiry and a continuing leak investigation into James B. Comey, the former director of the F.B.I. It would also leave the president with a vacancy at the top of the Justice Department that might be hard to fill eight months before the election. Mr. Barr has taken heat from critics both inside and outside his department over what they see as the politicization of the law enforcement system. More than 1,100 former Justice Department officials called for Mr. Barrs resignation, and a group representing the nations federal judges scheduled an emergency telephone conference to address the presidents attacks on one of their own. The Justice Department dismissed suggestions on Tuesday night that Mr. Barrs departure was imminent. Addressing Beltway rumors: The Attorney General has no plans to resign, Kerri Kupec, the department spokeswoman, wrote on Twitter. Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary, retweeted Ms. Kupecs message. The president told reporters on Tuesday that Mr. Stone, a longtime friend and off-and-on adviser, and Mr. Flynn, a campaign adviser before serving briefly as his national security adviser, were both treated very unfairly. He called Mr. Stones conviction a very, very rough thing and said that Mr. Flynns life has been destroyed. Mr. Stone, who was convicted in November of seven felonies for obstructing a congressional inquiry into the Trump campaigns ties to WikiLeaks, which disseminated Democratic emails stolen by Russian agents, is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about his dealings with Russian officials but wants to withdraw his plea. Asked whether he was considering pardons for Mr. Stone, Mr. Flynn or Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman convicted on tax and other financial fraud charges, Mr. Trump said, Im not even thinking about that. But aides said he had broached the idea and critics said Tuesdays pardons and commutations for convicted political figures like Rod R. Blagojevich and Bernard B. Kerik sent a clear message to the presidents associates that he may yet clear them. A couple accused of having sex in a busy public park across the road from a primary school have been charged. Police were called to Stanmore, in Sydney's inner west, at 8.30am on Monday to reports a man and woman were allegedly performing a sex act in Weekley Park. At the time, a number of parents and children arriving at St Michael's Catholic Primary School were in or near the park. Police responded to reports of a public sex act being performed at Weekley Park (pictured) at 8.30am on Monday A 39-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were arrested at the scene. The man was also allegedly found with methamphetamines and cannabis after being searched by police and the pair were taken to Newtown police station. The man was charged with wilful and obscene behaviour, offensive conduct and possess prohibited drugs. He was granted bail, to appear at Newtown Local Court on 24 February. The woman was charged with offensive behaviour and granted bail to appear at Newtown Local Court on 12 March. Though they took the world by surprise when they announced their exit from the British royal family, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have been living a very low-key life since then. Though the duo is figuring out the next steps for their new lives outside of the royal family, theyve mostly been enjoying a stress-free life away from the spotlight. After enduring the intense scrutiny of the British press and public, the Sussexes decided it would be best to step down as working royals to become financially independent. Since resigning, theyve been enjoying time spent as a family on Vancouver Island in Canada. Still, the pair have to begin bringing in money to sustain themselves, which has led them to a couple of destinations across the United States in the past couple of weeks. It looks like the duchess mom, Doria Ragland, may have even stepped in to watch 9-month old, Archie Harrison while the Sussexes were working. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are carving out a new life for themselves Though Megxit is a new experience for both the duke and duchess they are both firmly committed to their new lives and to one another. People reports that the royal couple who call each other, M and H, are only stronger since their shocking exit. They are besotted and very sweet with each other, an insider explained. Vancouver Island also seems to be the perfect fit for the Sussexes. They both love to be outside and have been loving it there, a source revealed to People. When theyre not doing yoga or eating in, Harry will pick up sandwiches at a local spot, and Meghan walks her beloved rescue beagle Guy and the couples adopted Labrador. They go for long walks, they do yoga, and Meghan cooks. They are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles main priority is Archie Still, the main reason why the Sussexes decided to retreat from royal life was that they desperately wanted Archie to have a normal life. Archie is the priority, an insider explained to People. Its very much still about taking care of him and putting the family first. Hes a happy kidhe loves to laugh. Archie and Harry have such a good time together. And Meghan is a great mom. Shes very much about tending to him. They are trying to live their life as regular parents. Despite their ploy for normalcy, the Sussexes are required to get out of their bubble and make a living. Meghan Markles mom Doria Ragland may have stepped in to help From speaking engagements in Miami to getting their charity foundation off the ground at Stanford University, Markle and Prince Harry have been on the move lately. It appears that the duchess mom, Doria Ragland, has stepped in to help. When Markle returned to Canada on her own after Megxit was announced Ragland flew to be by her daughter and grandsons side. Meghan had friends and her mom around while Harry remained in England, an insider told People. She definitely gets a lot of her strength from her mother. Though Archie was not with his parents when they landed in Canada on Valentines Day, he may be with his grandmother. Express is reporting, Doria will no doubt appreciate time with baby Archie and the couple may have left him in her care while they attended to business in the US. Stanford is a one hour and 20 minutes from Los Angeles and about four hours from Vancouver Island where the couple are staying in Canada. They may have left little Archie with Doria in LA before flying to Miami, then returned to LA before heading up to Stanford. From what we understand Ragland adores her grandson. PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Central National Gottesman Inc. (CNG), which owns a range of sales and distribution businesses in the global pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, wood products and metals industries, announced today that its Lindenmeyr Munroe division has acquired the business of Wilcox Paper, an independent paper merchant based in Champlin, Minnesota. Wilcox Paper has been serving the Minnesota market since 1923 and specializes in the sale and distribution of printing and writing graphic paper products. "As CNG continues to expand our product offerings and geographic reach, we remain committed to our core customers in the commercial printing market," said Andrew Wallach, CNG President and Chief Executive Officer. "With the acquisition of Wilcox, we welcome a talented and knowledgeable team of professionals who have an excellent reputation for customer service in the region." Wallach added that Wilcox President Terry Hudy will join the company's existing operations in Fridley, MN in a new senior sales role. The business will operate from 200,000 square feet of warehouse space in Fridley. The combined businesses will operate under the Lindenmeyr Munroe name and will continue to serve customers throughout Minnesota and the surrounding states. "With Terry and his team in place, we expect a seamless transition for customers and suppliers," said Lindenmeyr Munroe President William Meany. "Our customers in Minnesota and the surrounding states will benefit from our core strengths of customer service, product availability and technological capability. We are excited to expand our business in this important market." Lindenmeyr Munroe, the largest privately held independent paper merchant in the U.S., is committed to ongoing investment in its core business of commercial printing papers while diversifying into growth areas such as wide-format, packaging and JanSan. About Central National Gottesman Inc. Central National Gottesman Inc. (CNG) is a $6.8 billion sales and distribution organization that owns businesses in the global pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, wood products and metals industries. Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Purchase, NY, CNG employs more than 3,000 people in 29 countries around the world. CNG is privately held, and builds on more than 130 years of family ownership, market knowledge and adaptability to help drive better outcomes and solutions for our clients. To learn more, please visit www.cng-inc.com. SOURCE Central National Gottesman Inc. Related Links http://www.cng-inc.com Click here to read the full article. Berlins new seven-member selection committee four women and three men comprises the core of new director Carlo Chatrians programming staff, which is led Canadian critic Mark Peranson. Peranson was the Locarno Film Festivals chief of programming when Chatrian headed that Swiss festival. This year, Berlin is opening with My Salinger Year, starring Sigourney Weaver (above). But Chatrian is quick to point out that his Berlin team is not a Locarno redux. Of the Berlin official selection gatekeepers, four are people I worked with in Locarno and three are new, he says. On the one hand it was important for me to have people who know my tastes, and whom I know, Chatrian notes. On the other, it was just as important not to duplicate, not to copy, the Locarno model. More from Variety Thats why the new Berlin programmers Chatrian is working with, former Panorama chief Pat Lazzaro, Verena Von Stackelberg, founder and manager of Berlin arthouse temple Wolf Kino, and Eastern European cinema expert Barbara Wurm, brought a lot to the team. First of all, a knowledge of the festival and of German culture and cinema, he says. Also, two members of Chatrians former Locarno programming posse, Sergio Fant and Aurelie Godet, now on the Berlin team, both speak German, so they also brought a different sensibility. Chatrian is also adamant about underlining his close collaboration with the programmers of Berlins sidebars. The festival isnt just the competition, Encounters and Berlinale Special, he says, pointing out that there is also Panorama, Generation, Forum and Perspectives on German Cinema. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the back-and-forth between sections, he notes. We would discuss a filmthen it would go to Panoramathen a film that Panorama saw went to us. The same with Forum, says Chatrian. The goal is to make sure that there is dialogue between the artistic director and all the sections. Story continues Berlins new gatekeepers are: Mark Peranson: An ardent cinephile who is well-wired into the global independent film community, Peranson is the editor and publisher of Canadas Cinema Scope magazine. He was brought on board in Locarno by Chatrians predecessor, Olivier Pere. Peranson has also dabbled in directing with experimental docs Waiting for Sancho (2008) and La ultima pelicula (2013) and has had cameos in pics such as Albert Serras Birdsong (2008) and Hong Sang-soos On the Beach at Night Alone (2017). Lorenzo Esposito: The former collaborator with the Venice, Turin and Rome festivals, and a producer on Italian pubcaster RAIs cult late-night film-buff program, Fuori Orario, Esposito is also a consultant for the Karlovy Vary fest and Frances Cinema du Reel, which is dedicated to documentaries. At Locarno he was in charge of the Italian cinema but his areas of expertise also covered cinema from Eastern Europe, Turkey and the Arab world. Sergio Fant: Though Italian, he has long been based in Germany. Prior to serving on the Locarno team, Fant worked as a consultant/programmer for the Venice, Rome and Trento fests. His primary area of expertise is experimental cinema, but at Locarno he also oversaw German and Latin American movie selections. Aurelie Godet: The former deputy director of French promotional entity UniFrances New York office, Godet also writes for Cahiers du Cinema. She has been a Locarno programmer since 2013, and is a member of the advisory committee at Arte France Cinema. Paz Lazaro: Lazaro worked in film production, mainly in Spain, prior to joining the Berlinale as a programmer in various prominent guises, starting in 2006. She was director and curator of the Panorama section in 2018 and 2019 and has been on the Berlinale Series selection committee since 2015. Verena von Stackelberg: She is also the film programmer at Soho House in Berlin. Von Stackelberg is the founder and managing director of Berlin arthouse cinema Wolf Kino, which opened in 2017 and includes a cafe-bar, a gallery space and a post-production studio. Barbara Wurm: An expert on Eastern European film, Wurm is an an academic, author, critic and curator who has been on the selection committees of Germanys DOK Leipzig, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen and currently also works for the goEast Film Festival. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Georgia and Ukraine outlined cooperation in the field of winemaking, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. The prospects of the cooperation were considered at a meeting of Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili with Chairman of the Kherson Regional State Administration of Ukraine Yuri Gusev. At the meeting, Davitashvili spoke about government projects that are being implemented for the development of the agricultural sector and stressed the importance of fulfilling the commitments made under the Association Agreement with the European Union. The parties also talked about the development of the wine sector in the country. According to Gusev, Georgian wine has a special place in the international market. He expressed interest learning the Georgia's experience in the development of the wine-making sector in Ukraine. The parties also discussed issues of cooperation in the field of wheat production and the development of processing technologies in the food industry. In 2019, about 94 million bottles of wine (0.75 liters) were exported from Georgia to 53 countries, which is 9 percent more than in 2018 and a record for Georgia, says Georgian National Wine Agency. Reportedly, the volume of wine exports in monetary terms exceeded $240 million, which is 17 percent more than in 2018. The volume of export of Georgian wine increased: to China - by 2 percent (7.08 million bottles), Poland - 17 percent (4.11 million bottles), the US - 48 percent (678,148 bottles) and the UK - 60 percent (168,307 bottles). According to the agency, in 2019, 341 companies exported wine from Georgia. Among Georgian wines, the highest export rates were recorded for Kindzmarauli - 17.4 million bottles, Mukuzani - 5.2 million bottles, Tsinandali - 4.4 million bottles, Akhasheni - 1.6 million bottles, Khvanchkara - 1.0 million bottles and Tvishi - 298,509 bottles. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 21:18:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIRANA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Over 40,000 newborns in Albania have benefited from the baby bonus offered to parents at all maternity hospitals under the government's social program, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said here on Tuesday. On a Facebook post, the minister said the Albanian government continues to support every child that comes to life through the social protection program. In a video posted by the minister, a mother who had just given birth said she had received 80,000 Albanian lek (ALL) (around 712 U.S. dollars) after giving birth to her second child. "I am very happy about the bonus. I received 40,000 ALL as a first bonus when I gave birth to a baby girl and 80,000 ALL for my second child," she said, calling this program a very good initiative to help Albanian families. According to Manastirliu, a total of 2,519 children born in non-public hospitals have received the bonus. The bonus was awarded as well to 11,057 children born abroad, but registered in Albania. Due to a low birth rate, the Albanian government unveiled in September 2018 a new social reform program, which entered into force on Jan. 1, 2019, aiming to encourage Albanian parents to have more children through a sharp increase in baby bonuses. Under the new program, there is a reward for the birth of every child, starting from 40,000 ALL for the first child to 120,000 ALL for the third child. (1 euro = 122.18 Albanian lek) Some millers are claiming that big companies are exporting subsidized maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo and other nations at low prices while Zimbabwe is facing acute shortages of the staple food. Speaking before the parliamentary agriculture committee, representatives of the Small and Medium Millers Association claimed that the big companies are also converting subsidized maize into porridge powder and other commodities at the expense of local consumers. Wayne Morse Brant of Brands said indications are that big companies are engaged in a massive maize scandal and have not been brought to book by Zimbabwean authorities and the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe. I dont have evidence but Im sure if I point in the right direction, you can go find evidence of maize going to DRC. Its subsidized maize that is given to us by government to provide food for the country. Its not being used for those purposes, its something else. Davies Muhambi of United Milling echoed the same sentiments, adding that exporting maize to DRC and other countries has resulted in critical mealie-meal shortages in Zimbabwe. Muhambi was expelled by the Grain Millers Association for allegedly failing to support the interests of the oganization. He claimed that there is a big scandal over maize exports to the DRC. Trucks that carry copper from the north which is Zambia, DRC going to South Africa when they come back empty, when they get to the border they are stamped to have cargo which is maize from South Africa, come through Harare they pick up that maize, go to DRC, exit Chirundu with Zimbabwean maize which is subsidized maize. He pledged to provide evidence if needed by the parliamentary committee. But representatives of big milling companies Blue Ribbon Foods and National Foods dismissed the allegations, noting that they were struggling to supply mealie-meal to locals. National Foods Michael Lashbrook claimed that the company stopped milling subsidized maize last month after the government failed to pay it accordingly. Lashbrook said they have just resumed milling subsidized maize but the company is not exporting subsidized maize to DRC or any nation. Blue Ribbons Yusu Kamau also dismissed the claims, saying the company only caters for the local market. The government recently reduced the price of a 10 kilogram bag of mealie-meal from 75 Zimbabwe dollars to 50 dollars. Federal prosecutors are reportedly considering whether to bring additional charges against associates of Rudy Giuliani - a sign that the former New York City mayor could himself be in legal jeopardy. Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman who co-founded a company that paid President Trumps personal attorney $500,000, could be hit with new charges by federal prosecutors. The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York is weighing whether to charge Parnas for misleading potential investors who backed Fraud Guarantee, the Florida-based company that paid Giuliani, CNN is reporting. Fraud Guarantee was founded as a company which provided insurance to businesses seeking protection against fraud. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (left) could be in legal jeopardy as federal prosecutors consider bringing additional charges against his associate, Lev Parnas (right) Prosecutors at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York are examining whether Parnas and another associate, David Correia (above), duped investors about the real value of their company, Fraud Guarantee The additional charges indicate that federal prosecutors are further scrutinizing Giulianis links to Fraud Guarantee. A lawyer for Giuliani told CNN that his client never had any conversations about investor pitches or marketing with Parnas of David Correia, Parnas business partner. Investigators are examining whether Parnas and Correia duped investors about the value of the company. They are also looking into whether they lied about how they intended to use the investment money, sources told CNN. The FBI and federal prosecutors have spoken with investors linked to the company. One of the investors is reported to have provided evidence that Parnas and Correia used proceeds to buy expensive personal items, according to CNN. Correia is one of five men, including Parnas and another Giuliani associate, Igor Frumam, who have been charged with using straw donors to funnel illegal contributions to politicians they thought could help their political and business interests, including a pro-Trump super PAC as well as committees supporting other Republicans. Correia returned to the US and turned himself in after the October arrests of Parnas and Fruman, who worked with Giuliani to allegedly try and get Ukrainian officials to investigate the son of former Democrat vice president, Joe Biden. In October, Parnas and another Giuliani associate, Igor Fruman (above), were arrested and charged with using a shell company to donate $325,000 to a pro-Trump election committee Prosecutors have accused Parnas and Fruman of using a shell company to donate $325,000 to a pro-Trump election committee and of raising money for former House Representative Pete Sessions of Texas as part of an ultimately successful effort to have the president remove Marie Yovanovitch as ambassador to Ukraine. Giuliani has said he had no knowledge of illegal donations and had not seen any evidence that Parnas and Fruman did anything wrong. Prosecutors allege American-born Correia, who owns a home with his wife in West Palm Beach, teamed with Parnas, Fruman and businessman Andrey Kukushkin, in a separate scheme to make illegal campaign donations to local and federal politicians in New York, Nevada, and other states in an attempt to get support for a new recreational marijuana business. US law forbids politicians from taking foreign donations. Correia's work focused on drafting business contracts in Ukraine and memorandums of understanding to present to other potential partners, sources who dealt with the three men told CNN. Federal prosecutors in SDNY have been investigating Giuliani for months. Specifically, they have looked into his efforts to have Maria Yovanovitch, the former ambassador to Ukraine, removed from her position. Giuliani has also been involved in efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. (Left to right) Vice President Mike Pence, Igor Fruman, Lev Parnas, President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani. Fruman and Parnas are also said to have been involved in efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter The former New York City mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Prosecutors have been saying that additional charges are expected to be filed against Parnas, though they have not said when those charges will be filed. The case is scheduled to go to trial in October, just weeks before Trump stands for re-election. We have taken into account prosecutors' statements that they might bring additional charges against Mr. Parnas and others since the inception of this case, said Joseph Bondy, an attorney for Parnas. We are therefore not surprised, and remain prepared to defend Mr. Parnas against any such charges. Parnas has handed over text messages and other correspondence to congressional investigators that detailed his work with Giuliani to get Ukraine to announce that it would open a corruption investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading Democratic contender in the 2020 presidential election. Parnas is seeking leniency as he faces federal charges for allegedly funneling money to a pro-Trump election committee. Mainline Protestant pastors driving support for same-sex marriage: LifeWay study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A majority of Protestant pastors in the United States still disapprove of same-sex relationships, but the overall approval has grown largely due to mainline pastors, a new study by LifeWay Research reveals. Only about 8 percent of self-identified evangelical Protestant pastors say they have no issues with same-sex marriage, and their percentage has remained the same since 2010, according to a new survey by the Nashville-based research group. However, support among self-identified mainline Protestant pastors for same-sex marriage has jumped from a third (32 percent) in 2010 to almost half (47 percent) in 2020. The study suggests that Presbyterian or Reformed (49 percent), Methodist (47 percent), Lutheran (35 percent) and Christian/Church of Christ pastors (20 percent) are more likely to see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage than Baptist (3 percent) or Pentecostal pastors (1 percent). Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, says the data should be interpreted cautiously. The stability in the views of evangelical pastors means either there has been no growth in acceptance of same-sex marriage among them or the pastors that no longer have moral reservations about it no longer identify as evangelical. Last week, the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan consecrated its first openly lesbian bishop, the Rev. Bonnie A. Perry. Anna Stania, director of Communications for the diocese, told The Christian Post that Perrys candidacy received no opposition because of her sexual orientation. We have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of joy, grace and excitement since her election and consecration. The study also indicates that white pastors (27 percent) are more likely to see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage than African American pastors (15 percent) or pastors of other ethnicities (6 percent). It further suggests that those with a doctorate (27 percent) or a masters degree (32 percent) are more likely to support same-sex marriage than pastors with a bachelors degree (9 percent) or no college degree (6 percent). The survey results also show that pastors of churches with fewer than 50 in attendance (33 percent) are more likely to support same-sex marriage than those at churches with 100 or more in attendance (19 percent). The movement we see among pastors views of same-sex marriage has less to do with their denominational tradition than their view of the Bible, McConnell explains. An evangelical distinctive is the ultimate authority the Bible has over ones beliefs despite changing cultural perspectives. It is not surprising then that evangelical pastors across different denominations continue to view same-sex marriage as wrong through this lens. Last month, United Methodist Church leaders proposed a plan that would formally split the denomination after years of division over non-celibate LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage, with the formation of a new denomination for Methodists who hold to a biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality. Overall, 24 percent of pastors say they see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married up from 20 percent in 2018 and 15 percent in 2010, according to LifeWay. And 72 percent of pastors disagree and 67 percent strongly disagree. More than four years after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, most Protestant pastors still see a moral problem with it, said McConnell. More pastors are protective of marriage itself, but legal civil unions also are seen as wrong by most pastors. The state government will introduce legislation banning wheel clamping as a priority, with Premier Mark McGowan saying it was "annoying the hell out of people all over Perth" and calling wheel clamping operators "thugs and bullies". Mr McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti made the announcement in Scarborough, which has been the epicentre of the battle of the clamp ever since the City of Stirling began investigating ways to outlaw the practice by private contractors following a raft of complaints. WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Philip Gostelow Ms Saffioti acknowledged the City's efforts, and said the legislation which would outlaw wheel clamping and place regulations on vehicle towing was needed to back up the local government's bylaws. "When the City of Stirling was looking at introducing bylaws, it was clear that we needed legislation in place to have consistency around Western Australia but also to give the legislative backing to wheel clamping," she said. BENGALURU, India and LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, announced a long-term strategic partnership with GE Appliance, a Haier company, to effectively streamline IT operations. As an IT services partner, Infosys will help GE Appliances modernize its IT infrastructure and run IT in managed services mode as part of the overall innovation and optimization agenda. As a part of this alliance, Infosys will assist GE Appliances to accelerate their digital and workplace transformation through automation-driven managed IT services support across global command centers, service desks, end-user computing, IT infrastructure, and applications. Backed by robust 'Transformation of service delivery' and 'Value to Price' models, coupled with levers of innovation fund and year-on-year productivity, Infosys has developed a unified custom delivery model to accelerate GE Appliances' digital transformation journey. Jasmeet Singh, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing, Infosys, said, "We are excited to partner with GE Appliances as a key partner in their digital and workplace transformation journey. As incumbents across industries accelerate their digital efforts, work, workplace and workforce transformation will be integral to their journey. We believe that with our expertise in executing large transformation programs, we will co-innovate with GE Appliances to deliver great customer experiences." Viren Shah, Chief Digital Officer, GE Appliances, said, "GE Appliances is on an ambitious multi-year journey to transform our information technology landscape as well as to re-imagine the way we work. We believe that this transformation will help us innovate better and faster for our end-users and we are looking forward to working with Infosys as one of our key partners in this journey." About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg Today we'll evaluate Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. (HKG:1858) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. Firstly, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Then we'll compare its ROCE to similar companies. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. Ultimately, it is a useful but imperfect metric. Author Edwin Whiting says to be careful when comparing the ROCE of different businesses, since 'No two businesses are exactly alike. So, How Do We Calculate ROCE? Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) Or for Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments: 0.25 = CN177m (CN954m - CN246m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) Therefore, Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments has an ROCE of 25%. Check out our latest analysis for Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments Does Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments Have A Good ROCE? ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. In our analysis, Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments's ROCE is meaningfully higher than the 11% average in the Medical Equipment industry. I think that's good to see, since it implies the company is better than other companies at making the most of its capital. Putting aside its position relative to its industry for now, in absolute terms, Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments's ROCE is currently very good. Story continues We can see that, Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments currently has an ROCE of 25% compared to its ROCE 3 years ago, which was 10%. This makes us think the business might be improving. You can click on the image below to see (in greater detail) how Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments's past growth compares to other companies. SEHK:1858 Past Revenue and Net Income, February 17th 2020 When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. ROCE can be misleading for companies in cyclical industries, with returns looking impressive during the boom times, but very weak during the busts. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. What happens in the future is pretty important for investors, so we have prepared a free report on analyst forecasts for Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments. Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments's Current Liabilities And Their Impact On Its ROCE Current liabilities include invoices, such as supplier payments, short-term debt, or a tax bill, that need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets. Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments has total assets of CN954m and current liabilities of CN246m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 26% of its total assets. This is quite a low level of current liabilities which would not greatly boost the already high ROCE. What We Can Learn From Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments's ROCE Low current liabilities and high ROCE is a good combination, making Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments look quite interesting. Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments shapes up well under this analysis, but it is far from the only business delivering excellent numbers . You might also want to check this free collection of companies delivering excellent earnings growth. I will like Beijing Chunlizhengda Medical Instruments better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. New York, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "North America Dental Implants Market to 2027 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts By Product ; Material ; End User, and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862167/?utm_source=GNW However, the high costs of dental implants & dental implants and limited reimbursements are likely to have a negative impact on market growth. Moreover, the growing medical tourism in Mexico is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the North America dental implants market in the coming years. Dental Implants are dental surgical devices that are positioned between the jaws for supporting the dental prosthesis.These frames or implants are surgically placed below the gums into the jawbone. There is a wide range of medical devices that are used for dental implants such as root-form dental implants and plate-form dental implants.These implants are made of and titanium and zirconium materials. Dentures and Bridges are used to support the implanted artificial teeth and also to avoid slip or shift of teeth in the mouth during eating or speaking. The primary purpose of aesthetic dentistry is to improve dental aesthetics in color, shape, size, position, dental alignment, the appearance of gums, teeth, bites, and smile.The dental cosmetic industry in the US has grown from the last decade, owing to the demand and fame it has achieved over a period. Millennial and baby boomers population are generally opting for cosmetic implant procedures such as smile correction and other aesthetic procedures.The rising demand for cosmetic dentistry has thus fueled the Dental Implants market. Dental Implants include dental implants, which are usually coupled with the rising number of geriatric populations over the globe.However, an incaresing number of younger people are opting for dental implantation procedures instead of dental bridges. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), as of 2018, 199,486 dentists are working in the US. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 2015 Survey stated that cosmetic procedures continue to be popular with patients seeking aesthetic procedures. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that dental cosmetic procedures are projected to increase by 19% from 2016 to 2026. Thus, the growing adoption of cosmetic dental procedures and treatments and application of dental implants are expected to drive the global dental implants market over the coming years. In 2018, the product segment of the dental implants market was led by the dental bridges segment.In 2018, the dental bridges segment held the largest market share of the dental implants market, by product. In the case of implant-supported bridges, instead of being supported by crowns or frameworks, these bridges are supported by dental implants. The dental bridges are cost-effective, high-performance solutions and often are used as a prominent alternative for implants, due to which the segment accounts for a maximum share. In 2018, the titanium segment held the largest market share of the dental implants market, by the material.This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2027. Also, the zirconium segment is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period, 2019 to 2027. In 2018, the hospitals & clinics segment held the largest market share of the dental implants market, by the end user.This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2027. Moreover, the similar segment is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period, 2019 to 2027. Some of the major primary and secondary sources for dental implants included in the report are, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Canadian Association for Healthcare Reimbursement (CAHR), General Dental Council (GDC), National Health Service (NHS) and others. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862167/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ By Express News Service BENGALURU: As protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continue in Karnataka and other parts of the country, the ruling BJP is likely to move a resolution in support of the law in the ongoing assembly session. According to sources, the resolution is likely to be moved at the end of the two days discussion on the Constitution in both the houses of the state legislature on March 2 and 3. Sources said the party is yet to take a final decision on moving the resolution. However, a senior minister said there is no need for the party to move such a resolution. CM BS Yediyurappa had earlier made it clear that the state government would fully cooperate with the Centre in implementing the Act that gives citizenship to religious minorities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis and Buddhists -- who faced persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and came to India before December 31, 2014. Congress and the JDS are likely to strongly oppose any move by the BJP to discuss or move a resolution in support of the CAA. Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday rolled an ambitious plan to rein in Wall Street, echoing platforms of some of his more liberal Democratic rivals. Bloomberg's plan would bolster many of the reforms either put in place or strengthened as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act in response to the Great Recession, a crisis that some blamed on Wall Street banks. The billionaire, who made his own fortune on Wall Street, has now spent at least $400 million in advertising for his campaign, according to Kantar Media. Bloomberg was mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013, during the financial crisis and its aftermath. During that time, he pushed back against certain proposals to tighten banking oversight, calling them "shortsighted" and contending they would "provide major advantages" to foreign competitors. As presidential candidate, Bloomberg appears to be moving to the left of that stance. He said in a statement Tuesday, "The financial system isn't working the way it should for most Americans." Here are the priorities in Bloomberg's Wall Street plan, according to a campaign press release: Strengthen reforms put in place following the Great Recession to regulate banks and protect consumers, including the Volcker Rule and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Restore funding to the Office of Financial Research that monitors bank riskiness. Enable the Department of Justice to put individuals in jail for "infractions." Introduce a 0.1% financial transaction tax. Bloomberg said as president he would toughen the Volcker rule, which limits banks' proprietary trading, or trading stocks for their own gain. Merging mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a single entity, according to the proposal, would make the two institutions more efficient. Bloomberg would "restore and strengthen" the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers," after the agency has been weakened under President Donald Trump's administration. The call for increased oversight in some ways mirrors proposals from fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an advocate of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, who played a key roll in launching the CFPB. Warren has made financial reform a key part of her presidential platform, including a push to increase oversight of bank deals, a process she has called "fundamentally broken." When the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress came together to form the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) late last year, there was speculation about how these ideologically disparate forces would function together. While the alliance is stable, there appear to be differences on a range of issues. Here is a brief glance at the key points of discord within the alliance: Elgar Parishad case: On Monday, February 17, the NCP announced that its chief Sharad Pawar had advised home minister Anil Deshmukh to institute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the contentious Elgar Parishad case. This follows Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackerays decision of February 13 to comply with the Centres January 25 order to hand over the inquiry of the December 31, 2017 incident in Pune to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Several Left-affiliated activists were arrested on January 1, 2018 following violence on the banks of the Bhima river in Maharashtra where lakhs of Dalits had congregated to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. Last week, Pawar addressed a press conference in which he criticised Thackeray for the first time, calling the chief ministers move more inappropriate than the Centres decision. All India Congress Committee general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge and state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat echoed Pawars views and said the Congress and the NCP should have been consulted by the CM before the decision. Thackeray broke his silence on the issue on Tuesday and said that only the Elgar Parishad case has been handed over to the NIA, while the state government will continue investigate Bhima-Koregaon violence in which one Dalit was killed and 30 injured. Citizenship (Amendment) Act: While both the NCP and the Congress are strongly against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Shiv Sena chose not to oppose the former while stating the NRC will not be implemented in the state. On Tuesday, Thackeray said he had no problem with the CAA but he would not implement the NRC as it would create trouble for Muslims and Hindus alike, especially the tribal communities. Congress had objected to the Senas move to support the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. Sena changed its stand when the bill came for approval in the Rajya Sabha. Census and the National Population Register: There is no unanimity between three partners even as the state administration has begun the Census and the National Population Register (NPR) process. The NCP on Monday said it will strive to remove objectionable parts of the NPR, and that it has no objection to do it the way it was done earlier. Thackeray, on Tuesday, said he will study the details but indicated that NPR work will not be stopped. VD Savarkar: Congress and Shiv Sena have been at loggerheads over VD Savarkar. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhis statement that he was not Savarkar to withdraw his statement two months ago had left the Shiv Sena miffed. Sena had said that Savarkars Hindutva ideology will always guide the party. The two parties also have distinct positions on Bharat Ratna for Savarkar. The NCP-Congress divide: There have also been occasions when the Congress and NCP ministers have not been on the same page. Energy minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut recently announced that the government was considering giving free power to those consumers that use less than 100 units. Finance minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the next day, said that such freebies to the citizens was a bad idea. EU foreign ministers have agreed to a naval mission in the Mediterranean to enforce an arms embargo in Libya that has been repeatedly violated. Experts doubt the operation will lead to a lasting ceasefire. "We all agreed to create a mission to block the entry of arms into Libya," Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio said Monday following an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. The talks, a follow-up to Sunday's Munich conference and last month's Berlin summit, had been undermined by wrangling between member states about whether to revive an EU-led naval mission to uphold the arms embargo in Tripoli. Austria and Hungary were against the idea fearing that it could create a "pull effect" for migrants hoping to cross into Europe. Di Maio and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg insisted the new maritime mission was not a repeat of the 2015 Operation Sophia, an EU military response to human smuggling rings. "There is a basic consensus that we now want a military operation and not a humanitarian mission," Schallenberg said, referring to the rescue fleet that ended up ferrying migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said there had been a long discussion about whether a naval element was needed but finally it was agreed it was "necessary to get a complete picture." Flood of weapons "But it will be only in the eastern Mediterranean, where the weapons routes run," Maas said. On Sunday, UN deputy special envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams, described the current arms embargo in place as a "joke", calling on those who breach it to be held to account. It is unlikely the EU's revamped maritime mission will end the comedy. "In order to make an embargo work you need to have the political will to convince those that are sending weapons to Libya to stop," reckons Mitchell Belfer, head of the European Gulf Information Centre in Rome. "For example, the United Arab Emirates is only supplying [General Khalifa] Haftar because Turkey has not stopped supplying [Fayez al] Sarraj. If you cannot stop one weapon flow, you cannot stop the other and there's no country in Europe that is willing to get their hands dirty on this," Belfer told RFI. Foreign weapons have flooded into the North African state almost a decade after Muammar Gaddafi's fall in 2011. Turkey intervention Violence escalated in April last year when renegade General Khalifa Haftar launched a bid to take the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-recognized government, led by Fayez al-Sarraj. Haftar and his Libyan National Army are backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russia, whereas the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of premier Fayez al-Sarraj is backed by Turkey, Qatar, and Italy. The standoff has intensified with the intervention of Turkish troops last month to shore up al-Sarraj who has lost control of most of Libya's oil facilities. The race to rearm has seen the combatants violate a truce signed at last month's summit in Berlin more than 100 times, with the UN warning that it is "holding by a thread." The series of talks have done little to produce a lasting solution to Libya's crisis, partly because the main protagonists have been absent. "Neither side has been able and willing to meet each other for a very long time," comments Emmanuel Dupuy, president of the Institute for European Prospective and Security in Paris, suggesting EU leaders should look for a representative to speak on behalf of the warring rivals. Ambivalent approach "At the last African Union summit, there were calls for an African solution to Libya's crisis, notably led by Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso," Dupuy told RFI, referring to the upcoming Inter-Libyan Reconciliation Conference. For Belfer, more cohesion and less division on Europe's part is needed. "If the international community wants to see a more Islamist dominated or a more Muslim Brotherhood dominated Libya, then support the Sarraj Government. If they are interested in a more secular form of governance in Libya, then it should be Haftar, but decisions have to be made. " Prime minister al-Sarraj on Saturday warned that foreign backing for his rival would only "prolong the war and create deeply rooted hatred that will be difficult to overcome." Belfer however, reckons that "artificially freezing the conflict" through ceasefire deals is what is prolonging the conflict and that it is high time that world leaders settled on one clear victor. "The current ambivalent approach to Libya is just prolonging the conflict for generations to come," he said. An Indian man loads his bike with live chickens at Sir Stuart Hogg Market in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal on November 17, 2018. India's poultry industry has lost 13 billion rupees ($182 million) in three weeks after speculation on social media that chickens are a cause of the spread of coronavirus, denting demand for chicken and nearly halving prices, say industry officials. Millions of small poultry farmers have been hit by a sudden drop in sales. Soybean and corn producers are also being affected with prices of both the commodities used in animal feed have falling up to 8% in the last three weeks. While the disease has infected more than 70,000 people in China and killed at least 1,770 there, only three confirmed cases have been reported in India. However, rumors that coronavirus can be transmitted through chickens have appeared on the WhatsApp message platform in India prompting the authorities to issue a statement last week that eating chicken is safe. The western state of Maharashtra has called for the police to act against anyone spreading the rumours. "Many people stopped eating chicken believing rumours spread on WhatsApp," said Uddhav Ahire, chairman of Anand Agro Group, a poultry company based in the western city of Nashik. "Chicken prices have crashed due to an abrupt drop in demand." New tough measures to test all citizens living in Wuhan as more than 3,000 health workers have also been infected. China has announced tough new measures to test all citizens living in Wuhan as the government struggles to keep up with the rising number of coronavirus infections. More than 3,000 health workers have also been infected and on Tuesday the government confirmed the death of one of Wuhans most senior doctors. Al Jazeeras Sarah Clarke reports. Robert Pattinson proves that he does not just have a pretty face, but a good sense of humor, too! Four months after Bella Hadid has been crowned as "the most beautiful woman in the world," British newspaper Daily Mail again announced its counterpart and declared Pattinson as "the most handsome man in the world." However, after getting the public and "scientific" acknowledgement, the "Twilight" actor sent a hilarious remark about the "very late" award. 'It's Weird!' Pattinson has been a hardworking actor for years, so the "most handsome man in the world" award was indeed delayed! Now, he jokingly wondered why it took them so long to measure his features before they finally gave the long-overdue honor. To explain his side, Pattinson appeared in an interview with Allure magazine. The upcoming star of "The Batman" shared his thoughts after being described as the "most handsome man" in the world, according to science. "It's weird. I never was really up for the good-looking-guy roles because I've always been quite awkward when meeting people," Robert said when asked how he feels being a "superlatively hot." At an early age of 18, he began his acting career by playing the role of Cedric Diggory in the award-winning 2005 film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." He was thrust into the spotlight even more when he starred in the "Twilight" film series. With that said, Pattinson believes he should have been recognized years ago. "After I did Twilight, [my friends said,] 'Oh, you're posing all of the time,' and I'm like, 'What are you talking about? I'm just standing. And none of you thought I was good-looking two years ago!'" the 33-year-old star said. What made the interview more interesting was the fact that Robert also talked about how he smells -- during which he used a colorful way to describe it! According to the moody vampire, there are lots of people who keep on telling him that he smells like a crayon like "he is embalmed." Most Handsome Man Pattinson defeated a lot of other "handsome" men in Hollywood, and numbers tell why. The "Bad Mother's Handbook" actor landed first on the "Most Handsome Man In The World" with a golden ratio rating of 92.15 percent. Henry Cavill (91.64 percent), Bradley Cooper (91.08 percent), Brad Pitt (90.51 percent), and George Clooney (89.91 percent) completed the Top 5. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Julian De Silva determined the ranks and based it on the science of the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi -- the measurement used by artists and architects to perfectly carve their masterpieces. Pattinson's chin overshadowed his other features with a percentage of 95.1 percent perfection, with his eyes position coming second with 94.7 percent. "These brand new computer mapping techniques allow us to solve some of the mysteries of what it is that makes someone physically beautiful, and the technology is useful when planning patients' surgery," Dr. Julian explained. It seems like OPPO is developing its own mobile processors. According to a new report, a Special Assistant to OPPOs CEO shared a company-wide internal note revealing the Mariana Plan. OPPO developing its own mobile processors as part of Mariana Plan This plan elaborates on the development of mobile processors that OPPO is aiming for. OPPO actually mentioned the Mariana Plan in its internal documents back in November. Back then, it was noted that the project received input and support from the OPPO TMG Technical Committee. That committee was founded only a month before that happened, by the way. Advertisement Do note that Chan Yen is leading the OPPO TMG Technical Committee. At the same time, Chan Yen is serving as the head of OPPOs chip platform department. Mr. Yen actually worked for Qualcomm in the past, it was a Technical Director at the company. It is quite clear what OPPO is trying to do here. OPPOs very own mobile processors are coming. We still do not know the details, but they are coming if this report is to be believed. This is not the first time were hearing about OPPOs mobile processors, however. A while back, OPPO was reported to be working on a chipset named OPPO M1. Well, that chip did get announced, but its not what everyone thought it was. Advertisement The OPPO M1 is not a full-fledged mobile processor, its just a co-processor. OPPO uses it for power optimization of its smartphones. That chip is doing a fairly good job, which makes the idea of OPPOs processors quite intriguing. If OPPO does announce its processor, it will join several other smartphone manufacturers who have done the same. Samsung and Huawei are obvious examples, while Apple is as well, to a degree. Several other smartphone OEMs develop their own mobile processors Samsung is manufacturing its very own Exynos-branded chips, while Huawei creates Kirin-branded processors. Apple can also be listed here, even though it doesnt exactly create its own processors from scratch, its not a mobile SoC manufacturer. Advertisement Xiaomi actually released its very own processor a while back, the Surge S1. That chip didnt get used much by Xiaomi, and it seems like the company gave up on the idea of its own processors. It remains to be seen what will OPPO do in this regard, however. The company has a lot of catching up to do, as Qualcomm, Huawei, and Samsung have been doing that for quite some time now. If there is any truth to this report, OPPO will share some official information in the near future. Were not sure when can we expect the companys first processor. It may arrive this year. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, February 18, 2020 Ad tech company TripleLift has added two well-regarded industry veterans to its C-suite including Julia Shullman who joins as General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer. Her appointment followed that of Jordan Bitterman, who joined the eight-year-old company in December as Chief Marketing officer. Previously Shullman was chief privacy counsel and lead attorney for AppNexus Publisher Technology Group and she helped launch header bidding platform prebid.js. She also helped develop an industry GDPR compliance framework as the Chair of the Steering Group for the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework. Bitterman joined after a three-plus year stint at IBM where he served in several roles including CMO of The Weather Channel and Watson Advertising. Earlier he was Chief Strategy Officer at GroupMs Mindshare and a senior vice president at Digitas, part of Publicis Groupe. advertisement advertisement The appointments follow a strong 2019 for the company when it posted a fourth straight year of profitability with a record $300 million in billings. The firm also added 150 new employees last year. Both executives will help manage targeted growth for 2020 beyond. Specifically, Shullman is tasked with setting the companys privacy and public policy strategy and helping it navigate the changing industry and regulatory landscape. Bitterman is responsible for TripleLifts presence in the marketplace including audience definition, brand stewardship and activation of campaigns and events. Both Julia and Jordan bring us deep expertise, but theyre also both passionate leaders who are eager to make an impact on our company and the industry, said company co-founder and CEO Eric Berry. That aligns with our goal for growth, and our desire to make advertising better for everyone." The Chronicles tasting panel, made up of wine-industry professionals, educators and knowledgeable consumers, convenes on a regular basis to blind-taste about three dozen wines, scoring them on a 10-point scale. An 8.5 or higher is considered a recommendation. I further grade the wines on value and determine local availability. To qualify as a bargain tout, a wine must sell for under $20 or way overdeliver for its price. 2015 Il Borro Toscana Overall score: 19.2 (9.2 for quality, 10 for value) The panel: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with seven scores of at least 9. Dark fruit with hints of cedar and tobacco. Finishes long and satisfying. My score: 9.2. When the estates owner, Salvatore Ferragamo (yes, that Ferragamo family) and his wife, Christine Maninger, hosted a large dinner recently at Emmaline in Houston, Christine observed that Salvatore has always been more interested in tractors than shoes. He readily admits hes the farmer in the family and is perfectly content to let his twin brother, James, focus on the apparel empire. Almost from the day in 1993 that their father, Ferruccio, purchased the sprawling Il Borro property less than an hour by car from Florence, Salvatore wanted to be a vintner. Winery/vineyards/winemaking: This flagship Il Borro wine, classified as an IGT, is a blend of organically grown merlot (50 percent), cabernet sauvignon (35) and syrah grapes from the familys estate, which covers 1,730 acres in the upper Arno Valley beneath the Pratomagno Hills. About 120 acres are under vine with grapes having been grown there since the mid-18th century, when the famed Medici family was among the owners. Ferragamo works closely with enologist Nicolo DAfflitto to produce a dozen distinct wines. Alcohol: 14.5 percent Winemaker notes: Has an intense ruby color, with purplish reflections. The bouquet is full and intense, concentrated, with notes of underbrush and with spicy scents. The taste is dry, with a good body and soft tannins, a good consistency, well integrated and persistent. Critical acclaim: James Suckling awarded the Il Borro a score of 97. Robert Parkers Wine Advocate gave it a 96. Pairings: Aged cheeses. Cured meats. Steaks and burgers. Price: $45.49 at Specs BARGAIN TOUT 2017 Kung Fu Girl Riesling Overall score: 18.9 (8.9 for quality, 10 for value) Our tasters: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with three scores of at least 9. Clean, dry and crisp. Yummy fruit. My score: 9. Its a true story that former rock-band manager and now celebrated Washington state winemaker Charles Smith was inspired to make this intensely flavored dry Riesling while munching Chinese takeout and watching a woman wreak havoc in a kung fu film on TV. Winery/vineyards/winemaking: Smith moved to Denmark in 1989, and his travels in the music world fostered his interest in wine. A serendipitous visit to Walla Walla, Wash., in 1999, after he had opened a wine shop in the Seattle area, marked the start of a new career. His first bottles 330 cases of syrah came to market in 2001. He sold the Kung Fu Girl brand to Constellation in 2016 but still holds a tight reign over the production, carefully sourcing riesling grapes from Washingtons best growers. Alcohol: 12 percent Winemaker notes: In-your-face flavor. You cant escape the aromas of apricot, white peach, honeysuckle, and wisteria that fill your senses. Fresh minerality and laser focus take the palate to exhilarating heights. Pairings: Spicy ramen. Sriracha pork tacos. And Chinese takeout, of course. Price: $11.79 at Specs sportywineguy@outlook.com twitter.com/sportywineguy Photograph: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images More past comments emerged on Monday to further dog media mogul and billionaire Mike Bloombergs chase for the Democratic presidential nomination, including an apparent attack on the intelligence of factory and farm workers in the US. Speaking at Oxford Universitys Said business school in the UK in 2016, the former mayor of New York appeared to question if blue-collar workers had the skills necessary to adapt to the information technology age. The comments were reported by Fox News. Also on Monday there was increasing scrutiny of 2013 Bloomberg speeches, made in his final year as mayor and reported by Politico, branding local members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and New Yorks teachers union as extremists and likening them to the gun lobbying group the National Rifle Association (NRA). The new controversies come as Bloomberg seeks to gain ground in the fractured 2020 race to challenge Donald Trump for the White House in November, which continues with next Saturdays Nevada caucuses and the following weeks South Carolina primary. Bloomberg has opted to skip voting in the early states and focus instead on a grand entrance to the race on Super Tuesday on 3 March, when Democrats in 14 states go to the polls. The uncovering of the latest videos mirrors recent revelations of other past comments, including leaked stop-and-frisk audio clips that sparked a Twitter feud between Bloomberg and Trump a week ago and a crisis in his campaign stemming from allegations of racism against the billionaire businessman. Both Trump and Bloombergs Democratic rivals have stepped up their attacks, the Democratic frontrunner Bernie Sanders telling supporters at a rally in Nevada on Sunday that the American people are sick and tired of billionaires buying elections. In his 2016 Oxford remarks, delivered during a distinguished speakers forum, Bloomberg was asked if citizens of middle America could be united with those living on the coasts. Story continues I could teach anybody, even people in this room, no offense intended, to be a farmer, Bloomberg said. Its a process. You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, add water, up comes the corn. You could learn that. Then we had 300 years of the industrial society. You put the piece of metal on the lathe, you turn the crank in the direction of the arrow and you can have a job. Now comes the information economy [which is] fundamentally different because its built around replacing people with technology and the skill sets that you have to learn are how to think and analyze, and that is a whole degree level different. You have to have a different skill set, you have to have a lot more gray matter. He continued that it wasnt clear if students can learn, even with subsidized housing and education. The reporting of Bloombergs comments drew swift rebuke from opponents, including People for Bernie, a pro-Sanders activist group with more than 185,000 Twitter followers. Time and again we see Bloomberg insulting the middle class and the working class, union members and not yet union members, it said in a tweet. Bloombergs apparent attack on civil rights workers and teachers in 2013 came when, as mayor, he was battling his citys chapter of the ACLU over the New York police departments stop-and-frisk policies, which the group claimed was disproportionately affecting young black males. We dont need extremists on the left or right running our police department, whether its the NRA or the NYCLU, he said in the video obtained by Politico, which explained that the civil liberties group was pursuing legislation at the time that would make it easier for those targeted by the policy to sue the city. Other Bloomberg comments the same year, just months after the Sandy Hook massacre at a Connecticut elementary school claimed 27 lives, outraged the leadership of the New Yorks United Federation of Teachers, which had also been critical of stop and frisk. The NRAs another place where the membership, if you do the polling, doesnt agree with the leadership, Bloomberg said. Randi Weingarten, the leader of the national teachers union and a former head of the New York chapter, described the comments as disgusting at the time. By comparing the NRA and the [union], it cheapens his advocacy about gun control at a time when we need his advocacy to be sharp, she said. The two have since reconciled and Weingarten told Full Court Press at the weekend she believes Bloomberg can go all the way. The Bloomberg campaign, meanwhile, sought to downplay the controversy. Spokesman Stu Loeser said the reference to the [teachers union] was something Mike said in the heat of the moment that he now regrets, Politico reported. Bloomberg is third in FiveThirtyEights national poll of Democratic candidates with 15.4%, trailing only Sanders (22.7%) and former vice-president Joe Biden (16.8%). Italys Eni has announced a new oil discovery offshore Mexico, in the Sureste Basin, saying it could contain between 200 and 300 million barrels of crude. Eni is the operator and majority shareholder in Block 10 where the discovery was made, and has partnered with Lukoil and Cairn Energy subsidiary Capricorn. Mexico is a core country in Enis strategy of future organic growth, the Italian supermajor said in its press release. The company is currently producing approximately 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) from Area 1 and expects to reach a plateau of 100,000 boed in the first half of 2021. Eni is also planning an important exploration campaign in the other licenses held in Mexico. Enis plans will fit in nicely with the Mexican governments state intention to boost the countrys oil production. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promised that Mexicos oil output will hit 2.5 million bpd by 2024. Meanwhile, Pemex said it had begun awarding contracts for exploration and development at a number of priority fields to oilfield service providers. We invite the companies, who form consortia to carry out these comprehensive projects, from construction of the facilities, the drilling of wells, laying both marine and onshore pipelines ... and the consortium that offers the best price wins, chief executive Octavio Romero told media as quoted by Reuters. The state company has ambitious goals: discovering and developing 20 new oil and gas fields annually. This, according to analysts, is quite a bit on the over-optimistic side. Last year, the company identified 20 fields that it prioritized for exploration and development, but last month Natural Gas Intelligence reported that Pemex was behind schedule with their development, with just three of the 20 beginning production by the end of the year. The batch that the company is awarding contracts for now is the 2020 set of so-called priority fields. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ex-EastEnder turned politician Michael Cashman has said that he and his gay partner slept in Prince Philip's bedroom at the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland. He said he and his late lover Paul Cottingham had a number of visits to Hillsborough Castle at the invitation of his friend and former Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, who he said "loved to throw a party". In his new memoirs the former actor, best known for his role as Albert Square's Colin Russell, said there were regular boozy bashes held by Mo but that he was initially knocked back from staying in the Queen's quarters. But he also revealed another queen did make it to the chamber - drag queen Lily Savage, aka Paul O'Grady, who ignored protocol and kipped in Her Majesty's bed. Michael (69) said: "Mo Mowlam loved to throw a party! Trying to keep the feuding political parties of Northern Ireland together was difficult to say the least, so during weekends when she was at the secretary of state's official country residence, Hillsborough Castle, Paul and I were often invited. "Our first visit to Hillsborough was with Anji Hunter, Tony Blair's trusted advisor, and her family, Jackie Ashley and her partner Andrew Marr, and the actor Richard Wilson. "We arrived on the Friday ahead of the rest of the party. David, the butler, said, 'The secretary of state has told us to make you comfortable. You are to choose your bedroom and she should be here by supper.' "He then whisked us around the palatial building, set in beautiful landscaped grounds, and showed us the options for accommodation. "First we inspected the Queen's bedroom, with its grand double bed, then Prince Philip's bedroom, which adjoined the sovereign's, both of which had separate bathrooms. Finally we were shown a couple of smaller royal bedrooms. "It seemed the lower down the royal pecking order you went, the smaller the bed and the less luxurious the bathroom. 'And have you chosen a bedroom?' asked David. 'Well, the Queen's bedroom...' Expand Close Hillsborough Castle and Gardens / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hillsborough Castle and Gardens "There was just the faintest shake of his head. 'Prince Philip's has lovely twin beds,' he said. 'He put you where?' asked Mo when she arrived. 'Philip's.' 'F** me. If ever there were two men who should be in the Queen's bedroom, it's you two. Okay. Next time.'" Michael, who went on to form gay rights group Stonewall and become a Labour MEP, is now a member of the House of Lords and said he enjoyed "a raucous" night with his partner Paul and Mo with her husband, Jon. He said Hillsborough butler David also told him how "he had once needed to remove a number of silver ashtrays and spoons from the pockets of a Commonwealth high commissioner". Michael detailed another party that Mo held after a BBC telly show celebrating Northern Ireland that as well as himself, included Patrick Kielty, Eamonn Holmes, Lily Savage and former EastEnders co-star Michelle Collins. He said: "The artists named and celebrated people in the audience who had 'made a difference' to their communities, and the show felt like a success. At the reception afterwards in the adjoining Europa Hotel, Mo was mobbed by people from both sides of the sectarian divide. The outpouring of love was unbelievable to witness. "After 40 minutes she still hadn't reached the front door of the ballroom. She dispatched Paul to get her a Bushmills whiskey and slowly made her way towards it. Expand Close Former EastEnders star Michael Cashman and his partner of 23 years Paul Cottingham PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former EastEnders star Michael Cashman and his partner of 23 years Paul Cottingham "When she left some time later, she said 'Cottingham, get some stars to come back, some fun people. I need to party.' And he was as good as his word. With the party at the castle in full swing, I convinced Mo to stay up a little longer on the promise that I would wake her in the morning. "A little longer turned into a lot and the next morning I woke abruptly to the alarm and a memory of Lily Savage/O'Grady carrying me to my room. Quickly I pulled on a shirt over my pants and stumbled to the secretary of state's bedroom to wake her. "As I came out a minute later, unsuitably undressed, I came face-to-face with an armed RUC man patrolling the corridors. 'Good morning,' I said. 'Good morning, sir,' came a stern reply. A week later Mo said she had heard the gossip that she was 'now sleeping with gay men'. Mo left for work while I sensibly went back to Paul for what I hoped would be a quiet morning in bed. Expand Close The Duke of Edinburgh, started wearing hearing aids in 2014 (John Stillwell/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke of Edinburgh, started wearing hearing aids in 2014 (John Stillwell/PA) "But before I could drift off there was a loud banging at the door. 'Mr Cashman! Mr Cashman! There's someone sleeping in the Queen's bed!' I remembered. 'Savage!' "Mo loved it all. There was nothing shocking or unacceptable when it came to letting your hair down and living. We took her to see the Rocky Horror Show at the Belfast Grand Opera House and she invited the entire cast, including Jason Donovan and Nicholas Parsons, back to the castle for the night. "The party of all parties ensued. We sang, danced and drank until daylight. The comments her visitors recorded in Hillsborough's official guestbook - which included entries from Diana, Charles, the Queen and others - were so lurid that Mo ordered for the book to quietly 'disappear'. "She later told me that some of her Special Branch officers thought that in going to see Rocky - she had taken them with her - she had scraped the very bottom of the barrel." In his new book, One of Them: From Albert Square to Parliament Square, Michael also said Mo was devastated to be replaced by Peter Mandelson as secretary of state and told him she had been "f***ed over". He said: "She was angry, confused and hurt. After years of impeccable service and devotion to the cause of peace in Northern Ireland - built up from those unseen years of work in opposition - they had, in her words, 'f***ed her over'. When I said that it was unfair she merely replied: 'It's nothing to do with fair. The party always will.' It was a political fact of life for her, but she felt betrayed. Mo and Jon moved to Hackney and the glamour-seekers started to slowly fade away. Expand Close Lily Savage (also known as Paul O'Grady) performs as the Wicked Queen. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lily Savage (also known as Paul O'Grady) performs as the Wicked Queen. "Dawn French was always there for her, however: she never forgot the weekend in Hillsborough when she and Lenny Henry were going through a rough patch. The tabloids traced them to the pub along the road from the castle. "Mo took control and had her bulletproof car backed up to the pub's exit so that Lenny and Dawn could slip away, unnoticed and not photographed." Elsewhere in his book Michael also said his first visit here was with a former lover of two years called Andrew, who was a young director, during the Troubles and he insisted on sneaking into Divis Flats. He said: "He took me to his hometown in Northern Ireland, where his parents still lived, and showed me the divisions of communities and people. "The country was being torn apart by the Troubles then, by sectarian violence and bombings. In the late Sixties, the British Army had been brought in to restore order. "By the late Seventies there seemed no end in sight. There were no-go areas for Catholics, and for Protestants - or even people who were suspected of being either. "Against his protests about his safety and mine I insisted on him sneaking me into the renowned republican Divis Flats in West Belfast and then onto the nearby Falls Road. "A man came out of a second-hand furniture shop and stared at me. A young child was dispatched on his bike to ask my name, where was I from, and why was I there. "Andrew, emphasising his Northern Irish Catholic accent, answered for me. As the boy cycled back to the waiting man we made a fast exit." One of Them: From Albert Square to Parliament Square is on sale now. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic continues in China and its immediate neighbors, an estimated 5,000 workers at a stuffed-animal manufacturer in Vietnam over the weekend staged a rare strike for three days on concerns that several of their Chinese coworkers were not being properly quarantined. Vietnamese workers at the JY Ha Nam Company in Ha Nam province said that the five or six manufacturing specialists who returned to Vietnam from China last week, were not required to be quarantined for 14 days as mandated by the Vietnamese health ministry. The strike ended Tuesday when the companys leader met with the workers to confirm that the specialists would be quarantined for the mandated 14-day period. Workers said they would return to work Wednesday. The specialists were not the first group of Chinese workers to return to work at the Ha Nam province firm. Another group of Chinese returned to Vietnam at the end of January and were required to go through the quarantine. The first group of Chinese workers who returned to Vietnam on the sixth day of the [first] lunar month [Jan. 30], are in stable condition now, but we want the ones who have returned over the past few days to also be quarantined, a Vietnamese worker who requested anonymity told RFAs Vietnamese Service prior to the strike being resolved. [The Chinese workers] should not have [physical contact] with Vietnamese workers, the source said. An official of the local government denied that a strike was occurring. Nguyen Van Khanh, of Ha Nams Thanh Liem district said that many of the workers were simply banding together to inquire if the specialists would be allowed to work without being quarantined. But several Vietnamese workers pointed out that the previous group of returning Chinese workers were already working, so such an inquiry would make little sense. The company began firing striking workers Saturday, the first day of the strike, but the workers refused to end the strike until their demands were met on Tuesday. The workers previously went on strike when a Chinese technician at the company had displayed symptoms of COVID-19 infection on Jan. 31. This was resolved when the technician was placed in quarantine and eventually tested negative. Residents say Son Loi quarantine inconvenient, but necessary Residents of the first mass coronavirus quarantine outside of China told RFA that despite being inconvenienced by the closure of their commune, they are in high spirits. Authorities closed off Son Loi commune, home to 10,000 in Vinh Phuc province last week, as half of Vietnams 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases reside there. The local authorities have only blocked the quarantined areas. Everywhere else is operating as normal and the authorities dont interfere with each family or each resident, said Duong Cong Hoang, a resident of Son Loi on Monday. Duong told RFA that the eight people infected with the virus have been isolated within the commune to protect everyone else there. Residents have a duty to quarantine themselves. The ones who tested positive for COVID-19 were sent to the quarantine area for further treatment, said Duong. He added that residents are in high spirits and are calmly meeting the challenge of defending against the virus. Nguyen Van Sung, who lives in the quarantine area told RFA, Some residents are a bit scared of COVID-19, but the local authorities are taking care of everything, so we are fine. Although authorities have set up 24-hour roadblocks restricting movement into and out of Son Loi, supplies are still making their way in. A resident of Hanoi traveled into the commune to distribute face masks. He was allowed to stand just in front of the roadblock to give the masks to local residents. The quarantined areas are controlled by police, doctors, and local leaders. The police wont allow us to take photos, but they had no problems with us giving the face masks to people, the Hanoi resident told RFA. Duong confirmed that residents of Son Loi are not allowed outside the commune, but the government is providing stipends of 40,000 dong per day (U.S. $1.72) to Son Loi residents and 60,000 per day ($2.58) to those in quarantine. Authorities are also supplying bottles of antiseptic to residents daily, and charitable organizations enter the commune to distribute food and other supplies. The quarantine in Son Loi is scheduled to end on March 3. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2020) - MarijuanaStox announces publication of an article that discusses The Yield Growth Corporation (CSE: BOSS) (OTCQB: BOSS). The company has been aggressively addressing demand for health, wellness, and beauty products infused with premium-cannabis and hemp-based products internationally with subsidiary, Urban Juve in addition to psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin Mushroom Boom is Just Getting Underway The mushroom boom is becoming even more exciting than cannabis. All thanks to three critical factors. One, legalization efforts are already well underway. Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz just decriminalized the possession of products containing psilocybin or psilocin. Washington, D.C. could be next. Major institutions are even studying its use for the treatment of depression, addiction, and psychological disorders. Two, we're seeing a groundswell of scientific evidence that mushrooms are beneficial. For example, a Johns Hopkins' study also found that 80% of smokers quit after "one dose of psilocybin and research on 51 cancer patients showed the drug decreased anxiety and depression in 80% of those tested," as reported by The Baltimore Sun. Reportedly, Johns Hopkins is also recruiting for studies that use psilocybin for those with early stage Alzheimer's, anorexia-nervosa, and major depression issues. It's even been found to reduce obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression because it "appears to disrupt the sorts of engrained brain activity patterns that are the hallmark of those diseases," says Business Insider. Other studies are looking at psilocybin mushroom's effect on PTSD, and alcoholism. Researchers at New York University found psilocybin mushrooms caused a "rapid and sustained" reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, as reported by the Financial Post, for example. Better, mushrooms are just beginning to disrupt the $4.7 trillion global wellness industry, as its medicinal benefits become better known. Story continues Three, mainstream media has picked up on the story. It's become so popular Netflix's The Goop Lab, starring Gwyneth Paltrow do an entire episode on the psychedelic drug and its potential benefits. Yield Growth Corporation is a Major Beneficiary Yield Growth has made substantial moves into mushrooms. Just recently, its subsidiary, Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. signed an agreement with Kingdom Brands Management Inc. Kingdom now has the right to use and sub-license Yield Growth's proprietary extraction technology for use exclusively with both medicinal and psychedelic mushrooms and to further develop the technology. Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. also entered into a binding letter of intent with Acres Agricultural Canada Corp. to jointly form a company in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Acres Flourish Labs (SVG) Ltd. to build a laboratory for the cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms and for research and development into compounds and therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms. "We are very excited to be the first publicly traded company to announce a legal path to cultivate and research psychedelic mushrooms," says Yield Growth and Flourish CEO Penny White. "There is a renaissance of psychedelic medicine for which investor interest could go viral at any time. We are planning to enter this space with first mover advantage to deliver value to our shareholders." Flourish also completed the acquisition of a catalogue of mushroom formulas as the foundation of a mushroom edibles business. The formulas and know-how acquired relate to formulations that may be used to create ready to eat packaged food products or packaged food products that may be mixed with mushroom varietals of the consumer's choice. The formulations include soups, teas, hot cocoa, elixirs and truffles. Flourish has engaged the developers to create additional products to add to the base catalogue and commercialize the formulas, going to market first with mushroom based soups and coffees. "Our research indicates that edible mushrooms are in a period of high growth," says Yield Growth CEO Penny White. "Yield Growth intends to add to its cannabis wellness assets through acquisitions in companies. Edible Mushrooms may experience hyper-growth as the movement to decriminalize psilocybin (magic mushrooms) grows, similar to how the popularity of hemp has grown with the legalization of cannabis." For more information, visit the company's website at https://yieldgrowth.com. About MarijuanaStox MarijuanaStox.com is a leading web destination for all cannabis related companies. Investors can also find current marijuana-related quality financial, medical, legal and social news. MarijuanaStox.com is a media agency in North America dedicated to the cannabis industry, helping companies that operate in the space to attract quality investors, working capital and real publicity. Since 2005, we have had public companies in the US and Canada have rely on us to grow and succeed. Legal Disclaimer Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media which has a partnership with www.MarijuanaStox.com is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media, which has a partnership with www.MarijuanaStox.com, is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement between Winning Media (partners of MarijuanaStox.com) and The Yield Growth Corp, Winning Media has been paid four thousand dollars for advertising and marketing services for The Yield Growth Corp. We own ZERO shares of The Yield Growth Corp. Please click here for full disclaimer. Contact Information: 2818047972 ty@marijuanastox.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52521 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) A young mother and a child were killed by a 10-wheeler truck that lost control in a residential area in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on Tuesday. The victims were a 17-year-old mother and her three-month old baby. According to the local police, the truck was travelling towards Norzagaray when the driver identified as Eliazar Lumawag, 43, lost control and plowed through the stores and bystanders. Nine others were injured and brought to the Sapang Palay District Hospital for treatment. The vehicle involved was impounded and now under the custody of the police station. Meanwhile, the driver surrendered to the authorities. Over 1,000 protesters march in downtown Toronto in support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs More than 1,000 thousand people marched through downtown Toronto streets on Monday to show support for Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in their fight against a pipeline project in northern B.C. The protesters walked more than four kilometres from Christie Pits Park to Queen's Park, carrying placards, singing, chanting slogans, and drumming. They stopped at certain well-known intersections downtown to make sure their message was heard. "When justice fails, block the rails, shut Canada down," they chanted at Queen's Park. The march went from Bloor Street West and Christie Street, along Bloor Street downtown, then south on Bay Street to College Street, then west to University Avenue. The protesters carried placards that read: "No Consent No Pipeline" and "Protect Land Defenders." Protest shows support for Indigenous rights, marcher says Erika Chan, a protester at the march, said Indigenous governance should be respected. "There needs to be meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples before building a pipeline," she said. "It's pretty clear what true reconciliation and true sustainability would actually mean. It's up to the government to decide whether they are going to follow through with that." For Michelle Bardach, a member of the Squamish First Nation visiting Toronto from Vancouver, the issue hits particularly close to home. She said the turnout at the protest is inspiring. "It does give me hope. There's a lot of people feeling like they're losing their hope. All the stuff that's going on is making a lot people feel like reconciliation is dead and that government doesn't care about these issues that they have talked about for so long," Bardach said. "But then, it's good to see you look at all these people there are still so many people in support of Indigenous rights." Bardach had some advice for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: "Keep your promises, check your privilege and listen with your heart and your soul to what the people are saying." Story continues CBC Const. Alex Li, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, said the march was peaceful, no one was arrested and police were there to help with traffic control and the movement of the march. Toronto's Wet'suwet'en march followed a demonstration on Monday in which protesters blocked access to a border crossing in eastern Ontario, closing Thousand Islands Bridge near the Ontario-New York border for two and a half hours. Similar protests have been held right across Canada. Other solidarity protests, including a rail blockade in Tyendinaga territory by Mohawk First Nation protesters near Belleville, Ont., have shut down passenger and freight train service across large parts of the country since Feb. 6. On Monday, Via Rail reported that 470 of its trains have been cancelled because of rail blockades, affecting more than 94.000 passengers. Watch a report by CBC's Lauren Pelley on the Family Day march: The Mohawk blockade began after Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C. faced a raid from the RCMP who were enforcing a court injunction that gave Coastal GasLink, the company behind the $6.6 billion liquefied natural gas pipeline, access to a work area for the project. Coastal GasLink says it has agreements with all 20 elected First Nations councils along the 670-kilometre pipeline route, but the hereditary chiefs in the Wet'suwet'en First Nation say they have title to a vast section of the land and never relinquished that by signing a treaty. CBC The Wet'suwet'en hereditary clan chiefs assert Aboriginal title, or exclusive rights to the land, over 22,000 square kilometres of northern B.C. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ryan Woo and Samuel Shen (Reuters) Beijing, China Tue, February 18, 2020 16:45 693 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206537675 2 World Singapore,Hong-Kong,China,health,COVID-19,virus,WHO,mitigation Free The head of a leading hospital in China's central city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease on Tuesday as Apple Inc warned its sales would suffer because of the epidemic, casting a chill on global stock markets. Chinese state television said Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, died at 10:30 a.m, the seventh health worker to fall victim. The hospital was designated to solely treat virus-infected patients. The number of new coronavirus cases in mainland China fell below 2,000 for the first time since January but the virus remains far from contained. The total death toll in China has climbed to 1,868, the National Health Commission said. There were 1,886 new confirmed infections, for a total of 72,436. China's lockdown of cities and tough curbs on travel and movement have limited the spread of the virus outside the epicenter, but at great cost to the economy and global business. More than two dozen trade fairs and industry conferences have been postponed because of travel curbs and concerns about the spread of the virus, potentially disrupting deals worth billions of dollars. Apple became the latest company to warn of trouble, saying it would not meet its guidance for March-quarter revenue because of slower iPhone production and weaker demand in China. Asian shares fell and Wall Street was poised to retreat from record highs on Tuesday after the news. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the economy was in an emergency situation and required stimulus as the epidemic had disrupted demand for South Korean goods. Singapore announced a US$4.5-billion financial package to help contain the outbreak in the city-state and weather its economic impact. In Hong Kong, leader Carrie Lam said the government would increase handouts to tackle the outbreak to HK$28 billion ($3.60 billion) from HK$25 billion, as it strives to ease the impact on the Chinese-ruled city's protest-battered economy. Singapore Airlines Ltd said it would temporarily cut flights in the three months to May, as the epidemic hits demand for services touching and transiting the key travel hub. As global businesses sought to limit exposure to the virus, health authorities around the world searched for medical weapons. The president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Joerg Wuttke, said the world's pharmacies may face a shortage of antibiotics and other drugs if the outbreak cannot be resolved soon, and accused Beijing of making supply-chain problems worse. Japan announced plans to use HIV drugs to combat the virus as a growing number of cases posed an increasing threat to the world's third-largest economy, as well as public health. With 520, Japan has the most cases outside China. With Japan's economy contracting, raising the risk of a recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies are telling employees to work from home. The number of new daily infections in mainland China had not been below 2,000 since Jan. 30, while the daily death toll had not fallen below 100 since Feb. 11. Outside China, there are 827 cases in 26 countries and regions and five deaths, according to a Reuters count based on official statements. Chinese authorities say the stabilization in the number of new cases is a sign that measures they have taken to halt the spread of the disease are having an effect. Global health authorities had to keep on guard against a wider outbreak, said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "We can hope that the reports of falling numbers of new cases in China do show that the epidemic has peaked in Hubei province, but it is still too early to be sure," he said, referring to the central province where the outbreak began. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Chinese data "appear to show a decline in new cases" but any apparent trend "must be interpreted very cautiously". The Indian Army welcomes the Supreme Courts order on permanent commission for women but the time is not right to include them in combat roles, the General Officer Commanding-in-chief of Western Command, Lieutenant General RP Singh said on Tuesday. The top court had ruled on Monday that women should be considered for command roles and that all women officers are entitled to permanent commission. It asked the army to give them permanent commission within three months. Currently, women are inducted through a short service commission that lets them work for up to 14 years in the army and are only allowed permanent commission in the forces legal and educational wings. ALSO WATCH | SC orders Centre to grant permanent commission to women officers in Army Lt Gen Singh said this while replying to a question on giving combat roles to women army officers during an interaction with reporters at the Western Commands Investiture Ceremony in Uttarakhands capital of Dehradun. We welcome the SC ruling to give women officers permanent commission. We dont have any issues or regrets on the same. However, as far as combat role for them is concerned, I think the right time for it has not come yet, said Lt Gen Singh. It is an evolutionary process. Women officers are already into other wings related to combat if not direct. We hope in the future they will get into more roles and contribute to the Indian Army, he added. Also Read : Women officers can get permanent commission in army, says SC. What it means The Supreme Courts judgment has been hailed for creating a new equality paradigm in the armed forces as Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said the government was committed to strengthening stree shakti (women power) in the military. Politicians cutting across the party lines also welcomed the ruling on permanent commission (PC) for women in the army. Earlier during the event, the Western Command chief presented 41 awards including 32 Sena Medals for gallantry, two Sena Medals for distinguished service and seven Vashisht Seva Medals to army officers and soldiers. Apart from this 16 elite units of the Western Command were also honoured for their professional excellence. Congratulating the awardees, Lt Gen Singh asked them to do their best and keep up the glory of Indian Army. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) Prices of 35 more essential drugs will be up for review for possible inclusion in the executive order setting price caps on certain medicine, the Health department said Tuesday. There is another list that we will now work on... review further with the Department of Trade and Industry within 30 days and this will be added to the current list, Melissa Guerrero, DOH Pharmaceutical Division chief, said in briefing. President Rodrigo Duterte issued Monday an executive order (EO) imposing a price cap on 87 drugs, including those for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, kidney diseases, neonatal illnesses, chronic lung diseases and clinical depression. The new prices will be effective three months or within 90 days from the day the EO was signed, or until May. The Health department's original list covered 122 drugs. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday that prices of essential medicine were cut by more than half or 58 percent. He added senior citizens and persons with disability can still claim discounts under the new prices. He said around seven million senior citizens stand to benefit from the price ceiling. Duque also said the department will issue an administrative order to implement the EO and impose sanctions on violators. Violations of the price caps will be dealt with in accordance with the Cheaper Medicines Act and other relevant laws together with the DTI and the Food and Drugs Administration, he said. The DOH said the price cuts would put medicine prices at par with those in developed countries. The Drug Price Advisory Council, the body which reviews drug prices, also factored in products offered by companies with only have two to three competitors. Iran's attack on Ain Assad base the starting point: IRGC commander ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 18 February 2020 / 11:10 Tehran (ISNA) - Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami stressed that Iran's attack on US Ain Assad air base in Iraq following the assassination of martyr Qassem Soleimani took place at a specific geographic point, but the impact was global and strategic. "Americans have always been accustomed to confronting any country without receiving a response, but Iran's response resulted in Washington's miscalculations and changed the equations," he said. "The attack on Ain Assad air base was not our ultimate strategic response, but the starting point," general Salami added He also warned the Zionist regime against its wickedness. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 19:04:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Guangdong Province will invest at least 500 million yuan (about 71.4 million U.S. dollars) in research projects to support the fight against the novel coronavirus, the People's Daily reported Tuesday. These projects will focus on several sci-tech aspects, including clinical treatment, virus tracking, pathogenic mechanism, vaccine development and drug manufacturing, according to a notice issued by the provincial sci-tech department. The province will reward frontline researchers and recommend those who have made contributions to the prevention and control of the epidemic for provincial sci-tech awards. Guangdong will also offer financial support to projects with the participation of institutes and experts from Hong Kong and Macao. Research cooperation with other countries and international organizations are encouraged. By the end of Monday, Guangdong had reported a total of 1,328 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. President Donald Trump berated his predecessor, Barack Obama, as each sought credit Monday for the booming U.S. economy. The robust ... President Donald Trump berated his predecessor, Barack Obama, as each sought credit Monday for the booming U.S. economy. The robust U.S. economy including the low 3.6% unemployment is a central talking point for Trump on the campaign trail. However, Obama appeared to take a subtle dig with a tweet earlier Monday marking the 11th anniversary of the 2009 economic stimulus. Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history, Obama posted on Twitter. Trump blasted back, accusing Obama of doing a con job. Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers. As USA Today reported, Democrats responded by praising Obamas tweet and arguing that Trump is reaping the benefits of the work his predecessor did. Republicans, however, accused Obama of seeking credit for Trumps policies, an argument Trump echoed later. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers, Trump posted of Obama. Trump has argued that his emphasis on reducing regulations and the 2017 tax bill has spurred economic growth. Democrats noted that unemployment and stock prices began increasing under the Obama years as they bounced back from the Great Recession, a trend that continued into Trumps presidency. Trump loyalists pointed out that the unemployment rate is at its lowest point in decades while the stock market has been hitting record highs. With an economy this good, its no wonder Barack Obama is trying to take credit, Scalise said. But I believe the saying is: You didnt build that. Somebody else made that happen. @realDonaldTrump made that happen. Obama tweet: Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history. pic.twitter.com/BmdXrxUAUf February 17, 2020 Two Irish passport holders who were passengers on the coronavirus-hit cruise ship the Diamond Princess are being treated at a hospital in Japan. It is unclear if they have tested positive for the virus or are in hospital for monitoring and medical care. The couple are understood to live in another European country. Two other Irish people who are from county Meath remain on the ship and are likely to be offered transport on a rescue plane with a possible two week quarantine in the UK. The Diamond Princess has been docked off the coast of Yokohama in Japan since February 3, with at least 542 passengers already struck down by the virus. A further 88 people tested positive today but the Japanese authorities and ship operators appear to be going ahead with ending the quarantine tomorrow. Earlier Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Irish officials are also in contact with other Irish who were on another cruise ship the Westerdam which is docked in Cambodia after one of the passengers tested positive for the virus. In all around ten Irish passport holders are caught up in the crisis between the two cruise ships. He said: "We're working with Irish nationals on both of those ships to make sure they're safe. And if they're in quarantine to make sure those conditions are safe," he said. China reported 1,886 new cases of coronavirus and 98 more deaths on Tuesday, taking the number of deaths on the mainland to 1,868 and the total number of confirmed cases to 72,436. The deaths included Wuhan health chief Liu Zhiming, who had mobilised all the resources of his hospital in the city's Wuchang district since the outbreak began to deal with the thousands of sick people arriving daily, threatening to overwhelm the local healthcare system. That dedication appears to have cost him his life, with Wuhan's health bureau announcing on Tuesday that he became infected and died despite "all-out" attempts to save him. Mr Liu is at least the seventh health worker to die of Covid-19 among the more than 1,700 doctors and nurses who have become ill. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday allocated 500 crore for the construction of an airport in Ayodhya to boost tourism and pilgrim traffic to the temple town. An additional 85 crore has been earmarked for the development of tourism infrastructure and 10 crore for the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, a museum that houses a collection of rare paintings, ivory articles, photographs and antiquities depicting the life of Lord Rama. The allocation follows the Centres announcement of the formation of the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust is likely to hold its first meeting in Delhi on Wednesday. UP finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, who tabled the budget in the state assembly, said the government was committed to give a boost to the tourism sector by developing pilgrim centres and tourist spots. UP chief minister Adityanath praised Khannas budget. Besides fulfilling the aspirations of the people, the state government has also respected their faith by allocating funds for development of pilgrim centres. Funds have been allocated for the construction of an airport in Ayodhya. The soon-to-be constructed airport in Ayodhya will have air connectivity with other cities in the state and across the country, he said. The CM hoped the development of tourist and pilgrim centres would give a fillip to the countrys most-populous states service sector and also offer more employment opportunities for the young. Raju Das, a senior priest of Hanumangarhi temple, said: There is a dire need for an airport in the temple town to put Ayodhya on the international tourism map. The state governments bid to construct an airport will also ensure Ayodhyas all-round development. A state government spokesperson said the authorities had already announced the construction of a bus station, water transport facility, digital museum, river front development and a cobblestone-paved pedestrian path in Ayodhya. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad: Non-implementation and disregarding a national law can attract Presidents rule, following a recommendation by the Governor, said Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao here on Monday. Addressing the media, Mr Krishna Saagar Rao criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for holding the Cabinet meeting at Pragathi Bhavan instead of at Telangana Bhavan. He said that the meeting appeared more like a campaign get-together for the GHMC elections. He pointed out that the state Cabinet is a constitutional body and cannot pass a resolution against a national law passed by Parliament, as it was unconstitutional. He warned the Chief Minister that disregarding a national law as per the Indian Constitution Part 11 and Articles 256 and 257 is a serious violation by the state government and can even warrant a recommendation by the Governor for Presidents Rule under Article 356. Alleging that the Pattana Pragati proposed at the Cabinet is a farce and an election gimmick, Mr Rao said that the government has neglected Hyderabad and its development for the last five years, and is now trying to deceive citizens for votes in the forthcoming GHMC elections He said that the Cabinet decision passing a resolution to repeal CAA is a minority appeasement tactic and exposes the copy-cat tendency to follow Communist and Congress ideology for electoral expediency. KCRs reference to Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh only highlights the political bankruptcy of TRS and minority appeasement politics similar to that of Congress and Left parties. So far, he hasnt clarified on any substantive factual reason for his opposition to CAA, the BJP spokesperson said. Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday appealed to the varsity' alumni to contribute to the JNU Alumni Endowment fund to achieve "financial self-sufficiency". His appeal came after the varsity's Executive Council approved the creation of the fund. "On behalf of JNU, I passionately appeal to the JNU alumni to come forward and generously make your contributions. "Let us keep a target of raising Rs 100 crore by the end of this year. Through your continued support in the coming years, let us target to achieve near financial self sufficiency for our university," he said. Around the globe, higher educational institutions benefit a great deal from contributions received from their alumni, he said. "The time has come for the university to reach out to its alumni across India and around the globe to contribute to 'JNU Alumni Endowment Fund'," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shaun Dunn is an expert 3-D designer whose images look so real you want to pluck them off the screen the very sort Hollywood studios Disney and Pixar might pay an artist big money to create. Or so Dunn believed when he was a top student at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, whose ads say graduates are some of the most successful and sought-after professionals in art and design today. Dunn earned a bachelors degree in industrial design and stayed, at the schools urging, he said, for his masters in animation and visual effects. He graduated in May. Today hes bankrupt. He owes $431,607 in student loans and hasnt gotten a job. His mother co-signed one student loan for his undergraduate studies in 2004 and remains on the hook for four subsequent loans. They barely speak now. Its ruined my life, Dunn, 38, said of the debt and the guerrilla techniques he says the for-profit Academy of Art used to persuade him to stay at the school he couldnt afford and often felt too ill to attend, thanks to a painful inflammatory disease that slowed his progress. I just feel they were dishonest, saying youve got this great future in front of you. But I feel we were ripped off. Bamboozled. Tricked. With 13,000 students, nearly 40% online, the Academy of Art bills itself as the largest private accredited art university in the U.S. It touts the success stories of graduates but tells a different story to the U.S. Department of Education: 3 out of 4 undergraduates never graduate. For those who do, median salaries within a year of graduation range from $19,100 to $46,500, depending on what they studied, says the departments College Scorecard, which premiered in 2015 and relies on schools data. A federal lawsuit by four ex-employees accuses the Academy of Art of using illegal schemes to bait students like Dunn. The former recruiters say the school illegally adjusted their pay up or down based on how many students they registered, dangled trips to Hawaii as an incentive, and lied to the government about it to collect millions in financial aid. Lawyers for the school have said its methods were allowable at the time and have tried for a decade to get the high-stakes suit thrown out. Now, as the case marches toward an April 27 trial, The Chronicle spoke with 17 former students who independently contacted the paper after reading stories about the lawsuit. Students are not part of the suit, but theyre at the heart of the case: Federal law prohibits incentive compensation to discourage schools from enticing unqualified applicants or those who cant afford it. Of the 17 ex-students, 12 have debt above $50,000, including eight above $100,000. Like Dunn, most earn too little to pay off the debt. They say the Academy of Art pushed them to borrow while hinting at lucrative careers with Facebook, Google, DreamWorks or Apple all featured prominently on its website or in its Make Your Dreams a Reality ads. Academy of Art officials declined repeated requests for comment. Most former students dont work at those famous companies. But some do, according to LinkedIn. And some are accomplished, like Rick Baker, the Academy Award-winning makeup artist. There is also Candace Chambers, 32, a digital marketing consultant in Oakland who earned a masters in multimedia communications nine years ago from the Academy of Art. A reporter found her through LinkedIn and spoke with her to learn whether the experience of a graduate who didnt contact The Chronicle matched that of those who did. The answer? Yes and no. With skills learned at school, Chambers has been a production assistant, news reporter, social media manager and digital content manager. Shes a freelancer now and runs a separate online clothing business. I went there thinking, Im going to have to pay for this, so let me take advantage of every resource and get out as quickly as possible, said Chambers, who graduated in a year and a half. She owes $80,000. Shes in forbearance, allowing her to skip payments for a year, though interest accrues. I would do it again, she said. The ex-students who contacted The Chronicle said they would not. Unemployed or working modest jobs, they include a Lyft driver in New Jersey who earned a masters in film and television in 2013 and owes $160,000, plus a teachers aide in Oakland who earned a bachelors in motion pictures and video in 2000 and owes $57,000. Those who didnt graduate include a specialty food-maker in Stockton who owes $124,000, a phlebotomist near Tracy who owes $40,000, a stay-at-home dad in San Diego who owes $24,000, and a $10-an-hour dishwasher in Texas who owes $4,000. What they have in common is shame at their bad decisions and anger at the school. They believe they were easy prey for the Academy of Art: creative, low-income people who lacked guidance about choosing an affordable college. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Of course I blame myself. But that school was a predator, said Michelle Gardner, 55, of Daly City, who graduated in 1993 with a bachelors in advertising and a heart full of enthusiasm. She spent years peddling her portfolio to ad companies around the country before taking a social services job that pays less than $60,000. Her original $30,000 loan has ballooned to $168,280. Its the cloud that darkens every day for me, said Gardner, who is five years into a repayment plan for public employees that forgives student loans after 10 years. The Academy of Art charges $2,889 per class for undergraduates, rising to $3,033 next fall. Add that tuition to the schools mandatory fees, and the base charge will be $26,399. With living expenses, the cost for 2020-21 will top $44,000, federal data show. Not everyone can afford it or the student loans, plus interest, they might need to pay for it. Good schools provide advice based on students backgrounds and help them figure out if taking a loan out is right for them, said Bob Shireman, who helped craft the Obama administrations gainful employment rule, which penalized career colleges when former students had high debt and low loan-repayment rates clues they were not well-prepared for good jobs. The Trump administration repealed the rule in July. Predatory activity is telling students that theres financial aid, downplaying that its loans, and allowing them to believe theyll benefit from paying off the loan, said Shireman, now higher education director at the Century Foundation think tank. It can happen anywhere, but 99% of complaints are about for-profit schools. Undergrads at for-profit colleges borrow more money than other students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which looks at borrowing habits every four years. The average amounts borrowed for college by students who graduated with a bachelors degree in 2015-16 were $43,600 for private for-profits; $32,500 for private nonprofits; and $27,900 for public. More recent data show that Academy of Art graduates carry 59% more debt, on average, than grads from other four-year schools in California: $35,862 versus $22,585, according to College Insight, a project of the nonprofit Institute for College Access & Success, which studies student debt. Founded as the Academy of Advertising Art in 1929 by artist Richard Stephens, the school today is owned by his granddaughter, Elisa Stephens, a society figure and one of San Franciscos largest landlords. She or her limited liability corporations own 43 buildings, mainly for student housing and classrooms. The city sued in 2016, saying Stephens illegally converted many of the buildings and eliminated 160 units of affordable housing. They settled that year for $60 million. Stephens agreed to restore affordable housing but never did. On Jan. 7, the Board of Supervisors amended the settlement to have the city create the housing at Stephens expense. The Academy of Art offers degrees in 22 fields, from acting to web design, but reports a graduation rate of just 28%. The school collected more than $1.5 billion in federal student loans and $171 million in federal grants from 2006 to 2018, a Chronicle analysis of federal records shows. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In their lawsuit, the ex-employees say those millions are what motivate the school to vigorously court students and accept all applicants. No one was turned away, said plaintiff Scott Rose, who is suing under the federal False Claims Act, which awards triple damages to encourage whistle-blowers who believe the government is being cheated. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Dunn, who earned two degrees and is seeking work while developing his 3-D art website, has filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection to defer loan payments for five years. He was an Academy of Art student for 14 years. And with the schools encouragement, he said, he took out 25 loans. I was determined to defy the odds, he said. His dad had repaired copiers, and his mom raised the kids. Neither had a degree. But Dunns teachers urged him to get one. His parents divorced when Dunn was 18, leaving him to wrestle with college on his own. He loved drawing, and found the Academy of Art. There he learned about student loans, and when his mother co-signed one for him, he was in. In his sophomore year, while on the graveyard shift at his part-time job, Dunn suddenly felt knifelike pains in his stomach. A doctor diagnosed Crohns disease, an incurable inflammatory disorder that would change Dunns life. He became more determined than ever to stay in school. If I didnt, what would I have? Nothing. No degree, no health. Just bills, he said. So I had to keep going. The school, too, was determined that Dunn stay. They were, like, all over me, he said. Dunn wasnt the only family member affected by his decision to go to the Academy of Art and stay there. Shauns loans have buried me, said his mother, Gianna Lupo, of Oregon. Years earlier, she co-signed a $25,000 student loan with Sallie Mae, now Navient. I was a single mom trying to help my son get an education for something he really adored, Lupo said. She didnt read the fine print and didnt realize she would automatically become responsible for later loans four of his 25. With interest climbing nearly $800 a month, her portion is approaching $200,000, with no end in sight. It just became a monster, said Lupo, 59, who has dreamed of retiring to Italy. But a lawyer warned that leaving would be considered loan evasion. Its put a lot of separation between my son and myself, Lupo admitted. She also blames herself and the Academy of Art University. Ive always been leery of this school, she said. I think it turned out to be kind of a sham. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Upcoming political events in the Bay Area: WEDNESDAY Iran Reframed: A Talk by Narges Bajoghli, assistant professor of Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University and an anthropologist, filmmaker and writer. Free. 4 p.m., Room 587, Humanities Building, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco. More information is here. Watch party: For the Democratic presidential debate, hosted by TechEquity Collaborative. Free. 5 p.m., Starline Social Club, 2236 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. More information is here. Watch party: For the Democratic presidential debate. $10. 5 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Conor Dougherty: Author discusses his new book, Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America, with journalist Angie Coiro. $7. 7:30 p.m., Keplers Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. More information is here. THURSDAY Primary ballot explainer: An overview and conversation of key housing and workforce and labor ballot measures on the March 3 primary ballot, hosted by TechEquity Collaborative. Free. Online at noon. More information is here. Disinformation and democracy: A forum on the threats to democratic elections from digital disinformation. Panelists include Irina Raicu, director of internet ethics at Markkula Center; Alex Stamos, former chief security officer at Facebook and director of the Stanford Internet Observatory; and Subramaniam Vincent, director of journalism and media ethics at Markkula Center. $10. 6 p.m., Computer History Museum, 1401 North Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. More information is here. Polarization and the Constitution: Is the Constitution part of the problem in political polarization rather than the solution, and if it is, what can we do about it? A conversation with Paul Pierson, political science professor at UC Berkeley. Free. 6:30 p.m., Salesforce Tower, 415 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. Malcolm X movie: A screening of Time Has Come Today, focusing on Malcolm X and the civil rights struggles of the mid-1960s. Hosted by the San Francisco Party for Socialism and Liberation. 7 p.m., 2969 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. FRIDAY Rep. Barbara Lee town hall: East Bay Democrat holds a town hall meeting, focused on expanding and protecting voting rights, Black History Month and the census. 6 p.m., Beth Eden Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1183 10th St., Oakland. More information is here. SATURDAY Watch party: For the Nevada Democratic caucus results. Free. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Oscar Lopez Rivera: Puerto Rican independence activist, long imprisoned by the U.S. government for alleged connection to paramilitary actions, discusses his organizing activities as the island tries to recover from 2018 hurricanes. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 5:30 p.m., La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. More information is here. Compassion in divisive times: A talk with Dr. Pilar Jennings, psychoanalyst and Buddhist teacher, on practicing the healing arts of Buddhist psychology during a time of social, racial and political divisiveness. $5. 5:30 p.m., S.F. Zen Center Conference Center, 308 Page St., San Francisco. More information is here. SUNDAY Dismantling racism: Screening of the documentary film When They See Us, followed by discussion groups focused on building bridges for the purpose of dismantling white supremacy and racism. Hosted by San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Group. Free. 1 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco. More information is here. Oscar Lopez Rivera: Puerto Rican independence activist, long imprisoned by the U.S. government for alleged connection to paramilitary actions, discusses his organizing activities as the island tries to recover from 2018 hurricanes. $20. 1 p.m., Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. Race and the election: A discussion of the presidential election as a lens for issues of race. Panelists include author, actor and playwright Brian Copeland; author, blogger and writing teacher Aya de Leon; author Mimi Lok; and law professor and commentator Ian Haney Lopez. Free. 5 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. More information is here. TUESDAY Watch party: For the Democratic presidential debate. $10. 5 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. On Common Ground: KQED-FMs Sasha Khokha leads a discussion about how we find common ground in an age of extreme disunity. Panelists include emotional education expert Michele Borba; social psychologist Heike Winterheld and artist Shawn Lani, co-curators of the Exploratoriums Middle Ground exhibition; Make America Dinner Again co-founder Tria Chang; and Stanford political scientist Jonathan Rodden. Free. 7 p.m., Pier 15, the Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. FEB. 26 W. Kamau Bell: Political comedian teams up with Mother Jones to talk about the 2020 election. $15. 7 p.m., Berkeley Repertory Theater, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. More information is here. FEB. 27 E.J. Dionne Jr. and Barbara Boxer: Washington Post columnist and former U.S. senator from California on how progressives and moderates can unite to win 2020 elections. $30 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $10 for students. Noon, 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Second event with Dionne, a benefit for KPFA-FM, at 7:30 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. More information is here. FEB. 29 Watch party: For the South Carolina Democratic primary results. Free. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 1 Rep. Jackie Speier: Peninsula Democrat in conversation for KQED-FMs Live on Stage With Michael Krasny. $25. 5 p.m., Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, Hoytt Theater, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. More information is here. MARCH 3 Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states, with former Arizona Sen. Gabby Giffords. $12. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states. Free. 5 p.m., IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall, UC Berkeley. More information is here. Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states. Hosted by TechEquity Collaborative. Free. 5 p.m., Starline Social Club, 2236 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Oakland. More information is here. MARCH 4 Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Gender issues and political identity: Rose McDermott, international relations professor at Brown University, discusses gender issues and leaders emotional manipulation of political identity. $5. 7 p.m., 518 Valencia St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 5 Rahm Emanuel: Former Chicago mayor and Barack Obama adviser on how mayors run the world. $40 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $15 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 6 Facebook: Author Steve Levy discusses his new book, Facebook: The Inside Story. Benefit for KPFA-FM. $12 advance, $15 at the door. 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St., Berkeley. More information is here. MARCH 8 Politics for teenagers: Democracy Online: A Political Discourse Conference for Teens features experts in ethics, journalism and technology to discuss the role of the internet in politics. Free. 10 a.m., Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. More information is here. Spanish for activists: A session on canvassing in the Latinx community, sponsored by Democracy Action. Intended for intermediate and advanced Spanish speakers. Bring a laptop and phone. Free. 10:30 a.m., 80 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 20, Sausalito. More information is here. MARCH 12 Breaking down the primary: Political experts discuss the results of Californias primary. Panelists include Aimee Allison, founder and president of She the People; Jennifer Fernandez Ancona, co-founder of Way to Win; and pollster David Binder. Hosted by KQED and SPUR. $10 for nonmembers, free for members. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 17 American Jews and Israel: Former Knesset member Yossi Beilin, chairman of the Geneva Initiative, on the relationship between Israelis and American Jews today and where we go from here. Hosted by Center for Jewish Peoplehood. $18 in advance, $25 at the door. 7 p.m., Osher Marin JCCs Hoytt Theater, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. More information is here. Dan Pfeiffer: Pod Save America podcast co-host on A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again. $27 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $8 for students. 7 p.m., Oshman Family JCCs Schultz Cultural Hall, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. More information is here. MARCH 21 Robert Reich: UC Berkeley public policy professor and former U.S. labor secretary talks politics and his new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It. $32 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $9 for students. 7 p.m., 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara Convention Center Theater, Santa Clara. More information is here. Noam Chomsky: Political activist and social critic on What Hope for Palestine-and Beyond? The World After 2020. Introduced by Daniel Ellsberg; musical performance by Naima Shalhoub and Excentrik. $29-$99. 7:30 p.m., Sidney Goldstein Theatre, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 27 Jesse Wegman: Journalist and editor discusses his new book on the electoral college, Let the People Pick the President. $7. 7:30 p.m., Keplers Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. More information is here. To list an event, please email Politics Editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com. A decade after the United States experienced its worst economy since the Great Depression, data from the Internal Revenue Service helps show which communities have bounced back the strongest. And theres a pattern. Upscale suburbans in metro Detroit and Grand Rapids are on the list, as are waterfront communities along Lake Michigan that have been drawing affluent retirees and others in recent years. MLives analysis looked at growth in total adjusted gross income reported on federal tax returns between 2009, the depth of the recession, and 2017, the most recent year in which data was available. Below is a list of the 60 ZIP codes where total AGI grew at least 60% between 2009 and 2017. In some ZIP codes, that growth was driven by population increases and more people filing tax returns. In others, theres been significant increases in average household income. In the majority of communities on the list, its a combination of both -- incomes are shooting up, and more people are moving in. The analysis involved only individual tax returns and does not include businesses located in the ZIP code. Highlights of IRS income data from Michigan tax returns Before we get into the list, heres an online database that allows readers to look up the numbers for any ZIP code in Michigan included in the IRS data. You can search by county or type in the name of a community or a specific ZIP code. If you click on details," you can see the numbers for 2009 as well as 2017. And heres is an interactive map shows that shows change in total AGI by county between 2009 and 2017; click on a county to see the underlying data. Now heres the ranking of ZIP codes with the biggest growth in total adjusted gross income between 2009 and 2017. 1. Glen Arbor 49636 (Leelanau County): 163% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $30.2 million to $79.2 million, up 163%. Change in average AGI: $84,335 to $203,608, up 141%. Change in number of returns: 358 to 390, up 9%. 2. Muskegon 49440 (Muskegon County): 162% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $7.9 million to $20.8 million, up 162%. Change in average AGI: $21,470 to $43,388, a 102% increase. Change in number of returns: 370 to 480, up 30%. 3. Union Pier 49129 (Berrien County): 148% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $14.9 million to $37.1 million, up 148%. Change in average AGI: $48,820 to $109,088, a 102% increase. Change in number of returns: 306 to 340, up 11%. 4. Oakland 48363 (Oakland County): 139% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $223.5 million to $533.5 million, up 139%. Change in average AGI: $98,905 to $172,111, a 74% increase. Change in number of returns: 2,260 to 3,100, up 37%. 5. Grand Rapids 49503 (Kent County): 137% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $794.2 million to $1.88 billion, up 137%. Change in average AGI: $54,957 to $106,062, a 93% increase. Change in number of returns: 14,452 to 17,730, up 23%. 6. Flint 48502 (Genesee County): 132% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $33.4 million to $77.3 million, up 132%. Change in average AGI: $74,569 to $171,873, a 130% increase. Change in number of returns: 448 to 450, unchanged. 7. Leland 49654 (Leelanau County): 124% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $35.2 million to $78.9 million, up 124%. Change in average AGI: $83,168 to $171,580, a 106% increase. Change in number of returns: 423 to 460, up 9%. 8. Saugatuck 49453 (Allegan County): 113% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $85.5 million to $182 million, up 113%. Change in average AGI: $60,585 to $108,956, a 80% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,411 to 1,670, up 18%. 9. Union 49130 (Cass County): 110% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $44.3 million to $93.2 million, up 110%. Change in average AGI: $52,789 to $107,080, a 103% increase. Change in number of returns: 839 to 870, up 4%. 10. Williamsburg 49690 (Grand Traverse County): 103% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $169.3 million to $343.1 million, up 103%. Change in average AGI: $55,984 to $104,935, a 87% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,024 to 3,270, up 8%. 11. Allendale 49401 (Kent County): 102% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $205 million to $414.8 million, up 102%. Change in average AGI: $44,128 to $55,523, a 26% increase. Change in number of returns: 4,647 to 7,470, up 61%. 12. Milford 48380 (Oakland County): 102% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $265 million to $534.5 million, up 102%. Change in average AGI: $79,732 to $140,937, a 77% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,323 to 3,790, up 14%. 13. Bloomfield Hills 48302 (Oakland County): 99% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.46 billion to $2.9 billion, up 99%. Change in average AGI: $185,812 to $354,821, a 91% increase. Change in number of returns: 7,857 to 8,190, up 4%. 14. Byron Center 49315 (Kent County): 97% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $546.2 million to $1.07 billion, up 97%. Change in average AGI: $58,857 to $91,592, a 56% increase. Change in number of returns: 7,857 to 8,190, up 26%. 15. New Hudson 48165 (Oakland County): 95% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $162.3 million to $216.9 million, up 95%. Change in average AGI: $52,851 to $78,046, a 48% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,070 to 4,060, up 32%. 16. Birmingham 48009 (Oakland County): 93% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.47 billion to $2.83 billion, up 93%. Change in average AGI: $147,990 to $268,492, a 81% increase. Change in number of returns: 9,915 to 10,550, up 6%. 17. Lake Orion 48359 (Oakland County): 89% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $197.7 million to $375 million, up 89%. Change in average AGI: $147,990 to $268,492, a 46% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,431 to 4,440, up 29%. 18. South Lyon 48178 (Oakland County): 87% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $912.6 million to $1.71 billion, up 87%. Change in average AGI: $67,972 to $98,616, a 45% increase. Change in number of returns: 13,426 to 17,340, up 29%. 19. Milford 48381 (Oakland County): 82% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $426.9 million to $788.9 million, up 82%. Change in average AGI: $67,430 to $108,785, a 61% increase. Change in number of returns: 6,331 to 7,160, up 13%. 20. Washington 48094 (Macomb County): 80% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $571.7 million to $1.03 billion, up 80%. Change in average AGI: $67,976 to $101,196, a 49% increase. Change in number of returns: 8,410 to 10,150, up 21%. 21. Washington 48095 (Macomb County): 77% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $163.6 million to $1.03 billion, up 77%. Change in average AGI: $72,578 to $106,666, a 47% increase. Change in number of returns: 2,254 to 2,720, up 21%. 22. Troy 48098 (Oakland County): 76% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.05 billion to $1.86 billion, up 76%. Change in average AGI: $104,910 to $186,292, a 78% increase. Change in number of returns: 10,044 to 9,970, -1%. 23. Bloomfield Hills 48304 (Oakland County): 76% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.55 billion to $2.72 billion, up 76%. Change in average AGI: $192,381 to $317,000, a 65% increase. Change in number of returns: 8,045 to 8,590, up 7%. 24. Maple City 49664 (Leelanau County): 74% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $46.1 million to $80.2 million, up 74%. Change in average AGI: $44,946 to $72,268, a 61% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,027 to 1,110, up 8%. 25. Nunica 49448 (Muskegon County): 73% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $64.8 million to $112 million, up 73%. Change in average AGI: $41,736 to $60,545, a 45% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,552 to 1,850, up 19%. 26. Bloomfield Hills 48301 (Oakland County): 73% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.06 billion to $1.83 billion, up 73%. Change in average AGI: $156,411 to $256,001, a 64% increase. Change in number of returns: 6,761 to 7,140, up 6%. 27. Romeo 48065 (Macomb County): 72% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $291.7 million to $500.8 million, up 72%. Change in average AGI: $58,986 to $89,746, a 52% increase. Change in number of returns: 4,946 to 5,580, up 13%. 28. Kewadin 49648 (Antrim County): 70% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $62.1 million to $105.7 million, up 70%. Change in average AGI: $59,190 to $90,358, a 53% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,049 to 1,170, up 12%. 29. Vandalia 49095 (Cass County): 70% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $41.9 million to $71.3 million, up 70%. Change in average AGI: $48,601 to $76,673, a 58% increase. Change in number of returns: 862 to 930, up 8%. 30. Marne 49435 (Ottawa County): 70% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $89.7 million to $152.3 million, up 70%. Change in average AGI: $55,142 to $83,669, a 52% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,627 to 1,820, up 12%. 31. Royal Oak 48067 (Oakland County): 69% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $752.1 million to $1.27 billion, up 69%. Change in average AGI: $56,898 to $92,438, a 62% increase. Change in number of returns: 13,219 to 13,780, up 4%. 32. Novi 48374 (Oakland County): 69% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $692.2 million to $1.17 billion, up 69%. Change in average AGI: $114,565 to $92,438, a 34% increase. Change in number of returns: 6,042 to 7,630, up 26%. 33. Rochester 48306 (Oakland County): 68% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.37 billion to $2.3 billion, up 68%. Change in average AGI: $112,597 to $172,213, a 53% increase. Change in number of returns: 12,176 to 13,340, up 10%. 34. Huntington Woods 48070 (Oakland County): 67% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $341.2 million to $500.3 million, up 67%. Change in average AGI: $113,590 to $177,099, a 56% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,004 to 3,220, up 7%. 35. Hudsonville 49426 (Ottawa County): 67% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $812.7 million to $1.36 million, up 67%. Change in average AGI: $56,397 to $75,808, a 34% increase. Change in number of returns:14,411 to 17,890, up 24%. 36. Rockford 49341 (Kent County): 67% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $949.9 million to $1.58 billion, up 67%. Change in average AGI: $64,263 to $89,989, a 40% increase. Change in number of returns:14,782 to 17,590, up 19%. 37. Macomb 48042 (Macomb County): 66% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $749 million to $1.25 billion, up 66%. Change in average AGI: $62,286 to $78,724, a 26% increase. Change in number of returns:12,026 to 15,840, up 32%. 38. Novi 48377 (Oakland County): 66% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $458 million to $760.5 million, up 66%. Change in average AGI: $59,686 to $83,299, a 40% increase. Change in number of returns: 7,674 to 9,130, up 19%. 39. Northville 48168 (Wayne County): 66% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.2 billion to $2 billion, up 66%. Change in average AGI: $124,478 to $179,109, a 44% increase. Change in number of returns: 9,713 to 11,200, up 15%. 40. Ann Arbor 48104 (Washtenaw County): 66% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $996 million to $1.65 billion, up 66%. Change in average AGI: $77,049 to $121,120, a 57% increase. Change in number of returns: 12,927 to 13,610, up 5%. 41. Holland 49424 (Ottawa County): 65% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.03 billion to $1.7 billion, up 65%. Change in average AGI: $51,258 to $72,127, a 41% increase. Change in number of returns: 20,100 to 23,620, up 18%. 42. Caledonia 49316 (Kent County): 65% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $557.9 million to $919 million, up 65%. Change in average AGI: $63,106 to $82,199, a 30% increase. Change in number of returns: 20,100 to 23,620, up 26%. 43. Highland 48357 (Oakland County): 64% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $230.5 million to $378.2 million, up 64%. Change in average AGI: $58,466 to $89,837, a 54% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,943 to 4,210, up 7%. 44. Zeeland 49464 (Ottawa County): 64% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $597 million to $979.3 million, up 64%. Change in average AGI: $49,492 to $70,913, a 43% increase. Change in number of returns: 12,062 to 13,810, up 14%. 45. Sawyer 49125 (Berrien County): 64% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $44 million to $72,1 million, up 64%. Change in average AGI: $45,033 to $70,682, a 57% increase. Change in number of returns: 977 to 1,020, up 4%. 46. Grand Rapids 49506 (Kent County): 64% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $992.9 million to $1.64 billion, up 64%. Change in average AGI: $71,796 to $104,508, a 46% increase. Change in number of returns: 13,830 to 15,540, up 12%. 47. Northville 48167 (Wayne County): 63% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $992.9 million to $1.64 billion, up 63%. Change in average AGI: $83,750 to $126,841, a 51% increase. Change in number of returns: 11,852 to 12,750, up 8%. 48. Franklin 48025 (Oakland County): 63% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $1.16 billion to $1.88 billion, up 63%. Change in average AGI: $161,070 to $244,642, a 52% increase. Change in number of returns: 7,182 to 7,690, up 7%. 49. Pentwater 49449 (Oceana County): 62% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $57.1 million to $92.8 million, up 62%. Change in average AGI: $42,108 to $67,726, a 61% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,357 to 1,370, up 1%. 50. Belmont 49306 (Kent County): 62% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $285.2 million to $462.7 million, up 62%. Change in average AGI: $66,613 to $92,722, a 39% increase. Change in number of returns: 4,281 to 4,990, up 17%. 51. Richland 49083 (Kalamazoo County): 62% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $267.3 million to $434.1 million, up 62%. Change in average AGI: $77,996 to $113,339, a 45% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,431 to 3,830, up 12%. 52. Thompsonville 49683 (Benzie County): 62% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $31.1 million to $50.3 million, up 62%. Change in average AGI: $34,343 to $49,326, a 44% increase. Change in number of returns: 906 to 1,020, up 13%. 53. Dexter 48130 (Washtenaw County): 62% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $535,3 million to $865 million, up 62%. Change in average AGI: $79,912 to $110,616, a 38% increase. Change in number of returns: 6,698 to 7,820, up 17%. 54. Shelbyville 49344 (Allegan County): 61% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $69.1 million to $111.5 million, up 61%. Change in average AGI: $45,869 to $62,660, a 37% increase. Change in number of returns: 1,506 to 1,780, up 18%. 55. Hamilton 49419 (Allegan County): 61% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $167.4 million to $269.6 million, up 61%. Change in average AGI: $49,614 to $66,890, a 35% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,375 to 4,030, up 19%. 56. Wayland 49348 (Allegan County): 61% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $233.5 million to $378.5 million, up 61%. Change in average AGI: $43,395 to $55,928, a 29% increase. Change in number of returns: 5,381 to 6,720, up 25%. 57. Cassopolis 49031 (Cass County): 60% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $143.9 million to $229.8 million, up 60%. Change in average AGI: $44,016 to $67,787, a 54% increase. Change in number of returns: 3,269 to 3,390, up 4%. 58. White Pigeon 49099 (St. Joseph County): 60% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $99.1 million to $158.3 million, up 60%. Change in average AGI: $39,690 to $60,875, a 53% increase. Change in number of returns: 2,497 to 2,600, up 4%. 59. Boyne Falls 49713 (Charlevoix County): 60% Change in total adjusted gross income, 2009 to 2017: $35.1 million to $50.3 million, up 60%. Change in average AGI: $34,236 to $47,050, a 37% increase. Change in number of returns: 921 to 1,070, up 16%. 60. West Olive 49460 (Ottawa County): 60% UN chief Antonio Guterres has been closely following talks between the US and the Taliban about a "significant reduction" of violence in Afghanistan aimed at opening the way for intra-Afghan peace negotiations, his spokesman said. According to a statement on Monday attributable to the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, during his visit to Islamabad, Guterres expressed his sincere wishes that such talks are successful and lead to an Afghan-led peace process. The Secretary-General has been following closely the talks between the US and the Taliban about a significant reduction of violence in Afghanistan aimed at opening the way for intra-Afghan peace negotiations, the statement said. In November last year, US President Donald Trump announced resumption of peace talks with the Taliban. After nine rounds of negotiations with the Taliban, Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks in September after a US soldier was killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Guterres reiterated the UN's readiness to provide any assistance that the parties may require. The UN chief, during an international conference on Afghan refugees on Monday in Islamabad, called the global community to step up efforts to help bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan, saying the Afghan people need and deserve peace, prosperity and full respect of their human rights. Noting that the Afghan refugee crisis is the world's largest protracted refugee situation in recorded history, Guterres said there is deep impact on the Afghani people due to the protracted nature of conflict, poverty and forced displacement. Last week, Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien said he was cautiously optimistic that there could be a US agreement with the Taliban over the next days or weeks, but a withdrawal of American forces was not imminent. I think that we're making significant progress, O'Brien said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington. It's something we're keeping the president appraised of on a very regular basis. You hate to make predictions when it comes to Afghanistan ... but I'll say that we're cautiously optimistic that some good could be forthcoming on that front, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DURHAM, N.C. -- As legend has it, when French workers felt their livelihoods threatened by automation in the early 1900s, they flung their wooden shoes called sabots into the machines to stop them. Hence the word sabotage. Instead of wasting good footwear, perhaps they should've tried wet toilet paper. In two new papers published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, engineers from Duke University report on results from the first large-scale, real-world field trials of critical components of their off-grid sanitation system. Since 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Reinvent the Toilet" initiative has invested more than $200 million to fund these and other efforts to create small-scale sanitation systems to serve the needs of the 4.2 billion people who lack safely managed sanitation worldwide. While their nutrient removal processes need improvement, the researchers say they were pleasantly surprised at how long the system's components lasted. They were also reminded of just how important cultural practices can be to the success of a global engineering challenge. "The first step in our reinvented toilet system separated the solid and liquid waste through a conveyer belt made of rubber bands," said Brian Hawkins, research scientist in the Duke Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID). "It works great in India where they have a washing culture, but in South Africa, where they have a wiping culture, the toilet paper got into the mix and gummed up all of the gears. That resulted in the system needing cleaning every couple of days, which is not sustainable." For the Gates-funded sanitation systems to be considered successful, they must not only remove pathogens from human waste and recover resources such as energy, clean water and nutrients, they have to do this "off the grid," without access to external electricity or water sources. To top it all off, the systems must cost less than five cents per user, per day--that's 200 users for $10. Along with Jeffrey Glass and Brian Stoner, both faculty members in Duke's Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hawkins has worked on his system at RTI International and Duke Engineering for almost a decade. After testing the liquid treatment system at large scales in real-life settings, it appears that the team's dedication is beginning to pay off. "The big thing we were trying to find out is how long we can run this system before it needs critical maintenance," said Hawkins. "And you want to do that in as close to real-life situations as possible." Throughout much of 2018, the Duke researchers installed a prototype waste treatment system at two locations -- a women's dormitory at a textile mill in Coimbatore, India and a communal ablution block at the edge of Durban, South Africa. Over the course of eight months, both systems served up to 50 potential users at any given time, processing more than 11,000 liters of waste throughout the field trials. While the problem of toilet paper was an important discovery, the primary purpose of the trials was to test the longevity of the critical components of the liquid treatment process. After solids are separated from the liquids, they are pushed through a large activated carbon filter. While this removes almost all of the biosolids, it does not disinfect the water or remove any dissolved salts. But that's okay, because the researchers can make use of one problem to solve the other. Electricity is run through the water to break down the molecular bonds within the remaining salts to produce chlorine-containing oxidants, a powerful disinfectant. "Electrochemically treating hazardous waste has a lot of benefits," said Glass. "You don't have to ship or handle any chemicals for the disinfection, and the process can be very efficient." Depending on the specific chemistry of the water, however, the electrical leads needed for this process can corrode quickly. The researchers also weren't sure how much use the activated carbon filters could handle before needing to be replaced. But the field trials helped alleviate those fears. "Both trials went for eight months and the filters never failed. I had it in my head that it'd be great if they could last a year, and so far it looks like they might be able to," said Hawkins. "So long as we cleaned the electrical system periodically, it lasted for hundreds of hours of service. That's a component that, if you had to replace it every six months, it's not going to work out. But if you can make it last three or four years, that's okay." In general, the field trial results were promising in regard to the system's potential maintenance needs and performance. Duke's prototype systems met all of the biological parameters and three out of the five chemical standards for liquid effluent according to recently released stand-alone sewage treatment requirements from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However they fell short of the standards for remaining amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen. "These two chemicals are of particular concern when you're discharging water into lakes and streams because too much of either can cause algal blooms," said Hawkins. "There are efficient ways of removing phosphorus and nitrogen at low costs for large volumes, or for small volumes at high costs, but not for low volumes at low cost. That's an ongoing topic of R&D for us." Duke engineers are now testing solutions to such problems in their next iteration of systems in India. The new systems are more compact and efficient -- and just a little bit closer to being employed as full-scale working solutions. "If you look at the flow diagram of our original system and what we're testing now, the components are all the same, but the newest prototypes are a lot more lean and mean," Hawkins said. "At this point we're mostly iterating on the same technologies, but not really making big changes." ### This research was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Local partners in India included: RTI India and PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research. In South Africa, partners included: The Pollution Research Group (PRG) and School of the Built Environment and Development Studies (SoBEDs) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Khanyisa Projects, and eThekwini Water and Sanitation. CITATIONS: "Field Testing of a Household-Scale Onsite Blackwater Treatment System in Coimbatore, India," Claire M.Welling, Sarani Sasidaran, Prateek Kachoria, Sarah Hennessy, Brendon J. Lynch, Stephanie Teleski, Hitendra Chaudhari, Katelyn L. Sellgren, Brian R. Stoner, Sonia Grego, Brian T. Hawkins. Science of the Total Environment, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136706 "Field Testing of a Household-Scale Onsite Blackwater Treatment System in South Africa," Tapuwa Sahondo, Sarah Hennessy, Rebecca C. Sindall, Hitendra Chaudhari, Stephanie Teleski, Brendon J. Lynch, Katelyn L. Sellgren, Brian R. Stoner, Sonia Grego, Brian T. Hawkins. Science of the Total Environment, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135469 A parliamentary inquiry has called for school inspectors to check classroom teaching, an independent commission to monitor test results, and bonus public funding for private schools willing to join a "best practice" school program. Education committee chair Mark Latham broke with convention to write the report himself, prompting fellow committee member, Greens MP David Shoebridge, to brand it a "Latham manifesto" that should be locked away and forgotten. One Nation MP Mark Latham wrote the parliamentary education committee's 100-page report. Credit:AAP But Labor backed some of the recommendations, including more public data on individual school performance, ambitious performance targets, and transparency about which teaching methods are used in each school. In his executive summary of the report, One Nation MP Mr Latham said NSW results have gone backwards over the past 20 years. Bertolt Meyer, a professor by day and DJ by night, was born without the lower half of his left arm. His prosthetic is designed with two electrodes that sit on the skin and pick up signals from his muscles in order to move the hand and fingers at the end, but the design makes it difficult to control a synthesizer. With the help of engineers, Meyer designed the the SynLimb - a custom circuit board that attaches to the prosthetic and reads his muscle signals to tweak the synthesizer knobs. Jacks are used to connect the circuit board and synthesizer that use the signals from his muscles, allowing Meyer to control the pitch and sequences with his mind. Scroll down for video With the help of engineers, Meyer designed the the SynLimb - a custom circuit board that attaches to the prosthetic and reads his muscle signals to tweak the synthesizer knobs 'The SynLimb thus allows me to plug my prosthesis directly into my synthesizer so that I can control its parameters with the signals from my body that normally control the hand,' Meyer shared on his YouTube channel. 'For me, this feels like controlling the synth with my thoughts.' Meyer received the high-tech prosthetic in 2009, but he still struggled working the synthesizer. As useful as this hand is, it is really difficult to control the synthesizer with it,' Meyer shared in a video he posted on his YouTube channel. After finding the electrode voltages of his prosthetic were too week, he used a Koma Electronic Field Kit (pictured), an analog audio workstation normally used for field recordings, which can amplify the signals. 'All the tiny nobs you need to tweak and you need to tweak them fast with precision, and it is really difficult to do that with a prosthesis like this. His prosthetic is designed with two electrodes that sit on the skin and pick up signals from his muscles in order to move the hand and fingers at the end, but makes it difficult to control the synthesizer while DJing The nobs on a synthesizer can be remote controlled with a voltage in the range of zero to 10 volts and Meyer always wondered if he could use the signals from his prosthetic to control the knobs' functions. After years of pondering, he decided it was time to see for himself. He took apart an old prosthetic that was some 20 years old and found it had an attachment on the end that could fit into his current prosthetic and a circuit. After finding the electrode voltages of his prosthetic were too week, he used a Koma Electronic Field Kit, an analog audio workstation normally used for field recordings, which can amplify the signals. When I actually plugged the signal I got from my prosthesis into here [the KOMA Elektronik Kit], it did exactly the amplification that I needed,' Meyer said. 'I also realized that the battery in the prosthesis provides nine volts as an operating voltage, and the KOMA Electronik Field Kit runs on nine volts.' He took apart an old prosthetic that was some 20 years old and found it had an attachment on the end that could fit into his current prosthetic and a circuit Now that he had an idea in place, Meyer sought the help of engineers to assist with the design of the device. The team had a custom circuit board made in China and Meyers husband, Daniel, used a 3D printer to make an adapter that attaches the unit to his wrist Jacks are used to connect the circuit board and synthesizer, allowing Meyer to control the pitch and sequences with his mind. Now that he had an idea in place, Meyer sought the help of engineers to assist with the design of the device. The team had a custom circuit board made in China and Meyers husband, Daniel, used a 3D printer to make an adapter that attaches the unit to his wrist. I control the synthesizer with my prosthesis and for me, that is such a natural thing to do I dont have to think about it I just do it. Its zero effort because I m so used to producing this muscle signal. For me, this feels like Im controlling the filter with my thoughts. Former White House national security adviser John Bolton on Monday questioned whether it was fair that President Donald Trump has called him a liar on the subject of Ukraine, but I cant talk about it. In his first public remarks since Trump was impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate, Bolton said his own views of national security policies, and descriptions of interactions with Trump on Ukraine and other issues, risk being suppressed and censored by the administration. His ability to speak was restrained, he said, because of the White House prepublication review of his forthcoming book and threats of possible legal action. In a 90-minute question-and-answer session before students, faculty and members of the public at Duke University, Bolton voiced familiar hard-line views on North Korea, Iran and other issues. He said he viewed Ukraine and the impeachment as sprinkles on the ice cream sundae compared with other subjects he deals with in the book. Asked whether he agreed with the presidents assessment that Trumps July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was perfect, Bolton said Youll love Chapter 14. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP Bolton left the administration in September, after 17 months as Trumps third national security adviser, following policy rifts with the president. Trump announced via Twitter that he had fired Bolton, though Bolton, also via Twitter, said he had resigned. Boltons book about his time at the White House, titled The Room Where It Happened, is scheduled to be published March 17. Portions of the book were leaked to The New York Times, including Boltons firsthand account of what he said were discussions with Trump about the presidents withholding of aid to Ukraine unless its government investigated his Democratic political rivals. Those allegations became the basis of Trumps impeachment in December. Recommended Trump furiously threatens to sue his investigators in morning rant After the impeachment, Bolton offered to testify at the subsequent Senate trial, if subpoenaed, but the Republican majority voted not to call witnesses. The Senate this month acquitted the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction. In recent weeks, the White House to which Bolton submitted his book for national security vetting has told him it has serious concerns about what it says is classified information in the book. Boltons lawyer has disputed that assessment and asked for the White House to expedite completion of its review. It remains unclear whether publication will go ahead without White House approval. I hope its not suppressed, Bolton said. This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can. Well have to see what comes out of the censorship. I say things in the manuscript about what he said to me, he said. I hope they become public someday. He tweets, but I cant talk about it. How fair is that? Bolton hinted that the book contains revelations on a number of subjects, but he declined to answer a number of specific questions. Asked for his account of Trumps controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the summer of 2018, he said, I could read a chapter from my book and give you an answer. In my view, to pursue the right policies for America, I was willing to put up with a lot, he said. Bolton has denied leaking any of the manuscript and suggested that the revelations came from within the administration. Probably with leaks coming out of the administration, in due course youll know everything thats in the book. He voiced his well-known views about North Korea, saying the administrations effort to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program was going to fail. Despite Trumps claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he would do so, Bolton said there was not a single piece of evidence that the government of North Korea intends to give up nuclear weapons. This idea that they can be coaxed into giving up . . . their nuclear program was flawed from the start, he said. Pyongyang, he said, was jiving the Americans and is getting closer every day to the capability of dropping a nuclear weapon on American cities. On Venezuela, Bolton said the administrations theatrics were not equivalent to support for the removal of the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Bolton said China, which he described as the number one national security issue for the rest of the century, may have known about the coronavirus epidemic weeks and weeks before it was announced. About 1,000 people attended the free event. Outside, a protest drew about two dozen students and faculty members who objected to Boltons hard-line views. After Boltons appearance was announced earlier this month, all available tickets were distributed within minutes. Duke University has its own connection to prior impeachments. Richard M. Nixon, Class of 1937, and former Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Class of 1973, earned their law degrees there. Bolton is also scheduled to speak Wednesday, alongside former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice, at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. The Washington Post SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) plans to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 earnings on February 18, 2020, before the market opens. PG&E Corporation will not be hosting an associated conference call for members of the financial community. About PG&E Corporation PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a holding company headquartered in San Francisco. It is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. Each of PG&E Corporation and the Utility is a separate entity, with distinct creditors and claimants, and is subject to separate laws, rules and regulations. For more information, visit http://www.pgecorp.com. SOURCE PG&E Corporation Related Links http://www.pgecorp.com Boris Johnson and newly-appointed Chancellor Rishi Sunak are set to strip higher earners of their 40 per cent pension tax relief in next month's budget. They will meet for budget talks for the first time tomorrow to flesh out Mr Johnson's pledge to 'level up' the UK economy, as reported by The Times. It was suggested Ministers were preparing a 'mansion tax' and a subsequent re-evaluation of homes, but this was met with consternation by Tory MPs and grassroots activists alike. The Treasury has now drawn up plans for a 10billion raid on pension tax breaks, which would see retirement savings pots set at the same rate for everyone. New Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson are set to meet to to discuss next month's budget Currently higher earners get 40 per cent tax relief on pension contributions, compared with 20 per cent for lower earners. But the proposed changes would mean everyone would get 20 per cent pension tax relief. A report in the Financial Times suggested that previous Chancellor Sajid Javid was not entirely convinced by the plan, which is likely to arouse strong opposition among traditional Tories if introduced in the upcoming Budget. It comes as Mr Javid waded into a Conservative row over the prospect of tax rises in his successor Rishi Sunaks forthcoming Budget. The former Chancellor nailed his colours to the mast by liking a tweet warning that Britain is already overtaxed with the highest tax burden for a generation. His intervention came amid concerns on the Tory benches over hints that Boris Johnson wants next months Budget to mount a tax raid on Middle England. There have been rumours of a squeeze on savings tax relief, a mansion tax or the creation of new council tax bands for expensive homes. Mr Javid, who resigned as chancellor in Thursdays reshuffle rather than fire his team of aides, stepped into the debate via Twitter. Boris Johnson is set to meet with his new Chancellor to discuss plans for the economy He liked a comment made by blogger Paul Staines, also known as Guido Fawkes, that read: Needs constant restating, the tax burden is the highest it has been for a generation. Britain is overtaxed. A source close to Mr Javid said: He is on the record many, many times as being a low-tax Chancellor. Former Cabinet minister John Redwood said that instead of tax rises the Government should be drawing up a list of targeted tax cuts, including stamp duty, to stimulate growth. He said: You cannot tax people into prosperity. You do not make the less well-off rich by taxing entrepreneurs to take fewer risks and run fewer businesses. Mr Sunak, the new Chancellor, is understood to be considering delaying the Budget beyond the currently announced date of March 11. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-18 15:25:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 450 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 18, 2020 / AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB:AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received orders totaling approximately $58,000.The orders consisted of a refurbished ASV track skid steer being shipped to a California construction company and a refurbished Caterpillar forklift to a California nursery. The equipment will ship before the end of the week.AmeraMex CEO Lee Hamre commented, "We are working on a significant number of large opportunities and currently have $20.8 million of RFPs that will be awarded by the end of March. Based on the customers and equipment, we feel confident that we should close at least 50 percent of these opportunities. Of course, in sales it is not an order until the agreement is signed, and a substantial deposit received. We are looking forward to a great first quarter." About AmeraMex InternationalAmeraMex International sells, leases and rents heavy equipment to companies within multiple industries including construction, logistics, mining, and lumber. AmeraMex, with a US and international customer base, has over 30 years of experience in heavy equipment sales and service. Follow AmeraMex on Twitter @ammx_intl and visit the AmeraMex website, www.AMMX.net or www.hamreequipment.com for additional information and equipment videos.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.Investor and Media RelationsMcCloud Communications, LLCMarty Tullio, Managing MemberOffice: 949.632.1900 or Marty@ McCloudCommunications.com SOURCE: AmeraMex International, Inc. CNN Philippines (February 15) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan has welcomed the Philippine governments decision to lift the travel ban on visitors coming to and from the self-governing island, saying diplomacy works. Jaushieh Wu, minister of foreign affairs said in tweet late Thursday, Im glad the Philippines government lifted its travel ban on #Taiwan. Thanks all who helped in the process. #Taiwan & the #Philippines are close neighbors & good friends. Mabuhay! Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, in an Instagram post on Friday, thanked their "friends in the Philippines who spoke up for Taiwan" as she vowed to continue fostering closer ties with one of their closest neighbors. She said that Filipinos who study, visit and work in their state have nothing to worry about so long as they comply with health prevention guidelines on the viral disease officially called the COVID-19, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The Philippines Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced Friday that it is scrapping its order to bar the entry of tourists coming from Taiwan, citing the self-administered states implementation of very strict and excellent protocols in handing travelers. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin said "there was never any sane reason to ban it." The decision came after Manila Economic and Cultural Office chairperson Angelito Banayo reportedly warned on Wednesday that Taiwan might retaliate by cancelling the visa-free privileges of Filipinos visiting Taiwan, among others. On February 10 or a week after the country widened the restrictions for people except those with Philippine passports and Philippine resident visas -- coming into the country. The move was explained as a precaution amid the spread of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 across mainland China. The Philippines' temporary travel ban originally covered tourists coming directly from mainland China, and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau. President Duterte also considers China as one of, if not its most important Asian allies. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo earlier said Taiwan was considered by the World Health Organization as part of China, so it was included in the ban. The Philippines also follows the One China policy in diplomatic relations. But Malacanang said the travel ban on Taiwan has nothing to do with that, allaying concerns that the decision was politically motivated. The body that handles Philippines-Taiwan affairs in the Philippines asserted that Taiwan issues its own passport and visas and has exclusive jurisdiction over its people and territory. Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, part of the Peoples Republic of China, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines said in a statement on Friday as it commended the recent move of the country. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced on Tuesday that it will be the lead arranger for an Islamic financing package of up to $125 million to Humania, a private health care company, to help expand health services and improve medical care in Morocco and Egypt. The announcement came during its participation in the Global Womens Forum 2020 that was held in Dubai this week. IFC will provide Humania with a $35 million Islamic facility for its own account and it will be the lead arranger for the rest of the financing from the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (Finnfund), the OPEC Fund for International Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the IFC's Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP). MCPP is an innovative syndications platform that offers institutional investors the ability to passively participate in IFCs future senior loan portfolio. "Over the coming decade, the countries of the MENA region will be in need to make substantial investments in medical care to keep their fast-growing populations healthy," said IFCs Vice President for the Middle East and Africa Sergio Pimenta. He added that governments won't be able to foot the bill alone, saying that the capital and expertise of the private sector can be used to make sure people in the region get the health care they need. Search Keywords: Short link: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Salmon and steelhead could once again inhabit more than 100 miles of the upper Green River watershed now that the entire Washington congressional delegation has backed restarting a federal project to allow fish to pass the Howard Hanson Dam. The fish-passage project could open even more habitat for chinook and coho salmon and steelhead than the celebrated Elwha Dam removal project, the largest in the world. The Howard Hanson Dam would remain intact but the work would double the amount of spawning habitat available to salmon and steelhead in the watershedand open all of the best of it for the first time in more than a century. All of the state's congressional members, both U.S. senators and the 10 representatives in the House, signed a letter sent to leadership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this month, insisting the agency make salmon passage at the dam a top priority. The project is urgently needed to boost salmon runs to feed the endangered southern resident orca whales that frequent Puget Sound, lawmakers said in their letter. Also signed by the mayor of Tacoma and executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, the letter was a rare bipartisan push for salmon and orca recovery. The Corps got the message: The agency's 2020 workplan issued Feb. 10 includes $3 million to start planning for the project. The planning process is intended to develop a design and budget for the project to be submitted to Congress for funding. The Green is one of the most important salmon rivers in Puget Sound, and a prime chinook producer for southern residents. Lack of regularly available, adequate salmon is a one of several factors driving the orcas to extinction, scientists have found. Getting salmon back into the upper Green has been singled out by salmon advocates as the biggest potential boost for salmon production in Central Puget Soundand therefore could help save the whales. The project also is very important for Tacoma Public Utilities and other local government partners that already have invested more than $400 million in water-system improvements, anticipating additional water supply that would be available at the completion of the project. The Howard Hanson is an earthen dam on the Green River 35 miles southeast of Seattle. Completed in 1962, it is intended to reduce flooding and provide flows for salmon, municipal water supply and ecosystem restoration. The dam has prevented $21 billion in flood damage in the Green River Valley, according to the Corps, which built and operates the dam. The dam was just part of a more than centurylong effort, still underway, to tame floods in the Green-Duwamish watershed, which includes the cities of Tukwila, Renton, Kent and Auburn; the second-largest warehousing district on the West Coast; and industrial development throughout the Duwamish Waterway in Seattle. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, charged with both salmon and orca recovery, ordered in 2019 that fish passage be in place and operational at the Howard Hanson Dam no later than 2030. Present operation of the dam without fish passage jeopardizes the survival of both threatened Puget Sound chinook and endangered southern resident orcas, the agency found. There is no political controversy about providing passage for salmon at the dam. Rather, the problem has been getting the work done on time, and on budget. The Corps began construction in 2003. But work stopped in 2011, when the Corps projected its spending was going to balloon past what Congress had authorized. The Corps spent about $108 million, including a 100-foot-deep excavation. Now that the project has sat idle for so long, a new design and new authorization are needed. The project is complex. Juvenile salmon migrate near the surface of the water columnwhich fluctuates in height as much as 100 feet during the spring migration. Collecting fragile baby fish from such a moving target to get them past the dam is a big design challenge. Chinook, coho and steelhead have been blocked from access to the upper Green since the Tacoma Headworks Diversion Dam first went into operation in 1913 to supply water for Tacoma. The diversion dam is just three miles downstream from the Howard Hanson Dam, and has already been improved with a trap for adult fish passage. Fish captured in the trap will be trucked above the dams to the upper watershed, once passage for juveniles is operational at Howard Hanson. The Corps' Seattle District "is very pleased to be resuming work on this critical fish-passage project in partnership with Tacoma Public Utilities," Jessie Winkler, chief of the Corps' Civil Works Branch in Seattle, said in an email. "This is a tremendous opportunity to provide access to high-quality habitat for ESA (Endangered Species Act) listed Chinook and steelhead and by extension support recovery of southern resident killer whales." The southern residents target chinook headed to rivers over a vast area. In addition to Puget Sound rivers, the top 15 chinook stocks include fall, spring and summer runs in the Fraser River in British Columbia, the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Sacramento River in California's Central Valley. 2020 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CHICOPEE A former police sergeant who lied about his role in sharing photographs of a murder victim will return to the department at a lower rank after winning an appeal of his termination. The state Civil Service Commission voted on Thursday to allow Jeffrey Godere to return to the department effective Nov. 2, 2018, the date he was fired by then-Mayor Richard J. Kos. The commission ruled that he would be demoted to patrolman because of his misconduct and prior disciplinary record. City and Police Department officials have received the decision and are reviewing it with lawyers and exploring options to appeal it in superior court, said Michael Wilk, police public information officer. Mayor John L. Vieau said Monday he did not want to comment before learning more about the decision. This is the second time in his 19-year career as a police officer that Godere has won an appeal with the Civil Service Commission. In 2016 the commission ruled in his favor after he was demoted to patrolman for untruthfulness in a burglary case. In the present case, Godere was one of four officers implicated in sharing unofficial photographs of the victims body and crime scene in the 2011 murder of 20-year-old Amanda Plasse. The scandal rocked the Police Department, exposing multiple problems and a deep rift among officers. There continues to be fallout from the case four years after Dennis Rosa-Roman was found guilty in her death and sentenced to life in prison. The Civil Service Commission ruling identifies the other implicated officers only by their initials, but their names have been widely publicized in the past. Sgt. Keith Lemay and Officer Terry Dec each snapped photographs of the bloody scene in a third-floor apartment at 73 School St. with their cellphones. Dec passed the photograph onto nine fellow police officers, the ruling said. Lemay later showed Godere the photograph he had taken while explaining the importance of not contaminating a crime scene, and then sent the photo to him at this request. Godere passed it onto Officer Chad Levesque, who later showed it to parents at a youth sporting event in Agawam, the ruling said. About two months later, then-Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni learned of the photo sharing and aired concerns to then-Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette. He was deeply troubled by the allegations for many reasons, including the fact that pictures taken by first responders would be significant in any criminal prosecution related to the case, the ruling said. Police Chief William Jebb, who was then the deputy chief and in charge of internal affairs, conducted a four-month investigation. Godere was charged with incompetence and then-Chief John Ferraro issued Godere a written warning as discipline. Mastroianni reviewed the investigation, and in a message to Bissonnette said he was deeply concerned about the officers behavior and their reluctance to be truthful with Jebb. Citing a federal court decision in a case called Brady vs. Maryland, Mastroianni said he felt he would have to disclose information about the case any time Godere or the other officers testified in court. They subjected the victim and the family of the victim to a great indignity, Mastroianni said in a written statement that appears in the Civil Service Commission ruling. Turning to the officers behavior during the internal affairs investigation, there is evidence of more than one officers reluctance to be candid about his activities ... and a prolonged effort to hide the truth by misleading or false statements. In the ensuing years, Mastroianni became a federal judge, Kos was elected mayor, and Ferraro retired and was replaced, first by Tom Charette and then by Jebb. During the changes, the information about the Brady ruling was not passed on, even to Godere, the ruling said. While investigating another matter in 2017, Jebb learned of the Brady ruling and notified Kos. He also reassigned Godere to the traffic bureau, where he likely would not be called to testify in criminal matters, the ruling said. The information prompted Kos to conduct a new disciplinary hearing, and in 2018 he fired Godere, the ruling said. The requirement and expectation for police officers to be truthful is the (linchpin) of every police officers credibility and reliability. ... You were untruthful and impeded this investigation, Kos wrote in Goderes termination letter. In the appeal, Commission Chairman Christopher Bowman wrote that the amount of time that has passed since the photos were shared in 2011 made the case difficult to decide. But said he believed Godere lied during Jebbs investigation in 2012. I have found, however, that Sgt. Godere was untruthful in his Jan. 27, 2012 written reply to Jebb when he wrote that he could not recall who sent him the photograph or to whom he sent it, Bowman wrote. Jebb did not believe that. Judge Mastroianni did not believe that. Mayor Kos did not believe that. Neither do I. Rather the more plausible explanation is that Sgt. Godere, rather than assisting Jebb in his critical investigation, chose to be untruthful in an effort to avoid implicating another officer, he said. Eventually Godere did tell Jebb that Lemay sent him the photograph, the report said. But Bowman said there were flaws in the firing of Godere. The city was aware that Godere lied in 2012 but decided against charging him with untruthfulness. Bowman also argued Godere was not told of the Brady decision for six years and was treated differently than the other officers involved with the case. Levesque resigned in 2018 when faced with a similar disciplinary hearing. Dec currently works as a detective in the narcotics bureau. He also was not initially forthcoming about the nine people who he sent the photographs to, and lied when he said he sent it by a group text instead of individually, according to Bowman. Another officer, who has not been named publicly in the case, was promoted to provisional sergeant even though he was not forthcoming in telling Jebb who sent him the photo, Bowman said. A picture of Kriti Sanon has gone viral on the internet. In the photograph, Kriti has a big belly, leading people to believe that she is pregnant! But Kriti was actually in the middle of a film shoot when the picture was taken and later leaked. Kriti has been shooting for her next film Mimi, in which she plays a surrogate mother. The film is being directed by Laxman Utekar, who also directed her in Luka Chuppi. It looks like the film has gotten to the stage where Kriti has to shoot in a full blown pregnancy avatar as the photo doing rounds on the internet suggests. Spotboye reported the photo which was shared by a Twitter fan page of Kriti Sanon. In the photo, Kriti can be seen sitting on some stairs, dressed in casual ethnic wear, and caressing her belly. She seems to be shooting an outdoor schedule. Exclusive- @kritisanon from the sets of Mimi ! RT if you can't wait to watch her play yet another fabulous role onscreen. #Mimi #KritiSanon pic.twitter.com/1tmshujj3U Kriti Snon's ca (@KritiSanonCafe) February 18, 2020 It is reported that Kriti had to gain over 15 kilograms to play this part. Some time back, Kriti had stated that she is in a good place to take risks and push boundaries with the kind of films she does. This is Kriti's first female-centric film and so she is very excited to be a part of it. The story of Mimi is about a young girl who wants to be an actor. She ends up being a surrogate for a couple, which changes her as a person. Mimi is a remake of the Marathi National Award winning film Mala Aai Vhhaychy! It will co-star Pankaj Tripathi, Supriya Pathak, Manoj Pahwa and Sai Tamhankar. It is being produced under the banner of Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films. The film is scheduled for release on July 17, 2020. ALSO READ: Kriti Sanon Is Excited About Her First Female-Centric Film Mimi; Says She's Ready To Push Boundaries ALSO READ: Kriti Sanon Doesn't Believe She Is Being Overexposed; 'An Actor Is Meant To Perform' She Says Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon is certainly not afraid to show her wild side on the series. And the 32-year-old proved she is just as free-spirited off-screen when she went completely topless at a Sydney beach recently. The brunette was seen happily removing her skimpy white bikini top as she walked across the rocks to the ocean for a dip. Old habits? Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon, 32, went completely TOPLESS at a Sydney beach recently The topless waitress-turned-finance broker was in her element as she strolled sans top along the sandy shoreline. The reality star had her flat stomach and toned thighs on full display in her pair of white bikini bottoms. At one point, Hayley brushed her luscious brunette locks to one side, allowing them cascade past her shoulders. Cooling off: The brunette was seen happily removing her skimpy white bikini top as she walked across the rocks to the ocean for a dip Hayley previously admitted to having a $4000 Bangkok boob job. Speaking to KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show , she revealed she travelled to Thailand for affordability. 'I'm a girl from the 'burbs. I spent $4,000 on my boobs. Went to Thailand,' she said, beaming with pride. Looking good! The reality star had her flat stomach and toned thighs on full display in her pair of white bikini bottoms 'I've spent nothing! A hundred per cent.' In addition to her breast implants, Hayley's intricate tattoos are believed to cost upwards of $10,000. Hayley previously admitted that she worked as a topless waitress and said she wasn't ashamed of her past. Luscious locks At one point, Hayley brushed her luscious brunette locks to one side, allowing them cascade past her shoulders Speaking to Daily Mail Australia this week, she confirmed her risque career and explained how she worked under the alias, Lee. A source told Daily Mail Australia that Hayley isn't shy about her past, adding: 'It's no secret to her friends and she never tried to hide it.' 'She made great money, had fun and never did anything that made her feel uncomfortable,' added the source. Nice for a dip? Hayley showed off her slender back, which is also heavily tattooed Changes: Hayley previously admitted to having a $4000 Bangkok boob job. Speaking to KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show , she revealed she travelled to Thailand for affordability Spoiler! The boisterous brunette continues to make shockwaves on Married At First Sight, recently letting it slip that she and 'husband' David Cannon will split Daily Mail Australia understands that Hayley gave up her work as a topless waitress around 2018, after landing a lucrative job as a finance broker. The boisterous brunette continues to make shockwaves on Married At First Sight, recently letting it slip that she and 'husband' David Cannon will split. Speaking to Nova's Fitzy and Wippa on Monday, she explained that their relationship gets better before things go south. Less is more: Hayley looked every inch the glamazon in the tiny string bikini Oh my: Hayley appeared not bothered by the waves as she strolled along the shoreline Set to sizzle: Hayley found a spot to place her towel down on the rocks Hayley blamed David's devout Christian parents, Michelle and Kelvin, for contributing to their relationship breakdown. 'I honestly reckon [my past] wasn't on his mind that much but it was on his parents' mind and they got into his ear... and that's been eating him up inside,' she said. Hayley had hoped that David, 31, would look past his parents' opinions, but unfortunately this didn't happen. When the ever-provocative protest artist put online sexual images and messages sent to a woman by former Macron aide Benjamin Griveaux, thus driving him from the race for mayor of Paris, Pavlensky was violating Frances revenge-porn law, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison and a 60,000 fine. Pavlensky, who is in France on political asylum from his native Russia, and his girlfriend (the alleged recipient of Griveauxs sexts) are being held by police. Deutsche Welle Choi Jae-dong, director of satellite program at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), speaks with a joint press corps at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, Monday (local time), a day ahead of launching the world's first geostationary environmental monitoring satellite. / Joint Press Corps By Baek Byung-yeul, Joint Press Corps Seen is a carrier rocket Ariane-5, which will carry the Chollian-2B satellite, is stationed to be launched at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, Monday (local time). / Joint Press Corps STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD detective who died of an apparent suicide in Queens on Monday helped a first responder to get his 9/11 benefits, according to an NBC report. Det. Paul Federico, 53, helped Michael Dorian, a responder who had answered the call during the terrorist attacks at Ground Zero in 2001, to get his 9/11 benefits, NBC reported. Dorian was suffering from a 9/11-related illness and Federico was able to find an interview he did with NBC New York to prove Dorian was in fact at the site, according to the report. Federicos body was found in his mothers 79th Street home in Queens at around 12:25 p.m. after he died in an apparent suicide. Today, we tragically lost another member of the NYPD family, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea wrote on Twitter. PLEASE If you or ANYONE you know is Going through something, help is available. Today, we tragically lost another member of the NYPD family. PLEASEIf you or ANYONE you know is Going through something, help is available. Text BLUE to 741741, youll be connected to someone. Its FREE & CONFIDENTIAL - 24/7 pic.twitter.com/MlKv0WAF5M Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) February 17, 2020 Mayor Bill de Blasio also offered his condolences to Federicos family. Please keep the family of this good man as well as his brothers and sisters in the NYPD in your thoughts tonight, de Blasio said. To our NYPD officers: If you need someone to talk to, please reach out. Free, confidential help is standing by. The veteran detective is the first active officer to die of a suicide in 2020. A retired 78-year-old NYPD officer shot himself inside of his Graniteville home Jan. 2, the Advance previously reported. In 2019 the NYPD witnessed a tragic trend of 10 suicides that former Police Commissioner James P. ONeill defined as a mental health crisis. Three of those officers were from Staten Island. Michael Caddy, 29, an officer in the 121st Precinct, died on June 14. Sgt. Terrance McAvoy died on July 18. Edward Rosa, a retired transit cop, took his own life near the Eltingville Transit Center in September. In 2019 the NYPDs internal policies regarding officers suffering from mental illness were called into question. The impact of the new sanctions may make it more difficult for Rosneft Trading and Venezuelas state oil giant, PDVSA, to move oil. But the Russians have already been taking steps to address that possibility. Previously, for instance, Rosneft Trading was one entity that long shipped Russian oil to the United States. But in December, it was not listed as the trader of any of the 17.2 million barrels of Russian oil and oil products shipped here. Boris Johnson has spoken to President Xi Jinping for the first time since his father met with Chinas ambassador to the UK, Number 10 Downing Street has confirmed. Stanley Johnson, the British Prime Ministers father, discussed environmental issues with Liu Xiaoming two weeks ago in an unofficial capacity. Following his visit, he had warned that Chinese officials were concerned that Mr Johnson did not send a personal message of support to the countrys leaders after the coronavirus outbreak. News of Stanley Johnsons visit emerged after he sent an email to environment minister Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and other officials, but mistakenly included the BBC in the email chain. In a call with Chinese President Xi on Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister gave his sympathy over the outbreak, whilst outlining the importance of the relationship between the UK and China. Chinas president also told Mr Johnson that he was thankful to the UK for its donation of medical equipment to battle the virus. This morning I spoke to Chinese President Xi to express my sympathy and support for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The UK government has donated vital medical equipment to the region and we will continue to offer our assistance. (1/2) Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 18, 2020 We also agreed on the need to work together to tackle climate change, and resolved to strengthen our economic partnership. (2/2) Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 18, 2020 A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi of China this morning. He offered his sympathies for those affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. President Xi thanked the UK for its support and in particular welcomed the donation of vital medical equipment to China. The Prime Minister and president agreed on the importance of the UK-China relationship and resolved to work together across a range of issues including strengthening the economic partnership, to benefit the people of both China and the UK. Ahead of COP26 in Glasgow and the Convention on Biological Diversity Summit in China, the two leaders resolved to work closely together on the issue of climate change. They agreed that biodiversity and climate change are two sides of the same coin and must be addressed in tandem if were to protect the planet for future generations. The initial public offer (IPO) of SBI Cards and Payment Services, the credit card unit of the country's largest lender SBI, is likely to be launched in the first week of March. The firm plans to open its anchor book for institutional investors around February end, according to media reports. Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) granted in-principal approval to the IPO of SBI Cards and Payment Services last week. SBI Cards and Payment Services is backed by State Bank of India and private equity firm Carlyle Group. As part of the IPO process, Carlyle Group, and State Bank of India (SBI) will make partial exit from SBI Cards and Payment Services. Also read: Top 11 IPOs to watch out for in 2020: LIC, Burger King, UTI AMC, NSE & more SBI owns 74% in its credit card unit and Carlyle Group, which holds 26% through its subsidiary CA Rover Holdings, will jointly sell 130.5 million shares. SBI and Carlyle will pare their stakes by 4% and 10% respectively. The credit card unit of the country's largest lender SBI plans to raise Rs 9,600 crore through the public issue. Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, SBI Capital Markets, DSP Merrill Lynch, Axis Capital, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets, and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities are the book-running lead managers to the issue. SBI Cards may be valued at Rs 60,000 crore, implying valuations of 41 times FY20 annualised earnings per share compared to 9-18 times of global peers, according to market experts. Earlier this month, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar had said that the SBI Cards IPO would be launched during the current quarter. Also read: NSE to launch IPO by September this year, says MD and CEO Vikram Limaye SBI Cards and Payment Services has 18 per cent market share next to HDFC Cards that holds 27 per cent market share. The company had 9.4 million outstanding cards as of the end of September. According to the draft prospectus, the company expects the number of credit cards to increase at an annual rate of 25 per cent per year. By Aseem Thapliyal The centers medical professionals are well prepared to deal with any national health or medical emergency. As such we stand ready to assist and treat our citizens in a professional manner. Working in conjunction with Israels Minister of Health, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman and Moshe Bar Siman Tov, Dir. General of the Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer will host those Israeli citizens who had been confined to the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan during the past few weeks, whove not exhibited coronavirus symptoms. They will be flown back to Israel on a special flight and sent to Sheba Medical Center, where they will be fully examined and treated by a specially trained medical staff. The Israelis will be quarantined for up to two weeks in comfortable quarters on the Sheba campus away from the main hospital complex, allowing for the medical center to function in a normal manner. We are working closely with the Japanese government, the Foreign Ministry and emergency services to safely bring home the Israeli citizens. We are also working to ensure the safety of all Israeli citizens as well. We have instructed Sheba how to deal with the challenging logistics involved, said Rabbi Litzman. Mr. Bar Siman Tov added, Treatment for our citizens on the ship is a medical challenge for everyone involved and Sheba is prepared for this process. Clal Insurance, Migdal, Harel and Passport Card have assisted us in securing the plane that will bring them home. MDA and other emergency services will be ready at Ben Gurion Airport to transport them to Sheba. We are determined to ensure the safety of all Israeli citizens. Prof. Elhanan Bar-On, the Director of Shebas Center for Emergency Medicine said, The centers medical professionals are well prepared to deal with any national health or medical emergency. As such we stand ready to assist and treat our citizens in a professional manner. About Sheba Medical Center Born together with Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. In 2019, Newsweek magazine named Sheba one of the top ten hospitals in the world. For more information, visit: eng.sheba.co.il Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is on an official visit to Copenhagen, today met with Speaker of the Parliament of Denmark Henrik Dam Kristensen (Social-Democratic Party), as reported the news service of the National Assembly of Armenia. Among the attendees were First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Karen Elleman (Liberal Party) and Deputy Speaker Jens Roden (Social-Liberal Party of Denmark). At the request of the Danish party, Ararat Mirzoyan talked about the path that Armenia has taken since its declaration of independence and the changes that have taken place after the Velvet Revolution and the snap parliamentary elections in 2018 and touched upon the changes in the judicial and legal sector. Ararat Mirzoyan particularly emphasized that this is the first official visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia to Denmark and voiced hope that the visit will create new opportunities for the two legislatures to exchange experience and work closely within international parliamentary organizations. Ararat Mirzoyan also expressed his words of gratitude for officially informing the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe about ratification of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and completion of the national procedures on the part of the Parliament of Denmark and voiced hope that Denmark will help the Armenian authorities launch the visa liberalization dialogue with the EU. At the request of the Danish parliamentary speaker, Ararat Mirzoyan presented the items on Armenias interior political agenda, including the referendum for constitutional amendments set for April 5th and the processes unfolding in the Constitutional Court. The parties also touched upon a broad range of issues related to regional security, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The members of the delegation led by the Armenian parliamentary speaker presented the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenias approaches to an exclusively peaceful resolution of the conflict within the scope of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. SYRACUSE, N.Y. Two couples have returned to the United States after they were quarantined on a cruise ship to be monitored for coronavirus. Cheryl and Paul Molesky, of Syracuse, and Cindy and Pete Molesky, of Rome, were evacuated from the Diamond Princes Cruise ship after passengers started testing positive for the virus. The four opted to fly back to the United States, where they would re-enter quarantine for another two weeks. Cindy and Pete are at an Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, while they are being monitored. We just got here this morning -- early, early this morning -- and well be here for another two weeks until were cleared to go back home, said Cindy. The couple was already quarantined for two weeks while on the cruise ship. The top floor of the Charleston-Riverview Holiday Inn was packed on a Tuesday night with researchers and local Charleston residents, all talking about the 2019 novel coronavirus. Residents asked questions to get a better understanding of the epidemic, and researchers attempted to translate a complicated topic into something everyone could understand. "I've been getting on Facebook, it's all myths ... so I just wanted to get the facts," said Langhorne Howard, a Charleston resident who saw a notice about the public event. This program was a part the Medical University of South Carolina's ongoing Science Cafe Series, a monthly gathering that is geared toward connecting the Lowcountry's general public to experts at MUSC. This month, the series invited Dr. Robert Ball, a researcher and certified infectious disease specialist, to provide a presentation further detailing what residents should know about the coronavirus. Since the virus appeared in the city of Wuhan, China, in December, there have been more than 45,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 1,000 deaths globally as a result of the virus, according to the World Health Organization. Most of the cases and deaths have been in China. There are currently more than 10 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. in Washington, Arizona, California, Wisconsin, Illinois and Massachusetts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects that more cases of the virus will appear in the coming days, which is part of the reason why Ball was asked to present on the virus. "This is a physician of the community," said Loretta Lynch-Reichert, a director of research communications at MUSC. "That's kind of what the Science Cafe is all about." How it got started The series started five years ago when Lynch-Reichert and colleague Tara Pittman, a recruitment manager at South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute, decided they wanted to bridge the connection between the public and the researchers they work with. We thought they should know whats in their backyard," Lynch-Reichert said. So Tara and I put our heads together. They said the series was modeled after the work the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine does with surrounding its Balitmore, Md., community. Their goal is to make a South Carolina equivalent with MUSC. Since the Science Cafe's creation, the two have organized dozens of presentations that range from fatty liver disease to marijuana. They were initially hosting the series out of a small restaurant on the MUSC campus. Now, they've expanded to the Harborview Restaurant & Lounge. We talk about everything from cancer to stroke to diabetes to crazy things like the microbiome," Lynch-Reichert said. Pittman works with researchers everyday who are trying to overcome obstacles, she said. The Science Cafe has been an opportunity for them to see why they do all the work that they do. "They seem to really light up," Pittman said. So I love that. Next Science Cafes The MUSC Science Cafes are hosted at the Holiday Inn Riverview Hotel restaurant at 5:30 p.m. The upcoming Science Cafe events include: March 17: Glaucoma, Craig Crosson, Ph.D. April 21: Spinal Cord injuries, James Krause, Ph.D. May 12: Cystic Fibrosis, Dr. Patrick Flume What separates them from Johns Hopkins, they said, is that South Carolina has a lot more rural communities. So the health care conversation is different. But Pittman noted that's also why the Science Cafe is needed. Through the sessions, residents get a better understanding of the type of research that is going on at MUSC, she said. For those individuals who have participated in past research studies, she said they sometimes get to see the end results of those studies by attending the programs. They also become more informed individuals with more awareness about health needs. For example, Pittman said she remembers when they had a program on obesity and the importance of making good food choices. People who attended the conversation pointed out that some communities in the state don't even have access to a supermarket. It makes them stronger community members, it makes our state healthier," Pittman said. Learning about coronavirus At the most recent program this month, Dr. Ball gave attendees a full and brief breakdown of the coronavirus. One of the first things he did was reassure the public that South Carolina hasn't reached a point where there needs to be a panic. "You don't need to go around wearing masks ... unless you're in China," he said. But he wanted to make sure people at least kept up with what's going on with the virus to avoid misinformation. He also wanted to remind them that the flu is still a very real threat. According to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, there have been nearly 70 flu-related deaths in South Carolina and nearly 4,000 confirmed cases of the virus this flu season. And though the symptoms of the flu and the coronavirus are similar, not everyone who presents the symptoms automatically gets tested for the coronavirus. He said it is typically those individuals who have recently traveled to China. When further questioned about coronavirus symptoms, Ball said that once a person has their first symptom appear, they are definitely infectious. "And you're infectious for days," he said. With the flu, he said a person is infectious the day before symptoms appear. With the coronavirus, he said, that has not been officially determined. Ball then took time to detail why the coronavirus is a huge global concern, even though there is not the need for immediate alarm in South Carolina. Some officials are still referring to the coronavirus outbreak as an epidemic. Ball believes it has gone beyond an epidemic level. He said some experts compared it to trying to stop the flu from going around the world. The virus is not contained and is spreading pretty rapidly, he said. "We are just a few weeks into what is a global pandemic," he said. "We're early in this." Ball even took time to address the anti-Chinese sentiments that have emerged since the outbreak was announced to further inform guests. Lynch-Reichert said she and Pittman hope to one day expand the program throughout the entire state. Right now, they are limited to the Charleston area. But she knows there are people who are yearning for a program like this. "I love learning about science and what they're doing," said Bob Richards, a Summerville resident and a regular attendee of the Science Cafe. "I find it very interesting." They come because they have a thirst for knowledge. ... We just want to reach more people," Lynch-Reichert said. Glamour magazine has released 11 covers for its February digital issue showing the changing faces of beauty, including a model with a monobrow and a woman who grew a full beard aged 16. All the models on the cover of the magazine's 'Self Love' issue for February styled themselves, in the way the wanted to be perceived, and spoke to the magazine about what beauty means to them. Acid attack victim and activist Katie Piper, was among the faces photographed as well as up-and-coming model Jeyza Gary from North Carolina, who has a rare condition that makes her skin shed every two weeks. Meanwhile, body image activist and writer Stephanie Yeboah from London revealed the prejudices she encounters as a black, plus-size woman. Here, Femail looks at five of the 11 cover stars. Harnaam Kaur: The youngest ever woman with a beard Now 29, Harnaam Kaur first gained fame at age 16 when she became a body image activist after deciding not to shave her beard, which grew as a result of polycystic ovaries syndrome Glamour's Self Love issue's 11 cover stars in full Sophia Hadjipanteli Munroe Bergdorf Harnaam Kaur Chidera Eggerue Stephanie Yeboah Jeyza Gary Katie Piper Michelle Elman Amber Jean Rowan Nabela Noor Hani Sidow Advertisement Now 29, Harnaam Kaur first gained fame at age 16 when she became a body image activist after deciding not to shave her beard, which grew as a result of polycystic ovaries syndrome. Glamour describes the Slough-born model as 'one individual who has completely flipped beauty standards on their head. The covergirl has also appeared in Porter magazine, and starred in a Channel 5's documentary and has done an empowering TEDx Talk about embracing beauty. She told the magazine: 'All that I am doing is living my life authentically, truthfully and wholeheartedly as I see fit. We live in a society that follows and copies and what I am doing is going against the notion of what the norm is, and being true to myself by accepting who I am and what I look like. 'My beard is a part of me just like an arm or a leg, it does not define me. The message that I preach of living life as a badass and valuing self acceptance is what is important. Create your own damn rules. I do embrace my body, beard and all. I am in love with me. Jeyza Gary: Model with rare 'skin shedding condition'. Jeyza Gary from Fayetteville in North Carolina, was born with a rare skin disorder called lamellar ichthyosis, which causes her skin to shed every two weeks. But the 21-year-old doesn't let it define her. She's become the first ichthyosis model and has posed for Vogue Italia as well as recently landing a campaign with Target Swimwear. She told Glamour: 'You will not catch me apologising for the way I was born. I love the body I was gifted and I try to embody that in everything I do. 'The biggest challenge I face is owning my confidence. We all know that we have days where we feel so beautiful it can't be denied. On the contrary, we have days where we just can't pull our outfit together or our hair refuses to be tamed. This makes confidence a slippery slope. 'Perception is reality, so, I might think I am confident and fearless, but other people might view my confidence as conceit or haughtiness.' Jeyza Gary from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was born with a rare skin disorder called lamellar ichthyosis, which causes her skin to shed every two weeks Sophia Hadjipanteli, model turning heads with her monobrow Glamour describes 23-year-old Sophia Hadjipanteli's eyebrows as the 'most talked about in the world'. The model, who grew up between the UK and US, is largely recognised for her black monobrow, which has shook up conversation since she started the #unibrowmovement in 2017. She said: 'From a young age, most people are taught to get rid of their body hair. People grow up with the mentality that a few extra hairs on our eyebrows are something to be ashamed of. I am so honoured that my #UnibrowMovement has encouraged people of all ages from all over the world, to view eyebrows and body hair differently. 'My black unibrow and light blonde hair is not a combination for everyone, but it is definitely for me. It always has been and always will be. I am extremely proud to be who I am in a society where we are constantly pressured to be what everyone else wants. Glamour describes 23-year-old Sophia Hadjipanteli's eyebrows as the 'most talked about in the world'. The model is largely recognised for her black monobrow, which has shook up conversation since she started the #unibrowmovement in 2017 Stephanie Yeboah: Plus-sized model, and Author of Fattily Ever After: The Fat, Black Girls' Guide to Living Life Unapologetically Author and activist Stephanie Yeboah, 30, is one of the most prominent voices of the body-confidence movement. She starterd her popular blog popular, Nerd About Town, in 2008 and this has lead to a book deal, with her debut Fattily Ever After: The Fat, Black Girls' Guide to Living Life Unapologetically set for release this year. The plus-sized model from London told Glamour that just 'existing in her body' is a political statement. 'Living within a couple of intersections, such as being a larger plus-sized, darker-skinned black woman with an Afro, means that I've had to live with a variety of different tropes and stereotypes being forced upon me by society. 'And by me defying those stereotypes and ideologies put upon bigger/darker women (such as being "lazy", "aggressive", "unattractive", "sexy", "dominant"', "dirty" and "ugly"), I see that as me challenging what the traditional concept of beauty should look like. She added that she faces unsolicited opinions about her health and that people telling her she's going to die when shes's 40 which is 'the hardest thing to process'. Author and activist Stephanie Yeboah, 30, has become one of the most prominent voices of the body-confidence movement since she started her blog, Nerd About Town in 2008. Katie Piper: Acid attack survivor and activist Perhaps the most famous face of Glamour's 11 cover stars is Katie Piper, who was thrust into the public eye in 2008, when as a young model she was attacked with acid by her ex-boyfriend. She was left in a coma, and struggled with her new image so much she contemplated suicide, but she's managed to use her new platform to turn around her traumatic experience and help others. Just a year after her attack, she opened the Katie Piper Foundation for burns survivors. Perhaps the most famous face in Glamour's 11 covers, Katie Piper was thrust into the public eye in 2008, when as a young model she was attacked with acid by her ex-boyfriend. Now 36, and a mother-of-two, Katie is also a best-selling author and has made documentaries to raise awareness for the victims of attacks. She's even competed in Britain's biggest show - Strictly Come Dancing - and says that beauty is not defined by what's on the outside. Katie told Glamour: 'I find qualities such as confidence, kindness and compassion beautiful. You're also never going to please everyone you can be the juiciest peach in the bowl, but you're always going to find someone who doesn't like peaches.' Mending Healthcare 2020, the independent survey commissioned by Wolters Kluwer, found that 98% of consumers agree that there are variations in care across locations, health systems and even among departments in the same hospital. To extend high quality healthcare to everyone, everywhere, innovation in healthcare delivery is of vital importance and a key theme at #HIMSS20. At this year's conference, experts from Wolters Kluwer will be guiding this discussion, providing key insight into how healthcare leaders can drive more consistent outcomes across the continuum of care. HIMSS20 takes place March 9-13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Tools for Tomorrow's Population Health On Monday, March 9 at 11 a.m. EST, Wolters Kluwer customer, Vanessa Guzman, who is Associate Vice President, Quality Network Management at Montefiore Health System, will join a panel at the HIMSS Nordic Education Program: "Turning Data into Insights." Along with panelists from Sweden and Estonia, Guzman will discuss new models and technology to build a "Population Heath Management Toolbox for the Future." The panel will take place in Room 331A. Scaling Patient Action using Behavioral Design On Wednesday, March 11 at 3:45 p.m. EST, Shara Cohen, JD, Vice President of Customer Experience for Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer, Health, will present "Behavioral Design: Influencing Patient Action" The session will explore how to drive patient action by influencing behavior outside clinical settings. Cohen will share how to effectively communicate with patients to help them take specific actions that will lead to positive outcomes. The event will be held in Hall A, Booth 480. Activating Health Consumers for More Effective Value-Based Care On Thursday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. EST, Shara Cohen will be joined by Vanessa Guzman of Montefiore, to present "AI-Supported Population Health's Impact on Value-Based Care." Cohen and Guzman will describe the strategy used by Montefiore Health System to implement value-based models and demonstrate the organization's use of consumer engagement technology tools that leverage artificial intelligence, clinical claims and social/behavioral data, to engage patients in care and enable care coordination/management. The event will be held in Room W308A. The Year of the Nurse: Ready for the Nurse of the Future? Wolters Kluwer will also be sponsoring "The Year of the Nurse: Honoring the Past, Enabling the Future," a HIMSS symposium on Monday, March 9. The event will offer six sessions, exploring the intersection of the changing profession of nursing with social determinants of health (SDOH), health information and technology (watch the related video, "Care Without Judgement"). In addition, poster sessions highlighting the impact of nursing informatics from a variety of scientific, practical and topic-oriented methodologies will be available for the duration of the event, which will be held in Room W311B. While at HIMSS, please visit Wolters Kluwer in Booth #3159 to learn about our expert solutions and how they reduce variability to drive down costs and improve care through: Clinical Effectiveness: UpToDate, Lexicomp, Medi-Span, Emmi Patient Engagement, Lippincott Nursing Solutions UpToDate, Lexicomp, Medi-Span, Emmi Patient Engagement, Lippincott Nursing Solutions Learning Research: Ovid, Audio Digest, Lippincott Professional Development Ovid, Audio Digest, Lippincott Professional Development Enterprise-wide Surveillance Clinical Compliance: Sentri7, POC Advisor, SoleSource, Simplifi797 Sentri7, POC Advisor, SoleSource, Simplifi797 Interoperability Data Solutions: Health Language, Clinical Natural Language Processing, Reference Data Management Learn more here: healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com/himss About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global provider of professional information, software solutions, and services for physicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, tax specialists, and finance, audit, compliance, and regulatory sectors. The company provides expert solutions a combination of deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services that help professionals navigate change, solve complex problems, and deliver impact in their respective fields. Headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, Wolters Kluwer holds market-leading positions in 40 countries globally, represents customers across 180 countries and employs 18,600 people worldwide. In 2018, it reported annual revenues of 4.3 billion. Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200218005786/en/ Contacts: Media Andre Rebelo Public Relations Manager Wolters Kluwer Health +1 781.392.2411 andre.rebelo@wolterskluwer.com Digital rights activists slam filing of case under anti-terror laws saying it is a step to criminalise everyone. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have filed a police case against social media users under anti-terror laws for defying a social media ban using proxy servers. The move has triggered panic among the people of Kashmir, which has been under a security and communication lockdown since August 5, when the Muslim-majority region was stripped of its limited autonomy. A first information report (FIR or police complaint) has been filed against unnamed users under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). A person booked under the UAPA can be jailed for months without bail. The police said the action came against those who misused social media sites for propagating secessionist ideology and promoting unlawful activities. Taking a serious note of misuse of social media, there have been continuous reports of misuse of social media sites by the miscreants to propagate the secessionist ideology and to promote unlawful activities, read a statement issued by the regions police, which directly comes under Indias interior affairs ministry. Authorities restored low-speed 2G internet on January 24 six months after the internet was cut off from the region but the ban on social media continued. Kashmiris have been using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access blacklisted sites, particularly social media. Many users had started posting updates on Twitter and Facebook, but the open FIR has now created a panic among many of them. I did not use the social media to post any political update but I am really panicked and have now deleted the VPN and deactivated my social media accounts. It means they can now arrest anyone now, said 25-year-old university student Sehba Mir. Some users also alleged that their phones are being checked by the security forces at the checkpoints to delete the proxy servers from their phones. I was stopped outside a tertiary care hospital in Srinagar two days ago. The soldiers checked my phone and deleted VPN from it, a management student in his early twenties, who did not want to be named, told Al Jazeera. An official of a private telecom company told Al Jazeera that the operators have been asked by the authorities to install the firewalls and block the blacklisted sites and VPNs. It has become difficult to control it completely, the official said on condition of anonymity. Kashmir, which is the longest pending dispute between India and Pakistan, has been on an edge for the past six months after India revoked Article 370 that gave the region special status. Under the government crackdown, strict communication and military curbs were imposed in the region to prevent protests. While the restrictions have gradually been eased, there continues to be a blanket ban on the use of social media sites. A senior police official told Al Jazeera that they are examining various accounts and screenshot after which action will be initiated. Anyone found using social media and posting any anti-national material can be called for questioning, the official said, adding that the action is aimed to find the characters spreading the rumours and take action against them through proper legal procedure. Fearful and panicky The FIRs have been registered under the UAPA and Section 66-A (b) of the Indian Information Technology (IT) Act misleading people with electronic communication but the experts have termed it illegal saying the section was struck down by Indias top court in March 2015 as it violated free speech. Geeta Seesu, a Mumbai-based co-founder of FreeSpeech Collective, an advocacy group that works for promoting free speech in India, termed the FIR as a sweeping generalisation to intimidate and criminalise everyone. Applying UAPA is an attempt to make people none of whom are named and identified fearful and panicky, Seesu said. The Internet Freedom Foundation, an organisation based in India that advocates for digital rights and net neutrality, has also criticised the filing of the FIRs. Srinivas Kodali, an independent researcher based in Hyderabad who studies data and internet in India, termed the move as unconstitutional. This is a clear violation of digital rights of people. Today it is being implemented in Kashmir and tomorrow it can become a general practice in India, he told Al Jazeera. The court granted custody to the police after Imam was interrogated in the court for half-an-hour. New Delhi: A Delhi court sent Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charge last month, to one-day custody of Delhi Police on Monday in a separate case related to violent protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at New Friends Colony on December 15. Chief metropolitan magistrate Gurmohina Kaur gave the order after the police said that they want to quiz Imam after an accused in the December 15 violence case, Furkan, has alleged in his disclosure statement that he was provoked by Imams speeches. Imam has not been booked in this case. The court granted custody to the police after Imam was interrogated in the court for half-an-hour. It said that Imams custodial interrogation was necessary for proper investigation in the case. The police had earlier told the court that Furkan was arrested on the basis of a CCTV footage, which showed him carrying a container allegedly containing petrol. In its remand application, the police said that on December 15 last year, a large gathering assembled near Escort hospital at New Friends Colony to protests against the newly amended law. Gathering was warned by the police to not take law in their hands but they kept raising anti-CAA slogans. The unruly mob armed with sticks started targeting the public and broke vehicles. On the identification of accused Furkan was arrested in the case, who disclosed he was provoked by the speeches given by accused Sharjeel (Imam), it said. The police sought permission from the court to interrogate Imam and arrest him for further investigation. It said they need to interrogate him to identify the place where he gave the alleged provocative speeches and collect evidence regarding a larger conspiracy here. Four people were arrested in the case on December 16 and sent to judicial custody. Furkan was arrested later. Imam, who came into the limelight during the ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh here against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens, was arrested from Bihars Jehanabad on January 28 in a separate case for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. A case had been registered against him on sedition and other charges on January 26 in this regard. Protestors had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during the demonstration against the CAA on December 15, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and fire fighters injured. The police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent mob. They entered the Jamia university campus, saying that rioters had taken shelter there. However, the Jamia students had denied that they were involved in the violence and had alleged police brutality. The public inquiry into the impact of Northern Ireland's biggest road project has opened. The A5 Western Transport Corridor, which was first proposed in 2007, involves 53 miles of new trunk road linking Newbuildings in Co Londonderry and Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone and will cost more than 1billion. But the project has been stalled by a number of factors, including two legal challenges by protest group the Alternative A5 Alliance. The campaign group consists of stakeholders in the Co Tyrone area such as farmers and landowners who oppose the compulsory purchase of land for the project and who have raised environmental issues. We implore the Department of Infrastructure to take that leap of faith and replace the proposed road scheme with the re-instatement of the railway and at the same time upgrade the existing A5 John Dunbar Sinn Fein MP Orfhlaith Begley said the delays due to legal challenges, the most recent of which was brought in 2018 when the Department for Infrastructure halted plans to proceed with the road, were "deeply frustrating". She described the Alternative A5 Alliance as a "small and unrepresentative minority" group and the work vital to stimulate the economy in the north west and improve road safety. "The Department for Infrastructure has estimated that the new A5 could prevent more than 2,000 crashes, 2,750 casualties and 19 fatalities over 60 years," she said. "Considering there have been 1,024 casualties, including 22 fatalities over the last seven years, this could be seen as a conservative estimate." The inquiry, which is being held at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, will discuss the possibility of road work affecting air quality, cultural heritage, landscape and visual effects. The Belfast Telegraph has attempted to contact the Alternative A5 Alliance. Speaking to the BBC, chair of the organisation John Dunbar said the group would continue to object to the plans because they were "contrary to the common sense needs" of the people of the area. "We implore the Department of Infrastructure to take that leap of faith and replace the proposed road scheme with the re-instatement of the railway and at the same time upgrade the existing A5 road with additional passing opportunities and other affordable general improvements," he said. "This approach will go a long way to relieving the stress of upwards of 300 farmers and property owners who, for the past decade or more, have had their properties blighted by the threat to carve a great chunk of some 3,000 acres of farmland along the path of the A5." Ms Begley said she was committed to addressing the wider environmental issues over the course of the inquiry, including air pollution and ecological conservation. "The A5 has faced many delays over the years, to the detriment of road safety. Its well past time for work to commence on this crucial project," she said. The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted for a response. The syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York has been updated today. Most of the new arrests are from the last couple weeks. MICHIGAN - The United States Department of Agriculture announced the availability of two programs that would protect hemp producers' crops from natural disasters. The first program, a pilot hemp insurance program offered through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance, provides coverage against loss of yield for hemp grown for fiber, grain or cannabidiol (CBD) oil, and is available to hemp producers in 21 states, including Michigan. To be eligible, a producer must have at least one year of history producing the crop and have a contract for the sale of the insured hemp. The minimum acreage requirement is five acres for CBD oil and twenty acres for grain and fiber. The other program, a noninsured crop disaster assistance program, provides coverage against loss for hemp growth for fiber, grain, seed or CBD oil for the 2020 crop year where no permanent federal crop insurance program is available. The basic coverage is available at 55% of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50% of expected production, with buy-up coverage available in some cases. The 2018 Farm Bill allows for buy-up levels of coverage from 50 to 65% of expected production in 5% increments, at 100% of the average market price. For all coverage levels, the program service fee is $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. All eligible growers must have a license to grow hemp and must comply with state, federal or tribal regulations. Producers must report hemp acreage to FSA after planting to comply with state and federal law enforcement. Hemp is defined as containing 0.3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry-weight basis, as hemp having THC levels above 0.3% is considered marijuana and ineligible for coverage. The deadline to sign up for both programs is March 16. For more information, visit farmers.gov/hemp. New Delhi: The government has set up a committee to conduct a study on the cultural heritage associated with Dara Shikoh and Abdul Rahim Khane-e-Khana. The committee comprising 7 members including 1. Padmashri Dr RS Bisht, 2. Padmashri Muhammad KK, 3. Dr BR Mani, 4. Dr KN Dixit, 5. Dr BM Pandey, 6. Dr Jamal Hasan, and 7. Prof Ashwini Agrawal, will submit its report to Ministry of Culture in three months, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The experts will also search for the tomb of Dara Shikoh, who was the brother of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Indian historians believe that Dara Shikoh, brother of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, failed to get the place he deserved in the pages of history. The Archaeological Survey of India is determined to ascertain the grave of Dara Shikoh. It is believed that one of the graves at the Humayun's tomb belongs to Dara Shikoh. Union Minister of State for Tourism Pahlad Patel has constituted the committee of scholars from the Department of Archeology to investigate the graves present at Humayun's tomb on the basis of the facts and find out which one is related to Dara Shikoh. Who was Dara Shikoh? Elder son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, Dara Shikoh was born on March 20, 1615. Dara Shikoh had three younger brothers, and Aurangzeb was one of them. Dara Shikoh is said to have revered all the religions, and took a special interest in Hindu religion and philosophy, along with Christianity. Because of his liberal views, orthodox Muslims were not happy with him and hatched a conspiracy to propagate that he was anti-Islam. Aurangzeb took advantage of this situation. Dara was unsuccessful in the third campaign against Kandahar in 1653 but remained trustworthy of his father. When Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657, 43-year-old Dara remained with his father hoping to inherit the crown, but his three younger brothers, especially Aurangzeb, opposed him. Dara Shikoh fought a succession war against his brothers and was defeated, and was later sentenced to death. Dara Shikoh is known to have translated Bhagwatgita into Persian, along with 52 Upanishads. The government is now making an effort to bring Dara Shikoh's liberal character before the world. The 7-member committee will find Dara Shikoh's grave and other facts within 3 months. Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel said that the committee will be given more time if needed. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Daily Briefing Online on February 18, 2020 2020/02/18 I'd like to share the latest numbers with you first. According to this morning's update from the National Health Commission, February 17 saw 1,701 patients cured and discharged from hospital in China's mainland, bringing the total number of cured cases to 12,552. New confirmed cases in China excluding Hubei Province stood at 79 on February 17, marking a decline for the 14th consecutive day. Q: The US government is considering a proposal to halt deliveries of jet engines co-produced by General Electric Co. for Comac C919 airliner being developed in China out of concern that the Chinese could reverse-engineer the engines, undermining US business interests. I wonder if you have any comment? A: We note this report. It also says that GE is questioning the proposal of the US government, saying that mimicking the advanced manufacturing techniques that have produced the engine is much harder than some officials believe. GE has also argued that it has been cooperating with China for years, meaning Chinese manufacturers could have begun the reverse-engineering a long time ago if they intended to do so. Why would they wait until now? Of course, we still need to check on the verity of the report. But if true, it may show the following: First, some American business people seem to be more sensible and truthful than certain government officials. Second, it would expose certain US officials' ignorance in science and technology, disregard of the market principle, and anxiety with China's development. Third, it will be another example of the US using political means to undermine bilateral commercial cooperation and wantonly oppress China. I have to point out that US moves for a long while hurt not only the interests of Chinese businesses but also that of American companies. What's worse, it will severely disrupt bilateral and even global exchange and cooperation in science, technology and trade. We urge the US to view Chinese companies and China-US commercial cooperation in an objective and just manner, and act as a constructive contributor rather than an irrational spoiler. Q: Some American steel companies have accused China of using state subsidies and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to give Chinese companies an unfair advantage that's hurting producers in other countries, including the US. Does China have a response? A: I haven't heard of what you said. What I want to say is that the BRI is a proposal for economic cooperation and a public good for the international community. BRI sticks to the golden rule of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and the cooperation concept of openness, inclusiveness and transparency. This framework enables all businesses, Chinese or foreign, to follow market rules, play fair, and cooperate in an open and transparent way. The bidding process for these projects is also open and transparent. Whether a company can take part in a certain project and how it will do so are solely market behaviors, and whether it can land a bidding also depends on its own competitiveness. China will continue to work with partners for high-quality BRI development. Under the concept of open, green and clean cooperation, we strive to attain the goal of high standard, people-centered and sustainable development. We seek to forge global partnerships for connectivity to achieve shared development and prosperity. Q: The UK exited the European Union and entered the Brexit transition period on January 31. As we know, China and the EU have signed agreements and cooperation documents in such areas as trade, shipping, energy, science and technology. Do these instruments still apply to the UK? How will China handle these agreements concerning the UK and the EU after Brexit? A: According to the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU, agreements between the EU and other countries will continue to apply to the UK during the transition period from February 1 to December 31, 2020, which is a special arrangement between the two sides. To ensure the smooth transition of agreements, China agrees to the above-mentioned arrangement, that is, the agreements and cooperation documents between China and the EU will continue to apply to the UK during the transition period. China stands ready to work with the UK and the EU to advance work on relevant agreements in the transition period. Q: The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines announced on February 11 that the country has formally decided on the same day to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US. What's China's comment? How will this affect the South China Sea situation going forward? A: Every country has the right to uphold an independent foreign policy and develop relations with other countries to advance its national interests. It is also China's belief that exchange and cooperation between countries should not only benefit those involved, but also advance regional and global peace and stability. As to how the decision will affect the situation in the South China Sea, I want to point out that currently, with the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has been basically stable. China and ASEAN countries are committed to full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). In the meantime, we have been advancing consultations on a code of conduct (COC). Countries concerned insist on bilateral channels to manage differences and pursue practical cooperation. China stands ready to work with relevant regional countries to maintain stability in the South China Sea and turn it into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. Q: What is the impact on China from the difficulty of its people to travel internationally due to visa and other travel restrictions issued by some countries? A: Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese government and people have been making all-out efforts to counter it. The most stringent and thorough measures have been taken and relevant efforts are gradually showing their positive effects. We have the confidence and capability to win this battle. The WHO has stressed many times that it does not recommend travel or trade restrictions. We hope all countries will remain calm, make science-based judgment, react rationally, and respect WHO's authoritative and professional recommendations. Overreacting will cause unnecessary panic and impede normal personnel exchange and practical cooperation. Q: On February 14, a senior US official told the media during the Munich Security Conference that the US and the Taliban have reached a deal on reducing violence. If the Taliban honors its commitment, the US will proceed with its actions to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Media quoted the Taliban as saying that the peace deal may be signed on February 29. What is your comment? A: We have noted relevant reports. China has been in close communication and coordination with relevant parties on the latest developments of the Afghan issue. China firmly supports the broad and inclusive peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. We support more dialogue between relevant parties and welcome the news that the US and the Taliban are expected to reach and sign a deal. We hope it will be smoothly implemented to create conditions for the final political resolution of the Afghan issue. China believes that foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan should be withdrawn in an orderly and responsible way to ensure a steady transition and avoid a security vacuum, which terrorist organizations may take advantage of to fester. China stands ready to step up cooperation with all parties to the Afghan issue and the international community for peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. Q: China said today it would review applications for tariff exemptions for nearly 700 products imported from the US. Are these exemptions intended to meet China's purchase commitments under the Phase one deal? A: The Tariff Policy Commission of the State Council already issued a notice today on new tariff exemptions for some American products. You may refer to it. I'd refer you to the competent department for more specifics. Q: Could you give us an update as to the progress of the China-WHO Joint Mission and their schedule in China? Why aren't they visiting Hubei Province? A: The China-WHO Joint Mission has started work and the NHC has issued press releases on it. I'd refer you to them for more specifics. Q: We want to know whether the epidemic control efforts will affect the high-level talks between China and Europe, including the China-EU Summit in late March and the China-CEEC Summit in mid-April? Will China attend the China-EU High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue in Brussels this week? A: As far as I know, the preparatory work for high-level exchanges between China and the European side, including the China-EU Summit and the China-CEEC Summit, are moving ahead as scheduled. As for the China-EU High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue, I would refer you to the competent authorities. Q: Regarding the 14-day quarantine policy for people returning to Beijing, do they apply to foreign experts coming to China? Will they need to self-quarantine? A: As I understand, those who are visiting Beijing for a short period of time, Chinese and foreign nationals alike, need to follow instructions of their hotels, such as monitoring temperature, taking precautions, and limiting physical contact as much as possible. Please refer to the relevant Beijing municipal authorities for more specifics. When Sydni Brecher landed in Paris early one morning around Christmas last year, she didnt kill precious euros in a cafe or seek refuge at an airport lounge waiting for her accommodations to be ready. Instead, she went straight to her room at The Hoxton, took a shower and began her day all before the clock struck noon. I could literally pick the time when I wanted to check in and I could literally pick the time when I wanted to check out, said Ms. Brecher, 24, who lives in Brooklyn. It allowed me to actually see some of Paris, even on a short trip. Check-in and checkout usually run like clockwork: between 2 and 4 p.m. on the front end and around 11 a.m. or noon on the back end. And breaking free of that mold has traditionally meant one of two things: cracking the upper tiers of a hotel loyalty program (where flexible check-in might be a perk of elite status) or requesting extended hours when booking, only to have to plead your case in person. But nowadays The Hoxton and other hotels are embracing more elastic time frames as an across-the-board offering a move that substantially changes the guest experience, particularly for business and red-eye travelers. And every time I heard the oily pleas for mercy from Blagojevich and his wife I was reminded that, when he was governor, he routinely ignored such pleas from others. His failure to act on routine requests for commutations and pardons got so bad that the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic sued him in federal court for ducking his responsibility to act. He won that suit and continued to delay, refusing to spend even a dime of political capital on the issue. And by the time he was removed from office in early 2009, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board estimated the number of petitions piled up on his desk at more than 3,000 by far the largest such backlog in the nation. Attorney General William Barr confirmed Monday that the Justice Department has been receiving information from Rudy Giuliani about his operation in Ukraine, solidifying the channels through which political dirt on the President's rivals has made it into the country's top law enforcement agency. At an unrelated news conference in Washington Monday morning, Barr said that the Justice Department has an "obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant" but expressed skepticism about the reporting, noting that Ukraine can be a dubious source. As a result, Barr said, the Justice Department has put in place special precautions to ensure that Giuliani's information is "carefully scrutinized." "There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine, there are a lot of cross currents, and we can't take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value. For that reason we had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the Department and its intelligence community partners," Barr said. "That is true for all information that comes to the Department relating to the Ukraine including anything that Mr. Giuliani might provide," he said. The acknowledgment marked the first time that the Justice Department has said it is considering some of the allegations related to the political investigations that initiated the impeachment inquiry, which capped last week in an acquittal of President Donald Trump. Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, has been vocal about his efforts in Ukraine to investigate the work that Joe and Hunter Biden did related to a Ukrainian energy company, granting numerous interviews on the subject and at one point traveling to the country with a film crew for a conservative American cable news channel. Trump and his allies have repeatedly made unfounded and false claims to allege that the Bidens acted corruptly in Ukraine. After returning from a trip to Ukraine late last year, Giuliani said Trump told him to brief the Justice Department on his findings. On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee and a close ally to the White House, publicly disclosed that the Justice Department was taking information from Giuliani. The FBI, per longstanding bureau protocol to not discuss potential cases, has not confirmed whether it has an investigation open into Joe or Hunter Biden. At the news conference on Monday, David Bowdich, the agency's deputy director, said that they had received information from Giuliani regarding Ukraine "as we would in any case," adding, "we will evaluate it appropriately." People who depend on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for are more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who rely on traditional media, according to a study which may lead to new ways of fighting fake medical information circulating online. The study, published in the journal Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, was based on a survey of nearly 2,500 US adults, and found that up to a fifth of respondents were at least somewhat misinformed about vaccines. According to the researchers, including those from the University of Pennsylvania in the US, such a high level of misinformation is "worrying" since it undermines vaccination rates, which are required to be high to maintain the immunity of whole communities. The research was conducted in the spring and fall of 2019, when the US experienced its largest measles outbreak in a quarter century. Between the two survey periods, about 20 per cent of the respondents' levels of vaccine misinformation changed in a substantive way -- and within that group, almost two-thirds were more misinformed in the fall than in the spring, the study noted. It revealed that media consumption patterns helped to explain the change in misinformation levels. Respondents who reported increased exposure to information about measles and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine on social media were more likely to grow more misinformed about vaccines. On the contrary, the study noted that those who reported an increased exposure to accounts about these topics in traditional media were more likely to grow less misinformed about vaccines. "People who received their information from traditional media were less likely to endorse anti-common vaccination claims," said study lead author Dominik Stecula from the University of Pennsylvania. According to the researchers, the result is consistent with earlier studies suggesting that social media platforms contain a fair amount of misinformation about vaccination while traditional media are more likely to reflect the scientific consensus on its benefits and safety. The scientists also found that about 18 per cent of respondents mistakenly believe that vaccines may cause autism. About five per cent of the participants, they said, agreed that it is very or somewhat accurate to believe that vaccines are full of toxins. A fight of the respondents reported that it was very, or somewhat accurate for parents choose to delay or spread out vaccines instead of relying on the official vaccine schedule from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And a fifth of the respondents incorrectly said it is very or somewhat accurate to believe that immunity can be better developed by getting the disease than by vaccination, the scientists reported. The study also noted that an individual's level of trust in medical experts affects the likelihood that a person's beliefs about vaccination will change. Low levels of trust, it said, coincides with believing vaccine misinformation. The scientists also found that vaccine misinformation proved resilient over time. More than 80 per cent of people in the study were just as informed or misinformed in the spring season as they were months later, despite the extensive coverage of the measles outbreak and attempts by the CDC to educate the public, the researchers said. Among the 19 per cent whose level of knowledge changed substantially, 64 per cent were more misinformed, and 36 per cent were better informed, the study noted. Although the findings only showed correlations between media coverage and individual attitudes, and not a causal relationship, the researchers said these findings still hold implications for the effectiveness of national pro-vaccination campaigns, the role of health professionals in addressing misinformation, and the impact of social media misinformation. "Increasing the sheer amount of pro-vaccination content in media of all types may be of value over the longer term," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Federal Judges Association, a voluntary association of about 1,100 federal judges, feels it's necessary to have an emergency meeting to discuss the fact that Attorney General Bill Barr, when made aware of an excessive sentencing demand against Roger Stone, asked the judge instead to exercise her discretion. The facts here are pretty clear: Stone, an icky man, lied to Congress, a crime only when Republicans do it (see, e.g., Flynn and Papadopoulos), and made such weak, grumpy old man threats against a potential witness that the witness laughed them off. Stone was a first-time, nonviolent offender. So Mueller's mad dogs asked the judge to give Stone the harshest sentence possible under the law. Bill Barr countered by withdrawing that request and asking the judge to use her discretion in sentencing Stone. That's all. Nevertheless, USA Today says the judges are so ruffled that they need an emergency meeting: Philadelphia U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, who heads the independent Federal Judges Association, said the group "could not wait" until its spring conference to weigh in on a deepening crisis that has enveloped the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr. "There are plenty of issues that we are concerned about," Rufe told USA TODAY. "We'll talk all of this through." [snip] Trump also took a swipe at the federal judge who is set to preside at Stone's sentencing hearing Thursday. "Is this the judge that put Paul Manafort in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, something not even mobster Al Capone had to endure?" Trump tweeted last week, referring to U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson. "How did she treat Crooked Hillary Clinton? Just asking!" Rufe said the judges' association is "not inclined to get involved with an ongoing case," but she voiced strong support for Jackson. Looking at the facts on the ground, instead of the facts in leftists' heads, it's unclear what's causing concern to the Federal Judges Association. Moreover, one shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the Department of Justice is part of the administrative state. The head of the administrative state is none other than President Donald J. Trump. That means he has the right to communicate ideas and feelings to the attorney general, who works for him. The reality is that presidents have always worked closely with their attorneys general. Indeed, during the John F. Kennedy administration, the attorney general Bobby Kennedy was the president's brother. Back then, the Democrat media thought it was a wonderful thing that they were working hand-in-glove to carry out the president's agenda. During the recent Obama administration, Eric Holder, Obama's first attorney general, specifically identified himself as "the president's wingman." During his tenure as head of the Department of Justice, he consistently used his position to advance the president's policies. Holder defended Obama's drone strikes in countries that were not at war with the U.S., aimed at targets that were civilians or even American citizens. He refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, even though it was his duty to do so. He used his department to fight Arizona's efforts to get the federal government to abide by federal immigration laws. He refused to prosecute the New Black Panthers despite photographic evidence that they were intimidating voters. He oversaw the disastrous Fast & Furious weapons-running scheme that ended up putting American guns in Mexican cartel hands, all in an effort to make guns look bad. In other words, Holder was not about justice; he was purely an activist on behalf of the Obama administration. And yet during his entire time at the DOJ, the Federal Judges Association was copacetic with his actions. Hmmm. Barr, meanwhile, did the boss thing: when he learned (simultaneously with but separate from Trump learning) about the Stone sentencing motion, he examined the motion, decided that it was inappropriate to ask for the longest sentence, and instead asked the judge to exercise her discretion in sentencing. End of story. No scandal. As for concerns about judicial independence, keep in mind that the Judiciary is independent. Trump cannot hire or fire judges. He has authority under Article II of the Constitution, and they have co-equal authority under Article III. Moreover, unlike Trump, the judges have a lifetime sinecure. Presidents can behave inappropriately regarding cases, as Richard Nixon did when he said Charles Manson was "guilty, directly or indirectly, of eight murders without reason." The worry then wasn't that Nixon would corrupt the judge; it was that he would so taint the jury pool that Manson would not be able to get a fair trial. That's not the issue here. Unless the Federal Judges Association properly understands that there is no "there there" when it comes to Bill Barr and Roger Stone, and that the petition-signing DOJ employees are political activists, we will have evidence yet again that we do not have an independent Judiciary. Instead, we have a Deep State Judiciary and one, moreover, that's taken sides. US President Donald Trumps comments on his event in Ahmedabad, Namaste Trump, have left no doubt about what he likes most about it: the crowds. This wont be the first time India has impressed a visiting US President with a huge audience. The first time India used teeming thousands to woo a US president was during Dwight D Eisenhowers state visit in December 1959. Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru turned out a reportedly million-strong audience to greet the first US leader to come to India. The numbers are probably exaggerated, but theres no way of knowing. Though his hopes for a trade deal with India have fallen through, Trump has persisted with the state visit. What attracts him the most seems to be the idea of being greeted by the biggest crowd of any world leader in living memory. He has already claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised millions would welcome Trump at Ahmedabad airport and well have five to seven million people just from the airport to the new stadium. Nehru also pulled out all stops when Eisenhower visited India, at a time when India, from the US perspective, was on the wrong side of the cold war. Every street in Delhi was lined with people and a massive audience was brought in to hear the US president speak at the Ramlila Grounds. One US wire reporter cabled back: It was the greatest welcome ever accorded to any American president anywhere. The US press gushed about one million people turning out to see the US president. After Eisenhowers visit, Nehru declared it was the greatest civic reception he had ever seen. In an event last year in Washington marking the half-century mark of Eisenhowers visit, former US ambassador to India Rich Verma noted how the US president became an ardent fan of India and Nehru despite bilateral Cold War differences. He was the first [US president] to come up with a national security council directive which recognised and supported India in its own right as a democracy, he said. Academic Atul Bhardwaj has argued the magnitude of Eisenhowers reception changed the US medias opinion of Indian neutrality and its perceived tilt in favour of communists. The Eisenhower state visit to India became the gold standard for other US presidential visits. Richard Nixons speech writer William Safire later wrote how Nixon and US presidents would ask if their overseas trips would be able to match the crowds that greeted Eisenhower during his five-day India visit. Trump is hoping his will. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 18, 2020 07:58 694 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20650f38c 1 Editorial #Editorial,Bapeten,BATAN,Nuclear,science-and-technology,radiation,safety,health Free As a member of the G20, we may be proud to have exited the group of poor countries, but life is comparatively cheap here. Not only are we prone to natural disasters but also to too many that are human-made. The latest example is the alarming report from the town south of Jakarta, home to both rich and poor residential areas and industries. The area in South Tangerang, Banten, also houses the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspitek), which has a number of small nuclear reactors for experimental purposes. Back in the 1970s, when the center was built, Serpong was not the dense area it is now. On Saturday, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) asked residents of the nearby Batan Indah housing complex to remain calm after it found high levels of radiation during what it said was a routine check. Fears of a reactor accident have been called baseless, as the source of radiation is just one substance, Caesium-137, and additional substances would have been present in the event of a reactor leak. This is not all that calming, though the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) is cleaning up the area and analyzing the surrounding soil and vegetation, a process that is to continue into March. Residents will also be tested to measure their bodies radioactivity levels, though an official said the radiation exposure in the affected complex was far below a dangerous threshold. As South Tangerang split from Tangerang regency back in 2008, the current administration would deny responsibility for how developers of residential areas gained permits for settlements that seem to be too close to industries and the Puspitek. Deputy Mayor Benyamin Davnie insists that the mayoralty always evaluates waste from industrial activities and that the incident happened outside of its control. As with the coronavirus epidemic, residents expect their government to uphold transparency about what is going on. Even if the hazardous waste is not from an experimental nuclear reactor, radioactive exposure harkens to Chernobyl and Fukushima, where the issue of radioactive waste from nuclear accidents has yet to be resolved. Who should have been in control in South Tangerang if the local authorities say it is not them? If the analyzed soil shows high radioactive exposure, how can residents move? Would they be on their own or given government support? The environmental law punishes those proved to be damaging to the environment, in this case by recklessly dumping untreated hazardous waste. The 1997 Nuclear Energy Law also upholds the right of citizens to safety. However, experience points to a lack of law enforcement or the lack of a deterrent when the law is enforced. A statement made by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who said Indonesia should be a nuclear power, apparently after he felt slighted in the economic talks in Davos, Switzerland, as Indonesia is not one, is laughable if it werent so tragic. We are all for clean energy, but citizens wellbeing apparently doesnt count in the basic obligation of treating waste before dumping it where humans and other creatures live. People are aware of the natural phenomenon that makes it look like there are three suns in the sky. But people in inner Mongolia, China, woke up to five suns. A video shared by a page called Beautiful China on Twitter, showing five suns in the sky is going viral. Representative Image What a spectacular wonder! Five suns are seen shining in the sky in N China's Inner Mongolia," the video shared by People's Daily, China was captioned. This is an elaborate optical illusion and a rare phenomenon which requires temperatures of minus 20 degree Celsius. What a spectacular wonder! Five suns are seen shining in the sky in N China's Inner Mongolia pic.twitter.com/SqqF2Bi99R Beautiful China (@PDChinaLife) February 14, 2020 It is called a sundog (mock sun) phenomenon. This optical phenomenon occurs when there is a large number of hexagonal ice crystals floating in the sky, refracting the rays, and creating a virtual image on either side of the sun. Earlier this year, during the annular solar eclipse another rare phenomenon was captured. While there were places where the sun was setting there were also places where the sun was just about to rise -- like the Persian Gulf at the city of Al Wakrah in Qatar -- and a photographer managed to capture one of the most picturesque eclipses through his lenses. FACEBOOK: ELIAS CHASIOTIS The sun was rising as the eclipse was winding down. The first image looked like the horns of a devil, and the red colour of the sun made the whole thing look perfectly devious. As the sun rose the crescent shape became more prominent. The sun hazed into the horizon due to the occurrence of Fata Morgana -- shifting rays of light due to presence of warm and cool air. This occurrence is often seen in deserts or seas. FACEBOOK: ELIAS CHASIOTIS The ominous sun paired with the unending sea and the ship to the right truly made the whole scene picture perfect. Nature is indeed mysterious and full of interesting phenomena. To maintain plant and animal species on earth, we need not only to consider the direct effects of climate change, but we must also take other equally important environmental issues into consideration - such as changes in agricultural and forestry practices and indirect effects of climate such as increased frequencies of fires. "We should absolutely address the climate issue with the utmost seriousness, but, when it comes to biodiversity, there are many other threats that are at least as important to consider", says Johan Ehrlen, professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences of Stockholm University. A recent study published in the scientific journal PNAS has looked at many different types plants; trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses from all over the world. The aim was to explore which environmental factors has the largest effects on the number of plants and how these plants are distributed in the landscape. The scientists looked among other things at effects from climate, pollinators, plant feeders, competition and natural disturbances, such as hurricanes, flooding and fires. "We found that fires are more important for the survival of plant populations than the direct effect of the climate change. The fact that there are more fires is partly an indirect effect of climate, however. We need to start looking at the indirect effects of climate", says Johan Ehrlen. Currently, most of the research on plant distributions focuses on the effects of climate. This has two reasons. One is that climate data is readily available in the form of climate maps, which makes it easy to work with - since you don't have to collect a lot of data yourself. The other reason is that society currently is very concerned about the effects of climate. "Today there are many opinions about what environmental factors are most important to species survival and distribution, but in fact we have very little quantitative information about this. We wanted to go from having mere opinions to finding out how much we actually know", says Johan Ehrlen. In Sweden, as well as in many other parts of the world, how we use the land is probably more important to biodiversity than climate. One of the major threats in Sweden is the intensification of forestry, leading to more even-aged forests with a single tree species and less old forests, and negative effects on biodiversity. Another large concern are changes in agriculture which have resulted in more homogenous landscapes and smaller areas of habitats that can host many species. Johan Ehrlen wants to emphasize that the study has only examined small and moderate influences of human land use: "But if we had included what happens when you remove plants completely, like when you take away an entire forest or build roads, the effect by humans would be even larger", says Johan Ehrlen. ### The study "Biotic and anthropogenic forces rival climatic/abiotic factors in determining global plant population growth and fitness" is published in the official journal of the American National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Link to the study: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/2/1107 Contact Johan Ehrlen, professor at Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University. E-mail: johan.ehrlen@su.se, Phone: +46 8 16 12 02, +46 730 66 08 32. Reno, Nevada, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- rfxcel, the global leader in supply chain track and trace solutions, today announced that it will release the latest version of its rfxcel Traceability System (rTS) software platform on February 18, 2020. rTS 7.0 continues the award-winning legacy of rfxcel's signature full-stack solution, enabling true end-to-end supply chain traceability, environmental monitoring, and analytics from anywhere in the world. The announcement comes as the company marks its 17th year of developing leading-edge supply chain software solutions. With rTS 7.0, rfxcel anticipates building on the successes it enjoyed in 2019, which included entering the consumer goods industry, conducting major pharma pilots for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Brazilian government, enhancing its powerful Integrated Monitoring (rIM) solution, launching a MobileTraceability solution, tripling the size of its team in Russia, increasing its presence in the Middle East, and hosting its annual User Group in Reno, Nevada. rTS 7.0 can comprise up to eight discrete solutions that work in concert to harmonize, optimize, automate, and monitor virtually every aspect of supply chain operations. Though rfxcel currently provides its solutions to four industries - life sciences (pharmaceutical and medical devices), food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods - the fully customizable, interoperable, and scalable nature of rTS makes it suitable for supply chain visibility and security in any industry. rTS solutions include rfxcel Integrated Monitoring for real-time cold chain traceability, Serialization Processing, Compliance Management, Raw Materials Traceability, Finished Goods Traceability, Data Analytics and Blockchain Enabler. The solutions are available in a variety of languages, which speeds implementation and boosts ease of use because people can work in their native language. CEO Glenn Abood, who founded rfxcel in 2003 with Chief Strategy Officer Jack Tarkoff, said rTS 7.0 was the culmination of a year-long effort to make the platform more powerful and user-friendly than ever before. "As we begin 2020 and celebrate 17 years of innovating supply chain technology and working with our customers to keep them at the forefront of their industries, we want people to know that rTS has never been better," he said. "It has more features and capabilities than ever before, yet it's intuitive and very easy to use. It centralizes complete supply chain control in one platform, can be accessed and controlled from virtually anywhere on Earth, and ensures companies remain informed, nimble, and compliant no matter where they do business." Mr. Abood added that the improved rTS 7.0 will be a boon to rfxcel as it continues its expansion into new industries and markets. "We had some major successes in the pharmaceutical industry and the government sector last year," he said, "particularly in Russia and the Middle East, where we'll be working with large brands and regulatory organizations. rTS 7.0 will help us solidify our position in markets around the world; in addition to Russia and the Middle East, we are leading in other key markets, such as Brazil and India. "As we roll out rTS 7.0 and put it through its paces, we'll be able to demonstrate what rfxcel brings to the table. Jack and I were compelled to start rfxcel when we realized that it was impossible for consumers to check the authenticity of their prescription drugs. We were born out of the desire to protect people from potentially harmful pharmaceutical products. Today, so many years later, rTS 7.0 shows why we're one of the best supply chain traceability solution providers for companies in any industry. rTS 7.0 will debut officially on February 18, 2020. To learn more about what it can do, contact Vice President of Marketing Herb Wong and visit rfxcel.com. About rfxcel Founded in 2003, rfxcelprovides leading-edge software solutions to help companies manage every aspect of their supply chains, lower costs, and protect their products and brand reputations. Blue-chip organizations in the life sciences/pharmaceutical, food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods industries trust rfxcel's signature Traceability System (rTS) to power end-to-end supply chain solutions in key areas such as traceability, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, serialization, and visibility. The company is headquartered in the United States and has offices in the EU, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, India, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region. TOKYO, February 13, 2020Canon Inc. announced today that the company is currently developing the EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless cameracontaining CMOS sensor, image processing, optical and other state-of-the-art technologies the company has cultivated through its long history of camera development. What's more, during 2020, Canon plans to release a total of 9 RF lenses currently in development. Through the addition of competitive cameras and lenses to its lineup, Canon will continue to strengthen the EOS R System. EOS R5 Shown with RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM The EOS R System enables greater freedom in lens design thanks to a wider lens mount diameter, short back focus and high-speed system for transmitting data between the camera and lens, resulting in an imaging system that delivers higher image quality and greater ease-of-use. The new full-frame mirrorless camera currently under development will fully leverage the advantages of the EOS R System to realize high-speed continuous shooting and 8K video recording and expanding the boundaries of visual expression. In addition, it can contribute to more efficient workflows thanks to improved transmission functionality, operability and reliability. These enhancements and more will help the new camera elevate the EOS Series concept of "Speed, Comfort and High-image-quality" to a higher level. Canon's EOS R5, the first of the next-generation full-frame mirrorless cameras in the company's EOS R System, will include a newly developed CMOS sensor that makes possible such advanced features as high-speed continuous shootingup to approximately 20 frames per second (FPS) using an electronic shutter and up to approximately 12 FPS using a mechanical shutterto facilitate shooting of athletes at sporting events and other fast-moving subjects. In addition, the camera's 8K video capture capability will enable users to extract high-resolution still images from video footage as well as process 8K video into higher-quality 4K video, opening up new possibilities for visual expression. What's more, the EOS R5 will be the first Canon camera equipped with a high-performance coordinated image stabilization (IS) system that integrates the camera's in-body IS with IS systems on attached RF lenses. The camera will also feature dual media card slots and will support automatic transfer of image files from the device to the image.canon cloud platform (to be available from early April 2020). Alongside the EOS R5, Canon is also developing a total of 9 RF lenses scheduled for release during 2020, including the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x. Additional Information DUBAI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Iran has freed a German citizen sentenced to three years in jail, the Iranian judiciary said on Tuesday, a day after Tehran said a detained Iranian accused of violating U.S. sanctions had returned home from Germany. "On Monday, a German citizen returned home. He was arrested while ago and was sentenced to three years in jail for taking pictures from sensitive places," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said in a televised weekly news conference. He did not give further details. Iran said on Monday that Ahmad Khalili, who was arrested in Germany on a U.S. request and subject to extradition to the United States, flew home on Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had been in Germany to attend a security conference in Munich. "We insisted that first the Iranian citizen should return home...then the German citizen was allowed to leave Iran on Monday," he said. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals over recent years, mostly on espionage charges. Esmaili also said two French academics will appear in the court next month. France has called for the release of French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah and her French colleague Roland Marchal, who had been detained since June. Iran has rejected France's call as an interference at Tehran's state matters. "We do not recognise dual nationality. She is Iranian. We do not let other states to interfere in our judiciary matters. Their court session will be on March 3," Esmaili said. Adelkhah's lawyer told Reuters last month that Iran had dropped spying charges against Adelkhah but she faced other security-related charges. The issue has complicated ties between Tehran and Paris, both parties to a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Washington exited the deal in 2018 and has reimposed sanctions that has hit Iran's economy hard. Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting a number of dual nationals to try to win concessions from other countries - a charge that the Islamic Republic has regularly dismissed. A Chinese-American detained in Iran in 2016 and later charged with spying was freed in December and an imprisoned Iranian was released by Washington in return. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Angus MacSwan) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abacus Mining & Exploration Corporation (Abacus or the Company) (TSXV: AME) is pleased to provide an update on its Jersey Valley, Nevada gold property, acquired late last year. The Jersey Valley property is believed to host epithermal precious metal mineralization, representative of the upper portions of a porphyry system. The property lies within the Battle Mountain trend of northern Nevada, in close proximity to both the Phoenix/Fortitude mine complex (approximately 14 Moz gold plus significant Ag and Cu past production and a proposed mine life to 2063) and the Cove/McCoy Mine (3.4 Moz gold and 110 Moz Ag past production). Past production data is from the Newmont Mines and Premier Gold Mines websites. The reader is cautioned that the mineralization hosted on nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Companys Jersey Valley gold property. The Company has completed a review of past exploration data on the property, which mainly consists of soil and rock geochemistry, some ground geophysics and a widely spaced program of shallow Reverse Circulation Drilling plus limited Diamond Drilling. Some of the databases are incomplete, especially drill data from the 1980s. Past drilling on the property was widespread and shallow. One drill hole ended in 245 feet of pyritic, silicified sediments that assayed 265 ppb Au and 3.28 g/t Ag. The Company believes that past drilling was not deep enough to adequately test the system. The Company has now decided on a field program on the property, that is intended to better define drill targets. This will involve a program of mapping and rock sampling, with a concurrent program of ground geophysics, which is scheduled to start as soon as the property is accessible this spring. The Jersey Valley property has a well-maintained sealed road running through it, which provides access to a 15 MW geothermal power plant located on the edge of the claim group. The purpose of the sampling program is to collect a suite of rock samples to be analyzed by spectral analysis for multiple elements. Epithermal systems contain a diagnostic suite of alteration elements, the identification of which can narrow down drill targets, especially in combination with existing data on the property. Spectral analysis worked well at the Companys Willow Cu-Mo porphyry project near Yerington, Nevada. Many of the same type of hydrothermal processes active at depth in a porphyry system such as Willow, are also thought to be present at Jersey Valley, but at much shallower depths. The Company also has two additional properties of merit. The Willow and adjacent Nev-Lorraine copper-molybdenum properties are in the Yerington copper camp, southeast of Reno, Nevada. Drilling by the Company in 2018 intersected a key intrusive rock unit on Willow that hosts all known porphyry Cu-Mo deposits at Yerington. This rock unit was not previously known to exist on the Companys property, and it represents a significant new discovery. The target is large and robust, and it remains essentially untested. The Company also continues to advance its Ajax copper-gold project, located near Kamloops, British Columbia. Abacus holds a 20% ownership interest in the project, which is managed by base metal major KGHM Polska Miedz S.A., who hold the remaining 80%. The Ajax Project contains significant quantities of copper and gold, within a NI 43-101 Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve of 426 Mt at 0.29% Cu, 0.19 g/t Au and 0.39 g/t Ag. Contained metal is in the order of 2.7 Bil lbs Cu, 2.6 Moz Au and 5.3 Moz Ag*. KGHM have begun the process of re-engaging the project stakeholders geared toward potentially resubmitting the environmental application for the project. The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul G. Anderson, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. * Wardrop Engineering Inc. 2012. Ajax Copper/Gold Project, Kamloops, British Columbia Feasibility Study Technical Report. Doc. No. 1054610300-REP-R0004-02. January 2012. On Behalf of the Board, ABACUS MINING & EXPLORATION CORPORATION Paul G. Anderson President and COO About Abacus Abacus is a mineral exploration and mine development company currently focused on its optioned Willow copper-gold property located near Yerington, Nevada in which it can acquire up to a 75% ownership interest, and the contiguous Nev-Lorraine claims subject to a ten-year lease agreement. Abacus also holds a 15 year lease on the Jersey Valley gold property, near Battle Mt., Nevada. The Companys main asset is a 20% ownership interest, together with KGHM Polska Meidz S.A. (80%), in the proposed copper-gold Ajax Mine located southwest of Kamloops, B.C., which has recently undergone a joint provincial and federal environmental assessment process. On December 14, 2017, a decision was made by the B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum resources to decline to issue an environmental assessment certificate for the Project. For the latest reports and information on Abacus projects, please refer to the Companys website at www.amemining.com . Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that are deemed forward-looking statements. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Abacus expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include changes to commodity prices, mine and metallurgical recovery, operating and capital costs, foreign exchange rates, ability to obtain required permits on a timely basis, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX-V:ERE.UN, ERES) is pleased to announce that the trustees of ERES have declared the February 2020 monthly cash distribution of 0.00875 per Unit and Class B LP Unit (the February Distribution), being equivalent to 0.105 per Unit annualized. The distribution will be payable to holders of the Units and Class B LP Units (the Unitholders) of record on February 28, 2020, with payment on March 16, 2020. The Euro-denominated distribution will be paid in Canadian dollars based on the exchange rate on the date of payment (estimated C$0.01257 per Unit and Class B LP Unit). Registered Unitholders will be provided with an option to elect to receive such distribution in Euros rather than Canadian dollars. If no such election is made, registered Unitholders will be paid the distribution in Canadian dollars based on the above exchange rate mechanism. Beneficial Unitholders will not have an option to elect to receive the distribution in Euros. The final cash distribution in respect of January 2020 was C$0.01257 per Unit and Class B LP Unit. To encourage participation and reward our loyal Unitholders, investors registered in our Distribution Reinvestment Plan will continue to receive an additional amount equal to 5% of their distributions paid in the form of additional Units. ERES intends to continue to make regular monthly distributions, subject to the discretion of the ERES board of trustees. ERES continues to target an AFFO payout ratio in the range of 80% to 90%. ERES Limited Partnership will make corresponding cash distributions to holders of Class B LP Units. About ERES ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERESs Units are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canadas only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands. ERES owns a portfolio of 131 multi-residential properties, comprised of 5,632 suites and ancillary retail space located in the Netherlands, and owns one office property in Germany and one office property in Belgium. ERESs registered and principal business office is located at 11 Church Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W1. For more information, please visit our website at www.eresreit.com . For further information ERES ERES Mr. Phillip Burns Mr. Scott Cryer Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer 416.354.0167 416.861.5771 p.burns@eresreit.com s.cryer@eresreit.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Facebook has suggested new rules for the internet as it continues to insist it must be regulated. The company and other social networks have faced criticism for the kinds of content they allow to be published on their platform. Politicians and experts around the world have criticised the site over its failure to stop the spread of false stories, as well as misleading political advertising and extremist content. In recent months, Facebook has argued that the best way to fix those problems would be for regulators to hold social networks to a set of rules, which boss Mark Zuckerberg has argued would be better for everyone. The idea echoes lawmakers suggestions that the company should face safeguards that could force it to take more responsibility for problem content, though critics have argued that regulation could further concentrate power in the hands of larger companies which can better deal with the new rules. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Last week, the government published early proposals for new online harms regulation, including placing broadcasting regulator Ofcom in charge of holding internet companies to account should they fail to uphold a duty of care to users. Facebook has now published its own recommendations for future regulation, including placing more accountability on companies to do content moderation, which it argues will be a strong incentive for firms to be more responsible. Sharing the companys guidelines on Twitter, Facebooks head of global affairs and communications Sir Nick Clegg said: Facebook wants to work with policymakers to create new rules for the internet. We published a White Paper that offers five principles that could frame content regulation, especially outside the US, that keeps the internet safe and protects free expression. The guidelines suggest regulations should respect the global scale of the internet and the value of cross-border communications and encourage coordination between different international national regulators, as well as look to protect freedom of expression. In terms of enforcing new rules, the charter also calls on regulators to develop an understanding of technology that still allows tech firms to innovate rather than issuing blanket bans on certain processes or tools, and asks regulators to take into account the severity and prevalence of harmful content in question, its status in law, and efforts already underway to address the content. Writing in the Financial Times, Mark Zuckerberg said the company supported the need for new online regulation even if it damaged Facebook financially. I believe good regulation may hurt Facebooks business in the near term but it will be better for everyone, including us, over the long term, he said. These are problems that need to be fixed and that affect our industry as a whole. If we dont create standards that people feel are legitimate, they wont trust institutions or technology. To be clear, this isnt about passing off responsibility. Facebook is not waiting for regulation; were continuing to make progress on these issues ourselves. But I believe clearer rules would be better for everyone. The internet is a powerful force for social and economic empowerment. Regulation that protects people and supports innovation can ensure it stays that way. The social network said it wanted its recommendations to spark further debate about the issue of online regulation, and confirmed it planned to publish more papers on the subject of elections and privacy later this year. If designed well, new frameworks for regulating harmful content can contribute to the internets continued success by articulating clear ways for government, companies and civil society to share responsibilities and work together, Facebooks vice president of content policy, Monika Bickert, said. Designed poorly, these efforts risk unintended consequences that might make people less safe online, stifle expression and slow innovation. Additional reporting by agencies Dehradun: Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyals widow, Nitika Kaul, 28, is all set to follow in his footsteps and join the army a year after he died in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district. Kaul, who is from Jammu and Kashmir, cleared the Short Service Commission (SSC) examination for joining the army and a subsequent interview in November. She is now waiting for the final SSC merit list and will join the army as a cadet. Major Dhoundiyal, 34, was killed in an anti-insurgency operation on February 18 last year days after a car bomb attack in Pulwama killed 40 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel and prompted India to launch an airstrike on a terror camp in Pakistan. The strike brought the two countries on the brink of war. Kaul said joining the army will be her real tribute to her husband and her way of feeling closer to him. I want to learn new things as it will be a major shift for me from the corporate culture, I am so used to, to the disciplined culture of the armed forces, said Kaul, who now lives in Delhi with her parents and works in a multinational Information Technology company. She added she wants to focus on being a good officer like her husband. Kaul said she took her time to recover from the loss. The decision to sit for the SSC examination happened gradually. Just to fill the form in September [for SSC] last year was a big decision. But I had decided that I want to walk on a similar path like my husband, said Kaul. Kaul said she was very emotional when she took the examination given what she had experienced. At the same time, I was thinking that my husband would have gone through the same situation of clearing the first examination as a step towards joining the forces....it made me feel closer to Vibhu Kaul said it was not easy for her to get back to the normal life after her husbands death. I drowned myself in work, hoping the pain will ease, she said. I went back to work around 15 days after my husbands death because I wanted to keep myself busy. It is natural to have a breakdown but we needed to accept the situation. I had to find positivity in my daily routine and stand up on my feet once again. Kaul said when she went out with her cousins for the first time after her husbands death, there was an internal resistance. I was not completely willing to go out. But then when loved ones leave, you have to think whether they would have wanted to see you in a miserable state. I always thought what Vibhu would have wanted me to do and I got my answer Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine president said recently the school is seeking out more vet clinics to partner with throughout West Texas. The facilities would serve as rotational clinics for students. Students would attend school for three years. Their final year a full 12 months would be primarily rotational practice in the network of clinics the school has built across the state, said Dean Guy Loneragan. They will get an absolutely fantastic real-world experience, so when they graduate, they can hit the ground running as practice-ready veterinarians, Loneragan said. Theyll be able to understand the role of veterinarians in the community, which is something they would not be able to get in a traditional clinic on campus. He said the school already has an agreement with approximately 30 veterinarian sites primarily in West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, East Texas and South Texas. Theyre either small fantastic animal clinics or equine practices and livestock practices, Loneragan said. We are very fortunate that veterinarians across Texas believe what we are trying to do and want to see it be the best it can be. Loneragan attended the opening of the Big Spring Veterinarian Diagnostic Hospital which is already a partner of the school at the end of 2019. He said the partners there are passionate believers of the program, and he was impressed during his visit. They bought it 18 months ago and completely gutted it and have renovated it into a truly wonderful state-of-the-art facility, Loneragan said. He said the veterinary school will continue to build a network across Texas while preparing to welcome its first class in the fall of 2021. Wed love to be able to talk to the veterinarian practices in Midland, Loneragan said. The school was approved by the Legislature in 2019, which Loneragan said was a historical year for the Texas Tech University System. (It) really has been the year that we have cleared the hurdles that we needed to clear, Loneragan said. Its been a historic year for the vet school. The Legislature provided the start-up fund; the governor approved the school when he signed the bill. (In early December), we were in Austin and the higher-ed coordinating board approved our proposal to offer the degree. Regulatory approval, legislative approval and funding we have all the ingredients we need. Groundbreaking for the 260,000-square-foot building was in September in Amarillo. A court has heard that in two of five road traffic accidents a Dublin man was involved in, the roof had to be cut off the car following alleged minor impacts in order to free some of the injured. Judge John OConnor told 33-year-old Edward Stokes in the Circuit Civil Court today that he had failed to prove his 60,000 damages claim for personal injuries he allegedly suffered in a rear-ending accident three years ago. Stokes, of 25 Foxdene Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin, told barrister Shane English, counsel for AXA Insurance, that the defendant in the case was his brother Martin, of the same address, who did not turn up in court. Mr English, who appeared with Hayes McGrath Solicitors, said he had been handicapped by the non-appearance in court of Mr Stokes brother and had been confined to cross-examining him on evidence laid before the court. Stokes told Mr English he had been unable to remember a number of accidents, in some of which he had been the driver, and agreed that insurers had settled some of them and, in one case, had paid out up to 70,000. He claimed that in the accident of January 14, 2017, he had suffered injuries to his neck and back. He had been a passenger in his brother Martins car when it had rear-ended another vehicle. He agreed that in another rear-ending he had been the driver when Martin had been injured and had benefitted from a claim. Mr English told Judge OConnor that six times he had asked Mr Stokes if he had been involved in any other accidents and after considerable evasion eventually he had said no. The fact was that he had been involved in a sixth accident, albeit one in which there had only been material damage to the hub cap of another car. Mr Stokes said that in the particular accident being referred to, he only had to pay for one wheel on another drivers car. Counsel said there had been three accidents involving Mr Stokes and other members of his family after which considerable sums of money had been paid out to settle claims. It is extraordinary that somebody would have been involved in minor accidents in which on two occasions the roof would have to be cut off their car, Mr English told the court. Mr Stokes said that he had been on medication and did not remember every accident he was being asked about or the dates on which they had taken place. Insurance companies had decided to settle a number of claims. Judge OConnor said that while he was dismissing Mr Stokes claim and awarding costs against him the court was making no finding of fraud having been involved. He said he had reached his decision after having considered medical reports in the case. I am satisfied that the plaintiff has not proved his case with regard to the injuries he alleges he suffered, Judge OConnor said. Ryan Reynolds' Aviation Gin signs new UK distribution deal Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin has signed a deal with a new UK distribution and sales partner. Proof Drinks has been appointed to continue the craft gin's expansion in the British gin market. Owned by actor and producer Reynolds, Aviation is distilled and and bottled in Portland, Oregon and is now available in more than 40 countries. According to data from Neilsen, it was America's fastest growing gin brand in 2019. Proof Drinks, which specialises in import, distribution, sales and marketing, has been tasked with growing Aviation's footprint in the UK. The gin is already available in more than 270 Asda stores and 60 Waitrose stores, with increasing visibility in the UK on-trade. Andrew Chrisomalis, CEO of Davos Brands, which owns Aviation Gin, said: "We're excited to continue the expansion of Aviation American Gin in the oldest, most discerning gin market in the world - and we're thrilled to have Proof Drinks on board to lead those efforts." 18 February 2020 - Bethany Whymark DGAP-News: Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Mississauga, Ontario and Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 17, 2020) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) (the "Company" or "BVT") today announced the opening of its new European office in Switzerland's Agri & Co Innovation Center, where the Company joins other innovative organizations in the country's flourishing ag-tech community. The move is part of BVT's award in the Agri & Co Challenge. "We are honored to have been awarded this space as part of the Agri & Co Challenge and we would like to thank them for their support. The award recognizes BVT as a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, something that the European market is eager to adopt," says Ashish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technologies. "The new office and the accompanying expert resources will help BVT expand into the European market." Cannot view this image? Visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/9f8d9d7eff0ac3bcbe79e37b9c4da8ad Image 1: The BVT team visiting Switzerland's Agri & Co Innovation Center To view an enhanced version of Image 1, please visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/9f8d9d7eff0ac3bcbe79e37b9c4da8ad Cannot view this image? Visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/e3aa1835495c9521f2b05beaee8abb91 Image 2: Interior photos of lab and research spaces. To view an enhanced version of Image 2, please visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/e3aa1835495c9521f2b05beaee8abb91 The new location is designed to help BVT continue its innovation in biological crop protection delivery systems. It includes a fully-equipped laboratory, growth chambers, greenhouse space for trialing (starting in spring 2020), and 95 hectares of land leased to a local grower who will host trials in his fields, as well as office space. In addition, BVT will receive the full support of Agri & Co staff and the Swiss canton of Fribourg's state government, access to experts in various fields, as well as facilitated R&D collaborations with other ag-tech innovators. "This is now our regional base for piloting and commercializing our natural precision agriculture technology in Europe. The goal of the BVT Europe office is to coordinate registration efforts across Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME), enable partnership conversations and develop our go-to-market strategy with our North American head office," says Christoph Lehnen, BVT's Business Manager for EAME. "As soon as we have Swiss regulatory approval, which we anticipate this year, we will start establishing commercial deals with Swiss growers and gain valuable experience for an eventual launch across Europe." Cannot view this image? Visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/ea5014cf66d45c262e8a4d4834e472a7 Image 3: A field for future BVT trials of its natural precision agriculture system. To view an enhanced version of Image 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3903/52489_9662d690843e794c_004full.jpg Cannot view this image? Visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/eqs_uk_988/2e598748b254ffe3476ab32c86017aa5 Image 4: Exterior photos of Switzerland's Agri & Co Innovation Center. To view an enhanced version of Image 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3903/52489_9662d690843e794c_005full.jpg Strategically, it's beneficial for BVT to have a presence in the Agri & Co Innovation Center. The vision for the Center is to become the Swiss - and potentially even a European - hub for the Agri, Food and Nutrition industry, with a number of startups already in place and more companies in talks to occupy a portion of the newly refurbished space. "Consumer pressure against pesticides is significant in the European market," continued Mr. Lehnen. "The European Union (EU) and Switzerland recently banned Chlorothalonil1, one of the world's most common pesticides, which means another one of very few available contact fungicides is off the market. Growers have access to fewer and fewer tools to manage their crops, while resistance to fungicides is increasing. It's a perfect entry point for crop protection alternatives, like BVT, that are effective and meet strict environmental requirements." Switzerland, like the rest of Europe, has targeted to reduce the risks of pesticide use by 50%.2 In the Swiss action plan on pesticides, this involves less pesticide applications, more training and education, the substitution of pesticides posing particular risks, and other target actions. At the same time, new pests (e.g. Drosophila suzukii) and diseases (e.g. Marssonina coronata) have established a foothold in Europe, and in many cases, cannot be managed with chemical pesticides. Alternatives are needed and this presents the market opportunity for BVT. Today, growers in Switzerland and broader within the EU are increasingly seeking non-chemical alternatives. The overall EU pesticides market is worth approximately US$13 billion.3 BVT is targeting $1 billion of that for its bee delivery system, a huge opportunity that opens up a new market, helps maintain yields, and offers Europe a healthier, less chemically-dependent future. 1 Source: Official Journal of the European Union, April 29, 2019 2 Source: Switzerland Action Plan Pesticides, January 28, 2020 3 Source: Eurostat, March 28, 2018 About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. BVT, an agriculture technology company, is a market disruptor with a significant global market opportunity in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system that replaces chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially grown bees. BVT's award-winning technology, precision vectoring, is completely harmless to bees and allows minute amounts of naturally-derived pesticides (called biologicals) to be delivered directly to blooms, providing improved crop protection and yield results than traditional chemical pesticides - and improving the health of the soil, the microbiome and the environment. Currently, BVT has over 65 granted patents, over 35 patents pending in all major agricultural countries worldwide, and has US EPA registration of its VECTORITE with CR-7 (EPA Registration No. 90641-2) for sale as a registered biological fungicide for use on the labeled crops. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com. To receive regular news updates from the Company, subscribe at www.beevt.com/newsletter. Contact: Ashish Malik, President & CEO info@beevt.com Babak Pedram, Investor Relations Virtus Advisory Group Tel: 416-995-8651 bpedram@virtusadvisory.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres of strawberries in Florida, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated May 29, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52489 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52489 News Source: Newsfile 17.02.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de The Coronavirus outbreak in China undoubtedly brought fear in people living in other countries like Ghana. Many are those who are suspicious of Chinese or other Nationals who may have travelled to China and returned to the country. Peace FMs Erica Eyifah visited some Chinese Restaurants in Accra to find out whether the outbreak of the Coronavirus has had any negative impact on their businesses. Mr. Godfrey Allotey Mensah the Supervisor of Regal Chinese Restaurant at Osu said they have put all necessary measures in place to ensure their customers safety. She also spoke with Mr. Eric Aniewu who is in charge of China Fast Food also at Osu. He noted that the coronavirus has affected their business. According to him, after two weeks of the outbreak, business is not booming, he explained that even with Chinese nationals in Ghana some have stopped patronizing Chinese cuisines and public places. Senior Doctor Dead One of Wuhans most senior doctors has died after contracting the coronavirus as authorities began a sweeping campaign inside the city to seek out patients infected with the virus. Liu Zhiming had taken part in the battle against the virus from the start and had made important contributions in fighting and controlling Covid-19, the Wuhan municipal health commission said. During that process, unfortunately he became infected and passed away at 10:54 Tuesday morning at the age of 51 after all-out efforts to save him failed, the commission said. Study suggests elderly and sick are most at risk Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 44,000 cases of Covid-19, in the biggest study since the outbreak began. Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) finds that more than 80% of the cases have been mild, with the sick and elderly most at risk. The research also points to the high risk to medical staff. Source: Erica Eyifah/Peace News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 12:30:29|Editor: zyl Video Player Close NUR-SULTAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two extremists, who planned terrorist attacks, have been detained in Kazakhstan, with an explosive device seized, the country's National Security Committee said on Tuesday. The big political news of the day is this: Michael Bloomberg has qualified for Wednesdays Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, setting up the first face-to-face showdown between the self-funding billionaire and the other top candidates for the nomination. Politico covers the story here. In an email alert, Politico advises: Bloomberg, whose late entry has roiled the race, met the Democratic National Committees criteria by earning at least 10 percent in four qualifying polls including an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey Tuesday morning that showed the former New York City mayor at 19 percent. That placed him second only to the national leader, Sen. Bernie Sandersand ahead of the former frontrunner, Joe Biden, who was in third place. In the linked Politico story, the reporters observe: [M]aking the debate stage threatens to lay bare one vulnerability Bloombergs wealth cannot guard against: himself. The debate itself may qualify as appointment viewing. Bloomberg provides the ultimate test case of the power of money in politics. Can it buy the ingredients of political success? I would have said no, but we shall see. Bloombergs racially inflammatory statements of years past continue to surface. It is beyond the pale to observe that racial disparities in the criminal justice system reflect racial disparities in offending rates. The alleged racism of the criminal justice system has become Democratic Party orthodoxy. Here the question is whether Bloombergs apology tour can win him a pardon for past offenses against the orthodoxy. Bloombergs nanny state will to power turned me off long ago. The 2007 video of Bloomberg as Mary Poppins seems to give it memorable form. In the latest video surprise, Bloomberg appears at a 2016 Oxford University forum and disparages the intelligence required to succeed in farming. Bloomberg explains: I could teach anybody, even people in this room, so no offense intended, to be a farmer. Its a processes. You dig a hole, put a seed in, you put dirt on top, and you water it and up comes the corn you could learn that. Now comes the information economy. The information economy is fundamentally different because its built around replacing people with technology. The skillsets that you have to learn are how to think and analyze. That is a whole degree level different. You have to have a different skillset, you have to have a lot more grey matter. Western Australia is too reliant on China and needs to look to other emerging Asian superpowers to diversify its trade partnerships, one of the world's leading independent economists has warned. The global economy has been rattled since January when countries were made aware of the deadly coronavirus COVID-19, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since killed 1700 and infected more than 70,000. Economist Jonathan Pain. Its presence threatens to dent the global economy. Australia has banned tourists travelling from mainland China, where nearly half a billion people have been placed into some form of quarantine. Speaking at an Urban Development Institute of Australia WA luncheon on Friday, economist Jonathan Pain said Australia and particularly WA was vulnerable to such economic shockwaves. Renowned Bengali film actor and former Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Tapas Pal died following a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on Tuesday, family sources said. The 61-year-old actor is survived by his wife and a daughter, who he had gone to visit in the western metropolis. Pal passed away in a hospital near Juhu, where he breathed his last around 4 am. Pal was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnanagar constituency in 2009 and 2014. Prior to that he became a member of the West Bengal Assembly twice in 2001 and 2006 by winning from Alipore seat. Tapas Pal etched a permanent place in the heart of Bengali cine lovers with his memorable and soulful portrayal of lead roles in blockbusters like Dadar Kirti (1980), Saheb (1981), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Gurudakshina (1987) and Anurager Choyan (1986). However, the last few years of his life saw Pal land in controversies. In 2014, a video of his speech warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men to be beware of him as he wont spare them and destroy your entire clan and unleash my boys to rape your women became viral, causing widespread outrage across the nation. He was also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on December 30, 2016, in connection with the multi-crore rupee Rose Valley Chit Fund scam, and got bail after remaining 13 months in incarceration. Also read | Asim Riaz chats with Bohemia, parties with Himanshi Khurana and Rashami Desai after Bigg Boss 13 finale Tapas Paul. 1958-2020, today. King of Bangla cinema. Former Trinamool MP and MLA. Travel well, my friend, tweeted his party colleague and Trinamool MP Derek OBrien. Sad news of the demise of Mr. #TapasPal, a popular actor of Bengali films and former TMC MP. I pray to God to grant the departed soul a place at my feet and the family to bear this profound grief. Humble tribute! Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON AKRON, Ohio The University of Akron on Monday announced three finalists in its search for a new executive vice president and provost. The candidates are Achille Messac, professor of mechanical engineering and former dean of engineering and architecture at Howard University; Susan Stapleton, professor of chemistry and biological sciences and special assistant to the provost at Western Michigan University; and John Wiencek, professor of chemical engineering and executive vice president and provost at the University of Idaho. Each finalist is scheduled to visit UA for a presentation and Q&A with students, faculty and others on campus. Stapleton is set to visit on Feb. 24, Wiencek on March 2 and Messac on March 3. All sessions will be in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union Gardner Theatre from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Each candidate will present 10 to 15 minutes of opening remarks, followed by a Q&A session. Paul Levy, chair of the search committee, said members of the campus community also will be able to fill out an online form to provide feedback about each candidate. Former UA interim President John Green announced in April that the Board of Trustees was splitting the role of provost into two positions: Chand Midha as executive vice president and chief academic officer, and then-Provost Rex Ramsier as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. In October, UA President Gary Miller announced the appointment of Joe Urgo as interim executive vice president and provost. Miller also said Midha would be leaving his post, while Ramsier would keep his current position. Urgo, who was not eligible for the permanent job, has been contracted to work through June 30. The new position would be the second-ranking officer of the university, reporting directly to Miller. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Were seeing a growing shift towards policy setting in the sharing economy. Whether its hailing a ride, booking a vacation house, buying new or used goods, contracting services, or downloading music, the sharing economy is redefining traditional business models. To support data exchange and trustworthiness in this expanding market, ISO the International Organization for Standardization has formed Technical Committee 324. This new group is defining a broad set of global standards for the sharing economy. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the OASIS standards consortium have brought together leaders from the largest online platforms, innovative startups, technology companies, financial services providers, and nonprofits to represent American interests in this work as members of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC 324, Sharing Economy. Were seeing a growing shift towards policy setting in the sharing economy. The ISO standards were defining now will play a key role in shaping those policies, said Tim Hirsch of CaaStle, chair of the U.S. TAG. Our work is going to have a profound impact across the marketon platform operators, service providers, and users. Focusing on five key market segmentstransportation, staffing, lodging, retail, and mediaISO/TC 324 will address areas as varied as risk mitigation, asset protection, management, and resourcing. The initial phase of the work will focus on terminology and principles, and operationalizing sharing economy methodologies. Microsofts Stephanie Beers, vice chair of the U.S. TAG, observed, The TAG has already effectively advocated for several issues important to our members. For example, we succeeded in changing ISOs definition of the sharing economy to cover not only business-to-consumer but also business-to-business. We recognize the importance of not excluding groups that want guidance from these standards. The majority of sharing economy pioneers are based in the U.S. Were proud to have so many of these industry giants collaborating side-by-side with visionary technology and financial companies and providers of the latest platforms, said Carol Geyer, chief development officer of OASIS. All the U.S. TAG members should be applauded for their commitment to international collaboration, data safety, and the future of peer-to-peer computing. The next ISO/TC 324 plenary will be held in Saint-Denis, France, 22-24 June 2020. Support from U.S. TAG members "eBay, in working with the U.S. TAG, is setting consistent practices and standards for sharing at a global ecommerce level which will result in even greater connected business opportunities and unprecedented benefits for consumers."--Sanjeev Katariya, VP and Chief Architect, eBay AI & Platforms The sharing economy will change every aspect of our lives from how we do business to how we interact with each other and our environment. The FinTech4Good team is looking forward to working with other TAG members to achieve Agenda 2030 through the sharing economy. --Xiaochen Zhang. President, FinTech4Good "Indiegogo is excited to partner with other industry leaders on this important initiative. Having international standards is key to collaborating globally, and we are excited to help progress a mutual understanding throughout the ecosystem." --Andy Yang, CEO, Indiegogo "As the sharing economy is embraced by every demographic in the world, it is incumbent upon the sharing economy ecosystem to professionalize itself with standards that seek normalization, protections for workers and consumers, and encourage growth." --Jeremy Gottschalks, Founder and CEO, Marketplace Risk "Trust is the bedrock of any successful partnership. Bringing together both public and private organizational experience in Sharing Economy/Collaborative eCommerce, spear-headed by ANSI and OASIS is a step in the right direction to ensure TRUST is the foundation. To ensure the future of work and the marketplace driven economy is not hijacked by business or political interests, defining these ethical and technological standards now, will help guide all participants in this burgeoning business model." --Adam Broadway, CEO, Near Me While sharing economy, blockchain and fintech may be new terms, they are quickly becoming the foundation for how organizations and individuals will work in the future. These are the technologies and functions we use in our Media Exchange to leverage unused cloud time, equipment and manpower for distributed productions that lower costs and improve quality. --Joseph Maar, CEO, NECF Corporation Setting fair sharing economy standards will have a huge impact moving forward. Mass inequity in society has led to the proliferation of sharing economy businesses, but we as a committee need to be the voice for all stakeholders from businesses, providers and consumers of these platforms. --Anitha Beberg, CEO, Seva Exchange The formation of this committee is tremendous recognition of the long-term viability of the global sharing economy. This international collaboration will be vital to the continued expansion of major sharing economy segments in emerging markets where on-demand entrepreneurs and the companies they represent require stronger protection to ensure growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction." --Tim Attia, CEO, Slice Labs "The Gig Economy Group is pleased to participate in the working group to explore the important impact of the sharing economy on how we create a framework of engagement that works for the different stakeholders in the market with the rapid growth of the sharing economy."--Dave Toole, CEO and Chairman, The Gig Economy Group Visit ISO's website for information on U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 324: https://www.iso.org/committee/7314327.html About ANSI The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit http://www.ansi.org. About OASIS OASIS is one of the most respected, nonprofit standards bodies in the world. It offers standards and open source projects a path to recognition in international policy and procurement. OASIS has a broad technical agenda encompassing the sharing economy, cybersecurity, privacy, cryptography, cloud computing, IoT, and more. OASIS members can be found in 100+ countries on virtually every continent. Major multinational companies, SMEs, government agencies, universities, research institutions, consulting groups, and individuals are represented. http://www.oasis-open.org The first season of Narcos on Netflix received commendations and praise from viewers. During the first season, it was one of the most followed documentary movie series on Netflix and still maintains a massive fanbase up until now. Now, that 'Narcos: Mexico' has been released on Netflix for another season, many are expecting that it will once again hit the same as with the first season of Narcos. The new season of 'Narcos: Mexico' is quite different compared to the first season. Most especially the location. The second season will be bringing its viewers in to Mexico and will let everyone see what the country has under the mask of its colorful festivals and celebration of the Day of the Death. One of the main characters in the second season is Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo who will be played by Diego Luna. However, it took him months before he signed the contract to play the character of Gallardo. In real-life, Gallardo was one of the most well-known leaders of cartels in Mexico way back in the 1980s in Guadalajara. Gallardo was arrested in 1989 after he was charged with the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena who went in as an undercover spy of the agency. Galardo was also charged with a series of violent crimes, fraudulent business dealings, and drug smuggling. He was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment. As you may recall, Camarena was played by Michael Pena in the first season. Why did it take months before Diego Luna signed onto play Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo? In a published report from Variety, the actor said that it took him months of conversation with showrunner Eric Newman before he signed the contract. During this week's Variety and iHeart Podcast episode "The Big Ticket" he said that he asked the showrunner lots of questions most especially about what they want to trigger in the new series and why this new season is very important for them. Then the actor realized that the new season of Narcos: Mexico does not intend to talk about the characters, but instead the system that led the characters to be involved in the cartels. Luna said: "Getting into the shoes of this character, having to portray him was demanding and it's something I'm glad I did because as an actor it pushed me to do stuff I've never done but I'm also really happy it came to me at this time when I'm 40 when I have a family when I know what life is about when I know how to disconnect. I just go to my kids and get reminded of what life is about." Luna also admitted that when he was in his younger years, like 20 years old, he would have panic attacks at night but not anymore. Likewise, in a statement, he even said that he knew his job and he dedicated so much for his passion. There were times in his life where he sacrificed everything for his job, but those years are over and this is now the right time for him to do "something like this." What made Narcos popular? 'Narcos', one of the most compelling documentary-series on Netflix, is very popular because of its authenticity. The first three series of 'Narcos' focused on the rise of Colombian Cartels. This time, Luna said: "We are not doing it in English with a weird accent so people can understand it. We have Mexicans playing Mexicans. We are shooting in real locations. We are seeing a country we have never seen because it's not the Day of the Dead, it's not Cancun. Or it's not the times of the revolution and Zapata and Villa. It's the Mexico that's there [now]." Did Luna communicate with Gallardo? According to Luna, he did not communicate with Gallardo to help him prepare for the role. Though there were long interviews given to him about Gallardo still, he prefers to read what people said about Gallardo as he feels it could be more useful. Gallardo believed that if you ask a person of who they are they would only give you half of the truth but if you asked people around about that person you will know more. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Even as #MeToo discussions have become common, New Jersey workplaces often allow hostile behavior to fester because anti-sexual harassment training is not required, people dont understand what harassment looks like and employees often wait too long to file a complaint, according to a report by the state Division on Civil Rights. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday he would take the divisions findings and support legislation in the state that would reject the norms of yesterday that overlooked workplace harassment and discrimination as business as usual. Murphy said he would sign legislation that would require all New Jersey employers public and private to provide anti-harassment training developed by the state. The Democratic governor would also support a law that makes clear one act of sexual harassment would be enough for someone to file a civil complaint, and it doesnt require a victim to have to endure physical contact, his announcement said. Murphy also said he would support extending the statute of limitations by allowing victims three years to file a civil lawsuit, instead of the current two years. Victims would also have a year, instead of six months, to file a complaint with the state Division on Civil Rights. The state Law Against Discrimination would also be extended to cover unpaid interns and domestic workers, the governor added. With this legislation, New Jersey has the opportunity to set a high standard for progressive workforce policies and give marginalized voices the ability to hold perpetrators accountable," Murphy during a press conference in Trenton. My administration fully understands our obligation to lead by example in this effort, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to build toward a stronger, fairer workplace environment for all New Jerseyans, he added. NJ Advance Media was the first to report about the legislation Tuesday. The proposals emerged from three public hearings in September, led by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights within the Attorney Generals Office and the nonprofit New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Forty victims, experts and advocates testified, according to the report summarizing the findings. Patricia Teffenhart, NJCASAs executive director, said the proposed changes make her optimistic. We stand here today as equal partners willing to do the hard work of unraveling power imbalances so that we can live and work in a safer Garden State, Teffenhart said. The problem lies with power and control the kind that a person exploits to abuse or harm another person, and the kind of power and control that allows a person to get away with it and keep the victim silent, she said. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, has said she would sponsor the legislation needed to make the proposals state law, Murphy noted. I look forward to working with Gov. Murphy on his new initiatives to strengthen laws to protect victims of sexual harassment, Weinberg said in a statement. These are all steps forward. I will be working with the Governors Office and hope I will have his support to suggest other changes to current law that will make certain we have made the necessary strides to really offer strong protection. The legislation would also require employers with 50 or more employees to report the number of sexual harassment and discrimination complaints to the state. The bill would need to be passed by both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature and signed by Murphy to become law. In addition to the proposed legislation, Murphy said he has directed the state Division on Consumer Affairs and the Division of Gaming Enforcement to reexamine and update their sexual harassment policies. There has been a renewed focus in recent months on how women are treated in New Jersey politics after a Dec. 29 report from NJ Advance Media in which numerous women working in the field detailed how they had been harassed or sexually assaulted. The governor hinted at the coming proposals when he announced last week his administration would hire employment specialists to improve harassment prevention training. And in his State of the State address last month, Murphy called on lawmakers and other leaders to "work together to tear down the existing system and replace it with one that treats everyone with equal dignity and respect. Murphys 2017 campaign has been dogged by allegations of toxicity, especially for women. A former adviser, Julie Roginsky, publicly said the campaign was the most toxic workplace environment I have ever seen in 25 years of working on political campaigns. Other women on the campaign have made similar accusations, some anonymously. Murphy last week apologized to those we failed on the campaign. Murphy made the announcement Tuesday joined by the chair of the Civil Service Commission, Deidre Webster Cobb, who is a defendant in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Viktoriya Usachenok, an employee for the state Treasury Department, said her lawsuit she was subjected to pervasive sexual harassment by a supervisor, which included stalking, sexual propositioning and unwelcome physical touching and assault. Usachenoks lawsuit accuses Webster Cobb and an investigator, Bulisa Sanders, of retaliation and discounting her allegations. Ultimately, Michael Tyger, acting Director of the Division of Administration, intervened and overruled Webster Cobb and Sanders, according to the complaint. NJ Advance Media staff writers Ted Sherman, Kelly Heyboer and Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. A sub-group of the global terror financing watchdog FATF on Tuesday recommended continuation of Pakistan in the 'Grey List' for its failure to check terror funding and a final decision will be taken on February 21, sources said on Tuesday. The decision was taken at the meeting of the FATF's International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), held at the ongoing Paris plenary. "The ICRG meeting, sub group of the FATF, has recommended to retain Pakistan in the 'Grey List'. A final decision will be taken on Friday when the FATF takes up issues concerning Pakistan," a source said. A new Church of Ireland primate will be chosen next week. The church announced yesterday that its House of Bishops is meeting together at an undisclosed venue to elect the successor to Dr Richard Clarke, the former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate, who retired earlier this month. It was also announced yesterday that Archdeacon George Davison has been elected as Bishop of Connor to succeed the Rev Dr Alan Abernethy, who stepped down at the end of last year. Members of the House of Bishops will be meeting next Thursday and Friday and the result will be known shortly after the new Primate is appointed. Dr Clarke (70) served as a Bishop in the Church of Ireland for 23 years. He was Bishop of Meath and Kildare from 1996 to 2012, and Archbishop of Armagh and Primate from 2012 until his recent retirement. His first appointment after ordination was as a curate in Holywood. He announced his retirement at the Armagh Diocesan Synod late last year, and said that his time in Armagh had "truly been a very agreeable experience". His likely successor is thought to be the Rt Rev John McDowell, the current Bishop of Clogher (64), who was educated at Annadale Grammar School and Queen's University, as well as the London School of Economics and Trinity College, Dublin. However, there is nothing certain until the Bishops enter their conclave this week and make their decision. The election of a new Archbishop of Armagh and Primate differs from that for the election of a Bishop. The choice of a new Bishop is the responsibility of the electoral college of the Diocese, but if its members fail to come to a decision after a number of meetings, the matter is taken over by the House of Bishops who will decide on who is appointed. The appointment of the Archbishop and Primate is made solely by the House of Bishops, which has 12 members. However, the number drops to 10 this week because Dr Clarke is out of office and the Bishop-elect for Connor cannot take part until his consecration, for which a date has not yet been set. The Venerable George Davison is the current Archdeacon of Belfast, Rector of St Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus, clerical Honorary Secretary on the General Synod for the Northern Province, and formerly Archdeacon of Kilmore and Rector of Kinawley in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. He was born in 1965 and ordained in 1992. He and his wife Nadine have two adult children, Erin and James. T ory MPs have condemned "reprehensible" comments made by disgraced Downing Street adviser Andrew Sabisky amid calls for a review into how aides are recruited. Mr Sabisky announced he was standing down on Monday amid outcry over a string of controversial comments, including suggesting enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies creating a "permanent underclass". Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng has now described the remarks as "offensive" and "racist", despite the Prime Minister refusing to issue a condemnation over the appointment. Mr Kwarteng added that he thought the Government would be "looking at vetting processes more closely" in light of the drama. Andrew Sabisky resigned / BBC Daily Politics Mr Kwarteng's comments will be seen as an affront to Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons most senior adviser, who invited misfits and weirdos to apply to Downing Street. I think we should prevent racists from coming into No10 or wherever he was working. I think we do need to look at these processes," he told Sky News. "It was completely reprehensible they [his writings] were racist remarks. He added: "I don't know how this man appeared on the horizon, I don't know how he was recruited. "What I do know is that his remarks were offensive and racist and as soon as they came to light, he left the Government pretty quickly." Dominic Cummings called for 'misfits and weirdos' to apply to Number 10 / REUTERS MPs rounded on the new recruit after a string of controversial past comments surfaced, including a suggestion that black Americans have a lower average IQ than white Americans. Mr Sabisky also reportedly once suggested that the benefits of a purported cognitive enhancer, which can prove fatal, are "probably worth a dead kid once a year". And writing on Mr Cummings's website in 2014, he said: "One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue." Mr Johnson was put under mounting pressure to sack the new aide. But Downing Street refused to condemn the remarks, a stance Labour said was "disgusting". Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Government must "demonstrate some basic but fundamental values". Mr Sabisky later announced he was quitting, describing the "media hysteria about my old stuff online" as "mad". "I hope no.10 hires more ppl w/ good geopolitical forecasting track records & that media learn to stop selective quoting," he tweeted. Caroline Nokes, the Conservative chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, also hit out at Number 10s silence over the row. It does seem that when the call went out for misfits and weirdos that was exactly what Downing Street got, she said. Unfortunately, we had 48 hours of almost complete silence and no comment from Downing Street, who could have distanced themselves from his youthful comments at any point, but they chose not to do so. Labour party chairman Ian Lavery called Mr Sabiskys remarks disgusting, while Tottenham MP David Lammy branded them deeply sinister. A Number 10 spokesman said yesterday: Im not going to be commenting on individual appointments. The spokesman added: The Prime Ministers views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented. Andrew Sabisky once suggested black people had lower IQs and discussed the benefits of forced contraception. An adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who once said black Americans have a lower average IQ than white Americans and had discussed the benefits of forced contraception, has quit amid backlash over his comments. Andrew Sabisky said on Monday he was resigning because he had become a distraction. Earlier, Johnsons spokesman repeatedly refused to comment when asked about Sabisky, whose appointment drew widespread criticism after the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported statements made in his name online in 2014 and 2016. Media reported that Sabisky was hired following an unusual appeal earlier this year from Johnsons senior adviser Dominic Cummings for weirdos and misfits with odd skills to help bring new ideas to the UKs government. His resignation is a blow to that effort, which had attracted criticism from those who said Cummings was sidestepping normal government recruitment processes. The media hysteria about my old stuff online is mad but I wanted to help [the government] not be a distraction, Sabisky said on Twitter. Accordingly Ive decided to resign as a contractor I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination: if I cant do the work properly theres no point. Sabisky, who has referred to himself as a super forecaster, said he hoped Johnsons office will hire more people with good geopolitical forecasting track records and that the media learn to stop selective quoting. An account in Sabiskys name made the comments about black IQ in a reply to a 2014 blog post written by an American professor discussing education disabilities in the United States. In 2016, replying to a blog post written by Cummings, an account in Sabiskys name said: One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty. Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue. UK govt refuses to condemn comments Both the opposition Labour Party and at least two of Johnsons own Conservatives had called for Sabisky to be fired. Andrew Sabiskys presence in no.10 is a poor reflection on the Govt and there is no way to defend it. He needs to go. Weirdos and misfits are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence, Conservative legislator William Wragg wrote on Twitter before Sabisky resigned. Andrew Sabiskys presence in no.10 is a poor reflection on the Govt and there is no way to defend it. He needs to go. Weirdos and misfits are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence. I cannot be the only one uncomfortable with recent no.10 trends. William Wragg MP (@William_Wragg) February 17, 2020 Earlier on Monday, a spokesman for Johnson declined to discuss Sabiskys role in 10 Downing Street, saying Im not going to be commenting on individual appointments. Spokesman Jamie Davies also refused to say whether the prime minister agreed with Sabiskys views, which critics say amount to support for eugenics, the now-discredited movement to improve the human race through selective reproduction. The prime ministers views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented, Davies said. Johnson has his own record of offensive comments, however. In a speech in 2013, he said any discussion about equality had to take account of the fact that 16 percent of our species had an IQ below 85 while around 2 percent had an IQ above 130, adding: The harder you shake the pack, the easier it will be for some cornflakes to get to the top. In 2000, while Johnson was editor of the Spectator, the magazine carried an article from columnist Taki Theodoracopulos which said: On average, Orientals are slower to mature, less randy, less fertile, and have larger brains and higher IQ scores. Blacks are at the other pole, and whites fall somewhere in the middle, although closer to the Orientals than the blacks. The prime minister has also previously described black people as piccaninnies with watermelon smiles, and more recently referred to Muslim women who wear the burqa, a full-body veil that covers the face as well, as letterboxes. Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: It is disgusting that not only has Number 10 failed to condemn Andrew Sabiskys appalling comments, but also seems to have endorsed the idea that white people are more intelligent than black people. Boris Johnson should have the backbone to make a statement in his own words on why he has made this appointment, whether he stands by it and his own views on the subject of eugenics. HSBC (HSBA.L) on Monday announced a sweeping restructure alongside worse-than-expected annual results. The Hong Kong-British lender said it would axe 35,000 jobs around the globe as it aims to cut annual costs by $4.5bn (3.4bn) over the next two years. We would expect our headcount to decrease from the current level of 235,000 to be closer to 200,000 by 2022, interim chief executive Noel Quinn told journalists on a call. A woman walks past a HSBC sign in Hong Kong. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images) HSBCs chief financial officer Ewen Stevenson said there would be meaningful job cuts in the UK but wouldnt give a figure. Quinn said HSBC would try to manage the cuts by not replacing staff who leave. He said the natural attrition of staff was around 25,000 each year and promised HSBC would manage layoffs in a sensitive and appropriate manner. Read more: HSBC 'running hard to stand still' with restructure, say analysts Restructure plans include shrinking HSBCs European and US investment banking operations, merging its private banking, retail banking, and wealth management divisions, and merging back office functions. The restructure will cost $7.2bn, with about 40% of that spent on severance costs. Quinn called the plan one of the deepest restructuring and simplification programmes in our history. Profits crash The new strategy HSBCs third significant shift of the last decade was announced alongside worse-than-expected annual results. Revenue rose by 4% in 2019 to $56bn, which was ahead of analysts expectations, but profit missed forecasts. Pre-tax profit fell by a third to $13.3bn, against a City forecast of $20bn. Profit attributable to shareholders crashed by 53% to $6bn. Analysts had been expecting double that. Return on tangible equity, a key measure of bank performance, slipped by 20 basis points to 8.4%. Analysts had forecast 8.9%. Shares in the bank dropped 4% at the open in London. HSBC shares chart. (Yahoo Finance) The groups 2019 performance was resilient, however parts of our business are not delivering acceptable returns, Quinn said in a statement. Story continues We are therefore outlining a revised plan to increase returns for investors, create the capacity for future investment, and build a platform for sustainable growth. We have already begun to implement this plan, which my management team and I are committed to executing at pace. The profit slump was largely driven by a $7.3bn impairment charge. HSBC wrote down the value of its business in Europe due to lower long-term economic growth rate assumptions and wrote down the value of its investment bank due to plans to shrink it. Read more: HSBC CEO leaving amid 4,000 job cuts Chairman Mark Tucker blamed an increasingly complex and challenging global economy for the poor performance All of HSBCs core markets face challenges. Pro-democracy demonstrations pushed Hong Kong into recession last year, the UKs exit from the EU has created more costs for the bank, and Chinas economy has now come to a standstill in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. HSBC's interim CEO Noel Quinn speaks at New Economy Forum at China Center for International Economic Exchanges on 22 November 2019 in Beijing. (Hou Yu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) However, Tucker said in a statement: Even in this increasingly challenging competitive environment, there are many opportunities for a bank of HSBCs scale and reach. We have made a good start in capturing these opportunities, but we need to go further and faster to capitalise fully on our heritage, network and financial strength. We are intent on driving through the necessary change at pace. HSBC aims to reach a return on tangible equity of 10-12% by 2022. Read more: How Quinn promised to remodel HSBC in October last year The continued outbreak of coronavirus in Asia means things could get worse before they get better. Quinn said the epidemic could lead to increase losses in the region and lower revenue, as businesses pause activity. We continue to monitor the situation closely, Quinn said. However, he told journalists that Asia as a whole is a core engine of growth over the next few years and said HSBC would double down on operations there. Quinn took the top job last August, after 30-year HSBC veteran John Flint was ousted as CEO. Quinn has not been confirmed as permanent chief executive and HSBC said the search for a full-time chief executive is ongoing. However, Tucker said Quinn had full authority to address areas of weakness, improve performance and create capacity to invest. Analysts at investment bank Jefferies said Quinns restructuring plan looks ambitious and very credible. A four-year-old boy gazes out of a jail cell window with his convicted mother in Takmao Prison, outside of Phnom Penh, in a file photo. Cambodian authorities must conduct a thorough investigation into the death of a five-month old girl who was incarcerated with her mother at a correction facility in the capital Phnom Penh, a rights group official said Tuesday, calling for protections to ensure such tragedies do not recur. Tevywhose name has been changed to hide her identitydied on Jan. 26 from pneumonia and severe malnutrition, local rights group Licadho said Tuesday. She had sustained a thigh bone fracture eight days earlier in Correctional Centre 2 (CC2), where her mother was sent for pre-trial detention in mid-2019 for alleged possession of U.S. $2.50 worth of methamphetamine while eight months pregnant. While it was unclear how the infant had been injured, Licadho said that she was treated for the fracture at the National Childrens Hospital before being sent back to CC2, despite prison staff asking if she and her mother could stay overnight for observation. Over the next week, Tevys mother noticed that the baby had a fever and would not stop coughing, but a follow up appointment did not result in any further treatment or a refill of the medicine she had been prescribed. By Jan. 25, Tevy was struggling to breathe and transferred to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, where doctors tried to clear her lungs of mucus, but she died the following morning. Licadho noted that even though she was in the late stages of pregnancy, Tevys mother was never provided a lawyer and unaware of her right to apply for bail, saying that the girls death once again illustrates the urgent need for authorities to prioritize bail for mothers with children and urging authorities to take immediate steps to ensure that this never happens again. The groups senior investigator, Am Sam Ath, told RFAs Khmer Service that Tevys death raised several questions, and suggested that the hospitals she was treated at failed to cooperate with the countrys General Department of Prisons to adequately care for her. There must be a thorough investigation into the death, he said. We must seek measures to prevent these incidents and increase cooperation between the hospitals and the Department of Prisons. Am Sam Ath told RFA that hospitals should observe imprisoned patients for at least 24 hours before returning them to a detention facility. General Department of Prisons spokesman Nuth Savna refused to comment when contacted by RFA about Tevys death, saying more information is needed. I am investigating the case and reaching out to the prison, he said. I need all the facts before I can comment. Children in prison According to Licadho, there are currently 103 children and 43 pregnant women incarcerated in the 18 prisons the group monitorsnumbers it said have nearly doubled since Jan. 1, 2017, when authorities declared a war on drugs in Cambodia. CC2the only prison in Cambodia built to hold women and childrenhas an official capacity of 350 inmates, but currently holds 1,850 detainees. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who first called in 2015 for amnesty for pregnant women and mothers incarcerated with young children, urged the Ministries of Justice and Womens Affairs to review the situation of women in pre-trial detention in February last year, citing the harsh conditions they face in prison. Earlier this week, he again called for immediate action to speed up the trials of women in pre-trial detention, offering to rent out hotel rooms for trial hearings if courtrooms werent available. Licadho said it agrees with the prime minister that children and pregnant women do not belong behind bars. We believe that babies and young children should always be with their mothers, but we do not believe that prison is a safe or healthy environment for them to grow up in, the group said. The group called on authorities to ask everyone who is eligible for bail if they wish to apply, especially in cases of vulnerable populations, such as women with babies and juvenile detainees, and to prioritize the bail hearings of vulnerable populations so that they do not languish in pre-trial detention for lengthy and undetermined periods of time. It asked that they ensure pre-trial detention is used appropriately and as a last resort, with proper consideration of vulnerable populations; provide every charged person access to adequate legal representation and correctly inform them of the charges against them, as well as the procedures of bail application; and publish guidelines on how to handle cases involving mothers and pregnant women to reduce rates of their incarceration in the future. Lastly, the group urged that mothers and pregnant women who are convicted of misdemeanors be given suspended sentences. All pregnant women and mothers in prison with their children, currently serving pre-trial detention, should be granted bail or have their trials completed before International Womens Day on March 8, it said. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. ROME - A top Italian foreign ministry official said Tuesday that the case of Egyptian Bologna university researcher Patrick Zaky, arrested and allegedly tortured for allegedly fomenting unrest in Egypt, was a cause of "huge concern" after the Giulio Regeni case. Foreign ministry Secretary General Elisabetta Belloni told the Senate that Zaky's case "is another source of huge concern and also in this case (as in Regeni's), I ask myself what he has done to create this concern and above all why such a strong reaction from the Egyptian side". Belloni said the Italian embassy in Cairo had "immediately activated itself" to follow the case. The case of 27-year-old Bologna university gender studies researcher Zaky, who has been detained and allegedly tortured in Egypt on charges of fomenting unrest and spreading fake news, has galvanised Italian public opinion and brought protests across the country and abroad, in the wake of the case of Regeni, who was tortured to death in Cairo early in 2016. On Tuesday anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano called on President Sergio Mattarella and the Italian political world to grant Zaky Italian citizenship in a bid to up the pressure for his release. Writing in La Repubblica, the leftwing novelist said "our citizenship could save (Zaky) from further torture". A piece of street art that appeared near the Egyptian embassy in Rome last week shows Regeni comforting Zaky. The mural, by street artist Laika, depicts the 27-year-old Egyptian in prison uniform next to the words freedom in Arabic, with a speech bubble over Regeni telling Zaki not to worry, that "this time everything will turn out right". Belloni, the foreign ministry secretary general, also said Tuesday Italy had never stopped pushing for the truth about Regeni, the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher whose death has remained unexplained but is believed to have been tortured and murdered by Egyptian security personnel. "I want to confirm the all-round commitment of the foreign ministry and my personal one to contribute to the best of our abilities to the search for the truth (on Regeni)," Belloni told the Senate. "We shall not desist from our work which often takes place behind the scenes without a media spotlight. "But I can assure you that in the last few years we have never stopped exerting pressure". Regeni, a student from Friuli in the northeast of Italy, was researching the politically sensitive subject of Cairo street sellers' unions. The union leader had fingered him as a spy to secret services. Italy has said five Egyptian security personnel were involved in Regeni's death. Regeni's father recently said that failings in the effort to get to the bottom of his son's death were not limited to the Egyptian side. In particular, he took issue with Italy's failure to recall its ambassador to Cairo in protest at the lack of cooperation from the Egyptian authorities. "There are grey zones both on the side of the Egyptian government, which is recalcitrant and does not cooperate as it should, and on the Italian side, which has not yet withdrawn our ambassador to Cairo," Claudio Regeni told the parliamentary commission of inquiry into his son's murder. "We have been calling for the ambassador's withdrawal for some time". The mutilated body of the Cambridge researcher into Cairo street unions was found on the highway to Alexandria on February 3, 2016, a week after he disappeared in the Egyptian capital on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak. His mother said she had only been able to recognise him "by the tip of his nose". Magistrate Giuseppe Pignatone, who was Rome chief prosecutor at the time of Regeni's killing, said Monday that the Cairo prosecutor's office hasn't made any progress on the investigation since December 2017, when Rome named the five members of the Egyptian security apparatus as suspects. At various stages, Egypt has put out several purported explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff turned ugly and a kidnapping for ransom in which the alleged gang, criminals but later found innocent of the Regeni murder, were wiped out after his documents had been planted at their lair. Judicial cooperation between Rome and Cairo prosecutors dried up after the Roman prosecutors placed the five members of the security apparatus under investigation. Last month Rome prosecutors Sergio Colaiocco and Michele Prestipino said that Regeni was caught by a "spider's web" spun by the Egyptian security services. "A spider's web was spun around Giulio Regeni by the Egyptian National Security Service in October (2015) before the kidnapping and murder," Colaiocco and Prestipino told a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Friuli-born student's death. "A spider's web in which the (security) apparatus used the people who were closest to Giulio in Cairo, including his lawyer flat mate, the street traders union representative and Noura Whaby, his friend who helped him with translations". "It was a spider's web that closed in more and more and which Giulio ended up in the middle of". Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has denied any official involvement in Regeni's death. Sisi reiterated to Premier Giuseppe Conte in Cairo last month that Egypt wants to get to the truth in the case. Lets face it -- doing homework used to really suck during our school days. However, if you have kids now, this experience would have only intensified while not only forcing them to do what you hated once as a kid, while also being clueless with many things that they ask you about it, during the process. Getty Images However, what if I told you that Google has created an app just for that? I know it sounds too good to be true, but it actually exists. Dubbed Socratic, the app uses the magic of AI (artificial intelligence) to help kids tackle challenges in their homework. The app currently helps kids in subjects like Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, and Trigonometry. It allows students to use voice recognition to ask the answer to academics-related question. For mathematical problems, it also has the ability to use the camera on the smartphone to click the picture of the problem and the AI shows the child how to solve it. The Socratic app consists of over 1,000 subject guides on higher school topics such as Biology, Physics, Algebra, Geometry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction. It also harnesses the wide library of YouTube to show educational content while providing an interactive experience to students. The app also has a plethora of in-house answers for answering to basic questions instantly. Initially, the Socratic app was standalone and was available for free on Googles Play Store. Google recently acquired it in 2019 while pulling it out from the Play Store. In 2019, Google released the app with a new look and some new features on Apples App Store and after much waiting, the app has made its way back to the Play Store. Now parents and students can download the app for free on the Play Store on Android devices running on Android 5.0 or higher. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration announced sanctions Tuesday on a Russian state-controlled brokerage that has helped the Venezuelan government skirt an American oil embargo and enabled President Nicolas Maduro to keep his grip on power in the South American country. Administration officials said Rosneft Trading S.A. and its president, Didier Casimiro, would be added to a financial blacklist in a move that is expected to largely freeze him and the company out of the global financial system. The action is an unusually aggressive move against a company linked to the Russian state and a substantial escalation of a U.S.-led campaign that has failed to oust Maduro from power. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Rosneft Trading is the primary broker for the sale and transportation of Venezuelan crude oil, which has been under sweeping U.S. sanctions since January 2019 as part of the pressure campaign against Maduro. Rosneft Trading has propped up the dictatorial Maduro, enabling his repression of the Venezuelan people, he said in announcing the sanctions. Rosneft Trading, based in Switzerland, was created in 2011 to facilitate trades on behalf of the parent company, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014, said Elliott Abrams, the special U.S. envoy for Venezuela. The brokerage has helped arrange sales of Venezuelan crude by deceiving customers, mostly in Asia, about the source of the oil with such tactics as changing the name of the tanker, Abrams said. Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev called the sanctions an absolute overreach in comments to Russias Kommersant FM radio station. He said Rosneft and its subsidiaries have always acted in strict accordance with the international law. Leontyev added that the company would study the sanctions order before deciding how to act. Russian lawmaker Pavel Zavalny said the country would continue to co-operate with its ally Venezuela in the energy sector despite the U.S. sanctions. One doesnt abandon friends in need, Zavalny said. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza dismissed the new sanctions as coercive unilateral measures that violate the countrys rights under international law. The U.S. and about 60 other countries say Maduros reelection in 2018 was not legitimate and have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. The Venezuelan leader has held on with support from Russia and China. President Donald Trump recently reaffirmed his support for Guaido, recognizing him in the State of the Union address as Venezuelas true and legitimate leader and calling Maduro a tyrant. He then welcomed the opposition leader to a coveted Oval Office meeting. Well, hes the person that the country right now prefers and thats what I go with, Trump told reporters Tuesday before leaving for California. Well see what happens. The gesture bolstered Guaido as support back home fades a year after he rose to the centre of Venezuelas tumultuous political landscape, vowing to oust Maduro and end the oil-rich nations political and financial crisis. The U.S. is considering additional economic sanctions in the coming weeks and months aimed at further tightening economic pressure on the Maduro government, Abrams told reporters at the State Department. Maduro has held on to power despite runaway hyperinflation, a massive exodus and shortages of food and medicine as well as the international pressure that has left his socialist administration isolated. Venezuelan oil shipments dropped significantly last year because of U.S. sanctions but the country still managed to ship hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude last year with the help of Rosneft Trading. Rosneft is now managing about two-thirds of Venezuelas international oil trade as it was able to work around the American sanctions, said Francisco Rodriguez, an economics professor at the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University. If these sanctions are effective in curtailing Rosnefts activity with Venezuela, then this will have a very significant effect on the governments ability to generate revenue and the governments ability to pay for imports, Rodriguez said. While economic measures have so far failed to dislodge Maduro, Guaido called the latest sanctions a new victory! Whoever supports the dictator, from whatever part of the world, will bear the consequences, Guaido tweeted. Those who collaborate with democracy will be welcomed. Guaido launched a campaign to oust Maduro a year ago but so far has failed to make it a reality. He has been unable to flip the militarys loyalty away from Maduro. In recent months, the Venezuelans who had fervently supported Guaido early on had stopped filling the streets for demonstrations, and Maduro has grown emboldened. The action against Rosneft Trading and Casamiro means that any assets they have in the U.S. or in the control of U.S. financial institutions will be frozen. In addition, anyone doing business with them could face American sanctions. Abrams said that would largely freeze the company and its president out of the global financial system because people will be reluctant to take the risk after a 90-day period to wind down any relationship. Officials also said Trump approved the move. They said he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past about U.S. objections to his countrys support for Maduro. Pompeo also discussed it with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a recent meeting. ___ Associated Press writers Daria Litvinova in Moscow and Fabiola Sanchez and Scott Smith in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (Feb. 18, 2020)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is awarded afirm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides program management, various levels of maintenance, training and logistics support to sustain the operational capability of 24 Royal Australian Navy MH-60 Romeo aircraft. Work will be performed at Yerriyong, Australia (79%); Owego, New York (18%); Edinburgh, Australia (1%); Stratford, Connecticut (1%) and Orlando, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed in January 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 206.302-4. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0001)., is awarded amodification (P00009) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-17-C-0044) to exercise an option for maintenance and support services for F/A-18 C/D and associated equipment in support of the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Foreign military sales funds for $47,657,218 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded afirm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00174-17-D-0009 to exercise option-ordering period for development, product improvement and prototyping support. Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Co. will provide engineering, technical, administrative and programmatic management support for total Life Cycle Management of the various aircrew escape systems managed under the Joint Program Office for Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Device Tri-Service Charter. Work will be performed in Downers Grove, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by January 2021. No contract funds are being obligated at the time of this action. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded afirm-fixed price modification to a previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00174-17-D-0012 to exercise option-ordering period for development, product improvement and prototyping support. Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Co. will provide engineering, technical, administrative and programmatic management support for total Life Cycle Management of the various aircrew escape systems managed under the Joint Program Office for Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Device Tri-Service Charter. Work will be performed in Joplin, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by January 2021. No additional funds are being obligated at the time of this action. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data.No applicable data.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00004) to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract (N00019-19-C-0008). This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of two MQ-4 Triton unmanned air systems for the Navy, one Navy main operating base, trade studies and associated technical and administrative data. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (30.5%); Red Oak, Texas (12%); Palmdale, California (10%); Baltimore, Maryland (9.7%); Salt Lake City, Utah (7.9%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (4.9%); Indianapolis, Indiana (3.8%); Moss Point, Mississippi (3.6); Chantilly, Virginia (3.5%); Waco, Texas (1.7%); San Clemente, California (1.3%); Newton, North Dakota (.9%); various locations within the continental U.S. (8.8%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.4%), and is expected to be completed in January 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $172,424,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded a not-to-exceedmodification to a previously-awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advance acquisition contract (N00019-20-C-0009). This modification procures long lead materials, parts, components and support necessary to maintain on-time production and delivery of 43 lot 15 F-35 aircraft for non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); Nagoya, Japan (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $204,964,510; and FMS funds in the amount of $142,750,000, will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00005) to a previously-awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1063). This modification provides for Group 5 unmanned air system intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services. These services are in support of outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS) Task Force Southwest and U.S. Marine Corps operations utilizing contractor-owned/contractor-operated MQ-9 unmanned air systems. Work will be performed in Yuma, Arizona (35%); Poway, California (15%); and various OCONUS locations (50%), and is expected to be completed in May 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance overseas contingency operations (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,826,673 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded ancost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides test and evaluation engineering, prototyping, and integration of warfare systems into Navy aircraft and aviation systems. In addition, this contract provides developmental test and evaluation of lab, ground, and flight-testing of newly installed or developmental systems and/or modifications to fleet-deployed systems as well as data gathering to support potentially new systems, improve existing systems, and experimentation and testing of prototypes. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (96.5%); China Lake, California (1%); Point Mugu, California (1%); Norfolk, Virginia (1%); and Lakehurst, New Jersey (0.5%), and is expected to be completed in March 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was a small business set-aside, competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; two offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0024).No applicable data., is awarded afirm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-20-F-0535) against basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0029). This delivery order procures four retrofit advanced radar processor systems to include required non-recurring engineering and 16 high-density servers for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (54%); and Andover, Maine (46%), and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $15,285,603 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anmodification to exercise an option to a previously awarded hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-17-D-0026) for technical expertise in the development and testing of underwater weapons and underwater weapons systems components. This requirement is to develop an underwater weapons system acquisition/procurement program that provides underwater weapons systems (including authentic foreign mines) for research, development test and evaluation of underwater weapons systems and mine countermeasures systems. Work will be performed in Tinton Falls, New Jersey (95%); Montenegro (2%); Bulgaria (2%); and Italy (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2021. No funding is being obligated at time of award. The, is the contracting activity. Much like our furry friends, movies about man's best friend come in all shapes and sizes: lost dog movies, talking dog movies, military dog movies, reincarnated dog movies. The Call of the Wild, directed by Chris Sanders and based on the classic novella by Jack London, is what one might call a literary dog movie, even if there is technically no actual dog in it. The star of The Call of the Wild, Buck, is a CGI creation. And it's only through the technology that his dangerous and harrowing adventures in the Alaskan wilderness during the Gold Rush, as outlined by London, could be realistically brought to the big screen, for better or for worse. Economists had been expecting great things for international tourism in 2020, but the spread of the coronavirus in China, and the lack of a cure, is turning great expectations into something quite different. As of the time of writing, the coronavirus has killed 1,665 people and infected more than 68,500 since it was first identified in December in China. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), because of the virus outbreak, the global tourism industry is likely to lose about $80 billion. Even worse, EIU says it wont recover to pre-coronavirus levels for at least a year and a half. So far, some 60 countries have implemented broad travel and immigration restrictions against China, and at least 30 airlines have suspended service to China, where hotel rooms are empty or emptying. The Hilton, for instance, has already closed 150 of its hotels in China. That hits hard when you consider that China is the world's largest market for outbound travel. It even surged from 4.5 million travelers in 2000 to 150 million in 2018. Chinese tourists are also the world's biggest spenders, accounting for 16% of the world's total $1.7 trillion international tourism spending, according to the UNs World Tourism Organization. Their absence on the tourism scene will be felt most seriously across the Asia-Pacific region, which is heavily dependent on Chinese tourism. But there is really no region that will be spared the pain. Last year, Chinese visitors spent $18 billion in Thailand, accounting for 30% of Thailands total tourism. And the projected damage to Vietnams tourism industry is as high as nearly $8 billion. Even though Indonesia hasnt had any confirmed cases of coronavirus yet, its tourist island of Bali has seen 20,000 hotel bookings canceled. Even parts of Europe and the Americas are feeling the heat of depressed tourism. Related: Is A New Housing Bubble Forming? Italy could lose $5 billion in tourism income this year as a result of the virus, and the United States will experience a loss of 1.6 million visitors from mainland China this year; and that means up to $6 billion less spent on travel and airfare. Australia recently announced a travel ban on visitors from mainland China. Last year, China was the largest source for international visitors down under, spending $13.4 billion. Moodys Analytics estimates that the disruption caused by the coronavirus could lower the worlds GDP growth by as much as 0.3%. In dollar terms thats probably around $200 billion. And that is only if the outbreak of the virus is contained in the short term. So far, there is no known cure despite the fact that digital media is full of claims of miracle remedies, featuring everything from boiled garlic or Vitamin C to the likely fatal drinking chlorine dioxide, an industrial bleach. There are also quite a few drugs on the market marketed as a cure. In Myanmar, Buddhist monks advise placing seven ground peppercorns on the tongue to ward off the virus. Indonesian health officials say relaxing and working less as a preventative measure. Saltwater gargling has also been entirely discounted. As of late January, China has more than 80 running or pending clinical trials on potential treatments. Currently, scientists and doctors are exploring whether existing treatments for HIV, Ebola and malaria could combat the coronavirus. In the meantime, theres no cure for the tourism industry. By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Tonight we are talking about mysteries of our universe and the pipeline protests shutting down Canadian railways in support of Wet'suwet'en indigenous peoples. Missing and murdered indigenous women and more. Follow on FB/Instagram: iamkanaska Follow on Twitter: kanaskamusic Follow on Youtube.com/kanaskacarter Subscriber content preview ARLINGTON, Ore. (AP) A chemical waste landfill near the Columbia River in Oregon accepted hundreds of tons of radioactive fracking waste from North Dakota in violation of Oregon regulations that has alarmed environmental advocates. But the company won't be fined because state officials believe landfill operators misunderstood state guidelines, authorities said. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Oregon Department of Energy officials on Thursday issued a violation notice to Chemical Waste Management for its landfill near the small town of Arlington for accepting a total of 2 million pounds of Bakken oil field waste delivered by rail in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Arlington is about 140 miles east of Portland. . . . Manesar, Feb 18 : "How's the Josh," Lieutenant Colonel Manjunath asked the students camped in India Army quarantine base in Manesarand their reply was: "High Sir". It resonated across 10 barracks they were kept in after returning from China's Wuhan, the groud zero of coronavirus. All 248 students kept at the quarantine base for last 14 days will head home on Tuesday. Recalling the horrifying situation before they were air lifted and brought back, Sanjay, a student from Uttarakhand said: "The situation in China was critical. "It was a complete lockdown there and we were not allowed to go out of our houses. We were locked in the room for days," Sanjay said. "From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., we were not allowed to leave the premises back there. The Chinese authorities were deinfecting roads and entire area," said Rohit Tyagi, a PHD student of biological sciences at Huazhong Agriculture University. They recalled that the symptoms were first seen in November but things were not clear on how serious the situation was. "Once the virus began to spread the government began to react and there were restrictions on movement and we were told to stay indoors," said another student. They said US and France were the first to react by ensuring their citizens were evacuated quickly and soon the Indian government also got them out. The students thanked Indian authorities and India Army for rescuing them. Tyagi thanked the force and said that in last 14 days we were at par with any other Indian soilder. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 00:26:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SARAJEVO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of ten municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as well as their partners from the government of Switzerland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed here on Monday a "Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for Sustainable Development." The declaration is part of a four-year program, launched in 2019, in which the participating municipalities identify and coordinate the implementation of their disaster risk reduction priorities. In the document, the signatories confirm their commitment to the principles of good governance and of an integrated disaster risk management model. The program attaches special importance to improving the local coordination mechanisms as well as to promoting a risk-informed strategic planning process with an emphasis on the most vulnerable sections of the population. Around 600,000 people live in BiH's affected municipalities. According to the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), BiH "faces earthquakes, droughts and landslides, and is particularly vulnerable to extreme precipitation and river basin flooding." This development program, worth 4.2 million euros (4.55 million U.S. dollars), is funded by the government of Switzerland and implemented by the UN agencies UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and FAO in partnership with local BiH authorities. Enditem STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lee DAvanzo, the husband of Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo, pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to federal gun-possession charges, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York confirmed to the Advance. Federal prosecutors hit DAvanzo with a charge of possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon in January after officers from the New York Police Department and the Narcotics Task Force of the Office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor raided the couples home at 226 Woodvale Ave. in Pleasant Plains on Dec. 19 and found two loaded firearms, according to the criminal complaint. The officers recovered one gun, a loaded .38-caliber revolver, on the top cabinets above the refrigerator in the kitchen, while the other firearm, a loaded 9 mm, was found under the mattress in the master bedroom of the South Shore home, the complaint alleges. DAvanzos lawyer, James Froccaro, did not present a bail package and the Staten Islander will remain in custody. He is due back in Brooklyn federal court on March 3 before Judge Rachel P. Kovner. INSIDE THE RAID During the raid, officials said cops also found hydrocodone, a pain killer, and alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, as well as two scales, ziplock bags used for the purpose of unlawfully packaging a narcotic drug, a sum of United States currency and multiple cellular phones in the house, the Advance previously reported. Shortly after the raid, DAvanzo was arrested with his wife, Drita, the star of Mob Wives." Both faced charges on Staten Island of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child. Lee DAvanzo was also arrested a couple of weeks later in connection to "Operation on the Ropes, a year-long investigation that busted a total of 24 people in a ring that allegedly distributed marijuana and infused THC into popular candies in New Jersey, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced at the time. In that case, he was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy to possess marijuana and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams, Gramiccioni said in a press release. It is not clear what role exactly Lee DAvanzo played in the scheme. The wife was not charged in the New Jersey case. NOT THE FIRST CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT It wasnt the first time Lee DAvanzo had contact with the criminal justice system. In 2008, he was arrested in Operation Turkeyshoot," when four suspects were allegedly caught trying to break into the vault of a bank in New Springville. The evidence indicated that Lee and other suspects attempted to gain access by drilling through the walls of a neighboring building, according to Advance archives and documents previously filed in court by federal prosecutors. Lee was on federal probation at the time for similar crimes and he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 36 months to five years in state prison. In 2003, Lee was sentenced to 62 months in federal prison on a conviction of racketeering for multiple robberies, marijuana distribution, loansharking and money laundering. In that case, he was identified by prosecutors in court documents as a member of the New Springville Boys, a racketeering enterprise with connections to the Bonanno organized crime family. BEIRUT/GENEVAGovernment air strikes have hit hospitals and refugee camps in northwest Syria and killed about 300 civilians as President Bashar al-Assads forces press an assault against the last rebel stronghold, the United Nations said on Tuesday. U.N. officials said relief agencies were overwhelmed by the humanitarian crisis as nearly one million civilians, most of them women and children, had fled toward the Turkish border in bitter winter conditions to escape the onslaught. Civilians fleeing the fighting are being squeezed into areas without safe shelter that are shrinking in size by the hour. And still they are bombed. They simply have nowhere to go, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. Syrian and Russian warplanes meanwhile kept up raids on the town of Darat Izza in Aleppo province on Tuesday, witnesses said, one day after two hospitals there were badly damaged. At Al Kinana Hospital, blown-out walls and dust-covered medical cables and supplies were strewn about the hospital after two staff were wounded on Monday, witnesses said. At talks in Moscow on Tuesday, Turkey told Russia its troops were ready to push the Moscow-backed Syrian forces from rebel-held areas if they did not pull back to behind a line of Turkish observation posts in Idlib province. [The Turkish delegation] conveyed clearly that Turkey made the necessary military preparation to make sure the Syrian government withdraws to previous borders if they do not do retreat themselves, Omer Celik, a spokesman for Turkeys ruling AK Party, told reporters in Ankara. Turkey says it cannot cope with a new refugee influx which would swell the numbers of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees already stranded inside its borders. Appearing on national television on Monday, Assad said the rapid military gains presaged the eventual defeat of the nine-year-old insurgency against him although it could still take time. The rebel factions include Turkish-backed rebels and jihadist militants. Possible War Crimes U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville, asked if Syria and Russia were deliberately targeting civilians and protected buildings, said, The sheer quantity of attacks on hospitals, medical facilities, and schools would suggest they cannot all be accidental. The attacks could constitute war crimes, Colville told a briefing in Geneva. The U.N. human rights office said it had recorded 299 civilian deaths since Jan. 1, about 93 percent caused by the Syrian government and its allies. The swift advance of government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, through northwest Syria has caused the biggest displacement of the war as people flee towards a shrinking pocket near the Turkish frontier where insurgents hold their last strongholds. A U.N. spokesman, David Swanson, said close to 900,000 people have fled conflict zones in Idlib province and western Aleppo since December, more than 80 percent of them women and children. Many have been unable to find shelter and are sleeping outside in freezing temperatures, burning plastic to stay warm and at risk of disease and death. Only half of all the health facilities in northwest are still functioning now, Swanson said. Hurras Network, a Save the Children partner in Idlib, said seven children including a seven-month-old baby had died from freezing temperatures and bleak conditions in displaced persons camps. About 525,000 children are among those trapped, the U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said. Full Control The Syrian army said on Monday it had taken full control of dozens of towns in the Aleppo countryside. The M-5 highway linking Damascus to Aleppo, the focus of recent fighting, was reopened to civilian traffic on Tuesday after government forces recaptured it last week, the Syrian Observatory war monitor reported. The opposition said air strikes in southern areas of Idlib province had left dozens of towns and villages in ruins in what it called a scorched earth policy. The Russian and Turkish delegations meeting in Moscow were trying to reconcile their differences over Idlib, which have raised questions over the durability of their cooperation. Turkey has sent thousands of troops and convoys of military equipment to reinforce its observation posts in Idlib, established under a 2018 deescalation agreement with Russia. Moscow has accused Turkey of flouting their agreements and failing to rein in militants it said were attacking Syrian and Russian forces. In one positive note, Turkish and Russian troops have restarted joint patrols near the border that had been halted since October, a Russian defense ministry official said. Trucks carrying aid supplies still cross from Turkey into northern Syria in a U.N. relief operation, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Tuesday. By Eric Knecht and Stephanie Nebehay Iran will be holding its parliamentary election on February 21 and the Supreme Leader of the country has urged citizens to show up in high numbers to display unity against 'enemies'. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took to his official Twitter handle to deliver the message to his countrymen where he urged them to come out and vote in higher numbers to display unity against Iran's enemies, referencing the United States and Israel. Many believe that the upcoming parliamentary election is going to be a referendum on the clerical establishment's popularity. Taking part in the elections nullifies many of the vicious plots of the U.S. and the Zionist regime against Iran. These #elections repel the schemes & ploys of the enemies of Iran. Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 18, 2020 Read: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Lashes Out At Germany, France, & UK Iran parliamentary election According to reports, Khamenei loyalists may swing the election in their favour as the Guardian Council headed by the Supreme Leader has disqualified thousands of reformist candidates. As per reports, applications of more than 7,000 candidates were rejected by the Council, a move that received criticism from several politicians including President Hassan Rouhani. Khamenei, however, has backed the watchdog saying that the country's parliament has no place for those who are scared to speak out against foreign enemies. Read: Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Condemns US Airstrikes The recent move by the Guardian Council has ensured that the hardliners dominate the upcoming election. By removing moderates and conservatives the Council has ensured that the voters have no choice but to vote for either the hardliners or the low-key conservatives who are loyal to Khamenei. Read: Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei 's Inner Circle Imposed With US Sanctions Iran has seen a lot in the past few months with people coming out in large numbers to protest against the rising fuel prices, which was then followed by the killing of top Iranian military commander by the United States military and the unfortunate downing of a Ukrainian passenger aircraft by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. People were furious over Iran's initial denial of the shooting down of the aircraft and later admitting that the Guards accidentally shot down the liner. The mourning of Qassem Soleimani's death was turned into a protest against the government as most of the passengers in the Ukrainian flight were Iranians. Read: Khamenei Loyalists May Swing Upcoming Iran Election In Their Favour Foreign citizens evacuated from China on Ukrainian plane to be observed in Ukraine Foreign citizens evacuated from China on a Ukrainian plane will be observed in Ukraine, Health Minister Zoriana Skaletska said at a briefing on Tuesday. According to her, the observation will be carried out in accordance with international law and the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Skaletska noted that only passengers who do not have acute respiratory viral infection symptoms will be allowed on board the aircraft. At the same time, the minister noted that as of the middle of Tuesday afternoon, all passengers are healthy. In total, 84 Ukrainians are in Wuhan. Some 49 of them expressed a desire to be evacuated. In Virginia, the idea of a major artery named for the first and only president of the Confederate States of America was the brainchild of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), which originally envisioned a transcontinental road with that name stretching from Virginia to California. The 1900s and 1910s were banner years for such acts of reverence, coinciding with a spike in construction of monuments celebrating Confederate soldiers and leaders. In 1922, at the behest of the UDC, the Virginia General Assembly named Route 1 from the 14th Street Bridge to Clarksville, near the border with North Carolina Jefferson Davis Highway. The UDC never fulfilled its vision of a continuous cross-country Davis byway, but today multiple Jefferson Davis Highways also named at the behest of the UDC are scattered across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-18 02:03:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A medical team member (R) of Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital hugs a colleague before leaving for Wuhan in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) "If any country is capable of dealing with an unprecedented crisis like this, it's very clearly China," said BMW China chief Jochen Goller. BERLIN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- BMW China chief Jochen Goller has expressed his confidence in China's fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). "We are confident that China will ultimately win this battle" against COVID-19, said Goller, president and chief executive officer of BMW Group Region China, in a written interview with Xinhua. "If any country is capable of dealing with an unprecedented crisis like this, it's very clearly China," he wrote. "The whole country is making great efforts to fight against the epidemic for the benefit of all of us and especially in a critical situation like this," Goller noted, calling on the international community to unite and stand unwaveringly behind China. Medical workers check patients' information at Jiangxia temporary hospital in Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Over the past weeks, BMW has been taking decisive actions and supporting the frontline medical personnel. So far, the German carmaker has already donated 35 million Chinese yuan (5 million U.S. dollars) since the outbreak of the epidemic. Regarding the outlook for the Chinese economy, Goller noted that "we have full trust in the Chinese authorities and the government that they are able to manage this situation. We are very confident in the medium and long-term outlook." "This great country will arise from the crisis even stronger," Goller added. SHELTON, Conn., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This past weekend the No. 0 BTX Global Logistics Chevrolet, driven by BJ McLeod of JD Motorsports, finished 13th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series' opening race in Daytona Beach, Florida. The BTX Global Logistics and Orlando Event Productions (OPAV) sponsored car started from the 22nd position and finished in the Top 15 as driver McLeod skillfully avoided multiple crashes and obstacles throughout the race. McLeod's success has earned him a spot on the track in the next series race in Las Vegas this Saturday, February 23. "This was a strong finish that marks another successful partnership between BTX, OPAV and JDM," said David Graziotti, of BTX Orlando. "We all value speed, teamwork and dedication all key ingredients to staying on top in our respective industries." BTX Global Logistics provides traditional and expedited transportation services to customers around the world. This is the second time that BTX Global Logistics and longtime customer, OPAV, join forces to sponsor a JD Motorsports racecar. In 2019, the companies partnered in a co-branding effort of two JD Motorsports Chevrolets. To contact BTX Orlando, please email [email protected]. BTX Global Logistics is a worldwide shipping and logistics organization that provides flexible transportation solutions for shipments of any weight or size, anywhere in the world. With 40 years of experience, BTX brings a team of seasoned logistics professionals together to offer customers the highest quality of service. BTX's services include expedited, air freight, ground freight, sea freight, white glove, trade show, e-commerce, fulfillment, distribution and much more. Visit www.btxglobal.com for more information. SOURCE BTX Global Logistics Related Links https://www.btxglobal.com In the United States we dont much govern at gunpoint. We require willing and creative cooperation and participation to prosper as a civil society. This happens most easily when people trust the person at the top to do the right thing most of the time and, more important than that, to try to do it all of the time. ... When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily or quickly repaired. You did that damage. Ever since the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, some US media outlets and politicians have taken advantage of the epidemic to slander the Chinese government and attack Chinas political system. Does the US really have a good record in dealing with a similar situation? Let us turn the clock back to 2009, when the H1N1 flu from the US spread to 214 regions and countries. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 60.8 million Americans contracted the H1N1 virus. From April 12, 2009, to April 10, 2010, the virus led to more than 12,000 deaths in a population of 300 million, a number that is hardly on par with the medical standards of a developed nation. Additionally, CDC estimates that 151,700-575,400 people worldwide died from the H1N1 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated. Well, at least they declared it a public health emergency. However, the US government clearly failed to take enough measures to control it. It is confusing that the US seems to have learnt nothing from the epidemic a decade ago. So far, the influenza virus has infected 19 million Americans across the country and killed at least 10,000 people this season alone. Natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005 and left the city in a desperate state, also demonstrated a classic failure or incapacity of the Uncle Sams emergency response system. On the contrary, China has taken massive efforts to keep the coronavirus under control. Wuhan, a city with a population of over 10 million, and where the coronavirus was initially discovered, is locked down. All citizens in China have been advised to wear masks and many have been encouraged to stay home to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. The country is mobilizing medical resources nationwide to aid Wuhan and control the epidemic. As of Feb. 14, a total of 217 medical teams and 25,633 medical professionals were sent to Hubei province, and thousands of military medical experts were deployed to the virus-stricken areas. Till now, China has contained more than 99 percent of the confirmed cases within its borders, which means less than one percent 1% of confirmed cases worldwide are outside China. Just like WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said in his speech: There is a window of opportunity because of the strong measures China is taking at the epicenter, at the source. Facts and numbers have clearly displayed the truth: Chinas speed, scale, and efficiency all demonstrate the strengths of its system. US politicians should stop pointing figures at others, especially if the US government is unable to act in times of public emergency. At the very least, they can shut their mouths if they cannot provide actual help to the world. Dear Editor: Donald J. Trump is neither contrite nor has he learned anything from his impeachment. Its obvious because he claims he did nothing wrong. Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr interfering with Roger Stones sentencing is yet another injustice. Are pardons for Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and Rick Gates next? Except for Mitt Romney, Senate Republicans allowed Trumps unconstutional behavior with their sham trial. Complicit Republicans continue emboldening Trumps vengeful and autocratic deeds. The Senates unwillingness to end Trumps tyrannical conduct makes November re-election unlikely for Republicans Susan Collins, Joni Ernst, Cory Gardner, Thom Tillis and Martha McSally. More congressional Republicans will be voted out in a 2020 Blue Tsunami that grows larger every day and will dwarf the 2018 Blue Wave, which swept the GOP from the House. And should Republicans enable election interference in November, the highest-rated Internet search might be DIY guillotine as patriotic Americans prepare to storm Washingtons La Bastille and wade through Trumps swamp of corruption. Thomas Jefferson aptly suggested that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing. Granted, Americans prefer nonviolent revolution via the ballot box, but democracy is at risk. Demonstrate. Donate. Volunteer. Vote Blue No Matter Who. Jeff Akins Highland, N.Y. A notorious vegan activist has avoided going to jail after he was found guilty of stealing a $1500 calf from a farm in Western Australia, but says 'this is just the start'. Direct Action Everywhere ringleader James Warden, 25, and Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski, 26, stood trial in Perth Magistrates Court, accused of breaking into White Rocks dairy farm in Brunswick and stealing an 11-day-old calf in October 2018. The court heard Swiebodzinski drove the car, then Warden and Mihaela Herceg, who previously pleaded guilty, took the calf from an unlocked shed. James Warden, 25, broke into a farm and stole a calf (pictured) and named it Theo The calf, which they named Theodore, was taken to animal sanctuary Greener Pastures in Waroona but authorities later returned it to the farm. The crime was filmed on a mobile phone and clips were played in court, including one showing Warden slinging the animal over his shoulders. On Tuesday, Swiebodzinski was fined $5000 for his role. Warden was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for the crime, as well as for separately trespassing on a Pinjarra piggery and stealing a dead piglet, which he later displayed at a protest. 'By no means does this mean that animal rights activists are going to stop what we're doing,' Warden told reporters outside court. 'This is just the start of the Right to Rescue campaign, so you're going to be hearing a lot more about that.' Warden was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for the crime On the first day of their trial on Sunday, Warden and Swiebodzinski posted a video on Facebook. 'What's happening today is Arkadiusz and I are in the courts facing multiple counts of aggravated burglary, stealing and trespass, which accumulates to about 54 years prison for myself and 21 years for Arkaduisz,' Warden said. 'It's important for animal rights activist to express their willfulness for the right to rescue.' Swiebodzinski added: 'And no regression, we will continue. We are not sorry, we will not change - the system will change. We won't be changing.' Minutes before the match between Manchester United and Chelsea in the ongoing Premier League, Paul Pogba's agent Mini Raiola slammed Reds' manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, saying the striker is nobody's property. Raiola took to Twitter to make Solskjaer aware that Pogba can leave Manchester United whenever he desires. "Paul is not mine and for sure not Solskjaer's property. Paul is Paul Pogba's. You cannot own a human being already for a long time in the UK or anywhere else. I hope Solskjaer does not want to suggest that Paul is his prisoner," Raiola said in his statement. "But before Solskjaer makes comments about things I say he should inform himself better about the context of what has been said. I am a free citizen who can think and express my thoughts. Until now I was maybe nice to him. Solskjaer should just remember things that he said in the summer to Paul," he added. In recent weeks, speculation has continuously risen related to Pogba's future at the club. And this also prompted the United manager to say that Pogba belongs to the club. However, Pogba's agent thrashed Solskajer's claims and went on to say: "I think Solskjaer may be frustrated for different reasons and is now mixing up some issues. I think that Solskjaer has other things to worry about. At least If I were him I would". Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-0 in the Premier League fixture to move to the seventh spot in the standings with 38 points from 26 matches. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The John E. Amos coal-fired power plant in Winfield, W. Va., was retrofitted to comply with a rule on mercury enacted under President Barack Obama. Read more For more than three years, the Trump administration has prided itself on working with industry to unshackle companies from burdensome environmental regulations. But as the Environmental Protection Agency prepares to finalize the latest in a long line of rollbacks, the nation's power sector has sent a different message: Thanks, but no thanks. Exelon, one of the nation's largest utilities, told the EPA that its effort to change a rule that has cut emissions of mercury and other toxins is "an action that is entirely unnecessary, unreasonable, and universally opposed by the power generation sector." Kathy Robertson, a senior manager for environmental policy at the company, said the industry long ago complied with the rule. "And it works," she said. "The sector has gotten so much cleaner as a result of this rule." Despite a chorus of opposition from unions, business groups and electric utilities, the EPA is on the verge of completing its proposal as part of a broader effort to overhaul how the government calculates the health benefits of cleaner air. Coal executives have lobbied for it, arguing it represented one of the worst excesses of what President Donald Trump calls "the war on coal." The agency plans to declare that it is not "appropriate and necessary" for the government to limit harmful pollutants from power plants, even though every utility in America has complied with standards put in place in 2011 under President Barack Obama. While it will technically keep existing restrictions on mercury in place, it means the government would not be able to count collateral benefits - such as reducing soot and smog - when it sets limits on toxic air pollutants. It's a rollback that industry officials argue could open the door to new legal fights, prompt some plants to turn off their pollution controls and ultimately sicken more Americans - all so that the administration can rewire how the government weighs the costs of regulation. "They've unsheathed an incredibly sharp sword," said University of Chicago professor Michael Greenstone, an energy and environmental economist. "And there's no reason that sword can't be used to roll back other regulations that have produced extraordinarily large benefits for American society." The changes could give a boost to struggling coal companies, while hamstringing future efforts to limit mercury emissions from the nation's power plants. The rule in question, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), targets a powerful neurotoxin that can affect the IQ and motor skills of children, even in utero. Between 2006, when states began to curb mercury from coal plants, and 2016, when the Obama-era rule took full effect, emissions have declined 85 percent. The Obama administration initially projected that the industry would spend between $7.4 billion and $9.6 billion each year to comply with the regulation, while society as a whole would save between $37 billion to $90 billion from the prevention of thousands of premature deaths and lost work days. Those estimates included not just lower mercury emissions but collateral benefits from reductions in soot and other smog-forming pollutants that contribute to asthma and other respiratory problems. The power industry ultimately paid far less to comply. It spent about $18 billion between 2012 and 2018, or $3 billion annually. The Trump administration has argued that it is inappropriate to count such "co-benefits" when considering the economic impact of regulation, saying Obama used creative math to justify burdensome new requirements. "When you do a cost-benefit analysis, you should address the pollutant that's the subject of the regulation," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a recent interview, adding that "98, 99 percent of the benefits were not for mercury." The 2011 requirements did more to hasten the closure of coal-fired power plants than any other regulation adopted under Obama. Facing the first-ever limits on these pollutants, companies across the country chose to switch to natural gas or renewable energy rather than invest in costly new pollution controls. Less than a decade ago, utilities were fighting the rule in court, along with coal producers and Republican attorneys general. The Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the EPA had failed to adequately justify the economic impact of the standards. The next year, the Obama administration published an analysis saying the combined benefits of curbing mercury and other pollutants, like soot, outweighed the costs even when taking industry expenditures into account. The revamped rule - which was supposed to come out late last year - is stuck at the White House, according to two senior administration officials, where staffers continue to deliberate which cost estimates to use. The agency is scrambling to make final some of its most significant rollbacks before Trump's first term ends, including its effort to relax federal mileage standards. Administration officials insist their mercury rollback is merely a response to the Supreme Court ruling - not an effort to once again allow emissions of a harmful set of toxins. "Under the proposal, no more mercury will be emitted into the air than before this rule," EPA spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer said in an email. But the electric industry is skeptical. American Electric Power, for instance, has spent more than $1 billion to comply with the standards since 2011, along with other rules limiting sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. It shut down nearly 7,300 megawatts of coal-fired generation at 11 different plant sites in2015 and 2016 alone. The company and its competitors, represented by the Edison Electric Institute, have urged the administration to preserve a rule they once opposed. Utility executives warn that if the EPA says the rule was unjustified, the decision could allow outside groups to sue over passing on the cost of pollution upgrades to customers. What's more, many experts expect a coal company or conservative group to quickly petition a federal judge to scrap the rule on the grounds that it was never warranted in the first place. "We've already made these investments," Scott Weaver, American Electric Power's director of air quality, said in an interview. "We're happy to comply with this rule. Let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak." Exelon argued in comments to the EPA that the rollback could lead existing coal plants in some states to turn off their pollution controls to save money, leading to the spewing of more mercury and other toxic substances into the air. Greenstone, who under Obama served as chief economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said the move also would upend how costs and benefits of major rules have been analyzed since the Reagan administration. "That has produced a series of regulations that have greatly improved, on net, the lives of the American people. What we have here is what looks to me like the end of that era," he said. "This is a decision by the U.S. government to close its eyes to important determinants of the American people's health, pretending they aren't there." Some experts argue the administration is relying on an outdated analysis and that recent research suggests mercury emissions from power plants harm Americans more than previously estimated. "EPA's analysis suggests that the costs outweigh the benefits. That's simply not true," said Kathy Fallon Lambert, a senior adviser at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Lambert added that new research suggests that the neurological harm from mercury exposure amounted to $4.8 billion in 2017, more than the cost of compliance. "We know the benefits far exceed what they estimated, by several orders of magnitude." Coal officials, meanwhile, have asked EPA to reverse the rule altogether. Bob Murray, a coal mining executive and major Trump donor, identified the rollback in a memo he wrote to Vice President Mike Pence in March 2017. "EPA must also take this opportunity to reform internal practices that have represented bureaucratic 'thumb on the scale,' enabling EPA to justify any regulation that suited that administration's policy agenda," Murray, who declined a request for comment, wrote separately to the agency last spring. Some communities, meanwhile, are awaiting the EPA's decision with dread. Rachel Heaton, a mother of three and a member of the Muckleshoot Tribe of Auburn, Washington, said her tribe's reservation lies between two rivers, the White River and the Green River. Members also fish the waters of Puget Sound, and salmon is a food staple and a livelihood for many in the area. Mercury in the atmosphere can dissolve into water, and Heaton worries that means more of it eventually winding up in her community. I dont trust the EPA. ... I dont see this one in our favor, she said, citing dozens of regulatory rollbacks in the Trump era. Its very personal. Ultimately, it affects my people, our community, our children. Rey Saldana the VIA Metropolitan Transit board chairman, former City Council member and long-time potential mayoral candidate will be the next president and CEO of Communities in Schools, a national nonprofit that connects at-risk youths to campus and community resources they need to graduate. Saldana has pushed for increased student opportunities since he first ran for the City Council a decade ago, at age 23. Currently the regional advocacy director for Raise Your Hand Texas, an Austin-based nonprofit that supports public education, he will move to Washington, D.C., within a month to take up his new role. It feels like Im going right back into the work I always pictured myself going into, he said. Saldana, 33, will be the first CEO of Communities in Schools from Texas and the first who benefited from the program as a teen. The appointment was announced Tuesday. He credits a Communities in Schools coordinator working at South San Antonio High School with convincing him to apply to faraway elite universities, including Stanford, where he ultimately earned two bachelors degrees and a masters in education policy. On Monday, Saldana sought out that former mentor, Dafney Bell, who now directs the Upward Bound Math and Science Project at Palo Alto College. He wanted to surprise her with the news, two hours before catching a flight to Washington for the official announcement. But Bell was with her children at home for Presidents Day. Saldana took a photo of himself sitting in Bells chair, then called her and made her watch the Communities in Schools announcement video with him. When he explained hed been chosen as the organizations national leader, Bell repeatedly shrieked: What? She started to sob heavily. Rey, she said over and over, then asked, Are you going to move? Bell quickly made peace with his answer. Youre going to help a lot of people, she said. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Saldanas parents both had eighth-grade educations. His father, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was a butcher until he earned his citizenship and has worked since then at H-E-Bs frozen foods warehouse. The family spoke only Spanish at home, so Saldana had to learn English while going to school in the South San Antonio Independent School District. He was a good student, but until he showed his grades to Bell and another Communities in Schools employee, Gladys Reyes, his highest aspiration was to attend a local public college or university. The thing about potential is that you dont really know you have it until somebody tells you you have it, Saldana said. Bell helped Saldana with college applications and SAT prep fees. Hed never spent a night away from home, so she enrolled him in a summer program that housed him on a college campus every weeknight, acclimating him and his parents to the idea. After Saldana got to Stanford, he called Bell and Reyes for advice about living in dorms. They helped him with second-year financial aid forms and connected him with an on-campus advisor. They are like the college-educated middle-class parents I never had, Saldana said. Its those kind of handoffs and assists that first-generation college students just dont think about. On ExpressNews.com: Saldana in line to take over San Antonios transit system After getting his masters degree, Saldana wanted to pursue his career in San Antonio. His backup plan, if he didnt win a City Council seat, was to teach middle school geography. But he won, and was elected to three more terms. As chairman of the VIA board, he helped roll out the ConnectSA initiative to improve local transportation and is leaving during a debate over how to fund it. Proponents are pushing for voter approval in November of shifting a sales tax currently earmarked for aquifer protection. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Tuesday they would recommended the VIA board appoint former Chairwoman Hope Andrade to replace Saldana. Perennially suggested as a future mayoral candidate, Saldana now finds it significant that Communities in Schools serves 1.6 million students nationwide about the same as the population of San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Saldana the wild card in upcoming mayors race I was perfectly happy here in San Antonio working on education and transportation, he said. I had said no to a lot of opportunities, because I thought maybe in the future I would run for mayor. But this is one that really compelled me to want to jump forward and be part of this movement and this momentum that was happening all across the country. Communities in Schools has a strategic plan, which includes expansion in San Antonio and nationwide in the next two years. Saldana plans to execute it, then lead development of the organizations next vision, which he said will respond to segregation and rising income inequality. Hes looking forward to learning about the challenges students face in different parts of the country, including areas where addiction and violence hold them back. Communities in Schools operates in 26 states and the District of Columbia, but Texas has its largest share of students. Elaine Wynn, its national board chairwoman, issued a statement noting Saldanas remarkable journey from former CIS student to national leader of our organization, saying it can inspire youths to know the power they have to write their own success story, no matter where they start out in life. Reys track record as a successful policymaker, an education advocate and a tireless champion for young people make him uniquely qualified to carry out our strategic plan to ensure that every student in America has a community of support inside and outside the classroom, she said. Saldana said his wife, Jessica, who does customer research for H-E-B and lived overseas as a child in a U.S. Air Force family, supported the move. They thought it would be a good idea to explore a new city while their 1-year-old son, Eli, was still too young to be displaced from a school. He thanked the Communities in Schools board for taking a chance on him. When you have a certain expectation of whats possible, anything beyond that expectation doesnt seem like it is meant for you, Saldana said. Thats something Im certainly struggling with, at 33, that I know a lot of our students struggle with, so for this board to have the foresight to understand that and still give me the opportunity to lead this organization is an incredible statement. Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has explained the reason why he is not on friendly terms with some monarchs in Osun State. Mr Akanbi made this known in a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists in his palace on Monday. He also reacted to the allegation of assault levelled against him. He explained that monarchs in Iwo, Ola-Oluwa and Ayedire local governments of the state comprising Iwoland are inflicting hardship on their subjects. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Iwo monarch allegedly assaulted his colleague, the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Dhrikulahi Akinropo, at the office of the AIG zone 11, Osogbo, Bashir Makama, last Friday during a peace meeting, over a land dispute. Other monarchs at Fridays peace meeting were Quadri Adeoye, Oluwo of Iwo-Oke; Oyebamiji Oyeleso of Oluponna, Adio Oyediran of Igegeland, Solomon Ojo of Ikonifin, Moshood Oparonke of Eesu, among others. While the meeting was ongoing, Mr Akanbi allegedly stood up from where he was sitting and descended on Mr Akinropo which led to the latter being rushed to the hospital. Mr Akanbi, while reacting to the allegation, did not deny assaulting his colleague. He simply said it was in self defense against an attempt by Mr Akinropo to stick his staff of office in his eyes. On Monday, chiefs and some residents of Ogbaagba, Ile-Ogbo and Iwo demanded sanctions against Mr Akanbi. Gang up against me- Oluwo Following the protest against Mr Akanbi, he wrote a statement explaining his side in the face-off. The monarch said what transpired was a case of the oppressor fighting back against the defender of the oppressed, their victims Mr Akanbi maintained his stand that Mr Akinropo attempted to stick his staff of office in his eyes in order to blind him. I quickly responded to prevent him from achieving their plan to turn me to a blind king. These monarchs are lording themselves over their subjects, taking their family lands and selling their inheritance with impunity. They have gone as far as arresting and imprisoning anyone in these families, who tried to obstruct them from selling their heritage. Speaking on the reaction of the public to the tussle, the Oluwo said most Nigerians allow sentiments to override their sense of reasoning and hail bad leaders. But I have vowed to continuously fight corruption in the traditional system just like President Muhammadu Buhari is fighting political corruption by turning deaf ears to critics. I feel bad about the strong oppressing the weak and the vulnerable in the society because I always feel the pains of the people that why would something like this happen in Iwoland Traditional Council. He also alleged that his colleagues often pay thugs to protect illegally-acquired land sold to speculators for as low as N60,000. Many family lands with ancient cash crop trees such as cocoa, palm kernel tree, oranges, plantain, etc are sold and uprooted without the consent of the family owning the land. They went as far as selling a land to about six people. Many families have been rendered ineffective; many orphans had their land grabbed with no compensation. Many cried to my palace seeking justice. He disclosed that before the matter attracted police attention, he had summoned his colleagues to meetings but often, they refuse to listen to me. No, I have told them I cannot stand here and watch them oppress our people. I am human and I feel the pains of their victims. Anyone doing such will not be forgiven by the destiny(ies) of the affected families, he explained. By Rasana Gasimova An association of jewellers is expected to be created in Azerbaijan, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said. He made the remark at a press conference on "Prospects for the development of the jewellery market in Azerbaijan: problems and opportunities held in Baku on February 18, local media reported. Jabbarov noted that the association will be created to continue providing support for jewellery in the country. He also emphasized that certain steps have been taken towards the development of this sphere and a working group on the matter will be created. Jabbarov said that one of the main tasks of Economy Ministry as part of the country's socio-economic development is to ensure medium and long-term competition of small and medium-sized enterprises in all areas. "In the context of today's event, this is reflected in tasks such as the precious metals mining development in general and, particularly, the jewellery business, he noted. Addressing the event, Chairman of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Orkhan Mammadov said that it is necessary to create mechanisms for evaluation and regulation in Azerbaijan's jewellery market. Mammadov noted that the lack of control over the determination of the quality of precious metals and stones leads to various problem. He stressed that Azerbaijan has a low level of trust between participants of the jewellery market, so it is necessary to establish regulating instruments to eradicate this problem. Consequently, control measures need to be strengthened through the establishment of assessment and regulatory institutions in this sector." Mammadov also informed that an association of gold refiners will be created in Azerbaijan soon, adding that it will be a significant event while the association itself will play the role of a bridge between the state and business. Chairman of AzerGold Zakir Ibrahimov noted that Azerbaijan's AzerGold Closed Joint Stock Company sells high-quality 5, 10 and 20 grams ingots and coins made of gold and silver with the fineness of 999.9 at 12 different sales points in Baku. Ibrahimov noted that the sales of ingots and other products, which depict the Heydar Aliyev Center, Gobustan rock paintings and ornaments of Karabakh carpets, are also carried out through an online platform. He said that the main goal of this project was primarily to support local production and promote the Made in Azerbaijan brand. Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev also spoke at the event. He stressed that a direct dialogue between the state and business is needed in Azerbaijans jewellery sector. Mehdiyev noted that excessive increase in taxes and duties on import operations creates conditions for a legally operating company to prefer smuggling, which complicates the fight against the shadow economy. Note that presently, two companies - AzerGold and Anglo Asian Mining - are operating in the sphere of mining of precious metals in the country. In January 2020, Azerbaijan produced 404.9 kg of gold and 540.4 kg of silver. This is a 63 percent increase compared to the figures of 2018. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bussa Krishna first began worshipping Donald Trump four years ago when the U.S. president appeared to him in a dream. Since then, after a run of good fortune, the Indian real estate broker has transformed his modest home into a shrine to the U.S. leader, who is due in India on Monday for a two-day visit. My love for him has transformed into reverence. That has given me immense happiness. Hence instead of praying to other gods, I started praying to him, Krishna told Reuters. Krishna, who lives alone in a village in the southern state of Telangana, has erected a life-size statue to Trump in his yard, while his walls are scrawled with the leaders name - to the annoyance of his extended family. I am facing difficulties because of my relatives, Krishna said. They tell me that I am disgracing them in society. I told them that just like you believe and worship Shiva, I believe and worship Trump. Neither of us can stop the other from doing so. Krishna is not the only Indian who reveres Trump. In New Delhi, members of the Hindu Sena, a right-wing fringe group, have begun rehearsing a welcome song in his honour. Its members say Trump shares their hatred of Islamic extremism, and it has drawn attention for boisterous celebrations of his birthday, including pretending to feed cake to photos of his face. We like Donald Trump because he openly spoke about Indias feelings, Hindu Sena leader Vishnu Gupta told Reuters. ...He openly said that he would eliminate Islamic terrorism from its roots, that is why I am his fan. Trump, who like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a reputation as an unabashed populist who shows his enemies no mercy, is making his first visit to India. Trumps itinerary starts on Feb. 24 in the western city of Ahmedabad, where he will visit the former home of independence hero Mahatma and address an estimated 125,000 people at a rally. He is due in the capital the following day. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday underlined the need for a change in the "thought process" of governments and financial institutions in view of the fast-changing global economic scene. The senior Congress leader also stressed the need for deviating from the conventional budget-making process, and for working on alternative processes and innovative ideas. "The global economic scenario is changing rapidly and therefore the financial institutions and the governments also need to change their thought-process," Nath said while addressing a workshop organised by the state Finance department on 'Alternative Finance for Projects' here. Nath said increased budgetary allocation was required for fulfilling aspirations of youths, who he said formed a major chunk of the Indian society. The former Union minister said it was becoming challenging to mobilise financial resources for the changed and constantly-changing India and its states. "Therefore, banks, state governments and private sector institutions need to adopt the change," he said. The chief minister further said it has become necessary to focus attention on the economic activities that generate jobs. "Efforts are being made to make Madhya Pradesh's agriculture fully modernised, so that economic activities associated with the farm sector can also be expanded," he said. Madhya Pradesh is far ahead in the agricultural production but there are many obstacles in exploiting its market potential, the CM added. "Mobilisation of budgetary resources of many countries is excellent even without laws like the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Act)," he said. Nath alleged that Madhya Pradesh's share of Rs 14,000 crores was slashed in the Union Budget 2020-21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Padang Wed, February 19 2020 Wash first, pray later: Men perform their wudhu (ablutions) before a prayer at the Muhammadan Mosque in Padang, West Sumatra, on Jan. 25. Following the prayer, they took part in the Serak Gulo ceremony. Festivities filled the Pondok Chinatown area in Padang, West Sumatra, on Jan. 25. It was not only because of Chinese New Year another event, the sugar-filled Serak Gulo, was being held by the Muslim Indian community in the area. On the day, the community gave out sachets of sugar weighing a total of 5 tons to neighbors and passersby at 200-year-old Muhammadan Mosque. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Veteran Bengali actor-turned-politician Tapas Paul, who metamorphosed from the persona of a boy-next-door to a romantic hero and also helped the Trinamool Congress make a foray in the Kolkata's film industry, died after a cardiac arrest in a Mumbai hospital on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 61. Paul's death has led to a blame game, with the TMC holding the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre guilty of "mentally torturing" him and pursuing "political vendetta" against him, a charge rejected as "baseless" by the saffron party, which said the actor paid for the "sins" of his party who had used him as a scapegoat. The two-time former Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar had a long history of heart and neurological problems, and had been in and out of hospitals during the past two years, according to the sources. Paul had gone to Mumbai in January to meet his daughter. He was rushed to the hospital on February 1 after he fell ill at the Mumbai airport on his way to the United States for treatment. He was on ventilator till February 6, his wife Nandini Paul, a TV personality, said. "He was taken off the ventilator and was recovering. But suddenly, his condition worsened and he died of cardiac arrest around 3.30 am on Tuesday," Nandini Paul said. Paul is survived by his wife and daughter Sohini. The actor-politician was born at Chandernagore in Hooghly district, an erstwhile French colony about 35 km from Kolkata. He graduated with bioscience from the Hooghly Mohsin College. Paul shot to fame in 1980 with his debut film, Tarun Majundar's "Dadar Kirti", and left his mark on Bengali cinema with movies like "Saheb", for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award in 1981, and "Guru Dakshina". He became a household name with his leading roles in "Parabat Priya" (1984), "Bhalobasa Bhalobasa" (1985), "Anurager Chowa" and "Amar Bandhan" (1986). The actor had marked his debut in Bollywood opposite Madhuri Dixit in 'Abodh'. The 1984 film was also Dixit's first acting assignment for the big screen. "The loss of Tapas Paul who was one of the very first actors, I have worked with is felt by many. May God bless and comfort his family during this difficult period," Dixit tweeted. In a career spanning over three decades, Paul had worked with veteran Bengali actors Prosenjit Chatterjee, Soumitra Chatterjee, Ranjit Mallick and Raakhee Gulzar. His last appearances were in films like "Khiladi" and "8:08 Er Bongaon Local". Paul was inspired by TMC supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her fight against the Left Front and had joined the party in 2000, two years after it was formed. He was elected MLA from the Alipore assembly seat in 2001 and was the Lok Sabha MP of Krishnanagar for two consecutive terms from 2009. In 2014, Paul had courted a controversy after he threatened to kill the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist workers and said he would send his boys to rape their women, if they mess with the TMC workers. His comments drew widespread condemnation, forcing him to later issue a written apology. But Paul had drifted away from both cinema and active politics after he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation and jailed in connection with the Rose Valley chit-fund scam case in December 2016. After his arrest, Paul's family members had time and again alleged that the TMC did not bother to enquire about him. He was granted bail after 13 months. On his release from prison in 2018, Paul withdrew from active politics and communicated to the TMC his unwillingness to contest elections. Banerjee in her condolence message said Paul's death had left a deep void in films and politics. "Saddened and shocked to hear about the demise of Tapas Paul. He was a superstar of Bengali cinema who was a member of the Trinamool family. Tapas served the people as a two-term MP and MLA. We will miss him dearly. My condolences to his wife Nandini, daughter Sohini and his many fans," the TMC supremo tweeted. Kolkata mayor and state minister Firhad Hakim said "Tapas Paul was not only a good actor but also a good human being. He was victimized by the central government. It is due to the vendetta politics pursued by BJP, that he became ill and passed away at such a early age". West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who also condoled Paul's demise, said "It is for people to decide why we lost such a good actor. Was it due to the kind of association he used to keep, who used him and he had to pay for their sins?" Actor Ranjit Mallick described Paul's death as "untimely". "I am yet to come to terms with the news. He was like my younger brother. He was not keeping well for some time," he said. Paul's colleagues in films and politics, actors Debasree Roy and Chiranjeet Chakraborty, both TMC MLAs, said they had lost a dear friend and the film industry a brilliant actor. The Texas Renaissance Festival recently announced it will expand its enchanted forest area with two large attractions come the 2020 season. The festival is the largest Renaissance-themed-event in the nation and attracts nearly half a million visitors each year, according to the event website. Located about an hour's drive north of Houston in Todd Mission, the nine-weekend event features hundreds of shops, performers, musicians and dancers set on a 55-acre, 16th-century European-inspired village. MOUNT HOOD, Ore. (KGW) A 47-year-old California man who had been reported missing when he didn't return home after a work trip to Oregon was found dead in Heather Canyon at Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort on Monday. This is the second death in Heather Canyon in the past two days. On Sunday, a Portland man died after a snowboarding fall. Family members of Tim Bauters contacted the Hood River County Sheriff's Office on Monday after he failed to return home to Sunnydale, California after a work trip to Oregon. Family members told authorities they'd last communicated with him at Mount Hood Meadows on Friday. They said he went to the resort multiple times during his work trip, and said he was snowboarding alone. Members of the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol found Bauters' vehicle, which was still on site. Resort security was able to narrow Bauters' last time and location from his lift scans. The Hood River County Sheriff's Office launched a search and rescue aircraft to find Bauters, and his body was found in Heather Canyon at about 6:15 p.m. On Sunday morning, a Portland man died in a fall while snowboarding in Heather Canyon, officials at Mt. Hood Meadows reported. The Hood River County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 45-year-old Ryan Zeitner. Medics were dispatched to Mt. Hood Meadows after a reported snowboarding fall just after 11 a.m. Sunday, but Zeitner was pronounced dead by medics shortly after their arrival. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. apparently did not know before the 2018 Camp Fire that the high-voltage Sierra Nevada power line responsible for the historic disaster was exposed over time to unusually damaging winds, attorneys for the utility told a federal judge Tuesday. PG&E did know prior to the fire, Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire, that the sustained effects of wind could cause wear on tower hardware over time, attorneys said in a filing to U.S. District Judge William Alsup. But the lawyers said PG&E has not found any evidence to show that the company previously knew that the specific power line where the Camp Fire started endured, as a general rule, more sustained winds and more particularly strong winds as compared to some other big lines in PG&Es service territory. The wind factors were revealed in a report last year by an outside consultant PG&E hired, at the direction of state regulators, after the Camp Fire. In the same court filing on Tuesday, PG&E also provided more information about its Sonoma County electrical equipment that malfunctioned at about the time and place where the Kincade Fire started outside Geyserville in October. Lawyers for the company said that the person who conducted a ground-level inspection of the power tower in question in July did not take photos of the jumper cable that broke three months later, but drone photographs did capture that part of the tower in May. The drone images, which PG&E provided to Alsup, show the cable intact. Photos were also taken when contractors climbed the tower in February 2019, and PG&E provided those to Alsup as well. The contractors did not touch or pull at the cable that would later break on that power line, which was still turned on during the February climbing inspection, according to PG&E. PG&E said its still not sure why the cable broke. The state is still investigating what caused the Kincade Fire, which burned more than 77,000 acres and destroyed nearly 400 structures. PG&E provided the new information in response to a list of detailed questions from Alsup, who is overseeing the companys probation from the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion and has shown strong interest in the companys role in recent fires. Alsup has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday. He is considering forcing PG&E to directly hire its own tree-trimming workforce, instead of relying on contractors, and making the company tie executive bonuses exclusively to fire-safety goals proposals that the company resisted in a different filing to the judge last week. PG&E has acknowledged that it conducted non-routine climbing inspections along its Caribou-Palermo transmission line before it started the Camp Fire outside Butte County in November 2018. But the company told Alsup that its records do not enumerate the factors that led it to conduct those inspections in 2018. Based on its investigation, PG&E believes that age was one of the factors that led to selection of the Caribou-Palermo Line for non-routine climbing, but has been unable to determine the primacy or relative importance of that factor, the attorneys said. Lawyers for the company were also unable to pinpoint why PG&E had not previously discovered 32 high-priority problems on the Caribou-Palermo line that inspections unearthed after the Camp Fire. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes There are numerous possible reasons, attorneys said. For example, certain conditions may have arisen or become easier to identify since the last inspection, the inspection methods employed after the Camp Fire may have provided a better vantage point for detecting the condition, or inspectors might have scrutinized cold-end insulator hardware more closely in light of the cold-end hardware failure at the origin of the Camp Fire. Alsup asked PG&E to provide the ten most pertinent documents regarding the true extent to which PG&E knew that worn power tower hooks like the one blamed for the Camp Fire were an issue before the disaster. PG&E said the judges request was too broad, in part because of the companys more than 100-year-long history and its huge network of former employees. But, in response to a different question, the company did provide Alsup with a batch of documents that show employees talking about problems with transmission tower hooks and plates in PG&Es system. The company reiterated its prior stance that such problems were limited in the context of the overall number of such components in PG&Es system. Separately, the utilitys parent company, PG&E Corp., reported its annual and fourth-quarter earnings for 2019 on Tuesday. The company said its net loss grew 11.6% to $7.7 billion amid higher costs associated with its bankruptcy and fires caused by its power lines. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris By Andrew Oziemblo, Founder & CEO of Chicago SEO Geeks a Chicago SEO Agency and RankOne Digital Marketing - helping businesses achieve long-term growth goals. Now and then, you will need to revamp your website to ensure that it represents the advancements you have made as a business. Working with a professional web designer ensures that all the latest technological advancements are included to guarantee your websites functionality and usability. Modernizing a website requires the assistance of a web designer, graphic artist, and seo expert with all the necessary resources. Resources including, but not limited to HTML5, CSS3 Web standards JavaScript ensures your website has a highly responsive UI. Aside from the basic website elements, you also need to align yourself with the new schools of thought in the technological world. A top-notch user experience ensures that you dont lose customers to rival businesses. You need to allocate enough resources to web redesigning and development to ensure experts go out of their way to deliver a high-quality website. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the different reasons why you should think about redoing your site in 2020. An Outdated Website The most common reason for redoing a website is that its outdated. Running an outdated website in todays digital world can adversely affect your sales performance. The majority of people browse the internet to look for local businesses. New features and icons are being used on websites to ensure customers have a personalized user experience. Working with an expert web designer ensures that your website is optimised with high-quality and aesthetic templates, the right fonts and a theme that aligns with your personal style. When people interact with your website, they need to resonate with your presentation and the way you communicate your message for them to buy in on the idea or products you are selling. As a business, you are not only selling products and providing services but also engaging customers and making long-term connections. Redoing your website should be aimed at ensuring customers want to be associated with your business. Your SEO is not working Another reason why you should consider re-working your website is if it is currently failing on the SEO front. Any SEO expert will tell you that you cannot afford to be left behind when it comes to SEO. You need to work with an SEO Agency on a continual basis to ensure your website SEO is up-to-date. After all, you can have one of the most visually appealing websites in the world. However, if no one sees it, whats the point? This is why SEO is critical. You need to master content marketing and on-site SEO if you are to attract the number of viewers you hope to. An SEO consultant will be able to carry out an SEO audit on your website to figure out where you are going wrong and what needs to be changed with your sites SEO. Incorporation of New Tech Responsive Images, Retina Display, SVG images are just but a few of the features and aspects your website needs to encompass. There are new technological advancements each passing day and having an updated website is the key to earning new customers. You need to ensure that your website guarantees a smooth customer experience. With a non-responsive, desktop-only website, you are unlikely to earn new business. This is because there is a wide variation of mobile devices people use today to browse the internet. Building a highly-responsive website ensures that customers can access your site with whichever device they are using. Implementation of new features on your website and being on top of the latest trends requires a detailed understanding of user behaviour. In-Depth research will reveal relevant information that can be used to improve the functionality of your business website. Useful tools and resources for designers and web-developers ensure that an excellent job is done to ensure website usability. This way, your website will be able to reflect professionalism and a customer-centered culture. The visual design of a website should be easy on the eye, and they typography should be responsive enough to ensure a website visitor stays engaged and does not pass you up for rival businesses. Reflect the Latest Business Developments As your business progresses, your website should progress with it. Each time you launch a new product or introduce a new service, you need to update your website to keep your audience informed. Doing this ensures you dont pass up a business opportunity. Every few years, business strategy is bound to change. Failure to update your audience is likely to result in confusion that will most definitely lead to loss of customers. Ensure you use an interactive design for your updates to allow for business to customer engagement. Having your operation give off mixed signals affects productivity and the ability of your business to deliver excellent results. Creative coding ensures that your web performance is top-notch, and speed has a significant effect on your website rankings. The functionality of Different Features Sometimes, a website might be in tip-top shape, minus a few problematic features. Each feature and icon on your website work together to ensure optimized usability. Mobile Design Web Apps enable web designers to get a clear idea of what needs to be done for the proper functionality of all icons. Aside from building a great looking website, you also need to ascertain that customers have an easy time using each feature. One malfunctioning feature is enough to cost you customers, since they expect a seamless user experience. Launching an easy to navigate website requires work and the use of Native Apps Tutorials to result in a bulletproof website. Inspirational graphic design, the creative use of photography and illustrations ensures that your website is aesthetically appealing. Conclusion A highly responsive website ensures that it can be accessed by a wide variety of mobile devices. Working with a professional website designer ensures that you get a website with top-notch performance and rankability. Constantly updating your website ensures that it represents your current business strategy. Considerings today's fack growth of technology, I recommend not to wait longer than 2-3 years. ISIS has double the number of soldiers it had when it began capturing territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014 and is poised for a comeback, a Kurdish leader has warned. Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, issued the stark warning amid moves by President Trump to withdraw US troops from the region after years of fighting. While ISIS has lost all of its territory and much of its leadership, Barzani believes the terror group still has 20,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria and is trying to recruit more. ISIS has 20,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, double the number it had when it started capturing territory across the region in 2014, a Kurdish leader has warned (file image) That number is double the initial US estimates of ISIS's strength when it began capturing territory across Iraq and Syria in 2014, sparking an international crisis. Revised CIA estimates put that number at 31,000, while Iraqi security advisers estimated it had 100,000 fighters by the time it announced the formation of a 'caliphate' in July that year. Nevertheless, Barzani cautions that the modern-day ISIS is still a force to be reckoned with and 'should not be taken lightly.' Masrour Barzani, prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, says ISIS 'should not be taken lightly' as US forces mull withdrawing from the region Speaking to The Atlantic, he said: 'ISIS is still very much intact. Yes, they have lost much of their leadership. They have lost many of their capable men. 'But theyve also managed to gain more experience and to recruit more people around them.' ISIS launched a lightning-fast offensive across Iraq and Syria in 2014, capturing a huge swathe of territory that stretched from Aleppo to the outskirts of Baghdad. The capture of Iraq's second city of Mosul, and subsequent declaration of a caliphate by then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, saw them rise from an Al Qaeda splinter group to the world's foremost terror group. America began a bombing campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in 2014, and began supporting forces on the ground - largely led by the Kurds - in order to push the terror group back. By early 2016, the US estimated that ISIS had lost 40 per cent of the 36,000 square miles of territory it once held. As well as its fighters, ISIS still has tens of thousands of members locked up in Kurdish prison camps - including 70,000 mostly-female inmates at al-Hol (pictured) The following year ISIS lost the battle for Mosul, its last stronghold in Iraq, shortly before being driven out of Aleppo in Syria. In March 2019, the terrorist's last redoubt - a sliver of land called Baghouz in Syria - was captured by Kurdish forces, spelling the end of the group as a territorial power. Since then ISIS has transformed into a guerrilla fighting force similar to Al Qaeda, directly launching bomb and gun attacks in Syria and Iraq. The group has also worked to expand its presence in volatile regions of Africa, while using self-radicalised individuals to perpetrate attacks further abroad. Vladimir Voronkov, undersecretary-general for the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism, warned last year that ISIS still commands a $300mllion war chest to fund attacks. The group 'continues to evolve into a covert network' with fighters spread across the Middle East, West Africa, Asia and embedded in western nations, he said. Budapest Festival Orchestra An evening with Antonin Dvorak by arwulf arwulf From the February, 2020 issue The Budapest Festival Orchestra's conductor and co-founder Ivan Fischer is a master at presenting traditional classical music in an unconventional manner. He is also motivated by an unshakable humanitarian philosophy, and speaking out against intolerance, oppression and the persecution of targeted ethnic groups. Fischer's public response to Hungary's increasingly right-wing authoritarian government has included holding concerts in abandoned and repurposed synagogues--a bold move for a man whose grandparents were murdered in Nazi concentration camps, and whose parents survived the Holocaust by going into hiding. During the 1990s, Fischer invited choirs from war-torn Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia to convene in Budapest, where under his direction 800 voices sang Schiller's egalitarian "Ode to Joy" in the finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This month, Fischer and the BFO will pre-sent an evening of music by Antonin Dvorak at Hill Auditorium. The concert will open with one of Dvorak's Legends, from a cycle inspired by the work of Karol Jaromir Erben, an accomplished versifier and folklorist who collected well over 2,000 Slavic fairy tales. The BFO is unique among symphony orchestras in that some of the players also perform as a choir. On this evening they will sing "Misto Klekani," a setting of verses by Dvorak's other favorite poet, Adolf Heyduk. The title, usually given in English as "Evening's Blessing," translates directly from Czech as "A Place for Kneeling." After the choir members resume their seats, the orchestra will launch into a lively skocna, or reel, from the ever-popular Slavonic Dances. Slavic ancestry is not required for a listener to be moved by Dvorak's Violin Concerto, but I can testify that whenever I hear its first movement, my East European DNA rears up and wants to howl like a Eurasian wolf. Special guest violinist Renaud Capucon's performance of this exciting work will mark his UMS premiere. Like Leos Janacek, the greatest Czech composer of the twentieth century, Dvorak heard music in everything around him. Standing near Niagara Falls in 1893, he commented that ...continued below... the cascading tons of water sounded to him like a symphony in B Minor. Birdsong is woven into many of his works, including the Symphony no. 8, composed during the autumn of 1889 at his farmhouse retreat near the village of Vysoka, about thirty miles southwest of Prague. The Eighth, which will cap the BFO's evening with Antonin Dvorak, is a marvelously personal opus, directly inspired by the composer's early morning walks through pastoral Bohemian forests and meadowlands.Let's close by invoking the spirit of composer Edward Elgar, who once confided to a friend: "I wish you could hear Dvorak's music. It is simply ravishing, so tuneful and clever, and the orchestration is wonderful. I cannot describe it. It must be heard."The University Musical Society presents the Budapest Festival Orchestra at Hill on February 20 [Originally published in February, 2020.] - Preference for marine collagen-based materials in cosmetic industry and the potential of using fish collagen peptides in numerous nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products drive demand in the market - Relentless research into collagen-based drug delivery systems is paving way to new market avenues in drug delivery systems ALBANY, New York, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A shift from the use of mammalian collagen to marine collagen peptides in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, notably for joint disorders, to meet the protein needs of worldwide populations has catalyzed a spate of prospects in the Fish Collagen Peptides Market, notes Transparency Market Research (TMR). In recent years, extensive interest of cosmeceutical industry in utilizing fish collagen peptides has resulted in the advent of new manufacturing and processing techniques, thereby helping them tap into new revenue streams. According to a recent projection in a study by TMR, the fish collagen peptides market is projected to garner a CAGR of ~ 8% from 2019 to 2027. In 2018, its valuation was pegged at ~ US$ 250 Mn. "Manufacturers are increasingly capitalizing on the increasing growth of the cosmeceutical industry to garner steady revenue gains in the fish collagen peptides market in coming years. Future strategies by top players focus on harnessing these in novel collagen-based drug delivery systems," opine the analysts at TMR. Read Detailed Toc of the Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/68918 Key Findings of Fish Collagen Peptides Market Study Cosmeceuticals are a major end-use industry for players in the fish collagen peptides market; marine-based collagens are promising candidates for improving skin elasticity and hair health; the industry serves ~40% revenue share of the market, presently. In coming years, the share will remain prominent are a major end-use industry for players in the fish collagen peptides market; marine-based collagens are promising candidates for improving skin elasticity and hair health; the industry serves ~40% revenue share of the market, presently. In coming years, the share will remain prominent Another key application is in treating joint disorders ; the segment is expected to be major growth driver of the fish collagen peptides market ; the segment is expected to be major growth driver of the fish collagen peptides market The revenues from the application of fish collagen peptides in functional foods and nutraceuticals awareness is expected to rise on the back of their increasing affordability and accessibility Market players will capitalize from the rising demand for marine collagen-based materials as functional ingredients for range of cosmetic products, particular for anti-aging Asia Pacific is a prominent regional market currently, and is expected to garner a promising CAGR during 2019 - 2027. Explore 157 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections. Gain business intelligence Fish Collagen Peptides Market (Type: Fish Skin & Scales and Fish Bones & Fins; Application: Bone & Joint Health, Nutraceuticals, Cosmeceuticals, and Pharmaceuticals) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=68918 Fish Collagen Peptides Market: Key Driving Factors A bevy of industry-specific trends drive consumer demands in the fish collagen peptides market. Growing potential application in making dermal fillers for non-invasive cosmetic procedures propels market prospect of fish collagen peptides. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, soft tissue fillers held a big share in minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures in 2014 Nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals containing fish collagen peptides are showing great promise in managing osteoporosis and osteoarthritis According to the NGO International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually world over; every 3 seconds an osteoporotic fracture occurs. This is a more worrying health burden with aging, particularly in women. Key Impediments to Fish Collagen Peptides Market Players Isolating collagen from fish is an elaborate process and incurs typically high costs. This has been a major concern for most manufacturers in the fish collagen peptides market. Another hurdle that will impede the market to realize its full potential over the coming years is stringent regulations in several economies. Analyze fish collagen peptides market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, ASEAN, India, China, and Japan. Request a sample of the study. Fish Collagen Peptides Market: Region-wise Analysis North America , of all the key geographies, held a major share in the fish collagen peptides market in 2018. The status quo is unlikely to change throughout the forecast period. To a great extent, the revenues in the regional market have been strengthened by widespread application of marine-based collagen peptides in joint and bone disorders. Millions of people, especially older adults, who suffer from these conditions have given a large avenue for growth for manufacturers of fish collagen peptides. Growing research in the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in collagen peptide-based drug delivery systems is key to future growth opportunities for them. , of all the key geographies, held a major share in the fish collagen peptides market in 2018. The status quo is unlikely to change throughout the forecast period. To a great extent, the revenues in the regional market have been strengthened by widespread application of marine-based collagen peptides in joint and bone disorders. Millions of people, especially older adults, who suffer from these conditions have given a large avenue for growth for manufacturers of fish collagen peptides. Growing research in the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in collagen peptide-based drug delivery systems is key to future growth opportunities for them. Asia Pacific is projected to be one of the most prominent markets, and is expected to clock an impressive CAGR from 2019 to 2027. To a great deal, the opportunities have come from their potential in making cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals, particularly for anti-aging. Competition Landscape Companies in the fish collagen peptides market focus on harness the bioavailability of marine-based collagen peptides for a range of functional ingredients in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Top players show an increasing research interest for unveiling breakthroughs in collagen-based drug delivery systems. Further, they are focusing on launching novel products to consolidate their market positions. Promising strides being made by cosmeceutical industry world over have triggered the entry of numerous players in the market, raising the ante for incumbent players. Names of leading players include Capsugel Belgium NV (Lonza), Norland Products, Inc., Hangzhou Nutrition Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Nitta Gelatin, Inc., and Amicogen, Inc. Purchase this report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=68918